(Corrects headline and paragraphs 1 and 2 to reflect that the notification was made on Aug. 2, not on Monday)
WASHINGTON, Aug 28 (Reuters) - The Pentagon has notified the U.S. Congress of the sale to Nigeria of 12 Super Tucano A-29 planes and weapons worth $593 million, which the West African country wants for its fight against the militant group Boko Haram.
The Federal Register on Monday published the Aug. 2 notification from the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The sale includes thousands of bombs and rockets and was originally agreed by former President Barack Obama's administration.
The Super Tucano A-29, an agile, propeller-driven plane with reconnaissance and surveillance as well as attack capabilities, is made by Brazil's Embraer. A second production line is in Florida, in a partnership between Embraer and privately held Sierra Nevada Corp of Sparks, Nevada.
The Super Tucano costs more than $10 million each and the price can go much higher depending on the configuration. It is powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT 6 engine.
The Obama administration delayed the deal after incidents including the Nigerian Air Force's bombing of a refugee camp in January that killed 90 to 170 civilians.
President Donald Trump has said he plans to go ahead with foreign defense sales delayed under Obama by human rights concerns. (Reporting by Mike Stone; Writing by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Sandra Maler)
President Trump revealed a reversal of strategy in Afghanistan, promising to fight to win instead of withdrawing entirely. He vowed to ramp up U.S. engagement in Afghanistan, the countrys longest war to date. He added that moving troops away from Afghanistan would create a vacuum, which terrorists would instantly fill. But, he refrained from revealing specific troop numbers or measures of success.
Defense stocks moved north on Trumps Afghanistan speech, while such stocks have nearly doubled the S&P 500s performance since his election victory. His commitment to swiftly increase military spending boded well for defense stocks. This calls for investing in such stocks for solid gains.
Trump Announces More War in Afghanistan
In a much awaited speech, Trump announced that he wont pull out troops from Afghanistan and is committed to a plan at winning the nations longest war, which is now in its 17th year. In other words, he is introducing a dramatic, new offensive in Afghanistan, which will integrate diplomatic, economic and military power. But, Trump refrained from divulging details on troop deployments or specific dates of operations for security reasons. He did acknowledge that his original instinct was to pull out, which was once an important campaign pledge before he became the President.
Trump mentioned that the war will crush al Qaeda and prevent Taliban from taking over Afghanistan. He will urge NATO forces to join hands and support his new strategy. He also said that Pakistan is a terrorist hotbed and has harbored militants. Afghan Taliban and Haqqani network has found safe haven in Pakistan for the launch of multiple attacks on neighboring Afghanistan. He warned Islamabad of consequences if its government doesnt take sweeping steps to eradicate such terrorist organizations. He stressed that Pakistan needs to have stronger ties with India in war against terrorists.
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Finally, he concluded that terrorists take heed. America will never let up until you are dealt a lasting defeat. Under my administration, many billions of dollars more is being spent on our military. And this includes vast amounts being spent on our nuclear arsenal and missile defense. In every generation we have faced down evil, and we have always prevailed.
Big Money for Defense Contractors Tied to James Mattis
General Dynamics Corporation GD stands to gain handsomely from Trumps Afghanistan surge. And why so? Prior to joining the Trump administration, Defense Secretary James Mattis was an independent director of the multinational defense contracting behemoth. He was paid $594,369 by the company between 2013 and 2016.
It was during that time, the company boasted of receiving a $216 million order from the U.S. Army to build a Warfighter Information Network system. It was immensely successful in serving the army in Afghanistan. The company also received multi-million dollar payments for providing soldiers in Afghanistan items like Foxhound vehicles to IT management services.
And now with Mattis holding a far more operational role, it can be expected that General Dynamics will benefit more from the Afghan war. Mattis now looks into more lucrative Pentagon contracts, which are positioned to even get more lucrative in the light of Trumps declaration to deploy more troops in Afghanistan.
Defense Stocks Rise on Trumps Speech
Defense stocks rose broadly following Trumps remarks, with the iShares U.S. Aerospace and Defense ETF (ITA) rising 1.2% on Aug 22. Major defense stocks like Northrop Grumman Corporation NOC, Lockheed Martin Corporation LMT and Boeing Co BA gained 1.9%, 0.9% and 1.7%, respectively. Northrop and Boeing were also awarded contracts for intercontinental ballistic missile system replacements.
In fact, Trumps pledge to significantly increase federal spending related to national security was cheered by Republicans and has helped defense and aerospace stocks scale higher. He had promised to seek a $54-billion hike in spending on tanks, ships and weapon systems. The defense budget will climb 10%, according to the White House, while Trump recommended $30 billion in supplementary military spending for this year (read more: 5 Stocks to Buy as Trump Promises to Spend Big on Defense).
5 Best Defense Stocks to Buy Now
As Trumps Afghanistan strategy gives defense stocks a boost, investing in the same seems a prudent choice. We have, thus, selected five solid defense stocks that flaunt a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy).
Boeing Co is an aerospace company. The company's segments include Commercial Airplanes, Defense, Space & Security (BDS), such as Boeing Military Aircraft (BMA), Network & Space Systems (N&SS) and Global Services & Support (GS&S), and Boeing Capital (BCC). Boeing has a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increased 5.9% over the last 60 days. The company is expected to gain 15.1% in the next quarter, while it has surged 67.6% since the Election Day, Nov 8.
Northrop Grumman Corporation provides products, systems and solutions in autonomous systems; cyber; command, control, communications and computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR); strike, and logistics and modernization. The company has a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increased 2.1% over the last 60 days. The company is expected to gain 10.6% in the next quarter, while it has surged 18.6% since the Election Day.
Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc HII is a military shipbuilding company and a provider of professional services to partners in government and industry. The stock has a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increased 2.6% over the last 60 days. The company is expected to gain 22% in the current quarter, while it has surged 39.5% since the Election Day. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Leidos Holdings, Inc. LDOS provides technology and engineering solutions in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil, and health markets in the United States and internationally. The company has a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increased 5.5% over the last 60 days. The company is expected to gain 10% in the next quarter, while it has surged 26.6% since the Election Day.
Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. AJRD designs, develops, manufactures, and sells aerospace and defense products and systems in the United States. The company has a Zacks Rank #1. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increased 17.8% over the last 60 days. The company is expected to gain 13.3% in the next quarter, while it has surged 72.9% since the Election Day.
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Tesla Inc. TSLA officially opened its Nevada-based Gigafactory for production earlier this summeronly 14% of the factory is currently complete, howeverbut the electric car maker has been constructing its huge manufacturing facility since 2014. What, exactly, does Gigafactory even mean? And what makes it different from a regular manufacturing plant?
According to Tesla, one of its goals as a company is to expedite the process of transitioning to global sustainable transportation. In order to do this, enough vehicles must be produced to sway change in the automobile industry as a whole. Tesla plans to have a production rate of 500,000 electric cars every year by the second half of this decade, which will require a huge supple of lithium-ion batteries, a type of rechargeable battery.
Thus, the Gigafactory was born.
The name Gigafactory is a term that comes from Teslas planned battery production amount per year of 35 gigawatt-hours (GWh). In quantifiable terms, giga is a measurement unit that stands for billions; one GWh is the same as generating one billion watts for one hour, or one million times more than that one kilowatt-hour (kWh).
The Tax Deal
Teslas Gigafactory is located outside the city of Sparks, Nevada, but the state had to go through a somewhat arduous process to win the factory deal. Three additional states were in the running: Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico.
According to The Verge, Nevada won the deal after the state controversially offered an incentives package that was the largest in Nevada history, and became one of the 15 largest nationally. Over the next 20 years, Tesla could take in nearly $1.3 billion in tax benefits for building its Gigafactory in Nevada[a]ssuming Tesla meets its obligations under the deal, it will spend 20 years free from sales tax, and 10 years free from property tax, while it receives millions of dollars more in tax credits.
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These sorts of tax deals are not uncommon for large companies. Back in 2012, The New York Times investigated governmental tax incentives in Louise Storys article As Companies Seek Tax Deals, Governments Pay High Price. It found General Motors GM earned $1.7 billion in incentives over the span of five years, with Ford F and Fiat Chrysler FCAU also receiving deals.
The way he played this tax break game was super old school, says Greg LeRoy, executive director of Good Jobs First. The group has been critical of the Tesla deal, arguing that the company effectively gamed the states into a bad bargain, playing them off each other to raise incentives beyond reason, The Verge continues.
Good Jobs First, an organization that keeps track of large subsidy deals, has found the biggest deal ever went to Boeing BA back in 2013 from Washington State; the deal could eventually reach a valuation of $8.7 billion.
Production Plan
Since the idea of the Gigafactory was conceived out of the necessity to increase the supply of lithium-ion batteries, it makes sense that the factory would utilize renewable production methods. The entire plant will be powered by renewable energy sources in order to achieve net zero energy. Most notably, the majority of the manufacturing processes will be under one roof, a choice that could potentially reduce cost, waste, and enhance innovation.
Tesla began lithium-ion battery cell production this past January, and the cells will be used in the companys Powerwall energy storage products. By 2018, Tesla expects the cost of its batteries to decline by over one-third thanks to large-scale production at the Gigafactory.
Tesla also anticipates annual lithium-ion battery production of the factory to reach around 35 gigawatt-hours, which equals the total global production of 2014. Tesla hopes to reach full capacity by 2020.
The company also announced plans to invest $350 million in the Gigafactory for the production of electric motors and gearbox components for its Model 3 sedan, its highly-anticipated mass-market vehicle. The investment will create about 500 jobs.
Future of the Gigafactory
Last January, electronics company Panasonic PCRFY agreed to invest up to $1.6 billion in Teslas Gigafactory. Kazuhiro Tsuga, President of Panasonic, said that "We are sort of waiting on the demand from Tesla. If Tesla succeeds and the electric vehicle becomes mainstream, the world will be changed and we will have lots of opportunity to grow."
Tesla is even considering building more Gigafactories. CEO Elon Musk has referred to the Nevada plant as Gigafactory 1 in the past, and during the companys fiscal 2016 earnings releaseback in February, the electric car maker informed its shareholders with plans of two or three more potential Gigafactory plants.
Later this year, we expect to finalize locations for Gigafactories 3, 4, and 5 (Gigafactory 2 is the Tesla solar plant in New York), said Tesla.
Bottom Line
Before the vision of multiple Gigafactories can come to fruition, Tesla and Elon Musk will need to see if its original battery production plant can live up to its promises. The companys tax incentive from Nevada may create many jobs, but it could also bring about unforeseen financial consequences for both the state and Tesla. Only time will tell if the Gigafactory was even worth it at all.
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About a week ago, Stanford University researchers posted online a study on the latest dystopian AI: They'd made a machine learning algorithm that essentially works as gaydar. After training the algorithm with tens of thousands of photographs from a dating site, the algorithm could, for example, guess if a white man in a photograph was gay with 81 percent accuracy. The researchers motives? They wanted to protect gay people. [Our] findings expose a threat to the privacy and safety of gay men and women, wrote Michal Kosinski and Yilun Wang in the paper. They built the bomb so they could alert the public about its dangers.
Alas, their good intentions fell on deaf ears. In a joint statement, LGBT advocacy groups Human Rights Campaign and GLAAD condemned the work, writing that the researchers had built a tool based on junk science that governments could use to identify and persecute gay people. AI expert Kate Crawford of Microsoft Research called it AI phrenology on Twitter. The American Psychological Association, whose journal was readying their work for publication, now says the study is under ethical review. Kosinski has received e-mail death threats.
But the controversy illuminates a problem in AI bigger than any single algorithm. More social scientists are using AI intending to solve societys ills, but they dont have clear ethical guidelines to prevent them from accidentally harming people, says ethicist Jake Metcalf of Data & Society. There arent consistent standards or transparent review practices, he says. The guidelines governing social experiments are outdated and often irrelevantmeaning researchers have to make ad hoc rules as they go.
Right now, if government-funded scientists want to research humans for a study, the law requires them to get the approval of an ethics committee known as an institutional review board, or IRB. Stanfords review board approved Kosinski and Wangs study. But these boards use rules developed 40 years ago for protecting people during real-life interactions, such as drawing blood or conducting interviews. The regulations were designed for a very specific type of research harm and a specific set of research methods that simply dont hold for data science, says Metcalf.
For example, if you merely use a database without interacting with real humans for a study, its not clear that you have to consult a review board at all. Review boards arent allowed to evaluate a study based on its potential social consequences. The vast, vast, vast majority of what we call big data research does not fall under the purview of federal regulations, says Metcalf.
So researchers have to take ethics into their own hands. Take a recent example: Last month, researchers affiliated with Stony Brook University and several major internet companies released a free app, a machine learning algorithm that guesses ethnicity and nationality from a name to about 80 percent accuracy. They trained the algorithm using millions of names from Twitter and from e-mail contact lists provided by an undisclosed companyand they didn't have to go through a university review board to make the app.
The app, called NamePrism, allows you to analyze millions of names at a time to look for society-level trends. Stony Brook computer scientist Steven Skiena, who used to work for the undisclosed company, says you could use it to track the hiring tendencies in swaths of industry. The purpose of this tool is to identify and prevent discrimination, says Skiena.
Skiena's team wants academics and non-commercial researchers to use NamePrism. (They dont get commercial funding to support the apps server, although their team includes researchers affiliated with Amazon, Yahoo, Verizon, and NEC.) Psychologist Sean Young, who heads University of Californias Institute for Prediction Technology and is unaffiliated with NamePrism, says he could see himself using the app in HIV prevention research to efficiently target and help high-risk groups, such as minority men who have sex with men.
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But ultimately, NamePrism is just a tool, and its up to users how they wield it. You can use a hammer to build a house or break a house, says sociologist Matthew Salganik of Princeton University and the author of Bit by Bit: Social Research In The Digital Age. You could use this tool to help potentially identify discrimination. But you could also use this tool to discriminate.
Skienas group considered possible abuse before they released the app. But without having to go through a university IRB, they came up with their own safeguards. On the website, anonymous users can test no more than a thousand names per hour, and Skiena says they would restrict users further if necessary. Researchers who want to use the app for large-scale studies have to ask for permission from Skiena. He describes the approval process as "fairly ad hoc." He has refused access to businesses and accepted applications from academics affiliated with established institutions who have proposed "what seem to be reasonable topics of study." He also points out that names are public data.
The group also went through an ethics review at the company that provided training list of names, although Metcalf says that an evaluation at a private company is the weakest level of review that they could do." That's because the law does not require companies to follow the same regulations as publicly-funded research. Its not transparent at all to you or me how [the evaluation] was made, and whether its trustworthy, Metcalf says.
But the problem isnt about NamePrism. This tool by itself is not likely to cause a lot of harm, says Metcalf. In fact, NamePrism could do a lot of good. Instead, the problem is the broken ethical system around it. AI researcherssometimes with the noblest of intentionsdont have clear standards for preventing potential harms. Its not very sexy, says Metcalf. Theres no Skynet or Terminator in that narrative.
Metcalf, along with researchers from six other institutions, has recently formed a group called Pervade to try to mend the system. This summer, they received a three million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation, and over the next four years, Pervade wants to put together a clearer ethical process for big data research that both universities and companies could use. Our goal is to figure out, what regulations are actually helpful? he says. But before then, well be relying on the kindnessand foresightof strangers.
BEIJING, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Airbus SE's China head Eric Chen on Tuesday said the French plane maker expects Chinese airlines to need between 60-100 of its A380 jets over the next five years, amid question marks over future global demand for the superjumbo.
He was speaking at an Airbus event in Beijing.
China is the world's fastest growing aviation market and is a key battleground for Airbus and its main U.S. rival Boeing Co , which recently predicted that the country will spend over $1 trillion on planes over the next 20 years.
In July, Airbus signed an agreement to sell 140 aircraft to China in a deal worth almost $23 billion at list prices during a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Germany.
Europe's largest aerospace company will on Wednesday inaugurate a completion and delivery center for its A330 jet in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin. The facility is Airbus's first for wide-body aircraft outside Europe and is expected to deliver its first A330 aircraft this year. (Reporting by Brenda Goh, writing by Adam Jourdan; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
Fall is on the calendar to start this Friday. In Wisconsin, that means the return of the fall hunting season.
In fact, it has already begun for some game animals, including the archery season for white-tailed deer which started last Saturday.
The gun deer season, which annually sends more than a half-million hunters into Wisconsins woods and fields, is set to start Nov. 18.
Which means now is as good a time as any to raise a caution flag not over gun safety, as we have often done in years past but over chronic wasting disease and its potential impact here in the state.
Yes, we know that reporting on CWD often seems to be alarmist, much like the television weather forecasts before a Wisconsin winter storm.
But this year, there is reason for some fresh caution, based on the preliminary results of a study at the University of Calgary that showed the first known transmission of the CWD prion disease to a primate from eating diseased venison. That study, which is still being peer-reviewed, has raised concerns over human susceptibility to CWD.
When the study was released this summer, Stephanie Czub, a prion researcher with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, said: The assumption was for the longest time that chronic wasting disease was not a threat to human health, But with the new data, it seems we need to revisit this to some degree.
The Canadian study exposed 18 macaque monkeys to CWD. Some had CWD prions injected into their brains and were infected; some had infected material rubbed on their skin and did not contract the disease.
But three of the five macaques that were fed infected venison over a three-year period the equivalent of a 7-ounce steak per month tested positive for the disease.
That study, preliminary though it is, has raised eyebrows and caused Wisconsin health officials to say there should be an increased urgency for state hunters to have their deer tested this year.
There still have been no known instances of humans contracting CWD, but hunters should know the new study demonstrates the risk isnt nonexistent, Keith Poulsen, of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, told the Wisconsin State Journal last week. CWD is related to incurable illnesses, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease found in humans, which can cause dementia and death.
Were sure the risk is pretty low, but its not zero, he said. It would be a mistake to ignore it.
But for the most part, that is what hunters have done for the past 15 years since CWD first turned up in Wisconsins deer herd.
Thats partially understandable because the prevalence of CWD-infected deer has been almost exclusively to hot zones southwest of Madison and, to a lesser degree in the Rock County area in southern Wisconsin.
According to news reports, last year 442 of 3,758 deer submitted for testing in the state Department of Natural Resources southern farmland zone tested positive for CWD. Thats an infection rate of about 12 percent. But the deer kill in that area was 10 times that number, meaning a high percentage of the deer kill was not submitted for testing.
The testing is offered at no charge by the DNR at in-person registration sites across the state. But typically, hunters have submitted deer heads for sampling at a rate of only 6,000 to 7,000 deer per year. Statewide, more than 200,000 deer are taken by hunters each year.
Testing dipped sharply in 2015 after the DNR, as a cost-saving measure, allowed hunters to register their deer online and not require them to go to a registration station at all. That rebounded last year to 6,127 deer sampled. Registration sites are easily found on the DNR website at go.madison.com/deerreg.
For years, state health and wildlife officials have urged hunters not to consume venison that tests positive for CWD.
This fall, that caution is warranted more than ever. Get your deer tested.
By Supantha Mukherjee and Stephen Nellis
(Reuters) - Apple Inc's on Wednesday conceded its latest smartwatch unveiled a week ago has problems with its most important feature: the ability make phone calls and access data without an iPhone nearby.
Several prominent reviewers said Wednesday they could not recommend the device because of a wifi glitch that causes cellular connectivity problems.
The Watch Series 3 starts at $399 and was launched alongside new iPhone models. Unlike previous versions of the watch, it has cellular network connectivity built in.
Apple said the watch can experience LTE connectivity problems when it connects to open wi-fi networks such as at a hotel or a coffee shop.
The company is "investigating a fix for a future software release," Apple spokeswoman Amy Bessette told Reuters.
Many reviewers such as the New York Times praised the new features and gave generally positive assessments.
But other prominent publications, including the Wall Street Journal and The Verge, recommended against purchasing the new model because the LTE cellular data connectivity did not work as expected.
The mixed reviews weighed on Apple shares, which closed down about 1.7 percent at $156.07.
"Considering that my Apple Watch Series 3 with LTE (both first and second review units) didn't function like it was supposed to, I can't recommend buying it and paying the monthly cell fee based on promises," Verge reviewer Lauren Goode wrote. (http://bit.ly/2fj8Jiy)
Apart from connection issues, some reviewers were disappointed with the drain on the watch's battery while making calls. Apple had touted up to 18 hours of battery life but said the watch would get only one hour on a cellular phone call.
Gene Munster, a longtime Apple analyst with Loup Ventures, doubted issues with the Series 3 Watch would hurt Apple's bottom line. "That review takeaway is a negative but is not a surprise. This is the first generation watch with LTE," he told Reuters.
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Bob O'Donnell, an analyst with Techanlysis Research, said the watch reviews, paired with reviews of the iPhone 8 that were generally positive but described the phone as an incremental improvement on its predecessor, put more pressure on the iPhone X to garner good press before its Nov. 3 launch.
Apple also experienced hiccups with iOS 11, the new operating system the firm released Tuesday.
For business users, iOS 11's Mail application had problems sending mail for Microsoft Exchange and Outlook.com mail accounts.
(Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Bengaluru and Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Cynthia Osterman)
(Adds details on lawsuit and overall Insys case)
By Nate Raymond
Aug 31 (Reuters) - Arizona sued Insys Therapeutics Inc on Thursday, accusing the drugmaker of engaging in a fraudulent marketing scheme aimed at increasing sales of a fentanyl-based cancer pain medicine called Subsys.
The lawsuit by Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich in Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix comes during a series of federal and state investigations centered on Insys' drug Subsys amid a national opioid addiction epidemic.
The lawsuit accused Arizona-based Insys of paying doctors sham speaker fees in exchange for writing prescriptions of Subsys and of misleading insurers into believing patients who were prescribed the opioid had cancer when they actually did not.
Brnovich also sued three Arizona doctors whom the lawsuit said Insys paid on average $200,000 while they wrote prescriptions that generated over $33 million in sales of Subsys from March 2012 to April 2017.
"We need to put a stop to the unethical and greedy behavior in the pharmaceutical industry that is fueling the opioid crisis in our state," Brnovich said in a statement.
The lawsuit seeks an injunction, restitution for customers and the disgorgement of any illegally earned profits.
Insys had no immediate comment. The three doctors - Steve Fanto, Nikesh Seth and Sheldon Gingerich - did not respond to requests for comment.
The case is the latest to center on Subsys, an under-the-tongue spray intended for cancer patients that contains fentanyl, a highly addictive and regulated synthetic opioid.
In December, federal prosecutors in Boston charged six former Insys executives and managers, including former Chief Executive Michael Babich, with engaging in a scheme to bribe doctors to prescribe Subsys.
Babich and his co-defendants have pleaded not guilty. Federal charges have also been filed in several other states against other former Insys employees and medical practitioners who prescribed Subsys.
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Thursday's lawsuit named as defendants two former Insys employees who have faced federal charges: Alec Burlakoff, a former vice president of sales, and Elizabeth Gurrieri, a former manager of reimbursement services.
Burlakoff has pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy and other charges. Gurrieri pleaded guilty in June to one count of wire fraud conspiracy as part of deal to cooperate with U.S. authorities.
Their lawyers did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday.
Insys has said it is in talks with the U.S. Department of Justice to resolve the federal probe. It previously agreed to pay a combined $8.95 million to resolve investigations by attorneys general in Oregon, New Hampshire and Illinois. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Grant McCool)
SINGAPORE--(Marketwired - Sep 11, 2017) - Avnet (NYSE: AVT), a leading global technology distributor, recently received the 2017 Best Distributor Dedicated Field Application Engineering (DFAE) Award in Taiwan and ASEAN from Xilinx, Inc., as a result of accelerating sales to achieve profitable growth.
Xilinx, a leading provider of All Programmable products and technology, is one of Avnet's longest running partners, with a relationship spanning more than 25 years. The two companies work closely to deliver Xilinx's comprehensive portfolio of All Programmable technology to Avnet's broad customer base across a wide range of markets. Avnet's Field Application Engineers (FAEs) are responsible for applying an in-depth understanding of both the customer and industry requirements to provide technical solutions that deliver optimal design performance for unique market applications.
The DFAE Award was given in recognition of Avnet's outstanding performance and support to Xilinx, in particular for technical work done with one of Vietnam's largest mobile network operators.
Arthur Chung, director of supplier and product management, Avnet Asia, said, "Vietnam is a fast growing economy with a thriving technology sector. Our team of specialized FAEs support our customers from idea through to design, and from product to prototype, opening up new business opportunities in the process. We're honored to be receiving the best distributor DFAE award in Taiwan and ASEAN from Xilinx in recognition of the valuable business connection we have forged together with companies in Vietnam. This successful partnership and great teamwork with Xilinx enables us to serve our customers well and is a prime example of Avnet's ability to provide high-value and innovative solutions to our customers in the region."
"Avnet has been instrumental in driving the success of our products. This award not only recognizes the business performance of the team, but also the incredible dedication and effort the Avnet team has shown to enable our customers' success," said Jay Wang, regional sales manager of Taiwan and ASEAN at Xilinx.
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Avnet has an extensive portfolio of Xilinx development kits, System-on-Modules (SOMs), and embedded board solutions to support designers from concept to production. Avnet attends to customer design needs from a system level approach with hardware and software solutions. The company also offers unique Xilinx training programs, both in-person and on-demand, that help designers learn what they need to know in a very concise and practical manner.
More information is available on the full portfolio of Xilinx products and solutions from Avnet.
All brands and trade names are trademarks or registered trademarks, and are the properties of their respective owners. Avnet disclaims any proprietary interest in marks other than its own.
Follow Avnet on Twitter: @Avnet
Connect with Avnet on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/avnet
Connect with Avnet on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AvnetInc
About Xilinx
Xilinx is the leading provider of All Programmable semiconductor products, including FPGAs, SoCs, MPSoCs, RFSoCs, and 3D ICs. Xilinx uniquely enables applications that are both software defined and hardware optimized - powering industry advancements in Cloud Computing, 5G Wireless, Embedded Vision, and Industrial IoT. For more information, visit www.xilinx.com.
About Avnet
From idea to design and from prototype to production, Avnet supports customers at each stage of a product's lifecycle. A comprehensive portfolio of design and supply chain services makes Avnet the go-to guide for innovators who set the pace for technological change. For nearly a century, Avnet has helped its customers and suppliers around the world realize the transformative possibilities of technology. Learn more about Avnet at www.avnet.com.
One stock that might be an intriguing choice for investors right now is Banco de Chile BCH. This is because this security in the Banks Foreign space is seeing solid earnings estimate revision activity, and is in great company from a Zacks Industry Rank perspective.
This is important because, often times, a rising tide will lift all boats in an industry, as there can be broad trends taking place in a segment that are boosting securities across the board. This is arguably taking place in the Banks Foreign space as it currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 20 out of more than 250 industries, suggesting it is well-positioned from this perspective, especially when compared to other segments out there.
Meanwhile, Banco de Chile is actually looking pretty good on its own too. The firm has seen solid earnings estimate revision activity over the past month, suggesting analysts are becoming a bit more bullish on the firms prospects in both the short and long term.
Banco De Chile Price and Consensus
Banco De Chile Price and Consensus | Banco De Chile Quote
In fact, over the past month, current quarter estimates have risen from $1.33 per share to $1.38 per share, while current year estimates have risen from $5.40 per share to $5.44 per share. This has helped BCH to earn a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), further underscoring the companys solid position. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here .
So, if you are looking for a decent pick in a strong industry, consider Banco de Chile. Not only is its industry currently in the top third, but it is seeing solid estimate revisions as of late, suggesting it could be a very interesting choice for investors seeking a name in this great industry segment.
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The Chinese central bank's move was seen as a way for Beijing to gain control over crypto-currencies, which are created using blockchain technology and are sold and bought online without any government regulation (AFP Photo/ANTHONY WALLACE) (AFP/File)
Beijing (AFP) - Banking regulators in Beijing and Shanghai have ordered local cryptocurrency exchanges to shut down, state media reported Tuesday, in the latest blow to the once flourishing Chinese market for virtual money.
A Beijing-based regulator required all exchanges in the city to submit a plan by 6:00 pm on September 20 for winding down their operations, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
Shanghai's exchanges were also ordered closed last week, it said, without providing more information.
The international value of bitcoin has plunged in recent days amid speculation that the Chinese authorities would shut down the trading platforms following a ban on initial coin offerings earlier in the month.
It was trading at $3,969 Tuesday, down from highs around $4,359 a week ago.
Xinhua's report follows announcements last week by China's two largest bitcoin platforms -- BTCC and OKCoin -- that they would stop all trading operations following new Chinese government regulations clamping down on crypto-currencies.
The Chinese central bank's announcement on September 4 meant that firms would no longer be able to issue electronic currency units to raise funds.
Following the decision, the National Internet Finance Association of China said last week there was "no legal basis for platforms which engage in the trading of various forms of 'virtual currencies'".
The association, which was created by the central bank, warned on its website that such currencies are "increasingly used as a tool in criminal activities such as money laundering, drug trafficking, smuggling, and illegal fundraising".
The central bank's move was seen as a way for Beijing to gain control over crypto-currencies, which are created using blockchain technology and are sold and bought online without any government regulation.
In an attempt to halt capital flight overseas and clean up its financial system, Beijing began early this year to tighten controls on bitcoin trading platforms by restricting, in particular, transactions considered excessively speculative.
The two main Chinese platforms, BTCC and Okcoin which operate in yuan, accounted for 22 percent of the world trade in bitcoins in early September, according to reference website bitcoinity.org.
Laurence Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock, speaks at a Bloomberg Global Business Forum panel event in New York, U.S. September 20, 2017 REUTERS/Stephen Yang
By Trevor Hunnicutt and Stephanie Kelly
NEW YORK (Reuters) - BlackRock Inc <BLK.N> Chief Executive Larry Fink on Wednesday said the largest asset manager must mirror its customers in terms of gender, comments that come as the company has become more vocal about shareholder and activist efforts to boost workplace diversity.
"The reality is in the world more than 50 percent of household wealth is managed by women," said Fink, who spoke at the Bloomberg Global Business Forum in New York.
"And so if I'm going to be a mirror of my clients, we are going to need more women in our firm."
BlackRock said this year that 39 percent of its employees are women, and that 43 percent of its total hires in 2016 and 29 percent of those brought on in senior leadership positions last year are women.
Investors have increasingly signaled a desire for their savings, including those managed by BlackRock and its rivals, to reflect their values. As a major shareholder in most public companies, BlackRock has also been pressured by activists to back shareholder-fronted propositions and vote against boards to prompt better corporate citizenship.
Fink has encouraged executives to adjust their behavior to focus on generating long-term value for shareholders, rather than simply meeting short-term profit targets.
Lack of diversity is among the top issues, but Fink said on Wednesday that BlackRock has also seen greater interest from investors in environmental, social and corporate governance issues as a result of the United States potentially leaving the landmark 2015 Paris climate pact.
Breaking with prior practice, BlackRock this year publicly disclosed opposition to practices at oil company Exxon Mobil Corp <XOM.N>, drugmaker Mylan NV <MYL.O> and other firms over climate change, compensation and other policies.
BlackRock voted for eight proposals pushing U.S. and Canadian companies to adopt policies to boost their boards' diversity during the second quarter, the asset manager disclosed in July. It said a lack of diversity could hinder decision-making.
BlackRock's board includes 17 members, four of whom are women.
(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Stephanie Kelly; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli)
Oil major BP plc BP along with partner Kosmos Energy intends to produce gas off Mauritania coast. The company has announced that a test drill confirmed the presence of a vital field in the same area.
The field is estimated to produce about 60 million cubic feet of gas per day. Kosmos was given the permission to trade on the London Stock Exchanges main market early this week. The company stated that the well is capable of producing about 200 million cubic feet per day once fully operational.
In 2015, Kosmos had discovered a gas pool in the Tortue 1 exploration well, which is part of the Greater Tortue Complex spread across Senegal and Mauritania that contained more than 15 trillion cubic feet of gas.
In 2016, BP purchased working interest in Kosmos' exploration blocks in Mauritania and Senegal, including the Tortue field.
The recent drilling successes and comparatively low costs have attracted several oil majors including BP and Total SA TOT to invest in the waters of Senegal and Mauritania.
BP owns 62% interest in Tortue. The other partners include Kosmos and Mauritania's state-run oil company, Societe Mauritanienne des Hydrocarbures et de Patrimoine Minier, holding 28% and 10%, respectively.
BP has a strong portfolio of upstream projects that are expected to fetch significant cash flows. The company anticipates the projects to add 800 Mboe/d to net production capacity by 2020, once they are online. It is to be noted that 90% of these upstream developments are either under construction or are completed.
Over the last three months, shares of BP have lost 5.9% compared with the industrys decline of 2.8%.
BP currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the same space include Range Resources Corp. RRC and TransCanada Corp. TRP. All of these stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Range Resources delivered a positive earnings surprise of 250.00% in the preceding quarter. The company beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters with an average negative earnings surprise of 94.22%.
TransCanada delivered a positive earnings surprise of 12.00% in the preceding quarter. It surpassed estimates in two of the trailing four quarters with an average positive earnings surprise of 4.06%.
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(Adds Island Gold mine details and updates share movement)
Sept 11 (Reuters) - Canada's Alamos Gold Inc will buy smaller rival Richmont Mines Inc in a deal valued at about C$905 million ($747 million) to create a top-10 gold producer in North America.
Richmont shareholders will receive 1.385 Alamos share for each share held, or C$14.20, representing a 22 percent premium to Richmont's last close.
Shares of Alamos slumped 12 percent to C$9.02 on the Toronto Stock Exchange in early trading, while Richmont surged 6.7 percent C$12.40.
The combined company, which will have majority of its production in Canada, is expected to produce 500,000 ounces of gold in 2017, the companies said in a statement.
The deal includes Richmont's flagship Island Gold Mine in Ontario, known for its high-grade yield and low cost. As a result, Alamos's production is expected to increase at an average of 25 percent annually.
Upon completion of the deal, which is expected by mid-November, Alamos will own 77 percent of the combined company and Richmont the rest.
BMO Capital Markets was Alamos' financial adviser, while Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Ltd and Maxit Capital LP advised Richmont. ($1 = C$1.21) (Reporting by Ahmed Farhatha in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)
U.S.-based natural gas exporter, Cheniere Energy, Inc. LNG delivered Lithuania its first liquefied natural gas cargo (LNG) from the United States as part of a deal with the countrys state-owned gas trader, Lietuvos Duju Tiekimas in Jun 2017.
Lithuania Aims to Reduce Reliance on Russian Gas
The former Soviet state, presently a member of both NATO and the European Union, struck the deal with Cheniere Energy to reduce its dependence on Russian energy giant Gazprom and thereby diversify its gas suppliers. Although the U.S. Embassy in Lithuania stated that the government was not involved in the deal, Lithuania believes the deal will help strengthen relations between the two countries.
In 2014, Russia's annexation of Crimea alarmed the former Soviet states. Lithuania anticipates that reducing dependency on Russia for energy will decrease the tension in the region. It became the second country in the region to have received U.S. liquefied natural gas cargo from Cheniere Energy after Poland. Lithuania has been importing liquefied natural gas from Norways Statoil ASA STO to add more supply options in the country. Lithuania expects to import half of its gas consumption as liquefied natural gas in 2017.
Cheniere Energy: Expanding its Export Footprint
The gas exported by Cheniere Energy will cater to clients in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The cost of shipment from the company's export terminal on the U.S. Gulf Coast to Klaipeda terminal in the Baltic state is low enough to compete with the gas delivered through Russian pipelines. The supply of gas is expected to increase in the coming years.
Cheniere Energy the only LNG exporter of the U.S. has sent out more than 160 cargoes of liquefied natural gas since Feb 2017, the majority of which is on long-term contracts, to Latin America and Asia.
The company is taking firm and calculated steps in Europe keeping in mind the new sanctions by the U.S. government, targeting Russia. Cheniere Energy is benefiting from the shale revolution in the United States for energy exports. It is helping the company to enter new markets in Europe and compete with regional majors like Gazprom.
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Due to low gas price in the domestic market caused by abundant supply, the company is banking on exporting gas to foreign markets with comparatively higher price and demand. The company expects to benefit from its first-mover advantage in the liquefied natural gas export market, which will reflect in its revenues and earnings.
About the Company and Zacks Rank
Houston, TX-based Cheniere Energy is primarily engaged in businesses related to LNG through its two business segments: LNG terminal and LNG and natural gas marketing. The company, through its controlling interest in Cheniere Energy Partners L.P. CQP and partial ownership interest in Cheniere Energy Partners L.P. Holdings LLC CQH, owns and operates the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in Louisiana, North Americas first large-scale liquefied gas export facility.
Cheniere Energy has been witnessing consistent improvement in revenues for the past few years. Over the last three years (20142016), the companys revenues recorded CAGR of 118.8%. Cheniere Energy looks well positioned to maintain its revenue growth trajectory in the coming years on the back of solid operations and long-term contracts. However, its high debt obligations make it a risky investment going forward.
The company currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Price Performance
Cheniere Energy has lost 1.5% of its value year to date compared with 32.7% fall of its industry.
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xi jinping
It sounds innocent enough "mixed ownership reform."
That is the phrase the Chinese government is using to describe a program in which healthy private companies are encouraged to invest in debt-laden quasi state-owned enterprises (SOEs).
Take, for example, China Unicom, a flailing state-owned telecommunications company. Last week it announced that it would raise around $10 billion in cash from private investors Alibaba, Baidu Inc., JD.com, China Life Insurance Co. and Tencent, among others. Together they'll have a 35% stake in the company.
To put that in perspective, Alibaba, with a 2.04% stake, will be investing $770 million in China Unicom. The question for investors on this side of the world is, will companies like Alibaba do that over and over again? And if they do, will it even work?
A problem disguised as a solution
Since 2015 China has been trying to figure out ways to gradually deflate the massive debt bubble built in its corporate and financial system. That debt is making massive SOEs sluggish and unproductive. That year, SOEs recorded a 2.8% return on assets, while private companies returned 10.6%, according to the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Mixed ownership, which has been part of the conversation around Chinese reform since the 1990s, really began in earnest this year. The government announced that it completed 48 mixed ownership investment deals in June.
You'll find them concentrated in sectors like telecommunications and energy old China. The companies bailing them out are mostly tech giants, like Alibaba and Tencent new China.
The problem is, critics say that moves like this don't actually solve the problem of unproductive state giants.
"The introduction of private capital into SOEs will not, in itself, alter a key determinant of behavior in the Chinese economy: the relationship between firms and the state," wrote researchers at The Paulson Institute in a paper published last year. "Thats because Chinas institutional environment blurs the boundary between SOEs and privately owned firms, which permits the state to exercise significant influence over firms irrespective of its equity ownership stakes and where firms of all ownership types compete for state-generated rents."
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In other words, until the state gets out of the way and creates a transparent, neutral environment where businesses can succeed or fail on their own merit, these reforms won't mean anything. In fact, the paper argues, as long as the state is bossing private companies around too there is really little difference between private and public enterprises. With these reforms, the government isn't loosening its grip on the economy and opening up, it's going backward and making the state an even more powerful actor in China's economy.
What's more, thanks to these deals, as well as forced M&A, SOEs aren't getting smaller they're getting bigger.
A solution that creates more problems
Back to China Unicom, which made headlines last week when it announced its deal (the stock shot up 11%). It made more headlines when it took the deal off the table and said it would be back with another one in three days.
Apparently, according to the WSJ, China Unicom's initial plan for mixed ownership violated the rules of China's stock market. So they had to go back to the drawing board. It didn't help that one of the companies they said would be investing, CRRC Corp, denied that it had any involvement either.
Its a bit embarrassing that you had to withdraw a plan shortly after its filed and after you had spent so much time putting it together, a policy adviser involved in state-company reform told the Journal. At least it shows there is a lack of communication of sort.
So yeah, the process hasn't been perfected quite yet. But it doesn't sound promising either way.
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* China-Russia C929 JV will involve more work by Chinese suppliers
* But it will rely mostly on western manufacturers for systems
* On track to seek bids for engine by year-end
By Brenda Goh
BEIJING, Sept 20 (Reuters) - China's planned wide-body jet joint venture with Russia will see a higher proportion of work from Chinese suppliers, though for key systems like avionics it will still rely mostly on western manufacturers, the jet's chief designer said.
China has been plowing billions of dollars into developing jets to raise its profile in global aviation and to disrupt the current Boeing Co and Airbus SE duopoly, most recently with its C919 narrrowbody aircraft. It has also been vocal about wanting to support local industry.
"Western suppliers need not be too worried," said Chen Yingchun, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China's (COMAC's) chief designer for the C929 wide-body program with Russia's United Aircraft Corp.
There will be more Chinese contribution to the C929 project, compared with the C919, "but all systems, like signalling, won't be affected", Chen said on the sidelines of an aviation conference in Beijing on Wednesday.
Overseas suppliers like Honeywell International Inc and Safran SA were instrumental in the making of China's C919 jet. The plane took its maiden flight in May and 730 orders have been placed to date, mostly by Chinese parties.
In the same month, the C929 wide-body joint venture (JV) was set up with am aim to eventually take 10 percent of the global market dominated by the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350.
The JV partners are currently in the "joint concept design" stage for the C929 and are figuring out how to balance the work share, Chen said. China, at present, is responsible for the plane's body and tail, he added.
The project is on track to seek bids for the engine by year-end, he said. Rolls Royce and General Electric , who also supply wide-body jets, are expected to be contenders, but China is also trying to develop its own version with Russia.
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Chen also said the JV was looking to build half of the C929 using composite materials, versus C919's 10 percent, and that talks were underway with European, U.S. and Chinese suppliers who were willing to set up facilities close to COMAC's Shanghai headquarters to do so.
The JV partners aim to complete the C929's maiden flight and first delivery over 2025-2028.
COMAC's first two passenger plane projects, the ARJ21 and C919, were, however, far behind schedule with the ARJ21 entering service last year, eight years after it took its first flight.
A spokesman for COMAC told Reuters the C919 would take its second flight by the end of this year.
China is the world's fastest growing aviation market. U.S. planemaker Boeing expects Chinese airlines to buy more than 7,000 jets worth $1.1 trillion over 20 years as they grow their fleets to meet robust demand for travel. (Reporting by Brenda Goh; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
Photo credit: Getty
From Good Housekeeping
If you're one of the 143 million whose credit information was compromised as part of the Equifax security breach, you may be wondering if you have any rights when it comes to taking legal action against the company. Considering that the cyberattack leaked names, birth dates, addresses, credit card numbers and full Social Security numbers, it's likely that a class action lawsuit may be filed on your behalf, and you may be entitled to some monetary compensation as a result.
Since the announcement of the attack last month, over 50 class action lawsuits have allegedly been filed against the credit company. Previously, consumers, who may have signed up for the TrustedID Premier program that Equifax recommended as a free credit monitoring option after the breach, were concerned that by opting into the service, they were signing a binding arbitration clause that would forfeit their right to join a class action lawsuit against Equifax. However, according to Tech Crunch, the company has since announced that this clause would not be applied to victims of the credit breach or to those who signed up for the service after learning their data was compromised.
So yes, it's likely if you were affected by the breach that you are eligible to join a class action lawsuit against the company, but before you do it's important to consider your other options.
Here's what to consider:
Lawyers are typically the ones to initiate class action lawsuits after a number of consumers are reportedly harmed when a company engages in alleged unlawful activity. While it won't cost you anything, it's important to note that when you participate in this type of suit, you're giving up the right to sue the company on your own. This can become problematic if you've suffered serious financial damages, physical harm or other losses because of the alleged unlawful activity as being a part of a class action lawsuit typically don't result in a large compensation. You are able to opt out of the class action in order to sue on your own, but by doing so, you forfeit any settlements from that particular lawsuit.
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That being said, Jeff Sovern, a professor of law at St. John's University, says if you weren't planning to sue on your own, you have little to lose by joining in.
"If you believe you have a valid claim but you aren't going to bother to sue separately, and you think the settlement is likely to benefit you (e.g., if money will be deposited directly into your bank account without you doing anything or if you believe you would file the claim forms), then you gain something by joining without losing anything," he explained to GoodHousekeeping.com.
Brian T. Fitzpatrick, a professor of law at Vanderbilt University Law School, who specializes in class action litigation agrees, saying he generally recommends that people stay in class action law suits.
"It is very hard to sue on your own," he explained. "You will almost always get more by staying in a class action than by trying."
If you are considering filing your own lawsuit, you'll want to keep an eye out for any class action letters that you may receive. From there, you can talk to an attorney about the option of opting out so that you can preserve your rights to an individual lawsuit.
If you were a victim of the Equifax breach, Fitzpatrick says that you can generally assume that someone is suing right now on your behalf.
"But remember: Your rights will not be affected until the opt out notice arrives, so there is little reason to worry about these lawsuits until then."
How much settlement money will you get?
Because the already-filed class actions lawsuits are in the early stages, it may be awhile before you see any sort of return. Right now, the lawsuits can't continue without the approval of the courts, and there is a chance that the 50+ suits could be consolidated into a one case.
That being said, don't expect the settlement amount to be life changing even when it does come, especially considering how many people were involved in the breach.
"Most of us have been harmed in only small amounts thus far by Equifax," explains Fitzpatrick.
For example, in one class action lawsuit filed against Equifax in the U.S. District Court in Oregon on Sept. 7, one plaintiff's loss was just $19.95, according to Consumer Reports, which was the amount he paid for a third-party credit monitoring service after he found out about the breach. So it's unlikely that he'll get more than that back in his return.
Even if your losses were small, Fitzpatrick recommends keeping track of them over the next few months, as they may be beneficial down the road.
"Keep track of how much time and money [you] have spent placing freezes and fraud alerts on [your] accounts," he explains. "[You] may be able to submit that information to increase [your] recovery from any class action settlement. Keep track of any other expenses or inconveniences you incur as well."
In a comment to GoodHousekeeping.com, an Equifax spokesperson said the following regarding the pending class action lawsuits:
"We cannot comment on pending litigation, but want to reassure consumers that we are remaining focused on helping them to navigate this situation and providing the best customer support possible. We are listening to issues consumers have experienced and their suggestions, which are helping to further inform our actions as we continue to improve this process."
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craft beer usable
Despite craft brewing fans' battles against industry giants, most Americans don't really care who makes the beers that they drink.
Forty-five percent of American drinkers believe that independence does not matter when picking a craft beer, according to UBS evidence lab's third annual survey of roughly 1,200 US alcohol consumers.
In other words, almost half of Americans don't care at all if a trendy craft beer is owned and produced by AB InBev, the maker of Bud Light, or a small craft brewer completely independent from industry giants.
Only 30% of respondents said independence was "extremely important" in craft beer.
UBS Beer
Further, most people don't mind if a craft beer brand is acquired by a major company. Industry giants including AB InBev, MillerCoors, and Heineken have all made major investments in craft brewing over the last six years. Typically, news of an acquisition is met with boycott threats but evidence suggests that most drinkers aren't that concerned.
According to UBS, 41% of respondents believe a craft beer brand's quality is unchanged after acquisition by a major brewer, and 11% actually believes the quality of the brand would improve instead of deteriorate.
As a result, UBS analyst Nik Oliver concludes that major companies like AB InBev and Heineken "can win in craft with M&A," as long as they can convince drinkers that the craft brands they acquire are "trustworthy" and high-quality.
Many craft brewers that have resisted acquisition argue that independence is crucial for a beer to be considered craft. In June, the Brewers Association a group of 5,300 small and independent American craft brewers announced the launch of an "independent craft" seal to designate which beers are produced by independent craft brewers.
"Beer lovers want to know who is brewing their beer," Bob Pease, the president and CEO of the Brewers Association, told Business Insider at the time. "The seal will help beer drinkers differentiate independent brewers from Big Beer in the marketplace and help them be a deciding voice in what will be on the shelf, rather than the largest beer companies who have tremendous distribution power."
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However, brands that have been acquired by companies such as AB InBev and Molson Coors maintain that drinkers are right not to care that much about independence.
"We are going to be able to achieve things that we never imagined and have an impact that we never imagined, and that's incredible," Wicked Weed co-founder Luke Dickinson said when the craft brewer was acquired by AB InBev in May, assuring fans that the beer itself would not change.
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The ethereum network could pose a real challenge to large financial institutions like Visa as soon as next year, according to Vitalik Buterin, the creator of the ethereum blockchain.
In a Q&A with AngelList founder Naval Ravikant at TechCrunch Disrupt on Monday, Buterin said that security is the biggest challenge to bringing blockchain technologies into the mainstream, and that once it's sorted out, blockchain tech could steal business or even replace financial institutions like Visa in a "couple of years."
Despite the hype around blockchain, most of the current applications that use the technology aren't far enough along in development to be used widely, he said. But Buterin said that while he expects low-security prototypes to be introduced in the financial space by next year, it will be a few years before they have any weight.
Blockchain technologies like Ethereum are widely believed to be the next big disrupter for industries ranging from law to shipping.
Often described as smart contracts, the technology uses a decentralized computer network to send messages which create a universally accessible ledger that can't be edited or modified. Theoretically, with blockchain technology, business and legal transactions can be executed with a lower risk of fraud.
While Buterin was optimistic about the role Ethereum could play in replacing Visa, he was less certain about its impact on cloud computing giants like Amazon Web Services (AWS). AWS sells space on Amazon servers to third party websites like Netflix, which host vast amounts of data on AWS servers.
To disrupt the cloud industry, applications running on the Ethereum network would have to convince private companies that its decentralized structure is secure enough to host proprietary or otherwise sensitive content. Buterin doesn't see that happening anytime soon.
"In general, there's always going to be this large set of applications where decentralized approaches don't work that well," Buterin said.
Story continues
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November West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures are trading higher shortly before the cash market opening. After surging last week to a multi-month high on September 14, the market has consolidated for three days. This indicates investors may be waiting for news to act as a catalyst to take the rally to the next level.
Perhaps OPEC is getting ready to announce an extension of the deal with other major producers to cut production.
Daily November West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil
Daily Technical Analysis
The main trend is up according to the daily swing chart. If the upside momentum continues then the May 25, 2017 top at $52.62 will become the next upside target.
The support is the major retracement zone at $50.30 to $48.87. For the past three days, the market has been straddling the upper or Fibonacci level of this range at $50.30. Holding above this zone will give the market a strong upside bias.
Daily Forecast
Based on the current price at $50.65 and the earlier price action, the direction of the November crude oil market today is likely to be determined by trader reaction to the Fib level at $50.30.
A sustained move over $50.30 will indicate the presence of buyers. This could create enough upside momentum to challenge last weeks high at $50.88.
Overtaking $50.88 will signal a resumption of the uptrend with a long-term downtrending angle at $51.49 the next likely upside target. This angle is the trigger point for an acceleration into $52.62.
A sustained move under $50.65 will signal the presence of sellers. This could trigger an acceleration to the downside with the next major target angle coming in at $49.14.
Watch the price action and read the order flow at $50.30 all session.
This article was originally posted on FX Empire
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Bitcoin continued its recovery on Monday
Investing.com Bitcoin retreated from session highs on Monday but its post-China-ban recovery remained on track as investors continued to pile into the popular digital currency in the wake of the recent slump which saw prices dip below $3,000.
On the U.S.-based Bitfinex exchange, bitcoin rose to $3978, up $311, or 8.48%. Bitcoin is about 30% below its recent peak of $4,969, boasting a market cap slightly above $60 billion.
Less than a week after Bitcoin suffered one its worst crashes in its nine-year history after Chinese authorities ordered all local cryptocurrency exchanges to cease trading, the popular cryptocurrency is well on its way to pairing losses.
The sharp recovery in Bitcoin comes as investors downplayed the fallout of the China ban on global bitcoin trading activity. The Chinese bitcoin exchange market only accounted for approximately 10-13% percent of global bitcoin trading activity so far this year.
In the aftermath of the ban, Japan has become the largest Bitcoin exchange market with 50.75% of the global Bitcoin exchange market. Japan's role on the global Bitcoin stage could yet strengthen as OKCoin and Huobi, the two largest exchanges in China, were granted leeway to operate until Oct. 30, as they have not been involved in any initial coin offerings (ICOs) in the past.
Bitcoin Cash rose 7.61% to $470.26, while Ethereum gained 12.69% to $289.21.
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When new species evolve, where do their viruses come from? As little more than free-ranging bundles of genetic material, viruses desperately need to hijack their hosts cellular machinery and resources to replicate, over and over again. Without its host, a virus is nothing.
Because of that dependence, some viruses have stuck with their hosts throughout evolution, mutating to make minor adjustments every time the host branched into a new speciesa process called co-divergence. Humans and chimpanzees, for instance, have slightly different versions of the hepatitis B virus, both of which likely mutated from a version that infected their shared ancestor more than four million years ago.
The other optioncross-species transmissionoccurs when a virus jumps into a completely new type of host largely unrelated to its former one. That kind of viral evolution is notoriously linked to severe emerging diseases like bird flu, HIV, Ebola fever and SARS. Given the extreme virulence of those diseases, the apparent rarity of cross-species transmission seemed fortunate.
But recently, when researchers in Australia conducted the first study of the long-term evolution of thousands of diverse viruses, they reached a startling conclusion: cross-species transmission has been more important and more frequent than anyone realized. Jumps between species have driven most major evolutionary innovations in the viruses. Meanwhile, co-divergence has been less common than was assumed and has mostly caused incremental changes.
They showed rather convincingly that co-divergence is the exception rather than the rule, said Pleuni Pennings, an evolutionary biologist and assistant professor at San Francisco State University who was not involved with the study.
Viruses Would Rather Jump to New Hosts Than Evolve With Them Lucy Reading-Ikkanda/Quanta Magazine, PLOS
The finding does not necessarily mean that emerging diseases from cross-species transmission are a more grave or imminent threat than medical science has assumed. However, it does reveal that the dynamics of virus evolution can be surprisingly complex. If scientists have been underestimating how often viruses can move into new hosts, then understanding which viruses are most primed to do so becomes a higher priority.
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Theres no shortage of reasons why cross-species jumps would seem unlikely to influence viral evolution much. The odds against a virus leaping successfully to a new host species are formidable. If the virus cant manipulate the hosts genetic material and replicate itself, then thats the end of the line. A virus might need to make multiple attempts to infect a novel host over decades or longer, accumulating appropriate mutations all the while, before it could finally establish itself, replicate and spread.
This past spring, for example, a team of naturalists and biomedical researchers led by Susan VandeWoude, professor of comparative medicine at Colorado State University, reported an example of what seems to be an incomplete cross-species transition. VandeWoude studies lentivirusesa type of retrovirus that includes HIVin mountain lions and bobcats. She and her team kept finding a certain bobcat lentivirus in mountain lions in California and Florida. But every time, genetic evidence showed the virus came from a mountain lions exposure to an infected bobcatfor instance, from eating oneand not from another infected mountain lion passing it on. The viral loads in the mountain lions were also low, meaning the virus was struggling to replicate.
In short, the virus was getting into the new cat hosts, but it wasnt clicking with that body environment well enough to establish itself. In multiple transmission events, there wasnt any evidence that a new virus was now being replicative in the mountain lions, VandeWoude said. (In contrast, VandeWoudes team found that a form of the bobcat virus had made the jump into Florida panthers, which were passing around a variant adapted to them.) Given that the transmissions between the cat species are so frequent, the lentivirus may eventually mutate enough to find the mountain lions habitable, but so far that hasnt happened despite many opportunities.
Moreover, when viruses do successfully leap from one species to another, they can become victims of their own success. Particularly in small, isolated populationswhich are how many new species beginhighly virulent viruses can rapidly exhaust the supply of available hosts and burn themselves out.
It therefore seemed safe for virologists to assume that, even if cross-species jumps happen a lot over the long term, co-divergence of viruses and their hosts would represent the norm. But actual data supporting that position have been sparse. The idea of perfect co-divergence is one of those things that you learn about, but then if you try to find good examples, they are really rare, Pennings said.
University of Sydney
Edward Holmes, professor of biology at the University of Sydney, and his Australian colleagues decided to confront this mystery head on. Using viral genome data, they reconstructed the evolutionary history of 19 major virus families, each of which contained between 23 and 142 viruses found in diverse hosts ranging from mammals to fish to plants. They created phylogenetic, or evolutionary, trees for both the virus families and their host species and then compared them. They reasoned that if a virus had largely co-diverged with its host, evolving right alongside it, then the viruss phylogenetic tree should resemble its hosts: ancestral versions of the virus ought to have infected the hosts ancestors. But if the virus is jumping between species, the trees of the hosts and viruses will look different. How different depends on how many cross-species jumps are made.
Their study, published in PLOS Pathogens, reported that for all 19 virus families, cross-species transmissions were common. According to Holmes, he wasnt surprised to see that every virus family they looked at had jumped between species, but he was surprised at the sheer number of times theyd done it in their histories. Theyre all doing it, he said. Its quite extraordinary.
As for why researchers hadnt recognized the importance of cross-species jumps to virus evolution sooner, Holmes explained that previous phylogenetic studies had often taken too narrow a view, looking at relatively few species of hosts and viruses over short timescales. Over 10 or 20 years, you may not get a cross-species jump. Over a million, you definitely will, Holmes said.
Their novel approach provides a framework to start looking at long-term associations between hosts and viruses, said John Dennehy, an associate professor of biology at Queens College, about the study.
Viruses Would Rather Jump to New Hosts Than Evolve With Them Lucy Reading-Ikkanda/Quanta Magazine, PLOS
For Holmes and his colleagues, one insight into how and why cross-species transmission happens came from their observation that RNA viruses (which use RNA as a genetic material) seem to jump species much more frequently than DNA viruses (which use DNA) do. Thats probably because they have a higher mutation rate, VandeWoude said. For RNA viruses, the combination of a generally smaller genome and a higher mutation rate makes it more likely that they can adapt to a new host environment.
Holmes pins the trend to the different life histories of RNA and DNA viruses, too. RNA virus infections are often acute but transient, coming and going in a relatively short timeas with the flu or the common cold. That transience means the virus can miss its opportunity to be part of the diverging host species. If youre an acute virus, you only have an effect for a few days or weeks, Holmes said. Co-divergence is very hard to do on average. Youre not around long enough.
In contrast, DNA virus infections are often chronic. When part of a host population splinters off to become a new species, its more likely to bring the virus along because more of the population would be infected. That increases the chances the virus can co-diverge with its new hosts.
Craig Stihler, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
The hosts way of life also plays a role in virus transmission and the odds of co-divergence versus cross-species jumping. We know that host population size and density are really important in dictating how many viruses they have, Holmes said. He used bats as an example: Bats have a penchant for carrying many different viruses, but thats at least partly because there are a hell of a lot of bats. With such large populations, theyre just more likely to contract viruses. A very simple rule of ecology is, the more hosts there are, the more virulent things they can carry, Holmes said. The chance of a virus finding a susceptible host is just higher.
A 1975 Science paper from Francis L. Black of Yale University provided some insight into how human diseases are affected by a hosts population dynamics. Looking at fairly isolated, small societies of native Amazonian people, researchers found that although they could often detect chronic viral infections, acute infections were largely absent. Isolation kept the tribes protected from new viruses. The few viruses that did get in, if they were acute, quickly worked their way through the small tribes and died out. Without lots of hosts to sustain them, the viruses disappeared quickly.
The Risk of New Diseases
The discovery that cross-species transmission has occurred so often might seem worrisome, given its association with harsh emerging diseases. With so many jumps having occurred in the past, does the future hold more of the same?
Not necessarily. Historical jumping rates do not necessarily predict the future, especially when it comes to humans, Pennings said. The way we live today is so different from how humans lived just a few centuries ago, our risk of emerging diseases is probably different as well.
Humans carry a lot of viruses as well. We too have large populations, and were incredibly mobile, meaning we bring along viruses to new, susceptible hosts quite easily. We have all kinds of behaviors that put us at risk for all kinds of things because we like to go poke around in places where we probably shouldnt, we take lots of risks, we eat things we probably shouldnt eat, VandeWoude said. Were probably the worst offenders and probably the biggest target for cross-species transmission just because we do so many crazy things.
And doing those crazy things often leads us to bump against other species. The more we do that, the more we expose ourselves to new viruses, and the species putting us at greatest risk are the ones we interact with the most. Were more likely to get something from rats than from tigers, Pennings said.
But further studies of viral evolutionary history may help scientists figure out whether there are species to which we should pay more attention as sources of new infections. (Epidemiologists already closely monitor viruses at risk for passing from poultry to humans because of fears about bird flu.) Maybe viruses from plants, fish and mammals are equally risky to humans, or maybe those researchers trying to predict the next epidemic can narrow their focus to a select high-risk group.
Holmes has a different view. I dont think prediction is in any way viable at all, he said. I understand why its done, but what I think I get from this and the sheer number of new viruses were discovering is its just not viable.
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Luckily, its now much easier to do that sort of analysis with the growth of metagenomics, the study of genomic information extracted from the environment. For this study, Holmes and his colleagues pulled viral genomic sequences from a number of publicly accessible databases. They didnt need to have physical samples of any of the viruses, which is a relatively new direction for this field. Virology is moving into a new phase where, with metagenomics, you can now do this mass sampling stuff just to see whats there, Holmes said.
Holmes also noted that because its now so easy to access new information about viruses, the phylogenetic trees that he and his colleagues created will change a lot in the near future. In three years time, these trees will be much fuller because well have found so many new samples of these viruses, he said.
Original story reprinted with permission from Quanta Magazine, an editorially independent publication of the Simons Foundation whose mission is to enhance public understanding of science by covering research developments and trends in mathematics and the physical and life sciences.
Emerson CEO David Farr (Photo by David Bohrer / National Assoc. of Manufacturers)
David Farr, CEO and chairman of Emerson Electric (EMR) and chairman of the National Association of Manufacturers, says Washington D.C. has put American manufacturing at a clear, competitive disadvantage with the high corporate tax rate.
In a speech at the Economic Club of New York on Wednesday, Farr said its indefensible to not have a competitive tax policy in the United States.
If you are like me, you look at those numbers and you ask: what are we doing to ourselves? And why? What are we doing to our people? Why is Washington D.C. making it harder for America to win in the world? This is so stupid! So dumb from my perspective! he said.
He decried the fact that the top corporate tax rate in the U.S. can exceed 39% when federal and state rates are combined. Thats the highest statutory rate among the 35 industrialized nations of the OECD, and 50% higher than the average rate, he added.
While the tax code isnt the only problem, its one of the biggest and most impactful for U.S. manufacturers, he said. He argues that a more modern tax code would allow companies like Emerson to hire more workers.
America has some incredible advantages: unparalleled resources and an unbeatable, hard-working, and dedicated workforce, Farr said. But if we modernized our tax code for the modern economy if we let our companies compete on a level playing field in the world we could lift up more families invest in more communities unleash the power of this industry and improve the lives of all Americans, and this great nation.
Farr outlined some key changes that hed like to see. First, he said the corporate tax rate should be reduced to 15%. Second, hed like the government to stop punishing companies reinvesting overseas earnings back into the U.S. He noted that 50% of Emersons sales in 2016 were outside of the U.S. Third, he said the U.S. needs a robust capital cost recovery system for investments manufacturers make in their businesses. Finally, hed like to see strong R&D incentives both in deductions and a strengthened R&D credit.
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We have the best chance in decades to get this done, he added.
He reiterated his warnings about the current tax code.
If you are defending the current tax code, then you have to defend a manufacturing worker in Ohio losing his or her job to a worker overseas. If you are defending the current tax code, you have to defend years and years of mediocre economic growth, stagnant wages, and entire communities losing hope for future prosperity. If you are defending the current tax code, you are defending less innovation, fewer technological breakthroughs, less R&D, and fewer lifesaving medical discoveries.
Julia La Roche is a finance reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter.
(Adds background and company comment, paragraphs 2-7)
By Erwin Seba
HOUSTON, May 24 (Reuters) - U.S. oil and gas producer EP Energy Corp and refiner Tesoro Corp on Wednesday announced a joint venture to drill 60 wells in the Uinta basin in Utah.
Tesoro will buy all the oil produced from the wells and provide capital for a 50 percent stake in EP Energy's working interest in the wells, the companies said. Financial terms of the joint venture were not disclosed.
The investment does not signal a broad shift by San Antonio, Texas-based Tesoro into exploration and production. The company has expanded its Salt Lake City refinery and needs more crude oil to supply it.
"It made sense for this region and this refinery," said Tesoro spokeswoman Destin Singleton, who declined to comment about future drilling ventures. "It is about supply for the Salt Lake City refinery."
The two companies also signed a multi-year crude oil supply agreement for yellow and black waxy crude oil to supply Tesoro's Salt Lake City refinery.
The refinery has the capacity to process 63,000 barrels of oil per day. Tesoro has configured it to run the cheaper waxy crude from Uinta. Oil supplies for the plant have come from Wyoming and Canada via pipelines.
"They probably do need this waxy crude to run their plant at a higher utilization (rate)," said Matthew Blair, a Denver-based refinery analyst with Tudor Pickering & Holt. Rival HollyFrontier Corp also recently expanded its Salt Lake City refinery, he said, adding to pressures on crude supplies. (Reporting by Erwin Seba in Houston, Jessica Resnick-Ault in New York and John Benny in Bengaluru; Editing by Gary McWilliams and David Gregorio)
Nearly half of all Americans (around 143 million) are scrambling to keep their credit safe with fraud alerts and credit freezes after a security breach at Equifax (NYSE:EFX) exposed their personal data to potential hackers earlier this month. Now many experts warn that fraudsters may try to capitalize on the hack during tax season.
"Tax return scams have always been a problem and now more people are at risk due to the Equifax data breach, Michael Lai, CEO and founder of Sitejabber, a website-based platform that protects consumers from scams, tells FOX Business.
Lai says its imperative for Equifax victims to file their tax returns as quickly as possible this year.
"Once your return is filed, nobody else can file a second return without raising some red flags, so the scammers will simply move on to the next victim, Lai adds.
Jay Shah, Personal Capital CEO, tells FOX Business that on a federal level, if you suspect any tax fraud or if you just want to be extra careful this year you can call the IRS and inquire what tax filings have been made in your name.
Also, be sure to check your mail. If someone tries to change your personal information online, the IRS, as a matter of protocol, will send you a letter and alert you of this change, Shah says.
Additionally, Shah encourages people to look into local resources that their home state may offer. For example, California has an online portal available where taxpayers can create a secure login to view their tax filings and refund information.
Aaron Frank, CEO of Final, a credit card startup company, tells FOX Business that if people want to avoid a fake tax return filed in their name, he recommends getting a PIN from the IRS before submitting a return as a second layer of protection.
Here are a few other tips to follow to keep your tax return safe this year, according to Lai:
1) Change withholdings so that less taxes are taken out of your paycheck to minimize the refund you are owed at the end of the year. In general, if you can swing it, this can also be beneficial by allowing you to invest that money before paying it back to the government.
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2) Use the IRS website to get a PIN that is required before submitting a return (only available in some states or certain situations) or to set up alerts so you can see when your return is filed. While this won't necessarily prevent fraud, it can expedite the tax refund process so you don't have to wait so long to receive what you are entitled to. Therefore, you may find out more quickly if youve been scammed or not.
3) Tax refund scams originate from stolen Social Security numbers, so beware of any site that asks for too much personal information, any government-looking site that isn't actually associated with the U.S. Government, or any phishing site in general.
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In the past year, flying cars have gone from LOL, to maybe a real thing, to a booming industry raking in VC cash and churning out sweet renderings of an aerial future.
The chance to trigger the next great transportation revolution has drawn in big companies, like Airbus and Uber, big names, like Google's Larry Page, and naturally, a horde of startups. They all believe the proliferation of vertical takeoff and landing (or VTOL) aircraft, which combine the best features of helicopters and planes, can make traveling throughout and between cities not just faster, but maybe cheaper and greener.
AI expert Sebastian Thrun thinks the idea will only climb higher, especially once these aircraft can fly themselves, and he wants to help make it happen.
I see a future where everybody flies at least once a day, he says. Getting there, however, will require a ton of work: building the aircraft, making them reliable, teaching them to land safely and avoid each other in congested airspaceand doing it all without human pilots in charge. That means finding people who can develop complicated software that accounts for the vagaries of aeronautics.
Merging those two is a gap you dont see many people bridge, says Richard Pat Anderson, who runs the Flight Research Center at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is developing his own VTOL aircraft.
So Thrun, best known for launching Googles self-driving car program (now known as Waymo), plans to make that gap a lot smaller. Next year, his online education company, Udacity, will inaugurate the Flying Car Nanodegree Program. The coursewhose cost and duration remain TBDpromises to prepare anybody who meets some key requirements for a job in this most Jetsons-y of industries.
Udacity
Udacity hasnt finalized the prerequisites for this course, but Thrun guesses theyll look similar to those for the self-driving engineer course he started last year: strong programming skills and a good deal of math know-how. Anderson recommends students be skilled in things like differential calculus before signing up. They require a pretty extensive skill set just to sit in the seat, he says.
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Thats because this is hard stuff. Udacitys flying car cadets will have to master things like designing aircraft and controlling them in three dimensions while the wind is gusting in different directions. They must develop vehicles that can perfectly perceive the world around them, avoid fellow travelers, and identify safe landing spots, even (especially) when sensors fail and things go haywire.
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Students should expect to spend 10-20 hours a week on the course. Theyll be doing projects instead of sitting through lectures, working in flight simulators on all of the above tasks. To build the curriculum and run the classes, Udacity has brought in a few experts: Nicholas Roy, from MITs Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics; Angela Schoellig from the University of Torontos Institute for Aerospace Studies; and Raff DAndrea, co-founder of Kiva Systems, which Amazon bought in 2012 to operate its fulfillment centers.
Anderson may doubt the efficacy of online educationhe says his students perform better when he works with them in personbut he agrees theres serious demand for this kind of expertise from the bevy of people trying to deliver flying as personal transport. And one of the key advantages of Udacitys approach is that its courses are open to anyone who meets the prerequisites and has the money to pay for it (the self-driving engineer program, for examples, costs $2,400 for a 27-week course). You don't have to go back to school full-time or somehow warp back into your 19-year-old self to get started on a new career.
So for anyone psyched about this future of flight, the good news is that all the companies trying to make it happen might soon have access to a bigger workforce. And for anyone who understands differential calculus: Go make us some flying cars already.
A fire broke out on Tuesday at Valero Energy (NYSE: VLO) 's refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, one of the cities along the Gulf Coast that saw the most severe damage from Hurricane Harvey. The company's emergency response team is on the scene, a spokesperson for Valero told CNBC. Valero has contacted local authorities and is cooperating with relevant agencies.The fire started shortly before noon in a heavy oil tank at Valero's 335,000 barrel per day refinery.No injuries have been reported, and all employees have been accounted for. Nearby residents have been advised to shelter in place as a precautionary measure."Our primary concern is for safety of workers and community," Lillian Riojas, director of media relations and communications for Valero told CNBC.The Port Arthur Fire Department is assisting with a fire at the Valero plant, according to a municipal alert. The department is asking residents of one section of the city to stay inside.The Beaumont Enterprise, a local newspaper, linked to a video showing a thick black smoke plume that appeared behind a tank.Valero shut down the refinery about three weeks ago as Harvey battered southeastern Texas. The facility remained closed for about two weeks. It was not immediately clear whether the blaze was related to the restart process or effects from the storm. Reuters contributed to this report. A fire broke out on Tuesday at Valero Energy (NYSE: VLO) 's refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, one of the cities along the Gulf Coast that saw the most severe damage from Hurricane Harvey. The company's emergency response team is on the scene, a spokesperson for Valero told CNBC. Valero has contacted local authorities and is cooperating with relevant agencies. The fire started shortly before noon in a heavy oil tank at Valero's 335,000 barrel per day refinery. No injuries have been reported, and all employees have been accounted for. Nearby residents have been advised to shelter in place as a precautionary measure. "Our primary concern is for safety of workers and community," Lillian Riojas, director of media relations and communications for Valero told CNBC. The Port Arthur Fire Department is assisting with a fire at the Valero plant, according to a municipal alert. The department is asking residents of one section of the city to stay inside. The Beaumont Enterprise, a local newspaper, linked to a video showing a thick black smoke plume that appeared behind a tank. Valero shut down the refinery about three weeks ago as Harvey battered southeastern Texas. The facility remained closed for about two weeks. It was not immediately clear whether the blaze was related to the restart process or effects from the storm. Reuters contributed to this report.
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By Ginger Gibson
WASHINGTON, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Donald Graham, the chairman of the board of Graham Holdings Company and former publisher of The Washington Post, personally retained two lobbyists earlier this year to advocate on behalf of retaining the program that has allowed immigrant children to remain legally in the country.
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced the end of the Obama-era program that protects immigrants known as Dreamers, brought illegally into the United States as children, from deportation. Implementation will be delayed until March, giving the U.S. Congress six months to decide the fate of almost 800,000 young people.
Graham joins a large group of business executives, including many from Silicon Valley and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who support legislation to allow these immigrants to stay.
Graham said he was motivated by his work as a cofounder of the scholarship program TheDream.Us which provides college scholarships to Dreamers.
"I am doing this because I am one of three cofounders of the scholarship fund and running that fund has brought me into contact with some amazing students," Graham said. "All they want is a chance, and I hope well give them that."
Graham said he believes Congress could act.
"Im from Washington so Im not a blind optimist, but I think one senses a desire in Congress to do something and I hope that will be the case," he said.
It is unusual for private citizens to retain their own lobbyists without a personal financial stake in the issue. Most lobbyists are contracted by companies or associations that represent groups with shared interests.
And while business has been vocal on the issue of immigration, only a small handful listed the program for immigrant children, called the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), as an issue which they lobbied Congress or the administration on this year.
Some businesses are making their support of DACA known through other means. Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg is driving a lobbying effort by Fwd.Us which supports immigration changes including renewing DACA.
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Microsoft President Brad Smith said Congress should prioritize passing a DACA renewal over tax reform, a top priority for most business.
The disclosed lobbying effort around DACA has been almost entirely led by universities and advocacy groups, like the NAACP and the Anti-Defamation League, according to disclosures.
Graham paid Covington & Burling LLP $70,000 in the first six months of the year to lobby exclusively on DACA.
Only one company, Cummins Inc., has disclosed lobbying regarding DACA. Their in-house lobbyists held discussions with members of Congress on a number of issues, including immigration.
"In order to recruit and retain top global talent we need fair and flexible immigration laws," said a spokesman for Cummins, Jon Mills. "In addition, Congress hasnt done a real update to Americas immigration system since 1986 and if done right, there could be many benefits for the United States."
The company, which makes engines and power generators, has been vocal publicly on the issue as well. Their company's CEO Tom Linebarger, called on Congress to quickly pass a replacement program. (Reporting by Ginger Gibson; Editing by Chris Sanders)
- By Sydnee Gatewood
Cereal and yogurt manufacturer General Mills Inc. (GIS) reported disappointing results for the first quarter of fiscal 2018 before the opening bell on Sept. 20.
The Minnesota-based company posted earnings per share of 71 cents, which narrowly missed expectations of 76 cents. Quarterly revenue of $3.77 billion was just shy of estimates of $3.79 billion and decreased 3.5% from the year-ago quarter.
The trend in General Mills' revenue growth over the past decade is illustrated in the graph below.
The company's shares fell more than 5% in premarket trading following the announcement.
General Mills mainly attributed its disappointing performance to lower yogurt and cereal sales in North America. The company's U.S. yogurt sales recorded double-digit declines as demand for Yoplait Greek and Yoplait Light was weak. In addition, U.S. cereal sales declined 7% due to customer inventory levels and unfavorable trade expense phasing.
In a statement, CEO Jeff Harmening emphasized the company had "anticipated a slow start to the year" and is focusing on boosting international sales and developing new products.
General Mills reiterated its guidance for fiscal 2018. Organic net sales are projected to decline 1% to 2%, which is an improvement from fiscal 2017. Total segment operating profit, on a constant-currency basis, is expected to be flat to up 1%. Adjusted diluted EPS is forecasted to increase 1% to 2% from $3.08 in 2017.
"We're encouraged by the improvement we saw in first-quarter retail sales trends, and we're confident that improved momentum will translate into stronger organic net sales results in the rest of the year, beginning in the second quarter," Harmening said. "Importantly, we remain on track to deliver our fiscal 2018 goals in a challenging and dynamic environment."
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He stressed the company's top priority in 2018 is strengthening top-line performance.
"Looking ahead, we're taking deliberate steps through innovation, brand building and increased organizational agility to position the company for long-term top- and bottom-line growth," Harmening said.
With 0.59% of outstanding shares, Mairs and Power (Trades, Portfolio) has the largest holding of General Mills among the gurus. During the second quarter, George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) and Ray Dalio (Trades, Portfolio) established positions.
Disclosure: I do not own any stocks mentioned.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
bill cassidy
WASHINGTON As Senate Republicans barrel forward with another, possibly final attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, the bill's architects are staying cautious in case it ends in failure.
The bill is being pushed through the Senate using reconciliation, which allows Republicans to bypass a filibuster and pass the legislation with a simple majority. In a Senate where Republicans have only a two-vote majority, any defectors can derail the process as they did during the latest attempt in July.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, of Louisiana, who is one of the bill's coauthors, said he could not determine the vote count or whether it was likely to pass.
"I'm still cautiously optimistic, but there's a lot of moving parts," Sen. Ron Johnson, of Wisconsin, another of the bill's architects, said. "It's kind of coming together."
Sen. John McCain, of Arizona, who was one of the deciding votes against the previous effort to repeal the ACA, also known as Obamacare, told reporters he was undecided on the bill. McCain said that while he was not waiting for an official analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, he wanted the bill to be passed through regular order.
"I am going to continue to look at this as the process goes on," McCain said. "I want a regular order, and that's what I said a week ago two weeks ago."
While a handful of moderate Republicans are still mulling their support, the only GOP senator to come out strongly against the bill is Rand Paul of Kentucky.
"You know I'll do everything I can to describe this as keeping Obamacare, Obamacare lite," Paul said. "But I oppose it, and we'll see what happens."
Senate Democrats are left on the sidelines as Republicans whip the votes in their own conference. Through reconciliation, they have few, if any, options to block the bill.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, however, said in a press conference earlier Monday that he was exploring any ways his conference could prevent the bill, which was also coauthored by Sen. Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, from passing.
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"Look, this is so outrageous and so harmful that we're going to look at every possible way to slow this bill down," Schumer said.
Among other things, Schumer wants a concrete score from the Congressional Budget Office, which he believes would shine a light on the ramifications of the bill if it were to become law.
"It would be outrageous for our Republican colleagues to vote for this bill without knowing its effect on people," Schumer added. "That whatever your ideology would be nothing short of a disgrace."
But the CBO announced in a statement Monday that it would be able to provide only a preliminary score of the bill, without any "point estimates of the effects on the deficit, health insurance coverage, or premiums for at least several weeks."
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Greece tourism will hit a record high in 2017, but Greece may not be out of the woods just yet.
(1:00) - Is Greece Making A Comeback?
(5:10) - Greece's Problematic Economy
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(25:00) - Episode Roundup: Podcast@Zacks.com
Welcome to Episode #99 of the Zacks Market Edge Podcast.
Every week, host and Zacks stock strategist, Tracey Ryniec, will be joined by guests to discuss the hottest investing topics in stocks, bonds and ETFs and how it impacts your life.
In this episode, Tracey is joined by Zacks Harry Kougias, who spent 4 months in Greece this year and is a Greek expat. For the third time on the podcast, he shares his observations about the Greek economy.
There are signs that Greece may be turning it around economically.
The Good Signs for Greece
In July 2017, Greece held its first successful bond sale in 3 years, raising 3 billion euros.
2017 is also expected to be Greeces best for tourism ever. Over 30 million visitors are expected this year, up from 27.5 million 2016. Some islands are seeing so many tourists theyve had to put a cap on visitors.
Popular Santorini received over 600 cruise boats in 2016. On some days, nearly 20,000 cruise ship passengers would disembark, overwhelming the small island. In response, Santorini joins other popular vacation destinations like Venice and Barcelona, in restricting the number of tourists who can enter each day.
Tourism is 24% of Greeces GDP. 8 in 10 new jobs were created through the tourist sector.
But even with that success, it has been an uneven recovery. Not every island is Santorini. And because tourism is so seasonal, with many places shutting down in the winter months, its very difficult to make a living at it.
The Bad Signs for Greece
Even with tourism soaring, unemployment remains the highest in the Eurozone at 23%. For young people between the ages of 18 and 24, it is much worse. Some put the number as high as 50%.
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The result has been a brain drain with many young people opting to move to other parts of the EU to start their careers. It means that Greece is losing the very people who it needs to spark the economy in the coming years.
Additionally, pensions continue to be cut, putting further strains on Greeces seniors.
How to Invest in Greeces Comeback
But for every pessimist, theres an optimist wondering how they can invest in Greeces comeback.
With tourism being one of the largest industries, the most obvious investments are found there.
1. The Greece ETF GREK is the easiest way to invest IN Greece. Shares are up 22% year-to-date as some investors have already bought into the turnaround story. But be careful, as the ETF carries a lot of the banks and shipping companies in its top 10 holdings.
2. Ryanair Holdings RYAAY is one of the low cost European airlines that offers a lot of flights to the Greek Islands. Its a way to play the tourism trade.
3. Royal Caribbean RCL is cashing in on the popularity of cruises worldwide, but the Mediterranean is certainly high on many lists. And as the Eurozone economy improves, more consumers will want to travel.
4. Expedia EXPE is an online travel agency but it also owns HomeAway, the popular home rental company. Greeks have figured out that renting their homes to vacationers is a good way to earn some extra cash.
5. Priceline PCLN is one of the largest vacation booking companies in the world. Its off its highs and trading with a forward P/E of 24.
Is Harry optimistic this year, or pessimistic, about the Greek economy and turnaround?
Tune into this weeks podcast to find out.
Want to Listen to Last Years Greece Podcast to See if Harry and Tracey Got It Right?
Listen below to find out more from the November 2016 podcast on Greece.
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Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE:WMT) says that it isnt planning for additional holiday hiring in 2017.
Holiday Hiring 2017: Walmart to Give Existing Employees More Hours Instead
Source: Mike Mozart via Flickr
According to the retailer, it will be giving its workers additional hours in 2017. This will allow Walmart to keep employees on-hand to help with the surge of shoppers without adding more workers through holiday hiring. This is the same strategy that the company used for 2016.
Walmart notes that customers responded positively to its plan to skip out on holiday hiring in 2016. Its possible that the system works better for the company because it gives customers access to employees that have worked for the store regularly and may be more helpful than seasonal hires.
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The retailer also says that the additional hours that its employees will work will give them access to new positions. This includes having them work as cashiers, stockers, personal shoppers and other positions at the company.
We are also bringing back the very popular Holiday Helper and increasing the number of Helpers we have in stores this season, Judith McKenna, Chief Operating Officer for Walmart U.S, said in a statement. These associates are dedicated to helping customers get through the stores faster by finding the shortest checkout line, opening registers as needed and will even quickly grab items customers might have forgotten.
Other retailers are also preparing for the busy shopping season. However, they will be sticking with the tradition of holiday hiring to bring in extra employees. Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) is planning to hire 100,000 seasonal employees in 2017. Macys Inc (NYSE:M) says that it will add 80,000 employees to its workforce for the holidays.
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As of this writing, William White did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
The post Holiday Hiring 2017: Walmart to Give Existing Employees More Hours Instead appeared first on InvestorPlace.
88 kg gold smuggling: Five more arrested
Police on Wednesday arrested five more persons in connection with the 88 kg gold smuggling case.
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Illinois Tool Works Inc. ITW. Shares have lost about 7.4% in that time frame, underperforming the market.
Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to the stock's next earnings release, or is it due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
Second-Quarter 2017 Highlights
Illinois Tool Works Inc. reported impressive bottom-line results for second-quarter 2017. Earnings in the quarter came in at $1.69 per share. Excluding benefits of $0.03 from a legal settlement, adjusted earnings were $1.66, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.63.
Also, the bottom-line of $1.63 topped the year-ago tally of $1.46 by 13.7%. Further, it exceeded the guidance range of $1.55-$1.65. The year-over-year improvement can be attributed to a 3.1% reduction in the company's share count due to its ongoing share buyback activity. Earnings were also boosted by its enterprise initiatives.
Revenues in the quarter totaled $3.599 billion, slightly below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.62 billion. However, the top line grew 4.9% year over year. The improvement was driven by 2.6% positive impact from organic revenue growth and 3.5% gain from the acquired assets of Engineered Fasteners & Components (completed in 2016). However, the positives were partially offset by 1.2% adverse impact from unfavorable foreign currency movements.
Segmental Details: Illinois Tool Works reports its revenues under the segments discussed below:
Test & Measurement and Electronics' revenues increased 2.5% year over year to $519 million. Revenues from Automotive OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) grew 22.2% to $820 million. Food Equipment generated revenues of $529 million, dipping 1.4% year over year.
Welding revenues came in at $385 million, growing 2.9% year over year. Construction Products' revenues were up 0.4% to $425 million while revenues of $490 million from Specialty Products reflected growth of 1.1%. Polymers & Fluids' revenues of $437 million declined 1.3% year over year.
Margins: In the quarter, Illinois Tool Works' cost of sales increased 6.1% year over year, representing 58% of total revenue compared with 57.3% in the year-ago quarter. Selling, administrative, and research and development expenses, as a percentage of total revenue, came in at 16.3%.
Operating margin improved 120 bps year over year to 24.3%, driven by roughly 100 bps contributions from enterprise initiatives. Excluding the impact from the Engineered Fasteners and Components business (EF&C) acquisition, operating margin in the quarter was 24.9%.
Balance Sheet & Cash Flow: Exiting the second quarter, Illinois Tool Works had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $2,496 million, slightly above $2,493 million recorded in the previous quarter. The company's long-term debt grew 2.2% sequentially to $7,360 million.
In the quarter, Illinois Tool Works generated net cash of $464 million from its operating activities, down 13.3% year over year. Capital expenditure on purchase of plant and equipment totaled $77 million. Adjusted free cash flow was $502 million, reflecting a conversion rate (as a percentage of net income) of 85%.
Outlook: Impressed with its second-quarter results, Illinois Tool Works increased its earnings guidance to $6.32-$6.52 per share for 2017 from the earlier projection of $6.20-$6.40.
Total revenue is anticipated to come in a $14.1-$14.2 billion range versus the prior projection of $13.9-$14.1 billion. Organic revenue growth is expected to be 2-4% while operating margin is expected to be 24%. Full-year free cash flow is anticipated to be 100% of net income. Effective tax rate will be roughly 29%.
For third-quarter 2017, earnings per share are expected within $1.57-$1.67. Organic revenues are expected to be 1-3%.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
Following the release, investors have witnessed an upward trend in fresh estimates. There have been two revisions higher for the current quarter compared to one lower.
Illinois Tool Works Inc. Price and Consensus
Illinois Tool Works Inc. Price and Consensus | Illinois Tool Works Inc. Quote
VGM Scores
At this time, Illinois Tool's stock has an average Growth Score of C, a grade with the same score on the momentum front. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a grade of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of D. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Zacks' style scores indicate that the company's stock is suitable for growth and momentum investors.
Outlook
While estimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, the magnitude of these revisions has been net zero. Notably, the stock has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We are expecting an inline return from thestock in the next few months.
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TEL AVIV, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Israeli defence electronics provider Elbit Systems said on Tuesday it won a contract worth about $93 million from an Asia-Pacific country to upgrade its F-5 aircraft fleet.
The contract will be carried out over three years. Elbit Systems will supply the F-5 with systems including head-up displays, an advanced cockpit, radars, weapon delivery and navigation systems.
Elbit Systems did not identify the country in its statement. (Reporting by Tova Cohen)
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May takes part in a meeting with Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (not pictured) on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, September 18, 2017. REUTERS/Chris Wattie
By David Ljunggren
OTTAWA (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday she would press U.S. President Donald Trump this week about a trade challenge by Boeing Co (BA.N) that could endanger thousands of aerospace jobs in Northern Ireland.
May and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are worried about Boeing's move against Bombardier Inc (BBDb.TO), which is the single largest manufacturing employer in Northern Ireland and Canada's most important aerospace firm.
May raised the issue with Trump in a call earlier this month and told reporters in Ottawa she would do so again this week on the margins of the United Nations.
"I will be impressing on him the significance of Bombardier to the United Kingdom ... I want to see a resolution that protects those jobs in Northern Ireland," she said after talks with Trudeau where both leaders agreed to work together to stress that Boeing should back down.
May's minority Conservative government depends on backing from the small Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) for their majority control of the British parliament.
Boeing accuses Bombardier of dumping its new CSeries passenger jet in the U.S. aircraft market, a charge the Canadian firm denies.
A U.S. trade court is due to give a preliminary ruling on Boeing's complaint on Sept. 25.
"I am very happy to be working with Prime Minister May to explain to the American administration how Boeing's actions are harmful to workers here in Canada," Trudeau told reporters.
Trudeau reiterated that Canada would not talk to Boeing about a proposed purchase of 18 F-18 Super Hornet fighter jets until the firm had dropped its challenge.
"We won't do business with a company that's busy trying to sue us and put our aerospace workers out of business," he said.
Boeing denied it was suing Canada.
"This is a commercial dispute with Bombardier, which has sold its CSeries aeroplane in the United States at absurdly low prices ... this is a classic case of dumping," it said in a statement.
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Trudeau's office did not immediately respond to a question about his use of the word "suing."
At the news conference, May sidestepped a query as to whether the two leaders had discussed attempting to jointly pressure Boeing by refusing to buy its planes.
Canada last month tried to end the dispute by suggesting it could withdraw a threat not to buy the Super Hornets if Boeing withdrew the challenge, sources said, but Boeing rejected the idea.
(Additional reporting by Alwyn Scott; editing by G Crosse)
(Adds details on lawsuit, comment from companies)
By Nate Raymond
Sept 7 (Reuters) - New Mexico on Thursday sued eight opioid manufacturers and wholesale distributors, becoming the latest state or local government to file a lawsuit seeking to hold corporations accountable for a national drug addiction epidemic.
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas accused Purdue Pharma LP, Johnson & Johnson, Allergan Plc, Endo International Plc and Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd of pushing addictive painkillers through deceptive marketing.
The lawsuit also accused wholesale distributors McKesson Corp, Cardinal Health Inc and AmerisourceBergen Corp of breaching their legal duties to monitor, detect and report suspicious orders of prescription opioids.
"New Mexico continues to endure the most catastrophic effects of the opioid crisis, all while major out of state corporations make billions in profits at the expense of our families and communities," Balderas said in a statement.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, opioids were involved in over 33,000 deaths in 2015, the latest year for which data is available. The death rate has continued rising, according to estimates.
The lawsuit followed a wave of cases against drugmakers by Oklahoma, Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri, New Hampshire and South Carolina, as well as several cities and counties in states including California, Illinois and New York.
The drug wholesalers have likewise faced litigation, particularly in West Virginia, where several county commissions and cities have the three main ones, following lawsuits filed by the state's attorney general.
New Mexico's lawsuit, filed in the First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe County, contended that the drugmakers downplayed the risks of addiction to prescription opioids and falsely touted the benefits of their long-term use.
It also accused the wholesale distributors of violating their duties by selling large amounts of painkillers that were then diverted for illicit uses, helping to contribute to the opioid epidemic.
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The lawsuit seeks damages, including for the costs New Mexico has incurred responding to the epidemic.
The companies have in similar cases denied wrongdoing. The drugmakers have said they acted responsibly in connection with marketing the drugs, which carry U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved labels warning about their risks.
"While we vigorously deny the allegations, we share public officials concerns about the opioid crisis and we are committed to working collaboratively to find solutions," Purdue, the maker of OxyContin, said in a statement.
Cardinal Health in a statement called the lawsuit "misguided," saying it was "launched in haste and without any factual investigation to support it."
(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Dan Grebler)
Australia congratulates Nepal on Constitution Day
Australia on Tuesday congratulated Nepal on her Constitution Day.
(Adds Monsanto letter to Arkansas governor, filing to state plant board, context)
By Tom Polansek
CHICAGO, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Monsanto Co pushed Arkansas authorities on Thursday to reject a proposed April 15 cut-off date next year for sprayings of the agricultural herbicide dicamba, which has been linked to crop damage across the U.S. farm belt.
The company further said that Arkansas' plant board should allow farmers in the state to use Monsanto's dicamba weed killer, called XtendiMax with VaporGrip, on crops engineered to withstand it starting next year.
Monsanto, BASF and DuPont sell dicamba herbicides under different brand names to be sprayed on U.S. soybeans engineered by Monsanto to tolerate the chemical. The chemical can also be sprayed on dicamba-resistant cotton.
In July, Arkansas temporarily banned the use and sale of dicamba herbicides after farmers complained the chemical was drifting away from where it was sprayed into neighboring fields and damaging crops that were not resistant to the chemical.
Arkansas previously had blocked Monsanto's XtendiMax herbicide because the company did not provide testing data that state officials wanted.
In a letter to Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson on Thursday, Monsanto Chief Technology Officer Robb Fraley said a "failed regulatory process" led to Arkansas being the only U.S. soybean-growing state that did not permit the use of XtendiMax on growing crops in 2017.
The recommendation for Arkansas to ban dicamba sprayings after April 15 next year, made last month by a state task force, "is not based on scientific data, much less on any scientific consensus," about crop damage linked to the chemical, Monsanto said in a filing with the state's plant board.
The company also suggested that crop damage that has been attributed to dicamba may not result in significant soybean yield losses at harvest.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is separately considering banning sprayings of dicamba herbicides after a set deadline next year, state officials advising the agency told Reuters.
A cut-off date would aim to protect plants vulnerable to the chemical. In Arkansas, the proposed April 15 deadline would also prevent most farmers from spraying dicamba weed killers on growing soybeans, a major selling point for the products. (Reporting by Tom Polansek in Chicago; Editing by Sandra Maler and Grant McCool)
A TV camera is seen outside the headquarters of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna, Austria, May 25, 2017. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
By Alex Lawler
LONDON (Reuters) - Nigeria's oil minister and the head of Libya's state oil company are likely to attend a joint meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC nations on Friday, two OPEC sources said, to discuss the progress of their deal to limit output.
Both countries are exempt from an OPEC-led deal to cut output and their resulting boost to production has weighed on prices (LCOc1). This has prompted more talk about including Libya and Nigeria in the pact.
Nigerian oil minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu is "most likely" to attend Friday's meeting, one of the sources said, while the second source said that Mustafa Sanalla, chairman of Libya's National Oil Corp, is also expected to join the meeting.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries aims to clear a global oil supply glut by curbing output by about 1.2 million barrels per day, while Russia and other non-OPEC producers are cutting half as much, until next March.
Ministers on a panel monitoring the deal, which comprises Kuwait, Venezuela and Algeria, plus non-OPEC producers Russia and Oman, are scheduled to meet on Friday in Vienna.
Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih, who travelled to similar meetings earlier this year, might not attend Friday's gathering, a source said.
Ministers are discussing several options, including an extension of the pact for at least three months and a further supply cut, OPEC member Iraq said on Tuesday.
The panel meeting on Friday -- the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee, which Kuwait chairs -- could make a recommendation on policy to the wider group, which holds its next meeting in November.
(Reporting by Alex Lawler and Rania El Gamal in Dubai; Editing by Jason Neely and David Goodman)
In the future, said Andy Warhol, everyone will be bionic for fifteen minutes. I'm paraphrasing, but it looks like a Portuguese company called Nuada is about to give us that opportunity. Created by Filipe Quinaz and Vitor Crespo, the seed-funded company pitched on our Disrupt stage and showed us one of the coolest pieces of hardware I've seen in a long time.
https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/themes/techcrunch-2017/features/shortcodes/vidible-callback-js.php?id=11
The Nuada is a smart glove. It gives back hand strength and coordination by augmenting the motions of your palm and digits. It acts as an electromechanical support system that lets you perform nearly superhuman feats or simply perform day-to-day tasks. The glove contains electronic tendons that can help the hand open and close and even perform basic motions and a sensor tells doctors and users about their pull strength, dexterity, and other metrics.
Why would you want to use it? First you could get stuck with reduced hand strength due to injury or illness. This fixes that. Second it can help with hand strength while doing manual work. You can hold things longer with less muscle fatigue and generally work faster.
"We then use our own electromechanical system to support the user in the movement he wants to do," said Quinaz. "This makes us able to support incredible weights with a small system, that needs much less energy to function. We can build the first mass adopted exoskeleton solutions with our technology."
The project was born out of real need.
[gallery ids="1542488,1542487,1542486"]
"Back in 2013 I broke a bone in my hand and realized how bad it is to have lack of hand function," said Quinaz. "I was working in a big textile company at the time, and also involved in University research, so it all came together."
The team started out at University but the project won the Microsoft Imagine cup and they ended up in Seattle. They built the project over a two-year period and are finally ready to show off the glove. There is no pricing yet but the team hopes to put this into therapeutic use soon, allowing those with limited hand motion to regain at least a portion of their dexterity.
The logo of technology company Nvidia is seen at its headquarters in Santa Clara, California February 11, 2015. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith
By Aishwarya Venugopal and Arjun Panchadar
(Reuters) - Shares of Nvidia Corp touched a record high for the second straight day on Monday following yet another steep increase in the chipmaker's price target by a Wall Street analyst.
Nvidia's shares, valued at a low $23.3 in 2015, have since surged to hit a high of $190.10 on Monday, with at least four brokerages setting their price targets at $200 or above.
Analysts have focused on the company's progress in artificial intelligence, in particular.
"Our sense is management believes that investors still severely underestimates the impact of AI and the size of the potential market," Evercore analyst C J Muse wrote in a note on Friday after hosting Nvidia's management.
Nvidia has been rapidly expanding into newer technologies including artificial intelligence, cloud computing and self-driving cars, away from designing graphics-processing chips for which the company was known for.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch analyst Vivek Arya listed Nvidia a "top pick", basing his view "on (Nvidia's) underappreciated transformation from a traditional PC graphics vendor, into a supplier into high-end gaming, enterprise graphics, cloud, accelerated computing and automotive markets," according to Seeking Alpha.
Arya raised his price target on Monday by $25 to $210, the second highest on the Street. Evercore ISI's whopping $70 price target raise on Friday to $250 is currently the highest.
Wall Street is bullish on the stock, with 22 of 38 brokerages having a "buy" recommendation, as per Thomson Reuters data. Twelve have "hold" and 4 have "sell" rating.
Broadening its push into AI, Nvidia has been partnering with auto makers to help develop self-driving vehicles.
In May, Nvidia announced a partnership with Toyota Motor Corp through which the Japanese car maker would use Nvidia's AI technology to develop self-driving vehicle systems planned for the next few years. http://reut.rs/2wB8Qst
"NVDA has created an industry standard for AI systems that will be nearly impossible to replicate," Evercore's Muse wrote in a note on Friday.
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Nvidia is also gaining from rising demand for its chips used to process cryptocurrency transactions.
However, the company has little room for any missteps.
Nvidia's shares fell last month after the company's second-quarter revenue in its data center and automotive businesses missed estimates.
(Reporting by Aishwarya Venugopal and Arjun Panchadar in Bengaluru)
Bad roads hinder Jumla apples potential
Apple production in Jumla has increased slightly to 3,400 tonnes this year compared to the 3,000 tonnes recorded last year. But bad roads in Nepals apple heartland have severely affected the transportation of apples to markets across the country.
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Homebuilders struggled with rising costs and mortgage rates, mortgage originators have seen a collapse in origination volume, and mortgage real estate investment trusts (REITs) have seen book values decline as rates rise. If you believe the futures index on the direction of the Federal Funds Rate, the Federal Reserve's tightening campaign is in the late innings, and we might be at the point of maximum pain for the sector. As a result of all this, Annaly Capital Management (NYSE: NLY) stock was beaten up along with the rest of the mortgage REIT sector, and now sports a whopping 16.4% dividend yield.
It was a week where Tropical Storm Harvey dictated the prices of oil and natural gas. In particular, gasoline shortages caused by the storm boosted the fuel to almost 2-year highs.
It was a week where Tropical Storm Harvey dictated the prices of oil and natural gas. In particular, gasoline shortages caused by the storm boosted the fuel to almost 2-year highs.
On the news front, Frances TOTAL S.A. TOT agreed to acquire Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller-Maersks oil and gas unit for $7.45 billion, while American supermajor Chevron Corporations CVX Chief Executive John Watson is reportedly planning to leave his post by next month.
Overall, it was a mixed week for the sector. While West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures pulled back 1.6% to close at $47.87 per barrel, natural gas prices remained essentially unchanged at $2.892 per million Btu (MMBtu). (See the last Oil & Gas Stock Roundup here: Transocean, Chevron & More.)
Despite a hefty inventory draw, oil prices recorded another weekly decline. The U.S. Energy Department's inventory release showed that crude stockpiles recorded another big drop on continued strong refinery runs. With oil supplies falling for the eighth week, investor sentiment has turned slightly positive on dissipating fears about a meltdown to sub-$40 levels. Analysts also believe that the trend, if sustained, could help tighten the market significantly. The commodity got further fillip from the reduction in U.S. rig count (number of rigs searching for oil) for the third week in four.
However, these positive effects were more than offset by the steadily rising domestic oil output that continues to be the biggest headwind for the market. At 9.528 million barrels a day, production is at the highest level in more than two years, thereby cancelling out cuts from OPEC and its allies.
Meanwhile, natural gas was unchanged despite an in-line increase in supplies. In particular, worries over the fuels tepid demand on the back of bearish weather predictions and Tropical Storm Harvey-related power outages offset the gains from the inventory data and pushed down natural gas prices to week-ago levels.
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Gasoline Price Spikes on Harvey Shutdowns
But the major mover for the week was gasoline. The most widely used petroleum product ended around 2.6% higher on the week to $1.667 a gallon after Tropical Storm Harvey caused weeks of disruptions at refineries in its path and shut units, spark fires and create supply shortage affecting facilities for months.
The Gulf of Mexico, which is expected to bear the brunt of the storm, is the energy hub of the United States. It accounts for about 18% and 5% of the total oil and gas production of the nation respectively. The region is also a home to about 50% of the countrys refining capacity. Refineries in the path of the storm have already shuttered leading to weaker crude demand and reduced gasoline supply.
The sudden outages in the refineries have driven up gasoline prices on anticipated supply shortages. And with the expectation of lower crude demand due to refinery outages, traders are selling oil.
Recap of the Weeks Most Important Stories
1. French energy giant TOTAL S.A. announced that it has entered into a definite agreement to acquire Denmark-based Maersk Oil & Gas A/S (Maersk Oil) in a share and debt deal worth $7.5 billion.
This acquisition expected to close in the first quarter of 2018 will allow TOTAL to combine Maersk Oils high-quality assets spread globally with its existing assets. The combination of Maersk Oils North-Western Europe businesses with TOTALs existing portfolio will position the latter as the second largest operator in the North Sea with strong production profiles in the U.K., Norway and Denmark.
TOTAL will be able to increase its aggregate hydrocarbon production level to 3,000 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2019 from 2,500 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day at the end of second quarter of 2017. Internationally, in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Algeria, East Africa, Kazakhstan and Angola there is an excellent fit between TOTAL and Maersk Oils businesses allowing for value accretion through commercial, operating and financial synergies.
This acquisition is going to be immediately accretive to TOTALs earnings per share and cash flow. The company expects to generate operational, commercial and financial synergies of more than $400 million per year. (Read more TOTAL Acquires Maersk Oil for $7.45B, Expands Globally.)
2. As per media reports, Chevrons CEO John Watson is planning to step down, as the company seeks managerial changes to deal with the volatile dynamics of the oil industry. Chevron is expected to announce the transition next month and the companys vice chairman Michael Wirth is highly anticipated to replace Watson as the new CEO.
Watson was appointed as the CEO in 2010. During his seven years of checkered tenure he remained focused on three major strategies. These include the acceleration of the development of Chevrons Permian holdings, cost-cutting initiatives amid the industry downturn and planned completion and execution of its mega projects.
Though oil prices have improved from their lows, but still they are hovering around or below the $50 per barrel mark. Persistent weakness in oil prices poses challenge to the upstream operations of the company as it is not being able to sell crude at attractive prices and hence is unable to generate significant cash flows for shareholders. Chevron, being an integrated player, is trying to increase its focus on downstream business which can be profitable in the current environment.
With the election of Wirth who has substantial knowledge and experience regarding refining and petrochemicals as the CEO, Chevron will follow the footsteps of energy majors like Exxon Mobil Corporation, Royal Dutch Shell plc and TOTAL S.A., all of whose CEOs are refining specialists.(Read more: Chevron's CEO Watson Likely to Step down, Wirth to Take Over.)
3. Offshore contract driller SeaDrill Limited SDRL reported a break even in the second quarter earnings, which compared favorably with the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 6 cents. The Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company delivered a strong 97% economic utilization of its floater fleet and 98% on its jack-up fleet. However, the bottom line deteriorated from year-ago adjusted earnings of 59 cents per share owing to lower revenues and high restructuring costs. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Total operating revenues of $577 million in the reported quarter was down 34% from $868 million in second-quarter 2016. Lower revenues are attributed to the lower day rates along with West Tucana and Sevan Louisiana drillships which remained idle during the quarter.
As of Aug 24, total order backlog at SeaDrill was $3.1 billion. This comprised $1.2 billion for the floater fleet and $1.9 billion for the Jack-up fleet. The average contract duration is 10 months for floaters and 30 months for Jack-ups.
SeaDrill which reported a net loss of $15 million in the quarter and is battling with huge debt and liabilities is in advanced discussions with lenders regarding the restructuring of debts. The company is likely to file for Chapter 11 within three weeks. In July 2017, the company reached an agreement with its bank group to extend the date to Sep 12 by which a comprehensive restructuring plan must be agreed upon. (Read more: Seadrill Q2 Earnings Break Even, Sales Down Y/Y.)
4. Energy infrastructure provider The Williams Companies, Inc.s WMB Constitution Pipeline project recently suffered a major setback when the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals reiterated New York Department of Environmental Conservations (DEC) decision to stall the pipeline. The courts ruling came as a blow to pipeline developers endeavors to transport additional natural gas to New England, which relies heavily on pipeline imports from Canada and overseas.
The $750 million, 121-mile project jointly owned by William Companies, Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation, WGL Holdings, Inc. and Piedmont Natural Gas Company runs from Pennsylvania to Schoharie County and was supposed to transport natural gas from the Marcellus shale to customers in the North East. The pipeline aimed to address the problems of transportation infrastructure in the Northeast region and speed up shipments from the prolific Marcellus and Utica basins.
The project was expected to become operational in 2015, but got delayed due to lengthy review process, pushing the in-service date to late 2016. The project received the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions (FERC) approval in early 2016.
The latest decision reverses FERCs approval received by the project. Also, the company has been directed to reassess the environmental impacts of the pipeline. (Read more: Williams Companies' Constitution Pipeline Suffers Set Back.)
5. The board of directors of the Brazilian oil giant Petrobras PBR recently approved the corporate restructuring of its fuel distribution arm Petrobras Distribuidora S.A. The restructuring will involve a capital contribution by Petrobras to its subsidiary and a partial spin off. The capital injection will be used for the pre-payment of debts contracted by Petrobras Distribuidora and guaranteed by Petrobras.
The state-run integrated major is set to invest R$ 6.3 billion (or 2 billion in USD) into its fuel distribution subsidiary which is grappling with heavy debt for years. The move comes after the Brazilian government proposed to sell the controlling stake in Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA or Eletrobras on Aug 22 to balance the budget deficit and promote competition and efficiency to the business.
Petrobras supplies gas to the state-controlled utility and the latter owes Petrobras and its various subsidiaries around R$10.4 billion. The capital investment is expected to strengthen the balance sheet of Petrobras Distribuidora thus enabling it to attract investors for its initial public offer. (Read more: Petrobras to Invest R$ 6.3B in Fuel Distribution Arm.)
Price Performance
The following table shows the price movement of some the major oil and gas players over the past week and during the last 6 months.
Company Last Week Last 6 Months XOM +0.6% -5.4% CVX +2.2% -1.7% COP +1.4% -7.4% OXY +0.5% -9.8% SLB +1.4% -20.3% RIG +9.5% -42% VLO +4.8% +1.4% ANDV +3% +8.6%
The Energy Select Sector SPDR a popular way to track energy companies generated a +1.6% return last week. The best performer was offshore drilling rig operator Transocean Ltd. RIG, whose stock rose by 9.5%.
Longer-term, over the last 6 months, the sector tracker lost 11.3%. Ironically, it was again Transocean, which was the major laggard during this period, experiencing a 42% price decline.
Whats Next in the Energy World?
While the energy companies will be busy assessing the storms impact on the industry, market participants will be closely tracking the regular releases i.e. the U.S. government statistics on oil and natural gas - one of the few solid indicators that comes out regularly. Energy traders will also be focusing on the Baker Hughes data on rig count.
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U.S. West Texas Intermediate and international-benchmark Brent crude oil settled slightly lower on Tuesday ahead of inventories reports from the American Petroleum Institute and the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
November WTI Crude Oil settled at settled at $50.28, down $0.07 or -0.14% and December Brent Crude oil closed at $55.15, down $0.10 or -0.18%.
Daily November West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil
Both reports are expected to show a build in U.S. crude inventories as imports resume and refineries were still restarting after a recent shutdown in the Texas Gulf Coast region due to Hurricane Harvey.
Despite the slight setback, the market continued to remain supported ahead of Fridays meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC producers. They are expected to reach a decision on whether to extend the supply cut program beyond March and to deepen the cuts.
Daily December Brent Crude
Forecast
Crude oil traders showed little response to late Tuesdays American Petroleum Institutes weekly inventories report. The report showed that U.S. crude supplies climbed by 1.4 million barrels for the week-ended September 15.
The API report also showed that gasoline inventories dropped 5.1 million barrels, and distillate inventories declined by 6.1 million barrels.
The U.S. Energy Information Administrations weekly inventories report is expected to show a 2.4 million barrel increase. Gasoline inventories are expected to decline by 800,000 barrels and distillate supplies are expected to show a draw of about 1 million barrels.
Prices continue to be supported by last weeks report from the International Energy Agency which lifted its 2017 demand outlook. OPEC also estimated an increase in demand.
Early Wednesday, traders are showing almost no reaction to comments from Iraqs oil minister who said OPEC and other crude producers were considering extending or even deepening a supply cut to curb a global glut.
While options being considered by OPEC and other producers include an extension of cuts in output by months, it is premature to decide on what to do beyond March, when the agreement expires, Iraqi oil minister Jabar al-Luaibi told an energy conference in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.
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The key level for November WTI traders remains $50.30. Trader reaction to this price will tell us whether traders are buying strength or playing for a pullback into support.
This article was originally posted on FX Empire
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By David Gaffen NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices edged lower on Tuesday, retreating from near-five-month highs in advance of data expected to show a build in U.S. crude inventories as imports resume and refineries were still restarting after recent storm activity. The market, however, remained buoyant ahead of Friday's meeting between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries with non-OPEC producers to discuss progress of their 1.8-million barrel-per-day supply cut deal. OPEC's second-biggest producer Iraq said that the group was discussing several options for its supply pact, including an extension beyond March and a further output cut. Nigeria and Libya will send representatives to the meeting despite being exempt from the current deal, two OPEC sources said. Rising output from both countries has kept a lid on price gains, prompting suggestions that they could be included in the deal. Brent crude futures were down 30 cents at $55.20 a barrel by 2:30 p.m. EDT (1830 GMT), not far off a five-month high of $55.99. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 35 cents to $49.56. "It feels kind of like positioning ahead of tonight's report but there's not a lot of action behind the move," said Phil Flynn, analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago. Industry group the American Petroleum Institute releases its U.S. weekly oil stock data at 4:30 p.m. EDT (2030 GMT), a day ahead of data from the U.S. Energy Department. Analysts forecast crude stocks rose 3.5 million barrels last week, as fuel inventories drew down, which would continue a trend established in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, as imports resumed while refineries were still restarting. [EIA/S] Restarts have run into problems in places. Valero's Port Arthur refinery shut its crude unit on Tuesday after a tank fire broke out in the early morning. Demand for crude is expected to rebound in coming weeks in the United States in the wake of Harvey, which hit the Gulf Coast in late August. The current threat is Hurricane Maria, now making its way through the Caribbean, but it is not expected to threaten the U.S. Gulf, instead turning north in the Atlantic Ocean. Still, cargoes have been shifted around as the storm could dampen oil demand and disrupt maritime trading. The market has been strong since last week, when Brent gained over 3 percent and WTI jumped nearly 5 percent in the week, after the International Energy Agency lifted its 2017 demand outlook and OPEC estimated the world would need more of its crude next year. (Additional reporting by Karolin Schaps in Amsterdam and Henning Gloystein in Singapore; Editing by Marguerita Choy and David Goodman)
By Eric Auchard FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Hackers probably linked to Iran's government have hit Saudi and Western aerospace and petrochemical firms, marking a rise in Iranian cyber-spying prowess, security firm FireEye said on Wednesday, an assessment shared by other U.S. experts. A FireEye report on Wednesday dubbed the hacker group APT33 and offered evidence of its activities since 2013 in seeking to steal aviation and military secrets, while also gearing up for attacks that might cripple entire computer networks. In a separate but related move last week, the U.S. Treasury Department added two Iran-based hacking networks and eight individuals to a U.S. sanctions list, accusing them of taking part in cyber-enabled attacks on the U.S. financial system. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, elements of which were also added to the U.S. sanctions list, was not immediately available for comment when contacted by phone by Reuters on Wednesday, the end of the country's working week. FireEye identified APT33 after it was called in to investigate cyber attacks on a U.S. aviation organisation, a Saudi business conglomerate with aviation holdings and a South Korean group with interests in oil refining and petrochemicals. FireEye declined to name the companies. "Iranian fingerprints are all over this campaign, and government fingerprints in particular," John Hultquist, FireEye's director of cyber espionage analysis, told Reuters. "Right now we are seeing a lot of activity that seems to be classic cyber espionage." APT33 was the first state-backed group from Iran to join a list FireEye has compiled over more than a decade that identifies campaigns by Chinese, Russian and North Korean cyber spies. APT stands for "Advanced Persistent Threat". Hultquist said APT33 shared some tools with, but appeared to be distinct from, around 15 different hacking groups with Iranian ties that security researchers have identified in recent years, carrying names like "Shamoon", "RocketKitten" and "Charming Kitten". The Kitten nomenclature reflected the low level of respect for Iran's hacking capabilities in the past, experts have noted. Several cyber experts described rising maturity and professionalism in Iran's cyber-espionage capabilities. "In recent years, Iran has invested heavily in building out their computer network attack and exploit capabilities," said Frank Cilluffo, director of George Washington University's Center for Cyber and Homeland Security. Cilluffo, a former homeland security advisor to President George W. Bush, estimated last year in testimony before the U.S. Congress that Iran's cyber budget had jumped twelve-fold under President Rouhani, making it a "top five world cyber-power". "They are also integrating cyber operations into their military strategy and doctrine," he told Reuters on Wednesday. REVISING VIEWS FireEye said attacks against the Saudi and South Korean groups hit as recently as May and used phishing techniques that involved posting fake job vacancies for Saudi oil jobs to lure corporate victims. Speaking to reporters in Singapore, FireEye Chief Executive Kevin Mandia said Iranian cyber espionage had grown in sophistication since he first spotted Iranians conducting rudimentary attacks on the U.S. State Department in 2008. "They're good. (They've) got a real capability there," Mandia said of Iran. In the investigations of attacks on Western companies and governments that FireEye is hired to do, Iran now ranks with China and Russia in terms of frequency, he said. Iran has been scaling up its cyber capacities since the United States and Israel carried out a cyber assault on Iran in 2010, now known as the "Stuxnet" worm, aimed at disabling centrifuges in its nuclear programme, he said. FireEye's evidence linking Iran to the aviation attacks included the use of the Farsi language in malware that mounted attacks and the fact that hackers observed the Islamic Republic's work week - taking Thursdays off, among other evidence. FireEye found some ties between APT33 and the Nasr Institute - which other experts have connected to the Iranian Cyber Army, an offshoot of the Revolutionary Guards - but it has yet to find any links to a specific government agency, Hultquist said. He said APT33 had built a destructive attack capacity into the malware used to infect Western companies, but there was no evidence so far it had been activated. However, FireEye believes it is only a matter of time before the group graduates from intelligence gathering to causing lasting damage. Adam Meyer, vice president of CrowdStrike, another top U.S. cyber security firm, said there has been a vast uptick in attacks by Iran against Saudi Arabia since last year. Five years ago, Iran was blamed for a virus attack against oil giant Saudi Aramco and Qatari RasGas, which crippled 30,000 computers at the two organisations. But Meyer said, in hindsight, the "Shamoon" attack was a narrow, unsustained operation. Broader-based attacks against Saudi Arabia since 2016 use similar malware, with some changes, demonstrating Iran's ability to mount on-going campaigns, he said. "This second campaign is being carried out in a sustained way in 2016 and 2017 against the Saudi government, related entities and the telecom sector: They are doing it in a way that seeks to destabilise the Saudi regime," Meyers said. (Additional reporting by Jeremy Wagstaff in Singapore and Bozorgmehr Sharafedin in London; editing by Mark Heinrich, Larry King)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said on Wednesday that supporting undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children, the so-called "Dreamers," was a "first step" toward broader reform.
"Comprehensive immigration reform is our goal. We think this is a good first step," Pelosi told a briefing, referring to legislation that would protect the roughly 800,000 people once covered by the DACA program.
She said she hoped Congress could later achieve comprehensive immigration reform to help all undocumented immigrants, but "we have to save the Dreamers now."
(Reporting by Amanda Becker; Writing by Justin Mitchell; Editing by David Alexander)
Financial crime risks must be mitigated by banks
Standard Chartered Bank and Nepal Rastra Bank jointly held a correspondent banking academy workshop in the Capital, on Monday.
In the aftermath of many high-profile data breaches, Americans are more concerned than ever about the security of their credit cards. Credit cards are a frequent target of criminal hackers, and as payment technology evolves, it's important that you know how to protect your financial data.
How Your Credit Card Can Be Compromised
When you make a purchase, your credit card information must pass through multiple hands, including the merchant, the merchant's bank, the cardholder's bank and the credit card network, such as Visa or Mastercard. At each step of the way, your account information has the potential to be stolen, as no system can ever be perfectly secure. For example, a merchant's systems might get hacked, such as when retail giant Target was the victim of a 2013 breach that affected 41 million payment card accounts. Or, the payment processor could be at fault, such as when Heartland Payment Systems was hacked in 2008, exposing account information for 130 million credit and debit cards.
[Read: Best Low-Interest Credit Cards of 2017.]
But often, fraud starts with the cardholder. For example, your credit card can be physically stolen, or your account numbers can be copied and used for telephone or internet purchases where a physical card is not required. Data from cards that use tap-to-pay technology, which transmits information wirelessly using radio-frequency identification, can also be stolen by criminals standing near you.
Jeremy Hajek, an industry associate professor of information technology and management at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, says criminals have been known to walk around with card scanners, extracting information wirelessly in public places. This makes physical credit cards vulnerable to theft, even if they never leave your wallet, but there are options for more secure wireless payments. Hajek says smartphone wireless payment systems are much more secure because these transactions require a personal identification number before approval.
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What You Can Do to Protect Yourself From Credit Card Fraud
Hajek recommends several practical suggestions that can help credit card users prevent fraud.
Keep things separate: "In the security world, we segregate, we don't give everyone a master key," says Hajek. You should use separate cards for different kinds of purchases. For example, he says, you might use one card for online transactions and other purchases that might have a higher risk of fraud. That way, you can more easily identify any problem. He also says never keep all your credit cards in one place when you're traveling. Leave some of your credit cards in your hotel room when you go out to ensure that they all won't be stolen at any time.
[Read: The Best Rewards Credit Cards of 2017.]
Reconsider your debit cards: Some of the most important ways to protect yourself against credit card fraud are also the easiest. For example, Hajek advises that consumers avoid debit cards , as any money stolen from those accounts immediately affects your balance. By contrast, credit card users can dispute fraudulent charges before they even need to make a payment.
Exercise caution while shopping online: Make sure the website uses encryption, which you can verify by checking that the address begins with HTTPS instead of HTTP. You should also avoid inputting your credit card information into a computer used by the public, such as those in your hotel's business center or at an internet cafe.
Consider using an RFID-blocking wallet: In addition, there are special wallets designed to block RFID signals, which can protect against data thieves. However, keep in mind that those are only necessary if you have a credit card that allows tap-to-pay transactions, not those with just an embedded smart chip.
Be wary when you give your card to a merchant: You should also be cautious when handing your credit card to a merchant, as your card information can be stolen by the cashier. Another potential way to steal your account information is with a skimmer, which is a credit card reader that can be attached to gas pumps or ATMs to gather card information.
Yet, Hajek says your payment account information is most vulnerable once it's in the hands of retailers, payment processors and other companies necessary to complete the transaction. When your account information is compromised after your transaction is completed, there's little you can do, but you can still identify and report fraudulent charges.
[Read: Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards.]
Therefore, you should carefully scan your monthly credit card statements to look for fraudulent charges. The Fair Credit Billing Act limits your liability to $50 in the event of a fraudulent transaction, but Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover waive that amount by offering $0 fraud liability guarantees. However, most fraud liability guarantees require credit card users to identify and report fraudulent transactions to their card issuer within a certain period of time, such as 60 days from the statement with a fraudulent charge.
Bottom Line
Credit card fraud can be a frightening prospect, but there are several ways to protect yourself. By taking basic steps to safeguard your account information and looking out for suspicious charges on your statement, you can reduce the chance you'll suffer from credit card fraud.
Jason Steele is a journalist who specializes in covering credit cards, award travel and other areas of personal finance. As one of the nation's leading experts in the credit card industry, Jason's work has been featured at mainstream outlets such as Yahoo Finance, MSN Money and Business Insider. Jason's also well-known within the community of travel rewards enthusiasts as the Senior Points and Miles Contributor for The Points Guy and other outlets on the subjects of airline rewards and family travel.
MEXICO CITY (AP) -- A favorite teacher, a janitor always friendly with the kids, the two women who patrolled the halls and greeted children at the school's gates, a best friend's little sister. These people feared or confirmed dead Wednesday were top on the mind of 12-year-old Luis Carlos Herrera Tome.
The Enrique Rebsamen school, the Mexico City private school he attended for eight years, had fallen around him less than 24 hours earlier amid a magnitude 7.1 earthquake. The only thing he wanted to do was go back, to help somehow.
His mother, Norma Tome, said he wouldn't be allowed into the site, it was too dangerous. But they went to the school anyway. It took them an hour to go three blocks because they kept bumping into people they knew. With each encounter came a halt to exchange information about names, hospitals, funeral plans, even the school's layout.
When a couple asked Luis Carlos to describe for the umpteenth time what he saw and how he escaped, he hugged his arms tightly across his chest and turned away when he began tearing up.
Luis Carlos and his mother scanned handwritten lists of the missing and those taken to hospitals, wincing at names they recognized.
The earthquake, centered in nearby Puebla state, killed at least 223 people across Mexico, including 21 children and four adults in the school. A dramatic operation continued Wednesday as searchers pried into the rubble looking for three people still missing. Federal Education Secretary Aurelio Nuno said 11 people have been rescued.
Hugs were offered and accepted, but Luis Carlos felt helpless outside the security barriers playing the events of the previous day back.
He said he was in English class Tuesday when everything started moving. He headed for the door leaving his backpack, books, pencils and everything behind.
First he turned to the school's main staircase, a concrete structure toward the front of the building.
"I saw that the ceiling started to break apart so I turned around," he said.
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"I grabbed my friends and we took off running," he added, showing how they linked arms.
They ran together for another staircase. The building continued shaking violently and one friend fell on the stairs.
"It moved a lot. I braced myself and cleared like five stairs in one jump," he said.
Dust falling from walls and the ceiling made it hard to see but he could make out students with cut and bleeding arms. Everyone was crying and screaming, he said.
The students who exited with Luis Carlos quickly realized they were trapped even once outside. Residents of a neighboring apartment building broke through a fence atop a tall wall separating the properties and lowered a ladder so the students could climb out.
On his way out, Luis Carlos saw his favorite janitor with rubble on his back apparently dead. In the street, ambulances were arriving and teachers stained with blood were crying.
"It was chaos," he said. But Luis Carlos had only one thought looking back at the collapsed school: Where was his little brother?
The brother 7-year-old Jose Raul Herrera Tome had been in a classroom in a building right next to his brother's.
The younger boy told his mom later that a classmate was the first to scream: "It's shaking!"
He said the students heard no alarm even though it occurred only two hours after their school, and every other one in Mexico, had done an evacuation drill to mark the 32nd anniversary of the 1985 earthquake that killed thousands in Mexico City.
"That's what makes me mad," the older brother said of not hearing an alarm. "How many seconds were lost there?"
Jose Raul also ran first for the big staircase at the front of the school, but stopped when he saw it beginning to crumble. He ran back to his classroom and waited there with his classmates until the shaking stopped.
The boys' mother said a multipurpose room near the school's front staircase was where most of the dead had been recovered.
"'Mom, I saw a girl go down because she was crushed,'" Tome recalled her younger son telling her after he escaped the building. "He cried a lot for that and said, 'I couldn't save her.'"
When Jose Raul made it to the street he looked back at the school and said, "My brother, my brother," Tome said.
The brothers hugged when they found each other across the street.
"We cried. He was my biggest worry," Luis Carlos said.
On Wednesday, Luis Carlos helped pass water and bandages for an hour, and answered frantic parents asking if he had seen their kids. He never let go of his brother.
The family planned to go later in the day to a wake for Claudia Ramirez, the second-grade teacher who Jose Raul adored.
Ramirez was "one of those rare exceptional teachers unique ones who leave their imprint on the lives of the children and the parents," Tome said.
Later, Luis Carlos returned to the terrifying moments during the earthquake, which occurred just a few minutes before he was supposed to move to his biology class. He had remembered that they hadn't finished their lab on Friday and were scheduled to be back in the lab Tuesday in the part of the school that collapsed.
"I don't know if I would be here," he said, suddenly feeling the weight of the quake's timing.
Donald Trump
President Donald Trump blasted the North Korean government during his speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.
In denouncing the "scourge of our planet," which he said was a "small group of rogue regimes that violate every principle on which the United Nations is based," Trump took aim at Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader.
In recent weeks, North Korea has ramped up its missile tests, sending shockwaves through world governments.
"No one has shown more contempt for other nations and for the well-being of their own people than the depraved regime in North Korea," Trump said. "It is responsible for the starvation deaths of millions of North Koreans and for the imprisonment, torture, killing, and oppression of countless more."
Trump accused North Korea of torturing Otto Warmbier, an American college student who was imprisoned in the country for roughly a year and died within days of being returned to the US in June, as well as of assassinating Kim's half-brother earlier this year and kidnapping a teenage Japanese girl.
"If this is not twisted enough, now North Korea's reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles threatens the entire world with unthinkable loss of human life," Trump said. "It is an outrage that some nations would not only trade with such a regime, but would arm, supply, and financially support a country that imperils the world with nuclear conflict."
That was a clear shot at China, North Korea's largest trading partner.
Trump said that if North Korea didn't back down from its nuclear provocations, the US would "have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea."
"No nation on earth has an interest in seeing this band of criminals arm itself with nuclear weapons and missiles," Trump said.
"Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime," he continued, using his nickname for Kim. "The United States is ready, willing, and able, but hopefully this will not be necessary. That's what the United Nations is all about. That's what the United Nations is for. Let's see how they do."
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Trump went on to condemn Iran, calling the US's nuclear deal with the country an "embarrassment." The president later said that many parts of the world were engaged in major conflicts while "some, in fact, are going to hell."
Watch part of Trump's comments on North Korea:
"Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime. The U.S. is ready, willing & able but hopefully this won't be necessary" pic.twitter.com/F542559G54 CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) September 19, 2017
This story originally stated that North Korea's UN representatives were sitting in the front row during Trump's speech, but Bloomberg subsequently reported that North Korea's delegation left the UN hall before the speech.
NOW WATCH: Watch Stephen Colbert bring out Sean Spicer at the Emmys to defend the crowd size
More From Business Insider
Ryanair pilots in the Netherlands have been given the green light to join planned strike action across Europe (AFP Photo/Andreas Arnold) (dpa/AFP/File)
Dublin (AFP) - Irish low-cost airline Ryanair has allocated replacement flights for more than half of the customers whose trips were cancelled late last week, it said Wednesday.
In an update, the airline said it had cancelled 2,100 flights to the end of October as it struggles with landing planes on time amid a reported shortage of pilots.
All 315,000 affected customers were emailed by Ryanair on Monday to advise them of flight changes, alternative flights, refunds and EU flight compensation law.
Just over 175,000 of those passengers will have been re-allocated different flights by the close of business on Wednesday, the Dublin-based carrier said.
It is also aiming to process 63,000 refunds by the end of the day.
The latest figures marked an improvement on last Friday when Ryanair shocked the travel sector with the proposed cancellation of about 2,000 flights in a move expected to hit an estimated 390,000 passengers.
The airline explained Wednesday that there were fewer passengers affected because the number of bookings for October had fallen significantly.
"We apologise sincerely to each and every one of the 315,000 customers whose original flights were cancelled over a six-week period in September and October, while we work to resolve this short-term rostering failure," said marketing boss Kenny Jacobs.
"We have taken on extra customer service teams to speed up the rate at which we accommodate and action alternative flight requests or refund applications.
"We expect to have the vast majority of these completed by the end of this week."
However, passengers are reporting problems with the process of refunds or compensation for cancelled flights, saying the information supplied by Ryanair is incorrect and calls are going unanswered.
Ryanair estimates that the total cost will be as much as 25 million euros ($30 million) for the cancellations, which were sparked by the over-allocation of pilots' holidays during a relatively busy period.
Outspoken chief executive Michael O'Leary apologised to customers on Monday and admitted that the scandal would have a "large reputational impact" on the group.
Flood-hit farmers to get relief money before Dashain
The government has planned to distribute relief money to farmers in the 30 districts where crops were destroyed by the August floods before the Dashain festival which begins next week.
Conditions may soon be right for Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) to break into the Chinese market, and Mark Zuckerberg's social media giant is already taking strategic steps to do so, Mizuho said Monday. "During our recent China trip, our meetings with various industry contacts indicated that FB could have a realistic opportunity for entering China next year," James Lee, managing director, Americas research, and Wei Fang, vice president, research, said in a report.Facebook declined to comment. Shares traded about 1 percent higher midday Tuesday, outperforming the broader U.S. stock market's mild gains. The report pointed out that Beijing tends to lessen its media scrutiny during an administration's second term, and Facebook may have "an opening" after Chinese President Xi Jinping begins his second five-year term in November. "For example, Google successfully renewed its ICP license [for operating in China] during the second term of the prior President Hu Jintao," the Mizuho report said. "We believe the recent approvals of MNC internet companies such as LinkedIn and Airbnb are signs China is more open to internet companies that can help Chinese companies gain global recognition through advertising or facilitate economic growth through travel."Facebook hit 2 billion monthly active users in the second quarter, but it has been blocked in mainland China for at least 8 years. Meanwhile, internet penetration in China is growing and reached 53.2 percent in 2016, with 731 million users, according to a January report from the China Internet Network Information Center.The China Internet Information Center and Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology did not respond to emailed requests for comment Tuesday evening Beijing time.Internet's growing role in Chinese media consumptionSource: Zenith Optimedia, Hillhouse Capital and Kleiner PerkinsIn the last few months, Facebook has taken more steps in apparent preparation for operations in China.The company recently hired a Beijing-based government relations executive whose experience includes helping LinkedIn China secure a license in the country, the Mizuho analysts pointed out. Although the report didn't name a specific individual, William Shuai is listed on LinkedIn as "Senior Manager of Government Relations" for Facebook in Beijing, since September. The profile shows Shuai was director of government relations for LinkedIn China for more than three years, and government relations manager at Chinese internet giant Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU) for nearly three years before that. Shuai did not immediately respond to a LinkedIn message sent Tuesday evening Beijing time. Facebook said the company doesn't comment on personnel. The company is also looking for an office space in Shanghai, The New York Times reported earlier this month, citing two people familiar with the matter. The news followed Facebook's failure to establish a location in Beijing when it received a three-month permit to do so in late 2015. "We have long said that we are interested in China, and are spending time understanding and learning more about the country in different ways," a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement to CNBC that repeated the comment to the Times.The social media company already generates more than $1 billion a year, or about 4 percent of total revenues, from Chinese advertisers, the Mizuho researchers estimated, citing checks with advertising agencies."The Chinese government has been pushing for globalization of Chinese brands so what FB does for Chinese advertisers is also strategic in order to get the license into China," the report said.To be sure, it is unclear whether Facebook can crack the massive mainland Chinese market. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has unsuccessfully courted Beijing for years, while local social media platforms have even disrupted each other within China.Facebook's foray into China may also look different from how it operates in the West."We believe the business will initially be localized and connect only Chinese users. As for the products, we believe that either Instagram or VR are the most likely," the report said. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report. Conditions may soon be right for Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) to break into the Chinese market, and Mark Zuckerberg's social media giant is already taking strategic steps to do so, Mizuho said Monday. "During our recent China trip, our meetings with various industry contacts indicated that FB could have a realistic opportunity for entering China next year," James Lee, managing director, Americas research, and Wei Fang, vice president, research, said in a report. Facebook declined to comment. Shares traded about 1 percent higher midday Tuesday, outperforming the broader U.S. stock market's mild gains. The report pointed out that Beijing tends to lessen its media scrutiny during an administration's second term, and Facebook may have "an opening" after Chinese President Xi Jinping begins his second five-year term in November. "For example, Google successfully renewed its ICP license [for operating in China] during the second term of the prior President Hu Jintao," the Mizuho report said. "We believe the recent approvals of MNC internet companies such as LinkedIn and Airbnb are signs China is more open to internet companies that can help Chinese companies gain global recognition through advertising or facilitate economic growth through travel." Facebook hit 2 billion monthly active users in the second quarter, but it has been blocked in mainland China for at least 8 years. Meanwhile, internet penetration in China is growing and reached 53.2 percent in 2016, with 731 million users, according to a January report from the China Internet Network Information Center. The China Internet Information Center and Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology did not respond to emailed requests for comment Tuesday evening Beijing time. Internet's growing role in Chinese media consumption Source: Zenith Optimedia, Hillhouse Capital and Kleiner Perkins In the last few months, Facebook has taken more steps in apparent preparation for operations in China. The company recently hired a Beijing-based government relations executive whose experience includes helping LinkedIn China secure a license in the country, the Mizuho analysts pointed out. Although the report didn't name a specific individual, William Shuai is listed on LinkedIn as "Senior Manager of Government Relations" for Facebook in Beijing, since September. The profile shows Shuai was director of government relations for LinkedIn China for more than three years, and government relations manager at Chinese internet giant Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU) for nearly three years before that. Shuai did not immediately respond to a LinkedIn message sent Tuesday evening Beijing time. Facebook said the company doesn't comment on personnel. The company is also looking for an office space in Shanghai, The New York Times reported earlier this month, citing two people familiar with the matter. The news followed Facebook's failure to establish a location in Beijing when it received a three-month permit to do so in late 2015. "We have long said that we are interested in China, and are spending time understanding and learning more about the country in different ways," a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement to CNBC that repeated the comment to the Times. The social media company already generates more than $1 billion a year, or about 4 percent of total revenues, from Chinese advertisers, the Mizuho researchers estimated, citing checks with advertising agencies. "The Chinese government has been pushing for globalization of Chinese brands so what FB does for Chinese advertisers is also strategic in order to get the license into China," the report said. To be sure, it is unclear whether Facebook can crack the massive mainland Chinese market. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has unsuccessfully courted Beijing for years, while local social media platforms have even disrupted each other within China. Facebook's foray into China may also look different from how it operates in the West. "We believe the business will initially be localized and connect only Chinese users. As for the products, we believe that either Instagram or VR are the most likely," the report said. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
More From CNBC
The decision to file for bankruptcy protection comes as the retailer is gearing up for the holiday season (REUTERS/Thomas White/Illustration)
Toys R Us has filed for bankruptcy protection in the US, as the retailer struggles to compete with consumer appetite for online shopping and discount chains.
The filing, which is among the largest ever by a speciality retailer, comes just as Toys R Us is gearing up for the holiday shopping season, which contributes to the bulk of its sale.
It casts a shadow on the future of Toys R Us 1,600 stores worldwide which employ 64,000 staff members.
MORE: Toys R Us reportedly preparing for bankruptcy before Christmas
Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail, said the decision did not necessarily spell the end for Toys R Us, but that it brought to a close a turbulent chapter in the iconic companys history.
The filing comes shortly after numerous reports suggesting that the retailer was gearing up to file for bankruptcy in order to meet tighter supplier demands in the run up to Christmas.
MORE: 7 things you need to know about Ryanairs cancelled flights
A $6.6 billion buyout in 2005 led by by private equity and investment firms has saddled the company with debt.
Toys R Us will be hoping that the financing, a $3 billion commitment from lenders including a JPMorgan-led bank syndicate and some of the firms existing lenders, will help to reassure suppliers that they will be paid for products shipped to Toys R Us in time for Christmas.
The firms operations in Australia and Europe and a joint venture in Asia are not part of the bankruptcy proceedings.
We expect that the financial constraints that have held us back will be addressed in a lasting and effective way, the firmss chief executive Dave Brandon said.
Together with our investors, our objective is to work with our debtholders and other creditors to restructure the $5 billion of long-term debt on our balance sheet.
The companys Toys R Us and Babies R Us stores and e-commerce sites around the world are open for business, it said.
Consumers leave a Toys R Us store with full shopping carts after shopping on the day dubbed Black Friday in the US. (REUTERS/Adam Hunger/File Photo)
The company opened a temporary store in New York Citys Times Square this year to capture more holiday shoppers, almost two years after it closed its flagship store barely a block away, driven out by high rents.
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With assets of $6.9 billion based on its most recent annual report, its the second-largest retail bankruptcy, trailing the filing in 2002 by Kmart, which had $14.6 billion in assets, according to research firm Bankruptcydata.com.
MORE: Top 100 firms demand an end to Brexit bickering
Toys R Us is the second-largest toy seller in the United States behind Amazon.
What they have going for them is they are the last major player in their market, said David Berliner, a partner and restructuring specialist with BDO Consulting.
The vendors dont want to see them fail, so I think they have a good opportunity to survive.
Toys R Us filed the petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia.
FILE PHOTO: People holding mobile phones are silhouetted against a backdrop projected with the Twitter logo in this illustration picture taken September 27, 2013. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/Illustration/File Photo
By Julia Fioretti
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Twitter Inc (TWTR.N) said that its internal controls were allowing it to weed out accounts being used for the "promotion of terrorism" earlier rather than responding to government requests to close them down.
U.S. and European governments have been pressuring social media companies including Twitter, Facebook Inc (FB.O) and Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) Google to fight harder against online radicalization, particularly by violent Islamist groups.
Twitter said it had removed 299,649 accounts in the first half of this year for the "promotion of terrorism", a 20 percent decline from the previous six months, although it gave no reason for the drop. Three-quarters of those accounts were suspended before posting their first tweet.
Britain's interior minister, Amber Rudd, used a visit to Silicon Valley last month to ask Facebook, Microsoft (MSFT.O), Twitter, and YouTube to step up efforts to remove content that incites militants after four attacks in Britain killed 36 people this year.
"Loser terrorists must be dealt with in a much tougher manner. The internet is their main recruitment tool which we must cut off & use better!" U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted on Friday after a bombing on a London commuter train.
Less than 1 percent of account suspensions were due to government requests, Twitter said, while 95 percent were thanks to the company's internal efforts to combat radical content with "proprietary tools", up from 74 percent in its last twice-yearly transparency report.
Twitter defines "promotion of terrorism" as actively inciting or promoting violence "associated with internationally recognized terrorist organizations."
The vast majority of notices from governments concerned "abusive behavior", which includes violent threats, harassment, hateful conduct and impersonation.
Twitter said it had removed 935,897 accounts for promotion of terrorism between August 1, 2015 and June 30 this year.
The social media platform said in July it had 328 million average monthly active users in the three months to June 30.
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The European Union has threatened legislation on Internet firms removing illegal content if they do not step up efforts to police what is available on the web.
Twitter said it had received about 3 percent more legal requests and court orders to remove content posted by users in the first half of this year than during the last six months of 2016.
About 90 percent of those removal requests came from Turkey, Russia, France and Germany.
The transparency report showed Turkey was the most active country in seeking the removal of content, accounting for 45 percent of all requests worldwide.
Twitter said it had received eight requests from governments to take down content posted by journalists and news organizations in the first half of 2017 but did not act on any of them "because of their political and journalistic nature."
Of the eight, five were court orders or other legal demands from Turkey ordering Twitter to take down content from journalists or news outlets.
Turkey detained tens of thousands of people including scores of journalists after a failed coup in July last year. The crackdown by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, who has for years tried to stamp out what he sees as illegal online activity, has strained relations with NATO allies and raised alarms among civil liberties advocates.
Twitter said it filed legal objections to court orders involving Turkish journalists and news outlets wherever possible but none of them had prevailed.
(Additional reporting by Dustin Volz in Washington; Editing by Keith Weir and Adrian Croft)
Dhurmus, Suntali lay foundation stone of integrated settlement in Rautahat
Artist Sitaram Kattel, popularly known as Dhurmus, has laid foundation stone of Santapur Integrated Settlement for flood victims in Rautahat district.
US F-35B stealth jet fighters drop bombs at a shooting range in Gangwon Province, east of Seoul, during a joint military drill - AFP
The US military flew advanced bombers and stealth jets over the Korean Peninsula and near Japan in drills with South Korean and Japanese warplanes on Monday, three days after North Korea fired a missile over Japan.
The United States often sends powerful military aircraft in a show of force in times of heightened animosities with North Korea. The North launched its latest missile as it protested against tough new UN sanctions over its sixth nuclear test on Sept. 3.
South Korean F-15K combat planes (top, L), a U.S. Air Force B-1B bomber plane (C-R) and F-35B combat planes (bottom, L) fly over South Korea Credit: South Korea Defense Ministry
Monday's flyovers involved two B-1Bs and four F-35Bs from the US military and four F-15K fighter jets from South Korea, according to the South Korean and US militaries. The US and South Korean planes flew across the Korean Peninsula and practiced attacks by releasing live weapons at a firing range in South Korea, the US Pacific Command said in a statement.
The US warplanes also conducted formation training with Japanese fighter jets over waters near the southern island of Kyushu, according to the Pacific Command.
Since Kim Jong-un took power in North Korea in late 2011, his nation has tested weapons at a torrid pace. The country flight-tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles in July. Its nuclear test in September was its most powerful to date.
The US flew four stealth fighter jets and two bombers over the Korean peninsula in a show of force after North Korea's latest nuclear and missile tests Credit: AFP
South Korean F-15K fighter jets drop bombs at a shooting range in Gangwon Province, east of Seoul Credit: AFP
Many experts say it's only a matter of time until Kim achieves his stated objective of possessing reliable nuclear-tipped missiles capable of striking anywhere in the mainland US.
State media on Saturday quoted Kim as saying that North Korea's final goal "is to establish the equilibrium of real force with the US and make the US rulers dare not talk about military option" for the North.
Alarmed by North Korea's advancing weapons programs, many conservatives in South Korea have called for the reintroduction of US tactical nuclear weapons in the South. But the liberal-leaning government of President Moon Jae-in said it has no intention of requesting that the US bring back such weapons.
South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo told lawmakers on Monday that it is "not proper" to reintroduce US nuclear weapons. He previously said the idea should be "deeply considered" by the allies, inflaming already-heated debate on the issue.
Former Mayor of Shiloh, Israel David Rubin on Tuesday said the only way to deal with North Korea and Iran is by using military force.
In his first address to the United Nations, President Trump warned that the U.S. would totally destroy North Korea if forced to defend itself or its allies.
The only solution here is a military solution. Sanctions are not going to stop North Korea and Iran, Rubin told FOX Business Stuart Varney on Varney & Co.
The president also drew his attention to Iran saying, The Iranian government masks a corrupt dictatorship behind the false guise of a democracy. It has turned a wealthy country with a rich history and culture into an economically rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed and chaos.
Rubin believes that North Korea and Iran are working hand in glove with one another on their nuclear weapons programs.
Iran and North Korea, theyre soul buddies and theyre working together to aid each others nuclear programs. The Iranians are providing the technical know how and the North Koreans are getting ready to strike, he said.
Rubin also acknowledged the risks of using military force against North Korea and Iran.
Im not saying that it is not a risky strategy. There is risk in war. I would much rather take that risk over there in South Korea and take that risk in Iran than to have that risk applied to Israeli citizens and to American citizens, he said.
Related Articles
Shopping carts are seen outside a new Wal-Mart Express store in Chicago July 26, 2011. REUTERS/John Gress/Files
(Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc <WMT.N> said on Wednesday it would not hire temporary workers this holiday season for the second straight year but will offer extra hours to its existing employees.
Wal-Mart's move is in contrast to rival Target Corp's <TGT.N> plan to hire thousands of workers to handle the expected brisk demand during the season, with Deloitte Consulting predicting a 4 percent to 4.5 percent jump in holiday sales.
Deloitte said on Wednesday that it expects sales of $1.04 to $1.05 trillion between November and January, with e-commerce sales jumping 18 percent to 21 percent.
Wal-Mart said it would increase the number of what it called "holiday helpers" in stores this season to enhance customer service by getting shoppers checked out faster, having more registers available and adding another layer of shopping support for customers in lines that may have forgotten items.
The "holiday helpers" are part of its regular workforce, the company said.
Wal-Mart said the extra hours offered will help staff traditional roles such as cashiers and shelf stockers, and personal shoppers and new jobs like pick up associates for its online operations.[Bwbbsp5sa]
"This is the same approach we took last year, and we heard great feedback from our customers and associates," said Walmart U.S. Chief Operating Officer Judith McKenna.
Major retailers have been focusing on beefing up services such as online shopping, in-store pickups and same-day delivery ahead of the holiday season, as they try to compete better with Amazon.com Inc <AMZN.O>.
Several analysts expect holiday hiring for stores to rise this year as retailers try to make up for a drop in service quality.
Last week, Target said it would hire 100,000 temporary holiday workers, up from the 70,000 it has hired in each of the last four years.
Macy's said it would employ more workers at its distribution centers and warehouses to support its online business, while reducing overall seasonal hiring as it has fewer stores this year.
Wal-Mart, the largest retail employer in the United States, did not disclose its hiring for fulfillment centers but said those centers are currently staffed by thousands of more employees than last year to meet increasing demand.
(Reporting by Subrat Patnaik and Sruthi Ramakrishnan in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila, Bernard Orr)
We issued an updated research report on key airline player, Alaska Air Group ALK, on Aug 29.
Notably, the companys product portfolio has broadened significantly following the acquisition of Virgin America, last year. In fact, the company has become a major player along the West Coast following the buyout. Also, its top line has been boosted by the strong growth in passenger revenues.
Alaska Air Groups performance with respect to passenger unit revenues is also encouraging. Moreover, the carrier's July traffic report was impressive, on the back of strong demand for air travel. The company's efforts to reward shareholders too raise optimism in the stock.
However, high labor costs continue to hurt the company. In May, pilots of Horizon Air, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, approved an amendment to the existing eight year pay-related contract. This will increase labor costs further as pilots' compensation has shot up following the amendment. Consequently, this Seattle, WA-based companys bottom line is expected to remain under pressure, going forward.
With labor deals in vogue in the airline space, high labor costs are not unique to Alaska Air Group. Other players in the space like Hawaiian Holdings HA and Allegiant Travel Company ALGT too have inked deals with various labor groups over the last few months.
Moreover, though positive on Alaska Air Groups Virgin America buyout, we note that the transaction, like any merger, has integration risks attached to it. Merger-related costs are also limiting bottom-line growth at Alaska Air Group.
Consequently, shares of Alaska Air Group have underperformed the industry it belongs to, so far this year. The companys shares have declined 15.3% year to date, as against the industry rally of 6.6%.
In view of the above commentary, we would advise investors to wait for a better entry point before accumulating shares. The Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) carried by Alaska Air Group seems to suggest the same.
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Stock to Consider
Investors interested in the airline space may consider SkyWest Inc. SKYW sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
SkyWest has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings being revised 1.9% upward over the last 60 days.
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Owens-Illinois, Inc. OI stock looks promising at the moment. We are positive on the companys prospects and believe that this is the right time to add the stock to your portfolio, as it is poised to carry the momentum ahead.
Lets delve deeper into the factors that make Owens-Illinois an attractive investment option.
Whats Working in Favor of Owens-Illinois?
Solid Q2: Owens-Illinois reported second-quarter 2017 adjusted earnings per share of 75 cents, comfortably beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 67 cents by a wide margin of 12%. In addition, earnings jumped 15% year over year and exceeded managements guidance range.
Upbeat Guidance: Owens-Illinois raised its earnings per share guidance for 2017, reflecting consistent solid operating performance, favorable currency translation and a lower tax rate. Adjusted earnings per share are now projected in the range of $2.55-$2.65. The mid-point of the guidance range reflects 12.6% year-over-year growth. For 2017, the company remains on track to achieve all financial targets, including volume growth, margin, adjusted earnings, cash flow and deleveraging.
Ahead of the Industry: Owens-Illinois has significantly outperformed the industry with respect to price performance in a year's time. Shares of the company have gained around 38%, while the industry registered growth of 22%.
Favorable Zacks Rank & Score: Owens-Illinois currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and a VGM Score of A. Here V stands for Value, G for Growth and M for Momentum. Owens-Illinois score is a weighted combination of these three scores. Such a score allows investors to eliminate the negative aspects of stocks and select winners. Our research shows that stocks with a VGM Score of A or B, when combined with a Zacks Rank #1(Strong Buy) or #2, offer the best upside potential.
Impressive Surprise History: Owens-Illinois outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters. The company has an average positive earnings surprise of 7.7%.
Cheaper Valuation: Owens-Illinois trailing 12-month price earnings (P/E) ratio is 9.9, while the industry's average trailing 12-month P/E ratio is 10.7. Consequently, the stock is cheaper at this point.
Estimates Moving Up: Annual estimates for Owens-Illinois have moved north in the past 60 days, reflecting analysts confidence in the stock following upbeat second-quarter results. During this period, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2017 moved up nearly 5.2% to $2.63. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 also moved 4.9% upward to $2.80.
Superior Return on Equity (ROE): Owens-Illinois ROE of 72.2%, as compared with the industry average of 45.4%, reflects the companys efficiency in utilizing shareholders funds.
Growth Drivers: Owens-Illinois is poised to gain from its continuous focus on simplifying the organization and boosting productivity. The company continues to successfully execute its strategic initiatives in commercial activities, end-to-end supply chain management and working capital reduction. Despite escalating expenses, it continues to benefit from the key account management program rolled out in 2016. It has estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 9.65%.
Other Stocks to Consider
Other top-ranked stocks in the industrial product space include Terex Corporation TEX, Caterpillar Inc. CAT and Komatsu Ltd. KMTUY. All three stocks flaunt a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Terex has expected long-term earnings growth rate of 19.7%.
Caterpillar has expected long-term earnings growth rate of 9.5%.
Komatsu has expected long-term earnings growth rate of 12.7%.
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Xcel Energy Inc. XEL announced that it has filed a stipulation with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to invest in clean energy in rural Colorado. The filed stipulation is a broad collaboration between Xcel Energy and 14 other diverse groups.
According to the filing, Xcel Energy seeks permission from CPUC to invest approximately $2.5 billion in rural Colorado, to increase its clean energy portfolio. The company has vouched that the approval will not increase customers bill.
The Colorado Energy Plan
Xcel Energy stated that their aim is to provide low-cost power and increase the use of cleaner energy in its service area. If approved, the proposal will increase the companys renewable energy portfolio to 55% by 2026. It will also be very effective in enabling customers to save money and reduce carbon emission by almost 60% by 2026 as compared with 2005 level. As of now, Xcel Energy has lowered its emission level by 30% from 2005 levels and is on track to lower it by 45% through 2021. This proposal may also add up to 1,000 megawatts (MW) of wind, 700 MW of solar and 700 MW of natural gas and storage to the companys portfolio on completion.
The company has also asked the commission to consider the early retirement of two 660 MW of coal generation units in southern Colorado. Xcel Energy is currently diversifying its generation portfolio with emphasis on renewable sources. To this end, it is planning to invest about $4.2 billion in wind assets over the next three years.
Focus on Green Energy by Utility Service Providers
Xcel Energy is not the only company undertaking additional measures to reduce carbon emission by reducing coal usage and increasing use of renewable energy, even when President Trump is actively promoting the usage of coal, to revive the industry.
NextEra Energy's NEE subsidiary, Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), has bought out existing contracts with two independent coal-fired power plants with the goal of shutting down both plants, thereby saving hundreds of millions of dollars for customers and reducing green house gas emission.
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Another utility giant who is investing heavily in clean power is Duke Energy DUK. The companys five-year plan includes investment of $3.3 billion in highly-efficient natural gas-fired combined-cycle plants. The company has brought down emission level by almost 30% compared to the 2005, by retiring coal plants and bringing on more natural gas and renewable.
With clean energy as the ultimate future, such initiatives adopted by utilities like Xcel Energy will surely help them to capture increased shares in the renewable energy market, which boasts a multi-billion dollar opportunity.
Price Movement
Shares of Xcel Energy have returned 20.1% in the last one year outperforming the industrys growth of 7.8% in the same time period.
Xcel Energys disciplined investments in infrastructure projects and focus on renewable expansion might have led to this outperformance.
Zacks Ranks and Other Stock to Consider
Xcel Energy currently holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A better ranked stock in the same is CenterPoint Energy, Inc. CNP carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
CenterPoint Energy delivered a four-quarter average positive surprise of 10.34%. The companys long-term earnings growth rate is pegged at 4.33%.
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Zacks Investment Research
Japan hails successful elections
Japan said on Tuesday it appreciated the successful holding local polls in Nepal.
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL September 20, 2017 Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include BP plc (NYSE:BP Free Report), SeaDrill Limited (NYSE:SDRL Free Report), Resolute Energy Corporation (NYSE:REN Free Report) and Oasis Petroleum Inc. (NYSE:OAS Free Report).
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
Here are highlights from Tuesdays Analyst Blog:
Oil & Gas Stock Roundup: BP, SDRL, REN & More
It was a week where oil prices briefly crossed the key mark of $50. Natural gas futures rallied too as warmer forecasts continue raising expectations for demand.
On the news front, European oil major BP plc (NYSE:BP Free Report) and its international partners have agreed to pay Azerbaijan $3.6 billion to extend an oilfield contract for 25 more years, offshore drilling company SeaDrill Limited (NYSE:SDRL Free Report) filed for bankruptcy protection, while small oil and gas explorer Resolute Energy Corporation (NYSE:REN Free Report) sold properties in the Paradox Basin in southeastern Utah for up to $195 million.
Overall, it was a good week for the sector. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures jumped 5.1% to close at $49.89 per barrel, while natural gas prices gained 4.6% to $3.024 per million Btu (MMBtu). (See the last Oil & Gas Stock Roundup here: BP Launches U.S. Pipeline IPO, Shell Enters Mexican Fuel Market.)
The U.S. oil benchmark closed at its highest level since Jul 31 as traders held out hope for price stability amid an improving supply-demand narrative. Data showing the number of U.S. oil rigs dropping for a second straight week helped cement those gains.
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Energy bodies OPEC and IEA both recently raised global oil demand forecasts for this year, helping to tighten the market significantly. Further, the Paris-based IEA said that the global oil supply had come down by 720,000 per day last month to 97.7 million barrels on outages and maintenance in non-OPEC countries.
Meanwhile, according to the OPECs latest monthly report, the oil cartels production fell by 79,000 barrels a day in August to 32.76 million as output dropped in Libya, Gabon, Venezuela and Iraq. This points to the success of the 14-member groups output curb initiatives and rising compliance levels.
Adding to the positive momentum, OPEC and fellow exporters are said to be open to extending their production cut agreement beyond its March expiry.
The number of active rigs drilling for crude in the U.S. an indicator of oil industry activity fell by 7 to 749 as of Friday, as per data from oilfield services firm Baker Hughes Inc.
Meanwhile, bullish weather forecasts and lower-than-expected power loss from Hurricane Irma propelled natural gas futures despite an above-average build.
Recap of the Weeks Most Important Stories
1. Oil giant BP plc along with its co-venturers has inked a modified and restated Azeri-Chirag-Deepwater Gunashli (ACG) field production sharing agreement (PSA), which calls for a one-time payment of $3.6 billion to the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Per the new agreement, Azerbaijan's government has extended the production sharing deal for the countrys massive ACG oilfields until 2049. The current deal was slated to end in 2024.
Under the new accord, State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) has increased its shareholding to 25% from 11.65%. BPs shareholding has dropped to 30.37% from 35.8%, though it continues to be the operator of the field.
Located in the Azerbaijan Sector of the Caspian Sea, the first PSA for the ACG field was inked in 1994. The field has received investments of over $33 billion and has yielded about 440 million tons of oil. This has aided the country to rake in a direct net profit of $125 billion. Total production from ACG averaged 585,000 barrels per day during the first half of the year.
The extended contract is a major milestone for BP amid the ongoing price volatility. It will provide regular revenues to the company for almost the next three decades and also increases the companys backlog. (Read more BP & Partners Ink Deal to Extend PSA for ACG Field till 2049.)
2. International offshore drilling company SeaDrill Limited filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sep 12 to restructure its balance sheet amid volatile oil prices. Following the development, shares of the company rose more than 20% to eventually close at 23 cents on Sep 12. The stock scaled up further more than 21% yesterday. The rise reflects investors optimism as the company finally managed to secure a restructuring agreement after 18 months of negotiations. The agreement will provide the company with more than $1 billion of capital to restructure its highly leveraged financials.
Due to the plunge in oil prices since 2014, energy companies reduced their spending and slashed rig hires. Demand for drilling reduced further as the rigs ordered during the boom period led to oversupply. This in turn led to reduced activities and diminishing contracts for Seadrill which negatively impacted the companys revenues, earnings and cash flows. Increased costs, idle rigs and low dayrates led to high operating losses and affected the market capitalization of the company adversely. SeaDrill, being one of the worst sufferers of the downturn has been battling with around $14 billion debts and liabilities.
The company expects to emerge from Chapter 11 in six to nine months. The restructuring deal will not affect the day-to-day business operations of SeaDrill as the company expects to pay employees, suppliers and vendors as usual. The company which has more than $1 billion in cash will not require debtor-in-possession financing. (Read more: SeaDrill Files for Bankruptcy Protection, Shares Up.)
3. In a bid to transform itself into a Delaware Basin pure play, upstream player Resolute Energy Corporation recently inked a deal to divest assets in the Paradox Basin in southeastern Utah for up to $195 million.
Per the deal, Resolute Energy will sell the Aneth Field assets in the Paradox Basin to an affiliate of Elk Petroleum Limited. Aneth is one of the largest carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery field projects in the Rocky Mountains with a production capacity of 6,500 barrels of oil per day. The oilfield contains around 1.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent, out of which just 31% has been recovered yet.
Proceeds from the deal will be used to pay the outstanding balance under the revolving credit facility of Resolute Energy. This will help the company to reduce its leverage ratio and strengthen its financials. Employees of Aneth Field will also make a transition to Elk Petroleum reducing the future overhead expenses of Resolute Energy by $6 million along with $3 million in stock-based compensation. The deal will also lower the lease operating expenses of the Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The transaction not only aims at improving the cost structure of the company, it also makes Resolute Energy become a pure play in the Delaware Basin - one of the most productive and economically viable oil and gas fields in the United States. (Read more: Resolute Energy to Divest $195 Million Paradox Assets.)
4. Upstream player Oasis Petroleum Inc. (NYSE:OAS Free Report) recently filed for the initial public offering (IPO) of its pipeline unit Oasis Midstream Partners LP. The company launched an IPO of 7,500,000 common units with an expected price range of $19-$21 per unit. Oasis Midstream to be listed in the NYSE under the ticker HESM intends to raise around $150 million at a price of $20. The partnership is expected to grant underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,125,000 common units.
About 27.3% of the ownership stake is being sold in the IPO and the figure is likely to reach 31.4% if the underwriters purchase the additional common units. Post the closure of the IPO, Oasis Petroleum and its affiliates will own either a 72.7% limited partner interest in Oasis Midstream or a 68.6% interest in case the underwriters exercise their full option to purchase the additional units.
Oasis Midstream, which was created in 2013, reported revenues of $140 million for the trailing 12 months ending Jun 30. The partnerships operations are located exclusively in the Williston Basin area of North Dakota and Montana. The assets include a diversified portfolio of midstream assets which are strategically positioned to secure volumes from various producers. These assets mainly include crude oil /natural gas gathering and transportation system and water handling systems. (Read more: Oasis Petroleum Midstream Unit Files for $150M IPO.)
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BANNU, Pakistan -- Noor Kalam Wazir had to abandon his dream of becoming a scientist after fighting forced his family to abandon their North Waziristan homeland in northwestern Pakistan three years ago.
Wazir, now in his 20s, gave up on the hope of attending university after a Pakistani military offensive against Islamist militants razed their extensive grocery business to the ground in North Waziristans commercial hub, Mir Ali, in June 2014.
He was among the more than 1 million North Waziristan residents who hastily fled to Bannu district in the neighboring northwestern Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Like Wazir, most escaped with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
We were well-off in Mir Ali. With more than two crore rupees in investments (eds: $200,000), we reaped handsome profits, he told Radio Mashaal. My elder brother lost his mind when he realized the scale of our losses. This prompted me to start from scratch here in Bannu.
Wazir says he now often struggles to make ends meet while looking after his large extended family of 45 people.
He is one of North Waziristans 70,000 students whose education was disrupted by the launch of the Pakistani Armys Zarb-e Azb offensive, which forced many to flee the region with their extended families.
While claiming to cleanse North Waziristan of the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, the Islamist Movement of Uzbekistan, and several other splinter and allied militant groups, the offensive turned the lives of the regions civilian residents upside down. They had already endured a decade of militant rule in which civilians were frequently killed and tortured for opposing the militants. U.S. drone strikes targeting the leaders of these groups often added to their misery.
Many are still determined to change their circumstances through education. Shafiq Ahmad, a college student, doesnt mind cramming on the floor of a darkened classroom at a private school in Bannu where teachers from local colleges offer lessons. Locally known as tuition centers, these private schools are the only shot Ahmad and many North Waziristan residents have at a decent education.
He says his family pays a lot of money for his education by scraping together the more than $100 needed for his lodging, food, and tuition fees each month.
Only a handful of us can afford such costly education. Most of my classmates are working here or have moved to the Gulf countries to work as laborers, he told Radio Mashaal.
Awal Ayaz Khan, a Pakistani government bureaucrat in charge of education in North Waziristan, is, however, optimistic. He says that with the return of a majority of its residents, most schools in the region have reopened.
But Khan says that only one of the regions three colleges has reopened.
With the help of military and civilian authorities, we are committed to reopening all the schools in North Waziristan, he said. We also want to reopen both the colleges in [the regional capital of] Miran Shan.
For Wazir, the trauma has ruined his dream.
As long as I am alive, I will resent that I was unable to get a masters degree or a doctorate, he said.
Abubakar Siddique wrote this story based on Radio Mashaal correspondent Umar Daraz Wazirs reporting from Bannu
Legit.ng gathered that a 42-year-old man confessed to endangering the lives of several people by administering drugs to them by mere guesswork.
The fake doctor identified as John Anopuem, confessed to giving drugs without prescriptions, to patients who may have died as a result.
Admitting that he prescribed the drugs by merely guessing, he also said he couldn't tell the exact number of patients he had catered to, stating that sometimes the drugs worked and other times it may have harmed them.
The Imo-state indigene who ran a drugstore at Seriki Aro street, Ikeja, Lagos, confessed after he was arrested, and some of his drugs were picked as exhibits.
READ ALSO: Fake doctor nabbed after pregnant woman died and her husband reported him
READ ALSO: Nigerian doctor allegedly transfuses HIV-infected blood into boy
After he was paraded by Imohimi Edgar, the Lagos state commissioner of police, Anopuem said:
It was a mistake I made and I could not say it was not harmful and I cannot confirm the number of the patients that may have died as a result of wrong prescription of the drugs.
He begged for forgiveness, stating that he would never do it again if given another chance. The police commissioner however says he will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Meanwhile, watch this video to see what Nigerians said when asked if they'd rather be rich or be poor and have a good family:
Source: Legit.ng
KC warns of fresh hunger strike
Dr Govinda KC has warned of staging another hunger strike starting on October 6. This will be the 12th hunger strike of the agitating doctor who has long been demanding an end to the anomalies in the countrys health education and medical sector.
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
KMC mayor leaves for Madrid, his deputy in dark
Barely a week after returning from a weeklong visit to South Korea, Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Bidhya Sundar Shakya embarked on another trip to Spain on Monday.
But while the Trump administration remains notably focused on the nuclear deal in the run-up to an October 15 deadline for certifying Iranian compliance to Congress, his animosity toward the deal is part of an overall Iran policy that is decidedly more assertive than that of his predecessor. A formal policy is expected to precede the presidents final decision on compliance certification, but officials have already indicated to the media that it will include provisions for stronger responses to Iranian provocations like the regimes recurring ballistic missile tests and close approaches to US Navy vessels.
In previous months, it has been suggested that the White Houses Iran policy even points in the direction of advocacy for regime change. This perception was seemingly encouraged in June when Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told a congressional hearing that American policy toward the Islamic Republic should include promotion of those domestic Iranian voices that could help to facilitate a peaceful transition of the government in that country.
Small sections of Trumps UN speech may have pointed to the persistence of this view within the foreign policy circles of the administration. ABC News reported on Tuesday that aside from his efforts to undermine the nuclear agreement, the presidents speech also appealed directly to the Iranian people.
Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the people will face a choice, Trump said. Will they continue down the path of poverty, bloodshed and terror, or will the Iranian people return to the nations proud roots as a center of civilization, culture and wealth, where their people can be happy and prosperous once again?
An editorial appeared in the UKs Independent just before Trump delivered his speech, and it urged the American president to go further than he ultimately did in his outreach to the population of Iran. The article criticized Trumps relationship with human rights issues and speculated that he would not make Irans human rights record a major focus of his commentary on the Islamic Republic. But the author nonetheless argued that if the US were to take this approach, it would be needling Iran on the right topic.
The editorial suggested that Trump use the ongoing UN General Assembly as an opportunity to convince Federica Mogherini, the head of foreign policy for the European Union, to exert serious pressure on Tehran and particularly on Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, with who she has reportedly enjoyed a special relationship since the two worked together on the nuclear agreement.
Zarif has notably denied that the Iranian nation has any human rights issues at all, and he has been accordingly ridiculed for statements to this effect. Tehrans human rights record is well-recorded, and the Independent article highlights the fact that some figures within the Trump administration, including Tillerson, have directly called attention to this in the past.
In fact, Trumps speech did make mention of attacks on peaceful protestors and the imprisonment of activists and journalists. But for the time being his policymaking remains firmly fixed on the nuclear agreement and efforts to reverse or counteract the attendant sanctions relief. Of course, the US is facing pushback on these efforts, even from some parties that are otherwise concerned with Irans malign behavior. CNN featured an interview with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, for instance. Macron declared that he would make every effort to convince the American president not to undermine a deal that Europe generally views as having been effective at its goal of slowing Irans nuclear progress.
Trump and other critics of the agreement would dispute this conclusion about the deals effectiveness, but what is equally if not more concerning to those critics is the notion that there are no clear constraints on spending of the sanctions relief Iran has secured or on the prospective profits from new business with the West. In fact, Tehrans terrorist funding has increased since the implementation of the nuclear deal, with funding for Hezbollah in particular quadrupling from 200 million dollars to 800 million dollars per year.
This in turn is bolstering the positions of those US allies who support the strategy Trump underscored in his UN speech. On Monday, a day ahead of that speech, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters that he had clearly laid out how to fix the nuclear deal in a meeting with Mr. Trump. Netanyahu also indicated that Tel Aviv and Washington seemed to have similar views on the nuclear issue. The Israeli Prime Minister had previously butted heads with the Obama administration while acting as one of the strongest critics of a deal that was then still emerging.
The possibility of an Iranian nuclear weapon is perceived as an existential threat by Israel, as is to be expected from Tehrans repeated calls for the destruction of the Jewish state. On Tuesday, Newsweek reported that Israel had shot down an Iranian-made drone that had crossed into Israeli airspace over the Golan Heights, after having apparently been launched from a Syrian military base by Hezbollah. The Iran-backed Lebanese terrorist organization has developed a potential permanent foothold in Syria as a result of its contribution to the Iranian war effort in defense of recently embattled dictator Bashar al-Assad.
Informed sources note that the persistence of these sorts of activities is being highlighted by critics of the nuclear agreement, to argue that it violates the preamble of the nuclear agreement, which states that the signatories anticipate that full implementation of this JCPOA will positively contribute to regional and international peace and security. IranWire adds that Tehran and particularly President Hassan Rouhani are playing into Trumps hands by neglecting these concerns and continuing to antagonize the West in matters unrelated to the nuclear issue.
Rouhani is set to speak before the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, where he is expected to defend the nuclear deal but avoid other controversial topics like human rights and Iranian provocations against the US.
Locals stage demonstration demanding action against murderer
Locals on Wednesday staged a demonstration in Dhulikhel, Kavre, over the death of newly-elected Chairman of Dhulikhel Municipality-2 Rajan Koirala.
Whatever ones stance is on the Iran nuclear deal, one thing is clear the Iranian regime is out of control and it poses a threat to the entire international community.
The United States is intent on ensuring that foreign policy towards Iran is sturdier. Next month, the Trump administration will announce what measures will be taken. Trump has made no secret of his contempt for the deal and wants to make sure that the country is held accountable for its actions.
Iran has recently denied the UN nuclear inspectors access to its military sites (with regards to verification of the countrys nuclear facilities).
Iran is acting like it has all the power in its hands, and it has certainly been treated as such. During the negotiations for the nuclear deal, Iran was given numerous concessions. In fact, way too many concessions. It was given dozens of billions of dollars despite being nothing but deceptive for the past few decades.
Even despite the nuclear deal, Iran is still continuing with its nuclear program and is anything but open about its activities. In fact, the nuclear deal has made the regime even more deceptive and secretive.
And despite the nuclear deal, Iran continues to support terrorism and fundamentalism. It is working with North Korea on ballistic missile development and it is fuelling the civil war in Syria.
It is expected that the Trump administration will reveal a new policy that will limit Irans influence in Iraq and Syria and put additional pressure regarding ballistic missile testing.
However, one area that the international community could tackle is the human rights situation. Nikki Haley, the US Ambassador to the United Nations said recently that human rights matter now more than ever. She said: We say all the time if the government does not take care of its people, bad things will happen.
Irans human rights situation is shocking. The people there are supressed beyond what we can only imagine in the West. People do not have freedom of speech or freedom of expression or freedom of religion. In fact, they have very little freedom in any part of their lives.
The Iranian authorities execute dissidents and are known to put children to death. At the minute, there are almost one hundred children on death row. Prisoners are tortured and denied due process. People are arrested for arbitrary reasons.
The Iranian regime has also been involved in one of the most horrific crimes against humanity the 1988 massacre. During the period of one single summer, Iranian authorities executed around 30,000 political prisoners. Most of those who died were members of the opposition PMOI / MEK. Yet, no investigation has ever been carried out and the Iranian regime has continued to disrespect human rights ever since.
This needs to change. The Iranian regime needs to be held to account for its actions, but most of all, the people of Iran must be allowed to have at least the most basic of human rights. The international community needs to support this.
Today, we are working to achieve three goals (in Yemen): combating terrorism, ending Iranian interference in Yemen and the region, supporting the legitimate government and strengthening its work; and we will continue to support Yemen and we will not abandon it, Haley said.
Hadi stated, The support of the United States is required to eliminate terrorism in its various forms, including terrorism of the Houthi and Saleh militias, which have swept the cities, killed children and women and displaced innocent people in an attempt to implement external agendas.
According to Yemens official news agency, Hadi and Haley talked about a number of issues and topics of common interest and praised strong relations between Yemen and the United States. As well, they discussed a strategic partnership to end Iranian attempts to influence the region.
The meeting came within the framework of strengthening aspects of coordination between the two countries in international forums. The two leaders also discussed the humanitarian and relief aspects in the wake of the control imposed by militias on the port of Hodeidah and Sanaa airport. Haley, for her part, said she was satisfied with the outcome.
Haley has become one of the most powerful women in the Trump administration. Theres little doubt that she will continue to rise in Trumps Cabinet.
Another meeting was held on the sidelines of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York, where obstacles facing the delivery of aid to Yemen was discussed. The assistant Secretary General of the Riyadh-based Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for Political Affairs and Negotiations, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Hamad Al-Owaisheq, chaired the Tuesday meeting for the Donors Coordination Group on Yemen, which was hosted by the Secretariat General of the GCC in New York.
The Donors Coordination Group on Yemen was established in July 2017. It includes senior donors, with its chairmanship rotating among the GCC secretariat general, the European Union and the United Nations. Humanitarian and developmental assistance offered by the GCC to Yemen through affiliated organizations and the United Nations over the last ten years, was discussed at the meeting.
An independent group says it has documented Russian interference in the elections or political activities of at least 27 countries since 2004.
The group, the non-profit German Marshall Fund, studies public policy around the world.
It said that Russia has been involved in disinformation campaigns on Facebook, Twitter and other social media, in addition to attacks on computers.
The German Marshall Fund reported these claims at a hearing of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also called the Helsinki Commission. The meeting took place last week in Washington, DC.
The Helsinki Commission met to discuss what it called the scourge of Russian disinformation being spread both at home and overseas.
Corey Gardner, a member of the United States Senate, spoke at the hearing. He said, Through its active measures campaign that includes aggressive interference in the Western elections, Russia aims to sell fear, discord, and paralysis that harms democratic institutions and weakens critical Western alliances.
US election interference
Other experts agreed with Gardner during the meeting, which included few, if any, defenders of Russia. This was a sign of the increasingly aggressive relationship between the two countries.
Molly McKew works with the communications advisory service Fianna Strategies. She spoke with VOA about reports that Russia targeted U.S. voters on social media during the 2016 election campaign.
I think even the Kremlin is surprised at how easy it is to use social media as an amplification tool for the kind of narrative that they do, she said.
McKew said opinion studies show that most Americans do not believe disinformation could work on them. But she says the Russian government uses advertising and basic psychology to get people to vote for a given candidate or to stay home on election-day.
She noted that nowadays, many people get personalized news feeds on social media. So people can be targeted individually with what she calls ads or lies.
RT, Sputnik broadcasts
U.S. officials have often directed criticism of Russian disinformation at the broadcasts of the Russian government-supported RT television and Sputnik news agency. Both have denied they are spreading propaganda.
Several news agencies reported last week that the Federal Bureau of Investigation recently questioned a former White House reporter for Sputnik. It did so as part of an investigation into whether the news agency is acting as an undeclared propaganda arm of the Russian government.
Sputnik reacted by releasing the following statement: We are happy to answer any questions the [Department of Justice] or the FBI might have. Sputnik is a news organization dedicated to accurate news reporting. Our journalists have won multiple awards throughout the world. Any assertion that Sputnik is anything but a credible news outlet is false.
However, the head of the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors or BBG John Lansing, also spoke at the Helsinki Commission hearing. BBG supervises Voice of America and several other government-financed broadcasters.
Lansing agreed with others on the severity of the Russian threat. He also said the U.S. must work against Russian disinformation with fair and balanced news and information.
Lansing said he has a seen a worldwide explosion of propaganda and lies. He added that his agency works hard to get factual information to Russian speakers around the world.
Germany, France elections
Melissa Hopper is with the non-profit organization Human Rights First. She said Germany appears set to defend itself from Russian attempts to interfere in its election later this month. She said the German government acted early, following the U.S. election last November. The country has created a government-wide program to answer Russian efforts to make use of social media.
Hopper also said France was successful in preventing Russian interference in its elections in April and May. The French media agreed not to report on information that came from cyberattacks.
But Hopper warned Russia has a lot of tools it can use. Its worldwide media program has a budget of more than $300 million a year. She said the countrys internet-based media uses this to weaponize false narratives about minority populations.
Im Dorothy Gundy.
Joshua Fatzick and Cindy Caine reported this for VOA News. Pete Musto adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
We want to hear from you. What do you think about governments becoming involved in the elections of other countries? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.
_____________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
scourge n. someone or something that causes a great amount of trouble or suffering
discord n. lack of agreement between people or ideas
institution(s) n. an established organization
amplification - n. something that is done to make something else stronger
narrative n. a story that is told or written
psychology n. the science or study of the mind and behavior
dedicated adj. having very strong support for or loyalty to a person, group, cause
accurate adj. having very strong support for or loyalty to a person, group, cause
assertion n. a statement made in a strong and definite way
credible adj. able to be believed
Laura Grey is proficient in five languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian and German. She is also learning Russian, Mandarin Chinese and Dutch. She is doing this although she has a learning disability.
A learning disability is a condition that makes learning difficult.
Grey has dyslexia, a learning disability that makes reading, writing and spelling difficult.
I was an early reader so nobody thought that I was dyslexic for a long time, Grey said. They had just thought that I had terrible handwriting and was a bad speller. Not living up to my academic potential.
The National Center for Education Statistics says that 13.8 percent of students learning English in the United States have a disability. The statistics include both physical and learning disabilities.
What is a learning disability?
People with learning disabilities can have trouble reading, writing, spelling or understanding texts. They may have a hard time processing sounds or calculating numbers. Disabilities can be mild or severe.
Priscillia Shen is the Assistant Head of DAS Academy. The Academy is part of the Dyslexia Association of Singapore.
She said, Every dyslexic learner is different.
Shen said, students with mild dyslexia may do well in primary school, but may face problems in higher levels of education.
Shen believes that lessons need to fit the needs of individual students.
Multisensory teaching can help
Brenda Bernaldez is a specialist for the Office of English Language Programs in Mexico. She has taught English to students of all ages.
Bernaldez said a multisensory approach to learning English could help students. She explained that this method includes using visual, auditory and kinesthetic tools. Kinesthetic tools are activities in which students move, play or act.
This approach can involve teaching vocabulary words with pictures or using movable tiles to show how words are formed.
Strategies: reading and using words is important
Lia Kamhi-Stein is a professor at California State University in Los Angeles. She is an English language teacher who works with students struggling to read.
She said students with mild learning disabilities need to develop the love for reading in order to read better.
Kamhi-Stein said, the students should choose what they want to read whether it is comics or books about animals.
She also said that reading with someone else can help students hear how words sound.
In addition, she said students should learn text structures. For example, some texts have problem-solution structures where the problem is at the beginning and the solution is at the end. Students who know these structures can find information faster because they know where to look.
Kamhi-Stein also said that each lessons vocabulary needs to be from readings in the lesson and the vocabulary needs to be repeated.
If what you are going to do is expose the kid to a vocabulary word one time, then that vocabulary word is not going to stick, she said.
Strategies: designing lessons for learners with disabilities
Although Laura Grey speaks many languages, her grades would not have suggested this ability. She said writing and spellingwhich she struggles withusually affect students grades the most.
Grey said that language learning also involves speaking and listening which affect grades less.
Priscillia Shen said, DAS designs lessons for students learning needs. DAS might start, for example, with only listening and speaking.
Brenda Bernaldez encouraged students with learning disabilities to discover what learning methods work for them. She said students should then ask teachers to use those methods in class.
Sara Kangas is an assistant professor at Lehigh University in the state of Pennsylvania. She has researched English language learners with learning disabilities.
She said, many schools only place students with learning disabilities into Special Education classes and not English language classes.
Kangas said she hopes people who work in Special Education and English language teaching can collaborate to help these students.
Strategies: learning apps are good tools
Not all schools around the world provide special education however.
Brenda Bernaldez said, If you are, as a student, trapped in a situation where you cannot ask for anything, I would say try technology to help you deal with it.
For students struggling to read and write, Bernaldez suggested using voice recorders to take notes. She said there are apps like Evernote that let students record voice notes and organize them.
Lia Kamhi-Stein said apps like Quizlet are useful because students can learn vocabulary by reading and hearing words and looking at pictures.
Laura Grey said she likes Duolingo because the lessons let users take as long as they need. She said, If youre willing to keep going and keep doing it, youre going to get there.
Dyslexia in other languages
Learning disabilities are not language specific. That means, if someone with a learning disability has difficulties in one language, they are likely to have the same difficulties in another.
Laura Grey said, in any language, she is a terrible speller.
Priscillia Shen has researched dyslexia in Chinese language learners in Singapore. She said, Chinese language learners with dyslexia have similar difficulties to English language learners with dyslexia. While some students learning English may write d instead of b, some students learning Chinese may reverse Chinese characters.
Chinese language learners with dyslexia may mix up stroke patterns, add or forget strokes. Some students may confuse words with the same sounds but different meanings.
Shen said color-coding Chinese characters may help.
Many Chinese characters have semantic and phonetic parts. Semantic parts tell the reader what the word may mean, while phonetic parts tell the reader how to pronounce it.
Shen said writing semantic parts in one color and phonetic parts in another color may help.
Diagnosing disabilities
Brenda Bernaldez said wealthier people are more likely to be diagnosed with learning disabilities, while poorer people are less likely to be diagnosed.
She said, in Latin America, many people do not know what a learning disability is and do not know how to help students with learning disabilities.
I think sometimes its even a relief for the father and mother or the family to be like Oh, hes not slow, he actually has something we can deal with, Bernaldez said.
Laura Grey said that she was not afraid of the judgments of others when she decided to get diagnosed.
Before her diagnosis she was frustrated because her undergraduate grades were not good. Getting diagnosed gave her an official reason why she was having difficulties. And with it, she is attending graduate school.
She gives this advice to other language learners: You have to do it every day. And if you do it every day, its definitely not so hard. But if you dont do it every day, its almost impossible.
Im Mario Ritter. And Im Olivia Liu.
Olivia Liu wrote this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor.
Editors note: An earlier version of this story said DAS Academy designs lessons for student. DAS is the school that creates programs for students attending school.
_______________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
proficient adj. a certain level of skill
potential n. the ability of something to become real to come into being
statistics n. numbers that provide information answering questions like how many, how often, to what degree?
auditory adj. related to hearing
tiles n. a flat piece of material
apps n. computer applications found on phones, tablets and computers
reverse v. to change to the opposite state or condition
stroke n. one part of a written or painted character or painting
semantic adj. related to meaning
phonetic adj. related to sound
frustrated adj. the result of not being able to gain or complete something
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Mahara attends United Nations events
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara attended the high-level meeting on the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse hosted by the UN secretary general on Monday in New York on the sidelines of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The following companies are subsidiares of PepsiCo: Alimentos Quaker Oats y Compania Limitada, Alimentos del Istmo S.A., Amavale Agricola Ltda., Anderson Hill Insurance Limited, Asia Bottlers Limited, BAESA Capital Corporation Ltd., BFY Brands, BFY Brands LLC, BFY Brands Limited, BUG de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Balmoral Industries LLC, Bare Foods Co., Barrhead LLC, Be & Cheery, Beaman Bottling Company, Bebidas Sudamerica S.A., Beech Limited, Bell Taco Funding Syndicate, Bendler Investments II Ltd, Bendler Investments S.a r.l, Beverage Services Limited, Beverages Foods & Service Industries Inc., Bishkeksut OJSC, Blaue NC S. de R.L. de C.V., Blue Cloud Distribution Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Arizona Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Arkansas Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Colorado Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Florida Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Georgia Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Illinois Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Indiana Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Iowa Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Kentucky Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Louisiana Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Minnesota Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Mississippi Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Missouri Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Nebraska Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Nevada Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of North Carolina Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Ohio Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Oklahoma Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Pennsylvania Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of South Carolina Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Tennessee Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Texas Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Virginia Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Wisconsin Inc., Blue Ridge Sales LLC, Bluebird Foods Limited, Bluecan Holdings Unlimited Company, Bokomo Zambia Limited, Bolsherechensky Molkombinat JSC, Boquitas Fiestas LLC, Boquitas Fiestas S.R.L., Bottling Group Financing LLC, Bottling Group Holdings LLC, Bottling Group LLC, Bronte Industries Ltd, C & I Leasing Inc., CB Manufacturing Company Inc., CEME Holdings LLC, CMC Investment Company, Caroni Investments LLC, Centro-Mediterranea de Bebidas Carbonicas PepsiCo S.L., Ceres Fruit Juices Pty Ltd, ChampBev Inc., China Concentrate Holdings Hong Kong Limited, Chipsy International for Food Industries S.A.E., Chipsy for Food Industries S.A.E., Chitos Internacional y Cia Ltda, Cipa Industrial de Produtos Alimentares Ltda., Cipa Nordeste Industrial de Produtos Alimentares Ltda., Cocina Autentica Inc., Comercializadora CMC Investment y Compania Limitada, Comercializadora Nacional SAS Ltda., Comercializadora PepsiCo Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., Compania de Bebidas PepsiCo S.L., Concentrate Holding Uruguay Pte. Ltd., Concentrate Manufacturing Singapore Pte. Ltd., Confiteria Alegro S. de R.L. de C.V., Copella Fruit Juices Limited, Copper Beech International LLC, Corina Snacks Limited, Corporativo Internacional Mexicano S. de R.L. de C.V., CytoSport Holdings Inc., CytoSport Inc., Davlyn Realty Corporation, Defosto Holdings Limited, Desarrollo Inmobiliario Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Dilexis S.A., Donon Holdings Limited, Drinkfinity USA Inc., Drinkstation Inc., Drinkstation Innovation Co. Ltd., Drinkstation Limited, Dutch Snacks Holding S.A. de C.V., Duyvis Production B.V., EPIC Enterprises Inc., Echo Bay Holdings Inc., Elaboradora Argentina de Cereales S.R.L., Enter Logistica LLC, Environ at Inverrary Partnership, Environ of Inverrary Inc., Eridanus Investments S.a r.l, Evercrisp Snack Productos de Chile S.A., FL Transportation Inc., FLI Andean LLC, FLI Colombia LLC, FLI Snacks Andean GP LLC, Fabrica PepsiCo Mexicali S. de R.L. de C.V., Fabrica de Productos Alimenticios Rene y Cia S.C.A., Fairlight International SRL, Far East Bottlers Hong Kong Limited, Food Concepts Pioneer Ltd., Forest Akers Nederland B.V., Forty-Six Peaks Holding Inc., Fovarosi Asvanyviz es Uditoipari Zartkoruen Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag, Freshwater International B.V., Frito Lay Gida Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Frito Lay Poland Sp. z o.o., Frito Lay Sp. z o.o., Frito Lay de Guatemala y Compania Limitada, Frito-Lay Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Frito-Lay Dip Company Inc., Frito-Lay Dominicana S.A., Frito-Lay Global Investments B.V., Frito-Lay Inc., Frito-Lay Investments B.V., Frito-Lay Manufacturing LLC, Frito-Lay Netherlands Holding B.V., Frito-Lay North America Inc., Frito-Lay Sales Inc., Frito-Lay Trading Company Europe GmbH, Frito-Lay Trading Company GmbH, Frito-Lay Trading Company Poland GmbH, Frito-Lay Trinidad Unlimited, Fruko Mesrubat Sanayi Limited Sirketi, GB Czech LLC, GB International Inc., GB Russia LLC, GB Slovak LLC, GMP Manufacturing Inc., Gambrinus Investments Limited, Gamesa LLC, Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Gas Natural de Merida S. A. de C. V., Gatorade Puerto Rico Company, General Bottlers of Hungary Inc., Golden Grain Company, Goveh S.R.L., Grayhawk Leasing LLC, Green Hemlock International LLC, Grupo Frito Lay y Compania Limitada, Grupo Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Grupo Mabel, Grupo Sabritas S. de R.L. de C.V., Gulkevichskiy Maslozavod JSC, Hangzhou Baicaowei Corporate Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Haomusi Food Co, Hangzhou Haomusi Food Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Tao Dao Technology Co. Ltd., Health Warrior, Health Warrior Inc., Heathland LP, Helioscope Limited, Hillbrook Inc., Hillgrove Inc., Hillwood Bottling LLC, Hogganfield Limited Partnership, Holding Company "Opolie" JSC, Homefinding Company of Texas, Hudson Valley Insurance Company, IC Equities Inc., IZZE Beverage Co., Inmobiliaria Interamericana S.A. De C.V., Integrated Beverage Services Bangladesh Limited, Integrated Foods & Beverages Pvt. Ltd., International Bottlers Management Co. LLC, International KAS Aktiengesellschaft, Inversiones Borneo S.R.L., Inversiones PFI Chile Limitada, Inviting Foods Holdings Inc., Inviting Foods LLC, KAS Anorthosis S.a r.l, KAS S.L., KFC, Kevita Inc., Kinvara LLC, Kungursky Molkombinat JSC, Larragana S.L., Latin American Holdings Ltd., Latin American Snack Foods ApS, Latin Foods International LLC, Lebedyansky, Lebedyansky Holdings LLC, Lebedyansky LLC, Limited Liability Company "Sandora", Linkbay Limited, Lithuanian Snacks UAB, Mabel, Marbo Product d.o.o. Beograd, Marbo d.o.o. Laktasi, Matudis - Comercio de Produtos Alimentares Limitada, Matutano - Sociedade de Produtos Alimentares Lda., Mid-America Improvement Corporation, Mountainview Insurance Company Inc., Muscle Milk, NCJV LLC, New Bern Transport Corporation, New Century Beverage Company LLC, Noble Leasing LLC, Northeast Hot-Fill Co-op Inc., Office at Solyanka LLC, Onbiso Inversiones S.L., One World Enterprises LLC, One World Investors Inc., P-A Barbados Bottling Company LLC, P-A Bottlers Barbados SRL, P-Americas LLC, PAS Luxembourg S.a r.l, PAS Netherlands B.V., PBG Canada Holdings II LLC, PBG Canada Holdings Inc., PBG Cyprus Holdings Limited, PBG Investment Partnership, PBG Midwest Holdings S.a r.l, PBG Soda Can Holdings S.a r.l, PCBL LLC, PCNA Manufacturing Inc., PR Beverages Cyprus Holding Limited, PR Beverages Cyprus Russia Holding Limited, PRB Luxembourg S.a r.l, PRS Inc., PSAS Inversiones LLC, PSE Logistica S.R.L., PT Quaker Indonesia, Papas Chips S.A., Pei N.V., Pep Trade LLC, Pepsi B.V., Pepsi Beverages Holdings Inc., Pepsi Bottling Group Global Finance LLC, Pepsi Bottling Group GmbH, Pepsi Bottling Group Hoosiers B.V., Pepsi Bottling Holdings Inc., Pepsi Bugshan Investments S.A.E., Pepsi Cola Colombia Ltda, Pepsi Cola Egypt S.A.E., Pepsi Cola Panamericana S.R.L., Pepsi Cola Servis Ve Dagitim Limited Sirketi, Pepsi Cola Trading Ireland, Pepsi Logistics Company Inc., Pepsi Northwest Beverages LLC, Pepsi Overseas Investments Partnership, Pepsi Promotions Inc., Pepsi-Cola Advertising and Marketing Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bermuda Limited, Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Holding C.V., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company Of St. Louis Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Ft. Lauderdale-Palm Beach LLC, Pepsi-Cola Company, Pepsi-Cola Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Pepsi-Cola Far East Trade Development Co. Inc., Pepsi-Cola Finance LLC, Pepsi-Cola General Bottlers Poland Sp. z o.o., Pepsi-Cola Industrial da Amazonia Ltda., Pepsi-Cola International Cork, Pepsi-Cola International LLC, Pepsi-Cola International Limited, Pepsi-Cola International Limited U.S.A., Pepsi-Cola International Private Limited, Pepsi-Cola Korea Co. Ltd., Pepsi-Cola Management and Administrative Services Inc., Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing Company Of Uruguay S.R.L., Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing International Limited, Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing Mediterranean Limited, Pepsi-Cola Marketing Corp. Of P.R. Inc., Pepsi-Cola Mediterranean Ltd., Pepsi-Cola Metropolitan Bottling Company Inc., Pepsi-Cola Mexicana Holdings LLC, Pepsi-Cola Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Pepsi-Cola National Marketing LLC, Pepsi-Cola Operating Company Of Chesapeake And Indianapolis, Pepsi-Cola Sales and Distribution Inc., Pepsi-Cola Technical Operations Inc., Pepsi-Cola Thai Trading Co. Ltd., Pepsi-Cola de Honduras S.R.L., Pepsi-Cola of Corvallis Inc., PepsiAmericas Nemzetkozi Szolgaltato Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, PepsiCo ANZ Holdings Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Alimentos Antioquia Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Colombia Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Ecuador Cia. Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Z.F. Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos de Bolivia S.R.L., PepsiCo Amacoco Bebidas Do Brasil Ltda., PepsiCo Asia Research & Development Center Company Limited, PepsiCo Australia Financing Cyprus Limited, PepsiCo Australia Financing Limited Partnership, PepsiCo Australia Financing Partner 1 LLC, PepsiCo Australia Financing Partner 2 LLC, PepsiCo Australia Financing Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Australia Holdings Pty Limited, PepsiCo Australia International, PepsiCo Austria Services GmbH, PepsiCo Azerbaijan Limited Liability Company, PepsiCo BeLux BV, PepsiCo Beverage Sales LLC, PepsiCo Beverage Singapore Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Beverages Bermuda Limited, PepsiCo Beverages Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo Beverages International Limited, PepsiCo Beverages Italia Societa' A Responsabilita' Limitata, PepsiCo Canada Finance LLC, PepsiCo Canada Holdings ULC, PepsiCo Canada Investment ULC, PepsiCo Canada ULC, PepsiCo Captive Holdings Inc., PepsiCo Caribbean Inc., PepsiCo China Limited, PepsiCo Consulting Polska Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo De Bolivia S.R.L., PepsiCo Del Paraguay S.R.L., PepsiCo Deutschland GmbH, PepsiCo Eesti AS, PepsiCo Euro Bermuda Limited, PepsiCo Euro Finance Antilles B.V., PepsiCo Europe Support Center S.L., PepsiCo Finance Americas Company, PepsiCo Finance Antilles A N.V., PepsiCo Finance Antilles B N.V., PepsiCo Finance South Africa Proprietary Limited, PepsiCo Financial Shared Services Inc., PepsiCo Food & Beverage Holdings Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo Foods A.I.E., PepsiCo Foods China Company Limited, PepsiCo Foods Group Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Foods Guangdong Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Nigeria Limited, PepsiCo Foods Private Limited, PepsiCo Foods Sichuan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Taiwan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Vietnam Company, PepsiCo France SAS, PepsiCo Global Business Services India LLP, PepsiCo Global Business Services Poland Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo Global Holdings Limited, PepsiCo Global Investments B.V., PepsiCo Global Investments S.a r.l, PepsiCo Global Mobility LLC, PepsiCo Global Real Estate Inc., PepsiCo Global Trading Solutions Unlimited Company, PepsiCo Golden Holdings Inc., PepsiCo Group Finance International B.V., PepsiCo Group Holdings International B.V., PepsiCo Group Spotswood Holdings S.a r.l, PepsiCo Gulf International FZE, PepsiCo Hellas Single Member Industrial and Commercial Societe Anonyme, PepsiCo Holding de Espana S.L., PepsiCo Holdings, PepsiCo Holdings LLC, PepsiCo Holdings Toshkent LLC, PepsiCo Hong Kong LLC, PepsiCo Iberia Servicios Centrales S.L., PepsiCo India Holdings Private Limited, PepsiCo India Sales Private Limited, PepsiCo Internacional Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., PepsiCo International Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo International Limited, PepsiCo International Pte Ltd., PepsiCo Investments Europe I B.V., PepsiCo Investments Ltd., PepsiCo Ireland Food & Beverages Unlimited Company, PepsiCo Japan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Light B.V., PepsiCo Logistyka Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., PepsiCo Management Services SAS, PepsiCo Manufacturing A.I.E., PepsiCo Max B.V., PepsiCo Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., PepsiCo Nederland B.V., PepsiCo Nordic Denmark ApS, PepsiCo Nordic Finland Oy, PepsiCo Nordic Norway AS, PepsiCo Nutrition Trading DMCC, PepsiCo One B.V., PepsiCo Overseas Corporation, PepsiCo Overseas Financing Partnership, PepsiCo Panimex Inc, PepsiCo Products B.V., PepsiCo Products FLLC, PepsiCo Puerto Rico Inc., PepsiCo Sales Inc., PepsiCo Sales LLC, PepsiCo Services Asia Ltd., PepsiCo Services CZ s.r.o., PepsiCo Services LLC, PepsiCo Twist B.V., PepsiCo UK Pension Plan Trustee Limited, PepsiCo Ventures B.V., PepsiCo Wave Holdings LLC, PepsiCo World Trading Company Inc., PepsiCo Y LLC, PepsiCo de Argentina S.R.L., PepsiCo de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., PepsiCo do Brasil Industria e Comercio de Alimentos Ltda., PepsiCo do Brasil Ltda., PepsiCola Interamericana de Guatemala S.A., Pet Iberia S.L., Pete & Johnny Limited, Pine International LLC, Pine International Limited, Pinstripe Leasing LLC, Pioneer Food Group Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Groceries Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Group Ltd., Pioneer Foods Holdings Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods UK Ltd, Pioneer Foods Wellingtons Pty Ltd, Pipers Crisps Limited, PlayCo Inc., Pop corners, PopCorners Holdings Inc., Portfolio Concentrate Solutions Unlimited Company, Premier Nutrition Trading L.L.C., Prestwick LLC, Prev PepsiCo Sociedade Previdenciaria, Productos Alimenticios Rene LLC, Productos S.A.S. C.V., Productos SAS Management B.V., Punch N.V., Punica Getranke GmbH, Q O Puerto Rico Inc., QFL OHQ Sdn. Bhd., QTG Development Inc., QTG Services Inc., Quadrant - Amroq Beverages S.R.L., Quaker Development B.V., Quaker European Beverages LLC, Quaker European Investments B.V., Quaker Foods, Quaker Global Investments B.V., Quaker Holdings UK Limited, Quaker Manufacturing LLC, Quaker Oats Asia Inc., Quaker Oats Australia Pty Ltd, Quaker Oats B.V., Quaker Oats Capital Corporation, Quaker Oats Europe Inc., Quaker Oats Europe LLC, Quaker Oats Limited, Quaker Sales & Distribution Inc, Raptas Finance S.a r.l., Rare Fare Foods LLC, Rare Fare Holdings Inc., Reading Industries Ltd, Real Estate Holdings LLC, Rockstar Energy Drink, Rolling Frito-Lay Sales LP, S & T of Mississippi Inc., SIH International LLC, SVC Logistics Inc., SVC Manufacturing Inc., SVE Russia Holdings GmbH, Sabritas LLC, Sabritas S. de R.L. de C.V., Sabritas Snacks America Latina de Nicaragua y Cia Ltda, Sabritas de Costa Rica S. de R.L., Sabritas y Cia. S en C de C.V., Sakata Rice Snacks Australia Pty Ltd, Sandora Holdings B.V., Saudi Snack Foods Company Limited, Sea Eagle International SRL, Seepoint Holdings Ltd., Senselet Food Processing PLC, Senselet Holding B.V., Servicios GBF Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Servicios GFLG y Compania Limitada, Servicios Gamesa Puerto Rico L.L.C., Servicios SYC S. de R.L. de C.V., Seven-Up Asia Inc., Seven-Up Light B.V., Seven-Up Nederland B.V., Shanghai PepsiCo Snack Company Limited, Shanghai YuHo Agricultural Development Co. Ltd, Shoebill LLC, Simba (Proprietary) Limited, Simba Proprietary Limited, Sitka Spruce, Smartfoods Inc., Smiles and Bites Holdings S.de R.L. de C.V., Smiths Crisps Limited, Snack Food Investments GmbH, Snack Food Investments II GmbH, Snack Food Investments Limited, Snack Food-Beverage Asia Products Limited, Snacks America Latina S.R.L., Snacks Guatemala Ltd., So Spark Ltd., Soda-Club CO2 Atlantic GmbH, Soda-Club CO2 GmbH, Soda-Club CO2 Ltd., Soda-Club Switzerland GmbH, Soda-Club Worldwide B.V., SodaStream, SodaStream Australia Pty Ltd, SodaStream CO2 SA, SodaStream Canada Ltd., SodaStream Enterprises N.V., SodaStream France SAS, SodaStream GmbH, SodaStream Iberia S.L., SodaStream Industries Ltd., SodaStream International B.V., SodaStream International Ltd., SodaStream Israel Ltd., SodaStream K.K., SodaStream New Zealand Ltd., SodaStream Nordics AB, SodaStream Poland Sp. z o.o., SodaStream SA Pty Ltd., SodaStream Switzerland GmbH, SodaStream USA Inc., SodaStream Osterreich GmbH, South Beach Beverage Company Inc., South Properties Inc., Spitz International Inc., Sportmex Internacional S.A. de C.V., Springboig Industries Ltd, Spruce Limited, Stacy's Pita Chip Company Incorporated, Star Foods E.M. S.R.L., Stokely-Van Camp Inc., Stratosphere Communications Pty Ltd, Stratosphere Holdings 2018 Limited, Streamfoods Ltd, TFL Holdings LLC, Tasman Finance S.a r.l, The Gatorade Company, The Good Carb Food Company Ltd., The Pepsi Bottling Group Canada ULC, The Quaker Oats Company, The Smith's Snackfood Company Pty Limited, Thomond Group Holdings Limited, Tobago Snack Holdings LLC, Tropicana Alvalle S.L., Tropicana Beverages Limited, Tropicana Europe N.V., Tropicana United Kingdom Limited, Troya-Ultra LLC, United Foods Companies Restaurantes S.A., V-Water, VentureCo Israel Ltd, Veurne Snack Foods BV, Vitamin Brands Ltd., Walkers Crisps Limited, Walkers Group Limited, Walkers Snack Foods Limited, Walkers Snacks Distribution Limited, Walkers Snacks Limited, Whitman Corporation, Whitman Insurance Co. Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann Beverages JSC, Wimm-Bill-Dann Brands Co. Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann Central Asia-Almaty LLP, Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods LLC, Wimm-Bill-Dann Georgia Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann JSC, and Wimm-Bill-Dann Ukraine PJSC.
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Googles Project Fi wireless network is getting a new mid-range smartphone option. As expected, the Motorola Moto X4 is coming to Fi and as expected, itll be an Android One version of the phone.
That means the Android One Moto X4 will have the exact same hardware as any other version of the phone. But it will run nearly stock Android software and receive at least two years of security and feature updates.
The Android One Moto X4 goes up for pre-order from Project Fi starting today, and its available in black or blue color options. Update: Pre-orders are live.
Customers that want to trade in an old smartphone can qualify for credit. Google is offering up to $165 for older Nexus phones, up to $355 for a Samsung Galaxy S8+ or up to $388 for an iPhone 7 Plus, among other options.
Google is also providing a $50 Fi credit to customers who start the trade-in process before October 5th.
The Moto X4 has a 5.2 inch, 1920 x 1080 pixel AMOLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, and a 3,000 mAh battery.
It features dual rear cameras and the phone has an IP68 water resistance rating. It has both a USB Type-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack, supports fast charging, and features 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC and a fingerprint sensor.
It also has a microSD card. That alone could make it attractive to some folks whove been disappointed that Googles Nexus and Pixel devices tend to lack removable storage options.
As a stock Android fan whos not particularly interested in spending $650 or more for my next phone, the Moto X4 is the device Ive had my eye on for the past few weeks. Depending on how much money Google offers for a Nexus 5X trade-in, this could very well be my next phone.
Project Fi is an unusual wireless network in a bunch of ways. Like other MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators), Fi piggbyacks on existing networks rather than relying on its own. But it switches between T-Mobile, Sprint, and US Cellular depending on network conditions wherever you are and it switches to WiFi whenever possible. As a Fi customers, that means when I make a call at home, its routed over my WiFi network. When I leave the house itll probably go out over T-Mobile or Sprint. But my phone always says its connected to Fi.
Google also charges $20 per month for unlimited talk and text and then $10 per month for each gigabyte of data you use and the rate stays the same if you go over your monthly amount. If you use less than youd paid for up front, Google will refund you. There are no additional fees for tethering or using data while roaming in 135 countries.
Those last bits are the reason I switched to Fi. Since I tend to work from home, it also ends up being one of the cheapest options for me but if youre a heavy data user, your results may be different.
But one problem with Project Fi is that up until now it has only officially supported Google Nexus and Pixel phones. With Google phasing out the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, that means there were no low-cost or mid-range phones compatible with the network until today.
Its almost like Google heard me whining about the lack of choice in June. Almost.
Hopefully this is just the start of things to come. Id love to not only see more of the high-quality mid-range phones on the market come to Project Fi, but also gain Android One-style software and updates for folks who dont plan to use Project Fi.
Rumor has it HTC is working on Android One phone, and Xiaomi recently launched one although its not compatible with most US wireless network bands.
via Android Central
Media forum on BRI kicks off in China
The 2017 Media Forum on Belt and Road Initiative kicked off in the Chinese city of Dunhuang, a key transit point in the ancient Silk Road, on Tuesday. Representatives of media outlets and think tanks from 126 countries including Nepal are participating in one of the largest regular international media forums.
Advances in speech recognition and computer translation have made it possible to use apps like Skype or Google Translate to hold real-time conversations with someone who speaks a different language.
But Fujitsu is taking things a step further with the introduction of a wearable device that lets you converse without pressing any buttons. Its designed for use in hospitals or other locations where workers may need to communicate across language barriers.
The company plans to begin clinical trials at healthcare institutions in Japan starting in November.
The device uses a directional microphone to help pick up your voice and the person youre talking to. And it can detect languages automatically, allowing the device to switch between languages automatically with no user intervention.
Fujitsu says the device has 95 percent accuracy when it comes to detecting speech in a relatively noisy environment like a hospital exam room.
So far, the system supports Japanese, English, and Chinese but there are plans to add more languages in the future.
If trials go well, Fujitsu hopes to launch a commercial version of its wearable translation device in 2018.
via Hexus
Credit: University of Liverpool
New research shows a quarter of girls (24%) and one in 10 boys (9%) are depressed at age 14.
Researchers from the University of Liverpool and University College London analysed information on more than 10,000 children born in 2000-01 who are taking part in the Millennium Cohort Study.
At ages 3, 5, 7, 11 and 14, parents reported on their children's mental health. Then, when they reached 14, the children were themselves asked questions about their depressive symptoms.
Based on the 14-year-olds reporting of their emotional problems, 24 per cent of girls and 9 per cent of boys suffer from depression.
Family income
The research, published with the National Children's Bureau, also investigated links between depressive symptoms and family income. Generally, 14-year-olds from better-off families were less likely to have high levels of depressive symptoms compared to their peers from poorer homes.
Parents' reports of emotional problems were roughly the same for boys and girls throughout childhood, increasing from 7 per cent of children at age 7 to 12 per cent at age 11. However, by the time they reached early adolescence at age 14, emotional problems became more prevalent in girls, with 18 per cent having symptoms of depression and anxiety, compared to 12 per cent of boys.
Behaviour problems, such as acting out, fighting and being rebellious decreased from infancy to age 5, but then increased to age 14. Boys were more likely than girls to have behaviour problems throughout childhood and early adolescence.
As 14-year-olds' own reports of their emotional problems were different to their parents', this research highlights the importance of considering young people's views on their own mental health.
'Worryingly high'
The lead author, Dr Praveetha Patalay from the University of Liverpool's Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, said: "In recent years, there has been a growing policy focus on children's mental health. However, there has been a lack of nationally representative estimates of mental health problems for this generation.
"In other research, we've highlighted the increasing mental health difficulties faced by girls today compared to previous generations and this study further highlights the worryingly high rates of depression."
Professor Emla Fitzsimons, Director of the Millennium Cohort Study, said: "These stark findings provide evidence that mental health problems among girls rise sharply as they enter adolescence; and, while further research using this rich data is needed to understand the causes and consequences of this, this study highlights the extent of mental health problems among young adolescents in the UK today."
'Crisis point'
Anna Feuchtwang, Chief Executive of the National Children's Bureau, said: "This study of thousands of children gives us the most compelling evidence available about the extent of mental ill-health among children in the UK. With a quarter of 14-year-old girls showing signs of depression, it's now beyond doubt that this problem is reaching crisis point.
"Worryingly there is evidence that parents may be underestimating their daughters' mental health needs. Conversely, parents may be picking up on symptoms in their sons, which boys don't report themselves. It's vital that both children and their parents can make their voices heard to maximise the chances of early identification and access to specialist support.
"The new research also suggests that signs of depression are generally more common among children from poorer families. We know that mental health doesn't exist in a vacuum and as the government prepares to publish its plans to improve children's wellbeing, it must address the overlap with other aspects of disadvantage."
More information: Mental ill-health among children of the new century: Trends across childhood, with a focus on age 14: Mental ill-health among children of the new century: Trends across childhood, with a focus on age 14: www.ncb.org.uk/sites/default/f Research_reports/UCL %20-%20NCB%20-%20Mental_Ill-Health%20FINAL.pdf
Fierce debate over the safety of water fluoridation particularly for childrens developing brains has fuelled researchers to explore the issue and provide evidence to inform national drinking water standards. Credit: Gullherme Jofill via Flickr
Fluoride in the urine of pregnant women shows a correlation with lower measures of intelligence in their children, according to University of Toronto researchers who conducted the first study of its kind and size to examine fluoride exposure and multiple states of neurodevelopment.
"Our study shows that the growing fetal nervous system may be adversely affected by higher levels of fluoride exposure," said Dr. Howard Hu, the study's principal investigator and professor of environmental health, epidemiology and global health at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. "It also suggests that the prenatal nervous system may be more sensitive to fluoride compared to that of school-aged children."
Tap water and dental products have been fluoridated in communities in Canada and the United States (as well as milk and table salt in some other countries) by varying amounts for more than 60 years to prevent cavities and improve bone health. In recent years, fierce debate over the safety of water fluoridation particularly for children's developing brains has fuelled researchers to explore the issue and provide evidence to inform national drinking water standards.
There are some known side effects of fluoride. For example, dental defects like mild staining are common among those ingesting recommended levels of fluoride in the United States and Canada. Skeletal fluorosis excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones is much less common and only observed at levels of fluoride in the water that are more than five to 10 times higher than those recommended.
"Relatively little is known, with confidence, about fluoride's impact on neurodevelopment," said Hu, whose research team included experts from U of T, National Institute of Public Health of Mexico, University of Michigan, McGill University, Indiana University, Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Harvard School of Public Health.
The study, "Prenatal Fluoride Exposure and Cognitive Outcomes in Children at 4 and 6-12 Years of Age in Mexico," published today in Environmental Health Perspectives, analyzed data from 287 mother-child pairs in Mexico City that were part of the Early Life Exposures in Mexico to Environmental Toxicants (ELEMENT) project, which recruited pregnant women from 1994 to 2005 and has continued to follow the women and their children ever since.
The research team analyzed urine samples that had been taken from mothers during pregnancy and from their children between six and 12 years of age to reconstruct personal measures of fluoride exposure for both mother and child.
"This is significant because previous studies estimated exposures based on neighbourhood measurements of drinking water fluoride levels, which are indirect and much less precise measures of exposure. They also looked at children's exposures instead of prenatal exposures or had much smaller sample sizes of subjects to study," said Dr. Hu.
The researchers then analyzed how levels of fluoride in urine related to the children's verbal, perceptual-performance, quantitative, memory, and motor abilities at age four and once more between the ages of six and 12. Analyses were adjusted for other factors known to impact neurodevelopment, such as gestational age at birth, birthweight, birth order, sex, maternal marital status, smoking history, age at delivery, IQ, education, socioeconomic status and lead exposure.
With regard to the study's implications for populations in North America, researchers found that urinary fluoride levels in pregnant women were somewhat higher than, but within the general range of, urinary fluoride levels seen in non-pregnant general populations in Canada and the United States. However, in Dr. Hu's opinion, the findings do not provide enough information to suggest there is no safe level of fluoride exposure.
"The potential risks associated with fluoride should be further studied, particularly among vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children, and more research on fluoride's impact on the developing brain is clearly needed."
More information: Prenatal Fluoride Exposure and Cognitive Outcomes in Children at 4 and 612 Years of Age in Mexico. Environ Health Perspect; DOI: 10.1289/EHP655 Journal information: Environmental Health Perspectives Prenatal Fluoride Exposure and Cognitive Outcomes in Children at 4 and 612 Years of Age in Mexico.
The ability of the axolotl, or Mexican salamander, to regenerate the form and function of almost any body part makes it a popular model for the study of the genetic pathways for regeneration Credit: MDI Biological Laboratory
The answer to regenerative medicine's most compelling questionwhy some organisms can regenerate major body parts such as hearts and limbs while others, such as humans, cannotmay lie with the body's innate immune system, according to a new study of heart regeneration in the axolotl, or Mexican salamander, an organism that takes the prize as nature's champion of regeneration.
The study, which was conducted by James Godwin, Ph.D., of the MDI Biological Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine, found that the formation of new heart muscle tissue in the adult axolotl after an artificially induced heart attack is dependent on the presence of macrophages, a type of white blood cell. When macrophages were depleted, the salamanders formed permanent scar tissue that blocked regeneration.
The study has significant implications for human health. Since salamanders and humans have evolved from a common ancestor, it's possible that the ability to regenerate is also built into our genetic code.
Godwin's research demonstrates that scar formation plays a critical role in blocking the program for regeneration. "The scar shoots down the program for regeneration," he said. "No macrophages means no cardiac regeneration."
Godwin's goal is to activate regeneration in humans through the use of drug therapies derived from macrophages that would promote scar-free healing directly, or those that would trigger the genetic programs controlling the formation of macrophages, which in turn could promote scar-free healing. His team is already looking at molecular targets for drug therapies to influence these genetic programs.
"If humans could get over the fibrosis hurdle in the same way that salamanders do, the system that blocks regeneration in humans could potentially be broken," Godwin explained. "We don't know yet if it's only scarring that prevents regeneration or if other factors are involved. But if we're really lucky, we might find that the suppression of scarring is sufficient in and of itself to unlock our endogenous ability to regenerate."
The prevailing view in regenerative biology has been that the major obstacle to heart regeneration in mammals is insufficient proliferation of cardiomyocytes, or heart muscle cells. But Godwin found that cardiomyocyte proliferation is not the only driver of effective heart regeneration. His findings suggest that research efforts should pay more attention to the genetic signals controlling scarring.
The extraordinary incidence of disability and death from heart disease, which is the world's biggest killer, is directly attributable to scarring. When a human experiences a heart attack, scar tissue forms at the site of the injury. While the scar limits further tissue damage in the short term, over time its stiffness interferes with the heart's ability to pump, leading to disability and ultimately to terminal heart failure.
In addition to regenerating heart tissue following a heart attack, the ability to unlock dormant capabilities for regeneration through the suppression of scarring also has potential applications for the regeneration of tissues and organs lost to traumatic injury, surgery and other diseases, Godwin said.
Godwin's findings are a validation of the MDI Biological Laboratory's unique research approach, which is focused on studying regeneration in a diverse range of animal models with the goal of gaining insight into how to trigger dormant genetic pathways for regeneration in humans. In the past year and a half, laboratory scientists have discovered three drug candidates with the potential to activate regeneration in humans.
Credit: MDI Biological Laboratory
"Our focus on the study of animals with amazing capabilities for regenerating lost and damaged body parts has made us a global leader in the field of regenerative medicine," said Kevin Strange, Ph.D., MDI Biological Laboratory president. "James Godwin's discovery of the role of macrophages in heart regeneration demonstrates the value of this approach: we won't be able to develop rational and effective therapies to enhance regeneration in humans until we first understand regeneration works in animals like salamanders."
Godwin, who is an immunologist, originally chose to look at the function of the immune system in regeneration because its role as the equivalent of a first responder at the site of an injury means that it is responsible for preparing the ground for tissue repairs. The recent study was a follow-up to an earlier study which found that macrophages also play a critical role in limb regeneration.
The next step is to study the function of macrophages in salamanders and compare them with their human and mouse counterparts. Ultimately, Godwin would like to understand why macrophages produced by adult mice and humans don't suppress scarring in the same way as in axolotls and then identify molecules and pathways that could be exploited for human therapies.
Godwin holds a dual appointment with The Jackson Laboratory, also located in Bar Harbor, which is focused on the mouse as a model animal. The dual appointment allows him to conduct experiments that compare genetic programming in the highly regenerative animals used as models at the MDI Biological Laboratory with genetic programming in neonatal and adult mice.
Godwin's paper was published in npj Regenerative Medicine in partnership with the Australia Regenerative Medicine Institute.
More information: J. W. Godwin et al. Heart regeneration in the salamander relies on macrophage-mediated control of fibroblast activation and the extracellular landscape, npj Regenerative Medicine (2017). J. W. Godwin et al. Heart regeneration in the salamander relies on macrophage-mediated control of fibroblast activation and the extracellular landscape,(2017). DOI: 10.1038/s41536-017-0027-y
(HealthDay)Definition of type 2 myocardial infarction (T2MI) using a method that does not require the presence of coronary artery disease is associated with a lower event-related mortality rate, according to a study published in the Sept. 26 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Thomas Nestelberger, M.D., from the University Hospital Basel in Switzerland, and colleagues adjudicated the final diagnosis of 4,015 patients with symptoms suggestive of myocardial infarction by two methods: one required presence of coronary artery disease, a common interpretation of the 2007 universal definition (T2MI 2007 ), and one did not (the 2012 universal definition [T2MI 2012 ]).
The researchers found that the incidence of T2MI was 2.8 percent (112 patients) based on the T2MI 2007 definition. T2MI incidence increased to 6 percent with application of the more liberal T2MI 2012 definition (relative increase of 114 percent; 128 reclassified patients [T2MI 2012reclassified ]). Among T2MI 2007 , 6.3, 22, and 71 percent of patients, respectively, received coronary revascularization, dual-antiplatelet therapy, and high-dose statin therapy, compared with 0.8, 1.6, and 31 percent, respectively, among T2MI 2012reclassified patients (all P < 0.01). At 90 days, cardiovascular mortality was 0 percent among T2MI 2012reclassified , similar to patients with noncardiac causes of chest discomfort (0.2 percent), and significantly lower than among T2MI 2007 and type 1 myocardial infarction (T1MI) patients (3.6 and 4.8 percent, respectively).
"T2MI 2012reclassified has a substantially lower event-related mortality rate compared with T2MI 2007 and T1MI," the authors write.
Several authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
Copyright 2017 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Credit: University of Southern California
The pudge on toddlers that some dismiss as "baby fat" is not a passing phase for some children.
A recent study by USC and Emory University researchers found that most children who are obese before they start kindergarten remain obese through adolescence. This raises the likelihood that they will be obese into adulthood and raises their risk of other health problems.
One in five of the children starting kindergarten in 1998 were overweight or obese, the scientists determined based on their analysis of federal education and health data records that tracked U.S. kindergartners through 2007.
The scientists also identified a critical window for intervention: If the children did not lose the weight by third grade, their obesity became an "entrenched" problem, according to their study published in July in the Annals of Epidemiology.
"Once you reach adolescence and you're obese, then your risk of continuing to be obese into adulthood remains," said Ashlesha Datar, a senior research economist for the Center for Economic and Social Research at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. "What our paper really pointed out is if kids enter kindergarten obese, then that is really the time when you need to intervene."
Datar was on a research team led by Solveig A. Cunningham of Emory University that analyzed data from the federal Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Kindergarten Class of 1998-99, examining the growth patterns of 6,600 children over time. The children's weight and other health indicators were recorded six times from 1998 to 2007.
A host of health problems loom
An estimated 17 percentor 12.7 millionAmerican children and teens are obese, according to federal health statistics. Research has shown that children who are obese are at risk of a host of health problemsasthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, joint pain and sleep disorders, to name a few.
The team found that 55 percent of the 780 children who were obese in kindergarten were likely to remain obese into their teenswhat the scientists referred to as "entrenched obesity."
"Our findings indicate that children who are measured as having obesity even at one health visit during the early elementary school years are at risk for long-term obesity," Cunningham said. "Based on this knowledge, prevention should be targeted toward early childhood."
The hard numbers
The scientists found that children with severe obesity in kindergarten or who had obesity for more than a year during early elementary were very likely to experience obesity through age 14regardless of their sex, race or socioeconomic backgrounds.
Thirty percent of U.S. elementary school children in the study experienced obesity at some point between ages 5 and 14. Most of the children remained obese, and this was particularly marked for children who had gained the weight early on, before third grade.
Sixty-two percent of the 170 children in the study who became obese sometime between first and third grade remained obese by the eighth grade. Forty-seven percent of the 310 children who became obese between first and third grade remained obese through eighth grade.
"How much a child's body mass index (BMI) changes during that year in kindergarten is a very significant predictor of whether they will have 'entrenched obesity,'" Datar said.
Body mass index is a weight-to-height ratio used to determine whether someone is at a healthy or unhealthy weight.
Early intervention can work
Datar noted that scientific studies on interventions have found that school programs generally tend to be more successful in preventing and reducing obesity and overweight than programs that target children outside the school setting, such as at a home or neighborhood.
"You can reach a large number of kids in the school setting and provide them with healthier opportunities such as physical education classes and nutritional education. Children in kindergarten are at an age when they look to teachers for guidance, so teachers and schools can have an important role in influencing their health, activities and habits."
Yin-Yang symbolism in a depiction of fluorescently-stained chromosomes in normal and mutant mouse testis cells. Credit: A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology
"Infertility is generally perceived to be mostly a female problem, but this is wrong," says Philipp Kaldis, researcher from A*STAR. Kaldis studies the development of human sperm, his work could one day lead to the treatment of male infertility and help develop chemical contraception methods for males.
To set his work in context, Kaldis points to studies reporting a 50-60 per cent fall in sperm counts between 1973 and 2011. "Claims that this trend could lead to the extinction of the human race may be exaggerated," he concedes, but they do indicate a need for understanding male fertility.
The importance of a protein called Emi2 for generating sperm in mice has now been shown by Kaldis, working with colleagues at the A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology and collaborators elsewhere in Singapore and in Taiwan, the USA and Europe1. They say this indicates that the protein may play a similar role in humans. The researchers were able to identify the crucial role for Emi2 in testes by creating mice in which the gene that codes for the protein was knocked out. The mice were left sterile, but suffered no other major effects.
"Nobody had previously studied the role of this protein in testis," says Kaldis, noting that the protein has been shown to be involved in controlling the cell divisions that produce egg cells in ovaries, but that its activity has not been detected in other tissues. This all suggests that it is an important player in human reproduction.
"The next step is to figure out all of the functions of Emi2 in making sperm," says Kaldis. The work so far suggests that it is essential, but has not fully revealed why.
There are hints, however, from the protein's known role in the ovary. There, it regulates meiosis, an essential cellular process for halving chromosome numbers to make egg and sperm cells that will combine to form a fertilized egg cell.
Any applications of the research to devise treatments for male infertility, or contraceptives, would require much further research, but Kaldis' work lays the foundations for major medical advances.
More information: Lakshmi Gopinathan et al. Emi2 Is Essential for Mouse Spermatogenesis, Cell Reports (2017). Journal information: Cell Reports Lakshmi Gopinathan et al. Emi2 Is Essential for Mouse Spermatogenesis,(2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.06.033
Credit: CC0 Public Domain
A new study by Yale-NUS College Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Cheung Hoi Shan has discovered that shy children with low English vocabulary skills, can still be popular among their peers if they have high-functioning social communication skills that enable them to engage and interact well with their peers in social settings. Dr Cheung conducted the study involving 164 preschoolers between 52 and 79 months old in Singapore. She co-authored the paper with Associate Professor John Elliott from the Department of Psychology under the National University of Singapore's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The paper was recently published in the British Journal of Developmental Psychology.
Earlier studies found that shy children tend to be less well-liked among their peers. Researchers have tried to identify factors such as good vocabulary skills and social communication skills, which can buffer the negative effects of child shyness and make shy children more well-liked by their peers. However, the interaction between these two factors and how they may have a combined effect on children was unknown. Contrary to existing assumptions that shy children with low vocabulary skills struggle with peer likeability, Dr Cheung's research has shown that as long as a shy child is equipped with high functioning social skills and able to react well across different social situations, the child's poor vocabulary skills become inconsequential. This suggests that social communication skills have a buffering effect. Some examples of social communication skills include non-verbal communication (e.g. ability to recognise when other people are upset), inappropriate initiation (e.g. talking repetitively about something that no one is interested in), and use of context (e.g. ability to adapt and communicate based on situation and audience).
"Presumably, having a good expressive vocabulary, and by extension a good command of language, makes it easier for children to engage and interact with peers. However, we have found that the presence of a good vocabulary in a shy child offered no additional buffering effect for peer likeability if the child did not possess high-functioning social communication skills. Conversely, shy children with poor vocabulary skills were assumed to be less likeable, but high-functioning social communication skills serve as an effective buffer against the presumed language disadvantage. The more shy a child was, the more pronounced the effect of social communication skills," Dr Cheung shared.
The findings for this study suggest that parents should consider placing more emphasis on developing a shy child's social communication skills, instead of only looking to expand their vocabulary. Traditionally, parents tend to focus on increasing a child's vocabulary as the way to improve a child's language and communication skills. However, it is high social communication skills, instead of good vocabulary, that appears to serve a protective function for shy children, helping to increase their peer likeability. The implications of the research are particularly relevant to families who live in Singapore's multilingual environment as the study included local bilingual or trilingual preschoolers.
Assoc Prof Elliott noted the impact of culture and the local context on the study. "It turns out that being a shy child in Singapore is not quite the negative thing it is often thought to be in places like the United States, which have strongly individualistic cultures. In Singapore, it may be considered quite appropriate, and need not diminish the child's popularity among peers, if the child has good social communication skills," he pointed out.
"Social communication skills such as making eye contact, ability to adapt and communicate in different situations can be taught deliberately, instead of leaving children to observe and pick up these skills on their own. Parents of shy children may want to consider developing such skills in their children so that they can learn how to better engage with their peers, helping them to develop meaningful relationships despite their shyness," explained Dr Cheung.
Highlighting the potential for future research, Assoc Prof Elliott added, "This finding is only one aspect of the research that Dr Cheung conducted. Patterns of parenting are not the same everywhere and we have shown that what counts as sensitive and appropriate parenting is quite hard to determine using assumptions and methods developed elsewhere. I hope the research can be taken forward in the direction of further investigating local parenting practice and its effect on child socialisation, while developing locally appropriate methods."
Dr Cheung conducted the study while she was a PhD candidate at the National University of Singapore, and has a long-standing interest in the study of parenting practices and their influence on children's social development. Her current work investigates cultural differences in parenting styles and practices, which have implications on the interpretation of parent-child relationship quality and consequently, children's development. Dr Cheung has also published another paper in Child Development, which argues that cultural context has significant impact on the measurement of maternal sensitivity, i.e. the extent to which mothers are able to perceive and interpret their child's signals accurately, and respond in a timely and appropriate manner. She found that it may not be effective for studies in Singapore to use the typical western scales to make these measurements, hence pointing to the need for more research to better understand parenting norms in the local context.
More information: Hoi Shan Cheung et al, Child shyness and peer likeability: The moderating role of pragmatics and vocabulary, British Journal of Developmental Psychology (2017). Journal information: Child Development Hoi Shan Cheung et al, Child shyness and peer likeability: The moderating role of pragmatics and vocabulary,(2017). DOI: 10.1111/bjdp.12192
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Spanish parliament rejects ban on arms sales to Saudi Arabia and Iraq
ARCHIVED ARTICLE
Spain netted 168 million euros from armaments sales to the two countries last year
The availability of weapons to nations which are considered to be politically dangerous or unstable is an issue which is in the limelight at present due to the missile testing undertaken by North Korea, but as things stand the concerns appear not to be serious enough for Spain to stop exporting arms to the Middle East countries of Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
A motion to cease all such exports was rejected in Congress this week by the votes of the PP, PSOE and Ciudadanos MPs, no doubt influenced at least in part by the fact that last year the sale of arms from Spain to Saudi Arabia and Iraq brought in revenue of 116 million euros and 52.7 million euros respectively. In Iraq all sales were to the States armed forces, while in Saudi Arabia this was not quite the case as almost 12 per cent of revenue came from the police and another 3.23% was accounted for by publicly owned companies.
Objections to this aspect of Spains export trade stem from the ongoing Saudi offensive against Yemen, in which there have been allegations of human rights violations, as well as persistent concerns over the stability of the Iraqi government.
During the same session of parliament it was decided that the government should be obliged to supply details of the types of weapons sold to Saudi Arabia, Bahrein, Egypt, Iraq, Israel and Turkey.
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Over 5,000 police personnel to be deployed in Valley for Dashain
Metropolitan Police Office, Ranipokhari, Kathmandu, has decided to deploy 5,437 personnel in Kathmandu Valley for Dashain, Tihar and Chhath festivals.
South Africa is slipping down the global ICT development index at a time when other African countries are making big gains.
This is according to the World Banks economic update for South Africa, which saw the countrys growth rate cut to 0.6%.
The World Bank warned that poverty in South Africa is expected to worsen, with low levels of innovation and declining productivity holding us back.
Telecommunications and IT can help the country grow and create employment, but poor governance is hurting these industries.
A modern economy requires fast and cheap ICT infrastructure to connect businesses with domestic and international consumers, and to enable the delivery of public services.
According to the World Bank, urgent reforms are needed to increase investments in mobile and fixed broadband infrastructure.
The reforms should also increase competition among Internet service providers, and improve the quality and reduce the price of ICT services.
South African consumers are paying more for broadband services of lower speeds than other emerging economies in Africa and other regions, said the World Bank.
Development
The report cited the ICT Development Index from the ITU, which showed that South Africas ranking has fallen from 77 in 2002 to 88 in 2016 while other African countries are making gains.
The underlying constraint is not a lack of capital for investment or a lack of interest from foreign companies in the South African market.
Instead, the constraint is attributable to outmoded regulatory approaches and the lack of competition among telecommunications service providers.
A particular failing is that 4G mobile services have still not been licensed in South Africa, even though such services are thriving elsewhere in Africa, said the World Bank.
South Africas relatively high tariffs, low broadband penetration, and slow Internet speed are directly affecting the poorest households.
High Internet costs constrain the growth of the ICT industry and contribute to the slow development of e-government applications, it stated.
Ensuring the regulators policy independence and confirming its field of action should help expedite stalled actions such as 4G licensing.
A more liberal approach to spectrum management and price competition would support these objectives, stated the report.
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President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia on Tuesday attended the 72nd session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Also, the President delivered a statement at the general debate of this event, and this statement runs as follows:
Distinguished President of the General Assembly,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I congratulate and wish success to Mr. Miroslav Lajcak upon his election as the President of the 72nd Session of the General Assembly.
I avail myself of this opportunity and congratulate anew Mr. Antonio Guterres upon his election to the office of the UN Secretary General. Distinguished Mr. Secretary General, we wish you success in carrying out your important mission. The priorities you declared enjoy Armenias support.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In 2017 we marked the 25th anniversary of Armenias accession to the United Nations. On March 2, 1992 the Armenian tricolor flaunted at this headquarters of the United Nations family as a logical and sought for outcome of the exercise by our people of its fundamental right to self-determination.
Over the years, Armenia has become a fully-fledged and responsible member of the international community. There had been numerous challenges in before of us, and we withstood them with dignity. The most important and intricate one was the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
It is for the fifth time that I have an opportunity to speak from this eminent podium and again I am compelled to address the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. I should have rather preferred to talk of peace, progress and cooperation, but unfortunately we are not there yet. Hence, it is my duty to explain why we are so much away from that desirable stage.
The new phase of the struggle for self-determination by the people of Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] began almost 30 years ago. The peaceful calls by the Armenians of Artsakh to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination as well as every step to that effect was met by use force, to which Azerbaijan continuously resorted to.
The policy of the official Baku culminated in the massacres, ethnic cleansing and mass deportation of the Armenian population of Azerbaijan. Once flourishing Armenian-populated districts in their entirety have been wiped out of the Armenians, and the Government of Azerbaijan continues with its policy of systematic destruction of the vast Armenian cultural and spiritual heritage on the territories under its control.
It is obvious that, under such circumstances, the people of Artsakh were left with no other choice than to resort to self-defense. The grievous war of 1992-1994, its aftermath and negotiations that followed did not serve as a lesson for Azerbaijan. Last year in April, Azerbaijan unleashed a four-day war, which came to prove that Azerbaijan pursues the objective of extermination of the people of Artsakh.
In the course of the military offensive unleashed in 2016, the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan committed a number of war crimes against civilian population and the prisoners of war. Here I am compelled to mention that a serviceman who committed such atrocities has been decorated with a high state award, and the President of Azerbaijan personally decorated him in front of the cameras.
Distinguished Mr. President,
It has been for years that hate speech and Armenophobia was made part and parcel of the Azerbaijans state policy. It has taken deep root in the school curricula, intoxicating the younger generation. It has been for years that a number of inter-governmental and non-governmental specialized organizations dealing with racism and xenophobia have been ringing alarm bells about it.
All of these leads us to believe that the exercise of the right to self-determination by the people of Artsakh is of existential significance. In this regard, I convey the consolidated view of Armenia and Artsakh as well as the one shared by Armenians from all over the globe. I bring this message from Yerevan, where right now Armenia-Diaspora conference is taking place.
Everyone should be aware that for the democratically developing Artsakh Azerbaijan simply symbolizes medieval backwardness. Azerbaijan has got no legal or moral ground whatsoever to present any claims towards Artsakh. Artsakh has never been part to independent Azerbaijan, and therefore the attempts of its annexation to that particular state framework cannot be justified.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today free Artsakh is an established democratic society. Our shared motto and commitment of Leaving no one behind should be the milestone guiding the work of the United Nations family. It is exactly for that reason, I believe, that people of Artsakh should never be isolated from the implementation of the sustainable development goals.
I strongly believe that the unresolved status of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict should have no impact on the people of Artsakh as they exercise their rights. It is, first and foremost, about inalienable rights for any human being. It is about the right to life, the right to organize public life, the right to form freely ones own government, the right to communicate unimpededly with the outer world, and many other rights.
Armenia consistently contributes and will contribute to the improvement of the living conditions of the people of Artsakh, its sustainable and democratic development. No one has a right to create hindrances to the implementation of initiatives and projects to that effect. The legal status of Artsakh, or, to be more precise, the lack of the international legal recognition, is not and cannot constitute an obstacle for the women and men who live there to exercise their rights.
We strongly believe that there is no alternative to the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Right now, from this eminent podium, I reiterate our commitment to that effect.
Meanwhile, everyone should be aware that the Nagorno Karabakh issue is a human rights issue. It can be resolved exclusively through one of the fundamental and inalienable human rights the peoples right to self-determination.
At the end of the day, whatever option for the conflict resolution we arrive at, the Republic of Artsakh should not enjoy a status and liberty that might be inferior to the one it enjoys today. Azerbaijan shall recognize and respect the right of the people of Artsakh to decide its own future through a free expression of will. All available international and domestic mechanisms should guarantee the security of the Armenian population of Artsakh.
All remaining issues are collateral. All remaining issues will find their logical and fair solution in parallel to the general resolution process.
Distinguished Mr. President,
When I last time spoke from this eminent podium and addressed the process of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, I considered it my duty to express our gratitude one by one to all nations that recognized the horrendous crime that was committed against my people in the Ottoman Empire.
It is my duty to express gratitude from this eminent podium of Honor and Responsibility to all those countries that have recognized or reiterated their position on the Armenian Genocide.
I thank them for it, regardless of the format and language adopted.
I thank the numerous countries and individuals, state bodies, regional entities and organizations, who called things by their proper names. That is, indeed, important since denial paves the way for new crimes of genocide.
In this context, we recall that next year the family of the United Nations will mark the 70th anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Armenia will bring up a new initiative upon that occasion, and we invite all to join us and defend that initiative.
We, nevertheless, have never made the recognition of the Armenian Genocide a precondition for the normalization of the bilateral relations between Armenia and Turkey. Moreover, it was upon the initiative of Armenia that a normalization process was launched, resulting in the conclusion of the Zurich protocols in October 2009.
Up to this day, those documents have not been ratified, instead, they have landed in some dark drawers of the official Ankara. The Government of Turkey came up with preposterous preconditions for their ratification that run counter to the letter and spirit of the Protocols. I expressed the clear-cut views of the Armenian people on this issue three years ago, when I spoke from this eminent podium.
Now the time has come for additional explanations. The leadership of Turkey are mistaken if they think that those documents can be held hostage forever and ratified only at the most opportune occasion from their very point of view. The Protocols were negotiated in the existing circumstances in order to find solutions to the actually existing issues.
Armenia will declare those two Protocols null and void since they continuously lacked any positive progress towards their implementation. We will enter the spring of 2018 without those, as our experience has demonstrated, futile Protocols.
Armenia, nevertheless, continues to believe that any two neighboring states need to establish and enjoy normal relations in order to address all possible disagreements between them and find solutions to such a discord.
This is the conviction we are guided by in our engagement with various integration processes. Today, Armenia is an active member of the Eurasian Economic Union and with its active work spares no effort in order to contribute to the unimpeded movement of goods and services in that large economic area and, hence, contribute to and promote welfare for all. We have already registered certain achievements in that regard, and that makes us feel hopeful for future. We also plan to conclude this November Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement with European Union, which, in our view, will help us to give a new impetus to the institutional reforms implemented in Armenia.
Dear ladies and gentlemen,
The current instability in the Middle East regretfully remains as a serious challenge.
It is with great pain that we have been following the crisis in Syria and the humanitarian situation there, which has brought about suffering of the civilian population, including the Armenian community of the country. Within its means, Armenia strives to mitigate the suffering of the Syrian people by providing humanitarian assistance. We also express our willingness to engage into possible discussions on the peacemaking efforts in Syria under the UN auspices and with an appropriate mandate.
Distinguished Mr. President,
I have no doubt that our family of the United Nations is able to guarantee a new quality of cooperation that will allow us to withstand the contemporary global and regional challenges. It is with that objective in mind that Armenia participates in a number of the UN peacekeeping operations. Moreover, we stand ready to increase our contribution in Lebanon and Mali to UNIFIL and MINUSMA missions, respectively.
Armenia, as a landlocked country located in the complicated region, a country with scarce natural resources, has continuously emphasized that human capital is its most valuable resource. It is, indeed, correct both for Armenia and for our whole family of the United Nations: we should focus on people, we should strive for peace and a decent life for all, on a sustainable planet.
I thank you.
President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia on Tuesday met with United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, at the UN Headquarters in New York City.
Noting that this year Armenia celebrated the 25th anniversary of its membership in the UN, Sargsyan stated that ever since becoming a member, the country is actively involved in the activities of the UN and its organizations.
As per the President, Armenia has always felt the UNs targeted assistance to it. Also, he expressed gratification with the productive cooperation with UN, and hoped that it will further strengthen and develop under Guterres leadership. In addition, the President assured that Armenia will consistently continue to make efforts toward promoting the objectives of the UN.
The President of Armenia and the UN Secretary-General reflected also on the process of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In this connection, the President expressed gratification to the Secretary General for his full support to the efforts by the co-chairs of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to pacifically resolve this conflict.
Parliament passes Edu Act (Ninth Amendment) Bill
Despite serious reservations from lawmakers, including those from the ruling parties, Parliament on Tuesday endorsed the ninth amendment to the Education Act-1972, paving the way for hundreds of temporary teachers to get permanent status without sitting in competitive tests.
PM Deuba off to New York
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Tuesday left for New York to attend the 72nd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). This is his second foreign visit after assuming the post of prime minister on June 6.
Inditex SA (IDEXY) shares fell in Madrid Wednesday after the world's largest clothing retailerposted slightly weaker-than-expected earnings for the first half of its fiscal year and said global online sales launches were "on track" for the second half.
The Spain-based group, which owns the Zara and Bershka brands, said operating earnings for the six months ending in July came in at 2.29 billion ($2.75 billion), just shy of the FactSet consensus of 2.34 billion but up 9% from the same period last year. Like-for-like sales, the group said, grew 6% while net sales were 11% higher at 11.7 billion.
Gross margins, however, slipped by 1.8 percentage points from the first three months of the year to 56.4% of sales, "mainly due to the mix effect caused by the strong appreciation of the euro versus most major currencies since June", the company said. "Inditex also took the commercial decision to make a quick transition from the Spring/Summer season into Autumn/Winter, programming in a strong launch of the campaign in August."
The euro gained around 8.7% against the U.S. dollar over the May to July period, Initex's second quarter, a move that pressured its cost base and blunted the converted impact of its overseas sales. The euro's gain over the first three month's of the company's fiscal year was only 1.9%.
Inditex shares were marked 2.4% lower in the opening 30 minutes of trading in Madrid and changing hands at 31.88 each, trimming their fiscal year rise (from Feb. 1) to 4.6%, a move that far outpaces the 9.8% decline over the same time period for its main European rival, Sweden's H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB (HNNMY) .
More of What's Trending on TheStreet:
Murskowski and McCain haven't said yet, I'm not sure about Collins. At least 4 R governors are against it so hopefully they get their senators in line.
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It wouldn't surprise me in the least that McCain would OK anything that was horrible.
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Collins said she's waiting for the CBO. McCain said he'd be okay with it if his Governor was cool with it (which he is). Murkowski hasn't said anything.
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Fuck McCain
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I think Paul will end up voting Yes. He's just making a lot of noise, he almost always falls in line.
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I think it'll Pass tbh
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I was saddened to see how bad the ratings were on the Emmys last night - the worst ever. Smartest people of them all are the "DEPLORABLES." Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 20, 2017
i also work near the colbert building, and it was a bit unnerving seeing that secret service around the guest entrance earlier today sometimes i wonder what kind of reaction everyone would have if obama or any other competent potus wasted time on thisi also work near the colbert building, and it was a bit unnerving seeing that secret service around the guest entrance earlier today
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He doesn't even know what day it is and I think he's trying to say that his supporters are smart because they didn't watch the Emmys but were the only people who stopped watching this year really Trump supporters?
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Wow, the SS were there? Did Colbert get threats?
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Wouldn't it be because Hillary was on Colbert today?
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I can't believe this is our President
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Enjoy prison <3
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Anus lips can say whatever the fuck he wants. No limits.
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Which one of those terrible talking heads (was it Carlson) used to call Obama the "celebrity president" and comment all the time about how he cared more about publicity than this country? Fuck them.
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I think this is going to pass.
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sadly, I'm afraid it will too.
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I hope it won't, but I have a horrible feeling it's possible.
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It's so cruel.
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What state do you live in?
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fr. I pay 500 a month. I had a surgery in May I was responsible for $4000 of it and Im having surgery again Thursday. I need my aca
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my gf pays that much a month too and is having to fork over 1200 for her gallbladder surgery tomorrow. That's her fucking monthly take home pay! You'd think she just bought a fucking car, not had possibly life saving surgery.
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jfc $4000???? how are you going to pay for that?
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republicans are demons
side note, I didn't realize Kimmel actually wrote his own monologues
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lol, he doesn't
Baby Bill does
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yeah, jimmy is super-talented <3
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It's already been difficult trying to find a therapist lately that will accept my insurance (on Medicaid so...yeah). The ones I can find that I like either don't accept my insurance, have a sliding scale that's still too high (I'm unemployed right now), or both.
Maybe I should just move out of the States as soon as possible.
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I had a hard time finding an eye doctor as well on my insurance :( I am terrified as to what will happen if they take it away.
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I'm thinking the same...
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I've been trying to get absolutely ANYWHERE for awhile. I wish a distant relative still lived in Africa (I just don't recall which country).
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I'm also on Medicaid and same. And I live in a city. And tbh the ones who take Medicaid it doesn't even cover all of it and I still have to pay like 80 bucks a sesh and NO. Meanwhile my gf who gets insurance through work found a great therapist in a couple of months and only pays 20 bucks a session. It's messed up how uneven it is.
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US healthcare is disgusting. i dont get americans who can comfortably say that healthcare should be a market good
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Americans are extremely ignorant about other countries and their policies and most don't understand or know anything about socialized healthcare.
Edited at 2017-09-20 03:33 am (UTC)
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that's so true. and they're the ones who got the nerve to say socialized healthcare is unrealistic when they're one of the only first world countries who doesn't have it
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it's so ridonk. just the reactions of americans to bernie's "unicorn" promises tells me that even most legislators have no fucking clue that the rest of the developed world does have these unicorns and succeeds at paying for them because your economy does well when your citizens are healthy and don't have to pay for insurance/copays/the whole bill out of pocket
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they only listen to fox news/breitbart and believe "socialism" is evil
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It's because we've spent centuries worshiping capitalism. Woo.
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It's especially disgusting when the ones I know are "Christians." WWJD? Not deprive people of life-saving medical care.
The hate in their hearts for POC (coded as "undeserving" or "illegal" or "lazy" or "thug/criminal") is so strong that they're willing to harm themselves.
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As a Canadian, I will never understand how people think that health care isn't a human right. Obviously our health care isn't perfect but I never think about the costs of going to an ER, OR seeing a doctor....
Also if we're speaking economically single-payer makes sense, jeez
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They're stupid, uneducated about the outside world and have been indoctrinated since day 1 to believe America and everything about America is the best. In short, they're big ass chumps.
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It is so stupid, literally every other developed country has a universal healthcare system and they are all so much fucking happier and healthier than we are. We have a pathetic infant mortality rate. I was literally just arguing with somebody the other day over this and of course she trotted out the one canadian person she talked to 45 years ago who had something negative to say about a single payer system. People in America just *hate* poor people and want them to literally suffer to death. I don't know why we have politicized access to healthcare, it is as stupid as if we did the same with access to fire fighters when your house is on fire. We don't check to make sure people have homeowners insurance before the fireman turn on the hose. Ugh
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I don't either, specially when reading they're gonna spend some 700 billion dollars on military expenses ON TOP of their usual budget of billions upon billions. It's like you have money why wouldn't you spend some of it on keeping your nation healthy why are you so stupid America JFC
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America is so hellbent on doing things 'yourself' that they vote against things that would help them and just pray to god that their ailment goes away.
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the republicans are so fucking evil and continue to descend into the depths of hell. this bill makes me so sad.
Edited at 2017-09-20 03:30 am (UTC)
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Chickenshit Burr already said hes voting for it. I think Tillis is probably too. They dont care if we die.
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Georgian Senators don't either. One is Sonny Perdue's cousin and the other is Isakson, who only votes for the .001%. They want the liberals especially to die since they could pass a concrete gerrymandered plan that way. No one would put up a fuss since the state GOP have done a terrific job of creating uneducated citizens.
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I called Burr's Winston-Salem office and politely (probably too politely, given the fact that he is essentially voting to kill people) explained that gutting medicaid will cause people to die from preventable diseases because they will be unable to afford healthcare. The woman who answered said, "Well, people die everyday".
Edited at 2017-09-20 05:43 pm (UTC)
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Yiiiiikes
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I called the same office (its the one closest to me) and the guy I spoke to refused to believe that the bill allows insurers to deny coverage for pregnancy, maternal, and newborn care despite the fact that its been widely reported by many trusted news outlets including ones with a conservative bias like forbes magazine
Also he hung up on me
And its not just those of us on Medicaid. I have pre-existing conditions, and im worried my insurer will drop me, my premiums will skyrocket, or theyll refuse to cover my prescriptions or lab work which i need to get done every 6 months
Edited at 2017-09-20 05:47 pm (UTC)
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i cannot fucking believe we are doing this again. i cannot fucking believe how callous the people ~representing~ us are. i cannot fucking believe we're not in even 1 year into this.
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This is just inhuman. I can't believe you'd be so willing to put millions of people in literally harm's way by taking them off their healthcare and still call yourself a morally decent person. I just don't understand it, I can't.
May history look at this time as deplorable as it does other awful pivotal moments in time.
Edited at 2017-09-20 03:34 am (UTC)
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hope mccain dies before he can vote idgaf
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Uh, then the AZ gov would appoint a replacement, and the AZ gov supports this plan so that would just knock off one uncertain vote to a yes.
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you'd best hope not cause he's probably going to vote against it.
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Did we have a post about the news yesterday that Manafort was being surveilled under a FISA warrant? I'm cackling
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He will probably be the only one to go to prison in all of this mess. Flynn set up a secret account so no one can find out which sugar daddy is paying his legal bills. What am I saying? Mueller probably already knows who is paying his bills.
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I actually think that Mueller's strategy is building an airtight case against Manafort and then leveraging that to offer Manafort a plea deal to get him to flip on Trump.
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I'm gonna be so fucking irritated if Manafort and Flynn are the only ones who end up in jail.
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Affected Florida Counties Urged to Accelerate Debris Cleanup
Plans submitted to the department will be posted publicly on its website. All of the plans must include an estimated date of completion, and any county that plans to request reimbursement for debris removal following Irma must submit a plan.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott ordered all of the state's counties that were affected by Hurricane Irma to submit a detailed debris cleanup plan to the Florida Division of Emergency Management by noon on Sept. 19.
He noted that debris cleanup must be accomplished so other restoration efforts, such as restoring electrical power to residents and businesses, aren't hindered by the presence of debris.
Plans submitted to the department will be posted publicly on its website. All of the plans must include an estimated date of completion, and any county that plans to request reimbursement for debris removal following Irma must submit a plan.
"Today, I am directing every Florida county impacted by Hurricane Irma to submit a detailed debris cleanup plan no later than noon tomorrow, September 19th. Let me be clear debris removal is a function handled and directed at the local level and, following a storm like Irma, it is my expectation that every county immediately and aggressively begins work to clear debris in its communities. That is what Florida families and businesses expect," Scott said Sept. 18. "Every county should already have a debris cleanup plan in place as part of its emergency response plan, and it should already be executed. Any county experiencing issues with the vendors involved in debris cleanup should immediately execute an emergency procurement to get a different vendor. Today, more than 370,000 homes and businesses in Florida are still without power and, while utility companies are working non-stop to turn the lights on, the presence of debris can hinder work and delay restoration, which is unacceptable. Within seven hours of the storm leaving the state, the Florida Department of Transportation had cleared all major interstates and turnpikes. DOT has been working around the clock to clear all state and many local roads and assist in recovery efforts. As we all work to recover from Irma, the state stands ready to assist communities in any way possible."
In the low, dimly lit space beneath St James Episcopal Church, 833 W. Wisconsin Ave., there's a hissing sound and a horizontal geyser of steam shooting out of a pipe.
It immediately grabs your attention. Until you see the tall thin grave stone leaning up against a brick column. X X
St. James is built atop the former Spring Street Burying Ground. They think all the human remains were removed when the church bought the property in 1850, but a few scattered headstones mark a lingering doubt.
But let's start at the top.
St. James got its start as a mission of St. Pauls Episcopal Church with a wood frame chapel on 2nd and Wisconsin, in 1850. In 1851, the church purchased a plot of land for $150 from the City of Milwaukee on the south side of Wisconsin Avenue bounded between Eighth and Ninth Streets and moved its existing building to the site. X X
That site was where the Spring Street Burying Ground was established in 1838.
In his 1876 "Pioneer History of Milwaukee," James Smith Buck wrote, "the first cemetery on the West Side was upon that block lying between Spring (Wisconsin), Sycamore (Michigan), Eighth and Ninth Streets in that portion lying west of the alley. ... I have helped bury quite a number there; no burials have taken place, however, for many years upon that ground, and all who were buried there have been removed."
The cemetery was renowned for its beauty, which, apparently derived at least in part from the wild roses that grew there and for the scent they produced.
In 1867-8, St. James built the stone church that stands today on the site. A Dec. 31, 1872 fire nearly destroyed the church, though the tower and walls survived and are the ones that we see today. A parish house that still stands was erected behind the church in 1899.
The easternmost part of the land was sold at the turn of the century and is the site of St. James Court apartments. X
Although in his "Heritage Guidebook," Russell Zimmermann attributes St. James to architect Edward Townsend Mix, the 1990 historic designation study report drawn up by the city says it is the work of Detroit architect Gordon Lloyd (and attributes the parish house to John Moller).
"St. James in Milwaukee was designed during the height of Lloyds career as a Gothic Revival church architect and is closely related in design to his Central Methodist Church in Detroit, which was built in 1866-67," the report notes.
"At the end of 1872, a fire gutted the newly completed building, and only the stonewalls, spire, bells, north windows, and several clerestory windows remained. G. W. Lloyds original plans were still available, and the church was reconstructed in 1873-74 using the complete plans, some of which had not been used in the first building."
If youve never stopped to take a look at the Gothic Revival church, you should.
Though the original front doors have been replaced with plain 60s-era glass doors, the front is striking, with the three-stage tower and broach spire on the east side and slim leaded Gothic windows on either side of the entrance, above which there is the phrase, "Enter Into His Courts With Praise."
Im fond of the side elevations, where you can see single-story aisles with a clerestory above. In the clerestory are windows six per side with windows commemorating the 12 disciples. On the facade are windows showing St. Andrews (Scottish congregation members like Alexander Mitchell would have settled for nothing less), St. James, St. Simon and St. John below a quatrefoil stained glass depiction of St. Paul, in honor of the patron saint of St. James roots at St. Pauls on the East Side.
Its hard to look closely at St. James and not see some condition problems. Pastor Drew Bunting has no illusions on that front.
"Weve had some deferred maintenance over the years," says Bunting, who joined the parish in March. "Im sure youve worked with churches, and seen the effects of that, and weve got some serious problems at this point, but underneath it all, is a beautiful building that has an amazing history. I had a meeting with a structural engineer actually last week, and his determination is that were structurally sound."
Bunting takes me inside and shows me around the sanctuary, the most immediately striking feature of which is the ceiling, with its wooden tracery. The arches separating the nave from the aisles and the white painted walls make the space feel open and airy.
In the eastern aisle, there is a pair of windows paying tribute to Thomas Smith, a member of the A.O. Smith family according to Bunting, who were church members. The windows have some industrial imagery, including a bellows, a draftsmans compass, a wheel, a blacksmith.
Nearby, are dark wood panels that also come with a story, says Bunting. X
"The panels are not original," he says. "These came over from Belgium, and were given to the church and installed. Theyre evidently 16th century ... from a monastery. The legend is that somebody from the A.O. Smith family donated them because they bought them for their house and they didnt like them."
An earlier newspaper article about the church suggests they were meant to be installed in the A.O. Smith board room.
On the same side is a pair of signed Tiffany windows that are instantly recognizable for their soft colors and stylized design. X X
Further along is a 1950s-era leaded window that, natch, has a story.
"Allegedly, you could say, that star at the very top there, is actually a representation of Sputnik. The points of the star are intended to be the antennae, the satellite and then those little wavy lines are radio beams. The window was dated 58 and Sputnik is dated 57."
On the opposite aisle is a chapel with a fairly workaday altar bearing a crucifix, a vase of flowers, a plaque. Three wooden plaques with rows of names hang above it.
"This is a small chapel where we commemorate we have a ministry of indigent burials so the morgue essentially, they have remains that have not been claimed, we work with the funeral home and the cemetery to bury them," says Bunting.
"There is a list of people who will come out for the burials, and well get 15, 20, 25 people show up. Just so people have the dignity of burial, and their names are read aloud. The cemetery donates space; the city subsidizes some of it. I think its one of the coolest things we do as a parish. To do that actually, is such an honor."
Above us are traces of water damage. On the opposite side is some peeling paint. Bunting says that the parish is working on securing funds from a variety of sources to help fix the many issues faced by the church, which has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979.
Though the parish receives some operating funds from the Diocese, it is more or less on its own when it comes to building maintenance. And its a small church these days, with a congregation of perhaps 100 people.
"Well get 40 to 50 on Sunday morning," says Bunting. "Its a really diverse community in a lot of ways. I think we probably have the longest tradition of being open to LGBT people and and that is still a significant part of the community. We are very oriented towards outreach and service, in addition to hosting The Gathering food program downstairs, which is not strictly a ministry of the parish, but we host them, we have something called Red Door Clothes, which is a clothing ministry that distributes clothing two Saturdays a month that we do in collaboration with Trinity Episcopal in Wauwatosa.
"And we have a sundries distribution program where we collect soaps and other essentials like toilet paper. In the past, the church has been open to letting people sleep on the grounds. Unfortunately, we had some liability concerns that made that impossible to continue. Thats always something that we try to be considerate of the neighbors. X
As we talk, we climb the stairs up to the belfry. The tower is surprisingly open and spacious inside, with stairs ascending along the walls. When we get a couple flights up, theres a ladder and Bunting tests it out gingerly jokingly telling me his wifes phone number, just in case. At the top he lifts off a panel and a rain of dust and who knows what rains down on me, making me glass I just got a haircut. Its easier to shake it out of my close-cropped hair. Climbing through, he gives me the OK and I follow.
In the belfry, there is the usual mix of dirt, dust and bird crap, but, thankfully, no sign of bats or territorial gulls. The pigeons stay way above us while we look at the bells. X
A couple still work, but most of the nine are now frozen in place. Bunting tries to free up a couple but itll take more than a pair of human hands to get these pealing again.
"These are all the original bells," he says. Pointing at the Marquette dorm next door, he jokes, "Ive always liked the idea of giving the undergrads an early wake up call on Sunday mornings," before noting, "theres only one bell that has a name on it, and it was named for a 10-year-old girl that died."
We head back downstairs and make our way up to the altar where there are some striking silver-toned organ pipes, which complement an entire room of pipes above the altar, though nowadays the church relies on an electronic keyboard and these pipes are little more than a decorative reminder of the past.
Before I know it, Bunting has got an almost hidden door open and is walking down a steep and narrow flight of stairs. At the bottom, we turn right and climb through an opening that is suited more to a tween than a full-sized adult.
"This is the secret passage underneath the church," says Bunting. "Well, it wasnt really secret. I spoke to a woman who grew up here. Her father was a priest here. She told me that it was a place where if you were late coming in for choir practice or a service, you could sneak in through another part of the building. That way you did not have to go through the church. It was quieter that way."
We pass some old organ parts and move into a low-ceiling area that stretches the length and width of the sanctuary above. The sound of steam the church is on city steam hisses at the far end of the space. X
And he we are.
"What we call the crypt is basically the very foundation of the building, and as you saw, the church was built on the site of a former cemetery," says Bunting. "The remains were all moved to Forest Home before the structure was built. But at least according to legend, and some evidence indicates, not all of them were.
"Its not like a medieval cathedral its not like remains are intentionally interred here. Apparently there are remains still down here, at least some. On occasion, Ive never seen it, they say that some bone will work its way up and come out of the ground." X
We look at the tombstones that survive down here.
A 1929 newspaper article said, "It is believed that the stones were discarded 68 years ago when the cemetery on the present site of the church was removed to Forest Home cemetery, according to the Rev. Charles T. Hawtrey, assistant rector of the church. The stones which have been used as a weight for the bellows of the present organ in the church probably were placed there about 30 years ago, he said." X X
Therefore, just because the stones remain, doesnt mean the bones remain. But, no one really knows for sure. But one piece of evidence might suggest they do.
"Lydia Vinton is the ghost of St. James," says Bunting. "She sort of moves things around on you. Shes one of those mischievous ghosts. I may have seen something out of the corner of my eye one time. It would have been a person walking by, but Im pretty sure it wasnt a ghost."
Every Milwaukeean has a Lake Michigan story and for the next seven days OnMilwaukee will share as many as possible during "MKE Lake Week," sponsored by the Harbor District. Love our lake? Youre in the right place.
For years, Ive noticed the flyers posted on the bulletin board just inside the door of the Frank P. Zeidler Humanities Room on the second floor of the Milwaukee Public Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave. Theyd advertise talks or other events organized by the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society.
Filed away in the back of my mind was a reminder to investigate. But it wasnt until I received a perfectly timed email from the groups president Carl Eisenberg that I found myself in the humanities' workroom learning more.
Tuesday is volunteer day and the workroom at the Great Lakes Maritime Collection is buzzing with activity, in stark contrast to the quietude of the humanities room itself.
A view of the Milwaukee lakefront and Jones Island.
(PHOTO: Great Lakes Maritime Collection/Milwaukee Public Library)
Fueled by a box of Dunkin Donuts, one man is entering information on a large collection of slides into a database, while another is working on the societys quarterly newsletter. At least a half-dozen other folks are quietly chipping away at a sea of work.
The collection theyre working on is a legacy of Herman Runge, a longtime coal clerk at the Milwaukee Road. Though Runges paycheck came from the railroad, his heart was on a lake schooner.
He began collecting information on ships when he was 14 and his collecting really throttled up after he retired in 1933. He visited all the major Great Lakes ports every year, collecting data, recollections and historical and other information from port workers, government agencies, shipping companies and others.
Herman Runge with his collection. (PHOTO: Great Lakes Maritime Collection/Milwaukee Public Library)
Upon his death in 1958, Runge bequeathed his vast collection including more than 17,000 photographs, and index file cataloguing 35,000 vessels, more than 1,200 books, plus magazines and newspapers and more to the Milwaukee Public Library.
A group of interested and thankfully wealthy men, including Edmund Fitzgerald, formed the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society to administer the collection.
Though there are objects including some oil paintings that are on view in the humanities room in the collection, the index file is the heart of the Great Lakes Marine Collection.
"If we have information or a photograph, we create a file," says MPLs Suzette Lopez. "To give you an idea of what that's like, here's a sample of the data sheet, and theres just one line on it because we only had a photograph which ... not all photographs are great, but a photograph is still a photograph, right?
"So, a file can have one line and a photo, or it can have something like the Alabama here, which has 16 folders to the file, or there can be an entire box that's one file. So, the Christopher Columbus has its own box, Milwaukee Clipper has its own box, and so it just depends on what we have been able to gather on each vessel. And then we have the Marine Subject Files which is basically anything that's not a ship. So, it would be people, lighthouses, port views, ship builders, whatever."
The Shipshape database searchable by anyone was created using this information.
"And then we have the primary source books, and we have manuscripts, and newspaper extracts, some log books, and then we have our 3D items," says Lopez. "(Volunteer) Chuck Sterba has donated his collection which he's been collecting for 50 years. 20, 50 years. It has everything from china from the boats that have the logos on it, stateroom keys, commissioning fliers, the little flags for the companies, letterhead, stock. He just collected anything that's Great Lakes."
The historical society hosts events and programming for members, as well as the printed newsletter and a regular email blast, but its main job is administering the archive, which is owned by Milwaukee Public Library.
Eisenberg tells me that he and his colleagues are working on a new website, but also on potential fundraisers and other forms on income to help fund all this work.
These days a large portion of the effort goes toward digitization, says volunteer and my former Milwaukee Sentinel colleague Dan Patrinos.
"Weve digitized a number of resources that we had that previously were just on paper, and so now that we've got that, it's terrific," he says. "However, there's a lot more to go. But we are working on it.
"One of the things we want to do is seek grants so that we can begin either buying the equipment we need or the software. It's not that we're paid for the people to work here. This is all volunteer. However, we do want to be able to make the stuff accessible to the public, otherwise it becomes inaccessible.
"You want to be able to go through things yourself to see what you got, and it might be that serendipitously you find something that you don't really ask a librarian for unless, of course, you can look at it yourself. We're interested in genealogy and genealogists want to look at that stuff online, particularly if they're someplace outside of Milwaukee."
If you want to get involved, there are numerous ways you can do so. You can join the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society or attend an event. The modest fees help fund the societys work. You can make a donation of money or objects relevant to the collection. Or you can volunteer on Tuesdays at the Central Library to help with the ongoing work on the collection. (You'll get a donut!)
You are also, of course, encouraged to use the collection. Thats what its there for. Otherwise, its just papers and old photographs stashed away in boxes.
Pre-election vibrations
A few hours before the start of the silent period preceding the local elections when electioneering has to be stopped, Gajendra Narayan Chowk at the centre of Rajbiraj was transformed into an exhibition space for the display of power, politics and contesting democratic practices.
A highly unusual collaboration between information engineers at Oxford, the Zooniverse citizen science platform and international disaster response organization Rescue Global is enabling a rapid and effective response to Hurricane Irma.
The project draws on the power of the Zooniverse, the world's largest and most popular people-powered research platform, to work with volunteers and crowd source the data needed to understand Irma's path of destruction and the damage caused. Combining these insights with detailed artificial intelligence will support rescue relief organisations to understand the scale of the crisis, and deliver aid to those worst affected as soon as possible.
Irma is now judged to be the most powerful Atlantic storm in a decade, breaking previous extreme weather records and causing widespread destruction and death across the Caribbean. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced or made homeless, and well over a million are at risk from loss of critical services such as water and electricity.
The disaster poses huge challenges for crisis response teams, who need to assess as quickly as possible the extent of the destruction on islands spread over thousands of square miles, and ensure that the right aid gets to those in most need in the safest and most efficient way.
In the immediate aftermath of Irma, Oxford researchers have been working round the clock in partnership with Rescue Global, a respected international crisis response charity, to help address this problem. The results have already supported Rescue Global to get aid delivered to some of the areas worst affected by Irma.
On September 12th the Zooniverse, which was founded by Oxford researchers, relaunched its Planetary Response Network. First trialled in the days following the Nepal earthquake of April 2015, the PRN aims to mobilise a 'crowd' to assist in a live disaster that is still unfolding. In recent days thousands of volunteers from around the world have already joined the effort. Their role is to analyse 'before' and 'after' satellite images of the islands hit by Irma and identify features such as damaged buildings, flooding, blocked roads or new temporary settlements which indicate that people are homeless.
Rebekah Yore, Operations Manager at Rescue Global, commented: "By the morning of Friday 15th September, we were told by the Zooniverse team that roughly 300,000 classifications from 7,500 people had taken place through the platform. This extraordinary effort is the equivalent to the output of one person working full-time for just over a year, or that same person working 24/7 without breaks for around 3 months. And the number of volunteers and classifications are increasing daily. This input is already having a direct effect on the ground, helping to provide situational awareness for all deployed teams."
The sheer volume of images would take an individual months to sort through, but can be analysed in a matter of hours by the 'crowd'. Because the images are often of poor quality, human observers are much better placed to perform this part of the task than computers.
For the next step, however, computers are essential, and Oxford engineering researchers have developed a suite of sophisticated artificial intelligence tools which can process the resulting data. Machine learning approaches quickly reconcile inconsistent responses, aggregate the data and integrate information derived from other crowd-sourced mapping materials, such as the Humanitarian Open Street Maps and Tomnod. This approach generates the best information possible to inform relief efforts. This analysis enables the team to build impact 'heat maps' that identify the areas in need of urgent assistance. Oxford has considerable expertise in this area: the tools have been refined over several years and were previously used to assist Rescue Global in its response to the 2015 Nepal and 2016 Ecuador earthquakes.
The 'heat maps' enable Rescue Global to decide where to send its own small reconnaissance planes to conduct detailed aerial assessments, and to share critical information with a multitude of governmental and humanitarian partners. Working closely with Airlink, who are flying in aid to a central location, Rescue Global is using information gathered through the Zooniverse platform and its own needs assessments to coordinate the onward delivery of aid through a network of boats and planes, ensuring that it gets to those who need it most.
This new technology offers an evidence-based, rational approach to disaster management. Through collaboration with crisis responders like Rescue Global, Oxford researchers are making a unique and significant difference to victims of Hurricane Irma.
Dr Steven Reece, Machine Learning Research Fellow and mapping lead at Oxford University, said: 'As always we are extremely grateful to our friends in the satellite industry for providing data and, of course, the crowd for their amazing work interpreting the imagery so quickly. This has been a sustained campaign and we've now produced heat maps for all the Virgin Islands. With Hurricane Maria increasing in strength and bearing down on the same area, we will have a lot more work ahead of us.'
Credit: Shutterstock
A toddler with birthday cake smeared across his face, grins delightedly at his mother. Minutes later, the image appears on Facebook. A not uncommon scenario 42% of UK parents share photos of their children online with half of these parents sharing photos at least once a month.
Welcome to the world of "sharenting" where more than 80% of children are said to have an online presence by the age of two. This is a world where the average parent shares almost 1,500 images of their child online before their fifth birthday.
But while a recent report from OFCOM confirms many parents do share images of their children online, the report also indicates that more than half (56%) of parents don't. Most of these non-sharenting parents (87%) actively choose not to do so to protect their children's private lives.
Over sharing
Parents often have good reasons for sharenting. It allows them to find and share parenting advice, to obtain emotional and practical support, and to maintain contact with relatives and friends.
Increasingly, though, concerns are being raised about "oversharenting" when parents share too much, or, share inappropriate information. Sharenting can result in the identification of a child's home, childcare or play location or the disclosure of identifying information which could pose risks to the child.
While many sharenters says they are conscious of the potential impact of their actions, and they consider their children's views before sharenting, a recent House of Lords report on the matter suggests not all parents do. The "growing up with the internet" report reveals some parents share information they know will embarrass their children and some never consider their children's interests before they post.
A recent survey for CBBC Newsround also warns that a quarter of children who've had their photographs sharented have been embarrassed or worried by these actions.
Think of the kids
Police in France and Germany have taken concrete steps to address sharenting concerns. They have posted Facebook warnings, telling parents of the dangers of sharenting, and stressing the importance of protecting children's private lives.
Back in the UK, some academics have suggested the government should educate parents to ensure they understand the importance of protecting their child's digital identity. But should the "nanny state" really be interfering in family life by telling parents how and when they can share their children's information?
It's clearly a tricky area to regulate, but it could be that the government's recently published data protection bill may provide at least a partial answer.
In its 2017 manifesto, the Conservative party pledged to:
"Give people new rights to ensure they are in control of their own data, including the ability to require major social media platforms to delete information."
In the recent Queen's Speech, the government confirmed its commitment to reforming data protection law. And in August, it published a statement of intent providing more detail of its proposed reforms. In relation to the so-called "right to be forgotten" or "right to erasure", the government states that:
"Individuals will be able to ask for their personal data to be erased."
Users will also be able to ask social media platforms to delete information they posted during their childhood. In certain circumstances, social media companies will be required to delete any or all of a user's posts. The statement explains:
"For example, a post on social media made as a child would normally be deleted upon request, subject to very narrow exemptions."
The primary purpose of the data protection bill is to bring the new EU General Data Protection Regulation into UK law. This is to ensure UK law continues to accord with European data protection law post-Brexit which is essential if UK companies are to continue to trade with their European counterparts.
It could also provide a solution for children whose parents like to sharent, because the new laws specify that an individual or organisation must obtain explicit consent or have some other legitimate basis to share an individual's personal data. In real terms, this means that before a parent shares their child's information online they should ask whether the child agrees.
Of course, this doesn't mean parents are suddenly going to start asking for their children's consent to sharent. But if a parent doesn't obtain their child's consent, or the child decides in the future that they are no longer happy for that sharented information to be online, the bill also provides another possible solution. Children could use the "right to erasure" to ask for social network providers and other websites to remove sharented information. Not perhaps a perfect answer, but for now it's one way to put a stop to those embarrassing mugshots ending up in cyberspace for years to come.
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
A Chinese businessman has pleaded guilty to his role in an international, multimillion dollar software piracy case.
Federal prosecutors say 37-year-old Wen Tao Liu, also known as Orland Liu, pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court in Kansas City to conspiracy and trafficking in counterfeit labels. Liu, a citizen of China, was arrested in 2016 in Dallas while trying to return to his country.
He is the eighth person to plead guilty in the scheme. Investigators say those involved sold more than $100 million worth of counterfeit, unauthorized software products online to thousands of customers.
The investigation began in Kansas City in 2013 when investigators learned that another man, Casey Lee Ross, bought and redistributed tens of thousands of unauthorized Microsoft product key codes and counterfeit product key cards.
2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Credit: New York University
Somewhere on Lake Erie, leaning over the rail of a research vessel in a November snowstorm and trying not to be sick, John Burt decided he'd rather work in warmer waters.
"I realized I had a real fondness for the tropics," the marine biologist recalls, laughing over the fateful experience from back when he was earning his master's degree in freshwater biology.
Now, as head of NYU Abu Dhabi's Marine Biology Lab, Burt conducts his research in some of the warmest waters on recordthe Arabian Gulf, also known as the Persian Gulf. And, as the world contemplates rising sea temperatures caused by climate change, his work there has wide-ranging implications.
In June, a team led by Ed Smith, a research scientist in Burt's lab, published a study comparing the genetic structure of coral and their algae partners, or symbionts, in the Arabian Gulf and the neighboring Gulf of Oman. Their goal? To try to understand how coral in the Arabian Gulf have adapted to temperatures that can top 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit), about 5 degrees hotter than the average temperatures in the Gulf of Oman. The water off Miami Beach in August, for comparison, maxes out at 86 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
"The prospect of investigating the thermal tolerance of Gulf corals brought me to NYUAD," says Smith. "Undertaking research which could help further our understanding of how corals may respond to climate change is exciting, and this paper was an important step in our wider study into what makes these corals so special."
Coral reefs have been on the decline in recent years, in part because of "bleaching"a breakdown in the relationship between coral and algae, which depend on each other for nutrients. According to Smith's study, bleaching has been documented with an increase in temperature of only 1 or 2 degrees Celsius.
But tropical waters are expected to warm by as much as 4 degrees Celsius by the end of this century.
The balance between coral and algae is "incredibly important," says Burt, an associate professor of biology who was one of the first faculty members to join NYU Abu Dhabi.
Credit: New York University
"Symbionts can survive on their own, but corals need that symbiont to survive," he says. "Corals get more than 90 percent of their energy from symbionts."
The consequences of coral loss are potentially devastating: Reefs are a significant source of fish for coastal communities and commercial fishing enterprises, supplying protein for up to a billion people, according to the Coral Reef Alliance.
The study, "Genetic structure of coral-Symbiodinium symbioses on the world's warmest reefs," which builds on earlier work by NYU postdoctoral researcher Emily Howells and others, shows that coral and algae in the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman are genetically distinct.
"What the results of these various studies tell us is that both the coral and their symbiotic algae have genetically adapted to extreme temperatures," Burt says. "If there was a means for this thermal tolerance to genetically spread to other regions, there is the possibility that corals there too could cope with future climate change."
But Burt is quick to dispel the notion that Arabian Gulf coral and algae are a miracle cure for rising sea temperatures elsewhere. Human-assisted migration of the coral and algea to other areas could introduce new diseases or parasites to a body of water, while natural dispersal might result in cross-breeding between so-called thermotolerant species and less tolerant species, negating the thermotolerant advantage. Instead, the hope is that coral in other seas will seek out thermotolerant algae the way coral in the Arabian Gulf have, thereby boosting their survival chances.
Burt calls the Arabian Gulf a "phenomenal natural laboratory" for research on coral hosts and algae symbionts, which has been a collaborative effort among scientists at NYU Abu Dhabi, the University of Southampton, the University of Oregon, and Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It also has been the base for Burt's research into how marine ecosystems respond to coastal infrastructure, including high-profile projects such as the Palm Jumeirah, a man-made island in the shape of a palm tree that is home to 4,000 luxury villas and apartments in the UAE.
"Humans aren't going to stop building cities along coastlines," he says. "So are there ways we can develop them in a more environmentally sustainable manner?"
Burt, who spent his childhood summers traveling the coastal Canadian waters near his family home in Nova Scotia, has worked in every country along the Arabian Gulf except Iran"Once the embargo is lifted, I'm over there on the first flight," he saysand hosted workshops and conferences dedicated to enhancing conservation. So far, he says, efforts to responsibly care for the water have risen above politics in the region.
"Coral reefs, marine systemsthey don't recognize borders," he says. "The Arabian Gulf is one shared body of water that needs to be managed cohesively by all states. It doesn't make any sense to limit collaboration when it comes to coastal management and science."
A special issue of Criminal Justice Review focuses on the victimization of specialized populations, including youth involved in prostitution, youth living in foster care, LGBTQ students in middle and high school, female college students, and victims of continuous child sexual abuse, and examines the delivery of services and the development of policy to address these groups. Lisa Mufti?, an associate professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Sam Houston State University, served as a guest editor.
"Despite the established importance of identifying and studying special populations as they relate to the criminal justice system, less attention has been directed at crime victims and how diversity potentially impacts the delivery of victim-centered programming and the development of policy," Mufti? said.
Mufti? and Ph.D. Graduate Sarah Zedaker co-authored "A Safe Place to Go? A Descriptive Study of Safety Strategies Among College Female Students" for the issue. The article explored safety planning among female students and found that while most students surveyed could identify a safe haven if they faced sexual or domestic violence on campus, several factors influenced that decision. In addition, female students with low levels of social support and those exposed to parental violence were less likely to report having a safe place to go.
"Youth Involved in Prostitution (YIP): Exploring Possible Changes in the Interaction with Police and Social Service Agencies," by Jennifer McMahon-Howard of Kennesaw State University, examines how the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 affects the way police and social service agencies treat youth involved in prostitution. That act, which changed the view of youth involved in prostitution from juvenile delinquents to sex trafficking victims, has done little to change police involvement with these youth or increase services to the population, the study found.
"LGBTQ Student Victimization and Its Relationship to School Discipline and Justice System Involvement," by Neal A. Palmer of CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance and Emily A. Greytak of GLSEN of New York, looks at the relationship among the victimization of the LGBTQ youth in schools, school discipline, and the criminal justice system. These youth experienced more disciplinary actions, such as detention, suspension and expulsion as well as greater justice involvement, such as arrest, adjudication, and detention at adult and youth facilities, according to the article.
"Polyvictimization Experiences and Depression Among Youth Living in Foster Care," by Aimee X. Delaney of Worcester State University and Melissa Wells of the University of New Hampshire, explored depression in youth who not only experienced child maltreatment, but also other victimization while living in foster care. In a self-reported study of youth living in foster care, depression decreased over time for those who had experienced only the initial child maltreatment, except among white males. For youth who faced continued victimization in foster care, depression levels increased, especially among youth of color, the study found.
"Continuous Child Sexual Abuse: Balancing Defendant's Rights and Victim's Capabilities to Particularize Individual Acts of Repeated Abuse" by Dayna M. Woiwod and Deborah A. Connolly of Simon Frazer University, compared statutes in the United States and Australia in cases of repeated abuse. The study examines research on children memory patterns and how it can be used to balance victims' and defendants' rights in these cases.
More information: The "Victimization of Special Populations" is available from Criminal Justice Review at journals.sagepub.com/toc/cjra/42/2
3D plot of PC13 mandible shape variation. Black: dogs, dark grey: Alaskan wolves, light grey: European wolves, dark red: Ivolgin fossils, green: Ust-Polui fossils, purple: Pleistocene Alaskan wolves, cyan: 1600CE fossil dogs, orange: unknown Alaskan fossil canids, pink: 1600CE fossil wolf. Credit: Scientific Reports (2017). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10232-1
In an effort to settle the debate about the origin of dog domestication, a technique that uses 3-D scans of fossils is helping researchers determine the difference between dogs and wolves.
In the ongoing debate, one camp believes dogs were domesticated in the Paleolithic age (more than 17,000 years ago), when humans were hunter-gatherers. The other camp believes domestication occurred in the Neolithic age (17,000 to 7,000 years ago), when humans first established agriculture and civilizations.
Abby Grace Drake, a senior lecturer in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (Cornell University), and her colleagues have been analyzing 3-D scans of ancient fossil canid mandibles to determine whether they belong to dogs or wolves. The answer, they find, is not so simple.
The researchers found that in the early stages of domestication, the skull changed shape but evolution of the mandible lagged behind and did not co-evolve with the skull. Their study is reported in the Aug. 25 issue of the journal Scientific Reports.
"A lot of the fossil evidence for the date of dog domestication is based on morphological [structural] analysis of mandibles," said Drake, the paper's first author. Robert Losey, an anthropologist at the University of Alberta, Canada, is a senior co-author of the paper. "Our study shows that when you measure modern dog mandibles and wolf mandibles using 3-D measurements you can distinguish them, and yet when we looked at these fossil mandibles, they don't look like dogs or wolves."
Wolves have fairly straight mandibles while dog mandibles are curved, structural features that become evident in a 3-D scan. In a proof of principle, when analyzing the 3-D structures of mandibles of modern dogs, Drake and colleagues correctly classified 99.5 percent of the samples as being dog or wolf.
However, 3-D analysis of fossil records from four ancient sites, two from Russia and two from Alaska, found that most of those fossil mandibles could not be classified as either dog or wolf, even though features in canid skulls from the same sites as well as other data proved that the samples were dog remains.
Other evidence also showed that these canids were domesticated: The remains were found within human dwellings, remains at both the Russian sites revealed butchery marks, indicating that they were eaten, and isotope analysis of canid and human remains from one of the sites - Ust'-Polui, in the Russian Arctic - showed canids and humans were both eating fish, and humans were feeding their canids.
Since mandibles do not appear to evolve as rapidly as the skull, the results show they are not reliable for identifying early dog fossils, Drake said.
Four of 26 fossil mandibles from Ust'-Polui, which was occupied from 250 B.C. to 150 B.C., were identified as dogs, while three of the mandibles from the site were identified as wolves.
At another site, Ivolgin, in southern Russia, occupied between 300 B.C. and 200 B.C., none of the 20 mandibles were identified as dogs, though 8 were identified as wolves. All of the skulls found at these sites, 12 from Ivolgin and five from Ust'-Polui, were clearly identified as dogs.
Canid fossils of wolves and dogs from the Alaskan sites from 1600 CE were used as controls and to compare genetic testing against the structural 3-D data.
A 2015 paper by Drake and Michael Coquerelle, an anthropologist at the University Rey Juan Carlos in Alcorcon, Spain, and a co-author on the current paper, used the 3-D technique to refute a claim that dogs existed 30,000 years ago. That claim was based on linear caliper measurements of skulls. Linear measurements are inaccurate because dog and wolf skull sizes overlap, Drake said. On the other hand, 3-D analysis of skulls uses landmarks across the skull to identify differences between dogs and wolves in the angle of the muzzle, or snout, and in the angling of the eye orbits.
"The earliest dogs I've seen in my analysis are from 7,000 to 9,000 years ago," Drake said.
More information: Abby Grace Drake et al, Three-Dimensional Geometric Morphometric Analysis of Fossil Canid Mandibles and Skulls, Scientific Reports (2017). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10232-1 Journal information: Scientific Reports
A computer generated handout image released by the European Space Agency shows the impact of the DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) projectile on the binary asteroid system (65803) Didymos
Space scientists urged Europe Wednesday to rethink its withdrawal from a futuristic, international dry-run for an Armageddon-like mission to deflect a space rock on a calamitous collision course with Earth.
Dubbed AIDA (Asteroid Impact & Deflection Assessment), the test mission is crucial if we are to develop the capacity to protect our planet from incoming projectiles, they said.
"This is the kind of disaster that could be a tremendous catastrophe," Andrew Cheng from Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory told AFP at a European Planetary Science Congress in Riga.
He is the project scientist for the American part of the AIDA mission, named Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), which has entered Phase Bmeaning it has been approved but still needs final confirmation.
DART will entail smashing a spacecraft into the tiny moon of a faraway asteroid dubbed Didymos to alter its trajectorya scientific first.
Europe's contribution, to send a small craft close to the action to measure the crash and its impact, suffered a setback when space ministers rejected a 250-million-euro ($300-million) funding request last December.
The project was called AIM, for Asteroid Impact Mission.
Unlike most other natural hazards, an asteroid strike "is something that the world is able to defend. We can do something," stressed Cheng.
Larger than a bomb
But the methods must be tested and refined with real-life practice runs to prepare for "if we actually have to deflect an asteroid some day."
"We have not discovered any asteroid that is actually coming to Earth," said Cheng, but "we may still discover one" among the thousands of hazardous space rocks believed to be out there.
An asteroid that exploded in the atmosphere over Siberia in 2013 injured some 1,600 people.
Didymos's moon Didymoon, the target of the AIDA mission, falls in an even more dangerous size range.
It is about 160 metres (525 feet) wide, the size of an object that would hit Earth with the equivalent force of 400 megatonnes of TNT, "more than the largest hydrogen bomb," said Cheng.
At the meeting in the Latvian capital, European scientists proposed an altered, slightly cheaper alternative for AIM.
With a camera and miniaturised satellite, the new AIM will have a much reduced payloadminus a lander and radars to probe the moon's internal structure.
The new price tag? About 210 million euros, said Patrick Michel, the science lead for the European part of the project.
And of course there will be a delay.
"The main point of the mission was to measure the mass of the object, because this is how you really measure the deflection," said Michel.
In its new form, AIM could still do these crucial measurements even if NASA sticks to its own timeline and hits Didymoon in 2022.
"Two or three years (after impact), these things won't change," said Michel.
"Of course it's better... that we have the two at the same time. But we found something I think that still works and allows to relax the very tight schedule."
European Space Agency boss Jan Woerner told AFP "we will go forward with a new proposal" for the next ministerial meeting in 2019.
"It is important for humanity, as a species we have the means today to deflect an asteroid. We know it will happen, one day sooner or later. It's not a question of if, but when," he said by email.
"We have never tested asteroid deflection and there is no way we can test in (the) laboratory. We need to know if our models are correct, (whether) our simulations work as expected."
Scientists from both sides of the Atlantic urged European congress participants to sell the project to their national representatives.
"There are measurements that AIM can make that DART cannot," said Cheng.
"We all together have to convince the national delegations to spend some money for this mission," added ESA's Michael Kueppers.
2017 AFP
A new method for analyzing a living being chemical compositions is tested in Andean plants and attest the genesis of species by means of geographic isolation. Credit: Frederico Padilla
With 72 species currently identified, Espeletia is a plant genus endemic to the paramo, a moist alpine biome unique to the northern Andes. This genus, which inhabits the world's most diverse high-altitude ecosystem, is an outstanding example of adaptive success.
In a new study, Brazilian scientists investigated Espeletia's diversity and geographic distribution in the paramo; the results, published in August 2017 in Scientific Reports, suggest that researchers might more accurately reconstitute the whole speciation process via metabolomics.
Metabolomics is an area of study focusing on the chemical substances synthesized by a living organisma byproduct of its metabolismwhich is used to map chemical compounds inherent to a given species. In order to do so, a combination of techniques involving plant extracts, geographic data, and multivariate statistics is required. Studies of this kind are usually based on genomics, DNA marker analysis or morphological comparisons.
Researchers at the University of Sao Paulo's School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (FCFRP-USP) in Brazil have used metabolic fingerprinting for the first time to explain the evolutionary histories and biogeographic characteristics of Espeletia.
"Basically, we took the chemical compositions of the species of Espeletia and their metabolome and found a correlation with their geographic origins. Species present in the same locations display similar chemical profiles. The same link had already been found using molecular markers but on a larger geographic scale. This shows that the geography of the Andes not only determined the evolution of this plant group, and possibly of other plant groups in the region but also shaped the chemical compositions of these species," said Federico Padilla, one of the authors of the article.
Based on a study supported by Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) through regular research grant, the article confirms a hypothesis on the origin and migration routes of Espeletia along the northern Andes proposed by researchers at the US National Museum of Natural History, part of the Smithsonian Institution, in the 1990s, which was hitherto partially supported by molecular markers.
According to this hypothesis, the original stock of Espeletia diversified when the first population of the genus started expanding in two directions from the western part of the Cordillera de Merida, the largest massif in Venezuela. One branch moved along the Venezuelan Andes, while the other moved west and southwest along the Colombian Andes and into northern Ecuador.
"Historically, this kind of analysis has been based on molecular markers. However, genetic analysis is unable to determine specific biogeographic trends with satisfactory precision in groups that have evolved recently, such as the genus Espeletia, for which it merely identifies two groups, the Venezuelan and Colombian species," Padilla said.
Metabolites data point evolutionary adaptation
The Smithsonian hypothesis was confirmed by an analysis of the secondary metabolites (i.e., the chemical compounds involved in plants' adaptations to the ecosystem), which pointed to patterns of geographic distribution and chemical diversification in the Andean paramos.
"Each kind of marker has advantages and disadvantages," said Professor Fernando Batista da Costa , Padilla's supervisor and a co-author of the article published in Scientific Reports. "Unlike animals, plants can't move in order to adapt to this or that environment. Instead, they produce a vast array of chemical compounds that help them adapt to the place where they grow."
The rugged topography of the Andes makes the paramo a highly fragmented biome, biologically and geographically comparable to an archipelago in which "islands" of open grassland vegetation are separated by dense forests or deep valleys that prevent plant species from communicating with other paramos.
According to the article, this geographic isolation is a particularly influential factor for species with limited seed dispersal and a lack of long-distance pollinators, as is the case for Espeletia.
"We prove that their isolation favored allopatric speciation, meaning speciation occurring in separate regions because of geographic barriers. Darwin proposed this kind of speciation in his evolutionary theory as a result of his observations in the Galapagos Archipelago. He saw there that different islands had different species and that these species were related to each other," Batista da Costa said.
The researchers' analyses of the chemical compositions showed that species of Espeletia in different paramos differ not only genetically and morphologically but also chemically.
"In each paramo, most species accumulate different chemical compounds that may possibly be linked to their adaptation to that particular geographic area," Padilla said. "We demonstrate, using chemical evidence, that allopatric speciation occurred in these paramos and groups of species, as had been proposed in the 1990s."
Application of metabolomics in other areas
According to the researchers, this approach can be used to study practically all of a plant's metabolites at the same time.
"In classical phytochemistry, we studied one plant at a time and usually identified a few chemical substances," Padilla said. "With the new techniques and equipment, such as the liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry that we used, we can now assemble 100 or more plant extracts, analyze them all at the same time, and obtain a data matrix potentially representing more than 1,000 chemical compounds."
The researchers stress that analogous models can be used to obtain metabolic fingerprints for other plants with the aim of analyzing their biogeographic and evolutionary histories. "This new model can be used in agriculture, or for medicinal plants, or even by the police, for example, to identify the origin of marijuana consumed in a particular region," said Batista.
More information: Guillermo F. Padilla-Gonzalez et al, Biogeography shaped the metabolome of the genus Espeletia: a phytochemical perspective on an Andean adaptive radiation, Scientific Reports (2017). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-09431-7 Journal information: Scientific Reports
Provided by FAPESP
An exotic island paradise in French Polynesia bought by Marlon Brando in the sixties is using its Hollywood image to tackle environmental issueswith a little help from its jet-set visitors
An exotic island paradise in French Polynesia bought by Marlon Brando in the sixties is using its Hollywood image to tackle environmental issueswith a little help from its jet-set visitors.
The tiny, palm-fringed atoll of Tetiaroa was once a favourite holiday spot for Tahitian royalty before the late American movie star fell in love with it while filming "Mutiny on the Bounty" in 1961 on islands close by.
Brando married co-star Tarita Teriipaia and the couple raised a family on Tetiaroa, now home to a luxury eco-resort that bears the reclusive actor's name and regularly pampers A-list clientele such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Johnny Depp and Barack Obama.
Guests at "The Brando" help fund research projects by paying up to $10,000 a night to stay in the elegant thatched villas overlooking a turquoise lagoon.
As Pippa Middleton soaks up the rays on honeymoon or Obama seeks inspiration to write his memoirs, scientists quietly go about their work testing ocean acidification to study the effects on coral bleaching.
Behind the butler service and Michelin-star cuisine, the resort has built on Brando's own vision for a sustainable environment, to become one of the most eco-friendly hotels in the world, running on solar power and coconut oil.
Guests at "The Brando" help fund research projects by paying up to $10,000 a night to stay in the elegant thatched villas overlooking a turquoise lagoon
Luxury eco-tourism is a growing sector of the travel industry with big name hotel brands such as Alila and Aman investing heavily in ensuring their green credentials.
Boutique resorts that pride themselves on sustainability and giving back to the local community, such as Song Saa private island in Cambodia, Nihiwatu in Indonesia, and the Soneva hotels in Thailand and the Maldives, are also increasingly in demand.
But Tetiaroa, where legend has it British sailors who seized control of the Bounty in 1789 found vestiges of a pagan sex cult, has the added bonus of old Hollywood glamour.
Brando's granddaughter Tumi grew up on the island, fishing for snapper and grouper in the lagoon, home to juvenile lemon and black tip sharks which glide lazily among the corals as guests snorkel.
The 29-year-old works as the chief communications officer for the non-profit Tetiaroa Society, a scientific organisation devoted to marine wildlife founded by the Brando estate, which owns the atoll.
The tiny, palm-fringed atoll of Tetiaroa was once a favourite holiday spot for Tahitian royalty before the late American movie star fell in love with it while filming "Mutiny on the Bounty" in 1961 on islands close by
Coconut power
"Our aim is to raise awareness," she told AFP as marine biologists studied shark populations inside the three-mile (4.8 kilometre) wide lagoon, which contains at least 167 species of fish, including parrotfish and spotted eagle rays.
"First among local people, because we want to protect our environment. Maybe America or Chinathey come to my mind first because they're the biggest polluterscan emulate us."
Opened in 2014, the hotel's electricity comes from more than 2,000 solar panels which line the island's tiny runway and generators fuelled by coconut oil. Its air-conditioning is powered by deep seawatera brainwave of Marlon Brando's.
Mosquitoes are dying out at the resort where researchers have found a way to sterilise an invasive species capable of carrying dengue and Zika virus.
Brando previously ran a modest eco-lodge after buying Tetiaroa where celebrity buddy Robert De Niro, a guest in the late 1980s, once amused himself by waiting on tables.
Following Brando's blueprint, naturalists at the island's research centre monitor its countless tropical birds and turtle sanctuary, ready to rescue clumsy hatchlings before they can become a meal for predators
Brando died in 2004, but Tetiaroa, located some 2,700 miles south of Hawaii, has been preserved in line with his ecological visionresort staff even keep a pet cat called Marlon in homage.
"He was passionate," said Tumi. "He was dragged here by Hollywood, then grandma made him come back."
Following Brando's blueprint, naturalists at the island's research centre monitor its countless tropical birds and turtle sanctuary, ready to rescue clumsy hatchlings before they can become a meal for predators.
'Canary in the coal mine'
Luxury eco-resorts offer high-rollers a chance to offset any guilt they might feel over their carbon-heavy lifestyles.
"You need to look at the full picture of sustainability," said Rochelle Turner, research director at the World Travel and Tourism Council.
"We're perched here on one the most vulnerable spots on earth. It's kind of the canary in the coal mine for climate change so we better be doing our damnedest to figure out what's going on," Frank Murphy, Tetiaroa Society executive director, told AFP
"Often these upscale resorts lead the way. They have a much higher profit margin so they're able to do things that make their destinations more protected."
"But they pass on knowledge to the mass market too," she added. "Even backpackers are learning from what is happening at the high end."
Tetiaroa is ideal for ecological research, according to Frank Murphy, executive director of the Tetiaroa Society, to which DiCaprio and Depp donate.
"We're perched here on one the most vulnerable spots on earth. It's kind of the canary in the coal mine for climate change so we better be doing our damnedest to figure out what's going on," he said.
"The El Nino years we've had over the past 20 years gives us a glimpse into what will happen with global warming."
2017 AFP
Twisted actions
The Managing Director of Nepal Oil Corporation, Gopal Khadka, was fired from his post by the government on Monday.
Mating whirring tree frogs (Litoria revelata). The baseline color of whirring tree frogs is mostly brown, but during the breeding season, males have dynamic color change and are able to change to a conspicuous yellow. Credit: Martin J. Whiting
Some of nature's most vibrant colors occur in frogs, who peek out from rainforests and marshes in startling shades of blue, yellow and red. But for hundreds of species, only males flaunt flashy colorsand sometimes only for a few hours, days or weeks each year.
In the Sept. 20 issue of the Journal of Evolutionary Biology, scientists from the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History and Macquarie University in Australia report that the males of at least 178 species of frogs undergo a temporary color change during their breeding season. These frogs spend most of the year in drabber colorsbrowns or greens that blend discreetly in with their surroundingsbut take on vibrant hues when it is time to mate.
Temporary color changes have been recognized in some frogs, and biologists have been investigating the phenomenon in detail in a handful of species. But since the bright hues do not last long, they can be easy to miss, and no one knew just how many species have males who change color for the breeding season.
Now, after searching for evidence of such a color change in thousands of frog species, Rayna Bell, a research zoologist and curator of amphibians and reptiles at the museum, said the phenomenon is surprisingly widespread: "It's not just a few speciesit's a lot of frogs all over the world."
Mating Wilcox's frogs (Litoria wilcoxii) with the male (yellow) in display coloration. The baseline color of Wilcox's frogs is mostly brown, but during the breeding season, males have dynamic color change and are able to change to a conspicuous yellow. Credit: Grant Webster
Before now, scientists have mostly been aware of three well-studied examples of frogs switching colors. Bell said she first learned that some male frogs switch colors for the breeding season while exploring male and female color differences across the frog tree of life. The temporary color changes had also caught the attention of Associate Professor Martin Whiting and undergraduate honors student Grant Webster at Macquarie University, who had uncovered many examples of the phenomenon in Australian frogs. After Bell published a review article on the topic, the two Australian scientists contacted her and proposed they work together to broaden the search.
The three scientists teamed up to find as many examples of temporary color changes in male frogs as they could. Some had already been documented, and Webster had noted many in his own field work. But generally, scientists have not paid much attention to the role of color in communication between frogs, focusing instead on their vocal communications, Bell said.
She and her collaborators examined a wide array of frog photos looking for evidence of color change. To evaluate each species, the team compared photos of males engaging in breeding behavioreither actively calling for a mate or in a mating posture with a femaleto photos of males outside the breeding season and to females.
The team evaluated 2,146 different frog species and identified 179 whose males temporarily change color when it is time to breed, with most turning a bright yellow. Like the three best-studied species of color-changing frogs, most are species that breed in large, chaotic groups, where the males' distinct coloration may improve the chances of successful pairings.
In the Sept. 20 issue of the Journal of Evolutionary Biology, scientists from the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History and Macquarie University in Australia report that the males of at least 178 species of frogs undergo a temporary color change during their breeding season. Bell said research on two color-changing species suggests that the males' bright color is not about attracting a mate, but acts instead as a signal to other males. 'It's useful to communicate 'I'm a male, and I've got my female--stay away from her,' or 'I'm another male, don't grab onto me,'' she said. 'It's an innovative evolutionary solution to one of the many challenges associated with reproducing successfully.' Credit: C. Guilherme Becker
The breeding season is often short and frenzied for these frogs, with hundreds of individuals descending on ponds or puddles that may exist only in the days or weeks after a storm to lay their eggs. Amongst the pandemonium, a bright, sex-specific color can signal which frogs are suitable partners.
Bell said research on two color-changing species suggests that the males' bright color is not about attracting a mate, but acts instead as a signal to other males. "It's useful to communicate 'I'm a male, and I've got my femalestay away from her,' or 'I'm another male, don't grab onto me,'" she said. "It's an innovative evolutionary solution to one of the many challenges associated with reproducing successfully."
Now that Bell and her colleagues have documented hundreds of examples of color-changing frogs, much work remains to determine exactly how and why males take on their temporary hues. Bell plans to begin investigating frog vision, in part to learn how the animals might perceive color differences at nighttime, when many species are most active.Funding for this study was provided by the University of California and Macquarie University in Australia.
More information: R. C. Bell et al, Breeding biology and the evolution of dynamic sexual dichromatism in frogs, Journal of Evolutionary Biology (2017). DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13170 Journal information: Journal of Evolutionary Biology
Provided by Smithsonian
Stuart Davis, a director at one of FireEye's subsidiaries speaks to journalists about the techniques of Iranian hacking, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A new report by FireEye, a cybersecurity firm, warned that a suspected group of hackers in Iran are targeting the aviation and petrochemical industries in Saudi Arabia, the U.S. and South Korea. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
A group of hackers suspected of working in Iran for its government is targeting the aviation and petrochemical industries in Saudi Arabia, the U.S. and South Korea, a cybersecurity firm warned Wednesday.
The report by FireEye also said the suspected Iranian hackers left behind a new type of malware that could have been used to destroy the computers it infected, an echo of two other Iran-attributed cyberattacks targeting Saudi Arabia in 2012 and 2016 that destroyed systems.
Iran's office at the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday and its state media did not report on the claims. However, suspected Iranian hackers long have operated without caring if people found it was them or if there would be consequences, making them incredibly dangerous, said Stuart Davis, a director at one of FireEye's subsidiaries.
"Today, without any repercussions, a neighboring country can compromise and wipe out 20 institutions," Davis said.
FireEye, which often works with governments and large corporations, refers to the group as APT33, an acronym for "advanced persistent threat." APT33 used phishing email attacks with fake job opportunities to gain access to the companies affected, faking domain names to make it look like the messages came from Boeing Co. or defense contractors.
Stuart Davis, a director at one of FireEye's subsidiaries, stands in front of a map of Iran as he speaks to journalists about the techniques of Iranian hacking, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A new report by FireEye, a cybersecurity firm, warned that a suspected group of hackers in Iran are targeting the aviation and petrochemical industries in Saudi Arabia, the U.S. and South Korea. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
The hackers remained inside of the systems of those affected for "four to six months" at a time, able to steal data and leaving behind the malware that FireEye refers to as Shapeshifter. The coding contains Farsi-language references, the official language of Iran, FireEye said.
Timestamps in the code also correspond to hackers working from Saturday to Wednesday, the Iranian workweek, Davis said. The programs used in the campaign are popular with Iranian coders, servers were registered via Iranian companies and one of the spies appears to have accidentally left his online handle, "xman_1365_x," in part of the code.
That name "shows up all over Iranian hacker forums," FireEye's John Hultquist said. "I don't think they're worried about being caught. ... They just don't feel like they have to bother."
The Associated Press was able to find other clues pointing to an Iranian nexus.
One of the malicious websites used in the operation was registered in February 2016 via an Iranian company called Server Pars, the firm's chief executive, Ali Mehrabian, said. Mehrabian declined to make the customer's name available publicly, citing his company's privacy policy, but said they had a Tehran address.
Stuart Davis, a director at one of FireEye's subsidiaries, blocks part of a projection as he speaks to journalists about the techniques of Iranian hacking, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A new report by FireEye, a cybersecurity firm, warned that a suspected group of hackers in Iran are targeting the aviation and petrochemical industries in Saudi Arabia, the U.S. and South Korea. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
The hacker known as "xman" did not return emails seeking comment.
Iran developed its cyber capabilities in 2011 after the Stuxnet computer virus destroyed thousands of centrifuges involved in Iran's contested nuclear program. Stuxnet is widely believed to be an American and Israeli creation.
Iran is believed to be behind the spread of Shamoon in 2012, which hit Saudi Arabian Oil Co. and Qatari natural gas producer RasGas. The virus deleted hard drives and then displayed a picture of a burning American flag on computer screens. Saudi Aramco ultimately shut down its network and destroyed over 30,000 computers.
A second version of Shamoon raced through Saudi government computers in late 2016, this time having the destroyed computers display a photograph of the body of 3-year-old Syrian boy Aylan Kurdi, who drowned fleeing his country's civil war. Suspicion again fell on Iran.
FireEye's report said it believed APT33 "is likely in search of strategic intelligence capable of benefiting a government or a military sponsor."
High on the list of any potential suspects within Iran would be its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. U.S. prosecutors in March 2016 accused hackers associated to Guard-linked companies of attacking dozens of banks and a small dam near New York City. Hackers linked to the Guard also have been suspected of targeting the email and social-media accounts of Obama administration officials.
2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Credit: University of Queensland
A discovery in a transparent roundworm has brought scientists one step closer to understanding why nerves degenerate.
University of Queensland researchers have identified a key molecule that protects the axons of nerve cells from degenerating.
Queensland Brain Institute researcher Associate Professor Massimo Hilliard said axons long, thread-like nerve cell sections that transmit information were often the first parts of neurons destroyed in neurodegenerative disease.
"Using roundworms we identified the lin-14 molecule as being crucial to protecting the axon," Dr Hilliard said.
"When this molecule is lacking, the axon spontaneously degenerates."
Nerve axons are damaged in neurodegenerative conditions including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
The researchers studied roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), a small organism about one millimetre long with only 302 neurons.
C. elegans was the first multicellular organism to have its genome sequenced.
Researcher Fiona Ritchie said it enabled researchers to study neurons on a molecular and genetic level.
"What was surprising is that the lin-14 molecule is not necessary only within the axon, but also needs to be present in the surrounding tissue," she said.
"Our research highlights that complex connections between axons and their surrounding environment are critical for the survival of the axons later in life."
Dr Hilliard said the discovery created new avenues for researchers seeking to limit the degenerative process.
"Although this particular molecule doesn't exist in humans, I don't think we can exclude that similar mechanisms with a similar role may exist in humans," he said.
"The next step is to better understand the interactions between axons and their surrounding tissue, as well as to look for similar molecules that mediate the same degenerative process in humans."
The study, led by Fiona Ritchie and QBI's Justin Chaplin with key collaborators including Monash University's Dr Brent Neumann and California State University's Professor Maria Gallegos, is published in Cell Reports.
More information: Fiona K. Ritchie et al. The Heterochronic Gene lin-14 Controls Axonal Degeneration in C. elegans Neurons, Cell Reports (2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.08.083 Journal information: Cell Reports
Common noctule (Nyctalus noctula). Credit: MPI f. Ornithology/ K. Safi
Millions of animals fly, swim or walk around the Earth every year. To ensure that they reach their destination, they need to perceive precise changes in environmental conditions and choose the right moment to set off on their journey. Bats, too, are influenced by environmental factors. Every spring, common noctules in southern Germany set off for their summer territories. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Radolfzell have been studying what conditions trigger this migration. They discovered that the decision to set off depends on a combination of wind speed, wind direction and air pressure. The researchers have developed a model that allows them to predict when the bats will start their migration.
Flocks of birds in the skies are a familiar autumn sight, as they head south to overwinter. But every year millions of other animals from crabs and insects to fish and mammals set off on a similar migration. There are a range of different factors which determine when they set off. Migratory birds, for example, need to have gained sufficient weight since the previous winter. When they depart is also affected by day length, wind conditions and air pressure. Bat migration, by contrast, is less well understood.
A Group headed by Dina Dechmann at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Radolfzell has been studying the migratory behaviour of the common noctule (Nyctalus noctula). There are more than 1300 bat species, but very few travel long distances. The common noctule is one which does. It is mainly female noctules that make these journeys, which can be several hundred kilometres long. Every spring, after waking from hibernation, they fly northeast to insect-rich regions, always to the same colony, where they give birth to and raise their young. In autumn, the females fly southwest, back to their winter territories, where they mate and prepare for hibernation. Choosing the right time to set off in the spring is important for the bats, as they need to build up sufficient fat reserves for their long journey, but, owing to their advanced pregnancy, cannot delay too long.
Credit: Dechmann et al., PLoS ONE, 2014
To observe the bats in the wild, they were caught in the vicinity of their overwintering sites, measured, weighed, fitted with transmitters and then released. On subsequent days, the researchers flew over the area every morning in an aircraft to see which bats had set off in which direction during the night. They also recorded weather data such as wind speed and direction, air temperature and pressure, relative humidity, and cloud cover.
Unlike birds, bats can gain sufficient weight in just a few nights, and is therefore not a major factor in determining when they set off on their migration. Instead, common noctules choose the right night to set off based on weather conditions. The researchers were able to observe that more bats set off on nights with clear weather and favourable wind conditions to assist their flight (high air pressure with tailwinds). If, however, there was a weak headwind in the direction of migration, many bats also set off on nights with low atmospheric pressure. "Rising air pressure means improving weather," explains Dechmann.
Apparently, the bats weigh the weather conditions differently across the migration season: "Early on in the migration season, having really strong tail winds is important. Later on, it is important to have nights with high pressure and clear nights regardless of the wind conditions. They only migrate on nights with low pressure and bad weather, if there are favorable tail winds and weak head winds", explains Teague O'Mara from the Max Planck Institute in Radolfzell.
Using the data obtained, the researchers developed a model which allows them to predict on which nights the common noctules are most likely to depart. This could be of help for bat conservation, as large numbers of migrating bats are killed by collisions with wind turbines. "If we can predict on which nights there are likely to be a lot of migrating bats, we could dramatically reduce the number of deaths by turning off some wind turbines," says Dechmann.
More information: Determinants of spring migration departure decision in a bat. Biology Letters; 20 September, 2017 Journal information: Biology Letters
Forecasters warn Hurricane Maria will remain 'extremely dangerous' as it pushes westwards in the Caribbean
Hurricane Maria closed in on the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico Wednesday as forecasters warned of a "potentially catastrophic" storm that has already killed at least two people in the Caribbean.
The US National Hurricane Center said Maria was packing winds of up to 165 miles (265 kilometers) an hour as it approached the US and British Virgin Islands, which are still struggling to recover from devastating storm Irma.
Maria was set to remain "an extremely dangerous category 4 or 5 hurricane" as it pushed on to the US territory of Puerto Rico, the NHC said, warning of "large and destructive waves".
"Puerto Rico being hit hard by new monster Hurricane," tweeted US President Donald Trump.
"Be careful, our hearts are with youwill be there to help!"
Puerto Ricans were scrambling to board up windows and buy last minute supplies as the storm loomed over the densely populated island of 3.5 million.
Locals in the US Virgin Islands reported horizontal rain and trees swirling in the wind.
"Very violent and intense right now as we have just begun to experience hurricane force winds," said 31-year-old Coral Megahy, hunkered down on the St Croix island.
"We can hear debris banging on the aluminium windows as well."
Maria has already ripped through several Caribbean islands, leaving at least two people dead in the French territory of Guadeloupe and causing major damage in Dominica.
Satellite image of hurricane Maria's passage across the Caribbean
Culebra, Vieques and parts of the Dominican Republic are also on alert.
'Storm of the century'
Puerto Rico has opened some 500 shelters with the capacity to take in 67,000 people, as Governor Ricardo Rossello warned residents to brace for "the worst storm of the last century".
"I'm not denying I'm scared," said Noemi Aviles Rivera, a 47-year-old schoolteacher who experienced Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and Georges in 1998.
"I feel worried because it's the first time I'll see a hurricane of this magnitude."
Rossello tweeted that more than 11,000 people had sought shelter already, with nearly 200 pets in tow.
In Guadeloupe, one person was killed by a falling tree as Maria hit, while another died on the seafront.
At least two more are missing after their boat sank off the French territory, while some 40 percent of households in the archipelago of 400,000 were without power.
At least 11,000 people have sought shelter on the US territory of Puerto Rico
On neighboring Dominica, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit posted on Facebook that there were initial reports of "widespread devastation".
Communications to the tropical island of 73,000 people have been cut, and its airports and ports have been closed.
'Relentless catastrophe'
There had been fears that Maria could wreak fresh havoc on islands that were already flattened by maximum Category 5 hurricane Irma earlier in the month.
Early reports suggested St Martin, a French-Dutch island that was one of the worst hit by Irma with 14 dead, had escaped the worst this time around.
"Compared to Irma this was a breeze," Gordon Snow, editor of the Daily Herald newspaper, told the radio station Paradise FM.
Britain, France and the Netherlands boosted resources for their overseas territories in the Caribbean ahead of Maria, after heavy criticism of poor preparations for Irma.
UK Commonwealth minister Alan Duncan told BBC radio the region had suffered "a fortnight of relentless catastrophe", with nine killed in the British Virgin Islands.
Maria comes hot on the heels of record-breaking Hurricane Irma, which killed at least 40 people across the Caribbean earlier this month
But he added: "Although the fear is that these islands are going to get another hit, it looks at the moment that the British Virgin Islands will not get hit as hard as they did before."
All three European countries have increased their troop deployments to the region after complaints of looting and lawlessness after Irma, though security has largely been restored.
Building supplies were hurriedly flown in to help islanders repair roofs torn off by Irma, which left 40 dead across the Caribbean and 58 more in Florida.
Irma broke records this month by whipping up winds of 295 kilometers per hour for more than 33 hours straight.
French President Emmanuel Macron told the UN General Assembly in New York that the lethal sequence of hurricanesIrma and Maria came after Harvey blasted through Texaswas "one of the direct consequences of global warming".
The French leader is pushing US President Donald Trump to reverse his decision to pull out of the 2015 Paris climate accord, which triggered an international outcry.
2017 AFP
Looking back in time can teach us more about our oceans and how to protect its biodiversity for the future. Credit: CC0
Intensive fishing and climate change pose an unprecedented threat to biodiversity in the world's oceans, but reconstructing how the past 500 years of human activity on the seas has transformed marine life could help to reveal what the future holds beneath the waves.
Looking across the featureless, dark blue surface of the Atlantic Ocean, it is almost impossible to get any sense of what is going on in the vast expanse of water below.
Yet, there are changes taking place underwater that would provoke widespread public outcry and alarm if they were mirrored on land. Trawling, dredging, drilling for oil, mining for resources and climate change have arguably led to important fish stocks dwindling and shifting away from traditional fishing grounds.
The exact impact of human activity beneath the waves, however, remains largely obscured once you go back further than the 20th century, making it hard to know what will happen in the coming decades. This uncertainty is leading researchers to see if there is something that can be learned from our past mistakes.
They are attempting to chart the history of the North Atlantic from around 1400 to 1700 in the hope of unravelling the impact of fishing and climate change in Medieval Europe. The project, called NorFish, could provide vital information about what may be happening in the oceans today.
"It is difficult for people to imagine what the ocean used to look like," said Professor Poul Holm, a marine historian at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland and leader of the NorFish project. "It was an ocean that certainly teemed with life, possibly 10 to 100 times more abundant in some areas than today. We are looking at the desertification of the oceans today."
The fish revolution
The late 1400s in Europe marked a dramatic change in the relationship between humans and the oceans. When Venetian navigator John Cabot set off to discover a new sea route to China in 1497 on behalf of Henry VII of England, he bumped into Newfoundland, in modern-day Canada, and kicked off a new economic boom. He described waters so thick with fish that they could be lifted aboard in baskets. His tales of a superabundance of cod led to flotillas of fishing boats soon making the arduous journey across the ocean and marked the start of the fish revolution.
At the time the fishing industry probably involved around 10 000 people, double the size of the silver and gold trade to the Americas, according to Prof. Holm. The result was a transformation in the way fish was consumed.
"Fish had been scarce and high-priced in Medieval Europe, a food for the elite," said Prof. Holm. "But suddenly fish protein became abundant and low-priced. What we are trying to do is understand ocean abundance 500 years ago. It seems that the Grand Banks (off Newfoundland) were superabundant in fish, because humans hadn't fished there."
By looking in sediment cores brought up from the ocean floor and comparing with scientific records of the last 100 years, Prof. Holm and his colleagues are able to map the abundance of plankton - tiny marine plants and creatures - over time, giving clues as to changing fertility of the seas. Prof. Holm's team is also piecing together historical landing records of the last 500 years with studies of archaeological fish bones and growth data from molluscs to reconstruct climate and marine productivity.
The research, which is funded by the EU's European Research Council, is showing that cod off the coast of Newfoundland not only declined in abundance but also in size. It is something that is happening in modern fish populations with cod responding to fishing pressure by maturing earlier, at a smaller size.
Layered on top of this are the repercussions of climate change, especially the cooling from the Little Ice Age, which reached its peak in the 16th century.
"We are finding an ever-changing landscape that is full of surprises, changing in terms of climate, but also storminess and salinity, and with peaks and troughs of commercial species," said Prof. Holm. "We are delving into an unknown history of the North Atlantic."
Understanding how exploitation and climate change in the past impacted once thriving fish populations could also help scientists predict what may happen to modern fisheries. This could prove crucial in ensuring the future of Europe's fishing industry - one that employs more than 350 000 people, generates billions in Euros each year and is highly politically charged.
Researchers working on the EU-funded VECTORS project have already gone some way towards understanding what the impact may be from climate change in some areas.
"We have a clear trend of warming in the North Sea," said Dr Ana Queiros, a marine ecologist at the Plymouth Marine Laboratory in the UK, which was involved in the VECTORS project. "The southern parts are experiencing faster warming now and fish are moving north into deeper areas."
Scientists examined changes occurring in the Baltic and the Mediterranean alongside those they saw in the North Sea. Using 60 different models of how climate change may impact the North Sea, they attempted to predict what may happen to 18 commercial fish species.
One striking prediction to emerge is that the deeper waters off Norway will see greater abundances of fish. These areas are not marine protected areas now, but they might need to be in future.
"We can identify areas that will be of interest in the coming decades and then protect those from destructive use, such as seabed dredging or mining," said Dr Queiros. "The north of the North Sea is going to be more important for fish and potentially for conservation, for animals like seals or porpoises."
The results revealed a patchwork of change as some areas become more bountiful and others will be far less productive. But this also opens up other opportunities in the marine environment, according to Dr Queiros.
"If productivity in the southeast coast of England goes down, there could be opportunity there to expand other sectors such as marine renewables in future years, since (the area) will no longer be so important for fisheries and conservation (as there will be fewer fish)," she said. The team produced maps that chart expected changes in productivity and fish distributions resulting from climate change, which could inform decisions about where to build new wind farms or establish new conservation areas.
If these predictions of the future can be combined with the lessons of the past, Prof. Holm hopes it may encourage the public and policymakers to rethink how we live with our oceans.
"We know they can be replenished and there is still hope," he said. "In the ocean, the fish have many places to hide. If we held back for a decade or so, we could rebuild an ocean that might actually be much more economically valuable in the future."
The Chandra/HRC (0.3-10 keV) image of the Swift J1644+57 field of a view (FOV) was observed on 2011 April 4 (MJD=55655) with the 15 ks exposure. Evolution of the Swift/XRT (0.3 - 10 keV) image is plotted in the incorporated vertical panels which clearly demonstrate the outburst decay phase of Swift J1644+57. Credit: Elena Seyfina
Astrophysicists from Moscow State University have found a new way to estimate the mass of supermassive black holes outside our galaxy, even if they are barely detectable. The results of the study were published in Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Black holes are hypothetical objects whose gravitational pull is so great that even light cannot escape them. The existence of black holes follows from the solutions of Einstein's equations. Scientists have repeatedly observed the result of black hole interactions with the surrounding matter, for example, gas falling into the black hole.
"If a black hole absorbs a substance, there is a so-called accretion. Due to friction and heating, it causes radiation, which allows us to see the object indirectly and say that this is a black hole," explained Elena Seifina, the leading researcher of the SAI MSU. "If black holes do not have such a recharge, then we may not even suspect their existence."
To understand the nature of such "sleeping" black holes, astronomers led by Elena Seifina turned to several outbreaks from extragalactic sources. One of them, Swift J1644 + 57, was observed in 2011 simultaneously by several cosmic observatories (RXTE, Swift and Suzaku) in the X-ray and gamma-ray ranges.
At first, scientists thought that they were seeing another gamma-ray burst (GRB) similar to that observed in remote galaxies in the hardest range of the electromagnetic spectrum. However, the radiation of such flares usually disappears in a day or two, though the case of Swift J1644 + 57 was different. "The BAT tool at the Swift satellite was aimed at it and saw that two days later, the splash became even brighter. The whole outburst was observed for two years and then it went out," Elena Seifina explained.
Astronomers excluded the object from the GRB list and suspected that they were observing the tidal destruction of the star by a supermassive black hole. A star flying a short distance from a black hole undergoes tidal destruction. In this case, its matter does not fall onto the black hole at once, but forms a temporary accretion disk that glows brightly and can be seen from the Earth.
Previously, the only way to measure the mass of a black hole at the center of such accretion disks was to estimate the maximum luminosity of the disk, assuming that equilibrium is established between the pressure of electromagnetic radiation and gravitational forces in the disk.
In her doctoral thesis, Elena Seyfina documented observations of similar flares involving black holes both inside our galaxy and beyond, and reported that the X-ray spectrum tilt changes during the increase in luminosity. She found specific features of the spectrum that clearly indicated the presence of black holes in these objects. The scientists assumed that if the shapes (or the evolution of the shape) of the spectra of such flares are similar, then the processes occurring in them are also similar, and the normalization of the spectra is determined only by variable distances to the objects and their mass.
Noticing the similarity between the tracks (the dependence of the spectral tilt on the rate of accretion) of known objects and the tracks obtained in new extragalactic flares, the scientists suggested that they are also caused by stars torn by black holes. This allowed them to weigh invisible black holes in a new way, comparing them with galactic black holes of known mass.
Thus, a new method of weighing sleeping extragalactic black holes allows researchers to use data from known galactic objects like, for example, Cygnus X-1, with a black hole in the center. "Calculations showed that Swift J1644 + 57 contained a supermassive black hole with a mass of 7106 solar masses. This is an object that we do not see, but which provides high luminosity due to its strong gravitational field and an accretion disk around it," explained Elena Seifina, the author of the paper.
Previously, the assessment of supermassive black hole masses also used ultraviolet, but for the new method, the X-ray range is sufficient. Scientists hope that the versatility of the new method will be helpful in assessing the mass of various extragalactic objects, such as the cores of Seyfert galaxies and others, where traditional methods do not work in principle.
More information: L. Titarchuk et al, Swift J164449.3+573451 and Swift J2058.4+0516: Black hole mass estimate using a tidal disruption event flare, Astronomy & Astrophysics (2017). DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201730869 Journal information: Astronomy & Astrophysics
Silkworm 'pulling' silk from its body. Credit: University of Sheffield.
New insights into how animals spin silk could lead to new, greener ways of producing synthetic fibres, according to academics at the University of Sheffield.
Researchers from the University of Sheffield's Department of Material Science and Engineering have shown that animals spin silk by pulling rather than pushing it out of their bodies. They suggest that if this process can be copied in an industrial setting, it could improve how synthetic materials are processed and offer more environmentally-friendly alternatives.
Conventional synthetic textiles are made by extrusionpushing a liquid feedstock through a dye and then using high changes in temperature and exposure to harsh chemicals to solidify. However, silk can solidify into a fibre at room temperature and leave only water - therefore causing less environmental damage.
The new study, by academics at the University of Sheffield, is published in the journal Nature Communications.
Lead author Jamie Sparkes, a PhD student in the University of Sheffield's Natural Materials Group, said: "Silk is one of the most promising green biomaterials, and could be the perfect replacement for nylon and polyester based clothing.
"Traditional production process for silk is both arduous and time-consuming, but if we can bypass that by mimicking nature in an industrial setting, we could improve not only silk, but also how we process our synthetic materials."
Researchers examined how animals, including silkworms and spiders, push materials like silk out of their bodies.
Dr Chris Holland, Head of the Natural Materials Group, said: "While it is easy to assume that silk is propelled out of the body like we see in comic books, we wanted to put that to the test."
He added: "By combining computer models with experimental data and practical measurements, we determined the forces needed to squeeze unspun silk down the animals' silk gland and spin a fibre."
Jamie Sparkes added: "We found that to spin silk by extrusion (pushing), means a silkworm would have to squeeze itself hard enough to generate more pressure than a firing diesel engine.
"This isn't possible as the animal's body would be unable to contain that pressure. It seems that you can't squeeze silk like a tube of toothpaste."
However, by measuring the forces required to pull silk from the animal's body, the researchers found that it was well within the capability of the silkworm to pull a fibre, a process they refer to as pultrusion.
The researchers achieved this by adapting a rheometer, a machine used normally to measure the viscosity of liquids, into a highly sensitive spinning wheel, capable of measuring the forces needed to spin.
Dr Holland said: "If I gave you a piece of chewing gum and asked you to make me a fibre, you wouldn't push it through your teeth as it's too stiff. You'd grab one end and pull it out - and that's what the silkworm and spider do."
The scheme of fabrication the multisensor chip based on TiOx NT array: (ae) denote respectively Ti foil (a), Ti foil with as-prepared NT array (b), the extracted NT array (c), the NT array placed over the chip (d), the scheme of multisensor chip wired into 50-pin ceramic card (e) Credit: Scientific Reports
Relying on nanotechnology, scientists from Russia and Germany led by Skoltech research scientist Fedor Fedorov have developed an innovative solution for detecting traces of gas in the air.
Given the growing global population, humanity is in urgent need of accurate and affordable gas sensors that can reliably monitor the state of the atmosphere. The ideal gas sensor would be highly sensitive and selective, enabling it to detect even the lightest traces of certain types of substances in the air. It would also be inexpensive to produce and energy efficient.
At present, most gas sensors are made of transition metal oxides, carbon materials (graphene, carbon nanotubes) and various polymers. Despite the obvious progress in increasing the sensitivity of such sensors, inadequate selectivity remains a key problem. Furthermore, there is always a need for new technologies that are compatible with modern electronics. Scientists from several universities in Russia and Germany teamed up to address these challenges.
Array titanium dioxide nanotubes (electron tomography)
As a result of their research, they have developed a nanotechnological solution for creating a highly sensitive and selective sensor. These new sensors consist of arrays of nanotubes made of titanium dioxide. They chose titanium dioxide because it exhibits good chemiresistive properties; its resistance level varies with the appearance of gas vapors in the atmosphere.
The device is able to identify substance types by dividing a given material into segments and processing the obtained vector signal using pattern recognition techniques. This enables it to create a fingerprint of sorts for each type of gas it detects. In addition to its environmental impact, this device could prove effective in helping doctors diagnose illnesses. When people have certain diseases like diabetes or cancer, their breath contains abnormally high amounts of organic gases, particularly acetone. The gas sensor would be able to detect these abnormalities in patients.
Electronic tomography of several nanotubes of titanium dioxide. Credit: Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology
The technology is inexpensive and scalable for modern electronics. The technology involves soft chemistry methods to fabricate the nanotubular array, which is then transferred onto the chip to serve as a sensitive layer. "During our laboratory studies, we were able to test the response of our system to acetone, isopropanol and ethanol. The latter two gases are very similar to each other. We were we able to detect these gases and to distinguish them from one another. To do this, we trained our system to identify the appearance of a gas by its 'fingerprint,'" said Fedorov. The results of the study have been published in Scientific Reports.
More information: Fedorov, F., Vasilkov, M., Lashkov, A., Varezhnikov, A., Fuchs, D., Kubel, C., Sysoev, V. (2017). Toward new gas-analytical multisensor chips based on titanium oxide nanotube array. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 9732. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-10495-8 Journal information: Scientific Reports
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Two killed in Tinkune motorcycle accident
Two persons were killed when a motorcycle they were travelling on overturned nearby Tinkune in Kathmandu in the wee hours of Wednesday.
We are thrilled to support the new Catch marketplace, said Simon Clarkson, ChannelAdvisor managing director, Australia. This represents a great opportunity for sellers using our platform and we look forward to our collaboration with Catch. Its an exciting time for marketplaces in Australia and this provides another channel for our customers to increase their footprint and automate processes. Catchs launch is ideal for retailers and brands who want to take advantage of peak holiday season.
Catch of the Day rebranded as Catch and launched its own marketplace in June 2017. Its mission is to provide customers with an innovative shopping experience every day. The Catch marketplace covers existing Catch of the Day categories, including technology, beauty, fashion and wine, as well as new categories such as books, lighting, homewares, furniture, outdoor equipment and white goods. Catch reports that over 10,000 orders are placed on the site every day from an ever-expanding range of more than 50,000 products.
The Catch marketplace will operate a drop-ship model, with retailers listing their own products, shipping them and communicating directly with buyers. Catch will also continue to offer products it sources itself on the marketplace.2
For more information on selling on marketplaces, please visit https://www.channeladvisor.com.au/solutions/marketplaces/
For more details about ChannelAdvisor, visit our blog, follow us on Twitter @ECOMapac, Like us on Facebook and connect with us on LinkedIn.
About ChannelAdvisor
ChannelAdvisor (NYSE: ECOM) is a leading e-commerce cloud platform whose mission is to connect and optimize the worlds commerce. For nearly two decades, ChannelAdvisor has helped retailers and branded manufacturers worldwide improve their online performance by expanding sales channels, connecting with consumers around the world, optimizing their operations for peak performance and providing actionable analytics to improve competitiveness. Thousands of customers depend on ChannelAdvisor to securely power their sales and optimize fulfillment on channels such as Amazon, eBay, Google, Facebook, Walmart and hundreds more. For more information, visit www.channeladvisor.com.au/.
More websites for Point-of-sale niches:
POS-Advice.com a 100% focus on restaurant point of sale technology and trends. Offers insightful posts and resources.
POSforum.net a support forum where users share information and answer tech questions for various restaurant POS products including Oracle/Micros and Aloha.
Restaurantsoftwarelist.com A list of technology solutions for restaurants and hospitality. Find developers, manufacturers, resellers and processors.
Digital POS Magazine 28-32 pages about Point-of-sale Approx 8x a year. Each issue varies in focus for assorted trends or major industry shows.
BarCode.com Great content on bar codes, bar code printing, labels, bar code supplies, RFID, IoT, UPC codes, QR codes and much more. Over 3,000 articles and completely free. Includes a free barcode label making tool and where to buy a bar code for your products.
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EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Sept. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ Swagbucks, a Prodege, LLC company, announced today that it has paid out more than $200 million in cash and free gift card rewards to its members. Swagbucks (www.swagbucks.com), is a digital rewards company that helps consumers extend their budget to achieve life goals through everyday online activities like shopping, searching the web, sharing opinions, watching videos, or even playing games. With its focus on Creating Rewarding Moments, Swagbucks rewards its members with cash and gift cards to help them cover the costs of important life events like weddings, vacations, a new baby, holiday gifts, or just helping to pay for everyday expenses.
Swagbucks is free to join and members earn valuable rewards points immediately with no purchase necessary, and then redeem them for PayPal cash or gift cards to popular retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, Target and many more. Members earn by doing the everyday things they already do online, like shopping, sharing their opinion, discovering deals, watching videos, searching the web, or playing games. There is no limit to how many points Swagbucks members can earn.
It means so much to us at Swagbucks to be able to provide people a way to extend their budget for the rewarding moments in their lives, said Chuck Davis, CEO of Prodege, LLC, which operates Swagbucks. Giving back $200 million to our members is an incredible milestone. Every day we receive letters, emails and phone calls from our users sharing how we have helped them achieve their own life goalsand that is what really counts.
There are many compelling stories about the value that Swagbucks provides to its members. A couple in Metairie, Louisiana was surprised with a gift card for one million Swagbucks points to recognize the $200 million milestone. Recipient Lindsay Avilas and her fiance, John, are getting married soon, and Lindsay used Swagbucks to help pay for her wedding, from the venue to the wedding gown!
Here are just a few other members that the company is celebrating:
Tina Cosgrove, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Tina has earned over one million Swagbucks since she started in 2010. She is currently saving for a Disney vacation in December and has already earned $5,200 toward the trip.
Niko Olsen, Seattle, Washington: Niko is a public school teacher and uses the cash back he earns on Swagbucks to buy additional books for his classroom.
Sharlene Lim, Los Angeles, CA: Sharlene is a UCLA student. She started using Swagbucks to buy the textbooks she needed for her classes, but earned enough cash back to pay for part of her tuition as well.
In celebration of the $200 million milestone, Swagbucks is rewarding its members with special promotions at Swagbucks.com throughout the day on September 19, making it even easier for everyone to earn gift cards and cash:
A Swag Code Extravaganza will offer ways to earn extra points all day long
Members can win a special Collectors Bill with bonus points by using the Swagbucks search engine
Each square completed on the bingo-style Swago board will provide a Spin n Win for amazing prizes
All members will earn enhanced cash back from a variety of retail partners
Swagbucks will be hosting a special Facebook Live event!
About Swagbucks
Swagbucks is the webs most popular rewards program that gives you free gift cards and cash for the everyday things you already do online. Earn points when you shop at your favorite retailers, watch entertaining videos, search the web, answer surveys and find great deals. Redeem points for gift cards to your favorite retailers like Amazon and Walmart or get cash back from Paypal. Swagbucks has already paid out over $200 million in cash and free gift cards. Put cash back in your wallet. Join for free today. Headquartered in El Segundo, California, Swagbucks is a subsidiary brand of Prodege, a leading Internet and media company that also operates MyPoints.com and ShopAtHome.com. For more information please visit http://www.swagbucks.com.
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Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday, dear Jennifer
Happy birthday to you!
Jennifer Manders parents and brother Christopher sang, celebrating her 5th birthday.
About six months had passed since the Manders youngest family member, 2 -year old Michelle, was found dead after disappearing from their Watertown home in the middle of the night.
As Jennifer dug into her cake, her mother, Jan, got up from the table, walked out the back door and drove away.
Jan couldnt stop thinking about the last time she tucked Michelle into bed. The little girl had hugged her hard and long and wouldnt let go.
Jan wished shed never untangled herself from that embrace, just gone to sleep there, in the bedroom Michelle shared with her sister.
Jan painted the room, hoping the newly lavender walls would help her surviving daughter forget the shadow man, an indistinct figure Jennifer saw the night Michelle disappeared.
Alone with the two children she still had while her husband, Mike, worked out of town, Jan pretended everything was OK. When Mike came home on weekends, he refused to talk about what happened to Michelle, and lost patience with Jan any time she tried.
She couldnt shake the feeling that he, like his brother, suspected she had something to do with their daughters death.
Not long after Jan drove away from her family, her cars gearshift cracked off. As she tried to manipulate a wire hanger into a makeshift replacement, a trucker pulled up.
He was headed for Colorado and invited her to come along. Shes still not sure why she said yes, except that she needed to get away.
She rode around with him for a month.
Then Jan went home and tried to pull herself together for Jennifer and Christopher.
She couldnt do it.
Soon after Jan returned to Watertown, she tried to kill herself. After driving to a bar for a few beers, she went out to her car and swallowed all the pills left over from when Michelle was missing, the ones her doctor prescribed back when Jan heard her daughter calling at night.
Jan awoke to a police officer banging on the car window. After that, she remembers little except waking up again, this time in a mental hospital.
She had been there a week.
Rather than sticking around for treatment, she checked herself out.
After Michelle went missing, my mom was very distant, Jennifer recalled. Just not there. She was just kind of glazed over and didn't really talk too much. She kind of secluded herself.
Jan and Mike later divorced.
Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Jan Manders keeps this tiny booklet in memory of her daughter, Michelle. The cloth is from Michelle's baptism.
Mike didnt get a new job, even though the kids were still in elementary school when Jan moved out and left them with him. He continued to work out of town during the week, usually coming home only on weekends.
Mike recruited a series of upstairs tenants to keep an eye on Jennifer and Christopher in exchange for discounted rent.
Some tenants were more attentive than others. One couple taught the children to play the piano, while another spanked them and forced them to listen to Bible readings. Some made them dinner or made sure they got to school. Others just checked in every few days.
Eventually, Mike remarried and his new wife took over caring for the children.
Jan wandered in and out of their lives.
She never tried to get custody. Why would she? She hadnt been able to keep Michelle safe. Why would anyone believe she could protect Christopher and Jennifer?
Obsessed with finding out what really happened to Michelle, Jan called the Watertown Police Department incessantly.
Family photo Michelle (right) and her older brother, Christopher.
Family photo Michelle (right) and her older brother, Christopher.
The officers responses were always noncommittal, until she connected with Chief Richard Reynolds about a year after Michelles death.
He doesnt remember the conversation, but Jan says it went like this:
She asked if the case was still open, and he told her no.
"Just be glad we found her," she recalls him saying. "You dont have to worry about her anymore."
Jan replaced the receiver with a click. If the police wouldnt help, she needed a private investigator. She got out the Yellow Pages, dialing one after another.
She couldnt afford any of them.
Then she reached Norbert Kurczewski.
The Milwaukee detective said he was familiar with Michelles case, having come across it while researching the death of a different child.
He told Jan he would take her case for free.
His usual fee would be about $150,000 Kurczewski told a newspaper reporter at the time.
But with kids I have a special rate," he said. "Its like my donation to charity.
Kurczewskis first move was to go through the year-old case file.
There, he came across a tip that seemed promising: Three waitresses and some customers said theyd seen Michelle in the Black Earth Cafe a few days after she was reported missing about two weeks before her body was found tangled in some brush on the bank of the Rock River two miles from her home.
The private eye drove to Black Earth about 70 miles west of Watertown to talk with the waitresses.
They recalled seeing a middle-aged couple with a blue-eyed, blond toddler in tow at the restaurant.
The group caught their attention because strangers didnt turn up too often. Most customers were regulars who came in daily for their coffee and gossip.
Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Waitresses at the Black Earth Cafe saw a little girl they believed to be Michelle Manders with a middle-aged couple at the restaurant two days after she went missing.
Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Waitresses at the Black Earth Cafe saw a little girl they believed to be Michelle Manders with a middle-aged couple at the restaurant two days after she went missing.
The couple appeared to be in their late 40s or early 50s, too old to be the girl's parents. Their age seemed to fit more with grandparents, but their actions didnt. The man ignored the child. The woman wouldnt let her have free ice cream when one of the waitresses offered it.
None of the waitresses recognized the couple. Yet something about the little girl seemed familiar.
When the woman took her to the restroom, everyone in the restaurant could hear the child screaming through the door.
After that, the couple quickly paid their bill and left.
Five days later, one of the waitresses picked up a newspaper and saw a picture of Michelle Manders.
Thats when it clicked. It was her! The girl from the cafe! The waitress was sure of it.
Her co-workers thought so, too.
Two of them went to the Black Earth Police Department and told officer Bob Schuyler they had seen the missing girl.
After Schuyler relayed the tip to the authorities handling Michelles case, he told the women some detectives would be coming from Watertown to talk with them.
No one did.
Watertown Police Chief Richard Reynolds said that was never the plan. The lead investigator on the case and Schuyler had come to "a mutual agreement" that the tip had no merit, Reynolds told the media back then.
But Schuyler said he never agreed to such a thing.
Im still very puzzled about the apparent lack of initiative on the part of the Watertown police, and I intend to try and learn more about why they chose not to spend any time out here, he told a reporter not long after Michelles body was found. I doubt very seriously, however, that any explanation on their part will meet my satisfaction.
By Andrei Makhovsky BORISOV FIRING RANGE, Belarus (Reuters) - Belarus said on Wednesday the West had no reason to fear attack by its close ally Russia or that Moscow could leave behind forces after war games it is holding with Minsk for a possible occupation of Western neighbours. Russia has repeatedly said the exercises, code named "Zapad" or "West" which began on Sept. 14, are purely defensive in nature and do not target a third country or group of countries. NATO has voiced concern that Moscow could use the war games as a cover to station troops and equipment in Belarus. The U.S.-led alliance has said the drills lack transparency and the number of troops taking part could be much larger than the 12,700 servicemen declared by Moscow and Minsk. Russia's neighbours have said they fear Moscow could use the exercises as a rehearsal for an occupation of adjacent nations like Poland, Ukraine or the three Baltic republics - all of which were under Moscow's rule before the Communist Soviet Union broke up in 1991. Poland and the Baltics are now members of NATO and the European Union, while Ukraine is pursuing such ties. "The attempt to discredit the exercises is extremely unprofessional," said Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko. "We won't wage war on anyone. Do not expect any attack from us - especially on Ukraine," he told reporters at a firing range 75 km (47 miles) east of Belarus's capital Minsk after overseeing the last day of Zapad manoeuvres. "All the troops will be back to the sites of their permanent deployment," he said, dressed in camouflage uniform as supreme commander. "In a week, this issue will become irrelevant." On an overcast and rainy day, he watched from a vantage point as allied troops of Russia and Belarus repelled a simulated attack by forces of three fictitious neighbouring nations on Belarus. Aircraft zeroed in on ground targets after mock dogfighting, after which a ground offensive unfolded. Hours earlier, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite made the exercises the centrepiece of her annual speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. "Even as we speak, around 100,000 Russian troops are engaged in offensive military exercise 'Zapad 2017' on the borders of the Baltic States, Poland and even in the Arctic," she said. "The Kremlin is rehearsing aggressive scenarios against its neighbours, training its army to attack the West. The exercise is also part of information warfare aimed at spreading uncertainty and fear." The Kremlin said on Wednesday it had provided exhaustive information on the exercises before they were held to the military attaches of all interested countries and allowed their observers to attend the event to allay any concerns. "I think that upon receiving this information Ms. Grybauskaite will have a chance to change her point of view," President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo also voiced disquiet at the exercises and said Warsaw opposed any lifting of Western sanctions imposed on Russia over its annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and role in its separatist conflict. "We are very concerned by what is happening in Belarus, from the exercises there," Szydlo said during a visit to Bulgaria. (Additional reporting by Dmitry Solovyov in Moscow and Angel Krasimirov in Sofia; writing by Dmitry Solovyov; editing by Mark Heinrich)
A corruption trial against Brazilian President Michel Temer moved one step closer Wednesday when the Supreme Court rejected a last-ditch attempt to have the case suspended. A 7-1 majority on the court voted against Temer's appeal to put the racketeering and obstruction of justice charges on hold, with three more justices still due to vote when the session was suspended. That clears the way for the case to be considered by the lower house of Congress in Latin America's biggest country. "It's up to the chamber of deputies now," said Justice Luis Roberto Barroso on casting his vote. If the chamber of deputies votes by a two thirds majority in favor, Temer -- the first sitting Brazilian president to face criminal charges -- would have to stand down for 180 days and face trial at the Supreme Court. However, the center-right president is confident he has enough support to easily defeat the charges, which are the peak in a mammoth graft scandal shaking the country. A first charge of bribe-taking in June was thrown out overwhelmingly by allied deputies. The latest charges involve Temer's alleged agreement to pay hush money to keep a jailed politician from testifying and his leadership of a group in Congress that took millions of dollars in bribes from companies seeking state contracts. His lawyers attempted to put the case on hold, arguing before the Supreme Court that one of the main pieces of evidence in the prosecution -- plea deal testimony from a meatpacking tycoon -- needs to be reconsidered because of irregularities. His lawyers also argue that some of the alleged crimes took place before he was sworn in as president last year, after replacing impeached president Dilma Rousseff. A review of the case might have suited Temer because the prosecutor general who brought the charges, Rodrigo Janot, stepped down at the end of last week. Janot was replaced by Raquel Dodge, whom analysts say may be less aggressive. At issue now is testimony given by JBS meatpacking magnates Joesley and Wesley Batista, who confessed to conducting wide ranging bribery of politicians and testified against Temer. - Alleged kickbacks ring - Janot's charge against Temer illustrated the reach of Brazil's powerful prosecutors and judges in a three-year operation codenamed "Car Wash," which has uncovered vast networks of bribery and embezzlement throughout Brazilian politics and business. According to the charges, Temer "acted as leader of a criminal organization" comprising senior officials from his center-right PMDB party. They allegedly took the kickbacks in exchange for contracts at public companies like oil giant Petrobras. The alleged ring operated from May 2016, when Temer first took over as acting president from leftist president Dilma Rousseff following her impeachment, Janot's office said. Temer called Janot's accusations "absurd" and accuses the prosecutor of overreach, -- an argument that has some sympathy in Congress, where scores of legislators are also accused of corruption. Although Temer is expected to survive the congressional vote on a trial, he could still face prosecution after leaving office. His term ends at the start of 2019 and he is not expected to run for another term in October 2018 elections. Also, his reputation is in tatters. Among those charged with him last week were his chief of staff Eliseu Padilha and Moreira Franco, a close confidant who holds a ministerial level administrative post in the presidency. Another was a former minister, Geddel Vieira Lima, who was imprisoned this month after police discovered the equivalent of $16 million in cash stuffed into boxes and suitcases in an apartment he used.
By Jorge Pineda SANTO DOMINGO (Reuters) - Dominican Republic closed most of its ports ahead of Hurricane Maria, but the country's 34,000-barrel-per-day refinery was still running, the government said on Wednesday. Ports that suspended operations under the "red alert" declared for extreme weather conditions are La Romana, Samana, Arroyo Barril, Puerto Plata and Manzanillo, the Dominican Port Authority said in a statement. Maria was a Category 4 hurricane when it hit Puerto Rico earlier on Wednesday. The ports of San Souci and Haina, which serve the country's sole refinery, also halted operations on Wednesday, according to operators of those facilities. The port of Caucedo has not declared its status. State-run refining company Refidomsa last week lifted a force majeure declaration on its fuel deliveries due to Hurricane Harvey, which limited its imports of oil from the U.S. Gulf Coast to be processed at the facility. The refinery's docks temporarily closed earlier in September due to Hurricane Irma, but they resumed operations days later. Refidomsa, owned by the island's government and Venezuela's state-run oil firm Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), this week issued a "yellow alert" to the industry ahead of Maria, which means it will monitor the storm to decide on further action, the Dominican firm said. Puerto Rico's Yabucoa terminal operated by Buckeye Partners suspended operations on Tuesday. The company is monitoring the storm to decide whether to close its Bahamas terminal, the largest in the Caribbean. NuStar Energy has not reopened its terminal on the island of St. Eustatius after Hurricane Irma damaged some tanks. (Reporting by Jorge Pineda; Writing by Marianna Parraga; Editing by Richard Chang)
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesday urged Palestinians to unite and "be ready to co-exist" in peace with Israelis, in his address to the United Nations. Speaking a day after a first meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Sisi said an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal was a "necessary precondition for the entire region" to enjoy stability. Egypt has been leading mediation efforts between Palestinian arch-rivals Fatah and Hamas as part of a push to return to the forefront of Middle East diplomacy. Departing from his prepared remarks to the UN General Assembly, Sisi said he wanted to "tell the Palestinian people, it is important to unite ... to overcome the differences and to be ready to accept co-existence with the other, with Israelis, in safety and security." The Egyptian leader made a similar appeal to Israelis, saying that decades of Israeli-Egyptian peace could be expanded to the Palestinians to "overcome the barrier of hatred forever." "We can repeat this experience, this excellent step once again, together with the peace and security of the Palestinian citizens," he said. Egypt, which signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, has called for steps to kick-start Israeli-Palestinian talks that have been comatose since 2014. In his address, Netanyahu said Israel was committed to achieving peace with all Arab countries and with the Palestinians, but he did not elaborate on how this could be achieved. Sisi said "an independent Palestinian state" with east Jerusalem as its capital is "a necessary precondition for the entire region to transit into a new phase of stability and development." An Israeli-Palestinian peace deal would eliminate "one of the main excuses" used by terrorists in the region, he argued. Turning to the United States where President Donald Trump has said he is pushing for negotiations, Sisi declared that there was an "opportunity to write a new page in history to achieve peace in this region." The meeting between Sisi and Netanyahu in New York on Monday followed a rare phone conversation between Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas of Fatah and Hamas chief Ismail Haniya. Egypt has been mediating between Abbas' internationally recognised Palestinian Authority located in the West Bank and Hamas, which has controled the Gaza Strip since 2007. After Haniya met Egyptian officials in Cairo last week, Hamas announced it agreed to demands by Fatah to dissolve what is seen as a rival administration in Gaza, while saying it was ready for elections and negotiations to form a unity government.
When Dilara left Turkey for Dubai five years ago, her friends said she'd made a mistake. The economy was flourishing, the cultural scene was vibrant and relations with the West warm. But now, "most of my friends are sending me their CVs because they dont want to stay in Turkey anymore, especially after the referendum," said Dilara, a pseudonym as she did not want to be identified by her real name. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won a landmark referendum in April on expanding his powers, which critics fear will lead to one-man rule in an increasingly polarised nation. Dilara, a specialist in digital marketing, is one of an increasing number of highly-skilled Turks to leave the country, a trend that has grown in recent years, according to Ulas Sunata, sociologist at the University of Bahcesehir in Istanbul. Lamenting a lack of data, she said the issue represented a potentially damaging brain drain. "It's a genuine problem for the country," she told AFP. "But it's not just the sociocultural aspect, there's the economic aspect, too... their departure is a real disadvantage for the country." A dozen Turkish citizens interviewed by AFP, who have left or areplanning to leave, cited dwindling job prospects for graduates and complained of a rising conservatism under the Islamic-rooted government and an erosion of civil liberties. The Turkish government insists it is building a strong economy, based on innovation and investment, with the aim of becoming one of the world's top 10 economies by the 100th anniversary of the modern Republic in 2023. The economy has remained robust after the July 2016 failed coup, even expanding by 5.1 percent in the second quarter this year. Yet critics point to high unemployment -- especially the 20.6-percent rate among 15 to 24 year-olds -- and an uncertain future outlook as reforms stall. Erdogan claimed in July that a "brain drain" was taking place throughout the Muslim world. "We are losing our most intelligent students to the benefit of the West," he said. - 'Why should I suffer?' - Dilara initially left Turkey temporarily to enrich her CV with experience abroad. "I planned to go back many times in the past few years, but there were things happening in Turkey so I changed my mind," she said. The suppression of anti-government protests and terror attacks, which hit the country in 2016, made some think twice about staying in Turkey. Meanwhile, the failed coup prompted a crackdown that critics claim has been used to go after any opponent of Erdogan and not just the suspected putschists. "Why should I suffer when there are better options elsewhere? What am I doing in a country with no justice?" said a 33-year-old English-language teacher, who, like several people, agreed to speak to AFP on condition their names were not published. He said he had taken the first steps to leave the country, with his wife and children, explaining that he felt they "deserve better standards of living." "There is no longer a place for independent films in Turkey," added one 26-year-old filmmaker, who plans to move to Paris. - 'Quite bold decision' - The academic sector has been strongly affected by the post-coup purges, which saw over 50,000 people arrested and over 140,000 sacked or suspended. More than 5,500 academics have been fired by decree under the state of emergency imposed after the attempted putsch, according to Hurriyet daily last month. Some are accused of links to the failed coup, others of being linked to terror organisations, but many complain of having received no explanation for their sacking. "If you ever express any political thought (as an academic), it may put you at risk," one 28-year-old Turk, living in Montreal, said by telephone, who chose to stay there after his doctorate. "It would be a quite bold decision now to take up an academic position in Turkey." Merve, a communications PhD student, will soon join her partner, who is also an academic, in Budapest. Both believe it is "too difficult" in today's climate to lead an academic career in Turkey. "Everyone is making choices, thinking of their future, so I chose to leave," she added. - 'Graduates taking risks' - Those most likely to leave are graduates, who "have a better chance of being accepted in the countries they want to go to," said Sunata. "Leaving involves risks, and it is the graduates who can afford to face them." But she warned: "Their departure means that there are fewer people left to uphold important, universal values such as human rightsand (their departure) entails a weakening of those values." The procedure for leaving is long and arduous: for one historian, who recently moved to France after having long taught in one of Turkey's most respected universities, it took four years to prepare the paperwork and find a job abroad. "I hope I never have to go back to Turkey," he told AFP by telephone. But the narrowness of the 'Yes' victory in April is a sign for many that all hope for the opposition is not completely dead. "Things will not change overnight," the filmmaker admitted. "But Turkey is unpredictable, everything can flip very quickly." One civil engineer from Ankara, who resigned himself to take steps to leave after having long refused to follow his friends abroad, lamented his future departure. "I really love my country. I don't want to leave my country to the conservatives," he sighed. "I feel like I'm fleeing."
A first wave of refugees will leave remote Pacific detention camps and be resettled in the United States in coming weeks, Australian authorities said Wednesday, under a deal that has rankled President Donald Trump. Canberra sends asylum-seekers who try to enter the country by boat to processing facilities on Nauru and Papua New Guinea's Manus Island, with those found to be refugees barred from resettling in Australia. They are instead relocated to third countries, or resettled elsewhere in PNG. The Australian government struck a pact with Washington under former president Barack Obama to resettle some of them in the United States in return for taking an unspecified number of asylum-seekers from Central America. Doubts over the arrangement surfaced after Trump took office and attacked it as a "dumb deal" in a heated phone call with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, before begrudgingly agreeing to honour it. New concerns were raised in July by the sudden withdrawal from PNG of American officials assessing the refugees, days after the US passed its annual 50,000-refugee intake cap. But Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the first group were expected to depart PNG and Nauru "in coming weeks". "The refugees will receive notification of the outcome of their application to resettle under the US Refugee Admissions Programme in coming days," he said. "Processing of other individuals continues and further decisions by US authorities are expected in due course. As we have made clear from the outset the resettlement arrangements will take time and will not be rushed." Turnbull added that this was the "first stage". "About 25 from both Manus and Nauru will be going to the United States. I just want to thank again President Trump for continuing with that arrangement," he said. Their move was subject to Washington's "very, very thorough vetting, their extreme vetting," he added. "But we look forward to more refugees, people who have been judged to be refugees on Nauru and Manus, to be taken to the United States." - 'Don't leave them in limbo' - Nearly 800 men are being held on Manus, and 371 men, women and children are detained on Nauru, according to Australian immigration data as of July 31. The camps' conditions have been widely criticised by refugee advocates and medical professionals, who say some asylum-seekers suffer from mental health problems due to their prolonged detention. A PNG court ruled last year that holding people on Manus was unconstitutional, and Canberra is set to shut the camp in October, but it remains unclear what will happen to those not taken by the United States. Amnesty International urged Washington to take as many refugees as possible to ensure "not a single person is left behind". "Amnesty International acknowledges the US for giving people a genuine chance at settling and restarting their lives in a safe place," said the group's refugee coordinator Graham Thom. "But for the sake of those still living in the harmful conditions on Nauru and Manus we are urging the US to take as many people off these islands as possible." The Human Rights Law Centre echoed these sentiments, saying while some now had hope, the majority remained in limbo. "In signing the US deal our government was rightly conceding that it couldn't just abandon people on Nauru and Manus forever," said the centre's director of legal advocacy Daniel Webb. "That was an important and long overdue concession. Now, it is our government's responsibility to make sure not a single person is left behind. Not one life can be abandoned in limbo."
Kenya's Supreme Court on Wednesday blamed the election commission for last month's annulled presidential vote, rebuking officials for bungling the transmission of results and basing the outcome on dubious documents. The full ruling detailing the court's shock decision on September 1 to annul President Uhuru Kenyatta's victory struck a searing blow to the credibility of the election commission, casting doubt on its ability to organise a new poll in less than a month. Deputy chief justice Philomena Mwilu described "disturbing, if not startling, revelations" about the conduct of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and singled it out for ignoring a Supreme Court order to open up its computer servers after opposition allegations of hacking. The four judges who decided in a majority decision to annul the vote also said the election commission had failed to verify the numbers before declaring Kenyatta winner. Two dissenting judges were delivering separate judgements. Lawyers for Raila Odinga's National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition last month challenged Kenyatta's re-election alleging rigging, hacking and tampering with results. On the hacking charge, the IEBC was excoriated for failing to provide the evidence and access that could have cleared up some of Odinga's claims. "Our order of scrutiny was a golden opportunity for the IEBC to place before the court evidence to debunk the petitioner's claim," Mwilu read from the court's detailed judgement. "If IEBC had nothing to hide it would have readily provided access to ICT (information and communications technology) logs and servers to disprove the petitioner's claim. "But what did IEBC do with it? It contemptuously disobeyed the court orders in these very critical areas." Mwilu said the judges were left with no choice but to accept opposition claims the election commission's "ICT system was infiltrated and compromised and the data therein interfered with, or IEBC officials themselves interfered with the data, or it had bungled the transmission system and were unable to verify the data." - 'Mysterious puzzle' - She said that while voting day had gone off smoothly on August 8, the "system thereafter went opaquely awry". The IEBC was heavily criticised for failing to prove it had received tally sheets, known as forms 34A, from all 42,000 polling stations before declaring the final result on August 11, awarding Kenyatta victory with 54 percent of the vote. Judges described the obscurity around the forms 34A as a "mysterious puzzle of labyrinthine proportions". Thousands of the forms were not made available, as legally required, by the time results were announced. A court study of a random sample of those that were provided showed many lacked security features, stamps and signatures. The IEBC blamed network failures for missing and delayed tally forms, but the judges dismissed this excuse saying they should have been prepared, and that it should have taken only a few hours to get to a spot with enough connection to scan through the forms. - 'Neither transparent nor verifiable' - The way the result is transmitted "is as important as the result of the election itself", said Mwilu. "Failure of the electronic system was a direct violation of the law." Chief Justice David Maraga slammed "inexplicable irregularities that go to the very heart of electoral integrity". Both judges questioned how an election costing taxpayers 43 billion shillings (347 million euros/$416 million) could result in problems with transmission and "disturbing" questions over the security of forms -- which were all meant to be printed by the same company. "We find that the 2017 presidential election was neither transparent nor verifiable," leading to the unprecedented decision to nullify the vote, said Mwilu. Maraga ordered the IEBC to "put in place a complementary system" to be used in the event that technology fails in the new election due on October 17. Wednesday's detailed ruling, plus opposition demands for an overhaul of the commission and warnings from the French firm that provided digital voting kits that it will not be ready on time, have raised fears it will be impossible to meet the poll deadline. Kenya's constitution says a new election must be held within 60 days of the court's annulment.
Catalonia's executive admitted Thursday that plans for an outlawed independence referendum had been dealt a major blow by a police crackdown, but vowed to press ahead, urging support from the international community. In Barcelona, several thousand protesters flooded the streets for a second day running after police detained key members of the team organising the October 1 vote in the wealthy northeastern region which is deeply divided over independence. The protesters gathered outside the High Court demanding that the leaders be freed, while a Catalan government spokesman said eight of the 14 people arrested had been released. The arrests, as well as Wednesday's seizure of nearly 10 million ballots destined for the vote, have seriously damaged separatist plans to conduct a referendum with a semblance of legitimacy, even if it was never going to be recognised by Madrid. Regional vice president Oriol Junqueras, whose deputy Josep Maria Jove was among those held, told Catalonia's TV3 that the crackdown meant "the rules of the game have been changed." "The circumstances today are different because a significant part of our team, half of the economics team, has been arrested," he said. "That (the referendum) cannot be held in the circumstances that we wanted is obvious," he said. Catalonia's president Carles Puigdemont issued a statement late Thursday saying the referendum would be held "because we had prepared some plans to protect ourselves from any eventuality and guarantee the vote". He added "there is the support a huge majority of the population which is fed up with the arrogance and the abuse of the government of the Popular Party" in Madrid. Puigdemont also tweeted a link to a page where he said Catalans could find their polling stations -- although AFP could not get access when it tried to consult the site. - Scottish leader weighs in - In an open letter published in Britain's Guardian newspaper, Puigdemont called on the international community "to stand with Catalonia in its defence of democracy and true European values". His words earned him the support of Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the pro-independence Scottish National Party who raised concerns about the crackdown, saying the right to self-determination should be respected everywhere. But the road ahead is complicated. Police have seized over 45,000 notifications destined for those selected to staff the polling stations. And they have threatened to arrest mayors who facilitate the vote if they do not comply with a criminal probe. Officials have also tightened control over the region's finances. And Spain's interior ministry has chartered three ferries which can house up to 6,600 police who are being sent to back up forces in Catalonia. The confiscation of millions of ballot papers delivered an added blow. Also contributing to their woes, the Constitutional Court said Thursday it would impose a daily fine of between 6,000-12,000 euros ($7,100-$14,300) on 24 organisers until they acted in full compliance with an earlier ruling ordering a "suspension of the referendum". "Madrid's legal response to the Catalan challenge looks increasingly likely to stop the organisation of the self-determination vote, or at least void it of any legitimacy," wrote Antonio Barroso, an analyst at Teneo Intelligence. - Resentment growing - But Inigo Mendez de Vigo, spokesman for the Madrid government, defended the measures, telling Spanish radio: "It would be strange if the justice system did nothing when there was disobedience." Polls show Catalans are sharply divided on whether they want independence or not, with the latest survey in July showing 49.4 percent against and 41.1 percent in favour. But Madrid's repeated insistence on the illegal nature of the independence drive has generated much resentment in a region where separatists were once far fewer. And critics in both camps say the central government has not made any attempt to win over hearts and minds. This has led to a perception that the central government doesn't care -- a perception exacerbated by the recent economic crisis and the fact that Catalonia pays more in taxes than it receives in investments and transfers from Madrid. EU officials have remained tight-lipped on the issue regarding it as an internal matter for Spain. "Recognising Catalonia would create a terrible precedent for the EU, one which Brussels would find very hard to manage and which every separatist movement would try to use in future," Dan Dungaciu, the head of the Institute of Political Sciences and International Relations of the Romanian Academy told AFP. - 'Not constructive' - Juan Jose Moya, a 63-year-old caretaker who is against independence said that "both governments have bad policies," referring to the administration in Madrid and the one in Barcelona. But he was not impressed by the arrests. "It's not constructive," he said. "It would have been best to have a referendum agreed by the government," he added, noting that the Catalan executive was also at fault as it had been "unable to negotiate." Despite the divisions, a large majority of Catalans want to vote in a legitimate referendum to settle the matter, polls show.
SAF national servicemen seen at the Army Open House event held at the F1 Pit Building in May. (PHOTO: Dhany Osman / Yahoo News Singapore)
A man sentenced to four months jail for evading national service (NS) withdrew his appeal against his sentence in the High Court on Wednesday (20 September).
Jonathan Tan Huai-En, 28, the elder son of Senior Counsel (SC) Tan Chee Meng, had earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of evading NS between 22 December 2004 and 4 May 2015 and was sentenced in February this year.
On Wednesday, Tans lawyer C R Rajah said that his client who is currently out on bail wished to defer the start of his sentence to 6 October.
Tan, together with his two siblings and mother, migrated to Canada in December 2000. They did not intend to return to Singapore. SC Tan remained here as there were no employment opportunities in Canada.
The younger Tan became a Canadian citizen in early 2005. Between December 2015 and June 2016, several letters requesting him to register for NS were sent to his Singapore address. Officers from the Central Manpower Base (CMPB) also visited his home when he failed to show up.
In mid-2009, SC Tan called CMPB to inform them that his eldest son wanted to renounce his Singapore citizenship. He also sent a letter to CPMB through his lawyers, which stated the same request.
In response, CMPB said that the younger Tan had to first fulfil his NS obligations. SC Tan was also informed that his son had been classified as a defaulter and called for his return as soon as possible. Tan returned to Singapore on 5 May 2015, and enlisted for NS on 8 January 2016.
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Singapore currency. (PHOTO: Reuters)
Three staff from two remittance agencies were commended by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) on Wednesday (20 September) for helping to prevent two people from losing money through overseas impersonation scams.
In the first incident on 8 September, a 61-year-old woman received a phone call from the Chinese police accusing her of committing money laundering, said the SPF in a news release. She was instructed to remit $15,000 to a Chinese bank as an assurance fee.
An alert member of staff at Zhongguo Remittance, located at Peoples Park Complex, noticed that the victim appeared flustered and could not provide details of the remittance when asked.
The staff member, named Li Fang, then contacted the SPFs Commercial Affairs Department (CAD). Officers from the CAD convinced the victim that this was an impersonation scam and she did not proceed with the remittance.
In the second incident, a 75-year-old woman received a similar phone call from a Chinese police investigator who accused the victim of being a suspect in a fraud case. The investigator told the woman to transfer $40,000 to a Chinese bank account.
When the victim said she did not know how to remit cash overseas, she was told to meet a Chinese woman to help her. The woman brought the victim to Samlit Moneychanger at Peoples Park Complex on 8 September.
Sameer Malik, who was on duty at Samlit observed that the victim was anxious and could not provide details about the remittance. Sameer alerted his supervisor, Novianti, who then called the CAD.
Officers responded and confirmed that the victim was being scammed. A 50-year-old Singaporean woman was arrested in connection with the second case on the same day for attempting to cheat the victim.
The SPF have advised members of the public to adopt precautions when receiving unsolicited calls, especially from unknown persons. Those who have information related to such crimes can call the Police hotline at 1800-255-0000, or dial 999 for urgent Police assistance.
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Turkey on Wednesday was preparing to wind up naval exercises with fellow NATO members being held at a time of a crisis in relations with several alliance states and controversy over Ankara's plan to purchase weapons from Russia. The NATO exercises, focused on submarine rescue operations and called "Dynamic Monarch", were taking place in Turkish waters in the Mediterranean Sea off the resort city of Marmaris and involved 1,000 personnel and nine countries including France, Britain and the United States. The drill, the first in Turkey since 2000, is aimed at demonstrating multinational submarine rescue cooperation and interoperability. But its hosting by Turkey is also a symbol of Ankara's importance within the alliance during a tense period. "I would just recognise that the Turkish navy have consistently continued to be one of the greatest supporters of my command," said the head of the NATO maritime force, Vice Admiral Clive Johnstone. - 'Turkey is essential' - A NATO official, who asked not to be named, added: "Turkey is essential for the security of Europe. It has NATO's second largest army and makes an important contribution to the alliance including our missions in Afghanistan, Kosovo and the Aegean Sea." The manoeuvres got underway earlier this month and the press were permitted to witness the drill on Wednesday, with the operation due to wrap up on Friday. Mainly Muslim Turkey is one of NATO's key members, having joined in 1952. However its relations with several key alliance members, in particular Germany, have been damaged over the merciless crackdown after last year's failed coup. Ankara in turn accuses EU states of failing to round up Kurdish militant and coup plot suspects. Ties with the United States meanwhile have been hurt by Washington's support of a Syrian Kurdish militia Ankara regards as a terror group. The exercises come just a week after Turkey ruffled feathers within NATO by announcing it had signed a deal with Russia to purchase Moscow's sophisticated S-400 air defence systems. NATO officials warned that interoperability of equipment was crucial between alliance members but President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has shrugged off the warnings. Analysts have however warned that despite the signing, thorny issues still need to be resolved before delivery including Turkey's demand for technology transfer and Russia's order backlog for the hardware. Financial details have not been disclosed but according to Russian press reports the deal is worth $2 billion with Turkey seeking a credit from Russia to assist the payment.
Venezuela on Tuesday accused Donald Trump of racism and seeking a new Cold War after the US president told the United Nations he was ready to act to "restore their democracy." "This racist and supremacist theory which he's exposing, this return to the Cold War, for a moment we didn't know if we were listening to president Reagan in 1982 or President Trump in 2017," Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said. "We do not accept threats from President Trump or whoever in the world. We are people of peace -- peaceful people -- and we want relations of mutual respect," Arreaza told reporters at the United Nations. He called Trump's first speech at the United Nations "sad for the world," saying he "talked as a general of the army, to invade other countries." Venezuela has been rocked by months of economic chaos and deadly protests as President Nicolas Maduro consolidates control, including through a new Constituent Assembly that wrests power from the opposition-dominated legislature. In his speech, Trump called the situation in Venezuela "completely unacceptable" and called for help so the country's people can "regain their freedom, recover their country and restore their democracy." "The United States has taken important steps to hold the regime accountable. We are prepared to take further action if the government of Venezuela persists on its path to impose authoritarian rule on the Venezuelan people," Trump said.
At this point, pretty much everybody in Washington has noticed that the new Obamacare repeal bill Senate Republicans have rallied behind, Graham-Cassidy, would transfer large amounts of cash from blue states to red states. Specifically, its funding formula would strip federal money from places that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, like California and New York, and reward those that did not, like Alabama and Texas. Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul, who opposes the bill, has described it as a game of Republicans sticking it to Democrats. (Of course his state, which did expand Medicaid under a Democratic governor, also stands to lose out.)
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In the past couple of days, the bills authors, Sens. Bill Cassidy and Lindsey Graham, have tried to respond to this charge. Their legislation is not a partisan smash and grab, they insist. Nope. Not all. Rather, it merely fixes Obamacares own grossly unfair funding formula. How so? Per the New York Times:
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Right now, 37 percent of the revenue from the Affordable Care Act goes to Americans in four statesCalifornia, New York, Massachusetts and Maryland, Mr. Cassidy said. That is frankly not fair.
As is his wont, Graham delivered a more elaborate version of this spiel during a floor speech Monday.
I like Massachusetts, I like Maryland, I like New York, I like California, but I dont like them that much to give them a bunch of money that the rest of us wont get, he said. Now, if you live in Massachusetts, you dont get twice the Social Security or 50 percent more than if you live in Pennsylvania. Now how can this happen? Obamacare, for whatever reason, favors four blue states against the rest of us.
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Graham treats this as if its some sort of impenetrable mystery, one accessible only to nearsighted budget wonks. But of course, theres a very obvious, good reason why these four states receive a disproportionate share of Obamacares funding today: They expanded Medicaid. Thats pretty much the whole answer. Meanwhile most red-state governors decided to treat health care policy like an Appalachian blood feud and refused the money the Obama administration all but begged them to take. Thus, the high-population California and New York get a very big slice of the ACAs pie. If Florida or Texas had decided to accept the big, gift-wrapped pile of dough Washington was offering, things wouldnt look quite so imbalanced.
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And this stat, insofar as it has any significance, really is just about California and New York. I dont know precisely where Graham and Cassidy got their number, but according to the Congressional Budget Office, the federal government is expected to spend about $117 billion on Obamacares marketplace subsidies and Medicaid expansion this year. As of 2015, the Kaiser Family Foundation says California was receiving $19.6 billion worth of federal funding for its Medicaid expansion population while New York got $7.7 billion. Maryland and Massachusetts both got less than $2 billionless than the amount Ohio received for its Medicaid expansion, or than Florida gained entirely for premium tax credits this year, for that matter.
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Now, it pains me to have to spell this out, but its worth remembering that the federal government offered every single state the same match rate for Medicaid expansion enrollees. All they had to do was sign people up. There was no inequity baked into the formula. So when Cassidy and Graham grouse about how much money California and New York get, they are essentially whining over the fact that Medicaid-expansion states get more Medicaid funding. The only way that might seem unfair is if you happen to live in a state where your stubborn Republican governor turned that money down.
Did you know that employers who dont file the required Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) reporting forms with the IRS may be subject to a $3 million maximum penalty? Thats enough to keep you up at night! And thats just one legal requirement.
Employers today face a wide range of employee recordkeeping requirements, as this infographic from ComplyRight, a company dedicated to freeing small business owners of compliance burdens, makes clear. And those requirements seem to grow every year.
Paperwork and recordkeeping burdens can fall harder on small businesses because smaller entities have less staff to manage HR functions, or may not have dedicated HR resources at all. But the good news is that technology can help you stay on top of regulatory compliance requirements as an employer.
Here are some employee recordkeeping requirements that may surprise (or shock) you:
Job Postings
When employers post advertisements for new job openings, they must retain a record for one year according to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).
Job Applications
Employers covered under the ADEA, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and/or Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (Title VII) must keep all job applications on file for at least one year. The one-year requirement applies to seasonal and temporary workers, too.
Resumes
Solicited resumes must be kept on file for one year, per the ADEA and ADA. However, there is no requirement to retain unsolicited resumes.
Termination Records
The ADA and Title VII requires that all termination records be kept for one year after the employees termination date.
Benefit Plans
The ADEA requires benefit plans to be kept on record for one year following the termination of the plan under the ADEA. In addition, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) requires benefit plan records to be kept on file for six years.
Performance Evaluations
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires performance evaluations to be kept for two years.
Unemployment Tax Records
According to the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA), you should keep unemployment tax records for four years from the tax due date or payment, whichever is later.
I-9 Forms
I-9 forms and additional verification information verifying that employees are permitted to work in the U.S. need to be kept for three years from the date of hire or one year after the date of termination, whichever comes later. The applicable law is the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA).
Employment Contracts
If you have employment contracts with employees, you are required to keep all contracts for three years per the FLSA.
OSHA Forms for Injury and Illness
Employers with 11 or more employees must keep all forms reporting injury or illness for a minimum of five years after the end of the calendar year.
A Dizzying Compliance Landscape
As the above list illustrates, employers are subject to an ever-growing patchwork of employee recordkeeping laws.
Its not just the number of legal requirements that makes compliance challenging. Its the fact that the laws are ever changing and complex.
Laws often are filled with nuance, exceptions and detailed definitions. Recordkeeping requirements can cover some employers based on their size or industry, but not others.
Laws also change frequently, and new laws and regulations are added. If you are caught unaware of a change or a new law, your company could end up paying hefty fines. Remember, lack of knowledge is usually not a defense.
Technology: Essential Foundation for Employer Compliance
Employee recordkeeping is one of those areas today where technology levels the playing field for small businesses.
A good employee recordkeeping app can help you better meet legal requirements that apply to your business thats a given.
But todays best-of-breed recordkeeping software can add so much more value.
The best apps aid productivity by helping small business teams work smarter, not harder. Tip: look for software thats fast to get started, intuitive and easy to use. Look also for features such as automatic prompts and reminders for added efficiency.
A good employee recordkeeping app can save money by managing risk. You gain peace of mind and sleep better knowing your small business has the tools to comply with complex recordkeeping requirements, just like large corporations.
Heres one other huge benefit of technology: electronic records instead of paper. Maintaining hard copies of employee records not only requires a large amount of physical space but also demands extreme organization. The average employee wastes 400 hours each year searching for paper documents.
Electronic documentation is gaining traction over paper, according to ComplyRight. Its no surprise why. When records are stored electronically, information is consolidated in one place and easily searchable. Staff can retrieve employee data in a few clicks.
And as your company grows, and records multiply, electronic recordkeeping systems make it easier to organize and retrieve growing volumes of data. Without the drag of inefficient paper, you can scale your business faster, too.
Where to Find Employee Recordkeeping Help
To see a thorough list of employee recordkeeping requirements and identify the ones that apply to your business, download the free Employee Record Retention Guidelines for Employers and HR Managers from ComplyRight.
And check out the Employee Records App from HRDirect. Its free and quick to get started and it simplifies managing employee records.
External servers are now much more secure than local business ones, according to experts.
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A year ago many Slovak-based companies were still reluctant to give up possession of their data and move them to remote servers. Nowadays most of them take advantage of cloud computing not only for data storage but for various data management applications as well.
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Cloud technologies have become generally accepted and customers can choose from a variety of global and local providers depending on their needs. Cloud computing has come to be the standard even in such a conservative market like Slovakia, according to SAP solution specialist Jozef Suran.
The strategy of moving into the cloud is becoming a more and more common part of the plans of small- and medium-sized companies, Suran told The Slovak Spectator.
The transition to the cloud has accelerated thanks to the pressure of large global providers and gradual rejuvenation in managerial positions, said Viktor Meciar, managing director at the Tulip Solutions cloud outsourcing company.
Worldwide growth
Cloud computing as a set of technologies allowing users to store their files and apps on remote servers has been growing worldwide. While the Gartner advisory company expects an 18 percent yearly worldwide growth in cloud revenue, the International Data Corporation (IDC) is already at 24 percent. For central Europe, cloud expert Miroslav Pikus estimates an even higher rise.
SAP ranks among the increasingly popular cloud solutions talent modules in human resource management and platforms for mobile app content creation. Cloud today provides tools that were, until recently, on-premise for their robustness, complexity and hardware requirements, said Suran.
There are various programmes designed to work with large volumes of data, analytics, process management in companies and so on, Suran said.
Firms are demonstrating demand for both virtual servers as platforms for the traditional enterprise systems operation and ready-to-use software as a service from the cloud, such as emailing clients, according to Slavka Sikurova, business unit manager at the Soitron IT company.
The growth in demand for the technology is increasing the number of its providers. In addition to global players, small local providers differing in the availability of technical support and personal access have emerged on the market, said Peter Luby from the GAMO cloud provider. They provide native customer support and flexible responses to customer requirements.
Slovak firms use cloud too
The latest Microsoft survey among Slovak-based small and medium-sized entrepreneurs (SMEs) showed that 80 percent of them have already used cloud technologies. One of the exemplary companies which once had problems with the transfer of data to the cloud works in the field of computer games, said Macko. This means progress.
Todays SMEs opt for cloud solutions based on their business processes and primary focus, according to Stanislav Marosz from the Softec software company. While companies with their own infrastructure and maintenance, developing new technologies, do not seek cloud services, those without their own infrastructure and technological orientation prefer them.
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Firms formerly chose cloud services due to flexible costs and dynamic resources. Now it is more about cloud-related security and agility, said Pikus.
Moving to the cloud, however, is a major change, and all changes are risky, and indeed there are many things that can go wrong, Pikus told The Slovak Spectator.
Though if someone has already tested the cloud, they often do not return to hosting their own servers, Luby added.
Service, production and retail sectors
In terms of economic sectors seeking the cloud, Pikus sees slightly more customers coming from services, manufacturing, and retail.
They want to get rid of the hassle of managing computer infrastructure and focus on their core business, Pikus said.
In retail, Softec records a growing trend of domestic private cloud servers. While in retail and small family companies free solutions will retain popularity, business-to-business operators give priority to entire paid packages, according to Marosz.
Security is growing
In the past, users reproached the cloud for its security, as they often did not know where their data was stored and providers did not guarantee the cloud content. With the arrival of the EUs General Data Protection Regulation, which harmonises data privacy laws, companies will need to be sure that their data remains in Europe, said Macko.
Nowadays experts consider the cloud much more secure, as a potential leak of data can have fatal consequences for providers. Pikus sees that the IT sector is in a state of crisis, with lots of headlines about malware attacks. However, the almost 10-year history of cloud computing has no such incidents, he said.
Expertise and hard work are the reasons, plus perhaps the fact that a hacked cloud would very likely be completely abandoned by all customers and die the very next day, Pikus said.
Cloud providers reside in the so-called regime spaces that do not allow them to physically reach the servers, as opposed to corporate servers located inside an ordinary company, said Luby. Macko agrees with the very high safety of paid servers, where providers often guarantee data availability at 99.999 percent.
Meciar points to various certificates, for example, from external penetration tests, which companies should consider when looking for a cloud solution. There are certificates for information security and privacy in terms of personal data in the cloud, Luby said.
Lack of innovations
The latest innovations being used in the cloud are artificial intelligence and machine learning. However, they are taking hold particularly in North America. Any machine learning projects in Slovakia need five to seven years to move from simple solutions that, for instance, identify anomalies or patters in big data pools, said Pikus.
For example, virtual assistants like Apple Siri, Google Assistant, Amazon Echo and Microsoft Cortana use these cloud innovations, according to Macko, but for the Slovak language, these are not yet applicable.
Meciar expects that some sectors will significantly change with more greater innovation, and certain jobs are likely to completely vanish. Companies will later use artificial intelligence in routine activities including invoicing, form checking and questionnaire evaluation, but the rise of such innovations will not be so fast.
The rise will take several years due to the often conservative style of management in Slovak companies, Meciar said.
Construction works started later than expected, the completion date in question.
The construction of the Bratislava ring road was symbolically launched in October 2016. (Source: TASR)
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The construction of 60 kilometres of roads around Bratislava carried out via a public-private partnership (PPP) project is late, Transport Minister Arpad Ersek admitted.
Unofficially, the delay of the Bratislava ring road that includes the D4 highway and R7 express dual-carriageway may be as high as eight months, the Sme daily reported.
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The lastest construction permit became valid only on September 15. Moreover, the construction work on sections that had the permit began in August, though originally they were to begin in spring. Ersek now plans meeting with the representatives of the concessionaire company Cintra to discuss the delay.
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The whole construction was obstructed by problems involving the purchase of the plots under the future roads to be part of the project. To speed up the process, parliament adopted changes to land expropriation in a fast-track proceeding in May, enabling the state to start construction work on the plots under the highways and express double-carriageways even before the expropriation proceeding was completed.
The change was slammed by the opposition, which turned to the Constitutional Court, questioning its constitutionality, Sme reported.
The ring road project
The state is building the ring road via a PPP project, meaning that the constructor will build the roads from its own money and the state will then pay for its construction and operation in the next 30 years.
The project will cost altogether 1.8 billion, with an annual instalment amounting to 56 million, Sme reported.
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The agreement with the consortium of constructors led by Spanish company Cintra was signed by previous transport minister Roman Brecely of Siet. Brecely continued in the project started by his predecessor Jan Pociatek of Smer, who launched the competition.
The D4 and R7 roads were expected to be completed in 2020. This deadline is in question now, as the construction work may last more than four years. This means that when they begun in August, the roads would be completed only in 2021, according to Sme.
They praise the activities of students who may change the current state of corruption.
Organisers of the first student protest, Karolina Farska and David Straka. (Source: SME)
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The third anti-corruption march organised by secondary school and university students, scheduled for September 25, was supported by the representatives of teachers and scientists.
We are glad to connect people with various preferences, said Karolina Farska, one of the organisers, as quoted by the SITA newswire. The aim is the same, though: to change the current state of corruption in Slovakia.
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Slovakia is among countries with the lowest financial support for science. This may change by using EU funds, according to Imrich Barak, member of the Science Wants to Live initiative and scientist of the Slovak Academy of Sciences.
But you know what happened: millions of euros were redistributed among companies that dont deal with science and research and have only few employees, Barak said, as quoted by SITA, referring to the recent scandal at the Education Ministry. Scientists who actually do the research didnt have access to the money.
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The march was meanwhile supported by the Initiative of Slovak Teachers (ISU).
We believe that if this government had the will and effort, the systems for redistributing public sources might have been set up to diminish the risk of corruption, cronyism and wastage from the very beginning, said Vladimir Crmoman of ISU, as quoted by SITA.
The only solution to the current state is similar initiatives organised by students, he added.
The march will start on September 25 at 17:00 in Bratislava on Hviezdoslavovo Square. The students will also collect signatures under a petition asking for the dismissal of Interior Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer) and Police Corps President Tibor Gaspar, along with the resignation of Special Prosecutor Dusan Kovacik. They are also calling for the proper investigation of corruption scandals like Gorilla and Basternak.
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The organisers have managed to collect about 70,000 signatures.
At the same time, a meeting will take place in front of the Slovak Embassy in Prague.
But the defence minister denies any crisis.
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It seems that the coalition may soon deal with another conflict among its members. Defence Minister Peter Gajdos, nominee of the Slovak National Party (SNS), has decided to postpone the exchange of old Russian MiG-29 fighter planes, criticised by his deputy, Robert Ondrejcsak of Most-Hid.
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Gajdos also surprised his predecessor Martin Glvac of Smer with this decision, who admits that the government may not support the step. The request for a European solution has been recently mentioned by PM Robert Fico (Smer) as well, the Sme daily reported.
Originally, Gajdos was expected to submit a plan for exchanging the Russian fighters by the end of September. He then decided to ask the government to postpone it until mid-2018.
Instead, the defence minister wants to purchase the armoured vehicles for 1.2 billion.
No new Russian MiGs
Ondrejcsak considers Glvacs decision to go against Slovakias interests, explaining that the exchange of MiG planes is in a strategic interest of Slovakia. The first informal talks with the global fighter plane producers started five years ago.
Postponing the decision to replace MiGs means the prolongation of our dependency on Russia, which is at odds with Slovakias European and pro-Atlantic orientation, Ondrejcsak wrote on his Facebook profile. I cant identify with it, neither as an expert nor public person.
Gajdos meanwhile stressed that there is no new coalition crisis. Though he feels bad about Ondrejcsaks statements, he said they have already talked about it. Everybody wants the same: to secure the defence of the country and safety of its citizens, he added, as reported by the SITA newswire.
The minister added that they are searching for pro-European and pro-Atlantic solutions.
Nobody wants to purchase MiGs, Gajdos told the press, as quoted by SITA, while admitting that he also received an offer from Russia.
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Slovakia has negotiated with the US and several European countries, including Sweden.
The prolongation of the current agreement on Russian MiG planes is only a plan B. The priority is to purchase new fighters, with the only obstacle being finances, the minister added.
He also said the ministry will continue the modernisation of the military.
The still steeper fall in unemployment could be curbed by the type of jobseekers, analysts opine.
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The unemployment rate in Slovakia stood at 6.54 percent in August, which is a decline of 0.16 percentage points (p.p.) month-on-month and of 2.89 p.p. year-on-year.
The number of jobseekers immediately able to take up a job was 178,253 in August, a decrease of 4,501 individuals m-o-m and of 78,018 y-o-y, the Labour, Social Affairs and Family Centre (UPSVaR) general director Marian Valentovic and Labour Minister Jan Richter said on September 20.
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The unemployment rate calculated from the total number of jobseekers amounted to 7.70 percent in August, down by 0.21 p.p. m-o-m and by 3.15 p.p. y-o-y, he added.
The total number of jobseekers declined to 209,918 in August, falling by 5,577 individuals m-o-m and by 84,803 y-o-y, the UPSVaR head informed, as quoted by the TASR newswire.
Regional disparities
All eight regions in Slovakia recorded cuts in the unemployment rate in August, with the Presov Region seeing the most significant drop. As for districts, the unemployment rate was down in 72 districts in Slovakia in August, while increases were recorded in six districts. Labour offices reported 69,104 job vacancies in late August, down by 8,045 vacancies m-o-m. The highest number of jobs were available in the Bratislava Region, while the lowest were in the Kosice Region.
Slovakia continues to enjoy a positive trend with falling unemployment. In terms of y-o-y decreases, Eurostat has assessed Slovakia as one of the most successful countries in the eurozone, Richter noted. We also managed to reduce the unemployment rate among young people aged under 25 in August, as we recorded a y-o-y drop of 5.5 percent in this group. The labour minister added that the number of employed people has also increased, to a record number since the country became independent in the 1990s. Never in the history of Slovakia have so many people been employed in the country. As many as 1.92 million people were employed in August almost 80,000 more than in 2008, the minister stressed, adding that this positive figure is not only the result of good developments in the economy but is also thanks to the results of policies and projects introduced by individual labour offices.
Analysts are more critical and realistic
However, analysts, as cited by TASR, are of the opinion that a more pronounced drop in the unemployment rate is being counteracted by an unsuitable composition of the unemployed population, as businesses struggle to find suitable candidates to fill vacancies. The unemployed often lack the qualifications, working habits or, most critically, even the desire to get a job.
While economic axioms tend to state that the natural unemployment rate is around 4 percent, things are different in Slovakia, McRoy Group management board chairman Lubos Sirota told TASR. The labour market stops functioning well when the unemployment rate is just above the 6-percent mark. This is because of the poor structure of the unemployed population, most of which are difficult to employ.
There is little in the way of potential for further falls, however, he noted. Given the difficulties that firms have in filling vacancies, the number of job openings has been rising considerably. Their official tally is over 69,000, but Sirota pointed out that the actual number topped the 100,000 mark a long time ago. Not all companies by far report vacancies to job centres, he said.
UniCredit Bank Czech Republic and Slovakia analyst Lubomir Korsnak echoed Sirotas view on the unfavourable structure of the unemployed population and stated that this is what counteracts a higher outflow of jobless people from job centres.
Outlook
Recently, it appears that more than in the poor qualifications of the jobless the trouble may reside in the uneven distribution of unemployment across the regions coupled with rather low workforce mobility, he said, as quoted by TASR. The UniCredit analyst added that the available vacancies do not match the labour force registered with job centres. The openings are concentrated primarily in the western part of the country, where theres already a shortage of people to fill them, said Korsnak. He also added, though, that seasonal lapses caused by the holiday period have had an impact this year, too.
Having said that, the growing economy should retain its ability to create jobs in the months ahead, and thereby push the unemployment rate downwards to new historical lows. The current economic growth is relatively demanding for labour, when unlike in the past, it is not driven by massive investments into economic modernisation which increased labour productivity, and thus lessened the demands for new labour.
The Lest training centre sees a special exercise for the members of anti-terrorist units from eight European countries.
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More than 20 elite units registered for the exercise taking place on September 20 and trained in standard operational procedures aimed at dealing with high-profile incidents taking place in buildings with the use of special technology. The exercise took place at the military exercises facility in Lest (Banska Bystrica Region).
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Head of the Slovak Lynx Commando Stefan Hamran told the TASR newswire that Slovakia is currently heading the Building working group, which deals with attacks located in built-up areas. Were responsible not only for updating but also developing new operating procedures to deal with high-profile incidents in built-up areas, he said.
Of the 20 elite units that registered for the training, only eight participated. These were members of elite units from Austria, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland and Sweden. The remaining units should take part in such an exercise over the next few years.
The initial reports from our foreign partners are that they are truly excited, Hamran told TASR. We havent experienced this before, either organising an exercise of such range and structure. Its the first time in history.
The results of the September 20 training exercise will be used and incorporated into procedures that will be employed by special units from across Europe to deal with high-profile incidents in towns and cities. The outcome of the exercise will be presented at a commanders conference in the Estonian capital Tallinn in October.
Budget talks to decide on concrete policies. Danko wants airplanes, Fico wants better pay for nights and weekends.
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Will a revived national air carrier or bonus salaries resolve the differences among the leaders of the ruling coalition?
The coalition agreement addendum Robert Fico, Andrej Danko and Bela Bugar signed on September 11 does not answer that question. It only says that the leaders will regularly meet on Mondays, disclose their proposals to each other no later than 24 hours before the cabinet session, and put together regional and district coalition councils to facilitate better communication among Smer, the Slovak National Party (SNS) and Most-Hid.
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These measures should put a definitive end to what Smer leader PM Fico insisted on calling a communication crisis rather than a coalition crisis.
It was not a quarrel for positions, but a quarrel about communication methods, SNS leader Danko also said, as quoted by the Sme daily.
After the new deal was signed, SNS introduced the new education minister, the recognised academician Martina Lubyova, to replace Peter Plavcan. The latter was forced to quit over a scandal related to the distribution of almost 600 million EU funds for research and science. Observers believe that the scandal was one of the issues that had caused tensions between SNS and Smer, one reason why SNS had considered voting out the Smer-nominated labour minister together with the opposition.
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Airplanes and bonuses
It was SNS leader Andrej Danko who started the crisis when he sent a letter to his coalition partners, withdrawing from their official agreement with the argument that they needed a new one.
But while he insisted that the new document should reflect the good numbers of the Slovak economy, there are no concrete economy-related policies outlined in the amended agreement which the leaders signed. Prime Minister Robert Fico said the proposals that have emerged in media reports over the past few weeks will depend on how the upcoming very demanding talks on the state budget go.
The SNS proposals include the revival of the state-owned air carrier that would provide regular flights between Bratislava, Poprad, and Kosice; support for spas; and new rules for 13th and 14th salaries (no taxes and payroll taxes). The Smer-proposed measures include supplementary payments for work during nights and weekends, or an increase of the minimum wage.
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While plans to introduce a national air company might not be a key concern of SNS voters, political analyst Pavol Babos from the Comenius University school of political sciences believes the measures are an important signal that the party cares about the prosperity of working people, national interests, and local or national businesses.
Who won?
Coalition leaders keep repeating that they are ready to stick together because there is no alternative to the ruling coalition. Their narrative of the crisis is that it was a lesson in communication.
It is a compromise that will allow the coalition to continue working, Babos told The Slovak Spectator. The important thing now is how the parties manage to explain to their voters what the conflict was about and why it needed to drag on for so long.
Both Smer and SNS are trying to present the result of the conflict as their victory. The analyst noted that Danko highlights the programme prioritieshe is pushing, while Fico says he managed to stabilise the coalition.
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Will they last though?
During the weeks the crisis lasted, Danko and his SNS threatened to bring the government down on several occasions. First it was the moment when Fico announced to the public that he wanted Plavcan to quit, without consulting Danko first. Most recently, SNS contemplated supporting an opposition motion to remove Labour Minister Jan Richter of Smer from his post. Voting with the opposition against a governmental minister would automatically mean the end of the government, according to the coalition agreement.
In the end the SNS MPs did not attend the vote, Richter staying put in his post and the coalition deal signed.
Observers now believe the coalition could stick together until the end of the election term in the spring of 2020. While the crisis most likely resulted in less trust in Andrej Danko in the eyes of his coalition partners, it might not necessarily mean a crisis like this would happen again, Babos noted.
Politics is not a place for new friendships, and the coalition is not a club of friends, Babos said, adding that now that Bugar and Fico know Danko might be willing to risk the future of the coalition, they might take his proposals more seriously.
Danko himself believes a change of attitude should come from Fico too.
So far he has ruled alone. Now he has to see us as an equal partner, Danko said before he signed the new deal.
Refugees are using new smuggling routes, according to the Austrian minister.
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To fight the increasing number of smugglers trying to lead migrants across the borders on their way to northern Europe is the main objective of the police and army members from Austria and Slovakia who started random controls close to their mutual borders.
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Soldiers havent helped with the classic police actions in Austria before, Austrian Defence Minister Hans Peter Doskozil said in an interview with the local daily Die Welt, as quoted by the TASR newswire. But it is necessary.
New smuggling routes have been created in the Balkans recently as Hungary and Macedonia have significantly strengthened the protection of the EUs outer borders, he added.
We have noticed that many refugees, who currently arrive from Greece and Serbia, are trying to get to the north using a route leading through Slovakia, Doskozil said, as quoted by TASR, adding they usually pass through Romania or Bulgaria.
Despite stricter border controls, the so-called Balkan route has not been completely closed. Nearly 20,000 new refugees have arrived in Austria this year, 12,000 of whom have asked for asylum. Vienna predicts that about 8,000 asylum seekers have arrived in the country via the Balkans.
Frontex, which helps EU and Schengen associated countries manage their external borders, cannot sufficiently protect the outer borders, according to Doskozil. Austria has thus prepared an action plan for central European countries in case they face new refugee waves. It counts on the participation of police, army and civilians. One of the training exercises was already carried out in mid-September, the defence minister said, as reported by TASR.
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Operations Inc., NRG Astoria Power LLC, NRG Audrain Generating LLC, NRG Audrain Holding LLC, NRG Bayou Cove LLC, NRG Berrians East Development LLC, NRG Bluewater Holdings LLC, NRG Bluewater Wind Massachusetts LLC, NRG Bourbonnais Equipment LLC, NRG Bourbonnais LLC, NRG Brazoria Energy LLC, NRG Business Services LLC, NRG CTA Holdings LLC, NRG Cabrillo Power Operations Inc., NRG Cadillac Inc., NRG Cadillac Operations Inc., NRG California Peaker Operations LLC, NRG Capital II LLC, NRG Carbon 360 LLC, NRG Cedar Bayou Development Company LLC, NRG Chalk Point CT LLC, NRG CleanTech Investments LLC, NRG Coal Development Company LLC, NRG ComLease LLC, NRG Common Stock Finance I LLC, NRG Common Stock Finance II LLC, NRG Connected Home LLC, NRG Connecticut Affiliate Services Inc., NRG Connecticut Peaking Development LLC, NRG Construction LLC, NRG Cottonwood Tenant LLC, NRG Curtailment Solutions Canada Inc., NRG Curtailment Solutions Inc., NRG DG Development LLC, NRG Development Company Inc., NRG Devon Operations Inc., NRG Dispatch Services LLC, NRG Distributed Energy Resources Holdings LLC, NRG Distributed Generation PR LLC, NRG Dunkirk Operations Inc., NRG ECOKAP Holdings LLC, NRG ESA Joint Development LLC, NRG El Segundo Operations Inc., NRG Energy Center Eagles LLC, NRG Energy Center Oxnard LLC, NRG Energy Fuel LLC, NRG Energy Fuel Services LLC, NRG Energy Gas & Wind Holdings Inc., NRG Energy Holdings II Inc., NRG Energy Holdings Inc., NRG Energy Inc., NRG Energy Labor Services LLC, NRG Energy Petroleum LLC, NRG Energy Services Group LLC, NRG Energy Services International Inc., NRG Energy Services LLC, NRG Equipment Company LLC, NRG Fuel Cell CA1 LLC, NRG Fuel Resources LLC, NRG Fuel Transportation LLC, NRG GTL Holdings LLC, NRG Gas Development Company LLC, NRG Generation Holdings Inc., NRG Gladstone Operating Services Pty Ltd, NRG Granite Acquisition LLC, NRG Greenco LLC, NRG HQ DG LLC, NRG Holding Leasing Vehicle 7 LLC, NRG Home & Business Solutions LLC, NRG Home Services LLC, NRG Home Solutions LLC, NRG Home Solutions Product LLC, NRG Homer City Services LLC, NRG Huntley Operations Inc., NRG Identity Protect LLC, NRG Ilion LP LLC, NRG Ilion Limited Partnership, NRG Independence Solar LLC, NRG International LLC, NRG Kaufman LLC, NRG Latin America Inc., NRG Lease Co LLC, NRG Lease Development LLC, NRG Limestone 3 LLC, NRG Maintenance Services LLC, NRG Mesquite LLC, NRG Mextrans Inc., NRG MidAtlantic Affiliate Services Inc., NRG MidCon Development LLC, NRG Middletown Operations Inc., NRG Middletown Repowering LLC, NRG Midwest Holdings LLC, NRG Midwest II LLC, NRG Montville Operations Inc., NRG NE Development LLC, NRG Nelson Turbines LLC, NRG New Roads Holdings LLC, NRG NewGen LLC, NRG North Central Operations Inc., NRG Northeast Affiliate Services Inc., NRG Norwalk Harbor Operations Inc., NRG Ohio Pipeline Company LLC, NRG Operating Services Inc., NRG Oswego Harbor Power Operations Inc., NRG Oxbow Holdings LLC, NRG PacGen Inc., NRG Peaker Finance Company LLC, NRG Portable Power LLC, NRG Potrero Development LLC, NRG Power Marketing LLC, NRG Procurement Company LLC, NRG Project Company LLC, NRG Reliability Solutions LLC, NRG Renter's Protection LLC, NRG Repowering Holdings LLC, NRG Residential Solar Solutions LLC, NRG Residential Solar Solutions Leasing II LLC, NRG Retail LLC, NRG Retail Northeast LLC, NRG Rockford Acquisition LLC, NRG Rockford Equipment II LLC, NRG Rockford Equipment LLC, NRG Saguaro Operations Inc., NRG Security LLC, NRG Services Corporation, NRG Sherbino LLC, NRG SimplySmart Solutions LLC, NRG Solar Arrowhead LLC, NRG Solar CVSR Holdings 2 LLC, NRG Solar Dandan LLC, NRG Solar Guam LLC, NRG Solar Ivanpah LLC, NRG Solar Ring LLC, NRG Solar SC Stadium LLC, NRG Solar Sunrise LLC, NRG South Central Affiliate Services Inc., NRG South Central Generating LLC, NRG South Central Operations Inc., NRG South Texas LP, NRG Sterlington Power LLC, NRG Storage Fabrication & Delivery LLC, NRG Storage on Demand NY LLC, NRG SunCap Leasing I LLC, NRG Telogia Power LLC, NRG Texas C&I Supply LLC, NRG Texas Gregory LLC, NRG Texas Holding Inc., NRG Texas LLC, NRG Texas Power LLC, NRG Texas Retail LLC, NRG Trading Advisors LLC, NRG Transmission Holdings LLC, NRG ULC Parent Inc., NRG Victoria I Pty Ltd, NRG Warranty Services LLC, NRG West Coast LLC, NRG Western Affiliate Services Inc., NRG Wind Development Company LLC, NRG Wind Force LLC, NRG Wind LLC, NRG dGen Advisory Services LLC, NRGenerating German Holdings GmbH, NRGenerating International B.V., NRGenerating Luxembourg (No. 1) S.a.r.l., NRGenerating Luxembourg (No. 2) S.a.r.l., New Genco GP LLC, New Jersey Power Development LLC, Norwalk Power LLC, O'Brien Cogeneration Inc. II, ONSITE Energy Inc., One Block Off The Grid Inc., Oswego Harbor Power LLC, Pacific Generation Company, Petra Nova CCS I LLC, Petra Nova Holdings LLC, Petra Nova LLC, Petra Nova Parish Holdings LLC, Petra Nova Power I LLC, Pure Energies Group, Pure Energies Group ULC, Pure Energies Installation Inc., Pure Energies Solar Services Inc., Pure Group Inc., RDI Consulting LLC, RERH Holdings LLC, Reliant Charitable Foundation, Reliant Energy, Reliant Energy Northeast LLC, Reliant Energy Power Supply LLC, Reliant Energy Retail Holdings LLC, Reliant Energy Retail Services LLC, Restoration Design LLC, Roof Diagnostics Solar Holdings LLC, Roof Diagnostics Solar and Electric LLC, Roof Diagnostics Solar and Electric of NY LLC, Saguaro Power Company a Limited Partnership, Saguaro Power LLC, San Gabriel Energy LLC, San Joaquin Energy LLC, San Juan Energy LLC, San Pascual Cogeneration Company International B.V., Sherbino I Wind Farm LLC, Solar Partners I LLC, Solar Partners II LLC, Solar Partners VIII LLC, Solar Power Partners, Solar Pure Energies ULC, Somerset Operations Inc., Somerset Power LLC, South Texas Wind LLC, Station A LLC, Sunrise Power Company LLC, Sunshine State Power (No. 2) B.V., Sunshine State Power B.V., TCV Pipeline LLC, Tacoma Energy Recovery Company, Taloga Wind II LLC, Texas Coastal Ventures LLC, Texas Genco GP LLC, Texas Genco Holdings, Texas Genco Holdings Inc., Texas Genco LP LLC, Texas Genco Services LP, US Retailers LLC, Valle Del Sol Energy LLC, Vienna Operations Inc., Vienna Power LLC, WCP (Generation) Holdings LLC, Watson Cogeneration Company, West Coast Power LLC, XOOM Alberta Holdings LLC, XOOM British Columbia Holdings LLC, XOOM Energy BC ULC, XOOM Energy California LLC, XOOM Energy Canada ULC, XOOM Energy Connecticut LLC, XOOM Energy Delaware LLC, XOOM Energy Georgia LLC, XOOM Energy Global Holdings LLC, XOOM Energy Illinois LLC, XOOM Energy Indiana LLC, XOOM Energy Kentucky LLC, XOOM Energy LLC, XOOM Energy Maine LLC, XOOM Energy Maryland LLC, XOOM Energy Massachusetts LLC, XOOM Energy Michigan LLC, XOOM Energy New Hampshire LLC, XOOM Energy New Jersey LLC, XOOM Energy New York LLC, XOOM Energy ONT ULC, XOOM Energy Ohio LLC, XOOM Energy Pennsylvania LLC, XOOM Energy Rhode Island LLC, XOOM Energy Texas LLC, XOOM Energy Virginia LLC, XOOM Energy Washington D.C. LLC, XOOM Ontario Holdings LLC, XOOM Solar LLC, and eV2g LLC.
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The following companies are subsidiares of Nokia Oyj: AO Nokia Solutions and Networks, ATG Germany GmbH, Aircom International, Alcatel - Lucent, Alcatel Centroamerica S.A., Alcatel IP Networks Limited, Alcatel Lucent, Alcatel Lucent Middle East North Africa DMCC, Alcatel Lucent Teletas Telekomunikasyon A.S., Alcatel SEL Unterstutzungs GmbH, Alcatel Submarine Networks, Alcatel Submarine Networks Brazil Ltda., Alcatel Submarine Networks Denmark ApS, Alcatel Submarine Networks Hong Kong Limited, Alcatel Submarine Networks Marine, Alcatel Submarine Networks Norway AS, Alcatel Submarine Networks UK Ltd, Alcatel Submarine Networks USA Inc., Alcatel de Venezuela C.A., Alcatel-Lucent Angola Limitada, Alcatel-Lucent Benin SA, Alcatel-Lucent Centro Caribbean Holding Limited, Alcatel-Lucent East Africa Limited, Alcatel-Lucent India Limited, Alcatel-Lucent International, Alcatel-Lucent International Holdings Inc., Alcatel-Lucent Managed Solutions India Private Limited, Alcatel-Lucent Nigeria Limited, Alcatel-Lucent Pakistan Limited, Alcatel-Lucent Participations, Alcatel-Lucent Participations Chine, Alcatel-Lucent Portugal S.A., Alcatel-Lucent RT International B.V., Alcatel-Lucent Saudi Arabia Co. Ltd., Alcatel-Lucent Services International B.V., Alcatel-Lucent Shanghai Bell Information Products Co. Ltd., Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks (Cabo Verde) Lda, Alcatel-Lucent Trade International AG, Alcatel-Lucent UK Limited, Alcatel-Lucent Ukraine SC, Alcatel-Lucent Vietnam Limited, Amber Networks Inc., Antelec, Apertio Ltd., Avvenu, Bell Laboratories Inc., C-Dot Alcatel-Lucent Research Centre Private Limited, Camilec, Comptel, Comptel Communications EOOD, Comptel Communications Holdings Limited, Comptel Communications India Private Limited, Comptel Communications Limited, Comptel Communications Oy, Comptel Communications Sdn Bhd, Comptel Oy, Comptel Palvelut Philippines Inc., DeepField, Diamond Lane Communications, Digiskin UK, DiscoveryCom Inc., Dopplr, ETA Devices Inc., Eizel Technologies, Elenion Technologies, Elenion Technologies LLC, Enpocket, Epistrophe Limited, Europe*Star Limited, Evolium, F5 Networks Inc., Hunan Huanuo Technology Co. Ltd., IRIS Service Delivery UK Ltd, IRIS Telecommunication Austria GmbH, IRIS Telecommunication France, IRIS Telecommunication GmbH, IRIS Telecommunication Poland sp. z o.o., IRIS Telekomunikasyon Muhendislik Hizmetleri A.S., InTalk Corporation, Intellisync Corporation, Intellisync LLC, Ipsilon Networks Inc., LCC International's U.S., LLC "Nokia Solutions and Networks Ukraine", Loudeye Corp., Lucent Technologies GRL LLC, Lucent Technologies Investment Co. Ltd., Lucent Technologies Nanjing Telecommunications Co. Ltd., Lucent Technologies Networks (Thailand) Limited, Lucent Technologies Nicaragua S.A., Lucent Technologies Philippines Inc., Lucent Technologies Qingdao Telecommunications Enterprises Co. Ltd., Lucent Technologies Qingdao Telecommunications Systems Ltd., MRAC Inc., Matra Nortel Communications, Mesaplexx Limited, MetaCarta Inc., Metrowerks Corporation, Mformation Software Technologies India Pvt Ltd, Motally, NE-Products Oy, NGI Industrial (NGI), Nakina Systems, Nassau Metals Corporation, Navteq, Network Alchemy Inc., Nokatus Insurance Company Designated Activity Company (DAC), Nokia (Shanghai) Enterprise Management Co. Ltd., Nokia (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Nokia Apps Distribution LLC, Nokia Arabia Limited 100.0, Nokia Asset Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Nokia Bell NV, Nokia Canada Inc., Nokia Costa Rica S.A., Nokia Denmark A/S, Nokia Display Technics GmbH i.L., Nokia Dominican Republic S.A.S., Nokia Egypt S.A.E., Nokia El Salvador S.A. de C.V., Nokia Electronics Bochum GmbH i.L., Nokia Federal Solutions LLC, Nokia Hong Kong Limited, Nokia India Private Limited, Nokia Innovations Japan G.K., Nokia Innovations Oy, Nokia Innovations US LLC, Nokia Investment Management Corporation, Nokia Investments Oy, Nokia Ireland Limited, Nokia Jamaica Limited, Nokia Kunststofftechnik GmbH i.L., Nokia Networks (Chengdu) Co. Ltd., Nokia Networks S.R.L., Nokia New Zealand Limited, Nokia Operations de Guatemala S.A., Nokia Operations de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Nokia Paraguay S.A., Nokia Puerto Rico Inc., Nokia Services Pty Limited, Nokia Services and Networks Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Nokia Shanghai Bell (Hong Kong) Limited, Nokia Shanghai Bell Co. Ltd., Nokia Shanghai Bell Lao Sole Co. Ltd., Nokia Shanghai Bell Philippines Inc., Nokia Shanghai Bell Software Co. Ltd., Nokia Siemens Networks Afghanistan LLC, Nokia Siemens Networks Algerie SARL, Nokia Slovakia A.S., Nokia Solutions Networks Iletisim A.S., Nokia Solutions and Networks (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks (Suzhou) Supply Chain Service Co. Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks AB, Nokia Solutions and Networks Argentina S.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks Asset Management Oy, Nokia Solutions and Networks Australia Pty Ltd, Nokia Solutions and Networks B.V., Nokia Solutions and Networks Baku LLC, Nokia Solutions and Networks Bangladesh Limited, Nokia Solutions and Networks Bolivia S.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks Branch Operations Oy, Nokia Solutions and Networks CCC, Nokia Solutions and Networks CJSC, Nokia Solutions and Networks Chile Ltda., Nokia Solutions and Networks Colombia Ltda., Nokia Solutions and Networks Czech Republic s.r.o., Nokia Solutions and Networks EOOD, Nokia Solutions and Networks Ecuador S.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks Ethernet Services Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks GmbH & Co. KG, Nokia Solutions and Networks Hellas Single Member S.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks Holding Osterreich GmbH, Nokia Solutions and Networks Honduras S.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks India Private Limited, Nokia Solutions and Networks International Holding GmbH, Nokia Solutions and Networks Investment (China) Co. Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks Israel Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks Italia S.p.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks Japan G.K., Nokia Solutions and Networks Kazakhstan LLP, Nokia Solutions and Networks Kft., Nokia Solutions and Networks Korea Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks Kuwait Company W.L.L, Nokia Solutions and Networks LLC, Nokia Solutions and Networks Lanka (Private) Limited, Nokia Solutions and Networks MEA FZ-LLC, Nokia Solutions and Networks Management GmbH, Nokia Solutions and Networks Morocco SARL, Nokia Solutions and Networks Myanmar Limited, Nokia Solutions and Networks Nederland B.V., Nokia Solutions and Networks Nicaragua S.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks Nigeria Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks Norge AS, Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy, Nokia Solutions and Networks OU, Nokia Solutions and Networks Pakistan (Private) Limited, Nokia Solutions and Networks Peru S.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks Philippines Inc., Nokia Solutions and Networks Portugal S.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks S.R.L., Nokia Solutions and Networks S.p.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks SIA, Nokia Solutions and Networks Schweiz AG, Nokia Solutions and Networks Serbia d.o.o. Beograd, Nokia Solutions and Networks Singapore Pte. Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks South Africa Pty. Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks Sp. z.o.o, Nokia Solutions and Networks System Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks Taiwan Co. Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks Tanzania Limited, Nokia Solutions and Networks Tashkent LLC, Nokia Solutions and Networks Technical Services Vietnam Company Limited, Nokia Solutions and Networks TraffiCOM Kft., Nokia Solutions and Networks Tunisia SA, Nokia Solutions and Networks UK Limited, Nokia Solutions and Networks Venezuela C.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks d.o.o., Nokia Solutions and Networks d.o.o. Banja Luka, Nokia Solutions and Networks d.o.o. Sarajevo, Nokia Solutions and Networks do Brasil Telecomunicacoes Ltda., Nokia Solutions and Networks telekomunikacijske resitve d.o.o., Nokia Solutions and Networks Osterreich GmbH, Nokia South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Nokia Spain S.A., Nokia Technologies (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Nokia Technologies (UK) Limited, Nokia Technologies Oy, Nokia Technology Center Philippines Inc., Nokia Technology GmbH, Nokia Teknologia Oy, Nokia Training Center Russian Federation, Nokia Transformation Engineering & Consulting Services Spain S.L.U., Nokia UK Limited, Nokia US Holdings Inc., Nokia Unterstutzungsgesellschaft GmbH, Nokia Uruguay S.A., Nokia West and Central Africa SA, Nokia of America Corporation, Novarra Inc., OOO Nokia Solutions and Networks, OOO RTK Network Technologies, OZ Communications, OZ Communications HK Limited, P.T. Lucent Technologies Network Systems Indonesia, PT Nokia Solutions and Networks Indonesia, Pishahang Communications Networks Development Company (Private Joint Stock), Plazes, Plum, R.F.S. (UK) Limited, RFS Brasil Telecomunicacoes Ltda, RFS Holding GmbH, RFS India Telecom Private Limited, RFS Italia SRL, RFS Radio Frequency Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., RFS Radio Frequency Systems (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Radio Frequency Systems (Africa) Pty Ltd, Radio Frequency Systems (S) Pte Ltd, Radio Frequency Systems France, Radio Frequency Systems GmbH, Radio Frequency Systems Inc., Radio Frequency Systems Pty Limited, Radio Frequency Systems de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Ramp Networks Inc., Redback Networks Inc., Rooftop Communications Corporation, SAC AE Design Group Inc., SAC Wireless, SAC Wireless LLC, SAC Wireless of CA Inc., SRA Computer C.V., STC, Sega.com Inc., Smarterphone, Societe de Telecommunication Camerounaise Sotelcam, Space Time Insight, Symbian Limited, Symbian Ltd, Tahoe Networks, Taiwan International Standard Electronics Limited, Technophone Ltd, Telekol Group, Trolltech (Qt Development Frameworks), Twango, UAB Nokia Solutions and Networks, Unium, User Interface Design, Vertu Holdings Oy, Vienna Systems Corporation, Western Electric Company Incorporated, Western Electric International Incorporated, Withings, Zyzyx Inc., bit-side GmbH, cellity AG, earthmine, and gate5 AG.
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By Scott DiSavino (Reuters) - The U.S. nuclear power industry is facing an uphill battle to hang onto its share of the country's electricity production, with some projecting a worst-case scenario where half of the nation's 99 nuclear reactors could shut over the next couple of decades. Nuclear power looked to be on the verge of a renaissance about a decade ago. But a surge in domestic natural gas production, billions of dollars in cost overruns on new projects, Japan's Fukushima accident in 2011, and multiple plant closures have the industry on its heels again. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) expects nuclear's percentage of the power mix to drop to 11 percent by 2050 from the current 20 percent, and many reactors to close. A DOE study in August pointed to increased natural gas production as the biggest factor hampering competitiveness in nuclear power. "Up to half of the currently operational nuclear capacity could be at risk of early retirement in the next decade or two due to low power prices and rising costs," said Dana Lazarus, senior analyst in North American power at PIRA Energy Group, a unit of S&P Global Platts. Nuclear providers believe they should be paid more for electricity they sell because the power is cleaner than natural gas and coal and more reliable than wind and solar. But gas and renewable producers oppose higher payments for nuclear, which they see as an expensive subsidy to an uncompetitive industry. "We're not seeking a (government) subsidy," said Joseph Dominguez, head of governmental and regulatory affairs and public policy at top nuclear power producer Exelon . "We're selling a premium product." The greatest threat is in deregulated states like New York, Illinois and Pennsylvania, where providers, known as merchant reactors, compete against gas and renewable power generators. In regulated states, operators recoup expenses through costs passed on to ratepayers. In the past five years, operators have shut six reactors amid stagnant electricity demand and low natural gas and power prices, and plan to shut another six reactors in deregulated states over the next five years, in part because they cannot compete with gas-fired plants. Most states in the U.S. Northeast and Midwest are deregulated. Merchant plants receive the same money for energy they sell as gas-fired and renewable plants, which are less expensive to operate. "There is a lot the federal government could do to assist troubled merchant nuclear reactors ... the question is whether they will do enough, soon enough to make a difference," said Paul Patterson, energy analyst at Glenrock Associates in New York. The Trump administration is keen to maintain leadership in the industry, which supports an estimated 475,000 direct and indirect jobs, according to the DOE. The August study called for incentives to boost so-called baseload plants, like nuclear and coal, which run continuously to meet minimum power needs as opposed to wind and solar power. The industry appeared on the cusp of a rebound about a decade ago, when new plants were commissioned, including projects in South Carolina and Georgia. They were the first U.S. nuclear construction projects to commence since the Three Mile Island accident in 1979. But cost overruns and delays led the owners of South Carolina's V.C. Summer project to abandon construction in July. Now Southern Co's plant in Vogtle, Georgia is the only nuclear plant currently under construction in the United States. KEY TO EMISSIONS REDUCTION For many states, keeping nuclear plants running is key to long-term efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. New York and Illinois in 2016 established financial credits for nuclear reactors for emissions-free power. The programs, known as zero emissions credits, encourage operators to invest by forcing utilities to buy credits from some nuclear operators. This may stabilise operations in those states for some time, but PIRA's Lazarus said the solution is a short-term one, and if the rules are not extended, "the plants could be at risk of closure again." Exelon had threatened to shut some reactors in both states before the credits were introduced. The firm says it plans to shut its money-losing unit at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania in 2019 unless it gets help from that state. Nuclear operators in other deregulated states are lobbying for credits similar to New York and Illinois. Legislation has been considered in Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Ohio, but no bills have been passed. Power generators such as NRG Energy Inc , Dynegy Inc and Calpine Corp , who run mostly gas-fired power plant fleets, are suing to overturn the New York and Illinois rules and lobbying to prevent more states from establishing similar programs. Exelon is the only company with reactors that qualified for zero emission credits in New York and Illinois. Rather than having states put money in the "hands of a single company," NRG VP and Deputy General Counsel Abraham Silverman said the right solution is for broader reform of markets involving compensation to certain power generators that provide reliability to the electrical grid. The New York Public Service Commission estimated its nuclear credit programme would cost about $2.8 billion over 12 years. But opponents say it will be more expensive. New Yorkers for Fair Energy, a consumer group, called it a "backroom deal," saying it will cost ratepayers $7.6 billion over 12 years. (Editing by Simon Webb, Brian Thevenot and Chris Reese)
By Jeff Mason and Yara Bayoumy NEW YORK (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed optimism on Wednesday about reaching a peace agreement with Israel this year and said U.S. President Donald Trump's commitment to the issue would help create the "deal of the century" in the region. Abbas met Trump on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly gathering of world leaders in New York and thanked him for his support. "If this is any proof to anything ... it attests to the seriousness of your Excellency, Mr. President, to achieve the deal of the century in the Middle East during this year or in the coming months, God willing," Abbas said through an interpreter. Trump said his team of advisers was working very hard on the issue, as were Israel, Saudi Arabia and other nations. "I think we have a very, very good chance, and I certainly will devote everything within my heart and within my soul to get that deal made," Trump said. "We're at a very important juncture, there's a small period of time, and we're going to see what we can do. There can be no promises, obviously," he said. Abbas noted that the Palestinians had met with Trump's team more than 20 times since the U.S. president entered office in January, and he said the fact that Jews and Muslims were celebrating a new year was a positive sign. "This is a very sweet coincidence that we can celebrate the new year together within a 24-hour period, and if this is an indication to anything, it means that we can coexist peacefully together," Abbas said. Later at the U.N. gathering, Abbas urged the 193-nation body to end the "Israeli occupation of the state of Palestine" within a set timetable. He also borrowed a campaign line of Trump's, using the phrase "draining the swamp" as an argument for addressing the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis. Trump used a similar phrase as a presidential candidate to criticise politicians and policy making in Washington. "Beyond any doubt, draining the swamp of colonial occupation of our land and ending its unjust, oppressive and illegal practices against our people would greatly affect the fight against terrorism, depriving terrorist groups of one of the key rallying cries they exploit to promote their repugnant ideas," Abbas said in his prepared remarks. Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier in the week. The Israeli and Palestinian leaders both went out of their way to praise the U.S. president. The White House played down both meetings in terms of their significance toward peace talks on one of the world's most intractable conflicts that has defied the peacemaking efforts of several U.S. administrations going back decades. The Palestinians seek to establish an independent state in the Israeli occupied West Bank, territory captured in the 1967 Middle East war and the Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The Palestinian Authority's ambassador to the United States, Husam Zomlot, said the meeting was forward-looking, and the conversation was deep and frank between the two allies. The Palestinian Authority said in a statement Abbas told Trump that "peace can be achieved through implementing the two-state solution based on the 1967 borders." Abbas also said "the illegal Israeli settlements policy poses an immediate threat" to that. For at least two decades, the goal of U.S.-led diplomacy has been a two-state solution, meaning an independent Palestinian state living side-by-side and at peace with Israel. But neither Trump nor his aides have publicly recommitted to a two-state solution, instead saying it is up to the two parties to work out in peace talks. Abbas insistence on a return to 1967 pre-war borders is something Israel has repeatedly rejected. (Reporting by Jeff Mason and Yara Bayoumy; Editing by Grant McCool and James Dalgleish)
VIENNA (Reuters) - Austria said on Wednesday it had some evidence that nine foreign oilfield workers abducted by Islamist militants in Libya in 2015 were killed the same year, though it was still trying to verify the information. The four Filipinos, two Bangladeshis, one Austrian, one Czech and one Ghanaian worked at the al-Ghani oilfield for equipment firm VAOS, which specialises in Libya and has offices in Austria and Malta. An Austrian Foreign Ministry spokesman said a crisis team was trying to verify information from a militant Islamist website suggesting that all or some of the hostages may have been killed in 2015. They were seized in March of that year. "We have some evidence that the worst is to be feared. We are working on verifying the information. It is still unclear what happened exactly to whom," the spokesman said. Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz had contacted the family of the Austrian man. "Even if it turns out that the evidence is correct it will be extremely difficult to retrieve bodies from the area where fighting continues," the spokesman said. The Derna Mujahideen Shura Council, a group based in the eastern Libyan city of Derna, said this week that it had recovered the bodies of five of the workers in May 2015 during clashes with rival militants from Islamic State. It said it had handed the bodies over to Libya's Red Crescent. In a statement, the Council said it later found a laptop containing a photo of one of the employees, and a video of the killing of four Filipino workers, and was able to match them to images of the kidnapped employees. The bodies were buried in marked graves and "special procedures are under way to return them to their families", the group said. The Red Crescent declined to comment. At the time of the attack, Islamic State militants made no financial or political demands as armed factions in Libya often do, but IS beheaded 11 Libyan security guards it had captured. VAOS said it had received no warning from Libya's state oil company advising it to evacuate personnel before the attack. The firm said it began operating in Libya in the 1980s, when the country was under Muammar Gaddafi's iron rule. Libya fell into widespread factional violence, hampering oil production, after rebels overthrew Gaddafi in 2011. VAOS has relied on its own security arrangements in the North African state. Its clients have included BP, Repsol and Austria's OMV. (Reporting By Shadia Nasralla in Vienna, Aidan Lewis in Tunis and Ayman al-Warfalli in Benghazi; editing by Mark Heinrich)
Sophie Pointon lied about being raped by a taxi driver (SWNS)
A criminology student who lied about being raped by a taxi driver after he refused to accept a kebab-soaked tenner has been jailed for 16 months.
Wannabe cop Sophie Pointon told police officers that she had been sexually assaulted in the back of the cab she had been picked up in after a night out in Leeds city centre.
Pointon, 22, rang the cops in the early hours of Aril 22 this year then continued the deception by signing a statement giving an account of the attack.
Leeds Crown Court heard the driver, a father-of-five, was tracked down and kept in custody for six hours.
He was also unable to work for four weeks as a result of the claim.
The criminology student had hope to one day become a police officer (SWNS)
Kate Bisset, prosecuting, said the driver was interviewed and said he could recall Pointon being extremely drunk when she got into his car holding a kebab.
He said Pointon threw a ten pound not at him when they reached the Hyde Park area but he refused to accept it as it was covered in oil from the kebab.
The driver said Pointon then became abusive and ran around the car opening doors.
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The prosecutor said: He did not think much of it at the time because such incident with people who are intoxicated are not unusual.
A recording of a conversation between the driver and a phone operator at his taxi office supported his account.
The court heard a GPS tracker fitted to the car also revealed Pointons description of the taxi journey to be untrue.
Pointon was jailed for 16 months for perverting justice (SWNS)
Pointon broke down in tears and asked if she could drop the charges when her account was challenged by police.
She pleaded guilty to perverting justice.
Story continues
Denise Breen-Lawton, mitigating, said Pointon, of Corkland Road, Manchester, had been studying in Leeds at the time.
She said her hopes of becoming a police officer were now ruined.
Jailing Pointon for 16 months, judge Christopher Batty told her: Your malicious complaint has done a huge disservice to those seeking justice through the police and courts.
The driver described in a statement how the false allegation had caused him to suffer from stress.
Toronto police have made the decision to release shocking CCTV footage that shows the moment a close friend of rapper Drake was murdered in an ambush.
Anthony Soares was shot dead by two masked gunmen as he waited to be buzzed into an apartment building just before 3am on September 14.
Anthony is survived by his toddler daughter. Copyright: [Splash News]
The men opened fire through a glass door at close range, with Soares having nowhere to run as the men gunned him down before fleeing into a waiting getaway car.
Security cameras caught the entire attack, as well as catching the four-door, white Ford Fusion car that allowed the attackers to escape as 33-year-old Soares died on the ground.
Police are urging anybody with information to come forward. Copyright: [Splash News]
Authorities have made the decision to release the disturbing footage in a bid to identify the killers, with Homicide Detective Sergeant Gary Giroux explaining: In essence, the deceased was trapped between the inner foyer area and the offenders, who were on the opposite side of the glass.
Following his brutal murder, Drake took to Instagram to pay tribute to his friend.
RIP to one of our family membersour brother I still can't even believe this morning was real. It was a honor to have shared years together and I will always keep your memory alive Forever Fif A post shared by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Sep 14, 2017 at 3:39pm PDT
Sharing a photo of Soares, who was father to a young daughter, the star wrote: RIP to one of our family members Our brother I still cant even believe this morning was real.
It was a honour to have shared years together and I will always keep your memory alive.
Detectives have urged Drake to use his fame to help track down the killers. Copyright: [Getty]
Detective Sergeant Giroux urged Drake to use his fame to try and find the culprits, saying: Many of the family members have met Drake and I certainly would encourage him, through his tweets, to encourage anybody within the community to come forward with regards to any information they may have that might assist in solving his friends murder.
Anyone with information on Anthony Soares murder is asked to contact Toronto police on 416-808-7400, Crime Stoppers anonymously on 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).
Residents in Puerto Rico are picking up the pieces after their homes were pummelled by Hurricane Maria, which is now heading towards the Turks and Caicos Islands.
A curfew was imposed across Puerto Rico after 155mph winds ripped off roofs and brought down balconies and power lines, plunging the entire US territory of 3.5 million people into darkness.
It is the strongest storm to hit the Caribbean island since 1932.
The category three hurricane has been lashing the Dominican Republic, having been forecast to dump up to half a metre of rain on the country.
The destinations it is predicted to head to next - Turks and Caicos Islands and the southern islands of The Bahamas - are due for similar downpours and a large storm surge.
Sky's Mark Austin, who was able to drive around the Puerto Rico as the storm began to move away, found trees and masts down across the country.
He said: "We saw buildings collapsed with looters taking what they could from damaged shops, and petrol stations destroyed."
There is serious flooding in the southeast of the island, close to where the storm made landfall, and many homes and other structures are thought to have been badly damaged.
It could be many weeks before some properties have power again.
There were reports of windows being blown out at some hospitals and police stations and a man was reported to have died after being hit by a flying piece of timber.
Felix Delgado, mayor of the northern coastal city of Catano, said: "Months and months and months and months are going to pass before we can recover from this."
The island's governor, Ricardo Rossello said: "It's nothing short of a major disaster."
US President Donald Trump tweeted: "Puerto Rico being hit hard by new monster Hurricane. Be careful, our hearts are with you - will be there to help!"
Maria is the second severe storm to smash into the Caribbean in a fortnight, after Hurricane Irma left widespread damage across the Leeward Islands, many of which are British overseas territories and Commonwealth countries.
Story continues
The US Hurricane Centre reupgraded Maria to a severe category three hurricane on Thursday morning, as it approached the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic.
The storm is expected to strengthen as it heads toward the Turks and Caicos, a British overseas territory, and The Bahamas on Thursday night and into Friday.
The UK government warned people to stay away from the region.
The Hurricane Centre predicted that a storm surge and large waves will raise water levels by as much as 4ft to 6ft above normal tide levels in parts of the Dominican Republic, and between as much as 9ft and 12ft in the affected parts of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos.
Meanwhile, tourism officials on the US Virgin Islands have told potential visitors to postpone their trips while authorities assess the effects of the hurricane on St Croix.
The islands' tourism department says Maria brought heavy rainfall and flooding to St Croix, and communications throughout the islands, which were also hit by Hurricane Irma, are limited.
Mr Trump declared the US Virgin Islands a major disaster zone, freeing up federal funds for the relief effort.
On the island of Guadeloupe, two people were killed, floodwaters have inundated towns and almost half the population is without power.
The storm also blew over the tiny island of Dominica on Monday, ripping off 95% of roofs and killing at least seven people.
Florida is unlikely to be hit by the full force of Maria. The storm is predicted to roll northwards up the US east coast but not make landfall there. It will, however, cause dangerous swells along the Carolinas and Virginia by the weekend.
By Dion Rabouin (Reuters) - The Trump administration's effort to combat violence and poverty in Central America will not mean greater militarisation in Honduras, the country's president, Juan Orlando Hernandez, said in an interview. Under a plan formulated by U.S. President Donald Trump's chief of staff John Kelly when he was secretary of Homeland Security, the United States is seeking to shore up Central America by financing development projects and getting Mexico to do more to stem the flow of immigrants from the region. Non-governmental organisations and think tanks have voiced concern that the plan, pitched as an effort to boost Central American economic growth, could instead herald a greater militarisation in a violent region where coups and gang killings have been commonplace. Central America is one of the most violent regions on earth, though the murder rate in Honduras fell to 59 killings per 100,000 people last year from 90.4 in 2012. But the Trump administration has not provided any increase in military support aside from police training and a modest bump in support from USAID, Hernandez told Reuters during an interview in New York. Still, Honduras' president says the relationship between the United States and Honduras is "probably better than ever," noting improved cooperation Hernandez believes will boost investment and security in the Central American region. "We are closer than before," Hernandez said. "It is really important for them what's going on with Central America and we are working together on economic growth, which is very important, investment, creating jobs and we are working together on security." Hernandez said the security of Honduras was of a primary interest to Americans, even if they were not completely aware of it. "We have a saying (in Honduras), 'If the people in Washington realize that lack of security, lack of preparedness in Central America is dangerous, very dangerous for the U.S. they have to work together with us to create in Central America a region of prosperity, investment, opportunities,'" he said. "Thats going to be one of the best investments of the (American) people, in their best interest and in ours." Additionally, Honduras will continue to work with the International Monetary Fund, Hernandez said, provided his government is victorious in this years election. The IMF recently finished a review mission in the country. (Reporting by Dion Rabouin; Editing by Christian Plumb and Lisa Shumaker)
By Parisa Hafezi UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump is unhappy with the Iran nuclear deal but has not signalled he will abandon it, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said on Wednesday. "It's not a clear signal that he plans to withdraw. What it is, is a clear signal that he's not happy with the deal," the envoy, Nikki Haley, told CBS News of Trump's pugnacious speech to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday in which he called the 2015 international accord "an embarrassment." Trump hinted in his speech to the annual gathering of world leaders that he may not recertify the agreement, negotiated by his predecessor, Barack Obama. "I don't think you've heard the last of it," he said. The U.S. president must decide by Oct. 15 whether to certify that Iran is complying with the pact, a decision that could sink the deal. If he does not, the U.S. Congress has 60 days to decide whether to reimpose sanctions waived under the accord. Under the agreement between Iran and six major powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States - the Iranian government agreed to restrict its nuclear programme in return for western countries loosening economic sanctions. Haley spoke ahead of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's U.N. speech in which he is expected to respond to Trump's accusations that Iran exports "violence, bloodshed and chaos." The head of Irans Revolutionary Guards said the United States should experience "painful responses" following Trump's harsh criticism. "Taking a definitive stand against Trump is only the beginning of the path," said General Mohammad Ali Jafari, according to Sepah News, the news site of the Revolutionary Guards. "What is strategically important is that America witnesses more painful responses in the actions, behaviour and decisions that Iran takes in the coming months." The prospect of Washington reneging on the agreement has worried some U.S. partners that helped negotiate it, especially as the world grapples with another nuclear crisis, North Koreas nuclear and ballistic missile development. Russia is concerned by Trump questioning the Iran nuclear deal, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Russian reporters at the United Nations in comments published by his ministry on Wednesday. "It's extremely worrying," Lavrov said. "We will defend this document, this consensus, which was met with relief by the entire international community and genuinely strengthened both regional and international security." Lavrov, referring to Trump's speech, said that "if you simply condemn and threaten, then we're going to antagonize countries over whom we want to exert influence." (Reporting by Parisa Hafezi at the United Nations, Susan Heavey in Washington, Andrew Osborn in Moscow, Babak Dehghanpisheh in Beirut; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Grant McCool)
SWNS
<p>An incredible back garden boozer made entirely from recycled materials has been crowned Britain's best Pub Shed of the Year.</p><p>John Simmons, 50, spent more than a year and constructing the amazing DIY man-cave in his garden in Portsmouth, Hants.</p><p>It features its own dart board, wooden decor, countryside-pub style seating, a roof covered in fairy lights and even its own outdoor beer garden and decking area.</p><p>He built the miniature pub - called The Dog & Ball - from as much reclaimed material he could find from salvage yards and a Facebook page for pub shed enthusiasts.</p><p>John sourced, cut, sanded and fixed every timber and tting himself as well all 4,500 screws.</p><p>The dad-of-three beat off more than a thousand entries to be named the owner of Britain's best Pub Shed 2022.</p><p>He celebrated the win in his garden pub last night (12/11) with friends and said he was thrilled to be crowned the winner.</p><p>John started building the boozer last year and said he wanted a 'haven at home' he could enjoy that was cheaper than the pub.</p><p>Avid DIY-er John, a safety management consultant, said the pub cost four figures to build but would have been much more expensive had he not used reclaimed materials.</p><p>Wife Anita, 49, put the finishing touching to the Dog & Ball - named after their Labradoodle Bertie, aged seven and the pair enjoyed celebrating with kids Libby, 23, Jacob, 19, and Evie, 12.</p><p>John said: It has all been rather overwhelming, but I am chuffed to bits.</p><p>We had 18 friends over last night to celebrate the final and it was fantastic to find out I won - I was really thrilled.</p><p>I started building it last year and wanted to have it completed this summer for my 50th birthday.</p><p>Sourcing the reclaimed material took the biggest chunk of time.</p><p>I am an avid DIY-er and love a project.</p><p>Lots of people had been doing this sort of thing over lockdown so I took inspiration from that, and I wanted a haven at home that was cheaper than the pub.</p><p>Its somewhere I can go and enjoy being with my friends and family, which was really the whole purpose.</p><p>It cost about four figures, which is much cheaper than it would have been had I done a proper build and had to go to shops for the materials.</p><p>John, who was in the Royal Navy for 22 years, said his favourite part of the pub is the oak beams which make up the main structure.</p><p>The three-metre-long bits of wood remarkably came from an old dock yard building John used to work in.</p><p>He said: My favourite part is the main oak beams.</p><p>They are from an old dock yard building that I used to work in years ago before it was demolished.</p><p>These three-metre-long beams that form the main structure of the pub had sat in a yard for 20 years and then I managed to buy them.</p><p>It is a remarkable story.</p><p>All my family and friends have been so supportive of the project, and it has been great having everyone round to enjoy it.</p><p>My wife Anita put all the finishing touches to the pub to make it look as amazing as it does.</p><p>I took the name from my Labradoodle Bertie who just loves to play with his ball, I really wanted him to be part of it all.</p><p>The Dog & Ball beat off two other finalists, a mini countryside-style pub called The Tiger, in Somerset, and The Stagger Inn, in Manchester - a nightclub-themed bar</p><p>They were whittled down from more than a thousand entries - many of which were built during lockdown.</p><p>John said: "Doing it all from salvage was of course a challenge thank goodness for FB marketplace, advice from the fantastic members of the GSPN UK Facebook page and a very understanding wife who I dragged around local reclaim yards sifting through old timbers.</p><p>"With the exception of the main roof joists, every other part of the build is made from reclaim, re-used or recycled timber and materials.</p><p>"Each piece has a different story, from the bar ironmongery that belonged to my late father-in-law from his days as an RAF engineer, to the main oak upright timbers.</p><p>It is believed more than two million back garden pubs are now in operation in Britain after their popularity exploded during the coronavirus pandemic.</p><p>They have continued to grow amid a cost of living crisis after the average price of a pint rose to 4 across the UK and 5 in London.</p><p>As a result, Two Fat Blokes bar signs, Pub Shed Radio and the Facebook group Garden Shed Pubs & Nightclubs began running the national competition.</p><p>The winner was announced live on Pub Shed Radio on Saturday (12/11).</p><p>Ashley Turner, the owner of Two Fat Blokes Bar Signs, said: "The quality of bars and diversity of the entries has been phenomenal.</p><p>"We ran the competition to showcase the amazing community of pub sheds in the UK.</p><p>"The community has exploded during the pandemic and now with the cost of a pint heading north of 6 the trend looks set to continue.</p><p>"The Dog & Ball is a perfect example of an amazing pub shed and deserved to win with his amazing hand-built pub.</p><p>Tommy Funka, who runs, Pub Shed Radio added: Pub Shed of the year has been a great way for the pub shed community to come together and celebrate the growing army of back garden boozers".</p><p>Pub Shed Radio's DJ Mupps said: "It was brilliant to knock on the door of the winners bar live on Pub Shed Radio.</p><p>"John & Anita were totally gobsmacked to find out they had won. We then went live from the bar broadcasting with a real party atmosphere."</p><p>Nick St John, the owner of Facebook group Garden Shed Pubs and Nightclubs, added: "Being involved Pub Shed of the year has been the culmination of our ethos to promote and help people build their own back garden pubs.</p><p>"With over 280,000 members our group has really got on board with the competition.</p><p>"Judging the entries was so difficult The Dog & Ball is a great example of a proper pub shed."</p>
Playwright Lisa Loomer explores the question, What is A.D.D. in an A.D.D. world? in her play Distracted, opening at Virginia Tech on Oct. 3 in the Squires Haymarket Theatre.
The play revolves around a 9-year-old named Jesse, whose teacher suggests he may have ADD, and his mothers quest for answers. The subject is treated in a thoughtful and humorous way, as the mother navigates her way through Jesses teacher, friends, a psychologist, neuropsychologist, homeopath, psychiatrist, and physician all with their own beliefs and points of view.
Loomer is an award-winning playwright whose plays often deal with topics of everyday life, including family, parenting, and the medical world. Reflecting on what caused her to write the play, she spoke of her own child first enrolling in school in a 2009 interview with The New York Times, saying, What I was seeing was an increasing number of children being diagnosed with ADD, with bipolar disorder, with anxiety disorder, with depression. As a way to research and explore the topic, she wrote the play Distracted, a work that brings the audience into the actors world and invites them to come along for the ride.
Theatre and cinema faculty chair Susanna Rinehart directs the production. She was attracted to the work because of its highly topical, witty, and theatrical presentation of a topic so relevant to today.
It addresses critical questions about the impacts of new technologies on brain development, environmental concerns, the school system, coping mechanisms in the form of addictions, said Rinehart. But equally importantly, it has a great sense of humor and humanity and respect for its subject.
The production will be enhanced by the use of video projections and sound, acting as a kind of counterpoint to the live action on stage, amplifying the noise.
As Rinehart began rehearsals with the cast, she was struck by the pervasiveness of what she calls "our collective struggle.
"It's the struggle with what to pay attention to and how to stay connected to each other," Rinehart said. "The play sort of dares to address what we usually try to struggle with alone and privately.
Her observations are supported by the cast members themselves, which have all expressed some direct connection with the issues and topics of the play.
As one student working on the show reflected, The play is about how much it sucks when your parents think something is wrong with you. Perhaps this is an indication of what the impact of the play could be.
Watch a New York Times two-and-a-half minute narrated slide show, An ADD Ride with Loomer discussing the writing of Distracted.
Performances of Distracted are:
Oct. 3-6 at 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 8 at 2 p.m.
All performances are in the Squires Haymarket Theatre, located in the Squires Student Center at 290 College Ave. on the Virginia Tech campus.
Tickets and parking
Tickets are $12 general and $10 for seniors and students and may be purchased online. Tickets may also be purchased at the Squires Centers and Activities Ticket Office on the first floor of Squires Student Center or by calling 540-231-5615. Tickets will be available at the Squires ticket office beginning one hour prior to the performance.
Free parking is available on weekends and after 5 p.m. weekdays in the Squires Lot, located at the corner of College Avenue and Otey Street, in the Architecture Annex Lot on Otey Street, and the Perry Street/Prices Fork lots. Find more parking information online or call 540-231-3200. Alternative parking is available in the Kent Squires parking garage and the Farmers Market metered parking lot, both located on Draper Road. Additional downtown Blacksburg parking information is available online.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please email Susan Sanders or call 540-231-5200 during regular business hours at least 10 days prior to the event.
The 20172018 School of Performing Arts Mainstage Theatre series will present Nosferatu: A Vampire Tale For Our Time by Ping Chong on Nov. 7-15; the musical Fun Home, book and lyrics by Lisa Kron, music by Jeanine Tesori, based on the autobiographical graphic novel by Alison Bechdel, Feb. 20-28; and The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy For Serious People by Oscar Wilde on April 18-21. Tickets for all performances are now on sale.
HFF, Inc. provides commercial real estate and capital market services to the consumers and providers of capital in the commercial real estate industry in the United States. The company offers debt placement services, such as construction and construction/mini-permanent loans, adjustable and fixed rate mortgages, bridge loans, entity level and mezzanine debts, forward delivery loans, and tax exempt and sale/leaseback financing to the owners of various properties comprising office, retail, industrial, hotel, multi-housing, student housing, self-storage, nursing homes, condominiums and condominium conversions, mixed-use properties, and land, as well as senior, independent, and assisted living facilities. It also provides investment advisory services to commercial real estate owners; and equity placement, as well as assists clients in the sale of their commercial real estate debt note portfolios. In addition, the company offers private equity, investment banking, and advisory services, including equity capital to establish joint ventures relating to identified properties or properties to be acquired by a fund sponsor; structured finance; institutional marketing and fund-raising services for public and private commercial real estate fund sponsors; advisory services for mergers and acquisitions, sales and divestitures, management buyouts, and recapitalizations and restructurings; and private placements of preferred securities. Further, it provides loan sales and commercial loan servicing to life insurance companies. The company was founded in 1982 and is based in Dallas, Texas.
Dril-Quip, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, sells, and services engineered drilling and production equipment for use in deepwater, harsh environment, and severe service applications worldwide. The company's principal products include subsea and surface wellheads, subsea and surface production trees, mudline hanger systems, specialty connectors and associated pipes, drilling and production riser systems, liner hangers, wellhead connectors, diverters, and safety valves, as well as downhole tools. It also provides technical advisory services, and rework and reconditioning services, as well as rental and purchase of running tools for use in the installation and retrieval of its products; and downhole tools comprise of liner hangers, production packers, safety valves, and specialty downhole tools that are used to hang-off and seal casing into a previously installed casing string in the well bore. The company's products are used to explore for oil and gas from offshore drilling rigs, such as floating rigs and jack-up rigs; and for drilling and production of oil and gas wells on offshore platforms, tension leg platforms, and Spars, as well as moored vessels, such as floating production, storage, and offloading monohull moored vessels. It sells its products directly through its sales personnel, independent sales agents, and representatives to integrated, independent, and foreign national oil and gas companies, as well as drilling contractors, and engineering and construction companies. The company was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Genesee & Wyoming Inc. owns and leases freight railroads. It operates through three segments: North American Operations, Australian Operations, and U.K./European Operations. The company transports various commodities, including agricultural products, autos and auto parts, chemicals and plastics, coal and coke, food and kindred products, lumber and forest products, metallic ores, metals, minerals and stone, petroleum products, pulp and paper, waste, and other commodities. It owns or leases 122 freight railroads, including 105 short line railroads and 2 regional freight railroads located in the United States, 8 short line railroads located in Canada, 3 railroads located in Australia, 1 railroad located in the United Kingdom, 1 railroad in Poland and Germany, and 2 railroads in the Netherlands with a total of approximately 16,200 miles of track. The company also operates 6,200 additional miles of track that is owned or leased by others. In addition, it operates deep sea maritime containers and provides bulk haulage, including coal, aggregates, cement, and infrastructure services. Further, the company provides rail service at approximately 40 ports; rail-ferry service in North America, Australia, and Europe; and contract coal loading and railcar switching for industrial customers. Genesee & Wyoming Inc. was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Darien, Connecticut.
Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the electric utility, banking, and renewable/sustainable infrastructure investment businesses in the state of Hawaii. It operates in three segments: Electric Utility, Bank, and Other. The Electric Utility segment engages in the production, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity in the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, and Molokai. Its renewable energy sources and potential sources include wind, solar, photovoltaic, geothermal, wave, hydroelectric, municipal waste, and other biofuels. This segment serves suburban communities, resorts, the United States armed forces installations, and agricultural operations. The Bank segment operates a community bank that offers banking and other financial services to consumers and businesses, including savings and checking accounts; and loans comprising residential and commercial real estate, residential mortgage, construction and development, multifamily residential and commercial real estate, consumer, and commercial loans. This segment operates 42 branches, including 29 branches in Oahu, 6 branches in Maui, 4 branches in Hawaii, 2 branches in Kauai, and 1 branch in Molokai. The Other segment invests in non-regulated renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure in the State of Hawaii. Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. was incorporated in 1891 and is headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii.
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.
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The following companies are subsidiares of NOV: APL France SAS, APL Norway AS, APL do Brasil Ltda., ASEP Otomotiv Sanayi Ticaret Ltd., Acker Holdings LLC, Ackerman Holdings C.V., Ackerman Holdings GP LLC, Advanced Production and Loading, Advanced Wirecloth S. de R.L. de C.V., American Pipe and Construction International, Ameron B.V., Ameron International, Ameron International Corporation, Ameron Pole Products LLC, Ameron Polyplaster Industria E Comercio de Tubos Ltda., Ameron Singapore Holding LLC, Andergauge Limited, Andergauge Redback LLC, Arabian Rig Manufacturing Company, Big Red Tubulars Limited, Bondstrand Ltd., Brandt Oilfield Services (M) Sdn. Bhd., C.M.A. Canavera S.R.L., CJSC Fidmash, CJSC Novmash, Chemineer Inc., Coil Services Middle East LLC, Cooperatie Intelliserv Holding U.A., Cooperatie NOV NL U.A., Danco AS, Elmar Far East Pty Ltd, Enerflow Industries, Environmental Procedures LLC, Fiber Glass Systems (Qingdao) Composite Piping Co. Ltd., Fiber Glass Systems L.P., Fiber Glass Systems Oman L.L.C., Fiberspar, Fiberspar Australia Pty. Ltd., Fibra Ingenieria y Construccion S.A., FidService LLC, Fjords Processing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fjords Processing AS, Fjords Processing Australia Pty Ltd, Fjords Processing France SAS, Fjords Processing Korea Co. Ltd., Fjords Processing Limited, Fjords Processing Middle East DMCC, Fjords Processing UK Ltd., Fryma S.a.r.l., GPEX L.P., Grant Prideco (Jiangsu) Drilling Products Co. Ltd, Grant Prideco (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Grant Prideco III C. V., Grant Prideco Inc., Grant Prideco Jersey Limited, Grant Prideco Mauritius Limited, Grant Prideco Netherlands B.V., Grant Prideco PC Composites Holdings LLC, Grant Prideco S. de R.L. de C.V., Grant Prideco de Venezuela S.A., GustoMSC B.V., Hebei Huayouyiji Tuboscope Coating Co. Ltd., Hydralift AmClyde Inc., Hydralift France SAS, Inspecciones y Pruebas No Destructivas S. de R.L. de C.V., IntelliServ Norway AS, Intelliserv GP Holdings LLC, Intelliserv Inc., Intelliserv International Holding Ltd, Intelliserv LLC, JiangYin Tuboscope Tubular Development Co. Ltd, Keystone Tower Systems Inc., MSI Pipe Protection Technologies UK Limited, Merpro Group Limited, Midsund Bruk AS, Mono Group Pension Trustees Limited, Mono Pumps New Zealand Company, Monoflo NOV S.A.I.C., Moyno Inc., NKT Flexibles I/S, NOV (Asia) Inc., NOV (Barbados) Holding SRL, NOV (Barbados) SRL, NOV (Caymans) Ltd., NOV (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., NOV - Oil Services Angola LDA., NOV APL Limited, NOV Africa Pty Ltd, NOV Australia Pty Ltd, NOV Azerbaijan LLC, NOV Brandt Europe France, NOV Brandt Oilfield Services Middle East LLC, NOV CAPS Pte. Ltd., NOV CV1 GP LLC, NOV CV2 GP LLC, NOV Canada ULC, NOV Completion Tools LLC, NOV Completion and Production Solutions Korea Ltd., NOV Denmark Cooperatief U.A., NOV Downhole Argentina LLC, NOV Downhole Bolivia S.R.L., NOV Downhole Colombia LLC, NOV Downhole Comercializacao de Equipamentos para Petroleo Ltda., NOV Downhole Congo LLC, NOV Downhole Eurasia Limited, NOV Downhole Italia S.R.L., NOV Downhole Kazakhstan LLC, NOV Downhole Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., NOV Downhole Pty Ltd, NOV Downhole Thailand LLC, NOV EU Acquisition SNC, NOV Elmar (Middle East) Limited, NOV Eurasia Holding LLC, NOV Expatriate Services Inc., NOV FGS Malaysia Sdn Bhd, NOV FGS Singapore (Pte.) Ltd, NOV Flexibles Equipamentos E Servicos Ltda., NOV Flexibles Holding ApS, NOV Fluid Control B.V., NOV GEO GP LLC, NOV GEO LP1 C.V., NOV GEO LP1 LLC, NOV GEO LP2 C.V., NOV GEO LP2 LLC, NOV Gabon SARL, NOV Germany GmbH, NOV Germany Holding GmbH, NOV Ghana Limited, NOV Grant Prideco Drilling Equipment Manufacturing LLC, NOV Grant Prideco Drilling Products Middle East FZE, NOV Grant Prideco L.L.C., NOV Holding Danmark ApS, NOV Holding Sub UK 1 Limited, NOV Holding UK 1 Limited, NOV Holding UK 2 Limited, NOV Holdings B.V., NOV India Private Limited, NOV Intelliserv UK Limited, NOV International Holdings C.V., NOV International Holdings GP LLC, NOV International Holdings LLC, NOV Intervention & Stimulation Equipment US LLC, NOV Intervention and Stimulation Equipment Aftermarket Comercio de Equipamentos e Servicos Ltda., NOV Kenya Limited, NOV Kostroma LLC, NOV Kuwait Light & Heavy Equipment Repairing & Maintenance Co., NOV LP (Trading) LLC, NOV MFG India Private Limited, NOV Mexico Holding LLC, NOV Middle East FZCO, NOV Mozambique Limitada, NOV NL Mexico Holding B.V., NOV Oil & Gas Services Egypt (S.A.E), NOV Oil & Gas Services Senegal S.A.R.L., NOV Oil & Gas Services Uganda Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services Ghana Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services Namibia (Proprietary) Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services Nigeria Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services South Africa (Pty) Limited, NOV Oilfield Services Tanzania Limited, NOV Oilfield Services Vostok LLC, NOV Oilfield Solutions Ltd., NOV Park II B.V., NOV Process & Flow Technologies AS, NOV Process & Flow Technologies Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., NOV Process & Flow Technologies Pte. Ltd., NOV Process & Flow Technologies UK Limited, NOV QFZ LLC, NOV Rig Solutions Pte. Ltd., NOV Romania LLC, NOV Saudi Arabia Co. Ltd., NOV Saudi Arabia Trading Co., NOV Services Ltd., NOV Servicios de Personal Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., NOV Tanajib Kuwait for Services and Maintenance of Oil Rigs Refineries and Petrochemicals W.L.L., NOV Tuboscope Italia S.R.L., NOV Tuboscope Middle East LLC, NOV Tuboscope NL B.V., NOV Tubulars and Connectors Ltd., NOV UK (Angola Acquisitions) Limited, NOV UK Finance Limited, NOV UK Holdings LLC, NOV UK Holdings Limited, NOV UK Korea LP, NOV Wellbore Technologies Norway LLC, NOV Wellbore Technologies do Brasil Equipamentos E Servicos Ltda., NOV Wellsite Services Germany GmbH, NOV Worldwide B.V., NOV-BLM SAS, NOVM Holding LLC, NOW International LLC, NOW Nova Scotia Holdings LLC, NOW Oilfield Services LLC, NQL Holland B.V., National Oilwell (U.K.) Limited, National Oilwell Algerie, National Oilwell Varco (Beijing) Investment Management Co. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco (Thailand) Ltd., National Oilwell Varco Algeria, National Oilwell Varco Almansoori Services, National Oilwell Varco Bahrain WLL, National Oilwell Varco Belgium SA, National Oilwell Varco Denmark I/S, National Oilwell Varco Egypt LLC, National Oilwell Varco Eurasia LLC, National Oilwell Varco Guatemala Limitada, National Oilwell Varco Guyana Inc., National Oilwell Varco Hungary Limited Liability Company, National Oilwell Varco Korea Co. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco L.P., National Oilwell Varco MSW S.A., National Oilwell Varco Mexico S.A. de C.V., National Oilwell Varco Muscat L.L.C., National Oilwell Varco Norway AS, National Oilwell Varco Peru S.R.L., National Oilwell Varco Petroleum Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco Poland Sp.z.o.o., National Oilwell Varco Pte. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco Rig Equipment Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco Romania S.R.L., National Oilwell Varco Solutions S.A. de C.V., National Oilwell Varco UK Limited, National Oilwell Varco Ukraine LLC, National Oilwell Varco de Bolivia S.R.L., National Oilwell Varco de Chile - Servicios Limitada, National Oilwell Varco do Brasil Ltda., National Oilwell de Venezuela C.A., National-Oilwell Pte. Ltd., National-Oilwell Pty. Ltd., PT Fjords Processing Indonesia, PT H-Tech Oilfield Equipment, PT NOV Oilfield Services, PT National Oilwell Varco, PT PROFAB INDONESIA, Pesaka Inspection Services SDN.BHD., Pipex Limited, Pipex PX Limited, Pridecomex Holding S. de R.L. de C.V., R&M Energy Systems Australia Pty Ltd, R&M Energy Systems de Argentina S.A., R&M Energy Systems de Venezuela C.A., R&M Singapore Holding LLC, RE.MAC.UT. S.r.l., RHI Holding LLC, ReedHycalog International Holding LLC, ReedHycalog L.P., ReedHycalog LLC, ReedHycalog UK Limited, Robannic Overseas Finance A.V.V., Robbins & Myers B.V., Robbins & Myers Foundation, Robbins & Myers GP LLC, Robbins & Myers Holdings LLC, Robbins & Myers Holdings UK Limited, Robbins & Myers Inc, Robbins & Myers Inc., Robbins & Myers Italia S.R.L., Robbins & Myers N.V., Rodic S.A. de C.V., Romaco S.a.r.l., STAR Sudamtex Tubulares S.A., STSA, Screen Manufacturing Company Unlimited, Slip Clutch Systems Limited, South Seas Inspection, Subseaflex Holding ApS, T-3 Energy Preferred Industries Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., T-3 Energy Services Cayman Holdings Ltd., T-3 Energy Services Cayman Ltd., T-3 Energy Services LLC, T-3 Energy Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., T-3 Investment Corporation IV, T-3 Mexican Holdings Inc., Telluride Insurance Limited, Tianjin Grant TPCO Drilling Tools Company Limited, Tuboscope & Co. LLC, Tuboscope (Holding U.S.) LLC, Tuboscope Brandt de Venezuela S.A., Tuboscope Norge AS, Tuboscope Vetco (France) SAS, Tuboscope Vetco (Osterreich) GmbH, Tuboscope Vetco Capital Limited, Tuboscope Vetco Moscow CJSC, Tuboscope Vetco de Argentina S.A., Tubular Coatings Solutions Ltd., Tucom Composites Polyester Sanayi Ticaret Ltd., Urban WLY LP, Varco BJ B.V., Varco CIS LLC, Varco International de Venezuela C.A., Varco L.P., Varco US Holdings LLC, Vetco Enterprise GmbH, Vetco Saudi Arabia Ltd., Visible Assets Inc., Wilson International, Woolley Inc., XL Systems Antilles N.V., XL Systems Europe B.V., XL Systems International Inc., voestalpine Tubulars Corporation, voestalpine Tubulars GmbH, and voestalpine Tubulars GmbH & Co KG.
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While 2017 is an off-year in the political cycle, there are still a few seats being contested this fall.
(9/26) Alabama U.S. Senate Republican Runoff: With no candidate achieving a majority, the top two vote getters from last month's Republican primary will meet next Tuesday, with the winner moving on to the special election in December. Roy Moore, former Chief Justice of Alabama's Supreme Court won that primary, with the incumbent Senator, Luther Strange finishing 6 points back. Moore has led in the polling conducted since the primary, sometimes by double-digits, although some polls have been much closer. The most recent poll has him up by a 50-42% margin. Strange has the endorsement of President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell; both Trump and Vice President Pence will campaign for the incumbent prior to the runoff.
(11/7) Virginia Gubernatorial Election: One of two regularly scheduled gubernatorial races on Election Day. Incumbent Democrat Terry McAuliffe is term-limited. Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam will represent the Democrats, while former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie is the Republican nominee. Gillespie lost a 2014 race for U.S. Senator from Virginia, although the race against incumbent Mark Warner was much closer than expected. Warner prevailed by less than 1%. There have been quite a few polls in recent days. While Northam leads in most, all show a very competitive race. Sabato's Crystal Ball, The Cook Political Report and Inside Elections all rate the race as 'Leans Democratic'.
(11/7) New Jersey Gubernatorial Election: Term-limited Republican Chris Christie will be replaced by Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno (R) or businessman and former U.S. Ambassador to Germany Phil Murphy (D). The incumbent is highly unpopular, complicating Guadagno's efforts to prevail in this traditionally blue state. The only recent poll here, from Quinnipiac, gives Murphy a substantial lead of 25%. This week, Sabato's Crystal ball changed their rating to 'Safe Democratic', while Cook and Inside Elections are at 'Likely Democratic'.
(11/7) Utah's 3rd Congressional District Special Election: The race is to fill the open seat created by the departure of former Rep. Jason Chaffetz. It will be contested again in 2018 as part of the midterm elections. The Republican nominee is the Mayor of Provo, John Curtis. The Democratic nominee is a physician, Kathie Allen. Curtis led by 30 points in a recent poll. This race is 'Safe Republican'.
(12/12) Alabama Senate Special Election: The winner of next Tuesday's runoff will face off against Democrat Doug Jones in mid-December. The special election was necessitated after former Senator Jeff Sessions resigned to become U.S. Attorney General; the next regular election for the seat is in 2020. Jones is a former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama. Regardless of whether Strange or Moore wins the runoff, they will have the advantage in this deep red state, which last elected a Democratic Senator in 1992. (That Democrat, Richard Shelby, became a Republican two years later.) However, a victory by the controversial Moore could lead to a more competitive general election*. As Nathan Gonzales wrote last month:
"Democrats can only win a Senate seat in Alabama under extraordinary circumstances, and facing Roy Moore, the twice-barred chief justice, might be one of those circumstances.
According to party strategists tracking the race, Jones needs approximately a third of the white vote in the general election to win. For a reference point, statewide Democratic candidates tend to receive 16 percent to 19 percent. Potentially doubling that will be difficult for Jones, and hell need a batch of Republicans who are simply turned off by Moores focus on social issues or are uncomfortable with him after the attacks from the runoff.
National Democratic operatives have not hyped the race. But if Moore wins the GOP nomination, Jones could become the latest cause celebre for grass-roots Democrats across the country."
Looking ahead, 2018 will see the midterm congressional elections, including all 435 House seats and 33 Senate seats. In addition, there are 36 gubernatorial elections next year.
* An upset by Jones in December would slightly improve the extremely long odds facing Democrats as they look to take control of the Senate in the 2018 midterms.
BERLIN (AP) German police say they're using a motorist's dashcam video footage to try to identify a cyclist who was the first person on the scene of a deadly motorcycle accident and filmed it on his phone instead of trying to help.
Police in the southern town of Heidenheim said Tuesday they're showing images from the dashcam around to try to identify the 20-to 25-year-old man.
The 29-year-old motorcyclist lost control on a curve and hit a lamppost Sunday, dying at the scene. Police say the bicyclist completely incomprehensibly filmed the scene without offering help, and even got in the way of paramedics before fleeing as police arrived.
Police told the dpa news agency people are filming accidents and getting in the way of rescue workers ever more frequently.
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WASHINGTON Does anybody listen to women when they speak around here?
There were 11 people seated around the table in the White House Blue Room, debating the future of the Dreamers over honey sesame crispy beef, when House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi tried to make her point only to find the men talking over her.
The interjection, first reported by The Washington Posts Ashley Parker and confirmed by Pelosis office, did the trick: There was, at last, silence, and she was not interrupted again.
There are so many things to say about this moment even more in the week that saw publication of Hillary Clintons account of the 2016 campaign, What Happened. Because while what happened will remain the subject of fierce debate, it is also important to consider the implications of what didnt happen the election of the first woman president.
Imagine the alternative reality of President Hillary Clintons White House and her dinner with congressional leaders. By definition, Pelosi wouldnt have been the only woman in the room. By dint of her authority, no one would have been talking over the president.
Ironically, Clinton writes about a moment that is the mirror image of Pelosis interjection, when she chose to stand down rather than speak up. During the second presidential debate, as Donald Trump stalked her on the stage, literally breathing down my neck, Clinton writes, she faced a choice. Do you stay calm, keep smiling, and carry on as if he werent repeatedly invading your space? Or do you turn, look him in the eye, and say loudly and clearly, Back up, you creep, get away from me.'
Where Pelosi chose to call out what she interpreted as sexist dismissal, Clinton calculated that confronting Trump, gratifying as that might have been, was too risky. A lot of people, she notes, recoil from an angry woman, or even just a direct one.
Did Trump behave boorishly on the debate stage because of Clintons gender, or would he have loomed similarly behind a male opponent? Did the guys in the Blue Room feel entitled, consciously or subconsciously, to talk over Pelosi because she is a woman? Its impossible to know, yet many, if not most, women have had that unnerving sense that they are being diminished, that their points are being discounted, and that their gender plays some role. Pelosi made the smart move for her in that moment she doesnt need to be Miss Congeniality. But Clintons was probably the more familiar choice: Dont stir things up. Dont be a you-know-what.
As much as women seized on Trumps nasty woman put-down and transformed it into a slogan of empowerment, the uncomfortable truth remains that navigating any environment whether a political campaign or corporate workplace requires women to hunt for the elusive spot between too pushy and not assertive enough.
Clinton addresses that reality and the accompanying challenge for women to be accepted as leaders. I suspect that for many of us more than we might think it feels somehow off to picture a woman president sitting in the Oval Office or the Situation Room, she writes.
If that assessment is slightly overstated notwithstanding any such discomfort, Clinton won nearly 3 million more votes still, here we are, in the Blue Room with Pelosi and the guys. Did that, to use Clintons term, feel somehow off to Pelosi or, I suspect, entirely familiar, like so many high-powered meetings she had been at before? And if Clinton 2016 put even more cracks in the glass ceiling, we also must weigh the problematic implications of Trumps testosterone-heavy administration.
How can it be, in 2017, that only four of 24 Cabinet members are women, half the number of the first Obama Cabinet? How can it be, in 2017, that of Trumps 42 nominees for U.S. attorney positions, only one is female? Of President Obamas first 42 choices for U.S. attorney, 12 were female.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders disputed the implications of that statistic. I think that the president has certainly surrounded himself with a lot of strong women in various positions, including myself in a pretty high position, she told reporters, also citing White House aides Kellyanne Conway and Hope Hicks.
OK, just asking: Where were those strong women the other night when all the presidents men felt so free to talk over the woman who had been speaker?
Email: ruthmarcus@washpost.com. Copyright, Washington Post Writers Group.
If confession is good for the soul, then the Archdiocese of Santa Fe recently took a significant and past-due step toward cleansing the soul of the Roman Catholic Church here. For the first time, the archdiocese last week published a list of 74 clergy members who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing children in New Mexico. Archbishop John C. Wester also issued an apology to the survivors for the pain and suffering you have endured.
In a statement accompanying the list of accused priests, deacons and religious brothers, Wester wrote: It is my deepest hope that our publication of this list will serve as an important step in healing for survivors, their families, and our Church and communities. He also pledged to support and assist you on your road to recovery.
The public cleansing opens the gates for healing and closure, validating the claims of the then-children and teens who reported they were abused at the hands of men they once revered.
The archdioceses list contains the names of the clergy, their order or diocese and whether they are alive or deceased. Of the 74 named, 38 were reported as deceased. The archdiocese says it will be updating its list with names of the parishes where the 74 worked; when it does it should include when they were there as well.
The disclosure by the archdiocese has been long in coming, and was preceded in December 2014 by the Diocese of Gallups release of a list of credibly accused clergy there. That is posted on the dioceses website, along with a letter of apology from Bishop James S. Wall.
Within the Catholic Church, knowledge of the abuse goes back at least three decades, but little was done to address the issue. However, allegations of clerical abuse became widely known in New Mexico in the early 1990s when lawsuits were filed against the archdiocese. In 1993, 60 Minutes coverage revealing that then-Archbishop Robert Sanchez had sexual relations with several teenage girls led to his resignation. And the Albuquerque Journal published a series of stories about the breadth of the problem in New Mexico, in part because so many priests were sent for treatment to the Servants of the Paraclete center in Jemez Springs and then transferred to parishes throughout the state. Nationally, the breadth of clergy abuse burst into the public eye in 2002 when the Boston Globe published a series of articles on the scandal that rocked the church.
Many victims have had the courage to come forward. Many have filed lawsuits against the church and some have received settlements. But money alone cant heal the damage done to young people at the hands of pedophile priests. Publication of the names and the apologies may help to mitigate the years of pain and shame victims suffered. Many likely are still dealing with their anguish in the shadows.
The blame and shame is not just on the clergy who did their criminal deeds in secret, but also on church officials who covered up for the predators and moved them from parish to parish or sent them to institutions to try to curb their sexual urges.
Is the listing and apology too little? Yes, but its an important step and the archdiocese has promised more information, and its counterparts in the Church should follow suit. It is never too late to step up and be accountable or try to make things right. Owning up to and most importantly changing the culture that allowed the crimes to occur are significant steps in the right direction, ones that hopefully will bring closure to those who were harmed.
Now, the examples set by church officials in Santa Fe and Gallup should resonate throughout the Catholic Church globally so the healing can begin in earnest.
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.
SANTA FE The man with a history of mental illness who was shot and killed in a SWAT standoff with Santa Fe police in July apparently was close to being sent to the state behavioral health hospital in Las Vegas the day before he was killed.
In one of numerous police reports of the incident released Tuesday, an unidentified fire department battalion chief is quoted as saying he was present when Anthony Benavidez, 24, had been taken to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe the day before the shooting.
He said Mr. Benavidez was to be transferred to a medical hospital in Las Vegas, New Mexico, wrote police Lt. Anthony Tapia, referring to the state Behavioral Health Institute. The battalion chief stated he could not believe Mr. Benavidez had been released from the hospital (Christus St. Vincent).
The reports also indicate that Benavidez was signed out of Christus St. Vincent the day before his death by his psychiatric nurse and a case worker from the Santa Fe Community Guidance Center. The nurse said Benavidez then ran away and that she couldnt say why police werent called at that point.
Benavidez was shot and killed by SFPD SWAT officers at the Tuscany at St. Francis apartment complex near St. Francis Drive and Siringo Road July 19. Police say Benavidez broke into the apartment he was evicted from the day before, stabbed a case worker who was there to help get him out of the apartment and had thrown two homemade explosives at police. One of those devices didnt explode and the other emitted some sort of chemical.
Officer Jeramie Bisagna fired 16 shots from his handgun and Officer Luke Wakefield fired one round from his rifle after Sgt. Nick Wood used a shovel-like tool to break a window and window frame away from the apartment where Benavidez was holed up, creating a rectangular hole in the wall. Officer lapel-cam video shows only 13 seconds elapsed between the time officers shouted commands for Benavidez to show his hands and when shots are fired through the opening. Benavidez, who cant be seen in the video, was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The newly released documents indicated that police officers say Benavidez was charging toward them from inside the apartment while armed with a knife.
Sgt. Chris McCord wrote that he approached the window opening and saw Benavidez holding an object in his left hand and rapidly charge towards officers. He went inside the apartment after the shots were fired and saw a large knife on Benavidezs left side. McCord began to perform life-saving measures on Benavidez, who had a gunshot wound to the top of his head and another on his left thigh, the report says. Several other officers wrote that Benavidez was holding a knife.
Benavidez had been taken to Christus St. Vincent the day before for a mental evaluation after he was served with an eviction notice by Santa Fe County deputies. He was released from the hospital later that day and then apparently broke into his former apartment.
While he was putting on his SWAT gear the day of the shooting, McCord wrote that he was approached by a woman who said she was Benavidezs psychiatric nurse. When he asked how Benavidez was released from the hospital, she said she and the case worker who was stabbed on the day of the shooting had signed him out and that he ran away from them.
She said she didnt know why they didnt call police. I told her that I was disappointed that they did that because he was safe and was going to get help, McCord wrote.
Officer William Perdue was one of the first officers to respond to the apartment complex the morning of the shooting for a welfare check and spoke with Benavidezs case worker about Benavidez being taken to the hospital the day before. (The case worker) stated that he felt Mr. Benavidez needed to be admitted to the NM Behavioral Health Institute in Las Vegas, NM, Perdue wrote. (He) stated that by the time he arrived at the hospital, Mr. Benavidez had already been released that same day.
This statement conflicts with the nurse telling McCord that both she and the case worker signed him out. The case worker was stabbed in the abdomen by Benavidez after he, Perdue and another officer knocked on his door to try to get him to come out the day of the shooting.
District Attorney Marco Serna said Tuesday that he has not yet received the full case file from State Police, who are investigating the shooting. He said a panel of other district attorneys will be formed to determine if the police shooting was justified. SFPD did not release written reports from Bisagna or Wakefield Tuesday.
New Mexico got a passing grade but didnt land on the honor roll in a recent study of states fiscal health.
The state received a C grade and ranked as the nations 11th-lowest in terms of projected debt per taxpayer, according to the report released Tuesday by Truth in Accounting, a Chicago-based think tank.
However, the report found New Mexico is one of 41 states that do not have the money to pay all their bills, which include future pension obligations and bond payments.
Although a revenue downturn has prompted budget cuts in recent years, New Mexico does have billions of dollars invested in endowment funds for future use. A small amount of that money is used annually to bolster state spending.
The report released Tuesday analyzed states financial reporting practices. It identified Alaska as being the best-off when it comes to debt per taxpayer; New Jersey came in last.
Storm help: A legislator from Albuquerque is headed to Houston to help with recovery efforts in Hurricane Harveys aftermath.
Rep. David Adkins, a Republican in his second term, will leave for Texas later this week with a 10-person team from New Covenant Church in Albuquerque. The group will remove debris, clean houses, help rebuild damaged structures and distribute money to disaster victims.
This mission is one way we can provide comfort, supplies and financial assistance to our neighbors in Texas as they rebuild their homes and communities, Adkins said Tuesday.
At least one other legislator, Rep. Bill McCamley, D-Mesilla Park, has also traveled to Texas to land a hand in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.
The hurricane caused catastrophic flooding as it dumped more than 40 inches of rain over East Texas late last month. At least 82 people have reportedly been killed.
Democrats dinner: Democratic National Committee Deputy Chairman Keith Ellison will speak at a Democratic Party of New Mexico dinner later this week.
Ellison, who also represents a Minneapolis-area congressional district, in 2007 became the first Muslim to be elected to Congress. He is currently one of two Muslims serving in Congress.
He will deliver the keynote address Friday in Albuquerque at the state Democratic Partys annual Rising Star Dinner, which has in the past featured former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro and U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond of Louisiana.
Two state lawmakers, Reps. Daymon Ely of Corrales and Angelica Rubio of Las Cruces, will be honored at the event as the state partys 2017 rising stars.
Dan Boyd: dboyd@abqjournal.com
WASHINGTON President Donald Trumps threat to completely destroy North Korea if it forces the U.S. to defend itself dominated media coverage of his United Nations speech Tuesday, but former U.N. Ambassador Bill Richardson told the Journal he was more concerned about Trumps remarks on Iran.
Trump suggested he might withdraw the U.S. from a 2015 deal negotiated by former President Barack Obama to curb Irans nuclear program, calling it one of the worst and most one-sided transactions. The agreement comes up for recertification in mid-October.
Richardson, a Democratic former governor of New Mexico, said the deal is working and scrapping it would be a mistake.
If we withdraw from the agreement with Iran, then Iran will immediately build nuclear weapons and well have North Korea with nuclear weapons and Iran with nuclear weapons and its going to anger our European allies who negotiated this deal with us, Richardson said.
Richardson also said Trumps tough talk regarding North Korea is not helpful, especially because he doubts there is a coherent policy underpinning it. The former New Mexico congressman was in New York Tuesday to headline a panel on Iran with Jeb Bush, a former Republican presidential candidate and governor of Florida.
The overheated rhetoric is not accompanied by diplomacy or a comprehensive plan, Richardson said. The solution here is not a pre-emptive military strike; its diplomacy and negotiation. As tough as it may seem, we need a strategy. Pre-emptive military strikes and bluster are not a good strategy.
The former U.N. diplomat, who has negotiated with the North Korean regime many times, but not directly with Kim Jong Un, said the mercurial leaders domestic stature is enhanced by Trumps threats.
It unifies the North Koreans against the U.S., and its boosts Kim Jong Un because they feel the U.S. is threatening North Korea and Kim Jong Un is protecting them, Richardson said.
The former governor did offer favorable remarks about Trumps conciliatory remarks about the U.N. in general, which the president has criticized in the past.
On the positive side, I like the presidents tone toward the U.N., he said.
Circle K clerk Jennifer Wertz who shot an armed robber Monday afternoon told KOAT-TV that management has suspended her for two weeks following the incident.
She said robberies happen all the time and yet workers are told they cant defend themselves.
Wertz said she had her gun with her Monday because she was supposed to work until 10 p.m. at the store at Eubank and Candelaria NE, KOAT reported. She said she feels uncomfortable walking to her car at night.
Wertz put her gun in her pocket after she heard that another nearby convenience store was just robbed. She said she was not behind the counter when a man barged in with a gun.
We are not to chase or provoke. We are just supposed to stand there and give them what they want and they leave, she said.
She told KOAT that she chose to confront the robber because, Im sick and tired of being a sitting duck. He pointed the gun at my face, I grabbed my gun from my pocket, I cocked it and I shot.
KOAT reached out to Circle K management about the incident, but they declined to comment.
The clerk who shot Mendez is not facing any charges, police said.
Earlier Tuesday, police have identified the man they say was shot and injured as he tried to rob the convenience store as 23-year-old Ferron Mendez.
He will be booked (into jail) upon his release from the hospital, Tixier said.
Mendez has no criminal history in New Mexico, according to online court records. Tixier said that the suspect has a Pennsylvania drivers license, but that he didnt know whether he has a criminal history there.
Journal Staff Writer Elise Kaplan contributed to this report
Copyright 2017 Albuquerque Journal
Albuquerque Public Schools board member Analee Maestas is blaming nearly $700,000 in questionable transactions at La Promesa Early Learning Center on her daughters substance abuse problems.
Maestas, who founded the school in 2008, said she would never jeopardize her reputation or her long career in childhood education by participating in the alleged embezzlement uncovered by the Office of the State Auditor, according to a statement from her attorney, Marc M. Lowry.
Until this report was issued, Dr. Maestas had not been aware of the criminal activity alleged in the State Auditors report, Lowry said in the emailed statement. Not a single audit over the six years in question identified the specific problem highlighted in the State Auditors report.
Julieanne Maestas La Promesas former assistant business manager diverted about half a million dollars from the charter school into her personal bank account from June 2010 to July 2016, according to State Auditor Tim Kellers investigation.
In addition, she deposited about $177,000 worth of checks that were payable to the former executive director her mother as well as to her boyfriend, who was a school vendor.
The Journal has not been able to reach Julieanne Maestas.
Analee and Julieanne Maestas both left their positions at La Promesa in September 2016, and Julieanne became extremely depressed, according to Lowrys statement.
Analee Maestas sought medical treatment for her daughter and learned, for the first time, that Julieanne had developed a very serious substance abuse problem, Lowry said.
Dr. Maestas attempts to enroll her daughter into a treatment program after that diagnosis were unsuccessful, he said. Dr. Maestas now understands that Julieannes unresolved substance abuse problem is directly related to the issues highlighted within the State Auditors report.
Lowry noted that Kellers investigation did not find that Analee Maestas committed any wrongdoing.
During the six years Julieanne Maestas allegedly diverted school funds, the New Mexico Public Education Department audited La Promesa annually using an independent auditor, but never flagged possible fraud or embezzlement.
The State Auditors report does not claim that any of Julieannes supervisors, including Dr. Maestas, was aware of, or participated in, the purported scheme to embezzle school funds, Lowry said.
Maestas attended Wednesday nights Board of Education meeting, but did not address the allegations.
On Tuesday, Officer Tanner Tixier, an Albuquerque Police Department spokesman, told the Journal that APD expects to file charges against one to three people involved in the case by the end of the month.
Our organized crime and white-collar crime unit is conducting an investigation, he said. We are working very closely with District Attorney Raul Torrez and his team to determine what charges will be necessary.
Kellers risk review outlines specific potential criminal violations, including fraud, embezzlement, larceny and forgery.
La Promesa Early Learning Center was founded by Analee Maestas in 2008. The K-8 state charter school at 7500 La Morada Place NW serves a large number of bilingual and low-income students.
La Promesas financial issues came to light in February 2016 after the school submitted a suspicious receipt to the New Mexico Public Education Department for reimbursement. Analee Maestas claimed the $342.40 invoice was for carpet-cleaning at the school, but it appeared to have been written over and the cleaning company reported that it actually worked on ducts at her home.
Kellers office investigated the receipt and issued a report, which raised concerns about nepotism in La Promesas administration.
In effect, the Assistant Business Manager (daughter) reports to the Executive Director (mother), the Office of the State Auditors 2016 report says. At a minimum, this creates appearance of impropriety.
The New Mexico Public Education Department assumed control of La Promesas finances in August 2016.
NEW ORLEANS Whether and when constitutional rights afforded American citizens extend to non-citizens outside the nations boundaries were at issue Wednesday when a federal appeals court heard arguments about the cross-border shooting death of a Mexican teenager by a U.S. Border Patrol agent.
Lawyers for the ACLU and the family of 15-year-old Sergio Adrian Hernandez Guereca told the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that the family should be able to pursue a civil lawsuit in the United States against agent Jesus Mesa, who fired across the border from Texas in 2010, killing the teenager. Lawyers for Mesa and the U.S. Justice Department said Fourth- and Fifth-Amendment protections dont apply to the teen.
It was the second time arguments were heard by the full 15-member 5th Circuit. The appellate court had sided with Mesa in 2015 but was told to take another look by the U.S. Supreme Court. That high court decision said the 5th Circuit should have the opportunity to review the constitutional issues in light of a 6-2 Supreme Court decision in a case known as Ziglar v. Abbasi, which said that Muslim men detained in harsh conditions in a Brooklyn jail after the Sept. 11 attacks cant sue top U.S. law enforcement officials.
Both sides in the Mesa case have argued that the Abbasi case bolstered their respective arguments.
In question in the Mesa case is whether the family of young Hernandez, a Mexican on Mexican soil, could claim violation of rights to due process under the Fifth Amendment and the right of the people to be secure in their person under the Fourth Amendment. Another issue: whether Mesa, as a border agent, had qualified immunity from lawsuits.
The 5th Circuit judges gave no indication when they would rule.
Hernandezs family has said he was messing around with his friends that day, playing a game in which they ran down a culvert from the Mexican side and up the American side to touch an 18-foot (6-meter) fence. Mesa arrived on a bicycle and detained one person while the others scampered back across the culvert. He then shot Guereca as the boy ran toward a pillar supporting an overhead rail bridge.
The Justice Department has said Mesa was trying to stop smugglers attempting an illegal border crossing and fired his gun after he came under a barrage of rocks.
The death of Hernandez is one of two that have resulted in recent high-profile court cases. Parents of another teenager, killed in Nogales, Mexico, by a federal agent in a cross-border shooting have filed a pending civil rights lawsuit.
That case also has resulted in criminal charges. Prosecutors are pursuing second-degree murder charges against Agent Lonnie Swartz in the death of Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez, 16. Swartz was on the Arizona side of the border when he shot the teenager.
PHOENIX Phoenix police are working on plans to search a landfill for the body of a missing woman whose ex-boyfriend is charged with murder in her May disappearance, a police spokesman said Wednesday.
A search for Christine Mustafas body is still in the planning stages but officials hope the search can begin in the next month or so, Sgt. Alan Pfohl said.
Pfohl said additional information would be released after plans are finalized. KNXV-TV (https://goo.gl/fcNUi9 ) reported that the search would be an enormous undertaking involving heavy equipment.
Robert John Interval on June 27 pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. His trial in Maricopa County Superior Court is scheduled for Feb. 22.
Mustafa was last seen by a co-worker as she left work on May 10. Her sister was the last person to hear from her that afternoon.
Family members told police that Mustafa feared Interval and planned to leave him.
Police checking on Mustafa at her familys request found her car, purse and cellphone at the couples home.
The Arizona Republic (https://goo.gl/NCeini ) reported June 8 that court documents said police investigators found pillowcases and bedsheets containing a small amount of possible blood-stained material during a May 15 search.
The documents also said a chemical sprayed on the walls as part of the investigation had a reaction that indicated the presence of blood or other biological material.
Two years ago, 81 percent of University of New Mexico students taking the state bar exam for the first time earned a passing score.
It was a fairly routine outcome for the states only law school.
So when UNMs first-timer pass rate plunged to 71 percent in February 2016 and 68 percent in July 2016 New Mexicos first year as part of the Uniform Bar Examination group UNM administrators felt the urgent need to assess the situation, creating a task force to determine how to improve results.
Officials say the strategy worked: 91 percent of students who took the bar exam for the first time in July passed.
When we saw those two testings at that significant decline (in 2016), thats really where we kicked in to say, Weve got to do whatever we can to get it back up,' said Sergio Pareja, co-dean of UNM School of Law. We had a stated goal of getting up to 80 percent by 2018, so were obviously pleased.
UNM started a new course to help prepare students for the bar, identified ways to weave exam-relevant material into other classes and invited bar exam graders to campus for workshops. UNM lent support in other ways, too; Heather Harrigan, assistant dean for student and career services, said the school even helped those in the throes of studying with matters like child care.
We wanted to remove the barriers to our students effectively preparing for the bar exam, she said.
Pareja called it an all-hands-on-deck approach that included faculty, staff and friends of the law school. Bar exam outcomes have an obvious effect on graduates career opportunities, and Pareja called them a significant consideration among prospective students.
The New Mexico bar exam underwent some changes in the past few years. New Mexico formally joined the UBE in late 2015, meaning its score now applies in 24 other states, plus the District of Columbia and U.S. Virgin Islands. Joining UBE prompted more rigorous grading on the essay portion of the two-day test, said Sophie Martin, executive director of the New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners. But Martin said New Mexicos declining performance also reflected a larger trend, as results started dipping annually on the tests multiple-choice section in 2014.
The multiple-choice scores started improving nationwide this year, with New Mexico making slightly bigger gains than the national average, she said.
The New Mexico Board administered the test to 197 people in July, and 83 percent passed. It had been 64 percent a year earlier.
UNM had 89 students in that pool. That includes 10 people repeating the test, six of whom passed this time. Pareja said UNM welcomed repeat test-takers even if they were not current students to participate in many of its test preparation initiatives.
Minority students fared better on the July test than the average of the past six years, Martin said. Seventy-eight percent of Hispanic test-takers passed, as did 56 percent of Native Americans and 67 percent of African Americans.
Creativeland Asia has announced the appointment of Priyanka Mehra as Editor-in-chief - Content Marketing. This is in line with further building Creativeland Asia Groups digital and content expertise with Baaash Digital.
On the recent appointment, Rana Barua, Chief Executive Officer, Creativeland Asia Group said, "We believe content is media neutral and that's what is required to build Creativeland Asia Group as a go-to destination for brands to optimize and develop content, which is a natural t for the media platform it is to be showcased on. The traditional digital agency ecosystem is too fragmented to handle these requirements in an organised way currently."
On her new role, Priyanka Mehra said, "Creativeland Asia has been a disruptor in the communications space, and is a very interesting ecosystem to be a part of. Content Marketing is an exciting area to me as a professional, and one which Creativeland Asia not only believes in but also backs with investment in terms of expertise and resources.
With Creativeland Asia Group Founder & Creative Chairman Sajan Raj Kurup's announcement of Baaash Digital on June 1st this year, the Group established a new ecosystem for everyday content needs of brands.
Priyanka will work closely with the team of Baaash Digital, which has an in-house ecosystem of everyday content creators. Film-makers, line producers, music composers, writers, information architects, creative technologists, editors, long & short format writers, UI/Ux designers, social-media and content strategists, ORM experts among others and a host of content collaborators within India and overseas.
A media professional who leverages over 13 years of experience in the media and marketing arena, Priyankas last stint was at exchange4media as Associate Editor wherein she was spearheading the Groups flagship property exchange4media.com. She was with the Group in various roles for nearly six years.
Vikings, the iconic show with a huge fan following worldwide, is all set to steal hearts in India as it premieres on AXN. The Heroes of Norse mythology will conquer the television screens starting September 18th Monday to Friday at 10 pm.
With a stellar IMDb rating of 8.7 and 13 awards + 44 nominations in the bag, Vikings will air on AXN from season 1 to 4, followed by season 5, which will be timed with the international launch in December.
Inspired by the true sagas of Viking Ragnar Lothbrok, one of the best-known legendary Norse heroes, the series portrays the story of a farmer who rises to fame by successful raids into England, and eventually becomes a Scandinavian king.
The channel will use all marketing elements strategically - like on-air promotions, social media, on-ground association, outdoor campaigns, radio spots and PR tools - to ensure maximum people tune in for the premiere.
AXN has begun a month-long association with Golds Gym, across Mumbai, Delhi, Gurgaon, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Pune for the AXN Vikings Workout How to get a body like a warrior.
The channel has also partnered with Jean Claude Biguine (JCB) to give people a chance to get a Vikings makeover from expert stylists. To intensify the Vikings fever, AXN has got stand-up comedians of East Indian Comedy fame, Sahil Shah and Sapan Verma to make an exclusive video picturizing the life of a Viking in the modern-day.
Experience the rush, excitement and thrill with Vikings only on AXN Live R.E.D.
WPP and Kantar Milliard Brown recently released the fourth edition of BrandZ Top 50 Most Valuable Indian Brands 2017. The long-term growth curve of the Top 50 is positive, with the total brand value of the ranking up 57 per cent since the study was first carried out in 2014, when it amounted to $69.6 billion. India experienced a resurgence in national pride, while also embracing globalisation. This manifested in a desire for products and brands that best reflect Indian heritage, sensibilities and tastes, which benefited local brands and put pressure on multinationals to follow suit.
Adgully caught up with David Roth, CEO, The Store, WPP, and Vishikh Talwar, Managing director, South Asia, Kantar Millward Brown, to know more about brand valuation, how growing national pride is fanning the growth and valuation of indigenous brands, and much more. Excerpts:
What should be attributed as the real value of the brand?
David Roth: The real value of a brand should historically consist of three major pillars salience, awareness and the brand itself. Brand differentiation today is still as important as. Being meaningful today is a huge challenge for brands because the consumers are changing and so are their requirements, what was meaningful a few years ago isnt necessarily meaningful to this generation of consumers. Along with these three pillars, there is a fourth dimension to this, which is innovation, because brands that are seen as highly innovative are growing on an average of 7X as compared to the brands that aren't innovating enough.
But isn't advertising equally important along with creating brand loyalty and being innovative? HDFC Bank is a classic case in this respect...
David Roth: HDFC has communicated really well with its individual customers and now in a multi-media scenario, a brand has to play the long term game and make its presence felt across various channels and platforms. Technology is getting much more clever and sophisticated now, but it all still fundamentally comes down to what is your brands promise to your customers.
How do you see the shopper behaviour changing globally?
David Roth: Shoppers are valuing their time. They are not prepared for monthly or weekly lone shopping anymore. Its much more frequent and small purchases now. Companions are becoming more important. Affording out of love with massive stores and wandering around takes a long time. I think the key challenge for retailers is to convince consumers in the future on why they should be shopping out as opposed to shopping in.
Globally we have seen physical stores being replaced owing to technological advancements. Do you think India will go the same way as well?
David Roth: I think we are all heading in the same trajectory. India is far behind, not just in terms of consumerism, but also because of regulations, government support to number of puppet stores. I think we have never been in such a state of flux in retail around the world, where India is today. I think the relationship is changing between things done physically and things done virtually and, therefore, the virtues of the role of the physical store is likely to change. But I am convinced that the winning formula solution is going to be the next big thing and physical things are going to be done virtually. If you have a look at some other people who have put an effort in opening physical stores, its along with digital players the Amazons of the world that can add value to their company and will also help with their presence in the physical world. Is India going to follow that trend? I would say definitely not. I think it will be a slow follow-up than other markets in the world.
You had mentioned earlier that brand loyalty is weakening in urban areas. What about rural areas?
Vishikh Talwar: Consumer requirements are changing and they are becoming more experimental because their horizons are expanding, but it doesn't mean that their brand loyalties are becoming lower. They would still like to go out, experiment and come back to the brand that they had a promising and fulfilling experience with, and this is the same in regard to both urban and rural markets.
Decoding the most valuable Indian brands
Very few Indian brands have made it to the BrandZ Top 50 list this year as well. Where have the Indian brands gone wrong or where are they lacking? How can they address it?
David Roth: I sense a tremendous opportunity for Indian brands, because the consumer is much more comfortable in their own skin than they are with other counterpart products. Brand India is changing and people are developing a significantly proud sentiment for its products. Non-Indian brands (MNCs) need to watch out because the time is right for Indian brands to come out. I think one of the things we are seeing in other parts of the world is that there is a big opportunity for regional brands.
Its been four years since BrandZ started with its report on the most valuable Indian brands. What kind of advancements or developments have you seen in these four years?
David Roth: When we first started, the financial institutions were the strongest sectors in the report, but that is beginning to change now and we see technology slowly becoming big in India and making its mark. Brands like Patanjali are making millions, although there was a slight decline in FMCG segments making it to the list. The biggest difference that I see is the way consumers in India are living much more positive lives and optimistic than the people where I come from, who are much more pessimistic. If you look at the valuable brands, India is outpacing even the mighty China.
We have seen a low growth of indigenous brands on the list. How can these brands increase their brand value?
Vishikh Talwar: Being an indigenous brand, a brand already has a starting point which is slightly ahead of the multinational organisations, because since the brand is born in the Indian set-up, it understands the audience. Indian brands definitely contribute to the value, the growth is higher and goes a long way in building Brand India. Having said that, it is not about an Indian brand versus an MNC brand, but just about brands in general.
How does India compare with the rest of the world in todays market scenario?
Vishikh Talwar: We at BrandZ are trying to put all the brands in one bag, but when you look at India itself, you cannot put the country in one bag. Earlier things were simpler, when you had certain market realities, urban v/s rural, young v/s old, but all of that is converging and there is a new India which is emerging. This India has many sub-Indias, thus to say that India today is a one collective bag of people will be incorrect.
What are the standout features of the Indian study vis-a-vis BrandZ listing of other countries?
Vishikh Talwar: The play of digital realities is a trend in India currently. It is the new upcoming digital-savvy millennials who are becoming a significant force in driving brand choices and brand values.
HDFC has retained its No. 1 position for 4th consecutive year, but we have not seen too much advertising activity from the brand. Isn't advertising equally important along with creating brand loyalty and being innovative?
Vishikh Talwar: It is not just about getting your advertisements right, there are 3 mantras for a brand to be truly valuable. A brand has to be true to itself, clearly tell people what it stands for and be completely innovative, which HDFC has been doing. Their services are always evolving, they were one of first to introduce net banking and payment gateways. HDFC Bank has always been in touch with the consumers and understood the sensibility of the consumers. HDFC Bank has done a fair amount of one-on-one communication and given a very consistent experience.
There are no major shifts in the top 10 ranking this year as well. Why haven't we seen a disruptor making an entry in top 10?
Vishikh Talwar: A brand which has ranked in the top 10 will have to be a strong brand. If that brand has continued to invest in their brand building, there is no reason why they should not continue to do well. Having said that, there are brands that are challenging the top brands position; one brand that we did see coming this close to challenging this was Jio, which has made an entry at No. 11 this year. Jio disrupted the current market by making the consumers life simpler and hence, was able to acquire that position in its first year itself.
David Roth: The Top 10 list is the most stable, but if you are a big powerful brand and you continue doing the right things, then you remain at your position.
Despite strong numbers and high customer retention, Patanjali didn't make it on the list this year as well
Vishikh Talwar: Patanjali will have to be listed for us to put them on the list. The list is equally dependent on the financial rankings and financial data is available only when a company is listed.
When Hurricane Andrew walloped South Florida in August 1992, Tom Murphy Jr., a third generation Irish-American builder, set out with his mid-size construction company to help rebuild the Florida Keys. The Miami-based general contractor quickly made a name for itself and its disaster recovery efforts, rebuilding Ocean Reef Club and various other structures in south Miami-Dade County.
Fast forward twenty-five years later, Coastal is now one of the largest privately held general contractors in the Southeast with $2 billion in current commercial and residential projects underway. The company has built some of Miamis most headline grabbing projects, including Porsche Design Tower, Paramount Miami Worldcenter, Residences by Armani Casa, Four Seasons Hotel, St. Regis Resort & Residences, Bal Harbour and Ritz-Carlton, South Beach.
Today, the Honorable Patrick Murphy, former U.S. Representative for Floridas 18th congressional district and head of Coastal Cares, the philanthropic arm of Coastal Construction, announced the companys aid plan to help storm victims in the Florida Keys and the Caribbean devastated by Hurricane Irma.
Through the American Red Cross, Coastal has set up a matching fund with its network of subcontractors and employees, committing to matching all financial donations dollar for dollar (up to $25,000) to fund vital building supplies. To donate visit: https://www.redcross.org/donate/cm/coastalconstruction-emp.
Additionally, Coastal has teamed up with Aria Development Group, who is leading a supply drive for Hurricane Irma survivors in the Florida Keys and the Caribbean, donating an additional $25,000 to the drive and soliciting contributions of everyday personal items like toilet paper, toothbrushes, soap, water, canned foods, and blankets, through an established network of drop-off locations (see locations here: http://bit.ly/2w35K0E).
As a part of the fabric of this community and our familys deep legacy in the Florida Keys, we felt it was our duty and privilege to pay forward our blessings and lend a helping hand to our neighbors who have been devastated by Hurricane Irma. We are humbled by the tremendous need and are reminded by incidents like this, that we are all citizens of the one global community, said Murphy.
Coastal has a long history of helping its neighbors in the Caribbean. Following the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010, Tom Murphy Jr. and Patrick Murphy headed to Haiti. When it became apparent that Haitis local dance troupe, Ayikodans, a source of cultural pride, was in jeopardy of having to close its doors, Coastal and a broad base of community leaders stepped in to provide much needed financial support so they could rebuild and continue their tradition.
Additionally, in 2011, Coastal rebuilt Miami Bridge Youth and Family Services, Miamis only emergency shelter for abused, neglected, and abandoned youth that was in desperate need of renovations. The shelter was later renamed the Miami Bridge Coastal Home for Children and Teens in honor of Coastals support and efforts leading the initiative.
Coastal Cares benefits numerous organizations throughout the year including: Miami Bridge, Rebuilding Together, ACE Mentoring Program, Sheridan House Family Ministries, Camillus House, I have a Dream Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, United Way, Baptist Health Foundation, Education Fund/Teach-A-Thon, Miami Dade County Public Schools and other non-profit organizations.
At Coastal, caring extends beyond financial contributions. Our team is grateful for our many blessings and will do whatever it takes to help those less fortunate. Its an important part of who we are as citizens and our corporate culture, added Murphy.
About Coastal Construction
Award-winning Coastal Construction Group and the Murphy family have been building projects throughout Florida for more than five decades and have earned a reputation as one of the leading contractors in the state and the Southeast. Coastal currently has operations in Miami, Palm Beach, Naples, Tampa, Orlando, and the Florida Keys, and has significant experience in commercial, hospitality, single and multi-family residential, educational, government-related facilities and disaster recovery projects. Coastal has built more than 50 hotels and resorts in Florida, including the Ocean Reef Club, Boca Grande, Fisher Island Club, St. Regis Resort & Residences Bal Harbour, the Miami Beach Edition, SLS South Beach, Four Seasons, Faena Hotel, and the West Palm Beach Hilton as well as numerous South Florida condominiums, office buildings and schools, such as the Mansions at Acqualina, Porsche Design Tower, Residences by Armani Casa, Mystique, and the Bacardi World Headquarters. For more information on Coastal, call 305-559-4900, or visit www.coastalconstruction.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170920006196/en/
Kreps DeMaria
Sissy DeMaria, 305-608-5350
sdemaria@krepspr.com
According to the IHS Jane`s defense newspaper, the model received a revised fuselage. The information issued at the show says that the AHL helicopter will have a maximum weight of 38.27 t, an internal/external payload of 10/15 t respectively, a cruise speed of 270 km/h and a maximum flight range of 800 km.
In late August, the CEO of the Rostec state corporation Sergey Chemezov said in an interview with the Chinese Xinhua news agency that the contract for the joint development of the civil heavy helicopter may be signed with the Avicopter company by the year-end. "At present, we are finalizing the terms of the general contract for the development of the helicopter. I expect that this process will be finished before the end of the year, and we will sign the general contract that will define the sharing of works under the program and the relevant executing organizations," Chemezov said. "The take-off weight of the helicopter may be over 38 t, while payload - 14-15 t. The helicopter will be suitable for usage in hot climate, mountainous terrain and all weather conditions, meeting the requirements of our Chinese colleagues," he pointed out. According to the head of Rostec, the demand for the new rotor-wing aircraft in China may reach 200 items by 2040.
September 18, 2017
Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa denounces the Arab boycott of Israel and allows the subjects of his kingdom in the Gulf to visit Israel freely. This appeared in a declaration that was revealed Sept. 15 during a multinational event at the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles. The kings surprising declaration, including a harsh denouncement of terror, was published by The Jerusalem Post Sept. 17.
The kings pronouncements were revealed at the event by American Rabbis Marvin Hier and Abraham Cooper, who head the Simon Wiesenthal Center. They received the statements from the king himself during a visit they made to Bahrain at the beginning of the year, and they had received permission to make the declaration public at this time. (Bahrain does not have diplomatic relations with Israel.) The king told them that he plans to establish a museum of religious tolerance by the end of the year. Hier and Cooper spoke enthusiastically about their visit to Manama, the capital of Bahrain, and the prayer houses they saw that represent the major religions: a church with a large cross on top, a Hindu temple next door, a small mosque in the same area and an ancient synagogue, too.
It has been almost two full days since the declaration of the Bahraini king went public and, so far, no denial has been circulated.
The son of the Bahraini king, Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, also spoke at the event in Los Angeles, and the Bahrain National Orchestra played Israel's national anthem Hatikva preceded by the Bahraini and US national anthems. The event itself was devoted to religious tolerance and the struggle against terror and violence. Members of all of the religions were in attendance, and all listened respectfully to each national anthem.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry kept mum and refused to release a statement about the king's proclamation. Associates of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (who also serves as Israels foreign minister) remained silent, too. No one wants to fix something that is not broken. Highly placed diplomatic sources in Jerusalem told Al-Monitor that the kings declaration did not surprise any of Netanyahus associates.
The Wiesenthal Center has been active in Bahrain for years, an Israeli official said on condition of anonymity. The center brings guests from Bahrain to visit Israel and even helped the Bahraini government renovate an ancient synagogue. A Jewish woman [Nancy Khedouri] is a member of the Bahraini parliament, replacing another Jewish member who served a few years. Let's not forget that Bahrain is the country most threatened of all by Iran, because the Bahraini public is mainly Shiite, while its rulers are Sunni. That is the reason that Bahrain like other countries in the region view Israel as a kind of prospect for support, vis-a-vis the specter of increasing Iranian might.
In recent years, Bahrain has begun to slowly externalize its relations with Israel. Khedouri recently met Israeli Transportation and Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz at a conference of the World Jewish Congress, and the two were even seen in public together.
Meanwhile, most of Bahrains pro-Israel activity takes place through the heads of the Jewish community in the United States, in order to stay close to Washington and earn points in the White House. Qatar is also very active in this sphere, as the country is under a Sunni blockade in the Middle East.
Al-Monitor learned that the government in Bahrain recently contacted high-ranking officials in Israel with the suggestion to institutionalize mutual visits and trade between the two countries. Bahrain has nothing to lose, an Israeli diplomatic source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. It is a small country on Irans radar and truly on the front lines. Nonetheless, diplomatic sources claim that Bahrains changed attitude reflects Saudi Arabias stance. Statements such as the one by Bahrains king are not made without receiving the go-ahead from Riyadh. It is likely, they argue, that Saudi Arabia was the one encouraging Bahrain to step forward in regard to Israel. Saudi Arabia has recently been trying to draw closer to Iran and is keeping its options open by not giving up on its relations with Israel.
The Bahraini statements constitute a rare but significant victory for Netanyahu. High-placed Israelis have, in recent years, hinted at the fact that Israel conducts "underground" relationships with its Middle East neighbors, including those with whom it does not have diplomatic relations. Netanyahu himself repeated in recent weeks and on Sept. 15 from New York that Israel will not tolerate an Iranian foothold in Syria. "An [Iranian] military presence endangers not just us, but also our Arab neighbors," he said.
In this way, Netanyahu revealed a bit of the underground drama taking place in which Israel assumes the main, on-stage role while the rest of the actors hide in the margins at best, or inside the closet, at worst.
Israel has been demanding that the United States, Russia and the entire global community prevent Iran from having a presence in Syria and being anywhere near the Israeli border. According to Israeli sources, these efforts have also reflected the desires of the pragmatic Sunni countries. The members of this covert alliance, which was once composed of US allies in the region, now look desperately at the Trump administration; these states are concerned over the United States' intentions to disengage from the Middle East after the victory over the Islamic State is completed. This disengagement, which will abandon the arena to Iran and Russia, intensifies the panic in the Gulf on one hand, but also strengthens the self-confidence of the Sunni states into publicizing forbidden relations with Israel, on the other.
The words of the Bahraini king are only the tip of the iceberg.
HTC issued a trading halt on its stock effective tomorrow, the Taiwan Stock Exchange Corporation (TWSE) announced on Wednesday, adding that the companys decision was made due to an upcoming disclosure of material information. The move comes amid rumors that Google is buying the Taiwanese firms smartphone unit, with industry insider Evan Blass suggesting that the official announcement on the matter is also to be made on Thursday, citing an HTC employee who said that the two companies agreed to a deal which involves Google acquiring some of HTCs assets but not the brand itself. The Taoyuan, Taiwan-based original equipment manufacturer is to file an application for resuming its stock trading following the publication of the what it deems is crucial information for investors, the TWSE said.
The announcement itself is said to be made in HTC headquarters where the companys top management is supposedly already briefing employees on the matter, recent reports indicate. Industry watchers have been speculating about the potential benefits for Google in case the Alphabet-owned company ends up acquiring HTCs phone business which has been struggling to produce results in recent years, prompting the company to explore liquidation options. While HTCs latest consolidated financial results showed some signs of improvement across the board, the firms handset division is still not close to returning to the black as its latest attempt to do so came in the form of the HTC U11, an Android flagship which peaked shortly after hitting the market this summer and quickly lost momentum, leaving the firm without a successful device with a high profit margin for yet another quarter.
The Taiwanese company supposedly never considered a complete sale of its business and was only looking to offload the smartphone unit which it may believe is weighing down the rest of its operations, some of which are showing a lot of promise. One such unit is HTC Vive, the firms virtual reality venture which is already allowing the tech giant to establish a foothold in this emerging segment which some market watchers are estimating will be worth tens or possibly hundreds of billions of dollars in a few years. Reports that HTC is only interested in selling its smartphone unit coupled with the firms decision to hold on to its brand suggest that the majority of its resources will be committed to the VR market going forward, which not only includes development of first-party hardware and software but also incubation of promising projects which have the potential to ennoble the companys VR ecosystem and industry as a whole.
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HTC and Google have been collaborating for a number of years, with their smartphone partnership dating back to early 2010 and the original Nexus One which started Googles pure Android handset program. HTC also manufactured the 2014 Nexus 9 tablet and was widely reported as the producer of the Pixel and Pixel XL which the Mountain View, California-based tech giant debuted last year, advertising its device series as a phone made by Google. According to recent reports, the Taiwanese company is also handling the manufacturing of this years Pixel 2 which is expected to feature an aesthetic similar to the original lineup, including regularly sized bezels and a 16:9 display panel. The firm is also said to be bringing the Edge Sense technology from the HTC U11 to the Pixel 2, with the smartphone being reported to feature a pressure-sensitive frame which users will be able to squeeze in order to perform actions, i.e. rely on it as a physical shortcut. HTCs front-facing stereo speakers are also said to be part of the Pixel 2 package, though its currently unclear if the audio setup and Edge Sense will also make its way to the Pixel XL 2 which is being produced by LG Electronics.
With HTC now issuing a stock trading halt, major news from the company are likely imminent and will come shortly before Google officially debuts the Pixel 2 family whose launch is scheduled for October 4. Googles last acquisition of a smartphone maker only left the company with numerous additions to its patent portfolio after it sold Motorola Mobility to Lenovo in early 2014, so it remains to be seen whether the Internet giant once again decides to try its hand at being an independent handset manufacturer.
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[2] According to this person, the companies have finalized a deal wherein GOOG will acquire certain HW eng assets, but HTC retains its brand Evan Blass (@evleaks) September 20, 2017
The Galaxy Note 8 is getting negative mass media coverage in China on a daily basis, recent reports indicate, speculating that the state-sponsored medias motive for criticizing Samsungs latest phablet is related to the tensions between Beijing and South Korea over the latters decision to approve the deployment of the United States Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system on the Korean peninsula. Pre-orders for the Galaxy Note 8 opened in China around the same time those for the iPhone 8 series did, with the local media reportedly using that opportunity to compare the two and mock Samsungs poor performance in the country. Advanced orders on the companys new Android flagship are said to be counted in the thousands, whereas the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus supposedly already surpassed four million pre-orders in China in total.
The local branch of the South Korean original equipment manufacturer still insists that the Galaxy Note 8 is performing better than its predecessors did, noting how the company recently opted for a deposit-based pre-order system in order to increase the chances of an advanced order leading to a purchase. While Apple has no such system in place, Samsung is asking for an equivalent of $15.21 (100 Yuan) from everyone who wants to register their intent to purchase the Galaxy Note 8, indicating that the smartphones pre-order numbers more accurately reflect its initial commercial performance than those of Apples iPhone 8 lineup do, though the difference between the two is still massive. Samsungs new offering is also one of the most expensive smartphones in the Far Eastern country which likely wont help its sales in a highly competitive and value-oriented market like China, some industry watchers claim, noting how the most affordable Galaxy Note 8 model is priced at 6,988 Yuan, which translates to approximately $1,063. In a country whose GPD per capita is well below the worlds average, the Galaxy Note 8s premium price tag is expected to negatively affect its commercial performance.
The Galaxy Note 8 was officially released on Friday, September 15, though a number of markets are yet to receive the Android phablet, China included. The smartphone is expected to become commercially available in the country by late September, with Samsung hoping that its new device will help it recoup some Chinese customers its been losing over the years. The tech giants performance in the country has been on a decline for several years now and has even led Samsung to introduce some major organizational changes in a bid to revive its China business.
T-Mobile has announced that it is increasing the deprioritization data usage cap for unlimited customers to 50GB per line, while predictably throwing shade at its biggest competitors. T-Mobile CTO Neville Ray glossed over the fact that this new deprioritization cap is over twice that of Verizon and AT&T, before stating that T-Mobiles network, despite seeing vastly increased usage of late, has been able to provide rising LTE speeds, with the average sitting at around 30Mbps according to crowdsourced data from Ooklas Speedtest app. This figure includes roughly 100 million hours of Netflix per day, thanks in part to T-Mobiles Netflix On Us initiative. Naturally, he took a sentence aside to not only state that AT&T and Verizon have experienced network slowdowns since rolling out unlimited data plans, but to provide links to back up his assertion. Sprint was not mentioned in the proceedings, interestingly; this could be taken as T-Mobile not seeing Sprint as a threat, or could be construed as having to do with the two carriers recent talks of a possible merger.
In the next section, T-Mobile assumes the role of a teacher, with the CTOs bon mots taking the form of a numbered list consisting of three seemingly simple lessons, broken down and interpreted for the wireless world. The first lesson reads, To go faster, move faster, and the elaboration on the subject goes into how T-Mobile jumps on the newest wireless innovations quickly, getting new standards and technologies out to its customers as fast as possible. The second lesson is summed up as, Always be planning ahead, and is about the fact that T-Mobile anticipated extreme traffic when it first began building its LTE network, and is already building out heavily for 5G. The final lesson is entitled, Shut up and listen, and involves monitoring network performance, crowdsourcing data, and generally listening to customers.
Ray winds down the scathing letter with a promise that T-Mobiles company mantra of We wont stop also applies to its network expansion and buildout efforts. T-Mobile has been hard at work fulfilling that promise, already deploying LTE equipment compatible with the 600MHz spectrum that it won in the FCCs incentive auction, and even working closely Nokia and Qualcomm on 4.9G technology, all while building out and refarming its network as necessary to facilitate a near-future 5G rollout.
The Most Useful Languages To Learn
The Five Most Useful Languages To Learn (And How To Master Them)
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You probably spend time caring about your love language and how it affects your date life, your body language and how it affects your social interactions and career? But what about foreign languages?
While not as sexy as decoding your partners body language, learning a second (or third!) language can be useful for business and travel. In fact, research from Pennsylvania State University showed that bilingual people outperform monolinguals at mental juggling, like multitasking and prioritizing tasks.
For people who are beyond the days of Spanish 1 in high school, youre not too old to learn a new language. A study in Annals of Psychology proved there are cognitive benefits to learning a language later in life. Not to mention, it's a hell of a way to impress a date with your flawless pronunciation of her favorite French wine.
Learning new languages is also a great asset for traveling. While many major city centers will have some population of English speakers, speaking the local language is a great way to feel like a local and immerse yourself in the community.
We know you dont have endless time to learn all 6,000-plus languages in the world, so we scoured the web to find the best languages to get the most bang for your buck.
Mandarin Chinese - Rosetta Stone Learn Chinese
Best For: The International Businessman
According to Ethnologue, more than 898 million people speak Mandarin Chinese, making it the most spoken language in the world. And with China having the second largest GDP in the world, it doesnt take much forecasting or analyzing to see that learning Mandarin will only continue to grow in usefulness.
While its evident that the language will be useful in China, Taiwan, and Singapore, theres also a substantial number of Mandarin speakers in Australia, Malaysia, and Indonesia. So, if youre planning an island getaway or Asia Pacific business trip, Mandarin will come in handy.
Because Mandarin is a tonal language, it requires precise pronunciation to appropriately express words and phrases. Rosetta Stones Learn Chinese offers a curriculum that integrates the written and spoken activities. But what sets it apart from other classes is its TruACCENT feature. In this feature, the program listens to your pronunciation and helps you tweak and adapt it throughout the course. As a premium feature, youre also able to purchase live tutoring, where you can get private feedback from native speakers. Rosetta Stone Learn Chinese is available on CD or instant download via their site, but we suggest the online subscription. That way, youre able to also access your class on your smartphone and tablet, and your process syncs across all devices. Youre also able to download the audio for offline use (think long subway commutes or plane rides) to practice on-the-go.
Difficulty: Hard
Starting at $79 for a 3-month subscription on RosettaStone.com
Spanish - Edx Basic Spanish
Best For: The Sun Chaser
Spanish isnt just the second most commonly spoken language in the world; its darn near necessary for any traveler jetting to Central or South America. If youre heading to the warm beaches of Mexico, the soaring peaks of Peru, or the humid jungles of Colombia, knowing ano (year) from ano (anus) might be helpful.
If English is your first language, youll find Spanish to be an easy language to learn quickly. Pronunciation isnt as hard as other languages on our list, and because its rooted in Latin, it has many cognates (words that look and sound similar in both English in Spanish). For example, airplane is aeroplano and camera is camara. See, you can already describe airplane selfies en espagnol.
For beginners, Basic Spanish 1: Getting Started is the perfect option. Accessible via edX, this 7-week course gives learners an overview of basic conversation skills, and teaches you how to describe nationality, family, and preferences. Together with Basic Spanish 2: One Step Further (the following class), they are taught to help you achieve the A1 proficiency level from the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Difficulty: Easy
Free (or add a certificate for $40) on Edx.com
French - Udemy French For Beginners
Best For: The Wanderluster
Learning French isnt only useful for ordering coq au vin and visiting the Eiffel Tower. Its spoken by more than 76 million people and may become even more useful post-Brexit. Outside of Europe, French is spoken widely across Africa, due to the countrys attempt to colonize the continent, as well as throughout the Caribbean and Canada.
Business travelers may find learning French useful with its elevated position in the European Union and Africas steadily growing economy. For the leisure traveler looking for a unique experience, youll find knowing French to be equally beneficial in your excursions. Whether you plan to head out on a safari tour to see the endangered Western Lowland Gorillas, or you wish to blend in as a local in the colorful fishing villages of Martinique.
Udemy has a broad range of French courses, but one of the most popular is French for beginners - From zero to pro in 60 minutes. Its hard to believe youd get anything substantive from only an hour, but its garnered a 4.6 review and has recorded 1,895 students. The class boasts that youll be able to communicate clearly with natives by learning how to introduce yourself and discuss a range of topics including family, jobs, and travels all with no prior French language knowledge.
Difficulty: Easy
$45.00 at Udemy.com
Arabic - Rosetta Stone Modern Standard Arabic
Best For: The Person Seeking A Challenge
According to the Pew Research Center, Arabic is the fastest growing language in the U.S. Their studies found that between 2010 and 2014, the number of Arabic speakers rose 29 percent to 1.1 million, compared to Spanish speaker growth of 6 percent.
With greater political, social, and economic interest in the Middle East and demand for Arabic speakers in America, it could be advantageous to get in on this mysterious language now. We also know its a high priority language for the FBI. The 22 countries of the Arab World include some you may think of, like the United Arab Emirates and Iraq, and some you might have overlooked like Sudan and Libya. This language is also a great asset in travel. If youre planning a trip to explore the pyramids of Egypt, or to explore the wonders of Tel Aviv in Israel, youll find Arabic more than handy.
Some may find reading right to left, the unfamiliar glottal pronunciation, and the connected-letter script to be difficult, but there are a few advantages to the language. For example, word roots usually have three consonants called radicals, so its easy to read and form similar words based on the three letters. For example, the characters for ktb are the root for words associated with writing, like kataba (to write), kitaab (book) and maktaba (library).
To learn Arabic, Rosetta Stone is a great resource to hone your listening, reading, and speaking skills. They teach Modern Standard Arabic (the broadcast standard of Al Jazeera TV). And, not only will you be able to learn to pronounce the language like a pro with their TruACCENT feature, but youll also be able to take advantage of their proven immersion-based learning method which is meant to simulate a real-life immersion experience". The method uses a combination of deductive reasoning, words, photos, and recordings to advance you from simple words to sentences and conversations.
Difficulty: Hard
Starting at $79 for a 3-month subscription on RosettaStone.com
German - Udemy German Made Simple
Best For: The Entrepreneur
If youre planning to travel to Europe, you should brush up on your German. German is the most spoken native language within the EU, and U.S. News and World Report list Germany as one of the top five most powerful countries. Germany also has a highly educated, affluent population. After Brexit, Germany is expected to be even stronger academically and economically. If youre a business owner looking to expand into Europe, Germany might be your gateway to economic prosperity.
Germany isnt just for future Ludwig van Beethovens; its also a great spot for summer vacations. The country is full of fairytale castles and beautiful, natural landscapes. And of course, one can't forget Germany's legendary Oktoberfest. You will not regret knowing some key phrases when navigating back to your hotel post-Oktoberfest celebrations.
One of the highest ranked courses to learn German is accessible on Udemy. German Made Simple: A Complete Course for Serious Learners has a 4.4 review from 773 reviewers and requires no previous knowledge of the language. Purchasing the course gives you lifetime access to the 4.5 hours of video and 16 articles, along with various other supporting materials.
Difficulty: Medium
$150 at Udemy.com
Related Readings
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A rolling success for the sport utility vehicle manufacturer, the increasingly popular Renegade could welcome an even smaller brother in the coming years according to a fresh report from Automotive News . As per the cited publication, an A-segment Jeep is coming, an entry-level model that will be sold exclusively outside North America, where smaller cars predominate.No name, no debut date, no technical information, absolutely nothing else is known about the alleged A-segment Jeep. But if the rumor will be proven right, what should we look forward from the smallest Jeep of the modern era? Your guess is as good as mine, and if my imagination were to take over factuality, I'd say that the Fiat Panda 4x4 is going to be badge-engineered.The Panda 4x4 would be one of the possible starting points for the unconfirmed and unnamed Jeep model, chiefly because it slots in the A-segment, it has all-wheel-drive, and the underpinnings are cheap enough to allow the American automaker to develop a mostly inexpensivefor markets where small vehicles are popular. At the same time, the Panda 4x4-derived model wouldnt make any sense at all in the United States.On a related note, Automotive News ends the write-up with the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer . Confirmed to sit at the very top of the Jeep lineup, the two full-size luxobarges will share a platform with the current Ram 1500.Thats right, ladies and gents and boys and girls! What that means is body-on-frame construction, translating to supreme off-road capability. The newcomers are expected to go official in mid-2019, with production to be handled by the Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Michigan.
More than 110 chapters of Women in Aviation International (WAI) are gearing up for Girls in Aviation Day to be held Saturday, Sept. 23. Girls in Aviation Day has been embraced by the entire aviation community including pilots, airlines, aviation museums, FBOs, flight schools, colleges and universities, government officials and aviation businesses, says WAI President Dr. Peggy Chabrian. This community effort speaks highly to the commitment we all feel to share our passion for aviation and create a diverse future aviation workforce.
Delta Air Lines will host more than 120 girls at the National Flight Academy in Pensacola, Florida, where theyll meet current employees, learn about the fundamentals of flight, navigate a drone obstacle course, experience the inside of an air traffic control tower and fly a simulator. Former F/A-18 pilot and Blue Angel, U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Corrie Mays. will close out the event. We have no doubt that lives will be changed on Saturday, adds Dr. Chabrian. Girls worldwide are in for an experience that just may steer the course of their lives toward aviation all done in a supportive, exciting and fun-filled environment.
For more information on local Girls in Aviation Day events, visit www.wai.org/giad.
Numerous startups in the tech hub of Toronto say they have had steady, double-digit increases in job applications from the United States since last year's presidential election. This is among the first concrete evidence that President Trump's hard line on immigration may be impacting the global race to attract the best minds.
What they're saying: "I've been in tech for over 20 years in Canada and in Silicon Valley, too. I've never seen candidates from the U.S. apply for Canadian positions from places like Silicon Valley," Roy Pereira, the CEO of Zoom.ai, told Axios. "That's never happened."
Why it matters: Since Trump's election, with his attacks on immigration and threats to cut back on visas, France, China and Canada, among other countries, have openly sought to poach American technologists and scientists (as we have written). The reports from Toronto suggest a threat to the United States' long edge as the preeminent magnet for the world's brightest scientific talent.
At the center of all this is MaRS: Toronto has created a 20-story, 1.5-million-square-foot startup incubator within a dense core of the city, across the street from the University of Toronto and crammed among nine research and teaching hospitals. Some 150 medical, artificial intelligence, energy, fintech and other startups have quarters in the MaRS Discovery District, in addition to IBM, Autodesk, Merck and the Vector Institute, a new AI research center that's received about $200 million in government and industry funding.
The key stat: 62% of the high-growth Canadian companies that responded to a July survey by MaRS indicated that they'd seen a notable recent increase in U.S.-based applicants. Some key examples from Toronto:
Zoom.ai , an enterprise chatbot startup, has seen nearly a third of its applicants for its engineering positions come from the U.S., up from almost none. That number peaked in February but has remained largely constant in the months afterward.
, an enterprise chatbot startup, has seen nearly a third of its applicants for its engineering positions come from the U.S., up from almost none. That number peaked in February but has remained largely constant in the months afterward. Cyclica , which assists pharmaceutical companies with drug discovery and approval, said that 85% of its applicants for a business development leadership role this year were U.S.-based. That's up from 35% last June for similar job openings.
, which assists pharmaceutical companies with drug discovery and approval, said that 85% of its applicants for a business development leadership role this year were U.S.-based. That's up from 35% last June for similar job openings. Figure 1, the "Instagram for doctors," saw its U.S.-based applicants double for senior-level roles and increase by 50% for engineering roles year-over-year in January.
"If you mix up enough highly reactive molecules, and apply heat, something is going to happen," MaRS CEO Ilse Treurnicht told Axios.
When it happened: Cyclica CEO Naheed Kurji told Axios that he saw a "significant and notable spike" in U.S. applicants in the months immediately after the November election.
It is not only companies, but students the seed of later scientists: U.S. applications to the University of Toronto, a leading center for the study of artificial intelligence, have risen 80% since November, the school says.
Why it happened: Pereira said that his discussions with American applicants indicated that they were "concerned just because of the directionality that the country was taking," often citing Trump's travel ban as a reason they were looking at jobs in Canada.
And they're influential: Figure 1 CEO Gregory Levey told Axios that he's meeting with American entrepreneurs this week who are looking to relocate to Toronto from Silicon Valley, describing them as "global-level talent," including "one high-flying startup CEO who just sold his company" for a significant amount of money.
A homecoming: Kurji, Pereira, and Levey all mentioned that they'd been personally contacted about the job market in Toronto by Canadian expats in the U.S., indicating that many of Canada's best and brightest are looking to come home. A big quote from Kurji:
"We're seeing a reverse brain drain for the first time. There are highly talented Canadians educated in Canada or the U.S. who are now seeking to come back home. There's has been a significant spike in those conversations. Some of the most highly sought-after talent are asking, 'What positions do you know of in Toronto?' These are leaders in their industries in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago."
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told PBS NewsHour that President Trump apologized to him about the May incident in which Turkish security personnel beat peaceful protesters in Washington, D.C.
Pushback: A White House official told Axios that Erdogan and Trump "discussed a wide range of issues" on the call but "the comments were not true and the President did not apologize."
The quote: "Actually President Trump called me about a week ago about this issue. He said that he was sorry and he told me he was going to follow up about this issue when we come to the United States within the framework of an official visit. The protesters were insulting us, and they were screaming and shouting. The police failed to intervene properly."
The incident: Erdogan looked on as guards charged into a park and clashed with protesters. Trump did not speak out against the violence at the time, but it belatedly sparked a diplomatic incident as arrest warrants were issued for 12 of Erdogan's security guards, and four other security officials were arrested. Erdogan said that was a "scandalous sign of how justice works in the United States." More recently, Congress has considered banning guns sales to Erdogan's presidential security.
The broader picture: Turkey is a key strategic ally of the U.S., but there have been severe strains on the relationship, one of which centers on the U.S. alliance with Kurdish fighters against ISIS. Erdogan has also been acting in an increasingly authoritarian fashion after a failed coup attempt last year, and Trump was criticized for congratulating him on winning a constitutional referendum that was widely viewed as a power grab.
This story has been updated with the denial from the White House.
Your Generate host has learned that a group called New Energy America is launching today that will promote renewable energy industry jobs in rural regions nationwide.
Why it matters: The group, which is funded by renewable energy companies, could influence lawmakers in red-leaning areas amid policy battles that affect wind, solar, biofuels, and other sectors.
"The point is to make sure there is accountability in places where clean energy jobs are growing, but elected officials are voting against policies that can support the growth of clean energy," a source familiar with the group's planning tells Axios.
Who they are: Mike Carr, who was a senior Energy Department renewables official under President Obama, is the executive director. Kendra Kostek, who was an aide to Hillary Clinton's presidential run, is director of public engagement.
Advisory board members include former longtime California Democratic congressman George Miller, who chaired the House Education and Labor Committee; and Jon Powers, co-founder of the solar investment firm CleanCapital and was the federal chief sustainability officer under Obama.
Opening move: They're releasing a report today that provides a state-by-state tally of jobs in fossil fuels versus renewable power sources like wind and solar, biofuels, and energy efficiency. It finds that these clean energy and efficiency jobs combined already outnumber fossil fuel employment in 41 states. Efficiency jobs are the the bulk of the tally.
Read more of my story here.
Administration officials have been debating whether to delay the tax rollout until the first week of October to clear space for the Graham-Cassidy health care bill. Sources with direct knowledge tell me no final decisions have been made as of Wednesday afternoon, but Trump has been impatient for tax reform to begin so he may not tolerate any more delays.
Why it matters: Sources involved say the plan is still to roll out tax reform next week, but some officials are wringing their hands about the health care bill the Senate could vote as early as Wednesday ruining tax reform's launch week by sucking all of the attention away from tax.
Why it's happening: Trump wants tax reform on schedule, but the Senate is running out of days to use reconciliation to change elements of the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, there is concern of potential leaks from the upcoming House Ways and Means Committee retreat, and the "Big Six" that's negotiating the plan has yet to decide what to put in the document that will guide tax reform.
An administration official told me the White House invited Big Six communications and coalitions teams to the Roosevelt Room on Wednesday afternoon to discuss what a rollout of tax reform would look like.
The group is still operating under the assumption that the rollout will happen next week as originally planned.
The "Big Six": House Ways and Means Committee chairman Kevin Brady, House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Finance Committee chairman Orrin Hatch, Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House economic adviser Gary Cohn.
In the past 24 hours there have been 20 million attempted ransomware attacks, according to analysis from Barracuda Networks. Most of the attacks have originated in Vietnam, but others are coming from India, Colombia, Turkey, and Greece, as well as several other countries.
Why it matters: The attack is growing rapidly, and recent ransomware attacks that spread around the globe proved highly destructive.
How to recognize it: It'll come as an email from a false source with a subject of "Herbalife" or something about a "copier" file delivery. Victims who pay the ransom will reportedly not receive a decryptor to break the hack.
Vice President Mike Pence wrapped Russia together with the worst state actors in the world in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly today, naming it among the countries and terror groups "who seek to undermine...sovereignty, prosperity, and security."
Why this matters: What Pence said about Russia is as important as the context in which he said it. He rhetorically grouped Russia with the menaces of Iran, North Korea, and radical Islamic terrorism, making his one of the harshest messages the Trump administration has sent to Russia in nine months.
Trump didn't call out Russia by name in his speech to the UN on Tuesday, though he did obliquely criticize the Kremlin's occupation of Crimea, saying: "We must reject threats to sovereignty from the Ukraine to the South China Sea."
Here are the key grabs, from Pence's speech to the UN Security Council Wednesday morning:
"For as President Trump observed yesterday, we are once again confronted, in his words, by 'those who threaten us with chaos, turmoil, and terror,' who seek to undermine the sovereignty, prosperity, and security, all of which the President called the 'pillars of peace.'
"In Eastern Europe, Russia continues to compromise the sovereignty of its neighbors and seeks to redraw international borders by force. Radical Islamic Terrorism continues to beset nations with barbarous attacks in Barcelona, Paris, London. In the Middle East, the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism continues to flout the spirit of Iran Deal, destabilizing the region and brazenly threatening the security of sovereign nations. And as the world has seen in just the past few days, the depraved regime in North Korea is relentlessly pursuing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles and now, as the president said, 'threatens the entire world with unthinkable loss of human life'."
Pence also echoed Trump's attacks on the Human Rights Council a UN body that conservatives frequently lambast for what they argue is unfair and hypocritical scrutiny of Israel.
President Trump said he has "decided" whether to exit the Iran nuclear deal, per a pool report. Trump did not reveal what he decided.
Go deeper: Iran deal opponents pave new path for Trump to de-certify; Secretary of State Nikki Haley's ominous speech about the deal
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev again strongly criticized the international community on Wednesday for not helping Azerbaijan regain control over Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenian-held districts surrounding it.
In a speech at the UN General Assembly in New York, he also lashed out at Armenia, calling it a corrupt and fascist dictatorship and branding his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisian as a war criminal.
Aliyev repeated Bakus regular claims that Armenia has been ignoring the Karabakh-related resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council in 1993-1994 and trying to maintain the status quo.
The question is how can this corrupt, failed state ruled by a despotic, medieval regime afford to violate international law for so many years and ignore the resolutions of the UN Security Council and statements of the leading countries of the world? he said. And the answer is double standards.
There is no international pressure on the aggressor, no international sanctions imposed on the Armenian dictatorship. This policy must be stopped.
The international community must stop Armenian fascism and terror, he added.
Aliyev, who is facing growing internationalallegations of corruption and criticism for harshly suppressing dissent in Azerbaijan, did not name any world powers allegedly backing Yerevan. He reiterated instead that the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must be completely restored as a result of a Karabakh settlement.
Sarkisian ruled out such an option when he addressed the UN assembly on Tuesday. He stood by the official Armenian line that the Karabakh Armenians right to self-determination must be at the heart of any peace accord.
Sarkisian said Karabakh cannot be placed back under Azerbaijani rule not least because Aliyevs regime is a symbol of medieval backwardness. Azerbaijan has no legal and moral grounds to lay claim to Artsakh (Karabakh), he went on. Artsakh has never been part of an independent Azerbaijan.
Whatever variant of settlement we arrive at, the Republic of Artsakh cannot have a lower status and enjoy less freedom than it does now, said the Armenian leader.
Peace proposals jointly made by the United States, Russia and France over the past decade call for a phased resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani dispute. It would start with a gradual liberation of virtually all seven districts around Karabakh that were occupied by Armenian forces in 1992-1994. In return, Karabakhs predominantly ethnic Armenian population would be able to determine the territorys internationally recognized status in a future referendum.
Aliyev and Sarkisian traded the verbal attacks ahead of a possible meeting in New York of their foreign ministers. The U.S., Russian and French co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group hope that the meeting will prepare the ground for an Armenian-Azerbaijani summit later this year.
20 September 2017 10:18 (UTC+04:00)
Over the past 24 hours, Armenias armed forces have 127 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported on September 20.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
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20 September 2017 12:58 (UTC+04:00)
By Rashid Shirinov
The Sargsyan regime is trying to sell an empty dream to Armenians for its own selfish reasons.
President Serzh Sargsyan, addressing the 6th Armenia-Diaspora Sixth Pan-Armenian Forum, has once again voiced his pipe dream to increase the population of the country to 4 million people by 2040.
The dreamy statement was aimed to convince Armenians living abroad to return homeland or at least invest in the country, which would allow the authorities to increase their wealth.
President Sargsyan in vain hopes for repatriation of young professionals and entrepreneurs from the Diaspora communities he will not be able to increase the population in the country, Armenian experts say.
Even the most ardent patriotic Armenians do not want to live in a country where human rights are not respected, where there is no freedom of speech and it is impossible to do honest business, the experts note. Armenians are well aware how the government does not let businessmen work freely and forces to pay significant part of their earnings to the authorities.
The official statistics show that the countrys population continues to decline steadily year by year, and the government is still unable to fix the situation. The population has decreased by 15,200 people over the past year, and today the population of the country is even less than 3 million 2,979,900 people according to the National Statistical Service.
The recently published UN report noted that the countrys population will decrease to 2,993,000 in 2030 and 2,729,000 in 2050. Moreover, in 2100 Armenias population will be only 1,793,000 according to the UN.
There are many reasons why the population in Armenia is decreasing, but the main ones are the widespread unemployment, rampant corruption and lack of peoples confidence in the future. Even young Armenians, who have higher education, face difficulties with finding a descent job, not to mention those who dont have a university degree. Therefore, if young people have any opportunity, they leave Armenia for good. As for those who stay in the country, they try not to have more than one child because of difficult living conditions in Armenia.
Moreover gender inequality is a pressing issue in the Armenian society. In Armenia, women constitute 67 percent of countrys economically non-active population and their unemployment rate is almost double that of male unemployment (51.5 percent female vs. 21.8 percent male).
According to World Bank estimates, Armenia loses as much as 14 percent of its potential GDP due to unequal opportunities for women to participate in employment and entrepreneurship.
Despite pressing socio-economic problems, the Armenian government hopes to attract to the country successful compatriots living abroad.
However, Armenians living abroad are aware of the processes taking place in the motherland, and do not wish to be part of it.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
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20 September 2017 16:44 (UTC+04:00)
By Rashid Shirinov
As next edition of an Armenia-Diaspora Forum opened in Yerevan, the Armenian authorities resumed search for ways to attract investments into this poor country.
But just how successful? There exist a number of factors that will stand as an impediment to the investments if not solved in the first place.
Failing democracy, corruption and absence of transparency, poor government policies and infrastructure, lack of professionals and rising immigration these issues are nothing new for Armenia.
Those who once dared to invest in the country, now forewarn businessmen about those dangers they may face if they enter the Armenian business market.
Zareh Palian, a Diaspora Armenian public figure, businessman from the United States, participating in the 6th Armenia-Diaspora Conference, is among them.
Palian, talking to reporters in Yerevan, voiced that he does not trust the Armenian authorities. The businessman opposed all the promising statements made by President Serzh Sargsyan at the event, openly accusing the Armenian government of theft and unlimited greed.
The insatiable greed knows no end. Of course, everything can be changed, but the people [officials] are in such languor, as if they are in paradise, robbing indiscriminately and with no conscience, he said.
Suppose I become the president of Armenia, if I must appoint a minister, if there is plunder, corruption, injustice, criminal inactivity in that ministers nature, how can I force him to work for his nation, not for his pocket? If thats in his nature, and Im sure its in many people, for today there is a widespread belief that honest person is naive, a despicable fool. On the other hand, person who displays all the negative features is a smart fellow. Where will this situation take us? Dont you think were on the way to an abyss? he was quoted as saying by aravot-en.am.
Palian noted that the Armenian government increases the electricity tariffs, although people have no money, and this means that the authorities are not going to change anything and they, on the contrary, do everything so that the people leave Armenia.
The businessman further reminded that he himself was a victim of the greed of the Armenian authorities. Answering the question whether the Diaspora and potential investors trust Armenia, he said: The trust is at zero, they know they are being robbed, and there is no court. Four times I opened business in Armenia, with approximately $30,000 for each. All four were looted, and there is no court where it would be possible to restore justice.
Armenian entrepreneur from France Valerie-Ashkhen Gortsunyan was also forced to end business in Armenia. She arrived in Armenia and opened a business in the 1990s, but six years ago she had to flee, losing her business and all the money.
I see no changes, every day we see how everything is politicized in the justice system. If there is no justice, there is no trust, and if there is no trust, then investment cannot exist in Armenia. The whole economic system of Armenia is impossible for investment, she told Tert.am.
The businesswoman added that if the Armenian government wants to change something, they need to quickly build trust, and only in this case the economy will function and investment will come. If there is no democracy in the country, then there is nothing, she added.
In Armenia, if businessmen do not share part of income with the authorities, they soon get persecuted and ultimately leave the country. And then the Armenian president again makes speeches to attract new Armenian businessmen living abroad.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
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20 September 2017 13:30 (UTC+04:00)
By Sara Israfilbayova
The trade turnover in agriculture between Azerbaijan and China, which is the priority market for the country, amounted to $10 million in 2016.
Agriculture Minister Heydar Asadov, talking to reporters on September 19, said that the relations between the two countries in the agrarian sphere are currently growing, but some problems remain.
The main problem is the increase in export and export potential of Azerbaijani agricultural product, said Asadov.
The minister mentioned that China can buy wool, fruits and wine from Azerbaijan 2-2.8 times cheaper than it imports from other countries. He added that the issue will be mulled in the subsequent negotiations between Azerbaijan and China.
The agricultural imports between the two countries have never exceeded $8 million, while exports have never been higher than $2 million, he added, stressing that Azerbaijan may export certain products to China at lower prices.
Trade and economic contacts occupy a significant place in bilateral relations between China and Azerbaijan. The process of interaction between the two countries was marked by constant tendencies of expansion and strengthening of cooperation. To date, more than 50 agreements were signed between the two countries.
In June, Teymur Nadiroglu was appointed the trade representative of Azerbaijan in China, in a bid to expand non-oil exports, promote the Made in Azerbaijan brand and attract investment in the country.
AZPROMO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) in early August. The document provides for the development of trade, economic and investment relations between the two countries, as well as promotion of export and exchange of experience.
Last year, Azerbaijani companies agreed to deliver 500,000 bottles of wine to the country. The agreement was reached within the framework of participation of Azerbaijani entrepreneurs in international exhibitions in Hong Kong and Guangzhou. This year, local companies intend to expand the export of wine to China, the world's second-largest economy.
Overall, trade turnover between China and Azerbaijan has grown 800-fold over the past two decades. Initially, bilateral trade amounted to only $1.5 million, while in 2004, it jumped to $200 million, and $368 million in 2006. By 2013, the trade turnover reached around $1.5 billion.
Today, China takes the 4th place in the overall trade turnover of Azerbaijan, 3rd place - in exports and imports.
The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and China amounted to $964.68 million in January-August 2017, which is an increase by 78.8 percent as compared to the same period of 2016, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan.
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20 September 2017 14:20 (UTC+04:00)
By Sara Israfilbayova
Five more financial institutions operating in Azerbaijan have signed agreement with the newly-established Institution of Banking Ombudsman.
Kapital Bank, AFB Bank, Pasha Bank, Atabank and Aqrarkredit non-bank credit organization signed agreement with the Institution of Banking Ombudsman, Executive Secretary of the Banking Ombudsman Elchin Hasanov told Trend.
The goal of the newly-established mechanism is to increase customer confidence in banks and settle disputes between parties without judicial intervention. Ikram Karimov was appointed the Banking Ombudsman.
Negotiations with banks on this issue have been ongoing for some time, and the lawyers of the financial structures have asked for time to get acquainted with the declaration, Hasanov said.
He added that the number of banks, working with the Banking Ombudsman, will increase in the future.
Some 31 banks, including two state banks, and 123 NBCOs are operating in Azerbaijan. So far, 23 banks and one NBCO have signed agreements with the Banking Ombudsman of Azerbaijan.
The ombudsman is expected to handle disputes with the amount of a claim up to $2,000.
Appeals will be accepted on the website www.bankombudsman.az, according to the Association of Banks of Azerbaijan (ABA).
Before sending an appeal to the Ombudsman, an individual must send his/ her claims to the bank in writing. In turn, the bank must provide the claimer with an answer within 30 days. An individual can apply to the Ombudsman within 60 days after receiving the answer or 30 days after the letter was sent to the bank.
In addition, the ombudsman activity will cover only those banks that signed the Declaration on the transfer of disputes involving individuals - clients of the financial institution to the Banking Ombudsman.
The Banking Ombudsman is not entitled to take decisions on making amendments and additions to mortgage loan agreements, including termination of (full or partial) obligations of the parties to the contract. The competence of the banking ombudsman includes holding meetings and providing banks with recommendations on the borrowers' appeals concerning changes in mortgage conditions.
The Ombudsman issues a conclusion about the possibility or impossibility of settling disputes. The Ombudsman is independent in activity, any interference in the activity when considering appeals is unacceptable.
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20 September 2017 16:55 (UTC+04:00)
By Kamila Aliyeva
Gabala hosted the 16th meeting of the Committee of the Heads of the Law Enforcement Departments of the CIS Council of Customs Services Heads on September 20.
The State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan (SCC) reported that representatives of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan attended the event. Latvian and Estonian customs service representatives participated as observers.
Head of the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee Aydin Aliyev, addressing the event, stressed that one of the key activities of the customs service is the fight against smuggling.
He noted the importance of developing international cooperation in this sphere.
Highly appreciating the work of the law enforcement departments of the customs services of the CIS member states, Aliyev noted that mutually fruitful cooperation has created the conditions for achieving success in combating smuggling and ensuring border security.
Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Head of the Federal Customs Service of Russia Anatoly Seryshev expressed his confidence that the event will play an important role in further strengthening the ties between the customs services of the participating countries.
Later, the event saw presentation on the topic Organization of the work of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan in the sphere of combating smuggling and customs offenses.
The participants of the meeting were provided with information on the decisions of the previous meeting of the Committee of Heads of Law Enforcement Departments and the implementation of the work plan for 2017.
The meeting participants also considered a draft work plan of the Committee of Heads of Law Enforcement Departments for 2018 and studied issues related to the adoption of a plan of work to combat economic crimes and customs offenses for 2018-2019.
The issues regarding the adoption of the work plan for 2018 on the regional coordination hub of the CIS states-RILO-Moscow within the framework of the World Customs Organization's law enforcement activities were also considered.
In June Baku hosted the 65th meeting of the Council of Heads of Customs Services of CIS member states. Heads and representatives of the customs services of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan attended the meeting.
The 66th meeting of the Council of Heads of Customs Services of the CIS member countries will be held in Kyrgyzstan.
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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva
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20 September 2017 18:06 (UTC+04:00)
By Sara Israfilbayova
The project on "Enhancing the competitiveness of the non-oil industry in Azerbaijan" has been launched with financing of the European Union (EU) and support of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
This project will give impetus to the diversification of the economy, which is number one priority in the country, Deputy Economy Minister Niyazi Safarov said at the presentation ceremony held on September 20.
He went on to say that thanks to the successful industrialization policy of recent years, hundreds of industrial enterprises based on modern technologies have been operating in the country, new competitive and export-oriented innovative industries have been created.
Safarov added that the countrys export potential has significantly increased, while import dependence has decreased.
Representative of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan Jeroen Willems, in turn, stated that the goal is to support the competitiveness of the manufacturing industry in Azerbaijan and the strengthening of public-private partnership.
Deputy Director of the Department of Entrepreneurship Policy of the Economy Ministry Jeyhun Isayev, in turn, spoke about the taken measures to develop the private sector, stressing the importance of these measures in terms of economic diversification.
Latvian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Juris Maklakovs, who addressed the event, said that the newly-launched project is important first of all for expanding cooperation between the two countries.
Maklakovs further hailed the bilateral relations, stressing that the cooperation develops in several areas.
Though the role of the oil sector was leading in the speedy economical development of Azerbaijan over the past decade, the non-oil sector has becomes important in the general economical growth in past years.
The non-oil sector today accounts for around 65 percent of the national economy. The non-oil sector of economy grew 2.4 percent in the first quarter of 2017.
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20 September 2017 12:30 (UTC+04:00)
By Sara Israfilbayova
YARAT Contemporary Art Space has opened doors to Far Horizons exhibition within ARTIM project.
Far Horizons presents creative ideas of six young artists including Gulnara Kuzukova, Gafar Rzayev, Islam Hasanalizade, Aytan Abdullayeva, Natavan Hasanalizade and Sultan Babazade.
Each of the artists has created works based on personal observation and research. Dealing with human rights, society problems, contemporary lifestyle, spirituality and heritage issues, the artists are expressing their position as "far horizon".
In her installation, Gulnara Kuzukova addresses womens rights in Islamic countries. According to the research on this subject, the artist concluded that the womens rights have been excessively oppressed and even trampled in some countries.
Sculptor Islam Hasanalzadeh, examining the question of "the factors under which the society has been deformed" focuses on the desire of people to change their appearance, which being as a key factor has already turned into some kind of illness.
Natavan Hasanalzades King Midas Virus installation is based on the ancient Greek mythology criticizes promotion of luxurious lifestyle and immense interest of modern people in luxuriousness in our society.
Ayten Abdullayevas installation tells about how important small details are in our life. The artist believes if one element of any item is missing, it will no longer be able to perform its function.
In his Bidah installation, Gafar Rzayev comments on different severe and unjustified attacks that Islam is being subjected to in the light of material culture.
Another installation of the artist, Azeri Light touches on the natural wealth and cultural heritage of Azerbaijan.
Sultan Babazadehs See Yourself installation is a logical continuation of the project that he has prepared in the streets of Baku for a while. Project urges people to find a solution of their problems by looking into themselves.
The exhibition is open until October 1, 2017 at ARTIM Project Space (Icherisheher, Boyuk Gala str., 30, 001A). Entrance is free.
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20 September 2017 09:00 (UTC+04:00)
September 20, 1994 changed Azerbaijan forever, playing a big role in nations development in completely unbelievable way.
This is the very day when young and newly independent Azerbaijan signed its first huge PSA deal with the world giants to develop largest oil and gas fields in the Caspian Sea.
The deal, named the Contract of the Century, encouraged developments in national oil and gas industry and positioned Azerbaijan among the focal points of the global energy market. The country began exporting its hydrocarbon resources to world markets, thus becoming an important supplier for global industry.
History shows that the country has been linked with oil for centuries, while the history of the world oil industry takes roots exactly from Azerbaijan.
The world's first oil well was drilled at the Bibi-Heybat field in 1847, and turned Baku into a center of world oil trade and made the country by far the frontrunner in the world's oil and gas industry.
The country attracted world oil investors, who gained millions on this industry. The Nobel brothers were the first to invest in oil extraction in Azerbaijan, making a great contribution to the development of the oil industry by establishing the Nobel Brothers Oil Extracting Partnership in 1873. The Rothschild Company and Shell led by Samuel Markus were also operated in Azerbaijan.
The country was the world's leading oil producer in 1901, when the output reached 11.5 million tons of oil. Moreover, the country produced 23.5 million tons of oil, which amounted to 71.4 percent of the Soviet Union's production in 1941, while the production guaranteed the victory of the Soviet Union in World War II and turned oil into an extremely important factor of the national economy.
Azerbaijan also boats being the world's first offshore oil producer. The discovery of the Neft Dashlari (Oil Rocks) field 40 km offshore and 90 km from Baku on November, 1949 made the country famous worldwide.
The giant Azeri, Chirag, Kapaz, and Gunashli fields were discovered at the depth of 80 to 350 meters in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The very ACG fields impacted the further development of oil industry and the economy of Azerbaijan as a whole.
The Contract of the Century was a triumphant result of the policy based on the oil strategy pursued by national leader Heydar Aliyev, paving the way for bolstering the country's geo-political standing and economic integration.
With signing the deal, Azerbaijan opened its doors to foreign investments and was able to prove the confidence of the world's leading countries in it, encouraging major companies to invest in the country and increase the prestige of Azerbaijan in the international arena.
Major energy projects implemented in the Azerbaijan section of the Caspian have turned the region into one of the important worlds hydrocarbon provinces.
Over the past 23 years, Azerbaijan witnessed many significant events from discovering and developing new offshore and onshore perspective fields to putting them into operation; from considering several export routes to actually transporting Azerbaijan oil and gas to international markets; from building the local infrastructure to developing a high quality oil and gas industry; from an oil-rich country in East into a major player in the global energy market.
Few days earlier BP and its partners in Azerbaijan's giant ACG oil production complex agreed to extend the production sharing contract by 25 years to 2049 and to increase the stake of state-owned SOCAR, reducing the size of their own share.
The extension of the production sharing contract, which was to expire in 2024, reflects the growing financial and technological potential of Azerbaijan and SOCAR. And the deal will allow all the participating companies to further generating value from the asset for many decades to come.
The Contract of the 21st Century is perhaps an even more important milestone in the history of Azerbaijan as it ensures that over the next three decades the country and its partners will continue to work for unlocking the long-term development potential of the ACG through new investments, new technologies and new joint efforts.
Today, hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijani gas and oil industry workers do their best to make sure that millions of people have everything they need in modern life gas, heat, electricity and fuel, while the national economy receives the needed boost.
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20 September 2017 10:00 (UTC+04:00)
The 23rd Azerbaijan International Telecommunications and Information Technologies Exhibition and Conference will be held in Baku on December 5-8.
The exhibition will mark the beginning of High Technologies Week.
Today Bakutel is not just an exhibition of technical achievements which are growing rapidly in an extremely short period of time, but also a unique platform where both specialists and professionals from various ICT fields can meet. Moreover, the exhibition serves as a venue for ordinary users who can choose the most effective tools for data exchanging and processing.
The exhibition has the support of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan Fund for the Promotion of Export and Investment (AZPROMO) and the National Confederation of the Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of Azerbaijan Republic (AEC). The organiser of the exhibition is Caspian Event Organisers (CEO).
This years exhibition will bring together over 200 companies from 20 countries, Among the events participants are leading ICT companies of Azerbaijan, mobile operators, telecom operators, Internet providers, system integrators, distributors of well-known brands and radio and television broadcasting companies.
The exhibition will present the next generation of IT solutions, including national broadband Internet, 4G-5G mobile technologies, as well as the fibre-optic and cloud computing services. 40% of this years participants are regular exhibitors of Bakutel. Bakutel 2017 will also welcome a number of new companies such as Hikvision, Nokia Networks etc.
Bakutel 2017 will host the national stands of several countries, which will participate with a close support of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The exhibition will feature a rich and varied program of business events; there is a plan to hold various conferences and meetings. Within the framework of Bakutel 2017, B2B meetings will be held to provide the exhibitors and professional visitors with an opportunity to hold bilateral meetings. In addition to business meetings and negotiations, all the visitors and exhibitors can expect to see many surprises, contests and quizzes.
Detailed information about the exhibitions, as well as an electronic invitation ticket can be found on the official site: www.bakutel.az
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20 September 2017 11:10 (UTC+04:00)
By Trend
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has urged the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to make every effort to support the measures to end Armenias aggression against Azerbaijan, avoid illegal economic and other activities in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, limit all forms of cooperation with Armenia.
He was addressing the OIC Contact Group meeting on the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan, which was held in New York on the sidelines of the 72nd Regular Session of the UN General Assembly, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said.
It was noted that for the period after the first meeting of the OIC Contact Group, the situation on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts settlement process didnt change, on the contrary, clashes on the frontline, as well as cases of deliberate killing of Azerbaijani civilians residing along the contact line between the Armenian and Azerbaijani troops increased.
Mammadyarov also urged the OIC countries to refrain from Armenias armament in order to prevent the escalation of the conflict, and ban the transit of weapons and military equipment through their territories for this purpose.
Azerbaijan relies on the consistent solidarity of the Islamic world in resolute condemnation of the use of force against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country and the occupation of its territories, Mammadyarov said.
It should be noted that during its summit in Istanbul in April 2016, OIC made a decision to establish a contact group for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which included the foreign ministers of the OIC member-states. The decision was made at Turkeys initiative.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
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20 September 2017 11:35 (UTC+04:00)
By Rashid Shirinov
The restoration of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and Georgia is the main condition for peace in the South Caucasus region.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the remark while addressing the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 19.
We must make more efforts to resolve conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. We must not forget that any crisis we ignore today may develop into a regional and even a global conflict tomorrow, he noted.
Azerbaijan and Armenia for over two decades have been locked in conflict, which emerged over Armenian territorial claims. Since the 1990s, 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 adopted four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal from Azerbaijan's occupied lands, but they have not been enforced to this day.
Turkey has always supported the resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on Azerbaijans territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of the country's internationally recognized borders.
Turkey and Armenia severed diplomatic relations in 1993 due to occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenian Armed Forces and Yerevans claims to recognize the so-called Armenian genocide.
During his visit to Azerbaijan this March, Erdogan stated that the borders would only be reopened after Armenia ceases the occupation.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
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20 September 2017 17:53 (UTC+04:00)
By Rashid Shirinov
Azerbaijans main principles and requirements in the peace process are Armenias withdrawal from the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent territories, and Nagorno-Karabakhs remaining within Azerbaijan, said Rafael Huseynov.
The Azerbaijani MP and member of Azerbaijans Permanent Delegation to PACE made the remark when commenting on the recent statement of Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian on the return of Azerbaijani territories that are not a threat to Nagorno-Karabakh.
Emphasizing that Nagorno-Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan, he noted that Azerbaijan expressed its readiness to grant Nagorno-Karabakh the highest status under international law and practice.
Azerbaijan cannot be without Nagorno-Karabakh. Other opinions and analyses on this issue are unacceptable, the MP told Trend.
Armenia is backed by certain forces, lobby, and Armenia does what they dictate, said Huseynov.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict 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 regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.
Armenia still controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan has long ago stated it is ready to settle the conflict through direct negotiations with Armenia with mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. However, the Armenian side is constantly trying to make up reasons to avoid a constructive dialogue and preserve the unacceptable status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
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20 September 2017 10:10 (UTC+04:00)
U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife have hosted a reception in connection with the 72nd Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York, Azerrac reported.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the event.
President Aliyev earlier attended a state banquet held at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York.
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20 September 2017 12:40 (UTC+04:00)
By Amina Nazarli
Azerbaijan is in solidarity with the Palestinian people and backs the just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine, said Elmar Mammadyarov.
The foreign minister of Azerbaijan made the remark while addressing a Meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the Non-Aligned Movement on Palestine in New York on September 19.
"Azerbaijan as any other member of international community is deeply concerned over wars and armed conflicts in various parts of the world, which lead to political instability in some regions, large-scale displacement and unprecedented humanitarian crisis. The lack of settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict poses threat not only to this region, but also to the international security, Mammadyarov continued.
The minister stressed that Azerbaijan supports peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and stands beside the Palestinian people.
Azerbaijan stands for the two-state solution of the Palestinian conflict with East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine. In this regard, I would like to reaffirm Azerbaijans full support to the brotherly people of Palestine in their struggle for achieving peace, stability and sustainable development, he said.
Mammadyarov noted that Azerbaijan, as the future chairman of the NAM, will seek to use this function to contribute to the peaceful resolution of the conflict based on international law, and the solid position of our Movement.
The minister further spoke about his countrys close political dialogue and regular consultations with Palestine.
"Emanating from shared values and culture, Palestine and Azerbaijan historically cooperated and supported each other in all international forums and organizations. The spirit of this solidarity has been proved in different instances. Azerbaijan has hosted two successful conferences, namely, The donors conference to finance the strategic plan for the development of the city of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and The establishment of Islamic financial safety net in support of the state of Palestine in 2013 and made significant donations for the development and maintenance of the holy citys infrastructure. This year Azerbaijan hosted the International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem under auspices of the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People with the support of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation. The Conference provided up-to-date information on the current situation in East Jerusalem under occupation, examined the latest developments, and explored practical ways, the minister said.
Mammadyarov believes the Israeli-Palestinian conflict underscores the urgency of acting collectively, immediately and determinedly to end this five decade conflict in accordance with international law, including humanitarian and human rights law.
It requires international intervention and political will to address the root causes of the conflict in achieving a just, lasting solution to the question of Palestine in all its aspects based on international law and relevant UN resolutions, according to him.
"Having this opportunity, we once again support the Palestinian government in their efforts to realize their inalienable rights and legitimate national aspirations for peace, freedom and justice," Mammadyarov said.
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20 September 2017 10:48 (UTC+04:00)
By Amina Nazarli
The State Border Service of Azerbaijan identified 2,837 foreigners, who violated residence legislation and rules of temporary or permanent stay in the country, in August.
The Service analyzed the cases and made relevant decisions, of which 272 decisions were related to the legalization of the residence of foreigners and stateless persons in the country, 1,375 with the use of an administrative fine, but without administrative deportation from the country, 969 with the use of an administrative fine along with the expulsion from the country, 197 with restriction on entry to the country and 24 with the replacement of the document for temporary or permanent residence with a new document.
During last month, the State Migration Service received 7,181 appeals for extension of stay of foreigners and stateless persons, applications for permits for temporary and permanent residence, as well as acceptance, rejection and restoration of citizenship, granting refugee status and citizenship, as well as granting permits for self-employment in the country or its extension.
Last month, 113,982 applications of foreigners and stateless persons were registered by the State Border Service in connection with the registration at the place of stay.
Foreigners and stateless persons arriving in Azerbaijan for a period exceeding ten days should register with the Migration Service.
A copy of the person's ID should be submitted to the Migration Service personally, via mail, or email. This service is free and application forms are available at the Migration Service, post offices, and at www.migration.gov.az.
The Migration Service will immediately register foreigners at place of their stay and present written notification to the receiving party within 1 working day.
Foreigners can be registered for the period allotted by their visas, or for 90 days under the visa-free regime.
After changing the place of residence, registration must be renewed. These easy steps can exempt visitors from penalties and deportation.
In January-July 2017, the relevant structures of the Interior Ministry and the State Migration Service registered 1,782 people who arrived in Azerbaijan for permanent residence and 1002 people who left Azerbaijan.
The positive migration balance was 780 people.
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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli
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20 September 2017 13:42 (UTC+04:00)
Negotiations on trade and sectoral chapters of the new strategic partnership agreement between the European Union and Azerbaijan will take place in Brussels next week, Head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan Kestutis Jankauskas told Trend on September 19.
"Azerbaijan is an important partner for the European Union. We want to upgrade our relationship and develop its full potential through a new bilateral agreement," he said.
Jankauskas noted that President of the European Council Donald Tusk and Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev announced during President Aliyev's visit to Brussels on February 6, 2017 that the negotiations on a new EU-Azerbaijan agreement were to be launched on February 7.
"Negotiations are ongoing and have been conducted on a regular basis both in Baku and Brussels, also via video conference in order to conclude negotiations without delay," he added. "Both sides have demonstrated a strong commitment to progressing in the talks and we are looking forward to the next round that will take place in the near future. "
Jankauskas said that discussions so far have been held in a constructive spirit and there is a strong will on both sides to have an ambitious agreement that replaces the current Partnership and Cooperation Agreement of 1996, reflecting the significant development of relations between EU and Azerbaijan since then.
"This new agreement will broaden and deepen the scope of our relations, based on shared fundamental values and principles and taking into account the new global, political and economic interests we share and challenges face together," he said, adding that the agreement will cover political, sectoral, trade and economic relations.
"We are preparing for the next plenary round of negotiations that will take place shortly and are confident that the positive atmosphere and good pace of progress in the negotiations so far can be maintained. Both Baku and Brussels have an interest in coming to an agreement that should bring benefits to us all, updating our legal basis and better reflecting the nature of EU-Azerbaijan relations. I am glad to confirm that negotiations on trade and sectoral chapters of the agreement will take place in Brussels next week," he said.
The European Council adopted a mandate for the European Commission and the high representative for foreign affairs and security policy to negotiate, on behalf of the EU and its member states, a comprehensive agreement with Azerbaijan in November 2016.
The new agreement should replace the 1996 partnership and cooperation agreement and should better take account of the shared objectives and challenges the EU and Azerbaijan face today.
The agreement will follow the principles endorsed in the 2015 review of the European Neighborhood Policy and offer a renewed basis for political dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan.
Moreover, a delegation of the European Union political and security committee will visit Baku.
Over 30 visitors, including ambassadors from 28 EU member states are expected to visit Baku on October 3, he added.
They will especially focus on relations between the EU and Azerbaijan in security, policy and defence policy spheres, said Jankauskas.
Currently, the visit program is being worked out, he noted.
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20 September 2017 17:31 (UTC+04:00)
By Rashid Shirinov
The telecommunication operator Azertelecom has offered to set up Wi-Fi network on trains of Baku Subway.
Azertelecom Business Development Director Sabina Mammadli voiced this proposal addressing a business forum organized by Caspian European Club in Baku on September 20.
She said that Azertelecom has already applied to the State Administration of Radio Frequencies in this regard.
But the main problem we face is the tariffs for new technologies, in particular for wireless communication. The tariffs have been kept unchanged since 2002. If we implement the project at current rates, it will be unprofitable, Mammadli said, adding that the company is waiting for the decision of the Tariff Council of Azerbaijan on this issue.
Azerbaijan ranks first among the countries of Post-Soviet region for the level of broadband internet penetration. Moreover, Azerbaijan is the 58th country in the world over number of its Internet users.
The number of Azerbaijani Internet users exceeded 6 million, accounting for 61.1 percent of the countrys population, in 2016, according to Statistical project Internet Live Stats.
Moreover, the Public Wi-Fi project has been implemented in Baku since March 2017 in order to expand the coverage of the wireless network of the capital city. The goal of the project is to provide residents and guests of Baku with access to the Internet in places of mass congestion.
Currently, the free Wi-Fi project covers the territory of the National Seaside Park, Icherisheher, Sahil Park, Sabir Park and Khagani Park, Heydar Aliyev Center, Winter Park, Park of Officers, Huseyn Javid, Samad Vurgun and Mugan Parks. In the near future, free access to Wi-Fi will also cover the territory of the Dede Gorgud Park.
Since the launch of the service, over 500,000 connections have been recorded in these territories.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
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1. Yes. The ordinance goes against state law and is not in the best interest of the cities.
2. Yes. At the very least, it should be amended to give police officers some discretion.
3. No. Voters approved the ordinance by large majorities; the councils cant ignore that fact.
4. No. The petition process has to be given a chance to work. Leave the ordinance alone.
5. Unsure. Its hard to say how the cities should move forward regarding the ordinance.
Vote
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21 September 2017 10:10 (UTC+04:00)
The 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly has opened in New York.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and Leyla Aliyeva attended the event.
Moderator of the event was Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the United Nations Dian Triansyah Djani.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev addressed the opening of the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly.
Speech of President Ilham Aliyev
For more than 25 years Armenia occupies 20% of the territory of Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh and 7 other regions of our country.
Nagorno-Karabakh is an ancient and historical part of Azerbaijan. As a result of Armenian aggression almost 20% of the internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan is under Armenian occupation. More than one million of Azerbaijanis became refugees and internally displaced persons. Armenia conducted the policy of ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijanis in Armenia, in Nagorno-Karabakh and 7 other regions of Azerbaijan.
Armenia committed genocide against Azerbaijanis in Khojaly. Khojaly genocide is already officially recognized by more than 10 countries. On February 26, 1992 Armenia committed war crime killing 613 peaceful residents of Khojaly, among them 106 women and 63 children. One of those war criminals who committed that terrible crime against humanity is current Armenian President.
Leading international organizations adopted resolutions demanding withdrawal of Armenian troops from the territory of Azerbaijan. In 1993, United Nations Security Council adopted 4 resolutions demanding immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian troops from the territory of Azerbaijan.
Other international organizations, such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Non-Alignment Movement, OSCE, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and European Parliament adopted similar decisions and resolutions. Armenia doesnt implement them. Armenia for 24 years ignores UN Security Council resolutions and unfortunately is not punished for that. In some cases, UN Security Council resolutions are implemented within days. In our case its 24 years that resolutions are not implemented. This is a double standards approach. This approach is unacceptable. International sanctions must be imposed on Armenia. One of the important reforms of the United Nations must be the creation of the mechanism of implementation of the resolutions of the Security Council.
Armenia does everything to keep status-quo unchanged, blocks substantive negotiations. Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group France, Russia, USA on several occasions stated that status-quo is unacceptable.
The question is how can this corrupt, failed state ruled by despotic, medieval regime afford to violate international law for so many years and ignore the resolutions of UN Security Council and statements of the leading countries of the world? And the answer is double standards. There is no international pressure on aggressor, no international sanctions imposed on Armenian dictatorship. This policy must be stopped.
Such policy towards aggressor is not only demonstration of injustice, it also creates an illusion that Armenian dictatorship can continue their policy of terror.
Last April Armenia committed another war crime on the line of contact attacking our cities and villages. As a result of this attack, 6 Azerbaijani civilians were killed, among them one child and 26 civilians were wounded. Hundreds of our houses were destroyed.
Azerbaijan had to defend its citizens. As a result of successful counter-attack, Azerbaijan liberated some territories in the 3 occupied regions - Agdere, Fuzuli and Jabrayil and installed its national flag on the liberated territories. Armenian leadership should not forget this lesson. Otherwise, the result of the next Armenian provocation will be more painful for them.
Losing on the battlefield Armenia uses its mean policy of attacking our cities and villages. On July 4, 2017 a targeted attack on Alkhanli village in Fuzuli district by Armenia with 82 and 120 mm mortars and grenade launchers killed 2 civilians 2 years old Zahra Guliyeva and her grandmother.
On August 7, 2017, a 13 years old boy in Tovuz region bordering with Armenia was wounded by Armenian soldiers. International community must stop Armenian fascism and terror. Azerbaijan is committed to peaceful resolution of the conflict but at the same time will defend its citizens in line with UN charter if Armenian military provocations continue and if necessary will punish once again the aggressor as it was done in April, 2016.
Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be resolved on the basis of international law, relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must be completely restored. Despite the enormous difficulties caused by Armenian occupation Azerbaijan develops rapidly and successfully.
Azerbaijan is an active member of the United Nations.
In 2011, Azerbaijan was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. 155 countries voted for Azerbaijan. Absolute majority of the member states demonstrated their support to Azerbaijan and its policy. For the country which at that time was only 20 years old, that was a great success. Azerbaijan is a stable, modern, democratic country. Development of democracy, human rights protection are among top priorities of our government. All fundamental freedoms are fully provided in Azerbaijan, including freedom of expression, media freedom, freedom of assembly, religious freedom.
Azerbaijan is one of the worlds recognized centers of multiculturalism. Multiculturalism is a state policy in Azerbaijan. Representatives of all ethnic groups and religions live in Azerbaijan in peace and harmony. 2016 was declared the year of multiculturalism and 2017 the year of Islamic Solidarity in Azerbaijan.
Unlike Armenia where there are almost no national minorities, which is a mono ethnic country and where xenophobia is a state policy, Azerbaijan is a multiethnic country, cultural, ethnic and religious diversity of our society is our big asset. Armenia, where Islamophobia reached its peak, committed many acts of vandalism destroying all our mosques on the occupied territories.
Azerbaijan had hosted numerous international events aiming at strengthening interreligious dialogue. Among them are 7th Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations, Worlds Religious Leaders Forum, 4 times international forum on Intercultural Dialogue, 5 times Baku International Humanitarian Forum and other important events.
Being a member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Council of Europe, Azerbaijan in 2008 launched the Baku Process which is supported by the United Nations. Main goal of the Baku Process is to strengthen dialogue, partnership and cooperation between the Muslim world and Europe.
In 2015, Azerbaijan hosted the First European Games. 6000 athletes from 50 countries participated at these Games. In 2017, Azerbaijan hosted 4th Islamic Solidarity Games with almost 3000 athletes from 54 countries.
In two years in our capital Baku European and Islamic Games took place. This was also a great contribution to the promotion of multiculturalism. Azerbaijani team took the second place at the First European Games, and the first place at the Islamic Solidarity Games. This shows that Azerbaijan is one of the leading sporting countries of the world. Another proof of our sporting achievement is that Azerbaijan was number 14 at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games with respect to the number of medals. In total, Azerbaijan won 18 medals.
Azerbaijan achieved big progress in social and economic development.
Since 2004, Azerbaijans economy grew more than 3 times. More than 1 million 600 thousand jobs were created in our country. Level of unemployment is one of the lowest in the world 5%. One of our priorities was reduction of poverty. In 2004, level of poverty was more than 40%, now it is 5-6%. Hard currency reserves are equal to the countrys GDP. Foreign state debt is less than 20% of GDP.
Azerbaijan was assessed as leading reformer of the world in 2009 by the World Banks Doing Business report. Based on Davos World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report for 2016-2017 Azerbaijan is ranked 37 among 138 countries.
In 2015, Azerbaijan received the 2015 South-South Award in recognition of its outstanding achievements in implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and since 2010 has been classified into the category of countries with high human development.
Rapid development of Azerbaijans space industry, 2 telecommunication and field observation satellites Azerspace and Azersky and a third one Azerspace-2 to be launched soon made it possible for our country to become a member of the worlds space club.
Today Azerbaijan exports not only its industrial and agricultural but also intellectual products. State Agency for Services and Social Innovations to the Citizens - ASAN Service is a modern model of public relations and services.
251 services under one roof, absolute transparency, zero tolerance to corruption and bribery made ASAN Service attractive to many countries.
Being purely Azerbaijani brand during 5 years of its foundation ASAN Service provided over 1 million 600 thousand services to 5 million people. The total number of applications is 17 million. The rate of public appreciation of ASAN Service is 98 %.
In 2015, in recognition of its contribution to excellence, creativity and considerable simplification of the delivery of public services, ASAN received the United Nations Public Service Award.
Main goal of our policy is to make the life of our citizens better. Since 2004 salaries grew in our country 5.6 times, pensions 8.2 times.
Without any foreign financial support, we built almost 100 new settlements and towns for refugees and IDPs suffering from Armenian occupation. Until today, the living conditions of more than 250 thousand people were improved and they were provided with new houses and flats. 152 schools, 59 medical centers, 60 kindergartens were built in these towns and settlements.
In general, since 2004 more than 3000 schools, more than 600 hospitals and medical centers were newly built and renovated. Level of literacy in Azerbaijan is close to 100%. Every year more than 5 million people half of the countrys population get their medical check-up totally financed by the state budget.
Azerbaijan plays an important role on the global energy market. Being a reliable supplier of oil and gas to the international markets - Azerbaijan is providing energy security for many countries of the world. Today, Azerbaijan together with its international partners is very close to the completion of the Southern Gas Corridor project. This project of 40 billion USD of investments is one of the largest infrastructure projects of the world.
Another important priority is transportation. Situated between Europe and Asia, Azerbaijan is wisely using its geographical location to become one of the leading transportation hubs in Eurasia.
Relatively recently Azerbaijan built 6 international airports, 11,000 kilometers of modern highways and roads. Azerbaijan has the biggest trade fleet in the Caspian Sea with 270 vessels.
Modern shipbuilding yard of Azerbaijan is capable to build all types and sizes of ships.
Azerbaijan is modernizing its railroad infrastructure. Absolute majority of our territory is covered by railroads. Next year we will inaugurate the international trade sea port which will be the biggest in the Caspian region.
Azerbaijan is largely investing in East-West and North-South transportation corridors. Both routes crossing our country will be the shortest routes from East to West and from North to the South.
In conclusion, I would like to say that last year we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the restoration of our independence. Successful development of Azerbaijan once again shows that only when you are free and independent, when the destiny of the country is in the hands of its people you can achieve success. The biggest happiness of the people of Azerbaijan is that we live in the independent country which conducts independent policy, policy which is based on the national interests of its people.
20 September 2017 10:29 (UTC+04:00)
By Sara Israfilbayova
The new Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli contract is expected to be submitted to the Parliament before the end of 2017, coming into force after ratification.
Rovnag Abdullayev, President of the state-owned energy company SOCAR announced about this while talking to Reuters.
He said the main goal of the new contract was to spur interest among SOCARs foreign partners in new long-term investments and to secure sustainable exploration of the oilfields.
BP and Azerbaijan agreed last week to extend to 2050 the contract to develop the countrys biggest oilfields - Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG), a deal dubbed the Contract of the Century when first signed in 1994 until 2024.
Today our financial and technological resources are much more advanced than back in the 1990s, when the first Contract of the Century was negotiated, Abdullayev said. That allows Azerbaijan to act independently, having an effect on the final outcome of all negotiations.
Abdullayev said that according to the new contract Azerbaijans direct share in profitable oil amounted to 75 percent and the ratio was not subject to any variations from the start until the end of the contract, thus contributing to stability of the national income.
Under the new production sharing agreement, SOCAR will increase its share to 25 percent from 11.65 percent, while BPs stake declines to 30.37 percent from 35.8 percent. BP will remain the operator.
Shares of other firms in the BP-led consortium have also been reduced. Chevron (CVX.N) now has 9.57 percent, Inpex (1605.T) 9.31 percent, Statoil (STL.OL) 7.27 percent, ExxonMobil (XOM.N) 6.79 percent, TPAO 5.73 percent, Itochu (8001.T) 3.65 percent and ONGC Videsh (ONVI.BO) 2.31 percent.
The ACG fields produce 585,000 barrels per day, accounting for three quarters of Azerbaijans oil output, but production is expected to rise as the partners could invest up to $40 billion in the next 32 years.
From the beginning of first oil production in November 1997 and until September 1, 2017, some 435.6 million tons of oil and 136.3 billion cubic meters of associated gas were produced in the ACG block of oil and gas fields in the Caspian Sea.
Roughly 245 million tons of the total volume of oil produced at ACG account for Azerbaijan's profitable oil.
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20 September 2017 12:08 (UTC+04:00)
By Sara Israfilbayova
Roughly 85 billion cubic meters of gas and 21.2 million tons of condensate have been extracted from Azerbaijans Shah Deniz gas field since the beginning of operation in 2006.
Rovnag Abdullayev, President of the state-owned energy company SOCAR announced about this in his article, published in the countrys Respublika newspaper, on September 20.
The Shah Deniz, discovered in 1999, is one of the worlds largest gas-condensate fields. The field is located on the deep water shelf of the Caspian Sea, 70 km south-east of Baku, in water depths ranging from 50 to 500 m.
Shah Deniz field's reserves are estimated at 1.2 trillion cubic meters of gas.
Abdullayev added that overall 25.6 million tons of oil and 18.7 billion cubic meters of gas were produced in Azerbaijan over eight months of 2017.
"Five million tons of oil and four billion cubic meters of gas accounted for SOCAR," he said.
Shah Deniz Stage 1 has the capacity to produce around 10 billion cubic meters of gas per annum (bcma) and approximately 50,000 barrels a day of condensate. Shah Deniz Stage 2, or Full Field Development (FFD) will add a further 16 bcma of gas production to the approximately 9 bcma produced by Shah Deniz Stage 1.
The project Shah Deniz Stage 2 is now over 92% complete in terms of engineering, procurement and construction, and remains on target for first gas from Shah Deniz Stage 2 in 2018. The gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline and Trans Adriatic Pipeline.
Abdullayev further mentioned that SOCAR has injected 1.4 billion cubic meters of gas into the countrys underground gas storage facilities since the beginning of the gas pumping season until September 1, 2017.
Currently, the active gas volume in Azerbaijans underground gas storage facilities amounts to 2.2 billion cubic meters, he said.
There are two underground gas storage facilities Kalmaz and Garadagh in Azerbaijan. Capacity of the two underground gas storage facilities allows to store more than 3.5 billion cubic meters of gas.
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20 September 2017 14:08 (UTC+04:00)
By Sara Israfilbayova
The Absheron field will be put into operation in 2019 with a daily output of 4 million cubic meters of natural gas.
SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev made the remark at an event dedicated to the Oilmen Day - September 20 in Baku.
The SOCAR President stressed that at the first stage it is planned to produce 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas and bring the figure up to 5 billion cubic meters of gas in the second stage covering 2020-2023.
The Absheron gas field is an offshore natural gas field in the Caspian Sea. Absherons reserves are estimated at 350 billion cubic meters of gas and 45 million tons of condensate, according to the estimations of SOCAR geologists.
Participants of the Absheron project are SOCAR (40 percent), and French companies TOTAL (40 percent) and Engie (20 percent).
Abdullayev further said that about 85 billion cubic meters of gas has been produced at the Shah Deniz field, adding that to date, 21.2 million tons of condensate have been extracted from the field.
The Shah Deniz, discovered in 1999, is one of the worlds largest gas-condensate fields. The field is located on the deep water shelf of the Caspian Sea, 70 km south-east of Baku, in water depths ranging from 50 to 500 m. Shah Deniz field's reserves are estimated at 1.2 trillion cubic meters of gas.
Abdullayev added that overall 25.6 million tons of oil and 18.7 billion cubic meters of gas were produced in Azerbaijan over eight months of 2017.
"Five million tons of oil and four billion cubic meters of gas accounted for SOCAR," he said.
Shah Deniz Stage 1 has the capacity to produce around 10 billion cubic meters of gas per annum (bcma) and approximately 50,000 barrels a day of condensate. Shah Deniz Stage 2, or Full Field Development (FFD) will add a further 16 bcma of gas production to the approximately 9 bcma produced by Shah Deniz Stage 1.
The project Shah Deniz Stage 2 is now over 92% complete in terms of engineering, procurement and construction, and remains on target for first gas from Shah Deniz Stage 2 in 2018. The gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline and Trans Adriatic Pipeline.
Abdullayev further spoke about the company assets in Turkey, noting that annual income of Azerbaijans economy from the Star oil refinery, being constructed by SOCAR on Aliaga Peninsula in Turkey, will exceed $600 million within the first five years after its commissioning.
Over the next 10 years, the annual income will exceed $800 million, according to him.
The refinerys construction will be completed in the second half of 2018. The refinery will primarily provide naphtha to the Petkim petrochemical complex, which aims to take up to 30 percent share of the Turkish market, Abdullayev said.
SOCAR, being the largest foreign investor in Turkey, is the author of very important and large-scale projects in the energy industry. SOCAR entered the Turkish market with the acquisition of Petkim. The companys investments in Turkey will be a total of $19.5 billion once they are completed -Petlim, STAR Oil Refinery, Petkim Wind Power Plant (WPP) and TANAP projects.
Abdullayev went on to say that construction of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) has been completed by 82 percent.
He said the TANAP section to Turkeys Eskisehir will be ready by mid-2018, adding that the work to expand the South Caucasus Pipeline has been completed by over 90 percent.
The Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field to the western borders of Turkey. The gas will be delivered to Turkey in 2018 and after completion of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline's construction the gas will be delivered to Europe in early 2020.
The length of TANAP is 1,850 kilometers with an initial capacity of 16 billion cubic meters of gas. Around six billion cubic meters of this gas is meant to be delivered to Turkey, with the remaining volume to be supplied to Europe. The projects total cost is estimated at $8.5 billion.
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20 September 2017 16:32 (UTC+04:00)
By Trend
Turkeys BOTAS Petroleum Pipeline Corporation and Qatargas, the Worlds Premier Liquefied Natural Gas Company, signed a contract for the supply of 4.5 million tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qata.
The contract, implying the supply of 1.5 million tons of LNG annually, has been signed for three years, local media reported on September 20.
The gas from Qatar will be supplied to Turkeys EgeGaz Aliaga LNG Terminal, Etki LNG Terminal in Izmir province and Marmara Ereglisi LNG Terminal in Tekirdag province.
The exact date and other details of LNG supplies to Turkey are not reported.
Meanwhile, Ankara and Doha signed an agreement on the supply of 1.2 billion cubic meters of liquefied gas to Turkey in early December 2016. The agreement was signed during the Turkish presidents visit to Qatar.
At present, Turkey imports gas from Iran, Russia and Azerbaijan.
Moreover, Ankara also has agreements with Algeria and Nigeria for the supply of 4.4 billion cubic meters and 1.2 billion cubic meters of liquefied gas per year, respectively.
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20 September 2017 10:55 (UTC+04:00)
By Kamila Aliyeva
Kazakhstan intends to change the countrys migration policy.
Kazakh Minister of Labor and Social Protection Tamara Duissenova has already submitted the Draft Migration Policy Concept for 2017-2021 for the Government's consideration.
She stressed two main factors advocating for the expansion of migration policy framework, Kazinform reported.
"One of them is that our country is now becoming a large transit and migration hub. The second is the expected internal impacts this process has. For the past five years alone, nearly 300,000 foreigners have arrived in our country for work, and 204,000 people are our brothers who returned to their homeland. The pace of the migration activity in the country is increasing. It has doubled during the reported period," the minister said.
As of mid 2017, the population of Kazakhstan has reached 18 million people. Every year more than 400,000 children are born in the country.
She further talked about the demographic imbalance in Kazakhstan.
Duissenova said that by 2050, under the current demographic trends, the population of the southern regions will increase by 5.2 million, and the population density in the above regions will be four times higher than the figures related to the northern parts of the country.
"As many as 38 percent of the population live in the southern regions, except for Almaty City, while the percentage they yield to the gross regional product is only 17 percent. In the northern regions, 29 percent of the population produces 25 percent of the gross regional product," she explained.
The labor minister added that there are imbalances in the labor productivity as well.
"The southern regions with the highest population density have the lowest productivity, whereas the northern regions with low density have a higher productivity level. In the next five years, the drift of labor will be slowing down. These are the consequences of the demographic situation that came about in the early 1990s and the resulting decrease in labor supplies," she said.
Considering all these challenges, the concept aims to improve the demographic-economic balance of the country, build an open market of professional employees based on temporary and long-term migration, and ensure the national security against the migration-related threats, according to the minister.
Earlier, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry suggested creating an integrated online system of migration control in order to digitalize migration flows. The system will register foreign citizens automatically and issue e-visas.
Currently, in addition to a visa, Kazakhstan requires foreigners to obtain a migration card, which is issued by the Border Service of Committee of National Security after registration with the local authorities.
Cards are required and issued upon arrival to visitors aged 16 and above.
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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva
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20 September 2017 15:03 (UTC+04:00)
By Kamila Aliyeva
The authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan seem determined to hold an independence referendum despite the warnings of Iraq, Turkey, the U.S and others.
Residents in provinces controlled by the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) will vote on September 25on independence from Baghdad. The oil-rich province of Kirkuk is among the contested areas where the vote is planned.
The long-awaited vote is strongly opposed by Iraq and neighboring Iran, Turkey and Syria, as they fear separatism may spread to their own Kurdish populations and also obstacle fight against terrorism.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned of sanctions against the KRG if it proceeds with its planned referendum for independence next week.
We have always supported the KRG, Erdogan told reporters in New York after his address at the UN General Assembly. We think this approach of theirs amounts to ignoring the Republic of Turkey, which has stood by them and counted them as a close ally.
The cabinet and the National Security Council will convene to make a final decision, Erdogan said.
"The cabinet will undoubtedly evaluate this situation and assess possible sanctions, which will not be ordinary," he said.
Media reports that Ankara may cease the activity of the consulate of Iraqi Kurdistan operating in the country, and also close the border checkpoint Khabur in the province of Sirnak, which is the only checkpoint connecting the autonomous region with Turkey.
Turkish media reports that the independence referendum could lead to military intervention by Turkey in the north of Iraq.
Reportedly this option can be considered at a meeting on national security issues in Turkey, which will be held on September 22.
The head of Kurdistan, Masoud Barzani, previously threatened war if the central government in Baghdad interferes with the holding of the referendum.
He noted that preparations for the referendum have been completed. The Kurdish Autonomy does not intend to postpone holding the referendum on independence each time, Barzani said.
The Iraqi government opposes the poll, claiming it will affect the war against Daesh, cause instability and violate the Iraqi Constitution. Turkey, the U.S., Iran and the UN have all backed Baghdad in speaking out against the referendum.
The Iraqi Prime Minister has slammed the planned vote as unconstitutional. The UN called on Iraqs Kurdish leaders to abandon the upcoming vote, saying it would undermine the ongoing battle in the Arab country against ISIS terrorists.
Israel is the only nation to have openly supported the independence bid.
Kurds are the fourth-largest ethnic group in the Middle East although they have never obtained a permanent nation state. In Iraq they make up an estimated 15-20 percent of the population of 37 million. Kurds acquired autonomy following the 1991 Gulf War.
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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva
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20 September 2017 11:55 (UTC+04:00)
By Kamila Aliyeva
New excise tax rates and customs duties on products imported to Uzbekistan will be reviewed.
The issue is stipulated in the draft resolution "On measures to further streamline Uzbekistan's foreign economic activity", published on the portal of interactive public services.
The resolution is aimed at creating favorable conditions for sustainable development of national production on the basis of application of the conventional methods of customs and tariff regulation of foreign trade activity; creating favorable conditions for domestic producers to import the necessary equipment and its components, raw materials and materials, stimulating the production of high-quality finished products, satisfying the consumer demand of the population and preventing the price hikes in the domestic market.
Under the document, new rates of import customs duties will be established for 97 product groups and excise tax - for more than 34 groups of goods.
Custom duties in Uzbekistan for imported goods range from 0 to more than 100 percent, but the average rate is approximately 30 percent.
Since January 2010, some five percent customs duties are applied to imported live animals, milk and cream, wheat, and computer hardware; 10-30 percent duties are applied to clothing, furniture, metals, foodstuffs; and more than 50 percent duties are applied to luxury consumer goods such as cigarettes and cars.
The categories of imported goods which are indefinitely exempt from customs duties include charter fund contributions for private enterprises, provided that these are not further sold, goods imported by enterprises with foreign investment for their own needs, goods imported by foreign investors for their own production and personal use, goods imported under a temporary importation regime, goods imported to process for further export and for statutory needs.
Excise tax, charged as a percentage of the declared customs value, must be paid on certain products, such as cigarettes, vodka, ice-cream, oil and gas condensate, fuels, cars, and carpets. Excise tax rates vary depending on the type of imported good and may deviate significantly. For example, the excise tax for jewelry is 90 percent, but two percent for passenger cars imported from Russia and Ukraine. The highest import excise tax 200 percent is levied on imported ice cream products.
Uzbekistan's trade policy also includes the use of tariff-like instruments, such as various types of import surcharges. The two most important are the surcharges placed on all imports by individuals and the surcharges placed on imports coming from third party countries through neighboring countries that do not have certificates of origin.
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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva
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20 September 2017 12:26 (UTC+04:00)
By Kamila Aliyeva
President of the United States, Donald Trump has said that the dispute between Qatar and its Arab neighbors would be resolved quickly.
We are right now in a situation where were trying to solve a problem in the Middle East. And I think well get it solved, I have a very strong feeling that it will be solved pretty quickly, Trump said in New York as he met Qatars Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the White House press service reported.
The meeting in expanded format was attended by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, U.S. Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin, National Security Advisor to General Herbert McMaster, Presidential Adviser Jared Kouchner, Economic Advisor to President Dinah Powell and two other U.S. officials.
Trump continued: It's my great honor to be with the Emir of Qatar. And we've been friends a long time; people don't realize that. We know each other for a long time. And we are right now in a situation where were trying to solve a problem in the Middle East, and I think we'll get it solved.
The Gulf crisis erupted after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting extremism. Qatar has vehemently denied the charges as baseless.
Trump earlier this month was optimistic he could force a breakthrough. 'I think youd have a deal worked out very quickly,' he said. But a call he arranged between the leaders of Qatar and Saudi Arabia didn't bear fruit and led to disparate statements from the two nations.
The Qatari Emir, in turn, confirmed that the relationship between the United States of America and Qatar is a very strong relationship, a historic relationship.
We have a lot to talk about -- trade, military cooperation, security cooperation, he said, further adding: We have a problem with our neighbors, and your interference will help a lot.
And I'm sure that, with your interference, hopefully we can find a solution for this problem. We've always said that we're very open for dialogue, and we'll always be open for dialoguethe Emir said.
The four Arab states boycotting Qatar said that sanctions would remain in place until it met their demands and that they would keep a close eye on the tiny Gulf monarchys efforts to fight terrorism funding.
They issued a 13-point list of demands to end the standoff. The demands include shutting down the Al Jazeera news network, closing a Turkish military base, cutting ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, and downgrading relations with Tehran.
Qatar insisted it would not agree to any measures that threatened its sovereignty or violated international law.
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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva
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20 September 2017 15:20 (UTC+04:00)
By Trend
Head of the Astana International Finance Center Kairat Kelimbetov has announced the launch date of a stock exchange in Kazakhstan, Kazinform news agency reports.
We will officially hold the first test of the exchange in early December, before Dec. 10. Accordingly, it will be fully tested and ready for operation within the privatization program. Air Astana and Kazatomprom are aware of the fact that the privatization will be on the Astana International Finance Center platform, and their Samruk-Kazyna JSC also knows this. We work very closely, Kelimbetov told reporters at a press conference in the Kazakh government.
He added that the finance center is working jointly with the Sovereign Wealth Fund Samruk-Kazyna JSC in attracting investors for privatization.
There are various questions both about dual listing and other listings this is being discussed, Kelimbetov said.
As for the [exchange] registration, indeed, we planned to begin registration in July-August, he added.
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20 September 2017 16:10 (UTC+04:00)
By Trend
An Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-2017 business forum and exhibition will be held in Tashkent on October 5-6, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) reported.
The events will be held within Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayevs state visit.
The forum organizers expect a lot of visitors from Tashkent and nearby regions of Uzbekistan to attend the forum.
The forum and exhibition will be also held to strengthen a friendly dialogue between the countries.
The forum participants will have the opportunity to establish contacts, showcase their products or services, find partners and get full information about the market.
The exhibition will cover tourism, agriculture, IT, mining and other sectors.
Previously the Kyrgyz-Uzbek business forum was held in Bishkek on September 5 within Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyevs state visit to Kyrgyzstan.
During this forum, President Mirziyoyev invited his Kyrgyz counterpart to visit Uzbekistan.
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20 September 2017 17:40 (UTC+04:00)
By Kamila Aliyeva
More than 50 countries have signed the landmark Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in New York during a high-level ceremony held in the margins of the annual opening of the United Nations General Assembly on September 20.
The document was first signed by President of Brazil, Michel Temer. The ceremony is attended by several heads of state and dozens of foreign ministers, including Austria, Ireland and Cuba, Tass reported.
The new treaty, which was formally adopted on July 7, bans the use, threatened use, production, development, stationing, and testing of nuclear weapons; forbids assistance will all prohibited activities, and requires the provision of assistance to victims and remediation of polluted land from nuclear weapon use and testing.
With the adoption of the treaty, nuclear weapons join biological and chemical weapons as weapons of mass destruction that have been declared illegal under international law.
The Treaty will enter into force 90 days after it is signed and ratified by 50 countries.
The treaty negotiations were boycotted by nuclear-armed states, including Russia, Great Britain, China, U.S. and France. Two hours after the adoption of the document, the United Kingdom, the United States and France issued a joint statement in which they said they would never become its participants.
In turn, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Moscow will not ratify the treaty, because it contradicts the national interests of the country.
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20 September 2017 11:28 (UTC+04:00)
By Amina Nazarli
Azerbaijans beautiful capital Baku has repeatedly ranked first among the cities of the CIS on the popularity of summer travel. The autumn season also promises to be a good one for baku, dubbed as the City of Winds.
Tourist service portal Turstat has revealed the most popular cities among the tourists from the CIS for travel this autumn.
Baku is in the Top 3 cities of the CIS for popularity among tourists, followed by Tashkent, Ashgabat, Kiev, Kishinev, Bishkek and Erevan.
The rating is based on the results of the analysis of the data of online booking systems for accommodation facilities for tourists.
Tourists will visit Baku on average for 3 days and spend on living $ 78 per day, according to Turstat.
The most inexpensive cities of the CIS for tourists are Bishkek and Kishinev, while the most expensive is Astana.
Situated along the Caspian Sea, Baku is a great mix of Asian and Western cultures, of the old and new, all of which is best reflected in the citys sights and landmarks.
The capital Baku is on the Caspian Sea, but also home to oil drilling derricks and futuristic skyscrapers.
Unique culture and history, delicious food and wine and plenty of adventures are awaiting travelers in the capital city of Azerbaijan.
Travelers can explore the famed medieval Old City, hailed as a must-visit, which houses the UNESCO-listed Shirvanshahs Palace, and Maiden Tower. Admire the citys contemporary buildings such as the Heydar Aliyev Center, designed by Zaha Hadid, and the Flame Towers a trio of skyscrapers covered with LEDs and displaying the mesmerizing movement of a flame.
Over the past 10 years, the number of tourists visiting Azerbaijan increased by five times.
Here, the Caucasus Mountains are as earthy as you can get, peppered with traditional elevated villages such as Lahic, where subsistence farming and traditional art forms still alive. And then there is fire. Everywhere. From the permanently alight natural gas flaming mountain of Yanardag to fire worshippers temple Ateshgah, both on the Absheron Peninsula. And as for air, just head to the omnipresent mountains, ideal for visiting any time of year, whether summer or winter.
But beyond its nature, which is key reason for the tourism, the people of Azerbaijan are wonderfully welcoming and hospitable.
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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli
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20 September 2017 14:48 (UTC+04:00)
By Amina Nazarli
Honey lovers rejoice! Traditional Honey Fair, displaying the sweetest honey varieties, will return to the capital this autumn.
The sweet tooth should not miss the chance to visit the month-long honey fair to take place at A.M.A.Y Holdinq Mall from October 10 to November 5 (address is Nobel avenue 23).
The fair is arranged with a view to creating a market for different types of honey, promoting honey farming and raising awareness about the benefits of honey.
Honey Fair, first held in 2009, is one of the largest fairs organized in the capital city, with hundreds of bee keepers offering their honey to guests of the event.
Beekeepers from all regions of Azerbaijan convene at the Fair, where every barrel of honey is thoroughly examined by specialists.
Guests will be able to taste and purchase a variety of honey flavors, including lime, meadow, acacia, crown of thorns, chestnut, sunflower, licorice flower, sweet clover, etc.
Widespread in the mountainous regions and adored for the nutritional and therapeutic qualities of honey, apiculture is a rapidly developing sector of the Azerbaijani economy. Domestically produced honey is renowned for its high quality and unique taste.
The country is home to one the most famous bee species in the world the Mountain Grey Caucasian Bee which can fly at 6 degrees below zero C and has the longest proboscis for sucking up nectar.
The government freed farmers engaged in apiculture from taxes until 2019, besides the land tax. Moreover, the government gives subsidies, preferential loans to the farmers to facilitate growth in the sector.
Beekeeping is rapidly developing in Shamakhi region of the country, where the number of bee families increased from 2,000 to 6,770. Thanks to these efforts, annually several tons of Shamakhi honey is exported to Baku and Sumgayit.
In the current season about 68 tons of honey was produced in the region, which is more by 7.7 tons compared to the previous year.
Beekeepers from Shamakhi will join the Baku Fair with 5 tonnes of honey.
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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli
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20 September 2017 16:06 (UTC+04:00)
By Amina Nazarli
Although Azerbaijans capital city, Baku, is among the most beautiful and visited cities in the world, this fascinating country has a lot more to offer foreign tourists.
Mountains, forests, farmlands, coastal areas, and nine out of a possible eleven distinct
climate zones from subtropical to alpine climates allow the country to welcome a diverse group of tourists. In addition to the natural and rural attractions, Azerbaijan has a rich history and many destinations that would be of interest to tourists.
Until recently, few travelers visited other regions and cities of Azerbaijan due to lack of proper information and infrastructure. However, today, one can see many foreigners traveling around the country with backpacks and cameras in their hands.
The tourists mainly choose the most popular destinations Gabala, Quba, Shamakhi and many other cities. But, this year the southern regions also welcomed more tourists than before.
Director of Lankaran Tourism Information Center Ilgar Azimov told Azertac that about 36,000 tourists visited Lankaran, Astara and Lerik regions in eight months of the current year.
Noting that more than 17,000 tourists came only to Lankaran during this period, Azimov said that the number of foreign tourists traveling to the region also grew.
Russian tourists take first place among the foreigners coming to Lankaran, followed by travelers from Iran and Arab countries, he said.
Favorable weather conditions in August-September resulted in tourist flow to the southern regions, according Azimov, who added that the tourists expressed their satisfaction with the conditions created in the recreation centers and tourism facilities of the region.
The charming city of Lankaran, one of the most vibrant and beautiful cities of Azerbaijan, is located in the South-Eastern part of the country, right at the shore of the Caspian sea. Clean air and beautiful nature, abundance of attractions and hospitality of local people are that special factor, which annually attracts tourists from all over the world.
Lankaran can be considered one of the oldest settlements of Azerbaijan -- its area was inhabited from the Bronze Age. Due to its location between Europe and Asia, Lankaran was a major stopover point for international caravan routes. In 1742, the city became the capital of the Talysh Khanate. Lankaran has a lot of historical attractions one of the most magnificent is the Lankaran Fortress. Built in the 18th century, it was one of the most important military fortifications in the Talysh Khanate.
Russian tourist Sergei Abramov, who visited Lankaran for the first time, expressed his satisfaction with the travel.
We came from Moscow. The nature and atmosphere of Lankaran made us fascinate. People of Lankaran are both hospitable and very nice, he said.
Another tourist from Russia, Olga Abramova could not hide her enthusiasm for the national cuisine.
Your kitchen is so delicious, she said. Since weather in Russia is cold we cannot have breakfast outdoors. However, here we enjoyed the delicious breakfast in the open air.
If you ask an Azerbaijani about the most fruitful region of the country, he will probably name Lankaran. In agriculture of Lankaran citrus and subtropical fruit-growing occupies a special place, and it is no coincidence that Lankaran is called the land of citrus plants, such as oranges, tangerines, lemons, pomelo and others.
Of course, when visiting Lankaran, you should definitely taste Lankaran tea, which is constantly exported to other regions of Azerbaijan and foreign countries as well. Tea is so popular in Lankaran, that it has tea monument beside the entry to the city a huge samovar (tea boiler).
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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Kriti Sanon Unfurled Her Slaying Skills For An Event In Agra Bollywood Wardrobe Dona
Kriti Sanon was in Agra yesterday attending an event by Johnson and Johnson. Her style book was perfect as usual, and she looked marvellous.
Kriti carried a super cool outfit by Zara which she wore with a Flirtatious India wide corset belt. The upper part of the outfit was striped with two colours on a blue base colour shade. The lower part had a bodycon structured black shaded body.
Kriti wore a pair of ankle length gladiators along with the dress and completed the style book with amazing accessories.
Did you like her look for the day? We surely give full marks for styling and carrying the look so well.
Check out the latest look and also the previous ones where Kriti did not step back from slaying.
5 Ways to Experience Kolkata Durga Puja Festival Life oi-Lekhaka
If you are crazy about visiting Kolkata during Durga puja, you must hit the city at least one week prior to the festival. The main reason for visiting the city in advance is to behold the finishing touches of the Durga idols.
Even if it is not possible for you, there is a plethora of other options to rejoice during this festival.
If you are totally new to the city, the best way to participate in Durga puja celebrations is to get in touch with the various types of tours organized by different travel companies or agencies.
The Tourism Development Corp. of West Bengal also offers various tours and short trips within Kolkata and nearby cities during Durga puja. Following are some of the best ways to experience Durga puja in the City of Joy:
Experience The Making Of Durga Idols If you happen to be in the city a week ahead of the festival, you can plan to visit the area named "Kumartuli", which is located in North Kolkata. A majority of Durga idols are crafted by the skilled artisans at Kumartuli. Here, you can witness the making of the idols and see the dedication and effort of the artists who make them. These idols take several months to be brought into shape. There are almost 150 potters who live in Kumartuli with their families. Just hit the place on the day of "Mahalaya" just one week prior to Durga Puja and you will be able to witness the artists painting the eyes of Goddess Durga. This ritual is considered to be very auspicious and is known as the "Chokkhu Daan" ritual. Experience Pandal Hopping Pandal hopping is the main highlight of this festival. The city is dotted with a myriad of Durga pandals in almost every locality. Each pandal has a special theme and decoration. Although it is impossible to visit the innumerable pandals of Kolkata, you can plan to visit the most popular ones, which are in the North and South Kolkata. The best time to start pandal hopping is during the night when they are illumined. However, if you want to avoid the crowd, you can visit the pandals even during daytime. Experience A Zamindari (or Bonedi Bari) Puja Apart from visiting the public puja pandals, you should also check out one of the traditional Zamindari pujas or Bonedi Bari Durga pujas. These pujas are celebrated in the palatial mansions of zamindar families. The 2 most popular Bonedi Bari pujas of Kolkata are - Rani Rashmonibari and Shovabazaar Rajbari. Experience The Bengali Cuisines Durga puja is the best time to satiate your taste buds with the most delectable Bengali cuisines. When it comes to Bengalis and Durga puja, you will get a vast array of scrumptious food in every nook and corner of the city. You must savour the "Bhog", which is served at almost all puja pandals in the noon. Whether it is any pandal or on streets as well as in restaurants, whenever you feel famished during pandal hopping, just grab a bite at any of these eateries. Some restaurants also offer a special menu for Durga puja, which comprises of authentic Bengali cuisines and sweets. Experience "Bhashaan" Or Immersion Of Devi Durga The final day of Durga puja is also called "Dashami". On this day, the festival comes to an end. All the married women put sindoor (red colour powder) on Devi Durga and thereafter play with each other by sprinkling and smearing sindoor. This ritual is known as "Sindoor Khela". After sindoor khela, the immersion of the idol takes place in the evening time. To witness the immersion ceremony, you need to visit Babu Ghat, which is the most famous place for Durga immersion.
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When An 8-cm Glass Was Found In A Man's Rear! Life oi-Syeda Farah Noor
Experimenting during lovemaking sessions is not a bad idea unless you are caught in an awkward emergency position where you end up with external assistance needed!
This is what happened to a man in China when he was rushed to a hospital after he lodged an 8-cm glass cup into his rear!
Check out on what exactly happened in this case.
His Identity Is Hidden The 33-year-old man who was rushed to the hospital is said to be a father of kids and a husband. He rushed to a hospital at 2 AM in the morning when he could not bear the pain. His identity is not revealed to protect him from embarrassment. It Was Stuck Since 2 Days! The poor man has been suffering in pain since 2 days before he rushed to the hospital with unbearable pain. He revealed to the doctors that he tried everything to remove the glass, but failed and his rear was swelling up due to the stress on the body part. pulse Strangest Uses Of Sex Dolls The Doctors Were Confused When the doctors examined the man, they were shocked to see the entire glass cup being lodged in his anus, as it had not broken. The case was complicated, as a slight breaking of the glass could cause a life-threatening harm to the man. He Had To Be Operated The doctors tried to sedate his rear by giving him anaesthesia, but were not confident on pulling out the glass, as it was very slippery. Hence, they performed a surgery and removed the glass from his rear! He is currently recovering from the embarrassing situation and yet does not wish to share the details as to how the glass got lodged there in the first place! What do you think could have happened? Do share your thoughts on the same in the comment section below.
Killeen, TX (76540)
Today
Showers early, then cloudy in the afternoon. High near 50F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..
Tonight
Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 37F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph.
Plans for an $11 billion mega-merger of the nation's two biggest gambling companies have been dealt a devastating blow, with the Federal Court quashing the approval of the ambitious proposal.
The tie-up of the ASX-listed Tabcorp and Tatts Group was thrown into uncertainty on Wednesday when the court found in favour of legal arguments filed by the competition watchdog about why the deal's approval should be set aside.
The ACCC and CrownBet have been fighting against a decision to approve the Tabcor-Tatts merger. Credit:bradleyphotos.com.au
"The court orders that the decision of the tribunal be set aside," Justice Nye Perram said, "and the matter be referred back to the [Australian Competition Tribunal] for consideration."
Justice Perram ruled that the reasons for the order would not be made public for at least five days.
A NSW primary school teacher who says she attempted suicide after being bullied by her principal and isolated by her colleagues for more than a year has received a six-figure settlement from her school authority.
Helen Frances*, 53, was a full-time casual teacher at a northern NSW school for nearly seven years, and said there was a "wonderful environment and a good, collaborative staff culture" before the arrival of a new principal.
Helen Frances says she will never be able to go back to teaching, which "was not just a job ... it was something that I really loved".
Mrs Frances said the culture soon started to "become toxic", with staff becoming disengaged and unhappy with the pressure being placed on them.
"I decided to go and have a chat with the new principal, once informally and then once in the form of letter, without realising I was setting myself up as a target," she said.
Sediment of fine soil is clogging corals on the Great Barrier Reef, making it harder for the reef to recover from coral bleaching episodes.
Coral bleaching occurs when water temperatures rise steeply. This has happened in the past two Queensland summers.
Anti-erosion and water-quality projects could reduce sediment on the reef by 70 per cent after three years.
Many people can say "hello" in French or Japanese, but ask them how to say it in an Indigenous language and they would likely be stumped.
The State Library of Queensland hopes to change that through the creation of lists containing words from dozens of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, from how to say g'day, animals, body parts and numbers.
You can learn how to say 'g'day' in dozens of Indigenous languages using the State Library of Queensland's lists. Credit:Joe Armao
The project was designed to support communities in reviving, documenting and preserving endangered Indigenous languages.
If you were in Brisbane, or Meeanjin, and decided to meet a friend at Mount Coot-tha, you might say hello in the Turrbal dialect, "Galang nguruindhau", which is pronounced, "Ga-lung ngoo-rroo-win-dha-woo".
Police are hunting for a man believed to be armed with a machete after he sliced a womans leg at a Gold Coast park.
The woman, believed to be in her 30s suffered what a police spokesman said was a serious cut to her leg and was taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable condition.
The spokesman said police were called to a patch of bushland in Ngulli Bui Park in Arundel about 11.45am.
More than half a dozen crews were searching for the attacker, who was believed to be armed with a machete, he said.
Australians are on the move and theyre heading to Brisbane and the Gold Coast, with unprecedented levels of visitation in the past financial year.
The National Visitor Survey figures released on Wednesday showed a record number of people visited the capital in the year ending June 2017 with visitation growth up 11.8 per cent while intrastate overnight visitation was also strong with an increase of 14.6 per cent.
Record numbers of interstate visitors have travelled to the Gold Coast. Credit:Glenn Hunt
The Gold Coast hit new levels for domestic overnight visitation with a 7.2 per cent increase.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the city had also hit an all-time high influx of Australian business visitors with an increase of 27.5 per cent in the past financial year, taking the number of business visitors to 1.4 million.
Sarah Hawthorn should be cuddling her precious newborn son.
Instead, she is fighting for her life after contracting the flu while pregnant.
Sarah Hawthorn, 33, was an otherwise healthy and fit woman when she was struck down by the influenza epidemic sweeping the country in the late stages of her pregnancy.
The 33-year-old mum was an otherwise healthy and fit woman when she was struck down by the influenza epidemic gripping the country in the late stages of her pregnancy.
She remains in an induced coma and unaware she has given birth to "the most perfect little baby boy".
The state government is considering imposing a minimum floor price on takeaway alcohol after Health Minister Roger Cook raised concerns retailers were selling bottles of wine for less than $3.
The revelation came on Tuesday during budget estimates.
Mr Cook said he had asked the Mental Health Commission and Department of Health to investigate the option of imposing a minimum floor price on liquor sales in an attempt to reduce alcohol-related harm.
ABC News reported Mr Cook said details on how the floor price would be set, enforced or introduced were yet to be determined.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been forced to intervene in a fundraiser after a member of her own party was sprung sidestepping donation laws just a day after she called One Nation sneaky for doing the same thing.
The names of all attendees at an upcoming $990-a-head fundraiser for federal MP Shayne Neumann will be made public after the Premier stepped in.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk promised names would be made public. Credit:Darren England/AAP
Without her intervention, the guests would have fallen just shy of the $1000 donations threshold requiring names to be automatically declared under the real-time disclosure system.
The pledge came after News Corp contacted the Premiers office on Wednesday about Mr Neumanns Boardroom Lunch next month at the Norman Hotel with shadow treasurer Chris Bowen.
Karina Okotel - federal Liberal party vice president, unsuccessful senate candidate, and the young, fresh face of the No Campaign - wants people to know that conservatives care.
"A misunderstanding people have about the conservative side of politics is that it's uncaring," she says.
"The idea of small government is that it's the community's responsibility to take care of people. The government should be facilitating that rather than the government trying to answer everything and be everything."
As she tells it, Okotel signed up to work for the No Campaign because she cares, very deeply, about the rights of children, which she says would be threatened by same-sex marriage.
Drive as far south-west as you can in Australia and you'll wind up in the town of Augusta, where the waves pound in after 8000 kilometres of unbroken ocean, overseen by the tallest lighthouse on the mainland. There's whale-watching and wine, an electric vehicle charging station and, for those prepared to go looking, a record shop.
It's called What's That but you'll need to look for The Crafter's Croft, a heritage shop sign townsfolk want to keep. It's down a side street and heavily disguised as a second-hand bookshop, but the vinyl is all new and there's stacks of it, easily the equal of most record shops in Melbourne or Sydney. Amazing in a town of 1068 people. If you'd like to listen before buying, your record will be played on a 1960s HMV Viking radiogram.
Vinyl to digital transfer? No worries.
Conventional wisdom suggests owners Alexis and Joshua Taylor are a tad over-capitalised, but while they admit to being one-eyed vinyl enthusiasts both are confident they can make the business hum. Given that an hour before I was having coffee in Cowaramup, 10 kilometres from Margaret River, and the music came from a turntable the staff dutifully attended every 20 minutes, they might be right.
Sony has become another vinyl true believer. It will start making records again next year and has lately unveiled a new turntable, the PSHX500, to celebrate. It's better looking than anything the company has offered in the past, with the elegant simplicity that has lately become a hallmark of fully manual turntables. At $799 it's getting expensive for an entry-level offering, and at around the same price you'll get better sound from a Pro-Ject with an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge, or a Rega, but the Sony gives you something they don't: a USB connection to hook in a computer.
One of the United States' most senior retired military officers has warned during a visit to Australia that North Korea will not wind back its nuclear program and will need to be strongly deterred, including possibly through nuclear weapons positioned in Asia.
"I am not optimistic that we're going to be able to take the existing goals that we've had for the peninsula and move to a denuclearised state," Patrick Walsh, a retired four-star admiral who commanded US naval forces in the Pacific, told Fairfax Media in an interview.
"I think the prevailing view will be that North Korea is now a nuclear state and it will require a much stronger deterrence posture on the part of allies in the region," he said.
"They may be the first to nuclearise in the region but I don't think they'll be the last."
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has backed US President Donald Trump's fiery language on North Korea, saying "the whole country will be wiped out" and "many, many thousands of innocent people will die" if the regime attacks the United States or its allies.
In his sternest warning yet to North Korea, President Trump told the United Nations General Assembly the United States will be forced to "totally destroy" North Korea unless Pyongyang backs down from its nuclear challenge, and mocked North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as a "rocket man" on a suicide mission.
At President Trump's first appearance at the assembly's annual gathering of world leaders, he emphasised it was against the interest of the entire world for North Korea, which he called a "band of criminals", to obtain missiles and nuclear weapons.
Unless North Korea backed down, he said, "we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea."
A Queensland woman has been killed in Bali after falling off the back of a scooter.
Forensic doctor Ida Bagus Putu Alit said 27-year-old Australian woman Sophia Florella Martini was taken to Sanglah morgue at 2.30am on September 18.
Sophia Martini died in a scooter crash in Bali.
"She was already dead on arrival," Dr Ida said.
"We did a preliminary examination, she had an open wound to her lower limbs and broken shin bones. There were cuts, especially around the face."
Volunteers and rescue workers search for children trapped inside at the collapsed Enrique Rebsamen school in Mexico City. Credit:AP/Gerardo Carrillo Hundreds of emergency workers spent the night pulling rubble from the ruins of the grade school with their bare hands under the glare of floodlights. Three survivors were found at around midnight as volunteer rescue teams known as "moles" crawled deep under the rubble. Some rescuers commandeered shopping carts from a nearby supermarket and formed a human chain to haul away rubble. Several times, a warning went up about a possible aftershock or gas leak, sending hordes of panicked people running. A man walks out of the door frame of a building that collapsed after the earthquake. Credit:AP But there were few places that would be safe. Narrow streets lined with trees and power lines could turn deadly in an aftershock.
The neighbourhood of Condesa was filled with thousands of dazed survivors too afraid to return to their homes. They stood around with dogs and suitcases, holding their heads and checking social media feeds on their phones. Many ducked into their apartments to bring food and water for rescuers. People react in front of a collapsed building following the earthquake in Mexico City. Credit:Bloomberg The earthquake struck on the anniversary of a 1985 temblor, which killed thousands of people and devastated large parts of Mexico City - a tragedy the President had commemorated earlier in the day. Like many in the city, Edgar Diaz, a 20-year-old architecture student at a university in Condesa, took part in an earthquake drill at 11am. Hours later, the real one hit. A woman in a wheelchair is evacuated from a clinic in Mexico City. Credit:AP
"We all went running. The staircases were swaying," he said. After establishing that his friends were all right, he joined the line of people helping clear rubble from the collapsed apartment building. A man enters a damaged building after an earthquake in Mexico City. Credit:AP "What's important right now is saving lives," he said. Juan Jose Martinez, 52, felt the temblor at his home several miles away. There was no damage to his neighbourhood, so he and three relatives grabbed shovels and construction helmets and set out on foot to the most affected areas.
Remains of a damaged building stands after an earthquake in Mexico City. Credit:AP "What else would we do?" he said. "This is our Mexico. Everybody needs help sometimes." Police cordoned off entire blocks because of fears that gas leaks could cause explosions. Flights into Mexico City were temporarily rerouted to other cities, but the airport reopened after checks were completed. A woman hugs a child outside a school in the Roma Norte neighbourhood of Mexico City, after Tuesday's earthquake . Credit:AP As many as 4.6 million homes, businesses and other facilities lost electricity, according to national power company Comision Federal de Electricidad, including 40 percent of homes in Mexico City.
"We've re-established (power) to 90 percent of the areas affected by the earthquake," Jaime Hernandez, chief executive officer of national electricity company CFE, told broadcaster Televisa early Wednesday morning. A woman tries to speak on her phone after she evacuated following an earthquake in Mexico City. Credit:AP Most people were at work or at school when the earthquake hit. Across the city, they poured into the streets to walk home, searching for information about loved ones and posting the names of the missing on trees and lampposts. Public transportation had ceased to function in a sprawling city so large it can take three hours to get home. "It's very horrendous," said Guillermo Lozano, the humanitarian and emergency affairs director for World Vision Mexico, a Christian humanitarian organisation. "Everything was moving - the stairs were moving, things were falling down." Among the destroyed buildings was a supermarket where survivors could be heard crying out for help, he said. There were also reports that a kindergarten had collapsed, trapping children under the debris. Staff members at a children's hospital were tending to patients in the streets.
Building standards have improved since the 1985 quake, Lozano said, but there are many old buildings in the city, which were among the worst-hit. For a country still recovering from a powerful earthquake that hit southern Mexico on September 7, it was a double tragedy. "We will need a lot of help," Lozano said. Mexico City is prone to major damage in earthquakes because it sits on an old lake bed that amplifies the shaking. The US Geological Survey calculated the preliminary magnitude of Tuesday's quake at 7.1. The epicentre was about 128 kilometres south-east of Mexico City in the state of Puebla.
Moscow: At least one bystander narrowly escaped death when a Russian military helicopter accidentally fired rockets into a parking lot during a training exercise, a video released Tuesday shows.
The video, from the online news portal 66.ru, shows two helicopters swooping over a field at treetop level before one suddenly fires off rockets that seem to hit a truck just a few yards from the bystander, who was standing On the parking lot, which is next to a firing range near St. Petersburg.
The misfire came during a major exercise though the timing of the strike was unclear. The exercises began Thursday and run through Wednesday.
Intended to flex Russian military muscle along the border with NATO countries to the west of Russia, the exercises have also highlighted some safety lapses. Already one Russian soldier has died from a ricocheting tank shell.
Barack Obama's young chief speechwriter Ben Rhodes became so adept at channelling his boss' soaring rhetoric and political world view that he was often described as having achieved a "mind meld" with the president.
By the time Obama left office, Rhodes was considered brilliant in Washington circles, but some in the foreign policy establishment fretted that he might have become too influential, that he might have helped shape Obama's foreign policy as well as his words.
Today in the angry, swirling Trump administration, another young man has achieved similar stature. You might not have heard of Stephen Miller, but you have likely heard his words.
Before Miller wrote Donald Trump's bellicose address to the United Nations this week, the 32-year-old was perhaps best known as the author of Trump's dystopian inaugural address, now known simply as the "American carnage" speech.
British police have arrested three men in south Wales in connection to last week's bombing of a busy commuter train in west London, bringing the total number of people in police custody to five over the attack which injured 30 people.
A 25-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday evening in Newport, while two others, aged 48 and 30, were detained at another address in the Welsh town in the early hours of Wednesday, London police said.
"This continues to be a fast-moving investigation. A significant amount of activity has taken place since the attack on Friday," said Commander Dean Haydon, head of London police's Counter Terrorism Command.
"We now have five men in custody and searches are continuing at four addresses. Detectives are carrying out extensive inquiries to determine the full facts behind the attack."
Campus News
From Buffalo to Tanzania, a journey that changes lives
By REBECCA RUDELL
Reprinted from At Buffalo
It was bizarre, says Mara Huber, associate dean of undergraduate research and experiential learning at UB, describing how the Buffalo Tanzania Education Project (BTEP) was born. My name is Mara. They were from the Mara Region. I was working on school partnerships. They were looking for a partner to help build a school for girls. They are Sister Janepha and Sister Agnes from the Immaculate Heart Sisters of Africa, whom Huber met while having Christmas dinner at her in-laws house in 2007. The school they wished to build opened in January of this year, with help from UB, Buffalo community groups and the Girls Education Collaborative, a local nonprofit that started as an offshoot of BTEP. Huber started BTEP in 2009 to unite students, faculty and Buffalo groups in an informal partnership that emphasizes relationships over one-off projects. Its goal: improving opportunities for women and families in Tanzanias Mara Region. I have learned that the best partnerships are built on strong relationships that represent mutual respect and trust, Huber explains. This vision for collaboration continues to drive me. She calls UBs Tanzania course which also evolved out of BTEP, becoming an official study abroad offering in 2014 a shining example of all that is possible. Indeed it is. Matt Falcone, a senior double-majoring in environmental and civil engineering, took the trip in 2015. He is now working on a parabolic solar trough that will provide clean water to people in developing countries, and could also find use in the U.S. in places like Flint, Mich., where clean-water issues continue to make headlines. His passion for this issue crystallized after he witnessed the need for clean water in Tanzania.
Students also spent time in Serengeti Natural Park. "You're standing all day [in the safari vehicle], dirt on your face, but it was the greatest feeling to be there," said UB student Danielle Nerber. Students also spent time in Serengeti Natural Park. "You're standing all day [in the safari vehicle], dirt on your face, but it was the greatest feeling to be there," said UB student Danielle Nerber.
Tyler Choi (BA 17), also touched by the people and places he encountered during his 2014 and 2015 visits, created Hugs for Tanzania, a crowdfunding initiative that raised money for school supplies for children at Kotwo Primary School. Choi also co-founded the UB Rotaract Club with Falcone to empower local and global communities toward sustainable improvements in health, education and infrastructure across social and national boundaries. Their mission, which happens to coincide with many of the ideas advanced by Huber and her partners, demonstrates just how strong the effects of experiential learning can be. Huber has been making the 20-hour journey to Tanzania nearly every year since 2009. She and her colleagues started bringing students in 2011 because they felt that direct interaction with people, places and ideas would provide a powerful avenue for growth. Huber also wanted students to break free from the notion that aid consists solely of donating money.
It was announced today that AIB and The Entrepreneurs Academy have teamed up to deliver a series of intensive one-day business ideation workshops across Ireland.
The Bootcamps are designed for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to take their business idea and turn it into a reality. Run in association with The Entrepreneurs Academy, the bootcamp sessions aims to provide participants with both knowledge and practical tools to help them transform their businesses.
Led by an experienced team of Entrepreneurs Academy mentors, attendees will receive a comprehensive grounding in the practical processes around starting a business, giving them the confidence and belief to bring their business idea to market.
Eight of these AIB Start-up Academy Ideation Bootcamps will take place this year at locations across the country. These one-day workshops are open to all, not only those who are AIB customers, who are considering starting their own business, regardless of background, industry, or experience.
The locations and dates are:
South Dublin, 28th September 2017, Leopardstown Clayton Hotel
Dundalk, 10th October 2017, Crown Plaza Hotel
Cork City, 12th October 2017, Clayton Hotel
Athlone, 18th October 2017, Hodson Bay Hotel
Galway, 19th October 2017, Salthill Hotel
North Dublin, 15th November 2017, Castleknock Hotel
Limerick, 23rd November 2017, Radisson Hotel
Waterford, 29th November 2017, Towers Hotel
Speaking this week, Group Brands Director at AIB, Mark Doyle said, "As part of our AIB Start-up Academy Programme weve been travelling around the country bringing training to hundreds of start-ups from all sectors and industries. The Ideation Bootcamp has been specifically designed to help people looking to validate their business idea or bring a product or service to market. The team at Entrepreneurs Academy have a wealth of experience and having seen them in action, I can honestly say that their sessions are best in class."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
It is estimated that Irish high tech SMEs raised a record 499m in the first half of 2017 with second quarter funding reaching 252m. This is according to the Irish Venture Capital Association VenturePulse survey published today in association with William Fry. This represents a 3% increase on the first half of 2016 when 486m was raised.
Funds raised in the first half of 2017 reached a high of 498.7m. This compares with funds raised of 486.4m in the first half of 2016, 306.9m in first half 2015, with 211.9m in the first half of 2014 and with 164.9m in the first half of 2013.
The Irish venture capital community continues to be the main source of funding for Irish innovative SMEs both through direct investment and as the local lead investor for international syndicate investors. However, the Irish Venture Association have also emphasised the importance of good global relationships.
International players invested 135m in the second quarter of 2017, bringing the total for the first half to 255m or 51% of total funds raised. This compares to investment by international syndicates of 205m in the first half of 2016.
Director General at IVCA, Regina Breheny said, "Since the onset of the credit crunch in 2008, in excess of 1,375 Irish SMEs have raised venture capital of 3.3bn. These funds were raised almost exclusively by Irish VC fund managers who during this period supported the creation of up to 20,000 jobs; attracted over 1.37bn of capital into Ireland and geared up the States investment through the Seed & Venture Capital programme by almost 16 times."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
Modified On Nov 17, 2017 07:12 PM By Raunak for Volkswagen Passat
The eighth-gen VW Passat will come with a 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine in 177PS tune similar to the Skoda Superb
Volkswagen is all set to reintroduce the Passat nameplate in the country with an all-new eighth-generation model later this year. Volkswagen India has commenced local production of the Passat at VW Groups Aurangabad facility in Maharashtra. It is the same facility that also manufactures the Tiguan. Both the sedan and the SUV along with the Skoda Superb, Octavia and the upcoming Kodiaq share VW Groups MQB (modular transverse matrix) platform.
The seventh-generation Passat was discontinued from the Indian-market in 2013 owing to poor sales. In the same year, Honda pulled out the Passats primary rival, the Honda Accord, as well. However, the Skoda Superb and the Toyota Camry remained in the market and continue to post relatively strong sales numbers in our SUV-crazed market. Now that the Passat is set for a comeback, it will face these premium sedans, including the Honda Accord which was launched earlier this year in a hybrid avatar, again. The Passats equipment list is expected to be identical to the Superb. The Passat may even pack a little extra to make it more appealing.
Unlike the Superb, the Passat will only be sold with a diesel heart, at least initially. It will be powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine which puts out 177PS and 350Nm. This engine will be coupled to a 6-speed DSG (dual-clutch automatic). The VW Passat is most likely to be priced in the range of Rs 28-30 lakh.
PT Semen Indonesia appoint new President Director
20 September 2017
In its Extraordinary General Meeting held Friday 15 September 2017, the shareholders of PT Semen Indonesia have approved the appointment of Hendi Prio Santoso as new President Director.
The 50-year-old Mr Santoso was President Director of state-owned gas company PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) from 2008 until 2017.
Previously, he held the positions of Finance Director at PGN (2007-08) and Director/Investment Banking at PT Morgan Securities Indonesia (2004-07).
He holds BA degrees in Business Administration and Economics from University of Texas. His term will expire in 2022.
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Cementir looks to withdraw from Italy
ICR Newsroom By 20 September 2017
Cementir has provisionally agreed terms with HeidelbergCement for the sale of its Italian cement and ready-mixed concrete operations to Italcementi, subject to such a deal not being blocked by the competition authorities. Bearing in mind that Italcementi is the domestic market leader by a substantial margin approval may not be that easily obtained and may require some disposals to other parties.
If concluded, such a deal would make Cementir even more dependent on the Nordic and Benelux markets, which in the first half of this year represented 65 per cent of Cementirs sales, or EUR411m. This compares with EUR88m for Italy, EUR89m for Turkey, EUR20m for Egypt, EUR31m for China and EUR17m for Malaysia.
The proposed sale of the Italian activities in 2018 are thought to provide a potential cash injection of EUR315m and roughly halve Cementirs net debt. Over time, a transfer of the group domicile from Italy to Denmark should not be ruled out.
Cementir Italia provides an ideal industrial and geographic fit that significantly improves our nationwide presence in Italy, explains Dr Bernd Scheifele, chairman of the Managing Board of HeidelbergCement. For Italcementi, the acquisition is a unique opportunity to grow and consolidate its position in the Italian market. We see strong recovery potential in Southern Europe and especially in Italy over the coming years. With this acquisition we are very well positioned to create value through synergies, efficient processes, and the offer of high-quality and innovative products. The acquisition is part of our strategy of disciplined growth and increasing shareholder returns.
Cementir Italia currently has five integrated cement works and two grinding centres with a combined capacity of 5.5Mta and produced a loss of EUR5.5m in the first half of this year. This compares with a group EBITDA 18.2 per cent ahead of EUR85m. HeidelbergCement expects annual cost savings of at least EUR25m from incorporating Cementir Italia into Italcementi.
Closing of the transaction, which is subject to final approval by the Italian Antitrust Authority, is expected in early 2018.
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Vissai Cement starts exclusive Vietnamese QuickFill deal Billerud
20 September 2017
Vissai Cement Corporation, part of Vissai Group, officially launched the QuickFill Clean (QFC) eco-friendly cement paper bags this week at the Vissai Ninh Binh cement plant.
The QFC cement sacks are produced by leading Swedish packaging company BillerudKorsnas.
"Vissai has studied and tested many types of cement sacks produced in different countries for both the domestic and export market. However, BillerudKorsnas' product is by far the most competitive in terms of technology and cost," Vissais deputy general director, Nguyen Tien at, told Vietnam News.
Under the agreement made in April 2017, Vissai will become the only unit to use BillerudKorsnas cement packaging in Vietnam for a period of two years.
The current use of KPK sacks in Vietnam is estimated to cause economic losses due to leakage during the packaging and transportation process. This leakage means that cement producers regularly have to pack extra cement in every 50kg bag to ensure the correct amount reaches the final consumers.
This leakage is also a threat to cement factory workers, construction site workers and the environment.
"One of the biggest advantages of the QFC paper sack is that it is very clean and doesn't waste cement like the current packaging used in Vietnam, resulting in significant financial saving for the company. Besides this, it is also advantageous for workers because they don't have to breathe the cement dust," said Mark van der Merwe, BillerudKorsnas business development director sack solutions.
BillerudKronas factory
Meanwhile, BillerudKronas' production unit in Karlsborg, which suffered a fire in early September, is now back to full speed after successful drive to make the unit ready for production. BillerudKorsnas estimates that the impact from the fire on Q3 results will be approximately SEK35m (US$4.4m).
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Klaipeda terminal expansion to boost Akmenes Scandinavian exports
ICR Newsroom By 20 September 2017
The cement loading terminal under development at the port of Klaipeda, Lithuania, will enable Akmenes Cementas to boost its exports to Scandinavia, according to business daily Verslo Zinios.
"It will make it easier to hold talks with potential buyers in Scandinavia, as our response to their needs will be more flexible and timely. We will be able to gradually accumulate cement at the terminal, we will not have to bring the entire amount needed for the ship by train cars at a time, as this is rather difficult," said Arturas Zaremba, CEO of Akmenes Cementas.
The terminal is being expanded by Bega, who plans to build a 4000t silo by the end of the year, followed by a similar one next year.
Akmenes Cementas currently ships around 150,000tpa of cement to Scandinavia. The expanded terminal will allow the company to raise such exports to 200,000t.
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In a world where North Korea commands nearly every headline, weve found it hard to keep up. It seems like every day, something crazy is going on in North Korea or surrounding the North Korean nuclear threat. We have cut out the middleman and organized this past weeks news stories into one article to get you up to speed on everything major happening with this dumpster fire of world politics. The stories range from rather normal (relatively), to downright shocking, and the last one may leave you sick to your stomach. So, lets dive right in, shall we?
1. North Korea launched another missile
On Sept. 14, North Korea initiated another test launch of their ICBMs. The missiles trajectory flew directly over the northern tip of Japan. The launch caused so much concern, that Japan initiated warnings via television and text messages for its citizens to take cover. The missile flew about 2,300 miles to the east and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. The event only furthered tensions between North Korea and the world.
Next: This country expels North Korean Diplomats from its borders.
2. Kuwait ousts North Korean Ambassador
On Sept. 17, Kuwait decided to oust North Korean Ambassador So Chang Sik. The diplomats at the embassy, however, have not been ousted for the time being. North Korea makes a substantial amount of money by sending laborers to the oil-rich region, and this move could affect North Korea financially. Kuwait is the only place in the Gulf where North Korea has an outpost. Currently, North Korea has laborers in Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
Next: U.S. flies some pretty bad ass weapons systems over the Peninsula.
3. Stealth bombers and warplanes fly over the Korean peninsula
On Sept. 18, as tensions continue to rise between North Korea and the rest of the world, the U.S. flew stealth bombers and warplanes of the Korean peninsula as a show of force against the North Koreans. The tactic has done little to quell tensions or slow North Koreas plans for a multi-layered nuclear defense program. If anything, the tactic has only enraged Pyongyang more.
Next: Trump fans the nuclear flames.
4. Trump nicknames Kim Jong Un Rocket Man
On Sept. 19, Trump addressed the worlds foremost diplomatic body, the United Nations, for his first ever speech to the organization. Part of his speech included a scathing call to arms in regards to the North Korean threat, calling North Koreas leader, Kim Jong Un, Rocket Man on a suicide mission. He also threatened the complete destruction of the hermit kingdom, which many experts say was a dire mistake in any attempt to resolve the problem. We believe he ruined Elton Johns smash hit Rocket Man unintentionally.
Next: Reuters exposes how North Korea can undermine sanctions.
5. How can a country undermine sanctions?
On Sept. 20, Reuters published an expose on how North Korea may be actually usurping U.N. sanctions. North Korea will create offshore shell companies to buy fuel from oil companies abroad. Under U.N. sanctions, it is perfectly fine for a Russian company to sell oil to a Chinese company. And it is perfectly legal for the shipment to change direction mid-transit. Thats how they believe that North Korea is getting around the fuel trade cap set by the UN sanctions.
Next: Trump accuses the Clintons of creating the North Korean problem.
Trump throws yet another wild accusation
On Sept. 20, Trump claimed that Obama and both Clintons are to blame for North Korea having nuclear weapons. Since there never is really a basis to Trumps claims, we can only discern that he was speaking to the diplomatic approach that has kept the peace for the last 25 years. By doing so, some believe that the West has been too willing to turn a blind eye toward North Koreas military proliferation. Unfortunately, there is way too much nuance and context that is required to place blame on any single individual.
Next: A North Korean defector tells all about the horrors of living under the regime.
7. Child sex slaves, anti-aircraft executions, and $2,500 lunches
On Sept. 20, The Mirror published a story where it interviewed a defector from North Korea about what it was like to live under the regime of the Kim Jong Un. In her story, she tells of prisoners being executed by being tied to the muzzle of antiaircraft weapons and being shot at one after. After their bodies were literally blown to smithereens, the military would drive tanks over the dismembered bodies of the executed until there was nothing left.
She also tells of how Kim Jong Un would pluck school girls out of school to become sex slaves. It is also said that Kim Jong Un loved to eat birds nest soup, a delicacy that costs around $2,500. All in all, it paints a horrifying picture of life in the hermit kingdom under the rule of its dictator.
For the most part, cruise ships are incredibly safe. For every disaster that occurs on a ship, there are many, many more completely safe voyages. However, cruise ships arent untouchable.
Were not trying to dissuade you from taking a vacation at sea, but, for those who are curious, here are some of the biggest disasters to happen on a cruise ship through the years.
1. The poop cruise
This cruise disaster earned its horrifying name when, thanks to an engine fire, the Carnival Triumph lost power and had to collect all of the on-board sewage waste into biohazard bags. Then, the crew piled up the bags next to guest cabins. Whats worse? We now know that the ship set sail with full knowledge that it had an ongoing problem with the engine. Thus, the voyage turned into an eight-day nightmare of floating in the Gulf of Mexico without power, air-conditioning, or a working septic system.
2. Engine fire number two
Similar to the first disaster, this Carnival Splendor cruise also experienced an engine fire. As a result, 4,500 passengers had their seven-day trip to Mexico cut to three days of getting towed back to the San Diego Bay. Passengers had no working toilets and had to eat rations of food (apparently, lots of spam) because the refrigerators were down.
3. The Costa Concordia
In 2012, a luxury cruise ship ran aground on a reef just off the coast of Tuscany, Italy. According to The Guardian, there were 4,200 passengers on board. Of those passengers, 32 died and 64 suffered injuries. Helicopters had to be called in to rescue a number of the passengers trapped inside. The evacuees were taken to the Tuscan island of Giglio, where they stayed in schools, hotels, and churches until they were able to return home.
4. Pirates
In 2015, 100 miles off the coast of Somalia, a pirates attacked a Seaborn Spirits ship. The pirates fired with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades before the captain was able to change course and escape. Thankfully, no one was hurt. When the attack began, the crew ushered guests into the ballroom for safety and created a loud bang to make the pirates believe they were firing back.
5. The Norovirus outbreak
On a Celebrity Mercury cruise in 2010, there was a Norovirus outbreak (a virus that spreads quickly in close quarters) that affected more than 400 of the 2,600 passengers and crew. The symptoms included vomiting and other gastrointestinal ills. The ship had to bring on additional doctors and nurses to help those affected.
6. Flooded cabins
In 2005, at least 62 cabins were flooded when a 70-foot wave smashed into a Norwegian Dawn ship, which was sailing from New York City to the Bahamas. The wave was so big and powerful, it reached up to the tenth deck. 300 of the ships passengers opted to leave early in Charleston, South Carolina, as soon as the storm passed.
7. The S.S. Eastland
All the way back in 1915, just three years after the Titanic sank, the S.S. Eastland rolled over onto its side while still at dock. The ship was carrying Western Electric employees to celebrate their fifth-annual employee picnic. Tragically, out of the 2,500 passengers and crew members, more than 800 people died, including 22 entire families.
8. Missing man
A young man named Daniel Dipiero went missing on a Royal Caribbean ship in 2006. He had been on the cruise with friends. After 18 hours of not being able to locate Dipiero, his family was notified of his missing status. Later, looking at the security footage, the tapes show Dipiero falling asleep on a lounge chair on the deck after one of the ships bartenders cut off his drinking. He got up to vomit off the side of the ship only to fall over into the water.
9. An allegedly drugged drink
On the International Cruise Victims website, a young woman wrote about her experience being drugged on a Carnival cruise. She says she was drinking by the pool alone when the waiter delivered her a drink she didnt order. She said the ones she had been ordering were pink, and this one was blue. However, the waiter insisted that she ordered it and that she must have forgotten. The woman had a couple sips of the blue drink only to immediately start feeling sick. She reported vomiting, blacking out, and waking up in her room. I believe a date rape drug had been slipped into my last drink, she said.
10. Legionnaires disease
A Fred Olsen cruise was cut short in 2007 when there was dangerous bacteria found on the ship. Days after returning home, passenger Robert Heath began to feel sick. Though doctors prescribed him antibiotics, he died a few days after returning home from his trip. It turns out, he had been exposed to Legionnaires disease on the ship. The cruise line ended up paying over $100,000 to settle the case.
11. Norovirus strikes again
In 2010, over 350 passengers became ill on a Caribbean cruise ship, as well as 27 crew members. Symptoms included vomiting, diarrhea and upset stomachs. They didnt officially name Norovirus as the culprit. However, the symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, and upset stomach) matched, and the virus has a tendency to spread rapidly in close quarters.
12. A sudden jolt
A Seattle-based ship heading to the Straight of Juan de Fuca injured 16 passengers in May 2017 when the captain made a sudden maneuver. After the jolt, the ship started to lean to one side, worrying the passengers that the ship was about to capsize. There was major damage to the interior of the ship, but passengers reported that the crew did the best they could.
13. Crew member death
In January 2016, a Caribbean cruise employee died while working on an elevator. 66-year-old electrician Jose Sandoval Opazo was working on an electrical issue in the elevator shaft when the elevator came down and killed him. Guests found the tragic scene: A sheet of blood pouring down from the broken elevator.
14. Stormy weather
In February 2016, a Royal Caribbean cruise set sail knowing a violent storm could hit them. (They had planned to outrun it but were unsuccessful.) The journey ended early after 125-mile-per-hour winds knocked the boat around. One passenger said the water were so rough at one point that the boat was at a 45 degree angle. For almost 12 hours, passengers had to hunker down in their rooms to avoid any flying furniture and glassware.
15. The Titanic
You cant talk about cruise ship disasters without mentioning the Titanic. Over 1,500 of the unsinkable ships 2,200 passengers and crew died after the boat hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic in 1912. After hitting the iceberg, the ship sank into the icy water. It was the Titanics maiden voyage.
Pueblo PD, Mayor Gradisar propose more pay for entry-level officers
The Pueblo Police Department and Mayor Nick Gradisar are proposing to increase entry-level pay for police officers to help with hiring.
After Charlottesville, Virginia church removes Robert E. Lee from its name
Leaders at the R. E. Lee Memorial Episcopal Church in Virginia have voted to remove the Confederate general's name from the parish after demands to disavow the Civil War figure divided the congregation following last month's violent clashes in Charlottesville.
The former Confederate commander had joined the church's congregation when he moved to Lexington in 1865, following his surrender to Union troops. He served as a senior warden until his death in 1870, and the church was named after General Robert E. Lee in 1903.
According to RT.com, on Monday evening the church board voted by 7-5 to change the parish's name back to Grace Episcopal Church.
The vote came after a two-year debate on whether a Christian church should carry a name that honoured a man who fought a war to preserve the institution of slavery.
'It's been a very divisive issue for two years,' Tom Crittenden, the church's rector, told the Richmond Times Dispatch. 'But Charlottesville seems to have moved us to this point. Not that we have a different view of Lee historically in our church, but we have appreciation for our need to move on.'
A parishioner first proposed a motion to rename the church shortly after the June 2015 shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, when a white supremacist murdered nine African-Americans at the AME Episcopal Church.
A vestry member, Doug Cumming, said that the discussions were difficult and had divided the congregation, prompting the resignation of another vestry member and the church's treasurer.
'People have left the church,' he said. 'People have felt exhausted by it. And many people felt hurt.'
Cumming told the Dispatch: '[Lee] was the senior warden of our church, we're proud of that, it's part of our history, but we're not going to put that on a sign out on the street because it's misunderstood. My ancestors were very proud, brave and articulate southerners, and like Robert E. Lee, I think they'd be very proud over what our church has done tonight.'
The move by the church comes after a number of cities across the US have removed monuments to Lee and other Confederate leaders following the clashes in Charlottesville last month in which one anti-racist activist died and 19 others were injured when a car driven by a white nationalist smashed into the crowd of counter-protesters.
Exorcist believes recent hurricanes and North Korea crisis are signs that the biblical apocalypse is near
Even as hurricanes, floods and other natural calamities are resulting in deaths of hundreds of people, North Korea has conducted its longest-ever test flight of a ballistic missile, all of which point to an imminent biblical apocalypse, says one of the most famous exorcists in Italy.
"All natural disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, demonstrate that the end of the world is coming," said Don Antonio Mattatelli, who is known for making public statements warning of the devil's work, according to the U.K.'s Express newspaper.
"It will not be the end of the world in general, but of this world yes," he explained. "Natural phenomena so sudden and powerful shows that, there is no confidence in the future and we have come to an end of modernity."
Don Antonio also believes the devil is behind North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un whose regime conducted a test flight of a ballistic missile Friday, sending an intermediate-range weapon hurtling over Japan into the northern Pacific Ocean.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley warned North Korea Friday that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis could deal with the nuclear threat from Pyongyang if sanctions do not work, according to Fox News.
Talking about the limitations of sanctions, Haley said at the White House briefing that there's only so much the U.N. Security Council can do "when you cut 90 percent of the trade and 30 percent of the oil."
"So having said that, I have no problem kicking it to General Mattis because I think he has plenty of options," Haley added.
Meanwhile, the death toll from the rains and flooding of South Asia's monsoon season has risen to 1,400 people, which is nearly 20 times higher than Hurricane Harvey's death toll of 70. Affected countries include India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh, with Reuters reporting this week that besides the 1,400 people killed, thousands of others have been hit by outbreaks of diarrhea, malaria and dengue.
Several Christian groups are serving in the region.
Hurricane Irma also wrecked parts of Florida two weeks after Hurricane Harvey became the first major hurricane to hit the United States since 2005, damaging hundreds of thousands of homes and killing 70 people.
While not specifying any date, evangelist Franklin Graham recently pointed to biblical passages describing signs pointing to the End Times in the wake of the recent disasters.
"The Bible says in Luke 21:25, '... there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves.' In Matthew 24:7 it says, 'For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.' These are some of the biblical signs before Christ's return," Graham wrote on Facebook.
Graham explained that he's not trying to make a prediction about the date of Christ's return, but wanted to remind people that they need to repent and confess their sins and be ready for God.
Greg Laurie, the senior pastor of the California-based megachurch Harvest Christian Fellowship, also recently wrote about the hurricanes in his personal blog.
"We had Hurricane Harvey and now Hurricane Irma. Some have called the latest, 'Irmageddon.' Add to this, we have new threats almost every day from the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, to destroy us with nuclear weapons," the 64-year-old Laurie, who has previously warned that the nuclear threat of North Korea could play into biblical End Times prophecy, wrote.
"Why is God allowing all of this to happen?" Laurie asked. "Is He trying to get our attention?"
Laurie continued by explaining that asking questions like that are similar to asking questions like "Why is there suffering in the world?" or "What happens after we die?"
"These questions are not new to the 21st century or even the 20th or 19th centuries. In fact, these were questions people were effectively asking in the first century, during the time of Christ himself," Laurie wrote. "In John's gospel, Chapter 9, we find a story of a blind man who was healed by Jesus. In addition to receiving his sight, he also became a believer. We've heard that seeing is believing. But in his case, believing was seeing, because he saw things he had never seen before not just the faces of friends and family or the beauty of God's creation."
Laurie concluded by asking the question "why are all these bad things happening?"
"Simple answer ... I don't know," he wrote. "Is God trying to get our attention with natural catastrophes and threats of war from those who want to destroy us? Perhaps."
This article was originally published in The Christian Post.
How can Christians mobilise Africa's youth to help rebuild their continent?
Christian youth leaders from countries across Africa have been urged to take a lead in rebuilding the broken walls of their continent.
African Christian leaders, young and old, are gathering this week in Youande, the Cameroon capital for this year's African Biblical Leadership Initiative (ABLI) forum.
Later in the week, they will be considering how to tackle widespread corruption in Africa. But the opening day was given to the African Youth Leaders' Forum, which considered youth not as the leaders of the future but as the leaders of today.
More than 40 per cent of the population of Africa is below the age of 15, according to research. So ABLI is focusing on this rising generation.
'Depending on the stories they are told, Africa's youth can be fuel for development or become weapons of conflict and destruction,' says conference organiser, Girma Mohammed, of Bible Society.
'ABLI is committed to the idea that youth should be given a leadership role here and now.'
In Kenya, young people have been mobilised for violence in elections. But after the ABLI Forum was held in that country, Christian youth worked to promote voting based on conscience and Christian values, rather than ethnic allegiances. This had a positive effect in minimising youth involvement in political violence.
'To rebuild the broken walls of Africa will take the dedication of every youth,' Wepnyu Yembe Njamnshi, told the leadership forum in a keynote address to youth.
'God takes the weak things of this world to confound the strong, so the place of the youth is the place of leadership. Whatever your walk of life, as Christian youth, you are the solution to your nation's problems.'
He urged the many young leaders gathered at ABLI to never forget that the quality of a leader is determined by his willingness to serve.
Mr Njamnshi called on the hundreds present at the ABLI youth forum to reject mediocrity and follow the greatest leader the world has ever known Jesus Christ. By following Christ, they would bring transformation to their continent, he added.
'Jesus has more likes than Facebook and more tweets than Twitter. He will move us from zero to hero and he will do it in this generation and in the generations to come in Africa.'
Mr Njamnshi reminded the many gathered that Jesus took just 12 unlearned men and trained them for his service. He added: 'We will see leadership in a different dimension if we can represent this great leader on earth as he intends us to do. Be the leader that Jesus wants you to be today.'
ABLI is an initiative of Bible Society. It brings churches together to work on their common mission, despite their denominational differences. And for ordinary citizens, ABLI creates a platform to sit together with their leaders and discuss the role of faith in working for the public good.
India 'wants to chase away Catholics' as Church-run hostel shut down
A Catholic bishop in India is accusing the local government of trying to 'harass Catholics' after it closed a church-run local hostel, moving the boys to a state-run boarding school.
The Guna district council in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh closed the project, which has run since 1997, amid accusations the school was trying to convert the boys to Christianity.
Madhya Pradesh is one of seven states in India to pass anti-conversion laws and has been run by the ruling Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since 2003, which has has strong links to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a militant Hindu nationalist organisation.
Father Siljo Kidangan admitted there had been an administration error in the property filing but said the government was using that as an excuse to disband the Christian charity.
'We have been offering hostel facilities for students from poor families who study in a nearby government school. Among them brilliant students were picked up admitted to good schools for better education,' Kidangan told Matters India. 'But now the administration under mounting pressure from the right-wing Hindu groups, sealed the hostel and shifted the boys on the ground that our land record missed a signature from the district collector.'
Bishop Anthony Chirayath of the Syro-Malabar Diocese of Sagar said the hostel closing was another example of 'harassment and persecution of the minorities' in India.
He told the Catholic website Crux: 'This is only persecution of the minorities, the groups want to chase away Catholics from the area, additionally they want to close down the hostel. The police investigated the allegations that 200 people were converted, and the police have concluded that the conversion allegations are completely false.
'Secondly, the hostel land belongs to us. All the hostel documents are valid and legal and this too has been verified by the police after investigations.'
Senior French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin faces trial for not reporting child abuse
A senior French cardinal, Philippe Barbarin, is to be tried on charges of failing to report historical child sexual abuse.
He will go on trial on April 4 next year along with six co-defendants, after a ruling at a court in Lyon. The trial is set to run for three days.
The 66-year-old cardinal is accused of failing to report a priest, Bernard Preynat, to the authorities after a former scout in 2014 accused the cleric of abusing him in the 1980s.
Barbarin left the priest in his post until 2015, during which he continued to have contact with children.
AFP said that the scandal has tarnished the image of one of the France's most media-friendly Church figures.
The cardinal, who is also Archbishop of Lyon, has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that he did not know how to go about dealing with allegations dating back over two decades.
But he and six other priests have been ordered to appear in court for allegedly not speaking out against the abuse. An archbishop of a southwestern diocese and a bishop from the central city of Nevers are also accused in the case, according to AFP.
Preynat's alleged victims have accused Barbarin and others of not reporting the crimes to the authorities.
The lawyer represnting the alleged victims, Nadia Debbache, said the scandal goes beyond the accused priests.
'Everyone at his level has participated, including within the Vatican,' she said.
According to AFP, the scandal is the worst to hit the Church in France since 2001, when a bishop was given a three-month suspended jail sentence for failing to inform authorities about another paedophile priest.
Keith Porteous-Wood of the National Secular Society told Christian Today: 'In May the Pope was widely criticised for publicly meeting Cardinal Barbarin as his prosecution for failing to report a known clerical abuser was being considered by prosecuting authorities.'
He said the National Secular Society had been the observing the authorities apparent unwillingness to charge Barbarin despite him having admitted not reporting the known abuse.
The society drafted a letter to the French Ministry of Justice which a French affiliate sent and to which a comprehensive reply promising to take these matters seriously has been seen by Christian Today.
'We ask nothing other than that Cardinal Barbarin be subject to the same law as everyone else in France,' he said.
US Bishop addresses thousands of Facebook staff on how to have a good religious argument online
A US Catholic bishop addressed Facebook employees this week on the subject of 'How to have a religious argument' online, urging users to seek 'with great patience to understand your opponent's position'.
The Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Robert Barron, whose Word of Fire website reaches millions of people over the internet each year, was speaking at Facebook's California headquarters on Monday. The event was live-streamed to around 2,500 viewers.
According to the Catholic News Agency, he said that while it can be 'very tempting just to fire back "why you're wrong"' users should instead highlight what their opponents in debate have got right.
This, said the bishop, is an 'extraordinarily helpful' way to get past impasses in arguments.
'If we don't know how to argue about religion, then we're going to fight about religion,' he said.
Indeed, Bishop Barron said that argument is something positive and 'a way to peace'.
Addressing the Facebook employees about their work, he said that their company shows an 'extraordinary spiritual power' in connecting all the world. 'I think that it's a spiritual thing that you're bringing everybody together,' he said.
However, he said that there is often more heat than light on social media, where 'you'll see a lot of energy around religious issues. There will be a lot of words exchanged, often angry ones, but very little argument.'
Barron addressed several other mindsets that he said forestall intelligent argument about religion.
The mentality of 'mere toleration' keeps religion to oneself and treats it as a hobby. But religion makes truth claims, like claims that Christ rose from the dead.
'Truth claims, if they really are truth claims, cannot be privatised. A truth claim always has a universal scope, a universal intent,' he said.
'The privatisation of religion is precisely what makes real argument about religion impossible.'
Barron went on to say that while science has created great knowledge that should be embraced, there is the mindset of 'scientism' which reduces all knowledge to scientific form.
'It results in a deep compromise of our humanity, it seems to me,' he said, furthering the argument that religious truths are more akin to those of literature, poetry and philosophy. The scientistic mindset, he said, would have to argue that Shakespeare's plays or Plato's philosophical dialogues do not convey deep truths about life, death, faith, and God.
Scientism also mistakes its subject when attempting to consider God, Barron said. 'The one thing God is not is an item within the universe,' he added.
Federal, Provincial Ministers Reach Consensus on Increasing Canadian Immigration Levels Hugo O'Doherty Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif
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Political leaders responsible for immigration issues in Canada have agreed that increasing immigration levels and establishing multi-year targets would help meet labour market needs across the country.
The consensus was reached at a meeting of the Forum of Ministers responsible for Immigration (FMRI), which met in Toronto last week. This FMRI includes members from the federal, provincial, and territorial governments.
Currently, Canadas annual immigration levels plan for 2017 sets a target of 300,000 new permanent residents for the year. Earlier this summer, federal Minister of Immigration Ahmed Hussen confirmed that this figure would form the new baseline for immigration targets under the current federal government. The government had previously alluded to moving to a multi-year plan instead of the current annual model in order to provide certainty and help inform long-term planning.
Under the current plan, around 57 percent of new permanent residents settle as economic migrants. This share includes newcomers who apply through one of the economic programs managed under the Express Entry system, as well as skilled workers destined for the province of Quebec and applicants to one of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). The plan also allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor family members, including spouses and common-law partners, while also maintaining Canadas international obligations and humanitarian tradition with respect to refugee resettlement.
The governments annual immigration plan is usually presented to Parliament in the preceding fall. It remains to be seen exactly what the next plan may include; the fact that the Ministers have reached a consensus and publicly affirmed that they have done so may be a prelude to a multi-year plan.
Canada has welcomed generations of newcomers who have contributed to Canadas well-being, economic prosperity, competitiveness, and success as a nation. We are committed to ensuring that newcomers, including refugees, integrate and contribute fully to the Canadian economy and society. We continue to help newcomers find jobs and make lasting connections within their communities, said Minister Hussen.
Another important agreement to come out of the meeting is the development of a federal-provincial-territorial plan to clarify how settlement priorities are set, and how information is shared among all orders of government. In a statement following the meeting, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) stated that enhanced collaboration across governments is needed to support the delivery of high-quality settlement services and successful outcomes for all newcomers.
Ian Wishart, Manitoba Minister of Education and Training and FMRI provincial-territorial co-chair, spoke of a shared commitment to maintaining an open dialogue and working together to achieve our shared immigration objectives in building a stronger, more prosperous and united Canada.
Finally, the Ministers discussed the promotion of Francophone immigration to communities outside Quebec with the goal of increasing Francophone immigration. Currently, some federal initiatives support that goal. Last June, IRCC changed the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) so that Francophone candidates could be awarded additional points. The federal government also recently launched a temporary work stream within the International Mobility Program called Mobilite Francophone, making it easier for employers outside Quebec to hire French-speaking skilled workers.
In addition, Canadas most populated province, Ontario, offers a French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream, aligned with the Express Entry system, for candidates with ability in French and English.
The FMRI also discussed a pan-Canadian approach to dealing with the current arrival of asylum seekers into Canada through irregular means (i.e. not through official border crossings). This approach would include enhanced intergovernmental collaboration to support orderly migration and scenarios planning, while protecting Canadas border and the safety and security of Canadians.
To find out if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada permanently, fill out a free online assessment form.
2017 CICNews All Rights Reserved
Government Clarifies Which Entrepreneurs May Apply for a Work Permit Hugo O'Doherty Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif
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Pour lire cet article en francais, cliquez ici.
The government of Canada has issued confirmation regarding the categories of entrepreneurs and self-employed persons who may obtain a work permit before becoming permanent residents of Canada.
In cases where an applicant has received a nomination under a business category or is self-employed and the permanent residence application has not yet been processed, a C11 work permit may be authorized as an initial work permit or extension, where there is a compelling argument for early entry, both into the country and to the labour market.
Updated instructions state that this applies to the following two scenarios:
potential or actual provincial nominees undertaking business activities; Quebec-destined entrepreneurs or self-employed persons issued a Quebec Selection Certificate.
In both of these scenarios, the government acknowledges that the individual is seeking eventual permanent residence and that entry to Canada and its labour market before permanent residence is granted may be mutually beneficial.
Provincial nomination
A work permit may be issued to a foreign national who is being considered by a provincial or territorial government for potential nomination for permanent residence. This is possible because the province or territory wants the potential nominee to implement his or her business plan and wants to ensure that the candidate is able to establish the business successfully before they actually nominate the foreign national.
To be eligible, a foreign national must:
have a letter of support from the province or territory (this letter of support should count towards evidence that their admission to Canada to operate a business may create significant economic, social or cultural benefit to Canada; additional documentation, such as a business plan, may be requested);
have received either: an offer of employment number, or authorization by the Immigration Program Guidance Branch (IPG) to submit the Offer of Employment to a Foreign National Exempt from a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) form;
have paid the employer compliance fee (self-employed persons are considered their own employer and must therefore pay the employer compliance fee); and
have submitted an application for a work permit.
Quebec
A work permit may be issued to entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals destined to Quebec where a CSQ has been issued, but the foreign national is not yet a permanent resident or a temporary worker.
To be eligible, a foreign national must:
have a valid CSQ as an entrepreneur or self-employed person;
have a request from the Ministere de lImmigration, de la Diversite et de lInclusion (MIDI) requesting early entry;
have received either an offer of employment number, or authorization by the IPG to submit the Offer of Employment to a Foreign National Exempt from a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) form;
have paid the employer compliance fee (self-employed persons are considered their own employer and must therefore pay the employer compliance fee); and
have submitted an application for a work permit.
To learn more about business immigration to Canada, see this comparative table of provincial and federal programs.
To find out if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada as a business person, please fill out a free business assessment form.
If you have a work permit inquiry related to the above, or any other work permit-related issue, please send a detailed email to wp@canadavisa.com.
2017 CICNews All Rights Reserved
Audio Transcript
Brian Anderson: When Bill de Blasio took office in 2014, described by many as the most progressive major in New Yorks history, critics feared the worst. After twenty years of effective leadership from Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg, de Blasios candidacy was supposed to be a repudiation of the two reform mayors. He certainly cast himself in that light. From policing, taxes, housing, and welfare, candidate de Blasio tried setting himself apart from his predecessors whom he accused of favoring the wealthy, allowing, if not encouraging, excessive inequality, and policing too aggressively. Here we are, four years later, with Mayor de Blasio up for reelection. I think it is fair to say that he has not been the disaster that some of his critics feared and the achievements of the Giuliani Bloomberg years remain standing. Crime is still at an all-time low and the NYPD continues to be the best police force in America. The economy is growing. But serious problems are beginning to manifest themselves. The citys transportation network is in dire need of repair, street homelessness is getting worse, and New York Citys political culture is horribly corrupt. These are just a few of the issues that we will be discussing today. In this episode of 10 Blocks, we are going to talk with two City Journal editors who write frequently about New York, Nicole Gelinas and Seth Barron, about some of these issues and what it will take to fix some of New York Citys most pressing challenges.
Hello, I am City Journal editor Brian Anderson. Thanks for joining us for the 10 Blocks Podcast, featuring urban policy and cultural commentary with City Journal editors, contributors, and special guests.
Welcome back to the show. I am Brian Anderson. Joining us now is Seth Barron and Nicole Gelinas. Seth is City Journals associate editor and you can follow him on Twitter, @NYCCouncilWatch. Nicole Gelinas, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, is also a contributing editor of City Journal and a columnist at the New York Post. You can follow her on Twitter as well, @NicoleGelinas. Thanks, both of you, for joining us.
Nicole Gelinas: Thank you, Brian.
Seth Barron: Thanks, Brian.
Brian Anderson: Though Democrats outnumber Republican voters by, I think, it is six-to-one in New York, the city still has a mayoral election coming up this November. Mayor de Blasio is expected to win reelection, perhaps handily. Who are the other candidates in the race, especially for our non-New York listeners, but also, maybe, for some New York City listeners? What type of issues are they campaigning on and what is resonating with New York voters?
Seth Barron: Well, the Republican candidate for mayor is Nicole Malliotakis, who is a Staten Island Assembly member. She was a Trump supporter and is running, you know, a pretty vigorous campaign, I would say, against Mayor de Blasio. In particular, you know, taking him on on some of his, you know, the impression that people have that the mayor is somewhat lackadaisical, that he naps during the day, that he is preoccupied with his morning jaunts to Park Slope to go to his old gym, the Y, where he will, you know, work on the exercise machines and then go to his favorite pastry shop and have a cappuccino before starting his day around 10:30 in the morning. But she has substantive issues that she is addressing, too, namely, you know, cost overruns, which Nicole could probably talk more about, I would think.
Brian Anderson: We will get to that, but whats your view of the field of candidates?
Nicole Gelinas: Well, it has been a quiet, if not somnolent race so far this year, precisely because of what you talked about, that crime remains at record lows, the economy is doing well, and so there is no sense of an immediate crisis to spur people to get out to the polls for a change like we saw when Rudy Giuliani was elected back in 1993 and then again when Bloomberg was the surprise victor to many people back in 2001 after 9/11. And this time, because things are far from perfect, as we can talk about, but going along as well as they have been, people dont feel a need for
Brian Anderson: Theres no perception of urgency or crisis.
Nicole Gelinas: a change. And we saw that in the primary, where Sal Albanese, who was a Brooklyn city councilman for eight years and worked as a schoolteacher, has worked in the finance industry in the private sector, he is a solid candidate, certainly no less qualified than de Blasio was four years ago. He ran a good, fair, issues-based campaign against de Blasio but he didnt get very far in the primary. De Blasio certainly won that by a landslide two weeks ago.
Brian Anderson: De Blasios poll numbers have been up and down. At one point, he dipped considerably below 50%, I think, and some of his supporters were dissatisfied with his governance style, perhaps. Were there other issues that people were troubled by? Seth, you talked about this perception that maybe he is a bit lackadaisical about his mayoral responsibilities, but were there other concerns?
Seth Barron: Sure. I mean, at one point his housing plan he has received a lot of pushback from his base. De Blasio wants to, you know, expand housing throughout the city and has upzoned a lot of the city towards this end, but hes getting a lot of pushback at the neighborhood level. You know, in neighborhoods where you would expect everyone would be in favor or more affordable housing, well, low and behold they see it as a landgrab for moneyed interests. You know, on a certain level maybe they are right. De Blasio has been surprisingly sensible on the question of gentrification as a scare word which, you know, many of his supporters, they would like to see him take a more aggressive heavy hand against what they call luxury development, which often just means like workforce, you know, housing for, you know, the middle class. And they would like to see him push back and really fight for more, you know, what they call deep affordability. Like for people making $25,000 a year, building new houses for them. De Blasio recognizes that this is not politically or economically feasible so, you know, thats one area where he has gotten resistance.
Brian Anderson: There certainly does, and the administration has acknowledged it, appear to be a significant increase in homelessness on the city streets. I am wondering how much that issue, Nicole, has surfaced in the campaign so far.
Nicole Gelinas: I think it contributes to the idea that we do have maybe not crisis-level management problems, but background management problems that do contribute to the feeling that no one is really in charge of the city, that weve got this vacant real estate in many parts of Manhattan, and in the outer boroughs, as well, and these are empty storefronts where a vagrant can put down a mattress and some pillows and a bunch of newspapers and really take up a permanent space. And, so, we have these sort of one-person homeless encampments, and it is hard to measure them because unfortunately no one did a baseline before de Blasio took office. It might be a good idea to start now, but it does contribute to this idea of disorder. And I think another thing and its also not very humane for these people who are lying out there, as our colleague, Stephen Eide, has written, many of these people suffer from severe mental illnesses
Brian Anderson: Mental illness, sure.
Nicole Gelinas: and many of them are also suffering from the heroin epidemic, particularly the younger ones. And I think other things that contribute to this atmosphere of disorder are management of the city streets, where this is U.N. week, so they are particularly ill-managed right now and theres just complete gridlock in the streets. It seems that no one is in charge. The traffic agents try to do a good job but they are not very well-trained and a lot of times the drivers dont even pay attention to them. And, so, weve got people running through red lights, blocking the intersection, and contributing to more gridlock, honking for no reason, its just if you walk around or you drive around it just seems like, again, no one is in charge of these things. Now these are in some ways you could say homeless and traffic are perennial problems, but definitely with traffic, we can measure that. That traffic speeds are at their lowest they have been in modern times, where you cant if you are taking a taxi through midtown and they measure this through GPS, you are going less than six miles an hour during the daytime hours.
Brian Anderson: It has become increasingly a quicker trip to walk uptown, say, than to take a cab
Nicole Gelinas: Right.
Brian Anderson: at certain parts of the day.
Nicole Gelinas: Yeah.
Brian Anderson: It is true. I have never seen traffic this bad in midtown since I have been here, going on twenty years now. Nicole, to follow up the next question with you, you have written a lot about New Yorks economy over the years, and it is certainly doing well in terms of a lot of different metrics right now. The city has more jobs than it has ever had, tax revenues are at a record high, nearly every neighborhood in Manhattan is drawing some sort of business investment nowadays. On the other hand, you have just written a terrific lengthy piece for us on the citys very troubling finances. This was in the Summer issue of City Journal. It was called Bill de Blasios Budget Blowout. In this essay, you note that the mayor is spending so much that not even this record economic boom is going to be able to cover it or keep up with it. So what are some of the numbers we are looking at with the city budget and why should we be worried about this?
Nicole Gelinas: Sure. Well, under de Blasios first term as mayor, city spending has gone up from $76 billion to more than $87 billion a year. And, so, this is an $11 billion increase in spending compared to the last year of the Bloomberg administration to the final year of the first term of the de Blasio administration. That works out to about a 15% real increase in spending after inflation. Now, de Blasio didnt invent the overspending problem in New York City. Bloomberg did not do enough to rein in spending during his terms in office and we also saw spending increase as well above inflation during the Bloomberg terms. But, one essential difference here is that, for the most part, Bloomberg didnt actively seek to increase spending, particularly during his final two terms. It was pensions and healthcare that really pushed these costs up. And pensions and healthcare went from $5 billion a year in the beginning of the Bloomberg era to more than $17 billion a year at the end of the Bloomberg era. Why is that? The stock market crashed. We had to make up for that crash by putting more money into the citys five pension funds every year, annual contributions for that went from less than $2 billion to $8 billion a year, and the general costs of healthcare kept going up. The then mayor didnt do very much to try to push back and really get concessions from the labor unions in asking them to pay for some part of their own healthcare premium, for example, which most people in the private sector and even in the public sector outside of New York State pay something for their own healthcare premium. But, de Blasio took what was already an unaffordable long-term situation and made it much worse by awarding the workforce retroactive raises from the Bloomberg era. And Bloomberg had said during his last term, remember this was after the financial crisis of 2008, we cant afford to give the workforce raises because of the fact that their pension and healthcare benefits are going up so much. In other words, they can make a deal with us on those things, but if they dont the money is just not there for them to get raises. And Bloomberg was correct, the budget was never balanced during these years. We were drawing down on an $8 billion surplus that Bloomberg had built up, up to 2008. By the time de Blasio took office that surplus was gone and the mayor went ahead and awarded these retroactive raises without having a way to pay for it. So, if he couldnt pay for it, how did he pay for it? Well, he pushed the cost into the future. So, as late as 2021, the city is going to be paying the annual cost of raises that are for work that was done as early as 2008, 2009, which is not a very good situation. If you want to give raises, you should find a way to pay for them now, which de Blasio did not do. And it just points to the fact that this is an untenable fiscal situation. However, it is hard to get people interested in this because the economy is doing well. There is no fiscal crisis at the moment. There is no spending cuts at the moment. In fact, theres spending increases. De Blasio has added 1,550 police officers, he has added teachers for pre-K, he is expanding pre-K to three-year-olds next year, as well as for four-year-olds, which he did during his first year. So, but weve never had a modern mayor who has gone through two terms without a serious fiscal crisis, and so no one wants that, of course, but if the mayor does win a second term, statistically and historically speaking, his time for a fiscal crisis will be coming.
Seth Barron: I mean, it is remarkable that Mayor de Blasio has really not had to do any budgeting in the sense of, you know, weighing, you know, various choices. He can just pay for anything he wants, because the city is flush. I mean, doesnt that seem to be the case?
Nicole Gelinas: Right. And we see that with his annual budget negotiations with the city council. The council has to sign off on the annual budget, the same way, roughly, that Congress works. A little bit different, but the council has to okay these things and whenever there is a fiscal problem then there is a real debate over what should we cutback, what should we cutback instead of cutting back something that the council wants to save, but over the past four years we havent had that debate. Its very superficial, where de Blasio may say I am going to cutback these daycare seats, but the council will add them back. Theres really no pushback and the council will say we want this, this, and this, and de Blasio will give it to them. You know, this year was the legal aid for illegal immigrants, or allegedly illegal immigrants at risk of deportation, and weve got construction of a new police station in Queens, purchase of new snow blowers to do the sidewalks more efficiently
Seth Barron: Free suntan lotion.
Nicole Gelinas: Right. Free school lunch. And, you know, none of these things by themselves is going to break the bank, but it goes to exactly what you were saying, that there is room to add a little something for everybody, you know, whether you want more police in your neighborhood, you want better funding for schools. Every special interest group is made happy. You know, no one is suffering to make somebody else happy.
Brian Anderson: Seth, this question, first, to you: De Blasio is certainly a man of the Left, a progressive Democrat, perhaps even a Marxist, as he recently noted in New York Magazine, yet hes not a fan of what is mostly a pretty liberal New York media. Though the mayor has reserved his harshest criticism for our friends at the New York Post, the criticism has extended across the press. Why do you think de Blasio has this kind of attitude toward the press? Why so much animosity?
Seth Barron: Its a good question. I mean, what he and his office say are oh, well, theres so many other ways to communicate with the public now, you know? Directly through social media, or townhalls. I dont think he likes being questioned. And, you know, Mayor de Blasio, for all of his, you know, all the populist noise he makes, he is a very, you know, highhanded patrician sort of person, and his attitude is really very imperial. So, when he was, before Preet Bharara was fired and there were, you know, all these investigations into de Blasios electioneering and his campaign finance, you know, systems, you know, the press was asking him about it. And he was just resolute that he was not going to answer questions and he found it annoying. And what he said numerous times is that when he goes on the radio and takes questions, or if he holds a townhall and you know, theres a preselected group of community activists there, they never ask him these sorts of questions. They ask him questions, you know, basically pothole-level questions. You know, what are you going to do about you know, getting more schools built, or, you know, why isnt the trash being picked up at such and such a time? And you know, these are the sort of questions that mayors love to get because they have answers for them. You know, Im not saying that people cant ask really informed questions, but you know, it was really the media that was holding his feet to the fire on the campaign finance irregularities, so you know, I think thats part of it.
Brian Anderson: He does seem a bit thin-skinned. Is that your perception as well, Nicole?
Nicole Gelinas: He is certainly thin-skinned, and he is even a little Trumpian. Different personalities, but in the sense that he didnt use the newspapers to get elected. He didnt get any major newspaper endorsement until the first primaries were over, and, even then, very, very reluctant endorsements from a couple of the papers. And he hasnt he has almost seemed immune to some of the frontpage exposes and scoops that would have really harmed mayors in past years. You know, it is hard to see a David Dinkins getting away with using two giant city cars almost every day to drive to an entirely different borough to the gym and then drive back at the same time that he is saying that he is worried about pollution and climate change. But this doesnt you know, the press complains about it, including me, and yet its not
Brian Anderson: It doesnt seem to
Nicole Gelinas: it doesnt appear to be about to cost him reelection, although who knows? And he is also, he is Trumpian in that he gained office because people were tired of the same old politicians. That when he was running the first time, a lot of people thought Christine Quinn would win because she had all of the relevant experience. She had been the city council leader, she had a kind of Bloomberg-type plan for the city, you know, a technocratic, pragmatic leader. And a couple other candidates had the same, you know, Bill Thompson, a long history of experience in New York politics, and de Blasio didnt have too many political accomplishments, but he just kind of loped along and beat all these other people pretty handily.
Seth Barron: At that time, however, he had won a city-wide race
Nicole Gelinas: Yeah.
Seth Barron: which no one else had. In fact, he had won two because he had a runoff for public advocate in 2009. And the thing with Bill de Blasio is he had a very powerful and strong ground political machine coming out of his time in the Working Families Party and this ground effort really helped him out. Now, you know, it occurred to me he got about 440,000 votes in the primary. I mean, if you basically take the entire UFT, all of the teachers union and their immediate families, and, you know, 1199 work I mean he essentially, all he needs is the union vote.
Nicole Gelinas: Yeah, thats true.
Seth Barron: And he has done, you know, yeomans labor on their behalf. I mean, as you point out, you know, for no reason giving the teachers 50,000 parking placards. You know, just constant giveaways, constant promises
Nicole Gelinas: Right.
Seth Barron: What more could they want?
Nicole Gelinas: And the teachers parking placards, Im glad you brought that up, this is also an example of intransparency, that he claims to be progressive and part of progressive government is supposed to be transparent, accountable government, but some people in the media foiled and they went through the process to request the documents behind why he gave out 50,000 free parking permits to the Department of Education workforce just ahead of the election this year. And city hall is delaying the release of these documents until after the election, and they have no real reason to do that. And the parking permits, again, this is poor management. It is giving away something that has real value and it is worth at least $1,000 a year to park in, even outside of Manhattan, and much more in Manhattan. If this is a benefit we want to give to the unions, it should be collectively bargained and returned for another giveback, but this was just a unilateral giveaway that wont be taxed. You know, the union members wont be taxed on the value of these parking placards and it contributes to traffic and it also contributes to corruption because you are supposed to use these to park only in a legal spot, but public workers, every single day, they are parked on the sidewalk, they are double-parked, they are using these not for work purposes, and theres really no enforcement of that.
Brian Anderson: The mayor has presented himself as kind of Americas mayor, perhaps even a global mayor, with, I would say, at least some thought in his mind of running for president. How realistic a scenario is that, that we he will run? What would his chances be in the Democratic Party? Where would that leave the city?
Seth Barron: Well, yeah. Mayor de Blasio has definitely signaled that he is interested in upping his national profile. In fact, after his trip to Hamburg to go to the Hamburg Shows Attitude rally a few months ago, he was asked oh, if he plans in his second term to do much more of that, and he said no, no, no. Im going to be focusing on U.S. cities. You know, not New York City, but raising, you know, going out to the heartland. He has made efforts at this in the past and was kind of stymied. Its not clear that he is doing it, that he has a huge appeal outside of New York City. He has people above him who dont like him, like Governor Cuomo. He annoyed Hillary Clinton when he withheld his endorsement from her. I am not sure de Blasio will have great success outside of New York City, but I think he is definitely interested in pursuing a presidential run.
Brian Anderson: A final question: De Blasio was a fierce critic of the police during his first run for office and his relationship with the NYPD, at least initially, was fraught. I think, with Brattons help, he got to a better place with the police. This year New York is thankfully on a track for fewer than 300 murders, which is a remarkable achievement, especially at a time when many other cities, including Chicago, are seeing scary increases in violent crime. It is certainly a very different world from New Yorks darkest years of the, you know, from the 70s, really, to 1990, early 90s, when as many as 2,000 people a year were being murdered in the city. How has the NYPD been able to keep the city safe, especially while it has reduced the use of effective police tactics which were causing some fraught relationships with certain communities in the city, stop-and-frisk, which is down considerably. It was coming down under Ray Kelly, but Bratton reduced it dramatically, yet crime has stayed down.
Seth Barron: This is a mystery. You know, many people on the Right had assumed that if you were going to cut stop, question, and frisk, then street crime would go up. So far it hasnt. There are questions about how reliable the stop, question, and frisk statistics are, but you know, it is undeniable. I mean, you could say that well, right now we are reaping the harvest of twenty years of aggressive
Brian Anderson: Right.
Seth Barron: you know, broken window-style policing and
Brian Anderson: Well, then there is a distinction between broken windows, which the department continues to pursue, and the stop-and-frisk.
Seth Barron: Of course.
Brian Anderson: So, and perhaps it is also due to the sheer numbers of the NYPD, which Bratton used very effectively, flooding neighborhoods with extra police, you know, when there was a crime spike. Nicole, what is your perception of that?
Nicole Gelinas: I think, and I am happy to give de Blasio credit where it is due, he has appointed two competent, experienced police commissioners.
Brian Anderson: Right.
Nicole Gelinas: And where it is important right now, I think de Blasio is a good enough politician to realize he did not want to be the first democratic mayor in twenty years and have crime soar under his watch, that if that happened he would be gone quickly and the prospects for another democratic mayor in New York, or another self-styled progressive mayor would not be very good. And I think he has been aware of that from day one. He has given his two police commissioners, Bratton as well as Commissioner ONeill, not completely free reign, but a lot of freedom to do what they think is best to keep crime down. And we see that at the Jouvert Festival, the West Indian Day party on Labor Day weekend out in Crown Heights, where last year there may have been fewer stops and frisks, but they were very effective in that there was a shooting and the police caught the gunman very quickly through traditional bread and butter, stop, question, and frisk techniques
Brian Anderson: Yeah.
Nicole Gelinas: and stopping this person for suspicious behavior, searching him and finding the illegal weapon. And, unfortunately, not preventing that but likely preventing other shootings. And we saw that this year, too, where Jouvert was effectively policed and we didnt have a shooting right in the vicinity of the party and the parade. And I think that this is something where one should always be concerned that with stop, question, and frisk down so much, people will get used to carrying an illegal weapon again, theyll think the chances of them being caught with that weapon has gone down, but yes. So far that has not happened and they are making more gun seizures a year than they were a few years ago, so whatever they are doing, they are doing it effectively. And if we can do this with fewer stops, stop, question, and frisks, which at the moment it seems we can, and thats certainly a good thing for police relations with the community. I think the and, you know, de Blasio, it is interesting because he actually sticks up for broken windows policing when the DAs said they two DAs said they werent going to prosecute as many subway turnstile jumpers, the mayor did say we cant have people running into subway without paying. They are not doing it for economic reasons, these arent particularly poor people trying to get to work, a lot of them are entering the subway system illegally to commit other crimes and he seems aware of the facts here and, so far, willing to carry them through. Its a big contrast to where he is on some other issues, including the long-term transit investment issue. I think another factor in keeping crime down, for now at least, without doing as many stop, question, and frisks, is better technology. If you look at subway policing, if someone mugs a person on the subway or commits another crime, they have got a picture of this alleged perpetrator up sometimes within a half-an-hour or so, a very clear picture if you know this person you immediately know who it is, and these pictures posted on Twitter, on Facebook, physical pictures posted around subways, that means that the police catch this alleged criminal very, very quickly. And we didnt have anywhere near this level of ability to capture these images twenty, thirty, even ten years ago.
Brian Anderson: Dont forget to check out Seths and Nicoles work on the City Journal website, www.City-Journal.org. You can follow Seth Barron on Twitter, @NYCCouncilWatch, and Nicole Gelinas, @NicoleGelinas. We would also love to hear your comments about todays episode on Twitter, @CityJournal with the hashtag #10Blocks. Lastly, if you like our show and want to hear more, please leave ratings and reviews on iTunes. Thanks for listening and thanks Nicole, thanks Seth, for joining us.
Seth Barron: Thank you.
Nicole Gelinas: Thank you, Brian.
Brian Anderson: You can subscribe to this and other Manhattan Institute podcasts in the iTunes store. The audio edition and transcript is available on our website, www.City-Journal.org. This is City Journal editor Brian Anderson. Thanks again for listening to the 10 Blocks Podcast.
High Holidays refers to the ten-day period of repentance spanning the Jewish New Year and the Day of Atonement, whenaccording to the Torahthe names of the righteous are inscribed in the Book of Life, and the names of the wicked are inscribed in the Book of Death. Not so long ago, the prevailing term was High Holy Days. Its fitting that the secularist imperative has transformed holy day into holidayleaving high as a good description of the many ego-tripping liberal rabbis who will uplift their congregants with the annual assurance that checking D at the ballot box is not just morally compulsory but also mandated by Scripture.
The Jewish-American community has leaned left at least since the Second Great Wave of immigration. Democratic presidential candidates have received on average 70 percent of the Jewish vote since 1972. The 1920 election might have been the last contest for the White House in which the Republican candidate bested the Democrat among Jewish votersand that was only because the Socialist candidate, Eugene V. Debs, siphoned support from the Democrat, Ohio Governor James M. Cox.
Jewish-American civic organizations have long advocated for universalist causes like social justice and inclusivity, and they have concurrently and gradually shed their religious Jewish identity. Every year, nominally Jewish nonprofit institutionsfrom advocacy groups like the ADL and HIAS to community centers and houses of worshipbecome less and less Jewish, at least in so far as they are concerned with directly and principally helping Jews or bolstering the Jewish faith. The ADL and HIAS have changed their names, respectively, from the Anti-Defamation League and the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, presumably with the aim of casting off their parochial origins. These institutions have morphed into alternative forums for the mobilization of resources for liberal and progressive goals.
American Jews have also been among the strongest supporters of strict separation of church and state. Persecutors of Jews in the Old World were typically associated with the Church, before and even after the Enlightenment. Jews, being a tiny minority in a predominantly Christian countrycomprising only about 2 percent of Americas populationhave understandably worried about any weakening of the separation between church and state.
Yet Jewish-American enthusiasm for strict separation between religion and politics frequently stops at the synagogues edge. Last fall, in West Bloomfield, Michiganhome to one of the largest Jewish populations in Americathe Jewish Community Center hosted a preelection event to discuss whats at stake for our community and our country. The organizers apparently concluded that only two people were needed to deliver a full discussion of the subject: a retired news reporter and a career governmental-affairs specialist with a lengthy record of political donations to the Democratic Party. Moreover, the Detroit Jewish News, the weekly newspaper that has been around since 1942 and monopolizes the communitys conversation, mostly excludes conservative voices from its pages. (A trusted Republican is occasionally allowed to ventwithin limits.)
At the packed High Holy Day services at the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills, Michigan, around the same time, a rabbi lauded the prospect of electing Americas first female president. Another rabbi mused on whether Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushnerobservant Jews, he mockingly observedwere repenting for the sins of their relative, then presidential-nominee Donald J. Trump. Rabbis often use their High Holy Day sermons to push the progressive cause du jour: hybrid vehicles, gun control, gay marriage, Syrian immigration. Their political diatribes are usually met with applause.
Many Reform and Conservative Jews insist that rabbis must be relevant (i.e., political) because, as community leaders, they have a moral obligation to execute justice for the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, as the Bible commandsand fight the hate emanating from the White House. Liberal Jews have embraced the mystical idea of tikkun olam (repairing the world,) as an injunction to pursue social change. Conveniently, this modern interpretation of Judaism overlaps almost perfectly with the agenda of the Democratic Party.
Prominent Jews were noticeably mute about President Trumps executive order promoting free speech and religious liberty, signed in May and backed primarily by Christian conservatives. Maybe thats because theyre pleased by the knowledge that their synagogues will have more opportunity to rail against Trump and Republicans from the bimah without fear of losing tax-exempt status. Once the Democrats are back in power, in four years timeor less, if God answers their prayerstheyll resume their advocacy of strict separation between church and state.
Im under no illusion that the Jewish-American community will lose its liberal proclivities or demand that the rabbinate become apolitical. Im simply asking for a few days of respite from divisiveness while in a sacred space with family members who have traveled long distances to be together. So, rabbis, this year, please dont pander to your congregants, spoon-feeding them bromides straight from cable news. Use your words to raise us up, together, and enlighten us with wisdom that transcends the contemporary scene.
Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Pennies, the digital charity box, has announced that it now supports donations via Apple Pay.
The microdonation platform, which works in partnership with 60 retailers to encourage shoppers to top up their payment with a digital donation, in a similar way to how they would traditionally put their change in a donation box, announced the new donation option today.
Apple launched its donation feature earlier this year in the UK when it also signed up 22 charities.
Alison Hutchinson CBE, chief executive of Pennies, said: Were thrilled to be able to expand the micro-donation movement across the UK via retailers apps and Apple Pay, and to support many more causes and communities as a result. This announcement changes the pace of feel-good giving in the UK, meaning millions more customers could give their small change a big purpose through retailers such as Dominos.
Since it launched in 2010, 45 million donations have been made via the platform to over 200 charities.
Retail partners include Dominos Pizza, Boots Opticians, Dixons Carphone, Topps Tiles, Virgin Holidays, Zizzi restaurants, The Entertainer toy shop, and Rontec roadside retail outlets.
Contactless solution
Pennies has also launched a contactless solution for people paying in branches of The Entertainer.
Gary Grant, managing director of The Entertainer, said: It has been so exciting for The Entertainer as Pennies first retailer and now with 1 million donations annually raising over 400k to be the first to adopt its contactless option in our stores. In just a few weeks, we have seen our generous customers donations double, which will have a huge impact on local childrens hospitals.
Civil Society Media is hosting its Charity Technology Conference on 9 November 2017. For more information, and to book, click here
Todays the day: The last print edition of The Village Voice hit newsstands this morningor it was supposed to, anyways. At 7:20am, I walked two blocks from my Washington Heights apartment looking for a copy. The box was empty. Three boxes near Columbia Universitys Morningside Heights campus held the penultimate issue. A woman working at a nearby newsstand shrugged her shoulders when I asked if shed seen any new copies yet. But by 8am, a copy of the last issue had surfaced on Ebay, on sale for $15.
The announcement of the end of the print edition of the 62-year-old giant was met with a wave of nostalgia from former writers, editors, and readers last month, when Pennsylvania-based owner Peter Barbey announced a late-in-the-game shift to a digital-only operation, with a focus on new events, products, and initiatives. (The Voice is nothing if not regular stream of drama: Soon after, the company announced that 13 of its remaining 17 union members would be laid off. I worked as a staff writer there from June 2016 through last month.)
The bold image chosen to grace the last cover to populate those familiar, grimey red boxes scattered across New York City? Bob Dylan.
Bob Dylan?
Pleasing fans of The Village Voice has never been easyand for much of the alt-weeklys history, according to a Village Voice employee who spoke to me on condition of anonymity, the newspaper could say fuck you to anyone, including the readers it served. But in arguably the most important year in generations for the type of scrappy, nobody-is-safe news reporting the Voice defined, featuring a long irrelevant (albeit a Greenwich Village icon) music star on the cover seems at best a missed opportunity. At worst, safe.
ICYMI: Americas growing news deserts
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As the president, a New Yorker long interrogated by the Voices most esteemed reporters, is investigated for inappropriate dealings with the Russian government, as Congress stumbles its way through healthcare reform that could result in the deaths of vulnerable Americans, as the institution of the press itself faces unprecedented berating from the highest rungs of government and increased scrutiny and resentment from the public, this was the most relevant image for the final, 176-page commemorative issue of an openly progressive newspaper long credited for its ability to capture the zeitgeist?
I wasnt the only one underwhelmed.
Its really embarrassing, a Voice employee said, bluntly. It just doesnt feel relevant or specific to the Voice. We ran Bob Dylan on the cover a month ago. I was hoping for something a little more original that felt specific to the paper.
The decision seems in line with a trend toward prioritizing arts and culture reporting over traditional news reporting, as evidenced by a quick scan of the covers so far this year. In the nine months since Donald Trump was sworn in as president, the Voice has released just four hard-news cover storiesa misstep during a never-ending news cycle focused primarily on a story (Trump) the Voice had been hip to for, quite literally, decades. (Its five hard-news covers if you count a photo essay of protests in front of Trump Tower on the presidents first post-inauguration visit to New York City.)
This is not to say Voice writers and freelancers have not worked hard to pursue such stories. Impressive reporting on the continued disarray of the citys public transportation system, on the local consequences of Trumps repeat attempts at a Muslim travel ban and dedication to the deportation of undocumented immigrants, and regular accountability reporting from City Hall and the New York Police Department, among others, has filled the interior pages of the alt-weekly.
In the nine months since Donald Trump was sworn in as president, the Voice has released just four hard-news cover stories.
But the cover of any newspaper communicates to readers the most important story of the week. And if we are to learn anything from recent cover choices at the Voice, stories that have populated covers and homepages of peer publicationsthe ones with outsized impact on marginalized communitieshave taken a noticeable backseat. And while poignant coverage of the art world has been and will continue to be a strength and crucial part of the legacy of the Voice, such an imbalance stands out given the political firestorm that has dominated the last two years of American life.
ICYMI: If theres a future for The Village Voice, its digital
One Voice employee spoke of concern amongst current and former staff members that a desire for softer, feel-good stories could dominate the companys transition to a singularly digital outlet. I think theres a fear of hard news stories coming from the top, the employee said.
Im told top editors drew up several options for the last cover, including an old, quirky black-and-white image of beloved columnist Michael Musto (a special edition of his famous column, La Dolce Musto, appears in the issue) hitchhiking while wearing nothing but a trench coat and tighty whities. A proposed cover line was, One For The Road. The mock-up was a popular pick amongst staffan ode to the weird and wonderfulbut ultimately the Dylan cover was shipped off to the Staten Island presses, one last time.
Its a tough cover to choose because it has to be backward-looking in a way, which is a tough thing when youre a news [weekly]. I can sympathize with how tough it is to pick that, but I saw other candidates that I thought were better, says Mike Laws, former copy chief at the Voice who oversaw the mammoth effort to copyedit the 176-page commemorative issue before joining the copy desk at The Nation.
Another Voice employee echoed the disappointment. I think [the Dylan cover] is nostalgic. Is it representative of the Voice? Is that the photo? No, he says. Its a safe choice, and the Voice was never criticized for being safe. Some people are going to like it. [Other] people are going to pick it up and go, why this photo?
The current of change is a familiar one at the Voice. In 1996, the paper transitioned from a paid weekly to a free one. On April 16 of that year, the first free issue hit newsstands. The cover, an illustration by Mark Alan Stamaty, was a frenetic collection of freaks: four-eyed men with elephant trunks for noses, a woman whose neck was shared with a rhinoceros and, in the upper left hand corner, instructions to steal this paper. Thought bubbles full of criticisms of the papers decision litter the page:
A sad day for the Voice! Now its become just another shopper!
An act of desperation, pure and simple!
None of my friends read it!
The first free issue of The Village Voice.
It was an example of masterful self-deprecation in the spirit of Voice newsrooms past and present, one that hits exactly the right tone during a time of begrudging transitionand features hard news reports and the arts, including writing by Adolph Reed Jr. on the romanticization of Jim Crow, on New York labor unions by Robert Fitch and an arts dispatch on Adrienne Kennedy. A cover emulating this spirit of diversity could have been a more fitting farewell to a beloved institution about to shed its skin.
Despite its lackluster cover, the last issue comes packed with both nostalgia and important reporting on climate change, including hurricane preparation and relief efforts in New York, the Bahamas, Barbuda, and the US Virgin Islands, as well as in Puerto Rico and Cuba. Steven Wishnia investigates how New York City landlords undermine affordable housing protections through the use of preferential rent. A 50-page yearbook-like portfolio features images of Voice co-founder Ed Fancher and prominent alumni such as Amy Taubin, Michael Feingold, Jerry Saltz, Roberta Smith, and others, as well as classic New York City street photography from old Voice photographers. Long-time Voice staffer R.C. Baker says goodbye to the printing press in an essay, and Voice illustrators tackle the political war gripping the country in a series of cartoons. (Not everything is online yet, as the Voice staggers its digital release of stories.)
Luckily, there are still traces of that old, sardonic Voice humor spread throughout its pages, if you look closely.
On the table of contents, look for two corrections, one from a 1955 issue and the other from 1969. In the legalese at the bottom, a sneaky editor changed the verb tense from present to past throughout. And on the masthead, a couple of quirky nicknames have been written into the names of the copy editing team.
But the most masterful trick of all can be found in the last paragraph of the newspaper. One Vivian Darkbloom (a character from Vladimir Nabokovs Lolita, and an anagram of his name) snuck an acrostic poem into the Voice Choices section: Pinch every penny, Pete.
ICYMI: CNN anchor gives startling hurricane report. The only problem? Whats in the background.
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Alexandria Neason was CJRs staff writer and Senior Delacorte Fellow. Recently, she became an editor and producer at WNYCs Radiolab.
Marijose Gamboa has one of the most dangerous occupations in the world. Shes a journalist in the Mexican state of Veracruz, and the things she has endured for her work are comparable to the brutalities suffered by prisoners of war, including imprisonment, torture, and sexual assault.
As Im leaving her brightly lit, well-scrubbed office near the Port of Veracruz, she takes my hand and places it on her midsection, saying, Feel. Under the fabric of her purple dress is a hard mass of scar tissue the size of my whole hand. They used a power drill, she says.
Veracruz, a humid, mountainous region on the Gulf of Mexico, is the most dangerous place to be a reporter in the entire Western Hemisphere, according to The New York Times, and the epicenter of violence against journalists in Latin America, according to Insight Crime. Twenty-one journalists have been murdered here in recent years, but the culprit isnt a drug cartel its the state government.
ICYMI: The female officer grabbed me by my hair, knocked me to the ground, and began kicking me.
The drug war in Mexico, fueled by money and guns from the United States, has killed well over 100,000 people in the last decade, and Mexican journalists have been especially hard hit. Reliable statistics are hard to come by, but according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, only in Iraq and Syria are reporters more likely to be killed on the job. In April, in Ciudad Juarez, the newspaper El Norte shut down outright rather than see any more of its employees killed. In May, gunmen assassinated Javier Valdez, one of the most famous and respected journalists in the country.
About six years ago, state officials started copying the tactics of cartel hit men.
The dominant power in Veracruz is the Zetas cartel, but journalists around here dont write about them, or their ongoing war with the insurgent Jalisco New Generation Cartel. That would be suicidal, says a correspondent for an international wire service who didnt want his name used in connection with any statement about narcotraffickers. They wouldnt even bother to threaten you, he says. They would simply show up at your house and kill you in the worst way imaginable.
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But self-censorship regarding the drug war hasnt improved safety conditions in Veracruz because, beginning about six years ago, state officials started copying the tactics of cartel hit men. Today, a journalist is much more likely to be killed for criticizing the governors policies or exposing a mayors mismanagement than for writing about cartel activities. Politics has become a very dangerous subject to touch, says the wire reporter, who speaks softly, often glancing out the window behind him in the quiet restaurant where we met in Xalapa, the state capital. You cannot accuse a politician directly.
ICYMI: One question that turns courageous journalists into cowards
In a January 2017 investigation, Reporters Without Borders called Veracruz the most violent state in the most violent country in Latin America, but came to the conclusion that it is the state, not the cartels, that poses the biggest threat to journalists. The RSF report detailed 19 cases of reporters murdered in the last six years. Few of them had ever written about the drug war. Almost all were on the record criticizing local politicians.
Trucks without license plates loitered around her house, and waited for her outside of church. One day, she came home to find her young daughters doll chopped in half with a machete.
In one of the most infamous cases, a photojournalist and correspondent for Proceso named Ruben Espinosa published an unflattering photo of former governor Javier Duarte with his belly hanging over his belt and a dumb look on his face. In July 2015, assassins tracked Espinosa down in Mexico City and executed him, along with four women who were in the same apartment, one of whom, Nadia Vera, was a human-rights activist who had posted a video saying that if she were killed, Duarte would be to blame.
By all accounts, Duarte is the chief villain in this story, a sweaty, debauched, videogame-addicted adherent of the prosperity gospel who daily repeated the mantra, I deserve abundance, while looting the states coffers to fund his dissolute lifestyle.
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Javier Duarte, former governor of the Mexican state of Veracruz, is taken under custody to board an aircraft to be extradited to Mexico, in Guatemala City, on July 17, 2017.
For Gamboa, the threats began after she wrote a newspaper column calling Duarte a thief. Trucks without license plates loitered around her house, and waited for her outside of church. One day, she came home to find her young daughters doll chopped in half with a machete. Then, in 2014, she was involved in a car accident that left a pedestrian dead. Although she was later cleared of any fault, Duarte seized on the chance to silence a critic. Despite testing negative for drugs or alcohol, state officials prosecuted Gamboa for culpable homicide and locked her up in the worst prison imaginable, a stinking, dirt-floor dungeon with a flyblown hole in the yard for a latrine. It was co-ed, and the female inmates were left to the depredations of the men. You can imagine a prison with 75 men and 30 women, in an open population, Gamboa says. Everything was permitted to happen.
Veracruz is only the most extreme example of increasingly homicidal state actors in Mexico. Of all the mass atrocities committed in the last decade, none provoked so much outrage as the 2014 disappearance of 43 student-teachers in Iguala, who were commemorating the most infamous incident of an earlier era, the 1968 massacre of student protesters in Mexico City. What exactly happened to the 43 student-teachers may never be known, but an international investigation implicated the mayor of Iguala, the local police, and the federal government. In a furious protest in front of the National Palace, demonstrators chanted, Fue el estado, or, It was the state, and tried to storm the ceremonial presidential residence, whose doors they set ablaze.
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People take part in a march commemorating four months of the disappearance of 43 students from Ayotzinapa, on January 26, 2015, at the Zocalo square in Mexico City.
In June, The New York Times exposed the Mexican governments use of sophisticated Israeli spyware to monitor activists, lawyers, and journalists, including those who were investigating the disappearance of the Iguala 43. The cyberarms software, known as Pegasus, costs millions of dollars and is sold exclusively to governments for the purpose of tracking terrorists, but the targets in Mexico included Carmen Aristegui, a television reporter who revealed the sweetheart deal a government contractor gave Mexicos first lady on a $7 million house.
On a recent night in Medellin, a sweltering little town just inland from the Port of Veracruz, a solitary officer sits in a police truck, fingering the screen of a phone that casts his face in a bluish light. The cop is posted to protect the house of Jorge Sanchez, but its an empty gesture. More than two years earlier, in January 2015, armed men came and lifted, or kidnapped, Jorges father, Moises Sanchez, an eccentric, self-taught character who used his wages as a taxi driver to publish a tiny newspaper called La Union, known for its forthright criticism of the local government.
He didnt like to see injustice, the younger Sanchez says of his father, whose picture hangs on the kitchen wall. He taught himself law and human rights from textbooks and studied the Constitution of Mexico, which guarantees the freedom of the press. For years he used his newspaper to criticize the lack of security in the town, but it wasnt until he accused the mayor, Omar Cruz, of embezzling municipal funds that they came for him. Police found his mutilated body in a plastic bag.
Jorge continues to publish La Union. Hes one of a surprising number of journalists in Veracruz who continue to criticize the government despite the danger.
Im used to living in fear, says Claudia Guerrero, an incongruously cheerful woman who has worked as a journalist in Xalapa for the last 15 years. She arrived for our interview escorted by a male companion because, she says, she doesnt go anywhere alone anymore. A few years ago, acting on a tip from a friend, she started investigating price-gouging in state-run hospitals. An aspirin costs three pesos, she says. Do you know how much they were charging for one? Fifty pesos. Threats soon followed. Eggs, rocks, and coins were thrown at her house, breaking the windows. Feces and viscera were flung on her stoop. A fake activist group linked to the governor held a protest outside her office and, in a bizarre act of intimidation, collectively disrobed. She received a cut-and-pasted letter in the mail that said, Claudia Guerrero, keep up your nastiness. Fucking bitch, were going to cut off your head.
She received a cut-and-pasted letter in the mail that said, Claudia Guerrero, keep up your nastiness. Fucking bitch, were going to cut off your head.
Guerrero wasnt intimidated. If you threaten me, I wont quit, she says. On the contrary, Ill hit back harder. Other reporters joined in the medical-fraud investigation, which turned out to be widespread. It emerged that in Veracruz hospitals, cancer medicines had been diluted for profit, and sick kids who were supposed to be undergoing chemotherapy had been treated with ordinary water.
That and other mounting scandals proved too much for Duarte to withstand. His six years in office had left the once-wealthy state debt-ridden and pitted with mass graves, bringing down intense international criticism on Mexicos ruling party, the PRI, or Revolutionary Institutional Party. He fell out of favor with his political bosses in Mexico City, and in October 2016, just weeks before his term was out, he fled the country. Six months later, Interpol agents apprehended him Guatemala. In July, he was extradited to face charges including embezzlement and corruption, but not murder.
Duarte didnt just rob our money, says author and critic Virginia Duran, the grand dame of the Xalapa press corps, who has covered Veracruz for the last 40 years. He robbed us of our tranquility, our peace. We live kidnapped.
The new governor, Miguel Angel Yunes, has tried to distance himself from Duarte, but despite superficial competition, Mexico is fundamentally a one-party state, dominated by the PRI for nearly 90 years. Yunes belongs to the PAN, a party that once offered some opposition, but is now considered interchangeable with the PRI. Journalists refer to them collectively as the PRIAN. Comparisons to Coke and Pepsi are common. Politicians switch back and forth. Yunes, for instance, served 30 years in the PRI before he joined the PAN, and he is an old hand at state security and espionage. After a brief respite at the outset of his term, attacks on the press have begun again: On March 19, journalist Ricardo Monlui was gunned down by motorcycle assassins in an eastern Veracruz town called Yanga. The Yanga police chief said the motive was unknown, but Monlui mostly wrote about local industry and politics. He didnt cover the drug war. Ten days later, newspaper editor Armando Arrieta was shot in front of his home in Poza Rica, but survived and went into hiding. He was known as a critic of the government. On August 22, newspaperman Candido Rios was assassinated in front of a convenience store in Hueyepan, nine days after the former mayor, Gaspar Gomez, posted a chilling video threatening his life.
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Paramedics transport Mexican journalist Armando Arrieta Granados after he was attacked by armed men outside his house in Poza Rica, Veracruz state, Mexico on March 29, 2017.
Rios, who had criticized Gomez and the police in his town, was the ninth journalist killed in Mexico so far this year and the third in Veracruz. At the time of his death, hed been under the protection of a federal program called the Mechanism to Protect Human Rights Defenders and Journalists, which allows media workers to sign up for home surveillance cameras, police patrols, and a portable panic button. Reporters Without Borders has criticized the lack of political will to effectively implement the program. When I met with Guerrero in Xalapa, she had left her panic button at home; she said it wasnt worth carrying around. Rios was also enrolled in a similar, state-level program in Veracruz, the State Commission for the Protection of Journalists, whose reputation with the press is even worse.
When Gamboa was falsely prosecuted, CEAPP did absolutely nothing, she says. After enduring eight months of torture and abuse, she was exonerated and released around the time that Duarte fled the country. In an unusual career shift, she rode popular outrage at her unjust incarceration to seat in the state congress. Now, she says, her top legislative priority is to eliminate and disappear the CEAPP, which has been pilloried for its cushy salaries, accounting irregularities, and failure to improve security for journalists. We need real support, Gamboa says, not this white elephant.
He was a real journalist, and they killed him for it.
Namiko Matsumoto, president of the State Commission on Human Rights, was the head of CEAPP during Duartes administration, and defends the agencys record. She says CEAPP has only limited powers and no authority to conduct investigations or make arrests. Of the 65 journalists who enrolled in its preventative monitoring program during her tenure, she tells me, none have come to harm.
But once our formal interview is over and my voice recorder is turned off, Matsumoto leans back, lights a cigarette, and says that in her opinion, journalists in Veracruz are too aggressive, and fail to take seriously the risks of their profession. She singles out the case of Moises Sanchez, the murdered founder of La Union. She calls Sanchez an amateur, not a real journalist. She says that contrary to popular belief, Sanchez wasnt killed for exposing the mayors pilfering, but for heating up the plaza, that is, drawing the attention of security forces, and making life more difficult for drug traffickers. The implication is that he earned his fate.
Her comments left me uneasy, as did the opulence of her office and the rich jewelry she wore, especially when I thought of the humble house of concrete and tin where Jorge Sanchez carries on with the work of his slain father. Moises Sanchez may have had no training in journalism or formal education, but he wasnt an amateur. Riding around town in his taxi, visiting with people, he learned what the bosses, cops, and politicians were up to, and he published the truth that others wouldnt. He was a real journalist, and they killed him for it.
ICYMI: The lesson journalists should take away from Spicers rebranding
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Seth Harp is a journalist based in Austin, Texas. Since graduating from Columbia Journalism School and the NYU Veterans Writing Workshop in 2016, he has been a frequent contributor to Rolling Stone, covering the wars in Iraq, Syria, and Mexico.
Earlier this year, after award-winning journalist Javier Valdez was gunned down in the streets of Culiacan, The Washington Post ran an editorial titled In Mexico, journalism is literally being killed off. The Posts editorial board lamented the drug-fueled violence that has claimed tens of thousands of Mexican lives over the past decade, and implored Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to do more to protect reporters.
Covering the countrys drug trade remains a dangerous job, but in an important piece published this morning by CJR, Seth Harp writes that the state itself has become a threat for journalists. Today, Harp writes, a journalist is much more likely to be killed for criticizing the governors policies or exposing a mayors mismanagement than for writing about cartel activities.
Reporting from the state of Veracruz, Harp says the cartel-directed violence against journalists has led some to stop reporting on the drug trade, but that self-censorship regarding the drug war hasnt improved safety conditions in Veracruz because, beginning about six years ago, state officials started copying the tactics of cartel hit men.
Harps piece includes a shocking litany of Mexican journalists killed after producing critical reporting on government figures. Ruben Espinoza, Moises Sanchez, Ricardo Monlui, Candido Rios Vasquez, all dead.
Reporters Without Borders ranks Mexico 147th on its Press Freedom Index, ahead of only Cuba in the Western hemisphere. In terms of physical threats, the country sits with Syria and Iraq as the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. While the narrative about that danger often focuses on cartel violence, Harps reporting exposes a culture of impunity where blame lays heavily at the feet of the state.
Below, more on the dangers of reporting in Americas southern neighbor.
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Pete Vernon is a former CJR staff writer. Follow him on Twitter @ByPeteVernon.
GOOD NEWS HAS A BAD REPUTATION in the news business. Good news isnt serious journalism, the thinking goes. Good news is soft, boring. People need journalism to tell them whats wrong in the world so that they can set about making it right.
If that logic applies to anything at all, it certainly does not apply to coverage of disastersomething that journalists would do well to remember as they cover Hurricane Maria.
People affected by a disaster have urgent questions: Are my friends and family alright? Is my home in one piece? A yes to either of those questions is at least as newsworthy to the asker as a no. Yet disaster coverageparticularly on cable newstends to focus on the bad to the exclusion of the good. To tell your audience that some people are not alright, and that some houses are not in one piece, is not enough.
ICYMI: The telling difference between captions for two Hurricane Katrina photos
Last week, my mother, father, niece, and sister-in-law, after fleeing their homes in the lower Florida Keys ahead of Hurricane Irmas arrival, huddled around CNN.com in my living room in Georgia. (The Macon Telegraph interviewed them about their decision to evacuate.) Cable news, the most immediate source of information about the fate of their community, was pretty much only giving the bad newswhich, by itself, didnt tell them much about what they really wanted to know.
Heres a particularly ridiculous example: CNNs Bill Weir reported on-camera from the scene of a bar on Key Largo that had been leveled by Irma. Its all gone, its all gone, he said in the breathless tones typical of his medium. The storm surge shoved everything.
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Tweeting a video of Weirs stand-up, CNNs Meg Wagner wrote, Storm annihilates bar in Key Largo: Its all gone.
Storm annihilates bar in Key Largo: "It's all gone." https://t.co/BXV1rwrzPv Meg Wagner (@megwagner) September 11, 2017
Both of those micro-reports are flawed, but thats not even the most ridiculous part. As you can see in the video, the bar was not all goneit was reduced to rubble. The most powerful hurricanes to ever hit the Florida Keys have been known to wipe islands clean of even the topsoil. The fact that most of this buildings pieces appeared to remain on-site was actually an indication that forecasters worst fears about Irma had not been realized.
Heres where it gets ridiculous: Based on Weirs reporting on the destruction of a single structure on Key Largo, someone wrote the following CNN.com homepage headline: Irma annihilated Key Largo: Its all gone.
The whole 33-mile island is just gone, huh? Funny, I could see at least four or five structures in the background of Weirs shot that seemed intact. Not surprisingly, local media offered a more nuanced assessment of the situation.
ICYMI: An interactive timeline of developments at Facebook
Ill admit that this demonstrably false headline is an extreme example. And, as a journalist myself, I know theres a good reason why people like Weir, Wagner, and me focus on bad news: The bad is whats different, and whats different is whats news. Most days, most people can count on the sky not killing them or wiping out everything they own. That is the norm, and the norm is not news; it is the baseline. We report deviations from the norm, because the norm is otherwise assumed. (Likewise, I assume that CNN headlines are essentially accurate, which is why I consider this hugely overstated headline to be newsworthy.)
Cable news crews with satellite uplinks were the only eyes on the ground that my family had, and all those eyes ever seemed to look at were scenes of devastation.
Some journalists may also feel an obligation to help authorities impress upon people the seriousness of the situation so that they will flee or shelter accordingly. But in a situation like Irma, the fact that some buildings appear relatively unscathed is just as newsworthy as the destruction of othersat least, if one of those buildings is your home.
My family drove up I-75 to my house expecting that they might never see their own houses again. Most people they knew followed the evacuation orders as well; those who stayed quickly lost phone, power, and internet. Cable news crews with satellite uplinks were the only eyes on the ground that my family had, and all those eyes ever seemed to look at were scenes of devastation.
A few days later, NOAA uploaded aerial imagery showing that my family members houses, along with most others in the Keys, wereat the very leaststill standing. If journalists want to better serve people affected by disasters, they should remember that sometimes a shot of an ordinary, intact streetscape can be the biggest news of all.
ICYMI: Reporting from the most dangerous place to be a reporter in the entire Western Hemisphere
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Adam Ragusea is a journalist in residence and visiting assistant professor at Mercer Universitys Center for Collaborative Journalism and hosts Current.orgs podcast The Pub.
Orange, CA, September 19, 2017- American Technologies, Inc. (ATI), a leading nationwide restoration and reconstruction provider based in Orange, CA, is pleased to welcome industry veteran Troy Mette in his new role as Vice President of Commercial Sales. Mette will oversee all national commercial accounts for ATI, including business development, day-to-day management, and leading a diverse team of sales account executives based around the country.
Mette brings 25 years of insurance industry experience, including nearly 20 years with global insurance provider AIG. There, Mette served in a variety of leadership roles in increasing responsibility over the years from field operations and regional underwriting to national account management and new business strategy development. Most recently, Mette served as Managing Director for AIGs West Zone.
We are thrilled to welcome Troy to our ATI family and to add his depth of knowledge and leadership expertise to the sales team, said Jeff Moore, Executive Vice President at ATI. I have no doubt that he will succeed with growing this part of our business while supporting our culture of providing the best customized, start-to-finish, personal service to our clients.
Mette will work based out of ATIs Phoenix Office and will travel frequently to ATI regional offices and client sites throughout the U.S. I look forward to working closely with ATIs management and sales teams to support the companys vision and to help greatly expand our reach with national insurance, healthcare, hospitality, property management and other organizations within the next few years, Mette said.
Mette holds a bachelors in Business Administration and Human Resource Management from Northern Arizona University, and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.
About ATI
Founded in 1989, ATI is the nations largest family-owned restoration contractor. With more than 800 employees and 20 branch offices throughout the U.S., ATI provides full-service restoration, environmental remediation, and reconstruction services to both public and private sector clients, and in both residential and commercial settings. ATI handles restoration jobs for healthcare institutions, public buildings, hospitality firms, industrial and commercial properties, and schools and universities. ATIs Catastrophe Response Team has assisted following the countrys most devastating major disasters, including Hurricanes Andrew and Katrina, the Northridge earthquake, and Southern California wildfires.
Media Contact
Gina Curry, Marketing Manager
American Technologies, Inc.
gina.curry@atirestoration.com
714-283-9990
When Heather, 22, couldn't make the apartment tour with the two friends she had agreed to live with during her last year of college, she told her friends to sign the lease without her. Heather ended up with the smallest bedroom, and her friends who snagged two much bigger bedrooms insisted she still pay the same. Heather's story isn't unique. Millennials increasingly can't afford to live alone, especially in big cities, so they shack up with either friends or family. In 2015, Trulia reported that 60 percent of people ages 18 to 34 had roommates, a 13 percent increase from 1995. Choosing to bunk with a buddy often feels safer than living with a stranger, but fighting about money, space and guests what relationship and etiquette expert April Masini calls "the trifecta" of serious roommate issues can be even harder than duking it out with someone you met on Craigslist. That's why we at CNBC Make It, along with our friends at Bustle, created a roommate "prenup" you can print out, talk through and sign before you sign a lease. It sets out expectations in advance and makes clear how you feel about crucial topics like how to split the rent, how to deal with pets and weekend guests, and whose turn it is to buy toilet paper. Click to enlarge or drag to your desktop to print!
The prenup can protect your friendships, sanity and credit score. That's why more experts are suggesting that formal roommate agreements are a smart idea. "When multiple people sign a lease, they're each responsible for the entire lease," real estate attorney Toby M. Cohen told Brick Underground. "If someone says, 'Go f--- yourself, I have a job in China,' good luck collecting. Unless you have an agreement spelled out, you have to pick up the slack." "People don't sue over walking the dog," Cohen says. "But people do sue over, 'You left me on the hook for $30,000 of rent.' That's a legitimate claim." A prenup could help keep roommates out of court, and from being at each other's throats, since it helps you work with facts, not assumptions. Heather, for example, assumed she could trust her friends to keep her best interests at heart when signing the lease. Masini says that was Heather's first mistake.
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By not insisting to see the apartment before signing on to the lease, Heather "gave up her vote," says Masini, adding that at any time before the lease was signed, saying "no" or working out a fair rent agreement was an option. Since Heather didn't speak up before the lease was signed, she gave up her leverage. Similarly, Billy, a 30-year-old making $48,000 a year, could have used a prenup when he shared an apartment with a bunch of guys to help ease the high cost of living in Boston. One of his roommates bought a $900 dining room table and gave Billy a bill for $250, "his share" of the cost. "We hadn't even talked about furniture," Billy tells CNBC Make It. "He also took the table we all paid for with him when he moved out!" A lot of times, Masini explains, people blindly trust that their good friends will also be good roommates. When you get into a situation like Billy's, you're faced with the decision to either have an awkward conversation about money after someone has already invested in a big-ticket item or to throw down $250 and set a dangerous and expensive precedent. Beyond money, there's also someone's lifestyle habits to consider. When you share space, your pal's habit of playing guitar in the living room every night at midnight might seem less quirky and more horrifying. Alexis, 27, learned this the hard way. Her roommate was a night owl, constantly banging around in the kitchen and leaving lights on. One Tuesday at 2 a.m., she woke to the sounds of her roommate hammering up some art. "If I ever asked her to be quiet," explains Alexis, "she'd say, 'I don't know why sleep is so important.'" There's a reason many colleges have incoming freshman fill out questionnaires about their habits; it helps them better sync up compatible students. If you're early to bed and early to rise, you may want to steer clear of someone who feels most productive late at night. Another question you may want to ask: Does your potential roommate have siblings? The answer matters, Masini says.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) shakes hands with U.S President Donald Trump as they make statements to reporters in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, U.S. May 16, 2017.
President Donald Trump said he was "sorry" about an incident where Turkish security personnel attacked protesters in Washington D.C., according to an account from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
In an interview with PBS NewsHour released Tuesday, the Turkish head of state said Trump expressed regret about the matter during a phone conversation. The White House subsequently pushed back on that claim.
"President Trump called me about a week ago about this issue. He said that he was sorry, and he told me that he was going to follow up on this issue when we come to the United States within the framework of an official visit," Erdogan said, according to a translation from PBS.
@NewsHour tweet: .@RT_Erdogan tells @JudyWoodruff Trump called him abt incident in DC this summer to say he was sorry + wanted to "follow up on this issue."
A White House official denied that Trump had said "sorry" for anything related to the brawl during the call.
"They discussed a wide range of issues but there was no apology," the official told CNBC.
Widely circulated video of the incident appears to show Turkish bodyguards beating prone protesters, even as Washington police are struggling to pull them away.
A grand jury in Washington has indicted 15 Turkish security guards for beating up Kurdish protesters during Erdogan's visit to the U.S. capital in May. Washington's police chief called the incident a "brutal attack" on peaceful protesters, while the U.S. State Department described the situation as "deeply disturbing."
Apple CEO Tim Cook said on Wednesday that immigration is the "biggest issue of our time," and that his company is pushing extremely hard on immigration reform.
In particular, Cook defended the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provides temporary protection and work authorization for young immigrants, brought to the U.S. as children, who are living in the country illegally.
Earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security said it would phase out the program. President Donald Trump has said that there would be no action over the next six months, but that it was Congress' job to legalize the program.
"This is unacceptable," Cook said in an interview at the Bloomberg Global Business Forum. "This is not who we are as a country. I am personally shocked that there's even a discussion on this. It's not a political thing, at least I don't see it that way at all. It's about basic human decency and respect."
Cook has said that Apple will work with Congress on behalf of its employees that benefit from the DACA program people that many refer to as "dreamers."
"I wish everyone in America loved America this much," Cook said of the Dreamers that work at Apple.
"If I were a world leader, my goal would be to monopolize the world's talent," Cook added. "Smart people create jobs. ... I'd have a very aggressive plan, not to just let a few people in, but I'd be recruiting."
Michael Bloomberg, CEO of Bloomberg L.P. and former mayor of New York City, said that Bloomberg employees that are immigrants in the U.S. have been asking to be transferred to foreign offices in light of recent immigration policy proposals.
"Words have consequences," Bloomberg said. "We need a constant source of new blood ... they will go someplace else that's more welcoming."
Bloomberg compared the end of DACA to a bank robbery: If a woman walked into a bank holding a baby, pulled out a gun and held up a bank, we wouldn't prosecute the infant, Bloomberg said.
Critics of DACA have argued that it signals the U.S. is willing to grant amnesty to those that immigrate illegally, which could feed into the larger issue of border control. But Cook said he believes it's an issue of being "human," recalling a trip to historic immigration center Ellis Island in New York.
'You can feel the people in that room," Cook said of Ellis Island. "You can feel the anxiety and the hope. That's where we all started. ... as children of immigrants."
Bill Ackman fired back at Automatic Data Processing's management on CNBC's "Halftime Report" Wednesday.
The investor responded to a question on the company's presentation comparing ADP's stock performance under its CEO versus his hedge fund track record.
"Those numbers are not correct and one of the things we're going to point out in a presentation we're going to release tomorrow is that the company overstates their total shareholder return under the CEO's track record," said the hedge fund manager, claiming ADP starts the calculation of the figure the day after the new CEO began, among other alleged mistakes.
Ackman also cited how the return included the stock performance of CDK Global , which was spun off from the company in 2014.
In a statement on Aug. 4, ADP compared its six-year stock performance under Rodriguez to Pershing Square's hedge-fund returns from 2012 to 2016.
"Since Carlos Rodriguez became CEO nearly six years ago, ADP's total shareholder return of 202% is well in excess of the S&P 500 TSR of 128% - and is many multiples of Pershing's TSR of 29%," the company said.
The hedge fund manager said ADP needed to make changes or it may face challenges like other big technology companies that didn't innovate.
"I'm not saying ADP is IBM today, but it is at risk of becoming IBM if they don't take seriously the competitive threats they face and if they don't run their businesses as efficiently as they can," he said.
His hedge fund Pershing Square Capital Management has nominated three directors to ADP's board, including Ackman, for the Nov. 7 annual meeting.
The firm said in a letter to shareholders Wednesday it has a $2.3 billion investment stake in ADP and is "not seeking control of the company."
Last month ADP disclosed it had been approached by Ackman, and the two sides have engaged in a war of words since then.
ADP CEO Carlos Rodriguez told CNBC on Aug. 10 that Bill Ackman reminds him of a "spoiled brat" who wants a schoolteacher to give him an extension. Ackman revealed his "transformation plan" for ADP on Aug. 17 to more than double the company's stock price in an 167 slide presentation.
ADP's profit "margins are vastly below where they should be," Ackman said on a conference call, walking listeners through Pershing Square's analysis and research. "ADP's historical success has made it a lethargic and inefficient sleeping giant," he wrote in the presentation.
His hedge fund has stumbled in recent years with high-profile losing bets on Valeant Pharmaceuticals and Chipotle Mexican Grill .
Pershing Square Holdings is underperforming the market this year. The fund is down 7.3 percent year to date through Sept. 12, according to its website. By contrast, the S&P 500 has an 11.5 percent return in the same time period.
An ADP spokesperson sent the following statement in response to this story:
"Pershing Square's claim that ADP has underperformed is not based on the facts. ADP has generated total shareholder returns in excess of 200% since Carlos Rodriguez became CEO nearly six years ago, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 and its peers. Over that same period, ADP has increased margins in core operations by 580 basis points, and continues to pursue an aggressive long-term strategy to further improve service and client satisfaction through technology transformation while driving revenue growth and margin expansion. ADP's Board is concerned that Pershing Square's extreme, swing-for-the-fences proposals and unqualified nominees would disrupt client services and damage relationships, putting ADP and the value of shareholders' investments at significant risk."
CNBC's Liz Moyer contributed to this story.
Self-made billionaire Carlos Slim Helu, 71, developed his business acumen at a young age and attributes his success to one person: his father.
Slim, who reigned as the world's richest person from 2010-2013, learned about the world of business at age ten, according to his biography.
Now one of the world's richest men and Mexico's richest person due to his holdings in numerous Mexican companies, the business magnate boasts an estimated net worth of $70.2 billion, according to Forbes.
Growing up, his father Julian Slim Haddad owned a dry goods store and invested in real estate in downtown Mexico City.
Every Sunday, Haddad would give his son an allowance of five pesos and make him write down all of his childhood purchases in a savings book, Forbes reports. Together, they would review the ledger and analyze his expenses, purchases and activities.
This helped Slim learn how to manage his income and expenses early on. In fact, Slim still keeps some of his childhood savings books on a shelf in his office, according to Fortune.
In a New Yorker article, Slim recalls some of his father's lessons, which include: "Money that leaves the business evaporates" and "All times are good if you work in the right way."
Top Boeing executive Leanne Caret said Wednesday that the current missile defense system the company has would protect the continental U.S. from an attack.
In an exclusive interview with CNBC, Caret said "yes" when asked if the missile defense capabilities in place would protect the U.S. She says the system is "doing exactly what is needed" to counterattack if North Korea were to launch a missile.
"I had the opportunity to be there for the test at the end of May," Caret said on CNBC's "Squawk Box." "We hit a bullet with a bullet."
Caret, who is president and CEO of Boeing's Defense, Space and Security division, said she has the privilege of leading the company's team developing cutting-edge anti-missile systems. She calls it a team of "400 protecting 400 million."
Boeing says it is on track to have 44 new interceptors added to the system by the end of the year. Caret believes that, ultimately, more additions will be needed.
President Donald Trump issued a harsh warning on Tuesday at the U.N. General Assembly to nuclear-armed North Korea and the countries doing business with "this band of criminals."
"The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself and its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea," Trump said in his first address to the assembly.
"Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime. The United States is ready, willing and able, but hopefully this will not be necessary," he said.
Boeing executive Leanne Caret said Wednesday the defense company is a "buyer," looking to make acquisitions.
Her comments came two days after Northrop Grumman announced plans to buy missile and rocket maker Orbital ATK for $7.8 billion in cash.
"We are continuing to look at other ways to increase our top line through mergers and acquisitions and we have a continued pipeline we're assessing," said Caret, CEO of Boeing Defense, Space and Security.
She told CNBC she is "very focused" on growth.
"That includes looking organically on where we are going to invest," Caret said on "Squawk Box."
When asked whether Boeing is in any acquisition talks, Caret dodged the question, saying "we'll stay away from that."
Northrop's acquisition of Orbital would create a fourth business sector at the Boeing competitor, but Northrop has not specified what that would be. The company expects to close the deal in the first half of next year. Orbital has billion-dollar contracts with NASA and the Army, as well as contracts with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.
Orbital is in the final stages of testing the solid rockets boosters the company is building for NASA's space launch system. It said the two solid rocket boosters for the heavy launch SLS platform will be on time for NASA's first planned flight in 2019. NASA is building SLS to take crew and cargo beyond Earth's orbit, with Mars as an eventual destination.
China refuses to be ruffled by what the U.S. has to say, as Beijing is more keen than ever to maintain stability ahead of a major leadership shuffle in a few weeks' time. But the U.S. doesn't look like it plans to simmer down anytime soon, especially as President Donald Trump is expected to visit China later this year and the two sides prepare to sit down at the negotiating table.
Then China countered, repeating its long-held stance that the bilateral relationship is good for both sides. "The nature of China-U.S. trade relations is mutually beneficial," said Lu Kang, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry. "China and the U.S. should work together to uphold authority of the WTO rules."
First, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer called China an "unprecedented" threat, because of the "sheer scale of their coordinated efforts to develop their economy, to subsidize, to create national champions, to force technology transfer and to distort markets."
The long-term battle on trade between the U.S. and China shows no sign of ending as a war of words ensued this week between the two.
President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping chat as they walk along the front patio of the Mar-a-Lago estate after a bilateral meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., April 7, 2017.
The trade deficit between the world's two largest economies is in excess of $300 billion a year, something many critics have pointed to as evidence of an unbalanced relationship. China, meanwhile, counters that "many U.S. products are not favored by Chinese," according to an editorial in state media Global Times. "But China still imports them for its trade balance. Some terribly produced Hollywood movies have profited handsomely on the Chinese market."
It's a tricky line to toe for Beijing middle-class Chinese consumers have clamored for foreign products in the wake of many food and health safety scares over the years. And the government restricts the number of foreign films that can be released in China each year.
But never mind all that: Clearly, the message China wants to send is that it's not a one-sided relationship. "Washington doesn't need to act as if it has been taken for a ride," wrote the nationalistic Global Times.
The official media goes on to point that China bought U.S. Treasury bonds for the sixth straight month in July, becoming again the largest holder of U.S. debt, which it says is "the epitome of mutually beneficial trade relations." It also said Lighthizer's comment that China unfairly subsidizes companies to create national champions was ironic in light of Trump's "America First" campaign.
Still, the Trump administration continues to pressure China.
A few weeks ago, the U.S. launched an investigation into Chinese intellectual property theft under "Section 301" of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974, a tactic that is rarely used and could see the U.S. take retaliatory action within a year.
Just last week, the U.S. blocked the acquisition of Lattice Semiconductor by Canyon Bridge Partners, a China-backed private equity firm.
Where: CNBC's "Mad Money with Jim Cramer"
When: Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Following is the unofficial transcript of a CNBC EXCLUSIVE interview with Senator Elizabeth Warren on CNBC's "Mad Money with Jim Cramer" (M-F, 6p7pm ET) on Tuesday, September 19, 2017. Following is a link to an excerpt of the interview on CNBC.com: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2017/09/19/sen-elizabeth-warren-wells-fargo-misdeeds-were-all-about-profits.html.
All references must be sourced to CNBC.
JIM CRAMER: THE MORE WE LEARN ABOUT THIS EQUIFAX DEBACLE THE WORSE IT LOOKS. TURNS OUT IT WAS HIT WITH ANOTHER DATA BREACH IN MARCH, MONTHS BEFORE THE GIGANTIC HACK THAT EXPOSED THE PERSONAL INFORMATION OF 143 MILLION AMERICANS. SAME HACKERS BOTH TIME, TALK ABOUT ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL. LISTEN I KNOW REGULATIONS BECOME A DIRTY WORD ON WALL STREET BUT WHEN BUSINESSES BEHAVE THIS IRRESPONSIBLY AT SOME POINT THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO STEP IN. THAT'S WHY I THINK NOW IS A CRITICAL TIME FOR US TO HEAR FROM SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN, THE DEMOCRAT FROM MASSACHUSETTS WHO HAS STRONG WORDS FOR EQUIFAX AS WELL AS FOR THE FEDERAL RESERVE WHEN IT COMES TO THE ACTIONS OF ANOTHER COMPANY THAT HAS MISBEHAVED, WELLS FARGO. SENATOR WARREN, WELCOME TO "MAD MONEY."
SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN: THANK YOU. I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.
CRAMER: ALRIGHT SENATOR I'VE GOT TO ASK YOU SOMETHING I ASKED RHETORICALLY LAST NIGHT BUT I THINK YOU'LL HAVE AN ANSWER. HOW THE HECK DOES RICHARD SMITH, THE CEO OF EQUIFAX, STILL HAVE A JOB?
WARREN: I DON'T KNOW. I DONT KNOW. BUT HERE'S WHAT I DO KNOW. SO LONG AS THERE IS NO PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY WHEN THESE BIG COMPANIES BREACH CONSUMER'S TRUSTS, STEAL LET THEIR DATA GET STOLEN, CHEAT THE CONSUMERS LIKE THEY DID WITH WELLS FARGO, THEN NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE. AS LONG THEY CAN KEEP COLLECTING THEIR PAYCHECKS AND THEY CAN KEEP SLEEP AND COZY AT NIGHT, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME KIND OF THING GOING ON AT THE BIG CORPORATIONS WHERE THE CUSTOMER IS AT THE END OF THE DAY AND LET'S FACE IT, STOCKHOLDERS ARE AT THE END OF THE DAY. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE EXECUTIVES. IF WE WANT CHANGE WE GOT TO HOLD THE EXECUTIVES ACCOUNTABLE, PERIOD.
CRAMER: CAN YOU HAUL THE MEMBERS OF THESE BOARDS DOWN THE WASHINGTON AND ASK THEM PERSONALLY? BECAUSE YOU KNOW THEY SEEM TO SAY NOTHING AND THEY GET AWAY WITH IT. YOU EMBARRASS THEM AND THEY WILL TAKE ACTION.
WARREN: YEAH, YEAH, EXACTLY RIGHT. SO, I'VE ASKED FOR HEARINGS ON BOTH EQUIFAX AND ANOTHER HEARING ON WELLS FARGO. YOU KNOW, WE HAD A HEARING A YEAR AGO WHEN JOHN STUMPF, WHO HAD GONE ON YOUR PROGRAM, FIRST ONE OUT OF BARREL AND SAID, HEY LISTEN, I TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT'S GONE WRONG AT WELLS FARGO. AND THEN WHAT IT TURNED OUT PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY MEANT WAS FIRING PEOPLE WHO MADE 15 BUCKS AN HOUR. YOU KNOW, SO, WE GOT JOHN STUMPF IN FRONT OF US. ASKED A COUPLE QUESTIONS. STUMPF IS NO LONGER THE CEO OF WELLS FARGO. BUT LET'S FACE IT, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE RUNNING WELLS FARGO WHO WAS THERE AT THE TIME OF THE CRISIS. I WANT TO DO THIS WITH ALL OF THESE BIG CORPORATION. I WANT THESE CORPORATION TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU ENGAGE IN MASSIVE FRAUD, WHEN YOU ARE SO IRRESPONSIBLE WITH THE DATA THAT BELONGS TO CONSUMERS, WHEN YOU PUT YOUR CUSTOMERS AT RISK THERE'S GOING TO BE REAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOU. AND UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, UNTIL PEOPLE LOSE THEIR JOBS, UNTIL WE HAVE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, UNTIL THERE'S A REAL CHANCE ONE OF THESE EXECUTIVES IS GOING TO BE WALKED OUT OF OFFICE IN HANDCUFFS WITH PEOPLE SNAPPING PICTURES, THEN NOTHING'S GOING TO CHANGE ON WALL STREET, NOT IN THESE BIG COMPANIES.
CRAMER: WELL, SENATOR WARREN, THIS ONE AT EQUIFAX SEEM LIKE THEY KNEW FOR A LONG TIME, DID NOTHING THERE ARE 143 MILLION PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY MAY HAVE THEIR IDENTITY BEING STOLEN. THEY HAVE OUR SOCIAL SECURITY. WHERES THE OUTRAGE BESIDES YOU?
WARREN: RIGHT. SO HERE'S THE DEAL ABOUT THEM STEALING OUR SOCIAL SECURITY. THEY NOW GOT MY SOCIAL SECURITY, MY BIRTHDAY, WHERE I LIVE. THEY CAN SIT ON THIS DATA FOR A LONG,
LONG TIME. SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL REVVED UP RIGHT NOW, WE SHUT DOWN OUR CREDIT AND WATCH VERY CAREFULLY FOR WHAT, A MONTH, THREE MONTHS, SIX MONTHS, MAYBE A YEAR. BUT BOY, THOSE KEY DATA WILL STILL BE OUT THERE FOR STEALING OUR IDENTITY NEXT YEAR, AND FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, AND TEN YEARS FROM NOW AND 20 YEARS FROM NOW. THIS IS A MASSIVE FRAUD ON THE AMERICAN CONSUMER. AND IT IS NOT ENOUGH SIMPLY TO SAY, OH THERE'S GOING TO BE A FINE IMPOSED ON THE COMPANY AND SHAREHOLDERS ARE GONNA PAY A LITTLE MONEY. WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE OVERSIGHT IN GENERAL OF THESE CREDIT REPORTING COMPANIES, BUT WE ALSO NEED SOME ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE EXECUTIVES THEMSELVES. TRUE AT EQUIFAX, TRUE WELLS FARGO IN MY VIEW.
CRAMER: LET'S TALK ABOUT WELLS FARGO.
WARREN: LET'S DO.
CRAMER: WE HAVE AN ORGANIZATION IN THIS COUNTRY. IT'S CALLED THE FEDERAL RESERVE. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE MONITORING THESE THING FOR US, IS WELLS FARGO BIGGER THAN THE FEDERAL RESERVE?
WARREN: THERE IS WHAT GETS ME. WE KNOW THE FEDERAL RESERVE COULD REMOVE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WELLS FARGO. I HAD JANET YELLEN IN A HEARING VERY RECENTLY AND CHAIR YELLEN SAID YES, SHE ACKNOWLEDGED THE FED HAS THE POWER TO DO THAT, AND LOOK, JANET YELLEN IS SOMEBODY WHO'S GOTTEN OUT THERE AND TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING CONSUMERS, ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF AN ECONOMY THAT WORKS WELL, NOT FOR JUST THOSE AT THE TOP BUT FOR THE REST OF AMERICA. WELL THIS IS FEDS CHANCE TO STEP UP AND SAY WHETHER YOU CHEAT CONSUMERS, WHEN YOU OPEN FAKE ACCOUNTS, WHEN YOU FORCE INSURANCE ON THEM THEY DON'T NEED, WHEN YOU CHARGE THEM MONEY THEY DON'T OWE, THENWE IN THE FEDERAL RESERVE ARE GOING TO SAY, THOSE WHO ARE IN CHARGE AND ARE RESPONSIBLE ARE GONE WE CANT TRUST YOU TO RUN A COMPANY OF THIS SIZE. I REALLY WANT TO SEE THE FEDS STEP UP HERE. THE FED HAS THE POWER TO DO IT, THEY NEED TO STEP UP AND DO IT.
CRAMER: NOW, THIS IS NOT A REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC ISSUE.
WARREN: NOPE.
CRAMER: THIS 3 MILLION WE THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY 1 MILLION PEOPLE. 3 MILLION ACCOUNTS THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY 1 MILLION ACCOUNTS. IS IT NECESSARY TO PUT A SPECIAL MASTER ON THE BOARD OF WELLS FARGO TO CHANGE THAT CULTURE?
WARREN: YOU KNOW, LET ME START BY SAYING, HOW ABOUT WE GET RID OF EVERYBODY WHO WAS THERE IN CHARGE WHEN IT HAPPENED? THAT'S GOING TO SEND A PRETTY IMPORTANT SIGNAL TO WELLS. BUT I THINK YOU RAISED THE RIGHT QUESTION, JIM. SO WHO DOES GO ON? HOW IS IT THAT WELLS FARGO ORGANIZES ITSELF IN A WAY THAT BRINGS ANY CREDIBILITY TO THE IDEA THAT THEY ACTUALLY ARE FOLLOWING THE LAW? CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT THAT IS OUR STANDARD NOW? THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, JUST DON'T BREAK THE LAW, DON'T CHEAT PEOPLE AND DEFRAUD PEOPLE. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR HERE WERE ASKING WELLS FARGO TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO REASSURE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS THAT HAVE OVERSIGHT THAT THAT IS SO. WE CAN START THERE BY HOLDING THE PEOPLE AT WELLS FARGO WHO WERE THERE WHEN THIS HAPPENED WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE AND GETTING THEM OUT OF THOSE JOBS.
CRAMER: WERE YOU SURPRISED AT THE INCREDIBLY LONG SHEARMAN STERLING REPORT THAT IS REALLY JUST FELL DOWN ON ONE PERSON CARRIE TOLSTEDT AND EVERYONE ELSE GOT A PASS?
WARREN: YEAH, COME ON. ALTHOUGH EVEN WHEN YOU READ THROUGH THAT REPORT, NOT WITHSTANDING THAT THEY WANT TO MAKE IT ALL ABOUT ONE PERSON. YOU READ THAT REPORT AND THAT REPORT IDENTIFIES ONE SYSTEMIC FAILURE AFTER ANOTHER. AND ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND WITH WELLS FARGO, THIS WAS NOT WELLS FARGO'S FIRST RODEO ON THIS. WELLS FARGO, FOUR YEARS EARLIER HAD ALREADY ADMITTED THAT IT HAD SET UP COMPENSATION'S THEMES FOR ITS EMPLOYEES THAT FORCED THESE EMPLOYEES TO GO OUT AND ENCOURAGED THESE EMPLOYEES TO GO OUT AND SELL PREDATORY MORTGAGES, PRINCIPALLY IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOODS AND LATINO NEIGHBORHOODS. WELLS FARGO PAID A FINE FOR THAT AND SAID WE'RE CLEANING UP OUR ACT. WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE HOW RESUPERVISE, WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE HOW DEAL WITH OUR EMPLOYEES SO NOTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS AGAIN. NOTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, AT THE SAME TIME THEYRE STARTING TO OPEN THE FAKE ACCOUNTS AND THEIR SQUEEZING THEIR LOW-LEVEL EMPLOYEES TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN AND THEN SINCE THIS FIRST CAME OUT THAT WELLS FARGO HAD OPENED ALL THESE FAKE ACCOUNTS, AND JOHN STUMPF SAT IN FRONT OF THE BANKING COMMITTEE AND SAID, THIS IS IT, IT'S ALL IN A BOX, THIS IS THE ONLY PROBLEM WE'VE GOT, EVERYTHING ELSE IS WORKING WELL, RIGHT. HE SAID THAT AND THEN IT TURNS AROUND, NO ACTUALLY THAT'S NOT SO THEY HAVE A PROBLEM ON THEIR AUTO LOANS, THEY HAVE A PROBLEM HOME MORTGAGES, AND THEN THEY HAD EVEN MORE FAKE ACCOUNTS THAN THEY HAD ORIGINALLY ADMITTED TO. THIS IS A COMPANY THAT FROM THE VERY TOP HAS MADE IT CLEAR, THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY HERE, THIS IS NOT ABOUT SERVING CONSUMERS. THIS IS ALL ABOUT QUARTER BY QUARTER BY QUARTER, HOW TO JUICE THE REPORTED PROFITS. THAT THAT'S WHAT MATTERED AT WELLS FARGO. IF THEY HAD TO STEP ON YOU KNOW, A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND FAMILIES, A FEW MILLION FAMILIES IN ORDER TO GET THERE, WELL THEN THAT WAS A PRICE WELLS FARGO WAS WILLING TO PAY AND NOT THE FEDERAL RESERVE SHOULD GO ALONG WITH.
CRAMER: WELL SENATOR I HOPE THAT YOU'LL COME BACK WHEN WE GET SOME SORT OF JUSTICE HERE, 'CAUSE RIGHT NOW IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S JUST YOU AND ME TALKING.
WARREN: WELL, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT UP THOUGH.
CRAMER: ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WARREN: TAKE CARE.
CRAMER: THAT'S ELIZABETH WARREN, UNITED STATES SENATOR OF MASSACHUSETTS. GOOD TO SEE YOU MA'AM, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WARREN: GOOD TO SEE YOU.
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CNBC's Jim Cramer said Wednesday that Sen. Elizabeth Warren is "dead right" when she says Equifax executives will likely get away unscathed for the credit reporting company's data breach.
In an interview Tuesday on "Mad Money," Warren said: "So long as there is no personal responsibility when these big companies breach consumers' trust, let their data get stolen, cheat their consumers, like they did in the case of Wells Fargo , then nothing is going to change."
The Massachusetts Democrat continued to say that if the U.S. wants change, then it has to hold corporate executives accountable, "period."
"I think she's dead right," Cramer said Wednesday on "Squawk on the Street." "I can't believe they're going to get away with this."
"I think Equifax keeps their head down, they get away with it," he added. "I asked (Warren) to bring the board for some hearings. She would like to do that."
Cramer has been a critic of Equifax since the company revealed on Sept. 7 that a data hack could potentially affect 143 million consumers in the U.S. Last week, Cramer said Equifax Chief Executive Richard Smith "should be fired" for the fallout.
He's also critiqued the board, saying: "This is a company that seems to have no knowledge of what's really going on."
On Tuesday, Warren also spoke about Wells Fargo's accounts scandal. She said the Federal Reserve has the chance to "step up" to remove the company's board in response to the scandal.
Cramer agreed on Wednesday and hoped someone would ask Fed Chair Janet Yellen about Wells Fargo at the central bank's monetary policy meeting this week.
Equifax and Wells Fargo did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Kim Jong-un sent another chilling message to the civilized world with his ICBM launch on Friday, the longest yet and the second to pass over Japan. That prompted international condemnation and a chorus of calls for the Trump administration to put more pressure on China to rein in its longtime ally in Pyongyang (although Beijing did denounce the launch).
But it's increasingly clear we may be forgetting another culprit behind North Korea's missiles, namely Moscow starting with the engines that power them.
The key clue came back with North Korea's first test launch of its newest ICBM, back on July 28. "It shocked me," former Pentagon consultant Michael Elleman told the Washington Post after seeing the video. "It seemed to come out of nowhere."
More from National Review:
Worry about Kim Jong-un, not Trump
No good options in North Korea?
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Not only did the new missile, the Hwasong-14, give the regime for the first time a missile capable of striking most of the U.S. and Canada; Elleman also noticed that its liquid-fuel engines are very similar to a 1960s-era Soviet missile called RD-250. How did the North Koreans make these advances so quickly?
They may be getting direct help from Vladimir Putin.
Ties between Moscow and Pyongyang go back to the earliest days of the Cold War. Soviet T-34's spearheaded Kim's grandfather's invasion of South Korea in 1950. Yet while the international concern about North Korea's missile and nuclear programs have led almost every other country to distance themselves from the Pyongyang regime, Moscow has discreetly increased its ties. Russian imports are an important support for the North Korean economy; in 2014 Putin canceled 90 percent of the DPRK's $11 billion debt to Russia; and when China halted its energy exports to North Korea, Putin stepped into the gap.
Russian support for Pyongyang has long included propping up its nuclear program with technical cooperation, including letting North Korean nuclear scientists work at Russian nuclear sites and its scientific academies as recently as 2015.
Now Moscow may be giving Kim's missile program a more substantial boost.
When Pyongyang began the latest battery of tests of missiles last May, Russia launched a new ferry service from the Russian port city of Vladivostok to the North Korean port of Rajin again, a strange thing to do when the rest of the world was shutting down contact with the Hermit Kingdom. The ferry Mon Gyong Bong is billed as a cargo and passenger venture and is operated by a Russian-owned company based in North Korea. All the same, Rajin is only twelve hours drive from Kusong, the site of North Korea's IRBM on May 14. On July 4, barely a month after the ferry began service, North Korea launched the second of its unexpectedly sophisticated missile launches. In fact, the more trips the Mon Gyong Bong made, the faster North Korea's nuclear-missile program grew.
For example, the Vladivostok-to-Rajin ferry shuttled unknown cargos on at least nine round trips until July 14, when Russian customs officials suddenly announced they were detaining the Mon Gyong Bong for 16 hours on suspicion it might be carrying cargo for North Korea's military. The ferry was released the next day; no one knows if any cargo was taken off, or if any additional cargo was put on.
Then 13 days later, North Korea shocked the world again with its Hwasong-14 ICBM, powered by what Elleman and other analysts concluded looked like Soviet-made RD-250 rocket engines. "It appears that they sourced that engine from a foreign entity and they have successfully incorporated that engine into their missiles," said Elleman. A story in the New York Times said that the foreign entity might be Ukraine, which used to make RD-250s during the Soviet era. Ukraine's State Space Agency, however, is adamant that the Ukrainian-made RD-250s of the kind used in the July 28 test were sent to Russia for its Tsyklon space rockets by the hundreds while Ukraine itself has been a staunch supporter of sanctions against North Korea.
To deepen the mystery, U.S. intelligence agencies believe North Korea has the capacity to manufacture its own liquid-fuel rocket engines without Russian help. Nonetheless, the speed with which Kim was able to ramp up his missile program this summer still leaves serious questions about Russia and the Mon Gyong Bong.
In their 2014 book North Korea: The Politics of Regime Survival, Young Whan Kihl and Hong Nack Kim noted that "some restricted arm and weapons material have reached North Korea from Russia. . . . Russian companies have been among the suppliers of North Korea's nuclear program." Now Putin may be covertly supplying its missile program as well.
The key question is why Putin would exacerbate an already crisis-level situation on the Korean peninsula. The answer may be the same as to why Putin has embroiled Russia in Syria: as a way to disrupt and distract the West, especially the United States, and to make Kim Jong-un a Putin client like Syria's Assad, a dictator who becomes completely dependent on Moscow for his regional status, even his survival, and will do Moscow's bidding.
As I've noted in my previous articles for NRO, the best short-term solution to the North Korean missile threat is intercepting an attack with a high-altitude, long-endurance UAV armed with interceptor missiles. However, because of missile trajectories, if a UAV shoots down a nuclear-armed ICBM headed for the U.S. in its boost phase, the debris will almost certainly fall on Russian territory.
If that happens, it seems Putin will have no one to blame but himself.
Commentary by Arthur Herman, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and the author of Douglas MacArthur: American Warrior. Follow him on Twitter @ArthurLHerman.
For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.
2017 National Review. Used with permission.
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A group of real estate agents who colluded to push up local fees in southwest England has been fined 370,084 ($500,620) by national competition authorities after incriminating emails were uncovered detailing the cartel's illegal plans. The six agents were all based in the Burnham-on-Sea area in the county of Somerset and had agreed in a meeting to fix their minimum commission rates at 1.5 percent in order to avoid the possibility of clients negotiating a better deal when undertaking local property transactions. The ultimate aim of these actions was to drive up profits for all firms involved. The U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) told CNBC via email on Tuesday that given it is the second time it has had to take enforcement action against real estate businesses in recent years, there is a clear suggestion of "low levels of competition law awareness" in the sector.
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"This is why we have on each occasion followed up our enforcement action with a targeted compliance campaign to raise awareness of competition law. Indeed, our recent case started as a result of information provided to us following our earlier campaign, so hopefully our message is getting through," said Stephen Blake, senior director in cartels and criminal enforcement at the CMA. Blake was alluding to the help of a sixth estate agent in uncovering the collusion. This agent was not among the five fined given that it was the first to confess participation in the cartel to the CMA and thereafter cooperated with the latter's investigation. "The CMA has a leniency program under which cartelists can confess their involvement in cartel behavior and cooperate with the CMA in exchange for a reduction in fines or, in some cases, complete immunity. Around half of our cartel cases come to us this way," noted the competition specialist.
Oli Scarff | Getty Images
In this case, the black-and-white evidence against the cartel was revealed in the form of damaging email communications which included statements such as "with a bit of talking and cooperation between us, we all win!", according to a press release from the CMA. The emails also disclosed that "the aim of the meeting will be to drive the fee level up to 1.5 percent" and "it's really important we all give it the priority it deserves (making as much profit as possible!)." However, Blake emphasized that in the pursuit of cartels, the CMA does not rely on uncovering emails alone. "We also carry out our own intelligence work, usually on the basis of information provided to our dedicated cartels hotline. This will often be from members of the public who are not directly involved in the cartel but are concerned about what they have seen or heard," he confirmed. "We have an informant rewards program to try and encourage calls to the hotline and recently ran a social media stop cartels campaign to promote both the hotline and our leniency policy," added Blake.
Rescuers searched through the rubble of collapsed schools, homes and apartment buildings early this morning after Mexico's deadliest earthquake since 1985 killed at least 217 people. The quake struck around 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday and had a magnitude of 7.1, the U.S. Geological Survey said. (NBC News)
*Images of devastation from the Mexico City earthquake (CNBC)
Hurricane Maria has weakened to a Category 4 hurricane but remains "extremely dangerous" and is expected to retain this intensity until it makes landfall in Puerto Rico in a couple of hours, the National Hurricane Center said. (Reuters)
President Trump is using money donated to his re-election campaign and the Republican National Committee to pay for his lawyers in the probe of alleged Russian interference in the U.S. election, Reuters has learned. (Reuters)
Vice President Mike Pence says the administration fully supports a last-ditch Senate bill to gut and replace Obamacare but 10 governors of both parties immediately afterward called on Senate leaders to not even consider that legislation. (CNBC)
Officials and pundits across Asia struggled to parse Trump's vow Tuesday at the U.N. General Assembly to "totally destroy North Korea" if provoked. In a region well used to Pyongyang's pursuit of nuclear weapons, Trump's comments stood out. (AP)
*North Korea ambassador walks out of UN assembly in boycott of Trump's speech (CNBC)
Republican lawmakers have agreed to move forward on a budget that would add to the federal deficit in order to pave the way for a $1.5 trillion tax cut over the next 10 years. (NY Times)
Sen. Elizabeth Warren again urged the Federal Reserve to remove Wells Fargo's board in response to the bank's fake account scandal. The Massachusetts Democrat contended that the central bank has a chance to "step up" and prove it cares about protecting consumers. (CNBC's Mad Money)
Wal-Mart, Target, and PepsiCo joined an expanded group of nearly 800 companies calling in a letter for U.S. legislation to protect immigrants brought into the country illegally by their parents from deportation, according to organizer FWD.us. (Reuters)
*Trump administration red tape tangles up visas for skilled foreigners, data shows (Reuters)
Amazon is growing its partnership with department store chain Kohl's. Kohl's said it will begin accepting Amazon.com returns at certain U.S. locations. The retailer will pack and ship eligible items back to an Amazon fulfillment center for free. (CNBC)
Uber, which is the subject of a federal probe into whether it broke bribery laws, has started a review of its Asia operations and notified authorities about payments made by staff to police officers in Indonesia, Reuters has learned. (Reuters)
"All politics is local," like the law of gravity, usually overpowers opposing forces. On repealing Obamacare, Republicans are testing it one more time.
With special rules preventing a Democratic filibuster set to expire in 10 days, President Donald Trump and the GOP-led Congress aim to quickly pass the bill sponsored by Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. Like earlier failed attempts to replace Obamacare, it would sharply cut federal health spending and leave millions fewer Americans with insurance.
But Graham-Cassidy, through its formula for allocating that shrinking federal pie, makes unusually vivid trade-offs between states that win and lose in the process. To pass it, GOP leaders will need the votes of Republican senators whose states will receive less money so that other states can receive more.
The biggest reason is that the bill repeals Obamacare's expansion of Medicaid. Under the expansion, the 31 states plus the District of Columbia that have been willing to cover more people under Medicaid got a large chunk of federal money to do so. Graham-Cassidy takes that money back, throws it into a giant federal pot with other current Obamacare subsidies, and then distributes it among all states in the form of block grants.
The result: All 16 states that would get more health-care money in 2026 than under Obamacare are states that have declined to expand Medicaid, according to calculations by the health-care consulting firm Avalere. Of the 27 Republican senators representing those states, none has yet signaled opposition to the bill.
To pass Graham-Cassidy, however, Republicans need 23 more votes from among the 25 GOP senators representing states that would get less money. That won't be easy.
Two "yes" votes will come from Cassidy and co-sponsor Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada. They are defying opposition from Louisiana's health secretary and Nevada's governor, who fear the bill would harm their states.
Yet others aren't so willing. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, which Avalere calculates would receive $5 billion less in 2026, has announced his opposition; the staunch conservative explained that Graham-Cassidy doesn't do enough to get rid of Obamacare. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, which would get $1 billion less, has signaled her likely "no" vote.
With all Democrats opposed, that means one additional Republican defection would sink the bill. The Republican-controlled state that would lose the most is Arizona, which would get $11 billion less in 2026.
That turns up the heat on Arizona Sens. John McCain, whose opposition sank the previous Obamacare repeal effort, and Jeff Flake, who voted for the last bill. Arizona's Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, by endorsing Graham-Cassidy, has made it easier for them to vote "yes."
Other Republican governors from states that would lose ground have not been so accommodating. Gov. Bill Walker of Alaska, which would lose $1 billion, has joined a bipartisan group of governors in opposition. That increases pressure on Alaska's GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski, who also opposed the earlier Obamacare repeal, and Dan Sullivan.
So did Gov. John Kasich of Ohio, which would lose $9 billion. That makes it harder for wavering GOP Sen. Rob Portman to vote yes. Other loser states with Republican senators include Florida ($4 billion), Arkansas ($6 billion), Pennsylvania ($6 billion), and West Virginia ($1 billion).
In the end, undecided Republican senators could look past the impacts on their own states and vote with their party to avoid backlash from core supporters over a broken promise on Obamacare repeal. Trump has supported each iteration of the repeal effort even though the loss of health benefits would disproportionately harm his white working-class base.
But more often than not home-state interests prove decisive. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas once burnished his reputation as an ideologically pristine champion of fiscal conservatism by opposing legislation aiding victims of Superstorm Sandy. He reversed course in recent weeks after Hurricane Harvey ravaged Texas.
Moreover, Cruz has broken with his normal ideological ally, Paul, to support Graham-Cassidy. According to Avalere, Texas would receive $35 billion more federal money in 2026 under the law, making it the biggest winner of any state.
Correction: This article was updated to reflect how Sen. Jeff Flake voted on the previous Obamacare repeal effort.
Cybersecurity, health of the global economy, energy price shock and terrorist attacks are some of the top risks that concern businesses and may threaten their ability to operate, according to results from a new survey by the World Economic Forum (WEF) published Wednesday. The survey, conducted annually by the WEF's strategic partners Marsh & McLennan Companies and Zurich Insurance Group, highlighted the following ten risks that businesses are presently concerned about: Unemployment and underemployment Fiscal crises Failure of national governance Energy price shock Profound social instability Failure of financial mechanism or institution Failure of critical infrastructure Cyber attacks Inter-state conflict Terrorist attacks While concerns about the overall health of the global economy continue to dominate the list, the report found concerns around cybersecurity risks rising in importance. "Business leaders in many of world's largest economies now rank cyber as their top risk," John Drzik, president of Marsh Global Risk & Digital, said in a press statement. "Companies need to rigorously analyze how these threats could impact their operations and take appropriate risk mitigation and resiliency measures."
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Results from the survey found that respondents across North America, East Asia and Pacific regions were most concerned by cyber attacks and asset bubbles. Meanwhile, unemployment, fiscal crises and the failure of a nation's government to provide stability are the top three risks facing businesses globally, The data from the Executive Opinion Survey (EOS) survey, drawn from over 12,411 executives across 136 countries was conducted earlier this year between February and June. The survey asked respondents to identify the five biggest risks to doing business in their respective countries. The risks identified were spread across economic, geopolitical, social and technological areas that could impact the functioning of corporates over the next 10 years. Some of the other risks identified by the respondents included energy price shock, profound social instability, failure of financial mechanism or institution, failure of critical infrastructure, inter-state conflict and terrorist attacks.
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Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, who reportedly took five separate private jet flights for government business last week, once slammed Congress for authorizing funding for private planes.
Price, a fiscal conservative who has long pledged spending discipline, took the flights at an estimated cost of at least $60,000, according to Politico. The travel included an estimated $25,000 round trip from Washington to nearby Philadelphia.
The two HHS secretaries who served prior to Price took commercial flights while in the continental United States, the news outlet said.
Price had a very different outlook on government spending for private planes while serving as a congressman from Georgia. In a 2009 CNBC interview, he criticized House Democrats for trying to spend $550 million on eight passenger jets.
He said a scaled-back request of $220 million for four jets also went too far.
"I think we've made it halfway of where we ought to and that is cut it from eight to four jets," Price said at the time. "Now we need to cut it from four jets to zero jets. This is just another example of fiscal irresponsibility run amok in Congress right now."
The House Financial Services Committee is seeking information about trading in Equifax options nearly three weeks before the credit reporting company disclosed a massive data breach, a source familiar with the inquiry told CNBC.
A lawyer for the committee has reached out to traders, looking for a possible explanation for the spike in options trading on Aug. 21, weeks after Equifax discovered the breach internally in late July but before it publicly disclosed it.
News of the breach, which compromised personal information for up to 143 million people, has sliced more than 34 percent off Equifax's share price this month.
On Wednesday afternoon, Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen said it was "a very serious" data breach. "We would really urge consumers now to be careful in monitoring their credit reports and financial situation."
Yellen added, "We're working with the banks to supervise, to make sure, to take appropriate actions with respect to their business processes."
The trading in Equifax options in August was unusual given how lightly they trade normally. And the size of the trade could have generated millions in profit.
On Aug. 21, 10 times as many Equifax options were bought than in the entire month of July. On that day, 2,600 contracts, representing the right to sell 260,000 shares of Equifax at $135 each in September, were bought for 60 cents to 70 cents each. At the time, Equifax shares traded around $140.
The lawyer for the committee, which is chaired by Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, has asked whether that size of trade is normal, where the options traded, and what types of traders would be active in the type of transaction in question, according to the source familiar with the inquiry.
The options would pay if Equifax shares fell below $135 in September, which is exactly what happened. Once the breach was disclosed on Sept. 7, the shares sank. At Tuesday's $93.47 closing price, the profit on the options trade would be more than $10 million.
The number of inquiries and formal investigations into Equifax and its handling of the breach and its disclosure continue to mount. On Tuesday, Massachusetts filed a lawsuit saying Equifax didn't properly protect the consumer data under its control, and several other states continue to investigate. The Federal Trade Commission has also confirmed it is investigating.
Federal prosecutors in Atlanta, where Equifax is based, are also looking into the matter. "The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is working with the FBI to conduct a criminal investigation into the Equifax breach and resulting theft of personal information," said U.S. Attorney John Horn in a statement. The office wouldn't comment further.
In addition to the data breach itself, stock sales by three Equifax executives have come under scrutiny. The executives, including Equifax's chief financial officer, sold $1.8 million of stock just days after the breach was detected internally, though a spokesperson for Equifax has said they weren't aware of the incident at the time of the sales.
The Senate Finance Committee has already asked for additional information from Equifax about the breach and the timing of the insider stock sales.
Mike Lindell says there aren't many crack addicts who've become successful, but he's one of them. "It can be done, people," he laughed. The self-made multimillionaire and infomercial superstar created the MyPillow empire from scratch in 2004. He did it while addicted to drugs. "People say all the time that's one of the biggest miracles ever." He's been clean and sober for over eight years, but his path from rags to riches and almost back to rags is an amazing American success story. It is also one long, strange trip.
MyPillow founder and CEO Mike Lindell. Courtesy Jeniece Pettitt | CNBC
From college dropout to aspiring entrepreneur
MyPillow is located in Lindell's hometown of Chaska, Minnesota, outside Minneapolis, a place he's always stayed close to. Back in 1979, "I went to the U of M (University of Minnesota) for one quarter, and I was working two jobs," he said. "I felt like I was just wasting my time." He quit school and continued working both jobs, including one at a grocery store. "I actually got fired at the grocery store," Lindell said. He clashed with the manager, but he believes the manager sparked his entrepreneurial spirit. "He says, 'Well, Mike, if you don't like it here, maybe get your own company someday.'" Lindell did, but only after several failures. Hey, guess what??? "Strange Success" is now a podcast! From doomsday bunkers to MyPillow and guacamole gadgets (stay tuned -- that episode is coming up Jan. 31), you will learn about a whole lot of strange successes by subscribing to the podcast. You can listen to it free on Apple podcasts! Click here to get started. In the '80s, Lindell tried to make money in a variety of ways. He started a carpet cleaning business after his sister's apartment became flooded. "I said, 'Wow, this would be a good business,' and I wasn't doing anything." Then he tried to make money as a professional card counter in Las Vegas. It didn't always go well. "I remember being at one of the big casinos," Lindell recalled. He thought the dealer was cheating him. Outraged, the then 22-year-old kid from Minnesota called over the pit bosses. "I said, 'He's second dealing me! He's second dealing me!' And I'm thinking this guy is in trouble." Lindell was wrong. "They came around the table and picked me up and literally threw me through the front door." Lindell's other zany business ventures included trying to raise pigs. That went south when the pigs broke out of the pen he had set up in a residential area. Then "the hog market collapsed and I lost everything," he says. That was followed by a lunch wagon business he started after hearing how successful they were in California. "We didn't have nothing like that on this side of the Twin Cities." Lindell bought a lunch wagon and went to the biggest business in town, forcing his way in to see the boss and promising free sandwiches for everyone during a one-week trial. The boss gave the go-ahead. "He liked that entrepreneurial spirit." Eventually, though, Lindell started working as a bartender, and then buying a bar. "Probably wasn't a real good idea because I was an addict at the time, a pretty hard-core cocaine addict." More on that in a minute.
MyPillow has sold 30 million pillows Jeniece Pettitt | CNBC
MyPillow appears in a dream
All his life, Lindell had trouble sleeping and never liked his pillow. "I was 16 years old at the Supervalu Store in Chaska, Minnesota, working as a bag boy, and with one of my checks I went out and bought a $70 pillow in 1977," he said. "Who does that as a teenager?" In 2004 the idea for MyPillow, a pillow that would hold its shape, came to him in a dream. "I got up in the middle of the night it was about 2 in the morning and I had 'My Pillow' written everywhere in the kitchen and all over the house." One of his daughters came upstairs to get a glass of water and asked, "What are you doing, Dad?" Lindell said he told her, "I've got this idea for this pillow. It's gonna be called MyPillow. What do you think about it?" Her reaction still makes him laugh. "She goes, 'That's really random,' and she went back downstairs." Lindell dove in to the project, convinced the dream came from God. He and his son, Darren, spent hours cutting up foam and testing configurations before they came up with a pillow that would hold its shape. Lindell taught himself how to sew "I didn't know how to thread the bobbin" and he converted an old hammer mill to cut up the foam. Eventually, Lindell had made several dozen pillows, and he went to the local Bed, Bath and Beyond. "I said, 'I have the best pillow in the world. How many would you like?' And they were like, 'OK, you need to leave.'" A relative suggested Lindell set up a kiosk in the mall. "I said, 'What's a kiosk, and how do you spell that?'" He borrowed $15,000 to set up a kiosk during Christmas, but sold only 80 pillows. However, one buyer was a man who ran a local home show in Minneapolis. Lindell said the man was so impressed with the pillow, he invited Lindell to come to the next show. That's when sales started to take off. "We sold out."
CEO Mike Lindell was on crack for years when he came up with the idea for MyPillow Jeniece Pettitt | CNBC
Hitting rock bottom
The pillow project kept Lindell's cocaine addiction at bay, but it never went away entirely. "And then I got into crack cocaine," he admits. During this time, Lindell's marriage broke up, he lost his house, and he almost lost his business. In March 2008, Lindell said, he was awake for at least two weeks doing crack. He tells an incredible story about his dealer, Lee, who put the word out on the street that no one was to sell Lindell any more drugs until he got some sleep. Still, Lindell tried to score that night after Lee fell asleep, but no one would sell him even a single rock. "One of the guys said, 'You're our only hope.'" When Lindell returned to his dealer's apartment, Lee was awake. "He goes, 'Give me your phone. I'm going to take a picture. You're going to need this for your book.'" Lindell still has the picture. He looks haggard and disheveled. It will be on the cover of his upcoming autobiography. Even after all that, it would take another 10 months for Lindell to really hit bottom. On Jan. 16, 2009, "I had one prayer that night," he said. "God, I want to wake up in the morning and never have the desire again." Lindell was convinced that God had bigger plans for him, because his business was starting to do well. "I woke up the next day and you've got to realize this is years of crack addiction I go, 'Wow, something's different.'" He said that was the beginning of his sobriety. His desire for any form of cocaine "was just gone."
MyPillow founder Mike Lindell said he has spent $100 million on infomercials SOURCE: MyPillow
A new start in infomercials
By 2011, MyPillow was getting some media attention. A local newspaper profiled Lindell and the company. The day the story came out, he was back in Vegas making some money at the card table. Lindell always had his phone set to ding every time an order came in. Suddenly, there was a ding, and the dealer asked him about it. "I said, 'My dream is to have (my phone) ding so much I'll have to turn it off.'" At that moment, the phone started dinging like crazy. "I still get goose bumps when I talk about it," Lindell said. "I sold more pillows that day than I had in probably the whole half a year combined." Soon Lindell started taking out print ads telling his story, and then he had another dream: Make an infomercial. But even that endeavor had its own strange path to success. The night before the first taping, the producers discovered Lindell wasn't good at reading a script. "So we just went live the next morning with no teleprompter ... and I just ad libbed it." It apparently worked. "By the end of the year, we went from five employees to 500." The company now has close to 1,500 employees, many of whom have his personal cellphone number in case something goes wrong. Over the last six years, Lindell estimates he's spent $100 million on infomercials. The results? He's sold 30 million pillows, and revenues have grown from around $100,000 a year to close to $300 million.
MyPillow pillow-making machine in Chaska, Minnesota Jeniece Pettitt | CNBC
Battling critics
Lindell's dream come true has had a couple of nightmares in the last year. First, California authorities sued the company for making unsubstantiated health claims. Lindell said he settled rather than go to court. "They would have run me out of money." The settlement has forced him to redo advertising, and it caused a pause in sales that led to layoffs in the spring. He insists business is back on track. Then the Better Business Bureau revoked MyPillow's A+ grade, turning it into an F. The reason? The company's never-ending 2-for-1 price "deal," which goes against BBB standards because Lindell is manufacturing his own product and is therefore his own wholesaler. "Everyone thought it was political, which I still believe it is." Political, perhaps, because Lindell was an early supporter of Donald Trump, and that support has not wavered. Trump asked to meet Lindell last summer, and the president highlighted MyPillow as a great example of manufacturing jobs in the United States. Lindell was even invited to the White House and sat next to Trump at a "Made in America" event. Lindell was impressed. "This guy is going to be the most amazing president in history."
Lessons learned
Local resident Vishnu Obregon in the Brickell neighborhood as Hurricane Irma passes Miami, Florida, U.S. September 10, 2017.
Homeowners affected by Hurricanes Irma and Harvey have already absorbed a body blow from damaged homes and lost possessions.
Now, they're bracing for another: repair scams.
After weather calamities, fraudsters also known as "storm chasers" exploit the severe strain on insurance companies. In affected cities, like Houston, due to the extent of damage, insurers have had to recruit independent claims adjusters, some from out of state. This gives scammers an opportunity to sell themselves to unsuspecting homeowners.
The overall bill will be steep: The cost of Irma and Harvey will range between $150 billion to $200 billion, including property damage and lost output.
While filing insurance claims, consumers should keep detailed records of communications, and be wary of potential scammers.
"If you find yourself in a situation where you signed the dotted line without checking with your insurance company first, give them a call," Chris Hackett, senior director at the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, told CNBC.
Regulators are scrutinizing the new red-hot fundraising trend in which start-ups and blockchain companies bring in millions of dollars by issuing virtual tokens to investors in exchange for money.
But one Japanese billionaire investor thinks that, with time, the so-called initial coin offerings (ICOs) will become one of the "greatest major methods" for start-ups to raise funds in the future.
Taizo Son is a serial entrepreneur and CEO at Mistletoe, which is a venture capital firm that is also part accelerator and part incubator. Son is the younger brother of SoftBank founder and Japan's richest man Masayoshi Son.
He told CNBC at the sidelines of the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology that ICOs are a new way for early-stage companies, and even some non-profit organizations, to get funded.
ICOs are "very good because they democratize venture financing for not only professionals like venture capitalists, but also individuals can participate in exciting projects from start-ups to support," Son said.
That method of fundraising has increasingly caught the attention of regulators. Earlier this month, China brought the cryptocurrency market to a halt by banning new ICOs as a way for companies to raise capital. Meanwhile, regulators in the United States, Japan and Singapore are studying potential oversight.
The way ICOs work is fairly straightforward: Companies create and issue digital tokens that can be used to pay for goods and services on their platform or can be stashed away as an investment. They put out whitepapers describing the platform, software or product they're trying to build, and then people buy those tokens using widely-accepted cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ether.
Start-ups have raised more than a billion dollars this year in coin sales, and have surpassed early-stage VC funding. Some in the industry describe ICOs as uncontrolled experiments they are necessary for innovation, but they need a lot of debugging to work properly.
Unlike Mark Zuckerberg and various other tech and business moguls, former Vice President Joe Biden rejects the idea of giving Americans free cash handouts, an idea also known as universal basic income.
"There is a better way forward," he argues in a blog post on the University of Delaware's website.
UBI would guarantee citizens regular payments from the government, regardless of employment status, wealth or age. That could help make up for the loss of jobs to robots, for example, since a study from Oxford University researchers predicts that 47 percent of U.S. jobs could be replaced by automated technology in the next 10 to 20 years.
That's also why Elon Musk, founder and chief executive officer of SolarCity, SpaceX and Tesla, believes that cash handouts may be inevitable. , Musk said: "There is a pretty good chance we end up with a universal basic income, or something like that, due to automation. I am not sure what else one would do. I think that is what would happen."
Other proponents of UBI approach it as a way to bolster citizens and help them take more chances. In a , Zuckerberg said societies should measure progress "not by economic metrics ... but by how many of us have a role we find meaningful. We should explore ideas like universal basic income to make sure everyone has a cushion to try new ideas."
We already knew that Paul Manafort was in a heap of trouble. It was almost two months ago July 26, to be precise that his Virginia residence was raided by the FBI in the predawn hours.
As I said at the time, prosecutors do not obtain warrants to toss the homes of people they regard as cooperating witnesses. When they are dealing with cooperators, prosecutors politely request that documents be produced, expecting the witness (and his lawyers) to comply. If some coercion is thought necessary, they will issue a grand-jury subpoena an enforceable directive to produce documents, but one that still allows the witness to hand over the materials, not have them forcibly seized. The execution of a search warrant, even if it goes smoothly, is a show of force. It is intimidating.
When we first learned of the raid, I also emphasized its timing: predawn. Under federal law, search warrants are supposed to be executed during daytime hours, when agents can be expected to knock on the door, announce their presence and purpose, and be admitted by the occupant of the premises. If investigators want to search a home before 6 a.m., they need permission. To get it, they have to convince the judge that, if the occupant were alerted to the agents' presence before they entered, it is likely he would destroy evidence or pose a danger.
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When I pointed that out, some said I was reading too much into it. To promote agent safety, they countered, the FBI proceeds in the early morning whenever possible. In fact, that is not always the case; and, in any event, the FBI's preference to proceed in "the early morning" (e.g., at 6 a.m.), is not the same thing as barging in even earlier for which, again, special permission is required. But now you needn't take my word for it. Assuming Monday's New York Times report is correct, the FBI entered covertly by picking the lock on Manafort's front door while he was sleeping. Clearly, that is not standard operating procedure certainly not in a white-collar case. Mueller's investigators wanted to start grabbing files and copying hard drives before Manafort had a chance to call his lawyers or impede the search in any way. It was their way of saying Manafort could not be trusted. That's intimidating, too.
In light of the latest revelations (which our David French has outlined well in a Corner post), I stand by what I said when news of the raid first surfaced:
There are two possible rationales for a search warrant under the circumstances. First, the legitimate rationale: Investigators in good faith believed Manafort, who is either a subject of or witness in their investigation, was likely to destroy rather than surrender relevant evidence. Second, the brass-knuckles rationale: The prosecutor is attempting to intimidate the witness or subject to say nothing of others who are similarly situated into volunteering everything he may know of an incriminating nature about people the prosecutor is targeting.
Note that these rationales are not mutually exclusive.
A few points are worth mulling over at this stage.
1. The current Manafort probe is a criminal investigation, which special counsel Mueller is pursuing with a grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia. The July search involved a regular criminal-law search warrant. By contrast, the prior surveillances of Manafort were counterintelligence investigations conducted by the Obama Justice Department and FBI with the assistance of the secret court created by the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Counterintelligence investigations are thus often called "FISA investigations" or "national-security investigations."
The difference, as we've pointed out several times, is significant. A criminal investigation is an effort to make a prosecutable case that a suspect has committed a crime. A FISA investigation is an effort to understand the actions and intentions of a foreign power by monitoring one of its suspected agents i.e., by eavesdropping on communications or conducting searches under FISA. Being a foreign agent is not a crime, per se; whether the relationship is criminal depends on the nature of the actions the operative takes (including whether he has disclosed his agency, as required by federal law). So in a FISA investigation, it is not necessary to show probable cause that a suspect has committed a crime in order to search his home or tap his phone; all that is needed is probable cause that he is acting as an agent of a foreign power.
According to CNN's latest revelations, the FISA surveillance took place in two phases: the first, from 2014 until sometime in early 2016; the second in late 2016 into early 2017. This suggests that they were probably two separate FISA investigations: Initially, I suspect Manafort was investigated as an agent of the Kremlin-backed Yanukovich faction in Ukraine (for which he had done political consulting work for many years, reportedly for millions of dollars); subsequently, Manafort was investigated as a suspected agent of Russia in connection with the Putin regime's meddling in the 2016 election. I am betting the probable-cause evidence was overwhelming in Phase I, and sketchy in Phase II.
While criminal and FISA investigations are critically different, they can also be closely related intelligence derived from FISA can incidentally bolster a criminal case, although the federal government is not permitted to use FISA as a ruse to conduct what is actually a criminal investigation. Mueller wants to prosecute Manafort, so criminal-law investigative tactics are now being used.
2. As I pointed out in the aforementioned column, the criminal search warrant executed at Manafort's home on July 26 would give us insight into what suspected crimes Mueller is investigating. There would have to have been a probable-cause showing of specific crimes before a judge authorized the warrant; and the warrant itself had to have described the evidence the agents expected to find. We still do not know what crimes are under investigation, because the Justice Department did not comply with a regulation that calls for it to provide a factual description of the criminal investigation the special counsel has been authorized to conduct. But Manafort has a good idea of what Mueller is after, because the agents were required by law to provide Manafort with a copy of the warrant and an inventory of what they seized. These have not been publicly revealed.
3. Prosecutors do not like it when other investigative bodies, including congressional committees, are trying to scrutinize the same matters they are probing. We should bear this in mind in considering the timing of the search warrant. Not only did Manafort meet with Senate Intelligence Committee investigators the day before the search; he was also scheduled to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the very day of the search. Indeed, by pouncing at the precise time Manafort was cooperating with Congress, Mueller's investigators were able to seize binders of documents that Manafort and his counsel had prepared to assist his Senate testimony.
After the early-morning raid, Manafort ended up not testifying before the Judiciary Committee. The committee's senior senators, chairman Charles Grassley (R., Iowa) and ranking member Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.), later issued a joint statement that their subpoena to Manafort had been withdrawn because he produced documents (reportedly over 300 pages' worth) to the committee. Obviously, though, Manafort would not have the same willingness to testify before Congress if he suddenly had reason to believe he was likely to be indicted (such that any testimony he gave could be used against him in a criminal case). The New York Times reports that Mueller's prosecutors have told Manafort they intend to indict him. That, too, is intimidating.
4. CNN claims that the first FISA surveillance of Manafort was shut down in 2016, after over a year, due to "lack of evidence." That is strange. Again, the point of FISA surveillance is not to build a criminal case but to gather intelligence about the foreign power for which the subject is allegedly acting as an agent. To say FISA surveillance was aborted for "lack of evidence" makes it sound like Manafort was not an agent for the Ukrainian faction after all. But we know he was: Not only is this common knowledge; he belatedly registered as a foreign agent.
It is more plausible that the first FISA surveillance was aborted because it was not turning up any useful intelligence about the Putin regime and its Ukrainian puppets. That implies that the Obama Justice Department and FBI concluded that Manafort was no longer an active foreign agent in early 2016 before he (briefly) joined the Trump campaign.
5. CNN elaborates that the second FISA surveillance, apparently begun in late 2016, "was part of the FBI's efforts to investigate ties between Trump campaign associates and suspected Russian operatives." This is not news: Months ago, we began discussing reports that there may have been FISA surveillance of Manafort and longtime Trump confidant (and Manafort partner) Roger Stone, as well as Carter Page, a tangential figure who was identified by the Trump campaign as a foreign-policy adviser but does not seem to have been much of one or to have much of a relationship with Donald Trump. CNN says it is "unclear" when the second FISA surveillance started, but that the FBI's interest in Manafort was rekindled "last fall because of intercepted communications between Manafort and suspected Russian operatives, and among the Russians themselves." This FISA counterintelligence investigation of Manafort is said to have included a search warrant, executed in early 2017 on a storage facility he controlled. Because this was a FISA search warrant, it is classified; there has been no leak (yet) about what the Obama Justice Department's application alleged and what the agents found.
Assuming these claims are true (and of that we cannot be sure), the timing of the surveillance and search would be of great importance. Was it before the November election, in the immediate aftermath of which President Obama said the Russians did not and could not rig it? Or was it later, when Democrats had settled on a narrative that Russia stole the election in collusion with the Trump campaign?
6. It has been reported that during the campaign's final weeks, the FBI was dealing with Christopher Steele, the former British spy retained to compile the so-called Trump dossier by the opposition research firm Fusion GPS. As the Washington Examiner's Byron York reports, the FBI and Justice Department have been stonewalling the House Intelligence Committee's efforts to find out whether any part of the dossier factored into in the Russia investigation. The dossier's allegations, which former FBI director James Comey has described as "salacious and unverified," were said to come from Steele's well-placed Russian sources, and the research effort was backed by wealthy Hillary Clinton supporters. So, the question naturally arises: Was any part of Steele's claims used by the FBI in applications to the FISA court for surveillance and searches of Manafort or other Trump associates?
7. On a parallel track with the 201617 FISA investigation, we also know that Obama's national-security team was involved in a startling amount of "unmasking" in intelligence reporting i.e., revealing the names of Americans who were incidentally caught up in foreign-intelligence-collection efforts targeting other people. Normally, unmasking just means that these identities get revealed in classified reports disseminated among intelligence agencies, not that they get revealed to the public. Yet, we now know that there was considerable leaking very likely by design. Thus, another obvious question: Was there correlation between (a) the intelligence generated by the FISA surveillance of Manafort and (b) the unmasking of people associated with the Trump campaign?
We should stress, of course, that if there was solid evidence of an espionage relationship between Manafort and the Kremlin, there would be nothing necessarily inappropriate in conducting surveillance and unmasking relevant American identities. The question is: Was there solid evidence?
8. Some Trump enthusiasts are suggesting that the latest revelations about the surveillance of Manafort "vindicate" the president in his March tweets, which accused his predecessor of tapping his phone lines at Trump Tower. Even if Trump had been proven 100 percent correct about this and he clearly has not he would not be vindicated. It was an irresponsible allegation for him to make, especially the way he made it: (a) FISA investigations are classified; (b) it was an explosive thing to accuse a former president of; (c) since Trump had access to the relevant information, he had a special responsibility to be ironclad accurate if he chose to speak about it; and (d) Twitter is not a proper or sensible forum in which to make a startling claim regarding a surveillance process that requires some explanation.
All that said, though, I have been arguing for months that the Obama camp's denials, for all their strident indignation, have been narrow and Jesuitical. Some Obama apologists made the point that the president neither orders FISA surveillance nor directs the steps taken to carry it out. This was silly: Every sentient person understood that Trump was talking about the Obama administration under Obama's guidance; he was not claiming that Obama personally interacted with the FISA court or personally conducted any surveillance.
When interviewed by the press, former Obama officials, such as his national intelligence director, James Clapper, gave denials that sounded sweeping but, when parsed, told us nothing more than that Trump's tweet was literally wrong his personal phone lines at Trump Tower had not been targeted for eavesdropping. That carefully avoided addressing other phone lines that may have been subjected to surveillance, and it was not a categorical denial that Trump's conversations had ever been monitored. The artful answers left open the possibility that Trump, even though not named as a target in a FISA application, may have been monitored incidentally, perhaps even under circumstances in which his interception had been quite foreseeable (because the actual FISA targets were associates of his known to be in contact with him).
Now we have more reason to believe Manafort was targeted for FISA surveillance at a time when he had a residence at Trump Tower and was in periodic contact with Trump. Again, this doesn't make Trump's tweets correct or justifiable. But it does once again raise the question whether Trump's conversations were tapped. If they were, the Obama camp's denials would seem, shall we say, lawyerly.
Bottom line: Paul Manafort appears to be in serious jeopardy, but any suspected criminality may involve matters having nothing to do with President Trump. It is worth recalling former FBI director James Comey's congressional testimony: Trump wanted it made clear that he personally was not under investigation, but agreed that "if some of my satellites did something wrong, it'd be good to find that out." Maybe we'll soon find out. It has never necessarily followed that legal trouble for Manafort is legal trouble for Trump even if it does portend tremendous political trouble for the Trump administration.
Commentary by Andrew C. McCarthy, a senior fellow at National Review Institute and a contributing editor of National Review. He is a former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. He led the 1995 terrorism prosecution against Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman and 11 others. The defendants were convicted of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and of planning a series of attacks against New York City landmarks. He also contributed to the prosecutions of terrorists who bombed U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. He resigned from the Justice Department in 2003. Follow him on Twitter @AndrewCMcCarthy.
For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.
2017 National Review. Used with permission.
The pressure on Facebook to better monitor content on its platform isn't letting up.
And at least one investor thinks the issues that have recently come to light are just a "small piece of the problem."
"The problem is the algorithms are set up now," Elevation Partners co-founder Roger McNamee told CNBC's "Squawk Alley" Wednesday.
"They get paid best when people are emotional. When they're either afraid or angry, that's what causes a lot of sharing."
A ProPublica investigation last week found that Facebook sold ads targeting users who had expressed anti-Semitic views. The discovery came just days after Facebook announced it had sold ads to Russian operatives targeting Facebook users who expressed extremist views.
"Facebook and Google in particular take the position that they're not responsible or accountable for anything that happens on their platform," McNamee said. "There's a need for a conversation about exactly what the limits ought to be."
The EU is eyeing legislation that would require tech giants like Facebook, Google and Twitter to more closely regulate content. The most recent proposal, though not yet legally binding, suggests the firms take down extremist content within two hours of posting.
The European Commission is leading the effort to establish better regulations for online content. The FTC, the U.S. agency tasked with overseeing digital content, has remained largely quiet in recent weeks.
Lawyers for Melania Trump have ordered that billboards that appeared in Croatia featuring an image of her be taken down.
The advert, for the Americki Institut (American Institute) in Zagreb, Croatia, used a picture of Mrs Trump and the words "Just imagine how far you can go with a little bit of English." She appeared to be making a speech and was pictured against an American flag, in a white outfit similar to the one she wore to give an address in which she was accused of plagiarizing former first lady Michelle Obama.
Mrs Trump's Slovenian lawyer Natasa Pirc-Musar demanded the billboards be taken down, according to The Associated Press.
Special counsel Robert Mueller is investigating a number of official actions taken by President Donald Trump during his presidency, according to new reports Wednesday from The New York Times and The Washington Post.
In recent weeks, Mueller has asked the White House to produce all documents, emails and correspondence related to at least 13 different subject areas, according to the reporting, which was later confirmed by other outlets.
The areas include Trump's decision, early in his presidency, to fire his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, over how Flynn handled revelations about foreign lobbying that came to light after Trump was sworn in.
Mueller is also interested in Trump's decision in May to fire FBI Director James Comey; in any meetings Trump and Comey had during Comey's tenure; and in how the White House announced Comey's firing.
One subject seemed to catch Washington by surprise Wednesday: A request for documents related to Trump's Oval Office meeting in May with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.
It was at that meeting, shortly after Trump had fired Comey, that the president is reported to have told Kislyak, "I just fired the head of the FBI. He was crazy, a real nut job." Trump then appeared to explain to Kislyak that Comey's firing would relieve "pressure" on Trump. "I faced great pressure because of Russia. That's taken off," Trump reportedly said, according to a source who spoke to The New York Times.
Read the Times' reporting, which broke the story, here. The Post quickly followed with a more detailed breakdown of the 13 categories of Mueller's inquiry. Read that here.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell plans to bring a last-ditch bill to repeal and replace big parts of Obamacare to a vote in the Senate next week, a spokesman for the Kentucky Republican said Wednesday.
"It is the leader's intention to consider Graham-Cassidy on the floor next week," McConnell's spokesman said.
But it remained unclear Wednesday whether McConnell has lined up enough Republicans in the Senate to pass the bill.
The statement came shortly after McConnell met with the bill's co-sponsor, Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., and after Graham met separately with Alaska's two senators, whose support would be crucial for the bill to pass.
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The bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., sets up a block grant system to allot money to states. Many of them are expected to see less federal funding under the plan than they currently get.
The deadline for passage is Sept. 30, when authorization for a fast-track procedural tool known as reconciliation expires.
President Donald Trump tweeted his support for the bill earlier Wednesday, and criticized Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky for opposing it.
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Republicans need 50 senators to vote for the bill to win passage, assuming a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Mike Pence. While the GOP has a majority of 52 seats in the Senate, party leaders have not been able to get more than 49 Republicans to vote for Obamacare repeal bills this year.
In July, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was one of three GOP senators to oppose a final version of a repeal bill, ensuring its defeat.
Murkowski has not said how she would vote on Graham-Cassidy. Neither has Dan Sullivan, a Republican who is the state's other senator.
The focus is also on Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., whose vote against the last GOP attempt to overhaul the health-care system killed the measure. McCain has not given a clear sense of where he stands this time.
Every Democrat and independent in the Senate is opposed to Obamacare repeal.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) listens during a news conference on health care September 13, 2017 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Senators Graham, Cassidy, Heller and Johnson unveiled a proposed legislation to repeal and replace the Obamacare.
The new Obamacare repeal bill being pushed hard by Senate Republicans could slash federal health funding to states by more than a whopping $4 trillion through the next 20 years, a new analysis finds.
The same report said that at least $215 billion in federal funds to states would be whacked by 2026, and warned that those cuts would grow dramatically over the following decade if Congress didn't appropriate additional money under the controversial Graham-Cassidy bill.
Those eye-popping projections from the Avalere Health consultancy were disclosed Wednesday as GOP leaders in the Senate and the Trump administration lobbied the handful of Republicans who have not publicly supported the bill yet.
Graham-Cassidy would, among other things, eliminate the expansion of Medicaid benefits to poor people under Obamacare, and also would eliminate the federal subsidization of health insurance purchases in the individual plan market.
While the bill would award federal block grant funds to individual states to craft their own health insurance programs, there would be a net reduction in how much money the government would allocate compared with what it currently does under the Affordable Care Act.
Republicans, who hold 52 Senate seats, need at least 50 senators to pass the bill, which faces a Sept. 30 deadline for approval.
A slew of health advocacy groups and governors of both political parties are opposed to the law because they say it would lead to millions more people losing their health insurance.
Caroline Pearson, a senior vice president at Avalere, said that the significant, long-term federal funding reductions to states seen under the bill would hit hardest those states that have already expanded their Medicaid programs under Obamacare to cover more low-income people.
"States would have broad flexibility to shape their markets but would have less funding to subsidize coverage for low- and middle-income individuals," Pearson said.
Avalere found that through 2026 there would be 34 states, along with the District of Columbia, that would see net federal health funding cuts under Graham-Cassidy.
Seven of those states would see their funds slashed by more than $10 billion apiece during that time frame. California alone would lose $78 billion in funds, and New York would lose $45 billion.
The funding losses would accelerate after 2026, because Graham-Cassidy does not appropriate money beyond that year.
"While funding for 2027 and beyond may be appropriated in the future, the bill currently creates a block grant funding cliff in 2027," Avalere noted.
"The ability of the Congress to appropriate additional funding is uncertain and could be constrained by the need to offset the cost."
If Congress doesn't agree to extend funding under the bill starting in 2027, federal health funding to states would drop by a net of $489 billion through that year, compared with what they would receive if Obamacare remained in place.
There would be 39 states, along with D.C., that would face reduced funds, "and 18 states with reductions of greater than $10B," Avalere's report said.
"By 2027, only 11 states would see an increase in funding under [Graham-Cassidy] compared to current law," according to the report.
However, if the funding isn't extended, by 2036, all states would see a reduction in the money they would have otherwise gotten under Obamacare. The total amount cut could be in excess of $4 trillion, Avalere said.
"Federal funding reductions range from $4B in South Dakota to $800B in California," according to the report.
Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort offered to brief a Russian billionaire with Kremlin ties on the 2016 campaign, people familiar with the discussions told The Washington Post.
Jason Maloni, spokesman for Manafort, confirmed to NBC News that the emails first reported by the Post were authentic and have been turned over to congressional committees. Investigators are examining Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election and any potential ties to the Trump campaign. Manafort was Trump's campaign chief at the time of the emails.
The billionaire, Oleg Deripaska, had done business with Manafort in the past, the Post said, citing sources.
The Post also reported that Manafort had referred to his positive press and growing reputation when asking, "How do we use to get whole?"
Maloni said the interaction was innocuous and that Manafort had been referring to money he believed he was owed by Eastern European clients.
"It is no secret Mr. Manafort was owed money by past clients after his work ended in 2014," Maloni told NBC News. "This exchange is innocuous."
The former Trump campaign chairman has fallen under further scrutiny after it was revealed he attended a meeting with a Russian lawyer at Trump Tower last year. The president's son Donald Trump Jr. and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, were also present.
The younger Trump agreed to the meeting after getting offered dirt on Hillary Clinton as part of "Russia and its government's support" for his father's campaign, according to emails he released.
Read the full report in The Washington Post.
NBC News contributed reporting.
Martin Shkreli walking to court, June 29, 2017. Justin Solomon | CNBC
Court records indicate that a psychiatric examination was sought for "pharma bro" Martin Shkreli after he was jailed last week for offering a bizarre cash bounty for some of Hillary Clinton's hair. The motion for Shkreli's psychiatric examination was filed in recent days in Brooklyn, New York, federal court, records for his criminal case there indicate. Although the motion is not visible to public inspection, other records that are public refer to it.
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But because the motion is not public, it is not known who requested the exam for the eccentric, disgraced pharmaceutical executive, or why it was sought. However, an online court database reveals that Judge Kiyo Matsumoto issued an order on the motion on Tuesday. Records do not indicate what Matsumoto ordered.
In opening arguments at Shkreli's trial on fraud charges this past summer, which Matsumoto presided over, his own lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, told jurors, "Maybe he's just nuts, but that doesn't make him guilty." "Will you find him strange? Yes. Will you find him weird? Yes!" Brafman also said at the time about his client, who has a history of erratic behavior. During Shkreli's trial, a former board member of one of Shkreli's drug companies testified that Shkreli had confided that he had suffered from depression, and took prescription medication for that condition. The board member, Steven Richardson, also testified that he was not aware, as Shkreli's other lawyer Marc Agnifilo had suggested in questioning, that Shkreli on occasion "couldn't bring himself to leave his house." The psychiatric exam motion came six days after an angry Matsumoto revoked Shkreli's $5 million release bond because of a $5,000 bounty he offered to Facebook followers who grabbed samples of hair from former Secretary of State Clinton and gave them to him.
WATCH: Co-worker says Shkreli 'mentally unstable'
Spanish police are reported to have raided several departments of Catalonia's regional government as tensions rise between Madrid and the pro-independence regional government over a banned independence referendum.
Several news reports state that Spain's Guardia Civil entered several departments of the Catalonian government this morning, arresting a junior minister, as they continue to seek more material related to the independence movement.
Spanish police arrested the Catalan region's junior economy minister Josep Maria Jove on Wednesday, according to a Reuters report citing sources within the regional government. Police entered the local governmental offices of the economy, interior, foreign affairs, welfare, telecommunications and tax, the sources told the news agency.
In addition, the Public Diplomacy Council of Catalonia also tweeted a total of 12 Catalonian government officials had been detained by the police.
The raids were part of a search for documents linked to a banned independence referendum planned for October 1st, a vote which the national government and Constitutional Court has deemed illegal, stating that only national authorities are able to call such votes. Catalonia has a strong independence movement and plans to hold a vote on independence regardless, leading to several recent attempts by the national government to stop the vote.
Following Wednesday's morning raids, key figures in the region's independence movement took to Twitter. Jordi Sanchez, president of the pro-independence ANC (Catalan National Assembly) also tweeted that police were entering the Economy ministry and vice-presidency.
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The region's vice president, Oriol Junqueras, tweeted that the police were "attacking the institutions of this country."
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The latest attempts by the police to stop the vote come after similar raids elsewhere. On Tuesday, the Guardia Civil raided one office and found boxes of election material, including voting cards, it was reported. Last week, police raided a print work and newspaper offices searching for ballot boxes and voting papers, Reuters reported.
The raids have caused mixed reaction with scuffles breaking out between police and pro-independence protesters as well as criticism of the national government's attempts to stop a vote in the wealthy north-east region of Spain. The former leader of Catalonia, Artur Mas, was banned from holding public office for two years earlier this year for organizing an illegal independence referendum in 2014.
An employee beside a blast furnace cast house at ThyssenKrupp AG's steel plant in Duisburg, Germany.
Thyssenkrupp shares were indicated up more than 5 percent in pre-market trade in Germany while Tata Steel was up 0.7 percent in India.
The companies say they need to consolidate to address overcapacity in the European steel market, which faces cheap imports from China and elsewhere, subdued demand for construction and inefficient legacy plants.
The deal will not involve any cash, Tata Steel said, adding that both groups would contribute debt and liabilities to achieve an equal shareholding and remain long-term investors.
Germany's Thyssenkrupp and India's Tata Steel struck a preliminary deal on Wednesday to merge their European steel operations in a 50-50 joint venture to create the continent's No.2 steelmaker after ArcelorMittal .
Tata Steel last month reached a landmark deal that will allow it to reduce 15 billion pounds ($20 billion) in pension liabilities, long seen as the main hurdle in talks between the companies, which have lasted more than a year and a half.
"Under the planned joint venture, we are giving the European steel activities of Thyssenkrupp and Tata a lasting future," Thyssenkrupp CEO Heinrich Hiesinger said. "We are tackling the structural challenges of the European steel industry and creating a strong No.2."
The new company, to be named Thyssenkrupp Tata Steel, will be headquartered in Amsterdam, the companies said in statements on Wednesday after signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU). "Excellent news," tweeted Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
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The MoU, widely expected after Thyssenkrupp last week said a deal could be reached this month, outlines annual synergies of 400-600 million euros ($480-720 million) as well as up to 4,000 job cuts, about 8 percent of the joint workforce.
"This is a key positive catalyst supporting our thesis that Thyssenkrupp's core capital goods operations deserve a meaningful rerating," Jefferies analyst Seth Rosenfeld wrote in a note, reiterating his "buy" rating.
Thyssenkrupp also has profitable businesses in elevators and high-tech car parts.
The MoU will be followed by negotiations about the details of the transactions as well as due diligence before a joint venture contract can be signed at the beginning of 2018, Thyssenkrupp said.
The deal will require the approval of Thyssenkrupp's supervisory board and Tata Steel's board of directors as well as that of the European Commission.
Tesla is getting closer to having its own chip for handling autonomous driving tasks in its cars.
The carmaker has received back samples of the first implementation of its processor and is now running tests on it, said a source familiar with the matter.
The effort to build its own chip is in line with Tesla's and decrease reliance on other companies.
But Tesla isn't completely going it alone in chip development, according to the source, and will build on top of AMD intellectual property.
AMD shares spiked after CNBC reported that the company is working with Tesla. Shares of the stock ended the day nearly 5 percent higher and continued to climb after hours.
On Wednesday Sanjay Jha, CEO of AMD spin-off and chip fabricator GlobalFoundries, said at the company's technology conference in Santa Clara, California, mentioned Tesla as an example of companies that were working with fabricators. GlobalFoundries, which fabricates chips, has a wafer supply agreement in place with AMD through 2020.
In a statement, GlobalFoundries said Jha's remarks were misreported, and denied that the company was working directly with Tesla. AMD and Tesla declined to comment.
A more power-efficient purpose-built chip could help Tesla get closer to delivering totally autonomous driving. Tesla CEO Elon Musk promised this year that capability will be available to consumers in 2019.
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Tesla's silicon project is bounding ahead under the leadership of longtime chip architect Jim Keller, the head of Autopilot hardware and software since the departure of Apple veteran Chris Lattner in June. Keller, 57, joined Tesla in early 2016 following two stints at AMD and one at Apple. Keller arrived at Apple in 2008 through its acquisition of Palo Alto Semiconductor and was the designer of Apple's A4 and A5 iPhone chips, among other things.
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Gary Foster was in his 50s when his eyesight started to fail. The native Canadian eventually lost all central vision in both his eyes a few years ago as a result of age-related macular degeneration. Place a peanut on a table, and Foster won't be able to see it; if he turns slightly and uses his peripheral vision, he might catch a glimpse of it. He can't see people's faces or read text on a page. After he lost his central vision, he lost his license. After he lost his license, he lost his job, since it required him to drive. "There is no cure. All I ever heard from the doctor is, 'Sorry, there is nothing we can do for you,'" said Foster, now 63. But several years ago Foster happened upon a piece of technology at a public exhibition in Calgary. It was a pair of glasses called eSight, and when he put them on, he realized that his vision drastically improved, so much so that he could see faces and read books. "When I first put it on, I was able to read to the bottom of the eye chart," Foster said. Foster is not the only visually impaired person turning to new technologies to either improve vision or assist with everyday tasks. A growing cohort of companies, like eSight, offer visual tools that can enhance vision making things bigger, brighter and bolder so that they're able to be visible to people like Foster. Other companies, like San Diego-based Aira, connect people to real-time support services that thanks to devices such as Google Glass can see what the blind can't and navigate users interacting with, for example, a vending machine by talking to them over the phone. Founded in 2006 by Conrad Lewis, a computer engineer with two legally blind sisters, Toronto-based eSight developed its own pair of proprietary glasses, backed by a decade of in-house research. The company keeps many specifics under wraps. According to communications director Jeffrey Fenton, eSight is "backed by tens of millions of dollars," and there are "thousands of stories that showcase" people using eSight. The company released its latest pair of glasses, eSight3, last February. The glasses, which look like a visorlike headset, are rechargeable and good for eight hours on a single charge. Each houses a high-speed, high-definition camera that captures what the user is looking at. The device uses algorithms to enhance the video feed and displays the video through eSight's OLED screens in front of the user's eyes. Almost immediately, the cameras enhance the footage that beams across two screens, one in front of each eye. A 24-times zoom also helps out.
Source: eSight
The wearable headset has Wi-Fi and HDMI capabilities to stream digital content, and it can send pictures and videos. Each person who wears the glasses are able to control color, contrast and magnification. The result is that many people who use the eSight3 today are able to read books and street signs, see objects from far away and know what their friends' and relatives' faces actually look like. More from Modern Medicine:
It sounds futuristic, but it's not sci-fi: Human organs-on-a-chip Glasses like the eSight3 are good for people suffering from any one of about a dozen eye conditions, among them Stargardt disease, optic atrophy, macular degeneration and some forms of glaucoma. According to the National Federation of the Blind, roughly 10 million Americans are blind or visually impaired, and about 1.3 million of that number are legally blind, defined as central vision acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye. "It works for the overwhelming majority of the legally blind," Fenton said, who added that its oldest user is 97. The youngest user: four years old.
Footing the bill
The main problem with technology like eSight is the cost. "There's still a major group of people out there who want but cannot afford the technology," Fenton said. Foster purchased his own eSight glasses for $15,000 out of pocket. The eSight 3, the new version of glasses, costs less, with a price tag of $9,995. Paying for this kind of technology when you're blind can be difficult, as the costs are often not covered by health insurance. "The technology becoming available is phenomenal, and most people won't be able to get their hands on it," said Mindy Jacobsen, first vice president of the National Federation of the Blind of New York.
Mindy Jacobsen, first vice president of the National Federation of the Blind of New York, is able to see using Google Glass and the linked Aira service. Source: CNBC
Each year, the overall tally of low-vision or blind people in the United States increases by 75,000, according to the NFB. But 70 percent of working-age blind adults are unemployed. Medicare and health insurance companies determine whether eyesight technology is going to be reimbursable or covered at all. Historically, most insurance companies have seen glasses as something different from the correction of a medical problem, according to Melissa Chun, director of the Vision Rehabilitation Center at the Los Angeles-based Stein Eye Institute. For example, prosthetics technology for a person with a missing limb is classified as durable medical equipment and is therefore covered by insurance. Vision-assisted equipment, almost universally, are classified as glasses, which are not covered by insurance. "This technology is wearable tech and video magnification, really, a whole different route for people with low vision. And it's really more appropriate to call it vision-assisted equipment rather than anything else," Chun said. "It can be perceived as a form of discrimination, actually, if [insurance companies] don't cover vision-assisted equipment." The one-time cost of equipment like eSight contrasts with other pricing models. Aira, founded in 2015 with $15 million in venture capital from firms including New York City's Lux Capital, employs 70 agents throughout the United States who are available daily from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. EST who provide over-the-phone instructions to people with low vision or blind vision. Aira users pay for one of four monthly plans and then receive a pair of Google Glasses and an AT&T data plan. "Users connect to an agent using the phone, and when they connect to the agent, they can yield the camera to the agent," said Suman Kanuganti, CEO and co-founder of Aira. "Our agent is literally living in the world of the blind person whenever a call is coming in." But a basic plan through Aira costs $89 per month and only gets a user 100 minutes to speak to someone over the phone. So far, Aira counts thousands of users and 3,800 hours of service over the last six months, Kanuganti said. He added that navigation comprises only 20 percent of all calls. "Users cook; they go to museums to get descriptions of the artwork. Someone read a children's book to a daughter. Someone went to his father's funeral using Aira," he said. The NFB's Jacobsen demonstrated using Aira in a recent video produced by CNBC. Again, the main problem with Aira for many users is the cost. The Aira plan with unlimited minutes costs $329 per month. For someone who can only afford the basic, $89 package, they have to judiciously use the 100 minutes they receive every month.
We continue to believe that society could and should provide this to the blind at low or no cost. Jeffrey Fenton eSight's communications director
It's not enough to love your job, you've got to love where you work. The city that your company and job are in is just as important as the work you do every day. And interestingly enough, all cities are not created equal. In fact, quality of life is often dictated by job satisfaction and compensation.
Glassdoor recently rolled out the 25 Best Cities for Jobs in the U.S. and took a look at three factors: how easy it is to get a job, how affordable it is to live there and how satisfied employees are working there. We took it one step further to bring in the job satisfaction piece, and the results are very interesting.
Here are the top 10 cities where employees are happiest. Cue Pharrell Williams' hit song!
More from Glassdoor:
15 companies with the best parental leave policies
25 awesome companies hiring in the best cities for jobs
How to find a job in 72 hours
President Donald Trump on Wednesday was met with silence when he congratulated the leaders of African countries on the continent's economic progress, telling them, "I've so many friends going to your countries, trying to get rich. I congratulate you. They're spending a lot of money."
Trump delivered the remark at a luncheon he hosted with the leaders of many of the 54 diverse nations on the African continent. And while Trump almost certainly meant it as compliment, and even seemed to pause for applause, not one attendee clapped.
For centuries, Europeans and Americans have exploited Africa's natural resources and labor force, not least during the trans-Atlantic slave trade. In the post-Colonial era, the U.S. government has supported dozens of authoritarian regimes on the African continent, while American companies have made billions of dollars from deals with dictatorships.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged Republican senators to push through a last-ditch attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act before the end of the month.
In a tweet, the president for the first time explicitly endorsed the health-care plan spearheaded by Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Bill Cassidy, R-La. The senators are rushing to pass the bill before a Sept. 30 deadline to use budget rules that would allow them to approve it with only Republican votes.
The health-care bill sets up a block grant system to allot money to the states. Many of them are expected to see less federal funding under the plan than they currently get.
"I hope Republican Senators will vote for Graham-Cassidy and fulfill their promise to Repeal & Replace ObamaCare. Money direct to the States!" Trump wrote on Twitter.
Trump: I hope Republican Senators will vote for Graham-Cassidy and fulfill their promise to Repeal & Replace ObamaCare. Money direct to States!
The senators backing it say it will give states more control over their health care rather than the federal government. It faces a tough fight and potentially razor-thin margin in the Senate.
Critics have expressed concerns that it will drastically increase the number of uninsured Americans and lead to fewer financial protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Ten bipartisan governors have urged the Senate not to pass the plan, while numerous major health-care groups have criticized the bill.
The Trump administration appears to be no friend of clean energy. The administration just reiterated its intent to withdraw from the Paris Accord on climate change after sending mixed signals ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York.
In other unfavorable moves over the past eight months, the administration has modified or rescinded multiple regulations that affect renewables. In March, President Trump signed an executive order which suspended the Clean Power Plan, disbanded the Working Group on the Social Cost of Carbon, lifted a moratorium on leasing federal lands for coal mining, directed the Department of Interior to review regulations restricting oil and gas exploration on federal lands, and directed all agencies to review regulations that might burden the production of oil, natural gas, coal and nuclear energy.
Separately, the head of the EPA, Scott Pruitt, suspended a rule requiring the oil and gas industry to reduce methane leaks, though that has been blocked by courts since July, and Rick Perry, Secretary of Energy, ordered a study of the electrical grid to examine whether reliability concerns should justify support for baseload power, including coal, gas, and nuclear.
Clearly, policy changes throughout the U.S. energy industry are well underway. Even so, the actions taken by the Trump Administration have so far had a limited impact on prospects for renewable energy investment. In fact, within the past three months, both Bloomberg and Goldman Sachs have increased their expected penetration of renewable energy in the U.S. relative to their forecasts prior to the U.S. elections.
Indeed, clean energy has been on a roll. In 2016, the electricity sector accounted for approximately 60 percent of all infrastructure investment in North America, and 65 percent of that investment was allocated to renewable energy projects. Worldwide, Bloomberg estimates that more than 70 percent of new power generation investment will be directed to wind and solar generation capacity over the next 20 years, averaging more than $20 billion per year. Meanwhile, a September 2017 Preqin report indicated that 96 percent of institutional investors surveyed expected to increase their allocation to infrastructure investments over the long term. With that many investors looking to infrastructure as an opportunity, and with North American renewables being such a large portion of the infrastructure market, the current U.S. political landscape has to be a significant factor in the minds of investors.
Here are three reasons I remain bullish on the investment landscape for renewable energy.
Fundamental economicsnot energy policyare driving current growth in the market. The primary policy-driven incentives for renewable energy in the United States at the federal level are the Production Tax Credits for wind and the Investment Tax Credits for solar, both of which have historically provided credits equal to 30 percent of capital costs. These credit values are scheduled to gradually decline between now and 2021, ending for wind in 2019, and dropping to 10 percent for solar in 2022. However, capital costs for wind and solar are falling or have fallen faster over the past five years than the scheduled reductions in credit values. As a result, industry forecasts expect solar and wind installations to continue their penetration after these tax credits expire.
Electricity industry policy made at the state and local levels is more important than federal policy. The United States is composed of 50 different electricity markets. Each of the states sets its own electric utility regulations, its own wholesale rate-making process, and its own incentive structure for generation. Over the past twenty years, regional transmission organizations have consolidated some practices, but states retain substantial authority.
At the state and local level, voters remain strongly supportive of renewable energy. In 2016 and the first half of 2017, thirty-one states passed new financial incentives or regulatory policies to support renewable energy, accounting for more than 74 percent of U.S. electricity demand in the last year where information is available. In fact, in two states (Nevada and Arizona) where utilities were successful at lobbying state utility commissions to limit the growth of solar installations in 2016, public outcry and voter pushback was so strong that the state legislatures or governors were forced to rescind the restrictions and reinstate pro-growth policies.
U.S. corporations are driving an increasing share of renewable generation. 240 companies within the Fortune 500 have announced programs to invest in greenhouse gas reductions, sustainability, or renewable energy initiatives, and many are transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy consumption for their global operations. This trend is being driven both by consumer and brand pressure, as well as by economic factors. In particular, renewable energy wholesale pricing is competitive with fossil pricing, and the absence of fuel price exposure offers a better hedge against long-term energy cost increases. If utilities are unwilling to offer renewable energy tariffs at competitive prices, companies are increasingly willing to procure energy directly from renewable project owners, or to own the projects themselves. For example, earlier this summer, Microsoft won approval from the Washington state regulatory commission to bypass the monopoly utility and purchase renewable electricity directly on the wholesale market from independent generators. Other corporations eligible under the same settlement include Walmart, Kroger, and a consortium of other industrial users.
Although the new U.S. administration has pulled back on some of the Obama-era supports for the clean energy industry, these changes have not altered the fundamental growth of the industry. The U.S. renewable energy market remains a highly attractive and rapidly growing opportunity for infrastructure investing.
Commentary by Scott Brown, the founder and CEO of New Energy Capital Partners, a leading investor in clean energy projects in the United States with over $600 million in assets currently under management. Mr. Brown was a member of the founding management team of First Solar, and was a member of the National Advisory Council of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory from 1999-2005.
For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.
Stevie Wonder and Warren Buffett perform a duet at the Forbes Media Centennial Celebration at Pier 60 on September 19, 2017 in New York City.
Warren Buffett may be famous for his investing skill, but his lounge act isn't bad, either.
He took to the stage as recently as Tuesday night, at the centennial party for Forbes magazine in New York, where he teamed up with Stevie Wonder to sing Billy Hill's 1936 classic "The Glory of Love."
Buffett likes the song, or at least knows all the words to it, because he also sang it and accompanied on the ukulele at another Forbes party a few years ago. That duet was with Jon Bon Jovi, who played along on the guitar. "Groupies!" Buffett yelled to a laughing audience, "I've been waiting all my life."
Three years ago the Oracle of Omaha teamed up with Paul Anka to serenade Fortune magazine reporter Carol Loomis in a reworded rendition of Frank Sinatra's "My Way." And he played the ukulele and sang along with the Quebe Sisters at his annual meeting in 2008, with a version of "Red River Valley."
Buffett sang for CNN host Piers Morgan in 2013, admitting he never met Sinatra but he likes "My Way." He did forget some of the words that time.
He also accompanied himself on ukulele while singing the Coca-Cola song for a 100th birthday tribute to his favorite soft drink.
Substitute teaching is a particularly difficult job. As Hayley Glatter writes in The Atlantic, "Substitutes are almost always put in sink-or-swim situations: They're with a class for a limited amount of time, lesson-plan-preparedness is often inconsistent, and students can be less than helpful in describing what they should be working on." Nearly every state and the District of Columbia have reported a shortage of teachers. Spanish-speaking and special needs teachers are in particularly high demand. At the same time, student enrollments are projected to grow by 3 million in the next 10 years. Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana has been substitute teaching for over a decade. He believes the practice not only helps schools meet a growing need, it provides him with invaluable insight into the realities local schools are facing.
"I have been doing it two, three, sometimes four times a year since [2003]," Kennedy, a Republican, told CNBC Make It. "The highest grade I've taught is the 11th grade, and the youngest I've taught is the 4th grade." Kennedy became state treasurer of Louisiana in 1999. As treasurer, he often received questions from education experts and realized he needed to become better informed. "It occurred to me that not many of the folks in that room really knew what public schools were like today," he said. When he called the East Baton Rouge School Parish and asked if they needed substitutes, administrators responded, "Yeah, badly." When he asked what he needed to do to be a substitute teacher, he was told, "have a college degree, and come to an orientation." The ritual has taught Kennedy the struggles that teachers go through every day. "I went in pretty cocky," he admitted. "But the first thing you realize is how hard it is to be a teacher." "Teachers today are expected to be so much more than just teachers. That wasn't the case when I was growing up," says Kennedy. "Teachers are expected to be teachers, psychiatrists, nurses, sociologists, psychologists, surrogate moms or dads, as the case may be."
John Kennedy Tom Williams | Getty Images
Kennedy found that being a kid in 2017 also has its unique challenges. "You also learn how hard and different it is to be a kid today. These kids are seeing things in the 6th grade that I never even dreamed about till I was an adult." In a blog post he explains: "Most of us believe, or should believe, that every child can learn, given the opportunity, but try substitute teaching just once and you will see firsthand the socioeconomic issues that distract our kids from taking advantage of that opportunity." "A lot of policymakers don't really understand what it's like to be a teacher in a public school in 2017," says Kennedy. "Thirty-five or 40 years ago we had one of the best elementary and secondary education systems in the world. We don't. Now we rank about the same as Slovakia, and Slovakians spend about half the money." In order to restore the American education system, Kennedy says that more money needs to be put directly into classrooms: "I'm talking about the technology, you need the supplies, the teacher's salary, a decent environment," he says. "You're going to have to pay the teachers more."
Goldman Sachs economists say it's more likely Congress approves tax cuts by next year, after a Senate deal on the budget resolution.
The economists say that the tentative agreement, announced by Republican Sens. Bob Corker of Tennessee and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, would call for instructions for a tax cut of up to $1.5 trillion be included in the budget resolution.
"Our understanding is that this figure represents their view of what a 'revenue neutral' agreement would cost when scored conventionally," Goldman economist Alec Phillips wrote. Phillips said assuming expiring tax cuts would be extended, it would work out to $1 trillion in new tax cuts over 10 years, or 0.4 percent of GDP over that period.
The Goldman economists assume the tax cuts would be phased in and could boost growth by 0.1 or 0.2 percentage points of GDP in 2018-2019. The deal announced by the senators is expected to result in a specific instruction in the budget resolution, which the Senate Budget Committee hopes to debate and pass next week.
The House, meanwhile, has a more restrictive tax cut instruction which would have to be reconciled with the Senate, Phillips wrote.
The tax legislation is expected to begin to move forward with the House Ways and Means Committee likely to begin debate by late October. The White House and Republican congressional leaders are expected to release an outline of tax reform that includes a corporate rate in the low 20s, business investment incentives, profit repatriation, a move to a new territorial tax system and middle-income tax cuts.
"While we have recently been skeptical tax reform could happen because of the continued focus on revenue-neutrality as a principle, if a budget resolution is finalized that resembles the recently floated deal, enactment of tax reform in early 2018 would once again become the baseline expectation," Phillips wrote.
People born in September may have an edge over the rest of us, according to a recent paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research.
That's because in the U.S., children with September birthdays are usually the oldest ones in their grade when they start school, and that can make a big difference later in life, according the study.
"Being an older age at school entry increases children's college attainment and reduces the likelihood of being incarcerated for juvenile crime," according to the research, which looked at the school records of children born in Florida between 1994 and 2000.
Many states use September birthdays as the cut-off for new students to enroll in kindergarten. Such cut-off dates mean the oldest kids in a class or a grade will be nearly a year older than the youngest, the paper points out. Students born in late August may start school and be the youngest in their class, whereas those born in early September could wait until the following school year to enroll, making them the oldest in their class.
On average, September-born children were about 2 percent more likely to attend college, 3 percent more likely to graduate from college, and 7 percent more likely to graduate from a competitive or selective college than their peers who were born in August, according to the research.
The economists did caveat their findings by demographic, explaining, "We find that the estimated effects are concentrated in the white, middle of the distribution of socioeconomic status children."
Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen blasted Wells Fargo for the bank's fake-account scandal, though she stopped short of what actions the central bank may take.
Responding to a question at her quarterly news conference, Yellen called Wells Fargo's actions "egregious and unacceptable."
The bank has been under fire for the past year after it admitted that thousands of employees enrolled customers in programs without their knowledge or consent. The workers were attempting to meet aggressive sales goals that have since been abandoned. Wells Fargo has admitted that about 3.5 million accounts were affected.
The Fed chair herself has come under some fire, with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., calling for Yellen to dismiss all the Wells Fargo board members in place when the scandal took place.
"We take our supervision responsibilities very seriously," Yellen said. "We are attempting to understand what the root causes of some of those problems are and to address them."
However, she stopped short of saying what regulatory actions the Fed might take.
"I'm not able to discuss confidential supervisory information, and not yet able to tell you what actions we may take," she said, promising only "to make sure that the right set of controls are in place" at Wells Fargo.
The bank paid a $185 million settlement last year with multiple authorities, then added another $142 million earlier this year to settle a class-action suit. In addition, Wells Fargo has admitted that customers were enrolled in auto insurance programs that they didn't need.
Wells Fargo said in response to Yellen's comments that its "Board and management team have taken many actions in response to retail sales practices issues, including changes in senior leadership, eliminating product sales goals for retail bankers as well as numerous steps to make things right with any customer affected by unacceptable sales practices. That work - including a $142 million class action settlement continues and remains a core part of our efforts to build a better Wells Fargo for the future."
Office 365 and Microsoft 365 subscribers get more frequent software updates than those who have purchased Office without a subscription, which means subscribers have access to the latest features, security patches, and bug fixes. But it can be hard to keep track of the changes in each update and know when theyre available. Were doing this for you, so you dont have to.
Following are summaries of the updates to Office 365/Microsoft 365 for Windows, with the latest releases shown first. Well add info about new updates as theyre rolled out.
Note: This story covers updates released to regular Office 365/Microsoft 365 for Windows subscribers. If youre a member of Microsofts Office Insider preview program or want to get a sneak peek at upcoming features, see the companys Release notes for Office for Windows Desktop (Beta builds) page.
Version 2210 (Build 15726.20202)
Release date: November 8, 2022
This build fixes two bugs: One in Word in which when using Admin Managed Plugin and the Group Policy "Block all unmanaged add-ins," the registry key name was case-sensitive, and one in OneNote that affected scrolling with touch.
It also fixes a number of security holes. For details, see Release notes for Microsoft Office security updates.
What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.
Get more info about Version 2210 (Build 15726.20202).
Version 2210 (Build 15726.20174)
Release date: October 27, 2022
This build lets you link charts to Dynamic array calculations in Excel, which can produce results of variable length. When the array recalculates, the chart will automatically update to capture all data instead of being limited to a specific number of data points. The build also lets you create e-signature approvals containing signature fields within Teams.
It fixes a number of bugs, including one in Outlook that caused emails to get stuck in the outbox for some profiles with multiple Exchange accounts configured, and another in PowerPoint that caused problems when updating links when the linked file was already open.
Get more info about Version 2210 (Build 15726.20174).
Version 2209 (Build 15629.20208)
Release date: October 11, 2022
This build fixes a number of bugs, including one in Excel in which some content could have stopped working and not appear correctly after zooming with a touchpad, and another in Outlook that caused emails to get stuck in the outbox for some profiles with multiple Exchange accounts configured.
It also fixes a number of security holes in Word and the entire Office suite. For details, see Release notes for Microsoft Office security updates.
What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.
Get more info about Version 2209 (Build 15629.20208).
Version 2209 (Build 15629.20156)
Release date: September 26, 2022
This build adds several new features to Teams, including allowing meeting organizers to assign seats to participants in Together Mode, and the ability for people to see up to 49 videos (7x7) on their screen by default without any explicit action.
It also fixes a number of bugs, including one Outlook that caused users to experience a close unexpectedly when switching views in the calendar module, and another that crashed Outlook shortly after a boot.
Get more info about Version 2209 (Build 15629.20156).
Version 2208 (Build 15601.20148)
Release date: September 13, 2022
This build fixes a number of bugs, including one in Outlook that that caused the Customization Quick Access Toolbar file (.exportedUI) to not import when the simplified Ribbon is in use, and one in the entire Office suite that caused issues in Color Picker text selection scenarios with Shapes and SmartArt.
It also fixes a number of security holes in PowerPoint and Visio. For details, see Release notes for Microsoft Office security updates.
What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.
Get more info about Version 2208 (Build 15601.20148).
Version 2208 (Build 15601.20088)
Release date: August 31, 2022
This build introduces a variety of new features, including protecting PDFs created using Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, taking voice notes in OneNote, the addition of fourteen new text and array functions in Excel, and the ability to join Teams meeting by meeting ID and passcode from Teams rooms on Windows.
It also fixes a variety of bugs, including one in Access that caused memory leaks when iterating over DAO record sets in VBA code in Excel, one in Word in which you could not copy rows of a table from older versions in Version History to the current version, and one in which Outlook sometimes closed unexpectedly when right-clicking on an app in the new app bar.
Get more info about Version 2208 (Build 15601.20088).
Version 2207 (Build 15427.20210)
Release date: August 9, 2022
This build fixes a bug in Outlook, which would sometimes crash after being opened.
It also fixes a number of security holes in Excel, Outlook, and the entire Office suite. For details, see Release notes for Microsoft Office security updates.
What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.
Get more info about Version 2207 (Build 15427.20210).
Version 2207 (Build 15427.20194)
Release date: August 3, 2022
This build optimizes Excel recalculation on devices with constrained resources. On resource-constrained devices (two cores or less and eight gigabytes of RAM or less), Excel now by default makes recalculation more optimal by running calculations on a single thread.
In addition, Outlook gets a suggested replies feature that offers you three possible replies to simple messages. Word makes voice dictation easier.
A number of bugs were also fixed, including one in Excel in which cell references in charts were displaying incorrectly, and one in Word in which paste as link might not update automatically.
Get more info about Version 2207 (Build 15427.20194).
Version 2206 (Build 15330.20246)
Release date: July 18, 2022
This build fixes one bug in Access, in which when opening an ACCDE/MDE file, users may receive an error message with the text Requested type library or wizard is not a VBA project. Go here for more details.
Get more info about Version 2206 (Build 15330.20264).
Version 2206 (Build 15330.20246)
Release date: July 12, 2022
This build fixes one bug, in which Excel closed unexpectedly when interacting with fonts.
It also fixes a Windows Graphics Component Information Disclosure Vulnerability and a Microsoft Office Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability, both for the entire Office suite. For details, see Release notes for Microsoft Office security updates.
What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.
Get more info about Version 2206 (Build 15330.20246).
Version 2206 (Build 15330.20230)
Release date: July 6, 2022
This build fixes a variety of bugs, including one in which Excel crashed when showing a live preview of a chart, one that caused OneNote to crash, one in Outlook in which users could not add room mailboxes to the calendar, and one in Word in which nested fields in headers displayed incorrectly while scrolling.
Get more info about Version 2206 (Build 15330.20230).
Version 2206 (Build 15330.20196)
Release date: June 29, 2022
This build introduces new Excel features such as the ability to quickly copy data from the status bar, including information from aggregations like "Sum," "Average," and "Count." It also lets you find data more quickly in Excel by speeding up the AutoFilter function. In PowerPoint, you can now anchor comments to specific ranges of text.
The build also fixes a wide variety of bugs, including one in Excel in which shared workbooks in .xls format improperly merged changes, one in Outlook in which users were not able to add room mailboxes to the calendar, and one in Word in which nested fields in headers displayed incorrectly while scrolling.
Get more info about Version 2206 (Build 15330.20196).
Version 2205 (Build 15225.20288)
Release date: June 14, 2022
This build fixes several bugs, including one in Word in which while coauthoring, some replies to comments werent shown until the next time a document was opened, and one in Outlook that caused users to see multiple copies of a shared calendar rendered in certain circumstances.
It also fixes a remote code execution vulnerability security for the entire Office suite. For details, see Release notes for Microsoft Office security updates.
What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.
Get more info about Version 2205 (Build 15225.20288).
Version 2205 (Build 15225.20204)
Release date: May 24, 2022
This build offers new automatic groupings in Teams as suggestions to use in channel posts. For example, you can @TeamOwners in a channel posting and all Team Owners will be notified. It also fixes several bugs, including one in Excel in which the letter j was not being properly inserted, one in Outlook that caused users to see the error Cannot perform the requested operation... when attempting to expand a local contact group, and one in which the entire Office suite crashed when rendering code.
Get more info about Version 2205 (Build 15225.20204).
Version 2204 (Build 15128.20248)
Release date: May 17, 2022
This build fixes several bugs, including one in Outlook that caused users to see the error Cannot perform the requested operation... when attempting to expand a local contact group; one in Word in which the Office Insert Screenshot showed blank/incomplete screenshots for Office Apps; and one in the entire Office suite in which font download requests for endpoints that dont support font service were being issued.
Get more info about Version 2204 (Build 15128.20248).
Version 2204 (Build 15128.20224)
Release date: May 10, 2022
This build fixes several bugs, including one that caused Excel to consume excessive memory, one in Word in which in which a document scrolled to the end after deleting a paragraph mark, and an issue with rendering in Excel and Project when using certain older versions of Windows 11.
It also offers a security update for Excel and one for the entire Office suite. For details, see Release notes for Microsoft Office security updates.
What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.
Get more info about Version 2204 (Build 15128.20224).
Version 2204 (Build 15128.20178)
Release date: April 26, 2022
This build reduces unwanted fragmenting of conditional formatting rules in Excel, and also improves Power BI dataset request access from Excel.
It also fixes several bugs, including one in Access that that prevented Outlook event-based add-ins from functioning properly, one that caused Outlook to close unexpectedly during launch when connected to a OneDrive for Business endpoint with no service URL, and one for the entire Office suite in which the font drop-down would not accurately reflect what font was selected in a shape.
Get more info about Version 2204 (Build 15128.20178).
Version 2203 (Build 15028.20228)
Release date: April 20, 2022
This build fixes three bugs, one in Access that prevented Outlook Event-Based Add-Ins from functioning properly, one in Outlook that caused EU users to see information missing from person cards, and another in Outlook that caused users to experience a stop responding when responding to certain contacts.
(Get more info about Version 2203 (Build 15028.20228).
Version 2203 (Build 15028.20204)
Release date: April 12, 2022
This build fixes several bugs, including one in Outlook in which the Move to Other functionality stopped working properly, and another for the entire Office suite in which the font drop-down would not accurately reflect what font was selected in a shape.
It also offers security updates for Excel. For details, see Release notes for Microsoft Office security updates.
What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.
Get more info about Version 2203 (Build 15028.20204).
Version 2203 (Build 15028.20160)
Release date: March 30, 2022
This build introduces one new feature, a navigation pane for Excel that lets you see the layout of your workbook at a glance and navigate through its elements quickly. The build also fixes a wide variety of bugs, including one in Excel in which using custom command bars could cause Excel to crash, one in Outlook that caused the "Index out of date" message to display too often, one in Word that caused a performance issue when opening Word documents with thousands of track changes, and one for the entire Office suite that caused contact cards to display improperly
Get more info about Version 2203 (Build 15028.20160).
Version 2202 (Build 14931.20132)
Release date: March 8, 2022
This build fixes several bugs, including one in Outlook that caused users to experience performance issues when switching folders due to a corrupt view setting. It also offers security updates for Visio and Word. For details, see Release notes for Microsoft Office security updates.
What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.
Get more info about Version 2202 (Build 14931.20132).
Version 2202 (Build 14931.20120)
Release date: February 28, 2022
This build offers a wide variety of new features, including one in Excel that disables Excel 4.0 (XML) macros by default to improve security; one in Word that lets you proofread selected text with Editor; one in Outlook that lets you visualize and explore your companys internal structure, work teams, and individual roles; and one on PowerPoint that lets you pre-record video with animation. It also has many new Teams features, including enabling Teams app developers to test their monetized apps within Teams clients, and the addition of a new compact view in Chat.
Many bugs were also fixed, including one in Outlook in which the folder hierarchy did not synchronize all folders for very large primary mailboxes with more than 100,00 folders, and another in Word in which SVG images that contain external content werent showing up.
Get more info about Version 2202 (Build 14931.20120).
Version 2201 (Build 14827.20198)
Release date: February 16, 2022
This build fixes a single bug in Access that caused errors while running an application.
Get more info about Version 2201 (Build 14827.20198).
Version 2201 (Build 14827.20192)
Release date: February 8, 2022
This build fixes several bugs, including one in which people could not save their files in Project. It also offers security updates for Excel, Visio, and the entire Office suite. For details, see the Release notes for Microsoft Office security updates.
What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.
Get more info about Version 2201 (Build 14827.20192).
Version 2201 (Build 14827.20158)
Release date: January 26, 2022
This build includes a variety of feature updates, including easier scrolling through Excel spreadsheets that are large or that have very wide cells, new Cortana features for Teams, and an improved address book search in Outlook.
A number of bugs were fixed, including one in Outlook that caused applications to become unresponsive after loading a contact card, one in Word in which Repeat style applies Normal instead of repeating the style, and another in Access that caused the Insights add-in to stop working intermittently.
Get more info about Version 2201 (Build 14827.20158).
Version 2112 (Build 14729.20260)
Release date: January 12, 2022
This build includes a variety of bugs and performance fixes.
Get more info about Version 2112 (Build 14729.20260).
Version 2112 (Build 14729.20248)
Release date: January 11, 2022
This build fixes a bug in Excel in which shapes and form controls could not call VBA macros. It also offers security updates for two Microsoft Office Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities. For details, see Release notes for Microsoft Office security updates.
What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.
Get more info about Version 2112 (Build 14729.20248).
Version 2112 (Build 14729.20194)
Release date: January 4, 2022
This build offers a variety of new features, including the ability to track only your own changes in Word when collaborating, an improved way to search Outlooks calendar, and several new features in Teams, including one that lets you raise your hand virtually to let people know you want to contribute without interrupting the conversation.
It also fixes a variety of bugs, including one in Access that that caused an application to close unexpectedly when connection to an Access or Jet database using multiple threads, and one in Outlook that caused users to see garbled text in some fields when exporting contacts to a CSV.
Get more info about Version 2112 (Build 14729.20194).
Version 2111 (Build 14701.20262)
Release date: December 16, 2021
This build fixes two bugs, one in Access that prevented multiple users from opening a database on a network file share, and for the entire Office suite related to refreshing elements that may contain text.
Get more info about Version 2111 (Build 14701.20262).
Version 2111 (Build 14701.20248)
Release date: December 14, 2021
This build fixes a variety of bugs, including one in Excel in which opening an XLSM file in the SpreedsheetCompare tool sometimes caused the tool to stop responding, and one in which the teaching callouts (tips) about the new look of Office did not appear in Outlook.
It also offers security updates for Excel and the entire Office suite. For details, see Release notes for Microsoft Office security updates.
What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.
Get more info about Version 2111 (Build 14701.20248).
Version 2111 (Build 14701.20226)
Release date: December 3, 2021
This build fixes a wide variety of bugs, including one in Excel in which newly created PivotTables could lose custom settings if the data source range was changed; another in PowerPoint and Word in which some pop-up UI elements could not be clicked, such as the Join Meeting pop-up in Outlook or the Welcome Back pop-up in PowerPoint; and another in Project in which some projects would close unexpectedly when loading customized reports.
Get more info about Version 2111 (Build 14701.20226).
Version 2110 (Build 14527.20312)
Release date: December 1, 2021
This build fixes several bugs, including one that wouldnt allow people to insert their signatures into new emails, replies, or forwards after a restart of Outlook, and another in which the theme picker in Word's File > Options menu for x64 users didnt work.
Get more info about Version 2110 (Build 14527.20312).
Version 2110 (Build 14527.20276)
Release date: November 9, 2021
This build fixes a variety of bugs, including one in Excel in which when opening linked tables to Dynamics, numbers may appear as small squares when the data is displayed, and one in Project in which when tasks are rescheduled, manually scheduled tasks may be scheduled earlier than they should be. It also offers security updates for Excel, Word, and the entire Office suite. For details, see Release notes for Microsoft Office security updates.
What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.
Get more info about Version 2110 (Build 14527.20276).
Version 2110 (Build 14527.20234)
Release date: October 28, 2021
This build fixes several small bugs, including one in Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word in which each app stopped responding when drawing an image.
Get more info about Version 2110 (Build 14527.20234).
Version 2110 (Build 14527.20226)
Release date: October 25, 2021
This build includes a wide variety of new features, including several dozen in Teams, ranging from making Live Transcript available for web users of Teams meetings, a new Question & Answer application for Teams webinars & meetings, and allowing people to join meetings in other clouds anonymously from the Teams desktop app.
Several Office bugs were also fixed, including one in Excel in which a query update caused Excel to stop responding, and one in Outlook that caused a sync failure to occur when generating a preview.
Get more info about Version 2110 (Build 14527.20226).
Version 2109 (Build 14430.20306)
Release date: October 14, 2021
This build offers a variety of unnamed bug fixes and performance fixes.
Get more info about Version 2109 (Build 14430.20306).
Version 2109 (Build 14430.20298)
Release date: October 12, 2021
This build offers security updates for Excel, Visio, Word, and the entire Office suite. For details, see Release notes for Microsoft Office security updates.
What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.
Get more info about Version 2109 (Build 14430.20298).
Version 2109 (Build 14430.20270)
Release date: October 6, 2021
This build fixes a bug in Outlook that caused some users to experience a stop responding when attempting to retrieve AutoDiscover settings.
Get more info about Version 2109 (Build 14430.20270).
Version 2109 (Build 14430.20234)
Release date: September 28, 2021
This build introduces more than a dozen new Teams features, including one in which you can now define a default number of days to keep Teams meeting recordings saved to OneDrive and SharePoint before they are automatically deleted, and the introduction of the Network Planner for government clouds to help you determine and organize network requirements for connecting Microsoft Teams users across an organization.
It also fixes a wide variety of bugs, including one in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint in which some users could not export documents to PDF or XPS formats, and another in Word in which the insert online video button was disabled.
Get more info about Version 2109 (Build 14430.20234).
Version 2108 (Build 14326.20404)
Release date: September 14, 2021
This build fixes a single small bug and includes security updates. The bug fixed is one that caused a loss of HTML formatting when a draft of an email was saved to disk.
The security updates are for Access, Excel, Visio, Word, and the entire Office suite. For details, see Release notes for Microsoft Office security updates.
What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.
Get more info about Version 2108 (Build 14326.20404).
Version 2108 (Build 14326.20348)
Release date: September 7, 2021
This build fixes several bugs, including one in Excel in which not all columns appeared when linking to or importing from a Dynamics table, one in Outlook that that caused Room Finder to fail to load, and one in Word in which the print preview was not loading when using Print.
Get more info about Version 2108 (Build 14326.20348).
Version 2108 (Build 14326.20238)
Release date: August 25, 2021
This build introduces many new features for Microsoft Teams, including the ability for meeting participants to transfer calls between desktop and mobile, a top hits section added to the top of search autosuggestions, and live captions being made available to users accessing Teams meetings via the web.
The build also fixes a wide variety of bugs, including one in which connecting to a data source from within the PowerPivot window in Excel was not working, one that crashed Outlook while email was being composed, one in Word in which the Insert Online Video button was disabled, and one for the entire Office suite in which some documents failed to load after using some web add-ins.
Get more info about Version 2108 (Build 14326.20238).
Version 2107 (Build 14228.20250)
Release date: August 10, 2021
This build fixes a variety of small bugs and includes security updates. Among the bugs fixed are one in Excel that caused some linked Dynamics tables to stop responding and one in multiple Office apps in which document exports to PDF or XPS formats stopped responding due to recent updates.
The security updates are for Word and the entire Office suite. For details, see Release notes for Microsoft Office security updates.
What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.
Get more info about Version 2107 (Build 14228.20250).
Version 2107 (Build 14228.20226)
Release date: August 3, 2021
This build fixes two bugs in Outlook. One caused emails resent by a different user to appear to have been sent by the original sender in organizations that enable Send From Alias. The other caused users to see duplicate time entries in the end meeting time drop-down when the start of the meeting and the end of the meeting were on different dates.
Get more info about Version 2107 (Build 14228.20226).
Version 2107 (Build 14228.20204)
Release date: July 26, 2021
This build offers several minor new features and fixes a variety of bugs. Among the new features are one in which you can use the Immersive Reader in Outlook to create custom text spacing, page colors, column width, and line focus, and another in PowerPoint adds Flipgrid video support.
Among the bugs fixed are one Word in which comment cards next to the Word canvas were the incorrect size, and one in which Outlook crashed for some people when performing searches.
Get more info about Version 2107 (Build 14228.20204).
Version 2106 (Build 14131.20332)
Release date: July 20, 2021
This build fixes several small bugs in Outlook, including one that caused some users to experience an unexpected close when Outlook was collecting diagnostic information, and another that caused Cloud Settings users to experience an unexpected close when an incompletely configured account was present in the profile.
Get more info about Version 2106 (Build 14131.20332).
Version 2106 (Build 14131.20320)
Release date: July 13, 2021
This build fixes a variety of small bugs and includes security updates. Among the bugs fixed are one in Outlook that caused some systems to crash while retrieving service-powered search suggestions, and one for the entire Office suite related to instability during DirectX device loss and recovery situations.
The security updates are for Excel, Word, and the entire Office suite. For details, see Release notes for Microsoft Office security updates.
What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.
Get more info about Version 2106 (Build 14131.20320).
Version 2106 (Build 14131.20278)
Release date: June 29, 2021
This build introduces several new minor features for Outlook, including one that includes the most relevant files related to your search when you type in the Search box, and another alerts you if any suspicious sign-in activity is detected and tells you when and where you last signed into your account.
It also fixes a variety of small bugs, including one in Outlook that disabled translation options for some people, and one in PowerPoint in which people couldnt to enter credentials into a Windows Security dialog to open a file, because a PowerPoint dialog box obstructed it.
Get more info about Version 2106 (Build 14131.20278).
Version 2105 (Build 14026.20308)
Release date: June 18, 2021
This build fixes several small bugs, including one in Outlook that caused users to experience an unexpected property change prompt when closing a message they had replied to or forwarded, and other for the entire Office suite in which Office crashed when reopening certain files.
Get more info about Version 2105 (Build 14026.20308).
Version 2105 (Build 14026.20270)
Release date: June 8, 2021
This build fixes a variety of small bugs and includes security updates. Among the bugs fixed are one in Excel in which extra entries appeared in the Excel Add-in list for some users, one in Outlook that caused it to close when interacting with Outlook Mail or Calendar Views, and one for the entire Office suite that caused a performance regression on opening SyncBacked files.
The security updates are for Access, Excel, Outlook, and the entire Office suite. For details, see Release notes for Microsoft Office security updates.
What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.
Get more info about Version 2105 (Build 14026.20270).
Version 2105 (Build 14026.20246)
Release date: May 24, 2021
This build includes nearly two dozen new features in Teams: anonymous users can join a Live Event so that they can present during the event, webinars can be scheduled and delivered for up to 1,000 people at a time, and users can create group chats that include people external to their organization who use Teams.
Word, Excel and PowerPoint now allow documents encrypted with sensitivity labels to be AutoSaved and co-authored with others in real time. (Unencrypted documents have this feature already.)
There are also a wide variety of resolved issues, including fixing a bug in Word in which the Editor Pane didnt open, and one in PowerPoint in which the Reuse Slides option was not available for some users.
Get more info about Version 2105 (Build 14026.20246).
Version 2104 (Build 13929.20386)
Release date: May 18, 2021
This build fixes two issues with Outlook, one that caused the people picker in Outlook to expand upward rather than downward for users with a perpetual license, and another that caused the feedback option to fail to appear for users of the Office Perpetual 2021 preview.
Get more info about Version 2104 (Build 13929.20386).
Version 2104 (Build 13929.20372)
Release date: May 11, 2021
This build fixes a variety of small bugs and includes security updates. Among the bugs fixed are one in which a major version build rollback could result in crashes when opening files in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, and one that caused Word to unexpectedly close when the user logged off or restarted their computer.
The security updates are for Access, Excel, Word, and the entire Office suite. For details, see Release notes for Microsoft Office security updates.
What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.
Get more info about Version 2104 (Build 13929.20372).
Version 2104 (Build 13929.20296)
Release date: April 29, 2021
This build offers a variety of feature updates, including the addition of new linked data types in Excel, improved collaboration and a dark mode in Word, a set of ready-made graphics in Visio, and the ability to create an out-of-office message in Teams.
There are also a variety of bug fixes, including for one in Excel in which some automation add-ins for Excel couldnt load, another in Excel that caused users to see signatures disappear unexpectedly, one in Project in which users were unable to remove projects from the resource pool, and one in Word in which some texts werent visible when using the dark mode theme in reading mode.
Get more info about Version 2104 (Build 13929.20296).
Version 2103 (Build 13901.20400)
Release date: April 13, 2021
This build fixes several small bugs throughout Office and includes security updates. Among the bugs fixed are ones in Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word that caused a resource contention issue when drawing an image.
The security updates are for Excel, Outlook, Word, and the entire Office suite. For details, see Microsofts Release notes for Microsoft Office security updates.
What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.
Get more info about Version 2103 (Build 13901.20400).
Version 2103 (Build 13901.20336)
Release date: April 2, 2021
This build fixes a bug in Outlook in which a component of Outlook used by MAPI-enabled applications on computers with ARM processors caused searches to fail or put extra load on the computer as background apps restarted repeatedly.
Get more info about Version 2103 (Build 13901.20336).
Version 2103 (Build 13901.20312)
Release date: March 30, 2021
This build offers several new features, including getting meeting suggestions when you search for someone in Outlook; being able to send a copy of email messages or conversations, including attachments, from Outlook into Teams chats and channels; and drafting documents with your voice in Word.
In addition, a number of bugs were resolved, including fixing an issue that crashed Outlook when it was syncing folder hierarchy changes, and fixing a bug in Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word in which disabled commands in the Office Ribbon would only have the icon grayed out but not the text in Dark Gray Office Theme.
Get more info about Version 2103 (Build 13901.20312).
Version 2102 (Build 13801.20360)
Release date: March 18, 2021
This build fixes several bugs, including one in Outlook that caused users of the Cloud Settings feature to see customized settings overridden by default setting after configuring Outlook on a new device, and one in Word in which typing at the end of a hidden paragraph cased Word to hang.
Get more info about Version 2102 (Build 13801.20360).
Version 2102 (Build 13801.20294)
Release date: March 9, 2021
This build fixes several small bugs with Outlook and includes security updates. Among the bugs fixed are one that in which newly added calendars didnt appear in the navigation pane until after Outlook had been restarted, and one in Word in which Narrator skipped over paragraphs.
The security updates are for Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, and the entire Office suite. For details, see Release notes for Microsoft Office security updates.
What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.
Get more info about Version 2102 (Build 13801.20294).
Version 2102 (Build 13801.20266)
Release date: March 1, 2021
This build introduces a number of new features. In Excel, you can now unhide multiple sheets at a time, and you can also resize Conditional Formatting dialogs. Outlook gets an updated Contacts view list. Teams lets you send reactions to others during meetings. In addition, you can add a channel to a calendar tab. Excel, PowerPoint, and Word now require that users apply sensitivity labels to documents if their organizations policy requires it.
The build also fixes a number of issues. In Excel, an issue was fixed that prevented users from exporting an Excel workbook to PDF. In Outlook, an issue was fixed that caused users to see duplicate calendar groups appearing after creating a new group. In Word, an issue was fixed in resolving conflicts while in coauthoring.
Get more info about Version 2102 (Build 13801.20266).
Version 2101 (Build 13628.20448)
Release date: February 16, 2021
This build fixes several bugs, including one in which Outlook sometimes closed unexpectedly when users were doing a search, and another in Outlook that caused mails to be sent as digitally signed after the user unchecked that option.
It also fixes two bugs for the entire Office suite, including one related to media controller event notifications and another related to media player engine timing.
Get more info about Version 2101 (Build 13628.20448).
Version 2101 (Build 13628.20380)
Release date: February 9, 2021
This build fixes several issues with Outlook and includes security updates for Excel. Among the Outlook bugs fixed are one that caused Cloud Settings users to experience a hang when updating settings, and another that caused issues with displaying the correct default signature in OWA.
The security updates fixed three Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities. For details, see the release notes for Microsoft Office security updates.
What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.
Get more info about Version 2101 (Build 13628.20380).
Version 2101 (Build 13628.20274)
Release date: January 26, 2021
This build offers a variety of new features, including allowing government customers to apply sensitivity labels to documents and emails in Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word. It also automatically sends audit data about that sensitivity labeling to Microsoft 365 administrators. Additionally, in Outlook, you can now delete conversations based on message owners.
There are also a variety of bug fixes, including for a bug in which Excel would fail to launch or close unexpectedly if certain Windows Security exploit protection settings (SimExec, CallerCheck) were in use, another in which Outlook closed unexpectedly in certain search scenarios, and another in Project in which borders weren't showing up for tasks in the Team Planner view.
Get more info about Version 2101 (Build 13628.20274).
Version 2012 (Build 13530.20440)
Release date: January 21, 2021
This build fixes a handful of bugs, including one in Outlook that caused users that have Shared or Delegated Mailboxes with large hierarchies in their profile to encounter hangs, and other that caused Outlook to close unexpectedly in certain search scenarios.
Get more info about Version 2012 (Build 13530.20440).
Version 2012 (Build 13530.20376)
Release date: January 12, 2021
This build fixes two bugs, one in which Excel would fail to launch or close unexpectedly if certain Windows Security exploit protection settings (SimExec, CallerCheck) were in use, and another in Outlook that that caused an edited signature to fail to save after prompting the user to do so.
There are also a variety of security fixes for Excel, Word, and the entire Office suite.
What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.
Get more info about Version 2012 (Build 13530.20376).
Version 2012 (Build 13530.20316)
Release date: January 5, 2021
This build lets you change your Outlook settings in the cloud, such as for Automatic Replies, Focused Inbox, and Privacy, and have them available on all of your PCs. PowerPoint gets a new feature called Presenter Coach that helps you helps you prepare to give more effective presentations.
There are also a variety of bug fixes, including for a bug in Outlook that that caused some people to encounter a hang while loading their calendar, and another in PowerPoint in which fonts didnt properly display inside equations.
Get more info about Version 2012 (Build 13530.20316).
With one month left until Outlook 2007 hits end of life, Microsoft released a fix yesterday for the September security patchs polyglot ways. You may recall KB 4011086 as the Outlook 2007 patch that displays Swedish menus in the Hungarian language version, Portuguese in Italian, Swedish in Slovenian, Spanish in Italian, and many more. One hitch: You have to manually uninstall the old patch before you can install the new patch.
For those of you using Outlook 2010 who got hit with the same language switcheroo, I haven't seen any notice that this months KB 4011089 has been fixed or pulled.
Worth remembering: This new Outlook 2007 patch, KB 4011110, also includes the fix that breaks VBScript printing in custom forms.
Outlook security patch scorecard
When you sort through all the announcements, changes and re-releases, heres the latest Outlook security patch scorecard, with my recommendations:
Outlook 2007 If you havent yet installed the September security patch, KB 4011086, wait. Its too early to tell if the new security patch, KB 4011110, has bugs of its own. If you did install the original security patch, KB 4011086, and you arent encountering language change problems, stay put.
But if you installed the original security patch and youre having problems with Swedish menus showing up in your Slovenian version, you need to manually uninstall KB 4011086, then install KB 4011110. The instructions in the KB article for uninstalling KB 4011086 are wrong. See a corrected version of the steps in @PKCanos post on AskWoody.
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If you apply either the Tower of Babel version KB 4011086 or this new, corrected language version KB 4011110, scripts wont work in your custom forms, but at least now we know whats happening. Realize that security patches for Office 2007 will stop next month.
Remember when patching Outlook 2007 was easy?
Outlook 2010 If you havent yet install the September security patch, KB 4011089, wait. It isnt clear if Microsoft will release another version that solves the language-mangling bug, much as they did with Outlook 2007. I also have a report (still unconfirmed) that KB 4011089 breaks the viewing of archived mail you can see only a portion of archived messages, and the links to see the rest dont work. (Thanks, @JBar300.)
Outlook 2013 If you havent yet installed the September security patch, KB 4011090, wait. Theres no Tower of Babel looming over the patch, but weve only seen it in action for a week. It's much too early to know if there are additional problems.
Outlook 2016 Same recommendation, for the same reason. Wait.
Microsoft has a Security Advisory posted about these security patches. The only explanation given:
Microsoft has released an update for Microsoft Office that provides enhanced security as a defense-in-depth measure.
Which doesnt exactly shout Patch Now to my ears.
As you might imagine, theres a lively discussion going on the AskWoody Lounge.
Trello is a collaborative work management app designed to track team projects, highlight tasks underway, show who they are assigned to, and detail progress towards completion.
At its core, Trello relies on the principles of Kanban project boards to visualize workflows, providing managers and team members with a simple overview of a project from start to finish.
Trellos key components are boards, lists, and cards.
Boards are the starting point, and typically focus on an over-arching project such as launching a new website, or process-based tasks, such as on-boarding an employee. Within each board, several lists can be created to indicate the progress of a project; to do, in progress, and done lists are common examples. Individual cards within the lists hold information on a specific task and can be moved from list to list as needed (such as when a task is completed).
Trello Trello's timeline view.
Each card can contain a broad range of task information, including a text description, file attachments, automations, comments, and more.
Users navigate Trello from a home view that acts as a hub and central newsfeed. This allows them to easily jump to boards or surface all of the cards a user might have missed since last logging in.
Trello which was acquired by software vendor Atlassian in 2017 - integrates well with other applications, too, using what the company calls power-ups. These API integrations allow users to access features in Slack, Salesforce, Gmail, or other apps (as well with Atlassians own products) directly from Trello.
A big part of Trellos appeal is its ease of use and versatility: the app is often also used for personal itineraries, including anything from planning holidays to weddings. In that sense, it differs from full-featured project management software, prioritizing lightweight functionality and accessibility over a broad feature set.
Unlike project management applications like Microsoft Project that target traditional project managers, Trello can be used across the organization by anyone that needs to manage projects but does not need or want a specialized and complex project management tool, said Raul Castanon, senior analyst at 451 Research, a division of S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Atlassian sought to make Trello even more powerful with the introduction of workflow automations after it acquired Butler and integrated its features into the app. This lets users set up simple rules to automate repetitive tasks such as moving a cards to the done list when a checklist is complete, for instance.
Trello Trello cards provide project information in easy-to-digest ways to simplify task management.
Trello pricing
Trello, which revamped its pricing structure on Aug. 24, now offers four tiers: Free, Standard, Premium, and Enterprise.
The free tier requires users to sign up, and provides access to unlimited power-up integrations, unlimited storage (up to 10MB per file), 250 Butler automations, and other features. But the number of accessible boards is limited to 10.
The recently introduced Standard tier adds advanced checklists and custom fields, additional Butler automations, and higher file size storage (up to 250MB per file. It costs $5 per user each month, when paid annually.
The Premium option $10 per month has unlimited Butler automations, added dashboard, timeline and calendar views, and admin and security tools.
The top-tier Enterprise plan includes further security measures designed for deployments at large businesses. These measures include organization-wide permissions, mobile device management integration, and other admin-focused capabilities. The Enterprise version offers a range of pricing plans, depending on the number of users. It starts at $17.50 per user a month.
How Trello compares to alternatives
Demand for work management tools was on the rise even before the Covid-19 pandemic. The growing popularity of remote work and hybrid workplaces has only increased the need for tools to coordinate tasks among disparate teams.
In fact, Gartner expects spending on social and collaboration platforms to rise 17% this year to $4.5 billion, with spending on work management platforms being the biggest driver.
Its a competitive field. Alongside Trello, a variety of work management software vendors have emerged to capitalize on business demand. Among these are Asana and Monday, both which completed IPOs in the past 12 months, at valuations of $4 billion and $7.5 billion, respectively. In recent months, other competitors in the space have been acquired, including Workfront (bought by Adobe for $1.5 billion) and Wrike (bought by Citrix for $2.25 billion).
Microsoft also has a task management tool, Planner, which is part of its Microsoft 365 suite.
Many of these tools are built around the same Kanban-style to-do list approach popularized by Trello; they offer similar boards, lists, and card layouts, as well as other views. Most also include automations and collaborative features.
Other rivals take a more spreadsheet-centric view of project management; these include well-funded standalone apps such as Smartsheet and Airtable, as well as products such as Microsoft Lists and Google Tables.
Trello has long held a significant market share, thanks mainly to its ease of use. There were at least 50 million registered users in 2018, according to the most recent stats publicly available, though Atlassian said the figure is now significantly higher. It has also benefited from integration into Atlassians portfolio of apps such, as Jira.
It combines ease of use and flexibility with powerful capabilities, making it an effective tool across a wide range of use cases, said Castanon.
Furthermore, momentum gained during the COVID-19 lockdown shows that Trello is a natural fit for supporting team collaboration in a distributed workforce, he said.
All in all, Trello stands out against other similar tools; however, it is facing growing competition from adjacent categories. This will be perhaps its main challenge moving forward, he said.
How Trello plans to evolve
Trello earlier this year announced an overhaul of its app, to coincide with the 10-year anniversary of its launch.
Among other changes, Trello has gotten several new board views: table, timeline, dashboard, and calendar. These provide different perspectives allowing users to view and interact with the information held in boards.
Trello Trello's Dashboard view visualizes key metrics such as due dates, assigned cards, and cards per list.
Going forward, Trello said users will be able to move cards across different boards in each of the different views, just as is possible with the table view currently. Third-party developers will also be able to create their own apps and services to connect with the various board views in future.
Trello now offers three new card types: link cards, board cards, and mirror cards. Link cards, for instance, can connect with apps such as Dropbox or Google Drive by pasting a URL in the cards title, and can display a preview of the content.
Trello has been ahead of the curve in several ways, said Castanon.
That said, the app now faces stronger competition than its seen in the past, particularly as some elements of work management apps become embedded in existing productivity tools. For example, Fluid Components are part of Microsoft 365, and Smart Canvas is incorporated into Google Workspace. Those integrations make lightweight task management features available in a range of document types.
Updates by Microsoft and Google also reflect that Trello faces an intensely competitive space, with the roadmap for productivity tools increasingly incorporating work management capabilities, Castanon said.
Dominic Grieve believes Brexit is a revolution, and the trouble with revolutions is youre never quite sure whats going to happen next.
In this interview he explains why he regards the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill as an absolute monstrosity, in which the safeguards have been chucked out of the window, and sets out what in his view is needed to put this right.
He also emphasises that in order to ensure proper parliamentary scrutiny of Brexit, and avoid a second Gina Mlller challenge, this cannot be the end of the legislative process: There will have to be another Bill to get us out of the EU, once we know what the final settlement is going to be.
Grieve, MP for Beaconsfield since 1997 and Attorney-General from 2010 until sacked by David Cameron in 2014, strongly opposed Brexit but now accepts that unless there is a sea-change in public opinion, it is going to happen.
He has long been recognised as one of the few Conservatives with the ability (in the words of one of his colleagues) to flllet a Bill, a task he undertook while the party was in opposition before 2010, and which as a senior backbencher he is performing now: Im doing a deeply conservative thing with a small c. Im trying to ensure the revolution is tempered by some legal principle as we go through it, and that the Government accepts it cant just have short cuts.
On his mothers side, Grieve has strong family connections with France, and on the mantlepiece of his office stands a 19th-century bronze clock, surmounted by a bust of a classical figure.
An inquiry from ConHome about the identity of this figure produced a startling revelation: Its Hippocrates [the father of medicine]. The clock belonged to my five times great grandfather, who was a French doctor in Paris in the early 19th century. Ive got a medal thanking him for his devotion in the cholera outbreak of 1832, given to him by the city of Paris, but I also have to say that he wrote what was then the definitive treatise on nymphomania.
ConHome: Ill go and look it up. Do you have a copy of it?
Grieve: I dont have a copy of it, no. They are available online. I suspect they may be of interest to people who are not necessarily medically qualified.
ConHome: Is there any route by which in your view Britain could stay in the European Union?
Grieve: I think for us to stay in the European Union would require two things to happen. One, it would require a sea-change in public opinion. And then linked to that would have to be a willingness of our EU27 partners to have us back.
It might be that they would be very happy to have us back. It might be that they would be sufficiently concerned at our ambivalence not to be interested.
What might trigger such a sea-change is I think pure speculation. But none of this I think is very likely.
So I act on the assumption that we will leave the European Union in due course, presumably at the end of our two-year period.
ConHome: Now on the actual European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, youve used some very strong language. Youve called it an astonishing monstrosity.
Grieve: It is a monstrosity of a Bill. I dont think Ive ever seen a bit of legislation in which the government seeks to arrogate to itself such powers, in order to carry out what I accept is a revolutionary change, and that is very difficult.
The reality is we are having to disentangle 50 years of legal entanglement, and because of the depth of that merger its a very difficult thing to do. So the Government has some sympathy from me, but faced with this very difficult task it has to resort to rather draconian methods to bring it about.
But that having been said, the Bill as drafted is not acceptable. But I am convinced that with a little bit of good will it can be improved to make it acceptable. My view is that at the moment it remains a monstrosity.
ConHome: Why did they get it so wrong first time round?
Grieve: Ive no idea. Youd have to ask them why they did.
ConHome: So what are the main changes that you require?
Grieve: I think there are three main areas that need some attention. One you need to look at the Henry VIII powers and see where theyre excessive and unnecessary I accept there are going to have to be some Henry VIII powers, but you need a proper parliamentary scrutiny system for dealing with it, which is not provided for in the Bill at all, and that can be done.
Time is going to be very short. I dont suppose this Bill is going to be on the statute book before Easter of next year. It might be March, but I dont see it happening earlier than that with the House of Lords phase. So theyre only going to have 12 months to implement all these Statutory Instruments that theyre going to have to do.
At the moment EU law is significantly different from UK law. Some people dont like it, indeed I cant say Im a great fan of EU law, Im an old-fashioned common lawyer. But it has its own interpretation, it has its own safeguards, and it has its own very unusual way of being created.
Now the Governments kept the creation, its taken it over and said its now going to be UK law, but the safeguards have been chucked out of the window, because they argue that these safeguards are not part of our normal common law principles.
Well if I may say so I dont think thats the right way of doing it. I think youve got to accept that while we obviously leave the jurisdiction of the ECJ, our own Supreme Court is obviously going to have to be substituted for the ECJ, to interpret EU law until we get rid of it as EU law. And thats what the Government has not done.
Thats why Lord Neuberger made his comments, when he said he was troubled that the law left a lot of uncertainties.
What role does Parliament have in the final deal? The reality is that the Government is almost certainly going to need a further statute to get us out at the end. Im absolutely convinced of it. It wont be possible, because they are going to want to dot the is and cross the ts about the future arrangements.
ConHome: Which havent been settled yet.
Grieve: Which havent been settled yet. So I find it very difficult to give the Government a blank cheque with this Bill. At some point when we have a deal we will need to vote on it. In my opinion we will need a short piece of primary legislation.
The risk otherwise for the Government is that someone like Gina Miller challenges it again in the Supreme Court, which is the last thing the Government wants.
ConHome: Theres absolutely no danger at that point of a second referendum?
Grieve: The question of a second referendum is in my opinion dependent on whether there were to be a major change in public opinion.
Im alive to the fact that we are in, to my mind, revolutionary times. We have initiated revolution. I realise that some of my more dyed-in-the-wool Conservative Brexit colleagues might find that a difficult thing to follow, because they think theyve acted in the name of tradition, but actually theyve perpetrated a revolution, and the trouble with revolutions is youre never quite sure whats going to happen next.
ConHome: Kerensky can give way
Grieve: Kerensky can give way to Lenin and Lenin can give way to Stalin. Im afraid its a very unBritish thing to do, but there we are. We havent done it for 300 years.
ConHome: Obviously we shouldnt have had the first referendum.
Grieve: Well I dont know about that. I voted for it so I must take responsibility. David Cameron did it to try to resolve issues, and it didnt resolve the issues in the way that he had intended. Thats water under the bridge.
Labour have approached this slightly differently, because theyre trying to use this legislation to force the Government to stay in the Single Market, and I dont agree with that, that isnt what this Bill is about.
ConHome: Presumably you know Sir Keir Starmer quite well?
Grieve: I know Keir very well. I have a very high regard for Keir and hes pursuing a perfectly legitimate agenda for an opposition party.
ConHome: You were smiling very broadly at various points when Keir spoke on the first day of the debate.
Grieve: I smiled broadly I suppose for two reasons. One it was classic Keir, he has a very lawyerly way of dealing with things, hes a lawyer more than a politician, although hes learning, and secondly I thought most of the points he was making were well made. He pointed out where the Bill didnt do what it said it was going to do.
ConHome: What did you think of the Foreign Secretarys recent article in the Daily Telegraph?
Grieve: I disagreed with large parts of it.
ConHome: What in particular?
Grieve: I was startled to see the resurrection of the 350 million, which I would have thought myself was a subject best left parked. If were going to get through this process there is a need for collective responsibility.
ConHome: Many Eurosceptics would say this is actually having a revivifying effect on Parliament. Youre in your element doing this stuff in fact.
Grieve: Well its certainly given me something to keep me busy. I was drafting amendments I thought its eight years since I drafted any amendments. In government you dont really draft any amendments.
I should make clear the amendments are not designed to wreck the legislation. Im doing a deeply conservative thing with a small c. Im trying to ensure the revolution is tempered by some legal principle as we go through it, and that the Government accepts it cant just have short cuts.
Sitting up late at night trying to make head or tail of a piece of legislation and then trying to draft some creative amendments is an old skill which Ive had to hone down. Oddly enough, I once did a Bill with Boris. Proceeds of Crime Bill. I tabled 318 amendments. Weve even got Boris at the bottom.
He produced from a shelf a framed copy of this Bill, signed by the various Conservatives who had been involved. In words which will perhaps one day be applied to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, Boris had scrawled: Dominic, its been an education and a privilege. You made them listen and probably improved the damn thing.
Alex Morton was a member of David Camerons Downing Street Policy Unit.
Brexit is a major challenge on many fronts technical, logistical, political. And so it is right that the Conservatives focus attention on making it a success. But not every problem can wait until the issue of Brexit is solved. Housing is one which allows the Tories a single shot at resolving an issue that will determine their long-term survival. If by the next election home ownership has continued to decline, and people feel that it will continue to do so, the Conservatives cannot win. Evidence shows that Labour is finally mobilising private renters who are frustrated by the failure to extend home ownership to them with social renters also generally Labour voters, particularly those who are not in work.
Last week, a building society released data showing since 2007 housing had got more affordable in 50 per cent of the country. But in 2007, we were at the peak of a bubble and, since then, housing has become even less affordable in half the country. This is simply unsustainable. With 86 per cent of people wanting to own, falling ownership is a major source of frustration. Contrary to popular belief, we are now one of the societies with the lowest rates of home ownership in the developed world.
Without a stake in society, neither the One Nation dream of a society at ease with itself nor Margaret Thatchers aspirational society is viable. Both wings of the Conservative party need to realise that this is an issue that cannot wait. All policy areas take a long time to implement, but housing has a very long lead time. Reform to housing and planning takes 18 months to bring in. It then feeds through the system in a similar time period. This means that the Conservatives need to implement reforms fairly urgently if these are to make a difference in the 2022 election.
Home ownership is critical
Some people want to rent and we need a better, more professional offer for this group the build to rent phenomena. This cannot distract from the fact that the Conservative Party needs to be the party of home ownership. The 2017 Manifesto barely touched on home ownership and instead promised changes to renting. This completely failed as a tactic to win over renters. In addition, figures from Eurostat show that the UK has the highest level of social housing in the entire European Union. The idea that the only way forward is to increase the level of social housing yet further illustrates lack of understanding of our housing sector.
We risk repeating past mistakes if we do not understand them
The Government has promised to reform the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). To do this correctly, it is necessary to understand why this framework failed the first time around. The NPPF created something called the Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development. As I wrote at the time in Cities for Growth in 2011, this effectively recreated the system of the late 1980s, in which sites would be allowed to come through on appeal when the planning inspectorate overrules local councils deemed to be failing on the issues of housing and land supply to release additional sites.
This increased the number of large sites coming through the system, but it had only a limited impact on housing supply, because it required large companies to force these sites through on appeal a costly process. In addition, the amount of land increased, but as this was through the largest sites, and developers tend to build out a large site not that much more quickly than a small or medium sized one, this increase was limited. The reforms were politically painful, but practically fairly ineffectual.
Those pushing the reforms most of all George Osborne saw the fact that the Daily Telegraph was up in arms at these changes as a great success because it showed younger voters were on their side. This was a mistake: younger voters tend to be more concerned with whether or not they own a home than internal Tory wrangles. I remember various internal arguments during which I was told that the reforms would ensure that housing supply would be fixed within a few years and various journalists who couldnt understand that I was both for increased housing supply but sceptical of the proposed reforms. Again, this time round, we should not mistake angering some voters for resolving the problems: indeed, our goal should be to maximum increases in supply for as little political pain as possible.
We will have one shot at getting the revision of the NPPF right, and to put in place wider housing reforms that will increase supply over the next few years. This makes the next eighteen months critical for the long-term future of the Conservative Party.
We also may face a downturn which may cripple supply without raising ownership
While housing supply has increased, it has not yet even reached 200,000 homes a year in England well below the levels necessary that need to be consistently achieved in order to stabilise house prices and rents, and reduce speculation in the housing market. But if the economy turns down, as it did in 2007-9, housing numbers risk falling roughly in half as they did then, because the system is not fundamentally different.
In such circumstances, home ownership will not rise (as lending will contract) but supply will fall, exacerbating the medium term undersupply of housing. Government needs a plan to maintain supply. This cannot be just increased housing grant: the collapse in housing numbers occurred despite a huge increase in grant to build more affordable housing (such an increase in grant is a necessary but insufficient part of any plan).
So the challenge is immense. Taken all together, the increase in housing numbers proposed last week by DCLG will not solve most of the deep rooted problems within the system but, if other reforms are undertaken, they could act as an accelerant by increasing the flow of permissions and land. However, time is short for very complicated reforms to be put in place. We must accelerate reform as quickly as possible.
After two decades of devolution, its promises are unfulfilled
This week has marked the 20th anniversary of the referendums which delivered (just barely, in Wales case) the devolved legislatures in Scotland and Wales.
Predictably the devocrats the civic class who derive salaries, sinecures and status from the new institutions have been out in force to celebrate the anniversary. Carwyn Jones, the First Minister of Wales, has gone so far as to say that the country wouldnt really exist if one per cent of his countrymen had switched their votes in 1997.
Yet despite this uniform support, public attitudes towards devolution are mixed. Not only do the records of the devolved governments not stand up to the bright promises of the devolutionaries, but there persists a not-insubstantial minority who would still either vote to abolish the devolved institutions or at least not vote to establish them if they had their time again.
Obviously these are a minority about one in five of those polled, in both nations but this is despite a political environment where nobody has been making the case against devolution for two decades.
Just as Vote Leave would probably have done much better than they did in Scotland if the public debate had properly represented the four-in-ten Scots who ended up voting Leave, its not implausible to suppose that devo-scepticism might be more widespread if its baseline support were represented by about a fifth of Civic Scotland (and Civic Wales).
Nonetheless, the EU referendum warns against complacency about devolutions future. British EU membership once enjoyed a seemingly impregnable position as one of the orthodoxies of modern political life before decades of disappointment, disconnection between rulers and ruled, and the labours of a fringe but dedicated core of sceptics did their work.
Brokenshire insists that Ulster watchdog protect national security information
The Northern Irish Secretary has warned the Independent Reporting Commission, a new watchdog set up to monitor activity by paramilitaries, must not reveal information which could damage British national security.
The News Letter reports him saying that some of the information passed to the IRC, which was set up following a string of high-profile Republican killings, could also place individuals at risk of injury or worse.
In other Ulster news, the Democratic Unionists are digging in their heels as the negotiations to re-establish the devolved legislature at Stormont go nowhere. Two MPs have intervened this week: Sammy Wilson to rule out a culture act which would enshrine special protections for the Irish language, and Jeffrey Donaldson to warn the Irish Government in Dublin against trying to interfere.
Labour in Scotland faced disaster without Corbyn, claims Scottish leadership candidate
One of the two men running to succeed Kezia Dugdale as the Labour leader in Scotland has heaped praise on Jeremy Corbyn for the partys surprise gains in Junes election, according to the Scotsman.
Richard Leonard, a left-wing candidate who worked for 20 years for the GMB trades union, made his remarks in a column for the website Labour List.
His greater willingness to identify with the overall UK leader is perhaps not surprising Leonard has come under attack from Labours small-n nationalists (who have yet to learn their lesson) for being an English candidate.
Ulster UKIP fined for election records
The Belfast Telegraph reports that the Northern Irish branch of the UK Independence Party has been fined 3,500 by the Electoral Commission for inaccurate record-keeping.
After running just a single candidate in Marchs snap elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly, UKIP registered their party spending as 0 and claimed that everything was covered on their candidates return.
Now in the doldrums (much like the party on the mainland), UKIP have previously been represented in the Assembly after attracting a defector, David McNarry.
J-Tech Corporation is recalling 5,068 Icon Alliance Dark, Alliance GT Rubatone, and Alliance GT Horror motorcycle helmets in sizes XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, and XXXL.
The helmets may have faulty stitching on the webbing possibly allowing the D-rings to separate from the chin strap.
The helmet may not stay secured to the rider's head in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
What to do
J-Tech will notify owners, and provide replacement helmets, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in October 2017.
Owners should contact Parts Unlimited at 1-800-369-1000 or by email at helmets@parts-unltd.com for information on returning the helmet for a replacement one.
DERBYCON - Earlier this month, Salted Hash deconstructed a phishing email that had bypassed company filters and made into the general inbox.
The email focused on an outdated company subdivision, and was easily spotted as a scam. However, we've since learned the message itself could be part of a larger campaign that has been targeting Office 365 customers since at least June.
[ Check out these 11 phishing prevention tips for best technology practices, employee education and social media smarts. | Get the latest from CSO by signing up for our newsletters. ]
This wasn't a random phishing attack:
On September 7, Salted Hash received a generic looking email warning that our account was almost over quota and these alleged space limitations were responsible for a delay in email delivery. In order to address this problem, the message said to open an attached HTML file and follow instructions. The email was clearly a scam, and the reasoning we used to flag the message as such is explained in our original story.
Shortly after publishing a breakdown of the September 7 message, we were contacted by a source who said the issue was much larger than a basic one-off attempt at harvesting credentials as we had reported.
As it turns out, Salted Hash was just one potential victim in a larger campaign of Phishing attacks targeting government agencies, industrial organizations, financial firms, universities, and more.
Chained phishing:
Researchers from Fujitsu, while working a case, discovered a pattern in these attacks.
Since June, at least 30,000 Office 365 Phishing emails have fit the description of a sustained chain attack against Office 365 customers, but that number is based on just a few investigations, Fujitsu said.
The chained phishing campaign starts by sending emails in an attempt to collect usernames and passwords for Office 365 accounts. Once the victim compromises their credentials, the attackers then target that victim's address book - often filled with a mix of business and personal contacts.
The second stage of the attack attempts to leverage the first victim's existing relationships as an ice breaker, often using informal easily subject lines such as "FYI" in order to get the new victim to take an action.
The cycle is repeated as often as possible, with new victims keeping things going. After time, the harvested credentials are then used to compromise anything the victim has access to. Considering most organizations leverage Office 365 credentials for Exchange, One Drive, Skype, and SharePoint, and Office Store apps, the damage potential is serious.
In attacks such as these, a victim is likely to click on a message from someone they have an association with. So by abusing the existing trust relationships between vendors and acquaintances, the attackers have a wider pool of potential victims that will offer little push back.
In the event someone contacts the sender for verification, those responsible for the chained Phishing attacks are using the victim's Skype account to further legitimize the scam.
Campaign phishing lures:
The lures in these campaigns hinge on a few themes. The first, similar to the one Salted Hash received, warns of low storage space. Another email plays on the storage theme and asks that a user activate "Quota" to address the issue. In both instances, the victim is prompted to enter their Office 365 credentials.
There have also been reports of emails asking to review a document from DocuSign. If the review link is clicked, the victim sees a prompt for credentials. Other technology themes include account suspensions, server upgrades, and security updates.
In June, Kansas State [1] issued a warning about Office 365 "storage" scams; followed by two warnings in July from the University of Pittsburgh [2] [3].
Earlier this month, a warning list of scam emails at South Dakota State University [4] listed another example of a Office 365 phishing attack; sent on the same day and from the same account as the one delivered to Salted Hash.
After the initial phishing attack though, the campaign shifts and starts using somewhat informal tones. As mentioned, "FYI" is one such subject line, but others include "Approved Invoice" or "Fw: Payments" as a means to get attention. Moreover, compromised Office 365 accounts have been used to email internal business contacts the same "Quota" message.
Conducting an Office 365 phishing campaign:
The emails all tend to run with a basic template that uses key elements of data from a victim's address book or the intended victim's domain. If the victim falls for the scam, they're delivered to a landing page (where the Office 365 credentials are harvested) by a few methods.
Some will see the landing page by opening an HTML attachment and being forwarded; or they'll click a direct link.
After looking at a few recent examples, Salted Hash determined the landing pages themselves are designed using Knockout.js, an open source JavaScript template system that works on any browser, even obsolete ones.
Given the code examples observed, it looks as if Knockout is being used to replicate the Office 365 login portal most people are familiar with. Once a victim's credentials are harvested by the scammers, they're passed on to the legitimate Microsoft login page.
Note: For those who need it, page two of this article contains a number of indicators of compromise, including domains, subject lines, and IP addresses.
Office 365 is a hot target for phishing:
Given its reach, targeting Office 365 is going to be the norm - not the exception if recent patterns are any indication.
Troy Gill, manager of security research at AppRiver said that over the last six months or so, his company has seen lots of Phishing scams targeting Office 365. So far in 2017, AppRiver has seen conservatively more than 100 million emails sent that are targeting Office 365 users.
"I can say comfortably that we have seen an increase of at least 1000 percent since this time last year with many of these campaigns spewing many millions of messages in a single day," Gill said.
Prevention and mitigation:
Depending on the job, most people are chained to their email. However, awareness training often has a sort of "stranger danger" mentality and skips over what to do when a known contact sends a message or an attacker controls verification channels.
Journalism, office administration, legal, marketing, sales, human resources, etc. all have a higher risk when it comes to Phishing because they have access and a position requiring they do the exact thing most awareness training discourages click links, talk to strangers, and open attachments.
That's why phishing is so effective. The attacks observed by Barracuda, Fujitsu, even the one that found its way to Salted Hash all attempt to leverage an existing level of trust and familiarity, and abuse normal workflows.
While there are technical controls to help fight Phishing, such as domain monitoring (to catch knock-off URLs, typo squatting, etc.) or email filtering, the problem is still a human one.
If those controls don't stop the email from getting to a person's inbox, the potential victim has now become the last line of defense.
At that point, multi-factor authentication would certainly boost defenses. Microsoft has encouraged multi-factor authentication for Office 365 users - especially those in a corporate setting - for some time now.
But there's something to be said about including common workflows and office patterns into awareness training itself. For the team at Salted Hash, this type of training led to the September 7 email being spotted as a scam almost immediately by each of us who received it.
By tuning awareness training to match the normal, common workflows of the organization, it's possible to get a boost from the users who will know when something just "doesn't feel right" and likely report it.
They key though, is communication, and stressing the point that unintentional false reports, or falling victim to a scam will not result in punishment, while rewarding successes.
Office 365 phishing: Attack indicators and additional details
After dealing with our own phishing email, Salted Hash tracked down other related attempts. Based on our hunting, the emails from earlier this month tend to use .kz domains (Kazakhstan), and generally follow a basic format for URI:
/wp-content/languages/themes/hash/
/wp-content/plugins/hash/
/wp-includes/css/hash/
cmd=login_submit&id=
cmd-login=
An example of one attack is available on urlscan.io, but it isn't clear if the address recorded was a victim or a target, given that admins often use the URLScan.io service to investigate suspicious or reported links.
We asked Fujitsu if they could share any additional indicators and they shared the following:
IPs Observed logging into compromised Office 365 accounts:
169.159.73.96
41.190.2.4
105.112.41.235
41.190.2.166
129.56.10.37
129.56.10.68
129.56.10.36
129.56.10.100
169.159.82.162
129.56.10.116
41.58.96.135
169.159.94.72
105.112.34.110
154.118.29.248
185.84.181.81
105.112.45.96
Email subject for initial contact:
Support Team
Quota Team
Data Support Team
Activate Quota
Support Activate Quota
Support Quota Upgrade
Support Quota
Email subject for second contact, to internal victims post-compromise:
Fw: Payments
Order Review
Approved Invoice
Statemens/Invoices
FYI
Domains used as landing pages:
hxxp://zagubieniwrzymie[.]com/invoice/
hxxp://maycla[.]cl/sdf/
hxxps://greenhilltour[.]com/sdf
hxxps://onclesam[.]com/sdf
hxxps://reyesmorenos.cl/sdf/?email=[recipient]
hxxps://econit.cl/sdf/?email=[recipient]
hxxp://www[.]litografiasgaudi[.]com/adminfile[.]php
When asked, Lior Gavish, VP Engineering, Content Security Services at Barracuda, also shared a large list of domains connected to Office 365 Phishing attempts.
Barracuda has been tracking Office 365 Phishing campaigns as well, and first reported on them back in August.
Related video:
The cybersecurity market is rife with conferences that feature keynote speakers, industry experts, vendor demos, training sessions, hack-a-thons and professional networking.
Some of the best events are centered on a narrowly defined topic, an industry vertical, or a niche technology. And with CyberTechnologyXchange (CTX), we have a new venue focused on the burgeoning managed security service providers (MSSP) space.
There will be no convention center or expo hall at the inaugural CTX in the summer of 2018. Rather, everything will take place behind closed doors in private one-on-one meetings between vendors and MSSPs.
Vetting new products and technology platforms is a big chore for MSSPs. Cutting through the market hype to zero in on the most promising solutions in emerging categories is a time-consuming process.
CTX is a business matchmaker for vendor channel chiefs and MSSP executives. The idea is to cut down the time it takes to find and vet each other and elevate discussions up to the C-suite on both sides.
"Strategic partnership is about understanding and trust, but even more, it's about mutual benefit," says Greg Geisler, CEO of VerticalXchange, parent company of CTX.
VerticalXchange has already proved out the model in the physical security space with its popular SecurityXchange event, a "solution broker" in a market that is converging with cybersecurity around internet-based video surveillance and other technologies.
"CTX creates the environment that allows cybersecurity vendors and MSSPs to get right to the real stuff how they can meet each other's most critical needs right away," adds Geisler, who has an extensive background in creating and producing conferences for the IT industry.
Why focus on MSSPs?
The cyber economic market fundamentals led Geisler and CTX to lock on MSSPs as a focal point. A severe workforce shortage has fueled a fast growing market for managed security services. And the cybersecurity skills gap is expected to grow to 3.5 million unfilled positions by 2021, reports CRN in a recent story.
Organizations that outsource to MSSPs tap into a talent pool that might otherwise elude them, according to the MSSP Alert, a specialty media focused on managed security services.
Cyber crime damages are predicted to cost the world $6 trillion by 2021, up from $3 trillion in 2015. As a result, global cybersecurity spending is expected to exceed $1 trillion cumulatively over the next five years.
The MSSP sector is the fastest-growing services segment (in cybersecurity), with a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 13.2%, according to a story in Digital Forensics Magazine earlier this year.
Channel chiefs and MSSPs will sit down with each other at CTX and discuss how they can exploit a huge market opportunity together.
VeritcalXchange is placing a big bet on the new event, renting out a block of 2,000-sq.-ft. condos at The Lodges at Deer Valley, a resort in Park City, Utah. The suites will be used for the one-on-one meetings and for housing the attendees.
It's not exactly Vegas but it may be worth the trek to CTX if what happens in Utah, stays in Utah.
Visit the Cybersecurity Calendar for a list of upcoming events through the end of 2017.
Visit SteveOnCyber.com to read all of my blogs and articles covering cybersecurity.
Follow me on Twitter @CybersecuritySF, or connect with me on LinkedIn. Send story tips, feedback and suggestions to me here.
In 2017, the average cost of a data breach in North America is $1.3 million for enterprises and $117,000 for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), according to a report from Kaspersky Lab. Kaspersky gasp!
(Updated to change 117 million to 117K)
Yeah, yeah, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a directive on Sept. 13 banning the use of Kaspersky Lab software at federal agencies. Banned software included Kaspersky Anti-Virus, Kaspersky Internet Security, Kaspersky Total Security, Kaspersky Small Office Security, Kaspersky Anti Targeted Attack, Kaspersky Endpoint Security, Kaspersky Cloud Security (Enterprise), Kaspersky Cybersecurity Services, Kaspersky Private Security Network and Kaspersky Embedded Systems Security.
The move by DHS was followed by the U.S. Senate passing an amendment attached to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Sept. 18. That also banned Kaspersky software across the federal government. Best Buy and Office Depot have also stopped selling the software.
When you drill down into the issue, though, it seems the only sin Kaspersky has committed is that it is a Russian company. The rest seems like geo-politics, worries about ties between Kaspersky and the Russian government and intelligence agencies. Every potential scenario that has been laid out seems like nothing more than conjecture and Cold War tactics; show the proof or shut up. Oh wait, the powers that be didn't think they had to despite all that official banning, no actual proof was shown.
Unless real proof is shown, then news coming out of Kaspersky Lab is still good to me. For years, Kaspersky has been exposing cyber attacks and the attackers to the world. Until very recently, Kaspersky Lab software was popular in federal agencies, enterprises, small businesses and homes. So, yes, the company did have a good perspective to see IT security economics even though the data for this report was compiled from a survey of more than 5,000 businesses across 30 countries.
The cost of cyber attacks
Now, back to Kaspersky Labs news about the average cost of a data breach. Globally, the cost of a data breach for enterprises has risen 11 percent in 2017. In the U.S., the average cost of a cyber attack for enterprises grew from $1.2 million in 2016 to $1.3 million in 2017. Thats 10 times higher than the $117K cost of a breach for SMBs.
Overall, businesses are looking at IT security as more of an investment in 2017. In fact, IT security budgets are up, reaching 18 percent for enterprises compared to 16 percent in 2016. Even small businesses with fewer resources are investing more in IT security budgets this year 14 percent compared to 13 percent in 2016.
In North America, the Kaspersky Lab study found that the following incidents have the most severe financial impact in 2017:
Financial impact on enterprises
Physical loss of devices or media containing data ($2.8 million) Incidents affecting IT infrastructure hosted by a third party ($2.2 million) Electronic leakage of data ($1.9 million) Inappropriate IT resource use by employees ($1.1 million) Viruses and malware ($519,000)
Financial impact on SMBs
Targeted attacks ($188,000) Incidents involving non-computing connected devices ($152,000) Physical loss of devices or media containing data ($83,000) Inappropriate IT resource use by employees ($79,000) Viruses and malware ($68,000)
The top pain points with the largest average costs after a breach for enterprises include $207,000 for internal staff wages, $172,000 for improved software/infrastructure, and $153,000 spent on cybersecurity training.
The top pain points for SMBs in 2017 include $21,000 in lost business and another $21,000 in costs related to employing external professionals.
When a third party is breached, that security failure is one of the most damaging to enterprises.
The Internet of Things (IoT) can be another extremely damaging security failure, given the widespread use of factory default passwords that allow IoT devices to become hosts for botnets.
Highest IT security budgets
Organizations involved in government, including defense, and financial institutions reported having the highest IT security budgets over $5 million. IT and telecom companies, as well as utilities and power companies, spend about $3 million on IT security budgets.
However, as Kaspersky Lab noted, when it comes what is spent on IT security per head, government organizations spend $959 per head, while IT and telecoms spend $1,258 per head, utilities companies spend $1,344 per head, and financial firms spend $1,436 per head.
Lowest IT security budgets
Industrial firms, which rely on industrial control systems (ICS) infrastructure, have some of the lowest IT security budgets at $748,000 even though attacks on ICS infrastructure are up 5 percent in 2017.
How companies spend their IT security budgets
After businesses increase IT security budgets, 39 percent goes toward protecting increasingly complex IT infrastructure. Improving the level of specialist security experts is another important expenditure, up to 32 percent in 2017 compared to 29 percent in 2016.
The cost of consultant advice is also up, with businesses using 11 percent of their security budgets in 2017, up 1 percent from last year. There was a significant drop in increasing security budgets for new business activities or expansions, with spending dropping from 45 percent in 2016 to 28 percent in 2017.
For more information, you can download a copy of Kasperskys report, IT Security: Cost Center or Strategic Investment? (Registration required.) You can also tap into IT security strategies by checking out a new tool, Kaspersky IT Security Calculator.
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Gallagher & Co., Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AUS) Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Bermuda) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Illinois), Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Insurance Brokers of California Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher (Aus) Pty Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher (Bermuda) Holding Partnership, Arthur J. Gallagher (Life Solutions) Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher (U.S.) LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher (UK) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Asesoria S.A.C., Arthur J. Gallagher Australasia Holdings Pty Ltd., Arthur J. Gallagher Brokerage & Risk Management Services LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Broking (NZ) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Financial Services Professionals Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Group Quebec ULC, Arthur J. Gallagher Holdings (UK) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Latin America LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Management (Bermuda) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Real Estate Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services (Hawaii) Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services of Utah Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher School Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Service Company LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Services (UK) Ltd, Ashmore & Associates Insurance Agency, Atlantic Risk Management Corp., Atrex Insurance (Cayman) SPC Limited, Avantek Pty Ltd, Axe Insurance PCC Limited, BIS Insurance Services, Baker - Tillys employment benefits solutions, Ballard Benefit Works, Bankers Financial Benefits, Barmore Insurance Agency, Behnke & Co. Inc., Bellisle Pty Ltd, Belmont Associates Consultants, Belmont Insurance Holdings Limited, Belmont International, Belmont International Limited, Benefit Development Group, Benefit Management Group, BenefitLink Resource Group, Benefits Planning & Insurance Agency, Benefits Unlimited, Bennett & Shade Co., Bergvall Marine, Bergvall Marine A.S., Besselman & Little Agency, Big Savings Insurance Agency Inc., Blenheim Park Ltd, Blenheim Park Services Limited, Blue Holdings Pty Ltd, Blue Horizon Insurance Services, Blue Water Benefits, BluePeak Advisors, Blueleaf Consulting Pty Ltd., Bluewater Incorporated Cell Insurance Company, Bollinger Inc., Bollinger Insurance Services Inc., Bowen Miclette Britt & Merry of Arkansas Inc., Brendis & Brendis, Brim AB, Broker Benefit Services, Brokerage Professionals, Brown Hobbs & McMurray Insurance, Bultman/Bell Associates Inc., Burkwald & Associates, Burns-Fazzi Brock & Associates, Bushong Insurance Associates, C&B Consulting Group, CGM Gallagher Insruance Brokers (Trinidad & Tobago) Limited, CJM Solutions Inc., CMA Solutions LLC, Cairnstone Financial, California Insurance Center, Capital Bauer Insurance Agency, Capitol Benefits Group, Capsicum CRLA LLP, Capsicum Re Brasil Participacoes Ltda, Capsicum Re Latin America Corretora De Resseguros Ltda, Capsicum Reinsurance Brokers Bermuda Limited, Capsicum Reinsurance Brokers Miami Inc., Carefree Marketing Inc., Carpenter Cammack & Associates, Cashan & Co., Castle Insurance Associates, Centennial Insurance Agency, Charity First Insurance Services Inc., Charles Allen Agency, Charter Lakes Insurance Agency, Chris Schroeder Insurance, Christie-Phoenix, Cintran Claims Canada Limited, Classic Insurance Services, Cleaveland Insurance Group, Cohen & Lord Insurance Brokers, Cohn Financial Group, Coleman Group Holdings Limited, Coleman Holdings Limited, College and University Scholastic Excess Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Commercial Insurance Brokers, Complete Benefit Alliance, Complete Financial Balance, Complete Financial Balance Pty Ltd, Consolidated Casualty Specialties LLC, Construction Risk Solutions, Contego Underwriting Limited, Contego Underwriting Ltd, Continental Excess & Surplus, Convergence Risk Services Ltd, Copper Mountain Assurance Inc., Cornwall & Stevens Co., Corporate Benefit Advisors, Corporate Life Consultants, Countrywide Accident Assistance Limited, Coverdell & Company Inc., Coverdell Canada Corporation, Cowles and Connell, Craig M. Ferguson & Co., Crist Elliott Machette Insurance Services, Crombie Lockwood (NZ) Limited, Davis-Poston & Associates, Denman Consulting Services, Detlefs Johnson & Partners, DiBrina Group, Dickinson & Associates, Discount Development Services L.L.C., Discovery Benefit Solutions, Dodson-Bateman & Co., Donald P. Pipino Co. Ltd., E. S. Susanin Inc., EHE Holdings LLC, EHS Holdings Limited, Elantis Premium Funding (NZ) Limited, Elantis Premium Funding Limited, Elite Benefits Insurance Marketing Services, Employee Benefits Analysis Corp., Employee Benefits of The Carolinas, Encore Insurance & Bonding, Everett James, Evolution Risk Services Limited, Evolution Technology Services Limited, Evolution Underwriting Group, Evolution Underwriting Group Limited, Evolution Underwriting Limited, Excel Insurance Services, FYI Direct Canada Corporation, FYI Direct LLC, Farallone Pacific Insurance Services, Fenchurch Faris Limited, Fidelity Benefits & Insurance Services, Financial Profiles Inc., Finergy Solutions Pty Ltd, First Agency, First Iowa Insurance Agency, First Premium Inc., First Premium Insurance Group, Fish & Schulkamp, Fishermans Insurance Services, Foley Healthcare Limited, Fortress Financial Solutions Pty Ltd, Fortress Insurance LLC, Foundation Strategies, Fox Lawson & Associates, Franklin-Case Agency LLC, Fraser MacAndrew Ryan Limited, Friary Intermediate Limited, Fuller & O'Brien, G.S. Chapman & Associates Insurance Brokers, G.S. Levine Insurance Services, GBS (Australia) Holdings Pty Ltd, GBS Administrators Inc., GBS Insurance and Financial Services Inc., GBS Retirement Services Inc., GBS Specialty Markets LLC, GGB Finance 1 Limited, GGB Finance 2 Limited, GGB Finance 3 Limited, GGB Finance 4 Limited, GPL Assurance, GPL Assurance Inc., Gabor Insurance Services, Gale Smith & Co. Inc., Gallagher (Bermuda) Insurance Solutions Ltd., Gallagher - Grace/Mayer Insurance Agency, Gallagher Bassett Aires Inc., Gallagher Bassett Canada Inc., Gallagher Bassett Insurance Services Ltd., Gallagher Bassett International Ltd., Gallagher Bassett NZ Pty Ltd., Gallagher Bassett Services Inc. , Gallagher Bassett Services Pty Ltd., Gallagher Bassett Services Workers Compensation Victoria Pty Ltd., Gallagher Benefit Services (Canada) Group Inc., Gallagher Benefit Services (Holdings) Limited, Gallagher Benefit Services Inc., Gallagher Benefit Services Management Company Limited, Gallagher Benefit Services Pty Ltd, Gallagher Benefits Consulting Limited, Gallagher Bomford Couch Wilson, Gallagher Burgess, Gallagher Canada Acquisition Corporation, Gallagher Caribbean Group Limited, Gallagher Clean Energy LLC, Gallagher Communications Limited, Gallagher Community Clinic RPG LLC, Gallagher Consulting Ltda, Gallagher Corporate Services LLC, Gallagher Coyle, Gallagher CyberRisk, Gallagher Energy Risk Services Inc., Gallagher Fiduciary Advisors LLC, Gallagher Holdings (UK) Limited, Gallagher Holdings Bermuda Company Limited, Gallagher Holdings Four (UK) Limited, Gallagher Holdings Three (UK) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (Barbados) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (St. Kitts & Nevis) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (St. Lucia) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (St. Vincent) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers Jamaica Limited, Gallagher International Cash Management s.r.l., Gallagher International Holdings (US) Inc., Gallagher Investment Advisors LLC, Gallagher Inwest Group, Gallagher Koster, Gallagher Lambert Group, Gallagher Madison Risk & Insurance Services, Gallagher Mauritius Holdings, Gallagher Mississippi Brokerage LLC, Gallagher RE Colombia Ltda Corredores de Reaseguros SA, Gallagher Risk & Reward Limited, Gallagher Risk Group LLC, Gallagher Risk Placements Pty Ltd, Gallagher SKS, Gallagher Service Center LLP, Gallagher-Tarantino, Galtney Group, Game Day Insurance Inc., Gardner & White Corp., Gardner Marine Agency, Garza Long Group, Gatehouse Consulting Limited, Gault Armstrong Kemble Pty Ltd, Gault Armstrong SARL, Giles Group, Giles Holdings Limited, Giles Insurance Brokers, Gillis Ellis & Baker Inc., Goodman Insurance Agency, Grandy Pratt Co., Greenseed Alternative Mangaers Platform Ltd, Grossman & Associates, Group Benefits of Arkansas, Group Insurance Associates, Gruppo Marcucci, HLG Holdings Limited, HMG-PCMS Limited, HPF Investments LLC, HR Owen Insurance Services Limited, Hagan Newkirk Financial Services, Hagedorn & Company, Hardman & Howell Benefits, Harlequin Insurance PCC Limited, Hartstein Associates Inc., Healthcare Professionals Purchasing Group LLC, Healthcare Risk Solutions, Heath Lambert Group Ltd., Heath Lambert Limited, Heath Lambert Overseas Limited, Heiser Insurance Agency, Henderson Phillips Fine Arts Insurance, Herbruck Alder & Co., Heritage Insurance Brokers (CI) Limited, Hesse & Partner AG, Hesse Consulting, Hexagon ICC Limited, Hexagon Insurance PCC Limited, Hill Chesson & Woody, Hogan Insurance Services, Home & Travel Limited, Honour Point Limited, Horseshoe Corporate Services Ltd, Horseshoe Fund Services (Cayman) Ltd, Horseshoe Fund Services Ltd, Horseshoe Fund Services USA Inc., Horseshoe ILS Services UK Ltd, Horseshoe Insurance Advisors US LLC, Horseshoe Insurance Advisory Ltd., Horseshoe Insurance Services Holdings Ltd, Horseshoe Insurance Services Holdings US Inc., Horseshoe Management (Gibraltar) Limited, Horseshoe Management (Ireland) Ltd, Horseshoe Management Ltd., Horseshoe PCC Limited, Horseshoe Re Limited, Horseshoe Services (Cayman) Ltd, Horseshoe Services (Pty) Ltd, Horton Insurance Agency, Housing Authorities Services Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Human Resource Management Systems, I-Protect Underwriting Pty Ltd, IBIS Advisors, IBS Reinsurance Singapore Pte Ltd, ILS Fund Services Ltd., ISG International, ITI Solutions, Igloo Insurance PCC Limited, Independent Benefit Services, Independent Fiduciary Services, Ink Underwriting Agencies Limited, InsSync Group Pty Ltd, Inspire Underwriting Limited, Instrat Insurance Brokers, Instrat Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd, Instrat Integration Holdco Pty Ltd, Insurance Acquisitions Holdings Limited, Insurance Associates Inc., Insurance Dialogue Limited, Insurance Dialogue Ltd., Insurance Plans Agency, Insurance Plus Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Insurance Point, Insurance Risk Managers of Missouri Inc., Insure My Villa Limited, Insure Pty Ltd, Integrated Healthcare Strategies, InterNational Insurance Group, InterPacific Underwriting Agencies, Intermountain Financial Benefits, Interstate Insurance Underwriters, JPGAC LLC, James F. Reda & Associates, James R. Weir Insurance Agency, Jenkins and Associates, Joe E. Martin Inc., John P. Woods Co. Inc., Jones Brown, Jones Brown Group Inc., Jones Brown Insurance Solutions Inc., Joseph Distel, Joseph James & Associates Insurance Agency, Just Landlords Insurance Services Ltd, KDC Associates, KRW Insurance Agency, Kahl Insurance Services, Kaler Carney Liffler & Co. Inc., Kane Group - Insurance Management Operations, Kelly Financial, Kent Kent & Tingle and RBS, Keyser Benefits Corp., Kingspark Enterprises Pty Ltd, L&R Benefits, LSG Insurance Partners, Learn About Money Limited, Lewis & Associates Insurance Brokers, Leystone Insurance & Financial, Life Plans Unlimited, Lincoln Financial Management, Longfellow Financial, Lucas Fettes Limited, Lucas Fettes and Partners Limited, Lutgert Insurance, MA Underwriting Pty Ltd, MDM Insurance Associates, MG Advanced Coal Technologies-1 LLC, MGA Insurance Services, MRS Holdings Ltd., Madison Scott & Associates, Managed Healthcare Solutions, Mannequin Insurance PCC Limited, Marchetti Robertson & Brickell Insurance, Marine Insurance Service, Martin Gordon & Jones Inc., McDowall Associates Human Resource Consultants, McIntyre Risk Management, McLean Insurance Agency, McNeary, McPherson Benefits Group, McRory & Co., Mecacem Insurance SPC Ltd, MedInsights Inc., Melton Insurance Associates, Memberworks Canada LLC, Merit Insurance, Metcom Excess, Metzler Bros. Insurance, Meyers-Reynolds & Associates, Mid America Group, Midwest Surety Services, Mike Henry Insurance Brokers, Mike Henry Insurance Brokers Limited, Mike Henry Insurance Funding Limited, Miller Buettner & Parrott, Miller-Harrison Insurance Services, Milne Alexander Pty Ltd, Minvielle & Chastanet Insurance Brokers, Monument Insurance (NZ) Limited, Monument Llc, Monument Premium Funding Limited, Mortgage Insurance Agency, Murphy Consultants, Mutual Insurance Services, NationAir Aviation Insurance, National Administration Co., National Ethics Association, National Transportation Adjusters, Nelson/Monarch Insurance Services, Nicoud Insurance Services, NiiS/Apex Group Holdings, Nonprofit Insurance Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Noraxis Capital Corp, Nordic Forsakring & Riskhantering AB, North Alabama Insurance, Nourse Insurance Brokers, O'Gorman & Young, OAMPS (UK) Limited, OAMPS Gault Armstrong Pty Ltd, OAMPS Limited, OAMPS Special Risks Ltd, Offshore Market Placements Limited, Optimum Talent, Orb Financial Services, Orb Financial Services Limited, Osprey Insurance Brokers Limited, Oval Group, Oval Healthcare Limited, Oval Insurance Broking Limited, Oval Limited, Oval Management Services Limited, Oxygen Insurance Managers, P2 Group, PEN Insurance Management Advisors Ltd, PT IBS Insurance Broking Service, Pacific Insurance Agency, Palmer Atlantic Insurance, Palmer Atlantic Insurance Ltd, Palmer Atlantic Risk Services Ltd., Park Row Associates, Parkstar Enterprises Pty Ltd, Parmia Pty Ltd, PartnerSource, Pastel Holding (NZ) Company, Pastel Holdings Pty Limited, Pastel Purchaser (NZ) Limited, Pastel Purchaser Pty Limited, Pavey Group Holdings (UK) Limited, Pavey Group Holdings Limited, Pavey Group Limited, Pearson Dunn Insurance Inc., Pen Underwriting Canada Limited, Pen Underwriting Group Pty. Ltd., Pen Underwriting Limited, Pen Underwriting Pty Ltd, Persing Dyckman & Toynbee Inc., Personal Advice Services Pty Ltd, Petty Burton Associates, Pointer Insurance Agency, Portmore Insurance Brokers (Wilshire) Limited, Portmore Insurance Brokers Limited, Potter-Holden & Co., Powell Insurance Agency, Premier Insurance Services Inc., Premier Risk Services, Premium Finance Corporation, Preston-Patterson, ProSource Financial, Professional Agents Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Professional Claims Managers, Proinova AB, Proinova Agency AB, Pronto California Agency LLC, Pronto California General Agency LLC, Pronto Florida Claims LLC, Pronto Florida General Agency LLC, Pronto Franchise LLC, Pronto General Agency Ltd, Pronto General Agency Management LLC, Pronto Holdco Inc., Pronto Holding California LLC, Pronto Holding Florida LLC, Pronto Insurance Agency of Laredo Inc., Pronto Premium Finance LLC, Property & Commercial Ltd., Property Insurance Initatives Limited, Property and Commercial Limited, Protected Insurance Company, Protection Plan Association Inc., Protek Group Limited, Providium Consulting Group, Ptarmigan Underwriting Agency Limited, Ptarmigan Underwriting UK Limited, Purple Bridge Claims Management Limited, Purple Bridge Finance Limited, Purple Bridge Group Limited, Purple Bridge Investments Limited, Purple Bridge Online Services Limited, Purple Bridge Publishing Limited, Quantum Underwriting Solutions Limited, Quillco 226 Limited, Quillco 227 Limited, R. L. Youngdahl & Associates, R.G. Speno Inc., R.W. Scobie, RA Rossborough (Guernsey) Ltd., RA Rossborough (Insurance Brokers) Ltd, REGENCY Group inc., RGA Referencing Limited, RGA Underwriting Limited, RIL Administrators (Guernsey) Ltd., RJ Dutton Inc., RSM Insurance Services Limited, Reassurance Holdings Inc., Rebholz Insurance Agency, Reid Manson Ltd., Reimbursement Services, Rentguard Limited, Reward Management Limited, Reynolds & Rodar Insurance Group, Riley & Associates, Rio 587 Limited, Rio 588 Limited, Risk & Reward Group, Risk Management Partners Limited, Risk Placement Services Inc., Risk Planners, Risk Services (NW) Limited, Risk Services (NW) Ltd., Risk Solutions Group Limited, Robert A. Schneider Agency, Robert Keith & Associates, Roberts & Roberts Insurance Service, Robinson-Adams Insurance, Rossborough Healthcare International Ltd, Rossborough Insurance (IOM) Ltd., Rossborough Insurance Services Ltd. (Jersey), S. A. Freerks & Associates, SEG Insurance Ltd, SGB-NIA Insurance Brokers, SHILLING Ltd, SKANCO International, SMERI AB, SRS Underwriting Pty Ltd, Secure Enterprises Pty Ltd, Securitas Re, Sellers Group, Sentinel Indemnity LLC, Septagon Insurance PCC Limited, Shuford Insurance Agency, Sigma II Insurance Agency, Sinclair Billard and Weld Limited, Sobieski & Bradley, Solid Benefit Guidance, Spanjers Insurance Agency, Spataro Insurance Agency, Specialised Broking Associates, Specialty Risk, Stackhouse Poland, Stackhouse Poland Bidco Limited, Stackhouse Poland Group Limited, Stackhouse Poland Holdings Limited, Stackhouse Poland Midco Limited, Stackouse Poland Limited, Stanton Group, Stark Johnson & Stinson Inc., Steel Agency, Strata Solicitors Ltd, Strategic Health Plans Corp., Strathearn Insurance Brokers, Strathearn Insurance Brokers (Qld) Trading Trust, Strathern Insurance Group Pty Ltd, Strathern Integration Holdco Pty Ltd, Strathern Unit Trust, Strong Financial Resources, Summit Insurance Group, Sunday and Associates, Sunderland Insurance Services, Super Advice Corporate Services Pty Ltd, Taylor Benefits, Texas Insurance Agency, Texas Insurance Managers, The BeneTex Group, The Buchholz Planning, The Chapman Group, The Commonwealth Consulting Group, The Daniels Group Inc., The EHE Group LLC, The EHE Insurance Agency LLC, The Eagle Insurance Agency LLC, The Eriksen Group, The Forker Company, The Gleason Agency, The Great Lakes Agency, The HR Group, The Hawk Agency, The Human Capital Group, The Lance Group, The Levitt/Kristan Co., The MW Bagnall Company, The Old Greenwich Consulting Group, The Parks Johnson Agency, The Plus Companies Inc., The Presidio Group, The Producers Choice, The Rains Group, The Splinter Group, The Titan Group, The Treiber Group, The Woodsmall Companies Inc., Title & Covenant Brokers Ltd., Title Investments Limited, Tom Sherwin Insurance Agency, Total Reward Group, Total Rewards Group (Holdings) Limited, Towle Agency, Transwestern, Tri-State General Insurance Agency, Triad Insurance Agency, Triad USA, Tribeca Strategic Advisors, Trinder & Norwood, Trip Mate, Trissel Graham & Toole, Tropp & Co., Tudor Risk Services, Tyloma Holdings Limited, Uni-Care Inc., Unison Inc., Universico Group, Unoccupied Direct Limited, V2V Holdings LLC, VEBA Service Group, Vasek Insurance Services Limited, Velo ACU LLC, Velo Holdings Inc., Verbag AG., Vertrue LLC, Victory Insurance Agency, Vincent L. Braband Insurance, Vital Benefits, Voluntary Benefits Solutions, W. E. Kingsley Co. Inc., WM. W. George & Associates, Walker Taylor Agency, Welling Associates, Wesfarmers Insurance - Insurance Brokerage Operations, Western Benefit Solutions, White & Company Insurance, Whitehaven Insurance Group, William Gallagher Associates Insurance Brokers, William H. Connolly & Co., Williams Insurance Agency Inc., Williams-Manny Insurance Group, Winn & Company Insurance Brokers, Wischmeyer Benefit Partners, Woodbrook Underwriting Agencies, Woods & Grooms, WorkCare Northwest, Worksite Communications, Y. S. Liedman & Associates, YOA Capsicum Reinsurance Broker Limited, Zenor Limited, Zuber Insurance Agency, and e3 Financial.
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The following companies are subsidiares of American International Group: AGC Life Insurance Company, AIG APAC HOLDINGS PTE. LTD., AIG Aerospace Insurance Services Inc., AIG Asia Pacific Insurance Pte. Ltd., AIG Asset Management (Europe) Limited, AIG Asset Management (U.S.) LLC, AIG Assurance Company, AIG Australia Limited, AIG Brazil Holding I LLC, AIG CIS Investments LLC, AIG Canada Holdings Inc., AIG Capital Corporation, AIG Capital Services Inc., AIG Claims Inc., AIG Credit Management LLC, AIG Egypt Insurance Company S.A.E., AIG Employee Services Inc., AIG Europe Holdings S.a.r.l, AIG Europe S.A., AIG Federal Savings Bank, AIG Financial Products Corp., AIG General Insurance Co. Ltd., AIG Global Asset Management Holdings Corp., AIG Global Operations Inc., AIG Global Real Estate Investment Corp., AIG Global Reinsurance Operations, AIG Holdings Europe Limited, AIG Insurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited, AIG Insurance Company China Limited, AIG Insurance Company JSC, AIG Insurance Company of Canada, AIG Insurance Company-Puerto Rico, AIG Insurance Hong Kong Limited, AIG Insurance Management Services Inc., AIG Insurance New Zealand Limited, AIG International Holdings GmbH, AIG Investments UK Limited, AIG Israel Insurance Company Ltd, AIG Japan Holdings Kabushiki Kaisha, AIG Kenya Insurance Company Limited, AIG Korea Inc., AIG Latin America I.I., AIG Latin America Investments S.L., AIG Lebanon SAL, AIG Life Holdings Inc., AIG Life Limited, AIG Life South Africa Limited, AIG Life of Bermuda Ltd., AIG MEA Holdings Limited, AIG MEA Limited, AIG Malaysia Insurance Berhad, AIG Markets Inc., AIG Matched Funding Corp., AIG PC Global Services Inc., AIG Philippines Insurance Inc., AIG Property Casualty Company, AIG Property Casualty Inc., AIG Property Casualty International LLC, AIG Property Casualty U.S. Inc., AIG Re-Takaful (L) Berhad, AIG Resseguros Brasil S.A., AIG Seguros Brasil S.A., AIG Seguros Mexico S.A. de C.V., AIG South Africa Limited, AIG Specialty Insurance Company, AIG Technologies Inc., AIG Travel Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., AIG Travel Assist Inc., AIG Travel Assist Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., AIG Travel EMEA Limited, AIG Travel Inc., AIG Uganda Limited, AIG Vietnam Insurance Company Limited, AIG WarrantyGuard Inc., AIG-FP Pinestead Holdings Corp., AIG-Metropolitana Cia. de Seguros y Reaseguros S.A., AIGGRE Europe Real Estate Fund I GP S.a r.l., AIGGRE Europe Real Estate Fund II GP S.a r.l., AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund I GP LLC, AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund II GP LLC, AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund III GP LP, AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund IV GP LLC, AIU Insurance Company, AM Holdings LLC, Ageas Protect, AlphaCat Managers Ltd., American General Corporation, American General Life Insurance Company, American Home Assurance Co. Ltd., American Home Assurance Company, American International Group UK Limited, American International Realty LLC, American International Reinsurance Company Ltd., American International Underwriters del Ecuador-Holding S.A. en Liquidacion S.A., Arthur J. Glatfelter Agency Inc., Blackboard Insurance Company, Blackboard Specialty Insurance Company, Blackboard U.S. Holdings Inc., C.A. de Seguros American International, Commerce and Industry Insurance Company, Crop Risk Services Inc., Eaglestone Reinsurance Company, Ellipse, Franklin Life Insurance Company, Fuji Fire and Marine, Glatfelter Insurance Group, Glatfelter Underwriting Services Inc., Globe and Rutgers Insurance Group, Grand Isle SAC Limited, Granite State Insurance Company, Illinois National Insurance Co., Inversiones Segucasai C.A., Johannesburg Insurance Holdings (Proprietary) Limited, Laya Healthcare Limited, Lexington Insurance Company, Lexington Specialty Insurance Agency Inc., National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh Pa., National Union Fire Insurance Company of Vermont, New Hampshire Insurance Company, PCG 2019 Corporate Member Limited, PT AIG Insurance Indonesia, Pine Street Real Estate Holdings Corp., Risk Specialists Companies Insurance Agency Inc., SAFG Capital LLC, SAFG Retirement Services Inc., Service Net Warranty LLC, Stratford Insurance Company, SunAmerica Asset Management LLC, Talbot Holdings Ltd., Talbot Underwriting Holdings Ltd., Talbot Underwriting Ltd., The Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania, The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York, The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company, Travel Guard, Travel Guard Group Canada Inc./Groupe Garde Voyage du Canada Inc., Travel Guard Group Inc., Tudor Insurance Company, VALIC Financial Advisors Inc., Valic Retirement Services Company, Validus Holdings, Validus Holdings (UK) Ltd., Validus Holdings Ltd., Validus Reinsurance (Switzerland) Ltd, Validus Reinsurance Ltd., Validus Ventures Ltd., Volunteer Firemen's Insurance Services Inc., and Western World Insurance Company.
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BT Group plc provides communications services worldwide. Its Consumer segment sells telephones, baby monitors, and Wi-Fi extenders through high street retailers, online BT Shop, and Website BT.com; and offers home phone, copper and fiber broadband, TV, and mobile services in various packages. The company's EE segment offers 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile network services; broadband, fixed-voice, and TV services; and postpaid and prepaid plans, and emergency services network. This segment also sells 4G mobile phones, tablets, connected devices, and mobile broadband devices from various manufacturers. Its Business and Public Sector segment provides fixed voice, mobility, fiber and connectivity, and networked IT services to retailers, utilities, public sector, healthcare, sports, construction, finance, and educational sectors. The company's Global Services segment offers business communications and ICT services comprising BT Connect, BT Security, BT One, BT Contact, BT Compute, BT Advise, and BT for financial markets. This segment serves approximately 5,500 customers in 180 countries. Its Wholesale and Ventures segment enables communications providers and other organizations to provide fixed or mobile phone services. Its ventures provide mass-market services, such as directory enquiries and payphones; and enterprise services comprising BT Fleet and BT Redcare. This segment also provides broadband and Ethernet, voice, hosted communication, mobile virtual network operator, managed solutions, machine-to-machine, roaming, and media services. The company's Openreach segment engages in the provision of services over the local access network; and installation and maintenance of fiber and copper communications networks that connect homes and businesses. The company was formerly known as Newgate Telecommunications Limited and changed its name to BT Group plc in September 2001. BT Group plc was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.
The following companies are subsidiares of Caterpillar: Advanced Tri-Gen Power Systems LLC, Anchor Coupling Inc., Asia Power Systems (Tianjin) Ltd., AsiaTrak (Tianjin) Ltd., Banco Caterpillar S.A., Berg Propulsion International Pte Ltd., Bucyrus, Bucyrus Australia Surface Pty. Ltd., Bucyrus Europe Holdings Ltd., Bucyrus Europe Limited, Bucyrus International (Chile) Limitada, Bucyrus International (Peru) S.A., Bucyrus Mining Australia Pty. Ltd., Bucyrus Mining China LLC, Bucyrus UK Limited, Cat Rental Kyushu LLC, Caterpillar (Africa) (Proprietary) Limited, Caterpillar (China) Financial Leasing Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (China) Machinery Components Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (HK) Limited, Caterpillar (Huainan) Machinery Service Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Langfang) Mining Equipment Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Luxembourg) Investment Co. S.a r.l., Caterpillar (NI) Limited, Caterpillar (Newberry) LLC, Caterpillar (Qingzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Suzhou) Logistics Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Thailand) Limited, Caterpillar (U.K.) Limited, Caterpillar (Wujiang) Ltd., Caterpillar (Xuzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar (Zhengzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar Acquisition Holding Corp., Caterpillar Americas C.V., Caterpillar Americas Co., Caterpillar Americas Funding Inc., Caterpillar Americas Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Asia Limited, Caterpillar Asia Pacific L.P., Caterpillar Asia Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Asset Intelligence LLC, Caterpillar Belgium S.A., Caterpillar Brasil Comercio de Maquinas e Pecas Ltda., Caterpillar Brasil Ltda., Caterpillar Brazil LLC, Caterpillar Castings Kiel GmbH, Caterpillar Centro de Formacion S.L., Caterpillar China Limited, Caterpillar Commercial Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Commercial LLC, Caterpillar Commercial Northern Europe Limited, Caterpillar Commercial S.A., Caterpillar Commercial S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Commercial Services S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Communications LLC, Caterpillar Corporativo Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Cote DIvoire, Caterpillar Credito S.A. de C.V. SOFOM E.N.R., Caterpillar DC Pension Trust Limited, Caterpillar Digital Services & Solutions SARL, Caterpillar Distribution International LLC, Caterpillar Distribution Services Europe B.V.B.A., Caterpillar East Real Estate Holding Ltd., Caterpillar Emissions Solutions Inc., Caterpillar Energy Solutions Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Energy Solutions GmbH, Caterpillar Energy Solutions Inc., Caterpillar Energy Solutions S.A., Caterpillar Energy System Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Engine Systems Inc., Caterpillar Equipos Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Eurasia LLC, Caterpillar FS (QFC) LLC, Caterpillar Finance France S.A., Caterpillar Finance Kabushiki Kaisha, Caterpillar Financial Acquisition Funding LLC, Caterpillar Financial Aftermarket Solutions Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Australia Leasing Pty Limited, Caterpillar Financial Australia Limited, Caterpillar Financial Commercial Account Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Corporacion Financiera S.A. E.F.C., Caterpillar Financial Dealer Funding LLC, Caterpillar Financial Funding Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Caterpillar Financial Leasing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Financial New Zealand Limited, Caterpillar Financial Nordic Services AB, Caterpillar Financial Nova Scotia Corporation, Caterpillar Financial OOO, Caterpillar Financial Receivables Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Renting S.A., Caterpillar Financial SARL, Caterpillar Financial Services (Dubai) Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services (Ireland) plc, Caterpillar Financial Services (UK) Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services Argentina S.A., Caterpillar Financial Services Asia Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Financial Services Belgium S.P.R.L., Caterpillar Financial Services CR s.r.o., Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Services GmbH, Caterpillar Financial Services India Private Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services Leasing ULC, Caterpillar Financial Services Limited Les Services Financiers Caterpillar Limitee, Caterpillar Financial Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Caterpillar Financial Services Netherlands B.V., Caterpillar Financial Services Norway AS, Caterpillar Financial Services Philippines Inc., Caterpillar Financial Services Poland Sp. z o.o., Caterpillar Financial Services South Africa (Pty) Limited, Caterpillar Financial UK Acquisition Funding Partners, Caterpillar Financial Ukraine LLC, Caterpillar Fluid Systems S.r.l., Caterpillar Fomento Comercial Ltda., Caterpillar Forest Products Inc., Caterpillar France S.A.S., Caterpillar GB L.L.C., Caterpillar Global Investments S.a r.l., Caterpillar Global Mining America LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Equipamentos De Mineracao do Brasil Ltda., Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Expanded Products Pty Ltd, Caterpillar Global Mining Germany Holdings GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining HMS GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Holdings GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Hong Kong AFC Manufacturing Holding Co. Limited, Caterpillar Global Mining Hong Kong Limited, Caterpillar Global Mining LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Mexico LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Global Mining SARL, Caterpillar Global Mining U.S. Parts LLC, Caterpillar Global Services LLC, Caterpillar Group Services S.A., Caterpillar Holding (France) S.A.S., Caterpillar Holding Germany GmbH, Caterpillar Holdings Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Hungary Components Manufacturing Ltd., Caterpillar Hydraulics Italia S.r.l., Caterpillar IPX LLC, Caterpillar IRB LLC, Caterpillar Impact Products Limited, Caterpillar India Private Limited, Caterpillar Industrial Inc., Caterpillar Industrias Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Industries (Pty) Ltd, Caterpillar Insurance Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Insurance Company, Caterpillar Insurance Holdings Inc., Caterpillar Insurance Services Corporation, Caterpillar International Finance Designated Activity Company, Caterpillar International Finance Luxembourg Holding S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Finance Luxembourg S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Holding S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Luxembourg I S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Luxembourg II S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Product SARL, Caterpillar International Services Corporation, Caterpillar International Services del Peru S.A., Caterpillar Investment Limited, Caterpillar Investment One SARL, Caterpillar Investment Two SARL, Caterpillar Investments, Caterpillar Japan LLC, Caterpillar Latin America Services S.R.L., Caterpillar Latin America Services de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Latin America Services de Panama S. de R.L., Caterpillar Latin America Servicios de Chile Limitada, Caterpillar Latin America Support Services S. DE R.L., Caterpillar Leasing (Thailand) Limited, Caterpillar Leasing Chile S.A., Caterpillar Leasing GmbH (Leipzig), Caterpillar Leasing Operativo Limitada, Caterpillar Life Insurance Company, Caterpillar Logistics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Logistics (UK) Limited, Caterpillar Logistics Inc., Caterpillar Logistics ML Services France S.A.S., Caterpillar Logistics Services China Limited, Caterpillar Luxembourg Group S.ar.l., Caterpillar Luxembourg LLC, Caterpillar Luxembourg S.a r.l., Caterpillar Machinery Nantong Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Marine Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Marine Asset Intelligence, Caterpillar Marine Power UK Limited, Caterpillar Marine Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Maroc SARL, Caterpillar Materiels Routiers SAS, Caterpillar Mexico LLC, Caterpillar Mexico S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar Mining Canada ULC, Caterpillar Mining Chile Servicios Limitada, Caterpillar Motoren (Guangdong) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG, Caterpillar Motoren Henstedt-Ulzburg GmbH, Caterpillar Motoren Rostock GmbH, Caterpillar Motoren Verwaltungs-GmbH, Caterpillar Netherlands Holding B.V., Caterpillar North America C.V., Caterpillar Operator Training Ltd., Caterpillar Overseas Credit Corporation SARL, Caterpillar Overseas Investment Holding SARL, Caterpillar Overseas Limited, Caterpillar Overseas SARL, Caterpillar Panama Services S.A., Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Caterpillar Paving Products Xuzhou Ltd., Caterpillar Pension Trust Limited, Caterpillar Poland Sp. z o.o., Caterpillar Power Generation Systems (Bangladesh) Limited, Caterpillar Power Generation Systems L.L.C., Caterpillar Power Systems Inc., Caterpillar Power Ventures International Ltd., Caterpillar Precision Seals Korea, Caterpillar Prodotti Stradali S.r.l., Caterpillar Product Services Corporation, Caterpillar Propulsion AB, Caterpillar Propulsion International Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Propulsion Italy S.R.L., Caterpillar Propulsion Namibia (Proprietary) Limited, Caterpillar Propulsion Production AB, Caterpillar Propulsion Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Propulsion Singapore Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar R&D Center (China) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe LLC, Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe Servicios S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar Reman Powertrain Indiana LLC, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Drivetrain LLC, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Renting France S.A.S., Caterpillar Reynosa S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar SARL, Caterpillar Services Germany GmbH, Caterpillar Servicios Limitada, Caterpillar Servicios Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Servizi Italia Srl, Caterpillar Shrewsbury Limited, Caterpillar Skinningrove Limited, Caterpillar Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd., Caterpillar Special Services Belgium S.P.R.L., Caterpillar Switchgear Americas LLC, Caterpillar Switchgear Holding Inc., Caterpillar Tianjin Ltd., Caterpillar Torreon S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Tosno L.L.C., Caterpillar Transmissions France S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Tunneling Canada Holdings Ltd., Caterpillar Tunnelling Canada Corporation, Caterpillar Tunnelling Europe Limited, Caterpillar UK Employee Trust Limited, Caterpillar UK Engines Company Limited, Caterpillar UK Group Limited, Caterpillar UK Holdings Limited, Caterpillar Undercarriage (Xuzhou) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Underground Mining Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Used Equipment Services Inc., Caterpillar Venture Capital Inc., Caterpillar Work Tools B.V., Caterpillar Work Tools Inc., Caterpillar World Trading Corporation, Caterpillar Xuzhou, Caterpillar of Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar of Canada Corporation, Caterpillar of Delaware Inc., Centre de Distribution de Wallonie SPRL, CleanAir Systems, Downer Freight Rail, ECM Railway Evolution Romania s.r.l., ECM S.p.A., EDC European Excavator Design Center GmbH, EMC Holding Corp., EMD International Holdings Inc., ERA Information & Entertainment (BVI) Limited, ERA Mining Machinery Limited, Electro-Motive Diesel Limited, Electro-Motive Locomotive Technologies LLC, Electro-Motive Technical Consulting Co. (Beijing) Ltd., Energy Services International Limited, Equipos de Acuna S.A. de C.V., Eurenov S.A.S., F. G. Wilson (Proprietary) Limited, F. Perkins Limited, FG Wilson (Engineering) Limited, GB Holdco (China) Inc., GFCM Comercial Mexico S.A. de C.V. SOFOM E.N.R., GFCM Servicios S.A. de C.V., Gremada Industries - Assets, Hong Kong Siwei Holdings Limited, Inmobiliaria Conek S.A. de C.V., JCS Co., Kemper Valve & Fittings Corp., Leo Inc., Locomotive Demand Power Pty Ltd., Locomotoras Progress Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Lovat, M2M Data Corporation, MGE Equipamentos & Servicos Ferroviarios, MWM, MWM Austria GmbH, MWM Benelux B.V., MWM Energy Australia Pty Ltd, MWM France S.A.S, MWM Real Estate GmbH, MaK Americas Inc., MaK Americas Inc. (Canada), Magnum Power Products LLC, Marble, Maschinenbau Kiel GmbH, Mec-Track S.r.l., Metalmark Financial Services Limited, Motoren Steffens GmbH, Nippon Caterpillar LLC, P. T. Solar Services Indonesia, PT Caterpillar Finance Indonesia, PT. Bucyrus Indonesia, PT. Caterpillar Indonesia, PT. Caterpillar Indonesia Batam, PT. Caterpillar Remanufacturing Indonesia, Perkins Engines, Perkins Engines (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd, Perkins Engines Group Limited, Perkins Engines Inc., Perkins Group Limited, Perkins Holdings Limited LLC, Perkins India Private Limited, Perkins International Inc., Perkins Japan LLC, Perkins Limited, Perkins Machinery (Changshu) Co. Ltd., Perkins Motores do Brasil Ltda., Perkins Power Systems Technology (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Perkins Small Engines (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Perkins Small Engines LLC, Perkins Small Engines Limited, Perkins Technology Inc., Progress Metal Reclamation Company, Progress Rail Arabia Limited Company, Progress Rail Australia Pty Ltd, Progress Rail Canada Corporation, Progress Rail Equipamentos e Servicos Ferroviarios do Brasil Ltda., Progress Rail Equipment Leasing Corporation, Progress Rail Holdings Inc., Progress Rail Innovations Private Limited, Progress Rail Inspection & Information Systems GmbH, Progress Rail Inspection & Information Systems S.r.l., Progress Rail International Corp., Progress Rail Leasing Canada Corporation, Progress Rail Leasing Corporation, Progress Rail Leasing de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Progress Rail Locomotivas (do Brasil) Ltda., Progress Rail Locomotive Canada Co., Progress Rail Locomotive Chile SpA, Progress Rail Locomotive Inc., Progress Rail Maintenance de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Progress Rail Manufacturing Corporation, Progress Rail Raceland Corporation, Progress Rail Rocklin Corporation, Progress Rail SA Proprietary Limited, Progress Rail Services Corporation, Progress Rail Services Holdings Corp., Progress Rail Services LLC, Progress Rail Services UK Limited, Progress Rail Switching Services LLC, Progress Rail Transcanada Corporation, Progress Rail Welding Corporation, Progress Rail Wildwood LLC, Progress Rail de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pyroban Group, Pyroban Group, Pyrrha Investments B.V., Pyrrha Investments Limited, S&L Railroad LLC, SCM Singapore Holdings Pte. Ltd., SPL Software Alliance LLC, Sabre Engines, Servicios de Turbinas Solar S. de R.L. de C.V., Shandong SEM Machinery Co. Ltd., Solar Turbines, Solar Turbines, Solar Turbines (Beijing) Trading Services Co. Ltd., Solar Turbines (Thailand) Ltd., Solar Turbines CIS Limited Liability Company, Solar Turbines Canada Ltd./Ltee., Solar Turbines Central Asia Limited Liability Partnership, Solar Turbines EAME s.r.o., Solar Turbines Egypt Limited Liability Company, Solar Turbines Europe S.A., Solar Turbines India Private Limited, Solar Turbines International Company, Solar Turbines Italy S.R.L., Solar Turbines Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Solar Turbines Middle East Limited, Solar Turbines New Zealand Limited, Solar Turbines Saudi Arabia Limited, Solar Turbines Services Company, Solar Turbines Services Nigeria Limited, Solar Turbines Services of Argentina S.R.L., Solar Turbines Switzerland Sagl, Solar Turbines Trinidad & Tobago Limited, Solar Turbines West-Africa SARL, Tangshan DBT Machinery Co. Ltd., Tecnologia Modificada S.A. de C.V., Towmotor Corporation, Traction & Mining Motor Repairs Pty Ltd, Turbinas Solar S.A. de C.V., Turbinas Solar de Colombia S.A., Turbinas Solar de Venezuela C.A., Turbo Tecnologia de Reparaciones S.A. de C.V., Turbomach, Turbomach Endustriyel Gaz Turbinleri Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited, Turbomach France SARL, Turbomach GmbH, Turbomach Netherlands B.V., Turbomach Pakistan (Private) Limited, Turbomach S.A. Unipersonal, Turbomach Sp. Z o.o., Turner Powertrain Systems Limited, UK Hose Assembly Limited, Underground Imaging Technologies Inc, United Industries LLC, VALA Inc., Vasky Energy Ltd., Wealdstone Engineering, Weir - Oil & Gas Division, West Virginia Auto Shredding Inc., Western Gear Machinery LLC, Wetland Sustainability Fund I LLC, Williams Technologies, Yard Club, Zhengzhou Siwei Mechanical and Electrical Equipment Sales Co. Ltd., and okyo Rental Ltd..
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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 - DRH LLC, MRLF LLC, Martin Road Lake Forest LLC, McQueen & Willis LLC, Meadows I Ltd., Meadows II Ltd., Meadows IX Inc., Meadows VIII Ltd., Meadows X Inc., Melody Homes Inc., Pacific Ridge - DRH LLC, Rielly Carlsbad LLC, Rielly Homes Madison LLC, SFTEN LLC, SGS Communities at Grand Quay L.L.C, SHA Construction LLC, SHLR of California Inc., SHLR of Nevada Inc., SHLR of Washington Inc., SRHI LLC, SSHI LLC, Schuler Homes of Arizona LLC, Schuler Homes of California Inc., Schuler Homes of Oregon Inc., Schuler Homes of Washington Inc., Summerlin Pkwy & Cimarron LLC, Surprise Village North LLC, The Club at Cobblestone LLC, The Club at Hidden River LLC, Tierra Financial Advisors LLC, Travis County Title Company, Treasure Assets LLC, Venture Management of South Carolina LLC, Vertical Construction Corporation, WPH-Camino Ruiz LLC, WPH-Copper Canyon II LLC, WPH-Copper Canyon LLC, Walker Drive LLC, Western Pacific Brea Development LLC, Western Pacific Housing - Mountaingate L.P., Western Pacific Housing - SDG LLC, Western Pacific Housing - Westlake II L.P., Western Pacific Housing Inc., Western Pacific Housing Management Inc., Western Pacific Housing-Antigua LLC, Western Pacific Housing-Broadway LLC, Western Pacific Housing-Canyon Park LLC, Western Pacific Housing-Carrillo LLC, Western Pacific Housing-Communications Hill LLC, Western Pacific Housing-Copper Canyon LLC, Western Pacific Housing-Creekside LLC, Western Pacific Housing-Lomas Verdes LLC, Western Pacific Housing-Lyons Canyon Partners LLC, Western Pacific Housing-McGonigle Canyon LLC, Western Pacific Housing-Norco Estates LLC, Western Pacific Housing-Pacific Park II LLC, Western Pacific Housing-Park Avenue East LLC, Western Pacific Housing-Park Avenue West LLC, Western Pacific Housing-Playa Vista LLC, Western Pacific Housing-River Ridge LLC, Western Pacific Housing-Terra Bay Duets LLC, Western Pacific Housing-Torrey Meadows LLC, Western Pacific Housing-Torrey Village Center LLC, Western Pacific Housing-Windemere LLC, and Wilson Parker Homes.
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Camping World Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, retails recreational vehicles (RVs), and related products and services. It operates in two segments, Good Sam Services and Plans; and RV and Outdoor Retail. The company provides a portfolio of services, protection plans, products, and resources in the RV industry. It also offers extended vehicle service contracts; roadside assistance plans; property and casualty insurance programs; travel assist travel protection plans; and RV and outdoor related consumer shows, as well as produces various monthly and annual RV focused consumer magazines; and operates the Coast to Coast Club. In addition, the company provides new and used RVs; vehicle financing; RV repair and maintenance services; various RV parts, equipment, supplies, and accessories, which include towing and hitching products, satellite and GPS systems, electrical and lighting products, appliances and furniture, and other products; and collision repair services comprising fiberglass front and rear cap replacement, windshield replacement, interior remodel solutions, and paint and body work. Further, it offers equipment, gears, and supplies for camping, hunting, fishing, skiing, snowboarding, bicycling, skateboarding, and marine and watersports equipment and supplies, as well as operates Good Sam Club, a membership organization that offers savings on a range of products and services and provides co-branded credit cards. As of December 31, 2021, the company operated through a network of approximately 187 retail locations in 40 states of the United States. It serves customers through dealerships, and online and e-commerce platforms. The company was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois.
The following companies are subsidiares of MetLife: 10700 WILSHIRE LLC, 1201 TAB MANAGER LLC, 1350 EYE STREET MANAGER LLC, 1350 EYE STREET OWNER LLC, 150 NORTH RIVERSIDE PE MEMBER LLC, 1925 WJC OWNER LLC, 23RD STREET INVESTMENTS INC., 500 GRANT STREET ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, 500 GRANT STREET GP LLC, 6104 HOLLYWOOD LLC, AFP GENESIS ADMINISTRADORA DE FONDOS Y FIDECOMISOS S.A., AGENVITA S.R.L., ALICO HELLAS SINGLE MEMBER LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, ALICO OPERATIONS LLC, American Life Insurance Company, BEST MARKET S.A., BLOCK VISION HOLDINGS CORPORATION, BLOCK VISION OF TEXAS INC., BORDERLAND INVESTMENTS LIMITED, BOULEVARD RESIDENTIAL LLC, BUFORD LOGISTICS CENTER LLC, CC HOLDCO MANAGER LLC, CHESTNUT FLATS WIND LLC, CLOSED JOINT-STOCK COMPANY MASTER-D, COMPANIA INVERSORA METLIFE S.A., CORPORATE REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC, COVA LIFE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, DAVIS VISION INC., DAVISVISION IPA INC., DELAWARE AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, EURO CL INVESTMENTS LLC, EXCELENCIA OPERATIVA Y TECNOLOGICA S.A de C.V., FORTISSIMO CO. LTD, FUNDACION METLIFE MEXICO A.C., GLOBAL PROPERTIES INC., General American Life Insurance Company, Grand Bank N.A., HASKELL EAST VILLAGE LLC, HOUSING FUND MANAGER LLC, INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL AND ADVISORY SERVICES LIMITED, INVERSIONES METLIFE HOLDCO DOS LIMITADA, INVERSIONES METLIFE HOLDCO TRES LIMITADA, LHC HOLDINGS LLC, LHCW HOLDINGS LLC, LHCW HOTEL HOLDING 2002 LLC, LHCW HOTEL HOLDING LLC, LHCW HOTEL OPERATING COMPANY 2002 LLC, LUMENLAB MALAYSIA SDN. BHD., Logan Circle Partners, MARKETPLACE RESIDENCES LLC, MC PORTFOLIO JV MEMBER LLC, MCJV LLC, MCPP OWNERS LLC, MCRE BLOCK 40 LP, MEC HEALTH CARE INC., MET 1065 HOTEL LLC, MET CANADA SOLAR ULC, METLIFE 1007 STEWART LLC, METLIFE 1201 TAB MEMBER LLC, METLIFE 425 MKT MANAGER LLC, METLIFE 425 MKT MEMBER LLC, METLIFE 555 12TH MEMBER LLC, METLIFE 8280 MEMBER LLC, METLIFE ACOMA OWNER LLC, METLIFE ADMINISTRADORA DE FUNDOS MULTIPATROCINADOS LTDA., METLIFE ALTERNATIVES GP LLC, METLIFE ASHTON AUSTIN OWNER LLC, METLIFE ASIA HOLDING COMPANY PTE. LTD., METLIFE ASIA LIMITED, METLIFE ASIA SERVICES SDN. BHD, METLIFE ASSET MANAGEMENT CORP., METLIFE ASSIGNMENT COMPANY INC., METLIFE BORO STATION MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CAMINO RAMON MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CAMPUS AT SGV MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CAPITAL CREDIT L.P., METLIFE CAPITAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, METLIFE CAPITAL TRUST IV, METLIFE CB W/A LLC, METLIFE CC MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CHILE ADMINISTRADORA DE MUTUOS HIPOTECARIOS S.A., METLIFE CHILE INVERSIONES LIMITADA, METLIFE CHILE SEGUROS DE VIDA S.A., METLIFE CHILE SEGUROS GENERALES S.A., METLIFE CHINO MEMBER LLC, METLIFE COLOMBIA SEGUROS de VIDA S.A., METLIFE COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE INCOME FUND GP LLC, METLIFE CONSQUARE MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CONSUMER SERVICES INC., METLIFE CORE PROPERTY FUND GP LLC, METLIFE CREDIT CORP., METLIFE DIGITAL VENTURES INC., METLIFE ENHANCED CORE PROPERTY FUND GP LLC, METLIFE EU HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED, METLIFE EUROPE INSURANCE d.a.c., METLIFE EUROPE SERVICES LIMITED, METLIFE EUROPE d.a.c., METLIFE EUROPEAN HOLDINGS LLC., METLIFE FINANCIAL SERVICES CO. LTD, METLIFE FM HOTEL MEMBER LLC, METLIFE FUNDING INC., METLIFE GENERAL INSURANCE LIMITED, METLIFE GLOBAL BENEFITS LTD., METLIFE GLOBAL HOLDING COMPANY I GMBH, METLIFE GLOBAL HOLDING COMPANY II GMBH, METLIFE GLOBAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION S.A. De C.V., METLIFE GLOBAL INC., METLIFE GLOBAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT CENTER PRIVATE LIMITED, METLIFE GROUP INC., METLIFE HCMJV 1 GP LLC, METLIFE HCMJV 1 LP LLC, METLIFE HEALTH PLANS INC., METLIFE HOLDINGS INC., METLIFE HOME LOANS LLC, METLIFE INNOVATION CENTRE LIMITED, METLIFE INNOVATION CENTRE PTE. LTD., METLIFE INSURANCE AND INVESTMENT TRUST, METLIFE INSURANCE BROKERAGE INC., METLIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF KOREA LTD., METLIFE INSURANCE K.K., METLIFE INSURANCE LIMITED, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL HF PARTNERS LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED LLC, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND I LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND II LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND III LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND IV LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND V LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND VI LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND VII LP, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT EUROPE LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC, METLIFE INVESTMENTS ASIA LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENTS LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENTS PTY LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENTS SECURITIES LLC, METLIFE INVESTORS DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, METLIFE INVESTORS GROUP LLC, METLIFE IRELAND TREASURY D.A.C., METLIFE JAPAN US EQUITY FUND GP LLC, METLIFE JAPAN US EQUITY FUND LP, METLIFE JAPAN US EQUITY OWNERS BLOCKER LLC, METLIFE JAPAN US EQUITY OWNERS LLC, METLIFE LATIN AMERICA ASESORIAS E INVERSIONES LIMITADA, METLIFE LEGAL PLANS INC., METLIFE LEGAL PLANS OF FLORIDA INC., METLIFE LHH MEMBER LLC, METLIFE LIFE INSURANCE S.A., METLIFE LOAN ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC, METLIFE LONG SHORT CREDIT FUND LP, METLIFE LONG SHORT CREDIT MASTER FUND LP, METLIFE LONG SHORT CREDIT PARALLEL FUND LP, METLIFE MAS S.A. DE C.V., METLIFE MEXICO HOLDINGS S. DE R.L. DE C.V., METLIFE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., METLIFE MEXICO SERVICIOS S.A. DE C.V., METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT FUND II LP, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT GP II LLC, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT GP LLC, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT II RATED FUND LP, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT PARALLEL FUND LP, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT PARALLEL GP LLC, METLIFE MMPD II SPECIAL LLC, METLIFE MULTI-FAMILY PARTNERS III LLC, METLIFE OBS MEMBER LLC, METLIFE OFC MEMBER LLC, METLIFE ONTARIO STREET MEMBR LLC, METLIFE PARK TOWER MEMBER LLC, METLIFE PENSION TRUSTEES LIMITED, METLIFE PENSIONES MEXICO S.A., METLIFE PET INSURANCE SOLUTIONS LLC, METLIFE PLANOS ODONTOLOGICOS LTDA., METLIFE POWSZECHNE TOWARTZYSTWO EMERYTALNE S.A., METLIFE PRIVATE EQUITY HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE PROPERTIES VENTURES LLC, METLIFE RC SF MEMBER LLC, METLIFE REAL ESTATE LENDING LLC, METLIFE REINSURANCE COMPANY OF BERMUDA LTD., METLIFE REINSURANCE COMPANY OF CHARLESTON, METLIFE REINSURANCE COMPANY OF VERMONT, METLIFE RETIREMENT SERVICES LLC, METLIFE SECURITIZATION DEPOSITOR LLC, METLIFE SEGUROS S.A., METLIFE SENIOR DIRECT LENDING FINCO LLC, METLIFE SENIOR DIRECT LENDING FUND LP, METLIFE SENIOR DIRECT LENDING GP LLC, METLIFE SENIOR DIRECT LENDING HOLDINGS LP, METLIFE SERVICES AND SOLUTIONS LLC, METLIFE SERVICES CYPRUS LTD., METLIFE SERVICES EAST PRIVATE LIMITED, METLIFE SERVICES EEIG, METLIFE SERVICES EOOD, METLIFE SERVICES SOCIEDAD LIMITADA, METLIFE SERVICES SP Z.O.O, METLIFE SERVICIOS S.A., METLIFE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL FUND GP LLC, METLIFE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL FUND LP, METLIFE SOLUTIONS PTE. LTD., METLIFE SOLUTIONS S.A.S., METLIFE SP HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE STRATEGIC HOTEL DEBT FUND GP LLC, METLIFE SYNDICATED BANK LOAN LUX GP S.A.R.L., METLIFE THR INVESTOR LLC, METLIFE TOWARZYSTWO FUNDUSZY INWESTYCYJNYCH S.A., METLIFE TOWARZYSTWO UBEZPIECZEN NA ZYCIE I REASEKURACJI S.A., METLIFE TOWER RESOURCES GROUP INC., METLIFE TREAT TOWERS MEMBER LLC, METLIFE WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS LLC, METROPOLITAN GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN GLOBAL MANAGEMENT LLC, METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN LIFE SEGUROS E PREVIDENCIA PRIVADA S.A., METROPOLITAN LIFE SOCIETATE de ADMINISTRARE a UNUI FOND de PENSII ADMINISTRAT PRIVAT S.A., METROPOLITAN TOWER LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN TOWER REALTY COMPANY INC., MEX DF PROPERTIES LLC, MFA FINANCING VEHICLE CTR1 LLC, MIDTOWN HEIGHTS LLC, MIM CAMPUS AT SGV MANAGER LLC, MIM CLAL GENERAL PARTNER LLC, MIM CM SYNDICATOR LLC, MIM EMD GP LLC, MIM I LLC, MIM LS GP LLC, MIM METWEST INTERNATIONAL MANAGER LLC, MIM ML-AI VENTURE 5 MANAGER LLC, MIM OMD MANAGER LLC, MIM PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LLC, MIM PROPERTY MANAGEMENT OF GEORGIA 1 LLC, MIM SPOKANE INDUSTRIAL MANAGER LLC, MIM THIRD ARMY INDUSTRIAL MANAGER LLC, MISSOURI REINSURANCE INC., ML 300 THIRD MEMBER LLC, ML ARMATURE MEMBER LLC, ML BELLEVUE MANAGER LLC, ML BELLEVUE MEMBER LLC, ML CAPACITACION COMERCIAL S.A. DE C.V., ML CERRITOS TC MEMBER LLC, ML CLAL MEMBER LLC, ML CORNER 63 MEMBER LLC, ML DOLPHIN GP LLC, ML DOLPHIN MEZZ LLC, ML HUDSON MEMBER LLC, ML MATSON MILLS MEMBER LLC, ML MILILANI MEMBER LLC, ML OMD MEMBER LLC, ML ONE BEDMINSTER LLC, ML PORT CHESTER SC MEMBER LLC, ML SENTINEL SQUARE MEMBER LLC, ML SLOANS LAKE MEMEBR LLC, ML SOUTHLANDS MEMBER LLC, ML SOUTHMORE LLC, ML SPOKANE INDUSTRIAL MEMBER LLC, ML SWAN GP LLC, ML SWAN MEZZ LLC, ML TERRACES LLC, ML THIRD ARMY INDUSTRIAL MEMBER LLC, ML VENTURE 1 MANAGER S. DE R. L. DE C.V., ML VENTURE 1 SERVICER LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 1 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 2 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 3 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 4 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 5 LLC, ML-URS PORT CHESTER SC MANAGER LLC, MLIA MANAGER I LLC, MLIA PARK TOWER MANAGER LLC, MLIA SBAF COLONY MANAGER LLC, MLIA SBAF MANAGER LLC, MLIC ASSET HOLDINGS II LLC, MLIC ASSET HOLDINGS LLC, MLIC CB HOLDINGS LLC, MLJ US FEEDER LLC, MM GLOBAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT CENTER S.A. DE C.V., MMP CEDAR STREET OWNER LLC, MMP CEDAR STREET REIT LLC, MMP HOLDINGS III LLC, MMP OLIVIAN OWNER LLC, MMP OLIVIAN REIT LLC, MMP OWNERS III LLC, MMP OWNERS LLC, MMP SOUTH PARK OWNER LLC, MMP SOUTH PARK REIT LLC, MNQM TRUST 2020, MREF 425 MKT LLC, MSHDF HOLDCO I LLC, MSV IRVINE PROPERTY LLC, MTL LEASING LLC, MTU HOTEL OWNER LLC, NATILOPORTEM HOLDINGS LLC, NEWBURY INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED, OCONEE GOLF COMPANY LLC, OCONEE HOTEL COMPANY LLC, OCONEE LAND COMPANY LLC, OCONEE LAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LLC, OCONEE MARINA COMPANY LLC, OMI MLIC INVESTMENTS LIMITED, PACIFIC LOGISTICS INDUSTRIAL NORTH LLC, PACIFIC LOGISTICS INDUSTRIAL SOUTH LLC, PARK TOWER JV MEMBER LLC, PARK TOWER REIT INC., PJSC METLIFE, PLAZA DRIVE PROPERTIES LLC, PREFCO FOURTEEN LLC, PREFCO XIV HOLDINGS LLC, PROVIDA INTERNACIONAL S.A., SAFEGUARD HEALTH ENTERPRISES INC., SAFEGUARD HEALTH PLANS INC., SAFEHEALTH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, SOUTHCREEK INDUSTRIAL HOLDINGS LLC, ST. JAMES FLEET INVESTMENTS TWO LIMITED, SUPERIOR PROCUREMENT INC., SUPERIOR VISION BENEFIT MANAGEMENT INC., SUPERIOR VISION HOLDINGS INC., SUPERIOR VISION INSURANCE INC., SUPERIOR VISION INSURANCE PLAN OF WISCONSIN INC., SUPERIOR VISION OF NEW JERSEY INC., SUPERIOR VISION SERVICES INC., Safeguard Health Enterprises, Security First Group Inc., THE BUILDING AT 575 FIFTH AVENUE MEZZANINE LLC, THE BUILDING AT 575 FIFTH RETAIL HOLDING LLC, THE BUILDING AT 575 FIFTH RETAIL OWNER, THE DIRECT CALL CENTRE PTY LIMITED, TRANSMOUNTAIN LAND & LIVESTOCK COMPANY, UVC INDEPENDENT PRACTICE ASSOCIATION INC., VERSANT HEALTH CONSOLIDATIONS CORP., VERSANT HEALTH HOLDCO INC., VERSANT HEALTH INC., VERSANT HEALTH LAB LLC, VIRIDIAN MIRACLE MILE LLC, VISION 21 MANAGED EYE CARE OF TAMPA BAY INC., VISION 21 PHYSICIAN PRACTICE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, VISION TWENTY-ONE MANAGED EYE CARE IPA INC., Versant Health, WDV ACQUISITION CORP., WFP 1000 HOLDING COMPANY GP LLC, WHITE OAK ROYALTY COMPANY, WHITE TRACT II LLC, and Willing.
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SFL Corporation Ltd., a maritime and offshore asset owning and chartering company, engages in the ownership, operation, and chartering out of vessels and offshore related assets on medium and long-term charters. The company is also involved in the charter, purchase, and sale of assets. In addition, it operates in various sectors of the maritime, and shipping and offshore industries, including oil, chemical, oil product, container, and car transportation, as well as dry bulk shipments and drilling rigs. As of December 31, 2021, the company owned six crude oil tankers, 15 dry bulk carriers, 35 container vessels, two car carriers, one jack-up drilling rig, one ultra-deepwater drilling unit, two chemical tankers, and four oil product tankers. It primarily operates in Bermuda, Cyprus, Liberia, Norway, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the Marshall Islands. The company was formerly known as Ship Finance International Limited and changed its name to SFL Corporation Ltd. in September 2019. SFL Corporation Ltd. was incorporated in 2003 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.
Telefonica, S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides telecommunications services in Europe and Latin America. The company's mobile and related services and products comprise mobile voice, value added, mobile data and Internet, wholesale, corporate, roaming, fixed wireless, and trunking and paging services. Its fixed telecommunication services include PSTN lines; ISDN accesses; public telephone services; local, domestic, and international long-distance and fixed-to-mobile communications; corporate communications; supplementary value-added services; video telephony; intelligent network; and telephony information services, as well as leases and sells handset equipment. The company also provides Internet and broadband multimedia services comprising Internet service provider, portal and network, retail and wholesale broadband access, narrowband switched access, high-speed Internet through fibre to the home, and voice over Internet protocol services. In addition, it offers leased line, virtual private network, fibre optics, web hosting and application, outsourcing and consultancy, desktop, and system integration and professional services. Further, the company offers wholesale services for telecommunication operators, including domestic interconnection and international wholesale services; leased lines for other operators; and local loop leasing services, as well as bit stream services, wholesale line rental accesses, and leased ducts for other operators' fiber deployment. Additionally, it provides video/TV services; smart connectivity and services, and consumer IoT products; financial and other payment, security, cloud computing, advertising, big data, and digital telco experience services; virtual assistants; digital home platforms; and Movistar Home devices. It also offers online telemedicine, home insurance, music streaming, and consumer loan services. The company was incorporated in 1924 and is headquartered in Madrid, Spain.
The Travelers Companies, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United states and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance. The Business Insurance segment offers workers' compensation, commercial automobile and property, general liability, commercial multi-peril, employers' liability, public and product liability, professional indemnity, marine, aviation, onshore and offshore energy, construction, terrorism, personal accident, and kidnap and ransom insurance products. This segment operates through select accounts, which serve small businesses; commercial accounts that serve mid-sized businesses; national accounts, which serve large companies; and national property and other that serve large and mid-sized customers, commercial trucking industry, and agricultural businesses, as well as markets and distributes its products through brokers, wholesale agents, and program managers. The Bond & Specialty Insurance segment provides surety, fidelity, management and professional liability, and other property and casualty coverages and related risk management services through independent agencies and brokers. The Personal Insurance segment offers property and casualty insurance covering personal risks, primarily automobile and homeowners insurance to individuals through independent agencies and brokers. The Travelers Companies, Inc. was founded in 1853 and is based in New York, New York.
The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, U.S. Retail, Wealth Management and Insurance, and Wholesale Banking segments. The company offers personal deposits, such as checking, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases. It also provides credit cards and payments; real estate secured lending, auto finance, and consumer lending services; point-of-sale payment solutions for large and small businesses; wealth and asset management products, and advice to retail and institutional clients through direct investing, advice-based, and asset management businesses; and property and casualty insurance, as well as life and health insurance products. The company also provides capital markets, and corporate and investment banking products and services, including underwriting and distribution of new debt and equity issues; advice on strategic acquisitions and divestitures; and trading, funding, and investment services to corporations, governments, and institutions. It offers its products and services under the TD Bank and America's Most Convenient Bank brand names. The company operates through a network of 1,061 branches and 3,381 automated teller machines (ATMs) in Canada, and 1,148 stores and 2,701 ATMs in the United States, as well as offers telephone, digital, and mobile banking services. It has a strategic alliance with Canada Post Corporation. The Toronto-Dominion Bank was founded in 1855 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.
Best Buy Co., Inc. retails technology products in the United States and Canada. The company operates in two segments, Domestic and International. Its stores provide computing products, such as desktops, notebooks, and peripherals; mobile phones comprising related mobile network carrier commissions; networking products; tablets covering e-readers; smartwatches; and consumer electronics consisting of digital imaging, health and fitness, home theater, portable audio comprising headphones and portable speakers, and smart home products. The company's stores also offer appliances, such as dishwashers, laundry, ovens, refrigerators, blenders, coffee makers, and vacuums; entertainment products consisting of drones, peripherals, movies, music, and toys, as well as gaming hardware and software, and virtual reality and other software products; and other products, such as baby, food and beverage, luggage, outdoor living, and sporting goods. In addition, it provides consultation, delivery, design, health-related, installation, memberships, repair, set-up, technical support, and warranty-related services. The company offers its products through stores and websites under the Best Buy, Best Buy Ads, Best Buy Business, Best Buy Health, CST, Current Health, Geek Squad, Lively, Magnolia, Best Buy Mobile, Pacific Kitchen, Home, and Yardbird, as well as domain names bestbuy.com, currenthealth.com, lively.com, yardbird.com, and bestbuy.ca. As of January 30, 2022, it had 1,144 stores. The company was formerly known as Sound of Music, Inc. The company was incorporated in 1966 and is headquartered in Richfield, Minnesota.
BlackRock, Inc. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks. It also provides global risk management and advisory services. The firm manages separate client-focused equity, fixed income, and balanced portfolios. It also launches and manages open-end and closed-end mutual funds, offshore funds, unit trusts, and alternative investment vehicles including structured funds. The firm launches equity, fixed income, balanced, and real estate mutual funds. It also launches equity, fixed income, balanced, currency, commodity, and multi-asset exchange traded funds. The firm also launches and manages hedge funds. It invests in the public equity, fixed income, real estate, currency, commodity, and alternative markets across the globe. The firm primarily invests in growth and value stocks of small-cap, mid-cap, SMID-cap, large-cap, and multi-cap companies. It also invests in dividend-paying equity securities. The firm invests in investment grade municipal securities, government securities including securities issued or guaranteed by a government or a government agency or instrumentality, corporate bonds, and asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities. It employs fundamental and quantitative analysis with a focus on bottom-up and top-down approach to make its investments. The firm employs liquidity, asset allocation, balanced, real estate, and alternative strategies to make its investments. In real estate sector, it seeks to invest in Poland and Germany. The firm benchmarks the performance of its portfolios against various S&P, Russell, Barclays, MSCI, Citigroup, and Merrill Lynch indices. BlackRock, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is based in New York City with additional offices in Boston, Massachusetts; London, United Kingdom; Gurgaon, India; Hong Kong; Greenwich, Connecticut; Princeton, New Jersey; Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Sydney, Australia; Taipei, Taiwan; Singapore; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Washington, District of Columbia; Toronto, Canada; Wilmington, Delaware; and San Francisco, California.
The following companies are subsidiares of Textron: AAI Corporation, AAI Services Corporation, ALSTOM Gears, Able Aerospace, Able Aerospace Services Inc., Able Engineering & Component Services, Aeronautical Accessories LLC, Airborne Tactical Advantage Company LLC, Arctic Cat, Arctic Cat ACE Holding GmbH, Arctic Cat France SARL, Arctic Cat GmbH, Arctic Cat Inc., Arctic Cat Production LLC, Arctic Cat Production Support LLC, Arctic Cat Sales Inc., Arctic Cat Shared Services LLC, Arctic Cat UK Ltd., Arkansas Aerospace Inc., Avco Corporation, Aviation Service servis letal doo Ljubljana, Aylesbury Automation, B/K Navigational Equipment sro, BELL TEXTRON ASIA (PTE.) LTD., Beech Aircraft Corporation, Beech Holdings, Beechcraft Defense Support Holding LLC, Beechcraft Domestic Service Company, Beechcraft Germany GmbH, Beechcraft International Holding LLC, Beechcraft International Service Company, Beechcraft New Zealand, Bell Textron Canada International Inc., Bell Textron Canada Limited/Limitee, Bell Textron Co. Ltd, Bell Textron Inc., Bell Textron Korea Inc., Bell Textron LLC, Bell Textron Miami Inc., Bell Textron Prague a.s., Bell Textron Rhode Island Inc., Bell Textron Services Inc., Bell Textron Supply Center BV, Bell Textron Technical Services Inc., Benzlers, Brazaco Mapri Industrias, Burkland, Cessna Aircraft Company, Cessna Citation European Service Center SAS (99.9%; 1 share Textron France SAS), Cessna Dusseldorf Citation Service Center GmbH, Cessna Finance Corporation, Cessna Finance Export Corporation, Cessna Mexico S de RL de CV, Cessna Spanish Citation Service Center SLU, Cessna Zurich Citation Service Center GmbH, Citation Parts Distribution International Inc., Cushman Inc., Datacom Technologies, David Brown Group, Doncaster Citation Service Centre Limited, E-Z-GO Canada Limited, Energy Manufacturing, Flexalloy, HBC LLC, Hawker Beech de Mexico S de RL de CV, Hawker Beechcraft Argentina SA , Howe & Howe Inc., Howe and Howe Technologies, Industrial Technology Inc., InteSys Technologies, International Product Support Inc., KSB Annecy SAS, Kautex (Changchun) Plastics Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Chongqing) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Guangzhou) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Pinghu) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Shanghai) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Wuhan) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex Corporation, Kautex Craiova srl, Kautex Germany Holding GmbH, Kautex Inc., Kautex Japan KK, Kautex Shanghai GmbH, Kautex Textron (UK) Limited, Kautex Textron Benelux BVBA, Kautex Textron Bohemia spol sro, Kautex Textron CVS Limited, Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG, Kautex Textron Iberica SL, Kautex Textron Management Services Company de Puebla S. de RL de CV, Kautex Textron Portugal Produtos Plasticos Sociedade Unipessoal Lda., Kautex Textron de Mexico S de RL de CV, Kautex Textron do Brasil Ltda., Kautex of Georgia Inc., Kaywood Products Corp., Klauke, LCI Corporation International, LLC Textron RUS, Maag, McCord Corporation, Mechtronix, Medical Numerics Inc., Midland Industrial Plastics, MillenWorks, MillenWorks Themed Technologies, MotorFist LLC, OPINICUS Simulation and Training Services LLC, OmniQuip International, Opinicus, Optical Boring Co., Opto-Electronics, Opto-Electronics Inc., Overwatch Systems, PEINER Umformtechnik, Pipistrel, Pirelli Tyres - General Rubber Goods (GRG) division, Premiair Aviation Maintenance Pty Ltd, Progressive Electronics, Ransomes, Ransomes Inc., Ransomes Investment LLC, Ransomes Jacobsen France SAS, Ransomes Jacobsen Limited, Ransomes Limited, Ransomes Pensions Trustee Company Limited, Replacement Part Solutions LLC, Response Technologies LLC, Rotor Blades Limited, Sukosim Verbindungselemente, TRU Simulation & Training Spain SL, TRU Simulation + Training Inc., TRU Simulation + Training LLC, TekGPS Engineering Srl, Textron Airland LLC, Textron Atlantic LLC, Textron Aviation Australia Pty. Ltd., Textron Aviation Canada Ltd., Textron Aviation Defense LLC, Textron Aviation Finance Corporation, Textron Aviation Inc., Textron Aviation Prague Service Center sro, Textron Aviation Rhode Island Inc., Textron Aviation Services de Mexico S de RL de CV, Textron Capital BV, Textron Communications Inc., Textron Far East Pte. Ltd., Textron Finance Holding Company, Textron Financial Corporation, Textron Financial Corporation Receivables Trust 2002-CP-2, Textron Fluid and Power Inc., Textron France Holding SAS, Textron France SAS, Textron Global Services Inc., Textron Ground Support Equipment Inc., Textron Ground Support Equipment UK Limited, Textron IPMP Inc., Textron India Private Limited , Textron Innovations Inc., Textron International Inc., Textron International Mexico S de RL de CV, Textron Limited, Textron Management Services Inc., Textron Motors GmbH, Textron Motors North America Inc., Textron Outdoor Power Equipment Inc., Textron Realty Corporation, Textron Shared Service Centre (Canada) Inc., Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc., Textron Sweden AB, Textron Systems Australia Holding Pty Ltd, Textron Systems Australia Pty Ltd, Textron Systems Canada Inc., Textron Systems Corporation, Textron Systems Electronic Systems UK (Holdings) Limited, Textron Systems Electronic Systems UK Limited, Textron Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Textron UK Pension Trustee Limited, Textron Verwaltungs-GmbH, Turbine Engine Components Textron (Newington Operations) Inc., United Industrial Corporation, Westminster Insurance Company, Williams Machine & Tool, and Zhenjiang Bell Textron Aviation Services Limited.
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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.
CarMax, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer of used vehicles in the United States. The company operates through two segments, CarMax Sales Operations and CarMax Auto Finance. It offers customers a range of makes and models of used vehicles, including domestic, imported, and luxury vehicles, as well as hybrid and electric vehicles; and extended protection plans to customers at the time of sale, as well as sells vehicles that are approximately 10 years old and has more than 100,000 miles through wholesale auctions. The company also provides reconditioning and vehicle repair services; and financing alternatives for retail customers across a range of credit spectrum through its CarMax Auto Finance and arrangements with various financial institutions. As of February 28, 2022, it operated approximately 230 used car stores. CarMax, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is based in Richmond, Virginia.
Equifax Inc. provides information solutions and human resources business process automation outsourcing services for businesses, governments, and consumers. The company operates through three segments: Workforce Solutions, U.S. Information Solutions (USIS), and International. The Workforce Solutions segment offers employment, income, criminal history, and social security number verification services, as well as payroll-based transaction, employment tax management, and identity theft protection products. The USIS segment provides consumer and commercial information services, such as credit information and credit scoring, credit modeling and portfolio analytics, locate, fraud detection and prevention, identity verification, and other consulting; mortgage services; financial marketing services; identity management services; credit monitoring products; and online information, decisioning technology solutions, as well as portfolio management, mortgage reporting, and consumer credit information services. The International segment offers information service products, which include consumer and commercial services, such as credit and financial information, and credit scoring and modeling; and credit and other marketing products and services, as well as offers information, technology, and other services to support debt collections and recovery management. The company serves customers in financial services, mortgage, employers, consumer, commercial, telecommunication, retail, automotive, utility, brokerage, healthcare, and insurance industries, as well as state, federal, and local governments. It operates in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Brazil, the Republic of Ireland, Russia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. The company was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Juniper Networks, Inc. designs, develops, and sells network products and services worldwide. The company offers routing products, such as ACX series universal access routers to deploy high-bandwidth services; MX series Ethernet routers that function as a universal edge platform; PTX series packet transport routers; wide-area network SDN controllers; and session smart routers. It also provides switching products, including EX series Ethernet switches to address the access, aggregation, and core layer switching requirements of micro branch, branch office, and campus environments; QFX series of core, spine, and top-of-rack data center switches; and juniper access points, which provide Wi-Fi access and performance. In addition, the company offers security products comprising SRX series services gateways for the data center; Branch SRX family provides an integrated and next-generation firewall; virtual firewall that delivers various features of physical firewalls; and advanced malware protection, a cloud-based service and Juniper ATP. Further, it offers Junos OS, a network operating system; Contrail networking, which provides an open-source and standards-based platform for SDN; Mist AI-driven Wired, Wireless, and WAN assurance solutions to set and measure key metrics; Mist AI-driven Marvis Virtual Network Assistant, which identifies the root cause of issues; Juniper Paragon Automation, a modular portfolio of cloud-native software applications; and Juniper Apstra to automate the network lifecycle in a single system. Additionally, the company provides software-as-a-service, technical support, maintenance, and professional services, as well as education and training programs. It sells its products through direct sales, distributors, value-added resellers, and original equipment manufacturers to end-users in the cloud, service provider, and enterprise markets. The company was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.
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.
Humana Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a health and well-being company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Retail, Group and Specialty, and Healthcare Services. The company offers medical and supplemental benefit plans to individuals. It also has a contract with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to administer the Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition prescription drug plan program; and contracts with various states to provide Medicaid, dual eligible, and long-term support services benefits. In addition, the company provides commercial fully insured medical and specialty health insurance benefits comprising dental, vision, and other supplemental health benefits; and administrative services only products to individuals and employer groups, as well as military services, such as TRICARE T2017 East Region contract. Further, it offers pharmacy solutions, provider services, and home solutions services, such as home health and other services to its health plan members, as well as to third parties. As of December 31, 2021, the company had approximately 17 million members in medical benefit plans, as well as approximately 5 million members in specialty products. Humana Inc. was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.
The following companies are subsidiares of Accenture: 2nd Road, ?What If!, ?What If! China Holdings Limited, ?What If! Holdings Limited, ?What If! Limited, ACN Consulting Co Ltd, AD.Dialeto (Digital Agency acquired by Accenture), AFD.TECH, AGS Business and Technology Services Limited, AIG Shared Services Business Processing Inc, ASM Research Inc., ASM Research LLC, ATAN, Accenture (Botswana) (Proprietary) Limited, Accenture (China) Co. Ltd., Accenture (Shenzhen) Technology Co. Ltd., Accenture (South Africa) Pty Ltd, Accenture (UK) Limited, Accenture 2 Business Process Services S.A., Accenture 2 LLC, Accenture A/S, Accenture AB, Accenture AG, Accenture AS, Accenture Africa Pty Ltd, Accenture Agencia Interativa Ltda, Accenture Australia Holding B.V., Accenture Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, Accenture Australia Pty Ltd, Accenture B.V., Accenture BPM Operations Support Services S.A., Accenture BPM S.C.R.L., Accenture BPS Services S.p. z o.o., Accenture Branch Holdings B.V., Accenture Bulgaria EOOD, Accenture Business Services for Utilities Inc, Accenture Business Services of British Columbia Limited Partnership, Accenture Business and Technology Services LLC, Accenture C.A., Accenture Canada Holdings Inc, Accenture Capital Designated Activity Company, Accenture Capital Inc, Accenture Central Europe B.V., Accenture Chile Asesorias y Servicios Ltda, Accenture Cloud Services GmbH, Accenture Cloud Software Solutions Limited, Accenture Cloud Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions LLC, Accenture Cloud Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Co Ltd, Accenture Co. Ltd, Accenture Communications Infrastructure Solutions Ltd, Accenture Company Ltd, Accenture Consulting Pty Ltd, Accenture Consulting Services Ltd Tanzania, Accenture Consultores de Gestao S.A., Accenture Consultoria de Industria e Consumo Ltda, Accenture Consultoria de Recursos Naturais Ltda, Accenture Credit Services LLC, Accenture Customer Services Distribution SASU, Accenture Customer Services Ltd, Accenture Danismanlik Limited Sirketi, Accenture Defined Benefit Pension Plan Trustees Limited, Accenture Defined Contribution Pension Plan Trustees Limited, Accenture Delivery Poland S.p. z o.o., Accenture Dienstleistungen GmbH, Accenture Digital Holdings GmbH, Accenture East Africa Limited, Accenture Ecuador S.A., Accenture Egypt LLC, Accenture Enterprise Development (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Accenture Federal Services LLC, Accenture Finance II Limited, Accenture Finance Limited, Accenture Finance and Accounting BPO Services S.p.A., Accenture Finance and Accounting Services S.r.l., Accenture Financial Advanced Solution & Technology S.r.l., Accenture Flex LLC, Accenture GP LLC, Accenture Global Capital Designated Activity Company, Accenture Global Engagements Limited, Accenture Global Holdings Limited, Accenture Global Services Limited, Accenture Global Solutions Limited, Accenture GmbH, Accenture HR Services S.p.A., Accenture Healthcare Processing Inc, Accenture Holding Brasil Ltda, Accenture Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Accenture Holdings (Iberia) S.L., Accenture Holdings B.V., Accenture Holdings France SASU, Accenture Hungary Holdings Kft, Accenture Inc, Accenture Industrial Software Limited Liability Company, Accenture Industrial Software Solutions Kft, Accenture Industrial Software Solutions SA, Accenture Insurance Services B.V., Accenture Insurance Services LLC, Accenture International B.V., Accenture International LLC, Accenture International Limited, Accenture Japan Ltd, Accenture Korea B.V., Accenture LLC, Accenture LLP, Accenture Lanka (Private) Ltd, Accenture Limited, Accenture Lithuania UAB, Accenture Ltd, Accenture Ltda, Accenture Maghreb S.a.r.l., Accenture Managed Services SRL, Accenture Management GmbH, Accenture Marketing Services LLC, Accenture Marketing Services Limited, Accenture Middle East B.V., Accenture Minority I B.V., Accenture Mozambique Limitada, Accenture Mzansi Pty Ltd, Accenture NV/SA, Accenture NZ Limited, Accenture Nova Scotia Unlimited Liability Co., Accenture OOO, Accenture Operations GmbH, Accenture Operations S.p. z o.o., Accenture Operations Services Private Limited, Accenture Operations Services Sdn Bhd, Accenture Outsourcing S.r.l., Accenture Outsourcing Services S.A., Accenture Oy, Accenture Panama Inc, Accenture Participations B.V., Accenture Participations II Limited, Accenture Peru SRL, Accenture Post Trade Processing SASU, Accenture Post-Trade Processing Limited, Accenture Process (Mauritius) Ltd, Accenture Pte Ltd, Accenture Puerto Rico LLC, Accenture Qiyun Technology (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd, Accenture S.C., Accenture S.L., Accenture S.R.L., Accenture S.p. z o.o., Accenture S.p.A., Accenture SASU, Accenture SG Services Pte Ltd, Accenture SRL, Accenture Saudi Arabia Limited, Accenture Sdn Bhd, Accenture Service Center SRL, Accenture Services (Mauritius) Ltd, Accenture Services AB, Accenture Services AG, Accenture Services AS, Accenture Services GmbH, Accenture Services Morocco SA, Accenture Services Oy, Accenture Services Pty Ltd, Accenture Services S.p. z o.o., Accenture Services SRL, Accenture Services and Technology S.r.l., Accenture Services s.r.o., Accenture Single Member S.A. Organization Information Technology & Business Development, Accenture Solutions Co. Ltd, Accenture Solutions Private Limited, Accenture Solutions Pte Ltd, Accenture Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Solutions S.p. z o.o, Accenture Solutions Sdn Bhd, Accenture State Healthcare Services LLC, Accenture Sub II Inc, Accenture Sub III Inc, Accenture Sub LLC, Accenture Systems Integration Limited, Accenture Sarl, Accenture Tanacsado Kolatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Accenture Technology Solutions (Dalian) Co. Ltd., Accenture Technology Solutions (HK) Co. Ltd., Accenture Technology Solutions (Thailand) Co. Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions - Solucoes Informaticas Integradas S.A., Accenture Technology Solutions GmbH, Accenture Technology Solutions Oy, Accenture Technology Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions S.A. de C.V., Accenture Technology Solutions S.r.l., Accenture Technology Solutions SASU, Accenture Technology Solutions SRL, Accenture Technology Solutions Sdn Bhd, Accenture Technology Solutions Slovakia s.r.o., Accenture Technology Ventures B.V., Accenture Technology Ventures SPRL, Accenture Tecnologia Consultoria y Outsourcing S.A., Accenture Uruguay SRL, Accenture Vietnam Co. Limited, Accenture Zambia Limited, Accenture do Brasil Ltda, Accenture plc, Accenture s.r.o., Acceria, Acquity Group, Adaptly LLC, Adaptly UK Limited, AddVal Technology, Adqptly, Advantium Inc., Advoco, Agilex Technologies Inc., Alfa Consulting, Allen International, AlphaBeta Advisors, Altevie Technologies S.r.l., Altima, Altima (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Altima Asia Ltd, Altitude, Altitude LLC, Altius Consulting Limited, Altius Data Solutions Private Limited, Analytics 8 LP, Analytics 8 Pty Ltd, Analytics8, Aorui Advertising (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Apis, Apis Group Pty Ltd, Appaloosa Technology SASU, AppsPro, AppsPro, Arca, Arca Ingenieros y Consultoria S.L., Arca Telecom S.L., Ariba - BPO, Arismore, Artio People (Payroll) Pty Ltd, Artio People Pty Ltd, Aspiro Solutions (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Automation Partners Pty Ltd, Avanade (Guangzhou) Computer Technology Development Co. Ltd., Avanade Asia Pte Ltd, Avanade Australia Pty Ltd, Avanade Belgium SPRL, Avanade Canada Inc, Avanade Consulting Poland S.p. z o.o., Avanade Denmark A/S, Avanade Deutschland GmbH, Avanade Europe Holdings Limited, Avanade Europe Services Limited, Avanade Finland Oy, Avanade France SASU, Avanade Holdings LLC, Avanade Hong Kong Ltd, Avanade Inc, Avanade International Corporation, Avanade Ireland Limited, Avanade Italy S.r.l., Avanade Japan KK, Avanade Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avanade Middle East Limited, Avanade Netherlands B.V., Avanade Norway AS, Avanade Poland S.p. z o.o., Avanade Schweiz GmbH, Avanade South Africa Pty Ltd, Avanade Spain S.L., Avanade Sweden AB, Avanade UK Limited, Avanade do Brasil Ltda , Avanade Osterreich GmbH, Avenai, Avieco, Axia Ltd., BABCN LLC, BCS Consulting, BCT Solutions, BCT Solutions Pty Ltd, BENEXT, BPO Servicos Administrativos Ltda, BRIDGE Energy Group, BRIDGEi2i, Beacon Consulting Group Inc., Beijing Genesis Interactive Technology Co. Ltd., Beijing Zhidao Future Consulting Co. Ltd, Benext, Berico Technologies LLC, Bionic, Bionic Solution LLC, Blue Horseshoe, Boomerang Pharmaceutical Communications, Bow & Arrow, Bow & Arrow Limited, Brand Learning, Brand Learning Group Limited, Brightstep AB, Byte Prophecy, Byte Prophecy Private Limited, CAS, CRMWaypoint, CS Technology (Australia) Pty Ltd, CS Technology (UK) Limited, CS Technology Group LLC, CS Technology LLC, CadenceQuest Inc., Callisto Integration Europe B.V., Callisto Integration Europe Limited, Callisto Integration LLC, Callisto Integration Ltd, Capgemini - North American health practice, Capital Consultancy Services Inc, Certus Solutions Consulting Services Limited, Certus Solutions Ltd, ChangeTrack Research Pty Ltd., Chaotic Moon Studios, Chengdu Mensa Advertising Co. 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.
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The following companies are subsidiares of Mohawk Industries: A&S Energie NV, A&U Energie NV, Aladdin Manufacturing Corporation, Aladdin Manufacturing Of New York LLC, Aladdin Manufacturing of Alabama LLC, Alsace Logistique S.A., Avelgem Green Power CVBA, Avon Pacific Holdings Ltd, B&M NV, BGE Mexico S. de R. L. de C.V., Berghoef GmbH, Berghoef-Hout B.V., Bienes Raices y Materiales del Centro S. de R.L. de C.V., C.F. Marazzi S.A., Canterbury Spinners Ltd, Carpet Foundation Ltd, Cevotrans BV, Ceramus Bahia S/A Produtos Ceramicos, DT Mex Holdings LLC, DTM/CM Holdings LLC, Dal Italia LLC, Dal-Elit LLC, Dal-Tile Chile Comercial Limitada, Dal-Tile Colombia S.A.S., Dal-Tile Distribution Inc., Dal-Tile Group Inc., Dal-Tile I LLC, Dal-Tile Industrias S. de R.L. de C.V., Dal-Tile International Inc., Dal-Tile Mexico Comercial S. de R.L. de C.V., Dal-Tile Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Dal-Tile Operaciones Mexico S. De R.L. De C.V., Dal-Tile Peru SRL, Dal-Tile Puerto Rico Inc., Dal-Tile Services Inc., Dal-Tile Shared Services Inc., Dal-Tile Tennessee LLC, Dal-Tile of Canada ULC, Daltile, Daltile, Dekaply NV, Durkan, Dynea NV, Eliane Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Eliane S/A - Revestimentos Ceramicos, Emilceramica India Pvt Ltd., Emilceramica S.r.l, Emilgermany GmbH, Emilgroup Asia Ltd, Explorer S.r.l., F.I.L.S. Investments Unlimited Company, Feltex Carpets Ltd, Feltex Carpets Pty Ltd, Feltex New Zealand Ltd, Fibremakers Australia Pty Ltd, Flooring Foundation Ltd, Flooring Industries Limited S.a r.l., Flooring XL B.V., Floorscape Limited, Godfrey Hirst & Co Pty Ltd, Godfrey Hirst (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Godfrey Hirst Australia Pty Ltd, Godfrey Hirst Group, Godfrey Hirst NZ Ltd, Hytherm (Ireland) Limited, IVC BVBA, IVC Far-East Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., IVC France S.a r.l., IVC GROUP LIMITED, IVC Green Power NV, IVC Group, IVC Group GmbH, IVC Luxembourg S.a r.l., IVC Rus OOO, IVC US Inc., International Flooring Systems S.a r.l., International Vinyl Company - Vostok OOO, KAI Group, KAI Keramica Ltd, KAI Mining EOOD, KERAMA CENTER OOO, Kerama Baltics OOO, Kerama Export OOO, Kerama Marazzi OOO, Kerampromservis (LLC), Khan Asparuh - Transport EOOD, Khan Asparuh AD, Khan Omurtag AD, Koninklijke Peitsman B.V., Kraj Kerama OOO, MG China Trading Ltd., MI Finance SRL, MUD (Holding) Brazil Ltda., Management Co EAD, Marazzi Acquisition S.r.l., Marazzi Deutschland G.m.b.H., Marazzi France Trading S.A.S., Marazzi Group, Marazzi Group F.Z.E., Marazzi Group S.r.l., Marazzi Group Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Marazzi Iberia S.L.U., Marazzi Japan Co. Ltd., Marazzi Middle East FZ LLC, Marazzi Schweiz S.A.G.L., Marazzi UK Ltd., Mohawk Assurance Services Inc., Mohawk Australia Pty Ltd, Mohawk Canada Corporation, Mohawk Capital Finance S.A., Mohawk Capital Luxembourg SA, Mohawk Carpet Distribution Inc., Mohawk Carpet Foundation Inc., Mohawk Carpet LLC, Mohawk Carpet Transportation Of Georgia LLC, Mohawk Commercial Inc., Mohawk ESV Inc., Mohawk Europe BVBA, Mohawk Factoring II Inc., Mohawk Factoring LLC, Mohawk Finance S.a r.l., Mohawk Foreign Acquisitions S.a r.l., Mohawk Foreign Funding S.a.r.l, Mohawk Foreign Holdings S.a r.l., Mohawk Foreign Investments Inc., Mohawk Global Investments S.a r.l., Mohawk Holdings International B.V., Mohawk Industries Inc., Mohawk International (Europe) S.a r.l., Mohawk International (Hong Kong) Limited, Mohawk International Capital N.V., Mohawk International Financing S.a.r.l, Mohawk International Holdings (DE) LLC, Mohawk International Holdings S.a r.l., Mohawk International Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk International Netherlands B.V., Mohawk International Services BVBA, Mohawk KAI Luxembourg Holding S.a r.l., Mohawk KAI Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Capital S.A., Mohawk Luxembourg Financing S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Investments S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Pacific S.a r.l., Mohawk Marazzi International BV, Mohawk Marazzi Russia BV, Mohawk New Zealand Limited, Mohawk Operaciones Mexicali S. de R.L. de C.V., Mohawk Operations Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk Pacific Investments S.a r.l., Mohawk Resources LLC, Mohawk Servicing LLC, Mohawk Singapore Private Limited, Mohawk Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Mohawk Unilin Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk United Finance B.V., Mohawk United International B.V., Mohawk Vinyl Financing S.a r.l., Molber Beheer B.V., Monarch Ceramic Tile Inc., P.F. Onroerend Goed B.V., PF Beheer B.V., Pergo, Pergo (Europe) AB, Pergo Holding BV, Pergo India Pvt Ltd, Polcolorit S.A., Premium Floors Australia Pty Limited, RR Apex LLC, Rata International Pty Ltd, Recubrimientos Interceramica S. de R.L. de C.V., Riverside Textiles Pty Ltd, S.C. KAI Ceramics SRL, Sibir Kerama OOO, SimpleSolutions USA LLC, Soft Step (Australia) Pty Ltd, Spano Group, Spano Invest BVBA, Spano NV, Stroyagromekhzapchast ChaO, Stroytrans OAO Orelstroy, Summit Wool Spinners Ltd, The Flooring Federation Ltd, Tiles Co OOD, Unilin (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Unilin ApS, Unilin Arauco Pisos Ltda., Unilin BVBA, Unilin Beheer BV, Unilin Distribution Ltd., Unilin Distribution Ukraine LLC, Unilin Finland OY, Unilin Flooring India Private Limited, Unilin Flooring SAS, Unilin GmbH, Unilin Holding BVBA, Unilin Insulation BV, Unilin Insulation SAS, Unilin Insulation Sury SAS, Unilin Italia S.R.L., Unilin North America LLC, Unilin Norway AS, Unilin OOO, Unilin Panels SAS, Unilin Poland Sp.Z.o.o., Unilin SAS, Unilin Spain SL, Unilin Swiss GmbH, Unilin s.r.o., World International Inc., Xtratherm, Xtratherm Limited, Xtratherm S.A., and Xtratherm UK Limited.
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Navigant Consulting, Inc. provides professional services worldwide. It operates through three segments: Healthcare, Energy, and Financial Services Advisory and Compliance. The Healthcare segment offers consulting and business process management services to healthcare providers, payers, and life sciences companies. This segment helps clients respond to market legislative changes, such as the shift to an outcome and value-based reimbursements model, ongoing industry consolidation and reorganization, Medicaid expansion, the implementation of a electronic health records system, and product planning and commercialization expertise. The Energy segment provides life-cycle solutions that help clients businesses in changing energy environment, manage complexity, accelerate operational performance, and meet compliance requirements, as well as transform its organizations and systems; and various benchmarking, and data and market research services. This segment serves utility and energy companies, government and nongovernmental organizations, large corporations, product manufacturers, and investors. The Financial Services Advisory and Compliance segment provides strategic, operational, valuation, risk management, investigative, and compliance advisory services to financial services industry, including financial and insurance institutions. This segment also offers anti-corruption solutions and anti-money laundering consulting, litigation support, and tax compliance services. Navigant Consulting, Inc. was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
Cardinal Health, Inc. operates as an integrated healthcare services and products company in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and internationally. It provides customized solutions for hospitals, healthcare systems, pharmacies, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories, physician offices, and patients in the home. The company operates in two segments, Pharmaceutical and Medical. The Pharmaceutical segment distributes branded and generic pharmaceutical, specialty pharmaceutical, and over-the-counter healthcare and consumer products. The segment also provides services to pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers for specialty pharmaceutical products; operates nuclear pharmacies and radiopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities; repackages generic pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter healthcare products; and offers medication therapy management and patient outcomes services to hospitals, other healthcare providers, and payers, as well as provides pharmacy management services to hospitals. The Medical segment manufactures, sources, and distributes Cardinal Health branded medical, surgical, and laboratory products and devices that include exam and surgical gloves; needles, syringe, and sharps disposals; compressions; incontinences; nutritional delivery products; wound care products; single-use surgical drapes, gowns, and apparels; fluid suction and collection systems; urology products; operating room supply products; and electrode product lines. The segment also distributes a range of national brand products, including medical, surgical, and laboratory products; provides supply chain services and solutions to hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories, and other healthcare providers; and assembles and sells sterile, and non-sterile procedure kits. The company was incorporated in 1979 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ohio.
Community Bank System, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Community Bank, N.A. that provides various banking and other financial services to retail, commercial, and municipal customers. It operates through three segments: Banking, Employee Benefit Services, and All Other. The company offers various deposits products, such as checking, savings, and money market deposit accounts, as well as time deposits. It also provides loans, including consumer mortgages; general purpose commercial and industrial loans, and mortgages on commercial properties; paycheck protection program loans; installment loans that are originated through selected dealerships and are secured by automobiles, marine, and other recreational vehicles; personal installment loans and lines of credit for consumers; and home equity products. In addition, the company offers broker-dealer and investment advisory; cash management, investment, and treasury services; asset management; and employee benefit services, as well as operates as a full-service insurance agency that offers personal and commercial lines of insurance, and other risk management products and services. Further, it provides contribution plan administration, employee benefit trust, collective investment fund, retirement plan administration, fund administration, transfer agency, actuarial and benefit consulting, VEBA/HRA, and health and welfare consulting services. Additionally, the company offers wealth management, retirement planning, higher educational planning, fiduciary, risk management, trust, and personal financial planning services; and investment alternatives, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and advisory products, as well as master recordkeeping services. As of January 24, 2022, it operated approximately 215 customer facilities across Upstate New York, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Western Massachusetts. Community Bank System, Inc. was founded in 1866 and is headquartered in DeWitt, New York.
The following companies are subsidiares of Quanta Services: (De) Lazy Q Ranch LLC, 1 Diamond LLC, 1Diamond AS, 618232 Alberta Ltd., 8246408 Canada Inc., Advanced Electric Systems, Advanced Electric Systems LLC, Advanced Utility Testing & Maintenance LLC, Alexander Publications LLC, Allteck GP Ltd., Allteck Limited Partnership, Apprenticeship Programs Inc., Arby Construction, Arcanum Chemicals LLC, Arnett & Burgess Oil Field Construction Limited, Arnett & Burgess Pipeliners (Rockies) LLC, Arnett & Burgess Pipeliners Ltd., B&N Clearing and Environmental LLC, Banister Pipelines Constructors Corp., Banister Pipelines Constructors GP Ltd., Banister Pipelines Limited Partnership, Brent Woodward Inc., Brink Constructors Inc., Brink Constructors Inc. A Corporation Of South Dakota, Brown Engineering and Testing, CAT SPEC Ltd., CAT-SPEC Limited Partnership, CAT-SPEC Limited Partnership (Regd Name) CAT SPEC Ltd., CAT-Spec Limited Partnership, Canadian Utility Construction Corp., Cat Spec Limited LP, Cat Spec Ltd, Cat Spec Ltd. L.P., Cat Spec Ltd. LP, Cat Spec. Ltd. LP, Cat-Spec Ltd (A Domestic limited Partnership), Cat-Spec Ltd LP, Cat-Spec Ltd., Cat-Spec Ltd. L.P., Cat-Spec Ltd. LP, Cat-Spec Ltd. Limited Partnership, Catalyst Changers Inc., Chatham Electric, Citadel Industrial Services L.P., Citadel Industrial Services Ltd., Citadel Industrial Services Ltd. L.P., Citadel Industrial Services Ltd. Limited Partnership, Coe Drilling Pty Ltd., Computapole, Conam Construction Co., Consolidated Power Projects Australia Pty Ltd, Conti Communications Inc., Crux Subsurface Canada Ltd., Crux Subsurface Inc., Cutting Technology - 1 Diamond LLC, DB Utilities Inc., DE Lazy Q Ranch LLC, DNR Pressure Welding Ltd., Dacon Corporation, Dashiell (DE) Corporation (Dashiell Corporation), Dashiell Corporation, Dashiell Corporation DBA Dashiell (DE) Corporation, De Mears Group, De Mears Group Inc., Delaware Quanta Technology LLC, Delaware Underground Construction Co., Didado Utility Company Inc., Digco Utility Construction L.P. Digco Utility Construction Limited Partnership, Dorado Specialty Services L.P., Dorado Specialty Services Ltd., Dorado Specialty Services Ltd. L.P., Dorado Specialty Services Ltd. Limited Partnership, Dorado Specialty Services. Ltd. L.P., Driftwood Electrical Contractors, EHV Power ULC, ELITE PIPING & CIVIL L.P., ELITE TURNAROUND SPECIALISTS LTD, Elite Fabrication Ltd. Elite Fabrication LP, Elite Piping & Civil Limited Partnership, Elite Piping & Civil Limited Partnership, Elite Piping & Civil Lp, Elite Piping & Civil Ltd L.P., Elite Piping & Civil Ltd., Elite Piping & Civil Ltd. L.P., Elite Piping & Civil Ltd. Limited Partnership, Elite Piping and Civil L.P., Elite Turnaround Specialists L.p., Elite Turnaround Specialists Limited Lp, Elite Turnaround Specialists Limited Partnership, Elite Turnaround Specialists Limited Partnership, Elite Turnaround Specialists Ltd Lp, Elite Turnaround Specialists Ltd., Elite Turnaround Specialists Ltd. L.P., Elite Turnaround Specialists Ltd. LP, Elite Turnaround Specialists Ltd. Limited Partnership, Energy Consulting Group LLC, Enscope, Enscope Pty Ltd, FIC GP LLC, Field Personnel Services LLC, First Infrastructure Capital Advisors LLC, First Infrastructure Capital GP L.P., Five Points Construction Co., G-Tek, G-Vac, GEM Engineering Co., Grand Electric Inc., Great Lakes Line Builders, Grid Creative Inc., Grid Manufacturing Corporation, Grid Training Corporation, H.L. Chapman Pipeline Construction Inc., Haverfield Aviation, Haverfield Aviation Inc., Haverfield International Incorporated, Heritage Midstream LLC, IM Electric Inc., IUC ILLINOIS LLC, IUC Nebraska LLC, InfraSource Construction LLC, InfraSource Field Services LLC, InfraSource Services LLC, InfraSources Construction LLC, Infraestructura ETP de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V, Infrasource Engineering Company PC, Infrasource Iowa Underground LLC, Infrasource Of Pa LLC, Integracion Tecnologica del Peru SAC, Intermountain Electric Inc., Intermountain Electric Inc. A Corporation of Colorado, IonEarth LLC, Irby Construction Company, Irby Construction Company Inc., Iron Mountain M.J. Electric LLC, Island Mechanical Corporation, J.C.R. Construction Co. Inc., J.C.R. Utility Construction Co., J.W. Didado Electric Inc., J.W. Didado Electric LLC, J.w. Didado Electric, JBT Electric LLC, Kingston Contracting Inc., Lazy Q Ranch LLC, Lazy Q Training Center LLC The Lazy Q Lineman School, Legend Foundation Services, Lex Engineering Ltd., Lindsey Electric L.P., Logical Link, Longfellow Drilling, M. G. Dyess Inc., M. J. ELECTRIC LLC IRON MOUNTAIN, M. J. Electric LLC, M. J. Electric LLC - Iron Mountain, M. J. Electric LLC DBA M. J. Electric Iron Mountain LLC, M.J. Electric LLC DBA M.J. Electric Iron Mountain, M.J. Electric LLC Iron Mountain, MTS Field Services, MTS Field Services (Richmond Co), MTS Quanta LLC, Manuel Bros. Inc., Marathon Construction Services, Mears Canada Corp., Mears Equipment Services LLC, Mears Group Inc., Mears Group Pty Ltd, Mears Installation LLC, Mearsmex S. de R.L. de C.V., Mejia Personnel Services LLC, Mercer Technical Services, Microline Technology Corporation, Mid America Energy Services Inc., NACAP Niugini Ltd., NC Northstar Energy Services Inc, NGI Construction, NGI Construction Inc., NGI Construction Inc. (FN), NLC CA. Inc., NLC FL. Inc. Northwest Lineman Center, NLC ID. Inc. Northwest Lineman College, NLC TX. Inc., NPC Energy Services LLC, Nacap Australia, Nacap PNG Limited, Network Communication Services, North Houston Pole Line L.P., North Houston Pole Line Limited Partnership, North Sky Communications, NorthStar Energy Services Inc., Northern Powerline Constructors Inc., Northstar Energy Solutions LLC, Northwest Lineman Center, Northwest Lineman College, Northwest Lineman Training Center, Northwest Lineman Training Center Inc., Nova Constructors LLC, Nova Constructors LTD, Nova Equipment Leasing LLC, Nova Group Inc, Nova Group Inc (CA), Nova Group Inc., Nova Group Inc. DBA NGI Construction, Nova NextGen Solutions LLC, O. J. Pipelines Canada Corporation, O. J. Pipelines Canada Limited Partnership, O.J. Industrial Maintenance, O.J. Pipelines Canada, One Call Locators Canada Ltd., P.D.G. Electric, PAR Electrical Contractors Inc., PDG Electric Co., Par Internacional S. de R.L. de C.V., Performance Energy Services Guyana Ltd., Performance Energy Services L.L.C., Phasor Engineering Inc., Phoenix North Constructors Inc., Phoenix Power Group Inc., Potelco Inc., Potelco Incorporated, Power Delivery Program Inc., Price Gregory International Inc., Price Gregory Services LLC, Probst Construction Inc., Probst Electric Inc., QEPC, QEPC Power Solutions LLC, QES GP LLC, QP Energy Services LLC, QPS Engineering LLC, QPS Engineering LTD., QPS Engineering PLLC, QPS Environmental, QPS Flint Construction, QPS Flint Tank Services, QPS Global, QPS Global Services, QPS Global Services (Richmond Ci), QPS Professional Services, QPSE, QS Mats, QSI Engineering Inc., QSI Finance (Australia) Pty Ltd., QSI Finance (Cayman) Pvt. Ltd., QSI Finance Canada ULC, QSI Finance GP (US) LLC, QSI Finance I (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., QSI Finance I (US) LP, QSI Finance II (Australia) Pty Ltd., QSI Finance II (Lux) S.a r.l, QSI Finance II (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., QSI Finance III (Canada) ULC, QSI Finance III (Lux) SARL, QSI Finance IV (Canada) ULC, QSI Finance IX (Canada) Limited Partnership, QSI Finance V (US) L.P., QSI Finance VI (Canada) ULC, QSI Finance VII (Canada) Limited Partnership, QSI Finance VIII (Canada) ULC, QSI Finance X (Canada) ULC, QSI Inc., QSN Lux Holdings I SCSp, QSN Lux Holdings II SCSp, QSN Lux Holdings III SCSp, QSN Lux Holdings IV SCSp, QTSL LLC, QUANTA FOUNDATION SERVICES, Quanta APL GP II Ltd., Quanta Asset Management LLC, Quanta Associates L.P., Quanta Aviation Services LLC, Quanta Canada GP ULC, Quanta Canada Holdings III Limited Partnership, Quanta Canada Holdings LP, Quanta Canada III GP Ltd., Quanta Capital GP LLC, Quanta Capital LP L.P., Quanta Capital Solutions Inc., Quanta Cares, Quanta EPC Services, Quanta Electric Power Construction LLC, Quanta Electric Power Construction Management Inc., Quanta Electric Power Services LLC, Quanta Electric Power Services West LLC, Quanta Energized Innovations Ltd., Quanta Energized Services U.S. LLC, Quanta Energized Services of Canada Ltd., Quanta Energy Services LLC, Quanta Environmental Solutions, Quanta Equipment Company LLC, Quanta Government Solutions Inc., Quanta Holdings I (Netherlands) B.V., Quanta Holdings II (Netherlands) B.V., Quanta Infraestructura de Chile SpA, Quanta Infrastructure Services LLC, Quanta Infrastructure Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Quanta Inline Devices LLC, Quanta Inspection Services, Quanta Insurance Company Inc., Quanta International Holdings (US) LLC, Quanta International Holdings II Ltd., Quanta International Holdings Ltd., Quanta International Limited, Quanta Kingsvale LP Ltd., Quanta Lines Pty Ltd., Quanta Maine Services LLC, Quanta Middle East LLC, Quanta Pipeline Services Inc., Quanta Power Australia Pty Ltd, Quanta Power Generation Inc., Quanta Power Inc., Quanta Power Solutions India Private Limited, Quanta Resource Development, Quanta Services Africa (PTY) Ltd., Quanta Services Australia Pty Ltd., Quanta Services Chile SpA, Quanta Services Colombia S.A.S., Quanta Services Costa Rica Ltda., Quanta Services Guatemala Ltda., Quanta Services International Holdings II LP, Quanta Services International Holdings LP, Quanta Services Management Partnership L.P., Quanta Services Netherlands B.V., Quanta Services Panama S. de R.L., Quanta Services Peru S.A.C., Quanta Services Puerto Rico LLC, Quanta Services of Canada Ltd., Quanta Subsurface Canada Ltd., Quanta Subsurface LLC, Quanta Tank Services, Quanta Technology Canada ULC, Quanta Technology LLC, Quanta Technology UK Ltd., Quanta Tecnologia do Brasil Ltda., Quanta Telecom, Quanta Telecom Services, Quanta Telecommunication Services, Quanta Telecommunication Services LLC, Quanta Telecommunications Services LLC, Quanta Underground Services, Quanta Underground Services (Culpeper Co), Quanta Underground Services (Spotsylvania Co), Quanta Underground Services Inc., Quanta Utility Engineering Services Inc., Quanta Utility Installation Company Inc., Quanta Utility Operation LLC, Quanta West LLC, Quantecua Cia. Ltda., R. R. Cassidy Inc., RMS Holdings LLC, RMS Holdings LLC (Delaware), RMS Welding Systems, RMS Welding Systems LLC, Ranger Directional, Realtime Engineers Inc., Realtime Utility Engineers Inc., Redes Andinas de Comunicaciones S.R.L., Riggin & Diggin Line Construction, Rms Welding LLC, Rms Welding Systems LLC, Road Bore Corporation, Ryan Company Inc. The, Ryan Company Inc. of Massachusetts, Ryan Company Inc.(The), Seaward, Seaward Corp, Seaward Corporation, Service EC (DE) Inc., Service Electric Company (DE), Service Electric Company Inc., Service Electric Company of Delaware, Servicios Par Electric S. de R.L. de C.V., Servicios de Infraestructura del Peru S.A.C., Southwest Trenching Company Inc., Specialty Tank Services L.P., Specialty Tank Services LP, Specialty Tank Services Limited Partnership, Specialty Tank Services Limited Partnership, Specialty Tank Services Ltd., Specialty Tank Services Ltd. (LP), Specialty Tank Services Ltd. L.P., Specialty Tank Services Ltd. LP, Specialty Tank Services Ltd. LP, Specialty Tank Services Ltd. Limited Partnership, Stronghold General LLC, Stronghold Holdings (BVI) Limited, Stronghold Inspection L.P., Stronghold Inspection Limited Partnership, Stronghold Inspection Limited Partnership, Stronghold Inspection Lp, Stronghold Inspection Ltd L.P., Stronghold Inspection Ltd., Stronghold Inspection Ltd. L.P., Stronghold Inspection Ltd. Limited Partnership, Stronghold Limited Partnership, Stronghold Ltd., Stronghold Ltd. Limited Partnership, Stronghold Management Holdings LP, Stronghold Specialty General LLC, Stronghold Specialty Ltd., Stronghold Specialty Ltd., Stronghold Specialty Ltd. Limited Partnership, Stronghold Tower Group LP, Stronghold Tower Group Ltd LP, Stronghold Tower Group Ltd., Stronghold Tower Group Ltd. LP, Stronghold VI LLC, Subterra Damage Prevention Specialists Ltd., Summit Line Construction, Sumter Utilities Inc., T. G. Mercer Consulting Services Inc., TA Construction, TC Infrastructure Services Ltd., Taylor Built, Texas Specialty Tank Services Ltd. LP, The Aspen Utility Company LLC, The ComTran Group Inc., The Hallen Construction Co. Inc., The Massachusetts Ryan Company Inc., The Ryan Company Inc Of Massachusetts, The Ryan Company Inc., The Ryan Company Inc. (Massachusetts), The Ryan Company Inc. of Massachusetts, The Ryan Company Incorporated of Massachusetts, The Ryan Company Of Massachusetts Inc., The Ryan Company of Massachusetts, The Ryan Company of Massachusetts (FN), Tom Allen Construction Company Inc., Tom Allen Construction Company of Delaware, Trans Tech Electric, TurnKey Automation Limited Partnership, TurnKey Automation Limited Partnership, TurnKey Automation Ltd., TurnKey Automation Ltd. Limited Partnership, TurnKey Automation Ltd. Limited Partnership, TurnKey I&E Ltd., Turnkey Automation Ltd. L.P., Turnkey Automation Ltd. LP., UCC Underground Construction Co. Inc., Ucc - Underground Construction Co., Underground Construction Co. Inc., Underground Construction Co. Inc. (Delaware), Underground Electric Construction Company LLC, Utilco Inc., Utility Fleet Services, Utility Line Management Services Inc., Utility Testing & Maintenance LLC, Utility Training Services Corporation, VALARD Polska sp. Z o.o., Valard, Valard, Valard Construction (Ontario) Ltd., Valard Construction (Quebec) Inc., Valard Construction 2008 Ltd., Valard Construction Australia Pty Ltd, Valard Construction LLC, Valard Equipment (AB) Ltd., Valard Equipment GP Ltd., Valard Equipment Limited Partnership, Valard Geomatics (Ontario) Ltd., Valard Geomatics BC Ltd., Valard Geomatics Ltd., Valard Mechanical Ltd., Valard Norway AS, Valard Sweden AB, Valard Zagreb d. o. o., Wade D. Taylor Inc., West Coast Communications, Winco Helicopters, Winco Inc., Winco Inc. an Oregon Based Corporation, Winco Powerline Services, Winco Powerline Services Inc., Winco Powerline Services Inc., Winco Services Inc., World Fiber Inc., and mmit Line Construction Inc..
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South Jersey Industries, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides energy-related products and services. The company engages in the purchase, transmission, and sale of natural gas. It also sells natural gas and pipeline transportation capacity on a wholesale basis to residential, commercial, and industrial customers on the interstate pipeline system, as well as transports natural gas purchased directly from producers or suppliers to customers. As of December 31, 2021, the company had approximately 147 miles of mains in the transmission system and 6,815 miles of mains in the distribution system; and served 384,062 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in southern New Jersey. In addition, it markets natural gas storage, commodity, and transportation assets on a wholesale basis for energy marketers, electric and gas utilities, power plants, and natural gas producers in the mid-Atlantic, Appalachian, and southern regions of the United States. Further, the company owns and operates rooftop solar-generation sites. Additionally, it owns oil, gas, and mineral rights in the Marcellus Shale region of Pennsylvania; acquires and markets natural gas and electricity to retail end users, as well as provides total energy management, fuel management, and energy procurement and cost reduction services. The company was founded in 1910 and is headquartered in Folsom, New Jersey.
Penumbra, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices in the United States and internationally. The company offers aspiration based thrombectomy systems and accessory devices, including revascularization device for mechanical thrombectomy, such as Penumbra System under the Penumbra RED, JET, ACE, 3D Revascularization Device, and Penumbra ENGINE brands, as well as components and accessories; neurovascular embolization coiling systems to treat patients with various sizes of aneurysms and other neurovascular lesions under the Penumbra Coil 400, POD400, PAC400, and Penumbra SMART Coil brand names; and neurovascular access systems designed to provide intracranial access for use in a range of neurovascular therapies under the Neuron, Neuron MAX, Select, BENCHMARK, BMX96, DDC, and PX SLIM brands. It also provides neurosurgical aspiration tools for the removal of tissue and fluids under the Artemis Neuro Evacuation Device brand; aspiration-based thrombectomy systems for vascular applications under the Indigo System brand; and detachable embolic coil systems for peripheral embolization under the Ruby Coil and Ruby LP brand names. In addition, the company offers microcatheter for the delivery of detachable coils and occlusion devices under the LANTERN brand; and detachable, microcatheter-deliverable occlusion devices designed primarily to occlude peripheral vessels under the POD (Penumbra Occlusion Device) brand, as well as immersive computer-based technologies and immersive therapeutics to promote health, motor function, and cognition under the Real Immersive System brand; and a complementary device for use with Ruby Coil and POD for vessel occlusion under the Packing Coil and Packing Coil LP brands. The company sells its products through direct sales organizations and distributors. Penumbra, Inc. was incorporated in 2004 and is headquartered in Alameda, California.
The following companies are subsidiares of TE Connectivity: 999 Arques Corp., ABB ENTRELEC terminal block business, ACC Telecommunications, ADC Chile Limitada, ADC Communications (SEA) Pte. Ltd., ADC Communications (UK) Holding Ltd., ADC Communications (UK) Ltd., ADC Communications Hong Kong Limited, ADC Telecommunications Equipment (Shanghai) Co., AMP Amermex, AMP Products Pacific Limited, AMP Taiwan B.V., AMP Trading B.V., AMP de Venezuela, Acalon Holdings Limited, Advanced Fiber Products LLC, Advanced Fiber Products Limited, Advanced Tube Technologies, AdvancedCath, AdvancedCath Technologies, Alpha Technics, American Sensor Technologies, Betatherm (R&D) Limited, Brantner Holding Company, Brantner and Associates, Butterfly Management SAS, C.S. Tyco Decisive Inc., C.S. Tyco Dependable Inc., C.S. Tyco Durable Inc., C.S. Tyco Reliance Inc., C.S. Tyco Resolute Inc., C.S. Tyco Responder Inc., CII Guardian International Limited, Cablotec GmbH, Carrier Kheops Bac SAS, Catheter and Disposable Technology, Celis Eletrocomponentes Ltda., Cima de Acuna S.A. de C.V., Clarebury Pty. Ltd., Codenoll Technology Corporation, Communication Expert International Investments Limited, Compagnie Deutsch Distribution SAS, Compagnie Deutsch SAS, Comtec Systeme GmbH, Connecteurs Electriques Deutsch SAS, Corcom, Corcom West Indies Limited, Cotsworks LLC, Creganna, Creganna Captial Holding Ireland Unlimited Company, Creganna Finance (US) LLC, Creganna Finance Ireland Limited, Creganna Luxembourg SARL, Creganna Medical Devices, Creganna Medical Pte. Limited, Creganna Medical Technology Unlimited, Creganna Medical s.r.l., Creganna Regulatory, Creganna Solutions Limited, Creganna Solutions Unlimited Company, Creganna Tactx Singapore Limited, Creganna Unlimited Company, Cregstar Bidco Limited, Critchley Group Limited, Crompton Instruments (South-East Asia) Pte. Ltd., Deutsch, Deutsch Connectors Hong Kong Limited, Deutsch Connectors Manufacturing (Shanghai) Co., Deutsch Connectors Trading (Shanghai) Co., Deutsch Finance SAS, Deutsch GB Limited, Deutsch Group SAS, Deutsch India Power Connectors (Pvt) Ltd, Deutsch Israel Ltd., Deutsch SAS, Deutsch Servicios S. de R.L. De C.V., Deutsch Subco Limited, Deutsch UK, F.A.I. Technology (Hong Kong) Limited, First Sensor, Grangehurst Enterprises Pty. Ltd., Hirschmann Car Communication, Hong Kong Sensors Technologies Limited, Howard A. Schaevitz Technologies, Intercontec Connector System (Shanghai) Co., Intercontec Produkt GmbH, Intercontect Pfeiffer Industrie-Steckverbindungen GmbH, Jaquet North America, Jaquet Technology Group AG, Kemex Holding Company, Kenabell Holding Limited, LADD Distribution LLC, LADD Distribution Limited, LSA, MEAS Asia Limited, MEAS Europe SAS, MEAS France SAS, MEAS Ireland (Betatherm) Limited, MEAS Norway AS, MEAS Shenzhen Limited, MEAS Switzerland S.a r.l., MEAS US Holding, MP&E, Measurement Specialties, Measurement Specialties (Chengdu) Ltd., Measurement Specialties (China) Ltd., Measurement Specialties (China) Ltd. Production Branch, Measurement Specialties Foreign Holdings LLC, Measurement Technology (Chengdu) Ltd., Medical Engineering & Design, MicroGroup, Morlynn Ceramics Pty. Ltd., Nikkiso-Therm Co., PT KRONE Indonesia, PT. Tyco Electronics Indonesia, Pfeiffer GmbH & Co KG, Pfeiffer Verwaltungs GmbH, Polamco, Polamco Limited, Potter & Brumfield de Mexico, Precision Interconnect LLC, Precision Subsea AS, Precision Wire Components, Precision Wire Holding Company, Produxx, RAYCHEM-RPG Private Limited, Raychem (HK) Limited, Raychem (Shanghai) Trading Ltd, Raychem China Limited, Raychem Dominicana S.A., Raychem Industries BVBA, Raychem International LLC, Raychem International Manufacturing LLC, Raychem Juarez, Raychem Limited, Raychem Ltd., Raychem Pacific Corporation, Raychem Saudi Arabia Limited, Raychem Shanghai Cable Accessories Ltd, Raychem Technologies Limited, Rochester Wire and Cable LLC, SEACON Advanced Products LLC, Seacon (Europe) Limited, Seacon Global Production, Seacon Produtos e Servicos Opticos e Eletricos Ltda., Sensitive Object, Servo Interconnect Limited, Shanghai CII Electronics Co., Shenzhen Century Man Communication Equipment Co., Sibas Electronics (Xiamen) Co., TCN Holding (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., TE Connectivity (Barbados) SRL, TE Connectivity (Denmark) ApS, TE Connectivity (HKZ) Holding Limited, TE Connectivity (Kunshan) Company Limited, TE Connectivity (Netherlands) Holding S.a r.l. - Irish Branch, TE Connectivity (Schweiz) Management AG, TE Connectivity (Suzhou) Co., TE Connectivity Argentina S.R.L., TE Connectivity Australia Pty Ltd, TE Connectivity Colombia S.A.S., TE Connectivity Connectors (Suzhou) Co., TE Connectivity Distribution (Thailand) Limited, TE Connectivity EMEA Holding GmbH, TE Connectivity Germany GmbH, TE Connectivity HK Limited, TE Connectivity Holding International II S.a r.l., TE Connectivity Holding International II S.a r.l. Luxembourg (LU) Schaffhausen E-Finance branch, TE Connectivity Holding International II S.a r.l. Luxembourg (LU) Schaffhausen branch, TE Connectivity Holding International II S.a r.l. (Ireland Branch), TE Connectivity Holding International S.A., TE Connectivity Inc., TE Connectivity India Private Limited, TE Connectivity Investments Holding S.A., TE Connectivity Investments Holding S.A. Luxembourg (LU) Schaffhausen branch, TE Connectivity Ireland Limited, TE Connectivity LATAM Holding S.a r.l., TE Connectivity LATAM I S.a r.l., TE Connectivity LATAM II S.a r.l., TE Connectivity Limited, TE Connectivity MOG Europe S.a r.l., TE Connectivity MOG Holding S.a r.l., TE Connectivity MOG Inc., TE Connectivity MOG Sales GmbH, TE Connectivity Manufacturing (Thailand) Company Limited, TE Connectivity Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd., TE Connectivity Morocco SARL, TE Connectivity Nederland B.V., TE Connectivity Netherlands (Poland II) Cooperatief U.A., TE Connectivity Netherlands (Turkey) B.V., TE Connectivity Netherlands Cooperatief U.A., TE Connectivity Phoenix Optix Inc., TE Connectivity Seacon Phoenix Inc., TE Connectivity Sensors Germany GmbH, TE Connectivity Services India Private Limited, TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH, TE Connectivity South Africa Proprietary Limited, TE Connectivity Spain, TE Connectivity SubCom S.L.U., TE Connectivity SubCom Spain Holding S.L.U., TE Connectivity Technology Solutions Limited, TE Connectivity Tunisia Sarl, TE Connectivity ULC, TE Connectivity US Group Holding Inc., TE Connectivity Vietnam Holding Company Limited, TYCO Electronics Polska Sp.z.o.o., TYCO SUBMARINE SYSTEMS INC., TacPro, Tactx Medical, Taicang Speed & Spin Sensors Co., Taliq Taiwan Limited, Tappat Engineering Pty Ltd, TechDevice Costa Rica Limitada, TechDevice Holdings, TechDevice LLC, The Whitaker LLC, Transoceanic Cable Ship Company LLC, TyCom Holdings II SA, TyCom Networks (Peru) S.A., Tyco Electronics (AMP Korea) Malta Limited, Tyco Electronics (Dongguan) Ltd, Tyco Electronics (Gibraltar) Holding Limited, Tyco Electronics (Gibraltar) Limited, Tyco Electronics (Korea) Malta Limited, Tyco Electronics (Kunshan) Ltd, Tyco Electronics (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Tyco Electronics (Qingdao) Ltd., Tyco Electronics (Schweiz) Holding II GmbH, Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Tyco Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Tyco Electronics (Suzhou) Ltd., Tyco Electronics (Zhuhai) Ltd, Tyco Electronics AMP Guangdong Ltd, Tyco Electronics AMP Italia Products S.R.L., Tyco Electronics AMP Italia S.R.L., Tyco Electronics AMP Korea Co., Tyco Electronics AMP Manufacturing (S) Pte Ltd, Tyco Electronics AMP Qingdao Ltd., Tyco Electronics AMP Shanghai Ltd., Tyco Electronics Austria GmbH, Tyco Electronics Belgium EC BVBA, Tyco Electronics Brasil Ltda., Tyco Electronics Canada ULC, Tyco Electronics China (Gibraltar) Limited, Tyco Electronics Componentes Electromecanicos Lda., Tyco Electronics Corby Limited, Tyco Electronics Corporation, Tyco Electronics Czech s.r.o., Tyco Electronics Del Peru S.A.C., Tyco Electronics EC Trutnov s.r.o., Tyco Electronics EC Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Tyco Electronics Eta Limited, Tyco Electronics Finance Alpha GmbH, Tyco Electronics Finance S.a r.l., Tyco Electronics Finland Oy, Tyco Electronics France SAS, Tyco Electronics Germany Holdings GmbH, Tyco Electronics Group S.A., Tyco Electronics Group S.A. (French Branch), Tyco Electronics Group S.A. (Ireland Branch), Tyco Electronics H.K. Limited, Tyco Electronics Hellas MEPE, Tyco Electronics Holding Corp., Tyco Electronics Holding France, Tyco Electronics Holding S.a r.l., Tyco Electronics Holdings (Bermuda) No. 7 Limited, Tyco Electronics Holdings (Bermuda) No. 7 Limited Taiwan Branch, Tyco Electronics Hong Kong Holdings No. 1 Limited, Tyco Electronics Hong Kong Holdings No. 2 Limited, Tyco Electronics Hong Kong Holdings No. 3 Limited, Tyco Electronics Hungary Termelo Kft, Tyco Electronics Idento, Tyco Electronics India (Gibraltar) Limited, Tyco Electronics Industrial Y Comercial Chile Limitada, Tyco Electronics Integrated Cable Systems LLC, Tyco Electronics Ireland Limited, Tyco Electronics Israel Ltd., Tyco Electronics Italia Holding S.r.l., Tyco Electronics Japan G.K., Tyco Electronics Lambda, Tyco Electronics Latin America Holding LLC, Tyco Electronics Manufacturing Singapore Pte Ltd, Tyco Electronics Mexico, Tyco Electronics Middle East FZE, Tyco Electronics Motors Ltd, Tyco Electronics NZ Limited, Tyco Electronics Netherlands (Germany Holding) S.a r.l., Tyco Electronics Netherlands (Gibraltar China) Cooperatief U.A., Tyco Electronics Netherlands (Gibraltar India) Cooperatief U.A., Tyco Electronics Netherlands (India) Cooperatief U.A., Tyco Electronics Netherlands Holding B.V., Tyco Electronics Norge AS, Tyco Electronics Philippines, Tyco Electronics Precision Engineering Ltd., Tyco Electronics Printed Circuit Group LP, Tyco Electronics RIMC Holding LLC, Tyco Electronics RUS OOO, Tyco Electronics Raychem GmbH, Tyco Electronics Raychem Korea Limited, Tyco Electronics SIMEL SAS, Tyco Electronics Saudi Arabia Limited, Tyco Electronics Services GmbH, Tyco Electronics Singapore Pte Ltd, Tyco Electronics Subsea Communications LLC, Tyco Electronics Svenska AB, Tyco Electronics Svenska Holdings AB, Tyco Electronics Technology (SIP) Co., Tyco Electronics Technology (SIP) Ltd., Tyco Electronics Tecnologias S. de R.L. de C.V., Tyco Electronics UK Holdings Ltd, Tyco Electronics UK Ltd., Tyco Electronics UK Ltd. (Kenya Branch), Tyco Electronics Ukraine Limited, Tyco Electronics Uruguay S.A., Tyco Electronics Verwaltungs GmbH, Tyco Electronics Wireless Systems B.V., Tyco Electronics de Venezuela, Tyco Elektronik AMP Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Tyco Global Networks Ltd., Tyco Iberia, Tyco International Services GmbH, Tyco Networks (Argentina) S.R.L., Tyco Networks (Italy) Srl, Tyco Networks (Netherlands) B.V., Tyco Networks Iberica, Tyco Submarine Systems, Tyco Submarine Systems C.A., Tyco Submarine Systems de Argentina S.A., Tyco Telecommunications Ltd., Wema Americas LLC, Wema Automotive System Private Limited, Wema Environmental Technologies (Shanghai) Co., Wema Environmental Technologies (Shenzhen) Co., Wema Environmental Technologies Ltd., Wema System AG, Wema System AS, Wema System Hong Kong Limited, Wema System Production and Distribution HK Limited, Xiamen Delixing Electric Equipment Businesss, and motec Montage GmbH.
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VMware, Inc. provides software solutions in the areas of modern applications, cloud management and infrastructure, networking, security, and digital workspaces in the United States and internationally. It offers VMware multi-cloud solutions, including VMware vSphere, a data center infrastructure that provides the fundamental compute layer; vSAN and VxRail, which offers holistic data storage and protection options to applications running on vSphere; and vRealize Cloud Management solutions that manages hybrid and multi-cloud environments running in virtual machines and containers, as well as VMware Cloud Foundation, a cloud platform that combines its vSphere, vSAN, and NSX with vRealize Cloud Management into an integrated stack and delivers enterprise-ready cloud infrastructure for private and public clouds. The company also provides networking solutions, such as VMware NSX, NSX Distributed and Gateway Firewalls, NSX Network Detection and Response Engine, NSX Advanced Load Balancer, Tanzu Service Mesh, and VMware SASE; security solutions consisting of VMware Carbon Black Endpoint, Workload, and Container; and digital workspace solutions comprising Workspace ONE Unified Endpoint Management, Access, Intelligent Hub, and Horizon. In addition, it offers application modernization solutions, such as Tanzu Application and Operations Platform, Tanzu Application Service Platform, Tanzu Observability, Tanzu Community Edition, and Tanzu Labs; and cloud management solutions, including vRealize Cloud Management, vCloud Suite, and CloudHealth by VMware Suite. The company sells its products through distributors, resellers, system vendors, and systems integrators. VMware, Inc. has a strategic alliance with Amazon Web Services to build and deliver an integrated hybrid solution. The company was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.
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.
CNO Financial Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops, markets, and administers health insurance, annuity, individual life insurance, and other insurance products for senior and middle-income markets in the United States. It offers Medicare supplement, supplemental health, and long-term care insurance policies; life insurance; and annuities, as well as Medicare advantage plans to individuals through phone, online, mail, and face-to-face. The company also focuses on worksite and group sales for businesses, associations, and other membership groups by interacting with customers at their place of employment. In addition, it provides fixed index annuities; fixed interest annuities, including fixed rate single and flexible premium deferred annuities; single premium immediate annuities; supplemental health products, such as specified disease, accident, and hospital indemnity products; and long-term care plans primarily to retirees and older self-employed individuals in the middle-income market. Further, the company offers universal life and other interest-sensitive life products; and traditional life policies that include whole life, graded benefit life, term life, and single premium whole life products, as well as graded benefit life insurance products. CNO Financial Group, Inc. markets its products under the Bankers Life, Washington National, and Colonial Penn brand names. The company sells its products through agents, independent producers, and direct marketing. CNO Financial Group, Inc. was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Carmel, Indiana.
Theresa May is preparing to offer the EU 20bn to settle a post-Brexit divorce bill with the bloc, according to reports ahead of the Prime Minister's speech in Florence on Friday.
Mays top EU adviser Olly Robbins has informed several European leaders that Friday's speech will include the offer, the Financial Times reported.
The figure of 20bn has been chosen as it would plug a post-Brexit gap in the bloc's finances until 2020, though previous estimates of a so-called divorce bill for Brexit have ranged from 60bn to 100bn.
Expectations are for May to use the Florence speech to provide more details about the UKs departure from the EU after talks between both sides negotiating teams stalled in recent weeks over issues including the divorce bill and citizens rights.
May will be hoping that the 20bn olive branch will kickstart the discussions again, although a spokesperson from 10 Downing Street said on Wednesday the figure was "pure speculation".
Moreover, EU leaders are said to see such payments as a given and are also keen to charge the UK for its 'past debts'.
The government has come under pressure this week as reports circulated that foreign secretary Boris Johnson was considering quitting the cabinet over a rift with May on its Brexit strategy. The former London mayor has denied the reports.
Johnson had reportedly told friends that he would be forced to leave the front bench if the Prime Minister was to accept a single market arrangement similar to that of Switzerland, one which would see the UK continue to pay for EU access.
In an attempted display of cabinet unity, the Foreign Secretary will travel to Florence for the Brexit speech alongside Chancellor Philip Hammond and Brexit Secretary David Davis.
The European Parliament's Brexit spokesman Guy Verhofstadt arrived in Northern Ireland on Wednesday ahead of meetings with local political leaders at Stormont as part of a two-day visit to discuss the future of the island's border.
Verhofstadt will address to a joint committee of the Irish Parliament on Thursday and said he planned to meet business and community leaders in the Armagh-Monaghan border area.
Although he is not directly involved in the negotiation process, any deal struck between the EU and the UK would require approval by the European Parliament of which Verhofstadt is the link between the two.
The European Parliament has said that it was "especially concerned" by how Brexit would impact Northern Ireland as it believed preservation of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement in all its parts was "crucial" to the success of any settlement.
Verhofstadt had previously been quoted as saying, "We will never accept a hard border again between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic."
Finnish firm Fortum announced on Wednesday that it was in advanced talks with E.ON over the potential 3.76bn purchase of German energy company Uniper.
Discussions regarding the purchase of E.ON's 46.5% stake in Uniper were ongoing, but if finalised it would see Fortum take a step in the right direction to boost its energy production and storage credentials within its home market, as well as in neighbouring countries.
Although Fortum released a statement requesting the suspension of its shares in Helsinki until a "full business combination agreement" could be reached, Uniper itself released a statement saying the rumours were inaccurate and that it intended to remain independent.
In yet another release, E.ON confirmed that it was in advanced discussions with Fortum to sell its stake in Uniper as soon as early 2018.
Budget airline Ryanair was battling to deal with the 2,100 flights it cancelled this week after an error caused by a mix-up of pilots holidays, which could be followed by further problems with repercussions for its growth plans.
Ryanair is cancelling between 40 and 50 flights every day for the next six weeks as it seeks to deal with a backlog of holidays from its pilots, with the cost to the company estimated to total as much as 20m euros.
The Irish airline could also be facing a second wave of flight cancellations as pilots prepare to reject a bonus offer if they give up days off, with the Guardian reporting that Ryanair pilots had drafted a letter rejecting the offer and warning they will now work to rule.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Dublin-based carrier said that all 315,000 affected customers had been informed of the cancellations, with 55% of those being rebooked onto other flights, 63,000 flight refunds processed, and hopes for 95% of the cancellations to be resolved by the end of the week.
A day before boss Michael OLeary faces shareholders at the group's annual shareholder meeting, communications manager Kenny Jacobs was heaping on the apologies.
"We apologise sincerely to each and every one of the 315,000 customers whose original flights were cancelled over a 6 week period in September and October, while we work to resolve this short term rostering failure," Jacobs said.
"We have taken on extra customer service teams to speed up the rate at which we accommodate and action alternative flight requests or refund applications. We expect to have the vast majority of these completed by the end of this week."
Repercussions of the cancellations were predicted for the company's M&A hopes in Europe.
In a note to investors on Tuesday, HSBC said industrial relations were likely to be "distracting management and investors".
Further analysts added: "Ryanairs assertive stances towards labour as well as governments and regulators will not help it in its efforts to take advantage of the politically sensitive restructurings at Alitalia and Air Berlin."
In reference to the sale of Alitalia, Italian transport minister Graziano Delrio said the impact of the cancellations was very serious and that his department "will monitor the situation, but we cant make allowances for such a huge amount of disruption".
Donald Trump was denounced by several member nations after his first major speech at the United Nations.
The US President referred to Iran as being part of "a small group of rogue regimes," and said his administration would "totally destroy" North Korea if required to do so.
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif took to Twitter to vent his dissatisfaction over the US President's speech:
Trump's ignorant hate speech belongs in medieval times-not the 21st Century UN -unworthy of a reply. Fake empathy for Iranians fools no one. Javad Zarif (@JZarif) September 19, 2017
Trump's speech, which lasted 45 minutes, detailed his utopian vision of a world where sovereign states aimed to improve the lives of their citizens, while simultaneously taking shots at so-called "rogue nations" and how they were the "scourge of our planet."
As part of the Tuesday afternoon address, Trump recycled his new nickname for Kim Jong-un of North Korea, whose delegates had been seated in the front row but left the hall before Trump had even made it to the lectern, saying "Rocket man is on a suicide mission" when speaking of the leader's repeated acts of defiance in the face of increased UN Security Council Resolutions.
"If [the US] is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea," he said.
North Korean delegates, which had been seated in the front row left the hall before Trump had even made it to the lectern, leaving three empty seats.
According to Reuters, audience members buried their faces in their hands as loud, startled murmurs spread through the room in response.
Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom told the BBC that it was "the wrong speech, at the wrong time, to the wrong audience."
Trump went on to call the Iranian regime "a corrupt dictatorship behind the false guise of a democracy" and its "chief exports are violence, bloodshed, and chaos," before saying the 2015 nuclear deal struck between Iran and other world powers "one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu applauded Trump's speech, saying he agreed that the Iranian deal should be amended or completely scrapped as he called the UN the "epicentre of global anti-Semitism."
The President then turned his attention on Venezuela, saying the "socialist dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro has inflicted terrible misery and suffering on the good people of that country," before adding that the situation was "completely unacceptable and we cannot stand by and watch."
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza clapped back at the US President, saying "Trump is not the president of the world [] he cannot even manage his own government."
Police in Spain have arrested 12 Catalan officials and stormed several ministries in the region in a major crackdown ahead of a new independence vote on 1 October.
The referendum has been ruled illegal by the Constitutional Court in Madrid, but those in the local government have pressed ahead with plans for the poll.
Early on Wednesday morning however agents from the Civil Guard arrested regional secretary-general of the vice presidency Josep Maria Jove at the Department of Economy and Finance, with several other major figures being detained.
According to reports in the Spanish media, agents also arrived at offices of Spanish IT firm Indra, but it is unclear what relation that action might have to the referendum.
Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy defended the actions on Wednesday, saying that it was a judicial decision.
'DEEPLY UNDEMOCRATIC'
Speaking in a tense session of the Spanish parliament, Rajoy told members of Catalan independence backing parties: "What you and other members of some political movements have done is extremely serious, and as you know deeply undemocratic.
"In a few hours you have attempted to defy the Spanish constitution, Catalan statute and a judicial order, as well as inventing a new law."
Pressure has been bubbling for weeks ahead of the vote, with one million people taking to the streets during the celebration of Catalan national day La Diada last week to demand independence.
Mayor of Barcelona Ada Colau said the operation was a scandal and defended the Catalan institutions.
"It is a democratic scandal that institutions are scrapped and public office holders have been arrested for political motives," Colau tweeted.
As part of her United Nations address on Wednesday, Theresa May was set to urge technology companies to go "further and faster" with their efforts to remove extremist content from the internet.
The Prime Minister, along with other world leaders, had also scheduled meetings with the likes of Facebook, Microsoft and Twitter where they would challenge social media networks and search engines on the removal of extremist material from their servers.
Google had previously said it was doing its best to combat the issue but could not do it without the assistance of governments and users.
British MPs had called for limits to end-to-end encryption, which stops messages being read by third-parties if intercepted, and measures to quell the flow of extremist material on social media. May herself has demanded an end to the "safe spaces" she said extremists enjoy online.
May was set to call for further investment in the development of artificial intelligence solutions capable of automatically reducing the spread of extremist propaganda, and eventually prevent it from appearing in the first place.
A Downing Street source told the BBC: "These companies have some of the best brains in the world."
"They should really be focusing on what matters, which is stopping the spread of terrorism and violence."
European stocks ended the session little changed amid moderate selling pressure on Spanish stocks on the back of the latest news around the attempted independence referendum in Catalonia and ahead of the US Federal Reserve's policy decision later in the session.
By the close, the benchmark Stoxx 600 had drifted lower by 0.04% or 0.14 points to 381.98, alongside a small rise of 0.06% or 7.38 points to 12,569.17 for Germany's Dax while the Cac-40 managed a gain of 0.08% or 4.22 points to 5,241.66.
Out in the euro area periphery however, Spain's Ibex 35 was down by 0.83% or 86.30 points to 10,292.10, with shares in construction group ACS and Catalan lenders Banco Sabadell and Caixa Bank trading at the bottom of the pile.
In parallel, the yield on the benchmark 10-year Spanish government note was three basis points higher at 1.58%, having dipped to 1.53% earlier. Yields on debt issued by Paris and with a similar maturity was at 0.73%.
Ahead of the 1 October plebiscite, earlier on on Wednesday Spanish police arrested 12 local government officials after they pressed ahead with plans for a poll despite it having been ruled illegal by the country's Constitutional Court.
Still on the calendar, the Federal Open Market Committee's policy statement was scheduled for release at 1900 BST and chair Janet Yellen's press conference a half hour afterwards.
Commenting on market expectations ahead of the US central bank's policy announcement, Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK said: "The main question surrounds the timing of when the next rate rise is likely to come, and for this there is a school of thought that suggests the market is under-pricing the prospect that we could get one more hike this year, in December.
"This is why particular attention is likely to be focussed on the dot plot projections of where US policymakers see the potential glide path for rates into next year. It is unlikely that Fed officials will want to take the prospect of a December move off the table, so it would be a surprise to see any changes to the short term predictions, but there is a whole raft of factors that could delay the prospect of a move in December, and see fewer projected increases into 2018."
Wednesday's economic calendar was otherwise quite light, with only German producer price figures for August out earlier which revealed a 2.6% pace of increase year-on-year (consensus: 2.5%).
Outside of energy, factory gate prices were higher by just 2.6% on the year, versus a rise of 2.5% in the month before, according to Claus Vistesen at Pantheon Macroeconomics.
Nontheless, Vistesen pointed out recent gains in Chinese producer prices, typically a good lead indicator for imported manufacturing goods.
On the corporate front, Thyssen Krupp and Tata Steel agreed to combine their European steel activities via a 50-50 joint venture, creating Europe's second-largest steelmaker in the process.
In other news, Hochtief was reportedly studying a potential bid for Spanish firm Abertis.
Another German company, Heidelberg Cement clinched a deal to purchase Italian outfit Cementir Holding for 315m.
European stocks are little changed amid modest pressure on Spanish stocks on the back of the latest news around the attempted independence referendum in Catalonia and ahead of the US Federal Reserve's policy decision later in the session.
As of 1206 BST, the benchmark Stoxx 600 was edging lower by 0.03% or 0.11 points to 382.01, alongside a drop of 0.09% or 10.92 points to 12,551.70 for Germany's Dax although the Cac-40 was managing to keep its head above water, gaining 0.15% or 7.78 points to 5,245.53.
Out in the euro area periphery however, Spain's Ibex 35 was down by 0.82% or 85.40 points to 10,292.80, with shares in construction group ACS, Banco Sabadell and Inditex trading at the bottom of the pile.
In parallel, the yield on the benchmark 10-year Spanish government note was off by one basis point to 1.55%, having dipped to 1.53% earlier.
Ahead of the 1 October plebiscite, on Wednesday Spanish police arrested 12 local government officials after they pressed ahead with plans for a poll despite it having been ruled illegal by the country's Constitutional Court.
Commenting on market expectations ahead of the US central bank's policy meeting, Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK said: "The main question surrounds the timing of when the next rate rise is likely to come, and for this there is a school of thought that suggests the market is under-pricing the prospect that we could get one more hike this year, in December.
"This is why particular attention is likely to be focussed on the dot plot projections of where US policymakers see the potential glide path for rates into next year. It is unlikely that Fed officials will want to take the prospect of a December move off the table, so it would be a surprise to see any changes to the short term predictions, but there is a whole raft of factors that could delay the prospect of a move in December, and see fewer projected increases into 2018."
Wednesday's economic calendar was quite light, with only German producer price figures for August out earlier which revealed a 2.6% pace of increase year-on-year (consensus: 2.5%).
Significantly perhaps, outside of energy prices were higher by just 2.6% on the year, versus a rise of 2.5% in the month before, according to Claus Vistesen at Pantheon Macroeconomics.
Nontheless, Vistesen pointed out recent gains in Chinese producer prices, typically a good lead indicator for imported manufacturing goods.
Later in the day, existing home sales data in the States at 1500 BST were expected to reveal a slight increase in the annualised pace of sales from the 5.44m hit in July to 5.47m for August.
They would be followed by the release of the Federal Open Market Committee's policy statement at 2000 BST and chair Janet Yellen's press conference a quarter of an hour afterwards.
Meanwhile, on the corporate front, Thyssen Krupp and Tata Steel agreed to combine their European steel activities via a 50-50 joint venture, in the process creating Europe's second-largest steelmaker.
In other news, Hochtief was reportedly studying a potential bid for Spanish firm Abertis.
Another German company, Heidelberg Cement clinched a deal to purchase Italian outfit Cementir Holding for 315m.
Babcock reiterated its guidance for the year on Wednesday as it said trading has been in line with its expectations.
In an update for the period from 1 April, the group said revenue visibility has continued to improve, with 89% of revenue now in place for 2017/18 and around 57% for 2018/19. Meanwhile, the order book and bid pipeline of opportunities are stable and continue to provide the group with the confidence to grow revenue as expected over the medium term.
Babcock said it continues to make progress across all four of its divisions and has been awarded several contracts since the start of the financial year.
In the marine business, it has begun work on the 360m contract to be the technical authority and support partner for the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, and Type 45 destroyers. In addition, it secured a new seven-year contract for the design, production and delivery of weapons handling and launch equipment for the South Korean Jangbogo III submarine, which is the third in a potential multi-boat programme.
Babcock said trading in its LPG business was slow in the early part of the financial year, but it has now won a contract for the design and supply of its cargo handling system for two LPG carriers to be delivered at Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai, China.
In the aviation division, there has been good momentum internationally and the group has now begun to mobilise to deliver the new 500m emergency medical services contract in Norway. The group will operate 11 fixed-wing aircraft providing patients with access to specialist healthcare centres across the country from summer 2019.
In its land business, it continues to progress its vehicle asset support contracts with customers such as the UK MOD, emergency services and airlines, while the nuclear division has now agreed the terms under which it will take the Magnox estate to the end of the first phase of decommissioning at the beginning of September 2019.
Babcock said revenue in the marine sector is expected to be slightly lower than in the previous financial year due to the stepdown in the volumes from the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier programme and the phased introduction of contracts, but this should be offset by growth in the other sectors.
The introduction of accounting standard IFRS15 in 2018/19 is not expected to have a significant impact on earnings, given the nature of the contracts the group delivers. Detailed work on the standard continues, and the group will provide a view of the anticipated impact at the full year results in May 2018, prior to its adoption in financial year 2018/19.
Diageo issued an update on its trading on Wednesday morning, claiming its business continued to strengthen through improved marketing, innovation and commercial execution, as investors prepared for the companys annual general meeting.
The FTSE 100 distilling giant said it remained well set up to deliver in line with its own expectations.
We expect the H1 organic net sales growth rate will be impacted by the later timing of Chinese New Year and by the expected impact of the highway ban in India, chief executive Ivan Menezes noted.
Our productivity work continues to move at pace.
As it had previously announced, Menezes said Diageo was up-weighting its investment behind US spirits and scotch whisky, and as a result the board expected its organic operating margin expansion would be weighted towards the second half.
Our expectations on overall performance for the year remain unchanged.
Menezes said underlying momentum and progress in implementing productivity gave management continued confidence in its ability to deliver sustainable growth.
We re-affirm our expectation of mid-single digit top line growth and 175 bps of organic operating margin improvement over the three years ending 30 June 2019.
Bidders for UK stock market listed companies must lay out more detailed plans for their target, including location of its head office and research and development investment, under proposed rules put forward by the takeover watchdog and backed by the government. The new rules, which were published in a consultation document on Tuesday, also give companies, unions and other employee representatives more time to respond to bids in changes which follow the controversial 115bn attempted takeover of Unilever by Kraft Heinz earlier this year. - Guardian
Military chiefs are considering reducing the size of the Royal Marines by 1,000 as part of a cost-cutting defence review, The Times understands. Other options include scrapping at least one amphibious assault ship, the early retirement of a fleet of C130 transport aircraft and a slowdown in the purchase of F35 fast jets as the Ministry of Defence must find up to 3 billion a year in savings to fund a ten-year plan for the shape and size of the armed forces that was unveiled in 2015. - The Times
Public services will deteriorate unless the government scraps its cap on public sector pay and finds the money to cover the extra cost without squeezing budgets, a leading think tank has warned. The Institute for Fiscal Studies said that standards would drop at hospitals and schools in particular if the government were to run into recruitment problems because of low pay. - The Times
The weak pound may have proved a boon to British hotels, but the rising cost of imported goods is starting to put a squeeze on margins while filling job vacancies is proving a challenge. According to a report by PWC, the accountancy firm, the slump in the value of sterling has attracted more foreign tourists, helping the hotel industry to withstand the impact of the terrorist attacks in London and Manchester, but the report predicts growth next year will be slower because of a deceleration in the economy, some waning of the effect of the weak pound on tourism and a big increase in new room supply. - The Times
US airlines have told the UK to move faster to ensure passenger and cargo flights to Heathrow, Stansted and other airports will continue without disruption after Britain leaves the EU. The aviation trade body Airlines for America, whose members include United, American Airlines and FedEx, says the multibillion pound traffic in both directions will be put at risk unless politicians concentrate their minds on the impact Brexit will have on the industry. - Guardian
Ryanair has offered pilots a one-off bonus of up to 12,000 to forfeit holidays, according to a memo seen by the Guardian, as it battles to prevent further flight cancellations caused by a mess-up in its rota system. The Irish airlines chief executive, Michael OLeary, apologised this week after saying that up to 50 flights a day would be cancelled until 31 October, affecting about 400,000 passengers. - Guardian
Heathrow is urging the Government to scrap a punitive travel tax on domestic flights to support economic growth as part of a nine-point Brexit plan. The airport has written to the Chancellor Philip Hammond ahead of the Budget in November with a plea for air passenger duty (APD) to be removed on domestic routes, arguing that UK passengers pay an extra 225m each year compared to those in Europe. - Telegraph
British Airways has begun consultations with employees and trade bodies over a new pension plan a fortnight after its proposal to close its earlier scheme was blasted by unions. The carrier said the new scheme would be "more flexible", giving staff pension choices such as whether to take the employer contribution to the scheme as cash or for higher employer contributions. - Telegraph
The Treasury Select Committee has questioned a decision by the UK audit watchdog to clear KPMG over its work with HBOS just before its rescue, with chairman Nicky Morgan demanding a full explanation as to why the auditor has been allowed to get off scot-free. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is closing its probe into the accounting giant's conduct after finding its audit of HBOS just before it collapsed and was taken over by Lloyds "did not fall significantly short of the standards reasonably to be expected". - Telegraph
Purplebricks has been accused of corporate bullying by the operators of a consumer review website that the online estate agent has threatened to sue. Allagents, which lists consumers reviews of estate agents, said that it had taken the unprecedented step of suspending the Purplebricks account on its site after receiving a legal letter over negative reviews that it was hosting. - The Times
Business leaders remain confident in Londons status as a base for their companies, tipping the technology and creative sector as a key area for UK growth. New research from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) claims nine in ten (91pc) of the capitals business leaders still believe London remains a good or great base for businesses, despite Brexit-related risks. - Telegraph
BHP Billiton is rethinking its membership of Australias leading mining organisation over differences on climate change. The worlds largest mining company, and one of the worlds largest producers of coal, committed yesterday to publishing a review of its membership of trade associations and explicitly disclosing where there were material differences in their positions. - The Times
Printer manufacturers are facing a groundbreaking criminal lawsuit in France over claims that they deliberately limit the lifespan of their machines. The lawsuit has been brought by Halte a lObsolescence Programmee (Stop Planned Obsolescence), an environmental association, after laws were introduced to ensure that household appliances last longer. - The Times
It was the classic British off-roader, whose many fans ranged from the Queen to Fidel Castro. Now the Land Rover Defenders spiritual successor could be built by one of its richest devotees on a German production line. Jim Ratcliffe, the billionaire British industrialist, claimed yesterday that he could create up to 10,000 jobs by manufacturing his new 4x4 in the UK but warned that it was likely to be made overseas unless the government gave him financial support. - The Times
French oil company Total is in talks with tech giants Google and Microsoft to help develop bespoke artificial intelligence (AI) in the energy sectors race to tap digital technologies. Engineers at Total are currently working alongside top software developers to explore how complex algorithms could be applied to its work in oil and gas. - Telegraph
The Dutch-Israeli student team that presented a solution to sensor and neutralize the typical sewage smell of rotten eggs in the street, won the latest edition of the Wetskills water challenge in Israel.
Wetskills Israel took place in Haifa from 3 till 17 September. It was the second time for the Wetskills water challenge to take place in Israel and it was again hosted by the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.
Special Dutch water envoy Henk Ovink (thrid left) praised the high quality of the pitches of all teams.
Winning solution
The winning team came up with an early warning concept to detect odor hotspots in the sewer with sensors and to neutralize the odor by dosing a small amount of nitrate.
The team Odor Control existed of Rotem Rotshtein (Haifa University), Karst Oosterhuis (University of Groningen), Christel Voncken (Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences) and Canwei Mao (Ben Gurion University of the Negev) (f.l.t.r. on top photo).
The Wetskills water challenge involves real cases presented by local water authorities or companies and student teams that have to come up with solutions.
The case owner of the odor control, was the water company of Tel Aviv, Mey Avivim. Mey Avivim reacted enthusiastic about the proposed solution and appointed an engineer to start a pilot to test it.
Best ideas
It was a hard decision to announce the winning team. You are all winners said chair of the jury Henk Ovink, special water envoy of Kingdom of The Netherlands, at the awarding ceremony
Ovink praised the teams and was especially impressed by the quality of the two-minute pitches of the teams. The quality of the presentations was high. A lot of water professionals can learn from this.
The finals and awarding ceremony took place at the residence of the Dutch Ambassador in Israel.
The next Wetskills challenges wil be:
in Amsterdam, the Netherlands 19 October - 2November 2017
in Seoul, South Korea - January 28 - February 13, 2018
and a special edition, the SunGlacier Challenge, will take place in Oman 20 -23 March 2018
This news item was originally published on the website of Wetskills.
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Wetskills pitch by Rotem Rotshtein on how to tackle the problem of the typical sewage smell in the street.
DHAKA At least six workers have been killed in the latest Bangladesh garment factory fire with early reports saying other workers are still missing, so the death toll may rise. This comes a matter of weeks after the decision was made to renew the Bangladesh Accord, the agreement put in place post-Rana Plaza to avoid exactly this kind of incident.
So far just 30 companies out of 200 have re-signed to the Accords latest commitments which see the initiative extended until 2021.
Environmental activist and Oscar-winning actor
Leonardo DiCaprio announced that his foundation has awarded $20 million to more than 100 organizations supporting environmental causes.
This is the
Leonardo DiCaprio Foundations (LDF) largest-ever portfolio of environmental grants to date. The organization has now offered more than $80 million in total direct financial impact since its founding in 1998.
DiCaprio announced the news Tuesday at a John Kerry-hosted climate change conference at Yale University.
We are proud to support the work of over 100 organizations at home and abroad, DiCaprio
said. These grantees are active on the ground, protecting our oceans, forests and endangered species for future generationsand tackling the urgent, existential challenges of climate change.
The new grants cover six areas: climate change, wildlife and landscape conservation, marine life and ocean conservation, innovative solutions, indigenous rights and the
California program.
The
Before the Flood documentarian also urged a shift fossil fuels to renewable energy.
There exist today many proven technologies in renewable energy, clean transportation and sustainable agriculture, that we can begin to build a brighter future for all of us, he said. Our challenge is to find new ways to power our lives, employ millions of people and turn every individual into an advocate for clean air and drinkable water. We must demand that politicians accept climate science and make bold commitments before it is too late.
As reported by Mashable, during DiCaprios remarks at the conference, he called out the Trump administration for its refusal to acknowledge climate science, especially as a string of climate-related natural disasters tear across the country.
We have watched as storms, wildfires, and droughts have worsened, and as extinctions have become increasingly frequent. And some of us have also listened as the scientific community sounded alarm bells about climate change as far back as the early 1990s, he said.
Yet with all of this evidencethe independent scientific warnings, and the mounting economic price tagthere is still an astounding level of willful ignorance and inaction from the people who should be doing the most to protect us, and every other living thing on this planet.
DiCaprio also lamented Trumps controversial decision to withdraw the United States from the
Paris climate agreement.
We watched as this White House pulled us back from the Paris climate agreement, the landmark blueprint for containing global emissions and slowing the increase in global temperatures, and we listened as they said that the powerful forces of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma did not change the Presidents mind about climate change, he said.
I still believe that the United States has the potential to lead the world on this issue. We can only hope that the president begins to see it too, before it is too late.
Watch DiCaprios interview with the former Secretary of State below. DiCaprio appears at the 8-minute mark:
Climate change could be causing storms to become bigger, larger, more violent, underlining the need to have a robust military response to disasters across the country, the top officer of the National Guard Bureau said Tuesday.
I do think that the climate is changing, and I do think that it is becoming more severe, Gen. Joseph Lengyel told reporters, noting the number of severe storms that have hit the U.S. in the past month. The general might want to take U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt aside for a chat on climate change and disasters: Pruitt sat down for two friendly interviews on Fox yesterday to tout his idea for a red team/blue team debate on climate.
Speaking on Fox and Friends over a chyron reading Climate Changes Impact on Hurricanes, Pruitt said he acknowledges humans contribute to climate change but questioned how much.
As reported by the Washington Post:
The Pentagon has called climate change a global security threat, saying it could degrade living conditions, jeopardize human safety and undermine nations ability to meet the basic needs of their citizens.
A changing climate will have real impacts on our military and the way it executes its missions, according to a 2014 assessment conducted by defense officials in the Obama administration. The military could be called upon more often to support civil authorities, and provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in the face of more frequent and more intense natural disasters.'
For a deeper dive:
National Guard: The Hill, Washington Post. Pruitt: Huffington Post, The Hill. Strength of 2017 hurricane season: Washington Post, New York Times, WSJ, USA Today. Commentary: Washington Post, Kerry Emmanuel op-ed
For more climate change and clean energy news, you can follow Climate Nexus on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for daily Hot News.
From
Scott Pruitt to Betsy DeVos, President Donald Trump has notoriously appointed a slew of individuals with serious conflicts of interests with the departments they oversee.
The latest is
Michael L. Dourson, Trumps pick to head the EPAs Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, the governments chemical safety program. Media reports reveal that the toxicologist is under intense scrutiny for his extensive ties to the chemical industry and a resume dotted with some of the biggest names in the field: Koch Industries Inc., Chevron Corp., Dow AgroSciences, DuPont and Monsanto.
After working as a staff toxicologist for the EPA from 1980 to 1994, Dourson founded and ran the
Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment (TERA), a nonprofit research group that has been paid by chemical corporations to research and write reports that downplay the health risks posed by their products, the New York Times reports. TERA has since been renamed as the Risk Science Center at the University of Cincinnati, where Dourson is a professor.
According to the Associated Press, Doursons research has been underwritten by industry trade and lobbying groups representing the makers of plastics, pesticides, processed foods and cigarettes.
Doursons Senate confirmation hearing was originally set for Wednesday but has been postponed to a date that has not yet been announced. If confirmed, Dourson would be in charge of regulating chemicals produced by his old industry friends,
critics have warned.
Notably, Dourson and TERA was contracted by Dow AgroSciences, the maker of chlorpyrifos, a neurotoxic pesticide that has been shown to harm childrens brains at even very low exposure levels. Dourson and his researchers argued in three papers that there were flaws in peer-reviewed studies that linked delays in fetal development from chlorpyrifos exposure, the AP reports.
In March, the EPA controversially refused to ban chlorpyrifos claiming the science is unresolved and decided it would postpone the determination of the pesticide until 2022.
Dourson was also the lead author of a
report funded by Koch Industries that concluded that human exposures to petroleum coke and coal if any, are well below levels that could be anticipated to produce adverse health effects in the general population.
Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), the ranking minority member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works panel that will evaluate Doursons qualifications was alarmed by Trumps choice.
Dr. Doursons consistent endorsement of chemical safety standards that not only match industrys views, but are also significantly less protective than E.P.A. and other regulators have recommended, raises serious doubts about his ability to lead those efforts, Carper told the Times. This is the first time anyone with such clear and extensive ties to the chemical industry has been picked to regulate that industry.
A number of experts and environmental and consumer health groups have also spoken against Dourson. The Environmental Defense Fund has listed a number of further objections, including:
After the 2014 chemical spill in Charleston, West Virginia, the state hired Doursons company, Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment (TERA), to convene and manage a health effects expert panel. TERA then appointed Dourson to chair the panel and act as its only spokesperson. The panels report failed to disclose that Dourson and TERA had done paid work for both of the companies that produced the chemicals involved in the spill. These conflicts only came to light upon questioning of Dourson by a reporter at the panels news conference.
Dourson and TERA have done extensive work on behalf of the so-called Perchlorate Study Group (PSG), which is actually comprised of producers and users of perchlorate. The work was aimed at reducing the stringency of federal standards. Dourson, who is on EPAs Science Advisory Board (SAB), was asked to recuse himself from the Boards 2013 meeting to review EPAs work to develop a drinking water standard for perchlorate. Immediately upon doing so, Dourson provided public comments to the Board based on the work he had done for PSG.
In 2012, Dourson and TERA, with funding from the American Chemistry Council (ACC), set up and ran a website called Kids + Chemical Safety. (This website is now inactive and TERA itself has been migrated to be a center at the University of Cincinnati.) The site was designed to look like a neutral source of advice for parents concerned about chemical safety, but instead mirrored industry talking points about its chemicals and sought to shift responsibility for ensuring safety to the consumer or parent and away from the industry.
It is not even subtle, Sheldon Krimsky, a Tufts University professor who studies ethics in science and medicine and has reviewed Doursons work, told the AP. He has chosen to be the voice of the chemical industry. His role as a scientist is simply the role of an industry-hired lawyeronly to give the best case for their client.
Unsurprisingly, the chemical industry and trade associations have cheered the choice.
His knowledge, experience and leadership will strengthen EPAs processes for evaluating and incorporating high quality science into regulatory decision making, said Jon Corley, the American Chemistry Councils spokesman.
CropLife Americathe main trade and lobbying group for the pesticide industrycalled Dourson a perfect fit.
We welcome Dr. Doursons nomination, CropLife America
said on its website. His extensive experience in risk assessment and science, both in government and private sector make him a valuable addition to the office.
Erik Solheim, the head of the United Nations Environment Program, made an interesting point during a recent speech in New York: Companies, not taxpayers, should pay the costs of damaging the planet.
The profit of destroying nature or polluting the planet is nearly always privatized, while the costs of polluting the planet or the cost of destroying ecosystems is nearly always socialized, Solheim said Monday, per
Reuters, at the annual International Conference on Sustainable Development at Columbia University.
That cannot continue, Solheim added. Anyone who pollutes, anyone who destroys nature must pay the cost for that destruction or that pollution.
In a recent
article, climate experts Peter C. Frumhoff and Myles R. Allen argue that companies like Exxon and other Big Oil and Gas giantswhich purportedly knew about the link between fossil fuels and climate change for decadesshould shoulder the billions of dollars in damages caused by extreme weather events such as hurricanes that are exacerbated by Earths risings temperatures.
Frumhoff and Allen write:
Using a simple, well-established climate model, our study for the first time quantifies the amount of sea level rise and increase in global surface temperatures that can be traced to the emissions from specific fossil fuel companies.
Strikingly, nearly 30% of the rise in global sea level between 1880 and 2010 resulted from emissions traced to the 90 largest carbon producers. Emissions traced to the 20 companies named in California communities
lawsuits contributed 10% of global sea level rise over the same period. More than 6% of the rise in global sea level resulted from emissions traced to ExxonMobil, Chevron and BP, the three largest contributors.
The scientists point out: It may take tens to hundreds of billions of dollars to support disaster relief and recovery among Gulf coast communities affected by Hurricane Harvey. ExxonMobil, Chevron and BP have collectively pledged only $2.75m.
During his comments in New York, Solheim noted that economic growth and environmental preservation are not mutually exclusive. In India, for example, the promotion of renewable energy is bringing human health and environmental benefits as well as spurring the economy.
Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi realized he can electrify the villages and provide any number of green jobshe can provide high economic growth, he can take care of his people, and take care of the planet by the same policies, said Solheim.
Solheim said that a pollution-free planet is achievable but the world must take immediate action to meet that goal.
Change is happening, he said. Economic-wise, we are on the right track, but we need to speed up because the challenge is so big.
Ellwood City-area homes for sale rise in price to $139,000
In Lawrence County, homes for sale had a median price of $86 per square foot, while Pennsylvania's was $169
Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. The company's personal banking products and services include checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, and financial and investment advice services; and commercial banking products and services comprise business deposit accounts, commercial credit cards, business loans and commercial mortgages, cash management solutions, foreign exchange, specialized banking programs, treasury and payment solutions, and risk management products for small business and commercial banking customers. It also offers investment and wealth advisory services; digital investing services; financial services and solutions; and investment management, and trust and custody services. In addition, the company provides life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, and annuity products; creditor and travel insurance to bank customers; and reinsurance solutions. Further, it offers client's debt and equity capital-raising services, as well as loan origination and syndication, and treasury management; strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and recapitalizations, as well as valuation and fairness opinions; and trade finance, risk mitigation, and other operating services. Additionally, the company provides research and access to markets for institutional, corporate, and retail clients; trading solutions that include debt, foreign exchange, interest rate, credit, equity, securitization and commodities; new product development and origination services, as well as risk management advice and services to hedge against fluctuations; and funding and liquidity management services to its clients. It operates through approximately 900 bank branches and 3,300 automated banking machines in Canada and the United States. Bank of Montreal was founded in 1817 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.
Efforts to Save Sea Turtles are a "Global Conservation Success Story": A new study of the world's seven sea turtle species provides evidence that their numbers are growing overall (unlike many endangered vertebrates), thanks to years of conservation efforts that have played a key role in sea turtle recovery - even for small sea turtle populations. Sea turtles have historically suffered population declines for reasons that include accidental catch and harvesting adults and eggs. Such decreases have motivated worldwide conservation efforts since the 1950s to employ tactics like strict fishing regulations and beach protection measures. To examine the current global status of sea turtles, Antonios Mazaris and colleagues studied 4,417 annual estimates of sea turtle nesting abundance based on specific time periods of nesting data collection that ranged in length from six to 47 years. They used estimates from 2010 or later to evaluate the length of time periods required to detect significant trends in abundance within Regional Management Units (which represent discrete groups of nesting sites in certain areas that are distinct from one another based on genetics, distribution, movement, and demography) for each species, finding a majority of population increases (95 significant increases compared to 35 significant decreases). Despite the encouraging upward population trends, Mazaris et al.'s results complement International Union of Conservation for Nature (IUCN) assessments of sea turtle status, which lists six sea turtle species as endangered. The authors also found that while longer time periods of nesting data collection are important for detecting population trends, shorter intervals not currently used by IUCN could still provide important information, though they highlight the need for more updated and continuous nesting site information.
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Sexual misconduct on college campuses is an age-old problem that continues to plague students and faculty, and is now the subject of renewed debate. It can traumatize those who are harassed, and change the course of people's careers. The cover article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, shares how sexual harassment has affected chemistry students and faculty, and what universities and scientific societies are doing about it.
C&EN Senior Editors Linda Wang and Andrea Widener report the personal experiences of several women who were sexually harassed as chemistry students or junior faculty by professors and administrators senior to them. The outcomes of such experiences can differ widely. Some leave academia for industry or give up the sciences altogether, while others endure. What many of these stories have in common is silence. The majority of women and men who are harassed don't report the incidents for a variety of reasons, including shame and fear of retribution.
But tolerance for sexual harassment in the sciences is starting to erode. Some universities and science departments are establishing new training and support networks for faculty and students. There is also proposed legislation that would require universities to report all substantiated findings of harassment to federal agencies that have awarded the harasser money. To deter misconduct at scientific conferences, host organizations, including the American Chemical Society, have meeting policies that explicitly address the issue.
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The article, "Confronting sexual harassment in chemistry," is freely available here.
The American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society, is a not-for-profit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS is a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. ACS does not conduct research, but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.
To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org.
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As schools around the U.S. start back up, so do trips to the doctor's office. But is that raw sore throat due to bacteria, which can be fought off with antibiotics, or a virus? Getting a definitive diagnosis of bacterial infections like Strep throat can take days. Now, one group reports in ACS Sensors that they have developed a new test that will provide results in just hours.
Beta-hemolytic bacteria are those pathogens that are frequently to blame for illnesses that are spread among school children like Streptococcus, or those like Listeria that cause many foodborne illnesses. The current test was developed back in 1903 and involves streaking a patient sample onto blood agar plates. It works well, but it can take days to obtain results. The bacteria are placed on a "blood agar" plate. If they are beta-hemolytic bacteria, they will produce an enzyme that breaks down red blood cells. Clear zones form, which allows doctors to identify the type of bacteria. Some existing tests can detect a single type of beta-hemolytic bacteria but one has to know exactly what microbe to test for ahead of time. In an effort to monitor food safety and provide rapid diagnoses for patients, Ian Cheong and colleagues sought to develop a test that would provide results in hours.
The researchers used the original blood agar test as inspiration for their new one. In the new assay, they placed fluorophores inside liposomes, which are lipid vesicles that have been used for controlled drug release. While in the liposome, the fluorescent molecules are packed together and are quenched, or dark. But when in the presence of beta-hemolytic bacteria, the liposome is broken open, the molecules are released, and they fluoresce. The test, called BETA, distinguished beta-hemolytic bacteria from control bacteria with 100 percent accuracy in 6 hours on plates, and with 99 percent accuracy in liquid broth in an hour. The researchers say the method is rapid and cost-effective, which makes it ideal for diagnostics in developing countries.
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The authors acknowledge funding from the Temasek Life Science Laboratories.
The paper's abstract will be available on Sept. 20 at 8 a.m. Eastern time here: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acssensors.7b00333
The American Chemical Society is a not-for-profit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. ACS does not conduct research, but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.
To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org.
Follow us: Twitter | Facebook
Heavy drinking six times a month reduces the probability that a new college graduate will land a job by 10 percent, according to Tel Aviv University and Cornell University research published in the Journal of Applied Psychology.
Previous studies were unable to determine the precise effect of alcohol consumption on first-time employment. But according to the new study, each individual episode of student binge-drinking during a month-long period lowers the odds of attaining full-time employment upon graduation by 1.4 percent.
"The manner in which students drink appears to be more influential than how much they drink when it comes to predicting the likelihood of getting a job upon graduation," says Prof. Peter Bamberger of TAU's Coller School of Business Management and Cornell University, who co-authored the study with Prof. Samuel Bacharach of Cornell University; Prof. Mary Larimer and Prof. Irene Geisner, both of the University of Washington; Jacklyn Koopmann of Auburn University; Prof. Inbal Nahum-Shani of the University of Michigan; and Prof. Mo Wang of the University of Florida.
"Binge-drinking" is defined as ingesting four or more alcoholic drinks within two hours by a woman and five or more alcoholic drinks within two hours by a man, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
How often, not how much
The research found that a non-binge pattern of drinking does not adversely impact job search results unless and until their drinking reaches binge levels.
Data for the study was provided by 827 individuals who graduated in 2014, 2015, and 2016 from Cornell, the University of Washington, the University of Florida, and the University of Michigan.
"A student who binge-drinks four times a month has a 6 percent lower probability of finding a job than a student who does not engage in similar drinking habits. Those students who drank heavily six times a month increased their unemployment probability to 10 percent," says Prof. Bamberger.
Funded by a $2.2 million grant from the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, the research is the first installment of a longitudinal study on how alcohol misuse affects the college-to-work transition. More than 16,000 individuals have been contacted as part of the five-year study.
"This paper is consistent with the recent emphasis on the impact of drinking behavior on career transition from Cornell's Smithers Institute," said Prof. Bacharach. "It is in concert with the previous work we've done on retirement, and on-boarding [the entry and socialization of newcomers into an organization]. Most importantly, it is also consistent with the Smithers Institute's continued programmatic interest in substance abuse not only in the workplace, but in the college community as well."
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American Friends of Tel Aviv University (AFTAU) supports Israel's most influential, comprehensive and sought-after center of higher learning, Tel Aviv University (TAU). TAU is recognized and celebrated internationally for creating an innovative, entrepreneurial culture on campus that generates inventions, startups and economic development in Israel. For three years in a row, TAU ranked 9th in the world, and first in Israel, for alumni going on to become successful entrepreneurs backed by significant venture capital, a ranking that surpassed several Ivy League universities. To date, 2,400 patents have been filed out of the University, making TAU 29th in the world for patents among academic institutions.
Most birds lack genitalia, but male ducks are known for their long, spiraling penises, which have evolved through an ongoing cat-and-mouse game with females. A new study from The Auk: Ornithological Advances looks at whether these impressive organs are affected by the social environment--that is, whether male ducks that face more competition grow bigger penises. While this appears to be true for some species, in others the relationship between social environment and penis growth is more complex.
Patricia Brennan of Mount Holyoke College and her colleagues tested their hypothesis in two species: Ruddy Ducks, which are very promiscuous, do not form pair bonds, and have relatively long penises, and Lesser Scaup, which form seasonal pair bonds and have relatively short penises. Keeping captive ducks in either pairs or groups during the breeding season over two years, they found that Lesser Scaup had longer penises on average when housed in groups with other males, as predicted. For Ruddy Ducks, the effects were more complicated--many males failed to reach sexual maturity until the second year of the experiment, and when they did, the smaller Ruddy Duck males housed in groups grew their penises faster than males housed in pairs, but grew out of sync with each other and stayed in reproductive condition for only short periods of time.
Small Ruddy Ducks males faced with intense competition may strategically offset their development from each other to reduce the costs of male-male aggression and make the best of a bad situation. Additionally, since Ruddy Ducks already have relatively long penises on average compared to other waterfowl species, their ability to grow even larger based on social cues may be limited. In any case, the study shows that the level of competition that individual male ducks experience can have a big effect on their genitals.
The biggest challenge during the study, says Brennan, wasn't measuring the ducks--it was simply keeping them housed and fed. "Keeping ducks in captivity is expensive," says Brennan. "We were lucky to partner with the Livingstone Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy in Litchfield, Connecticut, where their expert personnel kept the ducks healthy and in beautiful, naturalistic enclosures year-round."
"This is an excellent experimental study of penis morphology, looking at the effects of social environment on penis size in two duck species that have different mating systems," according to Queen's University's Bob Montgomerie, an expert on reproductive strategies who was not involved in the study. "The question now is whether the observed increase in penis size in Lesser Scaup under the threat of sperm competition actually gives males a competitive advantage. Like all good studies, this one will undoubtedly stimulate more research, as it provides both methodologies and a clear focus on interesting questions."
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"Evidence of phenotypic plasticity of penis morphology and delayed reproductive maturation in response to male competition in waterfowl" will be available September 20, 2017, at http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1642/AUK-17-114.1 (issue URL http://www.bioone.org/toc/tauk/134/4).
About the journal: The Auk: Ornithological Advances is a peer-reviewed, international journal of ornithology that began in 1884 as the official publication of the American Ornithologists' Union, which merged with the Cooper Ornithological Society in 2016 to become the American Ornithological Society. In 2009, The Auk was honored as one of the 100 most influential journals of biology and medicine over the past 100 years.
David Lohman, associate professor of biology at The City College of New York's Division of Science, is co-author of a landmark paper on butterflies "An illustrated checklist of the genus Elymnias Hubner, 1818 (Nymphalidae, Satyrinae)." Lohman and his colleagues from Taiwan and Indonesia revise the taxonomy of Asian palmflies in the genus Elymnias in light of a forthcoming study on the butterflies' evolutionary history.
The scientists discovered numerous cryptic species-two or more species erroneously classified as one species-as well as single species mistakenly described as two or three. Frequently, species discriminated with genetic data are each others' closest relatives, but can be distinguished by stark genetic differences; this suggests a lack of interbreeding--a hallmark of species distinctiveness.
However, in Elymnias, Lohman and his associates found that cryptic species were unrelated to each other and resulted from a novel cause: mimicry. Different species on different islands of the Indo-Australian Archipelago frequently evolved to resemble a single, widespread model species, and different Elymnias species therefore evolved to resemble each other. Lohman and his colleagues conducted the comprehensive phylogenetic study using DNA sequence data from over 200 specimens representing nearly every species of Elymnias.
In addition, the team visited more than a dozen museums to study and photograph hundreds of specimens, and obtained additional material from fieldwork and many private collections. More than 100 male and female specimens were dissected to assess genitalic differences and distribution information was collected from dozens of sources to provide distribution maps of every subspecies.
Lohman studies the ecology, evolution, and biogeography of insects in the Old World tropics using a combination of field ecology and molecular phylogenetic methods.
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About The City College of New York
Since 1847, The City College of New York has provided low-cost, high-quality education for New Yorkers in a wide variety of disciplines. Today more than 16,000 students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in eight professional schools and divisions, driven by significant funded research, creativity and scholarship. Now celebrating its 170th anniversary, CCNY is as diverse, dynamic and visionary as New York City itself. View CCNY Media Kit.
ITHACA, N.Y. - In an effort to settle the debate about the origin of dog domestication, a technique that uses 3-D scans of fossils is helping researchers determine the difference between dogs and wolves.
In the ongoing debate, one camp believes dogs were domesticated in the Paleolithic age (more than 17,000 years ago), when humans were hunter-gatherers. The other camp believes domestication occurred in the Neolithic age (17,000 to 7,000 years ago), when humans first established agriculture and civilizations.
Abby Grace Drake, a senior lecturer in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and her colleagues have been analyzing 3-D scans of ancient fossil canid mandibles to determine whether they belong to dogs or wolves. The answer, they find, is not so simple.
The researchers found that in the early stages of domestication, the skull changed shape but evolution of the mandible lagged behind and did not co-evolve with the skull. Their study is reported in the Aug. 25 issue of the journal Scientific Reports.
"A lot of the fossil evidence for the date of dog domestication is based on morphological [structural] analysis of mandibles," said Drake, the paper's first author. Robert Losey, an anthropologist at the University of Alberta, Canada, is a senior co-author of the paper. "Our study shows that when you measure modern dog mandibles and wolf mandibles using 3-D measurements you can distinguish them, and yet when we looked at these fossil mandibles, they don't look like dogs or wolves."
Wolves have fairly straight mandibles while dog mandibles are curved, structural features that become evident in a 3-D scan. In a proof of principle, when analyzing the 3-D structures of mandibles of modern dogs, Drake and colleagues correctly classified 99.5 percent of the samples as being dog or wolf.
However, 3-D analysis of fossil records from four ancient sites, two from Russia and two from Alaska, found that most of those fossil mandibles could not be classified as either dog or wolf, even though features in canid skulls from the same sites as well as other data proved that the samples were dog remains.
Other evidence also showed that these canids were domesticated: The remains were found within human dwellings, remains at both the Russian sites revealed butchery marks, indicating that they were eaten, and isotope analysis of canid and human remains from one of the sites - Ust'-Polui, in the Russian Arctic - showed canids and humans were both eating fish, and humans were feeding their canids.
Since mandibles do not appear to evolve as rapidly as the skull, the results show they are not reliable for identifying early dog fossils, Drake said.
Four of 26 fossil mandibles from Ust'-Polui, which was occupied from 250 B.C. to 150 B.C., were identified as dogs, while three of the mandibles from the site were identified as wolves.
At another site, Ivolgin, in southern Russia, occupied between 300 B.C. and 200 B.C., none of the 20 mandibles were identified as dogs, though 8 were identified as wolves. All of the skulls found at these sites, 12 from Ivolgin and five from Ust'-Polui, were clearly identified as dogs.
Canid fossils of wolves and dogs from the Alaskan sites from 1600 CE were used as controls and to compare genetic testing against the structural 3-D data.
A 2015 paper by Drake and Michael Coquerelle, an anthropologist at the University Rey Juan Carlos in Alcorcon, Spain, and a co-author on the current paper, used the 3-D technique to refute a claim that dogs existed 30,000 years ago. That claim was based on linear caliper measurements of skulls. Linear measurements are inaccurate because dog and wolf skull sizes overlap, Drake said. On the other hand, 3-D analysis of skulls uses landmarks across the skull to identify differences between dogs and wolves in the angle of the muzzle, or snout, and in the angling of the eye orbits.
"The earliest dogs I've seen in my analysis are from 7,000 to 9,000 years ago," Drake said.
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The study was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the European Research Council.
Cornell University has television, ISDN and dedicated Skype/Google+ Hangout studios available for media interviews. For additional information, see this Cornell Chronicle story.
In the faint southern constellation of Antlia the careful observer with binoculars will spot a very red star, which varies slightly in brightness from week to week. This very unusual star is called U Antliae and new observations with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA - http://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/alma/) are revealing a remarkably thin spherical shell around it.
U Antliae [1] is a carbon star, an evolved, cool and luminous star of the asymptotic giant branch type. Around 2700 years ago, U Antliae went through a short period of rapid mass loss. During this period of only a few hundred years, the material making up the shell seen in the new ALMA data was ejected at high speed. Examination of this shell in further detail also shows some evidence of thin, wispy gas clouds known as filamentary substructures.
This spectacular view was only made possible by the unique ability to create sharp images at multiple wavelengths that is provided by the ALMA radio telescope, located on the Chajnantor Plateau in Chile's Atacama Desert. ALMA can see much finer structure in the U Antliae shell than has previously been possible.
The new ALMA data are not just a single image; ALMA produces a three-dimensional dataset (a data cube) with each slice being observed at a slightly different wavelength. Because of the Doppler Effect, this means that different slices of the data cube show images of gas moving at different speeds towards or away from the observer. This shell is also remarkable as it is very symmetrically round and also remarkably thin. By displaying the different velocities we can cut this cosmic bubble into virtual slices just as we do in computer tomography of a human body.
Understanding the chemical composition of the shells and atmospheres of these stars, and how these shells form by mass loss, is important to properly understand how stars evolve in the early Universe and also how galaxies evolved. Shells such as the one around U Antliae show a rich variety of chemical compounds based on carbon and other elements. They also help to recycle matter, and contribute up to 70% of the dust between stars.
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Notes
[1] The name U Antliae reflects the fact that it is the fourth star that changes its brightness to be found in the constellation of Antlia (The Air Pump). The naming of such variable stars followed a complicated sequence as more and more were found and is explained here - https://www.aavso.org/naming-variables .
More information
This research was presented in a paper entitled "Rings and filaments. The remarkable detached CO shell of U Antliae", by F. Kerschbaum et al., to appear in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
The team is composed of F. Kerschbaum (University of Vienna, Austria), M. Maercker (Chalmers University of Technology, Onsala Space Observatory, Sweden), M. Brunner (University of Vienna, Austria), M. Lindqvist (Chalmers University of Technology, Onsala Space Observatory, Sweden), H. Olofsson (Chalmers University of Technology, Onsala Space Observatory, Sweden), M. Mecina (University of Vienna, Austria), E. De Beck (Chalmers University of Technology, Onsala Space Observatory, Sweden), M. A. T. Groenewegen (Koninklijke Sterrenwacht van Belgie, Belgium), E. Lagadec (Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur, CNRS, France), S. Mohamed (University of Cape Town, South Africa), C. Paladini (Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium), S. Ramstedt (Uppsala University, Sweden), W. H. T. Vlemmings (Chalmers University of Technology, Onsala Space Observatory, Sweden), and M. Wittkowski (ESO)
The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), an international astronomy facility, is a partnership of ESO, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS) of Japan in cooperation with the Republic of Chile. ALMA is funded by ESO on behalf of its Member States, by NSF in cooperation with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the National Science Council of Taiwan (NSC) and by NINS in cooperation with the Academia Sinica (AS) in Taiwan and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI).
ALMA construction and operations are led by ESO on behalf of its Member States; by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), managed by Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI), on behalf of North America; and by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) on behalf of East Asia. The Joint ALMA Observatory (JAO) provides the unified leadership and management of the construction, commissioning and operation of ALMA.
ESO is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world's most productive ground-based astronomical observatory by far. It is supported by 16 countries: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, along with the host state of Chile. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries. ESO also plays a leading role in promoting and organising cooperation in astronomical research. ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope and its world-leading Very Large Telescope Interferometer as well as two survey telescopes, VISTA working in the infrared and the visible-light VLT Survey Telescope. ESO is also a major partner in two facilities on Chajnantor, APEX and ALMA, the largest astronomical project in existence. And on Cerro Armazones, close to Paranal, ESO is building the 39-metre Extremely Large Telescope, the ELT, which will become "the world's biggest eye on the sky".
Links
* Research paper - https://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso1730/eso1730a.pdf
* Photos of ALMA - http://www.eso.org/public/images/archive/category/alma/
Contacts
Franz Kerschbaum
University of Vienna
Vienna, Austria
Tel: +43 1 4277-51856
Email: franz.kerschbaum@univie.ac.at
Richard Hook
ESO Public Information Officer
Garching bei Munchen, Germany
Tel: +49 89 3200 6655
Cell: +49 151 1537 3591
Email: rhook@eso.org
With the help of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, a German-led group of astronomers have observed the intriguing characteristics of an unusual type of object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter: two asteroids orbiting each other and exhibiting comet-like features, including a bright coma and a long tail. This is the first known binary asteroid also classified as a comet. The research is presented in a paper published in the journal Nature today.
In September 2016, just before the asteroid 288P made its closest approach to the Sun, it was close enough to Earth to allow astronomers a detailed look at it using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope [1].
The images of 288P, which is located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, revealed that it was actually not a single object, but two asteroids of almost the same mass and size, orbiting each other at a distance of about 100 kilometres. That discovery was in itself an important find; because they orbit each other, the masses of the objects in such systems can be measured.
But the observations also revealed ongoing activity in the binary system. "We detected strong indications of the sublimation of water ice due to the increased solar heating -- similar to how the tail of a comet is created," explains Jessica Agarwal (Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research - https://www.mps.mpg.de/de, Germany), the team leader and main author of the research paper. This makes 288P the first known binary asteroid that is also classified as a main-belt comet.
Understanding the origin and evolution of main-belt comets -- comets that orbit amongst the numerous asteroids between Mars and Jupiter -- is a crucial element in our understanding of the formation and evolution of the whole Solar System. Among the questions main-belt comets can help to answer is how water came to Earth [2]. Since only a few objects of this type are known, 288P presents itself as an extremely important system for future studies.
The various features of 288P -- wide separation of the two components, near-equal component size, high eccentricity and comet-like activity -- also make it unique among the few known wide asteroid binaries in the Solar System. The observed activity of 288P also reveals information about its past, notes Agarwal: "Surface ice cannot survive in the asteroid belt for the age of the Solar System but can be protected for billions of years by a refractory dust mantle, only a few metres thick."
From this, the team concluded that 288P has existed as a binary system for only about 5000 years. Agarwal elaborates on the formation scenario: "The most probable formation scenario of 288P is a breakup due to fast rotation. After that, the two fragments may have been moved further apart by sublimation torques."
The fact that 288P is so different from all other known binary asteroids raises some questions about whether it is not just a coincidence that it presents such unique properties. As finding 288P included a lot of luck, it is likely to remain the only example of its kind for a long time. "We need more theoretical and observational work, as well as more objects similar to 288P, to find an answer to this question," concludes Agarwal.
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Notes
[1] Like any object orbiting the Sun, 288P travels along an elliptical path, bringing it closer and further away to the Sun during the course of one orbit.
[2] Current research indicates that water came to Earth not via comets, as long thought, but via icy asteroids.
More information
The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA.
The international team of astronomers in this study consists of Jessica Agarwal (Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Gottingen, Germany), David Jewitt (Department of Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences and Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California at Los Angeles, USA), Max Mutchler (Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, USA), Harold Weaver (The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Maryland, USA) and Stephen Larson (Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA).
The results were released in the paper "A binary main belt comet" to be published in Nature.
Image credit: NASA, ESA
Links
* Images of Hubble - http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/archive/category/spacecraft/
* Link to hubblesite release - http://hubblesite.org/news_release/news/2017-33
* Link to science paper - http://www.spacetelescope.org/static/archives/releases/science_papers/heic1715/heic1715a.pdf
Contacts
Jessica Agarwal
Max Planck Institute for Solar-System Research
Gottingen, Germany
Tel: +49 551 384 979 438
Email: agarwal@mps.mpg.de
Lauren Fuge
ESA/Hubble, Public Information Officer
Garching bei Munchen, Germany Email: lfuge@partner.eso.org
Cancer patients received less recommended drugs and interventions for myocardial infarction and were more likely to die
Sophia Antipolis, 20 September 2017: Treatment of heart attack patients depends on their history of cancer, according to research published today in European Heart Journal: Acute Cardiovascular Care.1 The study in more than 35 000 heart attack patients found they were less likely to receive recommended drugs and interventions, and more likely to die in hospital if they had cancer than if they did not.
"It is well known that cancer patients may have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease as a result of their treatment," said senior author Dr Dragana Radovanovic, head of the AMIS Plus Data Centre in Zurich, Switzerland. "However, on the other hand, little is known about the treatment and outcomes of cancer patients who have an acute myocardial infarction."
This study investigated whether acute myocardial infarction patients with a history of cancer received the same guideline recommended treatment and had the same in-hospital outcomes as those without cancer.
The study included 35 249 patients enrolled in the acute myocardial infarction in Switzerland (AMIS Plus) registry between 2002 and mid-2015. Of those, 1 981 (5.6%) had a history of cancer.
Propensity score matching was used to create two groups of 1 981 patients each - one with cancer history and one without - that were matched for age, gender, and cardiovascular risk factors.
The researchers compared the proportions of patients in each group who received specific immediate drug therapies for acute myocardial infarction, and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to open blocked arteries. They also compared the rates of in-hospital complications and death between the two groups.
The researchers found that cancer patients underwent PCI less frequently (odds ratio [OR], 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.67-0.88) and received P2Y12 blockers (OR, 0.82; 95% CI 0.71-0.94) and statins (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.76-0.99) less frequently. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in patients with cancer than those without (10.7% versus 7.6%; OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.17-1.81).
Patients with a history of cancer were more likely to have complications while in hospital. They had 44% higher odds of cardiogenic shock, 47% higher chance of bleeding, and 67% greater odds of developing heart failure than those with no history of cancer.
Dr Radovanovic said: "Patients with a history of cancer were less likely to receive evidence-based treatments for myocardial infarction. They were 24% less likely to undergo PCI, 18% less likely to receive P2Y12 antagonists and 13% less likely to receive statins. They had also more complications and were 45% more likely to die while in hospital."
"More research is needed to find out why cancer patients receive suboptimal treatment for myocardial infarction and have poorer outcomes," continued Dr Radovanovic.
"Possible reasons could be the type and stage of cancer, or severe comorbidities. Some cancer patients may have a very limited life expectancy and refuse treatment for myocardial infarction," she added.
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Key Takeaways:
Scientists used a wealth of new data from DNA sequencing tools to study the human microbiome in unprecedented depth and detail
The new information provides insights as to how microbes work in concert with each other, within specific individuals, across various sites in the body, and over time
Boston, MA - A new study of the human microbiome -- the trillions of microbial organisms that live on and within our bodies -- has analyzed thousands of new measurements of microbial communities from the gut, skin, mouth, and vaginal microbiome, yielding new insights into the role these microbes play in human health.
The study, from researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and University of Maryland School of Medicine, presents a three-fold expansion of data from the National Institutes of Health Human Microbiome Project, providing unprecedented depth and detail about human microbial diversity. The new information allows researchers to identify differences that are unique to an individual's microbes -- just like some human genome variants are unique to each individual -- and track them across the body and over time.
The study will be published online September 20, 2017 in Nature.
"This study has given us the most detailed information to date about exactly which microbes and molecular processes help to maintain health in the human microbiome," said Curtis Huttenhower, associate professor of computational biology and bioinformatics at Harvard Chan School, associate member of the Broad Institute, and senior author of the study.
This study is an expanded second phase of the Human Microbiome Project, originally launched in 2007 to identify and characterize human microbes, explore microbes' relationship to health and disease, and develop computational tools to analyze the microbes. The microbiome has been linked to everything from allergies to cancer.
The researchers analyzed 1,631 new samples from 265 individuals, from diverse body sites and at multiple points in time. The scientists used DNA sequencing tools that allowed them to precisely identify which organisms are present in various body sites, as well as what they might be able to do. Examining microbes at multiple time points further allowed them to determine which parts of the community might change slowly, rapidly, or stay relatively stable over time.
The findings:
Provide one of the largest profiles of non-bacterial members--viruses and fungi--of the microbiome across the body
Identified microbes with specific strains within each body site
Profile the biochemical activity that allows microbes to help maintain human health
Identify how the microbes and their biochemistry change over time
Huttenhower said the new study also emphasizes how much scientists still don't know about the makeup and function of the human microbiome. Learning more about it will take time, he said.
"Just as sequencing one human genome, without information about variability or context, didn't immediately lead to extensive new drugs or therapies, so too will we need to look at the microbiome with an extremely fine lens, in many different contexts, so that we can understand and act on its specific, personalized changes in any individual disease or condition," said Jason Lloyd-Price, postdoctoral associate at the Broad Institute, postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Chan School, and lead author of the study.
He added that the study also provides a large data resource to the scientific community that will help drive future research, discoveries, and the development of new methods in studying the human microbiome.
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Other Harvard Chan authors included Gholamali Rahnavard and Eric Franzosa.
Support for the study came from National Institutes of Health grants U54DK10255, U01HG006537, U01HG004866, U54HG004969, U54HG004973, U54AI084844, U54HG004968, U54HG003079, and the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America.
"Strains, functions, and dynamics in the expanded Human Microbiome Project," Jason Lloyd-Price, Anup Mahurkar, Gholamali Rahnavard, Jonathan Crabtree, Joshua Orvis, A. Brantley Hall, Arthur Brady, Heather H. Creasy, Carrie McCracken, Michelle G. Giglio, Daniel McDonald, Eric A. Franzosa, Rob Knight, Owen White, Curtis Huttenhower, Nature, online September 20, 2017, doi: 10.1038/nature23889
Visit the Harvard Chan School website for the latest news, press releases, and multimedia offerings.
About Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health brings together dedicated experts from many disciplines to educate new generations of global health leaders and produce powerful ideas that improve the lives and health of people everywhere. As a community of leading scientists, educators, and students, we work together to take innovative ideas from the laboratory to people's lives--not only making scientific breakthroughs, but also working to change individual behaviors, public policies, and health care practices. Each year, more than 400 faculty members at Harvard Chan School teach 1,000-plus full-time students from around the world and train thousands more through online and executive education courses. Founded in 1913 as the Harvard-MIT School of Health Officers, the School is recognized as America's oldest professional training program in public health.
About the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard was launched in 2004 to empower this generation of creative scientists to transform medicine. The Broad Institute seeks to describe all the molecular components of life and their connections; discover the molecular basis of major human diseases; develop effective new approaches to diagnostics and therapeutics; and disseminate discoveries, tools, methods, and data openly to the entire scientific community.
Founded by MIT, Harvard, Harvard-affiliated hospitals, and the visionary Los Angeles philanthropists Eli and Edythe L. Broad, the Broad Institute includes faculty, professional staff, and students from throughout the MIT and Harvard biomedical research communities and beyond, with collaborations spanning over a hundred private and public institutions in more than 40 countries worldwide. For further information about the Broad Institute, go to http://www.broadinstitute.org.
BOSTON - (September 20, 2017) - In type 2 diabetes, chronic inflammation drives cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death among people with the condition. Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center now have identified an unexpected natural protective factor that works against this inflammation.
Scientists have long known that in diabetes, high levels of glucose and lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) trigger white blood cell called monocytes to move into artery walls and evolve into other cells known as macrophages. These cells engulf lipids but then end up stuck on the artery walls, eventually producing atherosclerosis (a narrowing and thickening of the walls).
During this process, the high levels of glucose and lipids also activate multiple forms of a molecule called protein kinase C (PKC), which help these unhelpful macrophages to activate, survive and multiply, thus boosting inflammation.
In experiments with a mouse model of type 2 diabetes, however, the Joslin investigators showed that one form of the PKC molecule called PKC-delta actually defends against this inflammation process, by suppressing the population of macrophages gone wrong.
"The complete surprise to us was that although most forms of PKC make inflammation worse, PKC-delta happens to be the opposite, a natural protective mechanism," says George King, M.D., Joslin Chief Scientific Officer and corresponding author on a paper describing the work published in the journal Circulation Research.
Follow-up work in cell cultures by King's lab showed that this defensive role for PKC-delta is triggered by high levels of lipids rather than glucose. That finding suggests that the molecule also may help to prevent inflammation in related metabolic conditions such as obesity and metabolic syndrome.
Additionally, the scientists discovered a mechanism by which PKC-delta inhibits a biological pathway that protects cells from dying.
This early study in animal models suggests that it may eventually be possible to reduce inflammation by activating PKC-delta in human monocytes, says King, who is also a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.
However, he points out that activating this molecule will create different effects in different parts of the body.
Work published last year by his lab, for example, suggested the possibility of treating slow-healing wounds by a cell-therapy approach that suppresses PKC-delta production in connective-tissue cells. Other research in the lab of Joslin's C. Ronald Kahn, M.D., showed that inhibiting PKC-delta in the liver might aid in overcoming insulin resistance, a key contributor to type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
These varied roles for PKC-delta indicate that for any potential future therapies, "we need to target treatment to specific tissues," he emphasizes.
King's latest research also highlights a major continuing theme for Joslin research. "There are protective factors and risk factors for diabetes complications," he says. "We need to have equal focus on stimulating the protective factors as well as limiting the risk factors."
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Qian Li of the Nunnally lab was first author on the paper. Other Joslin coauthors included Kyoungmin Park, Yu Xia, Weier Qi, Jialin Fu, Hisashi Yokomizo, Mogher Khamaisi, Xuanchun Wang and Christian Rask-Madsen. Motonobu Matsumoto of Sunstar in Osaka, Japan also contributed to the research. Lead funding was from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease and the American Diabetes Association.
About Joslin Diabetes Center
Joslin Diabetes Center is world-renowned for its deep expertise in diabetes treatment and research. Joslin is dedicated to finding a cure for diabetes and ensuring that people with diabetes live long, healthy lives. We develop and disseminate innovative patient therapies and scientific discoveries throughout the world. Joslin is an independent, non-profit institution affiliated with Harvard Medical School, and one of only 11 NIH-designated Diabetes Research Centers in the U.S.
For more information, visit http://www.joslin.org or follow @joslindiabetes
Gunshot and stabbing victims more likely to die if transported to the trauma center by ambulance
Victims of gunshots and stabbings are significantly less likely to die if they're taken to the trauma center by a private vehicle than ground emergency medical services (EMS), according to results of a new analysis.
A report on the study's findings, published Sept. 20 in JAMA Surgery, highlights the importance of studying the effects of transport, EMS services and other prehospital interventions by specific injury type.
"Time is truly of the essence when it comes to certain kinds of injuries and our analysis suggests that, for penetrating injuries such as knife and gun wounds, it might be better to just get to a trauma center as soon as possible in whatever way possible," says Elliott Haut, M.D., Ph.D., an associate professor of surgery and emergency medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the paper's senior author.
While Haut acknowledges that more research needs to be conducted before declaring one type of transport superior to another, he says, "For certain types of injury, it might be best to call the police, Uber or a cab -- however you can get to the trauma center fastest."
Typically, policies and protocols for prehospital interventions are established at a regional or statewide trauma system level, which allows first responders such as EMTs and paramedics to determine what, if any, medical procedures should be performed prior to and during transport to the hospital, says Haut. But research studies have rarely, if ever, evaluated or compared all of the effects of system-driven prehospitalization policies, leaving ideal prehospital care strategies undefined, Haut adds.
In what the researchers believe is the first effort of its kind to do that evaluation for ambulance versus private vehicle transportation, they elected to analyze the relationship between transport mode and in-hospital mortality (death in the emergency department and prior to discharge) on a city-by-city, trauma system level.
For the study, Haut and colleagues examined data from the American College of Surgeons National Trauma Data Bank, the largest available collection of United States trauma registry data. Specifically, the team examined information already gathered on 103,029 patients at least 16 years old who entered a U.S. trauma center between Jan. 1, 2010, and Dec. 31, 2012, for a gunshot or stab wound and were transported to the trauma center by ground EMS (ambulance) or private vehicle. The data were gathered from 298 level I and level II trauma centers within the 100 most populous U.S. metro areas.
Approximately 16.4 percent of all patients were transported by private vehicle. The analysis found an overall 2.2 percent mortality rate for patients transported via private vehicle, compared to 11.6 percent for ground EMS.
Gunshot victims transported by private vehicle saw a lower mortality rate (4.5 percent versus 19.3 percent), as did stab victims (0.2 percent versus 2.9 percent). When adjusting for differences in injury severity, patients with penetrating injuries were 62 percent less likely to die when transported by private vehicle compared to EMS.
"Unlike CPR and defibrillation for heart attacks, the type of damage done in penetrating trauma often can't be reversed in a prehospital setting. This study supports other studies that prehospital interventions can actually result in less favorable outcomes for certain types of injuries," says Michael W. Wandling, M.D, M.S., an American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Scholar in Residence, general surgery resident at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the study's first author.
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Other authors on this paper include Avery B. Nathens of the ACS and Michael B. Shapiro of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
Haut is primary investigator of a research grant (1R01HS024547) from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality titled "Individualized Performance Feedback on Venous Thromboembolism Prevention Practice" and is primary investigator of two contracts from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute titled "Preventing Venous Thromboembolism: Empowering Patients and Enabling Patient-Centered Care via Health Information Technology" (CE-12-11-4489) and "Preventing Venous Thromboembolism (VTE): Engaging Patients to Reduce Preventable Harm from Missed/Refused Doses of VTE Prophylaxis" (DI-1603-34596). Haut receives royalties from Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins for a book, "Avoiding Common ICU Errors."
Haut was the paid author of a paper commissioned by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine titled "Military Trauma Care's Learning Health System: The Importance of Data Driven Decision Making" which was used to support the report titled "A National Trauma Care System: Integrating Military and Civilian Trauma Systems to Achieve Zero Preventable Deaths After Injury."
East Hanover, NJ. September 19, 2017. A recent article by MS researchers describes a new nonpharmacological approach to reduce cognitive fatigue, a disabling symptom reported by as many as 90% of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Using functional neuroimaging, they demonstrated that the prospect of monetary reward stimulates the fronto-striatal network, resulting in the reduction of cognitive fatigue in individuals with MS and healthy controls. This is the first study to demonstrate this effect in an MS population.
The article, "Fronto-striatal network activation leads to less fatigue in multiple sclerosis" was published online on June 19, 2017, in Multiple Sclerosis Journal (doi:10.1177/135248517717087). The authors are, Ekaterina Dobryakova, PhD, Angela Spirou, MS, Nancy Chiaravalloti, PhD, Helen Genova, PhD, Glenn Wylie, DPhil, and John DeLuca, PhD, of Kessler Foundation, and Hanneke Hulst, PhD, of VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The article link: http://tinyurl.com/y7ct7yrs
Studies show that the fronto-striatal network is involved in cognitive fatigue, which can be modulated by both pharmacological andnon pharmacological interventions. In this study, investigators examined the effects of a nonpharmacological intervention in 14 healthy controls and 19 individuals with MS. All participants underwent functional MRI while performing a gambling task. They were tested under two conditions: 'outcome' and 'no outcome'. For the outcome condition, they were offered the opportunity to win a monetary reward; for the no outcome condition, no reward was offered.
"We found significant differences in activation between the two conditions in both groups," said Dr. Dobryakova, the lead author. "With the outcome condition, significant activation of the frontostriatal network was associated with significant reduction in fatigue, suggesting that behavioral interventions that motivate individuals to reach a particular goal may be an effective approach to reducing fatigue. These findings show that there's potential for treating cognitive fatigue in MS with noninvasive interventions that provide a goal, such as winning money (as in the current study), for example, or achieving a good score on a test."
Dr. Dobryakova, a research scientist at Kessler Foundation, was a recipient of a 2016 Switzer Research Fellowship by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), and a 2015 Independent Investigator Grant from the National MS Society.
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This research was supported by the National MS Society (RG 1501-02630) and Kessler Foundation. Kessler researchers and clinicians have faculty appointments in the department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
About Kessler Foundation
Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in the field of disability, is a global leader in rehabilitation research that seeks to improve cognition, mobility and long-term outcomes, including employment, for people with neurological disabilities caused by diseases and injuries of the brain and spinal cord. Kessler Foundation leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand opportunities for employment for people with disabilities.
For more information, visit KesslerFoundation.org.
For more information, or to interview an expert, contact: Carolann Murphy, 973.324.8382, CMurphy@KesslerFoundation.org.
Biopharmaceuticals, medium- and high-molecular weight biologically active macromolecules, are not easily absorbed by the small intestine, the main organ responsible for gastrointestinal absorption, resulting in a bottleneck for oral administration type biopharmaceutical development. Now, researchers from Kumamoto University in Japan have found a new small intestine permeable peptide that can facilitate digestive tract absorption of biopharmaceutical products. The discovery is expected to contribute greatly to the development of orally administered drugs for various medications that are currently only available by injection, including widely used biopharmaceuticals such as insulin.
Orally administered medicines are among the most convenient and safest types of medications. Many drugs currently on the market are low molecular weight compounds that can be absorbed by the small intestine. Bio-medicines such as insulin, antibodies, and nucleic acids have attracted attention in recent years but are almost completely unabsorbed in the small intestine because they are macromolecular compounds with large constituent molecular weights. Therefore, there are currently no oral formulations for these biopharmaceuticals so they are administered through injections, which are physically and mentally burdensome to the patient.
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are peptides that facilitate the delivery of various molecules with low cell membrane permeability, such as proteins or nucleic acids, through the cell membrane. It is therefore attracting attention as a method to facilitate small intestine absorption (penetration) of polymer drugs. However, when using existing CPPs to bind to biopharmaceuticals, the effect on intestinal absorption improvement is small.
Kumamoto University researchers thought that even though existing CPPs facilitate the transport from the gastrointestinal tract into small intestinal epithelial cells, transportation from inside the cells to the blood is not well facilitated. Therefore, they searched for "small intestinal permeable peptides" to improve biopharmaceuticals absorption in the digestive tract.
Viruses called phages are widely used to search for peptides with specific functions. From a phage library presenting cyclic peptides of various (1 x 109) amino acid sequences, researchers gathered phages that permeated across the Caco-2 cell layer. They then analyzed the phage peptides that permeated the cell since Caco-2 cells are widely used as a human small intestine absorption model. Since phages are typically larger than biopharmaceuticals, around 1 micrometer in size, cyclic peptides promoting small intestinal absorption of phages are expected to have the ability to facilitate absorption of biopharmaceuticals.
Three new cyclic peptides were identified as a result of the analysis. These cyclic peptides facilitated the absorption of phages in Caco-2 cells and in mouse small intestines. An analysis of this cyclic peptide found that it is transferred into the cell through macropinocytosis, a mechanism utilized for incorporating large, extracellular substances into the cell.
"The goal of our research was to enable the oral administration of medicines with large molecular weights. These medications are readily not absorbed by the small intestine and are typically administered through injection. We have cleared this hurdle by binding new intestine-permeable cyclic peptides to biopharmaceuticals," said Professor Sumio Ohtsuki of Kumamoto University's Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology. "We expect that our developments will lead to improved patient QOL."
This finding was posted online in the "Journal of Controlled Release" on 27 July 2017.
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[Resource]
Yamaguchi, S.; Ito, S.; Kurogi-Hirayama, M. & Ohtsuki, S., Identification of cyclic peptides for facilitation of transcellular transport of phages across intestinal epithelium in vitro and in vivo, Journal of Controlled Release, Elsevier BV, 2017, 262, 232-238. DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2017.07.037
BAR HARBOR, MAINE -- The answer to regenerative medicine's most compelling question -- why some organisms can regenerate major body parts such as hearts and limbs while others, such as humans, cannot -- may lie with the body's innate immune system, according to a new study of heart regeneration in the axolotl, or Mexican salamander, an organism that takes the prize as nature's champion of regeneration.
The study, which was conducted by James Godwin, Ph.D., of the MDI Biological Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine, found that the formation of new heart muscle tissue in the adult axolotl after an artificially induced heart attack is dependent on the presence of macrophages, a type of white blood cell. When macrophages were depleted, the salamanders formed permanent scar tissue that blocked regeneration.
The study has significant implications for human health. Since salamanders and humans have evolved from a common ancestor, it's possible that the ability to regenerate is also built into our genetic code.
Godwin's research demonstrates that scar formation plays a critical role in blocking the program for regeneration. "The scar shoots down the program for regeneration," he said. "No macrophages means no cardiac regeneration."
Godwin's goal is to activate regeneration in humans through the use of drug therapies derived from macrophages that would promote scar-free healing directly, or those that would trigger the genetic programs controlling the formation of macrophages, which in turn could promote scar-free healing. His team is already looking at molecular targets for drug therapies to influence these genetic programs.
"If humans could get over the fibrosis hurdle in the same way that salamanders do, the system that blocks regeneration in humans could potentially be broken," Godwin explained. "We don't know yet if it's only scarring that prevents regeneration or if other factors are involved. But if we're really lucky, we might find that the suppression of scarring is sufficient in and of itself to unlock our endogenous ability to regenerate."
The prevailing view in regenerative biology has been that the major obstacle to heart regeneration in mammals is insufficient proliferation of cardiomyocytes, or heart muscle cells. But Godwin found that cardiomyocyte proliferation is not the only driver of effective heart regeneration. His findings suggest that research efforts should pay more attention to the genetic signals controlling scarring.
The extraordinary incidence of disability and death from heart disease, which is the world's biggest killer, is directly attributable to scarring. When a human experiences a heart attack, scar tissue forms at the site of the injury. While the scar limits further tissue damage in the short term, over time its stiffness interferes with the heart's ability to pump, leading to disability and ultimately to terminal heart failure.
In addition to regenerating heart tissue following a heart attack, the ability to unlock dormant capabilities for regeneration through the suppression of scarring also has potential applications for the regeneration of tissues and organs lost to traumatic injury, surgery and other diseases, Godwin said.
Godwin's findings are a validation of the MDI Biological Laboratory's unique research approach, which is focused on studying regeneration in a diverse range of animal models with the goal of gaining insight into how to trigger dormant genetic pathways for regeneration in humans. In the past year and a half, laboratory scientists have discovered three drug candidates with the potential to activate regeneration in humans.
"Our focus on the study of animals with amazing capabilities for regenerating lost and damaged body parts has made us a global leader in the field of regenerative medicine," said Kevin Strange, Ph.D., MDI Biological Laboratory president. "James Godwin's discovery of the role of macrophages in heart regeneration demonstrates the value of this approach: we won't be able to develop rational and effective therapies to enhance regeneration in humans until we first understand regeneration works in animals like salamanders."
Godwin, who is an immunologist, originally chose to look at the function of the immune system in regeneration because its role as the equivalent of a first responder at the site of an injury means that it is responsible for preparing the ground for tissue repairs. The recent study was a follow-up to an earlier study which found that macrophages also play a critical role in limb regeneration.
The next step is to study the function of macrophages in salamanders and compare them with their human and mouse counterparts. Ultimately, Godwin would like to understand why macrophages produced by adult mice and humans don't suppress scarring in the same way as in axolotls and then identify molecules and pathways that could be exploited for human therapies.
Godwin holds a dual appointment with The Jackson Laboratory, also located in Bar Harbor, which is focused on the mouse as a model animal. The dual appointment allows him to conduct experiments that compare genetic programming in the highly regenerative animals used as models at the MDI Biological Laboratory with genetic programming in neonatal and adult mice.
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Godwin's paper was published in npj Regenerative Medicine in partnership with the Australia Regenerative Medicine Institute. His research is supported by an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) to the MDI Biological Laboratory from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under grant numbers P20GM0103423 and P20GM104318.
About the MDI Biological Laboratory
Our scientists are pioneering new approaches to regenerative medicine focused on drugs that activate our natural ability to heal, and that slow age-related degenerative changes. Our unique approach has identified new drugs with the potential to treat major diseases, demonstrating that regeneration could be as simple as taking a pill. As innovators and entrepreneurs, we also teach what we know. Our Maine Center for Biomedical Innovation prepares students for 21st century careers and equips entrepreneurs with the skills and resources to turn great ideas into successful products. For more information, please visit mdibl.org.
New research conducted in mice provides evidence that highly lethal brain tumors, called high-grade gliomas, stop growing when deprived of a specific molecule naturally produced when brain cells fire. The experiments, led by a group of scientists from Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, suggest that targeting a protein called neuroligin-3 may prove beneficial in patients with these diseases. The work was published in Nature and supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the National Institutes of Health.
"This study transforms our understanding of how neurons influence the growth of gliomas, and opens a new door for potential treatments," said NINDS Program Director Jane Fountain, Ph.D.
High-grade gliomas cause more deaths than any other form of brain cancer, partly due to the extreme difficulty surgeons have in removing all of the tumor cells. This leaves clinicians dependent on traditional chemotherapy and radiation treatments that have limited success. Depending on the specific subtype of tumor, more than three-quarters of patients die within five years, and for the most common childhood glioma that number exceeds 99 percent.
"Treating these tumors is very difficult, in part because we don't fully understand what drives them," said senior author Michelle Monje, M.D., Ph.D, an assistant professor of neurology at Stanford.
In a 2015 paper published in Cell, Dr. Monje's team identified several chemicals released by brain cells in response to neural activity that cause high-grade gliomas to grow. One of them was neuroligin-3, a protein that helps neurons communicate.
In the current study, the researchers extracted tumor cells from patients with several varieties of high-grade gliomas and inserted them into the brains of two breeds of mice, one normal and one lacking the gene that produces neuroligin-3. In the latter, none of the tumors grew substantially for four and a half months and roughly half remained stagnant after six months, whereas tumors grew markedly in the mice with an intact neuroligin-3 gene. Further experiments suggested neuroligin-3 triggers a series of chemical reactions that stimulates multiple signaling pathways involved in glioma growth, causing the tumors to expand.
"We knew neuroligin-3 was one of many secreted factors that can promote tumor growth, but we didn't expect it to be so essential," said Dr. Monje. "I think that speaks to something fundamental that neuroligin-3 is doing in high-grade glioma that we need to better understand."
The team also discovered that neuroligin-3 release is triggered when active neurons secrete a protein called ADAM10, which causes neuroligin-3 to detach from the surface of cells. Stopping neurons from firing prevented the release of both ADAM10 and neuroligin-3, and genetically deleting ADAM10 from neurons in mice reduced neuroligin-3 release. In addition, the team found that a group of brain cells called oligodendrocyte precursor cells can release neuroligin-3, suggesting those cells may play a role in accelerating glioma growth.
Finally, Dr. Monje's group showed that blocking ADAM10 activity with a drug designed to treat other types of cancers dramatically reduced the growth of two types of gliomas implanted into the brains of mice.
"That's really exciting because it may be that we can use ADAM10 inhibition as a complement to the therapeutic strategy we are already using," said Dr. Monje.
In addition to working towards a better understanding of why gliomas are so dependent on neuroligin-3 for growth, Dr. Monje's team is now hoping to initiate a clinical trial using an ADAM10 inhibitor in human glioma patients. She is also interested in how neuroligin-3 binds to glioma cells, research that could lead to a method of slowing glioma growth by preventing this interaction. Although treatments targeting ADAM10 and neuroligin-3 might extend patients' lifespans, they would not kill the tumors, making additional treatments necessary to cure the disease.
"I am a pediatric neuro-oncologist -- I take care of patients with these tumors and I have no effective therapy for them," Dr. Monje said. "There is an urgent need to find a better therapy for gliomas, and I think that we are now pursuing an avenue of research that holds great promise."
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The study was funded by NINDS (NS092597), the National Cancer Institute (CA200273, CA168504, CA165962, CA210057), and the intramural program of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), as well as the V Foundation; the Liwei Wang Research Fund; the Department of Defense; the McKenna Claire Foundation; Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation; The Cure Starts Now Foundation and DIPG Collaborative; the Lyla Nsouli Foundation; Unravel Pediatric Cancer; the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine; the Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation; the Matthew Larson Foundation; the Joey Fabus Childhood Cancer Foundation; the Wayland Villars DIPG Foundation; the Connor Johnson, Zoey Ganesh, and Declan Gloster Memorial Funds; the N8 Foundation, the Virgina and D.K. Ludwig Fund for Cancer Research, the Stanford Child Health Research Institute Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Endowed Faculty Scholarship in Pediatric Cancer and Blood Diseases, and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
References:
Venkatesh et al. Targeting neuronal activity-regulated neuroligin-3 dependency in high-grade glioma. Nature. September 20, 2017. doi: 10.1038/nature24014.
The NINDS is the nation's leading funder of research on the brain and nervous system. The mission of NINDS is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease.
About the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS): NCATS conducts and supports research on the science and operation of translation -- the process by which interventions to improve health are developed and implemented -- to allow more treatments to get to more patients more quickly. For more information about how NCATS is improving health through smarter science, visit https://ncats.nih.gov.
About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.
Smithsonian scientist teams up with international collaborators to understand why these male frogs are 'blushing' when it comes to sex
Some of nature's most vibrant colors occur in frogs, who peek out from rainforests and marshes in startling shades of blue, yellow and red. But for hundreds of species, only males flaunt flashy colors--and sometimes only for a few hours, days or weeks each year.
In the Sept. 20 issue of the Journal of Evolutionary Biology, scientists from the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History and Macquarie University in Australia report that the males of at least 178 species of frogs undergo a temporary color change during their breeding season. These frogs spend most of the year in drabber colors--browns or greens that blend discreetly in with their surroundings--but take on vibrant hues when it is time to mate.
Temporary color changes have been recognized in some frogs, and biologists have been investigating the phenomenon in detail in a handful of species. But since the bright hues do not last long, they can be easy to miss, and no one knew just how many species have males who change color for the breeding season.
Now, after searching for evidence of such a color change in thousands of frog species, Rayna Bell, a research zoologist and curator of amphibians and reptiles at the museum, said the phenomenon is surprisingly widespread: "It's not just a few species--it's a lot of frogs all over the world."
Before now, scientists have mostly been aware of three well-studied examples of frogs switching colors. Bell said she first learned that some male frogs switch colors for the breeding season while exploring male and female color differences across the frog tree of life. The temporary color changes had also caught the attention of Associate Professor Martin Whiting and undergraduate honors student Grant Webster at Macquarie University, who had uncovered many examples of the phenomenon in Australian frogs. After Bell published a review article on the topic, the two Australian scientists contacted her and proposed they work together to broaden the search.
The three scientists teamed up to find as many examples of temporary color changes in male frogs as they could. Some had already been documented, and Webster had noted many in his own field work. But generally, scientists have not paid much attention to the role of color in communication between frogs, focusing instead on their vocal communications, Bell said.
She and her collaborators examined a wide array of frog photos looking for evidence of color change. To evaluate each species, the team compared photos of males engaging in breeding behavior--either actively calling for a mate or in a mating posture with a female--to photos of males outside the breeding season and to females.
The team evaluated 2,146 different frog species and identified 179 whose males temporarily change color when it is time to breed, with most turning a bright yellow. Like the three best-studied species of color-changing frogs, most are species that breed in large, chaotic groups, where the males' distinct coloration may improve the chances of successful pairings.
The breeding season is often short and frenzied for these frogs, with hundreds of individuals descending on ponds or puddles that may exist only in the days or weeks after a storm to lay their eggs. Amongst the pandemonium, a bright, sex-specific color can signal which frogs are suitable partners.
Bell said research on two color-changing species suggests that the males' bright color is not about attracting a mate, but acts instead as a signal to other males. "It's useful to communicate 'I'm a male, and I've got my female--stay away from her,' or 'I'm another male, don't grab onto me,'" she said. "It's an innovative evolutionary solution to one of the many challenges associated with reproducing successfully."
Now that Bell and her colleagues have documented hundreds of examples of color-changing frogs, much work remains to determine exactly how and why males take on their temporary hues. Bell plans to begin investigating frog vision, in part to learn how the animals might perceive color differences at nighttime, when many species are most active. Funding for this study was provided by the University of California and Macquarie University in Australia.
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HUNTSVILLE, TX (9-20-17) -- A special issue of Criminal Justice Review focuses on the victimization of specialized populations, including youth involved in prostitution, youth living in foster care, LGBTQ students in middle and high school, female college students, and victims of continuous child sexual abuse, and examines the delivery of services and the development of policy to address these groups. Lisa Mufti?, an associate professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Sam Houston State University, served as a guest editor.
"Despite the established importance of identifying and studying special populations as they relate to the criminal justice system, less attention has been directed at crime victims and how diversity potentially impacts the delivery of victim-centered programming and the development of policy," Mufti? said.
Mufti? and Ph.D. Graduate Sarah Zedaker co-authored "A Safe Place to Go? A Descriptive Study of Safety Strategies Among College Female Students" for the issue. The article explored safety planning among female students and found that while most students surveyed could identify a safe haven if they faced sexual or domestic violence on campus, several factors influenced that decision. In addition, female students with low levels of social support and those exposed to parental violence were less likely to report having a safe place to go.
"Youth Involved in Prostitution (YIP): Exploring Possible Changes in the Interaction with Police and Social Service Agencies," by Jennifer McMahon-Howard of Kennesaw State University, examines how the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 affects the way police and social service agencies treat youth involved in prostitution. That act, which changed the view of youth involved in prostitution from juvenile delinquents to sex trafficking victims, has done little to change police involvement with these youth or increase services to the population, the study found.
"LGBTQ Student Victimization and Its Relationship to School Discipline and Justice System Involvement," by Neal A. Palmer of CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance and Emily A. Greytak of GLSEN of New York, looks at the relationship among the victimization of the LGBTQ youth in schools, school discipline, and the criminal justice system. These youth experienced more disciplinary actions, such as detention, suspension and expulsion as well as greater justice involvement, such as arrest, adjudication, and detention at adult and youth facilities, according to the article.
"Polyvictimization Experiences and Depression Among Youth Living in Foster Care," by Aimee X. Delaney of Worcester State University and Melissa Wells of the University of New Hampshire, explored depression in youth who not only experienced child maltreatment, but also other victimization while living in foster care. In a self-reported study of youth living in foster care, depression decreased over time for those who had experienced only the initial child maltreatment, except among white males. For youth who faced continued victimization in foster care, depression levels increased, especially among youth of color, the study found.
"Continuous Child Sexual Abuse: Balancing Defendant's Rights and Victim's Capabilities to Particularize Individual Acts of Repeated Abuse" by Dayna M. Woiwod and Deborah A. Connolly of Simon Frazer University, compared statutes in the United States and Australia in cases of repeated abuse. The study examines research on children memory patterns and how it can be used to balance victims' and defendants' rights in these cases.
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The "Victimization of Special Populations" is available from Criminal Justice Review at http://journals.sagepub.com/toc/cjra/42/2
LA JOLLA -- (Sept. 20, 2017) Is it better to do a task quickly and make mistakes, or to do it slowly but perfectly? When it comes to deciding how to fix breaks in DNA, cells face the same choice between two major repair pathways. The decision matters, because the wrong choice could cause even more DNA damage and lead to cancer.
Salk Institute scientists found that a tiny protein called CYREN helps cells choose the right pathway at the right time, clarifying a longstanding mystery about DNA repair and offering researchers a powerful tool that could guide better treatments for cancer. The work appears in Nature on September 20, 2017.
"Elucidating DNA repair pathways is critical to understanding how they can sometimes be toxic," says Jan Karlseder, a professor in Salk's Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory and the senior author of the new paper. "Our discovery of CYREN's function not only adds to our body of knowledge, it gives us a new tool with which to potentially fight cancer."
Double-strand breaks, the most serious injuries that happen to DNA, can be repaired by one of two pathways: a fast but error-prone process known as NHEJ (non-homologous end joining) and a slower, error-free pathway known as HR (homologous recombination). The faster pathway efficiently rejoins broken strands, but in the case of multiple breaks it can join the wrong two ends together, making things much worse for a cell. The slower pathway is error-free because it relies on having an undamaged DNA sequence to guide the repair, but this means it can only operate after a cell has copied its genetic information in order to divide. Given that, the fast pathway operates exclusively before DNA is copied, though its machinery is so efficient and prolific that scientists have wondered why it doesn't outcompete the slower, more-exact pathway after copying, too. Scientists have long suspected that something must be holding the faster option back in those cases.
That something, the new work reveals, is a microprotein called CYREN, which inhibits the faster pathway when a DNA copy is available for the slower pathway to use. CYREN was discovered by another Salk scientist, Alan Saghatelian, as part of a 2015 effort to identify small proteins called "short ORF-encoded peptides" or SEPs, which are increasingly being found to have critical biological roles.
"We found a lot of these peptides in our earlier study but we didn't really know if any of them were important until the Karlseder lab got involved," says Saghatelian, a professor in the Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology and one of the paper's coauthors. "Thanks to this impressive new work, we now know there are some really important molecules among the hundreds we're discovering."
Saghatelian's research had suggested that CYREN was interacting with the master switch of the faster pathway, a protein called Ku. To determine the exact nature of the interaction, Karlseder's team worked with a region of the genome where repair is normally suppressed to prevent dangerous fusions: the ends of chromosomes, called telomeres. Researchers can artificially disturb telomeres to activate the fast pathway, making it a model system to test CYREN's effects.
"Telomeres offer a great research tool because they really need to repress repair, but there are ways to activate the repair machinery so that you can study it in a very controlled way," says Nausica Arnoult, a Salk research associate and first author of the paper. The Salk team did so, and found that with CYREN present, no repairs occurred after the cell copies its DNA, suggesting that it does flip off the master switch, Ku. Without CYREN around, Ku's fast pathway was active both before DNA was copied and after.
Because the telomere experiments did not tell the team much about the competition between the fast and slow pathways, Arnoult next used molecular tools to compare repair in living cells with and without CYREN. She combined the DNA scissors known as CRISPR with genes for fluorescent proteins that would be triggered by repair so that she could cut DNA in specific ways and see from the ensuing color which pathway had made the repair. She also analyzed all the protein interactions that took place.
These experiments revealed that CYREN directly attaches to Ku to inhibit the fast pathway both depending on timing (before or after DNA copying) and the type of DNA break (smooth versus jagged, for example). Its activity can even tune the ratio of fast to slow repairs.
"Our study shows that CYREN is an important regulator of DNA-repair-pathway choice," says Karlseder, who holds the Donald and Darlene Shiley Chair at Salk. "The work also points to the exciting possibility of potentially introducing DNA damage in cancer cells and using CYREN to prevent them from making repairs."
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Other authors included: Adriana Correia, Jiao Ma and Anna Merlo of Salk; Sara Garcia-Gomez, Marija Maric and Simon J. Boulton of the Francis Crick Institute; Marco Tognetti of ETH Zurich; and Christopher W. Benner of University of California San Diego.
The work was funded by: the Human Frontiers Science Program, the Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research, a Larry Hillblom Foundation Fellowship Grant, a Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator Award, the Francis Crick Institute (Cancer Research UK), the UK Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust, the National Institutes of Health, the National Cancer Institute, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, Dr. Frederick Paulsen Chair/Ferring Pharmaceuticals, a Salk Institute Cancer Center Core Grant, the Donald and Darlene Shiley Chair, the Highland Street Foundation, the Fritz B. Burns Foundation and the Emerald Foundation.
About the Salk Institute for Biological Studies:
Every cure has a starting point. The Salk Institute embodies Jonas Salk's mission to dare to make dreams into reality. Its internationally renowned and award-winning scientists explore the very foundations of life, seeking new understandings in neuroscience, genetics, immunology, plant biology and more. The Institute is an independent nonprofit organization and architectural landmark: small by choice, intimate by nature and fearless in the face of any challenge. Be it cancer or Alzheimer's, aging or diabetes, Salk is where cures begin. Learn more at: salk.edu.
Based on data from 10 long-term forest monitoring plots, including seven from the Smithsonian's ForestGEO network, a team led by Jacob Usinowicz during his doctoral dissertation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, provides the first evidence that the 'storage effect' enables tree species to coexist and is stronger in the tropics. The team's results, published in the Sept. 20 edition of the journal Nature, address a question that has long challenged biologists: Why are there so many more species in the tropics?
Tropical forests are home to many more species than forests to the north. For example, almost 1,200 tree species inhabit the 4.2 million square kilometers of temperate and boreal forests in the Northern Hemisphere, while an astonishing 1,440 tree species inhabit just 0.25 square kilometers of tropical forest near Manaus, Brazil. How can so many tree species coexist in such small areas in the tropics?
Ecologists have never been able to answer that question. To coexist, species must differ from one another so that two individuals of the same species (conspecifics) share more requirements and therefore have a greater negative impact on one another than do two individuals of different species (heterospecifics). This prevents any one species from becoming dominant because more and more of its neighbors are conspecifics with identical requirements. Meanwhile, rare species may be saved because more and more of their neighbors are heterospecifics with different resource requirements.
Many mechanisms lead to this outcome. The problem has been that all mechanisms known to promote species coexistence have appeared to operate with similar efficacy at all latitudes. Usinowicz et al. provide the first evidence that a mechanism that enables the stable coexistence of species is stronger in the Tropics and becomes steadily weaker at higher latitudes. The mechanism is called the storage effect and works for species, like trees, that have recurrent reproduction and long-lived adults that ensure population persistence over many reproductive opportunities. If the timing of successful reproductive events differs among species, new recruits will be more likely to have conspecific neighbors with greater negative impacts while rarer species will be more likely to avoid negative impacts of conspecifics.
The team assembled long records of reproduction and recruitment success for more than 1,000 tree species from 10 forests stretching over 64 degrees of latitude from the equator nearly to the Arctic Circle. They discovered that successful reproductive events were more independent across species at the Equator and become steadily more synchronized across species as latitude increases. All of the conditions are in place for the storage effect to act more strongly at the equator and progressively less strongly as latitude increases. Usinowicz et al. use a modeling framework to quantify the reduction. The potential for the storage effect to promote species coexistence declines by 0.25 percent for each degree of latitude away from the equator.
"The natural history behind this outcome is pleasingly intuitive," said S. Joseph Wright, staff scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and co-author of the paper. "On the equator at Yasuni, Ecuador, several hundred tree species flower each month. A harsh weather anomaly in any particular month affects flowering in a small percentage of the species. The timing of harsh anomalies varies among years, and, as a result, species have successful reproductive events largely independently of one another." "In contrast, just below the Arctic Circle at Bonanza Creek, Alaska, tree reproduction is limited to June, July and August, a harsh June impacts all species, and when one species has a successful year, so do others. The latitudinal gradient in the length of the growing season creates a latitudinal gradient in across-species synchrony of successful reproductive events, and this leads to a gradient in the strength of the storage effect and potential species coexistence."
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The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, headquartered in Panama City, Panama, is a unit of the Smithsonian Institution. The Institute furthers the understanding of tropical biodiversity and its importance to human welfare, trains students to conduct research in the tropics and promotes conservation by increasing public awareness of the beauty and importance of tropical ecosystems. Website: http://www.stri.si.edu/. Promo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9JDSIwBegk.
Usinowicz, J., Chang-Yang, C., Chen, Y. et al. 2017. Temporal coexistence mechanisms contribute to the latitudinal gradient in forest diversity. Nature. Doi: 10.1038/nature24038
For interviews, please contact Joe Wright wrightj@si.edu
The growth of certain aggressive brain tumors can be halted by cutting off their access to a signaling molecule produced by the brain's nerve cells, according to a new study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
When the signaling molecule neuroligin-3 was absent, or when its signal was interrupted with medication, human cancers called high-grade gliomas could not spread in the brains of mice, the researchers found.
The study will be published online Sept. 20 in Nature. Graduate student Humsa Venkatesh is the study's lead author.
"We thought that when we put glioma cells into a mouse brain that was neuroligin-3 deficient, that might decrease tumor growth to some measurable extent. What we found was really startling to us: For several months, these brain tumors simply didn't grow," said Michelle Monje, MD, PhD, assistant professor of neurology and senior author of the study. The findings suggest that interrupting the neuroligin-3 signal could be a helpful strategy for controlling high-grade gliomas in human patients, Monje added.
High-grade gliomas are a group of deadly brain tumors that include adult glioblastoma, the brain cancer now affecting U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona; anaplastic oligodendroglioma; pediatric glioblastoma; and a pediatric tumor called diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. Five-year survival rates are 60 percent for anaplastic oligodendroglioma, around 10 percent for adult and pediatric glioblastomas and virtually nonexistent for DIPG. New treatments are urgently needed.
Hijacking the normal machinery
The new findings build on prior research published by Monje's team in 2015. At that time, the scientists showed that neuroligin-3 fueled the growth of high-grade gliomas. This was surprising because the protein is a part of the normal machinery of neuroplasticity in a healthy brain, and it is a relatively new concept that cancer can hijack an organ's healthy function to drive cancer growth.
In the new study, Monje's team examined mice that were genetically engineered to lack neuroligin-3. These mice have nearly normal brain function. However, when their brains were implanted with any of the forms of human high-grade glioma, the cancer cells could not proliferate. The growth stagnation persisted for several months.
"Lack of neuroligin-3 doesn't kill the cancer cells; the cells that are there remain there, but they do not grow," Monje said. However, 4 months after implantation, tumors in some mice circumvented their dependency on neuroligin-3 and began to grow again, she added.
Effect specific to high-grade gliomas
The researchers also tried implanting the brains of mice lacking neuroligin-3 with human breast cancer cells. Lack of neuroligin-3 did not affect breast cancer growth, showing that the effect is specific to high-grade gliomas.
The growth-stagnation effects, conserved across different classes of high-grade glioma, were unexpectedly strong. To find out why, the researchers conducted follow-up experiments that examined the cell signals involved in neuroligin-3's role in the division of glioma cells, which demonstrated that neuroligin-3 activates multiple cancer-promoting signaling pathways and also increases the expression of genes involved in cell proliferation, promotion of malignancy, function of potassium channels and synapse function. The researchers now believe that neuroligin-3 is more than just a gatekeeper of glioma cell division, though further research is needed to clarify its exact role, Monje said.
The team also explored whether blocking neuroligin-3 has therapeutic potential for treating gliomas. Using mice with normal neuroligin-3 brain signaling and human high-grade gliomas, the researchers tested whether two inhibitors of neuroligin-3 secretion could stop the cancers' growth. One of the inhibitors has never been tested in humans, but the other has already reached phase-2 clinical trials as a potential chemotherapy for other forms of cancer outside the brain.
Both inhibitors significantly reduced glioma growth during a short-term trial, suggesting that the strategy of inhibiting neuroligin-3 secretion may help human patients.
'Clear path forward for therapy'
"We have a really clear path forward for therapy; we are in the process of working with the company that owns the clinically characterized compound in an effort to bring it to a clinical trial for brain tumor patients," Monje said. Inhibition of neuroligin-3 will not represent a cure for high-grade gliomas, she cautioned, since it does not kill the cancer cells. Ultimately, she hopes to combine it with other treatment strategies against the tumors.
"We will have to attack these tumors from many different angles to cure them," Monje said. But given how devastating the tumors are, the possibility of using neuroligin-3 inhibition to slow tumor progression is a hopeful development, she added. "Any measurable extension of life and improvement of quality of life is a real win for these patients."
The team's work is an example of Stanford Medicine's focus on precision health, the goal of which is to anticipate and prevent disease in the healthy and precisely diagnose and treat disease in the ill.
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Other Stanford co-authors are undergraduate Lydia Tam; life science research associate Pamelyn Woo; and graduate students James Lennon, Surya Nagaraja and Shawn Gillespie. Monje is a member of Stanford's Child Health Research Institute, the Stanford Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology, Bio-X, the Stanford Cancer Institute and the Stanford Neurosciences Institute.
Scientists from Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences also contributed to the study.
The research was funded by the V Foundation; the Liwei Wang Research Fund; the National Institutes of Health (grants R01NS092597, 1F31CA200273, P50CA168504 and R35CA210057); the Department of Defense; the McKenna Claire Foundation; Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation; The Cure Starts Now Foundation; the DIPG Collaborative; the Lyla Nsouli Foundation; Unravel Pediatric Cancer; the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine; the Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation; the Matthew Larson Foundation; the Joey Fabus Childhood Cancer Foundation; the Wayland Villars DIPG Foundation; the Connor Johnson, Zoey Ganesh and Declan Gloster memorial funds; the N8 Foundation; the Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Fund for Cancer Research; the Stanford Child Health Research Institute; the Breast Cancer Research Foundation; the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences; and the National Cancer Institute.
Stanford's Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences also supported the work.
The Stanford University School of Medicine consistently ranks among the nation's top medical schools, integrating research, medical education, patient care and community service. For more news about the school, please visit http://med.stanford.edu/school.html. The medical school is part of Stanford Medicine, which includes Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children's Health. For information about all three, please visit http://med.stanford.edu.
Scientists have long been intrigued by the surfaces of terrestrial bodies other than Earth which reveal deep similarities beneath their superficially differing volcanic and tectonic histories.
A team of scientists from NASA, Hampton University and the University of Hong Kong propose a new way of understanding the cooling and transfer of heat from terrestrial planetary interiors and how that affects the generation of the volcanic terrains that dominate the rocky planets. Based on the present dynamics of Jupiter's tidally heated moon, Io, the scientists hypothesize that the geological histories of the solar system's terrestrial bodies, specifically Mercury, Venus, Moon and Mars, are consistent with a mode of early planetary evolution involving heat-pipes. They further propose that heat-pipe cooling is a universal process that may explain the common features seen on the surfaces of terrestrial planets.
The team's findings are discussed in a paper recently published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters.
"We believe that the concept of a heat-pipe mode of planet formation is important and will help explain the evolution of all rocky planets," said Dr. Justin Simon, NASA Planetary Scientist, Center for Isotope Cosmochemistry and Geochronology in the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas and one of the coauthors of the paper. "If shown to be correct, it will be discussed along with the theories of plate tectonics, planetary 'magma oceans' and the 'giant impact theory for the origin of the moon.'"
The scientists hypothesize heat-pipe cooling was involved in the evolution of all terrestrial planets including early Earth and represents the transition from the magma ocean to the rigid-lid or plate tectonic modes of planetary evolution. Heat-pipes transport heat from the interior to the surface via mantle melting and magma ascent. The resulting eruptions lead to global volcanic resurfacing by which older volcanic layers are progressively buried and pushed downward to form thick, cold and strong mechanical lithospheres.
The authors review the observations relevant to the formation of the surfaces of each of the terrestrial planets and current models that have been proposed to explain them. They then discuss the major outstanding problems and show how the heat-pipe hypothesis can resolve these in a consistent way across all planets.
"The terrestrial bodies in our solar system look different enough that the classical view is that they all formed differently, at least in terms of making their outer shells. If our analysis holds merit, it points in the direction of a universal model for the early development of terrestrial planets, across our solar system and beyond," said Dr. Alexander Webb, Associate Professor, The University of Hong Kong.
The authors note that Mercury was globally resurfaced early in its evolution by volcanic eruptions emplacing smooth plains with few identifiable eruption centers. The authors conclude that the geological observations of the planet point to an episode of heat-pipes operating for somewhat less than the first billion years of Mercury's evolution. The surface of Venus is also dominated by lavas with broad plains made up of numerous flows spanning hundreds of kilometers at low slope with few identifiable source structures. Venus does not display sufficient volcanic flux to currently experience active heat-pipe cooling, but the authors conclude that the thick, stagnant lithospheric lid is a relict of heat-pipe operation that ceased rapidly several hundred million years ago.
Among the most important surface features on Mars are its large volcanos, ancient cratered terrains and the crustal dichotomy between the elevated southern hemisphere and the depressed northern hemisphere. It remains unclear which processes were responsible for the formation of the dichotomy, but the authors conclude that a strong ancient lithosphere created by heat-pipe volcanism would have aided in the preservation of this ancient feature. Similarly, the Moon stands out as having a shape that is dramatically out of hydrostatic equilibrium, but preserving a disequilibrium shape requires a strong, early-formed lithosphere. The authors argue that a strong lithosphere is precisely the expected behavior of a body experiencing heat-pipe cooling.
The team brought together geological, geochemical and geochronological evidence from the terrestrial bodies in our solar system to show that heat-pipes may have provided the primary mechanism of crustal formation and resurfacing. The heat-pipe hypothesis provides a uniform explanation for common features of the known terrestrial planets that have not undergone plate tectonics and should be considered an important aspect of their evolution.
"The development of this theory is a great example of how exploration of our planetary neighbors, in this case [Jupiter's moon] Io, has led to a deeper understanding of Earth as well as rocky planets across the galaxy," said Dr. William Moore, professor of atmospheric and planetary sciences, Hampton University, USA.
Heat-pipes should also occur on rocky exoplanets orbiting other stars. A planet twice the mass of Earth should take more than twice as long to cool, because the surface area does not grow as fast as the mass. For large exoplanets, the lifetime of the heat-pipe mode may exceed the lifetime of Sun-like parent stars and thus any subsequent plate-tectonic phase may never be observed. This study forces us to rethink our expectations of what types of surfaces and atmospheres to expect as we expand our exploration of other solar systems.
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These cells are able to leave the primary tumor and colonize distant sites at early stages of tumor progression
PHILADELPHIA -- (Sept. 20, 2017) -- A study conducted at The Wistar Institute has led to the identification of a slowly proliferating and highly invasive melanoma cell subpopulation, characterized by production of a protein associated with invasive behavior. The research was published in the journal Oncogene.
The pattern of metastatic dissemination in advanced melanoma is unpredictable because of the biological and genetic heterogeneity that characterizes melanoma cells. Specifically, they differ in their proliferation rates, ability to invade other tissues and interaction with the surrounding microenvironment.
"Understanding the biological events that take place at distant sites from the primary tumor is crucial for preventing or slowing metastasis," said lead researcher Meenhard Herlyn, D.V.M., D.Sc., Caspar Wistar Professor in Melanoma Research and director of The Wistar Institute Melanoma Research Center. "Our new findings suggest that we need to adjust our treatment strategies for early disease and target individual, disseminating tumor cells that we are likely missing with the current diagnostic techniques."
Previous research in the Herlyn lab has shown the existence of a slowly proliferating population of melanoma cells that is required for tumor maintenance. In the new study, Herlyn and colleagues characterized the invasive properties of this slowly proliferating population, demonstrating its ability to leave the primary tumor and disseminate rapidly to distant sites.
The cells were tracked based on their ability to retain a fluorescent dye. Following fluorescence labeling of the whole cell population, the fluorescence intensity decreases by half at each cell division and gets diluted out and disappears in fast-dividing cells, whereas the signal is retained longer in dormant or slowly dividing cells. By utilizing this technique, the researchers were able to determine that the slowly proliferating melanoma cells have a highly invasive behavior in vivo. After injection in immunocompromised mice, the fluorescence disappears rapidly from the primary tumor and emerges at distant sites. Importantly, some of the slowly proliferating cells retain the fluorescent label long after colonizing other tissues, indicating that they can remain dormant for long periods of time and regain proliferative capacity at a later stage, eventually leading to metastasis.
No correlation was found between the low proliferative, highly invasive state and the most common genetic alterations that cause melanoma, indicating that the slowly proliferating population is genetically heterogeneous. However, through proteomic analysis, Herlyn and colleagues found that the slowly proliferating cells express higher levels of the protein SerpinE2, which has a pro-invasive role in other types of cancer. They also demonstrated that SerpinE2 is critical for melanoma invasion and its expression levels in melanoma patients correlate with tumor progression.
"SerpinE2 is expressed by melanoma cells and not by normal skin cells," said Michela Perego, Ph.D., an associates staff scientist at Wistar and first author of the study. "Therefore, it may be a potential useful tool for early detection of isolated malignant cells that have left the primary tumor and colonized distant organs and possibly a novel target to prevent or limit melanoma dissemination."
"This concept may sound counterintuitive because we are used to the idea that cancer cells are highly proliferative," added Herlyn, also professor in Wistar's Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program. "However, slowly proliferating melanoma cells are more aggressive and therefore the most dangerous ones."
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This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grants PO1 CA114046, P01 CA025874, R01 CA047159, CA076674, CA182890 and by grants from the Melanoma Research Alliance, the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Medical Research Foundation, the Vienna Science and Technology Fund LS11-045 and by an APART fellowship of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Core support for The Wistar Institute was provided by the Cancer Center Support Grant P30 CA010815.
Co-authors of this study from The Wistar Institute include Joshua X Wang, Ling Li, Denitsa Hristova, Sally Shin, Frederick Keeney, and Rajasekharan Somasundaram. Other co-authors include Margarita Maurer and Stephan N. Wagner from the Medical University of Vienna, Austria; Sydney Shaffer, Arjun Raj, Shujing Liu, and Xiaowei Xu from the University of Pennsylvania; Andre C. Mu?ller, Katja Parapatics, and Keiryn L. Bennett from the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria; Jan K. Jensen from Aarhus University, Denmark.
The Wistar Institute is an international leader in biomedical research with special expertise in cancer research and vaccine development. Founded in 1892 as the first independent nonprofit biomedical research institute in the United States, Wistar has held the prestigious Cancer Center designation from the National Cancer Institute since 1972. The Institute works actively to ensure that research advances move from the laboratory to the clinic as quickly as possible. wistar.org.
ADELPHI, Md. (Sept. 20, 2017) -- A new study from the U.S. Army Research Laboratory presents evidence that the number of cyber intrusions can be predicted, particularly when analysts are already observing activities on a company or government organization's computer network.
Researchers say new models that predict the number of intrusions would be of significant value to providers of cyber security and resilience services.
Dr. Nandi O. Leslie was part of the team that studied empirical data on actual successful cyber intrusions committed against a number of different organizations. These data were obtained from a provider of cyber defense services, which defended those organizations as clients.
The researchers were able to determine the correlation - or lack thereof -- between the number of successful intrusions and observed features of an organization, for 41 organizations. The team looked at the security incident reports containing detailed information about malicious activities and computer security policy violations by users and operators; DNS traffic, collected with specialized and open source software for all organizations in this study; and other data sources describing a selected subset of features of each organization's network topology and cyber footprint. As a result, the researchers were able to propose four generalized linear models (GLMs) to predict the number of successful cyber intrusions into an organization's computer network, where the rate at which intrusions occur is a function of several observable characteristics of the organization.
Additionally, they analyzed regression results for adequacy of fit to the intrusions data. Among their key findings is that one of these models -- the generalization of the Poisson regression model to the negative binomial GLM model -- predicts the response variable appreciably better than others. They also demonstrate that the intrusions data exhibit sufficient regularity (in statistical sense), and the construction of a practically useful predictive model is feasible, said Leslie of ARL's Network Security Branch.
The key research question -- which of the initially conjectured predictor variables should be included in the model -- brought rather surprising findings, Leslie said.
"Several of the predictor variables that were recommended to the researchers by subject matter experts turned out to be lacking in influence or even misleading. For example, SMEs felt that the extent to which an organization is visible on the Internet, as measured for example by the number of records found related to that organization on the popular Google Scholar, would be a significant predictor of intrusion frequency. However, it turned out that such visibility alone is not a useful predictor of successful intrusions," Leslie said.
Yet another variable that the SMEs expected to be influential--the number of hosts within an organization's network--also turns out to be a less significant predictor for the NB GLMs than hypothesized by SMEs.
On the other hand, the researchers show that the number of violations of an organization's internal cyber security policies is a strong predictor of the number of intrusions.
"This finding is rather intuitive. Indeed, if users such as employees of the organization lack the discipline or knowledge to comply with organizational cyber hygiene policies, and if the organization is unable or unwilling to enforce its own policies, it is easy to expect that the organization's cyber defenses are poor, leading to more frequent intrusions. Less intuitive is the finding that the frequency of accesses by the organization's networks to the domains domestic.net and foreign.net are strong predictors of intrusions. Although it is not entirely clear why this should be the case, the researchers offer a possible explanation," Leslie said.
Importance of predictive model
Among client organizations, the numbers of intrusions differ dramatically by many orders of magnitude. Some organizations experience a large number of intrusions in a given time frame, whereas others may not experience any intrusions for a number of years. A specialized organization, such as a managed security service provider, is often used by an organization to provide cyber defense services. For a MSSP, the costs of doing business are heavily influenced by the number of intrusions experienced by its clients. Therefore, when a MSSP negotiates its fees with a new prospective client, it needs a model to estimate how many intrusions should be expected over some fixed time period.
Another example where such a model would be of high value is its use for actuarial purposes. In a broader sense, a model of this nature contributes to our fundamental understanding of cyber situational awareness and ways to monitor, quantify, and manage cyber risk. Finally, a model of this nature may offer clues toward enhancing the security posture and perhaps the design and operation of an organization's computing systems and networks. If the model indicates that certain characteristics are associated with an increased number of intrusions, the organization might be able to find ways to modify those characteristics.
This research is presented in a paper "Statistical models for the number of successful cyber intrusions", by Nandi O. Leslie, Richard E. Harang, Lawrence P. Knachel and Alexander Kott; the paper is to appear in a special issue of the Journal of Defense Modeling and Simulation in 2018. Prior to the publication the text of the paper is posted online at http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1548512917715342
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The U.S. Army Research Laboratory, currently celebrating 25 years of excellence in Army science and technology, is part of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, which has the mission to provide innovative research, development and engineering to produce capabilities that provide decisive overmatch to the Army against the complexities of the current and future operating environments in support of the joint warfighter and the nation. RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command.
Before you shop for the "cuddle" hormone oxytocin to relieve stress and enhance your social life, read this: a new study from the University of California, Davis, suggests that sometimes, blocking the action of oxytocin in the brain may be a better option. The results are published online in the journal Biological Psychiatry.
Sometimes popularly called the "love hormone," oxytocin is a hormone released in the brain that plays a major role in social relationships. The new work by behavioral neuroscientists Natalia Duque-Wilckens and Brian Trainor shows that after negative social interactions, oxytocin promotes avoidance of unfamiliar social situations.
Trainor and Duque-Wilckens worked with female California mice. When stressed, these mice can show a form of social anxiety, staying away from unfamiliar mice instead of approaching. The new study shows that a single dose of a drug that blocks the activity of oxytocin restored normal social behavior in stressed females.
The result is exciting because "for antidepressants like Prozac to have this same effect, it takes a month of daily treatment," said Trainor, a professor in the UC Davis Department of Psychology, College of Letters and Science.
This outcome was expected based on a previous study from the lab, which showed that social stress increased the activity of oxytocin-producing cells in the brain and that females given intranasal oxytocin avoided new social contexts.
Amplifying Positive and Negative Effects
Postdoctoral researcher Duque-Wilckens said that these findings support the theory that oxytocin amplifies the effects of social experiences. That is, rather than promoting positive social interactions, oxytocin intensifies the experience of both positive and negative social interactions.
In a positive context, such as with family or friends, oxytocin could promote social approach behavior (hence the "cuddling" hormone). However, in a negative context, like bullying, oxytocin could promote social avoidance. One question left unanswered by this theory is how the same hormone could have such different effects on behavior. The new study led by Duque-Wilckens provides an explanation.
The team found that two brain regions responded to oxytocin more strongly in females than males. These regions were the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), a brain region known to control anxiety, and the nucleus accumbens, a brain region important for reward and motivation. Duque-Wilckens found that injecting an oxytocin blocker into the BNST, but not the nucleus accumbens, reversed the effects of stress on social behavior in females. Work by other researchers has shown that oxytocin acting in the nucleus accumbens promotes rewarding aspects of social interactions.
Together, these findings suggest that oxytocin can generate social anxiety or reward by acting in different parts of the brain. At times when oxytocin is acting in the BNST, drugs that inhibit oxytocin could reduce social anxiety.
Trainor said a consistent theme in oxytocin research is that experience and the surrounding environment have important effects on how oxytocin affects behavior.
"Stressful social experiences appear to change which parts of the brain use oxytocin," he said. "Understanding how this works in a mouse gives us new ideas on how we could use drugs targeting oxytocin to reduce social anxiety."
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Other co-authors are: Michael Steinman, now at the Scripps Institute; Alison Perkeybile, now at the University of Indiana; Sarah Laredo, Rebecca Hao, Sae Yokoyama, Mary Pham, Vanessa Minie, Philip Tan and Karen Bales, all at UC Davis; Marta Busnelli and Bice Chini, Institute of Neuroscience in Milan, Italy. The work was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH) and the CONICYT foundation of Chile.
Researchers at University of San Diego School of Medicine have developed a new tool called the San Diego Wisdom Scale (SD-WISE) to assess an individual's level of wisdom, based upon a conceptualization of wisdom as a trait with a neurobiological as well as psychosocial basis.
The findings are published in the September 2017 issue of the Journal of Psychiatric Research.
"There is evidence to suggest that the level of wisdom is dictated to a large degree by neurobiology, and that distinct regions and systems in the brain govern the identified components of wisdom," said Dilip Jeste, MD, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Neurosciences and director of the UC San Diego Center for Healthy Aging.
"There are measures now that assess a person's level of wisdom, but they do not incorporate these emerging neurobiological models of the trait. SD-WISE reflects the latest thinking. We believe it may be a useful tool in clinical practice, in addition to its value in bio-psycho-social research, especially investigations into the neurobiology of wisdom and possible interventions to enhance it."
Jeste, with colleagues at UC San Diego and Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, randomly recruited 524 residents of San Diego County, ages 25 to 104, from an on-going longitudinal investigation called the Successful Aging Evaluation (SAGE) study, focusing on physical, cognitive, and psychosocial aspects of successful aging across the adult lifespan. Slightly more than half of the SD-WISE participants were female. More than three-fourths identified their race or ethnicity as non-Latino white. A majority had some college education. The mean age was 58.
Participants were administered the SD-WISE along with two existing measures: the 12-item Three-Dimensional Wisdom Scale and the 40-item Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale.
"Both scales are well-established and well-respected," said Michael L. Thomas, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry at UC San Diego School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System and first author of the study. "They have demonstrated reliability and validity as scientific tools and were good measures against which to compare SD-WISE."
SD-WISE differed from the other scales in that its set of statements (which participants agreed or disagreed with on a scale of one to five) was predicated upon a literature review and an expert consensus, which Jeste and others have described in earlier published research. Studies suggest that wisdom may be defined by six specific domains and that these domains are linked to distinct regions of the brain, based upon neuroimaging and other scientific evidence.
For example, the domain of prosocial attitudes and behaviors, such as empathy, altruism and social cooperation, is facilitated by the prefrontal cortex (PFC), located in the front part of the brain and responsible to complex executive functions. The other domains are social decision-making/pragmatic knowledge of life, emotional regulation, reflection/self-understanding, tolerance of diverse values, and ability to effectively deal with uncertainty and ambiguity in life.
All of these domains are associated with specific brain regions, including different parts of the PFC, the limbic system and amygdala, and specific neurotransmitters, especially monoamines.
The researchers found that SD-WISE successfully measured five of the six targeted domains, and made effective distinctions between individuals' differing degrees of wisdom. The sixth domain -- social decision-making -- was partially covered as "social advising."
The results showed that SD-WISE is a reliable and valid scale, said Jeste. Wisdom, as measured with SD-WISE, correlated with measures of psychological well-being. Importantly, the overall results supported the notion that wisdom is a specific entity with different components.
Study authors note this first testing of SD-WISE had limitations. Participants reflected a narrow demographic, primarily Caucasians and persons with higher education. The data were also self-reported, which aids in practical testing, but may be vulnerable to biases.
"This was a first field test of SD-WISE and results are encouraging, but more work remains.Its reliability and validity need to be evaluated further across different socio-cultural, racial-ethnic and national samples," said Jeste. "Nonetheless, its potential value is considerable. With SD-WISE and other measures, existing or yet to be created, we can study wisdom and its development across the lifespan. Advances in neuroimaging, genetics and other sciences can help reveal how wisdom works biologically within the brain. These tools provide us with the ability to study, understand and possibly influence the development of wisdom in unprecedented ways."
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Co-authors of the study include: Katherine J. Bangen, Barton W. Palmer, and Colin A. Depp, UC San Diego and Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System; A'verria Sirkin, Julie A. Avanzino, Danielle Glorioso, and Rebecca E. Daly, UC San Diego.
September 20, 2017 (Grand Rapids, Michigan)--Van Andel Research Institute scientist Scott Rothbart, Ph.D., has been awarded a five-year, $2.375 million Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA/R35) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) of the National Institutes of Health that will fuel in-depth, multidisciplinary studies into the epigenetic control mechanisms that regulate the genetic code.
"Epigenetic mechanisms are at the root of biology and are implicated in all aspects of health and disease throughout a person's life," Rothbart said. "Thanks to this award, we can focus on the big picture--how are these incredibly complex and nuanced controls orchestrated and how can we leverage this knowledge to rationally design more effective medications that ultimately improve human health?"
The grant provides "the nation's highly talented and promising investigators" with "greater stability and flexibility, thereby enhancing the scientific productivity and the chances for important breakthroughs," according to NIGMS.
A molecule of particular interest to the lab is the protein UHRF1, which serves as a central hub for epigenetic regulation. Although previous work by Rothbart and others in the field has started defining its function, little is known about how UHRF1 does its job. Rothbart aims to change that, and to translate the results into tangible improvements in patient care.
"Understanding what goes on behind the scenes through basic scientific discovery is the starting point for a potential wave of new epigenetic therapies," he said. "The more information we have, the more opportunities exist to harness this knowledge in a real, impactful way."
The implications go far beyond understanding UHRF1 itself, and may serve as a paradigm for studying other crucial regulatory and molecular communication systems. His efforts will be bolstered by VARI's recently installed suite of cryo-electron microscopes, which can visualize molecules such as proteins down to the atomic level.
Rothbart joined VARI in 2015 as assistant professor in its Center for Epigenetics following a postdoctoral fellowship at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. While there, he was awarded a Pathway to Independence (K99/R00) grant from the National Institutes of Health, a competitive program designed to support promising early career scientists as they launch their own independent research programs.
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award number R35GM124736. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
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ABOUT VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Van Andel Institute (VAI) is an independent nonprofit biomedical research and science education organization committed to improving the health and enhancing the lives of current and future generations. Established by Jay and Betty Van Andel in 1996 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, VAI has grown into a premier research and educational institution that supports the work of more than 360 scientists, educators and staff. Van Andel Research Institute (VARI), VAI's research division, is dedicated to determining the epigenetic, genetic, molecular and cellular origins of cancer, Parkinson's and other diseases and translating those findings into effective therapies. The Institute's scientists work in onsite laboratories and participate in collaborative partnerships that span the globe. Learn more about Van Andel Institute or donate by visiting http://www.vai.org. 100% To Research, Discovery & Hope
A new study by Yale-NUS College Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Cheung Hoi Shan has discovered that shy children with low English vocabulary skills, can still be popular among their peers if they have high-functioning social communication skills that enable them to engage and interact well with their peers in social settings. Dr Cheung conducted the study involving 164 preschoolers between 52 and 79 months old in Singapore. She co-authored the paper with Associate Professor John Elliott from the Department of Psychology under the National University of Singapore's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The paper was recently published in the British Journal of Developmental Psychology.
Earlier studies found that shy children tend to be less well-liked among their peers. Researchers have tried to identify factors such as good vocabulary skills and social communication skills, which can buffer the negative effects of child shyness and make shy children more well-liked by their peers. However, the interaction between these two factors and how they may have a combined effect on children was unknown. Contrary to existing assumptions that shy children with low vocabulary skills struggle with peer likeability, Dr Cheung's research has shown that as long as a shy child is equipped with high functioning social skills and able to react well across different social situations, the child's poor vocabulary skills become inconsequential. This suggests that social communication skills have a buffering effect. Some examples of social communication skills include non-verbal communication (e.g. ability to recognise when other people are upset), inappropriate initiation (e.g. talking repetitively about something that no one is interested in), and use of context (e.g. ability to adapt and communicate based on situation and audience).
"Presumably, having a good expressive vocabulary, and by extension a good command of language, makes it easier for children to engage and interact with peers. However, we have found that the presence of a good vocabulary in a shy child offered no additional buffering effect for peer likeability if the child did not possess high-functioning social communication skills. Conversely, shy children with poor vocabulary skills were assumed to be less likeable, but high-functioning social communication skills serve as an effective buffer against the presumed language disadvantage. The more shy a child was, the more pronounced the effect of social communication skills," Dr Cheung shared.
The findings for this study suggest that parents should consider placing more emphasis on developing a shy child's social communication skills, instead of only looking to expand their vocabulary. Traditionally, parents tend to focus on increasing a child's vocabulary as the way to improve a child's language and communication skills. However, it is high social communication skills, instead of good vocabulary, that appears to serve a protective function for shy children, helping to increase their peer likeability. The implications of the research are particularly relevant to families who live in Singapore's multilingual environment as the study included local bilingual or trilingual preschoolers.
Assoc Prof Elliott noted the impact of culture and the local context on the study. "It turns out that being a shy child in Singapore is not quite the negative thing it is often thought to be in places like the United States, which have strongly individualistic cultures. In Singapore, it may be considered quite appropriate, and need not diminish the child's popularity among peers, if the child has good social communication skills," he pointed out.
"Social communication skills such as making eye contact, ability to adapt and communicate in different situations can be taught deliberately, instead of leaving children to observe and pick up these skills on their own. Parents of shy children may want to consider developing such skills in their children so that they can learn how to better engage with their peers, helping them to develop meaningful relationships despite their shyness," explained Dr Cheung.
Highlighting the potential for future research, Assoc Prof Elliott added, "This finding is only one aspect of the research that Dr Cheung conducted. Patterns of parenting are not the same everywhere and we have shown that what counts as sensitive and appropriate parenting is quite hard to determine using assumptions and methods developed elsewhere. I hope the research can be taken forward in the direction of further investigating local parenting practice and its effect on child socialisation, while developing locally appropriate methods."
Dr Cheung conducted the study while she was a PhD candidate at the National University of Singapore, and has a long-standing interest in the study of parenting practices and their influence on children's social development. Her current work investigates cultural differences in parenting styles and practices, which have implications on the interpretation of parent-child relationship quality and consequently, children's development. Dr Cheung has also published another paper in Child Development, which argues that cultural context has significant impact on the measurement of maternal sensitivity, i.e. the extent to which mothers are able to perceive and interpret their child's signals accurately, and respond in a timely and appropriate manner. She found that it may not be effective for studies in Singapore to use the typical western scales to make these measurements, hence pointing to the need for more research to better understand parenting norms in the local context.
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New Haven, Conn. - The most-studied galaxy in the universe -- the Milky Way -- might not be as "typical" as previously thought, according to a new study.
The Milky Way, which is home to Earth and its solar system, is host to several dozen smaller galaxy satellites. These smaller galaxies orbit around the Milky Way and are useful in understanding the Milky Way itself.
Early results from the Satellites Around Galactic Analogs (SAGA) Survey indicate that the Milky Way's satellites are much more tranquil than other systems of comparable luminosity and environment. Many satellites of those "sibling" galaxies are actively pumping out new stars, but the Milky Way's satellites are mostly inert, the researchers found.
This is significant, according to the researchers, because many models for what we know about the universe rely on galaxies behaving in a fashion similar to the Milky Way.
"We use the Milky Way and its surroundings to study absolutely everything," said Yale astrophysicist Marla Geha, lead author of the paper, which appears in the Astrophysical Journal. "Hundreds of studies come out every year about dark matter, cosmology, star formation, and galaxy formation, using the Milky Way as a guide. But it's possible that the Milky Way is an outlier."
The SAGA Survey began five years ago with a goal of studying the satellite galaxies around 100 Milky Way siblings. Thus far it has studied eight other Milky Way sibling systems, which the researchers say is too small of a sample to come to any definitive conclusions. SAGA expects to have studied 25 Milky Way siblings in the next two years.
Yet the survey already has people talking. At a recent conference where Geha presented some of SAGA's initial findings, another researcher told her, "You've just thrown a monkey wrench into what we know about how small galaxies form."
"Our work puts the Milky Way into a broader context," said SAGA researcher Risa Wechsler, an astrophysicist at the Kavli Institute at Stanford University. "The SAGA Survey will provide a critical new understanding of galaxy formation and of the nature of dark matter."
Wechsler, Geha, and their team said they will continue to improve the efficiency of finding satellites around Milky Way siblings. "I really want to know the answer to whether the Milky Way is unique, or totally normal," Geha said. "By studying our siblings, we learn more about ourselves."
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Other SAGA team members are Yao-Yuan Mao of the University of Pittsburgh, Erik Tollerud from the Space Telescope Science Institute, Benjamin Weiner of the University of Arizona, Rebecca Bernstein and Yu Lu of the Carnegie Institution for Science, Ben Hoyle of the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Sebastian Marchi and Ricardo Munoz of the University of Chile, and Phil Marshall of SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. All are co-authors of the study.
More information about SAGA can be found here: http://sagasurvey.org/
LONDON, Ohio Cathann Kress hit the ground running. She started as vice president for agricultural administration and dean of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at Ohio State University May 1, and now, four months later, has a list of grand challenges shes ready to tackle.
Kress outlined those challenges during the Celebration of Ohio Agriculture Sept. 19 at the Farm Science Review.
Weve got a lot of grand challenges in agriculture, and if agriculture has them, that means everybody has them, Kress said, adding that the college is launching efforts to create focus and leverage resources to address them.
The first challenge of agriculture is food security, the new ag dean said, and encompasses not just food production, but also food distribution and managing food waste.
We really have to think about it throughout the whole chain.
Water quality is her second grand challenge, and theres no easy answer, were not going to solve it, Kress said. We have to find a balance.
What might work to address water quality in one part of the state may not be the solution in another part of the state, she added. It really is that complicated and complex.
And thats where our scientists and their research can really make a difference.
Kress also identified a third grand challenge as the concept of one health. Its not just human health, but how its interconnected with animal health (think antibiotic resistance) and environmental health. The ag college is uniquely positioned at a university with both a veterinary medicine college, a college of pharmacy, and the medical college to address the challenge, she added, from gene editing to nutritional quality, and make a significant difference to impact health.
A fourth challenge is the rural-urban interface. Ohio has a growing urban population with very little understanding of agriculture or why we do what we do. And at the same time, Kress added, theres been a separation of the farm and rural economies a strong farm economy doesnt necessarily equate to a strong rural economy.
The knowledge gap is significant and has implications for a future workforce, as well as public perceptions of agriculture and the support for policies and investments needed to balance these challenges, she said.
I think our college has a unique role to play in helping with that communication, in cultivating those future leaders and in keeping a laser focus on our state and the needs of agriculture within our state.
Kress called the research opportunities unprecedented and emphasized the need to attract and prepare the students for the future.
We have considerable strength in the college, Kress said. But our real strength is in our mission unchanging, fundamental and of paramount importance: We sustain life.
University challenge
Ohio State University President Michael Drake voiced his own grand challenge during the Review luncheon: taking all the accomplishments the incoming freshman class is the most diverse, and the university recently boasted the highest retention rate and highest graduation rate and moving it forward.
He said the board of trustees has approved a new strategic plan for the university that builds on five pillars: teaching and learning; access, affordability and excellence; research and creative expression; academic health care; and operational excellence and resource stewardship.
The goal, Drake said, is to be the best university we can be, and do the most for as many people as we can.
A farming union has criticised the position taken by Government on ammonia emissions, saying that there has been no progress towards finding a solution.
The Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) has written to the Department of Agriculture (DAERA) permanent secretary Noel Lavery to raise its concerns surrounding "poor" levels of communication and lack of knowledge surrounding the emissions.
Ammonia is a pungent gas produced in relatively large quantities from animal waste, concentrations of which are greatest in areas with the most livestock farming.
According to DAERA, when released into the atmosphere, it increases the levels of air pollutants that are harmful to human health.
Agriculture is the dominant source of ammonia emissions, making up 93% of Northern Irelands current emission levels.
The UFU said that despite this issue being raised with DAERA officials back in May 2017, there has been little movement to date.
UFU President Barclay Bells said: DAERA are well aware of our concerns around the science used in assessing ammonia. They have committed to investigating this further through their research programme, however, this will take time.
The communication with the industry has been extremely poor and the majority of farmers are completely unaware of the problems it presents.
'Challenge'
The UFU said it recognises the need to deal with ammonia emissions, and said it is eager to see the recommendations from the Sustainable Agricultural Land Management Strategy for tackling this issue, which are to be published soon.
No doubt it will be a challenge but we believe that Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is better adopting a long-term approach where government and industry work together to tackle ammonia emissions. A similar approach has already been successfully used to address greenhouse gas emissions, says Mr Bell.
The immediate issue of concern is how the department deals with agricultural planning applications that are requiring ammonia assessments.
Some of these are FBIS applicants but it is likely that the majority will be outside of this scheme.
NIEAs stonewalling is not helping to address the overall ammonia problem, instead it is hindering business development, said the UFU president.
Many farmers are choosing to withdraw their applications or to continue with construction outwith the planning process, adding significant cost, stress and ultimately delays. We have emphasised the seriousness of the situation to DAERA and that an urgent resolution must be found.
According to Government figures, Northern Ireland currently contributes 12% of the total UK level of ammonia gases.
Access to overseas labour will be needed to drive future economic growth in the agricultural industry, the deputy president of the NFU has said.
Concern is growing among farmers that the UK government will be restricting migrant labour once the UK leaves the EU.
The first of this season's party conference fringe events co-hosted by the NFU and the Food and Drink Federation was attended by 80 people at the Liberal Democrat conference in Bournemouth.
One of the key issues discussed was access to labour post-Brexit.
Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake spoke about his concern that farming would struggle to make a success of Brexit due to recruitment difficulties, with the sector being forced to compete against other sectors, such as construction and nursing, for a shrinking pool of labour.
He complained that, despite seeming to listen to others, theres no evidence of any action being taken on key issues such as labour and trade.
NFU Deputy President Minette Batters said that in a country with less than 4.5% unemployment, access to overseas labour will be needed to drive future economic growth.
Tim Lang, professor of food policy at City University London's Centre for Food Policy, said he believes there are dire prospects around long-term recruitment challenges.
'Economic damage'
The farming industry has frequently warned of "significant economic damage" if migration from the EU declines dramatically post-Brexit.
The number of seasonal workers coming to Britain's farms from the EU has dropped 17% and the outlook for the next two seasons is 'in jeopardy', according to a report.
The latest report from the NFU's Vision for the Future of Farming said the industry had 'growing concerns'.
It urged the government to create an immigration policy to offer appropriate visas for recruiting seasonal labour overseas.
"It is crucial that the government addresses these concerns immediately to ensure that farming has access to a competent and reliable workforce," said NFU president Meurig Raymond.
"A solution, such as a suite of visa or permit schemes is urgently needed to avoid losing a critical number of workers that could jeopardise future harvests and food production."
Freedom of movement between the UK and the European Union will end by March 2019, the UK government has confirmed.
A Scottish MSP has called for the country's schools and hospitals to serve only organic food.
Mark Ruskell, a Green Party member of the Scottish Parliament, wants a mandatory requirement for all public sector kitchens to serve organic food.
His plan is based on a policy introduced in Denmark, where the Government has a goal of ensuring that 60 per cent of the food served in public institutions, including care homes, nurseries and prisons, should be organic.
His call was welcomed by the environmental charity the Soil Association.
Aoife Behan, policy manager of Soil Association Scotland, said: "We believe that all public sector bodies should be beacons of good food, and the Denmark example shows that it can be done. Through our Food for Life Scotland programme, we know that Scottish local authorities are also making great strides."
Earlier this year, in its annual organic market report, the Soil Association said that more schools, hospitals and workplaces were now serving organic food - up by 19.1 per cent in 2016.
Demand had been strongly driven by its Food for Life Catering Mark, it said. The association said some 15 million was now spent on organic food in the sector - an increase of 66 per cent.
'Good food'
Aoife Behan told FarmingUK: "North Ayrshire, East Ayrshire, Stirling and Aberdeen City Council all source organic food for their school meals. From our experience, using organic produce does not necessarily lead to higher food costs in public sector kitchens.
"In fact, it can bring many other benefits such as increased access to seasonal fruit and vegetables, higher staff morale in public sector kitchens and positive environmental outcomes.
"We believe, with support and leadership from government and clear prioritisation of good food, that high quality food is achievable in Scotland's public kitchens.
Mark Ruskell, a Green Party member of the Scottish Parliament, wants a mandatory requirement for all public sector kitchens to serve organic food (Photo: Scottish Greens)
"The Scottish Government has promised to consult on a Good Food Nation Bill and targets for organic food in the public sector should be part of this package of measures.
"Serving fresh, healthy, sustainable public meals can not only make a real difference to our nation's health, but can play a key role in contributing to Scotland's economy.
"It's time to get good food on the menu in all public sector organisations. If the government can achieve this, it will achieve its vision for Scotland: a Good Food Nation."
Inspiration
Mark Ruskell made his call for an organic procurement policy in Scotland during an interview with the Sunday Herald.
"The public sector is a way to drive these healthy food cultures," he said. He said Scotland should take inspiration from politicians in the Danish parliament in Copenhagen on the issue.
"I've looking at the amazing work that's happening in Copenhagen and many other countries in Europe showing the way by using public procurement and the public purse to drive forward a health agenda when it comes to food."
He said a compulsory organic policy was something that Scotland should be looking at for public procurement.
Another organic plan proposed by another Green MSP was blocked by the Scottish Parliament in early 2003.
That proposal was to convert 20 per cent of Scotland's farmland to organic farming within 10 years. However, Mark Ruskell told the Sunday Herald that Scotland was now ready for a more radical approach.
Sales are up
The Soil Association has just released new figures showing that demand for organic food in the UK is booming.
Sales of produce grew by 7.4 per cent in the 52 weeks to July 1, according to figures compiled by Nielsen.
Sales of organic dairy, the largest overall market sector for organic, were up 2.3 per cent. The fruit sector was up 12.6 per cent and vegetables 1.9 per cent. Sales of organic butter have surged by 9.2 per cent, organic tomatoes are up 13.1 per cent and sales of organic salad have risen 7.9% since last year, with summer growth even higher at 9.2 per cent.
The organic market overall was up by four per cent, according to the figures. Nielsen reported that 82 per cent of UK consumers now bought at least one organic item per year - up from 79.5 per cent in 2016. With more than 8,000 stores nationwide currently stocking organic products, the market was now worth more than 2 billion.
The Scottish Government has said there are no current plans to introduce a mandatory requirement for organic food to be served in the public sector.
However, it said it was continually looking at ways to improve the food that was served in the public sector. It would work with a wide range of stakeholders and interested parties to examine what further action could be taken.
It's Kriti Kharbanda
Kriti who was last seen in Guest Inn London has come onboard for the film.
What's She Playing
A Mumbai Mirror report quoted a source as saying, "Kriti's role is an extended cameo and will appear at an important juncture in the film. She plays Dulquer's love interest and will be flying to Kochi on Thursday to start shooting. Kriti is comfortable with Telugu and Kannada but her character in this film is required to speak a little Malayalam so there will be a trainer on the set to help her out."
Going Deglam
The source further added, "It's a non-glam role and she will film in Kochi for three days before returning for the second schedule at a later date."
Plot Of Karwaan
Reportedly, the film is touted to be a a light-hearted comedy featuring Salmaan and Khan as friends who venture on a road trip.
Dulquer Is The Perfect Cast For The Film
Earlier while talking to a leading daily, Khurrana had said, "I have been following Dulquer for a while after Mani Ratnam's O Kadhal Kanmani. And I really loved his movie, Charlie. He has showcased a fantabulous performance in it. Then I watched his movies, Bangalore days, Kammattipaadam and so on...He is the perfect cast for the movie."
Okay, so on one side, investigation is going on regarding the murder of famed journalist, Gauri Lankesh. On the other, data is being mined about her death so that a film could be made on that as well.
What can we say? Well, it was certainly shocking to hear the loss of senior journalist, Gauri Lankesh, who was killed outside her house in R R Nagar, Bengaluru on September 5, 2017.
It has not even been a month since her passing, and a film-maker in Sandalwood is already perked up to make a film on her death. Yes, famed director A. M. R. Ramesh is ready to make a film on the death of Gauri Lankesh!
A. M. R. Ramesh, who is renowned for his films that are based on real-life stories and incidents, has stated that he will make a movie based on Gauri's death to expose the real culprits.
The director, A. M. R. Ramesh, who spoke in an exclusive interview to Filmibeat team, has revealed about his plans of making a movie on the above mentioned incident. Read more..
Why Was Kapil Sharma Discharged Soon?
The treatment was supposed to last for 40 days. According to DNA reports, the actor begged off in just 12 days. This was because of his upcoming film, Firangi.
Kapils Upcoming Film, Firangi
A close friend of Kapil was quoted by the leading website as saying, "He needed to return to Mumbai to complete his film Firangi and start promoting and marketing it for its November release."
Kapil Is Recovering
Kapil's friend further said, "Kapil is feeling much better. I can sense the changes in him. He had been pushing himself too far during the last few years."
Kapil Has Stopped Drinking
"His mind and body gave warning signals. He wasn't taking these warnings seriously. Now, finally God planned this break for him. And it has done him a world of good. Kapil has stopped drinking completely, at least, for now."
Bad News For Kapil & TKSS Fans
It was said that the actor would return with his show early next month. But, here comes the bad news! His friend says that the announcement of Kapil's return was someone's idea of making news and will only return after he completely recovers.
Kapil Will Return Only After He Recovers Completely
Kapil's friend added, "The show will return only when Kapil has fully recovered. Kapil has realised health is the most important thing in life. As for the show, it is very dear to him and it isn't going anywhere."
Sunils Show To Replace TKSS!
The Kapil Sharma Show will be back next year. It is also said that Sunil Grover's new show might get launched within a couple of months or so! There is a possibility of Sunil's show replacing TKSS.
Kapil & Ginni
There were also reports that Kapil's girlfriend, Ginni Chatrath is by his side and helping him to recover.
U.S. oil giant ConocoPhillips (COP 0.46%) has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past year, jettisoning a slew of assets, which has given it the cash to pay down debt and repurchase stock. As a result, the company's stock has vastly outperformed BP (BP -0.18%) since I pitted them against each other around this time last year.
That said, while ConocoPhillips has outperformed over the past year, the primary reason I chose BP was due to its more visible long-term growth prospects since ConocoPhillips lacked a clearly defined plan at the time. Since so much has changed since I made that call, I thought that now was an excellent opportunity to review and see if BP still has what it takes to outperform over the next few years.
A quick look under the hood
BP and ConocoPhillips are financially strong oil companies. As the following table shows, both have top-notch credit ratings, low leverage metrics, and ample cash:
Company Credit Rating Total Debt Debt/Enterprise Value Cash on Hand BP A-/A/A1 $63.0 billion 39% $23.3 billion ConocoPhillips A-/Baa2 $23.5 billion 34% $7.5 billion
A year ago, BP had a much better balance sheet given its robust cash position and stronger credit rating. However, ConocoPhillips has closed the gap by selling $16 billion of assets, using those proceeds to reduce debt by $5 billion and more than double its cash position. Meanwhile, the company plans to continue strengthening its financial situation over the next two years by selling additional assets, which when combined with its expected excess cash flow should get debt below $15 billion by 2019. BP, on the other hand, has allowed its debt to creep up over that past year because its expansion spending outpaced cash flow. Leverage remains within its target range, though it's now at the upper end.
A look at where they're going
At this time last year, ConocoPhillips lacked a clear direction. The company was still working on reducing costs so that it could run on lower oil prices. However, last November the oil giant unveiled its new go-forward plan to allocate capital across five priorities, which it believed would fuel double-digit total annual returns to shareholders.
What's unique about that strategy is that, unlike most oil companies, ConocoPhillips isn't targeting an absolute production growth rate. Instead, it aims to increase production on a per-share basis by using buybacks to boost that metric. For 2017, the company estimates that this plan will fuel 8% asset sale adjusted production growth on a per-share basis versus the 3% it would achieve without the buyback. Meanwhile, thanks to the flexibility of its asset base, its go-forward plan has the potential to deliver the following production growth rates depending on oil prices and repurchase activity:
Average Oil Price Potential Production Growth Rate Total Annual Return $50 oil up to 2% 5% to 10% $60 oil up to 4% 10% to 15% $70 oil up to 8% 15% to 20%
BP, on the other hand, continues to press on with an ambitious plan to bring 800,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOE/d) of new production on line by 2020. That represents a 5% compound annual growth rate through 2021. Furthermore, this is high-return growth that should deliver 35% higher margins than its base portfolio in 2015, which the company believes will fuel $13 billion to $14 billion in annual free cash flow by 2021 at $55 oil, with exponential upside at higher prices.
It's a tough choice
BP and ConocoPhillips offer investors two dramatically different ways to invest in the oil market. While both have similarly strong balance sheets, BP has clearly visible growth on the horizon given the significant supply of new oil it expects to bring on line over the next few years. Meanwhile, ConocoPhillips' plan adjusts with prices, which enables the company to accelerate output as oil improves. Also, its primary focus is to grow on a per-share basis instead of setting an absolute rate.
While this one could go either way, I still think BP is in a stronger position to outperform ConocoPhillips over the next few years because it has the high-return projects already in motion to deliver robust production and cash flow growth. While that doesn't mean I think ConocoPhillips' plan won't create tremendous value for its investors -- which is why I'll continue to hold my shares -- its plan is more reactive to oil prices while BP is agnostic to prices, putting it in a better position to outperform.
If you have kids or grandkids, you're probably hoping they'll go to college one day. Of course, given the rate at which college tuition and fees continue to rise, you may also be wondering how on Earth you'll be able to pay for it. Socking money away while the kids are still tiny can make the difference between an affordable degree and a mountain of student loan debt that your child could be paying off for decades.
Fortunately, various schools and government agencies have done their best to come up with ways to help Americans save for educational expenses.
529 plans
Possibly the best-known education savings program today, the 529 plan is a program sponsored by a state government or educational institution to provide a tax-advantaged education savings account. There are tons of 529 plans out there, with different rates, fees, options, and rules, so prepare to do some serious shopping around. Note that you can sign up for a state's 529 plan whether or not you live in that state. Some states offer tax breaks to residents who use their in-state plan, but the incentives of other states' plans may outweigh that benefit.
Anyone can set up a 529 plan. The biggest benefit of these plans is that earnings are not subject to federal taxes and are usually not subject to state taxes, either. Withdrawals from the account are also tax-free when they're used to cover qualifying educational expenses. However, contributions aren't tax-deductible. There are no specific contribution limits, but if your contributions exceed $14,000 per recipient per year, you may be subject to gift tax.
Inevitably, 529 plans come with some drawbacks, the biggest of which is the potential impact on financial aid availability. In brief, if a student has a 529 plan in his or her name, then financial aid providers will take those funds into account when determining the student's eligibility and level of need.
Coverdell education savings account (ESA)
If your modified adjusted gross income is under $110,000 per year ($220,000 per year for married-filing-jointly taxpayers), then you're eligible to open a Coverdell ESA. These accounts are set up with a trustee for a beneficiary under the age of 18 with the purpose of paying for said beneficiary's education. Anyone under the modified adjusted gross income limit can contribute to the Coverdell ESA, but total contributions for a given beneficiary from all sources are limited to $2,000 per year. Distributions are tax-free as long as they're used to pay for the beneficiary's educational expenses.
Coverdell ESAs are typically set up in the parent's name, so they don't have the same impact on financial aid that many 529 plans do. Financial aid providers do look at parental assets, but these don't impact eligibility as much as assets in the student's own name. The account must be emptied by the time the beneficiary hits age 30, or the remaining funds will be subject to taxes and penalties.
Savings bonds
If you use your Series I or EE savings bonds to pay qualified educational expenses for yourself or a dependent, the bonds' earnings are exempt from federal taxes. Qualified expenses include tuition and fees for any college or university that's eligible to participate in the Department of Education's student aid program (which is practically every college and university in the U.S., and some foreign institutions as well). If you cash out your bonds to make a Coverdell ESA contribution, you also get the tax break.
The drawback to savings bonds is their lackluster rate of return; in early 2017, rates for series I bonds are at 2.76%, and series EE bonds return a depressing 0.1%. That's considerably less than you're likely to get from the investments in a 529 plan or Coverdell ESA.
All of the above?
Diversification is the key to any investment plan, and building a college savings fund is no exception. You can spread out the benefits and drawbacks of the various options by putting a little money in each. If the stock investments in your 529 plan bottom out at the wrong time, your savings bonds can help make up the difference, whereas the funds in your Coverdell ESA slide under the financial-aid radar. And since 529 plans are typically limited to conservative investment options, you can put some of that Coverdell money into more aggressive investments to try to kick up your overall rate of return. Think of it as a savings buffet: The more options you have lined up, the more likely it is that one of them will be particularly tasty.
Sergio Perez has pledged his support to those affected by the devastating earthquake that struck his native Mexico on Tuesday.
The Force India driver has donated an initial 3 million Mexican pesos (approximately 125,000, or $170,000) to victims of Tuesdays quake, which has killed more than 200 people and caused widespread damage in Mexico City and the surrounding area.
Perez has also formed an alliance with the foundation of Mexican businessman Carlos Slim, which will see donations to the Force India driver's personal foundation matched five fold.
"I'm deeply concerned about what my country is living," said Perez, 27. "It's time to be united."
Get Samsung Galaxy S8+ for free with select QLED TVs in India News oi -Samden Sherpa Under Smart Utsav sale, Samsung is offering a Galaxy S8+ worth Rs. 70,900 for free with select QLED TVs in India.
As the festive season sets in India, many consumer electronic brands are now offering enticing offers on several of their products in different categories. As such, one of the most popular brands Samsung has announced that it is now offering cash-backs, discounts, and offers on various products for the consumers in the country.
Besides, the offers are available on Samsung refrigerators, TVs, and other consumer electronics. However, the main attraction will likely be the Smart Utsav sale. Under this sale, Samsung is offering a Galaxy S8+ worth Rs. 70,900 for free with select QLED TVs in India.
Apart from this, the company is also offering a "No Gap Wall Mount" worth Rs 10,000 and a 10-year warranty against screen burn-in with the TVs. If you are looking for a TV then you might head to a Samsung store and get a sweet deal. Besides, Samsung is known to bring high-quality products to the consumers.
Additionally, if you go for premium Samsung 4K and curved TVs you will get a soundbar worth Rs. 23,990 for free. And there's more, if you go for other smart TVs, Samsung is offering a 2.1 channel speaker for free along with a 2-month subscription of Airtel Digital TV, Dish TV, or Sun Direct and Level U Bluetooth headphones worth Rs. 2,999 with its Joy Connect smart TVs.
You will be also eligible to get either a Galaxy J2 Pro or a Galaxy J5 Prime for free if you purchase one of its side-by-side refrigerators.
Meanwhile, as offers are flying around here and there whether it's in e-commerce portals or retail shops, Samsung has also introduced a price cut of Rs. 4,000 for both Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. Samsung will also offer a cashback of 5 percent through SBI Debit or EMI transactions. Flexi EMIs, long-tenure schemes, and zero downpayment schemes will also be available for various Samsung products. These offers will be available until October 22.
Best Mobiles in India
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US army opens 'first ever stationary unit' in Israel
Iran Press TV
Mon Sep 18, 2017 08:25PM
The United States has inaugurated a permanent military base in Israel, poised as "the first ever stationary unit" there.
Brigadier General Zvika Haimovitch told reporters Monday that this is the first time the US flag is flying in an Israeli military base, further praising the "historic and exciting" inauguration.
The base is purportedly located inside the Israeli air force's Mashabim air base, west of the towns of Dimona and Yerucham.
"Due to the close cooperation between us and the American forces in the field of air defense, as well as the extensive experience accumulated by the Aerial Defense Division, it was decided that the first permanent base of the American Army would be established at the School of Air Defense," Haimovitch said.
He stated that that the base "represents the long-standing partnership, the strategic commitment between the armies and the militaries," while it "adds another layer to the security" against what he described as "the threats of rocket or missile fire."
'Base within a base'
Several dozen American soldiers are expected to be stationed at the military base in southern Israel in order to operate American systems not Israeli ones, stressed the general.
The US military's European Command (EUCOM) will be tasked with operating the "base within a base."
Washington has also been providing Israel with $3.8 billions annually since a 2007 agreement with the administration of former President George W. Bush.
Washington's massive support for the Zionist regime comes despite the international condemnation of Tel Aviv's atrocities against Palestinians.
Based on a September 2016 agreement, the US will be bankrolling Israel's military spending to the tune of around $38 billion dollars effective from 2019 for the next 10 years.
Since World War II, Israel has been the largest cumulative recipient of US foreign assistance.
Hailed as a "great friend to the Jewish people" by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Donald Trump has mended ties with Israel that had gone sour under Obama, in part due to his resolve to participate in nuclear negotiations with Tehran, which yielded a nuclear deal not welcomed by US regional allies, namely Israel and Saudi Arabia.
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US Sending 3,000 More Troops to Afghanistan
By VOA News September 18, 2017
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says the U.S. is sending another 3,000 troops to Afghanistan, an increase of over 25 percent in the number of American forces there.
Mattis told reporters Monday at the Pentagon that the boost in U.S. troop strength would be "over 3,000," but he declined to name a specific number. "Frankly, I haven't signed the last of the orders right now," he said.
"Most of them are on their way or under orders now," Mattis said, "and I'd prefer not to give any more information that helps the enemy."
Top military brass at the Pentagon have been calling the current situation in Afghanistan a "stalemate," and asking for more troops.
The new deployment will raise the number of U.S. forces in the South Asian country to over 14,000, as the 16th anniversary of war there approaches. American forces moved into Afghanistan to overthrow an administration led by the Taliban and members of the al-Qaida terror network in late 2001, following the attacks ordered by Osama bin Laden against New York and Washington on September 11 of that year.
The decision to send in more troops caps President Donald Trump's change of heart on how to deal with the Afghanistan conflict, America's longest war. Before his election last year, candidate Trump had routinely called for a full U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
In August, however, Trump said he was responding to military commanders' requests for more troops, and establishing what he called a "conditions-based approach" to evaluating troop levels and military operations in Afghanistan.
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Strikes Continue in Effort to Defeat ISIS in Syria, Iraq
From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release
SOUTHWEST ASIA, Sept. 19, 2017 U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting 13 strikes consisting of 21 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.
Strikes in Syria
In Syria, coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of six engagements against ISIS targets near Raqqa. The strikes destroyed 25 ISIS vehicles, five fighting positions, a command-and control-node and a logistics node.
Strikes in Iraq
In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted seven strikes consisting of 15 engagements against ISIS targets:
-- Near Qaim, a strike destroyed an ISIS headquarters.
-- Near Haditha, a strike destroyed ISIS engineering equipment and a vehicle.
-- Near Huwijah, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed four heavy machine guns, three fighting positions, a tactical vehicle, a bunker, a front-end loader, a mortar system, a staging area and an ISIS headquarters.
-- Near Rawah, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit, destroyed a vehicle and an ISIS-held building, and damaged a supply route.
Sept. 17 Strikes
Officials today also provided details on 12 strikes consisting of 14 engagements conducted Sept. 17 in Syria and Iraq for which the information was not available in time for yesterday's report:
-- Near Raqqa, seven strikes destroyed six ISIS fighting positions and a logistics node.
-- Near Qaim, a strike destroyed an ISIS tactical vehicle and a tactical vehicle storage facility.
-- Near Huwijah, two strikes destroyed a vehicle-borne-bomb facility and an ISIS weapons cache.
-- Near Rawah, a strike destroyed an ISIS staging area.
-- Near Rutbah, Iraq, a strike destroyed an ISIS weapons cache.
Part of Operation Inherent Resolve
These strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to destroy ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The destruction of ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria also further limits the group's ability to project terror and conduct external operations throughout the region and the rest of the world, task force officials said.
The list above contains all strikes conducted by fighter, attack, bomber, rotary-wing or remotely piloted aircraft; rocket-propelled artillery; and some ground-based tactical artillery when fired on planned targets, officials noted.
Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike, they added. A strike, as defined by the coalition, refers to one or more kinetic engagements that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single or cumulative effect.
For example, task force officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIS vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of ISIS-held buildings and weapon systems in a compound, having the cumulative effect of making that facility harder or impossible to use. Strike assessments are based on initial reports and may be refined, officials said.
The task force does not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target.
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U.S. Forces Participate in Swedish Military Exercise
U.S. European Command
STUTTGART, Germany, Sept. 19, 2017 U.S. military personnel began participation today in Exercise Aurora 2017, a Swedish national exercise designed to strengthen regional defense capabilities.
The exercise continues through Sept. 27 and will take place in Malardalen, Stockholm, Gotland and Gothenburg, Sweden. It is the largest national exercise hosted by Sweden in more than 20 years.
"The interoperability and cooperation of Sweden and the United States remains vital," said Army Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, U.S. European Command commander. "I look forward to continued future military exercises, like Aurora 17, in which we can all learn and share valuable information for the profession of arms."
In addition to 19,000 Swedish participants, approximately 1,300 U.S. service members from the Army, Marines and Navy will take part in the exercise. Participating Army and Marine Corps forces include elements of the Army's 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade and the 2nd Cavalry Regiment; the Minnesota Army National Guard's 194th Armored Regiment; the Nebraska Army National Guard's 134th Infantry Regiment; the Kentucky Army National Guard's 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade; and Marine Rotational Force Europe 17.2. Participating Navy forces include the destroyer USS Oscar Austin and a P-8A Poseidon from Maritime Patrol Squadron 16.
Participating U.S. forces will train in defensive and offensive operations, simulated airborne operations, simulated amphibious assault, area security and unit level tactics.
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40 million in modern slavery and 152 million in child labour around the world
New data reveal that the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal Target 8.7, will not be achieved unless efforts to fight modern slavery and child labour are dramatically increased.
19 September 2017
NEW YORK (ILO News) New research developed jointly by the International Labour Organization (ILO)1 and the Walk Free Foundation2, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM)3, has revealed the true scale of modern slavery around the world. The data, released during the United Nations General Assembly, shows that more than 40 million people around the world were victims of modern slavery in 2016. The ILO have also released a companion estimate of child labour, which confirms that about 152 million children, aged between 5 and 17, were subject to child labour.
The new estimates also show that women and girls are disproportionately affected by modern slavery, accounting almost 29 million, or 71 per cent of the overall total. Women represent 99 per cent of the victims of forced labour in the commercial sex industry and 84 per cent of forced marriages.
The research reveals that among the 40 million victims of modern slavery, about 25 million were in forced labour, and 15 million were in forced marriage.
Child labour remains concentrated primarily in agriculture (70.9 per cent). Almost one in five child labourers work in the services sector (17.1 per cent) while 11.9 per cent of child labourers work in industry.
Mr Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General, said: "The message the ILO is sending today together with our partners in Alliance 8.7 is very clear: the world won't be in a position to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals unless we dramatically increase our efforts to fight these scourges. These new global estimates can help shape and develop interventions to prevent both forced labour and child labour."
Mr Andrew Forrest AO, Chairman and Founder of the Walk Free Foundation said: "The fact that as a society we still have 40 million people in modern slavery, on any given day shames us all. If we consider the results of the last five years, for which we have collected data, 89 million people experienced some form of modern slavery for periods of time ranging from a few days to five years. This speaks to the deep seated discrimination and inequalities in our world today, coupled with a shocking tolerance of exploitation. This has to stop. We all have a role to play in changing this reality business, government, civil society, every one of us."
About the data
The new global estimates are a collective effort from members of Alliance 8.7, the global partnership to end forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour that brings together key partners representing governments, UN organisations, the private sector, workers' and employers' organizations and civil society in order to achieve Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.7.
The data is published in two reports:
The 2017 Global Estimates can be found online at www.alliance87.org/2017ge.
Notes to Editors
Modern Slavery
Forced labour
Forced marriage
Child labour
Media contacts
International Labour Organization: Please contact the ILO Department of Communication and Public Information at +4122/799-7912, newsroom@ilo.org
Walk Free Foundation: Please contact Martina Ucnikova, Head of Media and Communications, Walk Free Foundation, +61 428 997 881, mucnikova@minderoo.com.au
International Organization for Migration: Please contact Leonard Doyle, Head Media and Communications Division IOM/Spokesperson, Tel: +41 79 285 71 23 Email: ldoyle@iom.int
About the Alliance 8.7
About the International Labour Organization
About the Walk Free Foundation
About the International Organization for Migration
There are an estimated 40 million people trapped in Modern Slavery. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by modern slavery, accounting for almost 29 million, or 71 per cent of the overall total. One in four victims of modern slavery are children, or about 10 million children. Some 37 percent (or 5.7 million) of those forced to marry were childrenAn estimated 25 million people were in forced labour at any moment in time in 2016. Out of them, 16 million people were in forced labour exploitation in the private sector such as domestic work, construction, agriculture. About 5 million persons were in forced sexual exploitation, and just over four million persons (or 16 per cent of the total) were in forced labour imposed by their state authorities.An estimated 15. 4 million people were living in a forced marriage at any moment in time in 2016. Of this total, 6.5 million cases had occurred in the past 5 years (2012-2016) and the remainder had taken place prior to this period but continued into it. More than one third of all victims of forced marriage were children at the time of the marriage, and almost all child victims were girls.152 million children 64 million girls and 88 million boys are subject to child labour and account for almost one in ten children around the world. The highest number of children aged 5 to 17 engaged in child labour were to be found in Africa (72.1 million), followed by Asia and the Pacific (62 million), the Americas (10.7 million), Europe and Central Asia (5.5 million) and the Arab States (1.2 million). Approximately one third of children aged 5 to 14 engaged in child labour are outside the education system. 38 per cent of children in hazardous work aged 5 to 14 and almost two-thirds of those aged 15-17 work more than 43 hours per week. Alliance 8.7 is a global strategic partnership committed to achieving Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.7 , which calls on the world to "take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms". Alliance 8.7 seeks to achieve Target 8.7 and related Targets 5.2, 16.2, 16.3 and 16.a through the alignment of global, regional and national efforts, and by focusing on accelerating timelines, sharing knowledge, driving innovation and leveraging resources.The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the United Nations agency for the world of work. It sets international labour standards, promotes rights at work and encourages decent employment opportunities, the enhancement of social protection and the strengthening of dialogue on work-related issues. The ILO has a unique structure, bringing together governments, employers' and workers' representatives. It was founded in 1919 and has 187 member States.The Walk Free Foundation is an international human rights organisation founded by Andrew and Nicola Forrest. It encompasses their vision to see the end of modern slavery globally. The Foundation provides the information and capabilities required for countries to fight slavery in their jurisdictions. The Walk Free Foundation engages with governments (Global Slavery Index), business/corporations (Bali Process Business Forum) and global faiths (Global Freedom Network).Established in 1951, IOM, the UN Migration Agency, is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. With 166 member states, a further 8 states holding observer status and offices in over 100 countries, IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.
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San Diego, 15th MEU Participate in Alligator Dagger 2017
Navy News Service
Story Number: NNS170919-03
Release Date: 9/19/2017 8:14:00 AM
From Amphibious Squadron 3 Public Affairs
5th FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (NNS) -- The amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22), with embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), concluded their participation in the scheduled combat rehearsal known as Alligator Dagger, Sept. 11, in the vicinity of the Republic of Djibouti.
Alligator Dagger 2017, which began Sept. 4, is an amphibious combat rehearsal with the America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 15th MEU to increase proficiency and enable their forces to train for future operations within U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.
From the beginning of the rehearsal, San Diego conducted well deck operations for amphibious assault vehicles (AAV) and landing craft air cushions (LCAC), as well as flight operations in support of the 15th MEU during Alligator Dagger.
Fourteen AAVs assigned to the 15th MEU departed the San Diego to participate in a series of sustainment and nighttime navigation events off the shore of Djibouti.
"We are thankful to have such a great Blue-Green team on board San Diego," said 1st Lt. Mark Dougherty, the AAV platoon leader. "One of the main objectives of San Diego is the launching and recovery of AAVs and with the teamwork and trust we have, things always run smoothly."
Along with AAVs, San Diego conducted more than 45 hours in well deck operation in launching two LCACs assigned to Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5 on board in order to transport troops, vehicles and equipment ashore.
Additionally, San Diego conducted flight operations with embarked Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (reinforced) (VMM) 161.
"It felt good to participate in this combat rehearsal," said Maj. Page Payne, VMM 161 detachment officer-in-charge. "We did more than 100 hours of flight time and completed approximately 150 missions. I'm glad we had one more time to go through the motions before [beginning our future operations]."
The America ARG, led by Commander, Amphibious Squadron (CPR) 3, consists of the San Diego, the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52). They will operate with embarked forces of the 15th MEU, the "Wildcards" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23, and detachments from Assault Craft Unit 5, Naval Beach Group 1, Beachmaster Unit 1, Fleet Surgical Team 1 and Tactical Air Control Squadron 11.
The 15th MEU is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force comprised of a ground combat element, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marines; an aviation combat element, VMM 161; and a combat logistics element, Combat Logistics Battalion 15.
The ARG and 15th MEU provide senior U.S. military leadership and partners with a flexible force which can rapidly respond to contingencies and crises within a region. With ships, aircraft, troops and logistical equipment, the ARG/MEU is a self-contained and self-sustained task force capable of conducting a wide range of military operations including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. While in the region, the southern California-based Navy/Marine Corps team falls under Naval Amphibious Forces, Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, and will help ensure the free flow of commerce, provide crisis response, and support ongoing missions in the 5th Fleet area of operations.
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Bonhomme Richard Arrives in Okinawa, Conducts Final Offload of 31st MEU
Navy News Service
Story Number: NNS170919-02
Release Date: 9/19/2017 7:52:00 AM
By MC2 Jeanette Mullinax, USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) Public Affairs
WHITE BEACH NAVAL FACILITY, Okinawa, Japan (NNS) -- The amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in Okinawa to conduct the final offload of 31st MEU equipment, vehicles, and personnel, Sept. 19.
Bonhomme Richard departed Sasebo, Japan, for a regularly-scheduled deployment in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), June 1. During the deployment, Bonhomme Richard and the 31st MEU participated in the bilateral, biennial U.S.-Australia exercise Talisman Saber 2017 (TS17), completed amphibious integration training (AIT) and certified as fully capable during the 31st MEU's certification exercise (CERTEX).
"The accomplishments of our Sailors and Marines throughout this deployment exceeded all expectations," said Capt. Larry McCullen, commanding officer of Bonhomme Richard. "It has been an honor serving with the 31st MEU in this AOR. With all the training that we've done together, side-by-side, we have proven to be an unbeatable team."
Through the exercises conducted during TS17, AIT and CERTEX, the Navy-Marine Corps team's posture forward remains reinforced as a fully flexible and ready-response force, said Col. Tye Wallace, commanding officer of the 31st MEU.
"It is exercises like Talisman Saber that enable the 31st MEU to be prepared to respond to contingencies throughout the region," said Wallace. "We will remain forward, flexible and ready to face any crisis, and we have been grateful for the opportunity to work with our close allies."
While in Okinawa, the 31st MEU will off-load cargo and disembark approximately 1,200 Marine personnel, signifying the end of their deployment, while Sailors of Bonhomme Richard and Naval Beach Unit (NBU) 7 will assist with the ship-to-shore offload of heavy-lift vehicles and equipment utilizing landing craft air cushions (LCAC).
"The LCAC is our primary ship-to-shore mover and the fastest transporter of heavy-lift equipment and vehicles," said Electronic's Technician 2nd Class Patrick Johnson, an NBU 7 navigator. "We do a lot of working directly with the Marines, so we create really great working relationships with them and by the end of the deployment, the evolution is so smooth."
The 31st MEU concludes their farewell deployment aboard Bonhomme Richard as the ship is scheduled to turn over duties with the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) in winter 2018.
The BHR ESG consists of Bonhomme Richard, USS Green Bay (LPD 20) and USS Ashland (LSD 48). Bonhomme Richard, flagship of the BHR ESG, is operating in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to enhance partnerships and be a ready-response force for any type of contingency.
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U.S. launches its first military base in Israel to curb Iran
People's Daily Online
(Xinhua) 16:58, September 19, 2017
The U.S. army inaugurated its first military base in Israel, which sends a message of readiness to Israel's arch enemy Iran in the region, local media reported on Tuesday.
The base's opening comes as Israel faces a slew of regional threats, especially from its arch enemy Iran, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said.
The Israeli military said the new base, located inside an existing Israel Air Force base in the southern region, sends a message of readiness to Israel's enemies, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
The American military base houses dozens of U.S. soldiers operating radar device alongside Israeli soldiers as U.S. radar has been operational on site for a decade, using American civilians to operate it.
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Nine civilians dead as Saudi warplanes bomb NW Yemen
Iran Press TV
Tue Sep 19, 2017 05:09PM
At least nine civilians have been killed when Saudi military aircraft carried out an airstrike against a residential area in Yemen as the Saudi regime presses ahead with an atrocious military campaign against its crisis-hit southern neighbor.
Local sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said four women and five children lost their lives on Tuesday, when Saudi fighter jets bombarded a residential building in the Kushar district of the northwestern province of Hajjah, located approximately 130 kilometers northwest of the capital Sana'a, Arabic-language al-Arabi news website reported.
The sources identified the victims as members of the same family.
Later in the day, Yemeni troopers and allied fighters from Popular Committees fired a medium-range Qaher M2 ballistic missile at a gathering of Saudi-sponsored militiamen loyal to resigned president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi in the al-Hazm district of the northern province of Jawf.
There were no immediate reports on possible casualties among the mercenaries and the extent of damage inflicted on their military hardware.
Saudi Arabia has been incessantly pounding Yemen since March 2015 in an attempt to crush the popular Houthi Ansarullah movement and reinstate Hadi, who is a staunch ally of the Riyadh regime.
More than 12,000 people have been killed since the onset of the campaign more than two and a half years ago. Much of the Arabian Peninsula country's infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and factories, has been reduced to rubble due to the war.
The Saudi war has also triggered a deadly cholera epidemic across Yemen.
According to data provided by the World Health Organization and Yemen's Health Ministry, the country's cholera outbreak, the worst on record in terms of its rapid spread, has infected 612,703 people and killed 2,048 since it began in April, with some districts still reporting sharp rises in new cases.
The United Nations also says the Saudi war has left some 17 million Yemenis hungry, nearly seven million facing famine, and about 16 million almost without access to water or sanitation.
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Israeli fighter jet bombs positions in occupied Golan Heights
Iran Press TV
Tue Sep 19, 2017 03:11PM
An Israeli fighter jet has targeted positions in Syria's occupied Golan Heights after a Patriot missile allegedly intercepted and shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle purportedly operated by the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement.
Beirut-based and English-language Daily Star reported that the aerial assaults targeted a number of areas in Syria's strategic southwestern region of Quneitra near the border with Israeli-controlled Palestinian territories.
Earlier, the Israeli media outlets claimed that Israel's military forces had struck a reconnaissance drone as soon as it had entered the skies over the occupied Golan Heights.
Israeli Military Spokesman Brigadier General Ronen Manelis said the Hezbollah-operated drone took off from Damascus International Airport.
During the past few years, Israel has frequently attacked military targets in Syria in what is considered as an attempt to prop up terrorist groups that have been suffering heavy defeats in their fight against Syrian government forces.
Back in April 2015, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially admitted for the first time that the regime's military had conducted strikes in Syrian territory.
Damascus says Israel and its Western and regional allies are aiding Takfiri terrorist groups operating inside the Arab country, while the Tel Aviv regime's military carries out such sporadic strikes against Syrian government forces. The Israeli regime has even set up field hospitals to treat wounded militants evacuated from Syria.
Moreover, the Syrian army has repeatedly seized huge quantities of Israeli-made weapons and advanced military equipment from the foreign-backed militants inside Syria.
Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria after the 1967 Six-Day War and later occupied it in a move that has never been recognized by the international community. The regime has built dozens of settlements in the area ever since and has used the region to carry out a number of military operations against the Syrian government.
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Trump calls Iran nuclear deal an 'embarrassment' to US
Iran Press TV
Tue Sep 19, 2017 02:57PM
US President Donald Trump has told the United Nations General Assembly that the internationally-negotiated nuclear agreement with Iran is an "embarrassment" to the United States, raising question whether he intends to stay in the 2015 accord.
Trump made his maiden speech before the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, addressing issues such as terrorism, North Korea's nuclear program and the Iran deal.
The Republican president described the Iran nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as "the worst and most one-sided transaction the US has ever entered into," a characterization he often used during his presidential campaign.
"I don't think you've heard the last of it, believe me," Trump said.
The Trump administration has desperately sought a pretext to scrap or weaken the 2015 deal and get rid of the limits the deal imposes on the US ability to pursue more hostile policies against Iran.
However, Washington's European allies seek to prevent the collapse of the deal and are stepping up efforts to convince Trump not to abandon the accord.
Federica Mogherini, the EU foreign policy chief, said on Monday that the Iran deal belonged to the entire world, not just the United States.
"I have said many times that the agreement is working fine, [and] the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) [has] confirmed several times that Iran is fulfilling its obligations," Mogherini said on Monday.
Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China plus Germany signed the nuclear agreement on July 14, 2015 and started implementing it on January 16, 2016.
Under the JCPOA, Iran undertook to put limitations on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions imposed against Tehran.
The White House faces an imminent decision on whether to certify that Iran is in compliance with the terms of the nuclear accord.
In his address, Trump also accused the Iranian government of exporting "violence, bloodshed and chaos."
"Iran must stop supporting terrorists, begin serving its own people and respect the sovereign rights of its neighbors."
Trump threatens to 'destroy' North Korea
Trump also warned that he would "totally destroy" North Korea if the country threatened the United States or its allies.
"The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea," he said.
"It is time for North Korea to realize that its denuclearization is its only responsible future," he added.
Trump also warned that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, whom he referred to as "rocket man", "is on a suicide mission for himself."
The strong words came after Trump made the case that North Korea is a "country that imperils the world," adding that it is in no country's interest that Pyongyang continues with its nuclear and missile programs.
Trump also praised the United Nations for imposing economic sanctions on Pyongyang over its recent nuclear and ballistic missile tests.
Trump called on the international community to further isolate North Korea in light of its "reckless pursuit" of nuclear weapons.
"It is an outrage that some nations would not only trade with such a nation but would arm, supply and financially support a country that imperils the world."
World in 'great peril'
The US president also addressed the issue of terrorism, saying the world faced a "great peril" from terrorists with expanding reach across the globe and "rogue regimes" that supported them.
"We meet at a time of immense promise and great peril," Trump said. "It is up to us whether we will lift the world to new heights or let it fall into a valley of disrepair."
Trump, who has criticized the UN in the past as weak and incompetent, said, "The powerful people in this room, under the guidance and auspices of the United Nations can solve many of these vicious and complex problems."
The president indicated that the United States was prepared to combat global instability through military force. "Our military will soon be the strongest it's ever been," he said.
Trump opened his remarks touting his economic achievements as president, a nod to his core campaign promises of prosperity at home.
"The United States has done very well since Election Day last November 8," he said. "The stock market is at an all-time high, a record. Unemployment is at its lowest level."
Trump brought his "America-First" agenda to the UN, saying he would place America's interests above those of all other countries.
"As President of the United States, I will always put America first," he said. "All responsible leaders have an obligation to serve their own nations."
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Almost 2 million people internally displaced in Yemen: UN
Iran Press TV
Tue Sep 19, 2017 08:38AM
The United Nations (UN)'s refugee agency says nearly two million people have been internally displaced due to the conflict in Yemen.
In a report released on Monday, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) put the number of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Yemen at 1,980,510, adding that 84 percent of the IDPs had been out of their homes for over a year.
According to the report, 946,044 formerly displaced persons had returned to their homes, while 280,623 foreign refugees, mainly from Somalia and Ethiopia, were still in Yemen.
The UNHCR said it "remains deeply concerned by the significant impact the escalating hostilities are having on the protection of civilians and on the increase of newly displaced persons."
"The war in Yemen, now in its third year, is exacting an unacceptably high toll on civilians, including on refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons," it added.
In January 2015, the Saudi-friendly government of the then-president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi resigned under mounting pressure over its handling of the country's affairs. The Houthi Ansarullah movement initially called on him to retract his resignation, but he refused, fleeing the capital. The Houthis then took over state matters to prevent a breakup of the state system and the rise of terrorist groups.
In March 2015, Saudi Arabia led a group of countries in a military invasion of Yemen in an attempt to eliminate the Houthi Ansarullah movement and reinstall Hadi.
The protracted Saudi offensive, which has been accompanied by a naval and aerial blockade on Yemen, has so far killed over 12,000 people and led to a humanitarian crisis and a cholera outbreak.
Cholera likely to continue in Yemen: WHO
In a relevant development on Monday, Dominique Legros, a cholera expert at the World Health Organization (WHO), warned that the epidemic in Yemen was likely to continue for a long time.
The WHO has recorded 686,783 suspected cholera cases and 2,090 deaths in Yemen since late April.
Last week, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Yemen's cholera outbreak had reached "colossal proportions" and could affect 850,000 people by the end of the year.
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US govt. wiretapped Manafort during, after 2016 election, a report says
Iran Press TV
Tue Sep 19, 2017 01:16AM
A report claims that the US government wiretapped the phone of former Donald Trump campaign chairman under secret court orders before and after the 2016 presidential election.
The government obtained the order under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) in 2014, which focused on Paul Manafort's work consulting for the government of Ukraine, CNN cited sources as saying in a Monday report.
That warrant was reportedly ended in 2016, but the FBI obtained a second warrant soon after that, which lasted until early 2017, including periods when Manafort was speaking with Trump.
That was part of an ongoing investigation into ties between Trump's campaign and Russia.
It is not unclear whether the FBI surveillance took place at his residence in Trump Tower,
Manafort also has a home in Alexandria, Virginia, which was raided by the FBI in July.
The FBI also eavesdropped on Carter Page, a campaign associate that then candidate Trump once identified as a national security adviser. Page's ties to Russia, including an attempt by Russian spies to cultivate him, prompted the FBI to obtain a FISA court warrant in 2014.
Trump has been under pressure for the alleged Russian role in his victory; allegations that both him and the Russian government have denied.
Trump's Justice Department has previously confirmed that they have "no records related to wiretaps."
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Afghan Air Force Receives First U.S.-Made Black Hawk Helicopters
RFE/RL September 19, 2017
The Afghan Air Force (AAF) has received its first U.S.-made UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters as part of a planned replacement of its aging fleet of Russian-made helicopters.
"The first Afghan Air Force UH-60s arrived today at Kandahar Air Field" in southern Afghanistan, the NATO-led Resolute Support mission said in a statement posted on Facebook late on September 18.
"The AAF is transitioning from the Mi-17 to the UH-60 as part of recapitalization efforts to modernize the helicopter fleet," it added.
Reports say the United States plans to supply as many as 159 refurbished Black Hawks to Afghanistan in the coming years to replace Afghanistan's Soviet-era Mi-17s, whose age makes them increasingly difficult to maintain.
Bolstering the Afghan Air Force is a central part of President Ashraf Ghani's four-year road map to improve the country's security forces as the government is struggling to beat back insurgents in the wake of the exit of most NATO forces in 2014.
A U.S. report found earlier this year that the Taliban controls or contests control of about 40 percent of the country, and security forces are also fighting against militants affiliated with the extremist group Islamic State (IS).
More U.S. Troops On Way
Also on September 19, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said most of the 3,000 additional troops the United States is deploying to Afghanistan are on their way.
Mattis told Pentagon reporters that he didn't want to give precise numbers but said he was sending "over 3,000" troops to Afghanistan, where they will bolster the approximately 11,000 American forces already there.
"Most of them are on their way or under orders now, and I'd prefer not to give any more information that helps the enemy," he added.
U.S. President Donald Trump last month announced a new Afghanistan strategy he said was aimed at defeating the Taliban after nearly 16 years of war.
Defense officials say the president's new strategy for Afghanistan will try to repeat the success of U.S. efforts over the past two years to strengthen Iraqi security forces against the Islamic State group with better training, logistical support, and the battlefield backup of U.S. artillery, and air strikes on enemy positions.
The United States is also pressing for NATO partners to increase their own troop levels in Afghanistan.
With reporting by Reuters, AFP, dpa, and RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghan-air-force-black- hawk-helicopters/28744380.html
Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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U.S. Senate Passes Bill To Fund New Cruise Missile, Fight Russian Propaganda
Mike Eckel September 19, 2017
WASHINGTON The U.S. Senate on September 18 strongly backed a $700 billion defense policy bill that calls on the Pentagon to fight Russian propaganda and start building a new cruise missile in a move critics say will lead to the demise of a major Cold War treaty.
The 1,215-page National Defense Authorization Act, which was passed by 89 to 8, also includes a provision broadening the government's ban on using Kaspersky Lab software in government computers.
Under the cruise missile provision, the Defense Department is authorized to spend $65 million to begin development of a new ground-launched cruise missile in response to allegations that Russia has been violating the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty.
Russia has repeatedly denied U.S. accusations that it has tested and deployed a missile that violates the landmark agreement, known as the INF, demanding more evidence from Washington. It also in turn has accused the United States of violating the treaty with certain launch systems being deployed to Eastern Europe.
Ahead of the vote, a group of arms control experts and former U.S. government officials warned that building a new missile would hasten the demise of the treaty. A pair of senators co-sponsored an amendment that would undo the cruise missile authorization, but it never came up for a vote.
The bill also directs the Defense Department to report to Congress on Russian attempts to spread "disinformation or propaganda, through social media applications or related Internet-based means, to members of the Armed Forces with probable intent to cause injury to the United States or advantage the Government of the Russian Federation."
That provision reflects growing alarm in Washington about Russian propaganda efforts ever since U.S. intelligence report released in January concluded that Russia engaged in a hacking-and-propaganda campaign to try and sway the presidential election.
The ban on Kaspersky software extends to the U.S. military a ban on civilian government contractors' use of the software that was announced by the Department of Homeland Security last week.
Under the homeland security order, government agencies have 90 days to start removing the software from agency computers.
The Kremlin has condemned the ban as a violation of international trade laws and company founder Eugene Kaspersky has repeatedly denied that his company, one of Russia's most successful technology firms, has connections to Russian intelligence agencies.
The defense bill includes a proposal to let the Pentagon spend up to $100 million on deepening U.S. security cooperation with the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. All three are NATO members bordering Russia which have sounded alarms about nearby Russian military activities and have called for more support from both NATO and the United States.
The bill also maintains funding for Ukrainian military support and authorizes the treatment of injured Ukrainian military personnel in U.S. military facilities.
The legislation also calls for $60 billion to fund wartime missions in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and other places, and $8.5 billion to further build up U.S. missile defense systems.
The bill received strong backing from both Democrats and Republicans, a show of bipartisan cooperation that contrasts to the uncertainty and disagreement over many other Washington matters since Trump's election.
While the Russian- and European-related measures were not controversial, other parts of the bill address controversial issues such as President Donald Trump's proposed ban on transgender troops in the armed forces.
Some parts of the bill must still be reconciled with a defense policy bill passed earlier by the House of Representatives, though no major changes are expected.
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-senate-passes -bill-fund-new-cruise-missile-fight- russian-propaganda/28743431.html
Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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Trump Calls On UN To Take Harder Line Against North Korea, Iran
RFE/RL September 19, 2017
U.S. President Donald Trump has called on members of the United Nations General Assembly to take a harder line against threats posed by North Korea and Iran, saying the United States could be "forced" to "totally destroy North Korea" if the UN fails to convince Pyongyang to "cease its hostile behavior" and suggesting that Washington may withdraw from Iran's nuclear deal with world powers.
In his first address to the UN General Assembly, Trump spoke in tough terms about the threat to global security posed by North Korea's development of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles.
He referred to North Korean leader Kim Jung Un as "Rocket Man," saying he was on a "suicide mission."
"The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea," Trump said.
"Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime," Trump said. "The United States is ready, willing, and able. But hopefully, this will not be necessary. That's what the United Nations is all about. That's what the United Nations is for. Let's see how they do."
Trump welcomed recent UN Security Council sanctions imposed against North Korea over its latest nuclear weapons tests, but told the General Assembly that "we must do much more."
"It is time for all nations to work together to isolate the Kim regime until it ceases its hostile behavior," Trump said.
"If the righteous many do not confront the wicked few, then evil will triumph," Trump said. "When decent people and nations become bystanders to history, the forces of destruction only gather power and strength."
The UN Security Council has imposed several rounds of sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. Pyongyang warned on September 18 that more sanctions and pressure will only make it accelerate its nuclear program.
The Chinese and Russian foreign ministers, Wang Yi and Sergei Lavrov, called for a peaceful end to what they termed a "vicious cycle" on the Korean Peninsula as they met in New York, China's Foreign Ministry said on September 19.
Moscow and Beijing are calling for North Korea to stop its missile and nuclear tests in exchange for the United States and South Korea holding off on future large joint military drills.
Iran Nuclear Deal 'Worst, Most One-Sided'
Trump also said it was "far past time" for the countries of the world to confront Iran, which he called "a reckless" and "murderous regime" that is "undermining peace throughout the Middle East."
He said Tehran cannot be allowed to continue developing its "dangerous missiles."
Speaking about Iran's nuclear deal with six world powers, Trump told the General Assembly, "We cannot abide by an agreement if it provides cover for the eventual construction of a nuclear program."
Trump said the Iran nuclear deal was "one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into."
"Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I don't think you've heard the last of it. Believe me," Trump said.
"The Iranian government masks a corrupt dictatorship behind the false guise of a democracy," Trump said, describing the country as an "economically-depleted rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed, and chaos."
"It is time for the entire world to join us in demanding that Iran's government end its pursuit of death and destruction."
Iranian President Hassan Rohani responded to Trump's criticism by telling reporters the United States would forfeit the world's trust if it exited the 2015 nuclear deal which was also signed by France, Britain, Russia, China, and Germany.
French President Emmanuel Macron said it was a big mistake to criticize the nuclear deal, and that not respecting the accord would be irresponsible because it was a "good deal."
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump's remarks about Iran, saying in a statement that he had "never heard a bolder or more courageous speech" at the United Nations in more than 30 years.
U.S. and UN watchdogs monitoring compliance have found Iran has adhered to the accord, which eased international economic sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear activities.
However, the Trump administration has frequently charged that Tehran breaks the "spirit" of the deal, including by continuing to test-launch ballistic missiles and rockets capable of carrying nuclear warheads. It has also lobbied for tougher nuclear inspections in Iran, including at military sites.
Trump also had criticism for Russia and China, saying, "We must reject threats to sovereignty from the Ukraine to the South China Sea."
"We must uphold respect for law, respect for borders, and respect for culture, and the peaceful engagement these allow," Trump said.
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/united-states- trump-united-nations-general- assembly-/28744003.html
Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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Reports: Former Trump Campaign Chairman Wiretapped; To Be Indicted
RFE/RL September 19, 2017
U.S. media are reporting that federal investigators have wiretapped President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort under secret court orders and now plan to indict him.
According to The New York Times, which cited two people it said were close to the case, U.S. agents informed Manafort on September 18 that they planned to indict him when they raided his home in Virginia in July.
CNN, citing anonymous sources, reported the same day that investigators had a secret order to wiretap Manafort both before and after the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Manafort is one of several close Trump advisers who are now being investigated by Justice Department Special Counsel Robert Mueller in his probe of alleged Russian interference in the election.
Manafort became Trump's campaign manager in June 2016 but was forced to resign two months later after reports of his business relationship with the party of Ukraine's former Kremlin-backed President Viktor Yanukovych.
Manafort and his attorneys did not immediately respond to the reports.
CNN said the secret court that oversees warrant requests under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act issued warrants to wiretap Manafort starting in 2016 before the election.
Such warrants require the approval of top FBI and Justice Department officials, and law enforcement has to demonstrate to the court that there is reason to believe the subject of the investigation may be acting as an agent of a foreign power.
CNN said interest in Manafort deepened because of intercepted communications between him and Russian operatives, and among the Russians.
It said the government eavesdropping continued into 2017, including a period when Manafort was known to talk to Trump after he became president. CNN said it was unclear if Trump was picked up on the surveillance.
CNN said the FBI was not listening in June 2016 when the president's son, Donald Trump Jr., Manafort, and top White House adviser Jared Kushner, who is also the president's son-in-law, met with a Russian lawyer who had promised to deliver negative information on Trump's rival, Democrat Hillary Clinton.
With reporting by Reuters, CNN, dpa, and New York Times
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/reports-former-trump -campaign-chairman-manafort-wiretapped -to-be-indicted/28743585.html
Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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Russia to Deliver 12 Su-30K Fighters to Angola by Early 2018 - Repair Plant
Sputnik News
19:17 19.09.2017(updated 19:56 19.09.2017)
Russia will meet all its obligations to deliver a dozen Su-30K fighters to Angola by early 2018.
BARANOVICHI (Belarus) (Sputnik) Russia will fulfill the contracted delivery of 12 modernized Su-30K fighter jets to Angola by early 2018, Aleksandr Vorobei, the deputy CEO of the 558 Aviation Repair Plant in Belarus, told Sputnik on Tuesday.
"So far, two [Su-30Ks have been delivered to Angola], there is a delivery schedule, and its fulfillment has been launched as for now. I think that the deliveries will be completed by early next year," Vorobei said.
Su-30K is an interim model of the Russian Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet (NATO reporting name: Flanker-C), which were manufactured at Russia's Irkutsk Aviation Plant to be sold to the Indian Air Force. A total of 18 fighters were delivered to New Delhi between 1997 and 1999, but the aircraft were returned to the Irkut Corporation in 2005 to be replaced with 16 Su-30MKI jets (NATO reporting name: Flanker-H).
Angola signed a contract to purchase 12 Russian Su-30K fighters, which are currently stationed at the 558 Aviation Repair Plant in Belarus' Baranovichi, during a v
Sputnik
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DR Congo: UN agency urges Government to protect refugees after tragic killings
19 September 2017 The United Nations refugee agency is urging the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to ensure protection for refugees and asylum-seekers following last week's shooting incident in Kamanyola in which at least 39 people were killed and 94 injured.
"This is a devastating tragedy. It should never have happened," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.
According to a press release from the Office of the High Commissioner (UNHCR), Mr. Grandi welcomed the announcement from Congolese officials to launch an inquiry into the incident and called for it to be detailed.
The incident took place on 15 September after Congolese soldiers fired live rounds at Burundian protestors in the eastern part of the country, many of whom UNHCR believes were refugees and asylum-seekers. The protest, reported to be initially peaceful, allegedly started after a small group of Burundians were detained by Congolese authorities, creating fears they were going to be deported to Burundi.
The dead included Burundian men, women and one child. The incident also resulted in the death of one Congolese soldier, with six others wounded.
"We need to establish facts and determine responsibility and make sure that such an incident never happens again," Mr. Grandi said.
UNHCR immediately deployed a team to the area on Saturday where it is working with the medical staff of a partner organization in the local hospital to provide life-saving medical assistance to the injured.
The UNHCR team on the ground reports a tense situation with over 2,400 Burundians seeking protection next to the UN peacekeeping mission's small base in Kamanyola.
DRC hosts more than 43,700 refugees who have arrived from Burundi since 2015.
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Repair 'world in pieces' and create 'world at peace,' UN chief Guterres urges global leaders
19 September 2017 Addressing the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations Headquarters, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today spotlighted several threats including the nuclear peril, climate change, and ongoing conflicts that must be overcome to create a better world for all.
"We are a world in pieces. We need to be a world at peace," said Mr. Guterres as he presented his annual Report on the work of the Organization ahead of the general debate of the UN General Assembly, in which Heads of State and Government and other high-level representatives from around the world discuss key global issues.
He said that the world is seeing insecurity rising, inequality growing, conflict spreading, climate changing, societies fragmenting and political discourse polarizing.
The UN chief noted that global anxieties about nuclear weapons are at the highest level since the end of the Cold War due to provocative nuclear and missile tests by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
"The solution must be political. This is a time for statesmanship. We must not sleepwalk our way into war," he warned, as fiery talk can lead to fatal misunderstandings.
On terrorism, the Secretary-General stressed the need to address the roots of radicalization. "It is not enough to fight terrorists on the battlefield," he said.
Stressing the need for "a surge in diplomacy today" and "a leap in conflict prevention for tomorrow," he said that it is possible to move from war to peace, and from dictatorship to democracy. Only political solutions can bring peace to the unresolved conflicts in Syria, Yemen, South Sudan, the Sahel, Afghanistan and elsewhere. That was why he announced the creation of a high-level advisory board on mediation, he added.
On Myanmar, Mr. Guterres said the Asian country's authorities must end the military operations in Rakhine state, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and address the grievances of the Rohingya Muslims, whose status has been left unresolved for far too long.
He went on to take note of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi's address today and her intention to implement the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State that was chaired by Kofi Annan within the shortest time possible.
On the Israel-Palestine conflict, the two-state solution remains the only way forward, he said.
Turning to climate change, Mr. Guterres urged Governments to implement the historic Paris Agreement with greater ambition.
"We should not link any single weather event with climate change. But scientists are clear that such extreme weather is precisely what their models predict will be the new normal of a warming world," he said, noting that mega-hurricanes, superstorms and rain bombs are added to the vocabulary to describe what is happening.
While explaining how globalization and technological advances have brought uneven benefits, he also highlighted the dark side of innovation, such as cybersecurity threats as well as the possible negative implications of artificial intelligence and genetic engineering.
Lastly, Mr. Guterres said safe migration cannot be limited to the global elite and stressed the need to do more to face the challenges of migration. Refugees, internally displaced persons and migrants are not the problem; the problem lies in conflict, persecution and hopeless poverty.
To tackle these challenges, he said, the UN has launched initiatives to reform itself.
Looking over the packed General Assembly Hall, he said that the UN is needed, and "multilateralism is more important than ever" when there are competing interests and even open conflict.
"We call ourselves the international community; we must act as one," he concluded.
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President of UN General Assembly urges world leaders to engage in working for the people
19 September 2017 Opening the annual general debate, the President of the United Nations General Assembly today stressed the need for more work on prevention, a greater focus on people, and keeping promises made to advance prosperity and protect the planet.
"We are spending too much time and money reacting to conflicts, and not enough on preventing them," Miroslav Lajcak told more than 120 world leaders gathered in General Assembly Hall in New York.
He called for integrating prevention with development and human rights work, and reviewing how UN does its peace operations and counterterrorism work.
"When people can live decent lives when rights are respected when rule of law is present in everyday life it is harder to turn societies to conflict," he said.
The Assembly President told the audience that the UN was not made for them, but for people.
"We know that many people have become disillusioned. Countless others around the world, however, have high hopes for us. They see the UN's blue flag as a first sign of safety and the beginning of change," Mr. Lajcak said.
He noted that the 193 members of the UN General Assembly will face one of its biggest test with the process of adopting the first Global Compact for Migration at a time when world leaders have varying opinions on the phenomenon.
"We cannot turn this into an exercise of bureaucracy. We cannot be left with an agreement that works only on paper," he stressed.
Lack of accountability and follow through also potentially plague work to counter international terrorism, and following up on violations of international humanitarian law.
In his first speech to the high-level debate as President of the General Assembly, Mr. Lajcak also called on the international community to keep its promises to curb poverty and protect the environment by following through with commitments made in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
"I see the priority clusters of 'peace and prevention,' 'people and planet and prosperity as three sides of a triangle. They might not all be the same length, or the same width, but one is as important as the other," he said.
Closing the address, Mr. Lajcak urged world leaders to change the way they work on a daily basis and engage in real dialogue, not a succession of monologues: "We cannot fall for an end to business as usual and then continue to do business as usual."
If we are looking for a change in how the UN operates around the world, we should start here in New York."
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All nations should embrace their sovereignty, US President tells world leaders at UN Assembly
19 September 2017 Noting that the present world is one that offers both immense promise and great peril, the President of the United States told global leaders at the United Nations that it was "entirely up to us" to either lift the world to new heights, or let it fall into a valley of disrepair.
"To overcome the perils of the present and to achieve the promise of the future, we must begin with the wisdom of the past," Donald Trump said today at the general debate of the 72nd session of General Assembly.
"Our success depends on a coalition of strong and independent nations that embrace their sovereignty to promote security, prosperity, and peace for themselves and for the world."
Noting that the US would remain a "great friend" to the world, and especially to its allies, the President underscored that his country can no longer be taken advantage of, and that he would defend US interests above all else.
"But in fulfilling our obligations to our own nations, we also realize that it's in everyone's interest to seek a future where all nations can be sovereign, prosperous, and secure," he noted.
He also called for greater reforms at the UN, urging the Organization to focus more on results, rather than bureaucracy and processes. He also called for more fair cost sharing among UN Member States.
Turning to the crisis emanating from the nuclear weapons programme of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Mr. Trump underscored if the US is forced to defended itself or its allies, "we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea." Recalling recent resolutions adopted unanimously by the Security Council, he urged that country to pursue the path of denuclearization.
In his remarks, he also criticized the Iranian Government and called on the country's leadership to halt is support of terrorists, begin serving its people, and respect the sovereign rights of its neighbours. He also noted the need for de-escalation of the conflict in Syria, as well as on sanctions imposed by the US on Cuba and Venezuela.
Also in his remarks, the President spoke of economic progress made by the United States since his election as well as the progress it has made in terms of healthcare, women's empowerment and military strength.
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Trump Threatens 'Total Destruction' of North Korea in First UN Speech
By Peter Heinlein September 19, 2017
Describing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as "Rocket Man" on a suicide mission, U.S. President Donald Trump used his maiden address to the United Nations General Assembly to warn the Pyongyang regime that its current course could lead to total destruction.
"North Korea's reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles threatens the entire world with unthinkable loss of human life," Trump told a packed U.N. General Assembly hall.
"No nation, on Earth, has an interest in seeing this band of criminals armed itself with nuclear weapons and missiles. The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea," the president said.
"Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime," he added.
North Korea's U.N. ambassador left the hall before Trump arrived, and his seat remained empty throughout the president's 42-minute address.
Iran, Venezuela
The president was equally harsh in his comments on Iran, describing its government as a corrupt dictatorship that hides behind the false guise of democracy. "It has turned a wealthy country with rich history and culture into an economically depleted rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed, and chaos," Trump said.
Reading from two teleprompters on the dais, Trump told the assembly the Tehran government had used its vast resources to fund terrorist groups that "kill innocent Muslims and attack its peaceful Arab and Israeli neighbors."
"We cannot let a murderous regime continue these destabilizing activities while building dangerous missiles and we cannot abide by the agreement if it provides cover for an eventual construction of a nuclear program," the president said.
The U.S. leader's list of world trouble spots included Venezuela. "The socialist dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro has inflicted terrible pain and suffering on the good people of that country," he said.
Trump drew chuckles from many in the audience when he noted that, "The problem in Venezuela is not that socialism has been poorly implemented, but that socialism has been faithfully implemented."
'America First' policy
The president touched on a broad spectrum of topics, from the recent spate of deadly hurricanes to his vision of "America First" and the concept of sovereignty, which observers saw as the beginnings of a Trump Doctrine.
"We must protect our nations, their interests and their futures. We must reject threats to sovereignty from the Ukraine to the South China Sea," Trump said. "We must uphold respect for law, respect for borders and respect for culture and the peaceful engagement these allow. And just as the founders of this body intended, we must work together and confront together those who threaten us with chaos, turmoil and terror.
Reaction on Capitol Hill
Initial reactions to the address were sharply divided. On Capitol Hill, they fell along predictably partisan lines.
Republican Senator Corey Gardner (R-CO) applauded the tough line on North Korea. "The president made it clear that countries around the world have a choice - to do business with North Korea or the United States," Gardner said. When asked by VOA about Trump's use of the term "Rocket Man" to describe North Korea's leader, he replied, "Rocketman, madman - it fits."
Democratic Senator Edward Markey of Massachusetts, like his Republican colleague a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Trump would do better to speak of tougher sanctions than the possibility of nuclear war.
"The president should be talking more about imposing even tougher sanctions on North Korea, having the Chinese agree that they are going to cut off all oil into the North Korean economy. I think that would increase the likelihood that the North Koreans would come to the table," Markey said.
Political scientist Thomas Whalen of Boston University predicted the speech would be well received by Trump's conservative base, but might send the wrong message to the international community.
"Apart from the expected bashing of the North Korean and Iranian regimes, Trump trumpeted his vision of "national sovereignty," which looks highly unfavorably on multinational trade deals and globalism in general," Whalen told VOA." Indeed, Trump made it clear that he is putting America first and foremost. Whether this will make for a safer and more secure world remains to be seen."
International reaction
Zalmay Khalilzad, who served as U.S. ambassador to the U.N. in the George W. Bush administration, took a more sanguine view. He said one presidential speech will have little or no effect on America's reputation in the world, since most nations base their views of the United States on policies, which tend to transcend administrations, not on the views or actions of any individual president.
"While they may see great [short term] changes, they see great continuity over decades, whether a Democratic or Republican president. There is also this continuity that occurs, although emphases on some issues do change from time to time."
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UN Chief: Millions Live Under Shadow of DPRK Nuclear Threat
By Margaret Besheer September 19, 2017
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened his first General Assembly gathering Tuesday warning that North Korea's nuclear ambitions are the world's most serious challenge.
"Today proliferation is creating unimaginable danger, and disarmament is paralyzed," Guterres said in New York.
"Millions of people live under a shadow of dread cast by the provocative nuclear and missile tests of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," the secretary-general said, referring to North Korea by its formal name. "I condemn those tests unequivocally."
Guterres commended the unity of the U.N. Security Council in its recent tightening and imposing of economic sanctions on Pyongyang, saying the move sends "a clear message" to the leadership there.
"Fiery talk can lead to fatal misunderstandings," he warned. "The solution must be political this is a time for statesmanship -- we must not sleepwalk our way into war."
World threats, challenges
The U.N. chief, who took office January 1, outlined several other threats and challenges facing the world and urged multilateral solutions.
"We are a world in pieces," Guterres told world leaders. "We need to be a world at peace."
Of the numerous entrenched conflicts in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, he said "no one is winning" and the most vulnerable in society are paying the highest price for the combatants' "thirst for outright military victory, at any cost."
On terrorism, the secretary-general said there is no cause or grievance that justifies such actions, but cautioned against heavy-handed approaches in dealing with it, saying they are counterproductive.
"As soon as we believe that violations of human rights and democratic freedoms are necessary to win the fight, we have lost the war," he cautioned.
The U.N. chief, whose primary pillar is the prevention of conflict, called out the growing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar that has sent more than 400,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing to neighboring Bangladesh in the past month. He has recently referred to the military's abuses as ethnic cleansing.
He acknowledged a speech earlier Tuesday by de facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in her country.
"But let me emphasize again: the authorities in Myanmar must end the military operations and allow unhindered humanitarian access," Guterres said. "They must also address the grievances of the Rohingya, whose status has been left unresolved for far too long."
Climate change
He spoke of the importance of mitigating the impact of climate change and urged governments to implement the Paris Climate accord.
"It is high time to get off the path of suicidal emissions," Guterres said. "We know enough today to act the science is unassailable."
Guterres was the U.N.'s refugee chief for a decade before becoming secretary-general. He said of the migration crisis, he does not see it as a threat even if some others do.
"I see it as a challenge that, if properly managed, can help bring the world together," he said.
"Instead of closed doors and open hostility, we need to reestablish the integrity of the refugee protection regime and the simple decency of human compassion."
Guterres has a packed schedule this week, participating in numerous high level sessions on pressing global issues. He will also host a lunch Tuesday for the more than 120 heads of state and governments who are attending the General Assembly, and he has bilateral meetings planned with nearly every one of them, including U.S. President Donald Trump.
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Former Trump Campaign Chief Was Subject to Secret Wiretap
By VOA News September 19, 2017
Investigators with the United States government wiretapped the former chairman of President Donald Trump's campaign under a secret court order issued prior to the 2016 election and then again after the election, according to a CNN report.
Separately, The New York Times reported federal agents picked the locks on Paul Manafort's house during a raid earlier this summer before telling him he would be indicted, though they did not specify the charges.
Manafort served as Trump's campaign manager for about two months in the summer of 2016, but he was forced to resign after reports surfaced about his financial relationship with Viktor Yanukovych, the former pro-Russia president of Ukraine.
The wiretapping of Manafort, according to CNN, began in 2014 while he was the subject of an FBI investigation regarding political consulting work he did for the Ukrainian ruling party. The wiretap was discontinued in 2016 due to a lack of evidence uncovered, but was re-started under a new warrant later that year and continued at least into early 2017.
According to CNN, the new warrant was related to an FBI investigation into contacts between the Trump campaign and Russians.
President Trump has previously accused the administration of Barack Obama of having his "wires tapped" in Trump Tower. While Manafort owns a residence in Trump Tower, it is unclear whether the wiretapping took place there.
Both the FBI and its National Security Division say they have no records of wiretapping Trump Tower.
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Disputes, Logistics, Throw New Kenyan Poll Date Into Doubt
By Jill Craig September 19, 2017
Kenya's election drama continues. The country is scheduled to hold its new presidential poll on October 17, but there is already talk of postponement due to technical issues and arguments over the electoral commission. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court, which annulled the results of last month's vote, has come under fresh fire from ruling party supporters.
Police fired tear gas Tuesday to disperse ruling Jubilee party protesters demonstrating outside the Supreme Court, demanding the removal of two justices. The protesters say the justices met with opposition attorneys before the Supreme Court overturned the victory of their candidate, Uhuru Kenyatta, in the August 8 presidential election.
Chief Justice Maraga spoke to reporters, saying the court will not be intimidated.
"The judiciary, as currently constituted, cannot and shall not guarantee a particular outcome to any individual. We call upon Kenyans of good will to stand up for the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law. On our part, we are prepared to pay the ultimate price, to protect the constitution and the rule of law," Maraga said.
The chief justice announced on September 1 that a new poll should take place within 60 days, due to what he called "irregularities and illegalities" by the electoral commission in the transmission of election results.
The Supreme Court has until Friday to release the full details of what it says went wrong in August. That will leave the electoral commission, or IEBC, less than a month to correct issues ahead of the re-run election scheduled for October 17.
There is already talk of a postponement.
University of Nairobi lecturer Herman Manyora said the election can be organized within the constitutional time limit.
"Not necessarily on October 17, but I'm convinced within the 60 days provided by the constitution, we shall have the election. It may be pushed maybe a week, maybe the 24th, maybe the 31st, but within the 60 days, yes," Manyora said.
However, opposition leader Raila Odinga and his NASA coalition have threatened to boycott the polls if demands like the removal of key IEBC officials are not met.
Adding to the challenges, the French IT company that supplied the August election systems has told the IEBC the systems need to be reinstalled, and therefore, will not be ready by October 17.
Given these issues, political commentator Barrack Muluka questions whether the election will take place even by the end of October.
If it does and NASA boycotts it, he says, there could be bigger problems.
"Because I don't think that NASA would stay out and say, 'Okay, so you went on with the elections, and we stayed out because we didn't think the ground was level enough, but carry on.' I don't think they would sit down and say that they have lost out, and they would be satisfied with that. I suspect that we would see a new wave of activities, perhaps not very pleasant ones," Muluka said.
The ruling Jubilee party has said the re-run should proceed as scheduled on October 17.
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Joint Task Force Leeward Islands Prepares for Hurricane Maria
By Marine Corps Sgt. Ian Leones, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Sept. 19, 2017 U.S. service members with Joint Task Force Leeward Islands moved their aircraft from San Juan to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, yesterday so they can continue their humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission once Hurricane Maria passes.
At the request of partner nations, JTF-LI deployed aircraft and service members to areas in the eastern Caribbean Sea affected by Hurricane Irma. The task force is composed of Marines, soldiers, sailors and airmen, and represents U.S. Southern Command's primary response to Hurricane Irma.
The task force is operating two water purification sites in St. Martin to provide potable water to communities on the island impacted by Hurricane Irma. Supporting the mission are JTF-LI's aviation assets located in Puerto Rico.
"With Hurricane Irma, we watched it move through the Caribbean Sea and the Leeward Islands, and were tasked with providing support to the countries affected by the hurricane," said Marine Corps Maj. Matthew J. Weaver, commander of the task force's Marine aviation element.
The aircraft include Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters and Army UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters. They were positioned in Puerto Rico to provide the task force with lift capability as needed.
"We can provide a well-rounded lift package that covers everything from medical evacuations, heavy lift and general lift support," said Army Lt. Col. Dave Morgan, commander of the task force's Army aviation element.
The helicopters and crew were provided by the Corps' Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Southern Command and the Army's 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, Joint Task Force Bravo, both located at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras. The two units began training before the hurricane in order to provide a joint ability for this type of operation.
"Back in Soto Cano, we started with integration of our manning and maintenance, cross-talking in airspace, and going over differences in tactics, techniques and procedures," said Army Maj. Jake Yanko, the operations officer for the task force's Army aviation element. "We expect to do a lot of multi-ship flying for all of our humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts."
During the next few days, JTF-LI's priority will be to ensure that the entire force, including aviation assets, is safe from the storm.
"Now we have Hurricane Maria bearing down on Puerto Rico," Weaver said. "Our next step is to get our aircraft to a safer place, so we can return quickly and provide the same support to the countries in need."
Although the helicopters will leave San Juan, the task force will remain in Puerto Rico continue to monitor communications, accurately track people and gear, and maintain command and control during the storm.
Following Maria's passing, the task force is poised to resume relief operations as soon as possible.
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Hong Kong leader urges end to calls for independence
Iran Press TV
Tue Sep 19, 2017 09:56AM
Hong Kong's leader has called for an immediate halt to calls for independence in the semi-autonomous Chinese region, warning that the issue is "destroying the relationship" with Beijing.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam made the remarks on Tuesday, days after banners advocating independence from China first appeared on walls on some university campuses.
Lam said the campaign was "organized and systematic" rather than a spontaneous practice of the right to freedom of speech.
"This has already deviated from the so-called 'why aren't we able to talk about this?' point of view. It is clearly attacking 'one country, two systems'... and destroying the relationship between Beijing and Hong Kong," she said.
Under a deal between Britain and China in 1997, Hong Kong was reunited with China, but it was decided that the territory should continue to enjoy autonomy, including a separate legal system. China says that those privileges have been protected but insists it cannot tolerate movements that seek full independence from the mainland.
Lam said, "It is not in the interests of Hong Kong's development and must stop."
She said that the calls for independence "violated" the Basic Law Hong Kong's mini-constitution but stressed that the government did not plan to intervene on university campuses against those who have been posting the banners. She said she believed university management would be able to handle the issue without government intervention.
The anti-China posters sparked anger and counter-campaigns by Hong Kong-based students from mainland China.
The heads of Hong Kong universities also in a joint statement denounced the recent "abuses" of freedom of expression, saying that universities did not back independence for Hong Kong.
Chinese President Xi Jinping had cautioned against "impermissible" challenges to Beijing's authority over Hong Kong.
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China Inaugurates Strategic Highway to Nepal Much to India's Dislike
Sputnik News
19:03 19.09.2017
The 40.4 km strategic highway between Tibet's Xigaze airport and Xigaze city would be used for both economic and military purposes.
New Delhi (Sputnik) China has opened a new highway that connects the country with the Nepali mainland through Tibet as part of its One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative. The highway can be linked with the proposed cross-border Sino-Nepali railway line and can be used for both trade and military purposes. This has raised India's hackles as it sees such a corridor as a major threat to its national security.
According to China's state-run Global Times, the Tibet highway between Xigaze airport and Xigaze city center officially opened to the public on Friday, a short section linking the national highway to the Nepal border.
"China is still weaving a string of pearls around India and improving connectivity between China and Nepal is part of its larger strategic designs. The fact is that if China is that if China makes inroads into Nepal through road and rail links then it will come at an arms' distance with India. China wants to make a good deterrent against India in this region as Nepal border touches key states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh," Srikanth Kondapalli, Professor of East Asian and Chinese Studies in JNU told Sputnik.
"Nepal's support for the Chinese One Belt One Road (OBOR) project has been one of the strategic failures for India as the government could not convince Nepal to opt out the Chinese initiative," Srikanth Kondapalli added.
The Sino-Nepali railway was part of a deal struck by Nepal Deputy Prime Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara when he visited China in early September. The railway includes two lines: one connecting three of Nepal's most important cities and two crossing the border between China and Nepal.
Sputnik
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Analysts: Amendments to China's Constitution to Include Xi Jinping Thought
By William Ide, Joyce Huang September 19, 2017
When China's Communist Party hosts a once-in-five-year congress next month, one key thing political analysts will be watching for is a name: Xi Jinping.
China's current leader is one of the most powerful the country has had in decades, analysts argue, but one way his stature could be raised even further is to have his name added to the party's constitution.
If it is, Xi could join others in the party's pantheon such as former leader Deng Xiaoping and strongman Mao Zedong.
Since Mao Zedong ruled China, the key thoughts, ideas and ideals of the country's Communist Party's leaders have been added to its body's constitution as it has single-handedly ruled one of the world's most populous nations. But not all have had their names tagged on to their ideals.
The practice is something like President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, said David Kelly, director of research at China Policy, a Beijing-based consulting company.
"[When] you think of Roosevelt, you think New Deal," he said. "Powerful people want to leave these monuments behind as their legacy. To have that, it extends the lifetime of their political influence."
When he retired in 2002, Jiang Zemin's idea "Three Represents" was added to the party's constitution. Later in 2007, Xi Jinping's predecessor Hu Jintao had his "Scientific Outlook on Development" added. But only Deng and Mao had their names branded onto their ideas in the Constitution.
Late Monday, Chinese state media announced that during next month's meeting, the party will write key theory and strategic thoughts outlined in the meeting into its constitution. The meeting opens on October 18.
'Xi Thought'
How "Xi Thought" or his name might be amended into the document is unclear, but some see the broad outlines of what type of changes could be made already taking shape.
Yang Kai-huang, head of Ming Chuan University's Cross-Strait Research Center in Taiwan, said a comment one of Xi Jinping's former aides and current Jiangxi Provincial Governor Liu Qi made provides a clue. In a speech during political meetings earlier this year, Liu Qi mentioned the phrase, "Xi Jinping Governance: New Thoughts, New Theories and New Strategies."
He is not the only one mentioning the phrase, although most don't put the words Xi Jinping and governance so close together.
Yang said it would be too arrogant if it was called "Xi Thought" and a show of disrespect to Mao. And theory (as in Deng Xiaoping Theory), is too narrow as Xi has covered more areas such as Cultural, military development and Taiwan policies than Deng Xiaoping.
"His [Xi's] thoughts are actually a combination of those of both Mao and Deng. There wouldn't be Xi [thought] without Mao's Sinicization of Marxism or Deng's initiation of open market reforms," said Yang.
China Policy's Kelly said that given Xi's control of all government agencies, the media and propaganda, he can use any label he likes.
"He will, because he can, make himself the owner of Xi Jinping thought and then he will mix some domestic ingredients, very likely under the heading of creating a moderately prosperous society, and foreign policy advances that include Belt and Road, but probably will use the language of the China Solution," he said.
Kelly adds China did not behave like a major power under Hu Jintao, but it has under Xi Jinping.
Some say the formula is meaningless and mostly about power, a game that political party leaders play.
Political commentator Paul Lin said thoughts written into the party charter are nothing but empty words. For example, he asked, "Was Hu's Scientific Development really scientific? And while Xi has talked about rule of law, does he rule the country in accordance with the law or his own rules?"
"What's clear is that it's a move to further consolidate his power. Power is exactly what is on Xi's mind."
Yang said China's definition of "rule of law" is different from the West, there have been some improvements under Xi, such as cases in which citizens filed lawsuits against government officials or made demands for transparency.
"What's lacking in Xi's rule is his tolerance [for dissidents]," he said. "If he can further achieve a set of rules or laws to show a higher degree of tolerance for dissidents that will be another important milestone for us to watch."
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Mattis: North Korea Sanctions Are Working
By Cheryl Pellerin DoD News, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2017 U.N. Security Council sanctions targeting North Korea's missile and nuclear tests are working, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said yesterday during an informal briefing with members of the press.
The secretary said the sanctions, which began in 2006, have shown North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that there's a penalty to pay for ignoring international concerns and norms.
"We are putting the leader in North Korea in a position to be aware of -- [with] the international community voting unanimously twice now in the United Nations Security Council -- the increasing diplomatic isolation that comes with the economic sanctions," Mattis said.
Under Pressure
The secretary made a Sept. 15 trip to Mexico City to strengthen the bilateral defense relationship and participate in Mexican Independence Day activities, and to the reporters he said that Mexico had declared the North Korean ambassador a persona non grata.
On Sept.7, according to an official press release, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto issued an executive order instructing all government agencies to comply with new UNSC economic sanctions imposed on North Korea. The same day, the Mexican government gave North Korean Ambassador Kim Hyong Gil 72 hours to leave the country.
Spain, Peru and Kuwait, according to news reports, also have ordered North Korean ambassadors and envoys out of their countries.
"That's an example of what is working," Mattis said. "It's a pressurization effort to raise the cost" to Pyongyang of continued testing of missiles and nuclear weapons.
Responding to Provocations
Since January, North Korea has tested five ballistic missiles and a nuclear weapon, and reporters asked Mattis why the United States doesn't shoot the missiles down.
"Those missiles are not directly threatening any of us," the secretary said.
Japan and U.S. missile defenses and radars are operating, he added, and North Korea is intentionally initiating provocations "that seem to press against the envelope for just how far can they push without going over some kind of a line in their minds that would make them vulnerable."
So they aim for the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Mattis said, "where at least we hope no ships are around."
The bottom line, he said, is that if the missiles were a threat to Guam or Japan, "that would elicit a different response from us." Mattis noted that there are military options that would not put South Korea at grave risk, but declined to explain further.
"We will defend ourselves, our interests [and] our allies," he said, "and we work together very transparently and openly with our allies."
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US, South Korea stage joint drill near North Korea border
Iran Press TV
Tue Sep 19, 2017 12:52PM
US and South Korean troops have staged a joint drill in a village near the North Korean border in what could reignite anger in Pyongyang about increased provocations by the two allies.
The drill on Tuesday saw troops engaged in a mock battle to retake a village located across forested hillsides near the Demilitarized Zone, the world's most heavily defended frontier, which separates the two Koreas.
Rob Kimmel, the Battalion Commander from the U.S. 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, said 700 troops were contributing to the four-day drill, dubbed Warrior Strike 8, which he said would test the readiness on the ground to face potential threats from North Korea.
"That's enemy fire trying to attack R.O.K. forces located there," Kimmel said, using the acronym for South Korea's official name, which is the Republic of Korea.
Kimmel said his team, which was originally based in Fort Hood, Texas, was in South Korea as part of a nine-month deployment.
"It's a big milestone type of exercise... We'll do two to three of these while we're here," he said, adding, "We are continuing to train for situations that may arise."
The mock battle and the call on the media people to watch them comes amid heightened tensions in the Korean peninsula, where the United States and South Korea have increased their military activity in the wake of North Korea's testing of two intercontinental ballistic missiles as well as its sixth and most powerful nuclear test.
Pyongyang has warned the US that ground and bombing drills by the two allies could spark a nuclear war. North Korean military warned last month that it had plans for targeting waters near the US island of Guam in the Pacific, prompting fears in the US about a real confrontation.
The joint drill comes as Russia and China, two countries with relatively close ties to North Korea, also embarked on a military exercise on Monday off the Russian far eastern port of Vladivostok, which is not far from the Russia-North Korea border. The two countries have repeatedly asked for easing of tensions in the Korean peninsula, saying the issue has no military solution.
The US and South Korea ended a 1950-53 war with North Korea through a truce, not a peace treaty, which effectively leaves the two sides of the conflict technically at war.
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Is North Korea Building Their First Nuclear Submarine?
Sputnik News
00:04 19.09.2017(updated 10:12 19.09.2017)
Japanese media outlets are reporting that North Korea is clandestinely building a nuclear-powered submarine that they hope to have operational by 2020. The reports come from an anonymous but "informed" source.
Japanese newspaper Sekai Nippo claims that the "informed" source "familiar with the North Korea situation" told them that the DPRK has been clandestinely building the nuclear submarine, which would be a massive leap forward from the current DPRK Navy, which may maintain a fleet of 50 to 60 diesel-electric submarines.
The source went on to claim that Chinese and Russian engineers have been lending their expertise to the DPRK at North Korea's Nampo Naval Shipyard, in North Korea's manufacturing capital.
While nuclear submarines are significantly more difficult and expensive to produce than conventional diesel-electric ones, they are also faster, more powerful, more versatile, and have a wider range since they can stay underwater for much longer without needing to resurface and refuel.
Nuclear submarines are often paired with ballistic missiles, and they can greatly increase a nation's power projection and are a stealthier launch method than firing from a ground-based silo. Analysts have suspected that the DPRK is interested in nuclear submarines for this reason, as Pyongyang has greatly bolstered their missile program in recent years.
In the US Navy, nuclear submarines armed with ballistic missiles form part of the Nuclear Triad, which guarantees the ability of the United States to return fire in the event of a sudden nuclear strike, since finding and destroying all missile submarines before they can launch their missiles is effectively impossible.
Since 2014, North Korea has test launched their Pukguksong-1 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) at least six times. An operational Pukguksong-1 could be loaded into a nuclear submarine, which could then maneuver into international waters and fire a missile that would be nearly impossible to intercept. The Pukguksong-1 could also hypothetically be equipped with a small nuclear warhead.
The US military has been closely monitoring the North Korean navy after what they suspect was an "ejection test" of the Pukguksong-1 in August. In May, think tank 38 North claimed that satellite imagery identified what appeared to be a test site for SLBMs at Nampo.
As the US bloc continue to ramp up military and economic pressure on North Korea, Pyongyang has given no indications of blinking. "The increased moves of the US and its vassal forces to impose sanctions and pressure on the DPRK will only increase our pace towards the ultimate completion of the state nuclear force," said their state news agency in a Monday press release.
Sputnik
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Military Options Against N. Korea Fraught With Danger: Analysts
By Brian Padden September 19, 2017
In his United Nations General Assembly speech Tuesday, American President Donald Trump said the United States is "ready, willing and able" to "totally destroy" North Korea in response to its "reckless pursuit" of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
His comments come just two days after U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said the U.N. Security Council would be "perfectly happy" handing responsibility for dealing with North Korea to the Pentagon. When asked about her comments, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Monday said there are military options the U.S. can take without putting Seoul at great risk, but he declined to go into detail when pressed by reporters.
But regional security analysts Grant Newsham with the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies in Tokyo, and Bong Young-shik with the Yonsei University Institute for North Korean Studies in Seoul have told VOA there are major risks associated with any of the measures that have been publicly discussed.
High risk - military strike
Preemptive U.S. military air or missile strikes to take out North Korean nuclear and missile sites are unlikely to end the nuclear threat, and there is a high risk of deadly counterattacks that could draw China and the entire region into war, say these analysts.
"Really if a military strike or approach is considered, the U.S. had better be ready to go all in and be ready to finish it," said Newsham, who was interviewed before the latest escalation of tensions.
North Korea has hundreds of mobile missile launchers, many of which are kept in underground bunkers that would be hard to detect and target.
Even if U.S. strikes could destroy all of the country's nuclear and long-range missile facilities, North Korea could still attack Seoul and other regions near the inter-Korean border with artillery and chemical weapons that could kill millions in South Korea.
By taking unilateral military action against North Korea, the United States would be putting its own security needs ahead of its allies in Asia and would likely trigger a regional political backlash, the analysts said.
"They will put almost all South Korean citizens against the United States because it is totally against the very purpose of the security partnership between the United States and South Korea," said Bong.
Even limited military actions, these analysts say, could too easily draw the United States into another military quagmire that could cause massive devastation and economic ruin.
No benefit - nuclear allies
Either deploying American nuclear weapons in South Korea and Japan or allowing them to acquire their own may bolster U.S. support for its allies in Asia, but these analysts say they will not likely restrain North Korea.
The United States withdrew tactical nuclear weapons from South Korea in 1991. Subsequently the two Koreas signed an agreement to keep the peninsula free of nuclear weapons.
North Korea later walked away from the agreement, citing the threat of a U.S. invasion.
Analysts say reintroducing nuclear weapons in the South, and deploying them in Japan for the first time, would likely legitimize the North's nuclear arsenal and justify its efforts to develop long-range ballistic missile deterrence. It would also weaken the international commitment to maintain sanctions against Pyongyang and could spark a global nuclear buildup.
Difficult effective sanctions
The analysts say imposing real economic pain remains the best of the bad options to restrain North Korea from continuing to develop its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.
"You have to put North Korea in a situation where the leadership has to decide between the continuous pursuit of nuclear weapons and missiles, and its survival. And I don't think North Korea is very close to being forced to make such a big decision," said Bong.
Despite two recent rounds of stepped up international sanctions, the economic pressure imposed on North Korea has not had a restraining influence so far.
Speaking before the latest sanctions announcements, Newsham said world governments "have allowed the regime to get the money they need to survive and that has always been the regime's key vulnerability, the need for money."
The North's key economic trading partner China is reluctant to strictly implement crippling measures that might destabilize the region or lead to the collapse of its ally.
North Korea has also been able to get around the imposed international restrictions by using companies in friendly countries like China to act as illicit fronts.
Youmi Kim contributed to this report.
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India's Home-Grown LCH to Start Live Firing Trial of French Mistral Missiles
Sputnik News
20:45 19.09.2017
MBDA of France also expects to kick-start negotiations with India in the next few days for supplying Mistral ATAM for another armed helicopter - Rudra.
New Delhi (Sputnik) India's locally developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) fitted with French-made Mistral air to air missile (ATAM) will undergo live firing trials from the end of this year. The LCH is capable of carrying four Mistrals on each wing which can intercept the target at a range of up to 6.5 kilometers. French defense firm MBDA Missile Systems expects the live firing trial of the approximately 19-kilogram missile system will go as planned.
India's state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) had begun production of the LCH last month. The LCH is also equipped with a 20 mm turret gun, 70 mm rocket, electro-optical pod, and helmet pointing system. In November last year, Indian defense ministry had approved a fund of approximately $450 million for the procurement of 15 LCHs as a "limited series production" (LSP) order. The light combat helicopter is pegged at around $35 million per unit which is less than half the cost of American AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.
Meanwhile, MBDA also expects to kick-start negotiations with India in the next few days for supplying Mistral ATAM for another armed helicopter Rudra. Rudra which is awaiting its most potent weapon since the last four years is capable of carrying two missiles on each wing in comparison to four of LCH. Rudra was handed over to the Indian Army in 2013. The Indian Army plans to deploy a squadron of armed Rudra, consisting of up to 12 Rudra Mk IVs, at Likabali military station in Assam.
Sputnik
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Russia Pitches Aggressively for MiG-29K $12Bn Indian Deal
Sputnik News
15:41 19.09.2017(updated 18:05 19.09.2017)
Indian Navy had issued a detailed request for information in January this year for 57 multi-role fighter aircraft to which Russian, French, Swedish and American companies had replied with their intent.
New Delhi (Sputnik) With an eye on a big ticket deal involving supply of 57 naval multi-role fighter jet for Indian Navy's aircraft carriers, Russian manufacturer MiG has offered to jointly develop the MiG 29 K fighter jets with an Indian counterpart under the 'Make in India' program with complete transfer of technology. MiG is planning to submit a detailed proposal to the Indian government in this regard soon.
The procurement plan currently is in request for information stage. MiG CEO Ilya Tarasenko has claimed MiG-29K aircraft have serious tactical and technical advantages compared to Boeing's F/A-18.
"We are considering various options for long-term and perspective cooperation, including those within the framework of the Make in India program. The Indian side has sent an RFI to companies that produce aircraft, which is one of the procedures preceding the official tender. MiG corp. has received such a request, now we are preparing our proposal," Ilya Tarasenko, MiG CEO told to PTI in a written interview.
Earlier, American Boeing, Swedish SAAB and French Dassault Aviation had also proposed setting up production lines in India for their respective naval fighters F/A18, Gripen E and Rafale if they were to bag the contract.
"Russia has a strong case for fielding upgraded MiG-29K for the Indian Navy's MRCBF requirement for several reasons. The aircraft is already in Indian Navy service and has a lot of commonality with IAF MiG-29UPG. Rosboronexport is sprucing up support facilities for the MiG-29 family in India. Improving, indigenizing MiG-29K would yield greater operational dividend at lower cost than buying Rafale or F/A-18," Vijainder K Thakur, former squadron leader of Indian Air Force told Sputnik.
Presently, 45 Russian-made MiG-29K aircraft are the sole fighters on the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. Apart from this, Indian Air Force is also operating more than a hundred fighter jets manufactured by Russian MiG.
"MiG-29K Make-in-India would positively impact the operational effectiveness of both the IAF and IN MiG-29 fleets because of large commonality of equipment. Improving, indigenizing MiG-29K would also serve better the government's Make-in-India initiative, limit inventory and minimize training costs," Thakur added.
A brand new naval variant equipped with new weapons and sensors, MiG-29K was part of the recent Malabar exercise involving the navies of India, the US and Japan. The US Navy said it was impressed by the power displayed MiG 29 during the exercise.
The intended 57 multi-role fighter jets would be used for air defense, air-to-surface operations, buddy refueling, reconnaissance, and EW missions from Indian Naval aircraft carriers Vikramaditya and IAC-1.
Sputnik
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Iraqi PM orders end of referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Tehran, Sep 19, IRNA -- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi issued order to stop referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan.
According to CNN Arabic, al-Abadi in a Facebook post urged Iraq top court to stop holding referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan Region.
Meanwhile, Iraqi President Fuad Masum also presented a plan for holding negotiations among leaders of Iraqi Kurdistan and Baghdad to solve referendum crisis.
President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani said on Sep 15 that he would not postpone the referendum regarding what he said was Baghdad's repeated failure in keeping its promises.
Therefore, Iraq's Kurdish parliament voted for the referendum hours after Barzani comments.
Three months ago, Iraqi Kurdistan and Kurdish parties in Iraq have decided to hold the referendum on September 25.
The decision triggered various reactions, mostly negative, both inside and outside Iraq, including by Iran and Turkey that said they oppose any change in the territorial integrity of the neighboring state.
Iraq shares borders with Iran and Turkey from its eastern and northern parts, respectively.
The referendum has been criticized by many regional countries and West, including Ankara, London and Washington.
The White House also in a statement on Sep 15 urged Iraqi Kurdistan to cancel referendum saying it is "distracting" from the military effort against terrorist group Daesh.
'The United States has repeatedly emphasized to the leaders of the Kurdistan Regional Government that the referendum is distracting from efforts to defeat ISIS [Daesh] and stabilize the liberated area,' reads the statement appeared on the White House official website.
Iraqi Kurdistan independence has been only supported by the Zionist Regime.
Translator: Ali Izadi
9376**2050
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Iraqi forces recapture village in Anbar from Daesh terrorists
Iran Press TV
Tue Sep 19, 2017 01:22PM
Iraqi army soldiers, backed by allied fighters from Popular Mobilization Units, have fully liberated a village in the country's beleaguered western province of Anbar from the grip of Daesh terrorist group as operations continue to win back the militant-held areas there.
Lebanon-based Arabic-language al-Mayadeen news network reported on Tuesday that Iraq's government troops and their allies had managed to retake al-Rayhaniyah.
Earlier, the media bureau of the Joint Operations Command (JOC) had announced the start of an operation to reclaim the town of Anah and the nearby village of al-Rayhaniyah .
The head of Anah's municipal council, Abdel Karim al-Ani, confirmed the onset of the offensive, noting that security forces had opened a road out of the town to allow civilians to flee.
Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Yarallah stated that infantry units and members of the Federal Police Force, supported by fighters from Popular Mobilization Units commonly known by their Arabic name, Hashd al-Sha'abi, were involved in the offensive against Daesh terrorists.
A military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the operation was "developing along three axes," noting that Iraqi army helicopters and fighter jets from the so-called US-led coalition were providing air support for forces on the ground.
The development came a day after Daesh executed four of its leaders as they attempted to flee Anah.
Iraqi army troops and their allies are expected to next target the towns of Rawah and al-Qa'im.
In another development and while addressing reporters during a weekly press briefing in Baghdad on September 6, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi stated that government forces, in full cooperation with Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, would soon launch an operation to liberate Hawijah town in the oil-rich northern province of Kirkuk from Daesh Takfiri terrorists.
Daesh terrorists took control of Hawijah after capturing Mosul and several other Iraqi cities in mid-2014.
Drone strike kills 2 Daesh leaders in Salahuddin
Separately, two high-ranking Daesh commanders were killed when an Iraqi unmanned aerial vehicle conducted an assault in the central province of Salahuddin.
A local source said the aerial assault targeted a vehicle as it was travelling along an agricultural road on the outskirts of al-Shirqat town.
One of those killed was reportedly an assistant to Daesh's security commander in eastern Shirqat, while another was a high-ranking Daesh member in the town's countryside.
Over 12,000 refugees return to their hometowns in Nineveh
Meanwhile, the Iraqi Ministry of Displacement and Migration says more than 12,000 internally displaced persons have returned of to their hometowns in the northern province of Nineveh.
Jawan Mahmoud, a provincial official, said 12.553 refugees had left camps across the province as well as the northern city of Dohuk, and returned to their native regions.
Mahmoud added that the Iraqi Ministry of Displacement and Migration, in coordination with the Ministry of Transportation, had earmarked dozens of trucks for transporting the refugees' furniture and other possessions.
On August 31, Iraq's prime minister said the city of Tal Afar and the entire Nineveh province had been purged of Daesh Takfiri terrorists.
The recapture of Tal Afar was made possible with the help of Iraqi army soldiers, Federal Police Force, Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS), Hashd al-Sha'abi fighters and the Interior Ministry's elite rapid response forces, Abadi added.
Twin bombings kill 3, injure 34 in northern Iraq restaurant
Furthermore, at least three people lost their lives and nearly three dozen others sustained injuries when two bombers blew themselves up inside a restaurant frequented by Hashd al-Sha'abi fighters in the town of Hajaj.
"Two attackers detonated their explosive belts in a restaurant in Hajaj, killing three people and wounding 34. A third assailant was shot dead by security forces," Interior Ministry spokesman, Saad Maan, said in a statement.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the deadly attack, but such assaults bear the hallmarks of those carried out by Daesh Takfiri terrorists.
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Kirkuk's Council Votes Against Baghdad's Decision on Governor's Dismissal
Sputnik News
19:39 19.09.2017
The Kirkuk Council on Tuesday voted against the decision of the Iraqi Parliament for the resignation of Kirkuk Governor Najmaldin Karim.
CAIRO (Sputnik) The Council of the Iraqi northern province of Kirkuk unanimously voted on Tuesday against the decision of the Iraqi Parliament for the resignation of Kirkuk Governor Najmaldin Karim. He advocated holding Iraqi Kurdistan's independence referendum.
In August, Kirkuk's Council voted in favor of the province's participation in Iraqi Kurdistan's independence vote scheduled for September 25, after which Karim said that Kirkuk had been and would remain a part of Iraqi Kurdistan and had a right to take part in the referendum, since the provincial council had made such a decision.
On September 14, the Iraqi Parliament voted for the resignation of the governor of Kirkuk, who supported holding the referendum on Iraqi Kurdistan's independence from Iraq. The request for the consideration of Kirkuk's governor's resignation was submitted to the parliament by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi.
Sputnik
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Iraqi Army Starts Op to Squeeze Daesh From Areas Near Syrian Border
Sputnik News
13:51 19.09.2017(updated 16:04 19.09.2017)
Iraq's Prime Minister Haider Abadi announced Tuesday the country's armed forces had launched an operation to drive the remains of Daesh forces away from the western parts of the country that border Syria.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) According to the prime minister of Iraq's press service, the Iraqi Army's operation aimed at clearing the "odious aggressors" of western Anbar province and Anah city. The operation began at dawn on Tuesday, the press service noted.
The development comes as Iraqi government troops are conducting an operation in western Iraq to free area from terrorists. It was reported that the army supported by people's militia and border guards were carrying out a large-scale operation to liberate Akashat village.
Prior to that, the Iraqi government forces were said to have regained control over 90 percent of the Iraqi territory from Daesh. As a result of the army's actions, more than 2.2 million refugees managed to return to their homes, the Iraqi officials said.
Daesh seized large territories in northern and western parts of Iraq in 2014, provoking a wave of violence and instability in the country. Since then, Iraqi government troops have managed to recapture the major cities, such as Tal Afar and Mosul.
Sputnik
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UN chief urges Myanmar to halt military campaign against Rohingya
Iran Press TV
Tue Sep 19, 2017 03:32PM
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called on Myanmar to put an end to its military campaign against Rohingya Muslims just hours after the country's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, failed to allay international concerns over the ongoing ethnic cleansing in Myanmar.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the 72nd annual session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, Guterres said he "took note" of Suu Kyi's promise to abide by the recommendations of a report by former UN chief, Kofi Annan, that underlined the need for granting citizenship to the Rohingya.
"But let me be clear. The authorities in Myanmar must end the military operations and allow unhindered humanitarian access," Guterres pointed out, adding, "We are all shocked by the dramatic escalation of sectarian tensions in Myanmar's Rakhine state."
On Tuesday, Suu Kyi addressed the nation for the first time since August 25, when a fresh upsurge in violence subjected the Rohingya in Muslim villages across the western state of Rakhine to mass killings, torture, rape and arson attacks, and forced more than 417,000 people to flee the country.
Myanmar's leader defended how her government was dealing with the massive human rights violations committed against Rakhine-based Rohingya Muslims, which the UN says amount to "ethnic cleansing." The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, however, fell short of singling out the military in the globally-condemned violence, which has triggered a massive exodus of Muslim refugees to Bangladesh.
Myanmar's Second Vice-President Henry van Thio is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday after Suu Kyi refused to attend this year's international gathering.
The leader of the Asian country's civilian government said Myanmar did not fear international scrutiny and was committed to finding a sustainable solution to the situation in Rakhine state. Suu Kyi's silence has provoked immense international criticism in recent weeks, especially after dismissing reports of ethnic violence in Rakhine state by Myanmar's military and majority Buddhists against the persecuted Muslim community.
In her speech, Suu Kyi even refused to use the word Rohingya to refer to members of the minority group, naming them only once while making mention of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, a group that purportedly fights to defend the rights of the minority group. She claimed that peaceful conditions were disturbed only after armed groups staged terrorist attacks on dozens of police outposts in August.
She claimed that Myanmar was ready to verify the national status of the Rohingya refugees who have fled violence in recent weeks, saying, "We are prepared to start the verification process at any time."
According to experts, the brutality against the Rohingya has its roots in the very fact that Myanmar does not recognize them as citizens and has denied citizenship rights to 1.1 million members of the community for several decades, alleging they are Bengalis who have in the past migrated to the country from Bangladesh. The Rohingya were stripped of their citizenship in 1982 despite having lived in the country for generations.
Due to their status, the Rohingya are not free to travel and practice their religion, having little access to medical care, food or education.
Following the 30-minute speech by Suu Kyi, Amnesty International, which has been sharply criticizing Myanmar's recent conduct in Rakhine state, was quick to respond, saying that the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and her government were only "burying their heads in the sand" in the face of the violence.
The government forces in Myanmar do not even spare the fleeing Rohingya refugees. Recent reports by Amnesty and Bangladeshi officials say the military plants landmines on the path of those trying to cross into Bangladesh, causing them to sustain serious wounds or lose their limbs.
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UN mission asks for more time to probe mass killing of Rohingya Muslims
Iran Press TV
Tue Sep 19, 2017 01:33PM
The head of an investigation team in the UN Human Rights Council has asked for more time to look into allegations of mass killing of persecuted Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.
Marzuki Darusman, whose team is also tasked with probing torture, sexual violence and the burning of villages in Myanmar's Rakhine state told his sponsors in the council on Tuesday that he was waiting for Myanmar's permission to enter the country.
He told the Geneva-based UN council that the time left until his current March 2018 deadline was "utterly insufficient" and asked for a six-month extension.
"Now facing an escalating situation in northern Rakhine that is increasing our workload exponentially, we are deeply concerned about our ability to verify the facts necessary to produce a report of the depth and quality that is expected of us by March," Darusman said.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Darusman said he hoped there would be progress in his request to enter Myanmar, following an address by Myanmar's de-factor leader Aung San Suu Kyi from which he said two main points emerged. "One, the categorical readiness of the government of Myanmar to receive back returnees at any time on the basis of a procedure that will have to be discussed at some point. And secondly, the readiness of the government to undertake be globally scrutinized by the international community. These two points bode well."
Darusman's team started its work in August, when a fresh increase in violence subjected the Rohingya in Muslim villages across the western state of Rakhine to mass killing, torture, rape and arson attacks and forced more than 420,000 to flee their homeland. His mission is to assess the situation across Myanmar since 2011.
Suu Kyi has faced harsh international criticism amid several reports about systematic attacks by the Myanmar military and majority Buddhists against the persecuted Muslim community.
But the brutality against the Rohingya has its roots in the very fact that Myanmar does not recognize them as citizens and has denied citizenship rights to 1.1 million members of the community for several decades, alleging they are Bengalis who have in the past migrated to the country from Bangladesh. The Rohingya were stripped of their citizenship in 1982 despite having lived in the country for generations.
Bangladesh evicts Rohingya from roadside camps
On Tuesday, Bangladesh police evicted Rohingya refugees from overcrowded roadside camps and farmland.
Police dismantled shanties around Kutupalong, one of the largest camps where roads are choked with refugees and long queues of traffic snake from aid centers.
Khadiza Begum, a widowed mother of three, gesturing to the monsoon downpour said, "The police told us to go, but how can I move again so soon with the kids and belongings in this rain?"
Water pumps have been installed around Kutupalong, with concrete rings stockpiled for latrines.
The government is building a massive new camp nearby to shelter 400,000 people. However, the UN says it will take time before it is equipped with tents, toilets and medical facilities.
"The work is ongoing and some newly-arriving families have moved in," UN refugee agency spokeswoman Vivian Tan said, adding, "As the influx of refugees continues, we are seeing massive humanitarian needs in Bangladesh across the board."
The UN says about 421,000 Rohingya have crossed into Bangladesh since August 25, overwhelming the ill-equipped refugee camps along the border.
Aid groups have warned of an unfolding humanitarian crisis in the camps. Those left to fend for themselves have taken refuge in roadside shanties.
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Myanmar leader defends handling of crimes against Rohingya Muslims
Iran Press TV
Tue Sep 19, 2017 05:48AM
Myanmar's leader has finally broken her silence only to defend how her government is dealing with the massive human rights violations committed against Rakhine-based Rohingya Muslims, which the UN says amount to ethnic cleansing. Aung San Suu Kyi fell short of singling out the military in the globally-condemned violence, which has triggered a massive exodus of Muslim refugees to Bangladesh.
On Tuesday, Suu Kyi addressed the nation for the first time since August 25, when a fresh upsurge in violence subjected the Rohingya in Muslim villages across the western state of Rakhine to mass killings, torture, rape and arson attacks and forced more than 417,000 to flee their homeland.
Suu Kyi has faced harsh international criticism amid several reports about systematic attacks by the Myanmar military and majority Buddhists against the persecuted Muslim community.
In her address, however, Suu Kyi claimed that most Muslim villages had not been affected by the violence, wondering about the reasons why the exodus to Bangladesh still continued, despite the fact that there had been no "clearance operations" since September 5.
She said her government intended to find out why people in almost 50 percent of Muslim villages that remained unaffected had preferred to stay, acknowledging in the process that half of Rohingya villages had been destroyed and burned to the ground in the ongoing bout of violence.
There have been "allegations and counter-allegations" that need to be investigated before taking any action, Suu Kyi said.
The leader of the Asian country's civilian government said Myanmar does not fear international scrutiny and is committed to finding a sustainable solution to the situation in Rakhine. Suu Kyi's silence has provoked immense international criticism in recent weeks, especially after dismissing reports of ethnic violence in Rakhine as "a huge iceberg of misinformation" meant to "promote the interests of the terrorists."
In her speech, Suu Kyi even refused to use the word Rohingya to refer to members of the minority group, naming them only once while making mention of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, a group that purportedly fights to defend the rights of the minority group. She claimed that peaceful conditions were disturbed only after armed groups had staged terrorist attacks on dozens of police outposts in August.
She claimed that Myanmar was ready to verify the national status of the Rohingya refugees who have fled violence in recent weeks. "We are prepared to start the verification process at any time," she suggested.
But the brutality against the Rohingyas has its roots in the very fact that Myanmar does not recognize them as citizens and has denied citizenship rights to 1.1 million members of the community for several decades, alleging they are Bengalis who have in the past migrated to the country from Bangladesh. The Rohingya were stripped of their citizenship in 1982 despite having lived in the country for generations.
Due to their status, the Rohingya are not free to travel and practice their religion, having little access to medical care, food or education.
The de facto leader further said she felt deeply for the suffering of "all the people caught up in the conflict."
"We condemn all human rights violations and unlawful violence. We are committed to the restoration of peace and stability and rule of law throughout the state," she added, without putting forth any concrete solutions to stop ethnic killings.
Amnesty: Suu Kyi 'burying head in sand'
Following the 30-minute rant, Amnesty International, which has been sharply criticizing Myanmar's recent conduct in Rakhine, was quick to respond, saying the Nobel laureate and her government are only "burying their heads in the sand" in the face of the violence.
"Refugees who have fled to Bangladesh cannot return to this appalling status quo," the rights group said, adding "at times her speech amounted to little more than a mix of untruths and victim blaming."
The government claims its attacks in Rakhine are a response to armed "terrorists," but reports and evidence presented by witnesses and international organizations tell a different story.
The latest evidence published by Amnesty International points to "a mass-scale scorched-earth campaign" across Rakhine State, where Myanmar's forces and vigilante mobs "are burning down entire Rohingya villages and shooting people at random as they try to flee. In legal terms, these are crimes against humanity systematic attacks and forcible deportation of civilians."
The rights group further highlighted the "horrific situation" in Myanmar, criticizing the international community's failure to address the plight of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
The UN said last week that Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar are facing a risk of ethnic cleansing at the hands of military forces.
Human Rights Watch called for harsh sanctions and an arms embargo against the Myanmar military over its ethnic cleansing campaign against Muslims.
The government forces in Myanmar do not even spare the fleeing Rohingya refugees. Recent reports by Amnesty and Bangladeshi officials say the military plants landmines on the path of those trying to cross into Bangladesh, causing them to sustain serious wounds or lose their limbs.
Myanmar under fire at UN Human Rights Council
On Tuesday, the UN fact-finding mission on treatment of Rohingya minority in Myanmar reported to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on the crisis.
The mission demanded "full, unfettered" access to violence-stricken areas.
Chair of the Myanmar Fact-Finding Mission Marzuki Darusman said his team will investigate reports of mass killings, torture, sexual violence, use of landmines and burning of entire villages by Myanmarese forces.
The UN fact-finding mission, tasked with filing a report on the treatment of Rohingya Muslims, asked for a six-month extension on the deadline for presenting its report.
"It is important for us to see with our own eyes the sites of these alleged violations," Darusman told the council. "There is a grave humanitarian crisis underway that requires urgent attention."
Myanmar's envoy, however, said the UN investigation was not helpful, adding that the Myanmar government was making efforts to restore law and order in Rakhine.
During the session, representatives from the European Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, France and Russia also called for an immediate cessation of violence against Muslims in Rakhine.
The Myanmar leader has cancelled a planned visit to the UN general assembly session underway in New York.
Muslims being wiped off Myanmar's map
On Monday, a humanitarian group reported that Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim community is literally "being wiped off the map" amid the ongoing crackdown.
"For generations, Rohingya Muslims have called Myanmar home. Now, in what appears to be a systematic purge, they are, quite literally, being wiped off the map," said Chris Lewa, director of Arakan Project, AP reported.
Meanwhile, international opinion has hardened against Myanmar as the US, Britain, Australia and France renewed calls for Suu Kyi to push for an end to violence against Rohingya Muslims.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in a related development, said she spoke to US President Donald Trump on Monday about Rohingya refugees flooding into her country. However, she said expected no help from the US president.
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UN scaling up assistance as number of Rohingya refugees grows to over 400,000
19 September 2017 As the number of Rohingya who have fled to Bangladesh surpasses 400,000, United Nations agencies are scaling up their efforts to assist the displaced and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres renewed his call on the authorities in Myanmar to take steps to address the crisis.
"We are all shocked by the dramatic escalation of sectarian tensions in Myanmar's Rakhine state," Mr. Guterres remarked today in his address to the opening of the General Assembly's high-level debate. "A vicious cycle of persecution, discrimination, radicalization and violent repression has led more than 400,000 desperate people to flee, putting regional stability at risk."
He stressed that the authorities in Myanmar must end the military operations, allow unhindered humanitarian access and recognize the right of refugees to return in safety and dignity. They must also address the grievances of the Rohingya, whose status has been left unresolved for far too long, he added.
Marzuki Darusman, the Chairperson of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that it is clear that there is "a grave humanitarian crisis" underway that requires urgent attention.
In addition to the over 400,000 people who have sought refuge in Bangladesh since 25 August, Mr. Darusman noted that there are reports that nearly 200 Rohingya villages in the affected area have been emptied.
"It is important for us to see with our own eyes the sites of these alleged violations and abuses and to speak directly with the affected people and with the authorities," he stated, noting that the Commission has requested the Government of Myanmar for unfettered access to the country.
UN aid agencies scaling up assistance
As the number of those crossing the border into Bangladesh increases, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) is ramping up its operations, including moving new arrivals into family tents and temporary communal shelters at a new extension site next to the Kutupalong camp near Cox's Bazar.
Spokesperson Duniya Aslam Khan told a news conference in Geneva that refugees have told UNHCR staff that they suffered from cold and rain during their treks from Myanmar.
"Many had fallen ill, particularly small children. There is urgent need for more latrines, not least to reduce risks of a spread of disease with so many people living in close quarters. Many also complained of hunger and said they had eaten little on their journeys, which took up to 10 days on foot," she stated.
With an estimated 415,000 refugees having arrived since late August the humanitarian challenges have become immense, according to UNHCR, which noted the "remarkable generosity" by many individual Bangladeshis, with people trucking food and clothes to the refugees in the camps and others camping along the single main road.
However, the Government needs more support, and UNHCR will be issuing an appeal this week for the emergency humanitarian response in Bangladesh till the end of year.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) is providing critical support to step-up health services delivery in Cox's Bazar.
"Vulnerable populations require access to health services, including emergency and basic health care. Access for women to reproductive health services is especially important," noted Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director for WHO South-East Asia.
The agency added in a news release that poor nutrition, communicable diseases (including vaccine-preventable and water-borne diseases), injuries and other concerns such as mental health provide immense public health challenges that the Bangladeshi Ministry of Health, WHO and other health partners are working to address.
Also today, the Secretary-General's Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, said her office has been closely monitoring reports of sexual violence committed during the insurgency operations. She is particularly concerned about the security of women and girls who constitute the majority of those crossing the border.
"More than half of the Rohingya women interviewed in early 2017 in a refugee camp in Bangladesh reported experiencing rape or other forms of sexual violence, but due to the acute social stigma, such cases are significantly under-reported," said a statement issued by the Special Representative.
Interviews with victims and witnesses indicate "disturbing patterns" of rape, gang rape and other forms of sexual violence, such as invasive body searches. "Survivors have described sexual violence being used as a calculated tool of terror to force targeted populations to flee. They describe the perpetrators as mainly members of the military, with the police and Rakhine villagers also identified, in some cases," added the statement.
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Mixed Reaction to Aung San Suu Kyi's Speech on Rohingya Crisis
By Joe Freeman, Wayne Lee September 19, 2017
Aung San Suu Kyi's first speech on the weeks-old Rohingya crisis in Myanmar was a nationally televised event that many hoped would signal a new direction or perhaps an inspiring attempt to mend the conflict with the power of oratory.
Many observers, however, say the 30-minute address Tuesday by the de facto leader did not rise to the occasion, and may have obscured the more serious allegations against the country's military.
"It's rather an important time and there were lots of expectations both within the country and abroad, especially abroad, that she will come up with something that can really defuse the current crisis," said Khin Zaw Win, director of the Yangon-based Tampadipa Institute, a research organization.
"Even if she can't carry it out, you need to come up with a clear and forceful speech. And I just emphasize the term "speech" because that's what politicians do, and that is what is expected of her. But even the speech, I would say, fell short."
Muslim interfaith leader U Aye Lwin, a member of Aung San Suu Kyi's commission tasked with finding a solution to the crisis in Rakhine, said, "We are very pleased with her speech" and added he was impressed she did not deny adverse conditions in the country.
"I would like to express my recognition on her effort," U Aye Lwin said, while pointing out that Muslims in Rakhine do not have full access to health care and education as Aung San Suu Kyi stated in her address.
More than 400,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Rakhine for Bangladesh, according to aid agency estimates, and Myanmar has had to defend itself against allegations of ethnic cleansing.
The outflow started after members of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) attacked police posts August 25, its second strike in less than a year since it emerged in October 2016 as a force willing to carry out deadly operations for Rohingya rights.
In her remarks, Aung San Suu Kyi did not specifically address claims from one side or the other, and appealed to the international community to help Myanmar in a positive way, an allusion to the condemnation that has rained down on her since the crisis started.
"She talked effective points," Shwebo resident Kyaw Lwan Moe said of Aung San Suu Kyi. "She said she is willing to accept international aid and invite cooperation from the international community."
The criticism has been a stark contrast to the praise Aung San Suu Kyi has traditionally received as an icon of the pro-democracy movement who led her party to election victory in 2015.
"It is a friendly appeal to all those who wish Myanmar well," she said of her speech, which she delivered in English and referred to as a diplomatic briefing even as it was broadcast on Myanmar state media and in front of City Hall in downtown Yangon, where crowds gathered.
She questioned why so many Rohingya Muslims had left when others were living peacefully in the state, and chastised critics for not giving Myanmar credit for other forms of progress. Observers estimate two-thirds of Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh.
She also lumped Rakhine into other issues facing Myanmar, such as the peace process with ethnic armed groups, which some took as an attempt to minimize the seriousness of the issue.
While Aung San Suu Kyi referred to the rule of law and condemned all rights violations, some believe she wound up obscuring the gravity of the claims against the military, presenting what Amnesty International called a "mix of untruths and victim blaming."
"There is overwhelming evidence that security forces are engaged in a campaign of ethnic cleansing. While it was positive to hear Aung San Suu Kyi condemn human rights violations in Rakhine state, she is still silent about the role of the security forces in this," James Gomez of Amnesty International said.
Matthew Smith, co-founder of NGO Fortify Rights, described the speech as a "profound disappointment."
"She failed to provide the leadership and guidance needed to end atrocity crimes. She effectively denied what's happening, again," he said in an email.
Nyan Win, a spokesman for Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party, defended the remarks. He said it was a "good speech" and that she struck a measured tone.
"Because she did not blame to any other person and she tried to do the best things for the Rakhine state situation," he said.
The stateless Rohingya minority have long been denied basic rights in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, which views them as immigrants from Bangladesh. The situation took a turn for the worse in 2012 when religiously-motivated riots killed hundreds and sent more than 140,000 Rohingya Muslims into IDP camps.
The attacks have stymied Aung San Suu Kyi's efforts to find solutions in Rakhine, most notably by appointing the commission chaired by former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The commission delivered its final report hours before the August 25 attacks commenced.
Aung Kyaw Moe, a Yangon-based peacebuilding activist, praised the initiatives that Aung San Suu Kyi has taken, such as the commission; but, he said he was surprised to hear Aung San Suu Kyi talk about the problem in Rakhine as one obstacle among many, when to him it's the "most burning issue" in the country.
"The country will not be peaceful if one group or one community is left behind, regardless of their status in the country as indigenous people or citizens of whatever," he said.
(VOA's Burmese service contributed to this report.)
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Report Of Errant Missile Strike At Russian Exercise Prompts Military Response
RFE/RL September 19, 2017
A Russian website posted a video it said showed an errant rocket from a helicopter hitting close to at least two people watching the joint Russian-Belarusian exercise Zapad 2017, prompting statements from the military that left it unclear when the incident occurred and whether anyone was badly injured.
The video, posted on September 19 by a site called 66.ru that says it is based in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, shows a man walking near a row of vehicles and what appears to be a rocket fired by a helicopter in the background slamming into the ground or a military truck a few feet away, setting off an explosion and sending the person filming the footage sprawling:
The 66.ru report quoted a source it did not identify as saying that two people were seriously injured and that the incident occurred "yesterday or the day before," but no specific date was given.
No statement was posted on the Russian Defense Ministry website in the hours after the video was posted, but state-run Russian media and independent outlets quoted the press service of the Russia's Western Military District as saying that the video did depict an actual incident in which a helicopter fired an errant rocket.
The press service did not say when the incident occurred and it was not clear whether it was denying that it happened during Zapad 2017, which started on September 14.
Russian President Vladimir Putin observed part of the exercise on September 18 in the Leningrad region near St. Petersburg.
"A target was misidentified by the sighting system of one of the helicopters," state news agency RIA Novosti quoted the press service as saying. "As a result of the strike by the unguided rocket, one truck without people in it suffered damage."
The quote carried by media outlets made no reference to people or injuries.
The St. Petersburg-based news site Fontanka.ru website in St. Petersburg, citing unnamed sources, reported that three missiles were fired at an area where civilian and military vehicles were parked late on September 18. The report said that one person was hospitalized.
Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, declined to comment and referred questions to the Defense Ministry.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Russian Service, Current Time TV, RIA Novosti, Meduza, TASS, Dozhd, and Interfax
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-zapad -missile-strike/28744320.html
Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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Chuvash, Bashkir Writers Warn Putin 'Playing With Fire' On Language Policy
RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service September 19, 2017
Prominent writers in Russia's Chuvashia and Bashkortostan regions have urged President Vladimir Putin to stop discouraging the mandatory study of indigenous languages in regions with large ethnic-minority populations, warning that a shift away from the practice could sap Russia's strength and sow discord.
In an open letter to Putin on September 18, ethnic Chuvash author Anatoly Kibech said that dropping mandatory Chuvash language classes at schools in the region on the Volga River could lead to the "weakening of friendly relations between young people in Chuvashia," and the "weakening of Russia as a whole."
"None of the local languages in Russia's ethnic regions imposes a threat to Russia's territorial integrity," Kibech wrote, referring to regions with large populations of indigenous ethnic groups.
"On the contrary, representatives of ethnic indigenous people are more patriotic, more pro-Russian than...people who ignore ethnic cultures. The better the ethnic feelings of Russia's peoples are, the stronger their love to their motherland."
Putin caused concern among champions of local culture in regions such as Chuvashia when he said, while visiting the Republic of Mari El in July, that it was "impermissible to force someone to learn a language that is not their mother tongue, as well as to cut the hours of Russian language [instruction] in Russia's ethnic republics."
In August, Putin followed up by ordering the Prosecutor-General's Office to investigate whether children in the so-called ethnic republics or regions were being forced to study local languages -- which have official status alongside Russian in many of the regions and in some cases are a required subject at state schools.
In the wake of Putin's statement and the order to prosecutors, some Russian-speaking parents urged the authorities in those regions to abandon mandatory studies of languages other than Russian. Several of them did so.
In Bashkortostan, where Bashkir-language classes had been mandatory, parents were asked ahead of the start of the school year on September 1 whether they wanted their children to study Bashkir.
A well-known writer in Bashkortostan, Flyur Galimov, accused Putin of violating the Russian Constitution with his moves discouraging mandatory indigenous-language classes.
He said the change had already caused rifts in Bashkortostan, where at least 1,000 activists rallied on September 16 to demand reinstatement of mandatory Bashkir-language classes in schools across Bashkortostan.
"If that flame is ignited it will be impossible to extinguish it and red rivers might start flowing," Galimov said in a separate open letter, urging Putin "not to cut off our tongue."
Kibech likewise also warned Putin that diminishing the role of indigenous languages could lead to discord across the country and "make our federation weaker."
On September 14, the Council of Chuvash Elders called Putin's moves "another attack against the indigenous languages of the Russian Federation."
On September 7, the Education Ministry of Tatarstan, across the Volga from Chuvashia, declared that calls to end mandatory studies of the Tatar language in the republic contradicted federal and regional laws guaranteeing that the local languages of ethnic republics are official state languages along with Russian.
Also on September 18, Fail Alsynov, the leader of an unregistered group that promotes Bashkir culture and language in Bashkortostan was fined 750 rubles ($12) for refusing to obey police at the rally on September 16 in the regional capital, Ufa.
Alsynov's group, Bashqort, organized the rally.
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-chuvash -bashkir-writers-warn-putin-on- language-policy/28744960.html
Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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S-400 Triumf System to Go Into Service With Unit in Volga Region - MoD
Sputnik News
08:50 19.09.2017(updated 13:10 19.09.2017)
According to the head of the district's technical support department Maj. Gen. Fraiz Salyyev, Russia's S-400 Triumf air defense missile systems will go into service with an air defense unit of the Central Military District in the Volga region this year.
YEKATERINBURG (Sputnik) Russia's S-400 Triumf air defense missile systems will go into service with an air defense unit of the Central Military District in the Volga region in November this year, the head of the district's technical support department, Maj. Gen. Fraiz Salyyev, told reporters Tuesday.
"In November this year, S-400 air defense missile systems will be supplied to another air defense military unit of the Central Military District stationed in the Volga region. Earlier, for the first time, a military unit deployed in the Siberian region was re-equipped with similar systems in 2016," Salyyev said.
The S-400 is a next-generation Russian air defense system. It carries three different types of missiles, capable of destroying aerial targets at short-to-extremely-long ranges. It is designed to track and destroy various types of aerial targets, from reconnaissance aircraft to ballistic missiles.
Sputnik
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Amid Yemen war, Saudi signs military cooperation deal with Britain
Iran Press TV
Tue Sep 19, 2017 05:44PM
Britain and Saudi Arabia have signed a framework deal on military and security cooperation as the Riyadh regime intensifies its ongoing campaign against Yemen.
According to the Saudi state news agency SPA, the deal was signed as British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon discussed military cooperation with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who serves as the kingdom's defense minister and deputy prime minister. The SPA report did not provide details of the agreement.
In December last year, British Prime Minister Theresa May said Britain would invest over three billion pounds ($4.05 billion) in defense in the Parisian Gulf Arab states over the next decade.
London seeks to build on traditionally strong ties with the oil-wealthy monarchies before its planned departure from the European Union.
Britain's close relationship with Arab states of the Persian Gulf region have drawn concern from human rights groups, including the criticism of Saudi airstrikes that have killed hundreds of Yemeni civilians.
In July, Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT), a group working to end the international arms trade, argued at a UK court that the British government was acting unlawfully by selling arms to Saudi, given widespread concerns about the war on Yemen.
In March, Amnesty International condemned the United States and the UK for their "shameful" weapons transfers to Saudi Arabia, saying Washington and London were fueling the serious human rights violations and war crimes in Yemen committed by Riyadh. It said the countries had sold over $5 billion worth of weapons to the Riyadh regime since the beginning of the campaign, more than 10 times the $450 million they have allegedly spent to help save Yemeni civilians.
On June 6 last year, the United Nations gave in to a Saudi demand to remove the oil-rich kingdom from its annual blacklist of child rights violators, less than a week after it blamed Riyadh for the killing of hundreds of Yemenis.
Both Saudi Arabia and the UN drew international criticism after then UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon acknowledged that he had expunged Riyadh from the blacklist under "undue pressure."
Since March 2015, Yemen has been under heavy airstrikes by Saudi warplanes as part of a brutal war against the Arabian Peninsula country in an attempt to crush the popular Houthi Ansarullah movement and reinstall the former president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a staunch ally of Riyadh.
More than 12,000 people have been killed ever since, and much of the country's infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and factories, has been ravaged. The Saudi war has also triggered a deadly cholera epidemic across Yemen, dragging the impoverished nation to the brink of a widespread famine.
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Syria repels massive attack led by Nusra Front
Iran Press TV
Tue Sep 19, 2017 09:12AM
Syria's army and its allies have repelled a large-scale attack spearheaded by the notorious al-Nusra Front terrorist group on the western Syrian city of Hama.
The army and its allies repelled the attack by an alliance of militants led by Nusra on the north of the city on Tuesday, a media outlet run by the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement said.
The northern Hama area is adjacent to the province of Idlib, where there are large concentrations of Takfiri militants.
Al-Nusra recently denounced ongoing peace talks between the Syrian government and armed opposition in the Kazakh capital of Astana. Al-Nusra and other internationally-designated terrorist groups are excluded from the peace process.
The talks have so far led to the establishment of four "de-escalation zones" in the country. An agreement was reached on the specific borders of the fourth zone, which covers Idlib, on Friday, and al-Nusra has said it is not bound by the agreement.
The Syrian government and its allies have been making steady progress against militants in the country. Most recently, they have been making headway in Dayr al-Zawr Province.
The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, meanwhile, said on Tuesday that the Syrian and allied forces had wrested control of about 75 percent of Dayr al-Zawr's provincial capital of the same name.
Dayr al-Zawr is an important battleground. Daesh has mobilized its forces and moved heavy weaponry to the province to make it its main staging area in the face of increasing defeats elsewhere in the country. The liberation of a stretch of land in Dayr-al-Zawr that borders Iraq would be particularly important because it would stop the Takfiri terrorists' cross-border transit to and from Iraq.
Syria's ultimate control of the oil-rich province would also help revive its economy.
Earlier in the month, the Syrian army and its allies broke a nearly three-year-old Daesh siege on government-held parts of the Dayr al-Zawr City.
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As Damascus cements victories, anti-Assad countries say will not help rebuild Syria
Iran Press TV
Tue Sep 19, 2017 07:16AM
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says the United States, Britain, and other backers of the militants fighting to topple the Damascus government will not be supporting the reconstruction of Syria as long as President Bashar al-Assad is in power.
The top British diplomat made the remark at a meeting of countries that support the anti-Assad militants and that call themselves "Friends of Syria" on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Monday.
The grouping also includes France, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, among other Western and Arab states opposed to Assad.
"We believe that the only way forward is to get a political process going and to make it clear to the Iranians, Russians and Assad regime that we, the like-minded group, will not support the reconstruction of Syria until there is such a political process and that means, as Resolution 2254 says, to a transition away from Assad," Johnson said, referring to a resolution adopted at the UN Security Council in 2015.
But Resolution 2254, which Syrian ally Russia also voted "yes" to, does not mention Assad or his future political role, contrary to what Johnson claimed.
US Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Satterfield also said that all those at the meeting agreed that "there has got to be a political process if there is to be any international participation in the reconstruction of Syria."
Syria has been gripped by militancy since March 2011. The anti-government militants operating in Syria have since then received massive financial and logistical aid from a number of Arab monarchies as well as Western governments opposed to President Assad. Yet, the Syrian government and its allies have succeeded in pushing the militants out of large parts of the country.
The foreign-backed militancy in Syria has killed at least 400,000 people according to an August 2016 estimate has displaced millions, and has wrought significant damage on Syrian infrastructure.
As the government cements more victories, Russia, Iran, and Turkey have been leading a peace initiative for Syria in the Kazakh capital of Astana. The three guarantor states have been able to successfully broker four "de-escalation zones" across the Arab country, significantly reducing fighting.
The Astana process was launched several years after an initiative was undertaken by the UN to end the Syrian conflict. The UN-brokered talks, which have been taking place in the Swiss city of Geneva, have not made much progress compared to the negotiations in Astana. That has angered some of the backers of the militants operating in Syria, which would not like to see the Astana talks succeed.
"The reconstruction of Syria depends very much on... [a] credible political process. That political process is focused on Geneva and the role of the United Nations," Satterfield, the US diplomat, said.
Russia and Iran are Syrian government allies, and Turkey is an ally of the anti-Damascus militants.
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Western Countries Say No Syria Reconstruction Without Political Transition
RFE/RL September 19, 2017
Countries opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad say they will not support the reconstruction of the war-torn Middle Eastern country until there is a political transition there.
"We believe that the only way forward is to get a political process going and to make it clear to the Russians, the Iranians, and the Assad regime that we...will not support the reconstruction of Syria until there is such a political process, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on September 18 in New York.
"And that means...to a transition away from Assad," Johnson said. He was speaking to reporters after a meeting of the Friends of Syria Group, an alliance of mainly Western and Gulf Arab countries, on the sidelines of the annual General Debate of the UN General Assembly.
U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Satterfield said that all participants in the meeting agreed that "there has got to be a political process if there is to be any international participation in the reconstruction of Syria."
Russia and Iran have backed Assad and his government throughout the war in Syria, which is now in its seventh year. Russia substantially stepped up its involvement in September 2015, launching a campaign of air strikes and increasing its military presence on the ground.
Earlier, France said it was vital that major powers worked together to help revive UN-brokered peace talks in Geneva, warning that a status quo in Syria risked leading to the country's permanent fragmentation and opening the door to new radical Islamist groups.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said France would call a meeting with the four other permanent members of the UN Security Council -- Britain, China, Russia, and the United States -- this week to discuss developing a group "bringing together the main actors" in the Syrian conflict.
Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders said the French proposal was not discussed at the Friends of Syria meeting.
"If the contact group had Iran in it, that would be difficult for us," a senior U.S. official was quoted as saying to explain Washington's position.
With reporting by Reuters and AFP
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/syria-iran-russia- reconstruction-assad-/28744029.html
Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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The Noose Closes Round Daesh in Deir ez-Zor: Syrian Army Crosses the Euphrates
Sputnik News
19:48 19.09.2017(updated 20:06 19.09.2017)
The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has crossed the Euphrates River and is trying to restore full control over its west bank. RIA Novosti correspondent Mikhail Alaeddin was on the ground to witness a unique operation that could lead to the complete encirclement of the terrorists in Deir ez-Zor.
Mikhail Alaeddin (RIA Novosti) Syrian government forces have conducted a forced crossing of the west bank of the Euphrates River, to ensure the security of the perimeter of Deir ez-Zor's airbase and crushing any hope of survival that Daesh (ISIS/ISIL) terrorists may still be harboring in the region.
Having achieved a series of successes in the south-east and east of Deir ez-Zor, the forward detachments of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) closed in on the Euphrates river bank.
Before the Battle
The river is flowing fast toward the Iraqi border. Along its shores, stories of Mesopotamia and paradise, which according to legend was located between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers, come to mind. It really feels like a little paradise on the Euphrates at 6 am: it's cool, humid and very green, while just a 2-minute drive from here in any direction is a dusty desert.
Before launching their operation, the fighters are busy filling their canteens with water from the river, each platoon lining up, preparing for the river crossing. At night, a group of scouts managed to cross the river on small rubber dinghies, on a mission to identify the location of the main forces and firing positions of terrorists.
Difficult Ferriage
In the morning the heavy machinery of the Syrian government forces starts moving to the river at the command of a senior officer.
Four platoons of assault detachments are getting on floating conveyors one after the other. The fighters have to maintain a security perimeter around the pontoon crossing. The river crossing is made more complicated due the strong current. The amphibian vehicles are being carried aside like matchboxes, but still the helmsmen manage to overpower the force of nature.
In less than half an hour, the troops have hidden behind the bushes on the shore and the battle has begun.
"The terrorists obviously did not expect such a visit. We will now move the equipment. Drop the boat and the first pontoon. Hurry up, our guys need support," the Syrian general barks, and the military servicemen around him start acting quickly.
A multi-ton sophisticated engineering construction quickly unfolds to make a stable platform in the river. Ten to fifteen fighters are holding the pontoon bridge by the rope, preventing it from sailing away. The intensity of the battle on that shore is increasing, and bullets are beginning to whistle and in the area of the pontoon.
"Help, please, we need to fix the pontoon, one lock is defective, we'll have to turn it around, now we'll bring a crowbar," the officer shouts and runs toward the boat to load the next group.
A Lucky Operation
The assault detachment is loaded ready for the river crossing. The soldiers are preparing their guns and spurring on the driver. "Hurry up, we need to help our people, they need ammunition," a commander of one of the groups shouts.
Having moved to the opposite side of the river the military servicemen put on distinctive ribbons, cheering each other with jokes, tighten their belts and give their equipment a final check.
An intense battle is raging one or two kilometers away from the Euphrates. On the shore we meet reconnaissance squad fighters. They are dirty but look happy. Their clothes smell of gun powder.
In the first hours of battle, Syrian soldiers manage to capture two cars loaded with terrorists along with weapons and ammunition.
"We caught them by surprise, they couldn't escape," says one of the Syrian soldiers. "But now the situation is getting worse. The enemy has realized what's happening, and is trying to counterattack on the flanks. A fierce fight is going on in the area of Jafra."
In Jafra, a separate grouping of SAA troops received an order to expel terrorists from the island closer to the center of the city. However, the jihadists there were better prepared for an attack. According to the Syrian officers' reports, the terrorists kicked off a counterattack backed by heavy mortar fire. Two of the terrorists' suicide cars exploded in the space of a couple of few hours.
The First Captive
"Come here. Do you want to talk? We have captured a jihadist, you can make an exclusive report for old times' sake, ask him what you want, you have five minutes," Captain Raid, with whom we have met repeatedly in different hot spots of Deir ez-Zor, shouts to me.
A bearded man lies tied-up in a car, with a bullet wound to the leg.
"My name is Mohammed, I'm from the city of Raqqa, and I've been living in Mejadin for two years [the city east of Deir ez Zor]. Please, give me water, I'm bleeding," the captured militant responds when asked to introduce himself.
Raid calls over a brigade doctor and gives the command to inspect the wound.
"Come on, doctor, we are not animals, and we need him alive. I'm sure that Mohammed of Raqqa will tell us a lot of interesting things. Isn't that so, Mohammed?" the commander asks, holding out a bottle of water to the prisoner who nods in response.
Having drunk his fill, the jihadist provides us with interesting information. He says that after the breach of Deir-ez-Zor's blockade many of his counterparts escaped. Being afraid of being encircled, the militants transported their families to Mejadin and Bukemal at night. To date, there are no civilians left in the territory held by the terrorists in Deir ez-Zor.
"I am from Daesh, I've been in the organization for two years," the prisoner says, "I've been working in the treasury. There are many foreigners [in the terrorist organization], among them are commanders from Arab states and the Caucasus, they are fighting hard."
"Okay, time's up, he'll tell the rest to the specialists. Put him on the pontoon and drive him to the hospital first," Raid orders, and they take the prisoner away. Meanwhile, the body of a deceased Syrian soldier is being loaded onto the pontoon.
The Secure Airfield
Later, we are driving toward the tank platoon headed by General Salam, an acquaintance of mine.
"You are on time, now we will begin," Salam says. "I want to share good news. We have managed to create a safe zone around the airfield. About half an hour ago the first cargo plane with ammunition landed, another one is approaching. We need to go about eight kilometers. Here, we have cleaned up almost all the territory."
Just a week ago, the Air Force base was encircled by terrorists. Syrian soldiers had been defending the airfield for nine months. It seemed a hopeless dream that the airport would open again, while the Syrian troops did not even dare think that the river would be crossed, just focusing on trying to keep what little they had.
Since the breach of the three-year Deir ez-Zor blockade on September 5, considerable forces of the Syrian army have begun to amass in the city. The Daesh group has also concentrated the most efficient units in this region.
Having realized that the situation is deteriorating, the terrorists began to mine entire blocks, villages, and underground tunnels inside the city, Syrian intelligence reports say.
By gaining ground near the Euphrates the SAA have managed to sever the main supply route of Daesh in the Deir ez-Zor region.
Meanwhile, fighters of the elite Syrian unit the "Tigers" are moving to the city from the west. Once the control over the west bank of the Euphrates river is restored and the fifth corpus of the Syrian Army joins the "Tigers," the ring around the jihadists hiding in the residential areas of the city will be closed unless the terrorists manage to escape before the encirclement is complete.
Sputnik
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Syrian Army Attacked From Area Where US Special Task Units, SDF Operate - Moscow
Sputnik News
17:18 19.09.2017(updated 19:48 19.09.2017)
The Syrian Army, fighting terrorists in the Deir ez-Zor province, has been subjected to strong counterattacks from the north where Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and US special task units are operating, the Russian Defense Ministry's spokesman Mj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said on Tuesday.
"Over the past day, the assault groups of the Syrian government troops, with the support of the Russian Aerospace Forces, crossed the Euphrates, and continued to expand the seized bridgehead east of Deir ez-Zor, despite the stiff resistance of Daesh militants," Konashenkov told reporters.
They have liberated some 60 square kilometers [some 23 sq. miles] on the eastern bank but have encountered obstacles, he said.
"According to Syrian commanders' reports from the front line, the Syrian Army encounters the most severe counterattacks and fire from the northern direction. That is, where SDF forces and US special operations units are located, who are allegedly administering medical aid to these militants instead of liberating Raqqa. You don't have to possess profound military knowledge to see consistency in all these 'coincidences'," the spokesman said.
Konashenkov urged the US-led coalition to not impede the fight against terrorism:
"As the end of Daesh in Syria comes ever closer, the more obvious it becomes who is really fighting Daesh and who has been imitating the fight for three years. If the US-led international coalition does not want to combat terrorism in Syria, then it should at least not impede those who are doing it continuously and efficiently."
On September 5, the Black Sea Fleet frigate Admiral Essen launched strikes with Kalibr cruise missiles on Daesh targets in Syria as part of an operation to free the city of Deir ez-Zor. That same day the Syrian Army, backed by the Russian Aerospace Forces, liberated the city.
The US-led coalition of 68 nations started to carry out airstrikes against Daesh in Syria and Iraq in 2014, with the strikes in Syria not being authorized by the government of President Bashar Assad or the UN Security Council. Russia has been fighting terrorists in Syria at Assad's request since September 30, 2015.
Sputnik
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U.S. Senate passes bill in support of military exchanges with Taiwan
ROC Central News Agency
2017/09/19 15:57:55
Washington, Sept. 18 (CNA) The U.S. Senate on Monday approved a US$640 billion defense spending bill that includes a requirement for an assessment report on enhanced military exchanges between the United States and Taiwan.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2018 cleared the Senate in a vote 89-8 in a full session Monday, after the U.S. House of Representatives passed another version of the same bill in July.
According to U.S. legislative regulations, the two houses of Congress have to coordinate on their respective versions and come up with a single bill, which will be have to signed by U.S. President Donald Trump before it can take effect.
Regarding Taiwan issues, the Senate version of the bill states that it is "the sense of Congress" that the U.S. should strengthen its long-standing partnership and strategic cooperation with Taiwan.
The two versions of the bill say that not later than Sept. 1, 2018, the U.S. Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on an assessment regarding ports of call by the U.S. Navy at Kaohsiung or any other suitable ports in Taiwan.
The report should also include an assessment of the feasibility and advisability of permitting the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) to receive ports of call by the navy of Taiwan in Hawaii, Guam and other appropriate locations, according to Senate version.
It also says the U.S. Secretary of Defense should implement a technical assistance program to support Taiwan's efforts to develop indigenous undersea warfare capabilities, including vehicles and sea mines.
The Secretary of Defense should also invite Taiwan forces to participate in joint military exercises and should seek to enhance military exchanges between senior officers and officials of the U.S. and Taiwan, the bill says.
Unlike the Senate bill, the House version contains a clause on arms sales and defense services to Taiwan.
According to the House bill, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, should take action within four months of receiving a formal request from Taiwan to obtain arms or service, and submit a report on the issue to the appropriate congressional committees.
(By Rita Cheng and Evelyn Kao)
Enditem/pc
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In Kyiv, Saakashvili Demands Documents That Stripped Him Of Ukrainian Citizenship
RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service September 19, 2017
KYIV -- Mikheil Saakashvili, the ex-governor of Ukraine's Odesa region and former president of Georgia, has arrived in Ukraine's capital, where he vowed to challenge the revocation of his Ukrainian citizenship.
Speaking to journalists outside the building of the presidential administration on September 19, Saakashvili demanded that the presidential office and state bodies provide him and his lawyers with all the documents related to President Petro Poroshenko's decree stripping him of citizenship.
Saakashvili -- formerly Georgian, then Ukrainian -- has been a stateless person since Poroshenko's decision in July.
He defied Ukrainian authorities on September 10 and made a chaotic crossing into the country from Poland, helped by hundreds of his supporters.
Addressing supporters in the western city of Chernivtsi on September 13, Saakashvili said that he had returned to Ukraine to help solve the country's "political crisis" -- "not simply" to challenge the revocation of his Ukrainian citizenship.
On September 18, a court in Ukraine's western Lviv region was scheduled to start hearings into what officials called his illegal entry into the country, but the hearing was postponed to September 22.
Ukraine's top prosecutor has said that Saakashvili will not be arrested or extradited to Georgia, where the ex-president is wanted on allegations of corruption during his time in office.
"Saakashvili will not be arrested in this case, Saakashvili cannot be extradited from this country while he has a residence permit or other document that he has filed," Prosecutor-General Yuriy Lutsenko said on September 16, suggesting that the stateless ex-leader may have a document allowing him to remain in Ukraine.
Lutsenko also said that those who helped bring Saakashvili across the border would face criminal charges but would not be arrested.
But he added that those who "beat Ukrainian border guards" would face arrest and prosecution.
Authorities claim that several border officers were injured in the altercation at the border with Saakashvili's supporters.
The Georgian government is seeking Saakashvili's arrest and extradition on allegations that he misappropriated property and abused his powers when he was president of his native country from 2004 to 2013.
He denies the allegations and says Georgia's extradition request was made on behalf of "oligarchs" who fear his presence in Ukraine.
After leaving Georgia for self-imposed exile in the United States in 2013, Saakashvili went to Ukraine in 2015 to work for the country's pro-Western authorities as governor of the Odesa region.
He lost his Georgian citizenship when he was granted a Ukrainian passport in 2015 because Georgia does not allow dual citizenship.
Saakashvili quit as governor in November 2016, complaining of official obstruction of anticorruption efforts, accusing Poroshenko of dishonesty, and charging that the government in Kyiv was sabotaging crucial reforms.
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-saakashvil i-demands-documents-stripping -citizenship/28744387.html
Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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Hurricane Irma bumped through Haiti last week, and its aftermath is still a threat to livestock. Heifer Internationals team in Haiti launched into action to make sure no additional animals were lost to injury, stress, parasites other post cyclonic epidemics.
In conjuction with the Ministry of Agriculture, Hervil Cherubin, director of Heifer Haiti, set up emergency response care for livestock through a mobile veterinary care clinic and is leading a team of Heifer staff, veterinary technicians (trained by Heifer International) and veterinarians from Heifer and the country's ministry. The team has already treated thousands of animals as it traveled through communities hit hardest by Irmas flooding and damaging winds.
Here is Cherubins log from this weeks recovery efforts, which are ongoing.
Emergency veterinary mobile clinics are treating livestock and animals in communities affected by Hurricane Irma.
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Thursday, September 14, 2017
Yesterday was day one for our emergency veterinary mobile clinics in the northeast communities most affected by hurricane Irma. The activities were in Dumas, a very poor community where Heifer has been working for the past four years. We set up two posts where people brought their injured animals to be treated. It was open to anyone in need in the community, not only Heifer beneficiaries. A total of 521 animals (mosly goats and cattle) have been treated. The community was very happy and grateful. Heifer staff, along with the veterinary technicians and public officials, were very satisfied of the long day of work.
Today is the second day of our activities. This time we are going to be in Ouanaminthe, a community close to the border with the Dominican Republic. The team woke very early to set up and are ready to roll. The first reports are already in and it looks like we are going to receive many more animals than expected. Many farmers were waiting in line way before our start time of 8 a.m. Just had a meeting with my colleagues to see if we can bring more vet techs or possibly continue to work in this community tomorrow. The Ministry of Agriculture is also there with its veterinarians. Very exciting.
Friday, September 15, 2017
Today is day three of our emergency veterinary care in the Northeast. We are working in two communities: Ferrier, a border town with the Dominican Republic, and Malfety, which is close to Fort Liberte, the region's capital. Ferrier has been badly inundated. Both communities are lowlands, so they suffered considerable damages with crops and animals.
Yesterday was a good day: 1,155 animals received care. People were very happy. There is no doubt that the farmers really understand the need for care for their animals in a situation like that. We could not take care of all the animals. We might need to go back again in the community. The team is working on that.
Saturday, September 16, 2017
Today is day four of our post-Irma emergency veterinary care in the Northeast region of Haiti. The mobile clinic is in the community of Grand Bassin, a community where the people are very proud of being farmers.
So far we have four posts and probably will set one or two more due to the number of animals we have seen in the morning for the day to start. Something that has really caught our attention during the clinics is the number of kids (boys and girls) that have brought animals for care. They are very curious about the whole thing and participate actively along the vet technicians in caring for the animals. Hopefully this will be the first step towards later becoming modern farmers.
Yesterday 1,210 animals received care from the clinic. Hopefully today we can do more if daily med supply does not run out.
Tomorrow there will be no clinic. It will be a day for the team to rest and assess the work done this week. The plan is to move to the Northwest region on Monday, but I have the feeling that the work is not over yet in the Northeast. We will make the decision tomorrow on whether we stay a bit longer in some communities. The good thing is that we have the capacity to deliver in both regions simultaneously.
At the end of the day, what we are doing as Heifer is not only saving the animals' lives, but also protecting the farmers' livelihood. A farmer in Haiti without livestock is a big risk--it's like you and I without a bank account.
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This isn't the first time that Heifer has provided this kind of veterinary assistance across large areas of the country. After hurricane Matthew Heifer last year, Heifer Haiti treated 46,191 animals representing a savings of $5,449,780 for 12,117 families.
Even after the animals are treated, the people of Haiti wont be out of the woods. Flooding caused by Irma damaged crops of plantains, peanuts, cassava, beans, corn, sweet potatoes and coffee. It also damaged fishing equipment and disrupted salt production.
You can support Heifers work to make communities around the world more resilient in the face of disasters. Donate here.
Its been a tough year for DMX. Earlier in the year, the rapper faced some legal troubles due to tax evasion. After failing four drugs tests, the judge placed X on house arrest. House arrest didnt necessarily work out for him so he ended up opting out to head to rehab. Well, it turns out that the recent stint to a rehabilitation facility has been working out well for X, according to his lawyer.
In a report from TMZ, they said they talked to the rappers lawyer about his current status. His lawyer, Murray Richman, said that DMX has made so much progress in rehab that hes back to being human again. His lawyer says hes currently clean and sober and has already packed on 40 lbs. since checking in. Richman described X as being nothing but skin and bones prior to starting treatment towards the end of August. While the program is near completion, his lawyer says he wants X to stay inside of the facility for another 30 days since its been working out. The rapper is currently allowed on day trips with his friend to a nearby town. While his lawyer suggests he stays in rehab for a bit longer, theyll take on the court case once X finishes his treatment in the New England facility.
Xs current legal issues began in July after he caught fourteen counts of tax fraud related charges. The charges amounted to $1.7 million in unpaid taxes that go as far back as 2000. He was previously looking at 44 years in prison if found guilty for the charges. However, hes since taken the opportunity to better himself.
The report also says that DMX hasnt ruled out a tour in the future. It was initially announced that hed be taking part of the Ruff Ryders 20th Anniversary tour that was scheduled this month. He was even granted permission from the judge to travel, mind you under pretty strict conditions. However, his rehab stint has since gotten in the way. The tour also ended up cancelling a majority of the scheduled shows.
Regardless, its good to see that DMX is heading down a better path than he was on before.
Donald Trumps abrasive demeanor as President of the United States was on full display at the United Nations on Tuesday, when he took aim at the North Koreas feared ruler, Kim Jong Un. As per the report from The New York Times, Trump made his stance crystal clear to all those watching, both in the general assembly room and around the world via Internet streaming, when he vowed that the United States would totally destroy North Korea if the country felt threatened in any way. He also bad-mouthed the nuclear agreement with Iran, calling it an embarrassment that he may soon leave behind.
As president of the United States, I will always put America first, just like you, he said in his speech. [The] leaders of your countrie, will always and should always put your countries first. That statement generated smatterings of applause throughout the chamber, but those good vibes were quickly exhausted when Trump began to argue that nationalism can be the first step in the joining of common causes between strong nations. The President also promised to crush loser terrorists, mocked North Koreas leader by calling him Rocket Man and declared that certain parts of the world are going to hell. While some may applaud his honesty, those statements were largely met with silence from the other dignitaries present.
If the righteous many do not confront the wicked few, then evil will triumph, he said. When decent people and nations become bystanders to history, the forces of destruction only gather power and strength. He continued on this train of thought by continuing to bash North Koreas government not only for their questionable nuclear testing activity, but for their treatment of their own citizens and visitors from other countries. No nation on Earth has an interest in seeing this band of criminals arm itself with nuclear weapons and missiles, Trump continued. The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime.
Its worth noting that North Koreas ambassador to the UN, Ja Song Nam, left his seat before Trumps arrival.
Donald Trump
Rick Ross has been showing some love to fellow Miami rapper Bruno Mali recently. Rozay appeared on not one but two tracks on Malis impressive MADE mixtape, and Mali even has MMG in his Twitter bio. Its unclear if the promising emcee is actually on his way to signing with the label, but it wouldnt be a huge surprise, as his thrilling street rap is not all that unlike previous signees like Meek Mill, Gunplay, and Fat Trel. Ross and Mali both appear on a new AudioMack release that remixes Totals 1995 single Cant You See with The Notorious B.I.G. This is not the first time Ross, a good friend of Diddys has appeared alongside Biggie Smalls. In July, Diddy released Bad Boy Watcha Gon Do? Dre Day and Watcha Gon Do, two songs that featured both Ross and posthumous verses from B.I.G.
In 2012, Ross told Fuse about his Biggie fandom. I was inspired by Notorious B.I.G. a lot, he said. Just his demeanor, the way he carried himself. He was just so laid back, he was just so authentic, not to mention he was the greatest emcee of all time.
Ross released his 9th studio album Rather You Than Me earlier this year, but he has plans to release a follow-up before 2017 wraps up. Obviously, thats album number 10. I wanna tie it into something else real soon, he told Complex. Theres a couple dates that we can do some things this year.
You can listen to Bruno Malis MADE Mixtape, which features guest appearances from both Ross and Ace Hood, here. It stands as one of the best and most underrated projects of the year so far. If he does officially sign with MMG, Mali should have a bright future ahead of him.
New Delhi, Sep 20 (IBNS): The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, awarded compensation for litigation cost to 39 flat buyers of Unitech's Vistas Project in Gurugram, according to media reports.
Each flat buyer is to receive Rs 80,000 towards cost of litigation.
According to media reports, the flat buyers were paid the principal sum and 14 per cent interest by Unitech following an earlier order by the apex court.
Unitech was supposed to hand over the Gurugram Vistas Project flats in 2012, media reported.
After Unitech failed to deliver, the disgruntled buyers approached the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.
NCDRC ordered Unitech to pay the principal with an interest of 18 per cent, media reported.
Unitech approached the SC against the consumer forum's order.
Meanwhile, in April this year, promoters Sanjay Chandra and Ajay Chandra were arrested by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police, reports said.
The apex court last Friday refused to grant interim bail to the jailed promoters Sanjay Chandra and Ajay Chandra and said their pleas will beconsidered only after the data of homebuyers seeking refund is collated. media reported.
Kolkata, Sep 19 (IBNS): Star Cement, a leading cement brand from north-eastern India, offered large-scale relief services to flood affected districts in Assam and parts of West Bengal and Bihar, during the recent devastation that hit the regions, according to the company.
It served more than 10,000 flood affected households, covering 60,000 people, spread across six districts of Assam, two districts of West Bengal and one of Bihar.
In Assam, it offered relief to people of Majuli, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, Morigaon, Kamrup Metropolitan District and Dhubri. In West Bengal, it reached out to people in the districts of Uttar Dinajpur and Dakshin Dinajpur. In Bihar, it took relief to flood hit Kishanganj district.
The people in these areas faced the threat of flood from elevated water levels and were forced to seek shelter in relief camps.
It was necessary to get across vast quantities of relief material to these people who had left their hearth and home.
Each packet of relief material contained rice, dal, salt, soyabean, biscuit, milk powder, Chirwa, water, candle with and match boxes etc. in a quantity that will meet the food requirement of a five-member family for four days.
More than 5,000 households were supported with food items like staple food, readily eatable items etc. in the two districts of West Bengal, the company said.
Sanjay Kumar Gupta, CEO, Star Cement said, Flood takes away the lives of people and animals and severely affects the livelihood of general people apart from damaging property and capital infrastructure. We believe that the most immediate and short term response to the nature made crisis situation is to provide relief. We are making every effort to reach those flood affected families who others have not been able to reach and those who have received minimal quantity of relief items so far.
The Relief Program was managed and monitored by a team of volunteers from Star Cement with the support of local dealers under the guidance of Pradeep Purohit Vice President, SCM.
Relief distribution program was conducted in the presence of the local administration, panchayat members, local youth organisations and village headman for smooth and effective distribution of the material so that the relief reached those who were in need of it, the company said.
Boulder (Colorado), Sep 20 (IBNS): The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) has recently issued a warning saying that the Arctic Sea ice is at its minimum extent.
NSIDC is part of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder, US.
According to NSIDC, on September 13, Arctic sea ice appears to have reached its seasonal minimum extent of 4.64 million square kilometers (1.79 million square miles), the eighth lowest in the 38-year satellite record.
The overall rate of ice loss this summer was slowed by a persistent pattern of low sea level pressure focused over the central Arctic Ocean, said the Center.
NSIDC also said that this is a preliminary announcement. Changing winds or late-season melt could still reduce the Arctic ice extent, as happened in 2005 and 2010. NSIDC scientists will release a full analysis of the Arctic melt season, and discuss the Antarctic winter sea ice growth, in early October.
The importance of the Arctic sea ice lies in the fact that it keeps the polar regions cool and helps moderate global climate, according to the Center.
Sea ice has a bright surface; 80 percent of the sunlight that strikes it is reflected back into space. As sea ice melts in the summer, it exposes the dark ocean surface. Instead of reflecting 80 percent of the sunlight, the ocean absorbs 90 percent of the sunlight. The oceans heat up, and Arctic temperatures rise further.
A small temperature increase at the poles leads to still greater warming over time, making the poles the most sensitive regions to climate change on Earth.
According to scientific measurements, both the thickness and extent of summer sea ice in the Arctic have shown a dramatic decline over the past thirty years.
This is consistent with observations of a warming Arctic, said NSIDC on its website.
The loss of sea ice also has the potential to accelerate global warming trends and to change climate patterns.
Meanwhile in response to the announcement from the NSIDC on the Arctic summer sea ice extent, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) released the following statement from David Aplin, interim managing director of the US Arctic team:
This summers nearly record low sea ice levels are yet another reminder of the massive change occurring in the Arctic, and communities and wildlife alike are already feeling the impacts. Given the unraveling of the sea ice system, action is urgently needed to avert other risks and threats to the region.
For this reason, the potential for offshore oil drilling is misguided and risky. Burning more fossil fuels only accelerates warming and puts the regions future in even more danger. Its time to expedite our nation's transition to a renewable energy rather increase our reliance on fossil fuels.
Image: NSIDC News/Twitter
New Delhi, Sep 20 (IBNS): WWF-India, in partnership with Capgemini, recently launched the One Planet Academy (OPA), an environment education portal for students and teachers in India.
Leveraging the affinity of todays learners towards technology, according to WWF-India, the website focuses on various environmental themes and is a digital hub for schools, teachers and students that brings under its ambit a digital training and resource centre.
The OPA is designed to be a one-stop destination for educational information and interactive and engaging content on the environment and sustainable practices.
Ravi Singh, Secretary General and CEO, WWF-India said, The One Planet Academy brings together two essential pillars of WWF-India- our approach to conservation and education. Looking at strengthening the capacity of schools and teachers, the website aims to create awareness on matters of the environment while connecting with young minds of today for contributory actions towards our planet.
The website encourages schools to adopt green practices, offers project and activity ideas for the teachers, along with online training courses, and houses games, comics, interactive maps etc, for the students.
According to the Living Planet Report 2016, released by WWF, the global population of fish, birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles has declined by 58 percent between 1970 and 2012.
The report also showed that India ranks fifth in terms of bio-capacity an ecosystems capacity to produce resources such as food, fibre and renewable raw materials and absorb carbon dioxide and the countrys carbon footprint currently makes up 53 per cent of the countrys overall ecological footprint.
With indicators such as these, there is a need, probably more urgent now than before, to increase awareness about environment issues and inspire children to adopt sustainable lifestyles for a greener planet, said the organisation.
According to WWF-India, while environment education forms an integral part of the school syllabi, there exists a gap in the education system and the populace in the realm of education for the environment and sustainability.
The OPA, launched as a middle school programme in its first phase, will address these issues and make it a more hands-on and action oriented experience, inspiring children to think about issues around them and make responsible choices in their daily lives.
Anil Jalali, CHRO India, Capgemini said, It is an imperative for us to nurture young minds today to develop conscientious and socially responsible citizens of tomorrow. Education and Environment are key focus areas of our CSR roadmap and we believe that education is the most powerful enabler of change. Capgemini is pleased to facilitate the development of this virtual training and resource centre that promises to transform the way we teach and learn about our environment.
The One Planet Academy is a resource portal for teachers and students, allowing them to access interesting and engaging educational material at the click of a button.
The teacher section will provide ideas for projects and activities along with publications related to educating young learners about the environment. The website will also provide short-term online training courses for teachers.
For students, the OPA is a fun virtual library, with informative e-books and stories, interactive games, films and competitions, which will help in deepening a sense of environmental consciousness.
WWF- India will also conduct workshops including nature trails and lectures and talks on environmental issues and sustainable practices by experts at WWF-India as a part of this initiative.
Image: WWF India/Twitter
New Delhi, Sept 20 (IBNS): The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for introduction of the Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in Parliament subject to modifications of drafting or consequential nature, if any, as may be considered necessary by the Legislative Department by amending the Dentists Act, 1948 (16 of 1948). The amendment will reduce the redundancy.
The clauses being amended include those pertaining to certain modifications in the provisions of the Dentists Act, 1948 with regard to:
the Membership of the Dental Council of India under clause (f) of section 3 and
the Membership of State and Joint State Dental Councils under clause (b) of section 21 and clause (b) of section 23 of the said Act.
Chandigarh, Sep 20 (IBNS): The Border Security Force (BSF) said that it shot two Pakistani infiltrators dead along the Punjab border on Tuesday night.
According to reports, the infiltrators were suspected to be drug peddlers and reportedly fired at the army team, before being killed.
The said incident took place near the International Boundary in Ajnala sector in Amritsar, Punjab, The Hindu reported.
"When challenged by BSF troops, infiltrators fired on ambush line with automatic weapons. Taking cover, the fire was appropriately retaliated and infiltrators were neutralized near the fence," the daily quoted a BSF official as stating.
The official said that the team recovered four packets of heroin, weighing one kilo each, along with an AK-47 rifle, magazines, a 9 mm pistol, a Pakistani mobile phone, and Rs 20,000 in Pakistani currency from the infiltrators.
Gangtok, Sep 20 (IBNS) : At least five people were killed and several injured in two separate incidents of landslide in south Sikkim's Namchi early on Wednesday, reports said.
The landslides, triggered by heavy rains, have cut-off a vast area from rest of the state.
According to reports, a landslide hit a house at upper Gurpisey, killing three persons of a family. There bodies remained buried under debris before being recovered by a rescue party.
Two injured have been admitted to Namchi hospital.
In the second incident that took place within an hour, a woman and her daughter were killed after their house was destroyed by a landslide at Kateng Namphok area.
The Government has sent relief parties to the affected areas.
Chennai, Sep 20 (IBNS) : In a temporary relief for the TTV Dinakaran camp in the ruling AIADMK, the Madras High Court on Wednesday extended the stay on holding a floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly till further orders, reports said.
While hearing the case on the disqualification of 18 MLAs, belonging to the Dinakaran group, justice Doraiswamy said that there shall be no floor test in the Assembly till the legal case is disposed.
The court has set next date of hearing on the MLAs' disqualification case on October 4.
With the reduced number of seats after 18 MLAs were disqualified, the EPS-OPS faction could have easily proven its majority in the Assembly. However, with a stay on the floor test, the situation seems tricky for the Palaniswami Government.
The 18 disqualified MLAs from Dinakaran's camp of the AIADMK moved the High Court on Tuesday and the court agreed to hear their plea.
Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal had disqualified the legislators under the Anti-Defection Act for withdrawing their support to the EPS government.
The group of 18 MLAs announced withdrawal of support to the E Palaniswami Government after the EPS-OPS camps buried hatchets and took control of the organisation by ousting V Sasikala and sidelining her nephew TTV Dinakaran.
Claiming that the Government now stands in the minority, the Dinakaran camp demanded a floor test in the House.
However, in a prompt move the Speaker disqualified all these 18 MLAs before any trust vote takes place.
If the court quashes the disqualification and the floor test takes place in the TN assembly, the Palaniswamy government could certainly fall short of the majority without the support of the rebel MLAs, according to reports.
The power struggle in the party began after Jayalalitha's death as VK Sasikala, who is presently in jail for an assets disproportionate case, tried to become the state's CM.
New Delhi, Sept 20 (IBNS): Indian President Ram Nath Kovind addressed the inaugural function of the golden jubilee celebrations of Jesus & Mary College in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said inaugurating the golden jubilee celebrations of Jesus and Mary College was a matter of honour for him.
This institution has contributed enormously to the cause of education in New Delhi and in our country, he said.
For five decades, it has taught and prepared young women to break glass ceilings, to achieve their potential, contribute to society and to the economy, and become part of the process of nation building, he said.
The President said that the Christian community whose history in India goes back 2,000 years and which has contributed so much to our shared culture has carved a special role for itself in education. Missionary institutions such as this one have become symbols of scholarship, dedicated teaching and academic excellence.
This is so appropriate. For all religions in their essence urge us to constantly learn and evolve and grow, to acquire knowledge and gain wisdom. And so become better human beings, the President said.
The President said that the goal of education is not just to acquire knowledge. That is only a starting point. It is much more critical to use the knowledge one gets from education to enhance the welfare of the less-privileged among us.
The truly educated are not those who collect degrees, but those who use those degrees and the underlying scholarship to become nation builders in our society. Jesus and Mary College is a role model for others.
It is a matter of great happiness that the college has chosen its golden jubilee to partner with a nearby NDMC school and facilitate the development of the school and its children.
This is a praiseworthy example of giving back to society. It can be adopted by other colleges too.
The President said that India is in the midst of multiple transformations. We are an old civilisation but a young people. In the first half of the 21st century, we will have the largest young population in any country of the world. It is crucial to harness the energy of our young people and use it to make our country a developed society. Education is fundamental to this effort calling for both access to education and quality of education.
The President said that the nature of our economy and the very concept of a workplace is also changing.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the advances in digitisation and robotics will together make certain types of jobs obsolete and also create many new opportunities.
Dhaka, Sept 20 (IBNS): At least six people were killed when a fire broke out at a factory building in Bangladesh's Sadar upazila of Munshuganj on Wednesday, media reports said.
Three of the deceased were identified as Nazmul, 20, Israt, 18, and Ujjal, 20, oThe Daily Star reported quoting police.
The fire ripped through Charmuktapur Ideal Textile Mill, which presumably originated at its godown around 9:45am, said Zainal Abedin, in-charge of Mukterpur River police camp told the newspaper.
Four units of firefighters from Munshiganj and Narayanganj went to the dpot and brought the fire under control.
Police have detained four people so far, media reports said.
New Delhi, Sept 20 (IBNS): A group of youth from the Gurez Valley of Jammu & Kashmir, participating in Operation Sadbhavana, called on President of India Ram Nath Kovind, at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday.
#PresidentKovind met youth from Gurez Valley of Jammu & Kashmir participating in Operation Sadbhavana at Rashtrapati Bhavan pic.twitter.com/rfAFLCPqdz President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 20, 2017
Welcoming the youth, the President said that young people are the future of Jammu & Kashmir and it's their responsibility to play a role in the development of the state. He stated that successive Indian governments had worked for the welfare of the people of the State. He asked the youth to learn from the discipline of the Indian Army. He also congratulated the Army on the Sadbhavana initiative and wished the programme all success.
The Sadbhavana tour was organised by the 109 Infantry Brigade of the Indian Army with an aim to develop trust among and reignite the minds of youth towards national integration. As part of this tour, these youth are visiting Srinagar, Delhi, Lansdowne, Rishikesh and Dehradun.
twitter.com/adgpi
Srinagar, Sept 20 (IBNS): An Army jawan was killed and three others were injured in a sniper attack from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmiras Kupwara district on Wednesday, media reports said.
The martyr has been identified as Sepoy Rajesh Khatri.
In a tweet, the Army wrote: "General Bipin Rawat #COAS & All Ranks salute supreme sacrifice of our martyr & offer condolences to the family of the braveheart."
According to reports, the Pakistani troopers attacked the Indian Army in Kupwara's Keran sector on Wednesday.
The sniper attack left four jawans injured, who were then airlifted to Srinagar.
The injured were admitted to the Armys 92-Base Hospital at Badami Bagh Cantonment.
Khatri was declared dead on arrival.
According to reports, the condition of another soldier is in a critical state.
Kolkata, Sep 20 (IBNS): The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday criticized Mamata government's curb on the immersion of goddess Durga idol on Ekadashi (Oct 1) for Muharram celebration in the state.
While hearing a writ petition that was filed challenging state government's restrictions on Durga idol immersion, a division bench of the Calcutta HC, comprising of newly appointed Chief Justice Rakesh Tiwari and Justice Harish Tandon, slammed West Bengal government for imposing such restriction.
"Just basing on an assumption that law and order situation might be disrupted , the restriction on Durga idol immersion has been imposed by the state government which can not be sanctioned by the Constitution of India," Chief Justice Rakesh Tiwari said.
"When Chief Minister of the state is claiming that West Bengal is a pilgrimage of communal harmony, then what is the need of such restriction? Why people of different communities wouldn't celebrate festivals of different religions together?" Calcutta HC's Chief Justice raised the questions.
However, the hearing in the case ended on Wednesday and the court said that it will pronounce the verdict on Thursday (Sep 21).
Earlier on Aug 23, after holding a meeting with Durga puja organizers in Kolkata, CM Mamata Banerjee declared a curb on Durga idol immersion on Bijoya Dashami, Sept 30, after 6 pm. and on Ekadashi (Oct 1) whole day for Muharram processions.
Challenging the decision, at least two petitions have been filed in the Calcutta High Court.
Later, Bengal government extended the immersion deadline till 10 pm. on Dashami (Sep 30), but did not lift the ban on Durga idol immersion on Ekadashi (Oct 1) for Muharram celebration.
Last year, the state government put same restrictions on Durga idol immersion for Muhharam and few puja organizers moved to Calcutta High Court against the decision.
The High Court slammed the state government for the announcement and granted additional time to the petitioners for idol immersion.
(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)
Mumbai, Sep 20 (IBNS): Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt, has posted a heart-touching message on social media as her father Mahesh Bhatt turned 69 on Wednesday.
The actress called her father "maddest teacher alive" in the post which she shared on Instagram.
The post, shared by Alia, definitely reflects the kind of strong bonding of the father-daughter duo as the Highway actress also referred to Mahesh as a "friend".
Alia took to Instagram to post an image of her father with a caption that reads: "My sunshine my rain, my old man who's taught me of love AND pain! The maddest teacher alive. Happy birthday my friend! May we be father daughter in all the lifetimes the universe has to offer."
My sunshine my rain, my old man who's taught me of love AND pain! The maddest teacher alive. Happy birthday my friend! May we be father daughter in all the lifetimes the universe has to offer YYz A post shared by Alia aai (@aliaabhatt) on Sep 19, 2017 at 7:58pm PDT
Mahesh Bhatt is an Indian director, producer and screenwriter, who is credited for number of successful Bollywood films.
His last directorial film Raaz: Reboot was released in 2016.
New York, Sept 18(Just Earth News): As the 2017-2018 school year starts, more than 1.5 million children across West and Central Africa risk going to school hungry or dropping out altogether, due to lack of financing for nourishing school meals, the United Nations food relief agency said on Monday.
By failing to fully fund school meals, we are collectively short-changing the next generation and Africa's future, said Abdou Dieng, West and Central Africa Regional Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) in a news release.
School meals are one of the best investments the international community can make to ensure a head start for young children in some of the world's poorest countries.
In many areas of the region, WFP is the sole or main provider of school meals. Over the years, however, WFP has shrunk its coverage for lack of funds.
In Burkina Faso, WFP's school meals programme for nearly 83,000 children is 0 per cent financed, while the programme in Senegal is only five per cent funded.
In conflict-torn Central African Republic, the programme for more than 200,000 youngsters is half funded, and in Niger, the programme for more than a quarter of a million pupils is 19 per cent financed.
Other particularly at-risk countries include Liberia, Mali and Mauritania, but the funding dearth stretches across the region.
Altogether, WFP's regional programme faces an $76 million funding gap, the agency warned, as experts were meeting in Montreal, Canada, for an annual forum on child nutrition, co-sponsored and hosted by WFP's Centre of Excellence against Hunger.
The news release noted that repercussions are dramatic, since the hearty and nutritious WFP-provided lunches and snacks are the only meal many youngsters eat all day. More broadly, the funding crunch puts at risk a whole generation, with broader spill-over effects on national economies and development.
This is a crisis for education, but also a crisis for nutrition and food security which are the fundamental pillars of development, said Dieng,
Studies show the meals help improve attendance and performance rates. They are also a key incentive for parents to send their children particularly girls to school and to keep them there.
Photo: WFP/Bruno Djoye
Source: www.justearthnews.com
New York, Sept 20(Just Earth News): Reaffirming Zambiaas commitment to international cooperation to address the challenges facing the planet, the countryas President on Tuesday called on world leaders to come together and act boldly for the sake of the shared future.
In this globalized and inter-dependent world, no country, however wealthy or powerful, can resolve all these challenges single-handedly, said Edgar Chagwa Lungu, addressing the general debate at the 72nd session of the General Assembly.
Common solutions are, therefore, required through a strong United Nations, he added.
In particular, he noted the challenges brought on by the impact of climate change intensified through the increase in natural disasters and how future generations remain most vulnerable out of no fault of their own.
Underscoring the importance of UN in addressing challenges in an interlinked and interdependent world, the Zambian President called for reforms, in particular to the Security Council to make the Organization more effective and efficient.
The Security Council needs to be more representative, democratic and accountable to all UN Member States, he said, adding that as Africa constitutes the second largest bloc of the UN Membership, proposals to reform the Council should heed Africas legitimate call.
Also in his remarks, the President noted important gains registered by the country, based on both the African Union 2063 Agenda and the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and that the agendas have been integrated into the national development planning framework. He also spoke of improvements in agriculture, employment generation, manufacturing as well as on deepening of democracy, rule of law and human rights.
Zambia continues to make tremendous strides in the campaign to end child marriage [and] we are also repealing a number of discriminatory and outdated statutes related to children [to make it compatible with] the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, he said, urging everyone to concentrate on efforts to protect children and youth.
UN Photo/Cia Pak
Source: www.justearthnews.com
New York, Sept 20(Just Earth News): Noting efforts to advance socio-economic development in Uzbekistan, the President of the country highlighted that the ultimate goal is to build a democratic State and a just society, where the priority is implementation of the principle that ahuman interests come first.a
We are deeply convinced: the people must not serve the Government bodies, rather the Government bodies must serve the people, said Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the President of Uzbekistan, at the general debate of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In his address, the noted the countrys five-year development plan, prepared through nationwide discussions, as well as of initiatives in partnership with UN agencies, including the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on advancing human development and rights.
The most important vector of reforms is liberalization of the economic system and creation of favourable investment climate. We proceed from one simple truth: the richer the people are the stronger shall be the State, he added, noting fiscal initiatives including switching to free conversion of the national currency.
Further in his remarks, he also drew attention to the situation of the Aral Sea and urged for full implementation of the UN programme to assist the populations affected by the ecological disaster.
Turning to the challenges posed by terrorism around the world, President Mirziyoyev called for strengthened multilateral cooperation to build social support for the youth, protection of their rights and interests, to save them from what he said was the virus of the ideology of violence.
He also called for promoting universal access to education and for eradicating illiteracy and ignorance promote tolerance and mutual respect.
UN Photo/Cia Pak
New York, Sept 20(Just Earth News): Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, took the podium expressing support for the theme of the United Nations 72nd General Assembly a aFocusing on People: Striving for Peace and a Decent life for all on a Sustainable Planeta a questioning why the worldas elites failed to see its pertinence.
Who would lose if all the people on the globe led a decent life, he said, namely by having enough food; inoculations for immunizable diseases; drinkable water; education; clean electricity; fair-paying jobs; and respectable homes. Parasitism is the only obstacle to global affluence, prosperity and peace, he added.
Turning to the dangerous situation on the Korean Peninsula, he believed that, as kith and kin, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK) would do well to alone discuss their re-unification. He cited a unified Viet Nam, as well as that of Germany in 1990. Noting the strength of a unified Korea, he posed the queries, Why do some actors fear strong nations in the world? Why should the Koreans themselves (North and South) allow external forces to continue to divide them?
We always strive not to allow actors, foreign or local, to divide the African peoples, regardless of the complications involved, he underscored, saying that Uganda accommodates many African refugees on account of a conscious ideological position not to allow any actors to divide us. We only fight traitors.
On the small issue of enforcing sanctions against the DPRK, Kaguta told the Assembly that Uganda is in compliance. We do not have to trade with North Korea. We are, however, grateful that, in the past, the North Koreans helped us to build our tank forces, he concluded.
UN Photo/Cia Pak
New York, Sept 20(Just Earth News): Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales, addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, pledged the firmest intention to strengthen and support the International Commission against Impunity of Guatemala (CICIG), while stressing that no institution should interfere in the countryas administration of justice. The agreement between the UN and Guatemala that established the CICIG was the first of its kind in the world, he said. It was vital that it was complied with faithfully. Having started its work in 2007, its mandate had been extended five times, demonstrating a firm commitment to strengthen and support its work, he explained.
Our Government is fully committed to the fight against corruption and impunity, he said, stressing that it is for that reason that Guatemala has begun the process of revising the interpretation and application of the CICIG agreement.
So his Government hoped that with objectivity and equanimity we can improve the commission's role by ensuring due prosecution, presumption of innocence, and to avoid selective prosecution and the politicization of justice.
Institutional and international action on migration was an important issue for Guatemala, President Morales continued, including partnership with Mexico, Honduras and the United States. Guatemala was counting on the efforts of Member States to negotiate an agreement on safe, regular and orderly migration. Turning to the situation of the so-called dreamers in the United States, he said Guatemala hoped that the American peoples sense of humanity would lead to the US Senate adopting legislation that would allow dreamers to enjoy legal status in that country.
UN Photo/Cia Pak
New York, Sept 20(Just Earth News): Taking the podium at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, the President of Armenia pledged support to the Secretary-Generalas priorities as the country marks the 25th anniversary of its succession to the UN.
President Serzh Sargsyan spoke extensively on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict listing it as being among the various challenges that Armenia has withstood with dignity recommitting the country to its peaceful resolution.
Sargsyan called the conflict a human rights issue, saying it can be resolved exclusively through one of the fundamental and inalienable human rights the people's right to self-determination.
Noting that next year the UN would mark the 70th anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the President said that Armenia would at that time table and invite all member States to support a new initiative towards the international recognition of the Armenian genocide.
Turning to the Middle East, he expressed great pain over the humanitarian situation in Syria that has caused the civilian population great suffering, including the countrys Armenian community.
Within its means, Armenia strives to mitigate the suffering of the Syrian people by providing humanitarian assistance. We also express our willingness to engage into possible discussions on the peace-making efforts in Syria under the UN auspices and with an appropriate mandate, he stated.
UN Photo/Cia Pak
Source: www.justearthnews.com
New York, Sept 20(Just Earth News): In his address to the United Nations General Assembly, Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis Rivera called for the UN to rethink the concept of per capita income as a reference for determining a country's development, stressing that only a multidimensional vision of development and poverty will allow an understanding of the needs of populations and families. New York, Sept 20(Just Earth News): In his address to the United Nations General Assembly, Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis Rivera called for the UN to rethink the concept of per capita income as a reference for determining a country's development, stressing that only a multidimensional vision of development and poverty will allow an understanding of the needs of populations and families.
This would include issues such as access to healthcare, social equality, gender equality, and address social, economic, and environmental vulnerabilities and is especially relevant to the needs of middle-income countries.
He also highlighted the crucial importance of gender equality. Every day, women strive for a world where the full recognition and exercise of their rights is more tangible, he said. Their fights are inherent to the building of truly democratic societies and the inclusive coexistence in all our countries.
Turning to climate change he said there is enough evidence to support the idea that a transformative solution to climate change is within human capabilities.
In his remarks, Juan Orlando Hernandez Alvarado, President of Honduras, said his administration is building a new Honduras by tackling violent crime and restoring its economy. Together with Guatemala, Honduras is creating a zone dedicated to the free circulation of goods, services and people. He said negotiations are under way with El Salvador and Nicaragua to join the agreement.
Honduras, along with El Salvador and Nicaragua, and with the support of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, set up the Gulf of Fonseca Development Plan, which will create a pole of economic development. In addition, the implementation of the economic development program "Honduras 2020" provides for the creation of 600,000 jobs over the next five years.
The President also welcomed the progress made by his country in terms of transparency and the fight against corruption. We have purged the national police, created anti-corruption tribunals and strengthened the Ministry of Public Security, he said, in addition to signing an agreement with the Organization of American States (OAS) corruption and impunity.
However, he continued, the fight against poverty is the priority in the programme of governments of developing countries. We must overcome the structural conditions that exclude entire sections of our societies, he said, adding that poverty is the cause of migration, insecurity and violence. He also denounced the classification system used by developed countries to measure the level of development aid, explaining that Honduras, considered as a middle-tier country, is penalized.
Concluding his speech, the President said that migrants are the "new martyrs and new heroes" of our time who have to face all the challenges before they can bring their talents and dedication to their host countries. Honduras, he said, was "making every effort" to improve the living conditions of its citizens so that they did not have to leave their country in search of opportunities.
UN Photo/Cia Pak
Source: www.justearthnews.com
New York, Sept 20(Just Earth News): In his address to the United Nations General Assembly, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mauritania, Isselkou Ould Ahmed Izid Bih, welcomed the progress made in the fight against terrorism and migration through an approach based on dialogue and openness.
After heavy fighting in 2010 and 2011, and despite a complex regional situation, Mauritania has faced the threat of terrorism successfully. We have strengthened our defensive capacities while respecting human rights and putting in place a policy of sustainable development, he explained. In addition, Mauritania has succeeded in building a constructive dialogue with the opposition and civil society, improving governance and reforming institutions, particularly with regard to womens rights.
Mauritania, he continued, has reformed its legal frameworks on the basis of international agreements, in particular, to better combat terrorism. To this end, he noted the conclusion of agreements with some groups in order to allow their members to reintegrate into society in a productive way.
Mauritania, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has eradicated illegal migration from its territory, the Minister continued. We also set out a roadmap on the fight against terrorism, including through a social assistance program, he said, adding that repatriation programmes have also been implemented for migrants, in order to enable them to return to the country under favourable conditions.
The Minister also spoke about the problems caused by climate change in the Sahel region. In this regard, he encouraged all parties to the Paris Agreement on climate change to honour their commitments in order to limit the impacts of the phenomenon.
UN Photo/Cia Pak
Source: www.justearthnews.com
New York, Sept 20(Just Earth News): The worldas first legally-binding treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons opened for signature on Wednesday at United Nations Headquarters in New York at a ceremony at which speakers from international organizations, governments and civil society hailed this milestone in achieving a world free of such arsenals as well as the work that remains to be done.
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is the product of increasing concerns over the risk posed by the continued existence of nuclear weapons, including the catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences of their use, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at the ceremony, held on the margins of the General Assemblys high-level debate.
The Treaty is an important step towards the universally-held goal of a world free of nuclear weapons. It is my hope that it will reinvigorate global efforts to achieve it, he added, acknowledging the contributions made by civil society and the hibakusha the atomic bomb survivors.
At the same time, Guterres, highlighted the difficult road ahead by recalling that there remain some 15,000 nuclear weapons in existence. We cannot allow these doomsday weapons to endanger our world and our childrens future, he said.
The Treaty adopted on 7 July this year at a UN conference in New York by a vote of 122 in favour to one against (Netherlands), with one abstention (Singapore) prohibits a full range of nuclear-weapon-related activities, such as undertaking to develop, test, produce, manufacture, acquire, possess or stockpile nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, as well as the use or threat of use of these weapons.
However, nuclear-armed States and most of their allies stayed out of the negotiations. Immediately following its adoption, the United States, the United Kingdom and France issued a joint press statement saying that they have not taken part in the negotiation of the treaty and do not intend to sign, ratify or ever become party to it.
The Treaty will enter into force 90 days after it has been ratified by at least 50 countries.
At on Wednesdays ceremony, chaired by UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu, 41 countries signed the Treaty, with more expected later in the day. The Holy See and Thailand not only signed but also ratified it.
The President of the General Assembly, Miroslav Lajcak, noted at the ceremony that the Treaty demonstrates the will of Member States to bring about change.
It will raise public awareness about the risks of nuclear weapons. It will keep us on track for achieving our goal of a world in which nuclear weapons exist only in movies or books. But we need to do more to get the whole way there.
Photo: US Government
Source: www.justearthnews.com
New York, Sept 20(Just Earth News): The leader of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country born two decades ago in the deadliest fighting in Europe since the Second World War, on Wednesday stressed the centrality of the United Nations in resolving crises before they degenerate into war and the flight of refugees.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, unfortunately, we know too much about the high price of wars, Dragan Covic, the Chairman of the countrys Presidency, told world leaders from the podium of the UN General Assembly on the 2nd day of its annual general debate.
On a global level, the United Nations system must be at the heart of all activities using preventive measures to resolve the crises and prevent people from leaving their homes. Again, much of the responsibility for prevention lies with other levels. Within our communities, we must counter all the symptoms of trouble and conflicts, he added.
He highlighted the importance of correcting social injustice, reconciling the seemingly irreconcilable, persevering in compromise and striving for pluralistic and inclusive solutions.
In a wide-ranging speech Covic denounced violence against civilians in Syria, backed the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, called terrorism undoubtedly the greatest evil of on Wednesday, and highlighted the importance of gender equality in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that seek to eliminate a host social ills like hunger and poverty.
UN Photo/Cia Pak
Toronto, Sep 20 (IBNS): Amid the widespread disapproval of the legalisation of cannabis by the federal government, an Ontario college has decided to start a graduation certificate programme in cannabis production, media reports said.
Niagara College said that they will launch a graduation programme in the fall of 2018.
The production of cannabis shall include marijuana, hemp fibre and hemp seed.
Regarding the commencement of the programme in 2018, Niagara College president, Dan Patterson, told media the programme is aiming to address a growing labour market needs when the federal government brought some new rules and regulations.
The school said the programme will be conducted fully adhering to the new rules and regulations of the government with regard to cannabis.
As the sale of recreational marijuana getting legalised by next July, several strict restrictions will be imposed on it.
In April, keeping the campaign promise, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau legalised the use of recreational marijuana.
As per the new rules, a person of 18 years of age or above will be allowed only 30 grams of cannabis to possess or share with other adults.
Staffs selling marijuana in the stores will require special training.
Apart from legalising, the federal government has also decided to make an age of majority to use recreational marijuana and also to decide on the retail network of stores where the marijuana could be sold.
However, youth in possession of cannabis will not be criminalised from henceforth.
But any car driver or passenger will not be allowed to consume cannabis.
On the other hand, IBNS has received a mixed reaction towards the legalisation of the cannabis in Canada.
Police chiefs across the country are divided over the legalisation of the cannabis.
Some advocacy groups are even debating over the matter.
IBNS learnt that some of the advocacy groups even opine that the legalisation, perhaps, is too early for the country.
(Reporting by Suman Das)
Brazils interim president, Michel Temer, is willing to sacrifice millions of acres of rain forest in pursuit of a 16th-century boondoggle: fortunes of gold in the Amazon. In August, Mr. Temer signed a decree to open a rain forest reserve an area larger than Denmark to commercial mining, threatening decades of progress on environmental protection and indigenous rights in the Amazon. The approximately 17,800-square-mile National Reserve of Copper and Associates, or Renca, which straddles the northern states of Para and Amapa, was created by Brazils military dictatorship in 1984 to guard mineral resources from foreign exploitation as the country staggered toward democracy. Today the reserve is a patchwork of conservation areas and indigenous lands. Its protected status has deterred the runaway development rampant elsewhere in the Amazon that has squelched biodiversity, destroyed indigenous communities and reduced millions of acres of rain forest to pastureland. During Brazils last gold rush, in the 1980s, thousands of Yanomami people lost their land and their lives to the government-sponsored invasion of garimpeiros (prospectors) who exposed tribes to disease, alcohol, drugs and prostitution. The federal government is now investigating the suspected slaughter of more than 10 members of an isolated tribe on the border with Peru by miners who boasted at a bar of cutting up the dead, including women and children, and disposing of their remains in the river.
Authorities in Brazil are investigating an alleged massacre at a remote indigenous village as the government encourages mining throughout the Amazons. Author Chris Feliciano Arnold warns of "catastrophic" effects on some of the last isolated tribes in the world, citing past atrocities in the same region:
Read More on the Story: Chris Feliciano Arnold: In the Amazon, a Catastrophic Gold Rush Looms (The New York Times September 18, 2017)
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Update 6.20pm: A fire safety audit will be carried out at a flat complex in Inchicore in Dublin following a blaze in which a family was injured, two critically.
A mother and her three children were rushed to hospital following the suspicious blaze at Tyrone Place on Monday night.
Its emerged neighbours had to cut open locked gates to help them get out.
Dublin City Council is reassuring residents the complex is safe.
Peter Finnegan, area manager for Dublin South Central, said:
"There may be a bigger issue to look at how we gradually over time replace housing stock that belong to an era. It's safe and it's in good use at the moment but maybe we need to update it in terms of design features."
Earlier:A neighbour climbed a ladder and cut through iron bars to help rescue a family from a fire in Dublin.
A woman in her 30s, named locally as Maggie Greene, and her eight-year-old son are critical following the blaze in Inchicore on Monday night.
Two other siblings, a seven-year-old girl and 13-year-old boy, were injured but one has since been discharged from hospital.
The fire is now being treated as suspicious, according to investigating Gardai.
The family were unable to get out of the flat as their only exit, the front door, was blocked.
Greg Bolger describes the moment he saw the 13-year-old boy trapped behind security bars on the window.
He said: "He was actually screaming for help through the bars. It was actually very, very frightening.
"I don't think I'll ever forget his wee face and that's being absolutely honest with you, it was absolutely horrible."
Investigating Gardai have asked anyone who was in the vicinity of Tyrone place between 10.30pm and 12 midnight on Monday to contact them at Kilmainham Garda Station on 01- 666 9700, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
Wednesday, Sep 20th, 2017 (2:31 pm) - Score 1,201
Canadian firm Genesis Technical Systems (GTS) has managed to get their long-gestating mBond technology through BTs Modem Conformance Testing (MCT) for the SIN498 standard, which means that their bonded copper broadband line kit can be used on Openreachs FTTC (VDSL2) network.
Bonding multiple copper lines together is of course not a new approach, although most such products tend to only support bonding of two to four lines. The complexity, diminishing returns and cost of bonding more than that can soon start to be outweighed by alternative solutions, such as leased lines or newer FTTP / G.fast connections.
Nevertheless GTS sees mBond, which has been around for awhile and can in theory bond up to 12 pairs (lines) together (assuming you can find that many spare at either the building and / or cabinet), as a solution for operators that may require quick access to increased backhaul capacity (i.e. to help serve mobile networks, large buildings or small cells etc.), such as in areas where alternative fibre or wireless solutions dont exist.
Stephen Cooke, Genesis Founder and CTO, said: This is a massive achievement for Genesis and a testament to the high-quality products we produce and the professional standards we adhere to. This certification also verifies the backhaul features of DSL Rings, instilling confidence in our technology in the UK and around the world.
Peter Khoury, Genesiss CEO and Legal Counsel, said: Genesis has gone from strength to strength this year, and is asserting itself within the global telecoms industry. Achieving this compliance will open many doors for Genesis, paving the way for UK orders of mBond, particularly to carriers and service providers using BTs VDSL2 network throughout the UK.
We think thats possibly the first time that passing a standard MCT conformance test has ever been expressed in such glowing terms, but its obviously something that matters a lot to GTS. As a side note, the DSL Rings technology mentioned above is one that some readers might recall from a few years ago, which for various reasons never really took off in the UK.
Elsewhere GTS further claims that mBond is also highly tolerant of individual line pair performance and failures, can support carrier scale deployments, has greater configuration flexibility with point to multipoint bonding capability, is scalable and DSLAM agnostic. Itll be interesting to see if it gets much traction over this side of the pond.
Wednesday, Sep 20th, 2017 (11:36 am) - Score 657
A National Assembly Committee has published a report that makes 12 recommendations for how Wales (UK) could bring faster broadband to poorly served premises and improve Mobile (4G etc.) connectivity, such as making future subsidies for landowners conditional on them allowing mobile masts.
The existing state aid supported Superfast Cymru project with Openreach (BT) already aims to make fibre broadband (FTTC/P) services available to around 96% of Wales, although the proportion that can actually access superfast speeds of 30Mbps+ is currently around 91-92%. The current contract is due to finish at the end of 2017 and by that time around 690,000 premises are expected to have benefited.
The Welsh Government has already proposed a second roll-out project to follow the existing one, which would be backed by a public sector budget of around 80 million. Initially it was suggested that this could begin its deployment in January 2018 (here), although a related consultation only finished in July 2017 (here) and even if the contract(s) were to be awarded by the end of 2017 as proposed then the roll-out would probably still need a few months of prep before the building could start.
On top of that theres the complication of the central UK Governments proposed 10Mbps Universal Service Obligation (USO), which could have an impact upon the Welsh Governments plan and so its plausible that further delays may creep into the process.
In the meantime the National Assembly for Wales (Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee) has today made some new recommendations for facilitating future upgrades. The key areas cover reform of the planning regime and making future public subsidies to landowners (e.g. farmers) conditional on them allowing mobile phone masts on their land.
Russell George AM, Committee Chair, said: Connectivity is no longer a nice-to-have in our daily lives; for many people and businesses we spoke to during our inquiry, its now considered an essential service like electricity. Waless landscape and population spread poses challenges in a world where market forces determine broadband and mobile phone coverage. While the Welsh Governments Superfast Cymru broadband scheme, delivered with BT has connected high numbers of people, there remain pockets it has not be able to reach, and this is echoed with mobile phone coverage. Our recommendations will help Wales to develop a digital infrastructure which is as fast and as reliable as other parts of the UK, and is fit for the future.
The 12 Recommendations Recommendation 1. Communication problems have dogged what has otherwise been a successful Superfast Cymru scheme. Some lessons appear to have been learned along the way and it is vital that any future programmes take these on board from the start. BT should continue to inform potential customers that they are able to access superfast services beyond the end of its contract. The Welsh Government should consider making communication with the public a performance requirement of any future contracts. Recommendation 2. The Welsh Government should consider establishing a repayable grant or equity scheme to enable small operators to fill in gaps in the network. It should also explore the viability of public ownership or forming public partnerships with service providers to develop infrastructure in specific areas. Recommendation 3. Future schemes should build on the success of Access Broadband Cymru and Ultrafast Connectivity Voucher which respond to consumer demand. By adding a repayable grant or equity scheme to its toolbox, the Welsh Government would have three means by which to support the final few thousand premises to enjoy the benefits of fast broadband access. The Welsh Government should also tailoring this scheme to make it more accessible to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. Recommendation 4. It is vital that the hardest to reach communities and individuals are now engaged in the process to ensure that potential solutions can be tailored to their needs. Connecting the final 4% is will be more expensive, and it is vital that communities buy in to the solutions being proposed. Recommendation 5. The Welsh Government should conduct an assessment of future needs to inform the next stages of development. Given the cost of connecting the final 4%, which have proved beyond the reach of the market, it is vital that their connectivity is suitable not just for the present, but also for the future. Recommendation 6. The Welsh Government should consider making future public subsidy conditional on supporting government policy to improve digital infrastructure and to ensure that it meets the needs of consumers in the future, in particular any likely convergence between broadband and mobile internet connectivity. Recommendation 7. The Welsh Government, considering local topography, should reform the planning regime to support investment in digital connectivity, in particular to allow the installation of masts that cover a wider geographical range. In turn, the Welsh Government should work with operators and planning authorities to ensure that plans are clearly communicated to the affected communities and that the key benefits of mobile connectivity are actively promoted. Recommendation 8. While the Welsh Government does not have the power to compel mobile operating companies to share their infrastructure, it should explore the feasibility of using the planning regime to encourage operators to share infrastructure to ensure a range of coverage in current not spot areas. Recommendation 9. The Welsh Government should work with Mobile Network Operators and Ofcom to consider whether offering non-domestic rates relief for new masts in non-commercial areas would have a significant impact on investment. Recommendation 10. The Welsh Governments forthcoming Mobile Action Plan should include firm commitments to work closely with stakeholders, in particular to:
collaborate with local Government, UK Government, regulators and the industry to develop mobile infrastructure making the most of existing infrastructure and publicly owned assets where possible;
collaborate with stakeholders from across the industry to ensure that Mobile Network Operators share coverage in not-spot areas; and
collaborate with local authorities and landowners to ensure that Mobile Network Operators can have access to publicly funded assets to install masts and other apparatus and to explore the benefits of mast sharing with the emergency communication system in rural not-spots. Recommendation 11. Ofcom needs to use all its regulatory powers to ensure that it meets its target of 100 per cent geographical coverage. At a minimum, this should be a condition of future spectrum auctions. Recommendation 12. The Welsh Government and planning authorities should provide a tool kit with clear business and grant application advice to communities who wish to access public funds to create their own solutions to enhance mobile connectivity in their area. Examples of good practice should also be promoted in rural areas where connectivity is problematic.
Some of the recommendations are certainly novel in their approach, although we suspect that making subsidies contingent upon land access for new mobile infrastructure wont go down too well with private landowners.
Similarly the idea of applying a 100% geographical coverage target to future spectrum auctions might almost work for the 700MHz band (although something like 95% might be more viable, when mixed with other bands), but it wouldnt be workable for shorter range / high frequencies (e.g. 3.4GHz) that are better suited to dense urban population coverage.
Wednesday, Sep 20th, 2017 (8:47 am) - Score 810
The SNP controlled Scottish Government has this month set out their work programme for 2017-18, which among the known broadband promises (R100) has also pledged to deliver free WiFi throughout major town and city centres and to match the UK Governments rates relief on new fibre investment.
Most of what the new programme announced, at least in terms of digital infrastructure, remains unchanged from the Digital Strategy that was first published back in March 2017 (here) and as a result we initially overlooked it. For example, the related R100 programme is still aiming to extend superfast broadband (30Mbps+) access to all by 2021 (100% coverage).
However there have also been a few small clarifications and changes since March 2017. Firstly, the Government has now confirmed that they intend to match the UK Governments rates relief on certain new fibre investment (subject to confirmation of the associated detail), which means that Scotland should benefit from the same 5 year tax break on new full fibre (FTTP/H) networks as England and Wales (here).
Previously the Scottish Government had only said that they would use the business rates system to incentivise the commercial delivery of new fibre and mast infrastructure and there was some speculation that they might do things a little differently from the UK Gov, which now appears not to be the case.
On top of that the new programme also expects to deliver free Wi-Fi throughout major town and city centres across Scotland, which is something that wasnt mentioned at all in the Digital Strategy. On the other hand a combination of UK and Scottish Government investment (example) has already helped to deploy free public WiFi networks across parts of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Perth.
Furthermore 96% of all libraries in Scotland can also use free WiFi. In that sense its unclear precisely how many major towns and cities will benefit that havent already deployed such a service.
The Work Programme for 2017-18 We cannot afford to wait for the UK Government to match our ambition, even though this is a reserved policy area. We will pursue the UK Government and Ofcom to implement changes to UK-wide policy and regulation which have the potential to improve broadband and mobile coverage in Scotland and press for Scotland to get its fair share of UK funding and investment to enhance connectivity. No matter their response, by 2021 we will ensure that Scotland is fully digitally connected. In the coming year, we will: * exceed our target of 95% of properties having access to fibre broadband
* launch the first phase of procurement for Reaching 100% (R100), our programme of investment to deliver 100% access to superfast broadband of 30Mbps to all homes and businesses by 2021
* review our approach to enable more effective development of community broadband projects We are also aiming to make Scotland the most attractive place in the UK to invest in telecoms. So we will: * deliver free Wi-Fi throughout major town and city centres across Scotland
* unlock the potential of international fibre connectivity for new business opportunities, improved broadband performance and increased resilience by exploring opportunities to link Scotland to existing or new transatlantic fibre crossings
* match the UK Governments rates relief on certain new fibre investment, subject to confirmation of the associated detail Enhancing our telecoms connectivity benefits everyone and creates opportunities for businesses around mobile ecommerce. Our groundbreaking Mobile Action Plan, developed in collaboration with industry and launched in 2016, is the first of its kind in the UK. In 201718, we will deliver transformative measures, including: * reforming planning measures to create favourable conditions for infrastructure investment
* developing a programme to address 4G mobile coverage not spots with delivery of initial phase activity in 2017-18
* accelerating deployment of infrastructure, for example through delivering new rental guidance for mobile infrastructure, including small cells, on public buildings We want more businesses to make better use of digital infrastructure and adopt digital technology. We will provide support for them to do this by investing an additional 1.7 million in 2017-18 to build on the highly successful and well-received first year of DigitalBoost delivered through Business Gateway.
We should point out that the Scottish Government launched their first consultation on the ambitious R100 superfast broadband roll-out programme in July 2017, which anticipated that a total of 400m 600m may become available for investment via the forthcoming procurement (sourced from the UK gov, Scottish gov, local authorities, city region deals and EU).
The proposed funding could potentially make R100 bigger (financially speaking) than the existing 428m Digital Scotland project, which isnt a surprise due to the high cost of catering for such sparse and remote rural communities.
So far the DS scheme has already made superfast broadband connectivity available to around 90% of Scotland, although this figure drops to just 73% in the Highlands and Islands region. The DS programme now aims to ensure that 95% of premises in Scotland are put within reach of a high speed fibre broadband network by the end of March 2018, which falls to 86% for the rural Highland and Islands region by the end of 2017 (here).
Meanwhile the R100 consultation closed last month (it was very short, maybe too short according to some altnet providers) and the Government is now working to finalise their intervention areas before publishing an OJEU notice (PCS-Tender) in order to give suppliers an opportunity to bid (expected this autumn 2017). The intention is then to award a contract during 2018 and the related deployment plans would then begin by 2019.
However the 2019 start date doesnt allow network providers much time to actually roll-out the necessary infrastructure and the Scottish Government has separately expressed frustration over the UK Governments proposed 10Mbps USO deal with BT (here). Suffice to say that Scotlands plan should still be considered subject to change, at least until we know the final outcome of both the proposed tender and the USO.
American video, voice and content collaboration company Polycom has released new models of its conferencing phones to mark the 25th anniversary of the release of its three-legged conference phone.
The Polycom Trio 8500 is meant for medium-sized conference rooms and has HD voice audio quality. It also has a noise-blocking feature and multi-line registration.
Video and content sharing are not yet available for this model but are planned in the future.
A full-colour screen and integration with Microsoft Calendar are additional features.
In todays connected world, high-quality audio conferencing that bridges the communication gap between geographically dispersed workforces, regardless of location or device, is fundamental to the future of work," said Tony Simonsen, managing director, Polycom Australia and New Zealand, Japan and Korea.
"For a quarter century, businesses have known to look for Polycoms visually distinctive phones and have counted on them to provide superior and unparalleled call quality.
Australia is a major conference phone region for Polycom and we expect Trio 8500 to be well received by both channel partners and customers. Its been designed for the 21st century workplace with a modern look and crystal-clear audio quality and designed for the best interoperability across ecosystems, another signature Polycom feature.
Features have also been added to the Polycom Trio 8800, the company's bestseller.
It will now allow participants to pair personal devices and share local content over Apple AirPlay or Miracast-certified devices.
Later this year, the 8800 will support enterprise-class motorised pan-tilt-zoom cameras that offer greater visibility in larger conference rooms.
Both Trio models support multi-line registration, allowing businesses to move between open SIP environments, Skype for Business environments, or both, and work with other cloud-based audio and video platforms, including Zoom, BlueJeans, Cisco, Avaya, WebEx and others.
The company is also introducing a new audio solution for team and personal spaces, such as huddle rooms, with the new Polycom VoxBox, an ultra-compact speaker phone that allows customers to experience Polycoms HD Voice technology. It will be available in Australia next month.
But the parties had not yet come to a definitive agreement, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.
Toshiba is looking to cover the US$9 billion of losses at its Westinghouse Electric Company which went into bankruptcy in March.
Apple is said to be putting US$3 billion into the deal, which would make it the company's biggest contribution to an acquisition since it bought Beats Electronics in 2014 for US$3 billion.
The report said that Toshiba had broken off talks with both Western Digital and Foxconn.
On 13 September, Toshiba signed a memorandum of understanding with the consortium with the sale price being put at US$18 billion.
Western Digital's response to the MoU was to say that it was surprised the signing had gone ahead, "without SanDisks consent, as the language in the relevant joint venture agreements is unambiguous, and multiple courts have ruled in favour of protecting SanDisks contractual rights."
To this, Toshiba responded by claiming that Westerbn Digital "persistently overstates its limited consent rights in public statements".
The ICT industry continues to lead the way in job advertising, with a newly published report revealing the sector along with Trades & Services and the Healthcare & Medical industries offered the most job opportunities in August.
The latest report on job advertising from recruitment firm SEEK revealed there were 13.2% more new job ads across all Australian industry sectors this August than 12 months ago.
According to SEEK, the job advertising figures for August signal the best conditions for job-seekers on its website in the past seven years.
Michael Ilczynski, managing director for SEEK Australia and New Zealand, says this August job ads on SEEK were at the highest levels since 2010, so its a great time to be a job-seeker in Australia.
These positive trends in advertising on SEEK point to an improving labour market and suggests that positive economic momentum, evident in the June quarter National Accounts GDP Report, is continuing into the second half of the year, Ilczynski says.
While off a low base, the Mining, Resources & Energy industry continued to have the greatest job ad growth of all industries on SEEK, up 72% y/y this August.
The pick-up of exploration activities by mining companies, especially in Western Australia [WA], after cutbacks over the past few years, is driving job advertising growth on SEEK across the Mining, Resources & Energy industry.
The SEEK report reveals that all states and territories this August enjoyed positive year-on-year job ad growth on its website.
While off a lower base, Tasmania and the Northern Territory notched up the strongest growth in job ads on SEEK in August, up 33.8% y/y and 23.7% y/y respectively.
The Queensland labour market has been recovering strongly since April, with advertising on SEEK up 20.3% y/y this August. Trades & Services remains the top advertising industry across the state, up 44% y/y.
Ilczynski says that in WA, conditions were weaker but still positive, with job ads on SEEK up 14.8% y/y.
Fuelling this growth was strong advertising across Mining, Resources & Energy (up 52% y/y], Trades & Services (up 26% y/y) and Healthcare & Medical (up 6% y/y0.
Advertising trends continue to be very positive in NSW (up 7.4% y/y), Victoria (up 15.5% y/y), South Australia (up 19.5%), and the ACT (up 3.6% y/y). In these regions, the number of job ads on SEEK have all recovered to their pre-GFC levels.
On education and training, SEEK says demand for childcare services in Australia has surged in recent years, and similarly job ads have increased for childcare professionals.
The most job opportunities across the Education & Training industry on SEEK were for childcare & outside school hours care workers, and this has been an ongoing trend since 2010.
In addition to being the most sought-after professionals across the education & training industry, new job ads on SEEK for childcare & outside school hours care workers have continued to enjoy year-on-year advertising uplift, especially during the June to August quarter over the past three years, Ilczynski says.
Ilczynski says childcare is a booming sector across Australia.
A recent review of the Australian Childcare industry by Colliers International in May 2016, revealed that 1.2 million children attend approximately 17,000 government approved childcare services nationwide, and those numbers have grown substantially over the last five years, recording an annual growth rate of 4.6%.
And SEEK reveals that another area of the education & training industry that had strong advertising from June to August 2017 was Early Childhood Teaching, with this field enjoying 14% new job ads y/y.
Tertiary teaching, while off a low base, experienced the largest job ad growth of all the education & training fields on SEEK from June to August 2017, up 28% y/y, explained Ilczynski.
A recent media report by Australian Financial Review stated that the Commonwealth Government is looking to double the number of onshore enrolments by 2025. Consequently, this may be allied to the increasing growth in job ads on SEEK for tertiary teaching positions, as well as management positions at tertiary institutions.
Nationally, job ads on SEEK for the education & training industry have grown a modest 6% from June to August 2017 when compared to the corresponding period last year, and the national average advertised annual salary across the industry during FY17 was $78,802, an increase of 4% when compared to FY16.
SEEK also reports that strong demand for candidates continues across the education & training industry, which it says suggests good conditions for job seekers. The top advertising states for jobs across this industry from June to August 2017 were New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
Friends, roamers, iPhone users, lend me your ears, for Belkin brings a way to simultaneously charge your iPhone while delivering a 3.5mm audio socket to satisfy your love of wired listening.
Remember when Belkin introduced its Lightning Audio + Charge Rockstar adaptor, a double adaptor, delivering two Lightning ports?
This device allowed you to charge your iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, or any iDevice with a lightning port, while either plugging in Apples EarPods with Lightning adapter, or Apples Lightning adapter to 3.5mm audio port, both of which are included in the box of every iPhone 7 and 7 Plus model, and is pictured below.
It also allowed you to plug in other Lightning-based devices while charging, such as a Lightning or VGA adapter, or USB port, or anything else that with a Lightning plug that can be used with iDevices.
Now, this led to the realisation that if you wanted to charge your iPhone and use a 3.5mm set of headphones, you needed Apples Lightning to 3.5mm adaptor to be plugged into Belkins dual Lightning adaptor, which led to two adaptors being plugged into an iPhone at the same time, just so it was possible to use old fashioned wired headphones.
This was despite Apple delivering the aforementioned EarPods with Lightning port in the box, because many people had their own headphones of various types with 3.5mm ports, and were naturally keen to continue using them.
Having an adapter plugged into an adapter may well have been one adapter too many for some, but the solution worked perfectly well then, and still does today, and for those that want to preserve a free Lightning port while charging, it is a fantastic solution.
Now comes the Belkin adaptor that some thought should have been introduced form the beginning, a new rockstar the Belkin 3.5mm Audio + Charge Rockstar, naturally compatible with the new iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X, but also any existing iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with a lighting port. Here's what it looks like:
Obviously, it lets you simultaneously charge your iPhone and listen to music using 3.5 mm headphone jack devices, with the Lightning port fully compatible with data syncing through the Lightning connector, as well as full microphone and remote control on the headphone jack, as youd expect.
Marco Peters, vice-president of product management at Belkin, said: Were excited to offer yet another way for iPhone owners to simultaneously charge and listen to audio using the headphones that they know and love.
We listened to consumers who wanted a reliable way to use their existing headphones, and we took learnings from last years Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar to deliver what people asked for and more.
As you would expect, Belkin says its new 3.5 mm Audio + Charge RockStar is compatible with headphones, speakers and other audio devices that connect via a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and is MFi certified".
Thus, along with the existing Belkin Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar, consumers now have multiple ways to charge and listen at the same time while at work, at home or on the go".
3.5 mm Audio + Charge RockStar Features:
Dual functionality so users can listen to 3.5 mm audio and charge iPhone simultaneously.
Compatible with headphones, speakers, AUX cables and other devices with a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Supports optimal pass-through charging for iPhone.
Supports remote and mic control on MFi certified 3.5 mm headphones.
Supports syncing to transfer music and photos to and from MacBook.
MFi certified to meet Apple specifications for use with iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus running iOS 9 or later.
So, when can you buy this marvel of dual audio and data connectivity?
It is available today, for A$49.95 at Belkin, Apples online store and its famed retail Apple Stores, not just in Australia, but worldwide.
The only way I can conclude this article is to say that Belkins new adaptor sounds good!
Senior officials from Czech cyber security company Avast claims that the number of users affected by malware spread through CCleaner , a popular application that allows Windows users to perform routine maintenance on their systems, is now down to 730,000.
Avast chief executive Vince Steckler and chief technology officer Ondrej Vlcek said in a blog post that updates had been pushed to as many of the 2.27 million who were initially estimated as being affected.
Researchers from Cisco's Talos Intelligence Group revealed the infiltration, having learned of it from security firm Morphisec.
CCleaner is a product of Piriform, a company that was recently acquired by Avast.
This is largest supply chain hack ever - 2.27m installs - against an infosec product with an infosec vendor. Little press coverage, buried. Kevin Beaumont ? (@GossiTheDog) September 18, 2017
Steckler and Vlcek confirmed that the affected version of CCleaner had been released on 15 August as reported by Cisco's Talos Intelligence Group.
They said the company had first learned of the malware infection on 12 September when Morphisec made contact.
"We thank Morphisec and we owe a special debt to their clever people who identified the threat and allowed us to go about the business of mitigating it," they said.
"Following the receipt of this notification, we launched an investigation immediately, and by the time the Cisco message was received (14 September, 7:25AM PT), we had already thoroughly analysed the threat, assessed its risk level and in parallel worked with law enforcement in the US to properly investigate the root cause of the issue."
The command and control server which was being contacted by the malware was taken down on 15 September.
"Customers are advised to update to the latest version of CCleaner, which will remove the backdoor code from their systems. As of now, CCleaner 5.33 users are receiving a notification advising them to perform the update," Steckler and Vlcek said.
Graphic: courtesy Piriform
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By Ann Jones | ( Tomdispatch.com) |
Here we go again! Years after most Americans forgot about the longest war this country ever fought, American soldiers are again being deployed to Afghanistan. For almost 16 years now, at the command of three presidents and a sadly forgettable succession of generals, they have gone round and round like so many motorists trapped on a rotary with no exit. This time their numbers are officially secret, although variously reported to be 3,500 or 4,000, with another 6,000-plus to follow, and unknown numbers after that. But who can trust such figures? After all, we just found out that the U.S. troops left behind in Afghanistan after President Obama tried to end the war there in 2014, repeatedly reported to number 8,400, actually have been closer to 12,000 all this time.
The conflict, were told, is at present a stalemate. We need more American troops to break it, in part by training the Afghan National Army so its soldiers can best their Taliban countrymen plus miscellaneous terrorist groups. In that way, the U.S. military after only a few more years of the foreseeable future in the field can claim victory.
But is any of this necessary? Or smart? Or even true?
A prominent Afghan diplomat doesnt think so. Shukria Barakzai, a longtime member of the Afghan parliament now serving as Afghanistans ambassador to Norway herself a victim in 2014 of a Taliban suicide bomber told me only weeks ago, The Taliban are so over! They just want to go home, but you Americans wont let them.
She reminded me that the Taliban are not some invading army. (That would be us.) They are Afghan citizens, distinguished from their countrymen chiefly by their extreme religious conservatism, misogyny, and punitive approach to governance. Think of them as the Afghan equivalent of our own evangelical right-wing Republicans. You find some in almost every town. And the more you rile them up, the meaner they get and the more followers they gain. But in times of peace which Afghanistan has not known for 40 years many Taliban most likely would return to being farmers, shopkeepers, villagers, like their fathers before them, perhaps imposing local law and order but unlikely to seek control of Kabul and risk bringing the Americans down on them again.
Few Afghans were Taliban sympathizers when the U.S. overthrew the Taliban regime in 2001. Now there are a great many more and they control significant parts of the country, threatening various provincial capitals. They claim to be willing to negotiate with the Afghan government but only after all American forces have left the country.
For the Trump administration, thats not an option. (Think what a negotiated peace would mean for our private arms manufacturers for whom Americas endless wars across the Greater Middle East are a bonanza of guaranteed sales.) Instead, the president has put his generals in the Oval Office to do what generals do. Those in charge now James Mattis, H.R. McMaster, and John Kelly are all veterans of the Afghan or Iraq wars and consequently subject to what Freud labeled the repetition compulsion: the blind impulse to repeat earlier experiences and situations, often in the expectation that things will turn out differently. Youd think these particular generals, having been through it all before, would remember that very little or nothing ventured in Afghanistan (or Iraq) by the greatest military the world has ever known has worked out as advertised. As Freud pointed out, however, The compulsion to repeat replaces the impulsion to remember.
But I was in Afghanistan too and, strangely enough, I remember a lot.
Where Is the Money You Promised Us?
I first went to Kabul in 2002 to work with women and girls just emerging from five long years of confinement in their homes. I found a shambles, a city in ruins. Whole districts had been reduced to rubble by civil war among factions of the mujahidin, the Afghan fundamentalists who, with U.S., Saudi, and Pakistani support, had driven the Red Army out of their country in 1989, only to be overwhelmed by the onslaught of the Taliban in the 1990s. By 2001, when Americans made plans to bomb Kabul to unseat that Taliban regime, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld complained that there were no good targets left to bomb. When we finished bombing anyway, thousands of Kabulis had been killed, thousands had fled, and thousands more remained, living in makeshift shelters among toppled houses or in the blue U.N. tents that came to encircle much of the fallen city.
I lodged with an aging American woman who had lived in Afghanistan since the 1960s when her husband, a businessman, took part in Americas Cold War competition with the Soviet Union for the allegiance of Afghans. The first morning, when I awoke chilled to the bone, she thrust some filthy paper bills into my hand, wrapped a woolen scarf around my head, and sent me out into the snow in search of bread. I turned a corner into a field of tumbled walls and there, on what had once been another corner, heat poured from an ancient brick bake-oven. I joined a line of men and waited my turn until long, flat loaves, hot from that oven, were thrust into my arms. Those hard-eyed Afghan men watched as I handed over my shabby bills and wrapped the loaves in the tail of my scarf. Who was I? What was I doing here? By weeks end, they would nod a greeting and make a space in the queue for me.
The Afghans I met were like that then: wary and guarded but curiously open and expectant. The Taliban was finished. Done. Gone. Some of its members, in plain sight, had joined the new American-installed government, but at least they had changed the color of their turbans and, for the time being, their tune. Poor and suffering as most Afghans were, they were prepared to jump at a new beginning, and they were open to anyone who seemed to have come to help.
As the American presence increased, Afghan optimism only expanded. Local leaders attended informational meetings called by American officials and never even complained about the aggressive military dogs unclean by Islamic standards that searched the premises and sometimes sniffed the Afghan men themselves. They listened to American plans to establish in their country the very best political system imaginable: democracy. There was talk of respect for human rights; there were promises of investment, prosperity, peace, and above all development.
Near the end of the second year of such meetings, an Afghan rose I was there to ask two embarrassing questions: Where is the money you promised us? Where is the development? The American ambassador had a ready answer. The promised funds were being used at first to establish American offices (with heating, air conditioning, the Internet, the works) and to pay American experts who would eventually provide the promised development and, in the process, inculcate respect for human rights, and oh, yes, women.
Let us not forget women. In 2005, First Lady Laura Bush flew into the capital (briefly) to dedicate a refurbished American dormitory for women at Kabul University. After all, the Bush administration had liberated Afghan women. Military security again sent in the dogs, leaving tearful students to burn their defiled clothing afterward.
By 2011, however, the State Department had dropped womens rights from its set of designated objectives for the country and somehow human rights disappeared without notice, too. Still, a succession of American ambassadors advised Afghan leaders to be patient. And so they were for what seems, in retrospect, like a very long time. Until, eventually, they were not.
The Experts Speak
Between then and 2015, I returned to Afghanistan almost every year to lend a hand to organizations of Afghan women and girls. I havent been back in two years, though not since I recognized that, as an American, I am now a hazard to my Afghan colleagues and their families.
The accretion of witless insults, like those dogs, or the pork ribs in the MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) that the U.S. military hands out to Afghan soldiers, or endless fatal U.S. airstrikes (mistakes!) on villages, hospitals, wedding parties, and Afghan National Security Forces have all added up over the years, making Americans unwelcome and their Afghan friends targets.
You undoubtedly noticed some of the headlines at the time, but the Afghanistan story has proven so long, complicated, and repetitive that, at this point, its hard to recall the details or, for that matter, the cast of characters, or even why in the world were still there doing the same things again and again and again.
The short version of that long history might read like this: the U.S. bombed Afghanistan in 2001 without giving the Taliban government either time to surrender or to negotiate the surrender of their countrys most problematic foreign guest, the Saudi Osama bin Laden. The Bush administration then restored to power the ultra-conservative Islamic mujahidin warlords first engaged by the CIA under William Bill Casey, its devout Catholic director, to fight the godless communists of the Soviet Union in the long proxy war of the 1980s. Afghans polled in 2001 wanted those warlords war criminals all banned forever from public life. Washington, however, established in Kabul a government of sorts, threw vast sums of cash at its selected leaders heading an administrative state that did not yet exist and then, for years to come, alternately ignored or denounced the resulting corruption it had unthinkingly built into its new Afghan democracy. Such was the liberation of the country.
The story of the last 15 years there is largely a sum of just such contradictory and self-defeating acts. During that time, American officials regularly humiliated Hamid Karzai, their handpicked president. They set up a centralized government in Kabul and then, through Provincial Reconstruction Teams, controlled by the U.S. military, they also supported a passel of provincial warlords hostile to that government. They sent their military to invade Iraq, while the Taliban who were never allowed to surrender (as Anand Gopal recounts in his riveting book No Good Men Among the Living) regrouped and went back to war. In 2007, they undermined Afghan efforts to negotiate peace with the Taliban, opting instead to surge more American troops into the country, doubling their numbers in 2008, and then to continue to spend a fortune in taxpayer dollars (at least $65 billion of them) training hundreds of thousands of Afghan soldiers and police to do the fighting their elected government had wanted to stop.
In 2006 ancient history now I published a book, Kabul in Winter, partly about the scams Id seen perpetrated by or on the U.S. military, the select crew of private American contractors flooding the country, and the cloistered experts of the U.S. Agency for International Development. Not long after, a prominent filmmaker invited an Afghan woman who was a physician and a member of that countrys parliament, plus Anand Gopal and me, to travel to Washington. We were to explain our experiences in Afghanistan to influential members of various Washington think tanks who might have an effect on foreign policymaking.
We came prepared to talk, but those Washington experts asked us no questions. Instead, they spent our time together telling us what to think about the country we had just left. I remember, in particular, four young Americans, all newly minted Ivy League experts we met at a leading progressive think tank. They described in great detail their 20-year plan for the economic and political development of Afghanistan, a country, they said, they all hoped to visit one day. The Afghan doctor finally laughed out loud, but she was not amused. You know nothing about my country, she said, but you plan its future into the next generation. This is your job? It proved to be the job as well of two administrations (and now, it seems, a third).
Time to Kill Terrorists
The election of 2014, though riddled with irregularities, brought the first peaceful transfer of presidential power in Afghanistan, from Hamid Karzai to Ashraf Ghani. With it came renewed hope that the wild dream of an Afghan-style peaceful democracy might work after all. It was a longing barely diminished by Ghanis choice for vice president: Abdul Rashid Dostum, an Uzbek warlord notorious for war crimes of surpassing brutality.
2014 was also the year President Obama chose to end the war in Afghanistan once and for all. Only he didnt. Instead he left behind those under-counted thousands of American soldiers now being joined by thousands more. For what purpose?
American victory certainly hasnt materialized, but the greatest military the world has ever known (as its regularly referred to here) cannot admit defeat. Nor can the failed state of Afghanistan acknowledge that it has failed to become anything other than a failure. Afghan-American Ashraf Ghani, who once co-wrote a scholarly book tellingly entitled Fixing Failed States, surrendered his U.S. citizenship to become Afghan president, but he seems unable to fix the country of his birth.
In May 2017, Ghani welcomed back to Kabul and into public life, after an absence of 20 years, the notorious Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, founder of the party Hezb-i-Islami and most favored among the mujahidin during the 1980s by Pakistans intelligence agency, the ISI, and the CIA, and most hated by Kabuli civilians for having randomly shelled the city throughout the civil war of the 1990s. In Kabul in 2002, I found it rare to meet a person who had not lost a house or a relative or a whole family to the rockets of the Butcher of Kabul. Now, here he is again, his war crimes forgiven by a new Americanized president, and an Afghan culture of impunity reconfirmed.
Meanwhile, halfway around the world, Donald J. Trump forgot his denunciation of Obamas war, adopted the expertise of his generals, and reignited a fading fire. This time around, he swore, We are not nation-building again. We are killing terrorists.
The American effort is now to be exclusively military. There will be no limits on troop numbers or time spent there, nor any disclosure of plans to the enemy or the American public. There is to be no more talk of democracy or womens rights or human rights or peace negotiations.
Announcing his new militarized strategy in a long, vague, typically self-congratulatory speech, Trump lacked even the courtesy to mention the elected leader of Afghanistan by name. Instead, he referred only to assurances given to him by Afghanistans prime minister an official who, as it happens, does not exist in the government Washington set up in Kabul so long ago. Trump often makes such gaffes, but he read this particular speech from a teleprompter and so it was surely written or at least vetted by the very military which now is to dictate the future of Afghanistan and U.S. involvement there and yet, a decade and a half later, seems to know no more about the country and its actual inhabitants than it ever did.
I studied Afghanistan in great detail and from every conceivable angle, Trump claimed, and yet he staked his case for escalating the war once again on a shopworn, cowardly ploy: we must send more troops to honor the sacrifice of the troops we sent before; we must send more troops because so many of those we sent before got killed or damaged beyond repair.
Lessons Learned (and Unlearned)
We cant allow Afghanistan to become a safe haven for terrorists, Trump insisted, echoing (however unintentionally) Barack Obama and George W. Bush before him. He seems unaware that the terrorists who acted on 9/11 had found safe haven in San Diego and Oakland, California, Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona, Fort Lee and Wayne, New Jersey, Hollywood and Daytona Beach, Florida, and Newton, Massachusetts, among other American towns and cities. On 9/11, those 19 terrorists possessed 63 valid U.S. drivers licenses issued by many different states. It was in the United States that all 19 of those terrorists found safety. It was here, not in Afghanistan, that the prospective pilots for those hijacked planes learned to fly.
Now, as more troops depart for Afghanistan, I cant help but think of what I learned when, after so many years of living and working among Afghan civilians, I finally embedded with American troops in 2010. My first lesson was this: there is no such thing in the American military as a negative after-action report. Military plans are always brilliant; strikes always occur as expected; our soldiers are (it goes without saying) heroic; and goals are naturally accomplished without fail. No wonder the policymakers back in Washington remain convinced that we have the greatest military the world has ever seen and that someday we will indeed succeed in Afghanistan, although we havent actually won a war of any significance since 1945.
My second lesson: even officers who routinely file such positive reports may be blindsided by the bogus reports of others. Take, for example, a colonel I met in eastern Afghanistan in 2010. He was newly returned to a forward base he had commanded only a few years earlier. Overwhelmed with surprise and grief, he told me he had been unprepared which is to say uninformed by his superiors to meet conditions so much worse than they had been before. He was dismayed to lose so many men in so short a time, especially when American media attention was focused on the other side of the country where a full-scale battle in Helmand Province was projected to be decisive, but somehow seemed to be repeatedly postponed.
Judging by my own experience on forward bases, I believe we can hazard a guess or two about the future of the American war in Afghanistan as the latest troops arrive. First, it will be little different from the awful past. Second, it will produce a surfeit of Afghan civilian casualties and official American self-congratulation. And finally, a number of our soldiers will return in bad shape, or not at all.
And then, of course, there are the dogs again: this time, a black one unclean, as always, by Islamic standards in silhouette with a Taliban flag bearing an Islamic text from the Quran on its side. That was what the Americans printed on a leaflet dropped from planes over Parwan province, home of Americas enormous Bagram Air Base. That was supposed to win Afghan hearts and minds, to use an indelible phrase from our war in Vietnam.
Afghans, insulted again, are in an uproar. And the U.S. military, all these years after invading Afghanistan, still doesnt get this thing about dogs. Yes, the dog thing seems a little irrational and odd, but no more so than the Virgin Birth or the Rapture. The obscurity of such a simple fact to the military brass again brings the Vietnam era to mind and, from a great Pete Seeger antiwar song, another indelible line: Oh, when will they ever learn?
Ann Jones, a TomDispatch regular, is the author of Kabul in Winter: Life without Peace in Afghanistan and most recently of They Were Soldiers: How the Wounded Return from Americas Wars the Untold Story, a Dispatch Books original.
Follow TomDispatch on Twitter and join us on Facebook. Check out the newest Dispatch Book, Alfred McCoys In the Shadows of the American Century: The Rise and Decline of U.S. Global Power, as well as John Dowers The Violent American Century: War and Terror Since World War II, John Feffers dystopian novel Splinterlands, Nick Turses Next Time Theyll Come to Count the Dead, and Tom Engelhardts Shadow Government: Surveillance, Secret Wars, and a Global Security State in a Single-Superpower World.
Copyright 2017 Ann Jones
Tomdispatch.com
Related video added by Juan Cole:
Democracy Now! State Dept. Official Who Quit in 2009 over U.S. War in Afghanistan Speaks Out on Trumps Troop Surge
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By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |
Trump more or less threatened to wipe out the 25 million people of North Korea in his speech at the UN.
Then he turned to the Middle East, where he again pledged to undermine the Iranian nuclear deal.
In other words, he put forward a plan to turn Iran into North Korea as a geopolitical problem.
The speech was a weird amalgam of white nationalism and Neoconservatism. It abandoned the isolationism of the former and eschewed the idealism of the latter.
Concerning Iran, Trump said:
The Iranian government masks a corrupt dictatorship behind the false guise of a democracy. It has turned a wealthy country with a rich history and culture into an economically depleted rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed, and chaos. The longest-suffering victims of Irans leaders are, in fact, its own people.
I swear, I thought Trump was talking about his own administration there for a second. Hes the one, not Iran, who called Nazis very fine people and blamed Heather Heyer for being run over by one of Trumps supporters. I have been critical of the Iranian regimes human rights record, as well, but Trump doesnt have a leg to stand on here.
Rather than use its resources to improve Iranian lives, its oil profits go to fund Hezbollah and other terrorists that kill innocent Muslims and attack their peaceful Arab and Israeli neighbors. This wealth, which rightly belongs to Irans people, also goes to shore up Bashar al-Assads dictatorship, fuel Yemens civil war, and undermine peace throughout the entire Middle East.
Hizbullah was formed to get Israel back out of Lebanon. Israel committed a naked act of aggression against little Lebanon in 1982, invading and shelling Beirut indiscriminately. The Israeli army then occupied 10% of Lebanese territory, in the south of the country. The far right Likud party has sticky fingers, and it had no intention of ever leaving. Hizbullah fought a low intensity guerrilla war to get the Israelis to withdraw, which they finally did in 1999. Israel still occupies the Shebaa Farms area that belongs to Lebanon.
The Yemen civil war wasnt fueled by Iran but by a Saudi air campaign against the government of the north of the country. The Houthis were unwise to make their coup in early 2015 against the interim government, but it was the Saudis who bombed targets from 30,000 feet and with little local knowledge. Iran may have facilitate some training for a handful of Zaydi fighters, but it doesnt give them very much money. The conflict is indigenous and has its origin in Yemen resentment of Saudi attempts to spread money around and convert people out of Zaydism and into the ultra-rigid Wahhabi form of Islam.
As for Hizbullah backing Bashar al-Assad in Syria, so does Trumps buddy Vladimir Putin, to whom Trump said Syria should be turned over. In other words, Hizbullahs position on Syria isnt much different from that of Trump.
It is very odd that you would blame the survival of the al-Assad regime on Iran alone and not bring up Russia. Russia has spent way more in Syria than Iran and has used its Aerospace Forces for intensive bombing over 2 years, a much bigger military impact than Irans. And Trump himself keeps saying Arabs need strongmen to rule them.
We cannot let a murderous regime continue these destabilizing activities while building dangerous missiles, and we cannot abide by an agreement if it provides cover for the eventual construction of a nuclear program. (Applause.) The Iran Deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into. Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I dont think youve heard the last of it believe me.
Lets see. In the Joint Plan of Collective Action, Iran gave up:
1. its planned heavy water reactor at Arak, concreting it in and abandoning it. Heavy water reactors can be used to gather enough fissile material over time so that you might be able to make a nuclear bomb. That pathway is gone.
2. all but 6000 of its centrifuges, which arent enough to enrich enough uranium on a short timetable to make a bomb
3. its stockpile of uranium enriched to 19.5%. It needs to be enriched to 95% for a proper bomb, but that is easier if you start part of the way there. That stockpile has been recast in a form such that it cannot be used to make a bomb.
4 its objections to being intensively monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency. It is now under the most stringent inspection regime in history. (Israel refused inspections and then made several hundred nuclear warheads and so did India and Pakistan and Russia and the US. Trump doesnt condemn the actual proliferators, only Iran, which does not have a nuke).
Iran basically gave up the deterrent effect of being able to construct a nuclear weapon in time to stop an invasion. The United States has invaded 3 neighbors of Iran, so it isnt an idle fear.
What did Iran get in return? The GOP Congress tightened sanctions, and has scared off a lot of European investors.
Iran got bupkes.
This deal is not between the US and Iran but between Iran and the UN Security Council plus Germany (representing the EU). The deal has deeply disadvantaged Iran and has not affected the US at all. In fact the US has already reneged on the spirit of it.
If what Trump is saying is that Iran was left with some elements of what is called nuclear latency the knowledge of how to make a bomb, then that is correct. But the only way to wipe out Iranian nuclear latency would be to invade it and occupy it and put in a puppet government.
And that is what Israels Netanyahu and Saudi Arabias Muhammad Bin Salman want Trump to do. We have to see if he is so foolish.
Iran is 2.5 times as populous as Iraq and 3 times bigger geographically, and the Iraq War did not go well for the US.
The Iranian regimes support for terror is in stark contrast to the recent commitments of many of its neighbors to fight terrorism and halt its financing. In Saudi Arabia early last year, I was greatly honored to address the leaders of more than 50 Arab and Muslim nations. We agreed that all responsible nations must work together to confront terrorists and the Islamist extremism that inspires them.
As or Saudi Arabia being the good guy, give me a break. They were backing anti-minority fanatics like Jaysh al-isalm who wanted to ethnically cleanse all Syrian non-Salafis (i.e. almost everyone). They had recognized the Taliban in the 1990s. They spread around an intolerant form of Islam that forbids Muslims to so much as have a friendly meal with Christians and Jews.
Trumps remarks were apocalyptically stupid.
Related video:
France 24: Donald Trump at the UN: The Iran Deal is an embarrassment to the United States
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By Sarah van Gelder | Yes! Magazine |
The companies responsible for the climate crisis should cover the costs of fighting wildfires and recovering from hurricanes.
Pacific Northwest forests are on fire. Several blazes are out of control, threatening rural towns, jumping rivers and highways, and covering Portland, Oregon, Seattle, and other cities in smoke and falling ash. Temperatures this summer are an average of 3.6 degrees higher than the last half of the 20th century, according to the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group analysis published in The Seattle Times.
Fire crews have been battling fires for months. In spite of all the effort, though, officials expect the fires to continue burning until major rains come sometime this fall. Meanwhile, firefighting coffers are running dry as costs run into the hundreds of millions.
The scale and costs of these disasters pale in comparison to the impacts of hurricanes Harvey and Irma: Accuweather is estimating the combined cost of these unprecedented storms at $290 billion. (Then there is the flooding in India and Bangladeshless noted in U.S. news mediawhere 40 million were affected and 1,200 died.)
What these disasters have in common is that they are all exactly the sort predicted by climate modelsand they will get terrifyingly worse over coming years.
So who will cover the costs? Who will pay for the first responders, for sheltering and relocating climate refugees, and for rebuilding homes, businesses, and infrastructure?
Our planet is quickly getting hotter, more volatile, and more dangerous. But Republicans are working to cut nearly $1 billion from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and to give large corporations and the wealthy a big tax break. So who should pay for the climate disasters?
90 companies are responsible for 42 to 50 percent of the increase in the Earths surface temperature.
A report published in early September by the journal Climatic Change helps pinpoint a possible answer. According to the report, 90 companies are responsible for 42 to 50 percent of the increase in the Earths surface temperature and 26 to 32 percent of sea level rise.
Some say we are all to blame for the climate crisisat least all of us who get around in cars and planes. But there are reasons these 90 companies owe a major debt to the entire planet.
First, many of them knew what damage they were causing. According to the report, more than half of the carbon emissions produced since the industrial revolution were emitted since 1986, when the dangers of global warming were well-known. But these companies buried their own research findings and doubled down on fossil fuel extraction.
Second, many of these companies spend vast sums promoting climate denial and undermining support for renewable energy, electric vehicles, and other responses to the climate crisis. Industry lobbyists and think tanks, flush with money from fossil fuel companies and their executives, distort our democracy, making government accountable to their interests rather than to We the People.
Third, by doing these things, these companies prevented action during the brief window of time between climate science becoming clear and it becoming too late to avert disaster.
But we can still make choices that would curb catastrophic outcomes.
Now we are very short on time. This years fires and floods are just the beginning. But we can still make choices that would curb catastrophic outcomes. To make that difference, we need an all-out effort now on all frontsin agriculture, transportation, and energy generation, conservation, and efficiency upgrades. That will take a lot of money.
A good place to start would be requiring those who caused the climate catastrophe to pay. The 90 companies could start by helping families and communities recover from the floods, wind damage, and fires, and helping homeowners and cities everywhere build resilience for withstanding the effects of future disasters. But they shouldnt stop there. The companies that are responsible for the damage should pay their share for the transition to a carbon-free future.
There is a precedent for this. Tobacco companies too had been hiding and dismissing the evidence that their product caused massive damage. Big Tobacco and Big Oil even hired some of the same scientists and public relations firms to obscure the damage their industries were causing, according to ClimateWire. The 1998 tobacco settlement of lawsuits brought by nearly every U.S. state required the major tobacco companies to pay over $200 billion toward the increased cost of health care resulting from smoking and for prevention education.
There are far more victims of the fossil fuel industries deceptionbillions of people today, future generations, and many other species.
Sarah van Gelder wrote this article for YES! Magazine. Sarah is a co-founder and columnist at YES! Her new book, The Revolution Where You Live: Stories from a 12,000-Mile Journey Through a New America is available now from YES! Read more about her road trip and book here and follow her on Twitter @sarahvangelder.
Via Yes! Magazine
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Related video added by Juan Cole:
AJ+: The Biggest Climate Change Offenders
Abidjan, September 20, 2017 - Endeavour Mining Corporation ("Endeavour") (the "Company) (TSX:EDV) (OTCQX:EDVMF) is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has approved the construction decision for its Ity CIL project at its mine in Cote d'Ivoire following the robust results obtained from its Optimization Study.
The Ity CIL Project Feasibility and Optimization studies have been conducted to analyze the economic viability of constructing a straight forward gravity circuit/Carbon-In-Leach ("CIL") plant as an alternate processing route to the current heap leach process. Following the publication of the November 2016 Feasibility Study ("FS"), an Optimization Study ("OS") was prepared to better capture the value created from the recent exploration success which has led to increasing the plant name-plate design from 3.0Mtpa to 4.0Mtpa. In addition, several changes have been made to leverage construction and operating synergies between Ity, Agbaou and Hounde.
The production profile and economics have significantly improved, as summarized in Table 1 below:
Table 1: Summary of 2016 CIL Feasibility Study vs. 2017 Optimization Study
(On a 100% basis) 2017
OPTIMIZATION STUDY 2016
FEASIBILITY STUDY VARIANCE
(OS VS. FS) M&I Resources (inclusive of Reserves) 3.8Moz 2.3Moz +65% P&P Reserves 2.9Moz 1.9Moz +53% Average production (first 5 years) 235koz 165koz +42% Average AISC (first 5 years) $494/oz $507/oz (3%) After-tax NPV5% based on $1,250/oz $710m $411m +73% After-tax IRR based on $1,250/oz 40.3% 35.9% +12% After-tax IRR based on $1,000/oz 23.2% 19.5% +19%
Sebastien de Montessus, President & CEO, stated: "Today's study clearly positions Ity as our next flagship asset with robust project economics, a strong long-life production profile, and significant exploration upside. Its average annual production in the first five years of 235koz with AISC below $500/oz and an after-tax IRR of +20% even at a low gold price of $1,000 per ounce are proof of the compelling economics of the project.
With the upcoming first gold pour at Hounde and Ity CIL construction expected to be completed within 20-months, we remain on track to achieve our strategic milestones of becoming a +800,000 ounce per year gold producer with group AISC below $800 per ounce and mine lives above 10 years by 2019."
Jeremy Langford, COO, added: "We have optimized the Ity CIL project by maximizing the construction and operational synergies between Agbaou, Hounde and Ity, and by leveraging the same designs, components, equipment and spare parts where possible from one project to the other, along with incorporating our extensive construction expertise. The construction team is excited to transition from Hounde to Ity and to continue to build on its construction track-record."
SUMMARY OF KEY CHANGES FROM PREVIOUS FEASIBILITY STUDY
The Ity CIL Project Optimization Study has been managed by Endeavour's in house development team and independently prepared by Lycopodium Minerals Pty Ltd ("Lycopodium") with the support of six globally recognized engineering firms, with the key operational and financial results summarized in the table below:
Table 2: Detailed Summary of 2016 CIL Feasibility Study vs. 2017 Optimization Study
2017
OPTIMIZATION
STUDY 2016 FEASIBILITY
STUDY VARIANCE
(OS VS. FS) LIFE OF MINE PRODUCTION Strip ratio, w:o 1.9 2.1 (10%) Tonnes of ore processed, Mt 57.0Mt 41.0Mt +39% Grade processed, Au g/t 1.57 g/t 1.42 g/t +10% Gold content processed, Moz 2.87 Moz 1.88 Moz +53% LOM Average Gold recovery, % 86% 83% +3% Gold production, Moz 2.47 Moz 1.56 Moz +58% Mine life, years 14.3 years 13.7 years +4% Average annual gold production, koz 173 Koz 114 Koz +52% Cash costs, $/oz $554 $528 +5% AISC, $/oz $580 $603 (4%) AVERAGE FOR YEARS 1 TO 5: Gold production, kozpa 235 koz 165 koz +42% Cash costs, $/oz $472/oz $446/oz +6% AISC, $/oz $494/oz $507/oz (3%) AVERAGE FOR YEARS 1 TO 10: Gold production, kozpa 204 koz 135 koz +51% Cash costs, $/oz $523/oz $488/oz +7% AISC, $/oz $549/oz $559/oz (2%) CAPITAL COST Initial capital cost, $m $412m $307m +34% - of which equipment lease, $m $61m $25m +160% Upfront capital cost, $m $351m $282m +24% ECONOMICS (BASED ON $1,250/OZ) After-tax IRR 40% 36% +12% After-tax NPV ( 0% discount rate) $990m $607m +63% After-tax NPV ( 5% discount rate) $710m $411m +73% Payback period 1.8 years 2.1 years (17%)
The key changes made in the Optimization Study include:
CIL process plant increased from 3Mtpa to 4Mtpa to better capture the value created from the recent exploration success which has discovered the Bakatouo deposit and increased resources at notably Daapleu and Mont/Ity Flat.
Simplified and optimized the process plant design to maximize the replication of the Hounde design, where applicable, to capture working capital inventory synergies.
Improved recoveries based on additional metallurgical testwork, namely on the Daapleau primary material.
Addition of a diverter/flop-gate system which allows the Ball Mill to run independently during periods when the SAG mill is shut down. This operability allows the plant to maximize utilization and effectively ensure process milling all year round.
Addition of a 26MW full back up power station, identical to that installed at the Hounde project.
Optimized upfront capital cost and sequenced overall build time with a higher percentage of "Self-Perform" works.
Optimized the site layout, which allows the current heap leach operation to run independently of the CIL project. As such, the construction of the CIL project is not expected to impact the heap leach operation.
RESERVES INCREASED BY 1.0Moz, UP 53%
The updated Mineral Reserve estimates were undertaken by Snowden Mining industry Consultants (Snowden). Changes from the previously reported Mineral Reserves are largely due to revised and updated Mineral Resource estimates on the Daapleu, Ity and Bakatouo deposits and revised operating costs largely associated with revised processing capabilities from a 3 Mtpa facility to a 4 Mtpa treatment facility.
Compared to the 2016 Feasibility Study reserves, a total of 1.0Moz were added, with the main increases coming from the discovery of Bakatouo (+532koz), and additional resource to reserve conversion at Mont Ity/Ity Flat (+211koz), Teckraie/Verse Ouest (+187koz), and at Daapleu (+79koz) following additional drilling, as shown in the table below. The Colline Sud deposit is expected to be mined during the heap leach phase and therefore has been excluded from CIL Mineral Reserves.
Table 3: CIL Project Reserves Comparison
Deposits
on a 100% basis Optimization Study Reserves,
as at September 1, 2017 Feasibility Study Reserves,
as at October 1, 2016 Variance
(koz) Tonnage
(Mt) Grade
(Au g/t) Content
(Au koz) Tonnage
(Mt) Grade
(Au g/t) Content
(Au koz) Open Pits Bakatouo 6.9 2.40 532 - - - +532 Colline Sud - - - - - - - Daapleu 18.4 1.72 1,015 19.3 1.51 936 +79 Mont Ity / Ity Flat 7.4 2.03 479 3.8 2.19 268 +211 Gbeitouo 2.5 1.37 111 2.6 1.35 112 (1) Walter 1.2 1.07 41 1.9 1.22 73 (32) Zia NE 6.2 1.06 210 4.8 1.24 192 +18 Sub-total 42.5 1.75 2,390 32.4 1.52 1,580 +810 Existing Stockpiles Aires 5.8 1.09 202 5.8 1.09 202 - Teckraie/ Verse Ouest 8.7 1.02 284 2.8 1.07 97 +187 Sub-total 14.5 1.05 486 8.6 1.08 300 +186 Total 57.0 1.57 2,876 41.0 1.42 1,880 +996
Mineral Reserve estimates follow the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") definitions standards for mineral resources and reserves and have been completed in accordance with the Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Notes are provided in Section "About the Mineral Reserve and Resources" of this Press Release, with effective date September 1, 2017. Full details on the 2016 Feasibility Study Reserves are available in the Company's published press release dated November 10, 2016.
INDICATED RESOURCE INCREASED BY 1.5Moz
The updated Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource estimates were undertaken by Cube Consulting (Cube), and incorporate all validated RC, DC and AC drilling completed at the Ity CIL Project up to May 1, 2017.
There is a total of 10 deposit areas included in the updated Mineral Resource for the Ity CIL Project including four in situ gold deposits that have been or are currently in production, comprising Mont Ity, Ity Flat, ZiaNE and Walter, plus three near-mine in situ deposits comprising Gbeitouo, Daapleu, Colline Sud and Bakatouo, and two rock waste dumps at Teckraie and Verse Ouest and a discontinued heap leach pad Aires.
Compared to the resource inventory used to build the 2016 Feasibility Study, a total of 1.5Moz of Indicated Resources were added, with the main increases coming from the discovery of Bakatouo (+704koz), and additional Indicated resources outlined at Daapleu (+384koz), Mont Ity / Ity Flat (+189koz), and Verse Ouest (+187koz), as shown in the table below.
Table 4: Resource Comparison
2017 OPTIMIZATION STUDY INVENTORY 2016 FEASIBILITY STUDY INVENTORY Deposits
on a 100% basis Indicated Resources Inferred Resources Indicated Resources Inferred Resources Tonnage
(Mt) Grade
(Au g/t) Content
(Au koz) Tonnage
(Mt) Grade
(Au g/t) Content
(Au koz) Tonnage
(Mt) Grade
(Au g/t) Content
(Au koz) Tonnage
(Mt) Grade
(Au g/t) Content
(Au koz) Open Pits Daapleu 28.1 1.50 1,349 0.7 0.92 22 19.9 1.51 965 4.3 1.15 160 Mont Ity / Flat 10.1 2.20 716 9.7 1.40 436 7.5 2.19 527 11.1 1.92 684 Gbeitouo 2.9 1.35 124 0.3 1.48 13 2.9 1.35 124 0.3 1.48 13 Walter 1.6 1.23 65 0.6 1.35 26 2.1 1.21 81 0.7 1.32 28 Zia NE 6.7 1.28 274 4.0 1.40 178 7.7 1.31 325 4.0 1.39 179 Bakatouo 10.2 2.14 704 0.6 2.27 44 - - - - - - Colline Sud 1.0 2.14 66 0.4 2.11 28 - - - - - - Sub-total 60.6 1.69 3,298 16.3 1.43 747 40.1 1.57 2,022 20.4 1.62 1,064 Existing Stockpiles Aires 5.8 1.09 202 0.2 0.78 6 5.8 1.09 202 0.2 0.78 6 Teckraie 2.8 1.07 97 0.1 0.55 2 2.8 1.07 97 0.1 0.55 2 Verse Ouest 5.9 0.99 187 2.3 0.50 37 - - - 8.4 0.85 230 Sub-total 14.5 1.04 486 2.6 0.54 45 8.6 1.08 300 8.7 0.85 238 Total 75.1 1.57 3,784 18.9 1.30 792 48.7 1.48 2,322 29.1 1.39 1,302
Resource estimated to the Indicated status, as such no Measured Resources available. Mineral Resource estimates follow the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") definitions standards for mineral resources and reserves and have been completed in accordance with the Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Notes are provided in Section "About the Mineral Reserve and Resources" of this Press Release, with effective date September 1, 2017. Full details on the 2016 Feasibility Study Inventory are available in the Company's published press release dated November 10, 2016.
MINING OPERATIONS, PROCESSING, AND METALLURGY
MINING AND PROCESSING STRATEGY
A number of schedules were completed to test the impact of limiting stockpile size and it was found that there was limited benefit to allowing for large stockpiles. As such, the mining sequence and stockpile management has improved in the Optimized Study compared to the Feasibility Study. Whereas previously the mining period was 9 years followed by the processing of stockpiled low-grade ore for another 5 years, the current mine plan is based on 12 years of mining followed by the processing of stockpiled low-grade ore for another 2 years.
A combination of strategic pit staging and stockpiling allows gold production to be brought forward, with about 1.2 Moz mined in the first 5 years from commissioning and 1.5 Moz in the last 10 years. The overall grade profile declines gradually over the life of mine as higher grade deposits such as Bakatouo, Daapleu and Mont Ity / Flat are mined upfront.
Mining Operations
The mine planning, resource and cost estimation for the Feasibility Study is based on an owner-operated mining operation using 90-tonne haul trucks and a maximum mining movement of 16Mt per year with a vertical advance of approximately 40 metres per year. The Company sees these figures as conservative in nature due to the annual rainfall at the Ity project. Mining is scheduled to commence three months before the start of the processing plant to pre-strip the pits and stockpile ore. The mining fleet contract has been awarded to Komatsu to benefit from synergies relating to minimizing spare parts inventory and maintenance costs, as both Hounde and Karma have a similar fleet.
Table 5: Mine Plan
Total Y-1 Y-2 Y-3 Y-4 Y-5 Y-6 Y-7 Y-8 Y-9 Y-10 Y-11 Y-12 Total material moved, Mt 167 15.6 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 13.8 12.7 15.9 13.6 10.1 5.1 Total ore mined, Mt 57 4.6 5.8 5.9 4.7 4.8 5.1 4.3 3.8 5.4 5.9 4.9 1.9 Stripping ratio, w:o 1.9 2.4 1.8 1.7 2.4 2.3 2.1 2.2 2.3 1.9 1.3 1.1 1.7 Grade mined, g/t Au 1.57 1.70 2.05 1.78 1.87 1.65 1.88 1.20 1.37 1.38 1.30 1.12 1.08 Contained gold mined, koz 2,883 250 380 340 284 256 310 166 168 241 246 176 66
Processing Operations
Following updated resource and reserve estimates, the key change to the design basis is an increase in throughput from 3 Mtpa feed to 4 Mtpa feed based on a blend of primary and oxide ore with a conventional primary crushing followed by SAG and Ball milling circuit (SABC) with recycle pebble crusher, gravity circuit and conventional CIL (Carbon-In-Leach) plant. Soluble copper from the Bakatouo asset is blended with the low copper Daapleu ore into the plant process schedule until depletion of Bakatouo. A maximum process plant feed limit of 200ppm cyanide soluble copper constraint has been set, to manage cyanide consumption within the CIL plant and detoxification circuit.
The process plant will notably be composed of a single stage primary crushing to produce a crushed product size of 80% passing (P80 of 166 mm) and a two stage SAG (with pebble crusher recycle)/ Ball milling in closed circuit with hydrocyclones to produce a P80 grind size of 75 micrometers. A gravity concentrator and Intensive Leach Reactor (ILR) have been included in the design as per the FS. The CIL circuit comprises eight CIL tanks (up from six in the FS) containing carbon for gold and silver adsorption with oxygen sparged from two 25 tonne PSA Oxygen plants and a 18 tonne split Anglo (AARL) elution circuit. Electrowinning and induction furnace smelting completes the gold dore production process. A cyanide detoxification and arsenic removal circuit is included in the process facility design, for treatment of process residue before discharge to the fully lined 57Mt Tailings Storage Facility (TSF), located adjacent to the processing facility. Feed water for the processing facility will come from various sources such as pit dewatering bores, the Cavally River for (make-up) and decant return from the TSF.
Table 6: Processing Schedule
Total Y-1 Y-2 Y-3 Y-4 Y-5 Y-6 Y-7 Y-8 Y-9 Y-10 Y-11 Y-12 Y-13 Y-14 Ore processed, Mt 57.2 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 Grade processed, g/t Au 1.57 2.26 2.32 2.21 1.87 1.99 1.80 1.37 1.57 1.84 1.32 1.45 0.98 0.72 0.53 Recovery rate, % 86% 86% 84% 84% 88% 87% 87% 85% 80% 80% 93% 90% 90% 84% 86% Recovered gold, koz 2,467 250 250 238 212 223 201 151 161 189 159 167 113 77 59
Metallurgy
The overall life of mine recovery rate increased from 83% in the Feasibility Study to 86% in the Optimized Study due to the addition of high-recovery Bakatouo oxide and fresh ore, Mont Ity ore and better recovery on Daapleu Sulphides following additional testwork.
Table 7: Gold Recovery Rate by Deposit
Bakatouo
Oxides/Fresh Bakatouo
Transition Daapleu
Sulphides Daapleu
Oxides Gbeitouo Mont
Ity/Flat Walter Zia NE Stockpiles Total LOM Tonnage, Mt 6.07 0.8 7.8 10.6 2.5 7.4 1.2 6.2 14.5 57.0 % of LOM Tonnage 11% 1% 14% 19% 4% 13% 2% 11% 25% 100% Gold Grade, g/t Au 2.28 3.29 2.41 1.21 1.37 2.03 1.08 1.06 1.04 1.57 Gold Recovery rate, % 95/97% 84% 66% 85% 88% 89% 96% 97% 92% 86%
For the economic model, payable silver in the dore ingots has been estimated on a conservative ratio of 2 to 1. A detailed investigation of the metallurgical response of the Bakatouo deposit was undertaken. Most samples showed high gold extractions but soluble copper levels were also high, particularly in the transition ore. As such, Endeavour has elected to blend in the soluble copper ore constraining it to 200ppm per feed blend. The Daapleu Primary ore can be considered refractory, with elevated Arsenic levels in the fresh ore, however it has negligible copper. Further detailed testwork has shown improvements, allowing the reported recovery for the higher Arsenic fresh material to increase to from 60% in the Feasibility Study to 66% in the Optimization Study.
Low Operating Costs
The operating cost estimates have been re-scoped based on most recent available cost information and based on a 4mtpa processing operation.
Table 8: Life of Mine Operating Costs in US$, estimated at 15% accuracy
2017
OPTIMIZATION
STUDY 2016
FEASIBILITY
STUDY VARIANCE
(OS VS. FS) Open Pit Mining and Rehandling, $/tonne moved $2.89/t $2.45/t +18% Processing, $/t milled $11.96/t $10.56/t +13% G&A costs, $/t milled $2.23/t $2.79/t (20%) Operating Cost, $/t milled $22.90/t $20.56/t +11%
Operating costs have been based on a delivered diesel price of $1.00/L and are in line with current local pricing. Following the connection to the grid, electricity costs have been estimated based on $0.1243/kWh.
PROJECT CAPEX SUMMARY
The optimized and fully scoped upfront capital cost has been re-estimated to reflect the upgrade project scope at $412 million, inclusive of $49 million for the owner-mining fleet and $34 million for contingencies, as summarised in the table below. The upfront capital is expected to be $351 million as a $61 million lease financing is expected to be put in place for the mining fleet and power station.
Table 9: Initial Capital Cost Estimate Summary (US$, 15%)
2017
OPTIMIZATION STUDY 2016
FEASIBILITY STUDY Treatment Plant 94 63 Reagents and Services 14 9 Infrastructure and Tailings 71 46 Mining (includes pre-striping and $49m for equipment) 84 59 Construction Distributables 26 24 Management Costs 17 16 Owners Project Costs 66 59 Owners Operations Costs 5 4 Sub-Total 378 282 Contingency 34 26 Total 412 307
Capital costs include the construction of a 58 km, 91kv overhead power line, which connects to the national grid at Danane and terminates with a substation at Ity which will be owned by Cote d'Ivoire Energie ("CIE"). A full 26MW full high speed diesel back-up power station provides 100% redundancy. The infrastructure in place will be improved with roads upgraded to an all-weather and free draining carriageway to provide access for the delivery of equipment, materials and services to the site. A new camp will be built approximately 1 kilometer north-west of the process plant and will provide accommodation for 200 employees, and provisions have been made to construct a suitable airstrip.
A Cavally River diversion will be installed to allow development of the Daapleu pit, with a second diversion upstream of the Walter pit. Pit protection bunds will also be installed and a bridge/culvert road structure from Daapleu over the Cavally River will also be built.
The proposed approach to project implementation is similar in nature to the current execution methodology of the Endeavour Project Services In-House team in that Endeavour will engage a suitably qualified Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) Engineer for design and construction management of the process plant and infrastructure, which will then be handed over to an Owner's operating team. Endeavour will self-perform the development of the mine infrastructure and provision of ongoing drill and blast and mine operating services under an Owner's mine technical team.
The schedule anticipates the project being completed within 20 months from EPCM award.
PROJECT ECONOMICS
The results of the financial model show robust results. Applying a long term gold price of $1,250/oz on a flat line basis from the commencement of production, the after-tax NPV 5% is $710 million, IRR is 40.3% and project payback period is 1.8 years.
Table 10: Gold Price Sensitivity
Gold Price
($US/oz) After-tax NPV ($m) After-tax IRR 0% 5% 10% $1,000/oz 520 343 221 23.2% $1,050/oz 613 416 280 26.7% $1,100/oz 707 489 339 30.2% $1,150/oz 801 563 399 33.6% $1,200/oz 896 636 458 36.9% $1,250/oz 990 710 518 40.3% $1,300/oz 1,072 773 569 43.1% $1,350/oz 1,166 847 629 46.4% $1,400/oz 1,260 920 688 49.6%
PROJECT IS FULLY FUNDED
As shown in Figure 1 below, the Ity CIL Project is fully funded with significant headroom available based on liquidity and funding sources available which include cash and undrawn upsized Revolving Credit Facility ("RCF"), the future cash generation from existing operating mines the upcoming proceeds from the sale of the Nzema mine, potential Ity power station and equipment financing, and the upcoming La Mancha anti-dilution equity placement.
Figure 1: Funding Sources
As was successfully implemented during the Hounde construction period, Endeavour will study the opportunity to put in place a short-term Gold Revenue Protection Strategy, consisting of Gold Option Contracts on only a portion of its production, to mitigating risk and increase the certainty of its upcoming free cash flow during its peak investment phase.
HEAP LEACH OPERATION
It is envisaged that the heap leach operation will run during the construction period and that heap leach activities will cease once the CIL plant is commissioned. Endeavour will reassess the risk and opportunity of running both operations in parallel once the CIL project has been developed.
COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ACTIONS
Endeavour recognizes that an active CSR program is the foundation of long-term success and its social license to operate. Baseline studies for the ESIA from 2013 to 2016 have been completed and an ESIA report was published in March 2016 and a Resettlement Action Plan ("RAP") has been completed.
Three environmental permits have been granted covering the mining and process plant, Daapleu and Gbeitouo exploitation and mining and surface infrastructure.
Full CSR team complement is now in place and working on establishing CSR best practices and reporting.
EXPLORATION POTENTIAL
The Ity area has significant exploration potential with several deposits located within 5 kilometers of one another in addition to several exploration targets identified as per the blue dashed area in the Figure below. This area represents a small portion of the 80km corridor controlled by Endeavour.
Figure 2: Ity Mine Area and Surrounding Exploration Targets
ABOUT THE MINERAL RESERVES AND RESOURCES
The in situ Mineral Resources, which include Daapleu, Mont Ity / Ity Flat, Bakatouo, Gbeitouo, Walter, Zia NE and Colline Sud, have been reported inside optimised pit shells and above a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off. Reporting within an optimised pit shell satisfies the requirement for the Mineral Resource to have reasonable prospects for future economic extraction. The pit optimisation assumes a US$1,500/oz Au price.
The Mineral Resource for the rock dumps, which include the Teckraie and Verse Ouest Mineral Resources and also the Aires heap leach pad, have not been reported inside an optimised pit shell. These deposits have been built up above the existing topography and the associated shallow laterite located directly below, therefore satisfying the requirement for the Mineral Resource to have reasonable prospects for future economic extraction. The Teckraie and Verse Ouest rock dump Mineral Resources and Aires leach pad Mineral Resources have been reported above 0.0 g/t Au because there is unlikely to be any grade selectivity during mining. The underlying laterite Mineral Resources for each of the deposits has been reported above 0.5 g/t Au given the possibility for some mining selectivity. The Colline Sud deposit is expected to be mined during the heap leach phase and therefore has been excluded from CIL Mineral Reserves. All Mineral Resources are current as at April 30, 2017. Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Reported tonnage and grade figures have been rounded from raw estimates to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate. Minor variations may occur during the addition of rounded numbers.
The statistical analysis, geological modelling and resource estimation for Colline Sud were prepared by Kevin Harris, CPG. Mr. Harris is Endeavour Mining's Group Resource Manager and is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").
The statistical analysis, geological modelling and resource estimation for Bakatouo, Mt Ity/Ity flat, Daapleu and Verse Ouest were prepared by Mark Zammit, CPG. Mr. Zammit is a principal consultant geologist with Cube Consulting Pty Ltd and is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").
The statistical analysis, geological modelling and resource estimation for Bakatouo, Mt Ity/Ity flat, Daapleu, Gbeitouo, Walter, Zia NE. Aires and Verse Ouest were prepared by Mark Zammit, CPG. Mr. Zammit is a principal consultant geologist with Cube Consulting Pty Ltd and is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").
The Qualified person for the Ity Mineral Reserve estimation is Mr Allan Earl AWASM FAusIMM. Mr. Earl is an executive consultant with Snowden Mining industry Consultants Pty Ltd and is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").
A gold price of US$1,250/oz was used in the pit optimizations for Mineral Reserves. The estimation of break-even cut-off grades are based on net revenue (gold price x process recovery) and the throughput (ore related) costs.
QUALIFIED PERSONS
Jeremy Langford, Endeavour's Chief Operating Officer - Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy - FAusIMM, is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the operational analysis, operating and capital estimates, and other technical information in this news release.
CONFERENCE CALL AND LIVE WEBCAST FOR ITY CIL PROJECT
Management will host a conference call and live webcast today at 9:30am Toronto time (EST) to discuss the results of the Ity CIL Project Optimization Study.
The conference call and live webcast are scheduled at:
9:30am Toronto time
6:30am in Vancouver
9:30am in Toronto and New York
2:30pm in London
9:30pm in Hong Kong and Perth
The live webcast can be accessed through the following link:
https://edge.media-server.com/m6/p/44r6ckra
Analysts and interested investors are also invited to participate and ask questions using the dial-in numbers below:
International: +1646 254 3360
North American toll-free: 1877 280 2342
UK toll-free: 0800 279 4992
Confirmation code: 5815693
The conference call and webcast will be available for playback on Endeavour's website.
ABOUT ENDEAVOUR MINING CORPORATION
Endeavour Mining is a TSX-listed intermediate gold producer, focused on developing a portfolio of high quality mines in the prolific West-African region, where it has established a solid operational and construction track record.
Endeavour is ideally positioned as the major pure West-African multi-operation gold mining company, operating 5 mines across Cote d'Ivoire (Agbaou and Ity), Burkina Faso (Karma), Mali (Tabakoto), and Ghana (Nzema). In 2017, it expects to produce between 500koz and 530koz at an AISC of US$855 to US$900/oz, following the full-year deconsolidation of the discontinued Nzema mine. Endeavour is currently building its Hounde project in Burkina Faso, which is expected to commence production in Q4-2017 and to become its flagship low-cost mine with an average annual production of 190koz at an AISC of US$709/oz over an initial 10-year mine life, based on reserves. The development of the Hounde and Ity CIL projects are expected to lift Endeavour's group production to +900kozpa and decrease its average AISC to circa $800/oz by 2019, while exploration aims to extend all mine lives to +10 years.
SASKATOON, SK --(Marketwired - September 20, 2017) -
Highlights:
Step-out hole RSC-188 intersected 0.45 grams of gold per tonne ("g/t Au") over 114.0 metres, demonstrating gold mineralization, brecciation and alteration continue to the west of North Stock.
RSC-184 extended gold mineralization at Antelope Basin 200 metres to the east towards the Cowboy target with an intercept of 0.42 g/t Au over 73.2 metres.
Drilling between the North Stock and Antelope Basin deposits outlined several intervals of low grade mineralization, outlining the potential to link the two deposits.
Drill results at Blackjack intersected thick zones of gold-silver mineralization, highlighted by hole BJR-005: 0.79 g/t Au and 36.86 grams of silver per tonne (g/t Ag) over 18.3 metres and 0.36 g/t Au and 10.62 g/t Ag over 53.3 metres that demonstrate the system remains open to the west.
The Company has completed approximately 50% of the 2017 drill program with 14 holes pending assay results and expects to complete the program in November. Greenfield drilling is expected to begin in October.
GFG Resources Inc.(TSX VENTURE: GFG) ( OTCQB : GFGSF) ("GFG" or the "Company") announces initial drill results from its 15,000 metre or 50-hole drill program at its 100% controlled, Rattlesnake Hills Gold Project in Wyoming, United States. These initial eight drill hole results (See Table 1) are from testing brownfield targets proximal to the North Stock, Antelope Basin and Blackjack areas (See Figures 1 and 2). The Company is very encouraged by the initial results as all the holes intersected broad zones of gold mineralization and demonstrate that the targeted areas remain open.
"Our objective over the last year has been to take an aggressive, district scale exploration approach by testing beyond the borders of historic drilling and to test the district for a new discovery with six greenfield targets. The most important factor to date, is that wherever we have drilled, we have intersected gold mineralization with key geological markers present. The district as whole remains prospective and we are confident that further drilling will demonstrate a much larger system," stated Brian Skanderbeg, President and CEO.
"Drilling was successful at extending the North Stock deposit to the west with hole RSC-188. We continue to intercept well mineralized and strongly altered heterolithic breccias in step-out holes testing the western extension and we believe that the system can be extended and potentially link with our Pronghorn and MGT regional targets. We were also able to expand the mineralization at Antelope Basin to the east towards the Cowboy target. We believe that the Cowboy target is a sub-parallel zone to Antelope Basin and we will complete another seven holes in that area this year. With most of the program assays yet to be announced, we look forward to providing further results to demonstrate the potential of the district. In October, we will begin testing our greenfield targets; all of which are kilometer in scale and show strong similarities to the North Stock and Antelope Basin systems."
Table 1: Initial 2017 Drill Results from Rattlesnake Hills Gold Project.
Hole ID From (m) To (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Length (m) Cut Off (g/t) RSC-184 54.86 59.44 0.66 0.57 4.6 0.20 82.30 155.45 0.43 1.27 73.2 0.20 includes 115.82 121.92 0.58 1.17 6.1 0.50 includes 129.54 152.40 0.72 1.95 22.9 0.50 181.36 205.74 0.32 1.49 24.4 0.20 220.98 256.03 0.39 1.50 35.1 0.20 includes 227.53 231.65 0.61 1.86 4.1 0.50 RSC-188 45.11 67.97 0.22 Assays Pending 22.9 0.20 74.07 188.06 0.45 114.0 0.20 includes 92.35 109.12 1.15 16.8 0.50 includes 143.87 165.20 0.52 21.3 0.50 194.16 213.97 0.24 19.8 0.20 221.89 234.09 0.35 12.2 0.20 266.09 274.93 0.25 8.8 0.20 282.85 290.47 0.30 7.6 0.20 333.15 349.91 0.21 16.8 0.20 RSR-001 196.60 211.84 0.55 0.94 15.2 0.20 includes 201.17 205.74 1.21 1.57 4.6 0.50 RSR-003 117.35 124.97 0.37 2.56 7.6 0.20 RSR-006 21.34 36.58 0.29 3.06 15.2 0.20 includes 22.86 28.96 0.41 5.27 6.1 0.50 42.67 73.15 0.24 0.67 30.5 0.20 175.26 192.02 0.27 1.22 16.8 0.20 199.64 207.26 0.38 1.86 7.6 0.20 RSR-007 306.32 315.47 0.31 0.82 9.2 0.20 BJR-001 117.35 153.92 0.29 4.21 36.6 0.20 includes 128.02 138.68 0.51 5.15 10.7 0.50 163.07 175.26 0.23 3.35 12.2 0.20 187.45 196.60 0.22 7.21 9.2 0.20 BJR-005 120.40 138.68 0.79 36.86 18.3 0.20 includes 120.40 137.16 0.82 39.81 16.8 0.50 150.88 204.22 0.36 10.62 53.3 0.20 includes 169.16 184.40 0.59 16.40 15.2 0.50
*Gold intervals reported in the above table are based on a 0.20 g/t or 0.50 g/t Au cutoff and may include waste or low-grade intervals of up to six metres. Weighted averaging has been used to calculate all reported intervals. True widths are estimated at 60-100% of drilled thickness.
Drill Results Commentary
RSC-184 was drilled in the flank of Antelope Basin deposit to test for sub-parallel zones east of the historic drilling. The lithologies were primarily schist and monolithic schist breccia and the gold mineralization was associated with moderate to strong carbonate and weak to moderate potassic alteration. This hole is significant as there is no proximal drilling and it intersected thick zones of mineralization, hosted in Precambrian schist, that extend nearly 200 metres east of the quartz monzodiorite dike that hosts mineralization at Antelope Basin.
RSC-188 was drilled on the west side of the North Stock intrusion and was 70 metres from the nearest historic drill hole (Hole RSC-149: 0.61 g/t Au over 86.9 metres). The hole intersected thick intervals of heterolithic breccia, phonolite and monolithic schist breccia before ending in Precambrian schist. The thick zone of gold mineralization (74.07 metres to 188.06 metres) confirms this extension and suggests that the mineralization continues towards the west and remains open. The alteration in this intercept included moderate potassic (adularia) flooding and moderate to strong pyrite. In addition, the lower intercept (333.15 metres to 349.91 metres), while lower grade, showed the contact zone between the Eocene volcanic breccia and the Precambrian schist is mineralized. This is similar to some of the mineralization seen in the Cripple Creek Mining District where this contact acted as a favorable conduit for fluids.
RSR-001 and RSR-003 tested the middle ground area between Antelope Basin and North Stock. Lithologies in both holes were largely schist, but the lower portions of RSR-003 intersected heterolithic breccias and phonolites below 240 metres where the intensity of the potassic alteration increased. The results suggest mineralization continues to remain open towards the west where additional holes have been planned and permitted. The Company will continue to drill in this area using core holes to better test the targets and explore the linkage between the two deposits.
RSR-006 was designed to test the northwestern extension of the mineralization at North Stock. The hole intersected lithologies that varied from phonolites, heterolithic breccias and schist with the better grades hosted in the breccia units. While the hole intersected thick zones of low grade mineralization, it also intersected some of the strongest alteration seen in the program with moderate to strong pervasive potassic alteration and associated carbonate alteration. This type of alteration is an important geological marker for gold mineralization in the district.
RSR-007 tested a strong IP anomaly 350 metres southwest of North Stock. The hole was drilled entirely in schist. The gold intercept reported near the bottom of the hole was associated with a zone of weak to moderate potassic alteration. The results showed low-grade mineralization associated with the IP anomaly and the Company has plans to further test the target in 2017.
BJR-001 and BJR-005 were designed to test the western portion of the large (400 metres by 750 metres) gold-silver soil geochemistry anomaly at Blackjack. Both holes intersected Precambrian granites with minor quartz veins. The gold was associated with zones of weak to moderate pyrite in BJR-001 while the mineralization in BJR-005 was found in zones with moderate to strong pyrite and potassic (adularia-quartz) alteration. It is important to note that BJR-005 hosted significant silver mineralization which included 36.86 g/t Ag over 18.3 metres and 10.62 g/t Ag over 53.3 metres. The holes are significant as they intersected thick zones of mineralization which remain open to the west with results pending on a number of proximal holes.
Outlook
To date, the Company has completed 50% of its 2017 drill program with approximately 14 holes pending assay results. The remaining 25 drill holes consist of an additional 10 brownfield holes and approximately 15 greenfield holes. Drilling on the greenfield targets is expected to begin in October. Based on current productivity rates, the Company expects to complete the drilling program in early November. Results from the 2017 drilling program are expected to be announced on a monthly basis for the remainder of the year and potentially into 2018. In addition to the drill program, further metallurgical testwork and geological and resource modelling will be completed to support a maiden National Instrument 43-101 resource estimate that is expected to be announced in the first half of 2018.
Figure 1: Plan map of North Stock and Antelope Basin 2017 drill results, planned hole locations and historic drill highlights
Figure 2: Plan map of Blackjack 2017 drill results, planned hole locations and historic drill highlights
Figure 3: Regional map of the Rattlesnake Hills Gold Project
Qualified Persons
Brian Skanderbeg, P.Geo. and M.Sc., President and CEO, is the Qualified Person for the information contained in this press release and is a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101.
GFG Resources Inc. is a publicly traded precious metals exploration company headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, whose shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange (GFG) and on the OTCQB (GFGSF). The Company controls 100% of the Rattlesnake Hills Gold Project, a district scale gold exploration project located approximately 100 kilometres southwest of Casper, Wyoming, U.S. The geologic setting, alteration and mineralization seen in the Rattlesnake Hills are similar to other gold deposits of the Rocky Mountain alkaline province which, collectively, have produced over 50 million ounces of gold.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ashanti Gold Corp. (Ashanti or the Company) - (TSXV:AGZ) is pleased to announce results for the final eight drill holes from the recently completed 53 Reverse Circulation (RC) hole, 6073 metre drill program that tested mineralization on the Kossanto East Project (the Property) in western Mali. These results complete the Companys reporting of drill results for their recent Kossanto East drill program.
20 metres @ 1.00 g/t Au including 5 metres of 2.00 g/t Au (GERC146)
7 metres @ 1.52 g/t Au including 2 metres @ 3.53 g/t Au (GERC150)
8 metres @ 1.65 g/t Au (GERC151)
The set of results reported here (Table 1) represent drill holes that were intentionally positioned to test lateral, strike, and depth extensions of mineralization. Importantly, holes 150 and 151 show mineralized intersections along >100m of a new strand of mineralization ~80m east of and parallel to the known main mineralized zone (Figures 1 and 2). The strike and dip extent of all areas of mineralization remain open at Gourbassi East. In addition, the presence of gold mineralization in numerous targets to the northeast presents new opportunities for expanding the global gold content for the project.
Tim McCutcheon, CEO, said, It is impressive that the drill results from our first drilling campaign at both Gourbassi East and Gourbassi West demonstrate opportunity to expand the strike, width, and dip extents of mineralization at these two key targets which both exceed 1 km in length and are locally up to more than 100m in width.
Table 1. Highlights of Gold Intercepts GERC146 to GERC153 Hole # From (m) To (m) Interval (m)* Au (g/t) GERC146 95 103 8 0.76 111 131 20 1.00 incl. 117 122 5 2.00 GERC147 no significant intercepts GERC148 117 119 2 0.76 126 129 3 1.01 139 140 1 2.89 150 153 3 0.95 GERC149 no significant intercepts GERC150 63 70 7 1.52 incl. 65 67 2 3.53 81 98 17 0.44 GERC151 5 13 8 1.65 53 55 2 3.74 72 82 10 0.71 incl. 77 78 1 3.74 GERC152 1 3 2 0.32 49 50 1 0.88 63 65 2 0.27 GERC153 0 2 2 0.34 33 34 1 0.38 52 59 7 1.37 90 91 2 0.25
*The Company advises that drill holes are oriented to intersect stratigraphy at an optimal angle, however true widths cannot be determined as detailed information on the true orientation of stratigraphy at the point of intersection of the drill hole is not available. Quality control is monitored by the insertion of blind certified standard reference material and blanks at a rate of 1/20 samples. Blind duplicate splits are inserted into the sample stream at the rate of 1/50 samples. In addition, the laboratory inserts their own certified standard and blank samples at the rate of 1/20 samples. All samples have been analyzed by SGS Laboratories in Bamako, Mali an internationally known testing company.
Figure 1. Map of historic drilling (blue collars) and Ashanti current drilling (red collars).
Figure 2. Results from drill hole GERC150 and GERC151 (shown here) reveal the presence of another mineralized zone parallel to the main zone. The extent of this mineralization remains to be tested.
About Kossanto East Project
The Kossanto East Project is a 66.41 km2 concession in the prolific Kedougou - Kenieba Inlier, the northwestern most exposure of Birimian rocks in West Africa and host to the Loulo and Sadiola group of world class gold deposits. The Property hosts two principle historically drill-tested targets, Gourbassi East and Gourbassi West and several surface anomalies identified in historic surface samples and Rotary Airblast (RAB) drill holes. Geochemical anomalies identified by previous explorers and Alecto Minerals PLC led to drill testing and successful intersection of gold mineralization.
ABOUT ASHANTI GOLD
Ashanti is a gold-focused, exploration and development company with advanced projects in the northern Ashanti Belt of Ghana and the Kenieba Belt of Mali. The Company targets projects where existing work demonstrates attractive potential for near-term mine development and where it has a competitive advantage due to past work experience of the team and specific project know-how.
Qualified Person and Quality Control/Quality Assurance
Dr. Paul Klipfel, CPG (AIPG certification #10821), Ashantis COO and Chief Geologist is a Qualified Person as defined by Canadian NI 43-101 and has supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release. Dr. Klipfel is responsible for all aspects of the work including the Quality Control/Quality Assurance programs. Dr. Klipfel is not an Independent Person, as he is a shareholder of Ashanti.
VANCOUVER, Sept. 19, 2017 /CNW/ - GoldMining Inc. (the "Company" or "GoldMining") (TSX-V: GOLD; OTCQX: GLDLF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement (the "Agreement") with Lupaka Gold Corp. ("Lupaka"), to acquire a 100% interest in the Crucero Gold Project (the "Project") located in Southeastern Peru.
Amir Adnani, Chairman of GoldMining, commented: "We are pleased to announce another milestone acquisition in furtherance of our long-term growth and value-building strategy. With this acquisition, we continue to realize our vision of consolidating multi-million ounce gold assets and maximizing gold leverage for our shareholders. The transaction also represents our first acquisition in the country of Peru, which is among the most prolific mining nations in the world."
Garnet Dawson, CEO of GoldMining, commented: "With this acquisition, we will be acquiring not only a project in a favourable mining jurisdiction with a historic pit-constrained resource, but also one that has had significant historical investment and exploration, including 23,000 m of drilling over 72 holes, and numerous targets identified for future exploration. Upon completion, we plan to commission a current resource estimate for the Project as well as identify opportunities for follow-up exploration and expansion."
The Agreement
Pursuant to the Agreement, GoldMining will acquire all of the shares of a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lupaka, which will hold a 100% interest in the Project. Total consideration payable by GoldMining to Lupaka under the transaction is 3,500,000 common shares of GoldMining (the "GoldMining Shares") and $750,000 in cash.
The GoldMining Shares to be issued under the transaction are subject to certain resale restrictions pursuant to the terms of the Agreement.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of requisite third party and regulatory consents and approvals. The parties currently expect closing to occur by the end of September 2017.
The Project
The Project is located 150 km northeast of the city of Juliaca in the Department of Puno, in southeastern Peru. The Project is road accessible by paved road from Juliaca to the town of Crucero, with the remaining 50 km to site by gravel road. High-power electrical lines pass within 8 km of the property.
The Project is comprised of three mining and five exploration concessions with an aggregate area of 4,600 hectares. The exploration concessions are renewable on an indefinite basis through payment of annual fees to the Peruvian government. The three mining concessions are held indirectly by Lupaka through a 30 year assignment from a third party running until 2038 and are subject to certain royalty obligations.
Historic exploration programs have focused on the A1 deposit, however geophysical and geochemical surveys have identified 10 additional targets (A2 to A11) for follow-up exploration. The A1 deposit, as currently defined by trenching and drilling, strikes northwest and dips vertically to steeply to the northeast. The deposit is approximately 750 m long by 100 m in width and has been traced to a vertical depth of 400 m, but most of the drilling is confined to within 250 m of surface. The deposit is open at depth and along strike to the northwest and southeast. The orogenic gold mineralization is associated with sulphide veins hosted within strongly deformed metasedimentary rocks.
The A1 deposit was the subject of a resource estimate published by Lupaka in 2013 (Table 1), which will be treated as a historic estimate by GoldMining. The conceptual pit delineated resource was based on 72 diamond drill holes (approximately 23,000 m) and is reported within a conceptual pit shell. High-grade gold values were capped at 17 g/t gold with 5 assays falling above this value. Average bulk density of 2.85 g/cm3 was used to convert block model volumes to tonnages.
Table 1: A1 deposit historical pit constrained resource estimate published by Lupaka in 2013.
Cut-off Tonnes & Grade Contained Metal Resource Category Au (g/t) Tonnes (Mt) Au (g/t) Au (Moz) Indicated 0.40 30.9 1.01 1.00 Inferred 0.40 31.2 1.03 1.03
The following parameters were utilized by Lupaka to establish the conceptual pit:
Parameter Value Unit Gold Price 1,400 US$/oz Mine Operating Cost (Mineralization and Waste) 1.50 US$/t milled Process Operating Cost 13.00 US$/t milled General & Administrative 2.00 US$/milled Overall Pit Slope 47 Degrees Gold Process Recovery 90 % Mining Dilution 5 % Mining Recovery 100 %
The above resource estimate is historical in nature and will not be treated as a current resource estimate by the Company as a qualified person has not done sufficient work on behalf of the Company to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource. However, the Company believes the historical estimate is relevant to any future exploration and as an indication of the potential of the property. The historical resource estimate for the Project is based on a technical report completed for Lupaka by Gregory Z. Mosher, M.Sc., P.Geo. of Tetra Tech WEI Inc. and Anoush Ebrahimi, P.Eng. of SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. titled "Technical Report for the Crucero Property, Carabaya Province, Peru" with an effective date of January 17, 2013 (amended and re-stated October 22, 2013). No new drilling or sampling has been completed on the A1 deposit since the above resource estimate was completed. However, GoldMining intends to engage an independent qualified person to, among other things, examine the cut-off grade with reference to today's metal prices, verify historic sampling and results and complete a technical report, including a current resource estimate on behalf of the Company.
Advisors
Haywood Securities Inc. has advised GoldMining in connection with the transaction, and Sangra Moller LLP is acting as legal counsel to GoldMining.
Qualified Person
Paulo Pereira, President of GoldMining Inc. has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. Mr. Pereira holds a Bachelors degree in Geology from Universidade do Amazonas in Brazil, is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and is a member of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario.
About GoldMining Inc.
GoldMining Inc. is a public mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of gold projects in the Americas. GoldMining is advancing its Titiribi and La Mina Gold-Copper Projects located in the Department of Antioquia, Colombia, its Sao Jorge and Cachoeira Gold Projects located in the State of Para, northeastern Brazil, its Whistler Gold-Copper Project located in the State of Alaska, United States of America, and its Rea Uranium Project in the western Athabasca Basin in northeast Alberta, Canada.
New Bug NW discovery yields 67.40 metres grading 1.02 g/t gold, including 17.13 metres grading 3.26 g/t gold
BAR intersects 10.37 metres grading 6.95 g/t gold from depth extension of Bug South deposit
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Balmoral Resources Ltd. (Balmoral or the Company) (TSX:BAR) (OTCQX:BALMF) today announced that the first drill holes of the summer 2017 program on its Detour Gold Trend Project in Quebec have discovered a significant extension to the Bug Gold Trend on its Martiniere Property. The initial four holes testing the new Bug NW gold discovery (see Figure 1) yielded gold mineralized intercepts ranging from 16.39 to 64.70 metres in down-hole width, at grades ranging from 0.39 to 1.58 g/t gold.
As with the known deposits located along the Trend these broad gold mineralized intervals include higher-grade vein mineralization which returned intercepts including 17.13 metres grading 3.26 g/t gold (which includes 0.50 metres grading 94.20 g/t gold), 1.05 metres grading 13.13 g/t gold and 0.87 metres grading 31.00 g/t gold from three separate holes.
We are very excited to have discovered a new, broad zone of gold mineralization at shallow depths along the Bug Gold Trend. The Bug NW discovery opens the system for further expansion into an untested area of the property which had previously been considered less prospective. Permits for an additional 19 holes along trend from the new discovery have been received and follow-up drilling is expected to commence in the next few days said Darin Wagner, President and CEO of Balmoral Resources.
The Bug NW gold zone is geologically similar to the known deposits along the trend and demonstrates a very rapid increase in width to the northwest across a potential intrusion filled fault corridor (see Figure 2). There is no historic drilling along the currently projected strike of the new discovery to the west-northwest or down dip.
Hole Section Azimuth Dip From To Interval* Gold Zone # (Metres) (Metres) (Metres) (g/t) Bug Northwest - New Discovery MDE-17-290 NA 015 -57 78.28 79.15 0.87 31.00 205.71 259.03 53.32 0.39 U & L MDE-17-291 NA 015 -64 221.25 285.67 64.42 0.57 U & L including 229.74 277.58 47.84 0.71 " which includes 251.08 252.40 1.32 4.13 " and 261.13 261.90 0.77 6.40 " 305.44 349.83** 44.39 0.52 New Shear 314.03 343.85 29.82 0.71 " which includes 314.54 315.02 0.48 7.81 " MDE-17-297A NA 021 -63 39.25 49.69 10.44 0.39 201.23 268.63 67.40 1.02 U&L Bug including 236.59 253.72 17.13 3.26 " which includes 250.77 253.72 2.95 16.69 " which includes 253.22 253.72 0.50 94.20 " MDE-17-298 NA 021 -75 292.31 308.70 16.39 1.58 Upper including 302.25 303.30 1.05 13.13 " 315.27 316.27 1.00 2.19 HW Bug South MDE-17-292 3+55S 240 -51 423.06 424.00 0.94 3.65 HW 452.22 453.30 1.08 9.63 459.68 472.85 13.17 1.86 Upper including 460.24 460.71 0.47 20.50 " and 465.81 466.18 0.37 5.00 " and 471.17 471.96 0.79 10.95 " 504.76 511.89 7.13 1.30 Lower including 505.53 506.15 0.62 4.46 " MDE-17-293 4+45SE 232 -51 468.97 479.34 10.37 6.95 Upper including 468.97 473.99 5.02 14.27 " which includes 471.75 473.99 2.24 30.30 " 503.52 522.93 19.41 1.01 Lower which includes 507.71 509.02 1.31 6.23 " and 513.42 514.16 0.74 5.60 " MDE-17-294 3+85S 240 -51 26.87 27.94 1.07 14.30 New 472.26 473.65 1.39 5.11 506.58 507.83 1.25 4.22 HW 529.17 530.96 1.79 8.57 Upper 545.87 548.15 2.28 1.00 Lower MDE-17-295 4+45SE 230 -51 78.47 79.32 0.85 35.30 New 486.22 487.07 0.85 33.90 516.40 517.24 0.84 30.60 HW 545.02 545.72 0.70 1.22 Upper 568.94 570.97 2.03 1.05 Lower
* Reported drill intercepts are not true widths. At this time there is insufficient data with respect to the shape of the mineralization to calculate true orientations in space. All values presented uncapped.
** Hole terminated in mineralized interval
In addition to cutting the Bug NW discovery, drill hole MDE-17-291 intersected a lower zone of strong shearing and gold mineralization. This sheared and altered zone returned an intercept of 44.39 metres grading 0.52 g/t gold, including 0.48 metres grading 7.81 g/t gold. This new discovery was not intersected in the other three holes testing the NW Zone suggesting that the mineralized shear system has a different orientation than the Bug Gold Trend. Follow up drilling will also attempt to further evaluate this second new discovery.
Bug South Deposit Results
Balmoral is also pleased to report that it continues to successfully extend the Bug South gold deposit down plunge. Results from the first four holes of the summer drill program at Bug South include a highlight intercept of 10.37 metres grading 6.95 g/t gold from the Upper Zone of the Bug South deposit, which includes a very high-grade core of 2.24 metres grading 30.30 g/t gold (see Figure 1 and Figure 3).
In addition to the positive results from the down plunge drilling, high-grade gold mineralization was intersected near the collar of two of the holes reported. Intercepts of 1.07 metres grading 14.30 g/t gold and 0.85 metres grading 35.30 g/t gold were returned from the within 75 metres of surface in a newly tested area located 350-400 metres east of the main Bug Gold Trend. These results, and a number of other recently reported high-grade gold intercepts located a similar distance east of the Bug Gold Trend, support the presence of a second north-northwest oriented gold mineralized trend on the property which provides yet another target for expansion of the Martiniere gold system in the near surface.
Hole MDE-17-296 was a stratigraphic hole designed to facilitate a better understand of the volcanic stratigraphy in proximity to the Lower Steep deposit to aid future drilling. It encountered several zones of weakly anomalous gold mineralization, commonly associated with distinct geological contacts. The intersection of these contacts with the cross-cutting Bug Gold Trend are targets for future testing.
Drilling continues with two drills currently active on the Detour Gold Trend Project. The first is currently completing additional down-plunge testing of the Bug South deposit and the second is completing several exploration holes on the nearby Detour East Property. Drilling is anticipated to continue through the end of September.
Cover your eyes if you've got acrophobia, or a fear of heights: A recent Bureau of Reclamation photo may give you the shudders.
In the image, released on the bureau's Central Valley Project Twitter feed on Aug. 31, three dam-inspection workers dangle on the face of the Shasta Dam, the eighth-tallest dam in the United States. The 602-foot-tall (183 meters) monolith holds back the waters of the Sacramento River in northern California, creating Shasta Lake. The dam is key to irrigating California's agriculture-intensive Central Valley, according to the National Park Service, and it also prevents the upstream flow of brackish water from the San Francisco Bay.
The Shasta Dam is 72 years old, though, and like any septuagenarian, it needs the occasional checkup. That's what workers were doing in August when they rappelled down the watery face of the dam: checking for cracks, leaks or any other signs that the structure needs maintenance. [Lessons From 10 of the Worst Engineering Disasters in US History]
To find out what it's like to do this work, Live Science spoke with Monte Brewer, a mechanical engineer at the Lahontan Basin area office of the Bureau of Reclamation, in Carson City, Nevada. Brewer is also the team lead of the rope access team pictured on the Shasta Dam. This interview has been edited lightly for length and clarity.
Live Science: How do you get to be on the rope access team that does these dam inspections?
Monte Brewer: Years ago, when I was first hired on, I was at a conference, and members of the Reclamation board were doing a presentation on the rope team and some of the jobs they'd done. And I thought to myself, "That is the kind of job I want."
About two months later, my supervisor got a call from the mid-Pacific region team asking if there were any mechanical engineers that wanted to be on the team. I got set up from there.
LS: Were you a climber before you started with the rope team?
Brewer: I was not a climber, not a rock climber or anything like that. A little bit of an adrenaline junky, yes. When I saw this, I thought this was a cool opportunity to do things on dams and structures that most people don't get to climb on. I like to do fieldwork, so anything out of the office is good for me.
LS: What's your day-to-day like on the team?
Brewer: All of us on the rope access team, it's not our primary job it's an extra duty that we get to go do from time to time.
But the day-to-day of rope access jobs for me, I do a lot of planning and a lot of making sure that rescue plans are in place and what the job plan is and who will be doing what during the day.
We get to the job site, go through our safety briefs and our rescue briefings, and do our other coordination. In the Shasta job, we were doing a boat coordination, because we we're getting down into a boat at the bottom of the dam because it's 600 feet down.
We spend most of the day as a climber, where we're completing some work or doing an inspection. In inspections, lot of times, we have to have radio communications, and we're reporting to a notetaker.
Sometimes, we get to climb cool stuff. But the Shasta job it was 112 degrees [Fahrenheit, 44 degrees Celsius] out there, and we're out there for 12-hour-long days.
LS: How often do you go out?
Brewer: Some years, we may climb only two or three weeks a year, total; then other years, we might climb 30 to 40 days a year, and that's the climbing days outside the training days. I've been on jobs, like one back in 2010 that was 17 days straight of 16-hour days of climbing. [The 7 Most Extreme Jobs in Science]
LS: What are you looking for out there?
Brewer: On this Shasta job, we were doing a visual and a sounding test of the structural integrity of the concrete of the spillway. Visually, we were looking for cracks, spalls, offsets and joints things of that nature. For soundings, we use a geologist pick or a hammer and tap the concrete every couple of square feet. If it's got a nice sharp "ping" sound to it, that means in general, the concrete is pretty sound. If you get more of a drummy or hollow sound, that means there could be some sort of delamination or a cold joint that's not visible.
When we find an area a spall or a drummy spot or something we establish what the extent of it is. On this one, we were reporting surface area and volume quantities to later be tallied up, and this is all going to be for a specification and a job coming up sometime in the future to get some repairs done.
In general, Reclamation has got a lot of concrete that's old, like 100 years old. Concrete over time does start seeing some problems. The Shasta Dam was in satisfactory condition and no problems there, but there are small spots on the surface that need to get a little bit of a touch-up.
LS: What's the actual experience of hanging on the side of one of these dams like?
Brewer: It's fun; it's cool. I definitely think you need to be a person who's not afraid of heights. They build these two-rope redundant systems that we're working on, so the risk of getting hurt is really low, in all actuality. Even though you know your system is a good redundant system, the first couple times you climb over a 600-foot cliff or drop down in a hole where you know the only way to get rescued is to pull yourself or have someone pull you up 300 feet [90 m] of rope, there's definitely some nerves that can kick in.
At first, when you're a new climber, it almost seems like the kind of job you're trying to do is the climbing. After you get more seasoned or broken in, it almost seems like the ropes are just a taxicab to get you to the work you're trying to do. It's hard and strenuous work, though. We were there three days total for the Shasta job. We worked 12- to 14-hour days, partially because we heard at the end of the week, it was only supposed to get hotter. The dam is pretty much south-facing, and there's a lot of heat coming off that. There was a little bit of water designed to come through the normal discharge valves. It's kind of a pain in the butt to be wet when you're trying to do that work, but staying a little bit cooler with having that water on your feet and legs was quite refreshing.
LS: Are there other aspects of dam maintenance that are particularly interesting?
Brewer: I have another bunch of cool jobs, but they're inside of dams. I get into the technical stuff. Most of them are on ropes where we might be setting a highline system, so it's basically making a crane out of rope to get either people or equipment up or transport it some distance. I really like getting into that stuff because it's a lot of equipment, a lot of rigging and a lot of itty-bitty details that you'vegot to be paying attention to.
We also have dive teams for these inaccessible features, to make sure we are getting these inspections done and taking care of a lot of these little problems. We do have good, safe reliable dams going into the future.
Original article on Live Science.
Scientists have published a detailed road map to move 139 countries to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050, according to a recent study.
Energy experts at Stanford University reported that using wind, solar, geothermal and water (hydropower, tidal and wave) energy to electrify all economic sectors that need power to operate including the electric grid itself, transportation, heating and cooling, industrial, and the agriculture, forestry and fishing industries would significantly reduce energy consumption, decrease deaths from air pollution, create millions of jobs, stabilize energy prices and save trillions of dollars on health care and climate-related costs.
"We have individual plans for each of the 139 countries, and these represent more than 99 percent of all of the emissions worldwide," Mark Jacobson, director of Stanford University's Atmosphere and Energy program, told Live Science. [Top 10 Craziest Environmental Ideas]
The study looked at the world's energy needs, beginning with 2012 and projecting out to 2050. In 2012, the world used 12.105 terawatts (TW) of energy, which is equal to 12.105 trillion watts. By 2050, the world will need 20.604 TW if nothing changes and every country continues with the same approach it currently uses to meet energy demand, the researchers wrote in the study.
But if those same business sectors were to turn to renewable energy sources to electrify their all of their power requirements, the world would need just 11.804 TW to meet global power demands, according to the study. This is because electricity is more efficient than combustion, according to the researchers.
In a video explaining the main points of the study, Jacobson offered an example: In an electric car, he said, 80 to 82 percent of the electricity used goes toward moving the car; the rest is wasted as heat. In a gasoline-powered vehicle, on the other hand, only 17 to 20 percent of the energy in the fuel goes toward moving the car, and the rest is wasted as heat, he said.
Energy is also needed to mine, refine and transport fossil fuels. As such, switching to 100 percent renewable energy would eliminate these energy-intensive and environmentally destructive processes, the report authors said.
Road map for the future
In their study, Jacobson and his colleagues show how wind, water, geothermal and solar power can meet the worldwide demand for 11.804 TW of energy while avoiding the predicted global temperature increase of 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 degrees Celsius) above preindustrial levels by 2050. The researchers outline how doing so would save the lives of 4 million to 7 million people who might have otherwise died from diseases caused by air pollution, save countries more than $20 trillion overall in health and climate costs, and produce a net increase of more than 24 million long-term jobs.
"It seems like a no-brainer to me," Jacobson told Live Science.
The study builds on previous work from Jacobson, who began his career as a research scientist trying to understand how air pollution affects the climate. He said that in the early years, he focused on the problems, but by around 1999, he started looking at solutions.
In 2009, Jacobson and Mark Delucchi, a research scientist at the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, published a study in Scientific American that outlined a plan to power the world with 100 percent renewable energy.
In the ensuing years, Jacobson and Delucchi worked on follow-up studies that examined these issues at the state level, and the researchers have now expanded that research to 139 countries. Detailed energy data for the remaining 59 countries in the world did not exist and thus could not be included in the study, the scientists said.
The overall cost of transitioning to an infrastructure of 100 percent renewable energy a plan that sees countries moving first to 80 percent renewable energy by 2030 may, at first glance, seemcost-prohibitive, but Jacobson and his team have crunched those numbers, too.
Jacobson said that, when averaged over all countries, the cost of building renewable energy systems, including storage and transmission, is 8.9 centsper kilowatt-hour (kWh). In a world that doesn't transition and keeps the current fossil-fuel system, the cost is 9.8 cents/kWh.
And that doesn't include the cost to society.
Climate change's price
Fossil-fuel energy comes with health- and climate-related costs. The authors estimate that by 2050, countries will spend upwards of $28 trillion per year in costs for environmental, property, and human health issues related to global warming, includingfloods, real-estate destruction, agricultural loss, drought, wildfires, heat stress and stroke, air pollution, influenza, malaria, dengue fever, famine, ocean acidification and more. [5 Ways Climate Change Will Affect Your Health]
And if the world takes no action to address climate change and ice continues to melt at Earth's poles at the current pace, 7 percent of the world's coastlines will be underwater, Jacobson said.
Jacobson said the total societal cost of renewable energy which includes the cost of health and climate issues, as well as the direct cost of energy for wind, water and solar power is about one-fourth that of fossil fuels.
"In other worlds, you reduce the total cost to society by about 75 percent," he said. "The cost benefits of this are huge."
Several countries are already moving toward a renewable energy portfolio to meet 100 percent of their power demands for all business sectors, according to the study. The list includes Tajikistan (76.0 percent), Paraguay (58.9 percent), Norway (35.8 percent), Sweden (20.7 percent), Costa Rica (19.1 percent), Switzerland (19.0 percent), Georgia (18.7 percent), Montenegro (18.4 percent) and Iceland (17.3 percent).
So far, the United States has just 4.2 percent of its total electricity generated by renewable sources. But the country has an advantage, according to the researchers. The study found that countries like the U.S., with more land per population size, would have the easiest time making the transition. Countries expected to have the most difficult time are those that are small, geographically, but have very large populations. Countries such as Singapore, Gibraltar and Hong Kong will have the biggest challenges transitioning to 100 renewable energy, according to Jacobson.
Still, there are ways to solve the problem, he said. These regions could turn to offshore wind energy, or they could exchange energy with a neighboring country, he added.
"With this information, we're giving confidence to countries that they can be self-sufficient," Jacobson said. "I'm hoping that different countries will commit to 100 percent renewable energy [by 2050] and 80 percent by 2030."
The study was published online Aug. 23 in the journal Joule.
Originally published on Live Science.
Archaeologists discovered the possible remains of a person buried in a boat in a market square in Trondheim, Norway.
Archaeologists excavating a market square in Trondheim, Norway, have discovered the remains of a boat grave and possible human remains dating to around the time the Vikings started exploring and raiding lands across Europe.
The boat was at least 13 feet (4 meters) long and was buried in the ground in a roughly north-south direction, according to archaeologists from the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage (NIKU). It's not clear why the boat was oriented in a north-south direction.
Though the wood from the boat wasn't intact, the archaeologists found nails and lumps of rust that allowed them to confirm that the buried object was, in fact, a boat, NIKU archaeologist Ian Reed said in a statement.
They also found two long bones in the boat. Since the bones were not well preserved, the scientists will run DNA tests to confirm that the remains are human. If they are, the tests may reveal more information about the person who was buried there. [Fierce Fighters: 7 Secrets of Viking Seamen]
The boat dates between the seventh and 10th centuries, around the time the Vikings began exploring and raiding Europe. (Image credit: Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU))
A piece of bronze and what might be the remains of burial goods were found beside one of the bones. A piece of a spoon and part of a key that would have opened a chest were also discovered, archaeologists say.
The boat likely dates to sometime between the seventh and 10th centuries, around the time the Vikings started exploring the North Atlantic and Europe, at times sending raiding and colonizing parties ashore. Why the Vikings began exploring and raiding on a large scale is a source of debate, with one theory suggesting a shortage of young women For marriage as the impetus.
During this time, the Vikings also explored and colonized Iceland and Greenland, and founded a short-lived settlement in Newfoundland. They also explored the Canadian Arctic, Labrador and a mysterious location in North America called "Vinland," where grapes supposedly grew.
The municipality of Trondheim and the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage financed the archaeological investigations that revealed the boat burial.
Originally published on Live Science.
Editor's Note: Here are the latest updates on Hurricane Maria.
Hurricane Maria is wreaking havoc on Puerto Rico today, but will the storm's fierce winds make landfall on the mainland United States?
Current hurricane models say no, but the storm could still bring rain, wind, surf, riptides and clouds to certain parts of the U.S. East Coast, said Jeff Weber, a meteorologist for the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research in Colorado.
"I think the U.S. mainland is not going to be directly hit by the eye itself," Weber told Live Science. "There is still a slight change it could occur. But even if the eye itself does not make landfall on the Eastern Seaboard, there will be some impacts felt." [The 20 Costliest, Most Destructive Hurricanes to Hit the US]
Maria is currently a Category 4 hurricane, with winds near 140 mph (220 km/h) and higher gusts, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is moving northwest at almost 12 mph (19 km/h).
"It is starting to weaken over land, so I suspect it will come off of Puerto Rico as a Category 3," Weber said. "It is forecast to diminish in its strength after it comes off of Puerto Rico and then goes east of the Bahamas, going down to a Category 3 and Category 2 by Monday [Sept. 25]."
The cone of uncertainty shows where Hurricane Maria might go. (Image credit: NOAA)
However, Maria's eyewall (the powerful winds surrounding the eye at the center of the hurricane) made a big jump to the south over Puerto Rico as the storm interacted with the land's topography, "and that could change its track in the coming days," Weber said. "A small change in track can lead to a big difference [in where the storm arrives] five days out."
Once the eyewall exits Puerto Rico later today (Sept. 20), meteorologists will have a better idea about Maria's future path, Weber said.
At this point, Weber said, Maria is not expected to impact Florida, which was hit by Hurricane Irma just last week. But Maria could affect North Carolina and Virginia on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, and it could even bring storm surges to these states if it takes a more western route, Weber said.
The hurricane is expected to miss New York and Boston, though it may brush the Canadian province of Nova Scotia and merge with the remnants of Tropical Storm Jose before going out into the Atlantic, Weber said.
Original article on Live Science.
This image shows the teen's damaged right eye. The white arrow points to a translucent section of the parasitic worm. The dark spots beneath the arrow are blood.
When doctors in Mexico peered into a 17-year-old boy's eye, they got a squirming surprise: a flatworm wriggling in and out of the teen's eyeball.
The teen, who lives in a rural village, had gone to the doctor after three weeks of experiencing pain and decreasing vision in his right eye, according to a report of his case, published today (Sept. 20) in The New England Journal of Medicine.
By the time doctors saw him, the boy could barely see out of that eye. "He could not even see our fingers" when they were held 1 foot (0.3 meters) away from his face, said lead author Dr. Pablo Guzman-Salas, who treated the patient when he was an ophthalmology resident at the Institute of Ophthalmology in Mexico City. Instead, the teen could detect only hand motions with his right eye, according to the report. (His left eye was not affected.) [27 Oddest Medical Cases]
An eye exam revealed serious damage. The teen's right cornea was swollen and speckled with blood, and there were multiple holes in his iris all because the worm was "moving freely in the eye," Guzman-Salas told Live Science. The worm was difficult to see because it kept dipping into these holes, he added. (The cornea is the transparent part of the eye that covers the colorful iris and the pupil.)
To access the worm, the doctors needed to surgically remove the lens from the teen's eye, along with the vitreous humor, which is the fluid that fills the eyeball. During the surgery, the doctors noticed that the worm had also caused extensive damage to the retina, which is located at the back of the eyeball.
The worm was about 3 millimeters (0.12 inches) long and 1 mm (0.04 inches) wide, and was removed in several pieces, according to the report. It was broadly identified as a type of trematode, or "fluke," but the doctors couldn't zero in on a specific genus and species. Trematodes include species in the Schistosoma genus, the Fasciola genus and the Paragonimus genus, among others, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Guzman-Salas noted that this was the "first and only" time he'd seen a case of this kind. "It is not common for trematodes to infect eyes; it is not common for any kind of worm to infect eyes," he said. Still, in "very, very rare" cases, there are reports of other types of parasitic worms such as nematodes, or roundworms infecting eyes, he said.
People can become infected with trematodes by coming into contact with food or water that contains the worm or its eggs and also because of "really, really bad luck," Guzman-Salas added. Many trematode infections occur when the parasites are ingested and go on to live in a person's gut, according to the CDC. However, when the doctors tested a sample of the teen's stool, they didn't find any signs of the worms, suggesting that the parasite hadn't infected his digestive tract.
In addition to surgery, the teen was given an anti-parasitic medicine, according to the report. Six months after his surgery to remove the worm, his vision in his right eye had not improved.
Originally published on Live Science.
At the ongoing Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE) meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, Medtronic has unveiled its new Concerto 3D Detachable Coil System. The device, which is now available to physicians in the U.S. and Europe, is intended to be used for embolizations in the peripheral arteries and veins.
The device folds into a dense and knotty shape which helps to fill in an aneurysm, for example, similar to how neurovascular aneurysms are now commonly treated. The Concerto 3D also has tiny fibers protruding from the length of the Nylon and PGLA coil, which help to increase turbulence and so promote clotting that fills in and solidifies an aneurysm.
It can also be used in conjunction with Medtronics Concerto Helix device, which uses the same delivery system. Really, the only difference between the Concerto Helix and the Concerto 3D are their shapes.
No press release is available, but heres a link to Medtronic Endovascular
by Sara Guaglione , September 19, 2017
In a tough media environment, its a feat when a magazine turns 100.
Forbes today unveiled its special centennial issue, with essays, lessons and ideas from a round-up of the "100 greatest living business minds," as well as an artificial intelligence cover featuring famous businessman Warren Buffett.
Shepherding a brand like Forbes thats iconic for entrepreneurial capitalism, we thought it important to both salute the last century and look toward the next one, stated Forbes magazine editor Randall Lane.
The cover is unique not just for the anniversary it celebrates, but for its technology. Forbes claims it is the first AI magazine cover that allows readers to interact with the cover subject and "chat" with a virtual Buffett.
Readers can access the experience by heading to www.forbes.com/100 on a mobile device. They will be asked to take a photo of Forbes centennial magazine cover, which will unlock a virtual hologram of Buffett.
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The AI functions like Siri, Apple's voice-activated assistant. Readers can ask Buffett questions about business, finance or his life, such as Whats your favorite investment? and Whats your favorite book? The virtual Buffett has over 30 unique responses.
To develop the experience, Forbes partnered with Mumbai-based Fluid A.I., whose founders were featured on the June 2017 cover of Forbes India and appeared on the 2017 Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 list.
The print magazine cover shows Buffett holding the only remaining whole copy of the first issue of Forbes magazine from 1917. That was the year the publication was created by B.C. Forbes, a financial journalist, and his partner Walter Drey, who was then general manager of the Magazine of Wall Street.
B.C. Forbes has said he created Forbes to promote humaneness in business, according to the company.
Features in the issue include The Original Rich List, a ranking of the wealthy from 1918, a list of Americas largest 50 companies from the last 100 years, and 100 Years of Forbes Hits and Flops, to commemorate what has and has not worked for the magazine brand in the last century.
The worlds "100 Greatest Living Business Minds" list includes Giorgio Armani, Jeff Bezos, Michael Bloomberg, Bono, Richard Branson, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Bill Gates and Sheryl Sandberg, among others.
by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, September 20, 2017
HelloFresh, one of the leaders in the still-nascent, closely watched meal kit market, continues to invest heavily in marketing and trial discounts in the U.S.
And its evolving advertising approach speaks both to growth and to the ability to do less explaining about the meal kit concept and more targeted benefits messaging.
Three new HelloFresh TV ads, from New York-based Pure Growth Consulting, continue the brands Get Cooking tagline, and a spirit of the joy of cooking. But whereas its Tonight We Cook spot that had been running since January, from Domani, featured a range of actors spanning ages and lifestyles and voiceover messaging, the new creative focuses on families, using the stories of real HelloFresh customers told in their own voices. Theres also a new emphasis on how the meal kits convenience can help families spend more and less stressful time together.
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The first 30-second spot (below), launching on national cable television today, features a young couple with two young children, the Haines family.
Mom says the kits provide a system and a routine that calms the chaos of the day Because [dad] works these crazy hours, its very important that we sit down and have dinner together. HelloFresh was an easy way for us to get on the same page with dinner. Dad describes dinner as one of our only times to connect, and speaks of the ease of creating a masterpiece with the kits easy steps and fun, delicious, pre-portioned ingredients.
The spot ends with the HelloFresh. Get Cooking tagline and an offer of $30 off a first-box order, using the TV ad code provided.
The other two stories from real customers ads, in 30- and 15-second versions, will launch in the coming months.
Shifting Market Dynamics
HelloFreshs new creative debuts amid shifting competitive and customer dynamics for the meal kit business.
Key rival Blue Apron based and operating solely in the U.S. saw its market value drop by 46% between its initial public offering on June 28 and its second-quarter earnings announcement on June 10. It reported higher-than-expected revenue for the quarter ($238 million, up 18% year-over-year), but also a higher-than-expected net loss (47 cents per share versus the 30 cents anticipated by analysts), which the company attributed to increased costs-of-goods-sold due to a new factory in New Jersey and higher produce costs.
Blue Aprons customer count of 943,000 as of the end of June was up 23% year-over-year, but down 9% versus March. The company attributed that to a planned decrease in marketing spending (spending declined from about 25% of revenue to 15% between the first and second quarters). However, noted Forbes, If the company continues to slash marketing spend in order to make up for its higher cost of goods sold, this very well could create further hits to Blue Apron's customer count.
Berlin-based HelloFresh 53%-owned by German e-commerce company Rocket Internet and operating in nine markets including the U.S. (its largest market) saw its losses narrow during its second quarter ended June 30. Its revenue rose 53% to 230 euros ($272 million) year-over-year, and its losses declined to 23 million euros, from 34 million in this years first quarter.
HelloFresh, which is also reportedly preparing for an IPO, reported total active customers at 1.25 million as of the quarters end, representing a 54% year-over-year jump that helped cover expense hikes (including a 44% rise in fulfillment costs) and edged its gross margin up to nearly 60%. However, its average orders per active customer declined by 2%, to 3.7, in the quarter, reported Reuters.
Meanwhile, both companies continue to face competition from Plated (which reportedly had $100 million in revenue in 2016) and a host of smaller meal kit companies and perhaps more important, from other food delivery services, retailers and even food makers jumping into offering meal kits and other convenience solutions.
In fact, just today, the Albertsons Companies owner of thousands of grocery stores under more than 20 retail banners, including Albertson, Safeway, Vons and Jewel-Osco announced that it is acquiring Plated as a wholly-owned subsidiary. This could be a real game-changer, as it will make Plated the first omnichannel meal kit service with national scale. Another game-changing possibility: Whole Foods, which began selling Purple Carrot meal kits in-store last year, is widely expected to push seriously into the meal kit business now that its owned by Amazon.
To put the meal kit market in context, it is $2.2 billion a rounding error in the $1.5 trillion food industry, food industry consultancy Pentallect wrote in June. However, it is experiencing exponential growth, and [we] forecast that that annual growth will be 25% to 30% over the next five years. According to our consumer research, only 3.8% of the surveyed households have tried a meal kit in the past 30 days, and 27% are interested in trying one (other sources suggest the penetration is more around 2%). The low household penetration provides significant headroom for growth [The meal kit market will face] significant and costly customer acquisition and retention and supply chain challenges there are already signs of a shake-out. However, the market is still in its infancy..
Other stats and analyses are not so optimistic. Cardlytics reported that meal kits share of food spending jumped more than 300% between 2014 and 2015, but it has also reported that more than half of meal kit subscribers cancel within the first six months, and nearly three-quarters cancel within a year.
Once the novelty wears off, most people will ask if meal kits fit conveniently into their life, Forrester principal analyst Brendan Witcher asserted to TechCrunch in April.
Obviously, the meal kit companies beg to differ, and only time will tell whether these services prove to be revolutionary or largely a transitional phenomenon.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, September 19, 2017
Judges on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Tuesday questioned lawyers for both AT&T and the Federal Trade Commission over whether the FTC has the authority to prosecute the telecom for allegedly throttling customers with unlimited wireless data.
Last year, a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the FTC's lawsuit against AT&T. Those judges said the Federal Trade Commission Act, which sets out the agency's authority, exempts common carriers from enforcement actions -- even when the complaint centers on a non-common carrier service.
Tuesday, a larger group of judges from the 9th Circuit re-heard the case. At that hearing, Circuit Judge Alex Kozinski pressed AT&T's lawyer, Michael Kellogg, over how far the company's potential immunity from FTC enforcement extends.
He asked the attorney to consider a scenario in which a company like Procter & Gamble purchases a common carrier specifically in order to avoid regulation by the FTC.
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"Do I say bye-bye FTC?" Kozinski asked.
Kellogg said that in that situation, a different agency -- the Federal Communications Commission -- could require Procter & Gamble to run its common carrier business as a separate subsidiary.
But the FTC's lawyer, Joel Marcus, suggested that while the FCC may have the authority to require telecoms to create new subsidiaries, it doesn't necessarily have to do so.
"It depends on the FCC's willingness to do this," Marcus told the judges.
The dispute between the FTC and AT&T dates to October 2014, when the FTC alleged that the wireless carrier duped more than 3.5 million people by selling them unlimited data plans, but slowing their connections after they exceeded monthly allotments ranging from 3 GB to 5 GB.
AT&T argued that the lawsuit should be dismissed on the grounds that the FTC lacks authority to prosecute common carriers.
A trial judge rejected AT&T's argument, noting that mobile broadband wasn't considered a common carrier service until 2015, when the FCC issued its net neutrality order. (That order complicated the legal issues in the case by reclassifying broadband as a utility service and imposing some common carrier rules on providers; in a further complication, the FCC now appears poised to reverse the 2015 order.)
Last year, a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit reversed the trial judge. The appellate judges suggested in their opinion that the FTC lacks authority over AT&T for all purposes, due to AT&T's longstanding role as a telephone carrier. The judges said that whether the FTC had jurisdiction depended solely on companies' "status" as common carriers, and not on whether the agency's complaint concerned a common-carrier activity.
Many observers interpreted that ruling as effectively depriving the FTC of authority to police the privacy practices of broadband providers.
The FTC then asked the court to reconsider its ruling. Consumer advocates, some lawmakers and other policymakers including the FCC backed that request. In a rare move, Charter, Comcast, Cox and Verizon also sided against AT&T. The companies recently argued to the 9th Circuit that Internet service providers like themselves should be subject to the FTC's authority.
"If the FTC is divested of jurisdiction over certain non-common carriage activities, it is likely that a variety of federal, state, and local government agencies that lack the appropriate reach, perspective, and experience in consumer protection matters will attempt to fill the perceived 'regulatory gaps,' thereby creating a patchwork of unreasonable, duplicative, and inconsistent rules," the companies wrote.
During Tuesday's hearing, judges asked attorneys whether the earlier ruling created a "regulatory gap" -- meaning a situation where no agency appears to have the ability to prosecute certain companies for deceiving consumers.
The FTC's Marcus answered in the affirmative. "I don't see how you can escape a regulatory gap," he said.
by Aaron Baar , September 20, 2017
Care can take many forms, even (or especially) when it comes to school lunches.
Whirlpool Canada is showing how its Every day, care positioning can carry over to the seemingly mundane activity of preparing a lunch for school. Via a documentary-style video, the company shines a light on how this social time can introduce children to different cultures, celebrate diversity and foster respect.
Appliance advertising notoriously focuses on rational product benefits, Mike Sutton, president of Zulu Alpha Kilo, tells Marketing Daily. With this content program we wanted to develop a stronger emotional connection with Canadians and the Whirlpool brand We needed to develop a more grassroots campaign that allowed Whirlpool to connect to what it means to Canadians to care.
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The video (appearing on Whirlpool Canadas Facebook and YouTube channels) tells the story of Sama Al-Salihi, a Syrian immigrant, who noticed that her school lunches (which included foods like uzee, fatayer, and grape leaves) differed from those of her classmates. In the video, Sama and her mother make these traditional dishes with the intention of sharing them with Samas classmates. She nervously shares the food with her classmates, hoping it can help them connect with her story as a refugee and provide a better understanding of her culture. Her classmates reciprocate with a specially designed lunchbox (created with help from Toronto illustrator/cartoonist Wes Tyrell) that depicts Sama as the superhero of her immigration story. The goal was to get closer to them by giving them food, Sama says in the video. And it worked. It worked a lot.
For new Canadian families, integrating into their new community can be stressful, Sutton says. Through food and meal preparation, Whirlpool can help bring communities together. By sharing her food, Sama was able to create conversation and friendships.
by Tanya Gazdik , September 20, 2017
Southwest Airlines, which was previously ranked fourth, has ousted JetBlue as the number one airline brand on TotalSocial and pushed JetBlue down to fourth place, according to Engagement Labs.
Southwest Airlines increased its TotalSocial performance due to its strength in offline and online sentiment, indicating consumers are talking positively about the company, according to the research firm. For example, responding to the some of the scandals that have dampened the industry in 2017, such as United Airlines bad press and outrage from customers after the airline pulled a passenger off a flight, Southwest Airlines announced it will no longer overbook its flights.
While there has been negative conversation about the industry as a whole, Southwest Airlines has flipped the script and sticks out from its peers in a positive way with a growing TotalSocial score, says Ed Keller, CEO of Engagement Labs.
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The company does exceptionally well due to its ability to focus efforts on its two most important audiences, customers and employees, Keller says in a release. One notable example was when a Southwest Airlines passenger with cancer had their luggage misplaced including the medication they needed for chemotherapy and one of the airlines employees drove to the passengers house to personally deliver the suitcase in the middle of the night. Its clear that Southwests customer service goes above and beyond.
Since the airline industry relies heavily on customer recommendations and reviews, it is imperative, now more than ever, for airline marketers to understand the health of their brands, including what consumers are saying in both online and offline conversations, according to the research.
Engagement Labs evaluated the top performing airlines in the U.S. with respect to consumer conversations, for the last six months based on word of mouth and social media conversations. The report is a follow up to the companys first analysis of the top-ranking airlines in March 2017.
JetBlue has seen its fair share of negative attentionespecially after an incident in May that booted a family off of one of its flights. According to Engagement Labs report, incidents such as these have contributed to an increase in negative conversations about the brand, which contributed to its decline in online and offline sentiment. As a result, the brand saw a decrease in its overall performance, bumping it down to fourth in the ranking.
It is extremely important for airline companies to understand the power of consumer conversations, Keller says.
Before consumers make a decision on which airline to fly, many think about past experiences, whether they were positive or negative, and look for recommendations, either by researching reviews online or talking to their peers, he says. With a holistic view of what consumers are saying both offline and online, airline marketers have the opportunity to build relationships with their consumers and improve the brands performance and reputation.
Meanwhile, the airlines which remained pinned to the bottom of the list, United and Spirit Airlines, continued to face customer outrage. Both have seen rising offline and online volume of conversations indicating consumers are talking more about these airlines but are declining in sentiment.
by Sara Guaglione , September 20, 2017
The USA Today Network has unveiled an ambitious project to document the border wall with Mexico. It collaborated with local newsrooms in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas to produce a mix of virtual reality experiences, aerial and 360 videos, interactive maps, documentary reports, photos, podcasts and articles.
The project, called The Wall, was created using drones and LIDAR (light detection and ranging) technology.
Over 30 reporters, videographers and photographers participated in the project, which took nearly a year. Local papers, such as The Arizona Republic, The Desert Sun and the El Paso Times led the reporting on the feature, partnering with USA Today reporters.
Maribel Perez Wadsworth, SVP and chief transformation officer at USATNs parent company Gannett, told Publishers Daily: This project is a great example of how our newsrooms are leveraging innovative technologies, such as LiDar data and photogrammetry to create realistic 3D models that place the viewer on the ground, at the border, as realistically as possible."
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She added the effort takes digital storytelling to "new heights."
"The Wall" aimed to answer one question: is President Trumps campaign promise to build "a great wall" on the border with Mexico actually feasible and what could the consequences be?
One of the findings of the project: Building a wall in mostly wide-open Texas would require disrupting or seizing nearly 5,000 individual parcels of property.
Nicole Carroll, vice president of news and editor of The Arizona Republic, stated: Weve examined the border from thousands of feet in the air and from a tunnel 70 feet underground. Weve roamed the ocean and desert with Border Patrol agents and the hills with armed vigilantes. Weve learned something new at every turn.
Another goal of the project was to record how much of the wall exists, as well as the towns and homes along the border, before President Trump goes forward with his plan to build more.
The virtual reality experience is available using the HTC Vive VR headset.
USATN and The Arizona Republic received a $28,000 grant from Journalism 360, an immersive news initiative funded by Google News Lab and the Knight Foundation, to tell an important national story through new technology.
"We were in the press pen at the Trump rally last fall in Prescott Valley, Arizona. Supporters all around us were chanting, 'Build the wall. Build the wall.' There was such passion for the idea. We felt it was our role to help people understand what would be involved," Carroll told Politicos Morning Media about their decision to cover the border with Mexico.
The project lives on a hub on USA Today, but it will also run in all of the networks 109 local properties, print and online.
USATN says a full-length feature documentary is coming soon.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, September 20, 2017
TechCrunch will release the next version of its smartphone app in September as it continues to expand into new markets, rethinks search tools and technology to support media, and plays off diverse ways to engage readers and startups.
Many TechCrunch readers are desktop bound, but mobile continues to grow at a faster clip. Total readership since 2014 spiked at about 30% in September 2017, but this month will see the strongest leap in traffic to the site in the history of the company, with much of it coming from special events such as Apple's iPhone X and Watch announcements, according to Ned Desmond, COO of TechCrunch and general manager of AOL Tech and Engadget.
Monthly domestic multiplatform traffic for July 2017 reached 9,071,000, with mobile contributing about 71%.
Video also drives traffic to TechCrunch sites, with about 10 million monthly video views on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter. On Facebook, TechCrunch has 2.8 million followers, followed by Twitter at 9.6 million 700,000 on Instagram. On the chat app Line, the Korean and Japanese competitor to WhatsApp, TechCrunch boosts 800,000.
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Desmond, a self-proclaimed "tech media geek" rather than a tech geek, said mobile is clearly the future for a variety of media. This month, TechCrunch plans to release a new mobile app that will introduce features such as alerts on the home screen based on specific categories that interest the user.
The swipe-interface will be easier to use, Desmond said. Rather than stories opening on a full-page view, they open and shut in a line, he said, making it easier to get through a feed. The new app also integrates Crunchbase, with all the data associated with startups and investments. It provides data from investments.
Disrupt kicked off this week in San Francisco. Next month is a project with Facebook to find the best startups in the region will land the company in Nairobi for the first time. Then it's off to Sydney in November -- another first -- and then to Berlin in December.
When it comes to trends, Desmond shared some strong views on paid readership. In the next few years he sees a strong trend in the rise of paid subscriptions. "This isn't a crystal ball act on my part," he said. "You can see through substantial gains of the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and Washington Post it works. They are not moving on the same curve, but have come to terms with the fact that to support a high-news organization, readers need to participate in the economics. Readers are getting comfortable in that as well."
This could change TechCrunch's business model. The company is exploring ideas, Desmond said. "News content will always be free," he said, but it could change features in the future. For instance, TechCrunch's sister site, Crunchbase -- which is now an independent company, although Oath owns 30% -- supports a free database of information. It now offers a subscription-based sophisticated search tool. Desmond believes there are similar, valuable services that the company could add.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, September 20, 2017
Kate Spade will launch an augmented reality campaign Thursday in Paris to celebrate the opening of its flagship store. The images will appear as an illustration.
"We've always wanted to experiment with augmented reality and blend fashion, tech and media," said Mary Beech, executive vice president and CMO at Kate Spade.
Kate Spade brought its fashion clothing line to France about two years ago, but opened the Paris flagship store in June 2017. The fashion brand worked with You & Mr Jones tech companies theAmplify and Zappar to create the experience.
By downloading the My Little Paris Tapage app, users take "Joy Walks" led by Fashion and lifestyle influencers Adenorah, Natacha Birds, and The Balloon Diary by Anna Dawson.
Users of the My Little Paris Tapage app who number about 650,000 can visit ten locations through an interactive map. Through the app, consumers see real-world Parisian locations tying in whimsical images that historically made the Kate Spade brand unique, such as pink flamingoes frolicking in the Seine and a New York City yellow cab bustling down a Parisian street.
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The campaign uses GPS and maps to help users find location. It also takes advantage of the devices gyro, accelerometer and compass to display the experiences through the phones camera overlaid on the real world with AR.
Julie Hardy, partner at You & Mr Jones, said the app allows consumers to share the images on Instagram and other platforms.
Integration into the My Little Paris Bold and Tapage apps was created with Zappar's technology, a software development kit embedded into any third-party app for iOS and Android devices. Hasbro, Coca-Cola, PlayStation, Shazam, Wal-Mart's Asda, and Vodacom have used the SDK.
Consumers are encouraged to snap and share photos using the hashtag #katespadejoy. After visiting the 10 sites, they arrive at the Paris Kate Spade store on Rue Saint-Honore to receive a unique set of branded pins.
by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, September 20, 2017
Long-time AOL Platforms CTO Seth Demsey stepped down, concurrent with Verizons relaunch of AOL and Yahoo as Oath in June -- but hes already moving on to other ad technology pastures, joining Revcontent in an advisory role.
A spokesperson said he will help lead our newest product and video initiatives. He's incredibly hands-on and involved with every aspect.
Revcontent bills itself as a content recommendation network, powering over 250 billion content recommendations per month.
Demsey says hes most excited about the opportunity to help create a free and open web for journalism, and [that] the innovations we're creating are the next step in a more user-focused era."
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, September 20, 2017
Reports suggest Google will announce an investment in HTC Technologies' smartphone division on Thursday.
The hardware company will stop trading its stock on the TWSE tomorrow, ahead of releasing material information pertaining to its business, reports the stock exchange and several media outlets.
For Alphabet, Google's parent company, the investment in, or acquisition of, HTC's smartphone division could augment revenue from its advertising business.
Google is no doubt focused on the company's hardware and engineering assets, but has declined in the past to comment on speculation about the acquisition.
Bloomberg on Wednesday published a report suggesting that Google is close to purchasing HTC's assets. This is not the first time Google has made a play for a smartphone manufacturer. The company acquired the Motorola Mobility Group in 2011, but sold it to Lenovo in 2014 for $2.91 billion.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, September 20, 2017
A coalition of privacy advocates are urging lawmakers in the District of Columbia to move forward with a proposed law to impose new restrictions on Internet service providers.
The Broadband Internet Privacy Act of 2017 (B22-0403) largely aims to restore the Federal Communications Commission's former privacy rules, which were repealed earlier this year by Congress. Those rules required providers to obtain people's opt-in consent before drawing on their web-browsing history or app usage to serve them ads.
"District of Columbia residents should be entitled to a reasonable expectation of privacy in the data ISPs collect to provide internet service given they often pay well over $100 per month to an ISP," the ACLU of the District of Columbia, Center for Democracy & Technology, Center for Digital Democracy, Open Technology Institute and other groups write in a letter sent this week to Kenyan McDuffie, chairman of the committee on business and economic development for the Council of the District of Columbia. "Just as we do not expect a cell carrier to listen to our phone calls, we should not expect them to watch and sell our web browsing and app usage history."
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The groups are asking the Council to hold a public hearing on the bill.
The letter comes just days after lawmakers in California shelved a closely watched bill that also would have recreated the FCC's former regulations. The California measure would have gone even further by also prohibiting providers from charging higher fees to people who didn't opt in to online tracking.
A large majority of the public appears to support privacy rules requiring broadband carriers to obtain users' opt-in consent before drawing on their web-browsing data for ad targeting. In April, a survey by Huffington Post and YouGov reportedly showed that more than 70% of Republicans and Democrats wanted President Donald Trump to veto a repeal of the privacy rules.
More recently, a July survey by Freedman Consulting found that 83% of Americans oppose broadband providers selling information about their online activities without first asking for permission.
After the FCC's nationwide rules were repealed, broadband privacy legislation was introduced in at least 20 states, two cities (Seattle and Washington, D.C.) and two municipalities in Pennsylvania. To date, Seattle appears to be the only local entity to have passed a broadband privacy bill.
The Association of National Advertisers, along with tech companies and broadband carriers, lobbied vigorously against the California bill. The ANA said Monday that the bill's failure to pass marked "a major victory for advertisers in California and across the country."
The group added that enactment "would have created broad adverse precedents and started a domino effect of other states passing similar bills."
ANA executive vice president Dan Jaffe says the organization plans to also oppose the D.C. bill. He says that states and cities shouldn't be regulating businesses "that are clearly national."
"The Internet is not D.C. located," he says. "It's not Seattle located."
The ANA, like other groups that opposed the FCC's rules, argues that a great deal of web-browsing behavior isn't "sensitive" enough to warrant an opt-in consent regime. Opponents also argue that ISPs shouldn't be subject to tougher rules than companies like Google, Facebook and ad networks. Those companies often target ads on an opt-out basis, meaning that they use people's web-browsing activity for ad purposes unless they explicitly opt out of behavioral targeting.
But privacy advocates argue that broadband providers should obtain people's explicit permission before tracking them for several reasons, including that ISPs have access to all unencrypted sites visited by customers and can therefore capture comprehensive data about them.
A new report from the World Health Organization confirms that, worryingly, there are now limited treatment options for some of the most common drug-resistant infections, which highlights the desperate need for new antibiotics. Share on Pinterest The WHO say that there are not enough new drugs in the pipeline to help combat antimicrobial resistance. But despite this need, the report reveals that there are very few antibiotics in development that could effectively combat drug resistance. Pharmaceutical companies and researchers must urgently focus on new antibiotics against certain types of extremely serious infections that can kill patients in a matter of days because we have no line of defense, says Dr. Suzanne Hill, director of the Department of Essential Medicines at the World Health Organization (WHO). Drug resistance, or antimicrobial resistance, arises when pathogens evolve to evade the harms of antimicrobial therapeutics, such as antibiotics. This reduces the efficacy of these medications against infections caused by such pathogens. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 2 million people in the United States are infected with drug-resistant bacteria every year, and more than 23,000 people die as a result. Clostridium difficile is among the most deadly drug-resistant infections in the U.S., responsible for around 250,000 illnesses and 14,000 deaths in the country annually. Worldwide, drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is one of the biggest threats, causing around 480,000 deaths every year.
Plans to tackle the priority pathogens In 2015, the WHO set out a Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, with the aim to ensure, for as long as possible, continuity of successful treatment and prevention of infectious diseases with effective and safe medicines that are quality-assured, used in a responsible way, and accessible to all who need them. Earlier this year, the organization put together a list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that pose the biggest threat to health across the globe, in order to help guide the development of new antibiotics. As well as drug-resistant TB, the WHO identified a further 12 pathogens that are becoming increasingly resistant to current classes of antibiotics. For their latest report, the WHO conducted a review of global public data to determine how many new antibiotics are being developed to help tackle these priority pathogens. The findings are a concern.
Current drug pipeline insufficient The report revealed that 51 new classes of medications including 33 antibiotics are in the pipeline for the treatment of priority drug-resistant pathogens. However, only eight of these drugs meet at least one of the WHOs criteria for innovative treatments that are likely to help overturn drug resistance. These criteria include a new mechanism of action and a lack of cross-resistance to existing antibiotics. Furthermore, the WHO found that there are few new antibiotics in development for the treatment of drug-resistant TB, which, as mentioned above, is one of the worlds biggest public health threats. The report authors note that the current scope of new antibiotic development could yield 10 new drug approvals over the next 5 years. However, they write, these new treatments will add little to the already existing arsenal and will not be sufficient to tackle the impending AMR [antimicrobial resistance] threat.
20.09.2017 LISTEN
Followers of the popular hit TV- drama series, MTV Shuga, are set for a great TV experience as popular Northern-based actors; Rahama Ibrahim Sadau and Yakubu Mohammed are set to feature in the upcoming series.
Rahama Ibrahim Sadau is a Nigerian actress, model, producer, director and television personality.
Being one of the very few Kannywood actors who has successfully crossed over into Nollywood, Rahama has starred in some notable productions, including Super Story. Rahama has become a household name in the Kannywood and Nollywood scene, as well as other prominent film industries.
Fellow Kannywood star Yakubu Mohammed, who has acted in over 100 movies, is also amongst the cast for MTV Shuga Naija.
MTV Shuga has at its core sexual and reproductive health messaging for young people, aimed at enabling them to make healthy lifestyle choices. The TV drama series is produced by the MTV Staying Alive Foundation and made possible by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and supported by MTV Base Africa, as well as a host of other partners.
MTV Shuga will premiere on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322)) and BET (DStv channel 129) and other third party broadcasters around the world in 2018.
20.09.2017 LISTEN
10 pm. Its a Sunday night and you have plans of sleeping early, then your phone rings. It is an incoming call from Eniola Gosh! You just got off the phone with her like 3 hours ago. What does she want again? But really, what are doing with your life? Also, she is your best friend. You pick up the call:
Babe?
* Squeeeeeeaal* Oh my God! You wont believe what Nnamdi just did!
What?
He proposed to me! Babe, Im engaged!
What!
Hah! lemme send you a picture of the ring on Whatsapp, Ill call you back with the full gist. Im so excited!
The call ends and theres a loud beep on Whatsapp. True to her word, there is the picture of a giant ring flashing on your screen. And instantly, youre filled with so many emotions and there are so many thoughts swirling around your head.
We are getting Married!
Goosebumps. Pure, unadulterated happiness. You cant believe your best friend is about to be married. Like, actually married. Its a stage in life you both have been ready for and looking forward to, so it feels as though it is happening to you too. You legit feel like you are the one who just got engaged. You want to shout it out to the world, so you quickly change your Whatsapp DP and put up a picture of your BFFs ring. Also, you post it on Twitter and Instagram. You are super excited you dont even realise you screaming like a mad person, even though you are alone in your apartment. What would the neighbors think? But who cares about neighbours right now? You start to get misty-eyed, but no you will save the tears for your speech at the wedding. Nnamdi truly made an honest woman of your girl!
WOW! So, she is going to only have sex with Nnamdi for the rest of her life?
Amidst the intense feelings of joy and happiness, it dawns on you that your BFF getting engaged to her man means that he is her final bus stop. She is going to be with just him now, no more side toasters and flirtations. How will she cope? Someone who used to find it challenging settling on which person to go out with on any given nightand OMG! She will have to have sex with just him for the rest of her life! Ewwh! But thats not even the real issue here, all the juicy gist you will hear from then on would be about the one man forever? Ah! And even, now that they are about to be married, she may not give you the full gist again. Heartbreak. Your friendship will now be dry. Gosh. You start to get agitated and depressed.
Does this mean she will abandon me now?
Ok, maybe you are now starting to make it all about youbut shouldnt everything be about you really? She is engaged. Yes. You are happy for her, but does it also mean you will not be her BFF anymore? Fear starts invading your mind. One time she had joked that her husband would be her No. 1 BFF, but you didnt take her seriously because you guys were 15 and you were secure about her love for younow things are different. Will she be able to spend some time alone with you like she used to? Will she still be able to sleep over every weekend? Wait.what if she had to choose between you and her fiance, would she even choose you? Of course, she will choose him. The bitch. She probably wouldnt even bat an eyelid while at it either even though shes known you for far longer. The hoe. At that moment, you realize that you perhaps have lost your friend for good and you start to miss her already. You also feel a little betrayed because you convince yourself that you would never choose any man over your BFF if the reverse were the case.
I have to be the chief bridesmaid or our friendship is over
While still wallowing in the feeling of self-pity over losing your friend, you console yourself with the fact that you will be the chief bridesmaid. She has to do that for you at least right? You are the BFF, everybody knows that. The idea of being her right-hand man and sharing juicy gossips on the wedding day brightens your mood and you resume with the questions: What girls will be on the bridal train? What colors will they pick? Gosh, you will probably have to plan the bridal shower! You get excited at the idea and even go online for bridal shower ideas. From there you go on to looking at themes, bridesmaids dressese.t.c
But wait, ow much will this wedding cost me?
At some point, it dawns on you that as the BFF you will have to go all out for her and that will cost you a lot: time, emotions, money. Yes. MONEY! From the Asoebi to contribution for the bridal shower, bachelorette party, bridesmaids dress and shoe, e.t.c you are already looking at a whooping sum. And what if they decide on a destination wedding? Hian. Can you honestly afford a trip abroad? In these hard times? When you wont be sharing her marital bed with her afterward! Hmmnn. But she is your best friend and saying No to anything will look somehow. You have to make the sacrifice. Gosh. But will she do the same for you if the reverse were the case?
When will it be my turn?
Somehow you start to imagine yourself in her shoes. You are legitimately still happy for her, but when will it be your turn? No, seriously, WHEN? Both of you were single AF and out of the blues, Nnamdi appeared. Now-now they are engaged and you are still there, being ghosted by all and sundry. What if you never find your own someone? That is how you will be doing bridesmaid and spending money on other peoples weddings until you are 40. Ah! Life is unfair.
I cant believe she is getting married before me sha
From wondering when it will be your turn, you start to imagine how you stood a better chance to be married before her. You are the one who is better educated: you went on to do masters in the UK after university while she hustled in Lagos for petty jobs. She still doesnt even earn much after 6 years. You are well-traveled, she has only been to Ghana and while lets face it, she is a hoe you are more of a wife material. In fact, you are even a demi-virgin. Basically, you have your shit together and you are a better package. Why is she the one getting married first? And to this dude that is clearly out of her league (of course you would never say that to her, you love her and you know she deserves him too). Butyou both always believed you would get married first, she would follow and your first son will marry her first daughter. That was the plan. Now your daughter will have to marry her son. How did it come to this? We all feel understandably testy in the face of other peoples happiness, its totally normal. Whats not normal, however, is letting it grow into flow blown envy and looking for ways to rubbish her happiness.
But what if something happens and they break off the engagement
You cant wait to see her walk down the aisle but what if something happens and they break off the engagement. It will take everyone back to square oneincluding you. Your BFF would be so broken though because she really loves the guy. Ah, No! If he does anything stupid, you will break his neck. No one can hurt your BFF and get away with it. Oh my God, what if he hits on you before the wedding and you are now forced to tell your BFF though? You become the cause of the breakup? God forbid. The wedding has to work biko. You become legitimately afraid that something may go wrong with the engagement, but also determined to help your friend make sure they go through with the wedding. The protective mother hen in you takes over and all the self-pity fades.
It is well
At this point, you are back to the joyous mood you were in at the start. You cant wait for her to call back anymore, so you dail her number for the juicy details. If its happening to her, its happening to you too. Yall are getting married, Yo!
Did you have any thoughts when your best friend got married? Are there other thoughts that came to mind? How did you resolve them?
It might surprise you to to know that there are actually ways to start a business with little or no money. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 ways to start a business without money.
Adjust Your Business Model to Demand Fewer Needs
If you can start your business as a sole employee please do so, pending when you are able to raise enough money to employ other professionals. Also, save the cost of getting and maintaining an office space by working from home, if having an office space is not vital to getting your business up and running. In addition, try to make your company more service-oriented because this kind of business requires little or no financial investment; all you really need are your skills and you can immediately get started providing these services. When you start getting some money, you can use the extra revenue to then grow and establish your business.
Get Friends and Family to Help
Tell your friends, family and even past colleagues about your business and get them to help spread word about your business; this can serve as free marketing and publicity for your business. Encourage as many of them as possible to share your posts about your business on their social media profiles, and to also introduce your brand to their professional contacts. This will help serve as a kind of grassroot marketing that will spread word about your company and introduce it to a larger audience.
Avoid Unnecessary Expenses
Considering you are trying to start a business without money, you need to be as frugal as possible. Leverage on your relationships with people and try to get as much as you can for free, at least until you are able to start making some extra revenue to afford better for your business. Please note that as frugal as you are going to need to be, you should be careful not to let that compromise the quality of your services. This is why you really need to leverage on your business and even personal relationships, so you can get the help and professional input of these people for free (at least until you are able to make enough extra revenue to pay for their services).
Ensure Your Payment Policy is Well Thought Out
This is the problem a lot of startups face; they dont have a good payment policy. As a result, people take advantage of this weakness to either delay payments or avoid paying for the services all together. Avoid basing your payment policy on what you think your customers want or will be comfortable with, base it on what is going to make your business operate successfully. This is because, after all said and done, its not your payment policy that will keep people coming back for more, its the quality of your service. Therefore, you should not compromise your service quality and business operation, for an unfavorable payment policy.
A 3-day peace summit to discuss the implementation of peacebuilding projects at local and national levels began with 1,100 representatives of states, IGOs, NGOs, and experts in international law, education, and media from approximately 120 countries on September 17thin Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Hosted by Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an international NGO under UN ECOSOC, the 3rd Annual Commemoration of the WARP Summit addressed global peace-building measures through the establishment of collaborative governance among governments, civil society, and international organizations. Development in peace campaigns and projects was endorsed in many parts of the world through the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) proclaimed in 2016 to advocate international cooperation to establish peace as a norm and culture.
To develop this agenda, four planning sessions: 2017 Conference for the Implementation of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War, 5th HWPL International Law Peace Committee Meeting, Peace Education Development Forum for Spreading a Culture of Peace, and Conference for Global Peace Media Network were held on the first day of the event on 17th.
Mr. Man Hee Lee, Chairman of HWPL, emphasized strengthening the international law for peace advocated by the DPCW. The most urgent need is cessation of war. The DPCW drafted by experts in international law offers practical approaches to preventing conflicts. If leaders love their people, they should work together to implement peacebuilding measures. He added, A world without wars applies to every person in the globe, which means that every individuals dedication as a messenger of peace to peacebuilding will make a peaceful world.
At the 5th HWPL International Law Peace Committee Meeting, Rt. Hon. HrantBagratyan, Former Prime Minister of Armenia,said, Not only this declaration and HWPLs peace work are beneficial to a specific level of society but are definite tool to bring peace to all of us. Without having the limit to one sector, more people raised their voice for urging what is necessary at our time, calling for the cooperation of every sector of the society to implement the DPCW into a legally binding document.
In the Peace Education Development Forum for Spreading a Culture of Peace, Hon. Maria Eugenia Barrios Robles de Mejia, Vice Minister of Ministry of Education in Guatemala, said,Wecould contribute in the promotion of the culture of peace in the world.
We would help the citizens of tomorrow be more tolerant of each other and that a dialogue or discussion is the way to accept their differences and solve their conflicts. You and I are responsible for promoting the culture of peace to the next generations.
Also, the Conference for Global Peace Media Network with 90 journalists from about 50 countries sought freedom of the press in relation to the role of journalism in the foundation of a global media network for peacebuilding. Journalism plays a significant role in delivering the collective voice of the global community for the same, common goal of peace.
Now is the time for connecting the local and the national by the governance of peace. said Mr. Ian Seo, Chief Manager of International Press Department of HWPL HQ, introducing the initiative of the peace media network platform of HWPL.
18.09.2017 LISTEN
Accra, Sept. 15 - (UPI/GNA) - On his return to Washington Thursday night, President Donald Trump again addressed the Charlottesville violence last month -- and again drew a parallel between both sides of the protests.
Trump reinforced the initial comments he made after the violent clashes at the University of Virginia on Aug. 12, which led to the death of a counter-protester.
A 32-year-old woman died and several were injured in the clashes, which grew from demonstrators marching in support of keeping a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. Trump said at the time that both sides shared blame for the violence.
The president's remarks aboard Air Force One late Thursday addressed a meeting he had a day earlier with Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., the only African-American Republican in the Senate.
Scott requested the meeting to discuss racial issues and Scott's perception of the difference between the white supremacist movement and the "Antifa,' or far-left anti-fascist movement.
"I think especially in light of the advent of Antifa, if you look at what's going on there, you have some pretty bad dudes on the other side also and essentially that's what I said," Trump said. "Now because of what's happened since then with Antifa. When you look at really what's happened since Charlottesville, a lot of people are saying and people have actually written, 'Gee, Trump may have a point.'
"I said there are some very bad people on the other side also."
Trump made the remarks on his way back to Washington, D.C., from Florida, where he visited with victims of Hurricane Irma Thursday.
Last month, Trump said there was blame "on many sides" and that some "very fine people" marched on the side of Confederate support.
A statement from Scott's office criticized Trump's reiteration Thursday. It said Scott, at the White House meeting, was "very, very clear about the brutal history surrounding the white supremacist movement and their horrific treatment of black and other minority groups."
"Rome wasn't built in a day, and to expect the president's rhetoric to change based on one 30-minute conversation is unrealistic," it said. "Antifa is bad and should be condemned, yes, but white supremacists have been killing and tormenting black Americans for centuries. There is no realistic comparison."
Later on Thursday, Trump signed a joint resolution from Congress that denounced white supremacy, and said, "as Americans, we condemn the recent violence in Charlottesville and oppose hatred, bigotry, and racism in all forms."
Former Deputy Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, has denied media reports suggesting that he sanctioned the purchase of some ambulances that were declared unfit to be used for that purpose.
The country incurred a $2.4 million loss after 30 ambulances were procured in 2014 by the Ministry of Health, but were later found to be faulty.
With 200 ambulances originally supposed to be purchased, the government suspended the deal after the ones which had been delivered did not meet required specifications.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Minority spokesperson on Finance stated that, the Finance Ministry at the time only issued at sight letters of credit on behalf of the Health Ministry after they had put in a request.
The Ministry of Finance also instructed the Controller and Accountant Generals Department to pay for the bank charges accrued to the Bank of Ghana as a result of the issuance of letters of credit on behalf of the Ministry of Health, the statement from Ato Forson said.
It is important to note that letters of credit issued by the Bank of Ghana is only a guarantee for payment and not payment in itself.
According to him, the letter only guaranteed that payment would only be made once the supplier of the ambulances fulfilled their end of the agreement.
In modern business practice, a letter of credit (LC) also known as a Documentary Credit, is a written commitment by a bank issued after a request by an importer (foreign buyer) that payment will be made to the beneficiary (exporter) provided that the terms and conditions stated in the LC been met, as evidenced by the presentation of specified documents, the statement added.
I, Cassiel Ato Forson acting as Deputy Minister of Finance then, never made payment to Big Seas for the supply of ambulances.
Unfit ambulances result of no inspection
With fingers being pointed at several officials over the acquisition of the faulty ambulances, the Executive Director of the National Ambulance Service, Prof. Ahmed Zakariah, revealed that the vehicles were not inspected before the payment was made.
According to him, there should have been inspections at various levels of the production to ensure that the manufacturer was producing exactly what was required by the country when it was being procured in 2015 under the John Mahama government.
Ordinarily, there should have been three inspection processes; one before the start of the production to enable the manufacturer to gather the specifications of government, and the second is in the course of production to ensure that the vehicles are being produced according to the given specifications, and the final one should have been after the vehicle had been produced, to confirm that all the specifications have been followed.
Story So Far:
September 13 EOCO to investigate purchase of 30 ambulances $2.4 million, under the Mahama administration
September 13 Former Health Minister Alex Segbefia denies contract for ambulances was signed under his tenure
September 14 Executive Director of the National Ambulance Service says ambulances weren't inspected before purchase
September 18 Cassiel Ato Forson denies sanctioning payment for faulty ambulances
Below is the full statement from Cassiel Ato Forson:
I have become aware of a series of media reportage indicating that I, Cassiel Ato Forson acting as the Deputy Finance Minister authorized payment of some defective ambulances procured in 2014 by the ministry of health.
I want to put on record that the Ministry of Finance only acted upon an instruction from the Ministry of Health to issue at sight letters of credit on their behalf using MOH 2014 budgetary allocations.
The Ministry of Finance also instructed the Controller and Accountant Generals Department to pay for the bank charges accrued to the Bank of Ghana as a result of the issuance of letters of credit on behalf of the Ministry of Health.
It is important to note that letters of credit issued by the Bank of Ghana is only a guarantee for payment and not payment in itself.
It is only when the supplier fulfills their part of the obligation under the contract that payment will be made.
In modern business practice, a letter of credit (LC) also known as a Documentary Credit, is a written commitment by a bank issued after a request by an importer (foreign buyer) that payment will be made to the beneficiary (exporter) provided that the terms and conditions stated in the LC been met, as evidenced by the presentation of specified documents.
At Sight A credit that the announcer bank immediately pays after inspecting the carriage documents from the seller.
Finally, I, Cassiel Ato Forson acting as Deputy Minister of Finance then NEVER made PAYMENT to BIG SEAS for the supply of ambulances.
By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana
The Afadzato South District in the Volta Region has taken delivery of more than 12,000 bags of fertilizer for distribution to farmers in the district.
The supply also forms part of the planting for food and jobs initiative which government is rolling out across the country in order to ensure food security and also create job opportunities for the teeming youth.
The Afadzato South District was carved out of the then Hohoe Municipality a few years ago.
The Assembly complex was completed in 2016 with staff employed to begin work on developing the new district.
As a fast developing district, the Assembly is not relenting in its efforts at making life a bit better for its people.
The Assembly hopes the 12,000 bags of fertilizer for its farmers will boost agriculture production in the region.
District Chief Executive for the area, Wisdom Semanu Seneadza told Joy News that the initiative will encourage many people with interest in farming to venture into the sector, adding that the initiative would create a lot of job opportunities for the citizens of the area.
Salaries and benefits of some Chief Executive Officers of some public organisations could be slashed in the coming days if the Finance Ministry is able to rationalize their pay structure.
The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, is concerned that some CEOs are earning thrice more than the President of the Republic.
The Ministry is pushing for a scheme to make it impossible for any CEO to earn more than the president.
Addressing a policy and governance forum on governance strategic policy for the Civil Society Organisation sector, Mr Ofori-Atta also noted that the review will also look at the bonus structure for the CEOs.
We currently have a mirage of remuneration schedule that we dont quite understand. I think we need to begin to rationalize it to make it clear where remuneration ends so that it does not go beyond the presidency, he said.
He said consideration will be given to the various sitting allowances, board fees as well as other related benefits.
The Minister also raised the issues about corporate governance culture and practices of SOEs saying, as a shareholder, one of our key priority is to have SOEs both listed and unlisted operate in line with principles of efficiency and productivity without causing a burden on the public purse.
Adding his voice to the concerns raised, the Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia also bemoaned the current salary levels which he said are not in conformity with productivity.
He charged that over the few days as the fora progress, attention will be given to three critical issues; commercial viability, fiscal impact as well as corporate governance issues.
On commercial viability, for instance, he noted that a recent report by the Finance Ministry covering about 18 SOEs indicated that they made a net loss of 791 million in addition to having received loans and financial support.
This is no longer sustainable and it is your responsibility to come to the table in the course of this forum with solutions to it, he charged.
Dr Bawumia believes the growth of the private sector makes it increasingly difficult to justify the participation of government in certain sectors of the economy.
Commenting on the issue, CEO of the State Enterprises Commission, Stephen Asamoah Boateng said the calls for performance, monitoring and evaluation are in order.
"We need to start to get them thinking they are not being paid because they are heading Cocobod, VRA or Ghana Port and Harbours Authority (GHPA) but they must perform and be measured by it and be paid for it according," he said.
He attributed the losses and debt accumulated to "lack of proper governance structures and leaving organisations on their own without an oversight body like the SEC which should have been doing it."
He said the politics of the situation does not help the nation and measures should be put in place to delink SOEs from politics.
Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline | Abubakar Ibrahim | [email protected]
Theres yet another doomsday date approaching, with some claiming that the rapture will start on Saturday.
Thats when certain Christians will get sucked up into heaven while the Earth descends into a chaotic tribulation period for those who are left.
Several videos about the supposed coming cataclysm are going viral with similar claims, showing some kind of space queen giving birth in front of a seven-headed moon lizard.
But dont stock up on Jim Bakkers doomsday food buckets just yet. The entire basis for the prediction is bunk. The September rapture date came from a Christian researcher named David Meade who calculated it would occur 33 days after last months eclipse, The Washington Post reported.
Jesus lived for 33 years. The name Elohim, which is the name of God to the Jews, was mentioned 33 times [in the Bible], Meade told the newspaper. Its a very biblically significant, numerologically significant number. Im talking astronomy. Im talking the Bible and merging the two.
Meade believes global catastrophes will be caused by a secret planet called Nibiru passing the Earth on Saturday. The world wont end, but the world as we know it is ending, he told the Post.
NASA a and just about every astronomer a said Nibiru doesnt exist.
Nibiru and other stories about wayward planets are an Internet hoax, the space agency said on its website a few years ago when similar doomsday predictions went viral. There is no factual basis for these claims.
Even fellow Christians are calling out Meade and others over the latest doomsday predictions.
Meades views are not endorsed by Roman Catholic, Protestant or eastern Orthodox branches of Christianity, Fox News reported.
Meade is a made-up leader in a made-up field, and should not be on the front page of anything, let alone Fox News, Ed Stetzer of Christianity Today wrote.
While the writers of the Bible have used numbers at times, Stetzer said there were no secret numerical codes that require a profession called Christian numerology.
In other words, go ahead and make plans for Sunday.
The Police component of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) today handed over an assortment of critical office equipment to the Somali Police Force.
The equipment donated by the Danish government was officially handed over to General Ahmed Hassan Malin, the commander of the Banadir Police Station in Mogadishu, by the AMISOM Deputy Police Commissioner Ms. Christine Alalo.
We have a mandate here in Somalia and our mandate is to build the capacity of the Somali police forces. This is in terms of training, mentoring, operational support; you see the Formed Police Unit (FPU) that undertake day and night patrols. We also do strategic advising, but most of all, we are supposed to support them in terms of logistics and equipment, (and) to equip the police stations, Ms. Alalo explained, as she handed over the equipment to her counterpart.
The equipment which included office furniture; desktop computers, printers, folding chairs, tables, cabinets, solar torches and solar lamps, will be distributed to various police stations in Mogadishu.
General Ahmed Hassan Malin said the consignment will go along way in facilitating the work of police officers, to maintain law and order.
We are grateful for the donation brought to us by our brothers at AMISOM Police. We will distribute them to four police stations in Banadir and I know they will enhance greatly our operations, Gen. Malin stated.
The cabinets will be used for storing documents and the solar torches for night patrols, he added.
The Head of Logistics of the Somali Police Force, General Omar Mohamed Hassan lauded AMISOM Police and the Danish government for the donation.
This equipment simplifies our work. Instead of using fuel for lighting, we will use solar. There will be no more typewriters, as the officers will now use computers, he noted.
AMISOM Police skills and mentors Somali police officers to effectively maintain law and order across the country.
They also train them on the consequences of sexual and gender-based violence, human rights observance and protection in conflict and post- conflict environments, community policing, traffic management and basic criminal investigation techniques, which are critical areas in the maintenance of law and order.
20.09.2017 LISTEN
Having done an apt digest of the article "Biafra and the conflict of rationality'' by Agwu prince, some pernicious intent were smelt hence It became imperative that i lend my voice, experience and thought on the issue.
I have been opportune to co-habit with the northerners for some years giving the compulsory National youth service scheme in taraba state where i served in the capacity of a lecturer at the college of education zing, and second, a post graduate study in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where i bagged a post graduate diploma in education. Thus, i can confidently tell you that truly, the average notherner is very accomodating but this is hardly the case when their kind gestures would be to the detriment of their brothers (fellow notherners). They understand better the word that says charity begins at home and they see onenessness amongst themselves as a virtue. This is lacking among the easterners.
I am also equiped with the requisite knowledge and extell you that, the average notherner is ready to die for whatever course they believe in(rational or irrational). In them, i learnt the true meaning of struggle and perseverance provided posterity remembers their effort in a positive light.
My personal experience
After, the hajj stampede of late 2015, which resulted in the death of a first class king in North East taraba state, zing local government to be precise. The people popularly called the mumuye tribe/kingdom fought earnestly using peaceful demonstration albeit, with diabolic protections via the use of traditional masqurades (popularly know as Dodo) as means to fend off oppressors and imposition of a new king as against their wish by top government officials therein. It was a conflict between the minority muslims taking over the throne of power and converting the community to an emirate as against the majority christians/traditionalist who preferred a certain man called bala. This crisis which lasted for months was that hot as government sent military troops in their hundreds to the small community in the name of peace keeping but with the intention of intimidating the latter group who were the majority and also to impose their political candidate on them. After some months of fierce resistance in a collective manner, the local people won as the man of the people "bala'' ascended the throne. This spurred wide jubilation of triumph.
In them i learnt how much a peaceful resistance even in the face of guns could pay off even though not immediate. In them i saw the practical powers of a joint broom stick.
This saga was witness firsthand with some lives lost, talk little of casualties and infringement on the fundamental human rights to freedom as movement was restricted. Amid all these, no media or dailies carried or spoke on the crisis up till date. Little wonder why malcolm x gave his voice against the media as a destructive and a manipulated tool by some few.
Freedom has never been given
Nobody can give you freedom nor power. If you are a man you take it.... Malcolm x
Some decades ago, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela envisaged the present operation python dance in the eastern region of Nigeria. He posited that It would be wrong and unrealistic for African leaders (ipob inclusive) to continue preaching peace and nonviolence at a time when the government met their peaceful demands with force. But he warned that It was only when all else had failed, when all channels of peaceful protest had been barred, that the decision should be made to embark on violent forms of political struggle. This i am certain is running through the minds of Nnamdi kanu and fellow pro-biafra agitators at this current time of great upheaval and man slaughter in the eastern region of the green land. If the manslaughter continues, i see the biafrans following the words of Mandela by picking up arms as a last resort. At that point, the international community should not blame them because self defence is allowed and encouraged locally and internationally.
The above were the Words of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela whom you celebrate today and so revered that he was almost made a religion after his demise simply because of his selfless service and lofty ideas. In the course of his struggle for liberation of South Africa from apartheid he faced heavy criticizm within and outside south Africa, in almost 30years of confinement, he was tagged a losser bereft of logical ideas in his pursuit of freedom both for himself and south Africa as a whole.
Even after his discharge from prison, freedom won for the madiba land, ascention to presidency, and host of other achievement cum service to humanity which are crystal clear, visible to the blind and also audible to the deaf, he was again heavily criticized by a BBC reporter as a useless child who has done nothing either for himself nor for his country. In light of such ctiticism, Malcolm x had said "Anyone without critics is unlikely to succeed'' thus, Mr agwu prince and other concerned critics should continue to spur Nnamdi kanu to success with their criticizm. Buhari was his first major critic, he arrested him and fulfilled the prophecy of malcolm x.
Mr. agwu sir, you made reference to the madiba struggle in your recently published article but ignored the fact that it was acheived not solely on peace talks like wise other African nation upon their independence.
Contemporary history has shown that till date, there is no nation that has acheived freedom solely on peace talks. In Africa, Eritrea acheived their freedom after 30 years of civil war with Ethopia. You know better what transpired for years which in no small measures contributed to the referendum cum separation of South Sudan from Sudan. Do i have to remind us of the Algerian war of 1954-1962 which led to their independence? Or is it the Angolan war of Independence between 1961-1974 or the Namimbian war, Mozambiquean war or the kenyan war which led to their respective independence and host of other examples from Africa alone.
Studies have shown that Freedom is not given, it is taken. And you can only take it by speaking the language most understood by your opressors. Speak a different language and you are on your own. This is evidenced in the peaceful demonstration of ipob agitators versus the use of force by the Nigerian government.
ASUU : Hypocrites in desguise
Researchers of peace and conflict and other moral teachers always preach to their students that communication is the key to resolve conflict of any kind, but as soon as they get into conflict with the Nigerian government, strike becomes the next step.
I have for ages tagged our educators "hypocrites and unfaithful angels'' because they find themselves going contrary to the what they teach/preach as regards dialogue as against other measures.
For sometime now, i have so pondered why this is so?
This answer is simple. the Nigerian government only understand the negative language. Strike, agitation, etc. And irrespective of the peaceful nature such action takes, the government finds a way of tagging it a rebellion and implement consequences therein.
DISCLAIMER
The Author is not calling for war or inciting hate of any kind. I have always been on the notion that the worst of peace is better than the best of war. But easterners should learn to synergize like the northerners in pursuit of same goal or give logical way forward and follow it as one. But it should not be born out of fear for loss or lack of concern. Remember, the main cause of poverty is fear as kiyoshaki put it. Anyone who is casual about life, will end up in casualty. You have the moral obligation to look into this issue or face casualty.
I call for unity of Ndigbo and democratic pursuit of peace by the Nigerian government while commending ipob for its non violent measures adopted so far.
In the antecedent of every problem lies the solution. Nigerian government take note.
About the Author
Iwuagwu Anthony obinna is a social analyst, education enthusiast and a social worker with specialty in community organising. He gained prominence with his best selling book on dyslexia:A learning disability.
Edward Snowden
20.09.2017 LISTEN
Edward Snowdens politburo for secret documents has finally begun to release NSA files on the highly classified (and not so highly classified) activities of the USA in Ethiopia. In an article in The Intercept by veteran Horn of Africa journalist Nick Turse we find the latest chapter of another long awaited expose of the role of Pax Americana in Ethiopia.
The NSA documents released show the US military was secretly running an anti-terrorist intelligence gathering operation for many years in Ethiopia. The lands surveilled include Sudan, Somalia and Yemen. Conspicuously absent from the documents is any mention of Eritrea, Ethiopias neighbor and arch enemy.
When you read between the lines you find that Eritrea is under UN Security Council Sanctions for allegedly supporting terrorism in Somalia in the form of Al Shabab. But no mention is made of Eritrea in the top secret cables of the US Armys Intelligence Division when it comes to anything to do with terrorism in the Horn of Africa. If the US Army is not concerned about any link between Eritrea and terrorism then shouldn't this be a word to the wise on the matter?
This should be the final nail in the coffin of the decade old tall tale of Eritrea as a supporter of terrorism (as Cuba was so slandered for decades).
Snowdens EthiopiaLeaks follows in the footsteps of Wikileaks Ethiopia File where we find now Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Donald Yamamoto way back in 2007 saying that Eritreas involvement in Somalia was insignificant (Wikileaks Exposes UN Eritrean Sanction Lies).
Later Wikileaks exposed how the UN Security Council Sanctions against Eritrea passed on Christmas Eve, 2009 were crafted by, amongst others, the US State Departments Economic Sabotage office aimed as preventing international funding for Eritreas mining industry start up gold mine in Bisha and had nothing to do with any alleged support for terrorism as in Al Shabab in Somalia.
Now we have Snowdens EthiopiaLeaks showing that no matter the lies told in public by the US State Department and their allies at HRW and Amnesty International, the US military wasn't buying any of it and didn't waste any time in wild goose chases concerning Eritrea and support for terrorism ie Al Shabab.
End of Story? Noin Nick Turses article he interviews Felix Horne, Horn of Africa specialist for HRW who along with Amnesty continues to insist that once upon a time Eritrea was supporting the Al Queda branch Al Shabab in Somalia. Never mind Wikileaks, never mind Snowden Leaks once a lie is told never admit what you have claimed is not real. This is so true of those who once surrounded Barack Obama and Hillary the Terrible and of course, their minions in their incestous relationship with Human Rights Watch. We are talking about Tom Malinowski and his special relationship with Hillary Rodham Clinton (HRC) and her Mafia, when he wasn't serving as Horn of Africa specialist et al at HRW.
HRW to HRC to HRW to HRC, who could tell who he was working for. The guy who was so blatantly pro-Pax Americana while switch hitting for HRW that he caused numerous Nobel Peace Laureates to publicly protest in an Open Letter to HRW?
One thing Nick Turses article didnt mention is the not so secret AFRICOM Drone Assassination and Surveillance Program long based in Ethiopia. Hopefully Snowden's EthiopiaLeaks files will have something on this for as recently as February 2015 an AFRICOM drone fired a cruise missile from Ethiopian airspace that struck an arms depot in the Eritrean town of Decamhare. Apparently wreckage from the drone was found identifying it as a cruise missile of the type used mainly by Predator drones in their assassination campaigns.
We find the hand of AFRICOM again in June of 2016 when Ethiopia sent a couple of their army divisions across the border into Eritrea at Tsorona where a major battle took place. AFRICOMs role was so blatant that the Eritrean government issued an all to rare public statement condemning such.
So heres to more juicy tidbits from Snowdens EthiopiaFile, maybe something that exposes a major crime or two will surface, we have given up finding any senior criminals being named and shamed a la Phil Agee. It has taken a while for EthiopiaLeaks to see the light of day and hopefully there is much more to come.
Thomas C. Mountain is an independent journalist in Eritrea, living and reporting from here since 2006. See thomascmountain on Facebook or best reach him at thomascmountain at g mail dot com
The writer
20.09.2017 LISTEN
At a point in our history, the African and Third World people were struggling to pay their debts owed to the Western countries and they 'rebelled' against some of these debts.
Many world leaders, inter alia, Fidel Castro (Cuba) and Captain Thomas Sankara (Burkina Faso) indicated that the these unfair debts we owed to the West should not be paid because the debts were unsustainable and unpayable.
Indeed that campaign gained momentum till it gave birth to a Group called Jubilee 2000. Jubilee 2000 continued the massive campaign against the debts.
History tells us that even some Western bodies were in support of African leaders' evasion of their debts.
Before I continue, let me talk about the argument adopted by the opponents of HIPC. The opponents of HIPC used the case of Zaire as a case study for the evasion of the debts owed by African countries to the West.
They made the argument that the Western leaders themselves knew very well that the loans IMF and the World Bank were giving to Zaire and other Third World Nations could not be paid under no circumstance, but they were still giving them loans because Zaire was acting as a bastion against Communism.
Therefore, they thought it was payment for the West for achieving their Foreign Policy Objectives.
If that was the orientation, then the African Marxist should not be called upon to pay for achieving their own FPO.
Another argument was the fact that those debts were vitiated by corruption because the Western leaders knew very well that IMF and the World Bank were dealing with corrupt African leaders who necessarily didn't represent the Africans politically and economically, but their own narrow, selfish and parochial interest.
Again, if that was the economic and political orientation, then the innocent Africans should not bear the consequences of the actions of greedy and corrupt African leaders.
So they simply refused to pay those unfair debts.
The effects of Africans not paying their debts would have meant that the economies of the West would have collapsed.
In view of that, they needed to do something to kill or if you want, stifle that campaign in order to continue to control the Western and Third World countries.
Therefore, they contrivedly orchestrated what then became Highly Indebted and Poor Country (HIPC) to stifle the debate of whether or not to pay the debts.
What the Western leaders said at the time was that, look you African people, you are saying you have no money to pay your debts, but if you are able to declare yourselves Highly Indebted and Poor to the world, then your debts burden would be forgiven. Some of our our African leaders including Former President Kufour bought into that argument and declared us (Ghanaians) as Highly Indebted and Poor.
So HIPC was not structured as if Western countries were giving us monies free of charge as we were told by the NPP sometimes back.
Why, are they Father Christmas or Saint Valantine to be dashing us money?
The opponents of HIPC also made the proving argument that, simply cancelling out debts would not solve our economic, social and hydra-headed problems because those debts were themselves the products of an unfair economic and social order that were imposed on us.
Now look around, after 2000/2001, all the countries which declared themselves Highly Indebted and Poor have had their debts accrued more than at the time they declared themselves HIPC.
If I am lying, tell me I am lying.
Therefore, the argument was valid then and still valid now.
Apart from the economic tricks that was played on us, they afflicted us with a huge psychological damage.
From 2001 up until today, when you go to a remote part of every region in Ghana, there is a public facility (school block/KVIP) painted in our national colours with the huge inscription "HIPC Benefit".
They even attempted to name a University of Ghana's Hall of residence "HIPC Hall".
If you were a teacher and your student asked you what was "HIPC Benefit"?
You were probably going to tell your student that is a benefit for being indebted and poor.
That would be an explanation based on a seriously flawed philosophical point of view aimed at explaining our economic gains.
Essentially, what you are telling your student is, being indebted and poor is beneficial.
Is this correct?
I leave this to your conjecture!
Osumanu Abubakar (2017)
0242782515
Kenyas Chief Justice, David Maraga has called the bluff of politicians criticizing the judiciary over the election petition case.
In a statement issued after a meeting with other members of the Judicial Service Commission, Mr Maraga said : If leaders are tired of having a strong and independent Judiciary, they should call a referendum and abolish it all together.
Before that happens, the judiciary will continue to discharge its mandate in accordance with the Constitution and individual oaths of office.
Mr. Maraga further condemned what he described as attacks on Kenya's judicial officers and staff, saying these attacks are denigrating, demeaning and degrading and are meant to intimidate, threaten and cow the institution and individual judges.
He added that such acts are not only unlawful but also savage in nature. In view of these unfortunate developments, JSC would like to state that we unreservedly condemn these mindless acts of aggression against the judiciary and reiterate that if anything happens to the individual judges, staff or their families, those making inciting statement will be personally held responsible.
Mr. Maraga led a six member team of judges to invalidate the August election that put President Uhuru Kenyatta ahead of his NASA opponent, Raila Odinga.
The judgement was given after NASA leader, Raila Odinga filed a petition against Mr. Kenyatta's election , arguing that process through which the transmission of presidential vote results was done did not conform with constitution.
The decision to annul the election was an unprecedented move in Africa where governments often hold power over judges.
Following the Supreme Court's judgement, Mr. Kenyatta had vowed to fix the court if re-elected, since in his view his country had a problem with its judiciary.
We shall revisit this thing. We clearly have a problem, Mr Kenyatta said of the judiciary .
By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Brong Ahafo regional minister, Lawyer Kwaku Asomah Cheremeh has stated that he will continue do whatever it takes to fight illegal chainsaw/timber operators in the Region without any discrimination.
According to the Minister, the activities of illegal chainsaw operators have become particularly worrisome since they are cutting down all the trees in the forest and casting a shadow on the operations of legal entities.
Lawyer Kwaku Asomah Cheremeh told Sunyani based radio Ahomka 90.5FM,after a press conference in Sunyani on Tuesday that, "I am not corrupt and I will never be corrupt and my conscience cannot be bought by any one".
Mr Kofi Owusu Chairman of the wood village,last week in a press conference accused the Regional Minster of extorting money from chainsaw operators and also have agents who normally visit the Dormaa Wood Village to collect monies in his name.
Lawyer Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh about 8 months ago and some few days, before he will allow any truck of lumber move he take money before the truck will leave. Initially he was taking GH60,000.00 per truck and his actions has brought a lot of hardship on the association he added in a press conference.
The Minister said, all allegations leveled against him by Kofi Owusu and David Yeboah are false, malicious and defamatory only to tarnish his hard won reputation as a diligent legal practitioner, a politician, a responsible family man with a wife and children, a noble and a respected person in the society.
"It is a calculated attempt to cause disaffection for me as the Regional Minister for Brong Ahafo Region. It is also a calculated attempt to throw dust into the eyes of the public and create a false impression about me",he stated.
He added that , "It is again a calculated attempt to run down the government machinery in this Region and to foil my efforts I have made in fighting against the galamsey operations and illegal timber operations in the Region. However this will not deter me from discharging my responsibility as required".
"I have not on any occasion directed or instructed any person to collect bribes from the buyers at the Dormaa Wood Village" he said.
He said, President of the Republic of Ghana Nana Addo will not be intimidated by these baseless accusations and unsubstantiated claims of corruption in my fight against illegal lumber and galamsey which is a social canker threatening our environment and causing environmental degradation.
"I must say that it is a shame that Kofi Owusu and David Yeboah would use the media platform to destroy my reputation and image through these unsubstantiated allegations. Indeed the allegations are unfathomed, baseless and inordinately unreasonable" he said.
Lawyer Kwaku Asomah Cheremeh said about 18 trucks of illegal lumber arrested by the taskforce have been handed over to the Regional Forestry Commission, Sunyani.
"Any truck of illegal lumber or timber the taskforce arrest, they hand over to regional forestry commission in Sunyani,so why Dormaa Wood village accusing me of corrupt. The 13 members of the taskforce are made up of Police officers".
The Minister therefore issued a two-week ultimatum to Kofi Owusu and David Yeboah of Dormaa Wood Village to retract comments they made suggesting that he (minister) is corrupt.
"They will be hurled before court if they fail to render an unqualified apology to me" he concluded.
The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketia has stated that calamity will befall Ghana if parliament approves President Akufo-Addos proposal to designate 4th August as founders day.
According to him, the so called founders president Akufo-Addo intends to honor are the same people who boycotted the passing of the independence law in parliament and as such do not deserve to be celebrated as freedom fighters.
General mosquito as he is popularly called, noted that members of the Big six who president Akufo-Addo seeks to honor as freedom fighters do not merit that honor, 60 years after they boycotted an exercise that was to ensure the independence of the nation.
If we allow this thing to happen in Ghana, unthinkable calamities shall befall Ghana because God will not bless this country for diluting the efforts of Nkrumah to favor another person, he emphasized.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah believes president Akufo-Addo only wants to Honor his Father and Uncle now that he has assumed the highest office of the land.
He questioned how the Big six could fail to recognize founder and bank roller of the United Gold Coast Convention(UGCC), Paa Grant but president Akufo-Addo claims his (Paa Grant) party fought for Ghanas independence.
Why do they claim to be from the Danquah Busiah tradition and not from the tradition of Paa Grant who was the founder of the UGCC, he asked.
General Mosquito is upbeat that Ghanaians will never accept to observe August 4th as a public holiday, should the majority approve the presidents proposed legislation to Parliament to designate the day as Founders Day.
He stated that Ghana changed from Left hand driven vehicles to right on August 4th 1974, an occasion worth celebrating instead of this proposed founders day.
A former Deputy Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, has confirmed that his Ministry authourised the purchase of the defective national ambulances following a directive from the Ministry of Health to do so.
I want to put on record that the Ministry of Finance only acted upon instruction from the Ministry of Health to issue a sight Letter of Credit on their behalf, utilising MOH 2014 budgetary allocations, he said on his Facebook page.
Mr. Forson made the comments in reaction to revelations that some 30 ambulances purchased were not fit for the purposes for which they were procured.
Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, who led a group of journalists to inspect the ambulances last week, noted that although it has been established that the 30 ambulances supplied by Big Sea Ltd were defective, an amount of 2.4 million had been disbursed from the consolidated fund to pay for the ambulances.
Read More: 'Don't Blame Me For Payment In The Purchase Of 'Useless' Ambulances'
He further described the ambulances as sprinter buses fitted with kitchen panels.
The 30 were the first of 200 ambulances procured by the Government of Ghana through Big Sea Trading LLC in a contract signed on 19 December, 2012.
Read More: Ato Forson Defends Role In Defective Ambulance Saga
Read Ato Forsons full comments below.
I have become aware of a series of media reportage indicating that I, Cassiel Ato Forson, acting as the Deputy Finance Minister, authorised payment for some defective ambulances 'procured' in 2014 by the Ministry of Health. I want to put on record that the Ministry of Finance only acted upon instruction from the Ministry of Health to issue a sight Letter of Credit on their behalf, utilising MOH 2014 budgetary allocations.
Subsequently, as is laid down practice, the Ministry of Finance requested the Controller and Accountant General's Department to pay for the bank charges accrued to the Bank of Ghana as a result of the issuance of letters of credit on behalf of the Ministry of Health. It must be noted that the beneficiary of the payment is Bank of Ghana, which charges government for many financial service--as commercial banks do for their clients.
It is important to note that letters of credit issued by the Bank of Ghana are only a guarantee for payment and not payment in itself. It is only when the supplier fulfils their part of the obligation under the contract that payment will be made from the budgetary allocation of the Ministry requesting the opening of the LC. The Ministry of Finance does not have the technical competency to evaluate and reject the contract of service or supply from sector or technical ministries.
In modern business practice, a Letter of Credit (LC), also known as a Documentary Credit, is a written commitment by a bank issued after a request by an importer (foreign buyer) that payment will be made to the beneficiary (exporter) provided that the terms and conditions stated in the LC have been met, as evidenced by the presentation of specified documents.
At Sight A credit that the announcer bank immediately pays after inspecting the carriage documents from the seller. Note, in both cases, that the underlying contract and specifications are agreed between the buyer and seller, not the paying institutions acting on their behalf. Finally, I, Cassiel Ato Forson, acting as Deputy Minister of Finance then, NEVER made PAYMENT to BIG SEAS for the supply of ambulances.
Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
Accra, Sept. 18, GNA - President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has issued an Executive Instrument to commemorate Thursday, September 21, 2017 as a public holiday titled Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day.
This is a departure from the celebration of the day, which hitherto was titled Founder's Day.
According to a release by the Flagstaff House over the weekend, signed by Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications, the President has decided to propose legislation to Parliament to designate August 4 as Founders Day and September 21 to be marked as Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day, both of which will be observed as public holidays.
The release said it was unfortunate that, 60 years after independence, the history of the events leading to it 'continued to be embroiled in unnecessary controversy, due largely to partisan political considerations of the moment.'
'It is clear that successive generations of Ghanaians made vital contributions to the liberation of our country from imperialism and colonialism. It is, therefore, fitting that we honour them, as those who contributed to the founding of our nation,' the release said.
It added that 'the most appropriate way to honour them is to commemorate the day on which the two most significant events in our colonial political history, that led us to independence, occurred - 4th August.'
'On that day, in 1897, the Aborigines Rights Protection Society (ARPS) was formed in Cape Coast. The Society did a great job to mobilise the chiefs and people to ward off the greedy hands of British imperialism to ensure that control of Ghanaian lands remained in Ghanaian hands.
It represented the first monumental step towards the making of modern Ghana, enabling us to avoid the quagmire of land inheritance that our brothers and sisters in Southern and Eastern Africa continue to suffer, from the seizures of their lands by white minorities.
'In a deliberate act in the continuum of Ghanaian history, exactly fifty years later, on 4th August, 1947, at Saltpond, the great nationalists of the time gathered to inaugurate the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), the first truly nationalist party of the Gold Coast, to demand the independence of our nation from British rule, at a gathering which included 'paramount chiefs, clergymen, lawyers, entrepreneurs, teachers, traders and men and women from all walks of life in the Gold Coast.'
The inauguration set the ball rolling for our nation's attainment of independence, and for the dramatic events, including the birth in 1949 of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), that ushered us into freedom.
'That day, 4th August, is, thus, obviously the most appropriate day to signify our recognition and appreciation of the collective efforts of our forebears towards the founding of a free, independent Ghana,' the release said.
It added 'it is equally clear that the first leader of independent Ghana, and the nation's 1st President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, played an outstanding role in helping to bring to fruition the works of the earlier generations, and leading us to the promised land of national freedom and independence. It is entirely appropriate that we commemorate him for that role, by designating his birthday as the permanent day of his remembrance.
GNA
20.09.2017 LISTEN
Accra, Sept. 18, GNA - The Ministry of the Interior Entity Tender Committee was inaugurated with a call on members to exhibit high level of integrity and professionalism in the discharge of their duties, whilst avoiding conflicts of interest.
Mr Ambrose Dery, Minister of the Interior, who made the call in Accra, said an Entity Tender Committee was a high level Governance Committee, which ultimate role was to protect the public purse, whilst ensuring firm commitment to fairness, transparency and objectivity in the procurement process.
'It is against this background and in line with the Public Procurement (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act 914) Section 20 (A and B) that the Ministry of the Interior is inaugurating this committee charged to promote accountability,' he added.
The nine-member committee had Mr Henry Quartey, Deputy Minister of the Interior as the Chairman and Mr Annan Kakabaah, Head of Finance, Ministry of the Interior as a member.
The rests include Mr William Kpobi, An Attorney from the Attorney-General's Office, Ministry of Justice, Member, Mr Assan-Brew, Mr Daniel Nartey and Ms Rose Tsorhey, all Heads of Department and Agency, Ministry of the Interior.
Others are Mrs Adelaide Anno-Kumi, Chief Director, Ministry of the Interior, and two members to be nominated from the Ghana Bar Association and Institute of Engineers.
The Committee is tasked to review and approve annual Procurement Plans and approve quarterly updates of these procurement plans; confirm the range of acceptable costs of items to be procured and match these with available funds in the approved budget; review schedules of procurement and specifications and ensure that procurement procedures are followed in strict conformity with the Act.
It is to ensure that necessary concurrent approval is obtained from the appropriate Tender Review Committee where applicable; facilitate contract administration and ensure compliance with reporting procedures and; assist the head of entity to ensure that stores, vehicles and equipment were disposed of in accordance with the Act.
Mr Dery reminded the members of the country's recent history and experiences regarding how the public purse was handled, especially in the areas bothering on procurement and urged them to exhibit high level integrity and professionalism in the discharge of their duties and avoid conflicts of interest.
He pledged the Ministry's preparedness to assist them to achieve their mandate.
Mr Quartey, on his part, thanked the government for the confidence reposed in them and pledged their commitment to work hard to bridge any loopholes in the system.
The Minister earlier led the Committee members to swear the official oath and the oath of secrecy.
GNA
By Patience Gbeze, GNA
Accra, Sept. 18, GNA - The Ghana Armed Forces Medical Services has launched the 2017 edition of the Military Nightingale Week Celebration in Accra, with a call on Ghanaians to exercise regularly to improve on their fitness and general wellbeing.
Brigadier General Ernest Crosby Saka Jnr, the Commander of the 37 Military Hospital, who gave the advice, paid glowing tribute to nurses for their hard work in the service of mankind.
The week-long celebration is to honour the memory of Florence Nightingale, the Mother of Nursing and a celebrated English social reformer, and statistician who laid the foundations of the nursing profession by organising the treatment and tending of wounded soldiers during the Crimean War.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency during the Health Walk/Launch Brig. Gen. Saka said the Nightingale's Week celebration, which was instituted at the 37 Military Hospital five years ago, was also in recognition of the exceptional services and contributions of nurses to the hospital and to society.
He pledged the commitment of the hospital to providing the best of services to its clients using the requisite and qualified human resource.
This year's celebration is on the theme: 'Military Nightingales': Combatting Environmental Degradation Towards Achieving Sustainable Development Goals with other Stakeholders."
The activities lined up for the celebration includes workshops and Awards on Friday, September 22.
The celebrations will be climaxed by a Thanksgiving Ceremony on Sunday September 24 at the 37 Presby Methodist Church.
The Health Walk, which brought together more than 60 Nurses, was to drum home the importance of regular exercises and the need to take good care of the environment for the safety of the present and future generations.
The 3.5 Kilometre walk started from the premises of the hospital, amidst brand music, through some principal streets of Accra and ended at the Hospital.
Florence Nightingale was a trailblazing figure in nursing who greatly affected 19th and 20th century policies around proper care. She was known for her night rounds to aid the wounded, establishing her image as the 'Lady with the Lamp.'
Florence Nightingale was born in Florence, Italy, on May 12, 1820. Part of a wealthy family, Nightingale defied the expectations of the time and pursued what she saw as her God-given calling of nursing.
During the Crimean War, she and a team of nurses improved the unsanitary conditions at a British base hospital, greatly reducing the death count. Her writings sparked worldwide health care reform, and in 1860 she established St. Thomas' Hospital and the Nightingale Training School for Nurses. She died on August 13, 1910, in London.
The Crimean War was a military conflict fought from October 1853 to February 1856 in which the Russian Empire lost to an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, Britain and Sardinia. The immediate cause involved the rights of Christian minorities in the Holy Land, which was a part of the Ottoman Empire. The French promoted the rights of Roman Catholics, while Russia promoted those of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
GNA
By Kwamina Tandoh, GNA
20.09.2017 LISTEN
All jokes aside, we definitely need the Umbrella in our democratic dispensation, in spite of their maladaptive governance and ineffective opposition. Indeed, they might come good futuristically.
You may believe it or not, but the truth of the matter is that prior to the 2016 general elections, I dream repeatedly about the NDCs humiliating defeat.
Well, I have never been a pastor, a prophet, a soothsayer, or a black magician, yet my dreams mostly come to pass.
Yes, I dreamt and further predicted on numerous occasions about former President Mahamas humiliating defeat, and, lo and behold, it came to pass.
It is against such a credible history that I was downhearted when Hurricane John swept away the Umbrella in my recent dream.
Well, the signs are already on the walls; the ongoing bickering could spell doom for the NDC Party, so to speak.
I must confess, though, I never envisioned that I will live to witness deep cleavages within the New Democratic Congress (NDC) as the party apparatchiks made us to believe that all was well with the party.
But there you go. The never ending tiffing within the NDC Party tells a different story, diametrical to what the NDC faithful sought to portray previously.
In fact, until their recent friction, we were made to believe that conflict is not synonymous with the NDC Party.
Apparently, we were conned by the NDC faithful. Indeed, their heated conflict is disastrously disintegrating the party.
In actual fact, they have been living in a denial all this while. The fact however is, they managed to conceal the insidious conflict whilst in government.
Then the humiliating 2016 election defeat resurrected the hidden, albeit pernicious conflict.
Somehow, a section of the aggrieved supporters could not hide their arousing disgust over the unpardonable events which led to the humiliating 2016 election loss.
The prominent among the disgruntled supporters is the Ex-President and founder of the party, J. J. Rawlings.
The extremely unhappy former President Rawlings has since been aiming accusing fingers at the non-performing and allegedly corrupt NDC leadership for the humiliating election defeat.
Ex-President Rawlingss relentless accusations invariably infuriated the brassbound NDC faithful, who discourteously and uncharacteristically decided to revenge by tearing their founder, Ex-President Rawlings into pieces.
As a result, the disgruntled supporters came out and vehemently repudiated such allegations, and, rather accused Rawlings as the one who has been indulging in corrupt practices.
I must confess, though, Ex-President Rawlingss endless grouching is in order. Indeed, there is nothing unwise about his remarks on the rampant sleazes and corruptions that sent the NDC Party into opposition.
So, where is the justification for all the abuses which are being directed at the Ex-President Rawlings?
Tell me, is Ex-President Rawlings not right for asserting that the erstwhile Mahama administration squandered many opportunities to clean up and to restore the June 4 principles in the party?
For argument sake, let us even agree that former Rawlings sometimes goes overboard with his remarks. But is that a justification for the NDC faithful to go to an extent of abusing the very person whose ideals gave birth to a party (NDC) which has made them somebodys?
Let us be honest, why would anyone squall and upbraid Ex-President Rawlings for advising: Ladies and Gentlemen, nobody is saying dont make money but make it good and clean but not some of the ones that I know, sickening, the kind of greed, selfishness, look at where it landed us.
In fact, it beggars belief that a section of the NDC brassbound supporters would insult their controversial founder for calling a spade as a spade.
And given the gargantuan corruptions in the previous administration, it will only take a sycophant and unpatriotic individual to criticise anyone who shows concern.
Let us be honest, some of the criticisms that former President Rawlings has been receiving from the disgruntled NDC Party loyalists are somewhat unfair.
As a matter of fact, it is needless to seek to tear Ex-President Rawlings to shreds for showing concern over the ostensive corrupt practices within the NDC Party.
After all, the vineyard news and other sources have it that the Professor Kwesi Botchwey Election Fact-finding Committees report has indicted former President Mahama.
The sources have it that former President Mahama contributed largely to the NDCs 2016 humiliating election defeat.
Apparently, there are those who share Ex-President Rawlingss sentiments that Ex-President Mahamas woeful errors in judgement and the gargantuan corruptions accounted for the NDCs 2016 election loss.
Nevertheless, the supporters of Ex-President Mahama do not accept such a view point and have gone to an extent of spurning Ex-President Rawlings and challenging him to evidence his claim as a founding father of the NDC Party.
Ironically, Dr Obed Asamoah, an NDC Party stalwart, has publicly told Ghanaians that former President Rawlings is not a founder of the party, contrary to their party constitution.
Dr Asamoah, however, maintained that Rawlings could not have been the founder of the party, in the sense that he was an active army officer during the registration of the NDC Party.
Let us face it, the ongoing tug of war amongst NDC faithful will not inure to the benefit of the NDC Party.
Indeed, the persistent disagreements between the factions could only deepen the conflict and thereby keeping NDC in opposition for a very long time.
NDC faithful: you may down play my dream at your own peril!
K. Badu, UK.
Nairobi (AFP) - Kenya's Supreme Court on Wednesday placed the blame for last month's annulled presidential vote firmly on the election commission, in its full ruling detailing the judges' decision.
Deputy chief justice Philomena Mwilu described "disturbing, if not startling, revelations" about the conduct of the Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and singled it out for ignoring a Supreme Court order to open up its computer servers after opposition allegations of hacking.
The judges also said the election commission had failed to verify the numbers before declaring President Uhuru Kenyatta winner.
Computer hacking allegations were at the heart of the legal challenge from the opposition, led by Raila Odinga.
"Our order of scrutiny was a golden opportunity for the IEBC to place before the court evidence to debunk the petitioner's claim," Mwilu read from the court's detailed judgement on Wednesday.
"If IEBC had nothing to hide it would have readily provided access to ICT (information and communications technology) logs and servers to disprove the petitioner's claim. But what did IEBC do with it? It contemptuously disobeyed the court orders in these very critical areas."
Lawyers for Odinga's National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition, last month challenged Kenyatta's re-election, alleging rigging, hacking and tampering with results.
Chief Justice David Maraga declared the August 8 presidential election, and Kenyatta's victory, "invalid, null and void" on September 1.
'ICT system infiltrated'
Kenya's Supreme Court said the electoral commission had failed in its duty to ensure votes were not tampered with
Mwilu said that following the IEBC's refusal to comply with the court order, judges were left with no choice but to determine that the election commission's "ICT system was infiltrated and compromised and the data therein interfered with, or IEBC officials themselves interfered with the data, or it had bungled the transmission system and were unable to verify the data."
The IEBC was also heavily criticised for failing to prove it had received tally sheets, known as forms 34A, from all 42,000 pollings stations before declaring the final result on August 11, awarding Kenyatta victory with 54 percent of the vote.
Judges described the obscurity around the forms 34A as a "mysterious puzzle" that has not been solved.
They also questioned the absence of legally required security features, stamps and signatures on those forms that were eventually made public days after the declaration of results.
Judges on Wednesday also faulted the failure of the electronic transmission system, which relied on the availability of 3G or 4G mobile phone network to send scans of tally sheets as well as typed in figures.
The IEBC blamed network failures for missing and delayed tally forms, but the judges dismissed this excuse saying they should have been prepared.
"Failure of the electronic system was a direct violation of the law," Mwilu said.
"We find that the 2017 presidential election was neither transparent nor verifiable," leading to the unprecedented decision to nullify the vote, she concluded.
The election commission is due to hold a new presidential vote between Kenyatta and Odinga on October 17.
But Wednesday's detailed ruling, plus opposition demands for an overhaul of the commission and warnings from the French IT company that provided digital voting kits that it will not be ready on time, have raised fears that it will be impossible to meet that deadline.
Kenya's constitution says a new election must be held within 60 days of the court's annulment.
A 25-year-old trader was strangled to death by her lover after a misunderstanding ensued between them at Mamprobi Akoshie Junction, Accra.
Lydia Amor, a native of Navrongo in the Upper East Region, was discovered in her rented single room by two co-tenants in an unconscious state after the fight.
She was later pronounced dead on arrival at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
The unidentified lover, according to neigbours, bolted with a torn shirt after committing the crime on Monday dawn.
It is unclear why he took such action but residents suspect infidelity.
The Mamprobi Police have launched a manhunt for the suspect.
A neighbor secretly took the picture of the suspect after the act.
The District Commander, DSP George Asare, when contacted, said the report was lodged with the police around 7am Monday by two co-tenants.
According to the neighbors, they heard an unusual noise in the room of the deceased, who lived alone that Monday dawn and came out to find out what was amiss.
They saw the suspect, believed to be in his early 30s, coming out of the room of the deceased.
One of the neighbors said he actually called the gentleman to find out who he was, and what was happening, but the suspect took to his heels upon seeing other tenants.
The neigbours gave him a chase but later abandoned him.
The neigbours said they forcibly opened the door and saw the lady lying on the floor.
She was quickly rushed to the Korle- Bu Teaching Hospital.
DSP Asare therefore called on individuals to assist in apprehending the suspect.
Meanwhile, reports indicated that the deceased lived with her auntie at Assin Fosu before relocating to Accra a year ago.
She used to live with her cousin in the room and when the cousin got married recently, she moved to her husband's house, according to reports.
( [email protected]
By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey
The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) is leaving no stone unturned in dealing with open defecation in certain parts of the area.
The assembly has therefore formed a taskforce to deal with open defecation, littering and indiscriminate dumping of refuse to ensure healthy environment.
So far, about 29 culprits, who engaged in open defecation, have been arrested.
Out of the number, nine were taken to court and fined GH280.00 each and the rest were made to pay a spot fine of GH200.00 each which went into the assembly's coffers.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive for STMA, Anthony K.K Sam, disclosed this at the 2nd Ordinary Meeting of the 2nd Session of the 8th Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly held yesterday.
He revealed that another major environmental problem confronting the assembly was excessive noise making, adding that itinerant preachers and churches were the worst culprits.
He said the assembly would do everything possible to reduce noise-making to the barest minimum.
Security
He pointed out that the security situation in the metropolis was generally good and that streetlights in most parts of the city had been fixed, adding that the whole metropolis would be illuminated very soon.
He indicated that the assembly had engaged a military officer to help enhance the performance of the Metropolitan Guards and that the move had yielded positive results.
On the issue of waste management in the metropolis, Mr Sam noted that the assembly desilted most of the major drains in the metropolis to prevent serious flooding during the raining season.
Revenue Performance
The MCE for the STMA added that the assembly had engaged the services of some companies to boost revenue mobilization for the STMA.
He disclosed that at the beginning of the year, the STMA set a target of GH7,975,116.00 and that by the end of July this year, the assembly had collected GH4,785,395.75, representing 60 percent of the target for the year.
For the next financial year, a lot of attention will be focused on increasing revenues from the assembly's stores and stalls. Efforts will also be put in place to ensure that businesses and properties that are not in the data of STMA are captured, he noted.
On the government's free Senior High School (SHS) policy, the Sekondi-Takoradi Mayor told the assembly members that the NPP government would not tolerate any individual or group of persons who attempt to impede the implementation of its flagship policy.
Agriculture
The MCE revealed that the assembly had received a total of 240 bags of fertilizer and 4,900 grammes of pepper for onward distribution to farmers under the Planting for Foods and Jobs policy.
110 bags of fertilizer and 2,800 grammes of pepper have so far been distributed to the beneficiary farmers. The Youth Employment Agency has also recruited five extension assistants to assist in the implementation of the programme, he disclosed.
Under the government's Fertilizer Subsidy Programme, K.K Sam indicated that the metropolis has so far registered 97 farmers made up of 75 males and 22 females, and given them passbooks to enable them benefit from the programme.
Roads
The MCE told the assembly members that the Department of Urban Roads had been grading and reshaping the Diabene-Agric; Mapees, Mt Zion area and Mampong-KNUST roads since May 2017.
He also indicated that tenders for the grading, pothole patching and resealing of selected roads in the metropolis were received on August 2, 2017.
The evaluation report has been completed and sent for approval and these projects will be awarded soon, he added.
Job Creation
Touching on job creation, the MCE remarked I am delighted to pronounce that in the next couple of months, we shall witness the resuscitation of West African Mills Limited (WAMCO) and this will surely create jobs for our teeming youth.
He continued The Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) is going to build offices in the metropolis, and this will unquestionably create some job opportunities. As the days and months go by, more job openings will become available.
Presiding Member
The Presiding Member for STMA, John Davies, appealed to the assembly to take the appropriate steps to increase the salaries of the labourers of the assembly to help improve their living conditions and enhance their performance.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Sekondi
Istanbul-based Turkish Airlines is supporting the maiden African Air Expo scheduled to take place from October 24-26, 2017 in Accra with an amount of $15,000, equivalent to GH65,000.
The airline, which flies to more than 20 destinations around the world, wants to ensure that Ghana successfully holds the well-advertised event.
Ghana's Ministry of Aviation and the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) are the hosts of the event while Dubai-based 4M Events, organisers of the acclaimed Abu Dhabi Air Expo, are the event organisers.
The event is to serve as an ideal medium for the exchange of aviation-related know-how, fostering of closer collaboration between airlines operating in the country and their foreign counterparts who are expected to be in attendance.
It will also provide the opportunity for service providers to meet potential clients.
Turkish Airlines, which has been operating in Ghana for years, disclosed that the event is an opportunity to put Ghana on the world aviation map.
The airline's vast network in Africa, from where it connects passengers to destinations is the Americas, Asia, and Europe via Istanbul, makes it the carrier of choice for passengers seeking a great travelling experience at a competitive price.
It is currently offering passengers heavily discounted fares in its Turkish Airlines Sales Festival from Accra to major destinations such as Washington for US$999; Amsterdam, US$539; Dubai, US$549; London, US$639; and New York, US$999.
Under the promotion, passengers are to book by October 1, 2017 for travel before March 31, 2018.
The Turkish Airlines Sales Festival would provide the platform for families to purchase their Christmas holiday tickets early and save hundreds of dollars.
Senior Minister Yaw Osafo-Maafo has stressed that the government's 'Free Senior High School (SHS)' policy has come to right the wrongs and take away the education system that makes vulnerable people fail in life.
According to him, the policy has redefined basic education to include SHS, for it is to prepare young people for tertiary education or equip them with vocational and technical skills which will empower them to contribute more meaningfully to national development.
Our Free SHS is total, comprehensive and makes real difference in the lives of parents and guardians. It is not some sort of rebate which is only meant to create the impression that we care about you. This is because 'Free SHS' is our collective future, the senior minister stated in Kumasi yesterday.
He was leading a high-powered government delegation to monitor the implementation of the policy in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi.
Included in his entourage were Minister of Trade, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen; Minister of Aviation, Cecelia Abena Dapaah; Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu; the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah; and the mayor of Kumasi, Osei Assibey Antwi.
Some of the SHSs visited were Opoku Ware, Prempeh College, T. I. Ahmaddiya, St. Louis, Kumasi Academy and the Anglican.
Mr. Osafo-Maafo noted, For some time now, about 100,000 students who qualify from BECE each year are unable to enroll because of their inability to pay fees. Government has moved to end this once and for all with the introduction of 'Free SHS.'
The senior minister added, Unless we do this, our educational system will be setting a segment of our population, especially the vulnerable, up to fail in life.
According to him, the policy is holistic, with emphasis on technical, vocation and agricultural education and training (TVAET), and continued that government was re-aligning and re-organising the teaching and learning of these fields.
Mr. Osafo-Maafo said the Akufo-Addo government is determined to make the policy succeed on sustainable basis.
The ritual of borrowing by countries such as ours perennially is a worrying phenomenon which must be stopped if genuine growth of our economies is to be achieved.
Such an affront to our dignities should not continue to haunt us even as we seek to rub shoulders with others on the comity of civilized and truly independent nations of the world.
As a long-standing feature of our country, as it is with others in the same bracket, the President was on point when he sued for a local means of supporting our developments.
Even as an abrupt stoppage of the phenomenon cannot be achieved without adverse repercussions in the short term, a gradual phasing out of the face-losing practice should be sincerely sought and developed as a national policy.
We have not exploited the leverages of truly adding values to our natural resources; the old order of exporting products in their raw forms still a cornerstone of our development agenda.
It is worth noting that for many years, countless international discourses have been held to address this challenge but little, if any, has come our way.
If President Akufo-Addo touched on this subject when he was talking on Sustainable Development, the fifth chapter in a series of deliberations on the subject at the Earth Institute in New York a couple of days ago, he was on point.
He touched the hearts of many who have followed the subject for the past many years as our political leaders continue to seek alternatives to our cup in hand approach to development.
Sustainable development cannot be achieved unless the structures of our economies are changed with quality leadership leading the charge; as it were.
Countries endowed with vast quantities of human and natural resources, such as ours, have no reason to be confined to the four walls of poverty requiring annual injections of foreign aid to drive their national budgets.
Even with such supports, the balance sheets of these countries do not show impressive figures for which the dosages must be repeated in subsequent years a vicious cycle of poverty being the outcome.
Some things do not add up. The current template must be altered immediately because repeating the dosage of a similar prescription won't certainly change the outcome of our efforts to change the face of our economies. That is why the need to change our approach as what the President told his colleagues must be considered with all the seriousness that is required.
We have come a long way from the early days of taking our destinies as independent nations in our hands. We should have been talking about other issues and not about road infrastructure and places of inconvenience for urban dwellers and the like.
Our President who has said it already that he is in a hurry to change the state of our economy would do wonders when, especially, his dream is shared not only by his counterparts in the developing world but his compatriots at home.
We can only move forward and eventually stop the cup in hand picture when we work towards a sustainable economic development of our country.
Lome (AFP) - Several thousand people thronged the streets of Togo's capital Wednesday after the ruling party urged supporters to march at the same time as planned opposition protests demanding the removal of President Faure Gnassingbe.
The rival demonstrations in Lome came after the opposition boycotted a vote Tuesday on constitutional reform which would have included a presidential term limit.
The opposition wanted the limit to apply retroactively so that Gnassingbe, who has been in power since 2005, could not run again in 2020.
After more than 100,000 people across the country turned out for opposition protests on September 6 and 7, more marches were planned for Wednesday and Thursday.
Opposition leader Jean-Pierre Fabre said there would be "no respite" or "rest as long as Mr Gnassingbe is in power".
Presidential party Union for the Republic (UNIR) also urged a march in support of Gnassingbe, the scion of one of Africa's oldest political dynasties.
"It is a pleasure to be here," UNIR supporter Georgia, 34, told AFP.
"We are peaceful," she said on the beach in Lome, which remained quiet.
One young protester said he received 5,000 CFA francs (7.50 euros, $9) to participate in the pro-government rally.
"You think we're here for politics?" asked Justin, 17, to the approval of his friends.
The Togolese government has warned the opposition against the presence of "people of foreign nationalities looking to participate in acts of violence" during the marches.
Gnassingbe, whose family has been in power since 1967, has now won three elections, the results of which have been contested by the opposition.
The failure to pass the constitutional reform bill forced a referendum, which a member of the government said will be held in the coming months.
Half of Togo's population lives below the poverty line, according to the United Nations, despite a GDP growth rate of five percent over the last three years.
20.09.2017 LISTEN
With around one billion of which in circulation globally, the spread and proliferation of small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) is ranked today amongst the worlds most pressing security threat; not only they do pose direct threat to security across the world, but also undermine and deplete efforts of peace and stability. In fact the spread of SALW, inter alia, exacerbates conflicts, threatens civilian populations in conflict zones, and endangers the missions of peace-keepers and humanitarian workers. In other words, illicit proliferation, both in areas engulfed in armed conflict and in non-conflict settings, contributes to the increase in global armed violence, to insecurity due to fear of gun violence, and to delaying conflict resolution.
In Africa the spread of arms has continued unabated, despite mounting efforts to control it, due to the nature of African colonial borders in the first place, and the role of third parties and the sinister entry of new actors, particularly the Transnational Corporations interested in the Africas untapped and mouth watering natural resources. Thanks to the arms flow and proliferation (95% of which comes from outside), armed conflict costs Africa around $18bn per year, besides seriously derailing development, health and education.
In Darfur, where the conflict could be traced through its historical and colonial roots, the combined effects of the protracted drought and desertification imbued the recurring tribal conflicts and rivalry over water and grazing rights. However, since the late 1970s, the dramatic increase in numbers of victims and fatalities, who fell prey to these recurring tribal showdowns, was primarily a corollary of proliferation - in number and type - of (SALW) in the hands of civilians in Darfur, which was in return a corollary or a direct ramification of the recurring wars in the neighboring Chad, Libya, Central Africa and lately in South Sudan.
For further elucidation, according to statistics, between 2007 and 2017, more than 730 tribal battles took place in the Darfur region, hundreds of people were killed or wounded, as well as large numbers of people displaced. In fact due to the negative repercussions of (SALW), many consecutive tribal reconciliation conferences and initiatives, whether carried out by the state and federal governments, have failed to sustain or pay the aspired dividends; to bring to an end, such despicable phenomenon. In fact stressing seriousness of problem, the Vice President of the Republic, Hasbu Mohammed Abdul Rahman, has recently stated that the number of those killed as a result of tribal conflicts in Darfur, is hundred times bigger than those killed in the battles with the armed groups.
With the spread of around a million pieces of illicit weapons in the hands of civilian populations in Darfur alone, according to official estimations and statistics of Sudan Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission (DDRRC), the issue of proliferation of weapons in Darfur has turned into a paramount challenge and a major security hazard that mandates necessitates a prompt action, with all the necessary faith and determination. At the end of the day, a responsible government should not allow or tolerate such chaos to undermine its legitimate authority and hinder efforts to promote development.
The government of the Sudan, in line with its national responsibilities and obligations, has always been keen to ensure the rule of law, emphasizing the existence of will and ability of its regular forces to provide all the necessary protection to civilians and their properties, particularly by addressing the remnant manifestations of chaos in the post-rebels era in Darfur, namely armed tribal conflicts, armed banditry.
Therefore, driven by its moral obligation to alleviate the human suffering caused by small arms and to work towards greater control of these weapons, the government of the Sudan in 2016 has dauntlessly resolved to develop and implement a strategy and comprehensive road-map, to collect all unlicensed weapons throughout the Sudan, in coordination with (DDRRC), UNAMID and the United Nations Development Program.
Arguably the government chose to start the strategy with Darfur states, only because in Darfur- till further notice, remains obviously the area where the shoe pinches the most. In other words, the excessive accumulation and misuse of small arms, still poses a significant obstacle to the post-conflict transformation in Darfur, and hence to its awaited sustainable development.
Internationally, arms collection campaign in Sudan, comes in total conformity with the ongoing global efforts, spear-headed by the UN, represented in the program of action to Prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons of 2001. Taking into account, its wide range humanitarian and socio-economic consequences, and how they pose a serious threat to peace, reconciliation, safety, security, stability and sustainable development at the individual, local, national, regional and international levels. More particularly the restrictions on the civilian ownership of small arms and a proposed prohibition on the transfer of arms to non-state actors
Moreover, Sudan courageous policy to combat the possession of proliferation of illicit weapons in a way, offers yet invaluable services to the pressing international efforts for combating the global threats and dimensions of international terrorism, illegal immigration and human trafficking.
During the visit of Sudan foreign minister Prof. Ghandour, to Bulgaria in April this year, Bulgaria's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ekaterina Zaharieva, has described the Sudan as one of the best partners for the EU in combating terrorism, violent fundamentalism, illegal migration and human trafficking. The Bulgarian FM went on to describe Sudan as an anchor of stability in a region of no stability. It should be noted here that Bulgaria is shouldering the forthcoming presidency of the EU in January2018.
Regionally, by the same token, and at the time Africa celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Organization of African Unity/African Union (OAU/AU), the current Sudanese courageous step, works in homogeneity with one of the salient targets of moving the agenda of the AU substantially forward; mobilizing AU member states to make progress towards achieving the end of all wars in Africa. Arguably, with the contention that nothing was ever invented has caused as much death and suffering in Africa as the gun, the African leaders during the 28th African Union Assembly in January 31, 2016 in Addis Ababa, have committed themselves to work to ensure that the last bullet in a war zone anywhere in Africa will be shot in 2020, that is almost less than two years from now.
Domestically, and contrary to some politically-oriented claims by some tendentious circles here and there, the firm and widely supported decision of the Government of Sudan to unleash this courageous campaign, is per se a valid vindication of Sudans government commitment and respect for the terms of the accords and agreements it has already signed with its national partners and stakeholders;
1. The Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) signed in July 2012, and hitherto the only international document consolidated to achieve lasting peace in Darfur, which addresses the root causes of the conflict in Darfur and its consequences, and which contributed greatly to the peace and tranquility currently manifested in the states of Darfur, stipulated and mandated the Government of the Sudan to, inter alia, ensure the success of the Darfur arms collection project in order to establish security, stability and peace. In fact the (DDPD) has explicitly called for the reconciliation of the forces of the armed movements and assimilation within the regular forces.
2. Similarly, the arms collection process is an outright implementation of the recommendations of the comprehensive national dialogue conference and the resulted national document, signed in Khartoum October 2016, by 79 political parties and 23 armed movements.
3. Under the slogan of Darfur free of weapons the recommendations of the workshop organized by the Darfur Regional Authority in April 2016, has stressed inter alia, the need for the state to adopt the disarmament program and appealed for the assistance of the international community, besides, intensifying efforts and taking precautions to combat arms smuggling across borders to ensure the control of all illicit arms.
4. In addition, the process of collecting weapons was met with unprecedented support from the different political and societal forces; just to name a few, Sudanese most prominent opposition figure, leader al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi, Chairman of the Umm National Party, has described the presidential decision to collect arms in Darfur states by the right decision. Likewise, The President of the Party of Liberation and National Justice d. Tijani Sisi praised the decision, pointing out that his party was the first to introduce the initiative to collect weapons and actually prepared a roadmap for disarmament.
In line with the mounting prospects of the imminent lifting of American sanctions which already started to crystallize and take shape in the horizon, Mr. Paul Steven, the director of the office of the American envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, during his visit to Darfur last April 2017, has reiterated the great progress has resulted in the situation in Darfur and the importance of dealing with the issue of the armed militias and unruly groups that undermining the citizens' security in Darfur.
The senior American official has equally lauded the great efforts being carried out by the government in supporting the stability and security in Darfur states, inter alia, collecting weapons and handling the issues of the displaced people. Promising that the US administration will work together with the government and donors for boosting the development and stability endeavors.
As Sudans regional role is proved pivotal and rather insurmountable in combating transnational crimes, illegal immigration and human trafficking..Extra, the international community is highly awaited and anticipated to increase its political and financial support for the current arms collection campaign in the Sudan, which remains by and large, the biggest challenge and the cornerstone for a lasting peace and stability in the Sudan and beyond.
He has every inalienable right to express his opinions on any policy decisions made by the key players of the Akufo-Addo-led government of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). What he has absolutely no right to do is to presume to cavalierly lecture the President on the constitutional legitimacy of any of his executive appointees. More so, when Dr. Kwabena Donkor has amply demonstrated his gross incompetence as a Mahama cabinet appointee in charge of Power, who had to be forced to resign and render an unqualified public apology.
You see, just before deciding to fire off this rejoinder, I Googled to find out what his academic and professional credentials were, when the Pru-Easts National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament decided to accept his appointment as Power Minister, which Dr. Donkor had vigorously lobbied for on the floor of the House. The mans Doctorate is in the disciplinary area of Development Planning. He also holds a Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA). And yet, as the evidence clearly shows, Dr. Donkor woefully failed to acquit himself creditably as Chief Executive Officer of BOST, namely, the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company.
And so one begins to wonder precisely what value Ghanaians have gained from his Lancaster University, UK, Business Management degree. That Dr. Donkor is clearly a very poor reflection on the quality of the sort of education provided by that elite British tertiary academy can scarcely be gainsaid. At his BOST post, for example, the man is widely known to have created the corrupt and kleptocratic culture of deliberately causing refined petroleum to be contaminated, so that it could be cheaply sold well below the open-market rates to his political associates and cronies and at the expense of the Ghanaian taxpayer. Now, that is a Class-One Felony.
In other words, the man ought to have been indicted, prosecuted and placed behind bars for quite a considerable while long ago. But even worse, as a custom-tailored Power Minister, Dr. Donkor signed the most recklessly idiotic energy-supply contract with the Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based middle-man company called AMERI Group. In that contract, a company that did absolutely zilch in the energy-supply equipment chain to the country was widely and scandalously reported to have earned the humongous sinecure of approximately $ 200 million. The AMERI-Deal scam has since had to be renegotiated considerably down, if memory serves me accurately.
In U.S. academic circles, Dr. Donkors intellectual level and business acumen would easily be ranked with that of a Special Education kid. In other words, practically speaking, the Pru-Easts NDC-MP is a borderline case of a mentally retarded patient. He ought to be receiving long-term treatment in a psychiatric or mental rehabilitation center than presuming to second-guess President Akufo-Addo on the latters all-too-savvy appointment of Mr. Sammy Awuku, the New Patriotic Partys National Youth Organizer, as Board Chairman of the National Youth Employment Agency (YEA). He may have the credentials on his gilt-edged sheepskins, as it were, all right, but in practical terms, Dr. Donkor has absolutely no moral and/or professional credibility and managerial competence to presume to impugn Nana Akufo-Addos sense of judgment, where the Presidents executive appointments are concerned.
Sammy Awuku clearly has what it takes, in terms of practical experience, to competently manage the affairs of the National Youth Employment Agency. This cannot be said of Mr. Awukus most virulent critic on the parliamentary minority side of the aisle.
*Visit my blog at: kwameokoampaahoofe.wordpress.com Ghanaffairs
20.09.2017 LISTEN
The Asokwa Divisional Police Command have arrested two suspects from their hideouts at the Sokoban Wood Village a suburb of Kumasi for undertaking a series of robberies within Asokwa and its surrounding communities.
The suspects; Frank Mensah alias Nenyor, 22 years a 'shoemaker' and Samuel Opoku alias 'Sammy Tuga', 23 years a Disk Jocker (DJ) subsequently led police to arrest the third accomplice known as Kwabena Asare alias 'Shanton' a trader from his hideouts at Waadie- Adumakese a suburb of Kumasi on Sunday, September 17, 2017.
The other two suspects whose names have been given to police as Kofi and Kwame Puffy are currently at large.
Briefing journalists in Kumasi, Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Juliana Obeng said the five suspects, Frank Mensah, Samuel Opoku, Kwabena Asare, Kofi and Kwame Puffy on September 15, 2017 attacked and robbed a man and his fiancee on board a Hyundai Elantra private car of cash sum of GHC930.00, a necklace and two mobile phones.
She said the suspects later continued to a Guest House at Kaase a suburb of Kumasi at about 1:50am.
Two of the suspects took the receptionist and a night security man hostage, whilst the other three suspects who had earlier taken cover at a nearby bush emerged and took the receptionist to search the rooms of the guests.
The suspects succeeded in robbing the victims of three mobile phones and bolted afterwards.
ASP Obeng indicated that investigations also revealed the suspects after their operation proceeded to an area around the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to share their booty.
During interrogation, the suspects mentioned that they had GHC250.00 and a mobile phone each.
A victim in the robbery incident identified one of the three mobile phones retrieved from the suspects as his. Meanwhile all the three suspects who have been arrested are in police custody assisting in investigations.
Many first-year students of Senior High Schools (SHS) in the Ashanti region have been left on their own in private hostels after they failed to secure boarding status.
Joy News Erastus Asare Donkor reports that school authorities are also denying some of them access to school facilities for evening preps on grounds they are day students.
School heads say they will have nothing to do with hostel issues for fear of being sanctioned, following the introduction of Free SHS programme.
A week after newly-admitted students reported on the various campuses, visibly worried parents loitre school compounds with their children, still looking for solutions to accommodation challenges.
Christian Yeboah, 15, from Alajo in Accra was placed in Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) SHS in Kumasi, however, the school cannot provide him accommodation on campus.
According to the school authorities, only 150 out of 500 first year male students can have access to boarding facilities.
Yeboah is forced to put up in a private hostel a little over a mile from campus to live on his own, unsupervised and feeds himself, unlike some of his colleagues.
Above all, he cannot attend evening studies in the school because they consider us as day students and the security men have been sacking us.
We have told the headmistress to get a teacher for us so that we can have our own preps here, he explained.
Although the facility which houses the students was initially earmarked to house students, especially from outside the Region for the sake of supervision, school authorities abandoned the idea.
They have washed their hands off arranging private accommodation for students like Yeboah due to fear of being sanctioned by the Ghana Education Service (GES).
A parent, like many others, is unhappy her 15-year-old son will have to stay all by himself in a private hostel.
As a parent, renting a hostel for my child is a scary thought because you dont know what they would be engaged in without you around, she told Joy News.
The cost of hiring hostel accommodation ranges between 300 and 600 per head for a term in rooms with the capacity to take up to 60 students in some cases.
Orientation has begun for first-year students in many of the schools but that has no meaning to some parents and their wards as they want to settle the accommodation issue.
During a visit to St. Monicas SHS at Asante Mampong, some frustrated parents from outside the Region could be seen carrying their children's luggage around in search of accommodation.
They had been lodging in guest houses, awaiting a decision by the school to adopt a facility to house the students for a fee.
It is anticipated the GES will give the go-ahead for school heads to find alternative accommodation and supervise the private hostels.
Police in the Brong Ahafo Region have cautioned residents against taking the law into their own hands in what appears to be an imminent threat of war between locals and nomadic herdsmen popularly called Fulani.
Brekum District Police commander, Supt Nicholas Opare Ofosuhene is rather calling for calm as the police and the stakeholders find a peaceful settlement to the menace.
The locals in Brekum are said to be arming themselves ahead of the expiration of a one-month deadline given to the herdsmen to vacate the area.
Recent clashes between the two groups have led to the death of 17 persons in the Brong Ahafo Region, 14 of whom are herdsmen and three locals.
At least, 13 people have sustained varying degrees of injuries and are receiving treatment at the hospital.
Nhyira FMs Ohemeng Tawiah in a documentary titled, Violent Shepherds, reported that the residents of Brekum are getting ready for a full blown war with the herdsmen.
The residents are said to be piling up weapons ahead of what may be a bloody clash with the Fulani herdsmen.
Ohemeng Tawiah describes the situation in the Berekum enclave as a 'ticking time-bomb'.
Native chiefs and the people in seven communities, including Quataa, Teubebi, Mpatasie and Akukrom are getting ready for the onslaught, similar to an action taken by the residents two years ago.
One of the chiefs who took part in the clashes two years ago said they faced a more sophisticated Fulani men armed with AK47.
"They are well armed. Some of them used AK47. How can we use our locally manufactured guns and cutlasses," Quataahene Nana Kweku Baah Brentu II asked, adding, they had to come back home and reorganize to face the Fulani herdsmen.
They have therefore given an October 16 ultimatum for the Fulani herdsmen to vacate the land or be forced out, this time with sophisticated arms, not the cutlasses and locally made guns.
He said they will no longer sit aloof and watch the Fulani herdsmen takeover their lands.
He, together with the natives expect the district security council to support the indigenes in the impending war.
But the police command in the area is urging caution.
You cannot just say once they have come to graze on your land, you are going to jump on them. When you do that it is going to be confrontational. It is either you harm them or they harm you.
"That is why we always advise them to exercise patience when the District Security meets to take a decision on it, the Brekum District Police commander, Supt Nicholas Opare Ofosuhene said.
He would rather a stakeholders meeting is held to discuss the matter and find an amicable solution to the matter.
According to Joy FMs Brong Ahafo Regional Correspondent, Precious Semevor, there is going to be Regional Security Council meeting at 2:00pm Wednesday, to discuss the matter.
20.09.2017 LISTEN
Accra, Sept. 18, GNA - Generations For Peace (GFP), with its local partner Youngstars Development Initiative (YDI), has started the implementation of its latest peace building programme dubbed: 'Dialogue for Peace Programme (DPP)'.
A statement issued by GFP and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Monday said the DPP was focusing on engaging members of the country's two main political youth clubs- the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) - at the University of Ghana in dialogue sessions.
It said the DPP was based on the Transformative Dialogue approach which gave people the opportunity to talk about issues they considered important, using words of their own choosing.
It noted that it aimed to increase participants' understanding of the conflict, their ability to respond to it positively, and interact with the others involved constructively.
The statement quoting the Country Director of YDI, Naa Adei Boateng commenting on the programme said: 'GFP chose to pilot the Transformative Dialogue approach, as it matches our overall mandate of participatory, volunteer-led programming. This approach sees conflict as arising from a crisis in human interaction.
'The people and groups involved in conflict situations relate to each other in hostile, aggressive, and prejudicial ways, which can lead to violence and this is where we come in'.
The statement said the transformative Dialogue was different from other approaches because it was participant-led and non-directive.
It said it was the participants themselves who picked the topic of conversation and who ultimately decided which direction the dialogue programme would go.
'This party-driven approach to dialogue provides people caught up in a conflict with a space and a chance to speak and be heard; but, it is up to the participants to decide what to do with that opportunity.
'DPP is currently being piloted in three countries namely Ghana, Georgia and the Republic of Macedonia. In all three, a DPP was chosen as it was better suited to the context than GFP's other vehicles for peace building,' it added.
YDI is an international nongovernmental organisation that focuses on enhancing leadership among youth, improving the competencies of youth organisations involved in development programmes, and strengthening youth representation on issues that affect their well being for nation building;
GFP is a Jordan-based global non-profit organization founded by HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein and Sarah Kabbani Al Feisal, dedicated to sustainable peace building and conflict transformation through sport, arts, advocacy, dialogue and empowerment.
GFP uses sport as an entry point to engage with children and youth, and its carefully-facilitated sport-based games provide a vehicle for integrated education and behavior change.
In addition to the sport-based approaches, GFP has also developed arts, advocacy, dialogue, and empowerment activities to support conflict transformation with children, youth and adults in different contexts.
GNA
20.09.2017 LISTEN
Accra, Sept.18, GNA - Mr Benito Owusu Bio, a Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, says the era of 'trial and error' approach in prospecting for natural resources is over as it degraded the environment.
'I can say that about 50 per cent of the places these miners dug they don't find anything, but they eventually destroyed the land, the forest and polluted the water bodies.
'Africa has a lot of resources but had not utilised the expertise of geoscientists in the extraction of natural resources,' he said.
It was time small-scale miners utilised the services of geoscientists to receive accurate geological data before mining to minimise the damage to the environment, he said.
Mr Owusu Bio told journalists on the sidelines of a trainer of trainers' workshop in Accra on Monday for 40 geoscientists drawn from Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia.
It was intended to share experiences regarding the exploitation of natural resources and come out with recommendations that would contribute significantly towards the governance of the extractives to enhance resource utilisation.
The training was organised by the European Geological Surveys and Organisation of African Geological Surveys under the Work Package Three of Artisanal Small-scale Mining Training.
It was funded by the European Union (EU) through its Directorate-General for International Co-operation and Development, in collaboration with the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development of Canada.
It was expected to improve and reinforce geoscientific skills of African geoscientists, which would equip them with enhanced and relevant data and skills to provide better services to facilitate resource discovery and development.
The three-year Pan African Programme is intended to provide over 50 training sessions to 1,200 geologists from 54 African countries.
Mr Owusu Bio said the Multilateral Mining Integrated Programme Working Document, which would streamline small-scale mining in the country, was ready and would be launched next month.
Asked whether the six-month moratorium on small-scale mining, which is supposed to end this month would be extended, he said it would depend on how stakeholders co-operate with the directives, adding; 'It's not about the time, but making sure that we all do the right thing and going forward, we will all be happy'.
Mr Owusu Bio said government was in the process of procuring sophisticated drones with an estimated budget of three million dollars, to monitor the activities of small-scale mining across the country since the security agencies could not be everywhere at the same time.
The drones are specially made and would be placed in command centres, he said, adding; 'The drones can be in the air for 15 to 21 hours, and could also travel 200 kilometres away from the base station'.
They could take night vision recordings, geological footage and other data that would enhance the monitoring of mining operations in the country.
Mr Owusu Bio said in spite of these sophisticated equipment, there was the need for community involvement in the fight against illegal mining and that; 'We need holistic approach to win the war against galamsey.''
Mr William Hanna, the European Union Ambassador to Ghana, urged the Government to ensure sustainable exploitation of the natural resources to benefit the ordinary citizen.
He entreated Government to ensure that the artisanal small-scale mining sector was properly regulated in order to create decent jobs and livelihoods for the miners and prosperity for all Ghanaians.
'We know that extractive resources including oil, gas and minerals affect the socio-economic conditions of countries that represent half of the world's population. Some four billion people live today in countries whose economies have been shaped, to a large extent, by their natural resource endowments.
'Some countries have succeeded quite well in transforming their natural resources into assets for change.
'Unfortunately, for many others, abundance of natural resources has been a curse, while others have been able to translate natural wealth into economic and human development.
'Moreover, in conflict-affected countries resource exploitation has fuelled instability,' Mr Hanna said.
He said the aforementioned reasons provoked the EU to adopt an integrated approach to stop the profits from trading minerals to be used for fuelling conflicts and to promote due diligence in responsible sourcing through the adoption of the new Regulation on Conflict Minerals.
Accra, Sept.18, GNA - Members of the Freedom and Justice, a pressure group, led by Mr Ras Mubarak, Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, on Monday demonstrated to register their displeasure with the human rights abuses of Muslim Minority in Myanmar.
The group called on the International Community to take immediate action to end the attack.
During the protest, the group presented a petition to the Israeli Embassy in Ghana, with a demand for immediate cessation of the sale of offensive weapons, training of military and other security forces of Myanmar, specifically in the Rakhine State.
'The Army in Myanmar is engaged in what the UN describes as the 'systematic textbook definition of genocide and ethnic cleansing' of the Rohingya Muslim Minority in Myanmar.
'Rohingya men and boys have been hunted like animals, captured, tortured, shot and killed. Their mutilated bodies have been burned or fed to vultures.
'Rohingya women and girls have been beaten, raped and physically abused. Over 70,000 of their homes have been burned to the ground. More than 400,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar on foot for days to Bangladesh, according to the United Nations.
'Pregnant women with infant children are among the abused and tortured,'' Mr Mubarak said.
He said the elderly have been left to their own devices without care: no food, no water, no shelter and no mercy.
The world's major news and media houses are showing evidence of a grotesque persecution of a defenceless minority group by the Military in Myanmar.
According to the Group, Israel's continuous support and sale of weapons and training of the Myanmar Military was a tacit support and approval of the ethnic cleansing, genocide and religious discrimination of the Rohingya Muslims.
'We find it tragic that the state of Israel will continue to sell arms to Myanmar when there are clear evidences that there is a deliberate and calculated attempt to exterminate a minority group.
The group called on Israel to join in condemning the genocides and ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims by the Military.
20.09.2017 LISTEN
Accra, Sept. 18, GNA - Ghana's sales agreement with Russian energy giant, GAZPROM, for the supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) will impact the country's economy positively, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said.
GAZPROM, a world leader in gas production, has reached and signed a Gas Sales Agreement (GSA) with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) to supply LNG to enable Ghana shore up its energy security.
The GSA is expected to add some 1000 Megawatts to the country's energy supply after the construction of a regasification plant at Tema.
Speaking to a delegation from GAZPROM that called on him at the Flagstaff House, President Akufo-Addo said the deal was a testament of governments' efforts at putting in place the framework to encourage private sector participation in the growth of Ghana's economy.
He said his government's focus was now centered on improving the nation's power and energy sector, after taking measures to improve the country's fiscal and monetary policy, as well as improve the economic and business climate.
'If we are going to succeed in pushing the industrial development of our country rapidly, the supply of gas to our country is now a matter of very great importance for us,' he said.
The President said the agreement, which would save Ghana over a billion dollars, replaced two signed competing contracts for the same Tema LNG project by the previous, which were both considered over-priced and over-sized for Ghana.
He assured GAZPROM that; 'All of us are going to do whatever we need to do to make sure that this relationship that we have now begun to build becomes a strong positive and successful one.'
Mr Pavel Oderov, the Head of International Business at GAZPROM, said 'The signing of the GSA is a very big day for us at GAZPROM. Indeed, we have signed today the second biggest LNG supply contract in our portfolio.'
'With GAZPROM producing 11 per cent of the world's gas, we are more than honoured to become a supplier of LNG to Ghana. We are absolutely sure that we will become a reliable partner for the energy industry in Ghana,' he added.
Tema Sept 19, GNA - A clearing agent has been arrested by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in Tema for under declaring the goods he was clearing at the Harbour.
Mr. Felix Mate-Kodjo, Sector Commander, Customs Division. GRA, Tema Port, at a press briefing said 'we came across a clearing agent called Simana Logistics Limited who had declared some items that attracted a lower rate of duty (5%), but when the consignment were opened they were found to contain mobile phones and about fifty other items that would have attracted 60000 Ghana Cedis revenue.
'So what we want to say is that, in as much as Customs would like to create a platform to enable people to clear their goods very quickly, people shouldn't take advantage to cheat the system,' he warned.
'We started paperless transactions on the first of September, and the essence is to ensure facilitation so that compliant importers cleared their goods in a relatively shorter time. The idea is that those who did the right thing should be rewarded to clear their items within a very short time,' he informed.
Mr. Mate-Kodjo observed that some agents had taken advantage of the focus on facilitation to cheat the system.
He explained further by saying that, 'What they normally do is to declare goods that are not on the customs' declarations and make away with revenue that runs into tens of thousands of Cedis.'
He assured the public of the readiness of his outfit to identify people who would want to take advantage, saying that 'we are up and doing in the course of our work.'
He said intelligence gathering and arrest were activities usually undertaken in the course of their work 'but we normally do not go out there to tell the public, so we deemed it necessary to do so this time.'
According to him, in such a situation, the culprit would pay a penalty not exceeding three times the duty involved plus the duty itself and probably prosecuted.
Mr. Edward Osei, Chief Revenue Officer in Charge of Preventive, observed 'that the paperless transaction which had been rolled out is a fantastic idea from the government.'
'The advantages are too numerous to recount. But we also want to tell the importing public and agents that for the paperless system to be effective and for us to reap the benefits that will come from it, they should be compliant enough. They should be sincere with themselves, do legal business with us and shouldn't do anything that will undermine revenue collection and our security.'
He said even though they were facilitating trade, which was a great idea, they would not relent in their resolve to expose those criminals who would take advantage of the system, adding that 'that is why the Preventive is being encouraged to be extra vigilant on us.'
He said, 'We are not compromising revenue and we will not jeopardize security, and so we will want to send the warning out there that those who think they can outwit the system because it is a new system, will have to rethink because we are out to expose them.'
20.09.2017 LISTEN
Accra, Sept. 19, GNA - Mr Seth Twum-Akwaboah, the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), has said the country needs development-focused financial institutions to provide access to financing for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
He expressed concern that sector specific banks such as adb and National Investment Bank have all gone commercial with the advent of the Universal Banking concept.
He said the current Bank of Ghana minimum threshold was pegged at GH400 million adding; 'I do not see why such specialised banks should be mandated to meet a minimum requirement of GH400 million.'
Mr Twum-Akwaboah, at the African Partners Pool Business (APP) Forum, organised by Invest in Africa (IIA), said the bar could be lowered for such development-focused institutions to encourage them to provide such crucial financial intermediation role for SMEs.
The event was on the theme: 'Finance - Critical Need to grow your Business, But How and Where Can You Access It?'
The APP Forum is an online business platform that connects international companies to validate local businesses.
He said in addressing SMEs challenges, it was also important to emphasise the role they play to improve their access to finance.
'We can increase the number of banks to 50 or more, raise the minimum capital requirements of the banks, and government can reduce domestic borrowing to the barest minimum,' he added.
Mr Twum-Akwaboah said all those could lead to the availability of loanable funds to SMEs to support their businesses.
Mr Twum-Akwaboah called on banks to understand the SME business and the SMEs too must understand the expectations and requirement of the banks.
He said associations and development partners such as AGI and Invest in Africa also had a role to play in building capacities of SMEs to improve their access to finance.
He said government competing for funds with businesses within the domestic market must be reduced in order to improve access to SME financing.
Mrs Emmaline Ofosu, the Credit Analyst of Ecobank, said SMEs needed to have the right book keeping records, good governance structures, and effective management systems among other things to guarantee them credit.
She said banks were interested in honest financial statements and not the ones cooked specifically to access loan facilities.
Mr Ibrahim Aminu, the APP Manager, said the difficulties SMEs faced in accessing financing for their businesses engendered the forum, which was to create the awareness on those difficulties and provide solutions.
He urged SMEs to put in place good corporate governance structures so as to make it easier to convince financial institutions to lend to them.
Since the launch of the APP, which is a platform created to provide business linkages between small businesses and larger ones, 339 tenders at the value of 830 million dollars have been undertaken, with about 250 SMEs trained in entrepreneurship and managerial skills and competencies.
GNA
By Morkporkpor Anku, GNA
Ho, Sept. 19, GNA - The Volta/Eastern Regional branches of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) is to establish an industrial and business incubation Centre in Ho.
The Centre will train young entrepreneurs to become industrial giants and build the capacity of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to grow the local economy.
Mr Dela Gadzanku, the Volta/Eastern Regional Chairman-elect of the Association, gave the hint when the new Regional Executive paid a courtesy call on Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, the Volta Regional Minister.
He said the Centre, which would house products of Association members, would be named after the late Madam Esther Ocloo, a renowned industrialist who established the AGI.
Mr Gadzanku said the Centre would hold regular business clinics and investor summits to offer networking and match-making opportunities to young entrepreneurs, especially women.
Dr Letsa commended the Executive for the foresight and pledged the commitment of government to supporting the private sector to transform the economy.
He said the establishment of business incubation centres was in line with the Regional Coordinating Council's plan of making the Region an investment and tourism destination.
Dr Letsa said the Government's 'One District, One Factory,' was already opening the Region up for investors and had acquired 1,800 acres of land for an industrial park and a housing project.
GNA
By A.B. Kafui Kanyi, GNA
Kumasi, Sept 19, GNA - The French Government has applauded Ghana for the strong progress it is making in democratic governance and pledged to stand with the nation every step of the way.
Ms. Esther Srem-Sai of the French Embassy in Accra said democracy was the key driving force for political stability and economic growth.
It was on the basis of this that they were ready to assist enhance good governance at all levels of the society.
She added that France would continue to deepen its bilateral relations with the country - make available resources in support of the promotion of the rule of law alongside the development of education, health, skills acquisition, cultural diversity and tourism.
Ms. Srem-Sai was addressing the closing session of a two-day workshop on 'Strengthening ties between governments, civil society and citizens' held in Kumasi.
It was organized by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) - Ghana with funding by the French Embassy.
The programme brought together civil society organizations (CSOs), politicians and journalists from across three regions - Ashanti, Western and Brong-Ahafo.
The goal was to help them to have better understanding of the critical role they should play to enhance local governance.
Ms. Srem-Sai reminded the people to work together to sustain the nation on the path of democratic growth.
She additionally, encouraged them to take keen interest in the activities of the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies and to make sure that they became accountable to the people.
Mr. Francis Tsegah, Senior Fellow of CDD-Ghana and former Ghana's Ambassador to Spain, said many Ghanaians were uninterested in how the assemblies operated because of their lack of transparency.
'The people are almost always kept in the dark when it comes to budgeting, planning and utilization of state resources by the assemblies', he added.
GNA
By Stephen Asante, GNA
20.09.2017 LISTEN
Hohoe, Sept. 19, GNA - The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Brazil-Africa Institute (BAI) have launched the Youth Technical Training Programme (YTTP) to empower the youth to contribute to the food value chain in Africa.
The initiative aims to train young African professionals in research and technology transfer, contributing to local capacity development.
The YTTP initiative is sponsored under the South-South Cooperation Trust Fund (SSCTF) and will consist of an array of professional development schemes to meet diverse needs of African countries by utilizing Brazil's technology, skills and knowledge.
A press release made available to the Ghana News Agency, the AfDB said the focus areas include agriculture and rural development, health, education, information and communication, infrastructure, and the creative industry.
The parties on Thursday announced the commencement of the training of African youth for rewarding careers in cassava processing.
The first batch of the YTTP training, which was flagged off at the AfDB headquarters in Abidjan, CAte d'Ivoire, targets 30 young African professionals (between the ages of 18 and 35) of the cassava value-chain selected from 14 countries.
The trainees will receive two months training on the production chain of cassava at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) - a state-owned centre in Brazil.
The cassava training initiative was launched in close collaboration with the Brazil-Africa Institute, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
Cassava is considered crucial to the food security of millions of people in Sub-Saharan Africa.
It said most technologies developed in Brazil, especially those which relate to agriculture, are relevant for Africa. In addition, there is an increasing demand for Brazilian technology applicable to the African context.
Speaking at the launch of the YTTP, the Bank's Director of Agriculture and Agro-Industries, Chiji Ojukwu, said 'The development of the cassava training programme is one of the many programmes of ENABLE (Empowering Novel Agri-Business-Led Employment) Youth Programme of the AfDB. There will be more of such programmes to be developed with the Brazil Africa Institute."
The President of the Brazil Africa Institute, JoAo Bosco Monte, was optimistic that the trainees go back to their different counties with sound cassava production and processing training and skills at the end of the period.
He said the dream of his Institute was to work with AfDB to increase the number of participants for the cassava processing training to at least 300 in the coming years.
'This is just the beginning,' he assured.
The Minister of Youth and Employment of CAte d'Ivoire, Sidi TourA, described the YTTP as important to Africa, stressing how the country would tap from the knowledge of Ivorian participants.
'I am optimistic that this programme will change the fortune of African youths,' he added.
Nteranya Sangina, the Director General of the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), urged the trainees to tap into the expertise available in Brazil and prepare to contribute to making cassava a crop for food security in Africa.
He recalled how, as Nigeria's Minister, AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina, moved aggressively on import substitution with the use of cassava flour for composite flours in bread-making and confectionery industries.
'Brazil has several products processed from cassava. When you get there, study and acquire knowledge of modern technologies as much as you can,' he charged the 30 YTTP trainees.
'My dream is to have greater collaborations between young Brazilians and young African in the cassava processing sector.'
In their speeches, Bright Okogu, the AfDB Executive Director for Nigeria and SAo TomA and PrAncipe; and Hiromi Ozawa, Executive Director for Brazil, Argentina, Austria, Japan and Saudi Arabia, highlighted the potential impact of the project on the relationship between Africa and Brazil.
The Africa -America Institute (AAI) has awarded the Co- Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Mr. Jim Ovia with the esteemed 2017 Business Leader Award.
The award was conferred on him on Tuesday September 19, 2017 in New York, USA at the institutes 33rd Annual Awards Gala.
Receiving the award Mr Ovia said today I am very honored to be identified as one of the awardees of the AAI. I have always known over the years of mentoring and empowering a large number of people about 20, 000 people today, one thing they appreciate most is not money, but recognition, so when AAI decide to honour people like myself, truly I prefer being honored than being given money,he said.
Mr. Ovia co- founded Zenith bank, Nigerias largest bank in 1990.
He is currently the banks Group Chairman having served as MD and CEO of the bank for 20 years.
Jim Ovia is also the chairman of the board of trustees of James Hope College, a co- educational boarding school in Agbor, Delta State, Nigeria.
Mr Ovia was awarded alongside the President of the Republic of Ghana Nana Akufo Addo who was honoured with the National Achievement Award.
Two other Ghanaians Bozoma Saint John, the Chief Brand Officer for Uber and Nicole Amaerteifio, Creator, Director, and producer of African City were also presented with the Innovation and Technology and leadership in African Media and Arts Awards respectfully.
Founded in 1953, The Africa-America Institute is a premier U.S.-based international organization dedicated to strengthening human capacity of Africans and promoting the continent's development through higher education and skills training, convening activities, program implementation and management.
AAI raises funds to provide scholarships to smart and under-resourced students to attend top-performing African universities and develops programs that focus on increasing the skills of the next generation of African youth so that they become globally competitive.
AAI alumni are at the forefront of Africa's public, non-profit, and private sectors.
The Gala supports AAI's efforts to strengthen the human capacity of Africans and to promote enlightened engagement between Africa and America through education, skills training, dialogue and special events.
The award ceremony brought together diplomats, international and senior US government officials, business and civil society leaders, educators, philanthropists, journalists and other prominent figures.
Senior High Schools in the country will battle it out in local dishes cooking contest aimed at improving nutrition and healthy lifestyle.
The competition organised by Cliff Media Consult is dubbed "Tasty Tom High School Kitchen" is under the theme; "Home Economics for sustainable job creation and healthy lifestyle for Ghana.
At the launch on Tuesday held at Lucas College in Dzorwulu, Accra, the organisers revealed that the event would commence on October 6, in the Eastern Region.
It will take place at Okuapenman Senior High School, which would be followed by that of the Central Region on October 13, at Mfantsiman Girls School.
The third phase would be that of the Greater Accra Region, where schools in the Region battle it out for the bragging right at Labone Senior High on October 20.
After the Regional competitions, the final is expected to take place at Ghana Senior High School in Koforidua, on October 27 and 28, amidst musical performances.
Addressing the gathering, the President of Ghana Home Economics Association, Dr.Enyonam Kudonoo, lauded the organisers for such a competition to promote local dishes and embed entrepreneurship drive in Home Economics students.
She therefore urged the students to be alert and take advantage of the various opportunities available to them in the profession.
Dr.Kudonoo noted that the current local dishes served is becoming a shadow of the past, and there was the need to champion to cooking of nutritious local foods to improve healthy living.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, of the Ghana Tourism Development Company, Oheneba Akua Manfo, said the competition was in line with the "Eat Ghana" campaign launched by her outfit.
According to her, the various stakeholders should get involved in the programme since it goes a long way to inculcate in students cooking of local dishes and promised her full support.
Oheneba Akua Manfo, further urged the students who would be take part in the programme to be more creative in bringing out new ideas in cooking.
Additionally, the President of the Ghana Tourism Federation, Okatakyie Nana Anin, on his part urged Ghanaians to help promote local dishes.
That he said had the tendency to attract tourists to improve socio economic development of the country.
A reprentative of Tasty Tom, Maame Ama Afful, said their objective for sponsoring the programme was to help students better their understanding of nutrition and wellness through proper cooking.
She added that they also aim at giving Home Economics a future and help champion the "Eat Ghana" agenda.
This year's marked the second edition of the programme which started in 2016.
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Unless we decide to contort the historical truth of our motherland - Ghana, President Akufo-Addo is right in his decision to set aside August 4 as Founders Day while 21st September is celebrated as a day to honour Dr. Kwame Nkrumah - Ghana's first President.
We do agree as citizens that the battle for independence was started years before the coming Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to join the United Gold Coast Convention. Before the formation of UGCC, J.B. Danquah and other
Ghanaian elites have started and participated in several national and interterritorial political activities geared towards the emancipation of the natives from European domination. West African Students Union, Gold Coast Youth League were some of the groups formed to alert the Europeans that Blacks were ready to manage their won affairs. Nkrumah, who joined the UGCC several months after its formation, became the secretary of the party and eventually broke away to form his own party called Convention Peoples Party on January 12, 1949.
The struggle for independence and the founders of Ghana cannot be mentioned excluding names such as George Grant, R. S. Blay, Awoonor Williams, De Graft Johnson, J. W. Tseboe, J. B. Danquah, Obetsebi
Lamptey, William Ofori-Atta, Edward Akufo-Addo, Ako Adjei, Nii Kwabena Bonne III - chief of Osu Alata, Sergeant Adjetey - Private Odartey - Corporal Attipoe (the three ex service men whose death led to the Watson Commission - which recommended an extensive Legislative Assembly with more Ghanaian inclusive).
On 4th August 1947, the UGCC was formed with the vision of attaining self-rule for the natives. UGCC, unlike the Proto nationalists, did not call for legislative inclusiveness rather, self government in the shortest possible time.
The UGCC was made up of elites that were British trained hence, they adopted peaceful and procedural means of pressing their demands. Nkrumah who joined later, believed in the Socialist ideology hence, preferred using the Communist tactics.
The colonial masters never like Nkrumah's socialist ideology hence, after the 1948 riot, as a results of the recommendations made by the Watson Commission, the colonial government in 1949, appointed all Ghanaian committee to draw a new constitution for the country. This committee was headed by Henley Coussey.
The membership of the committee included the leadership of UGCC except Nkrumah who was considered opponent to the British ideology. The constitution drawn by the Coussey Committee birthed the 1951 constitution which paved way for the 1951 election that Nkrumah contested and won due to his close association with the masses.
Since the 1951 constitution paved way for the natives into the nation's politics, one will not be wrong by asking the role Nkrumah played in the drafting of the constitution. Nkrumah was not part of the sowing process. He only enjoyed the fruits of some peoples labour. A good question to the proponents of celebrating 21st September as Founders Day is - did the political struggle before 1951 elections contributed to the political liberalization of Gold Coasters? If it is an established fact that Dr. Kwame Nkrumah came to join the UGCC, then, are the proponents of Founders Day on 21st September telling Ghanaians that those who started the political battle before Nkrumah are worth not celebrating?
Let's not pretend!
Ghana has a rich history which needs not to be altered. Many were those who started the struggle for political emancipation before Nkrumah came to add his efforts hence if those people are worth celebrating then singling out Nkrumah's birthday as Founders Day is intellectually and patriotically deficient. Once 4th August is not the birth date of J. B. Danquah, William Ofori-Atta nor Edward Akufo-Addo, the argument by the minority that the President's decision to set August 4, as Founders Day is "a move to honour his ancestors" is baseless.
Let's honour our national heroes and honour them well. This will instill patriotism in generations to come.
Long live Ghana!
Nana Ofori Kissi Ratina
Atiwa Writer
Lome (AFP) - Thousands thronged the streets of Togo's seaside capital Wednesday after the ruling party asked supporters to march at the same time as planned opposition protests demanding the removal of President Faure Gnassingbe, the scion of Africa's oldest political dynasty.
The rival demonstrations in Lome came a day after the opposition boycotted a vote on constitutional reform which would have included a presidential term limit, arguing that it was a ploy to let Gnassingbe remain in power till 2030.
The opposition wanted the limit to apply retroactively so that Gnassingbe, who has been in power since 2005, could not run again in 2020. His father Gnassingbe Eyadema ruled from 1967 till his death in 2005.
The opposition marches began at around 11:00 am (1100 GMT) at three meeting points.
They came after giant rallies on September 6 and 7 seeking the president's ouster that drew more than 100,000 people on the streets -- a record in a country which has been widely criticised for stifling democracy.
The protesters held up posters declaring "Faure must go" and "Free my country, 50 years is enough".
Police and soldiers armed with heavy machine guns flanked the streets in pick-up trucks. Mobile phone networks and 3G services appeared to have been severed.
"We are not jihadists, we are not rebels," said Abdallah, 42, a supporter of the Panafrican National Party (PNP). "We just want democracy, we are tired."
Communications Minister Guy Lorenzo condemned what he called a "coup d'etat" on the streets.
The government meanwhile asked the opposition to show "responsibility and restraint" and warned that "people of foreign nationalities were looking to participate in acts of violence" during the marches.
'Explosive situation'
More protests are planned on Thursday against what veteran opposition leader Jean-Pierre Fabre called "the monstrous machine that has been crushing Togo's people for more than 50 years".
He said there would be "no let-up" as long as Gnassingbe remains in power.
Comi Toulabor, head of research at the Institute of Political Studies in Bordeaux, called the counter-rallies by the ruling Union for the Republic (UNIR) party "a strategy to disrupt the opposition protest".
"It's very amateurish but it shows the party isn't ready to give way," he told AFP, calling the situation "explosive".
About one thousand UNIR supporters quietly gathered on the beach in Lome on Wednesday, some sitting in the shade of palm trees.
"It is a pleasure to be here," UNIR supporter Georgia, 34, told AFP. "We are peaceful."
One young protester said he received 5,000 CFA francs (7.50 euros, $9) to participate in the pro-government rally.
"You think we're here for politics?" asked Justin, 17, as his friends nodded approval.
The failure to pass the constitutional reform bill in parliament forced a referendum, which a member of the government said will be held in the coming months.
Gnassingbe has now won three elections, the results of which have been contested by the opposition.
Half of Togo's population lives below the poverty line, according to the United Nations, despite a GDP growth rate of five percent over the last three years.
The Islamic Council for Deployment and Humanitarian Services [ICODEHS] has opened a new training center, known as ICODEHS Training Center at Alajo in the Greater Accra Region. The establishment of the center was supported by the Carter Center of the United States of America.
FRESH TRAINEES AT THE CENTRE
According to officials of ICODEHS, the center was established to offer free training and retraining of young ladies in sewing in Accra. The center would empower the beneficiaries to hold their own to work to generate income to support themselves and families.
THE TRAINERS AND OFFICIAL OF ICODEHS AT THE CENTER
Apart from establishing the center, ICODEHS also donated a number of sewing machines, at a separate ceremony to some freshly trained seamstresses to be able to pursue their trades independently. The sewing machines were donated with funds from the Red Crescent Society of the United Arab Emirates.
BENEFICIARIES OF ONE OF THE SEWING MACHINE
The Executive Chairman of ICODEHS Sheikh Mustapha Ibrahim was full of praise for those who provided funds for the center and the offer of sewing machines and called on officials and trainers to put the center to good use by turning out well qualified trainees. The trainees were also advised to take their lessons seriously to qualify to be of help to themselves, the society and the nation as a whole.
Apart from the center ICODEHS which was established in 1991 has built many mosques, clinics, orphanages, schools, supports orphans, offer free medical care periodically and donates refrigerators and sewing machines to people especially ladies in the country and beyond. For further information, you may call the chairman through 0244196001
.
"pray continually,"
[1 Thessalonians 5:17] NIV
Apostle Paul encouraged the church in Ephesus to be prayerful as far as Christian maturity was concerned.
Prayer has been the primary way of communicating to God since time immemorial.
Our Christian maturity cannot yield any result without continuous prayers.
Apostle Paul said to the people "pray continually".
Meaning in good or bad times, we have to offer prayers to God.
Prayer has a tendency to make and unmake.
As quitters never win, winners never quit too.
Therefore as you build up your relationship with Christ Jesus, never stop praying.
Be prayerful.
Prayer
O God give me strength to pray without ceasing.
Confession
Jesus Christ is alive .
Whatsapp me on: +233246646694
Follow us on https://www.facebook.com/TheWordDigest
20.09.2017 LISTEN
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Jaman North constituency in the Brong Ahafo Region, who is also the chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education in Parliament, Mr. Siaka Stevens has told SPACE FM in Sunyani that his constituency has received its share of the One Million Dollars , One Constituency facility.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the run up to the 2016 general elections promised to make available to every constituency, One Million Dollars every year for development.
The fund, the NPP stated will be part of a poverty alleviation programme in each of the 275 constituencies in the country.
The then Vice Presidential candidate of the party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia explained that, the programme would be segmented into three, namely, the Northern Development Authority, Middle Belt Development Authority and the Coastal Development Authority.
According to Mr. Siaka, the amount would be channeled into five pragmatic areas of development in the constituency.
He said part of the amount would be used to construct a new market, expand the existing ones; part of it will be channeled into roads construction in the constituency, establish Cashew Factory in the constituency to employ the unemployed youth in the area, use part to construct Nurses College
The Jaman North MP said this when he was speaking with the SPACE FM MORNING FLIGHT show host, Kwadwo Owusu Ansah on Thursday.
In utilizing the One Million Dollars per One Constituency, the Chairman of the Select Committee on Education in Parliament assured that there will be prudent management of the money.
He indicated that a team of experts from the secretariat has been in the constituency and had consultations with the chiefs and people in his constituent about specific areas the amount would be channeled into, in line with the five pragmatic areas they had chosen.
On the Assemblys Common Fund, Mr. Siaka said the assembly will use part of it to construct Teachers Bungalows in the district.
As a boarder town with the Ivory Coast, the MP stated that Customs and Immigration officers share a common office, which he said is a treat to security, so the assembly will use part of its Common Fund to construct a separate office for the immigration personnel.
Nyala (Sudan) (AFP) - Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Wednesday pressed on with a government campaign to collect arms from tribes in war-torn Darfur where a devastating conflict has killed thousands and displaced millions.
Bashir, wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of genocide and war crimes related to the conflict in Darfur, is touring the region ahead of a US decision on October 12 on whether to permanently lift a decades-old trade embargo on Sudan.
"We are asking people to surrender their arms voluntarily... some are giving up their weapons but others are keeping them," Bashir said at a rally in West Darfur.
"Very soon we will come and take away these arms that are not surrendered."
Darfur, a region of the size of France, has been awash with weapons since 2003, when ethnic minority rebels took up arms against Bashir's Arab-dominated government, accusing it of economic and political marginalisation.
The United Nations says the conflict has killed about 300,000 people and displaced more than 2.5 million, most of them stuck in large camps.
The weapons are held by tribal militias, including those backed by government forces, and authorities now want them to be surrendered claiming that the conflict has ended.
"Security is the starting point of any development," Bashir said in comments broadcast live on state television.
"You, the people of Darfur, give us security; we will give you development."
Sudanese rebel groups have criticised the government's weapons collection campaign.
"We all agree in principle to surrender weapons, but the government needs to explain why in the first place it distributed arms to militias who used it against ethnic groups?" said Mohamed Hassan, spokesman for the rebel Sudanese Liberation Army led by Minni Minnawi (SLA/MM).
The governor of South Darfur, Adam al-Fakhi, said the campaign was yielding results.
"We have managed to collect 2,120 weapons from citizens so far, including heavy weapons that are usually used by the military," he told a media team taken by the authorities from Khartoum to cover Bashir's trip.
US President Donald Trump is to decide next month on whether to lift the Sudan embargo after his predecessor Barack Obama eased it in January.
Washington imposed the embargo in 1997 over Khartoum's alleged support for Islamist militant groups, and argues that the conflict in Darfur has been a factor in keeping it in place.
Nollywood actor, Femi Adebayo, may be enjoying his job as the special assistant to Kwara state governor on arts culture and tourism but he might not be that sure if he has the mind politics.
The actor in a recent chat with his fans monitored by Nollywoodgists.com, stated that going into full politics is not certain except it is the will of God then he will not mind.
Femi when asked what he will do if opportune to be the President of the country explained that he will ensure quality education and also try to eradicate corruption.
According to the actor on becoming the president of Nigeria, ensure quality education because thats like you having a solid foundation for a better economy and try to eradicate corruption.
Are cryptocurrencies dead in China?
The short answer is no. Though things are very much in limbo at the moment.
Up until the China ICO ban, the Middle Kingdom was certainly the mecca for cryptocurrencies. They had the most traders, most miners, and the most to lose. As you may know, the Chinese government has a chequered past when it comes to cryptocurrencies.
Earlier this year the Chinese government began taking a more hard-line stance. They banned no-fee trading and started enforcing regulations on exchanges. Trading plummeted, as it shifted towards countries like South Korea and Japan.
The country was still a hotbed for cryptos, but it never reclaimed its once dominant position.
Whats in Store for NEO?
Yet that hasnt deterred China-based projects like NEO. NEO is the crypto that has pinned its future on China, and one that is still trading. So what does the future hold for NEO?
Well, first lets take a look at whats happened in the past month or so.
Going back to the end of July, NEO had only just become wellNEO. The company had rebranded from the previous name of Antshares. It coincided neatly with the launch of a brand new website, as well as NEO 2.0.
NEO 2.0 was an update to the companys blockchain network the foundational technology behind all cryptos. This update allowed for a more fleshed-out system that paved the way for full smart contract support.
Smart contracts are digital contracts that cut out the middleman. Theres no need for a third-party guarantor, which cuts down on costs and time. The magic of blockchain is crucial to making this possible.
Free Report: The crypto revolution is just beginning and the biggest gains could actually be available right now. Learn more.
The Ethereum of China
The update was concluded on 8 August and everything was looking up for NEO. The market was clearly happy as NEO broke into the top 10 cryptos by market capitalisation for the first time. They were well on their way to becoming the Ethereum of China.
That title though is perhaps more of a curse now.
Ethereum is the leading platform for ICOs. So, it was only natural that NEO would also support ICOs. Yet just as NEO began garnering interest and had a few ICOs in the works, news broke that China had banned ICOs.
Da Hongfei, NEO cofounder commented:
In the past few weeks, there were 10 ICOs every week, and a lot of people dont understand Bitcoin. They dont know what Bitcoin is. Theyre just coming in and want to make big money. When the situation got worse, old ladies were investing their retirement savings, and the government stepped in
In short, there was a lot of unscrupulous behaviour. Scams were rife, as it was unregulated and seen as easy money. So the government intervened.
Crypto prices tanked across the board, but NEO was hit harder than most. This was a project devoted to China. Their focus had always been on the nation, and never really extended further than that. Its true that international investors could throw some money their way, but the project was seemingly devoted to China.
That scared off a lot of people. But it didnt completely kill off cryptos in China, and NEO survived.
The NEO team put out a statement on the matter on 5 September. Unperturbed, they believed that compliance was always going to be inevitable, which is why they did everything by the book. The news hurt their price, but they were legally safe.
They reassured their community that NEO was more than just an ICO platform, and that development would continue. Things looked to be back on track and, with a new listing on US exchange Bitfinex, the price made a roaring comeback.
Chinas Stance on Cryptos
That was followed by another setback. Chinas crypto exchanges were ordered to shut down operations by today, 20 September. While the news was a dampener, it was seen as logical. Though the closure of exchanges certainly took people by surprise. This was the surest sign yet that China was taking an extreme stance on digital currencies.
While global markets suffered another downward swing, once more it was NEO that was hit hardest. And, once again, NEO recovered. Despite all the turmoil and uncertainty, it has remained resilient.
Which brings us to NEOs future. It is almost at a point where it seems the only way is up. Though were not confident enough to make that claim here at Money Morning, and we wouldnt trust anyone who that makes it.
NEO is definitely stuck between a rock and a hard place.
NEO Proving Critics Wrong
The important thing for NEO now is to continue to prove its critics wrong. And its already working on just that.
Yesterday, South Korean exchange Coinlink advised that it was looking into listing NEO. A small but nonetheless positive step. Then, last night, news broke that NEOs first ICO was going ahead in Hong Kong.
Red Pulse will conduct its ICO on 8 October via the NEO platform. And, importantly, they made sure they were bulletproof before committing to it. Red Pulse CEO and founder Jonathan Ha stated:
We have hired a team of Hong Kong advisors from a Big Four accounting and advisory firm, as well as outside legal counsel, to advise us on our entire RPX sale process, and to ensure we are fully compliant with laws in Hong Kong SAR.
Long-term ICOs might not even matter for NEO, anyway. Their pipeline includes several big projects that could really make them a crypto star player. Theyve already hinted at NeoX, NeoFS and NeoQS and NeoMessage.
So, clearly NEO has a future beyond China, provided it can deliver. Even if China does an about-face and decides to welcome cryptos back with open arms (to be clear, cryptos still arent banned, but they are certainly being impeded), NEO might not even care. The title of the Ethereum of China may have been short lived, but perhaps that isnt a bad thing. NEOs team are clearly thinking big-picture. Whether they realise that goal is going to be the real challenge.
For more on all things crypto, be sure to follow developments from our two crypto experts, Sam Volkeringand Ryan Dinse. And if you want to get the best crypto insights in Australia, make sure to check out Sam Volkerings Secret Crypto Network.
Regards,
Ryan Clarkson-Ledward,
Junior Analyst, Money Morning
What happened to the Seven Group Share Price?
Shares of Seven Group Holdings Ltd [ASX:SVW] gained more than 8% in trading today and were up over 10% at one point, hitting a high of $12.45. The share price has since moderated to $12.15
Why did Seven Share Price do This?
The catalyst for the rise was an announcement to buy the remaining stake in equipment hire company Coates Hire for $517 million. The Kerry Stokes controlled company first bought into the business in 2008 and is using existing cash flow and proceeds of its recent sale of its WesTrac Chinese business, to fund the deal.
The market clearly likes the deal, at first glance though it is still subject to waivers being obtained from Coates Hire lending syndicate.
What next for Seven Group Holdings?
Managing Director and CEO of SGH Ryan Stokes, said in a statement:
We are pleased to reach agreement with Carlyle to acquire the shares in Coates Hire we dont already own.
We have had a long history with the Coates Hire business and believe with the visible market opportunity associated with East Coast infrastructure activity, along with the current performance of the business and management team, the company is extremely well positioned to create value for all shareholders.
The move to full ownership of Coates Hire will enhance SGHs position as a leading operator of industrial services businesses, with a strong macroeconomic environment and a positive outlook providing the potential for significant opportunities to be realised.
Clearly the company are bullish on the economic outlook for Australia.
IIf you want to lay down a little money on the hottest corner of the ASX right nowbut you dont know your way around the small-cap sectorthis report is for you. Get access now (free).
Good Investing,
Ryan Dinse,
Editor, Money Morning
I saw a great article in the Wall Street Journal a couple of months back. It revealed that times have been tough for those betting against the bull market.
The S&P 500 continued to break higher throughout 2017. And investors have been backing off bets that the major index is headed downward.
Bets against the SPDR S&P 500 exchange-traded fund, the largest ETF tracking the broad index, fell to its lowest level of short interest since May 2013.
The bearish investors say they are scaling back on bets against the index not because their view of the market has changed, but because it is difficult to stick to a money losing strategy.
And the shorting of individual companies is also going by the wayside, if data by Hedge Fund Research Incorporated is anything to go by. Short-biased hedge funds had $US4.3 billion in assets in March this year, well down from $7.1 billion at the end of 2013.
Now, there are a few things I can say about all this
Markets wont collapse when everyone is expecting them to.
Think of all the crises and market fears weve been through since 2009. The European debt crisis, the Russian financial crisis, deflation fears, concerns over rising rates, the oil slump, Chinas collapse, and on it goes.
And remember the Royal Bank of Scotlands call of a cataclysmic year, urging people to sell everything.
Markets climbed on every one of those worries. Its just what markets do.
Its only when everyone is fully invested, and theres only blue skies ahead, that markets can collapse.
The other thing is that the charts are just not suggesting a collapse.
You might look to US housing related stocks as a bit of a leading indicator. If they were to break lower that might forewarn of an impending crisis. But the opposite is happening, and US homebuilding ETFs are breaking higher.
The short sellers seem to be betting on an imminent recession. But, with US unemployment hovering around 16-year lows and UK unemployment at 42 year lows, its difficult to see where this recession will come from.
In essence, the investors and hedge fund managers shorting the market are trading on an opinion, or a story.
And the story goes something like, stocks cant go higher, valuations are way too high, theres too much debt and on it goes.
Lets play devils advocate and assume theyre right. That recession is just around the corner and stocks are headed for a fall.
Even if theyre right about all this, you have to wait until the market confirms that view. Then you move with the market.
But the short sellers are trying to pre-empt things, or second guess the market. They think theyre right and the market is wrong. Thats not a profitable attitude to take.
The short sellers are trading against the trend and thats not the way to make fast money. In fact, theyve been losing money.
It is far more effective to trade with the trend and short stocks breaking lows from years past, rather than shorting stocks breaking higher.
Since the market low of 2009 the long term trend in most major market indexes has been up.
Never short a rising market.
Again, this shows that the majority of investors just guess, or get caught up following some story of the day.
Dont trade opinions; yours or others.
Put aside all the stories and just follow the weight of money.
Ignore the supposedly knowledgeable experts telling you that the world is going to collapse and just trade the chart.
If the trend is up, go with it until the chart says otherwise.
Trading stories can be costly, but trading the charts Ive found can be profitable.
And thats what we do at Money Morning Trader, we trade the charts and put aside all the noise.
When you study the charts you may come to realise that you know more about the direction of the economy than some of the highly paid fund managers.
If developing some chart reading ability is something that might interest you, go here to find out more.
Regards,
Terence Duffy,
Editor, Time Trader
'The big truck is still on ...
- Governor Rochas Okorocha says Igbo people play the worst politics in Nigeria
- Okorocha accuses IPOB of bringing distrust to the southeast people among Nigerians
- He says the Hausa man now believes he does not need Igbo people to win elections
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state has described Igbo people as those that play the worst politics in Nigeria just as he again condemned the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The Sun reports that Okorocha said Igbo play the worst politics among the ethnic and geopolitical zones in the country while speaking with journalists during the visit of governors from the north.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Saraki, Ekweremadu, others in late night meeting over IPOB, Operation Python Dance
He said for the ethnic group to reclaim its relevance in the countrys power equation, the people must review their political strategy.
Igbo have to change their strategy, in order to reclaim their relevance in Nigerias power equation. Quote me anywhere, Igbo play the worst politics in Nigeria.
Today, Hausa have realised they can win an election without Igbo.
Hitherto, Hausa used to think they could not win elections without Igbo. Now, they believe with the combined massive populations of Lagos and Kano, they no longer need Igbo to win, hence, the latest alliance between Hausa and Yoruba.
So, where is Igbo today in Nigerian politics? Okorocha asked.
He added: Ive always said Igbo have this feeling of abandonment.
IPOB would have made better impact if they had operated under any other name other than Biafra, to push their demand for equity in sharing of the nations political and economic resources. The call for secession was childish.
IPOB should have fought their struggle like the Niger Delta youths, Arewa youths and Yoruba group.
Who is Nnamdi Kanu to ask Rochas to follow him to war?
Check it out, no Hausa man living in the southeast owns a duplex neither can you see a Yoruba man who lives in a room and parlour apartment of his own or an investment worth N20 million.
But, should Nigeria break up today, Igbo will lose trillions in properties and other investments in Lagos, the North and other parts of the country. This is why we all must condemn IPOBs call for break up.
According to Okorocha, IPOB has succeeded in creating distrust for the Igbo people among other tribes by their agitation for secession.
The southsouth has produced a president, the southwest has produced a president and vice president while the North has produced many presidents.
"By political calculation, it was expected that very soon, Igbo would have a chance to produce the president, but, the same Igbo want to break away from Nigeria. Where is our wisdom?
Regrettably, IPOB activities has created fears in the minds of Hausa and other ethnic nationalities in the country, that, once Igbo becomes president, they would secede.
PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app
So, where are we? This is why I said IPOB were childish in their struggle. We should all condemn the call for secession because if Nigeria breaks up, Igbo will lose.
Igbo need to change their strategy and political calculation, to remain relevant in Nigerian politics, Okorocha rounded off, he said.
Legit.ng earlier reported that Governor Rochas Okorocha recently lashed out at those agitating for Biafra describing it as childs play and that no reasonable Igbo person will support it.
The governor made this statement on Wednesday, September 13, when he led a delegation of the Progressive Governors Forum on a visit to internally displaced persons, and victims of the recent flood disaster in Benue state.
Watch this video as Nigerians speak concerning the activities of Operation Python Dance 2 in the southeast:
Source: Legit.ng
- The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has discovered a fake consultant used by the Nigeria Governors Forum
- The governors reportedly took out $3 million from the Paris Club loan refund for fictitious projects through the alleged fake consultant
- The anti-graft agency has applied for the forfeiture of the fund
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly applied for the forfeiture of over N1.823 billion by some consultants hired by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).
This is after the anti-graft agency reportedly discovered a fake $3 million contract from the Paris Club loan refund by the governors
The Nation reports that a suspect, Ifeanyi Okafor, revealed to the EFCC how he engaged in a fictitious consultancy for the governors who, under the NGF, paid him $3 million from the loan refund.
According to him, his company, Mountain Crest, was hired by the governors for an unexecuted consultancy job, it was learnt.
READ ALSO: Presidency responds to Saraki over IPOB comments
The report said Ifeanyi and four other consultants have been invited for interrogation by the anti-graft commission.
The report said armed with this evidence, the EFCC has approached the court for the forfeiture of the following: N1. 230billion by Melrose General Services Company; N500million by a governor; and $1million and N100million paid to Gosh Project by Mountain Crest Limited.
We have gone to court on some payments made to some consultants by the NGF.
We filed two applications before the court, but we could not secure final forfeiture because the court was on vacation and the matters were adjourned till October.
Our detectives found that N3.5billion was paid to Melrose General Services Company but only N1.2billion was discovered when the investigation of the diversion of the London-Paris Club refund started.
We have initiated a court process for the final forfeiture of the N1.2billion to the Federal Government. We need to perfect the forfeiture with a court order, a source within the EFCC said adding that N220 million has been recovered into the Federation Account.
The Managing director of Xtract Energy Services, a company that deals in Forex Trading, confirmed that Wasp Networks Limited transferred N170, 000,000 on the 16th January 2017 to Xtract Energy Services Limiteds FCMB account for the purchase of $350,000 which he later transferred into Wasp Networks Stanbic IBTC US dollar domiciliary account.
Wasp Networks has returned to the EFCC the N200million paid to the company by Melrose General Services.
Melrose General Services Company paid N20million to Thebe Wellness Services. The managing director of Thebe Wellness Services confirmed that N20million from Melrose General Services Company was a loan which was to be used as an investment in Thebe Wellness Services, the source added.
He continued: About $3million was paid into the corporate account of Mountain Crest Limited by the NGF.
From the cash, $1million was remitted into the account of a company, Gosh Project. We have succeeded in recovering $500,000 which we transferred to the governments account.
But we have applied to the court for the final forfeiture of the money.
READ ALSO: IPOB has brought distrust to Igbo people among other ethnic groups - Okorocha
Out of the balance of $500,000, we got another N100 million from Gosh Project. The recovered cash was part of what was invested in Treasury Bills. Another share of the money is being used for a hotel project in Lekki, Lagos state.
The EFCC is going to recover the remaining $2 million and it will charge the company and all those involved to court with corrupt payment, aiding and abetting diversion of public funds.
There are clues that the $3 million consultancy job was given to Mountain Crest Limited to launder funds for another governor.
Concerning the diverted N500 million linked to a governor through a mortgage bank, the source allegedly said: The EFCC filed an ex-parte motion on 19th June 2017 for the Interim Forfeiture of the cash and our request was granted by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
All we are waiting for is an order for the final forfeiture of the money by the governor who we cannot prosecute now. Certainly, the governor will face trial after the completion of his second term in office.
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We are investigating the utilisation of the London-Paris Club refunds by states. Also, in addition to the five percent paid by states to the centralised NGF account, some state governments further engaged consultants, with some paying 2.5 percent and 15 percent of the collectible fees to these consultants.
We will look into the books of all the states but we are looking at the payment to consultants in five states at present. They are Bauchi, Delta, Abia , Cross River and Nasarawa.
Our team will review the list of consultants, how much was paid to them, who actually benefited and we will determine whether or not there was evidence of corrupt payments.
Legit.ng earlier reported that embattled Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara state and chairman of the NGF cried out saying Nigerias anti-graft agency, the EFCC has been hijacked.
The governor, who was recently accused of diverting the sum of $3 million from the Paris Club refund into the construction of a 100-room hotel in Lagos, reportedly said those who lost out in the last governorship election in Ondo state were behind his travails.
Watch this video and hear Emir Sanusi blast Nigerian leaders over issues including corruption:
Source: Legit.ng
- An Igbo group has urged the president to ignore the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra
- The group asked President Muhamamdu Buhari not to discard the messages of the IPOB leader
- The group said Kanu has succeeded in bringing the need for restructuring of Nigeria to bare
A pan-Igbo socio political group has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, but accept his message on the state of the nation.
The group while condemning the approach of the IPOB leader in registering his grievances urged President Buhari not to 'throw away the baby with the bath water'.
The Reformers' Platform said the Biafra agitation by Nnamdi Kanu and his group IPOB has endangered the much appreciated effect on the Nigerian polity.
In a statement signed by the national president and secretary of the Reformers' Platform David Agbaeze and Emeka Nwankwo, the group also condemned the proscription of the IPOB as a terrorist organization.
READ ALSO: Nigerias governors to lose N1.823b Paris Club refund as EFCC allegedly discovers fake contract worth $3m from NGF
The group also said that the agitation by the IPOB has brought the attention of Nigerian to the need for restructuring.
The statement read: "We urge President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore Nnamdi Kanu and take a critical look at some of the issues contained in his agitation.
"There is no doubt that IPOBs agitation had drawn attention to the urgent need to restructure Nigeria to the satisfaction of all component units."
The Reformers' Platform also said, Nigeria cannot continue to tread on a dangerous path of injustice and dissatisfaction, which they alleged are the main reasons for the agitations.
The group said it will be to the people of the south east should the president exclude the region from certain positions.
READ ALSO: Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB have brought shame, distrust to us all - Governor Okorocha reveals how
The Reformers' Platform said: "This breeds ill feeling leading to Ndigbo believing that they are not wanted in Nigeria.
"The more we continue to ignore these agitations, the more they fester and breed discontent. The revenue sharing formula should be reviewed. The present system where everybody runs to Abuja monthly to collect allocation is not helping this country.
"Let Nigeria practice true federalism. All sections of this country must be given a sense of belonging, this is the only way we can end the increasing agitations in Nigeria. The Reformers Platform advises President to urgently look into the grievances and agitations of various groups in Nigeria and dialogue with them for the peace and unity of the nation.
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Alaafin of Oyo had urged the federal government to pay attention to the growing calls for restructuring of the nation.
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Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III said the failure to restructure Nigeria must result in a forceful breakout of various regions.
Alaafin said restructuring will also solve the delay of salaries and pension payments as well as bring an end to other socio-economic woes ravaging Nigeria.
You can watch this Legit.ng TV video asking if Nigeria should be restructured or if the country should split:
Source: Legit.ng
- The United Nations Humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, has raised concerns over the numerous Boko Haram attacks in Borno state
- Kallon lamented the death of several women and children most of whom are being used as vessels for bombs
- According to him, 8.5 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance in the most affected states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa
The humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, on Tuesday, September 19, condemned the deadly attacks targeting innocent civilians in Konduga, Banki and Ngala areas of Borno.
Kallon expressed this view in a statement by Biodun Banire, public information officer, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Tuesday in Abuja
He said that four attacks in recent weeks, three of which were carried out by bombers, had claimed the lives of over 45 civilians and injured countless others.
News Agency of Nigerians (NAN) reports that Kallon said that the incidents were indicative of a surge in the brutal violence triggered by a regionalised conflict that is now in its eighth year.
READ ALSO: EFCC allegedly discovers how governors spent $3m Paris Club refund on fake contracts
Civilians are routinely killed in direct and indiscriminate attacks in the north-east of Nigeria.
This conflict, with all its brutality and horrors, is reaching new lows, with more than 80 children used as human bombs in 2017 alone.
I call upon all parties to the conflict to respect human life and dignity.
The latest attack occurred on September 18 in Konduga area, about 28 kilometers southeast of Maiduguri.
Three bombers consecutively detonated explosive devices strapped to their bodies in Mashemari village, killing 13 and injuring many more, he said.
According to him, previous attacks in Banki and Ngala targeted camps for internally displaced persons and Nigerian refugees returning home.
He said that these camps hosted thousands of vulnerable women, men and children, who had been forced to flee their homes and now rely on humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs.
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The previous Konduga attack in August targeted a market in the town.
The frequency of the attacks is on the rise and softer targets, such as camps for displaced persons, are being identified by insurgents.
This is an extremely worrying trend, while the government of Nigeria has made significant progress in many locations in the north-east, allowing thousands of people to return home, there is more to be done.
I urge the government of Nigeria to increase efforts to protect civilians, he said
He said that the protection of civilians was the focus of the ongoing humanitarian response in the northeast.
Kallon noted with concern that 8.5 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance in the most affected states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.
Women, children and men face grave human rights violations and sexual and gender-based violence.
Since the start of the conflict in 2009, thousands of people have been killed, thousands of women and girls have been abducted and children have been used as so-called self bombers, he said.
Meanwhile, no fewer than 15 people were reportedly killed on Monday, September 18, when two bombers struck civilians receiving aid in Borno state, a rescue worker and a member of the civilian militia said.
There were twin explosions at 11:10 am in Mashalari village (near Konduga), which killed 15 and left 43 others injured, a rescue worker said in an account backed by Babakura Kolo, from the Civilian Joint Task Force.
Watch this Legit.ng video as Nigerian Air Force strengthens its operations against Boko Haram:
Source: Legit.ng
- President Buhari has thanked the Kingdom of Jordan for donating military hardware to Nigeria
- The president said the donation of about '200 Armoured Fighting Vehicles' has helped fight against terrorism in Nigeria
- The president met with the King of Jordan during the ongoing 72nd New York during the United Nations General Assembly
President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday, September 19, thanked the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for its support to Nigerias campaign against terrorism and insurgency with the donation of military hardware and pledge to further supply helicopters.
Buhari, while speaking during a bilateral meeting with King Abdullah II shortly after his address to the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, said the very expensive donation of about 200 Armoured Fighting Vehicles reflects true concern for Nigeria's security situation and genuine goodwill towards a friendly nation.
President Muhammadu Buhari with the King of Jordan. Credit: Twitter
He also reassured King Abdullah of Nigeria's commitment towards the proposed Aqaba Process with countries in the region as well as Nigeria's willingness to play a leading role in bringing together countries in the West African sub-region into this collective security arrangement.
READ ALSO: IPOB has brought distrust to Igbo people among other ethnic groups - Okorocha
The president pledged Nigeria's continued desire for enhanced bilateral ties with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
The Jordanian King had earlier informed the Nigerian president that his government was in the process of opening an embassy in Abuja in the next few months, and appreciated the support being extended to his country by the Nigerian government in this regard.
He told President Buhari that his National Security Adviser would soon be working out the finer details of the Aqaba Process with his Nigerian counterpart.
Buhari was accompanied to the bilateral meeting, the third of its kind since the inception of the current administration, by the minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (Rtd), and Nigeria's permanent representative to the United Nations, Professor Tijjani Bande.
Buhari thanked thanked the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for its support to Nigerias campaign against terrorism. Photo credit: Twitter
It would be recalled that soon after President Buhari took office in 2015, the Jordanian King had offered a hand of friendship, cooperation and support for Nigeria in its fight against terrorism and insurgency. This resulted in the National Security Adviser undertaking two visits to Jordan to follow up on issues previously discussed with the King, and the donation of military hardware and pledge of further support.
These gestures are aimed at enhancing Nigeria's operational capabilities in the fight against terror both within the country and the Lake Chad Basin which affects neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger where the Multinational Joint Task Force is engaging the Boko Haram insurgents and terrorists.
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The National Security Adviser's second trip to Jordan on the invitation of the King in January 2016 to attend the 3rd Aqaba Process, also resulted in a renewed commitment between the two countries to consider multilateral action in confronting the menace of terrorism by replicating the Aqaba arrangement which the Kingdom of Jordan has with East African countries battling protracted terrorist menace.
Nigeria has agreed to work with countries in the region on a similar arrangement with Jordan. It is anticipated that the first Aqaba Process for Nigeria and sister countries within the sub-region with Jordan will be held in late November or early December 2017.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that Femi Fani-Kayode, the former minister of aviation, has criticized the address given by President Buhari at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Fani-Kayode in a series of tweets on Tuesday, September 19, also said President Buhari's speech was pitiful and uninspiring.
Watch this video as Nigerians speak on the state of things in the southeast of Nigeria:
Source: Legit.ng
How does one become a Nigerian senator? This question was posed on Quora, a forum-like platform and this was one of the answers given:
Pj Ofodile said: "Pretend you care about the people and their needs. During the campaign share bags of rice, beans, groundnut oil, anything really, we are so cheap you can buy our conscience.
"Promise the people you will provide good roads, fix the electricity, fix the health care, it doesnt matter just tell them you will fix everything. Tell the people you are here to bring change, all they need to do is vote for you.
"Hire a bunch of thugs to hijack the ballot box on the day of election, (This one is important). Win the election use your convoy of 20 cars to terrorize Nigerians because why not? God is passing, he needs to get to Abuja in 15 minutes."
While the above answer is no doubt, sarcastic and funny, the question remains unanswered. The 1999 Constitution provides the requirements necessary for an individual to be able to run for the office of a senator in Nigeria as follows:
1. Citizenship
The first requirement is that you must be a citizen of Nigeria. Also, if you have acquired the citizenship of another country, you will not be able to run for the office of Senate.
2. Age
In order to be eligible to contest for Senate, you must be at least 35 years of age. There have been calls to reduce this to 25 years.
3. Education
To contest for the Senate, you must have completed at least secondary school education.
4. Political party
The individual must also be a member of a registered political party and sponsored by that political party to contest in the elections. The Nigerian constitution and does not allow candidates to run as independents.
READ ALSO: 5 Nigerians born before 1947, who are still senators today
5. Employment
Any individual who is employed in the civil service either at the federal or state level and wants to run for Senate must resign the employment at least 30 days before the date of election;
6. Mental Health
Any person adjudged to be a lunatic or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind cannot run for the office of Senator in Nigeria. Very important.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Senate agrees to 35-years as minimum age for president
7. Criminal Convictions
Individuals who have been sentenced to death or has been sentenced to imprisonment or a fine for an offence involving dishonesty or fraud are not allowed.
If within a period of less than 10 years before the date of an election to the Senate, the individual has been convicted and sentenced for an offence involving dishonesty or he has been found guilty of a contravention of the Code of Conduct, the person is also disqualified from being a Senator.
8. Financial Status
Any individual who has been adjudged or otherwise declared bankrupt under any law in force in any part of Nigeria is not allowed to run for the position of Senator in Nigeria.
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Meanwhile, the president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, was reported to be meeting with members of the southeast caucus.
Legit.ng reported that the meeting, which held at the residence of the deputy president of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, in Abuja is on the Independent Peoples of Biafra and military campaign in the South-East, code-named Operation Python Dance.
Watch this video as Nigerians speak on the need for age reduction in the Senate requirement:
Source: Legit.ng
By Samuel Ssebuliba:
The Chief Justice of Kenya David Maraga has accused the police of deliberate refusal to provide security to judges who are under persistent threat from politicians.
Since nullification of the August 8th presidential elections results, the judiciary has been under fire from various politicians especially from the ruling Jubilee Party who accuse the judges of being corrupt.
According to Justice Maraga, the Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinett has of ignoring calls to beef up security for judges and courts thus exposing them to danger.
However, the police spokesperson George Kinoti has denied the accusation, saying all judicial officers have police bodyguards.
- The Christian Association of Nigeria has warned the government against going ahead with floating the Sukuk bond
- CAN said the bond is a ploy to Islamise Nigeria through the back door as well as sell the country to the Arabian nations
- The organisation threatened to go to court if the idea by the government is not dropped
- Lai Mohammed, information minister, has denied the allegation
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has warned the countrys government against Islamising Nigeria through the back door with the floating of the Sukuk Islamic bond.
In a statement by the Christian body, the Sukuk bond is nothing but an avenue to Islamise the country and sell it to the Arab nations.
The statement, signed by CANs general secretary, Rev Musa Asake, and released in Abuja, is asking that the laws and framework behind the bond be stopped immediately.
READ ALSO: IPOB has brought distrust to Igbo people among other ethnic groups - Okorocha
The organisation also threatened to go to court if the government failed to meet its demand.
CAN argued that Nigeria is a secular state with a government that should be neutral on issues involving religion.
The Christian Association of Nigeria has been protesting against this aberration since the Osun State Government, under Governor Rafiu Aregbesola, embarked on this violation of the Constitution.
Rather than stand in the defence of the constitution, it is disappointing to note that the Federal Government is pursuing what is an outright confirmation of an Islamisation agenda.
The recent floating of Sukkuk Bond by the government is not only sectional but illegal and a violation of the Constitution. Every law that has been promulgated to back the Sukuk issuance and promote an Islamic banking system in Nigeria is ultra vires, illegal, null and void.
Therefore, the manipulations and scheming to smuggle the country into a full blown Islamic state should stop; these manipulations became apparent with the smuggling of Nigeria into the Organisation of Islamic Conference in 1986 by the Ibrahim Babangida military junta, Asake said in a report by the Punch.
CAN argued further that the International Monetary Fund had stated that the issuance of Sukuk by non-Islamic countries was a breach of the religious neutrality of the government of such states.
The FG must dismantle all legal and institutional framework established to promote Islamic financing in Nigeria.
We affirm that the territorial integrity of Nigeria is undermined through the issuance of Sukuk in the country. We hope that the government shall desist from its policies of unbridled religious sectionalism, the statement said.
In its defence, Lai Mohammed, Nigerias information minister, said: Sukuk is not an attempt to Islamise Nigeria in any form. On the contrary, it is an attempt at financial inclusiveness.
The difference between Sukuk Bond and other bonds is that if you invest in Sukkuk bond, you earn no interest.
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So, the scheme appeals to many people who dont believe that money should gather interest.
They, however, engage in profit sharing in the sense that if the government makes a profit from the bond, they give the investor a part of it but if the government makes no profit, the investor is not entitled to anything.
Legit.ng reported earlier that following Vice President Yemi Osinbajo gave the list of states in the need of loan as he wrote to the National Assembly urging the legislative arm to consider and ensure an accelerated approval to borrow a total sum of $1.5 billion from multilateral agencies and France by 10 states of the federation.
Watch this video of what Vice President Yemi Osinbajo thinks about Nigeria's unity:
Source: Legit.ng
- The minister of power, works and housing said the federal government is set to commence work on Nigerian roads
- Babatunde Fashola said the road repair interventions will include 41 damaged highways
- Popular among the roads is the Benue-Makurdi highway and major highways in the southeast
Floods and a lot of other factors have damaged over 41 highways across the country. The minister of power, works and housing Babatunde Fashola has said these roads will be repaired.
At a meeting in Abuja with contractors handling federal governments projects, Fashola said the rehabilitation will be embarked upon alongside ongoing road construction projects.
One of the roads to be repaired is the Benue-Makurdi highway and other major highways in the southeast among other flooded projects which were inspected by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Fashola also said: I will quickly also go to the interventions we have already planned, in addition to major construction works that is going on.
"We also have rehabilitation works using specific contractors to improve motorability and we would be working on 41 roads across the country and trying to make some remediation for them as a result of what has happened during the rainy seasons.
We will be intervening across the country, including the Benue-Makurdi, South-East and places where the Vice President visited as a result of flood. So, we are just getting ready to complete our procurement processes and roll-out."
READ ALSO: Buhari orders connection of rails to 36 states, Abuja, promises massive youth employment
He also issued a directive to the contractors to ensure completion of the projects before the Christmas season, considering the huge traffic commuters face during the festive period.
Fashola explained that there are proposed 25 roads which are integral parts of A1 to A4, saying: If you look at the proposed 25 roads, they are the roads that are integral parts of A1 to A4.
The A1 is the Lagos to Sokoto highway, A2 is the Warri-Kastina, A3 is Port Harcourt-Potiskum, Yobe and A4 is Calabar-Maiduguri.
"One thing that all these roads share in common is that they originate from our ports and end in the boundary If Sukuk is fully subscribed for, we will have 25 major roads we would have some interventions.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that Babatunde Fashola has unveiled plans by the federal government to build a better network of roads and bridges across the country.
Fashola said that the intention was to connect states, drive economy, move fuel, food and the import and export of goods.
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He unveiled a plan for the construction of 44 federal highways, 63 roads and an emergency intervention across the country ahead of the rainy season to give relief to Nigerians subject to appropriation.
Watch this Legit.ng video as we look at one of the really bad roads in Abia state:
Source: Legit.ng
- The Supreme Court denies request by ousted lawmaker, Herman Hembe, to refer his case to a lower court for retrial
- The apex court awards the sum of N1million against Hembe in favour of Dorathy Mato, the defendant
The Supreme Court has confirmed its past verdict which sacked lawmaker, Herman Hembe, representing Vandeikiya/Konshisha federal constituency of Benue state from the House of Representatives.
READ ALSO: IPOB has brought distrust to Igbo people among other ethnic groups - Okorocha
The apex court had declared Mrs Dorathy Mato winner of the APC party ticket for the constituency and asked Hembe to vacate his seat at the lower chamber.
The court also demanded that the ousted lawmaker returned all monies he earned in the House of Representatives since 2015.
But the lawmaker approached the Supreme Court again to refer the case to a lower court for retrial.
However, Hembe's request was denied as the court validated its earlier decision sacking him from the House of Representatives, Premium Times reports.
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The court also awarded the sum of N1million against Mr. Hembe in favour of Dorathy Mato, the defendant.
Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has accepted an invitation from the Senate president, Bukola Saraki to visit the National Assembly to discuss matters of public interest.
Timothy Adewale, SERAP's deputy director said representatives of the group will on Thursday, September 21, honour an invitation of the Senate president to visit the Assembly, Premium Times reports.
He disclosed that the Thursday meeting which has been scheduled for 1pm at the National Assembly complex follows SERAPs request to Saraki to urgently explain to Nigerians if it is true that a Nigerian Senator gets N29 million in monthly pay, and over N3 billion a year.
In the video below, a Nigerian man expresses regrets for voting for the All Progressives Congress in the last elections.
Source: Legit.ng
- The Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese has condemned the attack on a mosque in Oguurute in Enugu Ezike, Enugu state
- The Bishop said the destruction and burning of the mosque came to him as a shock
- He also enjoined all Muslims to remain calm and view the incident as an act designed to instigate violence and disrupt the peace we have all enjoyed
The Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese in Enugu state has commiserated with the Muslim community over the destruction of the central mosque at Oguurute in Enugu Ezike.
The diocese said the attack on the mosque by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is irresponsible and unfortunate.
Having paid a visit to the mosque and the Imam a day after the attack, the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese Most Reverend Professor Godfrey Onah said the attack came to him as a shock.
Onah in a statement released on Wednesday, September 20, by the press secretary to the Bishop, Reverend Father Ernest Makata, said the Muslim community has been living in peace with its neighbours as brothers and sisters.
READ ALSO: Makarfi-led PDP withdraws appeal against Akwa Ibom senator's sack
He said: "We have a handful of the Muslim community in Enugu Ezike, IbagwaAka and some other communities and never has it been known that any rancour existed between them and any other group. Hence, this unprecedented mindless destruction of a place of worship is not just abhorrent but totally unacceptable and should be condemned by all.Our Christian faith teaches us that we should love our neighbours as ourselves (Mk. 12:31)."
"Therefore, do unto others as you would have them do to you (Lk.6:31).None of us would like to witness this kind of carnage on our Churches or Shrines. In this wise, we cannot allow such to happen to a Mosque either.
"The Bishop hence appeals for caution from all individuals and groups and think about the actual and ripple effects of any action we undertake. Nsukka zone is known for her peaceful and harmonious existence.
READ ALSO: Another container of 475 pump-action rifles allegedly uncovered in Lagos port
"Therefore, no individual or group of persons should even think of destroying this legacy.The Catholic Bishop of Nsukka, Most Rev. Prof Godfrey Igwbuike Onah, while sympathizing with the Muslim community at Ogurute and the entire nation, assures them of the support of the Catholic Church in the diocese. He promises that the Church will do whatever is within her power to ensure that the Moslems and the Christians will continue to live in peace."
The Bishop further enjoined Muslims to see the church as partners in these trying times and socio-political upheavals in Nigeria.
He also appealed to Muslim leaders to calm their adherents and view the incident as an act designed to instigate violence and disrupt the peace we have all enjoyed.
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"If we respond to violence, we must have given them victory. The only way to make them feel ashamed of themselves is to plant love and good where they plant hate and evil.Let all Christians, Muslims and African Traditional Religionists join hands to maintain peace and order and hold on to the highest tenets of our religions which is hinged on love for one another," he said.
Legit.ng earlier reported that the IPOB denied reports that some of its members were involved in the destruction and burning of mosques in Enugu.
The IPOB while stating that it is a non-violent group described the reports as concocted.
The pro-Biafra group in its statement said the Nigerian army's is aimed at distracting the group from its focus of achieving Biafra
You can watch this Legit.ng TV video of a disabled IPOB member who traveled across the country to support Nnamdi Kanu:
Source: Legit.ng
The unemployment plaguing Nigerians is one of the reasons many are emigrating to developed countries. What though are the job opportunities available in these countries?
A publication by the Guardian in 2016 revealed that most of the jobs undertaken, were jobs Nigerians would deem beneath them in their home country.
However, there were also some good jobs in the mix. Below is a list that contains most of such jobs:
1. Factory work
Nigerians, and by extension Africans can be found in most factories, doing the grunt work and heavy-lifting to earn their keep.
2. Farming
A farm in the US is not like a farm in Nigeria, so most of this Nigerians will gladly do the work in better conditions, for better pay and with machinery and equipment.
3. Taxi drivers
Many of the Taxi drivers from Nigeria are people with a university degree, who have to get some sort of certification to be employable and so have taken to driving taxis to keep body and soul together.
READ ALSO: Top 10 work from home jobs in Nigeria
4. Mortuary assistants
Washing dead bodies in another man's land is a running joke among Nigerians that reflects the reality. Many Nigerians work in mortuaries to earn a living.
5. Registered Nurse
For many Nigerian women, this is the dream job, even their male counterparts are joining in the fray. They earn an average of $66,220 about N23 million annually, with top nurses making as much as $96,320 (N34m) and some earning less than $45,630 (N16m).
6. Information Communication Technology (ICT)
Knowledge of ICT or IT as it is more commonly called is one quick way to get a job.Seeing that it does not require as much certification as conventional jobs, young Nigerians are plugging into the system and landing stable, well-paying jobs.
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7. Teaching
For those in the literary circle, landing a teaching job in colleges outside the country is another way to job security being exploited. Many have been able to apply for a PhD and teach while they get it in lieu of paying tuition fees.
Watch this Legit.ng video on employment in Nigeria:
Source: Legit.ng
- The Liberian government's intention to implement beneficial ownership transparency in their country has been hailed by the Nigerian federal government
- The commendation was made by the special adviser to President Buhari Muhammadu on justice reforms and coordinator of the Open Government Partnership in Nigeria, Mrs Juliet Ibekaku- Nwagwu
- Mrs Ibekaku-Nwagwu made the statement at a peer learning workshop on beneficial ownership transparency under the auspices of the Open Government Partnership
The special adviser to President Buhari Muhammadu on justice reforms and coordinator of the Open Government Partnership in Nigeria, Mrs Juliet Ibekaku- Nwagwu, has commended the government of Liberia on its willingness to implement beneficial ownership transparency in their country.
In a statement presented at a peer learning workshop on beneficial ownership transparency under the auspices of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), the presidential aide who was represented by the communications adviser to Nigerias OGP Secretariat, Uche Igwe, assured the country that the move will help them tackle resource curse.
She also assured them of Nigerias willingness to share its experiences with them on OGP.
Mrs Ibekaku-Nwagwu was represented at the event by the communications adviser to Nigerias OGP Secretariat, Mr. Uche Igwe. Photo credit: OGP
According to her, Africa loses up to 50 billion US Dollars annually to illicit financial flows and about 192 billion as a result of capital flight.
READ ALSO: Legit.ng digital school 2017 rounds up in Lagos
She added that most of the illicit financial flows originate from natural resource rich countries like Liberia and Nigeria.
I am here to share our experience with you on what we are doing to open a beneficial ownership register and prevent unscrupulous individuals from benefiting from their dirty money.
Your country needs to take short, medium and long term actions like we are doing in Nigeria, to get this project off the ground.
As I am sure, you are aware that the UK non-profit organisation - Global Witness revealed in their report early this year, how logging companies here in Liberia are illegally hiding their owners and how they currently owe about 25 million US dollars in unpaid taxes.
This amount is nearly five percent of the entire budget of this country. Such illegality is not likely to happen if you have an open beneficial ownership register, the presidential aide said.
She added that apart from curbing illicit financial flows, opening the register will improve tax compliance and raise income through domestic revenue mobilisation.
Speaking at the event, the Liberian minister of information, cultural affairs and tourism, Honourable Lenn Eugene Nagbe, stated the resolve of the government and people of Liberia to continue to push the frontiers of transparency and accountability for the benefit of the people of Liberia.
His words: Our country has come a long way since 2011 with the Open Government Partnership Policy. We are aware of the benefits of opening a beneficial ownership register and you can be rest assured that the government will fully support it.
We are also supporting progress in all our commitment areas to ensure that we do not miss any opportunity that OGP offers to take our country forward. I am happy that our friend from Nigeria who is an expert is here to speak to us.
I urge participants to listen to the speech so that we can learn from their implementation experience. As usual, we will be happy to learn from you, the challenges you face and the progress you have made.
On his part, Igwe outlined the benefits of the OGP Policy which includes economic diversification, reduction of reputational risks that countries may face.
His words: I am happy that Liberia just like Nigeria, is a member of Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative(EITI). As an EITI implementing country, it is suggested that companies operating within the extractive industry are used as a pilot in the disclosure process. You can start with that and gradually expand to a national register.
Legit.ng gathered that Liberia has made important progress on the OGP as it relates to accountability and integrity building, ensuring that public services are responsive and developing public policies that are more inclusive.
In its 2017- 2019 National Action Plan (NAP), the government committed to establishing an open Beneficial Ownership (BO) register to further tackle corruption in Liberia.
Nigeria's federal government has since kick-started plans to establish a public beneficial ownership register.
READ ALSO: Opinion: Open Government Policy and Liberias political future, by Uche Igwe
Watch this Legit.ng TV video of a Nigerian man suggesting mass burial for Nigeria's corrupt past leaders:
Source: Legit.ng
- President Muhammadu Buhari and President Nana Akufo-Addo, have met on the sidelines of the ongoing UN General Assembly
- The minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, and the national security adviser, Babagana Monguno, were also present at the meeting
- The presidency has not yet provided details of what was discussed at the meeting
President Muhammadu Buhari met with his Ghanaian counterpart, Nana Akufo-Addo, on the sidelines of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The development was made public by the presidents special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina.
READ ALSO: Why Buhari left IPOB out of his UN speech - Rotimi Akeredolu
Legit.ng gathers that the meeting took place on Wednesday, September 20.
Also present at the meeting, were Geoffrey Onyeama, minister of foreign affairs; and Babagana Monguno, National Security Adviser.
Details of the meeting have not yet been disclosed.
Here are pictures from the event:
President Muhammadu Buhari and President Nana Akufo-Addo share a laugh as they hold discussions on the sidelines of the UNGA (Photo credit: Facebook: Femi Adesina)
Members of the Ghanaian delegation look on as Akufo-Addo converses with Buhari (Photo credit: Facebook: Femi Adesina)
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that President Muhammadu Buhari held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, with King Abdullah 11 of Jordan, on Tuesday, September 19.
The president thanked the leader of the Hashemite Kingdom, for supporting Nigerias campaign against terrorism and insurgency with the donation of military hardware and a pledge to further supply helicopters.
Watch this Legit.ng TV video asking if Nigerians are tired of Muhammadu Buhari:
Source: Legit.ng
- The alleged planned move to woo Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff back to the APC has been rejected by the ruling partys Borno state chapter
- The state party chairman, Maina Bashir, stated that the former PDP chairman had deserted the ruling party at its greatest moment of need, before the 2015 general elections
- Bashir stated that the Borno state APC coalition was wary of anyone joining who would destroy the good works of the state governor, Kashim Shettima
- However, Bashir stated that if indeed the rumors were true and Sheriff really intended to come back to the party, he must go and register with his ward chairman
The Borno stated chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected the alleged planned move of Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff back to the ruling party, New Telegraph reports.
Legit.ng notes that in a statement released by Maina Bashir, the Borno state party chairman, and Abdullahi Mala, the state secretary on behalf of the Borno state APC coalition, doubts were raised over the former PDP chairmans political antecedents.
READ ALSO: IPOBs financial headquarters is in France - Lai Mohammed
The statement read: We have been alerted to a story published in a National Daily of Wednesday with the title APC Members Woo Sen Ali Modu Sheriff.
The crux of the story is that some unknown and unidentified members of our great party seek the return of Sheriff, who until recently was the factional chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Firstly, we wish to state that we are not aware of any call or move by any person or group for the return of Sheriff to the APC.
As committed members and stakeholders of the APC in all the 27 Local Governments of Borno state, we would have been aware of any sincere move or effort for the return of Sheriff to our party, which he defected from at its greatest moment of need just before the 2015 general elections.
Secondly, the Borno state chapter of the APC is currently at peace, with no crisis whatsoever.
This is because of the excellent leadership provided by the governor of the state, His Excellency Kashim Shettima, which has allowed the party to blossom. We are wary of anyone joining the party, who is likely to change this situation for the worse.
Thirdly, while we may have no objection to Sheriff or any other person for that matter joining our party, we wish to state clearly that every returnee or potential new member must join from his or her ward. We do not want Abuja politicians with no substance at home in our party.
Finally, if the speculation is true that Sheriff has indeed eaten the humble pie and with his tail between his legs, wants to return to the APC, he should go to his Ngala, his town, and register with his ward chairman.
If Sheriff does not have the details of the ward chairman, we will gladly supply him.
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Recall that Legit.ng previously reported that some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were pushing for the former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ali Modu Sheriff, to return to the ruling party.
The group known as the APC Great Nigeria Group, was trying to persuade Sheriff, who was one of the founding fathers of the APC, to return to the party.
Watch this Legit.ng TV video of an APC member expressing regret for joining the party:
Source: Legit.ng
By Lambert Strether of Corrente
Patient readers, f u cn rd ths, I will have anticipated weather-related travel delays successfully by putting together a post earlier than I would have otherwise done. Hence its pantry clear-out/less than current nature. Talk amongst yourselves! lambert
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Trade
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is shining the spotlight this week on seven Midwest states that depend heavily on foreign trade for economic growth by sending one of its top executives on a road trip. The goal is to listen to and share concerns about the future of trade deals like NAFTA and KORUS that President Donald Trump has put in the cross hairs [Politico]. Im doing this in part because they were very keen to have Chamber people come out to them to talk about trade, John Murphy, senior vice president for international policy, at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, told Morning Trade. What I want to zero in on is these are red states, in some cases deep red states, that are some of the most trade dependent places in the country. The seven states North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas collectively represent 43 electoral votes. Six of them voted for Trump last year, and Hillary Clinton narrowly won Minnesotas 10 electoral votes.
Politics
2016 Post Mortem
As we learn more about how Russia used social media as part of its campaign to help elect Donald Trump, what stands out is how easy it was. Spend $100,000 on Facebook ads, create a bunch of Twitter bots, and before you know it youve whipped up a fog of disinformation that gives Trump just the boost he needs to get over the finish line. Even if its almost impossible to quantify [so we dont really know anything, do we?] how many votes it might have swayed, it was one of the many factors [ditto] contributing to the atmosphere of chaos and confusion[1] that helped Trump get elected [The American Prospect]. It may be that in my absence, a Russki story will break. That said, if all it takes to neutralize a billion plus in Clinton campaign contributions is $100K in Russian Facebook ads and some Twitterbots, then then political class has a lot to answer for in terms of its ROI. And nobody should have the Democratic strategists who dominate the DNC another dime. Meet the woman who warned about Russian election meddling years agoand got death threats [Quartz]. Very poor (though it shows the resurgence of the Russian meddling talking point, no doubt due to Clintons book tour). First, the warning is thin and hypothetical. Second, the death threats have nothing to do with the meddling!
Health Care
Unpacking The Sanders Medicare-For-All Bill [Health Affairs]. Although there is a fair level of detail about the transitional coverage options, the bill, despite its 96 pages, provides far fewer details about key [Universal Medicare Program (UMP)] standards (such as eligibility and enrollment) and grants significant flexibility to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop major program components. The Secretary is, for instance, directed to develop policies, procedures, guidelines, and requirements related to eligibility, enrollment, benefits, provider participation standards and qualifications, levels of funding, provider payment rates, medical necessity standards, planning for capital expenditures and health professional education, and regional planning mechanisms. Gazette editorial: Is it time for health care for all yet? [Charleston Gazette-Mail]. Republicans have fought bitterly against the ACA, and presumably will resist Medicare for All. But we hope the project draws huge public support and becomes unstoppable. Bravo, West Virginia! A centrist looks at health care: #VoteNo on #GrahamCassidy (Or kill a ton of people for not being rich) (Then stop #MedicareForAll. We're killing the optimal amount now) Peter Douche (@AngryBerner) September 19, 2017 Priorities, priorities. On Senate overwhelmingly backs sweeping policy bill to pump $700 billion into the military: Not a single journalist that works at any Serious Outlet is programmed to react here "how do we pay for this" https://t.co/siVlChvYjC Hussain (@Chemzes) September 18, 2017 The Single-Payer Problem Liberals Dont Want to Talk About [Vice]. [A]ll of that bloated spending does something else single-payer fans would do well to grapple with: It creates jobs. Often, these are good jobs, especially for people with a modest education. And what happens to those peoplewho are mostly womenis something Democrats and progressives need to get a handle on if single-payer is ever going to get real traction in Washington. Here is a thread from one such women; and see discussion at NC here. But Im having a little trouble wrapping my head around the idea of the private health insurance industry as a Keynesian job creator. Given the small numbers we are talking about in the context of the entire economy and given the fact that office and administrative skills are fairly portable to other sectors (non-health care establishments employ over 19 million people in such jobs), it is not at all clear that there needs to be any special program for reallocating those made redundant by this change. But even if there does not need to be such a program, single payer proposals generally contain one [Peoples Policy Project].
Realignment and Legitimacy
What Do Centrist Democrats Even Stand For? [The New Republic]. What a lot of mush. The left should acknowledge there are ways in which ideological diversity can be beneficial to Democrats in 2018. I do think its really important for people not to impose purity tests, Kazin, the leftist Georgetown historian, told me. Youre not going win in North Dakota with the same politics as in California or Massachusetts.' Totally. North Dakota has a state bank, unlike California or Massachusetts. But we should follow North Dakotas lead and have a United States Post Office Bank. And then make that a litmus test, along with #MedicareForAll. The greatness that is Twitter: If @MADmagazine's political cartoonists and art department don't win a Pulitzer this year then we, as a society, have failed. pic.twitter.com/TBDZY2z8Zj Ian Brown (@igb) September 17, 2017
Stats Watch
Chemical Activity Barometer, September 2017: The Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB) remained virtually unchanged in September despite the effects of unprecedented Hurricanes Harvey and Irma [Econintersect]. Compared to a year earlier, the CAB is up 2.8 percent year-over-year, a marked pullback from recent year-over-year gains. And but: This appears to be a leading indicator for industrial production [Calculated Risk]. CAB increased solidly in early 2017 suggesting an increase in Industrial Production, however, the year-over-year increase in the CAB has slowed recently.
ATA Trucking For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index, August 2017: Trucking Data Improves [Econintersect]. I tend to put heavier weight on the CASS index which continues to show a moderate improvement year-over-year. The ATA data continues to wander all over the map and is likely a result of seasonal adjustment issues and a smaller share of shipping now going to ATA members
Retail: Certain larger retailers [Toys R Us] that filed for bankruptcy had burdensome levels of debt resulting from their private equity owners uses of financing in acquiring the companies, tax and advisory firm BDO wrote in a September report [MarketWatch]. Toys R Us plans to use the bankruptcy to restructure $5 billion in debt and create a sustainable capital structure. The debt, $444 million of which was due next year, stems largely from a $6.6 billion leveraged buyout, led by Bain Capital, KKR & Co. KKR, and Vornado Realty Trust VNO, in 2005. Ka-ching. Somebody should ask Bains Deval Patrick what he thinks about this.
Retail: Amazon.com Inc., far from dominating the retail sector, is actually the weakest of the big U.S. players based on operating results, Moodys Investors Service said Wednesday [MarketWatch]. Amazons stock has outperformed rivals, but its mostly based on the companys growth story, and particularly the success of its cloud business, Amazon Web Services, [Charlie OShea, Moodys vice president and lead retail analyst] wrote in a new report. And this: Estimates for the Amazon Prime membership base are also wildly inflated, OShea said, with some pundits betting the figure is as high as 85 million. Amazon itself has never provided a number, other than to say it is in the tens of millions. So why arent any activist investors trying to unlock value by spinning off AWS, so the rest of the company can be valued like UPS or Kroger?
Marketing: UPDATED: FTC Clarifies Rules, Sends Stronger Letters to Influencers and Celebrities [The Fashion Law]. While the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) did not necessarily appear to be doing too much by way of tangible action to follow up on the 90 letters it sent out this spring to remind celebrities, influencers and brands that they must clearly and conspicuously disclose their relationships when promoting or endorsing products through social media (and not by way of a hashtag that reads, Partner or Spon), that is not the case. As of last week, the FTC settled its first ever case against individual social media influencers and sent a new batch of letters to nearly two dozen others.
Supply Chain: Garment manufacturers rack up $370,000 in labor law violations [Business Insurance]. The California Labor Commissioners Office cited 14 garment manufacturers and contractors $372,135 for labor law and garment registration violations, including seven businesses that failed to obtain workers compensation insurance, the office reported on Thursday. Investigators also confiscated 5,725 illegally manufactured garments with an estimated street value of $103,000 from six of the businesses, per the release.The agency is also pursuing wage theft investigations on those employers who failed to pay proper wages under the states labor code, the office announced.
The Bezzle: Goldman Sachs thinks fintech has as much potential as trading [Quartz]. Goldman thinks it can make $1 billion in extra revenue from its consumer lending business over the next three years, as much as it expects for its trading operations. Combined with new lending for the wealthy and companies, the bank expects to bring in $2 billion in additional sales from loans. Goldman co-chief operating officer Harvey Schwartz said its one of the fastest-growing lending platforms ever launched, even though he says the bank is taking its time with the nascent business. The banks digital consumer-lending arm called Marcus is expected to have lent out $2 billion by the end of the year. Goldman isnt known for consumer lending, but stricter rules have forced banks to look for new ways to make money. Logo idea: Golden sacks.
The Bezzle: Vending machine startup hopes to put bodegas out of business [Boing Boing]. A vending machines choice and a grocery stores logistics, with data bridging the gulf? Maybe theyll be restocked by Ubers or Amazon drones? Hopeless. But never underestimate the power of a VC toy business to destroy the thing it cannot sustainably replace .
The Bezzle: This Silicon Valley start-up wants to replace lawyers with robots [WaPo]. Atrium founder and Y-Combinator partner Justin Kan: In Silicon Valley, we want everything to be transparent. Kidding, right?
The Bezzle: Social Capital Hedosophia Holdings Corp., a blank check company created by venture firms Social Capital and Hedosophia, priced 60 million shares Thursday at $10 a share. The stock rose as much as 4 percent on its first day of trading [Bloomberg]. A company for carrying on an undertaking of great advantage, but nobody to know what it is. A little bit frothy, no?
The Bezzle: [Loftium], a service in Seattle will provide prospective home buyers with up to $50,000 for a down payment, as long as they are willing to continuously list an extra bedroom on Airbnb for one to three years and share most of the income with Loftium over that time [New York Times]. Loftium expects to appeal to young workers and families who are looking to buy their first home for roughly $600,000 or less. The program is being introduced on a small scale in Seattle, but Loftium said it believed there were about 40 other cities where it could give prospective buyers the boost they needed. It hopes to branch out to four more cities perhaps Chicago, Denver or Raleigh, N.C. within a year.
The Bezzle: Monsters of the Financialized Imagination: From Pokemon to Trump (PDF) [The Transnational Institute]. The example of Pokemon GO represents not only the monetization of data the discovery of new ways to commodify and sell it, once collected but also its financialization: the ability to make money now from the pre-emptive anticipation of profit yet to come , the selling of future potentials as present-day products. Capitalism today, driven by the FIRE sector, is increasingly fixated on transforming tomorrows promises into present-day, commodified exposure to risk. It does not so much matter if a start-up has a sustainable business plan or even a product to sell as long as investors can sell its shares for more tomorrow than they bought them for yesterday. Pokemon GO and other products are created thanks to an economic ecosystem eager to capitalize not merely on the prospect of future revenues, but on the value of the promises themselves. As Loftium, just above.
Climate Risk: For Hurricane Irma, total insured and uninsured loss for both residential and commercial properties, including damage from both flood and wind, is estimated to be between $42.5 billion and $65 billion.* Of this, an estimated $13.5 billion to $19 billion in insured loss is attributed to damage from wind for both residential and commercial properties [Econintersect]. Flood loss for residential properties from Hurricane Irma is estimated at $25 billion to $38 billion. This includes storm surge, inland and flash flooding in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Of this flood total, insured residential flood loss is estimated at $5 billion to $8 billion and uninsured residential flood loss is estimated at $20 billion to $30 billion. As a result, an estimated 80 percent of flood damage to residential properties from Hurricane Irma is not covered by any flood insurance .
Five Horsemen Amazon fever just aint what it used to be [Hat tip, Jim Haygood].
Health Care
What We Talk About When We Talk About Single Payer [Health Affairs]. Often times, we hear the terms universal health coverage and ;single payer used interchangeably. This is misleading. Universal health coverage literally means that everyone is covered. According to the World Health Organization, universal health coverage must meet three criteria: equity in access to health services, quality that improves health, and protection against financial risk. In contrast, single payer presumes universal health coverage but also provides insight into specific financing, administration, and delivery characteristicsspecifications that are notably absent from the term universal health coverage. And this:
Obamacares essential health benefits have been hotly debated as part of the recent repeal and replace discussion, and it would be no less controversial in a single-payer system. Single-payer critics often describe this as an example of government rationing of care. But guess what, we already ration care in the United States. We just do it based on price, ability to pay, type of employment, and the color of your skin. In contrast, in countries where the government ensures universal health coverage, that rationing is centralized, both in terms of what is covered and when you can get it. This approach is often achieved with the help of waitlistsa symbol of equitable distribution of resources or government interference in individual decision making, depending on ones perspective.
To put this another way, theres always a line. Its just that in the United States, you can jump the line if you have the money.
Multi-generational Impacts of Childhood Access to the Safety Net: Early Life Exposure to Medicaid and the Next Generations Health [NBER]. We find strong evidence that the health benefits associated with treated generations in utero access to Medicaid extend to later offspring in the form of higher average birth weight and decreased incidence of very low birth weight. Later childhood exposure to Medicaid does not lead to persistent health effects across generations. The return on investment is substantially larger than suggested by evaluations of the program that focus only on treated cohorts.
Our Famously Free Press
Benjaminson talked about tips for reporters. Remember that the flood waters are likely a cesspool of hazards, filled with gas and oil, fire ants and snakes, as well as sewage. Before the storm, get cash from the ATM, which will likely be out after the storm. Bring sunblock, insect repellant, nutrition bars, water, and all the supplies youll need to make it through days of coverage. Stole, who slept in his car during the Baton Rouge flooding, reminded journalists to bring plastic sealable bags to keep notebooks and phones dry [National Press Organization]. From reporters who covered Katrina, Sandy, and floods in Baton Rouge.
Black Injustice Tipping Point
How did we ever let uniforms like that take root in this country?
Photo by @LBPhoto1 for @StLouisAmerican of elderly woman & helper trampled by StL cops is, compositionally, a Renaissance painting. pic.twitter.com/8KOyGEnVne Charles Jaco (@charlesjaco1) September 16, 2017
Gaia
In the UK, which is more likely than most countries to escape desertification and mass famine, official and unofficial plans for the future are informed by the idea of a Lifeboat Britain. This ugly diction isnt meant to suggest that this island could use its relative safety to rescue some of the hundreds of millions fleeing from a brutalized south. Rather, the lifeboat evoked here comes from the grim, self-preserving logic of lifeboat ethics, which holds that everyone will be jostling for a place on the raft, and some must not be let in [The Baffler].
Class Warfare
More bad news for American workers: Pay raises will be dismal next year [MarketWatch]. Pay raises for U.S. employees are not expected to improve next year, according to a survey released Monday by global professional services company Aon, based on a survey of over 1,000 companies. Base pay is expected to rise 3% in 2018, up slightly from 2.9% in 2017. Spending on variable pay incentives or bonuses will be 12.5% of payroll, low levels not seen since 2013. This suggests a pessimistic view of corporate performance in the coming year, Ken Abosch, a strategy and development analyst at Aon, said in a statement.
Interactive Infographic: Where Wages Have Risen, Are Rising or Could Soon Rise [Sourcing Journa]. Interesting. Here s the map:
(Data compiled by Sourcing Journal from news accounts and official sources.)
Model Language for an Anticorruption Citizen Suit Provision in Community Development Agreements [Global Anticorruption Blog]. More:
Community Development Agreements (CDAs) are contracts between extractive companies and the local communities that reside near their operations. The contracts are designed to funnel some of the financial and non-financial benefits of the project to those who are most likely to be negatively impacted by their inherent destructiveness. Some developing states require CDAs from extractive companies as a precondition for granting permits , and the World Bank publishes model regulations for CDAsrecommendations that hold significant sway for many developing states. The World Banks model regulations are often referenced, or adopted wholesale, by countries with capacity constraints. The World Bank model CDA, and many of the existing national laws which govern CDAs, include required, substantive terms such as monitoring components, dispute resolution systems, etc. However, CDAs have not traditionally included provisions that might allow the contracts to be operationalized in the anticorruption fight.
Sounds like we could have used a CDA with the landfill.
Irma pushes Floridas poor closer to the edge of ruin [AP]. Dimas needs to replace the income from his rental trailer, already condemned after being split open by the wind. Dimas had used that money to help feed his two teenagers and pay for the rescue inhalers he needs for his asthma. Losing it will only make it harder for Dimas to do what he says is one of his favorite things providing free or cut-rate food to those who have even less. Natural disasters. Whats natural about them?
News of the Wired
One area that [WaPo Senior product manager Joseph Prices] team is currently working on is the upcoming release of notifications on both Amazons Alexa and Googles Home platforms [Washington Post]. For instance, if theres breaking news, the Post will be able to make a users Echo chime and flash green, at which point the user can ask Alexa, what did I miss? or Alexa, what are my notifications? Users will have to opt in before getting alerts to their device, and theyll be able to disable alerts temporarily through a do-not-disturb mode. So technology will have made news delivery both more costly, less informative, and less informative though possibly more authoritative than the written word. This nutty project strikes me like so much of tech these days as removing affordances, rather than providing them. Agnotology proceeds apace.
Viral Emmys 2017 Red Carpet Puke Has the Internet Abuzz [Teen Vogue]. Stress-induced, no doubt. The photo comes from Twitter, and the story hook is It was whoever wrote Spicer into the Emmys, but what interests me is that nobody seemed to react to it who was walking the carpet. So how often does this happen, and is our perception of the Red Carpet affected in any way?
For worriers, expressive writing cools brain on stressful tasks [MSUToday]. Worrying takes up cognitive resources; its kind of like people who struggle with worry are constantly multitasking they are doing one task and trying to monitor and suppress their worries at the same time, [Hans Schroder, an MSU doctoral student in psychology and a clinical intern at Harvard Medical Schools McLean Hospital] said. Our findings show that if you get these worries out of your head through expressive writing, those cognitive resources are freed up to work toward the task youre completing and you become more efficient.' Works for me! Though I dont have the chops to evaluate the study
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Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, with (a) links, and even better (b) sources I should curate regularly, (c) how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal, and (d) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please put it in the subject line. Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) here. Todays plant (EU):
EU writes: This past weekend I made the pilgrimage to see one of NCs rarest (and most beautiful!) wildflowers (a bit more common up in your neck of the woods), Gentianopsis crinita (fringed gentian). Hope you enjoy them as much as I did!
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By Jomo Kwame Sundaram, former UN Assistant Secretary General for Economic Development and Anis Chowdhury, former Professor of Economics, University of Western Sydney, who held various senior United Nations positions in New York and Bangkok. Originally published at Inter Press Service
Not a single month has passed without dreadful disasters triggering desperate migrants to seek refuge in Europe. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 2,247 people have died or are missing after trying to enter Europe via Spain, Italy or Greece in the first half of this year. Last year, 5,096 deaths were recorded.
The majority including economic migrants, victims of people smugglers, and so on were young Africans aged between 17 and 25. The former head of the British mission in Benghazi (Libya) claimed in April that as many as a million more were already on their way to Libya, and then Europe, from across Africa.
Why Flee Africa?
Why are so many young Africans trying to leave the continent of their birth? Why are they risking their lives to flee Africa?
Part of the answer lies in the failure of earlier economic policies of liberalization and privatization, typically introduced as part of the structural adjustment programmes (SAPs) that many countries in Africa were subjected to from the 1980s and onwards. The World Bank, the African Development Bank and most Western donors supported the SAPs, despite United Nations warnings about their adverse social consequences.
SAP advocates promised that private investment and exports would soon follow, bringing growth and prosperity. Now, a few representatives from the Washington-based Bretton Woods institutions admit that neoliberalism was oversold, condemning the 1980s and 1990s to become lost decades.
While SAPs were officially abandoned in the late 1990s, their replacements were little better. The Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) of the World Bank and IMF promised to reduce poverty with some modified policy conditionalities and prescriptions.
Meanwhile, the G8 countries reneged on their 2005 Gleneagles pledge to provide an extra US$25 billion a year for Africa as part of a US$50 billion increase in financial assistance to make poverty history.
Poor Africa
Thanks to the SAPs, PRSPs and complementary policies, Africa became the only continent to see a massive increase in poverty by the end of the 20th century and during the 15 years of the Millennium Development Goals. Nearly half the continents population now lives in poverty.
According to the World Banks Poverty in Rising Africa, the number of Africans in extreme poverty increased by more than 100 million between 1990 and 2012 to about 330 million. It projects that the worlds extreme poor will be increasingly concentrated in Africa.
The continent has also been experiencing rising economic inequality, with higher inequality than in the rest of the developing world, even overtaking Latin America. National Gini coefficients the most common measure of inequality average around 0.45 for the continent, rising above 0.60 in some countries, and increasing in recent years.
While the continent is experiencing a youth bulge, with more young people (aged 15-24) in its population, it has failed to generate sufficient decent jobs. South Africa, the most developed economy in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), has a youth unemployment rate of 54%.
The real situation could be even worse. Discouraged youth, unable to find decent jobs, drop out of the labour force, and consequently, are simply not counted.
Surviving in Africa
Most poor people simply cannot afford to remain unemployed in the absence of a decent social protection system. To survive, they have to accept whatever is available. Hence, Africas working poor and underemployment ratios are much higher. In Ghana, for example, the official unemployment rate is 5.2%, while the underemployment rate is 47.0%!
Annual growth rates have often exceeded 5% in many African countries in the new century. SAP and PRSP advocates were quick to claim credit for the end of Africas lost quarter century, arguing that their harsh policy prescriptions were finally bearing fruit. After the commodity price collapse since 2014, the proponents have gone quiet.
With trade liberalization and consequently, greater specialization, many African countries are now even more dependent on fewer export commodities. The top five exports of SSA are all non-renewable natural resources, accounting for 60% of exports in 2013.
The linkages of extractive activities with the rest of national economies are now lower than ever. Thus, despite impressive economic growth rates, the nature of structural change in many African economies have made them more vulnerable to external shocks.
False Start Again?
Africa possesses about half the uncultivated arable land in the world. Sixty percent of SSAs population work in jobs related to agriculture. However, agricultural productivity has mostly remained stagnant since 1980.
With agriculture stagnant, people moved from rural to urban areas, only to find life little improved. Thus, Africa has been experiencing rapid urbanization and slum growth. According to UN Habitat, 60% of SSAs urban population live in slums, with poor access to basic services, let alone new technologies.
Powerful outside interests, including the BWIs and donors, have been advocating large farm production, claiming it to be the only way to boost productivity. Several governments have already leased out land to international agribusiness, often displacing settled local communities.
Meanwhile, Africas share of global manufacturing has fallen from about 3% in 1970 to less than 2% in 2013. Manufacturings share of total African GDP has decreased from 16% in 1974 to around 13% in 2013. At around a tenth, manufacturings share of SSAs output in 2013 is much lower than in other developing regions. Unsurprisingly, Africa has deindustrialized over the past four decades!
One cannot help but doubt how the G20s new compact with Africa, showcased at Hamburg, can combat poverty and climate change effects, in addition to deterring the exodus out of Africa, without fundamental policy changes.
By Matt Bruenig, who writes about politics, the economy, and political theory, with a focus on issues that affect poor and working people. He has written for The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The Atlantic, The New Republic, The American Prospect, In These Times, Jacobin, Dissent, Salon, The Week, Gawker and at his home base of sorts: Demos Policy Shop. Follow him on Twitter: @mattbruenig. Originally published at his website
Matt Yglesias is basically right about what happened in the 2016 election. Despite the elaborate theories that have been floated over the past few months, the real story as told by the exit polls is very boring: Donald Trump won because Hillary Clinton was an extremely unpopular candidate.
Donald Trump did not win because of a surge of white support. Indeed he got less white support than Romney got in 2012. Nor did Trump win because he got a surge from other race+gender groups. The exit polls show him doing slightly better with black men, black women, and latino women than Romney did, but basically he just hovered around Romneys numbers with every race+gender group, doing slightly worse than Romney overall.
However, support for Hillary was way below Obamas 2012 levels, with defectors turning to a third party. Clinton did worse with every single race+gender combo except white women, where she improved Obamas outcome by a single point. Clinton did not lose all this support to Donald. She lost it into the abyss. Voters didnt like her but they werent wooed by Trump.
Some Pundits Understood This
Whats a bit odd about the post-election punditry is that a good number of pundits understood these basic demographic mechanics well in advance of the election outcome. For instance, Jamelle Bouie perfectly nailed it in February of 2016:
If these issues [of Trump creating deep antipathy among women, people of color, and young people] are borne out in a general election, then Trump will have an even larger problem than negative attacks. Hell have a negative electoral map. With abysmal ratings among blacks and Latinos, Trump is uniquely unsuited to this years demographics, whichall things equalhas a modest tilt toward Democrats. With Marco Rubio or John Kasich, Republicans might have a chance with minority voters. With Trump, thats gone. To win, he would need to bring a massive influx of new white voters and create a further swing towards Republicans among existing white voters, all without alienating moderate whites or sparking counter-mobilization from nonwhites.
As Bouie notes, if Trumps politicking caused an enormous swing in the voting choices of women, people of color, and young people towards the Democratic nominee (here Clinton), then the only way he could have won is by running up the score among white voters. It turns out Trumps politicking did not cause any noticeable swing of the voting choices of women, people of color, and young people, and so he did not need to run up the score among white voters, which is something he failed to do entirely.
Unsatisfying Story
So the overall story the data tells us is that Trump won with less white support than Romney because he managed to hold strong enough with female and nonwhite voters and because Clinton was so unpopular that she bled a significant enough portion of Obamas coalition into the abyss.
The lack of attention to this story of Trumps win makes sense because it is satisfying to basically nobody.
Liberals do not like it because they want Trump to mean some of their identitarian arguments are true and because it is extremely humiliating to the liberal establishment in general that their hand-picked candidate was world-historically weak. After writing delusional arguments saying the plain fact of Clinton being bad at politics (something Clinton herself admits) was actually wrong, its easy to understand why the post-election truth that Clinton lost because shes very bad at politics is not one they rush to embrace.
Conservatives do not like it because they want Trump to mean at least something about how voters are not happy with liberal overreach.
And leftists do not like it because they want Trump to mean at least something about how the Democratic partys refusal to embrace a transformative economic message is dooming it.
Some of these narratives could even be true in general about our political moment. But they are not explanations of what happened here. Clinton lost because Clinton was a really bad candidate. If you had replaced her with almost anyone else, they would have beaten Donald Trump. Bernie would have won. OMalley would have won. And Barack Obama would have dominated in an absolute landslide.
England, home of many important Industrial Revolution innovations, appears to have suffered a form of generalized cognitive decline as a result of its embrace of neoliberalism and the financial services industry. More and more people in positions of power seem to be adopting the behavior we first called out with Obama, of seeming to believe that every problem could be solved with better PR. That is now starting to look like a widespread behavior of the elites in late-stage neolibearlism. People in the financial services industry too often believe that if they can make something work on a spreadsheet, it actually works in real life. The problem is that making spreadsheets sing actually is a very successful approach as far as the financiers are concerned, since that helps them sell deals and investments, while the hapless chump buyers find out that later that theyve been sold the informational equivalent of adulterated goods.
One of the examples of the refusal to engage with messy real world issues is the la-la land thinking that is almost pervasive when it comes to dealing with border and customs issues post Brexit. More and more Conservatives are starting to recognize that more needs to be done than they can possibly complete by March 2019, hence more and more willingness to contemplate a transition or other forms of a softer Brexit. But even these ideas are typically wooly-headed, not worked out in adequate detail, and often would be as undoable as a Brexit (for instance, the fans of a Switzerland-type solution, when Switzerland has negotiated roughly 120 bi-lateral deals, something that would be at least as time-consuming as hammering out a Brexit and a new trade deal with the EU).
The fact that the Irish border question is one of the three first issues to be resolved in the Brexit talks, and no one has a clue how to do that, has put a bit more light on the question of managing borders generally. Consider this high-level discussion from one of the LSEs blogs (hat tip micael):
all businesses trading across any customs border will have to find the resource to meet the very significant administrative burden of making electronic declarations for all goods imported and exported. This will have a chilling effect on growth of north/south trade, regardless of whether tariffs are imposed or not. Documentary evidence of proof of origin is another potential new and costly burden. Even if special measures are introduced which help reduce customs burdens at the time and place of import it is highly likely that additional record keeping would be needed to support the maintenance of extended auditable business records. As we have explained elsewhere, customs administration is difficult especially in the absence of adequate preparation, capacity for data exchange (ref: the current problems in the development of the customs declaration system due to replace CHIEF), and the paucity of highly experienced customs officers. We have also shown that, while the US-Canada border experience does demonstrate increased efficiency in processing customs clearance through the use of technology, it also shows that successful cross-border trade thrives on regulatory harmonisation and the movement of people to accompany the movement of goods two points that the UK government seems determined to block post-Brexit.
Let us look in more detail as to what happens if the UK continues down its track of insisting, bugger all, that it wont harmonize standards with the EU. Reader vlade provided this comment on a post last October, contemplating both scenarios, the what if you arent synched up versus what you needed to do to achieve that:
I will still claim that tariffs are the easy bit. The hard bit (and your customs IT system needs to deal with that, and a lot of complexity comes from that) is the NTBs. I keep saying Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRA) over and over but it really is important, and even a number of Brexiters (the ones not blinded by power, history, or whatever) even reconigsed it and were saying as easly as Feb this year WTO is not an option (even assuming can opener i.e. full and proper WTO membership on day one). The country of origin rules are massively complex, and what Yves describe (tarrifs based on that) is one potential. What happens is that the tarifs are based on the last substantial value add. So if you import chinese stuff, and just package it and sell to EU, the tariffs will be the same as if it come straight from China. On the other hand, if you incorporate a part into a whole that is substantially more valuable (and how do you decided that is part of the fun) than the other parts, the tariffs are now based on the country where that last ad-valorem happened. There are other rules, but Im not going to turn this into a specialist post (especially since I havent read the WTO rules in full yet) but you get the idea. Now though, it get even more complicated. On the top of being able to determine whether or not a tariffs applies, any goods imported must meet the standards of the importing country. And EU has lots of them (even if it DOES NOT have a standard for how curved bananas shoud be, as the british press told us). This can be fundamentally met only in two ways. Either via MRA (where you recongise each others standards setting bodies, standards, rules and regulations etc.. Remember this is not just a snapshot in time, but also takes into account that the bodies/standards etc. evolve with time, so extra layer of complexity there). Or, that you take a sample from each shippment, and test it. Of course, the owner of the samples (importer) pays the cost of the testing, and it also pays the cost of storing the freight while its being tested. So it costs the importer time and money. TBH, I cant see how could you possibly trade something complex like cars or plane parts (where safety is involved) w/o an MRA. And your customs IT system has to support all of that! Oh, but you say well, lets set tariffs to zero for everything!. Well, that may sort out your customs IT problems around the tariffs. Unless you want to throw out of the window all YOUR standards, that means you still need to establish the compliance. And I can assure you that if you do throw out all your standards, getting an MRA with somoene else is going to be a nightmare. So your exporters rather get going on implementing the MRA-less trading processes right now, and hope to get there in time. A friend of mine runs a small caliber ammo manufacturer (very highly policed stuff), and based on what I heard, I doubt he would be able to get their processes and systems in place in two years, and thats knowing what needs to be done and how.
The LSE article similarly underscores the downside if the UK refuses to comply with EU standards, focusing on an issue important to Ireland, that of cross-border agricultural trade:
Similarly misleading is the claim that the UK can use the WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary measures (SPS Agreement) to put pressure on the EU to agree suitable mutual recognition provisions on the date of Brexit (p.14) even going so far as to suggest that it can take legal action to ensure it can continue to export to member-states. But if the UK were to do a deal with another third country that would allow the free import of agricultural produce (that yummy prospect of chlorinated chicken), the EU has an absolute right to impose barriers to agricultural goods from the UK in order to effectively maintain food safety standards. Any legal case from the UK against this would not get beyond the initial phone call to the lawyers. For the Special Trade Commission to get this so wrong either implies wilful ignorance (or misrepresentation) of the laws and norms of EU membership and international trade, or else complete indulgence in delusional old-school British nationalism.
And separate from the issue of harmonize or not, consider the problem of the pallets, from andy b at Medium via our Richard Smith:
In less than 2 years the UK will be leaving the EU becoming a third country. I am looking in this blog at wooden packing requirements as a third country exporting to the EU. These standards include wooden packing cases and in particular wooden pallets which everyone uses. This is entirely separate from what is in or on that packaging. The EU requires all imports that have wooden packaging from third countries to conform to ISPM 15 standard http://www.ispm15.com as set out in http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32004L0102 Currently as the UK is trading within the single market shippers do not have to conform to this standard. If you export to the single market you can use less strict standards as set out by HMRC https://www.gov.uk/wood-packaging-import-export , in reality it means in practice you can use any old pallet that is laying about as there is no control point that checks this requirement. At 2300 (the UK being an hour behind) on the 29th March 2019 we will have to conform to ISPM15. At that point there will be a control point at the border doing these checks that we are meeting that requirement. A certain amount of trailers will be stopped and checked that the packaging is conforming to the standard. This will cause delays as every wooden pallet will have to be checked for the required marking. In practice this would mean being very careful of how the vehicles are loaded. With a curtain sided vehicle with all the pallet markings on the outside then easier, with a solid sided vehicle everything will be offloaded and checked. Typically all Customs world wide work via risk profiling. If the ones they do check are fine then they will stick to minimum checks, if (and as I expect) the ones they stop particularly groupage trailers do not conform they will have to check more and more. This is difficult enough but even then I am assuming there will be a deal on trade and mutual recognition agreements that the notifiable institution (in the UK it is the Forestry Commission) that oversee standards will be recognised by the EU. This isnt looking currently likely in the event of a hard Brexit, At a stroke we would find that they would not recognise the markings on the wooden packing and would either mean it cannot cross the border or requires fumigation.
And on top of that, we flagged, nearly a full year ago, that a major customs system upgrade was due to conclude a mere two months before the Brexit date of March 2019. As any IT professional will tell you, large IT projects have a high failure rate, meaning they dont get completed at all. Success in large IT project merely means running not too horrifically behind schedule and over budget.
From an October 2016 post (there is way more detail in the original for the curious):
What has escaped the notice of many observers is that tariffs for manufactured goods means that the charges are levied based on the country of origin of the constituent parts. This means a very elaborate customs declaration and tariff computation for goods of real complexity. And yes, there are customs inspections too (I assume on a sampling basis; readers can clue me in). While that is bad enough, a looming problem is far worse. All this border documentation is managed by computer systems. The UKs present system for handling non-EU-related trade is almost 25 years old and was set for replacement. The new system, called CDS for Customs Declaration System, to be ready by 2018 and to have the capacity to handle 100 million transactions,. At double the current level of 50 million, that would have seemed to be ample headroom. Reading between the lines of the Financial Time story, there seems to be some doubt as to whether the original spec could have been pulled off in time. But now with Brexit, the project suddenly has a major spec change: it has to handle 350 million transactions. And what the story does not mention, but seems likely to be the case, is that there are tons of other spec changes that have yet to be identified and documented related to EU and UK tariffs on specific goods. And if the system tracks things like port of embarkation and disembarkation, more data fields need to be added for all the EU ports and air cargo locations. And of course, the Euro currency data field needs to go in too.
In other words, there is a ton of very nitty gritty work that needs to be done to have any form of Brexit not be a train wreck. Not only is that not being done, no one in the Government seems to think that anything remotely like that level of specificity needs to happen. So regardless of the timetable, unless the officialdom gets some sense knocked into it, the UK is going to have a very bad time.
Very much looking forward to our first Kansas City meetup. Well start officially at 5:30 PM but some readers plan to show up as early as 4:00 PM, so expect a lot of lively conversation!
Im in Kansas City for the MMT conference. Ill have to duck out of one of the sessions to be there at 5:30 PM, and may have logistical issues, so forgive me if I am a bit late if I am a bit tardy.
Karrin has reserved the Trophy Room at Charlie Hoopers, a low-key pub in Brookside.
Charlie Hoopers
12 W. 63rd Street
Kansas City, MO 64113
http://charliehoopers.com/
Ask for the Trophy Room
Karrin adds:
Though walkable from UMKC, tired conference goers in dress shoes may want to catch the Main Street Max bus line that also goes past UMKC. Free parking is available behind the block on which the bar sits, and there are several other public, free, parking lots sprinkled throughout Brookside, as well as street parking. All parking is walkable to Charlie Hoopers, even for tired conference goers in uncomfortable shoes. Bus route from UMKC to Charlie Hoopers https://goo.gl/maps/i16ocpV2cQT2
The Main Street Max can also take people all the way back down to the Plaza, Crossroads, or downtown. You get off at Brookside at 63rd.
If you use the Google Maps link, it says that its only 15 minutes in transit, even including walking on both ends. But the bus runs only every half an hour, with the scheduled pickup time at 14 and 34 minutes after the hours at the 52nd Street pickup. If you walk, its 1.4 miles, or a roughly 30 minute hike.
Looking forward to this event. See you soon!
(Natural News) Activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose work to expose the connection between mercury-laced vaccines and increased autism rates has earned him wide praise and plaudits, has released a new report which describes a number of criminal acts allegedly committed by employees and consultants working for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The report, produced in conjunction with the World Mercury Project [PDF], is said to contain new evidence of corruption and scientific misconduct at the CDC, and that employees and consultants for the government health agency engaged in questionable ethics and scientific fraud that has resulted in untrustworthy vaccine safety science, a press release noted.
The reports authors single out Dr. Poul Thorsen, a Danish scientist who has been indicted by U.S. authorities for allegedly stealing millions from the CDC and tainting research to hide the dangers posed by vaccines. Indicted in 2011, Thorsen remains on the loose.
As Natural News reported in August 2014:
Thorsen, as you may recall, was heavily involved in producing a stream of fraudulent studies that supposedly disproved the now-evident link between vaccines and autism. The CDC has also continually cited Thorsens studies as evidence that vaccines are safe, declaring the debate to be over in light of their findings.
In addition to uncovering other information, Kennedy and officials at the World Mercury Project say they have found evidence that Thorsen and his collaborators did not get permission from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) to carry out their research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2002 and the journal Pediatrics the following year.
In 2011, the Department of Justice indicted Thorsen on 22 counts of wire fraud and money laundering for stealing over $1 million in CDC grant money earmarked for autism research, the statement notes. The product of Thorsens work for CDC was a series of fraud-tainted articles on Danish autism rates that, today, form the backbone of the popular orthodoxy that vaccines dont cause autism.
After discovering in 2009 that Thorsen never applied for or received IRB approvals, CDC staff failed to report it or subsequently retract the illegitimate studies. Instead, as documents obtained via Freedom of Information Act requests show, CDC supervisors merely ignored the misconduct, essentially covering it up.
As such, today vaccine makers can put anything they want in that vaccine and they have no accountability for it, Kennedy told California parents during a screening of the film Trace Amounts in 2015. This is a holocaust, what this is doing to our country. (Related: Vaccination now scientifically linked to learning disabilities in children; vaccinated children show 520% increased risk compared to non-vaccinated.)
Regarding Thorsens alleged misconduct, the report says it undermines the legitimacy of his studies, which were relied upon in large part to refute vaccine injury claims filed with the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP), which is run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
In addition, the report says, Thorsens findings were used in the NVICPs Omnibus Proceeding in which the agency dismissed 5,000 claims by families who said their children developed autism following vaccinations. These claims, if settled in the claimants favor, the statement says, would have resulted in payouts totaling an estimated $10 billion.
In a statement of his own regarding the new information and report, Kennedy, who is chairman of the World Mercury Project, said his organization calls upon Attorney General Jeff Sessions to extradite Thorsen back to the U.S. to face prosecution. We also call upon Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Tom Price to retract the Thorsen-affiliated autism research papers that are the fruit of illegally conducted research.
The scientific community has long known that mercury in all its forms including mercury-laced thimerosal, a preservative that is still found in some vaccines is a neurotoxin and can hinder neurological development.
J.D. Heyes is a senior writer for NaturalNews.com and NewsTarget.com, as well as editor of The National Sentinel.
Sources include:
WorldMercuryProject.org
NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Scientists now warn that colored tattoos can increase the risk of cancer. The pigmented dyes used by most tattoo parlors contain a controversial chemical known as titanium dioxide. This compound is added to tattoo ink to give certain colors. But while the chemical is efficient in exacting the correct shade desired, it is also associated to an assortment of debilitating conditions, not least of which is cancer.
A team from the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment observed how titanium dioxide travels through the bloodstream and accumulates in the lymph nodes. This causes them to become swollen and hinders their ability to fight infections.
Lymph nodes are the small, bean-shaped glands found all throughout the body. They are an essential part of the immune system and are directly responsible for attacking and destroying germs that are carried in through the lymph fluid. When one or more nodes swell, the body becomes more susceptible to various diseases.
This particular condition, reportedly, has an increased chance of occurring among those who have colored tattoos.
Hiram Castillo, a study author and member of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in France told the Daily Mail, when someone wants to get a tattoo, they are often very careful in choosing a parlor where they use sterile needles that havent been used previously. No one checks the chemical composition of the colors, but our study shows that maybe they should.
The team used extremely sensitive x-rays to identify titanium dioxide and heavy metals in tattooed skin and the corresponding individuals lymph nodes. Another author of the study, Bernhard Hesse noted that lymph nodes become tinted with the color of the tattoo. This, in turn, caused the glands to become swollen and unable to properly function. However, both Hesse and Castillo admitted that they did not understand how titanium dioxide operated at a nano level. Their observations, if anything, were only indicative of an as-yet unknown process at a micro level.
That is the problem: We dont know how nanoparticles react, said Hesse.
These findings were published in the latest edition of Scientific Reports.
An introduction to titanium dioxide
Tattoo enthusiasts are not the only ones who should worry about a titanium dioxide contamination. Chances are, youve been exposed to this compound even if you dont have a tattoo.
Titanium dioxide is a highly popular additive in many commercial products including sunscreen, various cosmetics, toothpaste, soap, water treatment agents, and some pharmaceuticals. Its primary use is as a pigment but is utilized in a range of applications including: providing opacity and durability in paints and coatings, minimizing brittleness in plastics and rubber, coating paper, and protecting food products from rapid degradation. (Related: Chewing gum ingredients and the titanium dioxide debate.)
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has deemed titanium oxide to be safe. The group has issued guidelines on using the chemical as a food colorant and how much of the compound can be found in cosmetics. Even so, scores of independent reviews suggest that the chemical is dangerous in general.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified titanium dioxide as a possible carcinogenic.
Sources include:
DailyMail.co.uk
Nature.com
ChemicalSafetyFacts.com
(Natural News) Earlier this month, it was reported that the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) would be setting aside $945,000 to assist in the growth and development of multicultural scholars in the agricultural sciences. The Multicultural Scholars Program seeks to help young people reach their potential in the agricultural sciences, explained NIFA Director Donny Ramaswamy. It is important to develop the most diverse talent pool possible and show these students the abundant opportunities in the agriculture sector.
In other words, the United States Department of Agricultures NIFA program will be helping minorities achieve their goals in the agricultural sciences but not white people. NIFA claims that developing a diverse talent pool is absolutely essential, but why is someones race even a factor at all? We live in the most generous and opportunistic country on the face of the earth, and anyone can follow whichever career path they choose to follow regardless of external factors like skin color. Why do minorities need a special program and additional funding to get a job when non-minorities have to rely on talent and skill level alone?
Furthermore, why must we constantly look for ways to balance out the number of whites and blacks in every single American institution, from college campuses, to the movie industry, to positions within the federal government? It would be nice if for once our country could look past race and instead solely focus on the characteristics and qualifications of a person rather than on the color of their skin. Needless to say, that would be the fairest way to go about running the country.
But as they have demonstrated time and time again, the liberals only care about things like fairness and equality when they are fighting for those they consider to be victims i.e. blacks, gays, women, etc. Furthermore, the left would much rather see a system of nationwide affirmative action put in place rather than a system that is colorblind. They would much rather give special treatment to some in the name of diversity than treat everybody the same, regardless of things like gender and skin color. That is a reality that they will never even come close to admitting, but it is absolutely true nonetheless.
To give another example of how leftists give special treatment to some but not to others based on race, earlier this month, Campus Reform reported on how the National Science Foundation is planning on issuing 27 new grants and spend a total of $8 million to promote diversity and inclusion in STEM fields. Most of these grants, which will be funded by the taxpayer, were specifically created to attract racial minorities. Indeed, this new affirmative action program being promoted by the National Science Foundation is similar to The USDAs Multicultural Scholars Program in that it intentionally favors one race over another.
The fact of the matter is that everybody should be given an equal chance, and nobody should be given special treatment. The late Martin Luther King Jr. made it very clear that he envisioned a country where people are judged based on the content of their character, not on the color of their skin. By specifically targeting people for recruitment based solely on the fact that they are minorities, isnt the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture doing the exact opposite?
If you take a step back and pay close attention to the state of our country right now, it really is sad how obsessed we have become with race, though particularly those on the left. Every single time you turn on CNN or MSNBC, they have at least one panelist who just cant help but bring up skin color and how oppressive the system is towards minorities. When you go to the movies, chances are you wont be able to make it through the entire film without being forced to see one or two references to race. College campuses are replete with posters, signs and special programs to remind students of just how important diversity is. We have become a society that is more focused on skin pigmentation than we are on skills, talents and motivation, and it is only going to get worse as the years go by.
Sources include:
NIFA.USDA.gov
CampusReform.org
Millennials in the United States fuel social media, keep up with the latest trends, quickly integrate new tools and devices into their lives and spend US$600 billion a year. In fact, experts predict their spending power will exceed $1 trillion by 2020.
So, if youre trying to target the 92 million online users between 19 and 35 years old, you have a lot to learnand a lot to earn.
Eighty-five percent of Americans aged 18 to 29 years own smartphones, and 51.3 percent of all website visits occur on mobile devices. Designing a mobile-friendly website is crucial to business success.
Millennials do not limit themselves to just one social media platform. But how do brands reach targeted audiences across relevant platformsand create engagementwithout spreading themselves too thin? The answer is high-quality content.
Focusing on what interests the targeted audience will allow a brand to create posts that satisfy consumers hunger for more. Imagine what the people who are most likely to be interested in a brand might be searching, so you can use social media to drive more traffic to your website.
Videos, podcasts, infographics, blogs, case studies, quizzes and email newsletters are just a few examples of content marketing. Straying away from traditional advertising tactics, and sharing industry knowledge instead, is a subtler way of spreading brand awareness.
And when a brand supplements its organic efforts with paid advertising, it puts its reach into overdrive. Put a brand in front of the target audience, and keep them on the line through dynamic remarking.
Learn more marketing to Millennials from Lance Bachmann during the How Millennials Are Transforming Modern Marketing Workshop on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 9:00 a.m. at SupplySide West in Las Vegas.
Lance Bachmann is the founder and president of 1SEO.com Digital Agency, a full-service global digital marketing firm based in the Philadelphia area. He has an extensive resume when it comes to speaking experience, presenting at some of the best-known events in the digital marketing spheres, including Pubcon, the JD Power Automotive Marketing Roundtable, Affiliate Summit West and Ungagged. Bachmann and his team of more than 70 digital marketers provide end-to-end solutions for their clientele, which is comprised of hundreds of businesses in countless industries from the niche to the mainstream.
A powerful earthquake shook central Mexico on Tuesday, collapsing buildings in plumes of dust and killing more than 200 people. Thousands fled into the streets in panic, and many stayed to help rescue those trapped.
Dozens of buildings tumbled into mounds of rubble or were severely damaged in densely populated parts of Mexico City and nearby states. Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said buildings fell at 44 places in the capital alone as high-rises across the city swayed sickeningly.
Early Wednesday, the head of Mexico's national Civil Defense Agency lowered the number of confirmed dead in Tuesday's earthquake to 217.
Luis Felipe Puente said on his Twitter account that at least 86 people died in Mexico City, 71 in Morelos state, 43 in Puebla, 12 in the State of Mexico, four in Guerrero and one in Oaxaca.
He gave no explanation for the lower toll after earlier reporting 248 confirmed deaths.
Hours after the magnitude 7.1 quake, rescue workers were still clawing through the wreckage of a primary school that partly collapsed in the city's south looking for any children who might be trapped. Some relatives said they had received Whatsapp message from two girls inside.
The quake is the deadliest in Mexico since a 1985 quake on the same date killed 9,500. It came less than two weeks after another powerful quake caused 90 deaths in the country's south.
The federal government declared a state of disaster in Mexico City, freeing up emergency funds. President Enrique Pena Nieto said he had ordered all hospitals to open their doors to the injured.
Mancera, the Mexico City mayor, said 50 to 60 people were rescued alive by citizens and emergency workers in the capital. Authorities said at least 70 people in the capital had been hospitalized for injuries.
The federal interior minister, Miguel Angel Osorio Chong, said authorities had reports of people possibly still being trapped in collapsed buildings. He said search efforts were slow because of the fragility of rubble.
"It has to be done very carefully," he said. And "time is against us."
At one site, reporters saw onlookers cheer as a woman was pulled from the rubble. Rescuers immediately called for silence so they could listen for others who might be trapped.
Mariana Morales, a 26-year-old nutritionist, was one of many who spontaneously participated in rescue efforts.
She wore a paper face mask and her hands were still dusty from having joined a rescue brigade to clear rubble from a building that fell in a cloud of dust before her eyes, about 15 minutes after the quake.
Morales said she was in a taxi when the quake struck, and she got out and sat on a sidewalk to try to recover from the scare. Then, just a few yards away, the three-story building fell.
A dust-covered Carlos Mendoza, 30, said that he and other volunteers had been able to pull two people alive from the ruins of a collapsed apartment building after three hours of effort.
"We saw this and came to help," he said. "It's ugly, very ugly."
Alma Gonzalez was in her fourth floor apartment in the Roma neighborhood when the quake pancaked the ground floor of her building, leaving her no way out until neighbors set up a ladder on their roof and helped her slide out a side window.
Gala Dluzhynska was taking a class with 11 other women on the second floor of a building on trendy Alvaro Obregon street when the quake struck and window and ceiling panels fell as the building began to tear apart.
She said she fell in the stairs and people began to walk over her, before someone finally pulled her up.
"There were no stairs anymore. There were rocks," she said.
They reached the bottom only to find it barred. A security guard finally came and unlocked it.
The quake sent people throughout the city fleeing from homes and offices, and many people remained in the streets for hours, fearful of returning to the structures.
Alarms blared and traffic stopped around the Angel of Independence monument on the iconic Reforma Avenue.
Electricity and cellphone service was interrupted in many areas and traffic was snarled as signal lights went dark.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude 7.1 quake hit at 1:14 p.m. (2:15 p.m. EDT) and was centered near the Puebla state town of Raboso, about 76 miles (123 kilometers) southeast of Mexico City.
Puebla Gov. Tony Gali tweeted there were damaged buildings in the city of Cholula, including collapsed church steeples.
In Jojutla, a town in neighboring Morelos state, the town hall, a church and other buildings tumbled down.
The Instituto Morelos secondary school partly collapsed in Jojutla, but school director Adelina Anzures said the earthquake drill that the school held in the morning was a boon when the real thing hit just two hours later.
"I told them that it was not a game, that we should be prepared," Anzures said of the drill. When the shaking began, children and teachers filed out rapidly and no one was hurt, she said. "It fell and everything inside was damaged."
Earlier in the day, workplaces across Mexico City held earthquake readiness drills on the anniversary of the 1985 quake, a magnitude 8.0 shake that killed thousands of people and devastated large parts of the capital.
In that tragedy, too, ordinary citizens played a crucial role in rescue efforts that overwhelmed officials.
Market stall vendor Edith Lopez, 25, said she was in a taxi a few blocks away when the quake struck Tuesday. She said she saw glass bursting out of the windows of some buildings. She was anxiously trying to locate her children, whom she had left in the care of her disabled mother.
Local media broadcast video of whitecap waves churning the city's normally placid canals of Xochimilco as boats bobbed up and down.
Mexico City's international airport suspended operations and was checking facilities for damage.
Much of Mexico City is built on former lakebed, and the soil can amplify the effects of earthquakes centered hundreds of miles away.
The new quake appeared to be unrelated to the magnitude 8.1 temblor that hit Sept. 7 off Mexico's southern coast and also was felt strongly in the capital.
U.S. Geological Survey seismologist Paul Earle noted the epicenters of the two quakes were 400 miles (650 kilometers) apart and said most aftershocks are within (60 miles) 100 kilometers.
There have been 19 earthquakes of magnitude 6.5 or larger within 150 miles (250 kilometers) of Tuesday's quake over the past century, Earle said.
Earth usually has about 15 to 20 earthquakes this size or larger each year, Earle said.
"People need to expect to be feeling more earthquakes," prominent American seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones said of possible aftershocks in an interview on MSNBC.
Initial calculations showed that more than 30 million people would have felt moderate shaking from Tuesday's quake.
Thousands of children worldwide play with Nerf guns. Doctors are now concerned about the potential for these guns to harm the eyes and lead to serious eye injuries. According to experts, the bullets or darts used by the guns can hit the eyes leading to bleeding internally within and around the eyes. This may damage vision leading to blurring of vision. Moorfields Eye Hospital Ophthalmologists wrote this in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) in its BMJ Case Reports section warning parents against providing their kids with toy guns with projectiles.
Foam bullet and gun toy. Image Credit: ukmng / Shutterstock
According to the write up by the authors, children as well as adults who played with these guns, need to wear protective eye gear and goggles while playing with these toys. The authors write that these darts or projectiles are as such harmless but the harm caused is by the speed at which they are travelling. They report several cases of both kids and adults who suffered from eye injuries ranging from a red eye, blurred vision to soreness, swelling in both the outer and inner layers of eyes etc. the injured include two adults (a 32 year old man, a 43 years old woman) and a child (an 11 year old boy). All three of the patients were given eyes drops and they recovered their vision completely. However each of these injuries carry a risk of complete loss of vision among the victims, experts warn. Authors write that Nerf gun injuries could lead to loss of vision in the long term too.
The authors of the paper looked at the non-branded, cheaper bullets that are available at the stores as an alternative to the original Nerf bullets. They noted that these cheaper bullets tend to be harder than the original ones that are made by the Nerf gun manufacturers Hasbro. These are often available online, they note. The heads of these fake darts were found to be harder and firmer than the original ones. However they did not know if the original one or the fake one had cause either of the three injuries they write.
Authors could conclude from the case series however that eye injuries can and do occur with the use of toy guns with projectiles or bullets. This means that protective eye gear is a must while playing with them. Also adults and kids are both at risk of losing their vision to this toy and adequate care must be taken. Safe age limits for these toys is also a recommendation from the experts.
According to a statement from Hasbro that makes these Nerf guns, they take product safety of their toys seriously and years of research and feedback have gone into making them safer and fun. They added that their products meet the global standards and regulations and that their darts are made up of foam. When used as directed they are safe. Aiming the darts at another persons face or eyes is not desirable and not to be done, the spokesperson said. At present the toy guns are meant for kids aged eight and older.
Especially cruel hackers know that lives are on the line when they hold a hospital's computer systems hostage, as they did in the May 12 attack dubbed WannaCry, which locked down many overseas hospitals with the demand for a ransom. In a new article in the Annals of Internal Medicine, three medical and legal experts delineate the many steps hospitals can take to prevent and respond to attacks, but note that some strategies won't be easy to accomplish and that full security is likely impossible to ensure.
"Patients can suffer severe negative health effects if their treatment is delayed, discontinued or performed incorrectly because hospital records are unavailable," the authors wrote in the essay titled "Your Money or Your Patient's Life: Ransomware and Electronic Health Records."
The authors are Dr. Eli Adashi, professor of medical science and former dean of medicine and biological sciences at Brown University; I. Glenn Cohen, professor of law at Harvard University; and Sharona Hoffman, professor of law and bioethics at Case Western Reserve University.
"There are things we can do to reduce the risk but it is very hard to perfect IT security, especially given the needs of modern hospital systems to have things moving between places and increasing demand for patient-facing access," Cohen said. "To some extent, these attacks are inevitable."
The authors cite research that counted nearly 2,000 hospital data breaches of varying kinds between 2009 and 2016. In that last year, a ransomware attack hit a hospital system in the Baltimore area, forcing workers to rely on paper records.
In their new paper, the authors list several steps -- some simple and others more complex -- that hospitals can take to prevent or at least mitigate attacks and to ensure that they are in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which requires holders of health records to keep them secure. Some of the more straightforward tactical recommendations include workforce training, retaining cybersecurity expertise, patching operating systems and reporting attacks promptly to authorities.
But they also recommend more strategic, nationwide steps, even though those may be harder to accomplish.
Adashi noted that the U.S. government's response in the wake of WannaCry was fragmented among many agencies, although just the day before President Donald Trump had issued a sweeping executive order instructing federal agencies to embark on a number of actions to ensure greater cybersecurity. Building on that to develop a cohesive government response pertaining to health care infrastructure, he said, could provide all hospitals with common, well-informed guidelines.
"We need a coordinated national effort," he said. "This will take time."
Cohen said another key step could be for the Joint Commission, which accredits hospitals, to make cybersecurity requirements a high priority in renewing accreditation.
And hospitals should consider committing to a principle of "non-payment" of ransoms to hackers, the authors proposed, akin to the US government policy of not paying ransoms to terrorists. Adashi said all of these steps, but especially that one, should be implemented only after considerable public discussion.
After all, with lives on the line, Cohen acknowledged, pressure could quickly build to abandon an abstract policy, especially if it didn't have buy-in from patients.
"If I were a hospital CEO, it's one thing to make this pledge ex ante, but it's another thing when you have a population of patients who need health care to stick by it," he said.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global health issue. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), every year there are worldwide 8.8 million new active TB cases and nearly 2 million TB deaths - 5000 every day - mostly in the poorest communities of the developing world. One third of the world's population has latent TB which may later develop into an active form of the disease. TB has also become the leading cause of death among people with HIV. While most cases of TB occur in developing countries, it is also reemerging as a threat in major urban populations in Europe, due to the increase in global travel.
The early treatment of TB is currently hindered by the lack of rapid, accurate diagnostic tools, especially those that can be applied as a point-of-care device in the resource-constrained settings in developing countries. Alternatives do exists, but they either come at a high cost or lack the required sensitivity.
In the context of the recently concluded European project Pocket, a number of world-class novel technologies was integrated into a point-of-care TB test that fills the gap between current high-end, sensitive but expensive tests and low-end, cheap tests plagued by limited accuracy. The Pocket test is based on a sensor in a silicon nitride chip, where the choice of wavelength allows for the production of a low-cost readout instrument. Combined with novel diagnostic antibodies, this results in very accurate detection of the TB antigens in urine, thereby diagnosing the presence of the TB bacterium. A panel of 10 positive and 10 negative actual clinical samples collected from various countries all over the world yielded only a single false positive. All other samples were correctly identified, including those of 5 TB-positive HIV-negative patients, which previously were difficult to detect using similar methods.
The Pocket consortium is coordinated by Ghent University. The project partners are
- CIN2-CSIC Barcelona (SP, nanob2a.cin2.es): surface chemistry
- Ghent University (BE, photonics.intec.ugent.be): photonics transducer design
- Imec (BE, www.imec.be): chip fabrication
- Lionex (DE, www.lionex.de): antibody and antigen development
- microfluidic ChipShop (DE, www.microfluidic-chipshop.com): microfluidic chip development
- Trinean (BE, www.trinean.com): instrument design
Pocket (Development of a low-cost Point-Of-Care test for Tuberculosis detection) started on November 1st 2013 and ran under the Seventh framework Program (FP7) of the European Union.
Sindoor -- a cosmetic powder sold in the United States and used during Hindu religious and cultural ceremonies -- has unsafe levels of lead, according to a Rutgers University study.
Rutgers researchers from the School of Public Health reported that 83 percent of the samples collected from the U.S. in New Jersey and 78 percent collected from India had at least 1.0 microgram of lead per gram of cosmetic powder. Meanwhile, 19 percent of the samples collected in New Jersey and 43 percent of the samples collected from India exceeded the 20 microgram of lead per gram of cosmetic powder limit imposed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
"There is no safe level of lead," said Derek Shendell, associate professor of Environmental and Occupational Health in the School of Public Health and co-author of the study. "That's why we believe sindoor powder shouldn't be sold or brought into the United States unless it is lead free."
Lead is a highly toxic poison associated with lower IQ, behavioral problems and growth delays in children who often are exposed hand to mouth. At least 4 million households in the United States have children living in them that are being exposed to high levels of lead, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which says no safe blood level of lead has been identified.
In a study, the dissertation of Rutgers post-doc Manthan P. Shah, published in the October issue of the
The results indicated about one-third of the samples, which include 95 from South Asian stores in New Jersey and 23 from stores in Mumbai and New Delhi, India, contained lead levels above the limit set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Although other cosmetics such as kajal and tiro, eye products used in India and Nigeria, have been banned by the FDA because of elevated lead content, the FDA only issued a general warning about sindoor after testing by the Illinois Department of Health a decade ago discovered a high lead content in one brand.
Shendell, and co-authors Rutgers post-doc Manthan P. Shah, who is now a scientist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and William Halperin, professor of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, said at a minimum there is a need to monitor sindoor lead levels and make the public aware of the potential hazards.
"We screen kids who live in houses built prior to 1978 with lead-based paint," said Halperin. "We should be screening children from the south Asian community to make sure they do not have elevated levels of lead in their blood, before we discover more dead brain cells."
The researchers are concerned about the amount of sindoor potentially entering the country on a weekly basis through the four international airports in the New York and New Jersey metropolitan area, including Philadelphia. Halperin said he took a trip to India, brought back sindoor and was not stopped by U.S. Customs and told that the product might be hazardous.
Researchers say the government should look at this as a public health issue and not rely on consumers to make the right choices. It is difficult, they say, to determine exactly which products contain lead based on the variety of sindoor available and because the number of products which contained lead in this study is high.
"We shouldn't depend on people making the right decision on what product to use," said Halperin. "This is a public health issue that needs to be taken seriously."
The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) has awarded UT Southwestern researchers more than $34 million for cancer research and faculty recruitment, including support for programs in pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma.
UTSW received $20 million for recruitment, $6 million of which was used to recruit and support the research of breast cancer specialist Dr. Carlos L. Arteaga, who joined UT Southwestern on Sept.1 as the new Director of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The grants also include $3.94 million for UT Southwestern-led research projects.
"These CPRIT awards will support translational and clinical research initiatives at UT Southwestern that hold great potential to improve cancer treatments, " said Dr. Daniel K. Podolsky, President of UT Southwestern, who holds the Philip O'Bryan Montgomery, Jr., M.D. Distinguished Presidential Chair in Academic Administration and the Doris and Bryan Wildenthal Distinguished Chair in Medical Science.
CPRIT funding helped to recruit Dr. Arteaga to UT Southwestern as the second Director of the Simmons Cancer Center. Dr. Arteaga, formerly at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, is internationally recognized for his work in laboratory-based translational research and for advancing the care of breast cancer patients.
"My vision is for UT Southwestern to become one of the top institutions in the nation for conducting translational cancer medicine," said Dr. Arteaga, who aims to greatly expand the number of National Institutes of Health-sponsored and other clinical trials for cancer patients at UT Southwestern.
UT Southwestern's total CPRIT award of $34,265,689 also includes the following grants for research and facilities:
Core Facility Support Awards
Dr. Xiankai Sun, Associate Professor of Radiology and with the Advanced Imaging Research Center, who holds the Dr. Jack Krohmer Professorship in Radiation Physics
Support for a cyclotron and radiochemistry facility for pediatric oncology to facilitate increased use of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, currently underutilized in childhood cancers $5,648,027
Dr. Daniela Nicastro, Associate Professor of Cell Biology and Biophysics
Support for the cryo-electron microscopy facility, which uses advanced microscopy tools to determine protein structures in detail. The award will support operations; purchase of new equipment to increase efficiency of cryo-sample preparation and optimization; and more $5,498,714
Individual Investigator Awards
Dr. Kenneth Westover, Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology and Biochemistry
Research to discover small-molecule inhibitors to inactivate a mutant form of the KRAS gene, which is commonly found in lung cancer and was one of the first-identified genetic drivers of cancer $823,500
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Dr. John Abrams, Professor of Cell Biology
Investigation of how a mutation of the p53 gene acts as a driver of cancer $816,171
Studying the function of a regulator of the molecule NF-kB, which is associated with inflammation and a variety of cancers including breast, colon, lung, and lymphoma $679,458
High-Impact, High-Risk Awards
Dr. Vincent Tagliabracci, Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology, who is a Michael L. Rosenberg Scholar in Medical Research
Research into how secreted kinases affect cancer cell growth and metastasis through the regulation of extracellular signaling $200,000
Dr. Benjamin Tu, Associate Professor of Biochemistry, who holds the Martha Steiner Professorship in Medical Research
Investigating whether rewiring of metabolism plays a key role in the development of pancreatic cancer $200,000
Dr. Yingfei Wang, Assistant Professor of Pathology and Neurology and Neurotherapeutics
Exploring the role of PAAN, a newly identified nuclease, in the development and treatment of triple-negative breast cancer $200,000
Dr. Sean Morrison, Director of the Children's Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern, who holds the Kathryne and Gene Bishop Distinguished Chair in Pediatric Research at Children's Research Institute at UT Southwestern and the Mary McDermott Cook Chair in Pediatric Genetics
Studying whether an ion transporter promotes melanoma growth, and if so, if it could represent a new therapeutic target for melanoma $199,828
Other CPRIT funding included $2 million each to recruit the following first-time, tenure-track faculty members: Dr. Jeffrey Woodruff, coming from the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics to join the Department of Cell Biology; Dr. Dustin Hancks, coming from University of Utah, School of Medicine, to join the Department of Immunology; Dr. Todd Aguilera, coming from Stanford University to join Radiation Oncology; Dr. Jun Wu, from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, and Dr. Ping Mu, from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, both joining the Department of Molecular Biology; and Dr. Daehwan Kim, from the McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and Dr. Bo Li, from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Harvard School of Public Health, both joining the Department of Bioinformatics.
The recent round of CPRIT awards comprised 60 grants, with $59 million in grants going to University of Texas institutions and an overall total of $102 million in grants. CPRIT was established in 2009, and since that time the organization has awarded $1.89 billion to Texas institutions to help in the fight against cancer.
Source: http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/newsroom/articles/year-2017/cancer-research-award.html
The discovery of a puddle of mouse urine seems like a strange scientific "eureka" moment.
However, for one team of researchers, that's exactly what led to a new discovery.
The researchers' findings may enhance understanding of how our bodies balance water content 50 to 60 percent of our weight. It may also lead to better understanding of hormone-related diseases can cause conditions ranging from diabetes to obesity.
Starting from that patch of abnormally wet cage litter, the researchers traced the cause all the way into tiny nerve cells in the pituitary glands of their research mice.
Clues and experiments led them into the folds of the endoplasmic reticulum or ER, as it's called a microscopic structure inside every cell that you might remember from biology class.
The ER is the last stop for many items that cells send out into the world. If you think of a pituitary gland cell as a hormone factory, then the ER is both the quality control department and the packaging and shipping department for those hormones.
The team's discovery shows that the ER quality control machine does more than just keep the cell from shipping poorly made goods, by destroying bad products before they do damage.
They show that, in addition, the ER machinery provides a safe space for the cell to put finishing touches on its products, keeping the bad ones from clumping together with the good ones.
If this safe space fails, they show, the hormone known as vasopressin can't do a key job: helping the body balance its water levels by reclaiming water from urine.
What might one see in a mouse that lets too much water go in its urine? Perhaps an unusually wet mouse cage.
University of Michigan physiology professor Ling Qi, Ph.D., explains that the findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, illustrate a new role for a process called endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation or ERAD.
"We know that critical events regulating hormone levels in the body happen in the ER," he says. "We demonstrate that the machinery of the ERAD process controls the level of hormones released from cells and thereby controlling systemic water balance."
A new role for ERAD
ERAD was already known to play a key role in identifying badly-made products, such as misfolded proteins, and breaking them down before they can leave the cell.
In fact, many genetic diseases may be resulted from overwhelming the ERAD machinery with too many mutated, misfolded proteins. Even during normal protein production, a few bad copies get made and fold inappropriately. U-M has started a Protein Folding Disease Initiative to study all of these issues.
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But the team of Qi, postdoctoral fellows Guojun Shi, Ph.D., and Geun Hyang Kim, Ph.D., and undergraduate student Diane Somlo, now a Yale University medical student, and colleagues from around the world, show that ERAD can do more.
Their study centers around proAVP, a "prohormone" or the precursor of the hormone called arginine-vasopressin, or also sometimes called vasopressin or antidiuretic hormone.
They had actually set out to study what role another molecule, called Sel1L, plays in living organisms. They did not expect that Sel1L was important to water balance and the ability of proAVP to leave cells. So, they produced a mouse equipped with a drug-sensitive genetic mechanism that allowed them to turn off Sel1L production.
When they stopped Sel1L production, the mice started drinking a lot more water and producing watery urine, mirroring symptoms seen in people with a rare hormone disorder known as diabetes insipidus.
The human disease, which occurs in about 1 in every 25,000 people, has been known to be caused by a lack of vasopressin, or decreased ability of kidneys to respond to it.
Through painstaking research, the team showed that when ERAD didn't happen normally, misfolded proAVP molecules didn't get cleared, and they formed aggregates, or clumps, with normal proAVP molecules. That meant the normal hormone couldn't get where it needed to go.
"What's really fascinating is that ERAD appears to control secretion of AVP by degrading misfolded proteins, and allowing the good ones to go," says Qi. "Without ERAD, the bad ones attach to the good ones which then stay in the ER. This suggests that central diabetes insipidus may develop because of problems with quality control in the ER."
The researchers suspect that the level of water in the body may even act as a feedback loop to trigger the production of more ERAD machine. But if the ERAD machinery is broken, that extra prohormone could gum up the works further.
Taken together, the findings suggest that efforts to boost ERAD function could help normal prohormone folding and shipping go more smoothly.
Perhaps targeted drugs could be found to accomplish this, says Qi, though that could be years away.
"Protein folding is critical in the pathogenesis of many diseases," he says. "This shows how important the ERAD process is in that process. If ER stress response is a fire alarm, ERAD is the firefighters putting out the fires and preventing them from spreading to the next house."
National Eczema Awareness Week, 2017
To mark National Eczema Week, Gladskin is releasing a new survey showing that two thirds of UK eczema patients dont know bacteria play a role in their condition, whereas studies show the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is present on the skin of over 70% of patients and is associated with the severity and flares of the eczema.
Eczema affects the lives of over 6 million people in the UK and these new findings highlight and confirm the unrelenting nature of the skin condition with 80% of patients experiencing at least one flare-up in the past year, 90% in more severe cases.
The physical impact inevitably takes its toll psychologically, as 60% admits their eczema has a substantial emotional and social impact, noting the condition as the source of embarrassment, depression and self-consciousness. Notably, over a fifth of patients are too embarrassed to speak up and over a third of moderate to severe patients feel depressed.
Eczema is an isolating condition. If patients are able to manage their symptoms effectively then improved self-esteem and confidence will follow. Through new research and awareness activities, people with eczema can begin to speak about their experience more openly while beginning to understand the underlying triggers. This way, patients can make informed decisions about treatment. Comments Dr Bjorn Herpers, Clinical Microbiologist at the Regional Public Health Laboratory, Kennemerland, The Netherlands.
The gap in disease knowledge could be leading to misinformed treatment choices, with 40% of the patients surveyed not satisfied with their current treatment, and a fifth stating their symptoms are continuously present. Worryingly, 37% of eczema patients never see an improvement in their condition, this figure increases to 49% in more severe patients.
The research was carried out by market research company Brandkraft in several European countries on behalf of Gladskin and asked 270 patients and 48 carers in the UK a number of questions about how they live with and manage their eczema.
Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), is thought to aggravate eczema symptoms through triggering an inflammatory response. However, antibiotics are rarely used for treatment, because they are known to take a blanket approach by killing both the good and bad bacteria on skin. Also, their use induces resistance, making them unsuitable for long-term use.
Increased education and information is key so that patients are aware of alternative treatments other than steroids and antibiotics. Staphefekt is an enzyme which targets only S. aureus bacteria, leaving the rest of the microbiome intact. Produced by Dutch biotech company Micreos, this enzyme, also called an 'endolysin', is the active ingredient in a series of new creams and gels marketed under the Gladskin brand for people with inflammatory skin conditions, including eczema. Gladskin's targeted bacteria-killing properties enable symptom-management, offering a novel long-term way to help patients get their eczema under control.
To help patients talk about their condition the National Eczema Society are calling for patients to Eczpress yourself by sending a recording explaining their story and struggles to share on social media.
Cedars-Sinai today launched its third health-tech accelerator class with 10 startups whose innovative technologies aim to transform the delivery and quality of healthcare.
The companies were selected for the Cedars-Sinai Accelerator Powered by Techstars, an intensive, three-month program providing financial backing, training and exposure to a global entrepreneurial network that can speed ideas and solutions to the healthcare marketplace.
The startups will develop and refine their products with mentoring from leading Cedars-Sinai physicians, as well as executives from Cedars-Sinai and Techstars, an organization that works with entrepreneurs to successfully cultivate their ideas. The companies also will receive an initial investment of $120,000 and access to Techstars' worldwide network of investors, mentors, alumni and corporate partners.
Through their innovations, the companies seek to address some of healthcare's most pressing challenges, particularly the experience of patients. Tasso, for example, makes blood testing simpler and more affordable through its device that allows patients to collect their own blood samples at the push of a button and send to labs for a broad range of diagnostic tests.
NarrativeDx has developed a patient experience management tool that allows facilities to better understand and respond to feedback and concerns by collecting patients' comments from focus groups, discharge surveys, social media channels and doctor review sites.
GYANT, an artificial intelligence bot, uses text messaging or voice-enabled technology to connect with patients and ask about symptoms in a chat setting. Based on responses, it helps identify probable causes of particular conditions and provides information and next steps.
Lumeon's automated care pathways allow providers to set up protocols to ensure that patients get the right follow-up care based on advice they've received and procedures they've undergone. It allows physicians to provide more effective health outcomes at a lower cost.
"The innovations these companies bring to the accelerator have the potential to dramatically improve and streamline the delivery of healthcare," said Darren Dworkin, chief information officer at Cedars-Sinai. "Through this program, these companies will test and improve their ideas. By working with world-class physicians, they will advance their technologies and push their companies to the next level."
The companies were selected in a competitive process among hundreds of startups around the globe that applied.
"I'm excited to mentor and work with these pioneering startups," said Matt Kozlov, managing director of the Cedars-Sinai Accelerator Powered by Techstars. "Techstars helps entrepreneurs succeed and through our partnership with Cedars-Sinai, more than 30 companies have accelerated their growth. It's exciting to welcome the new startups to our program."
Past company participants in the accelerator have achieved notable success, including Inscope Medical, which completed FDA registration for its high-tech disposable laryngoscope in April; Stasis Labs, which has successfully deployed a cloud-connected vital signs monitoring system to 12 hospitals across India.; WELL Health, a text messaging platform for patients used by more than 120 physician offices and clinics at Cedars-Sinai; and Deep 6 AI, which uses artificial intelligence to help researchers find patients for clinical trials, and is deploying across Cedars-Sinai.
Source: https://www.cedars-sinai.edu/About-Us/News/News-Releases-2017/Breakthrough-Health-Tech-Companies-Get-Boost-to-Transform-Healthcare.aspx
At the World Congress of Neurology in Kyoto a group of Indian researchers presented a new 15-minute assessment to monitor dementia patients on an ongoing basis. The reliable telephone interview assessment technique opens up new possibilities for early detection as well as treating and monitoring Alzheimer's patients.
All it takes is a 15-minute telephone conversation to reliably differentiate between patients with normal cognition and those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and to detect progression from MCI to development of Alzheimer's disease. This was confirmed by the results of a comparative study from India presented at the XXIII World Congress of Neurology. This large-scale international scientific conference is taking place from September 16 to 21 in Kyoto. The study evaluated a new monitoring technique for conducting follow-up tests developed by a team of Indian neurologists and psychologists.
Ongoing assessment is a particularly important part of monitoring neurological deficit, whether with regard to mild forms of cognitive impairment or pronounced Alzheimer's disease. While experts already have a number of test instruments at their disposal, which they can use to differentiate between various forms of impairment and identify progression of disease, they tend to be complex and can easily overwhelm healthcare infrastructure in populous and less developed nations.
A group of Indian experts who are trying to broaden the spectrum of tools available has developed a new kind of test which can be conducted in a short telephone interview. Known as the FACT test (fifteen-minute assessment of cognition over the telephone), it comprises 27 items designed to test the interview subject's attention, verbal learning and memory, executive functions/language and orientation. "Our aim was to determine whether it was possible to diagnose dementia in just 15 minutes for people who were unable to visit hospitals," explained the study's author, Dr Ratnavalli Ellajosyula, cognitive neurologist expert at the Manipal Hospital in Bangalore.
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In order to establish whether FACT is a similarly reliable method to established tests, the Indian researchers analysed the effectiveness of the questionnaire in study conditions. This involved conducting telephone interviews with 22 patients that suffered from mild cognitive impairment, 20 who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and a further cohort of 23 healthy patients of similar age and with similar educational background. The participating patients completed the established Addenbrookes Cognitive Examination (ACE III) in hospital a week before the telephone interviews.
The results gave the test's developers grounds for optimism: "We were able to show that FACT is comparable with and as efficient as ACE III, due to the fact being an instrument for determining mild cognitive impairment and for monitoring Alzheimer's," states Dr Ellajosyula. "This enables new possibilities in everyday clinical practice, for early-intervention research and for monitoring the progression of cognitive impairment."
The researchers hope that FACT would be used as a screening tool in epidemiological studies in the future. "This will circumvent the problem of people being uncooperative in door-to-door surveys or are not reachable or accessible. In India, mobile phones have a wide reach and being used across the country by all sections of the people", Dr Ellajosyula says. "In addition, FACT can be used for diagnosis of MCI, monitoring patients to see who will convert to AD and also to measure progression in AD, even to evaluate the response to medication in a drug trial. Further studies are required but we hope to see it used also in other countries and resource poor settings where neuropsychologists are uncommon."
Tecan has unveiled its latest innovation, the automated RESOLVEX A200 positive pressure workstation for LC-MS sample prep.
This walkaway system further expands Tecans portfolio of MS sample preparation workstations and smart consumables, uniquely allowing the company to provide complete solutions to match any workflow, from manual processing to semi-automated high throughput systems based on a Freedom EVO or Fluent platform.
Lab Diagnostics & Automation eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today
The RESOLVEX A200 offers unattended positive pressure solid phase extraction, providing increased walkaway times for LC-MS sample preparation workflows. Lighter and smaller than previous systems, it has been carefully designed to offer greater ease of use and enhanced performance.
Eight-channel dispensing delivers a three-fold increase in speed compared to single channel dispensing, and the intuitive touchscreen control enables straightforward integration into laboratory protocols for immediate productivity.
The system is compatible with Tecans range of 96-well plate and column format smart consumables, including novel Narrow Bore Extraction columns that transform an extraction column into a reaction vessel.
Customers across Europe and the USA will have access to the full range of RESOLVEX instruments and consumables, supported by two dedicated applications laboratories in California, USA, and Hamburg, Germany. Staffed by automation specialists, chemists and mass spectrometry experts, these facilities will help users develop tailored LC-MS sample prep workflows to meet their specific needs.
To find out more about the RESOLVEX product range, visit Tecan at the 2017 SOFT-TIAFT Joint Annual Meeting in Boca Raton, Fl, USA, and Booth #26 at MSACL Europe in Salzburg, Austria, from September the 12th to the 14th, or go towww.tecan.com/resolvex-a200
Results from an unexpected quarter is could help neurologists to identify which brain region to remove to eliminate an epilepsy patient's symptoms. Mathematicians from the University of Twente, together with researchers from the University Medical Center Utrecht, have shown that it is sensible to examine the interconnections between different brain regions closely, instead of searching for abnormal regions only. The results of their study were published in the scientific journal Epilepsia.
About 100,000 people in the Netherlands suffer from epilepsy, a disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. In two thirds of patients, the disorder responds well to medicinal treatment. In some cases, surgical removal of a small brain region is the best option.
However, the region in question varies from one patient to another. This poses neurologists with a dilemma - exactly which region needs to be removed? In many cases, they select regions of brain tissue that - in an MRI image, for example - appear to have an abnormal structure. Mathematicians from the University of Twente, together with researchers from the University Medical Center Utrecht, have used computer simulations to show that it may sometimes be better to remove regions with a normal appearance rather than 'abnormal' brain tissue.
Jurgen Hebbink, one of the researchers involved, points out that "Our model yields insight into the key role that the network structure can play. In our simulations it is sometimes more effective to remove a normal, strategically located region of the brain than an intrinsically abnormal region."
Simulations
In their study, Hebbink and his co-workers ran computer simulations of four different brain regions, each producing its own brain signals. By connecting the regions together in different ways they were able to demonstrate how the signals from one region affect those from the other regions. This particular model only simulated a limited number of brain regions. Nevertheless, it still provided key insights into how signals from one region can influence those from other regions.
Jurgen Hebbink says that the ultimate step in this study is to simulate the entire brain of an individual patient in the computer. You could then use that model to identify the region to be removed, to produce the best results for that particular patient. "The advantage of a computer model is that you can experiment on it as often as you like. In the real world, you can only do that once."
In the treatment of strokes, every minute gained can save lives or reduce the extent of lasting damage. At the World Congress for Neurology in Kyoto, Japanese doctors presented an effective educational program for school children and their parents. It does not only heighten awareness of this life-threatening disease, but also helps to shorten the time before emergency services are contacted.
School-based education about strokes not only improves people's understanding of this life-threatening disease but also ensures that stroke victims contact emergency services much earlier and arrive more quickly at the hospital for treatment. Japanese researchers came to this conclusion and shared the results of their study at the XXIII World Congress for Neurology. This major scientific event takes place in Kyoto from 16 to 21 September 2017.
Strokes are responsible world-wide for more than one in ten deaths and the most frequent cause of lasting and in many cases severe disabilities. The degree of severity and reversibility depends heavily on how much time passes between the occurrence of the first symptoms and the start of treatment. That is the reason why clinics and especially specialized stroke units throughout the world are constantly trying to reduce the "door-to-needle time", i.e. the time between arrival of the patient in the hospital and the start of treatment.
A scientific team of the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Centers in Suita, Japan, wanted to find out how valuable minutes could be gained during the period prior to arrival at the emergency ward. Study author Dr Chiaki Yokota explains: "In stroke treatment, literally every minute gained improves the outcome. Unfortunately, many stroke victims or their families are not capable of recognizing the symptoms of a stroke. They therefore hesitate in many cases to call for medical help."
Neuroscience eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today
In order to fill these knowledge gaps, emergency medical technicians from the emergency ward set off on a year-long lecture tour of eleven primary schools in Akashi, a city with a population of about 300,000. The nine and ten-year-old pupils received age-appropriate instruction on essential stroke facts as well as information material they discussed with their parents at home.
To check the effectiveness of the information campaign, children and parents had to fill out a stroke questionnaire beforehand and then repeat this test again three months after the instruction. In addition, the scientists analyzed transport reports from the local emergency services six months before and six months after the intervention. The results clearly showed that efforts had been worthwhile. Not only did the participants do much better on the knowledge test three months after the information campaign - the call-to-door time was also reduced significantly from 32 to 29 minutes. Dr Yokota finally sums up: "This type of information dissemination does a lot to raise awareness about strokes on the part of both children and their parents. As final result the stroke victims come to the hospital much earlier and thereby greatly improve their chances of surviving this event without serious and lasting damage."
An international Yale-led research team has shown that a risk profile based on 52 genes accurately predicts survival for patients with a severe lung disease. If confirmed in further studies, the finding could transform the way patients are treated for the condition, which is on the rise in older adults.
The study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a form of lung disease that causes scarring and impairs breathing. Without a transplant, IPF patients can expect to live between three and five years. In a prior study, lead authors Jose Herazo-Maya M.D., Naftali Kaminski, M.D., and colleagues identified 52 genes that correlated with survival. However, they only validated four of those genes and on a limited number of patients.
Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today
In the new study, the Yale team collaborated with researchers in the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States to determine if the entire 52-gene risk profile could be validated in multiple patient groups. They also assessed whether the risk profile would enhance tools currently used by clinicians, and whether the risk profile would change as the disease progresses.
The research team collected samples from more than 400 patients recruited from multiple academic centers over a decade. The researchers developed a system to score genes with high or low expression, and classified patients as being at either high or low risk for IPF mortality. To determine the predictive value of the risk profile, they also analyzed patient health data and response to drug therapy over time.
The researchers found that the 52-gene risk profile did accurately predict individual patient survival, in all six cohorts, said Herazo-Maya. "IPF is known to have a variable and unpredictable course and therefore we were so impressed that the results were validated in all six cohorts," he noted.
The gene risk profile increased the accuracy of current clinical tools. The study also found that the risk profile worsens as the disease progresses. In a small subset of patients treated with recently FDA-approved medications, the risk profile improved.
While further study is needed, the findings have important implications, said the researchers. The 52-gene risk profile may be useful to make disease management decisions, such as prioritizing some patients for lung transplantation, said Kaminski. "If additional studies confirm the treatment effect we observed, shifts in the 52-gene risk profile could eventually be used to indicate response to therapy, and allow more efficient drug trial designs and disease management plans," he explained.
Participating in twice-weekly practice of Tibetan yoga may reduce sleep disturbances and improve sleep quality in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, according to a study from researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
The research, published in the journal Cancer, found that women who practiced Tibetan yoga at least two times a week reported less daytime disturbances, better sleep quality and sleep efficiency over time, compared to those practicing less often and to women in an active control group receiving usual care.
Sleep disturbances and fatigue are two of the most frequent and debilitating side effects experienced by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, explained lead author Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D., professor of Palliative, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Medicine and director of the Integrative Medicine Program. Patients often describe poor sleep quality, insomnia, and excessive drowsiness.
"Previous research has established that yoga effectively reduces sleep disturbances for cancer patients, but have not included active control groups or long-term follow-up," said Cohen. "This study hoped to address previous study limitations."
For the randomized study, 227 women with stage I-III breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy at MD Anderson Cancer Center were randomized to one of three groups: a Tibetan yoga program, a simple-stretching program, or a waitlist control group receiving usual care. Participants in the Tibetan yoga program and the stretching program attended four 75-90 minute classes during their chemotherapy treatment.
Participants in the Tibetan yoga program were taught one-on-one by a trained instructor, with each class focusing on controlled breathing, visualization, meditation and postures. Patients were encouraged to practice daily, at home outside of class.
Prior to starting the interventions, participants completed baseline questionnaires and wore an actigraphy watch, which monitors rest and activity cycles, 24 hours a day for seven days to assess sleep quality. Follow-up assessments were conducted one week after the end of intervention and three, six, and 12 months later.
Sleep disturbances and fatigue were assessed using the self-reported Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Brief Fatigue inventory. Participants also wore actigraphs 24 hours a day for seven days at each study time point to measure sleep.
There were no statistically significant group differences in total sleep disturbances or fatigue levels over time, but participants in the Tibetan yoga group reported fewer daily disturbances one week post-treatment than either of the other groups.
Additionally, long-term sleep benefits emerged over time for those who practiced Tibetan yoga at least two times a week. Compared to those who practiced less often, these patients reported fewer daily disturbances three months post-treatment, as well as better sleep quality and efficiency at six months post-treatment. These patients also reported fewer daily disturbances three months and better sleep efficiency six months relative to the usual care control group.
"While the effects of this intervention were modest, it is encouraging to see that the women who practiced yoga outside of class had improved sleep outcomes over time," said Cohen.
The study and findings were limited by several factors, including a lack of blinded group assignments and challenges with recruiting patients undergoing chemotherapy, resulting in just a 56 percent participation rate.
Planned future research will focus on shorter in-class instruction and increasing patient engagement in yoga practice outside of the instructional classes.
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The US Navy is performing planned midlife refueling and technology upgrades to the Nimitz aircraft carriers. Carriers are planned to operate for 50 years and halfway they get nuclear refueling and new technology. The cost is currently about $2.8 billion per carrier and it takes 46 months.
Carriers will receive upgraded weapons systems;
* Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM),
* Evolved NATO Sea Sparrow Missile System,
* Close-In Weapons System (CIWS),
* Mk-38 25mm automatic gun systems, and
* Anti-Torpedo Defense Systems.
The emergence of a specifically-engineered torpedo defense system is quite significant for the Navy as it comes a time when many weapons developers are contemplating new ship-defense technologies and considering various carrier configurations for the future in light of fast-emerging threats from long-range anti-ship missiles, torpedoes and hypersonic weapons. An ability to protect large carrier platforms from submarine-launched torpedo attacks adds a substantial element to a carriers layered defense systems.
The carriers are being configured operate the F-35C stealth fighter.
The F-35C is a single seat, multi-role fighter aircraft designed to eventually replace the F/A-18 legacy Hornet.
The Navys future aircraft carrier-based air wings will consist of a mix of F-35C, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers electronic attack aircraft, E-2D Hawkeye battle management and control aircraft, MH-60R/S helicopters and Carrier Onboard Delivery logistics aircraft such as the Navy Osprey.
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ANGOLA Angola could see two retirement plans for the firefighters in the future.
The Angola Common Council decided Monday at its regular meeting to proceed with joining the 1977 Police Officers and Firefighters Pension and Disability Fund for the firefighters, but that does not mean the firefighters will lose their current pension.
A resolution making the decision official will come at the Oct. 2 council meeting.
The current plan will still be available to the current firefighters, said Councilman Dave Martin. The high seniority guys may not benefit as much from this new plan.
Clerk-treasurer Deb Twitchell said the city will be joining the fund thanks to approval from council, but legacy firefighters will be able to opt out of the program if their current pension benefits them better. New hires will be put on the 77 plan.
Martin said getting council approval was the first step.
There are still numerous things to do and calculations to be made to decide how much prior service time the city will be purchasing for each legacy firefighter. The firefighters will be able to purchase additional time as well, if they choose to participate in the plan.
There is zero cost for the city for new hire firefighters to join, so that one is a no-brainer for them, said Martin.
The cost for legacy firefighters to join is still to be calculated and it will be a cost to both the city and the individual firefighter.
To implement the 77 Fund, the city council will have to adopt a resolution to participate, naming a specific start date. Twitchell said as long as things stay on track, the resolution will be on the Oct. 2 council agenda.
The city council will also have to adopt an ordinance establishing a fire pension board. Members will include the mayor, fire chief and four active firefighters with an elected secretary and the clerk-treasurer acting as contacts with the state.
Its going to take some very complex calculations for the firefighters and the city, said Martin. It will be offered to them all, but some may not benefit so itll be up to them to take it or not.
Three 2018 fire protection agreements were approved Monday. The townships of Jackson, Scott and York will each see a 2.5 percent increase from 2018.
Jackson Townships agreement is $6,765. Scott Township is at $6,123 and York Township is at $4,223.
Two new street lights near Trine Universtiy were also approvedduring Mondays council meeting.
A request from the university was brought to the streets, alleys and lighting committee, made up of Councilman Gary Crum and Councilwoman Kathy Armstrong, for two streetlights on Moss Street between Saginaw and Summit Streets.
We both looked and agree the area needs a couple more lights, Crum said. Saginaw is dimly lit.
Armstrong agreed, saying lights in the area are the right thing to do. The committee is leaving placement of the two approved lights to city engineer Bill Boyer to decide.
The common council meets next on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at city hall, 210 N. Public Square.
If Im gonna go to the Amazon, Im going to pack and pack tight, take a first aid kit, mosquito netting, a hammock, a Sears poncho, rations, trail mix, potable water and cold beer.
As the General Assemblys Alcohol Code Revision Commission met last Monday, mayors from Indianapolis and Fishers, along with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, were dreaming of Amazons HQ2, a $5 billion, 50,000 employee, high-wage gem. Analysis from the New York Times and others place Indiana in the mix along with dozens of other cities until quality of life and mass transit come into play.
With this plum capturing site selector fantasy, Indiana is plunging into a debate about where carryout cold beer can be sold and whether it should be available on Sundays beyond Big Woods, Upland, Mad Anthony and dozens of other craft breweries springing up across the state. In 49 other states and the District of Columbia, the temperature of beer sales is unregulated. Indiana is the only state that bans retail beer, wine and liquor sales on Sundays.
The decision on where to locate Amazons second headquarters will be made at the current HQ in Seattle (a city with a departing gay mayor), located in a state with liberal alcohol laws, legalized recreational marijuana and the sprawling and admired King County Metro Transit. Heed that corporate mindset.
Amazon is literally, by the hour and day, changing the retail face of America with its vast online sales that include four large warehouse operations one called a fulfillment center here in Indiana. It is experimenting with drone deliveries of its products.
The site selectors and human resource managers will at some point get beyond Indianas forte of centralized location, ample real estate, low taxes and cost of living, a critically acclaimed international airport, workforce, research and development (tee up IU, Purdue, Notre Dame and Rose-Hulman), legacy (native and transplanted Hoosiers invented the automobile, airplane, TV, 2 percent milk, the Hoagy, tomato juice and subsequently the Bloody Mary) and concentrate on such quality of life.
We are a state where fruit-based beverages can be sold cold in convenience stores, but malt/barley based brews go out the door warm. Our stores can sell Angry Orchard cold but we must sell Reds Apple Ale warm, said Matt Norris of the Indiana Petroleum Marketers. There may be a difference in how the products are made, but the vast majority of consumers see them as interchangeable.
Patrick Tamm of the Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers posits that cold beer is a dangerous product that only the liquor stores are responsible enough to sell.
Can you say nanny state?
The fascinating contrast between alcohol being a dangerous product and the work of a separate legislative study committee that wants to allow anyone to walk on the streets with a loaded handgun without licensure is the obvious moose on the table. At some point during the 2018 session, legislators could be faced with preventing convenience stores from selling cold beer, while they vote to eliminate handgun permits.
As one observer noted: Say what you will about the ill effects of alcohol on health and drunk driving, a loaded handgun has the power to do a lot more damage a whole lot quicker.
Some observers in the lobby believe there will be changes, most likely Sunday sales, as signaled by State Sen. Ron Alting earlier this summer to the Lafayette Journal & Courier. But the pound of flesh exacted could well be cold beer sales relegated to liquor stores, and not Rickers, Thorntons or the growing fleet of Amazon drones.
Heres how the American Conservative observes our straddling the centuries, with C. Jarrett Dieterle citing the missed opportunity to reform the states infamous cold beer law while underscoring the cronyist forces Indiana reformers are up against when the General Assembly and Gov. Eric Holcomb clamped down on Rickers which found a loophole to sell cold beer along with its convenience store tacos and burritos.
Dieterle continues, Although nearly every state has outdated and arcane alcohol laws, Indianas cold beer law stands out as one of the most bizarre.
According to an Associated Press analysis, liquor-store interests have contributed more than $750,000 to Indiana lawmakers since 2010, underscoring the power they were able to exert in the state capitol. Dieterle notes: One lawmaker even stated that voting to revoke Rickers ability to sell cold beer goes against every grain in my free market body, but then turned around and voted for the legislation anyway.
He concludes: Rather than spending their time defending anachronistic laws and targeting convenience stores that want to sell cold beer, Indiana should fix its booze laws. After all, no one likes warm beer.
Except, perhaps, the Brits, but George Rogers Clark took care of them a couple centuries ago.
Forbes Magazine observes of 20th Century alcohol codes: Most are unjustified relics. Too often, the motivation to put and keep many of these restrictions in place has nothing to do with public health or safety concerns. Instead the ultimate purpose is to protect politically well-connected stakeholders from competition. In the process, these protectionist regulations also inhibit industry expansion and economic growth.
Like cold beer here in the age of Amazon, when all the retails rules are changing.
Brian Howey is publisher of Howey Politics Indiana at www.howeypolitics.com. Find him on Facebook and Twitter @hwypol.
The McDonalds chains latest building design and technology such as kiosks for ordering and mobile ordering are some highlights of the new restaurant that Onalaska-based franchisee Courtesy Corp. will open at 5 a.m. Thursday at 2437 George St. on the North Side of La Crosse.
The new restaurant replaces the one that closed Feb. 27 at 1140 W. George St. That restaurant, which opened in 1972 and was Courtesy Corp.s second location, was purchased by the state of Wisconsin and demolished for the overhaul of George Street as part of a revamping of Interstate 90s Exit 3.
Courtesy Corp. today owns and operates 59 McDonalds restaurants in western Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota and northeastern Iowa.
In an interview at the new George Street restaurant, Courtesy Corp. President Rick Lommen also said the McDonalds restaurant on La Crosses South Side is expected to be replaced with a new building in 2018. Its just time to update, he said of the current Losey Boulevard restaurant that opened in 1976.
As for the new North Side McDonalds, Lommen said, I think it should be very well-received by customers. All these different (new) ways of ordering are pretty exciting. It brings the latest technology into McDonalds.
Although customers will be able to order at the counter as they always have, theyll also have the option of ordering at one of four new kiosks. If they choose to order at a kiosk, they can pay at the kiosk with a credit card or debit card or pay at the counter.
Those who order at the kiosks can take a table tent with a number on it to their table, and an employee will bring their food to them.
The kiosks are the first ones to be installed in a Courtesy Corp. restaurant. These kiosks will be in every McDonalds in the United States by 2020, Lommen said.
Well also have mobile ordering at the new restaurant, Lommen said. You can order and pay on your smartphone. And you can pick up the food either at the drive-thru or at a designated curbside delivery location, or inside.
The George Street McDonalds will be one of the first Courtesy Corp. locations to have mobile ordering, and the rest will have it within a month.
The new restaurant can seat 121 people inside, about 15 outside, and has about 80 employees.
Latest on HRA
The HRA that has been approved will be 24 per cent, 16 per cent and 8 per cent of the new basic pay. Also, the rate of HRA would be revised to 27 per cent, 18 per cent and 9 per cent when the dearness allowance (DA) crosses 25 per cent, and further to 30 per cent, 20 per cent and 10 per cent when it crosses 50 per cent.
Latest on DA
Besides the percentage increase in DA, the government has decided the minimum floor rate of HRA for the lowest categories of employees. "The HRA will not be less than Rs 5,400, Rs 3,600 and Rs 1,800 depending on the type of city and calculated at 30 per cent, 20 per cent and 10 per cent of minimum pay of Rs 18,000 (sic)," an official statement said. The HRA revision will benefit more than 7.5 lakh employees. HRA constitutes 60 per cent of the total allowance of a government employee's pay.
Latest on allowances
The government has said that 108 allowances have been retained against the Pay Commission's recommendation for 95 allowances. Similarly, as against the recommendation to do away with 53 of the allowances, Centre has decided to abolish 43. Another 34 allowances have been subsumed and decisions with regard to 12 allowances relating to railways will be taken up later. For pensioners, the medical allowance has been doubled to Rs 1,000 from the present to Rs 500 per month. Constant attendance allowance on 100 per cent disablement has been increased from Rs 4,500 to Rs 6,750. The nursing allowance to nurses and ministerial staff of hospitals has also been increased to Rs 7,200 per month from Rs 4,800 earlier. Similarly, operation theatre allowance has been hiked from Rs 360 per month to Rs 540 per month and hospital patient care allowance/patient care allowance from Rs 2,070 to Rs 2,100 and Rs 4,100 to Rs 5,300 per month, respectively.
7th Pay Commission latest on minimum pay
The biggest good news would however be on the hike in minimum pay. While employee unions have been saying that the minimum hike as per the 7th Pay Commission is not good enough, the government is planning on revising the same. The National Anomaly Committee or NAC is planning on giving a majority vote to increase the minimum pay from Rs 18,000 to Rs 21,000.
AIADMK crisis: Madras HC to decide on the fate of Tamil Nadu government
India
oi-Anusha
All eyes are set on the Madras High Court that is likely to decide on the fate of Edappadi Palanisamy government in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. A host of petitions including those demanding a floor test as well as those challenging the disqualification of 18 AIADMK MLAs will be taken up for hearing.
Justice Duraisamy of the Madras High Court will hear the plea against the disqualification of rebel MLAs of the AIADMK as well as the pleas seeking floor test in Tamilnadu by the DMK. The plea by MLAs will be heard first. The hearing is expected to commence at noon.
Tamil Nadu assembly speaker P Dhanapal, who was himself disqualified as an MLA, on Monday disqualified 18 legislators from the ruling party's faction led by T T V Dinakaran. The rebel MLAs were disqualified citing anti-defection rules under Schedule 10 of the Constitution. A gazette notification declared their assembly constituencies vacant. The DMK, on Wednesday, passed a resolution condemning the disqualification of the rebel MLAs.
The Madras High Court, while passing interim orders on a plea by the DMK, had said that no floor test can be conducted in the Tamil Nadu assembly till Wednesday i.e., September 20. The Governor of Tamil Nadu will also be represented at the High Court today and he is likely to tell the court that it cannot force him to order a floor test. Governor Vidhyasagar Rao returned to Chennai on Tuesday after holding meetings with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and President Ramnath Kovind.
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Story first published: Wednesday, September 20, 2017, 11:23 [IST]
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Only those from political families can eye a CMs post in Congress: Amit Shah
Amit Shah slams Rahul Gandhi, says dynasty a trait of Congress not India
India
oi-PTI
In a veiled reference to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, BJP chief Amit Shah on Tuesday said it is a trait peculiar to the Congress and not the country.
Shah described the BJP as the only party in the country in which internal democracy prevails.
"Dynasticism is a trait of the Congress. Dont impose it on the country Rahul ji", Shah said, addressing a conference of intellectuals here tonight.
He said his own rise to the BJPs top post, despite a non-political family background, is a testimony to the fact that the party gives importance to an individuals abilities and not his lineage.
"I began by putting up party posters and banners and now I head the worlds largest political party. It could have been possible only in a party like BJP which believes in internal democracy," Shah said.
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He said no one in the country has any doubt on who would succeed Sonia Gandhi as Congress president but asked if anyone knew who the next BJP president would be.
"Rahul will succeed Sonia, Mulayam has already been succeeded by Akhilesh, Lalus sons will succeed him. These are things no one has any doubt about. Apart from BJP all other political parties have become family centric which place family interest above all else," Shah said.
BJP is a party with a difference because it is rooted in a different ideology, the basic principles of cultural nationalism and concern for the development of the man who stands at the lowest rung of the social ladder, he said.
He, however said that Modi administration a blend of tradion and modernity.
PTI
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Story first published: Wednesday, September 20, 2017, 9:54 [IST]
Why there is disruption in Cauvery water supply in Bengaluru today?
Cauvery water dispute: Final hearing over, SC reserves verdict
India
oi-Chennabasaveshwar
By Chennabasaveshwar
The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict over Cauvery river water dispute involving the tussle between the two neighbouring states Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The Supreme Court bench concluded the hearing today.
The apex court on July 11 had commenced final hearing on the appeals filed by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala against the 2007 Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) final award.
A bench of the apex court, headed by now Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, had earlier directed the Karnataka Government to provide 2000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu till its further order.
The top court, earlier in January, dismissed the plea seeking compensation from both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Governments for the loss of property during the Cauvery water related dispute between both the states. Siva Kumar, a Tamil Nadu based activist, had earlier filed the petition in the apex court on the same.
On January 9, the Tamil Nadu Government sought a compensation of Rs. 2,480 crores from Karnataka for not releasing water to the state despite getting the Supreme Court directive to do so.
The lawyer from the side of Tamil Nadu, Shekhar Naphade, urged the three-judge bench to bring the matter to a logical end for which there should be a continuous hearing.
On December 9 last year, the apex court upheld its constitutional power and right to hear appeals filed by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.
OneIndia News
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Story first published: Wednesday, September 20, 2017, 16:19 [IST]
CBI books Centac chairman, Puducherry Chief Secy in medical admission row
India
oi-Anusha
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR against Puducherry Centralised Admission Committee (Centac) chairman Narendra Kumar along with 12 others in the medical admission row. Those named as accused include two IAS officials.
The CBI has booked Puducherry Health Secretary B R Babu, managing directors of various private medical institutions in connection with an alleged scam in admissions to Post Graduate Medical courses. The Lt Governor of Puducherry, Kiran Bedi had sought a CBI probe into the admission of about 780 medical students in private colleges. She alleged that the admissions were in violation of Supreme Court's guidelines.
The CBI has also named Dr Raman, the Director of Health and Family Welfare, Centac convenor Dr V Govindaraj, joint convenor K Pajaniradja and Rajagopalan, the managing director of the Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute in its FIR.
Managing director of Aarupadaiveedu Medical College and Hospital, Ganesan, PonniyinSelvan, registrar of Vinayaka Missions Medical College, Karaikal, Anbazhagan, managing director of Sri Lakshmi Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences; Dhanasekaran, managing director Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College, Dr Anil Jacob Purti, registrar of Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Ramachandran, managing director of Venkateshwaraa Medical College Hospital and Research Centre have also been named in the FIR.
The CBI that is currently probing the matter said that the accused persons entered into a criminal conspiracy over admissions. During March-July 2017, they allegedly cheated bonafide students who were issued provisional admission certificate, by denying them the seats they were allocated. The FIR claims that the accused persons facilitated private medical colleges in admitting students who were not sponsored by Centac. The CBI alleges that the irregularity was carried out by collecting exorbitant fees.
OneIndia News
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Story first published: Wednesday, September 20, 2017, 19:13 [IST]
Cabinet okays amendment to railway land policy, 300 cargo terminals to be developed in 5 years
Explained: The new guidelines which mandate TV channels to telecast content of national interest
Centre to transfer 3 ITDC hotels to state governments
India
oi-Deepika
By Deepika
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved transfer of Hotel Jaipur Ashok, Mysore's Lalitha Mahal Palace, units of India Tourism Development Corporation Ltd (ITDC) to government of Rajasthan and government of Karnataka respectively, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said.
This is as per disinvestment policy of the government of India, wherein where states have not agreed to the proposal of leasing/sub-leasing, the properties may be returned back to the states at their officially valued price
During NDA's first stint in power between 1999 and 2004, the then Vajpayee government had divested its stakes in 18 ITDC hotels, bringing down the number of state-run hotels from 34 to 16.
While addressing a press conference after the cabinet meeting, Jaitley said that the government will take additional measures to bolster the economy, and the announcement will be made after consulting the Prime Minister.
Jaitley said, "the government has taken note of indications, and will take additional necessary move."
Reacting on Rohingyas issue, Jaitley said it is a policy issue and the government has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court in this regard.
The cabinet has also approved rationalisation/merger and modernisation of 17 Government of India Presses (GIPs) into 5 GIPs at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Minto Road and Mayapuri in New Delhi; Nashik and Temple Street, Kolkata.
Cabinet approved revamp of 'Khelo India- National Programme for Development of Sports.
Payment of Productivity Linked Bonus for Indian Railways employees,before festival season;incentive to improve productivity.
Cabinet has approved extension of time period of the scheme 'Special Industry Initiative for J&K'-Udaan till 31st December 2018
OneIndia News
Delhi air quality still in very poor category, stubble burning figure jumps
Delhi University Admission 2022: 3rd merit list for UG courses to be out today
Delhi HC issues notice to newly elected DUSU President
India
oi-Chennabasaveshwar
By Chennabasaveshwar
In reply to a plea filed by ABVP member, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to Delhi University Student Union President Rocky Tuseed.
In his plea ABVP's Rajat Choudhry stated that National Students' Union of India's (NSUI) Rocky Tuseed has FIR against him in 2014 for attempted murder and criminal trespassing.
The petitioner further stated that Tuseed shouldn't have contested due to FIR against him.
In the recently concluded DUSU election, Congress-backed NSUI won the posts of president and vice president.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) won the posts of secretary and joint secretary in the hotly contested polls. The RSS-affiliated association had three posts in the outgoing panel.
The results signalled a comeback for the NSUI, which held the president's position in the DUSU five years ago.
OneIndia News
Former Maha CMs son Nitesh Rane pours mud over engineer, ties him up during inspection
How an Engineer Turned into a Seasoned Entrepreneur: The Inspiring Story of Rohit Ajmani
Happy Engineer's Day 2017: Remembering Sir M Visvesvarayya
India
oi-Vikas
By Vikas
The nation will on Friday celebrate Engineer's Day to mark the 156th birth anniversary of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvarayya, one of the greatest engineers India has produced and a person behind many iconic constructions in India.
Year 2017 will mark the 49th anniversary of the Engineers Day in India. It is a significant occation considering the fact that India produces close to 20 lakh engineers in a year.
Who was Sir Visvesvarayya?
Sir Visvesvarayya was an acclaimed engineer recognized for his mastermind in harnessing water resources. He had successfully designed and constructed several river dams, bridges and revolutionized the irrigation system in India by implementing irrigation and drinking water system.
Sir Visvesvarayya was born on September 15, 1861, to Srinivasa Sastry and Venkachamma at Muddenahalli village in Kolar district of Karnataka. He completed BA with distinction from Central College of Bangalore and Civil Engineering from College of Engineering, Pune, in 1881 and 1883, respectively.
He began his career as an Assistant Engineer with Public Works Department (PWD) at Mumbai (then Bombay) in 1884 and was later requested to join the Indian Irrigation Commission. As a Public Works Department engineer, he accomplished several projects related to maintenance of public buildings, road construction and laying out city developments plans in several important towns.
He worked with complete dedication and perseverance and got promoted as Chief Engineer in Mysore State in 1909.
His notable accomplished by was the system of automatic water floodgates first installed in the year 1903 at Khadakvasla reservoir near Pune, designed and patented by him. These gates were first used to control the floods of the Mootha Canal flowing through Pune. Similar gates were later used in the Krishnasagar dam in Mysore, Tigra Dam in Gwalior and other large storage dams.
He is the chief engineer is responsible for constructing Krishna Raja Sagara dam in Mandya district.He was also a scholar, statesman and Diwan of princely state of Mysore for seven years from 1912 to 1919.
Visvesvaraya received the prestigious Bharat Ratna in 1955.
OneIndia News
FM Nirmala Sitharaman hints at possibility of Centre considering restoration of state status to J&K
In J&K, 14,000 dropouts find their way back to schools
One Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist gunned down in Jammu and Kashmir
PMs dream of development in J&K is becoming a reality: Puri
J&K: One SSB personnel killed in terrorist attack in Banihal
India
oi-Vikas
By Vikas
A Sashastra Seema Bal camp was attacked by the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Banihal area on Wednesday, said reports. One SSB Head Constable lost his life in the attack on SSB camp while another one was admitted to hospital.
The attack took place near Ramban on 14th battalion of the SSB. The SSB troops were responsible for the security of the Banihal Tunnel.
On September 1, one policeman was killed and four injured after the terrorists attacked a bus ferrying security personnel in Srinagar's Pantha Chowk. The attack took place when the bus was going from Bemina to Zewan
On August 15, a police bunker at Tengpora bypass in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, was fired upon by the terrorists
OneIndia News
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Story first published: Wednesday, September 20, 2017, 20:57 [IST]
JNU teachers, students move Delhi HC challenging dissolution of GSCASH
India
oi-PTI
New Delhi, September 20: In opposition to varsity administration's decision on disbanding GSCASH and forming the ICC (Internal Complaints Committee) instead, a section of JNU teachers and students have approached the Delhi High Court challenging the move.
The administration had in its 269th Executive Council meeting held on Monday ordered for dissolution of an independent body GSCASH (Gender Sensitisation Against Sexual Harassment).
Ever since the administration announced the decision in a circular that was issued a week ago by the Registrar, the students and teachers were up in arms against the move.
The circular had also ordered for putting on hold polls for electing student representatives to GSCASH. However, the petitioners, three teachers and three students - Prof. Madhu Sahni, Prof. Rajat Dutta, Prof. Hemant Adlakha, Ritika Kar, Rituraj Sharma, and Sonam Goyal - today approached the Delhi High Court by filing a writ petition with the help of legal team led by Indira Jaising, senior advocate, Supreme Court.
The petitioners have sought quashing of the office orders superseding the GSCASH by the ICC and the Registrar's circular putting elections to GSCASH on hold, JNUTA President Ayesha Kidwai said in a statement.
As an urgent application, the petitioners have asked for a stay on the operation of the suppression order and a direction to JNU to preserve all records of GSCASH from 1999 till date in consultation of GCASH.
The statement said that they have also asked for the court to allow the elections for student representatives scheduled for the 22.09.2017 to be held in accordance with law.
PTI
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Story first published: Wednesday, September 20, 2017, 9:14 [IST]
Madurai school headmaster gets 55-year-jail term for sexually assaulting 90 girls
India
oi-Anusha
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High court sentenced a school principal to 55 years in prison for sexually assaulting more than 90 girl students. 62-year-old M Arokiasamy was convicted in the sensational Pothumbu case on Tuesday.
The court convicted him in six cases awarding a total of 120 years of imprisonment but he has been allowed to serve the sentence concurrently. The court also levied a fine of Rs 3.40 lakh which will be paid as compensation to his victims. After the judge had pronounced the sentence, the accused was being taken to the prison when a mob charged at him. Angry parents hurled eggs and slippers at him for his crime as police whisked him away. The court, however, acquitted three other teachers of the school in the case.
Arokiasamy, a headmaster with a school in Pothumbu, was accused of sexually exploiting more than 90 girls students. The convict was awarded 25 years imprisonment under The Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act; 30 years under 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of IPC and another five years under section 3 (1) (XII) SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and he was directed undergo the imprisonments consequently. The convict was awarded 60 years imprisonment under Tamil Nadu Women Harassment Act and five years under 32 (VII) of IPC.
A case against the headmaster was registered in 2011 after the intervention of All India Democratic Women Association. The petitioners also moved the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court in 2014 to expedite the case that refused to move forward and sought compensation to the victims.
OneIndia News
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Story first published: Wednesday, September 20, 2017, 12:39 [IST]
With the number of anonymous rogues from Pak rising, here's how BSF is beating down the drones
Pak concerned over Trump calling for greater role for India in Afghanistan
International
pti-PTI
Islamabad, Sep 20: A top Pakistan diplomat on Wednesday said that Islamabad has raised an objection with the US over President Donald Trump advocating a greater role for India in the war-torn Afghanistan.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi during a meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly here yesterday expressed concern over the greater role that Trump advocated for India in his new Afghan policy, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua said.
Janjua's meeting with Pence was the highest contact between the two countries since Trump announced his new policy on Afghanistan and South Asia on August 21 in which he had warned Pakistan for its continued support to terrorist groups and warned Islamabad of consequences if it continues to do so.
Trump had also asked India to play a greater role in war-torn Afghanistan, much to the dislike of Pakistan. In the meeting, the two sides resolved to remain engaged and carry forward the relationship that has been on a downward trajectory since the announcement of the US policy for Afghanistan and South Asia, the APP news agency reported.
"The meeting on the sidelines of the 72nd UNGA session in New York was held in a cordial atmosphere," a handout issued by the Foreign Office said. "Prime Minister [Abbasi] shared Pakistans concerns and views with regard to the US strategy for South Asia," it said.
Abbasi and Pence agreed to work together to carry forward the bilateral relationship and discussed matters relating to peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region. "It was agreed that the two countries would stay engaged with a constructive approach to achieve shared objectives of peace, stability and economic prosperity in the region," the FO statement said.
PTI
About the time the dust appears to have settled around the Holmen Area Fire Department and the Holmen Area Fire District Association Board, an action by a majority of the Holmen Village Board could again create uncertainty within fire department.
In a split vote at the village boards Sept 14 meeting, four village board trustees voted to approve removing trustees Chuck Olson and Bill Ebner as the villages representatives on the fire association board.
The four village board members voting in favor of the changes were President Nancy Proctor and trustees Doug Jorstad, Dawn Kulcinski and Steve Johnston. Trustee Rich Anderson joined trustees Olson and Ebner in voting against the assignment changes.
With the changes, Jorstad and Johnston will replace Olson and Ebner as the villages representatives on the fire association board. In another change, Olson was reassigned as the villages representative on the Shared Ride program committee.
At the HVBs August meeting, the four board members voted to go on record stating they support calling for the resignation of the Holmen Area Fire Department fire chief.
HAFD Chief Paul Menches was charged in January with operating while under the influence following an incident when he lost control of his vehicle at night on snow-covered Hwy. 53 near Hwy. MH exit. The loss of control resulted in another motorist striking Menches vehicle. Preliminary tests showed Menches was operating with a 0.11 percent alcohol level.
He was sentenced Aug. 9 to serve two days in jail, had his drivers license suspended for a year and fined $1,454.
At the beginning of the HVB Sept. 14 meeting, members of the fire department and supporters spoke in favor of keeping Olson and Ebner as Holmens representatives on the fire board.
Residents are amazed at how things have settled down (at the fire department), said village resident Patrick Barlow. A change at this time would thrust an immense amount of chaos into the department.
In addition to the two representatives from Holmen, the fire board is made up of two representatives each from the towns of Onalaska and Holland.
Despite the favorable input given during public comment, Proctor presented her list of committee and board appointment changes. According to the village administrator, Proctor delayed making the list available to the staff; making her final decisions on the assignment changes shortly before the meeting began.
Olson and Ebner objected to the assignment list not being included in the meeting packet with the other documents and presented just before the start of the nights meeting. They challenged the presidents action in not providing the change in assignments in a timely manner. They questioned how the presidents action was appropriate when the majority claimed the fire board representatives werent keeping the village trustees adequately informed of the chiefs situation.
In explaining his vote to approve Proctors reassignments, Johnston stated Olson and Ebner overstepped their authority in deciding to retain Menches as the fire districts chief.
Youre not given autonomous power to make your own decisions, said Johnston.
Jorstad favored the board assignment change because he had asked the fire board representatives to inform the entire board of the situation after Menchess conviction was final and before the fire association took action on disciplining Menches.
In a closed session held Aug. 10, the afternoon before the village boards August meeting, the fire board voted to reprimand the chiefs conduct. While the fire board told Menches his contract with the department could be in jeopardy if there are any further rules infractions or misconduct, the HAFDAB members believed the fire department would be better served if Menches remained on the job.
Johnston argued most village employees would have been fired if they were involved in similar court action. He also stated he didnt believe Menches has the qualifications for the position.
Olson pointed out Menches is not an employee; rather he is an independent contractor, and Ebner countered Johnstons claim that the fire chiefs abilities dont meet the minimal requirements.
The chief has a wealth of knowledge, said Ebner. To smear his credibility is not fair; its character assassination.
The fire association contracted with Menches a year ago to serve as the districts fire chief after the previous fire chief resigned following an investigation of the fire departments operations under his management. At that time, a number of firefighters were threatening to quit if Chief Doug Schober remained on the job.
Since Menches started as fire chief, improvements at the department include increasing the number of fire fighters on the departments roster, getting mutual aid agreements signed and updating equipment.
Before the ceasefire on Feb 24, Pakistan resorted to over 4,000 border violations
Amidst ceasefire claims, Pakistan continues to keep J&K on the boil
664 ceasefire violations this year in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan: MHA
No ceasefire violation along LoC in Kashmir since February agreement
Pakistan violates ceasefire in Keran sector, 1 jawan martyred
India
oi-PTI
A soldier was killed as Pakistani troops opened fire at an Army patrol along the Line of Control in Keran sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.
An Army official said that "necessary and adequate" response has been given to the Pakistani firing.
"Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing along the LoC in the early hours on Wednesday. One soldier was injured in the incident," the Army official said.
The injured jawan was airlifted to a hospital in Srinagar where he succumbed to injuries.
Meanwhile, the alert Border Security Force (BSF) on Wednesday foiled a major "forced infiltration" bid by a group of armed terrorists and gunned down the intruders in Ajnala sector near Amritsar, Punjab.
PTI
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Story first published: Wednesday, September 20, 2017, 14:25 [IST]
TV anchor Rajdeep Sardesai taken off air for two weeks: Reports
Farmers protest: FIR against Shashi Tharoor, Rajdeep Sardesai, six others over Jan 26 violence in Delhi
Rajdeep calls Arnabs lie on Gujarat riots coverage
India
oi-Chennabasaveshwar
By Chennabasaveshwar
Rajdeep Sardesai, Consulting Editor of India Today Television, had a field day on Twitter after calling out Republic TV Chief Arnab Goswamy's lie about 2004 Gujarat riots coverage.
Sardesai Tweeted, "Wow! My friend Arnab claims his car attacked next to CM Res in Guj riots! Truth:he wasn't covering Ahmedabad riots!!"
Wow! My friend Arnab claims his car attacked next to CM Res in Guj riots! Truth:he wasn't covering Ahmedabad riots!! https://t.co/xOe7zY8rCp Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 19, 2017
He referred to his book '2014: The Election that Changed India', saying "Yes, incident which Arnab speaks of did happen. Only he wasn't there, some of us who actually were on ground zero were! (Read my 2014 book)"
"Fekugiri has its limits, but seeing this, I feel sorry for my profession, " he tweeted.
Fekugiri has its limits, but seeing this, I feel sorry for my profession. https://t.co/xOe7zY8rCp Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 19, 2017
Sanjeev Singh, a senior journalist, who used to work with Sardesai and who was on the ground with him to report Gujarat riots, testified that Arnab is lying in his speech.
Singh tweeted, "Astonishing revelation considering Arnab wasn't in Gujarat when this incident took place with @sardesairajdeep.
Astonishing revelation considering Arnab wasn't in Gujarat when this incident took place with @sardesairajdeep. @bhavatoshsingh @nalinmehta https://t.co/HphTLSAs2j Sanjeev Singh (@sanjeevrsingh) September 19, 2017
However, the YouTube video of Arnab's speech is not playing. It seems the video has been taken down after Arnab's lie was exposed.
Following barrage of tweets on the topic, Sardesai has requested his followers not to comment on his timeline. But left a strong message, saying "Ask questions/seek answer from those who need to answer, not me. Bye!"
OneIndia News
Why Punjab farmers burn stubble at this scale when others do not
Sangrur fire: Death toll reaches 5, CM announces Rs 1 lakh ex-gratia
India
pti-PTI
Chandigarh, Sep 20: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday ordered an inquiry into the fire at a firecracker godown in Sangrur and announced Rs 1 lakh ex-gratia for family of deceased.
The toll in a massive explosion at a firecracker warehouse in Punjab's Sangrur district today rose to five with the recovery of one more body, the police said. Last night, four people had died and several others injured in the explosion in Sullar Gharat village in Dirba sub division.
"We recovered the body of one person from the debris," Sangrur DSP (Dirba) Yogesh Kumar said. All the deceased were labourers and they belonged to nearby Dhandori Kalan village in Sangrur, he said.
Five people were injured in the incident and one of them, who was stated to be critical, was admitted to a hospital in Patiala, the police said. The reason behind the explosion was still being investigated by the forensic science laboratory, they said. Police said that some workers who were working in the godown told the investigators that some "inflammable material" was allegedly stored for manufacturing firecrackers.
The two-storey warehouse collapsed while a nearby residential building also got damaged in this incident, police said. Expressing grief over the death of five people and injuries to some others, the chief minister directed the district administration to ascertain the cause of the incident and take remedial measure in future to prevent its recurrence.
Amarinder asked the officials to fix responsibility for the explosion and ordered stringent implementation of fire safety rules or guidelines in the operations of all business establishments and industries using hazardous and highly inflammable materials. No complacency or laxity in this regard would be tolerated, he warned.
PTI
Thief calls cops for help after being caught by mob
Some Rohingyas can be exploited to destabilise region: Bangladesh envoy
India
oi-Vikas
By Vikas
With Bangladesh facing a massive problem due to mass exodus of Rohingyas from Myanmar, Bangladesh's Ambassador to India Syed Muazzem Ali on Wednesday said that there is a risk of some Rohingya Muslims being misled and exploited to destabilise the region.
His remarks come two days after the Indian Government, in its affidavit to SC, said the presence of Rohingya Muslims in India is a serious security threat to the country.
"Presence of displaced people of this size and dimension in our region is a cause of concern for everybody...Fraction of people can fall into hands of evil doers who can exploit them for de-stabilising region," Ali told news agency ANI.
When the Bangladesh envoy was specifically asked about Indian Government's stand on the Rohingya crisis, he said, "It is India's internal matter. Don't want to comment on it."
He also thanked the Indian Government for Operation Insaniyat to provided assistance to Bangladesh in response to humanitarian crisis. Under this operation, India will provide relief material consisting of items including rice, sugar, salt, pulses, cooking oil, biscuits and mosquito nets to the affected people. The relief material will be delivered in multiple consignments.
On Tuesday, former attorney general Mukul Rohatgi said the Rohingya issue is a matter of foreign policy and not the one that can be "judicially reviewed".
The Centre had on Monday said that it is completely within the executive policy how to deal with illegal immigrants such as Rohingya Muslims.
The affidavit was filed in response to a petition against the deportation of Rohingya Muslims from India. The centre said that it has inputs from intelligence agencies about links of some Rohingya Muslims with Pakistan's ISI and Global terror networks such as the Islamic State.
Further, it was stated that is an organised network of touts operating in Myanmar and West Bengal and Tripura to facilitate illegal Rohingya influx.
The influx started in 2012 and there are around 40,000 Rohingya Muslims in India. In a 15 page affidavit, the Centre said that the SC should keep off the executive policy in dealing with illegal Rohingya migrants.
Further the reply stated that there are intelligence inputs stating that some illegal migrants have links with Pakistan based terror groups and are trying to spread violence in India. Militant elements among Rohingyas are active in Delhi, Hyderabad, Mewar and Jammu and are posing serious threat to national security.
OneIndia News
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Story first published: Wednesday, September 20, 2017, 19:02 [IST]
'The nation exists from us and we exist from the nation', says PM Modi
Special garbage, brooms for VIPs: Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or publicity stunt?
India
oi-Oneindia
By Oneindia
Bengaluru, Sep 18: In a busy lane in Bengaluru's Marathahalli, Varalakshmi, a pourakarmika (sweeper) who works for the civic body, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), fights massive traffic and unprecedented dust without any safety gear as a part of her job on a daily basis.
This is not just Varalakshmi's every day ritual. Like the BBMP's employee in her 50s, hundreds of her male and female colleagues negotiate several problems, including untimely salaries, to keep the city's streets spick and span.
On Sunday, when reports came in that volunteers had to arrange "garbage" for Union minister Alphons Kannanthanam so that he can clean the otherwise well-maintained area of India Gate in the national capital as a part of the fortnight-long Swachhta Hi Sewa (Cleanliness is Service) campaign, Varalakshmi could not stop her "laughter".
"What do I say? I am a poor woman and my job is to sweep and keep Bengaluru's roads clean. I have worked for more than 10 years as a pourakarmika, I have never seen any area of the city clean before I and my friends start our daily work early in the morning.
He is a minister, a VIP, this is not a job for him. But these days, we see big people like politicians, film actors and sportsmen taking up a broom and cleaning public spaces on special occasions. We appreciate their gesture to encourage others to keep their surroundings neat and clean. However, it seems most often they end up cleaning an already clean place," Varalakshmi told OneIndia.
Varalakshmi's colleague Rajamma minced no words when she said that VIPs should stop using cleanliness drive as a publicity stunt because most often their real intention comes out in the open as powerful people are always followed by their entourage with designer brooms and bins in their enthusiasm to make India clean.
Since the time Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched his pet project--Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission)--in 2014, VIPs and celebrities seemed to be in a race to pose in front of shutterbugs holding a broom and half-heartedly cleaning an already "sparkling" road.
"The entire Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has been diluted because it has become more of a publicity tool. The intention behind the PM's mission was good, but look at the way it has been misused for photo ops by 'famous people'," said an activist, who works closely with manual scavengers in Bengaluru.
Requesting anonymity, the activist said, "We don't need VIPs to clean roads and toilets. Sweepers and manual scavengers need better facilities and hike in salaries. Citizens too need to do their bid by keeping their surroundings clean."
Even on many occasions, when Modi took up a broom in the last three years, he was seen cleaning partially cleaned spaces with a bevy of people accompanying the PM.
During the initial days of the highly publicised Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in 2014, when VIPs were more excited to be seen as a part of the drive, a set of pictures shot outside the India Islamic Centre in New Delhi showed municipality staffers littering a pavement with garbage, only to be cleaned by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Satish Upadhayay and Shazia Ilmi.
So, what does all these say about cleanliness mission when India continues to be one of the dirtiest countries in spite of three years since the PM launched his pet project?
Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Haryana and Uttarakhand--are the only five states in the country which are open defecation free as per a report by the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, released this year.
In rest of the states mostly in rural areas, majority of the people still don't have toilets and they relieve themselves in the open causing several life-threatening diseases including encephalitis and diarrhea, to name a few.
Moreover, India has more people in rural areas--63.4 million--living without access to clean water than any other country, according to Wild Water, State of the World's Water 2017, the latest report by WaterAid, a global advocacy group on water and sanitation.
These figures clearly indicate that India has a long way to go before becoming truly swachh (clean) in terms of availability of toilets, safe drinking water and clean surroundings.
Till then, all the television and newspaper advertisements featuring popular stars like Amitabh Bachchan and Kangana Ranaut look more like gimmicks detached from the reality where a few clean and glamorous persons are seen giving lectures to millions of poor and dirty people.
OneIndia News
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Story first published: Monday, September 18, 2017, 11:51 [IST]
Anti-bomb squad fishes out gelatin sticks from river in Maharashtra
Maharashtra: Man shoots neighbours dog for barking at him
SpiceJet plane overshoots runway while landing in Mumbai, all passengers safe
India
oi-Vikas SV
By Vishal S
A SpiceJet aircraft overshot runway while landing at the Mumbai Airport and skidded off into the unpaved surface due to the wet runway on Tuesday.
The aircraft got stuck in the mud and chutes had to be deployed to evacuate the passengers, said reports.
No one was injured in the incident.
Heavy rainfall and wet runway are said to have been the reasons behind the incident. The Varanasi-Mumbai, SG-703, flight was carrying 183 passengers.
All passengers were deplaned safely and have been taken to the arrival hall, ANI quoted Spicejet as saying.
The incident took place at runway number 27 of the Mumbai airport when the plane was landing. Mumbai is reeling under heavy rains on Tuesday.
OneIndia News
Know all about Narendra Modi
Suspicious object triggers bomb scare at Mangaluru airport
India
oi-Vikas
By Vikas
A suspicious object, which appeared like a cellphone bomb initially, was found in a baggage at Mangaluru Airport on Tuesday.
The object was detected during the X-ray scanning of the baggage belonging to a Dubai bound passenger. Mangaluru-Dubai flight was delayed after the detection of the suspicious object which was later found to be a self made power bank.
"It was a self made power bank, after through check pax was allowed to proceed," news agency ANI quoted Mangaluru Police Commissioner TS Suresh as saying.
IndiGo airline had earlier tweeted: "IndiGo's alert security screener staff at Mangalore caught a suspect carrying alleged cellphone bomb today.
Airport security and the local police were rushed to the airport to probe the matter. The Central Industrial Security Force dog squad was also pressed into service. An explosive trace detection test was conducted which showed it was not an explosive, said reports.
It was later found that the object was a self made power bank.
OneIndia News
Pradyuman murder: Why is the juvenile being tried as an adult accused
Will Psychometric test be enough to ensure safety of students?
India
oi-Shreya
By Shreya
After the cold blooded murder of 7-year-old Pradyuman in Ryan International School in Gurgaon, the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) has ordered psychometric tests for all the staff employed by schools affiliated to the board. The decision has been taken to ensure safety of students.
The CBSE has ordered the psychometric tests to be conducted on all staff under the CBSE affiliated schools and has ordered CCTV cameras to be installed in all school premsises stating that the safety of students is the responsibility of school authorities. The response from the CBSE came after the Supreme Court inquiry on the murder of Pradyuman.
Psychometric tests are usually conducted on potential employees to gauge if the person is syitable for a particular role.
According to a Times of India report, Deputy Secretary of CBSE Jaipraksh Chaturvedi has asked schools to promote better understanding among students and teachers.
The report also quoted the CBSE stating, "Schools must get psychometric evaluation done for all the staff employed. Such verification and evaluation for non-teaching staff - such as bus drivers, conductors, peons and other support staff - may be done very carefully and in a detailed manner."
However, Poorvi MK, senior behaiour analyst of Tutored and Trained has a different thought on the issue.
Here's what her research says:
5 Reasons why we believe that the C.B.S.E board is wrong to want psychometric testing.
1. Psychometric tests are used for recruitment agencies to screen out applicants who may not be a good fit for the company in terms of their personality match. They cannot, nor are the designed to test the motivations for a person to abuse a child.
2. Since they are not designed to be used for this purposes, there is no reliable way of saying that they will actually be able to screen out people, and if the school does not invest in better safety systems and rely's on the test, it could end up putting children more at risk as the school would feel it can get complacent now that the tests have been done and nobody has been found.
3. We have interviewed as well as compiled a list of interviews from impartial psychologists who are not affiliated with any schools who have spoken against psychometric testing for these purposes as they are not reliable or valid for these purposes.
4. Psychometric tests are extremely expensive, they could cost upwards of 1.5L for an institution and for a country who's average school profit is Rs.10000, that could cost multiple institutes to shut down.
5. There is no psychometric test created that can alone detect personality defects or detect tendency towards abusing a child by itself. It must be used in combination with various different tools, in a clinical setting, coupled with a professional psychologists assessment on the persons history. Therefore, the tests that the C.B.S.E has issued a circular to perform would not be effective while placing a massive financial strain on schools and colleges across the country.
Oneindia news also spoke to expert Rukmini Iyer, who said, "There is nothing wrong with the test but only psychometric test cannot be the only deciding factor to see if the employee is safe to be employed in schools. However, this tests to a great extent help in undertanding the potential emplyees. But there has to be a structure in place, else this could very well turn into a money minting practise for many organisations."
Pradyuman of Ryan International was killed by a school bus conductor - who had also tried to sexually assault Pradyuman. The case also brought out the several security lapses on the end of the school authorities.
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Story first published: Wednesday, September 20, 2017, 20:38 [IST]
Are desi voters impressed by Rahul Gandhi's desperate attempt to win over foreign hearts?
International
oi-Oneindia
By Oneindia
Many filmmakers, writers, performers, fashion designers and others from India privately and publicly have admitted that recognition on a foreign soil guarantees instantaneous success back home.
Call it our fascination for approval on the international stage (especially in Ameria and Europe) or lack of identifying talent at the grass-root level, appreciation from "videsh" (foreign) is a must for all "desi" (indigenous) talents.
Now, it seems the bug of impressing foreign crowd has hit our politicians too. In the last three years, since the time Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over the reins of the country, he (with the apt help from his team) took special care to impress leaders, residents and quintessential Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) during his foreign sojourns through his speeches, sartorial choices, handshakes and hugs.
Every clap received by Modi on foreign shores (be it in foreign press or by intellectuals and politicians) has exponentially increased the PM's ratings as the country's most powerful leader.
In an attempt to emulate Modi, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi (often the press and the public love to pit Modi and Rahul against each other) has embarked on a journey to the United States where he has been addressing students at famous universities, meeting intellectuals, policy-makers, politicians and of course NRIs in the last few days.
Rahul's ongoing two-week long visit to the US, where he has been relentlessly talking about the PM, demonetisation, job loss and politics of polarisation, to name a few, has been hosted by the Oversees Congress to help re-brand the scion of the Gandhi family as a formidable leader who too talks eloquently like his bete noire Modi on issues close to the hearts of Indian masses.
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Rishi Kapoor vents out anger over Rahul Gandhi's remark on dynastic legacy| Oneindia News
Moreover, the chairman of Oversees Congress, Sam Pitroda, a friend of Rahul's father Rajiv who under the former PM ushered India's telecom revolution and the brain behind Rahul's current visit to America, wants to debunk what he alleges as a "machinery" employed by the rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to portray a wrong picture of the Congress VP as a "weakling with no brains at all".
Such an exercise to help Rahul re-enter the imagination of Indian voters as an alternative to Modi could not have kick-started on desi soil, but on a videshi platform. Rahul, even the Congress knows it well, is not held in high regards by the Indian masses. Because of his regular goof-ups and lack of interest in politics, Rahul is always seen as a "reluctant politician" forced to be a part of the political class by his mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the party itself.
So, the Congress public relation (PR) machinery decided to relaunch Rahul's career (once again) in the US (remember PM Modi has a huge following of NRIs in the US and even President Donald Trump and the Indian PM share good rapport).
Last week when Rahul addressed students (mostly Indians) at the famous University of California, Berkeley in the US, Twitter exploded immediately with mixed reactions. While many were impressed by Rahul's "candid and sharp" answers on various issues (including of course PM Modi, whom Rahul praised as a better communicator than him), others including BJP's Smriti Irani and Sambit Patra slammed the Congress VP for "supporting" prevalence of "dynastic politics" in the country.
The best thing that Rahul managed to do with his first public address during his current visit to the US is that he succeeded in winning over several of his former critics.
Senior journalist and author Aditya Sinha (whom Rahul had publicly threatened to file a lawsuit against him for a story Sinha did that questioned his 1994 Cambridge MPhil), in an article titled, "Why I changed my mind about Rahul", stated that Rahul is the alternative to Modi for the Indian janata in the next General elections.
While Rahul's staunch "haters" would call Sinha's prediction too hasty and knee-jerk, but it is definitely fascinating to see that slowly and steadily public opinion is changing towards the scion of the Gandhi family.
In an article in Hindustan Times, journalist Yashwant Raj stated that during Rahul's meeting with experts from various fields in Washington DC, the Congress VP managed to impress them by speaking cohesively on a range of issues.
On Tuesday, once again Rahul addressed students in the US, this time at the Princeton University, where he kept his focus on jobs, jobs and more jobs. Criticising the Modi government over its failure to create jobs, Rahul admitted that the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government under the Congress was voted out of power for failing to fulfill its promise of providing jobs to the Indian youths.
The Congress leader also spoke against centralisation of power, saying too few people control too much in India's present political system.
"The main problem is centralisation of political system. A Chief Minister decides what happens to a village road (but) it should be the local governments deciding what happens to a village road," Rahul said.
He also said that law making process is mainly carried out by bureaucrats and the Ministries and Parliament validates the law.
"What I will try to push for is transformation of the Lok Sabha, transformation of the Vidhan Sabha. I will like to open up the law making process," Rahul said.
Once Rahul will be back to India, we have to wait and watch to see if all the efforts that went into designing Rahul's trip to the US (including what he spoke) would prove beneficial for the Congress as well as its leader or not.
OneIndia News
US Navy tries to recover jet that fell into South China Sea
China hits back at Trump over South China Sea remark
International
pti-PTI
Beijing, Sep 20: Hitting back at US President Donald Trump's veiled criticism of its territorial claims in the disputed the South China Sea, Beijing on Wednesday said some countries have used the pretext of freedom of navigation to bring their planes and fleets near the South China Sea.
In his speech to the UN General Assembly yesterday, Trump decried "threats to sovereignty" in Ukraine and the resource-rich South China Sea, without explicitly mentioning Russia or China.
"We must uphold respect for law, respect for borders, and respect for culture, and the peaceful engagement these allow," Trump said.
China asserts sovereignty over almost all of the strategically vital waters in the face of rival claims from its Southeast Asian neighbours, and has rapidly turned reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes. The United States has conducted three "freedom of navigation" operations near islands held by China to challenge Beijing's maritime claims since Trump took office in January.
"For some time now, some countries have used the pretext of freedom of navigation to bring their planes and fleets near the South China Sea," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said today.
"Actually, I think this is behaviour that has threatened the sovereignty of South China Sea countries," Lu told a regular news briefing.
Lu said the situation in the sea "has been cooling down" thanks to efforts by China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
"I hope that this situation can be respected by relevant countries," he said.
The spokesman also called for "restraint" in response to Trump's warning that he will "totally destroy" North Korea if it threatens the US or its allies. Lu reiterated Beijing's call for efforts to bring the nuclear issue "back to the right track of peaceful settlement through dialogue and consultation."
PTI
The Onalaska High School Alumni Association inducted two members to the Wall of Excellence on Friday.
Tom Evert, class of 1965, and Thomas Berg, class of 1951, were both inducted to be a part of the wall, that was established in 2008 to distinguish individuals who have made a difference in the school, community and beyond. The plaques, filled with lifetime achievements, hope to serve as inspiration to current Onalaska students that life outside of graduation is what they make of it.
Evert, who spent the first eight years of his career as a school psychologist, went on to a 30-year career in educational administration. Evert served in leadership roles as the director of student services, high school principal, and superintendent of schools in Beloit, Sheboygan and Janesville. As the superintendent of the Janesville School District, Evert led successful referendum projects of over $100 million and assisted in the development of five charter schools.
In addition to writing numerous journal articles, Evert has co-authored four books on varied topics in school administration, and him and his wife have both taught in the Edgewood College Doctoral Program for Educational Leadership since 2007.
Evert offered several snippets of insight in his acceptance speech, including that his writing has been rejected more times than published, and that you should get out of bed every morning for a purpose that you love. Evert also returned a grammar and composition library book, which he claimed he accidentally stole from the high school.
Berg, who died in a helicopter crash in 1969, served in the U.S. Navy for two years as a radar man in the Pacific area, before graduating from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1957. Berg frequently led field parties in Antarctica to measure the growth of several hundred ice and sand wedges a well as collecting soil samples.
In 1965, Berg joined the Research Council of Alberta, and as a research officer, he conducted investigations on the surficial deposits of the Medicine Hat area, engaged in permafrost research in Alberta, and studied the geology of the City of Edmonton. Berg also participated in the Steele Glacier Expedition to the Yukon in 1967-68.
Berg was known to have enthusiasm, perseverance, and positive spirit under trying conditions. Berg Peak and a field station in Antarctica are both named in his honor.
Doing our best to help all those in distress, says Aung San Suu Kyi
International
oi-Chennabasaveshwar
By Chennabasaveshwar
A day after addressing the international community over ongoing Rohingya crisis, Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi has said Myanmar doing its best to help all those in distress and making no distinction between Muslims or Hindus or Rakhines.
She said she did not use the term Rohingya to refer to the Muslim minority facing persecution by the military, which the United Nations has accused of ethnic cleansing, in her first address to the Buddhist-majority nation on the crisis as she did not want to use "emotive" terms for an already affected population.
In an exlusive interview to ANI news agency, Suu Kyi, said, there has been a lot of controversy with regard to the term used to describe Muslims in Rakhine. She said, "Don't see any point in using terms that will simply inflame passions further."
"There are those (in Rakhine) who want to call themselves Rohingya and there are those who won't use any term except Bengali," she said.
About cause of the crisis, she said, "It is humanitarian issue which arose out of long term socio-economic problems and political of course."
Commenting on the solution to the crisis, Suu Kyi said "Amicable solution is to promote compassion", however, "You must know that it is the most difficult thing in the world to make, who are hostile to each other, learn to open their hearts and to accept the differences and make those differences strength and a bond between them.
Doing our best to help all those in distress; making no distinction b/w Muslims or Hindus or Rakhines: Suu Kyi to ANI on Dalai Lama's remark pic.twitter.com/WAAUzZZxQc ANI (@ANI) September 20, 2017
"There is a small Hindu community in Rakhine, who were also caught up in the conflict and some of whom were killed," she added.
#WATCH: Aung San Suu Kyi talks to ANI on counter-terrorism & possible links of Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army(ARSA) with Pakistan #Rohingyas pic.twitter.com/5i1cbp4uUn ANI (@ANI) September 20, 2017
OneIndia News
India's stand on Rohingyas gracious so far but housing them would be risky
The Rohingya influx continues as Tripura police nets seven of them
Is Facebook suspending accounts of activists highlighting plight of Rohingyas?
International
oi-Oneindia
By Oneindia
The alleged large-scale violence perpetrated against the minority Rohingya community in Myanmar by the military of the country has left the whole world aghast in the last few weeks.
According to reports by the United Nations (UN), in the last one month more than four lakh Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar have fled to Bangladesh to save themselves from getting killed in their homeland.
All the struggles and plights of the Rohingyas, who are poor and voiceless, have been highlighted by a group of activists who have been constantly documenting and narrating the "ethnic cleansing" of the minority community on social media to the rest of the world.
Now, reports say Facebook has allegedly removed posts and suspended accounts of activists who are documenting the "ethnic cleansing" of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.
According to Daily Beast, the activists said their accounts are frequently being suspended or taken down and hoped that the social media giant would let them speak the truth.
"We want Facebook to be a place where people can share responsibly and we work hard to strike the right balance between enabling expression while providing a safe and respectful experience," Facebook spokesperson Ruchika Budhraja told Daily Beast on Wednesday.
"In response to the situation in Myanmar, we are carefully reviewing content against our Community Standards," Budhraja added.
An activist who uses the name Rahim said Facebook has removed individual posts he put on the site about Rohingya refugees. He also alleged that his account was repeatedly disabled by Facebook.
"We removed this content because it doesn't follow the Facebook Community Standards," read a message from Facebook.
On Tuesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asked Myanmar to halt its military campaign against Rohingya Muslims. Guterres address came just hours after Aung San Suu Kyi failed to quell an international outcry in a much-anticipated address.
Addressing the opening of the UN General Assembly, Guterres said he "took note" of Suu Kyi's pledge to abide by the recommendations of a report by former UN chief Kofi Annan that has advocated citizenship for the Rohingyas.
"But let me be clear," Guterres said. "The authorities in Myanmar must end the military operations, and allow unhindered humanitarian access."
In her nationwide address, Suu Kyi insisted that army "clearance operations" in response to attacks by Rohingya militants had finished on September 5 and denied that Rakhine was in flames.
"More than 50 percent of the villages of Muslims are intact," she said.
OneIndia News
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Story first published: Wednesday, September 20, 2017, 13:51 [IST]
180 Hindu organisations write to UK PM, say they are living in a state of fear
'Want to fix economy, unite country': Rishi Sunak to run for Britain's PM again
London Tube train bombing: Scotland Yard arrests third suspect
International
oi-PTI
London, September 20: British police made a third arrest in connection with the terror attack on a packed London Tube train that left 30 people injured last week. Scotland Yard's Counter-Terrorism Command investigating the Friday attack arrested the 25-year-old from Newport, South Wales on Tuesday.
The Metropolitan Police said that an address in Newport is being searched in this connection. On Saturday, an 18-year-old man was detained at Dover port and a 21-year-old was arrested in Hounslow in west London.
Both suspects were being held under the UK's Terrorism Act and being questioned at a south London police station.
The suspects have not been named officially but the 21- year-old has been identified locally as Syrian refugee Yahyah Faroukh.
Thirty people were injured during the attack in which an improvised explosive device was detonated on a Tube train at Parsons Green underground station during morning rush hour on September 15. The latest arrest is also under section 41 of the UK's Terrorism Act, as in the case of the other two suspects.
The arrest was carried out by the Met's Counter-Terrorism Command, supported by Gwent Police and the Welsh Extremism and Counter-Terrorism Unit.
Metropolitan Police Commander Dean Haydon said: "This continues to be a fast-moving investigation. A significant amount of activity has taken place since the attack on Friday. We now have three men in custody and searches are continuing at four addresses."
The Islamic State group has said it was behind the bombing but Met Police's Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said it was "very routine" for IS to claim the attack, whether in contact with those involved or not.
The explosion, described as a "bucket bomb", sent a "fireball" through the Tube causing burn injuries to several commuters. Hundreds of people were spared death and serious injury as
the main device, which had been fitted with a crude timer using shop-bought fairy lights, failed to detonate.
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Story first published: Wednesday, September 20, 2017, 13:19 [IST]
Thief calls cops for help after being caught by mob
Myanmar must take back Rohingyas, says Bangladesh PM
International
pti-PTI
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged Myanmar to take back Rohingya Muslims who have fled violence in the Buddhist-dominated country.
Prime Minister Hasina, speaking to Bangladeshi activists in New York where she is attending the UN General Assembly, also called for greater international pressure on Myanmar over the new crisis which has unfolded in the past three weeks, media reports said.
"We have told Myanmar, they are your citizens, you must take them back, keep them safe, give them shelter, there should not be any oppression and torture," she told a meeting late Tuesday in New York.
The prime minister said Bangladesh was making diplomatic efforts to persuade Myanmar to take back the refugees.
"But the Myanmar government is not responding to the calls. Rather, Myanmar is laying landmines along the border to stop the return of Rohingyas to their homeland," she said.
Myanmar's de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi said in a speech hours earlier that the country would take back verified refugees. Myanmar considers the Rohingya illegal migrants from Bangladesh and refuses them citizenship, even though many have lived there for decades.
At a meeting of Islamic nations on the sidelines of the UN assembly, Prime Minister Hasina said Yangon was spearheading a state-sponsored propaganda campaign to call the Rohingya 'Bengalis', adding that they must be given Myanmar citizenship.
Prime Minister Hasina sought "urgent humanitarian assistance" from Muslim nations to cope with the influx of Rohingya who have fled what she called "ethnic cleansing", the state BSS news agency reported.
"It is an unbearable human catastrophe. I have visited them and listened to the stories of their grave sufferings, particularly of women and children," she said.
"I would like you all to come to Bangladesh and hear from them about the atrocities in Myanmar," she said.
The majority of of the refugees are women and children.
While Bangladesh has earned international praise for opening its doors to the Rohingyas, aid agencies have warning of a growing humanitarian crisis as authorities struggle to provide even basic facilities for the new arrivals.
PTI
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Story first published: Wednesday, September 20, 2017, 18:17 [IST]
From PM Modi to ex-US Prez Obama, see Cyrus Mistry's rare pics with politicians
Obama set to be Wall Street speaker, to get USD 400,000
International
oi-PTI
New York, September 20: Less than a year after leaving Whit House Barack Obama has begun cashing in on his time in the White House with paid Wall Street speeches, a practice which drew stinging rebukes for Hillary Clinton during last year's presidential campaign.
The former US president will appear on Monday before a who's who of the US health care industry at a conference to be held next week by the New York trading firm Cantor Fitzgerald, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter.
He will deliver remarks before answering questions from the audience, they said on condition of anonymity. Obama will discuss his signature 2010 health care reform legislation, known as Obamacare, which Republican lawmakers are still working to dismantle after several failed attempts.
According to a person briefed on Obama's planned appearance, he will be paid about USD 400,000.
In August, Obama addressed a New York gathering held by the Chicago private banking and wealth management firm Northern Trust.
Panelists at that event, according to the firm's website, included billionaire former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, chief Microsoft cybersecurity advisor Jonathan Trull and IBM general manager for "blockchain" technology Marie Wieck.
Obama received USD 400,000 for his Northern Trust appearance, according to Bloomberg News, which also reported that the former president had made a similar appearance this month at the private equity behemoth Carlyle Group.
Carlye Group and Northern Trust both declined to comment when contacted by AFP. A spokeswoman for Cantor Fitzgerald confirmed that Obama would attend next week's event but offered no additional details.
The speeches are the first Obama has given to Wall Street since leaving the Oval Office on January 20. Since May, Obama has made paid appearances in Italy, Germany, Scotland, Canada, Indonesia and South Korea.
He is also due to make an appearance later this month in Toronto and to appear at a New York synagogue in January.
"Since leaving office, President Obama has spent his time doing public and private events, both paid and unpaid, that are true to his values and his record," Kevin Lewis, an Obama spokesman, told AFP.
"Consistent with that, his paid speeches in part have allowed President Obama to contribute USD 2 million to Chicago programmes offering job training and employment opportunities to low-income youth."
The appearances nevertheless risk drawing the same criticism that bedevilled Clinton during last year's White House campaign, exposing Obama to barbs from the left of the Democratic Party, which currently has no clear standard bearer.
Clinton has since written she now regrets delivering paid remarks to the investment bank Goldman Sachs and others because it created the impression that she was in their pockets.
Fierce critiques of the financial industry, Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, have taken on more prominent roles in the party.
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Story first published: Wednesday, September 20, 2017, 18:14 [IST]
From Consortium News
President Trump speaking to the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 19, 2017.
(Image by (Screenshot from Whitehouse.gov)) Details DMCA
In discussing President Trump, there is always the soft prejudice of low expectations -- people praise him for reading from a Teleprompter even if his words make little sense -- but there is no getting around the reality that his maiden address to the United Nations General Assembly must rank as one of the most embarrassing moments in America's relations with the global community.
Trump offered a crude patchwork of propaganda and bluster, partly delivered as a campaign speech praising his own leadership -- boasting about the relatively strong U.S. economy that he mostly inherited from President Obama -- and partly reflecting his continued subservience to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
However, perhaps most importantly, Trump's speech may have extinguished any flickering hope that his presidency might achieve some valuable course corrections in how the United States deals with the world, i.e., shifting away from the disastrous war/interventionist policies of his two predecessors.
Before the speech, there was at least some thinking that his visceral disdain for the neoconservatives, who mostly opposed his nomination and election, might lead him to a realization that their policies toward Iran, Iraq, Syria and elsewhere were at the core of America's repeated and costly failures in recent decades.
Instead, apparently after a bracing lecture from Netanyahu on Monday, Trump bared himself in a kind of neocon Full Monte:
--He repeated the Israeli/neocon tripe about Iran destabilizing the Middle East when Shiite-ruled Iran actually has helped stabilize Iraq and Syria against Sunni terrorist groups and other militants supported by Saudi Arabia and -- to a degree -- Israel;
--He again denounced the Iranian nuclear agreement whose main flaw in the eyes of the Israelis and the neocons is that it disrupted their plans to bomb-bomb-bomb Iran, and he called for "regime change" in Iran, a long beloved dream of the Israelis and the neocons;
--He repeated the Israeli/neocon propaganda about Hezbollah as a terrorist organization when Hezbollah's real crime was driving the Israeli military out of southern Lebanon in 2000, ending an Israeli occupation that began with Israel's 1982 invasion;
--He praised his rush-to-judgment decision to bomb Syria last April, in line with Israeli/neocon propaganda against President Bashar al-Assad and partly out of a desire to please the same Washington establishment that is still scheming how to impeach him;
--He spoke with the crass hypocrisy that the neocons and many Israeli leaders have perfected, particularly his demand that "all nations ... respect ... the rights of every other sovereign nation" -- when he made clear that he, like his White House predecessors, is ready to violate the sovereignty of other nations that get in Official Washington's way.
A Litany of Wars
Just this century, the United States has invaded multiple nations without U.N. authorization, based on various "coalitions of the willing" and other subterfuges for wars of aggression, which the Nuremberg Tribunals deemed the "supreme international crime" and which the U.N. was specifically created to prevent.
Barack Obama and George W. Bush at the White House.
(Image by White House Photo) Details DMCA
Not only did President George W. Bush invade both Afghanistan and Iraq -- while also sponsoring "anti-terror" operations in many other countries -- but President Barack Obama acknowledged ordering military attacks in seven countries, including against the will of sovereign states, such as Libya and Syria. Obama also supported a violent coup against the elected government of Ukraine.
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From The Nation
Anyone who was expecting diplomacy or nuance from Donald Trump in his United Nations speech got a jolt Tuesday morning. Trump appeared before the UN General Assembly as a commander in chief rattling his nuclear sabers.
Trump actually repeated aloud his Twitter reference to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un as "Rocket Man," telling world leaders in the most important foreign-policy address so far in his presidency that "Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself -- and for his regime."
The presidential name-calling shredded any hope for delivering a credible message to the regime that has been taunting its neighbors with missile launches. Trump told the UN, "It is time for North Korea to realize that its denuclearization is its only responsible future." That was a reasonably well-stated demand. Unfortunately, it will never be so fully noted or fully recalled as the determination of the president of a major nuclear power to employ an Elton John song title for the purpose of poking at the "supreme leader" of a rogue nation that aspires to be a nuclear power.
Nor will the search for a diplomatic solution be advanced by Trump's griping on Tuesday about the Obama administration's agreement with Iran to constrain its nuclear program,. "The Iran deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions," he announced. His suggestion that the agreement was a mistake increased speculation that the deal will soon be scrapped, leading France's foreign minister to warn about the prospect of a "spiral of proliferation."
Worse yet, Trump squandered an opportunity to calm fears about his instability by telling the chamber that the United States would, if provoked, obliterate a country of 25 million people.
"The United States has great strength and patience," Trump said during his first address to the General Assembly. "But if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea."
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Today, we think of capitalism in the hands of a democratic-republic as the American way of life, not an experiment. But when this country was founded, a nation where anyone (except slaves and women) could determine their own trajectory, was a bold experiment.
You're taught to believe the founders were saying, "Let's see what happens when 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' are available to all men. With the necessary infrastructure and seemingly endless natural resources, men can do as they please (with a few caveats). Everyone can work for a piece of the pie."
The experiment instituted a system where money is the end-all-be-all. If you have enough money, you can control other people. Neither the church nor the state can controvert the person with money, even if that person breaks the law. Throw money at the law and it works for you. That's how slavery worked in America. All men were created equal, but the men with money made a lie the law.
Incredibly, some men were not men, which meant landholders could subject them to backbreaking labor without pay. When we freed the slaves, and later when the civil rights movement reared up, democracy was saying, "Enough of this ludicrous crap. All people are created equal." Yet there's still the issue of money. Some people just don't have it.
Enter the idea of credit. If you don't have enough money, if you're not able to seize resources that are held by someone else, then the institution in charge of money can lend you a helping hand. Turns out the helping hand is a way for the institution to make more money. If you're too deep in a hole to pay the institution back in full, you owe more and more. Then, if you screw up and default, the institution stamps a number on you that can ruin your chances at the "pursuit of happiness" for the rest of your life.
This money stuff, to begin with, is based on a system of trust. When you work for someone, you trust they'll pay you. When you pay taxes, you trust the government isn't wasting your dollar. When you engage in a system of credit (i.e. the entire banking system), you trust your information, and the money you have in the system, is safe, and that the numbers are actually worth something (they aren't). What's worth something is your personal details. A company like Equifax collects them, and also sells them for billions of dollars in revenue annually .
Enter the Equifax data breach . Equifax is one of the companies working with the government to monitor your financial activity and assign credit scores. Equifax asks you to just be trustworthy, and it will give you a good score. But Equifax hasn't been trustworthy with the personal information of 143 million Americans, personal information hackers stole and could use against people for the rest of their lives, including social security numbers.
In March of 2017, Equifax could have installed a patch to fix a flaw in its web applications. Essentially when we entrust a company like Equifax with our data, we're trusting they'll fix crucial flaws in their system.
To do this, Equifax would need to hire cybersecurity analysts, who make about $86,000 a year in an industry growing by more than 37 percent a year. The reason why it's growing that fast is the government alone sees at least 20 million cyberattacks per day. People want to bring down the government and companies like Equifax, the entire system. This is all very well known. The cybersecurity industry also knows that occasionally software will have vulnerabilities that need to be fixed.
A system of ethics underpins a democratic system that works. Otherwise, trust doesn't work. Yet, according to USA Today, Equifax executives knew about the data breach as early as July 29th and didn't announce it until September 7th. During that window of time, executives sold more than $2 million dollars of Equifax stock, which is unethical, given the obvious inference that once the breach was announced, stocks would fall. Rats flee the ship before it sinks.
Taking a step back, it's clear ethics aren't underpinning the American experiment. We pay taxes, and ethics are extremely important to taxation ; tax professionals must adhere to a document called Circular 230, an ethics document so large it's impossible for them to memorize. Yet the tax code has loopholes that only benefit the rich , such as the capital gains tax rate, which cost the Treasury Department $457 billion between 2011 and 2015. Incredibly rich investors only pay a 15 percent tax rate for their investment dividends. In 2016, a middle class citizen making between $37 and $91K had to pay 25 percent on their income. They don't have much left over to invest.
In a variation on capital gains, Mitt Romney, another millionaire Republican besides the one currently in office, was the fund manager at Bain Capital. The capital gains loophole allowed him pay a mere 15 percent on the special interest he earned from that job, while interest you earn on a savings account gets taxed at a rate of up to 35 percent. I could go on and on about the breaks corporations take advantage of that regular citizens don't get, although Citizens United means corporations can be classified as citizens when it comes to currying political favor for agendas. I could go on and on, but there's not enough space online.
The American Experiment reveals people are greedy and will manipulate the system. Over time, they will skew things to benefit themselves and do their best to keep others down. In the history of the world, that's not news; it's just too bad we haven't yet learned from the past.
Harrison has been with Merchants Bank for five years, and she has worked in the mortgage operations area for the past three years, specifically in mortgage underwriting and mortgage purchasing. In addition to her experience at Merchants, Harrison has a degree from Winona State University in business and marketing.
(This is a reprint from NewsBred, originally "Why Rajdeep Sardesai blocked me on twitter")
Rajdeep Sardesai and the writer
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I found myself blocked on twitter by Rajdeep Sardesai today.
My tweets to him have never been abusive; rarely personal even though there is good enough reason to be so since we shared the same newsroom in the Times of India in the 90s. But I understand that the "Freedom of Expression" is not a two-way street. Stupid, we aren't meant to practice what we preach.
Still, I was obliged, conscience-wise, to peek into his tweets of the last four days. No, I wasn't looking for his sermons on illegal Rohingyas. Or if he is disparaging about Bullet Train. Or if he is in the pack of the wolves dancing around the embers of Demonetization. Or if their creativity is still on its feet in stitching "Sangh Parivar" with the murder of Gauri Lankesh.
All the above issues are meant to convey their concern for India . How their heart beats for India 's proud history of welcoming refugees. How India 's economic slide kicks them in the guts. How their souls are scorched at the fanciful waste of Bullet Train. How they die a thousand deaths at the plight of "independent" journalists in today's India .
Surely, such "conscience-keepers" of the nation would have shed a tear at the demise of Arjan Singh, Marshal of the Indian Air Force, in the Capital on Saturday. I wanted to check on Sardesai, if he has extricated himself from the morass of mud-slinging and spared a thought for the departed hero.
But I found myself blocked by Sardesai!!!
So I did the next best thing. I turned to Sagarika Ghose, his wife. Surely, the woman who has a new biography on Indira Gandhi to her name and thus, by inference, had time to research many wars of the 60s and 70s, would remember late Marshal Arjan Singh and his legendary deeds.
But there's not a single tweet from Ms Ghose! (There of course is a retweet but that's like registering a presence in a funeral). It's so much like Congis--with whom her family has had a roaring stand--who rarely have had a great respect for our military heroes.
Remember the death of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw on June 27, 2008? The then present UPA dispensation in the Centre, were all missing from the funeral of India 's greatest military hero. Neither President Pratibha Patil, supreme commander of our armed forces nor Prime Minister Manmohan Singh; neither the then defence minister A.K. Antony nor the three Service chiefs attended Manekshaw's funeral.
Manekshaw's various run-ins with the Indira Gandhi could be the reason. I am not sure if Ms. Ghose has it mentioned in her book--those loyals who have read it must inform me. Or the book has the facts that the 1971 War hero's status and dues were held up for decades. (It was only due to the initiative of former President APJ Kalam that a cheque of Rs 1.3 crores was sent to the late Marshal on his deathbed.)
Next I logged on to Sitaram Yechury's twitter account. He is another one who can't see his beloved India going to pieces under the Modi regime. It's another matter that those who protect India 's sovereignty are not quite sure of his time for them. He too wasn't present, by all accounts, at Field Marshal Manekshaw's funeral.
Yechury too hasn't offered any condolence on Marshal Arjan Singh. All he has done is to question Modi government for its indifference to death of India 's "most senior serving military officer." Indifference? Is the whining Communist leader indeed talking about Marshal Arjan Singh? Isn't he aware that Arjan's son Arvind Singh is overwhelmed at the present government's response to his father's death?
I next turned to two other Congress Seniors: Digvijaya Singh and Manish Tewari. The two have been much in news for their colourful vocabulary in public lately. Abusive like the drunk thugs you often find on the streets; with little association to decorative representative offices such as ones of former Chief Minister and Union Minister. Digvijaya predictably had no time for Marshal Arjan Singh's death (does India-Occupied-Kashmir ring a bell?) And Manish Tewari? No prizes for guessing this one too.
You would expect these people to use Marshal Arjan Singh's death as an opportunity to present their credentials as well-wishers of Indian army, and by inference India . They have often held the grouse that their patriotism has been questioned by Hindutava agents; that they are shown as anti-Indian armed forces. But doesn't their lack of respect for Indian soldiers and heroes only confirm the impression?
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From Reader Supported News
Holly Sterling delivered almost 100k signatures to the White House asking President Obama to pardon her husband, imprisoned Jeffrey Sterling
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Preface by Holly Sterling Dear Friends, My beloved husband Jeffrey was persecuted and wrongly convicted. The government has no shame in destroying an innocent man's life for almost two decades because he stood up for his constitutional rights and would not plead guilty to a crime he did not commit. Jeffrey has suffered tremendously in his fight for innocence and the truth to prevail. Please consider making a donation to the Sterling Family Fund to help assist with the overwhelming financial devastation inflicted by the government. Your financial contribution would aid in essential preparations for Jeffrey's release and allow him to focus on the beginnings of rebuilding his life. Respectfully and with much gratitude,
Holly Sterling Click here to support Sterling Family Fund organized by Laurie Lewandowski
Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) officials last week gave CIA whistleblower Jeffrey Sterling a parting shot by adding a month of prison time to his sentence. Sterling was due to be released from the low-security prison at Englewood, Colorado, on December 14. He now won't leave until January 16, 2018. The BOP says that there is nothing untoward about the move. It's just that there aren't enough open beds in a St. Louis halfway house to let him go. That contention is disingenuous at best.
Sterling is a former CIA officer who was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison on a multitude of Espionage Act convictions, despite the fact that the government never proved that he actually had had anything to do with espionage. The convictions rested on a book written by former New York Times journalist James Risen, one chapter of which discussed a botched CIA operation to damage the Iranian nuclear program with faulty technical plans.
Risen's book was published soon after Sterling filed a racial discrimination suit against the CIA, arguing that he was denied an overseas assignment because, as his supervisor told him at the time, he would attract attention "as a big black guy speaking Farsi." Sterling's suit was dismissed on national security grounds ("We'd love to defend ourselves, but to do that we'd have to release classified information") by the hanging judge who would later oversee Sterling's conviction and send him to prison.
After the book was published, the CIA argued that Sterling was Risen's source, claiming that Sterling was seeking revenge against the Agency for having his suit dismissed. Prosecutors pointed to metadata indicating that Sterling and Risen had had a handful of phone conversations over the course of 18 months, and that Sterling was probably giving Risen classified information. That's it. No proof. There were no recordings, no emails, no witnesses, no in-person meetings, no nothing. Just the CIA telling Sterling's jury, "Take our word for it."
Sterling left for prison at Colorado's FCI Englewood in mid-2015. The BOP has a regulation that prisoners will be assigned to prisons within 500 miles of their homes. It's supposed to be an effort to keep families intact. But Sterling was sent to a prison nearly 900 miles from home. The BOP said -- again, disingenuously -- that it was a bed space issue.
The BOP set out from the very beginning of Sterling's sentence to make it as difficult as possible. A year ago, Sterling suffered a heart attack in prison that went undiagnosed and then untreated until activists petitioned Colorado Democratic senator Michael Bennett to inquire about his health. Sterling was denied medication until further activism forced some action. In April, he was sent to solitary confinement for several days for "standing too closely" to a corrections officer, an unprovoked outrage that was later dismissed by more senior prison officials.
Sterling was eligible to be released from prison as early as next month. He asked repeatedly why he had been given no official release date, despite the fact that the date is supposed to be calculated a year before the latest possible release date (that is, a release date with no good behavior time calculated into it.) After much hemming, hawing, and gnashing of teeth, the BOP told him that no date would be forthcoming until he met with a delegation from the federal probation office to discuss the terms of his release, an unusual stipulation that almost no other prisoners must go through.
(I can tell you from first-hand experience that this is highly unusual. The BOP and the Marshals are completely separate federal entities. One does not need the other to give a prisoner his release date, which is calculated solely by the BOP at its calculations center in Texas. The federal probation office is a part of the Marshals Service. There is no reason whatsoever for this meeting to have taken place in person. For every other federal prisoner, including me, all of the necessary information was conveyed via email through the prisoner's case manager. But the feds decided to give Sterling special treatment.)
When Sterling met with the delegation, they would not commit to a release date. When they left, he still had no idea when he would be released, although his case manager intimated that the date would be December 14.
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See original here
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
JUAN GONZALEZ: We're continuing to look at the struggle over DACA. That's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which gives nearly 800,000 young people legal permission to live and work in the United States. On Monday, six DACA recipients sued the Trump administration in a San Francisco federal court over its plans to rescind the program. The lawsuit argues the Trump administration failed to follow proper administrative procedures in rescinding DACA and that revoking the program violates due process laws. DACA was instituted by President Obama in 2012 after years of sustained grassroots organizing by young undocumented students. Fifteen states and the District of Columbia have also sued the Trump administration over its plans to end DACA.
AMY GOODMAN: Among the six plaintiffs is Jirayut Latthivongskorn, a fourth-year medical student who's been living in the United States since he and his parents moved from Thailand when he was just nine years old. Two other plaintiffs are middle school teachers. Another plaintiff is Dulce Garcia, an immigration lawyer who regularly defends other immigrants in court in California. She's been living in the United States since her family immigrated from Mexico when she was four years old. So we're going to San Diego, California, to speak with her.
Dulce Garcia, welcome to Democracy Now! Can you lay out what this lawsuit is all about and who you're representing, not to mention yourself?
DULCE GARCIA: Hi. Thank you so much for having me. On a personal level, what this lawsuit is to me, it's a way to speak, to tell our stories, to tell who we are, to tell the stories of our parents and their sacrifices, as well, because although the dialogue has been centered around us as DREAMers, it's clear and evident from the lawsuit itself that there was support from our parents all the way through to make sure that our dreams came true. So, for me, this lawsuit means a voice for us. We're speaking on our own behalf. And we're filing the lawsuit on behalf of 800,000 DACA recipients. So, it's a very personal lawsuit. Being a lawyer, I trust our judicial system, and I am placing full faith on them to do what is right for us.
JUAN GONZALEZ: Well, tell us your own story and how it came to be, one, that you ended up as a lawyer and benefited from DACA yourself. Talk about your family's journey.
DULCE GARCIA: Yeah. Well, actually, the last memory that I have of my home country was when we were robbed at the border in Tijuana, in Tijuana, Mexico. That's the very last memory that I have of my home country. I've been here for over 30 years now. And it's been a difficult upbringing. We arrived in San Diego, which is a beautiful city. We settled there, loved it, but we struggled. We struggled at times with homelessness. Growing up, we had so much fear of our local police. We had fear of not just immigration officers, but also just in general authority. We would never step into a government's office to ask for help for anything. So, my family, we would find ourselves, our siblings and I, sleeping under a table, because my parents, at that time, couldn't afford a home for us, so we would rent out areas of a home. So, we had a difficult upbringing, to say the least. We definitely lacked healthcare.
But we knew that with hard work that we would -- we would be able to accomplish our dreams. And my dream, from very small, was to become a lawyer. In my mind -- not realizing that I was not a U.S. citizen, in my mind, I was going to become a lawyer, a criminal defense lawyer, and work for the federal government as an FBI agent. And this is based on the books that I was reading, the TV that I was watching, and just looking around my neighborhood at the abuse by police at that time. It just inspired me to go into a field in criminal defense. I didn't realize that I was undocumented and my dreams would be deferred for a very long time. And it's still a struggle, 'til today, to keep going and accomplish those dreams. And they've changed somewhat. Now my area of focus is immigration, simply because I find that I have to understand my parents' situation, my own situation and those of -- in my community. But yeah, growing up, I didn't realize that I was undocumented, and I thought everything that we were going through had to do with just being poor. I didn't realize that a lot of what we went through, a lot of our experiences were precisely because we were undocumented.
JUAN GONZALEZ: Well, to explore that further, can you talk about the condition that your family was in? Your father was a welder. And could you talk about what your mother did? And also, you've spoken about the impact in terms of healthcare to your family, the lack of -- the fact that you didn't have health insurance, largely because your family was undocumented.
DULCE GARCIA: Right. I didn't step into a dentist's office until I was an adult.
Yeah, my dad is a welder. He did work unlawfully for another person. And at one point, he injured his arm. He shattered his arm and his wrist in several places. And we didn't have health insurance, so for over a week he just worked through the pain, and not realizing that it was exponentially getting worse. He just toughened it up. And when, finally, we realized that his arm was getting infected, we went to a doctor. And he told us that had he waited any longer, he might have had his hand amputated, because it had gotten so bad. But we were just so terrified of seeking help, because of all the rhetoric going around us that it wasn't safe to go out of our home.
I didn't get to experience everything that San Diego had to offer. I had a very sheltered life. I didn't go to the park, see the beaches. I didn't go to Disneyland, even though I could hear -- I kept hearing all kinds of things from classmates about Disneyland. And it wasn't until an adult that I actually was able to do that on my own, without depending on school field trips to go out, aside from -- out of my home. So, it was a tough upbringing, because we felt terrified all the time. We felt scared all the time to step outside of our house, even to go to the movies or something like that.
We wouldn't do anything, really, that would be compromising our stay here, because we had a goal. My parents had a vision for us, and they didn't want to compromise that. So they made sure that we would be very sheltered. And because of that, I also didn't quite understand the reasons for it. I just, growing up, thought my parents were a little tough on me, and they were -- I just assumed that a lot of the things that we were limited to doing was because we were poor.
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From Mike Malloy Website
Hurricane Maria is hurtling toward Dominica and Puerto Rico, the third massive hurricane in as many weeks. If they keep coming at this rate, there won't be anything left. But just like the aftermath of school shootings, there will much hand-wringing, but ultimately no action taken to address climate change. "President" Trump addressed the UN today, any bet on whether or not he even mentioned these tragedies? Or the Mexican earthquake?
Naw, he's doubled down on leaving the Paris accords, will harangue on "Rocket Man" and likely pull out of the Iran nuclear deal Obama crafted. Oh, and he also promises to reduce the US funding of the UN, which might be a smart move, actually, given how many taxpayer dollars will be needed to rebuild after hurricane damage -- past, present, and future.
The good news on the horizon is that Robert Mueller's investigation continues to gather steam, and Trump's lawyers are discussing (loudly, near NYTimes reporters) the idea that there are "spies" inside the White House, and perhaps even within Trump's own legal team. Mueller is renting big warehouses and adding members of his legal team. Most interesting is new hire Kyle Freeny, from the Justice Department's money laundering unit. Politico has more:
"An attorney working on the Justice Department's highest-profile money-laundering case recently transferred off that assignment in order to join the staff of the special prosecutor investigating the Trump campaign's potential ties to Russia, POLITICO has learned. "Attorney Kyle Freeny was among the prosecutors on hand Friday as Jason Maloni, a spokesman for former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, testified before a grand jury at federal court in Washington. "Freeny, whose assignment to special counsel Robert Mueller's staff has not been previously reported, is the 16th lawyer known to be working with the former FBI chief on the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. She departed from the courthouse Friday with two other members of Mueller's squad: former Criminal Division chief and Enron prosecutor Andrew Weissman and Civil Division appellate attorney Adam Jed, a former clerk to Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. "Before being detailed to Mueller's team, Freeny was shepherding the Justice Department's headline-grabbing effort to seize the profits from the film 'The Wolf of Wall Street' on grounds that the film was financed with assets looted from the Malaysian government. Freeny withdrew from the 'Wolf of Wall Street' case on June 26, court records show, shortly before many of Mueller's attorneys joined his team in early July. "The Justice Department billed the 'Wolf of Wall Street' case as a product of the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, an effort to pursue the proceeds of foreign corruption and return such monies to the public in the affected countries. "Justice Department officials including former Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the same kleptocracy project is probing the transfer of assets overseas by Ukrainian officials, including former President Viktor Yanukovych. Manafort served as a consultant to Yanukovych and his Party of Regions -- work that has triggered suspicions about the former Trump campaign chief because of Yanukovych's warm relationship with Moscow. "A Manafort firm belatedly filed a report in June with U.S. authorities disclosing about $17 million in payments from the Party of Regions between 2012 and 2014. Manafort has denied wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crime. However, in July, FBI agents executed an early-morning search warrant at his Alexandria, Virginia, condominium."
Let's hope this is a sign that the investigation is successfully connecting the necessary dots to remove this cretin and his criminal family before America loses it's last shred of credibility in the world.
"This is much ado about nothing" - Attorney Mark Werksman
If convicted of the charges, Rodriguez will have earned a place in the Stupid Criminal Hall of Fame. As his lawyer notes, "candidates fund their own campaigns often" and the law provides no limit to the amount a candidate can donate or loan to his or her own campaign. Therefore, the alleged tactics of money laundering were not needed to circumvent campaign donation limits. Instead, they allowed the candidate to claim a level of community support that did not exist: "I know for many of them this is a tremendous sacrifice," he told KPCC. "It's just been sort of an outpouring of folks belief in me and what we are trying to do for the city." The only problem is that there was no "we". All of the money is alleged to have flowed through Rodriguez's mother's checking account, originating with the Board President's personal funds.
It is interesting to note that in responding to the charges against him, Rodriguez has avoided any claim that he did not engage in the alleged activity. His press release refers to the charges as "issues" that says that he hopes they "will be resolved expeditiously and fairly." This sounds like someone more concerned with limiting the punishment than proving his innocence. His co-defendant's lawyer went further stating that this "is much ado about nothing" referred to the charges as a "harsh and draconian response to a fairly minor alleged transgression" and said they are "surprised this has risen to the level of a criminal prosecution." Does he think that his client is innocent or just above the rules?
Given the defendant's ties to the charter industry, these responses are not surprising as charters seem to use the same modus operandi when caught engaging in wrongdoing. For example, even as Celerity Exa Charter School surrendered their charter after being closed by the Pasadena fire marshall for being "dangerous and unsafe", the CEO continued to maintain "that the site was safe and appropriate for use by our students". As the Los Angeles Daily News prepared to release the first in a series of articles exposing personal spending on the school's credit card, the school sent an email to parents warning that "because of the nature of the reporter's questions, and his lack of interest in anything positive about the school, we believe this article is being crafted in a way that will put ECRCHS in a negative light". When asked for a comment by a reporter researching a story about enrollment violations at Granada Hills Charter High School, the California Charter School Association (CCSA) says that they "told him that this is a non-story and that [they were] not going to comment." They also told the school that they "probably shouldn't bother either." Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain and his flagrant violations of the school's charter. Can we tell you about our Academic Decathlon wins instead?
Unfortunately, the millions of dollars they have spent on elections has allowed the CCSA to back up these slight of hand excuses with a lack of enforcement at the local, county and state levels. However, the charges against Rodriguez show that they do not own all levels of government. For once, someone will finally answer for a culture where the ends justify the means and following the rules is for suckers.
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____________________________________________
Carl Petersen is a parent and special education advocate, elected member of the Northridge East Neighborhood Council and was a Green Party candidate in LAUSD's District 2 School Board race. He was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action and Dr. Diane Ravitch called him a "strong supporter of public schools." His past blogs can be found at www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com.
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God's going gay for the Apocalypse
Taking a break from Trump Messiah sycophant-ism the "prophets" of the Christian Right are warning of Saturday's coming Apocalypse.
God's Ambulance Chasers are changing course
Far from following in the footsteps of Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson* (the original Christofascist blame-the-gays theorists), today's Apocalyptic ministers have changed from merely raining bibles on disaster victims to connecting the Armageddon dots, forming a picture of a God totally pissed that anyone, any country would do something so abominable as accept gay marriage
Beats Noah's
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Gay tornadoes
How twisted!
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Gay earthquakes
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And, of course, Gay volcanic eruptions!
Burn baby burn
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- a rash of major hurricanes!
- Planet X/Nibiru has been seen hurtling toward us through space by millions? thousands? hundreds? okay, tens of people !
- San Francisco's Folsom Street Fair is the DAY AFTER!
- Fox News changes Sean Hannity's time slot to be opposite Rachel Maddow!
- Robert Mueller has Trump's tax returns!
It's Nibiru, stupid!
Theories abound in YouTube with dozens of "updates" (average number of views - an astounding 250) and signs ranging from homeless genocide to "sightings" are scattered like dandelion puffs across the internet.
The science behind Nibiru might seem a tad secular, but look deeper into the YouTube uploads and you'll see God lurking around. The comments are a testament to man's blessed skepticism:
- It's time for us to stop believing bullshit jus cos a mofucker tell u bullshit wiv a straight look on their face
- OLD sh*t FOR NEW MONEY
- i am glad to see that you dont have any subscribes... rlly. I am not negative perons who want worse for others, but this bullshit cant spread anymore
- For anyone who believes this stuff... WILL YOU PLEASE GIVE ME 1,000 dollars so I can go have fun with my wife for a few days before Nibiru gets here?
The date of September 23rd is also a magnate for armchair Armageddon freaks: the alignment of the moon, sun and planets have alarmed "rapture" believers and exorcists.
Of course,the Mexico City quake is fueling the bullshit fires. So far, God's ambulance chasers are ominously (but respectfully) silent. Just wait.
Pope Francis, of course, is having none of it: several years ago, after a quake in Italy was attributed to civil unions by a local pastor on radio:
The radio station distanced itself from Cavalcoli's views and the Vatican has issued a stinging rebuke, saying the idea of a vengeful God was "a pagan vision" dating from "the pre-Christian era".
Archbishop Angelo Becciu, number two in the Vatican's powerful secretariat of state, said Cavalcoli's comments were "offensive to believers and disgraceful for non-believers".
A lignment of the planets, Nibiru or an angry God, God's Ambulance Chasers have to blame someone, anyone else for the Apocalypse. Gays are the easy target.
Postcript:
Remember Harold Camping?
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"God has given sooo much information in the Bible about this, and so many proofs, and so many signs, that we know it is absolutely going to happen without any question at all. - Harold Camping
It didn't.
See you at the Fair on the 24th.
On September 18, Ars Technica reports, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) published a new specification recommendation, Encrypted Media Extensions. The recommendation, which natively implements a "Digital Rights Management" scheme in web browsers, marks a giant step backward for user freedom and an "open" World Wide Web.
W3C is the Web's "international standards organization." Simply put, its recommendations are the reason you can load almost any web page in almost any browser and expect to see the same things on your screen. When W3C recommends something, it's a lead pipe cinch that all the major browser creators will incorporate that recommendation in their products ASAP.
In this case, W3C's recommendation is the equivalent of a printing standards body deciding that henceforth printing presses should only emboss cuneiform characters in clay tablets. That is, it calls for universal adoption of an obsolete -- to the point of silliness -- way of doing things.
The purpose of Digital Rights Management is to allow creators to control the use of, and prevent the copying of, "intellectual property" -- in the form of copyrighted informational works or proprietary hardware creations -- after its original sale.
The 30-odd year history of DRM is one of consumer dissatisfaction and sequential failure. Every DRM scheme is broken sooner or later (usually sooner), after playing hob with purchasers' ability to actually make use of the products they've bought. Lately, in addition to trying to improve DRM, Big Content and Big Manufacturing have begun asking politicians to criminalize cracking of DRM. That's not going to work either. The only winners in the DRM saga will be the companies which drop the whole idea and come up with revenue models that don't require them to screw their customers in the name of preventing copying and modification. The false hope of EME puts off that day.
Until the Encrypted Media Extensions scheme is broken in some fundamental way (a way that can't be fixed with browser updates to the EME code itself), Internet users are going to increasingly find themselves frustrated in copying material they own between their devices, making archival copies, or grabbing snippets under the "fair use" provisions of copyright law.
EME has also already produced a gigantic breach in trust within W3C itself. As Cory Doctorow of the Electronic Frontier Foundation points out (in an open letter announcing EFF's resignation from the body), "W3C is a body that ostensibly operates on consensus," yet EME was imposed on behalf of Big Content and over many objections by the body's director, Tim Berners-Lee, and adopted by a vote of less than 60%. Berners-Lee and the proponents of DRM may well have permanently wrecked W3C's reputation as a trustworthy creator and evaluator of standards for the Web.
Healthcare EDI Market 2023 - Trends, Size, Share and Future Scope
www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/healthcare-edi-market
www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/healthcare-edi-market/report-sample
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Healthcare electronic data interchange (EDI) facilitates the exchange of healthcare data which is processed using computer software in a standardized format. Healthcare industry processes a large number of documents such as medical records of patients, healthcare claims, and reimbursement records. Healthcare EDI helps in the exchange of this information among healthcare institutions, healthcare professionals, and patients. The use of healthcare EDI increases accuracy, improves productivity, helps in faster identification of errors, consumes less time, secures exchange of information and leads to ease of work for the healthcare providers, healthcare payers, and pharmacies. Healthcare EDI finds application in insurance and reimbursement data management, clinical trials and regulatory data management, and medical and dental patient database management. They key players such as Dell Technologies Inc. are prompting the growth of the global healthcare EDI market. In February 2017, Dell Technologies Inc. quickened the digital transformation in healthcare EDI market with the introduction of cloud integration solution for healthcare EDI.Explore Report at:On the basis of component, the global healthcare EDI market is segmented into services and solutions. Services held larger share of the global healthcare EDI market in 2016, mainly due to rise in outsourcing activities and complexities in EDI solutions. Complexities in the EDI solutions prompt the end users to adopt these services for proper understanding and ease of use of healthcare EDI. Based on delivery mode, the web & cloud-based EDI was the largest contributor in the global healthcare EDI market in 2016. The factors such as high scalability, low cost, mobile devices compatibility, and no requirements of software installation are driving the growth of the segment. Based on type of transaction, claims management registered the largest share in 2016, mainly due to increasing prevalence of chronic and lifestyle associated diseases.Explore Report Sample at:The key trend witnessed in the global healthcare EDI market is increasing number of research and development activities. With the rising prevalence of adoption of advanced technology in the healthcare market, the key players are investing more on the research and development on healthcare EDI, for the growth of the global healthcare EDI market. Additionally, increasing use of EDI in healthcare manufacturing and distribution industry and growing focus on integration platform as a service (IPAAS) are major trends observed in the global healthcare EDI market. The increase in outsourcing of EDI services and introduction of ICD-11 guidelines are creating ample opportunities for the growth of the global healthcare EDI market.Some of the key players in the global healthcare EDI market are GE Healthcare, Cognizant Technology Corporation, Cerner Corporation, Axway Software SA, Dell Technologies Inc., Synnex Corporation, McKesson Corporation, Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc., SSI Group, LLC, Comarch SA, Optum Inc., and Quality Systems Inc.About P&S Market ResearchP&S Market Research is a market research company, which offers market research and consulting services for various geographies around the globe. We provide market research reports, industry forecasting reports, business intelligence, and research based consulting services across different industry/business verticals.As one of the top growing market research agency, were keen upon providing market landscape and accurate forecasting. Our analysts and consultants are proficient with business intelligence and market analysis, through their interaction with leading companies of the concerned domain. We help our clients with B2B market research and assist them in identifying various windows of opportunity, and framing informed and customized business expansion strategies in different regions.Contact:KundanManager Client Partner347, 5th Ave. #1402New York City, NY - 10016Toll-free: +1-888-778-7886 (USA/Canada)Email: enquiry@psmarketresearch.comWeb:
Mortuary Equipment Market Growth Prospects, Key Opportunities, Trends And Forecast 2023
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Transparency Market Research estimates that the global mortuary equipment market will exhibit a promising 6.30% CAGR from 2015 to 2023, rising from a valuation of US$173.4 mn in 2014 to an opportunity of US$306.0 mn by 2023.Scope of Heightened Demand across New Applications in Forensics and Research Sectors to Bolster Growth ProspectsTechnological advancements have helped bring in automation in the field of mortuary equipment. Companies are increasingly commercializing automated mortuary equipment that assist in safe and speedy operations with the minimal need for manual interference. Such automated equipment are allowing the global mortuary equipment market to foray into new application areas in the field of research and forensics. With a heightened level of usability and flexibility, the demand for advanced mortuary equipment is expected to soar in areas such as transportation of well-maintained corpses in commercial and academic research and forensic tests.View and Download TOC of Mortuary Equipment Market Research Report@High Cost of Advanced Products to Impede Growth ProspectsAlthough the global mortuary equipment market mostly has a positive outlook over the next few years, certain factors such as the high cost of advanced equipment could present roadblock in the way of promising growth for the market. Lack of awareness about the variety of products available in the global market as well as lack of many options in emerging markets could also hamper the growth prospects of the market to an extent. Nevertheless, rising demand across emerging economies with vast populations, increased focus of companies on emerging regional markets, and positive influx of funds to support expansion, and research and development activities in these regions will help the market remain promising.Emerging, Not Established, Markets to Present Most Promising Growth OpportunitiesIn terms of geography, the market in North America held the dominant share of revenue in the global market, accounting for a nearly 33% of the global market in 2014. The market in Europe closely followed, holding a nearly 28% of the overall market in the said year. By the end of the reports forecast period, however, these regional markets are projected to lose a considerable amount of share in to regions such as Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Middle East and Africa, with the Asia Pacific market registering the most promising growth, at an 8.60% CAGR from 2015 to 2023.Request and Download Sample Report@In terms of application, the research and academics segment accounted for the dominant share of the global mortuary equipment market in 2014 and is expected to remain the core area of application of the market over the reports forecast period as well. A vast rise in research activities concerning chronic diseases across the globe in the past few years will contribute to the increased scope of usage of mortuary equipment in the area in the near future.In the relatively consolidated vendor landscape of the global mortuary equipment market, competition and market opportunities are mostly confined between the leading few vendors, observes Transparency Market Research in a recent report. The two leading companies in the market, namely Mopec and Kugel Medical GmbH, held a more than 50% of the market in 2014, states the report.Over the years, these companies have resorted to growth strategies such as the continuous introduction of technologically advanced products, innovative accessories, and consumables, commercialization across new regional markets, and strategic alliances with regional companies to expand their geographical footprint. Introduction of innovative and low-cost products could be the required strategy for new companies to break into the stagnant market.Buy Full Mortuary Equipment Market Report@About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Analysis and Assessment on Pine Derived Chemicals Market by Future Market Insights 2016-2026
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The chemicals derived from pine tree and its parts occur naturally. Thus, pine is a renewable source of chemicals that find applications across a diverse set of industries. Pine trees occur predominantly in regions like North America, Latin America, Asia and Scandinavia. Traditionally, these pine derived chemicals have been used in adhesives industry, construction industry and healthcare sector among the others. In the recent past, these pine derived chemicals have been used in applications such as in printing inks, adhesives, soaps & detergents, resins, plasticizers, surface coatings, fragrance chemicals among the others. The pine chemicals are obtained from distillation of semi-solid extracts of resin and fatty oil. Primarily, pine based products are derived from gums, stumps and by products of Kraft pulp. Pine chemicals include rosin, tall oil, turpentine, resin etc. Major chemicals like turpentine, tall oil fatty acids (TOFA) and resin acids among the others are derived from by-product of sulphate pulping process.Global Pine Derived Chemicals Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe chemicals derived from pine trees are naturally occurring and thus environmentally friendly. Their use results in lower carbon dioxide emissions as compared to those from use of traditional sources. In the recent past, extensive use of products derived from crude oil and natural gas have led to increased pollution and environmental concern. Hence, there is a pressing need to decrease the consumption of fossil fuels in order to reduce carbon footprints and carbon dioxide emission. Thus, demand for these eco-friendly pine derived chemicals is expected to witness a steady growth over the forecast period. Pine trees, the source of these pine derived chemicals do not occur abundantly across the globe but are concentrated in regions of North America, Latin America, and in some European & Asian countries. As such, the limited availability is expected to create a challenge to the growth of the global pine derived chemical market during the forecast period.Request For Report Sample@Global Pine Derived Chemicals Market: SegmentationThe global pine derived chemical market is segmented on the basis of application, type and geographical region.Based on the type of chemical, global pine derived chemical market is segmented in to the following key market segments:Tall Oil Rosin (TOR)Tall Oil Fatty acid (TOFA)Gum RosinGum TurpentineSterolsOthersAlso depending on the End-use industry, the global pine derived chemical market is segmented as below:Printing inksAdhesives & paintsRubberPaper and pulpOthersGlobal Pine Derived Chemicals Market: Regional OutlookThe global pine derived chemical market is segmented on the basis of geography into seven key regions namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa, Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan) and Japan. North America region has a strong presence in global pine derived chemical market followed by Asia Pacific. The United States accounted for the largest share in global pine derived chemicals market. Increasing demand for environmentally friendly products in order to reduce the carbon footprints is expected to drive the global pine derived chemical market during the forecast period.Visit For TOC@Global Pine Derived Chemicals Market: Key playerskey players operating in global pine derived chemical market are as follows:Eastman Chemical CompanyIngevity (MeadWestvaco Corporation)Arizona Chemical Company, LLCGeorgia-Pacific Chemicals, LLCHarima Chemicals GroupArakawa Chemical Industries, Ltd.Renessenz LLC.Foreverest Resources Ltd.Mentha and Allied Products Pvt. Ltd.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Area prosecutors are stepping in to help the Jackson County District Attorneys office cope after the unexpected loss of the countys top prosecutor.
Gerald Fox, 56, died Monday, Sept. 4, during his 11th year as district attorney. At the time of his death, he was handling about 400 cases, said Melissa Inlow, the countys only assistant prosecutor who now oversees the office and several hundred cases of her own.
We are very busy, she said. Our caseload goes up every year, especially with the drug epidemic.
Prosecutors in all of Jackson Countys neighboring counties immediately volunteered to absorb cases to alleviate the pressure on the already understaffed district attorneys office, Inlow said. The state Department of Justice will handle two reckless homicides cases filed in the county.
(Trempealeau County District Attorney Taavi McMahon) called right away and said, Hey, were going to be there Tuesday morning. Dont worry about anything, Inlow said. Were touched by the assistance from the other counties. Its nice to know we can pull together.
McMahon, who called Fox a mentor and a friend, said its important for regional DAs offices to support each other.
We must move cases along quickly and be efficient in the administration of justice, he said.
Fox, first elected in 2006, served in the U.S. Army and deployed to Iraq in 2005 as part of the Wisconsin Army National Guard. There, he served as the Pre-Trial Agreement Attorney in the Central Criminal Court of the Iraq Liaison Office, according to his obituary.
Inlow met Fox 16 years ago when both were serving in the National Guard. He stressed balancing justice and rehabilitation with punishment and will be remembered for his spellbinding voice, Inlow said.
His passion for the job was contagious, she said. It was inspiring.
Fox had vowed to slow down or retire after the unexpected loss of Monroe County District Attorney Dan Cary in 2014 but was being considered for U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin.
The community has offered its condolences and several crime victims attended funeral services, Inlow said.
Applicants have until next week to apply for the vacancy and the appointment is expected in November. Inlow said she will apply for the position.
Pressure Pumping Global Market 2017: Key Players Baker Hughes , Calfrac Well Services Ltd., China Oilfield Services , Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc., Frac Tech Services International
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Pressure Pumping IndustryDescriptionWiseguyreports.Com Adds Pressure Pumping -Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities and analysis of Top Key Player Forecast to 2021 To Its Research DatabaseAccording to Stratistics MRC, the Global Pressure pumping Market is valued at $76.23 billion in 2015 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.66% to reach $224.27 billion by 2022. Rising energy demand across the globe, growing drilling activities for extraction of oil and gas are some of the major factors fueling the market growth. Moreover, shift towards oil drilling activities by exploration and production companies due to declining natural gas prices is anticipated to propel the market growth. On the other hand, huge installation costs and stringent government regulations for the usage of of these systems are expected to hamper market in upcoming years.Hydraulic fracturing held the largest market share. However, cementing services is anticipated to witness strong growth over the forecast period. North America commanded the global market owing to the presence of large count of oil field service industries in the region. Market is highly concentrated with top five companies occupying the major market share. Existing market players have good access in the market and entry of new players into the market is very difficult.Some of the key players in global Pressure pumping market areBaker Hughes , Calfrac Well Services Ltd., China Oilfield Services , Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc., Frac Tech Services International, Halliburton, Key Energy Services, Nabors Industries Ltd., , National Oilwell Varco, Pioneer Energy Services, RPC Inc., Sanjel Corporation, Schlumberger, Superior Energy Services, Inc., Trican, Weatherford International Inc., and National Drilling Company .Request for Sample Report @Type of services Covered: Cementing Serviceso Remedial cementingo Primary cementingHydraulic FracturingOther Serviceso Acidizationo Sand controlling servicesType of Resources Covered: Unconventional ConventionalType of Wells Covered Vertical HorizontalRegions Covered: North Americao USo Canadao Mexico Europeo Germanyo Franceo Italyo UKo Spaino Rest of Europe Asia Pacifico Japano Chinao Indiao Australiao New Zealando Rest of Asia Pacific Rest of the Worldo Middle Easto Brazilo Argentinao South Africao EgyptLeave a Query @What our report offers:- Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments- Market share analysis of the top industry players- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants- Market forecasts for a minimum of 7 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations- Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancementsTable of Content1 Executive Summary2 Preface2.1 Abstract2.2 Stake Holders2.3 Research Scope2.4 Research Methodology2.4.1 Data Mining2.4.2 Data Analysis2.4.3 Data Validation2.4.4 Research Approach2.5 Research Sources2.5.1 Primary Research Sources2.5.2 Secondary Research Sources2.5.3 Assumptions3 Market Trend Analysis3.1 Introduction3.2 Drivers3.3 Restraints3.4 Opportunities3.5 Threats3.6 Product Analysis3.7 Emerging Markets4 Porters Five Force Analysis4.1 Bargaining power of suppliers4.2 Bargaining power of buyers4.3 Threat of substitutes4.4 Threat of new entrants4.5 Competitive rivalry5 Global Pressure Pumping Market, By Service Type5.1 Introduction5.2 Cementing Services5.2.1 Remedial cementing5.2.2 Primary cementing5.3 Hydraulic Fracturing5.4 Other Services5.4.1 Acidization5.4.2 Sand controlling services6 Global Pressure Pumping Market, By Resource Type6.1 Introduction6.2 Unconventional6.3 Conventional7 Global Pressure Pumping Market, By Well Type7.1 Introduction7.2 Vertical7.3 HorizontalBuy now @Continued...Contact Us: Sales@Wiseguyreports.Com Ph: +1-646-845-9349 (US) Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About Us: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.Addres:: Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt Ltd: Pune 411028: Maharashtra, Global: Ph: +91 841 198 5042
Neurostimulation Devices Market to Witness a Rise of US$ 10,445.7 Million By 2020
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According to a new market report published by Persistence Market Research Global Market Study on Neurostimulation Devices - Deep Brain Stimulation Devices to Witness Highest Growth by 2020, the global neurostimulation devices market was valued at US$ 5,088.9 Mn in 2014 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.7% from 2014 to 2020, to reach US$ 10,445.7 Mn by 2020.Neurostimulation technology involves the use of microelectrodes to activate elements of the nervous system. It involves the use of a neurostimulation device - a battery-powered stopwatch-sized device - which is surgically implanted in the brain and delivers electric signals at scheduled time intervals to the nervous system. These electric signals develop tingling sensations (paresthesia) in the damaged nerve and helps chronic pain and neurological disorders.In chronic pain conditions, these electric signals block the pain messages from the damaged nerve from reaching the brain. These devices are gaining importance in the management of chronic conditions such neuropathic pain, nociceptive pain, Parkinsons disease, epilepsy, and depression. Neuropathic pain occurs due to nerve damage, while nociceptive pain arises from diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and arthritis. These devices are mostly used in cases where systemic drug therapies are not effective.View and Download TOC of Neurostimulation Devices Market Research Report @The global neurostimulation devices market is witnessing significant growth due to increasing prevalence of chronic pain and rising incidences of neurological diseases. Moreover, rising awareness about various neurological diseases, growing geriatric population, and increasing investments in research and development of innovative neurostimulation devices are also driving the market.However, availability of alternative treatment therapies for neurological diseases and side-effects of neurostimulation therapy inhibit the growth of the market. The global neurostimulation devices market is anticipated to grow from an estimated US$ 5,088.9 Mn in 2014 to US$ 10,445.7 Mn by 2020 at a CAGR of 12.7% during the forecast period.In North America, the neurostimulation devices market is growing due to increasing incidence of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer and Parkinsons disease. Moreover, initiatives taken by various government and private associations for increasing awareness about various chronic pain and neurological disorders and rising investments in the research and development of novel neurostimulation devices in North America is driving the market in the region.Request and Download Sample Report @The neurostimulation devices market in Europe is growing due to initiatives taken by various governments to improve healthcare facilities in the region. Furthermore, increasing incidences of chronic pain and neurological diseases and growing aging population are also boosting the growth of the Europe neurostimulation devices market. According to WHO, every year, neurological disorders affect one-third of the population in Europe, and approximately 1% to 2% of the population is diagnosed with psychotic disorders. According to the NHS England - a government organization primarily involved in the improvement of healthcare services in England - approximately 8 million people suffered from chronic pain in the U.K. in 2010, and the number reached 14 million in 2012.Asia Pacific represents the fastest-growing region in the neurostimulation devices market. This is primarily due to growing aging population in various countries such as India and China. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) - an organization involved in biomedical and health related research activities - approximately 110 million people in China were aged 65 years and above in 2011 and the number is expected to reach 330 million by 2050. In India, approximately 60 million people were aged 65 years and above in 2011 and the number is expected to reach 227 million by 2050.Medtronic, plc, St. Jude Medical, Inc, Boston Scientific Corporation, and Cyberonics, Inc. are some of the leading players in the neurostimulation devices market. Other major players of neurostimulation devices market include Cochlear, Ltd., NDI Medical, LLC, NeuroPace, Inc., NeuroSigma, Inc., and MED-EL.Buy Full Neurostimulation Devices Market Report @Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA,Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Global Radiation Dose Management Market 2017 by Key Players: Bayer Healthcare and AGFA Healthcare and Toshiba Group
Global Radiation Dose Management Market
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This report on global Radiation Dose Management market precisely studies the various aspects of Radiation Dose Management industry.At Forefront the report proffers prudent insights into the trends in Radiation Dose Management market along with the market dimensions and forecast for the duration 2016 to 2022.Along with this,research study on Radiation Dose Management market also integrates detailed analysis of various market segments on the basis of product type, applications and geography.Further this report incorporates both quantitative as well as qualitative data sets which include market framework, executive summary for the global Radiation Dose Management market.The report also includes key players profile description, details on fiscal & accounting , business tactics and fresh developments in global Radiation Dose Management Market.Tools for competition mapping are also inculcated in the report as an assitance to the end users.Do Inquiry Before Purchasing Report at :Illustratation of each segment is precisely done in further section of research study.Global Radiation Dose Management Market report is primarily segmentized into three major segments i.e product type, applications and geographical/region.Key Players/Manufacturers in the Radiation Dose Management Market are also enlisted in report.Key Dominant players enlisted in Radiation Dose Management market:GE HealthcarePhilipsToshiba GroupBayer HealthcareAGFA HealthcareFujifilm HoldingsNovaradPACS Health LLCSectra Medical SystemsSiemens HealthcareMarket SegmentationRequest for Sample Pages Of Report at :Geographical distribution of Radiation Dose Management MarketThe global Radiation Dose Management Market is studied for five major geographic regions namely: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa.Market dimensions and prognosis for each regional and country-level market are added in the report for the examined periods.1.North America*United States*Canada*Mexico2.Asia-Pacific*China*Japan*Southeast Asia*India*Korea3.Europe*Germany*UK*France*Italy*Russia etc.4.South America*Brazil*Chile*Peru*Argentina5.Middle East and Africa*Egypt*South Africa*Saudi ArabiaFurther the global Radiation Dose Management Market is segmented into Product Types, applicationsSplit by Product TypesRadiation Dose Management SoftwareRadiation Dose Management ServicesSplit by applicationsRadiographyComputed TomographyMammographyFluroscopy and Interventional ImagingOverall, this report will guide Radiation Dose Management manufacturers, system integrators and related business partners to identify key investment regions and define their strategies.About Us:Market.Biz is designed to provide the best and most penetrating research required to all commercial, industrial and profit-making ventures in any sector of online business. We take pride in our ability to satisfy the market research needs of both domestic and international businesses.Market.Biz has access to the worlds most comprehensive and up-to-date databases in your business sector, including countless market reports that can provide you with valuable data relating to your business. We understand the needs of our clients, and keep our reports updated as market requirement changes.Contact US:James JohnsonS no. 51/14 First Floor, Office Number 4,Vishwa Arcade, Near Navale Lawns,Pune, Maharashtra, India 411041.Tel: +1(857)2390696Email: inquiry@market.bizWebsite:Blog:
Global SaaS-based Supply Chain Management Software Market 2017 -2022 Research Report Explores Economic Impact in international Industries
SaaS-based Supply Chain Management Software Market
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Global SaaS-based Supply Chain Management Software Market 2017 Survival Strategies explore Economic Impact in Global Industries Manufactures, Growth, Size, Share, Trends, Development Challenges and Opportunities till 2022A Research study on " Global SaaS-based Supply Chain Management Software Market 2017-2022 " represent the market share and size of SaaS-based Supply Chain Management Software in international Industry. MRS Research Group added latest market research report by PROF Research. Research Report provides an essential information and statistically evaluated data about the SaaS-based Supply Chain Management Software. The research report provides a detailed study of the SaaS-based Supply Chain Management Software market, enlightening the major areas such as future market scenario, market growth factors, market growth restraints, and others. The advanced technological trends and various new opportunities are also provided in this research report.Detail Information of Research Report available @Following are Some Important Topics Cover in Research Report :A. Proposals for New Project :1. Market Entry Strategies2. Countermeasures of Economic Impact3. Marketing Channels4. Feasibility Studies of New Project Investment, Etc...B. Analysis of Industry Chain :1. Industry Chain Structure2. Upstream Raw Materials3. Downstream Industry, Etc...Report Covers by Some Importatnt Regions/Countries as Following :United States, EU, Japan, China, India, Southeast AsiaThe research report provides the SaaS-based Supply Chain Management Software markets classification in detail. The SaaS-based Supply Chain Management Software market is bifurcated into a number of segments on the basis of materials,types,applications,and end-users. The geographical analysis of the global SaaS-based Supply Chain Management Software market is also coveredin the report. The vital information mentioned in the research report helps in significantly predicting the future scope of the global market.Get Free Sample Copy Of Report @The various segmentation of the global market is based on the overall product profit, costing, global market growth, and manufacturing processes. The report covers a region-wise analysis which provides the customer with different market studies that give a detailed analysis of the product and its impact on the global market. The SaaS-based Supply Chain Management Software report also highlights the growth statistics depending on the supply and demand in the different regions.Features of our report:1. The market analysis of the global market share, position, and size from the different regions are done.2. The admired players in the market and their share in the global market are discussed.3. Suggestions and the strategic plans that will help the new market players to maintain the competitive edge are also included.4. Several other major points that are included in the SaaS-based Supply Chain Management Software Market report are growth factors, limiting factors, challenges that are faced, new upcoming opportunities, the technological advancements, and much more.5. On the basis of the estimations of the global market, the recommendations and the observations are included in the business segments.6. The current trends that are being followed in the market are included along with examples.7. How the technological advancements and the research and development activities are impacting the market are further explained in detail.Read Complete Report with TOC @The SaaS-based Supply Chain Management Software report covers the precisely studied and evaluated data of the global market players and their scope in the market using a number of analytical tools. The analytical tools such as investment return analysis, SWOT analysis and feasibility study are used to analyze the key global market players growth in the SaaS-based Supply Chain Management Software industry.About Us: MRS Research Group provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Prof Research cover more than 30 industries including energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free : +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@mrsresearchgroup.com
Increasing Count of Young Consumers to Positively Impact Asia Pacific Non-Alcoholic Drinks Market
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Non-Alcoholic Drinks Market: SnapshotThe shifting lifestyles of consumers and the growing per capita income are amongst the prime factors positively impacting the global non-alcoholic drinks market. Due to the changing preferences of consumers, numerous flavors and variants of drinks have been introduced in this market which will bring in new growth opportunities in the global non-alcoholic drinks market. The increasing temperatures owing to global warming will also drive the growth of this market. This market is concentrated in nature and hence a couple of players hold a key share within this market. Due to the fact that the market is led by the changing tastes and preferences of consumers, this is why even smaller players are tapping into this market by catering to the needs of local residents and by keeping the prices competitive.For more information on this report, fill the form @The global non-alcoholic drinks market stood at US$1,435.25 bn in 2013 and is anticipated to touch US$1,937.73 bn by 2020, expanding at a 4.30% CAGR from 2014 to 2020. Volume-wise, this market is poised to rise at a 4.90% CAGR in the forecast period and will fuel the non-alcoholic beverages consumption to 1,289.03 bn liters by 2020, starting from 912.77 bn liters in 2013. The increasing disposable income of consumers, the tastes of local consumers, and demographics will also bode well for the development of the non-alcoholic drinks market. On the other hand, the rising awareness on health is amongst the prime factors impeding the development of the global non-alcoholic market.Tea and Coffee to Gain Demand Due to Rising Disposable Income of ConsumersProduct-wise, the non-alcoholic drinks market is segmented into dairy drinks, juice, tea and coffee, bottled water, soft drinks, and others. Of these, the segment of soft drinks held a dominant share and stood at 471.07 bn liters in 2013. On the other hand, the segment of tea and coffee is poised to emerge as the most swiftly developing segment due to swift industrialization and the growing disposable income of consumers. This segment is predicted to rise at a healthy 7.0% CAGR between 2014 and 2020.In terms of geography, the report segments the global non-alcoholic drinks market into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW). Amongst these, the North America non-alcoholic drinks market emerged as the top market and was valued at US$220.79 bn in 2013. This is due to the growing awareness on health amongst individuals of all age groups in North America over the forecast period.Browse Market Research Report @On the other hand, Asia Pacific has also emerged as amongst the key markets for non-alcoholic drinks. The Asia Pacific non-alcoholic drinks market stood at US$332.22 bn in 2013 and is predicted to grow exponentially over the forecast period. This is due to the rising disposable income of consumers in developing nations of India and China and the increasing count of young consumers. In addition, the launch of Make in India campaign in India will also provide impetus to the development of the non-alcoholic drinks market in Asia Pacific.The prime players operating in the global non-alcoholic drinks market are A.G. Barr, plc. (U.K.), Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. (U.S.), Dydo Drinco, Inc. (Japan), Attitude Drinks, Inc. (U.S.), LiveWire Ergogenics, Inc. (U.S.), Calcol, Inc. (U.S.), Danone (France), Nestle S.A. (Switzerland), PepsiCo, Inc. (U.S.), and The Coca-Cola Company (U.S.) among others.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:
Explosion Proof Equipment Market Predicted to Witness Steady Growth During the Forecast Period 2016-2026
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Explosion is defined as an extreme increased in the energy of a system, which can be nuclear, mechanical or nuclear in an uncontrolled amount result in increasing in temperature and evacuation of gases. There are so many sources responsible for the explosions, some of them are increased pressure, nuclear reactions, leakage of gases, dust and others. In order to prevent these explosions, several types of prevention measures are being taken in to account at a time of designing products for electrical, mechanical, nuclear and chemical use and these devices/products are termed as explosion proof. The term explosion proof doesnt mean that the product will be withstand in the explosion but it means that product is having some kind of explosive material or gases there within its case or housing and prevent spark from within its housing from igniting gases, vapors present in surrounding. In broader term explosion proof equipment be termed as those equipment which are having explosive material inside and correspondingly having protection principle means explosion prevention by varying operating energy or make its so robust so that cant let explosion come out of case and also not let the external environment having high temperature or spark causes explosion inside by making its housing isolated, which is usually made up of stainless steel or cast aluminum. Today explosion proof equipment are used in almost all industries for the protection of financial as well as lives.The global explosion proof equipment market is expected to grow with the healthier rate during the forecasting period.Request For Report Sample@Explosion Proof Equipment: Market DynamicsFor last some years explosion proof equipment companies has been coming out with newly designed materials for casing and with more advanced features which are becoming the new trends for the market of global explosion proof equipment market. The key growth drivers of global explosion proof equipment market are increased adoption of explosion proof equipment in oil & gas industries, exploration of new mining sites which increases the need for explosion proof equipment there, drastic rising demand of explosion proof equipment in automation sector and also the newly formed safety regulations for hazardous areas are getting more stiffer, are some of the growth drivers responsible for the growth of global explosion proof equipment market. On the other hand staggering of mineral and mining industries globally are becoming the key restraint for the global explosion proof equipment market.Explosion Proof Equipment: SegmentationSegmentation of explosion proof equipment market is done on the basis of protection type, flammable substances, by explosive characteristics, by applicable systems, by verticals & by geography. Based on the protection type, segmentation of explosion proof equipment is done as explosion proof/explosion containment, explosion prevention/limiting energy, explosion segregation (isolation). On the basis of flammable substances, explosion proof equipment is segmented as Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3. By area classification segmentation of global explosion proof equipment market is done as Division I & Division II. On the basis of explosive character sticks, global explosion proof equipment market is segmented as zone 0, zone 1, zone 2, zone 20, zone 21, and zone 22.by applicable system explosion proof equipment is segmented into following segments such as; switchgear, surveillance & monitoring systems, material handling systems, lifting systems, cable glands, power generation and distribution systems & others.Geographically, explosion proof equipment is segmented into seven regions which are ; North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), and Middle East and Africa (MEA). Among all the regions North America is the highest contributor in term of revenue in global Explosion Proof Equipment.Visit For TOC@Explosion Proof Equipment: Key PlayersThe key players of global explosion proof equipment market are Adalet, Alloy Industry Co. Ltd., eaton, S.C. UMEB SA, Warom Technology, Inc. Alloy Industry Co. Ltd. & 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.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Failure Analysis Global Market 2017: Key Players Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation, EAG (Evans Analytical Group) Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., A&D Company Ltd.
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Failure Analysis IndustryDescriptionWiseguyreports.Com Adds Failure Analysis -Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities and analysis of Top Key Player Forecast to 2021 To Its Research DatabaseAccording to Stratistics MRC, Global Failure Analysis market is accounted for $4.82 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach $8.3 billion by 2022 to grow at a CAGR of 8.0%. Rising applications of failure analysis equipment in nanotechnology and medical applications and advancements in technology and usage of failure analysis equipment in semiconductors are some of the factors driving the market. However, high maintenance and equipment cost may hinder the market growth. Demand for failure analysis equipment in emerging nations may create an opportunity to the market.Automotive segment is expected to grow at a highest CAGR during the forecast period. The favourable growth is attributed to high breach of advanced driver assistance systems and driverless vehicles. North America accounted for the largest share in the market, while, Asia Pacific is expected to regiser highest CAGR during the forecast period owing to high concentration of semiconductor industries in countries such as Taiwan, China, Japan, South Korea and India.Some of the key players in global failure analysis market includeHitachi High-Technologies Corporation, EAG (Evans Analytical Group) Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., A&D Company Ltd., FEI Company, CARL Zeiss SMT GmbH, Motion X Corporation, Tescan Orsay Holding, A.S., Jeol Ltd., Intertek Group PLC, RJ Lee Group, Inc. , Evans Analytical Group, Inc., Ops A La Carte LLC, IMR Test Labs and Westpak, Inc.Request for Sample Report @Tests Covered: Contamination Analysis Adhesive Identification Chemical Analysis and Testing Coating Contamination Corrosion Investigation Electrical Overstress(EOS)/Electrostatic Discharge(EDS) Fractography Mechanical Testing Metallography Microstructure Evaluation NDT Regulatory Compliance Testing Thermal Mapping Weld Testing Other TestsTechniques Covered: Common mode Failure Analysis Destructive Physical Analysis Failure Modes Effect Analysis(FMEA) Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analysis(FMECA) Fault Tree Analysis(FTA) Functional Failure Analysis Physics of Failure Analysis Software Failure Analysis Sneak Circuit Analysis Other TechniquesLeave a Query @Enduser Industries Covered: Oil and Gas Aerospace Automotive Construction Chemical and Pharmaceutical Food and Beverage Industrial Defence Metrology and Calibration Other End User IndustriesProducts Covered: Transmission Electron Microscope Focussed ion beam Systems Scanning Electron Microscopy Dual Beam Systems Other ProductsTechnologies Covered: Broad ion milling (BIM) Focused ion beam (FIB) Reactive ion etching (RIE) Secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) Chemical mechanical planarization (CMP)Applications Covered: Bio Scienceo Biomedical Engineeringo Cellular Biologyo Neuroscienceo Structural Biology Material scienceo Ceramic & Glasso Metals & Metallurgyo Nanofabricationo Paper & Fiber Materialo Polymer Electronicso MEMS and Thin Film Productiono Semiconductor Manufacturing Industrial Scienceo Miningo Automotive & Aerospaceo Chemicalo Machinery & Toolso Oil & Gaso Power Generation & Energyo Renewable Energyo OthersEquipments Covered: Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) Focused ION Beam System (FIB) DualBeam Systems Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)Regions Covered: North Americao USo Canadao Mexico Europeo Germanyo Franceo Italyo UKo Spaino Rest of Europe Asia Pacifico Japano Chinao Indiao Australiao New Zealando Rest of Asia Pacific Rest of the Worldo Middle Easto Brazilo Argentinao South Africao EgyptWhat our report offers:- Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments- Market share analysis of the top industry players- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants- Market forecasts for a minimum of 7 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations- Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancementsBuy now @Continued...Contact Us: Sales@Wiseguyreports.Com Ph: +1-646-845-9349 (US) Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About Us: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.About Us:Addres:: Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt Ltd: Pune 411028: Maharashtra, Global: Ph: +91 841 198 5042
Global Chemotherapy Infusion Pumps Market 2017 - ICU Medical, Halyard Health, Smiths Group, Fresenius, Moog
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Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Chemotherapy Infusion Pumps Market Research Report 2017 to its huge collection of research reports.The report revealed here archives a number of angles in which the general Chemotherapy Infusion Pumps market may be assesses which communicates the present and future expectations concerning the regularly changing powers at play. The essential factor behind the examination is to offer the reader with a broad thought of the market and make open the eminent information and records. The certain investigative examination past illustrating information on issues, for instance, drivers, restrictions, and projections to investigate the repercussions of the general Chemotherapy Infusion Pumps market through specified length in the report. The investigation successfully features a brief and world class record of the predefined display, which fuses a couple of events of the confirmed concentrations at work that are studied to trigger progression in the market or may cause any negative impact.To Download Sample Report With TOC:Table of Contents4 Global Chemotherapy Infusion Pumps Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)4.1 Global Chemotherapy Infusion Pumps Consumption by Region (2012-2017)4.2 North America Chemotherapy Infusion Pumps Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)5 Global Chemotherapy Infusion Pumps Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Chemotherapy Infusion Pumps Production and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2 Global Chemotherapy Infusion Pumps Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)6 Global Chemotherapy Infusion Pumps Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global Chemotherapy Infusion Pumps Consumption and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)6.2 Global Chemotherapy Infusion Pumps Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2012-2017)6.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6.3.1 Potential Applications6.3.2 Emerging Markets/CountriesAbout 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 usBrooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Steel Rebars Market 2017 Industry Analysis Split by Size, Share, Growth and Forecast Report To 2022
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The growing Manufacturing and Construction industry has provided a major boost to the Global Steel Rebars Market as more people are shifting their preferences to compact and lightweight Steel Rebars carrying options. The Report covers key Manufacturers are ArcelorMittal, Hebei Iron and Steel, Baowu Group, Jiangsu Shagang, Sabic Hadeed. The Global Steel Rebars Market report covers every aspect of the Market including statistics and key insights for the customers.This report studies the Steel Rebars market, Steel rebars are used as tensile devices in reinforced concrete to provide strength and hold the concrete in tension. Besides the high-tensile strength, rebars also absorb energy, adapt to extreme weather conditions, and hold stress during natural calamities which make them indispensable in the construction industry.Request a Sample Copy of Global Steel Rebars Market Research Report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Steel Rebars in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers ArcelorMittal, Hebei Iron and Steel, Baowu Group, Jiangsu Shagang, Sabic Hadeed, EVRAZ, NucorSteel Rebars Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers North America (USA, Canada and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.), Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, covers Deformed Steel, Mild SteelMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into Infrastructure, Housing, Industrial, OthersRequest Discount for Global Steel Rebars Market Research Report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Steel Rebars market.Chapter 1, to describe Steel Rebars Market Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Steel Rebars, with sales, revenue, and price of Steel Rebars, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Steel Rebars, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the Steel Rebars market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Steel Rebars market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Steel Rebars sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceFor More Info on Market Research @Related Reports: -Global Industrial Detonator Market Outlook 2017-2022An industrial detonator is a compact device used to safely initiate and control the performance of larger explosive charges. Industrial detonators contain relatively sensitive high explosives which chemically, mechanically, or electrically initiated. In the past decades, industrial detonators have been used widely in coal mining, metal mining, quarry and construction industry.Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:
Global Antioxidant Vitamins Market Share, Size and Growth Analysis 2022
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September Offer Flat 20% discount on purchase of this report from 15th to 30th September @For more offers post 30th September, kindly contact us.Contact No. : +16269994607 (US)/ +91 7507349866 (IND)Email: sales@researchtrades.comAntioxidant Vitamins Industry, 2012-2022 Market Research Report' is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the global Antioxidant Vitamins industry with a focus on the Chinese market. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Antioxidant Vitamins manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry.Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including its definition, applications and manufacturing technology. Then, the report explores the international and Chinese major industry players in detail. In this part, the report presents the company profile, product specifications, capacity, production value, and 2012-2017 market shares for each company.Browse complete report atThrough the statistical analysis, the report depicts the global and Chinese total market of Antioxidant Vitamins industry including capacity, production, production value, cost/profit, supply/demand and Chinese import/export. The total market is further divided by company, by country, and by application/type for the competitive landscape analysis. The report then estimates 2017-2022 market development trends of Antioxidant Vitamins industry. Analysis of upstream raw materials, downstream demand, and current market dynamics is also carried out. In the end, the report makes some important proposals for a new project of Antioxidant Vitamins Industry before evaluating its feasibility. Overall, the report provides an in-depth insight of 2012-2022 global and Chinese Antioxidant Vitamins industry covering all important parameters.Chapter One Introduction of Antioxidant Vitamins Industry1.1 Brief Introduction of Antioxidant Vitamins1.2 Development of Antioxidant Vitamins Industry1.3 Status of Antioxidant Vitamins IndustryChapter Two Manufacturing Technology of Antioxidant Vitamins2.1 Development of Antioxidant Vitamins Manufacturing Technology2.2 Analysis of Antioxidant Vitamins Manufacturing Technology2.3 Trends of Antioxidant Vitamins Manufacturing TechnologyRequest for sample atChapter Three Analysis of Global Key Manufacturers3.1 Company A3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Product Information3.1.3 2012-2017 Production Information3.1.4 Contact Information3.2 Company B3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Product Information3.2.3 2012-2017 Production Information3.2.4 Contact Information3.3 Company C3.2.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Product Information3.3.3 2012-2017 Production Information3.3.4 Contact Information3.4 Company D3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Product Information3.4.3 2012-2017 Production Information......Who we are:Research Trades has team of experts who works on providing exhaustive analysis pertaining to market research on a global basis. This comprehensive analysis is obtained by a thorough research and study of the ongoing trends and provides predictive data regarding the future estimations, which can be utilized by various organizations for growth purposes.We distribute customized reports that focus on meeting the clients specific requirement. Our database consists of a large collection of high-quality reports obtained using a customer-centric approach, thus providing valuable research insights.
Gov. Scott Walker has vetoed a last-minute provision in the state budget that would have stripped local governments of the right to regulate quarries.
Walker is scheduled to sign the $76 billion two-year spending package Thursday at an elementary school in Neenah. His office released a list Wednesday of 99 items he plans to strike or change with his line-item veto authority.
Walker explained in the memo that he objected to inserting a major policy item into the budget without sufficient time to debate its merits.
The Legislatures budget-writing committee introduced the measure on the night of Sept. 5 after less than 90 minutes of debate as part of an omnibus motion to amend the transportation budget. Among other things, it prohibited counties and municipalities from regulating blasting, hours of operation, and noise, air and water quality. It also limited the reach of local zoning laws.
The language prompted objections from organizations representing local governments who objected to the state usurping local control.
Some local leaders feared it could be expanded to include the frac sand mines prevalent in western Wisconsin. It also drew criticism from the state business lobby, which had pushed to have frac sand mining included.
Walker did not object to the idea of limiting local control but to the manner in which the law was introduced.
While I support the need to address quarry regulations and the ability to provide materials for public works projects in a timely manner, Walker wrote, changes of this magnitude should be addressed as separate legislation where the implications can be more carefully explored.
Walker also vetoed provisions in the motion that prohibited local ordinances that conflict with state statute and that limited the authority of railroads to condemn private property.
However, he let stand a provision that prohibits the use of eminent domain for recreational trails and pedestrian walkways, over the objection of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, which said in its letter to the governor, While municipalities seldom use this power, it is an important and sometimes necessary tool for ensuring that vital community assets like bike paths are connected into a logical and well-planned system of routes.
Airborne Particle Counters Market Industry Survey, Market Size, Competitive Trends, Outlook and Forecasts To 2022
Airborne Particle Counters
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The Global Airborne Particle Counters Market Research Report 2017 renders deep perception of the key regional market status of the Global Airborne Particle Counters Industry on a global level that primarily aims the core regions which comprises of continents like Europe, North America, and Asia and the key countries such as United States, Germany, China and Japan.Request For Sample Of Global Airborne Particle Counters Market Research Report @The report on "Global Airborne Particle Counters Market" is a professional report which provides thorough knowledge along with complete information pertaining to the Global Airborne Particle Counters industry a propos classifications, definitions, applications, industry chain summary, industry policies in addition to plans, product specifications, manufacturing processes, cost structures, etc.The potential of this industry segment has been rigorously investigated in conjunction with primary market challenges. The present market condition and future prospects of the segment has also been examined. Moreover, key strategies in the market that includes product developments, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, etc., are discussed. Besides, upstream raw materials and equipment and downstream demand analysis is also conducted.Report Includes:-The report cloaks the market analysis and projection of Global Airborne Particle Counters Market on a regional as well as global level. The report constitutes qualitative and quantitative valuation by industry analysts, first-hand data, assistance from industry experts along with their most recent verbatim and each industry manufacturers via the market value chain.The research experts have additionally assessed the in general sales and revenue generation of this particular market. In addition, this report also delivers widespread analysis of root market trends, several governing elements and macro-economic indicators, coupled with market improvements as per every segment. Furthermore, the report contains diverse profiles of primary market players of Global Airborne Particle Counters Market.Global Airborne Particle Counters market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players including Particle Measuring Systems TSI Beckman Coulter Rion Lighthouse Kanomax Grimm Aerosol Technik Fluke Climet Instruments IQAir Topas Particles Plus Suzhou Sujing Honri AircleanDetailed TOC And Charts & Tables Of Global Airborne Particle Counters Market Research Report Available @On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into Portable Airborne Particle Counters Remote Airborne Particle Counters Handheld Airborne Particle CountersOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate of Airborne Particle Counters for each application, including Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Semiconductors Food & Beverages Emission Ambient Air Monitoring Personal Exposure Occupational Health & Safety Cleanroom Production Processes Control FiltrationThe report is generically segmented into six parts and every part aims on the overview of the Global Airborne Particle Counters Market industry, present condition of the market, feasibleness of the investment along with several strategies and policies. Apart from the definition and classification, the report also discusses the analysis of import and export and describes a comparison of the market that is focused on the trends and development. Along with entire framework in addition to in-depth details, one can prepare and stay ahead of the competitors across the targeted locations.The fact that this market report renders details about the major market players along with their product development and current trends proves to be very beneficial for fresh entrants to comprehend and recognize the industry in an improved manner. The report also enlightens the productions, sales, supply, market condition, demand, growth, and forecast of the Global Airborne Particle Counters Market industry in the global markets.Every region market has been studied thoroughly in this report which deals with the precise information pertaining to the Marketing Channels and novel project investments so that the new entrants as well as the established market players conduct intricate research of trends and analysis in these regional markets. Acknowledging the status of the environment and products up gradation, the market report foretells each and every detail.So as to fabricate this report, complete key details, strategies and variables are examined so that entire useful information is amalgamated together for the understanding and studying the key facts pertaining the Global Airborne Particle Counters Market Industry. The production value and market share in conjunction with the SWOT analysis everything is integrated in this report.Check For Discount @Some Points From TOC:-1 Airborne Particle Counters Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Airborne Particle Counters1.2 Airborne Particle Counters Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Airborne Particle Counters Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Airborne Particle Counters Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Portable Airborne Particle Counters1.2.4 Remote Airborne Particle Counters1.2.5 Handheld Airborne Particle Counters1.3 Global Airborne Particle Counters Segment by Application1.3.1 Airborne Particle Counters Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology1.3.3 Semiconductors1.3.4 Food & Beverages1.3.5 Emission1.3.6 Ambient Air Monitoring1.3.7 Personal Exposure1.3.8 Occupational Health & Safety1.3.9 Cleanroom1.3.10 Production Processes Control1.3.11 Filtration1.4 Global Airborne Particle Counters Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Airborne Particle Counters Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 North America Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 India Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Airborne Particle Counters (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Airborne Particle Counters Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Airborne Particle Counters Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Enquiry Before Buying @About Us:QY Research Groups is a company that simplifies how analysts and decision makers get industry data for their business. 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Global Elemental Fluorine Market is Poised to Reach US$ 1,077.1 Mn by the end of 2024
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Persistence Market Research recently published its study on the global market for elemental fluorine, and estimated the present market value at US$ 621 Mn. Key findings in this study further projected that the said factors will keep inducing growth in the global elemental fluorine revenues as they soar at 7.1% CAGR and reach US$ 1,077.1 Mn by the end of 2024.Demand for active chemical agents such as elemental fluorine continues to surge on the account of rampant industrialization spanning across the globe. Technological developments have made production of pure fluorine gas more feasible than before. Intensive research on the compatibility of elemental fluorine with other matter has aided in formulation of advanced electronegative compounds, which have greater industrial applicability.View and Download TOC of Elemental Fluorine Market Research Report@As the lightest halogen, elemental fluorine will continue to gain competitive advantage over other gases. Effectiveness of elemental fluorine in dry chamber cleaning processes will keep propelling its use through 2024. In the years to come, industries demanding a large-scale use of elemental fluorine will benefit from cost-effectiveness of the gas on-site production. Moreover, increasing end-use of elemental fluorine derivatives such as uranium hexafluoride is also expected to drive the global consumption levels substantially.Although, complex production process will keep deterring the arrival of new entrants, and will also pose a challenge for existing elemental fluorine manufacturers. During the forecast period, the global elemental fluorine market is slated to witness impressive contribution from companies such as Solvay S.A., Pelchem SOC Ltd., Navin Fluorine International Limited, Kanto Denka Kogyo Co., Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Advance Research Chemicals, Inc., and Linde AG.Request and Download Sample Report@Asia-Pacific Largest Elemental Fluorine MarketKey excerpts from the report indicate that Asia-Pacifics elemental fluorine market will be leading over other regions in terms of production and demand, both. Through 2024, more than 45% of global market value will be accounted by sales of elemental fluorine in Asia-Pacific. Growing urbanization and favorable manufacturing regulations will keep boosting the revenues in the Asia-Pacific elemental fluorine market. On the other hand, the demand for elemental fluorine will be negligent in Middle East & Africa, and in Latin America. Europes elemental fluorine revenues will be soaring at the lowest value CAGR of 3.5%, while North America will exhibit a steady revenue growth at 6.6% CAGR.Other highlights of the research report, titled Elemental Fluorine Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast, 2016-2024, include:Increasing end-use of sulfur hexafluoride will also act as a key driver for the global elemental fluorine market.The demand for elemental fluorine is expected to be restrained due to implications arising from transportation of such hazardous gases.Nuclear fuel applications will procure the largest chunk of global elemental fluorine revenues, accounting for more than US$ 650 Mn by 2024-endDemand for elemental fluorine will also grow rampantly in glass & ceramics manufacturing, revenues from which are anticipated to soar at 8.3% CAGR.Buy Full Elemental Fluorine Market Report@About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, 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.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Global Security System Installer Software Market 2017 - ComfortClick, ClickSoftware, Corrigo, Micro Key Software, Reliable Group
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Global Security System Installer Software market Report provides pivotal comprehension into the overall Security System Installer Software Industry along with the market dimensions and evaluation for the duration 2017. The report mentioned research study covers substantial analysis of various Security System Installer Software industry segments based on the type of applications, type of product Components and services, and different geographical regions.Download Free Sample Report @Security System Installer Software is a competent and in-depth study on the contemporary state of the Security System Installer Software.The report provides fundamental outlook of the Security System Installer Software including definitions and classifications. The Security System Installer Software is provided for the international markets including development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status. Development policies and plans are considered as well as manufacturing procedures and cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins. The report emphasizes on global major leading industry players providing information such as company profiles, product specification, revenue and contact information.This report entails characteristics of Security System Installer Software. It analyzes the high startup costs that may prevent companies entering the market. International Market Analysis, Competitive Landscape Analysis, International Economy Analysis. Geographically, the global Security System Installer Software market is designed for the following regional markets: USA, Germany, Japan, and China. It also studies the revenue market status, analysis of main manufacturers. It deciphers the Sales Price and Gross Margin Analysis and Global Sales Price Growth Rate, Marketing Trader or Distributor Analysis. The role of traders and distributors is emphasized in this research.Access Full Report @The major players operating in the Security System Installer Software market are profiled in the report, to provide a complete understanding of the market condition and its competitive landscape. This includes an overview of their business operations and market position in conjunction with a SWOT analysis revealing more intricate details about their market strategies and potential development.Fior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:
India Nebulizer Market Industry Insights, Trends and Forecast up to 2023
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The India nebulizers market is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR of 25.80% over the course of given forecast period of 2015 to 2023. This growth is expected to grow the market valuation to INR4,703 mn by the end of year 2023. The north zone in India is currently the highest consuming region in India. Rising pollution and cold climate have led to increase in cases of respiratory disorders. This growth of north region is expected to be achieved at a CAGR of 27.50% over the course of forecast period and is also expected to continue its overall dominance.Rising Number of Lung Disorders Propel India Nebulizers MarketA recent research by the World Health Organization (WHO) has disclosed that deaths because of lung disorders in India are on a high rise. Nearly 142 deaths in every 100,000 deaths are due to some or the other form of lung disorders. This has made India rank first in the world in terms of deaths due to lung diseases.View and Download TOC of India Nebulizer Market Research Report@The growing prevalence acute respiratory diseases that lead to asthma, chronic pulmonary diseases, and cystic fibroses has chiefly driven the India nebulizers market. Nebulizers are very effective in treating these above-mentioned conditions and thus, growth in these medical conditions have effectively led to the development of the nebulizers market. Nebulizers involve inhaling a liquid medication that is converted into breathable aerosol which can readily reach the lungs and treat the infection. Such ease in treatment has also driven the overall development of the India nebulizers market.Another factor responsible for the growth in India nebulizers market is the severe increase in pollution across the country. Different types of pollutions such as vehicular pollution and air pollution coupled with increasing population has led to widespread increase in acute respiratory diseases. This in turn has resulted into rise in demand for nebulizers across the nation.Request and Download Sample Report@High Cost of Machinery and Medicines Impede Market GrowthHowever, lack of awareness among the consumers about using quality products is one of the major restraining factors in the overall growth of the Indian nebulizers market. Moreover, with majority population cannot afford the high machinery and medication prices associated with nebulizers. This has also led to slowing down the growth of the nebulizers market in India.With the rising number of market players, the India nebulizers market is experiencing an intense competition. Some of the key players in the Indian nebulizers market include names such as Becton Dickinson & Company, Bhasin Sons Private Ltd., PARI Respiratory Equipment Inc., Respirotech Med Solutions Pvt Ltd., Agilent Technologies, Medicare Equipment (India) Pvt. Ltd., Omron Healthcare, Philips Healthcare, CareFusion, and DeVilbiss Healthcare LLC. The India nebulizers market is highly fragmented because of this large pool of market players. Of these mentioned names, CareFusion, Philips Healthcare, and Omron Healthcare have dominated the Indian market for nebulizers in the recent past. These three companies accounted for a combined market share of about 52% in the highly fragmented market. In the near future, the market participants are expected to invest heavily in research and development events to launch advanced and innovative products with in order to bolster their market presence. These companies are also taking strategical decisions such as mergers and acquisitions to enhance their market presence. One such instance is the recent acquisition of CareFusion company by Becton Dickinson & Company. This acquisition has reportedly doubled the market share of the company.Buy Full India Nebulizer Market Report@About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Mobile Content Management Market Research Report 2017
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The market intelligence report is a thorough outline of current innovations and technological advancements of the global Mobile Content Management market. An in-depth investigation of the present market scenario, past progress, and future prospects of the global Mobile Content Management market has been offered in the report. The publication also reports the main strategies, market shares, and products of the leading companies in operation in the global Mobile Content Management market.This report studies Mobile Content Management in Global market, especially in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India, focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with capacity, production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringCA TechnologiesCitrix SystemsMobileironSAP SESymantecAlfresco SoftwareGood TechnologySOTISophosBook a Sample Copy of this Report @The report provides a comprehensive outline of the global market for Mobile Content Management based on prime parameters such as end user, technology, applications, products, and regions. The estimated volume and revenue growth of the global market for Mobile Content Management over the forthcoming years has also been mentioned in the market intelligence publication.Split by application, Global Mobile Content Management Industry in each application, can be segmented into :-AcademiaManufacturingBankingEnergyGovernmentThe research report additionally deals into the key geographical segments of the global Mobile Content Management market and delivers details about their former and current shares. The trends dominant in the global Mobile Content Management market have also been underlined in the report. The market study provides a valuation of the aspects that are anticipated to impact the growth of the market in an undesirable or constructive way. The global Mobile Content Management market has been systematically examined with regard to the corresponding market segments and conjecture period. Each year within the individual timeline has been concisely considered in terms of the worth of the produce in the regional as well as global market.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of ContentsGlobal Mobile Content Management Market Research Report 20171 Mobile Content Management Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Mobile Content Management1.2 Mobile Content Management Segment by Type1.2.1 Global Production Market Share of Mobile Content Management by Type in 20151.2.2 Cloud1.2.3 On-Premises1.3 Mobile Content Management Segment by Application1.3.1 Mobile Content Management Consumption Market Share by Application in 20151.3.2 Academia1.3.3 Manufacturing1.3.4 Banking1.3.5 Energy1.3.6 Government1.4 Mobile Content Management Market by Region1.4.1 North America Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.2 Europe Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 India Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Mobile Content Management (2012-2022)Explore Latest Market Research Press & News @QYresearchreports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations.QYResearchReports1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Savory Snacks Market - New Business Opportunities & Investment Research Report 2017- 2025
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Global Savory Snacks Market: OverviewPotato chips, savory biscuits, nuts, processed snacks, and popcorn, among others qualify as savory snacks. They are salty food that are typically consumed between regular meals. So far, potato chips has dominated the global market for savory snacks due to its widespread popularity. A recent prominent trend in the market has been the rising concerns about health and wellness among discerning customers which has egged manufacturers to come up with healthy low calorie, low fat, and gluten-free products. The global savory snacks market is fragmented in nature with the presence of a copious number of small and big players. They try to outdo each other on the basis of quality, price, innovation, brand recall, service, distribution, and promotion.A report by TMR Research presents a 360-degree overview of the global savory snacks market. To that end, it provides a granular analysis of the factors promoting or hindering the market, the current competitive scenario, and the niche players in the market. It segments the market based of different parameters and studies each segment in-depth to understand its contribution to the market and its growth prospects. It uses industry-leading analytical tools to gauge the opportunities awaiting existing and aspiring players in the market.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Savory Snacks Market: Drivers and TrendsThe swift pace of urbanization and hectic life on account of work pressure have majorly contributed to the global savory snacks market. Owing to the lack of time, individuals are gradually opting for light flexible meals that are easily available. Not just that, they are increasingly opting for healthier snack options minus fat, calories, and gluten that are rich in vitamins and other important nutrients to complement their weight loss plans. Another crucial growth driver in the market is the increasing thrust on research and development to come up with better, innovative products and astute marketing strategies of top-tier players resulting in better brand recall.Going forward, savvy companies will continue to focus on product innovation factoring in consumers ever changing tastes, spending capacity and patterns, changing demographic trends, and different macro and micro factors. This would likely result in a raft of new products having different unique flavors, spoiling people for a choice. In the upcoming years, sale through supermarkets and hypermarkets are slated to gain further traction.Request TOC of the Report @Global Savory Snacks Market: Regional OutlookCurrently, North America dominates the global savory snacks market on account of the snacking habits of a sizeable proportion of the people in the region. Obesity concerns among the people has also led to healthy savory snacks being available in the market in the region. Buoyed by the U.K., Europe is another crucial market. In fact, the U.K. is one of the leading consumers of potato chips, nuts, and other savory snacks. In terms of growth, however, the Asia Pacific market is slated to outshine all other regions in the years ahead to become a market leader revenue-wise. China and Japan in Asia Pacific are predicted to be key markets in the near future in not just the region but in the overall global market. India is also expected to be a lucrative market. The widespread availability of a variety of snacks at reasonable rates will bolster the market in the region substantially.Companies Mentioned in ReportTo present a detailed assessment of the competition prevailing in the global savory snacks market, the report profiles prominent companies such as ConAgra Foods, Inc, PepsiCo, Intersnack Group GmbH & Co. KG, Kraft Foods Group, Inc, Diamond Foods, Inc, General Mills, Inc, Kellogg Company, and Orkla ASA.Get Discount @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: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Silicone in Construction Market Professional Survey Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers 2017
Silicone in Construction Market
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ReportsMonitor.com has added a new report to its database Global Silicone in Construction Market Report 2017.This report identifies the Silicone in Construction market size for the years 2012-2017, and forecast of the same till the year 2022. It also highlights the market drivers, restraints, growth indicators, challenges, and other key aspects with respect to the Silicone in Construction market.Silicone in Construction Market tracks the major market events including product launches, technological developments, mergers and acquisitions, and the innovative business strategies opted by key market players. Along with strategically analyzing the key micro markets, the report also focuses on industry-specific drivers, restraints, opportunities and challenges in the Copper Strips market. This research report offers in-depth analysis of the market size (revenue), market share, major market segments, and different geographic regions, forecast for the next five years, key market players, and premium industry trends. It also focuses on the key drivers, restraints, opportunities and challenges.For Requesting a Sample Copy of This Report, Please Visit @This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringThe Dow Corning CorporationSilchem, IncICM Products, IncSpeciality Silicone Products IncorporatedWacker-Chemie GmbHEvonik Industries AGHutchinsonKemira OyjQuantum SiliconesKaneka CorporationThe competitive landscape of the global market for Silicone in Construction is determined by evaluating the various market participants, production capacity, Silicone in Construction markets production chain, and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Silicone in Construction market worldwide.This report segments the Silicone in Construction marketFluidsElastomersResinsGelsOn the basis of application:SealantsAdhesivesCoatingsOthersFor comprehensive understanding of market dynamics, the Silicone in Construction market is analyzed across key geographies namely:North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaEach of these regions is analyzed on basis of market findings across major countries in these regions for a macro-level understanding of the market.Browse Full Table of Contents and Report Description @Some points from TOC:Global Silicone in Construction Market Research Report 20171 Silicone in Construction Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Silicone in Construction1.2 Silicone in Construction Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Silicone in Construction Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)8 Silicone in Construction Manufacturing Cost Analysis8.1 Silicone in Construction Key Raw Materials Analysis8.1.1 Key Raw Materials8.1.2 Price Trend of Key Raw Materials8.1.3 Key Suppliers of Raw Materials8.1.4 Market Concentration Rate of Raw Materials8.2 Proportion of Manufacturing Cost Structure8.2.1 Raw Materials8.2.2 Labor Cost8.2.3 Manufacturing Expenses8.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Silicone in ConstructionReports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Office C & D - 4th Floor,Siddhi Towers,Above Rupee Bank,Kondhwa Road,Pune 411048,Maharashtra,IndiaIndia: +91 2069535353Jay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Global Thickness Planers Market 2017 key Players Analysis : Cutech Tool, DeWalt, Grobet, Powermatic, Craftwell
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This report studies Thickness Planers Market, especially in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India. It focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer. Market Segment by Regions, this report divides Global into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue and growth rate of Thickness Planers in these regions. It is divided into product and application type.Download Free Sample Report @The definition of the market which helps in understanding the background of the market about what majorly the Thickness Planers market deals with. The market is divided in a broad way to examine the market in a superior way. The sub-segments of the market are also included for better analysis of the market. The endowment made by each segment and sub-segment is included coupled with the popularity of the segments.In the next part, the factors that are contributing to the development of the market are included. The present and the future trends of the market are summarized so that the market players can make smart decisions in order to maintain the competitive edge.Access Full Report @The major players operating in the Thickness Planers market are profiled in the report, to provide a complete understanding of the market condition and its competitive landscape. This includes an overview of their business operations and market position in conjunction with a SWOT analysis revealing more intricate details about their market strategies and prospective development.About Fior MarketsFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Fior Markets provides you the full spectrum of services related to market research, and corroborate with the clients to increase the revenue stream, and address process gaps.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerOffice-102, Sanskriti AspirationsBaner Road, Pune,MH 411045IndiaPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
Packaging and Labeling (Healthcare) Services Market to Reach US$136.27 Billion by 2023
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The TMR report foretells that the global market is expected to reach a valuation of US$136.27 bn by the end of the forecast period, i.e., from 2015 to 2023. The market is expected to exhibit a steady CAGR of 5.3% between the same duration, rising from US$84.61 bn, as estimated in 2014. The market segment of primary packaging activities is anticipated to hold a considerable share of the market, holding a little less than two-thirds of the market share in 2014. The trend is expected to continue over the forecast period as well.Rise of Pharmaceutical Industry to Propel Primary Packaging Segment SwiftlyThe healthcare services industry is currently plagued by the increasing incidence of chronic ailments witnessed worldwide. The greater part of these sicknesses are regularly connected with sedentary way of life. The evolving lifestyle, combined with rising healthcare spending capacities, is supporting the development of the labeling and packaging services market in the healthcare domain. Probably the most well-known types of packaging methods utilized as a part of the pharma segment incorporate pouches, bottles, vials, tubes, blisters, ampoules, and prefilled syringes. The procedure of packaging in the healthcare services industry includes gathering of medications and disinfecting in the last compartments, and marking the holders accurately. Interest for essential packaging in the healthcare services industry is probably going to rise at a hearty pace, according to TMRs report.View and Download TOC of Medical Specialty Bags Market Research Report@Quality Packaging Demands Rise Due to Increased RegulationsAppropriate packaging enhances the shelf-life of realistic usability of pharmaceutical medications by repressing microbial development. Since pharmaceutical and restorative gadgets have a critical part to play in healthcare, stringent strategies are actualized to make sure of that the pharmaceuticals packaging standards agree to the most noteworthy norms. The execution of stringent arrangements has along these lines empowered pharma organizations and medicinal gadget makers to spend on R&D of cutting edge packaging methods.Because of the rising interest for limiting environmental impacts, pharma enterprises are presently investigating green and bio-based options. This calls for higher R&D consumption. Other than this, medical equipment and pharmaceutical industry manages a plethora of products that renders the probability for creating omnipresent packaging strategies somber. It is therefore indispensable for the medicinal services industry to oblige to the most noteworthy benchmarks of packaging and labeling. This is additionally essential to guarantee drug integrity as well.Request and Download Sample Report@When considering a geographical segmentation of the market, Europe is anticipated to offer a number of growth opportunities to market vendors. The region is expected to hold the leading share in the market on account of rising pharmaceutical and biotech enterprises throughout the region. It is expected to hold about 31.3% of the total market share, according to TMR, by the end of 2023. Asia Pacific is also expected to provide promising opportunities to packaging and labeling in the healthcare domain.The global packaging and labeling services market in the healthcare domain is characterized by the presence of prominent market participants with high levels of competition. Transparency Market Research (TMR) recently authored a report that discusses the probable vendor landscape of the global market for packaging and labeling (healthcare) services. It mentions the prevalence of significant market players such as DuPont, WestRock Company, 3M and CCL Industries. The vendors are anticipated to contribute toward the research and development activities for expansion and innovations in the pharmaceutical and medical packaging and labeling industry.Buy Full Packaging and Labeling (Healthcare) Services Market Report@About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Cooling Water Treatment Chemicals Market - Market Future Growth Opportunities | 2024
Cooling Water Treatment Chemicals Market
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Water is one of the major and most affordable universal solvents in the world. It is abundantly available worldwide and has high heat capacity. This makes it an ideal medium for heat exchange in cooling and filtration systems. Water consists of dissolved salts and minerals such as salts and oxides of calcium, magnesium, silica, carbonates, and chlorides. It also contains biological impurities such as bacteria, which gets precipitated and sticks to the walls of the water cooling equipment surfaces when encountered with heat. Heat exchange is one of the major functions of water cooling equipments. Precipitation of dissolved salts in water takes place due to the heat exchange. The precipitated minerals can cause damage (corrosion, clogging and fouling) to cooling system equipment. As water get concentrated in cooling systems it dissolves ions which may exceed the solubility of some minerals and results in scale formation in pipes, dissolved oxygen and other nutrients in water also encourage bacterial growth that can foul system surfaces and also causes diseases if not treated. Corrosion, scaling, and fouling are the major problems encountered in cooling water systems. These require proper treatment and control methods to maintain the value of the process it serves. Chemical treatment of cooling water is an integral part of many industrial processes. It is considered an important preventive maintenance. Corrosion, scaling and fouling of water cooling equipment can be effectively controlled through the chemical treatment.Major chemicals used to treat cooling water fall under polyphosphates, chromates, nitrites, surfactants, zeolites, orthophosphates, PH regulators, biocides, and bio dispersants categories. These chemicals are injected into water cooling systems in specified doses to prevent scaling, corrosion, and growth of bacteria in water. Thus, these protect the equipment from degradation. Many industries such as power, food & beverage, steel, mining & metallurgy, oil & gas, refinery & petrochemicals, textiles & dyes and, food & beverage employ cooling water treatment chemicals. Based on chemical type, the cooling water treatment chemicals can be segmented into steel and copper based corrosion inhibitors, organic and inorganic phosphates based scaling inhibitors, oxidizing biocides, non-oxidizing biocides, bio-dispersants and others.Browse Full Report With ToC @Corrosion and scaling accounts for major losses in cooling water systems. Various specialty chemicals are used as corrosion and scaling inhibitors. These include sodium hexa metaphosphate (SHMP), sodium tri polyphosphate (STPP), dilute phosphoric acid, monoammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, monopotassium phosphate, amino tri methylene phosphonate and ethylene diphosphonic acid. Biocides can be divided into non-oxidizing biocides (such as bronopol and isothiazoline) and oxidizing biocides such as (calcium hypochlorite, sodium hypochlorite, stabilized bromine, hypobromus acid, sodium bromide, and chlorine dioxide tablets).Scale inhibitor chemicals, corrosion inhibitor chemicals, and biocides accounts for around 96% share of the global cooling water treatment chemicals market, of this, scale inhibitor and corrosion inhibitor chemicals holds more than 43% share. The cooling water chemical treatment market is expanding primarily due to the introduction of stringent regulations on water conservation and wastewater management in industrial processes, legislations on water treatment methods, and alignment of water quality standards with the European Union (EU) directives.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Asia-Pacific is rapidly growing region of the cooling water treatment chemicals market. China, India, Thailand and Indonesia are potentially highly lucrative markets for cooling water treatment chemicals in the region. The outlook for the cooling water treatment chemicals market in Russia and Spain in Europe and the UAE in the Middle East also appears positive. Government norms are pushing the reduction of wastewater discharge and the need for fresh water for sustainable industrial development.BASF SE, Dow Chemical, Akzo Nobel, Ecolab Inc., GE Water and Process Technologies and Kemira OYJ are the major players operating in the cooling water treatment chemicals market. Dow Chemicals and Akzo Nobel are the key suppliers of cooling water treatment chemicals. These companies account for prominent share of the cooling water treatment chemicals market. Demand for cooling water treatment chemicals is anticipated to increase across the globe due to the rapid industrialization & urbanization, strict water conservation norms, and need for more efficient industrial water treatment for safe disposal.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 Us:-Transparency Market 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.We are privileged with highly experienced team of Analysts, Researchers and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog:
A Pierce County dairy farmer is again planning to challenge state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout even as the three-term incumbent weighs another possible run for governor.
Mel Pittman, who lost to Vinehout by 3,191 votes in 2014, announced Wednesday that he is running for the 31st Senate district as a Republican.
In a release announcing his candidacy, Pittman said his message was well received by many who sought him out, encouraging him to run again.
Pittman, 62, said he hopes to bridge the gap between social divisions and to empower citizens to build the best communities for tomorrows children.
Vinehout welcomed Pittman to the race Wednesday, though she declined to say if she would seek a fourth term.
Earlier this year Vinehout registered a gubernatorial campaign committee. She has scheduled a potluck event Monday in Black River Falls where she has said she will announce whether she is running for governor.
Vinehout, 59, would join a field of Democratic hopefuls that includes Rep. Dana Wachs of Eau Claire, state school Superintendent Tony Evers, businessman Andy Gronik, political activist Mike McCabe and Bob Harlow.
Under state law, candidates cannot appear on the ballot for more than one partisan election, so Vinehout would have to decide by June 1 which office to seek.
A former university professor and Alma farmer, Vinehout was first elected to the Senate in 2006. She narrowly won a second term, beating the late Ed Thompson by just 439 votes in 2010. Vinehout ran for governor during the 2012 recall election but finished a distant third in the four-way Democratic primary.
Vinehout was considering a second run for governor in 2014 but was sidelined by a car crash.
The 31st Senate District stretches from Hastings to Eau Claire and Black River Falls and includes Trempealeau, Buffalo and parts of Jackson counties.
Pharmaceutical Continuous Manufacturing Technology Market - Global Industry Analysis 2024.
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Continuous manufacturing technology is a process which involves uninterrupted manufacturing which enables faster production with more reliable products. Continuous manufacturing in the pharmaceutical industry has brought significant changes which enabled the industry to grow at a faster pace meeting the requirements of the increasing demand. Continuous manufacturing in the pharmaceutical industry has made the industry realize that the cost incurred on drug development is significant, new products are to be manufactured in lesser quantities, and but there is a requirement of novel treatments the development of a commercial manufacturing process is not always guaranteed.Continuous manufacturing technologies have brought factors such as cost pressures, risk, and timelines associated with traditional batch based technologies under scrutiny. Continuous manufacturing technology in pharmaceutical means that an active ingredient is produced in compact, closed unit, with high degree of automation and requires few manual intervention. According to a report published by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) in April 2016, continuous manufacturing in pharmaceuticals is one of the five manufacturing technology areas of emerging priority.Download TOC for Research Report @Growth of continuous manufacturing technology in pharmaceuticals is attributed to verification of product quality and real time production, less investment and manufacturing cost with higher efficiency and low carbon dioxide production, faster availability of product to the market, greater flexibility in production during the entire product life cycle, minimal waste, less energy consumption, and less raw material requirement. However, technical challenges, business and operational challenges, regulatory challenges, and workforce challenges restrain the growth of the pharmaceutical continuous manufacturing technology market. Technical challenges include characterization and handling of drug substance, development of accurate process for operations, optimal approach for startup, and shutdown of the process.The conservative business culture of the pharmaceutical industry is also considered to be a restrain the continuous manufacturing technology market. The pharmaceutical sector is highly regulated and aligns strongly through the FDA and ICH guidelines. Pharmaceutical manufacturing companies require to gain approval for their products in multiple countries undergoing country specific regulatory approval process. The FDA has been promoting continuous manufacturing for almost a decade, but not all regulatory bodies are willing to approve the same. Skilled workforce is a major challenge in the smooth working of pharmaceutical continuous manufacturing technology. The designing, implementation, and regulation of the activities require highly skilled workforce at both levels: industry and regulatory bodies.For more information on this report, fill the form @The pharmaceutical continuous manufacturing technology market can be segmented base on application, end-user, and region. In terms of application, the market can be segmented into drug development, development of new process, and others. Based on end-user, the market can be segmented into pharmaceutical companies, research organization, and CMOs.In terms of region, the pharmaceutical continuous manufacturing technology market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America dominates the pharmaceutical continuous manufacturing technology market in terms of revenue. Well-structured economy, increasing spending on innovation in the pharmaceutical field, and rising competition are likely to drive the pharmaceutical continuous manufacturing technology market in North America. Europe is the second largest market for pharmaceutical continuous manufacturing technology in terms of revenue.Innovation in medical technology is likely to boost the growth of the pharmaceutical continuous manufacturing technology market in Europe. Asia Pacific has high potential for continuous pharmaceutical technology, as economic development has led to increase in government spending on the development of health care infrastructure. In-house production will make health care services available at low cost to the population and contribute to the growth of the industry. Latin America and Middle East & Africa are emerging markets due to increased emphasis on industrialization.Companies using continuous manufacturing technologies are Novartis AG, Siemens Healthineers, Genzyme, Bayer AG, Janssen, Merck-Serono, and Eli Lilly and Company, among others.About Us:-Transparency Market 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.We are privileged with highly experienced team of Analysts, Researchers and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Growth prospects Of Construction in Morocco - Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021
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"The Report Construction in Morocco - Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"In real terms, the Moroccan construction industry posted positive growth during the review period (20122016) despite political instability. The industry was supported by effective political reforms implemented by the government, coupled with large-scale investments in various transport and residential infrastructure projects.Over the forecast period (20172021), industry growth is expected to be supported by government efforts to upgrade the countrys transport infrastructure and improve the countrys energy production capacity.The governments aim to encourage the participation of the private-sector in economic growth through public-private partnerships is expected to bode well for the industry over the forecast period. Timetric expects the construction output to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.74% in real terms from 2017 to 2021.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @SummaryTimetrics Construction in Morocco Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021 report provides detailed market analysis, information and insights into the Moroccan construction industry, including:The Moroccan construction industry's growth prospects by market, project type and construction activityCritical insight into the impact of industry trends and issues, and the risks and opportunities they present to participants in the Moroccan construction industryProfiles of the leading operators in the Moroccan construction industryScopeThis report provides a comprehensive analysis of the construction industry in Morocco. It provides:Historical (2012-2016) and forecast (2017-2021) valuations of the construction industry in Morocco using construction output and value-add methodsSegmentation by sector (commercial, industrial, infrastructure, energy and utilities, institutional and residential) and by sub-sectorBreakdown of values within each project type, by type of activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) and by type of cost (materials, equipment and services)Detailed profiles of the leading construction companies in MoroccoView Sample PDF @Reasons To BuyIdentify and evaluate market opportunities using Timetric's standardized valuation and forecasting methodologies.Assess market growth potential at a micro-level with over 600 time-series data forecasts.Understand the latest industry and market trends.Formulate and validate strategy using Timetric's critical and actionable insight.Assess business risks, including cost, regulatory and competitive pressures.Evaluate competitive risk and success factors.Key HighlightsIn May 2016, the Chinese government signed a memorandum of understanding with the Moroccan government to develop a new industrial city with a total investment of MAD98.3 billion (US$10.0 billion) in Tangiers.In a bid to promote economic growth, in November 2016 the government, announced plans to invest MAD77.0 billion (US$7.8 billion) until 2021 to develop various public infrastructure projects in the Western Sahara region.Under the 20142018 Integrated Development Program for Bouregreg Valley, in June 2017 the government, signed an agreement to develop a skyscraper in Rabat with a total investment of MAD3.7 billion (US$375.0 million). This includes the construction of a 45-storey tower with several hotels, offices, luxury apartments, the National Archives of the Kingdom of Morocco, and an arts and culture house.The development of transport infrastructure is vital to Moroccos economic growth. In January 2016, the African Development Bank granted a loan worth MAD1.1 billion (US$112.3 million) until 2020 to develop rail infrastructure projects in the country.According to Timetric, the energy and utilities construction market is expected to record a CAGR of 6.38% over the forecast period, as compared with 4.90% registered during the period. Market growth is expected to be supported by the governments aim to reduce reliance on energy imports. Accordingly, in January 2017, the government announced plans to generate 4,000MW of energy from renewable sources by 2020, owing to the vast potential of the renewable sector. This is expected to drive funding towards renewable energy infrastructure projects over the forecast period.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.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Latvian Insurance Industry Market Trends, Drivers, Challenges, Opportunities Until 2020
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Market Research Hub (MRH) has included a new research report titled The Insurance Industry in Latvia Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021, which 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 (2011-2015) and forecast period (2016-2020).Request Free Sample Report @The report also analyzes distribution channels operating in the segment, gives a comprehensive overview of the Latvian economy and demographics, explains the various types of natural hazard and their impact on the Latvian insurance industry, and provides detailed information on the competitive landscape in the country.The report brings together Market Research Hub 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:MRH 'Non-Life Insurance in Latvia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020' report provides in-depth market analysis, information and insights into the Latvian non-life insurance segment, including:The Latvian non-life segments detailed outlook by product categoryA comprehensive overview of the Latvian economy and demographicsA comparison of the Latvian non-life insurance segment with its regional counterpartsThe various distribution channels in the Latvian non-life insurance segmentDetailed analysis of natural hazards and their impact on the Latvian insurance industryDetails of the competitive landscape in the non-life insurance segment in LatviaDetails of regulatory policy applicable to the Latvian insurance industryScope:This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the non-life insurance segment in Latvia:It provides historical values for the Latvian non-life insurance segment for the reports 2011-2015 review period, and projected figures for the 20152020 forecast period.It offers a detailed analysis of the key categories in the Latvian non-life insurance segment, and market forecasts to 2020.It provides a comparison of the Latvian non-life insurance segment with its regional counterpartsIt analyzes the various distribution channels for non-life insurance products in Latvia.It analyzes various natural hazards and their impact on the Latvian insurance industryit profiles the top non-life insurance companies in Latvia, 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 Latvian non-life insurance segment, and each category within it.Understand the demand-side dynamics, key market trends and growth opportunities in the Latvian 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 Latvian insurance industry, and their impact on companies and the industry's future.Browse Full Report with TOC @Key Highlights:The Latvian non-life segment is highly competitive, and is dominated by foreign-owned insurers. There were 13 insurers active in the segment in 2016.On January 1, 2017, amendments to the Compulsory Civil Liability Insurance of Owners of Motor Vehicles Law became applicable in Latvia.The new regulation and directive on data protection was adopted by the European Parliament on April 14, 2016, and published in the official EU journal on May 4, 2016.Motor insurance was the largest non-life category, accounting for 38.6% of the segments direct written premium.Table of Content:1 Key Facts and Highlights2 Executive Summary3 Economy and Demographics4 Segment Outlook4.1 Regional Comparison4.2 Segment Indicators4.2.1 Gross written premium and penetration4.2.2 Profitability4.2.3 Assets and investments5 Outlook by Category5.1 Property Insurance5.1.1 Product overview5.1.2 Premium5.2 Motor Insurance5.2.1 Product overview5.2.2 Premium5.2.3 Policies sold5.3 Liability Insurance5.3.1 Product overview5.3.2 Premium5.4 Marine, Aviation and Transit Insurance5.4.1 Product overview5.4.2 Premium6 Distribution Channel Outlook7 Natural Hazards7.1 Storms7.2 Extreme Temperatures7.3 Wildfires7.4 Flooding7.5 Exposure.continueMake an Enquiry @About Market Research Hub:Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of Insurance 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 and customers.Contact Us90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 800-998-4852 (US-Canada)Email: press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite:Read Industry News at -
Global Multiple Sclerosis Market, Patient Numbers & Forecast - Actual & Unmet (Potential)
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"The Report Global Multiple Sclerosis Market, Patient Numbers & Forecast (By Mode of Administration: Injectables Market, Infusions Market, Orals Market) - Actual & Unmet (Potential) provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"Global multiple sclerosis market is steadily growing and it is expected to cross over US$ 20 Billion landmark by 2022. Multiple sclerosis market is one of the most common neurological disorder diseases in the world. It is estimated that global multiple sclerosis patient numbers will increase around 35 Thousand by 2022. According to Renub Research analysis, we have found that there is huge gap between actual and unmet market as disease modifying therapy receiving prevalence vary from country to country. Global multiple sclerosis unmet market is much higher compared to its actual market.View Report @Reimbursement is key growth driver for Multiple Sclerosis market globallyReimbursement is playing major role for the growth of multiple sclerosis market as multiple sclerosis drugs are too expensive and without reimbursement, it is nearly impossible to afford the treatment of MS by most of the multiple sclerosis patient in the world. Most of the European and North American countries have multiple sclerosis reimbursement policy; however eligibility criteria vary from country to country.Multiple Sclerosis Drugs price is too expensiveMultiple sclerosis drugs price is steadily increasing which create a major challenge for the growth of multiple sclerosis market in the world. It is estimated that newly launched multiple sclerosis drugs are expensive than previous generation disease modifying drugs. According to our research, we have found that, United States multiple sclerosis drugs are nearly five times higher than European multiple sclerosis drugs price.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @Injectables Disease Modifying Therapy Multiple Sclerosis Market is losing GroundInjectables disease modifying therapy multiple sclerosis market is continuously declining. Newly launched orals disease modifying therapy is a growing market.Global Multiple Sclerosis Market, Patient Numbers & Forecast (By Mode of Administration: Injectables Market, Infusions Market, Orals Market) Actual & Unmet (Potential) published by Renub Research on Multiple Sclerosis Market. This 108 page report with 93 figures and 1 Tables provides 6 Countries: actual and potential/unmet patient numbers and market. This report also explains multiple sclerosis disease modifying therapy (DMT) mode of administration.Actual Market is the current market which is already presentUnmet Market is the market which can be accomplished; but it has yet not been accomplished due to demand and supply gap. At present DMT receiving patients are less than total number of multiple sclerosis patient numbers.6 Countries Multiple Sclerosis Market & Patients Treated Studied in the Report is as Follows:United StatesUnited KingdomGermanyFranceItalySpainWorldwide and United States Multiple Sclerosis Market & Patients Treated by Mode of administrationInjectablesInfusionsOralsKey Questions Answered in the Report?What is multiple sclerosis market globally and its growth potential in Future?How many number of patients treated by disease modifying therapy globally?What is the multiple sclerosis market in United States and other European countries?How many number of multiple sclerosis patients living in United States and other European countries?Table of Contents1. Research Findings2. Global Multiple Sclerosis Patient Numbers (2011 2022)2.1 Patient Number & Forecast2.2 Disease-Modifying Therapy (DMT) Patient Numbers & Forecast2.3 By Mode of Administration Injectables, Infusion, Oral Patient Numbers & Forecast2.3.1 Injectables2.3.2 Infusions2.3.3 Orals3. Global Multiple Sclerosis Market (2011 2022)3.1 Unmet Market & Forecast3.2 Market & Forecast3.3 By Mode of Administration - Injectables, Infusions, Orals Market & Forecast3.3.1 Injectables Market3.3.2 Infusions Market3.3.3 Orals Market4. Patient Share Global Multiple Sclerosis (2011 2022)4.1 Patient Numbers Share & Forecast (UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain & United States)4.2 Disease-Modifying Therapy (DMT) (UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain & United States)4.3 By Mode of Administration Injectables, Infusion, Oral5. Market Share Global Multiple Sclerosis (2011 2022)5.1 Unmet Market Share & Forecast (UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain & United States)5.2 Market Share & Forecast (UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain & United States)5.3 By Mode of Administration Injectables, Infusion, Oral6. United Kingdom6.1 Multiple Sclerosis Patient Numbers (2011 2022)6.1.1 Patient Number & Forecast6.1.2 Disease-Modifying Therapy (DMT) Patient Numbers & Forecast6.2 Multiple Sclerosis Market (2011 2022)6.2.1 Unmet Market & Forecast6.2.2 Market & Forecast7. France7.1 Multiple Sclerosis Patient Number (2011 2022)7.1.1 Patient Number & Forecast7.1.2 Disease-Modifying Therapy (DMT) Patient Numbers & Forecast7.2 Multiple Sclerosis Market (2011 2022)7.2.1 Unmet Market & Forecast7.2.2 Market & ForecastAbout 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.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Female Pelvic Implants Market Insights and Analysis for Period ( 2017-2027)
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Female pelvic implants are the surgical mesh implants which are used to provide support for the weakened or damaged pelvic tissue in case of pelvic organ collapse or stress urinary incontinence and other conditions that follow childbirth. Pelvic implants consists of a comprehensive set of plates, screws, and instrumentation specifically designed for fractures, fusions, and osteomies, of the sacrum, acetabulum, ilium and the pelvic ring. The use of female pelvic implants has been introduced with the aim of reducing risk of recurrent prolapse. But its use is highly complicated than the traditional vaginal surgery. Its use also requires significant health resources.There are different types of material used for the construction of pelvic implants such as absorbable synthetic (polycaprolactone, polyglycolic acid), non-absorbable synthetic (polypropylene, polyester), biologic (collagen) or combination of these three. Non absorbable synthetic substances have more number of clearances followed by biologic then composite and then absorbable synthetic. These implants followed different surgery procedures such as transvaginal or transabdominal. Transvaginal procedure are more operated these days.Request For Report Sample@Female Pelvic ImplantsMarket: Drivers & RestraintsIncreasing number of acquisition and mergers in this industry is one of the driivng factor. The constantly rising geriatric population is primarily driving the growth of the market since people aged above 65 years are at a high risk. Technological enhancements, variability of instruments, rising cases of pelvic prolapse fuels the market. Limiting reimbursement scenarios for pelvic implants, technical expertise, higher cost, painful and intractable infections are some of the limiting factors for the growth of pelvic implants market. Difficulty in the removal of implants is also one of the hindrance for the growth of the market.Female Pelvic ImplantsMarket: SegmentationSegmentation by Product TypeNon-absorbable syntheticAbsorbable syntheticBiologicCompositeSegmentation by Surgical Technique UsedTransvaginal mesh to treat pelvic organ prolapseTransabdominal mesh to treat pelvic organ prolapseMesh sling to treat stress urinary incontinenceSegmentation by End UserHospitalsAmbulatory Surgical CentersFemale Pelvic ImplantsMarket: OverviewPelvic organ prolapse is a common condition which negatively affects the life of millions of women worldwide, with a lifetime prevalence of 11%. Women with prolapse experience symptoms impact daily activities, sexual function, and exercise and also have a detrimental impact on body image and sexuality. Thus, treatment demand is increasing nowadays which fuels the market for female pelvic impants. Recent advancements in this product such as the development of partial absorbable and the success of 3D printed pelvic implant surgery in South Korea are also going to increase the demand in future. New products in the market would be the cutting edge for the specific company. Several lawsuits filed against various pelvic implant products hinders its growth.Female Pelvic Implants: Region-wise OutlookGeographically, Female Pelvic Implants market is segmented into regions such as North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America is leading in healthcare facility which also attract patients from all over the globe thus seems to have an established market for this industry. Demand in Western Europe is increasing than Eastern Europe. In Europe, Germany France and UK are the growing market for the female pelvic implants. The cost of ambulatory care related to female Pelvic floor diseases is significant and is increasing. Good reimbursement scenario in developed countries fuels the market in these regions. Middle East and Africa dont seems to have enough demnand and cases. In Asia-Pacific, countries like India, China and Japan shows an increasing market for the Female pelvic impants because of the commercial availability of the product, increasing medical tourism and growing economies in these regions would further increase the adoption of these implants. China has a base for large number of pelvic implants manufacturing companies. Australia seems to have a great demand for female pelvic implants with the rise in the number of patients.Visit For TOC@Female Pelvic ImplantsMarket: Key PlayersBoston Scientific, pfm medical, Synthes Holding AG, Stryker, C.R. Bard, American Medical Systems, Johnson & Johnson, Acumed LLC and others are some of the global key players in the Female Pelvic Implants market with a variety of specific models and innovative technologies.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.CONTACTFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Online Gambling Market Size to grow at a CAGR of 9.36% to 2017-2021
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"The Report Global Online Gambling Market 2017-2021 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz "About Online GamblingOnline gambling is the risking of money or any monetary possession for uncertain results through online gambling portals. The introduction of new casinos has increased the competition in the market, and the new casinos will cut into the profits of the existing centers. For example, in 2016, the growth of regional casinos in the US reduced the profits of the Atlantic city casino market as the consumer started migrating to regional casinos in other states in the country.Technavios analysts forecast the global online gambling market to grow at a CAGR of 9.36% during the period 2017-2021.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global online gambling market for 2017-2021. The report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEATechnavio's report, Global Online Gambling Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors888 Holdingsbet-at-home.comGVC HoldingsLadbrokes Coral GroupMGM ResortsUnibet GroupView Report @Other prominent vendorsBetssonCamelot GroupGenting UKNetEntPaddy PowerPlaytechRank GroupThe Stars GroupWilliam HillMarket driverGrowing demand for mobile social gambling gamesFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeIncreasing fraud via online gamblingFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendIncreasing usage of bitcoins as currencyFor a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?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.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Capacitive Sensor Market Trends, Key Vendors Analysis, Import & Export, Revenue by Forecast 2027
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Market Scenario:Capacitive sensor is a technology which takes the human body as an input method. The most relevant example of capacity sensor are touch pad in laptops but apart from this capacity sensor has various application in various industries.This market has grown to billions and has been valued at US high billion in the year 2015. It is expected that this market will reach the market size of US in billion by the end of forecasted period with the more CAGR.Request a Sample Report @Major Key Players: Infineon Technologies AG (Germany) 3m company (U.S.) Alps Electric (Japan) Microchip Technology (U.S.) STMicroelectronics (Switzerland) Synaptics Inc. (U.S.) Analog Devices (U.S.) NXP Semiconductors (Netherland) Cirque Corporation (U.S.) Cypress Semiconductor (U.S.)Study Objective of Capacitive Sensor Market: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the Global Capacitive Sensor Market To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth To analyze the Capacitive Sensor market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW) To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective To provide country level analysis of the market for segment by sensors, by end users, by components and sub-segments. To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Global Capacitive Sensor MarketMarket Segmentation Segmentation by Components: Audio & amplifiers, Data Converters, Clocks and Timers, Microcontrollers among others. Segmentation by Sensors: Proximity, acceleration, humidity, position among others. Segmentation by end user: Automotive, Telecommunications, Consumer Electronics, Energy and Lighting, Industrial, Aerospace and Defense, medical among others. Note- Only qualitative information will be provided for segment Components.Regional Analysis:Currently North America is dominating the market of capacitive market due to high demand for the consumer electronics product as well as from healthcare industry. US is leading the market in North America with the market share of more. Europe stands as second biggest market for capacitive market with the market share of and has been valued at USD high billion in the year 2015.Industry News In the May 2016, Infineon Technologies announced the collaboration with IMEC to produce CMOS sensor for automotive industry. In the March 2016 3m company unveils the capacitive multi touch displays for large format digital signage and retails displays. In October 2015, Microchip Technology announced the expansion plan for sensing products.The reports also covers brief analysis of Geographical Region includes:AmericasNorth America US CanadaEuropeWestern Europe Germany France Italy Spain U.K Rest of Western EuropeBrowse Full Report Details @Asia PacificAsia China India Japan South Korea Rest of AsiaTable of Contents1 Market Introduction1.1 Introduction1.2 Scope of Study1.2.1 Research Objective1.2.2 Assumptions1.2.3 Limitations1.3 Market StructureAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Life Insurance in Latvia, Market Key Trends and Growth Opportunities to 2020
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"The Report Life Insurance in Latvia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"SynopsisTimetrics 'Life Insurance in Latvia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020' report provides a detailed outlook by product category for the Latvian life insurance segment, and a comparison of the Latvian insurance industry with its regional counterparts.It provides key performance indicators such as written premium, incurred loss, loss ratio, commissions and expenses, 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 Latvian 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.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @SummaryTimetrics 'Life Insurance in Latvia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020' report provides in-depth market analysis, information and insights into the Ecuadorian life insurance segment, including:An overview of the Latvian life insurance segmentThe Latvian life insurance segments growth prospects by categoryA comprehensive overview of the Latvian economy and demographicsA comparison of the Latvian life insurance segment with its regional counterpartsThe various distribution channels in the Latvian life insurance segmentDetails of the competitive landscape in the life insurance segment in LatviaDetails of regulatory policy applicable to the Latvian insurance industryView Report @ScopeThis report provides a comprehensive analysis of the life insurance segment in Latvia:It provides historical values for the Latvian life 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 Latvian life insurance segment, and market forecasts to 2020.It provides a comparison of the Latvian life insurance segment with its regional counterpartsIt analyzes the various distribution channels for life insurance products in Latvia.It profiles the top life insurance companies in Latvia and outlines the key regulations affecting them.View Sample PDF @Reasons To BuyMake strategic business decisions using in-depth historic and forecast market data related to the Latvian life insurance segment, and each category within it.Understand the demand-side dynamics, key market trends and growth opportunities in the Latvian life insurance segment.Assess the competitive dynamics in the life insurance segment.Identify growth opportunities and market dynamics in key product categories.Gain insights into key regulations governing the Latvian insurance industry, and their impact on companies and the industry's future.Key HighlightsThe Latvian life segment is competitive, and is dominated by foreign-owned insurers. There were six insurers active in the segment in 2016.Solvency II came into effect on January 1, 2016. It is based on three pillars: risk-based quantitative requirements; governance and supervision; and disclosure and transparency.On February 2, 2017, the European Parliament and the EC published a new Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD) 2016/97 in the official journal of the EU.The segments penetration increased from 0.170% in 2011 to 0.187% in 2015.MarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Life Insurance Segment in Russia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021
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"The Report Life Insurance in Russia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"SynopsisTimetrics 'Life Insurance in Russia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021' report provides a detailed outlook by product category for the Russian life insurance segment, and a comparison of the Russian insurance industry with its regional counterparts.It provides key performance indicators such as written premium, incurred loss, loss ratio, commissions and expenses, total assets, total investment income and retentions during the review period (20122016) and forecast period (20162021).The report also analyzes distribution channels operating in the segment, gives a comprehensive overview of the Russian 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.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @SummaryTimetrics 'Life Insurance in Russia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021' report provides in-depth market analysis, information and insights into the Russian life insurance segment, including:An overview of the Russian life insurance segmentThe Russian life insurance segments growth prospects by categoryA comprehensive overview of the Russian economy and demographicsA comparison of the Russian life insurance segment with its regional counterpartsThe various distribution channels in the Russian life insurance segmentDetails of the competitive landscape in the life insurance segment in RussiaDetails of regulatory policy applicable to the Russian insurance industryScopeThis report provides a comprehensive analysis of the life insurance segment in Russia:It provides historical values for the Russian life insurance segment for the reports 20122016 review period, and projected figures for the 20162021 forecast period.It offers a detailed analysis of the key categories in the Russian life insurance segment, and market forecasts to 2021.It provides a comparison of the Russian life insurance segment with its regional counterpartsIt analyzes the various distribution channels for life insurance products in Russia.It profiles the top life insurance companies in Russia and outlines the key regulations affecting them.View Report @Reasons To BuyMake strategic business decisions using in-depth historic and forecast market data related to the Russian life insurance segment, and each category within it.Understand the demand-side dynamics, key market trends and growth opportunities in the Russian life insurance segment.Assess the competitive dynamics in the life insurance segment.Identify growth opportunities and market dynamics in key product categories.Gain insights into key regulations governing the Russian insurance industry, and their impact on companies and the industry's future.Key HighlightsIn February 2017, the Bank of Russia (BoR) enforced a new regulation on the formation of insurance reserves for life insurance companies. If the Bank of Russia finds it necessary to amend the methods used to calculate insurance reserves, life insurers must make and implement the required changes even if the method differs from the regulation.In September 2016, the Public Chamber of Russia proposed a compulsory life cover for firemen. The proposed compensation limit for a policy is RUB5.0 million (US$82,051.1).Sogaz Insurance Group acquired a 100% stake in JSC Zhaso by acquiring a 75.0% stake in United Credit Systems February 2016, in addition to its 25% stake held in December 2015.In 2016, the CBR revoked the licenses of several insurance companies due to non-compliance with financial stability requirements. Dostoinstvo Life Insurance Company, Regard Insurance LLC, Apogei Med Limited Liability Insurance Company, Priority Insurance Company, Asko Skel Plus LLC and Rodina Insurance LLC all lost their licenses.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.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
UK Mobile & Tablet Retailing Market 2017
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The Report Mobile & Tablet Retailing in the UK 2017 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"Mobile & Tablet Retailing in the UK 2017" report offers comprehensive insight and analysis of the UK mobile and tablet markets, the main trends and hot issues, best in class retailers, and consumer shopping behaviour. It also provides forecasts to 2022 across key retail sectors.Expenditure via the mobile channel is set to grow by 112.0%, overtaking the tablet market over the next five years, and accounting for 23.8% of all online expenditure by 2022. The growing investment in mobile developments along with the increasing use of social media and familiarity with mobile payments will aid mobile expenditure growth.Tablet spend is increasing at a slower rate as consumers are choosing to spend more time browsing and buying on their mobiles. Electricals is the only sector where tablet sales are forecast to outperform mobile sales by 2022.Retailers must have a mobile first strategy and focus on the personalisation of content and products, offering an easy and simple checkout process as well as a variety of delivery and collection options to appeal shoppers' need for convenience.The report provides in-depth analysis of the following -- The hot issues- What people buy- Where people shop- How people shopView Report @Scope- Food & grocery will see the highest growth on mobile over the next five years, with greater usage, improved websites and apps as well as consumer confidence driving purchases through this channel.- Clothing & footwear, the biggest part of the mobile market, will continue to be the largest driver of mobile spend to 2022. Pureplays such as boohoo.com and ASOS, which target the younger consumer who is more willing to purchase on a mobile device, will boost spend on mobile.- There is an opportunity for home sectors, where retailers have been slower to react to mobile developments, to capitalise on the growth coming from mobile by targeting shoppers who have abandoned purchases or advertising must-have products via social media channels.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @Reasons to buy- Utilise our five year forecasts to 2022 for the mobile and tablet markets, and sector penetration to understand the main areas of growth.- Identify the key players in the mobile and tablet markets using our in-depth analysis of how and why certain sectors are performing well in the market to gain strategic insight into this.- Understand the key drivers and inhibitors affecting the market.- Recognise which consumers are shopping via mobile and tablet and utilise analysis of shoppers motivations and browsing/purchasing behaviour to enable a better understanding of the mobile and tablet markets moving forward.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.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
They came by the hundreds, by the busloads and by the carloads pilgrims traveled hundreds of miles from at least five states to view and honor relics of St. Padre Pio Wednesday at St. Joseph the Workman in La Crosse.
At the rate of 500 an hour, they started lining up outside the cathedral at a pace that promised to far surpass the 2,000 minimum turnout that officials of the La Crosse Diocese expected and up to 4,000 possible.
Spurring some was lifelong devotion to Pio, a noted 20th century Capuchin Franciscan priest, mystic and healer especially honored for bearing the stigmata, a rare circumstance in which an individual receives wounds corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ.
Some came with little knowledge of Pio in a quest to learn more, and still others, in the hopes of obtaining healing for themselves, relatives or friends through Pios intercession.
Healing was on the minds and in the hearts of Mary and Jim Metz, who traveled to the cathedral from Eau Claire.
Jim, who converted to Catholicism five years ago and was less inclined to speak than his wife, is battling cancer, and my sister needs help, Mary said.
He (Jim) is learning, she said as both laughed.
Marys devotion to Pio stretches back 15 years, she said, when she began reading books about his life and reputation for miraculous powers of healing and knowledge.
A busload of 41 came from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis on a three-day pilgrimage that also included visits to the Shrine of St. Joseph at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wis., the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in the Green Bay suburb of Champion and the Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in La Crosse.
Members of that contingent steadfastly resisted a reporters attempt to bait them with a worldly question of picking which of the Marian shrines is better.
Deb Steele of St. Jude of the Lake Parish in Mahtomedi, Minn., outdid even the wisdom of Solomon with a sly smile when she said, Whos your favorite mother?
The Rev. Ralph Talbot, pastor of St. Mary of the Lake Parish in White Bear Lake who led the archdiocesan pilgrims, said the shrines speak to different people at different places.
Nikki Walz, faith formation director of the Diocese of St. Cloud, Minn., brought two busloads with a total of 83 pilgrims from that area, which is 225 miles from La Crosse.
Many participants made the pilgrimage because of health concerns, Walz said, adding that she also was praying for healing of her mothers lyme disease.
La Crosse is one of just a dozen U.S. dioceses that hosted the tour of St. Pios relics, which included a lock of his hair, a glove, a handkerchief soaked with his sweat hours before his death, crusts from his wounds, cotton gauze stained with his blood and his mantle, which is a sort of robe.
The tour, which stops at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Milwaukee on Thursday, commemorates the 130th anniversary of Padre Pios birth and the 15th anniversary of his canonization as a saint. The Saint Pio Foundation, which works to promote awareness of the priest, is sponsoring the tour.
Jason and Jennifer Billings of Lancaster, Wis., brought their five children to instill devotion, Jason said.
We try to learn about all of our saints. It is an important part of our faith, said Jason, whose family belongs to St. Augustine Parish in Platteville. This is a rare occasion.
La Crosse Bishop William Callahan underscored the role of such commemorations, saying, This kind of thing is important. The devotional life of the church is so significant the backbone of the church.
Relics of saints bring to mind the lives of our brothers and sisters who were witnesses to Jesus Christ to inspire our life, said Callahan, who said the diocese has been a member of the Saint Pio Foundation for several years.
Our understanding of the church is supernatural, and thats a big deal its above nature the bishop said.
Devotion touches our minds as our hearts are touched, and our minds are open to God, he said.
People come to see the relics as reminders of those who have gone before us, he said. I have a pair of cufflinks of my fathers. Those are relics. I have jewelry from my mother. Those are touchstones to people.
Callahan, a Franciscan, as was Pio, said, Our habit is made in the shape of the cross. Franciscans have a particular devotion to the cross. The suffering of Jesus is the light of Jesus Christ in the world.
Asked how he might respond to someone who suggested that venerating saints relics is akin to idolatry, Callahan said, I would tell them to go home and see how many pieces of memorabilia they have. Do they have scrapbooks? Pots and pans that their mother used to use that prompt memories of her making this dish or that.
Those are relics, and they help you get in touch with that person, he said. I have my grandfathers wedding ring, which was passed to me for some reason, and I have his pocket watch.
We dont think of these as just things they help us remember the person and keep in touch with that person, Callahan said.
The presence of Padre Pios relics also brought a standing-room-only Mass at 12:10 at the cathedral, as well as to a 7 p.m. Mass at which Callahan presided.
The Saint Pio Foundation raises funds for American Catholic health care, as well as educational, social, religious and cultural organizations in the U.S.
Asia Pacific Endoscopy Devices Market to Exhibit a 7.6% CAGR from 2016 through 2024
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Transparency Market Research states that the endoscopy devices market in Asia Pacific will expand at a healthy pace of 7.6% CAGR over the period between 2016 and 2024. The market, which had a valuation of US$7.76 bn in 2015, is expected to rise to US$14.8 bn by 2024.High Costs of Treatment and Dearth of Trained Surgeons Still Key Challenges for MarketA vast share of population in Asia Pacific still belong to middle class or lower middle class income group. The relatively higher costs of endoscopy devices and inevitably the surgeries and diagnostic methods involving these devices is a huge setback when it comes to serving this demographic. The factor is a key restraint to the overall development of the Asia Pacific endoscopy devices market presently and is expected to remain a key-impact factor for the market for the next few years as well.View and Download TOC of Asia Pacific Endoscopy Devices Market Research Report@Along with this, the factor of lack of adequate specialist surgeons and physicians trained and qualified for using complex medical devices such as endoscopes is also a prominent restraint for the Asia Pacific endoscopy devices market. According to the World Bank, China, India, and Indonesia had 1.8, 0.6, and 0.3 physicians per 1,000 people, including general and specialist medical practitioners.Nevertheless, factors such as the rising awareness regarding the availability of effective medical devices for treating complex health conditions and rising prevalence of a number of chronic conditions will continue to drive the increased demand for endoscopy devices in Asia Pacific in the next few years. On the basis of geography, Japan led the market in 2015, accounting for a 35% share in markets overall revenues. The product segment of endoscopy visualization systems dominated, accounting for over 46% of markets overall revenues in 2015.Rise in Investments and Mergers and Acquisitions to Have Far-reaching Impact on Markets TrajectoryOn a global scale, the endoscopy devices market has witnessed a vast rise in investment in companies already operating in the endoscopy devices business and acquisition of a large number of specialty medical device makers by many global medical device giants. A recent instance is the April 2016 acquisition of Stanmore Implants Worldwide Limited by Stryker Corporation. The vast numbers of mergers and acquisitions have helped the market gain notable level of maturation. This has also allowed global players to increase their scope for market expansion and pay more focus on lucrative regional markets such as Asia Pacific.Request and Download Sample Report@The Asia Pacific endoscopy devices market is also driven by the vast rise in the regions geriatric population, rising disposable incomes, increased emphasis on minimally invasive surgeries, increased healthcare expenditures. With the vast rise in geriatric population, especially in countries such as Japan and China, the number of surgeries employing a variety of endoscopy devices has also skyrocketed.The Asia Pacific endoscopy devices market features a moderate level of consolidation, with the top four vendors collectively accounting for over 60% of the overall market in 2015, states Transparency Market Research in a recent report. These companies, including Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Boston Scientific Corporation, Olympus Corporation, and Stryker Corporation, compete with a large number of small- and medium-sized companies operating across specialty segments, giving rise to an intense level of price competition.The rising demand for technologically advanced products across developing economies in Asia Pacific could further fuel rivalry among key vendors in the market. So as to stay ahead of the competition in the market, key vendors are adopting the course of innovation and introduction of technologically advanced products. Most of countries in the region being developing economies and having a large base of cost-conscious consumers, focusing on ways of reducing product costs could also enable vendors to reach-out to a larger consumer base.Buy Full Asia Pacific Endoscopy Devices Market Report@About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Non-Life Insurance in Russia Market Share, Opportunities, Segmentation and Forecast to 2021Title
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"The Report Non-Life Insurance in Russia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"Timetrics 'Non-Life Insurance in Russia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021' report provides a detailed outlook by product category for the Russian non-life insurance segment, and a comparison of the Russian 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 (20122016) and forecast period (20162021).The report also analyzes distribution channels operating in the segment, gives a comprehensive overview of the Russian economy and demographics, explains the various types of natural hazard and their impact on the Russian insurance industry, 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.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @SummaryTimetrics 'Non-Life Insurance in Russia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021' report provides in-depth market analysis, information and insights into the Russian non-life insurance segment, including:The Russian non-life segments detailed outlook by product categoryA comprehensive overview of the Russian economy and demographicsA comparison of the Russian non-life insurance segment with its regional counterpartsThe various distribution channels in the Russian non-life insurance segmentDetailed analysis of natural hazards and their impact on the Russian insurance industryDetails of the competitive landscape in the non-life insurance segment in RussiaDetails of regulatory policy applicable to the Russian insurance industryScopeThis report provides a comprehensive analysis of the non-life insurance segment in Russia:It provides historical values for the Russian non-life insurance segment for the reports 20122016 review period, and projected figures for the 20162021 forecast period.It offers a detailed analysis of the key categories in the Russian non-life insurance segment, and market forecasts to 2021.It provides a comparison of the Russian non-life insurance segment with its regional counterpartsIt analyzes the various distribution channels for non-life insurance products in Russia.It analyzes various natural hazards and their impact on the Russian insurance industryIt profiles the top non-life insurance companies in Russia, and outlines the key regulations affecting them.View Report @Reasons To BuyMake strategic business decisions using in-depth historic and forecast market data related to the Russian non-life insurance segment, and each category within it.Understand the demand-side dynamics, key market trends and growth opportunities in the Russian 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 Russian insurance industry, and their impact on companies and the industry's future.Key HighlightsThe Central Bank of Russia (CBR) approved a regulation stipulating mandatory sales of electronic motor third-party liability insurance policies, with effect from January 1, 2017.On February 11, 2017, the CBR enforced a new regulation for non-life insurers with respect to maintaining reserves.The CBR amended the maximum tariff limits for carriers liability insurance on October 19, 2016.In August 2016, the Russian Association of Motor Insurers launched a single agent system for the sale of motor third-party liability insurance.The CBR registered the first Self-Regulation Organization (SRO) in insurance on December 6, 2016. The SRO unites the largest companies in the Russian financial market, excluding banks.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.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Russian Life Insurance industry Comprehensive Outlook, Key Trends and Opportunities until 2020
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Market Research Hub (MRH) added a new research report to its vast database titled Life Insurance in Russia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020 which provides a detailed outlook by product category for the Russian life insurance segment, and a comparison of the Russian Life insurance industry with its regional counterparts.Request Free Sample Report @The report provides key performance indicators such as written premium, incurred loss, loss ratio, commissions and expenses, total assets, total investment income and retentions during the review period (2012-2016) and forecast period (2016-2021).The report also analyzes distribution channels operating in the segment, gives a comprehensive overview of the Russian economy and demographics, and provides detailed information on the competitive landscape in the country.The report brings together MRH 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:MRH 'Life Insurance in Russia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021' report provides in-depth market analysis, information and insights into the Russian life insurance segment, including:An overview of the Russian life insurance segmentThe Russian life insurance segments growth prospects by categoryA comprehensive overview of the Russian economy and demographicsA comparison of the Russian life insurance segment with its regional counterpartsThe various distribution channels in the Russian life insurance segmentDetails of the competitive landscape in the life insurance segment in RussiaDetails of regulatory policy applicable to the Russian insurance industryScope:This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the life insurance segment in Russia:It provides historical values for the Russian life insurance segment for the reports 20122016 review period, and projected figures for the 20162021 forecast period.It offers a detailed analysis of the key categories in the Russian life insurance segment, and market forecasts to 2021.It provides a comparison of the Russian life insurance segment with its regional counterpartsIt analyzes the various distribution channels for life insurance products in Russia.It profiles the top life insurance companies in Russia 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 Russian life insurance segment, and each category within it.Understand the demand-side dynamics, key market trends and growth opportunities in the Russian life insurance segment.Assess the competitive dynamics in the life insurance segment.Identify growth opportunities and market dynamics in key product categories.Gain insights into key regulations governing the Russian insurance industry, and their impact on companies and the industry's future.Browse Full Report with TOC @Reasons to BuyMake strategic business decisions using in-depth historic and forecast market data related to the Russian life insurance segment, and each category within it.Understand the demand-side dynamics, key market trends and growth opportunities in the Russian life insurance segment.Assess the competitive dynamics in the life insurance segment.Identify growth opportunities and market dynamics in key product categories.Gain insights into key regulations governing the Russian insurance industry, and their impact on companies and the industry's future.Key HighlightsIn February 2017, the Bank of Russia (BoR) enforced a new regulation on the formation of insurance reserves for life insurance companies. If the Bank of Russia finds it necessary to amend the methods used to calculate insurance reserves, life insurers must make and implement the required changes even if the method differs from the regulation.In September 2016, the Public Chamber of Russia proposed a compulsory life cover for firemen. The proposed compensation limit for a policy is RUB5.0 million (US$82,051.1).Sogaz Insurance Group acquired a 100% stake in JSC Zhaso by acquiring a 75.0% stake in United Credit Systems February 2016, in addition to its 25% stake held in December 2015.In 2016, the CBR revoked the licenses of several insurance companies due to non-compliance with financial stability requirements. Dostoinstvo Life Insurance Company, Regard Insurance LLC, Apogei Med Limited Liability Insurance Company, Priority Insurance Company, Asko Skel Plus LLC and Rodina Insurance LLC all lost their licenses.Table of Content:1 KEY FACTS AND HIGHLIGHTS2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY3 ECONOMY AND DEMOGRAPHICS4 SEGMENT OUTLOOK4.1 Regional Comparison4.2 Segment Indicators4.2.1 Gross written premium and penetration4.2.2 Policies sold4.2.3 Claims4.2.4 Sum assured5 OUTLOOK BY SUB-SEGMENT5.1 Individual Life Insurance5.1.1 Premium5.1.2 Policies sold5.1.3 Penetration5.2 Group Life Insurance5.2.1 Premium5.2.2 Policies sold5.2.3 Penetration6 DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL OUTLOOK6.1 Analysis by Distribution Channel6.1.1 Direct marketing6.1.2 Brokers6.1.3 Agents6.1.4 Bancassurance7 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE7.1 Company Profiles7.1.1 Renaissance Life company overview7.1.2 Rosgosstrakh-Life company overview7.1.3 Ingosstrakh Insurance Company company overview7.1.4 Sogaz Insurance Company company overview7.1.5 Alfa Insurance Life company overview.continueEnquire about this report @About Market Research HubMarket Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of insurance 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 and customers.Contact Us90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 800-998-4852 (US-Canada)Email: press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite:Read Industry News at -
Latvia Reinsurance Segment, and market forecasts to 2020
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"The Report Reinsurance in Latvia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"Timetrics 'Reinsurance in Latvia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020' report provides detailed analysis of the market trends, drivers and challenges in the Latvian reinsurance segment.It provides values for key performance indicators such as written premium, reinsurance ceded and reinsurance accepted during the review period (20112015) and forecast period (20152020).The report also analyses information pertaining to the competitive landscape in the country, gives a comprehensive overview of the Latvian economy and demographics, and provides detailed analysis of natural hazards and their impact on the Latvian insurance industry.The report brings together Timetrics research, modeling and analysis expertise to enable reinsurers to identify segment dynamics and competitive advantages, and access profiles of reinsurers operating in the country.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @SummaryTimetrics 'Reinsurance in Latvia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020' report provides in-depth market analysis, information and insights into the Latvian reinsurance segment, including:An outlook of the Latvian reinsurance segmentA comprehensive overview of the Latvian economy and demographicsDetailed analysis of natural hazards and their impact on the Latvian insurance industryThe competitive landscape in the Latvian reinsurance segmentScopeThis report provides a comprehensive analysis of the reinsurance segment in Latvia:It provides historical values for the Latvian reinsurance 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 Latvian reinsurance segment, and market forecasts to 2020.It provides a detailed analysis of the reinsurance ceded from various direct insurance segments in Latvia, and the reinsurance segment's growth prospects.It analyzes various natural hazards and their impact on the Latvia insurance industryView Report @Reasons To BuyMake strategic business decisions using in-depth historic and forecast market data related to the Latvian reinsurance segment, and each category within it.Understand the demand-side dynamics, key market trends and growth opportunities in the Latvian reinsurance segment.Identify growth opportunities and market dynamics in key product categories.Gain insights into key regulations governing the Latvian insurance industry, and their impact on companies and the industry's future.Key HighlightsOn May 29, 2017, the European Council (EC) adopted a decision authorizing the signing of a bilateral agreement regarding prudential measures of insurance and reinsurance between the US and the EU.The primary acts which governed insurance activities in the country were the Law on Insurance Companies and Supervision and the Law on Reinsurance, which was repealed on January 1, 2016 and replaced by the Insurance and Reinsurance Law 2015.Solvency II came into effect on January 1, 2016. It is based on three pillars: risk-based quantitative requirements, governance and supervision, and disclosure and transparency.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.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Reinsurance in Russia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021
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"The Report Reinsurance in Russia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"SynopsisTimetrics 'Reinsurance in Russia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021' report provides detailed analysis of the market trends, drivers and challenges in the Russian reinsurance segment.It provides values for key performance indicators such as written premium, reinsurance ceded and reinsurance accepted during the review period (20122016) and forecast period (20162021).The report also analyses information pertaining to the competitive landscape in the country, gives a comprehensive overview of the Russian economy and demographics, and provides detailed analysis of natural hazards and their impact on the Russian insurance industry.The report brings together Timetrics research, modeling and analysis expertise to enable reinsurers to identify segment dynamics and competitive advantages, and access profiles of reinsurers operating in the country.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @SummaryTimetrics 'Reinsurance in Russia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021' report provides in-depth market analysis, information and insights into the Russian reinsurance segment, including:An outlook of the Russian reinsurance segmentA comprehensive overview of the Russian economy and demographicsDetailed analysis of natural hazards and their impact on the Russian insurance industryThe competitive landscape in the Russian reinsurance segmentView Report @ScopeThis report provides a comprehensive analysis of the reinsurance segment in Russia:It provides historical values for the Russian reinsurance segment for the reports 20122016 review period, and projected figures for the 20162021 forecast period.It offers a detailed analysis of the key categories in the Russian reinsurance segment, and market forecasts to 2021.It provides a detailed analysis of the reinsurance ceded from various direct insurance segments in Russia, and the reinsurance segment's growth prospects.It analyzes various natural hazards and their impact on the Russia insurance industryReasons To BuyMake strategic business decisions using in-depth historic and forecast market data related to the Russian reinsurance segment, and each category within it.Understand the demand-side dynamics, key market trends and growth opportunities in the Russian reinsurance segment.Identify growth opportunities and market dynamics in key product categories.Gain insights into key regulations governing the Russian insurance industry, and their impact on companies and the industry's future.Key HighlightsRussian reinsurers supported the proposal to create common reinsurance capacity within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in February 2017. The common capacity will comprise a mixture of commercial, state-owned and public-private-partnership reinsurers.On October 12, 2016, the Russian National Reinsurance Company (RNRC) was established by the government as a joint-stock company to provide reinsurance cover to insurers.With effective from January 1, 2017, insurers are required to cede 10% of premium towards to the reinsurer RNRC.The number of Russian reinsurance operators fell from 76 in 2015 to 64 in 2016.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.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Food Allergen Testing - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Analysis and Forecast 2017 2022
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Global Food Allergen Testing IndustryLatest Report on Food Allergen Testing Market Global Analysis & 2022 Forecast Research StudyWiseGuyReports has announced the addition of a new market intelligence report to its repository titled Global Food Allergen Testing Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022. The research report presents a comprehensive overview of market and growth trends of this industry in the coming years.Try Sample Report @Global Food Allergen Testing Market" market report presents a detail qualitative analysis of the Global Food Allergen Testing Industry market and its important classification and forecast for 2022". The report contains current scenario of the Global Food Allergen Testing Market " industry and encompasses discussion various prime factors related to markets such as growth, drive, various patterns, and control.The report provides in depth study of Global Food Allergen Testing Industry using SWOT analysis i.e. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat to the organization. The report identifies the strength factors of the organization that will help organizations to acquire a prominent market share, to rectify where the organization is lacking or some hole which is creating glitches for development product. Look out for more opportunities in the market, get up to date to avoid any threats, competitors and substitutes.Major Key Players:NeogenCrystal ChemSGS S.A.Intertek Group plcTUV SUD Psb Pte. LtdALS LimitedEurofins Scientific SEMerieux Nutrisciences CorporationAsureQuality LtdMicrobac Laboratories IncRomer Labs Diagnostic GmbHSymbio LaboratoriesAdditionally report also briefs about the cost structure of organization. Finally, what strategies should be used by organizations to place their product in the market, branding idea to be adopted by them, cost estimation for marketing and branding.The report gives the reasonable picture of current market situation which incorporates past and anticipated market data for development purpose considering reference point such as esteem and volume, innovative development, economic science and government in the market.For Detailed Reading Please visit WiseGuy Reports @Some Major Points from Table of content:Global Food Allergen Testing Market Research Report 20171 Food Allergen Testing Market Overview2 Global Food Allergen Testing Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Food Allergen Testing Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)4 Global Food Allergen Testing Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)5 Global Food Allergen Testing Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type6 Global Food Allergen Testing Market Analysis by Application7 Global Food Allergen Testing Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis8 Food Allergen Testing Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Food Allergen Testing Market Forecast (2017-2022)Continued..For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comAbout UsWise 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 understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available.Contact Us:Norah Trent+1 646 845 9349 / +44 208 133 9349Follow on LinkedIn: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 LtdPune 411028Maharashtra, GlobalPh: +91 841 198 5042
Therapeutic Respiratory Devices Market to reach $23bn by 2024
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Therapeutic Respiratory Devices Market size is set to exceed USD 23 billion by 2024; as reported in the latest study by Global Market Insights, Inc.Prevalence of COPD has increased from around 3% to over 11.6% amongst people beyond age of over 65 years. This significant change in demographics is set to impact the industry significantly. This anticipated growth in the population and surge in COPD incidence and prevalence will be a major factor driving therapeutic respiratory devices market growth.Rise in incidence and prevalence rates of lung cancer characterize global therapeutic respiratory devices market, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), and several other respiratory disorders also drive the demand for therapeutic respiratory devices.Request sample copy @Oxygen concentrators market is estimated to grow at lucrative CAGR over the forecast period. As reported by WHO, hypoxemia is a major risk factor for death in pneumonia and is a cause of severe disease, the major infectious cause of death in children globally of age 5 years and below. Having a dependable oxygen source and device for determining oxygen saturation is essential to treat patients with hypoxemia and to enhance their chances of survival. As oxygen is involved in the WHO list of essential medicines, it is still not widely available in emerging economies is acting as a major hazard to extremely ill patients.Oxygen concentrators are a cost-effective, suitable, favorable, and promising option for providing a constant supply of oxygen for the treatment of hypoxemia in emerging economies. Benefits include low-cost and sustainability, in regards to piped oxygen supply systems and oxygen cylinders. These are free-standing, medical devices powered by electrically that absorb nitrogen from ambient air to produce oxygen. They can produce oxygen 24 hours per and day are intended for continuous operation, seven days a week, for about five years or more with nominal precautionary maintenance.Make Inquiry about this report @Germany therapeutic respiratory devices market size was over USD 900 million in 2015. The typical expenditure for bringing a new medical device into the Germany market is roughly around USD 10 million in Germany, compared to roughly USD 80 million in the US. Germany is attractive destination for medical device companies as it is characterized by short timelines for market approval and the cost-effectiveness and quality of its clinical research.Asia Pacific therapeutic respiratory devices market will witness significant growth increasing at 12.9% CAGR. China therapeutic respiratory devices market accounted for over 20% market share during the forecast period, as the Chinese healthcare infrastructure is experiencing noteworthy transformation. The Chinese government is strategically planning a healthcare insurance system more similar to that of Western countries in which private companies and citizens will need to participate in the costs.Rapid technological developments in therapeutic respiratory devices market like I-neb nebulizer by Philips Healthcare, an adaptive aerosol delivery (AAD) nebulizer combines AAD technology with mesh technology to deliver a reproducible and precise dose. The I-neb AAD uses multiple breath technology that is automated with the inhalation dose i.e., a computer that is used with these technologies learns the breathing pattern of patient and adjusts to variations in this breathing pattern, based on a series of breaths.Middle East & Africa positive airway pressure devices market is posed to grow at a CAGR of over 13.0% as rising elderly population propels health supplement consumption. With respect to regional presence major companies in therapeutic respiratory devices are include, Smiths Medical, GE Healthcare, Covidien Plc, CareFusion Corporation, and Philips Healthcare.Therapeutic respiratory devices market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue in USD million from 2013 to 2024, for the following segments:Therapeutic Respiratory Devices Market By Product Nebulizerso Compressor-based nebulizerso Piston-based hand-held nebulizerso Ultrasonic nebulizers Humidifierso Heated humidifierso Passover Humidifierso Integrated humidifierso Built-in humidifierso Stand-alone humidifiers Oxygen concentratorso Fixed oxygen concentratorso Portable oxygen concentrators Positive airway pressure deviceso Continuous positive airway pressure deviceso Auto-titrating positive airway pressure deviceso Bi-level positive airway pressure devices Ventilatorso Adult ventilatorso Neonatal ventilators Gas analyzers CapnographsTherapeutic Respiratory Devices Market By Technology Electrostatic filtration HEPA filter technology Hollow fiber filtration Microsphere separationTherapeutic Respiratory Devices Market By Filters Nebulizer filterso Inlet filterso Replacement filterso Cabinet filters Humidifier filterso Wick filterso Permanent cleanable filterso Mineral absorption padso Demineralization cartridges Positive airway pressure device filterso Ultra-fine foam inlet filterso Polyester non-woven fiber filterso Acrylic & polypropylene fiber filter Oxygen concentrators filterso HEPA filterso Cabinet filterso Pre-inlet filterso Inlet filterso Micro disk filterso Felt intake filterso Bacterial filterso Hollow membrane filters Ventilator filterso Mechanical filters HEPA filters ULPA filters Activated carbon filterso Electrostatic filters Turbocharged filters Fibrillated filtersThe above information is provided on a regional and country basis for the following: North Americao U.S.o Canada EUo Spaino Germanyo Franceo Italyo Switzerland Asia Pacifico Indiao Chinao Japan Latin America (LATAM)o Brazil Middle Easto South AfricaAbout Global Market InsightsGlobal Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Blog:
Ablation Devices Market to Surge Well Beyond US$ 8 Billion by 2025
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The Global Ablation Devices Marketwas valued at US$ 3,330.0 million in 2016 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 10.9% during the forecast period (20172025), as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights. Growing popularity of minimally invasive surgical procedures is expected to be the major factor driving growth of the global ablation devices market over the foreseeable future.Arrhythmia is a common type of cardiovascular disorder that affects a large population worldwide. states that atrial fibrillation is a growing serious health disorder that had affected 33.5 million people worldwide, which accounts 0.5% of total population share, in 2013. With the help of ablation devices, a large number of people suffering from these alarming diseases are now able to receive proper treatments.Ablation devices are also used for the treatment of tumorigenic diseases such as cancer and several other serious diseases including neurological and small brain tumors. These devices are experiencing significant demand in the current healthcare scenario due to their efficacy and ease of use. Ablation offers numerous advantages over conventional surgery, in terms of increased safety, decreased scarring, and faster recovery. According to American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 5.8 million reconstructive minimally invasive surgeries were performed in 2013.Inquire for Sample Copy at:According to a research article published in the Heart Rhythm Journal in 2014, catheter ablation is suggested to be a safe, beneficial, and effective technique in maintaining sinus rhythm. Also, the catheter ablation possess lower mortality and stroke risks in adult patients as compared to the regular surgical procedures. Catheter ablation devices play a major role not only serving the geriatric patients but also younger patients, who can resume their everyday chores within a very less span of time after the surgery, as ablation takes minimal recovery duration. Moreover, number of types and techniques through which ablation is performed, also provide a wide array of choices to the patients and healthcare practitioners to choose a suitable type. For instance, a study published in the Journal of Atrial Fibrillation in 2015, states that cryoablation technique is better suited to treat atrio-ventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia (AVNRT) than radiofrequency ablation, as chances of permanent AV block are very less in cryoablation than that in radiofrequency. Doctors from Seattle Childrens suggest laser ablation for the treatment of epilepsy and brain tumors even in young children, as old as 2 years, due to the safety and precision offered by it. Thus, the demand for ablation devices is expected to witness dramatic growth in the near future, creating lucrative opportunities for the market players to grab more sales with the introduction of cost-efficient and innovative devices.Access Table of Content (TOC) Of the Report:Key Takeaways of the Ablation Devices Market:The global ablation devices market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 10.9% during the forecast period (20162025), as there exists a huge potential market, especially in Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and AfricaRobust developments in surgical procedures and adoption of minimally invasive surgical procedures are expected to drive the global ablation devices market.Atrial Fibrillation, Arrhythmia, Lung Cancer, Breast Cancer, AV node cancer as well as Brain Tumors, and Pancreatic & Kidney tumors are the major therapeutic applications, where various types of ablation can be performed and remain as potential application areas in the global ablation devices market.Some of the major players involved in the global ablation devices market includes, Arthrex, Boston Scientific Corporation, Medtronic Plc, Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Inc., Halyard Health, Abbott Laboratories, EDAP TMS S.A., AtriCure, Inc., and Smith & Nephew.To know the latest trends and insights prevalent in the Ablation Devices Market, click the link below:About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com
Worldwide Analysis on Gadolinium-based Contrast Agent Market Strategies and Forecasts, 2016 to 2024
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Global Gadolinium-based Contrast Agent Market: SnapshotGadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) also referred to as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast media or dyes are chemical substances that are used in magnetic resonance imaging based diagnostics. When administered into the body, gadolinium-based contrast agent enhances the quality of MRI scans. This allows an accurate analysis of how the body is working for diseases detection or any other abnormality.Gadolinium-based contrast agent comprise complex molecules that are held together by chemical bonds. The chemical bond is created between a gadolinium ion and a chelating agent. The use of chelating agents is not standard and is subjective to the gadolinium contrast medium brand. The contrast medium is administered into the body as part of the MRI scan, and is expelled from the body through the kidneys.Gadolinium-based contrast agents are considered safe as contrast media for magnetic resonance imaging when used at recommended dosage. This is because GBCAs are completely extracted from the body in an intact state.Request for Report TOC @However, over the last decade, there is a growing body of data that indicates gadolinium accumulates in tissues of patients who are exposed to GBCAs for magnetic resonance imaging. Gadolinium retention is observed to be more in individuals who are repeatedly exposed to GBCA.Gadolinium-based contrast agent are used in 1 out of 3 MRI scans to improve the clarity and quality of images of the bodys internal structures. This helps improve the diagnostic accuracy of MRI scans. GBCAs are used for improved visibility of inflammation, blood vessels, tumors, and for other organs in the body.Gadolinium (Gd) is found as a rare earth metal, which is tough to extract, and it appears like a silvery white crystal. It is one of the few metals with ferromagnetic properties at room temperature. Like most of the rare earth metals, gadolinium forms trivalent ions with fluorescent properties. Gadolinium is used for shielding in neutron radiography and in nuclear reactor as it absorbs neutrons. Therefore, applications of the metal are seen in oven, microwave, and other electronic components. In medical field, it is utilized merely in the form of solution composites for radiological images enhancement. The gadolinium ions that occur in water soluble salts are toxic to human. But chelated Gd compounds are less toxic to human body as they are filtered out of the kidneys before the free ions get released into the tissue. This property of Gd increases its use in the medical field, where it is used as intravenous drug in diagnostic imaging procedures to enhance the quality of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The global gadolinium-based contrast agent market is a fairly matured market and is expected to witness a significant growth in the near future. The growth of the market is likely to be driven during the forecast period by the rising prevalence of chronic diseases such as cardiac diseases and cancer.The global gadolinium-based contrast agent market is segmented on the basis of contrast agent type, disease indication, end-user, and geography. On the basis of contrast agent type, the market is divided into linear non-ionic agent, linear ionic, macrocyclic non-ionic, and macrocyclic ionic. The rates of dissociation of Gd from macrocyclic ligands are slower than the dissociation from linear ligands. Higher the dissociation constant, there is more possibility of de-chelating and release of free Gd ions into the body which may lead to serious adverse events. Therefore, linear gadolinium-based contrast agents are widely preferred for MRI scans.On the basis of disease indication, the market is segmented into cardiovascular disorders, neurological disorders, respiratory diseases, nephrological disorders, and others. The cardiovascular disorders segment accounted for a large share of the global market and the trend is expected to continue during the forecast period. Advancements in cardiac MRI procedures in catheterization labs and promising reimbursement scenario for contrast agent products used during cardiovascular diagnosis along with highly developed health care infrastructure in countries such as Germany, the U.K., the U.S., and Canada are factors fueling the growth of the cardiovascular disorders segment. According to a survey of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year about 735,000 people have a heart attack in the U.S. Out of this number, 525,000 are the first heart attacks and 210,000 happen in people who have already suffered a heart attack. In addition, growth of the segment is attributed to the rise in number of diagnostic procedures coupled with the increase in disease burden in developing countries. In terms of end-user, the market is segmented into hospitals, specialty clinics, diagnostic centers, and others.Geographically, the global gadolinium-based contrast agent market is distributed over North America (the U.S. and Canada), Europe (Germany, France, the U.K., and others), Asia Pacific (Australia, China, Japan, India, and others), Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America dominated the market in terms of revenue. North America was followed by Europe and is expected to register a high growth of the market. Emerging markets such as Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa are expected to record a robust growth during the forecast period owing to growing health care industry and aging population, which consequently are projected to result in the increase of patient population. India, China, and Brazil are likely to drive a significant growth of the market among the emerging countries owing to increase in investments by government bodies in order to enhance health care facilities.Request for Report Brochure @Major players operating in this market are GE Healthcare, Bayer HealthCare, Guerbet, Bracco Diagnostic Inc., and Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc.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 Research90 State Street, Suite 700,Albany, NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Microscope Digital Cameras Market Set to Witness Steady Growth through ( 2017-2027)
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Microscope Digital Cameras its a new generation for microscope to visualization and characterization of the biological activities under the microscope. Microscope was evolved at Netherlands in1620s, it was a compound microscope. Microscope digital cameras provide the image in a classic way to analysis and process for further understanding in biological research, cancer research, and clinical research.Microscope digital cameras are of various type based on the lens, sensors, and used as CCD cameras is the most mature camera in technology and in pixels. Microscope digital cameras is the perfect balance between technology and biological actives or industrial actives.Request For Report Sample@Microscope Digital Cameras Market: Drivers and RestraintsMicroscope digital cameras market is expected to grow over the forecasted period as the demand of high end research and examination for the sample. Microscope digital camera are used in both biological and industrial segments. The industrial microscope digital camera measure the quality and inspect the process, biological microscope provide the live analysis of the sample with quality and quantity. This segments provide a broad range to the market to come up with new and improve microscope digital camera. The price range of the microscope digital camera with unique feature also provide a growing market. As of restraints the very less players are investing time for research on different microscope digital cameras for different application or used.Microscope Digital Cameras Market: SegmentationMicroscope Digital Cameras segmentation based on:Based on type:Biological MicroscopeIndustrial MicroscopeVisualization:ColourMonochromeCamera Mount:C-mountOcular MountSensor Type:Cooled CCD/CMOSNon-Cooled CCD/CMOSCMOS (Complementary metal oxide semiconductor)CCD (Charge-coupled device)End users:HospitalsResearch labs (Clinical and Non-Clinical)Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology industryCosmetologist ClinicMicroscope Digital Cameras Market: OverviewMicroscope digital cameras market is highly fragmented due to the several local and international players with different product in biological and industrial as (DP 74, DP 27 launched by Olympus for microscope with the Image analysis software as Olympus stream). Various other new product are under development, so that the outcome from the cameras will be up to the mark for making the analysis flexible and ease to use.Microscope Digital Cameras Market: Region-wise OutlookGeographically, Microscope Digital Cameras Market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America and Asia Pacific is a growing market as many research oriented programs are going on and the industrial are also using the microscope digital cameras market.Visit For TOC@Microscope Digital Cameras Market: Key PlayersSome of the players in microscope digital cameras market are Leica Microsystems, Nikon Metrology NV, Vision Engineering, Olympus Corporation, ZEISS Group, Local players are also have their presence.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.CONTACTFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Latest Report On Global Smart City Market 2017-2025
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Smart City Market rise in urbanization, governments are now realizing the need for cities that can cope with the challenges of urban living. Thus, arises the need for smart cities. The concept of a smart city is relatively nascent. The developed nations are strategizing smart technology plans to develop a command and control network that tracks and optimizes the delivery of services such as power, water supply, traffic, transportation, education, and healthcare. The basic motive of a smart city is to make the infrastructure and delivery of these services more efficient so that people enjoy better standards of living, economic stability, optimal utilization of energy, and advanced environmental protection.Request Sample At:The smart city market is making significant strides. It is driven by factors such as rapid connectivity, fast telecommunication provision, growing energy consumption and the need to achieve optimum energy usage, growing trends in artificial intelligence and big data analytics, decrease in operational cost for smart building infrastructure, rising demand for integrated security and safety system, the increasing population, and hyper-urbanization. However, the factors restraining the market growth include low levels of operational efficiency in emerging countries, lack of robust telecom and networking infrastructures in developing nations, and lack of standardized regulatory frameworks for energy sectors.The smart city Industry has been segmented on the basis of transportation, utilities, building, and smart citizen service. By transportation, the market is divided into smart transportation by type, solution, and service. Smart transportation by type includes smart railways and roadways. Smart transportation by solution includes intelligent transport system, traffic management and automated driver guidance system, parking management, passenger management and travel experience enhancement system, predictive analytics for passenger travel, freight management, and transport data management. Smart transportation by service includes infrastructure monitoring and management, planning and consulting, and, integration. Based on utilities, the market is divided into smart energy system, smart utilities by type, smart utilities by solution, and smart utilities by service. Bu building, the market is divided into smart building by type, solution, and service. By smart citizen service, the market is divided into smart citizen services by type that includes smart education, smart healthcare, and security and threat management. Geographically, the market has been analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.Enquire About Report At:The important players operating in the smart city market include International Business Machines Corporation, Cisco Systems, Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Oracle Corporation, Schneider Electric SE, Siemens AG, Ericsson, Hitachi Ltd., Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd., and Toshiba Corporation.Progressive Markets is the answer to every possible business query. It is a market research and business consulting firm, headquartered in India with an aim to deliver up-to-date executive support to foster overall growth of an organization in its domain. Progressive Markets was found with an initiative to bridge the gap between enterprises and global opportunities.Contact Us:Asia Pacific Intelligence CentreUnited StatesEAST COAST U.S.Direct: +1-646-564-2246Toll Free + 1-888-906-9222Email: help@progressivemarkets.comWeb:
Government Support will boost Carcinoid Syndrome Management market size During Forecast Period ( 2017-2027)
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Carcinoid syndrome comprises of signs and symptoms such as flushing of the face, debilitating diarrhea, asthma caused due to vasoconstriction, intestinal bleeding, fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, sweating, unexplained weight gain etc. which are developed secondary to carcinoid tumor. The term carcinoid crisis is used when all the symptoms of carcinoid syndrome show at a time. Carcinoid tumors arise out of neuroendocrine cells which are present all over the human body and most commonly occur at stomach, small intestine, colon, appendix or lungs and rarely in pancreas, testicle and ovaries. However, carcinoid syndrome may also arise due to cause other than carcinoid tumor. Patient has to seek symptomatic treatment for carcinoid syndrome and there is no cure for the symptoms of carcinoid tumor. If carcinoid tumor is not detected, carcinoid syndrome can be undiagnosed as its symptoms resemble to those of asthma, irritable bowel disease and menopause. However, patient often receives delayed treatment for carcinoid syndrome as tumors do not show significant symptoms until they are not confined to small bowel or other site of tumor origin. The management of carcinoid syndrome often requires palliative and supportive care. Management of carcinoid syndrome involves drug therapy or surgical removal of carcinoid tumor. Some of the commercially available chemotherapeutic agents for management of carcinoid syndrome include Sandostatin (Novartis AG), Somatuline Depot (Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.) etc.Carcinoid Syndrome Management Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe primary factor driving the growth of global carcinoid syndrome market is incidence of carcinoid tumor. As per National Institute of Health statistics, worldwide incidence of carcinoid tumor is 2 per 100,000 person with high incidence of GI carcinoid tumors. Every year over 8,000 patients in the U.S are diagnosed with carcinoid tumor in GI tract. Other factors influencing the global carcinoid syndrome management market include increasing incidence of hormonal disorders, growing smoking habits, levels of carcinogen in highly developed countries etc. The only factor restraining the growth of global carcinoid syndrome management market is no availability of drugs approved to manage carcinoid syndrome.Request For Report Sample@Carcinoid Syndrome Management Market: SegmentationTentatively, the global carcinoid syndrome management market has been segmented on the basis of treatment type, distribution channel, and geography.Based on Treatment type, the global carcinoid syndrome management market is divided into following:ChemotherapyOctreotideLanreotideOthersBiological TherapyInterferone alfa-2-aHepatic Artery Embolization AgentsSIR-SpheresTheraSphereBased on distribution channel, the global carcinoid syndrome management market is segmented as below:Hospital pharmacyRetail PharmacyPrescription Drug StoresCarcinoid Syndrome Management Market: OverviewThe global market for carcinoid syndrome management is highly consolidated and very few number of players constitute the entire market. Chemotherapy treatment type segment is expected to dominate the global market for carcinoid syndrome management over the forecast period as chemotherapy is used as a first line treatment. Newly introduced hepatic artery embolization agents are expected to gain the significant share in the global market over the period of 20172027. The market is expected to grow at an average CAGR due to increasing awareness towards the symptoms of carcinoid tumor among the general population.Carcinoid Syndrome Management Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, carcinoid syndrome management market is classified into regions viz. North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America is expected to be the leader in global carcinoid syndrome management market owing to increasing caseload of carcinoid tumor in the U.S. The market in Asia Pacific and Japan is expected to grow at significant CAGR due to availability of generic formulations of innovator drugs in these regions. Europe is expected to take second largest share in the global carcinoid syndrome management market.Visit For TOC@Carcinoid Syndrome Management Market: Key PlayersSome of the major players in the global carcinoid syndrome management market are Novartis International AG (Sandoz), Pharmascience Inc., Omega Laboratories Ltd., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Mylan N.V., Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., Sirtex Medical Limited, BTG International Ltd. among others. Companies that provide generic chemotherapeutic agents include Wockhardt Ltd., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. etc.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACTFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Cancer Biological Therapy Market size worth $100bn by 2023
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Cancer Biological Therapy Market size is expected to reach USD 100 billion by 2023; as per a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc.Rising incidence rates and increased adoption of biologic therapy will drive global cancer biological therapy market size. According to WHO estimates, the number of new cancer cases are projected to rise by 70% in the next two decades, largely due to increased consumption of alcohol and tobacco. It is estimated by the ACS that 180,890 prostate cancer and 246,660 breast cancer cases will be diagnosed in 2016 in the U.S.Request sample copy @Mounting global geriatric population is predicted to boost cancer biological therapy market size owing to correlation between new cases and old age. Elderly population is more prone to the disease and according to ACS, 86% of cases in the U.S. were recorded in individuals aged 50 and above. High associated cost attributed to the cost of drug development may act as a major bottleneck to growth. Millions of dollars are spent in identifying a potent drug, obtaining its preclinical data and carry out its clinical trials. Monopoly is yet another factor that contributes to higher cost. The emergence of new therapeutic classes with reduced adverse-effects, such as immuno-oncologics will change the industry landscape.Cancer vaccines market was over USD 1.9 billion in 2015. Approval of the first vaccine sipuleucel-T (Provenge) for metastatic prostate cancer by the FDA will boost growth in the immunotherapy segment. Cancer growth blockers market was over USD 18 billion in 2015, and is expected to grow at 5.8% CAGR from 2016 to 2023. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors dominated revenue share among the growth blockers in 2015 and is expected to continue witnessing steady growth.Make inquiry about this report @Monoclonal antibodies market size was over USD 21 billion in 2015. Antibody therapy has been the most successful and important approach for treatment of hematological malignancies and solid tumors. Bispecific monoclonal antibodies are anticipated to grow at 6.5% CAGR from 2016 to 2023.Key insights from the report include: U.S. cancer biological therapy market share was over 80% of the North American revenue in 2015, and is anticipated to grow owing to increased public funding for R&D and other government initiatives. Germany revenue was over USD 4 billion in 2015 and contributes largely to the Europe cancer biological therapy market size. Major drivers include favorable insurance and public reimbursement policies. For instance, about 90% of the German population is covered by Statutory Health Insurance and only 10% of population by private insurance players. China will drive Asia Pacific cancer biology therapy market share by providing favorable growth opportunities to players, which will motivate them to invest in R&D of biologic products. The favorable reimbursement plans will further accelerate growth. Key players include Novartis International AG, Amgen Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Eli Lilly, Seattle Genetics, Inc., Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Celgene Corporation are some notable companies vying for global cancer biological therapy market share.Global Market Insights has segmented the cancer biological therapy industry on the basis of product and region: Cancer Biological Therapy Market Product Analysis (Revenue, USD Million, 2012 - 2023) Monoclonal antibodieso Naked monoclonal antibodieso Conjugated monoclonal antibodieso Bispecific monoclonal antibodies Vaccineso Preventive vaccineso Therapeutic vaccines Cancer growth blockerso Tyrosine kinase inhibitorso Proteasome inhibitorso mTOR inhibitors Blood cell growth factorso Lenograstimo Filgrastim Cytokineso Interferonso Interleukins Cancer Biological Therapy Market Regional Analysis (Revenue, USD Million, 2012 - 2023) North Americao U.S.o Canada Europeo Germanyo UKo Franceo Spaino Italy Asia Pacifico Indiao Chinao Japan Latin Americao Brazilo Mexicoo Argentina MEAo South Africao Saudi ArabiaAbout Global Market InsightsGlobal Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Blog:
Connected Car Market - Size, Trend, Share, Opportunity Analysis, And Forecast 2014-2025
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connected car market is equipped with internet in order to allow the car to share internet connection with other devices that are inside as well as outside. The car is often equipped with special technologies that tap into the internet or wireless LAN, to offer additional benefits to the driver. This enables the driver to connect with online platforms and facilitates real-time communication on the go.Request Sample At:The two prominent factors that accelerate growth of the connected car market are advanced infotainment system and fast connection to a wireless network. The alternative aspects that drive the industry are all time connectivity, superior driving experience, safety & security, alert system, multiple connectivity solution, and vehicle diagnostics & maintenance. In addition, the market offers opportunities, such as data analysis and intelligent transportation system. The industry faces certain restraints which include lack of awareness, additional expenditure, hacking, and non-availability of uninterrupted & seamless connectivity.The connected car market is segmented into technology, connectivity solution, products & services, application, and geography. Based on technology, the industry is categorized into 2G, 3G, and 4G/LTE. The 2G service used for providing connectivity will gradually fade out in the next few years, which would be replaced by LTE and 3G technologies. Some of the prime reasons for this technological shift are the rapidly changing telecommunication technology and the advent of faster & reliable communication networks.By connectivity solution, the connected car industry is classified into tethered, embedded, and integrated. The embedded sub-segment of connectivity solution led the market with almost 40% of the total share, followed by integrated and tethered connectivity solution. Based on product and services, the market is divided into wireless & cellular modules, sensors, processors, aftermarket services, OEM services, and fleet managers. The industry finds its application in infotainment, telematics, and navigation. Regionally, the market is segmented into LAMEA, North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.Enquire About report At:Analysis of the application show that the navigation to be the fastest growing segment in the connected car market during the forecast period. This growth trend observed is majorly due to the large scale adoption of the service into the connected cars. Amongst all the Products & services, the fleet manager was the largest revenue-generating segment in 2013. Fleet manager service is expected to lead the products and services market segment due to its wide scale application across diverse industries, during the forecast period.Technological agreements and collaborations are the key strategies adopted by the market players to enhance their shares in the connected car market. For instance, AT&T is working in collaboration with various automotive manufacturers to provide contextual voice controls, which would help to create a safer driving experience. TomTom has launched the online turn-by-turn navigation service for customers, making it feasible to connect over a network. Prominently used connected car platforms are Qnx, Android Auto, Carplay, Mirrorlink, and Windows Emdbedded Automotive 7, which will take infotainment to another level. The key manufacturers profiled included are Telefonica, Verizon, Harman, TomTom, AT&T, Vodafone Group Pic, Ford Motors Co., BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz.Report For Customization At:Progressive Markets is the answer to every possible business query. It is a market research and business consulting firm, headquartered in India with an aim to deliver up-to-date executive support to foster overall growth of an organization in its domain. Progressive Markets was found with an initiative to bridge the gap between enterprises and global opportunities.Contact Us:Asia Pacific Intelligence CentreUnited StatesEAST COAST U.S.Direct: +1-646-564-2246Toll Free + 1-888-906-9222Email: help@progressivemarkets.comWeb:
High Pressure Processing Market Progresses for Huge Profits During 2016 - 2026
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Half a decade ago, consumers seems to be gushing for good quality food products that has a high shelf life. Companies were actively looking for methods and equipment that can help foods to retain their natural flavor even after long shelf life of preservation. High pressure processing equipment is one such cutting-edge innovation. High pressure processing is a non-thermal preservation and pasteurization process that increases the shelf life of food, while retaining the original quality of food products. Unlike most conventional food processing system, this method accomplishes high hydrostatic pressure of 100 to 1000 MPa to process food products. It is due to its minimal negative effect that high pressure processing market (HPP) is finding great prominence globally. This billion dollar industry is anticipated to witness strong growth worldwide during the forecast period, 20152025.A sample of this report is available upon request @High Pressure Processing Market: Drivers & RestraintsRising concern for food safety along with increasing demand for process food that contains active ingredients is expected to fuel the overall high pressure processing market. High liquid containing foods are on upper edge. HPP extends the shelf life of foods by two to three folds when compared to non-pasteurized foods. However, budget restraints and significant heavy cost is expected to be a major challenge for this industry. To tackle these challenges some of the leading manufacturers are performing innovation to cut down the cost at a significant rate. Also, HPP is mostly preferred for foods containing high acids. It cannot be or used rarely for stabilizing foods containing low-acids.High Pressure Processing Market: SegmentationHigh pressure processing market is broadly classified on the basis of equipment types, production size and end-use applications. Equipment such as batch processing and semi-continuous processing are available depending upon the size of production including low scaled to medium and high scale production capacities. Large scale production is normally seen in developed economies, while small and mid-scale are gaining prominence in developing economies.On the basis of applications, HPP market is broadly segmented into juices and beverages, vegetable products, meat products and seafood products. Juices and beverages along with meat products covers the majority of HPP applications. HPP equipment in vegetable products, though has a relatively low presence, is gaining wide prominence among food processing industries and is anticipated to witness above average growth rate during the forecast period, 2016 - 2026.High Pressure Processing Market: Region-wise OutlookHigh pressure processing equipment are in high demand in developed economies such as North America, Japan and Europe, however, market is gaining prominence in Asia Pacific and Latin America. The market is mainly consolidated in United States (U.S.), Europe and Japan. HPP in North America is widely used for processing of juices and beverages followed by seafood products and meat products and vegetable products. The trend is however different in Asia Pacific where consumption HPP is widely used for meat products and seafood products rather than juice products. HPP market is expected to witness significant growth in North America and Europe.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @High Pressure Processing Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market players in high pressure processing market are Avure Technologies, Hiperbaric, Hormel Foods Corporation, Hain Celestial Group and American Pasteurization Company.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, technology and applications.The report covers exhaustive analysis on:Market SegmentsMarket DynamicsMarket SizeCurrent Trends/Issues/ChallengesCompetition & Companies involvedValue ChainRegional analysis includesNorth America (U.S., Canada)Latin America (Mexico. Brazil)Western Europe (Germany, Italy, France, U.K, Spain, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, ASEAN, Australia & New Zealand)JapanOthersThe 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 in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macro-economic indicators and governing factors along with market attractiveness as per segments. The report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and geographies.Report Highlights:Detailed overview of parent marketChanging market dynamics in the industryIn-depth market segmentationHistorical, current and projected market size in terms of volume and valueRecent industry trends and developmentsCompetitive landscapeStrategies of key players and products offeredPotential and niche segments, geographical regions exhibiting promising growthA neutral perspective on market performanceMust-have information for market players to sustain and enhance their market footprint.Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
How Cellulite Treatment Market will Grow in Future? FMI Research Offers Insights( 2017-2027)
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Cellulite is a multi-faced condition, a type of fat that is more visible on the surface of the skin than another type of fat in the body which is caused by several physiological and hormonal factors. Cellulite Treatment is a process of reducing the amount or appearance of cellulite. Most of the women have cellulite to one or another degree. Most common areas of the body where the cellulite occurs are the body parts which serves as the body fat's reserves such as buttocks, thighs, and hips. Cellulite creates a dimpled appearance in these areas of the body because it is closer to the surface of the skin. A connective tissue like Septa anchoring the fat tissue beneath the skin to deep muscles forms cellulite when changes its position between layers of the various tissues. The septa may breakdown, stretch or pull tight and fat may squeeze close to the surface of the skin which results in cellulite.According to statistics, more than 85% of females past the age of eighteen regardless of ancestry cellulite shows up on the thighs, although it is more common for Caucasian and Asian women. As it is a benign condition but being much like wrinkles cellulite has become a concern of women worldwide. Everything from loofahs, miracle ingredients, , herbal supplements, vitamins, minerals, special washcloths, bath liquids, rubberized pants, rollers, body wraps, brushes, and toning lotions to electrical muscle stimulation, vibrating machines, hormone or enzyme injections, inflatable hip-high pressurized boots, and massage have been claimed to be successful cellulite treatments.Request For Report Sample@Cellulite Treatment Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe desire to enhance the beauty and physical appearance among women with Increase in Awareness of the cellulite treatment procedures among the general public is the major factor that drives the Cellulite TreatmentMarket. The increase in efforts of Cellulite Industry on developing non-invasive and invasive techniques that help to address fat more effectively with the rise in disposable income due to increase in job opportunities in developing countries are also expected to fuel the market revenue for Cellulite treatment market over the forecast period. However, the suffering of the patients during treatment, high expenses of treatments, inadequate reimbursement infrastructures, unavailability of permanent cellulite removal procedures and certain side effects associated with the processes can hamper the growth of the Cellulite treatment marketto some extent.Cellulite Treatment Market: SegmentationCellulite treatment is segmented by:By treatment:Minimally InvasiveNon-InvasiveBy End-userHospitalsDermatology Clinics.Cellulite Treatment Market: OverviewCellulite is the problem for approximately 90 percent of women in Western nations. Before the middle of the 20th century, removal of cellulite wasnt a major issue for most women, because problematic fat buildups in their legs, thighs or buttocks werent as common back then but now people are concerned about how to get rid of cellulite for about 40 or 50 years. However, now there are many treatments against cellulite which is going to boost the revenue for cellulite treatment market in the upcoming period. Cellulaze one of the most effective laser cellulite treatment and is an FDA-approved procedure, which cuts the septae that cause skin dimpling and then melts the fat underneath the skin. Cellulaze session in Laser cellulite removal costs goes for a minimum of $2500. Most of the cellulite products come in the form of creams and lotions with lab-synthesized ingredients and the vast array of either exotic sounding beside this there are devices such as endermologie.Cellulite Treatment Market: Region-wise OutlookA geographic condition regarding for Cellulite treatment market, it has been segmented into five broad regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, and the Middle East & Africa.North America represents the largest Cellulite treatmentmarket followed by Europe due to advanced Healthcare Infrastructures and advancement in medical and surgical techniques. Expanding Urbanization as well as the increase in disposable income and increase in specialized surgeons in Asia-Pacific region results in elevation of Cellulite treatment market.Visit For TOC@Cellulite Market: Key Market ParticipantsSome of the key players in Cellulite treatment are Syneron Medical Inc., Cynosure Inc., Solta Medical Inc.and much more.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.CONTACTFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Enteric Empty Capsules Global Market 2017 Key Players,Share, Trend, Segmentation and Forecast to 2022
Global Enteric Empty Capsules Market
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Global Enteric Empty Capsules MarketThis report mainly introduces volume and value market share by players, by regions, by product type, by consumers and also their price change details. As a Detailed Analysis report, it covers all details inside analysis and opinion in Enteric Empty Capsules industry.This report splits Enteric Empty Capsules market By Accessories, By Content Type, which covers the history data information from 2012 to 2016 and forecast from 2017 to 2022.Request a Sample Report @This report focuses Global market, it covers details as following:Major CompaniesCapsugel(Greenwood)CapsCanada(Colombia)Suheung(South Korea)Qualicaps(Japan)Anhui Huangshan Capsule(China)Shanxi GS Capsule(China)Qingdao Yiqing(China)Levecaps(China)Main RegionsNorth AmericaUnited StatesCanadaLatin AmericaMexicoBrazilArgentinaOthersEuropeGermanyUnited KingdomFranceItalySpainRussiaNetherlandOthersAsia & PacificChinaJapanIndiaKoreaAustraliaSoutheast AsiaIndonesiaThailandPhilippinesVietnamSingaporeMalaysiaOthersAfrica & Middle EastSouth AfricaEgyptTurkeySaudi ArabiaIranOthersMain Product TypeEnteric Empty Capsules Market, by AccessoriesGelatin TypeHPMC TypeEnteric Empty Capsules Market, by Content TypePowerLiquidOtherMain ApplicationsPharmaceuticalHealth SupplementsOthers (Herb/Cosmetics)Enquiry for buying report@Table of Contents-Key Points CoveredGlobal Enteric Empty Capsules Detailed Analysis Report 2017-2022Chapter One Enteric Empty Capsules Market Overview1.1 Global Enteric Empty Capsules Market Sales Volume Revenue and Price 2012-20221.2 Enteric Empty Capsules, By Accessories 2012-20221.2.1 Global Enteric Empty Capsules Sales Market Share by Accessories 2012-20221.2.2 Global Enteric Empty Capsules Revenue Market Share by Accessories 2012-20221.2.3 Global Enteric Empty Capsules Price by Accessories 2012-20221.2.4 Gelatin Type1.2.5 HPMC Type1.3 Enteric Empty Capsules, by Content Type 2012-20221.3.1 Global Enteric Empty Capsules Sales Market Share by Content Type 2012-20221.3.2 Global Enteric Empty Capsules Revenue Market Share by Content Type 2012-20221.3.3 Global Enteric Empty Capsules Price by Content Type 2012-20221.3.4 Power1.3.5 Liquid1.3.6 OtherChapter Two Enteric Empty Capsules by Regions 2012-20172.1 Global Enteric Empty Capsules Sales Market Share by Regions 2012-20172.2 Global Enteric Empty Capsules Revenue Market Share by Regions 2012-20172.3 Global Enteric Empty Capsules Price by Regions 2012-20172.4 North America2.4.1 United States2.4.2 Canada2.5 Latin America2.5.1 Mexico2.5.2 Brazil2.5.3 Argentina2.5.4 Others in Latin America2.6 Europe2.6.1 Germany2.6.2 United Kingdom2.6.3 France2.6.4 Italy2.6.5 Spain2.6.6 Russia2.6.7 Netherland2.6.8 Others in Europe2.7 Asia & Pacific2.7.1 China2.7.2 Japan2.7.3 India2.7.4 Korea2.7.5 Australia2.7.6 Southeast Asia2.7.6.1 Indonesia2.7.6.2 Thailand2.7.6.3 Philippines2.7.6.4 Vietnam2.7.6.5 Singapore2.7.6.6 Malaysia2.7.6.7 Others in Southeast Asia2.8 Africa & Middle East2.8.1 South Africa2.8.2 Egypt2.8.3 Turkey2.8.4 Saudi Arabia2.8.5 Iran2.8.6 Others in Africa & Middle EastChapter Three Enteric Empty Capsules by Players 2012-20173.1 Global Enteric Empty Capsules Sales Volume Market Share by Players 2012-20173.2 Global Enteric Empty Capsules Revenue Share by Players 2012-20173.3 Global Top Players Enteric Empty Capsules Key Product Model and Market Performance3.4 Global Top Players Enteric Empty Capsules Key Target Consumers and Market PerformanceContinued.Buy Now@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
Next Imaging Technology Market 2016 Leading Growth Drivers, Emerging Audience, Segments, Sales, Profits & Analysis
Next Imaging Technology Market
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Market Scenario:The major growth driver of Next Imaging Technology Market includes growing demand for technology for precise treatment in medical sector, growing demand for high bandwidth digital converters, and growing market of smartphones among others.Hence the market for Next Imaging Technology Market is expected to grow at high CAGR (2016-2027). However, lack of technical expertise is one of the major factors which are hindering the growth of Next Imaging Technology Market.Major Key Players: Karl Storz (U.S.) Olympus (Japan) Sony (Japan) Barco (Belgium) Imaging technology solutions (U.S.) Flir Systems Inc. (U.S.) SK Hynix Inc. (South Korea) TOSHIBA CORPORATION (Japan) Qualcomm (U.S.) Galaxy Core Inc. (China)Request a Sample Report @Objective of Next Imaging Technology Market Study: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 10 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the Global Next Imaging Technology market. To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth. To analyze the Next Imaging Technology Market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW). To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective. To provide country level analysis of the market for segment by type, by technique, by application and sub-segments. To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market. To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Global Next Imaging Technology market.Segments:Global Next Imaging Technology Market can be segmented as follows: Segmentation by Type: Induction tomography, CMOS imaging, and electromagnetic imaging among others. Segmentation by Technique: Optical, thermal, radiography, and scanning among others. Segmentation by Application: medical, consumer electronics, automotive, civil engineering and surveillance among others.Regional Analysis:North America is expected to dominate the Global Next Imaging Technology Market with the largest market share, and therefore accounting for inmillion and is expected to grow over high billion by 2027.Industry News:Qualcomm has announced in February 2016 about its new developed snapdragon processors 625, 435, and 425. These processors are being used to provide advanced modem facility, imaging and sensors system for the mainstream devices.Olympus has announced in July, 2016 about its new launched scanning microscopes which are used for fluorescent observations of structures inside tissues and living cells.Americas North America US Canada Latin AmericaEurope Western Europe Germany France U.K Rest of Western Europe Eastern EuropeBrowse Full Report Details @Asia Pacific Asia China India Japan South Korea Rest of Asia PacificTable of Contents1 Market Introduction1.1 Introduction1.2 Scope of Study1.2.1 Research Objective1.2.2 Assumptions1.2.3 Limitations1.3 Market StructureAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
MBDA to discuss extended naval air and missile defence systems in Prague this October
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Mr Fabio Bonnani, Head of Air Defense Architectures and Italy Technology at MBDA will be speaking on Day 2 of SMi Groups Air Missile Defence Technology 2017.His presentation will expound on MBDAs extended naval air and missile defence systems, where he gives an overview to the systems, the concept of operation, components and foreseen evolutions and upgrades.This comes at a relevant time as MBDA continues to showcase its air and missile defence capabilities with the recent launch of their Land Ceptor surface-to-air missile system in London, and the completion of the first firings of Sea Ceptor, a new AMD system designed to intercept and engage adversarial missiles that travel at supersonic speed.Mr Bonnani will also be participating in an industry panel discussion to discuss key challenges for industry when developing effective air and missile defence systems.Mr Bonnani joins a speaker line-up of high-level military and government representatives from nations with leading AMD programmes (including V4 countries Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia) as well as key solution providers developing next generation capability in this vital area of defence such as Lockheed Martin, Rafael, and Weibel Scientific.Air Missile Defence Technology 2017 will bring together air defence operators and technical experts from the military and industry, the event agenda has been curated to provide a discussion on threats to the increasingly complex air space and the solutions available to defeat these threats from the air including missiles, rockets, artillery, planes and unmanned aerial vehicles.The full agenda can be viewed onFor those interested in attending, there is currently an Early Bird discount of 100 for online registrations made by 30th September 2017.2nd annual Air Missile Defence Technology ConferenceOctober 24 & 25, 2017Courtyard by Marriott Prague Airport Hotel, Czech RepublicContact Information:For queries on military bookings, contact James Hitchen on jhitchen@smi-online.co.uk. For sponsorship and exhibition details, contact Jamie Gordon on jgordon@smi-online.co.uk. For media enquiries contact Honey de Gracia on hdegracia@smi-online.co.uk.About SMi Group:Established since 1993, the SMi Group is a global event-production company that specializes in Business-to-Business Conferences, Workshops, Masterclasses and online Communities. We create and deliver events in the Defence, Security, Energy, Utilities, Finance and Pharmaceutical industries. We pride ourselves on having access to the worlds most forward thinking opinion leaders and visionaries, allowing us to bring our communities together to Learn, Engage, Share and Network. More information can be found at1 Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7XW
Global Industrial Operational Intelligence Solutions Market 2017 Top Players - Siemens, Rockwell Automation, Axway, Kofax, Guavus
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Global Industrial Operational Intelligence Solutions market Research Report tracks the major aspects including technological evolutions, product launches, merges and acquisitions, and the advance business strategies opted by key market players. Along with these aspects the report also focuses on the significant opportunities, challenges that are affecting the industrial growth, industrial drivers in the Industrial Operational Intelligence Solutions market.Download Free Sample Report @This report provides summary of the market size, market share, market segments and sub segments of Industrial Operational Intelligence Solutions market. It gives in-depth analysis of geographical regions, future trends and growth.The global Industrial Operational Intelligence Solutions market is examined to understand the market dynamics across several regions including North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. Each of these regions is studied on basis of manufacturers, type and applications. Detail profiles of the companies are added.Leading companies operating in the global Industrial Operational Intelligence Solutions market profiled in the report areDassault SystemesRockwell AutomationSiemensSplunkVitriaAxwayBentley SystemsFeedzaiGuavusIntelligent InSitesKofaxIFSAccess Full Report @For market chain survey, the report covers valuable information of upstream raw materials, equipment, downstream client survey, marketing channels, market evolution trends and proposals which includes productive information. Functional tools like market positioning of Industrial Operational Intelligence Solutions key players and appealing scheme provide the reader scenario of the Industrial Operational Intelligence Solutions market.Application Segment: Global Industrial Operational Intelligence Solutions MarketDiscrete IndustriesProcess IndustriesThe global Industrial Operational Intelligence Solutions market encompasses complete analysis of the source market and provides crucial changes in Industrial Operational Intelligence Solutions dynamics. The demand of the product basis on different application areas and its future utilization has also described in the report. Top down approach is considered to signify each branches of Industrial Operational Intelligence Solutions market.Additional information provided in the report:In addition, it is important to note that our report not only focuses on the CAGR but also analyses the yearly growth of the Industrial Operational Intelligence Solutions market while considering the frequent changes in the industry. The global Industrial Operational Intelligence Solutions market serves to various supporters and executives including investors, device manufacturers, distributors and suppliers for Industrial Operational Intelligence Solutions equipment, research and development, government organizations and consulting firms. The deliberated approaches help stakeholders to make future decisions, to invent several plans and policies.About Fior MarketsFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerOffice-102, Sanskriti AspirationsBaner Road, Pune,MH 411045IndiaPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
A Green Bay-area businessman has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly defrauding the states job-creation agency of more than $1 million, U.S. Attorney Gregory Haanstad announced Wednesday.
The indictment of Ron Van Den Heuvel, owner of Green Box NA, for alleged fraud and money laundering marks the first time criminal charges have been leveled against a business owner who received taxpayer funding from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.
According to the indictment filed in federal court Tuesday, Van Den Heuvel allegedly devised a scheme that ended up defrauding $9 million from WEDC, acquaintances and investors from Canada and China between 2011 and 2015.
WEDC loaned $1.12 million to Green Box on Oct. 21, 2011, according to the indictment. The funds were supposed to help the company create 116 jobs by December 2014 as part of a more than $13 million project to turn fast-food wrappers and other waste paper into synthetic fuel and paper products while producing zero waste, according to agency records.
Van Den Heuvel persuaded WEDC and other investors to give him money by falsely claiming he had entered into agreements with major companies to advance Green Boxs operations and produced false financial statements that grossly inflated his personal wealth and financial situation, the indictment said.
A phone number for Van Den Heuvel has been disconnected.
The money he received from investors and WEDC to further Green Boxs operations was instead used to pay personal expenses, creditors, other legal obligations unrelated to Green Box and on promotional material to further promote the scheme, according to the indictment.
Van Den Heuvel also told WEDC he hadnt faced any lawsuits in the previous five years. Green Box also just recently emerged from bankruptcy.
According to warrants issued in 2015, a substantial portion of the loan amount from WEDC was transferred to bank accounts for other business entities and used to pay Van Den Heuvels personal and business debts unrelated to Green Box.
The warrants also alleged that Van Den Heuvel gave tours of a vacant building in Ashwaubenon that was never for sale but was used as a prop to induce commitments from investors.
He also gave demonstrations of his equipment, but it did not work as he represented, and he claimed to hold seven patents when, in fact, he holds none, according to the warrants.
One employee told investigators she was instructed to document financial entries on a balance sheet with numbers Van Den Heuvel quoted to her, but she knew the numbers were not real because there was no actual business or product being produced by Green Box at any time.
An investigator for the Brown County Sheriffs Office testified at the time that Van Den Heuvel used the money to pay off personal and business debts, such as Green Bay Packers box seats, trips to Las Vegas and $2,000 weekly alimony payments to his ex-wife.
The false information also persuaded WEDC to provide Green Box a $95,500 grant for job training, according to the indictment.
Van Den Heuvel also allegedly defrauded $4.5 million from investors from China through a federal program that allows immigrant investors to become permanent citizens by investing in projects approved by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services agency. None of the projects has been approved by the agency, according to the indictment.
In a January 2016 interview with the Wisconsin State Journal, Van Den Heuvel promised to repay WEDC but hadnt been able to because a judge had put his company into receivership, as other creditors were owed money first.
Agency spokesman Mark Maley said Wednesday that Van Den Heuvel had not repaid WEDC yet.
As stewards of taxpayers dollars in making those investments, it is important to us that any potential abuse of state funds related to WEDC awards be thoroughly investigated. WEDC has been cooperating with federal authorities in their investigation of Green Box and Ron Van Den Heuvel, and will continue to do so as the case evolves, Maley said. WEDC also continues to participate in litigation to recoup repayment of Green Boxs WEDC loan to whatever extent possible.
Collaborative Authoring Tools Market Forecast Report by Future Market Insights Offers Key Insights 2016-2026
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With the increasing focus toward e-education and e-training, collaborative authoring tools have emerged as the key source enabling efficient use of resources based out at different locations across the globe. Collaborative authoring tools are software applications used to create content documents at one platform by various authors through creating efficient and effective communication between the authors. Collaborative authoring tools varies from simple tools that convert documents to web page to advanced software that provides variety of sophisticated applications. Wide application of these tools by training organization, developers, project and data oriented companies has significantly boosted the market growth, as it enables a real time communication between authors, unlike the conventional means such as emailing.The collaborative authoring tools are easy to operate and use WYSIWYG interface i.e. what you see is what you get. The authors accessing collaborative authoring tools have co-authoring functionality. This feature can be combined with collaborative review features for better precision for document creation and review process. Many of the working environments require collaborative writing as well as editing of the drawings, presentations, spreadsheets, and documents. Synchronous sharing, editing, revision, comments, group membership, etc. are some of the major features of the collaborative authoring tools used nowadays. These features of the collaborative authoring tools make them the backbone of the commercial industry.Global Collaborative Authoring Tools Market: DynamicsDriversProduct features such as user commitment to easier, efficient and effective work processes and more involvement to the projects are the factors growing the market of collaborative authoring tools globally. Cost effectiveness, easy data sharing through provision of revision tracking are other factors fueling the market growth.Request Report Sample@Furthermore, ongoing research and development by service providers to develop more customized and user friendly solution is expected to create significant demand for collaborative authoring tools over the next few years.RestraintsCommunication issues and time zone issues are some of the factors which hinders the growth of collaborative authoring tools globally. Moreover, some of the other factors which hampers the collaborative authoring tools market growth is the type of training such as asynchronous learning, instructor led-training (ILT) required by the organizationTrendsRecent trends observed in collaborative authoring tools market is the growth of delivering mobile learning applications which are still in their early growth stage. Furthermore, the advanced features such as real time videos acts as a means of capturing expert knowledge and instructions.Global Collaborative Authoring Tools Market: SegmentationThe collaborative authoring tools are segmented on the basis of tool type, applications and region. On the basis of tool type, the collaborative authoring tools can be segmented into Google Docs, MS Office, MS Word, MS SharePoint, and others ( SELF, Etherpad, Moddle, etc.). On the basis of applications, collaborative authoring tools can be segmented into instant messaging, telephony, web Conferencing, E-mail server, others .On the basis of region, collaborative authoring tools can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific Exc. Japan, Western Europe, Japan, Eastern Europe, and Middle East and Africa.Visit For TOC@Global Collaborative Authoring Tools Market: Key PlayersSome of the major key players of the collaborative authoring tools are:CM Group Luminosity SuiteIMC Content StudioKenexa LCMSAdobe PresenterLectora PublisherSana Software EasyGeneratorXyleme LCMSCrossKnowledge MohiveInfor ContentCreatorAdobe CaptivateABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Cider Packaging Market Size, Share, Trends, and Opportunity Analysis by FMI 2016-2026
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Cider is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented juice of apples. Cider beverage is made up of cider apples which is mostly produced in U.S. There is great demand of innovation in packaging of cider in market. The growth of hard cider has been driven largely by the highly coveted millennial generation. Market is mainly driven by increased disposable income and demand for innovative packaging product and safe packaging.Global Cider Packaging Market: DynamicsReducing unit cider packagingsize is creating more consumption opportunities.The presence of premium brand such as woodchuck, Kopparberg and angry orchard has increased the demand for premium quality cider packaging. Premium cider packagingbrand are high in demand as compared to economically priced product due to rise in consumption of alcohol as a status symbol, disposable income and association of premium labels with the beverage quality and taste. cider packaging market is highly competitive which led competitors to come up with innovative product and new strategy in packaging world.The vendors in cider packaging are coming with bottles prepared with a high barrier coating technology to upturn its shelf life and minimize the risk of saturation. With the technological innovations in the cider packaging market, there is increasing demand for water-based coating technology as it is environmentally-friendly, tasteless, odorless and decreases the usage of sprig powder. The global demand of cider packaging is expected to grow at impressive CAGR in near future.Request Report Sample@Global Cider Packaging Market: SegmentationThe global cider packaging market can be segmented on the basis of material type packaging type and region. On the basis of material cider packaging market can be segmented on glass, plastic and metal. On the basis of packaging type cider packaging market can be segmented as bottles, cans and stand up pouches. Among all material type used for cider packaging, plastic is gaining preference over glass bottles and metal cans because plastic are light in weight, compatible lower in cost and are available in various design. The development of plastic packaging solution will be key driver for the growth of overall cider packaging market. Another driving factor for cider packaging id the increasing demand for alcoholic beverage has pushed vendors to focus on shelf-life packaging that is easy to store, easy to transport and is convenient to unpack. The manufactures are coming up with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, which shelters the cider products for long period. On the basis of region North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa.Global Cider Packaging Market: Regional OverviewNorth America cider packaging market is expected to register strong growth in near future while cider packaging market is expected to slowdown in largest market of Europe. Europe market is focusing in innovative packaging so that product become more appealing to consumers. The launch of low calorie and craft cider in Europe is expected to create demand in new cider packaging product which can add volume sale in this region. Cider packaging market in Asia Pacific region is expected to show nominal growth during forecast period. Middle East and Africa is expected to dominate the cider packaging market in near future and projected to account highest market share.Visit For TOC@Global Cider Packaging Market: Key PlayersThe main player of global cider packaging in market are Amcor limited , Ardagh group, Ball corporation, Crown Holdings, Rexam Owens-Illinois. Some of the other prominent players are Plastipak Packaging, Silgan Holdings, Consol Glass, Vetropack, Allied Glass Containers, Can-Pack, MeadWestvaco, Nampak and VidralaABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Global Pharmaceutical Grade Solketal Market 2017 by Regions, Type and Application - Solvay, Hangzhou ICH Biofarm
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Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Pharmaceutical Grade Solketal Sales Market Report 2017 to its huge collection of research reports.The market research reports on the global Pharmaceutical Grade Solketal market puts special focus on the various segments of this market with all the significant statistics. The main motive of this report is to present its readers with relevant and useful information on the Pharmaceutical Grade Solketal market for the opportunities present in the market. The report covers various aspects pertaining to the growth of the overall market along with growth of various segments. The research study offers a detailed outline of the Pharmaceutical Grade Solketal market comprising with explanation of the prime trends, which are more likely to influence the growth of the market in the coming future. The factors have been well researched and has used both primary and secondary sources to present reliable data.Get complimentary Research Summary Of The Report:This report sheds light upon the industrial and production chains of the Pharmaceutical Grade Solketal market. This helps in generating statistics and accurate data on multiple factors such as revenue earned, volume sold, production capacity, and production and distribution structure. Most reliable analytical tools have been employed for data gathering, to help players understand the positive and negative impacts of several factors on the structure of the Pharmaceutical Grade Solketal market in the coming years.Furthermore, this study provides overall examination of the key regions lucrative to the growth of the Pharmaceutical Grade Solketal market. For every specified region, this study provides the historical data of the market growth and allows vendors to draw conclusions, which can ensure their success in the coming years. Profiles of various players operating in the Pharmaceutical Grade Solketal market to give readers the perception of these players on this market.Request A Discount on This report @Table of Contents1 Pharmaceutical Grade Solketal Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Pharmaceutical Grade Solketal1.2 Classification of Pharmaceutical Grade Solketal by Product Category1.2.1 Global Pharmaceutical Grade Solketal Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Pharmaceutical Grade Solketal Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20162 Global Pharmaceutical Grade Solketal Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global Pharmaceutical Grade Solketal Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global Pharmaceutical Grade Solketal Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Pharmaceutical Grade Solketal Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)3 United States Pharmaceutical Grade Solketal (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Pharmaceutical Grade Solketal Sales and Value (2012-2017)3.1.1 United States Pharmaceutical Grade Solketal Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.2 United States Pharmaceutical Grade Solketal Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.3 United States Pharmaceutical Grade Solketal Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)Interested in report, Please follow the below the links to meet your requirements: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 usBrooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Growing Industrialization will influence the XYZ Market Growth( 2017-2027)
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Metallic stearates are long chain fatty acid compounds with metals of different valencies. Metallic stearates can be used for a wide range of applications, owing to their versatile properties, such as lubrication, separating properties, water repellence, gelling, stabilising, foam inhibition, and others. Metallic stearates have high melting points and are thermostable in nature. They are mostly derived from animal or plant based fatty acid sources. Aluminium and magnesium stearates are widely being used as stabilizing agents in many suspensions. Metallic stearates are used as lubricating agents in the plastics processing industry. They provide excellent resistant to colour degradation at elevated temperatures. Moreover, Zinc stearates are used as mould release agents in a number of applications.Global Metallic Stearates Market: DynamicsDrivers:The global metallic stearate market is driven by the increasing demand for PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) and other polymers, which use metallic stearates in various types of processing. The use of metallic stearates in the manufacturing of different polymers, such as phenolic resins, polyolefin, polystyrene, and others is expected to drive the global metallic stearates market.Request For Report Sample@Moreover, there has been an increase in the use of metallic stearates in the manufacture of soaps and detergents, due to their hydrophilic properties that prevent particles from absorbing moisture and thus, prevent agglomeration.Restraints:A major factor that acts as a challenge for the growth of the global metallic stearate market is the problem of filterability of chemicals by the use of these stearates. Another problem faced by the addition of metal stearates is that of corrosion.Trends:Manufacturers are focusing on the development of tailored solutions. Special customised metallic stearates are being manufactured as per requirement. Based on specific needs, such as water repellence, stabilising properties, acid scavenging, and others, different types of metallic stearates are being manufactured.Global Metallic Stearates Market: SegmentationThe global metallic stearates market can be segmented in a number of ways. Some of the prominent classifications being on the basis of product type, end use industry, and form.On the basis of product type, the global metallic stearates market can be segmented as:Zinc stearateMagnesium stearateCalcium stearateAluminium stearateOthers (Nickel, Copper, Lithium, etc.)On the basis of end use industry, the global metallic stearate market can be segmented as:Building and constructionPharmaceuticalCosmetics and personal careLubricantsPaints and coatingsPolymer and rubber industryPaper and pulp IndustryMining and metallurgyFood and beverage IndustryOn the basis of form, the global metallic stearate market can be segmented as:Fine powerFlakesPellet/granularAqueous stearate dispersionsGlobal Metallic Stearates Market: Regional OutlookAsia Pacific is anticipated to hold a major share in the global metallic stearate market and the region is projected to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. There has been an increase in the demand for metallic stearates in Asia Pacific, owning to an increase in the number of major end use industries, such as polymers and rubber, and building and construction, among others. China is a major market for metallic stearates, followed by India. Europe and North America are also anticipated to hold a significant share in the global metallic stearates market. This can be attributed to a large base of manufacturing industries in the region that require metallic stearates for various applications. The Middle East and Africa region is anticipated to show relatively sluggish growth over the forecast period and the region is expected to remain a relatively small market for metallic stearates. Japan is projected to expand at a moderate CAGR over the forecast period.Visit For TOC@Global Metallic Stearates Market: Market ParticipantsExamples of some of the market participants identified across the value chain of the global metallic stearates market include Baerlocher GmbH, Dover Chemical Corporation, Brenntag Specialities Inc., PMC Group Inc., Valtris Specialty Chemicals, James M. Brown Ltd., Faci S.p.A, Hallstar, Peter Greven GmbH & Co. KG.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.CONTACTFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Global Market Study on White Oil, Industry Analysis,Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2025
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Persistence Market Researchs research process is a strong blend of secondary and primary research backed with key opinions of the market observers and thought leaders. The extensive secondary research gives a direction to the research process, which gives sufficient ammo for the primary research. The wide overview of the market provides clarity with respect to market definition and scenario that involves the major products/services/players involved in the global white oil market activities. The primary research involves interviews with key personnel across geographies and the data so collected is ensured to reach maximum accuracy as it undergoes multi-layer validation from which actionable insights can be slated to aid critical business decisions. The opinions of key market observers also gives a green signal to the data so collected, after which a triangulation process is carried out to arrive at the most accurate data and statistical representations.Request For Sample Report :The weighted analysis and a 360o view of the global white oil market is presented in our new report titled White Oil Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012 2016) and Forecast (20172025). The report gives a feel and flavor of the global white oil market with a broad overview and also assists in taking decisions and chalking new strategies.Our research report on the global white oil market is a well-furnished research study that uncovers each and every aspect of the market owing to our robust research platform. It unmasks research on the macroeconomic factors, SWOT analysis, regulatory aspects, and other angles that govern the dynamics of the market influencing its growth across the important geographies of North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific and Middle East and Africa. These traits help in devising an accurate marketing strategy or entry tactic or even expansion plans; simultaneously dealing with the unforeseen events lurking within the market scenario.Global White Oil Market: TaxonomyThe information presented in the report revolves around all the major categories of the global white oil market. A detailed segmentation of the market is carried out as a first step in the research.Competition LandscapeA separate section on competitive landscape is provided in the report. This section covers all main aspects such as product portfolio analysis, developments and innovations, mergers and acquisitions, key trends followed, geographical spread, expansion plans, market shares, marketing strategies and promotional tactics of the key players involved in the global white oil market. This helps the reader decide and walk their own milestones accompanied with various strategic moves in order to achieve those milestones. This section covers important details pertaining to all key tier companies that have a significant hold in the global white oil market.Browse Full Report With TOC :Key value additions deliveredThe entire report gives credible information with an unbiased interpretation considering all the possible angles and giving a holistic market overviewThe report gives details about each segment in the market with respect to all the important geographiesThe research study possesses unparalleled accuracy owing to the use of a robust research methodologyThe research on the past and the present scenario in the global white oil market can give actionable insights on the future; a separate dedicated section on the forecasts helps the reader analyse present moves and predict future actionsIn-depth analysis covers all aspects thereby doing justice to each market segmentThe trends, developments, innovations, restraints and challenges in the market are also covered giving a total market outlookEnquiry About This Report :Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of market intelligence reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.State Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United StatesTelephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comGoogle+:Linked in:Twitter:
Mobile Virtual Network Operator Market Challenges, Key Vendors, Drivers and Trends by Forecast to 2027
Mobile Virtual Network Operator Market
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Market Scenario:The major growth driver of Mobile Virtual Network Operator Market includes growing mobile subscriber base, rising competition among service providers and increasing customer requirement for low-priced mobile services among others.Hence the market for Mobile Virtual Network Operator Market is expected to grow at more CAGR (2016-2027).However, lack of technical expertise is one of the factors which are hindering the growth of Mobile Virtual Network Operator Market.Major Key Players: AT&T (U.S.), Verizon (U.S.) Sprint (U.S.) Lyca mobile Group (U.K.) T-Mobile AG (U.S.) CITIC Telecom International Holding Limited (Hong-Kong) Telefonica S.A. (Spain) Tracfone Wireless, Inc. (U.S.)Request a Sample Report @Objective of Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) Market Study: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 10 years of the various segments and sub- segments of the global Mobile Virtual Network Operator Market. To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth. To Analyze the Mobile Virtual Network Operator Market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW). To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective. To provide country level analysis of the market for segment by type, service, infrastructure and sub-segments. To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market. To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the global Mobile Virtual Network Operator Market .Segments:Global Mobile Virtual Network Operator Market can be segmented as follows:Segmentation by Type: Reseller, Service operator, and Full MVNO among others.Segmentation by Service: Network routing, Customer care, Bulling & collection, Handset management (2G, 3G, 4G), and marketing & sales among others.Segmentation by Infrastructure: Skinny MVNO, Thin MVNO, and Thick MVNO among others.Regional Analysis of Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) Market:Asia-Pacific is dominating the Global Mobile Virtual Network Operator Market with the largest market share due to emerging growth in telecom industries in the region, and therefore accounting for high million and is expected to grow over in billion by 2027.Industry News: Tesco mobile announced in March 2016 that it is looking to buy out its mobile network joint venture. It is seeking to take advantage of regulatory concern about the merger of O2 and Hutchison 3G Companies. Vodafone has announced in June 2016 that its five MVNO which are Lebara, Macquarie telecom, Hello mobile, go talk, and Pivotal prepaid will be granted access to the 4G LTE services in the upcoming weeks.Browse Full Report Details @AmericasNorth America US CanadaLatin AmericaEuropeWestern Europe Germany France U.K. Rest of Western EuropeEastern EuropeAsia PacificAsia China India Japan South Korea Rest of Asia PacificTable of Contents1 Market Introduction1.1 Introduction1.2 Scope of Study1.2.1 Research Objective1.2.2 Assumptions1.2.3 Limitations1.3 Market Structure:ContinuedAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our statistical 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 Solutions, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Automotive Wiring Harness Industry Report Focuses On the Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast to 2025
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Industry Report Automotive wiring harness is defined as collection of many electrical wires which are used to transfer information and energy in automobiles. As compared to the individual wires in automotive industry, automotive wiring harness are better safeguarded from the vehicular vibrations impact. The global automotive wiring harness market is growing at a very steady rate due to the increasing automobile industry.Increasing demand for electronic safety equipment in vehicle and installation of advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) in vehicles are major drivers which are enhancing the growth of this system whereas complex wiring integration and high cost associated with the replacement of wiring harness can act as a restraining factor in the market. Increasing use of safety sensors and automated steering control systems will provide new opportunities in the market in the coming years.Request Sample Copy is Available atThe "Global Automotive Wiring Harness Market Analysis to 2025" is a specialized and in-depth study of the automotive wiring harness industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global automotive wiring harness market with detailed market segmentation by electric vehicle type, vehicle type, component type, material type, application and geography. The global automotive wiring harness market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the leading market players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.The report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global automotive wiring harness market based on electric vehicle type, vehicle type, component type, material type and application. It also provides market size and forecast till 2025 for overall automotive wiring harness market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America (SAM). The market by each region is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report covers analysis and forecast of 15 counties globally along with current trend and opportunities prevailing in the region.Besides this, the report analyzes factors affecting market from both demand and supply side and further evaluates market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend. The report also provides exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions namely; North America, Europe, APAC, MEA and South America after evaluating political, economic, social and technological factors effecting the market in these regions.Also, key automotive wiring harness market players influencing the market are profiled in the study along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. The report also focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered, financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years. Some of the key players influencing the market are Sumitomo Electric , Lear Corporation, Delphi Automotive PLC , Yazaki Corporation, Furukawa Electric Co., Fujikura Automotive, Samvardhana Motherson Group, Leoni AG, PKC Group and THB Group.Complete Report is Available atGlobal Automotive Wiring Harness Market Players:1. Sumitomo Electric2. Lear Corporation3. Delphi Automotive PLC4. Yazaki Corporation5. Furukawa Electric Co.6. Fujikura Automotive7. Samvardhana Motherson Group8. Leoni AG9. PKC Group10. THB GroupContact Us:Phone: +1-646-491-9876Email Id: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Endoscope Light Source Market 2017 - Olympus, Boston, HOYA, B. Braun, Fujifilm
Endoscope Light Source Market
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Apex Research, recently published a detailed market research study focused on the "Endoscope Light Source Market" across the global, regional and country level. The report provides 360 analysis of "Endoscope Light Source Market" from view of manufacturers, regions, product types and end industries. The research report analyses and provides the historical data along with current performance of the global Endoscope Light Source industry, and estimates the future trend of Endoscope Light Source market on the basis of this detailed study. The study shares "Endoscope Light Source Market" performance both in terms of volume and revenue.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:Top Manufacturers Analysis of This ReportOlympusBostonHOYAB. BraunFujifilmSmith & NephewStrykerMindrayConmedKarl StorzSchoelly FiberopticRichard WolfTiansongAohuaSonoScapeThe market research report explores the Endoscope Light Source market across the globe along with major regions and countries. The research report provides a detailed study on each and every aspect of "Endoscope Light Source Market". The research report studies the entire value chain from raw material to end user industries. The report also shares import/export statistics along with production and consumption for all major regions and countries. Moreover, the research study classifies the Endoscope Light Source market based on major product types, application and end users industries of Endoscope Light Source. Besides, the report also covers geographical segmentation for Endoscope Light Source market. The report further provides production, capacity, price per region, gross margin, production cost, for all major regions and countries listed in report.The competitive landscape of the global market for Endoscope Light Source is determined by assessing the major industry participants, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Endoscope Light Source market's production chain, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Endoscope Light Source market globally.Enquire Before Buying @The worldwide Endoscope Light Source market 2017 is further analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Endoscope Light Source production volume, data pertaining to demand and Endoscope Light Source supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. The report provides upstream and downstream analysis covering major raw material used in manufacturing of Endoscope Light Source along with detailed manufacturing sources. The report also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations. Detailed raw material price trend analysis along with manufacturing cost analysis is also incorporated into the report. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, SWOT analysis and market attractiveness analysis has been implemented in the research study to present a comprehensive, detailed study of the industry for Endoscope Light Source across the world.About UsApexResearch offer reports from top publishers and update to serve you with immediate on-line access to professional insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends. Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact UsFrank ValadezBusiness Development Executive| sales@apexresearch.biz
Global Mocha Coffee Market 2017 Research In-Depth Analysis, Key Players, Applications, Forecasts to 2022
Global Mocha Coffee Market
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Global Mocha Coffee MarketThis report mainly introduces volume and value market share by players, by regions, by product type, by consumers and also their price change details. As a Detailed Analysis report, it covers all details inside analysis and opinion in Mocha Coffee industry.This report splits Mocha Coffee market By Original Name, By Taste, which covers the history data information from 2012 to 2016 and forecast from 2017 to 2022.Request a Sample Report @This report focuses Global market, it covers details as following:Major CompaniesNestle(Switzerland)Mario Gabelli?Switzerland?Starbucks(US)Aik Cheong(Malaysia)Cubita(Cuba)Haikou Lishen Coffee Beverage Co. Ltd?CN?Oldtown(Malaysia)Fruttee(Thailand)Kraft(US)Colin(IT)Rung Nguyen (Vietnamese)Yirgacheffe(Ethiopia)Sidamo(Ethiopia)Madcap(Ethiopia)Greenway Coffee(Indonesia)Main RegionsNorth AmericaUnited StatesCanadaLatin AmericaMexicoBrazilArgentinaOthersEuropeGermanyUnited KingdomFranceItalySpainRussiaNetherlandOthersAsia & PacificChinaJapanIndiaKoreaAustraliaSoutheast AsiaIndonesiaThailandPhilippinesVietnamSingaporeMalaysiaOthersAfrica & Middle EastSouth AfricaEgyptTurkeySaudi ArabiaIranOthersMain Product TypeMocha Coffee Market, by Original NameManual ModulationPort NameMoka Express CofeemakerMocha Coffee Market, by TasteItem MochaMochacinoMain ApplicationsRefresh the BrainStrengthening Bones and MusclesAppetizing FoodDehumidificationTo enquire about this report visit @Table of Contents-Key Points CoveredGlobal Mocha Coffee Detailed Analysis Report 2017-2022Chapter One Mocha Coffee Market Overview1.1 Global Mocha Coffee Market Sales Volume Revenue and Price 2012-20221.2 Mocha Coffee, By Original Name 2012-20221.2.1 Global Mocha Coffee Sales Market Share by Original Name 2012-20221.2.2 Global Mocha Coffee Revenue Market Share by Original Name 2012-20221.2.3 Global Mocha Coffee Price by Original Name 2012-20221.2.4 Manual Modulation1.2.5 Port Name1.2.6 Moka Express Cofeemaker1.3 Mocha Coffee, by Taste 2012-20221.3.1 Global Mocha Coffee Sales Market Share by Taste 2012-20221.3.2 Global Mocha Coffee Revenue Market Share by Taste 2012-20221.3.3 Global Mocha Coffee Price by Taste 2012-20221.3.4 Item Mocha1.3.5 MochacinoChapter Two Mocha Coffee by Regions 2012-20172.1 Global Mocha Coffee Sales Market Share by Regions 2012-20172.2 Global Mocha Coffee Revenue Market Share by Regions 2012-20172.3 Global Mocha Coffee Price by Regions 2012-20172.4 North America2.4.1 United States2.4.2 Canada2.5 Latin America2.5.1 Mexico2.5.2 Brazil2.5.3 Argentina2.5.4 Others in Latin America2.6 Europe2.6.1 Germany2.6.2 United Kingdom2.6.3 France2.6.4 Italy2.6.5 Spain2.6.6 Russia2.6.7 Netherland2.6.8 Others in Europe2.7 Asia & Pacific2.7.1 China2.7.2 Japan2.7.3 India2.7.4 Korea2.7.5 Australia2.7.6 Southeast Asia2.7.6.1 Indonesia2.7.6.2 Thailand2.7.6.3 Philippines2.7.6.4 Vietnam2.7.6.5 Singapore2.7.6.6 Malaysia2.7.6.7 Others in Southeast Asia2.8 Africa & Middle East2.8.1 South Africa2.8.2 Egypt2.8.3 Turkey2.8.4 Saudi Arabia2.8.5 Iran2.8.6 Others in Africa & Middle EastChapter Three Mocha Coffee by Players 2012-20173.1 Global Mocha Coffee Sales Volume Market Share by Players 2012-20173.2 Global Mocha Coffee Revenue Share by Players 2012-20173.3 Global Top Players Mocha Coffee Key Product Model and Market Performance3.4 Global Top Players Mocha Coffee Key Target Consumers and Market PerformanceChapter Four Mocha Coffee by Consumer 2012-20174.1 Global Mocha Coffee Sales Market Share by Consumer 2012-20174.2 Refresh the Brain4.3 Strengthening Bones and Muscles4.4 Appetizing Food4.5 Dehumidification4.6 Consuming Habit and PreferenceContinued.Buy Now@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
Deodorant Stick Market - arket Growing at a Healthy Rate | 2024
Deodorant Stick Market
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Global Deodorant Stick Market: IntroductionPersonal hygiene products are the first and foremost requirement for any individual and deodorant is a quintessential part of personal hygiene product that helps in preventing body odor. Deodorants come in various forms in the market namely sprays, roll on and sticks, creams, and wipes. Sprays are the traditional type of packaging deodorants and are still highly preferred by the consumers. On the other hand, deodorant sticks are still in its nascent stage, but they offer numerous advantages over sprays. They are safer to use as compared to sprays as it minimizes the chances of inhaling any harmful compound present in the deodorant formulation. Deodorant sticks are convenient to use as compared to sprays, which is why they are expected to gain traction over the forecast period.Browse Full Report With ToC @Deodorant Stick: Market DynamicsRising consciousness among consumers towards their wellbeing is a major factor driving the growth of the global deodorant stick market. Rapid urbanization in developing economies is also fuelling the growth of the global deodorant stick market. Moreover, there are some chemical compound which are being banned to be used in deodorant formulations for sprays but are considered extremely safe for use in the deodorant stick. This factor is also fuelling the growth of the global deodorant stick market. There has been an upsurge in people working out for their fitness and deodorants the must haves for them to keep the sweat odor under check. This factor is also driving the global deodorant stick market. Concerns over the use of synthetic chemicals in the deodorant sticks is restraining the growth of the global deodorant stick market. Deodorant sticks made up of natural materials is a key trend prevailing in the global deodorant stick market as the manufacturers are replacing their formulations with the less harmful ones. New and innovative product launches to attract customers is likely to create an opportunity for the global deodorant stick market. Environmental friendly packaging is also a key trend followed by manufacturers to keep up with the intense competition in the market.Deodorant Stick: Market SegmentationThe global deodorant stick market is segmented on the basis of product type and material. On the basis of product type, the global deodorant stick market is segmented into alcoholic and non-alcoholic deodorant sticks. Non-alcoholic deodorant sticks are gaining more preference over the alcoholic ones. Formulations that provide skin benefits such as hydration and whitening along with the odor removal are being preferred by manufacturers to increase their product demand. On the basis of material used for packaging, the global deodorant stick market is segmented into glass, metal, and plastic. Plastic packaging is the most preferred type for deodorant sticks. Glass packaging is the least preferred among the raw materials used.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Deodorant Stick Market: Regional OutlookOn the basis of geography, global deodorant stick market is segmented into Asia Pacific, Latin America, North America, Middle East & Africa, and Europe. Europe is the leading market of deodorant sticks followed by North America and Asia Pacific. The deodorant stick market in Asia Pacific is likely to increase over the forecast period owing to the increasing disposable income of the consumers as well as the rising consciousness among people for personal hygiene. Changing lifestyle pattern in a country like India is also anticipated to drive the deodorant stick market in the Asia Pacific region.About Us:-Transparency Market 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.We are privileged with highly experienced team of Analysts, Researchers and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog:
Smart Tag Packaging Market Size to Grow at a Steady Rate During Forecast Period ( 2017-2027)
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The expansion of online retail format and the increased use of the internet for tracking of logistics has created the need for linking online transactions and physical products. A smart tag is one such technology which has been widely providing the solutions to link this gap. Commonly used smart tags are QR code, Electronic article surveillance (EAS) and RFID tags. A smart tag has an advantage of having the wide range of application over traditional bar codes. QR codes are not need to be aligned in particular direction. Electronic article surveillance are used to prevent thefts from the stores whereas RFID tags have multiple application of giving the information about the product. The penetration of the smart phones has widened the customer base for the smart tag packaging market. A smart tag is playing an important role in supply chain management by enabling the manufacturers and suppliers to keep track of logistics and optimally maintain the inventory level. Smart tags being a responsive form of packaging can play a vital role in future by making the transactions more efficient and faster thus benefiting both customer and seller.Smart Tag Packaging Market: Market DynamicsThe smart tag packaging market is related to the responsive packaging market. Packaging market is estimated to be over US$ 800 Mn and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4% over the forecast period. With the increase in the geographic spread of customer base, companies are now using more shipping services and to keep a track and account of the goods smart tag is playing an important role. With the increasing penetration of the e-commerce market in the APEJ region, online transaction is expected to increase while positively influencing the smart tag packaging market. Changing consumer lifestyle and increasing installation of modern retail outlets have boosted the growth in smart tag packaging market. The current trend of consuming the products in smaller quantity has increased the number of goods being packed and is expected to propel smart tag market over the forecast period. However, the lack of industrial standards and mechanical susceptibilities can limit the growth of smart tag market. The cost associated with the Smart tag is another factor resisting the proliferation of smart tag market. The application of the smart tag to keep the track and optimally maintain the inventory level hence protecting the production process can provide new opportunities for the smart tag market.Request For Report Sample@Smart Tag Packaging Market: Market SegmentationSmart tag packaging market can be segmented by the type of material used and by the end use sector.Based on the type of smart tags, the smart tag packaging market is segmented into:QR CodeElectronic Article Surveillance (EAS)RFIDBased on the end use sector, smart tag packaging market is segmented into:RetailManufacturingFMCG (fast moving consumer goods)MedicalAutomotiveOthersSmart Tag Packaging Market: Regional OutlookRegionally global smart tag packaging market is segmented intoNorth AmericaLatin AmericaEastern EuropeWestern EuropeAsia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ)Middle East & Africa (MEAJapanNorth America being the biggest organized region is expected to lead the smart tag packaging market over the forecast period. Eastern and Western Europe is expected to follow the North American market owing to its well-established retail sector in the region. Smart tag packaging market in APEJ region is expected to grow rapidly over the forecast period attributed to the changing lifestyle of the consumers in the region and presence of densely populated areas in the region. While Japan and MEA region are expected to witness moderate growth rate for smart tag packaging market.Visit For TOC@Smart Tag Packaging Market: Key Players:Some key players of Smart tag packaging market are Smart Label Solutions, LLC, Shenzhen Jianhe Smartcard Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Zdcard Tech Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Top tags Technology Co., Ltd., Chengdu Mind Golden Card System Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Laxcen Information Technology Inc. Limited, Alien Technology, Inc. (U.S.), Muehlbauer Holding AG, Thin Film Electronics ASA, Zebra Technologies.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.CONTACTFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Warehouse Management System Market 2017 Report Focuses On the Status and Outlook for Major Applications, Consumption, Share and Growth Rate
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Warehouse management system (WMS) is a software application that helps to support day to day operations within a warehouse. It is used to control and track down the movement of materials in a warehouse. WMS is designed in such a way that it helps to automate the supply chain and increases the productivity of entire warehouses.Increasing awareness of WMS among SME's and growing demand for on-cloud WMS are some of the major drivers for the growth in the market. But there are some restraining factors such as it requires an expert to configure the system for maximum benefits. . Future technologies like Pick-by-Vision and Electronic Data Exchange will soon be implemented to ensure smooth operations in the warehousing and logistics sector in the coming years.Request Sample Copy is Available atThe "Global Warehouse Management System Market Analysis to 2025" is a specialized and in-depth study of the warehouse management system industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global warehouse management system market with detailed market segmentation by component, implementation, tier type, industry and geography. The global warehouse management system market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the leading market players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.The report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global warehouse management system market based on component, implementation, tier type and industry. It also provides market size and forecast till 2025 for overall warehouse management system market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America (SAM). The market by each region is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report covers analysis and forecast of 15 counties globally along with current trend and opportunities prevailing in the region.Besides this, the report analyzes factors affecting market from both demand and supply side and further evaluates market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend. The report also provides exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions namely; North America, Europe, APAC, MEA and South America after evaluating political, economic, social and technological factors effecting the market in these regions.Also, key warehouse management system market players influencing the market are profiled in the study along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. The report also focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered, financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years. Some of the key players influencing the market are Epicor Software Corp., JDA Software Group, Inc., Manhattan Associates, Inc., Oracle Corp., SAP SE, IBM Corp., Infor, Inc., PSI AG, PTC Inc. and Tecsys IncComplete Report is Available atGlobal Warehouse Management System Market Players:Epicor Software Corp.JDA Software Group, Inc.Manhattan Associates, Inc.Oracle Corp.SAP SEIBM Corp.Infor, Inc.PSI AGPTC Inc.Tecsys Inc.Contact Us:Phone: +1-646-491-9876Email Id: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Global Business Intelligence (BI) Software Market 2017: Industry New Trends and Marketing Channels to Achive Positive Growth are Analyzed and Forecast till 2022
Business Intelligence (BI) Software Market
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Global Business Intelligence (BI) Software Market 2017 Survival Strategies explore Economic Impact in Global Industries Manufactures, Growth, Size, Share, Trends, Development Challenges and Opportunities till 2022A Research study on " Global Business Intelligence (BI) Software Market 2017-2022 " represent the market share and size of Business Intelligence (BI) Software in international Industry. MRS Research Group added latest market research report by PROF Research. Research Report provides an essential information and statistically evaluated data about the Business Intelligence (BI) Software. The research report provides a detailed study of the Business Intelligence (BI) Software market, enlightening the major areas such as future market scenario, market growth factors, market growth restraints, and others. The advanced technological trends and various new opportunities are also provided in this research report.Detail Information of Research Report available @Following are Some Important Topics Cover in Research Report :A. Proposals for New Project :1. Market Entry Strategies2. Countermeasures of Economic Impact3. Marketing Channels4. Feasibility Studies of New Project Investment, Etc...B. Analysis of Industry Chain :1. Industry Chain Structure2. Upstream Raw Materials3. Downstream Industry, Etc...Report Covers by Some Importatnt Regions/Countries as Following :United States, EU, Japan, China, India, Southeast AsiaThe research report provides the Business Intelligence (BI) Software markets classification in detail. The Business Intelligence (BI) Software market is bifurcated into a number of segments on the basis of materials,types,applications,and end-users. The geographical analysis of the global Business Intelligence (BI) Software market is also coveredin the report. The vital information mentioned in the research report helps in significantly predicting the future scope of the global market.Get Free Sample Copy Of Report @The various segmentation of the global market is based on the overall product profit, costing, global market growth, and manufacturing processes. The report covers a region-wise analysis which provides the customer with different market studies that give a detailed analysis of the product and its impact on the global market. The Business Intelligence (BI) Software report also highlights the growth statistics depending on the supply and demand in the different regions.Features of our report:1. The market analysis of the global market share, position, and size from the different regions are done.2. The admired players in the market and their share in the global market are discussed.3. Suggestions and the strategic plans that will help the new market players to maintain the competitive edge are also included.4. Several other major points that are included in the Business Intelligence (BI) Software Market report are growth factors, limiting factors, challenges that are faced, new upcoming opportunities, the technological advancements, and much more.5. On the basis of the estimations of the global market, the recommendations and the observations are included in the business segments.6. The current trends that are being followed in the market are included along with examples.7. How the technological advancements and the research and development activities are impacting the market are further explained in detail.Read Complete Report with TOC @The Business Intelligence (BI) Software report covers the precisely studied and evaluated data of the global market players and their scope in the market using a number of analytical tools. The analytical tools such as investment return analysis, SWOT analysis and feasibility study are used to analyze the key global market players growth in the Business Intelligence (BI) Software industry.About Us: MRS Research Group provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Prof Research cover more than 30 industries including energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free : +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@mrsresearchgroup.com
Snap hinge caps & closure Market - Global Industry Analysis, Forecast 2016 - 2024
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Global packaging industry is continuing to develop in fast pace in near future. Caps & closure are considered to be one of the important packaging solution among the manufactures of cosmetics, personal care and home care products. Caps and Closures are components, techniques or devices that are used to seal or close a bottle, jar, tube, can or any other container. Additionally, snap hinge caps & closure are also becoming a good packaging solution for the manufacturers of cosmetic & personal care products because snap hinge caps & closure offers an elegant look and the demand of luxury packaging is growing which is expected to enforce the manufacturers to use snap hinge caps & closure as a packaging solution.Snap hinge caps & closure: Market DynamicsThe global snap hinge caps & closure market is expected to be driven by the rising growth of cosmetic & personal care industry during the forecast period. Cosmetic plays an important role to augment ones beauty and physical appearance. Consumers are now becoming more aware regarding the usage of cosmetics in their daily life to enhance their style quotient, personal appearance and overall personality which in turn strengthens the growth of snap hinge caps & closure throughout the forecast period. Moreover, increasing nuclear family is expected to propel the demand of home care products which in turn strengthens the snap hinge caps & closure market in the near future.View TOC for Research Report @Rising number of middle income population group in developing countries of Asia Pacific is expected to further boost the demand of cosmetic as a result the demand of snap hinge caps & closure will increase. The demand for home care products is increasing gradually in developing countries that in turn accelerates the sales of snap hinge caps & closure in the upcoming decade. In addition, over the last decade, the organized retail industry is experiencing a massive growth that is positively influencing the demand of snap hinge caps & closure market because brand owners are seeking for an innovative and new design for their cosmetic & personal care products. Moreover, cosmetic & personal care manufacturers are interested to provide the products to the consumer which has aesthetic look in order to differentiate the products from the competitors.Snap hinge caps & closure: Market SegmentationThe global snap hinge caps & closure market is segmented on the basis of material type, seal type, and end user.Based on the material type the global snap hinge caps & closure market is segmented into:Polyethylene (PE)Polypropylene (PP)OthersBased on the end user the global snap hinge caps & closure market is segmented into:Cosmetic & personal careShampooBody lotionShower gelOthersHome careOthersFor more information on this report, fill the form @Snap hinge caps & closure Market: Regional outlookIn terms of geography, the global snap hinge caps & closure market has been segmented into five key regions including North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle East & Africa. Among these region, Asia Pacific region is expected to register healthy growth during the forecast period owing to rising in cosmetic & personal care industry. Moreover, India, China and ASEAN countries are expected to be the attractive destinations among the manufacturers of snap hinge caps & closure. North America is also expected to execute prominent growth rate. Europe is also anticipated to register healthy CAGR during the forecast period. However, Middle East & Africa is expected to be sluggish throughout the forecast period.Snap hinge caps & closure Market: Key playersSome of the key players in the global snap hinge caps & closure market are Gil pack pharmaceutical packaging Inc., Nippon Closures Co Ltd., Kornelis, Global Closure Systems., AV Plastics Co., and others.About Us:-Transparency Market 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.We are privileged with highly experienced team of Analysts, Researchers and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Braze Market 2017- Fusion, Wall Colmonoy, Tokyo Braze, Bellman-Melcor, Aimtek
Braze Market
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Apex Research, recently published a detailed market research study focused on the "Braze Market" across the global, regional and country level. The report provides 360 analysis of "Braze Market" from view of manufacturers, regions, product types and end industries. The research report analyses and provides the historical data along with current performance of the global Braze industry, and estimates the future trend of Braze market on the basis of this detailed study. The study shares "Braze Market" performance both in terms of volume and revenue.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:Top Manufacturers Analysis of This ReportHarris Products GroupLucas-MilhauptUmicoreMorgan Advanced MaterialsJohnson MattheyOerlikon MetcoIndium CorporationFusionWall ColmonoyTokyo BrazeBellman-MelcorAimtekHangzhou HuaguangZhejiang SelenoShanghai CIMICZRIMEHebei YuguangJinhua JinzhongZhongshan HuazhongChangshu HuayinTongling XinxinSAWCThe market research report explores the Braze market across the globe along with major regions and countries. The research report provides a detailed study on each and every aspect of "Braze Market". The research report studies the entire value chain from raw material to end user industries. The report also shares import/export statistics along with production and consumption for all major regions and countries. Moreover, the research study classifies the Braze market based on major product types, application and end users industries of Braze. Besides, the report also covers geographical segmentation for Braze market. The report further provides production, capacity, price per region, gross margin, production cost, for all major regions and countries listed in report.The competitive landscape of the global market for Braze is determined by assessing the major industry participants, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Braze market's production chain, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Braze market globally.Enquire Before Buying @The global Braze market 2017 is further analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Braze production volume, data pertaining to demand and Braze supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. The report provides upstream and downstream analysis covering major raw material used in manufacturing of Braze along with detailed manufacturing sources. The report also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations. Detailed raw material price trend analysis along with manufacturing cost analysis is also incorporated into the report. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, SWOT analysis and market attractiveness analysis has been implemented in the research study to present a comprehensive, detailed study of the industry for Braze across the world.About UsApexResearch offer reports from top publishers and update to serve you with immediate on-line access to professional insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends. Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact UsFrank ValadezBusiness Development Executive| sales@apexresearch.biz
Global Rubber Fender Market 2017 - Yokohama, Hutchinson, IRM, Longwood, Noreq, Taihong, Tonly
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Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Rubber Fender Sales Market Report 2017 to its huge collection of research reports.The report provides a breakdown of the segments of the Rubber Fender market to let the readers understand the opportunities and pitfalls present in this market. The Rubber Fender market can be segmented for various categories such as geographical regions, products, applications, end-use industries, and raw materials. Various trends that could affect the growth of the market Rubber Fender in either in positive or negative manner have been included in this report. With complete analysis of the various statistics players and stockholders can gain knowledge on the working of segments of this market and capitalize accordingly for fulfilling their motives. The motive behind segmenting the Rubber Fender market into several categories is to allow readers gain an in-depth analysis of the market and acquire clear outline of the market.KNOW MORE WITH Free SAMPLE STUDY @Table of Contents1 Rubber Fender Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Rubber Fender1.2 Classification of Rubber Fender1.2.1 Floating Type1.2.2 Non floating Type2 Global Rubber Fender Competition by Manufacturers, Type and Application2.1 Global Rubber Fender Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1.1 Global Rubber Fender Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2011-2016)2.1.2 Global Rubber Fender Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2011-2016)3 United States Rubber Fender (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Rubber Fender Sales and Value (2011-2016)3.1.1 United States Rubber Fender Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)3.1.2 United States Rubber Fender Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)3.1.3 United States Rubber Fender Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)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 usBrooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Analysis and Assessment on Drug Designing Tools Market by Future Market Insights( 2017-2027)
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Drug designing tools are software and databases that are used at an early stage of modern drug discovery process. The use of computers and computational tools have permeated all aspects of drug-discovery and have formed essential part of structure-based drug design. Drug discovery and development is tremendous lengthy process involving multiple disciplines such as chemistry, biology, biophysics, structural biology and computational science. Typical drug discovery starts with target identification, lead discovery & optimization, pre-clinical in vitro and in vivo studies involving approximately 12 to 14 years and costs up to US$ 1.2 to 1.4 Bn. However, in silico screening of chemical database has now become the important tool to reduce the time, cost and chances of failure of lead at later stage of development. Computer aided drug designing or in silico drug designing has gained significant momentum in past 3 decades. There are different techniques used in in silico drug designing and including visualization, molecular dynamics simulation, homology, energy minimization tools, molecular docking etc. drug discovery tools can be used in all stages of drug development including discovery pre-clinical and clinical stage. Today all pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies take the advent of drug designing tools to cut down the time and resources required in drug development process and modern drug discovery is almost impossible without the use of computational tools. Thus market for drug designing tools is ever growing with rapid technological advancements developments.Drug Designing Tools Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe primary factor driving the growth of global drug designing tools market is increasing pace of research and development in all verticals of pharmaceutical, biotechnology and life science industries. Moreover, immediate need of medicines to treat chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, etc., increasing complexity of drug discovery due to huge amount of biological data, need for simplified ways to handle big data generated during drug discovery process, growing stringency in regulations for animal handling, etc. are some others factors fueling the demand for drug designing tools. The only factors hampering the growth of global drug designing tools market are high cost of such tools and lack of skilled professionals to operate the tools.Request For Report Sample@Drug Designing Tools Market: SegmentationTentatively, the global drug designing tools market has been segmented on the basis of product type, , end user, and geography.Based on product type, the global drug designing tools market is divided into following:DatabasesVirtual Screening ToolsStructure Designing/Building ToolsPredictive ModelsModel Building ToolsOthersBased on application, the global drug designing tools market is segmented as below:Chemical ScreeningMolecular Modeling/Homology ModelingTarget PredictionBinding Site PredictionDockingMolecular Dynamic SimulationsEnergy MinimizationOthersBased on end user, the global drug designing tools market is segmented as below:Pharmaceutical CompaniesBiotechnology CompaniesAcademic and Research InstitutesContract Research OrganizationsOthersDrug Designing Tools Market: OverviewThe global market for drug designing tools is highly consolidated and very few number of big players constitute 70% the entire market. Development of drug designing tools also require huge investment of time and is thus limited to IT giants.Drug Designing Tools Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, drug designing tools market is classified into regions viz. North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America is expected to be the leader in global drug designing tools market owing to increasing pace and capability of research and development. Europe is expected to be the second largest market for drug designing tools. The market in Asia Pacific and Japan is expected to grow at significant CAGR due to increasing academic research activities and growing number of academic institutes. Market in MEA and Eastern Europe is expected to witness sluggish growth over the forecast period.Visit For TOC@Drug Designing Tools Market: Key PlayersSome of the major players in the drug designing tools market are Schrodinger LLC, Gaussian Inc., Accelrys, BioSolveIT GmbH, COSMOlogic GmbH & Co., Certara, L.P, PerkinElmer Inc., Simulations Plus, ChemAxon, OpenEye Scientific Software Inc., in silico toxicology gmbh among 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.CONTACTFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Nebulizers Global Market Key Players 3A Health Care, DeVilbiss Healthcare, PHILIPS, CareFusion, Omron Analysis and Forecast to 2023
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SummaryNebulizer is a medical device which converts the drug into mist and delivers it directly to the lungs. The technique of nebulization is commonly used for the treatment of respiratory diseases including asthma, cystic fibrosis and COPD. Various devices are used for nebulization. Devices that are rechargeable and electrically powered are the most widely usedThe global Nebulizers market will reach Volume Million USD in 2017 with CAGR xx% 2018-2023. The objective of report is to define, segment, and project the market on the basis of product type, application, and region, and to describe the content about the factors influencing market dynamics, policy, economic, technology and market entry etc.Leading vendors in the market are included based on profile, business performance etc. Vendors mentioned as follows:3A Health CareDeVilbiss HealthcarePHILIPSRossmax International Ltd.CareFusionOmronPARIGFAllied Healthcare ProductsRequest a Sample Report @Based on products type, the report describes major products type share of regional market. Products mentioned as follows:Pneumatic NebulizersUltrasonic NebulizersMesh NebulizersBased on Application, the report describes major application share of regional market. Application mentioned as follows:COPDCystic fibrosisAsthmaOtherBased on region, the report describes major regions market by products and application. Regions mentioned as follows:Asia-PacificNorth AmericaEuropeSouth AmericaMiddle East & AfricaAt any Query @Table of Contents1 Market Overview1.1 Objectives of Research1.1.1 Definition1.1.2 Specifications1.2 Market Segment1.2.1 by Type1.2.1.1 Pneumatic Nebulizers1.2.1.2 Ultrasonic Nebulizers1.2.1.3 Mesh Nebulizers1.2.2 by Application1.2.2.1 COPD1.2.2.2 Cystic fibrosis1.2.2.3 Asthma1.2.2.4 Other1.2.3 by Regions2 Industry Chain2.1 Industry Chain Structure2.2 Upstream2.3 Market2.3.1 SWOT2.3.2 Dynamics.8 Major Vendors8.1 3A Health Care8.1.2 Profile8.1.2 Business Performance (Sales Revenue, Cost, Gross Margin)8.2 DeVilbiss Healthcare8.2.1 Profile8.2.2 Business Performance (Sales Revenue, Cost, Gross Margin)8.3 PHILIPS8.3.1 Profile8.3.2 Business Performance (Sales Revenue, Cost, Gross Margin)8.4 Rossmax International Ltd.8.4.1 Profile8.4.2 Business Performance (Sales Revenue, Cost, Gross Margin)8.5 CareFusion8.5.1 Profile8.5.2 Business Performance (Sales Revenue, Cost, Gross Margin)8.6 Omron8.6.1 Profile8.6.2 Business Performance (Sales Revenue, Cost, Gross Margin)8.7 PARI8.7.1 Profile8.7.2 Business Performance (Sales Revenue, Cost, Gross Margin)8.8 GF8.8.1 Profile8.8.2 Business Performance (Sales Revenue, Cost, Gross Margin)8.9 Allied Healthcare Products8.9.1 Profile8.9.2 Business Performance (Sales Revenue, Cost, Gross Margin)Buy Now @Continued.Contact Us: sales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US) ; Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)ABOUT US: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.ADDRES:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Forecast and Analysis on Karaya Gum Market for Period( 2017-2027)
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Karaya gum is a sap-like material derived from a soft-wooded tree Sterculia urens which is native to India and Pakistan. It is used in the preparation of various pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, and cosmetics. It is majorly used as a laxative to reduce constipation and as an aphrodisiac to stimulate sexual desire. Karaya gum is known by several other chemical and native names including Sterculia villosa, Sterculia urens, Sterculia tragacantha, Sterculia Gum, Sterculia, Mucara, Kullo, Katila, Kadira, Kadaya, Indian Tragacanth, Gomme de Sterculia, Gomme Sterculia, Gomme Kuteera, Gomme Karaya, Goma Karaya, Bassora Tragacanth, etc. Karaya Gum is denoted by E416 number in some food products. It is also used in conditions such as high plasma lipid levels, adhesive for dental implants, adhesive plasters, sore throat, diabetes, and wounds & bed sores.Global Karaya Gum Market: DynamicsImproving industrial sector especially for food and pharmaceutical especially in Asia Pacific primary drives the global karaya gum market growth during the forecast period. Additionally, macroeconomic factors making a positive impact on the global karaya gum market include increasing employment rate, changing consumer lifestyle, increasing per capita income as well as population, and growing domestic income. The significant trending factor for global karaya gum market includes merger and acquisition of karaya gum suppliers with end-use industry such as food and pharmaceuticals. The company manufacturing karaya gum products has a substantial opportunity in regions such as North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, attributed to rapidly growing healthcare sector over the forecast period.Request For Report Sample@Global Karaya Gum Market: SegmentationThe global karaya gum market is segmented by end-use industry, application, and by region. By end-use, the global karaya gum market is classified as food and beverages, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industry. Among the aforementioned segments, the food and beverages industry segment accounts for relatively high revenue share in the global karaya gum market over the forecast period followed by pharmaceutical industry, owing to rapidly growing food and pharmaceutical market across the globe.Based on the end-use Industry, the global karaya gum market is segmented into:Food and BeveragesPharmaceuticalCosmeticBased on the application, the global karaya gum market is segmented into:LaxativeEmulsifierThickening AgentAdhesiveStabilizerAphrodisiacGlobal Karaya Gum Market: Regional OverviewBy geographies, the global karaya gum market is segmented into seven regions -- North America, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific except Japan (APEJ), Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East & Africa, and Japan. Among the regions, North America dominates the global karaya gum market in terms of value, owing to a significant revenue share of the region in the pharmaceutical market. Western Europe is followed by North America in the global karaya gum market, attributed to high demand for food products in the region. The APEJ is expected to account for relatively high volume share in the global karaya gum market, owing to rapidly growing food and pharmaceutical industry over the forecast period. Eastern Europe and Japan accounts for a moderate value share in the global karaya gum market. Latin America and Middle East Africa is expected to have a relatively low opportunity for the karaya gum market, owing to the moderately growing economy and industries in the regions.Visit For TOC@Global Karaya Gum Market: Key PlayersSome of the prominent karaya gum market players include Andina Ingredients Ltd, Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC, AEP Colloids, Parchem fine & specialty chemicals, AEP Colloids Inc., Spectrum Chemical Mfg Co, PPA Inc., Gum Technology Corporation, and Sarda Gums & Chemicals.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.CONTACTFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Ballistic Composites Market report categorizes global market by fiber, matrix, and application - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2017-25
Ballistic Composites Market
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Ballistic composites are used as protective materials in military applications such as law enforcement vests, helmets, and body and vehicle armors. The primary function of these materials is to absorb the impact energy caused by explosives. The entire ballistic composites market is predominantly used by military and law enforcement organizations. The rules and regulations around the use of ballistic composites that bar civilian from possessing armors in most countries, has restricted growth of the market. Due to technological advances in combat weapons and explosives, threats on the battlefront are changing. This has boosted the need for protective equipment to counter these highly enhanced weapons. Moreover, increasing demand for lightweight and flexible armor to allow mobility has augmented market growth. A major challenge the industry faces is keeping up with growing weapon advancements.Request a sample copy of this report:Ballistic Composites Market Taxonomy:On the basis of fiberAramid FibersPara-AramidMeta-AramidUHMPEGlassM5HybridsOthersOn the basis of matrixPolymer matrix composites (PMC)Reinforced plasticsAdvanced compositesPolymer ceramicMetal MatrixOn the basis of applicationVehicle ArmorMarine VehicleLand VehicleAir VehicleBody ArmorBody VestsShieldsProtective Under GarmentsHelmets & Facial ProtectionOthersAccess Table of Content (TOC) of the report:Aramids are synthetic high performance fibers that have rigid polymer chains. They are heat resistant and are used for aerospace applications. UHMPE is used for high resistance applications. Glass fiber are transparent and are resistant to penetration. They are commonly used to make bulletproof glasses for automobiles and buildings. M5 fiber is used for a special purpose body armor due to its flame and thermal resistance.. It is comparatively lighter than other fibers.Polymer matrix composites (PMC) and polymer ceramics possess good abrasion and corrosion resistance, due to which they are used in brake components, gas ducts, gas turbines, and heat shield systems of aircraft. Metal Matrix are more expensive than compared to PMC and polymer ceramics, however, they are used for tank and aircraft armors.Ballistic composites are used in military operations. Military vehicles are reinforced with ballistic composites for better performance.View this full report:Ballistic Composites Market Outlook:North America is the largest market for ballistic composites. The Trump administration announced a military budget of US$ 824.7 billion for the fiscal year 2018. The large figure is the result of ongoing U.S. operations in Syria, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Also, modernizing current fighter jet fleet and procurement of other military vehicles such as tanks, combat vehicles is projected to boost the market in the region.Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market for ballistic composites. China is expected to increase its military spending by 7% from US$210 billion to US$224.7 billion over the following years. Escalating tensions in the South China Sea between China, Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei has led to increased defense spending which has boosted the ballistic composites market. The Indian Army in 2017 procured 160,000 bulletproof helmets made of Kevlar which is a para-aramid fiber.European countries that are a part of NATO are slated to spend 4.3% more on defense budget, which is a result of mounting friction between Russia and NATO members. Moreover, major arms and defense vehicle manufacturers are present in this region. Dassault, Sukhoi, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Boeing, and Thales are major arms manufacturing companies having operations in Europe.Latin America has a small arms industry. Most of the arms are imported from Europe and North America. Although the military spending in this region is low, illegal arms trafficking is rampant. The region accounts for 9% of the global population with 27% homicide cases.Middle East is a nascent market for armored vehicles with only Saudi Arabia a major player. Saudi Arabia is the third largest spender in defense after the U.S. and China. African militaries lack vehicles and armor made from ballistic composites and rely on older technology models.BAE Systems, Barrday Corporation, DSM, Dupont, FY Composites OY, Gaffco Ballistics, Gurit, Honeywell International Inc., M Cubed Technologies, Inc., MKU Limited, Morgan Advanced Materials, PRF Composites, Royal Ten Cate NV, Southern States LLC, and Teiji are some of the major players in the global ballistic composite market.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr.ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email:sales@coherentmarketinsights.com
Attorneys for the state Legislature say a new law that creates a separate court appeals process for legal challenges related to a massive new liquid-crystal display panel factory in southeastern Wisconsin could be unconstitutional.
The Wisconsin Legislative Council, which provides nonpartisan legal analysis to lawmakers, says a provision in legislation signed this week by Gov. Scott Walker that creates a quicker appeals process for lawsuits facing Taiwanese-based Foxconn could be challenged in court. The law also provides the tech giant $3 billion in tax incentives and exemptions from environmental rules governing construction.
Under the new law, any legal challenge of a circuit court decision related to the construction and operation of the proposed $10 billion factory would go straight to the state Supreme Court by requiring parties to lawsuits related to the Foxconn project to appeal circuit court decisions directly to the conservative-leaning Supreme Court, bypassing state appeals courts.
A lower courts decision also would be automatically stayed if it is appealed under the law. These provisions would be most subject to challenge on grounds that the Legislature is making decisions that rest in the judicial branchs powers, Legislative Council attorneys said in a memo prepared for Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse.
But the attorneys also said arguments could be made that these provisions should be upheld because they are shared powers that do not unduly burden the judicial branch and are therefore constitutional.
It is difficult to predict with any certainty how a court may rule regarding the Acts constitutionality, the memo said.
Attorneys with the state Department of Justice say the provisions related to the appeals process would pass constitutional muster, a spokesman said Wednesday, and that the state Constitution gives the Legislature the power to adjust the jurisdiction of the states courts.
DOJ is confident that the portion of the Foxconn bill related to the courts will pass constitutional muster, said spokesman Johnny Koremenos. Moreover, we are surprised that members of the Legislature turned to staff attorneys at Legislative Council who have no expertise in this area as opposed to asking DOJ for an analysis.
Tony Palese, a spokesman for Shilling, said Shilling asked for an opinion from Attorney General Brad Schimel, who oversees the Department of Justice, before the Foxconn legislation was voted on by senators, but have yet to receive any legal analysis or advice from his office.
Shilling, in a statement, said lawmakers should not be giving a foreign corporation preferential treatment in our state courts.
This latest Republican effort to tip the judicial scales in favor of wealthy special interests is eroding public trust in our courts, she said.
Bio-butanol Market market report categorizes global market by raw material, applications, and end-user - Global Industry Insight, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis 2017-2025
Bio-butanol Market
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Bio-butanol is an alcohol, which is used as a fuel or organic solvent. It is prepared by fermentation of sugar, starch or cellulosic feedstock such as wheat, sugar beet, corn, straw, and wood. The purpose of using bio-butanol is to reduce consumption of crude oil. They have higher octane number, larger flammability limits, higher flash point and higher heat of vaporization. Bio-butanol easily blends with gasoline due to its low vapor pressure. It contains as much as energy as gasoline and its non-corrosive nature gives it advantage over bioethanol.Bio-butanol is also used as cleaner, adhesives, jet fuel, synthetic rubber, as a solvent in paints, bio-based plastics and fibers. They are also expected to meet 20% of the worlds fuel demands. The requirement for clean energy is the main driver for the use of bio-butanol.Request a sample copy of this report:Bio-butanol fuel Market Taxonomy:On the basis of raw material, the bio-butanol market is classified into:WheatSugar beetCornStrawWoodOthersOn the basis of application, the bio-butanol market is classified into:AcrylatesAcetatesGlycol ethersSolventsPlasticizersOthersOn the basis of end users, the bio-butanol market is classified into:Petrochemical industryAutomobile industryAviation industryConsumer goodsTextile industryOthersThe raw materials used in process of bio-butanol are wheat, sugar beet, corn, straw and wood. The availability of raw material is a major concern with the bio-butanol preparation process. The properties like polymer chain formation, blending, paint and cleaner makes it applicable for the products such as acrylates, acetates, glycol ethers, solvent and plasticizer. Bio butanol is used as a fuel in internal combustion engines in petrochemical and automotive industry. Bio-butanol has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 85% compared to gasoline. It is a possible large scale alternative to gasoline.Access Table of Content (TOC) of the report:Bio-butanol Market Outlook:North America is the largest bio-jet fuel market due to the presence of low temperature weather in most of the countries followed by Western Europe which is second largest. Bio-butanol used in automobile sectors are the main reason for these largest market industry. Significant investment in R&D in these regions has resulted in alternatives for petroleum derived fuels.Asia Pacific is estimated to be the fastest growing market in the forecast period due to the population increase and demand for greener paints and coatings. India and China are expected to have the most demand in the bio-jet fuel market in the forecast period due to rise in the aviation and transportation segments.In Europe, demand for bio-butanol is increasing due to the government initiatives and stringent environmental regulations to shift away from petroleum products. These regulations are result of meeting the aims set out in Kyoto Protocol.In Middle East, the crude oil derived fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and kerosene and jet fuel are very cheap due to proximity to the resource. This makes it very difficult for bio-based alternatives to enter the market, as they are easily out priced.Bio-butanol Market ChallengesThe variation in availability and cost of raw materials is a major problem as it increases the production cost of bio-butanol. Currently, bio-butanol costs more than bio ethanol. Also the government regulations against the use of raw material are the challenges for the bio butanol market.Some of the key companies dominating the market are Biobutanol include Bioenergy International, Butalco GmBH, Cobalt Biofuels and Arbor Biofuels backed by oil manufacturers like TetraVitae Biosciences and Metabolic Explorers.View this full report:About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr.ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email:sales@coherentmarketinsights.com
Safety Syringes Market: Future market projections for forthcoming years
Safety Syringes Market
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The global safety syringes market was valued at US$3.4 bn in 2012. The market is expected to register a CAGR of 9.70% from 2013 to 2019 to reach a valuation of US$6.5 bn by 2019.A safety syringe is a syringe that comes with an embedded safety mechanism that prevents reuse. The needles on these syringes can either be detached or are fixed permanently. However, these needles come with a protective sheath or have a retractable mechanism, to avert the chances of any needlestick injuries to the healthcare workers.The global safety syringes market is segmented on the basis of the type of product and geography. The types of products in the global safety syringes market are retractable safety syringes and non-retractable safety syringes. Geographically, this market is segmented into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World.Request to view Sample Report:Of all the regions, North America is the biggest consumer of safety syringes. This is the result of the extensive adoption of these syringes in the healthcare sector of North America. The growing usage of prefilled syringes in this region is also contributing towards the rise in the revenue and volume of the safety syringes market in North America. Meanwhile, Europe was the second largest consumer of safety syringes in 2012. According to research analysts, the safety syringes market is expected to growth in the U.S. and Europe due to the strong presence of manufacturers.On the other hand, the safety syringes market in Rest of the World and Asia Pacific is also poised to surge ahead with growing pressure for effective implementation of immunization programs by health bodies governed by the United Nations, such as the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO).Request to Download TOC of the Report:Some of the key players in the global safety syringes market are Unilife Corporation, Retractable Technologies, Inc., Smiths Medicals, Becton, Dickinson & Company, Smiths Medical, and Terumo Corporation. The research report profiles these key players in the global safety syringes market and thus details the competitive landscape of the market. Furthermore, the report also explains the impact of the regulatory framework as well as an analysis of the financial overview, research and development activities, investment outlook, product portfolio, and business and marketing strategies of the top players in the global safety syringes market.Global Safety Syringes Market Market Report is available @ US$ 5795: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.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:
Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022
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This report studies Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2012 to 2016, and forecast to 2022.This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringAccess Complete Report @AnaSonicCHISON Medical ImagingDRE VeterinaryEcho-SonESAOTEMindraySamsungSIUISonoScapeTeknova Medical SystemsOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoLarge AnimalsSmall AnimalsPetBy Application, the market can be split intoPet StorePet HospitalBy Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaRequest a Sample Report @If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Table of ContentsGlobal Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Market Professional Survey Report 20171 Industry Overview of Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation1.1 Definition and Specifications of Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation1.1.1 Definition of Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation1.1.2 Specifications of Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation1.2 Classification of Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation1.2.1 Large Animals1.2.2 Small Animals1.2.3 Pet1.3 Applications of Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation1.3.1 Pet Store1.3.2 Pet Hospital1.3.3 Application 31.4 Market Segment by Regions1.4.1 North America1.4.2 China1.4.3 Europe1.4.4 Southeast Asia1.4.5 Japan1.4.6 India2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Major Manufacturers in 20163.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Major Manufacturers in 20163.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Major Manufacturers in 20163.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Major Manufacturers in 20164 Global Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Overall Market Overview4.1 2012-2017E Overall Market Analysis4.2 Capacity Analysis4.2.1 2012-2017E Global Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Capacity and Growth Rate Analysis4.2.2 2016 Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Capacity Analysis (Company Segment)4.3 Sales Analysis4.3.1 2012-2017E Global Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Sales and Growth Rate Analysis4.3.2 2016 Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Sales Analysis (Company Segment)4.4 Sales Price Analysis4.4.1 2012-2017E Global Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Sales Price4.4.2 2016 Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment)5 Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Regional Market Analysis5.1 North America Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Market Analysis5.1.1 North America Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Market Overview5.1.2 North America 2012-2017E Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.1.3 North America 2012-2017E Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Sales Price Analysis5.1.4 North America 2016 Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Market Share Analysis5.2 China Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Market Analysis5.2.1 China Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Market Overview5.2.2 China 2012-2017E Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.2.3 China 2012-2017E Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Sales Price Analysis5.2.4 China 2016 Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Market Share Analysis5.3 Europe Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Market Analysis5.3.1 Europe Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Market Overview5.3.2 Europe 2012-2017E Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.3.3 Europe 2012-2017E Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Sales Price Analysis5.3.4 Europe 2016 Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Market Share Analysis5.4 Southeast Asia Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Market Analysis5.4.1 Southeast Asia Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Market Overview5.4.2 Southeast Asia 2012-2017E Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.4.3 Southeast Asia 2012-2017E Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Sales Price Analysis5.4.4 Southeast Asia 2016 Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Market Share Analysis5.5 Japan Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Market Analysis5.5.1 Japan Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Market Overview5.5.2 Japan 2012-2017E Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.5.3 Japan 2012-2017E Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Sales Price Analysis5.5.4 Japan 2016 Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Market Share Analysis5.6 India Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Market Analysis5.6.1 India Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Market Overview5.6.2 India 2012-2017E Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.6.3 India 2012-2017E Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Sales Price Analysis5.6.4 India 2016 Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Market Share Analysis6 Global 2012-2017E Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Segment Market Analysis (by Type)6.1 Global 2012-2017E Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Sales by Type6.2 Different Types of Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Product Interview Price Analysis6.3 Different Types of Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Product Driving Factors Analysis6.3.1 Large Animals of Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Growth Driving Factor Analysis6.3.2 Small Animals of Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Growth Driving Factor Analysis6.3.3 Pet of Veterinary Ultrasound Workstation Growth Driving Factor AnalysisContinuedPurchase 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. 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Aptamers Market Research Report by Key Players Analysis 2019
Aptamers Market
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The global aptamers market was valued at US$93.0 million in 2012, and it is expected that the market will reach a valuation of US$4,333.0 million by 2019. This translates to a remarkable CAGR of 73.1% between 2013 and 2019.However, the report also warns that the growth in the global aptamers market will be restrained to some extent ethical issues associated with aptamers derived from animals. This drawback will be further compounded by strict regulatory mandates designed around aptamers. However, these drawbacks can be overcome by companies in the global aptamers market by modifying aptamers chemistry. For instance, animal-derived aptamers can be replaced by aptamers obtained via the in-vitro process.For the purpose of this study, the global aptamers market is segmented on the basis of types, applications, and geography. The types of aptamers studied in the report include peptide and nucleic acid aptamers. The segment of nucleic acid aptamers was not only the largest as of 2012, but is also expected to be the fastest growing over the reports forecast period. This is chiefly owing to the widespread use of nucleic acid aptamers in the R&D sector.Request to view Sample Report:Likewise, the applications analyzed in the report are: Diagnostics, therapeutics development, research and development, and others. Of these, the diagnostics segment will report consistent growth over the next four years as the demand for aptamers for biomedical diagnostics, biomarker development, and molecular imaging remains steady. However, in terms of pace of growth, therapeutics development applications will outpace all other application segments over the reports forecast period.From the geographical standpoint, the aptamers market for the following regions is studied: North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World. Thanks to several key players in the aptamers market being based in the United States, the North America region was identified as the largest market for aptamers in 2012. This factor also creates an environment that fosters R&D related to aptamers.Request to Download TOC of the Report:The Europe aptamers market was the second largest from the global standpoint. According to the findings of the report, Europe constituted about 35% of the global aptamers market in 2012. Small scale industries play a key role in keeping the Europe aptamers market firmly on the growth track. The Asia Pacific market is currently brimming with opportunities in diagnostics and pharmaceuticals, enabling the region to post the highest CAGR between 2013 and 2019.TMRs report also conducts a detailed analysis of the competitive scenario in the global aptamers market, which is characterized by intense competition. A high degree of competition has stimulated higher investments the development of novel aptamers. Leading market participants include: Somalogic, Inc., Aptamer Science, Inc. NOXXAN Pharma AG, and Aptagen, Inc.Global Aptamers Market Market Report is available @ US$ 5795: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.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:
Carnauba Wax Market Assessment and Forecast Report by Future Market Insights( 2017-2027)
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Natural waxes are obtained through ecological process of biogenesis without any involvement of chemical process. Natural waxes can be derived from plant as well as animal source and represents renewable source of wax. Thereby, gaining traction among wax manufacturers. Carnauba wax is plant-based resin wax, which is obtained from palm leaves of Copernicia prunifera, found exclusively in Brazil. The wax is attained by beating the dried leaves of palm and then refining it. Carnauba wax is considered to be naturally occurring hardest wax. Due to its durability and high melting point, carnauba wax finds extensive use in various sectors such as cosmetics, automobiles, pharmaceuticals among others. Carnauba wax consists various exclusive properties such as it swells when exposed to water, has potential to retain oil and exhibits prominent glossy characteristics differentiating it from other naturally occurring wax. Apart from natural source, carnauba wax can also be obtained organically by filtering the highest quality of untreated carnauba wax.Global Carnauba Wax Market: Drivers and RestraintsIncreasing inclination of consumers towards naturally-derived products is driving the market for carnauba wax. Carnauba wax is hypo allergic in nature and easy to swallow hence finds extensive use in pharmaceutical industry for pills coating. As food & beverage industry is under continuous innovation, product such as carnauba wax that exhibit excellent emulsifying properties and binding capacity for oils, are gaining traction. Moreover, due to its high melting point and glossy characteristics it is becoming a desired natural additive choice among manufacturers of cosmetic industry for manufacturing of lip balms, lipsticks, mascaras among others. Thus, broad spectrum applicability of carnauba wax is propelling the market growth. Moreover, due to its hardness and viscosity modifier properties, it is extensively used as polish wax in automobile industry. Carnauba wax is gaining traction among consumers over the bee wax due to broad base of application hence accelerating the market growth.Request For Report Sample@However, the tropical variety of carnauba wax may cause some side effects such as skin rash, contact dermatitis, inflammation of hair follicle. Thereby, restraining the growth of carnauba wax market. Moreover, owing to less commercialisation, carnauba wax market offers low profitability margins to the manufacturers across the globe.Global Carnauba Wax Market: SegmentationCarnauba wax is used in the manufacturing of chewing gums, coated chocolates, lip balms, lipsticks, and dental floss, owing to its glossy and stabilizing characteristics. Moreover, due to its hardness characteristics it is extensively used as polish wax for car, furniture and surf board.On the basis of end-use, carnauba wax market is segmented into:-Food & BeveragesAutomobilesPersonal CarePharmaceuticalOthersOn the basis of source, carnauba wax market is segmented into:-NaturalOrganicOn the basis of form, carnauba wax market is segmented into:-PowderFlakesPelletGlobal Carnauba Wax Market: Region wise OutlookThe global carnauba wax market is categorised into seven regions, namely, Western Europe, Eastern Europe Middle East and Africa (MEA), Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan, Latin America and North America. Brazil accounts for the major share of the market as carnauba wax is exclusively cultivated in the North-eastern Brazil. Asia pacific region is considered to be prominent segment for growth due to opportunistic investment and manufacturing hub for various industries under which carnauba wax finds extensive use. North America exports its major share of carnauba wax from Brazil.Visit For TOC@Global Organic Hair Care Market: Key PlayersSome of the prominent players identified in the global carnauba wax market includes:Strahl & Pitsch, Inc.Poth Hille & Co LtdKoster Keunen, LLC.CalwaxKahl GmbH & CO. KGFrank B. Ross Co., Inc.Akrochem CorporationABOUT 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.CONTACTFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Orthopedic Trauma Fixation Devices Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 2020
Orthopedic Trauma Fixation Devices Market
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The global orthopedic trauma fixation device market is progressing at a CAGR of 7.20% within the forecast period from 2014 to 2020. The market was valued at US$6.1 bn in 2014. By the end of 2020, the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market is expected to reach US$9.3 bn.According to the report, the primary growth driver of the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market is the increasing number of fractures and spot injuries that are being treated around the world. The market also benefits from the greater expenditure rates in the healthcare industry and a practical lack of alternatives available to this market. All these factors are expected to boost the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market in the coming years.The global orthopedic trauma fixation device market is, however, impeded by factors such as the absence/inadequacy of health insurance in emerging economies, the chances of incurring a double surgery, and the high cost of operation. The report expects these restraints to act on the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market in order to withhold its maximum growth potential.Request to view Sample Report:The geographical segmentation of the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market shows North America to be the leading region for now. The fastest growing region, however, is expected to be Asia Pacific, which is advancing rapidly thanks to the developing nations of Japan, China, and India. Additionally, other nations from South East Asia along with the Eastern Mediterranean are also showing a rapid adoption rate of orthopedic trauma fixation devices.Request to Download TOC of the Report:The key players in the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market are Zimmer Holding Inc., DePuy Synthes, Stryker Corporation, Smith & Nephew, Johnson & Johnson Company, and Orthofix Holding Inc. The report states that in 2013, 47.30% of the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market was held collectively by the two largest players in the market DePuy Synthes and Johnson & Johnson.Global Orthopedic Trauma Fixation Devices Market Market Report is available @ US$ 5795: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.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:
Portable Printers Market to 2022 Analysis, Applications, Opportunities and Trends
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Market Research Report on Global Portable Printers Industry providing US, China, Europe and Japan Industry Scenario for next 5 years is Now Available at ReportsWeb.comThe major players in global and United States Portable Printers market, including Brother, Canon, HP, Epson, Fujifilm, Polaroid, Xerox, BIXOLON , Epson, Toshiba, Zebra, LG, Citizen , Printek.This report studies the Portable Printers market status and outlook of global and United States, from angles of players, regions, product types and end industries; this report analyzes the top players in global and United States market, and splits the Portable Printers market by product type and applications/end industries. The Asia-Pacific will occupy for more market share in following years, especially in China, also fast growing India and Southeast Asia regions. North America, especially The United States, will still play an important role which cannot be ignored. Any changes from United States might affect the development trend of Portable Printers.Request a Sample atGeographically, this report is segmented into several key regions, with sales, revenue, market share (%) and growth Rate (%) of Portable Printers in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast) , coveringUnited StatesNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificSouth AmericaMiddle East and AfricaThe On the basis of product, the Portable Printers market is primarily split intoThermal PrinterInk JetPhotochemcial JetOthersOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report coversLabeling PrinterDocument PrinterPhoto PrinterOthersBrowse Complete Report atKey Point from Table of Contents:1 Methodology and Data Source2 Portable Printers Market Overview3 Portable Printers Application/End Users4 Portable Printers Market Status and Outlook by Regions5 Global Portable Printers Market Competition by Players/Manufacturers6 United States Portable Printers Market Competition by Players/Manufacturers7 Portable Printers Players/Manufacturers Profiles and Sales Data8 Portable Printers Manufacturing Cost, Industrial Chain and Downstream Buyers9 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors and Market Effect Factors10 Global Portable Printers Market Forecast11 Research Findings and ConclusionPurchase Complete Report atContact Information:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Global Cloud Engineering Market 2017 - Sogeti, Aricent Inc., Trianz, GFT Technologies SE, ITC Infotech
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This report mainly introduces volume and value market share by players, by regions, by product type, by consumers and also their price change details. As a Detailed Analysis report, it covers all details inside analysis and opinion in Cloud Engineering industry.This report splits Cloud Engineering market By Service Type, By Service Models, By Deloyment Model, which covers the history data information from 2012 to 2016 and forecast from 2017 to 2022.Request For Sample Report @This report focuses Global market, it covers details as following:Major CompaniesSogeti (France, Europe)Aricent Inc. (California, US)Trianz (California, US)GFT Technologies SE (Germany, Europe)Engineering Ingegneria Informatica SpA (Rome, Europe)Rapidvalue Solutions Inc. (California, US)ITC Infotech (Karnataka, India)Nitor Infotech (Maharashtra, India)Softcrylic LLC (Minnesota, US)Calsoft Inc. (California, US)Searce Inc. (Texas, US)VVDN Technologies (Haryana, India)U cloud (Shanghai, China)Alibaba Cloud (Hangzhou, China)Baidu Cloud (Beijing, China)Main RegionsNorth AmericaUnited StatesCanadaLatin AmericaMexicoBrazilArgentinaOthersEuropeGermanyUnited KingdomFranceItalySpainRussiaNetherlandOthersAsia & PacificChinaJapanIndiaKoreaAustraliaSoutheast AsiaIndonesiaThailandPhilippinesVietnamSingaporeMalaysiaOthersAfrica & Middle EastSouth AfricaEgyptTurkeySaudi ArabiaIranOthersAccess Full Report With TOC @Main Product TypeCloud Engineering Market, by Service TypeConsulting and DesignCloud storageTraining and educationIntegration and migrationCloud securityCloud Engineering Market, by Service ModelsInfrastructure-as-a-servicePlatform-as-a-serviceSoftware-as-a-serviceCloud Engineering Market, by Deloyment ModelPublic cloudPrivate cloudHybrid cloudMain ApplicationsLarge enterprisesSmall and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)About Fior MarketsFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
Global Project Portfolio Management (PPM) Market 2017 - Upland Software, Planview, Oracle Corporation, SAP SE
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This report mainly introduces volume and value market share by players, by regions, by product type, by consumers and also their price change details. As a Detailed Analysis report, it covers all details inside analysis and opinion in Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) industry.This report splits Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) market By PPM Type, By Deployment, which covers the history data information from 2012 to 2016 and forecast from 2017 to 2022.Request For Sample Report @This report focuses Global market, it covers details as following:Major CompaniesUpland Software, Inc. (Texas, US)Planview, Inc. (Texas, US)Planisware S.A.S. (California, US)Oracle Corporation (California, US)Software AG (Darmstadt, Germany)SAP SE (Walldorf, Germany)Microsoft Corporation (Washington, US)Changepoint Corporation (Washington, US)CA Technologies (New York, US)Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (California, US)Clarizen (California, US)ErviceNow, Inc. (California, US)Foxtable (Zhanjiang, China)Main RegionsNorth AmericaUnited StatesCanadaLatin AmericaMexicoBrazilArgentinaOthersEuropeGermanyUnited KingdomFranceItalySpainRussiaNetherlandOthersAsia & PacificChinaJapanIndiaKoreaAustraliaSoutheast AsiaIndonesiaThailandPhilippinesVietnamSingaporeMalaysiaOthersAfrica & Middle EastSouth AfricaEgyptTurkeySaudi ArabiaIranOthersAccess Full Report With TOC @Main Product TypeProject Portfolio Management ( PPM) Market, by PPM TypeSoftwareServicesProject Portfolio Management ( PPM) Market, by DeploymentOn-premisesCloudMain ApplicationsProject managementPortfolio managementDemand managementFinancial managementResource managementOthersAbout Fior MarketsFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
Petri Dishes Market Analysis and In-depth Research on Size, Trends, Emerging Growth Factors and Forecasts 2022
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This report studies Petri Dishes in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2012 to 2016, and forecast to 2022.This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringAccess Complete Report @CorningBDThermo FisherCrystalgenGreiner Bio-OnePall CorporationGosselinPhoenix BiomedicalMerck MilliporeReinnervateSchottTPP Techno Plastic ProductsNarang Medical LimitedBiosigmaAicor MedicalNEST BiotechnologySurwin PlasticCitotest LabwareHuaou IndustryMembrane SolutionsKang Jian MedicalHangzhou ShengyouOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoGlass Petri DishesPolystyrene Petri DishesBy Application, the market can be split intoLaboratoryHospitalPharmaceutical IndustryBy Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaRequest a Sample Report @If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Table of ContentsGlobal Petri Dishes Market Professional Survey Report 20171 Industry Overview of Petri Dishes1.1 Definition and Specifications of Petri Dishes1.1.1 Definition of Petri Dishes1.1.2 Specifications of Petri Dishes1.2 Classification of Petri Dishes1.2.1 Glass Petri Dishes1.2.2 Polystyrene Petri Dishes1.3 Applications of Petri Dishes1.3.1 Laboratory1.3.2 Hospital1.3.3 Pharmaceutical Industry1.4 Market Segment by Regions1.4.1 North America1.4.2 China1.4.3 Europe1.4.4 Southeast Asia1.4.5 Japan1.4.6 India2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Petri Dishes2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Petri Dishes2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Petri Dishes2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Petri Dishes3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Petri Dishes3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Petri Dishes Major Manufacturers in 20163.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Petri Dishes Major Manufacturers in 20163.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Petri Dishes Major Manufacturers in 20163.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Petri Dishes Major Manufacturers in 20164 Global Petri Dishes Overall Market Overview4.1 2012-2017E Overall Market Analysis4.2 Capacity Analysis4.2.1 2012-2017E Global Petri Dishes Capacity and Growth Rate Analysis4.2.2 2016 Petri Dishes Capacity Analysis (Company Segment)4.3 Sales Analysis4.3.1 2012-2017E Global Petri Dishes Sales and Growth Rate Analysis4.3.2 2016 Petri Dishes Sales Analysis (Company Segment)4.4 Sales Price Analysis4.4.1 2012-2017E Global Petri Dishes Sales Price4.4.2 2016 Petri Dishes Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment)5 Petri Dishes Regional Market Analysis5.1 North America Petri Dishes Market Analysis5.1.1 North America Petri Dishes Market Overview5.1.2 North America 2012-2017E Petri Dishes Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.1.3 North America 2012-2017E Petri Dishes Sales Price Analysis5.1.4 North America 2016 Petri Dishes Market Share Analysis5.2 China Petri Dishes Market Analysis5.2.1 China Petri Dishes Market Overview5.2.2 China 2012-2017E Petri Dishes Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.2.3 China 2012-2017E Petri Dishes Sales Price Analysis5.2.4 China 2016 Petri Dishes Market Share Analysis5.3 Europe Petri Dishes Market Analysis5.3.1 Europe Petri Dishes Market Overview5.3.2 Europe 2012-2017E Petri Dishes Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.3.3 Europe 2012-2017E Petri Dishes Sales Price Analysis5.3.4 Europe 2016 Petri Dishes Market Share Analysis5.4 Southeast Asia Petri Dishes Market Analysis5.4.1 Southeast Asia Petri Dishes Market Overview5.4.2 Southeast Asia 2012-2017E Petri Dishes Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.4.3 Southeast Asia 2012-2017E Petri Dishes Sales Price Analysis5.4.4 Southeast Asia 2016 Petri Dishes Market Share Analysis5.5 Japan Petri Dishes Market Analysis5.5.1 Japan Petri Dishes Market Overview5.5.2 Japan 2012-2017E Petri Dishes Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.5.3 Japan 2012-2017E Petri Dishes Sales Price Analysis5.5.4 Japan 2016 Petri Dishes Market Share Analysis5.6 India Petri Dishes Market Analysis5.6.1 India Petri Dishes Market Overview5.6.2 India 2012-2017E Petri Dishes Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.6.3 India 2012-2017E Petri Dishes Sales Price Analysis5.6.4 India 2016 Petri Dishes Market Share Analysis6 Global 2012-2017E Petri Dishes Segment Market Analysis (by Type)6.1 Global 2012-2017E Petri Dishes Sales by Type6.2 Different Types of Petri Dishes Product Interview Price Analysis6.3 Different Types of Petri Dishes Product Driving Factors Analysis6.3.1 Glass Petri Dishes of Petri Dishes Growth Driving Factor Analysis6.3.2 Polystyrene Petri Dishes of Petri Dishes Growth Driving Factor Analysis7 Global 2012-2017E Petri Dishes Segment Market Analysis (by Application)7.1 Global 2012-2017E Petri Dishes Consumption by Application7.2 Different Application of Petri Dishes Product Interview Price Analysis7.3 Different Application of Petri Dishes Product Driving Factors Analysis7.3.1 Laboratory of Petri Dishes Growth Driving Factor Analysis7.3.2 Hospital of Petri Dishes Growth Driving Factor Analysis7.3.3 Pharmaceutical Industry of Petri Dishes Growth Driving Factor AnalysisContinuedPurchase Report @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.Contact Us:Norah TrentPartner Relations & Marketing ManagerSales@Wiseguyreports.ComPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)
Sandwich Panels Market 2017- Alubel, Jingxue, Ruukki, Balex, Hoesch, Dana Group, Multicolor, Zamil Vietnam, BCOMS, Pioneer India, Panelco
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Worldwide Sandwich Panels Market 2017 Analysis Report audits a Market Regions, Product Categories, with Sales, Business Revenue, Goods cost, Sandwich Panels piece of the overall industry and Growth patterns, concentrating on driving Sandwich Panels industry players, showcase size, request and supply examination, utilization volume, Forecast 2017 to 2022.The Global Sandwich Panels report gives a thorough situation of the present and gauge Sandwich Panels showcase procedures, improvement methodologies and development openings. Starting a discussion on the contemporary condition of Sandwich Panels showcase, the report extra dissects the market powerful moving each area begun in it.Get Free Sample Copy Of Report Here :Top Manufactures Analysis Of This ReportKingspanMetecnoIsopanNCI Building SystemsTATA SteelArcelorMittalRomakowskiLattonedilRigiSystemsSilexIsomecGCSZhongjieAlShahinNucor Building SystemsTonmatMarcegagliaItalpannelliAlubelJingxueRuukkiBalexHoeschDana GroupMulticolorZamil VietnamBCOMSPioneer IndiaPanelcoThe report additionally concentrates the Sandwich Panels bits of knowledge of the organizations and suggestions that will help the perusers to have progressive learning of the Sandwich Panels showcase.A principal diagram of the Sandwich Panels market is introduced to the perusers with the assistance of market definition, order, different applications, and production network examination. The Sandwich Panels report covers the investigation of conventional and the developing markets. The report more expresses the Sandwich Panels showcase rivals, their business profiles, freshest news, their piece of the overall industry, developing arrangements and methodologies, client volume and creating strategies.Enquire Here :In next part, the Sandwich Panels Report assesses the gross edge examination of various locales i. e. (US, EU, China and Japan). Different areas can be included according to the prerequisite.All in all, it is an exhaustive research report which will help perusers to break down the possibility of interest in Sandwich Panels advertise.About UsApexResearch offer reports from top publishers and update to serve you with immediate on-line access to professional insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends. Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact UsFrank ValadezBusiness Development Executive| sales@apexresearch.biz
Building Thermal Insulation Material Market 2017- Huafon Puren, Beijing Beihai, First, Feininger, HuaXiaXinRong, Wenzhou Lucky, Ourgreen, Junxuan, Hongbaoli, Lecron Group
Building Thermal Insulation Material Market
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Worldwide Building Thermal Insulation Material Market 2017 Analysis Report audits a Market Regions, Product Categories, with Sales, Business Revenue, Goods cost, Building Thermal Insulation Material piece of the overall industry and Growth patterns, concentrating on driving Building Thermal Insulation Material industry players, showcase size, request and supply examination, utilization volume, Forecast 2017 to 2022.The Global Building Thermal Insulation Material report gives a thorough situation of the present and gauge Building Thermal Insulation Material showcase procedures, improvement methodologies and development openings. Starting a discussion on the contemporary condition of Building Thermal Insulation Material showcase, the report extra dissects the market powerful moving each area begun in it.Get Free Sample Copy Of Report Here :Top Manufactures Analysis Of This ReportLfhuanengDowTaishiBeipengRockwoolSedant RobaShanghai ABMOwenscorningKosencaBeijing WuzhouHengxiang Insulation MaterialsZhongjie GroupXinxing HuameiHuafon PurenBeijing BeihaiFirstFeiningerHuaXiaXinRongWenzhou LuckyOurgreenJunxuanHongbaoliLecron GroupThe report additionally concentrates the Building Thermal Insulation Material bits of knowledge of the organizations and suggestions that will help the perusers to have progressive learning of the Building Thermal Insulation Material showcase.A principal diagram of the Building Thermal Insulation Material market is introduced to the perusers with the assistance of market definition, order, different applications, and production network examination. The Building Thermal Insulation Material report covers the investigation of conventional and the developing markets. The report more expresses the Building Thermal Insulation Material showcase rivals, their business profiles, freshest news, their piece of the overall industry, developing arrangements and methodologies, client volume and creating strategies.Enquire Here :In next part, the Building Thermal Insulation Material Report assesses the gross edge examination of various locales i. e. (US, EU, China and Japan). Different areas can be included according to the prerequisite.All in all, it is an exhaustive research report which will help perusers to break down the possibility of interest in Building Thermal Insulation Material advertise.About UsApexResearch offer reports from top publishers and update to serve you with immediate on-line access to professional insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends. Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact UsFrank ValadezBusiness Development Executive| sales@apexresearch.biz
Insights of Life Insurance in Russia Industry : Trends, Analysis, Growth and Status 2017
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Albany, NY, 20th September : Recent research and the current scenario as well as future market potential of "Life Insurance in Russia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021" globally.Timetrics 'Life Insurance in Russia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021' report provides a detailed outlook by product category for the Russian life insurance segment, and a comparison of the Russian insurance industry with its regional counterparts.It provides key performance indicators such as written premium, incurred loss, loss ratio, commissions and expenses, total assets, total investment income and retentions during the review period (20122016) and forecast period (20162021).Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @The report also analyzes distribution channels operating in the segment, gives a comprehensive overview of the Russian 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 'Life Insurance in Russia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021' report provides in-depth market analysis, information and insights into the Russian life insurance segment, including:An overview of the Russian life insurance segmentThe Russian life insurance segments growth prospects by categoryA comprehensive overview of the Russian economy and demographicsA comparison of the Russian life insurance segment with its regional counterpartsThe various distribution channels in the Russian life insurance segmentDetails of the competitive landscape in the life insurance segment in RussiaDetails of regulatory policy applicable to the Russian insurance industryScopeThis report provides a comprehensive analysis of the life insurance segment in Russia:It provides historical values for the Russian life insurance segment for the reports 20122016 review period, and projected figures for the 20162021 forecast period.It offers a detailed analysis of the key categories in the Russian life insurance segment, and market forecasts to 2021.It provides a comparison of the Russian life insurance segment with its regional counterpartsIt analyzes the various distribution channels for life insurance products in Russia.It profiles the top life insurance companies in Russia and outlines the key regulations affecting them.Make an Enquiry about TOC @Reasons To BuyMake strategic business decisions using in-depth historic and forecast market data related to the Russian life insurance segment, and each category within it.Understand the demand-side dynamics, key market trends and growth opportunities in the Russian life insurance segment.Assess the competitive dynamics in the life insurance segment.Identify growth opportunities and market dynamics in key product categories.Gain insights into key regulations governing the Russian insurance industry, and their impact on companies and the industry's future.Key HighlightsIn February 2017, the Bank of Russia (BoR) enforced a new regulation on the formation of insurance reserves for life insurance companies. If the Bank of Russia finds it necessary to amend the methods used to calculate insurance reserves, life insurers must make and implement the required changes even if the method differs from the regulation.In September 2016, the Public Chamber of Russia proposed a compulsory life cover for firemen. The proposed compensation limit for a policy is RUB5.0 million (US$82,051.1).Sogaz Insurance Group acquired a 100% stake in JSC Zhaso by acquiring a 75.0% stake in United Credit Systems February 2016, in addition to its 25% stake held in December 2015.In 2016, the CBR revoked the licenses of several insurance companies due to non-compliance with financial stability requirements. Dostoinstvo Life Insurance Company, Regard Insurance LLC, Apogei Med Limited Liability Insurance Company, Priority Insurance Company, Asko Skel Plus LLC and Rodina Insurance LLC all lost their licenses.Browse Report @ResearchMoz 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.ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on :
Ceramic and Porcelain Tiles Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2024
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The ceramic and porcelain tiles, bathroom materials, and furniture and accessories market in Morocco is primarily dependent on the presence of unorganized regional players and a handful of key international players, such as Roca, RAK Ceramics, NG Kutahya Seramik, PORCELANOSA, and Marazzi. Transparency Market Research has observed that a few regional companies with a significant presence have established a strong and loyal customer base in various cities across Morocco. This has intensified the degree of competition with other local players as well as with international companies supplying imported tiles and other bathroom materials.Browse Market Research Report:The ceramic and porcelain tiles, bathroom materials, and furniture and accessories market in Morocco is expected to rise from a valuation of US$1.5 bn in 2015 to US$2.7 bn by 2024.Casablanca and Tangier to Present Promising Scope for Growth in MoroccoFull-body porcelain tiles led the ceramic and porcelain tiles market in Morocco, accounting for a 34.6% share in 2015. The segment is also projected to witness strong growth over the coming years. Registering a 7.3% CAGR from 2016 to 2024, glazed porcelain is likely to emerge as the most attractive investment option for the market. Thin tiles are a relatively newer generation of ceramic and porcelain tiles and the segment is expected to be highly lucrative in the near future.Within the bathroom materials market in Morocco, ceramic led the market for floor as well as wall materials. On the other hand, porcelain was the most rapidly expanding segment in both cases. The bathroom furniture and accessories market is dominated by the bath and sanitary ware segment and faucets are anticipated to register a high growth rate during the forecast period.Get TOC of this Report @Casablanca led the ceramic and porcelain tiles, bathroom materials, and furniture and accessories market in Morocco, accounting for a share of more than 30% in 2015. Tangier, on the other hand, is projected to be the most lucrative market, exhibiting a CAGR of over 6% from 2016 to 2024.Government of Morocco Plays Key Role in Boosting MarketMorocco has gained much popularity as a tourist destination in the recent past, with an estimated 9.8 mn tourists in 2011 alone. A surge in the inflow of tourists translates into a rise in the construction of hotels, thereby driving the demand for ceramic and porcelain tiles, bathroom materials, and furniture and accessories, the TMR analyst states.Further supporting the building and construction sector is the Government of Morocco, with its efforts in undertaking new construction projects under its housing scheme. The promise to construct 150,000 social housing units by 2020 and the rise in the renovation of old properties is anticipated to boost the market for ceramic and porcelain tiles, bathroom materials, and furniture and accessories in Morocco.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Ceramic and Porcelain Tiles market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market @Availability of Substitutes Hampering Demand for Ceramic and Porcelain TilesThere are several factors that are going against the Morocco ceramic and porcelain tiles, bathroom materials, and furniture and accessories market, the key one being the availability of substitutes. On the one hand, porcelain and ceramic tiles are higher priced compared to tiles made of cement and terracotta, or even zellige tiles, the author of the study points out. Moreover, the benefits offered by cement tiles, for instance, are many, including water resistance, durability, and environment-friendliness. This drives consumers to opt for the substitute rather than porcelain and ceramic tiles.Another factor acting as a deterrent is the fact that construction activities in Morocco are limited to just a few major cities. Marrakech, Casablanca, Tangier, and Agadir are among the cities that have been reporting a rise in construction projects. This is likely to restrict the demand for ceramic and porcelain tiles, bathroom materials, and furniture and accessories in the rest of the country.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.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Cell Culture Protein Surface Coatings Market: Future market projections for forthcoming years
Cell Culture Protein Surface Coatings Market
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The global market for cell culture protein surface coatings was worth US$256.2 mn and is estimated to reach a value of US$623.4 mn by the end of 2020. This market is projected to exhibit a progressive 13.60% CAGR between 2014 and 2020.Increasing investments by major players and governments in the research and development of stem cell is the key factor boosting the demand for cell culture protein surface coatings in the global market. In addition, the commercial manufacture of biologics such as antibodies, proteins, and vaccines and drugs, with the help of cell cultures has helped extensively in inflating the scope of the cell culture technique globally. It has also offered vast business opportunities for the manufacturing companies in the global cell culture protein surface coatings market. Diversity in the applications of stem cells, such as the development of artificial tissue and bone grafts, is further estimated to propel the global market for cell culture protein surface coatings through the forecast period. Moreover, the increasing applications of cell culture in cell-based assays and toxicology studies are further fueling the growth of the market.Request to view Sample Report:On the basis of protein source, the global market for cell culture protein surface coatings has been classified into animals, plants, synthetic proteins, and human proteins. The synthetic protein source segment is estimated to exhibit a progressive 13% CAGR between 2014 and 2020. The high growth rate of this segment can be attributed to the growing demand for animal-free surface coatings in several countries in Europe and North America. On the basis of the type of coating, the global market for cell culture protein surface coatings has been divided into pre-coating and self-coating. The pre-coating segment is further sub-categorized into cover slips, flasks, micro-well/multi-well plates, slides, and petri dishes. Among the two major types, in 2013, the self-coating segment held a dominant share in the global market and is expected to remain in that position in the forecast period.Request to Download TOC of the Report:On the basis of geography, the global market for cell culture protein surface coatings has been segmented into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. In 2013, the North America regional market held a 40.90% share in the overall cell culture protein surface coatings market. The rapid development of biotechnology and healthcare infrastructure and increased activities for drug discovery have fueled the Asia Pacific market for cell culture protein surface coatings. This region is projected to exhibit a significant 15.40% CAGR between 2014 and 2020.Furthermore, the research report covers the competitive landscape of the global market for cell culture protein surface coatings and details the company profile, contact information, business strategies, mergers and acquisitions, financial overview, and recent development of key players. Some of the prominent players operating in the global market for cell culture protein surface coatings are Merck Millipore, Greiner Bio-One International AG, Corning Incorporated, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Sartorius Stedim Biotech SA, Viogene BioTek Corporation, and Sigma-Aldrich Corporation.Global Cell Culture Protein Surface Coatings Market Market Report is available @ US$ 5795: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.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:
Development of Construction in Morocco Industry : Trends and Application 2017
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Albany, NY, 20th September : Recent research and the current scenario as well as future market potential of "Construction in Morocco - Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021" globally.In real terms, the Moroccan construction industry posted positive growth during the review period (20122016) despite political instability. The industry was supported by effective political reforms implemented by the government, coupled with large-scale investments in various transport and residential infrastructure projects.Over the forecast period (20172021), industry growth is expected to be supported by government efforts to upgrade the countrys transport infrastructure and improve the countrys energy production capacity.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @The governments aim to encourage the participation of the private-sector in economic growth through public-private partnerships is expected to bode well for the industry over the forecast period. Timetric expects the construction output to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.74% in real terms from 2017 to 2021.SummaryTimetrics Construction in Morocco Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021 report provides detailed market analysis, information and insights into the Moroccan construction industry, including:The Moroccan construction industry's growth prospects by market, project type and construction activityCritical insight into the impact of industry trends and issues, and the risks and opportunities they present to participants in the Moroccan construction industryProfiles of the leading operators in the Moroccan construction industryScopeThis report provides a comprehensive analysis of the construction industry in Morocco. It provides:Historical (2012-2016) and forecast (2017-2021) valuations of the construction industry in Morocco using construction output and value-add methodsSegmentation by sector (commercial, industrial, infrastructure, energy and utilities, institutional and residential) and by sub-sectorBreakdown of values within each project type, by type of activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) and by type of cost (materials, equipment and services)Detailed profiles of the leading construction companies in MoroccoMake an Enquiry about TOC @Reasons To BuyIdentify and evaluate market opportunities using Timetric's standardized valuation and forecasting methodologies.Assess market growth potential at a micro-level with over 600 time-series data forecasts.Understand the latest industry and market trends.Formulate and validate strategy using Timetric's critical and actionable insight.Assess business risks, including cost, regulatory and competitive pressures.Evaluate competitive risk and success factors.Key HighlightsIn May 2016, the Chinese government signed a memorandum of understanding with the Moroccan government to develop a new industrial city with a total investment of MAD98.3 billion (US$10.0 billion) in Tangiers.In a bid to promote economic growth, in November 2016 the government, announced plans to invest MAD77.0 billion (US$7.8 billion) until 2021 to develop various public infrastructure projects in the Western Sahara region.Under the 20142018 Integrated Development Program for Bouregreg Valley, in June 2017 the government, signed an agreement to develop a skyscraper in Rabat with a total investment of MAD3.7 billion (US$375.0 million). This includes the construction of a 45-storey tower with several hotels, offices, luxury apartments, the National Archives of the Kingdom of Morocco, and an arts and culture house.The development of transport infrastructure is vital to Moroccos economic growth. In January 2016, the African Development Bank granted a loan worth MAD1.1 billion (US$112.3 million) until 2020 to develop rail infrastructure projects in the country.According to Timetric, the energy and utilities construction market is expected to record a CAGR of 6.38% over the forecast period, as compared with 4.90% registered during the period. Market growth is expected to be supported by the governments aim to reduce reliance on energy imports. Accordingly, in January 2017, the government announced plans to generate 4,000MW of energy from renewable sources by 2020, owing to the vast potential of the renewable sector. This is expected to drive funding towards renewable energy infrastructure projects over the forecast period.Browse Report @ResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on :
Butadiene Market to Represent Significant Revenue Growth 2023
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Transparency Market Research has published a new report titled Butadiene (Synthetic and Bio-based) Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2015 - 2023. According to the report, the global synthetic & bio-based butadiene market for was valued at US$ 15.24 Bn in 2014 and is anticipated to reach US$ 23.45 Bn by 2023, expanding at a CAGR of 4.9% between 2015 and 2023.Request to view Sample Report:Butadiene is one of the major petrochemical and holds significant importance in end-user industries such as automotive and tire. High demand from tire and automotive industries is driving demand for synthetic & bio-based butadiene during the last few years. Butadiene derivatives such as SB rubber, ABS, and butadiene rubber are used in the processing of tires and automotive parts. SB rubber products such as S-SBR and E-SBR are primarily consumed raw materials in the production of tires. These materials provide low rolling resistance and better grip, thus resulting in reduced CO2 emissions and improved fuel economy. Rise in demand for ABS in Asia Pacific, especially in China and Southeast Asia, is another key factor propelling growth of the market for synthetic & bio-based butadiene. Furthermore, development of innovative technological processes for the production of bio-based butadiene is likely to fuel the butadiene market in the near future. However, volatility in raw material prices coupled with stringent environmental regulations are expected to hinder the market growth during the forecast period.Synthetic butadiene was the largest product segment, accounting for a significant share of the global synthetic & bio-based butadiene market in 2014. Synthetic butadiene is produced from a mixture of C4 feedstock and is further processed to obtain derivatives such as ABS, SB rubber, and SB latex. These derivatives are employed in tire and automotive industries. Bio-based butadiene is likely to be the fastest-growing product segment of the synthetic & bio-based butadiene market in the next few years. Stringent regulations are primarily boosting growth of the bio-based butadiene market. Alignment towards eco-friendly and cost-competitive production is estimated to drive the market growth during the forecast period.In terms of demand, butadiene rubber has been dominating the synthetic & bio-based butadiene market in the past years. Butadiene rubber is primarily used in tire production; however, it is also used as an additive in plastics such as polystyrene and ABS. SB rubber accounted for the second-largest share of the synthetic & bio-based butadiene market in 2014. SB rubber is a synthetic rubber obtained through copolymerization of butadiene and styrene and is used in the production of tire and its products. ABS and adiponitrile are considered to be among the fastest-growing application segments of the synthetic & bio-based butadiene market. A similar trend is anticipated to continue during the forecast period.Request to download and view full ToC @Asia Pacific accounted for over 50% share of the global synthetic & bio-based butadiene in 2014. Increasing demand from China and Southeast Asia is expected to drive growth of the synthetic & bio-based butadiene market in this region. Europe and North America are likely to exhibit decline in the market growth due to lower demand and stringent regulations related to butadiene. The Middle East & Africa is expected to be one of the fastest-growing regions for synthetic & bio-based butadiene during the next decade. Growth in tire and automotive industries in this region is likely to provide potential opportunities for the butadiene market in the next few years.The report provides a comprehensive view of the synthetic & bio-based butadiene market in terms of volume and revenue. It includes current demand analysis and forecast for product segments and applications in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. Furthermore, the report provides detailed country-wise analysis of the synthetic & bio-based butadiene market in the regions mentioned above.View 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:
Dynamic Checkweighers Market 2017- Bizerba, Nemesis, Brapenta Eletrnica, Varpe Control De Peso
Dynamic Checkweighers Market
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Apex Research, recently published a detailed market research study focused on the "Dynamic Checkweighers Market" across the global, regional and country level. The report provides 360 analysis of "Dynamic Checkweighers Market" from view of manufacturers, regions, product types and end industries. The research report analyses and provides the historical data along with current performance of the global Dynamic Checkweighers industry, and estimates the future trend of Dynamic Checkweighers market on the basis of this detailed study. The study shares "Dynamic Checkweighers Market" performance both in terms of volume and revenue.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:Top Manufacturers Analysis of This ReportOcs CheckweighersCornerstone Automation SystemsCitizen Scales (India)Thermo Scientific Environmental And ProcessShenzhen General Measure Technology StockAmtec Packaging MachinesBizerbaNemesisBrapenta EletrnicaVarpe Control De PesoVinsyst TechnologiesThe market research report explores the Dynamic Checkweighers market across the globe along with major regions and countries. The research report provides a detailed study on each and every aspect of "Dynamic Checkweighers Market". The research report studies the entire value chain from raw material to end user industries. The report also shares import/export statistics along with production and consumption for all major regions and countries. Moreover, the research study classifies the Dynamic Checkweighers market based on major product types, application and end users industries of Dynamic Checkweighers. Besides, the report also covers geographical segmentation for Dynamic Checkweighers market. The report further provides production, capacity, price per region, gross margin, production cost, for all major regions and countries listed in report.The competitive landscape of the global market for Dynamic Checkweighers is determined by assessing the major industry participants, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Dynamic Checkweighers market's production chain, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Dynamic Checkweighers market globally.Enquire Before Buying @The global Dynamic Checkweighers market 2017 is further analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Dynamic Checkweighers production volume, data pertaining to demand and Dynamic Checkweighers supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. The report provides upstream and downstream analysis covering major raw material used in manufacturing of Dynamic Checkweighers along with detailed manufacturing sources. The report also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations. Detailed raw material price trend analysis along with manufacturing cost analysis is also incorporated into the report. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, SWOT analysis and market attractiveness analysis has been implemented in the research study to present a comprehensive, detailed study of the industry for Dynamic Checkweighers across the world.About UsApexResearch offer reports from top publishers and update to serve you with immediate on-line access to professional insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends. Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact UsFrank ValadezBusiness Development Executive| sales@apexresearch.biz
Intrathecal Pumps Market- Regional Outlook, Key Players, Industry Forecast to 2023
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Intrathecal pumps devices are used for specific transfer of drug doses in the human body particularly, especially within spinal cord. The advancement in the accuracy of these devices has increased the demand of intrathecal pumps in recent years.Access Report Overview:Intrathecal pumps are widely used in the treatment of patients suffering from chronic pain without any/minimal side-effects. Economic factors such as, U.S. health insurance policies have boosted the demand of the intrathecal pumps market. Moreover, with advancing technology of the intrathecal pumps, the feasibility and flexibility of these devices have also grown with the current diagnostic methods, which in-turn is driving the intrathecal pumps market. Drugs such as Baclofen and Trihexy-phenidyl, which are used for the treatment of neuro-degeneration with brain iron accumulation and dystonia are not available in oral form, and hence, the demand of technically advanced intrathecal pumps with ability to perform multiple medications via single infusion pump has increased in recent years.Download Free Sample of This Research Report:North America was the largest market for intrathecal pumps in 2014. The market dominance and the growth of the North American market are attributed to supportive health insurance policies by the government, along with the increasing awareness of intrathecal pumps among patients suffering from chronic pain in North America. Europe accounted for the second largest intrathecal pumps market in 2014, owing to the increased medical monitoring of the large population of baby boomers in the region.The Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing intrathecal pumps market, among all the geographical segmentation. The Asia-Pacific market is expected to witness a double digit growth in coming years owing to the prevalence of cancer in the developing countries such as India, and China. Moreover, increasing disposable income, strengthening healthcare, infrastructure and supportive government regulation have also benefited in the adoption of advance diagnosis equipment such as intrathecal pumps. Country wise, the U.S. and Canada are two of the largest intrathecal pumps market in North America. Also, Germany, Italy, France, U.K and Spain are some of the significant countries, which have played a massive role in escalating the Intrathecal pumps market of Europe. In Asia Pacific- Japan, China, and India are the major intrathecal pumps market.Recently Flowonix Medical Inc., has launched a Prometra intrathecal pump, featuring accurate drug delivery mechanism, dual-gated valve drug delivery and increased device longevity. Rising merger and accusation (M&A) activity and market consolidation in the global intrathecal pump market is expected to drive the intrathecal pump market during the forecast period.Some of the major players operating in the global intrathecal pumps market include- Arrow International Medallion Therapeutics Inc., Codman & Shurtleff, Inc., Medtronic, Inc., and Flowonix, Inc., Tricumed GmbH among others.Contact:Mr. Kundan KumarManager Client Partner347, 5th Ave. #1402New York City, NY - 10016Toll-free: +18887787886 (USA/Canada)Email: enquiry@psmarketresearch.comWeb:347 5th Ave. #1402- 210 New York City, NY 10016 United States
Piperonyl Butoxide Market : Present Scenario and the Growth Prospects 2024
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The Asia Pacific piperonyl butoxide (PBO) market has been expected in a report penned by Transparency Market Research (TMR) to hold a moderately consolidated nature during the forecast period 20162024. In 2015, three leading companies, viz. Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd., Wujiang Shuguang Chemical Co., Ltd., and ENDURA P.IVA, had secured a 38.0% share. Goodwill and long-term contracts could be key elements bearing the dynamics of the market. Protection from instability in the prices of raw materials and their easy access have been prophesied to provide a competitive edge to large-scale companies with integrated operations.Browse Market Research Report:Companies such as ENDURA P.IVA could look to fortify their status in the Asia Pacific PBO market by expanding their footprint in lucrative countries such as China and India. Expansion of production capacities and business operations in these two markets has been foreseen to offer ample of opportunities in future. ENDURA P.IVA has also been shaking hands with several India and China-based firms to further its expansion in the market.Anticipated to progress at a stable CAGR of 5.0% between the forecast years, the Asia Pacific PBO market could touch a revenue valuation of US$15.45 mn by the end of 2024 from US$10.02 mn in 2015. With regard to application, the carbamate market has been predicted to take a leading position in the industry after having attained a 39.3% share in 2015. In the same year, China had displayed its dominance in the market with an over 45.0% demand share.Increasing Pest Infestation Surges Need for Insecticides and PesticidesThe authors of the report have studied the Asia Pacific PBO market to possibly witness a high demand on the back of a surging risk of pest infestation and successive increase in the adoption of insecticides and also pesticides. According to TMR, an approximate quarter share of the total crop production in Asia Pacific is lost every year on account of the damage caused by pests and insects. The need for crop protection chemicals could also see a substantial rise in the coming years due to the exceedingly conducive climatic conditions in the region for insects to grow in.Get TOC Of This Report @Besides this, the rising demand for insecticides to upkeep food warehouses has been foretold to support the growth of the market.Affordable Prices of Traditional Insecticides Turn Down DemandConventional insecticides such as organosulfur, benzoylurea, organochlorine, and organophosphate bear a lower pricing than PBO insecticides. This has been prognosticated to delay the demand in the Asia Pacific PBO market since farmers preferably use low-price insecticides that are as effective as their high-price PBO counterparts for eliminating pests. Various complexities involved in the production of PBO could be another reason for a hampered growth of the market in the foreseeable future.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Piperonyl Butoxide (PBO) Market market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market @However, the towering demand in top Asia Pacific countries such as China, India, and Japan has been envisaged to create growth opportunities for industry players. A noticeably high yield made possible through the application of crop protection chemicals could also help players to rise above the challenges. Emerging economies of Asia Pacific with improper distribution, storage, and infrastructure facilities are facing concerns on the part of food security. Vendors could also cash in on this prospect to increase their sales rate in the Asia Pacific PBO market.The information presented in this review is based on a TMR report, titled Piperonyl Butoxide (PBO) Market (Application - Pyrethrin, Pyrethroid, Carbamate, Rotenone, and Bioallethrin, Permethrin, Bioresmethrin, and Deltamethrin) - Asia Pacific Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024.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.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
A state appeals court panel on Tuesday joined a federal appeals court that earlier this summer upheld Wisconsins right-to-work law, finding that it is not an unconstitutional taking of property from unions.
The three-judge panel of the Wausau-based state District 3 Court of Appeals, led by Judge Mark Seidl, overturned a Dane County circuit judges finding from April 2016 that the 2015 law, sometimes called Act 1, is unconstitutional.
The benefits of exclusive representation correspond to a duty to represent all employees in the bargaining unit fairly, including non-members of the union who will pay nothing for representative services, Seidl wrote. Act 1 does not deprive compensation for those mandated services. The law merely prohibits anyone from conditioning a persons employment on the payment of monies designed to cover the costs of performing that duty of fair representation.
Milwaukee lawyer Frederick Perillo, who has been lead attorney for three unions that sued to overturn right-to-work, said Tuesday that he had not yet seen the ruling.
State Attorney General Brad Schimel and Gov. Scott Walker hailed the decision.
I applaud the court in affirming the constitutional right of all Wisconsin workers to be free to choose whether they want to join a union or financially support a union, Walker said in a statement.
The courts ruling comes on the heels of a decision in July by a federal appeals court panel that also upheld the right-to-work law. A federal judge in Milwaukee had upheld the law in a ruling in September 2016.
The right-to-work law, modeled on similar laws in other states, prohibits unions and employers from requiring that all employees pay fees to join a union, either in membership dues or fair share payments for those who opt out of union membership but are still represented by the union.
In the Dane County case, three unions, including the AFL-CIO, sued the state after the law was enacted, arguing that state and federal laws require unions to provide collective bargaining services to all employees in a represented workplace, regardless of whether they pay union dues. That made the state right-to-work law an illegal taking over their services, they argued.
Dane County Circuit Judge William Foust, who has since retired, found the law to be unconstitutional and banned it from being enforced, but the state appeals court panel restored enforcement of the law about a month later while it considered the states appeal of the case.
In the panels ruling, Seidl wrote that the right-to-work law doesnt appropriate, transfer or encumber money contained in the unions treasuries. Similarly Act 1 does not require labor organizations to provide services to anyone.
The unions may be required to expend resources to represent employees in a bargaining unit who do not pay fees or dues to the union, Seidl wrote, but the result does not constitute a taking. Rather, Act 1 merely precludes the unions from requiring non-member employees to pay fees designed to cover the costs of performing the duty of fair representation.
The appeals court ordered the case returned to the circuit court for dismissal.
Asset Tags Market - Market Future Growth Opportunities | 2025
Asset Tags Market
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Asset Tags Market: IntroductionAsset tags are typically used as a serial number or as a barcode in order to keep a track on the movements of the product or the asset in particular. Technological advancements have caused an increase in the demand of several products which could be transported across geographies or conveyed at long distances. These products need to be monitored well in order to prevent any mishap or crime. Asset tags serve the purpose by keeping an eye on the movement of such products and avoid theft. Not only protection, but asset tags are also essential to monitor the product route and in case they are off track, they can be set on the right direction with the help of these asset tags. Asset tags can be attributed to their assurance of delivering good service to the customer, along with efficiency and an increased security which they offer. It is these attributes that asset tags label several products around the globe. They are also used to identify and repair and maintain fixed assets like buildings, road signs, tunnels or any other system which is attached to a building.Asset Tags Market: Dynamics and Their Influencing FactorsThe global use of asset tags has seen steady growth since past years. The demand to track and identify the products can be said to drive the growth of the asset tags market. Moreover, they provide customer convenience by eliminating the need for the customers to stand in long queues to identify the products in retail stores. Scanning lasers are used to carry out the identification of the products in a fast manner adding to customer convenience. Huge urbanization growth coupled with rapid pace in the changing lifestyle implies people want to finish tasks in a quicker manner. Asset tags are typically preferred by manufacturers and retail stores. Their increasing volume drives the market for asset tags. OEM produce millions of goods and they need a quick system for identification and locating their products. This is where asset tags come handy.Browse Full Report With ToC @Asset Tags Market: Categorization and End UseAsset tags can be categorized with respect to material used. There are metal asset tags for flat and curved surfaces and there are plastic asset tags as well. Asset tags use barcode or a number. Their size categorization includes varying sizes such as 0.75 x 1.5, 1.25 x 2, 0.75: x 2, 0.5 x 1.75, 0.5 x 1.25 and 0.625 x 1.75. Asset tags are used as school barcodes, in hospitals, as anti-theft labels, property ID tags and Churches.Asset Tags Market: Regional LandscapeThe regions covered in the asset tags market include North America, Europe (Eastern Europe and Western Europe), Latin America, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Middle East as well as Africa.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Asset Tags Market: Competitive LandscapeThe key players present in the global asset tags market are Alpha Signs, custom Labels, Brother International Corporation, Labels China, Premier Holotech and AB&R.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 Us:-Transparency Market 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.We are privileged with highly experienced team of Analysts, Researchers and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog:
Ambulatory Surgical & Emergency Center Services Market is expected to reach a valuation of US$ 42.8 Billion by the end of 2020
Europe Ambulatory Surgical & Emergency Center Services Market
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The global Ambulatory Surgical & Emergency Center Services Market estimating it to expand at a healthy CAGR of 13.0% during the period from 2014 to 2020 and reach a market value of US$42.8 bn by the end of the forecast period. The market stood at US$18.5 bn in 2013.The Europe market for ambulatory surgical and emergency center services has been analyzed on the basis of the type of surgical procedures in this research study. The markets for gastrointestinal surgeries, ophthalmological surgeries, orthopedics surgeries, dermatology surgeries, ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeries, urological surgeries, obstetrics surgeries, vascular surgeries, general surgical procedures, pulmonary surgeries, and pain management are the key segments of this market.Among these, the orthopedic surgeries segment has been dominating the ambulatory surgical and emergency center services market in Europe. The high cost of orthopedic surgeries and increasing incidence of arthroscopic procedures have been stimulating the markets growth significantly. However, the ophthalmological surgeries segment is likely to register the highest growth over the forecast period. The increasing patient pool suffering from cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and other eye-related conditions are the key driving forces behind the exceptional growth of this segment, notes the research study.Request to view Sample Report:According to the research report, the Europe market for ambulatory surgical and emergency center services is spread across the U.K., Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, and the Rest of Europe. The U.K. dominated the overall market in 2013.Various initiatives by the U.K. government as well as several medical bodies promoting ambulatory services has boosted the ambulatory surgical and emergency center services market in the nation. However, the Rest of Europe market is projected occupy the leading position by the end of the forecast period, owing to the soaring number of ambulatory surgeries performed in this region, says the research study.Request to Download TOC of the Report:Terveystalo Healthcare Oyj, Symbion Inc., Surgery Partners, Nueterra, Medical Facilities Corp., LCA - Vision Inc., IntegraMed America Inc., Healthway Medical Group, Eifelhohen Klinik AG, Community Health Systems Inc., and AmSurg Corp. are the major companies operating in the ambulatory and emergency center services market in Europe, states the market report.Europe Ambulatory Surgical & Emergency Center Services Market Market Report is available @ US$ 5795: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.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:
Automotive Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensors Market to Witness Steady Growth During the Forecast Period 2017-2025
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Automotive mass air flow (MAF) sensors are one of the chief components of the electronic fuel injection system in an automobile. The MAF sensor is installed between the intake manifold and air filter of the car engine. The main function of the MAF sensor is to measure the mass air flow or the amount of air that enters an internal combustion engine. Information related to mass air flow in an engine is necessary for the engine control unit for balancing and delivering the correct fuel mass to the engine. In the automobile applications, air density varies with respect to the use of forced induction, ambient temperature and altitude. Therefore, mass air flow sensors are more appropriate in automotive applications in comparison to volumetric flow sensors for the purpose of determining the quantity of air intake in each cylinder. Mass air flow sensors do not have any moving parts, unlike a vane air flow meter which uses a sprig loaded flop. MAF sensors make use of electrical current to measure airflow. In many cases, intake air temperature sensor and oxygen sensor is also installed along with the mass air flow sensor. When mass air flow sensor function in conjunction with an oxygen sensor, the air/fuel ratio of the engine can be accurately monitored and controlled.The global automotive mass air flow sensors market is being primarily driven by the benefits offered by these sensors including, improved engine performance, superior engine control, fast response time, high resistance and durability and low airflow restriction among others. Further, increasing vehicle production globally is strongly boosting the market growth of MAF sensors. However, common signs of problems associated with mass air flow sensors include running lean under load or rich at idle, rough stalls and decrease in fuel efficiency.Request for Report TOC @The global automotive mass air flow (MAF) sensors market can be segmented on the basis of types into hot wire and hot film. Despite being slightly different in design, both these types of MAF sensors measure the density and volume of entering the engine in order to calculate the amount of fuel required to maintain the proper fuel mixture. Hot-wire type of mass air flow sensors are most commonly used in the modern automobiles owing to the benefits associated with this type including, low airflow restriction, smaller overall packages, quick response to changes in airflow, low cost and no requirement for separate temperature and pressure sensors among others. Based on the design of MAF sensors, the market can be bifurcated into variable voltage output (analog) design and frequency output (digital) design. Both these designs work on the hot wire principle and their operation is similar. The outputs from both can be measured using a scanner or a dvom (digital volt/ohm) meter which can measure frequency.The global automotive mass air flow (MAF) sensors market can be further classified geographically into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America and Middle East and Africa. There is strong growth potential for the market in the emerging countries of Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East. Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest growing market for automotive intake manifolds during the forecast period, with China and Japan being the main contributors to the market in this region.Request for Report Brochure @Some of the major players in the global automotive mass air flow (MAF) sensors market include Robert Bosch GmbH, Denso Corporation, Delphi Automotive PLC, Dorman, Hitachi Automotive Systems Ltd. and ACDelco among others. The key players in the global market are heavily investing in innovations and research and development activities to manufacture mass air flow sensors that ensure improved engine performance coupled with low levels of harmful emission from the automobile with maximum fuel efficiency.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 Research90 State Street, Suite 700,Albany, NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Cladding System Market is expected to grow at CAGR of 6% by 2022
Cladding System Market
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Market HighlightsCladding System is often pre-fabricated in panels that are attached to the structural frame of the building. The key drivers for the growth of cladding system market is increasing construction & infrastructure activities. It is used to protect the building from the extreme environment conditions. However, high maintenance cost of the system my hamper the growth of cladding system market. On the basis of region, North America is the largest market by value. The Cladding System Market is expected to grow at CAGR of 6% by 2022.Continuously growing construction & infrastructure is the primary driving factor of cladding system market. The growing need for thermal insulation and weather protection augments the demand for such systems across the globe. Additionally, government regulations regarding zero energy building codes is another driving factor of this market. Cladding System Market is expected to grow at CAGR of 6% during the forecast period.North America is the largest Growing Market:North America region dominates the Cladding System Market. New construction and remodeling of existing structure is going on and also availability of technical expertise, drive this market in North America region.Request a Sample Report @Key Players:The key players of Global Cladding System Market report include- Tata Steel Ltd, Alcoa Inc., Etex Group, James Hardie Industries Plc., Boral Ltd, Axiall Corporation, CSR Ltd., Nichiha Corporation, Cembrit Holding A/S, and Compagnie de Saint Gobain SA.Market Research Analysis:The market is highly application based. The factors contributing to the growth of the cladding system market are, government regulation regarding zero energy building, availability of skilled labors and increase the disposable income. The market is expected to have higher growth rate as compared to the previous years. North America is the largest region for the Cladding System Market.Scope of the Report:This study provides an overview of the Global Cladding System 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. The scope of the study segments the Global Cladding System Market as materials, components, and application.By Materials Wood Metal Vinyl Brick & stone othersBy Components Window Doors Wall Roof Light Vent OthersBy Application Residential Non-residentialBrowse Full Report Details @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 Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: salesteam@marketresearchfuture.com
Concrete Cooling Market is predicted to grow at approximately 5% by 2022
Concrete Cooling Market
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Market Synopsis of Concrete Cooling MarketConcrete Cooling is required for mass concrete construction for like in dam construction projects to avoid the cracks in construction. The strength in concrete is developed by evolution of heat as the cement cures and hardens (heat of hydration). Increasing demand of Concrete Cooling Systems from regions with high temperatures are projected to drive the growth of the market in the future.The increasing popularity of such Concrete Cooling Systems have led to the systems which are custom made and designed to best fit the applications and settings in which it will be used. The companies these days are highly tuned in to the needs of their clients such as strength, durability, and safety. The Global Concrete Cooling Market size was valued at around USD 900 million in 2015 and is expected to cross USD 1200 million by the end of the forecasted period.Mass concrete construction requires concrete cooling solutions. Their demand is augmented from the regions with very high temperatures. Water cooling segment is projected to be the fastest growing segment because of availability of water in most regions of the world. It is also a cost-effective and easy method of concrete cooling. Highway construction segment will account for the largest market share as the cooling segments make the structure strong enough to last for years.The report has analyzed the market based on the two segments: type and application in the regions of North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa and rest of the world. Fastest growing region in specialty films market is Middle East and Africa. Increasing demand of concrete cooling systems from regions with high temperatures are projected to drive the growth of this market. The global concrete cooling market is expected to cross USD 1200 Million at the end of the forecasted period at CAGR of approximately 5% by 2022.Request a Sample Report @Key Players:The key players of Concrete Cooling Market report include- Fujian Snowman Co., Ltd., North Star Ice Equipment Corporation, KTI-Plersch Kaltetechnik GmbH, LINTEC Germany GmbH, Coldcrete Inc., ConCool LLC, Recom Ice Systems, Kirloskar Pneumatic Company Limited, Icelings, and Focusun Refrigeration Corporation.Market Research Analysis:The fastest-growing type segment of the Global Concrete Cooling Market is water cooling. The growth is attributed to easy availability of water and cost-effectiveness. The highway construction segment accounts for the largest market share. A few key factors in selecting the type of cooling system for highway construction are climate, architectural design and Local geography. The right Cooling method will help in improving the power of the concrete in long-term thereby making the structure strong enough to last for years.Scope of the Report:This study provides an overview of the Global Concrete Cooling Industry, tracking two market segments across five 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, Middle East and Africa and Rest of the World. The report also provides a forecast, focusing on the market opportunities for the next five years for each region. The scope of the study segments the global specialty films market as type and application. On the basis of type it is segmented as ice cooling, water cooling, air cooling and liquid nitrogen cooling. On the basis of application it is segmented as Infrastructure, Commercial, Industrial, and others.Browse Full Report Details @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 Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: salesteam@marketresearchfuture.com
Potato Chips Worldwide Market by Type, Production and Forecast To 2021
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Publisher's Potato Chips market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability.The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.The report includes the forecasts, Analysis and discussion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry Players.Global Potato Chips Market: Application Segment AnalysisThe Players mentioned in our reportPepsiCoOld Dutch Foods, Inc.UTZ Quality Foods, Inc.Golden FlakeHerr Foods Inc.Private LabelGeneral MillsKelloggConAgra Foods, Inc.Snyder's of Hanover, Inc.For More Information About This Report:Global Potato Chips Market: Regional Segment AnalysisUSAEuropeJapanChinaIndiaSouth East AsiaRequest Sample Copy At:Table of ContentChapter 1 About the Potato Chips IndustryChapter 2 World Market Competition LandscapeChapter 3 World Potato Chips Market shareChapter 4 Supply Chain AnalysisChapter 5 Company Profiles5.1 PepsiCo5.1.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.1.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.1.3 Revenue (M USD) , Price and Operating Profits5.2 Old Dutch Foods, Inc.5.2.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.2.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.2.3 Revenue (M USD) , Price and Operating ProfitsChapter 6 Globalization & TradeChapter 7 Distributors and CustomersChapter 8 Import, Export, Consumption and Consumption Value by Major CountriesChapter 9 World Potato Chips Market forecast through 2021Chapter 10 Key success factors and Market OverviewInquire For This Report At:Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Specialty Paper and Paperboards Market - Global Industry Analysis and Future Growth Opportunities By 2024
Specialty Paper and Paperboards Market
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Specialty Paper and Paperboards Market: OverviewThough there is no set distinction between paper and paperboard, the latter (single- or multi-ply) is normally thicker in comparison. Specialty paper and paperboards require distinct and elite raw materials and have similar applications.Specialty papers are usually employed in applications with representative values (such as cheques, money, vouchers, and security papers, as well as in packaging (wrapping paper and wallpaper), construction (construction paper, paper engineering, and composite materials) and others (such as litmus paper, blotting paper, and electrical insulation paper).Specialty paperboards are usually utilized as cardboard boxes for packaging and drawing boards for students in faculties such as the arts, architecture, and engineering and also as sign boards in advertising and hard board covers for books, magazines, and notebooks. They are used to manufacture containers, cartons, and trays employed to serve food as well as store medicines, food, and dairy products.Specialty Paper and Paperboards Market TrendsPackaging applications hold a major share in the specialty paper and paperboards market, followed by printing and graphics. Consumption has been observed to be related to economic trends (GDP). The industry requires extensive investments, which is why a few prominent players usually dominate the market in a region.The usage of digital media has increased for marketing and advertising purposes since it offers exposure to a large population and is economical and environment friendly. A major cause of deforestation is the requirement of paper, which can be lessened by using digital media. This can be considered as a constraint for the market for specialty paper and paperboards.Browse Full Report With ToC @Retail sector, an ever-growing and organized market, has resulted in an amplified demand of food & beverages and other consumer care products. The number of supermarkets and hypermarkets is also increasing. These factors are expected to be the drivers for the market for specialty paper and paperboards.Specialty Paper and Paperboards Market SegmentationBased on product, the specialty paper market can be segmented into the following divisions: waterproof paper, cotton paper, craft paper, tracing paper, medical grade paper, cigarette paper, and others. In terms of raw materials, the market can be divided into the following categories: additives, fillers, binders, pulp, and others. List of applicationss includes packaging, medical, construction, security, insulation, decoration, and others.By product, the specialty paperboard market can be split into the following segments: drawing board, specialty cardboard box, containers & cartons, and others. The type-based groups are virgin boards and recycled boards, while applications include the arts, printing & graphics, packaging, food service, pharmaceuticals, and others.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Specialty Paper and Paperboards Market: Region-wise OutlookThe market for specialty paper and paperboards is dominated by Europe, followed by North America, in terms of consumption due to its wide variety of industry applications, easy availability, and increasing disposable incomes of consumers. In North America, the U.S. constitutes a major share in the market. In recent years, the market has expanded and this trend is likely to continue. Asia Pacific is anticipated to develop at a higher rate in comparison to other regions. Increasing population and industrialization in the region is projected to be a major factor for increasing demand for specialty paper and paperboards here. Countries such as China, Indonesia, and India are likely to witness substantial growth.About Us:-Transparency Market 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.We are privileged with highly experienced team of Analysts, Researchers and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog:
Global India Data Centre Industry : Market Demands, Insights, Research and Forecast 2017-2022
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Albany, NY, 20th September : Recent research and the current scenario as well as future market potential of "India Data Centre Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022" globally.This report studies the Data Centre market status and outlook of India, from angles of manufacturers, product types and end industries; this report analyzes the top manufacturers in India, and splits the Data Centre market by product type and applications/end industries.The India Data Centre market is valued at 2956.03 million USD in 2016 and is expected to reach 10817.43 million USD by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of 20.36% between 2016 and 2022.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @The major players in India Data Centre market includeOracleIBMNTT CommunicationsAWSGoogleMicrosoftOn the basis on the product, this report coversIn-House Data CenterColocationWholesale Data CenterDedicated HostingManaged HostingShared HostingOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report coversIT CompanyBFSIEducational InstitutionGovernmentOthersTable of Contents1 Industry Overview11.1 Data Centre Market Overview11.2 India Data Centre Market by Product21.2.1 India Data Centre Revenue (Million USD) and Growth (%) Comparison by Product (2012-2022)21.2.2 India Data Centre Revenue (Million USD) Market Share (%) by Product in 201631.2.3 In-House Data Center41.2.4 Colocation51.2.5 Wholesale Data Center61.2.6 Dedicated Hosting71.2.7 Managed Hosting81.2.8 Shared Hosting91.3 India Data Centre Market by End Users/Application101.4 Data Centre Development History and Outlook111.4.1 India Data Centre Market Size and Outlook (2012-2022)11Make an Enquiry about TOC @2 India Data Centre Competition Analysis by Players132.1 India Data Centre Market Size (Value) by Players (2012-2017)132.2 Competitive Status and Trend162.2.1 Market Concentration Rate162.2.2 New Entrants172.2.3 The Technology Trends in Future183 Company (Top Players) Profiles and Key Data213.1 IBM213.1.1 Company Profile213.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview213.1.3 Products Example223.1.4 IBM Data Centre Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)223.1.5 Recent Developments243.2 NTT Communications253.2.1 Company Profile253.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview253.2.3 Products, Service Overview263.2.4 NTT Communications Data Centre Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)263.2.5 Recent Developments283.3 ESDS303.3.1 Company Profile303.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview303.3.3 Products, Service Overview313.3.4 ESDS Data Centre Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)313.3.5 Recent Developments333.4 Sungard AS343.4.1 Company Profile343.4.2 Main Business/Business Overview343.4.3 Sungard AS Data Centre Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)353.5 Microsoft363.5.1 Company Profile363.5.2 Main Business/Business Overview373.5.3 Products, Service Overview373.5.4 Microsoft Data Centre Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)373.5.5 Recent Developments393.6 Oracle403.6.1 Company Profile403.6.2 Main Business/Business Overview413.6.3 Products Example413.6.4 Oracle Data Centre Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)423.6.5 Recent Developments434 India Data Centre Market Size by Product (2012-2017)524.1 India Data Centre Market Size by Product (2012-2017)524.2 In-House Data Center Development in India544.3 Colocation Development in India554.4 Wholesale Data Center Development in India564.5 Dedicated Hosting Data Center Development in India574.6 Managed Hosting Data Center Development in India584.7 Shared Hosting Data Center Development in India595 India Data Centre Market Size by Application/End Users (2012-2017)605.1 India Data Centre Market Size by Application (2012-2017)605.2 IT Company Development in India625.3 BFSI Development in India635.4 Educational Institution Development in India645.5 Government Development in India65Browse Report @6 Data Centre Market Dynamics666.1 Data Centre Market Opportunities666.2 Data Centre Challenge and Risk666.3 New Project SWOT Analysis of Data Center Construction67ResearchMoz 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.ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on :
Argan Oil Market - Growth and Forecast 2017 - 2027
Argan Oil Market
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Global Argan Oil Market: OverviewWith growing demand for non-timber forest products (NTFP), there has been increased inclination of local conservatives to preserve such plants, of which argan oil has gained significant traction. Furthermore, consumer inclination towards herbal and botanical ingredients in different products ranging from cosmetic, food to medical products is likely to fuel the argan oil market growth. This is further leading to commercialisation of argan oil across the globe. As a food ingredient, argan oil acts as energy booster with consumers suffering from vitamin deficiency, heart problems, and low metabolism. Similarly, cosmetic producers are using argan oil in beauty products for moisturizing and anti-aging effects. Argan oil exhibits properties such as anti-oxidants, fatty acids, and the linoleic acids, which help in fighting issues such as fine lines, inflammation, acne, scars, and stretch marks. Furthermore, pharmacological and savoury properties of argan oil are contributing towards increased demand for argan oil across the globe. Increasing adoption of argan oil in cosmetic and culinary application have led companies to develop formulations using argan oil. This has also led to growing contribution from domestic, international and nongovernmental organisations associated with argan oil primarily in Morocco.Browse Full Report With ToC @Global Argan Oil Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe argan oil market is fuelled by increasing demand for natural-based ingredients, especially in cosmetic and hair care products. Furthermore, increasing customer awareness about argan oils benefits is anticipated to fuel argan oil market growth in the forthcoming years. Mass merchandising and global penetration strategy coupled with the online availability of product are key strategies adopted by companies in the argan oil market. Other growth stimulating factors of argan oil market include improvement in the extraction process of argan oil, increased production capacity, and climate change. Furthermore, growing demand for enhanced nutrients and vitamins among consumers in products ranging from food and beverages to personal care products is anticipated to stimulate the argan oil market growth in the near future. However, agricultural exploitation, non-availability on retail stores, and high prices of argan oil as compared to other available oils are restricting the overall argan oil market growth. Although, high-price of argan oil restricts its adoption among consumers, improvements in argan oil extraction and improved production capacity by the argan oil manufacturers is anticipated to offer sustainable growth to the argan oil market during the forecast period.Global Argan Oil Market: SegmentationOn the basis of source, argan oil market is segmented into:-NaturalOrganicOn the basis of applications, argan oil market is segmented into:-MedicalFoodCosmeticsOn the basis of sales channel, argan oil market is segmented into:-Hypermarket/super marketFranchise outletsMedical shopsOnlineFill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Global Argan Oil Market: Region wise OutlookThe global argan oil market is divided into seven regions, namely Latin America, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), North America, Western Europe, Japan, Eastern Europe, and Middle East and Africa (MEA). As compared to other regions Middle East and Africa dominated the argan oil production. Increased customer awareness regarding natural ingredients especially in countries such as India, Brazil and China is expected to fuel the argan oil market growth in the forthcoming years. Asia Pacific is expected to emerge as a potential area for global as well as regional players investing in the argan oil market. This is further supported by extensive research and development coupled with growing application of argan oil in medical and food industry.Global Argan oil Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players identified in the argan oil market includes:Nadifi ArganArgan Liquid GoldJosie Maran CosmeticsArgan DivaBiopurEssence Of ArganSaadia Organics andZinegloARGANisme Cosmetics S.A.R.LOLVEA MoroccoThe 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 Us:-Transparency Market 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.We are privileged with highly experienced team of Analysts, Researchers and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog:
Processed Seafood Market - Competitive Landscape & Growth Opportunities 2027
Processed Seafood Market
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Global Processed Seafood Market: OverviewContinuous innovations in fishing techniques and exploration of new fishing grounds are leading to significant growth in the recent years. This is attributed to rising demand for protein-rich food products coupled with increasing consumer inclination towards ready-to-cook products. Furthermore, escalation of import and export trade of processed seafood globally, there is robust increase in its demand even in non-coastal areas. Moreover, efficient transportation and cold storage facilities are leading to overall processed seafood market growth. An upwelling trend is seen in the value chain of the seafood industry through the large scale export of the processed seafood across the world.Global Processed Seafood Market: Drivers and RestraintsIncreasing raw seafood prices have led to consumer shift towards processed seafood products. This is further anticipated to act as a prominent area for processed seafood manufacturers. This is fuelling the overall processed seafood market growth. The breakthrough innovations in the technology and processing of seafood has also accelerated the growth potential for processed seafood market. Moreover, with increased urbanisation, demand for healthy food products and change in family structure will further fuel the growth of processed seafood market. The seafood industry is a growing opportunity for improving the food security across the world. Thus, offers a dwelling platform for processed seafood market.However, there is still a huge gap in the infrastructure development in the seafood industry due to existence of traditional processing equipment, along with lack of funds and inadequate management, which hinders the growth of processed seafood market. Moreover, firm governmental regulations such as stringent fishing policies, environmental laws to protect water population are anticipated to result in wakening fishing activity. This will lead to non-availability of raw material, thus, hampering the growth of processed seafood market.Browse Full Report With ToC @Global Processed Seafood Market: SegmentationOn the basis of seafood type, global processed seafood market is segmented into:FishShrimpsCrabsTunaRoeMolluscsOn the basis of technique, global processed seafood market is segmented into:SaltingSmokingDryingCanningCold storingFreezingCuringDehydrationPicklingCookingFill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @On the basis of processed seafood product type, global processed seafood market is segmented into:Frozen ProductsSmoked ProductsCanned ProductsSurimi ProductsDried ProductsFish MealSeasoning and additives productsOthersGlobal Processed Seafood Market: Region wise OutlookThe processed seafood market is divided into seven regions, namely Latin America, North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Middle East and Africa, and Japan. In 2016, Asia Pacific accounted for the largest share of the processed seafood market. Of which, China accounted for largest share of export business along with local demand mitigation. China exports major share of its seafood to the U.S., Europe, and Japan and is expected to uphold its position as largest processed seafood exporter in the next five to six years. Considering the consumer consumption pattern, U.S and Europe are expected to be one of the largest importers of processed seafood. As Europe and Japan are considered to be the largest consumers of seafood.Furthermore, processed seafood market is expected to boom in India, Brazil and Australia as the consumer consumption pattern is shifting more towards better nutrition and convenient food options. Japan is considered to be the leading importer of processed seafood due non-availability of the processed seafood.About Us:-Transparency Market 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.We are privileged with highly experienced team of Analysts, Researchers and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog:
Microwave Transmission Equipment Market to Witness Steady Growth During the Forecast Period 2017-2025
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Microwaves are electromagnetic waves having wavelengths between the range of one millimeter (mm) to 1000 mm and frequency between the ranges of 300 megahertz (MHz) to 300 gigahertz (GHz). The frequencies are generally classified based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) radar band designations, namely S band, C band, X band and K band among others. Microwaves have relatively smaller wavelength, when compared to regular radio waves. Microwave communication is similar to radio communication and consists of data transmission wirelessly. Transmissions of microwaves are done with the aid of various types of equipment such as antennas, multiplexers, modulators, transmitters and receivers among others.Microwave transmissions are mostly done for point-to-point communication links. The higher range of microwaves often gets absorbed by the atmospheric gases and hence leads to relatively low communication distances. Additionally, microwaves dont diffract around obstructions or reflect from the earths atmosphere. Hence these microwave transmission equipment are designed for various different types of communications modes. Microwaves are also utilized in the healthcare industry, where the microwave transmission equipment are different in nature. Modern microwave transmission equipment offers several new features such as better channel capacity, owing to higher packet compression, higher number of topology support, and scalable multichannel microwave links among others.Request for Report TOC @Microwave transmission equipment market is primarily being driven by their growing application for communications, in telecommunications and aerospace sectors. Microwave can be utilized for point-to-point communication links, radar, satellite communication, and remote sensing among others. Such applications have been promoting the growth of the microwave transmission equipment market. Additionally, the higher penetration of internet and growing demand for high speed internet has also been instrumental in the demand growth for microwave transmission equipment. Currently, the huge growth in demand for 4G internet has been instrumental in the growing demand for these equipment in emerging economies. Furthermore, the growing demand for industrial and home automation has also been strongly supporting the growth of the microwave transmission equipment market. However, the huge growth in demand for internet and internet of things (IOT) connected devices is not efficiently supported by the traditional microwave-based networks. While modern microwave transmission equipment can efficiently support such demand, compatibility issues with the legacy systems has been the major restraining factor for higher adoption of these equipment. This in turn has been restraining the growth of the microwave transmission equipment market to some extent. Considering the penetration of advanced microwave transmission equipment, and higher adoption of such equipment, the market can be expected to grow at a very fast pace, during the forecast period, from 2017 2025.On the basis of components, the microwave transmission equipment market has been segmented into antennas, indoor units, outdoor units, aggregation units, cable & accessories and others. By mounting type, the global market for microwave transmission equipment have been segmented into full indoor mounting, full outdoor mounting and split mount. Based on application of microwave transmission equipment, the market has been segmented into cellular communication, satellite communication, radio communication, radar, satellite communication and others. The global market for microwave transmission equipment, by region, has been segmented into five major regions. They are North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), South America and Middle-East & Africa (MEA). Asia Pacific had the largest market share in 2016, owing to factors such as high penetration of internet, huge growth of telecommunications industry and strong growth of telecommunication infrastructure among others.Request for Report Brochure @The major companies of the microwave transmission equipment market globally are Nokia Corporation (Finland), Ericsson AB (Sweden), Anritsu Electric Corporation (Japan), Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (China), NEC Corporation (Japan), Dragonwave, Inc. (Canada), Giga-tronics Incorporated (The U.S.) and Ogier Electronics (The U.K.) among various other companies.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 Research90 State Street, Suite 700,Albany, NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Hexane Market - Global Industrial Applications Witness Fastest Growth up to 2024
Hexane Market -
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Hexane is a solvent present in volatile fraction of various plants such as guava, orange, and others. It is a hydrocarbon made of carbon and hydrogen. Hexane is an unbranched isomer (n-hexane), which exists in forms with different arrangements of atoms but with the same molecular weight. Hexanes are significant constituents of gasoline.Hexane is an organic solvent made from crude oil. It is used in various applications. Hexane contains a blend of hydrocarbons with six carbon atoms. It is widely used in the manufacture of industrial products. Two different types of hexane are available in the market: hexane-pure hexane and solvent-based hexane. Pure hexane is only used in laboratories, while, solvent-based hexane is extensively employed in several application. Hexane is used to extract oil from seeds. This increases the cost of the process and also carries the risk of toxicity. An alternative substitute has been developed that helps extract oil from several seeds by using sodium hydroxide and methanol. This process has been implemented with considerable success in soya bean seeds. The only drawback related to this process is the moisture content. Moisture content is the only drawback related to this process. High moisture content results in excess utilization of methanol in order to extract oil from seeds.Browse Full Report With ToC @Solvent-based hexane; is used to extract vegetable oils from crops such as soybeans, cottonseed, rape seed, mustard seed, and safflower seed, etc. Solvent-chemical hexane is also widely used as cleaning agent in textile, printing, furniture and leather industries. It is also employed in various consumer products including glues, gasoline, rubber, and cement. Several properties of hexane are hazardous to human beings, excess inhalation may result in weakness, numbness, blurred vision, headache, and fatigue. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); has set a permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 500 ppm for hexane to protect the health of several workers engaged in hexane production facilities across the globe. However, hexane has certain beneficial properties. For instance, it is used in the removal of unwanted taste and odor. This is anticipated to drive the demand for hexane in the edible oil industry, as hexane is used in the manufacturing of several grades of cooking oils. Rising population coupled with increasing demand for refined oil, for cooking purposes is estimated to boost the demand for hexane in the near future.In terms of production and consumption, countries is Asia Pacific, especially, China dominates the global hexane market. Asia Pacific has been a lucrative market for the production and distribution of hexane in countries such as China, Japan, and India .Therefore, several manufacturers in Europe and North America are shifting their production facilities to Asia Pacific owing to the availability of skilled labor at affordable rates. The hexane market in North America and Europe is expected to expand at a rapid pace owing to the high demand for rubber products used in the automotive industries.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @The hexane market can be segmented based on type, and application. In terms of type, the hexane market can be divided into n-hexane, iso-hexane, and neo-hexane. Based on application, the hexane market can be segregated into pharmaceutical, cooking oil, automotive, chromatography, textiles, furniture, printing, paint & coatings, adhesives, shoes & leather products, and roofing. Commercial grades of hexane are used as solvents in the manufacture of rubber, glues, cement, adhesives, varnishes, and inks. Hexane is also used as a cleaning agent (degreaser) in the printing industry. It is used as liquid in low temperature thermometers.Prominent players operating in the hexane market include Exxon Mobil Corporation, Rompetrol Rafinare S.A., Chevron Philips Chemicals LLC, Royal Dutch Shell plc, GreenChem Industries, Hukill Chemical Corp., and Continental Chemical.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 Us:-Transparency Market 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.We are privileged with highly experienced team of Analysts, Researchers and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog:
Transmission Electron Microscope Market: Global Industry Key Growth Factor Analysis and Research Study till 2025
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The transmission electron microscope (TEM) is a type of microscope, which utilizes electrons instead of light, for viewing specimens. The use of electrons allows for higher magnification and resolution of images of the specimen. The specimen is required to be very thin, so that the electrons can pass through them. The electrons interact with the specimen to form the image. The image is then projected onto a screen or sensors are utilized to detect the image. A transmission electron microscope mainly consists of three parts, namely an electron gun plus condenser system, the image producing system and an image recording system. The electron gun and condenser systems primary function is to focus the electron beam onto the specimens surface. The beams focus is generally 1nm in diameter.The image producing system consists of various lenses and the specimen stage which functions together to develop the image. In general, four lenses are present, namely condenser lens, objective aperture lens, intermediate lens and projector lens. The lenses are utilized to create the sharp focus of the electron beam, while the specimen stage holds the specimen. The image recording system can consist of a fluorescent screen for viewing and focusing the image produced. It also may also be captured directly onto a computer through an array of sensor based systems. All the three components function in tandem to produce a magnified image of the specimens section where the electron beam is focused. Other major components of a transmission electron microscope are vacuum systems and power components. The maintenance of vacuum is very important, since the electrons can get deflected by gas or hydrocarbon molecules, in the presence of air. The vacuum is created by usage of pumps, mostly rotary and diffusion types.Request for Report TOC @Transmission electron microscope market has been growing at a steady pace, owing to its growing demand in healthcare research. This microscope provides high magnifications and high resolution images, which are highly regarded in identifying various microorganisms and cell structure. They are also utilized for molecular and cellular biology. Additionally, growing demand in materials science has also been positively impacting the growth of the market. There is a growing demand for developing lighter and stronger metals, for utilization in body of vehicles, energy production and machineries among others. Such demand has led to higher application of transmission electron microscopes, as it allows for higher visibility of structure and composition of the newly developed material. It also allows for viewing of any possible defects in the structure. Such applications have been promoting the growth of the market. However, these microscopes require the specimen to be thin enough for allowing electrons to pass through. Such specimen preparation difficulties have been hindering the growth of the market for transmission electron microscopes. Increasing application of transmission electron microscopes in semiconductor research and mining sectors are expected to offer good growth opportunities during the forecast period.On the basis of application, the market has been segmented into life science, materials science, semiconductors, mining & minerals and others. Others include oil & gas and industrial applications. The global market for transmission electron microscope, on the basis of region, has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), South America and Middle-East & Africa (MEA).Request for Report Brochure @The major companies of the transmission electron microscope market globally are JEOL Ltd. (Japan), FEI Company [Part of Thermo Fisher Scientific] (The U.S.), EDAX, Inc. [Unit of AMETEK, Inc.] (The U.S.), Gatan, Inc. [Part of Roper Technologies] (The U.S.), Bruker Corporation (The U.S.), IXRF Systems, Inc. (The U.S.), Parallax Research, Inc. (The U.S.), Carl Zeiss AG (Germany), Oxford Instruments Plc (The U.K.), and Hitachi High-technologies Corporation (Japan) among various other companies.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 Research90 State Street, Suite 700,Albany, NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Powder Coatings Market Report 2017: Economic Indicators and Product Offerings Worldwide With Future Prospects 2022
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ReportsMonitor.Com Adds Global Powder Coatings Market Professional Survey Report 2017 to Its Database.This report studies Powder Coatings in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2012 to 2016, and forecast to 2022.GET SAMPLE REPORT @This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringSherwin-WilliamsPPG IndustriesValspar CorporationRPM InternationalMascoAxalta/DupontAkzonobel(Rohm and Haas)TIGER DrylacMidwest Industrial Coatings (MICI)Trimite PowdersErie Powder CoatingsNortek Powder Coating3MAmerican Powder CoatingsIFS CoatingsAllnexVogel PaintPrismatic PowdersForrest Technical CoatingsHentzen CoatingsOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoThermoset Powder CoatingThermoplastic Powder CoatingTo Enquire about report @By Application, the market can be split intoIndoor UsageOutdoor/Architectural IndustryAutomotive IndustryBy Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaTable of ContentsGlobal Powder Coatings Market Professional Survey Report 20171 Industry Overview of Powder Coatings1.1 Definition and Specifications of Powder Coatings1.1.1 Definition of Powder Coatings1.1.2 Specifications of Powder Coatings1.2 Classification of Powder Coatings1.2.1 Thermoset Powder Coating1.2.2 Thermoplastic Powder Coating1.3 Applications of Powder Coatings1.3.1 Indoor Usage1.3.2 Outdoor/Architectural Industry1.3.3 Automotive Industry1.4 Market Segment by Regions1.4.1 North America1.4.2 China1.4.3 Europe1.4.4 Southeast Asia1.4.5 Japan1.4.6 India2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Powder Coatings2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Powder Coatings2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Powder Coatings2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Powder CoatingsBROWSE FULL TABLE OF CONTENTS and REPORT DESCRIPTION @About Us:Reports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Contact Us:Jay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Glass Bonding Adhesives Market - Global Industry Analysis and Future Growth Opportunities By 2024
Glass Bonding Adhesives Market
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Glass bonding adhesives is a bonding technique used to bond one glass to another and/or to various other substrates such as metals, plastics, and rubbers. These compounds are available as silicones, epoxies, polysulfides, polyurethanes, cyanoacrylates, and UV/LED curing systems. The selection of a suitable adhesive for proper bonding of glass depends upon various factors. These include load and stress at which the glass resists, and functional and technical requirement of a joint. The bonding strength depends on the chosen material such as glass/glass, glass/ metal, glass/stone, and glass/wood. Glass bonding adhesives are used in a wide range of applications in the automotive industry. For instance, they are employed to bond glass in vehicles, manufacture water tanks and optical glasses, bond window glass to frame or structure, etc.Based on product type, the glass bonding adhesives market can be segmented into UV-curable acrylate, silicone, UV-curable epoxy, polyurethanes, and others. Silicone accounted for significant share of the glass bonding adhesives market in 2015 due to the rising demand for these adhesives in end-use industries such as transportation. High demand for glass bonding adhesives in architecture and electronics is boosting the glass bonding adhesives market. The UV-curable acrylate segment is expected to experience high growth rate due to the increase in demand for glass bonding adhesives in the architecture industry. Growth in demand for these adhesives in end-use industries such as electronics, furniture, and transportation is anticipated to boost the glass bonding adhesives market across the globe. Expansion of the electrical & electronics sector has also augmented the demand for silicone in the glass bonding adhesives market. Demand for glass bonding adhesives has also increased significantly in glass water tanks and other glass storage applications.Browse Full Report With ToC @In terms of region, the glass bonding adhesives market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. In terms of volume, Asia Pacific held the significant share of the glass bonding adhesives market in 2015. It was followed by North America and Europe. Asia Pacific is anticipated to dominate the glass bonding adhesives market during the forecast period owing to the high demand for these adhesives in emerging economies such as China, India, and Japan. Demand for glass bonding adhesives in Asia Pacific is anticipated to increase significantly in the near future, led by the increase in demand for these adhesives in end-use industries such as furniture, electronics, medical, transportation, and industrial assembly. In terms of end-use, the furniture segment is estimated to account for the prominent share of the glass bonding adhesives market during the forecast period. Increase in usage of glass bonding adhesives in electrical and electronics appliances is driving the glass bonding adhesives market. Significant industrial development is anticipated to open up new opportunities for the global glass bonding adhesives market. Economic development and rise in the number of applications are anticipated to augment the global glass bonding adhesives market in Asia Pacific. Increase in usage of glass bonding adhesives in electronics, medical, and construction end-use industries is likely to propel the global glass bonding adhesives market in the next few years.Global demand for glass adhesives is projected to rise significantly in the near future, thereby offering high growth opportunities for companies operating in the glass bonding adhesive market. Rapid increase in demand in end-use applications, competitive manufacturing costs, and high economic growth rate are propelling the glass bonding adhesives market in Asia Pacific. These factors are encouraging companies to adopt expansion and R&D strategies in the region. Market players are focusing on Asia Pacific to gain higher market share. Producers of glass bonding adhesives have been compelled to adopt expansion and acquisition strategies to meet the global demand. Large numbers of producers are shifting their plants to countries such as China and India due to factors such as high demand and low raw material and labor costs.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Key players operating in the global glass bonding adhesives market are Three Bond Holdings Co., Ltd, Permabond Engineering Adhesives, Bohle Group, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Sika A.G., H.B. Fuller Company, Dymax Corporation, Ashland Inc., The Dow Chemical Company, 3M Company, and KIWO.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 Us:-Transparency Market 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.We are privileged with highly experienced team of Analysts, Researchers and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog:
Overview of 5G Technology, Use Cases and Demand Forecast And Trends worldwide
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"The Report 5G Technology Overview, Use Cases and Demand Forecast: Addressing Latency, Reliability and Network Density Opens Up New Business Opportunities provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz""5G Technology Overview, Use Cases and Demand Forecast" is a thematic research report by GlobalData that gives an overview of the 5G technology and the main trends worldwide. Data consumption is set to grow fourfold in the next five years. 5G will, for the first time, go beyond increased bandwidth and capacity, as was the focus in previous wireless generations, adding low latency, high density and high reliability. These capabilities will enable a variety of use cases, opening the door to new, predominantly business focused services such as self-driving cars and smart cities.View Report @The report analyzes the business user cases for 5G and the pace of deployment worldwide, with specific focus and forecasts in South Korea, Japan, the US, China and Europe. Data and insights for this report were derived through a mix of desk-based secondary research and qualitative primary research. Primary research involves in-depth interviews with market players, and the secondary research effort includes obtaining relevant data and intelligence through publicly available sources, regulatory authority publications, trade associations, specialist databases and company financial reports, presentations and press releases.The report is structured as follows -- Technology Overview: This section provides a background and a rationale to 5G, explaining the drivers behind 5G deployment, the terminology and spectrum requirement.- Use Cases and New Services: Here we examine capabilities and opportunities enabled by 5G, taking a deep look at fixed wireless, massive machine, latency, reliability, automotive and drone services and network virtualization.- Timeline and Key Country Forecasts: In this section, we provide a timeframe for commercial launch of 5G worldwide, by operator, up to 2022. we then forecast main trends in 5G subscriptions in South Korea, Japan, the US, China and Europe.- Key findings and recommendations: We conclude the report with a summary of the opportunities, challenges and success factors in deploying 5G, as well as recommendations, for network operators and vendors.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @Scope- 5G goes beyond previous wireless generations, with additional capabilities beyond increased bandwidths and capacities, resulting in new opportunities but also additional challenges in complexity.- 5G is gaining momentum, given that standardization timelines have been brought forward. As a result, in Japan, South Korea and USA all the major operators are planning to launch IMT 2020 based services during 2019. Important events such as Olympics are an additional driver in a number of countries.- The 28GHz frequency band is enjoying the most initial focus, and will support early services in South Korea and US, although it is not available in all regions. The 3.5GHz frequency band has, by some way, the broadest support across key regions including US, where it is to become available as shared spectrum. Many other high frequency bands are also being considered, notably 2.5GHz, 4GHz and 39GHz; these will be complemented by low frequency bands also, including 600MHz, 700MHz and 1.3GHz.- The 5G business case for operators depends very much on small cell deployment and the associated availability of high capacity backhaul.Reasons to buy- The report provides a global view of the opportunity in deploying 5G and growth trends in terms of subscriptions, as well as new use cases with customized communications.- This analysis is useful for telecom executives to evaluate their position vis--vis the major growth opportunities in 5G and make informed decisions about strategic investments, value proposition and growth strategies to rapidly grow their 5G networks.- The report provides valuable insights about use cases made possible by the 5G family of technologies.- The report benchmarks five countries and regions and their attitude vis a vis 5G deployment and trends in terms of launch and pace of take-up of 5G mobile subscriptions.View Sample PDF @Table of ContentsSection 1: Technology OverviewBackground to 5GTerminologyStandardsRadio and SpectrumSpectrum AvailabilitySpectrum and Radio NetworksSpectrum BandsSmall CellsBackhaul OptionsBackhaul: Full Duplex TransmissionRevenue Growth Backdrop to 5GSection 2: Use Cases and New ServicesKey Use CasesFixed WirelessNetwork Virtualization and 5GMassive Machine, Latency and ReliabilityAutomotive and Drone ServicesEfficiencies Through VirtualizationSection 3: Timeline and Key Country ForecastsNetwork Launch TimelineSouth Korea 5G ForecastJapan 5G ForecastUS 5G ForecastChina 5G ForecastEurope 5G ForecastSection 4: Key Findings and RecommendationsKey FindingsRecommendationsAppendicesAcronyms and definitionsCompanies mentionedAbout the authorsContact informationAbout 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.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Europe Internet of Things (IoT) Market 2017- Revenue, Price and Gross Margin Research Report 2024
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SUMMARYWiseGuyReports published new report, titled Europe Internet of Things (IoT) Market Outlook.Market OverviewInterconnection of devices and humans through wireless communication networks introduced a concept of smart environment. European Union actively accepted concept of IoT and is on the path to become a potential market for internet of things (IoT) business. Ongoing trend of cloud computing, big data analytics and internet of things (IoT) are bringing considerable change in European market. High internet penetration and investment in hardware and infrastructure by European Commission are constructing potential market for IoT in Europe. In 2015, to support the internet driven environment, European Commission has launched Association named Alliance for Internet of Things Innovation (AIOTI) which is one of the largest European IoT associations.Russia and Germany are more inclined towards the acceptance of new gadgets. Russian market contributes huge demand for hi tech wearable whereas Germany accounted for high adoption rate of health monitoring devices and fitness tracker. Moreover, rising internet penetration and demand of smartphones in Europe are boosting the growth of IoT market in the region.GET SAMPLE REPORT @Market SegmentationEurope IoT Market is categorized on the following basis: By Componentso Devices Wearable Devices Non-Wearable Deviceso Sensors & Actuatorso By Platforms By Connectivity/M2M Platforms By Infrastructure-as-a-Service (Iaas) Backend Platforms By Hardware Specific Software Platform By Consumer/Enterprise Software Extension Platforms By Softwareo By Data Management Softwareo By Network Management Softwareo By Real Time Streaming Analysis Softwareo By Security Softwareo By Remote Monitoring Software By End-Usero By Consumer Electronicso By Transportation & Logisticso By Manufacturingo By Retailo By Energyo By Agricultureo By Healthcareo By Others (Education) By Applicationo By Smart Homeso By Smart Citieso By Wearableso By Smart Grido By Industrial Automationo By Connected Carso By Connected Healtho By Smart Retailo By Smart Agricultureo By Smart Supply ChainMarket Size and Forecast (2016-2024)The IoT market for Europe is expected to reach USD 432.80 billion in 2024 from USD 108.7 billion in 2016. The Europe IoT market is estimated to grow at remarkable CAGR of 18.32% during the forecast period.Germany is has the largest IoT software market as compared to other European countries. In 2015, 31% of total revenue generated from IoT in Europe is occupied by software segment. Complexity in digital infrastructure has increased the demand of security and data management software in Europe. Data management and security software is expected to grow at a CAGR of 19.17% and 22.00% during the forecast period.Europe has high adoption of IoT technology in aviation, utilities, production and transportation industry. France government is investing in achieving excellent infrastructures and is focusing on using renewable energy fuel whereas Swedish government is spending on medicine and bioscience.Consumer electronics segment is anticipated to attain value of USD 113 billion in 2024, growing at a CAGR of 18.73% during the forecast period. Implementation of IoT in fleet management and asset tracking is hugely impacting the Europe transportation industry. Transportation and logistics segment is estimated to capture 23% of total revenue of IoT in Europe over the forecast period. Industrial automation has reduced the operating cost and increased the production of the manufacturing industry. Retail and digital marketing is majorly driving the economic development of Europe. U.K. occupies the largest share in IoT in retail industry in Europe. Healthcare and agriculture sector is also expected to grow at a healthy rate during the forecast period.Market Drivers and ChallengesInnovative and advanced technologies are hugely impacting the industrial and public sector of European Union which is bolstering the growth of IoT devices and services in Europe. Increasing penetration of smart phone and rising demand of smart phone sensors, wearable and automotive sensors are fuelling the expansion of sensors & actuators market. Advanced infrastructure, efficient and cost-effectiveness of cloud computing solutions is the major boosting factor for the high adoption rate of IoT based platforms in Europe region.Privacy is the main concern which is inhibiting the market expansion of IoT in Europe. Combination of physical and virtual environment increases the risk of accessing and illegal use of data. Due to less human interaction risk of hacking or data violation increases. This is the major factor which is prohibiting the adoption of IoT in many European countries. Consumer sentiments related with liability of IoT devices are inhibiting the growth of Europe IoT market. Although over 80% of enterprises are assuring for security with the deployment of IoT, however people are not confident that their data are secured is restricting IoT business expansion in the region.Key Market Players Cisco Systems Inc.o Synopsiso Business Strategyo Product Portfolioo SWOT Analysis Intel Corporation IBM Corporation Amazon Web Services Google Microsoft Corporation Qualcomm Incorporated PTC Oracle Corporation SAP SE General Electric (GE) Arm Holdings Centrica plc Robert Bosch GmbH AT&T Inc Hewlett Packard Enterprise Rockwell Automation Dell Inc. Fujitsu Ltd.Scope BackgroundMarket SynopsisMarket SegmentationThe Europe IoT Market is segmented as follows: By Components (Market Size, Demand Analysis and Growth Analysis) By Software (Market Size, Demand Analysis and Growth Analysis) By End-User (Market Size, Demand Analysis and Growth Analysis) By Application (Market Size, Demand Analysis and Growth Analysis)..CONTINUEDFor accessing accurate and deep understanding and to gain latest insights and key developments in the area of your interest, we also have a list of conferences in which you will be interested in, for more information, cordially checkFor updating knowledge or for thoroughly understanding various terminologies, we also have vast list of seminars for your reference, for more information cordially checkWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Current and future Demand for Wealth in Australia HNW Investors 2017
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"The Report Wealth in Australia: HNW Investors 2017 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz""Wealth in Australia: HNW Investors 2017", analyzes the investing preferences and portfolio allocation of Australian HNW investors. The report is based on our proprietary Global Wealth Managers Survey.Australia is known for its multicultural landscape, which is reflected in the countrys HNW market. HNW investors in Australia stem from a range of different backgrounds and have distinctive demand patterns. The bulk of HNW individuals have accumulated their wealth through earned income, and the financial services and mining sectors are key generators of wealth. Investors show a strong affinity for equity investments, allocating almost half of their wealth into this asset class in order to benefit from Australias dividend imputation system. When it comes to asset management services, advisory is the preferred type of mandate, but wealth managers cannot afford to ignore the opportunity automated investment services provideView Report @Specifically the report -- Profiles the average Australian HNW investor in terms of their demographics and analyzes the expat opportunity in Australia.- Analyzes which wealth management mandates are preferred among Australian HNW investors and how demand will develop going forward.- Examines the allocation of Australian HNW investors portfolios into different asset classes and how the allocation is expected to develop in the future.- Analyzes product and service demand among Australian HNW investors.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @Scope- Almost half of HNW individuals in Australia have accumulated their wealth through earned income, but entrepreneurs and family business owners are also key segments.- While representing a slightly lower proportion than in the wider region, expats still constitute an attractive target segment in Australia, accounting for 8.3% of the countrys HNW individuals.- A lack of time is driving uptake of professional advice, while a reluctance to relinquish control has seen advisory asset management become the service of choice.- Australian HNW investors show strong and rising demand for tax, pension, and financial planning, but demand for all planning services is on the rise, making a multi-service proposition critical.Reasons to buy- Develop and enhance your client targeting strategies using our data on HNW profiles and sources of wealth.- Give your marketing strategies the edge required and capture new clients using insights from our data on HNW investors drivers for seeking investment advice vs self-directing.- Tailor your investment product portfolio to match current and future demand for different asset classes among HNW individuals.- Develop your service proposition to match the product and service demand expressed by Australian HNW investors and react proactively to the forecasted changes in demand.View Sample PDF @Table of Contents1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 31.1. Australian HNWs come from a range of different backgrounds 31.2. Key findings 31.3. Critical success factors 32. PROFILING THE AUSTRALIAN HNW INVESTOR 92.1. HNW investors who have accumulated their fortunes through earned income remain the largest segment 92.1.1. The vast majority of Australian HNW investors are approaching or have reached retirement age, making wealth preservation strategies key 92.1.2. Professionals dominate Australias wealth market, but entrepreneurs are also a lucrative target market 102.1.3. The financial services industry is the main wealth generator, but mining remains important 112.1.4. Australian HNW investors are more likely to hold director roles than their peers in the wider region 122.2. Expats are a below-average but lucrative segment in Australia 132.2.1. Expats constitute 8.3% of the local HNW population 132.2.2. Stricter investment criteria under the Significant Investor Visa has resulted in a drop in applicants 142.2.3. HNW expats from the UK and Asia Pacific represent an attractive target segment 152.2.4. Fear of having insufficient control and steep forex fees motivate HNW expats to invest in Australia 183. HNW INVESTMENT STYLE PREFERENCES 193.1. A lack of time is driving uptake of advice 193.1.1. Australian HNW investors use an average of two wealth management firms 193.1.2. Lack of time is motivating HNW investors to seek professional advice 203.1.3. The majority of HNW wealth is kept in advisory mandates 213.1.4. However, a multi-asset management strategy is key in Australia 223.2. Automated investment services are not a threat, but an opportunity 233.2.1. Demand for automated investment services is on the rise 233.2.2. Investors reluctance to relinquish control means that advisory mandates will maintain their leading position 243.2.3. Cost considerations are driving uptake of self-directed services 264. UNDERSTANDING ASSET ALLOCATION TRENDS AMONG AUSTRALIAN HNW INDIVIDUALS 284.1. A desire to further diversify their portfolios will drive uptake of alternatives among HNW investors 284.1.1. Equities dominate the typical HNW portfolio, exposing it to greater volatility 284.1.2. Equities constitute almost half of HNW investors managed wealth 294.1.3. Bond investments have decreased in popularity over the past year, and will continue to do so 314.1.4. Cash and near-cash investments constitute a significantly smaller part of the Australian HNW portfolio than in the wider region 334.1.5. Some work has to be done to convince investors of the benefits of alternatives 384.1.6. Commodity investments are of little interest to Australian HNW clients 405. HNW PRODUCT AND SERVICE DEMAND 435.1. Wealth managers should lead with financial planning and SMSF services 435.1.1. Superannuation is a critical element of wealth management, even for HNW investors 435.1.2. A multi-service proposition is key to competing in Australias HNW market 446. APPENDIX 466.1. Abbreviations and acronyms 466.2. Definitions 466.2.1. Affluent 466.2.2. HNW 466.2.3. Liquid assets 466.2.4. Mass affluent 466.2.5. SMSF 476.2.6. Superannuation 476.3. Methodology 476.3.1. GlobalDatas 2016 Global Wealth Managers Survey 476.3.2. GlobalDatas 2015 Global Wealth Managers Survey 476.4. Bibliography 486.5. Further reading 48About 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.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Social Media Engagement Applications Market Size Estimated to Observe Significant Growth During 2016-2026
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Social Media Engagement Applications allows different kinds of users to exchange data which can be in the form of text, image, video, audio etc. via social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn etc. Because of variety of features and advantages offered by these media services, their user base have grown exponentially and is still growing.A lot of established companies have their business model based on social media applications such as Facebook, WhatsApp, LinkedIn etc., while there are other companies who are attracting huge traffic from these social media applications which ultimately reflects as sales conversion.With the advent of smartphone and its increasing penetration among the users, mobile applications now contributes major chunk of the revenue for social media companies. Even government organizations are actively participating in social media platforms either to advertise about their works, or to provide information about a particular topic to users or for opinion polls. Increasing penetration among social media users have enabled many advertisement agencies, PR firms, mobile apps and service provider companies whose business model is based on social media engagement applications and this trend is expected to continue.Request For Report Sample@Social Media Engagement Applications Market SegmentationOn the basis of platforms:Social Networks-applications which allow users to connect with each other via a profile or group of profiles. Most common social networking sites are Facebook, LinkedIn etc.Media Sharing- media sharing platforms allows users to upload and exchange different sorts of media such as video, pictures etc. YouTube, Instagram are the most common platforms for media sharing.Microblogging microblogging platforms allows users to exchange content in the form of comments, images, video links etc. Twitter is a famous microblogging platform.Blog Forums blog forums allows users to exchange ideas with each other in the form of blogs and posts. Wordpress is one such famous blogging platform and there are several others.Social New - websites and their mobile apps publishing news articles or information comes under this category. Some of the famous social news platform are Digg, Reddit, etc.Others - lots of other social media platforms have come in the market such as location based services, social bookmarking, aggregators, collaboration tools, broadcasting tools etc.There are other sub segments of social media engagement applications market. Some of them are:Sub segment on the basis of device usage:Desktop - users accessing social media applications from desktopsSmartphone Web smartphoneusers accessing social media from websites but not mobile applicationsSmartphone App - smartphoneusers accessing social media from mobile applications but not websiteTablet Web - tabletusers accessing social media from websites but not mobile applicationsTablet App - tabletusers accessing social media from mobile applications but not websitesSub segment on the basis of users:Individual individual users using social media for personal usageCorporates - corporate entities using social media for advertisement, ad sales or other purposesGovernment Agencies - government agencies using social media platforms for advertisement or to provide public domain informationOther - lots of other users such as NGOs, communities, organizations etc.Sub segment on the basis of demography:Gender - usage of social media applications is relatively high in males than femalesAge according to age, social media users can be segmented into age brackets such as < 15, 15-30, 30-50, 50 >Profession by profession market can be segmented into professional and personal usersOthersSegmentation of social media engagement applications market on the basis of geography:North America (U.S., Canada)Latin America (Mexico. Brazil)Western Europe (Germany, Italy, France, U.K, Spain, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, ASEAN, Australia & New Zealand)JapanMiddle East and Africa (GCC, S. Africa, N. Africa)Regional OverviewRegional usage of social media platform depends highly on regions population and accessibility of the internet and smartphone devices, which is why largest percentage of users are located in APAC regions followed by European, American and other regions. With increasing accessibility of the technology and supporting devices to poorer nations, distribution of usage of social media platforms will solely rely upon population of regions.Increasing internet usage, smartphone penetration will be the major drivers for global social media engagement application market. Other drivers which will contribute in market growth are increasing awareness among non-users, decreasing cost of broadband and data tariffs, increasing benefits offered through applications etc.Visit For TOC@Difficult to use GUIs, social and economic factors, accessibility issues will restrain the growth of social media engagement application market. Government regulation also restrict social media usage for example China has blocked social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc. and thus deprive a huge chunk of worlds population away from the benefits of social media.Major social media engagements applications are Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google Plus, Instagram etc. Business model may differ from company to company but the underlying structure of these companies is based upon usage of social media engagement applications traffic.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Retail Banking Market 2017By Identifying the Key Market Segments and Key players holding market share
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Pune, India, 20th September 2017: WiseGuyReports announced addition of new report, titled 2017: Key Trends in Retail Banking.SummarySeveral trends will drive developments in retail banking in 2017, including factors as diverse as changes to the regulatory environment, the emergence of artificial intelligence, and the long-awaited entry of new mobile-only providers.GET SAMPLE REPORT @Key Findings- The UK and the EU will be at the forefront of moves to practically apply the principles of open banking in 2017, spurred on by regulatory demands. The focus in 2017 will be primarily behind the scenes: banks will collaborate to establish standards and protocols on security, data protection, and accountability.- While open APIs will facilitate access to the additional data needed to provide high-quality data-led insight, it is through AI that such analysis will be provided. From the consumer perspective, AI will manifest itself through the medium of chatbots.- Fintech will come under increasing scrutiny from global regulators in 2017, with two key objectives in mind: keeping on top of new innovations and encouraging the emergence of new entrants.Synopsis2017: Key Trends in Retail Banking identifies six key trends that will shape the retail banking market in 2017, to which providers will need to respond and adapt.The report offers insight into:- The likely impact of competitive, regulatory, and technological developments on the retail banking industry in 2017.- Which providers are making the most headway in responding to, and taking advantage, of these trends.- What actions you need to undertake to exploit these trends and stay ahead of your competitors.Reasons to Buy- Identify the most important trends that will affect retail banking in 2017.- Assess the impact of competitive, consumer, and technological developments on the retail banking industry.- Learn what actions you need to undertake to exploit these trends and stay ahead of your competitors.Table of Content: Key PointsIntroductionKey TrendsAppendixContinuedACCESS REPORT @Get in touch:LinkedIn:Twitter:Facebook: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.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Waste to Energy Market 2017 Global Analysis By key Players TAQA, CISC, Covanta Energy Corporation, Hitachi Zosen Inova AG, Keppel Seghers
Waste to Energy Market 2017
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WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On - Waste to Energy Market 2017 Global Analysis By key Players TAQA, CISC, Covanta Energy Corporation, Hitachi Zosen Inova AG, Keppel Seghers.This report studies the Waste to Energy market status and outlook of global and major regions, from angles of players, regions, product and end Application/industries; this report analyzes the top players in global and major regions, and splits the Waste to Energy market by product and Application/end industries.Get a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comThe major players in global market includeTAQABabcock & Wilcox V$lund A/SChina Everbright International LimitedCISCCovanta Energy CorporationHitachi Zosen Inova AGHunan Yonker Environmental Protection Co. LtdKeppel SeghersMitsubishi Heavy Industries Environmental & ChemicalMHIECNew Energy CorporationSembcorpSuez Environnement (SITA)ViridorGeographically, this report split global into several key Regions, with, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Waste to Energy for these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast)United StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaOn the basis of product, the Waste to Energy market is primarily split intoThermal TechnologiesNon-thermal TechnologiesOn the basis on the end users/Application, this report coversPower PlantHeating PlantOtherAsk Query @Table Of Contents Major Key Points1 Industry Overview1.1 Waste to Energy Market Overview1.1.1 Waste to Energy Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Waste to Energy Market Size and Analysis by Regions (2012-2017)1.2.1 United States Waste to Energy Market Status and Outlook1.2.2 EU Waste to Energy Market Status and Outlook1.2.3 Japan Waste to Energy Market Status and Outlook1.2.4 China Waste to Energy Market Status and Outlook1.2.5 India Waste to Energy Market Status and Outlook1.2.6 Southeast Asia Waste to Energy Market Status and Outlook1.3 Classification of Waste to Energy by Product1.3.1 Global Waste to Energy Revenue (Million USD) and Growth (%) Comparison by Product (2012-2022)1.3.2 Global Waste to Energy Revenue (Million USD) Market Share (%) by Product in 20161.3.3 Thermal Technologies1.3.4 Non-thermal Technologies1.4 Waste to Energy Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 Power Plant1.4.2 Heating Plant2 Global Waste to Energy Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Global Waste to Energy Market Size (Million USD) by Players (2012-2017)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 Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles and Key Data3.1 TAQA3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 TAQA Waste to Energy Revenue (Million USD) (2012-2017)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Babcock & Wilcox V$lund A/S3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Babcock & Wilcox V$lund A/S Waste to Energy Revenue (Million USD) (2012-2017)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 China Everbright International Limited3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 China Everbright International Limited Waste to Energy Revenue (Million USD) (2012-2017)3.3.5 Recent Developments3.4 CISC3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.4.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.4.4 CISC Waste to Energy Revenue (Million USD) (2012-2017)3.4.5 Recent Developments3.5 Covanta Energy Corporation3.5.1 Company Profile3.5.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.5.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.5.4 Covanta Energy Corporation Waste to Energy Revenue (Million USD) (2012-2017)3.5.5 Recent Developments3.6 Hitachi Zosen Inova AG3.6.1 Company Profile3.6.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.6.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.6.4 Hitachi Zosen Inova AG Waste to Energy Revenue (Million USD) (2012-2017)3.6.5 Recent Developments3.7 Hunan Yonker Environmental Protection Co. Ltd3.7.1 Company Profile3.7.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.7.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.7.4 Hunan Yonker Environmental Protection Co. Ltd Waste to Energy Revenue (Million USD) (2012-2017)3.7.5 Recent Developments3.8 Keppel Seghers3.8.1 Company Profile3.8.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.8.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.8.4 Keppel Seghers Waste to Energy Revenue (Million USD) (2012-2017)3.8.5 Recent Developments3.9 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Environmental & Chemical3.9.1 Company Profile3.9.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.9.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.9.4 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Environmental & Chemical Waste to Energy Revenue (Million USD) (2012-2017)3.9.5 Recent DevelopmentsContinue.For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comBuy 1-User PDF@ABOUT US: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.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028.
Military Airborne Collision Avoidance System Market - Global Industrial Applications Witness Fastest Growth up to 2025
Military Airborne Collision Avoidance System Market
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Airborne collision avoidance system is a type of ground based collision avoidance technology which operates independently. The system warns the pilot when there is presence of another aircraft nearby. In case of the risk of collision, the system also tries to maneuver the aircraft to reduce the risk. The market is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period.There are several factors aiding to the demand of military airborne collision avoidance systems globally. The ongoing technological innovations have resulted in the development of surveillance drones and multi-rotor aircrafts in order to get real time visual inputs from the sky. However, these aircrafts need to be flown safely and maintain safe distance from commercial aircrafts. The military airborne collision avoidance systems help in controlling the unmanned drones from mid air collisions. Furthermore, the systems also ensure that the unmanned aircrafts are not flown in close proximity to the other aircraft. Mid air collision is a serious situation for any military aircrafts and these airborne collision avoidance systems ensure that these situations do not arise. Hence the ongoing demand for unmanned aerial vehicles is further expected to drive the demand for airborne collision avoidance systems for defense applications. Moreover, the military airborne collision systems are further enhanced with additional sensors and more automated in order reduce the pilots responsibility as military aircrafts fly at much faster speeds and close proximities. Hence, these airborne collision systems are better suited for defense applications. These factors are driving the demand for military airborne collision avoidance systems globally.Browse Full Report With ToC @However, there are certain restraints which are hindering the demand for these systems. These airborne collision avoidance systems operate through a deterministic model. In case of manned aircraft, the pilot might not behave by the logic assumed by the collision avoidance system. This can further lead to collision. This is one factor which is unavoidable and hindering the demand for these systems to a certain extent. Moreover, the use of military airborne collision system involves high investment cost which is not preferable for developing regions such as Africa and Asia Pacific. These factors are lowering the demand for these systems. Nevertheless, ongoing research in the field of defense is expected to result into the development of advanced airborne collision avoidance system which will be capable of taking decision based on the pilots flying behavior.The global airborne collision avoidance systems market can be segmented by types and region. By types the market can be segregated into TCAS, RADAR, PCAS, GPWS, FLARM,TAWS and Synthetic Vision among others. By geography, the global market has been segregated into five strategic locations which include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America. North American region is expected to witness promising growth owning to the increasing adoption of military drones a for surveillance applications. Furthermore, the region includes countries such as the U.S. and Canada who invest heavily in maintaining their defense capabilities. Hence the region is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. Europe is expected to follow North America in terms of revenue market share. European region includes countries like the U.K., Germany and France who are upgrading their surveillance capability based on the rising terrorist activities in this region. Going further, Asia Pacific region is expected to have the third largest market as the region has countries like India which do not have the budget to incorporate these advance airborne collision avoidance systems. However, the rising economic condition in countries such as India and China is expected to drive the demand significantly in future.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @The leading players in the global military airborne collision avoidance systems include Honeywell Aerospace, Rockwell Collins, Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems, SAAB, Airbus, Indra Sistemas, Diehl, Selex ES, Alenia Aermacchi and Sagem among others.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 Us:-Transparency Market 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.We are privileged with highly experienced team of Analysts, Researchers and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog:
Rapid Advancements will boost Smart Contact Lens Market Size Further 2016-2026
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The smart contact lens contains a wireless chip and miniaturized sensor for monitoring of physiological parameters such as glucose levels in tears of a diabetic patient or intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients. These sensors are embedded inside the two layers of soft lenses and a tiny hole in the outer layer allows the tear to flow into the sensor which measures the necessary parameters and data is transmitted to the wireless device for storage, via hair-this antenna. U.S. FDA has recently approved a smart contact lens to continuously monitor intraocular pressure in patients of glaucoma, which is the major cause of irreversible blindness. Triggerfish smart contact lens is a single use lens worn for 24 hours by glaucoma patients. According to Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, U.S., 60.5 Mn people across the world are affected with glaucoma and the number is expected to increase to 79.6 Mn by 2020. Advances in ophthalmology and contact lens technology would thus be beneficial for glaucoma patients and also to the manufacturers of innovative products such as smart contact lens. Currently many companies are working on the smart contact lens technology to apply it in various health aspects. Google Inc. is developing a smart contact lens with Alcon, an eye care division of Novartis AG, which can detect the blood glucose levels from the tears and is expected to launch in the global market in next 5-6 years.Smart Contact Lens Market: Drivers and RestraintsAdvances in ophthalmology and growing demand for the more efficient and revolutionary glaucoma management approaches are the factors expected to drive the growth of global smart contact lens market. Increasing prevalence of glaucoma, increasing cases of diabetes related complications such as eye disorders, cataract and blindness, expanding aging demographics with presbyopia (long-sightedness), rising demand for user-friendly and self-monitoring devices are some other factors expected to fuel the growth of global smart contact lens market. According to American Diabetes Association, diabetes patients are 40% more susceptible to the glaucoma and 60% more likely to develop cataract than people without diabetes and the susceptibility to diabetes related glaucoma increases with age.Request For Report Sample@Smart Contact Lens: SegmentationThe global smart contact lens market has been classified on the basis of application, end user and geography.Based on application, the global smart contact lens market is divided into following:Continuous Glucose MonitoringIntraocular Pressure MonitoringBased on the end user type, the global smart contact lens market is divided into following:Home Care SettingsClinicsSmart Contact Lens: OverviewIntraocular Pressure Monitoring application type segment would constitute the global market for smart contact lens in 2016. In March 2016, United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Triggerfish Sensor which helps ophthalmologists to identify the best time to measure the intraocular pressure, which can eventually damage the vision of a patient. Triggerfish is the only FDA approved smart contact lens so far while Googles smart lens technology for continuous glucose monitoring and correction of presbyopia is under clinical investigation and would launch in the global market. The technology is expected to transform the way of management of chronic diseases such as diabetes and glaucoma. For instance, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Korea is involved in the development of a combination of smart contact lens and eyeglass which can be used to monitor a diabetes and dispensing of medication on-demand.Smart Contact Lens: Regional OverviewRegion wise, the global smart contact lens market is classified into regions namely, North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, Japan, Middle East and Africa.North America leads the global smart contact lens market followed by Europe. The clinical trials for Triggerfish Sensor have been conducted in countries such as France, Denmark, India, Canada, Spain, Israel, Germany, Belgium, Poland and Switzerland.Visit For TOC@Smart Contact Lens: Key PlayersSome of the key players in global smart contact lens market are Sensimed AG, Google Inc., Novartis AG, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Innovega Inc. 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.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
UK Pensions Market is forecast to grow over the 2017
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"The Report UK Pensions Market 2017 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"The pre- and post-retirement markets have seen some big changes over the last few years. The state pension has been changed from a two-tier to a flat-rate model. The state pension age is steadily increasing to relieve pressure on the government, as the UK population is aging and individuals are living longer. Auto-enrolment will continue to be a big driver of growth in work- and trust-based pensions, as will buyouts as employers look to de-risk. By February 2018, all businesses will have to provide a pension to eligible employees, and by April 2019 the total minimum contribution will be 8%. This means that more individuals will be paying into a pension, and they will be contributing more. New pension freedoms have given customers more flexibility in how they take money from their pensions. The impact has been that fewer individuals are opting to buy an annuity, instead opting for income drawdown or cash withdrawals. There is a greater need for advice, but there is an advice gap where those with small pots are going without as independent financial advisors concentrate their business on wealthier individuals following the Retail Distribution Review.View Report @Scope- This report explores the pre- and post-retirement markets.- It discusses recent legislation such as changes to the state pension, auto-enrolment, the Retail Distribution Review, and the new pension freedoms.- It explains the impacts of legislation with regards to market sizing, distribution, how people are saving their pensions, and how people are taking their pension pots at retirement.- The size of the pensions market has been forecast to 2021.- There is also a focus on how technology and robo-advice can encourage pension saving and understanding of pension options.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @Reasons to buy- Understand the impacts of recent legislation on consumer behavior in the pre- and post-retirement markets.- Discover how technology and robo-advice can be used to encourage individuals to save pensions and give advice at retirement, ultimately increasing customer engagement.- See how the UK pensions market is forecast to grow over the next five years.View Sample PDF @Table of ContentsEXECUTIVE SUMMARY 31.1. The pensions market has undergone large reforms 31.2. Key findings 31.3. Critical success factors 32. THE STATE PENSION 32.1. Introduction 32.2. Pressure is increasing on the state pension 32.2.1. The UKs aging population is putting pressure on the state pension 32.2.2. To relieve pressure, the state pension age is increasing 32.2.3. The state pension has moved to a flat rate model 32.2.4. The triple lock has been in force since 2011 32.2.5. The triple lock may be scrapped following the upcoming general election 33. SAVING FOR RETIREMENT 33.1. Pension saving is more important than ever 33.1.1. Individuals must make their own pension savings outside of the state pension 33.1.2. The UK pensions market grew by 10.7% during 2013-16 33.1.3. Personal pensions and SIPPs have driven growth in the individual pensions market 33.1.4. Workplace pensions have remained flat 33.1.5. Trust-based pensions have grown due to auto-enrolment 33.2. Auto-enrolment has been introduced to increase pension savings 33.2.1. All employers will be required to provide a pension to eligible workers by February 2018 33.2.2. Minimum auto-enrolment contributions will reach 8% by 2019 33.2.3. Non-eligible individuals or those opting-out may not have sufficient savings at retirement 33.2.4. 1.23 million UK businesses will be required to provide a workplace pension by 2018 33.2.5. Auto-enrolment will put pressure on UK businesses 33.2.6. NEST is the government pension scheme for auto-enrolment 33.2.7. Restrictions on NEST pensions have been lifted, which could disrupt the pensions market 33.3. The pension market is predicted to be worth 17.5bn APE by 2021 33.3.1. The UK pensions market is forecast to grow significantly over the next five years 34. PENSION FREEDOMS 34.1. Pensions freedoms have made accessing a pension more flexible 34.1.1. Changes have been made to the way individuals can access their pot at retirement 34.2. Transfers from a defined benefit scheme have increased 34.2.1. Individuals can transfer from a defined benefit to a defined contribution scheme 34.2.2. Transferring to a defined contribution pension takes the responsibility off employers 34.2.3. Defined benefit pensions are in steady decline as employers look to derisk 34.2.4. The number of TVAS reports being carried out has risen since the reforms 34.2.5. The FCA is keeping a close eye on advisors when it comes to recommending transfers 34.3. Defined contribution pensions have become more flexible 34.3.1. The annuity market has declined since the new pension freedoms 34.3.2. Income drawdown is now the preferred retirement income product over annuities 34.3.3. Income drawdown has moved from a capped to a flexi-access model 34.3.4. A pension pot can be taken as cash in a single or multiple withdrawals 34.3.5. Pension pots can be left untouched to grow tax-free 34.3.6. There are new restrictions on pension contributions if withdrawals are made 34.4. Taxation of pension death benefits is now more generous 34.4.1. Taxation of a pension is dependent on the age at which the scheme member dies 34.4.2. Anyone can now be a nominated beneficiary of a pension 34.5. Pensions will remain a key savings product 34.5.1. Pensions force a long-term savings culture 34.5.2. The Lifetime ISA is not expected to be a popular alternative to a pension 34.5.3. Individuals should not ignore other assets they can benefit from in retirement 35. DISTRIBUTION AND PENSION ADVICE 35.1. Pension freedoms have increased the need for advice on pensions 35.1.1. Around half of trust-based premiums are distributed with either no or restricted advice 35.1.2. The wealthy seek advice, but there is an advice gap for those with smaller pension pots 35.1.3. Those opting for income drawdown are most likely to seek advice 35.1.4. The need for advice has increased as pension freedoms have given individuals more options 35.1.5. Technology could bridge the advice gap for individuals with smaller pension pots 35.1.6. Wealth Wizards has brought robo-advice to the pensions and retirement space 35.1.7. HSBC to offer robo-advice for small pension pots 35.1.8. Technology could also be a solution to help individuals engage with saving 3MarketResearchReports.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.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Growth of Parkinsons Disease Market in Global Industry : Overview, Size and Share 2017
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Albany, NY, 20th September : Recent research and the current scenario as well as future market potential of "Global Parkinsons Disease Market Report: 2016 Edition" globally.Parkinsons Disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative or movement disorder which involves the malfunction and death of vital nerve cells in the brain, called neurons. Parkinsons primarily affects neurons in an area of the brain called the substantia nigra. The early signs and symptoms may be mild and may go unnoticed initially. The cause of this disease is mainly unknown with no cure till date but there exist several treatment options such as medications and surgery.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @The current treatment market for Parkinsons disease has several unmet needs as no treatment has yet been successful in fully restoring the function that produces dopamine. However, the treatment currently only aims at controlling and relieving symptoms. The Parkinsons disease treatment market remains flooded by both branded and generic drugs. The market is expected to experience fluctuations in branded sales due to patent expiries and subsequent entry of generics in the market. Several biologics are under development for the treatment of Parkinsons along with possibility of developing Stem Cell as a treatment therapy.The Parkinsons disease market is expected to acquire modest growth driven by launch of new therapies and increasing rate of drug treatment due to increasing healthcare expenditure and ageing population. The major growth drivers of the Parkinsons disease market includes rising level of toxin exposure, increasing life expectancy, rising male population worldwide, ageing population, healthcare expenditure and pesticide consumption. However, the growth of the market will also remain challenged by generic erosion, current treatment limitations and increasing risk of developing Melanoma.The report, Global Parkinsons disease Market analyzes the currently prevailing condition of the market along with its future scope of development. The specific markets of the U.S., the European Union and Japan are being discussed in the report. The major trends, growth drivers as well as issues being faced by the industry are being presented in this report. The major players in the industry are being profiled, along with their key financials and strategies for growth.Table of Content1. Market Overview1.1 Introduction1.2 Fundamental Features1.3 Types of Parkinsons Disease1.4 Risk Factors1.5 Treatment OptionsMake an Enquiry about TOC @2. Global Market2.1 Global Parkinsons Disease Drug Market by Value2.1.1 Global Parkinsons Disease Drug Market by Region2.1.2 Global Parkinsons Disease Market by Drug Class2.1.3 Global Parkinsons Disease Patient Population by Severity2.1.4 Global Parkinsons Disease Patient Population by Region3. Regional Markets3.1 The U.S.3.1.1 The U.S. Parkinsons Disease Market by Value & Volume3.1.2 The U.S. Parkinsons Disease Market Value by Category3.1.3 The U.S. Parkinsons Disease Market Volume by Category3.1.4 The U.S. Parkinsons Disease Market by Drug Class3.1.5 The U.S. Parkinsons Disease Branded Drugs Market3.1.6 The U.S. Parkinsons Disease Generic Drugs Market3.2 The European Union3.2.1 The E.U. Parkinsons Patient Prevalence & Diagnosis3.2.2 The European Parkinsons Disease Drug Market by Value3.3 Japan3.3.1 Japans Parkinsons Disease Drug Market by Value4. Market Dynamics4.1 Growth Drivers4.1.1 Rising Level of Toxin Exposure4.1.2 Rising Life Expectancy4.1.3 Rising Male Population4.1.4 Increasing Ageing Population4.1.5 Global Healthcare Expenditure4.1.6 Pesticides Consumption4.2 TrendsBrowse Report @ResearchMoz 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.ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on :
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) Market Research Report by Key Players Analysis 2020
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
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The global PAH market is estimated to reach a valuation of US$5.19 bn by the end of 2020, expanding at a tremendous CAGR of 17.90% between 2014 and 2020.According to the market report, the global PAH market has been evaluated on the basis of drug classes and regional distribution. Prostacyclin, prostacyclin analogs, PDE-5 inhibitors, ERAs, and sGC stimulators are the key drugs available in the global market to treat PAH. ERAs led the global market in 2013, accounting for a market share of 55.8% in terms of revenue.Analysts, however, have predicted that the market for prostacyclin and prostacyclin analogs will surpass the ERAs market by the end of the forecast period. The launch of the recently approved Orenitram is likely to propel this market segment during the forecast period. The approval for Uptravi, which is slated in Q1 of 2016, is also anticipated to add to the market segments growth prospects, notes the research study.North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World are the key regional markets for pulmonary arterial hypertension across the world. Among these, the PAH market in North America led the global market with a share of 44.6% in 2013 and was closely followed by the Europe PAH market.Request to view Sample Report:Over the forecast period, both these regional markets are expected to exhibit remarkable growth, owing to the availability of newly-approved PAH drugs as well as products waiting to gain approval in these markets.The Asia Pacific market for PAH is also projected to show significant development in the next few years. India, China, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia are likely to present opportunity-rich markets for enterprises operating in the global PAH market. On the other hand, the Rest in the World PAH market is facing severe challenges, owing to the low awareness level pertaining to the detection and treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension, states the market study.Request to Download TOC of the Report:The major players operating in the global market for pulmonary arterial hypertension are Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Gilead Sciences Inc., Bayer HealthCare, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Pfizer Inc., Novartis International AG, and United Therapeutics Corp., states the research report.Global Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) Market Report is available @ US$ 5795 :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.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:
Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft Technology Market - Global Industry Analysis and Future Growth Opportunities By 2025
Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft Technology Market
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Multi-role fighter aircraft are used to perform several roles such as aerial reconnaissance, electronic warfare and forward air control among other tasks. The increasing demand for these aircrafts in developing nations is expected to drive the market in future.There are several factors aiding to the demand for multi-role fighter aircraft technology. These aircrafts can be used as a fighter aircraft as well as a ground attack aircraft when compared to air superiority fighters. Moreover, these aircrafts are lighter compared to other aircrafts and hence have the advantage during warfare. In addition, the multi-role fighter aircrafts are easy to maintain. Moreover, the multi-role fighter aircrafts are also cost effective and can be purchased in large numbers. The other factors which are driving the demand for these aircrafts are their application in defending the territory from enemies effectively and its fast scramble time due to its light weight. The above factors are expected to drive the demand for these aircrafts during the forecast period. The rising demand for these aircrasfts are going the directly drive the market for multi-role fighter aircraft technology globally.However, there are some factors which are expected to hinder the growth of this market to a certain extent. The multi-role fighter aircrafts are less powerful compared to other aircrafts. In addition, the aircrafts are equipped with payloads which are more focused in detecting and defending heat seeking missiles. These factors are pulling the demand for this technology during the forecast period.Browse Full Report With ToC @However, ongoing technological innovations are expected increase the functionalities of the aircrafts and reduce the disadvantages largely. The report for multi-role fighter aircraft technology will include a detailed analysis of the drivers, restraints and opportunity present in the global market. In addition, the porters five forces will also be provided to give a better understanding the external forces present in the market. Going further, the market attractiveness analysis will identify the most attractive segment in the market and its opportunity in the future.The global multi-role fighter aircraft market has been segmented into application and geography. In terms of applications, the global multi-role fighter aircraft technology can be segregated into electronic warfare, aerial reconnaissance, air interdiction, close air support and suppression of enemy air defense among other applications. The close air support and aerial reconnaissance is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period owing to the increasing application of these aircraft for air defense in developing regions such as Asia Pacific and Middle East and Africa. However, the rising concern for electronic warfare is expected to increase the demand for this technology in this application in future. Hence the segment is expected to witness robust growth during the forecast period.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @By geography, the global multi-role fighter aircraft technology market can be bifurcated into five strategic regions which include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America among others. The market for multi-role fighter aircraft technology is expected to remain dominant in North America and Europe due to the major presence of manufacturers in this region. Furthermore, the defense agencies in these regions are constantly upgrading their security perimeters due to rising terrorist activities. However, the emerging economies such as India and China are investing heavily and purchasing multi-role fighter aircrafts for defense applications. Hence the Asia Pacific market is expected to witness promising growth during the forecast period.The global multi-role fighter aircraft technology market is witnessing intense competition from leading players. Some of the major players in the market include Lockheed Martin Corporation, McDonnell Douglas, Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, Dassault Aviation SA, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Mitsubishi Group, Korea Aerospace Industries, Sukhoi and Saab Group among other manufacturers.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 Us:-Transparency Market 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.We are privileged with highly experienced team of Analysts, Researchers and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog:
Global Airport Retailing is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.0% during 2016-2021
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"The Report Global Airport Retailing 2016-2021 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"Global Airport Retailing 2016-2021" provides the details about international travel retail market. It includes airport travel retail sales at air side as well as landside, number of travelers year by year & region by region and spendings of travelers at airports & the growth. Also, it covers the top 10 players in the airport retail industry, their growth pattern, strategies and future plans.View Report @This report provides historic and forecast market data of airport retail sales of different product segments globally and by region. It also provides an overview of changing passenger traffic trends, market size by category (region wise and global), the influence of socio political unrest on the airport retailing and technology trends. The report also details the initiatives taken by various countries to entice travelers. An overview of top ten airport retailers is also included in the report, covering their trading record data, store locations, recent key events, future outlook and market shares across four regions.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @Scope- Global airport retailing is expected to recover to grow at a CAGR of 5.0% during 2016-2021- Asia-Pacific was the largest and fastest-growing market during 2012-2016- Americas grew swiftly compared to other regions in 2016 on the back of airport expansion- Despite geo-political factors, Europe grew by 5.2% in 2016, driven by increased footfall- Relaxation of visas rules for Asian passengers will increase airport sales- Political and social unrest affected the historic passenger traffic in European countries such as France, Belgium, Germany, Turkey and Greece- Dufry is the undisputed market leader of global travel retail- Beauty and cosmetics products drive sales in the duty free industry- Easy payment methods for Chinese travelers are becoming popular.View Sample PDF @Reasons to buy- Identify, which regions and sectors are set to outperform the market over the next five years? What factors are behind this performance?- How will online and multichannel retail influence the airport retail market?- Which companies are set to gain share in 2016 and who is set to fall back?- Gain comprehensive knowledge on global airport retail market and develop a competitive advantage around consumer behavior trends from the start of your supply chain- Explore novel opportunities that will allow you to align your product offerings and strategies to meet demand by analyzing the vital economic and passenger footfall trends, and key consumer and technology trends influencing the airport retail market.Table of ContentsSection 1, Key findingsSection 2, Market sizeSection 3, Market forecastSection 4, OutlookSection 5, Key airport retailersSection 6, AppendixMethodologyAbout GlobalDataContact informationAbout 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.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Technological Advancements to Influence Upstream Bioprocessing Equipment Market Growth 2016-2026
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Bioprocessing referred as biopharmaceutical manufacturing, is a part of bioprocess engineering which aims at establishing reproducible and robust manufacturing process for the production of therapeutic cells. The products of bioprocess are of high commercial value and targeted application. Bioprocess Manufacturing is differentiated into two major processes: Upstream and Downstream. The Upstream process involves steps such as media development, cell culture, and development, harvesting of cells and fermentation. This process is done under the stringent aseptic condition, and particular temperature and pH levels are maintained throughout the process. Cell Banking is also done by upstream processes. The primary objective upstream processes are to provide an environment necessary for the growth of cells. Since the upstream process is a part of bio manufacturing process, it involves the production of therapeutic proteins, antibiotics, hormones, enzymes, blood substitutes, and vaccines. Many of the diseases like lymphoma, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus and growth hormone insufficiency that can be treated by specific proteins produced from bioprocesses. There are two types of cells used in the bioprocessing equipment, mammalian cells, and bacterial cells.Upstream Bioprocessing Equipment Market: Drivers and RestraintsAs the prevalence and incidence of chronic diseases have increased, there is a need to increase the production of substances to cure them. With innovation in technology, equipment with the well-established production system, providing high-quality biologic drugs and increased productivity is possible. This, in turn, increases the usage of upstream processing equipment which drives the biopharmaceutical market. Along with this increase in the need for cell therapy research, drug discovery, antibody production, monoclonal antibody and recombinant productions are also the major drivers for the upstream bioprocessing equipment market. However, the high cost incurred in setting up an upstream processing unit, its maintenance as the current challenge is to eliminate the contamination and the space required for the setup are the major restraining factors for the growth the Upstream Bioprocessing Equipment.Request For Report Sample@Upstream Bioprocessing Equipment Market: SegmentationThe upstream bioprocessing equipment market can be segmented according to the type of cell used, type of processing, by product, by end users, and by geography. By type of cell, the upstream bioprocessing equipment is segmented as mammalian cell and bacterial cell. According to the processing, the market is segmented into disposable, single use bioprocessing system and continuous bioprocessing systems. By type of product the bioreactors and fermenters. By end users, the upstream bioprocessing equipment market is segmented into biopharmaceutical manufacturing companies and research organizations. Geographical segmentation is North America, West Europe, APEJ, Japan, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East and Africa.Upstream Bioprocessing Equipment Market: OverviewThe Single-use bioprocessing units are the major drivers in the coming decade as single-use bioprocessing units eliminated the risk of contamination. It also reduces the time required for the sterilization between batch which in turn also increases the efficacy. Over a decade disposable and single use processing units have gained momentum as it is possible to develop a small amount of drugs used for pre clinical and clinical testing. The future in the upstream bioprocessing system is single bioprocessing units as it has all kinds of the system used in upstream processing such as bioreactors, membrane absorbers, bioprocess containers, disposable mixers, and samplers.Upstream Bioprocessing Equipment Market: Regional OverviewGeographically the market for bioprocessing equipment is increasing globally. The U.S. and Europe been the strong regions for the growth of upstream processes equipment has it has shown double-digit growth over last year. In U.S. the Single-use bioprocessing units have grown significantly when compared to continuous bioprocessing system. Along with Europe and U.S., the emerging markets like Asia Pacific and the Middle East and Africa shows great potential for the growth of upstream bioprocessing equipment market. Japanese beverage, food and pharmaceutical industry are diversifying into high-value products which boosted the growth of upstream bioprocessing equipment in Japan. The government in Japan also provides financial support for research and development to industry players for the growth, which enables the industry to prosper.Visit For TOC@Upstream Bioprocessing Equipment Market: Key PlayersThe top players in the Upstream Bioprocessing Equipment market are GE Healthcare, Merck KGaA, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co.KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific, BiOZEEN and Katalyst Bio EngineeringABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT: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:
Artificial Intelligence in Banking Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast
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Pune, India, 20th September 2017: WiseGuyReports announced addition of new report, titled The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Banking.Summary"The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Banking", report examines the most significant uses of AI in retail banking, in both front-office and back-office implementations.Artificial intelligence (AI) has reached the stage where it is sufficiently advanced and affordable to warrant practical implementation in financial services. Banks are busy exploring ways in which they can harness the power of AI to streamline internal processes and improve the customer experience. This report will explore what AI applications are relevant in banking at this time, examine where AI is already making an impact, and offer recommendations on how banks should proceed.GET SAMPLE REPORT @The report offers insight into -- The particular manifestations of AI that have the most relevance for banking.- How leading banks are already implanting AI-based solutions.- The factors banks need to address when introducing AI applications.Scope- AI encompasses a wide range of technologies, including robotic process automation, natural language processing, advanced data analytics, and image analytics. Use of these technologies will help banks improve both front-office and back-office processes.- Customer-facing uses of AI include chatbots that improve communication between banks and their customers, advanced analytics that can offer proactive advice to consumers and take simple financial decisions on their behalf, and facial recognition that improves onboarding and makes it easier for consumers to log into their accounts.- Back-office AI implementations include algorithms that can identify and block cases of fraud and money laundering, and analysis of non-traditional data to assess the creditworthiness of borrowers who lack standard credit records.Reasons to buy- Discover where AI will have the most impact upon the delivery of banking services.- Learn how your competitors are already using AI to improve customer outcomes and profitability.- Understand what issues you must resolve in order to successfully launch AI-based services.Table of Content: Key Points1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 31.1. Market summary 31.2. Key findings 31.3. Critical success factors 32. AI WILL TRANSFORM RETAIL BANKING 72.1. What is AI? 72.2. What impact will AI have on banks? 72.3. Which AI applications are relevant for banking? 82.3.1. RPA 82.3.2. NLP 92.3.3. Advanced data analytics 102.3.4. Image analytics 112.3.5. ML and deep learning 123. AI WILL IMPACT BANKING IN SEVERAL WAYS 133.1. Customer-facing implementations 133.1.1. Chatbots and virtual assistants 133.1.2. PFM 173.1.3. Identity verification using biometric data or document scanning 203.2. Back-office implementations 243.2.1. Anti-money laundering and fraud detection 243.2.2. Underwriting and credit assessment 264. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING AI 294.1. Improve data quality 294.2. Partner with fintech specialists 294.3. Plan for potential execution risks 304.3.1. Malfunctions and lack of efficacy 304.3.2. Algorithm bias 304.3.3. Lack of transparency 304.3.4. Data privacy issues 315. APPENDIX 325.1. Abbreviations and acronyms 325.2. Bibliography 32ContinuedACCESS REPORT @Get in touch:LinkedIn:Twitter:Facebook: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.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Global Cannabis and Pain Management Devices on Cancer Pain Market Research Report 2017
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This report studies the Cannabis and Pain Management Devices on Cancer Pain market status and outlook of global and major regions, from angles of players, regions, product types and end industries; this report analyzes the top players in global and major regions, and splits the Cannabis and Pain Management Devices on Cancer Pain market by product type and applications/end industries.Cannabis Players:GW PharmaceuticalsUNIMED PHARMACEUTICALSValeant PharmaceuticalsInsys TherapeuticsAxim BiotechnologiesMedical MarijuanaZynerbaPain Management Device Players:Boston Scientific Crop.Codman &Shurtleff IncFor more info, get a Free Sample PDF with TOC:Table of Contents1 Cannabis and Pain Management Devices on Cancer Pain Market Overview1.1 Cannabis and Pain Management Devices on Cancer Pain Product Overview1.2 Cannabis on Cancer Pain1.3 Ten Ways that Marijuana Helped Patients in the Study2 Global Cannabis on Cancer Pain Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD) by Regions (2012-2017)2.1 Global Cannabis on Cancer Pain Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Regions (2012-2017)2.2 Global Cannabis on Cancer Pain Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share (%) by Regions (2012-2017)2.3 Global Cannabis on Cancer Pain Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)3 Global Pain Management Devices on Cancer Pain Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD) by Regions (2012-2017)3.1 Global Pain Management Devices on Cancer Pain Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Regions (2012-2017)3.2 Global Pain Management Devices on Cancer Pain Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share (%) by Regions (2012-2017)3.3 Global Pain Management Devices on Cancer Pain Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)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 UsBrooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Patient Engagement Solutions Market Study with Competitive Landscape, Market Insights & Forecast to 2022
Patient Engagement Solutions Market
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A new research document with title 'United States Patient Engagement Solutions Market by Manufacturers, States, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 covering detailed analysis, Competitive landscape, forecast and strategies. The study covers geographic analysis that includes states like California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois and important players/vendors such as Medecision, Athenahealth, Healthagen etc. The report will help user gain market insights, future trends and growth prospects for forecast period of 2017-2022.Request a sample report @The term "patient engagement" has become entrenched in the healthcare lexicon. Many healthcare networks and payers are now striving to achieve the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's Triple Aim:Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Patient Engagement Solutions in United States market, to split the market based on manufacturers, states, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversCerner CorporationIBMEpic SystemsMcKesson CorporationMedecisionAthenahealthHealthagenAllscriptsGetWell NetworkLincor SolutionsOrion HealthGet customization & check discount for report @Market Segment by States, coveringCaliforniaTexasNew YorkFloridaIllinoisMarket Segment by Type, coversWeb-basedCloud-basedOn-premiseMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoHealth ManagementSocial and Behavioral ManagementHome Health ManagementFinancial Health ManagementBuy this report @There are 17 Chapters to deeply display the United States Patient Engagement Solutions market.Chapter 1, to describe Patient Engagement Solutions Introduction, product type and application, market overview, market analysis by States, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the manufacturers of Patient Engagement Solutions, 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, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the United States market by States, covering California, New York, Texas, Illinois and Florida, with sales, price, revenue and market share of Patient Engagement Solutions, for each state, 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, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, to analyze the key States by Type and Application, covering California, New York, Texas, Illinois and Florida, with sales, revenue and market share by types and applications;Chapter 12, Patient Engagement Solutions market forecast, by States, 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 sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers etc.Chapter 16 and 17, to describe Patient Engagement Solutions Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source.View Detailed Table of Content @Thanks for reading this article, you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact Us:HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road, Edison, NJ USA - 08837sales@htfmarketreport.comPh: +1 (206) 317 1218
Global Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software Market 2017- Alphabet Inc. (US), Microsoft Corporation (US), IBM Corporation (US), Intel Corporation (US)
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The Report entitled Global Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software Market 2017 analyses the crucial factors of the Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software market based on present industry situations, market demands, business strategies adopted by Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software market players and their growth scenario. This report isolates the Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software market based on the key players, Type, Application and Regions.The Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software industry research report mainly focuses on Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software industry in global market. The major regions which contribute to the development of Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software market mainly cover Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software market in North America, Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software market in the United States, Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software market in Europe, Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software market in China and Japan.For Any Kind of Query Visit Here:Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software Market 2017: Leading Players and Manufacturers Analysis1 Alphabet Inc. (US)2Microsoft Corporation (US)3IBM Corporation (US)4Intel Corporation (US)Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software Market: Application AnalysisPassanger CarsCommercial VehiclesThe Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software report provides the past, present and future industry trends and the forecast information related to the expected Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software sales revenue, Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software growth, Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software demand and supply scenario. Furthermore, the opportunities and the threats to the development of Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software market are also covered at depth in this research document.Initially, the Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software manufacturing analysis of the major industry players based on their company profiles, annual revenue, sales margin, growth aspects is also covered in this report, which will help other Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software market players in driving business insights.To Download A Sample Of The Report Click Here:Key Emphasizes Of The Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software Market:The fundamental details related to Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software industry like the product definition, cost, variety of applications, demand and supply statistics are covered in this report.Competitive study of the major Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software players will help all the market players in analyzing the latest trends and business strategies.The deep research study of Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software market based on development opportunities, growth limiting factors and feasibility of investment will forecast the market growth.The study of emerging Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software market segments and the existing market segments will help the readers in planning the business strategies.Read More-Finally, the report Global Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software Market 2017 describes Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software industry expansion game plan, the Automotive Artificial Intelligence Software industry data source, appendix, research findings and the conclusion.QYResearch is a market research company that offer the full range of qualitative and quantitative approaches and service.Qualitative approaches include in-depth interviews, online forums online group discussions etc. We have coordination with customers and business to the business audience all over the world.QY Research market conducts multinational marketing research studies on marketing strategy, market segmentation, new product concept testing and forecasting and customer experience optimization.Read More-S no. 51/14 First Floor, Office Number 4, Vishwa Arcade, Near Navale Lawns, Pune, Maharashtra, India 411041Telephone Numbers:+1(857)2390696+91 9130855334Email ID: inquiry@market.bizBrowse Latest Market News-
3D Printing Market Research Report and Industry Analysis by Arizton Advisory and Intelligence
3D Printing Market Research Report by Arizton Advisory & Intelligence
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Desktop or Personal 3D Printers to Dominate Global 3D Printers Market in terms of VolumeIndustrial 3D printers dominate the market in terms of revenueArizton has added an exclusive report on the 3D printing market titled 3D Printing Market Global Outlook and Forecast 20172022. The 140-pager report provides a detailed analysis of the global 3D printing market and outlines some interesting fact that are crucial for the industry.View Report: 3D Printing Market Global Outlook and Forecast 20172022Analysts at Arizton say that in 2016 the desktop/personal 3D printer segment accounted for a market share of 96% in terms of volume. However, in terms of revenue, the industrial 3D printer segment dominated the market with its 78% market share in 2016.Desktop 3D Printer MarketThe demand for desktop/personal 3D printer is increasing worldwide. The major growth factors in this demand are declining per unit cost and growing demand for these printers by home businesses. Many manufacturers have developed low-cost desktop/personal printer and are offering them in the market at economical prices. This has resulted in the proliferation of these printers among end-users. Further, mass production of such printers is bringing down their ASPs, thereby increasing their penetration among end-users.XYZprinting, Ultimaker, Monoprice, Wanhao, Formlabs, Flashforge, MakerBot (Stratasys), and M3D are some of the largest vendors of desktop/personal 3D printers in the market.Industrial 3D Printer MarketThe industrial 3D printer market is growing at a significant rate across the globe, especially in developed economies. The demand for these printers is increasing as large manufacturers are looking forward to using 3D printing technology to reduce their manufacturing expenses. Further, the deployment of these printers is aimed to smoothen the production process. Large organizations such as Boing, General Electric, Ford Motor, and Lockheed Martin are deploying these printers in their factories to produce thousands of parts and components.Industries such as electrics and electronics, food and beverage, aerospace, automotive, and healthcare are the largest end-users of industrial 3D printers in the market. The market for industrial 3D printers is also being fuelled by the requirement for various tooling applications as tooling in these industries has complex shapes.Stratasys, EOS, 3D Systems, SLM Solutions, and Concept Laser (acquired by GE) are some of the largest market players in the global industrial 3D printer market.The report provides a holistic view of the global market, the companies involved in the market, and the factors driving its growth. The report also provides information on some of the latest trends that have started to surface and are likely to become strong market driving forces over the next five years. This report also provides the Porters Five Forces analysis along with a description of each force and its impact on the market. Further, the report also provides complete value chain analysis of the global market.Related ReportsChatbot Market Global Outlook and Forecast 2017 -2022:Smart Voice Assistant Speaker Market Global Outlook and Forecast 2017 2022 :Source:About AriztonArizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovation and quality-driven firm, which offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients across the world. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services.Arizton has gained a paramount standpoint in the market research arena as it offers top of the line solutions to clients to assess market landscape and to finalize foolproof business strategies. We are committed to provide inclusive market research reports and consulting services to clients from diversified industries including Consumer Goods & Retail Technology, Automotive and Mobility, Smart Tech, Healthcare and Lifesciences, Industrial Machinery, Chemicals and Materials, IT and Media, Logistics and PackagingArizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered in generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports.Arizton Advisory & IntelligenceChicago, Illinois, 60605Mail: enquiry@arizton.comCall: +1-312-465-7864
Global Genomics Personalized Health Market From 2017 - 2024: Savvy Players Bank on Research and Development to Garner Larger Share
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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Genomics Personalized Health Market From 2017 - 2024: Savvy Players Bank on Research and Development to Garner Larger Share" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on Genomics Personalized Health market studies the current as well as future forecasts of the market globally. The stakeholders of this report include companies and intermediaries engaged in the manufacturing and commercialization of various Genomics Personalized Health instrument and products as well as new entrants planning to enter this market. This report covers an elaborate executive summary along with a market snapshot providing overall information of various segments and sub-segments considered within the scope of the study. This section also provides the overall information and data analysis of the global Genomics Personalized Health market with respect to the prominent market segments based on major technology, test type, end-user, and geographies.Global Genomics Personalized Health Market: SegmentationThe global Genomics Personalized Health market is divided into: by technology, by test type, by end-user and by geography. On the basis of technology the Genomics Personalized Health market is segmented as NGS platforms, RT-PCR, Microarray, Genetic analyzers, and. On the basis of test type Genomics Personal Health Market is segmented as oncology testing, infectious disease testing, orphan disease testing, autoimmune disease testing, obstetrics testing, and others. On the basis of end-user the Genomics Personalized Health market is classified as academics & research Institutes, diagnostic centers, and others. The market for the above mentioned segments of global personalized health market has been comprehensively analyzed based on their utility, effectiveness, sales, and geographic presence. Market revenue in terms of US$ Mn along with the compound annual growth rate (CAGR %) from 2017 to 2025 has been provided for all segments, considering 2016 as the base year.Global Genomics Personalized Health Market: Drivers and TrendsThe market overview section of the report explores the market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities that currently have a strong impact on the global Genomics Personalized Health market and can influence the market in the near future. Market attractiveness analysis has been provided in all the sections of the report in order to explain the intensity of competition in the global genomics personalized health market across different types of technologies/test type/end-users/geographies. The competitive scenario among different market players in global genomics personalized health market is evaluated through market share analysis in the competition landscape section of the report. The section also comprises of completion matrix that analyzes the competition among some of the top global players operating in the genomics personalized health market. 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.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global Genomics Personalized Health Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, the Genomics Personalized Health market has been segmented into five regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa (MEA), and Latin America. Each regional market for Genomics Personalized Health market has been further categorized into major technology, test type and end-user segments considered within the scope of the study. Key country (U.S., Canada, Japan, Germany, France, U.K., Australia, Canada, China, Brazil, Mexico, India, etc.) market revenues have also been provided in different regional sections within the report. Market revenue in terms of US$ Mn for the period from 2015 to 2025 along with CAGR % from 2017 to 2025 are provided for all the regions and nations considering 2016 as the base year.Key Players Mentioned in this Report are:The report profiles key manufacturers in the Genomics Personalized Health market based on various characteristics such as company details, SWOT analysis, strategic overview, financials, and business overview. Major players profiled in this report include QIAGEN, Illumina, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. ,F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Lonza Group, INVITAE Corporation, Genetic Technologies Limited, Interleukin Genetics Inc., Eastern Biotech and Life Sciences, DNA Genotek Inc. (Subsidiary of OraSure Technologies, Inc.),uBiome, Inc., and XCode Life Sciences Private Limited.The global Genomics Personalized Health market has been segmented as follows:Genomics Personalized Health Market, by TechnologyNGS platformsRT-PCRMicroarraySequencing and genetic analyzersOthersGenomics Personalized Health Market, by Test TypeOncology testingInfectious disease testingOrphan disease testingAutoimmune disease testingObstetrics testingOthersGenomics Personalized Health Market, By End-UserAcademics & Research InstitutesDiagnostic CentersOthersGenomics Personalized Health Market, by GeographyNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeGermanyU.K.FranceItalySpainBrowse More Details @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 LED Lighting Electronics Market Research Report 2017 : Mean Well, Texas Instruments, AMS
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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global LED Lighting Electronics Market Research Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.The research report on global LED Lighting Electronics market provides highly accurate examination for it, over the forecast period from 2017 to 2022. The report accommodates an investigative approach to manifest the importance of every element that affects this market. The research report offers a descriptive analysis of the LED Lighting Electronics which is corroborated with the help of tables and figures given in the report. It comes complete with the definitions, classifications, and descriptions of characteristics of the several key aspects of the LED Lighting Electronics. This includes an introduction to the LED Lighting Electronics in a way that allows the reports users to comfortably scan through and grasp the various factors that can influence this market, including the end-users and the applications of its products.The research report has used both secondary as well as primary methodologies of researching the LED Lighting Electronics. It has also used the SWOT analysis along with Porters five forces analysis for an accurate and in-depth critical evaluation of all the critical elements that govern this market. The former analytical method helps users determine the various strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in the LED Lighting Electronics, while the latter analytical method produces a precise evaluation of the significance that new entrants could hold, the threat of substitute products or services, the bargaining power of buyers and suppliers, and intensity and effects of competitive rivalry.Get Research Summary Of The Repot:Global LED Lighting Electronics market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingFairchild SemiconductorMean WellTexas InstrumentsON SemiconductorROHM SemiconductorPower IntegrationsAMSDiodes IncorporatedThe report explores the progress as well as factors that apply deceleration to the overall development rate of the LED Lighting Electronics within all its segments, regional and otherwise. The regional analysis further aids the reports users to grasp specific elements, such as regional policies and socio-economic dynamics that can affect the Japan LED Lighting Electronics market.Table of Contents1 LED Lighting Electronics Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of LED Lighting Electronics1.2 LED Lighting Electronics Segment by Type (Product Category)1.3 Global LED Lighting Electronics Segment by Application1.4 Global LED Lighting Electronics Market by Region (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of LED Lighting Electronics (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global LED Lighting Electronics Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global LED Lighting Electronics Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)To Browse a Full Report with TOC:2 Global LED Lighting Electronics Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global LED Lighting Electronics Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global LED Lighting Electronics Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global LED Lighting Electronics Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global LED Lighting Electronics Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global LED Lighting Electronics Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers LED Lighting Electronics Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 LED Lighting Electronics Market Competitive Situation and Trends3 Global LED Lighting Electronics Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global LED Lighting Electronics Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global LED Lighting Electronics Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global LED Lighting Electronics Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global LED Lighting Electronics Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 United States LED Lighting Electronics Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.6 EU LED Lighting Electronics Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.7 China LED Lighting Electronics Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.8 Japan LED Lighting Electronics Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7 Global LED Lighting Electronics Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Fairchild Semiconductor7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 LED Lighting Electronics Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.3 Fairchild Semiconductor LED Lighting Electronics Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Mean Well7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 LED Lighting Electronics Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.3 Mean Well LED Lighting Electronics Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Texas Instruments7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 LED Lighting Electronics Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.3 Texas Instruments LED Lighting Electronics Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business OverviewRequest A Discount on This report @List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of LED Lighting ElectronicsFigure Global LED Lighting Electronics Production (K Units) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2012-2022)Figure Global LED Lighting Electronics Production Market Share by Types (Product Category) in 2016Figure Global LED Lighting Electronics Consumption (K Units) by Applications (2012-2022)Figure Global LED Lighting Electronics Consumption Market Share by Applications in 2016Figure Global LED Lighting Electronics Market Size (Million USD), Comparison (K Units) and CAGR (%) by Regions (2012-2022)Figure Global LED Lighting Electronics Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure Global LED Lighting Electronics Capacity, Production (K Units) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Foodservices Equipment Market Report - Focus on the US: 2016 Edition - Key Players : Rational, Middleby, Illinois Tool works etc.
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ResearchMoz added Latest Research Report titled " Foodservices Equipment Market Report-Focus on the US: 2016 Edition " to it's Large Report database.Foodservice equipment industry is a prominent segment of the foodservice industry. The growth in the number of restaurants, hotels, fast food joints have led to the development of the foodservice equipment industry. Foodservice equipments help in maintaining the sanitary and hygiene standards which is a pivotal factor in todays environment and various rules are laid down by different food regulatory bodies in order to maintain and regulate the standards since hygiene has become a crucial issue in preserving good health.The foodservice equipment industry in the US has benefitted from changing lifestyles of the people and the increasing tendency of the people to go out and eat. The demand of affordable dining is also expected to increase. There is enough space for innovation in the foodservice equipment market because as new consumers look to experiment with variety of brands and experiences and with the rising population and an increase in the working class population there is an increase in the innovative products launched by the companies.Request for Sample PDF of Premium Research Report with TOC:The key factors driving the growth of the market are decreasing unemployment, increasing population, increasing number of restaurants, globalization and liberalization of global trade, growing hygiene and sanitation standards, increasing urbanization, improved economic growth and changing lifestyle of the working population. Some of the noteworthy trends and developments of this industry are growth of fast casual restaurants, trend of small size equipments, designing of energy efficient products and introduction of technologically advanced products. However, the expansion of foodservice equipment can be affected by effect of seasonal changes, risk associated with product development, increased competition, operating cost and labor issues and political instability.The report Foodservice Equipment Market- Focus on the US provides an in-depth analysis of the market, with a focus on regional markets. The major trends, growth drivers as well as issues being faced by the industry are being presented in this report. The major players in the industry, Manitowoc Foodservice, Middleby, Illinois Tool works (ITW) and Rational are being profiled.Browse more details @Table of Content1. Foodservice Industry An Introduction1.1 Types of Foodservice1.2 Components of Foodservice Industry2. Foodservice Equipment Industry An Introduction2.1 Foodservice Equipments Product Classification3. Global Foodservice Equipment Market4. The US Foodservice Equipment Market4.1 The US Foodservice Equipment Market by Value4.2 The US Foodservice Equipment Market by Products4.3 The US Foodservice Equipment Sales by End Market4.4 The US Foodservice Market Growth Rate4.5 The US Restaurant Sales by Value4.6 The US Restaurant Equipment Purchases by Need4.7 The US Foodservices Investment in Structures and Equipments5. Other Foodservice Equipment Market s6. Market Dynamics6.1 Growth Drivers6.1.1 Increasing Employment in the US6.1.2 The US Population6.1.3 Increasing Number of Restaurants6.1.4 Globalization and Liberalization of Global Trade6.1.5 Growing Hygiene and Sanitation Standards6.1.6 Increasing Urbanization6.1.7 Improved Economic Growth6.1.8. Changing Lifestyle of Working PopulationAbout 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:
Pest Control Products And Services Market is Expected to Represent 16.94 Bn by 2016 End
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Persistence Market Research delivers useful insights on the global pest control products and services market in a new report titled, Pest Control Products and Services Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast, 2016 - 2026. The global pest control products and services market is projected to be valued at US$ 28.6 Bn by 2026, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.4% over the next 10 years.The prime factors powering the demand for pest control products and services are a rapid expansion of urban population across the globe, growing consumer awareness concerning health and hygiene, prevalent weather conditions supporting insect growth, a rapid increase in lifestyle expenditures, and rising international tourism. Increase in economic activities across the globe is also a positive factor favoring the growth of the global pest control products and services market. The implementation of stringent government regulations to limit levels of chemical toxicity and restrict the use of highly toxic pesticides to reduce their hazardous impact on public health and environment is one of the major restraints for the growth of the global pest control products and services market.View and Download TOC of Pest Control Products and Services Market Research Report @The global pest control products and services market is segmented on the basis of Product Type (Insecticides, Rodenticides, Other Chemical, Mechanical, Others); Application Type (Ants Control, Bedbug Control, Beetle Control, Bird Control, Mosquito & Flies Control, Cockroaches Control, Rat & Rodent Control, Termites Control, Others); Service Type (Chemical Control Services, Organic Control Services, Synthetic Control Services, Mechanical Control Services, Other Pest Control Services); End User (Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, Residential); and Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and MEA).The Insecticides product type segment is expected to gain significant market share by 2026 and is estimated to increase 1.7X in terms of value between 2016 and 2026. The Cockroaches Control application type segment is expected to be valued at US$ 5,747.6 Mn by 2026, registering a CAGR of 5.1% between 2016 and 2026. The Chemical Control Services service type segment was valued at US$ 10.93 Bn in 2015 and is estimated to reach US$ 11.56 Bn by the end of 2016, reflecting a Y-o-Y growth rate of 5.8%. The Chemical Control Services service type segment is expected to continue to remain the most dominant segment in the market till the end of 2026. The Residential end user segment is expected to be valued at US$ 9,956.6 Mn by 2026.Request and Download Sample Report @Among regions, North America is expected to remain the most dominant regional market in the global pest control products and services market. The North America pest control products and services market was valued at US$ 7,538.5 Mn in 2015 and is estimated to reach US$ 7,952.4 Mn by the end of 2016, reflecting a Y-o-Y growth rate of 5.5%. The Asia Pacific pest control products and services market is expected to be valued at US$ 5,964.2 Mn by 2026, registering a CAGR of 6.1% during 2016 2026.The global pest control products and services market report profiles some of the leading companies functional in the global pest control products and services market. Ecolab, Inc., Rollins, Inc., Rentokil Initial Plc., Service Master Global Holdings, Inc. (Terminix), Massey Services Inc., Arrow Exterminators Inc., Sanix Incorporated, Asante Inc., Dodson Brothers Exterminating Company Incorporated, Target Specialty Products, Pelsis Ltd., Killgerm Ltd., WinField Solutions LLC, and Univer Inc. are the top market players featured in the global pest control products and services market report. Some of these companies are focusing on expanding their geographical presence through operational expansion and strategic mergers and acquisitions.Buy Full Pest Control Products And Services Market Report @About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, 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.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Increased Awareness will Aid in Market Growth of Aerospace Composites
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A wide range of composites are used in aerospace industry. Commercial aircrafts, defense aircrafts, helicopters, launchers and engines are made-up of composites. Aerospace composites help to lighten the weight of the components and increase the efficiency of the engines.A sample of this report is available upon request @Aerospace composites help in weight reduction subsequently decreasing the fuel consumption. Low weight and durability of components are of huge importance in aerospace and aircraft industry. The market for aerospace composites is classified as: carbon fiber reinforced composites, glass fiber reinforced composites, metal matrix composites, foam core materials and ceramic matrix composites among others. Aerospace composites are used in interiors as well as exterior of the aircrafts. In addition, to this ceramic matrix composites are used in manufacturing of engines, which sustains at higher temperatures. Moreover, aerospace composites provides various characteristics to the components such as fire resistance, durability, flexibility and lighter weight among others.The market for aerospace composites was mainly driven by commercial aircrafts coupled with military and defense activities. Aerospace composites are used in various applications such as passenger and cargo floor panels, ceiling panels, galleys, air ducts, cabin linings, plenums, overhead compartments, ceiling panels, lavatories, bars, partitions, wardrobes, seats, winglets and fins, trailing edges, brackets and landing gear doors among others. The aerospace composites have to deal with regulatory bodies regarding smoke, toxicity and fire levels of the components. In military and defense applications, aerospace composites are used in manufacturing of components required for helicopters, launchers and aircrafts among others. Aerospace composites help the components to deal with wear and tear, fire and harsh weather conditions. In addition, aerospace composites help the components to enhance the performance of the aircrafts. Maintenance, repair and overhaul are one of the major segments in aerospace industry and will be a major opportunity for the aerospace composites over the forecast period. However, higher prices and recyclability issues regarding the aerospace composites is anticipated to hinder the growth of the market in near future.In terms of demand, North America was the leading region in aerospace composites market in 2013. The market for aerospace composites in North America was led by the U.S. Increasing demand for aerospace composites from commercial aircrafts coupled with defense activities has been driving the market in past few years. North America was followed by Asia Pacific. Asia Pacific is considered to be fastest growing market for aerospace composites. Increasing demand from aircrafts and helicopters is driving the demand for aerospace composites in this region. China had the highest demand for aerospace composites in this region. Other countries such as Japan, Singapore and India are likely to show potential growth for the aerospace composites in near future. In terms of demand, Europe had the third largest share for aerospace composites in 2013. Western Europe had the largest demand for aerospace composites in this region owing to the huge demand from military and defense activities. However, central Europe and Russia will have higher market share for aerospace composites in foreseeable future. In 2013, Rest of the World had the least demand for aerospace composites; however the region is predicted to illustrate upbeat for the aerospace composites market in near future.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @New product development in order to meet the growing expectations of the industry is one of the key strategies in the market. Some of the key manufacturers in the aerospace composites market are Hexcel Corporation, Gurit Holding Co., Cytec Industries, Royal Tencate, Toray Industries Inc. and GKN Plc among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Online Banking Market Forecast by Technology, Application, Dynamics and Development Status and Outlook 2017-2022
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ReportsWeb.com added Global Online Banking Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022 to its vast collection of research Database. The report is spread across 94 pages and supported by 10 company leaders.The Global Online Banking Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022 is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Online Banking industry. In a word, This report studies Online Banking in Global market, especially United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia, focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with capacity, production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer. Key companies included in this research are ACI Worldwide, Microsoft Corporation, Fiserv, Inc., Tata Consultancy Services, Cor Financial Solutions Ltd., Oracle Corporation, Temenos Group AG, Rockall Technologies, EdgeVerve Systems Limited and Capital Banking Solutions .Browse complete report @Market Segment by Region, this report splits Global into several key Region, with sales, revenue, market share and growth rate of Online Banking in these regions, from 2011 to 2022 (forecast), like United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia.Market segment by Type, Online Banking can be split into-> Retail Banking-> Corporate Banking-> Investment BankingMarket segment by Application, Online Banking can be split into-> Payments-> Processing Services-> Customer and Channel Management-> Risk Management-> OthersRequest for Sample @Major points from Table of Contents:1 Industry Overview of Online Banking2 Global Online Banking Competition Analysis by Players3 Company Profiles3.1 ACI Worldwide3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Online Banking Revenue3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Microsoft Corporation3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Online Banking Revenue3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Fiserv, Inc.3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions4 Global Online Banking Market Size by Type and Application (2012-2017)4.1 Global Online Banking Market Size by Type (2012-2017)4.2 Global Online Banking Market Size by Application (2012-2017)4.3 Potential Application of Online Banking in Future4.4 Top Consumer/End Users of Online Banking5 United States Online Banking Development Status and Outlook6 EU Online Banking Development Status and Outlook7 Japan Online Banking Development Status and Outlook8 China Online Banking Development Status and Outlook9 India Online Banking Development Status and Outlook10 Southeast Asia Online Banking Development Status and Outlook11 Market Forecast by Regions, Type and Application (2017-2022)12 Online Banking Market Dynamics13 Market Effect Factors Analysis13.1 Technology Progress/Risk13.1.1 Substitutes13.1.2 Technology Progress in Related Industry13.2 Consumer Needs Trend/Customer Preference13.3 External Environmental Change13.3.1 Economic Fluctuations13.3.2 Other Risk FactorsList of Tables and FiguresFigure Online Banking Product ScopeFigure Global Online Banking Market SizeTable Global Online Banking Market Size and Growth Rate by RegionsFigure Global Online Banking Market Share by Regions in 2016Figure United States Online Banking Market Size and Growth Rate by RegionsFigure EU Online Banking Market Size and Growth Rate by RegionsFigure Japan Online Banking Market Size and Growth Rate by RegionsFigure China Online Banking Market Size and Growth Rate by RegionsFigure India Online Banking Market Size and Growth Rate by RegionsFigure Southeast Asia Online Banking Market Size and Growth Rate by RegionsFigure Global Online Banking Market Share by Type in 2016Figure Retail Banking Market Size and Growth RateFigure Corporate Banking Market Size and Growth RateFigure Investment Banking Market Size and Growth RateFigure Global Online Banking Market Share by Application in 2016Table Key Downstream Customer in PaymentsFigure Online Banking Market Size and Growth Rate in PaymentsTable Key Downstream Customer in Processing ServicesFigure Online Banking Market Size and Growth Rate in Processing ServicesTable Key Downstream Customer in Customer and Channel ManagementFigure Online Banking Market Size and Growth Rate in Customer and Channel ManagementTable Key Downstream Customer in Risk ManagementFigure Online Banking Market Size and Growth Rate in Risk ManagementPlace a Direct Purchase Order of Complete Report @Contact Info:Name: Sameer JoshiEmail: sales@reportsweb.comOrganization: ReportsWebPhone: +1-646-491-9876ReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.533, 5th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Global Circular Saw Blade Market will hit in coming years 2020
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A new research document with title 'Global (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Circular Saw Blade Market 2017 Forecast to 2022' covering detailed analysis, Competitive landscape, forecast and strategies. The study covers geographic analysis that includes regions like North & South America, Europe & Asia-Pacific, , Middle East & Africa and important players/vendors such as LEITZ, Skiltools, Lenox. The report will help user gain market insights, future trends and growth prospects for forecast period of 2022Request a sample report @Circular Saw Blades is a cutting tool. It is circular. It is mainly used for cutting Wood and Wood-based material, Plastic material and Metal material. Circular Saw Blades include Steel blades, High-speed steel blades, Carbide blades, Diamond blades and Abrasive blades.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Circular Saw Blade in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversFreudAKEPILANALeucoDimarWagen(Ferrotec)KANEFUSALEITZSkiltools(Bosch)LenoxSTARK SpADiamond ProductsGeneral SawKinkelderEHWABOSUNXINGSHUOTangshan Metallurgical Saw BladeHUANGHE WHIRLWINDFengtaiXMFTOOLBuy this report @Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversCarbide Saw BladesDiamond Saw BladesOthersMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoWood and Wood-based Materials CuttingMetal Materials CuttingStone CuttingOthersThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Circular Saw Blade market.Chapter 1, to describe Circular Saw Blade Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Circular Saw Blade, with sales, revenue, and price of Circular Saw Blade, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Circular Saw Blade, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the market by countries, by type, by application and by manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Circular Saw Blade market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Circular Saw Blade sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceGet customization & check discount for report @....ContinuedView Detailed Table of Content @Thanks for reading this article, you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact US :Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager)HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837sales@htfmarketreport.com+1 (206) 317 1218
Global Coronary Stent Deep Research on Industrial and Market studies Report: 2016 Edition
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"Global Coronary Stent Market Report: 2016 Edition" The Report covers current Industries Trends, Worldwide Analysis, Global Forecast, Review, Share, Size, Growth, Effect.Description-The stent market is an important segment of the coronary heart diseases. The stent is a small, elastic, mesh like tube made of a metal stainless steel or cobalt alloy that acts as support. Stents are attached onto small balloons and opened inside the artery to reinstate blood flow and support the vessel wall. Stenting does not involve any major incision and is performed with the help of local anesthesia and low sedation. Stenting is relatively more comfortable for patients in comparison to coronary artery bypass heart surgery.Get Sample Report With TOC @Stents help in avoiding the heart attacks which is caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries. Drug eluting stents which are coated with medication are the most commonly used stents. Many new stents like bio resorbabale stents are in the market and next generation stents like drug filled stent are under research and development. Stents become very necessary in the severe instances of atherosclerosis which is a state where medium and large arteries harden and start narrowing because their insides get filled with plaque. The most common method employed for the treatment of coronary heart disease includes pharmaceuticals, balloon angioplasty, stenting and coronary artery bypass grafting.The stent market was affected by thrombosis scare in the year 2010. Later the market was also affected due to stent deformity issues and pricing pressures which led the stent market down.The key factors which are anticipated to drive stent market include aging population, improving utilization of hospital, enhancement in the volume of drug eluting stent, improvement in the global health care expenditure, accelerated economic growth, diabetic population, increased consumption of alcohol, rising obese population, increase in hypertension. Some of the significant developments of this industry include introduction of new products from competing companies, Next generation stents and testing of drug filled stent. However, the challenge to be faced ahead is pricing pressure, regulatory issues and complications associated with implantation of stents.This report offers a comprehensive analysis of the stent market. Furthermore, market dynamics such as key trends and development; and challenges are analyzed in depth. On the contention front, the global stent market is reined by few major players namely Boston Scientific, Abbott Laboratories, Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic. The competitive landscape of the respective market, along with the company profiles of the leading players are also discussed in detail.Table of Content1. Cardiology Market An Introduction1.1 Interventional Cardiology1.1.1 Bypass Surgery (or CABG)1.1.2 Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) or Angioplasty1.2 Stenting and its Types1.2.1 Drug Eluting Stent and Bare Metal Stent1.2.2 Benefits of Stenting2. Coronary Stent Market Analysis2.1 Global Coronary Stent Market by Value2.1.1 Global Drug Eluting Stent Market by Value2.1.2 Global Bare Metal Stent Market by Value2.1.3 Global Drug Eluting Stent Market by Volume2.1.4 Global Drug Eluting Stent Market by Device3. The US DES Market3.1 The US DES Market by Value3.2 The US DES Market Share by Device4. Rest of World DES Market4.1 Rest of World DES Market by Value5. Indian Stent Market5.1 Total Stents Used in India5.1.1 Total Drug Eluting Stents (DES) Used6. Market Dynamics6.1 Growth Drivers6.1.1 Aging Population6.1.2 Global DES Volume6.1.3 Improving Global Health Care Expenditure6.1.4 Accelerated Economic Growth6.1.5 Global Diabetic Population6.1.6 Increased Consumption of Alcohol and Tobacco6.1.7 Rising Obese Population6.1.8 Increase in Hypertension Cases6.2 Trends and Development6.2.1 Introduction of New Products6.2.2 Next Generation Stent Technologies6.2.3 Testing of Drug Filled Stent6.3 Challenges6.3.1 Pricing Pressure6.3.2 Industry Risk6.3.3 Regulatory Issues6.3.4 Complications in Stent Implant7. Competitive Landscape7.1 Global Market7.1.1 Global Cardiovascular Market by Company7.1.2 Global Drug Eluting Stent Market by Company7.1.3 Global Balloon Angioplasty Market by Company7.1.4 Global Peripheral Stent Market by Company7.2 The US DES Market7.2.1 The US DES Market Share by Company7.3 Rest of World DES Market7.3.1 Rest of Word DES Market Share by Company7.4 Indian Coronary Stent Market7.4.1 Coronary Stent Market by Share in India8. Company Profiles8.1 Boston Scientific8.1.1 Business Overview8.1.2 Financial Overview8.1.3 Business Strategies8.2 Johnson & Johnson8.2.1 Business Overview8.2.2 Financial Overview8.2.3 Business Strategies8.3 Abbot Laboratories8.3.1 Business Overview8.3.2 Financial Overview8.3.3 Business Strategies8.4 Medtronic Inc.8.4.1 Business Overview8.4.2 Financial Overview8.4.3 Business StrategiesList of TableCardiology Overview by SegmentRank in Terms of Death due to CAD in Various Regions (2014)Global Diabetes Statistics (2014)Complications Related to Implantation of Cardiovascular StentsList of ChartA Brief Overview of Cardiology Market and DevelopmentsCoronary Artery Disease OverviewGlobal Coronary Stent Market by Value (2006-2014)Global Drug Eluting Stent Market by Value (2011-2014)Global Bare Metal Stent Market by Value (2011-2014)Global Drug Eluting Stent Market by Volume (2008-2014)Global Drug Eluting Stent Market Share by Device (2014)Prevalence of Coronary Artery Disease by Gender (2014)The US DES Market by Value (2011-2017E)The US DES Market Share by Device (2014)Full Report @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
SaaS-based Business Intelligence (BI) Market Size, Share, Growth Analysis and Forecast to 2022
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Market Size Forecasters Add New Global SaaS-based Business Intelligence (BI) Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022 to its research database. The report presents a deep study of the market growth factors and drivers. The report spread across 105 pages with table and figures in it.Global SaaS-based Business Intelligence (BI) market from the in-depth perspective of all the ongoing trends that are affecting the market and are important to be understood are studied. These trends are geographical, economic, socioeconomic, political, cultural, political, and many other are studied. The overall effect on the consumer preferences will have a major say on the market working in the years to come. The dynamics which affect the SaaS-based Business Intelligence (BI) market have been studied meticulously.The main goal for the dissemination of this information is to give a descriptive analysis of how the trends could potentially affect the upcoming future of SaaS-based Business Intelligence (BI) market during the forecast period. This markets competitive manufactures and the upcoming manufactures are studied with their detailed research. Revenue, production, price, market share of these players is mentioned with precise information.Request a discount on this premium research report:This report studies the global SaaS-based Business Intelligence (BI) market, analyzes and researches the SaaS-based Business Intelligence (BI) development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, like IBM Corp., Microstrategy Inc., Oracle Corp., QlikTech International AB, SAP AG, TIBCO Software Inc., Actuate Corp., Birst Inc., Bime, Cloud9 Analytics, GoodData Corp., Indicee Inc., Host Analytics Inc., Jaspersoft Corp., Kognitio, PivotLink, SAS Institute Inc.Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report covers United States, EU, Japan, China, India, Southeast Asia.Market segment by Type, SaaS-based Business Intelligence (BI) can be split into Private Cloud, Public Cloud, Community Cloud, Hybrid Cloud.Market segment by Application, SaaS-based Business Intelligence (BI) can be split into Large Enterprise, Small Enterprise, Medium - sized enterprises.Inquire on this premium report before buying:Key Questions this study will answer:-What are the current trends, challenges, and drivers for SaaS-based Business Intelligence (BI) in APAC? What will be the most promising Growth Opportunities and key investment areas over the next five years?-Are the currently available solutions and vendors adequately meeting market needs? What are the gaps, if any? Are there any early market movers in this direction?-What will be the impact and adoption of new technologies? How will these change current industry paradigms and / or bring in new business models?-How expectations from vendors changing and what are some emerging vendor selection criteria?The modest scenario amongst the top players in the global SaaS-based Business Intelligence (BI) market has been studied through the market share evaluation within the competitive landscape section of the report. The top strategies adopted by the chief players operating in the market for better business into the global SaaS-based Business Intelligence (BI) market have also been included under this study.For More Info On This Report:Related Report:Global Business Intelligence (BI) Software Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022This report studies the global Business Intelligence (BI) Software market, analyzes and researches the Business Intelligence (BI) Software development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market.About Us: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.Contact Us:Market size forecastersThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketsizeforecasters.comWebsite:News:Connect with us: LinkedIn | Twitter
Global Automotive Super Swamper Tires Market 2017- Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear Tire & Rubber, Michelin, Interco Tire
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The Report entitled Global Automotive Super Swamper Tires Market 2017 analyses the crucial factors of the Automotive Super Swamper Tires market based on present industry situations, market demands, business strategies adopted by Automotive Super Swamper Tires market players and their growth scenario. This report isolates the Automotive Super Swamper Tires market based on the key players, Type, Application and Regions.The Automotive Super Swamper Tires industry research report mainly focuses on Automotive Super Swamper Tires industry in global market. The major regions which contribute to the development of Automotive Super Swamper Tires market mainly cover Automotive Super Swamper Tires market in North America, Automotive Super Swamper Tires market in the United States, Automotive Super Swamper Tires market in Europe, Automotive Super Swamper Tires market in China and Japan.For Any Kind of Query Visit Here:Automotive Super Swamper Tires Market 2017: Leading Players and Manufacturers Analysis1 Bridgestone2 Continental3 Goodyear Tire & Rubber4 Michelin5 Interco Tire6 Maxxis7 BFGoodrich8 Pitbull TiresAutomotive Super Swamper Tires Market: Type AnalysisBias TireRadial TireAutomotive Super Swamper Tires Market: Application AnalysisCommercial VehiclesPassenger VehiclesThe Automotive Super Swamper Tires report provides the past, present and future industry trends and the forecast information related to the expected Automotive Super Swamper Tires sales revenue, Automotive Super Swamper Tires growth, Automotive Super Swamper Tires demand and supply scenario. Furthermore, the opportunities and the threats to the development of Automotive Super Swamper Tires market are also covered at depth in this research document.Initially, the Automotive Super Swamper Tires manufacturing analysis of the major industry players based on their company profiles, annual revenue, sales margin, growth aspects is also covered in this report, which will help other Automotive Super Swamper Tires market players in driving business insights.To Download A Sample Of The Report Click Here:Key Emphasizes Of The Automotive Super Swamper Tires Market:The fundamental details related to Automotive Super Swamper Tires industry like the product definition, cost, variety of applications, demand and supply statistics are covered in this report.Competitive study of the major Automotive Super Swamper Tires players will help all the market players in analyzing the latest trends and business strategies.The deep research study of Automotive Super Swamper Tires market based on development opportunities, growth limiting factors and feasibility of investment will forecast the market growth.The study of emerging Automotive Super Swamper Tires market segments and the existing market segments will help the readers in planning the business strategies.Read More-Finally, the report Global Automotive Super Swamper Tires Market 2017 describes Automotive Super Swamper Tires industry expansion game plan, the Automotive Super Swamper Tires industry data source, appendix, research findings and the conclusion.QYResearch is a market research company that offer the full range of qualitative and quantitative approaches and service.Qualitative approaches include in-depth interviews, online forums online group discussions etc. We have coordination with customers and business to the business audience all over the world.QY Research market conducts multinational marketing research studies on marketing strategy, market segmentation, new product concept testing and forecasting and customer experience optimization.Read More-S no. 51/14 First Floor, Office Number 4, Vishwa Arcade, Near Navale Lawns, Pune, Maharashtra, India 411041Telephone Numbers:+1(857)2390696+91 9130855334Email ID: inquiry@market.bizBrowse Latest Market News-
Peat Deep Research on Industrial and Market studies - Europe Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024
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"Peat Market - Europe Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024" The Report covers current Industries Trends, Worldwide Analysis, Global Forecast, Review, Share, Size, Growth, Effect.Description-Europe Peat Market: OverviewPeat is also known as turf is a heterogeneous mixture made of incompletely decomposed plant remains, mainly sedges, grasses, reeds and mosses, formed when waterlogging and the exclusion of oxygen affect the natural processes of decay. It is a slow process, with the layer of peat increasing by an average rate calculated to be no more than 1mm (1/16in) depth per year. The peat land ecosystem is the most efficient carbon sink on the planet because peat land plants capture the CO2 which is naturally released from the peat.Get Sample Report With TOC @Demand for Peat is projected to have a sluggish growth in coming years considering the extensive concern over environmental issue, growth in renewables on a large scale and use of alternative substitutes such as wood fiber, coir, land fill biomass and green compost. Europe remains dominant in Peat market in terms of production and demand. Countries such as Ireland, Finland and Sweden are expected to be the key consumers of Peat. Peat is also used as a major constituent for horticulture industry. Governmental regulations and environmental concerns has remarkably affected the Peat market. This trend is anticipated to continue during the forecast period, and is therefore expected to unfavorably affect the market growth.Europe Peat Market: Scope of the ReportThis report analyzes and forecasts the market for Peat at Europe level. The market has been forecast based on revenue (US$ Mn) from 2016 to 2024, considering 2015 as the base year. The study includes drivers and restraints of the Europe Peat market. It also covers impact of these drivers and restraints on demand for Peat during the forecast period. The report also highlights opportunities in the Peat market in Europe.The report includes detailed value chain analysis, which provides a comprehensive view of the Europe Peat market. Porters Five Forces model for the Peat market has also been included to help understand the competitive landscape in the market. The study encompasses market attractiveness analysis, wherein end-users are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness.Europe Peat Market: SegmentationThe study provides a decisive view of the Europe Peat market by segmenting it in terms of product type (Sapric, Hemic and Fibric) and applications such as power generation, agriculture, freshwater aquaria, water filtration, heating, horticulture and more). These segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends. Segmentation includes current and forecast demand for Peat in Europe.The report provides the actual market size of Peat for 2015 and estimated market size for 2016 with forecast for the next eight years. The Europe market size of Peat has been provided in terms of volume and revenue. Market volume has been defined in Thousand Metric Tons, while market revenue is in US$ Mn. Market numbers have been estimated based on product type and key applications of Peat. Market size and forecast for numerous end-users have been provided in terms of global, regional, and country level markets.Europe Peat Market: Research MethodologyIn order to compile the research report, we conducted in-depth interviews and discussions with a number of key industry participants and opinion leaders. Primary research represented the bulk of research efforts, supplemented by extensive secondary research. We reviewed key players product literature, annual reports, press releases, and relevant documents for competitive analysis and market understanding. Secondary research includes a search of recent trade, technical writing, Internet sources, and statistical data from government websites, trade associations, and agencies. This has proven to be the most reliable, effective, and successful approach for obtaining precise market data, capturing industry participants insights, and recognizing business opportunities.Secondary research sources that are typically referred to include, but are not limited to company websites, annual reports, financial reports, investor presentations, SEC filings, CSA Global, Government database, internal and external proprietary databases, and relevant patent and regulatory databases such as ICIS, Hoovers, oneSOURCE, Factiva and Bloomberg, national government documents, statistical databases, trade journals, market reports, news articles, press releases, and webcasts specific to companies operating in the market.We conduct primary interviews on an ongoing basis with industry participants and commentators to validate data and analysis. These help validate and strengthen secondary research findings. These also help develop the analysis teams expertise and market understanding.The report comprises profiles of major companies operating in the Europe Peat market. The Europe Peat market is partially consolidated. Key players include Bord na Mona, Klassmann Dielmann, Vapo Oy, Oulun Energia, Neova Ab etc. Market players have been profiled in terms of attributes such as company overview, overall revenue, business strategies, and recent developments.The Europe Peat market has been segmented as follows:By Material TypeSapricHemicFibricBy End-UsePower GenerationAgricultureFreshwater AquariaWater FiltrationOthersBy CountryGermanyFranceIrelandFinlandLatviaLithuaniaEstoniaSwedenRest of EuropeFull Report @ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074
Global Organ Preservation Solutions Market: By Product Type - Viaspan, Custodial, Renograf, Hypothermosol, Perfadex & Lifor
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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Organ Preservation Solutions Market: By Product Type - Viaspan, Custodial, Renograf, Hypothermosol, Perfadex & Lifor" to its huge collection of research reports.In this report, the global Organ Preservation Solutions market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Organ Preservation Solutions in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Organ Preservation Solutions market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingDr. Franz K?hler ChemieTeva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.Lifeline ScientificBristol-Myers SquibbBioLife Solutions, Inc.XVIVO Perfusion ABToleroTech, IncCryoLife, Inc.Claris Lifesciences LimitedBioTime, Inc.21st Century MedicineOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoViaspanCustodialRenografHypothermosolPerfadexLiforHBS SolutionsiRNA Transplant SolutionsOthersTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @On the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate of Organ Preservation Solutions for each application, includingHypothermic Perfusion Preservation (HPP)Static Cold Storage (SCS)OthersTable of ContentsGlobal Organ Preservation Solutions Market Research Report 20171 Organ Preservation Solutions Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Organ Preservation Solutions1.2 Organ Preservation Solutions Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Organ Preservation Solutions Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Organ Preservation Solutions Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Viaspan1.2.4 Custodial2 Global Organ Preservation Solutions Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Organ Preservation Solutions Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Organ Preservation Solutions Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Organ Preservation Solutions Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Organ Preservation Solutions Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)Browse More Details @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 @
Automobile Alloy Wheels Market 2017- Revenue, Price and Gross Margin Research Report 2024
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SUMMARYWiseGuyReports published new report, titled Automobile Alloy Wheels Market Outlook.Market OverviewAutomobiles plays an important role in our day to day life, primarily being a functional tool people still takes pride in choosing alloy wheel over steel wheels as they have improve appearance as well as the performance. Automobile manufacturers also focus on providing their vehicles with alloy wheels as they are preferred by the customers owing to their looks and performance. Automobile alloy wheels market players continuously focusing on providing cut edge technology with performance driven products. Alloy wheels also increases the acceleration and breaking performance and also improve fuel economy as they are light weight and provide better heat conduction. Alloy wheels are generally used in passengers cars as the low commercial vehicle (LCVs) and high commercial vehicle (HCVs) majorly uses steel rims because they can bear heavy loads and have low maintenance cost. Growing automobile industry and rising trend of customization of vehicles majorly driven the growth of automobile alloy wheels market. Major alloy wheel manufacturers are adopting various business strategies such as merger & acquisitions to sustain the huge market competition in automotive sector. For instance, Superior Industries International Inc., the largest manufacturer of forged and cast wheels announced the acquisition of Germany based UNIWHEELS AG in March 2017.GET SAMPLE REPORT @Market Segmentation By Vehicle Typeo Passenger vehicles Four wheelers Two wheelerso Commercial Vehicles LCV (Light Commercial Vehicles) HCV (Heavy Commercial Vehicles) By Material Typeo Aluminumo Magnesiumo Carbon Fiber By End Userso OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer)o AftermarketGrowth Drivers and ChallengesGrowing numbers of vehicles on road and rapid urbanization bolstered the growth of global automobile alloy wheels market. In 2015, more than 72.0 million passenger cars were sold globally and 68.56 million cars were produced in the same year and these stats are estimated to reach 100 million units production of automobiles by 2020. Moreover, alloy wheel manufacturers are coming up with advanced and innovative alloy wheels to sustain and cater the huge market demand for innovative and performance allow wheels. For instance, Dymag a performance alloy wheel manufacturer introduced carbon composite car wheels which are 40% lighter than equivalent ORM aluminium alloy wheels of the same size. However, high cost and maintenance related to alloy wheels which are not affordable by the low income class in emerging economies also effects the growth adversely.Market Size and ForecastGlobal automobile alloy wheels market accounted for USD 16.7 billion in 2016 and the market is expected to reach USD 24.8 billion by the end of 2024. Further, the market is anticipated to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 5.8% over the forecast period i.e. 2016-2024.Geographically, North America accounted for the highest revenue share in global automobile alloy wheels market in 2016 with more than USD 4.5 billion revenue share. North America's aftermarket consist of significant share in alloy wheel market with more than 75% customers are car dealerships, 20% are auto body shops and 5% are tire dealers in aftermarket. North America is closely followed by the Europe with more than 22% share in global automobile alloy wheels market. Germany is the largest market for automobile alloy wheels with maximum consumption in German auto plants which are scattered throughout the country. German hosts largest concentration of the 47 OEM plants throughout Europe. Asia-Pacific region will show strong growth in automobile alloy wheels demand through 2024, which is projected to expand at a CAGR of 6.3% over the forecast period. Sales in the region will be driven by the growing automotive sector and rapid urbanization in developing countries such China and India.Key Market Players Borbeto Synopsiso Business Strategyo Product Portfolioo SWOT Analysis Uniwheels CM Wheels Alcoa Wheels CITIC Dicastal Maxion Accuride Steel Strips Wheels Enkei wheels Superior industries TSW Alloy Wheels Dymag Group Limited Foshan Nanhai Zhongnan Aluminum Wheel Co., Ltd.Market SegmentationGlobal automobile alloy wheels market is segmented as follows: By Vehicle Type (Market Size, Demand Analysis and Growth Analysis) By Material Type (Market Size, Demand Analysis and Growth Analysis) By End Users Type (Market Size, Demand Analysis and Growth Analysis)..CONTINUEDFor accessing accurate and deep understanding and to gain latest insights and key developments in the area of your interest, we also have a list of conferences in which you will be interested in, for more information, cordially checkFor updating knowledge or for thoroughly understanding various terminologies, we also have vast list of seminars for your reference, for more information cordially checkWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Introduction Of Global Polysilicon Market: By End User Types - PV Industry and Semiconductor Industry
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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Introduction Of Global Polysilicon Market: By End User Types - PV Industry and Semiconductor Industry" to its huge collection of research reports.Polycrystallion silicon, also known as polysilicon or poly-Si, polysilicon is the purest form of silicon and the second most abundant element available in nature. It is a material consisting of small silicon crystals which differs from single-crystal silicon, used for electronics and solar cells, and from amorphous silicon, used for thin film devices and solar cells. It is used as a feedstock material in most solar energy applications. Polysilicon can be segmented into three divisions by purity grade: Electronic Grade, Medium Grade, and Upgraded Metallurgical Grade. The market is divided into two segments by end user types: PV Industry and Semiconductor Industry.Since the earliest iterations, the design of photovoltaic cells has evolved to a great extent. Silicon, which is also used in the microelectronics industry, is the key raw material used in the manufacturing of PVs. The report covers the concerns over base and end market of polysilicon industry on a global level along with analysis of Chinese polysilicon imports.The key factors driving the growth of the polysilicon industry are solar cell market, semiconductor market and economic condition. Some of the noteworthy trends of this industry are decreasing production cost, decreasing polysilicon prices and strong growth of the solar PV market. However, the expansion of global polysilicon industry is hindered by rising industrial overcapacity, heavy capital requirement, Chinas anti-dumping policy and competition from substitutes.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The report Global Polysilicon Market provides an in-depth analysis of the production, demand and spot prices of the global polysilicon market with focus on its end markets. The major trends, growth drivers as well as issues being faced by the industry are being presented in this report. The major players in the industry, Wacker Chemie, GCL Poly Energy and REC Silicon ASA are being profiled.Table of Content1. Polysilicon Overview1.1 Applications of Polysilicon1.2 Manufacturing Process of Polysilicon1.3 Types of Polysilicon2. Photovoltaic Cells Overview2.1 Classification2.2 Manufacturing Process3. Polysilicon Market Analysis3.1 Global Market3.1.1 Global Polysilicon Market Demand by Watts3.1.2 Global Polysilicon Market Demand by Volume3.1.3 Global Polysilicon Market Demand by Application3.1.4 Global Polysilicon Market by Production3.1.5 Global Polysilicon Market by Utilization RateBrowse More Details @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 @
Value of Diabetes Devices and Drugs Market to Touch US$83.0 bn by 2019 thanks to growing diabetic population
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The global diabetes devices and drugs market will expand at a moderate CAGR of 5.90% during the forecast period from 2013 to 2019, according to a report from Transparency Market Research (TMR). This report is titled Diabetes Devices and Drugs Market - Global Industry Analysis, Pipeline Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2013 - 2019. In 2012, the global diabetes devices and drugs market was worth more than US$54.0 bn and by 2019, the market is projected to be worth US$83.0 bn.View Full Report:The global diabetes devices and drugs market is driven primarily by the expanding diabetic population around the world. In 2014, the global prevalence of diabetes was recorded to be 9% among adults of age 18 years and older, says the WHO. In addition to this, extensive R&D activities are resulting in turnaround changes in the global diabetes devices and drugs market. The global diabetes devices and drugs market will also benefit from the increasing technological innovation and the rising demand for self-monitoring and insulin delivery devices.Request to view Sample Report:However, there are certain hurdles that will suppress the growth of the market. These include: Unfavorable reimbursement policies, patent expiry, depleting profit margins, high diagnosis and treatment cost, and hard entry barriers discouraging new players from penetrating the market.By device type, the global diabetes devices and drugs market is divided into diabetes monitoring and diagnostic devices (continuous glucose monitoring devices, analog glucose meters, glucose test strips, lancets and lancing devices, and others) and insulin delivery devices (insulin injectors, insulin pumps, insulin pens, and insulin syringes). By 2019, the segment of test strips is projected to emerge as the leading segment. On the other hand, the segment of continuous glucose monitoring devices is expected to demonstrate the fastest growth during the forecasting horizon.Request to download and view full ToC:Therapy-wise, the global diabetes devices and drugs market is segmented into insulin, non-insulin injectable anti-diabetes drugs, and oral anti-diabetes drugs. Long-acting insulin derivatives held a share of 42.7% in the global diabetes devices and drugs market in 2012. Among oral anti-diabetes drugs, the SGLT-2 inhibitors segment will witness a remarkable CAGR of 76.80% during the forecast period.On the basis of geography, the global diabetes devices and drugs market is classified into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and Rest of the World (RoW). North America is leading the global diabetes devices and drugs market due to the growing diabetic population and rising demand for novel devices and high-quality drugs. Nevertheless, it is Asia Pacific that is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period. The Asia Pacific diabetic devices and drugs market will be driven by its rising diabetic population, growing awareness regarding self-monitoring of diabetes, elevated medical expenditure, and rising penetration of healthcare technology.Global Diabetes Devices and Drugs Market Report is available @ US$ 5795Players in the global diabetes devices and drugs market will benefit from the opportunity presented by the development of new formulations of insulin. Moreover, development of non-invasive diabetes diagnostic and drug delivery devices will offer new market leads. The most established players in the global diabetes devices and drugs market are Abbott Laboratories, B. Braun Melsungen, AstraZeneca, Bayer HealthCare, DexCom, and Eli Lilly and Company.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:
Latest Research Report On Migraine Market: Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast
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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Latest Research Report On Migraine Market: Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast" to its huge collection of research reports.Migraine is a common neurovascular disorder that is characterized by throbbing headaches and is commonly associated with other neurological symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and painful sensitivity to lights and sounds. Migraines are thought to result from the activation and sensitization of sensory neurons that have nerve endings in meningeal blood vessels. Migraines can be episodic or chronic. Chronic Migraine (CM) and Episodic Migraine (EM) are both part of the spectrum of migraine disorders, but are distinct clinical entities. The onset of migraine is preceded by certain triggers, which can be unique for each migraine sufferer.Triptans and Ergots are among the most common drug options existing in the treatment market for migraine. The global migraine treatment market currently faces several unmet needs and is saturated with the availability of generic drugs. Several branded drugs are under development with safer and more effective profiles, given the vast opportunities existing in the market. The focus of upcoming drugs is to either cure migraine or to reduce the frequency to a level where patients can find tolerable relief.The migraine market is expected to acquire modest growth driven by launch of new therapies and increasing rate of drug treatment due to increasing female population and rising awareness among physicians and patients. The major growth drivers of the migraine market includes rising spending on medicines, growing female population, increasing cigarette consumption and healthcare expenditure. However, the growth of the market will also remain challenged by complications associated with Triptans, treatment limitations for patients with CV (Cardio Vascular) risk and increased preference for OTC (Over the Counter) medications.The report, Global Migraine Market analyzes the currently prevailing condition of the market along with its future scope of development. The specific market of the U.S. is being discussed in the report. The major trends, growth drivers as well as issues being faced by the industry are being presented in this report. The major players in the industry are being profiled, along with their key financials and strategies for growth.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Table of Content1. Market Overview1.1 Introduction1.2 Types1.3 Causes and Pathogenesis1.4 Symptoms and Diagnosis1.5 Treatment Options2. Global Migraine Market2.1 Global Migraine Drug Market by Value2.2 Global Migraine Drug Market by Category2.3 Global Therapeutic Botulinum Toxin Market by Value2.4 Global Therapeutic Botulinum Toxin Market by Indication3. The U.S. Migraine Market3.1 The U.S. Total Migraine Population3.2 The U.S. Migraine Population by Diagnosis3.3 The U.S. Migraine Population with CV Risk Factors3.4 The U.S Preventive Migraine Treatment by Specialty3.5 The U.S. Acute Migraine Treated Population by Drug TypeBrowse More Details @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 @
Heres the problem with suggesting that upsetting speech warrants safe spaces, or otherwise conflating mere words with physical assault: If speech is violence, then violence becomes a justifiable response to speech.
Just ask college students. A fifth of undergrads now say its acceptable to use physical force to silence a speaker who makes offensive and hurtful statements.
Thats one finding from a disturbing new survey of students conducted by John Villasenor, a Brookings Institution senior fellow and University of California at Los Angeles professor.
In August, motivated by concerns about the narrowing window of permissible topics for discussion on campuses, Villasenor conducted a nationwide survey of 1,500 undergraduate students at four-year colleges. Financial support for the survey was provided by the Charles Koch Foundation, which Villasenor said had no involvement in designing, administering or analyzing the questionnaire; as of this writing, the foundation had also not seen his results.
Many of Villasenors questions were designed to gauge students understanding of the First Amendment. Colleges, after all, pay a lot of lip service to freedom of speech, despite high-profile examples of civil-liberty-squelching on campus. The survey suggests that this might not be due to hypocrisy so much as a misunderstanding of what the First Amendment actually entails.
For example, when students were asked whether the First Amendment protects hate speech, 4 in 10 said no. This is, of course, incorrect. Speech promoting hatred or at least, speech perceived as promoting hatred may be abhorrent, but it is nonetheless constitutionally protected.
There were no statistically significant differences in response to this question based on political affiliation. But there were significant differences by gender: Women are more likely than men to believe hate speech is not constitutionally protected (49 percent vs. 38 percent, respectively).
Students were asked whether the First Amendment requires that an offensive speaker at a public university be matched with one with an opposing view. Here, 6 in 10 (mistakenly) said that, yes, the First Amendment requires balance.
The most chilling findings, however, involved how students think repugnant speech should be dealt with.
Villasenor offered a hypothetical that may sound familiar to those who recall recent fracases at California State University at Los Angeles, Middlebury College, Claremont McKenna College and other institutions:
Lets say a public university hosts a very controversial speaker, one known for making offensive and hurtful statements. Would it be acceptable for a student group to disrupt the speech by loudly and repeatedly shouting so that the audience cannot hear the speaker?
Astonishingly, half said that snuffing out upsetting speech rather than, presumably, rebutting or even ignoring it would be appropriate. Democrats were more likely than Republicans to find this response acceptable (62 percent to 39 percent), and men were more likely than women (57 percent to 47 percent). Even so, sizable shares of all groups agreed.
It gets even worse.
Respondents were also asked if it would be acceptable for a student group to use violence to prevent that same controversial speaker from talking. Here, 19 percent said yes.
There were no statistically significant differences in response by political party affiliation. Men, however, were three times as likely as women to endorse using physical force to silence controversial views (30 percent of men vs. 10 percent of women).
None of this bodes well for the alt-rights Berkeley Free Speech Week events next week.
Judging from the lineup which includes professional troll Milo Yiannopoulos and Pizzagate conspiracy theorist Mike Cernovich the apparent goal of this event is not to help students face hard truths or grapple with thoughtful conservative viewpoints. Its to say disgusting things in an attempt to provoke liberals into doing something stupid, surrendering any claim to the moral high ground. If that happens, President Trumps both sides comments will ring a little truer, while liberals and colleges are further cemented as whataboutist bogeymen for the right.
In truth, lefties can do more to call out threats to civil liberties perpetrated by their ideological allies. And colleges can do more to promote freer debate. But many of Villasenors results like those from other data sources show that the right is also astonishingly open to shutting down speech.
Whats more, colleges alone are not to blame for these findings. Other data suggest that freshmen are arriving on campus with more intolerant attitudes toward free speech than their predecessors did, and that Americans of all ages have become strikingly hostile toward basic civil and political liberties.
Colleges provide a crucible for Americas increasingly strained attitudes toward free discourse. But they are just the canaries in the coal mine.
North And Latin America Water Pumps Market Revenues to Reach US$ 13.4 Bn During 2016-2024
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The demand for water pumps across North America and Latin America continues to grow in parallel with the growth in the regions population. More households emerging in countries such as the US, Canada, Brazil or Mexico will certainly require water pumps for domestic purposes. Concurrently, agricultural, administrative and industrial sector in these regions will also adopt such pumps to keep up with the surging demands of consumers. Water pumps being deployed in the residential sector of North America and Latin America are projected to grow as municipalities & county authorities from this region will strive to improve their drinking water facilitation and upgrade the wastewater treatment plants.View and Download TOC of North America & Latin Americas Water Pump Market Research Report @Nevertheless, a recent study developed by Persistence Market Research projects that revenues garnered from sales of water pumps across Latin America and North America will soar at a moderate CAGR of 4% over an eight-year forecast period. After amassing an estimated US$ 9,422.9 million revenues in 2016, the water pumps market in North America and Latin America is anticipated to reach a valuation of US$ 13,412 .8 million by the end of 2024.Request and Download Sample Report @In the report, titled Water Pumps Market: North & Latin America Industry Analysis and Forecast, 2016-2024, Persistence Market Research predicts that more than 90% of water pump revenues in Latin America and North America will be accounted by sales of centrifugal pumps. While over 936 thousand units of positive displacement pumps are estimated to be sold in the Americas during the forecast period, sales of centrifugal pumps will be raking in revenues worth over US$ 12 billion by the end of 2024. In 2016, centrifugal pumps worth nearly US$ 3 billion were estimated to be consumed by wastewater and water treatment plants across North America and Latin America. Oil and gas industries in this region have been predicted to have consumed over 200 thousand units of positive displacement pumps in 2016.Buy Full Cutting Equipment Market Report @About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, 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.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology Market Advancements to Watch Out For 2022
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Orbis Research delivers key insights on the Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology market in a new report titled 2017 Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology Industry Depth Research Report. In this report, Orbis Research sheds light on the various factors and trends impacting market growth over the forecast period (2017 2022).DescriptionThe Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology Market report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology industry. This report evaluates the Global market for " Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology".The Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology Market report provides complete analysis of the Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology Market by analysing all round market dynamics such as regional market opportunities, drivers, challenges, constraints, threats, and other market trends.The Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology Market report contains latest Business Data resulting from various Research sources that helps Decision Makers to deliver a Distinctive and Trustworthy Analysis for Companys Growth.The Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology Market Survey starts with Industry overview of Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology Market covering Major Regions Status, Industry Chain Structure, Definitions and Specifications, with a detailed focus on Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis including Raw Material Suppliers, Equipment Suppliers and Manufacturing Process.In Next Part, the researchers has collected and presented information on Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis which comprises of Capacity and Commercial Production Date, Manufacturing Plants Distribution, R&D Status and Technology Source of Major Manufacturers in 2017.In following segment, with Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin, Business Region Distribution Analysis, Competition between various Company Profile has been given along with Product Pictures and Specifications in Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology Industry Report.Get a PDF Sample of Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology Market report at:The Key Players Mentioned in Global Speech and Voice RecognitionTechnology Market Report are: Nuance Communications, Inc. Microsoft Corporation Alphabet Inc. Cantab Research Limited Sensory, Inc. ReadSpeaker Holding B.V. Pareteum Corporation Iflytek Co., Ltd. VoiceVault Inc. VoiceBox Technologies Corp. LumenVox, LLC Acapela Group SA BioTrustMarket Analysis by Regions: North America Europe China Japan OthersMarket Anaysis by Types: Dependent Speech Recognition Independent Speech Recognition Multiplayer Speech RecognitionMarket Analysis by Applications: Automotive Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance Retail Education OthersThe Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology Industry Report is also a Great Source of Marketing Type Analysis consisting:1. Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology Regional Marketing Type Analysis2. Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology International Trade Type Analysis3. Traders or Distributors with Contact Information of Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology by Regions4. Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology Supply Chain AnalysisMajor Points from Table of Contents:1 Speech and Voice Recognition Technology Market Overview2 Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology Competition by Players3 Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology Competition by Types4 Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology Competition by Application5 Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology Production Market Analysis by Region6 Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology Sales Market Analysis by Region7 Imports and Exports Market Analysis8 Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology Players Profiles and Sales Data9 Speech and Voice Recognition Technology Upstream and Downstream Analysis10 Global Speech and Voice Recognition Technology Market Forecast (2017-2022)11 Research Findings and ConclusionFor Any Query, before Purchasing Report Click Here:Lastly, the Report provides Development Trend Analysis for 2017-2022 years which will forecast Market Size (Volume and Value), Sales Price, Consumption Forecast, Market Trend (Product Type) and Market Trend (Application). Also the List of Major Consumers is analyzed and Contact Details are provided to easy communicating.Finally, the Report is concluded with Various Methodology, Analyst Introduction and Data SourcesOrbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Hector CostelloSenior Manager Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas 75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +9164101019Follow Us on LinkedIn:
Value of Global Cell Separation Technologies Market to touch US$3.3 bn by 2019 thanks to growing patient pool worldwide
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The escalating demand for cell therapy resulting from a rise in the incidence of various chronic diseases will spur growth in the global cell separation technologies market, says Transparency Market Research in a latest study. According to the report, titled, Cell Separation Technologies Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 - 2019, the market will exhibit at a 9.7% CAGR between 2013 and 2019 as it rises from its 2012 valuation of US$1.7 bn to US$3.3 bn by 2019.View Full Report:Governments the world over have spotted the immense revenue-generation capabilities of inviting investments in the biotechnology sector, prompting the expansion of this industry. Such initiatives will also prove conducive to the growth and development of the global cell separation technologies market, predicts TMR. Rapid progress is also being observed in cell separation techniques, making the entire process faster and more efficient. This factor will play a pivotal role in the overall growth of the global cell separation technologies market, too. The growing patient pool worldwide only underscores the need for such technologies.Request to download and view full ToC:A key opportunity that TMR analysts identify in the market is the need for high-purity-yield solutions that shorten turnaround time and simplify the cell separation process while keeping costs in check. Companies developing products keeping this unmet demand at the centre will be able to monetize this opportunity, says a senior TMR analyst.The report segments the global cell separation technologies market on the basis of technology, application, and geography.Based on the technology employed, the market is segmented into gradient centrifugation and surface-marker based separation. The latter is further segmented into magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). MACS represented the dominant technology segment, accounting for a sizeable 42.5% of the market (by technology) in 2012. The coming years will see the market share of FACS rise substantially thanks to the technology being increasingly used for research focusing on solutions with high-purity yields.Request to view Sample Report:Likewise, the market, by application, is divided into: cancer research, stem cell research, immunology, and neuroscience research. Of these, cell separation technologies in stem cell research formed the largest segment in 2012 because of the intense focus on the use of stem cells to treat a variety of conditions and diseases.On the basis of geography, the following regional markets have been studied in the report on the cell separation technologies market: Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. The report states that in 2012, North America was the largest regional market for cell separation technologies thanks chiefly to well-developed infrastructure supporting the market here. Moreover, generous funding for R&D related to cell separation technologies and the United States being a first mover in adopting new technologies have all shaped the dominant ranking of the cell separation technologies market in North America.Global Cell Separation Technologies Market Report is available @ US$ 5795The companies profiled in the report include: Life Technologies Corporation, BD Biosciences, Miltenyi Biotec GmbH, Merck Millipore, Terumo BCT, Inc., pluriSelect GmbH, and STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.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:
Global Generator Control Unit Market 2017 : Deif, Beckwith, Smartgen, Jenoptik
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Market Research Explore : The report 2017 Global Generator Control Unit Market mainly highlights thoughtful facts and intelligence of Generator Control Unit market in conjunction with prevailing and future market trends throughout the forecast period from 2017 to 2022. It additionally executes the great study of price, current geographical zones, technology, demand-supply and therefore the consequences it might wear the market growth of Generator Control Unit trade.Do Enquiry concerning this analysis Report :In an electric power system, Generator Control Unit is a system for adjusting the power output of multiple generators at different power plants, in response to changes in the load. Since a power grid requires that generation and load closely balance moment by moment, frequent adjustments to the output of generators are necessary. The balance can be judged by measuring the system frequency; if it is increasing, more power is being generated than used, which causes all the machines in the system to accelerate. If the system frequency is decreasing, more load is on the system than the instantaneous generation can provide, which causes all generators to slow down.The graph of Generator Control Unit trade can show increase rate among next 5 years which can, in turn, cause the conclusive outlook of future for varied promoting players considering the profit chain of Generator Control Unit market. The report additionally performs in-depth analysis and appraisal of Generator Control Unit industry that may embellish shoppers to possess a substantial share within the Generator Control Unit market.Generator Control Unit market analysis based on leading market players:GEComapDSEKohlerEmersonAvionic InstrumentsDeifBeckwithSmartgenJenoptikHCTLamar TechnologiesDongguan Tuan ChengThe report wraps major countries concerned in Generator Control Unit market. It additionally imparts effective study on varied sections of Generator Control Unit market like opportunities and market arrangement of high leading players.The global Generator Control Unit market is well- organized consistent with leading players/manufacturers, geographical zones, applications and merchandise varieties. Thorough analysis for every class is provided within the report in conjunction with its forecast amount and market volume. Analyzing every category helps investors to realize data regarding the actual marketplace for a specific space.The report highlights the efforts taken by survey team to investigate separate varied system accommodations, vendors, dealers and business associates can get benefitted with this report.Access Full Report with TOC at :The report additionally covers profiles of the key Generator Control Unit vendors within the international market together with their monetary survey, market winning ways, new developments and merchandise offerings within the global Generator Control Unit market.Hence, this report can useful for Generator Control Unit vendors, system integrators, and connected business partners to acknowledge key investment regions and outline their ways.About Us :MR Explore provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of MR Explore cover more than 30 industries including energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Contact Us :Enid SteelEmail : sales@marketresearchexplore.comUnited States
Trends in Impregnated Paper Market Detailed in New Research Report
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Impregnated paper is a sheet with excellent water absorbing and liquid retaining properties. It is made from wooden pulp and natural cotton linter. Materials such as plastic or latex are used to percolate the paper rather than coating it to increase its tearing resistance, wet strength, and oil resistance. Impregnated paper is a solid color paper or printed paper pressed at high temperature and pressure. Saturation paper is used to manufacture impregnated paper. The sheet of impregnated paper is made of several layers; the outside layer that receives the coloring matter is made of fine grain fiber, which increases the density of the paper. The outer layer is comparatively less permeable than the inner layer.Based on the type of resin, the impregnated paper market can be segmented into phenol, melamine, and urea. In terms of application, the impregnated paper market can be divided into furniture manufacturing and interior design. Based on end-use, the impregnated paper market can be segregated into industrial, commercial, and residential. The melamine segment is expected to experience immense growth in the next few years owing to the unique properties of the paper. Melamine forms a hard composite with the paper and also imparts properties such as flame resistance to the impregnated paper. The urea segment is anticipated to account for wide share of the impregnated paper market in the near future, owing to its least toxic nature compared to the other types of resins used in the manufacture of impregnated paper.View TOC for this Market Report @The global impregnated paper market has been expanding, as countries have been focusing on investing significantly in new construction projects. Asia Pacific is projected to be an attractive market for impregnated paper market due to the growth in infrastructure development and constant investments by government and private firms in new building projects in countries such as China and India. The need for furniture and interior design in new buildings in Asia Pacific is likely to rise during the forecast period due to the expansion in the construction sector. This, in turn, is anticipated to fuel the demand for impregnated paper in the next few years. The construction sector in Middle East & Africa and Latin America has been expanding at a rapid pace since the last few years owing to the ongoing new construction projects.Furthermore, North America and Europe are likely to provide significant opportunities for the impregnated paper market due to the increasing demand for furniture and interior design. Growth in the construction sector in Europe has been sluggish as compared to that in other regions. However, rise in requirement of new furniture and increase in usage of interior design in hotels, malls, and shopping complexes along with residential purposes are likely to boost the demand for impregnated paper during the forecast period. Unavailability of raw materials required for the manufacture of impregnated paper and fluctuation in the prices of raw materials can hamper market growth. Availability of alternatives is the primary restraint of the market. Implementation of stringent government regulations on the usage of harmful toxic chemicals for the production of impregnated paper can hamper market growth.Fill the form to gain deeper insights on this market @Major players operating in the impregnated paper market include Starwood, Dekodur GmbH, impress surfaces GmbH, and Awa Paper Mfg. Co., Ltd.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 Vanadium Carbide Powder Market 2017 - Pacific Particulate Materials, H.C. Starck
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Global Vanadium Carbide Powder Market 2017 Research Report presents a professional and deep analysis on the present state of Vanadium Carbide Powder Market 2017 in Chemicals and Materials Industry. High Use of Vanadium Carbide Powder in Chemicals and Materials Industry Driving the Market Growth of Vanadium Carbide Powder. Vanadium Carbide Powder Market 2017 by Type (), Power Rating, Application (), and Region - Global Forecast to 2022.In the first part, Vanadium Carbide Powder Market study deals with the comprehensive overview of the Vanadium Carbide Powder market, which consists of definitions, a wide range of applications (), classifications and a complete Vanadium Carbide Powder industry chain structure. The global Vanadium Carbide Powder market analysis further consists of a competitive landscape of Vanadium Carbide Powder market, Vanadium Carbide Powder market development history and major development trends presented by Vanadium Carbide Powder market.Request for Sample Report Click Here:* Leading Manufacturers Analysis in Global Vanadium Carbide Powder Market 2017: Pacific Particulate Materials, H.C. Starck, Ted Pella and Reade Advanced Materials* Vanadium Carbide Powder Market: Type Segment Analysis:* Vanadium Carbide Powder Market: Applications Segment Analysis:The global Vanadium Carbide Powder market is expected to reach $ XX million by 2022.As the report progresses further, it explains development plans and policies, manufacturing processes, cost structures of Vanadium Carbide Powder market as well as the leading players. It also focuses on the details like company profile, product images, supply chain relationship, import/export details of Vanadium Carbide Powder Market, market statistics of Vanadium Carbide Powder Market, upcoming development plans, Vanadium Carbide Powder Market gains, Contact details, Consumption ratio.In addition to this, the Vanadium Carbide Powder Market report also covers gross margin by regions i. e. (US, EU, China and Japan)- Vanadium Carbide Powder market. Other regions can be added efficiently.Lastly, Vanadium Carbide Powder Market report includes an in-depth analysis of sub-segments, market dynamics, feasibility study, key strategies used by leading players, market share study and growth prospects of the industry. The Vanadium Carbide Powder Report also evaluates the growth established by the market during the forecast period and research conclusions are offered.Explore More About Report Here:Thus, Vanadium Carbide Powder Market Report 2017 serves as a valuable material for all industry competitors and individuals having a keen interest in Vanadium Carbide Powder Market study.Key Highlights of the Vanadium Carbide Powder Market:> A Clear understanding of the Vanadium Carbide Powder market based on growth, constraints, opportunities, feasibility study.> Concise Vanadium Carbide Powder Market study based on major geographical regions.> Analysis of improving business sections as well as a comprehensive study of existing Vanadium Carbide Powder market segments.For Any Kind of Query Visit Here:Market.Biz is designed to provide the best and most penetrating research required to all commercial, industrial and profit-making ventures in any sector of online business. We take pride in our ability to satisfy the market research needs of both domestic and international businesses.James JohnsonS no. 51/14 First Floor, Office Number 4, Vishwa Arcade, Near Navale Lawns, Pune, Maharashtra, India 411041Maharashtra, IndiaTel: +1(857)2390696Web:Email: inquiry@market.bizBrowse Market Research Reports-Latest Reports-
Global Vehicle System Basis Chip Market 2017 - Melexis, Robert Bosch, Microchip Technology
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Global Vehicle System Basis Chip Market 2017 Research Report presents a professional and deep analysis on the present state of Vehicle System Basis Chip Market 2017 in Automotive Industry. High Use of Vehicle System Basis Chip in Automotive Industry Driving the Market Growth of Vehicle System Basis Chip. Vehicle System Basis Chip Market 2017 by Type, Power Rating, Application, and Region - Global Forecast to 2022.In the first part, Vehicle System Basis Chip Market study deals with the comprehensive overview of the Vehicle System Basis Chip market, which consists of definitions, a wide range of applications, classifications and a complete Vehicle System Basis Chip industry chain structure. The global Vehicle System Basis Chip market analysis further consists of a competitive landscape of Vehicle System Basis Chip market, Vehicle System Basis Chip market development history and major development trends presented by Vehicle System Basis Chip market.Request for Sample Report Click Here:* Leading Manufacturers Analysis in Global Vehicle System Basis Chip Market 2017: Stmicroelectronics, Melexis, Robert Bosch, Microchip Technology, on Semiconductor Corp, NXP, Infineon, Atmel Corporation, Elmos Semicondustor AG and Texas Instruments* Vehicle System Basis Chip Market: Type Segment Analysis:* Vehicle System Basis Chip Market: Applications Segment Analysis:The global Vehicle System Basis Chip market is expected to reach $ XX million by 2022.As the report progresses further, it explains development plans and policies, manufacturing processes, cost structures of Vehicle System Basis Chip market as well as the leading players. It also focuses on the details like company profile, product images, supply chain relationship, import/export details of Vehicle System Basis Chip Market, market statistics of Vehicle System Basis Chip Market, upcoming development plans, Vehicle System Basis Chip Market gains, Contact details, Consumption ratio.In addition to this, the Vehicle System Basis Chip Market report also covers gross margin by regions i. e. (US, EU, China and Japan)- Vehicle System Basis Chip market. Other regions can be added efficiently.Lastly, Vehicle System Basis Chip Market report includes an in-depth analysis of sub-segments, market dynamics, feasibility study, key strategies used by leading players, market share study and growth prospects of the industry. The Vehicle System Basis Chip Report also evaluates the growth established by the market during the forecast period and research conclusions are offered.Explore More About Report Here:Thus, Vehicle System Basis Chip Market Report 2017 serves as a valuable material for all industry competitors and individuals having a keen interest in Vehicle System Basis Chip Market study.Key Highlights of the Vehicle System Basis Chip Market:> A Clear understanding of the Vehicle System Basis Chip market based on growth, constraints, opportunities, feasibility study.> Concise Vehicle System Basis Chip Market study based on major geographical regions.> Analysis of improving business sections as well as a comprehensive study of existing Vehicle System Basis Chip market segments.For Any Kind of Query Visit Here:Market.Biz is designed to provide the best and most penetrating research required to all commercial, industrial and profit-making ventures in any sector of online business. We take pride in our ability to satisfy the market research needs of both domestic and international businesses.James JohnsonS no. 51/14 First Floor, Office Number 4, Vishwa Arcade, Near Navale Lawns, Pune, Maharashtra, India 411041Maharashtra, IndiaTel: +1(857)2390696Web:Email: inquiry@market.bizBrowse Market Research Reports-Latest Reports-
Esophageal Dilation Balloon Market Segment by Applications, Manufacturers, Regions and Forecast to 2022
Esophageal Dilation Balloon Market 2017
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WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On - Esophageal Dilation Balloon Market Segment by Applications, Manufacturers, Regions and Forecast to 2022.This report studies the Esophageal Dilation Balloon market status and outlook of global and United States, from angles of players, regions, product types and end industries; this report analyzes the top players in global and United States market, and splits the Esophageal Dilation Balloon market by product type and applications/end industries.Get a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comNorth America, especially The United States, will still play an important role which cannot be ignored. Any changes from United States might affect the development trend of Esophageal Dilation Balloon.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key regions, with sales, revenue, market share (%) and growth Rate (%) of Esophageal Dilation Balloon in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificSouth AmericaMiddle East and AfricaThe major players in global and United States Esophageal Dilation Balloon market, including Boston Scientific, Olympus, Cook Medical, Telemed Systems, Bard Medical, Crospon, MFI Medical Equipment, Medline Industries, GE Healthcare, Company ten, Fiagon, BrainlabThe On the basis of product, the Esophageal Dilation Balloon market is primarily split intoAir BalloonWater BalloonOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report coversCongenital Esophageal StenosisSecondary Esophageal StenosisOtherAsk Query @Table Of Contents Major Key Points2017-2022 Esophageal Dilation Balloon Report on Global and United States Market, Status and Forecast, by Players, Types and Applications1 Methodology and Data Source1.1 Methodology/Research Approach1.1.1 Research Programs/Design1.1.2 Market Size Estimation1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation1.2 Data Source2.1.1 Secondary Sources2.1.2 Primary Sources1.3 Disclaimer2 Esophageal Dilation Balloon Market Overview2.1 Esophageal Dilation Balloon Product Overview2.2 Esophageal Dilation Balloon Market Segment by Type2.2.1 Air Balloon2.2.2 Water Balloon2.3 Global Esophageal Dilation Balloon Product Segment by Type2.3.1 Global Esophageal Dilation Balloon Sales (K Units) and Growth (%) by Types (2012, 2016 and 2022)2.3.2 Global Esophageal Dilation Balloon Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)2.3.3 Global Esophageal Dilation Balloon Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)2.3.4 Global Esophageal Dilation Balloon Price (USD/Unit) by Type (2012-2017)2.4 United States Esophageal Dilation Balloon Product Segment by Type2.4.1 United States Esophageal Dilation Balloon Sales (K Units) and Growth by Types (2012, 2016 and 2022)2.4.2 United States Esophageal Dilation Balloon Sales (K Units) and Market Share by Types (2012-2017)2.4.3 United States Esophageal Dilation Balloon Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share by Types (2012-2017)2.4.4 United States Esophageal Dilation Balloon Price (USD/Unit) by Type (2012-2017)..7 Esophageal Dilation Balloon Players/Manufacturers Profiles and Sales Data7.1 Boston Scientific7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.1.2 Esophageal Dilation Balloon Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Boston Scientific Esophageal Dilation Balloon Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Olympus7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.2.2 Esophageal Dilation Balloon Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Olympus Esophageal Dilation Balloon Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Cook Medical7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.3.2 Esophageal Dilation Balloon Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Cook Medical Esophageal Dilation Balloon Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Telemed Systems7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.4.2 Esophageal Dilation Balloon Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Telemed Systems Esophageal Dilation Balloon Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Bard Medical7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.5.2 Esophageal Dilation Balloon Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 Bard Medical Esophageal Dilation Balloon Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Crospon7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.6.2 Esophageal Dilation Balloon Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Crospon Esophageal Dilation Balloon Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 MFI Medical Equipment7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.7.2 Esophageal Dilation Balloon Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 MFI Medical Equipment Esophageal Dilation Balloon Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 Medline Industries7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.8.2 Esophageal Dilation Balloon Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 Medline Industries Esophageal Dilation Balloon Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.8.4 Main Business/Business OverviewContinue.For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comBuy 1-User PDF@ABOUT US: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.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028.
Global LED Light Bulb Market In Japan, 2017 To 2022: By Power - 10w, 20w, 30w & Other
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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global LED Light Bulb Market In Japan, 2017 To 2022: By Power - 10w, 20w, 30w & Other" to its huge collection of research reports.The global LED Light Bulb market is valued at XX million USD in 2016 and is expected to reach XX million USD by the end of 2017, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Japan plays an important role in global market, with market size of xx million USD in 2016 and will be xx million USD in 2017, with a CAGR of xx%.This report, with focus on top players in the global and Japan, studies the LED Light Bulb market's development status and future trend in the global and Japan. It splits LED Light Bulb market by type and by applications to fully and deeply research and reveal market profile and prospect.The major players includeEatonCreePanasonicToshibaSharpYankon LightingOppleHubbellZumtobel GroupNVC (ETI)NichiaFSLTCPHavellsMitsubishiMLSOsramPhilipsGE LightingAcuity BrandsGeographically, this report splits the Global market into the following regions:Asia PacificJapanTokyoYokohamaOsakaNagoyaOthersChinaKoreaIndiaOthersEuropeFranceGermanyUnited KingdomItalyRussiaTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @On the basis of product, the LED Light Bulb market is primarily split intoBy Power10w20w30wOtherBy Light SourcePower SupplySolar EnergyKey ApplicationsCervical Cancer ScreeningVaginal Cancer ScreeningTable of Contents2017-2022 Global and Japan LED Light Bulb Market Analysis Report1 LED Light Bulb Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of LED Light Bulb1.2 Global and Japan LED Light Bulb Market by Applications/End Users1.2.1 Japan LED Light Bulb Sales (K Pcs) and Market Share Comparison by Applications (2012-2017)1.2.1.1 Japan LED Light Bulb Sales (K Pcs) and Market Share by Applications (2012-2017)1.2.1.2 Japan LED Light Bulb Sales Growth Rate (%) by Applications (2012-2017)Browse More Details @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 @
Life Science Reagents Market | Technological Advancements, Evolving Industry Trends and Insights 2019
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A new Transparency Market Research report states that the Global Life Science Reagents Market was valued at US$12.4 bn in 2012 and is expected to reach US$25.7 bn by 2019. It is expected to expand at a healthy CAGR of 10.80% from 2013 to 2019. The title of the report is Life Science Reagents Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 2019.According to the report, the global life science reagents market is stimulated by factors such as technological advancements and growing applications of biosciences and biotechnology within the pharmaceuticals and healthcare fields. In addition, the rising prevalence of a number of diseases, along with increasing mortality rates, is also boosting the demand for life science reagents. Furthermore, the rising activities of research and development (R&D) within the field of pharmaceuticals and the increasing initiatives taken by governments in various nations are also augmenting the market for life science reagents. On the other hand, factors such as the soaring requirement of capital investment, absence of skilled labor, and big patent repositories having few market participants may impede the growth of the market in forthcoming years.Request to download brochure and view full ToC -In terms of product type, the life science reagents market is segmented into cell and tissue reagents, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) reagent kits, electrophoresis reagents, flow cytometry reagents, chromatography reagents, electrophoresis reagents, in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) reagents, and others including mass spectroscopy, gene expression reagents, and transfection reagents. Amongst these, the segment of chromatography reagents is the most extensively utilized reagent product type and hold the largest share in the market. The key factor responsible for the dominance of this segment is the broad utilization of chromatography within each and every aspect of product development and research related to biotechnology. In terms of end use, the market is segmented into research and academic institutions, commercial and contract manufacturers, forensic laboratories, and clinical laboratories. Amongst these, the segment of research and academic institutions is the largest life science reagents consumer.Request to view Sample Report -On the basis of geography, the market is segmented into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW). Amongst these, North America leads the market and is trailed by Europe. On the other hand, Asia Pacific is predicted to exhibit the greatest growth rate in the forecast period due to factors including rising activities of research and development, supportive government policies, and the presence of skilled workers at low labor cost. On the other hand, within RoW, countries such as Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina have been attracting investments from other countries for fuelling the domestic industry for biotechnology, hence boosting the life science reagents market in the region.Abbott Laboratories, Life Technologies, Bio-Rad, and Sigma-Aldrich, among others, are the prime players operating in the market for life science reagents, as stated in the report.Life Science Reagents Market Report is available @ US$ 5795About 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:
A 31-year-old Tomah man was referred to the Monroe County District Attorney on multiple charges after a Sept. 7 incident.
Police were called to a Veterans Street residence, where Scott Bauer had allegedly punched a wall. When police arrived, a witness said a person had confronted Bauer about some missing CDs and that Bauer got upset and threatened other residents in the unit with physical violence.
Police went to Bauers room and found it locked. They talked to Bauer through the door, but Bauer reportedly refused to unlock it. A supervisor provided police with a key, and when police entered the room, Bauer was lying on a bed under a blanket. He reportedly refused an order to stand and told officers to leave him alone.
The report says police attempted to pull Bauer from the bed and that he tensed up, attempted to pull away and grabbed the bed with his left hand. He finally complied when police pulled a Taser, according to the report.
Bauer was referred for criminal damage to property (less than $4,000), resisting an officer and disorderly conduct. He has a bond condition that prohibits acts of violence, which triggered a bail jumping referral.
In other Tomah Police Department news:
Steven James Hessil, 28, was referred to the district attorney for second-offense drunk driving after a Sept. 7 traffic stop.
An officer was patrolling downtown Tomah when he observed a car leave a parking space on West Juneau Street shortly before 2 a.m. without activating its headlights. The vehicles headlights were activated a block later, and police continued to follow the vehicle after it turned northward on Butts Avenue, where it reportedly traveled 34 mph in a 25 mph zone. The report said the vehicle drifted into the parking area on the side of the road before the officer initiated the traffic stop.
The driver, identified as Hessil, told police he hadnt consumed any alcoholic beverages but that some drinks were spilled on him. The report says a strong odor of intoxicants was coming from the vehicle. He later acknowledged consuming several tall beers, according to the report.
The report says Hessil initially refused a field sobriety test but later agreed. He reportedly failed a field sobriety test, and a preliminary breath test registered a blood-alcohol count of .27, more than three times the legal limit of .08.
David Albert Bayer, 61, Tomah, was referred to the district attorney for bail jumping in two separate incidents. He is accused of violating a no-contact order Sept. 6 and violating a bond condition that prohibits him from consuming alcohol Sept. 11. A preliminary breath test administered Sept. 11 registered a blood-alcohol count of .14.
Alexander Riley Sagler, 20, Tomah, was referred to the district attorney for carrying a concealed weapon after a Sept. 6 traffic stop.
Police initiated the stop after determining that a vehicle exiting the Kwik Trip North parking lot was registered to Sagler, who had a suspended drivers license and expired registration. Police stopped the vehicle a short time later and asked Alexander if there any weapons, alcohol or drugs in the vehicle. The report says Alexander acknowledged there was a pistol concealed in the vehicles glove box.
Dispatch confirmed Alexander didnt have a concealed carry permit, and the police confiscated the weapon.
Jeffery R. Bansemer, 62, Tomah, was referred to the district attorney for disorderly conduct after a Sept. 5 incident.
Police were called to Walmart, where Bansemer reportedly approached a woman and made a comment about her vehicles bumper sticker. The woman said Bansemer screamed at her, called her a communist, bitch and whore and said she should leave America. She also said Bansemer took photos of her and said he would send the pictures to his lawyer.
A witness confirmed the womans account, according to the report.
Police located Bansemer, who admitted he called the woman a communist but said he wasnt serious. He said the woman flipped and screamed that she was being attacked.
Bansemer has a bond condition which prohibits him from committing crimes, which triggered a bail jumping referral.
Brandon Alan Page, 30, Tomah, was referred to the district attorney for bail jumping. He is accused of violating a bond condition that prohibits him from consuming alcohol. A preliminary breath test registered a blood-alcohol count of .116.
Edward Walter Bobnar, 33, West Salem, was referred to the district attorney for retail theft after alleged multiple shoplifting incidents at Walmart.
Police were called to Walmart Sept. 11 after Walmart reported that Bobnar walked from the store without paying for a cell phone and a bottle of Jim Beam. Bobnar was later identified by police at a nearby Kwik Trip and arrested.
Walmart personnel told police that video surveillance showed Bobnar stealing items Sept. 5 and Sept. 7. Items stolen reportedly included beef jerky and an energy drink.
Dawn Meachelle Atkinson, 48, Tomah, was referred to the district attorney for disorderly conduct after a Sept. 11 incident.
Police were called to a Grandview Avenue apartment, where a witness said Atkinson was intoxicated and refused to leave. A man said Atkinson had asked to come inside his residence and then unleashed a profane tirade.
Atkinson, who registered a blood-alcohol count of .212, said she confronted the man because she believed he had stolen money from one of her friends. During transport to the Monroe County Jail, she reportedly said she would return to the mans apartment and that he was fortunate she didnt punch him in the throat.
Dena M. Iacono, 27, Onalaska, was referred to the district attorney for possession of methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. She was arrested in connection with a drug bust that occurred late last month.
Nitrogen Market Growth to be Benefited by Technological Advancements
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Nitrogen is an odorless, colorless chemical element which is a source of raw material in various important industrial compounds such as nitric acid, ammonia, and cyanides. It occurs in majority of the organisms, primarily amino acids such as proteins, and nucleic acids (RNA and DNA). Nitrogen is widely used as fertilizers where synthetically manufactured nitrates and ammonia are some of the vital industrial fertilizers used in the agrochemical industry. Other than fertilizers, nitrogen compounds are versatile organics used in industrial applications, developing Kevlar fabric and pharmaceutical drugs such as antibiotics.A sample of this report is available upon request @The global market for nitrogen has been witnessing noticeable growth mostly due to the development of the fertilizer industry. Moreover, long term leases of ammonia vessels at fixed prices have enabled large scale companies to manage transportation costs thereby providing economical delivery to the consumers in developed as well as developing regions. These companies also own manufacturing facilities as well as major supply contracts with certain region emerging economies such as China thereby gaining flexibility and logistics strength for the imports.Growing demand for fertilizers on account of increasing food grain production is anticipated to boost the demand for nitrogen over the forecast period. However, increasing health and environmental concern regarding the ill effects of nitrogen based chemical fertilizers are expected to slow down the growth of the market. Increasing focus towards developing bio based agrochemicals such as nitrogen fixation biofertilizers are anticipated to provide new opportunities for the growth of the market. North America remained the largest consumer for nitrogen. However, Asia Pacific is expected to lead the market over the forecast period on account of increasing use of agrochemicals and rising industrial activities in emerging economies such as China and India.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Agrium Inc., PotashCorp, ICL Fertilizers, K+S AG, Sinofert, Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile(SQM), andThe Mosaic Company among others are some of the major manufacturers of nitrogen dominating the market.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Chromatography Systems Market | Technological Advancements, Evolving Industry Trends and Insights 2019
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Transparency Market Research states in its latest report that technological advancement and increase in R&D efforts have driven the global market for chromatography systems. The report, titled Chromatography Systems Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013-2019, states that at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2013 to 2019, the chromatography systems market is projected to grow from US$6,982.3 million in 2012 to US$10,364.2 million in 2019. The research report segments the global chromatography systems market on the basis of type, end user, and geography.By type, the chromatography systems market can be categorized into liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, and others. Liquid chromatography is sub-segmented into low pressure liquid chromatography (LPLC), high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), and ultra high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC). The others category comprises supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC), thin layer chromatography (TLC), affinity chromatography (AC), ion exchange chromatography (IEC), and column chromatography.Request to download brochure and view full ToC -The segment of HPLC held the largest share of the liquid chromatography market in 2012. HPLC is widely used in applications concerning petrochemical, life science, and biopharmaceutical industries. This, combined with advancement in technology is likely to push the HPLC segment to over US$3 billion by 2019. UHPLC, on the other hand, is projected to be the fastest growing sub-segment in the liquid chromatography market, registering a CAGR of more than 7% in the forecast period.Chromatography systems find application in agriculture and food industries, hospitals and research laboratories, and biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Apart from this, chromatography systems are also used in environmental agencies, cosmetic industries, and nutraceutical companies. The growing demand for chromatography systems for protein purification and surge in research and development activities has propelled the chromatography systems market in biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical industries. The value of this segment was pegged at over US$2 billion in 2012.Request to view Sample Report -Geographically, North America dominated the global chromatography systems market in 2012, accounting for a share of more than 35% in the overall market. The persistent efforts of organizations such as The Chromatographic Society (ChromSoc) and the Chinese American Chromatography Association are forecast to boost the chromatography systems market in the region over the next few years. Europe held a 30% share in the global market in 2012 thanks to the introduction of new technologies by local players. Asia Pacific, on the other hand, is likely to be the fastest developing chromatography systems market by 2019.The chromatography systems market, by nature, is immensely fragmented with no single company enjoying the lead. There are, however, numerous prominent players operating in the chromatography systems market. These include Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Waters Corporation, Regis Technologies, Inc., Jasco, Inc., Agilent Technologies, Inc., Illumina, Inc., PerkinElmer, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., KONIK-TECH KONIXBERT HI-TECH S.A., GE Healthcare, Siemens AG, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Shimadzu Corporation, Affymetrix, Inc., and Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC. Vendors have been focusing on developing innovative and cost-effective chromatography systems in order to increase their customer base and to gain a larger share of the global market.Chromatography Systems Market Report is available @ US$ 5795About 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:
Stearic Acid Market to See 4.42% CAGR Growth to 2021: Growth Factor & Trends
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Stearic Acid market is Projected to grow at 4.42% CAGR during the period 2017-2021. Network Consulting Industry research report also provides granular analysis of the market share, segmentation, revenue forecasts and geographic regions of the market.Research analysts forecast the global Stearic Acid market to grow at a CAGR of 4.42% during the period 2017-2021.Stearic acid is a waxy solid saturated fatty acid that contains 18-carbon chain. It naturally occurs in coconut oil, palm kernel oil, animal and vegetable fats, and in the milk of several mammals. The chemical formula of stearic acid is C17H35CO2H. Commercially used stearic acid is a mixture of approximately equal amounts of stearic and palmitic acid and small amounts of oleic acid. It is mainly used in the manufacturing soaps and detergents and cosmetics such as shampoos, shaving products, and creams.Get this premium research report at a discounted price at @Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global stearic acid market for 2017-2021. The report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: North Americas, APAC, Europe, MEA.Research report, Global Stearic Acid Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Request for Sample Copy of Stearic Acid Market Research Report @Key vendors Akzo Nobel, BASF, Godrej Industries, Procter & Gamble, Wilmar International.Other prominent vendors 3F GROUP, Cayman Chemical, Chemceed, Croda International, Deeno Group, Emery Oleochemicals, IOI Corporation Berhad, Jarchem Industries, Kao, KLK OLEO, Nimir Industrial Chemicals, Nissan Chemical America Corporation, Oleon, Pacific Oleo Chemicals, Stepan, TAIKO KIKAI INDUSTRIES, VVF.Market driverIncreasing industrial growth in APAC, Latin America, and MEAFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeVolatility in raw material pricesFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendUse of stearic acid in metal processing and candle manufacturingFor a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Related Reports: -Tallow Fatty Acids Market Size By Product (Saturated [Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid], Monounsaturated, Polyunsaturated), By End-user (Soaps & Detergents, Rubber, Plastics, Personal Care Products), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, China, India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, GCC), Application Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2017 - 2024Tallow Fatty Acids Market size is poised to surpass USD 3 billion; according to a new research report. The global tallow fatty acids market size is positively influenced in the recent years due to e...About Us: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:News:
Analysis and Assessment on Texturized Vegetable Protein Market by Future Market Insights 2017 to 2027
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Texturized vegetable protein (TVP) often known as soya chunks are made from multiple sources like wheat, cotton seeds, oats etc. It is also known as textured soy protein (TSP) or soy meat. Texturized vegetable protein is high in protein content and quick to cook, due to which it is also used as a substitute of meat or meat extender by vegetarians. Texturized vegetable protein is originated from highly processed soy protein isolate. Texturized vegetable protein is low in calories, fats and carbohydrates which is rising its demand in health conscious people. Texturized vegetable protein are dehydrated pieces which can be rehydrated during the use and have long shelf life too. Processing of texturized vegetable protein includes addition of flavour enhancers, artificial colorings, emulsifiers etc. which can sometimes harm health in various ways. People with soy allergy are not recommended to eat texturized vegetable protein as it can cause symptoms like hives, tingling in mouth, swelling, stomach pain etc.Market Segmentation:Texturized vegetable protein market is segmented on the basis of raw material source as cotton seed flour, rape seed or canola concentrates, wheat, rice, oats, peanut flour, defatted sesame flour and soy protein such as soybean grits, flakes, meal, isolates and concentrates. Soy protein is the highly used source for the texturized vegetable protein production followed by other sources.Texturized vegetable protein market is segmented on the basis of distribution channels as retail stores, food malls, online portals etc. Distribution of texturized vegetable proteins is increasing through e-Commerce sites due to easy availability, also texturized vegetable protein are in demand from retail stores globally.Request Report Sample@Texturized vegetable protein market is further segmented on the basis of regions as North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan, Japan, and Middle East and Africa.Market Regional Outlook:On the basis of regions, the Texturized vegetable protein market has been segmented into North America, Latin America, Western and Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific region, Japan, Middle East and Africa. Texturized vegetable proteins are increasing its demand globally, the U.S., Brazil, Argentina, China and India are the major soy producing countries globally. Other countries like Uruguay, Bolivia, Ukraine, Canada and Paraguay are increasing the soy production facilities to cater to high demand of soy based products like texturized vegetable protein.Market Drivers and Trends:The trend towards healthy food is increasing globally which is helping texturized vegetable proteins market as it has multiple health benefits such as it can boost lung cancer treatment effectiveness, improves heart health, bone support, breast and endometrial cancer and also symptoms of menopause. As a substitute of meat, texturized vegetable protein is increasing its popularity in vegetarians as well as in children. Texturized vegetable proteins are low in calories, fats and carbohydrates which makes it more popular in health conscious consumers like bodybuilders, athletes etc. is driving the market. Availability of texturized vegetable protein on e-Commerce sites is also one of the reasons for driving the global market. Better taste, easy to cook and long shelf life are key reasons for rising demand of texturized vegetable proteins in the market.Visit For TOC@Texturized vegetable protein Market Key Players:Some of the key players in the Texturized vegetable protein market include ADM Proteins, Bob's Red Mill, Ruchi Soya Industries Limited, Galpro Srl, Avi Agri Business Pvt. Ltd., Harbi Hi-Tech Soybean Food Co. Ltd., Sinoprotein Biotech Co. Ltd., Nahar Agro World, Indian Soya Industries Pvt. Ltd., Oppenheimer Faith Foods Pvt.Ltd., Vippy Industries Limited etc. are among these.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Global Milk Packaging Market 2017- Revenue, Price and Gross Margin Research Report 2024
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SUMMARYWiseGuyReports published new report, titled Global Milk Packaging Market Outlook.Market OverviewRising consumption of milk due to its high nutritional and health-related benefits is significantly raising the need for its proper packaging. Appropriate packaging of milk plays a vital role as it increases the shelf life of milk and helps in efficient & safe delivery of milk to the end users. Growing environmental awareness and rising preference towards the usage of eco-friendly packaging material for milk and other products is increasing the spending on R&D to produce innovative packaging solutions. In 2016, researchers of U.S. Department of Agriculture developed an edible and biodegradable packaging film with the help of milk protein named casein i.e. 500 times efficient in keeping oxygen away from the product and enhance its shelf life. Moreover, government is also taking initiatives in the reduction of usage of plastics in the packaging of milk. For instance, UKs Food and Farming Department provided the instruction to dairy industry to reduce the usage of plastics in milk packaging that is expected to reduce up to 50% by the end of 2020.Key vendors are adopting strategic investment to expand their product portfolio and to attract new customers. For instance, in 2015, Prolamina and Ampac, merged together to form their new global flexible packaging firm name, ProAmpac. In 2017, ProAmpac acquired a leading flexible packaging company Trinity Packaging Corp. (Trinity), aiming to provide creative packaging solutions for food and specialty industrial markets.GET SAMPLE REPORT @Market SegmentationThe global milk packaging market is classified on the following basis: Based on Packaging Typeo Cupso Canso Poucheso Bottles Based on Materialso Paperboard packagingo Rigid plastic packagingo Flexible plastic packagingo Others (metal and glass packaging)Market Size and Forecast (2016-2024)In 2015, as per International Dairy Federation, the total milk production was nearly 820.0 million tons which is significantly increasing the demand for effective packaging of milk across the globe. Global milk packaging market is expected to reach USD 50.04 billion in 2024, growing at a healthy CAGR of 4.0% over the forecast period i.e. 2016-2024.Rising demand for packaged milk and high rate of milk consumption in emerging economies such as China, India, Philippines and Indonesia is increasing the business opportunities for milk packaging market players in Asia-Pacific region. Asia-Pacific milk packaging market dominated the global milk packaging market with a market share of 32.5% in 2016. Asia-Pacific milk packaging market is expected to grow at a CAGR 6.0% during the time period of 2016-2024.Europe and North America region together expected to occupy 33.0% revenue share in global milk packaging market in 2024. Rapid urbanization and hectic lifestyle of the population is raising the demand for packaged milk and packaged dairy products in these regions. Moreover, Middle East & Africa is one of the fastest growing regions in milk packaging market, owing to rapid urbanization in major countries such as UAE, Saudi Arabia and others. In terms of packaging, rising demand for light weight and eco-friendly packaging for dairy products in countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kenya and Israel is likely to boost the growth of Middle East and Africa milk packaging market.Market Drivers and ChallengesGrowing demand for packaged milk and other dairy products are the two major factors which is creating a huge pressure on the dairy product manufacturers to increase the supply of products into the market. The food product manufacturers are inclining towards quality and bio-degradable packaging. Advancement in packaging machinery allows the manufacturers to introduce their product in attractive and multiple serve packaging. Growing demand for single serve milk packaging is expected to provide remarkable opportunities for milk manufacturers to gain huge consumer attraction. However, increasing cost of raw materials such as paper, plastic and aluminum used for packaging and ensuring product compliance and safety are some of the key factors restraining the growth of global milk packaging market. Moreover, introduction of stringent government regulations to minimize the harmful effects on environment from toxic material based packaging are building major challenges for the food and beverage industry to maintain their profit margin. High cost of eco-friendly packaging is a major factor which creates cynicism among the product manufacturers to adopt those packaging.Key Market Players Tetra Pako Synopsiso Business Strategyo Product Portfolioo SWOT Analysis Amcor Limited Indevco Evergreen Packaging Blue Ridge Paper Products CKS Packaging Elopak Clondalkin Group HoldingMarket SegmentationThe Global Milk Packaging Market is segmented as follows: By Packaging Types (Market Size, Demand Analysis and Growth Analysis) By Material Types (Market Size, Demand Analysis and Growth Analysis)By Regions North America (U.S., Canada) {Market Size, Growth Analysis and Opportunity Analysis} Latin America (Argentina, Mexico, Brazil and Rest of Latin America) {Market Size, Growth Analysis and Opportunity Analysis} Europe (Germany, Italy, Spain, France, The U.K., Netherlands, Sweden, Hungary, Russia, Poland, Rest of Europe) {Market Size, Growth Analysis and Opportunity Analysis} Asia-Pacific (China, India, Singapore, Japan, Hong-Kong, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Rest of Asia Pacific) {Market Size, Growth Analysis and Opportunity Analysis} Middle East and North Africa (MENA) {Market Size, Growth Analysis and Opportunity Analysis} Rest of World {Market Size, Growth Analysis and Opportunity Analysis}Market Dynamics: Growth Drivers, Restraints and Opportunities Risk Factors Regional Variations Recent Trends and Developments..CONTINUEDFor accessing accurate and deep understanding and to gain latest insights and key developments in the area of your interest, we also have a list of conferences in which you will be interested in, for more information, cordially checkFor updating knowledge or for thoroughly understanding various terminologies, we also have vast list of seminars for your reference, for more information cordially checkWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt. 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Biological Drugs Market | Competitive Dynamics & Global Outlook 2020
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A research study, recently published by Transparency Market Research (TMR) estimates the global biological drugs market to expand at a healthy CAGR of 10.1% over the period from 2014 to 2020 and reach US$287.14 bn by the end of the forecast period.The research report, titled Biological Drugs Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020, states that the worldwide biological drugs market reached a value of US$161.05 bn in 2014.A biological drug or a biopharmaceutical is a pharmaceutical product, which is produced in, or extracted, or semi-synthesized from biological sources such as micro-organisms, or plant cells, or animal cells. Biological drugs have relatively large and complex structures compared to their traditional counterparts. A conventional drug goes through around fifty in-process tests, whereas a biological drug undergoes approximately two hundred and fifty in-process tests throughout its development process.According to the study, the increasing incidence of diabetes, cancer, and other chronic diseases across the world is the key driving force behind the growth of the worldwide biological drugs market. The rise in the global geriatric population is also an important factor, driving the demand for biological drugs in the global arena.Request to download and view full ToC -The report studies the global biological drugs market on four fronts: Therapeutic protein, monoclonal antibody (mAb), vaccine, and the regional distribution of this market. Based on therapeutic protein, the global market has been classified into Enbrel, Lantus, Neulasta, Avonex, NovoLog, Rebif, Eylea, Betaseron, Neupogen, Levemir, Aranesp, Epogen, and Humalog. In 2014, Enbrel was the most demanded therapeutic protein in the worldwide market.On the basis of mAb, the market has been categorized into Avastin, Remicade, Rituxan, Humira, Lucentis, and Herceptin. Humira has been registering the fastest growth in the overall market over the last few years.By vaccine, Varivax, Ceravix, Gardasil, Fluzoone, and Prenvar 13 have been recognized as the major segments of the global market for biological drugs and Prevnar 13 has been identified as the fastest growing segment among them in this study.Request to view Sample Report -On the regional basis, the research report has segmented the global biological drugs market into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and the Rest of the World. North America accounted for the largest share in the overall market in 2014. Analysts expect this regional market to witness steady growth over the forecast period due to the expanding application base of biological drugs and their increasing usage in the treatment of various conditions such as diabetes and cancer.Although the market in North America has experienced a rise in its valuation over the past few years, it is the Asia Pacific market, which is considered as the most attractive regional market for biological drugs among manufacturers. The availability of a skilled workforce required for drug production in Asia Pacific at much lower rates has attracted a number of drugmakers for investing in this region, thereby stimulating the Asia Pacific market for biological drugs, notes the study.Biogen Idec, Baxter International Inc., Amgen Inc., Merck & Co. Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Eli Lilly and Co., Novartis AG, Abbott Laboratories, and Pfizer Inc. are the key international biological drugmakers mentioned in this research report.Biological Drugs Market Report is available @ US$ 5795About 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:
Methylene Blue Market Global Industry Analysis and Forecast Till 2024
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Methylene blue is a versatile compound which has wide range of applications. It is known to be an aromatic compound which is used in various fields. It has molecular formula C16H18N3SCl. It was manufactured for the first time by a german chemist named Heinrich Caro. It appears as a dark green solid in the form of powder which has no odor. When dissolved in water, Methylene blue results in formation of a blue colored solution. The other names for Methylene blue include Desmoid piller, Panatone, Vitablue and urolene blue among others. Methylene blue is also known to be a basic aniline dye which is used by biologists to stain tissue samples and detect nucleic acids.Obtain Report Details @The major areas which deal with methylene blue include medical, chemical, pharmaceutical and aquaculture among others. In chemical industry, methylene blue has application in analytical chemistry as a redox indicator. It detects the absence and presence of oxygen. It is also used in preparation in reaction of Fehlings solution and reducing sugars to make it clearly visible. It is also used in titrations and volumetric analysis. In the biological industry, methylene blue is used as a dye which helps in identification and detection of bacteria. As bacteria are colorless, a drop of methylene blue helps in identification of bacteria under the microscope. It is also used in detection of RNA sequences. Some tests such as northern blotting and western blots also make use of methylene blue. In the pharmaceutical industry, it is primarily used as medicine for treatment of disorder named methemoglobinema. This is a disorder in which oxidized hemoglobin levels gradually rise above the normal level in blood. Methylene blue reduces extra methmoglobin to hemoglobin in blood. Methylene blue is also used as drug for treating manic depressive psychosis, formation of bladder and kidney stones and infection caused by herpes simplex virus. Aquaculture is another field of application wherein, methylene blue is used as insecticide and to prevent fungal infection on freshwater fish eggs.Growing demand for methylene blue from the pharmaceutical industry is the major factor driving the global methylene blue market. Increasing demand from the chemical industry is also expected to boost demand for methylene blue in the market. Upcoming demand from aquaculture is also expected to fuel demand for methylene blue in the market. The biology industry contributes and will continue to create demand for methylene blue in the near future.The key segments profiled for methylene blue market include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW). Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the methylene blue market owing to the growing demand from the medical and chemical industry in the region. North America and Europe are also expected to boost market for methylene blue due to growing demand from the pharmaceutical industry and end-user industries in the region.The key companies profiled for methylene blue market include: VANSHI CHEMICALS PVT. LTD., Sakshi Dyes and Chemicals, DAIICHI SANKYO COMPANY, LIMITED, Megha International, Shreeji Pharma International, Ashaway Line & Twine Mfg. Co., Belami Laboratory & Fine Chemicals, MACSEN GROUP, COSMO Pharmaceuticals, A & C American Chemicals Ltd., A&K Petro - Chem Industries Limited, ACP Chemicals Inc., Alfa Aesar, Bio-Rad Laboratories (Canada) Ltd., Caledon Laboratories Ltd., Canadawide Scientific Ltd., Cedarlane and Cleartech Industries Inc among others.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.Fill the form for an exclusive 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. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Positioning Water Leak Detection Systems Market 2017: TTK Leak Detection, TATSUTA, Aqualeak Detection, RLE Technologies
Positioning Water Leak Detection Systems Market 2017
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Global Positioning Water Leak Detection Systems Market 2017-2022QY Market Research include new Positioning Water Leak Detection Systems market research report "2016-2022 Report on Global Positioning Water Leak Detection Systems Market Competition, Status and Forecast, Market Size by Players, Regions, Type, Application" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on the global Positioning Water Leak Detection Systems market is highly useful as it covers all the aspects which are important in determining the future of this industry. The Positioning Water Leak Detection Systems report is collated by experienced analysts who have made use of their market intelligence to cover all basic and important data about the global Positioning Water Leak Detection Systems industry.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:The Positioning Water Leak Detection Systems market report makes use of tables, charts, graphs, maps, and statistics to present the data in the easiest to understand way. The Positioning Water Leak Detection Systems market report is a comprehensive analysis of the key factors impacting the global Positioning Water Leak Detection Systems industry. This Positioning Water Leak Detection Systems market report includes both the driving factors as well as the restraining factors that are influencing the market's performance positively and negatively, respectively.Producers Analysis and prime Sellers of world Positioning Water Leak Detection Systems Market 2017:Raychem (Tyco)TTK Leak DetectionTATSUTAWaxman Consumer Products GroupAqualeak DetectionRLE TechnologiesEnvirotech AlarmsDorlen ProductsSiemensThe current trends shaping the global Positioning Water Leak Detection Systems market and how it will influence the Positioning Water Leak Detection Systems market in the future are also studied. In addition to this, the future opportunities within the Positioning Water Leak Detection Systems market that have the potential to help the market to expand are also given in the Positioning Water Leak Detection Systems report.Enquire Here:The segments within the global Positioning Water Leak Detection Systems industry and their sub-segments are also studied in detail. This ensures that the entire Positioning Water Leak Detection Systems market is covered. The leading segment along with the declining segment and the most promising segment has been given in this Positioning Water Leak Detection Systems report. This helps the readers, investors, new entrants, and established players to decide which segment or sub-segment to invest on so as to reap maximum profits.The Positioning Water Leak Detection Systems market report discusses the degree of competition, bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, and a threat of substitutes, both internal and external substitute of Positioning Water Leak Detection Systems market. The threat of new entrants or the barriers faced by new players in entering the global Positioning Water Leak Detection Systems market has been discussed. This gives new players an idea as to whether they can survive in the competitive Positioning Water Leak Detection Systems market.About Us:Business Worldwide is a trusted brand in the research industry with a capability of commissioning complex projects within a short span of time with high level of accuracy. At Business Worldwide, 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:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Lyocell Fiber Market to accrue massive revenue via apparel sector over 2017-2024, Europe likely to drive the regional demand.
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Strategic partnerships and regional expansions have played a significant role in influencing Lyocell Fiber Markettrends over the recent years. For instance, Santoni, a leading Italian firm producing circular knitting machines, has collaborated with Lenzing AG, to produce tencel branded fibers in its new denim undertaking.In a potential bid to raise the overall revenue of its specialty fibers sector, Lenzing AG, one of the key manufacturers in the cellulose fiber industry, is expected to establish a lyocell fiber manufacturing unit in Thailand by 2020, a factor which is forecast to bring about a plethora of changing dynamics in global lyocell fiber market.Sample Copy of this Report@The advent of technology, having already influenced a slew of industries since its inception, will also mark its impact on lyocell fiber industry. Technological innovations have lowered the cost of fiber production and have helped in enhancing the production as well as the quality of fibers. Today, many of the fiber manufacturing firms are focusing on reprocessing and reusing the fibers after the completion of their shelf life, which is expected to offer novel growth opportunities for lyocell fiber market.Substantial knowledge regarding pediatric sanitation accompanied by an increase in the spending capacity of the consumers have resulted in high demand for baby diapers across the Asia Pacific region. This is one of the key factors which has resulted in the escalating growth of Asia Pacific lyocell fiber industry, which is expected to record a CAGR of 8% over 2017-2024, having attained a revenue of more than USD 550 million in 2015. China, Indonesia, and India are predicted to be the major revenue pockets of APAC. While the decline in infant mortality rates is also predicted to influence the regional share, the thriving non-woven materials sector in Indonesia is expected to spur the product demand over the years to come.The textile and apparel sectors across Europe have witnessed a slew of technological innovations of late. Surging production of non-woven fabrics for medical and automobile industries along with the presence of big manufacturing giants across the region has augmented the product demand. Europe is expected to contribute more than 12% toward lyocell fiber market share by 2024, with UK, France, and Germany being the major revenue contributors.U.S. lyocell fiber industry is predicted to experience a notable growth over the next few years with the rise in the apparel exports. The presence of multinational brands in the textile sector across Mexico will spur the product popularity.Lyocell fibers find extensive applications in automotive filters, cigarette filters, apparels, baby diapers, surgical items, vehicle carpets, and home textiles. Apparels sector, which accounted for over 50% of lyocell fiber industry share in 2016, is predicted to contribute extensively toward lyocell fiber market share over the next few years. Eco-friendly nature of the product along with its beneficial characteristics such as softness & porousness will favorably affect the business revenue.Home textiles, which contributed over 20% of the global lyocell finer market size in 2016, are expected to boost the business sphere over the next few years. The growth can be attributed to escalating product demand for manufacturing carpets, bed sheets, curtains, and drapes. Mounting product use in battery separators and seat covers in vehicles is expected to boost the product popularity across the automotive sector.Browse key industry insights spread across 110 pages with 143 market data tables & 11 figures & charts from the report, Lyocell Fiber Market Size By Product (Staple Fiber, Cross-linked Fiber), By Application (Apparels, Home Textiles, Surgical Products, Baby Diapers, Automotive Filters) Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, China, India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, GCC), Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2017 2024 in detail along with the table of contents:Qingdao Textile Group Fiber Technology Company Limited, Lenzing AG, Zhejiang Yaojiang Industrial Group Company Limited, Acegreen Eco-Material Technology Company Limited, Zhejiang Yaojiang Industrial Group Company Limited, Baoding Swan Fiber Group Company Limited, Nien Foun Fiber Company Limited, Smartfiber AG, and Acelon Chemicals & Fiber Corporation are the major players of lyocell fiber market.Lyocell fiber market is expected to carve out a lucrative growth map ahead, subject to its extensive application spectrum. According to a recent report compiled by Global Market Insights, Inc., lyocell fiber industry is set to hit a revenue of over USD 1.5 billion by 2024, registering a CAGR of nearly 8% over the coming seven years.About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone:1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook
Specialty Medical Chairs Market | Competitive Dynamics & Global Outlook 2023
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The emerging economies are on the cusp of revolutionizing their healthcare facilities, which is likely to create a positive impact on The Specialty Medical Chairs Market as well, observes Transparency Market Research. Companies must invest in Brazil, China, India, and countries of Latin America and Asia to reap benefits of the economic upheaval, says the lead author of this research report. Presently, the analysts have identified Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA, ACTIVEAID, Inc., DentalEZ, and A-dec, Inc., amongst others, as the leading players in the global specialty medical chairs market.Key players will also strive to expand their distribution network by striking strategic alliances with large multispecialty clinics, private clinics, and distributors. Broadening distribution networks will help companies to expand their geographical presence, thereby creating a foundation for higher sales in international markets in the near future.Customization Options Prompt Medical Facilities to Invest in Specialty Medical ChairsCustomization of chairs to serve the unique needs of patients and medical practitioners has propelled the global specialty medical chairs market. Several players are designing chairs to cater to the clinical needs of the patients such as pregnancy, obesity, cardiac issues, and others. Furthermore, the introduction of specialty medical chairs with newer technologies and better comfort is also propelling this market.The market is also witnessing an upbeat momentum due to the consistent rise in the geriatric population as they are far more susceptible to a range of chronic diseases and other physical disabilities in comparison to the younger population. The World Health Organization explains that the geriatric population will reach 1.5 billion by 2050 from 524 million in 2010, thus giving the market a big boost. Investments across emerging economies of the world to upgrade medical infrastructure is also expected to create several growth opportunities for the global specialty medical chairs market.Request to download and view full ToC -High Cost of Modern Specialty Medical Chairs Retains MarketUnfortunately, the market will be stymied by the exponential cost of the modern specialty medical chairs. Thus the reluctance of medical facilities and governing boards to invest in top-of-the-line chairs is expected to restrain the market. Furthermore, the growing trend of refurbishing old medical chairs is also hampering the growth of the market.Request to view Sample Report -High Density of Medical Clinics in North America to Help GrowthAccording to the research report, the opportunity in the global specialty medical chairs market is expected to reach US$6.75 bn by 2023 as compared to US$3.80 bn in 2014, expanding at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2015 to 2023. The global market will be led by the rehabilitation chairs product segment as it will progress at a CAGR of 8.1% over the forecast period.Geographically, North America will hold the largest share in the market as the region will continue to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% between 2015 and 2023. A strong presence of ENT, dental, ophthalmic clinics in the region will be the primary growth driver for specialty medical chairs market in North America.Specialty Medical Chairs Market Report is available @ US$ 5795About 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:
Sandy Murray wasnt ready for the rocking chair.
After a 37-year career in public education, Murray ended a five-year semi-retirement to become principal of Queen of the Apostles Catholic School.
I had a couple of mornings when I would wake up and ask, What day is this? Murray said. I didnt want to lie in bed and snooze all day.
Murray retired as a principal in the Tomah Area School District in 2012 and stayed connected with education as a substitute teacher. However, she missed following students on a day-to-day basis.
I loved subbing and working with the kids that way, but I missed the continuity of working on a project but then not knowing how it ended, Murray said. I heard about the opening here, and I thought I would apply and see what happened.
A Tomah native, Murray taught for three years in the Hayward School District before returning to the Tomah Area School District in 1978 as a speech/mass communications teacher. She left the district for two years to become principal of Wisconsin Dells High School and then returned in 1992 to become principal of Tomah High School.
In 2004, she became an elementary school principal and spent her last eight years in the district leading Lemonweir, Warrens and Wyeville elementary schools.
She believes her years of experience will be an asset at Queen of the Apostles, which enrolls 152 students kindergarten through eighth grade. She likes to remind her teachers of the profound impact they can have on their students good or bad.
She has long advised teachers to treat every student kindly.
You never know when you might end up with one of them as your boss someday, Murray said.
She said Queen of the Apostles teachers and staff have been very welcoming and helpful. She has no plans for immediate changes at the school.
Ive decided to do a year before deciding to change anything, Murray said. I want to talk to everybody and find out why were doing things a certain way.
Religious faith distinguishes her new job from her career in public education. She said sending a message of faith is central to the schools mission and that she encourages more parents to choose a faith-based education.
A life-long Catholic, Murray said faith has guided her career in education.
I tell the story I went into education because the Holy Spirit was flying over me and left a little deposit on my head when I went to church one day, and I came out and knew I wanted to teach, she said. I figured the Holy Spirit was indirectly telling me, Go back to work, Sandy, these kids need you right now.
However, Murray said there are also many similarities between public and parochial education and that Queen of the Apostles has an excellent relationship with Tomah schools. She maintains the relationships with her former public education colleagues and has called in a few favors as she transitioned to Queen of the Apostles.
We all have the same purpose to give kids a good education. Murray said. The teachers here are dedicated just like they are in the public schools.
Murray is happy to once again occupy a principals desk and influence the lives of young people.
Im not old enough for the rocking chair, she said. I just like the kids. I dont have any kids of my own, so these kids are mine.
Monochloroacetic Acid Market set to cross the billion-dollar benchmark by 2024, APAC to drive the regional landscape
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Business collaborations having been one of the key growth strategies of myriad industries, have also profoundly impacted Monochloroacetic Acid (MCAA) Market. One such instance bearing a testimony to this tactic was the collaboration of the German Company, CABB Gmbh, in 2013 with two domestic enterprises JinweiHuasheng Chemical Co. Ltd and Jining Gold Power Co. Ltd, where the former had inked a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of a joint venture company in China to deal with the marketing and manufacturing of high quality monocholoroacetic acid.Reportedly, three companies collectively invested around USD 160 million in the MCAA project of production capacity 50000t/a. The constant technological innovations characterizing this fraternity and series of such collaborations and joint ventures are poised to influence monochloroacetic acid industry trends in the ensuing years.Sample Copy of this Report@Global monochloroacetic acid market involves the participation of biggies such as AkzoNobel N.V., Daicel Corporation, The Dow Chemical Company, Daicel Corporation, Shandong Minji Chemical Co., CABB GmbH, PCC SE, Niacet Corporation, and, Xuchang Dongfang Chemical Co. Ltd. The strategies of alliances and product innovations are quite rampant across the competitive landscape of the monochloroacetic acid industry.The recent announcement of Atul Ltd. and AkzoNobel entering a partnership agreement with regards to production of MCCA in India is again a substantiation of how monochloroacetic acid market giants are deeply ingrained in collaborative approaches. The partnership was rather an appreciable step by both the firms to further exploit the potential of monochloroacetic acid market. Global Market Insights, Inc., claims monochloroacetic acid industry to surpass a revenue of USD 1.2 billion by 2024, with a projected CAGR of 4% over 2017-2024.Monochloroacetic acid, often termed chloroacetic acid is recognized as one of the most halogenated forms of acetic acid. Being reactive in nature, this compound can form a number of intermediates by undergoing reactions. In fact, this fundamental aspect further expands the application horizon of monochloroacetic acid market. For instance, this organochlorine compound is an integral component in carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) manufacturing, which finds extensive application across diversified domains, such as food and beverage, paints & coating, textile, paper & pulp etc. It is therefore no surprise that the growth of all these aforementioned domains will leave a perpetual impact on monochloroacetic acid industry dynamics as well. As per the estimates, approximately 30% of the globally produced MCCA is used in the manufacturing of CMC.A sizable chunk of the overall monochloroacetic acid industry share is obtained from agrochemical application, which is why the growth potential of the market is forecast to be remarkably high in agrarian countries, particularly in the United States and BRICS nations. As per a recent estimation, in the year 2016, 45% of the total land in America and 60% of the total land in India were under cultivation.The population curve of China and India is exponentially increasing, a factor that is subsequently necessitating increased crop production to address the rising food demand curve. Enhancement of soil fertility has thus become a requirement of late, which is quite evident from the increased consumption of pesticides, fungicides, insecticides, and other chemical aggregates across APAC belt. Since MCAA and its derivatives are extensively deployed in these agrochemicals manufacturing, the aforementioned aspects are expected to upscale monochloroacetic acid industry demand.Speaking of the geographical trends, Asia Pacific is forecast to procure a major chunk of the overall industry over the coming seven years, accounting for almost 60% of the overall share by 2024. Other than agrochemical sector, the proliferation of medical, personal care, and textile sectors have also proved to be beneficial for the regional monochloroacetic acid industry growth. MCAA is majorly used for glycine production, which is an intermediate compound obtained from glyphosate herbicide production.Statistics claim, glyphosate is arguably the largest volume of herbicides that are produced worldwide. Though there are other synthesis routes for glyphosphate production, but in China, the predominant route is through MCAA. This fundamental aspect makes Chinas contribution significant not only in the APAC monochloroacetic acid market but also in the global business space. China is arguably the largest consumer and manufacturer of agrochemicals. While emerging agrochemical domain plays a crucial role in the development of regional monochloroacetic acid market, another key end-use segment almost equally responsible for the business proliferation is the paper and pulp sector.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @Heavy depletion of petroleum reserves across some of the regions have of late turned out to be a major concern for the monochloroacetic acid market players. Depleting crude oil reserves has subsequently resulted in raw material price discrepancies, thereby generating a supply demand gap in the value chain. However, unprecedented efforts are being continuously undertaken by the raw material manufacturers at the grass root level to overcome these challenges.About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone:1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook
Global In-Flight Catering Services Market 2017: Newrest, Perth Inflight Catering, Alpha Group, Saudi Airlines Catering, Flying Food Group
In-Flight Catering Services Market 2017
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Global In-Flight Catering Services Market 2017-2022QY Market Research include new In-Flight Catering Services market research report "2016-2022 Report on Global In-Flight Catering Services Market Competition, Status and Forecast, Market Size by Players, Regions, Type, Application" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on the global In-Flight Catering Services market is highly useful as it covers all the aspects which are important in determining the future of this industry. The In-Flight Catering Services report is collated by experienced analysts who have made use of their market intelligence to cover all basic and important data about the global In-Flight Catering Services industry.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:The In-Flight Catering Services market report makes use of tables, charts, graphs, maps, and statistics to present the data in the easiest to understand way. The In-Flight Catering Services market report is a comprehensive analysis of the key factors impacting the global In-Flight Catering Services industry. This In-Flight Catering Services market report includes both the driving factors as well as the restraining factors that are influencing the market's performance positively and negatively, respectively.Producers Analysis and prime Sellers of world In-Flight Catering Services Market 2017:SATSLufthansa GroupBrahim's GroupNewrestPerth Inflight CateringAlpha GroupSaudi Airlines CateringdnataAbby's CateringAAS CateringANA CateringCathay Pacific Catering ServicesChristopher's Inflight CateringFlying Food GroupAir MaltaThe current trends shaping the global In-Flight Catering Services market and how it will influence the In-Flight Catering Services market in the future are also studied. In addition to this, the future opportunities within the In-Flight Catering Services market that have the potential to help the market to expand are also given in the In-Flight Catering Services report.Enquire Here:The segments within the global In-Flight Catering Services industry and their sub-segments are also studied in detail. This ensures that the entire In-Flight Catering Services market is covered. The leading segment along with the declining segment and the most promising segment has been given in this In-Flight Catering Services report. This helps the readers, investors, new entrants, and established players to decide which segment or sub-segment to invest on so as to reap maximum profits.The In-Flight Catering Services market report discusses the degree of competition, bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, and a threat of substitutes, both internal and external substitute of In-Flight Catering Services market. The threat of new entrants or the barriers faced by new players in entering the global In-Flight Catering Services market has been discussed. This gives new players an idea as to whether they can survive in the competitive In-Flight Catering Services market.About Us:Business Worldwide is a trusted brand in the research industry with a capability of commissioning complex projects within a short span of time with high level of accuracy. At Business Worldwide, 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:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Global Logistics Insurance Market 2017: AIG, Marsh, Swiss Re, Zurich Insurance, Atrium, Thomas Miller
Logistics Insurance Market 2017
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Global Logistics Insurance Market 2017-2022QY Market Research include new Logistics Insurance market research report "2016-2022 Report on Global Logistics Insurance Market Competition, Status and Forecast, Market Size by Players, Regions, Type, Application" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on the global Logistics Insurance market is highly useful as it covers all the aspects which are important in determining the future of this industry. The Logistics Insurance report is collated by experienced analysts who have made use of their market intelligence to cover all basic and important data about the global Logistics Insurance industry.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:The Logistics Insurance market report makes use of tables, charts, graphs, maps, and statistics to present the data in the easiest to understand way. The Logistics Insurance market report is a comprehensive analysis of the key factors impacting the global Logistics Insurance industry. This Logistics Insurance market report includes both the driving factors as well as the restraining factors that are influencing the market's performance positively and negatively, respectively.Producers Analysis and prime Sellers of world Logistics Insurance Market 2017:AGCSAonArthur J. GallagherLiberty Mutual InsuranceAIGMarshSwiss ReZurich InsuranceAtriumSamsung Fire & Marine InsuranceMitsui Sumitomo InsuranceMunich RePeoples Insurance AgencySompo Japan Nipponkoa InsuranceThomas MillerXL Group Public LimitedThe current trends shaping the global Logistics Insurance market and how it will influence the Logistics Insurance market in the future are also studied. In addition to this, the future opportunities within the Logistics Insurance market that have the potential to help the market to expand are also given in the Logistics Insurance report.Enquire Here:The segments within the global Logistics Insurance industry and their sub-segments are also studied in detail. This ensures that the entire Logistics Insurance market is covered. The leading segment along with the declining segment and the most promising segment has been given in this Logistics Insurance report. This helps the readers, investors, new entrants, and established players to decide which segment or sub-segment to invest on so as to reap maximum profits.The Logistics Insurance market report discusses the degree of competition, bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, and a threat of substitutes, both internal and external substitute of Logistics Insurance market. The threat of new entrants or the barriers faced by new players in entering the global Logistics Insurance market has been discussed. This gives new players an idea as to whether they can survive in the competitive Logistics Insurance market.About Us:Business Worldwide is a trusted brand in the research industry with a capability of commissioning complex projects within a short span of time with high level of accuracy. At Business Worldwide, 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:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Global Marine Fuel Management Market 2017: Eniram, Krill Systems, Banlaw Systems, Kaminco, Mustang Technologies
Marine Fuel Management Market 2017
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Global Marine Fuel Management Market 2017-2022QY Market Research include new Marine Fuel Management market research report "2016-2022 Report on Global Marine Fuel Management Market Competition, Status and Forecast, Market Size by Players, Regions, Type, Application" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on the global Marine Fuel Management market is highly useful as it covers all the aspects which are important in determining the future of this industry. The Marine Fuel Management report is collated by experienced analysts who have made use of their market intelligence to cover all basic and important data about the global Marine Fuel Management industry.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:The Marine Fuel Management market report makes use of tables, charts, graphs, maps, and statistics to present the data in the easiest to understand way. The Marine Fuel Management market report is a comprehensive analysis of the key factors impacting the global Marine Fuel Management industry. This Marine Fuel Management market report includes both the driving factors as well as the restraining factors that are influencing the market's performance positively and negatively, respectively.Producers Analysis and prime Sellers of world Marine Fuel Management Market 2017:EmersonDNV-GL AS.ABBSiemens AGEniramKrill Systems, Inc.Nautical Control Solutions LPBanlaw Systems Ltd.KamincoMustang TechnologiesMarorkaINTERSCHALT Maritime Systems GmbHBMT GroupThe current trends shaping the global Marine Fuel Management market and how it will influence the Marine Fuel Management market in the future are also studied. In addition to this, the future opportunities within the Marine Fuel Management market that have the potential to help the market to expand are also given in the Marine Fuel Management report.Enquire Here:The segments within the global Marine Fuel Management industry and their sub-segments are also studied in detail. This ensures that the entire Marine Fuel Management market is covered. The leading segment along with the declining segment and the most promising segment has been given in this Marine Fuel Management report. This helps the readers, investors, new entrants, and established players to decide which segment or sub-segment to invest on so as to reap maximum profits.The Marine Fuel Management market report discusses the degree of competition, bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, and a threat of substitutes, both internal and external substitute of Marine Fuel Management market. The threat of new entrants or the barriers faced by new players in entering the global Marine Fuel Management market has been discussed. This gives new players an idea as to whether they can survive in the competitive Marine Fuel Management market.About Us:Business Worldwide is a trusted brand in the research industry with a capability of commissioning complex projects within a short span of time with high level of accuracy. At Business Worldwide, 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:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Latvia Life Insurance Industry Key Trends, Size, Growth, Shares And Forecast Research Report 2020
Life Insurance in Latvia
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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Life Insurance in Latvia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020" to its huge collection of research reports.'Life Insurance in Latvia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020' report provides a detailed outlook by product category for the Latvian life insurance segment, and a comparison of the Latvian insurance industry with its regional counterparts.It provides key performance indicators such as written premium, incurred loss, loss ratio, commissions and expenses, total assets, total investment income and retentions during the review period (20112015) and forecast period (20152020).To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The report also analyzes distribution channels operating in the segment, gives a comprehensive overview of the Latvian 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.Summary'Life Insurance in Latvia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020' report provides in-depth market analysis, information and insights into the Ecuadorian life insurance segment, including:An overview of the Latvian life insurance segmentThe Latvian life insurance segments growth prospects by categoryA comprehensive overview of the Latvian economy and demographicsA comparison of the Latvian life insurance segment with its regional counterpartsThe various distribution channels in the Latvian life insurance segmentDetails of the competitive landscape in the life insurance segment in LatviaDetails of regulatory policy applicable to the Latvian insurance industryBrowse Detail Report With Full TOC @ScopeThis report provides a comprehensive analysis of the life insurance segment in Latvia:It provides historical values for the Latvian life 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 Latvian life insurance segment, and market forecasts to 2020.It provides a comparison of the Latvian life insurance segment with its regional counterpartsIt analyzes the various distribution channels for life insurance products in Latvia.It profiles the top life insurance companies in Latvia and outlines the key regulations affecting them.Reasons To BuyMake strategic business decisions using in-depth historic and forecast market data related to the Latvian life insurance segment, and each category within it.Understand the demand-side dynamics, key market trends and growth opportunities in the Latvian life insurance segment.Assess the competitive dynamics in the life insurance segment.Identify growth opportunities and market dynamics in key product categories.Gain insights into key regulations governing the Latvian insurance industry, and their impact on companies and the industry's future.Key HighlightsThe Latvian life segment is competitive, and is dominated by foreign-owned insurers. There were six insurers active in the segment in 2016.Solvency II came into effect on January 1, 2016. It is based on three pillars: risk-based quantitative requirements; governance and supervision; and disclosure and transparency.On February 2, 2017, the European Parliament and the EC published a new Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD) 2016/97 in the official journal of the EU.The segments penetration increased from 0.170% in 2011 to 0.187% in 2015.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: +1-518-621-2074For More Reports Visit @
Advancement In Wireless Infrastructure Is Likely To Create Opportunities In The Global TD-LTE Ecosystem Market
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TD-LTE Ecosystem Market research report helps to get access to industry data and upcoming trends which will give you avenues to know about the market. This report gives opportunities to go through with industry analysis, share and forecast, Providing brief description about the market size its competitors and product identification.This report studies the global TD-LTE Ecosystem market, analyzes and researches the TD-LTE Ecosystem development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeHuawei Technologies Co. LtdTelefonaktiebolaget L. M. EricssonAlcatel-Lucent S.A.Datang Telecom Technology & Industry GroupFiberhome Networks Co. LtdNokia Networks B.V.Potevio CompanySamsung GroupZTE CorporationMediaTekSony Mobile Communications ABIngenic Semiconductor Co., LtdInnofidei IncMarvell Technology Group LtdChongQing City Communication Technologies Co. LtdQualcomm IncSpreadtrum CommunicationsBroadcom CorporationLeadcore National technologyWavesat Telecommunications LtdAltair Engineering IncRenesas Electronics CorporationRuncom Technologies LtdRequest For Free Sample Of The Report @Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaMarket segment by Type, TD-LTE Ecosystem can be split intoDownlink biased servicesUplink biased servicesSpecific scenario servicesMarket segment by Application, TD-LTE Ecosystem can be split intoEnterprisesHealthcareRetailPersonalEducationObtain Report Details @If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.About UsAlltake Market Research is division of the Alltake LLC. that offers premium quality market intelligence, market research, industry analysis reports & forecast data for different domains across the business industry.Alltake Market Research understands the importance of market analysis for any strategy that is implemented in any organization or association. In order to provide the best solution, Alltake Market Research have associated with major organizations within market research and consultancy firm. This portfolio offers market analysis report at one place for different business verticals. Alltake Market Research ensures to offer you with the most reliable and quality market research available.Contact UsAlltake Market Research16192, Coastal Highway Lewes,DE 19958, United StatesUS - 188 8587 9717UK - 4480 0680 0195Email sales@alltakemarketresearch.com
mHealth Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 20172025
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mHealth stands for mobile health is the sub segment of eHealth that deals with the medicinal practice in favor of public health care, supported by mobile devices. The term mHealth is used to refer the use of mobile communication devices such as mobile phones, electronic tablets, PDAs and also comprises of wearable devices such as a smart watch for data collection and information about health care services. mHealth is applicable in wide areas, ranging from collection of community and clinical health data and delivery of healthcare information to medical personnel to real time monitoring of the patient by provision of direct care. In developed countries the patients and consumers extensively use mobile gadgets to search for healthcare services and access various kinds of healthcare information. Doctors, physicians and even nurses are found making use of mobile devices to access information about a patient from established databases and other resources. The mHealth market comprises of devices such as ECG monitors, blood glucose meters, multi parameter trackers, sleep apnea trackers, etc.Request for sample copy of this report :Robust penetration of smartphones in the developed as well as developing countries responsible to boost global mHealth marketAccording to World Health Organization (WHO), 112 member states participated in the module of survey, out of which 83% were reported to possess at least one mHealth initiative in their country. A majority of these member states reported implementation of 4 or more types of mHealth initiatives. As per the mHealthShare factsheet, 62% of smartphone owners in the U.S. have used their phone in 2014 to look up for health condition and information as compared to that of 52% in 2012. The rising interest and extensive use of mobile devices including tablets are widening the scope of global mHealth market.The global mHealth market is segmented on the basis of equipment, service, therapeutics and geography.On the basis of equipment, the global mHealth market is segmented asBlood Glucose MetersBP MonitorsPulse OximetersNeurological MonitoringCardiac MonitorsApnea and Sleep MonitorWearable fitness sensor device and Heart Rate MetersOthersBased on the service type, the global mHealth market is segmented asWellness Service MarketPrevention Services MarketTreatment Services MarketDiagnosis Service MarketMonitoring Services MarketHealthcare Systems Strengthening Solutions MarketBased on the therapeutic segment, the global mHealth market is segmented asCardiovascularDiabetesRespiratoryNeurologyOthersAsia Pacific is expected to show an accelerating global mhealth market mainly due to government initiatives in spreading healthcare awarenessOn the basis of geography, the global mHealth market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa. The mHealth market is spurred in the North America attributing to flourishing number of pilot projects and live health in the U.S. and Canada. The increase in number of wellness apps coupled with rising adoption of smartphones as well as increasing reliability on mobile phone apps for day to day routine is expected to accelerate the regional market in the coming forecast years. Further, rise in the rural population in countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia and India are also diligently involved in expansion of global mHealth market. Certain solutions such as bulk messaging to inform disease spread and awareness tips are commonly used in these countries. Use of local language to compose these text messages effectively helps in delivering the information to the rural population. Indian government has launched an official application named National Health Portal, India that is designed in a way to provide access and information about healthcare to a predominantly semi- literate or illiterate population.Factors responsible to boost the mHealth market involves rising awareness among people regarding regular health updatesThe primary factor responsible to drive the global mHealth market is the affordability and integration of wireless technologies which can cause a breakthrough in monitoring and diagnostics, mainly in the developing countries where smartphones are penetrating the market at a great speed. The rapid rise in the incidence of the chronic diseases as well as the advancing technologies in the mobile health apps that delivers information of personal healthcare on the regular basis are also responsible to fuel mHealth market. For instance, the in- build health app in the Apple phones provides insights about the activity, sleep, nutrition, everyday workout and even maintains reproductive health acting a smart assistant for the mobile phone users. Moreover, the mHealth devices such as glucometers and oximeters are applicable in the geriatric population of monitoring blood glucose levels and oxygen levels mainly in the diabetic population. However, lack of accuracy of these devices could restrain the market growth as many people complain about the extreme results displayed by these devices.Get discount on this report :The key players involved in improvement of the mHealth devices to increase sales in the global mHealth marketThe key players operating the mHealth market are Medtronic Inc., Apple Inc., Sanofi, Mobistante, Inc., AirStrip Technologies, Inc., AliveCor, Inc., LifeWatch AG, Koninklijke Philips N.V, Jawbone, Nike, Inc., Omron Corporation, Johnson and Johnson, Bio Telemetry Inc., Withings, AgaMatrix Inc., iHealth Lab Inc., Qualcomm, AT&T, Cerner Corporation and Cisco Inc. The mobile service provider companies are focusing to deliver uninterrupted healthcare services in the robust penetration of 3G and 4G networks across the world while several other companies manufacturing healthcare related technological devices are focusing towards providing devices with more precision and accuracy to the users by better optimization and improving the sensitivity of these devices.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunityContact Us:Mr.ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +12067016702Visit Coherent Market Insights Blog @Connect with us on LinkedIn @E-mail : sales@coherentmarketinsights.com
Global Propulsion Systems Market Key Drivers, Trends and New Developments
Market Research Nest - Propulsion Systems Market
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MarketResearchNest.com adds The Global Propulsion Systems Market - Key Drivers, Trends And New Developments new report to its research database. The report spread across in 60 pages with tables and figures in it.The market for propulsion systems will be mostly driven by the large ongoing and future procurements of military platforms, such as aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), naval vessels, submarines and military vehicles. The growing number of regional disputes along with a rise in global terrorism has led to a steady demand for military platforms across the globe, which is in turn is driving the market for military propulsion systems. Additionally, aircraft and helicopters are increasingly being adopted for commercial operations such as corporate transportation, law enforcement, search and rescue missions and emergency medical services, leading to a steady demand for air-based propulsion systems in the civil space as well.Inquire before Buying atThe report offers analysis of the global propulsion systems market and covers key technological and market trends in the industry, and analyzes drivers/factors influencing demand for propulsion systems. Additionally, the report provides an overview of five top spenders in the sector including recent procurements undertaken by these countries and profiles of five major propulsion system manufacturers in the domainScope- The steady demand for air-based, naval and ground vehicles, both in the defense and commercial sectors, is projected to drive the global market for propulsion systems over the future.- The overall propulsion systems market can be categorized under four broad heads - air-based, space, marine and ground propulsion systems.- Region wise North America is projected to be the largest spender on propulsion systems, driven by its massive procurerent of military as well as civil platforms.- Europe and Asia Pacific are other also expected to be key markets for propulsion systems, with countries such as the UK, Russia and China working on developing new and innovative technologies in this space.Order a Purchase Report Copy atReasons to buy- Snapshot of the global propulsion systems market, including highlights of the demand drivers, trends, and technology developments.- Insights into the global propulsion systems market and a detailed analysis of factors driving the market- Determining the prevalent trends in the sector- Identify the new developments that will shape the market in the future- Analyzing the major countries and companies playing significant roles in the development propulsion systems marketGet a complete report details atMarketResearchNest.com is the most comprehensive collection of market research products and services on the Web. We offer reports from almost all top publishers and update our collection on daily basis to provide you with instant online access to the worlds most complete and recent database of expert insights on global industries, organizations, products, and trends.Mr. Jeet JainSales Managersales@marketresearchnest.com+1-240-284-8070 / +44-20-3290-4151Pune, India
BMX Bikes Industry by Application, Trend, Growth, Opportunities, Analysis & Forecast 2022
ReportsWeb
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ReportsWeb.com published BMX Bikes Market from its database. 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.This report focus on global and regional market, providing information on major players like manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, traders, customers, investors and etc., major types, major applications from global and major regions such as Europe, North America, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and etc. Data type include capacity, production, market share, price, revenue, cost, gross, gross margin, growth rate, consumption, import, export and etc. Industry chain, manufacturing process, cost structure, marketing channel are also analyzed in this report.This report provides valuable information for companies like manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, traders, customers, investors and individuals who have interests in this industry.For more information about this report atMajor companies are as follows:Accell GroupEstern BikeFramed BikesGTHaroMicargiRazorSubrosaColnagoDAHONMajor classifications are as follows:18 Inch BMX Bikes20 Inch BMX Bikes22 Inch BMX bikesMajor applications are as follows:Transportation ToolsBMX RacingBMX PerformanceRequest a sample copy atMajor regions are as follows:EuropeNorth AmericaChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaTable of ContentChapter 1 Industry OverviewChapter 2 Production Market AnalysisChapter 3 Sales Market AnalysisChapter 4 Consumption Market AnalysisChapter 5 Production, Sales and Consumption Market Comparison AnalysisChapter 6 Major Manufacturers Production and Sales Market Comparison AnalysisChapter 7 Major Classification AnalysisChapter 8 Major Application AnalysisChapter 9 Industry Chain AnalysisChapter 10 Global and Regional Market ForecastChapter 11 Major Manufacturers AnalysisChapter 12 New Project Investment Feasibility AnalysisChapter 13 ConclusionsChapter 14 AppendixInquire for Report atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Comprehensive Study Of Global Thalassemia Market And Also Major Regional Markets - Researchmoz
Thalassemia Market
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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Thalassemia Market Report: 2016 Edition" to its huge collection of research reports.Thalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder in which a persons body makes an abnormal form of hemoglobin, which is the protein molecule in red blood cells (RBCs), which carries oxygen. The disorder results in unwarranted damage of red blood cells, which leads to anemia. Anemia is a condition in which the body doesnt have adequate amount of normal and healthy red blood cells. There are majorly two types of thalassemia based on these proteins known as the Alpha thalassemia and the Beta thalassemia. There is also a third type viz. Sickle beta thalassemia, which is like a combination of sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Even though it is a rare genetic disorder, the number of people affected by it has been growing with time. While those with thalassemia minor have hardly any threat to their life and only require occasional blood transfusion to sustain, thalassemia major patients need to go for periodic transfusions for a sustained life. In case of infants, thalassemia major often leads to still birth or cause death shortly after the babys birth. Presently the only cure for thalassemia is a bone marrow transplantation therapy, which is done mostly for severe cases of thalassemia.The key factors which are anticipated to drive this market include rising healthcare expenditure, rising spending on stem cell therapy research and development and rising population in the East-Asia and Pacific region of the world. Some of the noteworthy developments of this industry include the advances in the iron chelation therapy, development of gene therapy and fetal hemoglobin inducers as potential curatives for thalassemia. However, the growth of respective industry is challenged by the high cost of treatments, lack of alternative treatments and unmet market of the Asia-Pacific.The report provides a comprehensive study of global thalassemia market and also major regional markets. Furthermore, market dynamics such as key trends and development; and challenges are analyzed in depth. The global thalassemia industry is highly competitive consisting of several companies including the Lonza group, Acceleron Pharma, BlueBird Bio and Sangamo Biosciences etc. The competitive landscape of the respective market, along with the company profiles of the leading players are also discussed in detail.Browse Detail Report With Full TOC @Table of Content1. Overview1.1 Introduction1.2 Types of Thalassemia1.2.1 Alpha Thalassemia1.2.2 Beta Thalassemia1.2.3 Sickle Beta Thalassemia1.3 Signs and Symptoms1.4 Treatment Options1.4.1 Blood Transfusion1.4.2 Bone Marrow Transplant2. Global Thalassemia Market2.1 Global Thalassemia Incidence by Severity2.2 Global Thalassemia Diagnosis by Category2.3 Global Transfusion-Dependent ? Thalassemia by Region2.4 Global Thalassemia Market by Therapy2.4.1 Global Bone Marrow Transplant Revenue2.4.2 Global LentiGlobin BB305 Revenue2.4.3 Global Luspatercept Revenue3. Regional Analysis3.1 The US Thalassemia Market3.1.1 The US ? Thalassemia Carrier Patient Population3.1.2 The US ? Thalassemia Major Patient Population3.1.3 The US Transfusion-Dependent ? Thalassemia Patients3.1.4 The US ? Thalassemia Sibling-Matched Stem Cell Transplant3.2 Europe Thalassemia Market3.2.1 Europe Transfusion-Dependent ? Thalassemia Patients3.2.2 Europe Transfusion-Dependent ?-Thalassemia Major/Intermediate Patients4. Market Dynamics4.1 Growth Drivers4.1.1 Rising Healthcare Expenditure4.1.2 Rising R&D Spending on Stem Cell Therapy4.1.3 Rising Population in the East Asia and Pacific Region4.2 Key Trends and Developments4.2.1 Gene Therapy for Curing Thalassemia4.2.2 Advances in Iron Chelation Therapy4.2.3 Fetal Hemoglobin Inducers4.3 Challenges4.3.1 Unmet Market of the Asia-Pacific4.3.2 High Cost of Therapies4.3.2 Lack of Alternative Treatments5. Competitive Landscape5.1 Competition in Bone Marrow Therapy5.1.1 Revenue Comparison of the Global Key Players5.1.2 Profit Margin Comparison of the Global Key Players5.1.3 Market Cap Comparison of the Global Key Players5.1.4 Revenue Comparison of Key Players of the US5.2 Competition in Emerging Therapeutics5.2.1 Product Pipeline Comparison of Emerging PlayersMake 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: +1-518-621-2074For More Reports Visit @
What should have been a fun little seasonal purchase from Pier One Imports has now got me in a bit of a tizzy ... not a life-changing one, but one that I must address before I present the autumnal pumpkin salt and pepper shakers for use at my Thanksgiving table. The cute little pumpkins have labels on them: p and s. That should make it easy to fill with the proper seasoning, but the pepper shaker is the one with three holes and the salt has two. And that is my dilemma.
All my life I have assumed, probably as have all but the youngest generations of Americans, that salt goes in the shaker with the most holes. (Is it because salt is the more universal food enhancer?) And all of my other five shaker sets are so filled.
Thanks to the Internet, I was able to research the rules for filling salt and pepper shakers. And as you can imagine, there were different reasons for giving pepper the star billing in todays condiment sets. The one that makes kind of the most sense to me is this one: Here in the U.S. excessive salt is considered bad for you, so the salt shaker is the one with the fewer holes.
Another explanation is that pepper should go in the shaker with more holes because it is coarser and therefore needs more escape routes than free-flowing salt.
A more grasping at straws explanation was that pepper should go in the three-hole shaker because there are three Ps in pepper. That is just plain silly, because I have one set with a combination of one and two holes. And the set I use at the stove for cooking are clear glass with six holes in each top. (I bought them filled with jam at the Rocky Mountain National Park gift shop in Colorado.)
If only my dilemmas in life were about changing how I fill salt and pepper shakers, life would be pretty good for me right now.
Unfortunately, I am having to live every day (sometimes every hour) with an assault by the President of the United States on values I have always held dear as a citizen of the United States. And accepting his nasty twitters, his misogynistic and racist DNA and his blatant lies is a big dilemma for me.
When did respecting women become unnecessary? When Donald Trump insulted and abased Rosie ODonnell, Megan Kelly, Carly Fiorina, Mika Brezsinski, Miss Universe, Angela Merkel (wouldnt shake a world leaders hand?!?) and a former First Lady and Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. (That is not counting all the unnamed women he can grab by the genitals because he is famous.)
When did standing up against racism and neo-Nazi poison become passe in America? When Donald Trump called Mexicans rapists and white supremacists and Nazi flag carriers marching in Charlottesville some very fine people. When everything he spouts about making America great again is really code for Make America White Again.
When did our United States Congress cede the reins of good government to a narcissistic, cruel and lascivious buffoon? They have been doing it every day since Donald Trump was elected. They seem to have lost, as a body, any morals or common decency we, as their electorate, expect of them.
When did 46 percent of the voters in the presidential election decide to cast their ballots for a dangerous, unbalanced clown? When did their definition of a good president become the opposite of what I have always thought defined that role: to be a role model to all the people in this country; to work with Congress to legislate improvements to our way of life; to represent to the world the unique characteristics that truly make America great? I guess it was when candidate Trump rallied his crowds with chants of Lock her up! When he promised to build a wall to keep Mexicans out of our country. When he promised to ban all Muslims from coming to America. When he promised to make America Great Again. (That was his ultimate insult to me. Until Nov. 8, 2016, our country was great. Now it is a laughing stock to the world. Thanks, Donald!)
The dilemma I cannot do anything about is the Donald Trump presidency. Yes, I can remain involved in organizations that are actively trying to overturn his policies. Yes, I can rant and rail about him to my friends. But I cannot by myself remove him from the Oval Office. He may well remain a thorn in my side for at least four years.
As for my little dilemmas...looking at my new pumpkin salt and pepper shakers, I can see that the initials on them are transparent tape. I can peel the p and s off! I can fill them anyway I like. Can you guess which pumpkin is getting the salt?
Sandra Humphrey is a resident of Tomah.
Forecast and Analysis on Analog To Digital Converter Market for Period 2017-2027
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Analog to digital converters (ADC) is an electric component that translates analog signals, physical world signals such as pressure, temperature, current, voltage, distance or light intensity into a digital representation of that signal which can be stored, manipulated, computed, and processed. Analog to digital converters are used to convert signals from analog to digital signals so that the signals can be read by the digital devices.As the global analog to digital converter market is among typical semiconductor market, it is expected to have a steady growth for the forecast period. Next generation communication systems and various other advanced consumer electronics are expected to influence the growth in deployment of analog to digital converter devices influencing a steady rise in the revenue of the global analog to digital converter market.Request For Report Sample@Global Analog to Digital Converter Market: Drivers and ChallengesWith increasing government initiative to digitize working processes and encouraging smart living, and increasing disposable income of the population in growing economic countries is rising the adoption of consumer electronics among the people. Innovation in technology is also making use of analog to digital converters in various devices including consumer electronics and automotive equipment. Hence, these factors have a positive impact on adoption and penetration of analog to digital converters driving the revenue growth of global analog to digital converter market.However, few challenges faced by the analog to digital converter devices manufacturers while designing an analog to digital converter device are pressure for product differentiation, continuously improving efficiency of the product or having better performance goals, fast time-to-market and others.Global Analog to Digital Converter Market: SegmentationGlobal analog to digital converter market can be segmented into product type, resolution, application and regions.On the basis of product type, global analog to digital converter market can be segmented into pipelined ADC, display ADC, dual slope ADC, delta-sigma ADC, and others.On the basis of resolution, global analog to digital converter market can be segmented into 8-bit, 10-bit, 12-bit, 14-bit, 16-bit and others.On the basis of application, global analog to digital converter market can be segmented into consumer electronics, IT and telecommunication, automotive and industrial.Global Analog to Digital Converter Market: Regional OutlookOn the basis of regions, global Analog to Digital Converter Market can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, and Middle East and Africa.North America accounts for largest market share in the global analog to digital converter market owing to the advanced technology and easy adoption in the countries such as the U.S. The expansion in the industrial and automotive sectors are offering lucrative growth opportunities for Western Europe analog to digital converter market. Asia Pacific excluding Japan is expected to have maximum potential for the revenue growth of global analog to digital converter market during the forecast period. Latin America, Middle East and Africa, Eastern Europe are among the regions which are expected to witness positive growth during the forecast period.Visit For TOC@Global Analog to Digital Converter Market: Competition LandscapeSome of the key players for analog to digital converter market are Texas Instruments Incorporated, Analog Devices, Inc., Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation, Microchip Technology Inc., Intersil Americas LLC, Sony Corporation, National Instruments, Maxim Integrated, Diligent Inc., and Adafruit 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.CONTACTFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Global Aircraft Arresting System Market 2017: Runway Safe (Sweden), Scama AB (Sweden), Foster-Miller, Wireco Worldgroup
Aircraft Arresting System Market 2017
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Global Aircraft Arresting System Market 2017-2022QY Market Research include new Aircraft Arresting System market research report "2016-2022 Report on Global Aircraft Arresting System Market Competition, Status and Forecast, Market Size by Players, Regions, Type, Application" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on the global Aircraft Arresting System market is highly useful as it covers all the aspects which are important in determining the future of this industry. The Aircraft Arresting System report is collated by experienced analysts who have made use of their market intelligence to cover all basic and important data about the global Aircraft Arresting System industry.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:The Aircraft Arresting System market report makes use of tables, charts, graphs, maps, and statistics to present the data in the easiest to understand way. The Aircraft Arresting System market report is a comprehensive analysis of the key factors impacting the global Aircraft Arresting System industry. This Aircraft Arresting System market report includes both the driving factors as well as the restraining factors that are influencing the market's performance positively and negatively, respectively.Producers Analysis and prime Sellers of world Aircraft Arresting System Market 2017:Zodiac Aerospace (France)General Atomics (US)Runway Safe (Sweden)Scama AB (Sweden)Escribano Mechanical & EngineeringFoster-Miller, Inc.Wireco WorldgroupWire Rope IndustriesCurtiss-Wright Corp.Victor Balata Belting CompanyThe current trends shaping the global Aircraft Arresting System market and how it will influence the Aircraft Arresting System market in the future are also studied. In addition to this, the future opportunities within the Aircraft Arresting System market that have the potential to help the market to expand are also given in the Aircraft Arresting System report.Enquire Here:The segments within the global Aircraft Arresting System industry and their sub-segments are also studied in detail. This ensures that the entire Aircraft Arresting System market is covered. The leading segment along with the declining segment and the most promising segment has been given in this Aircraft Arresting System report. This helps the readers, investors, new entrants, and established players to decide which segment or sub-segment to invest on so as to reap maximum profits.The Aircraft Arresting System market report discusses the degree of competition, bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, and a threat of substitutes, both internal and external substitute of Aircraft Arresting System market. The threat of new entrants or the barriers faced by new players in entering the global Aircraft Arresting System market has been discussed. This gives new players an idea as to whether they can survive in the competitive Aircraft Arresting System market.About Us:Business Worldwide is a trusted brand in the research industry with a capability of commissioning complex projects within a short span of time with high level of accuracy. At Business Worldwide, 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:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Global Turf and Ornamental Protection Market 2017: DuPont (U.S.), BASF SE (Germany), Monsanto (U.S.), American Vanguard (U.S.)
Turf and Ornamental Protection Market 2017
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Global Turf and Ornamental Protection Market 2017-2022QY Market Research include new Turf and Ornamental Protection market research report "2016-2022 Report on Global Turf and Ornamental Protection Market Competition, Status and Forecast, Market Size by Players, Regions, Type, Application" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on the global Turf and Ornamental Protection market is highly useful as it covers all the aspects which are important in determining the future of this industry. The Turf and Ornamental Protection report is collated by experienced analysts who have made use of their market intelligence to cover all basic and important data about the global Turf and Ornamental Protection industry.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:The Turf and Ornamental Protection market report makes use of tables, charts, graphs, maps, and statistics to present the data in the easiest to understand way. The Turf and Ornamental Protection market report is a comprehensive analysis of the key factors impacting the global Turf and Ornamental Protection industry. This Turf and Ornamental Protection market report includes both the driving factors as well as the restraining factors that are influencing the market's performance positively and negatively, respectively.Producers Analysis and prime Sellers of world Turf and Ornamental Protection Market 2017:Bayer CropScience (Germany)DuPont (U.S.)BASF SE (Germany)Adama Agricultural Solutions (Israel)Monsanto (U.S.)American Vanguard (U.S.)Dow AgroSciences (U.S.)Syngenta International (Switzerland)FMC (U.S.)Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha (Japan)Isagro SpA (Italy)Cheminova A/S (Denmark)Chemtura AgroSolutions (U.S.)Marrone Bio Innovations (U.S.)Natural Industries (U.S.)The current trends shaping the global Turf and Ornamental Protection market and how it will influence the Turf and Ornamental Protection market in the future are also studied. In addition to this, the future opportunities within the Turf and Ornamental Protection market that have the potential to help the market to expand are also given in the Turf and Ornamental Protection report.Enquire Here:The segments within the global Turf and Ornamental Protection industry and their sub-segments are also studied in detail. This ensures that the entire Turf and Ornamental Protection market is covered. The leading segment along with the declining segment and the most promising segment has been given in this Turf and Ornamental Protection report. This helps the readers, investors, new entrants, and established players to decide which segment or sub-segment to invest on so as to reap maximum profits.The Turf and Ornamental Protection market report discusses the degree of competition, bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, and a threat of substitutes, both internal and external substitute of Turf and Ornamental Protection market. The threat of new entrants or the barriers faced by new players in entering the global Turf and Ornamental Protection market has been discussed. This gives new players an idea as to whether they can survive in the competitive Turf and Ornamental Protection market.About Us:Business Worldwide is a trusted brand in the research industry with a capability of commissioning complex projects within a short span of time with high level of accuracy. At Business Worldwide, 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:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Global Complex Fertilizers Market 2017: PhosAgr, Agriu, Israel Chemicals, Haifa Chemicals, Shikefeng Chemical
Complex Fertilizers Market 2017
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Global Complex Fertilizers Market 2017-2022QY Market Research include new Complex Fertilizers market research report "2016-2022 Report on Global Complex Fertilizers Market Competition, Status and Forecast, Market Size by Players, Regions, Type, Application" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on the global Complex Fertilizers market is highly useful as it covers all the aspects which are important in determining the future of this industry. The Complex Fertilizers report is collated by experienced analysts who have made use of their market intelligence to cover all basic and important data about the global Complex Fertilizers industry.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:The Complex Fertilizers market report makes use of tables, charts, graphs, maps, and statistics to present the data in the easiest to understand way. The Complex Fertilizers market report is a comprehensive analysis of the key factors impacting the global Complex Fertilizers industry. This Complex Fertilizers market report includes both the driving factors as well as the restraining factors that are influencing the market's performance positively and negatively, respectively.Producers Analysis and prime Sellers of world Complex Fertilizers Market 2017:CF Industries Holdings Inc. (U.S.)Yara International ASA (Norway)The Mosaic Company (U.S.)EuroChem Group AG (Switzerland)Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (Canada)PhosAgro (Russia)Agrium Inc. (Canada)Israel Chemicals Limited (Israel)Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile (Chile)Haifa Chemicals Ltd., (Israel)Helena Chemical Company (U.S.)Zuari Agro Chemicals Ltd (India)Shikefeng Chemical (CN)The current trends shaping the global Complex Fertilizers market and how it will influence the Complex Fertilizers market in the future are also studied. In addition to this, the future opportunities within the Complex Fertilizers market that have the potential to help the market to expand are also given in the Complex Fertilizers report.Enquire Here:The segments within the global Complex Fertilizers industry and their sub-segments are also studied in detail. This ensures that the entire Complex Fertilizers market is covered. The leading segment along with the declining segment and the most promising segment has been given in this Complex Fertilizers report. This helps the readers, investors, new entrants, and established players to decide which segment or sub-segment to invest on so as to reap maximum profits.The Complex Fertilizers market report discusses the degree of competition, bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, and a threat of substitutes, both internal and external substitute of Complex Fertilizers market. The threat of new entrants or the barriers faced by new players in entering the global Complex Fertilizers market has been discussed. This gives new players an idea as to whether they can survive in the competitive Complex Fertilizers market.About Us:Business Worldwide is a trusted brand in the research industry with a capability of commissioning complex projects within a short span of time with high level of accuracy. At Business Worldwide, 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:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Sales Market Report 2017 : Schott, Nipro, West-P, Shandong PG
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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Sales Market Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.The report on the Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass market is prepared with the help of a wide array of primary and secondary research incorporating inputs from leading market experts, industry strategists, research organizations, and business executives. The report titled Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass market research report offers in-depth insights into the current market status, share and size of major segments, notable trends, emerging business risks, and competitive landscape. The Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass market dynamics is undergoing several interesting shifts invigorated by constant technological advances and favorable changes in government policies in some regions. The report takes a closer look at the emergent strategic and tactical risks driven by changes in regulatory framework in key regions. In addition, it covers major research and development activities in recent decades expected to unlock exciting opportunities for market players.KNOW MORE WITH SAMPLE STUDY @Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingGerresheimerSchottNiproSGDWest-PShandong PGOpmiRocco BormioliArdaghGleaning through the report, market participants can get clear indications of various trends anticipated to gain traction and those that are likely to lose their sheen in the coming years. The report employs a host of industry-wide quantitative tools to assess the strategic landscape. Based on the volumes of data collected over the historic period and insights offered by the vast current statistics, the study presents a 360 degree view of the growth dynamics of the Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass market over the forecast period. Using Porters five forces analysis and SWOT analysis, the report offers a holistic overview of the vendor landscape. The study is unique in its approach as it offers crystal clear view of the factors likely to tilt in favor of new entrants, thereby altering the intensity of competition in the Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass in the not-so-distant future.Table of Contents1 Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass1.2 Classification of Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass by Product Category1.3 Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Market by Application/End Users1.4 Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Market by Region1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)2 Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.2.2 Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.3 Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass (Volume and Value) by Region2.4 Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass (Volume) by Application3 United States Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Sales and Value (2012-2017)3.1.1 United States Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.2 United States Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.3 United States Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)3.2 United States Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Sales Volume and Market Share by Players3.3 United States Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Sales Volume and Market Share by Type3.4 United States Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Sales Volume and Market Share by Application9 Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data9.1 Gerresheimer9.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.1.2 Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Product Category, Application and Specification9.1.3 Gerresheimer Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.2 Schott9.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.2.2 Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Product Category, Application and Specification9.2.3 Schott Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.3 Nipro9.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.3.2 Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Product Category, Application and Specification9.3.3 Nipro Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.3.4 Main Business/Business OverviewList of Tables and FiguresFigure Product Picture of Pharmaceutical Packaging GlassFigure Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Sales Volume Comparison (K Units) by Type (2012-2022)Figure Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Sales Volume Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 2016Figure Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Sales Comparison (K Units) by Application (2012-2022)Figure Global Sales Market Share of Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass by Application in 2016Figure Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Market Size (Million USD) by Regions (2012-2022)Figure Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Sales Volume (K Units) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Global Market Major Players Pharmaceutical Packaging Glass Sales Volume (K Units) (2012-2017)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Semantic Knowledge Discovery Software Market Volume Analysis, Segments, Value Share and Key Trends-2025
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Semantic knowledge refers to a bit of long haul memory composed of procedures, thoughts and ideas that are not drawn from an individual experiences. Semantic memory incorporates knowledge that are regular learning, for example, the names of hues, the capitals of nations and other fundamental certainties procured over a lifetime. Discovery of semantic knowledge is essential for IT and Telecom industry to provide quick search results to the users. With the existence of big data, search process is becoming arduous while discovery of semantic knowledge saves the time and eases the process. There is presence of innovation to store and access information, however it appears that the capacity to change information tombs into helpful information and concentrate learning from them is absent, thus semantic knowledge discovery software comes into frame. Various organizations uses semantic knowledge in examining consumer sentiment analysis and messaging consistency which helps in branding. Using semantic knowledge discovery technologies, organizations are able to understand and leverage data in new ways to automate knowledge discovery process. Semantic knowledge discovery software redefines traditional and social media by improving search result accuracy at the users perspective.Request Sample Copy of the Report@Search engines and search features within social sites will have to integrate semantic technologies to stay relevant. Organizations monitor user activities on social media helping in better content management due to which software doing semantics discovery is becoming vogue. Semantic discovery software are very useful in text analytics and data mining. Quick discovery of semantic knowledge helps in data classification that leads to easier process of obtaining useful details. Due to the transformation from industrial society to an information based society, information level correspondence between machines and human is major need and to simplify the process, knowledge incorporating both syntactic and semantics needs to be differentiated. Semantic computing can resolve information uncertainty without the requirement for human intervention and thus reducing the labour. This is yielding massive advantages in applications, for example, restorative research and compliance (tax avoidance, policing and counter-terrorism). Semantic discovery software also helps in, linking, classifying, storing, querying and making the best use of heterogeneous and evolving data. Thus, semantic discovery software programs makes content open, simple to choose, measurable and examined thus improving data recovery and enabling information revelation. This factors are projected to drive the market during the forecast period.To program semantic knowledge discovery software is complex process as devising and to hone regular expressions can take a lot of work. Also designing such software is expensive as it is costly to manually or even semi-manually produce reliable language data and annotations. This factors are anticipated to restrain the market growth of semantic knowledge discovery software.Semantic memory revelation programming is expected to accomplish remarkable speed, effectiveness and understanding of information over the broadest scope of informational indexes and ontologies and these software are also expected to include context aware services and semantic interoperability services in the near future. Semantic knowledge discovery software is anticipated to be used in research and life sciences where it can help researchers by aggregating data on different medicines and diseases that have numerous names in different parts of the world. This software is anticipated to be used as research tools and integrated workflow solutions enabling universities and government agencies to advance research outcomes.Market for semantic knowledge discovery software can be segmented into horizontal markets and vertical market. Horizontal market includes research & development, consumer Internet, information technology, and enterprise horizontals. Vertical markets include industry verticals such as advertising content, defense, security, manufacturing, transportation, professional Services, education, and Utilities.Key players in the Semantic Knowledge Discovery Software Market are kCura, MAANA, OntoText, Cambridge sematics, Collexis holdings, and Nervana. SystemsRequest TOC of the Report@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.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)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 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 UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Healthcare Enterprise Software Market Global Professional Survey and In-depth Analysis Research Report Forecast to 2027
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Healthcare Enterprise Software Market by end users (Hospitals, clinics, research institutes), by deployment types (on premise model, cloud based), by applications (administrative, clinical, patient engagement, others) Forecast to 2027.Market Synopsis of Healthcare Enterprise Software Market:Market Scenario:Healthcare Enterprise Software in healthcare is the procedure of dealing with office's cases, installment and revenue generation processes and other management of healthcare organizations vital assets. In order to efficiently manage the patient revenue cycle of any organization, institute or office. In this era it is required or essential to have medical billing software, practice administration program which permits the management to successfully monitor the process. The market for Healthcare Enterprise Software is expected to reach significant Market Size by the end of the forecasted period and is expected to grow at a Lucrative CAGR.Get a Copy of Sample Report @Key Players for Healthcare Enterprise Software Market: Microsoft Corporation (US) IBM (US) Oracle Corporation (US) Allscripts (US) Nuance Communications (US) McKesson Corporation (US) Cerner Corporations (US) Athenahealth (US) Medidata Solutions (US) CompuGroup (UK)Browse Full Report Details @Study Objectives of Healthcare Enterprise Software Market: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 10 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the Global Healthcare Enterprise Software Market To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth To Analyze the Global Healthcare Enterprise Software Market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- Americas, Europe, Asia, and RoW To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective To provide country level analysis of the market for segments by application, by end users, by deployment and sub-segments. To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Global Healthcare Enterprise Software MarketSegments:Global Healthcare Enterprise Software market has been segmented on the basis of deployment which consist on premise model and cloud based. On the basis of application which includes people management, clinical data management, relationship management, and financial resource management on the basis end users which includes hospitals, clinics, research institutesThe report for Global Healthcare Enterprise Software market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different markets segments and regionsContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Global Healthcare Enterprise Software Market Research Report- Forecast To 2027 chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.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.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Global Smart Bathroom Sales Market Report 2017 : Bradley Corporation, GROHE, Little Giant, Kohler
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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Smart Bathroom Sales Market Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.The global Smart Bathroom market offered here is done with the express purpose of giving its readers a firm grasp of the present as well as the upcoming trends and other factors of influence on the markret. This also includes the factors pertaining to business opportunities and likely strategies that could be implemented. Using a perfect combination of primary and secondary research, the authors of the report offer a deep study of Smart Bathroom, so as to help interested parties secure a strong foothold in the market. Although there could be some factors restraining the growth of the market, the report authors identify potential prospects capable of bringing the demand back to the industry. Participants could count their future plans on these analytical findings to stay afloat in the competitive environment of the market.With regard to competition, the report sheds light on some of the leading companies of the Smart Bathroom. The company profiling section could include an evaluation of their business products, specifications, revenue, and future business plans. The analysts also gauge the nature of the market and its competitive landscape with the help of statistics and deeper knowledge gained through extensive research. The market shares of different players studied in the report could provide a clear understanding of how the market will be contributed to in the near future.Request for the Report Sample:Global Smart Bathroom market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Smart Bathroom sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingBradley CorporationGROHEDeltaToto Ltd.GerberLittle GiantKohlerMoenSterling Faucet CompanyAmerican StandardEach segment, be it related to product, application, or region, is highly evaluated for its potential to draw growth and add to the demand in the Smart Bathroom. Forecast statistics with the latest years taken into consideration are provided to relate to the growth of the overall market and also its individual segments.Table of Contents1 Smart Bathroom Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Smart Bathroom1.2 Classification of Smart Bathroom by Product Category1.3 Global Smart Bathroom Market by Application/End Users1.4 Global Smart Bathroom Market by Region1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of Smart Bathroom (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Smart Bathroom Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Smart Bathroom Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)2 Global Smart Bathroom Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global Smart Bathroom Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global Smart Bathroom Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Smart Bathroom Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Smart Bathroom (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Smart Bathroom Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.2.2 Global Smart Bathroom Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.3 Global Smart Bathroom (Volume and Value) by Region2.4 Global Smart Bathroom (Volume) by Application3 United States Smart Bathroom (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Smart Bathroom Sales and Value (2012-2017)3.1.1 United States Smart Bathroom Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.2 United States Smart Bathroom Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.3 United States Smart Bathroom Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)3.2 United States Smart Bathroom Sales Volume and Market Share by Players3.3 United States Smart Bathroom Sales Volume and Market Share by Type3.4 United States Smart Bathroom Sales Volume and Market Share by Application9 Global Smart Bathroom Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data9.1 Bradley Corporation9.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.1.2 Smart Bathroom Product Category, Application and Specification9.1.3 Bradley Corporation Smart Bathroom Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.2 GROHE9.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.2.2 Smart Bathroom Product Category, Application and Specification9.2.3 GROHE Smart Bathroom Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.3 Delta9.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.3.2 Smart Bathroom Product Category, Application and Specification9.3.3 Delta Smart Bathroom Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.3.4 Main Business/Business OverviewList of Tables and FiguresFigure Product Picture of Smart BathroomFigure Global Smart Bathroom Sales Volume Comparison (K Units) by Type (2012-2022)Figure Global Smart Bathroom Sales Volume Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 2016Figure Global Smart Bathroom Sales Comparison (K Units) by Application (2012-2022)Figure Global Sales Market Share of Smart Bathroom by Application in 2016Figure Global Smart Bathroom Market Size (Million USD) by Regions (2012-2022)Figure Global Smart Bathroom Sales Volume (K Units) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Global Smart Bathroom Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Global Market Major Players Smart Bathroom Sales Volume (K Units) (2012-2017)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Water Quality Monitoring Market Globally Expected to Drive Growth through 2025
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Water is the most important and basic natural resource. Water quality refers to physical, biological, radiological and chemical characteristics of water. It is a measure of water condition relative to any human need or purpose. Clean water is necessary to drink, operate factories, laboratories, grow crops for food etc. Water is thus important to every aspect of our lives. Large number of toxic chemicals are discharged in rivers everyday by virtue of human waste and industrial chemicals. Thus, monitoring water quality becomes the need of utmost importance. Monitoring the quality of water is going to help protect waterways from pollution. It helps in revealing the composition and health of rivers, lakes and streams in time. Without fresh water sustainable development will not be possible. Water quality monitoring is defined by International Standard for Organization as the programmed process of measurement, sampling and subsequent signaling or recording or both of water characteristics with the aim of evaluating conformity to specified objectives. Water quality can be determined only in terms of appropriateness for a purpose. For instance, water which is to be used for agricultural irrigation should contain low sodium content. Similarly drinking water should not contain micro-organisms or chemicals that could be hazardous to health. Water quality monitoring is the basis for water management. Monitoring enables the government to take rational decisions on describing and identifying emerging and actual problems of water pollution. It also helps in setting priorities and formulating plans for water quality management. Water quality monitoring provides the objective evidence to determine compliance with water standards. Based on monitored data water managers and law makers can determine if water quality is getting worse or better and measure effectiveness of water policies. End of the day, quality monitoring is an essential part of preserving the planet healthy and sustainable.Request Sample Copy of the Report@In recent years, industrial waste and toxic chemicals are increasingly discharged in rivers and other water resources that is calling for need for water quality monitoring. Also increasing government funding for pollution control and monitoring is driving the water quality monitoring market. The growing awareness of water quality measurement owing to rising level of water pollution is also driving the water quality monitoring market. However, high cost associated with water quality testing products and technical limitations related to water monitoring products are restraining the growth of water quality monitoring market. Moreover, lack of awareness about water quality among rural people in developing countries is also the restraining factor for the growth of the market. Advancement in technologies associated with water quality monitoring equipment and growing popularity of smart city concept is expected to create opportunities for the growth of water quality monitoring market. Additionally proliferation of IoT enabled devices for tracking and collecting data thereby enabling remote water quality monitoring is also creating opportunities for the growth of water quality monitoring market.The global water quality monitoring market can be segmented on the basis of equipment type, application and region. In terms of equipment type, the water quality monitoring market can be segmented into TOC analyzers, pH meters, conductivity sensors, dissolved oxygen analyzers, turbidity meters and others. The water quality monitoring market is classified on the basis of application into groundwater, waste water, aquaculture, drinking water, coastal and laboratory. Geographically, the water quality monitoring market is segmented into North America, Asia-Pacific, Middle-East and Africa (MEA), South America and Europe.Industry participants leading the water quality monitoring market with the significant developments are YSI Inc. /Xylem Inc., Emerson, Heron Instruments Inc., GE water and process technologies, In-Situ, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Hach, RS Hydro, ATI UK, LaMotte Company and Jenco, among others.Request TOC of the Report@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.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)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 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 UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global and United States InP HBT Epi Wafer Market Status and Forecast 2017-2022 by Players, Types, Applications
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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "2017-2022 InP HBT Epi Wafer Report on Global and United States Market, Status and Forecast, by Players, Types and Applications" to its huge collection of research reports.The report provides a breakdown of the segments of the Global and United States InP HBT Epi Wafer market to let the readers understand the opportunities and pitfalls present in this market. The Global and United States InP HBT Epi Wafer market can be segmented for various categories such as geographical regions, products, applications, end-use industries, and raw materials. Various trends that could affect the growth of the market Global and United States InP HBT Epi Wafer in either in positive or negative manner have been included in this report. With complete analysis of the various statistics players and stockholders can gain knowledge on the working of segments of this market and capitalize accordingly for fulfilling their motives. The motive behind segmenting the Global and United States InP HBT Epi Wafer market into several categories is to allow readers gain an in-depth analysis of the market and acquire clear outline of the market.This report also includes the regional factors affecting the Global and United States InP HBT Epi Wafer market. The key regions of the market are the Middle East and Africa, Europe, Latin America, North America, and Asia Pacific. Market values for these regions over the forecast period, along with the projected growth are presented. As various regional trends may affect this market, these trends are included along with their extent of influence on the Global and United States InP HBT Epi Wafer market.The major players in global and United States InP HBT Epi Wafer market, including VPEC, OptoGration Inc., MACOM, Techinstro, Kleir International, INSACO, Inc., LG Siltronic, Inc., 3M.Competitive landscape of the Global and United States InP HBT Epi Wafer market is analyzed, where profiles for various prominent players are included. The product portfolio, services provided, revenues generated, manufacturing centers of these players are individually evaluated. As these players are leading in the market, their strategies for staying competitive in the market are analyzed. Opportunities present for new players and the hurdles they may face are elaborated.Table of Contents1 Methodology and Data Source1.1 Methodology/Research Approach1.1.1 Research Programs/Design1.1.2 Market Size Estimation1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation1.2 Data Source2.1.1 Secondary Sources2.1.2 Primary Sources1.3 DisclaimerFor more information on this report, fill the form @2 InP HBT Epi Wafer Market Overview2.1 InP HBT Epi Wafer Product Overview2.2 InP HBT Epi Wafer Market Segment by Type2.3 Global InP HBT Epi Wafer Product Segment by Type2.4 United States InP HBT Epi Wafer Product Segment by Type3 InP HBT Epi Wafer Application/End Users3.1 InP HBT Epi Wafer Segment by Application/End Users3.2 Global InP HBT Epi Wafer Product Segment by Application3.2.1 Global InP HBT Epi Wafer Sales (K Units) and CGAR (%) by Applications (2012, 2016 and 2022)3.2.2 Global InP HBT Epi Wafer Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Applications (2012-2017)3.3 United States InP HBT Epi Wafer Product Segment by Application3.3.1 United States InP HBT Epi Wafer Sales (K Units) and CGAR (%) by Applications (2012, 2016 and 2022)3.3.2 United States InP HBT Epi Wafer Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Applications (2012-2017)7 InP HBT Epi Wafer Players/Manufacturers Profiles and Sales Data7.1 VPEC7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.1.2 InP HBT Epi Wafer Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.3 VPEC InP HBT Epi Wafer Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 OptoGration Inc.7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.2.2 InP HBT Epi Wafer Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.3 OptoGration Inc. InP HBT Epi Wafer Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 MACOM7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.3.2 InP HBT Epi Wafer Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.3 MACOM InP HBT Epi Wafer Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview10 Global InP HBT Epi Wafer Market Forecast10.1 Global InP HBT Epi Wafer Sales, Revenue Forecast (2017-2022)10.2 United States InP HBT Epi Wafer Market Forecast10.3 Global InP HBT Epi Wafer Forecast by Regions10.4 InP HBT Epi Wafer Forecast by Type10.5 InP HBT Epi Wafer Forecast by ApplicationList of Tables and FiguresTable Research Programs/Design for This ReportFigure Bottom-up and Top-down Approaches for This ReportFigure Global InP HBT Epi Wafer Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure United States InP HBT Epi Wafer Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure Global Single Crystal Wafer Sales (K Units) and Growth Rate (%) (2012-2017)Figure Global Double Crystal Wafer Sales (K Units) and Growth Rate (%) (2012-2017)Figure Global Others Sales (K Units) and Growth Rate (%) (2012-2017)Table Global InP HBT Epi Wafer Sales (K Units) and Growth Rate (%) Comparison by Types (2012, 2016 and 2022)Table United States InP HBT Epi Wafer Sales (K Units) and Growth Rate (%) Comparison by Types (2012, 2016 and 2022)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
The Westby Police Department is temporarily converting Maple Street, near Westby Middle School and Westby Coon Prairie Church, into one side parking in an effort to alleviate traffic congestion.
Westby Police Chief David Jefson said his department was contacted by the school district with concerns about parking situation on Maple Street. School buses are currently being routed down Maple Street, while Nelson Street is closed during the construction of the new performing arts center.
Westby City Council deemed it a safety issue at its Sept. 19 meeting and approved the change. Until Nelson Street is reopened to traffic, Maple Street parking will be reduced to the south side of the street. Signs will be posted informing drivers of the temporary change.
Baby Formula 2017 Global Market Key Players Mead Johnson, Nestle, Danone, Abbott, FrieslandCampina, Heinz Analysis and Forecast to 2022
Baby Formula Market
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Baby Formula Market 2017Wiseguyreports.Com adds Baby Formula Market Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities, Analysis of Top Key Players and Forecast to 2022 To Its Research Database.Report Details:This report provides in depth study of Baby Formula using SWOT analysis i.e. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat to the organization. The Baby Formula Market report also provides an in-depth survey of key players in the market which is based on the various objectives of an organization such as profiling, the product outline, the quantity of production, required raw material, and the financial health of the organization.This report studies Baby Formula in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2012 to 2016, and forecast to 2022.This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringMead JohnsonNestleDanoneAbbottFrieslandCampinaHeinzBellamyTopferHiPPPerrigoArlaHolleFonterraWestland DairyPinnacleMeijiYiliBiostimeYashiliFeiheBrightdairyBeingmateWondersonSynutraWissunRequest a Sample Report @By types, the market can be split intoFirst StageSecond StageThird StageBy Application, the market can be split into0~6 Months Baby6~12 Months Baby>12 Months BabyBy Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Complete Report Details@Major Key Points in Table of Content:1 Industry Overview of Baby Formula1.1 Definition and Specifications of Baby Formula1.1.1 Definition of Baby Formula1.1.2 Specifications of Baby Formula1.2 Classification of Baby Formula1.2.1 First Stage1.2.2 Second Stage1.2.3 Third Stage1.3 Applications of Baby Formula1.3.1 0~6 Months Baby1.3.2 6~12 Months Baby1.3.3 >12 Months Baby1.4 Market Segment by Regions1.4.1 North America1.4.2 China1.4.3 Europe1.4.4 Southeast Asia1.4.5 Japan1.4.6 India.8 Major Manufacturers Analysis of Baby Formula8.1 Mead Johnson8.1.1 Company Profile8.1.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.1.2.1 Product A8.1.2.2 Product B8.1.3 Mead Johnson 2016 Baby Formula Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.1.4 Mead Johnson 2016 Baby Formula Business Region Distribution Analysis8.2 Nestle8.2.1 Company Profile8.2.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.2.2.1 Product A8.2.2.2 Product B8.2.3 Nestle 2016 Baby Formula Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.2.4 Nestle 2016 Baby Formula Business Region Distribution Analysis8.3 Danone8.3.1 Company Profile8.3.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.3.2.1 Product A8.3.2.2 Product B8.3.3 Danone 2016 Baby Formula Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.3.4 Danone 2016 Baby Formula Business Region Distribution Analysis8.4 Abbott8.4.1 Company Profile8.4.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.4.2.1 Product A8.4.2.2 Product B8.4.3 Abbott 2016 Baby Formula Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.4.4 Abbott 2016 Baby Formula Business Region Distribution Analysis8.5 FrieslandCampina8.5.1 Company Profile8.5.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.5.2.1 Product A8.5.2.2 Product B8.5.3 FrieslandCampina 2016 Baby Formula Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.5.4 FrieslandCampina 2016 Baby Formula Business Region Distribution Analysis8.6 Heinz8.6.1 Company Profile8.6.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.6.2.1 Product A8.6.2.2 Product B8.6.3 Heinz 2016 Baby Formula Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.6.4 Heinz 2016 Baby Formula Business Region Distribution Analysis8.7 Bellamy8.7.1 Company Profile8.7.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.7.2.1 Product A8.7.2.2 Product B8.7.3 Bellamy 2016 Baby Formula Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.7.4 Bellamy 2016 Baby Formula Business Region Distribution Analysis8.8 Topfer8.8.1 Company Profile8.8.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.8.2.1 Product A8.8.2.2 Product B8.8.3 Topfer 2016 Baby Formula Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.8.4 Topfer 2016 Baby Formula Business Region Distribution Analysis8.9 HiPP8.9.1 Company Profile8.9.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.9.2.1 Product A8.9.2.2 Product B8.9.3 HiPP 2016 Baby Formula Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.9.4 HiPP 2016 Baby Formula Business Region Distribution Analysis8.10 Perrigo8.10.1 Company Profile8.10.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.10.2.1 Product A8.10.2.2 Product B8.10.3 Perrigo 2016 Baby Formula Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.10.4 Perrigo 2016 Baby Formula Business Region Distribution Analysis8.11 Arla8.12 HolleContinued.Buy now @Contact Us:NORAH TRENTPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Sales@Wiseguyreports.ComPh: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)ABOUT US: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.ADDRES:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Global and US POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Market Status & Forecast 2017-2022 by Players, Types, Applications
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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "2017-2022 POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Report on Global and United States Market, Status and Forecast, by Players, Types and Applications" to its huge collection of research reports.The report revealed here archives a number of angles in which the Global and United States POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte market may be assesses which communicates the present and future expectations concerning the regularly changing powers at play. The essential factor behind the examination is to offer the reader with a broad thought of the market and make open the eminent information and records. The certain investigative examination past illustrating information on issues, for instance, drivers, restrictions, and projections to investigate the repercussions of the Global and United States POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte market through specified length in the report. The investigation successfully features a brief and world class record of the predefined display, which fuses a couple of events of the confirmed concentrations at work that are studied to trigger progression in the market or may cause any negative impact.This report also stations into the Global and United States POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte market by demandingly surveying the ample and industrialized chain of the persevering business sector. This is required to what's more guide in offering powerful data and information on compound parts of the applicable market, for instance, material identifying with systems for the social affair in the run of the mill and Global and United States strata, pass on and transmission structure, creation constrain, mass sold, and favorable circumstances gotten for the contributed add up to.The major players in global and United States POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte market, including Alere, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Instrumentation Laboratory , Radiometer , Abbott, Bayer, Cornley , Convergent Technologies , Edan Instruments , Erba Diagnostics , Fortress Diagnostics , I.SENS , JOKOH , LifeHealth , Medica , Nova Biomedical , OPTI Medical (Idexx) , Perlong Medical , SENSACORE , Siemens Healthineers , Sphere Medical , ZOLL MedicalThe report uses a couple of displayed embroiled investigation and finish operational hardware of the business. They allow the answer to absorb a revealed fundamental appraisal of the Global and United States POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte market and help endorser and market troupes to be told as for theory and business conclusions. The extensive delineation of the report's system offers a market position on an unmistakable and moment scale. It exasperates fundamental and discretionary research systems in this manner. The specialists have broken down the current circumstance of the market and developed it from the forward and backward development show condition to plot a methodology for the Global and United States POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte showcase in up and coming years.Table of Contents1 Methodology and Data Source1.1 Methodology/Research Approach1.1.1 Research Programs/Design1.1.2 Market Size Estimation1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation1.2 Data Source2.1.1 Secondary Sources2.1.2 Primary Sources1.3 DisclaimerFill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @2 POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Market Overview2.1 POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Product Overview2.2 POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Market Segment by Type2.3 Global POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Product Segment by Type2.4 United States POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Product Segment by Type2.4.1 United States POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Sales (K Units) and Growth by Types (2012, 2016 and 2022)2.4.2 United States POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Sales (K Units) and Market Share by Types (2012-2017)2.4.3 United States POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share by Types (2012-2017)2.4.4 United States POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Price (USD/Unit) by Type (2012-2017)3 POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Application/End Users3.1 POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Segment by Application/End Users3.2 Global POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Product Segment by Application3.3 United States POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Product Segment by Application3.3.1 United States POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Sales (K Units) and CGAR (%) by Applications (2012, 2016 and 2022)3.3.2 United States POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Applications (2012-2017)7 POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Players/Manufacturers Profiles and Sales Data7.1 Alere7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.1.2 POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.3 Alere POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 F. Hoffmann-La Roche7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.2.2 POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.3 F. Hoffmann-La RochePOC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Instrumentation Laboratory7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.3.2 POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.3 Instrumentation Laboratory POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business OverviewList of Tables and FiguresTable Research Programs/Design for This ReportFigure Bottom-up and Top-down Approaches for This ReportFigure Global POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure United States POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure Global Detecting Sodium Sales (K Units) and Growth Rate (%) (2012-2017)Figure Global Detecting Potassium Sales (K Units) and Growth Rate (%) (2012-2017)Figure Global Detecting Calcium Sales (K Units) and Growth Rate (%) (2012-2017)Table Global POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Sales (K Units) by Types (2012-2017)Table Global POC Blood Gas and Electrolyte Sales Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global and United States Wood Screws Market Status and Forecast 2017-2022 by Players, Types, Applications
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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "2017-2022 Wood Screws Report on Global and United States Market, Status and Forecast, by Players, Types and Applications" to its huge collection of research reports.The examination uncovered here chronicles a lot of factors in observance with the Global and United States Wood Screws market which conveys the present and future desires concerning the dynamically changing forces at play. The basic factor behind the examination is to offer readers with a wide idea of the market and make open the prominent data and records. The specific investigative examination past showing data on issues, for example, drivers, limitations, and projections to research the repercussions of the Global and United States Wood Screws market through indicated length in the report. The examination effectively highlights a brief and world class record of the predefined show, which melds a few occasions of the affirmed focuses at work that are concentrated to trigger movement in the market or may cause any negative effect.This report additionally stations into the Global and United States Wood Screws market by demandingly looking over the pass on and industrialized chain of the continuing on business division. This is required to what's more guide in offering capable information and data on compound parts of the appropriate market, for example, material relating to frameworks for the party in the regular and Global and United States strata, pass on and transmission structure, creation compel, mass sold, and great conditions gotten for the contributed mean.To Download Sample Report With TOC:The major players in global and United States Wood Screws market, including Kreg, Phillips Square-Driv, Power Pro, Fast Cap, Spax, Strong-Tie, Grip-Rite, Wood Pro, Everbilt, Swordfish,Wuxi Zhuocheng Mechanical, Jiangmen Yudu Tech.The report utilizes two or three demonstrated involved examination and complete operational equipment of the business. They enable the response to retain an uncovered basic evaluation of the Global and United States Wood Screws market and help endorser and market troupes to be told with respect to hypothesis and business conclusions. The broad depiction of the report's framework offers a market position on an unmistakable and minute scale. It maddens essential and optional research frameworks in this way. The masters have separated the present situation of the market and created it from the forward and in reverse advancement indicate condition to plot a strategy for the Global and United States Wood Screws market in future years.Table of Contents1 Methodology and Data Source1.1 Methodology/Research Approach1.1.1 Research Programs/Design1.1.2 Market Size Estimation1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation1.2 Data Source2.1.1 Secondary Sources2.1.2 Primary Sources1.3 Disclaimer2 Wood Screws Market Overview2.1 Wood Screws Product Overview2.2 Wood Screws Market Segment by Type2.3 Global Wood Screws Product Segment by Type2.3.1 Global Wood Screws Sales (Pcs) and Growth (%) by Types (2012, 2016 and 2022)2.3.2 Global Wood Screws Sales (Pcs) and Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)2.3.3 Global Wood Screws Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)2.3.4 Global Wood Screws Price (USD/Piece) by Type (2012-2017)2.4 United States Wood Screws Product Segment by Type3 Wood Screws Application/End Users3.1 Wood Screws Segment by Application/End Users3.2 Global Wood Screws Product Segment by Application3.2.1 Global Wood Screws Sales (Pcs) and CGAR (%) by Applications (2012, 2016 and 2022)3.2.2 Global Wood Screws Sales (Pcs) and Market Share (%) by Applications (2012-2017)3.3 United States Wood Screws Product Segment by Application3.3.1 United States Wood Screws Sales (Pcs) and CGAR (%) by Applications (2012, 2016 and 2022)3.3.2 United States Wood Screws Sales (Pcs) and Market Share (%) by Applications (2012-2017)7 Wood Screws Players/Manufacturers Profiles and Sales Data7.1 Kreg7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.1.2 Wood Screws Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.3 Kreg Wood Screws Sales (Pcs), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Piece) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Phillips Square-Driv7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.2.2 Wood Screws Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.3 Phillips Square-Driv Wood Screws Sales (Pcs), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Piece) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Power Pro7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.3.2 Wood Screws Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.3 Power Pro Wood Screws Sales (Pcs), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Piece) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business OverviewList of Tables and FiguresTable Research Programs/Design for This ReportFigure Bottom-up and Top-down Approaches for This ReportFigure Global Wood Screws Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure United States Wood Screws Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Table Global Wood Screws Sales (Pcs) and Growth Rate (%) Comparison by Types (2012, 2016 and 2022)Table Global Wood Screws Sales (Pcs) by Types (2012-2017)Table Global Wood Screws Sales Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)Figure Global Sales Wood Screws Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global and United States Butterfly Valves Market Status and Forecast by Players, Types and Applications 2017-2022
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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "2017-2022 Butterfly Valves Report on Global and United States Market, Status and Forecast, by Players, Types and Applications" to its huge collection of research reports.The exploration report here talks about around a few viewpoints relating to the Global and United States Butterfly Valves market which articulates the present insights and future prospects with reference to the elements at play. The essential point of the exploration report is to display a nitty gritty diagram to the readers and furnish them with helpful actualities and information. The statistical surveying report additionally executes with variables, for example, drivers, limitations, and prospects to gage the result of the Global and United States Butterfly Valves market amid the estimate time frame specified in the report. The report likewise shows a brief yet elite blueprint of the specific market, which comprises a few records of the real angles which are relied upon to trigger development in the market or cause negative effect.This report additionally dives profound into the Global and United States Butterfly Valves market by fastidiously assessing the generation and modern chain of the accommodating business sector. This will additionally help in engendering precise information and insights on various elements of the individual market, for example, data relating to strategies of the administration in the territorial and Global and United States level, make and dissemination structure, generation limit, volume sold, and income earned among others.Get Report Sample and Customization:The major players in global and United States Butterfly Valves market, including ADAMS Armaturen GmbH, Flowserve, Cameron, Emerson, L&T Valves, Zwick, The Weir Group, Bray International, Hobbs Valve, Pentair Valves & Controls , JC Valves, Velan, Dembla Valves Ltd, CRANE ChemPharmaEnergy, Wuzhou Valve, SWI, NewayThe exploration report will likewise be deficient without an exhaustive evaluation of the seller scene of the Global and United States Butterfly Valves market, which contains the statistical data points, exercises and creations of the pioneers in the Global and United States Butterfly Valves market. The investigation additionally gives a comprehensive examination of the key areas expressed in the report for the Global and United States Butterfly Valves market. For each region, the report articulates the variety of development up until now and clearing on what sellers can do to guarantee accomplishment in the coming years.Table of Contents1 Methodology and Data Source1.1 Methodology/Research Approach1.1.1 Research Programs/Design1.1.2 Market Size Estimation1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation1.2 Data Source2.1.1 Secondary Sources2.1.2 Primary Sources1.3 Disclaimer2 Butterfly Valves Market Overview2.1 Butterfly Valves Product Overview2.2 Butterfly Valves Market Segment by Type2.3 Global Butterfly Valves Product Segment by Type2.3.1 Global Butterfly Valves Sales (K Units) and Growth (%) by Types (2012, 2016 and 2022)2.3.2 Global Butterfly Valves Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)2.3.3 Global Butterfly Valves Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)2.3.4 Global Butterfly Valves Price (USD/Unit) by Type (2012-2017)2.4 United States Butterfly Valves Product Segment by Type3 Butterfly Valves Application/End Users3.1 Butterfly Valves Segment by Application/End Users3.2 Global Butterfly Valves Product Segment by Application3.2.1 Global Butterfly Valves Sales (K Units) and CGAR (%) by Applications (2012, 2016 and 2022)3.2.2 Global Butterfly Valves Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Applications (2012-2017)3.3 United States Butterfly Valves Product Segment by Application3.3.1 United States Butterfly Valves Sales (K Units) and CGAR (%) by Applications (2012, 2016 and 2022)3.3.2 United States Butterfly Valves Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Applications (2012-2017)7 Butterfly Valves Players/Manufacturers Profiles and Sales Data7.1 ADAMS Armaturen GmbH7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.1.2 Butterfly Valves Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.3 ADAMS Armaturen GmbH Butterfly Valves Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Flowserve7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.2.2 Butterfly Valves Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.3 Flowserve Butterfly Valves Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Cameron7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.3.2 Butterfly Valves Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.3 Cameron Butterfly Valves Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business OverviewList of Tables and FiguresTable Research Programs/Design for This ReportFigure Bottom-up and Top-down Approaches for This ReportFigure Global Butterfly Valves Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure United States Butterfly Valves Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure Global Concentric butterfly valves Sales (K Units) and Growth Rate (%) (2012-2017)Figure Global Doubly-eccentric butterfly valves Sales (K Units) and Growth Rate (%) (2012-2017)Figure Global Triply-eccentric butterfly valves Sales (K Units) and Growth Rate (%) (2012-2017)Table Global Butterfly Valves Sales (K Units) and Growth Rate (%) Comparison by Types (2012, 2016 and 2022)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global Pet Cancer Therapeutics Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022
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This report studies the global Pet Cancer Therapeutics market, analyzes and researches the Pet Cancer Therapeutics development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeZoetisMerialAratana TherapeuticsAB ScienceVetivaxOasmia PharmaceuticalVetDCRegeneusCanFel TherapeuticsKaryopharms VerdinexorMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaGet A Free Report Sample and Customization:Table of ContentsGlobal Pet Cancer Therapeutics Market Size, Status and Forecast 20221 Industry Overview of Pet Cancer Therapeutics1.1 Pet Cancer Therapeutics Market Overview1.1.1 Pet Cancer Therapeutics Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Pet Cancer Therapeutics 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 Pet Cancer Therapeutics Market by Type1.3.1 Chemotherapy Drugs1.3.2 Vaccines1.4 Pet Cancer Therapeutics Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 Lymphoma1.4.2 Mast Cell Cancer1.4.3 Melanoma1.4.4 Mammary and Squamous Cell Cancer1.4.5 Others2 Global Pet Cancer Therapeutics Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Pet Cancer Therapeutics Market Size (Value) by Players (2016 and 2017)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 Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Zoetis3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Pet Cancer Therapeutics Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Merial3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Pet Cancer Therapeutics Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Aratana Therapeutics3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business OverviewPlease click below to avail discount on this report :List of Tables and FiguresFigure Pet Cancer Therapeutics Product ScopeFigure Global Pet Cancer Therapeutics Market Size (Million USD) (2012-2017)Table Global Pet Cancer Therapeutics Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2012-2017)Figure Global Pet Cancer Therapeutics Market Share by Regions in 2016Figure United States Pet Cancer Therapeutics Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2012-2017)Figure EU Pet Cancer Therapeutics Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2012-2017)Figure Japan Pet Cancer Therapeutics Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2012-2017)Figure China Pet Cancer Therapeutics Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2012-2017)Figure India Pet Cancer Therapeutics Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2012-2017)About Us :QYresearchreports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations.Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Tuberculosis Testing Market Size, Status and Forecast 2021
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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Tuberculosis Testing Market Size, Status and Forecast 2021" to its huge collection of research reports.The statistical surveying report ponders on different elements relating to the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Tuberculosis Testing market which explains the present information and future open doors display in the market alluding to the elements at play. The key point of the examination report is to offer a definite gestalt to the readers about the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Tuberculosis Testing market and present then with valuable data and information. The statistical surveying report furthermore bargains in angles, for example, drivers, restrictions, and openings in to quantify the result of these elements on the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Tuberculosis Testing market over the conjecture time frame said in the report. The report additionally displays a brief yet restrictive framework of the individual market, which contains a few records of the significant perspectives which are foreseen to trigger development in the market or have a negative effect.This report additionally dives profound into the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Tuberculosis Testing market by fastidiously assessing the creation and modern chain of the accommodating business sector. This data will additionally help in communicating precise information and insights on various variables of the separate market, for example, data relating to approaches of the legislature in the local and United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia level, assembling and course structure, mechanical limit, volume sold, and income earned among others.This report studies the global Tuberculosis Testing market, analyzes and researches the Tuberculosis Testing development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeBDSandozOxford ImmunotecLabatec PharmaQiagenEikenEli LillyOtsuka PharmaceuticalSequellaCepheidThe examination report will likewise be deficient without an intensive evaluation of the seller scene of the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Tuberculosis Testing market, which incorporates the statistical data points, exercises and creations of the pioneers in the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Tuberculosis Testing market. The examination likewise conveys a widely inclusive evaluation of the main locales expressed in the report for the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Tuberculosis Testing market. For each district, the report articulates the variety of development up until this point and clearing on what advertise players can do to guarantee gainfulness in the up and coming years.Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Tuberculosis Testing1.1 Tuberculosis Testing Market Overview1.1.1 Tuberculosis Testing Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Tuberculosis Testing Market Size and Analysis by Regions1.3 Tuberculosis Testing Market by End Users/ApplicationTo Download Sample Report With TOC:2 Global Tuberculosis Testing Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Tuberculosis Testing 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 Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 BD3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Tuberculosis Testing Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Sandoz3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Tuberculosis Testing Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Oxford Immunotec3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Tuberculosis Testing Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.3.5 Recent Developments4 Global Tuberculosis Testing Market Size by Application (2011-2016)4.1 Global Tuberculosis Testing Market Size by Application (2011-2016)4.2 Potential Application of Tuberculosis Testing in Future4.3 Top Consumer/End Users of Tuberculosis Testing5 United States Tuberculosis Testing Development Status and Outlook5.1 United States Tuberculosis Testing Market Size (2011-2016)5.2 United States Tuberculosis Testing Market Size and Market Share by Players (2015-2016)List of Tables and FiguresFigure Tuberculosis Testing Product ScopeFigure Global Tuberculosis Testing Market Size (2011-2016)Table Global Tuberculosis Testing Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure Global Tuberculosis Testing Market Share by Regions in 2015Figure United States Tuberculosis Testing Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure EU Tuberculosis Testing Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure Japan Tuberculosis Testing Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure China Tuberculosis Testing Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure India Tuberculosis Testing Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia eDiscovery Market Size, Status and Forecast 2021
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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia eDiscovery Market Size, Status and Forecast 2021" to its huge collection of research reports.The constantly changing dynamics of the consumer behavior is influencing the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia eDiscovery market substantially. This report on the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia market for eDiscovery an in-depth assessment of this market on the basis of the key factors that shape its performance. Taking numerous factors into consideration, the size and the valuation of this market over the next few years have also been estimated in this research report.The value chain of the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia market for eDiscovery has been extensively examined in this research study, which further evaluates the upstream and downstream components. The trends related to the demand and supply of the products and services available in this market have also been analyzed, together with the factors prompting the rise in the demand from the end users.This report studies the global eDiscovery market, analyzes and researches the eDiscovery development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeSymantec CorporationIBM CorporationXerox CorportionExterroEMCEpiq SystemsHewlett Packard EnterpriseKcura CorporationAccessdataFTI TechnologyDeloitteAdvanced DiscoveryDTIConsilioKroll OntrackZylabGuidance SoftwareResearchers have taken the products, applications, and geographical segments as the main parameters for the study of the performance of the worldwide market for eDiscovery in this research report. The performance of every geographical segment has been evaluated on the basis of sales and the profit margins. The dynamics of demand and supply and export and import have also been recognized as prime factors influencing the sales of eDiscovery in each of the geographical segments.The research study concludes with an exhaustive assessment of the nature of the worldwide eDiscovery market in terms of the players operating in this market. The profiles of the leading participants have been thoroughly reviewed by performing a detailed SWOT analysis of each of the key companies in the market.Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of eDiscovery1.1 eDiscovery Market Overview1.1.1 eDiscovery Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global eDiscovery Market Size and Analysis by Regions1.3 eDiscovery Market by Type1.4 eDiscovery Market by End Users/ApplicationGet Report Sample and Customization:2 Global eDiscovery Competition Analysis by Players2.1 eDiscovery 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 Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Symantec Corporation3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 eDiscovery Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 IBM Corporation3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 eDiscovery Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Xerox Corportion3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 eDiscovery Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.3.5 Recent Developments4 Global eDiscovery Market Size by Type and Application (2011-2016)4.1 Global eDiscovery Market Size by Type (2011-2016)4.2 Global eDiscovery Market Size by Application (2011-2016)4.3 Potential Application of eDiscovery in Future4.4 Top Consumer/End Users of eDiscovery5 United States eDiscovery Development Status and Outlook5.1 United States eDiscovery Market Size (2011-2016)5.2 United States eDiscovery Market Size and Market Share by Players (2015-2016)List of Tables and FiguresFigure eDiscovery Product ScopeFigure Global eDiscovery Market Size (2011-2016)Table Global eDiscovery Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure Global eDiscovery Market Share by Regions in 2015Figure United States eDiscovery Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure EU eDiscovery Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure Japan eDiscovery Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure China eDiscovery Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure India eDiscovery Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Hip Reconstruction Market Size, Status and Forecast 2021
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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Hip Reconstruction Market Size, Status and Forecast 2021" to its huge collection of research reports.The report on the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Hip Reconstruction market is prepared with the help of a wide array of primary and secondary research incorporating inputs from leading market experts, industry strategists, research organizations, and business executives. The report titled United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Hip Reconstruction market research report offers in-depth insights into the current market status, share and size of major segments, notable trends, emerging business risks, and competitive landscape. The United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Hip Reconstruction market dynamics is undergoing several interesting shifts invigorated by constant technological advances and favorable changes in government policies in some regions. The report takes a closer look at the emergent strategic and tactical risks driven by changes in regulatory framework in key regions. In addition, it covers major research and development activities in recent decades expected to unlock exciting opportunities for market players.This report studies the global Hip Reconstruction market, analyzes and researches the Hip Reconstruction development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeStryker CorporationZimmer BiometAmedica CorporationBonovo Orthopedics, Inc.Corentec Co., Ltd.Corin Group PlcDePuy CompaniesDimicron Inc.Exactech, Inc.Fortis OrthopedicsFraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer ResearchImplants International LimitedINOR OrthopaedicsJRI Orthopaedics LtdGleaning through the report, market participants can get clear indications of various trends anticipated to gain traction and those that are likely to lose their sheen in the coming years. The report employs a host of industry-wide quantitative tools to assess the strategic landscape. Based on the volumes of data collected over the historic period and insights offered by the vast current statistics, the study presents a 360 degree view of the growth dynamics of the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Hip Reconstruction market over the forecast period. Using Porters five forces analysis and SWOT analysis, the report offers a holistic overview of the vendor landscape. The study is unique in its approach as it offers crystal clear view of the factors likely to tilt in favor of new entrants, thereby altering the intensity of competition in the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Hip Reconstruction in the not-so-distant future.Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Hip Reconstruction1.1 Hip Reconstruction Market Overview1.1.1 Hip Reconstruction Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Hip Reconstruction Market Size and Analysis by Regions1.3 Hip Reconstruction Market by End Users/ApplicationGet Research Summary Of The Repot:2 Global Hip Reconstruction Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Hip Reconstruction 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 Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Stryker Corporation3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Hip Reconstruction Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Zimmer Biomet3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Hip Reconstruction Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Amedica Corporation3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Hip Reconstruction Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.3.5 Recent Developments4 Global Hip Reconstruction Market Size by Application (2011-2016)4.1 Global Hip Reconstruction Market Size by Application (2011-2016)4.2 Potential Application of Hip Reconstruction in Future4.3 Top Consumer/End Users of Hip Reconstruction5 United States Hip Reconstruction Development Status and Outlook5.1 United States Hip Reconstruction Market Size (2011-2016)5.2 United States Hip Reconstruction Market Size and Market Share by Players (2015-2016)List of Tables and FiguresFigure Hip Reconstruction Product ScopeFigure Global Hip Reconstruction Market Size (2011-2016)Table Global Hip Reconstruction Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure Global Hip Reconstruction Market Share by Regions in 2015Figure United States Hip Reconstruction Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure EU Hip Reconstruction Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure Japan Hip Reconstruction Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure China Hip Reconstruction Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure India Hip Reconstruction Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs) Market Key Drivers, Trends and New Developments
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MarketResearchNest.com adds Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs) Market - Key Drivers, Trends And New Developments new report to its research database. The report spread across in 62 pages with tables and figures in it.Proliferation of unconventional energies and constantly prevailing threats from technologically enhanced weapons have led to the development of Directed Energy Weapons. The defensive and offensive potential of unconventional energies such as lasers, microwaves, sound and particle beam are being invested upon to develop varied range of weapons for both military and homeland security. With the ongoing programs and rapid progress in technology, demand for Directed Energy Weapons is expected to surge in futureInquire before Buying atThe report offers analysis of the global Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs) and covers key technological and market trends in the industry, and analyzes drivers/factors influencing demand for directed energy weapons. Additionally, the report provides an overview of five top spenders in the sector including recent procurements undertaken by these countries and profiles of five major directed energy weapons manufacturers in the domainScope- Large scale research initiatives being undertaken by key defense spenders across the world are a primary factor that will drive investment for Directed Energy Weapons over the coming years. Evolving military requirements to combat threats of varied range of weapons has compelled the military forces to seek development of directed energy weapons which can provide improved detection, navigation, targeting and countering such threats.- The US, Russia and China are poised to continue driving the developments in the Directed Energy Weapons market in the coming years, however, demand for such systems has already begun exhibiting an upward trend globally. Laser weapons will continue to lead the Directed Energy Weapons market both in terms of military as well as homeland security requirements.Order a Purchase Report Copy atReasons to buy- Snapshot of Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs) market, including highlights of the demand drivers, trends, and technology developments.- Insights into the Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs) market and a detailed analysis of factors driving the market for each segment with segments including Homeland Security and Military- Determining the prevalent trends in the sector segmented into Homeland Security and Military- Determining the current technical standards and new developments that will shape the market in the future- Analyzing the major countries and defence companies playing significant roles in development of Directed Energy WeaponsGet a complete report details atMarketResearchNest.com is the most comprehensive collection of market research products and services on the Web. We offer reports from almost all top publishers and update our collection on daily basis to provide you with instant online access to the worlds most complete and recent database of expert insights on global industries, organizations, products, and trends.Mr. Jeet JainSales Managersales@marketresearchnest.com+1-240-284-8070 / +44-20-3290-4151Pune, India
Know about the future of Global Cancer Diagnostics Market and what makes it a Booming Industry According to Research Report: 2017-2024
"Global Cancer Diagnostics Market" - Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024
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Global Cancer Diagnostics Market is expected to reach USD 40.10 billion by 2024 from USD 16.55 billion in 2016, at a CAGR of 11.7% in the forecast period 2017 to 2024. The new market report contains data for historic years 2015, the base year of calculation is 2016 and the forecast period is 2017 to 2024. Cancer diagnostics market has the largest market segment in drug delivery market.Request for Sample Report @The global cancer diagnostics market is highly concentrated to a few big players and rest to local players who cater to domestic markets only. Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. dominated the cancer diagnostics market, by platform based accounting for the highest market share in 2016, followed by Illumina, Inc. and Roche Diagnostics. GE Healthcare dominated the cancer diagnostics market, by imaging accounting for the highest market share in 2016, followed by Siemens Healthcare GmbH and Hologic, Inc. Other players in this market include Agilent Technologies, Abbott, Becton, Dickinson and Company, and Koninklijke Philips N.V., among others holds 24.7% of the global cancer diagnostics market in 2016.Browse Full Report @Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc,:Founded in 2006 as Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc, and head quartered in Massachusetts, U.S. is focused on developing, manufacturing and sales of medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment and diagnostic products. The company operates through four business segments: laboratory products and services, life sciences and solutions, analytical instruments and specialty diagnostic.Recent developments: In June 2017, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. established a partnership with the Institute Of Medical Genetics and Pathology at University Hospital Basel. In March 2017, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. introduced the QuantStudio 5 Real-Time PCR System, designed to use with HID real time PCR analysis that optimises the use by reducing the cost and increasing efficiency.Illumina, Inc.:Founded in 1998 and headquartered in San Diego, USA. Illumina, inc. is engaged in the development, manufacturing and market integration for analysis of genetic variation and biological function. The company operates through three business segments, namely research, applied science and clinical. The research segment includes the Molecular Biological research tool, Applied Genomics Solutions, Oncology, Microbial Genomics and Genomics in Drug Development. The Applied Science segment of company offers Forensic Genomics, Commercial Agricultural Applications, Molecular Epidemiology and Biobank Analysis Solution. The clinical segment includes Molecular Diagnostics, Reproductive and Genetic Health, Translational Research and others.Recent Developments: In June 2017, Illumina Inc. announced the FDA approval of Extended RAS Panel for the evaluation of colorectal cancer from the American Cancer Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). In April 2017, Illumina Inc. reported the launch of the VeriSeq NIPT solution, based on CE-IVD marked next-generation sequencing (NGS) approach for the non invasive pre-natal testing (NIPT), also including CE-IVD marked library prep and analysis software.GE Healthcare:Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Chicago, U.S. GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services. GE healthcare operates through three business segments healthcare systems, life sciences, and healthcare digital.Recent Developments: In March 2017, GE Healthcare introduced its latest product positron emission tomography/ computed tomography IQ PET/CT in Egypt for early detection of cancer and track patients responses to cancer treatment. In March 2017, GE Healthcare launched Clariscan (gadoteric acid) at the European Congress of Radiology (ECR) meeting in Europe to detect abnormalities in the brain, spine and associated tissues.Simens Healthcare GmbH:Founded in 1847 and headquartered in Erlangen, Germany. Siemens Healthcare GmbH is engaged in medical technologies. The company operates through different business segments, such as medical imaging, laboratory diagnostic, point of care testing, healthcare IT services, and clinical specialities & diseases. The clinical specialties & diseases segment includes cardiology, neurology, oncology, surgery, women health and others. In oncology, Siemens Healthcare GmbH provides Imaging, Laboratory Diagnostics, Virtual MR/Ultrasound Guidance for TRUS Assisted Prostate Biopsy and others.Recent Developments: In May 2016, Siemens Healthcare GmbH acquired NEO New Oncology AG. With this acquisition Siemens Healthcare will expand its portfolio with molecular testing related services and technologies for oncology and genomicsInquiry before Buying @Related ReportGlobal mHealth Solutions Market- Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Global mHealth Solutions Market By Product and Service [Connected Medical Devices { Clinical Devices (Vital Signs Monitoring Devices, Peak Flowmeters, Fetal Monitoring Devices, Multiparameter Trackers, Neurological Monitoring Devices, Sleep Apnea Monitors) Consumer Health Devices} mHealth Apps {Healthcare Apps (General Health & Fitness Apps, Chronic Care Management Apps, Medication Management Apps, Womens Health Apps, Personal Health Record Apps) Medical Apps (Medical Reference Apps, Continuing Medical Education Apps, Patient Management & Monitoring Apps, Communication & Consulting Apps) mHealth Services (Remote Monitoring Services, Diagnosis & Consultation Services, Treatment Services, Healthcare System Strengthening Services, Fitness & Wellness Services, Prevention Services), Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Europe, South America, Middle East and Africa) Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Report Access:About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Vishal DixitData Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email: Sales@databridgemarketresearch.comInvestor: investors@databridgemarketresearch.comVisit BlogFollow us on LinkedIn:
The Westby Sons of Norway Solvang Lodge 457 met at the Westby Community Center, on Tuesday, Aug. 29. A total of 51 people attended. A short business meeting was held, with some discussion regarding possible officer term limits.
Craig Dunnum was presented a Recruitment Award. Ron and Sandy Iverson, Dave and Jan Dregne rode in our Viking Ship for the parade in Decorah on July 29. We congratulated Brian Rude on his selection as 2017 Oktoberfest Festmaster. Congratulations to Alexis and Brittany Dunnum who have both been recipients of Sons of Norway scholarships. Birthdays and anniversaries for July and August were also recognized.
Karen Hankee gave a short talk about her recent trip to Norway and her excursion on the Olso Fjord.
A very interesting program was presented by David Glomstad President of the Wiegland Lodge in La Crosse and a Civil War re-enactment participant for 25 years. He was dressed in his Civil War uniform and had the Musket rifle, which was accurate up to 800 yards, his bayonet, and the knap sack, powder bag etc.
Klomstad spoke about the 15th Wisconsin, Company Es part in the war. The people in Norway followed the news about their battles very closely but the newspapers here did not report on them because their records, diaries etc. were all written in Norwegian. More than 100 of the men in this Company had the first name of Ole. Records show that only 19 Norwegians fought in the Confederate Army, as they were very much anti-slavery in Norway.
Lunch was served by Tammy and Sue Haakenson, Diane Pieper and Deb Olson. The Pot O Gold was won by Archie Rundhaugen.
The groups next meeting will be at 7 p.m., on Tuesday, Sept. 26.
Software as a Service (SaaS) Market: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast to 2025 & Get Flat 25% Discount on This Report For Limited Time.
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Paying for a software as per the usage on a subscription basis rather than fully owning can be defined as Software as a service (SaaS). SaaS applications are accessed using a web browser from a remote location and eliminates the hassles of installing, upgrading and maintaining the software for the owner. As a business delivery model for many corporate applications SaaS provides a huge variety of software to industries from various verticals and the software include database management software, messaging software, enterprise resource planning (ERP), gaming applications, service desk management, payroll software, computer designing software, customer relationship management (CRM), content management (CM), development software, virtualization software, collaboration, invoicing, talent acquisition accounting, management information systems (MIS), human resource management (HRM) and antivirus software. SaaS has been integrated by major upcoming and leading software companies with major adoptions witnessed by the SMEs. The advantage offered by SaaS is the cost reductions associated with it and the eliminations of hidden costs.Get Flat 25% Discount On This Report at(Offer available up to October 15, 2017)The global Software as a Service market is bifurcated based on deployment model as: private cloud, public cloud, and hybrid cloud. Furthermore, the global SaaS market can be further divided by applications into ERP, HRM, CRM, supply chain management (SCM) and others (Web conferencing platforms, messaging applications and collaboration). Additionally, while considering on the basis of end-user SaaS can be further classified into small & medium enterprises (SMEs), and large enterprises. The end-user classification has been done on the basis of revenues.Request Sample Copy @Software as a Service is there to replace the traditional application service provider model on account of various benefits it caters. SaaS basically can be deployed into organizations via three different deployment models. Each model has its own advantages and disadvantages but the public cloud deployment model has been the largest adopted model for this market SaaS providers generally develop and manage their own software. The differentiating point between ASPs and SaaS vendors is that ASPs offer conventional client-server models that require installation of software at the clients premises, however SaaS requires a web browser and eliminates the need to install at the clients premise. In addition, major initial ASPs offered a separate instance of the user application for each enterprise, however, a software distribution model that allows sharing of applications and allowing access to organizations via a single tenant or multi-tenant architecture is basically SaaS.Businesses are seeking paradigm shift in their operations especially in developing economies like India and China of APAC region. Awareness about the benefits of SaaS in these regions has significantly increased the adoptions of Software as a Service solutions by various organizations. Furthermore, developing economies have been the breeding grounds for a large number of SMEs that are the largest adopters of SaaS models. As a result, Software as a Service market is expected to witness a huge opportunity with its rise in the APAC region. On the organizational point of view, SMEs are adopting and implementing this technology on account of significant cost reductions.Customers are the greatest asset for any organization and employees are the backbone of any successful business. Understanding the importance of both these resources, many small and large organizations globally have adopted CRM and HRM applications to establish long-term relationships with their customers and also manage their internal human resource efficiently. Google, Inc., Fujitsu Ltd., Amazon.com, Inc., ADP, LLC, IBM Corporation, Salesforce.com, Inc., Workday, Inc., Oracle Corporation, SAP SE and Microsoft Corporation are some of the major players in the global Software as a Service market.View Complete Report atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.comAbout 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.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Diabetes Pen Market Size, Growth and Foresight to 2023: illuminated by new report
Diabetes Pen
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The Asia Pacific Diabetes Pen Market Research Report provides detailed analysis of the key regional market status of the Diabetes Pen Industry.Diabetes is the metabolic disease where there is increase in blood sugar level. Increase in blood sugar level is due less or no insulin secretion by body. Diabetes is now a days becoming a major problem in many countries. Increasing prevalence of diabetes, government initiatives are the major driving factor for the market. Introduction of diabetic pen has help diabetic patient to administer insulin at their home itself. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market for the diabetic pen. Asia Pacific diabetic pen market is expected to grow at CAGR of ~ 7% during forecasted period 2017-2023. India and China has the major share of the market.Request a Sample Report @To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 6 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the Asia Pacific Diabetes Pen Market. To provide the detail information about drivers and factors restraining the market growth. To analyze Asia Pacific Diabetes Pen Market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to Asia-Pacific region and their countries- India, Japan, China, Australia, Republic of Korea and Rest of Asia Pacific. To provide the trends and opportunities in Asia Pacific Diabetes Pen Market. To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective, To provide overview of key players and their strategic profiling in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the marketKey Players for Asia Pacific Diabetes Pen marketRoche DiagnosticsAstraZeneca plc.Johnson & JohnsonAbbott LaboratoriesBiocon Ltd.Dexcom, Inc. (U.S.)Becton-DickinsonOwen Mumford Ltd.Jiangsu Delfu Co.Novo Nordisk A/SYpsomed AGMedtronic plcTandem Diabetes Care, Inc.Eli Lilly and CompanySanofi S.A.Wockhardt Ltd.SegmentationAsia Pacific Diabetes Pen market has been segmented on the basis of-By product used which includes Insulin Pens and Insulin Pen NeedleOn the basis of usage which includes reusable pens and disposable pensOn the basis of distribution channel which include Hospital Pharmacy, Retail Pharmacy, Online Sales, and Diabetes ClinicsOn the basis of End user they are Hospital, clinics and OthersOn the basis of region they are India, Japan, China, Australia, Republic of Korea and Rest of Asia Pacific.Regional AnalysisOn regional basis Asia Pacific is segmented into India, Japan, China, Australia, Republic of Korea and Rest of Asia Pacific. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market in the world due to increase in the diabetic population and new research and development in the field of diabetic devices. India and China is the most populated countries where there is the major chances of increasing the diabetic population. Total diabetic population of India and China in 2012 is 61 million and 90 million respectively.The report for Asia Pacific Diabetes Pen market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different markets segments and regions.Table of Content1. Report Prologue2. Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope Of The Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 Limitations2.3 Market Structure2.4. Market Segmentation3. Research Methodology3.1 Research Process3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size Estimation3.5 Forecast Model12 Company Profile12.1 Roche Diagnostics12.1.1 Overview12.1.2 Product/Business Segment Overview12.1.3 Financial Updates12.1.4 Key Developments12.2 AstraZeneca Plc.12.2.1 Overview12.2.2 Product/Business Segment Overview12.2.3 Financial Updates12.2.4 Key Developments12.3 Johnson & Johnson12.3.1 Overview12.3.2 Product/Business Segment Overview12.3.3 Financial Updates12.3.4 Key Developments12.4 Abbott Laboratories12.4.1 Overview12.4.2 Product/Business Segment Overview12.4.3 Financial Updates12.4.4 Key Developments12.5 Dexcom12.5.1 Overview12.5.2 Product/Business Segment Overview12.5.3 Financial Updates12.5.4 Key Developments12.6 OtherBrowse Full Report Details@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.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.comWise 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.Pune, India
Global Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Market Research Report 2017 : Hitachi, Sydney Water, Emerson
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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Market Research Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.In this report, the global Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingKingspan EnvironmentalGE WaterEcolabHitachiSydney WaterEmersonMWH GlobalEcoprogDAS EESuezVeolia Water TechnologiesOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoWater TreatmentWater RecycleOtherOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate of Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants for each application, includingElectric Power PlantsIron and Steel IndustryMines and QuarriesChemical IndustryPulp and Paper IndustryNuclear IndustryOtherIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Table of Contents1 Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants1.2 Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Segment by Type (Product Category)1.3 Global Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Segment by Application1.4 Global Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Market by Region (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Get A PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @2 Global Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Market Competitive Situation and Trends7 Global Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Kingspan Environmental7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.3 Kingspan Environmental Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 GE Water7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.3 GE Water Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Ecolab7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.3 Ecolab Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business OverviewList of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Industrial Wastewater Treatment PlantsFigure Global Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Production (K Units) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2012-2022)Figure Global Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Production Market Share by Types (Product Category) in 2016Figure Global Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Consumption (K Units) by Applications (2012-2022)Figure Global Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Consumption Market Share by Applications in 2016Figure Global Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Market Size (Million USD), Comparison (K Units) and CAGR (%) by Regions (2012-2022)Figure Global Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure Global Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants Capacity, Production (K Units) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Luxury Yacht 2017 Global Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 7.01% and Forecast to 2020
Luxury Yacht Market 2017
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WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On - Luxury Yacht 2017 Global Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 7.01% and Forecast to 2020.The analysts forecast the global luxury yacht market to grow at a CAGR of 7.01% during the period 2016-2020.Luxury yachts include modern convenience features such as air conditioners (ACs), televisions, navigation aids, radars, echo-sounding systems, autopilot facility, and power-generating system. The market is driven by several factors, including rising luxury tourism and recreational events. Yachts are often an extension of a status symbol for the HNWI population. This is because they fall into the ultra-luxury goods category along with luxury cars, watches, and jewelry.Get a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comCovered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global luxury yacht market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report includes the major drivers that are influencing the growth of the luxury yacht market.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: Americas APAC EMEAThe report, Global Luxury Yacht Market 2016-2020, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors AMELS Azimut | Benetti Feadship ISA Yacht Overmarine GroupOther prominent vendors Abeking & Rasmussen Anastassiades & Tsortanides Arcadia Yachts Astondoa Austral Yachts Bilgin Bloemsma Van Breemen Cammenga Canados Cantiere delle Marche Cantieri di Pisa Castagnola Chediek CNB Corsair Marine Couach Yachts CRN Danish Yachts De Schepper Derecktor Falcon Yachts Ferretti Group Fitzroy Yachts Geta Corp Green Marine Ter Haak Group Hakvoort Heesen Yachts Holland Jachtbouw Horizon ICON Yachts Inace Intermarine Johnson Yachts Kvaerner Lloyd's Ship Lurssen MAG Mengi-Yay Mondo Marine Nautor's Swan Neta Marine Ortona Navi Oyster Palmer Johnson Palumbo Per Mare Perini Navi Pershing Posillipo Princess Riva Rossi Navi Royal Huisman Sanlorenzo Southern Wind Sterling Steve Ward Tecnomar Trumpy Van Dam Nordia Vitters Warren Yachts Witsen & VisMarket driver Increase in tourism and recreational events across the globe. For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge Motor luxury yachts have high operational costs. For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend Increasing preference for enhanced technologies to build yachts. For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report What 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?Ask Query @Table Of Contents Major Key PointsPART 01: Executive summary HighlightsPART 02: Scope of the report Market overview Top-vendor offeringsPART 03: Market research methodology Research methodology Economic indicatorsPART 04: Introduction Key market highlights Yacht: An overview Types of luxury yacht market by propulsion Types of luxury yacht by size Value chain analysisPART 05: Market landscape Market overview Market size and forecast Five forces analysisPART 06: Geographical segmentation EMEA Americas APACPART 07: Market drivers Increase in tourism and recreational events across the globe High HNWI population and wealth Growing number of luxury marinasPART 08: Market challenges Motor luxury yachts have high operational costs Postponed purchasesPART 09: Market trends Shift toward use of advanced materials in yacht building Increasing preference for enhanced technologies to build yachts Growing focus on emerging markets Tailored experience preference by HNWI population rather than replicaPART 10: Vendor landscape Competitive benchmarking Other prominent vendorsPART 11: Key vendor analysis AMELS Azimut | Benetti Feadship ISA Yacht Overmarine GroupPART 12: Appendix List of abbreviationsContinue.For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comBuy 1-User PDF@ABOUT US: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.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028.
Global Wireless Temperature Monitoring Market Research Report 2017 Emerson, IMC, Thermo Fisher
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Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Wireless Temperature Monitoring Market Research Report 2017 to its huge collection of research reports.In the recent times, the global Wireless Temperature Monitoring has been exhibiting frequent changes in its business landscape. This research report is an analytical study of the Wireless Temperature Monitoring, which comprehensively analyzes the competitive framework of this market. Using a number of effective assessment tools, such as porters five forces and value chain analysis, it performs in-depth analyses of the production and supply as well as the demand and sales of Wireless Temperature Monitoring and provides deep insights into the future prospects of this market.In this research report, apart from the trends, the driving forces, restraints, and opportunities has also been taken into consideration to determine the markets future. Further, it offers an estimation of the market size in terms of value (US$) and in volume (kilo tons) and talks about the key segments and the geographical subdivisions of the worldwide Wireless Temperature Monitoring market in details. It provides in-depth information on the development trends and the policies and regulations, concerning the usage of Wireless Temperature Monitoring, implemented in each of the geographical segments. The predominant applications of the Wireless Temperature Monitoring have also been discussed at length in this research study.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The research report also analyzes the nature of the global market for Wireless Temperature Monitoring on the basis of the market participants by reviewing their company profiles and offers a detailed competitive analysis of the business landscape present in this market. The main strategies and the future prospects of the leading players have also been discussed here with an objective to enable market participants to create better and rewarding strategies.Table of ContentsGlobal Wireless Temperature Monitoring Market Research Report 20171 Wireless Temperature Monitoring Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Wireless Temperature Monitoring1.2 Wireless Temperature Monitoring Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Wireless Temperature Monitoring Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Wireless Temperature Monitoring Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Hermetically Sealed Probes1.3 Global Wireless Temperature Monitoring Segment by Application1.3.1 Wireless Temperature Monitoring Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Commercial1.4 Global Wireless Temperature Monitoring Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Wireless Temperature Monitoring Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 North America Status and Prospect (2012-2022)Browse Complete Report with TOC @2 Global Wireless Temperature Monitoring Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Wireless Temperature Monitoring Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Wireless Temperature Monitoring Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Wireless Temperature Monitoring Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Wireless Temperature Monitoring Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Wireless Temperature Monitoring Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers Wireless Temperature Monitoring Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Wireless Temperature Monitoring Market Competitive Situation and Trends3 Global Wireless Temperature Monitoring Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global Wireless Temperature Monitoring Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global Wireless Temperature Monitoring Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global Wireless Temperature Monitoring Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global Wireless Temperature Monitoring Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 North America Wireless Temperature Monitoring Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)4 Global Wireless Temperature Monitoring Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)4.1 Global Wireless Temperature Monitoring Consumption by Region (2012-2017)4.2 North America Wireless Temperature Monitoring Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.3 Europe Wireless Temperature Monitoring Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.4 China Wireless Temperature Monitoring Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.5 Japan Wireless Temperature Monitoring Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)Enquiry For Discount Visit @List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Wireless Temperature MonitoringFigure Global Wireless Temperature Monitoring Production (K Units) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2012-2022)Figure Global Wireless Temperature Monitoring Production Market Share by Types (Product Category) in 2016Figure Product Picture of Hermetically Sealed ProbesTable Major Manufacturers of Hermetically Sealed ProbesFigure Product Picture of High Temperature ProbesTable Major Manufacturers of High Temperature ProbesFigure Product Picture of Cryogenic (Cryo) Liquid ProbesTable Major Manufacturers of Cryogenic (Cryo) Liquid ProbesFigure Product Picture of Surface Temperature ProbesTable Major Manufacturers of Surface Temperature ProbesQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. 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Trend Analysis of Global Agriculture Enzyme Market Research Report 2017
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ReportsWeb.com has announced the addition of the Global Agriculture Enzyme Market Professional Survey Report 2017 The report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification.This report studies Agriculture Enzyme in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2012 to 2016, and forecast to 2022.Request sample copy atThis report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringNovozymesSyngentaBASFSpecialty Enzymes & BiotechnologiesAmerican Biosystems, IncAfrizymesCypher EnvironmentalAum EnzymesEnzyme India Pvt. Ltd.Creative EnzymesStollerGreenmax Agro TechCamson Bio TechnologiesView complete report atOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoBy Enzyme TypePhosphatasesDehydrogenasesSulfatasesOthersBy Product TypeFertility ProductsGrowth Enhancing ProductsControl ProductsBy Application, the market can be split intoCereals & GrainsOilseeds & PulsesFruits & VegetablesTurf & OrnamentalsOthersBy Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaInquire before Buying atTable of Contents1 Industry Overview of Agriculture Enzyme1.1 Definition and Specifications of Agriculture Enzyme1.2 Classification of Agriculture Enzyme1.3 Applications of Agriculture Enzyme2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Agriculture Enzyme2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Agriculture Enzyme2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Agriculture Enzyme2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Agriculture Enzyme3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Agriculture Enzyme3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Agriculture Enzyme Major Manufacturers in 20173.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Agriculture Enzyme Major Manufacturers in 20173.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Agriculture Enzyme Major Manufacturers in 20173.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Agriculture Enzyme Major Manufacturers in 20174 Global Agriculture Enzyme Overall Market Overview4.1 2012-2017E Overall Market Analysis4.2 Sales Analysis4.3 Sales Price Analysis5 Agriculture Enzyme Regional Market Analysis5.1 North America Agriculture Enzyme Market Analysis5.2 China Agriculture Enzyme Market Analysis5.3 Europe Agriculture Enzyme Market Analysis5.4 Southeast Asia Agriculture Enzyme Market Analysis5.5 Japan Agriculture Enzyme Market Analysis6 Global 2012-2017E Agriculture Enzyme Segment Market Analysis (by Type)6.1 Global 2012-2017E Agriculture Enzyme Sales by Type6.2 Different Types of Agriculture Enzyme Product Interview Price Analysis6.3 Different Types of Agriculture Enzyme Product Driving Factors Analysis7 Global 2012-2017E Agriculture Enzyme Segment Market Analysis (by Application)7.1 Global 2012-2017E Agriculture Enzyme Consumption by Application7.2 Different Application of Agriculture Enzyme Product Interview Price Analysis7.3 Different Application of Agriculture Enzyme Product Driving Factors Analysis8 Major Manufacturers Analysis of Agriculture Enzyme9 Development Trend of Analysis of Agriculture Enzyme Market9.1 Global Agriculture Enzyme Market Trend Analysis9.2 Agriculture Enzyme Regional Market Trend9.3 Agriculture Enzyme Market Trend (Product Type)9.4 Agriculture Enzyme Market Trend (Application)10 Agriculture Enzyme Marketing Type Analysis10.1 Agriculture Enzyme Regional Marketing Type Analysis10.2 Agriculture Enzyme International Trade Type Analysis10.3 Traders or Distributors with Contact Information of Agriculture Enzyme by Region10.4 Agriculture Enzyme Supply Chain Analysis11 Consumers Analysis of Agriculture EnzymePurchase this report atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Republic of Korea Military to discuss future milsatcom plans in London this November
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For the first time in its 19-year history, SMi Groups Global MilSatCom Conference & Exhibition will be featuring South Korea in its speaker line-up for this years event.With recent threats surging within the region, South Korea has instilled urgency in the race to perfect milsatcom systems to ensure overall robust defence capability. Commander of Defence Communication Command, Brigadier General Nag Jung Choi, will be presenting a keynote address on Day 3 of the conference to discuss the Direction of Future MilSatCom Programmes for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces.In this exclusive presentation, Brigadier General Choi will explore how the Armed Forces are developing new milsatcom utilizing C, Ku-Band and L-Band commercial satellites working with international partners to manage satellite network threatsSMis Group has recently released an updated agenda for the 19th Global MilSatCom 2017, taking place on 7-9 November in London. The full programme can be found onNow featuring a speaker line-up of over 50 defence satellite communications experts, the event programme has been curated to explore the growing demand to enhance SatCom capabilities and to discuss national strategies and requirements in this vital area of defence.This years programme is inarguably the best and most international in the events history, SMi Managing Director Dale Butler said. Delegate numbers are up by 30% and the event is looking to attract around 500 attendees this year, which will be a new record for the conference series.The full roster of speakers and presentations can be found onFor those interested to attend, registration is now live on the event website.The final Early Bird discount of 100 for this conference will expire on 29 September.19th Global MilSatCom Conference and Exhibition7-9 November 2017Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel, London, UK---ENDS---Contact Information:For queries on military bookings, contact James Hitchen on jhitchen@smi-online.co.uk. For sponsorship and exhibition details, contact Alia Malick on amalick@smi-online.co.uk. For media enquiries contact Honey de Gracia on hdegracia@smi-online.co.uk.About SMi Group:Established since 1993, the SMi Group is a global event-production company that specializes in Business-to-Business Conferences, Workshops, Masterclasses and online Communities. We create and deliver events in the Defence, Security, Energy, Utilities, Finance and Pharmaceutical industries. We pride ourselves on having access to the worlds most forward thinking opinion leaders and visionaries, allowing us to bring our communities together to Learn, Engage, Share and Network. More information can be found at1 Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7XW
Global Agricultural Enzymes Industry Report Emerging Trends and Forecast 2017
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ReportsWeb.com has announced the addition of the Global Agricultural Enzymes Market Research Report 2017 The report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification.Global Agricultural Enzymes market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingNovozymesSyngentaBASFSpecialty Enzymes & BiotechnologiesAmerican Biosystems, IncAfrizymesCypher EnvironmentalAum EnzymesEnzyme India Pvt. Ltd.Creative EnzymesRequest a Sample copy atGeographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Agricultural Enzymes in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaComplete report is available atOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate of Agricultural Enzymes for each application, includingCereals & GrainsOilseeds & PulsesFruits & VegetablesTurf & OrnamentalsOtherTable of Contents:1 Agricultural Enzymes Market Overview2 Global Agricultural Enzymes Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Agricultural Enzymes Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)4 Global Agricultural Enzymes Supply (Production) , Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)5 Global Agricultural Enzymes Production, Revenue (Value) , Price Trend by Type6 Global Agricultural Enzymes Market Analysis by ApplicationGet Discount at7 Global Agricultural Enzymes Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis8 Agricultural Enzymes Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Agricultural Enzymes Market Forecast (2017-2022)13 Research Findings and ConclusionPurchase complete report atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.Pune:505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Spacesuit Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 20172025
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Spacesuit market primarily caters to the limited list of space agencies such as Russian Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) that utilize these products for the astronaut survival in the outer space. These also find significant application for the crew members inside the spacecraft to ensure safety mechanism in the event of loss of the cabin pressure. According to Coherent Market Insights, the business can be largely characterized low volume and high margin industry.Request Sample of Spacesuit Market:Difficulty in surviving in space owing to substantially different conditions is the primary growth driver of the industryUtilization of distinct advanced materials in the designing and development for next generation suits, such as urethane-coated nylon, Dacron, Neoprene, aluminized Mylar, Gortex, Kevlar and Nomex, to enable living in space have gained significant traction as the key industry trends. These materials enhance the strength, reduce overall weights, and enable the required sustenance of pressure and air. Moreover, participants are increasingly focusing on development of more innovative materials to differentiate their portfolio from the competitors and provide tailored solutions with enhanced safety and versatility for the end users.Spacesuit Market TaxonomyOn the basis of product, the global spacesuit market is classified into:Low Pressure SpacesuitHyperbaric SpacesuitOn the basis of designs, the global spacesuit market is classified into:Soft suitsHard-shell suitsHybrid suitsSkintight suitsOn the basis of application, the global spacesuit market is classified into:Extravehicular activity (EVA)Intravehicular activity (IVA)Spacesuit market are poised for renaissance owing to increasing interests of private sector roles in the space industryCommercial space travel concept is among the key trend that is expected to transform the industry landscape over the next decade. For instance, In May 2014, U.S. space travel agency has partnered with a Japanese advertisement agency for endorsing its future spaceflight missions. Commercial space travel offering companies will make efforts to distinguish themselves by offering their products based on better capabilities, aesthetics, and comfort. These factors will drive the demands for commercial grade suits and fuel the spacesuit market growth over the forecast period.To Check the Trending Report of Spacesuit Market:EVA segment dominated the global industry share in 2016, owing to its necessary applications in the spaceThese dominated the industry share by value primarily owing to the significant usage of these suits for the examination and research operations. Moreover, these form necessary inclusions in the space missions owing to probability of damage owing to orbiting space debris. Owing to these requirements, EVA segment application is anticipated to continue its dominance over the forecast period.U.S. is expected to continue to dominate the global industry share owing to significant advancement and large number of space related operations taking place in the country. Other countries that include Russia, China, Japan, and India are expected to highly contribute to the global demands over the next few years. High involvement of countries in various space programs such as the launch of satellites and the availability of potential opportunities to provide low-cost space missions, will propel the growth of the spacesuit market.To Get Discount on this Report:Industry is largely characterized by the fragmented industry share owing to number of players sharing the industry share. According to our analysis, the intensive competition is expected to be largely characterized by the substantial development of new materials, low overall weights, and high reliability of the suits. Advent of commercial space companies further alleviate the competition and will drive the innovation in shortening the design cycles, computer simulations, 3D printing, and product durability. Chief industry participants in the industry include Boeing, ILC Dover, David Clark, Oceaneering International, NPP Zvezda, Final Frontier Design, Pacific Spaceflight, Austrian Space Forum (OeWF), and UTC Aerospace Systems.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comWebsite:Visit Blog : globalresearchtrends.blogspot.in/
Electronic Health Records Market and Government Backing to Encourage Increased Adoption Globally
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The global market for electronic health record (EHR) features a largely fragmented vendor landscape, with the presence of a large number of small and large players and the top five companies cumulatively accounting for a nearly 44% of the overall market in 2016.Leading vendors in the global EHR market are adopting inorganic growth strategies such as mergers and acquisitions to expand their reach across high-growth potential regional markets, consolidate consumer base, and strengthen their market presence.Obtain Report Details:Quality Systems, Inc. acquired HealthFusion, a developer of cloud-based EHRs for physician practices, towards the end of 2015. The acquisition is anticipated to enhance the market share of Quality Systems in SaaS-based healthcare products in ambulatory market segment.In addition, this acquisition will add over 3,000 physician practices, ambulatory centers and medical billing services who employ HealthFusions EHR to Quality Systems client base.According to Transparency Market Research, the global EHR market was valued at US$23.22 bn in 2016 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.7% from 2017 to 2025, to reach an estimated value of US$38.29 bn by 2025.Hospitals to Remain Leading Users of Electronic Health RecordsIn the end user segment, hospitals are among the most prominent buyers as 65% of the hospitals across the globe have installed some form of EHR in 2015 compared to 54% in 2014.Make Enquiry @The segment is expected to remain the top end-use sector of the global EHR market over the forecast period, exhibiting a promising 5.1% CAGR over the reports forecast period.Geographically, North America, which is the cumulative market for the U.S. and Canada, accounted for a massive 46.2% of the global market in 2016, primarily due to favorable government policies such as pay for value and rapid inclination towards installation of EHR platforms across care providers segment.Europe and Asia Pacific are also among the leading contributors of revenue to the global market and are expected to remain high-growth regions over the forecast period as well. The Asia Pacific market, especially, is expected to offer the most promising opportunities for growth in the EHR market with a thriving and rapidly digitizing healthcare industry in emerging economies such as India and China.Vast Benefits of EHR Systems and Government Backing to Encourage Increased Adoption GloballySignificant advantages associated with EHR systems and financial incentives by government of various countries are among the major factors driving the growth of EHR market worldwide.Benefits of EHR systems include up-to-date patient information, reduced healthcare cost in the long-term scenario, quick access to patient-related data, reduced medical errors, increased patient participation and improved efficiency of healthcare providers. These advantages encourage healthcare providers to equip themselves with technically advanced EHR systems, and thereby drive the market growth.During the forecast period from 2017 to 2025, financial incentives by governments in developed countries will also emerge as a key driving force for the global EHR market.Factors such as rapid technological advancement with data access through smartphones, need for improved efficiency and quality of service delivery to sustain in the intensively competitive healthcare industry, and increasing disposable income are also expected to fuel the growth of the market.Get TOC @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.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 TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email:sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Robot Teach Pendant Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 20162024
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The teach pendant is a device that is used to control the industrial or non-industrial robot remotely. Teach pendant device provides a various settings which helps to control robots and also helps to design and develop new capabilities and featuresThe increasing R&D investment for the development of next generation robots become one of the key factor for the growth of robotic tech pendant market, globally. According to Coherent Market Insight analysis there was US$ 91.5 billion spending in robotic industry in 2016, up from US$ 71 billion and is forecasted to reach up to US$ 188 billion in 2020. Various R&D activities are trying to improve the technology in the robotics such as mechatronics, perception manipulation, navigation, gripping, and motion control. The second generation robots holds the technical capability of sensors and 3D- vision system which works with the integration of control system and intelligent algorithms with teach pendants which helps to identify the machine and human presence. For the next generation robotics the vendors are highly focused to improve the cognitive skills of robots with the help of control systems, sensors, high-power processors which helps robots to analyses the gathered information in real time entity and change its behavior accordingly. In addition to this, the increasing demand of non-automotive application and advancement of technology are also some of the major driving factors which increase the market of robot teach pendant globally.Request Sample of Robot Teach Pendant Market:The alternative programing method become one of the major threat which hinders the growth of the global robotic teach pendant market. The robotic programing method is done by three approaches - online programming method, simulation or offline programming method and lead through programming method. The online programming method adopts teach pendant is a time consuming method. So simulation or offline programming method is adopted by the end users.Robot teach pendant Market TaxonomyOn the basis of deployment model, the global robot teach pendant market is classified into:Onpremises modelCloud based modelOn the basis of end users, the global robot teach pendant market is classified into:HealthcareDefense and securityAerospaceAutomotiveElectronicsDomesticOthersOn the basis of application, the global robot teach pendant market is classified into:Material handlingWelding applicationPainting applicationMaterial handling application holds the dominant position in the global robot teach pendant market and is projected to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. This application is majorly influenced by increasing demand from various end users industries such as automotive, electronics and many more installing the automating process in there manufacturing units. The increasing demand to advanced product development and availability of less skilled labor majorly in developing countries such as China, India have increased the demand for 6robots as they have the capability to perform multiple tasks.Check the Trending Report of Robot teach pendant market:Robot teach pendant market Outlook Asia Pacific holds the largest market of the global robot teach pendant market.On the basis of geography, global robot teach pendant market is classified into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa. Asia Pacific holds the dominant position in the global robot teach pendant market and is projected to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. The increasing automotive industry in India and China provides a major opportunity for the robot teach pendant market in this region. According to Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles in 2016, China sold 28 million units of vehicles up from 24.7 million units in 2015.Key companies of the global robotic teach pendant marketABB Ltd, Fanuc Corporation, KUKA AG, Omron Adept Technologies, Inc., Yaskawa Motoman, COMAU S.p.A., DENSO Robotics, Epson America, Inc., Festo, Intelitek, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Nachi Robotic Systems Inc, Staubli International, Yamaha Robotics Inc. are some of major companies in the global robotic teach pendant market.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comWebsite:Visit Blog : globalresearchtrends.blogspot.in/
Methyl Methacrylate Market Report for Period 2011 till 2023 Asahi Kasei, Arkema, Kuraray, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, BASF, Formosa Plastics Jilin Petrochemical and Others
Methyl Methacrylate Market
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Global Methyl Methacrylate market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely sahi Kasei, Arkema, Kuraray, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, BASF, Formosa Plastics Jilin Petrochemicaland Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.Methyl methacrylate (MMA) is an unsaturated ester, with the chemical formula C5H8O2. Methyl methacrylate (MMA) is an organic compound that is used principally to manufacture acrylic sheet, moulding/ extrusion compounds, surface coating, PVC impact modifier, etcRequest for Free Sample Copy of Global Methyl Methacrylate Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:Mitsubishi RayonEvonikDowSumitomo ChemicalLG MMAAsahi KaseiArkemaKurarayMitsubishi Gas ChemicalBASFFormosa PlasticsJilin PetrochemicalLongxin ChemicalShandong HongxuOtherGlobal Methyl Methacrylate Market: Key Product TypeACH NethodIsobutylene MethodEthylene MethodGlobal Methyl Methacrylate Market: Key ApplicationPolymethyl MethacrylatePlastic AdditiveSurface CoatingOthersGlobal Methyl Methacrylate Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Methyl Methacrylate Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Methyl Methacrylate Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Methyl Methacrylate Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Market Segment Overview1.1.1 Product Definition1.1.2 Market by Type1.1.2.1 ACH Nethod1.1.2.2 Isobutylene Method1.1.2.3 Ethylene Method1.1.3 Market by Application1.1.3.1 Polymethyl Methacrylate1.1.3.2 Plastic Additive1.1.3.3 Surface Coating1.1.3.4 Others....................ContinueGlobal Methyl Methacrylate Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Semiconductor Packaging Market Report for Period 2011 till 2023 ASE, Amkor, SPIL, Stats Chippac, PTI, JCET, J-Devices, UTAC, and Others
Semiconductor Packaging Market
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Global Semiconductor Packaging market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely ASE, Amkor, SPIL, Stats Chippac, PTI, JCET, J-Devices, UTAC, and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.A semiconductor package is a metal, plastic, glass or ceramic casing containing one or more semiconductor electronic components.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Semiconductor Packaging Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:ASEAmkorSPILStats ChippacPTIJCETJ-DevicesUTACChipmosChipbondSTSHuatianNFMCarsemWaltonUnisemOSEAOIFormosaNEPES.OtherGlobal Semiconductor Packaging Market: Key Product TypeDIPQFPSiPBGACSPOthersGlobal Semiconductor Packaging Market: Key ApplicationAnalog & Mixed SignalWireless ConnectivityOptoelectronicMEMS & SensorMisc Logic and MemoryGlobal Semiconductor Packaging Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Semiconductor Packaging Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Semiconductor Packaging Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Semiconductor Packaging Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Market Segment Overview1.1.1 Product Definition1.1.2 Market by Type1.1.2.1 DIP1.1.2.2 QFP1.1.2.3 SiP1.1.2.4 BGA1.1.2.5 CSP1.1.2.6 Others....................ContinueGlobal Semiconductor Packaging Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Zipper Market Report for Period 2011 till 2023 Sancris, Valiant Industrial, UCAN Zippers, SBS, 3F, YCC, Weixing Group and Others
Zipper Market
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Global Zipper market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Sancris, Valiant Industrial, UCAN Zippers, SBS, 3F, YCC, Weixing Group and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.Zipper, formerly known as a clasp locker, is a commonly used device for binding the edges of an opening of fabric or other flexible material, as on a garment or a bag and so on.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Zipper Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:YKKRIRIYBS ZipperKAO SHING ZIPPERIDEAL FastenerCoats IndustrialSALMIMAX ZipperSanli ZipperHHH ZipperKCC ZipperSancrisValiant IndustrialUCAN ZippersSBS3FYCCWeixing GroupYQQXinHong ZipperCMZ ZIPPERZhejiang LIDA ZipperXinyu ZipperHSD ZipperTAT-ZipperJKJ ZipperDISTHC ZipperABC ZipperHengxiang ZipperHualing-ZipperQCCHuada DiecastingOtherGlobal Zipper Market: Key Product TypeNylon ZipperMetal ZipperPlastic ZipperOthers such as terylene zipperGlobal Zipper Market: Key ApplicationGarmentLuggage and bagsSporting goodsCamping gearGlobal Zipper Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Zipper Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Zipper Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Zipper Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Market Segment Overview1.1.1 Product Definition1.1.2 Market by Type1.1.2.1 Nylon Zipper1.1.2.2 Metal Zipper1.1.2.3 Plastic Zipper1.1.2.4 Others such as terylene zipper1.1.3 Market by Application1.1.3.1 Garment1.1.3.2 Luggage and bags1.1.3.3 Sporting goods1.1.3.4 Camping gear....................ContinueGlobal Zipper Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Petroleum Resin Market Report for Period 2011 till 2023 ExxonMobil, Eastman, Kolon, TOTAL(Cray Valley), ZEON, Formosan Union and Others
Petroleum Resin Market
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Global Petroleum Resin market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely ExxonMobil, Eastman, Kolon, TOTAL(Cray Valley), ZEON, Formosan Union and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.Petroleum resin is a kind of oligomer with molecular weight between 300-3000. Petroleum resins are produced from petroleum based feedstock aliphatic (C5), aromatic (C9), DCPD (dicyclopentadiene) or mixtures of these. After a series of process like polymerization and distillation, petroleum resins have good performance in thermos stability and chemical stability. In addition, petroleum resins can also adjust adhesiveness.Generally, petroleum resins are widely used in various aspects to improve peoples quality of life. Petroleum resins can be used in road marking paint, which ensures safe vehicle/human traffic, adhesive tape used for office uses, adhesives, printer ink and other applications.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Petroleum Resin Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:ExxonMobilEastmanKolonTOTAL(Cray Valley)ZEONFormosan UnionMitsui ChemicalsArakawa ChemicalRTGERS GroupResinallIdemitsuNevilleShangdong QilongZibo LuhuaZhejiang HengheJinlin FuyuanPuyang ChangyuHenan G&DGuangdong XinhuayueFuxun HuaxingDaqing HuakeShanghai JinsenLanzhou XinlanKeteJinhai ChengguangOtherGlobal Petroleum Resin Market: Key Product TypeC5 Petroleum ResinC9 Petroleum ResinC5/C9 Petroleum ResinModified Petroleum ResinOthersGlobal Petroleum Resin Market: Key ApplicationPaintRubberAdhesivePrinting InkOthersGlobal Petroleum Resin Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Petroleum Resin Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Petroleum Resin Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Petroleum Resin Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Market Segment Overview1.1.1 Product Definition1.1.2 Market by Type1.1.2.1 C5 Petroleum Resin1.1.2.2 C9 Petroleum Resin1.1.2.3 C5/C9 Petroleum Resin1.1.2.4 Modified Petroleum Resin1.1.2.5 Others1.1.3 Market by Application1.1.3.1 Paint1.1.3.2 Rubber1.1.3.3 Adhesive1.1.3.4 Printing Ink1.1.3.5 Others....................ContinueGlobal Petroleum Resin Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Treadmill Market Report for Period 2011 till 2023 BH, Life Fitness, Johnson, Sole, Nautilus, Technogym, Precor, and Others
Treadmill Market
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Global Treadmill market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely BH, Life Fitness, Johnson, Sole, Nautilus, Technogym, Precor,and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.Treadmill is an exercise machine, typically with a continuous belt, that allows one to walk or run in placeRequest for Free Sample Copy of Global Treadmill Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:IconBHLife FitnessJohnsonSoleNautilusTechnogymPrecorStar TracCybexDyacoYijianTrue FitnessShuhuaStrength MasterOtherGlobal Treadmill Market: Key Product TypeFitnessFolding TreadmillsManual TreadmillsGlobal Treadmill Market: Key ApplicationHome useCommercial useGlobal Treadmill Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Treadmill Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Treadmill Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Treadmill Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Market Segment Overview1.1.1 Product Definition1.1.2 Market by Type1.1.2.1 Fitness1.1.2.2 Folding Treadmills1.1.2.3 Manual Treadmills1.1.3 Market by Application1.1.3.1 Home use1.1.3.2 Commercial use....................ContinueGlobal Treadmill Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Automotive Windshield Washer Fluid Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Prestone, Soft 99, Bluestar, Sonax and Others
Automotive Windshield Washer Fluid Market
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Global Automotive Windshield Washer Fluid Market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Prestone, Soft 99, Bluestar, Sonax and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.Automotive Windshield Washer Fluid is a fluid for motor vehicles that is used in cleaning the windshield with the windshield wiper while the vehicle is being driven.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Automotive Windshield Washer Fluid Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:ITW3MSPLASHReccochemACDelcoPrestoneSoft 99BluestarSonaxTurtle WaxCamcoChiefPEAKBotnyTEECJapan ChemicalTetrosylProstaffOthersGlobal Automotive Windshield Washer Fluid Market: Key Product TypeReady to Use FluidConcentrated FluidOthersGlobal Automotive Windshield Washer Fluid Market: Key ApplicationIndividual ConsumersAuto Beauty & 4S StoreOthersGlobal Automotive Windshield Washer Fluid Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Automotive Windshield Washer Fluid Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Automotive Windshield Washer Fluid Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Automotive Windshield Washer Fluid Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Automotive Windshield Washer Fluid Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Ready to Use Fluid1.2.2 Concentrated Fluid1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Individual Consumers1.3.2 Auto Beauty & 4S Store1.3.3 Others1.4 Market Analysis by Regions.......................Continue (Global Automotive Windshield Washer Fluid Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Security Door Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Unique Home Designs, Shield Security Doors, Teckentrup (Only Europe Business) and Others
Security Door Market
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Global Security Door Market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Unique Home Designs, Shield Security Doors, Teckentrup (Only Europe Business) and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.This report studies the Security Door market, Security Door is a range of measures used to strengthen doors against door breaching, Ram-raiding and lock picking, and prevent crimes like burglary and home invasions. Door security is used in commercial and government buildings, as well as residential settings.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Security Door Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:LarsonGrishamPrecision DoorProviaAndersen CorporationRBDierreHormannSDC (No Security Door Product)Unique Home DesignsShield Security DoorsTeckentrup (Only Europe Business)SkydasRODENBERG Trsysteme (Only Europe Business)Menards (Distributor)KINGS (Only in Australia)ASSA ABLOYWangliSimtoRayi (Only in China)BuyangMexinXingyueshenFeiyunOthersGlobal Security Door Market: Key Product TypeWood Security DoorMetal Security DoorOther Material Security DoorGlobal Security Door Market: Key ApplicationResidential UseCommercial UseOthersGlobal Security Door Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Security Door Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Security Door Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Security Door Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Security Door Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Wood Security Door1.2.2 Metal Security Door1.2.3 Other Material Security Door1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Residential Use1.3.2 Commercial Use1.4 Market Analysis by Regions.......................Continue (Global Security Door Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Medical Electrodes Market Report for Period 2017 till 2023 Johnson & Johnson, GSI Technologies, Olympus Corporation and Others
Medical Electrodes Market
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Global Medical Electrodes Market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Johnson & Johnson, GSI Technologies, Olympus Corporation and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.Medical electrodes mean that kind of surgical electrodes used with electrosurgical generators in this report, which is electrosurgical electrodes. Medical electrodes are widely used in diagnosis, monitoring and therapy of the patient. Medical electrodes can be applied to fields of general surgery, gynecology surgery, urologic surgery, orthopedic surgery, cardiovascular surgery, cosmetic surgery, neurosurgery and brain etc. The well-known medical electrodes include electroencephalography (EEG, for recording brain activity), electrocardiography (ECG, recording heart beats) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT, electrical brain stimulation) electrodes etc.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Medical Electrodes Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:3MAmbuCovidien-MedtronicGE HealthcareJohnson & JohnsonGSI TechnologiesOlympus CorporationConmed CorporationEschmann EquipmentGraphic ControlsTianrun MedicalB. BraunKirwan SurgicalUtah MedicalZOLL MedicalShining Health CareBovie MedicalRhythmlink InternationalArdiem MedicalOthersGlobal Medical Electrodes Market: Key Product TypeNeedle ElectrodesPatch ElectrodesOthersGlobal Medical Electrodes Market: Key ApplicationDiagnostic ElectrodesTherapeutic ElectrodesOther ElectrodesGlobal Medical Electrodes Market: Key RegionAsia-PacificNorth AmericaEuropeSouth AmericaMiddle East & AfricaThe Global Medical Electrodes Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Medical Electrodes Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Medical Electrodes Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Market Segment Overview1.1.1 Product Definition1.1.2 Market by Type1.1.2.1 Needle Electrodes1.1.2.2 Patch Electrodes1.1.2.3 Others1.1.3 Market by Application1.1.3.1 Diagnostic Electrodes1.1.3.2 Therapeutic Electrodes1.1.3.3 Other Electrodes1.2 Global Market Size1.2.1 Global Overview1.2.2 Market by Region1.2.2.1 Asia-Pacific......................Continue (Global Medical Electrodes Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Medical Claims Management Solutions Market - Research Report, Size, Analysis and Demand, 2023
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A medical claim is a detailed invoice that a health care provider sends to the health insurer, exactly showing the services that have been rendered by the providers to the patient. Medical claims management involves multiple administrative and customer service layers that include review, investigation, adjustment, remittance or denial of a claim. Improved focus on quality healthcare services and adoption of cloud technology related services are contributing to the growth of the medical claims management solutions market. Medical claims management solutions generally aim at attaining complete automation of processing of claims, faster access to customer information without negotiating on the security of private medical information. However, insurance claim payers and providers need to be convinced about the need for these solutions and also the benefits of investing in them despite their sizeable cost. Automation helps in reducing costs associated with processing of claims, utilizing a single platform for all data sources, workflows for routing claims for review and approval processes, increasing the uniformity of payments, and timely payment of claims. According to the National Health Insurer Report Card published in 2011 by American Medical Association (AMA), around $17 billion a year (on an average) could be saved by eliminating errors in claims. Automation reduces the paper storage and document retrieval costs while complying with regulatory standards such as Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Health insurance payers invest in their claims management systems to gain interoperability and faster release of new insurance claims, in addition to, improving efficiency of claims processing.Explore Report at:The medical claims management solutions market is driven by factors such as advent of new and innovative treatments & technologies, improved focus on quality healthcare services and adoption of cloud-based technology related services. Moreover, increase in the number of patients covered under medical insurance and expensive care required for chronic diseases have supported the growth of the medical claims management solutions industry. Also, the increase in aging population, initiatives taken by government in order to improve insurance coverage among citizens and rise in occurrence of chronic diseases affect the market thus, driving the growth of medical claims management solutions market. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), contribution of chronic diseases is expected to rise to 73% of all deaths and 60% of the global burden of disease by 2020. Moreover, 79% of the deaths attributed to these diseases occur in developing countries. Additionally, as per United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) report on the global aging population, the population of people aged 60 years or above is growing at a high rate. The number of people aged 60 years or over is projected to grow by 56.0 % globally, i.e. from 901 million in 2015 to 1.4 billion by 2030, and it is projected to more than double its size from 2015, to reach 2.1 billion by 2050.Explore Report Sample at:The major players in the medical claims management solutions market include IBM Corporation, Cerner Corporation, Oracle Corporation, Avaya Inc., Genpact Limited, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation, Accenture PLC, Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc., Athenahealth Inc., Aspect Software Inc., and Infor Inc.About P&S Market ResearchP&S Market Research is a market research company, which offers market research and consulting services for various geographies around the globe. We provide market research reports, industry forecasting reports, business intelligence, and research based consulting services across different industry/business verticals.As one of the top growing market research agency, were keen upon providing market landscape and accurate forecasting. Our analysts and consultants are proficient with business intelligence and market analysis, through their interaction with leading companies of the concerned domain. We help our clients with B2B market research and assist them in identifying various windows of opportunity, and framing informed and customized business expansion strategies in different regions.Contact:KundanManager Client Partner347, 5th Ave. #1402New York City, NY - 10016Toll-free: +1-888-778-7886 (USA/Canada)Email: enquiry@psmarketresearch.comWeb:
If youre a progressive Canadian, the last 20 years or so have been a depressing, extremely alienating slog through an endless political quagmire with very few appealing participants. The Liberal Party that governed the country throughout much of the 90s and early 00s werent terriblethey kept us out of Iraq and their reluctance to deregulate the banking industry to the same extent as their Democratic counterparts in America insulated us somewhat from some of the worst fallout of the financial crisis in 2008but Jean Chretien and his successor Paul Martin werent exactly champions of leftist values, either. Their slightly-friendlier neoliberalism still resulted in the same wage stagnation, deterioration of public services and growing wealth inequality that seems today to plague all Western democracies.
And after the Conservative Party, led by neocon android Stephen Harper, capitalized on the tepid economy and a somewhat ginned-up sponsorship scandal to supplant the Liberals as the countrys governing party in 2006, left-leaning Canadian voters spent the next decade voting strategically, often in vain, for whoever stood the best chance at getting rid of them. It was a painful time, as the Conservatives muzzled climate scientists at the behest of the oil industry, presided over the disastrous G20 in Toronto and forced through draconian, civil-rights trampling security omnibus bills in the name of fighting a virtually non-existent threat of international terrorism. Though Justin Trudeaus election in 2015 represented a welcome change, it has been an extremely long time since Canadians on the left side of the political spectrum have had the opportunity to actually vote for something, rather than against it. Manitobas Niki Ashton, currently running for the leadership of the New Democratic Party, is hoping to change that.
As the 2015 national election loomed, the NDPCanadas traditionally worker-oriented social democratic partywas poised to form a government for the first time in its history, but an ill-advised move to the center behind then-leader Thomas Mulcairwho made balancing the budget a major plank of his campaign and inexcusably allowed Justin Trudeau to outflank him from the leftrelegated them back to third party status and ultimately cost him his position as leader of the party. Ashton seems to have learned the right lessons from that debacle, has taken inspiration from the insurgent, unapologetically progressive campaigns of Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn, and hopes to both bring the NDP back to its left-wing roots and ride the same populist wave that propelled those two perennial afterthought backbenchers into the international spotlight.
Winning the NDP leadership race certainly wont be easy (the election began on Monday, and culminates in October). Her biggest competition is most likely represented by Ontario Provincial Parliament member and deputy provincial party leader Jagmeet Singh, whose profile has risen steadily over the last year. His platform sticks closer to the political center than Ashtons, but hed still represent a significant progressive challenge to Justin Trudeau. That said, both Singh and Ashton would face long odds at dethroning the Prime Minister, who remains the most popular political leader in the country, and has been quite savvy in using his youthful looks, eclectic sock choices and inspirationalsome might say vapidsocial media game to become somewhat of an international celebrity.
But, as Hillary Clinton showed us, becoming a prominent Buzzfeed listicle presence does not always translate to electoral momentum. His approval rating has slipped nine points over the last year as left-leaning canadians who might have been willing to give him a chance have soured on him significantly as the reality of big tent Liberal Party centrism has collided with his legitimately progressive campaign promises.
The central manifestation of this, most likely, was his very clear promise to finally reform Canadas outdated first-past-the-post electoral system, which many on the left pointed to as the culprit behind the Conservative Party forming a majority government despite winning less than 40% of the overall vote in 2011. His insistence that this would be the last federal election using first-past-the-post convinced many on-the-fence progressive Canadians to give the Liberal Party a chance under the pretense that real electoral reform would mean that strategic voting could be a thing of the past by the time the next election rolled around. But in the two years since he was elected, Trudeau seems to have completely abandoned the idea, twisting acrobatically like a puppy-eyed Matrix character to avoid any hurled accusation of a broken promise.
The rest of his progressive shtick seems to have lilted under the bright lights of national leadership and international heartthrob status as well. Canadians knew he was cosy with the oil industry, but his eagerness to approve controversial oil pipelines has stunned even some of his harshest environmental critics. He continued our governments sale of billions of dollars in military equipment to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which the repressive monarchy has in turn used to wage a campaign of savage brutality onto the people of Yemen, resulting in widespread death, starvation and disease. His response to the belligerent bigotry from the Trump Administration has been tepid, vague platitudes.
Even the much-discussed impending national legalization of marijuana, one of the big progressive promises that Trudeau actually managed to keep, seems to have been paired with a doubling down on the same police/carceral state that has only grown in size and scope in this country over the last 15 yearsand which legalization proponents had hoped could be kept in check by moving away from a prosecutorial approach to nonviolent drug offenders. All of this is to say that after a decade of Conservative governance and two years of Trudeaus warmed-over woke neoliberalism, there is a significant voting bloc in Canada that is hungry for a truly progressive candidate to support. We know for certain now that it isnt Justin Trudeau.
Enter Niki Ashton. If she can take her platform to the national level, it would represent the most progressive campaign that this country has seen in several decades, and a dramatic shift back to the left for the NDP. She is proposing a fairly radical plan to deal with the growing income inequality in this country by both getting serious about curtailing corporate greed and by drastically expanding our entitlement programs with universal pharmacare and mental health coverage. On tuition-free universities, on actual electoral reform, on justice for indigenous Canadians (for whom Trudeau has offered much platitude and little in the way of action), on environmental action, on Israel/Palestine, on racial and gender discrimination; she is offering an extremely bold, genuinely progressive vision that, if adopted, would dramatically reshape this country.
The pertinent question now is whether Canadians are ready to take this kind of a drastic step. Though there is widespread, growing inequality in Canada, citizens have been mostly spared from many of the more drastic economic and social tremors that have plagued America and sent the United Kingdom spiralling into an unknowable Brexit future. Though our social safety net has been relentlessly means tested and generally chipped away at for decades, though our education costs have risen and our wages have not, though our housing crisis is making home ownership a distant dream for a generation, it could always be worse. Any maybe thats enough reason for the majority of Canadian voters to want to play it safe by continuing more or less in the same direction as weve been headed for decades.
But perhaps it is for this exact reasonthat it could be worsethat a growing number of people in this country are beginning to clamor for something genuinely different. As Americas northern neighbors, were getting an up close and personal glimpse at what worse actually looks like, and it is ugly indeed. From the absolute insanity that has engulfed the United States political system to the current, steady stream of record-breaking, city-destroying hurricanes slamming into the southeast, it certainly seems as if the economic and social order that has governed the worlds most powerful superpower for decades is in a state of terminal collapse.
And just because things arent yet at the same level in Canada doesnt mean were not staring down the same grim conclusion. If that really is what the future has in store for this country if we continue on our current path, its clear that a subtle shift in direction is not going to be adequate. As such, it might just be time to hand the wheel to someone who wont gently nudge it to the right or left, but who will have the political courage to slam the brakes and change course entirely. Niki Ashton seems to be willing, and well soon see if shell get her opportunity.
The Surface Pro seems nearly identical to the Surface Pro 4, but the differences in CPU, graphics, and features do matterfor better and for worse. Watch our review video to see more.
In PCWorlds review of the Surface Pro we gave the flagship 2-in-1 3.5 out of 5 stars, chiefly for three reasons: the excessive price of our review unit, the incremental improvements over the Surface Pro 4, and the quality of the competition. The performance improvements offered by the new Kaby Lake CPU and Iris Plus graphics are marvelous, but its hard to swallow high prices that do not include a Type Cover or a Surface Pen (both pricey in their own right).
While its not available now, Microsoft says it will ship a version of the Surface Pro with integrated LTE later this year. A version with the new Windows 10 S operating system, rather than the usual Windows 10 Pro, is also planned.
Surface Dock: The Surface Dock , a port expander which adds four additional USB ports and two miniDP connections, is $200.
Mouse: Though both Type Covers include a trackpad, an optional Surface Arc Mouse will be available at launch for $80.
Both the Pen and Signature Type Covers ship in three colors: platinum, burgundy, and cobalt blue. The generic Surface Pro Type Cover is available only in black.
Keyboard: Well start with the one everyone will wanta Type Cover keyboard. Microsoft offers two: the Surface Pro Signature Type Cover ($159), clad in fancy Alcantara fabric, and the primarily plastic Microsoft Surface Pro Type Cover ($129).
Though you can use a Surface Pro as a simple tablet, youll almost certainly want to buy some of the accessories, all of which cost extra.
Graphics were not specified in the specs, though were assuming itll be Intel HD Graphics 620, as with the existing Core i5 models.
Microsoft has also said that they plan to ship an LTE variant, which is reported to debut at Microsofts Future Decoded event in the U.K. on Halloween. Those prices are official:
Microsofts Surface products have never been cheap, and the Surface Pros base model is $100 more expensive than the base model for the Surface Pro 4. Keep in mind that the prices below include the Surface Pro tablet only. Microsoft doesnt bundle it with any accessories at all, not even a keyboard, unless theres a special promotion.
You can preorder the Surface Pro now. As of June 15, you can now order all but the two most powerful Core i7 models of the Surface Prothe 16GB RAM/512GB SSD and the the 16GB RAM/1 TB SSD. According to Microsoft, those models were previously scheduled to ship on June 30, but Microsoft has removed the estimated shipping dates. Otherwise, the Surface Pro will launch in 26 marketsincluding the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, India, Taiwan, and more. Our news story from the Surface Pro launch has many more details.
Weve assembled everything we know about the new Surface Pro: the price and release date, the specs, and our official review. Weve also answered some of the questions we think youll have about Microsofts new device.
With the the Surface Pro (2017), Microsoft has rebooted its flagship Surface product, one of the leading 2-in-1s in the category. Its also shedding the numerical designations of prior products. If youve owned a Surface Pro 4, however, you already have a good idea of what Microsoft has in store for you with the new Surface Pro.
Updated Dec. 7: Weve updated this story with the price of the Surface Pro (2017) with LTE. See Price and release date below for more details.
When Microsoft announced the Surface Pro on May 23, it was touted as a laptop despite its obvious lack of an included keyboard. Wordplay aside, Microsofts videos of the product (weve compiled selected shots below) show off the sleek design, the inking capabilities, and the ability to use the Surface Dial on the display (though as our review mentions, it takes up a lot of space on the screen).
Microsoft
Performance and battery life
All of the Core i5 and Core i7 chips used in the new Surface Pro are from Intels most recent, seventh-generation (Kaby Lake) family of CPUs. Microsoft says the processors offer 20 percent more performance than the Surface Pro 4, 2.5 times more computing performance than the Surface Pro 3, and 1.7 times the compute power of Apples iPad Pro. Naturally, those results vary by benchmark; see our Surface Pro (2017) review for details. In some cases, the Surface Pro (2017) performance is even better than expected.
Microsoft also says the Surface Pro will last for 13.5 hours of continuous video looping, up from 9 hours with the Surface Pro 4. Microsoft uses different metrics than we do for its video rundown test, but weve found the battery life to be closer to 8 hours.
Its important to note that the thermal throttling that was present in the Surface Pro 3 (but not in the Surface Pro 4) has returned. Microsoft told us they expect throttling of about 20 percent; we saw more, into the 30-percent range. That prompted Microsoft to suggest that they may have shipped us a defective system, and weve agreed to re-run our tests.
Frequently asked questions
Microsofts reboot of the Surface Pro name follows Hollywoods trend of rebooting movies, from Godzilla to Spider-Man to Ghostbusters. Its all a bit confusing, so well try to clear up some of the mysteries.
Why isnt it called the Surface Pro 5?
Our understanding is that Microsoft wanted to refocus itself on the Surface Pro lineup, making a clean break from prior models. It forces us (and you) to use the awkward Surface Pro (2017) terminology, though.
Microsoft The Surface Pros kickstand can drop to 165 degrees, to what Microsoft calls Studio mode.
Who should buy the Surface Pro?
Two years ago, the Surface Pro would have been the tablet for the masses. Now, perhaps in an attempt to distance the Surface Pro from a struggling Windows tablet market, Microsofts calling this a laptop, even though the keyboard is an optional accessory. We wish Microsoft would let go of this baffling conceit. In any case, if youre a mobile professional, the new Surface Pro may be for you. The tablet is also powerful enough to play some older games at acceptable frame rates, though this shouldnt be the primary reason to buy it.
Which Surface Pro should you buy?
Obviously, youll need to select a version that meets your needs and your budget. In my mind, though, the $1,299 Core i5/8GB RAM/256GB SSD offers a value proposition thats more in line with the competition. If you opt for one of the Core i7 variants, though, youll also receive the Iris Plus graphics core as part of the package, which boosts its GPU capabilities dramatically.
What are PCWorlds first impressions?
After I first used it at a briefing, I can say it seems to be a beefed-up Surface Pro 4. Slightly more rounded edges and more recessed cameras are barely noteworthy. I like the kickstand, which reclines a full 165 degrees. Microsoft calls this Studio Mode because it mimics the Surface Studio, the Surface Pros all-in-one cousin.
Over the course of our review, I really liked the performance Microsoft built into the Surface Pro with the Iris Plus graphics. Otherwise, if youve used a Surface Pro 4, this will be familiar territory. If you want a more traditional notebook, consider the Surface Book or Surface Laptop instead.
How does the Surface Pro differ from the Surface Pro 4, the Surface Book, and the Surface Laptop?
Surface Pro 4: The Surface Pro improves upon its predecessor in a few key ways. The updated Kaby Lake CPU boosts performance and battery life. The wider range of the kickstand adds functionality, including the ability to use the Surface Dial.
Surface Laptop: If youre looking for something comparable to the Surface Pro in a true notebook form factor, you should check out the Surface Laptop. Note that its operating system is the classroom-focused Windows 10 S, but its upgradable to the same Windows 10 Pro that the Surface Pro uses.
Surface Book: Like the Surface Pro, the Surface Book is a two-in-one with a detachable keyboard. The Surface Book offers a lot more oomph, however, especially with the associated Performance Base. Its the only Microsoft notebook or 2-in-1 with discrete graphics, too.
How much does the Surface Pro cost?
Prices range from $799 to $2,699, and thats just for the tablet. Youll probably want to buy either a Surface Pro Signature Type Cover ($159) or the Microsoft Surface Pro Type Cover ($129) as a keyboard, and then the optional $100 Surface Pen. A Surface Dock ($200) is another possibility if you want additional ports.
Our first impressions
The Surface Pro (2017) is a Surface Pro, plain and simple: tablet, magnetically-attached Type Cover keyboard, kickstand. If you were to put a Surface Pro next to a Surface Pro 4, about the only way to tell the difference would be to look at the attached Surface Pen, which lacks the clip of its predecessor.
Mark Hachman / IDG The new Surface Pen (below) features 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, about double that of its predecessor (above).
I was impressed by the greater range of the kickstand. Im not sure potential buyers will care as much as I do about the fact that you can now use the Surface Dial peripheral onscreen, though its a nice touch. For a deeper look, please see our review of the Surface Pro (2017).
Specs and features
While the Surface Book offers a bit more physical space to pack in battery and discrete GPUs, the Surface Pro maintains an emphasis on portability. The key upgrade for the Surface Pro refresh are the Intel Kaby Lake CPUs, which bring several fundamental improvements in speed and battery life. If you want something a bit slower and a lot cheaper, try the Core m model: The performance should be satisfactory for basic office tasks.
CPU
1GHz Core m3-7Y30
2.6GHz Core i5-7300U (Kaby Lake)
2.5GHz Core i7-7660U (Kaby Lake)
Memory
Memory options will vary, depending on your choice of Surface Pro (2017). Note that there is no 8GB option for the Core i7 at this time.
4GB: Core m3
8 GB: Core m3 or Core i5
16 GB: Core i5 or Core i7
Storage
Your SSD size will vary:
128GB (Core m, Core i5)
256 GB (Core i5, Core i7)
512 GB (Core i7)
1TB (Core i7)
Our review unit included a Samsung KUS040202M-B000 NVMe drive, providing among the fastest read speeds weve tested: 1,702 MBps.
Graphics
The Surface Pro offers only integrated graphics. Graphics performance will increase along with processor power. But the Surface Pro is one of the only tablets or notebook weve seen with the Iris Plus graphics core inside.
Core m: Intel HD Graphics 615
Core i5: Intel HD Graphics 620
Core i7: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
Display
Corning Gorilla Glass
12.3-inch (diagonal) PixelSense Display
Resolution: 27361824 pixels, 267 PPI
3:2 aspect ratio
Surface Pen-enabled (sold separately)
10-point multi-touch
Keyboard
The new Surface Pros keyboard features 1.3mm of key travel, slightly less than the 1.5mm of travel used by the Surface Laptop. If you buy the Surface Pro Signature Type Cover, youll get an Alcantara-clad deck thats laser-cut to fit snugly around the keyboard keys, in either platinum, burgundy, or cobalt blue. Otherwise, you can buy a standard Type Cover, in black.
Software
Though the Surface Pro uses Windows 10 Pro, Microsoft says a version of the Surface Pro will ship later on with Windows 10 S installed.
Ports and connectivity
Somewhat surprisingly, Microsoft has chosen to stick with its established Surface Connector for charging, rather than use USB-C. Supposedly, thats for reasons of backward compatibility with existing Surface chargers, as well as in response to people who complained that the micro-USB-powered Surface 3 took forever to charge.
USB 3.0 Type A
mini DisplayPort
3.5mm headphone jack
Surface Connector for charging
Wi-Fi: 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n compatible
Bluetooth 4.1
microSD card reader
(Optional) LTE, with a Cat 9 modem on board that will support up to 20 cellular bands across the globe
Mark Hachman / IDG The right side of the tablet houses the three main ports: the Surface connector, USB-A, and the microDP port. Like other Surface devices, a microSD slot hides behind the kickstand.
Audio/visual
(Unchanged since the Surface Pro 4)
5MP (front), Windows Hello-compatible
8MP (rear)
Stereo microphones
Stereo speakers
Battery life
Microsoft rates the Surface Pros battery life at 13.5 hours, just an hour shorter than the 14.5 hours claimed for the Surface Laptop. Microsoft bases its claims on video rundown tests, the same metric PCWorld uses. We found the battery life of the Surface Pro (2017) clocked in at just over eight hours, however, probably due to the brightness settings we used while testing.
Exterior dimensions
11.50 x 7.9 x 0.33 inches
Weight
2.37 pounds to 2.41 pounds, with Type Cover. The exact weight will vary by model. The Core m model is the lightest.
Chassis
Aluminum
Colors
The Surface Pro ships in just one color. Accessories, including the Type Cover and Surface Pen, can be purchased in these colors to personalize the tablet:
Burgundy
Platinum
Cobalt Blue
Black
Warranty
One-year limited hardware warranty
Included in the box
Surface Pro
Power supply
Quick Start Guide
Safety and warranty documents
Marshalls and bike patrols meeting the day before the race departure.
Francois Bailly-Maitre has certain experience in this sort of base camp enduro races... Andes Pacifico and Trans Provence victories are part of his track record.
Bitech and Fox were in charge of technical service, every day, until very late in the night.
DAY 1
The first hike was pretty good, sunny weather at our departure from La Besurta in Llanos del Hospital. We didn't expect what we got one hour later.
The track to Portillon de Benasque is a popular trail for hikers in this area. You get the chance to climb to some peaks and the views are outstanding.
In a few minutes, the weather changed dramatically. Bike patrol Diego Grasa climbs into the mist.
Across the French border at 2,445 meters. A technical pass event on foot.
Francois Bailly-Maitre was the first rider out of the mist.
Cesar Gairin, a Whistler resident and original from this region of the Pyrenees, was familiar with both the terrain and weather conditions.
A Trans-Nomad spirit award went for this guy. Patric Plante came all the way from Canada and completed the adventure on his hardtail bike, all smiles at the same time.
Juan, from Rotor Spain, dealing with the slippery rocks on French soil.
Carlos Huerta (Montenbaik Chile collaborator) was one of the few riders that rode the newish Orbea Rallon R5.
Although an XCM specialist, Sandra Jorda performed at a very high level considering this was the first Enduro stages event for her.
With the humid weather, some sections were sketchy, to say the least.
Tons of switchbacks on this descent. Further down the mountain, the visibility improved a few meters.
Ruben Rodriguez, the 2016 edition winner, enjoying the rainy conditions.
Flow trails. These alpine woods near Bagneres de Luchon are pure gold.
Francois Dola, one of the enduro and avalanche early French riders (...and Adrien Dailly's mechanic), on his second TN after being third last year.
Francois Bailly-Maitre out of the green.
Nadine Sapine is one of the common names at the French Enduro Series scene.
Down to Bagneres de Luchon on the last stage of the day. This one was super fun to ride, plenty of corners and a great grip.
Liaison to Luchon.
DAY 2
First liaison of the day up to Coll de la Forqueta, was tough and chilly.
Carlos Huerta leading a group of nomads.
The first meters of Stage 1 were not easy. The mist and the falling snow didn't help the riders to find a trail barely marked.
Tomas Garcia, Tomi, transitioning from the misty meadow to the clear woods further down.
No dirt here but rock riding.
Back to the Spanish side of the mountain.
Due to the long liaisons and stages days the feeding zones were displayed after Stage 1 or Stage 2.
Markel Uriarte flowing on Stage 3.
Nadine Sapine inside a tunnel of box trees.
Antonio Ortiz accepted the challenge from BH to race TN with Jose Borges. Antonio is a former pro XC rider, with a career-best 16th at World Championship back in 2002. Nowadays he's focused on XCM multi-stage races.
The village of Bielsa is just down there.
The last stage of the day surprised most riders, straight and fast at the top, flat pedaling at mid-track and super tight corners, rocky and plenty of roots at the bottom.
At Bielsa camping. See you tomorrow.
DAY 3
Surprisingly... the day started with a hike to a Spanish-French border.
And it wasn't warm there.
Bike patrol on a mission.
Their work ain't easy.
Although it is rewarding.
Riders on their way to the start of Stage 1, riding from Collado de Urdiceto. The liaison was a mix of pedaling and hiking.
Riding at 2,600m from Pena Blanca to Puerto de la Madera.
Once the start line was set, the bike patrols dropped towards Stage 2.
Due to shuttling logistics, for stage 3 the riders were split into two groups. The first group was lucky with the weather.
Inaki Gavin from MTBpro mag was another rider that got an R5 from Orbea for Trans-Nomad.
I got another R5 to cover the race and both Inaki and I agreed on the bike feeling at home on this terrain. Photo: Nacho Trueba.
Nothing but epic views around Puerto de la Madera.
Riding in Mars.
Suddenly a huge cloud appeared out of the French side of the mountain. And it didn't bring good news.
Snowstorm! A strong wind and temperature drop changed the panorama. Here's Jacobo Santana battling the elements.
Both Antonio Ortiz and Jose Borges repairing a flat tire between stage one and two.
First meters of stage 2 for Borges under the snow.
Filmmaker Salva Moreno, Southern Spain resident, out of his temperature habitat.
Liaison from the Stage 2 finish line running through the beautiful Gistain valley.
Stage 3 delivered nothing but falling snow at the top and rain for the rest of the descent.
Even if the weather didn't want to cooperate, we got the views.
Fernando Marcos, 4th last year, descending to Benasque valley on Stage 4.
DAY 4
Salva Moreno fills his water bottle out of a creek with an iron composition riverbed.
Eventually, at least for the last day, the weather had mercy on us all day long.
Pablo, the TN bike patrols leader, enjoying a moment of relax at work.
Down from Sierra Negra. Riders cruising the mountain on the first stage.
FBM followed closely by Jose Borges.
Markel Uriarte lost his third position on behalf of his team mate.
Cesar Gairin on his way to the podium on the last day.
A day to celebrate.
Simon Andre had a consitent performance at TN, being second every day but the last one when he placed 4th.
Sandra Jorda at Sarrau Rollo sector.
Too many possible lines on this middle section of Gallinero when you are racing blind.
Charging down the 'red earth' at Gallinero. Francois Bailly-Maitre took no prisoners in the last two days.
Bosque Encantado delivering the light...
...and the tall pines.
Beer time to celebrate the adventure.
The winners of Trans-Nomad 2017, Ze Manel Borges and Sandra Jorda. Simon Andre and Nadine Sapin occupied the second step of the podium while Cesar Gairin and Beatriz Vicente made it to the third position.
From the 13th to the 17th of September the second edition of the Trans-Nomad Enduro Adventure race powered by Fox and sponsored by Orbea was held in the heart of the Spanish Pyrenees. The event saw racers cover 182km in four days, 12,200 meters were descended and 7,000 meters climbed over 18 stages and 53 timed km through the Spanish and the French Pyrenees. The start point of the race and first base camp was Sesue, next to Castejon de Sos, and Castejon was the chosen village for the last base camp location and finish point of the event.Up to 80 riders coming from nine different countries, including names such as Ruben Rodriguez (Intense bikes Spain), the first edition winner, Francois BaillyMaitre (Ibis), Ze Manel Borges (BH Miranda Racing), Simon Andre (Orbea), and Francois Dola in the men field. In the women's category, Trans-Nomad gathered last year's winner Sandra Pastor, Sandra Jorda (XCM European Champion) and Nadine Sapine (Scott France) among the rest of the female competitors. On top of that, the 2017 Trans-Nomad included some names like Chris Porter (Geometron bikes and Mojo-UK's Fox distributor), Carlos Huerta (Montenbaik collaborator, Chile) and Cesar Gairin (Orbea ambassador).Trans-Nomad aims for a focus on the adventure and spirit of comradery, rather than on the competitive side of the event. Although it is still a race, and there is a final classification indeed, the big family feeling is powered by the team that runs the event. Daily breakfast and dinners are served for the entire group of riders together. The organization's bike patrols mark the stages ahead of the riders with a limited signing display. Besides the non-environmental-intrusive track marking, one last bike patrol makes sure that no tape or sign is left on the mountain after the last rider passes by. Underneath the surface works a huge logistics plan for the feeding zones, shuttling riders to remote places in vans or buses, and transporting the riders baggage and camp tents to every day's base camp location.This year, the organizers decided to cross the French border, and it was one of the highlights of the race, with the riders taking their bikes to Portillon de Benasque and descending to France. More than five different valleys were visited in this second edition, some of the most beautiful locations within the Huesca region of the Pyrenees, breathtaking landscapes, many hours spent over 2,000m, amazing natural trails in a huge variety of terrain and forest. I can't avoid mentioning that completing this adventure is challenging, it's quite tough, pretty physical and mentally demanding, but totally worth it. The moments you experience, both on and off the bike, the places you visit, the people you meet. As one rider from Canada said the other day; "After completing this race, I don't see mountain biking the same way".Did I mention breathtaking landscapes? Enjoy the views36km and five stages leaving from Castejon de Sos (Huesca) to reach the base camp at Bagneres de Luchon (France), from the Aragonese Pyrenees to the French Pyrenees. In their way, the 80 riders had to deal with a hike from La Besurta (approx. 1,800m) to Portillon de Benasque (2,445m) where the start of Stage 1 was located. The Portillon is a natural border crossing between Spain and France, used in the last century by soldiers, traffickers, and political refugees. Although the day started sunny on the Spanish side, it turned to misty and rainy weather as soon as the riders entered France. After the first two stages descending the Portillon de Benasque, the riders faced a pedaling liaison to Col de Bareges (1.749m), descending on the third stage to Col del Portillon. The last two liaisons took the participants to stages four and five, in flowy and fast trails with better grip and temperatures than in the morning. Jose Borges and Sandra Jorda were the fastest riders at Bagneres de Luchon.The start line of Stage 1 was set at Coll de la Forqueta (2,386m). After a long and technical hike from the French side of Bielsa tunnel up to the top of Coll de la Forqueta, cold, wind and falling snow were the ingredients for the first section of the stage, but the weather improved as riders were making their way to the Pinarra Valley, at the Spanish side of Bielsa tunnel. A shuttle took the riders to Espierba to ride the liaison to Pico del Comodoto (2,361m) for stages two and three, through an alpine meadow at the second one and through a fast alpine forest track for the third. The last two stages were held in the Pineta Valley, finishing in Bielsa village. Jose Borges and Sandra Jorda set the fastest times. Francois Bailly-Maitre wasn't feeling good in the morning and decided not to race the second day, what eventually took him off the general classification.I had looked at the race book and I had no doubt about the third day being the toughest one of the race. More than 60km, four stages, 3,500m descending and 2,000m climbing/hiking. If that wasn't enough, the riders had to fight low temperatures (-5C plus wind) and a snowstorm at stage one and two, followed by snow, hail, rain, snow, and rain again. An epic day in the mountains.A hike to Collado de Urdiceto (2.314m), border point between France and Spain, was done under cold temperatures but a sunny day. Suddenly, the weather changed to lower temperatures and an intense wind hitting Tabernes Valley and Biados Valley. Stages one and two went from black dirt and rocks to an alpine meadow and then alpine forests with slippery roots. By that time, the rain and hail were over the valleys without intermission. After the feed stop, a long climb to Puerto de Sahun took the riders to stages three and four, and then to the base camp in Castejon de Sos. Francois Bailly-Maitre and Sandra Jorda were the fastest riders of the day.The menu for the last day included some of the best trails of Puro Pirineo : Sierra Negra, Planadona and Gallinero.After three days of rain, snow, and wind, the last day brought the sunlight and warmer temperatures as if everything was already planned for a good ending to Trans-Nomad 2017.A 1.52 hours ride and hike was necessary to reach the top of Stage 1 at Sierra Negra. Departing at 2,500m and descending on a fresh black dirt without marked trail, a freeriding feeling with awesome views, making your way into an alpine forest on a fast and technical track, wide open smile for all riders at the end of the stage. The liaison to Stage 2 included riding on Planadona, and made happy every rider with its 3km of pure flow trail, a mandatory one if you happen to be in this area. Gallinero and Bosque Encantado (Magic Woods) were stages three and four, with almost no liaison between them. These two tracks together gather almost everything you can ask in a trail: rocky sections, fast trail sector, technical sectors, flow section, lots of corners, jumps, drops, pedaling section, and great views. Montisielo was the last stage, delivering more flow in the pine woods. Repeating the script of the previous day, Francois Bailly-Maitre and Sandra Jorda set the fastest times for the day.Fall is already at the doors of the Pyrenees. Winter is coming and we can't wait for the 2018 season.You can have a look at the final results here
Pinion's Chriistoph Lerman (left) with Paul Tolme from Gates.
Pinion and Gates recently announced that Gates will be distributing Pinion's transmissions to the US and Canada, which opens up a number of opportunities for both brands, and their customers as well. Gates is no stranger to transmissions and drives, and while its bicycle division is a small branch, the Carbon Drive system is about as high tech as a cog-belt system gets. It's no secret that many bike makers who offer Pinion's gearbox, also favor the Carbon Drive for its simplicity and all-weather performance. The partnership with Gates seems like a perfect match. I spoke with Pinion's Christoph Lerman and Gate's Paul Tolme about their new partnership.
How critical is it for Pinion to have a distributor in North America?
Christoph:
Paul:
Christoph:
Since he co-founded Pinion, Christoph Lerman has been a one-man show, demonstrating their transmissions at trade shows, and to potential customers on four continents. The Gates partnership is their first step towards globalization of their products.
it's very important. We are already having small brands using the Pinion system here. we have seen a demand in this market, and for us, it was not just important to sell gearboxes, but to have a partner here who is also able to do some services for the technology. We are glad that we found the Gates Corporation as a partner to operate the US business.Yeah, we had an informal partnership for several years, and that led up to this formal agreement.We have the gearbox on one end and they have the carbon belt on the other, so it makes sense to incorporate in this particular market.
It's not like Gates is a stranger to power transmission and drive systems...
Paul:
Like peanut butter and jelly, man. We're obviously going to be distributing Pinion gearboxes to customers who will be putting chains on, as well, but the market trend is having that ability to combine a belt and a gearbox as sort of the ultimate. It's really working with designers to accommodate a belt into their frame designs.
Will you have a tech center that will stock parts, or will Pinion handle warranty issued from Germany?
What Might the Future Hold?
In a perfect world, your pinion gearbox would not need service, beyond the occasional oil change, but if that moment did arise, I'll bet that there are only a handful of riders who would dare crack open the cases to attempt a repair. Pinion's decision to open up a support and distribution center in Denver should make their customers rest easier, knowing that they can get their gearboxes serviced and their questions answered quickly from a professional Tech. The advantage that Gates brings to the table, is that they already understand and communicate with bike makers and riders who have committed to alternative drivetrains, so there is no learning process to inhibit Pinion's expansion into the US and Canada. RC
Christoph: No, it's all from Denver. Marc Seemann is there for sales and service, and all of the parts as well, are in Denver for customers, dealers and OEMs, just like we do in Germany, which is a big step for us. Bigger brands were skeptical of us here, and now we can provide OE support those larger companies need.
Unless you work for a well-known bike brand, you probably haven't heard the Pardus name before. It's a relatively small (by Asian standards) carbon frame and component maker that produces some of the best quality products in China for select OEM customers - brands which are on the tips of many rider's tongues. Some time ago, Pardus decided that they should launch their own range of elite-level mountain bikes.The designer that they selected to flesh out their first trail bike was Steve Domahidy - the man who co-founded Niner Bikes and more recently, launched his own brand . He also works as a hired gun for bike makers in need of expertise. The collaboration between Pardus and Domahidy has given birth to the futuristic looking long-travel trail bike that will surely turn some heads.
[Trans Cascadia] is four days of racing coupled with a backcountry experience that includes gourmet food, a whole bunch of socializing with like-minded riders, and the kind of primitive singletrack that puts a dirty smile on your face. Allan Cooke
Trans-Cascadia Inc. is a non-profit that was founded by a group of long-time bike industry professionals and they hosted the first of the races in 2015. The event is part of their broader mission to promote and build sustainable trails in the Pacific Northwest and the whole thing is made possible by a community of racers, volunteers, and sponsors who pitch in at events and trail building days.
Nick Gibson, Tommy Magrath, and Alex Gardner are some of the most solid guys in the industry. They care first and foremost about creating, curating, and maintaining trails in the Northwest Cascades and, as a close second, they want to make the experience the time of your life every time. Thats why we partner with this group; we see eye-to-eye when it comes to having trails to ride, having a good time riding those trails, and collaborating without ego or bullshit. Its been great, were not just writing a cheque in order to be part of the action, we also have the opportunity to invest blood, sweat, and resources towards their goal: more trails ! When the call comes in for help, we load up company vehicles with tools, food, and employees from across the company and show up to lend a hand. Oh, and we get to ride a bit, too.
Its out here in the wild that people from all walks of life come together for a greater cause and form new bonds through the sacrifice of the one thing that cant be rush delivered via Amazon or saved for a later datethats time, sweet, valuable time. Allan Cooke
AC: Where are we and what's the history of this zone?
TC Crew:
[This area has] been dormant for the past 20 years, with very little use We saw an opportunity to maybe find something good. TC Crew
AC: How did you find this zone and specifically the trails we worked on during this trip?
TC Crew:
This last work party was super important to clean up all the debris we cutback and refine the good work that had been done. At the end of this last effort, we left a groomed backcountry network. TC Crew
We talked it all over internally and decided to move forward with resurrecting the Old Cascade Crest Network and trying to include it in this years race. I dont think we expected to bite off as much as we did, and we really didnt know what we were getting into until the spring came. We found outthere was a shit load of work to do. The network was really overgrown and really deep in the woods, and there are really no roads to get tools and equipment in. The re-route was deep in a hole and required a mega effort to cut out. For a couple months, we ran chainsaws and brushers, slowly peeling back the years of overgrowth. Focusing on keeping the machinery on and running while the IFPL (Industrial Fire Precaution Level) allowed for power tools. This last work party was super important to clean up all the debris we cutback and refine the good work that had been done. At the end of this last effort, we left a groomed backcountry network.
AC: You three are the driving force behind all of this but nothing happens without the help of others, anyone you would like to thank?
TC Crew:
Your skill level or motivation to race doesn't really matter; if youre into good times and the outdoors, this is your chanceand it really doesnt get any better. Allan Cooke
Words:
Photos:
Right now, were fresh off a five-week road trip that began in Santa Cruz and ended with a 22-hour push from Whistler back to California. The trip was a successful mission in support of the Santa Cruz riders at Crankworx and at the two North American rounds of the Enduro World Series. Now, only twelve hours after arriving home, Im right back at itloading the truck up, grabbing buddies, and hitting the road North to the mountains in Oregon. Why not, right? Its only an 11-hour drive back the way I came. The thing is that 11-hour drive takes the crew and I to fresh new trails that the Trans-Cascadia/Modus Sport Group guys have been cultivating and when they call you about pitching in on a new trail, you just gono excusesyou just go.This is the second year that Santa Cruz Bicycles has partnered with the Trans-Cascadia crew and the upcoming Trans-Cascadia race. In their words,. Its four days of racing coupled with a backcountry experience that includes gourmet food, a whole bunch of socializing with like-minded riders, and the kind of primitive singletrack that puts a dirty smile on your face.This trip was a special one because we were out in a new territory about two hours northwest of Bend, Oregon in the middle Santiam Wilderness. The area is little known for its mountain biking trails, so it was exciting to get into it. Joining our regular crew was Jordan Nguyen from the Santa Cruz showroom and Mike Thomas our in-house photographer; both eager to get into the wilderness and contribute to the cause. After driving up from Santa Cruz and well past any town in sight, we arrived at the campsite around 11pm and set up camp. On the outside, these trips look like a typical weekend of camping and riding but in reality, there are 810 hours of raking, lopping, cutting, and clearing each day. The days are long and hot but always followed by cold beer, good food, and the best company. Its out here in the wild that people from all walks of life come together for a greater cause and form new bonds through the sacrifice of the one thing that cant be rush delivered via Amazon or saved for a later datethats time, sweet, valuable time.The goal for the week was to tidy up the months of brushing and chainsaw work already done by the TC crew. We needed to make the trails race ready for the following month's event. The Trans-Cascadia race is basically a celebration of the hard work done over the last year. It brings the mountain bike community together and shows that with hard work, good intentions, and the help of your friends, we can all be the reason for more open trails in every state in the country.Everyone set to work for the weekend and we dug, high-fived, rode and hung out in the woods. When it was all over, I asked the Trans-Cascadia crew some questions about the organization, the race, and their history. Heres what they had to say...The system we worked on this weekend is named the Old Cascade Crest Trails, which was the crest of the Old Cascades around 300k years ago. The new Cascade Crest is made up of all of the volcanos we see in todays backdrop, like Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Bachelor and Mt. Hood. Kinda cool to think this was the high point of the Cascades at one time, and now were riding it.The trail system was constructed between 1930 and 1950, and was first built by the CCC and later completed by the USFS. These trails were originally created as a transportation network between fire towers; fire towers were on most peaks in the Old Cascade Crest Network. These trails were also used for animal grazing and hella gold mining at one point. Whats now super remote and feels really deep, once had thousands of people living there mining for gold. Its still one of the most active hobby mining areas in the Willamette.The network was finished as recent as the mid 90s when the US Forest Service connected all of these trails. The Three Pyramids, North Crescent (what we rode down the last day) and South Pyramid Creek Trail were all built or re-discovered in the mid 90s, and those three trails make the network connected. The South Pyramid Creek Trail was an old Native American pathway that was discovered in the process of the trail's developmentyou can just imagine the history in this area and how many different people have used this areapretty cool. Its been dormant for the past 20 years, with very little use We saw an opportunity to maybe find something good.Our process for finding trails is a lot of looking over maps and identifying things that look fun and interesting. We also find trails through networking with the local riding community and the USFS. Finding the Cascade Crest Network was a bit of all the above. If you get the chance to look at this network on a map, without riding it, you see a lot of dotted lines running down tight topo lines for miles. On paper, it looks good.I verified the quality of the network through a guy named Eric Brown who wrote a blog post on the area, he had some pictures and some good information on the network. We talked last winter for a couple hourstalking topo lines and direction of traveland he helped picture what this place may look like on wheels. I also chatted with a local named Joe Myers, who shared some information on the trails hed been on and he also verified the quality. Joe and Eric both thought I should chat with local USFS Sweet Home and Detroit District Trail Lead, Brandon Haraughty, to get a better idea of what trail we could and couldnt ride. We ran into a couple major issues, and one of those issues was the SW Corner was illegal to ride because it dipped into Wilderness for about a mile. This wouldnt work for the race so digging into some old maps we found two old abandoned logging roads (old roads with shitloads of trees growing in them) that paralleled the wilderness and would create a legal ride around that would make this place work for mountain biking.Fast-forward through some meetings/emails/talks and we eventually proposed to the Sweet Home Ranger District the idea of a re-route and they were keen to make it work.Getting all of this done was through the coordination of some very productive work parties and asses being worked off, in Tommys case, his feet literally worked off. This is definitely not happening without the community effort and volunteers weve had out. This includes our sponsors, like Shimano, Santa Cruz and Oakley, whove all sent people out this year to get work done, and its made a huge difference in our effectiveness. Weve also had incredible help from our Bend buddies Joe Myers and Adam Craig as well as the Oregon Timber Trail Association. Weve had a great year meeting new people and collaborating on such a fun project its really rewarding to share the experience of hard work and opening new trails with the community that comes together to make these things happen.The USFS are the OG stewards of our land and provide an incredible resource. Were lucky to know these people, theyre some of the most interesting and hard working people youll meet. The Middle Fork, Sweet Home, McKenzie, Detroit and Sweet Home Districts all contributed to making this a successful project. In particular district Ranger Nikki Swanson for having an open mind and for being the leader she is, and Brandon Haraughty for his strong ground game. Ranger Dwayne Bishop, Brian McGinley, Kevin Rowell, Tyson Cross, Brad Peterson, and Matt Peterson are all folks whove been helping us over the years. Cant thank them enough for the access they provide and opportunities they create for mountain bikers in Oregon.The Trans-Cascadia kicks off on September 27th and runs through October 4th and the last time I checked there were still a couple of spots left. If you can come up to celebrate with all the people that made these trails possible, check it out or at least plan for next year. Youll make the best of friends, eat the best food, drink the best beer, and create memories for a lifetime. It all happens at an off-the-grid campsite or the seat of your trial bike. The best part? Your skill level or motivation to race doesn't really matter; if youre into good times and the outdoors, this is your chanceand it really doesnt get any better.Allan CookeDylan VanWeelden
A Look at 888poker Ambassador Chris Moormans Second Poker Book
September 20, 2017 Matthew Pitt Editor
When Chris Moorman1 Moorman, the 888poker ambassador, released Moormans Book of Poker in 2014, recreational poker players and professionals alike were scrambling to get their hands on a copy.
Online pokers most successful tournament player of all-time, in terms of prize money won, had previously shied away from giving poker strategy advice and here he was, laying out his trade secrets over 384 pages for all to read.
Personally, I enjoyed Moormans first publication even though I rarely hit the tables these days. It was well set out, easy to read and gave an insight into how one of the best poker players of his generation thinks about a hand when it is playing out in front of him.
Moorman's Second Book
Recently, in July 2017, Moorman published his second book, Moorman: The inside story of the most successful online poker player of all time. This latest book is similar in size to his first work at 344 pages, but instead of being purely a strategy book, we are also treated to part autobiography and get to learn more about Moorman the man not just Moorman the poker player.
Like many poker players who were becoming rising stars, Moorman used to keep a blog where he would share his latest poker sessions and update his fans and followers with trip reports and such on a regular basis. The blog had many followers, but we never really got to see who Moorman was or what he was about. This new book scratches the surface.
The first 100 pages of Moormans new book give readers a glimpse of Moorman growing up, from discovering poker and being, well, a lucky fish, in home games and the like, to being down to his last $25 online and putting it all on a sit & go tournament, which he won by the way, to kick-start what is now an illustrious career.
We learn about Moormans foray into poker staking, including having half of Tyler Reimans action when he finished second to Harrison Gimbel in the 2010 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event for $1.75 million, and also how he was stiffed by a couple of his horses in backing deals that went sour.
As you read throughout the autobiography section of the book, you almost feel Moorman growing up and maturing, culminating in him winning the World Poker Tour L.A. Poker Classic, getting engaged and ultimately marrying his sweetheart. You also learn of the struggles Moorman faced during this growing up period. It would be easy to think that someone so successful had enjoyed an easy ride throughout their life; nothing could be further from the truth.
Strategy Section
After the life story comes detailed analysis of 44 hands Moorman has played online. A mixture of hands from multi-table tournaments and cash games are displayed and Moorman gives a detailed analysis of each and every one of them. This section alone would probably be worth buying the book for.
In addition to the expert analysis from Moorman, there are eight hands where Moorman enlists the help of some of the worlds elite players to discuss strategy. Team PokerStars Pros Daniel Negreanu, Vanessa Selbst, Liv Boeree, Jake Cody and Igor Kurganov are joined by German superstars Fedor Holz and Dominik Nitsche, the latter being Moormans fellow 888poker ambassador.
Much like Moormans own strategy section, these professional critiques of Moormans play are worth their weight in gold and it is such a rarity that you get to have an insight into such great poker minds that you simply have to read their comments.
To summarize, despite being almost 400 pages long, youll sail through Moormans latest book with ease, and you never know, the tips and strategy you pick up may just push you on from being a break-even player to one who is in the winners circle on a regular basis.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 06:01:01
A.M. Best to Host 2017 Insurance Market Briefing MENA
A.M. Best
Bouchra Abou Nader, +971 43 752 780
bouchra.abounader@ambest.com
A.M. Best will host its annual Insurance Market Briefing MENA on Wednesday, 4 October, from 1:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. (GST), at the Fairmont Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A.M. Best will present its perspectives on rating trends for (re)insurers in key segments of the MENA (re)insurance sector.
The following key topics will be presented:
Threats & Opportunities for Regional (Re)Insurers;
Significance of Rating Actions on (Re)Insurers; and
Update on Best's Credit Rating Methodology and the new Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio.
Representatives from Ernst & Young will also be presenting on VAT Introduction in the GCC & Its Impact on the Insurance Market.
The event will be followed by a networking cocktail reception.
Registration can be made online at http://www.ambest.com/events/imbmena2017. Enquiries can be addressed to events@ambest.com.
A.M. Best is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.
Copyright 2017 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201709190063
Ablation Devices Market
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 10:13:00
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The Global Ablation Devices Marketwas valued at US$ 3,330.0 million in 2016 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 10.9% during the forecast period (20172025), as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights. Growing popularity of minimally invasive surgical procedures is expected to be the major factor driving growth of the global ablation devices market over the foreseeable future.Arrhythmia is a common type of cardiovascular disorder that affects a large population worldwide. states that atrial fibrillation is a growing serious health disorder that had affected 33.5 million people worldwide, which accounts 0.5% of total population share, in 2013. With the help of ablation devices, a large number of people suffering from these alarming diseases are now able to receive proper treatments.Ablation devices are also used for the treatment of tumorigenic diseases such as cancer and several other serious diseases including neurological and small brain tumors. These devices are experiencing significant demand in the current healthcare scenario due to their efficacy and ease of use. Ablation offers numerous advantages over conventional surgery, in terms of increased safety, decreased scarring, and faster recovery. According to American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 5.8 million reconstructive minimally invasive surgeries were performed in 2013.Inquire for Sample Copy at: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/464 According to a research article published in the Heart Rhythm Journal in 2014, catheter ablation is suggested to be a safe, beneficial, and effective technique in maintaining sinus rhythm. Also, the catheter ablation possess lower mortality and stroke risks in adult patients as compared to the regular surgical procedures. Catheter ablation devices play a major role not only serving the geriatric patients but also younger patients, who can resume their everyday chores within a very less span of time after the surgery, as ablation takes minimal recovery duration. Moreover, number of types and techniques through which ablation is performed, also provide a wide array of choices to the patients and healthcare practitioners to choose a suitable type. For instance, a study published in the Journal of Atrial Fibrillation in 2015, states that cryoablation technique is better suited to treat atrio-ventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia (AVNRT) than radiofrequency ablation, as chances of permanent AV block are very less in cryoablation than that in radiofrequency. Doctors from Seattle Childrens suggest laser ablation for the treatment of epilepsy and brain tumors even in young children, as old as 2 years, due to the safety and precision offered by it. Thus, the demand for ablation devices is expected to witness dramatic growth in the near future, creating lucrative opportunities for the market players to grab more sales with the introduction of cost-efficient and innovative devices.Access Table of Content (TOC) Of the Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/ablation-devices-market-464#3a Key Takeaways of the Ablation Devices Market:The global ablation devices market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 10.9% during the forecast period (20162025), as there exists a huge potential market, especially in Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and AfricaRobust developments in surgical procedures and adoption of minimally invasive surgical procedures are expected to drive the global ablation devices market.Atrial Fibrillation, Arrhythmia, Lung Cancer, Breast Cancer, AV node cancer as well as Brain Tumors, and Pancreatic & Kidney tumors are the major therapeutic applications, where various types of ablation can be performed and remain as potential application areas in the global ablation devices market.Some of the major players involved in the global ablation devices market includes, Arthrex, Boston Scientific Corporation, Medtronic Plc, Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Inc., Halyard Health, Abbott Laboratories, EDAP TMS S.A., AtriCure, Inc., and Smith & Nephew.To know the latest trends and insights prevalent in the Ablation Devices Market, click the link below: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/ablation-devices-market-464 About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@ coherentmarketinsights.com
Market Data Forecast
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 10:44:32
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According to the report APAC Alginates Market by Type (Sodium Alginate, Calcium Alginate, Potassium Alginate, PGA, Others) by Application (Food & Beverage, Industrial, Pharmaceuticals, Others), and by Region - Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (20162021) published by Market Data Forecast, The APAC Alginates Market was worth $64.22 million in 2016 and estimated to be growing at a CAGR of 3.71%, to reach $77.05 million by 2021.Browse report details @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/asia-pacific-alginates-market-2433/ The market is showcasing moderate potential in the mentioned forecasting period. The market continues to gain momentum due to the growing demand for improving food textures. Diverse uses of alginate such as in textile printing, immobilizing biocatalysts, pharmaceutical products, welding rods coatings, paper manufacturing and binders for fish feeds and releasing agents is likely to push growth of alginate market over the forecast period. Moreover, increase in consumption of processed convenience food products is likely to be the reason for growth of Asia-Pacific alginate market over the given forecast period.The industrial textile sector is dominating the demand for alginate over the years. In the industrial textile sector, alginates are mostly used as thickeners for dye. In food and beverage industry, alginate is mostly used in ice-creams and sauces, acting in the form of a stabilizing and thickening agent. Also, it is being used as a separating agent in oil water emulsions and as a softening agent for bakery items. In terms of application, food and beverage industry is witnessing substantial growth in the alginate market.Market drivers which are majorly influencing the demand of alginate is coming from the food and beverage manufacturers for its thickening, gelling, stabilizing and emulsifying properties. Reason for its rising demand in F&B industry is pertaining to its extraction from natural seaweeds, as it is considered to be the safest food additive in food industry and also certified by FAO and WHO. In addition, there is also an increased demand from textile industry for its use in designing, printing and dyeing on cotton and jute fabrics.Get Free Sample of report @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/asia-pacific-alginates-market-2433/request-sample The APAC Alginates Market broadly categorized by Type (Calcium Alginate, Sodium Alginate, Potassium Alginate, PGA, Others) and by Application (Industrial, Food & Beverage, Pharmaceuticals, Others). Sodium alginate has lots of application in food and textile printing industry and it is expected that it fuels the market growth of alginate over the forecast period. Also, Primary demand of alginate in Asia-Pacific market accounts from food and paper, beverage and textile industry. In food and beverage industry, demand of alginate is increasing due its higher demand in preparing products such as jellies, salads, ice cream, alcoholic drinks, lactic drinks etc. Geographically, the market is analysed under various regions namely China, India, Japan, etc. As per the alginate production, major producing region is China and it contributes majority of market share in Asia-Pacific level market. In terms of value, it is expected that China and India account for major share in terms ofvalue and also as a lucrative market in near future.Some of the major companies dominating the APAC Alginates Market: Cargill Inc. Dohler Group FMC Corporation Ashland Inc. Brenntag AG Dastech International Inc. E.I. DuPont De Nemours and Company Kimica Corporation Dow Chemical Company Penford CorporationMake an Inquiry before buying @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/asia-pacific-alginates-market-2433/inquire Browse other region reports:North America Alginates Market - http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/north-america-alginates-market-2431/ Europe Alginates Market - http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/europe-alginates-market-2432/ Latin America Alginates Market - http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/latin-america-alginates-market-2434/ MEA Alginates Market - http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/middle-east-and-africa-alginates-market-2435/ About Us:Market Data Forecast is a firm working in the area of market research and business intelligence. With rich experience in research across various business domains, we cater to the needs of both individual and corporate clients. Our analyst team comprises expert professionals in market research, who with their collective knowledge and skillset dedicatedly serve clients from various industries and regions.Media Contact:Abhishek ShuklaInternational Business Development ManagerMarket Data ForecastDirect Line: +1-888-702-9626; Mobile: +91 998 555 0206Mail: abhishek@ marketdataforecast.com Visit MarketDataForecast Blog @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/blog/
Asia Pacific Diabetes Care Devices Industry by Device Type (Glucose Monitoring Systems, Insulin Delivery Systems and Control Solutions) and by Region Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2016 2021)
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PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 07:39:05
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According to the report Asia Pacific Diabetes Care Devices Industry, published by Market Data Forecast, The Industry has been estimated at USD 2.461 Billion in 2015 and is projected to reach USD 3.518 billion by 2020, at a CAGR of 7.41% during the forecast period from 2015 to 2020.Diabetes is a group of metabolic disorders, chronic condition which is associated with abnormally high level of sugar (glucose) in the blood. South- East Asia currently witnesses 78.3 million people affected with Diabetes which is going to reach 140.2 million by 2040. Western Pacific region witnesses 153.2 million people affected with diabetes and this number is said to reach 214.8 million by 2040.Browse Market data tables and in-depth TOC of the Asia Pacific Diabetes Care Devices Industry to 2020 @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/asia-pacific-diabetes-care-devices-market-107/ Asia Pacific has the highest diabetes population with the number increasing in quite an alarming rate. Due to this there is a huge demand in diabetes care devices which is primarily driving the Industry here. Also, the increasing healthcare costs is driving the Industry with increased revenues accumulated by the companies in this region. But the Industry growth is constrained here due to low medical literacy rate which is leading to the fall in sales of devices.In Asia Pacific, the diabetes care device Industry is segmented by type and by country. By type the Industry has been segmented in to Insulin delivery devices, Diabetes monitoring devices and Diabetes Control Solutions. The products in each of these segments are segregated in the following way: Diabetes Monitoring Devices (Self-blood Monitoring Devices: Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices, Test Strips, Lancets and Hemoglobin A1c Testing Kits; Continuous Glucose Monitoring Devices); Insulin Delivery Devices (Insulin Pens, Insulin Pumps, Jet Injectors and Insulin Syringes) and Diabetes Control Solutions.Free sample of the report is available @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/asia-pacific-diabetes-care-devices-market-107/request-sample Geographically, the Industry in Asia-Pacific region is segmented into China, India, Japan, Korea and Australia. China and India are the leading contributors in this region with large incidence of companies involved in manufacturing diabetes care devices, due to the highest prevalence of diabetes population in their regions. China has the worlds largest population with close to 1.4 billion people, followed by India with around 1.2 billion people in 2014. According to the International Diabetes Federation, China had the largest number of diabetic patients with around 96.2 million diabetic patients followed by India with around 66.8 million diabetic patients in 2014. This represents a majority of approximately 40-45% of the global diabetic population living in India and China, providing significant opportunities for the global diabetes care devices companies to invest in this region.Roche Diagnostics, Ascensia, Abbott Laboratories, Novo Nordisk, Johnson & Johnson, Tandem and Terumo are the top companies in Asia-Pacific Diabetes Care Devices Industry.Inquire before buying @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/asia-pacific-diabetes-care-devices-market-107/inquire Key Points from Table of ContentsOverview Executive Summary Key Inferences New DevelopmentsDrivers, Restraints, Opportunities, and Challenges Analysis (DROC)Asia Pacific Diabetes Care Devices Industry: Segmentation By Typeo Glucose Monitoring Deviceso Insulin Delivery Systemso Control SolutionsGeographical Analysis China India Japan South KoreaStrategic Analysis PESTLE analysis Porters Five analysisIndustry Leaders' AnalysisCompetitive LandscapeAvail discount @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/asia-pacific-diabetes-care-devices-market-107/request-discount About Us:Market Data Forecast is a firm working in the area of market research and business intelligence. With rich experience in research across various business domains, we cater to the needs of both individual and corporate clients. Our analyst team comprises expert professionals in market research, who with their collective knowledge and skillset dedicatedly serve clients from various industries and regions.Contact:Abhishek ShuklaSales Manager (International Business Development)Market Data ForecastDirect Line: +1-888-702-9626Mobile: +91 998 555 0206Mail: abhishek@ marketdataforecast.com Visit MarketDataForecast Blog @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/blog/ View latest Press Releases of MDF @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/press-releases
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 10:02:01
Brain drain: UPP research finds jobs and housing forcing almost half of graduates to leave their university town
Lodestone Communications:
Martha Dalton
+44 (0) 7971138459
martha.dalton@lodestonecommunications.com
or
Orla OCallaghan
+44 (0) 7491727785
orla.ocallaghan@lodestonecommunications.com
Many of the UKs regions are suffering from brain drain as they struggle to hold on to their graduates, as a new report shows that just 9% of students are certain they will stay in their university towns after graduation.
The report, Skills to pay the bills: How students pick where to study and where to work was undertaken by University Partnerships Programme (UPP), the leading provider of on-campus student accommodation infrastructure and support services in the UK.
It finds that students in areas that are amongst the UKs most prosperous are least likely to consider moving away from their university town or city once they graduate. Just a third (35%) of students in London are considering moving city after graduating, compared to 41% in both the North West and East of England, and 63% in the West Midlands.
The report finds that nationally, 48% of all students wont stay in their university town after graduation, whilst 40% of students say that they will live and work in the city where they studied (net values). However, this balance tips in favour of mobility as students progress through their undergraduate degree of third and fourth year students, 54% expect to move (up from 42% for first years) whilst only 36% expect to stay.
Overall, the overwhelmingly decisive factor in determining whether a student believes they will remain in their city or region of study is the perceived availability of graduate opportunities. Sixty-three percent of students raised job prospects as the primary driver of where they will live and work post-study. The next decisive factor, at 38%, was the availability of affordable accommodation.
Jon Wakeford, Director of Strategy and Communications at UPP and a member of the Higher Education Commission, says: Graduate retention is a crucial symptom of the medium-term economic prospects of a city and a driver of future growth, productivity and prosperity. Retention is also central to evaluating the role of universities themselves as civic and economic institutions within their communities contributing to the health and wealth of the cities and regions in which they are based.
Understanding how many graduates stay and work in the place they were educated tells us a great deal about relative levels of graduate opportunities around the country; it shows us what is missing from the employment and lifestyle mix in particular regions; and it helps us to unpack the knotty question of what drives so many UK graduates to relocate to London so quickly after graduation. Government, local authorities, Universities and business need to work together to encourage high quality, affordable house building in key regions.
We know that lots of great work is occurring at individual universities, however, more should be done to improve the individual attractiveness of institutions to students worried about long-term economic vulnerability. It would help applicants to make informed decisions and help students identify opportunities for their own economic stress.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201709200051
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 17:18:10
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Transparecny Market Research
Transparency Market Research 90 State Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: www.transparencymarketresearch.com
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email
http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com
# 587 Words
Transparency Market Research 90 State Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: www.transparencymarketresearch.comHead Internet Marketing+1-518-618-1030
Global Cigars & Cigarillos Market: OverviewThe market for cigars and cigarillos is gaining traction due to increasing demand among young adults. Additionally, availability of various flavors in cigars and cigarillos is attracting consumers to buy these products. The trend is particularly gathering steam among women. This is expected to fuel demand for cigars and cigarillos in the near future.Request Sample Copy of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/cigars-cigarillos-market.html Cigars and cigarillos are a firmly rolled bundle of fermented and dried tobacco leaves. These are rolled in varying lengths, sizes, and thicknesses. Cigars are ignited at the end so that the smoke may be drawn into the mouth. The global cigars and cigarillos market is expected to exhibit slow yet steady growth in terms of revenue between 2016 and 2024. However, volume growth is expected to be robust.The report presents a comprehensive overview of the global cigars and cigarillos market. Various factors influencing the demand and supply trends in the market are studied in detail. The report also covers the expected performance of the market in terms of revenue and volume during the forecast period. Based on in-depth information obtained from trusted industrial sources, the study projects the threats and opportunities that the companies operating in the market could face during the forecast period.Global Cigars & Cigarillos Market: Key Opportunities and ThreatsBased on product type, the global cigars and cigarillos market has been be bifurcated into premium and mass. The mass segment dominated the market in 2014. The trend is likely to continue during the forecast period. The premium segment is also anticipated to witness robust growth due to increasing demand in countries such as the U.S., the UAE, and China.Based on category, cigarillos was the larger segment of the market in terms of volume. Availability of various types of cigarillos at relatively low prices is a key factor fueling the growth of the segment. The cigars segment is projected to gain impetus during the forecast period, as consumers are inclined more toward large-sized tobacco products.In terms of flavor, the mint and menthol segment is witnessing the highest demand in the market. However, the fruits and candy segment is expected to witness substantially growth in the near future. Increasing number of women consumers of cigars and cigarillos is likely to contribute to the growth of the fruits and candy segment.Based on end-use, the male consumers segment dominated the market in 2014. The segment is expected to continue its dominance in the market during the forecast period. Demand in the female segment is also poised to surge exponentially in the next few years.Global Cigars & Cigarillos Market: Regional OutlookRegionally, North America held the largest share of the market in 2014. Rising demand in the U.S. is expected to present favorable growth opportunities in the cigars and cigarillos market in North America. The market in Asia Pacific is also expected to witness significant growth. In the near future, Europe and Asia Pacific are likely to emerge as two of the fastest growing markets. Growth of the cigars and cigarillos market in Asia Pacific is driven by the increasing demand in China.Global Cigars & Cigarillos Market: Vendor LandscapeIn order to study the prevailing competitiveness in the market, the report profiles enterprises such as British American Tobacco, Tobacco Group A/S, and Habanos S.A. These companies are studied based on their product portfolio, marketing strategies, and financial overview.Request TOC of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=11240
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 17:18:12
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Transparecny Market Research
Transparency Market Research 90 State Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: www.transparencymarketresearch.com
Rohit Bhisey
Head Internet Marketing
+1-518-618-1030
email
http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com
# 671 Words
Transparency Market Research 90 State Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: www.transparencymarketresearch.comHead Internet Marketing+1-518-618-1030
Global Conformal Coatings Market: OverviewConformal coating is a special type of coating applied to electronic devices in order to protect them from external factors such as heat and rain. These form a protective layer shielding electronic circuits from moisture and chemical contaminants and help prolong the life of electronic devices.Request Sample Copy of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/conformal-coatings-market.html Various coating methods are used to protect electronic components from external conditions and contaminants. The most popular methods include spray application, brush coatings, and conformal coating dipping. Regionally, the global conformal coatings market has been segmented into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and Rest of the World. The opportunities for expansion exhibited by these regions are examined extensively in the report.The report on conformal coatings presents a quantitative and qualitative assessment of various factors and government policies influencing the global market. It is compiled with the intent of updating the stakeholders about the prevailing market dynamics and its outlook. The report also includes details pertaining to the investment feasibility in the market and opportunities for new entrants.Global Conformal Coatings Market: Key Opportunities and ThreatsThe global conformal coatings market has reported significant growth in the past couple of years. Growth trends exhibited by the market are expected to continue in the next few years. The expansion of the electronics industry, especially in emerging economies, is likely to boost the conformal coatings market. Conformal coatings ensure better moisture and dielectric resistance; these are key factors increasing usage in the electronics industry.Based on material type, the acrylic conformal coating segment is expected to dominate the market in the near future. Acrylic conformal coatings are easy to apply and the easiest to rework. Additionally, these provide high resistance from abrasion, chemicals, and moisture; take less time to cure, and are available at low cost. These are the key factors encouraging the use of acrylic conformal coatings across industries.Apart from the electronics industry, demand for conformal coatings is increasing in the automotive electronics segment. Electronics installed in vehicles are exposed to chemical contaminants, harsh working conditions, moisture, dust, and vibration. These factors necessitate the use of conformal coatings on automotive electronics to ensure their better performance and longevity.Automotive manufacturers strive to offer high quality and reliable smart vehicles at competitive prices. This prevalent trend in the automotive industry in turn is bolstering demand for conformal coatings in the industry.Global Conformal Coatings Market: Regional OutlookRegionally, North America dominates the global conformal coatings market. The market in the region is expected to expand at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. High demand for conformal coatings in industries located in countries such as Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. contributes to the growth of the conformal coatings market in North America. The U.S. holds the largest market share in North America.Enterprises operating in the global conformal coatings market witness lucrative opportunities in Asia Pacific. The strategic initiatives adopted by companies to gain customers have proven beneficial for the expansion of the conformal coatings market in the region. The rapid expansion of the electronics industry in the region has also contributed to the growth of the conformal coatings market in Asia Pacific.Global Conformal Coatings Market: Vendor LandscapeIn order to study the prevailing vendor landscape in the market, the report profiles companies such as Henkel, Electrolube, Cytec Industries, Inc., Dymax Corporation, Chase Corporation, and DuPont. These companies are studied based on their financial overview, product portfolio, and strategies adopted.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.Request TOC of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=11243
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 21:39:03
The company is offering a 50% discount on its data recovery services to earthquake victims.
DriveSavers Offers Discounted Data Recovery to Mexico Earthquake Victims
DriveSavers
John Christopher, 415-382-8000 ext. 123
Send email by clicking here
DriveSavers, the worldwide leader in data recovery, eDiscovery and digital forensic solutions, today announced it is offering heavily discounted data recovery services to central Mexico and Mexico City residents who were impacted by the massive 7.1 magnitude earthquake on Sept. 19.
Starting today, DriveSavers is offering a 50% discount on its data recovery services for victims of the earthquake. The discount will remain in effect until October 15, 2017.
Here at DriveSavers, we are still retrieving data for victims of the recent hurricanes. As busy as we are, however, we want to help our friends in Mexico the best way we can, said Scott Moyer, president of DriveSavers.
DriveSavers has over 30 years of experience recovering critical data from computer storage and smart devices that have suffered physical trauma caused by natural disasters, including flood, fire and impact damage.
Those who require data recovery should contact DriveSavers on our website: www.drivesaversdatarecovery.com and immediately reach our advisors by using the chat option, which automatically translates between Spanish and English if needed. In addition, our advisors are available 24/7 via Skype by clicking the Skype button on the websites home page.
About DriveSavers
With over 32 years of award-winning success, a technologically advanced Certified ISO Class 5 Cleanroom and proprietary tools, DriveSavers retrieves irreplaceable data from every type of storage device. The company has a proven track record of overcoming physical damage to devices caused by flooding, fire, mechanical damage, logical failures, malware and more. Their broad range of customers includes home users, small businesses, Fortune 500 companies, government, healthcare organizations and creative professionals. All leading manufacturers authorize DriveSavers to open devices without voiding warranties. Satisfied customers include: Bank of America, Google, Lucasfilm, NASA and many more.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201709200062
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 23:47:14
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# 393 Words
ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446
FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Eagle Plains Resources Ltd.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Cranbrook, British Columbia (FSCWire) - Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. (TSX Venture:EPL). has issued a press release with the following headline:Eagle Plains Clarifies Saskatchewan Property AcquisitionTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Eagle Plains Resources Ltd., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Eagle Plains Resources Ltd.Source: Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. (TSX Venture: EPL, ISIN: CA2699062022, WKN: 588696)Date: September 20, 2017Time: 5:46 PM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2017 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 13:13:02
Elastomers Professionals from across the Silicone Elastomers and TPE Industries to Gather in Munich This November at the Home of the Elastomers Industry
For further information please contact:
Smithers Rapra
Joanna Gibson
jgibson[at]smithers[dot]com
+44(0)1372-802037
Over 250 key professionals from across the global elastomers industry will come together in Munich, Germany from 28 29 November to attend this years renowned Silicone Elastomers and Thermoplastic Elastomers World Summits.
Over the years there have been a number of new developments across both the silicone elastomers and thermoplastic elastomers industries, driven by increasing performance requirements across various sectors; from automotive and healthcare to consumer and industrial applications. With so many important developments, its vital for all areas of the supply chain to stay up-to-date with whats happening in the industry and get ahead of the competition. This is why so many industry experts come together to attend this yearly gathering, known widely as the home of the elastomers industry.
The organisers, Smithers Rapra have put together a comprehensive programme for each summit this year, covering the full scope of the global elastomers industry and providing valuable information on these developments and initiatives, as well as delivering an insightful forecast into the future. Sessions include advanced research and development updates, additives, the view of the OEM, materials; biomaterials and renewables, TPEs and their properties and much more.
Described as an Excellent opportunity for networking and improvement of market and technology knowledge by OCSiAl, both summits offer delegates the opportunity to gain the knowledge to boost their business, increase profit, meet new industry contacts, build business relationships and develop an increased understanding of customers needs. Not only that, by purchasing one ticket to their preferred event, delegates will gain full and unfiltered access to the other event as desired, providing double the content and double the ROI.
Presentations include:
Advancements in adhesion of fluorinated liquid silicone rubber (F-LSR) to substrates , Rick Ziebell, Vice President of Technology, R.D Abbott Company
, Colour and safeguard your liquid silicone rubber for medical applications with biologically tested and change controlled special solutions, Beate Treffler, Regional Head Europe Healthcare Polymer Solutions, Clariant Plastics and Coatings
Development of silicone rubber solutions for transport applications, Joseph Hallett, Senior Development Chemist, Fenner Precision
Silicones as Encapsulation for flexible LED-Modules, Martin Reiss, Materials Manager, OSRAM
Vistamaxx TM performance polymers enable oil-free soft touch grips , Anja Schulz, Vistamaxx Market Developer, ExxonMobil
, Engineering TPEs with advanced damping properties for automotive industry, Nobuhiro Miwa, Technical Service Engineer, Kuraray
For more information on Silicone Elastomers and Thermoplastic Elastomers World Summits visit http://www.elastomer-forum.com/about.
About Smithers Rapra
Smithers Rapra is a global leader in rubber, plastics and polymer testing, consulting services, and conferences, training, publications and market reports, focused mainly on the tire, industrial, automotive, consumer and medical industries.
-Ends
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201709200056
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 12:06:36
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Coherent Market Insights
#3200 Seattle, WA 98154 Tel: +1-206-701-6702
Mr. Shah
CEO
+1-206-701-6702
email
https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/ethanol-market-276
Published by
Pareesh Phulkar
08087996871
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# 743 Words
#3200 Seattle, WA 98154 Tel: +1-206-701-6702CEO+1-206-701-6702Pareesh Phulkar08087996871
Ethanol Market OverviewEthanol, commonly known as ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol, is a colorless liquid manufactured from starch-based, sugar-based or cellulosic feedstock. The U.S. and Brazil are the major producers of ethanol. Corn is the major feedstock used in the production of ethanol in the U.S., while ethanol is produced from sugarcane in Brazil. According to Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), 25,576 million gallons of fuel ethanol was produced in 2015. According to Sucres & Denrees (Paris), approximately 110 billion litres of ethanol is consumed globally each year. Ethanol has wide range of applications such as biofuel, industrial, food & beverages, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Approximately 87% of the global ethanol is used in producing biofuels. The environmental concerns related to greenhouse emissions have resulted in use of ethanol to produce transport fuels. The U.S., Brazil, and Europe are the major producers and consumers of ethanol. According to RFA, the gross output of ethanol industry in the U.S. was US$ 23.33 billion in 2016. Growth of ethanol market in Asia Pacific is attributed to increasing consumption of biofuels. According to International Energy Agency, the biofuel market in road transport application is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 3.9% by 2020. This in turn is projected to fuel growth of the ethanol market.Request Sample of Ethanol Market: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/276 Global Ethanol Market TaxonomyThe global ethanol market is classified on the basis of the following segments:ProcessWet-millingDry-millingProduct TypeSynthetic ethanolOil derivativesCoalOthersAgricultural ethanolSugarcaneSugarbeetMaizeWheatRyeOthersApplicationFuelsIndustrialPharmaceuticalFood & beveragesCosmeticsOthersTo Get Discount On This Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-discount/276 Prevalent Scenario in Ethanol MarketIncreased applications of ethanol in biofuels, industrial, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food & beverages sectors lead to burgeoning growth of the ethanol market. According to Independent Chemical Information Service (ICIS), 73% of ethanol is used as fuel, 17% in beverages and 10% of ethanol is used for industrial applications. Increasing demand of biofuels is fueling growth in consumption of ethanol in the renewable fuel energy sector. According to State Council General Research Office, the U.S. government is promoting use of ethanol as a source of renewable fuel and creating awareness regarding the environmental and social benefits of gasoline. Corn, sugarcane, grains, sugarbeet are common sources for manufacturing agricultural ethanol. Ethanol used for in fuel applications are agricultural ethanol as synthetic ethanol is not used for fuel applications. Ethanol is used as solvents in industrial applications for wide range of end users which include cosmetics, detergents and cleaning products, printing ink, paint & coatings. Ethanol has its application in food & beverage sector in manufacturing vinegar, alcoholic beverages, and is also used as glazing agents in bakery & confectionery.Government initiatives play a vital role in development and innovation of ethanol for wide range of applications. For instance, the fuel regulations imposed by the government in Mexico allowed 5.8% of ethanol blends in the fuel supply. The government and ethanol associations are continuously working in coordination to fuel the growth of ethanol market. RFA in partnership with federal government and the industry key players are working to innovate new applications of ethanol and minimize the difficulties related to trade of ethanol and enhance the market growth globally. U.S. and Brazil contributes a major market share in production and consumption of ethanol. Asia-Pacific market is expected to grow due to growing applications of ethanol industrial chemicals to manufacture acetic acid and ethyl acetate and the increasing applications of ethanol as solvents in pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors.Fragmented MarketThe global ethanol market is highly fragmented due to the participation of many established and emerging players in the ethanol industry. Major players involved in the market include Archer Daniels Midland Company (U.S.), Cargill, Inc. (U.S.), Grain Processing Corporation (U.S.), Ace Ethanol LLC (USA), Advanced BioEnergy, LLC (USA), Chemtex Group (USA), MGP Ingredients (U.S.), Flint Hills Resources LP (USA), Copersucar SA (Brazil), Adkins Energy LLC (USA).Check The Trending Report of Ethanol Market: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/ethanol-market-276 About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@ coherentmarketinsights.com Website: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ Visit Blog : http://globalresearchtrends.blogspot.in/
Were a team of 50+ full-time and 200+ part-time analysts who have proven record in business intelligence and consulting. Weve expertise across various industry verticals including Aerospace & Defence, Agriculture, Automotive & Transportation, Chemicals & Advanced Materials, Food & Beverages and Healthcare.
Global Market Estimates Research & Business Consultants
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 23:21:29
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Global Market Estimates Research & Business Consultants
A-9, Silver Croft CHSL, Mumbai: 400064
Ms. Liza Dsouza
Team Lead - Research & Business Consultant
+91 9146632316
email
http://www.globalmarketestimates.com
Published by
YASH JAIN
9146632316
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# 572 Words
A-9, Silver Croft CHSL, Mumbai: 400064Team Lead - Research & Business Consultant+91 9146632316YASH JAIN9146632316
Request a sample copy of the report @: https://www.globalmarketestimates.com/global-baby-products-market-analysis-forecasts-2025-product-cosmetic-toiletries-baby-food-baby-safety-convenience-region-north-america-asia-pacific-europe-central-south-ameri/ Market Insights:The developed economies such as North America and Europe are expected to observe a growth in demand due to their rising disposable income. Developing economies in Asia Pacific such as India and China are expected to drive the demand owing to increasing birth rates.Growing awareness about safety, hygiene, and nutrition among infants is projected to augment market demand. Innovations in the manufacturing sector for baby products are very crucial for growth of this industry. Increase in women workforce is expected to have a positive demand for baby nutrition and hygiene products.High birth rates in countries such as Niger, Burundi, Mali, and Somalia is expected to positively affect demand. The market in countries such as China and Russia with low birth rate offer opportunities to the already existing large population in the region, the low birth rate allows parents to spend more on premium products.Product Insights:Cosmetics & toiletries had the largest share in the market in 2016. These products tend to enhance the baby skin, resist swelling & itching, and provide nourishment. Apart from these benefits, these products have anti-bacterial as well as anti-fungal qualities; they provide a safety coating to the infants skin.Baby food was the second-largest segment in 2016. This segment is crucial as it caters to the nutritional requirements of infants to build up immunity. Increasing awareness via print media programs and numerous electronic programs regarding essential ingredients for infants such as vitamin, iron, carbohydrates, protein, and vitamin B12 has lead to a rapid growth of this industry.In the developed regions, high demand is observed for car seats and strollers for the infants. Growing awareness about child safety is projected to foster demand for such products. High demand for infant safety would lead to new product innovation which will help further develop the market.Check the Table of Content for the report @: https://www.globalmarketestimates.com/global-baby-products-market-analysis-forecasts-2025-product-cosmetic-toiletries-baby-food-baby-safety-convenience-region-north-america-asia-pacific-europe-central-south-ameri/ Regional Insights:The U.S. occupied more than 70% of the market share in North America. The U.S. manufacturers are engaged in product innovations to produce technologically advanced and cost-effective products. The product modifications are in accordance to local needs and offer attractive packaging along with the online availability. Customized product offerings are projected to augment market demand over the coming years.Growth in the Asia Pacific region can be attributed to adequate food safety measures implemented over the past few years. Changing lifestyle, urbanization, and international baby product manufacturers expanding in Asia Pacific will lead to market growth. The large number of female workers has led to an increase in disposable income of the households. This will augment affordability and reach of infant products in developing countries.Competitor Analysis:Product differentiation, innovation and affordable prices enable producers sustain tough competition. Companies have been investing in research & development to maintain sustainable growth and retain their market share.Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. completed the acquisition of Vogue International LLC in Jan 2016 for USD 3.3 billion, which is engaged in manufacturing and distributing hair care and other personal care products. Abbott launched new line of nutritious snack bars for kids, under the brand Curate, to provide nutrition in between meals, with no artificial preservatives, colours or flavors.The global industry is fragmented owing to the presence of numerous manufacturers such as Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Procter & Gamble Company, Johnson & Johnson Plc, Nestle S.A., Unilever Plc, and Abbott Nutrition.
Were a team of 50+ full-time and 200+ part-time analysts who have proven record in business intelligence and consulting. Weve expertise across various industry verticals including Aerospace & Defence, Agriculture, Automotive & Transportation, Chemicals & Advanced Materials, Food & Beverages and Healthcare.
Global Market Estimates Research & Business Consultants
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 23:21:36
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Global Market Estimates Research & Business Consultants
A-9, Silver Croft CHSL, Mumbai
Ms. Liza Dsouza
Team Lead - Research & Business Consultant
9146632316
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Request a sample copy of the report @:Market Insights:The global polyethylene (PE) wax market is projected to grow at a significant CAGR over the coming years. Ethylene is a key raw material used for manufacturing PE wax which is in continuous supply in North America. Manufacturing costs have reduced due to the high production of ethylene in the shale gas industries, unlike the other regions which produce ethylene from crude oil.The continuous decline in global crude oil prices has to lead to significant development in the paint & coating, food packing, cosmetics, and adhesives producing industries. This has created a favorable market in countries such as India, China, and Vietnam. The rising demand for PE wax in printing inks and adhesives is projected to support market growth over the coming years.In 2016, polymerization was a leading technology and accounted for 50% of the total market share. It is used for high and low density polymerized PE wax. Modification technology is expected to grow significantly on account of the development of specialized and customized wax.Check the Table of Content for the report @:Technology Insights:Polymerization directly produces high and low-density PE waxes while other products are produced from technologies such as thermal cracking and modification for end use application. Modification technology is expected to gain prevalence due to the increasing demand for coating, food packaging, textiles, and adhesives.Product Insights:The market is segmented on the basis of products into low density polymerized, high density polymerized, oxidized, and acid-modified, and others.High-density PE is used for making printing inks, paints, coatings, paper, textile, adhesives, and PVC stabilizers. Low-density PE is used in the plastic producing firms for making rigid containers. They are also used in the textile, food packaging, paint, and automotive coatings industries because of their heat stability and high softening point.Application Insights:Masterbatch have been in high demand globally due to the huge plastic demand. Significant gains are expected in the forecast period for the printing inks as PE wax have anti blocking, water repellence, and anti settling properties.In the coming years applications in PVC stabilizers, PVC pipes, plastic masterbatches and road making thermoplastic paints manufacturing is expected to expand. Strict emission policies by environmental bodies such as EPA are expected to increase PE wax usage for solvent borne coatings.Check the Research Methodology @:Regional Insights:Asia-Pacific region dominated the market in 2016 due to high-level production in the emerging economies such as India, China, and Japan t. The region is expected to grow on account of developing end-use industries including packaging, adhesives, coating, printing inks, and cosmetics.North America is the second largest producer and is expected to grow significantly on account of stern regulations by the FDA along with the development of shale gas. Low feedstock prices coupled with oil & gas infrastructural development in the Middle East & Africa is projected to lead to the high growth over the forecast period. The European market is expected to have a stable growth due to the prevalence of end-use industries such as printing ink, masterbatch, and adhesives.End-user Landscape:The end-user landscape entails a list of current and prospective consumers prevailing across the regions. This section provides company addresses, contact details, products, and regional presence of companies who are purchasing or are likely to purchase polyethylene wax over the coming years. Some leading consumers of the polyethylene wax industry are Baker Hughes, Clariant, BASF, Mitsui Chemicals, Nanjing Tianshi New Material Technologies Co. Ltd, and Hase Petroleum Wax Co.Competitor Analysis:Technological advancements to enhance the performance of PE wax for use in the manufacture of coating and printing inks is projected to grow over the coming years.The first company to purchase technology from Evonik for manufacturing PE wax was Honeywell. To maximise returns on account of favourable raw material trends, the industrial participants are expected to integrate their operation across the value chain.The global polyethylene wax market is fragmented on account of huge domestic as well as global players. Key players include Honeywell, Michelman, Merco Wax Company, Marcus Oil & Chemicals Private Ltd, BASF, Zell Chemie International, and Westlake Chemical.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 13:00:41
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FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for GreenBank Capital Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Toronto, Ontario (FSCWire) - GreenBank Capital Inc. (CSE:GBC). has issued a press release with the following headline:GreenBank Affiliate Ubique Drills 17.43% Zinc Over 28.2 FtTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on GreenBank Capital Inc., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/GreenBank Capital Inc.Source: GreenBank Capital Inc. (CSE: GBC, OTC Pink: GRNBF, WKN: A1W8UJ, ISIN: CA3935762029)Date: September 20, 2017Time: 7:00 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of GreenBank Capital Inc. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2017 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
Latin America Craft Beer Market
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 08:56:19
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The Latin America Craft Beer Market was worth USD 10.5 billion in 2016 and estimated to be growing at a CAGR of 19.1%, to reach USD 25 billion by 2021. Craft brewery produces small amounts of beer unlike the typical large scale production breweries and is independently owned. It started in United Kingdom in the 1970s producing craft beers alongside regular beers and it quickly spread to Europe and other parts of the world later.Craft beers produced by craft breweries are typically known for the most part described by their accentuation on quality, flavour and brewing techniques. Sellers in this market compete primarily on elements like price, product differentiation, distribution, promotion and quality.View Full Report @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/latin-america-craft-beer-market-3091/ Latin America Craft Beer Market is driven by factors like rising demand for low alcohol by volume drinks and flavoured beers, growing awareness of consumers about various flavours and styles of products, rising disposable income and rising consumption of alcohol. However other factors like high price of craft beers as compared to ordinary beers, their production requiring a lot of clean water and health concerns since they are produced by pressurised tanks with caustic chemicals are some restraints for this market. These factors may act as growth hurdles for the Craft Beer Market in certain regions.The Latin America market for Craft Beer is broadly categorized by style of production into amber ale, amber lager, IPA (Indian pale ale) and others. By segments this industry is segmented into brewpubs, microbreweries, regional craft breweries and contract brewing companies. These breweries differ in the percentage of beer sold off-site. By distribution the market is divided into on-trade and off-trade. Off-trade sales of these beers are on the rise in developing countries since the per capita income is less and price of beers is high compared to on-trade sales.In the Global Craft Beer Market, Latin America has a share of around 10%. Latin America market region includes countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and remaining countries of South America. Brazil has the largest market share in this region and has the highest growth rate as well which is estimated to be over 40%.Free sample of the report is available @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/latin-america-craft-beer-market-3091/request-sample Some of the major competitors dominating the Latin America Craft Beer market are The Boston Beer Company, The Gambrinus Company, D.G. Yuengling and Son, Stone & Wood Brewing Co., Chimay Beers and Cheeses, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company and Lagunitas Brewing Company.Market Segmentation1) Production Amber Ale Amber Lager Indian Pale Ale Others Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, By Production Market Attractiveness Analysis, By Production Market Share Analysis, By Production2) Segments Brewpubs Microbreweries Regional Craft Breweries Contract Brewing Companies Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, By Segments Market Attractiveness Analysis, By Segments Market Share Analysis, By Segments3) Distribution On-Trade Off-Trade Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, By Distribution Market Attractiveness Analysis, By Distribution Market Share Analysis, By DistributionInquire before Buying at http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/latin-america-craft-beer-market-3091/inquire Reasons to buy Latin America Craft Beer Market Research Report: Regional and country-level analysis and forecasts of the study market; providing Insights on the major countries/regions in which this industry is blooming and to also identify the regions that are still untapped Segment-level analysis in terms of technology, component, and type along with market size forecasts and estimations to detect key areas of industry growth in detail Identification of key drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges (DROC) in the market and their impact on shifting market dynamics Study of the effect of exogenous and endogenous factors that affect the global market; which includes broadly demographic, economics, and political, among other macro-environmental factors presented in an extensive PESTLE Analysis Study the micro environment factors that determine the overall profitability of an Industry, using Porters five forces analysis for analyzing the level of competition and business strategy development A comprehensive list of key market players along with their product portfolio, current strategic interests, key financial information, legal issues, SWOT analysis and analyst overview to study and sustain the market environment Competitive landscape analysis listing out the mergers, acquisitions, collaborations in the field along with new product launches, comparative financial studies and recent developments in the market by the major companies An executive summary, abridging the entire report in such a way that decision-making personnel can rapidly become acquainted with background information, concise analysis and main conclusions Expertly devised analyst overview along with Investment opportunities to provide both individuals and organizations a strong financial foothold in the marketAbout Market Data Forecast:Market Data Forecast is a firm working in the area of market research and business intelligence. With rich experience in research across various business domains, they cater to the needs of both individual and corporate clients. From all-encompassing umbrella markets to extremely specific niche markets covering all the major regions across the globe as part of the research scope, their research services offer one of a kind specialties with competitive pricing options.For more information, kindly visit, www.marketdataforecast.com Contact:Abhishek ShuklaSales Manager (International Business Development)Market Data ForecastDirect Line: +1-888-702-9626Mobile: +91 998 555 0206Mail: abhishek@ marketdataforecast.com Visit Market Data Forecast Blog @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/blog/ View latest Press Releases of MDF @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/press-releases
While many have dreamed of traveling around the world, world traveler, Daniel Kao, recently did just that on Business Class seats. He flew 12 flights all on Star Alliance Business Class seats, visited several lounges around the world, and saw over 12 countries on his bucket list. He tells how he did it without sacrificing his job, his savings, or life. He goes on to explain how in fact, he traveled around the world for cheap and within a month.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 07:25:58
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DALLAS, TX September 19, 2017 While many have dreamed of traveling around the world, world traveler, Daniel Kao, recently did just that on Business Class seats. He flew 12 flights all on Star Alliance Business Class seats, visited several lounges around the world, and saw over 12 countries on his bucket list. He tells how he did it without sacrificing his job, his savings, or life. He goes on to explain how in fact, he traveled around the world for cheap and within a month.I dont believe people have to be rich or give up their life to travel the world. Its life-changing and I hope many people will take a similar trip I got to go on, says Daniel Kao, Founder of Dans Travel Guide.He discusses in-depth the amount of points thats needed and how to attain the required number of points. The requirements can be met within one year on a fairly normal budget. He also discusses the main large expenses and how to save money using some of the travel hacks he learned in the last 6 years."I always start with the acronym F.A.T. Flights, Accommodation, Transportation. If I can find good and cheap deals for all 3, I would have saved money on the largest expenses in traveling," says Daniel Kao.Dan's Travel Guide goes on to list 101 travel hacks the traveler has used to book travels. Everything from booking flights to using points and how to pack or what to bring. He shares personal stories in some of the trips he's gone and takes screen shots of his paid travel expenses. On a few occasions, Dan wore several of his clothing onto the plane to save from having to pay additional luggage fees.About Dans Travel Guide:Dans Travel Guide documents all the travel hacks & tips Daniel Kao learned during his 6 years of traveling as an event coordinator. Having to book over 100 trips in the last couple years from his own pocket, Daniel quickly learned how to travel for cheap. His ultimate trip came at the start of 2017 when Daniel traveled around the world on Star Alliances Business Class seats. For more information, visit http://www.danstravelguide.com
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 06:55:01
Metglas, Inc. and Hitachi Metals, Ltd. File Section 337 Complaint at the International Trade Commission
Metglas, Inc.
Mr. Ronnie Allen, +1.843.349.7396
Human Resources Representative
ronnie.allen@metglas.com
Metglas, Inc. (Metglas) and Hitachi Metals, Ltd. (HML) (TOKYO: 5486) today announced that they have filed a Complaint with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC), alleging a violation of Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, through the sale for importation, importation, and/or sale after importation of certain amorphous metals (and products containing the same) manufactured by using misappropriated trade secrets.
The proposed Respondents include several China-based companies including: Advanced Technology & Materials; AT&M International Trading Co., Ltd.,; CISRI International Trading Co., Ltd.; Beijing ZLJG Amorphous Technology Co., Ltd.; and Qingdao Yunlu Energy Technology Co., Ltd. The Complaint also names two Japanese nationals, Dr. Hideki Nakamura and Mr. Nobrou Hanai, as proposed Respondents. According to the Complaint, Dr. Nakamura and Mr. Hanai, two former HML employees, misappropriated the Complainants trade secrets which were then disclosed to the proposed company Respondents.
The Complaint requests that the ITC institute an investigation into the proposed Respondents unfair acts. The Complaint seeks a general exclusion order banning from importation into the United States all covered imported amorphous steel ribbon and products containing the same, such as amorphous cores and amorphous transformers. The Complaint likewise seeks a Cease and Desist Order (CDO) prohibiting the sale, marketing, or distribution of covered products that have already been imported into the United States at the time a violation is found. Violation of a CDO also provides for civil penalties of up to $100,000, or twice the value of the covered articles, for each day a Respondent is in violation of the CDO.
The ITC is expected to decide whether to institute an investigation within 30 days. The Complaint seeks a final determination from the ITC, as well as the issuance of any remedial orders, as soon as possible after institution of the Complaint.
About Metglas
Metglas Inc. is the leading producer in the United States of amorphous metal ribbon and components used in the production of electrical distribution transformers, high frequency magnetic components for power electronics, materials for anti-theft tags, brazing alloys, and solder.
About Hitachi Metals
Hitachi Metals, Ltd., (TOKYO: 5486), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with consolidated revenue totaling 910 billion yen in fiscal 2016 (ended March 31, 2017) is one of the major members of the Hitachi Group companies. The company manufactures and markets a diverse portfolio of Specialty steel products, magnetic materials and applications, functional components and equipment, wires, cables and related products. For more information, visit http://www.hitachi-metals.co.jp/e/index.html.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201709190067
Middle East and Africa Advanced Visualization Market was worth $ 0.15 billion in 2016 and estimated to be growing at a CAGR of 9.483%, to reach $ 0.24 billion by 2021.
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PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 09:04:55
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Advanced Visualization (AV) refers to 3D and 4D viewing and analysis software for postprocessing of images in the body from imaging apparatus. The healthcare systems across the world issuing imaging scans, there is a huge need for Advanced visualization (AV) solutions that enable clinicians to efficiently visualize and analyse examination results.View Full Report @ http://marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/middle-east-and-africa-advanced-visualization-market-2899/ Advanced visualization solutions play a vital role in healthcare organizations as they are used in several imaging modalities as well as clinical areas and are widely adopted in hospitals and diagnostic centres. AV systems include hardware and software applications used in advanced 3D or 4D processing of data acquired by CT, MRI, PET, conventional nuclear medicine and ultrasound.Free sample of the report is available @ http://marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/middle-east-and-africa-advanced-visualization-market-2899/request-sample The market over the world is witnessing growth due to factors such as technological advancements in Advanced Visualization software such as integration of PACS & AV tools, improved diagnostic interpretation with AV tools, rising frequency of target diseases, and rising demand for advanced diagnostic procedures. However, some factors may restrain the market growth such as limited medical reimbursements, technical limitations related with present advanced visualization analysis.Inquire before buying @ http://marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/middle-east-and-africa-advanced-visualization-market-2899/inquire The Advanced visualization market is broadly categorised by Product and Services, by Solution, Imaging Modality, by Clinical Application, by End user. Product and services is further segmented by Hardware, Software and services. Solution is segmented into enterprise-wide thin client-based solutions and stand-alone workstation-based solutions. Imaging Modality is segmented into Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Ultrasound, Radiotherapy (RT), Nuclear Medicine, Others (PET and SPECT). Clinical application is segmented into Radiology, Orthopedics, Cardiac, Neurology, Oncology, Vascular, Neurology and Others. End user is further segmented to Hospitals and Surgical Centres, Imaging Centres, Academic and Research Centres and Others.The market has been geologically divided into Middle East and Africa. The private companies play a key role in funding the healthcare sector in Africa, with more than 50% of the investment being undertaken by them. The Advanced Visualization market is growing slowly because of many problems the region faces, in terms of battles and also, the unstable economy. However, countries like the USA, China and UK are investing in the region and this increased financial revenue will aid the healthcare sectors in this region. The Middle East and Africa has a share of 8% of the Global Visualization market.Some of the major companies dominating the market, by their products and services include General Electric Company (U.S.), Canon Inc, Siemens AG (Germany), Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Netherlands), Fujifilm Holdings Corporation (Japan), Toshiba Corporation (Japan), Terarecon, Inc. (U.S.), Carestream Health, Inc. (U.S.), Pro Medicus Limited (Australia), Ziosoft (Japan), Agfa-Geveart N.V. (Belgium), and Qi Imaging, LLC (U.S.).About Us:Market Data Forecast is a firm working in the area of market research and business intelligence. With rich experience in research across various business domains, we cater to the needs of both individual and corporate clients. Our analyst team comprises expert professionals in market research, who with their collective knowledge and sksillset dedicatedly serve clients from various industries and regions.
Middle East and Africa Fermented Ingredients Market
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 10:22:30
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Fermentation is a process similar to metabolism. It breaks down complex molecules in the food into simpler molecules by using microorganisms in a growth medium. It is essentially carries on to acquire desirable chemical products useful to humans.Fermented ingredients are used to initiate fermentation process in the products to obtain desirable effect. It can also break down toxic substances in ingredients into non-toxic. Fermentation is finding applications in biotechnology also. Fermented skin products are more advantageous with more benefits than the conventional skin products. It helps create eco-friendly and naturally derived ingredients to be used in cosmetic products.View full report @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/middle-east-and-africa-fermented-ingredients-market-3646/ Fermented ingredients market is majorly driven by the increase in demand for superior quality food and personal care products and shift of consumers toward products associated with health benefits. Rapid increase in population and increased food demands are also driving the market. Rising demand for antibiotics which kill the gut bacteria is increasing the demand for fermented food products and ingredients. Inconsistent availability of required raw materials and high initial investments are the major restraining factors for the market.Get free sample report @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/middle-east-and-africa-fermented-ingredients-market-3646/request-sample The Middle East and Africa market for fermented ingredients is segmented on the basis of type, application, form, process and region. Based on type, the market is segmented into Amino Acids, Organic Acids, Biogas, Polymers, Vitamins, and Industrial Enzymes. Amino acids hold the largest market share due to its increased demand in food and beverage industries. Based on application, the market for fermented ingredients is segmented in to Food & Beverages, Feed, Pharmaceuticals, and Paper. Food and beverages segment is further segmented into Bakery, Brewery and Distilling and Dairy Products. Food and beverages industry segment dominate the market due to the increased demand for processed foods and also fermented ingredients are highly used in the industries to increase the shelf life of food products. Based on form, the market is segmented into dry form and liquid form. Fermented ingredients in dry form are projected to be the fastest growing segment. Based on fermentation process, the market is segmented into Batch Fermentation, Continuous Fermentation, Aerobic and Anaerobic Fermentation. Anaerobic fermentation holds the largest market share in this segment because of its increased number of applications in beverages industry.Inquire before buying @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/middle-east-and-africa-fermented-ingredients-market-3646/inquire Based on region, the fermented ingredients market is analyzed under Middle East and Africa regions. Growing economies in Middle East and Africa regions has a huge growth potential. Growth rate of the market in Africa region is a bit slow compared to Middle East region due to the internal warfare in this region.Some of the major industries which manufacture fermented ingredients are E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (U.S.), Angel Yeast Co. Ltd. (U.S.), Ajinomoto Corporation Inc. (Japan), Koninklijke DSM N.V. (Netherlands), Chr. Hansen A/S (Denmark), Dohler Group (Germany), Lallemand Inc. (Canada) and Lonza (Switzerland).About Market Data Forecast:Market Data Forecast is a firm working in the area of market research and business intelligence. With rich experience in research across various business domains, they cater to the needs of both individual and corporate clients. From all-encompassing umbrella markets to extremely specific niche markets covering all the major regions across the globe as part of the research scope, their research services offer one of a kind specialities with competitive pricing options. For more information, kindly visit, www.marketdataforecast.com
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 17:18:27
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Transparency Market Research 90 State Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: www.transparencymarketresearch.comHead Internet Marketing+1-518-618-1030
Global Multiple Reaction Monitoring Assay Market: SnapshotThe global multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) assay market is anticipated to experience a strong push forward in demand with the requirement of the technique to detect proteins and peptides in biological specimens. However, the detection of small molecules is performed with the help of this technique in case of clinical specimens. While the MRM technique allows for greater selectivity of proteins within a specimen, the conventional mass spectrometric technique detects all proteins within the specimen, which does not serve the purpose of selective detection. The MRM approach could prove to be crucial for researchers to calibrate and adjust an instrument for the detection of specifically interested proteins.Request Sample Copy of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=11348 Even though MRM techniques are usually combined with mass spectrometry (MS), the former provides improved detection speed, sensitivity, and specificity in a wide scope of analyte concentration. Western Europe countries, in particular, are expected to set the tone for a valuable growth in the global MRM assay market on the back of a surging count of installed systems and institutes that hold a significant relation with biology researches. North America could follow Western Europe at close quarters with a rise in the demand for assay products contributing toward the growth of the region. Asia Pacific, on the other hand, is also predicted to add to the growth of the worldwide market for MRM assay.Human cardiovascular MRM, custom MRM, human cancer MRM, and human discovery assays could be some of the prominent markets by type, whereas biomarker assessment and MRM-MS quality control are envisaged to be key usages.Global Multiple Reaction Monitoring Assay Market: OverviewMultiple reaction monitoring (MRM) is an extremely selective and sensitive method of analyzing small molecules. This targeted method is used for the quantitation of peptides or protein fragments in complex biological samples. The MRM platform technology enables targeted filtering of specific proteins instead of going through massive amounts of data resulting from nontargeted studies. This powerful method for the quantitative measurement of target proteins has emerged as a principal tool in research methodologies today.Multiple reaction monitoring assays can be of various types: Human discovery assay, custom multiple reaction monitoring assays, human cancer multiple reaction monitoring assays, and human cardiovascular multiple reaction monitoring assays. These are used in diagnostic centers, hospital centers, and research institutes for quality control and biomarker assessment. Geographically, the worldwide market for multiple reaction monitoring assays covers four key segments: Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and Rest of the World.The report serves as an ideal tool for both new and established players in the multiple reaction monitoring assay market, offering some of the best expansion strategies. The latest and most trusted business intelligence tools, such as the Porters Five Forces analysis model, have been employed to give readers a 360-degree overview of the multiple reaction monitoring assay market and the various macro and micro trends impacting its trajectory. Apart from statistical and qualitative insights, the report also includes recommendations from industry experts.Global Multiple Reaction Monitoring Assay Market: Key Trends and OpportunitiesMultiple reaction monitoring has been used for several years now for the detection of peptides and proteins in clinical samples. Multiple reaction monitoring offers a host of benefits to researchers, including better sensitivity, improved speed of detection, greater selectivity, higher specificity, and the ability to adjust or calibrate the instrument to detect a specific protein of interest. These advantages have significantly boosted the global multiple reaction monitoring assay market. In addition, the surge in R&D in the field of biologics has contributed significantly to the worldwide multiple reaction monitoring assay market. The rising use of multiple reaction monitoring assays in research institutes, diagnostic centers, and hospitals has also driven the global market.Global Multiple Reaction Monitoring Assay Market: Region-wise Outlook and Competitive Landscape AssessmentGlobally, North America and Europe led the multiple reaction monitoring assay market. Countries in North America and those in Western Europe, such as Germany, France, Italy, and the U.K., have been contributing majorly to the multiple reaction monitoring assay market thanks to the increasing number of biology research institutes in the regions and the higher number of installed systems.The most well-known companies in the global multiple reaction monitoring assay market include MRM Proteomics, Sigma Aldrich, and Thermo Fisher Scientific. These players, along with other prominent players, have been carefully examined in the research report based on key parameters such as company overview, recent developments, product portfolio, R&D, business strategies, and financial standing. The report also employs a SWOT analysis to determine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the leading players.Request TOC of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=11348
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 18:19:28
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Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: www.transparencymarketresearch.com/Internet Marketing Head5186181030
Global Nerve Monitoring Devices Market: SnapshotNerve monitoring devices are used by surgeons in an intraoperative manner for the monitoring and identification of any changes in the body during surgery. The monitored parts commonly include the peripheral nerve functions, the spinal cord, and the brain. Nerve monitoring devices are largely used during general surgeries as well as surgeries of the ear, nose, and throat. Neural function monitoring is irreplaceably invaluable in the effort to prevent damage to nerves in the middle of a surgery. The chances of nerve damage during surgery can be extremely high for certain types of surgeries, making the use of nerve monitoring devices absolutely essential.Request Sample Copy of the Report@The number of neural surgeries being performed around the world are increasing at a swift pace, primarily owing to the increasing geriatric population. This is broadening the scope of demand for the global nerve monitoring devices market and will continue to do so for the coming years. The developed economies has so far shown a strong suite of healthcare development in terms of technologies and infrastructure and hold prime candidates for the leading demand in the global nerve monitoring devices market. Meanwhile, emerging economies, owing to their massive population densities, are bound to show up on the map sooner rather than later in terms of massive demand scales for various nerve monitoring devices.Global Nerve Monitoring Devices MarketNerve monitoring devices are various implements used to supervise the function of the nervous system during surgeries. Since neural function is absolutely vital and the risk of inadvertent damage to nerves during several surgeries is moderately high, nerve monitoring devices have gained widespread acceptance in recent years. Nerve monitoring devices monitor the integrity and ensure the continued function of a few key areas, in order to avoid irreparable nerve damage.The global nerve monitoring devices market is propelled by the increasing number of neural surgeries and the increasing geriatric population, among other factors. The report presents the expected qualitative and quantitative impact of the driving and restraining factors influencing the global nerve monitoring devices in the 20162024 forecast period, in addition to data on the competitive and commercial dynamics of the nerve monitoring devices industry.Global Nerve Monitoring Devices Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe major driver of the nerve monitoring devices market is, naturally, the increased number of neural surgeries performed around the world. Due to advancements in our knowledge about the nervous system, increasingly complex neural surgeries can now be performed with near-absolute safety. This has led to a consequent rise in the demand for nerve monitoring devices.The rising geriatric population around the world is also a significant factor propelling the global nerve monitoring devices market. The elderly are more prone to nervous diseases than their younger counterparts, and the former are also more likely to require surgical interventions than the latter. Both these factors lead increased demand for nerve monitoring devices, since they are used in both neural and other surgeries that present a risk of nerve damage.Apart from these, the major driving factor propelling the global nerve monitoring devices market is increasing awareness among the global population. The broadening population pool of patients who can afford advanced medical treatments is also boosting the global nerve monitoring devices market.Global Nerve Monitoring Devices Market: Geographical OverviewThe global nerve monitoring devices market is led by North America. The increasing demand for neural surgeries in the region, the high purchasing power of patients in the region, and the firm establishment of major medical research avenues have been the primary drivers for the North America nerve monitoring devices market. The high geriatric population of the region has also helped the expansion of the nerve monitoring devices market.Europe was the second-largest market for nerve monitoring devices in 2015. Several governments in Europe have proactively encouraged medical research, which has boosted the neural surgery sector. The Europe and North America markets for nerve monitoring devices are also helped immensely by the heavy public health-care expenditure, as well as the presence of sufficient reimbursement schemes.In the coming years, though, the increasingly urbanized Asia Pacific market for nerve monitoring devices is expected to emerge as a major regional player in the global market. As health-care infrastructure spreads across developing economies such as China, India, and Japan, advanced medical procedures and devices will become easily available, driving the market for implements such as nerve monitoring devices.Major players operating in the global nerve monitoring devices market include Medtronic, Nihon Kohden Corporation, Inomed, Dr. Langer Medical GmbH, EMS Biomedical, and Natus Medical Incorporated.Request TOC of the Report@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.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, North Africa)
North America Gynecological Examination Chairs Industry By Product Type (Electric Gynecological Examination Chairs, Non-Electric Gynecological Examination Chairs, Hydraulic Gynecological Examination Chairs), By End-User (Hospitals, Diagnostic Centers, Acute Care Centers, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Clinics) And By Region - Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, And Forecasts (20162021)
Market Data Forecast
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 07:37:44
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According to the report North America Gynecological Examination Chairs Industry, published by Market Data Forecast, the Industry worth $XX billion in 2016 and estimated to reach $XX billion by the end of 2021 with a CAGR of XX%.Gynecological examination chairs are used to diagnose and treat gynecology related problems. The chair is needed for most gynecological procedures such as diagnosis of ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, vaginal cancer, menstrual disorders and pregnancy complications, hysterectomy procedures etc.Browse Market data tables and in-depth TOC of the North America Gynecological Examination Chairs Industry to 2021 @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/north-america-gynecological-examination-chairs-market-1448/ Gynecological examination chair allows easy access to reproductive system of women for diagnosis and treatment. Puberty, menopause, pregnancy and aging result in many which sometimes lead to diseases and injuries to which creates the necessity for developed and advanced treatment procedures. Developments in advanced technology like endoscopy techniques and endometrial ablation are used for treatment of gynecological problems, and are increasing the need for gynecological examination chairs.North America Gynecological examination chairs Industry is expected to be propelled by the advancement in medical technology. The changing lifestyle and family history for gynecological indication also plays a vital role in driving the Industry of gynecological examination chairs. The main drivers of the Industry are the increasing cases of gynecological problems, growing aging population, increasing number of hospitals and awareness among people towards treatments and diagnosis for gynecological problems. Factors such as lack of required infrastructure and complications associated are limiting the growth of the Industry.Free sample of the report is available @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/north-america-gynecological-examination-chairs-market-1448/request-sample North America Gynecological Examination Chairs Industry is segmented based on product type as Electric Gynecological Examination Chairs, Non-Electric Gynecological Examination Chairs and Hydraulic Gynecological Examination Chairs. By end-users, the Industry has been segmented as Hospitals, Diagnostic Centers, Acute Care Centers, Ambulatory Surgical Centers and Clinics. On the basis of geography, the global Industry is analyzed under regions namely Unites States and Canada. North America is expected to dominate the Industry due to better healthcare infrastructure, experienced practitioners, good reimbursement scenarios and awareness among people for gynecological indications. Europe Industry is expected to hold second largest Industry share followed by Asia-Pacific.There are many companies that manufacture gynecological examination chair with different specifications and features. Some of the key players in this Industry are Malvestio, Medifa-Hesse AG, Harbin Howell, Oakworks Medicals, Inmoclinc S A, Favero Heath Projects, Hidemar and Combed.Inquire before buying @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/north-america-gynecological-examination-chairs-market-1448/inquire Key Points from Table of ContentsOverview Executive Summary Key Inferences New DevelopmentsDrivers, Restraints, Opportunities, and Challenges Analysis (DROC)North America Gynecological Examination Chairs Industry: Segmentation Producto Electric Gynecological Examination Chairso Non-Electric Gynecological Examination Chairso Hydraulic Gynecological Examination Chairs End-userso Hospitalso Diagnostic Centerso Acute Care Centerso Ambulatory Surgical Centerso ClinicsGeographical Analysis United States CanadaStrategic Analysis PESTLE analysis Porters Five analysisIndustry Leaders' AnalysisCompetitive LandscapeAvail discount @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/north-america-gynecological-examination-chairs-market-1448/request-discount About Us:Market Data Forecast is a firm working in the area of market research and business intelligence. With rich experience in research across various business domains, we cater to the needs of both individual and corporate clients. Our analyst team comprises expert professionals in market research, who with their collective knowledge and skillset dedicatedly serve clients from various industries and regions.Contact:Abhishek ShuklaSales Manager (International Business Development)Market Data ForecastDirect Line: +1-888-702-9626Mobile: +91 998 555 0206Mail: abhishek@ marketdataforecast.com Visit MarketDataForecast Blog @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/blog/ View latest Press Releases of MDF @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/press-releases
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 10:03:02
Cyber-defense for critical infrastructure including factories, plants, utilities & hospitals
TOKYO, Sept. 20, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NTT Security Corporation (Head Office: Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo; CEO: Jun Sawada), the specialized security company of NTT Group, has launched "IT/OT Integrated Security Services". The new services will be taken to market globally through the NTT Group companies, Dimension Data, NTT Communications and NTT DATA, forming part of its suite of integrated services to enable successful digital transformation initiatives for its clients.
Companies are increasingly working towards IT/OT (Operational Technology) alignment. OT systems, when connected to the internet, streamline business operations by advanced supply chain management, realization of mass customization and improvement of customer experience as well as find new intelligence employing IoT (the Internet of Things) and Big Data analytics. As a result, IT/OT convergence is exposing everything, including critical infrastructure (such as electricity, gas, water) and industrial control systems (such as factories, transportation, and logistics), to traditional and OT threats. Meanwhile, cyberattacks and cybersecurity incidents on these infrastructures are also increasing, which spans ransomware infections like WannaCry(1) to cyberweapon strikes like Stuxnet(2) and CrashOverride(3).
Jun Sawada, CEO at NTT Security says: "In the era of IoT, cybersecurity incidents can cause huge impact and damage on enterprise business operations and society. Therefore, in addition to conventional cybersecurity measures to protect information assets, OT Security measures to protect critical assets and ensure business continuity must also be considered as part of a continuous approach to cybersecurity and risk management."
NTT Security provides "IT/OT Integrated Security Services" based on its strength in Global Threat Intelligence and Cyber Threat Advanced Analytics accumulated through global operations.
"IT/OT Integrated Security Services" are delivered via a combination of both Consulting Services (CS) and Managed Security Services (MSS). Consulting Services (CS) visualize components and potential risks of an industrial control system, and provides effective and efficient security measures. Managed Security Service (MSS) provides proactive defense for industrial control system by continuously monitoring, detecting and blocking a cyberattack.
IT/OT Integrated Security Services overview
Category Service Menu CS Comprehension of IT/OT
Integrated System and Potential
Threats and Risks Asset Discovery
Security Risk Assessment
Security Vulnerability Assessment Design and Establishment of
IT/OT Integrated Security Security Program Building Consulting
- Security Policy/Procedure, Asset Management, Vulnerability Management, Incident Management, Training etc.
- Security Policy/Procedure, Asset Management, Vulnerability Management, Incident Management, Training etc. Design and Implementation of Security measures
- Segmentation, Access Control, Host hardening etc. MSS Proactive Defense Security Monitoring & Triage
- Event Monitoring, Notification, Device Monitoring, etc.
- Event Monitoring, Notification, Device Monitoring, etc. IT/OT Gateway Defense
- Detection and Block of predictive cyberattack with IT/OT gateway.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b5e6229b-60d7-40ff-8120-6e13a6f36fdd
IT/OT-integrated Security Service by NTT Security
Jun Sawada continues: "As a centre of excellence, NTT Security is committed to continued investment in the creation of innovative security services and to further enhancing "IT/OT Integrated Security Services", while honing its strength in Global Threat Intelligence and Advanced Analytics by collaboration with NTT R&D and alliance with technology partners. In addition, NTT Security will promote co-innovation with NTT Group's clients to deliver vertical specific advanced security solutions."
Notes for editors:
(1) WannaCry
The WannaCry ransomware is a worm-like malware which spreads by exploiting the leaked NSA exploit ETERNALBLUE. The malware encrypts files, drops and executes a decryptor tool, displays a ransom notice for either $300 or $600 payable with Bitcoin, and uses Tor for C2 channels. It became extremely prevalent in May 2017.
(2) Stuxnet
Malware which executes targeted attacks founded in Iran in 2010. It is known for halting the control system of Iran nuclear facilities. It has been said that it was developed by a sophisticated and complicated technology that infects via a network or a USB memory and exploits multiple vulnerabilities of the OS.
(3) CrashOverride
Malware that executes targeted attacks used in the Ukraine transmission facilities attack in 2016. Hundreds of thousands of households suffered power outages.
About NTT Security
NTT Security is the specialized security company of NTT Group. With embedded security we enable Group companies (Dimension Data, NTT Communications and NTT DATA) to deliver resilient business solutions for clients' digital transformation needs. NTT Security has 10 SOCs, seven R&D centers, over 1,500 security experts and handles hundreds of thousands of security incidents annually across six continents.
NTT Security ensures that resources are used effectively by delivering the right mix of consulting and managed services for NTT Group companies - making best use of local resources and leveraging our global capabilities. NTT Security is part of the NTT Group (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation), one of the largest ICT companies in the world. Visit nttsecurity.com to learn more.
For more information, please contact:
Origin Communications
t. +44 (0)20 3814 2940
e. nttsecurity@origincomms.com
News Releases
The services, prices of products and services, specifications, telephone numbers, etc. for inquiries and other information included in news releases are the data available on the day of the release. This information may be changed at any time without notice. In certain circumstances, due to various risks or unexpected occurrences, actual results may also be different from the plans or projections in news releases.
This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: NTT Security (UK) Ltd via Globenewswire
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 17:18:23
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Transparency Market Research 90 State Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: www.transparencymarketresearch.com
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Transparency Market Research 90 State Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: www.transparencymarketresearch.comHead Internet Marketing+1-518-618-1030
Global Oxytocic Pharmaceuticals Market: SnapshotAvailable under the brand name of Pitocin, the drug oxytocin, which is derived from the peptide of the same name, is commonly used on women during childbirth in order to induce contractions. This can not only increase labor speeds and reduce the time taken for childbirth, but can also cease bleeding after delivery. It is almost always administered to a patient by injecting it into their vein or muscle.Request Sample Copy of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=11342 The drug, however, does not come without side effects, the more serious among which is the excessive contraction of the uterus after overconsumption, which could put the babys health at risk. Other side effects include a reduced heart rate and nausea. Oxytocin is also known to cause allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. The drug is still considered highly safe for use and is also a part of WHOs List of Essential Medicines.Oxytocin may also be used as a medication for stimulating the mother for breastfeeding. The drug can stimulate the production of breast milk and can therefore be essential for mother who may not be able to do so naturally.Global Oxytocic Pharmaceuticals Market: OverviewDubbed the love hormone, oxytocin is a female reproductive hormone, produced in the hypothalamus and released into bloodstream during childbirth. This hormone induces labor and milk production in a lactating mother. Oxytocic drugs can be used as uterotonic for induced labor and to reduce the chances of hemorrhage post C-section. Besides this, oxytocic drugs are also administered in conditions such as post-mature birth; uterine atony; pre-eclampsia, which means hypertension during pregnancy; stillbirth; postpartum hemorrhage; and as an adjunct therapy for treatment of autism and in cases of incomplete abortion.Apart from being administered to humans, oxytocic drugs are also used as veterinary medications. Oxytocin demonstrates its effect after delivery, during childbirth, and toward the end stage of pregnancy.According to the World Health Organization, every year more than 15 million babies are born prematurely, and this number of preterm births is expected to increase in the coming years. As per the findings of the National Center for Health Statistics, the U.S. alone exhibited a 23.3% labor induction rate in 2012. Considering these statistics, the demand for oxytocic drugs is expected increase significantly in the near future.The report provides a comprehensive overview of the global oxytocic pharmaceuticals market. It presents insights into the factors influencing the markets trajectory. The impact of the prevailing demand and supply trends on the market operations is also examined in the report in detail.Global Oxytocic Pharmaceuticals Market: Key Opportunities and ThreatsThe increasing incidence of preterm births and the rising rates of labor induction are the primary factors fuelling demand from the global oxytocic pharmaceuticals market. The rising cases of pregnancy-related complications emerging in developing nations also translate into the increased use of oxytocic drugs. Additionally, the market is also expected to gain from the expansion of the health care and pharmaceutical industries in developing countries. However, awareness regarding the side effects related to oxytocic drugs can hamper their use to an extent, thereby restraining the global oxytocic pharmaceuticals market.Leading brands offer numerous oxytocic products. Pitocin, Octocin, Evatocin, Syntocinon, Pitogin, Duratocin, Cytotec, and Tiacinon are the most popular brands competing for a larger share of the global oxytocic market. However, the synthetic oxytocin derivatives segment is poised to hold the largest share in the market owing to its easy availability. Likewise, hospitals are expected to emerge as the major end-use sector in the market.Global Oxytocic Pharmaceuticals Market: Region-wise OutlookRegionally, North America has been exhibiting the highest demand for oxytocic pharmaceuticals due to the high prevalence of induced labor in the region. Europe is expected to emerge as the second-largest market for oxytocic pharmaceuticals due to the rise in oxytocin administration in response to the increasing number of elective caesareans. The market is also anticipated to gain from the increasing case of C-sections in countries in Asia Pacific, such as India and China.Global Oxytocic Pharmaceuticals Market: Vendor LandscapeTo study the prevailing competitive landscape of the market, the report profiles companies such as APP Pharmaceuticals, LLC, LBS Labs, Baxter Healthcare Corporation, JHP Pharmaceuticals, LLC, and Pfizer Inc. The report studies these companies based on their business strategies, financial overview, and product portfolio. The strengths and weaknesses of these enterprises are analyzed. The report also presents in-depth overview of the threats and opportunities that these companies are expected to face during the forecast period.Request TOC of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=11342
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-21 00:20:13
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FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Prophecy Development Corp.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCWire) - Prophecy Development Corp. (TSX:PCY). has issued a press release with the following headline:Prophecy Closes $4,539,390 First Tranche of Private PlacementTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Prophecy Development Corp., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Prophecy Development Corp.Source: Prophecy Development Corp. (TSX: PCY, OTC Pink: PRPCF, FWB: 1P2N, WKN: A2ALPW)Date: September 20, 2017Time: 6:20 PM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Prophecy Development Corp. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2017 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
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FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for E3 Metals Corp.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, BC (FSCWire) - E3 Metals Corp. (TSX Venture:ETMC). has issued a press release with the following headline:Sampling of Petro-Lithium Brine from the First 43 Wells Complete, under AnalysisTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on E3 Metals Corp., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/E3 Metals Corp.Source: E3 Metals Corp. (TSX Venture: ETMC)Date: September 20, 2017Time: 3:05 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of E3 Metals Corp. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2017 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 23:02:01
NEW YORK, Sept. 20, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) is delighted that the governments of Senegal and France will co-host its financing conference, which will take place on February 8, 2018 in Dakar, Senegal.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d3003cff-ee20-409f-9729-9a9cef1d4d3e
A video accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0a7eebb6-66b3-438b-904e-efeff83d94cf
The announcement of the co-hosting was made by Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal and Emmanuel Macron of France at a high-level event on education financing held at the United Nations, which was attended by Secretary General Antonio Guterres, several heads of state and leaders on global education.
"The Global Partnership for Education has made substantial investments in education helping to get 72 million more children into primary school since 2002, including in Senegal," President Macky Sall said. "We are honored to host the next GPE Financing Conference in Dakar and look forward to continuing our close partnership with GPE."
This is the first time a donor and developing country co-host a GPE financing conference, symbolizing the spirit of true partnership, which is the essence of GPE.
President Macron of France stressed that one of his top priorities is to invest in education. "I call on the international community to join us in February 2018 in Dakar for the Global Partnership for Education Financing Conference, which France will co-host with Senegal," Macron said.
"The financing conference of the Global Partnership for Education is an opportunity for a much needed step change, allowing donors and developing countries to show their financial commitment to education," said Julia Gillard, GPE Board Chair. "Senegal and France jointly hosting the GPE financing conference demonstrates the determination of both governments to help GPE expand its support for strong and sustainable education systems in developing countries."
The event in Dakar will bring together donor and developing country governments, the private sector, philanthropic foundations, civil society and international organizations to announce commitments to support education in developing countries.
"This is an exciting and pivotal moment for GPE and for global education," said Alice Albright, GPE Chief Executive Officer. "This financing conference will put GPE on track to become a US$2 billion-a-year operation by 2020. At that level, GPE can have a far greater impact on providing better quality education to the world's children."
GPE's financing conference seeks to raise US$3.1 billion for 2018 through 2020 to support the education of 870 million children in 89 developing countries that are home to 78% of the world's out-of-school population.
Currently, 264 million children and youth around the world are not in school and six out of ten children and youth, a total of 617 million, are in school but not learning at the level they need to break the bonds of poverty, poor health and social disadvantage. Though the share of overseas development aid to education has declined over the last six years, leaders around the world are now recognizing the urgency of turning that trend around.
France has been a donor to GPE since 2005. With GPE support since 2006, Senegal has shown great progress raising its investment in education as a share of domestic spending to 24 percent.
"Both France and Senegal are ideally positioned to urge other countries across the globe to increase investments in education," Ms. Gillard added. "We believe that will make for a successful and productive financing conference and ultimately benefit hundreds of millions of children in some of the poorest countries around the world."
GPE Replenishment 2020: Case for Investment
Leaders' Statement
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The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) works with developing countries to ensure that every child receives a quality basic education, prioritizing the poorest, the most vulnerable and those living in countries affected by fragility or conflict. GPE mobilizes financing for education and supports developing countries to build effective education systems founded on evidence-based planning and policies.
GPE's support has achieved the following results in its partner countries:
72 million more children in primary school in 2015 compared with 2002
76% of children in GPE partner countries completed primary school in 2015 compared to 63% in 2002.
74% primary school completion rate for girls in 2015 compared with 57% in 2002
78% of GPE partner countries have maintained their education budget at or above 20% of public expenditure, or increased their education budget in 2015.
Media contact:
Alexandra Humme, ahumme@gloalpartnership.org; Tel: 202-492 8890
This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Global Partnership for Education via Globenewswire
ShelfLife has launched as an exciting new service that offers users the chance to 'rent out' a stranger's life, for a period of up to one week. Modelled on popular 'sharing economy' apps like Airbnb, the ShelfLife service allows users to browse dozens of 'life rentals' on the site, complete a booking and then spend the week living, working and socialising as if they were, quite literally, someone else.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 13:10:56
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81 Robinson Rd, Singapore, 068898
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+61432432656
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81 Robinson Rd, Singapore, 068898Founder & CEO+61432432656
ShelfLife has launched as an exciting new service that offers users the chance to rent out a strangers life, for a period of up to one week.Modelled on popular sharing economy apps like Airbnb, the ShelfLife service allows users to browse dozens of life rentals on the site, complete a booking and then spend the week living, working and socialising as if they were, quite literally, someone else. Users can also apply to offer their own lives for rent, essentially 'taking a break from themselves' and earning spare cash while they do it. The life rentals on the site come pre-packaged with supportive partners, friends and colleagues to ease you into your new life for the week and ensure a safe, enjoyable experience.If youve ever wondered what it would be like to live someone else's life, ShelfLife can help you scratch that itch, explains co-founder and CEO Trent Carlisle. You can spend an exciting week as a War Photographer in the Middle East, a Professional Drift Racer in Japan or even an Expat Wife in Singapore, then return home to your regular life. Were turning the whole world into the ultimate amusement park ride. The increasing acceptance of app-driven services has paved the way for companies like ShelfLife to expand the types goods and services offered by the sharing economy, a market estimated to grow to $335 billion by 2025, according to research from The Brookings Institute*. The founders of ShelfLife also see it as a response to the growing demand for genuine experiences of different cultures - already identified by Vogue Magazine** as the top travel trend of 2017, particularly among adventurous Millennials and affluent Boomers.Tourism has become less about luxury and more about providing transformative experiences for people, adds Carlisle. ShelfLife allows anyone to take that to the next level, providing complete immersion in an exotic yet authentic lifestyle they might otherwise never get to experience. Early demand has been very encouraging. The sites most popular life rental listings currently include a Surf Travel Guide in Sumatra, a Professional Dominatrix in Berlin, a Yacht Broker in Florida and a Fashion Designer in Londons uber-trendy Shoreditch. ShelfLife also offers a range of qualified life rentals, requiring certain skills and prior experience, such as that of a State Finance Minister in Belarus.Headquartered in Singapore as part of the Vertica Labs incubator program, ShelfLife was in development for six months in South East Asia before its official launch earlier this week. The company is privately funded and now seeking to establish a presence in other markets. CEO Trent Carlisle was previously VP Business Development of Mediclinical in New York City, with experience in the Fintech sector in London and Europe.___For further information/inquiries contact Founder & CEO Trent Carlisle___*Report: The Current and Future State of the Sharing Economy / The Brookings Institution / December 29, 2016** Why Transformative Travel Will Be the Travel Trend of 2017 / Vogue Magazine / January 3, 2017
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 18:15:51
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Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: www.transparencymarketresearch.com/Internet Marketing Head5186181030
Global Smart Coating Market: OverviewSmart coatings, which are made using layers or films of coating materials, are being increasingly demanded in several industrial applications. From military to automotive, the demand for smart coatings has spiked in recent years due to their incredible advantages. These materials are known to be resistant to chemicals, weatherproof to a certain degree, anti-dust, and anti-corrosive to state the least. Thus the multilayer smart coatings are being widely used in several sectors. The global smart coatings market stands to benefit from the increasing focus of leading players towards research and development of improved materials in the coming years. Request Sample Copy of the Report@Transparency Market Research report provides a clear understanding market dynamics present in the global smart coating market. It offers a comprehensive listing of drivers and restraints impacting the overall market. Additionally, the report also includes an assessment of the segments present in the overall market. It provides an explanation of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats influencing the segments of the market and examines their impact on the trajectory of the global market. Furthermore, the document includes comments and recommendations by the market leaders to help the readers make strategic business decisions.Global Smart Coating Market: Drivers and TrendsThe research report has observed that the demand for smart coatings has ascended due to the soaring success of the overall electronics industry. The demand for various handheld devices and smartphones in the near future is expected to lend an impetus to the uptake of self-cleaning and self-healing coatings. The market will also receive a strong support from the significant investments being made in research and development of effective and innovative smart coating products. Currently, the market offers various types of coatings such as anti-corrosion coating, self-cleaning coating, biomedical coating, self-dimming coating, and self-healing coating amongst others. The growth of industries such as personal care, food packaging, aerospace, IT, construction, household, and automotive is expected to a positive impact on the revenue of the global smart coating market. Analysts have also observed that the demand for smart coatings has significant climbed up due to their usage in medical and military applications. Furthermore, the emergence of infrastructural facilities and the construction industry are projected to boost the demand for smart coatings in the coming few years. The defense and military industry is projected to exhibit a high demand for anti-corrosion coatings to protect and extend the life of steel and galvanized aluminum surfaces. Meanwhile, the healthcare sector is anticipated to continue using antimicrobial coatings to prevent the spread of diseases.Global Smart Coating Market: Geographical OutlookIn terms of geography, the global smart coating market is segmented into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World. According to research analysts, Asia Pacific is expected to witness a robust growth rate in the coming years. The demand for smart coatings in Asia Pacific will be fueled by the rapid rate of infrastructural development, ongoing construction activities, and stupendous demand and consumption of consumer electronics. The supportive regulatory framework in developing countries of India and China that are promoting manufacturing activities is also anticipated to boost the demand for smart coatings in the near future.On the other hand, North America is expected to show a significantly higher demand for smart coatings than Europe during the forecast period. The demand in North America will be due to technological advancements in the development of nanomaterials. The development of products that are predominantly environment-friendly is also expected to boost the growth of the smart coatings market in the coming years.Request TOC of the Report@Key Players Mentioned in the ReportThe leading players mentioned in this research report are New Energy Technologies, Eastman Chemical, 3M Company, Bayer AG, Dupont, Royal DSM, The Dow Chemical Company, Nippon Steel, AnCatt Inc., Research Frontiers Inc., Balcony Systems Solutions Ltd., Nanoshell, and Debiotech SA.Major geographies analyzed under this research report are:North AmericaEuropeAsia PacificRest of the World (RoW)This report gives you access to decisive data such as:Market growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for the coming yearsKey highlights of this report:Overview of key market forces propelling and restraining market growthUp-to-date analyses of market trends and technological improvementsPin-point analyses of market competition dynamics to offer you a competitive edgeAn analysis of strategies of major competitorsAn array of graphics and SWOT analysis of major industry segmentsDetailed analyses of industry trendsA well-defined technological growth map with an impact-analysisOffers a clear understanding of the competitive landscape and key product segments
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-20 17:50:42
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Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: www.transparencymarketresearch.com/Internet Marketing Head5186181030
Wireless Charging Market: Overview and SegmentationWireless charging is recharging batteries of electrical devices with no physically connected cables. Currently, charging of devices is an important aspect of business is response to power intensive applications. Mobile manufacturers such as Samsung, Nokia, LG Electronics and HTC are positioning phones with wireless charging to drive demand at the high end.The global wireless charging market is segmented by application into consumer electronics, industrial, medical, automotive and defense. Consumer electronics is expected to be the largest application segment in the wireless charging market.Request Sample Copy of the Report@On the basis of geography the market is segmented as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle-east and Africa and Latin America. High volumes of electronics devices such as smartphones and laptops in Asia Pacific make it the most promising region for wireless charging market. However, United States is the largest regional market for wireless charging. Increase in adoption of wireless charging for industrial applications and growing awareness of wireless power technology among consumers propels market growth in this region.On the basis of technology wireless charging market is segmented as Inductive, RF and Resonant. Inductive technology is mature and has high demand in wireless charging market owing to its use in all the applications. On the other hand, RF and resonant technologies are gaining traction in the wireless charging market. Companies such as Qualcomm and Samsung support resonant technology which allows charging multiple devices simultaneously.Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP), Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) and Power Matters Alliance (PMA) are the three groups present in the wireless charging market. Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) uses Qi standard commonly found in smartphones whereas Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) uses resonance technology which is still in the early stages of development. Interoperability between these groups is of prime importance for the wireless charging market. Companies such as AT&T are seeking a commitment to one standard of wireless charging from their handset vendors.Wireless Charging Market: Trends and DriversThe penetration of wireless charging is expected to increase in wearable devices over the years. Wireless charging market is expected to experience a boom in electrical vehicles too. In-car charging and wireless charging of electrical vehicles are the key trends in the automotive industry. Rise in electrical vehicles manufacturing globally will help in the wireless charging market growth. Significant investments in R&D are being made by the market participants, wherein the leading players are focusing on improving the power transmission range. This would facilitate charging of devices wirelessly over long distances, subsequently expanding the application base. However, retaining the costs low is the key challenge for the wireless charging devices market.Wireless Charging Market: Competitive ScenarioWireless charging market is highly fragmented with start-ups and large market participants. Players are trying to distinguish themselves on the basis of quality and affordability. Few of the key players in the wireless charging market include Qualcomm Inc., Fulton Innovation LLC, Texas Instruments, Inc., WiTricity Corporation, Convenient Power HK Ltd., Integrated Device Technology, Inc., Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Duracell Powermat (Procter & Gamble Co.), Energizer Holdings, Inc, Oregon Scientific, Inc. and Anker among others.Request TOC of the Report@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 SegmentsMarket DynamicsMarket SizeSupply & DemandCurrent Trends/Issues/ChallengesCompetition & Companies involvedValue ChainRegional analysis includes:North AmericaLatin AmericaAsia PacificJapanWestern EuropeEastern EuropeMiddle East & Africa
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.
By: Reynolds Excavation, Demolition & Utilities
reynolds
Contact
Cami Dellamore
***@stakerparson.com Cami Dellamore
End
-- Reynolds Excavation, Demolition and Utilities received an Award of Merit from the Utah Safety Council for outstanding safety performance.An organization must have an incident rate that is below the national average in order to receive an Award of Merit. The organization must also demonstrate improvement, or sustain an excellent record."Our safety culture works," General Manager Timothy Brown said. "When I look at those who are engaged in the process, they are successful because they perform TRACK (Think through the task, Recognize the Hazards, Assess the hazards, Control the hazards, Keep safety first in all tasks), GOAL (Get out and look), who consistently turn inches into feet, and are willing to get a spotter or be a spotter. They are the ones who work safe. Every incident that we have had as a company, almost without fail, has occurred because we omitted very basic and simple steps in the process. The incident, damage, or even injury to people could have been eliminated if the safety guidelines had been followed. This is why we stress safety every day, to everyone we speak with. If we are safe than we are successful."Reynolds Excavation, Demolition and Utilities submitted three years' worth of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Injury Information and was then ranked by their incident rate. There were seven total recordable cases within the three year period. Four of the incidents occurred in 2014, and the other three occurred in 2015. One of the accidents that occurred in 2014 required employee time away from work. There were no recordable incidents in 2016. During the three year time-frame, there were 327,244 average man hours worked per year.Reynolds Excavation, Demolition and Utilities also met all other Safety program requirements. The requirements included (but were not limited to) holding quarterly safety meetings, having and following a safety and health program with a regular review, having a written plan, performing regular inspections, providing employee safety training on all OSHA-required topics, and not sustaining any work-related fatalities during the three year time frame.Reynolds Excavation, Demolition & Utilities plans to continue making safety a top priority in all lines of business.# # #About Reynolds Excavation, Demolition & Utilities: Reynolds Brothers was started in 1945 by C. Shirley Reynolds, J. Gordon Reynolds, and their father Heber Reynolds. Heber's sons, Gary and Robert, continue to work for the company in management roles. Reynolds Brothers joined the Staker Parson Companies team in 2010 and now operates as Reynolds Excavation, Demolition & Utilities. Reynolds Excavation is best known for its excavation and trucking abilities and experience with utility and demolition work.If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Cami Dellamore at 801-409-2493 or email at Cami.Dellamore@StakerParson.com. http://reynoldsbrothers.com/
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Body cameras for the Mooresville Police Department have arrived. Find out when they will be used.
In his address to the United Nations General Assembly, Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian has said that Yerevan will declare two protocols aimed at normalizing relations with Turkey "null and void" if Ankara does not show any progress toward their implementation.
"The leadership of Turkey are mistaken if they think that those documents can be held hostage forever and ratified only at the most opportune occasion from their very point of view," Sarkisian told the UN General Assembly in New York on September 19.
The two protocols, signed by the Armenian and Turkish foreign ministers in Zurich in October 2009, would have established diplomatic relations between Ankara and Yerevan as well as reopened the countries' mutual border.
But parliaments in both countries have failed to ratify the documents,
Yerevan accuses Ankara of linking the ratification of the protocols to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Meanwhile, Turkey says a ruling by Armenia's Constitutional Court had preconditions and restrictive provisions impairing the letter and spirit of the documents.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Sarkisian denied the Turkish claim and said that Armenia "will declare those two protocols null and void since they continuously lacked any positive progress toward their implementation."
"We will enter the spring of 2018 without those, as our experience has demonstrated, futile protocols," he added.
On the conflict over Azerbaijan's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, Sarkisian called on Baku to "recognize and respect the right of the people of Artsakh to decide its own future through a free expression of will."
In a February 2017 referendum organized by the separatists controlling Nagorno-Karabakh, the region's name was changed from the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic to the Republic of Artsakh. However, the two names are being treated as synonymous.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in a conflict over Azerbaijan's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh for years.
Nagorno-Karabakh, populated mainly by ethnic Armenians, declared independence from Azerbaijan amid a 1988-94 war that claimed an estimated 30,000 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
Internationally mediated negotiations with the involvement of the OSCE's so-called Minsk Group have failed to result in a resolution. The Minsk Group is co-chaired by France, Russia, and the United States.
Sarkisian also accused Azerbaijan of committing "a number of war crimes against civilian population and the prisoners of war" in 2016.
"Hate speech and 'Armenophobia' was made part and parcel of the Azerbaijan's state policy," he also said.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is scheduled to deliver his address to the UN General Assembly later on September 20.
The young woman was riding in a taxi to the airport when she decided to make the call. She had just left her home in Russia's southern Chechnya region -- for good, she thought, first on a flight to Moscow to pick up emigration documents and then on a plane out of the country.
But the taxi driver was eavesdropping. And when the woman told her friend she had run away, he locked the car doors and drove her back home, fearing potential consequences for his role in her planned escape.
The 22-year-old woman was a lesbian who claimed that her relatives had beaten and threatened her with death after learning of her sexual orientation. Within a week of the fateful taxi ride, she was dead. Her family says she succumbed to kidney failure. Some who knew her believe she was poisoned; but a close friend rejects that claim, telling RFE/RL that she had indeed suffered from kidney problems.
The woman's case, first made public in a July report by a Russian rights group, highlights the often terror-filled double lives that lesbians are forced to live in mainly Muslim Chechnya, where homosexuality is publicly condemned and rights groups accuse authorities of carrying out a campaign of torture and murder targeting gay men.
There are no indications that such a campaign has been undertaken against lesbians in the region, which Kremlin-backed strongman Ramzan Kadyrov has ruled for a decade. Instead, lesbian and bisexual women often lead personal lives in complete secrecy -- if at all -- communicating with girlfriends via pseudonymous social-media accounts and dedicated SIM cards, and limiting their real-life contacts to a tiny circle of verified people.
Hovering over them is the pervasive fear of being outed and ostracized in a society where a woman's reputation is considered a linchpin of family honor -- or of falling victim to an "honor killing" in a putative bid to protect the family's name.
The young woman who died in July after trying to flee, whom RFE/RL is not identifying due to the stigma and reported abuses lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people face in Chechnya, assiduously hid her sexual orientation. But somehow screenshots of her online conversations with her girlfriend and other friends ended up in the hands of her relatives, who became enraged.
The Russian LGBT Network, the St. Petersburg-based group that recounted her story in a recent report, quoted her as saying before her death that her brother had given her a gun and begged her to kill herself to save the family's honor -- and that her relatives would say it was an accident, not suicide.
"Kill me yourself if you want," the woman recalled telling her brother, according to the report. "I'm not going to kill myself."
Like 'Coming Across A Unicorn'
The plight of LGBT people in Chechnya triggered international condemnation following an April report by the respected Russian independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, which alleged that gay men in the region were being detained, tortured, and in some cases killed in a coordinated campaign.
After that report, gay Chechens told RFE/RL and other media outlets of the abuses they had fled. Both German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron raised the issue directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, the Canadian government secretly worked with rights activist to exfiltrate more than 20 LGBT people from Chechnya.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) says that when police in Chechnya returned most of the gay men allegedly targeted, they outed them to their families and indirectly suggested relatives carry out an honor killing.
Kadyrov, whom rights monitors accuse of using security forces under his control to impose order and crush dissent, has called the allegations of antigay persecutions in Chechnya "lies," telling the U.S. television channel HBO: "We don't have those kinds of people here. We don't have any gays."
While lesbians may not have been targeted by the alleged campaign of abuse by Chechen authorities, it has heightened fears among lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LBT) women that they could be outed.
"Before the story with gay men, we would interact on social media, but now everyone is lying low," one Chechen lesbian told RFE/RL on condition of anonymity.
Previously, she said, members of the LGBT community would meet for offline connections at secret parties held in rented apartments, obtaining alcohol through trusted contacts and keeping the noise to an absolute minimum so as not to tip off the neighbors. But the alleged campaign of violence against gay men has put an end to these gatherings, she said.
In its July report, the Russian LGBT Network calls LBT women "the most vulnerable group" subjected to the "strict traditions" of the North Caucasus, the mountainous southern Russian region where Chechnya and other mainly Muslim republics are located.
"Women, more often than men, are subjected to honor killings, and they can be judged only based on suspicion, even in the absence of facts," the report notes.
"Relatives aren't only scared that their daughters might be lesbians. They're scared of the terrible shame. Public opinion in Chechnya is the primary court," Irina Kosterina, gender coordinator at Germany's Heinrich Boll Foundation who has conducted surveys of women in the North Caucasus, told RFE/RL.
"If it comes out that your daughter is a lesbian, that means no one will marry your other daughters, and no one will allow your sons to marry their daughters.... In the Caucasus, reputation is collective, and the reputation of that young woman automatically extends to some 60 people," she added.
Earlier this month, a woman from Chechnya who was attempting to flee to Norway was detained in Belarus and handed over to her father, Novaya Gazeta reported. She had received threats after a photograph of her was posted on a social-network account criticizing Chechen women and girls for not wearing traditional Islamic clothing.
The Chechen lesbian who told RFE/RL about the now-defunct LGBT parties said that many women, both straight and lesbian, face enormous pressure to stay close to home and under the close watch of male relatives. Men, meanwhile, can more freely pursue study and work in Russian regions with greater personal freedoms.
She is preparing to tell her parents that she wants to leave Chechnya, though she intends to hide the fact that she wants to move abroad.
"I won't be happy here. I will depend on all of my relatives, on all of the men who know me, knew me, or will know me," she said.
She added, however, that she does not know yet how to make her plan work.
"Leaving the country is as implausible as coming across a unicorn," she said.
One lesbian from Chechnya was quoted in the Russian LGBT Network report as saying that she got married to protect her family's reputation but eventually managed to leave the region.
"My mother shunned me, and my entire family ultimately learned that it was a sham marriage," the anonymous woman was quoted as saying. "After that I got a flood of threats from the men in my extended family. They are still looking for me to punish me for the lie and for how I lead my life."
Pressure To Marry
Many young women in Chechnya of all sexual orientations are refraining from marrying at a young age "so they don't end up in domestic servitude and being a servant their entire lives," Kosterina of the Heinrich Boll Foundation said.
This trend has provided cover for some lesbians in Chechnya who tell their parents that they want financial security, an education, or a job before considering starting a family.
"My parents have wanted to marry me off for a long time already, looking for suitors, playing matchmaker, asking me every day if I have a boyfriend," another lesbian in Chechnya, speaking on condition of anonymity, told RFE/RL.
"But for me, marrying a man who thinks it's his right to touch you, it's tantamount to being raped every day. A lot of girls would probably rather die."
Kosterina said that she knows of at least two cases in which LBT women in the North Caucasus were forced by their respective families to marry men who were much older and of a lower social status.
In such a situation, "the man can turn a blind eye to certain things, because the marriage gives him status and, in some cases, financial advantages," Kosterina said.
LBT women in Chechnya "are roughly in the same category as young women who have lost their virginity before marriage," she added.
"Parents will typically try to hide [their sexual orientation] and marry them off as quickly as possible so that the husband would be responsible for her behavior," Kosterina said.
One gay Chechen man living in Moscow told RFE/RL of a lesbian friend of his who, at age 19, accepted a marriage proposal from a man and lived with him for two years, all the while trying to avoid sexual relations. Eventually she returned to her parents "and was treated for a long time by a psychiatrist for panic attacks and depression."
Merely finding a private space for sexual relations is exceedingly difficult for lesbians in Chechnya. While men can rent an apartment for such encounters, women of any orientation have no such option.
An open same-sex relationship between women is virtually unheard of in Chechnya. Kosterina told RFE/RL that she knows of just one case in which two Chechen women convinced their parents to let them rent an apartment together. They argued that it was a cost-saving measure but did not reveal that they were in a relationship.
"The parents aren't exactly thrilled that they aren't living at home, but somehow they agreed to it," she said.
The issue of LBT women is so taboo in Chechnya that only a handful of such relationships are known to researchers, rights activists, and journalists who learned of them by chance.
"I've been working in the Caucasus for six years, and many people there know that I also work on LGBT rights," Kosterina told RFE/RL. "During that entire time, almost no one asked for help until the situation with gay men surfaced."
'Special Operation'
The 22-year-old Chechen woman whose friends believe was poisoned in an honor killing had tried to leave the region several times prior to her failed final attempt in July. After one such attempt, she was placed in forced psychiatric care for three months, according to the Russian LGBT Network.
In May, she managed to convince her parents to let her travel to Moscow, where she contacted rights activists and settled in a shelter for LGBT people fleeing persecution in the North Caucasus. But according to the Russian LGBT Network, circumstances forced her to return to Chechnya for what she thought would be a temporary sojourn.
Instead, her family kept her holed up in a room and under constant monitoring. Describing the final attempt to free the woman, the group's report reads: "Unfortunately, the special operation was unsuccessful and fell apart as it was being carried out."
The Russian LGBT Network report casts doubt on the official explanation of her death, which it described as "kidney failure due to complications after the flu."
"Only her older brother was home at the time. She didn't complain about her heath. People don't die of kidney failure that quickly," an acquaintance of the young woman told RFE/RL.
A close friend told RFE/RL a different story: that the woman's family loved her deeply, especially her father; she had kidney problems and had gone to Moscow to seek treatment; her health deteriorated and she eventually died at home.
"Of course a lot of people want to see a brutal murder due to her connection to the LGBT community, but it's nothing like that," the friend said.
Due to religious considerations, families in Chechnya often bury their dead before autopsies can be conducted. RFE/RL was unable to confirm if the woman had undergone an autopsy.
Written by Carl Schreck on the basis of reporting by RFE/RL's Russian Service correspondent Sergei Khazov-Cassia
BRUSSELS A top European Union finance official said Kyiv needs to do more in fighting corruption and to pass pension and land reforms as conditions for receiving more financial aid from Brussels.
Speaking alongside Ukraines finance minister, Valdis Dombrovskis, who is the European commissioner for financial services, said Ukraine must also set up a credit register, ensure further privatization, and lift trade restrictions with the European Union.
The European bloc has made the final installment of a 600-million-euro financial aid package conditional on passage of those reforms.
The EU has imposed a tight time frame to enact the reforms, with the deadline for payout looming in January.
Dombrovskis said Brussels wants concrete plans on how those changes will be implemented by the end of October.
We certainly need clarity. I would say maybe not towards mid- but towards the end of next month, he said. Indeed, time is relatively short.
Since 2014, the European Union has given Ukraine 2.8 billion euros of financial assistance.
An Iranian teenager sneaks up behind a cleric in the capital, Tehran, and knocks his turban off his head before dashing off.
The incident, uploaded on social media, is part of a new tactic employed by anti-government demonstrators in Iran.
Nationwide antiestablishment protests have raged across the Islamic republic since the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died on September 16 shortly after she was arrested for allegedly violating the hijab law on women's dress.
As the authorities have waged a deadly crackdown on the rallies, some demonstrators have turned to new tactics to sustain the monthslong protests, including tipping off Islamic clerics' turbans in the streets.
Many Iranians associate members of the clergy with Iran's Islamist regime, which many blame for the repression and corruption in the country.
While some Iranians have praised the "turban throwing" as an act of resistance, others have expressed concern that low-level clerics who are not affiliated with the state could become the victims of harassment and violence.
Lawmaker Mohammad Taghi Naqd Ali on November 10 called the new trend "the devil's conspiracy" and warned that young protesters tossing clerics' turbans were "playing with the lion's tail."
State media reported the arrests of two people in recent days who were accused of knocking off clerics' turbans.
London-based human rights lawyer Shadi Sadr said the tactic was a "brave and revolutionary act." Sadr, the co-founder of the rights group Justice for Iran, told RFE/RL that protesters were "humiliating" clerics without resorting to violence. "They're [targeting] the clergy's turban as a symbol of the crimes and corruption of the past 43 years as well as the privileges clerics have enjoyed," she said.
"There is no violence in it, and it also includes youthful mischief, which highlights the spirit of the revolution," Sadr added, referring to the monthslong protests that have posed the biggest threat to the establishment in years.
But Ahmad Zeidabadi, a Tehran-based journalist and former political prisoner, said that some of the clerics targeted in the streets "may be critics or even victims of [state] policies."
"This phenomenon...mainly targets clerics who do not hold any government positions," he said on Twitter, adding that senior clerics in powerful positions rarely appear in public and are often protected by security guards if they do.
Reformist cleric Hojatoleslam Ahmad Heidari, who was jailed in the past for his support for the opposition Green Movement, warned that the new trend could taint the "beautiful face of [the] protest movement against oppression and injustice."
"You're right to be angry at those wearing turbans," Heidari wrote on the news site Esafnews.com. But he added that "those who have a hand in power and are your target" are out of reach. He said many of the clerics targeted were "young and elderly" clerics who are not sitting in "ivory towers."
Attacks on clerics, particularly those who attempt to enforce Islamic codes in public, had been on rise in Iran even before the protests erupted, forcing many clerics to appear in public without their robes and turbans.
Last week, a cleric was reportedly hospitalized after being wounded in Karaj, near Tehran, amid antiestablishment protests in the city. The hard-line Fars news agency claimed that protesters attacked the cleric with knives.
Hassan Fereshtian, a Paris-based Iranian cleric and researcher, said the turban-throwing trend was the result of the "suppressed anger of the past four decades."
"If it aims at eliminating the clergy, we could be facing the start of violence," he warned in comments to RFE/RL's Radio Farda. "In fact, the clergy should be eliminated from the centers of power. But they shouldn't be eliminated from society."
Fereshtian, a student of the late dissident Grand Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri, expressed hope that Iran will reach a point "where secular people can live peacefully next to the clergy and unveiled women next to those who choose to wear the hijab."
In the past year, regime supporters have knocked off the turbans of clerics who had criticized the establishment, including former Interior Minister Abdollah Nuri and former parliament speaker Mehdi Karrubi, who has been under house arrest since 2011 for disputing the 2009 reelection of former President Mahmud Ahmadinejad.
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Iran's president has lashed out at U.S. President Donald Trump, calling his UN speech "ignorant, absurd, and hateful rhetoric and saying that Tehran would not be the first to abandon the landmark nuclear deal.
Speaking one day after Trump blasted Iran as a murderous regime that was undermining peace throughout the Middle East, Rohani said his country is a peaceful one that has chosen the path of moderation and does not seek to restore its ancient empire.
Rohani's comments on September 20 were the latest escalation in a war of words between Washington and Tehran, a fight that has largely focused on the 2015 nuclear deal and Irans missile tests.
Rohani told the United Nations that Tehran was not seeking to spread its influence, saying that his country has already conquered the world through its culture and poetry.
Iran does not seek to restore its ancient empire, impose its official religion on others, or export its revolution through the force of arms, he said.
We have reached the shores of this side of the Atlantic through Rumi and spread our influence throughout Asia, Rohani said, referring to the 13th-century mystic writer whose Persian-language poems are widely read in the West.
We, therefore, are in no need of new conquests, he said.
Rohani praised the 2015 deal, which curtailed Tehran's nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of punishing economic sanctions, calling it a new model for global interactions.
He said the deal, which was adopted by the Security Council, was "overwhelmingly applauded by the international community.
"As such, it belongs to the international community in its entirety and not only to one or two countries," he said.
The Trump administration has repeatedly accused Iran of violating the spirit of the deal.
I declare before you that the Islamic Republic of Iran will not be the first country to violate the agreement, but it will respond decisively and resolutely to its violation by any party, Rohani said, without elaborating on Irans response.
Rohani said that if Trump pulled out of the deal, it would destroy U.S. credibility.
It will be a great pity if this agreement were to be destroyed by 'rogue' newcomers to the world of politics. The world will have lost a great opportunity, he said.
Earlier in the day, Trump told reporters that he had reached a decision on whether the United States will remain a party to the nuclear accord, but he did not elaborate.
"I have decided. I'll let you know what the decision is," he said.
Two of Trumps top diplomats have suggested that Washington was not imminently planning to pull out of the deal. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that changes would need to be made before the Trump administration would continue supporting it.
"If we're going to stick with the Iran deal, there has to be changes made to it. The sunset provision simply is not a sensible way forward," he told Fox News on September 19.
But Rohani told reporters on the sidelines of the UN summit that the deal cannot be renegotiated.
"It is an agreement that took over two years of negotiation over every single word and every single sentence," he said.
"We were able to agree on mutually acceptable dates and deadlines, so this agreement is not something you can touch. If you take out a single brick, the entire building will collapse," Rohani said.
The Iranian president also ruled out talks with Washington on renegotiating the agreement.
"An American government that chooses to trample on her legal and legitimate international commitments, a conversation with such a government would be a waste of time," he told reporters on September 20.
With reporting by Reuters and AFP
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Iranian President Hassan Rohani addressed the UN General Assembly on September 20, saying that Iran will "not tolerate threats from anyone." He made the statement a day after U.S. President Donald Trump's speech in which he called Iran "a corrupt dictatorship" and "a rogue state." (AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will prevent Iran from establishing military bases in Syria and demanded changes to the Iran nuclear deal in an address before the United Nations General Assembly.
Iranian-backed militia and military advisers have been fighting on the side of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the country's six-year civil war, and Israeli leaders have recently charged that Tehran is now moving to establish a permanent presence there.
Netanyahu said on September 19 that Tehran was trying to lower what he called an "Iranian curtain" across the Middle East, "from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean."
"We will act to prevent Iran from establishing permanent military bases in Syria for its air, sea, and ground forces," Netanyahu said. "Israel will defend itself with the full force of our arms.... Those who threaten us with annihilation put themselves in mortal peril."
On the 2015 nuclear deal, Netanyahu said, "change it, or cancel it. Fix it, or nix it."
The Israeli leader in particular took aim at the deal's "sunset" clauses, which allow restrictions imposed on Iran's nuclear activities such as uranium enrichment to expire after 10 years in 2025, echoing a criticism made on September 19 by the United States.
Israel has maintained that once the restrictions expire in 10 to 15 years, Tehran will be in a position to quickly resume work on developing an atomic weapon.
Netanyahu addressed his strongest words to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, an avowed foe of Israel, and appeared to avoid criticizing the more moderate Iranian President Hassan Rohani.
He also sought to draw a line between Tehran's government and its citizens, saying in Persian to the Iranian people, "You are our friends."
"One day, my Iranian friends, you will be free from the evil regime that terrorizes you.... And when that day of liberation finally comes, the friendship between our two ancient peoples will surely flourish once again," he said.
Iranian leaders did not immediately respond to Netanyahu's address.
Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuter
A court in northeastern Kazakhstan has handed down a suspended prison sentence to a local man convicted of fighting alongside Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Authorities in the city of Semei said on September 20 that the man, whose name was not disclosed, was convicted of illegally participating in armed conflicts abroad, illegally possessing firearms, and gave him a 3 1/2-year suspended sentence.
According to the authorities, the man joined the separatists in Ukraine's eastern region of Donetsk in July 2016 and fought against Ukrainian government forces until December 2016.
At least three other Kazakh citizens have been jailed in Kazakhstan on similar charges since fighting between government forces and separatists broke out in eastern Ukraine in April 2014. The conflict has killed more than 10,000 people.
In November 2016, a court in the northwestern city of Aqtobe sentenced one of them, Maksim Yermolov, to three years in prison.
Based on reporting by Yk-news.kz and KazTAG
BISHKEK -- Prosecutors at a high-profile trial in Kyrgyzstan are seeking an eight-year prison term for a former prosecutor-general accused of abuse of office.
The prosecutors asked a court in Bishkek on September 20 to deliver the sentence against Aida Salyanova, who is now an opposition lawmaker.
She is accused of illegally prolonging the license of a lawyer with links to former President Kurmanbek Bakiev's son, Maksim Bakiev, in 2010, when she served as prosecutor-general.
Salyanova told RFE/RL that her lawyers and herself proved her innocence during what she described as her politically motivated trial.
The probe against Salyanova, who is a member of the opposition Ata-Meken (Fatherland) party, was launched in March, days after party leader Omurbek Tekebaev was arrested on what his supporters say were trumped-up charges.
On August 16, Tekebaev, a former parliament speaker and once a close ally of President Almazbek Atambaev, was found guilty of bribe-taking and sentenced to eight years in prison.
His supporters say the conviction was aimed at preventing him from running in the October 15 presidential election.
Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan exchanged pointed accusations and diplomatic protests after Kazakhstans president met with a Kyrgyz presidential candidate, a meeting Bishkek said amounted to meddling in its internal politics.
The dispute between the two Central Asian neighbors deepened on September 20, a day after Kazakh leader Nursultan Nazarbaev held a meeting with Omurbek Babanov.
The meeting, which came just over three weeks before Kyrgyzstan holds an election to replace President Almazbek Atambaev, prompted an angry note from the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry.
"The Kyrgyz side considers the statements [made during the meeting] and the wide coverage of the meeting by the Kazakh side as an attempt to influence the choice of Kyrgyzstan's people and an interference into Kyrgyzstan's internal affairs," the ministry said.
Kazakhstan responded hours later with a similarly pointed message expressing extreme surprise at Bishkeks statement.
The meetings of the head of state with prominent politicians and leaders of political parties of different countries at their request take place on a regular basis and fully comply with international practice, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry said.
Babanov, who served as prime minister in 2011-12, is a rival to the candidate that Atambaev has endorsed, Sooronbai Jeenbekov, who himself stepped down as prime minister last month.
During the meeting in Kazakhstans largest city, Almaty, Nazarbaev, who has ruled since the Soviet era and is the singular politician in the country, "stressed the necessity to further strengthen ties between the two brotherly nations," according to the presidential office.
"During the years of Kyrgyzstan's independence, I have always tried to work fruitfully with all your presidents," he told Babanov. "We will be continuing to effectively cooperate with a new president the Kyrgyz nation will grant the trust."
Babanov was quoted as saying that when he was prime minister, Nazarbaev was "always providing us with all possible assistance."
"We accept with joy the successful achievement of brotherly Kazakhstan," he added.
Kyrgyzstans Central Election Commission told RFE/RL it will examine the meeting in Almaty for possible legal violations.
Meanwhile, Atambaev used his appearance before the United Nations General Assembly on September 20 to give veiled criticism of his Central Asian neighbors, as he extolled his country's political system.
"Peace, harmony, and stability -- these are our main achievements of the last years. The country is changing before our eyes. Today, the Kyrgyz Republic is the first and the only country in post-Soviet Central Asia with parliamentary democracy, he said.
He also appeared to poke at Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has pointed to two popular uprisings in Kyrgyzstan, and in other ex-Soviet republics, over the past 14 years, asserting they were fomented by the United States.
"I am proud of my freedom-loving people, who have staged two national revolutions against dictatorial regimes over the last 12 years and have proven that the people are the only possible source of power in the Kyrgyz Republic, Atambaev said.
With reporting by RFE/RLs Kazakh and Kyrgyz services
SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine A top Crimean Tatar leader declared himself "only a citizen of Ukraine" as he lashed out in a final court statement at Russian prosecutors who have charged him with separatism.
Ilmi Umerov, who has repeatedly criticized Russia's 2014 seizure of the Black Sea region from Ukraine, is the latest in a series of Crimean Tatar leaders whom Russia has targeted with criminal prosecutions.
At the September 20 hearing, prosecutor Denys Semenchuk asked the court to give him a 3 1/2-year suspended sentence. Semenchuk also recommended that Umerov, 60, who is a qualified doctor, be barred from public activities and teaching medicine for a three-year period.
In his last statement to the court, Umerov, who is deputy chairman of the Crimean Tatars' self-governing body known as the Mejlis, said that he considers himself "only a citizen of Ukraine."
"I call the annexation an annexation and the authorities established [by Russia] as occupational ones, he told the court.
"I believe that the borders of 1991 that were inherited after the collapse of the Soviet Union must be reinstated. Those borders are recognized in the world and have been confirmed by corresponding documents and agreements between Ukraine and the Russian Federation," Umerov said.
Umerov stressed that the charges against him have only one goal, "which is to punish those who oppose the annexation."
He also criticized authorities' order committing him to a psychiatric clinic in August 2016 and pressure he said was imposed on his lawyers as attempts to break his will.
He said that the translation of an interview he gave to a Crimean Tatar TV channel into Russian, which formed the basis for the separatism charges, had been done unprofessionally and with mistakes that distorted his remarks.
Umerov, who went on trial June 7 in the Crimean capital, Simferopol, is one of several critics of the Russian takeover who have faced what rights activists say are politically motivated criminal charges at the hands of Russia and the authorities it backs in Crimea.
The Moscow-based human rights group Memorial has called the case against Umerov "illegal and politically motivated."
Mejlis Chairman Refat Chubarov, who was barred from entering the region by a Russian court and resides in Kyiv, has said the case against Umerov is part of a campaign of persecution against Crimean Tatars.
Another deputy chairman of the Mejlis, Akhtem Chiygoz, was sentenced to eight years in prison on September 12 after a court convicted him of organizing a pro-Ukrainian rally there in February 2014.
Russia seized control of Crimea in March 2014 after sending in troops and staging a referendum that is considered illegitimate by more than 100 countries. After the takeover, Russia adopted a law making it a criminal offense in Crimea to question Russia's territorial integrity.
The majority of Crimean Tatars opposed Russia's annexation of the region.
MOSCOW -- The Russian Culture Ministry has warned it may ban a British satirical film about Soviet leader Josef Stalins death amid an outcry from Communist Party lawmakers who call it the latest example of Western "psychological warfare."
Adapted from a French graphic novel and directed by Scottish-born Armando Iannucci, The Death of Stalin mocks the jockeying for power and chaotic political infighting that followed the dictator's death in 1953. It is due to hit world cinemas on October 20.
An official within Russia's Culture Ministry, Pavel Pozhigailo, has called it a "planned provocation" and said his ministry has ordered an advance copy of the film to decide whether to ban it.
Pozhigailo told Govorit Moskva radio that the release of the film in Russia could provoke communists into acts of violent protest.
He compared it to the controversial film Matilda, which was based on an early love affair of Russia's last tsar, Nicholas II. That film, by Russian director Aleksei Uchitel, has angered radical Russian Orthodox believers who consider Nicholas II a saint, prompting threats of arson and violence if it makes it to the big screen.
"The same thing happening with Matilda will happen in communist ranks, Pozhigailo warned.
Well-Received By Critics
The Death Of Stalin gets high scores from critics and audiences on the Rotten Tomatoes website. A review quoted on the same site says of the film: "Its application of [Iannucci's] signature barbed comic voice to such grim history (executions are a constant source of gallows humor) packs its own punch."
It stars Steve Buscemi as Nikita Khrushchev, who emerged victorious from the power struggle and famously spoke out against Stalin's purges in 1956 at the Soviet Communist leadership's watershed 20th Party Congress. Former Monty Python trouper Michael Palin plays Vyacheslav Molotov, the former Soviet foreign minister best known in the West for his infamous pre-World War II pact with his Nazi counterpart, Joachim von Ribbentrop. Rupert Friend plays Stalins son, Vasily, who was arrested two months after his father's death; Simon Beel stars as Lavrenty Beria, the notorious secret-police chief who was executed shortly after the dictator's demise.
WATCH: Official Trailer For The Death Of Stalin
The movie rights have been bought in Russia, but no release date has been set.
Asked whether it would be banned, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Tass on September 18 that he didn't know anything about the film, but added, "The Culture Ministry always behaves extremely responsibly to issuing distribution licenses."
Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky, meanwhile, told state news agency RIA Novosti that he was unaware of the film but that his ministry would apply its standard procedures to any eventual decision.
Ruthless System Of Government
Stalin presided over a ruthless system of political persecution, forced collectivization, and the death of millions of Soviet citizens in a man-made famine. He is reviled in much of the former Soviet Union and in the West.
But he is seen by many in Russia as the steely hand who led the defeat of the Nazis in what is known to Russians as the Great Patriotic War -- a victory that remains central to many Russians' view of their country as a great world power and is feted with huge military parades every year.
Critics say Russian officials have made significant efforts to rehabilitate Stalin's image over the past two decades, and polls show Russians' antipathy to Stalin has decreased under President Vladimir Putin.
In June, Russians chose Stalin (above Putin and poet Alexander Pushkin) as the "most outstanding" figure in world history, according to independent pollster Levada.
'Definitely Russophobic'
A pro-Kremlin news site, Vzglyad, said in an editorial that while the Stalin farce was probably not designed to be offensive to Russians, it is "definitely Russophobic" and should be dealt with appropriately.
"Should we show The Death of Stalin in our cinemas? Of course not -- because it is savage mockery from folks who dont know and dont understand our history," Vzglyad said, adding, "Our own history has become a source of parody, rather than a fount of lessons and a place for finding meaning."
The staunchest criticism came from the Communists (KPRF), Russia's second-largest political party.
Communist Party official Sergei Obukhov told RIA Novosti that the film is the "latest form of psychological warfare against our country" as it "discredits the leaders of our country, and even more, the supreme commander in the years of the Great Patriotic War and belittles Russias role in world affairs."
"Any normal, decent person relates badly to such vileness," Aleksandr Yushchenko, a Communist Party spokesman, told Govorit Moskva after the trailer was released in August. He called for a ban, saying green-lighting its screening would split Russian society.
"Today, support for both Stalin and Lenin is growing, among the youth in the first instance. Russophobia-lovers, who also exist here [in Russia] and who give distribution licenses to such films, are simply creating another schism and throwing an ax into society, trying to provoke a certain dissatisfaction."
MOSCOW -- The director of a controversial forthcoming film about the early life of Tsar Nicholas II has called on the Russian government to do more to forestall violence as the film opens in cinemas next month.
In an interview with RFE/RL, filmmaker Aleksei Uchitel said he was mystified why the government has not acted "harshly and mercilessly, but within the confines of the law, of course" against those who have issued threats or committed violence in a bid to prevent the film from being shown.
"Those who committed arson attacks and so on, in my opinion, must be imprisoned because they have committed crimes," Uchitel said.
The film Matilda tells the story of a well-documented affair between Nicholas, when he was an unmarried crown prince, and a half-Polish ballerina. It has enraged conservative Russian Orthodox Christians, who say the depiction demeans Nicholas, who was canonized as an Orthodox saint in 2000. It is scheduled for release on October 26.
WATCH: Official Trailer For Matilda
On August 31, unknown assailants threw Molotov cocktails into the St. Petersburg building that houses Uchitel's production studio. On September 4, a man tried to ram his car into a cinema in Yekaterinburg and then threw an incendiary device. On September 11, two cars were set alight outside the Moscow office of Uchitel's lawyer.
A group calling itself Christian State-Holy Rus has sent letters to cinema owners "warning" that showing the film could lead to bloodshed and "civil war." On September 12, Russia's largest chain of cinemas announced it would not show Matilda, citing safety concerns.
On September 20, the self-proclaimed head of Christian State, Aleksandr Kalinin, was detained in connection with the campaign against the film.
"It is necessary, if you'll excuse me, to harshly punish someone and show that if someone does something like this, breaks the law, it won't be tolerated," Uchitel said. "So far, such a step has not been taken. I know that the guy who drove into the cinema in Yekaterinburg has been arrested and an investigation is ongoing. But nonetheless, it is only ongoing. And it has been said that he was insane..."
Government-Approved
Although Matilda's critics accuse Uchitel of being unpatriotic, the director noted that the government has been in his corner in this dispute. Not only has the film been approved for distribution, it was about one-third funded by grants and loans distributed through the state's Cinema Foundation (Fond Kino). Nikita Mikhalkov, the Oscar-winning director and staunch supporter of President Vladimir Putin who heads the Russian Cinematographers Union, twice signed off on grants for Matilda.
Critics of the film -- including the most visible leader of the campaign, State Duma Deputy Natalya Poklonskaya -- have not seen it, Uchitel noted. Poklonskaya, he said, had declined an invitation to a screening.
"She refused, saying she doesn't need to see it," Uchitel said. " And when I watch television, I see the same eight people loudly and angrily talking. And every time they call me and try to drag me into this mess, I refuse. Not because I am afraid or anything, but because I tell them: 'Guys, first you need to watch the film, and then we can sit down and discuss it.'
"As for Poklonskaya, I have the impression that talking to her and persuading her of anything is practically impossible," Uchitel added. "She'll go all the way to the end in any event. I guess that is just her nature."
Uchitel insisted that he regards Nicholas II "no less respectfully and lovingly" than Poklonskaya does. The affair depicted in the film, he said, was a case of genuine love.
"The film is about a person -- and I think this is particularly interesting in the case of a saint," he said. "It is about showing the viewer or the nation that it is not an icon or a statue, but a person who suffered, was tormented, who thought and made a choice, a choice in favor of our country. It was either [ruling] or freedom, love, and real feelings."
He rejected accusations that his film is unpatriotic.
"A patriot, as I understand it, is not someone who waves flags, or shouts slogans, or cries 'Hurrah for Putin,' and so on," Uchitel said. "I want -- and not just me -- I sincerely want that in this country we had a situation where deputies did their business and didn't tell people how to make films. Where there were no bullies spouting nationalist slogans. Where people didn't throw Molotov cocktails into studios or set cars on fire. In that sense, I am a patriot.
"The fact that we have reached the point where people are afraid to go to the cinema because some insane pronouncements have terrorized them -- I think that is a real catastrophe," he concluded.
Written by RFE/RL senior correspondent Robert Coalson based on reporting by RFE/RL Russian Service correspondent Mumin Shakirov.
Russian authorities say they have apprehended three men suspected of involvement in an arson attack on cars outside the Moscow office of lawyers for the director of Matilda, a film that has drawn sharp criticism from radical Russian Orthodox and monarchist fringe groups.
Interior Ministry spokeswoman Irina Volk said on September 20 that one suspect was detained in Moscow and the other two in the Lipetsk region, about 450 kilometers south of the capital.
Multiple Russian media outlets cited unidentified law enforcement sources as saying that one of the detainees was the leader of an extremist group that calls itself Christian State-Holy Rus, Aleksandr Kalinin, and that he could potentially be charged with inciting religious and ethnic hatred. Later, however, state-run news agency TASS -- also citing an unidentified source -- reported that Kalinin was questioned as a witness, not a suspect, and was not being held.
There was no official confirmation of any of those reports, and Volk did not name the suspects.
A controversy over Matilda, prominent director Aleksei Uchitel's forthcoming movie based on an early romantic liaison of Russia's last tsar, Nicholas II, has led to violence and cast a spotlight on radical Russian Orthodox activists whose newfound prominence is seen by some Kremlin critics as a dangerous side effect of President Vladimir Putin's increased emphasis in recent years on the importance of what he describes as traditional Russian values.
Opponents of the film say it besmirches the memory of Nicholas, who was killed by the Bolsheviks in 1918 and was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church together with his family in 2000.
A letter signed by Christian State-Holy Rus and distributed in January said that members across Russia were prepared to sacrifice their lives for its true Orthodox Christian path and that showing Matilda could lead to bloodshed and civil war.
The Culture Ministry approved the film for release in July, and it is scheduled to open nationwide on October 26. But following several attacks appearing to target Uchitel and his film, Russian's biggest cinema chain said on September 12 that it would not to show the film, citing the concerns for the safety of moviegoers.
The announcement came a day after the suspected arson attack, in which authorities say masked men torched two cars near the office of Uchitels lawyers and left leaflets that said: "To Burn for Matilda."
With reporting by Meduza, Interfax, RIA Novosti, and TASS
A passenger jet has made the first commercial flight from Tajikistan to Uzbekistan in 25 years, months after the new Uzbek president vowed to improve ties with other Central Asian countries.
The Boeing 737 owned by Tajik airline Somon Air carried 65 people from Dushanbe to Tashkent, including travelers, airline officials, and journalists covering the event on February 10.
Regular weekly flights on the route will begin on February 20, Somon Air Chief Executive Thomas Hallam told reporters. Uzbek flag carrier Uzbekistan Havo Yollary said in January that it would start flights to Tajikistan "in the near future."
The flights will make it easier for some travelers to make the trip between the two capitals, which are separated by rugged mountains and arid plains.
"For the past 25 years, I have traveled to Tashkent by land through the northern Sughd Province, a route that takes 10-15 hours," said Yoqutkhon Abdusalomova, a businesswoman from Dushanbe who was visiting her daughter in Tashkent.
"Now we hope our governments abolish the visa regime or at least make it possible to get visas at airports," Abdusalomova told an RFE/RL reporter who made the flight.
Flights between the two former Soviet republics were suspended when a five-year civil war erupted in Tajikistan in 1992.
Several rounds of negotiations between Tajik and Uzbek government officials to resume them failed in recent years amid frosty relations under longtime Uzbek President Islam Karimov, whose death was announced in September.
Ties have been strained by disputes over an array of issues including water resources, transit routes, and border security.
President Shavkat Mirziyaev, who replaced Karimov after his death and won a tightly controlled election in December, has promised to improve ties with neighboring Central Asian states and take other steps to decrease Uzbekistan's isolation.
An agreement to resume flights was signed in November. Authorities say they expect to expand the number of flights between the capitals as well as other major cities.
Several of the passengers on the February 10 flight were ethnic Uzbeks living in Tajikistan, which has a large ethnic Uzbek minority.
Airline officials from both countries held a meeting after the jet landed at Tashkent International Airport.
Hallam told RFE/RL that they would discuss issues related to future cooperation, including tickets prices and flight schedules.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that changes are needed in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal before the administration of President Donald Trump will agree to continue supporting it.
In comments that suggested the United States could withdraw from the deal unless changes are made, Tillerson said the administration is particularly concerned about the deal's "sunset" clauses.
Those clauses allow restrictions put on Iranian nuclear activities such as uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief to expire after 10 years in 2025.
The clauses are "the most glaring flaw" in the deal, he said.
"It's not a stiff enough agreement. It doesn't slow their program enough," he told Fox News September 19. "We can almost start the countdown clock as to when they will resume their nuclear weapons capability."
"If we're going to stick with the Iran deal there has to be changes made to it. The sunset provision simply is not a sensible way forward," he told Fox.
"It's just simply...kicking the can down the road again for someone in the future to have to deal with," he said.
Tillersons interview came hours after President Donald Trump gave a blunt speech to the United Nations General Assembly, in which he called the deal "one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into.
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, told CBS News September 20 that, despite the tough rhetoric, Trump's speech should not be read as a signal that Washington planned on abandoning the deal.
The United States is not safer because of it, I think if you look at, yes, on one side it deals with the nuclear development, the [nuclear deal] which everyone talks about, but U.S. law requires it to look at other things which Iran is in violation of," Haley said.
The comments by Trump and two of his top diplomats come as the administration faces an October 15 deadline for deciding whether to certify that Iran is complying with the pact. If it does not, the U.S. Congress has 60 days to decide whether to reimpose sanctions waived under the deal.
Tillerson said the United States will seek the help of allies in Europe in trying to persuade Iran to reopen negotiations over the expiring provisions.
"We do need the support of our allies, our European allies and others, to make the case as well to Iran that this deal really needs to be revisited," he told Fox.
Macron Suggests Reopening Negotiations
Tillerson's comments came one day after reports that French President Emmanuel Macron, a staunch supporter of the deal, had suggested reopening negotiations over the expiring provisions in separate talks with his U.S. and Iranian counterparts.
In a speech before the UN on September 19, Macron said any decision to abandon the deal would be "irresponsible" and "a grave error."
But he acknowledged critics' concerns that the agreement does not cover Iran's nuclear activities after 2025 or address other concerns in the West about Iran's ballistic missile program and involvement in regional conflicts.
Macron called for diplomacy to address those issues, saying: "Let's be stricter, but let's not unravel agreements that have already brought security."
In his September 19 speech to the United Nations, his first, Trump attacked Tehran, calling it a "murderous regime"
"The Iranian government masks a corrupt dictatorship behind the false guise of a democracy," Trump said, describing the country as an "economically-depleted rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed, and chaos."
"It is time for the entire world to join us in demanding that Irans government end its pursuit of death and destruction."
Iranian President Hassan Rohani, who was scheduled to give his own speech at the UN on September 20, responded to Trumps criticism, telling reporters that Washington would forfeit the worlds trust if it exits the nuclear deal, which also was signed by France, Britain, Russia, China, and Germany.
'Unworthy Of A Reply'
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif described Trump's remarks as "shameless" and "ignorant."
"Especially in the part where he mentioned the great Iranian nation, his comments were without content, just empty slogans that are not worth reacting to," Zarif told Iran's state-run Fars news agency.
In an English-language post to Twitter, Zarif said, "Trump's ignorant hate speech belongs in medieval times, not the 21st-century UN -- unworthy of a reply. Fake empathy for Iranians fools no one."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed concern about the hardening U.S. stance against the nuclear deal after talks with Tillerson.
"It is particularly worrying that the United States, through its President Trump, has once again confirmed its unbending stance and fiercely criticized the joint action plan, which allowed eliminating the Iranian nuclear issue," he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trumps remarks, however, saying in his address before the UN that he had never heard a bolder or more courageous speech in more than 30 years.
Netanyahu also echoed the U.S. demand for renegotiation of the expiring provisions of the deal.
"Change it, or cancel it. Fix it, or nix it," he said.
With reporting by Fox News, AP, AFP, FARS, and Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump's personal lawyer has said that he saw "not a hint" that Trump colluded with Russia during last year's presidential election.
Michael Cohen issued a statement before a closed-door session he was scheduled to attend before the Senate Intelligence Committee on September 19 on the question of Russian interference in the election.
The committee cited his preemption of that hearing in announcing that it was canceling the planned session.
Cohen said a British intelligence agent's dossier that alleged he and Trump colluded with Russia during the election was "riddled with falsehoods and intentionally salacious accusations."
"I have never engaged with, been paid by, paid for, or conversed with any member of the Russian Federation or anyone else to hack or interfere with the election," Cohen said.
"Given my own proximity to the president of the United States as a candidate, let me also say that I never saw anything -- not a hint of anything -- that demonstrated his involvement in Russian interference in our election or any form of Russian collusion," he said.
The dossier compiled by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele alleged that Cohen acted as a liaison with the Russian government and secretly met with Kremlin officials in Prague in August 2016.
But Cohen said, "I have never in my life been to Prague or to anywhere in the Czech Republic."
Cohen said that the Russian meddling issue had been politicized "to discredit our lawfully elected president" and shame his supporters.
He also said there was no link between an effort by Trump to launch a luxury Trump Tower in Moscow and the election.
Cohen said the project proposal was terminated in January 2016, before the first Republican caucuses and primaries for choosing the party's candidate for the White House.
"You can oppose the president's points of view and his policies, but not raise false issues about the validity of his victory," Cohen said.
Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters
Ukraine's president has repeated his call for a full United Nations peacekeeping mission, telling the world body that such a mission should be authorized to patrol Ukraine's border with Russia.
Poroshenko's call came on September 20 in his speech to the UN General Assembly and followed a proposal floated last week by President Vladimir Putin for such a mission.
Putin said on September 14 that UN peacekeepers might be deployed on the contact line separating the sides of the conflict in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region. And he said there might be other parts where OSCE monitors could operate parallel to a UN mission.
In his UN speech, Poroshenko said a full-fledged UN peacekeeping operation was welcomed.
"The launch of a peacekeeping operation will enable [Ukraine] to restore justice and not simply cement the occupation," Poroshenko said.
The war in eastern Ukraine erupted in early 2014 following Russia's annexation of the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea. At least 10,000 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands driven from their homes.
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Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko warned of multiple threats posed by Russia during his September 20 address to the UN General Assembly in New York. Poroshenko said that Russia, a permanent UN Security Council member, is "not a contributor to international security, but its biggest threat." (AP)
In his first address to the United Nations General Assembly, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev has pledged to focus his government on bringing greater prosperity and human rights to his nation and the Central Asian region.
The Uzbek leader said on September 19 that his goal of improving the living conditions of citizens was what led him this month to allow the free float of the Uzbek currency while also reducing business taxes, expanding loans to businesses, and establishing free economic zones.
"We proceed from one simple truth: the richer the people are, the stronger shall be the state," Mirziyoev said, according to an English-language translation of his remarks provided on the UN website.
Mirziyoev said his government will work to create "a peaceful and economically prosperous Central Asia" that will be "a zone of stability, sustainable development, and good-neighborliness."
He called the border treaty between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan signed earlier this month a "breakthrough" and a "truly landmark event" that will help to achieve his larger goals for the region.
"In a word, an absolutely new political atmosphere was created in the region in a short period of time," he said.
Mirziyoev, Uzbekistan's prime minister for 13 years under autocratic President Islam Karimov, became acting president after Karimov's death was announced in September 2016 and was then elected in a tightly controlled vote in December.
During Karimov's quarter-century rule, Uzbekistan was often at odds with its neighbors over border disputes, ethnic tensions, and economic spats tied to water distribution and energy transportation in the region.
Mirziyoev said that another step to foster greater stability in the region was supporting efforts to start peace negotiations in neighboring Afghanistan.
He said Uzbekistan will continue to contribute to the economic reconstruction of Afghanistan's transport and energy infrastructure that has been devastated during nearly 16 years of war.
"I am convinced the Afghanistan must remain at the heart of the global agenda," he said.
'Government For The People'
On the issue of human rights, where Uzbekistan continues to attract criticism from UN bodies and human rights groups, Mirziyoev claimed to have made progress over his year in office.
He said his goal was to build "a democratic state and a just society" where "human interests come first."
"We are deeply convinced that people must not serve the government bodies, rather government bodies must serve the people," he said.
This policy is the reason Tashkent abolished the "outdated legacy of the past of exit visas, which were limiting the freedom of movement," he said.
Mirziyoev also claimed to be making progress on abolishing child labor and forced labor and achieving an "independent judiciary," and said he wanted to reform the prison system.
"Proceeding from the principles of humanism, many individual cases of detention of persons in custody have been reviewed," he said.
People who were imprisoned because of extremist activities were "undergoing a social rehabilitation" aimed at allowing them to "return to a normal life," he said.
Mirziyoev added that he believes that such rehabilitation and reeducation efforts should be the principal means of fighting terrorism around the world.
"The aggravation of terrorist threats in the world, especially in recent years, indicates that the use of mainly forceful methods of counteraction does not justify itself," he said.
"I believe that along with other factors, ignorance and intolerance are at the heart of international terrorism and extremism," he said.
In particular, world leaders must focus on providing education and opportunities for young people under 30 years old, which are the group most often implicated in terrorist attacks, Mirziyoev said.
Part of the education effort should be "communicating the truly humanistic essence of Islam" both to young people and the world at large, where intolerance of Muslims is growing, he said.
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This is the second in a three-part series of articles on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Today we look at how employers can assist DACA participants in their workforces. This is the second in a three-part series of articles on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Today we look at how employers can assist DACA participants in their workforces. Human resource professionals may want to help Dreamers, whose work permits will soon expire, stay employed, but companies don't have many options for assisting DACA participants, immigration law experts say. How involved the employer gets may depend on how difficult the employee would be to replace, according to Andrew Greenfield, an attorney with Fragomen in Washington, D.C. If the burden would be significant, the employer may help the worker file for an extension or provide the worker with immigration counsel. The I-9 process creates an opportunity to have a conversation with DACA participants about other work permit options, Greenfield said. "There may not be a lot of good ones," he added.
Notice to DACA Participants The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services suggests that employers remind employees at least 90 days before the workers must reverify their DACA status, which is two years after their DACA authorization was granted. They will be required to present a valid document, such as an Employment Authorization Document with two more years of DACA participation, showing continued employment authorization to work in the United States. Most employers notify employees 90 to 180 days in advance, Greenfield said. The Department of Homeland Security plans to extend authorization for immigrants with existing DACA protection that expires by March 5, 2018, but such reauthorization applications must be filed by Oct. 5, 2017. Because DACA lasts for two years, "many individuals will continue to be work-authorized until Sept. 5, 2019, and some even until March 2020," said Yova Borovska, an attorney with Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney in Tampa, Fla. Luis Campos, an attorney with Haynes and Boone in Dallas, said it would be beneficial for employers to give a general reminder about the Oct. 5 deadline in an apolitical way, such as by posting a notice on a bulletin board, though he added that most DACA recipients are aware of the deadlines. "Individuals have the burden of understanding the rules and filing for extensions," he said, noting that DACA is not an employer-sponsored program.
Temporary Protected Status There may be work permit options other than DACA if the employee is married to a U.S. citizen, eligible for political asylum, or comes from a country that's war-torn or has been devastated by a natural disaster, Greenfield said. Temporary protected status (TPS) is available only for a few countries: El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen. TPS currently is scheduled to expire and will need to be renewed by the government as follows for these countries:
El Salvador: March 9, 2018.
Haiti: Jan. 22, 2018.
Honduras: Jan. 5, 2018.
Nepal: June 24, 2018.
Nicaragua: Jan. 5, 2018.
Somalia: Sept. 17, 2018.
Sudan: Nov. 2, 2018.
South Sudan: May 2, 2019.
Syria: March 31, 2018.
Yemen: Sept. 3, 2018.
However, there has been speculation that the TPS program may not be renewed, CNN reported.
Limited Choices If the DACA program expires, Borovska said, employers' hands will be tied. The workers cannot be hired as contractors if the employer has knowledge of their lack of work authorization. The government can impose severe civil and criminal penalties for knowingly employing unauthorized workers. Limited employment visa sponsorships may be possible, but they would be risky and not available in many cases, she said. These nonimmigrant, employment-based visas might include the H-1B, O-1, L-1, TN, E-2 or E-3 with a 212(d)(3) temporary waiver of inadmissibility grounds. "Such options would entail a risk of denial that could result in the applicant being stuck outside of the U.S. for a very long timeeven up to 10 years," she said. H-1B visas are for people in specialty occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field, such as engineering or medicine. The H-1B is limited to 85,000 visas per yeara 65,000 general cap plus a 20,000 cap for those with advanced degrees. Some employers, such as universities, nonprofits affiliated with universities, nonprofit research organizations and nonprofit government organizations, are exempt from the limit, so DACA beneficiaries working for such employers may be more likely to get an H-1B, Borovska noted.
The O-1 visa is for individuals with extraordinary abilities in various fieldssuch as researchers, artists, performers, educators and athletesand requires being well-known and well-regarded in the field. The L-1 visa would require the DACA beneficiary to work abroad for at least one year at an entity with a qualifying relationship with a U.S. entity in a managerial/executive or specialty knowledge capacity. The TN, which is for North American Free Trade Agreement professionals, is a less preferable option because it requires more extensive ties to the home country. "But it could be possible if the individual establishes some ties abroad first," she said. The E-2 is for treaty investorsonly nationals of certain countries that have trade treaties with the U.S., such as Colombia, Mexico and the United Kingdom, qualify for this. The E-3 is only for Australian professionals. "The consulate would expect to see indications of strong ties abroad," she noted. These would all be temporary rather than permanent solutions, however. [SHRM members-only toolkit: Understanding and Obtaining U.S. Employment Visas]
Straight shot up U.S. 31 to I-94 finally open in Berrien County
Last few miles had been unfinished since 2004 because of a lack of money to pay for it.
Halley's Comet is arguably the most famous comet in history.
As a "periodic" comet, it returns to Earth's vicinity about every 75 years, making it possible for a person to see it twice in their lifetime. It was last here in 1986, and it is projected to return in 2061.
The comet, officially called 1P/Halley, is named after English astronomer Edmond Halley, who examined reports of a comet approaching Earth in 1531, 1607 and 1682. He concluded that these three comets were actually the same comet returning over and over again, and predicted that it would return in 1758. Halley's calculations showed that at least some comets orbit the sun.
Halley didn't live to see the comet's correctly-predicted return, but the comet was given his name. (For those looking for help with pronunciation, the name traditionally rhymes with the word valley.)
Photos: Halley's Comet Through History
Scientists finally got an up-close look at the comet when it last visited in 1986 when several spacecraft were sent to Halley's vicinity to sample its composition. High-powered telescopes also observed the comet as it swung by Earth.
While the comet won't be back for up-close study for decades, scientists continue to investigate comets, looking at other small bodies. A notable example was the Rosetta probe, which looked at Comet 67P/ChuryumovGerasimenko between 2014 and 2016 and concluded that the comet has a different kind of water than Earth's water.
The history of Halley's comet
The first known observation of Halley's Comet, or Comet Halley, took place in 239 B.C., according to the European Space Agency. Chinese astronomers recorded its passage in the Shih Chi and Wen Hsien Thung Khao chronicles. Another study (based on models of Halley's orbit) pushes that first observation back to 466 B.C., which would have made it visible by the Ancient Greeks.
When Halley's returned in 164 B.C. and again in 87 B.C., it probably was noted in Babylonian records now housed at the British Museum in London.
"These texts have important bearing on the orbital motion of the comet in the ancient past," a research paper (opens in new tab) in the journal Nature noted about the tablets.
This portion of the Bayeux Tapestry shows Halley's Comet during its appearance in 1066. (Image credit: Public domain)
It's also thought that another appearance of the comet in 1301 could have inspired Italian painter Giotto's rendering of the Star of Bethlehem in "The Adoration of the Magi," according to the Britannica encyclopedia.
Halley's most famous appearance occurred shortly before the 1066 invasion of England by William the Conqueror. It is said that William believed the comet heralded his success. In any case, the comet was put on the Bayeux Tapestry which chronicles the invasion in William's honor.
Astronomers in these times, however, saw each appearance of Halley's Comet as an isolated event. Comets were often foreseen as a sign of great disaster or change.
Even when Shakespeare wrote his play "Julius Caesar" around 1600, just 105 years before Edmond Halley calculated that the comet returns over and over again, he included a now-famous phrase sepaking of comets as heralds: "When beggars die there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes."
Discovering Halley's comet
Astronomy began changing swiftly around Shakespeare's time, however. Many astronomers of his time believed that Earth was the center of the solar system, but Nicolaus Copernicus who died about 20 years before Shakespeare's birth published findings showing that the center was actually the sun.
It took several generations for Copernicus' calculations to take hold in the astronomy community, but when they did, they provided a powerful model for how objects move around the solar system and the universe.
Edmond Halley
Years passed and the comet appeared in 1531, 1607 and 1682. Halley suggested the same comet could return to Earth in 1758. Halley did not live long enough to see its return (he died in 1742) but his work inspired others to name the comet after him.
On each successive journey to the inner solar system, astronomers on Earth turned their telescopes skyward to watch Halley's approach.
This photo of Halley's comet was taken by the Russian Vega 2 spacecraft, one of two Soviet probes (Vega 1 was the other) to rendezvous with the comet during its 1986 trip through the solar system in March 1986. The closest approach of Vega 1 to Halley was 8890 km while Vega 2 had a close encounter at 8030 km. (Image credit: ESA)
The comet's pass in 1910 was particularly spectacular, as the comet flew by about 13.9 million miles (22.4 million kilometers) from Earth, which is about one-fifteenth the distance between Earth and the sun. On that occasion, Halley's Comet was captured on camera for the first time.
According to biographer Albert Bigelow Paine, the writer Mark Twain said in 1909, "I came in with Halley's Comet in 1835. It is coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it." Twain died on April 21, 1910, one day after perihelion, when the comet emerged from the far side of the sun.
Halley-like comets
There is a group of comets called "Halley family comets" (HFC) because they appear to share the same orbital characteristics of Halley, including being highly inclined to the orbits of Earth and other planets in the solar system. However, this family has a range of inclinations, which prompts other astronomers to suggest they may have a different origin than Halley.
Some suggest these comets could have evolved from members of the Oort Cloud, or from Centaurs (objects that generally have a closest approach between Jupiter and the Kuiper Belt.) Alternatively, HFCs could have come from somewhere just beyond Neptune.
Sending spacecraft to Halley's comet
When Halley's Comet came by Earth in 1986, it was the first time we could send spacecraft to look at it up close.
That was a fortunate occurrence, as the comet ended up being underwhelming in observations from Earth. When the comet made its closest approach to the sun, it was on the opposite side of that star from the Earth making it a faint and distant object, some 39 million miles (63 million km) away from Earth.
Several spacecraft successfully made the journey to the comet. This fleet of spaceships is sometimes dubbed the "Halley Armada." Two joint Soviet/French probes (Vega 1 and 2) flew nearby, with one of them capturing pictures of the nucleus, or "heart," of the comet for the first time.
The European Space Agency's Giotto craft got even closer to the nucleus, beaming back spectacular images to Earth. Japan sent two probes of its own (Sakigake and Suisei) that also obtained information on Halley.
NASA's International Cometary Explorer (already in orbit since 1978) also captured pictures of Halley, snapping its shots from 17.3 million miles (28 million km) away.
"It was inevitable that this most famous of all comets would receive unprecedented attention, but the actual magnitude of the effort has surprised even most of those involved in it," NASA noted in an account of the event.
The astronauts aboard Challenger's STS-51L mission were also scheduled to look at the comet. But, sadly, they never got the chance. The shuttle exploded about two minutes after launch on Jan. 28, 1986, due to a rocket malfunction, killing all seven astronauts on board.
It will be decades until Halley's gets close to Earth again in 2061, but in the meantime, you can see its remnants every year. The Orionid meteor shower, which is spawned by Halley's fragments, occurs annually in October. Halley's also producedsa shower in May, called the Eta Aquarids.
When Halley's sweeps by Earth in 2061, the comet will be on the same side of the sun as Earth and will be much brighter than in 1986. At least one study has pointed out that it is difficult to predict Halley's orbit on a scale of more than 100 years, and that the comet could collide with another object (or be ejected from the solar system) in as little as 10,000 years, although not all scientists agree with the hypothesis.
When Halley next returns to Earth's vicinity, one astronomer predicted it could be as bright as apparent magnitude -0.3. This is relatively bright, but it won't be the brightest object to skywatchers as it will be well below that of the brightest star in Earth's sky: Sirius, at magnitude -1.4 as seen from Earth.
While it will be decades before we can send another spacecraft to Halley's Comet, there have several other missions that have studied comets from up close. Between 2014 and 2016, for example, the Rosetta probe examined Comet 67P/ChuryumovGerasimenko up close and made comparisons to other comets.
One of its key findings was uncovering that Comet 67P had a different kind of water (specifically, a different deuterium-to-hydrogen ratio) than what is seen on Earth. Back in the 1980s, similar examinations of Halley by the Giotto probe also showed that Halley has a different D-to-H ratio in its water than on Earth.
Other notable cometary missions include NASA's Stardust (which captured samples of comet 81P/Wild and returned them to Earth), NASA's Deep Impact (which deliberately sent an impactor into 9P/Tempel on July 4, 2005), and the European Space Agency's Philae (which landed on Comet 67P in 2014.)
This reference page was updated on Jan. 11, 2022 by Space.com senior writer Chelsea Gohd.
OSIRIS-REx View of Asteroid Bennu
NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona
The near-Earth asteroid Bennu, as seen by NASA's OSIRIS-REx probe on Dec. 2, 2018.
Bennu
NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona
The south polar region of the near-Earth asteroid Bennu, photographed by NASAs OSIRIS-REx probe on Dec. 17, 2018. OSIRIS-REx entered orbit around Bennu two weeks later.
bennu
NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/Lockheed Martin
The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft captured these images of Bennu's south pole on Jan. 17.
Bennu animation
NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/Lockheed Martin Space
This still image of the asteroid Bennu comes from an animation of pictures taken by the NavCam 1 instrument on NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, showing the spacecraft's asteroid view from Nov. 30, 2018, to Dec. 31, 2018.
OSIRIS-REx View of Bennu
NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona
NASAs OSIRIS-REx spacecraft captured this photo of the asteroid Bennu on Nov. 16, 2018, from a distance of 85 miles (136 kilometers). OSIRIS-REx arrived at the space rock on Dec. 3.
Bennu OSIRIS-REx
NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona
The near-Earth asteroid Bennu, as seen by NASA's OSIRIS-REx probe on Nov. 2, 2018, from a distance of about 122 miles (197 kilometers). OSIRIS-REx is scheduled to arrive at Bennu on Dec. 3.
OSIRIS-REx Approach Bennu
NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona
An artists illustration of NASAs OSIRIS-REx spacecraft approaching the asteroid Bennu.
Bennu
NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/Lockheed Martin Space
NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft captured this shot of the Earth and moon (left) and the asteroid Bennu (right) on Dec. 19, 2018. At the time, OSIRIS-REx was 71 million miles (114 million kilometers) from Earth and 27 miles (43 km) from Bennu.
Asteroid Bennu
NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona
On Aug. 17, 2018, NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft obtained its first images of its target, the near-Earth asteroid Bennu. OSIRIS-REx was about 1.4 million miles (2.2 million kilometers) from Bennu at the time.
OSIRIS-REx Earth-Flyby Photo
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/University of Arizona
NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid-sampling spacecraft captured this photo of Earth on Sept. 22, 2017, shortly after performing a speed-boosting flyby of our planet.
Sampling an Asteroid
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/University of Arizona
NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid mission launched in 2016 to collect samples of the asteroid Bennu and return them to Earth. See photos from the mission here.
On Sept. 22, 2017, OSIRIS-REx will fly by Earth in a gravity assist maneuver (shown here in an artist's illustration) to accelerate it on its way to Bennu.
NASA made headlines around the world back in 2015 when it discovered evidence of briny water flowing on the surface of Mars. The agency detected hydrated salts flowing within recurring slope lineae, or RSLs, which are streaks that appear on the sides of craters. RSLs are more prominent when the weather is warm, implying that sunlight might be enabling the features to flow in the warmer weather.
It remains unclear whether or not RSLs are salts. Some studies suggest the water comes from trace amounts available in the Red Planet's atmosphere, while others say the streaks appear to be dry sand, especially because the streaks are straight, not wavy like one would expect from water. But if RSLs come from water, what is the source, and how substantial is the supply? And is it enough to sustain life?
Researchers writing in the journal Icarus analyzed observations from NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft to learn more about RSLs. The images, sharpened by half from their original resolution of about 550 kilometers (340 miles), showed an abundance of hydrogen, which is an indication of water.
"In bringing the lower-resolution compositional data into sharper focus, we saw unexpectedly high amounts of hydrogen a potential sign of buried water ice or very hydrated salts around sections of the Martian equator," Jack Wilson, principal author and a planetary scientist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, told Seeker in an email.
RELATED: Gullies on Mars Probably Not Carved by Water
He acknowledged that we can't know for sure how much water is inside of an RSL unless we sent a rover to excavate. That's certainly possible, but if there is life within an RSL, a rover could contaminate the area with microbes from Earth.
What Wilson's study reveals is the presence of the same amount of water in the regions with RSLs as those without the features. This means that RSLs can't be fed from water in the near subsurface, at least according to the data he gathered. A limitation, however, is the resolution of the neutron data is a few hundred kilometers, and RSLs are only 100 meters in length at the most. This means that something could be going on that Mars Odyssey could not see, perhaps greater amounts of water available near the RSLs than what the spacecraft spotted.
The study raises interesting questions about what feeds the RSLs, such as an underground source. Wilson said the most interesting part of the study was seeing so much water is contained in the subsurface near the equator.
"Where this water came from and why it is still present near the surface are interesting questions," he said.
RELATED: Mars Life Could Lurk Within These Salty Streaks
Previous missions, such as NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander in 2008, confirmed that hydrogen was available at the Red Planet's north pole, although in the form of water ice. At lower latitudes and the equator, water ice is not stable due to the thin Martin atmosphere. Wilson said a rover capable of excavating the top meter of Martian soil or with a manned mission would be the most ideal methods for shedding new light on the subject.
Originally published on Seeker.
NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will make a close flyby of Earth before shooting out toward the asteroid Bennu, and skywatchers will have the opportunity to wave goodbye to the probe as it passes overhead.
The OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer) mission launched on Sept. 8, 2016, to study and collect a sample from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu. On Sept. 22, the spacecraft will make its closest approach to Earth, offering one last opportunity to see and photograph the probe until it returns to Earth in 2023.
The Sept. 22 flyby will give OSIRIS-Rex a momentum boost called a gravity assist toward its target destination. To celebrate the spacecraft's close approach, observers can join the "Wave to OSIRIS-REx" social media campaign. To participate, all you have to do is snap a photo of yourself waving to OSIRIS-REx from anywhere in the world, then post the image using the hashtag #HelloOSIRISREx and tag the mission account in the post on Twitter or Instagram (both under @OSIRISREx). [OSIRIS-REx: An Asteroid Sampling Mission in Pictures]
"The opportunity to capture images of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft as it approaches Earth provides a unique challenge for observers to hone their skills during this historic flyby," Dante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx principal investigator at the University of Arizona, Tucson, said in a statement from NASA. "As the spacecraft approaches Earth for its own imaging campaign, ground-based observers will also be looking up and taking photos from the opposite perspective."
Artist's impression of NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft passing by Earth. The probe will map and study the asteroid Bennu before bringing a sample home. (Image credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/University of Arizona)
OSIRIS-REx will make its closest approach to Earth at 12:52 p.m. EDT (16:52 GMT) on Friday (Sept. 22), when it will be approximately 11,000 miles (17,000 kilometers) above the planet's surface. The spacecraft will use Earth's gravity to slingshot itself toward Bennu, which is located about 140 million miles (225 million km) away. OSIRIS-REx is expected to arrive at the asteroid in 2018 and will spend two years studying the rocky body from orbit before grabbing a few samples to bring back to Earth.
"The team is eager and ready to execute the Earth Gravity Assist," Rich Burns, OSIRIS-REx project manager at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said in the statement. "Not only will it be a significant change in trajectory putting OSIRIS-REx on track for rendezvous with Bennu, it also represents a unique opportunity for the OSIRIS-REx instruments to observe our home planet. It is fantastic that ground based observers are also taking the opportunity to image OSIRIS-REx."
Using ground-based telescopes, observatories and amateur astronomers can track the spacecraft as it sweeps past Earth and submit images of the spacecraft online.
Observers can submit their photos at this mission website, which also includes instructions on how to spot OSIRIS-REx in the sky here (PDF link). Participants can begin taking and sharing photos at any time.
Among the groups participating in the campaign to track the spacecraft are the OSIRIS-REx Target Asteroids! citizen-science program and the Desert Fireball Network based in Perth, Australia. Observers in Australia will have some of the best opportunities to see and photograph the spacecraft as it approaches Earth and then zooms into space.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency the home institution of several OSIRIS-REx science team members will also work with the Japan Public Observatory Society and the Planetary Society of Japan to capture images of OSIRIS-REx from various points in Japan.
Editor's note: If you capture a great photo of OSIRIS-REx through a telescope and would like to share it with Space.com and our news partners for a story or gallery, send images and comments in to: spacephotos@space.com.
Visit Space.com Friday for complete coverage of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft's Earth flyby.
Follow Samantha Mathewson @Sam_Ashley13. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
T he Qatari owners of the "fortress" US Embassy in Mayfair have moved forward with plans to invest in a luxury hotel, and selected an operator for the plush venue.
Investor Qatari Diar revealed it has awarded the lucrative operator contract for the Grosvenor Square building to Hong Kong firm Rosewood Hotels & Resorts.
The group is behind the Rosewood London in Holborn, which has been graced by celebrities including Justin Bieber.
Rosewood will be in charge of running the Grade II-listed modernist block which is being redeveloped into a 137- bedroom hotel, spa and ballroom.
Sheikh Jassim Al-Thani, chief development officer, Qatari Diar Europe & Americas, said: This is a major opportunity for London, and a hotel of this exceptional calibre perfectly aligns with our vision and ambition to renew the heart of Mayfair and cement the neighbourhoods unique character as the leading hospitality, arts and luxury retail quarter in London for residents and visitors to enjoy.
Construction will start later this year when Embassy staff start moving into their new home in Nine Elms.
The appointment ends a long-running partner search, and comes almost a year after Qatari Diar won planning permission for the project, which also includes shops and public realm improvements to Grosvenor Square.
Savills global head of hotels, George Nicholas said: London's luxury set of hotels continue to move from strength to strength, both from a consumer perspective and a global investor appetite perspective.
A s the UN general assembly in New York frets over the prospect of war in the Pacific theatre, a nervous peace breaks out in the British Cabinet. Divided like North and South Korea, Theresa May and her colleagues have bickered for days over Britains departure from the EU and the melodramatic conduct of Boris Johnson, who still stalks the Brexit zone like a trigger-happy patrol guard.
Tomorrow, the Prime Minister will disclose to senior ministers the content of the speech she is due to give in Florence on Friday. It is a measure of how weak and introspective her Government has become that the question of Britains future place in Europe and, to a great extent, the world has been reduced to a party disciplinary matter.
In little more than 17 months, Britain will cease to be a member of the EU. Yet, provoked by the Foreign Secretarys 4,000-word Telegraph essay on the subject, the various overlapping camps within the Cabinet have argued bitterly since the weekend over the respective virtues of the Canadian, Swiss and Norwegian models that the UK might emulate.
Their semi-public debates combine Jesuitical casuistry with the nervousness of a model asking: Does my bum look big in this trade arrangement? What is conspicuously lacking is the urgency and unity that one might have expected to be well-established by now, almost 15 months since the referendum.
At the centre of this woeful mayhem stands Johnson, who has once again claimed the limelight, if not the moral high ground. In contrast to his mentor, Michael Heseltine, who resigned over the Westland affair in 1986, the Foreign Secretary has performed an absurd hokey-cokey since his article appeared.
One moment, his friends signal that he is ready to quit if the PM suggests that she is ready to pay for access to the EU single market indefinitely (the so-called Swiss option). Next, he declares himself mystified by the whole rumpus, and claims that the Cabinet is a nest of singing birds.
The charm of Boriss familiar act private manoeuvring, public loyalty is wearing decidedly thin
The charm of this familiar act private manoeuvring, public loyalty is wearing decidedly thin. Though you might not have guessed it from some of the coverage, more is at stake in this instance than the Foreign Secretarys long-held ambition to move into Number 10.
As this infantilised Cabinet argues over whose turn it is to go on the seesaw, the rest of us await news on the Governments plans for Britains future outside the EU. Absurdly, however, Mays priority when she speaks on Friday will be to reassert public control of her ramshackle government.
Though she may reveal more of her Brexit plans and their evolution, her principal political objective will be to affirm that they have not changed. Expect emphatic reference to the speech she delivered at Lancaster House in January, and her unwavering fidelity to its principles.
Yet as Johnsons behaviour has made embarrassingly clear the political context has changed radically since she set out that blueprint. The snap election that was meant to make her politically invincible did precisely the opposite. Just as John Major was tormented by the Eurosceptics and Europhiles, May has been reduced to a mostly impotent observer of her colleagues often insufferable antics.
This is more than Westminster soap opera. It is having a material impact upon the most important negotiations undertaken by this country since the Second World War. What individual members of the Cabinet think about this or that aspect of Brexit is of negligible importance compared to the position of our 27 soon-to-be-ex partners in the EU.
In the first three rounds of talks, David Davis has represented Britain alone while his opposite number, Michel Barnier, has spoken for everyone else. When 27 foxes and one chicken vote to decide whats for dinner, its not hard to guess whos going in the pot.
The analogy is not precise, of course, as, in this case, the chicken has something to offer the salivating foxes which is continued commercial partnership, decent treatment of EU nationals and collaboration in a range of areas such as defence, law and order and intelligence. This is not nothing. But the UK will make little progress unless and until its squabbling Cabinet factions accept that this negotiating process is not a level playing field and that their ideological objections to this or that detail are mostly irrelevant.
One of the most sensible interventions of the week was made by William Hague, a former Tory leader and Foreign Secretary who knows of what he speaks. Ministers, he argued, should be concentrating on practicality rather than indulging in pique. Leaving is a really difficult and complicated process, he wrote in the Telegraph, which, speaking bluntly again, it would be quite easy to screw up.
No less striking was his conclusion that Britain should aim for a straightforward interim period when we stay in the single market and customs union and then have enough time to settle a good free trade deal. Hague, who fought the 2001 general election promising to keep the pound and to prevent Britain becoming a foreign land, is scarcely a passionate Europhile. But he is an experienced statesman who knows that, whatever individual members of this particular Cabinet may think to the contrary, Britains exit from the EU comes with a price tag and that what British business craves most is a measure of certainty and as smooth a transition as possible.
It is unlikely that the PM will offer such a sensibly uncluttered plan on Friday. Her primary task, in any case, will be to remind her colleagues and the world that she is in charge, and not just in office. Whatever she says in Florence, nothing can alter the fact that this week the Tories behaved like a party fit only for opposition.
Gigi Hadid led an American invasion on the capital last night as Tommy Hilfiger unveiled its latest TommyNow collection in a blockbuster production which brought London Fashion Week to a spectacular close.
The model, who co-designed the range - her third for the brand - was the first to take to the catwalk wearing a floor length tartan coat, cropped sweater and denim cut-off shorts. She was followed by younger sister Bella, who wore an oversized printed hoodie with over-the-knee socks, and brother Anwar Hadid in a shearling collar jacket.
For the brand, which has previously shown its much-hyped Tommy x Gigi collections in New York and LA, London's musical pedigree made it the obvious place to showcase the rock-inspired collection.
"When I first came to London in the Seventies I was inspired by the way the bands dressed and the shops on the Kings Road - it's something that's always stayed with me," said Hilfiger backstage before the show. "This is where punk and glam rock was born and that British influence is laced into this collection."
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Created with a youthful audience in mind - namely those who follow Hadid's every move on Instagram - band t-shirts, branded puffers and studded leather jackets all played a starring role in the range which was available to buy as soon as it hit the catwalk.
Branded beanie hats, grungy mohair cardigans and tartan mini kilts completed the line up.
Tommy Hilfiger London Fashion Week - celebrity guests 1 /36 Tommy Hilfiger London Fashion Week - celebrity guests Dave Benett/Getty Images for Tom Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Neymar, Yolanda Hadid and Lewis Hamilton Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Lottie Moss and Jasmine Sanders Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Lewis Hamilton and Lara Stone Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Pixie Geldof and Daisy Lowe Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Poppy Delevingne Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Lottie Moss Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Edward Enninful Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Toby Huntington-Whiteley Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Erin O'Connor Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Amber Le Bon Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Arizona Muse Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Amber and Yasmin Le Bon Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Lady Amelia Windsor Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Maddi Waterhouse Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Rafferty Law Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Philip Colbert, Derek Blasberg and Julia Restoin Roitfeld Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Neymar, Lewis Hamilton, Frank Cancelloni, Yolanda Hadid and Luiz Mattos Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Frank Cancelloni, Neymar and Lewis Hamilton Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Poppy Delevingne, Lara Stone and Neymar Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Olivia Buckingham, Poppy Delevingne and Alice Naylor Leyland Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Charlotte Wiggins and Sam Rollinson Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Jasmine Sanders Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Caroline Daur Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Tigerlily Taylor Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Yolanda Hadid Dave Benett Tommy Hilfiger at LFW Justine Skye Dave Benett
The show, which was staged at Camden's iconic Roundhouse venue, also ended on an Instagram-worthy note with high-wire circus acts tumbling from the ceiling and a live performance from US pop duo The Chainsmokers.
For the iconic All-American sportswear brand, recruiting the social media mega star has proven a major coup and succeeded in giving business a boost by attracting the attention of Gigi wannabes the world over. As Hilfiger confirms; "nothing goes into the collection she wouldn't wear."
Keen to embrace a new era of digitally-driven retail and maximise Hadid's massive social media influence, the show was also live streamed online to an audience of millions, while the new TommyNow Snap App allowed viewers to experience and shop the range using augmented reality.
For Hilfiger, who founded his company in 1985, pioneering technology is key to the brand's success, adding; "If we don't keep evolving and reinventing we get lost in the past."
A t Made of Dough in Peckham the side dishes come on pieces of paper. Not paper plates but actual sheets of brown paper. Well thought-through flavour combinations cavolo nero with pomegranate, courgette carpaccio with chilli or locally made fennel salami and gherkins are piled up without ceremony on minimal thin rectangles of paper. It saves on washing up.
Meanwhile, at Jacob the Angel, the new cafe from the masterminds behind The Barbary and Palomar in Neals Yard, everything is served in disposable crockery.
Restaurants are going extreme youre either eating off paper in a throwback to being a student or, at the other end of the scale, your supper is presented on a hefty handmade work of art that almost upstages the food. Think Kitchen Table, which has every plate made to its own specifications; Jikoni, in Marylebone, where chef and founder Ravinder Bhogal uses crockery from her personal collection as well as carefully sourced antiques, and Magpie, in Soho, where theres expertly sourced Japanese stoneware.
There is a hunger to be unique. Magpie co-founder Sam Herlihy says: We chose our plates like most places do, a desperate hunt for plates that no one else has. We are happy to serve the same menu item on different plates from order to order. In a restaurant designed around showmanship a surprise selection of dishes are brought to you in pairs, and you can choose whether to order them in dinner roulette its only right that the plates are dramatic. Eating is a multisensory experience and something dishy is part of that. These are style plates.
Keeping it basic: sides of cavolo nero, courgette carpaccio and salami at Made of Dough come on sheets of brown paper
Its not all superficial, though, says Herlihy: We needed the plateware to be hardwearing. Our final focus is how food eats off the plate so many nice-looking plates are grim to eat off as your cutlery scrapes over the surface so much, like a blackboard.
Some restaurants cover all bases. At Salon, in Brixton, amuse bouche of roasted tomato and goats curd on sourdough crackers is served on both paper (crumpled brown) and a hand- finished plate, from Habitat. Paper adds a sense of ceremony to the dish so good they plated it twice.
Catherine Hanly, co-founder of Hot Dinners, says social media is fuelling experimentation. High-end restaurants have always had beautiful crockery but Instagram has led to more restaurants using pottery. Setting food against a beautiful backdrop makes for a much better picture. And that, in turn, has led to a rise in restaurants branding their plates with a logo so you can see at a glance where the pic was taken.
Expertly sourced: char with beetroot sauce at Magpie, served on Japanese stoneware
At the other end of the scale, disposables streamline service, explains Hanly: Given the staffing shortages so many London restaurants are facing, not having to get someone to wash up certainly helps. Theres been an improvement, both in how disposable crockery looks and how eco-friendly it can be.
At RIGO in Fulham, head chef Gonzalo Luzarraga often buys new crockery each time he changes the menu. He says he wants every piece to add a personal touch. Plates come from all over the world, from Portugal to Finland, as befits a restaurant inspired by global cooking.
Many cult plates are available to buy Soho House sells its crockery and Sqirl in Los Angeless blue-and-white designs are as popular as its French toast with rhubarb compote.
Peckhams plates look strikingly simple by comparison. They dont work with saucier dishes be careful with the carpaccio if you dont want it on your clothes but they certainly are memorable. Watch out, next theyll be shaking up cutlery.
I f sweet dreams are made of cheese, London is a fromage fantasy. The capitals cheeseboard is an obsession: toastie bars are now popular City lunch spots, independent cheese makers are serving brie-liant innovations and Camden even has a restaurant dedicated purely to cheese-lovers. And this weekend the city is celebrating its love affair with a cheese festival in Islington, promising five-minute fondues, mac and cheese stands and dairy-inspired cocktails. What could be feta?
Its a celebration, says Cheryl Cohen, who works at the festivals organiser, London Farmers Markets (LFM). We have some incredible cheese-makers at our markets, so we wanted to put the invitation out to others up and down the country who wouldnt usually get the chance to sell with us. Many of the industrys big cheeses will be there, from Bath Soft Cheese, whose Bath Blue won a World Cheese Award last year, to Highburys favourite shop and cafe, La Fromagerie.
If you want confirmation of the appeal, watch the latest episode of David Mitchell and Robert Webbs new show, Back. Webbs obsequious character wins over everyone with a cheese toastie that even Mitchells naysayer character has to admit is quite good.
Back to real life: for two consecutive Sundays, September 24 and October 1, Chapel Market will be transformed into a fromage fanatics paradise, with tastings, pairings, masterclasses and talks. Cheese angels will treat visitors to endless samples and buskers will provide a little R n Brie. For the more dairy-ing, therell even be cheese rolling.
Its a return to Islingtons roots, explains Cohen. The area was the dairy capital of London in the 19th-century, with about 170 suppliers. Most Londoners bought their milk from Laycocks, N1s largest farm. Today, Chapel Market hosts a weekly farmers market, featuring a number of cheese-makers including Lincolnshire Poachers and Nut Knowle Farm from East Sussex. Both will have stalls at this weekends festival, alongside Windrush Valley Goat Dairy from Oxfordshire, famous for its baked cheesecake.
Its the first year LFM has run a festival dedicated purely to cheese, Cohen explains. Indeed, many of the citys makers and mongers are setting the agenda for cheese innovations elsewhere. Weve had cheese curds on the menu for years and all of a sudden chefs are picking up on them.
As is now par for the course, craft beer has also made its way on to the menu. Tottenham-based cheese-maker Philip Wilton, founder of Wildes Cheese, will be serving one of his most popular varieties, made with curd soaked in beer. Wilton says it was an obvious combination, describing its taste as a balanced collaboration between darker, chocolatey notes and lighter notes of cheese. If youre a beer person and like cheese, its a match made in heaven.
Londoners are getting more adventurous, with an increasing appetite for stronger cheese, Cohen explains. Tim Jones, co-founder of Lincolnshire Poachers, says he sells much older cheese in the capital than he does elsewhere. Weve noticed a trend towards bigger, heavier cheeses. People want rich flavours. Travel is one reason, he notes: Londoners tend to be more connected, wanting to hear about the farming practices behind their food. People in London are always interested in where something is from.
6 cheese and wine pairings every Londoner should know 1 /9 6 cheese and wine pairings every Londoner should know Click through our gallery to discover the cheese and wine pairings you should know... Shutterstock Tunworth from Neals Yard Try it with: Aged Bordeaux reds, Beaujolais, Cab Sauvignon, Champagne, Sauvignon Blanc, Cider. St James from Cartmel Cheeses Try it with: Burgundy red with aged cheese, Burgundy white with young cheese, Champagne, Sauternes, Marc de Bourgogne which is made from the left over pressings of burgundy wine grapes. Ragstone from Neals Yard Try it with: Sauvignon Blanc from California, Pouilly Fume, Rose, Pinot gris, Beer, Beaujolais. Cheddar Montgomerys from Paxton and Whitfield Try it with: Burgundy, white esp Aligote, dry Riesling, Sancerre, Saint Emilion, Vintage Port. Shutterstock Beauvale from Waitrose Try it with: Sauternes, sweet full-bodied wines, Riesling, Late Harvet wines, Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Baron Bigod from Neals Yard Try: Champagne, Blanc de Blancs, rose, dry Riesling, Beaujolais, Pinot Noir.
And this weekends fromage fest is a national effort. Award-winning London cheese-maker Kupros Dairy and Blackwoods Cheese will exhibit alongside a Caerphilly selected range of top makers and mongers from around the country. Cheese will come in many forms, on pizza by Good Slice to courtesy of Raclette Brothers, wholl drizzle it over burgers and garlic fried potatoes. Mac To The Future will serve mac n cheese, while The Poutinerie will be doing the Canadian take on chips, cheese and gravy.
Board games: how do you eat your cheese? Susannah Butter The big cheese You order a whole cheeseboard to yourself and do not offer to share. This is a bold power move. Good luck to you if you can pull it off without losing friends or getting uncomfortably full. The side hustler You pick at the grapes and celery but appear uninterested in the main event. Whats wrong with you? On the plus side, these people are the best sharing partners. The Italian job You prefer a burrata. How European of you. Youd better load up now before Brexit inflates the prices of this amaze ball of mozzarella. The know it all You once had a posh cheese on holiday and boy, do you want everyone to know. Pipe down about the rare ass-milk ricotta with paired wine and spelt crackers (donkey cheese is the most expensive in the world) and let us enjoy our cheddar. The fruity number You must be Northern. People from above the Watford Gap say that apple pie without cheese is like a kiss without a squeeze. Some even eat cheddar with lashings of jam. Its an acquired taste.
Its an exhibition of the citys fromage fixation. Toasties are a hot favourite: look out for the stalls manned by Grill My Cheese, which made the famous rainbow cheese toastie, and The Cheese Truck, whose grilled sandwiches are popular at its usual spot in Maltby Street Market.
Once the festival is over theres still plenty of cheese to stretch the most ardent fans. Camden has The Cheese Bar, opened in March by The Cheese Trucks founder, Matthew Carver. The menu includes speciality toasties as well as fondue, poutine and 30 of Carvers favourite cheeses. Other dairy-based empires are expanding too. Highburys La Fromagerie has just opened a new branch on Bloomsburys Lambs Conduit Street. In November, Hoxton will host new-wave cheese festival the London Cheese Project after a successful debut at Camden Market in May.
Many small plates now centre on cheese: The Laughing Heart on Hackney Road serves datterini tomatoes with goats curd and sea lettuce. New Yorkers have fallen for a cheese tea thats destined to arrive on our shores before long. Sounds too gouda to be true.
Sep 24 and Oct 1, 10am-3pm, Chapel Market, N1, facebook.com, lfm.org.uk
As spring turns to summer, there's no better time to get stuck into giving your interiors a reboot.
But if you are looking to make a few autumn buys for the home, where to start? London is packed with brilliant independent shops, from vintage-inspired to contemporary to Scandinavian.
Here's our edit of the best:
Designers Guild, Kensington
Designers Guild was established in 1970 by brother and sister, Trisha Guild and Simon Jeffreys. Their range of luxury designs, fabrics, wallcoverings and bed and bath collections are available worldwide but their UK flagship store is is situated in Kensington.
265-277 King's Road, SW3 5EN; designersguild.com
Mint, Knightsbridge
(Mint Press ) / Mint Press
Mint has made a name for itself in the design world by offering exclusive works by both new, as well as internationally recognised, designers. Mint also places a strong focus on interpreting the latest interior design trends. With many one off and limited edition pieces made exclusively for Mint, having them in your home will make friends and family very jealous.
2 North Terrace, SW3 2BA; mintshop.co.uk
Aram Store, Covent Garden
When Zeev Aram opened his first showroom in 1964, the Londoners that walked past the shop front didnt know what had hit them. Today the shop features a huge range of stunning design pieces, from chairs and tables, to lamps and storage. There is even a whole floor of the shop dedicated to new work by designers that are still relatively unknown, as helping talented designers is something Aram has always deemed vital.
110 Drury Lane, WC2B 5SG; aram.co.uk
Pentreath & Hall, Bloomsbury
(Pentreath & Hall Shop) / Pentreath & Hall Shop
Pentreath & Hall was founded by accident five years ago when Ben Pentreath, an architect, decided to open a small shopfront on his office annex, and his friend Birdie Hall, an artist, decided to help him. The shop was born and has now grown to become a treasure chest of beautiful things. Only stocking items the pair both love, it is clear that these two are a very stylish duo. Ideal for contemporary twists on classic design pieces.
17 Rugby St, WC1N 3QT; pentreath-hall.com
Andrew Martin, South Kensington
The Andrew Martin shop is an explosion of different cultures, decades and nostaligia. Their design items are inspired by all three, and pieces on display have an unusual emotive power to them. Stepping inside you will see a range of unusual objects and things you wouldn't expect to see in an interior design shop, such as giant leather animals, some taller than six foot. Nothing on show is subtle - if you are after a few statement pieces this is the place for you.
198-200 Walton St, SW3 2JL; andrewmartin.co.uk
Darkroom, Bloomsbury
Darkroom
Favouring colour and texture over what the object is when it comes to the designs they have in store, Darkroom showcases items in a unique way. Against the signature black walls of the shop, their colourful pieces, ranging from vases to jewellery, really do pop.
52 Lamb's Conduit St, WC1N 3LL; darkroomlondon.com
Jimmie Martin, Kensington
Wacky is the word that best describes the Jimmie Martin shop. Featuring one-off pieces of furniture in bold colours, frequently neon, the designs are always quirky and unusual. Founders Jimmie Karlsson and Martin Nihlmar wanted to sell sophisticated design items that would be glamourous, yet retain an urban feel. Their animal print cushions are a must-see.
77 Kensington Church St, W8 4BG; jimmiemartin.com
Skandium, Marylebone
Specialising in Scandinavian Modernism, Skandium has a range of unique designs on sale. All understated and chic, Skandium stocks furniture, ceramics, lighting and glass. Items are made to be durable and versatile, and all are laid out neatly in the shop. Skandium shows how cutting edge design can work in your home.
86 Marylebone High St, W1U 4QS; skandium.com
Mollymeg, Islington
A child's dream come true. Molly Meg is an independent children's design store offering an adorable selection of furniture, home decoration, vintage style toys, gifts and party supplies. Although established since 2009, their first permanent store opened in October 2016.
111 Essex Rd, N1 2SL; mollymeg.com
Indish, Crouch End
Flying the design flag in Crouch End since 1996, Indish sell Scandinavian and British home orientated items with two things in common: an aesthetic and a function and useful and beautiful things. There are super hipsterish ornaments and decor to instantly liven up your living or bedroom, from vases and abstract cushions, to clocks and geometric wall art. These are also unique pieces that would make fabulous gifts. Indish is definitely for the cool and quirky.
16 Broadway Parade, N8 9DE; indish.co.uk
Twenty Twenty-One, Islington
Twenty Twenty One
You really cant miss Twenty Twenty-One when you are walking down Upper Street. The shop front is just as striking as what is for sale inside. As the name suggests the designs on offer combine classic styles from the twentieth century with contemporary designs. The clean aesthetic makes for elegant designs that won't tire over time.
275 Upper St, N1 2UA; twentytwentyone.com
Pitfield, Hoxton
Shop, cafe and exhibition centre in one, Pitfield is a lovely place to spend an afternoon. Homely meets modern, the space is packed with unusual pieces in many different styles. From vintage to designer, and from furniture to wallpaper, it would be difficult not to find what you are looking for.
31-35 Pitfield St, N1 6HB; pitfieldlondon.com
Aria, Islington
Louis Little
Aria is found in an impressive building which as well as being home to the design shop, is also the venue for many creative events. The shop stocks an eclectic range of contemporary furnishings as well as hand-selected vintage pieces. Aria also collaborates with local independent designers and artists so be sure to check them out if you are after something a little different.
Barnsbury Hall, Barnsbury St, N1 1PN; ariashop.co.uk
Labour & Wait, Shoreditch
Labour & Wait showcases quality, everyday design products for the home. You wont find any wacky designs here; everything is traditional and timeless. Many of the designers behind the creations on sale still use traditional manufacturing techniques. If you are after honest, wholesome homeware - look no further.
85 Redchurch St, E2 7DJ; labourandwait.co.uk
Monologue, Shoreditch
Monologue shop in Shoreditch
Just a few months old, Monologue is a contemporary concept store founded by interior designer Pavel Klimczack with a Scandi leaning. You'll find HAY stationary, soft throws in eclectic prints and unique accessories for the home.
93 Redchurch St, E2 7DP; monologuelondon.com
Jasper Morrison, Hoxton
Jasper Morrison provides an entirely different shopping experience. Featuring products from around the world, many made by anonymous designers, the designs on sale are unique, despite being everyday objects. Their website is definitely worth checking out; it, much like the shop, is the epitome of understated chic.
24 Kingsland Rd, E2 8DA; jaspermorrisonshop.com
Smug, Islington
Lizzie Evans, founder of Smug - press image
Full of personal touches, Smug reflects owner Lizzie Evans eclectic tastes. Items are displayed on unusual items of 1950s furniture that Lizzie has collected over the years, including Formica tables and even retro school desks. The shop space features its old waxed boards and rusty manhole covers combined with glass flooring. The result is a bright, open space that keeps its unique and old-fashioned charm. When you have finished browsing the homeware designs you can go to recently launched Cafe Smug for a quirky coffee.
13 Camden Passage, N1 8EA; ifeelsmug.com
Abigail Ahern, Islington
Designer and author of 'A Girl's Guide to Decorating', Abigail Ahern, is known across the design industry for her glamorous taste and ability to design pieces that are bold but also tasteful. The shop is enchanting. The design pieces on display feel luxurious and glamorous and the huge array of brightly-coloured flowers create a unique shopping experience.
137 Upper St, N1 1QP; abigailahern.com
Future and Found, Tufnell Park
Named after what they stock, future being new designs from around the world, and found representing the array of vintage market finds on display, the shop provides what it promises. All their designs are simple and the colour palette is uncluttered you wont find an array of brash coloured objects here but rather muted shades.
225a Brecknock Rd, N19 5AA; futureandfound.com
Triangle, Clapton
Chatworth Road is a new London hotspot with its Sunday market, cafes and delis and Triangle is its latest addition as a design-led lifestyle store. Started by three close friends, Triangle sells everything from stylish teak tables to mid-century glassware via Scandinavian homeware from designers such as Normann Copenhagen.
92A Chatsworth Rd, E5 0LS; trianglestore.co.uk
HAUS, Victoria Park
Haus offers a carefully considered selection of the best in contemporary furniture, lighting and homeware from their delightful East London shop. Products are sourced from leading European design brands and internationally renowned designers, as well as lesser known pieces from smaller producers and independent designers.
39 Morpeth Rd, E9 7LD; hauslondon.com
Earl of East London, Hackney
Earl of East London lifestyle store - press image
This lifestyle brand prides itself in a love for mid-century and vintage products and offers stunning collectables, home decor items and personal accessories. Co-owners Niko and Paul have also developed their own range of interior fragrances inspired by their travels and memories.
13- 23 Westgate St, E8 3R; earlofeastlondon.com
SCP, Shoreditch
Located in what used to be an old mattress factory in the middle of the Shoreditch Triangle, SCP Shoreditch has since been transformed into a chic location for interior design. Featuring over 200 brands over two floors, the shop showcases contemporary furniture and homeware accessories. On sale are also some of SCPs own designs which combine beauty with practicality. SCP are known to have launched famous names into the industry, such as James Irvine, Jasper Morrison and Terence Woodgate.
135-139 Curtain Rd, EC2A 3BX; scp.co.uk
Do Shop, Shoreditch
Do Shop shows off the fun side of design. The shop features furniture, lighting, kitchenware which is functional but also inspiring. Do Shop also has the Do Masters programme where they select young design school graduates and market and sell their products in store. Most of the profit made then goes to the designers.
16-28 Tabernacle Street, EC2A 4DD; do-shop.com
House of Hackney, Shoreditch
If you're got a things for bold prints, then House of Hackney will be a treasure trove of design inspiration for you. Founded in 2010 by husband and wife team Javvy Royle and Frieda Gormley, the homeware products range from lampshades to shower curtains to wallpaper. You'll probably recognise their palm fronds design...
131-132 Shoreditch High St, E1 6JE; houseofhackney.com
The Old Cinema, Chiswick
Dating back to the 1890s, The Old Cinema was just that. Now refurbished into Londons only department store dedicated to antiques, vintage and retro designs, it is well worth a visit. Items are sourced from around the world and many items are one off pieces that you wont find anywhere else.
160 Chiswick High Rd, W4 1PR; theoldcinema.co.uk
Tom Dixon, Portobello
(Tom Dixon ) / Tom Dixon
The Tom Dixon shop is breath-taking. Nearly all of the items on sale are show-stopping pieces that would be the talking-point of a room. Established in 2002, this British product design brand turns everyday objects into extraordinary works of art. Even if you only want to have a browse, definitely stop by, you will be impressed.
Wharf Building, Portobello Dock, 344 Ladbroke Grove, W10 5BU; tomdixon.net/uk
Retrouvius, Kensal Green
Founded by Adam Hills and Maria Speake, who met on their first day at the Mackintosh School of Architecture, their vision for the shop was unique. Salvaging items from skips, old offices and abandoned houses to name a few places, the shop is full of quirky pieces. Most pieces are sold as they were found, only a few are restored. Paul Smith once bought a device for measuring the length of men's trousers when horse riding from the shop. Current stock includes rare Derbyshire fossil limestone from the facade of a Farringdon demolition and Edwardian furniture from a London reference library. You really will find all sorts of odd things in Retrouvius.
1016 Harrow Rd, NW10 5NS; retrouvius.com
OKA, Chelsea
OKA Press
What began as a mail orders interiors company in 1999, turned into an official shop in Parsons Green, by 2000. OKA offer hand-crafted rattan accessories and storage inspired by the Far East yet adapted and modernised for the West. OKA is now available in the prettiest spots across the UK.
155-167 Fulham Road, SW3 6SN; okadirect.co.uk
Do South Shop, Crystal Palace
The perfect mix of rustic and modern. The Do South Shop was established in 2010 and has since become a warm and cozy home from home offering furniture, quirky lighting, luxury sofas and unique accessories to add that 'wow' factor. They also specialise in vintage furniture classics.
2 Westow Street, SE19 3AH; dosouthshop.com
A drug denied to writer AA Gill by the NHS has now been approved for use on patients battling cancer.
Nivolumab will be offered to 1,300 patients with advanced lung cancer after being approved by drugs rationing body Nice.
The drug works by preventing tumour cells from disguising themselves in the bodys immune system.
Gill, who died in December, published a final column for The Times which said that his doctor was unable to give him Nivolumab because he didnt have private health insurance.
As yet, immunotherapy isnt a cure, its a stretch more life, a considerable bit of life, he wrote. But only if you can pay.
He wrote that his consultant had told his partner Nicola Formby "If he had insurance, Id put him on immunotherapy specifically, Nivolumab."
"As would every oncologist in the First World. But I cant do it on the National Health."
England's drugs watchdog had originally said Nivolumab was too expensive.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has recommended nivolumab be made available to about 1,300 lung cancer patients being treated on the NHS.
The immunotherapy drug will initially be funded by the Cancer Drugs Fund, which has money set aside for treatments which arent yet routinely available.
Nivolumab typically costs 5,268 a month and is given intravenously in hospital every two weeks.
Manufacturer Bristol-Myers Squibb has also struck a deal to sell the drug at a discounted price, while more research is conducted on its use.
Nice hope that as long-term data becomes available within the next two years, Nivolumab will be made available to all patients with advanced lung cancer.
What is Nivolumab?
Cancer Research UK describes Nivolumab as a type of immunotherapy. This type of treatment stimulates the bodys immune system to fight cancer cells. Nivolumab targets and blocks a protein called PD-1 on the surface of certain immune cells called T-cells. Blocking PD-1 activates the T-cells to find and kill cancer cells. Patients with squamous and non-squamous advanced non-small cell lung cancer will be eligible to receive the drug, to prevent cancer-fighting immune system cells from being switched off.
How do patients take Nivolumab?
Patients receive the drug as a drip into a vein in the arm, which can take over one hour each time you it is administered.
A nurse puts a small tube (a cannula) into the arm and connects the drip to it.
How long can you take it for?
People can usually carry on having Nivolumab for as long as it works, unless it causes bad side effects.
A n illegal immigrant tried to have himself deported less than 24 hours after murdering a handyman in front of horrified schoolchildren, the Old Bailey heard today.
Mohamed Abdillahi, 25, was allegedly part of a group of men who attacked and killed Augustus Fenton, 27, stabbing him and beating him with a baseball bat as pupils from Featherstone High School, in Southall, were finishing for the day.
Prosecutor Oliver Glasgow QC said the men acted like wild animals in the March 28 attack.
Abdillahi, who was born in Somalia, had been in the UK illegally for four years but handed himself in to the Home Office a day after the alleged murder, saying he wanted to be deported as soon as possible, jurors heard.
He has pleaded guilty to violent disorder but denies charges of murder and wounding with intent.
The trial continues.
A madam who ran a string of high-end brothels for City workers to bankroll her luxury lifestyle has been jailed for three years.
Graziella Dos Santos McNamee, 38, bought a five-bedroom home in Hertfordshire and holidayed in Gran Canaria with the profits of her prostitution racket. She also drove a Land Rover Discovery and sent her daughters to private school, Blackfriars crown court was told.
Her husband Brendan, 34, collected the takings from each brothel, as well as acting as a handyman and delivering towels and bed linen, the jury heard.
McNamee, a former sex worker, set up the first brothel in 2014 in a rented flat a short walk from St Pauls Cathedral. She advertised on her own adult website, City Sensations, offering a 180-an-hour VIP service to City worker clients.
The following year she expanded her brothel business by renting two flats in Fleet Street and another in Middlesex Street opposite Liverpool Street station, plus a fourth in Bracknell, Berkshire.
The court heard she eventually had 11 bedrooms occupied by prostitutes, with customers arriving every 20 minutes at peak times.
Sex workers either rented a room or handed over half their takings to McNamee. Suspicions were raised by neighbours who saw a stream of men visiting the flat in Middlesex Street, and cleaners at the property in Friar Street found lists of womens names and prices of services in the rubbish.
Jailing McNamee yesterday, Judge Nic Madge said her brothels had offered extremely lucrative high-end prostitution. The judge said the women involved had been exploited by McNamee, adding: You were not doing this because you were poor or impoverished. You were doing this to fund a luxurious lifestyle.
The court heard that 50,000 went into the couples bank account between June 2015 and February last year, but there was evidence of much more money flowing in.
McNamees husband was given a 12-month suspended prison sentence, plus 150 hours community service. The couple, from Kings Langley, had denied keeping a brothel. McNamee was also found guilty of money laundering.
A 30-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter by gross negligence following the death of a young woman who drowned on a speedboat date on the Thames.
Charlotte Brown, 24, plunged into the water near Wandsworth Bridge after going for a late-night cruise on a boat with Jack Shepherd in December 2015.
She was pulled unconscious from the river by lifeboat crews and later pronounced dead in hospital.
Shepherd also landed in the water and was taken to hospital. He survived.
Scotland Yard said Shepherd, from Abergavenny, Wales, was charged with manslaughter by gross negligence on Tuesday.
Close: Charlotte Brown, left, with sister Katie
It follows an investigation by detectives in the Wandsworth borough, which was later taken over by the Homicide and Major Crime Command due to the complex nature of the investigation, a spokesman for the force said.
Shepherd is due to appear at Wimbledon Magistrates Court on October 18.
Police, the Marine Support Unit, the National Police Air Service, the Coastguard, fire and ambulance crews had been called to reports of someone in distress in the water at about 11.45pm on Tuesday, December 8.
Miss Brown, who lived in East Finchley, later died at St Georges Hospital, Tooting.
At the time, her mother Roz Wickens, a former London paramedic, paid tribute to her as the light of my life.
She was a wonderful, beautiful, gorgeous, caring human being, her mother said.
Miss Brown graduated from the University of Essex with a degree in English Literature and was a business development manager in the beauty industry.
Claire Mays, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: The Crown Prosecution Service has considered a file of evidence from the Metropolitan Police relating to allegations made against Jack Shepherd over the death of Charlotte Brown, 24, after she was found in the River Thames near Wandsworth Bridge on 8 December 2015.
Following a review of the evidence, the CPS has authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Jack Shepherd, 30, with manslaughter by gross negligence.
P olice have swooped on a street in Moorgate following reports of a suspicious package.
Cordons were erected around Wilson Street and people were advised to avoid the area.
Pictures from the scene showed police vehicles and scores of officers swarming the streets after the package was first reported just before 10am.
A City of London Police spokesperson later said the package was deemed to be non-suspicious following an investigation.
They said: We can confirm an incident involving a item found in Wilson Street (EC2) has now been resolved.
We first received reports of a suspicious package at 9.52am on Wednesday.
"Following an investigation, the item was subsequently deemed non-suspicious at 10.35am."
Cordons had been put in place at the junctions of Moorgate and South Place, Eldon Street and Blomfield Street, and Wilson Street and South Street. They were all lifted soon after the package was found to be safe.
Many office workers in the area took to social media to share pictures and videos from the scene as it unfolded.
The operation comes as Britain remains on high alert following the attempted bomb attack on a Tube train at Parsons Green last week.
The national terror threat level was raised to 'critical' after the explosion, which injured 30 people, but has since been lowered to 'severe'.
H undreds of Foo Fighters fans were turned away from the band's sold-out show at the O2 after a "shambolic" ticket mix-up.
Ticket-holders who could not present a photo ID matching their booking were barred from entering the Greenwich arena due to security. The venue said the arrangements were made at the request of the band.
It included fans who had paid more than 200 a ticket through the gigs official resale partner StubHub and travelled hundreds of miles for last nights one-off show.
Concert-goers said they not had not been made aware in advance of the restrictions.
Following a barrage of complaints the restrictions were later eased and fans without ID were allowed through the doors, but not before many had left the arena dejected and out of pocket.
Tori Rosenbaum, 23, said she bought four tickets at face value for 65 for her family before her changing work schedule meant she was unable to attend.
Sell-out show: Foo Fighters / Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
The film production worker, from Sutton, said: My brother is absolutely heartbroken.
They saw some 14-year-old girls getting turned away too and were left sitting on a bench sobbing their hearts out.
I totally understand the thing of stamping out touting, but this is punishing actual fans and is so easily avoidable by saying bring a copy of the ID or card that bought the tickets, or their confirmation, or anything. Its a shambles.
Its just not on, its not even the money that bothers me, its knowing that people are having their excitement crushed.
Images posted on social media showed hundreds of people queuing outside the 20,000 capacity arena.
US band Foo Fighters were in London for a one-off arena gig to promote their latest album Concrete and Gold.
Paul Younger and his wife Alison had travelled from Suffolk and spent 420 on two tickets through official resale partner Stubhub only to be refused entry when they arrived at the O2.
The mechanic, who was later allowed into the concert, showed the Standard a picture of an email from StubHub which read: Its fine to see someone elses name on the tickets.
Niki McGrane, 45, went to the gig were her 19-year-old son Harvey but left the venue after being refused entry.
The HR director said: They policy came out of the blue. My daughter bought tickets for me and my son but she couldnt come because of work.
They refused entry even though my son and daughter have the same surname and we had our own ID. We even got her on the phone but still no luck.
The O2 customer service approach is to stonewall with its not us its the band.
Its left us feeling we will never go to the O2 again. We are huge Foo Fighters fans but were feeling very let down to be honest.
An O2 spokesman said: At the request of the band, all tickets are being verified for tonights show at The O2. All fans are required to show proof of ID. This does mean that some who have bought through secondary sites, including our partner Stubhub may not be able to see the show.
Ticket buyers should contact their original point of purchase if they encounter issues.
Foo Fighters representatives have been contacted from comment.
A spokesman for StubHub today said ticket-holders denied entry would be eligible for refunds, adding that the strict ID policy was not fair to customers.
He said: The problem with putting restrictions on tickets is that there are often unintended consequences.
Many fans will receive tickets as gifts, will have a change of plans, or will want to enter the venue separately from the lead booker, and these restrictions mean that they can be denied entry. This is simply not fair for consumers.
P olice found 35 men crammed into a three-bedroom north-west London house which had wall-to-wall mattresses in almost every room.
Eight men were found sleeping in one room, and mattresses were found in the kitchen and back garden at the property in Brent.
Council officers and police have launched an investigation into the landlord of the unlicensed shared home.
The discovery came as part of a dawn raid by officers following complaints of overcrowding and anti-social behaviour on Tuesday.
Brent: Officers discovered 35 men inside the property, which had wall-to-wall mattresses / Brent Council
Images from the raid show a large number of shoes in the hallway and mattresses completely covering the floor.
A Brent Council spokeswoman said the tenants were not evicted from the property and may remain there throughout the investigation.
Dawn raid: Council officers are investigating the 'rogue landlord' of the unlicensed shared home / Brent Council
Cllr Harbi Farah, cabinet member for housing and welfare reform at the local authority, said the landlord was exploiting people who can least afford it.
She added: It's a shameful practice and this is an especially shocking example. Any landlord treating their tenants unfairly should be in notice - we're coming for you."
The authority said it voted in new civil penalty measures to fine rogue landlords up to 30,000 for housing law breaches, such as renting out unlicensed properties.
F ormer Met chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe is to lead the Evening Standards fight against modern slavery.
Sir Bernard will use the experience and contacts from more than 30 years of front-line policing to agitate for concrete changes that will make it harder for human traffickers and gang masters to operate in the UK.
He will work with journalists, campaigners and business and political leaders, as well as our partners at the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, to deliver change in five areas: closing businesses that use slave labour, giving survivors a second chance, encouraging readers to report cases, helping those trapped to come forward and campaigning for new laws.
This investigation is vital, said Sir Bernard, 59, who led the Met from 2011 to last February. Government and societies must become more aware of this issue.
What we will do During this investigation Sir Bernard and the Evening Standard will be working to: 1 Help to force the closure of businesses in London that use slave labour. 2 Join forces with companies to give survivors of slavery a second chance. 3 Encourage our readers to report potential slavery cases to the right authorities. 4 Help those trapped in slavery in London know where they can turn for help. 5 Campaign for new policies and laws to crack down on slavery.
He revealed that a trip to the Vatican had made him focus on the evil of modern slavery. Kevin Hyland, now the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, was then in charge of the polices anti-slavery department. He had built links with the Catholic church to enable both to help each other fight the problem.
Sir Bernard said: We heard from two individuals. One was a woman whod been trafficked into the UK, had her passport taken away and been forced to work as a prostitute. And then a man whod been in forced labour and was sleeping on a floor, and didnt even realise it was terrible. The more you hear of the individual stories, the more you realise what a huge problem this is, and its happening right under our noses.
How to spot the signs of slavery Be curious Is someone always watching them? Do they have injuries that appear to be the result of an assault? Will they not look you in the eye or seem frightened? Do they always wear the same few clothes? Are they living in dirty, cramped or overcrowded condition? Do they look starving or neglected? Do they live and work at the same address? Are they being controlled by a boyfriend? Do they have ID documents? Are their travel arrangements unusual?
The Evening Standards anti-slavery investigation launched last week and has won the backing of the Prime Minister, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and charity and business leaders.
Sir Bernard wants to make businesses more accountable if they use slave labour and support the victims. He said: Its difficult to know whether the problem is getting better or worse, because nobody has precise figures.
Sir Bernard believes that law enforcement has an important role to play in helping victims come forward. The victims may not dare approach the authorities, so we have to help them realise that they wont be judged harshly. Its the traffickers, who are making money through this terrible exploitation, who need to be prosecuted.
The Modern Slavery Act came into force during Sir Bernards time as Met Commissioner. He added: We invested more than other departments to fight modern slavery, but I would never say we couldnt have done more. Its a horrific trade. We can all do more.
Take action to end slavery by going to the Evening Standard's online activity platform.
I vanka Trump has praised Theresa May for her fight against modern slavery and offered American support.
President Donald Trumps eldest daughter, 35, said Mrs May had shown remarkable leadership on the issue during a meeting at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Ms Trump told the Prime Minister and the UNs secretary general, Antonio Guterres: We cant stand by in silence. We join you today in a full-throated call for enhanced international co-operation to tackle modern slavery in all its evil forms.
She serves as an adviser to her father. Chairing the meeting, Mrs May said the UK would host an international summit of chief prosecutors in the spring to discuss a co-ordinated response.
Yesterday she praised the Standards investigation into slavery in London and said Britain would double its aid spending on the issue to 150 million.
Anthony Steen, chairman of the Human Trafficking Foundation, welcomed the pledges but said there was more to be done.
He said: The joint commitment from the US presidents daughter and the UK Prime Minister will prove a powerful combination. However, the plight of trafficked victims and their recovery now needs the same attention that law enforcement has benefited from up until now.
Take action to end slavery by going to the Evening Standard's online activity platform.
B oris Johnson has changed his schedule and will join Theresa May on a seven-hour flight back from New York before a special Cabinet session to discuss Brexit.
The Foreign Secretary had been planning to return separately from the United Nations General Assembly but Mrs May's official spokesman confirmed that he would now join the Prime Minister on her RAF Voyager jet on Wednesday evening.
Mrs May and Mr Johnson met on Tuesday night for the first time since he published an explosive personal Brexit manifesto, when both attended a reception for Commonwealth leaders at the UN.
The PM's spokesman gave no details of any conversation that the pair had at the event.
Prime Minister Theresa May gives a speech at the UN in New York / EPA
The former London mayor was in the audience for Mrs May's speech at the UN on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr Johnson's Telegraph article on Saturday has overshadowed Mrs May's three-day visit to the US and Canada in the run-up to her crucial Brexit speech in Florence on Friday.
Mrs May will seek to bind the full Cabinet into backing her speech during the special session on Thursday.
The Foreign Secretary has been forced to deny he was planning to resign, while Mrs May faced calls for her to sack him from her Cabinet.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson arrives at his delegations table before a speech by Theresa May at the UN in New York / EPA
He dismissed as a snore-athon reports that he was considering resigning.
But the threat of a damaging outcome to the bust-up receded as Mr Johnson backed away from his key demand that the UK should cease payments to the EU after the date of Brexit in 2019.
In an interview with The Guardian, he conceded that Britain must "pay our dues" during any transition period, as well as meeting financial demands "where our lawyers say we are on the hook for stuff".
Reports suggest Mr Johnson and other hard Brexit-backing ministers have been squared off over Mrs May's plans to offer the EU some form of payment to break the deadlock in negotiations.
But Downing Street described as "speculation" a Financial Times claim that chief Brexit "sherpa" Olly Robbins, who moved on Monday to a role reporting direct to Mrs May, had told Germany she will offer to pay 20 billion in the period up to 2020 to cover gaps in the budget left by the UK's departure.
Speaking in New York, one of the Government's most enthusiastic Brexiteers, International Development Secretary Priti Patel, insisted the Cabinet was "united behind the approach of Theresa May".
Ms Patel told Sky News: "I'm for Brexit and that's what the PM is trying to achieve - she's been clear, the Cabinet is clear that we want best deal for Britain.
"Let's be clear, this isn't about individual views of Cabinet ministers, we in Cabinet are united behind the approach of Theresa May and that is the right approach, as it is focused on getting the best deal for the UK."
Mrs May has called a special meeting of Cabinet at Number 10 on Thursday to discuss the following day's speech in Italy, which Mr Johnson is due to attend.
Speaking to The Guardian, the Foreign Secretary declared himself "mystified" by the response to his 4,000-word essay, pointing out that his critics had accused him of remaining silent on Brexit.
"So I contributed a small article to the pages of the Telegraph, and now everyone who had previously accused me of saying too little are now saying I am saying rather too much," he said.
"People have got to make up their minds. What do they want ? What I want from my critics is some bloody consistency, the great inveterate jalopies."
P rime Minister Theresa May has delivered a veiled swipe at Donald Trump over his demand to renegotiate the Paris Agreement on tackling climate change.
In her keynote speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the PM called on all countries to "come together and defend" the rules-based system of international agreements and conventions such as the Paris accord and nuclear non-proliferation treaties.
It came shortly before a private meeting with the US president at the Lotte Palace Hotel.
Mr Trump's call for the Paris accord to be rewritten in America's favour was rejected on Tuesday by French president Emmanuel Macron, who told the UN that "we won't go back" on the 2015 deal which sets out mechanisms to keep global warming within two degrees of pre-industrial temperatures.
Prime Minister Theresa May meets US President Donald Trump for talks at the Lotte Palace Hotel / PA
Without mentioning Mr Trump or the US by name, she made clear that she regards it as vital that all UN states stick by their commitments in agreements to tackle issues ranging from security to trade protectionism and climate change.
Donald Trump and Theresa May trade good wishes at the UN
"I believe that the only way for us to respond to this vast array of challenges is to come together and defend the international order that we have worked so hard to create and the values by which we stand," said Mrs May.
Prime Minister Theresa May gives a speech at the UN in New York / EPA
"For it is the fundamental values that we share - values of fairness, justice and human rights -that have created the common cause between nations to act together in our shared interest and form the multilateral system.
"And it is this rules-based system which we have developed - including the institutions, the international frameworks of free and fair trade; agreements such as the Paris Climate Change accord and laws and conventions like the Non-Proliferation Treaty - which enables the global co-operation through which we can protect those values."
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was in the audience for Mrs May's speech shortly after her spokesman revealed they would travel back to the UK together before a special Brexit Cabinet session on Thursday.
Support: Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson applauds the PM's speech / EPA
Mr Johnson's Telegraph article on Saturday laying out his personal demands for Brexit has overshadowed Mrs May's three-day visit to the US and Canada in the run-up to her crucial Brexit speech in Florence on Friday.
In her speech, Mrs May also singled out Syria and North Korea for condemnation as she warned that the system was threatened by "states deliberately flouting for their own gain the rules and standards that have secured our collective prosperity and security".
Security Council members should be "prepared to take all necessary measures" to exert pressure on Kim Jong-Un and restore stability to the Korean peninsula, she said.
She also specifically condemned the "unforgiveable" use of chemical weapons by Bashar Assad's regime in Syria and the "outrageous" development of nuclear weapons by North Korea.
The PM also called on the United Nations to reform, warning that Britain will make up to 30 per cent of its annual 90 million core funding for the organisation's agencies conditional on it making good on new secretary general Antonio Guterres's drive to make it "more agile, transparent and joined-up".
While the UK will continue to be "generous", the 30 million will be provided only to agencies which show they are efficient and transparent.
International Development Secretary Priti Patel announced on Tuesday that the UK was introducing a 30 per cent "performance agreement" under which core funding for the UN will be dependent on improved results, including effective accountability and feedback on how money donated in response to global emergencies is spent.
Mrs May told the General Assembly that a failure to introduce reforms along the lines proposed by former Portuguese prime minister Mr Guterres would jeopardise public support for the UN.
Reform will require better co-operation on the ground between UN agencies, improvements to gender equality and real leadership on tackling damaging issues like sexual exploitation and abuse by UN workers on missions in disadvantaged countries, she said.
A n 18-year-old student has been found dead in university halls just hours after her first night on campus.
The young woman was discovered at the University of Kents Canterbury campus on Sunday morning less than 24 hours after she enrolled, officials from the university have confirmed.
Emergency services rushed to the campus to treat the 18-year-old, but she was pronounced dead at the scene, Kent Online reported.
A spokesman for the university told KentOnline: We can confirm the death of a female student at our Canterbury campus on September 17.
Next of kin have been informed and support is available for students and staff. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.
The death is not being treated as suspicious.
Molly Hope, a fellow student at the university, told the student newspaper Inquire: We were moving everyone in and it was a really positive and happy experience on Saturday.
We arrived Sunday morning to continue helping students moving in but there were ambulances and police cars outside of Tyler Court.
We were informed that there had been an incident and access to the flat in question was blocked off.
A file is being prepared for the coroner and her next of kin has been informed.
T wo RAF Typhoon jets were scrambled to monitor a pair of Russian military planes flying towards UK airspace.
The fighter jets took off from the Lossiemouth base in Scotland on Wednesday.
The Typhoons were sent to monitor two Russian aircraft which were heading towards a UK "area of interest".
Once the RAF jets were airborne, both Russian planes turned away and no intercept took place.
An RAF spokesman said: "RAF Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth launched to monitor two Russian military aircraft as they approached the UK area of interest, however, the aircraft turned away and no intercept took place."
A Voyager refuelling aircraft from RAF Brize Norton also supported the Typhoons.
It is the latest incident in which RAF jets have been scrambled in response to Russian military manoeuvres.
Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Coningsby were sent to check on two Russian Blackjack bombers in February this year.
Last year Russian warships were tracked as they passed through the English Channel on their way to Syria.
O ne of Britains most successful QCs is to reveal secrets from his career at the heart of some of the most colourful cases of the past 50 years.
Sir Desmond de Silva was dubbed the Scarlet Pimpernel of the Bar for saving so many defendants from the noose in murder and treason trials in Commonwealth countries.
He also became known as footballs greatest defender after representing players such as John Terry, Lee Bowyer and Hans Segers, and former Manchester United manager Ron Atkinson.
Now Sir Desmond, 77, has written his memoirs, Madam, Where Are Your Mangoes? In the book, he lays out the steps in his tactical battle to bring former Liberian president and warlord Charles Taylor to justice in The Hague the first conviction of a former head of state for war crimes since 1946 during the Nuremberg trials.
John Terry hired the QC for his racism trial in 2012 / PA
Sir Desmond has survived several attempts on his life. An IRA bomb blast in the Seventies might not have been targeted at him personally but, he complains, it blew the chocolate pudding off his spoon. On another occasion, his brandy was poisoned during a trial in Africa.
Former England footballer Lee Bowyer was also defended by the top lawyer / PA
The book also reveals his part in a Cold War spy trial at the Old Bailey which might have been rigged to fool the Russian KGB. Canadian academic Professor Hugh Hambleton was jailed in 1982 for spying after a confession in the witness box, but was released a few years later, raising the question of whether the trial had been a plot to convince the Russians the secrets he had passed them were genuine.
In another case Sir Desmond persuaded an Old Bailey judge that his client should be cleared as he was a victim of witchcraft organised by a client of the late George Carmen QC.
Sir Desmond helped bring former Liberian president and warlord Charles Taylor to justice / EPA
The book also describes how he teased the Pope in the Vatican and innocently asked Lord Archer in an Old Bailey lift whether the author, on trial for perjury, was going down.
Sir Desmond was knighted by the Blair government and made a privy councillor by David Cameron when he headed the inquiry into alleged links between the security services and assassinations in Ulster during the Troubles.
The books title refers to a misunderstanding by one of the QCs colleagues when the hotel they thought they were staying in during a trial in Sierra Leone turned out to be a brothel.
Published by Quartet Books on Thursday, it also features accounts of his trials by former Evening Standard courts correspondent Paul Cheston.
A t least 248 people have been killed as a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake devastated central Mexico.
Twenty children are among the dead after a school collapsed in Mexico Citys southern Coapa district, President Enrique Pena Nieto said.
The bodies of two adults were also found among the rubble while a desperate search continued for a further 30 pupils and eight members of staff, he added.
Mexico's civil defence agency this morning put the death toll at 248, with more than half of the dead in Mexico City.
However, there were conflicting reports surrounding the death toll with some outlets reporting that it had been lowered to 217 but was likely to rise.
A further 55 people were killed in Morelos state, just south of the capital, and 32 in Puebla.
People work to clear rubble of a collapsed building after the devastating earthquake / Reuters
A further 10 people were reported to have died in Mexico State and three in Guerrero.
Two million people were left without electricity following the quake while officials issued a stark warning to residents not to smoke on the street amid fears gas mains had ruptured.
Mexico Citys mayor Miguel Angel Mancera told local media that rescue crews were sifting through the rubble of collapsed and badly damaged in 44 locations across the capital.
Crushed cars after the magnitude 7 earthquake in Mexico / EPA
Those damaged included a six-storey block of flats, a factory and a supermarket, he added.
People used shopping carts from a nearby supermarket to carry away rubble in a Mexico City neighbourhood where three apartment buildings collapsed on the same stretch of street while survivors told of the horror of the massive quake.
Graphic News
Valerie Perez, a 23-year-old student from Venezuela, described the tremor as the post powerful thing Ive ever seen as she watched a tower block crumble.
Carlos Mendoza was standing just blocks away when the building collapsed in the capitals trendy Roma neighbourhood.
Cars crushed by rubble in Mexico City / AFP/Getty Images
The 30-year-old joined the rescue efforts and said he has been able to pull two people alive from the rubble.
He said: "When we saw this we came to help. This is ugly, very ugly.
Alma Gonzalez became trapped in her fourth floor apartment when the quake collapsed the ground floor.
Heroic neighbours used a ladder to rescue her from a tiny side window.
Onlookers shared thier terror in witnessing the huge quake / EPA
She told local media: "They helped us leave with a ladder.
I thank my father the Lord who has us here for some reason."
President Pena Nieto said in a statement on Tuesday night: "The priority at this moment is to keep rescuing people who are still trapped and to give medical attention to the injured people.
"We may still find people under the rubble. Stay in touch, follow lines of communication, we will keep people updated.
People search for survivors in a collapsed building in the Roma neighborhood of Mexico City / AP
Teams of rescue workers and volunteers clawed through the rubble with picks, shovels and their bare hands.
"My wife is there. I haven't been able to communicate with her," Juan Jesus Garcia told the BBC.
The 33-year-old added: "She is not answering and now they are telling us we have to turn off our mobile phones because there is a gas leak."
The tremor stuck at 1.14pm local time (6.14pm) GMT while many were involved in earthquake drills marking 32 years since a deadly quake killed thousands in Mexico City.
A woman is rescued from rubble after a powerful quake in Mexico City / AFP/Getty Images
The latest tremor comes just weeks after an 8.1 magnitude quake shook the region killing 90 people.
The epicentre of the latest quake was near Atencingo in Puebla state, about 120km (75 miles) from Mexico City, according to the US Geological Survey.
Powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake hits Mexico 1 /41 Powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake hits Mexico Police officers cordon the area off after a building collapsed during a quake in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images A man stands next to a car crashed by debris from a damaged building after a quake rattled Mexico City AFP/Getty Images People evacuated from office buildings gather in Reforma Avenue after an earthquake in Mexico City, AP Police officers cordon the area off after a building collapsed during a quake in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images Patients at a hospital receive medical treatmen outside the facility following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake on the Richter scale in Mexico City EPA People leave buildings following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake on the Richter scale, in Mexico City EPA Thousands of people remain on the streets following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake on the Richter scale, in Mexico City EPA Damages are seen after an earthquake hit in Mexico City Reuters People react after an earthquake hit in Mexico City, Reuters Picture of a car crashed by debris from a damaged building after a quake rattled Mexico City AFP/Getty Images A woman speaks on her cell phone as people evacuated from office building gather in Reforma Avenue after an earthquake in Mexico City AP A woman is comforted after an earthquake in Mexico City AP People work to clear rubble of a collapsed building after the devastating earthquake Reuters People search for survivors in a collapsed building in the Roma neighborhood of Mexico City AP Crushed cars after the magnitude 7 earthquake in Mexico EPA People search for survivors in a collapsed building in the Roma neighborhood of Mexico City AP A woman is rescued from rubble after a powerful quake in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images Rescue teams look for people trapped in the rubble after an earthquake in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images Rescuers and residents look for victims amid the ruins of a building knocked down by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake jolted central Mexico damaging buildings, knocking out power and causing alarm throughout the capital Getty Images Rescue workers and volunteers search for survivors on a collapsed building the Del Valle neighborhood in Mexico City, AP Dust rises over down town Mexico City from an image shot through a window of the iconic Torre Latina AP Rescuers, firefighters, policemen, soldiers and volunteers remove rubble and debris from a flattened building in search of survivors after a powerful quake in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images President Enrique Pena Nieto (centre), and Mayor of Mexico City, Miguel Angel Mancera (left), during a visit to an affected area in Mexico City EPA Rescuers and residents assist an injured victim amid the ruins of a building knocked down by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that jolted central Mexico damaging buildings, knocking out power and causing alarm throughout the capital LatinContent WO Rescue workers and volunteers search a building that collapsed after an earthquake in the Colonia Del Valle neighborhood of Mexico City AP Volunteers and rescue workers search for children trapped inside at the collapsed Enrique Rebsamen school in Mexico City AP People remove debris of a building which collapsed after a quake rattled Mexico City AFP/Getty Images Rescuers search for survivors buried under the rubble and debris of a building flattened by a 7.1-magnitude quake in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images A man is rescued from a collapsed building in the Condesa neighborhood after an earthquake struck Mexico City AP A woman walks past a collapsed building after a 7.1 earthquake, in Jojutla, Morelos state, Mexico AP A woman tries to reach people on her cellphone after she evacuated with others to Paseo de la Reforma Avenue after an earthquake in Mexico City AP
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was saddened by the loss of life and damage caused by the earthquake.
He offered his condolences to the government and people of Mexico and said in a statement that the United Nations stands ready to assist Mexico.
The Philippines says the powerful earthquake has badly damaged its embassy in Mexico City, but added that staff were unhurt and there are so far no reports of casualties among the 60 members of the Filipino community.
Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella says: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Mexico, especially the bereaved families, who were hit and affected by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake."
Philippine Ambassador to Mexico Eduardo de Vega says he and the embassy staff rushed out of the building when debris started falling and they all escaped unhurt.
The Philippine Embassy occupies the first two floors of an eight-story office building in Mexico city's Cuauhtemoc neighborhood.
US President Donald Trump tweeted: "God bless the people of Mexico City. We are with you and will be there for you."
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also tweeted his support following the "devastating news".
I nternet companies are being given one month to show they are taking serious action to limit the availability of terrorist propaganda online.
At a special meeting in New York today, world leaders including Theresa May will challenge the companies to develop technological fixes to take down terrorist material within one to two hours.
Interior ministers from the G7 group of leading nations will meet in Rome on October 20 to decide whether enough progress has been made.
And governments are making clear they are ready to take legislative action which could include fines for internet giants which fail to act.
In her keynote speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Mrs May will say it is time to step up efforts to tackle extremists' use of the internet and block access to ideologies which "preach hatred, sow division and undermine our common humanity".
She will hail the shows of solidarity and resilience shown by communities in Manchester and London following terror attacks this year.
But she will say: "Defiance alone is not enough. As Prime Minister, I have visited too many hospitals and seen too many innocent people murdered in my country.
"When I think of the hundreds of thousands of victims of terrorism in countries across the world, I think of their friends, their families, their communities, devastated by this evil.
"And I say enough is enough."
The Islamic State terror group has developed a more sophisticated use of social media than earlier militants like al Qaida, disseminating more than 27,000 items through outlets like Twitter in a five-month period between January and May this year.
Links to material ranging from bomb-making instructions to videos glamorising the group and calls to commit atrocities with cars and knives in Western cities are spread rapidly, with the majority of shares taking place in the first two hours.
Experts believe that by removing links more quickly, access to the material can be dramatically reduced, even if it takes longer to eradicate every trace of it from sites like YouTube.
Some of the world's biggest tech companies, including Facebook, Microsoft and Twitter, will take part in the event hosted by Mrs May, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian PM Paolo Gentiloni, on the fringe of the General Assembly.
Also present will be major advertisers, who are starting to put pressure on the internet giants to stop ads being screened alongside unacceptable material.
Mrs May will hail progress made by tech companies since the establishment in June of an industry forum to counter terrorism.
But she will make urge them to go "further and faster" in developing artificial intelligence solutions to automatically reduce the period terror propaganda remains available and eventually prevent it appearing at all.
Britain, France and Italy will come together behind a target of one to two hours to take down terrorist content wherever it appears.
One Downing Street source said the companies "have been doing something, but just not enough".
The source said: "These companies have some of the best brains in the world. They should really be focusing that on what matters, which is stopping the spread of terrorism and violence.
"We want them to break the echo chambers."
In her address to the UN, Mrs May will say: "When terrorists struck London and Manchester this year, the world saw our cities come together in defiance.
"Our Parliament carries on. Ariana Grande came back to Manchester and sang again. London Bridge is bustling with people. Our communities came together at the mosque in north London. And Londoners got back on the Tube.
"The terrorists did not win, for we will never let anyone destroy our way of life.
"But defiance alone is not enough. In the last decade hundreds of thousands have been killed by terrorists across the world. This is a truly global tragedy that is increasingly touching the lives of us all."
Pledging to continue to "take the fight" to terrorists, Mrs May will add: "Ultimately it is not just the terrorists themselves who we need to defeat. It is the extremist ideologies that fuel them. It is the ideologies that preach hatred, sow division and undermine our common humanity."
Google and YouTube have already announced they are increasing their use of technology to help automatically identify offending videos, while Facebook has said it is looking at automated identification of terrorist material.
Twitter suspended 299,649 accounts between January 1 and June 30 this year, 75% of which were blocked before their first tweet.
Facebook has said publicly that it is looking at developing artificial intelligence to automate the identification of terrorist material.
Speaking before the New York event, Mrs May called for "a fundamental shift in the scale and nature of our response both from industry and governments" and called on leaders from around the world to join Britain, France and Italy in demanding action.
Among tech executives expected to take part in the event are Google general counsel Kent Walker, Facebook's head of global policy Monika Bickert, Microsoft vice-president David Heiner, and Twitter's public policy manager Lauren Culbertson.
A jungle manhunt was under way today to capture the remaining members of a pirate gang who shot and killed a London headteacher trying to kayak the Amazon river.
Emma Kelty, 43, was paddling solo 4,000 miles down the worlds largest river when she suddenly disappeared without a trace 150 miles west of jungle city Manaus in northern Brazil last Wednesday.
Police now believe she was set upon by a gang of seven armed men after stopping to camp for the night on a remote beach.
A 17-year-old, who was arrested on Monday, reportedly confessed to being part of the group of pirates that ambushed her after she pitched her tent on a sandbank of the Solimoes river near the Lauro Sodre village.
Brazilian police said he confessed that the gang shot Ms Kelty twice with a sawn-off shotgun before stealing her belongings and dumping her body in the fast-flowing waters.
Emma Kelty was shot dead 'for her goPro camera' on the kayaking adventure / @emmatamsinkelty
The group then tried to sell what they had stolen, including two mobile phones, a computer tablet and a GoPro camera, in several nearby communities, according to the teenager.
Last night police arrested two more suspects, but were still hunting four other members of the gang. Ms Keltys body has not been found.
Adventurer Emma Kelty disappeared while kayaking in the Amazon
Military police commander Coronel Alonso Ramos said that under interrogation the men confessed to cutting Ms Keltys body into pieces before dumping them into the river in an attempt to hide the crime.
He said: They said they cut her up and threw her in the river, but that those who did it are two other men who are still on the run and hiding in the jungle.
The final picture she posted online on Sept 10 shows her tent on an island on the river in heavy rain / Twitter
Ivo Martins, the civil police chief in charge of the investigations, added that the men said they had intentionally killed the woman in order to steal from her.
He said: The statement of one of the offenders reports that after she was shot she didnt talk, she just whimpered.
Because of this, they dragged her from the tent where she had been sleeping until the groups canoe, and dumped her about 100 metres out into the river. All the materials that were in her possession were stolen.
In a statement, her brothers Piers and Giles and her sister Natasha said they were extremely proud of their sibling and that she was dearly loved.
Her canoe was found by navy sailors who launched a search operation / Brazilian Navy
They said: Emma was an active and determined sister who challenged herself, latterly through her adventures on the Pacific Coast Trail, as well as in the South Pole and Amazon River.
In a world that is today a much smaller place, the explorer in our sister found herself seeking ways to prove that challenges were achievable. We are extremely proud of our sister who was dearly loved by us all and her strength will be sorely missed.
We wish to give our immense thanks to the Brazilian Navy, Police and Foreign Office for their action and support.
Ms Kelty, an experienced adventurer who sold her Finchley flat and quit her job at Knollmead Primary School, Surbiton to go travelling, had been documenting her trip in a series of posts on her blog and social media.
She had only begun serious kayaking earlier this year, just weeks after becoming the sixth woman to ski unassisted to the South Pole in January.
T he Queen has sent a message to the President of Mexico offering condolences after the devastating earthquake that claimed hundreds of lives.
In a message to president Enrique Pena Nieto, the monarch said she was deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and the devastation.
The disaster is the deadliest earthquake to hit Mexico for decades and has left more than 200 people dead, according to reports.
In a statement from Buckingham Palace Her Majesty said: "I was deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and the devastation following the terrible earthquake yesterday in Mexico.
Powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake hits Mexico 1 /41 Powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake hits Mexico Police officers cordon the area off after a building collapsed during a quake in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images A man stands next to a car crashed by debris from a damaged building after a quake rattled Mexico City AFP/Getty Images People evacuated from office buildings gather in Reforma Avenue after an earthquake in Mexico City, AP Police officers cordon the area off after a building collapsed during a quake in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images Patients at a hospital receive medical treatmen outside the facility following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake on the Richter scale in Mexico City EPA People leave buildings following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake on the Richter scale, in Mexico City EPA Thousands of people remain on the streets following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake on the Richter scale, in Mexico City EPA Damages are seen after an earthquake hit in Mexico City Reuters People react after an earthquake hit in Mexico City, Reuters Picture of a car crashed by debris from a damaged building after a quake rattled Mexico City AFP/Getty Images A woman speaks on her cell phone as people evacuated from office building gather in Reforma Avenue after an earthquake in Mexico City AP A woman is comforted after an earthquake in Mexico City AP People work to clear rubble of a collapsed building after the devastating earthquake Reuters People search for survivors in a collapsed building in the Roma neighborhood of Mexico City AP Crushed cars after the magnitude 7 earthquake in Mexico EPA People search for survivors in a collapsed building in the Roma neighborhood of Mexico City AP A woman is rescued from rubble after a powerful quake in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images Rescue teams look for people trapped in the rubble after an earthquake in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images Rescuers and residents look for victims amid the ruins of a building knocked down by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake jolted central Mexico damaging buildings, knocking out power and causing alarm throughout the capital Getty Images Rescue workers and volunteers search for survivors on a collapsed building the Del Valle neighborhood in Mexico City, AP Dust rises over down town Mexico City from an image shot through a window of the iconic Torre Latina AP Rescuers, firefighters, policemen, soldiers and volunteers remove rubble and debris from a flattened building in search of survivors after a powerful quake in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images President Enrique Pena Nieto (centre), and Mayor of Mexico City, Miguel Angel Mancera (left), during a visit to an affected area in Mexico City EPA Rescuers and residents assist an injured victim amid the ruins of a building knocked down by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that jolted central Mexico damaging buildings, knocking out power and causing alarm throughout the capital LatinContent WO Rescue workers and volunteers search a building that collapsed after an earthquake in the Colonia Del Valle neighborhood of Mexico City AP Volunteers and rescue workers search for children trapped inside at the collapsed Enrique Rebsamen school in Mexico City AP People remove debris of a building which collapsed after a quake rattled Mexico City AFP/Getty Images Rescuers search for survivors buried under the rubble and debris of a building flattened by a 7.1-magnitude quake in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images A man is rescued from a collapsed building in the Condesa neighborhood after an earthquake struck Mexico City AP A woman walks past a collapsed building after a 7.1 earthquake, in Jojutla, Morelos state, Mexico AP A woman tries to reach people on her cellphone after she evacuated with others to Paseo de la Reforma Avenue after an earthquake in Mexico City AP
"That it happened so soon after the powerful earthquake that hit southern Mexico less than two weeks ago is all the more concerning.
"Prince Philip and I send our sincere condolences to the victims of this disaster, to those who have lost loved ones, and to those who have seen their homes and property destroyed. My thoughts and prayers are with those affected."
Mexico's civil defence agency this morning put the death toll at 248, with more than half of the dead in Mexico City. There are still conflicting reports surrounding the death toll.
Horrifying footage has emerged of buildings across the country collapsing, while two million people have been left without electricity.
Mexico Citys mayor Miguel Angel Mancera told local media that rescue crews were sifting through the rubble of collapsed and badly damaged in 44 locations across the capital.
The latest tremor comes just weeks after an 8.1 magnitude quake shook the region killing 90 people.
Drone footage shows Mexico quake damage as death toll surges to 248
A host of world leaders have offered support to Mexico.
US President Donald Trump tweeted: "God bless the people of Mexico City. We are with you and will be there for you."
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also tweeted his support following the "devastating news".
Prime Minister Theresa May has also expressed her support saying her "thoughts and sympathies" were with all those affected by the earthquake.
The 7.1 magnitude quake caused extensive damage across the centre of the country and was the second tremor to hit in two weeks.
Rescuers are continuing to search for survivors with footage from the capital Mexico City showing volunteers joining the effort.
The world's attention has been drawn to the heartbreaking incident of a primary school that collapsed killing more than 20 children and a number of adults.
A university president has apologised after putting on a welcome dinner for African American students featuring cotton stalk decorations and black meals.
The president of Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, invited African American students to his home last week, serving what one student called black meals mac n cheese, collard greens, corn bread and using cotton stalks as a table centrepiece.
In a statement posted by Lipscomb University on Facebook, its president Randy Lowry wrote: Several students shared with me their concern about the material used for centerpieces which contained stalks of cotton.
The content of the centerpieces was offensive, and I could have handled the situation with more sensitivity, he added.
I sincerely apologize for the discomfort, anger or disappointment we caused and solicit your forgiveness.
Instagram user nakalayvonne, who was present at the dinner, said the evening was supposed to be a chance for black students to ask the president questions about the predominantly white university.
As we arrived to the presidents home and proceeded to go in we seen cotton as the center pieces, she wrote. We were very offended, and also the meals that were provided resembled many black meals they had mac n cheese, collard greens, corn bread etc. The night before Latinos also had dinner at his house and they had tacos. They also DIDNT have the center piece that we HAD tonight.
She said that when Lowry was asked why there was cotton on the table, he told them he did not know.
He kind of thought it was fallish, THEN he said it ISNT INHERENTLY BAD IF WERE ALL WEARING IT then walked off, she wrote on Instagram.
Lowry told local newspaper the Tennessean that he was probably not as artful as I should have been in his response, but I was trying to meet everybody and get on with the show.
I wrote in my apology that I did the next day how I understand that cotton represents something to some of the African American community that takes us back to the deplorable times of slavery. So I understand that student and am extraordinarily sorry to have anything on the table that would have been offensive, he told the newspaper.
However, not everyone thought he needed to apologise. One person commented on the Facebook statement from Lipscomb: Im sorry, but as a lipscomb alum I find this completely ridiculous. That is a popular style of decorating in the south right now, and has NOTHING to do with race. You cant do anything now without someone being offended.
Others branded the dinner offensive.
Mr Lowry has said he will meet again with black students to discuss their concerns.
M en in France could soon be prosecuted for wolf whistling and catcalling women in the street.
Marlene Schiappa, under-secretary for gender equality, has called for new legislation to be brought in to ban harassing women in a public place.
Wolf whistling and repeatedly asking for a womans phone number could see men prosecuted if the new law is passed.
A group of five MPs have been tasked with legally defining so-called street harassment and deciding on suitable punishments.
The crackdown comes after the results of a national survey showed almost all French women asked had been harassed on public transport or in the street.
Ms Schiappa said in a recent interview that there was gap in France between consensual seduction, which is legal, and sexual assault, which is an offence, the Times reported.
Describing behaviour likely to be banned under the law, she said: You are a woman in an underground train. I am a man. I follow you. You get off the train. I get off. You get on another train. I get on too. I ask you for your telephone number. I ask again. I ask a third time. You feel oppressed. That is street harassment.
French President Emmanuel Macron called for an end to the harassment of women during his election campaign.
Countries including Belgium and Portugal have already banned the behaviour.
The calls for a change in law sparked backlash among some lawyers who claimed MPs were trying to outlaw heavy Latin chat-up lines.
Others said men should only be prosecuted when police officers witness an offence.
J amie Olivers first eatery in France has been panned by customers who complained of bland, overpriced food and undrinkable coffee.
The celebrity chef, who has built a 150m empire from his restaurants, opened Jamies Deli at Nice Airport in July, along with a Jamies Italian.
But the venture has been criticised online by disgruntled travellers.
Outraged customers took to social media to criticise the new Delis dry food and incompetent staff.
One Twitter user, who tagged the restaurateur in his tweet, said: Currently in your deli in Nice airport...food dry, food run out, food overpriced. No butter/jam for croissant. No happy at all.
And another added: Outraged at the standard of food in the Deli, Nice airport, 8 eu for a Caesar salad with lettuce on the turn and rubber chicken!
Another angry customer wrote: Deli at Nice Airport just served me the most undrinkable coffee I have ever had. Politely complained in French. No response.
And another visitor said: food in Jamie's deli Nice Airport is bland and overpriced. Very disappointing.
Others asked the television star to visit the outlet and sort out its problems, and that he should be ashamed of the food and service.
Despite several negative comments, the chef did receive some positive ones, with one social media user branding it a life-saver for parents with hungry children.
Not so Nice: Jamie Oliver's latest venture, a restaurant in Nice Airport that overlooks the Mediterranean Sea, has been slammed by customers / AFP/Getty Images
The company has been approached by the Standard for comment.
Mr Oliver was awarded an MBE for his services to hospitality in 2003.
He made headlines last month when he launched a stinging attack on Prime Minister Theresa Mays record on tackling child obesity.
E mma Stone has opened up about her battle with anxiety, crediting acting for helping her to overcome the disorder.
The 28-year-old actress revealed she started therapy aged seven to help her cope with panic attacks during an appearance on the The Late Show to promote her new film Battle of the Sexes.
Host Stephen Colbert presented Stone with a drawing that she did, aged nine, while in therapy which featured Stone standing next to a small green monster underneath the words Im bigger than my anxiety.
Explaining the drawing, she joked that the monster resembled a uterus: This is me I guess. This is anxiety, its a little green monster who looks like a uterus with ovaries. I didnt mean for it to be hormonal.
I was nine and I was in therapy. I was a very, very, very anxious child and I had a lot of panic attacks and I benefited in a big way from therapy. I started at 7.
[Acting] and improv helped me so much. I still have anxiety to this day.
It is not the first time the Oscar-winning actress has opened up about her battle with anxiety.
Earlier this year she revealed there was a time when she feared she would never be able to leave her native Arizona.
Emma Stone talks to ES about La La Land
Speaking candidly in a clip for Child Mind Institutes Speak Up For Kids campaign she said: I truly, as a kid, did not think I would be able to ever move away from home or to be away from people that I had separation anxiety with.
I've been able to manage that with great therapists and great cognitive behavioural tools - meditation and lots of things.
She continued: Life goes in stages, and it has always been something that I've lived with and that flares up in big ways at different times in my life.
But sometimes when it's happening, when I'm in a phase of real turmoil or the anxiety is very strong, it feels like the anxiety is never going to end, and it does.
H e became a household name after starring in the BBCs epic adaptation of War And Peace but James Norton is terrified about the next level of fame.
Norton, who lives with former co-star Jessie Buckley, will soon appear in the Hollywood sequel to Flatliners and new BBC crime saga McMafia.
Asked whether he was worried about becoming more famous, he told ES magazine: Yes, its terrifying because right now its a lovely place where if we walked down the street maybe in 20 minutes someone would stare.
Or you get the people on the Tube who sit there with their phones pretending to text and then the flash goes off and youre sitting there going, Youre f***ing kidding me.
Power couple: Norton with his girlfriend, the actress Jessie Buckley / Dave Benett
But most of the time you get people politely coming over going, Im sorry to stop you, but I just want to say I loved Happy Valley, and you go, Great.
This Flatliners film or McMafia could propel me into the next stage and at what point do you go, F***. I really almost wish I hadnt moved into that place because now I cant walk into a pub?
Time is running out: James Norton and Ellen Page
Norton, 32, had a series of stage and TV roles before winning acclaim in 2014 in the BBC crime drama Happy Valley and the ITV detective series Grantchester. He said of his relationship with Buckley, 27, who starred in Tom Hardys Taboo: Its tough because you dont see each other. Shes been away for a year. Shes done three jobs back to back. We see each other on average once every six weeks.
Asked if he would move to Hollywood, he said: Im not averse to it. I would go with the work and if there was a really great opportunity. I think Hollywood is this beast and there is a commercial element to it, which Im aware of the fact that its so much more profitable and money-orientated You could get really rich. Thats one way of thinking about it. But then you do lose your life.
Setting pulses racing: James Norton and Ellen Page in the sequel to Flatliners
He says fame is unnerving but you cant really work with the best directors and the best actors and have the best scripts available to you if you dont put yourself in front of the public, as they define whether youre a success.
In Flatliners, a sequel to the 1990 thriller which is out next week, he stars alongside Ellen Page. It is his first major film role and he said that on his first day I was like F***, this is way out of my depth.
In McMafia, he plays a hedge fund trader, and son of a Russian mafia boss, who is drawn into organised crime. Filming took place in France, Russia and Serbia. Comparing it to another big-budget BBC series, he described it as The Night Manager with more depth.
P amela Anderson has made a public appeal to Kim Kardashian to stop wearing fur.
The former Baywatch actress and animal rights activist said the reality TV star needs to dress more compassionately as she is a role model to millions of young fans.
Anderson said she has written to Kardashian explaining why she should go fur-free, but revealed she is yet to receive a response.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain she told hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid: Ive been an activist right from day one. I think sometimes activism can be annoying, sometimes people think theyre better than somebody else.
Campaigning: Pamela Anderson protests against animal cruelty / Valery Hache/AFP/Getty
I feel like girl-to-girl Kim has a great heart and shes an influencer. She has millions of followers all over the world and if she should choose to not wear fur.
Anderson continued: I wrote her a letter and saw her at [New York] Fashion Week. No response yet. I talk to many people in the public eye to dress more compassionately because youre a role model and I think thats important.
Abolish: Kim Kardashian and her family wearing fur / Jamie McCarthy/Getty
Her public plea comes days after she wrote an open letter to the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star encouraging her to follow in the footsteps of First Lady Melania Trump and model Gisele Bundchen who fronted Vogue Paris magazines August 2017 issue wearing faux fur.
She wrote: It was lovely seeing you at New York Fashion Week. I've had the pleasure of getting to know you over the years, and I can tell you're a good person with a big, beautiful heart.
I'm writing to ask you to extend your compassion to real fashion victimsthe animals who are violently killed in the fur tradeby swearing off fur this winter. I think you'd be horrified to learn that every single fur farm that PETA has exposed has been beyond cruel.
She gave examples of the cruelty faced by animals in the fur trade before finishing: You know I love you, and you can be a hero for animals as well as a great example to all your beautiful followers by swearing off fur. Please do the right thing. You'd be praised all over the world, including by my close friends at PETA.
Kardashian was recently branded disgusting for dressing her daughter North in fur days after she was branded a fur hag while out shopping with her half-sister Kendall Jenner in New York.
A licia Vikander proves shes every inch the action star in the first trailer for the eagerly-awaited Tomb Raider reboot.
The Oscar-winner gives former Lara Croft actress Angelina Jolie a run for her money in the updated version of the video game spin-off, which is set for release next March.
The brand new trailer, which debuted on Wednesday morning, shows Vikander playing the iconic character at the very beginning of her story.
Focusing on Croft as a young woman, the film follows her as she tries to find purpose in life following the death of her eccentric adventurer father.
Refusing to simply accept that he is gone, she sets out to solve his mysterious death and goes in search of a fabled tomb on a mythical island to track him down.
She has all the fierce, tough, curious, intelligent traits, but weve stripped away all of her experience, Vikander said back in July.
Alicia Vikander Tomb Raider Trailer - In pictures 1 /8 Alicia Vikander Tomb Raider Trailer - In pictures Oscar winner Alicia Vikander swaps her fancy, ornate costumes from The Danish Girl and Tulip Fever for the military pants and tank top of British archaeologist-adventurer Lara Croft in the new action-packed trailer reboot of Tomb Raider Oscar winner Alicia Vikander swaps her fancy, ornate costumes from The Danish Girl and Tulip Fever for the military pants and tank top of British archaeologist-adventurer Lara Croft in the new action-packed trailer reboot of Tomb Raider Oscar winner Alicia Vikander swaps her fancy, ornate costumes from The Danish Girl and Tulip Fever for the military pants and tank top of British archaeologist-adventurer Lara Croft in the new action-packed trailer reboot of Tomb Raider Oscar winner Alicia Vikander swaps her fancy, ornate costumes from The Danish Girl and Tulip Fever for the military pants and tank top of British archaeologist-adventurer Lara Croft in the new action-packed trailer reboot of Tomb Raider Oscar winner Alicia Vikander swaps her fancy, ornate costumes from The Danish Girl and Tulip Fever for the military pants and tank top of British archaeologist-adventurer Lara Croft in the new action-packed trailer reboot of Tomb Raider Oscar winner Alicia Vikander swaps her fancy, ornate costumes from The Danish Girl and Tulip Fever for the military pants and tank top of British archaeologist-adventurer Lara Croft in the new action-packed trailer reboot of Tomb Raider
Vikander, who won an Oscar for her role in The Danish Girl, landed the role over Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley last year.
She takes over from Angelina Jolie, who starred in 2001s Lara Croft: TombRaider and The Cradle of Life in 2003.
Film fans were quick to notice a mistake in the new Tomb Raider poster, which was released on Tuesday.
The heavily-photoshopped image shows the actress bending around in an uncomfortable-looking way, with a bizarrely long neck.
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In July 2017 France asked its military commanders in Niger (Africa) what they could best use to more effectively deal with Islamic terrorists in the region (especially nearby northern Mali). The commanders said that arming the five American RQ-9 Reaper UAVs deployed there would make a big difference, cost little and be implemented quickly. A month later the French government ordered the French Reapers be equipped to carry and use Hellfire missiles. France has been using Hellfire on its Tiger helicopter gunships since 2008 and Tigers in Mali have used Hellfires regularly there since 2014. These Hellfire armed Tigers have been firing over a hundred missiles a year in Africa since then. The Tiger carries up to eight Hellfires but the problem has been short endurance (2-3 hours) and low readiness (under 50 percent) of the helicopters. The readiness is closer to 40 percent in Africa because of the heat and dust. Reapers have none of those problems.
France began using the Reaper UAV in Africa in 2014 but they were unarmed. The Reapers are built to handle hot and dusty conditions and have about twice the readiness and over five times the endurance of the Tigers. The French Reapers would often find Islamic terrorists in Mali but by the time a Tiger helicopter, a fixed wing warplane (equipped with smart bombs) or ground troops could arrive the Islamic terrorists were often no longer vulnerable to attack. Meanwhile the Americans had been using Hellfire armed Reapers and smaller Predators throughout Africa and the Middle East regularly for nearly two decades.
France had planned to arm its UAVs eventually but the comments by its counter-terrorism experts in Africa and the Middle East convinced the government that the quickest way to deal with the Islamic terrorists it was finding (but unable to attack in time) was simply to arm the Reapers. The five already in Africa were quickly equipped with missiles. Six more Reapers on order were to be delivered equipped to use Hellfires. The manufacturer reported that could be done without delaying the delivery of those six Reapers (which are all to arrive by 2019). This is another reason France has stuck with Reaper rather something developed in France or Europe.
Back in 2013 France decided that its locally developed Harfang UAV was not sufficient and decided to try out the Reaper. As expected the Reaper performed as well as other NATO users had reported and soon the initial order was increased to twelve. In 2013 two Harfang UAVs were in Mali (operating from neighboring Niger) and some American RQ-9s were helping out as well. French UAV operators could see the difference in effectiveness up close and constantly.
France wanted the RQ-9s delivered quickly and apparently this sale was dependent on the U.S. being able to deliver the RQ-9s before the end of 2013. That was accomplished and the two French reapers were in service by January 2014 and were soon in Africa. Since then France has stationed most of its Reapers in Africa. Of the six Reapers it currently has only one stays in France (for training ground crews) while the others continue to serve in Africa.
The MQ-9 Reaper is a 4.7 ton, 11.6 meter (36 foot) long aircraft, with a 21.3 meter (66 foot) wingspan that looks like the MQ-1 Predator. It has six hard points and can carry 682 kg (1,500 pounds) of weapons. These include Hellfire missiles (up to eight), two Sidewinder or two AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, two Maverick missiles, or two 227 kg (500 pound) smart bombs (laser or GPS guided). Max speed is 400 kilometers an hour and max endurance is 15 hours. The Reaper is considered a combat aircraft, to replace F-16s or A-10s in many situations.
The Harfang was a good idea s it was based on the Israeli Heron Shoval UAV, which in turn is very similar to the MQ-1 Predator and was selling well to foreign customers who cannot obtain the MQ-1. In addition to being one of the primary UAVs for many armed forces (Israel, India, Turkey, Russia, France, Brazil, El Salvador), the United States, Canada, and Australia have either bought, leased, or licensed manufacture of the Heron. France bought four Harfang ("Eagle") UAVs and used them in Afghanistan, Libya, and Mali since 2009.
The Israeli Shoval (that Harfang is a variant of) weighs about the same (1.2 tons) as the Predator and has similar endurance (40 hours). Shoval has a slightly higher ceiling (10 kilometers/30,000 feet, versus 8 kilometers) and software which allows it to automatically take off, carry out a mission, and land automatically. Not all American large UAVs can do this. Both Predator and Shoval cost about the same ($5 million), although the Israelis are willing to be more flexible on price. Shoval does have a larger wingspan (16.5 meters/51 feet) than the Predator (13.2 meters/41 feet) and a payload of about 137 kg (300 pounds). The French version costs about $25 million each (including sensors and development costs).
Israel also developed a larger version of the Heron, the 4.6 ton Heron TP. This is similar to the American RQ-9, but with a lot less combat experience and more expensive. Some Heron TP tech was incorporated into Harfang and France was going to buy some Heron TPs, even though MQ-9s were offered for more than 20 percent less. France analyzed the situation and decided to switch to the RQ-9 because they are seen as more reliable and capable as well as possessing lots of combat experience.
The endurance of 36 hours makes the Heron TP a competitor for the U.S. MQ-9. The big difference between the two is that the Reaper is designed to be a combat aircraft, operating at a lower altitude, with less endurance, and able to carry a ton of smart bombs or missiles. Heron TP is meant mainly for reconnaissance and surveillance, and Israel wants to keep a closer, and more persistent, eye on Syria and southern Lebanon. But the Heron TP has since been rigged to carry a wide variety of missiles and smart bombs. But given that the Americans have increased production of the Reaper and are able to handle additional export orders the French, heeding the advice of their European allies (especially Britain) chose the reliable and combat proven Reaper. Moreover the Americans had shown that the Reaper had the range and endurance to reach and monitor terrorist hotspots all over the region from the base in Niger that they share with France. Finally French intelligence had confirmed that while the Islamic terrorists feared the Reaper they took advantage of the fact that the French ones were unarmed and knew that if they spotted a Reaper above (these aircraft are visible from the ground in daylight) the Islamic terrorists could quickly move to a known hiding place and wait for the unarmed Reaper to depart.
The French Reapers will use the same version of the Hellfire (the AGM-114R) the Tiger and most American gunships and armed UAVs used. Introduced in 2010 this version of Hellfire is effective against armored and non-armored targets. The ones fired from UAVs usually are the R model. The Hellfire II weighs 48.2 kg (106 pounds), carries a 9 kg (20 pound) warhead, and has a range of 8,000 meters. The Hellfire has proved to be highly reliable and accurate.
France, Germany, Italy and Spain are cooperating to develop a new UAV to replace Reaper but this wont be available until the mid-2020s, if then and meanwhile the Reaper is constantly upgraded and continues to set the standard for reliability and capability.
by Austin Bay September 19, 2017
Russian President Vladimir Putin's personally expressed dismay at the collapse of the Soviet Union connects directly to two current events: Russia's war of conquest in Ukraine and the Russian Army's large-scale war games in western Russia and Belarus. By the way, the Russian military calls its war game enemy "The Western Coalition." The name deliberately incriminates NATO, the USSR's Cold War nemesis and an outfit on which Putin ritually blames 21st century Russian woes.
A minor dispute rages over the precise translation of Putin's April 25, 2005, USSR lamentation. Did he say that the USSR's demise was "a major geopolitical disaster of the (20th) century" or that it was the "greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century"?
The BBC and NBC News chose the "catastrophe" translation. Both renditions confirm the USSR's collapse appalled the former KGB colonel, who is now Russia's president.
Putin's dismay says a lot about him. The USSR was a Russian empire with Communist trappings. The czars portrayed themselves as defenders of Orthodox Christianity. The Communist dictators claimed they were the vanguard of global Marxism defending Workers' Paradise. Both regimes relied on gulags, secret police and state terror to maintain power.
Both appealed to Russian ethnic solidarity and nationalist aspirations. In WW2, when invading Nazi armies threatened his regime, Communist dictator Josef Stalin called on the people to defend Mother Russia, not communism.
Putin bewails the lot of Russians living in non-Russian, former Soviet territories. Putin repeatedly claims he must act to protect "cut off" Russians or secure "Russian rights" in these regions. The Kremlin invoked these justifications in 2008 during the Russo-Georgia War. They also provided propaganda cover for the 2014 invasion of Crimea and eastern Ukraine. Protecting ethnic Russians justifies Kremlin support for the rogue Transnistria statelet, a Russified sliver of Moldova. In different disguises (including peacekeeping contingents), the Kremlin has kept a Russian military force in Transnistria since 1992.
In early 2014, Russian agitators orchestrated incidents to "prove" the fiction that violent "Ukrainian fascists" threatened Russians living in Crimea. Such a dire situation! The Kremlin had to take all means necessary to protect ethnic Russians. The Kremlin made the same claim when its proxy forces invaded eastern Ukraine. It continues to use the propaganda trope.
But on March 18, 2014, the Kremlin didn't protect people -- it seized territory and annexed Crimea to Russia. For the first time since WW2, military aggression in Europe by a major European power led to political annexation and territorial expansion. Moreover, Russia violated the Budapest Memorandum of 1994, a multi-lateral diplomatic agreement guaranteeing Ukraine's territorial integrity. That agreement helped stabilize post-Cold War Eastern Europe.
The Crimean annexation and the war with Ukraine are evidence Putin intends to rebuild the USSR, or at least control key parts that would make Greater Russia a global power.
RUBK -- pronounced "rubik" as in in the puzzle Rubik's Cube -- is an acronym for Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Under Kremlin control, the RUBK would have the demographics and natural resources to once again make Greater Russia a global power.
Super-power status takes money and a large number of people (how large is arguable, but 200 million is a plausible figure).
Russia needs Ukraine's immense agricultural productivity.
Russia already wields immense political and economic influence in Kazakhstan; the country is essentially a Kremlin satrap. At the moment Belarus escapes complete Kremlin control. However, several analysts claim the huge on-going war game in Belarus could easily mask an invasion of the country. What does Belarus do if the Russian Army just decides to stay?
Perhaps the Kremlin intends to forward deploy Russian tank divisions in Belarus. Belarus is a route to Kaliningrad, the Russian exclave on the Baltic. The Kremlin wants to "re-connect" Kaliningrad. However, Lithuania and a sliver of Polish territory known as the Suwalki Gap separate Belarus from Kaliningrad. Russians in Kaliningrad are definitely "cut off."
Polish Army units defend the gap. Remember, Poland is a NATO nation, an armed member of that great Western coalition.
The government went public with warnings of continued economic hard times in 2018 because of the persistent low prices for oil and natural gas. Less publicized was the government inability to reform the economy quickly enough to reduce vulnerability to low oil prices. Foreign exchange reserves, essential to pay for imports, fell to $105 billion in mid-2017. Foreign currency reserves were $193 billion in mid- 2014. The government has cut its budget 14 percent in 2017 in order to get the budget deficit down to 8 percent (versus 15 percent in 2016). Even so after five more years of this the foreign currency reserves will be less of a cushion and more of a threat because of all the additional budget cuts.
The new prime minister proposed increasing efforts to attract foreign investment, something the government had avoided in the past because they knew that would not end well (the local corruption is epic and no secret). The solution appears to be allowing Sharia compliant (no interest) banking to attract wealthy Islamic conservatives (who are more comfortable with the corruption) and reforms to the stock market to make it more attractive to foreign investors. The government will also make another effort to go ahead with fracking projects. This means reviving 2015 plans to drill more than 200 natural gas wells in the south (over a thousand kilometers from the coast) and use fracking to extract 20 trillion cubic meters of gas a year. That would bring in over $60 billion a year in sales. There were protests against this program in the south because of the disruption the construction and operation of the wells would bring to the area. The locals also do not trust the government to handle the water problem (lots of water is used in fracking) in a responsible manner. Algeria has one of the largest deposits of frackable natural gas in the world. The need for more income may change minds in Algeria. The continued economic problems has changed attitudes in the areas where fracking would take place.
Algeria has had a serious budget problem ever since the price of oil fell sharply in 2013 and never recovered. While oil prices (and oil income) were up a bit in 2016 (to about $48 a barrel) they have to reach $90 a barrel before national finances return to normal and that will apparently never happen. In 2013, before the price of oil fell over 70 percent from record highs, oil and gas exports accounted for 30 percent of GDP, 95 percent of exports and provided enough income to cover 60 percent of the government budget. The unexpected drop in oil prices brought big changes to Algeria. The government has been largely successful in cutting the budget and finding additional sources of income to cope with this. But these solutions are only temporary because they depend on drawing from foreign exchange reserves each year.
The government cut their budget 17 percent in 2017 after a nine percent cut in 2016. The cuts are necessary to reduce the budget deficit (8 percent of GDP in 2017 versus 15 percent for 2016) and these cuts eliminate a lot of perks the government provided for Algerians over the years to keep the peace. There are limits on how long these deficits and budget cuts can be tolerated. The deficits are covered by drawing on cash reserves built up (to about $200 billion) before 2013. In 2015 these reserves fell 22 percent to $143 billion and in 2016 another 20 percent to $114 billion. In 2017 the goal was to keep the reserves loss to about ten percent (a decline to $102 billion). At mid-year that goal on track to being achieved. Current estimates are that the foreign exchange reserves can be drawn on for ten or more years (supplemented by some foreign loans). After that severe cuts will have to be made and there will be much unrest. To avoid that the government has actually addressed (or at least admitted to) problems like corruption and mismanagement that have long crippled the economy and created popular discontent. This led to the Islamic terrorist uprising of the 1990s that was defeated but not forgotten. The Islamic radicals still have supporters, especially among men under age 30 (about 30 percent of whom are unemployed). The government has tried, especially since 2010, to reduce the youth unemployment rate but so far has not had much success. But the government still has a chance because economic reforms have enabled Algeria to keep GDP growing despite the price of oil dropping fifty percent in the last three years and not showing any sign of increasing.
September 17, 2017: In Jijel Province (365 kilometers east of the capital) a veteran (since 2005) member of AQIM (Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb) surrendered, bringing his AK-47 and useful information with him. Identified only as Abu Osama, he was taking advantages of an amnesty. Police described the man as very dangerous but worn down and discouraged after being sought for so many years.
September 13, 2017: A court found Islamic cleric Mohamed Fali guilty of offending Islam for being the leader of Algerian Ahmadi Moslems. He was released from jail and given a six month suspended sentence. Although the government plays down Islamic radicalism it does tolerate some forms of religious persecution. This is especially true of a minority Islamic sect; the Ahmadi (Ahmadiyya). This sect appeared in India during the 1880s and has been popular enough to get about one percent of all Moslems to join despite constant persecution in most Moslem nations. To most Islamic conservatives and radicals the Ahmadi are heretics and are often attacked and even killed because of their beliefs. The Ahmadi believe in centralized authority for Islam and a separation of church and state. They also have different views on the caliphate and the future of Islam.
Ahmadi first appeared in Algeria during 2007 but that soon got the attention of Moslem conservatives. Moslem sects must register with the government but the Ahmadi refused to do so because their leaders felt that would expose them to rejection by the government and more violence from Islamic conservatives. In Algeria nearly 300 local Ahmadi have been arrested since 2016 because a local Ahmadi group sought a (mandatory) government permit to build a new mosque. Many of those arrested have been prosecuted and fined or sentenced to prison. Because of all the persecution in Moslem nations the Ahmadi world headquarters is in Britain, where the Ahmadi are free to practice their belief that the West is in need of more religion and Ahmadi clerics seek new members from among Moslems and non-Moslems. The Ahmadi dont believe in Islamic terrorism and that makes them tolerable in non-Moslem nations. But for nations like Algeria, to leave the Ahmadi alone is unpopular with a lot of Moslems who dont want Islamic terrorism, or Moslems who are as nonconformist as the Ahmadi.
August 31, 2017: In the northwest (Tiaret Province) an ISIL suicide bomber killed two policemen. This is the second such incident this year. An ISIL attack in February was thwarted and the perpetrators soon found. This time two suspects were arrested on September 8th. Islamic terrorist violence this year is at a record low level.
August 22, 2017: Algeria confirmed it had received the first Russian Buk-M2E mobile SAM (surface to air missile) systems it had ordered and had used some of them in field exercises during July 2017. The Buk-M2E battery consists of a truck mounted command center, one or more surveillance radars (max range 160 kilometers) and four or more 6x6 wheeled vehicles carrying four 9317 missiles. It is unclear home much Buk-M2E equipment Algeria has ordered or how much has been received but it was apparently at least one battery. Development of the Buk M, a radical redesign of the 1960s era SA-6, was completed in 1988, near the end of the Cold War and disintegration of the Soviet Union. This delayed its introduction on a wide scale. Russia was not able to start production until after 2002. When NATO discovered the Buk in the late 1970s they called it the SA-11.
August 15, 2017: The new prime minister was suddenly replaced (by a more reliable veteran politician) after only 80 days in office. Apparently his anti-corruption efforts were too effective and members of the ruling Bouteflika clan demanded action. What happened here did not get much, if any, notice in the local mass media. The basic problem is that Algeria is still a corrupt police state. There are constant reminders of that and since 2015 the government has been quick to punish any journalists who criticize Abdelaziz Bouteflika (the notoriously corrupt president of Algeria since 1999) or members of his family. This included comments posted online. In one notorious case such a critic who lives and posts on the Internet from London was arrested in mid-2016 when he came to Algeria to visit family.
The government has also punished senior officials (often retired) who have gone public with their support for reforms and action on the corruption in the government. In 2015 this led to the arrest of several senior military commanders who had gone public with their opposition to corruption. These military critics are national heroes because they were key leaders during the 1990s war with Islamic terrorists. The government did not having much success in depicting these men as ungrateful traitors. Most Algerians know what is going on here no matter how hard the government tries to spin it in another direction. Thus it came as no surprise in 2016 when a court (apparently following instructions from frightened politicians) ruled that Issad Rebrab could not buy a popular newspaper (with the largest circulation in the country) and its affiliated TV channel. Rebrab is a self-made billionaire who owns numerous enterprises in Algeria and France. Rebrab is one of the ten wealthiest businessman in Africa and long a critic of the corrupt Bouteflika clan.
The government has become more obvious and energetic in its efforts to shut down mass media (especially radio or TV stations) that spends too much time covering the various corrupt scams the wealthy and well-connected can still get away with. Officially the government is addressing the corruption problem but what is noticed most are efforts to suppress discussions of the corruption that still flourishes. The Bouteflika clan is not stupid and has been trying to improve the economy but that has proved difficult when so many members (and friends) of the Bouteflika clan have to be taken care of financially. Officially all the scams the Bouteflika clan have carried out are legal but even many judges and lawyers disagree although few will go public with this unless they flee the country. The last thing the Bouteflikas want is a self-made and popular businessman like Rebrab to gain control of the largest newspaper and TV channel in the country and start spreading the truth. Rebrab has the lawyers, cash and friends to block government efforts to silence him and this is a quiet revolution that appears to be just getting started.
The best browser for your Mac is the one that comes with your Mac. Safari is faster and more energy efficient than other browsers, so sites are more responsive and your notebook battery lasts longer between charges. Built-in privacy features are stronger than ever. It works with iCloud to let you browse seamlessly across all your devices. And it gives you great ways to find and share your favorites. Put it all together, and no other browser offers such a rich web experience.
Other download links:
What's New
New Features
Redesigned the Safari user interface in macOS 12, iOS and iPadOS 15, along with adding Tab Groups and customization sync.
Authentication and Passwords
Added support for Verification Codes to the iCloud Keychain Password Manager. To use verification codes with Safari and Autofill:
Use autocomplete=one-time-code to make an eligible for AutoFill.
eligible for AutoFill. Use a standard otpauth URL and replace the scheme with apple-otpauth to link directly to the password manager for setup.
Use a raster image to enable contextual menus on otpauth QR codes that offer to set up a verification code generator.
Added technology preview of passkeys in iCloud Keychain:
Passkeys are WebAuth credentials intended to replace passwords for website and apps with device sync and backup.
To Enable the technology preview, in Safari choose Develop > Enable Syncing Platform Authenticator.
CSS
Added support for aspect-ratio for box elements.
Added support for lab(), lch(), hwb() color syntaxes.
Added support for predefined color spaces using the color() syntax: srgb, display-p3, a98-rgb, prophoto-rgb, rec2020, xyz.
Adjusted environment variable calculations where appropriate to adjust for the safe area of the new iOS design.
HTML
Redesigned form controls in iOS.
Added support for the theme-color meta tag to change the tab bar background and over-scroll area in macOS and iPadOS, and the status bar in iOS.
Added support for the media attribute to specify theme-color meta tags for Dark Mode and light appearance.
JavaScript
Added top-level await.
Added support for ES6 Modules in Workers and ServiceWorkers.
Added support for Error.cause.
Added support for private class methods and accessors (Safari 14.1 added support for private data member syntax).
Added support for BigInt64Array and BigUint64Array.
Media
Added support for the MediaSession API to enable SharePlay experiences.
Added Playback Speed and Chapters menus to built-in media controls.
Added hardware accelerated VP9 and WebM in MSE on all iPads that support iPadOS 15.
Added support for the Opus audio codec in WebM containers.
Security & Privacy
Added support for automatic HTTPS upgrades.
Added IP address hiding from known trackers which users can enable in Safari Preferences.
Private Click Measurement enhancements for privacy-preserving ad click attribution:
Updated attribution reporting to also send reports to the click destination.
Added click fraud prevention with un-linkable tokens.
Added IP address protection for attribution reports.
Payments
Added support for indicating an estimated arrival date for shipping methods.
Added support for the user to enter a coupon code.
Added support for marking the shipping method as in-store pickup.
WebAssembly
Added support for streaming compilation.
Added support for bulk memory operations.
Added support for reference types.
Added support for non-trapping conversions from float to int.
Web APIs
Added support for WebGL 2. The implementation of WebGL runs on top of Metal for better performance.
Added support for Web Share level 2 enhancements to Web Share that enable sharing files from a web page to an app. See Web Share API for more information.
User gestures now propagate through requestAnimationFrame with a one second time limit.
Web Extensions
Amazon and Kohl's have inked a deal to allow Amazon customers to make returns to Kohl's stores. For now, the program will be fairly limited with just 82 locations participating in Chicago and the Los Angeles area.
Returns made to Kohl's will be processed free of charge and don't have to be packaged for shipping by the customer. Kohl's will handle any packaging necessary and ship returns back to Amazon on your behalf. Most items will likely be eligible for return although reasonable size and weight restrictions may apply.
With parking coming at a premium in these two densely populated areas, designated parking spots for customers making Amazon returns will be provided.
Earlier this month, the two announced a new Amazon smart home experience featuring Alexa-enabled devices that'll be trialed in 10 select stores.
Amazon has continued to make large investments into retail operations, most recently with the acquisition of Whole Foods. The company, often blamed for the demise of brick-and-mortar stores, is showing that growth in sales cannot solely rely on online orders.
The new program will launch in October but individual stores may take time to introduce Amazon products and services to their locations.
He will hold meetings with the top representatives of some 10 countries, including China, Egypt, the U.S., the UK, and Germany. | Read More
Silicon Valley, China, Electric Utilities and Investment Bankers On Their Way To Disrupt The Auto Industry and The Historic Need For Traditional Car Companies
SEE ALSO: General Motors Calls for National Zero Emissions Vehicle (NZEV) Program
TMC PRESIDENT AKIO TOYODA'S TAKE November 28, 2017; "Over the next 100 years, there is no guarantee that automobile manufacturers will continue to play leading roles in mobility. A crucial battle has begunnot one about winning or losing, but one about surviving or dying.
EDITOR'S NOTE #1 - February 11, 2017: I have just returned from the Chicago Auto Show, where the President of GM and Head designer for FCA spent most of their presentation time talking about this autonomous crap...and now the Ford 1 billion dollar investment in AI...don't the car company executives realize they are setting themselves up to be eaten like this Romeo of a praying mantis...buh bye auto industry buh bye...if you can't beat them buy them.
EDITOR'S NOTE #2 - January 9, 2017: I'm here in Detroit at the Wake for the historic auto industry which is taking place at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show, forget about love of cars, forget about a relationship with your car, forget about driving and the freedom it allows, because folks in the new world run by digital geeks personal cars will be replaced by "Transportation Appliances" (copyright, 2017 The Auto Channel)...more later.
Originally Published January 8, 2016
SEE UPDATES Scroll down below article
By Bob Gordon
President and Co-publisher
The Auto Channel
AUTO CENTRAL - January 8, 2016: After this past weeks onslaught of self-serving ulterior motivated Silicon Valley originated and paid for propaganda about the autonomous car at CES - Consumer Electronics Show, and the rolling stone momentum pushed along by the digital claque, including sycophants in the press (c/net, Tech Crunch, Silicon Valley Savants, My Digit Is Bigger than Yours, ETC.), along with I'm sorry to say, snake-oil lovers from within the auto business, I couldn't take it anymore and had to react.
Two weeks ago, November 27, 2015, The Auto Channel published a position paper Autonomous Driving May Kill The Automobile Industry in which we opined that there is a momentum building that will change cars and driving forever, in fact we believe that with a ubiquitous mandating (which short sighted politicos love) of autonomous vehicles, the auto industry will dry up and go the way of the horse and carriage...
We believe the Silicon Valley promoted appliance-izing of the car will eliminate any need for differentiation in performance, driving capabilities thus eliminating any need for multiple vehicle manufacturers and worst of all, the inevitable development of a Central Road Control Network will enable a system that can be easily co-opted to eliminate our collective freedom of mobility.
Our belief is, just as know-nothing digital geeks made billion of dollars by disrupting the advertising business, for the we say worst, so will they disrupt the car business and profit from the one size fits all vehicle thus eliminating the desire to Love Your Vehicle, and the need to manufacture option filled and designed unique automobiles.
For the past two weeks The Auto Channel stood alone in our belief that modern digital driving gadgets on vehicles are actually helping to solve some safe driving issues, but taken to its promoted end will encourage shallow thinkers to support a harmful and self serving fully digitally driven automotive world.
Below are links to stories (more to come) from others who like The Auto Channel believe as we do that the implementation of helpful driving safety options is not an invitation to change the way we feel about our vehicles and not an invitation to profit from our lack of mobility options. Let me know what you think, bgordon@theautochannel.com
Google and FCA To "Partner" On Car Tech (Come right in my little chickadee) (Oh Grandma you have such big eyes) (Come right in and Have some gingerbread cookies children) (Peace in our time) (No I won't ---- in your mouth)
DENVER, Sept. 19, 2017; The Dead Sea Scrolls," the exhibition that has captivated millions around the world, will open at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science on March 16. The presenting sponsor is Sturm Family Foundation, with major support from Lorie and Henry Gordon.
The regional premiere of this exhibition is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see authentic Dead Sea Scrolls, ancient manuscripts that include the oldest known Biblical documents dating back over 2,000 years. The scrolls will be dramatically presented within a massive exhibit case featuring carefully regulated individual chambers, along with the full English translation.
In addition, the largest collection of artifacts from the Holy Land ever assembled for display will allow guests to explore the traditions, beliefs and iconic objects of ancient Israel that continue to impact world cultures today. The hundreds of objects include inscriptions and seals, weapons, stone carvings, terra cotta figurines, remains of religious symbols, coins, shoes, textiles, mosaics, ceramics and jewelry.
The experience features a re-creation of the Western Wall from the old city of Jerusalem with an actual three-ton stone from the wall believed to have fallen in 70 BCE. Guests may leave their handwritten notes with prayers that will be sent to Israel and placed at the wall. The tradition of putting notes between the stones began centuries ago.
The Dead Sea Scrolls represent one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. In 1947, a Bedouin goat herder stumbled upon a hidden cave along the shore of the Dead Sea, near the site of the ancient settlement of Qumran. Concealed within the cave were scrolls that had not been seen for 2,000 years. After extensive excavation, 972 remarkably preserved scrolls were uncovered, leading to decades of extraordinary scrutiny, debate and awe.
"This extraordinary opportunity brings our community face-to-face with real documents that are not only central to some of the world's major religions but also to the origins of Western civilization," said George Sparks, President and CEO of the Museum.
"Sturm Family Foundation is honored to help bring these world heritage artifacts to Denver," said Don Sturm, founder of the Sturm Family Foundation.
"The Dead Sea Scrolls" is organized by the Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA).
About the Denver Museum of Nature & Science
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the Rocky Mountain Region's leading resource for informal science education. Our mission is to be catalyst and ignite the community's passion for nature and science. The Museum envisions an empowered community that loves, understands, and protects our natural world. As such, a variety of engaging exhibits, discussions and activities help Museum visitors celebrate and understand the wonders of Colorado, Earth, and the universe. The Museum is located at 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO, 80205. To learn more about the Museum, visit dmns.org, or call 303-370-6000. Many of the Museum's educational programs and exhibits are made possible in part by the citizens of the seven-county metro area through the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District. The Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Connect with the Museum on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
SAVANNAH, Ga., Sept. 19, 2017 -- Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. recently marked the five-year anniversary of the Gulfstream G650's type certification by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with a look back at the aircraft's esteemed history.
Announced in March 2008, the G650 had one of business aviation's most successful product launches, with more than 200 firm orders following the aircraft's introduction. With a nonstop range of 5,000 nautical miles/9,260 kilometers at Mach 0.90 and 7,000/12,964 at Mach 0.85, the aircraft established its position at the top end of the business jet market, a position it retains today.
In flight test, the G650 exceeded original range projections, allowing Gulfstream to announce enhanced range of 6,000 nm/11,112 km at Mach 0.90. In May 2014, the company introduced the Gulfstream G650ER, an extended-range variant of the G650, with the ability to travel 6,400 nm/11,853 km at Mach 0.90 and 7,500/13,890 at Mach 0.85.
"The G650 set a new standard in business aviation, whether for its unmatched range and payload, industry-low cabin sound levels, or its award-winning four-living-area interior," said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. "It has redefined what business jet operators could expect from their aircraft."
The G650 received its FAA type certificate on Sept. 7, 2012, and entered service on Dec. 20, 2012. Today, more than 250 G650 and G650ER aircraft operate in 40 countries.
The G650 has become the fastest non-supersonic aircraft to circumnavigate the globe, having flown westbound around the world in a record-setting 41 hours and 7 minutes and claiming 22 city pair speed records along the way. In total, the G650 and G650ER have set 65 city-pair records.
The G650 also earned the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy, which is presented annually for innovation in performance, safety and efficiency of air or space vehicles.
NOTE TO READERS
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics , designs, develops, manufactures, markets, services and supports the world's most technologically advanced business-jet aircraft. Gulfstream has produced more than 2,600 aircraft for customers around the world since 1958. To meet the diverse transportation needs of the future, Gulfstream offers a comprehensive fleet of aircraft, comprising the Gulfstream G280, the Gulfstream G550, the Gulfstream G500, the Gulfstream G600, the Gulfstream G650 and the Gulfstream G650ER. Gulfstream also offers aircraft ownership services via Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft Sales. We invite you to visit our website for more information and photos at www.gulfstreamnews.com.
More information about General Dynamics is available at www.generaldynamics.com.
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/09/2017 (1881 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Steinbach city council resolved to maintain its four core policing priorities for the 2017-2018 fiscal year following a Tuesday presentation from RCMP Staff Sgt. Harold Laninga.
Police visibility will continue to be the citys top priority, followed by crime reduction efforts in three areas: drugs and organized crime, property crimes, and traffic offences.
Laninga supported councils ordering of the priorities, noting they are appropriate for a city the size of Steinbach and align well with the policing directives of surrounding municipalities.
They match very closely with what Ottawa is asking us to do, Laninga said.
Councillors also compared second-quarter crime occurrence statistics from 2016 and 2017. The numbers indicated fewer impaired driving and drug offences occurred, and showed a drop in traffic accidents, assaults, and theft under $5,000.
Meanwhile, provincial traffic offences jumped, as did the number of break and enters and harassments. Mischief to property remained relatively consistent.
Overall, the second quarter of 2017 saw 514 recorded offences, compared to 438 in the same three-month period last year.
Citing six-month statistics for each year, Laninga said it is evident the detachments concentrated crackdown on driving-related offences is paying off.
However, his presentation also indicated the Manitoba RCMPs personnel shortages are affecting the Steinbach detachment, which he said has operated its general investigative services (GIS) unit for the past three to four months.
The specialized unit handles drug and other larger investigations, freeing up other officers to concentrate on daily callouts, Laninga explained.
He anticipated the GIS unit will be restaffed this fall, as two officers are in the process of transferring to the detachment.
Even with staffing challenges, Councillor Earl Funk said residents are consistently seeing more police cruisers around the city.
I know thats bringing these numbers down, he said.
Councillor Michael Zwaagstra concurred, noting visibility is crucial for crime prevention.
The more visibility we have, the more safe and secure people feel, and the less likely that people are going to be committing crimes, he observed.
On behalf of council, Mayor Chris Goertzen thanked Laninga for the work done by local RCMP.
Its commendable, he said. Youre involved in the community and youre keeping us informed.
After the meeting, Goertzen said he was especially pleased to see a drop in impaired driving occurrences.
We want to continue to see that move in a downward trend, he remarked.
While he called the personnel shortage in Steinbach and other communities concerning, he reiterated his faith in the RCMPs plan to address the issue, and said the city has earmarked funds for more GIS unit officers.
Wed like to see those positions filled, he said, adding the topic will be raised during his meeting with D Division in the coming month.
Photo: Brian T. Evans/Getty Images
Two years ago, below a New York Times recipe for Katharine Hepburns brownies, a woman named Sydne Newberry left what is perhaps the greatest recipe comment of all time, in a genre known for excellence.
In merely 74 words she introduces us to tension, to intrigue, and to a plot twist so stark and shocking it has haunted those who read it long after they closed their browser window:
This has been my go-to brownie recipe for 30 years. In the 80s, an acquaintance in Germany to whom I brought some of the brownies, and who considered herself a great cook, asked for the recipe but was never able to get it to work. She kept asking me what she was doing wrong and I was never able to solve her problem. Eventually, she moved to the U.S. and stole my husband!
Newberrys comment is considered the Times moderating teams all-time favorite and has made the rounds on Twitter several times. After its latest brush with virality, the Cut reached out to Newberry for the backstory. Shes a nutritionist, evidence reviewer, and research communications analyst based in Los Angeles who reviews medical literature and writes reports for federal agencies.
Heres her version of the events behind The Brownie Comment.
She wrote that she first met the acquaintance when her then-husband of eight years was on temporary duty for the Air Force in Germany (their husbands at the time knew each other). Newberry brought them the brownies and after the acquaintance described as a gorgeous Italian woman who was very proud of her cooking and was a real food snob asked her for the recipe, they went back and forth in the mail trying to get it to work. When it didnt take, she insinuated that Id purposely left something out of the recipe.
Three years later, Newberry continued, the acquaintance visited and said that she and her husband had broken up.
A couple weeks into the visit, I ran into a neighbor who lived behind the construction site [Ed. Note: Newberry said that her then-husband was building a second house on their property at the time], who asked me if it bothered me that my husband and the woman were fooling around! I didnt actually believe the neighbor until a week or so later, I came home and caught the two of them. The woman hightailed it back to Germany, I went to stay with a friend and gave my husband an ultimatum, she shared. He said he wanted to stay married to me, but then he immediately headed back to Germany for another business trip! I took the opportunity of his absence to move out. A few months later, she was back but I never spoke another word to her.
But the next chapter of Newberrys life was a happy one: she moved to D.C. and married her current husband, whom she calls the love of her life. And whats his relationship to the brownies? Ironically, he didnt taste the brownies for years, because hed always been allergic to eggs. He finally discovered hed outgrown the egg allergy when he decided to go to culinary school! He loves the brownies! Reader: he loves the brownies!
As for the other womans brownies? Even after going to baking school, I never figured out what went wrong with the womans brownies and I sure never cared to ask her, Newberry concluded. Although Ive modified the recipe a tiny bit recently I still love it and think of it as Katharine Hepburns brownie recipe. And I cant think of it without thinking of that little twist of irony.
Newly remodeled facility houses LHSs automotive and welding classes
LEXINGTON The site where Lexington High Schools welding and automotive technology classes are taught was opened to the public last week for tours.
The Skills Armory is a newly renovated building specifically designed to accommodate the two vocational programs.
Lexington Public Schools Superintendent John Hakonson said the buildings name pays homage to its history as a National Guard Armory and reflects its current use of "arming students with skills." Hakonson credits former welding teacher Michael Jorgensen with the name suggestion.
"We have what a normal shop would have," said teacher Shane Schmidt, who knows the automotive industry well, having formerly been a mechanic for 25 years, most recently at Fifth Street Automotive. He is in his fourth year of teaching.
He helped plan the remodel of the former National Guard Armory purchased by LPS for $10,000 in 2013 to make it suitable as an automotive classroom and shop.
"I was here before they even had shops ready to go," he said. He toured schools with similar programs to get ideas and made recommendations to school administrators.
"I think it is great that Lexington is teaching the technical trades," said Schmidt. "Lexington is at the head of the curve. Theyve jumped on it and built a nice facility."
Schmidt said there are no prerequisites for students to enroll in LHSs automotive program, but classes are progressive. Students determine how far they want to advance and can receive college credit from Central Community College, up to 12 credits.
While there is a limit of 14 students per class the average now is 10 students.
Schmidt teaches students basic soldering, drill and tapping holes, measurements using micrometers, basic automotive care, oil changes, rotating tires, how to change a tire, wash and wax, protecting a car from the elements, scratch repair, car insurance and buying a car.
Equipment acquired by the school includes a hoist, eight boxes of hand tools, a tire changer, a wheel balancer, a brake lathe and specialty tools such as tap and die set. There is also a glass bead machine for cleaning parts and a parts washer.
Schmidt said he has a fleet of five donated cars which are used for teaching students how to take things apart and put them back together. A run stand holds an engine which can operate without being in a car if it is wired correctly.
Additionally, sometimes students or school staff offer vehicles to work on for specific tasks.
For example, Schmidt might send out an email to staff notifying them that students will be learning about brakes, to see if anyone has brakes that need to be worked on.
"Were not trying to become a mechanic shop," said Schmidt. "(But) it gives the kids real work experience."
Schmidt teaches four automotive classes a day, each taught during a 90-minute block of time. For some students, it means starting the school day at 7:10 a.m., nearly an hour before the regular school day starts.
"That shows the dedication of the kids who are doing it, that they are motivated to get up," said Schmidt.
For those who want, Schmidt remains on site after school to help students work on extra projects or something there wasnt time to do during class.
Schmidt said the automotive courses can help students narrow down what they would like to pursue in life as a career. Even if they say "this is not what I want to do" the knowledge isnt wasted because "everybody is going to drive."
Schmidt said one disadvantage of the program is being off site from the high school because some students arent even aware the classes are happening. He said having a name on the building now might help. The Skills Armory is located at 302 S. Washington St. next to Arbor Park.
"Its exciting," said first year teacher Weston Ogden of being in the facility. "Its kind of like moving into a new house."
Ogden teaches a total of 35 students in three 90-minute welding classes, plus an introduction to engineering class at the high school.
Ogden said the school has equipment for 12 welding booths or stations, lined up in a row, within a large workroom next to an area designed for bigger or custom projects. There is also a plasma table. One of the most expensive items in the building is a dust collector and air compressor.
Ogden said students have been working on making individual metal tables for the school. He said he teaches them, "Your weld will become your signature."
"Later on down the road they will be able to come back and say, I did that," he said.
Ogden said his goal is to get students to the point where they could get a job or enroll in a trade school for more welding instruction
"In three years I cant teach them everything, but I can teach them enough of everything they can go forward," he said.
For teaching purposes, in practicing types of welds, students will work on projects such as building a stock car or repairing heavy equipment. Some projects will be in cooperation with the automotive technology students with the finished project sold to generate funds for SkillsUSA.
"Im trying to show them the broad horizon of it," said Ogden, of the variety of fields open to someone with welding skills, from auto mechanics or aviation.
Odgen said he will teach how to do a job and the opportunities that are out there.
"I want them to be confident to go out and search for a job and know they can do it," he said.
Resumes and job interviews are also part of the class, along with the basics of hard work and ethics.
Ogden said a quote in his classroom sums up why he promotes positive motivation, attitude and thinking as resulting in a positive outcome. It reads: "Thoughts become things, choose good ones."
Richard Archie Rick Hallan, 74, of Lexington, died Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017, at Plum Creek Healthcare Community in Lexington.
It was Richards wishes that his body be cremated. The family has honored those wishes.
A Memorial Celebration of his Life will be held at a later date.
He was born Jan. 5, 1943, in Bemidji, Minn., to Archie and Ruth (Berg) Hallan. He moved to Iroquois, S. D., as a young man, where he attended school.
He joined the United States Army June 28, 1963, and served until his honorable discharge on June 15, 1968. He was united in marriage to Patricia Chambers on Dec. 5, 1965, in Iroquois, S. D. Three children were born to this union, Cheri, Kevin, and Mike.
The family moved to Lexington in 1975, where Richard was a police officer with the LPD. He moved to Valley in 1985, where he also worked as a police officer. It was during this time he semi-retired, returned to Lexington and worked for a time at Napa. He then fully retired.
Richard enjoyed fishing, hunting, and camping.
Survivors include his children, Cheri (Scott) Saunders of Lexington, Kevin Hallan of Overton and Mike Hallan of Lexington; five grandchildren, Christopher (Kendra) Saunders Kristina (Domonic) Ernesti, Krystal (Joe) Shirley, Joe Saunders, and Trevor (Kelsey Dangler) Hallan, all of Lexington; three great-grandchildren, Carson, Kye, and Zach; also surviving is the mother of his children; Pat Hallan of Lexington.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
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We Britons are Europeans!Wir Briten sind Europaer! Nous, les Britanniques, sommes europeens ! Mark AlexanderEmail me at:markalexander.librabunda@gmail.com
What's next for SD Gov. Kristi Noem as she heads into her second term?
Jeffrey Mezger, the chief executive of KB Home, one of largest homebuilders in the United States, was captured on audio Saturday night yelling at his neighbour, comedian Kathy Griffin, using a series of sexist and homophobic slurs.
The crude comments prompted an immediate backlash against Mezger, whose company is the sixth-largest publicly traded homebuilder in the country, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
Criticism quickly followed the publication of Mezgers recorded rant Tuesday. Suze Orman, the former CNBC host, expressed disgust at the idea of buying a property from KB Home. You really want to buy a home from this man? she wrote on Twitter. Beyond Disgusting!
The episode was apparently the culmination of a series of disputes involving Mezger, Griffin and Griffins boyfriend, Randy Bick, who are neighbours in an exclusive gated community in the upscale Bel Air neighbourhood of Los Angeles.
The couple called the police Saturday night to complain of noise coming from Mezgers backyard, according to HuffPost, which published the recording. Mezgers tirade, which was recorded by security cameras at Griffins home, began once officers arrived.
Evidently angry that law enforcement was summoned at 9 p.m. to a gathering that included his three young grandchildren, their mother and his wife, Mezger can be heard referring to Griffin in derogatory terms, including a crude reference to the female anatomy and a disparaging term for lesbians.
Mezger also referred to Griffins shaved head, meant to show support for her sister, Joyce, a cancer patient who died Thursday, according to a Twitter post from the comedian.
On the recording, Mezger also indirectly referred to a photo shoot from May in which Griffin posed with a mask of U.S. President Donald Trump that was covered in fake blood. Griffin apologized for the episode, but it nonetheless resulted in the loss of her place on CNNs annual New Years Eve broadcast.
Griffin is someone whom Donald Trump kind of put the heat on, he said.
In a statement, KB Home said Mezger had apologized to Griffin. The statement, however, also sought to explain the history between the neighbours and pointed out that the recording appeared to have been edited.
Having said that, Mr. Mezger regrets losing his temper and the language he used, the company said. It does not reflect who he is or what he believes.
The statement said that, while Mezger does not believe there is any excuse for his behaviour, there had been a series of unneighborly actions by Griffin and Bick.
Griffin and Bick have called the police and security from the local homeowners association between seven and 10 times, according to the statement.
The homeowners group declined to comment. Griffin and Bick did not respond to messages left Tuesday evening.
Mezger is well regarded in Southern California business circles. He joined KB Home in 1993 and took over as chief executive in 2006.
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Toronto companies that want to grow their export business should think about looking to Europe in addition to Asia, according to a report released Wednesday by the international trade development arm of the Toronto Region Board of Trade.
Europe presents the most opportunities for Toronto region businesses seeking to export, according to the report from World Trade Centre Toronto.
The report focused on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), those with fewer than 500 employees.
Considering the European Unions Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is on the verge of implementation, Toronto-based businesses should be actively exploring business opportunities in Europe and working with international trade service providers . . . to build export plans.
In fact, the report identified a lot of room to grow exports Canada-wide.
While only 4 per cent of SMEs in Canada export goods, an average of 25 per cent of SMEs in Germany, France, Japan and the United Kingdom do, according to data cited in the report.
And 77 per cent of Canadian export activity is with one international market the United States.
Most of Ontario-based exports are destined for the United States, according to the report. By way of comparison, any business that derives 75 per cent or more of its revenue from a single customer, puts itself at risk of going under. The need to diversify Ontario exports is great.
The report goes on to say that while the Toronto region has the second highest concentration of industries in North America that make goods that can be exported, it is underperforming on the global stage.
The hope is that making international trade opportunities easier to identify may result in more businesses willing to develop plans for export to new countries.
There are tremendous growth markets for our sectors its a question of getting them comfortable with exporting and also getting them information they need to know about which markets to pursue, said Jan De Silva, president and chief executive officer, Toronto Region Board of Trade.
According to the report, 76 per cent of Canadas goods exports are generated by just 500 businesses.
If Canada increased its share of SMEs exporting to the same level as large firms, it would mean an extra 219,000 businesses would be in a position to generate an additional $255 billion in new export activity, De Silva pointed out.
The report is meant to help guide inbound and outbound missions for the Boards World Trade Centre and the regions municipalities.
Were going to be building a three-year calendar that is looking at 10 outbound missions per year, De Silva said, adding that the trips will be made with mayors from different municipalities, not just Toronto.
The study came up with a list of the Toronto regions top seven export sectors and the best global markets for them for them to sell products and services.
The sectors included aerospace, automotive, food and beverages, human health and sciences and three emerging sectors: fintech (financial technology), citytech (smart cities software, infrastructure) and cleantech (solar panel manufacturing, wind turbines, water conservation technology.)
For example, the study found that while France is currently the largest market for aerospace exports, Germany is Ontarios fastest-growing marketplace and companies in the aerospace industry could increase sales by drafting an export development plan for Germany.
Asia offers the second largest number of opportunities and fastest-growing opportunities, according to the report, with the federal government actively pursuing deals with Asian countries and Asia being one of the most visited regions for trade missions.
According to the report, Canadian trade data needs to be updated and made less complex: for historical reasons, its possible to measure the movement of goods for traditional industries, but some new industries have not been classified and there is no way to track the flow of services internationally.
The system also needs to get better at tracking data at the city and metropolitan levels, according to the reports authors.
Ron Koslowsky, Manitoba vice-president, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, questioned the figure in the report that pegged the percentage of SMEs exporting in Canada at 4 per cent.
That figure doesnt seem to reflect the reality of commerce in Manitoba, which does not have the same highly and densely populated markets as Ontario, making Manitoba companies more likely to focus on exports.
Over here, you dont get enough butter on your bread if all you serve is the local market, said Koslowsky.
Essentially weve been forced to looking into the U.S. and other markets. I would say the majority of all our members would be exporting in one way or another.
Trade talk
99% of businesses in Canada are SMEs
4% of SMEs in Canada export
97% of goods exporters in Canada are SMEs
25% of goods exports is generated by SMEs
Source: Statistics Canada & Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada
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Toys R Us Canada wants to continue to pay its foreign suppliers, while leaving its North American suppliers to collect whatever money is left at the end of the insolvency process, according to documents filed Tuesday in Ontario Superior Court.
The move would ensure the Canadian subsidiary of the global toy retailer which applied for creditor protection in the U.S. on Monday and in Canada a day later has an uninterrupted supply of merchandise as it heads into the busy holiday shopping season.
In North America, when a company seeks creditor protection, suppliers are required to continue supplying goods without collecting on owed balances.
Suppliers that dont can be held in contempt of court and possibly jailed, but that provision is difficult or in some cases, impossible to enforce abroad, according to Lou Brzezinski, a partner in Blaney McMurtrys commercial litigation group.
Its not fair to Canadian suppliers, said Brzezinski, who represented suppliers in the Target Canada insolvency and in the current Sears Canada insolvency.
Foreign suppliers are, in fact, given an advantage because they dont abide by the law, whereas Canadian companies that abide by the law are not being paid, said Brzezinski, adding that the ruling affects U.S. suppliers as well, under North American treaty agreements.
Brzezinski said that while its unusual to have a company declare its going to pay its overseas vendors and not local ones, in practice its known to happen.
According to the court documents filed in Toronto in support of the insolvency under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) on Tuesday, business at Toys R Us stores in Canada was good, but got bogged down by credit issues facing its corporate parent in the U.S.
Operating legally under the name Toys Canada, Toys R Us has 82 stores in 10 Canadian provinces 35 in Ontario and employs 4,000 people, increasing to more than 6,000 during the holiday season.
Globally, Toys R Us operates or licenses more than 1,950 stores in 38 countries and jurisdictions, employing 60,000 full- and part-time employees.
The bankruptcy filing in the U.S. estimated the company has more than $5 billion (U.S.) in debt, which it pays around $400 million a year to service, according to Bloomberg. The company has struggled with debt since private-equity firms Bain Capital, KKR & Co. and Vornado Realty Trust took it private in a $6.6 billion leveraged buyout in 2005.
The company, in the middle of building inventory for the holiday season, which generates about 40 per cent of its yearly revenue, would have run out of money within two weeks, according to its financial advisor.
The breathing room afforded by the CCAA and Chapter 11 proceedings will preserve value for stakeholders, while enabling Toys Canada to continue to operate without disruption as it moves into the holiday season, according to the affidavit of Melanie Teed-Murch, president of Toys R Us Canada since August 2016.
Toys Canada expects to work closely with the broader Toys R Us group over the coming months to consider a range of restructuring alternatives and operational initiatives to position Toys Canada and the wider Toys R Us group for financial and operations success upon emerging from creditor protection.
Toys Canada has more than 700 suppliers, but products supplied by its top 10 suppliers account for a significant percentage of all merchandise purchased by the Canadian business, according to Teed-Murch.
With a file from Bloomberg
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WINNIPEGDonald Trumps policy on trade since becoming U.S. president has been all about putting America First. But in one corner of the commodity world, his actions are having the opposite effect.
In a move intended to protect the domestic lumber industry, the U.S. this year slapped duties of as much as 31 per cent on imports of timber from Canada, which supplies more than a quarter of what American builders use each year. Prices surged, increasing costs for American buyers and boosting profit for Canadian producers.
Shares of Canadian softwood lumber producers Canfor Corp. and West Fraser Timber Co. are outperforming their American peers with gains of more than 40 per cent this year, placing them among the top performers on the BI Global Paper and Wood Products Index. By contrast, shares of U.S. rival Weyerhaeuser Co. are up about 10 per cent.
Read more:
How Canada is expanding its softwood lumber markets: Carr
Canadian lumber producers get temporary relief with end of preliminary duties
Lumber futures jumped 16 per cent in 2017 as U.S. trade limits and western wildfires spark concerns over limited supplies, just as communities in Texas and Florida begin to rebuild after devastating hurricanes in the past month. That means more gains ahead for Canfor and West Fraser, which have more exposure to softwood-lumber prices than their American peers, including Weyerhaeuser and Potlatch Corp., according to Christoph Butz, a senior investment manager of timber funds at Pictet Asset Management in Geneva.
There is no way lumber prices can nosedive, said Butz, whose firm is one of the largest shareholders of Vancouver-based Canfor. Canadian producers have a much stronger direct exposure, since that is really the bulk of the business, he said.
Disputes between the countries over softwood lumber have caused intermittent friction for years. Canadas share of the U.S. lumber market averaged 28 per cent under a previous trade agreement, Joshua Zaret, a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst, said in a March report, citing data from the Congressional Research Service.
Tensions escalated in April when the Trump administration imposed preliminary countervailing duties of as much as 24 per cent on Canadian imports. Additional duties of as much as 7.7 per cent followed in June. But most of those increases have been passed along to consumers.
This is a strong market, Zaret said. If it were a weak market, they wouldnt be able to push through prices and theyd have to eat the tariffs.
The U.S. tariffs sent lumber prices surging at a time when demand from homebuilders was already strong, Butz said. While the lions share of the Canadian producers business is directly linked to lumber, the American companies have more investments in private U.S. timberlands and mills in the nations south, where log prices havent increased as much, he said.
Prices have gone up and the U.S. market has absorbed the prices, said Philippe Couillard, the premier of Quebec, Canadas second-largest lumber-exporting province.
In Canada, not a single worker has been laid off, not a single plant has been closed, Couillard said in a Sept. 18 interview. So, the people suffering from this battle are the U.S. consumer and the people wanting to build their homes or renovate their homes.
The trade dispute pushed up material costs for house builders in the U.S. by 20 per cent, Jerry Howard, chief executive officer of the National Association of Home Builders, said last month.
On the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, lumber futures are up 25 per cent over the past 12 months to $381.80 per 1,000 board feet. Prices have room to keep climbing, said Kevin Mason, managing director of Vancouver-based ERA Forest Products Research. Lumber could reach $400 over the next month if mills start running low on logs after wildfires in some key forest areas, Mason said.
Wildfires in western parts of Canada, along with some in the U.S., are threatening tree supplies and have prompted limitations on log harvesting, Mason said. An infestation of the mountain pine beetle also has eaten away at timber in the Canadian province of British Columbia, the worlds biggest exporter of softwood lumber.
Output threats can become a bit of a double-edged sword for Canadas producers. On the one hand, theyre likely to keep lumber prices high. But wildfires and pests also could hurt sales and impede the ability of companies to deliver large volumes. That could mean a boost for other global suppliers.
All that lumber needs to come from somewhere, Butz of Pictet said.
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Toronto Star reporter Tanya Talaga is one of five finalists for the prestigious Hilary Weston Writers Trust Prize for Nonfiction. The winner, to be announced in November, will take home $60,000.
The prize is open to non-fiction books published in Canada. The short list was selected from 100 titles submitted by 54 publishers across the country by a jury comprised of journalist and journalism professor Susan Harada, environmental journalist Arno Kopecky and science writer Siobhan Roberts.
And now they will choose from these five finalists:
Ivan Coyote, Tomboy Survival Guide, Arsenal Pulp Press, for their book of stories that explores their tomboy past and mapping their way through gender labels and landscapes.
Kyo Maclear, Birds Art Life, Doubleday Canada, for her memoir, written while her father was in a period of poor health, that was inspired by a most unlikely source: Torontos birds.
James Maskalyk, Life on the Ground Floor: Letters from the Edge of Emergency Medicine, Doubleday Canada, for his book that draws on his experience in emergency rooms around the world Toronto, Addis Ababa, Cambodia, Bolivia a look at health, sickness and what it means to be alive.
Carol Off, All We Leave Behind: A Reporters Journey into the Lives of Others, Random House Canada, about the Afghan man with whom she spoke for a story, and the subsequent eight-year journey she became involved with to help him come to Canada.
Tanya Talaga, Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City, House of Anansi Press, which takes a look at the deaths of seven Indigenous high school students who died between 2000 and 2011 while they were away from their families attending school in Thunder Bay. Talaga is well known at the Toronto Star for her investigative reporting into Indigenous issues; in this book she takes a deeper dive into the lives of these young people and why they died, while exposing racism and human rights violations against Indigenous communities.
The five finalists will each receive $5,000, with the winner receiving a total of $60,000.
The Hilary Weston Writers Trust Prize for Nonfiction was founded in 1997 by the Writers Trust as part of its mandate to help advance, nurture and celebrate Canadian writers and writing. The first winner was Ernest Hillen for his book Small Mercies: A Boy After War.
Since then, many of Canadas top writers have been nominated or won the lucrative prize, including last years winner Deborah Campbell for A Disappearance in Damascus; Naomi Klein (2014) for her book on climate change, This Changes Everything; Charles Foran (2011) for Mordecai: The Life & Times of Canadas Mordecai Richler; and Rudy Wiebe and Yvonne Johnson (1998) for Stolen Life: The Journey of a Cree Woman.
The winner will be announced Nov. 14 at the Writers Trusts annual awards ceremony in the Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto, where more than $200,000 in prizes will be given to winners of this and their six other national literary awards.
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NEW YORKWhen Hillary Clinton took the guests seat on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, she was in a mood to put Russian President Vladimir Putin on the psychiatrists couch.
Clinton said Tuesday night that Putin interfered in the presidential election in part because of her work as U.S. secretary of state, which brought the two into conflict on various occasions. That, she said, evolved into a grudge on his part.
She said the fact shes a woman does seem to get him agitated. And she mocked Putin for manspreading at one meeting. Thats an aggressive posture where a man sits with legs splayed.
And she says Putin is tied up with his anger and disappointment with the Soviet Unions collapse.
Meantime Clinton called U.S. President Donald Trumps UN speech very dark, dangerous.
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It wasnt a good omen.
The first day of filming on his Montreal Mafia series Bad Blood, executive producer Mark Montefiore turned up on set to see the crew reading newspaper reports on the assassination of underworld figure Vincenzo Spagnolo.
Spagnolo was reputedly the lieutenant of deceased crime boss Vito Rizzuto. And executive producer Montefiore just happened to be doing a TV series based on Rizzutos life.
Things suddenly got real. This was only blocks away. There is a war going on in the Mafia and we are shooting on their turf. You couldnt get more topical than that.
Bad Blood is a six-part original City series beginning Sept. 21, starring Anthony LaPaglia as Sicilian Teflon Don Rizzuto, Canadas answer to John Gotti.
LaPaglia (Without a Trace) is joined by a heavyweight cast including Kim Coates (Sons of Anarchy) as Vitos chief lieutenant and Paul Sorvino (Goodfellas) as the head of the family. Torontos Tony Nappo plays Rizzutos trusted bodyguard.
The darkly violent true crime series is based on Business or Blood: Mafia Boss Vito Rizzutos Last War by Antonio Nicaso and Toronto Star reporter Peter Edwards. The two served as consultants on the show.
Well, I think they asked me if everything was OK after the shooting and I basically said everything was fine, dont worry about it, says reporter Edwards with a laugh. Its kind of like when a high wire artist asks you how its going, you cant exactly tell them that it looks like a really long way down.
Montefiore said he was intrigued by the Rizzuto story but didnt know much about the mob boss at the time considered the head of the most powerful crime family in Canada.
I remember reading the Toronto Star over the years and kept seeing these stories about mob hits. There was this kind of intrigue and lore to the stories.
Over three decades, Rizzuto was accused of running a criminal empire that included the distribution of cocaine, hashish, loan sharking, fraud and gambling. While he was in jail in the United States for racketeering-related charges, many of his family members were killed in a turf war, including his eldest son, Nicolo Rizzuto Jr., and his father, Nicolo Rizzuto.
Montefiore reached out to underworld expert Nicaso, who turned out to be writing a book with Edwards on Rizzuto. New Metric Media bought the rights to the book and inked a deal Dec. 21, 2013. Two days later Rizzuto would be dead at the age of 67.
This was a story about the mob in our own backyard. And I think it defies the expectations of what you would see in a mobster movie, says Nataline Rodrigues, director of original programming for Rogers Media, which owns City.
Rodrigues was originally pitched a comedy by Montefiore, but she wanted a rich character-driven story. Some of the greatest stories come from the real world and I think, especially in this case, life is stranger than fiction, she says.
Actor Nappo says he had to restrain his normal exuberance during filming.
His bodyguard character is a man of action, not words. But Ill talk all day long. It was really hard to tone it done personally, but the character stands out because hes human. Hes not two-dimensional as some of these guys can seem. Vito was for all intents and purposes his family; it was his job, his life, his reason for existing.
The reign of the Rizzuto family might be over, but the legacy lives on, Montefiore says
With Rizzuto gone, a vacuum has opened up that has had repercussions Canada-wide, including Ontario, where there were about a dozen unsolved violent incidents this year alone, from shootings to explosions to killings.
This is something that happened here in Canada. And its still ongoing, says Montefiore. And like it or not, its astonishing to think a lot of the stuff you eat, drink, touch can be connected to organized crime in some way. And the turf war isnt over yet.
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Relationships are all about compromise, but everyone has lines that they just cant cross. And in the U.S., since the election of President Donald Trump, political divides have been even more contentious than usual.
For many straight liberal women (and some queer women, too), avoiding Trump voters is yet another hurdle to modern dating. While the majority of unmarried female voters cast their ballots for Hillary Clinton, 32 per cent of them voted for Trump. And if you search thoroughly enough in liberal-leaning regions of the U.S., as I did for this story, youll find conservative, heterosexual women who arent keen on dating a Hillary supporter. Even eight months into Trumps presidency.
Michelle, the 47-year-old founder of Tshirts4Patriots, is one of those people. She spoke on the condition that only her first name be used, as did all of the women interviewed for this story. Michelle is a Trump voter who lives in Laguna Hills, Calif. a city that voted for Trump but whose county went to Clinton. Last year, Michelle began an on-again, off-again relationship with a Trump supporter whom she met while he was working for her cousin.
Read more: Talking politics on a first date? Smooth move, it turns out
When she first started dating him before the election, his enthusiasm for Trump wasnt a huge attraction for her. Michelle whos of Spanish and Native American ancestry says shes always considered herself an independent and has probably dated a liberal without knowing it. Shed never prioritized a potential partners politics before, but Michelle said that shes realized that she only wants to be with somebody that supports our president, period.
Why did she change her mind about politics and dating? Well, for one, she didnt want to date a man whod oppose the Trump-centric T-shirt company she was starting. But her shift in priorities was also bound up with her opinion that certain media outlets unfairly misrepresent Trump. Michelle said she couldnt be with someone who, in her opinion, is uninformed enough to fall for such propaganda.
Michelle gets offended when people assassinate his character, as she put it, by calling Trump racist, sexist or homophobic or by saying that he never wouldve made it without a loan from his dad.
I just cant be with somebody whos closed-minded like that, she said. Theyre believing all those labels that are just political propaganda. I cant be with somebody that just listens to tabloids or nightly news, because theres a lot of hate being promoted.
When Michelle found herself single again at the beginning of Trumps administration, she perused TrumpSingles.com , a dating site for Trump supporters. However, she didnt find anyone she was interested in and ended up closing her account.
She also created a dating profile on eHarmony, specifying on her page that she wasnt looking for snowflakes. The men on eHarmony seemed to be mostly liberal, she said, and some responded negatively to her snowflake comment. Again, Michelle didnt find anyone in whom she was that interested, and ended up going back to dating the guy shed met through her cousin. That relationship ended again a couple of months ago when he moved away. For the moment, Michelle is trying to focus on her T-shirt business instead of dating.
Like Michelle, a lot of people are signalling their politics on their dating profiles. Elizabeth, a 24-year-old white woman in Washington, D.C., who has worked on Republican political campaigns and voted for Trump, said shes dated Democrats before and doesnt have a problem with it. Still, on dating apps, Ive always had the policy of putting a picture or something in my bio that hints at the fact that Im a Republican, she said, such as a picture of her with a recognizably conservative politician. If thats something they have a problem with, then they probably shouldnt even swipe on me.
Its very important to Elizabeth to find a long-term partner who wants to get married and have kids. She wants a husband whos OK with her staying at home when the kids are young but who also supports her continuing her career when theyre a little older. Additionally, she said she could only settle down with a man whos anti-abortion and who respects her desire to raise her kids in a Christian household. Although she doesnt think these traits are confined to political conservatives, she does think shes more likely to find a Republican who matches these specifications than a Democrat.
Soon after the election, Elizabeth started dating a Republican whom she met on Tinder. She admitted that it is a little easier to date someone who moves in the same political circles. Dating a liberal in this heated political climate, she says, might be more difficult because a lot of Democrats are a little less open to hanging out with people that are so pro-Trump.
Before she started seeing her boyfriend, did she ever feel like she had a dating advantage because male Trump voters outnumber female ones?
Eh, not really.
After the election, I think I had over 200 pending Facebook friend requests from random guys that all had Trump profile pictures or bald eagle profile pictures, she said. So yes, she received extra attention but she wasnt into it. Its just a little much and Im not really interested in people that just friend random girls on Facebook, she explained.
Even several months after Trumps inauguration, she continues to receive Facebook requests from random conservative guys.
By the time the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) rolled around in February, Elizabeth was steadily dating her boyfriend, but she still had to steer clear of those types of guys wearing the MAGA (Make American Great Again) hats that are like, creepin, she said. Guys that are young and very involved with politics, in both parties, can tend to err on the side of being a little creepy.
Later, Elizabeth noticed that some of the guys who were a little too friendly at CPAC ended up getting jobs in Trumps administration.
The creepy people are now in higher-up places in D.C., which is kind of disturbing, she said.
In addition to the creep factor, Elizabeth isnt that interested in MAGA-hat-wearing men because she considers herself more of an establishment Republican and feels that Trump isnt a real Republican. Even though she and her boyfriend both voted for Trump, they were hesitant about it, she said, and havent been pleased with everything hes done in his administration.
Even conservative women who didnt vote for Trump feel pressured to defend him on dates. When liberal guys find out that Deborah, a 24-year-old white woman in Boston, is a conservative, they often ask her how a woman could possibly vote for Trump. Thats the awkward moment when she tells them that she, too, wasnt happy with Trumps statements about grabbing womens genitals; thats part of why she voted for conservative independent Evan McMullin instead.
Deborah says she doesnt like feeling pressured to defend someone she didnt vote for and she doesnt like the way the men she goes on dates with judge her for her political opinions. She tries to avoid talking about politics if she can, but thats become very difficult, especially in the past few months.
Politics comes up on most (dates) now just because of everything thats been going on recently, especially since Charlottesville, she said, referring to the violence in Virginia last month. Its hard for people not to talk about it, so it just comes up. And then most of the time I just try not to even say anything.
If she offers an opinion, such as, I can understand the president (saying theres) multiple sides at fault here, then her date just gets completely mad, she said.
With the exception of abortion, which she is against, shes open to dating men who have different viewpoints as long as they dont respond so negatively to hers.
The hardest part for me since I moved to Boston is getting used to that culture up north, she said, explaining that the guys she meets can come off as kind of gruff.
Deborah is from D.C., where she says she was able to find more guys with Southern manners because the city is a larger blend of north and south than Boston.
I like manners; I like chivalry. I want the guy to open the door for me, Deborah said. She likes men who respect me as a woman but then also realize that I can have intellectual conversations with them, as well as conversations about sports.
So what kind of guys did she date before she moved to Boston?
I dont want to be stereotypical, but the Southern frat boy, she said. Unsurprisingly, they generally tend to be more Republican when it comes to politics.
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OTTAWAIf the Conservatives are committed to First Nations reconciliation, they need to show the door to a senator whos urging Indigenous Peoples to trade your status card and practice their culture on their own dime, says a prominent Liberal cabinet minister.
Carolyn Bennett, the governments Crown-Indigenous relations minister, made the comments about Conservative Sen. Lynn Beyak during the daily question period Tuesday in response to a question from a Liberal back bench.
The senators ongoing, offensive comments regarding Indigenous people are ill-informed, hurtful, and simply wrong, Bennett said.
These disturbing views expressed by a sitting parliamentarian undermine progress toward reconciliation.
Beyak no longer has a role in the Conservative caucus, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said earlier this week, but he stopped short of forcing her out, urging her to do so herself if she doesnt endorse his policy of positivity and inclusiveness.
He said he didnt agree with her comments and that she didnt speak for the party or the caucus.
Beyak rose to notoriety in the spring by saying there were positives that came out of Canadas residential school system which were ignored by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Those comments ultimately prompted Scheers predecessor, former interim leader Rona Ambrose, to remove her from the Senates Aboriginal affairs committee.
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Beyak landed in hot water again this month when she posted a letter on her Senate website saying she had received tons of support for her position on residential schools over the summer, and that it was time for a major change.
Trade your status card for a Canadian citizenship, with a fair and negotiated payout to each Indigenous man, woman and child in Canada, to settle all the outstanding land claims and treaties, and move forward together just like the leaders already do in Ottawa, she wrote.
All Canadians are then free to preserve their cultures in their own communities, on their own time, with their own dime.
First Nations people are already Canadian citizens.
Beyaks letter said she was paraphrasing from the 1969 white paper by prime minister Pierre Trudeau and then-Indian affairs minister Jean Chretien,which called for abolishing the Indian Act and assimilating all Aboriginal Peoples.
Calls for Beyaks ouster are a form of censorship, Conservative MP Tony Clement said after question period.
Im going to disagree with her, for sure, but I think we should be beyond the stage where we are shaming people into silence by those kinds of activities, he said.
I think the best thing to do is disagree with someone with facts and evidence. Thats the best way to deal with this.
Beyaks letter prompted the mayors of both Winnipeg and Edmonton to call on her to resign her Senate seat.
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Arlen Dumas added his name to the list of people who want Beyak out of the upper chamber, calling her comments blatantly ignorant and outright offensive especially from a senator.
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OTTAWAPrime Minister Justin Trudeau is defending controversial changes meant to restrict how small business owners can reduce their tax hit even as he faces questions about taxes on what he called his family fortune.
Trudeau stood by the proposed reforms Tuesday, saying they are an integral part of Liberal governments efforts to make the tax system fairer.
The issue here is that the current system we have benefits wealthy Canadians and doesnt give a fair shake to the middle class, and that is one of the things that Canadians asked us to change, the prime minister told a news conference.
A new poll shows that Canadians agree that the rich and big business should pay more taxes, but opinions are split on the measures proposed by the Liberals.
Indeed, half of all Canadians are in the dark about the changes, leaving ample opportunity for both critics and proponents to win people to their side of the issue, said Eli Yufest, chief executive officer of Campaign Research.
Theres an opportunity for both sides to sway opinion and galvanize the public, Yufest said.
Read more:
Plan to rein in income sprinkling a welcome tax reform: Wells
Trudeau, Scheer spar over Liberals small business tax proposal as Parliament returns
Why Bill Morneaus tax reform plan is politically necessary: Walkom
The measures, unveiled during the summer, would limit the ability of business owners to engage in so-called income sprinkling, paying part of their income to family members named as employees to reduce their tax exposure.
Ottawa also wants to crack down on passive income from investments parked within a private corporation money that can be shielded from the higher personal income tax rate.
Finally, the finance department wants to limit the ability of private corporations to convert portions of income into capital-gains earnings, which are subject to a lower tax rate.
Recent polling by Campaign Research found that support for each of the measures ranged from 36 per cent to 41 per cent. About one-third of those surveyed opposed the changes.
Opinion was split whether the changes would make the tax system fairer, with 34 per cent saying it would mean more fairness, 33 per cent saying it would be less fair and 33 per cent saying they didnt know.
But the proposed changes have stirred outrage among some small business owners who say they will be unfairly hit in the pocketbook.
Trudeau said Tuesday that his government has heard the concerns, some legitimate, some less so.
He said the worries raised by small business owners, opposition MPs, even members of his own caucus could result in modifications to the planned reforms.
We will ensure that were doing it the right way, so that hard-working, middle-class small businesses, hard-working, middle-class farmers do not get penalized by a measure that is aimed at wealthy Canadians, Trudeau said.
We are moving forward to make the tax system fairer . . . but how we exactly move forward, what measures are in the legislation going forward is directly impacted and affected by the questions people ask, the concerns brought up, he said.
Still, the opposition Conservatives have jumped on the changes, making it the focus of their time in question period as Parliament resumed sitting this week after the summer recess.
Why is the prime minister putting the future of Canadian job creators at risk with this increased tax hike? Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer asked.
We are talking about the farmer who employs five people or the family-run sporting goods store employing 20 people, Scheer told the Commons Tuesday. I know the Liberals might like to look down on these kinds of jobs, but these are the job creators who provide opportunities in our neighbourhoods.
The Conservative leader used a visit to a small Ottawa brewery on Tuesday to launch a campaign titled Save Local Business, an effort to step up public pressure on the Liberals on the issue.
The prime minister himself faced questions Tuesday about whether he has been on the receiving end of beneficial tax interpretations around the trust fund left by his father, former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, and a Laurentian property that produces revenue.
Trudeau said his personal financial dealings have been in a blind trust since he became party leader.
I no longer have dealings with the way our family fortune is managed, and I have been open and transparent about that, he said.
I have been entirely consistent in my desire to not be perceived as bending or breaking any rules. Obviously, we follow all the rules, and Im assured that the folks who are managing my personal finances are following all the rules, he said.
Conservative MP Lisa Raitt took to Twitter to highlight Trudeaus comment about his own wealth. Heres a tip if you want to be seen as a man of the people try not to refer to your assets as my family fortune.
The Campaign Research poll of 1,770 respondents was conducted online between Sept. 8 and 11. It has a margin of error plus or minus 2.3 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
With files from Alex Ballingall
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OTTAWAConservative Leader Andrew Scheer has condemned the insult by one of his MPs that labelled Environment Minister Catherine McKenna a climate Barbie, calling the remark demeaning and inappropriate.
As a father of three daughters, I want to ensure that gender-based stereotypes have no place in Canada or Canadian politics, Scheer said in a statement to the Star Wednesday.
The demeaning words used by the member were inappropriate and he has rightly apologized, he said.
Conservative MP Gerry Ritz stirred outrage Tuesday after referring to McKenna as climate Barbie, echoing a social media smear the Liberal MP has faced for some time.
Scheer said that he would contact McKenna so I can assure the minister that this type of behavior has no place in the Conservative caucus.
I have a positive message to deliver to Canadians and I expect all members of my caucus to embrace that approach when communicating with Canadians, Scheer said.
Scheers condemnation had been slow in coming and the Conservative leader bypassed several opportunities on Parliament Hill Wednesday to deliver that message in person.
He ducked out the back door of a Commons committee room after a morning caucus meeting, avoiding the usual scrum with reporters.
Even when challenged on the issue later in the Commons, Scheer refused comment. The Conservatives have been attacking Liberal plans to reform small business taxes, a theme that Scheer hit again during question period.
But rather than answer Scheers question, Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr called on the Conservative leader to denounce Ritzs comment.
We can all agree that sexist comments should not be part of the public debate or part of any conversation anywhere, said Carr.
Will the leader of the Opposition stand here today, do the right thing, denounce his members comments, and ask him to issue a full apology to this House, said Carr, who was filling in for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was in New York attending the United Nations General Assembly.
Scheer did not comment on Ritzs remark and continued his questions about the tax reforms.
Outside the Commons, Status of Women Minister Maryam Monsef suggested that Scheer missed an opportunity to send a message about Ritzs comment.
He had an opportunity to demonstrate that he has respect for women politicians in this place and those who are aspiring to someday find themselves in one of those seats, Monsef said.
The condemnations came fast and furious from prominent Canadians as well as everyday citizens angered by his social media smear.
Facing a firestorm of criticism, Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster) tweeted an apology for his choice of words later Tuesday and his original tweet was deleted. I apologize for the use of Barbie, it is not reflective of the role the minister plays, Ritz said on Twitter.
McKenna fired back a pointed response.
Do you use that sexist language about your daughter, mother, sister? We need more women in politics. Your sexist comments wont stop us, said McKenna, who is in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly.
Nancy Peckford, of Equal Voice, a group that supports women in politics, said the Barbie comment speaks to the male dominance on Parliament Hill, where women make up 91 of the 338 MPs.
This was an institution that was conceived before women had the right to vote. Adaptations are often slow and painful, she told the Star.
The newer face of this government I think can feel a little discomforting and gives rise to these sorts of things, Peckford said, referring to the fact that half of the Liberal cabinet ministers are women.
Peckford said she was encouraged by the condemnations that came from all corners. That shows things are evolving, she said.
Gerald Butts, Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus principal secretary, suggested that Ritzs comment underscored sexist attitudes that McKenna has faced since taking on the senior cabinet post.
Climate Barbie wasnt a Ritz brain-freeze; its been a repellent, sexist campaign against @cathmckenna from Day 1, Butts said.
Ritz had previously announced his decision to resign from politics. Its not the first time the Saskatchewan MP has put his foot in his mouth; in 2008, he joked about the listeriosis outbreak that killed some 20 people, saying that the political damage was like like a death by a thousand cuts. Or should I say cold cuts.
With files from The Canadian Press
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QUEBECThe Quebec government rejected calls Wednesday from the opposition to publicly denounce the intensifying crackdown in Spain against the Catalan independence movement.
Christine St-Pierre, Quebecs international relations minister, would say only that the actions of the Spanish government are probably not the best thing to do.
Parti Quebecois Leader Jean-Francois Lisee said the provincial government must ask the Spanish people to respect democracy and allow the Catalan people to vote.
The Spanish government has increased its suppression of the independence vote with the arrests of a dozen regional officials Wednesday and the seizure of 10 million ballot papers.
Regional government officials, including Catalonias president, so far have vowed to ignore a constitutional court order to suspend the Oct. 1 referendum on Catalan independence from Spain.
Lisee said the Spanish government is responsible for state violence and a denial of democracy.
Preventing a vote by an elected government by police force is unacceptable and must be denounced, Lisee told reporters.
He said he wasnt asking for Quebec to state whether it was for or against Catalan independence, but to take a position in favour of democracy.
St-Pierre said Quebec wouldnt get involved.
We are following the situation closely, she told reporters. We hope that things are done in a peaceful way and, obviously, we wont get involved in the domestic politics of Spain.
Lisee said Quebec been historically close to the Catalan people.
Quebec and the Catalan government signed a co-operation agreement in 1996 that extends into many areas including culture and education.
The province also has a foreign bureau in Barcelona, which is the capital and largest city in Catalonia.
With files from The Associated Press
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MONTREALPolice believe they have found the body of an elderly man whose car was used as a getaway vehicle in a murder-kidnapping case that stretched across a vast area of western Quebec and eastern Ontario.
Yvon Lacasse, 71, was the owner of a 2006 Honda CRV that was allegedly used by a man, who is charged with the killing of his spouse last Thursday evening in St-Eustache, Que., and the kidnapping of his six-year-old son.
A spokesperson with the Surete du Quebec, Stephane Tremblay, said that a search team discovered a dead body in the village of Arundel, Que., Wednesday.
Everything leads us to believe that it is the body of Mr. Lacasse, but we have to wait for a formal identification to be made by the coroner, Tremblay said.
The body was found about 50 kilometres north of Lachute, Que., where police have said they believe that the alleged kidnapper abandoned the pick-up truck he had been using and took Lacasses Honda CR-V.
Early Friday morning, police have said that the man checked in briefly to a hotel in Rouyn-Noranda, about 600 kilometres northwest of Lachute. He appears to have doubled back on his tracks and was spotted early Friday morning in the town of Maniwaki.
At around 2:15 p.m. the man was spotted at a bank machine in Napanee, Ont. He was captured a few hours later by Ontario Provincial Police in the town of Griffith, Ont.
The suspect made a brief court appearance Saturday, but was taken to hospital in Ottawa after reportedly harming himself in his jail cell. On Wednesday, a scheduled bail hearing was postponed because he was still in hospital.
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OTTAWAAs promised, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer brought the battle against the Liberals fiscal reform plan to Parliament Hill this week.
With the prime minister present Monday, Scheer himself rose a dozen times to launch verbal volleys at the government. On the first day of the fall sitting of the House of Commons, the tax changes were the sole issue on the Conservative radar.
On Tuesday, every official opposition question again dealt with the proposal to curtail some of the tax benefits enjoyed by individuals who set up private corporations. But in that instance the Conservatives set their sights on the half-dozen ministers whose departments deal with constituencies that could be affected by the changes. Wednesday featured variations on the same theme.
Read more: Justin Trudeau defends tax reforms aimed at small businesses
Trudeau, Scheer spar over Liberals small business tax proposal as Parliament returns
Plan to rein in income sprinkling a welcome tax reform: Wells
To put the Conservative single-minded focus on tax reform in perspective, on the day in 2003 when then-prime minister Jean Chretien declined to have Canada join the U.S.-led offensive on Iraq, the official opposition did not devote its entire question period time to the issue.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government will move forward on planned tax reforms despite resistance from some small businesses and several Liberal MPs. Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer calls the plan a ?cash grab.? (The Canadian Press)
As a rule, it takes more than a few weeks in any given sitting of the House of Commons for opposition attacks on the government to reach fever pitch. In this case that level has already been reached. The next few months promise to test the vocal chords of the Conservative caucus and the nerves of everyone else.
But if Scheers hope was to fan the flames of discontent within Liberal ranks the results are inconclusive. And if the plan was to ignite a public opinion firestorm against the government, it may be backfiring.
There is discomfort with Finance Minister Bill Morneaus proposed plan on the government benches. A handful of MPs have gone public with their reservations.
But for all the Conservative prodding there has so far been little evidence of the kind of cracks that once surfaced on the Conservative cabinet frontline on policy matters such as for instance the wisdom of pursuing Stephen Harpers election promise of extending income splitting to families with children or the need to put the future of the senate to a referendum.
Some of Harpers most senior ministers, not his backbenchers, were the main protagonists in those public rifts.
Until the House opened this week, the Conservative narrative along with that of the many constituencies that oppose the Liberal plan dominated the air war. There were times when it seemed they owned the battlefield.
In spite of that, the polls done since the controversy erupted all concur: the Liberals are well ahead of the federal pack and enjoy a double-digit lead on the Conservatives. Worse from the Conservative perspective, there are more Canadians who profess to support Trudeaus party than at the time of his election victory two years ago.
That begs the question of whether Scheer has engaged in a losing battle.
For, along with the return of Parliament, other voices are joining the government chorus.
Take Quebec where the Conservatives will be testing their post-Harper strength in a byelection involving their Lac-St-Jean seat next month.
The Fonds de Solidarite FTQ supports more than 2,000 small businesses in the province. It is one of Quebecs biggest economic players. On Wednesday, its president Gaetan Morin signed an open letter in support of Morneaus fiscal reform. So did Alexandre Taillefer one of Quebecs rising entrepreneurial stars and economist Jean-Martin Aussant. He is a former Parti Quebecois MNA who is often seen as former PQ premier Jacques Parizeaus spiritual heir.
These are not Quebec names one usually associates with the federal Liberals. Ditto on the national scene in the case of the Broadbent Institute. The progressive think-tank that many New Democrats see as an extension of their party is backing Morneau in this battle against the Conservatives.
It was Ed Broadbent in his days as federal leader of the NDP who cast the choice between his party and its two main rivals as one between Main Street and Bay Street. Then as now the former tended to be more crowded with voters than the latter.
So far polls have found that most Canadians have been giving the fiscal reform debate a pass. That may change as more and more so-called influencers engage in the debate. Scheer may come to regret having captured their attention.
Chantal Hebert is a national affairs writer. Her column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
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A Canadian news outlet at the centre of a closely watched media-freedom case is calling on the RCMP to drop its demand for a journalists background materials used for stories on a suspected terrorist in light of reports that the man is in fact long dead.
In a letter to federal prosecutors this week, lawyers for Vice Media say they would abandon their attempt to fight the demand at the Supreme Court of Canada if the RCMP were to drop its production order, which two courts have upheld.
The materials in question relate to three stories reporter Ben Makuch wrote in 2014 about Farah Shirdon, a Calgary man whom Canadian authorities have charged in absentia with various terrorism-related offences. However, the American military now maintains Shirdon was killed in 2015.
In our view, the main condition and basis for the production order, i.e. the criminal investigation and prosecution of Mr. Shirdon, is no longer present, lawyer Iain MacKinnon said in the letter obtained by The Canadian Press. Therefore, the production order is no longer valid or enforceable.
RCMP have been trying to force Makuch to turn over screen captures of his instant messaging chats with Shirdon, who was quoted as making threats against Canada from the Middle East.
In a decision in March that set a binding precedent, Ontarios top court affirmed an earlier ruling that Makuch comply, despite objections from Vice and several media groups. The Supreme Court was expected to say within the next several months whether it would weigh in as Vice is asking it to do.
Read more: Vice journalist must turn over materials to RCMP, appeals court rules
One crucial factor clouding the legal proceedings is whether Shirdon is in fact dead.
In April, the U.S. State Department placed Shirdon on its designated terrorist list, suggesting he was still alive. However, as Global News first reported earlier this month, U.S. Central Command, which oversees American military operations in Syria and Iraq, maintains Shirdon died two years ago.
We can confirm Farah Mohamed Shirdon was killed in July 2015, a command spokesman said in an email Wednesday.
The State Department said it was looking into the discrepancy.
Federal prosecutor Sarah Shaikh refused to discuss the case because its before the courts. RCMP did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
In an interview, MacKinnon said he could see no plausible reason for the RCMP to pursue Vice if Shirdon is dead, while Makuch again decried the RCMPs action.
Any time a government pressures a reporter to give up his sources, it sets a very dangerous precedent, one that strikes at the foundation of our democracy, Makuch said. Canada should be a beacon for freedom of the press internationally, not a cautionary tale.
Vice spokesman, Chris Ball, said the outlet was hoping RCMP and the federal government would now drop their fishing expedition.
Vices leave application urges Canadas top court to hear the case because of what it calls the current legal void around protecting a journalists communications with non-confidential sources.
Many key questions remain unanswered or are the subject of conflicting appellate decisions, the leave memorandum states. Clarification is desperately needed.
Even if RCMP drops its production order, essentially rendering the case moot, the Supreme Court could decide to get involved as a way to clarify the law.
However, continuing the fight would not only add to Vices already stiff legal bills, it would also risk further entrenching the precedent set by the Ontario Court of Appeal, which ruled it would be wrong to interfere with court-approved police access to evidence relevant to an investigation.
Media organizations, which intervened in the Ontario appeal and would likely ask to intervene if the case does end up in the Supreme Court, have warned the upheld production order creates a chill that would make sources reluctant to speak to journalists.
The best outcome...would be the RCMP drop the production order and the Supreme Court still agrees to hear it, and then strikes down the production order so that precedent isnt set for future cases, said Duncan Pike, with the group Canadian Journalists for Free Expression.
At the same time, Pike said he would understand if Vice abandoned its challenge given that Makuch has already been through a long ordeal.
Regardless, Pike said, media organizations might push for legislative changes aimed at enhancing protections for journalists sources.
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Peter Munk was a millionaire a mere four years after graduating from the University of Toronto in 1952.
Ever since, the funds hes donated established Munk and his wife, Melanie, as some of Canadas most established philanthropists.
In 1994, Munk told journalist Kimberly Noble: You can create wealth. You are entitled to this creation. But ultimately society makes it possible, and this wealth should flow back to society some day.
The business icon has donated to the University of Toronto, the Fraser Institute and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.
His most recent contribution to the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, worth $100 million, is said to be the largest donation to a hospital in Canadian history.
Read more: Peter Munk donates $100 million to the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre
I just like to help Toronto because I want to repay Canada, Munk told the Star Tuesday.
Born in 1927 in Hungary, Munks family fled after Nazis invaded in 1944. They left Budapest on the Kasztner train that carried 1,600 Jews to freedom in Switzerland.
Munk immigrated to Canada from Switzerland in 1948.
I arrived in this place not speaking the language, not knowing a dog . . . . This is a country that does not ask about your origins, it only concerns itself with your destiny, the father of five once said.
Munk founded the Barrick Gold Corporation in 1983. After a 30-year tenure, he retired in 2014 but said he would remain involved with the company he built.
That tie, that commitment, that desire to help and that emotional involvement will remain, I think, until I die, he said in his departure address.
You can take Munk out of Barrick but you cant take Barrick out of Munk.
His other business ventures included Trizec Properties, TriGranit Development Corporation and Southern Pacific Hotel Corporation.
Munk has received numerous honours over his lifetime, including the Companion of the Order of Canada, the Canadian Business Hall of Fame and Canadian International Executive of the Year.
With files from Julien Gignac and Star archives
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Immediately before Toronto police Const. Gregory Browne took a 15-year-old into a North York police station for booking on a November 2011 night, the teen who had just been arrested for assaulting another police officer asked if he could tell Browne something.
I dont know what happened . . . I learned from a lawyer program how to talk to police, Browne recalled the young boy said, in testimony Tuesday at the Toronto police tribunal.
The ongoing misconduct hearing of two Toronto police officers in the so-called Neptune Four case resumed with an account from Browne, the officer who transported one of the teens to the police station after the four boys were stopped then arrested.
Const. Adam Lourenco and his partner Const. Scharnil Pais are accused under Ontarios Police Services Act of unlawfully arresting the main complainant in the case, his twin brother, and two of their friends boys all 16 or under at the time.
Lourenco also faces two other charges of disorderly conduct for allegedly using unreasonable force, one for punching the main complainant and another for pointing his gun at three of the teens.
The officers pleaded not guilty, and none of the allegations against them have been proven at the tribunal.
Because the teens faced criminal charges under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the Star is not identifying them.
Read more:
Lawyer contradicts teens testimony in Neptune Four case
Teen tells police tribunal he looked to other officers for help and no one stepped up
Teen allegedly punched by cop in Neptune Four case finally gets to tell his tale: DiManno
The hearing stems from a 2011 incident when four boys were on their way to an after-school learning program in a Lawrence Heights public housing complex on Neptune Dr. The group was stopped by Lourenco and Pais, both with the now-disbanded Toronto Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy (TAVIS) unit.
According to police records, the officers were at the Neptune Dr. buildings to enforce the Trespass to Property Act on behalf of the Toronto Community Housing Corporation.
When they were approached by police, one of the boys attempted to exercise his constitutional right to walk away.
Edited security video shows Toronto police officers arresting four teens at a Toronto Community Housing complex on Neptune Dr. on Nov. 21, 2011, an incident that has come to be known as the Neptune Four case.
Last month, the tribunal heard from that boy now the main complainant who alleged he was punched and had a gun pointed at him after he attempted to stand up for his rights to walk away.
The young man then testified that Lourenco handcuffed him and violently placed him into the car of another unit called for backup. Once inside the car, he tried to explain what happened to a Black officer who had not witnessed the original interaction.
He was Black and I was trying to appeal to him, the witness said of the officer, identified Tuesday as Browne.
The witness went on to say that the officer was respectful but told him to forget about the rights stuff, in reference to defending his constitutional right to walk away from police under certain circumstances.
He said . . . basically dont use it. Its not going to work in real life, the witness said last month.
But Browne testified Tuesday that while he did give the teen some advice, it was only after the teen told Browne he understood that he didnt have to speak to police under any circumstances.
Browne told the tribunal hed gotten the impression that the teen had told Lourenco and Pais to f--- off immediately on contact. The officer then gave the teen advice, saying I dont think thats a good idea anywhere in life.
While Browne had made some notes about the conversation which took place outside of North Yorks 32 division, according to Browne he hadnt written down that the teen or anyone else in the group had told the officers to f--- off.
When asked why he hadnt made a note of that, Browne said that he was inexperienced at the time hed only been with TAVIS for a month and had felt some stupid reason that he could not write curse words in his notes.
Browne also maintained that he would not forget someone stating that theyd told an officer to f--- off, so he didnt need to make a note of it.
The four teens were charged with assaulting police, and the young man who did not want to answer police questions was charged with threatening death and assault with intent to resist arrest. All of the charges were later withdrawn.
The charges against Lourenco and Pais came after an investigation by Ontarios Office of the Independent Police Review Director, spurred by the four teens complaining to the watchdog. One of the four teens has since withdrawn his complaint and is not participating in the hearing.
With Star files
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The city needs to revisit its approach to bike-share parking, as the bulky stations are taking up too much space, says one city councillor.
Trinity-Spadina Coun. Mike Layton introduced a proposal at Tuesday's public works and infrastructure committee asking staff to explore the possibility of introducing dockless bike-sharing technology. Currently the city's Bike Share program relies on the use of large docking systems, which can be a big inconvenience in a city as dense as Toronto, said Layton.
The stations are big, and that has actually been a barrier to the rollout, he said, noting the docking stations can be two metres wide and 12 to 15 metres deep.
Finding a space that can accommodate that is tricky. We have areas in my ward, which has an enormous population of cyclists, but we have difficulty putting the stations in.
Last month, Bike Share Toronto added 70 new stations to its infrastructure, upping the total number of stations to 270 with a fleet of 2,750 bikes.
The multimillion-dollar program has been increasing in popularity, now counting as many as 9,500 active members who each pay a $90 annual membership fee. Last week Bike Share reported reaching a million rides this year, putting it on course to eclipse last year's record of 1.1 million trips.
But Layton said bike-sharing technology has been evolving quickly, with new startups across the world offering bikes with locks that do not require big and costly docks. In Toronto, the private company DropBike rolled in earlier this summer for a pilot project. After a little over eight weeks, the project reports more than 5,000 rides by about 1,400 users.
We are a direct competitor with DropBike, but it could be that there are other types of technologies that we could integrate, said Layton. We should stay up to date. I wouldn't want the city to just fall behind in what we offer.
The item was referred to city staff for further review. They will report back to council in October.
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Another unlawful strip search, another crumbling criminal case.
A Toronto judge has thrown out all drug evidence seized from Stuart MacPherson, finding Toronto police had no reasonable grounds to pull back his pants and boxer shorts at the scene of his arrest to locate concealed drugs near his tail bone.
Ontario Court Justice Sheila Ray also noted in her ruling released last week that at least one of the officers did not seem to even be aware that there was a Toronto police policy on strip searches, and that both officers thought what they did was entirely appropriate.
The officers were ignorant of the law, the judge wrote. They thought that exigent circumstances justified what they did, and that what they did was not a strip search. They were wrong, and this should not have happened.
The judge excluded the drug evidence, finding MacPhersons charter right to unreasonable search and seizure had been violated.
Strip-searching is inherently humiliating and degrading, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in a landmark case 17 years ago known as R v. Golden, and should only be done when there are reasonable grounds, such as looking for weapons or evidence related to the arrest.
A person should also not be strip-searched outside of a police station unless there are exceptional circumstances, Ray said.
Its the latest case of a criminal matter put in jeopardy because police failed to follow the case law and their own policies on strip-searching. Toronto police, in particular, have faced repeated criticism on the issue, as other court cases have also shown that officers are not always aware of the various types of strip searches and when and how they can be conducted.
It is disheartening to learn that Torontos front line officers are still not aware of legal precedents and internal policies governing the limits on strip searches that have been in place for well over a decade, said criminal defence lawyer Daniel Brown, who was not involved in the case.
This is especially so given the sheer volume of serious criminal cases that are withdrawn or dismissed each year due to non-compliance with this constitutional protection.
The province-wide problem has gotten so serious that the Office of the Independent Police Review Director is currently conducting a systemic review of police strip search practices.
Toronto police spokesperson Meaghan Gray said the officers involved would not be commenting, and that Rays ruling will be the subject of a professional standards investigation.
She said the police service does have a policy on Level 3 searches which is the removal of some or all of a persons clothing and a visual inspection of the body and that it describes when and how such a search can be performed.
It is the most intrusive search of a person with the exception of a body cavity search, known as a Level 4 search.
MacPhersons next court date is Oct. 10. His lawyer, G.J. Partington, told the Star it would be most improbable for the Crown to proceed on a drug case that no longer has any admissible drug evidence.
He said he expects his client to be found not guilty on charges that include possession of crack cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and simple possession of marijuana.
Officers Matthew Steele and James Doyle had received information that a car matching MacPhersons had been driving erratically in the neighbourhood, Ray wrote in her ruling. She said they had good reason to speak with MacPherson at that point, in order to check his sobriety and documents, and if there was no issue, to let him continue on his way.
The officers testified that when they approached the car, they saw hand movements that suggested Mr. MacPherson was concealing something down his pants, Ray wrote, finding there was a legitimate concern that MacPherson could be hiding a weapon.
However, the judge said all that was necessary to determine if MacPherson had a weapon was a pat down search, which did not happen.
Ray disagreed with the officers that there was urgency in seeing what MacPherson had concealed in his boxer shorts. They pulled back his pants and boxers to find baggies of drugs at his tail bone, leaving MacPhersons buttocks exposed for several seconds.
It was totally unnecessary to verify in the field what exactly was being stuffed down the pants or underwear, she said. That could have waited. There was no urgency. Nothing in Mr. MacPhersons pants was running away.
The police believed that the search inside MacPhersons clothing did not constitute a strip search, but Ray found otherwise.
It involved the rearrangement of the boxer shorts and pants, that is, pulling them back. This permitted a visual inspection of a private area, the buttocks, and further exposed undergarments, which were already partially exposed. This is a strip search.
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On Jan. 18, 1944, two Canadians set a timed fire at Nippon Kokan shipyard in Japan, engulfing the yard in flames and sabotaging a crucial cog in the Japanese defence against submarine attacks.
Staff Sgt. Charles Clark and Cpl. Ken Cameron were among 2,000 Canadian troops captured as prisoners of war in the Battle of Hong Kong, during the Second World War. The duo had strategically timed the fire so that it would ignite after prisoners had left the yard and returned to camp.
This one act made capturing Canadians the worst mistake the Japanese ever made, said veteran George MacDonell, who was also prisoner of war at Nippon Kokan.
People know nothing about it, he said.
But organizers of a new museum in Torontos east end hope to change that.
The Asia Pacific Peace Museum and Education Centre, opening in 2019, will offer a comprehensive history of the Second World War in Asia.
It will be the first museum of its kind in the world, with the objective of promoting understanding of the truth of history, reconciliation, and peace, said Dr. Joseph Yu-Kai Wong.
Wong founded the Association for Learning and Preserving the History of WWII in Asia (ALPHA), in 1997 and has dreamed of creating a museum ever since.
The non-profit organization aims to educate younger generations on Asian history, and on how to bring about reconciliation and peace so that these horrors will not be repeated in the future, Wong said.
The museum will highlight atrocities committed during the Asia Pacific War by all sides, as well as Canadas role in periods like the Battle of Hong Kong and the internment of Japanese-Canadians during the war.
Other galleries will include the Nanking Massacre, Unit 731 biological and chemical warfare, the atomic bombs and labour camps.
Wong hopes the museum will broaden the historical knowledge of community members, teachers and students, who he said have a Eurocentric view of the Second World War, with the Asia Pacific side often reduced to a handful of key moments.
It is a very narrow perspective. For example they might know Pearl Harbor, they might know the atomic bombs, but they really dont know the comprehensive war in Asia and the kind of carnage it has caused, Wong said.
Keeping the history of the war alive is important for veterans like MacDonell. He believes Canadians arent aware of some of the incredible stories from Asia, like the shipyard sabotage.
They should know about the courage and sacrifice of their soldiers in Asia, who fought for their country against impossible odds, and never surrendered.
He and the remainder of the prisoners of war were relocated to a Japanese mine after the destruction of the shipyard, and freed once the Japanese emperor surrendered to Allied forces. Those who survived the battle were rescued by American troops in September 1945.
MacDonell has given talks on the Second World War at over 100 schools. He plans to be a patron at the new museum and even offer lectures.
Wong estimates about 4,000 students alone will visit the museum in its first full year of operation, and increase to 10,000 annually in a few years time.
This aspect of (the Second World War) is missing from textbooks and teachers do not have the necessary resources or background, Gerry Connelly, former director of education at the Toronto District School Board, said in an email.
She said the museum will offer resources online, allowing wide access to educators.
ALPHA has purchased a property at 1775 Lawrence Ave. E. to house the future museum. Once the sale closes at the end of September, organizers will get to work on filling about 10,000 square feet of exhibition space with artifacts and mementos.
The remainder of the museum, about 7,000 square feet, will be used to create a 130-seat lecture hall and a separate workspace for university researchers.
Admission to the new museum will be free, and Wong said he hopes visitors will be moved by ALPHAs mission and contribute to maintaining the organization.
ALPHA is a registered charity, and 100 per cent of their funding comes primarily from individual donations in Toronto and Vancouver.
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The Progressive Conservatives have unleashed a new attack ad against untrustworthy Premier Kathleen Wynne that accuses the governing Liberals of being corrupt.
Released last week, the U.S.-style spot features a grim-faced Wynne against a red and black backdrop as an ominous true-crime soundtrack plays.
Complete with sound effects reminiscent of jail cell doors being clanked shut, the ad splashes headlines critical of the Liberals from the Star and other news outlets.
Kathleen Wynne is untrustworthy, intones the male narrator in the 30-second commercial that is airing on numerous channels in prime time and on CP24 around the clock.
The Liberal party is politically corrupt. From the gas-plant rip-off and eHealth billions to their cash-for-access fundraising scheme, he continues.
Thats a reference to former premier Dalton McGuintys decision to cancel two gas-fired power plants in Oakville and Mississauga before the 2011 election, problems at the electronic health records agency, and political fundraising changes triggered by a Star probe last year.
Now the premier is testifying at a bribery trial. Just imagine whats next, says the narrator.
Kathleen Wynne will say anything to get elected. You cant trust her or them ever again.
While the ad boasts a small Ontario PC logo, there is no mention of Tory Leader Patrick Brown or the fact that the next election is on June 7, 2018.
Wynne is threatening to sue Brown for defamation after he incorrectly claimed on Sept. 12 that she was on trial in the Sudbury byelection bribery case.
On the eve of her taking the stand as a Crown witness, the Tory leader said Ontario had a sitting premier sitting in trial and that she stands trial.
But Patricia Sorbara, the premiers former deputy chief of staff, and Liberal activist Gerry Lougheed are on trial not Wynne for alleged Election Act violations related to the 2015 byelection. Both deny any wrongdoing.
Deputy Premier Deb Matthews expressed concern Wednesday that the Tory ad spots coincided with his controversial comments about the premier.
It is looking like this is part of a strategy a very unsavory strategy based on a lie, said Matthews.
He knows he said something that was false and then he runs these ads, which came out immediately after, she said.
Brown insisted the advertising had nothing to do with his statement about Wynne.
Thats a leap and a stretch its not a reality, he told the Star, adding he will continue to ignore the premiers baseless legal threat.
The PC leader also defended the hard-hitting TV spots, which are airing as the criminal trial of two top ex-McGuinty aides David Livingston and Laura Miller continues Friday. They have pleaded not guilty.
Were going to continue to have an assortment of ads. Some of them will be about my approach and some, frankly, will be about the Liberal legacy the record after 14 long years, said Brown.
Obviously theres a lot of scandals that swirl around this government.
In contrast to gauzy commercials featuring the leader released earlier this year, the attack ads do not appear on the Ontario PC YouTube channel.
Last January, the Tories launched a multi-million dollar blitz of commercials aimed at introducing Brown to voters.
One featured the mother of an autistic child praising him for his advocacy; another had him discussing hydro rates; and a third featured him discussing how he overcame a childhood stutter.
They followed up those ads with others that showed Brown marching in Torontos Pride parade.
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BEIJINGChina rebuked U.S. President Donald Trump Wednesday after he threatened to totally destroy North Korea if necessary, a warning that may have undermined the chances of peace but also gave Beijing an easy opportunity to seize the moral high ground.
Beijing has consistently blamed not just Pyongyang but also Washington for what it sees as its hostile policies toward the regime. It argues that U.S. hostility has helped to pushed North Koreas rulers into a corner and talk of total destruction only reinforces that narrative.
Trump threatens DPRK with total destruction, while China calls for peaceful settlement, the online English-language edition of the Peoples Daily newspaper headlined an op-ed, referring to the countys official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.
Trumps political chest-thumping is unhelpful, and it will only push the DPRK to pursue even riskier policies, because the survival of the regime is at stake, it wrote.
Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang was more restrained, but nevertheless conveyed a similar message.
In imposing economic sanctions on Pyongyang, the United Nations Security Council has agreed that the North Korea issue should be solved through political and diplomatic means, he said.
The Peninsula situation is still in a complex and sensitive state, he said. We hope that relevant parties could maintain restraint while completing United Nations Security Council resolutions, and take more correct actions which are helpful in easing the situation.
More than 80 per cent of North Koreas foreign trade is with China, while both Beijing and Moscow have been blamed for helping North Korea develop its missile program. Although Trump thanked both countries for agreeing to sanctions at the UN, he also appeared to rebuke one or both of them.
Read more:
Rocket Man shot a rare and risky misfire for Trump: Menon
Trump sets his hair on fire at the UN: Mallick
In his most aggressive warning to date, Donald Trump threatens to totally destroy North Korea
It is an outrage that some nations would not only trade with such a regime, but would arm, supply, and financially support a country that imperils the world with nuclear conflict, he said.
But China is uncomfortable with the idea that it should shoulder the lions share of the blame for North Koreas nuclear and missile program, and for Pyongyangs refusal to back down, experts explain.
They dont like the idea that the international community sees this as a China problem, said Paul Haenle, director of the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center in Beijing. To a certain extent, this kind of talk at the UN plays right into their hands.
Yanmei Xie, a China policy analyst at Gavekal Dragonomics in Beijing, made a similar point.
Trumps bellicose rhetoric does add urgency to how China views this issue, she said. But it also reinforces Chinas view that both sides are to blame for the tension.
China has become extremely frustrated with Pyongyang, but does not believe that sanctions will ever force it to abandon its nuclear program, which the regime sees as central to its survival.
It has resisted pressure to cut off North Koreas oil imports, which it believes would only serve to alienate the regime from Beijing, and leave China facing an nuclear-armed enemy state on its border.
They believe that there is nothing we can do at this point to prevent Kim Jong Un from reaching his goal (of developing an intercontinental nuclear missile capability,) said Haenle. And they dont want to cross the threshold where they become North Koreas enemy.
So while Trump has convinced China to turn the screw on North Korea, he will struggle to convince it to act more forcefully.
Francois Godemont, director of the Asia/China Program at the European Council on Foreign Relations said Trump may suffer a credibility problem in Chinese eyes by also threatening the governments of Iran, Venezuela and Cuba, rather than showing a resolute focus on a single issue.
But do Trumps words presage armed conflict?
The nationalist Global Times newspaper took a pessimistic view, arguing in an editorial that Trumps speech head reduced hope of peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Facts prove Pyongyang wont yield to pressure. Pushing North Korea to its limit may eventually trigger a bloody war, it warned. If a nuclear war broke out, that would be a crime against Chinese and South Koreans by Pyongyang and Washington.
However, several other experts said they were not worried.
China and Russia have a common stance on this they want to prevent war even if there is only a one per cent chance of it, said Wang Sheng, a North Korea expert at Jilin University in Changshun. As a result of their joint resolve, he said, the United States could not easily start a war.
Military expert Song Xiaojun agreed.
What he said is a tactic, it doesnt mean he will really start a war, he said. The U.S. army is concerned about other things, such as Chinas rise and Iran. Since the atomic bomb was developed, the United States has never started a war with a nuclear-armed country.
Last month, the Global Times newspaper warned North Korea that China would not come to the countrys help if it launches missiles threatening U.S. soil, although it would intervene if Washington strikes first.
That statement was meant to deter Pyongyang from crossing any red lines, experts say.
In the event of war, it is unlikely Chinese troops would fight alongside or on behalf of North Korea soldiers to defend the regime, as they did in the 1950-53 Korean War, but they could enter the country to secure nuclear weapons sites, and prevent U.S. troops from crossing into the North and installing a U.S.-friendly puppet government, some experts say.
In Pyongyang, the government will also have taken very clear note of Trumps angry disavowal of the nuclear deal with Iran, where that country agreed to abandon its nuclear weapons program under international supervision in return for a lifting of sanctions.
Trump called that deal an embarrassment to the United States and threatened to pull out of it. Saying oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, he also called for the Iranian people to change their own government.
North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un has already seen Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and Iraqs Saddam Hussein agree to surrender their efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction only to end up ousted from power and killed. Trumps talk will only reinforce that lesson.
How can Kim not conclude from this that Americans will not rest until his regime is topple and that giving up nuclear weapons is suicidal?, asked Xie at Dragonomics.
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BERLIN German officials say theres no sign of concerted cyberattacks aimed at influencing the outcome of the countrys upcoming election, but warned Wednesday against giving the all-clear yet.
Security officials have warned over the past year that the Russian government in particular might attempt to destabilize Germany by promoting extremist parties in Sundays vote. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been the driving force behind maintaining international sanctions against Russia over its involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.
We dont see that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin has meddled in the election campaign, Germanys interior minister, Thomas de Maiziere, told mass-circulation daily Bild in an interview Wednesday. Maybe they didnt try. Maybe its still coming.
A spokesperson for the interior ministry, Johannes Dimroth, told reporters that security officials regularly see cyberattacks against government bodies and politicians in Germany, but these havent caused any major damage.
Luckily we cant report any large-scale attacks. But in our view we havent reached the point in time where we can give the all-clear, Dimroth said, citing the last-minute release of emails from Emmanuel Macrons party on the eve of the French presidential election in the spring.
Researchers recently have observed a more subtle attempt to influence the German election in the shape of an increasing number of fake Twitter accounts backing the nationalist Alternative for Germany party.
Luca Hammer, a data analyst working for the civil society group Fearless Democracy, said he identified a group of apparently automated Twitter accounts so-called bots that began flooding the social network with racist and anti-government messages earlier this month.
The bots appeared to mimic a tactic used by far-right activists in the United States to promote Donald Trumps campaign during the U.S. presidential election last year. Unlike in the U.S., though, Twitter isnt widely used in Germany.
Overall, its hardly relevant, Hammer told The Associated Press. But lots of journalists and politicians are on Twitter and for them it might create a misleading image of what the public thinks.
The view was echoed by Laura Rosenberger, a senior fellow at The German Marshall Fund of the United States. The Washington-based think-tank recently launched a digital tool to monitor the Twitter activity of a network linked to the German-language account of Kremlin-controlled news website Sputnik.
Even if many people arent seeing this directly, the ideas we see pushed around Twitter are making it into the mainstream, Rosenberger said.
Alternative for Germany, or AfD, has by far the biggest presence on social media. The party uses it to send a steady stream of anti-immigrant and anti-Merkel messages to hundreds of thousands of followers on Twitter and Facebook.
Rosenberger said many of the messages seen coming from the Sputnik-linked Twitter network reflect the positions of AfD.
But we are also seeing a pattern in Germany where a lot of messages arent about particular parties or candidates, but about sowing divisions in society and trying to exploit them, she said.
Hammer, the data analyst, said political ads designed to target specific groups on Facebook may have a greater effect on Germanys election. Earlier this month, it was revealed that hundreds of phoney Facebook accounts, likely run from Russia, spent about $100,000 (U.S.) on ads aimed at stirring up divisive issues during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign.
Facebook has refused to allow researchers to analyze its content in the same way as Twitter, said Hammer.
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NAIROBI, KENYAKenyas Supreme Court said Wednesday it nullified President Uhuru Kenyattas re-election largely because the electoral commission refused to allow an investigation of its computerized system that transmitted results.
The court judges said because the electoral commission refused to allow scrutiny of its computer servers it had no option but to agree with the claim by Kenyas opposition leader Raila Odinga that the computerized data of the August presidential elections had been interfered with.
Outside the court, demonstrators protested for and against the Supreme Courts ruling.
The court annulled President Uhuru Kenyattas re-election earlier this month saying there were irregularities and illegalities. It made the decision in response to Odingas petition challenging the official results that Kenyatta won with 54 per cent of the vote. The electoral commission has set Oct. 17 as the date for a fresh election.
Read more: Kenya judges who nullified election over alleged irregularities face threats, protests
Kenyas presidential election dispute intensifies over allegations of vote-rigging
Kenyas opposition leader alleges election hacking, sparking deadly protests
Explaining why it annulled Kenyattas win, the Supreme Court said its order to view the computerized data was a golden opportunity for the electoral commission to present evidence to debunk Odingas claim of interference.
IEBCs contumacious disobedience of this order . . . in critical areas leaves us with no option but to accept the petitioners (Odingas) claims that the IEBC IT system was infiltrated and the data therein interfered with or IEBC officials interfered with the data or simply refused to accept that it had bungled the whole transmission system and was unable to verify the data, said Justice Philomena Mwilu, who read part of the judgment.
The electoral commission also failed to implement verification measures required by law and the constitution to ensure the election was credible, said the judgment. The electoral commission announced the winner of the presidential election even though it was missing thousands of scanned copies of forms used to compile the presidential results at the constituency, said the judgment. Those measures were ordered by the court of appeal last year to enhance accountability and reduce incidences of electoral fraud.
The presidential results announced on August 11 were based on forms which were not the primary document that the law says should be used to compile presidential elections results and some of those forms were of dubious authenticity, said the judgment.
For the above reasons we find the 2017 presidential election was not conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the constitution and the written law of election in that it was . . . neither transparent nor verifiable. On that ground alone . . . we have no choice but nullify it, said the judgment.
Chief Justice David Maraga on his part said irregularities and illegalities were substantial and could not be ignored. They included, the use of unsigned or forms without security features to tabulate the results of the presidential election, he said.
Justice Jackton Ojwang, one of the two judges who gave a dissenting ruling, said Odingas case did not meet the threshold of evidence.
Outside the courtroom, Kenyas police tear gassed opposition and ruling party supporters who had gathered outside the Supreme Court and started jeering and pushing each other, threatening violence, said a witness. Cyrus Okemwa, who was among the opposition supporters, said a swarm of bees first attacked the demonstrators followed by police tear gas.
There was push between or among the supporters outside the court and all over a sudden bees attacked and tear gas came from police, Okemwa said.
Kenyas Chief Justice David Maraga said Tuesday that since the September 1 judgment nullifying the election results, there have been attempts to intimidate judges. Kenyatta has called the Supreme Court judges crooks and warned of unspecified action against the judiciary if he is re-elected next month.
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LONDONBritish counterterror police arrested two more people Wednesday in relation to the London subway attack, bringing the number to five.
Detectives arrested a 48-year-old man and a 30-year-old man under the Terrorism Act in Newport, Wales. A 25-year-old man was also arrested in Newport on Tuesday.
Two other men arrested over the weekend an 18-year-old refugee from Iraq and a 21-year-old from Syria remain in custody. Neither has been charged.
Extensive inquiries are ongoing and searches are ongoing at four addresses.
We anticipate that the searches will take some days to complete and may cause further disruption, said Dean Haydon, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command.
A homemade bomb planted in a rush-hour subway car partially detonated Friday, injuring 30 people. The attack sparked a huge manhunt for the perpetrators, and prompted the British government to briefly raise the national terrorism threat to the highest level.
British authorities raised the country's threat level to "critical," meaning another attack may be imminent after a homemade bomb planted in a rush-hour subway car exploded in London on Friday, injuring 29 people. (The Associated Press)
Read more: London police questioning 2 ex-foster children over subway bomb
Britain raises terror alert level to critical after homemade bomb injures 29
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The billboards emblazoned with the face of first lady Melania Trump rose up in the capital of Croatia last Friday, offering a thought to passing drivers: Just imagine how far you can go with a little bit of English.
The Slovenian-born former model was chosen because she was the most recognized emigrant to the U.S. from this region, Ivis Buric told CNBC, on behalf of the school behind the billboards.
But Trumps image was used without permission. On Tuesday, the signs came down under threat of a lawsuit by the first ladys lawyers, according to the Associated Press.
They used Mrs. Trumps image and personality for commercial purposes without her consent, which is a breach of the advertising code and the law on obligations, White House spokesperson Stephanie Grisham wrote in an email.
The billboards advertised a local language school, whose American co-founder held the lofty goal of bringing the American education system closer to Croatia. Fifteen weeks of an advanced general English course cost 1,960 Croatian kuna, about $384, with more expensive courses such as English for the E.U.
The signs, which used an image of Trump from her speech during last years Republican National Convention in Cleveland, were not meant to be political, said Buric.
People can have all sorts of opinions about Melania Trump, but they cannot deny her the success she deserves and her knowledge of English, Buric told local media, according to the Telegraph.
Trumps lawyer, Natasa Pirc-Musar, told the Associated Press that the school had apologized for the billboards and took steps to remove them. The school did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.
Others have also sought to capitalize on Melania Trumps fame.
In neighbouring Slovenia, her name and face has been used on honey jars, cakes, high heels and even a Christmas tree last December, according to the Associated Press.
Pirc-Musar said last year, We have nothing against the Christmas tree in Ljubljana named Melania because this has nothing to do with commercial purposes. But we cant allow some products to be named Melania Trump.
Its not uncommon for the likeness of American celebrities to appear on advertisements in other countries without their consent. Actor Zach Braff recently discovered himself in a Russian poster that may be about erectile dysfunction.
The Croatian schools spokesperson thought the message of the signs had been lost.
We are very sorry that the billboards were misunderstood as something intended to mock the U.S. first lady, Buric said. It was meant to be something positive, to show her as a role model.
Even though they were up for less than a week, the billboards were very successful, Buric added, generating coverage from both local and international media.
Born Melanija Knavs, Melania Trump worked in Milan and Paris before she came to the United States, where she met her future husband in 1998. They married in 2005.
She is the second foreign-born first lady of the United States (Louisa Adams, who was born in England and the wife of the sixth president, John Quincy Adams, was the first).
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WASHINGTONSpecial counsel Robert Muellers office has asked the White House for documents about some of U.S. President Trumps most scrutinized actions since taking office, including the firing of his national security adviser and FBI director, according to White House officials.
Mueller is also interested in an Oval Office meeting Trump had with Russian officials in which he said the dismissal of the FBI director had relieved great pressure on him.
The document requests provide the most details to date about the breadth of Muellers investigation, and show that several aspects of his inquiry are focused squarely on Trumps behaviour in the White House.
Muellers office has questioned Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein as it probes the firing of former FBI Director James Comey, people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Read more: FBI conducted a pre-dawn raid of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manaforts home
Special counsel Robert Mueller using grand jury to help probe Russian meddling
Trumps attacks on Sessions, Mueller raise concerns about authoritarian tactics
It is not clear exactly when the conversation took place, or how long it lasted, but Rosenstein is relevant to Muellers investigation because he authored a memorandum in May that the White House initially held up as justification for Comeys firing.
The fact that Muellers team would speak with Rosenstein is not surprising given his direct involvement in Trump administration conversations that preceded the May 9 ouster and the evolving White House explanations of it.
But the questioning is nonetheless an indication of investigators continued interest in the circumstances surrounding Comeys ouster, and whether it constituted an effort to obstruct an investigation into potential co-ordination between Russia and the Trump campaign. Muellers team of investigators is expected to interview current and former White House aides in coming weeks as part of that investigation, according to people familiar with the matter.
The people who discussed the conversation with Rosenstein, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation. Muellers team of investigators reports to Rosenstein, who oversaw the Justice Departments Russia investigation following the recusal of Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Rosenstein told The Associated Press in June that he would recuse from oversight of Muellers investigation if necessary and warranted, though he has not done so as of Wednesday and it was not clear when or if he intended to.
As the Deputy Attorney General has said numerous times, if there comes a time when he needs to recuse, he will, the Justice Department said in a statement Tuesday night.
Rosenstein appointed Mueller as special counsel one week after Comeys firing, and one day after it was revealed that Comey had alleged in an internal memo that President Donald Trump had asked him to end an investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
The White House initially explained Comeys firing by saying Trump was acting on the recommendation of Rosenstein, who wrote a scathing memo about Comeys handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation.
But that narrative was muddled days later when Trump, in a television interview, said he would have fired Comey regardless of the Justice Departments recommendation. It was revealed earlier this month that Trump and aide Stephen Miller had drafted, but not sent, an earlier memo that sought to justify Comeys firing. That document is now in Muellers possession.
Rosenstein has said he stands by the memo and his assessment that Comey mishandled the Clinton email investigation by publicly announcing the FBIs findings instead of ceding that authority to the Justice Department. But he has also said he did not intend for his memo to be used as a justification for firing.
In recent weeks, Muellers office sent a document to the White House that detailed 13 different areas that investigators want more information about. Since then, administration lawyers have been scouring White House emails and asking officials whether they have other documents or notes that may pertain to Muellers requests.
One of the requests is about a meeting Trump had in May with Russian officials in the Oval Office the day after James Comey, the FBI director, was fired. That day, Trump met with the Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, and the Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak, along with other Russian officials. The New York Times reported that in the meeting Trump had said that firing Comey relieved great pressure on him.
Mueller has also requested documents about the circumstances of the firing of Michael Flynn, who was Trumps first national security adviser. Additionally, the special counsel has asked for documents about how the White House responded to questions from The Times about a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower. That meeting was set up by Donald Trump Jr., the presidents eldest son, to get derogatory information from Russians about Hillary Clinton.
Ty Cobb, the lawyer Trump hired to provide materials related to the Russia investigation to the special counsel and Congress, has told Muellers office that he will turn over many of the documents this week.
We cant comment on any specific requests being made or our conversations with the special counsel, he said.
With files from The Associated Press
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More than 400,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled death and torture in Myanmar (also known as Burma) over the last three weeks.
The current desperate mass exodus of Rohingya may seem sudden, but this is only because Canadian media has largely neglected their plight for so long. Myanmars anti-Rohingya atrocities did not begin on Aug. 25 as a crackdown on Rohingya militants, as news media reported but are the perpetuation of decades of persecution, marginalization, segregation, expulsion, and eradication.
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims were driven off land they had lived on for generations by bloody military campaigns in 1978 and 1991. They were stripped of citizenship in 1982, leaving them without civil rights one of the largest stateless populations in the world. Since 1994, the government has refused to issue birth certificates for Rohingya babies.
The Rohingya were erased from the national census in 2014, and prohibited from voting or running for office in the elections in 2015. They have been tortured, assaulted, and killed with impunity; legally restricted from marrying and having children, including through federal Race and Religion Protection Laws passed in 2015; and imprisoned in internally displaced person camps, where they are deprived of food, water, and medical care, and are not permitted to leave (in 2014, Save the Children reported that some Rohingya were resorting to eating glue).
If the international community cant help us, please drop a bomb on us and kill all of us, one woman living in a camp pled to a group of British researchers in 2014.
The recent intensification of violence against the Rohingya is a continuation of unfinished business, Myanmarese army commander Sr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing told the media earlier this month.
This turn of events was predicted and could have been prevented, said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein.
Hundreds of people rallied on Parliament Hill on Sunday, calling on Justin Trudeau to do more to end the atrocities committed against Rohingya Muslims in Burma. About 400,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh as refugees. (The Canadian Press)
For years, human rights groups sounded alarms about the slow-burning genocide in Myanmar, but the world refused to heed them seriously until the flames of ethnic cleansing erupted into a conflagration.
In April 2013, a Human Rights Watch report determined that the Burmese government engaged in a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya in 2012.
In March 2014, American organization United to End Genocide warned that nowhere in the world are there more known precursors to genocide than in Burma today.
In October 2015, a study by Yale Law School found strong evidence that genocide is being committed against Rohingya, and a report based on on-the-ground research from the International State Crime Initiative at Queen Mary University of London concluded that Rohingya face the final stages of genocide.
The International Alliance to End Genocide issued genocide emergency alerts for the Rohingya in 2012, 2013, and 2015.
Groups of Nobel laureates condemned Myanmars project of ethnic cleansing in May 2015 and December 2016.
In December 2016 and February 2017, reports by Amnesty International and the United Nations documented crimes against humanity, collective punishment, and ethnic cleansing committed against the Rohingya by Myanmars security forces starting in October 2016.
One woman interviewed by the UN recalled: They held me tight and I was raped by one of them. My 5-year-old daughter tried to protect me, she was screaming, one of the men took out a long knife and killed her by slitting her throat. Another recounted: The military dragged my grandmother and grandfather out of their house. First they were severely beaten, then tied to a tree. The military then put dried grass, woods around them and set them on fire.
These reports received minimal coverage in Canadian media, and were commonly treated as minor footnotes to the triumphal story of Myanmars supposed return to democracy with the victory of Aung San Suu Kyis party in the November 2015 elections.
Last year, the Canadian government rejected a Parliamentary committees recommendation that Canada reassess its sanctions against Myanmar to address violations against the Rohingya; the government asserted that the objective [behind the original imposition of sanctions] has now largely been achieved.
In June this year, just four months after the UN accused Myanmar of crimes against humanity, Aung San Suu Kyi (who is an honorary Canadian citizen) visited Canada; she received a heros welcome at Toronto City Hall, while Prime Minister Trudeau failed to mention the Rohingya crisis in his public remarks to her.
This is how a genocide proceeds hidden in plain sight. This is how never again happens again and again.
Azeezah Kanji is a legal analyst based in Toronto. She writes in the Star every other Thursday.
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Doc, dont listen to him. Youre not a cheat.
Parliament resumed in Ottawa on Monday. Like many others, I watched Canadas prime minister stand up on national television and make doctors sound like wealthy tax cheats. He also slammed any elected MP for standing with doctors.
Even though seven Liberal caucus MPs including the chair of the finance committee came out against this tax reform.
Even though small businesses, tax analysts, policy experts and world-renowned entrepreneurs have run the numbers and said this tax reform will hurt the economy in significant, unexpected ways.
Even though many have called for thoughtful, widespread tax reform rather than this isolated jab at one sector.
Monday afternoon, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau our countrys leader, our countrys voice turned tax reform into open season on doctors. He didnt just turn being successful into a dirty word. He turned being a doctor into a dirty word.
Doc, dont listen to him. Youre not a cheat, texted one of my frail elderly patients who follows politics closely. I wondered, how many of my patients will be swayed by Justin Trudeaus disdain of doctors? How many will stop trusting what I say because my government stopped trusting what I say?
Over lunch boxes and school bags, I looked at my husband. Our kids are not going to be doctors, I said. I dont want them to ever feel this way.
Shaken. Betrayed. Ashamed for my lifes work.
My family immigrated to Canada when I was 10. My dad opened a dollar store in Thorncliffe Park, working 6 to 7 days a week. The people who frequented the store were not the BMW-driving silver-spoon trust-fund types. Our customers bought food at our store. Because of that, year by year as the cost of living rose, as the expense side of the ledger encroached on the revenue side, as taxes/CPP/EI contributions for his employees rose, my dad could not bring himself to raise prices.
From age 13 on, I worked in the family business: sweeping floors, stocking shelves. In university, I worked three jobs to pay my way, including night shifts as a personal support worker. My sister worked four jobs to pay for law school. Fast-forward a decade: a few hundred thousand dollars of graduate and postgraduate school debt, grey hairs and worry lines, kids, mortgages and small-town lives. My parents retired. One sister became a lawyer; another, a project manager; I am a doctor.
Ive come far. Wit, grit, and no small amount of luck helped me live my dream. I now appreciate the risk my dad took opening a small business. As a small-town doctor, I run a small business, working crazy hours, serving patients of all stripes. I have a job I love, through which I create jobs for other people, support my local hospital, donate to community organizations. Most of all, I take care of my parents and my family.
My story is echoed by many Canadian physicians, and many more small business owners.
I remember the day I became a Canadian Citizen. Every so often, I look at my citizenship card, at the proud grin on my face.
Today, Im ashamed. My prime minister mocked my familys sacrifice and twisted my success into something sinister.
Its wrong.
The math behind Trudeaus tax plan is controversial and questionable at best. Its created such uncertainty that decades-old small businesses worry about keeping their doors open. Family farms worry about passing down to the next generation. Mom-and-dad entrepreneurs worry that their kids made a mistake following in their footsteps. Instead of celebrating success, our government is scapegoating it.
The ripple effects of these tax changes will hit every small business along with every single person who depends on them for jobs and services.
Our government pitted neighbour against neighbour, created class warfare where there was none. I watched this happen to the U.S.; I never thought I would see it start in Canada.
The emotional toll of this governments political spin cannot be understated. Im not the only one heartbroken and disillusioned.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave Canada until Oct. 2 to respond to his tax plan. Heres my advice:
Stop the mudslinging.
Slow down.
Commission an analysis of what complete tax reform should do, could do and will do.
Prepare for unintended consequences.
Then step up and do it right.
Prime Minister Trudeau, please respect our lifes work. We are your people.
Dr. Nadia Alam is a family physician-anesthetist in Georgetown, Ont., as well as the president-elect of the Ontario Medical Association.
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There is a positive side to Transport Minister Steven Del Ducas interference with Metrolinxs business case assessment of a GO station in his riding. It may help to clarify the degree of independence Metrolinx needs if its to play a more effective role in regional transportation.
Metrolinx is supposed to operate at arms length from the provincial government. It was established to champion, develop and implement an integrated transportation system across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area.
There is a memo of understanding that governs the relationship between Metrolinx and the Transport Ministry. The government controls Metrolinxs funding, board appointments, reporting and communications.
In theory the minister doesnt have the right to interfere with Metrolinxs planning and business case analysis of transportation infrastructure. For example, the agencys value-for-money review of the $100 million Kirby station in the Ministers riding was supposed to be free from political interference.
The station did not meet Metrolinxs criteria. However, after pressure from the ministry the agency staff changed their advice to the board. The board eventually voted for the Kirby station. This is just the latest example of a deeply flawed transit decision-making process in the Toronto region chronicled in the Star on Monday.
In addition to condemnation of the minister, the Metrolinx board chair, Rob Prichard, has been criticized for caving under political pressure. I faced the same kind of coercion at the TTC, and later at Canada Post. Ministers often want things theyre not supposed to have. And its very difficult to bite the hand that feeds you.
At the TTC, Premier Bill Davis insisted we use the Intermediate Capacity Transit System (ICTS) from Kennedy Station to the Scarborough Town Centre. It was provincially developed, untested technology that Davis wanted to demonstrate to the world. He controlled the funding. We finally agreed to his expensive alternative when a street car line on a dedicated right of way would have been a better option. Sound familiar?
The Star's Ben Spurr takes a look at the proposed $100-million Kirby Go Station in the riding of Ontario Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca.
At Canada Post Corporation, our first minister, was also the minister responsible for Quebec. He was fond of putting pressure on me to direct major contracts to Quebec companies. I was able to resist because the CPC legislation required the minister to give any political direction by way of a public Order in Council. None ever came.
Prichard has done the right thing by putting his house in order. Del Ducas Kirby Station and Mayor John Torys Lawrence Station (also questionable) will be reviewed again. In the future all business case analyses will be made public before the Metrolinx board votes. Notices of any private board meetings will be posted and minutes made available later,
These are important transparency and procedural improvements. Metrolinx is a vital agency whose decisions are shaping the urban form of this region for generations to come.
So far, all Minister De Duca has done is acknowledge in a letter that some concerns have been raised. This isnt enough. The government cant have it both ways. Keeping Metrolinx at arms length when it likes their decisions. Interfering when their decisions dont serve political ends. This substitution of political bias for evidence-based decisions has serious consequences.
The Scarborough subway is a classic example. In 2013, Metrolinx said they believed an LRT would provide an effective rapid transit solution to the transportation challenges in the area. The agency maintained support for an LRT even after the three levels of government opted for a subway. However, Metrolinx did agree to a short Transit Project Assessment process.
This meant no embarrassing value-for-money analysis by Metrolinx of a subway vs. an LRT. That lack of a comprehensive value-for-money comparison has allowed Mayor Tory, Premier Wynne and Trudeau to troll for support in vote-rich Scarborough with a $3.3 billion, one-stop subway option that shouldnt even be on the table.
The provincial government already has control over Metrolinxs board appointments, strategic plan and annual budget. This should be enough influence to satisfy the needs of elected oversight.
If Premier Wynne wants more control over the planning and analysis of major transit projects she should dismantle Metrolinx and absorb its functions into the Transport Ministry. If she still wants objective, professional, transit decisions then clearer lines of authority need to be established.
She should consider elevating Metrolinx from an operational enterprise agency to a more independent crown agency with a strengthened mandate and greater decision making authority.
R. Michael Warren is a former corporate director, Ontario deputy minister, TTC chief general manager and Canada Post CEO. r.michael.warren@gmail.com
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A close look at food bank clients can teach us about poverty in ways statistics alone never could.
Despite a growing economy and a largely stagnant poverty rate, food bank visits in Toronto have returned to levels not seen since 2010 when the full effects of the Great Recession were still being felt, according to Daily Breads 2017 annual report.
From April 2016 to March 2017 there were 990,970 visits to the Daily Bread Food Bank and North York Harvest Food Bank member agencies. Thats up 9 per cent from 2015/2016 and 24 per cent from 2008.
At the same time, people rely on food banks for longer periods than in the past. In 2010, the average was one year; now, it's twice that.
To understand this increasing dependency, it is useful to look at who is visiting food banks and why.
Of course, food-bank clients include those living below the poverty line, but also those who wouldn't necessarily be captured by our poverty statistics: senior citizens on fixed incomes; people living on employment and disability benefits; workers among the 52 per cent of Torontonians who are precariously employed in temporary, contract or part time work; people over 45 who lost their job and cant find their way back into the workforce; and, of course, the children of people in these groups.
Why do more of these people rely on food banks than in the past? As the report makes clear, the rise is primarily the result of skyrocketing rents and utilities, which consume far too great a portion of low incomes and make government benefits, never generous, now woefully inadequate.
The average food-bank client spent almost 70 per cent of their total monthly income on rent and utilities, after which they had just $7.33 a day left over to eat, clothe themselves and get around the city.
Were at a tipping point, says the Daily Bread's Richard Matern.
If governments wish to ensure that every citizen is able to afford to eat, they must ease the burden of increasingly unaffordable rents. Thats why Daily Bread and other anti-poverty organizations are lobbying the federal government to create a portable, national housing benefit that would address the immediate and growing gap between household budgets and the basic cost of rent for those in need.
While Ottawa promised $11 billion for housing over 11 years in its 2017 budget for a National Housing Strategy, it has yet to announce how and when the money will be released and what it will go toward. Part of that investment should be used to fund a housing benefit.
Direct assistance to renters is the most immediate and effective way to meet your governments goals of diminishing homelessness and alleviating core housing need, anti-poverty organizations argued in a recent appeal to Families, Children and Social Development Minister Jean-Yves Duclos.
Ottawa should listen.
The province could help, too, by increasing Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support payments to reflect the increasing cost of rent and food.
Forty-one per cent of food bank clients dont eat for an entire day because of a lack of money. Seventy-seven per cent of food banks have to give clients less food than usual because they are running out. The urgency is clear and growing. The solutions are within reach.
No one in a city as rich as Toronto should go hungry. Governments should act now to ensure that this shameful trend is reversed.
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Erica Stark was standing on a sidewalk in Scarborough in November 2014 when a minivan jumped the curb, ran over a TTC bus stop pole, careened off a hydro box, slammed into a light standard, and then hit her. The 42-year-old mother of three died at the scene.
Two years later, the driver of the car, Elizabeth Taylor, was found guilty of careless driving under Ontarios Highway Traffic Act. She received a $1,000 fine, six months probation, and a total driving ban for one month.
Believe it or not, that penalty was unusually tough for someone convicted of careless driving. But advocates for safer streets have long maintained that it isnt nearly tough enough. Theyve been pushing for fines of up to $50,000 and longer driving bans.
Now, if proposals released on Wednesday by the Wynne government are passed into law, they will get their wish and a lot more.
Considering that last year was the deadliest for Toronto pedestrians in over a decade, with 43 people killed by drivers, the proposed changes to the current legislation cant come soon enough.
The changes would dramatically toughen current penalties to protect pedestrians, cyclists and other people in vehicles from careless drivers. The only shortcoming appears to be a lack of new money for increased enforcement.
Still, most importantly, the changes to the act would create a new provincial offence of careless driving causing death or bodily harm that could result in a licence suspension of up to five years, imprisonment of up to two years, and a fine of between $2,000 and $50,000. (This is distinct from the more serious Criminal Code offence of dangerous driving, which carries higher penalities.)
This is about penalties that fit the action and behaviour of the accused, Tourism Minister Eleanor McMahon said on Wednesday. Her husband, Greg Stobbart, was killed in 2006 by a careless driver. It is my great hope that this will save lives, that it will deter poor driving choices, that it will send the clear signal that possibly paying a moment of inattention has lasting consequences.
Indeed, the proposed measures also target inattention picking up a cell phone, for example with tougher punishments for distracted driving. They could include a licence suspension of 30 days and fines of up to $3,000.
Those changes are long overdue. The Ontario Provincial Police reported last year that distracted driving was the cause of more deaths on provincial highways than any other factor for the third consecutive year, contributing to 69 in 2015. The province also reported last year that there was a distracted driving collision every 30 seconds.
No wonder. A 2016 Canadian Automobile Association poll found that 33 per cent of respondents admitted to texting while stopped at a red light last November. The OPP, alone, has laid 15,000 to 20,000 distracted driving charges each year for the past five.
The proposed legislation would also increase penalties for drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks, in intersections and in school zones.
And they come on top of much-needed tough new penalties announced earlier this month for those who drive under the influence of drugs, including cannabis.
While Queens Park says drunk driving remains one of the top-five killers on Ontarios roads, the provinces recent roadside survey found that twice as many drivers tested positive for drugs as for alcohol.
Kudos, then, to the Wynne government for cracking down on both careless and impaired driving. Ontarios roads are ranked among the safest in North America and the government should make sure it stays that way.
As the Star has long argued, its time to stop brushing traffic deaths and injuries off as mere accidents and see them instead as a preventable kind of violence. This new legislation is a good step in that direction.
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The U.S. government's flood-insurance program could run out of funding by late October based on the staggering volume of claims expected from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, a Federal Emergency Management Agency official said.
Such a timeline could add pressure on President Donald Trump and Congress to shore up the program's finances, even as lawmakers rush to debate bills to overhaul the healthcare industry and enact deep corporate tax cuts.
The National Flood Insurance Program, or NFIP, expects $11 billion of claims from Hurricane Harvey alone, said Roy Wright, who oversees the effort as a deputy associate administrator at FEMA. To pay claims, the 49-year-old program has just $1.08 billion of cash -- down by a third in less than three weeks -- and a $5.8 billion credit limit from the U.S. Treasury Department.
While Wright said he doesn't yet have a reliable estimate of Irma-related damages, the risk-modeling firm CoreLogic Inc. (CLGX) - Get Free Report said Tuesday that the storm could lead to as much as $8 billion of claims from homeowners in Florida, Georgia and other parts of the southeastern U.S. Further losses could come from Hurricane Maria, a Category 5 storm that was approaching the U.S. Virgin Islands late Tuesday and projected to hit Puerto Rico on Wednesday.
"We are going through money at a pretty rapid pace," Wright said in a telephone interview from Miami, where he was meeting with flood victims. "Our spending authority will likely be used up later in October."
Few residential insurance policies include flood coverage, so the federal program is the primary provider for most homeowners. Nationwide, the NFIP provides flood insurance for about 5 million homes and businesses, with total coverage of $1.23 trillion.
For the first few decades of its existence, the NFIP was mostly able to cover claims with the premiums it collected from policyholders -- just as most private insurance companies do. Starting with Hurricane Katrina in 2005, so many storms have slammed the U.S. coastlines that the program could no longer cover its costs, prompting critics to argue that the low insurance rates amount to unfair subsidies for homeowners in flood-prone areas.
In the meantime, the NFIP has gone heavily into debt to the U.S. Treasury Department, forcing Congress to increase the program's borrowing capacity several times to the current $30.4 billion. Currently, the program has about $25 billion of debt.
On Sept. 8, Trump signed a $15.25 billion disaster-relief bill, which also extended the flood-insurance program's authorization to Dec. 8; the program had been scheduled to expire on Sept. 30. But the law contained no new funds for the NFIP.
Wright said he's working with members of Trump's team and key Congressional leaders to assure the program has sufficient funds, adding that the government intends to satisfy all claims.
"We will collaborate with Congress on how to pay the bill in full," Wright said.
Jeb Hensarling, a Republican congressman from Texas who heads the House Financial Services Committee, which oversees the federal program, said in a statement last week that storm victims with active flood-insurance policies "need to be paid and paid now." He said he aims to bring legislation to the House soon to address the program's shortcomings.
The NFIP "in its current form is unsustainable and perverse" because it "subsidizes people to live in harm's way," the congressman said. "It actually encourages the building and re-bulding, and re-building again, of homes and businesses in flood-prone areas."
CoreLogic said in a statement Tuesday that total residential flood losses from Hurricane Irma could total $25 billion to $38 billion, with roughly 80% of the damages not covered by any insurance.
Such damages would be roughly on par with the estimated $25 billion to $37 billion in total flood losses from Hurricane Harvey, mostly in Texas and Louisiana. In the case of Harvey, about 70% of the damages were uninsured.
The loss estimates don't include damages due to wind, which are covered by private insurance companies under most homeowner policies.
More of What's Trending on TheStreet:
Updated from Sept. 20 with new information.
The much-anticipated, long-hyped merger of Sprint (S) - Get Free Report and T-Mobile (TMUS) - Get Free Report may finally materialize with the parent companies coming together on an agreement to split ownership, according to a Reuters report citing sources familiar with the matter.
Shares of Sprint gained about 3.5% to $8.32 in pre-market trading on Friday, putting its market cap at about $32.1 billion. T-Mobile was essentially flat, dipping 0.2% to $63.39 before the open. The carriers did not immediately respond to queries about the report.
The merger will encounter massive challenges, from winning regulatory approval for a deal that would eliminate a wireless competitor, to integrating two national carriers and deciding which brands would survive.
Dividing up ownership is one of the first issues that Sprint, T-Mobile and their controlling shareholders have to address. Reuters reports that T-Mobile parent Deutsche Telekom will hold a majority stake in the combined telecom, with Sprint parent Softbank taking a 40% to 50% equity stake.
Deutsche Telekom, which owns close to 65% of T-Mobile, has a stronger negotiating position, since T-Mobile has thrived as a stand alone carrier, taking share from AT&T (T) - Get Free Report and Verizon (VZ) - Get Free Report , and does not need a merger.
Sprint, for its part, has made some progress under CEO Marcelo Claure. The company has gained post-paid phone subscriptions, but also has higher levels of churn -- or customer defections -- than its rival carriers. In the current talks, Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son has reportedly acquiesced on giving up control over the telecom that he initially acquired in a 2013 bidding war with Dish (DISH) - Get Free Report Chairman Charlie Ergen. The Japanese tech and telecom conglomerate controls about 83% of Sprint's equity.
While Deutsche Telekom could therefore maintain control, Moody's Investor Service analyst Mark Stodden said it wouldn't come cheap.
An all-stock merger would dilute Deutsche Telekom's stake in the merged companies to about 40%, Stodden calculated. Softbank would hold 30% and public shareholders would have the remaining 30%.
"Deutsche Telekom could acquire shares of the new company from Softbank or public equity holders to increase its stake back to 51%," Stodden noted in an email. But the German telecom would have to spend about $10 billion to acquire 150 million shares of the post-merger telecom to do so, at the roughly $65 per share price where T-Mobile has traded amid the merger buzz.
As an alternative, T-Mobile could issue up to 260 million additional shares of its stock, Stodden suggested, which would raise $17 billion at today's price of about $65 per share. But that would still leave Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile about $19 billion short of the $36 billion equity value that Stodden assigns to Sprint. "[T]his would require a large debt raise by T-Mobile," he noted.
Deutsche Telekom could also do some combination of the two, ponying up some of the cash to buy up shares and raising some capital at T-Mobile.
And even if Deutsche Telekom and Softbank agree to terms, there is no assurance that the Department of Justice and Federal Communications Commission will give their blessing to the deal. Divvying up ownership would be a start, however.
Iron ore prices could fall to $53 per ton next year as the global supply glut deepens and China demand slows, Citigroup analysts said in a note Wednesday, according to Bloomberg. If Citi's prediction holds true, iron ore would drop 25% from its Wednesday morning price of $71.96 per ton next year.
Growing global iron ore supplies will serve as a primary driver for a decrease in price. Analysts said Australian exports could expand 4.6% from last year and Brazilian exports could increase 5.7% during the same period.
At the same time, China, which is both the world's largest producer and importer of iron ore, is on track to experience slowing industrial production as a result of the country's effort to control credit expansion and reduce excess capacity, according to Bloomberg. That could mean fewer iron ore imports.
To compound slowing iron ore imports, which would increase global supplies and weigh on pricing, China's demand for steel is closing in on its peak. As steel demand reaches its top and begins to decline, demand for iron ore will likely wane, analysts wrote.
China's steel output has risen 5.6% so far this year compared to the first eight months of 2016, Bloomberg data showed, reaching a record last month. As Chinese steel output reaches levels closer to strong industrialized countries, any increase in production won't change iron ore prices as it previously could have.
Although iron ore prices are set to decline by many measures despite strong steel prices, MineLife analyst Gavin Wendt told Bloomberg that the current trend will likely stick around through the rest of this year.
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Every year, billionaire investor Warren Buffett auctions off the chance for a lunch date with him at Manhattan's Smith & Wollensky steakhouse with profits going to the GLIDE Foundation. But, it's not your average business lunch.
The meal goes to the highest bidder, with recent winners dishing out as much as $2.7 million for some face time with the Oracle of Omaha. Here's what you need to know.
How Much Could It Cost?
In June, an unnamed bidder on eBay (EBAY) - Get Free Report paid close to $2.7 million for the lunch. The five-day auction was two minutes away from closing when the bidder placed an offer. The winner, along with up to seven friends, had lunch with Buffett at the New York steakhouse last month.
The auctions started in 2000. During its inaugural year, technology entrepreneur Pete Budlong shelled out $25,000 for the lunch during an in-person auction in San Francisco hosted by Sharon Stone and Robin Williams. By 2007, the winning bid climbed to $620,100. In 2008, the winning bid topped $1 million and hasn't looked past that milestone since.
But this year's $2.7 million bid wasn't the highest ever. In 2012 and 2016, the winners each bid $3,456,789 for the meal in a contest with 41 other competitors.
Virginia hedge fund manager Ted Weschler won the lunch in 2010 and again in 2011. Weschler was so impressive in person that Buffett later offered him a top money manager position at his Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) - Get Free Report (BRK.B) - Get Free Report . Weschler is now part of the team that's expected to take the helm at Berkshire once Buffett steps down.
What Could You Learn?
Aside from getting a job like Weschler, there is a lot to learn from the Oracle of Omaha. Even if you don't want to talk investing, Buffett is said to be a pretty great lunch date.
The first winner, Budlong, is a tech investor - which is a sector Buffett notoriously avoided back in 2000. Budlong said the two still talked tech shop, and that Buffett was "folksy, down to earth and legitimately funny," according to CNBC. "It was a conversational, pretty chill lunch."
You could probably also learn insight into some of Buffett's top stock holdings.
One of Buffett's top picks is Apple Inc. (AAPL) - Get Free Report . The investor has never sold an Apple share, and said last month that he sees Apple becoming the first trillion-dollar company. Other big Buffett holdings include Coca-Cola (KO) - Get Free Report , Wells Fargo (WFC) - Get Free Report , American Airlines (AAL) - Get Free Report , American Express (AXP) - Get Free Report , Bank of America (BAC) - Get Free Report , Costco (COST) - Get Free Report , Kraft Heinz (KHC) - Get Free Report , Southweat Airlines (LUV) - Get Free Report , Moody's (MCO) - Get Free Report and Restaurant Brands (QSR) - Get Free Report .
What Is the GLIDE Foundation?
Buffett became involved with Glide through his first wife, Susie, who volunteered there. The organization benefits San Francisco's homeless population. Glide is located in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood, home to a highly impoverished part of the city's population. It provides about 750,000 meals per year to homeless San Franciscans, plus physical health, mental health and substance abuse care for those in need.
Glide has an annual budget of about $18 million, according to the Financial Times. That means the Buffett lunch could account for as much as 19% of the organization's funds for a year. Since the auction started, it's raised about $25 million for Glide.
Is There Any Other Way to Get Buffett's Take?
Although the purpose of the lunch is to raise money for charity, it seems there are other ways to get Buffett alone. The famed investor holds a Berkshire shareholder meeting every year, but you have to own Berkshire stock to get in. If you don't own Berkshire stock, cozy up to a friend who does - shareholders are entitled to a maximum of four meeting credentials.
New York-based portfolio manager Patrick O'Shaughnessy also scored a three-hour dinner with Buffett without holding Berkshire stock or shelling out a small fortune. The millennial hosts a podcast and asks authors whose books he's read to join the show for a conversation. When O'Shaughnessy met with hedge fund manager and author Tim Seides, the two hit it off and ended up flying to Omaha for dinner with Buffett, who's a friend of Seides', according to CNBC.
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The former 2fm presenter got married to long-term partner Rob Morgan at Bunratty Castle in Co Clare at the end of last month
Ruth Scott has revealed she has no plans to take her husband Rob Morgan's surname after their wedding last July.
The former 2fm presenter tied the knot with her long-term partner in a humanist ceremony in Bunratty Castle in Co Clare in front of their family and friends.
When it comes to married life, Ruth has decided to buck tradition and keep her maiden name.
"I'm not bothering to change my name, so we don't have all that nasty paperwork to tackle. I couldn't be bothered, it's my name," she said.
The radio host explained she has built her career with her own surname and doesn't think there's any point changing it now.
"I have great association professionally with my name. When you consider the JNLR listenership research is done by name, it's important to keep that.
"Rob has a cousin called Ruth, so we already have one Ruth Morgan, we don't need another one.
"Loads of people I know who have got married, plenty, didn't bother changing their names," she said.
Ruth and Rob, who is the son of the late Father Ted actor Dermot Morgan, went to Austria for their honeymoon, but decided the week-long excursion wasn't enough.
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They recently returned from their second honeymoon in Dubai where Ruth admitted the soaring temperatures put a dampener on romance.
"It was too hot to be romantic, you can't get any romance in 40 degrees. We couldn't even hold hands it was so hot," she told the Diary.
"We just did the one week in Austria and I said, 'How very first-world problems of us, only one week in Austria.'
"We had always wanted to do a two-week holiday, so we said we would branch out a bit and hit Dubai. We know loads over there.
"Any Irish people I know stay in the Bonnington Tower while they're there, which is right above the McGettigans pub."
Ruth, known to listeners for her work on 2fm, has recently moved to Radio Nova where she hosts a weekend show and has also been filling in for the Morning Glory breakfast programme while host Marty Miller is away.
"It's good fun and the music is great. They're very nice in there and I'm really enjoying my time there," she said.
"Being thrown in, I'm like, 'Oh my god, you do this every morning?'
"It's like any breakfast show, you need to know what people want to hear in the morning.
"This week, it's all about the Dubs and Mayo. You're not getting into big heavy discussions. The nature of the breakfast show is that people listen for 15 or 20 minutes if you're lucky."
If you've every wondered what Ian Dempsey would look like in a big white wedding dress your wait is over!
Today FM DJ Ian was joined by a live wedding-dress clad audience for 'Wedding Dress Wednesday' as part of the radio station's 'Dare to Care' campaign, and the presenter made for a beautiful blushing bride in his pretty silk gown, veil and blond wig.
Ian broadcast his breakfast show this morning in front of a live audience in 25 Fitzwilliam Place, walking down the 'aisle' to applause from fellow wedding dress-clad onlookers who encouraged the presenter towards the mic in his peep-toe heels with chants of 'Iano! Iano!'
Presenter Paula MacSweeney also appeared at the event, fresh from her own big day after eloping to New York to tie the knot with husband Aidan Donnelly.
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Not letting the wet weather deter them, more brides from around the country donned their wedding dresses to work in aid of the charity campaign, and posted photos to Twitter to show their support, using the hashtag #weddingdresswednesday.
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Today FM's Dare to Care campaign in aid of the Irish Cancer Society is taking place all month, and the station is encouraging listeners to pull out their own dresses or borrow one from a friend of family member for the big day and help raise 50,000 for the Irish Cancer Society.
For more information on the campaign, visit todayfm.com
Vince Holding Corp. designs, merchandises, and sells luxury apparel and accessories in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Vince Wholesale, Vince Direct-to-Consumer, and Rebecca Taylor and Parker. The company offers a range of women's products, such as cashmere sweaters, silk blouses, leather and suede leggings and jackets, dresses, skirts, denims, pants, t-shirts, footwear, outerwear, and accessories; and men's products comprising t-shirts, knit and woven tops, sweaters, denims, pants, blazers, footwear, and outerwear under the Vince brand. It also offers occasion-forward dresses, suiting, silk blouses, leather and tweed jackets, outerwear, jumpsuits, cotton dresses and blouses, denim, sweaters, pants, skirts and knit, and woven tops under the Rebecca Taylor and Parker brands. The company sells its products directly to consumers through its branded specialty retail stores and outlet stores, as well as through its vince.com e-commerce platform and subscription business through Vince Unfold, vinceunfold.com; and to wholesale department stores and specialty stores. As of January 29, 2022, it operated 86 stores, including 49 company-operated Vince full-price stores, 10 company-operated Rebecca Taylor full-price stores, 18 company-operated Vince outlet stores, and 8 company-operated Rebecca Taylor outlet stores. The company was formerly known as Apparel Holding Corp. and changed its name to Vince Holding Corp. in November 2013. Vince Holding Corp. was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
BNL girls thump Mitchell at The Hive
Bedford North Lawrence defeated Mitchell 78-20 at the Hive on Saturday evening. The win moved the Stars to 3-0 on the season.
A novel of adventure and human frailties, which also introduces a politically incorrect but contentious possible solution to the unknown origins of the Maori immigrants to New Zealand.
In 1282, Carlos, Marquis do Tuella de Tanez, became the head of one of Portugal's most influential and wealthiest families. It was a time of change and discovery. In Iberia, the Moors were finally being driven out of western Europe, philosophers all over Europe were attempting to expand their knowledge of the world, and inventors were desperately trying to find patrons to finance their work. In 1286, Carlos de Tanez took advantage of this change, and set sail on a voyage of discovery that took him across to the mouths of the Amazon and the River Plate, around Cape Horn and into the Pacific, touching on the outskirts of the Inca empire, the Polynesian islands, and the virgin lands of what is now New Zealand. His ship the Hahviccii Grande was a hybrid caravel, and the largest ocean going ship of its time, and possessed characteristics and innovations that only someone of immense wealth and dedication could ever hope to gather together at that time. Gathering workers and women from the Americas and the Pacific islands, he finally abandoned them all into four small settlements in the future New Zealand, before setting sail to return to Europe, thereby providing the ancestors of the Maori people.
21 Chapters 56000 words Kerry Dillon Published by Dolphin Books Ltd
New Direct from publisher. Unlimited Supply
The long-running World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha negotiations remain unresolved. The stumbling block in 2008 was the intransigence of the United States of America over domestic support and the G-33 position on the creation of a safeguard, accessible for developing countries, against import surges and depressed prices (Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM)). Since 2008, further issues have arisen outside of agriculture, and negotiators appear further from an agreement now than they were then.
Members agreed in 2008 to make linear tariff reductions within bands, but proposed exemptions for sensitive products; while providing for much needed flexibility, this threatened to undermine the reduction of tariffs. Ironically, the greater the reduction of tariffs is, the greater is the potential of exemptions for sensitive products to undermine that reduction. On the other hand, it has repeatedly been shown that WTO members require some flexibility to protect politically sensitive sectors.
Analysis at the time suggested that although developing countries as a group would benefit from the proposed reductions in tariffs, domestic support and export subsidies, the benefits were not evenly distributed. Indeed, many African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) countries were likely to become worse off as the result of loss of preferential access as most-favoured nation (MFN) tariffs were lowered. In addition, the rising price of temperate products would raise the costs of imports, worsening their terms of trade from two directions.
This paper examines the formula proposed in the 2008 draft modalities and compare it with the one proposed by Paraguay in March 2015. The authors attempt to take into account how the world has changed since 2008, by looking at the changes in tariffs facing ACP countries, in agricultural prices and in domestic support. They then examine proposed tariff cuts at a six-digit level. Next, the initial and final tariffs are aggregated to 24 sectors and analysed within a well-known general equilibrium model, the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP), to assess the impacts on welfare and trade flows for ACP countries. They conclude with recommendations for ACP countries in the WTO negotiations.
The new trading environment for ACP countries
Trade patterns
Agricultural exports from ACP countries have increased threefold since 2000, but their share of world agricultural exports has in fact declined since 1995 from 4.0 per cent to 3.6 per cent in 2012. This is because world agricultural trade has grown faster than ACP exports.
As non-agricultural commodity prices and exports have risen, the role of agricultural exports has declined. The share of ACP agricultural exports in total merchandise exports has halved since 1995 and is currently around 12 per cent. This is largely attributed to the exports of oil, which increased tenfold from $24 billion in 1995 to $267 billion in 2012. Crude oil prices increased more than fivefold from 1995 to 2012, but have fallen by half since June 2014. Current prices are $63 a barrel, well down from the peak of $144 in June 2008.
Agricultural exporters and importers of ACP have been greatly affected by price instability. The major ACP agricultural exports are cocoa, cotton, coffee, sugar and oilseeds. From the perspective of exporters, prices of tropical agricultural exports have risen since the early 2000s. This led some international institutions, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, to forecast higher prices in the foreseeable future. However, prices have moved down since 2011, broadly in line with falling crude oil prices.
While rising agricultural prices are generally beneficial for exporters, many ACP countries are net food importers, and most are importers of temperate products such as wheat, rice, meat, dairy products and sugar. Food prices peaked in 2008 and again in 2011 but fell in 2014. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts that the food price index will fall 14 per cent below 2014 levels by 2020. Many African members of ACP have benefited from the non-food commodity boom. The IMF all-commodity price index rose threefold from 2000 to 2012. However, in the past two years the index has fallen 35 per cent. Energy has a large weight in the commodity price index, reflecting the value of production. Oil prices are expected to fall further in 2015 but rise moderately until 2020. As with food, non-food price movements benefit some ACP countries at the expense of others. Angola and Nigeria are major oil producers in Africa. Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean is a significant exporter of liquid natural gas. Numerous African countries are exporters of minerals such as gold, diamonds, copper and nickel.
Tariffs on ACP importers
Tariffs on ACP agricultural imports have fallen steadily since many ACP members joined WTO in 1995. The average effectively applied tariff for ACP countries as a group was 29 per cent in 1995 and is presently around 13 per cent.
Currently, regions within ACP with the highest applied tariffs are East Africa and the Pacific. East African countries have high tariffs on agricultural imports from China, the Republic of Korea and several other ACP regions, while the Pacific group of ACP countries maintains high tariffs on imports from most countries with the notable exception of the European Union. Perhaps as a result, trade between these regions is low. Bound rates are very high over 70 per cent on average for ACP agricultural imports. Bound rates have not changed greatly since 1995. Most ACP countries would appear to have sufficient space to reduce their highest bound tariffs by 47 per cent without impinging on their applied rates.
Tariffs facing ACP exporters
Tariffs facing ACP agricultural exports have also fallen in recent years. Currently, tariffs on agricultural exports to the European Union, Japan and the United States are rather low, with the exception of Southern African exports to Japan. However, ACP exports to the Republic of Korea, particularly from the Southern African and Caribbean regions, face significant border protection. China imposes 76 per cent tariffs on sugar imports from some Caribbean countries, and India imposes barriers of 100 per cent or more on agricultural imports of, for example, alcohol, coffee and edible offal of fowl from all ACP regions.
The main market for most ACP countries is the European Union. Given the European Unions multitude of preferential trade arrangements, the existing tariffs on agricultural imports are relatively low, less than 1 per cent for West, Central and East Africa and the Pacific, and about 3 per cent for Southern Africa. However, Pacific countries face a higher tariff of around 10 per cent. The main agricultural export for ACP countries to the European Union is sugar. The European Union has high tariffs on imports, up to 419 per ton, although ACP countries have preferential access under a quota system. In 2017, the quotas and tariffs are scheduled to be removed and ACP countries will face competition from low-cost producers such as Brazil. According to European Union estimates, sugar imports from ACP countries may drop by 43 per cent.
Low average tariffs may hide a number of tariff peaks. Some of these can be very large. For example, the European Union has a tariff on whey (HS 0404106200) of 167.2 per 100 kg, equivalent to 203 per cent.
Given the rise in agricultural prices, the reduction in tariffs, the growing importance of emerging economies and the concerns about domestic support, it is useful to analyse how ACP would be impacted under two possible scenarios. In 2008, it seemed that the Doha proposals on agriculture, as outlined in revision 4 of the Draft Modalities, would not have benefited ACP countries as a group. Most ACP countries would not have been obliged to make significant tariff reductions and hence would not have benefited from any improvement in resource reallocation. In addition, they would not benefit from any improvement in market access because of preference erosion. Many ACP countries enjoyed preferential access to developed country markets, and a general reduction in tariffs in these markets would make ACP countries worse off.
Download: ACP Group of States Agricultural Trade and the World Trade Organization Negotiations (PDF, 3.9 MB)
This publication was prepared by Mina Mashayekhi, Head, Trade Negotiations and Commercial Diplomacy Branch, Division on International Trade in Goods and Services, and Commodities (DITC), UNCTAD; David Vanzetti, Agricultural Economist, Visiting Fellow, Crowford School of Public Policy, Australia National University; Taisuke Ito and Luisa Rodriguez, Economic Affairs Officers, Trade Negotiations and Commercial Diplomacy Branch, DITC, UNCTAD.
Harnessing South Africas largely untapped potential for innovation could increase the economys productivity, propel job creation, and be of benefit to the countrys growing number of poor, according to a World Bank report released yesterday.
The report finds that South Africas 6% dip in overall economic productivity from 2011 to 2016 was due, at least in part, to a sharp drop, estimated by some at 40%, in private research and development (R&D) expenditure since 2009.
South Africas productivity growth is diverging from global growth, and the country risks falling further behind its peers, said Paul Noumba Um, World Bank Country Director. This would be to the detriment of the poor for whom a growing economy is necessary for jobs and a sustainable system of social grants. In such an environment, South Africa can turn to encouraging private innovation as one of several ways in which to improve peoples lives.
In its tenth Economic Update for South Africa, the World Banks projection for economic growth in 2017 is 0.6%, revised down from 1.1% in January. GDP growth is expected to pick up to a moderate 1.1% and 1.7% for 2018 and 2019 respectively, spurred on by an improvement in commodity prices and a strengthening in the balance sheets of households.
The reports special focus section analyzes opportunities for innovation to become a more central part of South Africas economic model of shared growth. Simulations done for the report suggest that that innovation could propel job creation and would also raise the consumption of the poorest 40 per cent of households from its spillover effect by putting pressure on prices.
Given South Africas untapped potential for absorbing and adapting foreign technologies, private R&D can be turned into a more powerful driver of corporate profitability and economic growth, said Sebastien Dessus, World Bank Program Leader. Innovation can help improve the lives of the poor through the provision of better and cheaper goods and services, and expand economic opportunities through the introduction of disruptive technologies that can lower barriers to competition.
Brain drain and the slow growth of small firms were also important factors in productivity loss. The report argues that improving the business climate for startups could help South Africa harness its large innovation potential. This could be done by more effective public support for innovation, as well as by encouraging skilled immigration and strengthening competition in new emerging industries, such as Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), and facilitating trade.
Although South Africa emerged from recession in the second quarter of 2017, per capita income had barely increased in the preceding six years, leading to more than 3 million people joining the 30.4 million South Africans (of a population of about 55 million) living on less than US$2.9 a day.
South Africa Economic Update: More Innovation Could Improve Productivity, Create Jobs, and Reduce Poverty
The tenth edition of the South Africa Economic Update, Innovation for Productivity and Inclusiveness, examines how innovation can boost economic growth and help address South Africas most pressing social challenges.
In South Africas low growth environment, innovation can play a critical role to create jobs through increased productivity, and improve the lives of the poor through providing better products and services, said Paul Noumba Um, World Bank Country Director for South Africa.
Recently released statistics show that, between 2008 and 2015, four out of five South Africans experienced half permanently and half intermittently poverty and that, between 2011 and 2016, 3 million more South Africans joined the ranks of the 30.4 million living on less than US$2.90 a day. Unemployment reached a 14-year peak of 27.7% in 2017.
The Update forecasts a timid recovery in the next three years, with the economy anticipated to grow barely faster than the countrys population, with real gross domestic product (GDP) growth projected at 0.6% in 2017, 1.1% in 2018 and 1.7% in 2019.
The report warns of considerable downside risks and argues that declining Research and Development (R&D) is an important factor behind the countrys weak economic performance and its divergence from its peers in terms of growth in technology.
R&D spending, which is essential to identify and assimilate innovations generated elsewhere to produce new products and services, has declined in South Africa over the past decade.
The report asserts that this is to the detriment of the poor because innovation strongly influences the welfare of low-income households by reducing their cost of living within sectors that have an impact on their daily lives, such as public transportation, food and beverages, agriculture and footwear.
The decline in R&D spending has happened despite a high rate of economic return when investment is made. Academia there is, but broadband is costly
With some exceptions, South Africas academic excellence, the report states, and strong urban networks of entrepreneurs and opportunities innovation are stifled by an unconducive business environment, expensive trading costs, and low skills base all of which are impeding the emergence and growth of startups.
South Africa has the lowest share of young firms among emerging economies globally, where elsewhere, young, high-growth firms known as gazelles are playing a leading role in innovation.
Given the transformative role of gazelles around the world in creating jobs, South Africas small and diminishing share of young firms is a concern, said World Bank Lead Economist for Trade and Competitiveness, Gabriel Goddard. Improving factors that either stifle the emergence of young firms or reduce their growth potential, could boost South Africas innovation capabilities and overall impact.
The report says that Information Communications Technology (ICT) capabilities have become particularly important for innovation, enabling new business models and the emergence of new markets. Its study shows that, although South Africa has remarkable individual stories of ICT success in financial technology, education, e-health and online job platforms, the information technology industry remains relatively small, constrained by the high cost of broadband.
The report offers its considerations for policy, including fostering a business climate more conducive to both the entry of new firms and to risk-taking and experimentation, building a skills base in technical and entrepreneurial skills, and encouraging brain circulation into South Africa.
It also suggests improving South Africas connectivity to global markets and increasing the effectiveness of sophisticated support systems for entrepreneurship.
Download: South Africa Economic Update: Innovation for Productivity and Inclusiveness (PDF, 3.88 MB)
African statements to UNGAs debate: updated resource page
Starting today, in Mauritius: 3rd AU Customs Expert Trade Facilitation Forum. The Forum will develop a set of recommendations, observations on how AU Member States can best implement the BIAT and the WTO TFA.
Diarise: 2017 PIDA Week (10-14 December, Swakopmund) on the theme Enhancing trade and economic transformation through regional infrastructure development
Informal AU trade ministerial: update (AU)
Commissioner Muchanga raised the longstanding issue of the AUs observer status in the WTO and invited Member States reflect on how to resolve the matter in the not-too-distant future. Also, Amb. Muchanga stressed the dire need for Africa to work under the principle of speaking with one voice and acting in unison. We must emerge from this meeting with a strong reaffirmation of that principle and should all commit to speaking with one voice during the Eleventh WTO Ministerial Conference in Argentina, he emphasized. Commissioner Muchanga also urged AU Ministers of Trade to use their collective strength in numbers at the WTO to become key interlocutors in the upcoming negotiations, while safeguarding their collective interests in the negotiations.
Rob Davies, SAs Minister of Trade and Industry and chair of the informal meeting, said the WTO Ministerial Conference will be a follow-up to MC10 where Africa was able to get an outcome on export competition / subsidies on agriculture, which have continuously been a detriment to Africas development and industrialization. There are a number of subjects under consideration in the WTO, such as domestic support but with different principles than those agreed under the Doha Development Agenda. We also have new issues such as e-commerce, investment facilitation and transparency, which entail new rules. We need MC11 to reaffirm multilateralism in our rules making, Minister Davies concluded. The Report of the meeting and its annex (Draft Declaration on WTO issues), will be considered and endorsed by a formal meeting of the AU Ministers of Trade prior to the WTO-MC11.
All-Party Parliamentary Group for Trade Out of Poverty: Can the Commonwealth help developing countries trade out of poverty?
The aim of the inquiry is to gather evidence and set out concrete proposals for consideration / adoption by Commonwealth member states at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London during April 2018. The Inquiry is jointly organised as an initiative between the APPG-TOP and the UK Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and is led by a Committee of eminent persons and experts. The inquiry is co-chaired by Lord Jeremy Purvis and Nigerias Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah. Committee Members: Harsha Singh (Brookings India), Patricia Francis (WTO-UNCTAD International Trade Centre), Dirk Willem te Velde (ODI), Catherine Clark (Prudential plc), Steven Pope (DHL Express Europe plc), Trudi Hartzenberg (tralac), Phil Rourke (Centre for Trade Policy & Law, Carleton University), Angela Straughan (consultant), Chi Atanga (Walls of Benin), Lisa McAuley (Export Council of Australia). [Download: Inquiry TOR]
WTO Ministerial Conference: Whats at stake for small, least developed and sub-Saharan African countries? (Commonwealth)
The remaining period before MC11 is crucial for small states, LDCs and SSA countries, which must use this time to review the state of play at the WTO in areas of interest to them, focus on what may be achievable, set their priorities for MC11 and map up their strategic options in the light of overall developments. A pro-small states outcome at MC11 depends on small states input into the process towards the Ministerial. Amid global uncertainties and major geopolitical changes, this may be an opportunity for this group of countries to gain recognition. Post MC11, small states, LDCs and SSA countries should take stock of the Doha Round with a view to identifying priority issues that are achievable and that can bring about incremental gains for them. [The authors: Collin Zhuawu, Teddy Y Soobramanien]
Related: @UNCTADKituyi: Signed MOU with Commonwealth SG to deepen our cooperation in trade, blue economy and other areas of complimentary competences and interest
ACP Group of States agricultural trade and the WTO negotiations (UNCTAD)
This paper examines the formula proposed in the 2008 draft modalities and compare it with the one proposed by Paraguay in March 2015. The authors attempt to take into account how the world has changed since 2008, by looking at the changes in tariffs facing ACP countries, in agricultural prices and in domestic support. They then examine proposed tariff cuts at a six-digit level. Next, the initial and final tariffs are aggregated to 24 sectors and analysed within a well-known general equilibrium model, the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP), to assess the impacts on welfare and trade flows for ACP countries. They conclude with recommendations for ACP countries in the WTO negotiations.
IGAD petrochemicals cluster: Regional survey of potentials, trends and possible operational and policy measures (UNECA)
Assisting African countries to make the most of their commodities, particularly in industrializing to promote growth, job creation and economic transformation is now a strategic priority of the Economic Commission for Africa says Stephen Karingi, Director of the ECAs Regional Integration and Trade Division. Mr Karingi said the IGAD report being considered at the meeting draws on IGAD member States experiences to date with cluster-based economic development. It is my hope that this meeting will brainstorm on some of the key issues relating to the development of a petrochemical cluster the IGAD region. It will also contribute to the development of analytical framework for designing a competitive industrial economy in the continent.
South Africa Economic Update: innovation for productivity and inclusiveness (World Bank)
This 10th South Africa Economic Update offers a review of the countrys recent economic and social developments and outlook in the context of global economic prospects. It focuses on the role of innovation in fostering economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction in an environment in which more South Africans are getting poorer. Extracts (pdf):
The availability of firm-level transaction data provides a more detailed view of how product innovation is affecting the export basket. South Africa is one of the first developing countries to conduct such a transaction level analysis. Following the OECD methodology, SAs export products are classified into four categories: low technology, medium-low technology, medium-high technology, and high technology. Box 2.3 describes these groups of products from a qualitative perspective. Using these definitions, high-tech products accounted for only 7% of the South African export basket in 2014, while other and medium technologies comprise the bulk of exports (Table 2.5). This is not surprising given that South Africa is known for its exports of minerals and resource-based products all of which make up the category of other. This indicates that South Africa mostly operates in the medium-tech space, which typically involves complex technologies, with moderate to high levels of R&D investment.
A detailed review of the export trends from 2010 to 2014 shows growth in both low- and high-tech products. There has been a gradual decline in the share of medium-tech and resource-based products, which were arguably South Africas most competitive manufacturing industries. Unlike many other developing nations, South Africa is not trapped in low-technology exports, and has the capacity to further upgrade its technologies and compete on quality and price. [Pointers: Figures 2.12 to 2.14: South African exports (2005 vs 2015), High-tech exports in BRICS countries, Technological content of exports per destination (2010-14); Tables 2.5 to 2.6: Export value of different technology levels in South African total exports, South Africas top five export products per technology group (2014)]
Related: Marek Hanusch: Will automation kill South African jobs? No, say new studies; Gabriel Goddard: Can South Africa tap into its innovation potential to improve the lives of its citizens?
Namibia not ready for the Africa Free Trade Area (Malaysian Digest)
Namibia is not ready to engage in the proposed African Continent Free Trade Area, said stakeholders present at the national level consultation on the initiative, Namibia Press Agency reported. A one-day consultation was held on Tuesday where various trade unions, faith-based organisations, academia, youth groups, government officials and the private sector deliberated on the CFTAs developmental impact on Namibian people, in particular, and SADC in general. Sylvester Wullo Bagooro, from Third World Network-Africa, who was a guest speaker at the consultation cautioned the participants on the negative impact of the deadline on which they will have to approve the content of the agreement, which is December this year.
Namibias exports remain under pressure (The Namibian)
Latest trade statistics of the second quarter of 2017 (pdf) posted on the Namibia Statistics Agencys website show that Namibia only experienced an annual increase in two of the top five products, being diamonds and livestock, while copper ore, cathodes and fish all recorded a decline. By destination, only exports to South Africa and Belgium recovered, compared to last year. Ngoni Bopoto, a research analyst at Namibia Equity Brokers, yesterday described the latest figures as concerning. The latest trade statistics further show that imports from SACU member states (mainly South Africa) declined marginally 0,3% from the first quarter of 2017 and substantially 15,1%, compared to the second quarter of 2016, which is negative for receipts from the SACU pool.
South Africa continues to be the main source of domestic imports, accounting for 60,4% (N$12,152bn) of total imports. This is followed by Botswana with a 6,9% (N$1,394bn) share of imports. In third place was Bulgaria, which registered an import expenditure of N$879m and accounted for a market share of 4,4%. Zambia and China accounted for 4,3% (N$872m) and 3,7% (N$752m) of total imports, respectively.
Kenya forms team to negotiate international trade deals (Standard)
In a gazette notice yesterday, Industry, Trade and Co-operatives Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohamed said the National Trade Negotiations Council will identify trade policy gaps, give guidance and advise government on key trade issues. According to CS Mohamed, the council, which will be chaired by the Principal Secretary in the Ministry, will also come in handy to advise government on possible options to pursue on addressing emerging trade disputes. Small and medium-sized enterprises will also be helped to tap into international trade. The council will be expected to look at all trade documents, notifications, coming from bodies such as WTO, UNCTAD, Cconomic Partnership Agreements, AGOA, EAC, COMESA, and make decisions. [Details on the NTNCs composition, powers and functions can be accessed here]
Zimbabwe: Treasury toughens stance on errant transit truckers (Bulawayo24)
In a Statutory Instrument gazetted on Saturday, transit truckers will be fined $2000 for diverting from the route specified by the Commissioner-General of Zimbabwe Revenue Authority. SI 113 of 2017 also aims to bring legislative changes that improve the management of transit cargo in Zimbabwe and to buttress the Electronic Cargo Tracking System introduced in May. The instrument also makes it mandatory to place the ECTS tracking system on all transit vehicles while section (e) of the SI highlights the penalties involved in tampering with the ECTS system.
Summary comments on the WBGs 2017 Guidance on PPP Contractual Provisions (Heinrich Boell Foundation)
In an effort to promote standardization and expedited negotiation of contracts for Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), the World Bank Group introduced the 2017 Edition of the Guidance on PPP Contractual Provisions. The Guidance provides both sample language for contracts as well as commentaries to explain legal options. While the Guidance provides improved and more detailed advice as compared with the 2015 version, it continues to emphasize the preferences and requirements of the private sector partner without commensurate consideration of the perspective of the government. In response, the following comments on the Guidance are offered by the Heinrich Boell Foundation to help ensure that PPP contracts achieve an appropriate balance between investor rights, on the one hand, and the rights of the government and people, on the other. In addition to initial overarching observations, comments are offered on each of the sections addressed by the Guidance; namely:
"Look at that cute baby dog!" is not something you hear very often. There's nothing technically wrong with it, of course, but English already offers a shorter, more familiar and more evocative term for such a creature: a puppy.
Most of us can probably think of several other well-known examples baby cats are kittens, baby cows are calves, baby bears are cubs, baby deer are fawns and baby porcupines are ... um ... what is a baby porcupine called?
Beyond a few dozen iconic species, many juvenile animals leave the casual observer fumbling for the right word. Sometimes it's just a matter of choosing from a list of common terms like kit, cub, pup, calf and chick but other times the official name for a baby animal turns out to be surprisingly specific and obscure.
A baby porcupine, for instance, is called a "porcupette." (And yes, it's cute.)
Below is a list of lesser-known names for baby animals, including a few of the "kit or cub" variety as well as more esoteric monikers, from porcupette to pluteus to puggle:
Mammals and marsupials
Vlad Sokolovsky / Shutterstock
A variety of mammalian babies are known as cubs, kits, pups or whelps, especially in carnivorous or omnivorous species. Many young plant-eating ungulates, meanwhile, go by names like fawn or calf, although the latter term is also used for marine mammals like dolphins, manatees and whales.
We'll list a few of those here, focusing on less famous examples, along with even more distinctive names for other baby mammals, marsupials and monotremes:
Aardvark: cub or calf
cub or calf Alpaca, llama, guanaco or vicuna: cria
cria Anteater: pup
pup Ape: infant
infant Bat: pup
pup Beaver: kitten or kit
kitten or kit Binturong: pup or kitten
pup or kitten Boar: shoat, boarlet or piglet
shoat, boarlet or piglet Coyote: pup or whelp
pup or whelp Echidna: puggle
puggle Fox: pup, cub or kit
pup, cub or kit Goat: kid
kid Hare: leveret
leveret Hedgehog: piglet or pup
piglet or pup Hippopotamus: calf
calf Horse: foal, colt (male) or filly (female)
foal, colt (male) or filly (female) Kangaroo: joey
joey Mole: pup
pup Monkey: infant
infant Mouse: pup or pinky
pup or pinky Platypus: puggle
puggle Porcupine: porcupette
Pronghorn: fawn
fawn Opossum: joey
joey Otter: pup or whelp
pup or whelp Rabbit: kitten, kit or bunny
kitten, kit or bunny Raccoon: cub or kit
cub or kit Rhinoceros: calf
calf Seal: pup
pup Sheep: lamb
lamb Skunk: kitten or kit
kitten or kit Squirrel: pup, kitten or kit
pup, kitten or kit Walrus: cub or pup
cub or pup Wolf: cub, pup or whelp
Birds
Maksimilian / Shutterstock
Young birds are broadly known as chicks, a general term that applies to any bird. There are also more specific words for various stages of a chick's development, though a hatchling is a bird that recently hatched, a nestling is a one that isn't ready to leave the nest, and a fledgling is one that's newly ready for flight.
You can't go wrong calling any young bird a chick, but if you'd like to be as precise as possible, here are a few other terms for particular types of chicks:
Dove or pigeon: squab or squeaker
squab or squeaker Duck: duckling
duckling Eagle: eaglet
eaglet Falcon or hawk: eyas
eyas Goose: gosling
gosling Guineafowl: keet
keet Owl: owlet
owlet Peafowl: peachick
peachick Puffin: puffling
puffling Swan: cygnet or flapper
cygnet or flapper Turkey: poult, jake (male) or jenny (female)
Reptiles and amphibians
db_beyer / Getty Images
As with birds and other egg-laying animals, newborn reptiles and amphibians are given the default label of hatchling. They don't have nearly as many specific baby names as birds or mammals, although there are a few notable standouts:
Frog or toad: tadpole or polliwog
tadpole or polliwog Newt: eft
eft Snake: snakelet
Fish
Rodger Jackman / Getty Images
Young fish tend to go through several developmental stages, from eggs to larvae to juveniles. Once those juveniles are able to feed themselves, instead of relying on a yolk-sac for nutrition, they are commonly referred to as "fry." And once those fry have grown scales and functional fins, they're known as "fingerlings," so named because they're often roughly the size of a human finger.
Beyond those general terms, here are some narrower names for fish offspring:
Cod: codling
codling Eel: leptocephalus (larva), elver (juvenile)
leptocephalus (larva), elver (juvenile) Salmon or trout: alevin (before fry), parr (between fry and smolt), smolt
alevin (before fry), parr (between fry and smolt), smolt Shark: pup
Invertebrates
Grumpylam / Getty Images
This is a wide-ranging category that includes a motley crew of animals like insects, arachnids, echinoderms, and mollusks. These creatures begin life as eggs, followed by other broad stages such as larvae, pupae or nymphs. Some also have unique names for their immature stages, like these:
You've read the book; now watch the movie.
Tactical Urbanism has been defined as the principle that citizens can undertake direct low-cost, high-reward actions that immediately improve some aspect of a community's public life and demonstrate to city leaders that there are opportunities for easy, successful changes to the status quo. Mike Lydon and Anthony Garcia wrote the book on it; Janette Sadik-Kahn blurbed that it shows how, with a little imagination and the resources at hand, cities can unlock the full potential of their streets."
Transform Your City With Tactical Urbanism from STREETFILMS on Vimeo.
But if they wrote the book, now Clarence Eckerson Jr. has made the movie, and for TreeHugger regulars, it includes some familiar names. Theres Doug Gordon of Brooklyn Spoke, who has been quoted on TreeHugger many times.
Jonathan Fertig/ how the modern flaneur dresses for walking/via
Theres Jonathan Fertig, who won my heart forever when he photoshopped vests onto Gustave Caillebottes painting of flaneurs in Paris in response to the post It's National Walking Day in America. Time to take back the streets.
. Bikeyface with a message, photo by Jonathan Fertig
Bikeyface with a message, photo by Jonathan Fertig
He is in the video for his work with Bekka Wright (AKA Bikeyface) to take back the streets of Boston.
Lloyd Alter/ Chris and Melissa Bruntlett/CC BY 2.0
Theres Melissa Bruntlett, partner with Chris in Modacity. There is even a quick glimpse of Brent Toderian in Vancouvers Robson Square.
Matt Jelly
Tactical urbanists use the power of social media to move quickly, and often get in a bit of trouble with the authorities.
These groups are showing their fellow citizens innovative visual solutions to make safer streets with quick strike executions -- which sometimes only last a few hours until they are removed by their government. But each week more empowered people are deciding they are fed up and joining the movement and not waiting for their agencies to act.
But sometimes, those authorities see that the solutions work and it sometimes causes real change. It works. So take back the streets with tactical urbanism!
Well, the good news is that it seems Maria spared PC mostly. From following the various threads over the last couple of days, it was mostly Lessons "Not Learned" in most cases as folks continuously asking about reports while Maria is still 90 some miles away and PC still being affected and some resorts on lock down. Folks continuously asking the same questions over and over on a millions of different threads while most of the information was available on the main "Maria" thread. I must say that the resorts and most tour operators/airlines seem to have reacted appropriately but of course, many were again affected by cancelled or rescheduled flights. The most important thing over and above anything else was the safety of local resident, staff and travellers. As the sun comes up this morning, here's hoping that everyone is safe.
I know you r using Lib airport, but the SJO airport's site has a list of air companies that include the exit tax from CR: http://sjoairport.com/en/antes-de-viajar/inclusion-de-impuestos-de-salida/ .
Last yr., we flew direct with a Canadian company (WestJet) that did not include the CR exit tax. We had known about it, it was on their site. It did take us quite a bit of time to stand in line to pay that tax in the departure terminal, which needed to be done before being allowed to line up for the check in/boarding, and this was followed by an enormously long security line, total time - over 3 hrs were needed. Liberia is less busy, so hopefully, even if your taxes are not included, it would not be a big deal to pay them. Just keep enough US cash for the end.
This yr., a different air company included the tax, but one of this air company's agents said No, another one said Yes, the tickets did not clearly display that info, it was hidden in their codes, but the SJO site said it should be included with them, and it was. So, contact your air company and/or check the above link.
BTW, I think DR's exit tax is even higher...
Edited: 5 years ago
You might want to read this about weather and availability in Aug. : http://costa-rica-guide.com/travel/best-time/august/ .
Our most recent trip was in Aug. We had accommodations booked in advance, and there were only 2 of us. If you want cheaper accommodations for the family, I would also book in advance. There may be only one cabin or only one room with an extra bed in addition to parents' bed, etc. July and August are not unpopular months, as it is school holidays in N. America. I also have a feeling that the effects of the current hurricane will increase tourism to the other vacation destinations, so it will be busier and more expensive in CR, too. :(
Look for hotels or hostels that offer a (shared) kitchen. This will certainly help to keep the costs down.
If you are adventurous and want to save $$ on transport costs, with careful planning, you might be able to travel without renting a car. With the mandatory insurance, renting a car for a month won't be inexpensive. CR has a system of different bus companies, which make travel very inexpensive, and in some destinations, there are director buses, which make fewer stops. There are also prebooked hotel to hotel shared shuttles like Interbus, etc. Children usually pay a cheaper rate. For up to 3 travellers, the price of certain big distance transfers might be not too bad. E,g., we travelled from Cahuita on S. Caribbean to a remote hotel in Arenal (AOL) in 1 day, took 7 hrs, cost US$54 pp with Interbus. See other destinations adult/child rates here: https://www.interbusonline.com/rates.php .
There are other transportation companies. See .
We like S. Caribbean coast, and went to Cahuita twice, different trips, in July and in August. There is a great national park, wildlife, admission is by donation, we liked it much more than the touristy and crowded Manuel Antonio park, which costs US$16 pp to get in.
For more info on the S. Caribbean area, see https://www.puertoviejosatellite.com . The Transportation tab on the top will tell you how to get there. Buses from San Jose take about 5 hrs and cost about US$10 pp.
We stayed in a few places there, but we did not like one, and we returned to this one twice:
http://www.albylodge.com/Home_Java_Version/Englisch/englisch.html . It is close to the national park, Main Street with places to eat, grocery stores, ATM/bank, bus terminal. There is a separate shared kitchen, but there are only 4 cabins, so it is not a problem sharing it. Nicely landscaped property, with monkeys, birds, a shy small Cayman in a pond.
Besides Cahuita, there is Punta Uva, Puerto Viejo, Manzanillo. Beaches and wildlife, less touristy, but getting more popular. You do not really need a car there , as there are very cheap local buses in between towns and ppl rent bikes or walk.
You might also like to read Destinations Summary: http://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/costa-rica-destinations-summary-guide/ and How Much Does It Cost? - http://costa-rica-guide.com/practical/budget/how-much-does-costa-rica-cost/ .
Hi,
We are a Family of 4 (2 over 60 years and 2 in their 30's) adults and 1 infant. We plant to visit Vietnam for 10 days in the month of November. Looking for help with our trip planning.
Questions -
Considering the weather in November, I read it is ideal to skip the central Vietnam because of rains. True??
What places would you recommend in northern and southern Vietnam considering I have two elderlies and one infant in the group ?
We would also like to include Cambodia too in the plan. How can I incorporate that? What options do I have for transit from Vietnam to Cambodia.
I have planned to start my trip with Hanoi then move south to Ho Chi Minh and maybe end the trip in Cambodia
Please offer suggestions on how can I plan it effectively. ALso looking for recommendations on places to stay
Is your company in need of the most reliable and efficient best Best Jasmine Tea s in the market? Your good luck led you to the ideal situation, so congratulations! You are in the best possible place. By eliminating the need to read through dozens of Best Jasmine Tea reviews, we are saving you time and stress.
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- A section of Mount Kenya professionals led by former Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru have threatened to go to court for recount of the over 15 million presidential votes cast in the August 8 poll
- The leaders demanded that Uhuru to be sworn in immediately if the current side shows by the opposition continue
-Waweru claims that Raila Odinga was working in cohorts with some of the Supreme Court judges to lock out Uhuru from contesting in fresh election
Politicians from Mt Kenya region now want President Uhuru Kenyatta sworn in for a second term immediately.
Led by former Dagoretti MP Dennis Waweru, the leaders continue to pile pressure on the judiciary especially the Supreme Court as they protest Kenyatta's August victory.
Waweru claims that they have information National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga was working with some Supreme Court judges to lock out Kenyatta form participating in the October presidential election.
READ ALSO: Supreme Court Judge Smokin Wanjala misses full judgement
President Uhuru Kenyatta. Photo: NASA
He says that the plot was to paint Kenyatta as having hacked Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) servers during the August 8 general election.
This comes hot on the heels of a new tactic adopted by Jubilee Party of discrediting judges of the highest court in the country of portraying them as politically biased.
On Tuesday, September 19, Jubilee supporters wearing party branded T-shirts flocked city streets to demonstrate against Chief Justice David Maraga whom they accused of robbing them of their victory.
READ ALSO: Chebukati backtracks after leaked IEBC memo showed late Msandos boss has been fired
Chief Justice David Maraga. Photo: Citizen TV
Coincidentally, the demos erupted after a damning affidavit discrediting Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu and justice Isaac Lenaola accusing them of gross misconduct.
The affidavit filed by Derrick Ngumu alleged the two had held secret meetings with NASA lawyers and held talks with Odinga as the petition hearing was on going.
He wants the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to institute investigations against the duo and eventually dismiss them from service.
READ ALSO: Damning allegations emerge of how Mwilu and Lenaola met with NASA lawyers before Supreme Court verdict
NASA lead counsel James Orengo. Photo: Star
Maraga has however dismissed the claims and warned President Kenyatta and his Jubilee party supporters against further attacks on judicial officers.
Odinga has also dismissed the allegations and instead accused Kenyatta of being the architect of the affidavits filed against the judges.
However, the Mt Kenya MPs, according to Waweru, are planning to seek for a vote recount.
READ ALSO: CJ Maraga now speaking Raila's language - DP Ruto
"We now know that the baby was strangled to death at Menelik Hospital in Nairobi where NASA lawyers were meeting Supreme Court judges separately," Waweru said.
Secret meeting between Supreme Court judges and NASA leaders?
Source: TUKO.co.ke
- Inspector General of Police has deployed police officers to man Supreme Court during the presidential petition ruling
- Police officers have barricaded roads near the Supreme Court as judges deliver the landmark ruling on the petition
- Streets around the court have also been cleared of human or vehicular traffic to control any protests that might erupt after the ruling
Heavy security has been deployed at the Supreme Court as Judges deliver the much-awaited ruling on the presidential petition,TUKO.co.ke has learnt.
Police officers drawn from different departments have barricaded roads near the Supreme Court in a bid to keep away protesters from disrupting the proceedings or infringing on the constitutional rights of other people.
Police Inspector General Joseph Boinnet has warned protesters against blocking roads or causing mayhem,saying that more officers will be deployed to tame the situation.
Heavy security at Supreme Court . Photo: Radio Citizen/Twitter
READ ALSO: Uhuru using proxies to push for sacking of Supreme Court judges-Raila
Heavy security at Supreme court. Photo:Radio Citizen/Twitter
Heavy security at Supreme court. Photo:Radio Citizen/Twitter
READ ALSO: Supreme Court Judge Smokin Wanjala misses full judgement
Boinnet said that the heavy deployment of his men around the Supreme Court aims at clearing human and vehicular and human.
According to the IG,the police officers's main duty at the Supreme Court,especially ahead of release of full ruling on presidential poll petition is to ensure that protesters do not close roads.
Heavy security at Supreme court. Photo:Radio Citizen/Twitter
The IG could not wrap up without warning the public against alarmist security alerts on social media.
READ ALSO: Orengo sets record straight over secret meetings with Supreme Court judges before verdict
Heavy security at Supreme court. Photo:Radio Citizen/Twitter
READ ALSO: Chaos outside Supreme Court as bees send protesters scampering for safety
The swift move by police to guard the Supreme Court during the ruling on the presidential petition comes just a hours after Chief Justice Maraga publicly condemned the IG and the entire police force on their sluggishness on answering distress calls from the Judiciary.
Keep it TUKO.co.ke for more on this as it unfolds.
Have anything to add to this article or suggestions? Share with us on news@tuko.co.ke
I lost my leg in Afghanistan, almost gave up:
Source: TUKO.co.ke
- Central Bank of Kenya Governor Patrick Njoroge has agreed to replace the photo of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta in the Kenyan currency
- The CBK boss had been given a seven-day ultimatum to remove the portrait of the founding father of the nation from all currency or face a legal suit
- Human rights activist Okiya Omtatah on Thursday, September 14 wrote to the CBK Governor to abide by the provisions of Article 231 of the constitution
- The Constitution of Kenya 2010 stipulates that the Kenyan currency should depict Kenya as a country and not an individual
Kenyans will now see major changes in the local currency after the Central Bank of Kenya(CBK) agreed to comply with the law.
This is after an activist wrote to the CBK Governor Patrick Njoroge demanding that the portrait of the founding father of the nation Jomo Kenyatta be done away with.
Njoroge said the new generation currency will be rolled out soon but did not give the exact date.
READ ALSO: We are ready to cancel the next election-Chief Justice David Maraga
CBK Governor Patrick Njoroge.Photo:Nation.
READ ALSO: Chaos outside Supreme Court as bees send protesters scampering for safety
Activist Okiya Omtatah in his letter had argued that the constitution stipulates the notes and coins should not bear any portrait of an individual.
He averred that Article 231 of the constitution says that the currency should depict Kenya as a country and not an individual.
READ ALSO: Disregard the Supreme Court ruling, be a dictator and rule like an African- MP tells Uhuru
"Notes and coins issued by the Central Bank of Kenya may bear images that depict or symbolise Kenya or an aspect of Kenya but shall not bear the portrait of any individual," says Articel 231(4).
Consequently, Governor Njoroge has agreed to replace the portrait of Mzee Kenyatta which has dominated local notes and coins for long with another image.
Omtatah had given CBK a seven day ultimatum to remove the portrait of the from all currency or face a law suit.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
The Mayor of the nation's capital city says the police are working and it is not for him to assess their performance.
This,. as he called on the entire society to work together on getting rid of any perception that crime is an opportunity.
The agricultural sector provides production of 16-17% of all domestic goods.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman said this at the Cabinets meeting on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
"In fact, the agricultural sector now forms 16-17% of all the goods produced in the country," he said.
At the same time, Groysman assured that the draft state budget for 2018 stipulates a "large-scale support" for the farmers.
The Head of Government also added that Ukraine's strategic stocks and food balance are at the proper level.
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The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved the concept of development of the e-governance in Ukraine until 2020.
The Cabinet approved the corresponding decision at the meeting on September 20.
"Now we provide 30 electronic services. By the end of the year, we will provide 100 services. In addition, we will introduce mobile identification by the year-end. This step means that e-signature will allow making use of even wider range of services," Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodomyr Groysman commented.
According to Chairman of the State Agency for E-Governance of Ukraine Oleksandr Ryzhenko, the adoption of this concept is an integral part of the implementation of reforms in Ukraine. Ryzhenko noted that the main tasks of the concept of the e-governance development in Ukraine were: modernization of public services, improvement of quality and maintenance of openness in servicing Ukrainian citizens and business, modernization of public administration.
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Nominee for U.S. ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman is set to resolve the crisis in Ukraine with deep respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.
Huntsman stated this at the hearings in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
"I am under no illusion that serving as the U.S. ambassador to the Russian Federation will be easy or simple. I will make every effort to find political solutions to the conflict in Syria and the crisis in Ukraine with deep respect for the sovereignty of the country and restoration of its territorial integrity," Huntsman said.
Huntsman noted in his opening remarks that there is no question that the Russian government interfered in the U.S. election last year and Moscow continues to meddle in the democratic processes of our friends and allies.
According to him, it is necessary to maintain the US sanctions against Russia.
ol
Canada will continue to make efforts to bring greater security and economic independence to Ukrainians.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said this in a statement on September 19, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
"Canada will continue to work closely with Ukraine to bring greater security, prosperity, and economic independence to the Ukrainian people," Trudeau said.
He added that warm relations between Ukraine and Canada were based on long-standing historical ties.
"Canada and Ukraine enjoy a historic friendship forged through generations of shared values and strong relations," Trudeau said.
At the end of this week, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko will pay a working visit to Canada to attend the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in which Ukraine's national team will participate for the first time.
op
The world should remember that Russia is using the methods of blackmail and bullying in Ukraine and along NATO's eastern border, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite has said.
She stated this in her speech at the UN General Assembly session in New York on September 19, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
"The world's attention is now focused on North Korea and Syria, but the same methods of blackmail, bullying and aggression are being used by Russia in Ukraine and along NATO's eastern border," Grybauskaite said.
She drew attention to the violation by Russia as a permanent member of the UN Security Council of its commitments on maintaining peace in the world.
"Despite Russia's special responsibility to protect international peace as permanent member of the Security Council, it violated the UN Charter by attacking Georgia, illegally annexing Crimea, and directly participating in the war in Eastern Ukraine," Grybauskaite said.
She also recalled energy blackmail, which is "Russia's weapon of choice." "In Belarus, just forty kilometers from Lithuania's capital, it is building the unsafe Astravets nuclear power plant as a geopolitical weapon that fails to comply with basic international nuclear standards," she said.
Grybauskaite called on the international community to unite and resist global aggressors.
"Aggression cannot make anyone stronger. It can never earn anyone even a drop of respect. The only thing the aggression will bring is contempt, shame and condemnation. The international community has to take its share of responsibility. We cannot let fear win by closing our eyes to violators, because it will only encourage them to go further," she said.
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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin has discussed with Foreign Minister of Macedonia Nikola Dimitrov further development of the political dialogue and prospects for introducing a visa-free regime between the countries.
The press service of the Ukraines Foreign Ministry reported this following the meeting, which took place at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
"The parties discussed the issues of further development of bilateral political dialogue, cooperation in the military, cultural and humanitarian fields and considered the prospects for introducing a visa-free regime between Ukraine and Macedonia," the statement reads.
As the Foreign Ministry press service reports, particular attention was paid to the developments in the Balkan region and the response to external threats.
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Poland has called on the international community not to recognize the accomplished facts resulting from armed aggression in Ukraine and Georgia, Polish President Andrzej Duda has said.
He said in his speech at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 19 that the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, including the principle of inviolability of borders and respect for sovereignty, had been violated.
"Poland is urging the international community not to recognize the accomplished facts which result from such a policy [by Russia]. Poland also wishes to contribute to the building of international order founded on the principles of political sovereignty and territorial integrity," Duda said.
He said that over the past ten years in Georgia and three years in Ukraine the world had witnessed obvious violation of the fundamental principles of the UN, in particular, "the principle of inviolability of borders, respect of sovereignty, renouncing the use of military force in resolution of disputes."
"In our view, absolute respect of international law lays down the foundation for a stable, foreseeable and peaceful setting of relations amongst states, and through it, the assurance of sustainable growth," Duda said.
He stressed that Poland, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2018-2019, would strive to make sure that all disputes and conflicts should be resolved in line with the fundamental principle of "peaceful resolution."
"We accede to the Security Council with the values which are particularly important to my nation.First and foremost, they include our strongest attachment to the right to sovereignty and freedom, inalienably vested in each nation. We accede to the Security Council with the conviction that international law is the only effective mechanism to preserve peaceful relations among nations. Freedom is synonymous with peace. Enslavement is a source of war," he said.
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The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved the draft memoranda of understanding between the governments of Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Ukraine on political and financial support for the prosecution of those responsible for MH17 crash on July 17, 2014.
The Cabinet approved the corresponding decision at the meeting on September 20, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
As the First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko emphasized, signing these memoranda will allow establishing in the judicial system of the Netherlands a tribunal to continue to investigate the MH17 crash.
According to him, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin will be able to sign the memoranda with his colleagues from the indicated countries in New York, where he is on a working visit now.
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In Sierra Leone, teenage pregnancy and child marriage are common: data from 2015 show that nearly 40 per cent of girls are married before their 18th birthday. Learn how community action and safe spaces are helping 16-year-old Alice build a better future for herself and her baby.
KOIDU, Sierra Leone, 19 September 2017 Last year, the course of 16-year-old Alice Ngaujahs* life changed forever when she discovered she was pregnant. Disowned by her parents, she was quickly thrown into adulthood.
When my family found out that I was pregnant, they sent me to live with the family of the boy who got me pregnant. There was no meeting or arrangement, I was just sent off. I lived with them until I gave birth, says Alice.
While staying with her childs father, she was expected to do all sorts of chores from sweeping, cooking, and laundry to working on the farm and gathering firewood. This was all in addition to looking after her baby, usually by herself.
She was forced to drop out of school, and she began to lose hope for her future.
More than 40 million people were trapped as slaves last year in forced labor and forced marriages, most of them women and girls, according to the first joint effort by key anti-slavery groups to count the victims of the often hidden crime worldwide.
The International Labor Organization (ILO), the human rights group Walk Free Foundation and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said 40.3 million people were victims of modern slavery in 2016 but added that this was a conservative estimate.
They estimated 24.9 million people were trapped working in factories, on construction sites, farms and fishing boats, and as domestic or sex workers, while 15.4 million people were in marriages to which they had not consented.
Almost three out of every four slaves were women and girls and one in four was a child, with modern slavery most prevalent in Africa followed by Asia and the Pacific region, said the report released Tuesday.
"It's a conservative number," Andrew Forrest, founder of Walk Free, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "It cannot capture the full extent of the horror of modern slavery."
No region exempt
In the past five years, 89 million people suffered in some form of modern slavery, lasting from days to years, the report estimated.
"Forced laborers produced some of the food we eat and the clothes we wear, and they have cleaned the buildings in which many of us live or work," the groups said in the report, stressing the crime was prevalent in all nations.
The findings mark the first time the groups collaborated on an international estimate and prompted calls for stronger labor rights, improved governance of migrants, action to address root causes of debt bondage, and better victim identification.
"Having a global number shows the prevalence of the issue of modern slavery. It shows there is impunity around the world where people are being traded by organized criminals" and "being let down by systems," said Kevin Hyland, Britain's independent anti-slavery commissioner. "We need to see this translated into action that develops a response about how we safeguard people."
Previously the anti-slavery groups had used different data, definitions and methodologies to reach separate global estimates, said Kevin Bales, professor of contemporary slavery at Britain's University of Nottingham and a member of Walk Free's statistical team.
The latest estimate "is more accurate than any number that we've had previously," he said. "We just have better data and better methods than we've ever had before.
"It's a hidden crime," he added. "It's tricky to get at."
Child, sexual exploitation
The estimate compared with a 2016 Walk Free finding that 45.8 million people were slaves and an ILO figure of 21 million in forced labor, but both the ILO and Walk Free cautioned the latest number cannot be compared with earlier figures to show progress or failure in anti-slavery efforts.
But having an agreed-upon estimate can help galvanize anti-slavery efforts, said Jean Baderschneider, head of the U.S.-based Global Fund to End Modern Slavery.
"I'm so thrilled that they got this together. It's a big deal for the field today," she said.
Fiona David, executive director of global research at Australia-based Walk Free, said unlike previous estimates, the findings explicitly included people forced into marriages.
Many are women taken from their homes, raped and treated like property that could sometimes be bought, sold or passed on as inheritance, she said.
More than a third of the 15 million victims of forced marriage were under 18 when wed, and nearly half of those were younger than 15. Nearly all were female.
"Really the label marriage is actually a little bit misleading. When you look at what's behind it, it could also be called sexual slavery," she said.
Including forced marriage is a breakthrough that helps draw needed attention to the issue, Bales said.
"In a lot of countries around the world, they don't even want to discuss the idea of marriage ... in the same room as the idea of slavery," he said.
Child labor
The ILO also released a separate report showing 152 million children were victims of child labor, which amounted to nearly one in every 10 children worldwide, with almost half of those engaged in hazardous work.
More than two-thirds of these children were working on a family farm or in a family business, with 71 percent overall working in agriculture.
The calculation of forced labor included the private economy, forced sexual exploitation and state-imposed labor.
Half of forced laborers were victims of debt bondage, who were made to work to repay a debt or other obligation, and nearly 4 million adults and 1 million children were victims of forced sexual exploitation.
"The vast majority of forced labor today exists in the private economy. This underscores the importance of partnering with the business community ... to eradicate forced labor in supply chains," the report said.
The ILO and Walk Free conducted surveys in 48 countries and interviewed more than 71,000 people, with findings supplemented by data from the IOM.
A group of eight U.S. congressmen has called on the State Department to continue its public condemnation of the continuing crackdown on dissent and arrest of the leader of the opposition in Cambodia.
In the letter, sent to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Monday, the lawmakers expressed concerns over the detention on espionage charges of Kem Sokha, president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, and unsubstantiated allegations made by the Cambodian government of a conspiracy involving the United States aimed at destabilizing Prime Minister Hun Sens government.
In recent months, Prime Minister Hun Sen has conducted a widespread and systematic crackdown on independent press outlets such as Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America. The forced closure of the non-profit National Democratic Institute is yet another example of the Cambodian governments efforts to marginalize democratic advancements, the congressmen wrote in the letter.
Sokha was arrested on September 3 and later charged with treason-related offenses. Hun Sen has demanded an explanation of the U.S.s relationship to Sokha after it re-published a years-old video of Sokha giving a speech in which he said he had been advised to establish a human rights NGO to prepare the ground for democratic change in the country.
The congressmen urged Tillerson to work with the U.S.s regional allies and the wider international community to lobby Phnom Penh to adhere to democratic norms and the rule of law.
In a separate statement, the group Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), which has included several opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party lawmakers among its members, said the region faced a crisis of human rights and democracy.
Look at the political situation in countries across the region: an unprecedented assault on the opposition and civil society in Cambodia; a military government in Thailand that shows no signs of relinquishing power; a genocide unfolding unabated in Myanmar. Meanwhile, here in the Phillippines, the rule of law and accountability appear to have been thrown out the window completely in the context of the governments ongoing drug war, Charles Santiago, a member of the Malaysian Parliament, said in the statement.
Suos Yara, ruling Cambodian Peoples Party spokesman, said the congressmens statement was published for their individual interest, not for the interest of the U.S. And not for the interest of the American people, and not for the interest of Cambodia or Cambodians.
Leng Penglong, National Assembly spokesman, defended the jailing of Sokha.
Whoever committed an offense must be punished based on the law of the state. Its not wrong to do so, he said.
Vice President Mike Pence spoke out, in the strongest terms to date, of any senior U.S. official on the Rohingya crisis, condemning what he termed a historic exodus of the Rohingya people from Myanmar to Bangladesh in the face of violent attacks.
Speaking at a United Nations peacekeeping meeting Wednesday, Pence said the world is witnessing a "great tragedy unfolding" in the Southeast Asian nation, also known as Burma.
Recently, Burmese security forces responded to militant attacks on government outposts with terrible savagery, burning villages, driving the Rohingyas from their homes," Pence said at the high-level Security Council meeting. "The images of the violence and its victims have shocked the American people, and decent people all over the world.
Over the course of the past month, more than 400,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled from Myanmar, where they face human rights violations and discrimination. Pence noted that tens of thousands of those who have fled on foot are children.
Rohingya militants attacked Burmese security forces in late August. Since then, analysts and rights workers say the Burmese military has carried out a brutal crackdown that has burned entire villages, and killed fleeing women and children.
Pence noted that U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spoke with Myanmars civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, on the Rohingya refugees Tuesday and urged the Burmese military and security forces to facilitate humanitarian aid.
While we welcome [Aung San] Suu Kyis comments that returning refugees have nothing to fear, the United States renews our call on Burmas security forces to end their violence immediately and support diplomatic efforts for a long term solution," Pence noted.
US aid to Rohingya
The U.S. State Department on Wednesday announced the United States is set to contribute $32 million worth of humanitarian aid to help the Rohingya Muslims fleeing Myanmar.
The U.S. aid package the first major response from the Trump administration to the situation will include food, medical supplies, water and emergency shelter, along with other support.
Aung San Suu Kyi has condemned the human rights violations taking place in her country's western Rakhine state, but she has come under strong international criticism for not speaking out more forcefully on the situation. She canceled her appearance at the United Nations General Assembly this week, in part, to address the ongoing crisis at home.
In a nationally televised speech in her country Tuesday, Aung San Suu Kyi noted her country does not fear international scrutiny, and she offered her assurance that any human rights violations or acts that impair stability and harmony will be dealt with in accordance with strict norms of justice.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate insisted, however, that all allegations are based on solid evidence before we take action.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, during a Tuesday speech before the General Assembly, said he was shocked by the dramatic escalation of sectarian tensions in Myanmar, and he called on authorities to end the military operations in Rakhine.
The State Department said the $32 million, which brings the total amount of U.S. aid provided to Myanmar refugees in the 2017 fiscal year to $95 million, will make up about a quarter of what human rights groups say will be needed to address the crisis. The remaining money is expected to be provided by other countries.
Every year the United Nations General Assembly brings together leaders from 193 countries to address issues that can bring positive change in the lives of millions around the world and to uphold the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda. Shaka Ssali is joined by Clarissa Kayosa Segun, Development and Human Rights Consultant and Eric Kashambuzi, author and former UN Executive to explore how African issues are being discussed at UNGA.
President Donald Trump singled out North Korea, Iran and Venezuela for special criticism in his first address to the United Nations General Assembly. VOA White House correspondent Peter Heinlein reports there were murmurs in the Assembly hall when the president warned Pyongyang that its current course could lead to its destruction.
A top Moroccan security official says his government is working on a new strategy to track Moroccans who become radicalized in Europe, part of beefed-up counterterrorism efforts by a country that is both a key player in the global anti-extremism struggle and a source of international jihadis.
Preventing radicalization of Moroccans abroad is especially important after Spanish extremists with Moroccan origins carried out last month's deadly Barcelona attacks, Abdelhak Khiame, director of an agency known as Morocco's FBI, told The Associated Press in an interview.
"Really I was frightened by what we saw happen in Barcelona. They were all youths of Moroccan origin, their parents were Moroccan but they themselves had no connection to Morocco other than their origin and their family," Khiame said Tuesday in his polished headquarters in Sale, near the capital, Rabat.
"Morocco's government now must adopt another method just to control the return of those people and keep a watch on them, try and gather intelligence on them," he added.
He would not elaborate on what surveillance measures that monitoring strategy would entail, but insisted on the importance of intelligence cooperation across borders, and said his agency is working on establishing offices in partner countries.
His agency, the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations, is also cracking down on Moroccans returning from fighting with the Islamic State group in Syria, Iraq and Libya. It has arrested 85 men, 14 women and 27 children returnees to date, he said.
Moroccans make up an unusually large subset of IS foreign fighters - a total of 1,664 people at the agency's last count. While larger numbers came from Saudi Arabia and Tunisia, experts say Moroccans play a sizeable role among the thousands of foreign fighters in the extremist group. So do dual Moroccan-European citizens, who were notably behind IS attacks on Paris and Brussels in 2015 and 2016.
Khiame's agency, created two years ago to consolidate and strengthen anti-terrorism and anti-crime efforts, says it has dismantled 42 Islamic State cells and five others.
Rights groups warn that counterterrorism authorities are being overzealous and have caught up innocent bystanders in the dragnet. Thomas Galley, a Frenchman serving prison time on a terrorism financing conviction based on a confession in Arabic that he says he didn't make and can't understand, is among those that Human Rights Watch says is being unfairly held. Khiame insisted that the government has proof of his extremist activities.
Beyond jail and prosecution, Khiame said the government recognizes the need to solve the roots of radicalism through tackling poverty, training moderate imams and banning extremist preachers, and re-integrating former radicals.
He warned of a risk of "reverse terrorism," or Moroccan emigrants who become radicalized in Europe then come to Morocco to stage attacks.
He cited the example of a man who embraced extremism while living in Catalonia and who was interrogated by Moroccan authorities after the Barcelona attacks, and found to be plotting violence in Morocco.
Khiame said the man had no link to the Barcelona attacks, which left 16 people dead after a partially failed attempt by a network of teens and other young Spaniards to set off explosions in the area.
Khiame's agency helped identify the suspects and is working closely with Spain on the investigation.
The agency was also instrumental in helping French police find a leading suspect in the November 2015 attacks on the Bataclan theater, cafes and a stadium in Paris.
Rooting out radicalism is important to preserving Morocco's reputation as a beacon of stability in a volatile region, and King Mohammed VI speaks out regularly against religious fanaticism.
Experts say Moroccans abroad are especially vulnerable because of the challenges of integration and a tug-of-war between two cultures and identities.
British police arrested two more suspects Wednesday in connection with last week's bombing on a London train that injured more than 30 people.
Authorities said officers arrested a 48-year-old man and a 30-year-old man in Newport, Wales. Police had arrested another man there Tuesday night, and searches at the addresses of both arrest sites were ongoing Wednesday.
A Metropolitan Police statement did not say how the men might be linked to the bombing.
"This continues to be a fast-moving investigation," said Commander Dean Haydon, head of the Met Counter Terrorism Command. "Detectives are carrying out extensive inquiries to determine the full facts behind the attack."
A total of five men have been arrested since Friday's attack.
An 18-year-old refugee from Iraq was nabbed in the port area of Dover, a major ferry terminal for travel between Britain and France, and a 21-year-old from Syria was arrested in the west London suburb of Hounslow, which is home to London's Heathrow Airport. They remain in police custody, but neither has yet been formally charged.
A homemade bomb partially exploded at the Parsons Green station during rush hour.
Images of the bomb posted on social media appear to show a bucket on fire that had been placed inside a plastic bag close to a rail car door.
Islamic State militants claimed responsibility for the attack, but Home Secretary Rudd discounted it.
"It is inevitable that so-called Islamic State or Daesh will try to claim responsibility, but we have no evidence to suggest that yet," she told the BBC. Rudd said authorities will try to determine how the suspects may have been radicalized.
Prime Minister Theresa May said the British public may see more armed police on the streets and the transport network. The prime minister also said members of the military will begin aiding police, providing security at some sites not accessible to the public.
The blast was the fifth major terrorist attack in Britain this year.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says about 50 refugees currently housed in two remote Pacific detention centers will soon be resettled in the United States.
Turnbull announced Wednesday during a television interview that an equal number of refugees being held in Papua New Guinea and Nauru are heading to the U.S. within the next several weeks.
The refugees are the first of 1,250 asylum seekers that are being resettled in the United States under a deal struck between Canberra and Washington in the final weeks of President Barack Obama's administration. Obama's successor, Donald Trump, attacked the agreement during a contentious phone call with Turnbull shortly after taking office, and called it "a dumb deal" in an angry tweet posted in February, before eventually agreeing to honor it.
"I just want to thank again President Trump for continuing with that arrangement," Turnbull said Wednesday during his interview.
More than 1,200 asylum seekers from Africa, Asia and the Middle East are being held in Nauru and Papua New Guinea's northern island of Manus, as part of Canberra's policy of intercepting people attempting to sail to Australia and seek asylum. Many of them are barred from accepting citizenship in Australia, even if they are granted refugee status.
Human rights groups have denounced Australia over its treatment of the asylum seekers. Amnesty International issued a report last October alleging that many of the 400 men, women and children being held on Nauru have been subjected to physical and mental abuse and neglect, and have attempted various forms of self-harm, including attempted suicides, and were falling into deep despair over their long detention and uncertain fate.
Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court ruled last year that the detention center on Manus was unconstitutional, because it violated the detainees constitutional right of personal liberty.
Australia is set to close the center next month.
A 10-year-old boy was killed and 10 other people were injured in Togo's capital Wednesday as hundreds of thousands of opposition supporters demonstrated against a vote by the West African nation's parliament on a bill they feared would allow the president to run for more terms, the security minister said.
Togo's security minister, Colonel Damehame Yark, blamed opposition members for the violence, saying they brought weapons to the demonstrations.
Thousands of people across the small West African nation have been demonstrating since last month for term limits on President Faure Gnassingbe, who has been in power since his father died in 2005. The Gnassingbe family has ruled the nation for 50 years.
Security forces killed at least two people and injured several others in demonstrations in August, and they used tear gas to break up another peaceful protest this month.
The ruling party voted Tuesday in favor of a draft bill that the opposition said did not include a sentence outlining term limits for the president.
Vote of the people
The bill will need to be submitted to a referendum of the people next month before it can be enforced as a law, parliament chair Dama Dramani said.
Opposition lawmakers have demanded the reinstatement of Togo's 1992 Constitution in its original form, which allowed a president to serve only two terms.
Patrick Lawson, a spokesman of the main ANC opposition party, said the bill introduced two weeks ago did not take into account the amendments the opposition wanted.
"The country's voting list is not credible. Besides, the electoral commission and the constitutional court have allegiance to the ruling party. So we don't approve the idea of a referendum," Lawson said.
Christophe Tchao, a spokesman for the ruling party, said the party had shown openness.
Thousands of ruling party supporters also were in the streets Wednesday. Some wore white T-shirts that read "Don't touch my president."
While Gnassingbe has not said he will run again in 2020, the opposition has said it suspects he will not step down unless compelled to, either through reforms in parliament or citizen protests.
Gnassingbe's father ruled for 38 years. Before his death, he modified the Constitution to extend his rule.
Brazil's new top federal prosecutor on Tuesday reshuffled the team of investigators in charge of pursuing the biggest corruption probe yet conducted in Latin America's largest nation.
Prosecutor General Raquel Dodge, who took over the post on Monday after the end of her predecessor Rodrigo Janot's term, had previously invited all the members of Janot's team of prosecutors working on the Car Wash corruption probe to stay.
However, few expressed interest in continuing, and Dodge, 56, who holds a master's degree from Harvard and has spent three decades working as a federal prosecutor, decided to replace the entire team with her own choices. Just a few of the previous prosecutors will stay on for a month to help with the transition.
The Car Wash investigation, which began in early 2014, has led to an unprecedented fight against entrenched political corruption in Brazil.
It has uncovered billions of dollars in bribes paid by major construction firms to politicians and executives at state-run enterprises such Petroleo Brasileiro in return for lucrative contracts.
It is one of several major investigations taking place in Brazil, probes that have led to the conviction of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and charges being leveled against President Michel Temer, his predecessor Dilma Rousseff, and two more former presidents.
Charges have been lodged or investigations opened against dozens of federal lawmakers, while over 100 powerful businessmen and politicians have been convicted.
While there was a clear personal rift between Janot and Dodge, whose appointment by Temer was ratified by the Senate in August, that does not necessarily mean federal prosecutors will be any less aggressive in pursuing corruption.
Obviously there will be a change in style, but there will be no change in the course of investigations, said Carlos Pereira, a professor of public policy at the Getulio Vargas Foundation and one of Brazils top experts on corruption. But the team chosen by (Dodge) is extremely professional and has already shown skills in fighting corruption.
Among the prosecutors who will be part of Dodges Car Wash investigation team are veterans from Brazil's first major probe into political corruption, the 2005 Mensalao scandal.
It ended with top members of Lula's government being found guilty of paying off lawmakers in return for their support of Lula's legislation.
California sued the Trump administration Wednesday to stop construction of a proposed wall on the U.S. border with Mexico, arguing the federal government is overstepping its authority by waiving environmental reviews and other laws.
Asked about the lawsuit at an appearance in San Diego, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he expects to prevail in legal challenges to the wall one of the president's key campaign pledges.
"The United States government has the control of that border and a responsibility to secure it,'' he told reporters at a landing dock where he touted a record set by the Coast Guard for cocaine seizures.
The California lawsuit came as private contractors prepare to build eight prototypes for the wall in San Diego.
The administration "has once again ignored laws it doesn't like in order to resuscitate a campaign talking point to build a wall on our southern border,'' California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said while discussing the case at a news conference in a state park where a fence juts into the Pacific Ocean to separate the U.S. and Mexico.
In a letter to Homeland Security, California Gov. Jerry Brown said construction would "wreak havoc on an important and well-used commercial corridor.''
The lawsuit filed by Becerra, a Democrat, largely mirrors two others by environmental advocacy groups that allege the administration overstepped its authority to speed construction of the wall.
His complaint specifically addresses stretches of 15 miles (24 kilometers) in San Diego where the administration will build the prototypes and three miles (4.8 kilometers) in Calexico, California.
Aides to Becerra believe a victory in the lawsuit would apply to the entire border, stretching nearly 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) through California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
At issue is a 2005 law that gave the Homeland Security secretary broad powers to waive dozens of laws for border barriers, including the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Air Act and Endangered Species Act.
The Trump administration has issued two waivers since August, both in California. President George W. Bush's administration issued the previous five waivers in 2008.
Legal challenges to border barriers have failed over the years amid concerns about national security. The Congressional Research Service said in a report this year for members of Congress that it saw no legal impediment to Trump's proposed wall if deemed appropriate for controlling the border.
Becerra's lawsuit like one filed by the Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife and Animal Legal Defense Fund contends the government's power to waive the laws expired in 2008, when it met a congressional requirement for erecting fences on about one-third of the border.
The Center for Biological Diversity argues in its lawsuit that the 2005 law "cannot reasonably be interpreted to exempt compliance with the waived laws in perpetuity.''
Timothy Patterson, a supervising California deputy attorney general, said he expected the three lawsuits to be consolidated under one federal judge, possibly Gonzalo Curiel because he was assigned the earliest one.
Trump repeatedly criticized Curiel during the campaign for his handling of lawsuits against now-defunct Trump University, suggesting the judge's Mexican heritage carried a bias.
Becerra's legal action is the latest in a series of lawsuits he has filed against the administration. He has sued over Trump's decision to halt a program that protects young immigrants from deportation and has battled with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over regulations.
During his appearance in San Diego, Sessions also called attention to Coast Guard seizures of more than 227 tons of cocaine during the fiscal year ending Sept. 30.
In addition, he reiterated opposition to legalization of marijuana for recreational use three months before pot sales are expected to begin in California.
Sessions said federal law prohibiting marijuana still applies.
"It doesn't strike me that the country would be better if it's being sold at every street corner,'' he said.
Following the closing of independent media outlets and the arrest of Cambodia's opposition leader, officials in Phnom Penh have begun training their verbal fire on the U.S., adding to mounting anxiety in the Cambodian capital among government critics and media workers.
On Friday, senior Cambodian military officials pledged the elimination of all foreigners deemed intent to commit aggression against the country, according to statements reported by government mouthpiece Fresh News.
The comments were posted on the same day Prime Minister Hun Sen declared two American "spies" plotting to overthrow his government had been identified and ordered the investigation of all U.S. citizens suspected of conducting espionage.
Warnings to foreigners
In the same speech, he also suggested the U.S. Peace Corps should pull out of Cambodia and the week before he suspended a program to identify and repatriate the remains of U.S. soldiers lost during the Vietnam War.
In statements to the pro-government Fresh News website Friday, Lieutenant General Prum Pheng, Commander of Intervention Brigade 1, and Lieutenant General Bun Seng, a Deputy Commander of the Army and Commander of Military Region 5, vowed to carry out the investigations ordered by Hun Sen.
Fresh News reported the men, both of whom are members of the ruling partys central committee, had pledged "determination to smash each and every person whose intent it is to make color revolution.
We all are the soldiers who have the duty to protect the land. [We] support Samdech Decho [Hun Sen], Prime Minister of Cambodia who rescued Cambodia from the war, to be united to eliminate any invading foreigners, they reportedly said in identical statements.
Defense Ministry spokesman Chhum Socheat defended the right of the lieutenants to issue such threats and would not unconditionally guarantee the safety of foreigners against such actions.
"The situation is normal and the government protects all foreigners unless they did something wrong or against the government," he said. We welcome all foreigners who come for tourism legally and dont do any act against the government and national security, he said, adding that the internal security is normal.
'Disturbing' development
The definition of what constituted an act against the government is being interpreted increasingly broadly under vague Cambodian espionage laws, said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch.
Theres a disturbing new trend going on in Cambodia and this really started with the Ricketson case, where you had a person from Australia who was charged with espionage despite the fact that they had done no research that we can see that involved anything other than open sources.
In June, Australian filmmaker James Ricketson was charged with espionage under a provision in the Cambodian Criminal Code that criminalizes receiving or collecting various types of information, objects and technology that may undermine national defense with a view to delivering power to a foreign state or its agents.
Details about the precise accusation against Ricketson a vocal critic of the Cambodian government - have not been offered though it is known he faces up to 10 years in prison.
Theres a new plan to try to intimidate, to threaten and to control foreigners in a much more systematic way, Robertson said, adding that he believed Cambodians with foreign passports would soon be targeted in the same way.
US officials react
The U.S. Embassy declined to comment on the statements directing a reporter back to Ambassador William Heidts comments during a press conference last week.
At the time, Heidt said ongoing anti-American rhetoric in Cambodia had made U.S. and other western tourists and companies feel less welcome, predicting many fewer will invest.
Lee Morgenbesser, a research fellow at Australias Griffith University who studies authoritarian regimes, said U.S. citizens living in Cambodia should certainly have an exit strategy.
The fact several military officials [as well as Hun Sen] have made the same sort of statement suggests the external communication of the CPP government is being internally coordinated, he said in an email.
The difference to what has been said in the past is that such statements are being made against the backdrop of a crackdown, which suggests they should not be dismissed. The use of repression in Cambodia is far less predictable than previously.
Anti-American trend
In the past month, The Cambodia Daily newspaper, which is owned by Americans, has been shuttered over a disputed tax bill, the U.S.-funded Radio Free Asia has closed its in-country operations citing threats and the National Democratic Institute has been kicked out of the country.
The opposition leader, Kem Sokha, was arrested earlier this month for allegedly conspiring with Washington to overthrow the Cambodian government based on a years old video in which he discusses U.S. support for his promotion of grassroots democracy.
Political commentator Meas Nee said support for the current crackdown was far from universal among the cross section of senior military officials he is in contact with, even if they made outward demonstrations of loyalty to the cause.
They have to express their support although they dont agree to what has been happening now. Position and wealth are believed to be the key factors where [by] they must support, he said.
Cameroon has been using its 2014 anti-terror law to "silence critics and suppress dissent," according to a report released Wednesday by the U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists.
Members of the media who report on the Boko Haram insurgency or controversial topics such as the ongoing strike in English-speaking zones have been arrested or threatened by the government, according to CPJ.
Bruno Nkwemo of the Cameroon Union of Journalists says reporters fear practicing their profession.
Cameroonian journalists are not criminals, he says, adding that his union recommends the strict respect of ethics and professional norms.
The Committee to Protect Journalists says at least five journalists in Cameroon have been arrested and charged under the law, which introduced hefty punishments including the death penalty for involvement or complicity with terrorism.
RFI Hausa reporter Ahmed Abba was sentenced to 10 years in prison earlier this year. He was arrested in northern Cameroon while covering the war against Boko Haram, and rights groups say he was tortured during his two-year pretrial detention. His lawyers are appealing his sentence.
Four other reporters arrested under the 2014 law were recently released. They had been detained regarding their coverage of the government's response to the anglophone strike.
By VOA's count, at least 30 local media outlets have been sealed or suspended over their coverage of the unrest since the strike began in December. The government also cut internet access to the two English-speaking regions for three months, as talk of secession began eclipsing the original strikers' demands.
The government has repeatedly defended its actions in response to the strike, saying national security trumps freedom of expression.
The Committee to Protect Journalists is urging Cameroon to revise the anti-terror law in line with international standards, decriminalize defamation, and abolish the National Communication Council in favor of an independent regulatory body with narrower powers. The NCC is the state agency responsible for policing the media.
"There may be an outcry, but these are just people who think that they have a certain aura around them and that nobody can touch them," said NCC president Peter Essoka. "Listen, it will be erroneous to tell us here that we have a heavy hand on everyone. There is not a single case that we have taken a decision on in which the people concerned are not summoned to the council and probably defend themselves."
Most of the journalists contacted by VOA to comment on the CPJ report declined, saying they wanted to play safe.
Standard Tribune editor-in-chief Eugene Nforngwa says journalists in Cameroon find it difficult to do their jobs because the government is not open with information.
"You do not have a right to demand information and get it," Nforngwa said.
Retired journalist Kome Emmanuel says the intimidation of journalists has frightened members of the public into not expressing their views in the media.
"Under normal circumstances, under normal situations, we will have more people expressing their points of view. That would have been the ideal, but government has certain fears," he said.
Asked for comment by VOA, Cameroon's communication minister Issa Tchiroma described the CPJ report as baseless. He said journalists in Cameroon are free and that the country will not succumb to external pressure to change its laws.
The president of the Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadera, on Tuesday pleaded with the world to not forget his country and urged the U.N. to bolster its peace-keeping force amid growing violence that threatens to spin the country out of control.
Thousands have died and a fifth of Central Africans have fled a conflict that broke out after mainly Muslim Seleka rebels ousted President Francois Bozize in 2013, provoking a backlash from Christian anti-balaka (anti-machete) militias.
Fighting on the increase
Although unrest has since subsided, fighting has spiked this year and the United Nations warned this month that ethnic fighting could descend again into a much larger conflict if combatants are not disarmed.
Central Africa is at a critical moment in its history. We need the support of our friends; there are risks that we'll be forgotten, Touadera told a news conference ahead of a high-level meeting at the U.N. General Assembly.
Violence has escalated since former colonial power France last year ended its peacekeeping mission in the country, which once had as many as 2,000 soldiers. France has grown concerned by events, although officials say Paris is unlikely to return to Central Africa unless the capital were under threat.
The violence continues despite a peace deal signed between the government and rival factions in Rome last month and a 13,000-strong U.N. mission (MINUSCA), which will see its mandate renewed in November.
The only force capable of ensuring security is the United Nations, Touadera said. The capacities of MINUSCA in terms of men and equipment have to be strengthened.
Weak security forces
National security forces are too weak to tackle a multitude of armed groups and counter the spillover from conflicts in neighboring countries. Diplomats have also said that Touadera does not have the political strength to impose central government rule.
Touadera bemoaned the departure of France's Operation Sangaris, but also the withdrawal of about 2,000 American and Uganda forces that were fighting the Ugandan rebel group The Lord's Resistance Army and the withdrawal of MINUSCA's Congolese battalion in the west.
All of this has created a vacuum that the MINUSCA must fill, he said.
Three members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the speaker of the New York City Council were arrested Tuesday during a protest calling for action to protect undocumented immigrants who came to the United States when they were children.
Under a program begun under former President Barack Obama, about 800,000 people registered as part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which gave them temporary protection against deportation and allowed them to work legally.
President Donald Trump ended DACA this month and gave Congress a six-month deadline to come up with a permanent fix for those affected.
WATCH: Video footage of protest
New York Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said the protesters rallied Tuesday "to send a strong message to Trump and the Republican Congress that we expect to protect DACA recipients, we expect to protect them and their family members."
She was arrested along with three congressional Democrats -- Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, Rep. Adriano Espaillat of New York and Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois.
"We're taking the necessary steps to make it clear to President Trump, the Republicans and the Democrats that we will continue this peaceful fight for dreamers and immigrants as long as it takes to enact legislation and put dreamers in a safe place," Gutierrez said in a statement.
A police announcement told demonstrators blocking Fifth Avenue that those refusing to leave would be arrested for disorderly conduct. The lawmakers were later released.
The protesters carried signs with slogans such as "Stop ICE raids," referring to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and "Resistencia," Spanish for resistance.
They also chanted, including a Spanish refrain meaning "We are in the fight."
The young immigrants, also colloquially known as "dreamers," typically entered the United States as young children. Many trace their heritage to Mexico or Central American countries, but some arrived so young that they have grown up knowing nothing other than American society and customs.
Under Trump's deadline, Congress has until early next year to figure out a permanent legislative fix. But past attempts at immigration reform, including during Obama's administration, have not achieved enough support among Democrats and Republicans to become law.
In the current debate, Democrats broadly favor granting legal residence or citizenship to the DACA recipients. Republicans broadly favor more stringent border security. Trump himself has sometimes expressed support for the DACA recipients, but also during his campaign repeatedly said he would end the program and criticized it as "amnesty."
During his speech Tuesday to the U.N. General Assembly, U.S. President Donald Trump made his disdain for the nuclear agreement with Iran absolutely clear.
"The Iran deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into," Trump said. "Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I don't think you've heard the last of it, believe me."
On the sidelines of the UNGA, some prominent critics of the Iran nuclear deal endorsed his position Tuesday, debating how best to move forward to prevent Tehran from becoming a nuclear weapons state, while underscoring concerns about Tehran's links with North Korea.
Participants in the United Against Nuclear Iran conference (UANI) agreed they see flaws in the 2015 deal, which offered incentives to Iran in return for guarantees that it would not develop nuclear weapons. But speakers disagreed on whether the United States should attempt to renegotiate and expand the deal negotiated under former President Barack Obama, or scrap it altogether.
Imperfect, yet valuable
Former U.S. Ambassador Bill Richardson said that according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United States and other experts, Iran is largely complying with the nuclear deal. "It's not perfect, but I think we should retain that," he said.
Richardson, also a former member of Congress and governor of Arizona, is well-known for his role as a U.S. diplomatic envoy on missions to North Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries during the 1990s assignments that earned him three nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize. He cited the current threat posed by North Korea's nuclear and missile activity in his comments about the Iran agreement.
"We can't afford to have a nuclear Iran and a nuclear North Korea. Both of them, by the way, are working together," Richardson said. "So, I think it's important that we dramatically increase our commitment to get Iran to be more responsive on issues like terrorism. It's going to be hard."
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, the brother and son of two former U.S. presidents, agreed it was probably best to use the 2015 deal for leverage over Iran, but to enforce it more rigorously.
"These technical defaults are serious. The idea that you call something technical when it's a violation of the agreement there needs to be consequences," Bush told the UANI conference. "So I don't know what kind of leverage we would necessarily have if we get out of the agreement right now."
Critical of Obama
Bush, a former presidential candidate himself until Trump secured the Republican Party's nomination last year, criticized Obama's handling of the nuclear deal with Iran, and said Trump found himself in a tough position when he took over the White House this year.
"He was left a really difficult circumstance, because all of the benefits are front-loaded for Iran and all the possible benefits for the rest of the world, the United States, are theoretically at the end, maybe," Bush said. "And so, getting out of this agreement, we lose some of our leverage."
The U.S. is set to decide in October whether to recertify Iran's compliance with the deal, which was signed by the U.S., the European Union, China and Russia. The pact is known officially as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. If the United States fails to recertify Iran next month, another question would arise: whether Washington should withdraw from the agreement altogether.
Supporters of the JCPOA argue that the 2015 deal was the best possible arrangement that the world powers could get Tehran to agree to, in order to prevent it from becoming a nuclear weapons state. Many fear pulling out of the agreement would lead to Iran's quick development of nuclear weapons, and most likely result in a military conflict, with unpredictable consequences.
Another former U.S. ambassador to the U.N., John Bolton, disagreed.
If Trump does not recertify Iran's compliance by mid-October, Bolton said, "the president has a subsequent decision [about] whether to pull out of the deal entirely. I think he should. I think we should abrogate the deal."
"I think the argument that you don't certify, but stay in, is a kind of one-shoe-on, one-shoe-off foreign policy," Bolton continued. "It may suit a 5-year-old; it doesn't suit the United States."
Pyongyang-Tehran cooperation
Bolton, widely viewed as a foreign policy hawk, said the Iranian deal was too similar to failed deals with North Korea, and the evidence of past nuclear cooperation between Pyongyang and Tehran did not bode well.
The UANI conference took place near the United Nations, where Trump lambasted the two "rogue states" in his first speech before the General Assembly.
Trump called the Iranian government a "corrupt dictatorship" whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed and chaos, and he blasted North Korea as a "depraved regime" responsible for the starvation deaths of millions of its people as well as imprisonment, torture, killings and kidnappings.
"If this is not twisted enough, now North Korea's reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles threatens the entire world with unthinkable loss of human life," said Trump, who threatened to "totally destroy North Korea" if the U.S. or its allies were forced to defend themselves.
President Donald Trumps threat to totally destroy North Korea, which he made during his speech to the United Nations, could serve to justify the Kim Jong Un regimes perceived need for a nuclear deterrence and undermine international support for increased sanctions and possible military action, according to regional security analysts.
During his first address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, President Trump referred to the North Korean leader as Rocket Man on a suicide mission, warned that the authoritarian regimes reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles threatens the entire world with unthinkable loss of human life, and said if the United States is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.
Trump did say he hoped military action would not be necessary and called on the United Nations to do more to convince North Korea that denuclearization is its only acceptable future.
Allies React
Reaction to Trumps speech from key U.S. allies in Asia was mixed.
In Tokyo, the conservative government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe praised the U.S. president for taking a strong stand against North Korean provocations, including two recent ballistic missile tests that flew over Japanese airspace.
"We highly regard that he reaffirmed our aim to denuclearize the North Korea peninsula, and also for the strong call for cooperation by the international community, including China and Russia to add further pressure on North Korea," said Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga on Wednesday.
The liberal Moon Jae-in administration in Seoul, which Trump had criticized as favoring appeasement for trying to engage with Pyongyang, downplayed the confrontational aspect of the speech and praised the U.S. leaders commitment to peace and security in the region.
The North Korean ambassador to the United Nations, Ja Song Nam, walked out of General Assembly hall as Trump entered to speak.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Wednesday it is incorrect to say China has not been doing enough, referring to Trumps call for the world to do more to uphold sanctions imposed on North Korea.
Counterproductive Views
Many Trump supporters may like the tough rhetoric he used to oppose North Koreas rapidly advancing nuclear and missile capabilities, but critics say the speech will make the U.S. goal of finding a diplomatic solution more difficult.
Northeast Asia analyst Marcus Noland, with the Peterson Institute for International Economics, wrote a blog post Tuesday saying from the North Korean perspective, Trumps speech reinforces the countrys need for nuclear weapons to defend against and existential threat by hostile foreign forces led by the United States. With those words, President Trump handed the Kim regime the soundbite of the century. It will play on a continuous loop on North Korean national television.
Carla Anne Robbins, a professor of national security studies at Baruch College said she cringed when she heard Trump refer to the North Korea leader as rocket man and complained that the confrontational tone of the speech would not convince skeptical nations like China and Russia to support further sanctions on North Korea, nor will it make the case amongst allies for military action.
I dont think it helps with the credibility of any diplomatic initiative that one might want to put forward, certainly in our relations with our allies and trying to rally them into taking risks or making sacrifices, said Robbins who is also a fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations.
Stewart Patrick with the Council on Foreign Relations called Trumps threat against North Korea a juvenile tweak that risks undermining the credibility of the United States. He also said President Trumps criticism of the Iranian nuclear agreement in the speech, and the implied possibility he may pull out of that deal, sends a message to Pyongyang that the U.S. cannot be trusted.
I do think that the North Koreans are obviously watching carefully to see how Iran is treated and, you know, what could be expected, were they ever in a position or a desire to give up their nuclear weapons, said Patrick.
North Korea has justified the need for its nuclear program by pointing to fate of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya, who was overthrown and killed by U.S. and NATO backed rebel forces, just a few years after he agreed to give up his countrys nuclear weapons.
The Cuban government on Tuesday again denied any involvement in or any knowledge of a mysterious series of health incidents that have affected American diplomats in Havana.
Cuba also strongly objected to President Donald Trump's critical comments about the island in his speech to the U.N. General Assembly.
At a meeting on law enforcement cooperation in Washington on Tuesday, Cuba's top diplomat for the Americas, Josefina Vidal, said Cuba has never and would never commit or allow what Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has described as "health attacks" on any foreign diplomat on its territory.
"Cuba strictly observes its obligations to protect foreign diplomats on its soil,'' the Cuban Embassy in Washington said in a statement.
"Cuba has never perpetrated nor will it ever perpetrate actions of this nature, and has never permitted nor will it ever permit any third-party use of its territory for this purpose,'' it said.
It said the government had ordered investigations into the incidents and asked for cooperation from U.S. authorities, which it called "essential.''
At least 21 members of the American diplomatic community in Havana have suffered from symptoms, including brain damage, believed to have come from some sort of sonic attack since late last year. The most recent incident was in August.
On Trump's U.N. speech, the Cuban statement was sharp, calling his remarks "disrespectful, unacceptable and meddling,'' especially while the meeting in Washington was taking place.
"The Cuban delegation voiced a strong protest,'' it said.
Trump has vowed to roll back the Obama administration's rapprochement with Cuba and has said he will not further ease sanctions until Havana adopts democratic reforms.
In his speech, he called the Cuban government "corrupt and destabilizing.''
U.S. President Donald Trump has told African leaders he will send his U.N. envoy Nikki Haley to South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"We're closely monitoring and deeply disturbed by the ongoing violence in South Sudan and in the Congo," Trump said in a lunch meeting Wednesday with African leaders on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.
"Millions of lives are at risk and we continue to provide humanitarian assistance, but real results in halting this catastrophe will require an African-led peace process, and a sincere really sincere commitment of all parties involved."
The president said Haley would "discuss avenues of conflict and resolution and, most importantly, prevention."
South Sudan is mired in the fourth year of a civil war that has displaced some four million people, while Congo has experienced growing unrest due to communal clashes and uncertainty on when the country will hold elections. Congolese President Joseph Kabila has stayed in office past the end of his mandate in December 2016.
Trump also noted that six of the world's 10 fastest-growing economies are in Africa.
"Africa has tremendous business potential. I have so many friends going to your countries trying to get rich," Trump said. "I congratulate you, they're spending a lot of money. But it does, it has tremendous business potential, and representing huge amounts of different markets, and for American firms it's really become a place they have to go, that they want to go."
On Tuesday, the Trump administration extended Temporary Protected Status for nationals of South Sudan, but said it will end the designation for citizens from Sudan in 2018.
At the end of last year, 1,039 Sudanese and 49 South Sudanese nationals held TPS status.
President Donald Trump warned North Korea over its nuclear weapons development in his debut address to the U.N. General Assembly, but he failed to offer a concrete strategy on how to denuclearize the communist state, experts say.
Speaking before world leaders gathered at U.N. headquarters in New York on Tuesday, the president of the United States, who has recently escalated his rhetoric against North Korea, doubled down on unleashing scathing criticisms toward "the depraved regime."
If Pyongyang launches an attack on the U.S. or its allies, Trump said, there is "no choice but to totally destroy North Korea."
Rand Corporation defense analyst Bruce Bennett told VOA's Korean Service that Trump's statements were delivered in terms that the regime would understand, and meant to be a clear message to Kim about what will happen if North Korea uses its nuclear weapons.
"President Trump is being clear that the United States will not accept North Korean nuclear weapon deployment," Bennett said. "The president is saying that if North Korea starts a war and uses nuclear weapons, the North Korean regime will be destroyed."
Trump's warnings, although strong and resolute, were in the context of a U.S. response to a North Korean attack, said Bruce Klingner, a former CIA analyst who is now senior research fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation.
"It is less indicative of a potential U.S. military attack to prevent Pyongyang from completing development of an ICBM" (intercontinental ballistic missile) capable of threatening the U.S. with nuclear weapons, Klingner said. "Trump's speech was a call to action by the U.N. to more forthrightly respond to North Korea's actions which pose a threat to all U.N. member nations, and not just the United States and its allies."
Michael Green, a former Asia adviser to former president George W. Bush, also said Trump's remarks indicate the possibility of a "fierce" U.S. response should North Korea attack, but not a pre-emptive strike to stop North Korea's weapons programs.
Some experts noted Trump failed to take advantage of the rare opportunity to more fully articulate how the U.S. would denuclearize the regime that is posing a dire threat. By conducting tests of a nuclear device and various missiles including ICBMs and mid-range rockets that flew over Japan, the regime this year proved to the world that it is making progress toward its stated goal of developing a nuclear-armed missile that could hit the U.S. mainland.
"This is very strong rhetoric from President Trump," said Ken Gause, director of the International Affairs Group at the Center for Naval Analyses. "The question is, what is the strategy behind the speech?"
Frank Jannuzi, president and CEO of the Mansfield Foundation, said Trump should have done more than flex his muscles in the address.
"I feel that the president's remarks to the U.N. on North Korea present more of a posture than a policy ... and there's really nothing new about Trump's strategy to respond decisively to any [North Korean] attack on the United States or its allies," Jannuzi said. "We should be presenting to the international community a comprehensive plan of how we intend to pursue peace and security and denuclearization on the Korean peninsula."
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he has made a decision on whether to pull the United States out of the 2015 international pact curbing Iran's nuclear weapons development.
Trump declined to say what his decision is, but the U.S. rift with Iran took center stage at the United Nations General Assembly, a day after he denounced Tehran as "an economically depleted rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed and chaos."
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in his speech Wednesday, told the annual gathering of world leaders at the 193-nation organization that Tehran does not tolerate threats from anyone and was unmoved by Trump's complaints. Rouhani called them "ugly, ignorant words."
In an apparent reference to the U.S. leader, Rouhani said "destruction" of the nuclear deal "by 'rogue' newcomers to the world of politics will never impede Irans course of progress and advancement.
"Iran won't be the first country to violate the agreement," Rouhani said, "but it will respond decisively and resolutely to its violation by any party. By violating its international commitments, the new U.S. administration only destroys its own credibility for future negotiations."
Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, in a Twitter remark, called Trump's claims on Tuesday an "ignorant hate speech" that belonged "in medieval times not the 21st-century U.N."
Trump strongly signaled this week he could pull the U.S. out of the pact, calling the deal brokered by former U.S. President Barack Obama and five other world powers China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany "an embarrassment to the United States." The Trump administration has twice certified that Iran is in compliance with the agreement, but is facing a new assessment deadline in mid-October.
In his maiden U.N. speech, Trump told world leaders, "We cannot let a murderous regime continue these destabilizing activities while building dangerous missiles. And we cannot abide by an agreement if it provides cover for the eventual construction of a nuclear program. The Iran deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into."
Speaking at the Hudson Institute in Washington, General John Hyten, the head of U.S. Strategic Command, confirmed Wednesday that Iran is operating under the nuclear agreement.
But at the same time, they are rapidly, rapidly deploying and developing a whole series of ballistic missiles at all ranges, he added. Hyten said Iran was testing these missiles to challenge the United States and our allies somewhere down the road.
Parties to meet
If the U.S. were to withdraw, the deal could collapse. The other signatories to the deal have continued to support it and shown no inclination toward renegotiation.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told Fox News, "We do need the support, I think, of our allies, our European allies and others, to make the case as well to Iran that this deal really needs to be revisited."
The U.N. nuclear watchdog agency says its inspectors have found Iran in technical compliance with the restrictions imposed on its nuclear program, while U.S. officials say Tehran's ballistic missile tests and military adventures in the Middle East breach the "spirit" of the deal.
After Rouhani's speech, the parties to the nuclear deal will meet, the first encounter between Tillerson and Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. In a Twitter remark Tuesday, Zarif called Trump's Iran remarks an "ignorant hate speech" that belonged "in medieval times - not the 21st-century U.N."
Numerous other world leaders are set to address the General Assembly on Wednesday, including British Prime Minister Theresa May, Italian President Paolo Gentiloni, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko.
Meanwhile, Trump is staying in New York for meetings with other world leaders on the sidelines of the U.N. gathering, meeting with May, Abbas, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Jordan's King Abdullah and a group of African leaders.
Trump on North Korea
In his speech Tuesday, Trump vowed to "totally destroy North Korea" if Pyongyang attacks the U.S. or its allies. The U.S. leader spelled out his "America first" agenda that did not reject U.S. involvement in global affairs, but emphasized the "sovereignty" of individual countries.
"In America, we do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to watch," Trump said.
WATCH: Trump on North Korea
Ahead of his Wednesday meetings, Trump attacked his 2016 Democratic presidential challenger, former U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton, and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, for their roles in North Korea's nuclear weapons development.
"After allowing North Korea to research and build Nukes while Secretary of State (Bill C also), Crooked Hillary now criticizes," Trump said on Twitter.
In a second tweet, Trump said, "Big meetings today at the United Nations. So many interesting leaders. America First will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
First lady Melania Trump is speaking at a luncheon for spouses of world leaders. In prepared remarks, she is saying that children are often "hit first and hardest in any country"' when it comes to drug addiction, bullying, poverty, disease, trafficking, illiteracy and hunger.
"We need to step up, come together, and ensure that our children's future is bright," she says.
New York's Preet Bharara, who says he knows nothing more about why President Donald Trump fired him as U.S. attorney than on the day it happened, is about to step back into the spotlight with a podcast on justice issues.
The podcast, "Stay Tuned with Preet," debuts Wednesday with Leon Panetta as the first guest.
Bharara served in the high-profile role of U.S. attorney for New York's Southern District, where he prosecuted Wall Street insiders and New York politicians. He was fired March 11, after refusing to resign, as part of a wholesale housecleaning of U.S. attorneys by the new administration. It would not have seemed unusual had Bharara not been told by Trump shortly after the election that he would be kept on.
"If at some point the tale unfolds as to why it happened, I'd be as curious as anyone to understand it," Bharara said in an interview. "But I don't have any insight at the moment."
Bharara was placed in a similar awkward position as fired FBI Director James Comey when it came to contact with Trump. Besides their Trump Tower meeting on Nov. 30, Bharara said he talked twice on the telephone with the president-elect. But after Trump was inaugurated and called on March 9, Bharara didn't return the call because he felt it improper for the president and a U.S. attorney to talk.
"I thought it was notable that he kept calling me," he said. "I didn't like it."
He said he cleared his initial meeting with Trump in November with then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch. Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and aide Steve Bannon were in the meeting. Bharara said he told Trump he would continue to act as independently as he had been and "he said, basically, I understand and I'd love to have you stay on."
"Nobody owes me anything," he said. "There are a lot of things that are happening that are more important than my departure, including the FBI director's departure, where I think it's important that the truth comes out. And I think there's a particular gentleman who is working on that."
Bharara said he had no insight into Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into the administration's Russian ties.
"He's running a tight ship," he said. "It's a group of really, really great all-stars, legal all-stars, trial all-stars, investigative all-stars. They know what they're doing. They will not hesitate to walk away from bringing a charge, notwithstanding public clamor, if it doesn't serve the interest of justice, and they won't hesitate to bring one, either."
Bharara has kept a public profile since leaving primarily through his Twitter feed, where he hasn't hesitated to criticize Trump.
He has gone to work for Some Spider Studios, his brother Vinit's media company. The company owns CAFE, which is launching the podcast. To start, he has a deal with WNYC for 20 episodes, and an option for 10 more.
The show will focus on justice issues, which could be as broad as a discussion about punishment in America, or as specific as some of the cases Bharara was involved in as U.S. attorney, as long as they've been resolved.
"If there comes a week when Jeff Sessions gets fired by the president of the United States, I can't imagine that we won't be talking about it," he said. But he said the podcast is not a Trump-focused exercise.
He insists he has no political plans. He's endorsed two candidates because he knows them personally: Seattle mayoral hopeful Jenny Durkan, a former fellow U.S. attorney, and Timothy Sini, who worked in his office and is running for Suffolk County district attorney. Both are Democrats.
"I'm not planning to go out and campaign, for one party or another or candidates generally, but if they are good people that I know well and that I trust and believe in, I will ask people to vote for them," he said.
Employing an array of giant telescopes positioned in the New Mexico desert, astronomers have started a massive surveying project aimed at producing the most detailed view ever made of such a large portion of space using radio waves emitted from throughout the Milky Way and beyond.
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory announced the project this week, saying the Very Large Array will make three scans of the sky that's visible from the scrubland of the San Augustin Plains. It is one of the best spots on the planet to scan space, with 80 percent of the Earth's sky visible from the location.
The array works like a camera. But instead of collecting light waves to make images, the telescopes that look like big satellite dishes receive radio waves emitted by cosmic explosions and other interstellar phenomenon.
Astronomers expect the images gathered by the array will allow them to detect in finer detail gamma ray bursts, supernovas and other cosmic events that visible-light telescopes cannot see due to dust present throughout the universe. For example, the array can peer through the thick clouds of dust and gas where stars are born.
Scientists involved in the project say the results will provide valuable information for astrophysics researchers.
"In addition to what we think [the survey] will discover, we undoubtedly will be surprised by discoveries we aren't anticipating now," project director Claire Chandler said in a statement. "That is the lesson of scientific history and perhaps the most exciting part of a project like this."
The survey is possible because of a major technological upgrade at the Very Large Array, which was initially conceived in the 1960s and built in the 1970s. The antennas relied on their original electronics and processing systems for years until a recent overhaul made the system capable of producing much higher resolution images.
The work done at the Very Large Array is similar to that of the Hubble Space Telescope making high-quality images so scientists can better study objects in the universe and the physics of how they work.
Research efforts elsewhere search the galaxy for signals or evidence of extraterrestrials, but the New Mexico operation would almost certainly get involved if signals are received, said Very Large Array spokesman Dave Finley.
"I do think when the time comes that they find a signal that they think is the real thing, the first phone call they will make will be to us. They'll want an image of that region," Finley said.
Astronomers using the array also expect to see more examples of powerful jets of superfast particles propelled by the energy of massive black holes at the center of galaxies. This could help in understanding how galaxies grow over time.
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory in 2013 invited astronomers from around the world to submit ideas and suggestions for the survey. Based on the recommendations, scientists and engineers designed the survey and ran a test in 2016. Approval for the full survey was granted this year.
The survey will involve about 5,500 hours of observing time. Data from the three separate scans will be combined to produce the radio images.
The scanning began Sept. 7 and the raw data will be available to researchers as quickly as the observations are made.
The seven-year project will not come at an additional financial cost because the array already has a $15 million annual budget for making observations 24 hours a day for various scientific requests. More of that time will now be dedicated to the project.
The Trump administration's effort to combat violence and poverty in Central America will not mean greater militarization in Honduras, the country's president, Juan Orlando Hernandez, said in an interview.
Under a plan formulated by U.S. President Donald Trump's chief of staff, John Kelly, when he was secretary of homeland security, the United States is seeking to shore up Central America by financing development projects and getting Mexico to do more to stem the flow of immigrants from the region.
Nongovernmental organizations and think tanks have voiced concern that the plan, pitched as an effort to boost Central American economic growth, could instead herald a greater militarization in a violent region where coups and gang killings have been commonplace.
Central America is one of the most violent regions on Earth, though the murder rate in Honduras fell to 59 killings per 100,000 people last year from 90.4 in 2012.
But the Trump administration has not provided any increase in military support aside from police training and a modest bump in support from the U.S. Agency for International Development, Hernandez told Reuters during an interview in New York.
Better ties
Still, Honduras' president says the relationship between the United States and Honduras is "probably better than ever," noting improved cooperation Hernandez believes will boost investment and security in the Central American region.
"We are closer than before," Hernandez said. "It is really important for them, what's going on with Central America, and we are working together on economic growth ... and we are working together on security."
Hernandez said the security of Honduras was of a primary interest to Americans, even if they were not completely aware of it.
"We have a saying [in Honduras], 'If the people in Washington realize that lack of security, lack of preparedness in Central America is dangerous, very dangerous for the U.S., they have to work together with us to create in Central America a region of prosperity, investment, opportunities,' " he said.
"That's going to be one of the best investments of the [American] people, in their best interest and in ours."
Additionally, Honduras will continue to work with the International Monetary Fund, Hernandez said, provided his government is victorious in this year's election. The IMF recently finished a review mission in the country.
The strongest hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in almost 90 years has knocked out power across the entire island of 3.4 million people.
Hurricane Maria, with maximum sustained winds of about 185 kilometers per hour (115 mph), destroyed hundreds of homes and caused heavy flooding after making landfall Wednesday as a Category 4 storm.
By 1800 UTC, Maria had lost considerable strength and was downgraded to a Category 2 storm. Its core was 45 kilometers (28 miles) north-northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, and moving to the northwest at 19 kilometers per hour (12 mph).
But forecasters said the storm could again become a major hurricane by Thursday.
The storm has left at least nine people dead across the Caribbean. After it blew ashore Wednesday morning along the southeastern coast of Puerto Rico, widespread flooding ensued with reports of many streets being turned into rivers.
There was no immediate word of any deaths or serious injuries in Puerto Rico.
Governor Ricardo Rossello imposed a curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily until Saturday to allow rescue crews and officials to respond to the hurricane's aftermath.
The threats also continued in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands as the back side of the storm moved slowly after its outer eyewall (a ring of thunderstorms) hit St. Croix. The island was spared the devastating eye of the hurricane
In Photos: Hurricane Maria Makes Landfall in Puerto Rico
Forecasters expect the center of the hurricane to move offshore the northern coast of Puerto Rico and reach open water late Wednesday, bringing hurricane conditions to the Dominican Republic late Wednesday and Thursday.
Despite its downgrade, Maria will remain a dangerous major hurricane as it approaches the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas Thursday and Friday.
As the storm churned slowly across Puerto Rico, it tore roofs off homes, knocked down cell phone towers, snapped trees and unleashed heavy flooding as it dumped at least 50 centimeters (18 inches) of rain.
Trump calls for state of emergency declarations
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued state-of-emergency declarations for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, where St. Croix sustained heavy damage.
Before arriving at the U.S. territories, Hurricane Maria went directly over the island of Dominica, while also nearly making landfall in Guadeloupe, where at least two people were killed.
Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit wrote on Facebook that initial reports indicate widespread devastation. He added the focus is on finding injured or trapped people in rubble, hopefully with the help of international aid.
We will need help, my friend, we will need help of all kinds, he said.
Maria is the second major hurricane to pound the Caribbean this month. Hurricane Irma, one of the most powerful Atlantic storms on record, killed 38 people in the Caribbean and another 36 in the United States, leaving a trail of widespread destruction on several Caribbean islands and the Florida Keys.
Maria, tied for eighth as the strongest hurricane in Atlantic history, is the most powerful storm to hit Puerto Rico in nearly 90 years.
The hurricane will likely have an adverse impact on the economy of Puerto Rico, which is struggling with the largest municipal debt crisis in U.S. history.
India and Japan, anxious to keep Asias dominant power Beijing in check, may send patrols into the contested South China Sea or sell arms to rival states following a pair of high-level meetings this month, experts say.
Both Asian countries could sell or donate more weapons to Chinas rival maritime claimants, such as Vietnam, so they can build a defense against Beijing. Japan may also use coast guard or naval ships to patrol the sea to show its open despite Chinas claim to some 90 percent of it.
India will probably continue joint exploration with Vietnam for oil and gas under the 3.5 million-square-kilometer sea, analysts say.
Delhi and Tokyo have both been stepping up their capacity-building efforts in the region, with Japan focused mainly on providing patrol vessels and training for Southeast Asian states and India selling arms to and training the Vietnamese navy, said Gregory Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative of the American think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Two High-Level Talks in a Week
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met counterpart Narendra Modi in India Sept. 13-14 to discuss enhancing maritime security cooperation, according to a foreign ministry statement from Tokyo.
On Monday their foreign ministers met at the United Nations with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to talk about freedom of navigation and respect for international law, the Indian external affairs ministry spokesman said.
Analysts understood both discussions to be aimed at China, including its expansion in the contested sea since 2010.
Neither India nor Japan claims the South China Sea, but the two have warily eyed Chinas ascent to being the largest economy and military power in Asia. And despite the meeting with Tillerson in New York, the U.S. government is seen as preoccupied by the militarization of North Korea.
Arms for Chinas Smaller South China Sea Claimants
Japan as well as India could sell more weapons to the four Southeast Asian states whose coastal waters overlap Chinas claim to the sea, analysts say.
Japan indicated in January it would give Vietnam six patrol boats to help with maritime security. Vietnam has clashed three times since the 1970s with Chinese vessels. In August last year, Japan began giving the Philippines 10 coast guard boats through a soft loan agreement.
India has talked to Vietnam about supplying it BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, which are co-developed with Russia, among other missiles, leading a state-backed Chinese media outlet earlier this year to accuse India of causing trouble. India in September 2016 offered Vietnam a $500 million line of credit to buy defense hardware, including patrol boats.
Sending Patrol Missions into the Disputed Sea
Japan may test China with low-key patrols of the sea, said Le Hong Hiep, research fellow with the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. In May it sent an Izumo helicopter-carrying warship into the sea for port visits in Southeast Asia en route to joint exercises with the United States.
What they have done is they send a ship to Gulf of Aden and on the way back they do kind of patrol in the South China Sea and do port calls to Vietnam, et cetera, Le said. But they do not intentionally design any kind of (freedom of navigation) program in the South China Sea as it may provoke China.
But in the future Im not sure, because Japan obviously has some interest in containing Chinas ambitions in the South China Sea as well, he said.
Patrols would show the sea, also packed with fisheries, is open to other countries despite Beijings claim of sovereignty to the waterway off its south coast. China has strengthened control and angered rival claimants by using landfill to build artificial islands ready for combat aircraft and radar systems.
Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines claim all or part of the same sea.
India and Japan might patrol the sea together with coast guard ships, said Andrew Yang, secretary-general of the Chinese Council of Advanced Policy Studies think tank in Taiwan. They would occasionally send naval vessels, he added.
Maybe they will increase the momentum of their joint activities in order to demonstrate that Japan and India are closely cooperating in terms of regulating the so-called rule-based behavior in the South China Sea and the region, Yang said.
Indias Overtures in Southeast Asia
India, as part of a fast-growing trade and investment relationship with Vietnam, can further assert itself in the South China Sea by working with Vietnamese firms on exploration for oil and gas, Le said.
For the past three years, the overseas subsidiary of Indias government-run ONGC has worked with PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corporation to search for oil and gas in the South China Sea. That cooperation helps Vietnam improve its "bargaining power" with China, Le said.
Since losing a world arbitration court verdict over its claim to the South China Sea last year, China has sought favor with Southeast Asian countries through economic aid and investment. Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines are accepting Chinas overtures -- along with the same from other major nations.
The Philippines, for example, welcomes Japanese aid because the public and the China-friendly government have long trusted Tokyo, said Maria Ela Atienza, political science professor at University of the Philippines Diliman. Filipinos know less about India, she said, but Japan could bridge the gap.
At least people are not so aware of possible positive relations with India, Atienza said. But if its an alliance, maybe if Japan can vouch for India, perhaps that can build confidence in terms of the partnership.
Russia will abide by a European Court of Human Rights ruling requiring it to pay nearly 3 million euros ($3.6 million) in damages for the 2004 Beslan school siege, the Interfax news agency reported Tuesday, citing the Russian justice ministry.
Russia used excessive force to storm a school in the small southern Russian town seized by Islamist militants in 2004, causing a high number of hostages to be killed, the court ruled in April.
The three-day drama began when Islamist militants took more than 1,000 people hostages on the first day of the school year and called for independence for the majority-Muslim region of Chechnya.
More than 330 hostages died, including at least 180 children, when the siege ended in a gunbattle. It was the bloodiest incident of its kind in modern Russian history.
The case for damages was brought by 409 Russian nationals who either were taken hostage or injured in the incident, or were family members of those taken hostage, killed or injured, the European Court of Human Rights statement said in April.
On Tuesday, the court said in a press release that its Grand Chamber Panel had rejected a Russian government request to refer the case and said its ruling was final.
"No other actions are being contemplated by the participants in this process," the Russian justice ministry said in comments carried by Interfax.
In its April ruling, the court said the heavy-handed way Russian forces stormed the school had "contributed to the casualties among the hostages."
It also ruled that authorities had failed to take reasonable preventive measures, despite knowing militants were planning to attack an educational institution.
A private U.S.-based security firm is linking an Iranian government-sponsored hacking group to cyber-attacks targeted at organizations across the world.
The security firm FireEye said Wednesday the Iranian hackers used malware to attack aerospace and petrochemical firms in the United States, Saudi Arabia and South Korea.
The hacking group, dubbed APT33 (advanced persistent threat) by the FireEye researchers, used phishing emails and fake domain names to gain access to computer systems of the targeted companies.
The report suggests the hackers target the companies in an effort to enhance Irans domestic aviation capabilities or to support Irans military and strategic decision making vis-a-vis Saudi Arabia.
We believe the targeting of the Saudi organization may have been an attempt to gain insight into regional rivals, while the targeting of South Korean companies may be due to South Koreas recent partnerships with Irans petrochemical industry as well as South Koreas relationships with Saudi petrochemical companies, the report reads.
The FireEye report says the hackers retained access to the companies computers for between four and six months at a time, during which the hackers were able to steal data and drop off malware that could potentially be used to destroy the infected computers.
It is difficult to accurately attribute cyber-attacks, but FireEye says it linked the hackers to Iran in part by tracking an online handle, xman_1365_x, that was accidentally left in the malware coding.
The report also notes references to the Farsi language in the malware code and that the hackers workdays appear to correspond with the Iranian time zone, and the Saturday to Wednesday workweek used in the country.
As Iraqi forces continue to push back Islamic State militants from their strongholds, many civilians who fled the violence are seeking to return home.
Close to 5 million Iraqis fled the 2014 advance by IS and the ensuing violence that engulfed parts of the country. Since Iraqi and coalition forces began to retake territory from the militants, the United Nations estimates that around 1.7 million people have returned home.
Over 3 million, however, remain displaced with some housed in refugee camps, and others living with family or in private accommodations in other parts of Iraq.
A recent study by the U.N.s International Organization for Migration looked at the reasons so many feel they cannot return home.
The main obstacle obviously is security," says the IOMs Hala Jaber, adding that if the refugees fear the people in charge of the places they hope to return to, they will not go there.
In some places, 85 percent of buildings and infrastructure were destroyed during the fighting.
It sometimes delays people from returning, until they can fix their homes. Livelihood options are another major issue because if they dont have employment and they dont have a means of generating income, then that does not allow them to go home because they need to feed their families, Jaber says.
Reliving horrors
For the ethnic Yazidi people, going home means reliving the horrors visited upon them by Islamic State. Thousands were murdered, and women and girls forced to become sex slaves actions recognized as genocide by the U.N.
A recent conference organized by the AMAR Foundation, a London-based charity, sought to find solutions to help Yazidi refugees return home. Founder Emma Nicholson said many of the camps are not fit for this purpose.
Refugee camps are no longer a place of refuge. They are places of child trafficking, of forced marriage, of murders, of lack of safety.
Also attending the conference was Diar Fakhri Yousfi, the grandson of the prince of the Yazidis, the groups spiritual leader. He told VOA his peoples needs are immense.
The community doesnt have faith anymore in humanity. We lost that faith. And so we need a safe place over there. But at this time its really difficult to tell them to go back.
Aid groups say the Yazidis desperately need psychological and spiritual support, to rebuild their lives, otherwise many may never return home.
The battle for the Islamic State group's de facto Syria capital, Raqqa, has reached its "final stages," the Syrian Democratic Forces said Wednesday, almost four months after the U.S.-backed force launched an assault on the self-proclaimed capital of the militant group.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said it captured Raqqa's last grain silos from the militants in a surprise offensive on the city's northern neighborhoods, mounted five days ago. Less than 300 militants remain holed up in the city, which has witnessed an intense bombing campaign, particularly in the last few days, according to the head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory that monitors the war.
The campaign to take Raqqa began in June in a quick advance after a breach of the wall of the Old City, a major fortification for the militants. But it has since slowed down as the forces faced mounting resistance from the militants.
Three months after the Raqqa campaign began, the SDF began a separate campaign earlier this month to take the other IS stronghold in Syria, Deir el-Zour.
The SDF's campaign for oil-rich Deir el-Zour province, which straddles the border with Iraq, is caught up in a race with Syrian government forces and allied troops, who are also vying for control.
In the past two weeks, the pro-government forces, backed by Russian air cover and Iranian-allied militia, gained control of most of the city of the same name and crossed over the Euphrates River to the area of operations of the SDF.
Coalition and SDF officials say they want to avoid clashes with pro-Syrian government forces, which crossed to the eastern side of the river earlier this week, bringing them just kilometers away from SDF forces.
An SDF commander in Deir el-Zour told The Associated Press his troops have redirected their battles away from the river for now to fight IS militants deeper in the eastern desert. He said with the Raqqa battle nearing an end, he hopes troops fighting there would come to boost his ranks.
"We hope that the SDF fighting in Raqqa, including our own fighters taking part in Raqqa, finish there so they can come and boost our advance on the eastern bank of the river," said Ahmed Abu Khawla, the commander of the SDF unit Deir el-Zour Military Council, which is leading the fight on the oil-rich province.
Meanwhile, the U.S. and its international coalition partners intensified their air raids on the militants' last remaining enclave in Raqqa, according to the Observatory. The U.S. also has hundreds of forces embedded with the Syrian fighters who provide artillery fire and other support.
Observatory director Rami Abdurrahman said there are less than 300 remaining in an enclave in Raqqa, which is now 90 percent controlled by the SDF.
Civilians trapped, killed
The Observatory on Wednesday accused the U.S.-led coalition of killing more than 1,000 civilians in airstrikes on Raqqa since the SDF first entered the city in June. The claim could not be independently verified. The coalition has said repeatedly that it relies on the latest intelligence to minimize civilian casualties and strike only military targets.
Thousands of civilians are believed trapped in the militants' enclave in the north of the city as human shields, according to the SDF.
Tens of thousands more have been displaced by the fighting since June, often to wind up in abject conditions in SDF-run camps in northern or eastern Raqqa.
The Kurds leading the battles say they want their own autonomous zone in a federated Syrian republic. They operate independently of the Damascus-based Syrian government, which is supported by Russia and Iran.
Islamic State control
Meanwhile, the fighting in Deir el-Zour is largely concentrated around the provincial capital, which lies 125 kilometers (78 miles) southeast of Raqqa, on the banks of the Euphrates River.
IS still controls broad swathes of eastern Syria and pockets of territory in neighboring Iraq.
Abu Khawla, the SDF commander, said his troops have moved away from the Euphrates river to the east, deeper into eastern Deir el-Zour to clear areas behind them of IS militants.
"There is tension ... there are consultations between the Russians and the coalition. We don't deny this," said Abu Khawla. "But we have a major plan to liberate all the eastern side of the river."
Abu Khawla said his forces are now close to the town of al-Sour to the east, and aim to sever the militants' supply lines from al-Mayadeen, a town farther south, where IS leaders are believed to have congregated amid the multiple campaigns against the group.
Former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi returned to frontline Italian politics over the weekend, staking his claim to lead a resurgent center-right into national elections that are expected early next year.
At exactly the same moment, Berlusconi's outspoken ally, Matteo Salvini, was addressing his Northern League party and laying down his own marker to become the next prime minister.
"Salvini Premier" read a sign stuck to the lectern.
In reality, neither man looks likely to head the next government if they pull off an election victory, and possible alternative candidates are already emerging.
"There is an apparent power struggle going on between Berlusconi and Salvini, but it will not get out of hand. They know a violent clash would be suicidal with voters," said Piero Ignazi, politics professor at Bologna University.
"The truth is both men will remain head of their respective parties, but they won't be the next prime minister," he said.
This would open the way for a consensus candidate who would have to bridge the huge divergences between the three main rightist parties - from the fierce anti-EU agenda put forward by both the Northern League and Brothers of Italy to the pro-European vision embraced by Berlusconi on Sunday.
Latest opinion polls show this trio of long-standing allies are pulling ahead in the polls and predicted to win a combined 35 percent of the vote, with the anti-migrant Northern League just ahead of Berlusconi' Forza Italia on some 15 percent.
By contrast, the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and ruling center-left Democratic Party (PD) are seen on around 28 percent apiece. The 5-Star has ruled out any coalition alliances and the center-left pool of votes is shrinking as various leftist parties engage in ferocious infighting.
Court appeal
Under the current electoral system no party or bloc looks like winning enough seats to govern alone. However, political analysts say the wind is filling the center-right's sails after years of adverse conditions, giving it pre-election momentum.
Berlusconi ignominiously resigned from power in 2011 during a sovereign debt crisis. Mired in sex scandals and legal woes, he was subsequently expelled from the Senate and banned from running for office due to a 2013 tax fraud conviction.
Open heart surgery last year left most analysts writing his political obituary. But not for the first time, the media tycoon, now 81, bounced back and has appealed to the European Court of Human Rights to overturn the ban on seeking election.
A hearing is scheduled for November, but a verdict is unlikely to come for several months, meaning he almost certainly will not be able to stand in the next national ballot, which is due by May 2018 and widely expected to be held in March.
"Despite his age, Berlusconi would love to be prime minister again. It would be his last hurrah. But realistically speaking, it is not about to happen," said a Forza Italia official, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue.
Significantly, Berlusconi made his political comeback speech at an event organized by Forza Italia stalwart Antonio Tajani, the president of the European Parliament. Party sources said Tajani was in pole position to be Berlusconi's surrogate.
Compromise
While Berlusconi's name abroad evokes memories of "bunga bunga" sex parties and wisecracks, Tajani is a much less colorful character, whose pro-European instincts would make him a reassuring figure for international markets.
Those very same instincts would pose a problem for Berlusconi's hardline allies, who have regularly denounced the European Union and have called for Italy to quit the euro.
"The leader of the center-right needs to be chosen through a clear process, perhaps a primary," Giorgia Meloni, the head of Brothers of Italy, told Sky Italia television on Sunday.
"I imagine that whatever grassroots method you decide, Tajani will not win out," she said.
Brothers of Italy is a small, nationalist party, which is anti-migrant and anti-euro. It tries to differentiate itself from the League by saying it focuses on the whole country, not just the wealthy north.
Buoyed by the League's strong poll numbers, Salvini says the leader of the party which wins the most votes next year should automatically be the prime ministerial candidate.
But Berlusconi, a four-times premier, has ruled out handing over the baton of power to Salvini, who has embraced Europe's far-right and endorsed France's National Front.
"We created the center-right in Italy and we have always been its leader, laying out and fulfilling its program," Berlusconi said on Sunday. The two men have not spoken for months, saying they are in no hurry to discuss strategy.
Political analysts have speculated that the pro-business Forza Italia might find it easier to create a government of national unity with former prime minister Matteo Renzi's PD party rather than the populist Northern League.
Forza Italia loyalists reject this notion.
"We ruled with the Northern League for years in national government and we are ruling with them now in the regions and it is going well," said Forza Italia lawmaker Deborah Bergamini.
One such regional coalition is in Liguria, headed by Forza Italia's Giovanni Toti. He attended both the Forza Italia and Northern League rallies at the weekend and is due to take part in a Brothers of Italy meeting this weekend.
"Toti has been carefully building bridges between the three parties and would be a natural choice to head any national coalition," Bologna University's Ignazi said.
The United States is working to strengthen its international alliances and partnerships, the countrys top defense official said, describing the effort as critical to U.S. military strategy.
Americans have no God-given right to victory on the battlefield, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told a conference just outside of Washington Wednesday, saying no nation can flourish on its own.
History is compelling on this point, that nations with allies thrive and those without allies decline. It's that simple, he said.
The comments come a day after President Donald Trump told the United Nations General Assembly U.S. foreign policy was returning to the founding principle of sovereignty.
I will always put America first, just like you, as the leaders of your countries will always, and should always, put your countries first, Trump said.
Trump also irked some U.S. allies and partners with talk on possibly needing to totally destroy North Korea due to its nuclear and missile tests, and with talk of potentially pulling out of the nuclear deal with Iran.
Mattis, in his speech at the Air Force Associations Air, Space and Cyber Conference, struck a different tone.
"We must be willing to do more than to listen to our allies, the U.S. defense secretary said. We must be willing to be persuaded by them."
"Not all the good ideas come from the nation with the most aircraft carriers," he added.
Mattis also emphasized the need for effective diplomacy, especially in confronting North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs.
It is still a diplomatically-led effort, he said when asked about North Korea. "But we must also recognize the somber reality that military options must be available to protect our allies and ourselves."
It is rare for the United States and Iran to agree on anything but this week both Washington and Tehran have been scrambling to try to dissuade the president of Iraqi Kurdistan, Masoud Barzani, from holding a referendum on independence.
Their vehement opposition to an independence vote partly stems from their concerns about each other.
Tehran worries that an independent Iraqi Kurdistan will cleave ever closer to America and the West, while Washington is anxious that the referendum will trigger war between Iraqs Shiite militias and the Kurds, a conflict that would likely end up splintering Iraq, which the United States has spent considerable effort trying to bolster, and distract from the U.S. priority of defeating the Islamic State terror group.
Their efforts along with the wider international community to get the vote postponed appears destined to fail. Barzani remains defiant. The Kurds, after more than a century of conflict with neighbors, mass atrocities and genocide, feel this is their moment and all the main parties in Kurdistan are backing the referendum. It will be hard if not impossible for Barzani to halt the plebiscite now.
At first glance war appears in the offing. Tensions are building fast with mounting concerns that the referendum will lead to a new spiral of violence in Iraq even before the country has finally rid itself of Islamic State.
Iran along with Turkey, which worries the vote will encourage their own separatists Kurds threatened this week to launch a blockade of Iraqi Kurdistan, if the referendum happens.
To add emphasis to the warning, Qais al-Khazali, leader of a pro-Iranian Shiite militia, posted a photograph of himself Monday visiting Kirkuk. Last week, he said his militiamen would regard the Kurdish peshmerga an occupation force in the event the Kurds formally annex the oil-rich province and city of Kirkuk.
Other Shiite paramilitaries have issued similar dire warnings, including the leaders of Imam Ali Division, who have hinted Tehran has given them the go-ahead to attack. Kirkuk belongs to Iraq," Abu Azrael, spokesman for the faction, said earlier this month. We would by no means give up on Kirkuk even if this were to cause major bloodshed, he said.
To add to the worrying picture, on Monday Ali Shamkhani, secretary-general of the Iranian national security council, said not only would Iran impose a blockade on Iraqi Kurdistan. Iran would then prepare itself to enter areas deeper than the border in response to anti-security actions, he told the state-owned IRNA news agency.
Turkey
Turkey is also flexing its military muscle, holding previously unannounced military exercises on the border with the Kurdish Autonomous Region.
So come the vote on September 25, will Iraq be plunged deeper into turmoil, distracting the country and the international coalition from the war against Islamic State? The best hope to avert a war partly rests with Tehran, say analysts. And Barzani can help with that.
Careful approach
No one doubts the Kurds are playing with fire but statements this week from Kurdish leaders suggest they will be highly cautious on how they proceed after the vote, including avoiding a formal declaration of independence.
While the referendum could generate the momentum for Kurdish independence, as well as formalize the process, it will have no immediate administrative and organizational impact, since the vote will not be legally binding, according to analyst Ranj Alaaldin.
What to expect?
Whether serious fighting begins the day after next weeks referendum no one doubts a majority of the Kurds will back independence will depend on the restraint of the governments in Baghdad and Tehran, and that in turn will hinge, analysts say, on whether the Kurds announce an independent state immediately and move to annex disputed territories such as Kirkuk.
This week the KRG government has gone out of its way to frame the vote as part of the process towards independence, hinting the referendum will mark the start of likely lengthy negotiations with Baghdad as well as talks with minority groups of Christians and Turkmen.
Kurdish officials say they have increased the territory under their control by as much as 40 percent in the fight against IS, much of it where large numbers of non-Kurds live, such as Kirkuk province. And this newly seized territory could turn into an effective bargaining chip in any future talks.
Speaking earlier this week, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, the nephew of the president, used mollifying language, saying, the referendum will not define the boundaries of the Kurdistan region. He added: This can only be achieved through serious dialogue with Baghdad.
The military strength of the Kurds will be another factor shaping the response to the vote by Iran and Baghdads. Iran, federal Iraq forces and Iranian-backed Shiite militias are unlikely to seriously threaten the well-prepared Kurdish defenses, predicts analyst Michael Knights of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a U.S.-based policy research group.
The Kurds have been preparing themselves militarily for confrontation with Shiite militias for months. For reporters covering the military campaign by Iraqi security forces and the Kurdish peshmerga to oust Islamic State from Mosul and surrounding towns, it was instructive last year to see how focused the Kurds were also on building new border defenses.
As the peshmerga struggled to oust IS militants from Bashiqa, a town near Mosul inhabited mostly by Yazidis and Shabaks, Kurdish engineers were busy at the same time constructing massive dirt berms and barracks, undistracted by intense fighting nearby.
Strong defenses and talk about negotiations may well limit any post-vote violence. This dynamic will drive Baghdad to kick the can down the road by offering new negotiations, forecasts Knights.
Rescue workers searched Wednesday in Mexico City and nearby states in hopes of finding survivors of a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that has killed at least 217 people and collapsed dozens of buildings.
Interior Minister Miguel Osorio Chong said Mexican armed forces and police will continue working until they exhaust all possibilities of finding more people alive.
Civilians joined search and rescue teams shortly after the earthquake struck Tuesday afternoon, using heavy machinery and their bare hands to remove piles of rubble.
As of early Wednesday, the head of Mexico's civil defense agency, Luis Felipe Puente, said on Twitter 86 deaths were reported in Mexico City, 71 deaths in Morelos state, 43 in Puebla state, 12 in Mexico state, four in Guerrero state and one in Oaxaca. He revised the numbers down from an earlier total of 248 dead.
The epicenter of the quake was in Puebla, 123 kilometers southeast of Mexico City.
Ken Hudnut, a science adviser with the U.S. Geological Survey in Pasadena, California, said Mexico City's geology probably contributed to the building collapses.
"Some of the buildings are on old lake beds, and that can amplify the shaking and cause the shaking to last longer, and that can make for more damage," Hudnut told VOA.
President Enrique Pena Nieto visited a three-story school in the capital city that collapsed and was the site of one of the rescue operations. Mexico's education secretary, Aurelio Nuno, said 25 people were killed at the school, while 11 others were rescued and 30 were missing.
Pena Nieto also issued a video address saying the government's priorities are rescuing those trapped by the earthquake and getting medical aid to the injured. He expressed condolences to those who lost a loved one and said Mexico shares in their grief.
Local media reported extensive damage, power outages and fires throughout Mexico City, one of the most populous urban areas in the world.
U.S. President Donald Trump sent a message of support for Mexico from New York, where he is attending the United Nations General Assembly.
Trump tweeted: "God bless the people of Mexico City. We are with you and will be there for you."
Mexican authorities suspended operations at the international airport and closed schools.
The quake hit less than two weeks after another earthquake killed more than 90 people in the country's south. The U.S. Geological Survey said the two quakes appeared to be unrelated.
USGS seismologist Paul Earle said the two epicenters are 650 kilometers apart and most aftershocks are within 100 kilometers.
Tuesday's earthquake was centered near the town of Raboso, in Puebla. It hit at 1:14 p.m., local time. Puebla Governor Tony Gali reported there also was significant damage in the nearby city of Cholula, where collapsed church steeples fell into the streets.
The earthquake struck exactly 32 years after an 8.0 temblor killed nearly 10,000 people in and around Mexico City.
The collapse of a prominent Native American media network has triggered debate over how Native media can best serve the interests of communities across Indian Country and counter stereotypes and misinformation in the mainstream press.
Native American journalism dates back to the Cherokee Phoenix, founded in 1828 to advocate against the U.S. government policy of assimilation and forced removal. Many newspapers have since come and gone, victims of high costs and low revenue.
The most recent casualty was Indian Country Today Media Network (ICTMN), whose publisher, Ray Halbritter of the Oneida Indian Nation, this month announced that after 36 years in business, the network would take a break to explore alternative business models.
The news disappointed many, who surmised that the venture was too costly to support.
This is a really tough environment for anyone thats in the advertising side, and Indian Country Today was selling advertising, said independent journalist and blogger Mark Trahant.
Others suggest ICTMN failed because it lost touch with the audience it intended to serve.
Humble beginnings
ICTMN began as the Lakota Times, founded in 1981 by Oglala Lakota journalist and editor Tim Giago, serving South Dakotas Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. A weekly community newspaper, independently owned, it gradually expanded its coverage to national issues and was renamed Indian Country Today.
New York States Oneida Nation, a tribe which has profited through the gaming industry, bought the paper in 1998. They later renamed it ICTMN and moved operations to New York City. In 2013, they ended the print edition and shifted online. Last April, ICTMN launched a glossy, bimonthly magazine, Indian Country, at considerable expense.
One of the things I think they forgot was all these folks here in Pine Ridge, Rosebud, Cheyenne River, Crow Creek or Standing Rock reservations, said Giago, now publisher of Native Sun News Today. They live way out in the middle of nowhere. A lot of them dont have money to buy computers, least of all to hook up to the internet.
Giago and others have also criticized ICTMN for hiring non-Native American writers and editors.
Most of the other Native publications over the past couple of generations were written and edited by people who were deeply involved in their respective communities, said Mohawk journalist Doug George-Kanentiio, vice president of the Hiawatha Institute for Indigenous Knowledge and a former editor of the now-defunct newspaper Akwesasne Notes.
He also questioned whether a network owned and funded by a tribal government could guarantee editorial independence.
Whoever is writing the checks by and large determines the content, he said.
Crabs in a bucket
ICTMN op/ed editor Raymond Cook bristles at the criticisms.
People always poke at success, he said, citing the analogy of crabs in a bucket, where one crab is trying to get out of the bucket, and then the others pull him down.
First, he explained why ICTMN shut down.
The state of New York recently handed out several gaming licenses, and now these non-tribal entities are trying to creep into the casino market, he said. So, the Oneida had to readjust its revenue projections. And reluctantly, with tears in their eyes, they put us on hiatus.
He denies ICTMN lost touch with tribes.
New York City has a larger Native American population than any other U.S. city, he said. So we never moved out of Indian Country. If we had stayed in South Dakota, wed still be waiting for internet connection.
He defends ICTMN for hiring non-native writers, whom he calls indigenous identifiers, as well as targeting non-Native audiences.
Cause we cant talk to ourselves only, he said.
The paper regularly interviewed prominent U.S. politicians, including President Barack Obama.
We not only educated our readers on the views of these politicians on Indian-focused issues, but we also helped ensure that Native America was on the radar of many of the top power brokers in our country and beyond, said ICTMNs Washington bureau chief Rob Capriccioso, a member of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
Looking forward
At their recent annual meeting, members of the Native American Journalists Association discussed setting up a national Native American wire service to serve both tribal and mainstream media.
Instead of trying to create a new vehicle, wed just create a new driver, journalist Trahant said.
In the meantime, ICTMNs Cook said his network is looking for a qualified party to take over operations, something that would require an annual investment of $2.5 million to $3 million until 2021.
Basically, wed sell it to them for $10, and they can take over operations, as long as they can guarantee our journalistic standards, he said. It could be a tribe, a business, a government -- anything, as long as its based in Indian Country and its run by Natives.
The U.S. Navy is blaming the high pace of operations, budget uncertainty and naval leaders who put their mission over safety after multiple deadly incidents at sea.
The destroyer USS John S. McCain collided with an oil tanker last month off the coast of Singapore, leaving 10 U.S. sailors dead and five injured. And the USS Fitzgerald, another destroyer, collided with a container ship in waters off Japan in June, killing seven sailors.
The collisions are still under investigation, but at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Tuesday, the chief naval officer, Admiral John Richardson, said a failure of leadership throughout the service was the main contributing factor in the Navy's lack of readiness.
"I own this problem," Richardson testified.
He vowed to make safety the most important goal of the Navy in the wake of recent events, acknowledging that commanders of vessels on forward deployments too often put the mission first, at the expense of safety.
"Only with those [safety certifications] done and the maintenance properly done can we expect to deploy effectively and execute the mission," he said.
At the start of Tuesday's committee hearing, U.S. Senator John McCain extended his "deepest condolences" on behalf of all Americans to the family members of those killed, some of whom sat in the hearing room. The USS John S. McCain was named in honor of the Arizona Republican's father and grandfather, both of whom were Navy admirals.
Longer hours
John Pendleton, an expert on defense readiness issues with the Government Accountability Office, told lawmakers reductions in ship crew sizes had led to longer working hours for sailors up to 100 hours per week in some cases.
Pendleton said he was skeptical that the Navy would be able to increase readiness until aggressive deployment schedules and other demands on the force were decreased.
Richardson said the Navy was closely investigating sleep deprivation among crews, causing McCain, the chairman of the committee, to question why the Navy was not making immediate changes.
"I think I know what 100 hours a week does to people over time," McCain said. "I'm not sure you need a study on it."
Richardson also warned that the increased deployment tempo frequently leaves sailors with insufficient time to prepare for missions, and it leaves the Navy with too few vessels. According to the Navy, the service has been trying to fulfill duties that require more than 350 ships with only about 275 ships available.
Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer likened the situation to a balloon that has been filled with too much air and cannot be stretched any further.
"If you squeeze it, it pops," he said.
There have been two additional Navy incidents in the Pacific region this year.
The USS Antietam ran aground near Yosuka, Japan, in January, and the USS Champlain collided with a South Korean fishing vessel in May.
Nigeria's air force on Tuesday said it was deploying aircraft to the southeast of the country where unrest related to a campaign for secession has escalated in an area formerly known as Biafra.
The military presence in the southeast has increased in the last few weeks as part of an operation that the military said was part of efforts to crack down on crime, kidnapping and secessionist agitation. The air force deployment marks a further escalation of the operation, which began this month
"The essence of the deployment is to provide the necessary air cover to the ground troops to enhance overall operational cohesion and efficiency," said Olatokunbo Adesanya, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) spokesman.
"The request by the Nigerian Army for close air support made the involvement of the NAF inevitable," he added.
The military deployment has led to tension between troops and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) secessionist group which last week accused soldiers of laying siege to their leader's home. The army denied the accusation.
A curfew was subsequently imposed in Abia state, where the residence is located, and the army on Friday categorized IPOB as a "terrorist organization". Secessionist sentiment has simmered in the southeast since the Biafra separatist rebellion plunged Africa's most populous country into a civil war from 1967 to 1970 that killed around one million people.
A New Jersey man who once won a $338 million Powerball jackpot has been charged with sexually assaulting a child.
Pedro Quezada, of Wayne, was charged with sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child. Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes said Wednesday that the child was between 11 and 14 when the assaults are alleged to have occurred.
Quezada, 49, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. His attorney didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment on the case.
Valdes said there did not appear to be any other victims.
Quezada operated a bodega in Passaic when he won the lottery in 2013. He took a $152 million lump sum payment after taxes.
Space station astronaut Joe Acaba is getting a double dose of hurricanes even in orbit.
Harvey flooded his home in Houston last month. Now Maria has slammed into Puerto Rico, his familys homeland.
In an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, the first astronaut of Puerto Rican heritage offered words of comfort to family members and everyone else during the wrath of Hurricane Maria.
My parents were born there, so a lot of relatives, cousins, godparents are still in Puerto Rico, Acaba said. I hope everyones doing well and that you take care of yourselves.
Second visit for Acaba
Acaba, a former teacher who arrived at the International Space Station last week, said he had not yet seen the hurricane from space. The storm made landfall at Puerto Rico an hour before the TV interview.
Its kind of hard to believe, but you get so busy in the day working so hard that at times you forget to look out the window, said Acaba, who is on his third spaceflight and his second visit to the space station.
Acaba was in Russia then, getting ready for his launch, when his home flooded in Houston. Friends and colleagues came to his rescue, yanking out walls and drying out his house.
It was a huge relief to know that there were people at home, taking care of me, he said.
Left for space station Sept. 12
Fellow NASA astronaut Mark Vande Heis home in Houston fared much better. Its tough being in space when you want to help those back home, he said, but all the help to the astronauts families from Johnson Space Center colleagues has been hugely appreciated.
Acaba, Vande Hei and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin rocketed from Kazakhstan on Sept. 12. They joined American Randy Bresnik, Italian Paolo Nespoli and Russian Sergey Ryazanskiy already at the orbiting outpost.
Acaba took Puerto Rican flags up with him.
No Puerto Rican can travel without their Puerto Rican flags, so I have my share of those. And pretty soon, the space stations going to start looking like Puerto Rico with all the flags, he said.
Acabas parents were from Hatillo, Puerto Rico, and, while young, moved to the U.S. Born and raised in Southern California, Acaba served in the Marine Corps Reserves, volunteered for the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic and worked as a hydro-geologist before becoming a science and math teacher in Florida.
Joined NASA in 2004
NASA chose Acaba in its first official group of astronaut-educators in 2004 along with Richard Arnold, who will make another trip to the space station in March, a month after Acaba departs. The two will make short video clips and use social media to reach out to youngsters.
For all of us, its a dream come true and we want them to believe the same, he said. He added: As much as we can do to help the great teachers out there, were going to try to do that.
Meanwhile, Nespoli, in orbit since July, said he misses sharing pizza with friends. He recently dug out the space stations espresso machine, an Italian experiment from two years ago. He brought up some coffee capsules to try.
After weeks of instant space coffee, a really good espresso would make a difference.
As grieving family members watched, top Navy leaders and lawmakers on Tuesday said frequent extended deployments, delayed maintenance and nearly a decade of budget constraints have strained the U.S. Navy, possibly contributing to two ship collisions that killed 17 sailors.
The Navy's top officer said he couldn't yet draw a direct link between those problems and the ship crashes, and instead said commanders were ultimately responsible for ensuring their forces were combat ready and operating safely and effectively.
"I am accountable for the safe and effective operations of our Navy, and we will fix this. I own this problem," Admiral John Richardson, chief of naval operations, told the Senate Armed Services Committee as distraught family members looked on. "I'm confident that our Navy will identify the root causes and correct them, and that it will be better in the end."
The hearing, however, broadly condemned the deadly accidents as preventable, and Senator John McCain, the committee chairman, demanded immediate action.
'Truly alarming'
"It is simply unacceptable for U.S. Navy ships to run aground or collide with other ships and to have four such incidents in the span of seven months is truly alarming," the Arizona Republican said.
Speaking directly to Richardson, he said that some fixes could be done now, without long studies or review.
Sailors "should not be working 100 hours a week," said McCain, who at the start of the hearing introduced all the family members in the audience and asked them to stand. "That's common sense that doesn't require a study." He told Richardson to make immediate changes to reduce the strain.
The USS John S. McCain and an oil tanker collided in Southeast Asia last month, killing 10 U.S. sailors and injuring five. (The ship is named for the committee chairman's father and grandfather, but the senator also served in the Navy.) Seven sailors died in June when the USS Fitzgerald and a container ship collided in waters off Japan.
In the audience on Capitol Hill Tuesday were at least 10 family members of sailors who died on the Fitzgerald, and another seven family members of sailors who died on the McCain. Through much of the hearing, they sat grimly but quietly in their seats.
"Your presence here today reminds us of our sacred obligation to look after the young people who volunteer to serve in the military," said McCain, who along with the Navy leaders met and offered condolences to a number of the family members.
Readiness to fight
During the hearing, McCain also noted that, with three of the ships involved in the collisions now out of service for months, "there are serious questions about our maritime readiness to fight in response to North Korean, Chinese and Russian aggression."
Members of the Armed Services Committee were quick to pin some responsibility for the accidents on Congress, which has relied on stopgap spending measures for the past eight years, forcing the services to shift money from modernization and training accounts in order to fund current missions.
They said they thought that reductions in training time had contributed to the accidents.
Congress has to provide adequate funding to take care of service members, said Senator Mike Rounds, a South Dakota Republican.
Navy Secretary Richard Spencer noted that over time Congress has added training and other requirements to the force, likening it to piling more and more rocks into a rucksack.
"No one is taking a rock out and the rucksack is getting pretty damn heavy," he said.
John Pendleton, an expert on defense readiness issues with the Government Accountability Office, said ships based in Japan had failed to keep up with required warfare certifications, and that reductions in ship crew sizes had led to longer working hours, including the 100-hour weeks. And he said he was skeptical the Navy would be able to make needed gains in readiness until aggressive deployment schedules and other demands on the force were decreased.
Rescue workers searched Wednesday in Mexico City and nearby states in hopes of finding survivors of a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that killed at least 225 people and collapsed dozens of buildings.
Interior Minister Miguel Osorio Chong said Mexican armed forces and police will continue working until they exhaust all possibilities of finding more people alive.
Civilians joined search-and-rescue teams shortly after the earthquake struck Tuesday, using heavy machinery and their bare hands to remove piles of rubble.
The epicenter of the quake was in Puebla, 123 kilometers southeast of Mexico City.
President Enrique Nieto said of the people still trapped in collapsed buildings that "every minute counts to save lives," and rescuing those individuals is the country's top priority. He declared three days of national mourning to honor those who were killed.
Ken Hudnut, a science adviser with the U.S. Geological Survey in Pasadena, California, said Mexico City's geology probably contributed to the building collapses.
"Some of the buildings are on old lake beds, and that can amplify the shaking and cause the shaking to last longer, and that can make for more damage," Hudnut told VOA.
The Israeli military said it would send a team of 70 people to help with rescue efforts by providing engineering assistance. Israeli military spokesman Jonathan Conricus said the team will help survey buildings to determine their damage and safety levels.
Rescue operations
On Wednesday morning, Pena Nieto visited a three-story school in the capital city that collapsed and was the site of one of the rescue operations. Mexico's education secretary, Aurelio Nuno, said 25 people were killed at the school, while 11 others were rescued and 30 were missing.
Local media reported extensive damage, power outages and fires throughout Mexico City, one of the most populous urban areas in the world.
Canadian travel blogger Mike Corey was in Mexico City when the earthquake hit. He told VOA he was sitting in his apartment when the building started shaking.
"The building was just jumping. ... I remember running down the stairs to get to the bottom and it was like being in a pinball machine."
When he went outside, he said he saw all the buildings and power lines shaking. He said he saw a five-story building collapse "like a deck of cards."
"You could see black smoke off in the horizon. Helicopters were up immediately flying over the city," he said. "We went over to see if we could help at the building, but there was blood on the street, glass all over the place; we had bare feet. What are we going to do?"
The scariest part of the ordeal, he said, was the loss of cell reception, "which is not good if you're trapped underneath things."
"I guarantee that cost lives, because someone's there, they can't contact anybody and they're trapped under rubble," he said.
U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Pena Nieto in the aftermath of the earthquake, according to White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who said Trump "had a lengthy call" with the Mexican president.
Trump had previously sent a message of support for Mexico from New York, where he is attending the U.N. General Assembly.
Trump tweeted: "God bless the people of Mexico City. We are with you and will be there for you."
Mexican authorities suspended operations at the international airport and closed schools.
Pope Francis acknowledged the victims of the earthquake during an open prayer Wednesday in St. Peter's Square, saying he wanted to "express my closeness and prayer to the dear Mexican people."
Series of quakes
The quake hit less than two weeks after another earthquake killed more than 90 people in the country's south. The U.S. Geological Survey said the two quakes appeared to be unrelated.
USGS seismologist Paul Earle said the two epicenters are 650 kilometers apart and most aftershocks are within 100 kilometers.
The earthquake struck exactly 32 years after an 8.0 temblor killed nearly 10,000 people in and around Mexico City.
Special counsel Robert Mueller's team of investigators is seeking information from the White House related to Michael Flynn's stint as national security adviser and about the response to a meeting with a Russian lawyer that was attended by President Donald Trump's oldest son, The Associated Press has learned.
Mueller's office has requested a large batch of documents from the White House and is expected to interview at least a half dozen current and former aides in the coming weeks. Lawyers for the White House are in the process of trying to cooperate with the document requests and to turn over that information.
Though the full scope of the investigation is not clear, the information requests make clear at least some of the areas that Mueller and his team of prosecutors intend to probe and reveal an interest in certain Trump decisions as president.
A person familiar with the investigation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said investigators want information on, among other topics, a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower that Donald Trump Jr. attended with a Russian lawyer as well as on the administration's response to it.
A statement provided to journalists in July, which the White House has said Trump played a role in drafting, said the meeting was primarily to discuss a disbanded program that used to allow American adoptions of Russian children, but emails released days later by Trump Jr. show that he arranged the encounter with the expectation of receiving damaging information about Hillary Clinton.
The person also said investigators appear interested in White House interactions concerning Flynn, such as what officials including Trump knew about the Justice Department's investigation into him. Flynn was forced out as national security adviser in February after White House officials concluded that he had misled them about his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the United States.
Former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates has said she warned White House counsel Don McGahn in January that that deception left Flynn and the White House in a compromised position, and that she expected him to take action. That conversation took place two days after FBI agents had interviewed Flynn. But Flynn was not asked to resign until several weeks later, following news reports that said he had discussed sanctions during the transition period with the ambassador, Sergey Kislyak.
Former FBI Director James Comey has said that Flynn was facing an FBI criminal investigation "of his statements in connection with the Russian contacts and the contacts themselves. And so that was my assessment at the time.''
Comey has also said that Trump, in a private Oval Office encounter in February, told him that he hoped he would end the FBI investigation into Flynn. Trump has denied that statement.
Comey's own firing in May is also under investigation for potential obstruction of justice, and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller as special counsel and oversees his work, has been questioned by investigators about the circumstances of that event, according to people familiar with the matter.
A spokesman for the special counsel's office declined to comment.
Mueller was appointed in May to investigate potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign, and potential crimes arising from that probe. Investigators in July raided the home of Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, in a search of tax and banking records and in recent months have served subpoenas related both to Manafort's business dealings and those of Flynn.
Mueller's team of investigators includes prosecutors with experience in organized crime, national security and complex financial fraud cases. The primary prosecutor on the White House investigation is James Quarles, who came with Mueller from the WilmerHale law firm and was involved in Watergate prosecutions.
Among the aides expected to be interviewed, perhaps by October, are McGahn, former press secretary Sean Spicer and former chief of staff Reince Priebus.
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled violence in Myanmar are "at the mercy" of human traffickers, the United Nations migration agency warned Wednesday, saying well-managed refugee camps were needed to reduce the risk.
Fighting in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state has forced 422,000 Rohingya to seek refuge in neighboring Bangladesh, where unofficial shelters have sprung up outside of two government-run camps.
But the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said the new arrivals the majority of them women and children are at risk of human trafficking, as officials and aid workers struggle to cope with the influx.
"Most have no money, no food, no clean water, no shelter and don't speak the language," IOM's Asia-Pacific spokesman Chris Lom told Reuters from the Bangladeshi border district of Cox's Bazar.
"That leaves them potentially at the mercy of anyone offering help and they may end up as victims of trafficking."
Lom said the IOM has sent a counter-trafficking specialist to the border, but warned that effectively-run camps were needed to reduce the dangers.
"The best way to minimize this risk is to have a functioning camp management system in the locations where they are settled," he said. "We the humanitarian agencies on the ground are currently a long way from being able to provide this, given the numbers and the speed at which people have arrived and continue to arrive."
Rohingya seeking to escape persecution in Buddhist-majority Myanmar have been trafficked or smuggled by road and sea to places like Thailand and Malaysia in the past.
In 2015, a crackdown by Thai authorities on human trafficking activities saw migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh abandoned at sea by smugglers. Dozens of bodies of suspected migrants were discovered in jungle camps along the Thai-Malaysian border.
The violence in western Myanmar began on Aug. 25 when Rohingya insurgents attacked about 30 police posts and an army camp, killing about 12 people.
Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in her first address on the crisis on Tuesday, condemned rights abuses in Rakhine state but did not address U.N. accusations of ethnic cleansing by the security forces, drawing a cool international response.
The legacies of racism, not only the violent protests that gripped St. Louis after a white former police officer was acquitted of murdering a black man, must be addressed, the city's mayor said on Tuesday.
Mayor Lyda Krewson said she had listened and read the reaction of residents since the controversial verdict on Friday and was ready to find ways to move the city forward.
"What we are seeing and feeling is not only about this case," Krewson told reporters.
"What we have is a legacy of policies that have disproportionately impacted people along racial and economic lines," she added. "This is institutional racism."
The city has been working to expedite existing plans to increase equity as well as develop new approaches, including changing how police shootings are investigated and granting subpoena powers to a police civilian oversight board, and expanding jobs programs, Krewson said.
"We, here in St. Louis, are once again ground zero for the frustration and anger at our shared legacy of these disproportional outcomes," she said. "The only option is to move forward."
Krewson said town halls scheduled for Tuesday night and later were canceled. As she spoke, dozens of protesters chanted outside her office.
Some activists had planned to voice complaints about police tactics used during protests after a judge found former officer Jason Stockley, 36, not guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of Anthony Lamar Smith, 24.
Largely peaceful protests during the day have turned violent at night with some demonstrators carrying guns, bats and hammers, smashing windows and clashing with police. Police arrested 123 people on Sunday, when officers in riot gear used pepper spray on activists.
The clashes have evoked memories of riots following the 2014 shooting of a black teenager by a white officer in nearby Ferguson.
Protesters have cited anger over a police tactic known as "kettling," in which officers form a square surrounding protesters to make arrests. Some caught inside police lines Sunday said officers used excessive force, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
St. Louis police are also investigating whether some of its officers chanted "Whose streets? Our streets," appropriating a refrain used by the protesters that one civilian oversight official said could inflame tensions.
"I wish that wouldn't have been said," Krewson said.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri asked the city in a Tuesday letter to preserve video evidence ahead of what it said was a likely lawsuit challenging police tactics.
Complaints of police misconduct were being reviewed, but intimidation tactics would not be tolerated, Krewson said.
Police had generally shown "great restraint," she said.
Representatives for Taylor Swift on Tuesday rejected a copyright infringement lawsuit filed on Monday by two songwriters over Swift's hit song "Shake It Off" as a "ridiculous claim."
Songwriters Sean Hall and Nathan Butler said in a lawsuit filed in U.S. federal court in Los Angeles that Swift's song used the phrase "players, they gonna play, and haters, they gonna hate," that they had coined for a 2001 song "Playas Gon' Play" by R&B girl group 3LW.
Swift's lyric from her 2014 hit "Shake It Off" is: "the players gonna play, play, play, play, play, and the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate."
"This is a ridiculous claim and nothing more than a money grab," Swift's representatives said in a statement. "The law is simple and clear. They do not have a case."
Hall and Butler are seeking unspecified damages and a jury trial.
Hall, a songwriter and producer for artists such as Justin Bieber and Maroon 5, and Butler, who has worked with artists such as Backstreet Boys and Luther Vandross, claimed that the combination of playas or players with hatas or haters was unique to its use in 3LW's "Playas Gon' Play."
"In 2001 it was completely original and unique. Indeed, the combination had not been used in popular culture prior," the lawsuit said.
Hall and Butler said the phrase accounts for about 20 percent of the lyrics of "Shake It Off." They claimed that Swift and her team "undoubtedly had access to 'Playas Gon' Play'" before writing and releasing her song.
"Defendant Swift has admitted that she watched MTV's TRL which promoted 'Playas Gon' Play,'" the lawsuit said.
It said "Playas Gon' Play" debuted at No. 7 on MTV's Total Request Live in March 2001 and that 3LW's debut album sold more than 1 million copies.
British police have arrested a third suspect in last week's bombing on a London Underground train that injured more than 30 people.
The Scotland Yard said Tuesday that the 25-year-old suspect was arrested in Newport, Wales. Police were searching a property in Newport, but they would not release any more details.
Two other men were arrested over the weekend. An 18-year-old refugee from Iraq was nabbed in the port area of Dover, a major ferry terminal for travel between Britain and France, and a 21-year-old from Syria was arrested in the west London suburb of Hounslow, which is home to London's Heathrow Airport. They remain in police custody, but neither has yet been formally charged.
Islamic State's involvement discounted
A homemade bomb partially exploded at the Parsons Green station during rush hour.
Images of the bomb posted on social media appear to show a bucket on fire that had been placed inside a plastic bag close to a rail car door.
Islamic State jihadists claimed responsibility for the attack, but Home Secretary Rudd discounted it.
It is inevitable that so-called Islamic State or Daesh will try to claim responsibility, but we have no evidence to suggest that yet, she told the BBC. Rudd said authorities will try to determine how the suspects may have been radicalized.
More armed police
Earlier, she had dismissed as pure speculation U.S. President Donald Trump's claim, made Friday on Twitter, that a loser terrorist behind the attack was known to Scotland Yard.
Prime Minister Theresa May said the British public may see more armed police on the streets and the transport network. The prime minister also said members of the military will begin aiding police, providing security at some sites not accessible to the public.
The blast was the fifth major terrorist attack in Britain this year.
President Donald Trump's suggestion that refugees be resettled closer to home instead of brought to the United States has angered many in Lebanon, a tiny country hosting more than 1.5 million refugees.
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri said "everyone knows Lebanon rejects resettling Palestinians or any other nationalities."
The country of just 4 million is officially hosting more than 1 million Syrian refugees and some 500,000 Palestinians. The real numbers are likely higher as many don't register with the U.N.
Lawmakers on Wednesday demanded a formal response to Trump. Speaker Nabih Berri said it was no "joking matter," and invoked Lebanon's constitution, which he said rejects resettlement.
Trump told the U.N. Tuesday that for the cost of resettling one refugee in the U.S., Washington could assist 10 closer to home.
Twitter said that its internal controls were allowing it to weed out accounts being used for "promotion of terrorism" earlier rather than responding to government requests to close them down.
U.S. and European governments have been pressuring social media companies including Twitter, Facebook and Alphabet's Google to fight harder against online radicalization, particularly by violent Islamist groups.
Twitter said it had removed 299,649 accounts in the first half of this year for the "promotion of terrorism," a 20 percent decline from the previous six months. Three-quarters of those accounts were suspended before posting their first tweet.
Less than 1 percent of account suspensions were due to government requests, the company said, while 95 percent were thanks to Twitter's internal efforts to combat extremist content with "proprietary tools," up from 74 percent in the last transparency report.
Twitter defines "promotion of terrorism" as actively inciting or promoting violence "associated with internationally recognized terrorist organizations."
The vast majority of notices from governments concerned "abusive behavior," which includes violent threats, harassment, hateful conduct and impersonation.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko dismissed a Russian proposal to deploy U.N. peacekeepers in eastern Ukraine as an effort to legalize its proxies and freeze the conflict.
Relations between Kyiv and Moscow have never been worse since Russia annexed Crimea more than three years ago and Russian-backed separatist fighters subsequently took up arms against Ukrainian government forces in the east of the country.
Russian President Vladimir Putin this month suggested armed U.N. peacekeepers be deployed to eastern Ukraine to help protect cease-fire monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and to help end a conflict between Ukrainian troops and Russia-backed separatists, which has killed more than 10,000 people since 2014.
Poroshenko used his speech at the annual gathering of world leaders for the United Nations General Assembly to accuse Moscow of not contributing to international security, but of being its "biggest threat."
"The latest hybrid peacekeeping proposal from Moscow is yet another example of Russia's real ambition to legalize its proxies and freeze the conflict forever," he said.
"We remain confident that a fully fledged peacekeeping operation is the only viable solution to de-escalate and protect the people of Ukraine."
Putin originally said the peacekeepers should be deployed along the line of contact between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists, but later said they could also be deployed in other areas where OSCE inspectors work.
"The peacekeepers' mandate should cover the entire occupied area, including the Ukrainian-Russian state border. This is the must. As long as the border is used as the main supply route for manpower and weapons to Donbas [Donetsk and Luhansk regions], there will be no peace in my country," Poroshenko said.
Kyiv and Western countries accuse Russia of providing military backing to the insurgency in eastern Ukraine. Russia denies any direct role in the conflict.
Efforts to broker an end to fighting through the so-called Minsk agreements have so far failed. Violence continues with attempted cease-fires repeatedly broken. Western powers fear peace efforts could unravel.
"The key problem in Donbas is that Ukraine and Russia strive for different things," Poroshenko said. "Ukraine wants peace and restoration of its sovereign territory, but Russia wants control of Ukraine and undermines every effort [to get] our sovereign control on Ukraine's border."
Ukraine's alternative plan would ban any Russian nationals from taking part in a peacekeeping mission which it wants deployed along the part of its border with Russia which it does not control, an idea Moscow has so far balked at.
Ukraine could have a new Supreme Court installed by next month as part of judicial reforms aimed at rooting out corruption, Ukraine's Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko said Tuesday.
"I think from October the new Supreme Court will start working," Petrenko told Reuters in an interview at the Concordia Annual Summit in New York. "The next challenge for us is to establish new appeal courts throughout the country, and to take in new judges in the regional courts."
Petrenko added that reforms within appeal and regional courts could be in place within the next four years. Other government reforms began in 2014, after a popular uprising driven partly by public anger over endemic corruption.
Ukraine is still dealing with nagging allegations of graft, and Transparency International ranked it a poor 131st out of 176 countries in the World Ranking of Corruption Perception in a report this year.
The selection process for new Supreme Court judges has been questioned by figures including British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who cited concerns in July that Ukrainian government reforms were faltering.
Not ideal, but 'very good'
Petrenko addressed criticism surrounding the selection, saying that while there are no ideal processes, "this one is very good."
"We have a democratic society, and all the time there are people who will criticize the process," he said.
Ukraine currently is the recipient of an aid-for-reforms program from the International Monetary Fund.
So far, the IMF has given the country $8.4 billion, helping it recover from a two-year recession following the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 and the outbreak of a Russian-backed insurgency in its industrial east.
Under the $17.5 billion program, the IMF wants Ukraine to set up a special court to focus on tackling corruption.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Friday said he hoped an anti-corruption chamber would be created next month, but expressed doubt that an independent court as envisaged by the IMF could be set up before 2019.
United Nations experts warn that elections in South Sudan next year would be catastrophic and lead to more violence in the conflict-torn country. A report on the humanitarian consequences of civil war has been submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Council.
The Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan describes the humanitarian situation of millions of South Sudanese refugees and internally displaced people as almost unmanageable.
The experts, who visited Ethiopia and South Sudan between September 4 and 15, report shocking scenes of desperate refugees fighting to be registered. The experts said they saw people waiting in line collapse from hunger.
In South Sudan's capital, Juba, they interviewed women who had been raped by soldiers and were unable to receive justice or recompense for their suffering.
The commission says officials, including President Salva Kiir, told them they wanted to hold elections next year once the transitional government comes to an end.
High number of dispaced
Commission member Godfrey Musila tells VOA this would be disastrous because such a government would lack legitimacy.
It will not be legitimate because a third of the population is displaced. Some of them are out of the country. It cannot be legitimate because political leaders who are part of the opposition who are abroad, some of them have been arrested and rendered back to Juba. They are not able to access the people to campaign.
Musila says the dormant peace process must be revitalized and a cease-fire put in place before an election can even be contemplated.
Members of the commission agree a hybrid court, which was approved by the African Union in 2013, must be established swiftly to hold perpetrators of serious abuses accountable for their actions. They say the people of South Sudan also need a commission on truth and healing.
South Sudan became independent from neighboring Sudan in 2011 after decades of conflict. Less than two yeas later, the new nation descended into civil war after President Salva Kiir fired his deputy, Riek Machar. The ensuing conflict has raged mainly along ethnic lines, with thousands killed and about 4 million people out of a population of 12 million displaced.
The United Nations is seeking to marshal international support this week for a new push to break a political stalemate in Libya and end the turmoil that followed the country's 2011 uprising.
The world body's Libya envoy, Ghassan Salame, is expected to set out an "action plan" on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Wednesday that will propose amending a 2015 peace deal that quickly stalled.
The U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) set up under the December 2015 deal has never fully established itself in Tripoli, leaving Libya with three competing governments aligned with rival armed alliances.
Hamstrung by internal splits in its nine-member leadership, or Presidency Council, the GNA has been unable to tackle Libya's acute liquidity crisis, save collapsing public services or bring powerful militias to heel.
Though oil production has partially recovered and local forces ousted Islamic State from their North African stronghold of Sirte last year, security vacuums in central and southern Libya persist and armed groups control the informal economy.
Eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar has gradually strengthened his position on the ground, with support from Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
Lauded by allies for his anti-Islamist stance, Haftar is accused by foes of seeking to re-impose military rule that they fought to overthrow when they toppled veteran ruler Moammar Gadhafi six years ago.
"The most important thing is to convince Haftar that a peaceful solution is better than a military one," said Karim Mezran of the Atlantic Council, a U.S. think-tank.
"You have to convince the Egyptians and the Emiratis who are his main supporters to reduce that support."
Fragmentation
Salame, who took up his post in August, is expected to propose reducing the unwieldy GNA Presidency Council to three members and it would then nominate a new transitional government, diplomats and analysts say.
But securing changes to the 2015 deal would need the approval of a barely functional eastern-based parliament.
The European Union and the United States have imposed sanctions on the head of that parliament, Agila Saleh, accusing him of stalling Libya's political process.
A delegation from the eastern parliament is expected to start negotiating with members of its Tripoli-based rival assembly. They are under pressure to reach an agreement before Dec. 17, when opponents of the 2015 deal say it expires.
Salame must also balance calls for new elections with the need to prepare a legal framework in which they can take place, diplomats say.
Before elections "you need a timetable to do the necessary preparation ... but at the same time you need a government that can govern and unify the political, economic and social and military institutions of the country and deliver services in that interim period," said a senior Western diplomat.
Some armed groups have cemented their positions since 2015, while political factions across Libya have become even more splintered.
"Now the problem is that those factions have fragmented internally," said Claudia Gazzini, a senior analyst for the International Crisis Group. "It's even more difficult to solicit representative views."
Elections would require an electoral law, and possibly a referendum to endorse a new constitution. In 2014, elections were challenged, leading to a major escalation of conflict and the division of Libya's key institutions.
"Of course it's not going to be easy, and once [Salame] makes the announcement there'll be some who will not see advantage out of it," said the Western diplomat.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump's strategy to win the war in Afghanistan will work where his predecessor's failed because the Afghan army is stronger and Trump wants a regional approach and a harder line with Pakistan.
Ghani also said that former president Barack Obama "did not have a partner in Afghanistan," implicitly criticizing former Afghan president Hamid Karzai, who frequently disdained U.S. policy and the U.S.-led international military force.
"President Trump is not just an individual [but] a team of partners in Afghanistan," Ghani told the Asia Society in New York, where he is attending the U.N. General Assembly. "The Trump administration's strategy has the uniqueness of immense consultations with us."
At the same time, Ghani said, Obama's decision to maintain some U.S. forces in Afghanistan "ensured our survival" despite advances by Taliban insurgents.
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis announced on Monday that more than 3,000 additional U.S. troops are being deployed to Afghanistan under the new strategy announced last month.
The number of U.S. forces would rise to around 14,000, compared to a high of more than 100,000 under Obama.
While providing few details, Trump pledged stepped-up operations against the Taliban and an open-ended commitment of U.S. military advisers, trainers and counter-terrorism units.
He also vowed to take a tougher line to end what U.S. officials say is Pakistan providing refuge and other support to the Taliban and other extremist groups. Pakistan denies the charge.
Asked how Trump's strategy differs from Obama's, Ghani said Trump's plan takes "a regional approach" to security and a harder line with Pakistan while providing a new opening for peace talks.
"The message to Pakistan to engage and become a responsible stakeholder in the region and in the fight against terrorism has never been clearer," Ghani said. "What I am offering the Pakistan government, the Pakistan security apparatus, is the invitation to a comprehensive dialogue."
"If Pakistan does not take this opportunity, I think they will pay a high price," he said, without elaborating.
"Afghans are determined to fight," he said. "No one should mistake our will to defend our country."
Not only is the army better trained and profiting from a new generation of soldiers, but it gained experience because the massive cuts in the U.S.-led international force under Obama forced Afghans to assume a bigger role in the fighting, Ghani said.
When it was pointed out that the Taliban have expanded their control of territory, Ghani blamed the inability of the police to hold ground.
The next phase of reforming Afghanistan's security forces will focus on the police, he said.
As for when the 16-year-long war would end, Ghani said, "I think we are not talking a decade or longer. We are talking some limited years."
A total of 13,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have filled applications in order to request aid, provided under a government plan to alleviate the effects of Typhoon Hato on such businesses. The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lionel Leong aired the information on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of the new president of the Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) and the new coordinator of the Financial Intelligence Office.
According to Leong, the government has also received around 6,000 applications for medium and long-term support, concerning interest-free loans to a maximum amount of MOP600,000.
Regarding the status of such requests, the Secretary noted the government has already processed a total of 43.1 percent of the requests (5,600), involving a sum of MOP280 million. For these requests, the government is offering a MOP50,000 grant.
As for the larger aid package, only 108 (1.8 pct) of the 6,000 applications have thus far been approved, reaching a total of MOP47.7 million.
The low ratio of these approvals was justified by Leong on the back of the administrative demand of a great number of applications. He said that the number of applications in that 20-day period accounted for more than half the total number of requests made under the scheme since its creation in 2003. Leong added that the government is providing additional workers in the relevant services to handle the huge volume of work.
The staff of the Macao Economic Services has been working overtime lately, and other services of the same kind have also had to mobilize more than 200 workers to face the workload and to accelerate the process of assessing the applications, Leong said. The government is maintaining close cooperation with the Banks Association with the aim of accelerating the process of assessing interest-free credit applications.
The Economy and Finance leader also noted that the AMCM is monitoring the work of insurance companies after the typhoon catastrophe so that the victims can be compensated as soon as possible. RM
U.S.-led coalition forces say the Russian-backed Syrian army has crossed the Euphrates River in Deir el-Zour in its bid to regain control of the Syrian city, a move that could result in a faceoff with U.S.-backed fighters in the city's east.
"We confirm Russian and Syrian regime forces have moved east of the Euphrates River," Colonel Ryan Dillon, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, told VOA on Tuesday. "The Russians are providing air support to Syrian regime operations to reclaim territorial control over the area around [Deir el-Zour]."
The campaign for Deir el-Zour, one of the Islamic State militant group's major strongholds in Syria, began this month. The Syrian army, supported by Shi'ite militias and Russian air power, began advancing from the western side of the city and broke a three-year IS siege of an enclave the regime had controlled.
Meanwhile, the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) started a separate operation from east side of the city. They made rapid gains, capturing 300 square kilometers along the eastern riverbank.
The Euphrates River, which runs across the city, acted as a dividing line between the two sides, and was considered part of the deconfliction zone between the U.S.-led coalition and Russia, intended to separate their areas of operation in Syria and prevent inadvertent clashes.
According to SANA, the Syrian state-run news agency, the Syrian army crossed the river using specially constructed pontoon bridges, as Russian warplanes provided aerial protection.
The news agency said Syrian army units have secured several points in Mazloum and Marrat villages on the eastern side of the city, and reportedly have advanced toward a major gas field known as Conoco.
"IS endured heavy losses in arms and men," SANA reported.
Amaq, Islamic State's media wing, confirmed the development. It claimed militant fighters had carried out suicide attacks that trapped dozens of the advancing troops in Marrat village.
Earlier this month, the U.S.-led coalition said it was closely monitoring the Syrian army's approach to the river. There are concerns about possible clashes on the river's eastern bank between Syrian army units and the SDF.
SDF commanders said they had taken fire from Syrian regime forces even before they crossed the Euphrates.
On Saturday, a Russian airstrike wounded six SDF fighters in an industrial area that had been recaptured from IS militants near the river. Coalition troops advising and assisting the SDF were present but unhurt, according to a statement by the U.S.-led coalition.
The attack "underscores the need for all parties to recommit themselves to deconflict their operations responsibly and professionally," Dillon told VOA. He said the U.S.-led coalition would continue to communicate with Russian forces to ensure the separation of forces does not collapse entirely, and that all sides keep focusing on defeating Islamic State.
Two U.S. senators have urged the Trump administration to clarify if it is reviewing the potential acquisition by Russian oil company Rosneft of Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA and U.S. subsidiary Citgo, saying a shift in Citgo's assets would be a security risk.
Democrat Bob Menendez and Republican Marco Rubio asked whether the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, is looking into if the political crisis in Venezuela could lead to a change in the control of its oil assets, according to a letter sent to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin dated Sept. 18, seen by Reuters.
Given Venezuela's increasingly dire economic and humanitarian situation, we are seriously concerned with a possible acquisition by Rosneft of PDVSA and Citgo, the letter said.
Mnuchin chairs CFIUS, made up of members of the Cabinet of President Donald Trump, which reviews potential national security aspects of foreign investments in U.S. companies. The additional political pressure from CFIUS reviews have occasionally helped break plans by foreign companies to acquire U.S. companies in the past.
Last week, Trump blocked a Chinese-backed private equity firm from buying U.S.-based chipmaker Lattice, citing security risks.
A Treasury Department spokesman said the department is prohibited by law from commenting on the disclosure of information filed with CFIUS to the public.
Menendez has said the potential takeover of U.S. energy infrastructure by Rosneft, majority owned by the Russian government, raises economic and security concerns. Citgo has a 749,000 barrel per day refining network in the United States and other assets.
At least 125 people have been killed in four months in protests against the Venezuelan Socialist government of President Nicolas Maduro, which has resisted calls to bring forward the presidential election. The government has set up a pro-Maduro legislative superbody called a Constituent Assembly that has overruled the country's opposition-led Congress.
As Maduro's government has turned to its Russian ally for credit and cash, it has offered some of the oil assets held by Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) in return, raising fears that Rosneft could also control Citgo assets.
During a U.S. congressional hearing in May, Mnuchin said Rosneft's potential acquisition would be reviewed by CFIUS. And in a phone call in July for congressional staffers on sanctions against Venezuela, an administration official said a CFIUS review was underway, the letter said.
Trump on Monday warned that Washington might take additional measures to apply pressure on Venezuela, which provides 10 percent of the oil the United States consumes. He has already imposed financial sanctions and said military intervention could be an option.
Vice President Mike Pence, speaking about the Rohingya crisis in the strongest terms used by any senior official to date, on Wednesday condemned the historic exodus of the Rohingya from Myanmar to Bangladesh in the face of violent attacks.
Speaking at a U.N. peacekeeping meeting, Pence said the world was witnessing a "great tragedy unfolding" in the Southeast Asian nation, also known as Burma.
Recently, Burmese security forces responded to militant attacks on government outposts with terrible savagery, burning villages, driving the Rohingyas from their homes," Pence said at the high-level Security Council meeting. "The images of the violence and its victims have shocked the American people, and decent people all over the world.
Over the past month, more than 400,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled from Myanmar, where they face human rights violations and discrimination. Pence noted that tens of thousands of those who fled on foot were children.
Rohingya militants attacked Burmese security forces in late August. Since then, analysts and rights workers say, the Burmese military has carried out a brutal crackdown, burning villages and killing women and children as they fled.
Pence noted that U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had spoken with Myanmars civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, about the Rohingya refugees Tuesday and had urged the Burmese military and security forces to facilitate humanitarian aid.
While we welcome [Aung San] Suu Kyis comments that returning refugees have nothing to fear, the United States renews our call on Burmas security forces to end their violence immediately and support diplomatic efforts for a long-term solution," Pence noted.
US aid to Rohingya
The State Department on Wednesday announced the United States was set to contribute $32 million worth of humanitarian aid to help the Rohingya Muslims fleeing Myanmar.
The U.S. aid package the first major response from the Trump administration to the situation will include food, medical supplies, water, emergency shelter and other support.
Simon Henshaw, acting assistant secretary of state for population, refugees and migration, briefed reporters at the U.N. on the humanitarian aid announcement. He clarified that of the $32 million, $28 million would go to Bangladesh.
Henshaw thanked the Bangladeshi government and people for their "warm response and their strong response" in supporting the Rohingya who have come across the border.
"Bangladesh, as we all know, is not one of the richest countries in the world, and for a country which has its own struggles to open its arms to the Rohingya is really remarkable, and I think will be long remembered," he added.
Aung San Suu Kyi has condemned the human rights violations taking place in her country's western Rakhine state, but she has come under strong international criticism for not speaking out more forcefully on the situation. She canceled her appearance at the U.N. General Assembly this week, in part to address the crisis at home.
In a nationally televised speech in her country Tuesday, Aung San Suu Kyi said her country did not fear international scrutiny, and she offered her assurance that any human rights violations or acts that impair stability and harmony would be dealt with in accordance with strict norms of justice.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate insisted, however, that all allegations are based on solid evidence before we take action.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, during a Tuesday speech before the General Assembly, said he was shocked by the dramatic escalation of sectarian tensions in Myanmar, and he called on authorities to end the military operations in Rakhine.
The State Department said the $32 million, which brought the total amount of U.S. aid provided to Myanmar refugees in fiscal 2017 to $95 million, would make up about a quarter of what human rights groups say will be needed to address the crisis. The remaining money is expected to be provided by other countries.
Former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner is more than a serial digital philanderer - he's a danger to the public who deserves two years in prison for encouraging a 15-year-old girl to engage in online sex acts, prosecutors told a judge Wednesday.
A Manhattan judge is scheduled to sentence the New York Democrat on Monday for transferring obscene material to a minor.
The government urged the judge to put Weiner's claims of a therapeutic awakening in a context of a man who made similar claims after embarrassing, widely publicized interactions with adult women before encountering the teenager online in January 2016. Prosecutors said his conduct "suggests a dangerous level of denial and lack of self-control."
This is not merely a 'sexting' case,'' prosecutors wrote. "The defendant did far more than exchange typed words on a lifeless cellphone screen with a faceless stranger. ... Transmitting obscenity to a minor to induce her to engage in sexually explicit conduct by video chat and photo - is far from mere 'sexting.' Weiner's criminal conduct was very serious, and the sentence imposed should reflect that seriousness."
Weiner, 53, said in a submission last week that he's undergoing treatment and is profoundly sorry for subjecting the North Carolina high school student to what his lawyers called his "deep sickness."
Prosecutors attacked some of Weiner's arguments for seeking leniency and noted his full awareness beforehand of his crime, citing his co-sponsorship in January 2007 of a bill to require sex offenders to register their email and instant message addresses with the National Sex Offender Registry.
"While the government does not contend that Weiner engaged in inappropriate sexual exchanges with other minors or that he is a pedophile, his professed ambivalence toward the minor victim's age is belied by the defendant's own statements to the court-appointed evaluator during his evaluation," they said.
Prosecutors said Weiner, who unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2005 and 2013, acknowledged to the evaluator an interest in legal, adult, teen-themed pornography.
The government said Weiner's "widely-reported prior scandals" were not criminal in nature and did not involve minors but should be considered at sentencing because they reveal a familiar pattern.
"He initially denied his conduct; he suffered personal and professional consequences; he publicly apologized and claimed reform. Yet, he has, on multiple occasions, continued to engage in the very conduct he swore off, progressing from that which is self-destructive to that which is also destructive to a teenage girl," prosecutors said.
They added: "Weiner's demonstrated history of professed, yet failed, reform make it difficult to rely on his present claim of self-awareness and transformation."
Defense lawyers had portrayed the girl as an aggressor, saying she wanted to generate material for a book and possibly influence the presidential election.
Prosecutors responded that Weiner should be sentenced for what he did, and his victim's motives should not influence his punishment. A defense lawyer declined to comment Wednesday.
In a plea bargain, Weiner has agreed not to appeal any sentence between 21 and 27 months. Prosecutors said the sentence should fall within that span, and they noted that Probation Office authorities had recommended a 27-month prison term.
Frustration is mounting in Zimbabwe amid long lines at voter registration centers and accusations that the electoral commission is not ready. The High Court will hear a petition from the opposition Thursday to suspend the process until the electoral commission has received the rest of the registration equipment.
Zimbabwes capital has one registration center to serve an estimated two million potential voters. People told VOA they have waited as long as five hours before being served.
To register, each person must present identification and then have his or her photo taken and fingerprints scanned.
The process is tiresome. It is too long. One machine. I think it is not fair. I think they should increase the number of machines, said a 33-year-old man who requested VOA not to use his name.
The center ran out stationary Wednesday leading to more frustration. One man in line asked to be identified only by his first name, Maxwell.
The process is stressfully and painfully slow," he said. "It looks like I will be here until they close because it is taking them long to register potential voters. I think they are being deliberately slow to frustrate people so that they go back home without having registered.
Voter registration opened last week. The goal is to create the countrys first biometric voter registry before the 2018 elections.
Electoral commission head Rita Makarau has rejected calls from the opposition to halt the four-month exercise.
We are ready for this exercise. We are ready financially. We have the resources," she said. "Our people have been trained how to operate the kits and are ready to register all Zimbabweans.
The head of the independent election watchdog Election Resource Center, Tawanda Chimhini, says the Electoral Commission, known by its acronym ZEC, must address the long queues his staff are seeing throughout the country.
Accessibility of the process has been quite limited," said Chimhini. "We definitely need to engage ZEC around how they can make more locations available for the public to access these locations. I think the demand is there, and ZEC must be seen to be responding for more centers. The kits to set up more centers are available. Out of the 400 kits they have received, they have only deployed 63. So certainly there is room for ZEC to do more around this.
The first person in line to register when the exercise opened September 14 was President Robert Mugabe.
I therefore urge all eligible Zimbabweans to go and register in their numbers," he said. "With this few remarks, I wish to declare the biometric voter registration exercise officially launched and wish the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission the best.
Not two hours later, the opposition had filed its court petition to halt the process.
"There are no servers to store information which is going to come from this exercise, said Douglas Mwonzora, the secretary-general of Zimbabwes main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change. "We had agreed with ZEC that we will be informed of the procurement of the servers, just like the voter registration kits, through a transparent system. The servers have not been advertised for tender and have not been procured. We cannot proceed with a process when we do not know where the information is going to kept."
The High Court is expected to convene Thursday to hear the opposition petition.
Zimbabwes President, Robert Mugabe, is among several world leaders gathered in New York for the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
However, prior to his departure, President Mugabe, who will address the General Assembly Thursday, sparked a whirl wind of discussion among Zimbabweans because of his large delegation of more than 70, that includes his wife, children and grandchild.
Critics argue that the delegation, reportedly receiving daily stipends of $1,500 each, is irresponsible at a time when the countrys economy is struggling due to lack of investment and massive unemployment.
Making reference to various images showing President Mugabe sleeping through discussions, Fortune Mlalazi of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party led by former finance minister Tendai Biti, said there was no purpose for the Zimbabwean leader being there.
There is only one thing the president is there to do, that is to sleep or we can substitute it with insulting others. That is the best that the president can do there in New York. He has got no meaningful contribution to the country or to the world.
However, Joseph Tshuma, a legislator and member of the ruling Zanu-PF party, dismissed the criticism, saying that President Mugabe is right to attend the meetings as he plays a crucial role at forums such as the United Nations General Assembly.
There are a lot of agreements that take place there, there are so many conventions that have come out of those forums, and for the president to be part of that is very essential. If you remember back then, there was the issue of the Security Council, that the president and some other African leaders had stood for until Africa was also recognized So its still correct for the president to go to those kind of forums so that he advances our cause as Africa and as Zimbabwe. As Africa really we need to engage those people and they need to see the collective voices of Africa standing up to say we are equal to you the first world countries.
Tshuma noted that critics of President Mugabe have no real basis to question the presidents trips.
Such is life, even Jesus was criticized. They called him a gluton and a drunkard, yet he was the Messiah. So we dont expect anything else as well. If you are the president you are in the center of the storm so those criticisms are bound to come your way.
But Mlalazi said there is no proof of any outcome of the agreements signed, or benefits to Zimbabwe.
There are no agreements, no one wants to sign agreements with Mugabe or rather they should show us some of those agreements and they are success. We have seen people coming here, promising to come back with investment but they all disappear.
Further sparking debate about President Mugabes trip to New York with his family, was a picture that went viral Tuesday, of son Bellarmine Chatunga at a McDonalds outlet, and his security aides carrying shopping bags from high end stores like Gucci.
Mlalazi said this is the trend that the first family has been showing for some time.
It doesnt surprise us. Remember this whole thing started with the father, then came the mother, now it is with the children. It is also going to cascade down to the grandchildren, this shopping thing. They do it at the expense of poor Zimbabweans.
But Tshuma raised issue with this argument, saying all young kids like high end merchandize. Tshuma said contrary to belief that the government is paying for the familys expenses, the first family has enough of its own resources to foot the bill.
Lets be honest here and sincere, I would wish for my child to get whatever the best value in life and so would you and so would anybody. And so if the presidents son, decides to get something good for himself, and specially also considering that he is not taking money from the fiscus, hes not taking money from government because we must remember that this very first family we are talking about is an entrepreneurial family we know they are running businesses here in Zimbabwe.
Mlalazi, however, questioned the productivity levels from the Alpha and Omega Dairy company that the first family owns, saying many in Zimbabwe cannot afford the companys products, also known as Gushungo.
All what we know is that farm, Gushungo Dairies, produces poison and no one buys that poison. In simpler terms they are producing ice cream and all these other small things. Zimbabweans cannot afford to buy ice cream so where are they getting that money from. They cannot sell ice cream and buy Gucci.
President Mugabe, who is contesting in the 2018 presidential election, will address the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday.
AIRLINE INDUSTRY
Watchdog: Baggage fees have hiked costs
Travelers who check at least one bag when flying domestically are paying more overall than they did before airlines began unbundling fares in 2008 and charging separately for checked baggage, the Government Accountability Office said Wednesday.
The GAO report said airline officials told investigators that base airfares are now lower than before airlines began separately charging passengers for checked bags, reservation changes, priority boarding and other services. But the GAOs review of studies that have examined the effect of bag fees on ticket prices shows that charging separately for bags reduced fares by less than the new bag fee itself.
Conversely, passengers who did not check bags paid less overall. the report said.
One study found that airlines with bag fees lowered fares to appear more competitive and then made up the lost revenue in bag fees. Another study found that declines in airfares amounted to less than the bag fee, so on average the combined total of the fare and bag fee rose.
Associated Press
INTERNET
Facebook adds more oversight for ads
Facebook is stepping up enforcement in its ad-targeting system and adding human reviewers to make sure offensive categories arent an option after a report by ProPublica showed it was possible for advertisers to target people who described themselves as Jew haters.
Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg said Facebook will make reviews of its self-service advertising system more manual. It will also clarify its advertising policy to disallow targeting using criteria that directly attacks a group of people.
We never intended or anticipated this functionality being used this way and that is on us. And we did not find it ourselves and that is also on us, Sandberg said Wednesday in a post on Facebook.
Bloomberg
HOUSING
U.S. home sales declined in August
U.S. home sales fell 1.7 percent in August, pulled down by the effects of Hurricane Harvey and a worsening shortage of available properties.
The National Association of Realtors said Wednesday that sales of existing homes sank last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.35 million. Would-be home buyers are being limited by a drop in the number of sales listings. The shortage has become a drag on sales, causing a sharp rise in prices.
Over the past 12 months, sales have risen 0.2 percent. Houston-area home sales have slid 25 percent over the past year largely because of damage from Harvey a decline that could linger through 2018, the Realtors group said.
The median sales price has risen 5.6 percent from a year ago to $253,500.
Associated Press
Also in Business
Toshiba agreed Wednesday to sell its prized semiconductor business to a group led by U.S. private-equity firm Bain Capital, a key step in keeping the struggling Japanese conglomerate listed on the Tokyo exchange. In a late-night announcement through the exchange, Toshiba said it had agreed to sign a contract for the deal worth about $18 billion. The decision to sell the world's No. 2 producer of NAND memory chips was made at a board meeting earlier Wednesday.
Fiat Chrysler is recalling almost 50,000 Pacifica vans in the United States and Canada from the 2017 and 2018 model years, all with an eight-passenger seating option. The automaker says that during sporting driving, the center buckle could hit the release button on the left buckle and cause it to unlatch. The company says it does not know of any crashes or injuries from the problem.
Walmart, Target and Pepsi joined an expanded group of nearly 800 companies on Wednesday calling for legislation to protect from deportation immigrants brought into the country illegally by their parents, according to organizer FWD.us. A group of businesses sent a similar letter in August, before President Trump said he would end the program. The new letter reflects Trump's decision and asks Congress to pass a permanent replacement for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.
From news reports
Coming today
8:30 a.m.: Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims.
10 a.m.: Freddie Mac releases weekly mortgage rates.
Noon: Federal Reserve reports on U.S. households' net worth for the second quarter.
A box of Hillary Clinton's book "What Happened" are staged to be distributed outside the Warner Theatre in Washington, Sept. 18, 2017. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)
What happened is Hillary Clintons memoir sold 300,000 copies in its first week.
Simon & Schuster announced Wednesday morning that "What Happened" sold 167,000 copies in hardback in the United States since it went on sale Sept. 12. (Nielsen BookScan indicates that about 8,800 of those copies were sold in the greater DC metro area.)
According to the publisher, thats the biggest first-week sales recorded by any author for a hardcover nonfiction title since 2012. Ebook and audiobook sales raised the books debut week total to 300,000.
(Thats better than the first week of Clintons 2014 Hard Choices, but still below the extraordinary first-week sales of Sarah Palins 2009 memoir, Going Rogue, which reportedly sold 469,000 copies in its opening week.)
S&S said that the audiobook version of What Happened was doing particularly well. Read by Clinton herself, the book had the best week of digital audio sales in the companys history.
Clintons memoir, which recounts her experience during the 2016 presidential campaign against Donald Trump, has found an interested audience abroad, too. What Happened will debut Sunday at No. 1 on the nonfiction hardcover list of Britains Sunday Times.
[Clintons account of how she was shivved in the 2016 presidential election]
S&S reports that it has printed has 800,000 copies so far.
Carolyn Reidy, president and chief executive of Simon & Schuster said, The remarkable response to What Happened indicates that, notwithstanding all that has been written and discussed over the last year, there is clearly an overwhelming desire among readers to learn about and experience, from Hillary Clintons singular perspective, the historic events of the 2016 election.
[Hillarys consolation prize: a No. 1 bestselling book]
Predictably, reviews of What Happened have been mixed.
The Washington Post called it a raw and bracing book, a guide to our political arena. Reviewer David Weigel went on to say, The Hillary Clinton of this bitter memoir resembles the shrunken, beaten Richard Nixon who told David Frost that he gave his enemies a sword and they twisted it with relish. Again and again she blames herself for losing, apologizing for her dumb email management, for giving paid speeches to banks, for saying she would put coal miners out of business. She veers between regret and righteous anger, sometimes in the same paragraph.
The National Review scoffed: "The book only makes sense when you realize that What Happened is a fake title, a P. T. Barnum-style ruse to draw in the suckers. The real subject of this 500-page chunk of self-congratulation and blame-shifting its real title is Why I Should Have Won."
The Atlantic claimed "What Happened" is "not a standard work of this genre. It's interesting; it's worth reading; and it sets out questions that the press, in particular, has not done enough to face."
On Sept. 12, Clinton has also released a 117-word picture book adaptation of her 1996 bestseller, "It Takes a Village."
Ron Charles is the editor of Book World.
Columnist
The following review appears in The Washington Post's 2017 Fall Dining Guide.
Consumme at Mirabelle. (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post)
Mirabelle
(Good/Excellent)
Costumed in curved red leather booths and a chandelier that doubles as fine art, Mirabelle lives up to the promise of its French name: wondrous beauty. Patrolled by some of the best servers in town, the glam restaurant has the pampering thing down, too. Layer on the esteemed kitchen talent Frank Ruta and pastry chef Aggie Chin of the much-missed Palena and youve got, well, a restaurant that can be wonderful and not so much, sometimes at the same meal. Ruta has a Midas touch with rabbit, seafood and classical notions; keep an eye out for terrines, wild fish and consomme. Chin is the beautician behind the great-tasting pavlovas, fruit tarts and vacherins. But some meals underwhelm with their size or the sense something similar could be had elsewhere, for less. The certainty at Mirabelle is the price tag. Hope someone else is picking up the check.
2.5 stars
Mirabelle: 900 16th St. NW. 202-506-3833. mirabelledc.com.
Prices: Mains $42-$46.
Sound check: 73 decibels / Must speak with raised voice.
Previous: Millie's | Next: Nasime
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The following review was originally published Sept. 20, 2017.
Mirabelle, a gem in the making, loses some of its luster
Lunchtime diners at Mirabelle. (Deb Lindsey /For The Washington Post)
If youre a diner of a certain vintage, youre apt to remember (and miss) the late Palena in Cleveland Park. The restaurant saw former White House chef Frank Ruta in the kitchen and a few dishes on the menu that no other restaurant did as well. His salads looked like still lifes, and his consomme ... well, few but Ruta went to the trouble. He was the chef other chefs aspired to be. His roast chicken was the bird home cooks could only dream of replicating.
[Chefs say a dishwasher can make or break a restaurant. So I signed up for a shift.]
Palena was actually two destinations under one roof: a clattery cafe and a (slightly) dressier dining room in the back. The service had some issues, and the interior lacked a designer's touch, but near-perfect food at moderate prices was the primary reason customers flocked to the address. It was headline news, then, when Ruta, citing mounting debts, announced he was closing three years ago after a 14-year ride.
The tastemaker later moved to the Grill Room inside the Capella hotel in Georgetown, where the food, in the end, was more correct than gotta-have-it-again. The 24/7 needs of a boutique inn, some of us figured, might have been a distraction.
So you could practically hear the champagne corks popping off around Washington when the chef delivered the news last fall: With the help of some deep pockets, notably those of serial restaurateur Hakan Ilhan, Ruta would open his dream space downtown, two blocks from where he once cooked for the Carters, the Reagans and the first set of Bushes. Sweeter still, his longtime pastry chef, Aggie Chin, would be along for the ride at Mirabelle, which translates from French to wondrous beauty. When Jennifer Knowles, a veteran of the Inn at Little Washington, signed on as head of service and wine, everyone predicted a hit.
Oxtail broth over veal tongue and marrow. (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post)
Food worshipers began comparing Mirabelle's cloudlike boudin blanc to what had been their standard-bearer, the one at Marcel's in the West End. People with only a passing interest in the restaurant scene were talking about Mirabelle's lunch-only ham sandwich, a $26 indulgence crafted from cured Berkshire pork and a baguette that takes two days to make. (It's as rich as it sounds and best shared for that reason.)
Mirabelle made such a strong impression, I tagged it the best new restaurant in my spring dining guide. I don't assign stars to previews, but Mirabelle seemed to be on a four-star trajectory.
And then?
[The latest trend I loathe in restaurants: No space between tables]
And then I returned a few times to find a restaurant that I sometimes didnt recognize. The room remained one of the citys most alluring (walnut and marble and leather, oh my!), and the attention never flagged. But more than one dish didnt fit the typical Ruta profile for seasonal reliance and unerring good taste.
As in, the only reason to order strip loin for dinner is for the lacy-soft hash brown potatoes that accompany the crimson pieces of unmemorable beef, a centerpiece further undone by cooked radishes and carrots when the glories of summer were beckoning. Four thin slices of lamb, edged in charred onion jam and arranged with a few ruffles of lettuce, are pleasing enough, but more of an appetizer than a main course salad selling for $27. The promised vegetable crepe is hidden beneath the lamb and brings to mind a stamp of spongy injera.
First-world quibbles? Let me point out that dinner entrees average $43. High prices elicit high expectations. Spring and summer also brought heavier dishes than I would have thought.
Pastry chef Aggie Chin. (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post)
Let me also say, Ive had lovely meals at Mirabelle. Summer found me swooning over buckwheat-and-rice-flour-crusted soft-shell crabs Ruta has a fondness for the grain accented with a delicate curry sauce, a brilliant taste of southern India. Wild turbot, the prize of a later tasting menu, was draped at the table with sauce Americaine (tomato, wine, cayenne) and nearly upstaged by the entrees sea-imbued mussel custard.
Fish and seafood are my preferred destinations at Mirabelle, which is not to say I didnt appreciate encountering a classic like crab-topped veal Oscar or guinea hen served as a juniper-sauced breast alongside a plump sausage made with leg meat and foie gras (and a crack too much pepper). Beef tri-tip braised in syrah and presented with crisp, creamy-centered polenta sticks went down like Sunday supper in the hands of Escoffier.
Chin is one of the best things to happen to pastry in Washington since Roland Mesnier was spinning wonders from sugar and butter at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. I pledge allegiance to her many-layered crepe cake and elegant fruit tarts, one day golden raspberries arranged on citrus curd in a band of pate sucree (sweet pastry). But, she, too, has sent some head-scratchers out of the kitchen. Black Forest cake is a classic best left as it is. The twist I sampled at Mirabelle was presented in bits and pieces and Valrhona chocolate squiggles: deconstructed, in other words. Et tu, Aggie?
Service, at least for the time being, is a standout at Mirabelle. (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post)
Shortly after I completed my review visits at Mirabelle, and with a photographer scheduled to record the restaurant, I got The Call, or rather, The Text. Without going into specifics, Knowles wanted to inform me that she was parting ways with her employer.
The news gave me pause. Mirabelle without Knowles sounded like Ben minus Jerry. Then again, she hired and trained the dining room staff, and I have to believe they wont unlearn their lines or forget their moves in her absence. Pros dont let their guards down just because they get a new boss, or so Im betting. And heres hoping bartender Zach Faden, who took my request for something tart and spicy and refreshing, and turned it into a pisco cocktail with earthy rhum agricole, lime and hellfire shrub, sticks around for future asks. (Knowles has since taken a position with top chef Mike Isabella, who hired her to be the general manager of the future Requin at the Districts Wharf and oversee wine and service throughout his restaurant collection.)
Remembrances of meals past at Palena, one of the saddest restaurant goodbyes in recent years, revolved around fabulous food served by adequate servers in ordinary quarters. Mirabelle, some of us hoped, would check off all the important boxes. Right now, its a wondrous beauty watched over by a solicitous bunch, with food that needs to soar higher to justify the price of admission.
A cake arrives at the Chefs for Equality event at Union Market in Washington. The annual fundraiser supports same-sex marriage, which faces a Supreme Court challenge from a Colorado baker. Essdras M Suarez For the Washington Post)
Let them eat cake. Let everybody eat cake!
In the pastry world, wedding cakes are the epitome of love and celebration, not a political statement. But this is 2017, and even a cake can be controversial: This fall, the Supreme Court will hear the case of a Colorado baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple based on his religious beliefs.
Which brought us to a delicious counterprotest with the theme Who Can Resist! in the form of 18 multitiered cakes at Tuesdays sixth annual Chefs for Equality party at Dock 5 in Union Market.
If you like cake and dessert and want to get married or celebrate anything, you should be able to get it as long as you pay for it, right? said Tressa Wiles of Bayou Bakery, who has created a cake for the event every year. Wiles says that she has never turned down a cake order and is behind the Colorado couple 100 percent. They wanted their damn cake, and they couldnt get it. They just wanted to be happy and celebrate. This baker kind of ruined it for them, she said.
Wiles made a blue-and-yellow cake the colors of the Human Rights Campaign, host of the fundraiser for this years party. The cakes were displayed along the back wall of the converted warehouse space, most of them variations on a rainbow: Multicolored hearts, flowers and Fluffy Thoughts Cakes inventive play on cake as the ultimate dessert: an oversized purple layer cake topped with a slice of blueberry pie, a green macaron, a yellow pastry and a red cupcake all rendered in cake, fondant and edible glitter.
A table for 18, with dinner prepared by celebrity chefs, went for $30,000. Essdras M Suarez For the Washington Post)
This party was founded in 2012 when Washington food writer David Hagedorn teamed up with the HRC to benefit Marylands Question 6, the states same-sex marriage law. Hagedorn wanted the event to be fabulously chic, so he recruited Amaryllis Floral & Event Design, the Ritz-Carlton, and dozens of local chefs and bartenders to participate. They named the event Chefs for Equality for marriage equality, but also for other issues facing the LGBTQ community.
The format was simple: a few tables for high-ticket dinners (now $10,000 to $30,000 a table) prepared by chefs, 50 or so tasting stations prepared by local restaurants, designer cocktails, live auctions, drag queens and dancing.
And wedding cakes an entire wall of them, symbolizing both the purpose of the party and the optimism that same-sex marriage would be recognized nationwide.
A creation by Laura Stein of Fluffy Thoughts Cakes. Essdras M Suarez For the Washington Post)
The event was a success and was held annually for the next four years with plenty to celebrate: The Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013 and in 2015 ruled that states could not ban same-sex marriage. Polls showed that public support for same-sex marriage was growing faster than anyone had dared dream.
And then Donald Trump was elected president, and the Supreme Court agreed to hear Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, a lawsuit to determine whether a business can deny service to same-sex couples based on religious beliefs.
[Supreme Court to take case of baker who refuse a cake to a gay couple]
We knew we still had a long way to go in terms of equality, but the outlook was positive, said Hagedorn. And then the rug was pulled out from under us. But as LBGTQ people, were used to having the rug pulled out from under us, and we know it can happen at any moment.
The case coming to the Supreme Court would have huge ramifications if we lose, he said.
The case originated in 2012, after David Mullins and Charlie Craig asked Colorado baker Jack Phillips to make a cake for their wedding reception. Phillips refused, saying that he believed marriage should be restricted to a man and a woman and that creating a cake for a gay wedding would violate his Christian faith.
Mullins and Craig sued based on Colorados anti-discrimination laws, which prevent businesses open to the public from refusing service based on race, gender, marital status or sexual orientation.
The case rests on a First Amendment argument: Phillips claims forcing him to sell wedding cakes to same-sex-couples violates his right to free speech. He lost in Colorado courts, which ruled that providing a wedding cake was a business transaction, not a personal endorsement of any specific marriage, and that Phillips was free to express his faith in other ways.
Catherine George of Catherine George Cakes created this Washington-inspired design. Essdras M Suarez For the Washington Post)
But in June, the Supreme Court agreed to take the case and is expected to hear arguments in November. LGBTQ activists fear that a ruling in favor of Phillips would allow legal discrimination from bakers, florists, restaurants, photographers, jewelers and any other business based on a claim of religious belief. The Justice Department recently filed an amicus brief supporting Phillipss argument.
[Justice Department sides with baker who refuse to make cake for gay couple]
This is uncharted territory for bakers, who are in the business of making cakes for anyone with a sweet tooth and a reason to celebrate. As the legendary Julia Child once said, A party without cake is just a meeting.
So we had to ask: Have you ever turned down an order?
Not one, said the bakers.
Would you make a cake for Attorney General Jeff Sessions, given his departments support of Phillips?
Absolutely! said Wiles. No questions asked. Zero.
Tiffany MacIsaac of Buttercream Bakeshop said that she was recently faced for the first time in her career as a pastry chef with an order that she wasn't quite comfortable with. (She declined to share the details of that order, but last January, MacIsaac was involved in a minor controversy over a cake her shop made for one of Donald Trump's inaugural balls.)
We wanted to be inclusive, because we dont believe that anyone should ever be discriminated against if they have a different opinion than us, she said. We made the cake and donated the proceeds to a charity we felt strongly about. So if Jeff Sessions wanted a cake, I would make him the best cake I could possibly make and then I might just give that money to a charity. You cant expect tolerance if youre not tolerant as well, no matter how hard it is.
Besides, cake is supposed to bring people together, right?
This event is about not discriminating and accepting all human beings, said Heidi Kabath of the Ritz-Carlton. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and as long as my opinions are respected, I should respect yours as well.
And everyone should eat cake.
China is discussing a plan to allow foreign carmakers to set up wholly owned electric-vehicle businesses in its free-trade zones in a major revision of a fundamental principle governing the countrys auto industry policy since the 1990s, according to company officials briefed on the matter.
The plan, which is subject to change as a final decision hasnt been made, could be put in place as early as next year, the people said, asking not to be identified as the deliberations are private. If the policy takes effect, it would be a landmark departure from the existing rules, which require foreign automakers to set up joint ventures with local counterparts.
A relaxation of the joint venture rule would give companies like Tesla Inc. the opportunity to set up fully owned manufacturing operations in China, the worlds biggest market for electric vehicles. Ford Motor Co. is exploring setting up a joint venture to produce electric vehicles in China with Anhui Zotye Automobile Co. while Volkswagen AG has partnered with Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp. to make electric cars.
Chinas Ministry of Commerce, which is responsible for formulating policy governing foreign direct investments, said in an emailed response to Bloomberg News that it will actively implement the opening up of the new-energy manufacturing sector to foreigners, together with other departments under the direction of the State Council.
The ministry also referred to a notice issued in August by the State Council, or cabinet, in which it directed government agencies to broaden foreign investor access to areas including new-energy vehicle manufacturing.
China has been gradually opening up access to foreign auto manufacturers in free-trade zones. Foreign companies were allowed to set up 100 percent owned motorcycle and battery manufacturing operations in China since July 2016. The so-called 50-50 rule for Sino-foreign joint ventures was introduced in 1994 to ensure that Chinas then-fledgling auto industry can benefit from technology transfer by jointly operating factories with global auto companies such as Volkswagen and General Motors Co.
Xu Shaoshi, then-chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, said in June 2016 that the government is looking into lifting the 50 percent ownership cap. The policy has been criticized in recent years for shielding state-owned companies from competition and reducing the drive to build their own brands. Its supporters say the rule gives Chinas automakers a chance to build enough scale and develop technology to withstand global competition.
Billionaire Elon Musks Tesla said in June that its working with the Shanghai government to explore local production. Shanghai has one of the 11 free-trade zones in China. The others are in provinces including Fujian, Guangdong and Zhejiang.
Even as a rising wave of governments and automakers get behind plug-in electric vehicles, Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda said yesterday that hybrid technology will remain central to his companys strategy.
With hybrid technology at the center, Toyota will offer fuel-cell vehicles, plug-in hybrids, gasoline cars, and although were a little bit late electric vehicles, Toyoda said. Were not thinking about deciding that now it must be EVs, and well only do EVs.
Battery-powered cars and gas-electric plug-in hybrids are poised to grow so fast that, by 2040, theyll make up more than half of vehicles sold globally, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Bloomberg
Foreign governments, beware.
D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) on Tuesday filed a bill directing the city to make a list of run-down properties owned by foreign governments and release it publicly.
About the same time, the State Department responded to a plea for action from Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), the Districts nonvoting representative in Congress, and said it was ready to aggressively engage foreign countries with derelict properties in the nations capital.
The action comes after a spate of complaints about dilapidated buildings from residents of Northwest Washingtons Sheridan-Kalorama area, which is home to many embassies and foreign offices including about a half-dozen that have fallen into disrepair.
City officials have heard about problematic properties for years but are essentially powerless to regulate the embassies, which are considered foreign soil and are not subject to zoning and building codes that govern other real estate in the city. Foreign embassies and missions are also exempt from property taxes.
Argentinas R Street NW property, seen from the back. (Salwan Georges/The Washington Post)
Only properties stripped of their diplomatic status by the State Department are subject to taxes and city regulations.
Under Mendelsons bill, the citys Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs would produce a list every six months of vacant or blighted properties still under diplomatic protection and seek the federal governments help.
[Only in D.C.: What to do when your neighbor is a foreign government]
Mendelson said his goal is to get embassies to clean up their crumbling properties.
Lets be clear this is not about a functioning embassy, rather its about abandoned property, Mendelson said in a statement. The hope is that this legislation will keep the city safe and clean for the neighbors of these vacant and blighted properties.
In a letter to Norton last week, a State Department official said that buildings owned by several countries, including Pakistan and Argentina, have lost diplomatic protections.
For example, the Argentine government gave its embassy permission to sell the countrys dilapidated property at 2136 R St. NW and others the country owns in the District, the letter says.
Alan and Irene Wurtzel, who live next to the R Street property, have watched the building deteriorate since 1994 and have found rats in their basement that they suspect came from the vacant building. They said they are hopeful that something will finally be done.
I think its wonderful that we were able to have this interest in it, Irene Wurtzel, a playwright, said Tuesday. Were feeling a little more optimistic than we did.
In its letter to Norton, the State Department listed other properties that have been the subject of complaints and provided an update:
The Egyptian Embassy, which owns the building at 5500 16th St. NW, recently awarded a contract to renovate the property.
The State Department has given the Iraqi Embassy until Oct. 31 to start renovations of its property at 3110 Woodland Dr. NW or risk removal of the buildings diplomatic status.
Serbias building at 2221 R St. NW, recognizable by its facade of peeling white paint, has been vacant since the 1992 breakup of Yugoslavia. But Serbia doesnt have the money to renovate it, according to the State Department, which is working with the embassy on alternatives.
The Sri Lankan Embassy plans to use its building at 2148 Wyoming Ave. NW as an annex, and the United States has reinstated its diplomatic status. Without that protection, a foreign government would be taxed at the residential or commercial rate of up to $1.85 per $100 of assessed value or face vacant or blighted rates of $5 and $10 per $100 of assessed value, respectively.
With the understanding that there are practical limits that interfere with our ability to confidently ensure desired outcomes with respect to these types of situations, Charles S. Faulkner, of the State Departments Bureau of Legislative Affairs, wrote to Norton, please know that the [State Department Office of Foreign Missions] stands ready to aggressively engage foreign missions with respect to these members.
Norton thanked the State Department and said the city and federal government which do not see eye to eye on plenty of other issues should keep pressure on foreign countries to maintain their properties in the District.
When buildings fall into a visible state of disrepair, she said in a statement, it hurts our neighborhood not just by depressing nearby property values, but also increasing health and safety risks. Taking a two-pronged approach at the federal and local levels will hopefully lead to action.
Lena Geller, 18, of Durham, N.C., a freshman at George Washington University, with her KitchenAid mixer in her dorm room. (Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)
Lena Geller makes cakes. Cakes with flowers. Truly clever cakes, with insults spelled out in bright colors. Lovely cakes with layers and berries.
So when the George Washington University freshman moved from Durham, N.C., to the school's Foggy Bottom campus in August, she brought her light blue mixer and loads of baking supplies. And this month, she was featured in the school's student newspaper, the Hatchet, which chronicled the arrival of the baking business she'd hoped to run out of her residence hall's kitchen.
Then she got an email from her resident adviser.
And she was like, just a heads up, if you read the housing agreement, it says that you arent allowed to run a business from the residence hall, she said. Which makes sense, I guess.
Yeah, okay, actually, it does. But from the universitys perspective, theres more to it than that.
GW loves that spirit of innovation for our students, said Peter Konwerski, vice provost and dean of student affairs. Anytime a student comes especially a freshman student whos really passionate about something, we want to support them. I think at the same time . . . theres a teachable moment here.
[What does a full ride to George Washington University look like? This.]
Generally, Konwerski said, the university has policies and procedures to protect the campus community. In this case, GWU wants to work with Geller to help her learn about the school and the city and the ordinances she might need to know.
Its probably different when you prepare food for friends than when you actually operate a business, he said. And these are things that the D.C. government would set, not necessarily the university. But to help her be successful, we want her to understand that.
There also are questions of liability, he said.
But, in case anyone thinks otherwise, this does not appear to be some David vs. Goliath conflict, pitting Geller, 18, against a coldhearted, cake-hating institution.
Im the dean of students, so Im inspired by students every day, Konwerski said. I want to help them achieve their aspirations and dreams.
Geller met with a university official last week. It went better than she expected.
Im super surprised, she said. I thought that they were going to yell at me.
The official said he would check for on-campus kitchens that Geller could use, she said. He had culinary training himself, so he also had local connections he could explore, according to Geller. The two also discussed food safety, training and making sure the kitchen she uses is certified.
There are parts of the university that could help Geller, the dean said, such as the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which regularly works with students. And there are faculty and staff members who support an incubator culture, something the university encourages, he said.
[Teens have long agonized over college. Now they must make their choice.]
It was about eighth grade when Geller began baking more intensely. She learned through YouTube tutorials and food blogs, plus there was a phase when she would camp out in Barnes & Nobles cookbook section every day and read.
It lets me be creative, she said. I really enjoy art, and my preferred medium is food. Its really rewarding for me to give people baked goods.
She turned the hobby into a business a few years ago, when she was in high school. Before that, she had been giving away the treats she baked. And people were like, You could really just sell this, she said. Her first event was a prom after-party. She made cake pops decorated like tuxedos and dresses. From there, word spread.
Her prices: $30 for a standard six-inch layer cake; $120 for a sheet cake, which serves 85 to 100 people. Cookies were $1 each.
Her business, called Lenas Lunchbox, grew over the years, but as Gellers start date for college approached, she realized she might have to leave it behind, which saddened her. Still, she hauled kitchen gear to college, because she knew she would want to bake, regardless of whether the finished products were for sale.
[Inside the admissions process at George Washington University]
After she arrived at the university, Geller made a chocolate layer cake and raffled it off. She decorated the door to her dorm room with photos of her cakes.
Geller keeps baking supplies in the dorm room she shares with her roommate: piping tips, dye colors, a cake ring, pans, a turntable, mixer attachments. A string of lights hangs above her bed, and below it, there is a crate packed with ingredients. The residence hall kitchen isnt exactly spacious or state of the art, but it gets the job done.
Theres not much counter space, Geller said. But the oven works well, theres a microwave and stovetop. Theres no dishwasher, so I have to do everything by hand. But its a pretty decent kitchen.
Since arriving at GWU, Geller has knocked out some red velvet cupcakes and chocolate chip cookies, and shes also made a few layer cakes, efforts she completed on top of the whole freshman-starting-college thing.
Geller, who is majoring in journalism and mass communication, said she has been accepted as a writer for the Hatchet, the student newspaper. And shes participating in GW-TV, a student-run television station. Oh, also, she has classes.
At least for now, Lenas Lunchbox is stalled. Geller had been turning down orders and wasnt going to start taking them again until she figured out a legal solution. But after her meeting with the university official, she said, the business was definitely still there.
Its not dead, she said. I would say its alive and well and will be growing.
Nearly two-thirds of students who entered the University of Texas at Austin as freshmen in 2013 graduated on time, reflecting significant improvement for the states flagship campus amid a national push to get more students through college in four years.
Data released Wednesday show that UT-Austins four-year graduation rate rose from 52 percent in 2013 to 66 percent this year. The growth spanned racial groups and family income levels, the university said. Students whose finances made them eligible for Pell Grants made especially large gains, narrowing historic gaps in degree attainment.
[Selective colleges pledge to recruit more low-income students]
The increases were significant because while the traditional path to a bachelors degree is four years, most students around the country take longer. That extra time can add to their financial expense and their risk of dropping out.
The latest available national data show that 40 percent of those who started as first-time, full-time freshmen in 2009 finished at their original school by 2013. The four-year graduation rate was lower for public colleges: 35 percent.
The prolonging of undergraduate studies is so common that higher education leaders often use six years instead of four as the benchmark for measuring graduation rates. But that comes with a cost. Time is the enemy of college completion, said Tom Sugar, president of Complete College America, an Indiana nonprofit that works with states to expand the share of the population with college degrees. The longer it takes, the more life gets in the way, and the more expensive college becomes.
UT-Austin, with more than 40,000 undergraduates, is one of the largest state flagship universities in the nation. Roughly half of its students are Hispanic, Asian, black or multiracial. Nearly one-quarter qualify for Pell Grants. The estimated cost for tuition, fees, housing, food, books and other expenses for an in-state student from Texas is about $25,000 a year, if the student does not receive financial aid. That works out to roughly $100,000 for a bachelors degree, assuming four years of study.
[Nations prominent public universities shift to out-of-state students]
But until recently, nearly half of UT-Austins incoming freshmen were on a trajectory to take longer and, ultimately, pay more. So the university decided about five years ago to try to speed things up.
First, the university set an expectation for all students, starting at freshman orientation, that they must stay on track to graduate on time. Eight semesters and out. Too often in the past, UT-Austin students seemed content with a slower pace, university President Gregory L. Fenves said. He said a common attitude was: Dont take a full load. Youll get better grades. Now, there is more urgency.
Second, UT-Austin looked to eliminate bottlenecks that students encounter when required courses fill up. It created a graduation help desk hotline. Students call in and say, I really need this class for graduation, but there are no seats. How can you help me? UT-Austin Provost Maurie McInnis said.
Third, the school mined data to identify the profile of students at risk of falling off track, and it gave them more social and academic support. One program, called the University Leadership Network, provides hundreds of students with mentors, help finding internships and other training focused on careers and academics. The goal, McInnis said, is for them to learn how to navigate a big, complex place.
For many students nationwide, financial needs dictate the pace of education. Often, they must hold a part-time job, live with parents and take out loans to pay college bills. McInnis acknowledged that sometimes money is an issue for UT-Austin students from poor families because financial aid does not necessarily cover the full cost of attendance.
[How financial need sways graduation rates, and which schools beat the odds]
But the results released Wednesday show that UT-Austin is making strides with that group. Fifty-nine percent of Pell-eligible students who entered UT-Austin as freshmen in 2013 graduated on time this year, up from 40 percent four years ago. During that time, the gap in on-time graduate rates between Pell and non-Pell students was cut in half, to eight percentage points. The trend was similar for students whose parents did not graduate from college.
Among major public flagships, federal data show the University of Virginia has the highest four-year graduation rate: 88 percent for freshmen who entered in 2010. Others with high rates include the universities of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (84 percent), Michigan at Ann Arbor (77 percent) and California at Berkeley (76 percent). The rate for the University of Maryland at College Park is 69 percent.
Fenves said his goal is an on-time graduation rate of 70 percent.
Moving students through more quickly has an added benefit, Fenves said: It frees up as many as 1,000 additional seats a year for a freshman class that now totals about 8,400. We have become a more efficient university, Fenves said. We have increased access to the university at essentially the same cost.
Students appreciate efficiency, too. Norman Nguyen, 21, a biochemistry major, plans to graduate in December after 3 years. He came to UT-Austin with credits through Advanced Placement classes in high school and has not dawdled. Sometimes, I think maybe I should stay an extra semester to enjoy the full four-year experience, Nguyen said. But then he thinks about the money hed have to pay for spring semester. Better for me to save the extra $5,000-plus, he said.
A cart catches the flushable wipes the kind used by potty-training toddlers, hospitals, nursing homes and people looking for something advertised as more thorough than toilet paper. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)
The question of whether flushable wipes used by potty-training toddlers and people looking beyond traditional toilet paper are clogging sewer systems will be hashed out in federal court, where a manufacturer has sued the District over a new city law regulating when such wipes can be labeled flushable.
Dallas-based Kimberly-Clark Corp., which manufactures Cottonelle, Scott Naturals and Pull-Ups flushable wipes, alleges the D.C. law the first of its kind in the United States is unconstitutional because it tries to regulate businesses beyond the city. The company also alleges the law violates the First Amendment because it could require companies that believe their wipes to be flushable to label their products as do not flush.
In seeking this court intervention, Kimberly-Clark is fighting for our consumers and standing up for our brands, company spokesman Bob Brand said in an email. The District of Columbia has unfortunately passed a law that will severely restrict, if not eliminate, consumers ability to purchase flushable wipes in Washington D.C.
[Back away from the toilet: Utilities ask customers not to flush wipes]
The law, which takes effect Jan. 1, came in response to complaints from D.C. Water and sewer utilities nationwide that flushable wipes are jamming pumps, blocking screens and clogging equipment at sewage treatment plants. The problem costs U.S. utilities up to $1 billion annually, according to the National Association of Clean Water Agencies.
The issue drew international attention a few years ago, when a 15-ton glob of wipes and hardened cooking grease the size of a bus and nicknamed Fatberg by the Brits was discovered blocking a London sewer pipe.
The D.C. law requires wipes sold in the city be labeled flushable only if they break apart in a short period of time after flushing in the low-force conditions of a sewer system. Wipes that dont meet that standard the city hasnt yet proposed detailed regulations must be clearly and conspicuously labeled as something that should not be flushed.
[Flushable wipes might need to meet new standard for D.C. toilets]
D.C. Council member Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3), who sponsored the legislation, called Kimberly-Clarks lawsuit sort of ridiculous.
Cheh, who teaches constitutional law at George Washington University, said local and state governments routinely pass consumer protection laws that affect out-of-state companies. Courts give wide latitude in such cases, she said, as long as a law doesnt discriminate against certain companies.
Were not banning these wipes, Cheh said. Lets be really clear about that. Were just saying they should tell the truth and shouldnt label them as flushable when theyre not.
Cheh said the wipes industry is attacking the law because its the first attempt to regulate what qualifies as flushable, and companies are concerned other governments will follow suit. A similar proposal recently died in the Maryland General Assembly. Cheh noted wipes companies unsuccessfully lobbied Congress to kill the D.C. law.
[To wipe or not to wipe? Some in Congress eye D.C.s flushability law.]
The lawsuit, which was filed Friday in U.S. District Court, names the city; Mayor Muriel E. Bowser; city Attorney General Karl A. Racine; Tommy Wells, director of the D.C. Department of Energy & Environment; and D.C. Water.
A spokesman for Racine said he couldnt comment on a pending lawsuit, and a D.C. Water spokesman declined to comment.
In its complaint, Kimberly-Clark said it has spent millions of dollars and over two decades of study to develop wipes that lose strength once they hit toilet water and become increasingly likely to break into pieces as they move through home plumbing and sewer pipes.
President Trumps supporters rallied near the Washington Monument. Insane Clown Posse fans marched by the Lincoln Memorial. Counterprotesters gathered at Farragut Square, while other liberal protesters were in front of the White House. Nearby were 5K races, weddings and a Latin American Fiesta parade all sharing space this past Saturday around the Mall.
The convergence of more than 30 events and thousands of people on the same day in the nations capital resulted in no arrests or notable incidents, police said.
D.C. officials say it is the sign of a successful day a day for which law enforcement spent months preparing to ensure safety. While last months deadly protest in Charlottesville highlighted what critics called lapses in law enforcement, officials in the nations capital say the smoothness of last weekends events shows how Washington is uniquely qualified to handle multiple simultaneous rallies, including those with competing political ideologies.
[In the nations capital of rallies, a day full of them featured Trump sentiments and Juggalos]
Brian Baker, interim director of the citys Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, said officials treated Saturday as they would any major-event day in the nations capital, such as Memorial Day, July 4 or a presidential inauguration. The Mall looked like an open-air barricaded city with U.S. Park Police officers in large numbers and D.C. police officers in cars and on foot, motorcycles, bicycles and horses.
People participate in the Juggalo March on Washington along the Reflecting Pool near the Lincoln Memorial on Sept. 16. (Astrid Riecken/For The Washington Post)
On some sections of the Mall, the security presence appeared to dwarf the number of people participating in activities.
Local officials had requested that the D.C. National Guard assist with security. The Guard provided dump trucks that blocked nearly every street adjacent to the Mall to restrict vehicular access to areas with large numbers of pedestrians. D.C.s Department of Public Works also provided trucks their presence seemingly becoming the new normal around the Mall when events draw large crowds.
[Who were the clowns marching on Washington?]
We know a major threat worldwide when you have these big events is people using cars as weapons, Baker said.
Police broke up minor scuffles at the site of the Mother of All Rallies, a pro-Trump event, before they could escalate. The rally drew only a few hundred people, rather than the 5,000 that its National Park Service permit allowed. On top of that, it did not appear that protesters were looking for a fight. Counterprotesters stuck mostly to Farragut Square and marched to the White House, not the Washington Monument.
Peter Boykin, who attended the Mother of All Rallies and is president of the Gays for Trump group, said before the event that he did not expect D.C. officials to allow mayhem.
In Washington, D.C., police do their jobs, so Im not worried about major fights with outside groups, he said.
While Washington has the resources to manage larger-scale events, the city has run into controversy for its handling of past demonstrations.
In 2002, police arrested nearly 400 largely peaceful protesters at Pershing Park, leading to lawsuits and costs to the District upward of $11 million. Police surrounded the park and ordered demonstrators to leave, but officers gave them no way to move out.
At Trumps inauguration in January, police arrested more than 200 people in downtown Washington during a violent and destructive demonstration against Trumps presidency. The American Civil Liberties Union sued D.C. police, accusing authorities of arresting innocent people and detaining them for up to 16 hours without access to food, water and bathroom facilities.
[ACLU sues D.C. police over arrests during inauguration disturbance]
The Districts deputy mayor for public safety said the city has earned its reputation of being able to handle competing events. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) and Police Chief Peter Newsham meet weekly and had flagged Saturdays events several months ago. Police also scoured social media and websites for clues about who would attend and what their plans would be.
We have organizations in D.C. on the local and federal side that are accustomed to very busy weekends with a lot of events, and the muscle memory to responding to it gets reinforced on a regular basis, and its strongest on the mid-level ranks who are always out there, said Kevin Donahue, the deputy mayor for public safety.
He said officials were in frequent contact with permit-holders to determine how many people they expected and the messages of their events. Officials tried to glean lessons from Charlottesville, Donahue said, although they would have communicated with rally organizers even if the violence last month in Charlottesville had not occurred.
We talked to organizers of permitted and unpermitted events and shared our expectations and engendered a sense of safety, he said.
D.C. Assistant Police Chief Jeffery Carroll, who manages the departments Homeland Security Bureau, said one complicated aspect of a protest-filled weekend is resource allocation. In addition to events on the Mall, police also had to patrol the popular H Street Festival in Northeast, which attracted thousands of people.
Police also must take into account medical problems that may arise, such as dehydration, while also having resources available for standard 911 calls.
We made no arrests, and our goal is to make no arrests. We want to manage the crowds and have safe events, Carroll said. Thats a good result for us.
The city probably will be reimbursed by the federal government for some security costs incurred Saturday. In 2016, the federal government reimbursed the District $13.7 million for its role in providing security at protests and other events.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) attends the 2017 Busboys and Poets Peace Ball: Voices of Hope and Resistance, on Jan. 19 at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington. (Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)
The event in the Washington suburb of Silver Spring was billed as a public forum on Medicaid in the state of Maryland.
But with Republicans just 10 miles away in the U.S. Senate working to undo Obamacare, it more closely resembled a campaign rally for the resistance. Religious, medical and political leaders took turns at a lectern, urging residents to fight the bill known as Graham-Cassidy, and teary-eyed Medicaid beneficiaries told their stories.
U.S. Rep. Jamie B. Raskin (D-Md.) denounced the latest Republican effort to gut the federal Affordable Care Act, calling it "Trumpcare" and a "mutating monstrosity" like the final scene in the horror movie "Carrie," in which a "bloody hand emerges from the ground again."
Stay in your seats, dont leave until this movie is over, Raskin told the crowd of about 100 at the Silver Spring Civic Center, noting that if the Senate passes the Cassidy-Graham bill by its Sept. 30 deadline, the next stop will be the House.
Over the summer, the House passed a different GOP health-care bill, despite defections of moderates such as Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.). She has not publicly stated her position on the Cassidy-Graham measure.
Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced his opposition to the legislation Tuesday, as did a bipartisan group of governors from 10 states, including Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D).
Rep. Andy Harris, the only Republican member of Marylands eight-person delegation, said through a spokeswoman that he supports the Graham-Cassidy.
Before the audience in Silver Spring, Raskin asked who was unaware of the bills provisions, and about half of the attendees raised their hands.
Thats the way they designed it, he said. They dont want anybody to know about it.
As Raskin explained that the bill would roll back Medicaid expansion and replace it with a block grant, give states permission to erase preexisting-condition requirements and institute lifetime limits on coverage, a woman said aloud, Oh no.
Uma Ahluwalia, director of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, said the Obama-era Affordable Care Act helped reduce the county's uninsured population from 11.5 percent to 5.7 percent, and insured about 62,000 residents.
Medicaid expansion has been an absolute gift to those in Maryland and for us in Montgomery County, she said.
Alvin T. Butler Sr., 62, of Bowie, Md., said he went without health care for the first time in 45 years last spring when his wife lost her job at Whole Foods.
They signed up for insurance through Marylands exchange and paid a low premium they could afford. Soon after that, he began experiencing shortness of breath. His doctor immediately sent him to a cardiologist, who in turn sent him to the emergency room.
Before he knew it, he was at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for a triple bypass.
If I didnt have insurance, theres no way I would have gone to the doctor for it, Butler said. We couldnt afford it. . . . If sharing my story can help save the Maryland health-care system, it is the least I can do for the program that saved me.
The Rev. Abhi Janamanchi, senior minister of Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church in Bethesda, said that on his drive to the forum, he heard a story on public radio about how Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) and former senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) hatched the current bill while getting haircuts in the Capitol barbershop. The crowd groaned.
Health care is a fundamental human right, he said, prompting applause. He beckoned the audience to repeat those words back to him.
We need to be rising up again and again and again to make sure once again this cynical attempt is not only thwarted but put to bed, he said.
THE DISTRICT
Man is charged with
killing stepbrother
D.C. police have charged a man with fatally shooting his stepbrother in the head last week in Northwest Washington during what authorities said was an argument over snitching.
Antonio Williams, 36, of Northwest, was charged with second-degree murder while armed. He was arrested Monday by members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force.
The shooting occurred about 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 10 in an apartment building in the 600 block of Newton Place NW, in the Park View neighborhood.
The victim was identified by police as the suspects stepbrother, Antwaun Smith, 41, of Northwest. Police said he was shot once in the head with a .45-caliber handgun and was pronounced dead on the scene.
An arrest affidavit filed Tuesday in D.C. Superior Court said Williams thought his stepbrother had cooperated with police in the investigation of a recent robbery because Williams got a longer sentence.
Man in Georgetown
shooting is arrested
A suspect sought in the fatal shooting of a Maryland man and the wounding of another person in Georgetown in July has been arrested in West Virginia and extradited to the District, police said Tuesday.
Demarius Anton Jackson, 24, of Hyattsville, Md., was charged with second-degree murder while armed in the July 8 shooting, which occurred about 2:50 a.m. in the 3500 block of Water Street NW.
The victim was identified as Kennedy Javier Amaya-Olivares, 19, of Severn, Md. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The second victim, who was not identified, was hospitalized.
Police issued a warrant for Jacksons arrest in August and found him in Morgantown, W.Va., on Sept. 12. He was returned to the District on Tuesday.
Authorities have not described a possible motive.
MARYLAND
3 men are charged
in killing of teenager
Two brothers and another man were arrested and charged in connection with the killing of a teenager over the weekend in Riverdale, Md., authorities said.
Police in Prince Georges County arrested Carlos Cardenas-Banegas, 29, and Wilfredo Cardenas-Banegas, both of Riverdale, along with Kevin Soriana-Hernand, 18, of Landover Hills. They are charged with first- and second-degree murder in the death of 19-year-old Carlos Garita-Salazar, who was also from Landover Hills.
MARYLAND
Pigs shown at fair
are sick with swine flu
Pigs that were recently exhibited at a county fair in Maryland are sick with swine flu.
State officials said in a statement Wednesday that its not yet known whether humans are vulnerable to this particular strain. An investigation is underway.
The pigs were at the Charles County Fair in La Plata, which is an hour south of Washington.
Marylands health department said it is rare for pig influenza to infect people, but it is possible. So is the limited spread of swine flu among humans.
Since 2005, more than 400 human cases of swine flu have been reported in the United States. Twenty cases have occurred this year in states other than Maryland.
Symptoms can include fever, cough and sore throat. Prescription drugs can treat swine flu in people.
Associated Press
VIRGINIA
Woman charged with
stealing church money
Fairfax County police said Tuesday that a volunteer at Queen of Apostles Catholic Church on Sano Street in the Alexandria area of the county has been arrested in connection with the loss of several thousand dollars.
According to police, a volunteer from the parish office got in touch with authorities on Sept. 7 to report suspicions that another volunteer was taking cash from the churchs weekly collection while the money was being counted.
Police said detectives who set up a surveillance operation saw someone pocketing money from the collection while serving as a volunteer. In a statement Tuesday, police said Sandra Irene Cortes, 53, of Annandale was arrested and charged with three counts of grand larceny.
The parish said the arrest was made Sunday.
In its statement, the parish said it noticed unusual activity that indicated cash may have been taken from the Sunday collections and made a brief internal investigation in collaboration with the finance office of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington.
The parish said it hoped that restitution would be made.
In the statement, the parish said that the church and the diocese are fully committed to ensuring that funds provided for use in parish operations and in charitable ministries are protected. It said it would continue reviewing procedures to find ways to improve them.
Martin Weil
The disease of sticky fingers has long been known to people in and out of law enforcement, and according to the Fairfax County police, it may even have afflicted someone who worked as a volunteer at a church.
The county police said Tuesday that a volunteer at Queen of Apostles Church on Sano Street in the Alexandria area of the county has been arrested in connection with the loss of several thousand dollars.
According to the police, a volunteer from the parish office got in touch with authorities on Sept. 7 to report suspicions that another volunteer was taking cash from the churchs weekly collection while the money was being counted.
Police said detectives who set up a surveillance operation saw someone pocketing money from the collection while serving as a volunteer. In a statement issued Tuesday, police said Sandra Irene Cortes, 53, of Annandale was arrested and charged with three counts of grand larceny.
The parish said the arrest came Sunday.
In its statement, the parish said it had noticed unusual activity that indicated some cash may have been taken from the Sunday collections and made a brief internal investigation in collaboration with the finance office of the diocese of Arlington.
The parish said it hoped that restitution would be made.
In the statement, the parish said that the church and the diocese are fully committed to ensuring that funds provided for use in parish operations and in charitable ministries are protected. It said it would continue reviewing procedures to find ways of improving.
China is racing to finish one of the biggest hydro-power projects in Pakistan ahead of schedule, yet its location in the long-contested region of Kashmir will draw ire from India.
Construction on the 720 megawatt Karot power station being built on Jhelum river began in December 2016 and looks set to finish nine months ahead of its December 2021 completion date, a first for a Pakistan hydro-project said Qin Guobin, chief executive officer of the state-owned China Three Gorges Corp. South Asia Investment Ltd. The company has put in place an aggressive strategy to cut the projects financing costs.
For us, Pakistan is a strategic market, Qin said at the site. If we managed to complete it earlier we can save financing costs and make it more competitive.
Pakistans energy demand is expected to grow by 6 percent to 35,000 megawatts by 2024 as its population of more than 200 million people grows along with the economy. For more than a decade, its been struggling to overcome daily power shortages that have left industry and residents in the dark.
China has stepped in to meet some of those shortages, financing projects worth more than USD50 billion in an economic corridor that runs through Pakistan. The route is part of Chinese President Xi Jinpings Belt-And-
Road plan to connect Asia with Europe and Africa with a web of ports, railways and highways links for trade.
Three Gorges focus in Pakistan is clean energy and it has a $6 billion portfolio in three hydro and three solar power plants. The Karot hydro-power project is in the Pakistan-administrated part of Kashmir, which India and Pakistan both claim and have fought two wars over since independence in 1947.
Indias foreign ministry said its views on Pakistans illegal occupation of Kashmir is a matter of record.
We have objected, they have proceeded nevertheless, said G. Parthasarathy, a former Indian high commissioner to Pakistan. This has been going on since the 1960s and 1970s, when they built the Karakoram highway that links Pakistan with China through the disputed territory, he said.
China has a neutral stance on the Kashmir dispute, said Zhao Gancheng, director of the Center for South Asia Studies at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies. The Belt and Road initiative cannot be delayed or sidetracked by the territorial disputes.
Relations between China and India hit a recent low during a dispute between a three-way junction between Bhutan, Chinas Tibet and Indias Sikkim, which was resolved with both sides standing down in August.
More broadly, New Delhi is wary of Chinese investments in neighboring countries such as Pakistan and Sri Lanka, while Beijing is irked by Indias lack of support for its infrastructure and trade initiative.
Indias concern doesnt bother Qin. Its a political issue and not the concern of a private investor, he said.
Pakistan considers the hydro power site a national security priority. Its dotted with army pickets and plain-cloth security officials. None of the Chinese staff can leave the camp office without registering his or her name at the main gate. Out of the total 2,070 workers, 750 are Chinese.
The concern is being taken seriously by both sides. Pakistan has created a special force of 15,000 troops to defend the Chinese projects and that number may be double, according to people with direct knowledge of the plans, who asked not to be identified as they arent authorized to speak to the media. Yet risks remain after two Chinese nationals were killed in southwestern Balochistan in June. Islamic State claimed their murders.
The stakes are high for Pakistan, with the planned power generation projects potentially adding $13 billion to its economy in the next seven years, according to an International Monetary Fund report published in July.
Pakistans hydro-power generation potential is an estimated 40,000 megawatts, but the existing installed capacity was only 7,116 megawatts in the 2015-16 fiscal year, according to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authoritys latest report.
Three Gorges now eyeing the contract for the construction of a 4,500 megawatt Diamir-Bhasha power project in northern Gilgit-Baltistan and northwestern Chillas district.
Pakistan total installed capacity is equal to one big city of China like Shanghai, Qin said. Thats not enough. Bloomberg
A man set himself on fire on Marylands Eastern Shore Tuesday during an argument with his girlfriend, the state police said.
They said the man pulled his car in front of hers, on Route 213 in Queen Annes County about 1:30 p.m., causing her to stop. The man, identified as Deny Richard Coursey, 42, of Centreville, got out if his car and approached hers with a fuel can in his hand, according to police. The woman was identified as Jamie Lee Richarts, 35, also of Centreville.
Police said both are from Centreville.
After a brief argument outside the womans car, the man doused himself with fuel and set himself on fire, the police said.
They said he returned to his car and went to a hospital with burns, and is to be transferred to a burn center.
Police said they thought the incident stemmed from a domestic dispute the two were involved in Monday night.
Citing legal concerns, the University of Marylands School of Pharmacy has canceled plans to offer training for those who work in the medical marijuana industry.
After consulting with the Maryland attorney generals office, the university asked pharmacy school officials to cancel the classes, a university spokesman said.
While marijuana has been legalized for medical purposes in Maryland, 28 other states and the District of Columbia, the administration of President Trump has not indicated how it will handle enforcement of the federal marijuana law, which still classifies the drug alongside heroin and LSD.
If theres any question of the law, they are often consulted, said Alex Likowski, a spokesman for the University of Maryland at Baltimore. Regarding medical cannabis, even though Maryland and many other states have approved it, its still illegal under U.S. law.
Katherine Bainbridge, chief counsel of the education affairs division in the attorney generals office, confirmed that she gave advice to the university about the medical marijuana law specific to the courses the pharmacy school planned to offer, but she declined to disclose the advice.
While the school said it has suspended the program indefinitely, prospective students seeking to enroll through a university-associated website still see a note that enrollments were suspended temporarily while the business agreements are being finalized by the university.
The classes, initially set to start in August, offered basic and advanced certifications in areas including cultivation, manufacturing, dispensing, laboratory standards and assessment.
Its unclear whether the courses might be offered in the future. Pharmacy school officials did not respond to requests for comment.
Leaders of the pharmacy program said in July that they were not endorsing the use of marijuana, which is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for any medical use. Rather, officials cited the schools long-established training mission and a desire to establish educational standards for those working with medical marijuana because it already was being used across the country and would soon be available in Maryland.
Doctors in Maryland are not required to gain any special certification to recommend medical marijuana, but state law requires workers employed by growers, processors, dispensaries and laboratories to have training in their areas.
Patrick Jameson, executive director of the Maryland Cannabis Commission, said workers must obtain training.
The commission expects the most highly trained and knowledgeable people will participate in the program, he said.
Its unknown where those who want to work in the industry might turn for needed instruction. The state commission does not endorse any particular certification program.
Marylands pharmacy school would have joined only a small number of established colleges and universities to lend credibility for training of workers.
The pharmacy school had adopted a curriculum developed by the advocacy group Americans for Safe Access, which has been offering training directly since 2002. University officials said suspension of the courses was not a reflection on that content. The group did not respond to request for comment.
There are other online options for training available directly through Americans for Safe Access and through the likes of such little-known organizations as Cannabis Training Institute, THC University and Green Cultured. Some state medical societies also offer training, but MedChi does not in Maryland.
Perhaps the only mainstream medical school offering training is the University of Vermonts Larner College of Medicine, which began offering courses in the spring of 2016. There is a course available to medical and other university students that focuses on clinical trial data, in addition to certification and continuing education courses available to the community.
Karen M. Lounsbury, a professor of pharmacology and co-director of Vermonts medical cannabis course, said officials there had no legal concerns, though they were careful to comply with university policies.
The biggest concern was that when presenting the clinical trial data for medical cannabis, we could be construed as supporting the use of medical cannabis that is legal in many states, including Vermont, but still illegal at the federal level, she said. We confirmed with the university lawyers that as long as we stated a clear disclaimer for each instructor, we would not be violating any university policy.
The disclaimer says: The content of this lecture material represents the opinions of the instructor based on their research and experience and does not necessarily represent the opinions of the University of Vermont.
She said that the program has an evidence-based approach and that the classes are popular.
Medical marijuana advocates lamented that more well-respected universities were not offering medical courses for doctors or certification courses for industry workers.
Paul Armentano, deputy director of the advocacy group NORML, said such institutions were needed to establish training standards and to directly educate workers and doctors, very few of whom have had any instruction on the subject.
He noted that few universities even support research into medical uses for marijuana, largely because accessing the plant is restricted by federal law and conducting studies is time-consuming and costly. Without more clinical data, many doctors would remain unwilling to recommend medical marijuana. Without training, those who have interest could end up relying on patients for information.
Not much will change as long as the legal cloud remains, he said.
Already in Maryland, two large medical systems MedStar Health and LifeBridge Health have asked their doctors not to recommend medical marijuana. The University of Maryland Medical System, which includes 13 hospitals, has not developed a formal policy. A system spokesman, Michael Schwartzberg, said it was a complex issue both medically and legally.
Armentano said the industry has no choice but to try and establish its own standards for training.
It is likely that medical schools will continue to shy away from cannabis education until the federal scheduling of cannabis is amended and/or the plants therapeutic utility is formally recognized by the FDA, he said.
MCLEAN, Va. Democrat Ralph Northam and Republican Ed Gillespie jousted over the economy, race relations in the aftermath of Charlottesville and health care Tuesday night at their most lively encounter yet in the high stakes race for Virginia governor.
In their first televised debate, the two contenders sparred over issues in a spirited but genteel manner, and refrained from the personal attacks that have recently begun to flavor their campaign commercials and social media posts.
Both candidates began the debate with competing assessments of the state economy.
Gillespie, a longtime GOP operative and the partys 2014 Senate nominee, ticked off statistics that painted a dour picture of the Virginia economy, noting sluggish growth, stagnant wages and more residents leaving the state than moving in.
We used to always lead, and now we are lagging, said Gillespie, who has made cutting taxes and regulations central to his bid.
Ed Gillespie and Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam joke during a commercial break for their debate. (Bonnie Jo Mount/Washington Post)
Northam, the lieutenant governor, countered by citing Virginias 3.8 percent unemployment rate the lowest since 2008 and accused Gillespie of talking down the states strengths.
The debate which was moderated by Meet the Press host Chuck Todd and hosted by George Mason University and the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce, aired live on NBC4/WRC-TV in the Washington market and NBC affiliates statewide. Libertarian candidate Cliff Hyra, who was not invited to participate, attended as a guest and answered questions posed by panelists on his Twitter account.
The debate began with a question about Charlottesville, where an August protest by white supremacists over the fate of a Confederate statue dissolved into violence with counterprotesters that left three people dead and sparked a national debate about race relations and whether to take down Confederate statues.
Virginia has more Confederate statues than any other Southern state and, asked about the proper place for them, Gillespie and Northam staked out different positions.
View Graphic The latest stories and details on the 2017 Virginia general election and race for governor.
[In Virginia, the debate over Confederate statues is painful, and personal]
Our history is our history, said Gillespie, adding that money spent on removing statues is better spent on schools and law enforcement. And so my view is that-- the statues should remain, and we should place them in historical context so that people can learn. We dont have to glorify the objects of the statues, we can educate about them.
Northam, who said in the wake of Charlottesville that he would be a vocal advocate for localities to move monuments from public spaces to museums, has since dropped that language in favoring of deferring to locals. On Tuesday, he said he personally believes the statues should be moved to museums but then pivoted to talk more generally about the impact of racism.
What is important is to talk about some of the statues that arent built of bronze, the inequities that we still have in our society, said Northam. Theres still a tremendous amount of hatred and bigotry in this country and in this state.
Virginias gubernatorial contest is drawing outsize attention this year as the nations only competitive statewide race this year and as an early test of politics in the era of President Trump.
Recent public polls have found ties or Northam with a slight edge. Northam also has a commanding financial lead, with twice as much in the bank as Gillespie heading into September. The Republican Governors Association on Tuesday announced they would give Gillespie another $1 million, bringing their total spending to $4 million.
[In first debate, Gillespie and Northam tangle over Trump and other issues]
The debate also came as Congressional Republicans revived efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare and cut health-care spending.
Northam, a physician, criticized the Cassidy-Graham bill pending in the Senate, which would roll back the Medicaid expansion created under Obamacare and block grant the rest of Medicaid.
The result, Northam said, would be more people like a child he treated at a free clinic in southwest Virginia for those without health insurance.
Go out to the Ram Clinic, look that little seven-year-old in the eye and look at her mother and say that she is not going to have the same health care that you and your family had. Its wrong, said Northam.
[Thousands flock to a free clinic, as Washington dithers on health care]
Gillespie, in his first comments on the bill, reiterated his earlier stance that any health care overhaul shouldnt penalize states such as Virginia that didnt expand Medicaid by targetting them for quicker and greater spending cuts. He said the latest legislation falls short of that standard.
We do need to repeal and replace it, Gillespie said of Obamacare. I hope that the Congress does, but we cannot be punished for being fiscally prudent and not accepting the expansion.
Gillespie asked Northam if he supported the single-payer "Medicare for All health bill sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and several Senate Democrats. Northam quickly said he does not, and told reporters he believes consumers should be able to select a government health insurance plan that competes with private insurers.
Northam tried repeatedly to connect Gillespie to President Trump, who remains deeply unpopular in the state. Asked if he would like Trump to campaign with him, Gillespie said, Ill take help from anybody anywhere, this is going to be a very close race.
[Gillespie hires Trump operative who believes country is on the verge of civil war]
Northern Virginia, a populous region that has been growing more reliably blue, is crucial to the outcome of the gubernatorial contest. Northam has shown significant leads in the region in public polling.
Gillespie made a point of mentioning an endorsement Tuesday from former Sen. John Warner (R), a well-regarded centrist Republican who endorsed Gillespies opponent, Sen. Mark Warner (D), when Gillespie ran for the Senate in 2014. John Warner also endorsed Hillary Clinton last year. The Warner endorsement may help Gillespie win over crucial independents and moderates.
Both Northam and Gillespie said they would want to see reforms to WMATA, the public transportation agency that serves much of northern Virginia, before agreeing to additional funds or taxes from the state.
They also clashed over the issues of taxes.
Northam criticized Gillespies proposal for an across-the-board cut in income tax rates, arguing it was a giveaway for the wealthy.
Gillespie in turn said Northam lacks a detailed plan for bipartisan tax reform that he references in a campaign commercial, and held up a blank sheet of paper as he quipped that he finally found Northams plan online.
[After record-busting 2016 crowds, Va. gov candidates prefer intimate events]
Northam campaign officials this week said they would spend the last six weeks of the campaign painting Gillespie as a Washington, D.C. corporate lobbyist who would bring Trumps policies to Virginia.
But Northam didnt attack Gillespies record to his face, instead deriding him as a K Street lobbyist to reporters after the event.
The University of Virginia-Wise is hosting the third and final debate on Oct. 9. Both candidates have also committed to several other forums where they will not appear on stage together.
Incumbent Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) is prevented by term limits from seeking a second consecutive term.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 21
Math fun Olympics A STEM program for children ages 5-12. 3 p.m. St. Christopher's Church, 8001 Annapolis Rd., New Carrollton. 301-699-3500. pgcmls.info. Free, registration requested.
Kids achieve club Students in grades K-6 can practice reading skills. 3:30 p.m. St. Christopher's Church, 8001 Annapolis Rd., New Carrollton. 301-699-3500. pgcmls.info.
Story explorers Ages 5-12 can experience their favorite stories told in a variety of forms. 4 p.m. Spauldings Library, 5811 Old Silver Hill Rd., District Heights. 301-817-3750. pgcmls.info. Free.
Lunch for a bear A workshop for ages 5-12 to learn about black bears. 4 p.m. Bowie Library, 15210 Annapolis Rd. 301-262-7000. pgcmls.info. Free.
Family game night Play board games with friends and family. 5 p.m. Bladensburg Library, 4820 Annapolis Rd., Bladensburg. 301-927-4916. Free.
Lego creative club Freestyle building for kids of all ages. 5:30 p.m. Upper Marlboro Library, 14730 Main St. 301-627-9330. pgcmls.info. Free, registration required.
Health-care workshop Staff members from Prince George's County Health Connect discuss the Affordable Care Act and help adults make health-care choices. 6 p.m. Laurel Library, 507 Seventh St., Laurel. 301-776-6790. Free.
Special advocate training A court appointed special advocate (CASA) for Prince George's will play host to an open house for qualified persons interested in becoming advocates for youth in the county's foster care system. Volunteers must pass background screening. 6-7:30 p.m. CASA, 6811 Kenilworth Ave., Riverdale. 301-209-0491. pgcasa.org. Free.
Health insurance literacy and financial management workshops Prince George's County Health Connect will play host to this informational workshop for county residents. 6-8 p.m. Laurel Library, 507 Seventh St. 301-927-4500. pgchealthconnect.org. Free.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 22
Ballroom dance classes An eight-week class for adults to learn to do the cha-cha, a modern style of ballroom dancing. 7-9 p.m. Sept. 22-Nov. 10. Davidsonville Dance Club, Ford Hall, 3789 Queen Anne Bridge Road, Bowie. 301-262-1484. davidsonvilledanceclub.org. $70, registration required.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 23
Birding festival The fourth annual nature event features children's games, crafts, live birds of prey, prizes and more. Arrive at 7:30 a.m. for a guided bird walk. Festival: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Lake Artemisia Park, 8200 55th Ave., Berwyn Heights. 301-262-5148. pgaudubon.org. Free.
Yard sale Shop gently-used items and food and beverages. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Trinity Episcopal Church, 14515 Church St., Upper Marlboro. 301-627-2636. edow.org/trinityuppermarlboro/org. Free.
Community yard sale Shop a selection of gently-used items. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. St. Paul's Moravian Church, 8505 Heathermore Blvd., Upper Marlboro. 301-627-4200. spmoravian.org. Free.
Quilting club Adults of all skill levels are invited to join the sewing circle. Bring your own tools and supplies. 10 a.m. Spauldings Library, 5811 Old Silver Hill Rd., District Heights. 301-817-3750. pgcmls.info. Free.
Children's arts drop-in Ages 3-8 will paint and print in this guided workshop. 10 a.m.-noon. College Park Community Center, 5051 Pierce Ave., College Park. 301-441-1210. cpae.org. Free.
Computer basics A beginner's class for adults to learn how to use the mouse, keyboard and Internet. 10:30 a.m. Bowie Library, 15210 Annapolis Rd. 301-262-7000. pgcmls.info. Free.
Expungement fair Lawyers will provide pro bono advice and services to those with a criminal record. 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Spauldings Library, 5811 Old Silver Hill Rd., District Heights. 301-817-3750. pgcmls.info. Free.
Health insurance literacy and financial management workshops Prince George's County Health Connect host this informational workshop for county residents. 1-3 p.m. Beltsville Library, 4319 Sellman Rd., Beltsville. 301-927-4500. pgchealthconnect.org. Free.
Read to rover Ages 5-12 are invited to practice skills by taking a favorite book or choose one from the stacks and read to a trained therapy dog. 1:30 p.m. Laurel Library, 507 Seventh St., Laurel. 301-776-6790. Free.
Retirement financing seminar Adults can learn how to create a pension or lifetime income for retirement. 2 p.m. Surratts-Clinton Library, 9400 Piscataway Rd., Clinton. 301-868-9200. pgcmls.info. Free.
Thomas Pandolfi The pianist performs music by Chopin, Gershwin, Bacharach and Bernstein. 7:30 p.m. Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church, 3215 Powder Mill Rd., Adelphi. 301-937-3666. pbuuc.org. Free.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 24
Bowie farmers market Shop fresh, local produce, baked goods, meats and more. 8 a.m.-noon., through Oct. 29. Bowie High School, 15200 Annapolis Rd. 301-809-3078, cityofbowie.org. Free.
Habitat for Humanity open house The Metro Maryland chapter invites residents to tour its first home renovation in Seat Pleasant and learn about the organizations mission. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 7005 71st Ct., Seat Pleasant. 301-990-0014. habitatmm.org. Free.
MONDAY, SEPT. 25
Parkinson's support group Staff members from Seabury Resources for Aging discuss the options seniors have. For those with the disease and their caregivers. 10 a.m.-noon Bowie Senior Center, 14900 Health Center Dr. 301-809-2300. cityofbowie.org. Free, donations welcome.
Kids achieve club Homework and reading support for ages 5-12. 4 p.m. Surratts-Clinton Library, 9400 Piscataway Rd., Clinton. 301-868-9200. pgcmls.info. Free.
Homework help Adults can learn how to access free homework help and tutoring with HelpNow by Brainfuse. 7 p.m. Beltsville Library, 4319 Sellman Rd., Beltsville. 301-937-0294. pgcmls.info. Free.
Kids banned books week celebration Ages 5-12 can listen to frequently challenged stories and take a picture in the Banned Books photo booth. 7 p.m. South Bowie Library, 15301 Hall Rd., Bowie. 301-850-0475. pgcmls.info. Free.
Books at bedtime Story time, music and motor activities for age 3 and younger. 7 p.m. Greenbelt Library, 11 Crescent Rd., Greenbelt. 301-345-5800. pgcmls.info. Free.
CardioHIT No Excuse Workout leads this outdoor group fitness class for all ages. 7-8 p.m., through Oct. 23. National Harbor, 137 National Plaza. 877-628-5427. nationalharbor.com. Free.
Camera club how-to meeting Judges and club associates offer advice on how to hone skills for club competitions. 7:30 p.m. All Saints Luther Church, Mount Oak Rd., Bowie. 410-827-3369. b-ccc.org. Free.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 26
Read to rover Ages 5-12 are invited to practice skills by taking a favorite book and read to a trained therapy dog. 4 p.m. Baden Library, 13603 Baden-Westwood Rd., Brandywine. 301-888-1152. pgcmls.info. Free.
Crazy 8's math Students in grades 3-5 can join the afterschool math club. 5:30 p.m. Greenbelt Library, 11 Crescent Rd. 301-345-5800. Free, registration required.
40th anniversary party The senior center celebrates its 40th anniversary with disc jockey music and more. 5:30-7 p.m. Bowie Senior Center, 14900 Health Center Dr. 301-809-2300. cityofbowie.org. $3-$4.
Teen gaming night For ages 13-18. 6 p.m. Surratts-Clinton Library, 9400 Piscataway Rd., Clinton. Free. 301-868-9200. pgcmls.info. Free.
Readers theater Youth ages 5-12 can read scripts and stories out loud. 6 p.m. Bowie Library, 15210 Annapolis Rd. 301-262-7000. pgcmls.info. Free.
Health insurance literacy and financial management workshops Prince George's County Health Connect will play host to this informational workshop for county residents. 6-8 p.m. Spauldings Library, 5811 Old Silver Hill Rd., District Heights. pgchealthconnect.org. Free.
Hyattsville Figure Drawing Group A live model poses for weekly drawing sessions. Bring your own materials. Tuesdays 6-9 p.m. Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, 4318 Gallatin St., Hyattsville. 202-569-3849. meetup.com/Hyattsville-Figure-Drawing-Group-Meetup. $20-$80.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 27
"13th" A screening of the documentary about the criminalization of African Americans and its relation to the prison boom in the United States. 6:30 p.m. Laurel Library, 507 Seventh St., Laurel. 301-776-6790. Free.
STEM-tastic Hands-on activities for ages 5-12 that use basic scientific principles. 4 p.m. Greenbelt Library, 11 Crescent Rd., Greenbelt. 301-345-5800. pgcmls.info. Free.
Pins and needles A stitching class for all skill levels. 1 p.m. Baden Library, 13603 Baden-Westwood Rd., Brandywine. 301-888-1152. Free.
Prince George's Public Schools Retirees Association Luncheon County school chief Kevin Maxwell will speak. Members can also learn about changes in retiree prescription benefits. 11 a.m. Prince George's County Educators Association building, 8008 Marlboro Pike, Forestville. 301-641-3147. pgpsra.org. $15, reservations required.
Family game night Come dressed in pajamas and play board games in the Sojourner Truth Rooms. 6:30 p.m. Oxon Hill Library, 6200 Oxon Hill Rd. 301-839-2400. Free.
Yarn painting Learn how to do Huichol-inspired Mexican yard painting in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. 4 p.m. Baden Library, 13603 Baden-Westwood Rd., Brandywine. 301-888-1152. pgcmls.info. Free.
Compiled by Jillian S. Jarrett
TO SUBMIT AN EVENT
Email: pgliving@washpost.com
Fax: 301-618-1780
Mail: Community Calendar, Local Living, The Washington Post, 9500 Arena Dr., Suite 400, Largo, Md. 20774
Details: Announcements are accepted on a space-available basis from public and nonprofit organizations only and must be submitted at least 14 days before the Thursday publication date. Include event name, dates, times, exact address, prices and a publishable contact phone number.
Heavy surf kicked up by Tropical Storm Jose hits the shore at Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Jose is expected to linger in the Atlantic southeast of Massachusetts for the next several days. (Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press)
CALIFORNIA
Attorney general sues to stop border wall
Californias attorney general sued the Trump administration Wednesday over its plan to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, arguing that it is overstepping its authority by waiving environmental reviews and other laws.
The suit filed by Attorney General Xavier Becerra (D) makes arguments similar to those in a lawsuit brought last week by advocacy groups.
Both lawsuits aim to stop design, planning and construction of the wall. The cases are focused on halting the construction of wall prototypes in San Diego and the replacement of barriers there and in Calexico, Calif.
The Trump administration has once again ignored laws it doesnt like in order to resuscitate a campaign talking point to build a wall on our southern border, Becerra said at a news conference near the border in San Diego. Becerras remarks came shortly after U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions appeared near the border to discuss drug seizures. Asked about the lawsuits, Sessions said the U.S. government has a responsibility to secure the border.
Promises to construct a big, beautiful border wall were a centerpiece of Donald Trumps presidential campaign.
Associated Press
Student hurt in school shooting: A teacher subdued a male student who fired shots and wounded another student in a central Illinois high school cafeteria on Wednesday morning, police said. Mattoon Police Chief Jeff Branson and Mattoon School Superintendent Larry Lilly said the shooting happened at Mattoon High School about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. The suspect is in custody, police said, and the injured student is in stable condition at a hospital. Mattoon is about 180 miles south of Chicago.
Judge pleads guilty to stealing: A Pennsylvania district judge has pleaded guilty to charges of stealing money from his court office and from a fire department where he served as treasurer. Berks County Magisterial District Judge Timothy Dougherty pleaded guilty Wednesday to theft and misapplication of trusted property. Prosecutors say the judge stole more than $15,000 from his office, which collects fines and court costs, and stole nearly $98,000 from the Wyomissing Volunteer Fire Company. The former Cumru Township police officer was in his 18th year as a district judge when he was arrested in May 2016.
Polygamous sect leader pleads guilty to fraud: A high-ranking polygamous sect leader recaptured after a year on the run pleaded guilty Wednesday in a food-stamp fraud and escape case, ending a wide-ranging investigation seen as a crackdown on the secretive group. Lyle Jeffs is facing three to five years in prison after pleading guilty to two felony counts in an agreement that also called for him to pay $1 million in restitution. Jeffs, 57, will be sentenced Dec. 13. He was one of 11 members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints charged with helping funnel millions in food-stamp benefits to a communal storehouse and front companies. The funds were used to pay for a tractor, a truck and other items. Jeffs was accused of orchestrating the scheme.
From news services
Special investigators are being pulled off their jobs at the Environmental Protection Agency to help staff a 24/7 security detail for Administrator Scott Pruitt. (Riccardo Savi/Getty Images/Concordia Summit)
Scott Pruitts round-the-clock personal security detail, which demands triple the manpower of his predecessors at the Environmental Protection Agency, has prompted officials to rotate in special agents from around the country who otherwise would be investigating environmental crimes.
The EPAs Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance has summoned agents from various cities to serve two-week stints helping guard Pruitt in recent months. While hiring in many departments is frozen, the agency has sought an exception to hire additional full-time staff to protect Pruitt.
Shortly after the former Oklahoma attorney general assumed his post in February, aides requested 24/7 federal protection for him.
This never happened with prior administrators, said Michael Hubbard, a former special agent who led the EPAs Criminal Investigation Division office in Boston.
Hubbard, along with other former and current employees who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal security issues, said agency investigators in Boston, Denver and other regional offices have been tapped for stints as part of Pruitts security detail.
The practice has rankled some employees and outside critics, who note the EPAs criminal enforcement efforts already are understaffed and the Trump administration has proposed further cuts to the division.
These guys signed on to work on complex environmental cases, not to be an executive protection detail, Hubbard said. Its not only not what they want to do, its not what they were trained and paid to do.
Pruitt has developed a particularly high profile, as well as a divisive one. His aggressiveness in trying to reverse a long list of Obama-era policies and his repeated questioning of how much human activity contributes to climate change has drawn a steady stream of public vitriol. This outpouring has included a slew of explicit messages on social media, where #PollutingPruitt is a popular hashtag.
While the agencys Office of Inspector General does not discuss the actual number of threats against Pruitt or others at the EPA, it did say investigators have opened more cases this fiscal year than in fiscal 2016. Thirty-two percent were aimed at Pruitt including some very personal, ugly threats, said Patrick Sullivan, the EPA assistant inspector general for investigations compared with 9 percent directed at his predecessor Gina McCarthy in fiscal 2016.
McCarthy and Lisa Jackson, each of whom led the EPA under President Barack Obama and were controversial figures in their own right, had security teams composed of about a half-dozen individuals. That number could fluctuate when they traveled, and sometimes agents at regional offices would be asked to help with security when an administrator visited.
By contrast, Pruitts security detail has swelled to about 18 people to cover the round-the-clock needs and the administrators frequent travel schedule, according to individuals briefed on the arrangement who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss security matters.
Agency spokeswoman Liz Bowman said in an email the EPA does not comment on the specifics of the agencys Protection Services Detail, so as not to disclose law enforcement information that could ultimately endanger safety.
Commenting more broadly on the agencys hiring, Bowman said, the EPA continues to evaluate its workforce to ensure we have the right number of employees with the right skills in the right parts of the agency, and conducts limited hiring, accordingly.
Sullivan said his office has already closed a number of cases directed against Pruitt, and we also have a number of pending cases. None has yet resulted in a prosecution.
A lot of correspondence we have reflects that people are unhappy with his perceived unenforcement of environmental laws, he said. When Ms. McCarthy was the administrator, some of the threats involved people being upset because they were enforcing them too much.
The EPA is a lightning rod for people. It engenders a lot of emotion, he added.
Pruitt's protective detail is the rare area of the EPA that is growing even as the Trump administration seeks a 31 percent cut to the agency's budget. Documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by E&E News showed the detail's cost during his first quarter in office was nearly double that of his predecessors. Overall, they showed, the EPA spent $832,735.40 on Pruitt's protection detail for the three-month period.
A memo this spring detailing how the agency planned to spend its "carry-over funds" essentially, money rolled over after not being spent in the previous fiscal year said $800,000 would be allocated for the security detail's travel expenses.
The acting assistant administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Lawrence E. Starfield, recently informed the agencys acting deputy administrator, Michael P. Flynn, he needed to hire more agents to meet the needs of the expanded security coverage.
His June 17 memo, first obtained through the Freedom of Information Act by Bloomberg BNA, redacted the specific number of agents to be hired.
Because of the critical needs to fill positions on the [protective security detail], we are asking for an exception to the external hiring freeze and permission to allow exemption to hire up [redacted] because we are unable to provide the level of support described above, Starfield wrote. Continuing to rely on criminal investigators to backstop Pruitts security contingent is pulling them away from their core mission of investigating environmental crimes in furtherance of the Agencys mission to protect public health and the environment, he added.
In a later email to other officials, Starfield defended the practice of temporarily borrowing environmental crime agents to fill in on security duty. We made the appropriate use of available resources initially, he wrote.
Even before Pruitt's security team expanded, the number of special agents inside the Criminal Investigation Division was declining. According to documents obtained by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility under the Freedom of Information Act, their ranks have fallen 28 percent since 2003. The division boasts 147 agents, fewer than the 200-agent minimum mandated by the 1990 Pollution Prosecution Act.
New criminal cases opened by the division have also dropped, according to the documents, sliding by 48 percent between fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2016. The current fiscal year is on pace to open just 120 new cases, records indicate, down sharply from the 170 initiated last year.
This evaporation of criminal enforcement is snowballing in that fewer agents generate fewer cases leading to ever-fewer convictions down the road, Jeff Ruch, executive director of the employees group, said in a statement.
Secretaries at the State, Defense, Treasury and Homeland Security departments have long received 24/7 personal protection. But the Trump era has brought with it unprecedented security requests.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos came under scrutiny earlier this year when The Washington Post reported her agency was spending an average of nearly $1 million per month to reimburse the U.S. Marshals Service for her personal security.
The power supply interruption that occurred in the Taipa district and surrounding regions yesterday at 5.50 p.m. was caused by damage to two sets of underground medium-voltage cables by the excavation work of a third-party construction company, utility company Companhia de Electricidade de Macau (CEM) has revealed. The power outage affected power supply to approximately 230 buildings and over 1,200 households in Taipa Old District, Jockey Club District and Central District. CEM said that repair works were carried out immediately and power was restored to most customers by 6.34 p.m. The remaining 100 customers or so were supplied by mobile generators, CEM said.
Liaison Office: AL will support govt
The Liaison Office has congratulated the winners of the Legislative Assembly (AL) election, and said that it believes that not only will the new AL exercise its rights as stated by Macaus Basic Law, but will also support the Chief Executive and the SAR government in implementing policies according to the law. The office said that Macau residents exercised their democratic rights and elected the majority of the lawmakers. It believes that the AL will push forward the successful practices concerning the One Country Two Systems principle.
Final election results released
The Legislative Assembly Election Accounting Committee released the final results of the Elections for the Legislative Assembly (AL) yesterday afternoon, the Government Information Bureau informed in a statement. The chairman of the Accounting Committee, Kuok Kin Hong, said that another 39 votes on direct suffrage were declared valid after being initially considered null (5 cases), while 34 cases of list complaints were still pending decisions. Some 174,872 eligible voters cast their ballots, equivalent to 57.22 percent of total eligible voters, 2.2 percent higher than the last legislative election. In line with the Basic Law, the new legislature is composed of 33 seats including 14 directly-elected seats, 12 indirectly-elected seats, and seven others which will be appointed by the SARs chief executive. The term of office for the sixth Legislative Assembly will begin in October this year.
SYRIA
Raqqa offensive in final stages, SDF says
The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces said Wednesday that its campaign to capture Raqqa was in its final stages and that its fighters had seized 80 percent of the Syrian city, the de facto capital of the Islamic State militant group.
The Islamic State has lost significant territory in Syria this year, attacked from the north by the SDF and from the west by the Syrian army, which has pushed the group back across the desert to its last strongholds in the Euphrates River valley.
The SDF, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters, launched its Raqqa offensive in June.
The SDF said Wednesday that it had opened a new front on the northern edge of Raqqa, calling it a feature of the final stages of the Euphrates Wrath campaign, which is nearing its end.
We can say that 80 percent of the city of Raqqa has been liberated, the SDF statement said.
An SDF official estimated that 700 to 1,000 Islamic State fighters remain in the city.
Reuters
EUROPE
Lengthy waits reported for asylum applicants
More than half of the migrants who entered Europe amid a mass influx in 2015 and 2016 were still awaiting decisions on asylum applications by the end of the period, and only a small percentage had been turned down and sent home, according to a study released Wednesday.
The Pew Research Center said that of the 2.2 million asylum seekers who reached Europe during those years, 52 percent were still awaiting decisions on their applications by the end of 2016. Forty percent had their applications approved; 3 percent were ejected from the countries where they had sought protection.
Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, plagued by conflict, were the top countries of origin for asylum seekers and accounted for 53 percent of all the 2015-2016 applicants in Europe, according to government data analyzed by Washington-based Pew.
Germany received the most asylum seekers, with 1,090,000 applicants, but was among the countries most efficient at processing requests. Pew found that 49 percent of applicants in Germany were waiting for decisions by the end of 2016.
Hungary, with a virulently anti-immigrant government, had the worst rate, with 94 percent of its 70,000 applicants still awaiting decisions by the end of 2016.
Overall, 885,000 asylum seekers applications were approved by the end of 2016.
Associated Press
IRAN
Report: Hackers target key Saudi, U.S. sectors
A group of hackers suspected of working in Iran for its government is targeting the aviation and petrochemical industries in Saudi Arabia, the United States and South Korea, a cybersecurity firm warned Wednesday.
The report by FireEye also said that the suspected Iranian hackers left behind a new type of malware that could have been used to destroy the computers it infected, an echo of two earlier Iran-attributed cyberattacks.
FireEye, which often works with governments and large corporations, refers to the group as APT33, an acronym for advanced persistent threat. APT33 used phishing emails touting fake job opportunities to gain access to the companies affected, faking domain names to make it look as if the messages came from Boeing or other defense contractors.
The hackers remained inside the systems of those affected for four to six months at a time, able to steal data and leaving behind the malware. The coding contains Farsi-language references, FireEye said. Farsi is the official language of Iran.
Iran developed its cyber capabilities in 2011 after the Stuxnet computer virus destroyed thousands of centrifuges involved in the countrys contested nuclear program. Stuxnet is thought to be an American and Israeli creation.
Iran is believed to have been behind the spread of Shamoon in 2012, which hit the Saudi Arabian Oil Co. and the Qatari natural gas producer RasGas. The virus deleted hard drives. Saudi Aramco ultimately shut down its network.
A second version of Shamoon raced through Saudi government computers in late 2016.
Associated Press
Torrential rains, flooding kill 12 in Congo: Flooding caused by torrential rains has killed at least 12 people and left 92 missing in eastern Congo, an official said. Provincial parliament member Robert Seninga also said that
18 people were injured in the flooding of Bihambwe village, in North Kivu province. He said more than 100 homes have been destroyed. The head of civil protection in North Kivu said the rains also caused landslides near mines in the area.
Police arrest 2 more in London blast probe: Counterterrorism police arrested two more people in last week's London subway attack, bringing the total number to five. The two suspects, ages 48 and 30, were arrested in Newport, Wales. A bomb planted in a subway car partially detonated Friday, injuring 30 people.
From news services
OVER THE next week and a half, Republican senators may try one last time to repeal and replace Obamacare. The latest bill, from Sens. Bill Cassidy (La.), Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.), Dean Heller (Nev.) and Ron Johnson (Wis.), is about as execrable as the others that GOP lawmakers previously failed to approve. The process by which Republicans would pass it would be as sloppy and partisan as the one to which senators such as John McCain (R-Ariz.) objected earlier in the summer. The outcome would be no less destructive.
The big difference now is the clock; the procedural window for passing a health-care bill along straight party lines will disappear at the end of the month, spurring Republicans to try one last time. That is a sad excuse to rush through without even an attempt at bipartisanship and without a complete Congressional Budget Office assessment a half-baked bill that would harm millions. Senators who objected to repeal-and-replace efforts before have no principled reason to change their votes.
The Graham-Cassidy proposal would cancel Obamacares major programs in 2020 and offer the states block grants instead. This plan at least does not include a massive upper-income tax cut, as previous GOP bills did, and it would seem to allow blue states to create and maintain universal or near-universal health coverage systems within their borders, even as red states went in a more conservative direction.
But the bill suffers from fatal flaws, even setting aside how red-state residents would suffer under the parsimonious health policies their governments would adopt. First, analysts project that it would scale back the money states would get over time, relative to what would have flowed their way under Obamacare. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a center-left think tank, estimates the shortfall would total $41 billion by 2026. The bill's funding formula would, in general, shift money from blue states to red states. These factors would make it difficult for states that like their Obamacare to keep their Obamacare.
Second, the bill would seriously cut Medicaid, which covers the poor and near-poor, putting yet more burden on states to cover needy people if states even try.
Third, the state block grants that would underpin the Graham-Cassidy system would end in 2027; that would breed uncertainty in the market, fear among patients and rancor on Capitol Hill.
Moreover, the bill would make it easier for states to erode important safeguards guaranteeing that sick people can obtain the care they need.
And that is the rosy scenario. There is a good chance that many states would fail to create brand-new health-care systems by 2020, in time to stave off the chaos that would occur after Obamacares carefully regulated and subsidized health-care markets disappeared. Establishing such a system is hard under any circumstances. Doing so under a tight deadline, without the administrative, technical and other help that federal officials currently provide, would be very hard, the Urban Institutes Linda Blumberg pointed out.
Some Republicans want to pass this policy disaster before the end of the month, in less than two weeks. A last-minute committee hearing would be nothing more than a fig leaf disguising a reprehensibly partisan process in service of an unworthy bill.
Steve Daines, a Republican, represents Montana in the U.S. Senate.
Hurricanes such as Harvey, Irma and Maria are unstoppable. They rip at our coastlines and tear at our hearts. The yellow, orange, red, even purple colors on the Doppler radar and weather maps this summer have been horrific to see, but thats nothing compared to the images of flooded streets and wrecked homes. Those images inspired Americans to band together and do what we could for our neighbors in the South. In crises such as these, Americans show what theyre truly made of: unwavering resolve and kind hearts.
But if you could, return to the weather map, zoom out for a moment and scroll up about 2,000 miles northwest. You won't see torrential rain or hurricane force winds. You will see red fire red and it's on the move. Searing wildfires have transformed national parks, dense forests, grazing pastures and homes into blistered, smoldering wastelands. In my home state of Montana, more than 1 million acres have burned this year. Nationally, we've lost more than 8 million acres.
The crisis in the West is not water; it's fire. It has spread rapidly and with increasing intensity while the nation's attention has been elsewhere. It's time we modernize federal regulations to address the problem.
Since the 1990s, environmental lawsuits and excessive regulation have become barriers to responsible forest management. Every year, the Forest Service spends more than $350 million trying to comply with federal law governing forest management projects to prevent litigation, but it is routinely sued by radical environmental groups anyway.
The results of this obstruction are clear and appalling. The risk of wildfires has grown considerably, devastating communities that thrive on the economic benefits of National Forests. That means lost jobs and lost tax revenue for schools and critical infrastructure.
If you look at the decline in timber harvests on National Forest land since 1990, you can't miss the correlation between harvesting and wildfire. Harvests drastically declined and, combined with the legal obstacles preventing the removal of fire fuel, wildfires grew larger and more severe. We have effectively increased the risk of wildfire by allowing cluttered forest floors to build up with more material that can burn. The Forest Service estimates there are now 6.3 billion dead and diseased trees across 11 Western states. These diseased trees increase the risk of wildfire and pose a direct threat to the safety of wildland firefighters. In fact, two Montana firefighters were killed this year after dead trees burned and collapsed.
Montana's mills frequently experience log shortages, but regulations and chronic litigation prevent them from harvesting the trees that threaten to burn. To make up for this timber, mills must import from Canada and other states.
An abundance of science shows that a properly managed forest would reduce the size and severity of wildfires, while improving fish and wildlife habitat, water quality and recreation opportunities. By increasing responsible timber harvests, we could also enhance public safety by reducing the enormous amount of greenhouse gases and smoke that rise into the air during wildfires.
We cannot prevent hurricanes, nor can we can prevent the droughts, winds and lightning strikes that contribute to wildfires. But what we can control is how we manage our National Forests. We should pass reforms that allow forest management projects to occur without the threat of frivolous lawsuits by fringe environmentalists. We also need to cut red tape, such as reducing the length of time for environmental reviews, to allow the Forest Service to better manage our forests. And we need to protect the Forest Service budget from the ever-growing cost of putting out fires.
We must do these things to reduce the severity of wildfires, mitigate the risk to our nations firefighters, protect more communities, bring loggers back to work and save our public lands from becoming charred shadows of once-beautiful landscapes.
I grew up and still live just 90 miles outside of Yellowstone National Park. Glacier National Park is about 290 miles to the north. If we dont act on forest management reform, the treasured forests and skylines I have loved all my life may not look the same for my grandchildren, and I wont stand for that. Nor do I think the American people will. Once they see tragedy, they band together and act. Either we will manage the forests, or the forests will manage us.
ONCE AGAIN, news from Saudi Arabia points toward the old thinking and not the modern society promised by the new crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. Despite the lofty rhetoric of the crown prince's "Vision 2030" declaration, he increasingly resembles an earlier generation of leaders with authoritarian methods. Saudi Arabia has been, and seems determined to remain, a dungeon for those who want to practice free speech.
The latest evidence is a wide-ranging crackdown on influential clerics, activists, journalists and writers who have been jailed with hardly any public explanation. A Sept. 12 statement by the government's new security agency, set up in July by King Salman bin Abdul Aziz, hinted darkly that the arrests were caused by "foreign parties" that were trying to hurt "the security of the kingdom and its interests, methodology, capabilities and social peace in order to stir up sedition and prejudice national unity. They were neutralized."
This vague language masks the fact that many of those arrested were relatively outspoken online, not secret agents plotting against the kingdom. The exact number of arrests is unknown, but some reports say in the dozens. According to Reuters, the roundups included three clerics who are outside the official religious establishment but have large online followings: Salman al-Awdah, Awad al-Qarni and Ali al-Omary. They have previously criticized the government but have recently stayed quiet or failed to publicly back Saudi policies, including the blockade against Qatar. Human Rights Watch says that Saudi authorities imprisoned Mr. Awdah from 1994 to 1999; since 2011, he "has advocated greater democracy and social tolerance." Mr. Qarni, who has more than 2 million Twitter followers, was banned from tweeting by a court in March that convicted him of jeopardizing public order. He announced the ban on Twitter.
The latest crackdown may reflect Saudi nervousness over any internal dissatisfaction with the kingdom's blockade of Qatar. Some reports say those arrested may have simply failed to speak up loudly enough in support of official Saudi policies. What better way to make the point than to throw them in jail? Writers and activists are also being hauled into prison.
The leaders of Saudi Arabia and its conservative religious establishment are wandering in some earlier century. How to explain the punishment of a severe lashing to blogger Raif Badawi, who has been jailed since 2012 following his online appeal for a more liberal and secular society? His sentence was 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes, of which he has been given 50, simply for speaking out. How to explain the recent call by the Saudi authorities on the population to use a phone app to inform on anyone who may be considered subversive? This is how Stalin would have used Twitter.
It is easy to issue fancy blueprints for reform, as the crown prince has done. Building a modern, healthy society is a lot harder. It requires, among other things, actions to guarantee basic rights, including the speech of people you dont agree with.
The Sept. 17 Local Opinions essay "Trees and taxpayers should beware the Purple Line boondoggle" was another example of the local community continuing to fight a war that is over.
Like it or not, the Purple Line is going to be built. However, the total lack of concern, empathy and consultation by both Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and the projects builders for the thousands of people who use the Capital Crescent Trail is amazing not only in its arrogance but also in its insensitivity to the community the trail serves. Closing the entire link between Silver Spring to Bethesda for up to five years with less than a weeks notice denied the community the opportunity to come up with an alternative. A much more rational plan would have been to close the trail in segments: Silver Spring to Jones Mill Road; Jones Mill to Connecticut Avenue; and then Connecticut to Bethesda. This would have allowed the project to move forward while minimizing the disruption to the public.
The National Park Service, in repaving Beach Drive through Rock Creek Park, took such an approach, and Maryland would be well served if it revisited its decision to close the entire segment of the trail for up to five years. The governor, known for his common sense, needs to step in and apply it to this project.
William A. Signer, Washington
Representatives from the Macau delegation of the Portugal-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCILC) recently met with the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) to discuss and exchange ideas on the enhancement of Sino-Portuguese platform positioning.
The delegation, led by its president Bernie Leong, was received by the board of directors, president Jackson Chang and executive director Gloria Batalha Ung, according to a statement issued by the chamber.
According to Chang, Chinese enterprises are keen to enter the market of Portuguese-
speaking countries to expand their business network.
The chamber can then utilize its own business network to promote the establishment of the platform, in order to further promote the role of a Sino-Portuguese platform to China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and establish closer economic and trade relations.
Ung hopes that the Macau delegation of the CCILC would help to attract more professional business visitors to participate in the forthcoming 22nd Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF).
Meanwhile Leong said that the chamber, which has over 20 corporate members from different economic fields, including subsidiaries of Portuguese enterprises, has been fostering the economic and trade cooperation between members and regions.
He noted that in addition to the expansion of membership base being the main development strategy in 2018, the chamber would focus on the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area under the national strategic context of Belt and Road Initiative.
The move is to attract more Chinese enterprises to join as members, so as to leverage their network and information advantages to assist China and Portuguese-speaking countries further develop business activities and establish an economic platform.
FOR THOSE who have been alarmed by President Trump's retreat from traditional American values, there were reassuring moments Tuesday in his first address to the U.N. General Assembly.
Mr. Trump rightly and scathingly attacked regimes that deprive their own people of liberty, such as those in North Korea and Venezuela, but he did not limit his attacks to easy targets. He criticized authoritarian powers that seek to collapse the values, the systems and alliances that prevented conflict and tilted the world toward freedom since World War II. Specifically, he came to the defense of the sovereignty of Ukraine and the South China Sea that is, in the face of challenges from Russia and China. He said the United States expects all nations to respect the interests of their own people and the United Nations to be a much more accountable and effective advocate for human dignity and freedom around the world. These represent a heartening endorsement of enduring American goals.
Less reassuring were Mr. Trumps schoolboy taunts of Rocket Man, his sobriquet for North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, and his threats, if the United States is forced to defend itself or its allies . . . to totally destroy North Korea. The leader of a powerful nation makes himself sound simultaneously weak and bellicose with such bluster.
And then, somewhere in between, there was Mr. Trumps repeated emphasis on sovereignty. He talked often and admiringly of strong sovereign nations and strong and independent nations.
We agree that "the nation-state remains the best vehicle for elevating the human condition." But there was something discordant in using the United Nations podium to proclaim the virtue, essentially, of national selfishness over international cooperation and multilateral organization. No doubt Presidents Xi Jinping of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia will welcome this aspect of Mr. Trump's address. They, too, have insisted on the unassailable "sovereignty" of their formidable states and demanded that others not lecture them about values such as democracy and human rights, which they fear and abhor. Mr. Putin once rolled out a concept he called "sovereign democracy," which turned out to be nothing more than a cover for eventually crushing Russia's nascent democracy.
Indeed, Mr. Trump seemed to repudiate his own advocacy for human dignity and freedom when he said that "we do not expect diverse countries to share the same cultures, traditions or even systems of government" as if democracy should be optional under the U.N. Charter. Mr. Trump cast the Polish, French and British resistance to Nazi dictatorship as motivated by "patriotism" for the "nations that they loved." This is a superficial rendering of what was in fact an existential drive to save democratic and free societies from a genocidal steamroller. The United States, too, fought and sacrificed for these hallowed principles. And when World War II ended, the United Nations was created to protect these values the charter says to protect "faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person" and not just to provide a new system for nation-states to get along.
Columnist
When Donald Trump ran for president, he criticized the interventionist policies of his Republican and Democratic predecessors, sparking fears that he would usher in a new era of American isolationism. But at the U.N. this week, Trump laid out a clear conservative vision for vigorous American global leadership based on the principle of state sovereignty.
Judging from their hysterical reaction, critics on the left now seem to fear he's the second coming of George W. Bush. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) called his address "bombastic." Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said it represented an "abdication of values." And Hillary Clinton said it was "very dark" and "dangerous." This is all the standard liberal critique of conservative internationalism. The left said much the same about President Ronald Reagan.
In New York, Trump called on responsible nation-states to join the United States in taking on what he called the "scourge" of "a small group of rogue regimes that . . . respect neither their own citizens nor the sovereign rights of their countries." This mission can be accomplished, Trump said, only if we recognize that "the nation-state remains the best vehicle for elevating the human condition."
He is right. Communism and fascism were not defeated by the United Nations, and global institutions did not fuel the dramatic expansion of human freedom and prosperity in the past quarter-century since the collapse of the Soviet Union. What has inspired and enabled the spread of peace, democracy and individual liberty was the principled projection of power by the worlds democratic countries, led by the United States.
This is what is needed today and what Trump promised in his address. He recast his America First foreign policy as a call not for isolationism but for global leadership by responsible nation-states. He embraced the Marshall Plan the massive U.S. effort to support Europes postwar recovery. And he declared that if the righteous many do not confront the wicked few, then evil will triumph because when decent people and nations become bystanders to history, the forces of destruction only gather power and strength.
Trump then used this theme of sovereignty to challenge the United States two greatest geopolitical adversaries, China and Russia, insisting that we must reject threats to sovereignty from the Ukraine to the South China Sea.
The president also had a blunt message for North Korea. He dismissed its leader, Kim Jong Un, as Rocket Man and said Kim is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime. He made clear that the United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. This message rattled some, and that was its intent. During the Cold War, Soviet leaders truly believed that Reagan was preparing for war and might actually launch a first strike. This belief is one of the reasons that a cataclysmic war never took place.
If we hope to avoid war with North Korea today, the regime in Pyongyang must be made to believe and understand that Trump is in fact, as he said at the U.N., ready, willing and able to take military action. His tough rhetoric was aimed not just at Pyongyang but also at China and other states whose cooperation in squeezing the regime is necessary for a peaceful solution. Those words must be followed by concrete steps short of total destruction to make clear that he is indeed serious and that North Korea will not be permitted to threaten American cites with nuclear annihilation.
Trump also put himself squarely on the side of morality in foreign policy and explicitly stood with those seeking freedom around the world. He promised to support the enduring dream of the Cuban people to live in freedom. He declared that oppressive regimes cannot endure forever and upbraided the Iranian regime for masking a corrupt dictatorship behind the false guise of a democracy while promising to stand with the good people of Iran [who] want change. He took on Irans ally, the criminal regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, whose use of chemical weapons against his own citizens, even innocent children, shock the conscience of every decent person.
And his best moment came when he turned to what he called the socialist dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro, declaring that the problem in Venezuela is not that socialism has been poorly implemented, but that socialism has been faithfully implemented. Trump promised to help the Venezuelan people regain their freedom, recover their country and restore their democracy.
This is classic conservative internationalism: a vigorous defense of freedom, a bold challenge to dangerous dictators and a commitment to the principle of peace through strength. No wonder Trumps critics on the left are so upset.
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Then-Trump Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort talks to reporters at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland in July 2016. (Matt Rourke/AP)
Less than two weeks before Donald Trump accepted the Republican presidential nomination, his campaign chairman offered to provide briefings on the race to a Russian billionaire closely aligned with the Kremlin, according to people familiar with the discussions.
Paul Manafort made the offer in an email to an overseas intermediary, asking that a message be sent to Oleg Deripaska, an aluminum magnate with whom Manafort had done business in the past, these people said.
If he needs private briefings we can accommodate, Manafort wrote in the July 7, 2016, email, portions of which were read to The Washington Post along with other Manafort correspondence from that time.
The emails are among tens of thousands of documents that have been turned over to congressional investigators and special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs team as they probe whether Trump associates coordinated with Russia as part of Moscows efforts to interfere in the 2016 U.S. election.
There is no evidence in the documents showing that Deripaska received Manaforts offer or that any briefings took place. And a spokeswoman for Deripaska dismissed the email exchanges as scheming by consultants in the notorious beltway bandit industry.
Nonetheless, investigators believe that the exchanges, which reflect Manaforts willingness to profit from his prominent role alongside Trump, created a potential opening for Russian interests at the highest level of a U.S. presidential campaign, according to people familiar with the probe. Those people, like others interviewed for this story, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss matters under investigation.
Several of the exchanges, which took place between Manafort and a Kiev-based employee of his international political consulting practice, focused on money that Manafort believed he was owed by Eastern European clients.
The notes appear to be written in deliberately vague terms, with Manafort and his longtime employee, Konstantin Kilimnik, never explicitly mentioning Deripaska by name. But investigators believe that key passages refer to Deripaska, who is referenced in some places by his initials, OVD, according to people familiar with the emails. One email uses black caviar, a Russian delicacy, in what investigators believe is a veiled reference to payments Manafort hoped to receive from former clients.
In one April exchange days after Trump named Manafort as a campaign strategist, Manafort referred to his positive press and growing reputation and asked, How do we use to get whole?
Manafort spokesman Jason Maloni said Wednesday that the email exchanges reflected an innocuous effort to collect past debts.
Its no secret Mr. Manafort was owed money by past clients, Maloni said.
Maloni said that no briefings with Deripaska ever took place but that, in his email, Manafort was offering what would have been a routine briefing on the state of the campaign.
Vera Kurochkina, a spokeswoman for Rusal, the company led by Deripaska, on Wednesday derided inquiries from The Post that she said veer into manufactured questions so grossly false and insinuating that I am concerned even responding to these fake connotations provides them the patina of reality.
Collectively, the thousands of emails present a complex picture. For example, an email exchange from May shows Manafort rejecting a proposal from an unpaid campaign adviser that Trump travel abroad to meet with top Russian leaders. We need someone to communicate that DT is not doing these trips, Manafort wrote, according to an email read to The Post.
The email exchanges with Kilimnik add to an already perilous legal situation for Manafort, whose real estate dealings and overseas bank accounts are of intense interest for Mueller and congressional investigators as part of their examination of Russias 2016 efforts. People close to Manafort believe Muellers goal is to force the former campaign chairman to flip on his former Trump associates and provide information.
In August, Muellers office executed a search warrant during an early-morning raid of Manaforts Alexandria, Va., condominium, an unusually aggressive step in a white-collar criminal matter.
Mueller has also summoned Maloni, the Manafort spokesman, and Manaforts former lawyer to answer questions in front of a grand jury. Last month, Muellers team told Manafort and his attorneys that they believed they could pursue criminal charges against him and urged him to cooperate in the probe by providing information about other members of the campaign. The New York Times reported this week that prosecutors had threatened Manafort with indictment.
The emails now under review by investigators and described to The Post could provide prosecutors with additional leverage.
Kilimnik did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesman for Mueller declined to comment.
Deripaska, one of Russias richest men, is widely seen as an important ally of President Vladimir Putin. A U.S. diplomatic cable from 2006, published by WikiLeaks, referred to Deripaska as among the 2-3 oligarchs Putin turns to on a regular basis.
The billionaire has struggled to get visas to travel to the United States because of concerns he might have ties to organized crime in Russia, according to the Wall Street Journal. He has vigorously denied any criminal ties.
Russian officials have frequently raised the visa matter over the years with U.S. diplomats, according to former U.S. officials familiar with the appeals.
In 2008, one of Manaforts business partners, Rick Davis, arranged for Deripaska to meet then-presidential candidate John McCain at an international economic conference in Switzerland.
At the time, Davis was on leave from Manaforts firm and was serving as McCains campaign manager. The meeting caused a stir, given McCains longtime criticism of Putins leadership.
The Post reported in 2008 that Deripaska jointly emailed Davis and Manafort after the meeting to thank them for setting it up. Davis did not respond Wednesday to a request for comment.
At the time of the McCain meeting, Manafort was working in Ukraine, advising a Russia-friendly political party. He ultimately helped to elect Viktor Yanukovych as president in 2010. In 2014, Yanukovych was ousted from office during street protests and fled to Moscow.
Manafort and Deripaska have both confirmed that they had a business relationship in which Manafort was paid as an investment consultant. In 2014, Deripaska accused Manafort in a Cayman Islands court of taking nearly $19 million intended for investments and then failing to account for the funds, return them or respond to numerous inquiries about exactly how the money was used. There are no signs in court documents that the case has been closed.
The emails under review by investigators also show that Manafort waved off questions within the campaign about his international dealings, according to people familiar with the correspondence.
Manafort wrote in an April 2016 email to Trump press aide Hope Hicks that she should disregard a list of questions from The Post about his relationships with Deripaska and a Ukrainian businessman, according to people familiar with the email.
When another news organization asked questions in June, Manafort wrote Hicks that he never had any ties to the Russian government, according to people familiar with the email.
Hicks, now the White House communications director, declined to comment.
Former campaign officials said that Manafort frequently told his campaign colleagues that assertions made about him by the press were specious. They also privately shared concerns about whether Manafort was always putting the candidates interests first.
The emails turned over to investigators show that Manafort remained in regular contact with Kilimnik, his longtime employee in Kiev, throughout his five-month tenure at the Trump campaign.
Kilimnik, a Soviet army veteran, had worked for Manafort in his Kiev political consulting operation since 2005. Kilimnik began as an office manager and translator and attained a larger role with Manafort, working as a liaison to Deripaska and others, people familiar with his work have said.
People close to Manafort told The Post that he and Kilimnik used coded language as a precaution because they were transmitting sensitive information internationally.
In late July, eight days after Trump delivered his GOP nomination acceptance speech in Cleveland, Kilimnik wrote Manafort with an update, according to people familiar with the email exchange.
Kilimnik wrote in the July 29 email that he had met that day with the person who gave you the biggest black caviar jar several years ago, according to the people familiar with the exchange. Kilimnik said it would take some time to discuss the long caviar story, and the two agreed to meet in New York.
Investigators believe that the reference to the pricey Russian luxury item may have been a reference to Manaforts past lucrative relationship with Deripaska, according to people familiar with the probe. Others familiar with the exchange say it may be a reference to Ukrainian business titans with whom Manafort had done business.
Kilimnik and Manafort have previously confirmed that they were in contact during the campaign, including meeting twice in person once in May 2016, as Manaforts role in Trumps campaign was expanding, and again in August, about two weeks before Manafort resigned amid questions about his work in Ukraine.
The August meeting is the one the two men arranged during the emails now under examination by investigators.
That encounter took place at the Grand Havana Club, an upscale cigar bar in Manhattan. Kilimnik has said the two discussed unpaid bills and current news. But he said the sessions were private visits that were in no way related to politics or the presidential campaign in the U.S.
The special counsel investigating Russian election meddling has requested extensive records and email correspondence from the White House, covering areas including the presidents private discussions about firing his FBI director and his response to news that the then-national security adviser was under investigation, according to two people briefed on the requests.
White House lawyers are now working to turn over internal documents that span 13 categories that investigators for the special counsel have identified as critical to their probe, the people said. Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, appointed in May in the wake of Trumps firing of FBI Director James B. Comey, took over the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and whether the Trump campaign coordinated with the Russians in that effort.
The list of requests was described in detail by two people briefed on them. Both insisted on anonymity to discuss a sensitive investigation. Some details of the requests were first reported Wednesday afternoon by the New York Times.
The requests broadly ask for any document or email related to a series of highly publicized incidents since Trump became president, including the ouster of national security adviser Michael Flynn and firing of Comey, the people said.
The list demonstrates Muellers focus on key moments and actions by the president and close advisers that could shed light on whether Trump sought to block the FBI investigations of Flynn and of Russian interference.
His team is also eyeing whether the president sought to obstruct the earlier Russia probe overseen by Comey.
The special counsel teams work in recent months has zeroed in on Paul Manafort, a former chairman of the Trump campaign, and Flynn. An official close to the probe said both men are under investigation.
Muellers agents have questioned witnesses and business associates of both men about whether the men sought to conceal the nature of consulting work they did that could have benefited foreign governments. In a raid of Manaforts home last month, agents sought to seize records related to Manaforts finances.
Over the past few weeks, White House lawyer Ty Cobb began sending records to the special counsel. Cobb is working within the White House to gather more of those documents and has told staffers and other lawyers that he hoped to turn over many more this week.
Cobb declined to discuss the subjects that Muellers team has questioned him about.
The White House doesnt comment on any communications between the White House and the Office of Special Counsel out of respect for the Office of Special Counsel and its process, Cobb said in a statement. We are committed to cooperating fully. Beyond that I cant comment.
Mueller also asked for any email or document the White House holds that relates to Manafort, the people briefed on the requests said. Manafort resigned from the campaign before the election amid scrutiny of his work for a powerful Ukrainian political party aligned with the Russian government.
Mueller has requested that the White House turn over all internal communications and documents related to the FBI interview of Flynn in January, days after he took office, as well as any document that discusses Flynns conversations with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in December. Mueller has also asked for records about meetings then-Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates held with White House counsel Don McGahn in late January to alert him to Justice Department concerns about Flynn, as well as all documents related to Flynns subsequent ouster by the White House.
Regarding Comey, Mueller has asked for all documents related to meetings between Trump and Comey while Comey served at the FBI, records of any discussions regarding Comeys firing and any documents related to a statement by then-press secretary Sean Spicer made on the night Comey was fired. He has also asked for any documents related to a meeting Trump held in the Oval Office with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov the day after Comey was fired.
Mueller has also asked for all records related to the June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower with a Russian lawyer hosted by the presidents son, as well as all documents related to the White Houses response to the publication of accounts of that meeting in July 2017.
Mueller is moving as quickly as he can and is taking his mandate very seriously, one government official told The Washington Post. He believes for the moment that he has all the resources he needs and that the office is now a fully formed agency vigorously using a grand jury for subpoenas and interviews, the official said.
I am convinced that no matter where they end up, this investigation will run to completion even if they fire Mueller, the official said. There is a feeling of inevitability now that we didnt have before not of the outcome of the investigation but that there will be an outcome. There is no escaping this thing, whatever the conclusions.
Ellen Nakashima contributed to this report.
President Trump on Tuesday delivered a toughly worded defense of his "America first" foreign policy in his inaugural address to the United Nations and threatened to "totally destroy" North Korea if necessary.
The president, speaking at the United Nations hallowed green-marble rostrum, also excoriated the international nuclear deal with Iran as an embarrassment and strongly hinted that his administration would soon back out, against the wishes of many nations in the room.
The defiant and pugilistic speech put the General Assembly hall of more than 150 delegations on notice that the United States, under Trump's leadership, is willing to pursue an unpopular and unpredictable course to protect its interests across the globe.
Trump called on world leaders to rally in the fight to defeat murderous regimes and "loser terrorists," and he derisively referred to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, who oversees an expanding nuclear arsenal, as "Rocket Man." Reflecting on the United Nations charter of promoting world peace, the president asserted to the room full of diplomats: "Major portions of the world are in conflict, and some, in fact, are going to hell."
To put it simply, Trump declared, we meet at a time of both of immense promise and great peril. It is entirely up to us whether we lift the world to new heights or let it fall into a valley of disrepair.
Most of the presidents views were well known before he arrived at the annual U.N. gathering. But his 42-minute speech, delivered in a combative tone rare for an American leader, put them in stark relief at a time of widespread anxiety among U.S. allies and partners over the nations traditional role of world leader.
In contrast to Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron used his own first U.N. address later Tuesday to defend the principle of global cooperation.
Today, more than ever before, we need multilateralism to deal with worldwide threats such as climate change and terrorism, Macron said. We can only address those challenges through multilateralism, he said, not through survival of the fittest.
Macron, in an interview with CNN, also said the rhetoric toward North Korea should be toned down and warned against abandoning the nuclear deal with Iran.
Look at the map if we talk of a military solution, we speak about a lot of victims, he told the network about the tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Building peace is what we have to do in this region.
If Trump was eager to use his U.N. address to set the terms for his engagement with an international organization that he derided as ineffectual during his presidential campaign, his rhetoric also set up a potentially dangerous test of his administrations credibility to carry out the promises and threats he issued.
The president said the United States has great strength and patience, but he emphasized that if forced to defend America or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. He said that Kim is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime.
Kim, the leader of a nation of 25 million, has responded to past threats from Trump by highlighting his government's nuclear weapons program and conducting ballistic missile tests. Foreign affairs analysts contend that a U.S. military response would risk sparking a regional conflict that would result in millions of deaths in densely populated South Korea and Japan.
Despite his past criticism of the United Nations including a 2012 tweet mocking the "cheap" green marble backdrop in the General Assembly hall Trump extended a hand to fellow leaders and praised those who offered help in the wake of the hurricanes that destroyed areas of Texas, Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
But he also called repeatedly for all nations to embrace sovereignty and self-reliance at a body founded after World War II on the idea that all countries are stronger when they work together.
As president of the United States, I will always put America first, just like you, as the leaders of your countries, will always, and should always, put your countries first, Trump said, returning to a campaign theme and the America first phrase, which has been criticized as isolationist and nationalistic.
Trump, who campaigned as an iconoclast who would speak for a marginalized middle class and focus on domestic priorities, made clear that his administration would not shrink from global challenges, including the escalating economic and political crisis in Venezuela.
At the same time, however, he took care Tuesday to send signals to the mostly white, middle-class voters who form the core of his political support. He took a swipe at mammoth multinational trade deals and powerful global bureaucracies, and he emphasized that uncontrolled migration is deeply unfair.
The substantial costs . . . are borne overwhelmingly by low-income citizens whose concerns are often ignored by both media and government, Trump said.
But it was Trumps strong criticism of authoritarian regimes that drew the most reaction in the U.N. assembly hall and on Capitol Hill.
The goals of the United Nations are to foster peace and promote global cooperation, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said. Today, the president used it as a stage to threaten war.
After the presidents address, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders sought to temper the idea that Trumps remarks on North Korea represented a break from long-standing U.S. policy. In a tweet, she cited President Barack Obamas U.N. address last year when he said that the United States could, obviously, destroy North Korea with our arsenals though Obama appeared to be stating a fact rather than a step that his administration was considering.
On Iran, Trump called the U.N.-backed nuclear deal one of the worst and most one-sided agreements ever. His administration has said that Tehran is violating the spirit if not the letter of the landmark 2015 accord through its alleged support for terrorism and other activities. Iran, the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency and other parties to the deal disagree.
We cannot let a murderous regime continue these destabilizing activities while building dangerous missiles, and we cannot abide by an agreement if it provides cover for the eventual construction of a nuclear program, Trump said Tuesday.
His voice rising, Trump strongly hinted that his administration could soon declare Tehran out of compliance, which could unravel the accord.
I dont think youve heard the last of it believe me, he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a vehement opponent of the deal, looked pleased as he and his wife, Sara, listened to Trumps address.
In more than 30 years of my acquaintance with the U.N., I have not heard a more courageous and sharp speech, Netanyahu said of Trump in his own speech Tuesday.
Iranian leaders sharply rebuked the U.S. president.
In a meeting with American media executives ahead of the speech, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Iran has complied fully and predicted that the United States will be the loser if it tramples upon the agreement.
Everyone will clearly see that Iran has lived up to its agreements and that the United States is therefore a country that cannot be trusted, Rouhani said.
On Twitter, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that Trumps threats amount to ignorant hate speech that belongs in medieval times.
Aides have rejected the notion that Trumps rhetoric and name-calling fall outside the bounds of international norms, suggesting that the president is merely employing language his rivals understand.
The scourge of our planet today is a small group of rogue regimes that violate every principle on which the United Nations is based, Trump said. . . . If the righteous many do not confront the wicked few, then evil will triumph.
Martin Baron and Carol Morello contributed to this report.
President Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in talk during a dinner in the State Dining Room of the White House on June 29. The two leaders will meet again in New York on Thursday amid growing concerns over the threat posed by North Korea. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
President Trump and his top aides say they're doing everything in their power to pursue a diplomatic and peaceful resolution to the North Korea nuclear threat. But eight months into Trump's tenure, he has yet to nominate a U.S. ambassador to South Korea, a glaring omission as the White House tries to formulate a coherent policy to confront Pyongyang.
The vacancy has left President Moon Jae-in's new government without a prestigious and powerful partner from the Trump administration on the ground in Seoul at a time of escalating anxiety in East Asia and without someone to help decode the president's rhetorical bombast. On Tuesday, Trump threatened during a speech at the United Nations to "totally destroy" North Korea if necessary.
The North Korea issue is such a high priority that it is imperative there is coordination between the United States and South Korea, and there needs to be a rock-solid channel of communication, said Scott Snyder, director of the U.S.-Korea policy program at the Council on Foreign Relations. That is simply absent.
In some ways, Trump and his White House aides are personally compensating for that absence. On Thursday, Trump will meet separately with Moon and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. The three leaders also will hold a trilateral discussion on North Koreas nuclear and ballistic missile programs, the second time the three have done so during Trumps tenure.
Moon, who took office in May after Park Geun-hye resigned in scandal, also met with Trump at the White House in June for two days of meetings, including a working dinner.
But behind the scenes, Korea watchers in Washington say they are perplexed about the lengthy delay in filling the State Department's top Seoul post. Since the spring, the leading and perhaps only candidate said to be in consideration has been Victor D. Cha, a former George W. Bush administration Asia policy aide who is the Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Cha is purportedly undergoing a standard vetting by the White House, including a background check and examination of his finances. If Trump were to nominate him, Chas appointment would be subject to Senate approval.
Cha, a frequent commentator on Asia policy, did not respond to requests for comment. Associates suggested the White House has instructed him to go dark as the final stages of the vetting process are completed.
But one acquaintance said Cha was told his nomination was unlikely to happen before November or December.
We have nothing to announce at this time, a senior Trump administration official said Wednesday when asked about the South Korean job. We are very focused on identifying the right person for this crucial position.
The official, who was not authorized to speak on the record, said the administration is being well-served by Marc Knapper, a career State Department official who was elevated from deputy chief of mission at the embassy in Seoul to charge daffaires after Trump was sworn in.
Knapper, who served as deputy chief for two years, speaks fluent Korean and is said to be well-respected in Seoul.
The situation stands in contrast to the scenario in Japan and China where William Hagerty, a Tennessee businessman and Terry Branstad, the former Iowa governor, have been in place for several months.
An ambassador has more prestige than a seat-warmer and more power, said David Kang, director of the Korean Studies Institute at the University of Southern California. An ambassador speaks with a lot more authority and more influence in Korea and the United States. This stuff is really important in trying to get countries to coordinate and listen to each other.
Under Obama, Mark Lippert, a longtime aide who worked on his campaign and in the White House, served as the ambassador to South Korea from 2014-2017.
In addition to the North Korea crisis, the U.S.-South Korea relationship has been strained over Trump's announcement that his administration will seek to renegotiate a bilateral trade deal signed by Obama in 2011. And Moon alarmed Washington during his campaign by questioning South Korea's commitment to the installation of the U.S.-backed THAAD missile defense program, though he has since agreed to allow the costly initiative, strenuously opposed by Beijing, to go forward.
Moon has signaled an openness to engagement with the North that conflicts with the harder-line positions of Washington and Tokyo. Cha is considered to be relatively hawkish on North Korea.
Foreign policy analysts who have been in touch with White House officials said the Trump administration has been slow to nominate officials at State in part because Trump aides are refusing to consider the dozens of national security experts who signed a pair of "never Trump" public letters during the campaign.
That significantly narrowed the pool of candidates and bottled up the nomination process as Trump aides including senior adviser Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law, and Stephen K. Bannon, the former White House chief strategist who stepped down last month carefully vetted each name that was suggested inside the West Wing.
The Cha candidacy is said to be slowly working its way through the process. In the meantime, some in Washington fear the lengthy vacancy in Seoul has sent a message that will be difficult to overcome: that Trumps White House doesnt really care about what an ambassador on the ground 35 miles from the North Korean border has to say about policy.
The delay suggests that this administration has a reckless indifference, said a former Obama administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak frankly. Theyre not big on consultation and not looking for advice. This is a president who makes up his own mind.
Newly minted Sen. Luther Strange walks past cameras after his ceremonial swearing-in on Feb. 9 at the U.S. Capitol. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)
President Trump had formally given Sen. Luther Strange his complete and total endorsement. But as recently as last week, his advisers were deeply divided on whether the president should risk jetting to Alabama to prop up the Republican, who was trailing in his primary race behind a challenger who had become a darling to Trumps base.
That prompted GOP establishment forces to wage an intense behind-the-scenes campaign to convince Trump that he could carry Strange across the finish line with an appearance in Alabama.
Private polls were circulated in the West Wing showing a more favorable race for Strange than public surveys including one the U.S. Chamber of Commerce commissioned from Trump campaign pollster Tony Fabrizio, whose imprimatur Republicans thought could sway the president. A close ally of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) briefed Trump and Vice President Pence on the contest. Jeff Roe, Stranges top consultant, fed regular updates to Jared Kushner, the presidents son-in-law and senior adviser.
And Sen. Bob Corker whose own relationship with Trump was frayed by a summer of curt criticism paid a visit last Friday to the Oval Office, where he delivered a blunt request at the end of a broader conversation.
Youve got to go, the Tennessee Republican told Trump, according to people briefed on the exchange. We need you there.
The last-minute push, detailed by several White House officials and other Republicans, resulted in Trump deciding to stage a rally with Strange on Friday, followed by Pence heading down Monday on the eve of Alabamas runoff election.
For Trump, the gamble will test whether his voters will heed his call or instead will back Roy S. Moore, a Bible-quoting former state Supreme Court justice who enjoys the support of former White House chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon and other prominent members of the Trump coalition.
Senate Republicans also see the Alabama primary as a political squall that could shape the 2018 midterm elections and test the presidents willingness to bolster endangered GOP incumbents.
"Alabama is sooo lucky to have a candidate like "Big" Luther Strange," Trump tweeted Wednesday evening. "Smart, tough on crime, borders & trade, loves Vets & Military. Tuesday!"
The winding process of securing Trump's trip to Huntsville, Ala., reveals the fragility of the bonds between the president and other leaders of his party, who are searching for ways to steer him into becoming their reliable standard-bearer in next year's elections.
Its important to have both [Trump and Pence] send a strong message, said Sen. Cory Gardner (Colo.), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Its an environment question. If youre trying to read the tea leaves going forward, every race adds a leaf.
White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, who has tried to control what information Trump receives about the Alabama race, was initially wary of the president appearing with a senator who might lose. He preferred Trump spend his time on policy initiatives such as tax reform rather than rousing crowds at political rallies. Likewise, Bill Stepien, the White House political director, urged caution and at first recommended that Trump stay out of the state, administration officials said.
Senate Budget Committee members Luther Strange R-Ala.), left, and John Boozman R-Ark.), center, walk with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell R-Ky.), right, as they leave a closed-door meeting with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin at the Capitol on Sept. 12. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)
Senate Republicans, however, were unwilling to let the president turn his attention elsewhere. A Strange defeat, they worried, could prompt some GOP senators to retire to avoid facing the wrath of anti-establishment voters and the likes of Bannons Breitbart News.
Kelly, who came around to backing the rally, was also told by several senators that Republicans might be hesitant to fully back Trumps agenda if they were uncertain about his support for them.
As Trump mulled his options last week, McConnell spoke with Trump, and Gardner encouraged his Senate Republican colleagues to tap their own political networks on behalf of Strange, associates said.
It was a reminder to the conference, Gardner said of his remarks, which were recounted by several attendees. The race is a snapshot in time, so you dont want to put too much weight into it, but its important.
Last Friday, after Corkers meeting with Trump, strategist Ward Baker briefed Trump and Pence by phone on the Alabama landscape. Baker advises the Senate Leadership Fund, a McConnell-aligned super PAC that has poured more than $8 million into Alabama to support Strange. Kelly, as well as legislative affairs director Marc Short and Pence chief of staff Nick Ayers, also participated, people familiar with the discussion said.
Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the president, said she impressed upon Trump how much power his visit could have in Alabama and reminded him that all five of the candidates he backed in special elections this year won.
Theres nothing like the hum of Air Force One touching down so that the president can lend direct and personal support to a candidate hes endorsed, Conway said. Were already five for five in special elections this year, and those contests were in very disparate geographic and demographic districts where the common denominator ended up being the president and vice president getting involved.
The sales job began early in the summer. On a Monday night in July at the White House, GOP senators pressed Trump and Pence on Alabama while they gathered over dinner of lemon agnolotti and grilled rib-eye.
Following downbeat talk about the prospect of the partys health-care legislation and hearing colorful stories from Trump about his time in Paris, Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.) implored Trump to make Stranges victory a priority.
I told him, Luther has voted with you on a lot of things, and that matters if youre president and Ive seen quite a few presidents, Shelby recalled. We got into that and how the primary was important very, very important.
Strange, a former corporate lobbyist and state attorney general, was appointed to the Senate in February by then-Gov. Robert Bentley (R), taking the seat held for two decades by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who had been a firebrand on Capitol Hill.
Strange has been dogged by his link to Bentley, who resigned in April amid a sprawling ethics and sex scandal that ended with him pleading guilty to two misdemeanor charges related to covering up an alleged affair with his former aide.
Experts on Alabama politics in Trumps administration were mostly sidelined in the presidents discussions about how to handle the primary campaign there. Sessions, who as attorney general is not supposed to engage in political talks, was not consulted. Deputy White House Chief of Staff Rick Dearborn, who previously served as Sessions chief of staff in the Senate, supported Strange but was not central to Trumps decision-making, according to Republicans involved in the talks.
For Trump, the decision to back Strange last month and to head there this week was as much about personal motivations as party pressure. He has a romantic view of Alabama where he drew some of his biggest and most enthusiastic crowds of the campaign and a rapport with Strange has been a constant since the two men began talking months ago.
Trump, who sometimes talks about staffing the government like running a television show, sees the hulking, 6-foot-9 senator as out of central casting. The president likes that Strange "can fill a room, literally and figuratively," one White House official said, and admiringly calls him "Big Luther." Their phone calls sometimes stretch for more than an hour.
More significantly, Trump sees Strange as one of his most dependable votes on Capitol Hill. Strange has told the president that the Trump agenda is Alabamas agenda and has pledged his unconditional support, White House officials said. During this summers health-care debate, for instance, Strange was one of the few Republican senators to vow to back the GOP bill without seeking anything in exchange.
We have laughed about it, Strange said. He has told me, Youre one of the few guys Im dealing with here who hasnt asked me for something, and I appreciate that. I dont want tickets to the Easter Egg Roll.
Trump considered his endorsement largely as a binary choice between Strange and Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), whose past comments criticizing Trump drew the presidents ire. It was unclear whether Trump fully grasped the potential of Moore as a third option, according to people familiar with the presidents discussions. It was Moore who went on to win the first round of voting last month.
Moore claimed in a recent interview that Trump has been manipulated about the dynamics in the race by McConnell and other establishment Republicans.
Trump is being misled, Moore said.
Regardless, Trump has had a comfort with Strange that persists. In early August, ahead of the primary, Strange said that the president told him: Look, you and I have something in common. Were both new to Washington. You have a background of getting things done, so Im going to support you.
Strange said he replied, A tweet would be a good start.
Trump did just that hours later, tweeting the night of Aug. 8.
It was an endorsement that caught McConnell and other senior Republicans unaware and, momentarily, left them satisfied.
Michael Scherer contributed to this report.
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer speaks at a rally calling on the Senate to defeat the Graham-Cassidy bill to replace the Affordable Care Act on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017. (Michael Reynolds/European Pressphoto Agency)
Senate Democrats, who spent weeks thinking they had won the fight to keep the Affordable Care Act in place, are mobilizing alongside progressive activists for 11 more days on the defensive.
Theyre going to hear from us one more time! Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said at a Tuesday afternoon rally outside the Capitol. Protesting, picketing, emailing you name it!
The multilevel campaign to block the Republican bill consists of everything progressives did to stop previous iterations from melting the phones of Republican senators to waging sit-ins at their offices.
This time, activists admit, feels different and more desperate. Theres fear that Senate Republicans learned from their first failed attempt at repeal, as House Republicans did in March. Theres some bitterness directed toward Senate Democrats, who cut a deal on the debt limit with President Trump one that infuriated Republicans, but also created an opening on the calendar before the GOPs Sept. 30 deadline to pass a bill with a bare majority.
That was a blunder on the part of Democrats, said Angel Padilla, the policy director of the grass-roots Indivisible coalition. Why not wait until September 30 to cut that deal? We would have otherwise been talking about the debt ceiling and disaster relief.
Democrats, who remain cautiously optimistic they can stop the repeal bill, rejected the idea they had botched their timing. Republicans, starting with the president, had never really given up on trying to repeal the ACA.
New health-care plan stumbles under opposition from governors
This has been about fulfilling a political objective from day one, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said. As soon as the parliamentarians ruling came down, they were going to be under a lot of pressure to get something by the end of the [fiscal] year. Everybody can put blame somewhere, but its squarely on Republicans shoulders that theyre trying to ram this through, in an unprecedented way, over the last two weeks of the month.
Republicans, light on outside support for their own bill, were hoping to sow more division on the other side. Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), one of its key co-sponsors, had introduced it at a news conference just hours before Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) rolled out a Medicare for All proposal backed by 16 Democrats. Graham told reporters Tuesday Republicans were more energized to pass a GOP-only bill after Democrats introduced their legislation.
It was a gift from the political gods, Graham said. Bernie made this issue easy.
Sanders had worried about distracting from the repeal push, and delayed his legislation several times to ensure he wouldnt. In a Tuesday tweet, a Sanders spokesman pointed out Medicare for All was nearly three times as popular as the Graham-backed plan to block grant Medicaid, depending on the poll. In interviews, Democrats on both sides of the single-payer issue absolved their colleague.
A number of Democrats have introduced a number of bills which are clearly aspirational, so I dont see what this has to do with it, said Sen. Christopher A. Coons (D-Del.), who did not endorse the Sanders bill.
They were going to do this anyway, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) said. The bill existed beforehand. They were taking a lot of heat from the president for not getting it done.
As of Tuesday afternoon, arguments about strategy were having little impact on the grass-roots mobilization. Every group that had organized against the last repeal push had picked up its pace though some, noted Padilla, were pivoting back from the fight over giving legal status to undocumented immigrants.
Indivisible had reactivated a phone call tool that helped activists target key senators, and spiffed up its TrumpCare Ten website. CREDO Action, another coalition member, was urging members who had already made more than 50,000 calls against Trumpcare to start calling again. Ultraviolet, a progressive womens group, was bird-dogging Republicans in person to confront them on flip-flops from their past health-care positions.
If we can slow it down and inundate them with calls, we can stop this, said Amy Siskind, an activist who assembles a weekly emailed list of ways that Trump is altering Americas governing norms. Im coming up on week 45 without a day off.
[The key players in the Republicans last ditch effort to kill the ACA]
People who cried tears of relief when Trumpcare was defeated last time are recording videos for John McCain and Lisa Murkowski, said Ben Wikler, the Washington director of MoveOn.org. Theyre going to remember how well that was received. That was something new for a lot of people organizing to thank Republican senators. Its hard to express how furious those people will be if Republicans turn around and take away their health care.
Some of those activists were already turning up by Tuesday. At the rally outside the Capitol, where a dozen Senate Democrats took turns urging voters to protest the bill, a 38-year old Charlottesville activist named Rebecca Wood said she had rallied for the ACA at least 41 times.
I cried every time, until the night when I thought we won, she said.
Democrats, who had worried about activists not taking the next repeal push seriously enough, spent Tuesday thanking them for re-engaging.
Just when you thought it was safe to go home and relax! Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) told activists outside the Capitol. Just when you thought you could take off your fighting shoes!
Its like a horror movie Nightmare on Capitol Hill, part five, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) said.
We have to fight sometimes, Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) said. Lets not throw up our hands. Lets roll up our sleeves.
Read more at PowerPost
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is trailed by members of the media in the basement of the Capitol on Tuesday. (Andrew Harrer)
Lisa Murkowski walked briskly down a cavernous hallway on the first floor of the Capitol, awash in a small sea of reporters. Suddenly she paused, seemingly overcome by the pressure of the moment.
You guys hold, the Republican senator from Alaska said curtly. Give me breathing room, please. It gets a little intense. I know you guys dont feel it, but its like, whoa.
Another effort to replace the Affordable Care Act is underway, and in Washington that means one thing: Murkowski is at the center of it all under the glare of the national spotlight and squarely on the minds of White House officials and Senate Republican leaders who are strenuously seeking her support.
Thats the way it was Wednesday, as Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) huddled with Murkowski to sell her on their bill. Afterward, she said she was still not convinced. And Graham dismissed the notion of altering the bill just for Alaska.
What was clear by the end of the day was that if Republicans want Murkowskis vote, they must either provide data showing that the legislation does not harm her state a difficult task, given its outlines or make changes that protect it.
Also clear was the very real possibility of a vote. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells spokesman said he intends to bring the proposal to the Senate floor next week. And President Trump said the bill had a very good chance of passing.
[New health-care plan stumbles under opposition from governors]
After leaving the meeting with Cassidy and Graham, Murkowski said she needed to review more information on how the plan would affect her state before she decides whether to endorse it.
I have asked for nothing except the data that were going to need to better understand the impact to a high-cost, low-density state like Alaska, Murkowski said. She said she was seeking numbers from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Department of Health and Human Services, working with our states Medicaid directors.
Following the gathering, Graham said he and his co-sponsors would not make any changes to the legislation for Alaska. But he also sought to project sensitivity to the states distinctive needs, perhaps opening the door to some provisions that accomplish that.
What were going to do is not deny Alaska the uniqueness of Alaska, but thats it, he added, after mentioning the states high medical costs.
Murkowski is one of at least four Republicans who remain unsure whether to support the legislation. But there is another reason the publics attention tends to lock onto this warm yet resolute and sometimes brusque senator: No one has any idea what she will do.
Like the state she represents, Murkowski projects an independent streak. She regularly breaks with her party yet she is also willing to play ball. Alaska is mysterious and complicated. So is its senior senator.
The problem last time was process and substance, Murkowski said Tuesday after her pause in the Capitol, explaining why she might be willing to support the current measure despite voting against the last one. Nobody knew what we were really . . . voting on.
Republicans, who hold 52 seats in the Senate, are already contemplating a scenario in which they are unable to persuade Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) to back their effort. That leaves them with no defections to spare even with Vice President Pence available to cast a tiebreaking vote on a bill that Democrats uniformly oppose.
And it makes Murkowski the GOPs biggest remaining challenge, Republicans familiar with the situation said this week.
The senator from Alaska has offered few clues as to where she stands in the negotiations. She met at length this week in McConnells office near the Senate chamber, and she has remained in close contact with Cassidy and his team as she seeks to better understand what the bill means for Alaska.
Murkowski and her team insisted that she is interested in seeing more numbers crunched to make a responsible decision. But some Republicans with a close eye on the process are under the impression that she is more interested in gaining political cover.
Beyond that, it has become a Capitol Hill parlor game to guess what could move her and whether it would work without prompting an avalanche of similar demands from other senators.
If it can be shown that Alaska is not going to be disadvantaged, you gain additional flexibility, Murkowski said. Then I can go back to Alaskans, and I can say, Okay, lets walk through this together.
Comparing it to the July effort, she added: Thats where it could be different.
Murkowski is the daughter of Frank Murkowski, a fixture in Alaska politics for three decades who appointed her to his Senate seat in 2002 when he became governor. Since that time, she has forged her own identity as a centrist Republican and the chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. But she has also followed a succession of politicians, including her father and the late Ted Stevens, known for engaging in political horse-trading to bring resources home to Alaska.
She has also demonstrated a regular willingness to buck her party. In 2010, she defied the odds when she lost the Republican primary to a tea party challenger only to come back, with little institutional support, and win the general election as a write-in candidate.
Now, President Trump and McConnell (R-Ky.) have a second chance to keep Murkowski in the fold after their heavy-handed efforts to sway her in July appeared to backfire.
In the lead-up to the July vote, Trump took to Twitter to call out Murkowski for not being more supportive. He also placed a call that she described as unpleasant and dispatched Interior Department Secretary Ryan Zinke to make what some interpreted as a threat that federal resources for Alaska could be at risk if she voted no.
At the time, Murkowski also complained about McConnell's secretive method of crafting a bill with a small clutch of aides and away from most Republican senators, including her.
This time, there are signs that Trump and McConnell are doing things differently.
[The key players in Republicans last-ditch effort to kill the Affordable Care Act]
Murkowski has been spared public displays of aggression from Trump and some GOP Senate aides are keeping their fingers crossed that it will continue. The president lashed out at Paul on Twitter, calling him a "negative force" on health care. In New York at a meeting with the president of Egypt, Trump praised the Cassidy-Graham bill and told reporters he believed "47 or 48" senators supported it and "a lot of others are looking at it very positively."
Pence and White House legislative director Marc Short have conducted much of the outreach to on-the-fence senators this week, revealing little public information about whom they are contacting or what they are saying.
Asked Monday whether the president could persuade her to vote for the latest repeal-and-replace bill, Murkowski responded: If he has the numbers, yeah.
Murkowski's fierce advocacy on health care springs largely from a unique set of factors in Alaska: a poor and vulnerable population, remote geography and inordinately high health-care costs. Alaska is one of a handful of Republican-controlled states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act meaning that the current bill's proposed cuts and redistribution of federal health-care dollars could strip thousands of Alaskans of coverage. At the moment, the legislation would turn funding for the ACA into block grants for states and, over time, sharply slash Medicaid spending.
The states governor, Bill Walker (I), opposes the Cassidy-Graham bill, as do other Republican governors. Nevertheless, McConnell is moving forward to try to take advantage of a procedural window to pass the bill with 51 votes that will close at the end of the month.
It is the leaders intention to consider Graham-Cassidy on the floor next week, his spokesman, Don Stewart, said Wednesday.
But not everyone is eager to plow ahead. Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) expressed doubts Wednesday that the bill would pass, according to the Des Moines Register.
Speaking Wednesday at an event hosted by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, former president Barack Obama said that any effort to repeal the ACA would end up "inflicting real human suffering" on Americans who had gained health coverage and consumer protections under his signature law.
Throughout the week, Murkowski has sought to keep comments laser-focused on her state. On her way to McConnell's office this week, reporters informed Murkowski that the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office had just announced it would not release information on how the bill would impact premiums or projected changes to the number of people with insurance coverage "for at least several weeks."
Oh, why? she asked.
A reporter read from the CBOs news release.
Hmm, Murkowski responded. Asked whether she could vote for a bill without that information, she dodged: What Im trying to figure out is the impact on my state.
Top Republicans have speculated that providing further protections for Alaska from the Medicaid cuts is one solution although that could set off a string of demands from other senators. Others have suggested stripping out or amending a one-year Medicaid funding freeze that the legislation would impose on Planned Parenthood, given Murkowski's support for the organization. That, however, could upset socially conservative senators.
Collins could also influence Murkowski in the other direction. They both voted "no" on the last effort, and have become allies over the years. So could Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), the third Republican to vote no in July and another undecided senator this time.
Collins has been very outspoken about her concerns with the latest legislation. McCains home state governor, Republican Doug Ducey, has come out in support of the bill. That, coupled with McCains close relationship with Graham, has led some Republicans to conclude that he is a gettable vote.
As for Murkowski, its wait and see.
I am doing the due diligence that I committed to doing, she said Wednesday.
Juliet Eilperin, Mike DeBonis, Abby Phillip and Kelsey Snell contributed to this report.
Read more at PowerPost
A business group urged China yesterday to carry out promises to open its economy and warned that inaction might fuel a backlash against free trade amid mounting U.S. and European criticism.
The European Union Chamber of Commerce said in a report that Beijing is backtracking in some areas, including by imposing new restrictions on food imports, express delivery and legal services. It proposed hundreds of possible changes to open the state-dominated economy wider or simplify rules in fields from cosmetics to medical devices.
The current lack of reciprocity in market access is becoming politically unsustainable, the European chamber president, Mats Harborn, said at a news conference. We are worried that if this is not quickly changed, there will be a backlash against economic globalization.
The chambers American counterpart and other groups have issued similar appeals.
Beijing faces mounting complaints from Washington and the European Union about its trade surpluses and barriers to foreign acquisitions of Chinese assets while its own companies are buying foreign brands and technology.
Earlier this week, the U.S. trade representative, Robert Lighthizer, complained in a speech in Washington that Chinese efforts to create industrial champions and induce foreign companies to hand over technology threaten the world trading system.
President Xi Jinping, who took power in 2012, and other leaders have promised to give market forces a bigger role, treat foreign and Chinese companies equally and reduce the dominance of state industry. But reform advocates complain little has been done to carry out those pledges.
A foreign ministry spokesman, Lu Kang, defended Beijings trade record and said it has abided by its market-opening commitments under the World Trade Organization.
China stays committed to the opening up and reform and lets the market play a decisive role in the allocation of resources, Lu said at a regular briefing.
China is a key market for autos, aircraft, smartphones, cosmetics and other goods. But Beijing bars foreign companies from fields including finance, telecoms and utilities. In others, companies are required to work through local partners that might become competitors.
The European chamber report noted the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ranks China 59th out of 62 countries in terms of openness to foreign direct investment.
It appealed for changes in fields from aerospace to cosmetics, including opening more industry segments, easing limits on foreign ownership stakes in companies and simplifying regulation.
The president of the European Unions governing body last week announced plans to introduce a screening mechanism for foreign investments a measure widely seen to be directed at Beijing.
It seems like it is a well-balanced proposal so far, and we look forward to seeing the discussion, Harborn said.
Also last week, U.S. President Donald Trump blocked a Chinese-financed purchase of a U.S. semiconductor maker, prompting suggestions Washington might tighten scrutiny of future deals.
American authorities also are investigating whether Beijing should face penalties for pressuring companies to hand over technology in exchange for market access. A survey earlier by the U.S.-China Business Council found 20 percent of companies that responded said they were asked to transfer technology within the past three years. Joe McDonald, Beijing, AP
The latest Republican proposal for curtailing the Affordable Care Act was assembled with such haste that it may get a vote before a full cost estimate is finished. But it is not a new idea.
At its core, the bill introduced by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) would implement a decades-old conservative concept, capping the amount that taxpayers spend on Medicaid and giving states full control over the program. As hes sold the legislation to conservative governors and activists, Graham has described it as a possible triumph for federalism, and a way to end the progressive dream of universal health care managed from Washington.
"Let's get back to the basics of being conservative," Graham said in a Saturday interview with Breitbart News. "We take the money that we would spend on Obamacare in Washington, and we block grant it to the states."
Whats new, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, is a discrepancy in state-by-state funding that would be flattened out by the block grants. Most states used the ACAs funding to expand Medicaid; some Republican-run states, liberated by the Supreme Courts decision to make the funding optional, did not. As a result, 14 of the 15 states that would stand to gain from block grants are run by Republicans; Democratic megastates including California, New York and Massachusetts would lose billions of dollars, a feature both Graham and Cassidy have talked up to conservatives.
We will either have to kick hundreds of thousands of people off of health care, or we will have to dramatically increase taxes, said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), in one of a string of Monday night floor speeches by Democrats.
No longer will four blue states get 40 percent of the money, said Graham to Breitbart. A state like Mississippi, they get a 900 percent increase. South Carolina gets 300 percent.
Graham, elected in 1994s Republican revolution to his first term in the House, was present for Capitol Hills first serious block-grant campaign. In 1995, in one of many attempts to devolve power from Washington, congressional Republicans teamed up with governors to both cap Medicaid spending and chop up the programs funding in MediGrants, for each state to apply to their own designs.
[New health-care plan stumbles under opposition from governors]
The proposal died after President Bill Clinton using one of the pens Lyndon Johnson used to enact Medicaid vetoed it, denouncing the wrongheaded cuts favored by Republicans.
The president has to realize that Lyndon Johnsons Great Society has failed, said Newt Gingrich, then the House speaker.
The block-grant concept remained in conservative thought, and reemerged in 2010, when Rep. Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), then a ranking member of the Houses tax-writing committee, included the idea in a flashy Roadmap for Americas Future. In 2011, newly elected Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wis.) joined a delegation of conservatives in Washington to testify for the wisdom of devolving Medicaid to states.
Sen. Bill Cassidy R-La.) speaks to the media, accompanied by Sen. John Cornyn R-Tex.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell R-Ky.). (Alex Brandon/AP)
Its the biggest challenge out there, Walker said of state Medicaid spending. We have maintenance efforts that require us to maintain things by the federal government when we have other things that would work better to manage those costs.
Barack Obamas own veto plan made the block-grant dream futile. This year, Ryan included the idea in the American Health Care Act, the Houses vehicle for repealing and replacing the ACA.
Medicaid, sending it back to the states, capping its growth rate, weve been dreaming of this since Ive been around since you and I were drinking at a keg, Ryan told National Review Editor Rich Lowry in March. Were on the cusp of doing something weve long believed in.
[The key players in Republicans last-ditch effort to kill the Affordable Care Act]
In the 1990s, and recently, supporters of block grants have pitched them as ways to control costs without simply kicking people off of Medicaid. The slower growth in funding, and higher obligations on states, are described as problems that could be fixed once money was liberated from the federal leviathan. At last weeks rollout of the Senate bill, former senator Rick Santorum (R-Penn.) repeatedly cited Congresss experience with welfare reform to argue that states could succeed where Washington failed.
You ever hear a governor come to Washington and complain about not having enough money for their welfare program? Santorum asked. No, you dont, because we gave them flexibility.
But the shrinking of the welfare rolls, which began in boom times, continued even as poverty increased. Between the 1996 passage of welfare reform and 2013, the number of families living on $2 a day or less rose by 150 percent, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
And the constituency for Medicaid is larger, with 74 million recipients, than the 3 million-plus Americans who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. While some Republican governors, including Walker, have pleaded for Congress to block-grant Medicaid, Graham and his allies have struggled to get a majority of governors on board. The majority of states, which expanded Medicaid under the provisions of the ACA, would see money clawed back and redistributed.
It is not practical for New Hampshire to craft a system with over $1 billion in cuts to federal funding, Gov. Chris Sununu (R-N.H.) said on Monday.
This particular proposal, in part because of how its designed, would have major consequences for a state like Massachusetts, said Gov. Charlie Baker (R-Mass.) earlier in September, during a Senate hearing on moving past repeal. It assumes that the cost of health care should be the same everywhere.
The discrepancies in state-by-state Medicaid spending, created when some states declined to expand Medicaid, have already befuddled some Republicans who are now expected to push the bill through.
This bill keeps 90 percent of the spending of Obamacare and reshuffles it, said Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), the most resolute Republican opponent of the legislation, who said it would have made more sense if the legislation zeroed out the spending of the ACA.
And there are risks in one favorite talking point that passing the bill would allow red states to fund private health-care options, while blue states could go their own way. Sen. John Neely Kennedy, Cassidys Republican colleague from Louisiana, said Monday that he worried about blue states experimenting with their block grants in ways that would expand government-run, universal coverage.
If you give California and New York a big chunk of money theyre gonna set up a single-payer system, said Kennedy. And I want to prevent that.
Kennedy, a folksy freshman senator, is not expected to oppose the final bill. But Louisiana, which expanded Medicaid in 2016, is among its losers. According to the left-leaning Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, Louisiana would get roughly $2.3 billion less in health-care funding over 10 years, as funding was capped and redistributed to neighboring states.
Estimates like CBPPs may be the only ones that voters see, as the Congressional Budget Office announced Monday it would not be able to provide detailed numbers before September 30, when Republicans lose the ability to pass a bill on a party-line vote.
I just dont care about the coverage numbers, Cassidy said last week, because their methodology has proven to be wrong.
Read more at PowerPost
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) stands by Sens. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) during a news conference on Capitol Hill about the Cassidy-Graham bill on Sept. 19. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post)
Senate Republicans latest effort to kill Obamacare has been nothing if not abrupt.
Think about it: At this time last week, Sens. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) hadnt formally announced their bill devolving federal health-care spending to the states. Even when they did, congressional news led with President Trumps talks with Democratic leaders on protecting undocumented immigrants. A sudden GOP gambit on health care seemed like a remote possibility, at best.
That all changed over the weekend when Republican leaders, pushed by conservatives to more seriously reckon with the possibility that they would not achieve their party's central policy goal, began to take a closer look at the Cassidy-Graham bill. And now, they face the challenge of persuading 50 people in the Senate to support it before the end of the month, which would set the stage for Vice President Pence to cast the tiebreaking vote.
There are many questions surrounding this process. But the timing is perhaps the chief source of confusion among congressional observers. Why is it necessary to pass the health-care bill by Oct. 1? Why do Republicans say they have to act in the next 11 days?
The answer lies in a combination of Republican legislative strategy, arcane Senate procedure and ordinary partisan divisions. But it boils down to the fact that on Oct. 1, the number of votes needed to pass Cassidy-Graham will rise above the number of Republicans in the Senate, effectively blocking the bills path.
Heres one way to think about it.
[New health-care plan stumbles under opposition from governors]
The Senate has until Sept. 30 to approve Cassidy-Graham with a simple majority of votes rather than the usual 60 needed for most legislation. This creates a valuable opportunity for the GOP and its slim, 52-seat Senate majority. From now until the end of the month, Senate Republicans can approve legislation fulfilling one of their most controversial priorities without a single Democratic vote.
Of course, uniting 50 Republicans is hardly simple thanks to divisions within the party, and its still unclear whether GOP leaders can do it for Cassidy-Graham in time to meet the deadline. That, coupled with seven years of Republican commitments to repeal the health-care law, is why pressure on the leaders is so high.
"If we were going to go forward, we would have to act before Sept. 30," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday at a news conference. "We're in the process of discussing all of this. Everybody knows that the opportunity expires at the end of the month."
McConnell and other Republicans can thank themselves for the deadline, which arose from their effort to pass health-care legislation without Democratic votes.
This is where the arcane Senate procedure comes in.
The Sept. 30 deadline exists because of a process known as budget reconciliation, which allows some fiscal measures to pass without the usual 60 votes. Republicans set this process in motion at the beginning of the year, when they passed a budget bill that included instructions for two committees to begin work on health-care legislation with the goal of saving federal revenue. By giving the health-care effort a fiscal goal, GOP leaders qualified that legislation to be passed by a simple majority.
But those instructions expire at the end of the fiscal year thats covered under the budget bill. Senators could always write new instructions into their next budget, but they were planning to use that opportunity to direct a different legislative priority tax cuts. Conventional Senate wisdom dictates that the chamber may consider only one legislative priority at a time under reconciliation.
[The key players in Republicans last-ditch effort to kill the Affordable Care Act]
Republicans would prefer to face no deadline at all. But these hopes were dashed on Sept. 1, when the Senate parliamentarian, who helps interpret the chambers mind-bending rules, said the GOPs reconciliation instructions would end Sept. 30, the last day of the fiscal year. That is what McConnell mean when he said the opportunity will expire at the end of the month: Senate Republicans will no longer have the ability to pass health-care legislation with only their own votes, because the process that allows them to do it will be over.
Its for this reason that so many journalists and commentators refer to Cassidy-Graham as Republicans last-ditch effort to abolish the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
Graham urged Republicans to try again if his bill doesnt pass.
"At the end of the day, will we try again? I would argue that yes, we should. I don't want to go back to South Carolina and say I did everything I could do to repeal Obamacare and not believe it in my heart," he said Tuesday.
Read more at PowerPost
China rebuked President Trump on Wednesday after he threatened to "totally destroy" North Korea if necessary, a warning that may have undermined the chances of peace but also gave Beijing an easy opportunity to seize the moral high ground.
Beijing has consistently blamed not just Pyongyang but also Washington for what it sees as its hostile policies toward the regime. It argues that U.S. hostility has helped to push North Koreas rulers into a corner and talk of total destruction only reinforces that narrative.
"Trump threatens DPRK with 'total destruction,' while China calls for peaceful settlement," the online English-language edition of the People's Daily newspaper headlined an op-ed, referring to the county's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Trumps political chest-thumping is unhelpful, and it will only push the DPRK to pursue even riskier policies, because the survival of the regime is at stake, the op-ed said.
Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lu Kang, was more restrained, but nevertheless conveyed a similar message.
Chinese artist Zeng Anting displays portraits of President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a market in Beijing on Sept. 19. (Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images)
In imposing economic sanctions on Pyongyang, the U.N. Security Council has agreed that the North Korea issue should be solved through political and diplomatic means, he said.
[Why havent sanctions on North Korea worked?]
The Peninsula situation is still in a complex and sensitive state, he said. We hope that relevant parties could maintain restraint while completing United Nations Security Council resolutions, and take more correct actions which are helpful in easing the situation.
More than 80 percent of North Korea's foreign trade is with China, while both Beijing and Moscow have been blamed for helping North Korea develop its missile program. Although Trump thanked China and Russia for agreeing to sanctions at the United Nations, he also appeared to rebuke one or both of them.
It is an outrage that some nations would not only trade with such a regime, but would arm, supply and financially support a country that imperils the world with nuclear conflict, he said.
But China is uncomfortable with the idea that it should shoulder most of the blame for North Koreas nuclear and missile program, and for Pyongyangs refusal to back down, experts say.
They dont like the idea that the international community sees this as a China problem, said Paul Haenle, director of the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center in Beijing. To a certain extent, this kind of talk at the U.N. plays right into their hands.
Yanmei Xie, a China policy analyst at Gavekal Dragonomics in Beijing, made a similar point.
Trump's bellicose rhetoric does add urgency to how China views this issue, she said. But it also reinforces Chinas view that both sides are to blame for the tension.
China has become extremely frustrated with Pyongyang but does not believe that sanctions will ever force it to abandon its nuclear program, which the regime sees as central to its survival.
China has resisted pressure to cut off North Koreas oil imports, which it believes would only serve to alienate the regime from Beijing and leave China facing a nuclear-armed enemy state on its border.
They believe that there is nothing we can do at this point to prevent Kim Jong Un from reaching his goal of developing an intercontinental nuclear missile capability, Haenle said. And they dont want to cross the threshold where they become North Koreas enemy.
So while Trump has persuaded China to turn the screw on North Korea, he will struggle to convince it to act more forcefully.
[Twenty-five million reasons the U.S. hasnt struck North Korea]
Francois Godement, director of the Asia/China Program at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said Trump may suffer a credibility problem in Chinese eyes by also threatening the governments of Iran, Venezuela and Cuba, rather than showing a resolute focus on a single issue.
But do Trumps words presage armed conflict?
The nationalist Global Times newspaper took a pessimistic view, arguing in an editorial that Trump's speech had "reduced hope of peace" on the Korean Peninsula.
Facts prove Pyongyang wont yield to pressure. Pushing North Korea to its limit may eventually trigger a bloody war, it warned. If a nuclear war broke out, that would be a crime against Chinese and South Koreans by Pyongyang and Washington.
However, several other experts said they were not worried.
China and Russia have a common stance on this they want to prevent war even if there is only a 1 percent chance of it, said Wang Sheng, a North Korea expert at Jilin University in Changshun. As a result of their joint resolve, he said, the United States could not easily start a war.
Military expert Song Xiaojun agreed.
What he said is a tactic, it doesnt mean he will really start a war, he said. The U.S. Army is concerned about other things, such as Chinas rise and Iran. Since the atomic bomb was developed, the United States has never started a war with a nuclear-armed country.
Last month, the Global Times newspaper warned North Korea that China would not come to the country's aid if it launches missiles threatening U.S. soil, although it would intervene if Washington strikes first.
That statement was meant to deter Pyongyang from crossing any red lines, experts say.
In the event of war, it is unlikely Chinese troops would fight alongside or on behalf of North Korean soldiers to defend the regime, as they did in the 1950-1953 Korean War, but they could enter the country to secure nuclear weapons sites and prevent U.S. troops from crossing into the North and installing a U.S.-friendly puppet government, some experts say.
In Pyongyang, the government will also have taken very clear note of Trump's angry disavowal of the nuclear deal with Iran, where that country agreed to abandon its nuclear weapons program under international supervision in return for a lifting of sanctions.
Trump called that deal "an embarrassment to the United States" and threatened to pull out of it. Saying "oppressive regimes cannot endure forever," he also called for the Iranian people to change their own government.
North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, has already seen Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and Iraq's Saddam Hussein agree to surrender their efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction only to end up ousted from power and killed. Trump's talk will only reinforce that lesson.
"How can Kim not conclude from this that Americans will not rest until his regime is toppled and that giving up nuclear weapons is suicidal?" asked Xie at Dragonomics.
Liu Yang, Luna Lin and Shirley Feng contributed to this report.
Read more
North Korea likely to fire more missiles after Trump speech, say experts
Jitters in Japan and South Korea after Trump speech
Beijing warns Pyongyang: You are on your own if go after the United States
Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
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Relief agencies reached the hard-hit Caribbean nation of Dominica by air and sea on Wednesday after a direct hit by Hurricane Maria caused massive damage to homes and buildings, washed out roads, upended water pipelines and left at least seven people dead.
Officials estimated that 70 to 80 percent of Dominicas structures sustained storm damage, ranging from ripped-off roofs to near-total destruction. All intact public buildings were being converted into emergency shelters for scores of homeless residents. Americans, Canadians and others were waiting to be evacuated from the devastated island, officials said.
Aerial footage showed debris fields strewn across the island in the wake of Maria, which struck late Monday as a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds above 160 mph.
Tremendous loss of housing and public buildings. The main general hospital took a beating. Patient care has been compromised, Hartley Henry, an adviser to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, wrote in a dramatic statement calling for international relief.
He said that little contact has been made with the outer communities but people who walked 10 and 15 miles toward the [capital] city of Roseau from various outer districts report total destruction of homes, some roadways and crops.
[We have lost all what money can buy: Dominicas prime minister posts harrowing accounts of storm]
A former British colony and a member of the Commonwealth, Dominica, with a population of about 72,000, was Marias first major victim as the hurricane blazed a deadly path through the Caribbean on the heels of two other brutal storms, Irma and Jose. The island is famous for its 365 rivers. Yet the same geography that has made it so picturesque has also made Dominica susceptible to severe flooding and mudslides.
Tropical Storm Erika killed at least 30 people as it passed over the island in August 2015, and Hurricane David, a Category 3 hurricane that hit in 1979, killed 56. Neither was as strong as Maria.
Ronald Jackson, executive director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, said at least 40 aid workers had reached the island by Wednesday to deliver medical supplies, tarps, food and water and to help launch a large-scale search-and-rescue operation. He estimated that there would be as many as 100 boots on the ground by Thursday morning. The Red Cross also planned to begin an aid operation on Thursday.
Jackson said the main port remained operational and able to receive aid ships. The islands two airports were mostly intact, and at least one was open for emergency helicopter flights.
But there were no air traffic controllers and, worse, the islands main airport, Douglas-Charles, was largely cut off from the capital because of washed-out roads and damaged bridges.
[Puerto Rico entirely without power as Hurricane Maria hammers island with force not seen in modern history]
Still, the destruction on Dominica, Jackson said, did not appear to be as widespread as the recent havoc that Hurricane Irma wreaked on Barbuda, which was left uninhabitable. He compared Dominicas damage to Irmas hit on the British Virgin Islands, but said that Dominicas terrain and washed-out roads were complicating the rescue effort.
We are using every available means to get there, he said. Accessibility is the biggest challenge.
As rescue workers accessed the island by boat and helicopter, Dominica remained largely cut off from the outside world. Communications were down, although five satellite phones were rushed to the island on Wednesday to help the isolated government respond to the crisis.
Skerrit, who captured attention on Monday night with dramatic Facebook posts as Maria ripped off the roof of his official residence, toured the island by helicopter Wednesday to assess the damage. Early Tuesday, he had described it as mind boggling.
We will need help, my friend, we will need help of all kinds, he wrote.
Godfrey Xuereb, who handles Dominica for the Pan American Health Organization, said the agency was preparing to assist with evacuations of people in medical need but that the geography and road damage presented hurdles that needed to be overcome.
The road system has been compromised, so theres obviously water damage, mudslides, rubble, he said. So even if the ports of entry are functional, the movement of people across the island is severely restricted.
With communications severed, people outside Dominica were becoming desperate for word from family and friends there. David Charles, 46, a Dominica native residing in Britain, said he was frantically trying to obtain information on his children and parents still living on the island.
Last time I heard from them was after 12 a.m. on the day of the hurricane, he said. Were worried because we havent heard anything from our government officials. You would think theyd have a contingency plan to get the word out to so many concerned people with families back there. The lack of official information is simply worrying.
Rachelle Krygier in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report.
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Rescue workers look at fellow workers searching for people under the rubble of a collapsed building after an earthquake hit Mexico City, Mexico September 19, 2017. (Carlos Jasso/Reuters)
The seven-story apartment building had just flattened into a layer-cake of concrete.
Cirilo Cortez Alta, who lived on the ground floor and worked as a janitor, had been outside when the earthquake started after 1 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon. But he believed his 17-year-old daughter, Anayeli Juarez Hernandez, was still inside on the fifth floor, where she worked as a maid. He had frantically called her phone but received no answer.
In the throng of hundreds of volunteers frantically picking through the rubble, amid the blare of shouting and ambulance sirens and the rumble of dump trucks, Cortez stood silently, staring at what had been his home, with no idea whether his daughter was dead or alive.
This is a tragedy, he said.
The massive 7.1-magnitude earthquake that killed more than 200 people also knocked down dozens of buildings, including many in densely packed neighborhoods of Mexico City, converting whole sections of the city into a frantic mass-rescue effort. Along one block of Escocia Street in the Colonia del Valle neighborhood, two multistory apartment buildings collapsed, with an unknown number of people trapped inside.
Residents flocked to the wreckage, using whatever tools they could find, most often their bare hands, to clear the rubble in the hopes of finding survivors. Every few minutes, someone would scream silencio to try to quiet the crowd in the hope of hearing voices amid the downed buildings, but shouting and sirens soon returned.
When medical workers carried bodies out on a stretcher it was hard to tell if they were dead or alive the crowd would clap and cheer.
Soldiers, rescuers and people work at a collapsed building after an earthquake in Mexico City, Mexico September 19, 2017. (Ginnette Riquelme/Reuters)
In the first hours after the quake, the response came from all corners: volunteer medical workers, police, firemen, Marines whoever was nearby. Residents by the hundreds rushed to pick up chunks of concrete in the air clogged with dust. Lines formed spontaneously to pass buckets, crates, plastic barrels, shopping carts, wheelbarrows whatever receptacle could be found to be filled with rubble and then shuttled back through the sea of hands to waiting trucks.
Down the street, residents formed blocks-long lines to pass water, shovels and surgical masks into the areas with the worst damage. At a nearby clinic, more than a dozen hospital beds were placed in the patio as a triage center for the wounded.
This is a tragedy and everyone who can is helping, said one man with a surgical mask over his mouth and sweat pouring down his face, before he rushed back into the fray.
In the chaos, authorities sought to control the crowd while they pursued the rescue.
You guys organize this, you know what youre doing, a Marine shouted at a Red Cross worker. There are a thousand people here.
Outside the flattened seven-story apartment building, search and rescue teams scaled ladders up the wreckage, to try to peek through cracks in the concrete.
Is there anyone in here? one volunteer shouted into the building. We are here to rescue you.
A guy in a yellow sweatshirt began scaling the collapsed facade, which tilted at a dangerous angel. As he grabbed for a handhold, chunks of concrete tumbled down to the street below.
Aguas!Watch out someone screamed below. There are people under you.
Word spread that a resident named Juan Pablo lived in the building so the crowd started shouting his name.
By late afternoon, rescuers had already pulled out at least a half dozen people, some of them alive.
We think there are more people inside, Armando del Toro, a 46-year-old volunteer paramedic said. Nobody can go inside there. And if you start taking any pieces out, it could all come crashing down.
Del Toro remembered jumping into rescue-mode on the same day 32 years ago, when another devastating earthquake struck Mexico City in 1985.
Right now we are going through the exact same thing, he said.
Rescue Services search for victims under the debris of a building that collapsed after a 7.1 magnitude, in Mexico City, Mexico, on September 19, 2017. (Jose Mendez/EPA-EFE)
Read more:
Powerful quake shakes Mexico, killing more than 200
Mexicos history of cataclysmic quakes
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The day after a vicious earthquake leveled apartment buildings, damaged hospitals and flattened an elementary school, Mexicans mobilized Wednesday for a massive rescue effort, digging in a frantic search for survivors.
As the death toll reached 230 people, with 100 in Mexico City and the rest distributed in surrounding states, Mexicans confronted scenes out of parents worst nightmares as rescuers pulled childrens bodies from the ruins of the primary school.
But across the capital, a surge of civic spirit took hold as thousands volunteered to provide medical care, food and water or to pick through buildings destroyed by Tuesday afternoon's quake, the second major temblor in the past month and the deadliest in three decades.
In the central Roma neighborhood, small stores stayed open around the clock, offering food to rescue workers and families of victims. A hardware store lent tools to people trying to claw through massive piles of debris.
Its a pleasure to help, said Rogelio Santos, a shopkeeper, on Wednesday. We wouldnt want to be anywhere else right now.
1 of 74 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad Photos from the scene after a powerful earthquake rattled Mexico View Photos A 7.1-magnitude earthquake jolted Mexico on Sept. 19, causing buildings to sway sickeningly in the capital on the anniversary of a 1985 quake that did major damage. Caption A 7.1-magnitude earthquake jolted Mexico on Sept. 19, causing buildings to sway sickeningly in the capital on the anniversary of a 1985 quake that did major damage. Rebecca Blackwell Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue.
In the capital, the 7.1-magnitude quake caused more than three dozen buildings to crumple and damaged hundreds more, a north-south band of destruction that scarred poor and wealthy neighborhoods alike.
"The priority continues to be rescuing people in collapsed structures and treating the wounded," President Enrique Pena Nieto wrote on Twitter on Wednesday as he assessed damage in Mexico City and surrounding areas. Pena Nieto declared a three-day period of national mourning, the second time the government has made such a declaration this month.
The Mexican leader spoke to President Trump on Wednesday about the quake. Trump extended his condolences and offered assistance and search-and-rescue teams, which were quickly deployed, according to a statement from the White House.
Trump has had a testy relationship with the Mexican government and was criticized for not quickly contacting Pena Nieto after a deadly quake off the Pacific coast earlier this month. (Trump blamed poor cellphone reception.)
[Was it the cell signal? Mexicans wonder why Trump took so long to offer condolences]
The latest quake knocked out power across 40 percent of this city of 20 million, and rescue and medical services were stretched to their limits.
Authorities reported damage to at least 22 hospitals in and around Mexico City.
One, in Morelos, collapsed completely. Some 5,000 schools were damaged by the quake.
The partially destroyed Colegio Enrique Rebsamen, a private elementary school with about 400 students in southern Mexico City, quickly became a painful symbol of the tragedy. Riveted Mexicans watched on their televisions as dramatic rescue efforts played out through Tuesday night and into the next day.
By Wednesday morning, Lucia Arista had already visited what remained of the school. She had checked the dozens of names scrawled on paper and taped to trees that identified the survivors and deceased. She had visited eight hospitals in southern Mexico City in a desperate, predawn search for her niece.
She could discover no news, good or bad, about the fate of Jessica Laura Castrejon Hernandez, a 32-year-old cleaning woman who worked at the school.
She has disappeared, Arista said. The mingled emotions of anxiety, dread and hope were evident in the crowd gathered around the three-story school.
After one wing collapsed Tuesday afternoon where the kindergarten and the younger grades held classes hundreds of rescue workers descended on the scene, including police, soldiers and marines.
Its like a sandwich now, said Eduardo Corona, 55, a search-and-rescue volunteer who began working at the building Tuesday evening. Many of those children, they didnt make it.
Corona saw the bodies of young children but said he could not hear sounds from survivors. Working to the rumble of generators, rescue teams used search dogs, mirrors, hoses and other methods to probe the wreckage for survivors.
Rescue worker Pedro Serrano described to the Associated Press how he tunneled into the unstable rubble to a partially collapsed classroom of the school, only to find no one alive.
We saw some chairs and wooden tables. The next thing we saw was a leg, and then we started to move rubble, and we found a girl and two adults a woman and a man, he said.
Jose Pineda, 65, a hardware store worker whose children used to attend the school, held back tears as he described the situation.
This was really, really ugly, he said. Everything has fallen.
Around the security cordon, neighbors strung up sheets of paper, taped between a tree and a crosswalk sign, with names of children who survived, suffered injuries or died.
There were 31 names on two lists of the dead. At least 59 other people were listed as having gone to hospitals in the area.
We dont know how many children are still inside, said Elena Villasenor, 44, a neighbor who was helping with the notices. They were in classes. The school was full.
A stream of parents, grandparents and other relatives checked for the names of family members.
It is very hard to have to point them to these two lists, Villasenor said, motioning to the blue and white sheets with the names of the dead children. There arent words.
[In Mexico City, rich and poor had little in common. Until the quake hit.]
The Mexican military dispatched more than 4,000 service members to Mexico City and thousands more elsewhere to help with relief operations.
Several countries made plans to send assistance. At the Mexican governments request, the U.S. Agency for International Development will deploy a team to conduct damage assessments and help local authorities coordinate their emergency efforts, American officials said. The team will include urban search-and-rescue specialists from the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Ordinary Mexican residents also banded together to assist in the recovery effort in any way possible: distributing water, sandwiches, tamales and coffee.
Telecom companies enabled free text messaging and provided Internet services at points across the city. Private car services, as well as public buses and subways, offered free rides.
When the traffic lights went out in the hard-hit Roma neighborhood, several private security guards and one regular civilian in a T-shirt and jeans took it upon themselves to direct traffic.
Tuesday's earthquake occurred exactly 32 years after Mexico's worst earthquake, which left thousands dead in 1985 and demolished entire neighborhoods in the capital.
Mexico is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes: The country is in a region where tectonic plates butt up against one another, with huge amounts of energy waiting to be unleashed.
Gabriela Martinez and Paul Imison in Mexico City and William Branigin, Andrew deGrandpre and Abby Phillip in Washington contributed to this report.
joshua.partlow@washpost.com
Read more
The Mexican city with the highest number of quake deaths mourns
Thirty years later, Mexicans are getting ready for the next big quake
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Grand Lapa restobar Vasco has revamped its premises and menu, which will feature new signature cocktails when the venue reopens next month.
The company consulted celebrated Belgian mixologist Ulric Nijs to create eight signature cocktails, which tell a story of Vasco da Gamas exploration journey.
In a media preview this week, Nijs said that the entire cocktail menu was designed in only a week, noting that Vascos bartenders also played a significant part in his decisions. The bar is aiming to cater to local taste in cocktails.
A lot of those drinks are relatively approachable. They are easy drinks and you dont have to be a cocktail wizard to enjoy them, said the bartender.
I think these drinks were assisted by the fact that [local bartender] taste is very good, and these were all approved by them, he added.
Although the mixologist found it challenging to adjust to the local taste, he was confident that the signature drinks would cater to guests preferences.
The cocktail scene has evolved over the past several years, creating different opportunities for wine and spirit enthusiasts.
Questioned by the Times whether Vasco needed to redevelop its cocktail choices, Nijs said it needed to move with time and added that it also needed to incorporate some more contemporary elements.
When people travel in hotels, they will expect the drink to have a certain quality and character [and so] we need to add this into the equation, he explained.
The consultant stressed that since modern consumers are much more educated and aware of the wines and spirits they drink, it is vital for hotels to keep up with the demand.
The alcohol that we drink today is better than what we drank 20 to 30 years ago, Nijs explained.
The bartender is also delighted that bartending is now seen as a legitimate profession, adding that the job was downplayed decades ago.
In his view, bartenders will continue to create new and unique cocktails, drawing inspirations from current trends and demands.
Nowadays, bartending is regarded as a trade and its good; its what we want, Nijs added.
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) waves to reporters while arriving at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Courthouse for his federal corruption trial on Wednesday in Newark, N.J. (Julio Cortez/AP)
Federal prosecutors started Wednesday's proceedings in the bribery trial of Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) by attempting to use the politician's own words against him.
The jury saw a 2013 interview clip and statement in which Menendez accepted responsibility for waiting more than two years to reimburse co-defendant Salomon Melgen $58,500 for trips on Melgens private plane.
The bottom line is, when it came to my attention, I paid for it, Menendez told a CNN interviewer.
Menendezs statement about the trips, which came out a few days before the interview, asserted that he had traveled on Melgens planes only three times and had properly reimbursed his friend for all of those flights.
At the time, Menendez was trying to fend off media scrutiny of his relationship with Melgen. Now the stakes are much higher, with prosecutors seeking to show that Menendez criminally concealed many other flights and gifts he received from the wealthy Florida ophthalmologist.
The prosecution has spent the better part of the first three weeks of the trial attempting to show Melgen lavished Menendez with gifts and flew him to the Dominican Republic and Florida and back on a frequent basis, either on his own jets or on chartered or commercial flights. The government case is that Melgen bribed Menendez in exchange for government favors, while the senator argues he was simply a close friend of the doctor.
With FBI agent Alan Mohl on the stand on Wednesday, prosecutor Monique Abrishami discussed Senate financial disclosure forms showing that Menendez didnt list a single gift from Melgen.
Menendez attorney Abbe Lowell countered by asking Mohl to read portions of the forms related to knowingly falsifying information and disclosure exemption rules.
Abrishami objected that Lowell was trying to confuse jurors with his questions.
"That's not a sin in our profession," U.S. District Judge William Walls said outside the presence of the jury.
Lowell said prosecutors and the FBI had an extensive amount of time and resources to reconstruct Menendezs travels over the years and questioned why the government wasnt talking about Menendezs trips to Melgens home in the Dominican Republic in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Mohl said the FBI didnt look at travel records going back that far because Melgen didnt own a private jet until later in the 2000s.
The defense is trying to establish that Menendez paid his own way on some or all of his trips and that he only became a frequent guest at Melgens villa after the two became close friends.
With the jury out of the courtroom, Walls said, Friendship can be contaminated by corruption. It can also serve as the camouflage for crime.
Lowell on Wednesday went through every stamp in Menendezs passport to illustrate that the New Jersey Democrat went from making occasional trips to the Dominican Republic to going as many as five times a year starting in 2008. In total, Menendez traveled 20 times to the Caribbean island between 2006 and 2013. The Justice Department cited six of those trips in its indictment.
Menendez approached CNN reporters during a break in the trial and turned around to blow an air kiss to his daughter as she left the courtroom.
Asked on Wednesday afternoon how he felt the trial was going, Lowell said, There are many innings in a ballgame. It doesnt matter what the score is in the third inning.
Prosecutors declined to comment.
The trial will resume Monday
The international nuclear agreement with Iran is a "closed issue" and cannot be extended or changed in any way, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani declared Wednesday, flatly rejecting President Trump's criticism that the deal is weak and "an embarrassment."
This is a building the frame of which, if you take out a single brick, the entire building will collapse, Rouhani said.
This issue must be understood by the American officials, he added. Either the JCPOA will remain as it is in its entirety or it will cease to exist.
The 2015 deal known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was a signature achievement for President Barack Obama. The agreement, negotiated over more than two years of difficult diplomacy, also involves European allies, as well as Russia and China, and is backed by the United Nations. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson held his first meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif later Wednesday, alongside the other parties to the accord.
France, Germany and Britain have not signed on to the criticism lodged by the new U.S. administration, and French President Emmanuel Macron used his meeting here with Trump on Monday to urge the U.S. leader to stick with it. The agreement meant an infusion of cash and investment in Iran, much of it from European businesses liberated from international economic sanctions on Iran.
It has been an open question whether the agreement could survive without the United States, whose participation was the key to Iranian willingness to strike a bargain, limiting what it asserts is a peaceful nuclear program.
Rouhanis remarks are a declaration that the deal cannot be renegotiated to address U.S. concerns and cannot be reconstituted without the United States.
Rouhani also suggested that if the United States abrogates the terms of the deal, Iran could resume larger-scale uranium-enrichment activities a move likely to rekindle international fears that Tehran would be able to accelerate the development of nuclear weapons.
If anyone exits the agreement and breaks their commitment, it means our hand is completely open to take any action that we see as beneficial to our country, Rouhani said at a news conference after his address to the U.N. General Assembly.
The JCPOA has no other conditions, Rouhani said. It is the JCPOA in its current form.
Tillerson later told reporters he was not discouraged by Rouhanis refusal to consider any kind of modification of the deal.
As a longtime negotiator, I learned to never say never, he said. And second, it always gets the darkest before you might have a breakthrough. As Ive said to people many times, as the nations chief diplomat, I better be the most optimistic person standing in the room.
Tillerson said the meeting between diplomats whose countries signed the nuclear deal was civil and matter of fact, even though he and Zarif clearly differed in their assessment of the agreement.
There was no yelling, he said. We did not throw shoes at each other.
Trump said Wednesday that he has decided what to do about the Iran deal, which he has strongly and repeatedly criticized, but he did not say what that decision was.
Speaking in New York after a meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Trump responded to a reporters question about whether a decision has been made about the future of the accord.
I have decided, Trump said, three times.
Pressed by reporters to reveal his decision, Trump smiled and said, Ill let you know what the decision is.
Under U.S. law, Trump must decide by Oct. 15 whether to recertify Iran's compliance with the agreement. The International Atomic Energy Agency, which has inspectors in Iran to monitor its nuclear facilities, has said eight times that it is complying. If Trump does not recertify it, Congress will have 60 days to decide whether to reimpose U.S. sanctions that were lifted when the deal took effect. That would in effect be a withdrawal.
Trump, in his speech to the General Assembly on Tuesday, called the agreement with Iran an embarrassment and one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into.
In that fiery speech, he also said that Iran is a "murderous regime" that he put in the same category with rogue nations such as North Korea.
That led Rouhani to demand an apology Wednesday.
Mr. Trump was offensive to Iran, and we are waiting for Mr. Trump to apologize to the people of Iran, Rouhani said through an interpreter.
Rouhani, during a 23-minute address at the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, never mentioned Trump by name. Instead he referred to him obliquely, saying it would be a pity if the nuclear deal were undone by rogue newcomers to the world of politics and condemning ignorant, absurd and hateful remarks.
Rouhani denied that Iran had ever sought to obtain nuclear weapons and said the ballistic missiles it has been testing would be used only for defensive purposes.
Trump and other U.S. officials have criticized the nuclear deal for failing to address Iranian ballistic-missile programs and Irans alleged support for terrorism. The criticism echoes long-standing conservative doubts about the value of the deal if it addressed only the potential threat of nuclear weapons. The Trump administration and Israel have also complained that even the nuclear protections are weak, since some of them expire in 10 to 15 years.
In his speech, Rouhani took umbrage at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus criticism of Iran the day before, when he called Iran the greatest threat to world peace.
It is reprehensible that the rogue Zionist regime that threatens regional and global security with its nuclear arsenal and is not committed to any international instrument or safeguard has the audacity to preach [to] peaceful nations, he said.
Rouhani said that the time frame and deadlines contained in the deal were all carefully worked out and will not be revisited.
He also said the end of the nuclear deal would be more detrimental to the United States than to Iran.
By violating its international commitments, the new U.S. administration only destroys its own credibility and undermines international confidence in negotiating with it, or accepting its word or promise, he said.
This is the third General Assembly since the deal was made, and Rouhanis appearances have reflected the arc of Iranian sentiment about it.
In 2015, as Iran was dismantling and downsizing parts of its nuclear program in the first part of the deal, Rouhani was optimistic it would lead to growth as Iran was reintegrated into the world economy. Last year, the Iranian president was dour, complaining that the United States had not done enough to convince international business and banks that it was safe to invest in Iran. This year, he was defiant.
And Tillerson was philosophical as he bemoaned the fact that the U.S.-Iranian relationship has been rocky for four decades now, since the 1979 revolution and the takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.
Its a relationship thats never had a stable, happy moment in it, he said. And I think if we ever get the chance to talk, perhaps thats where we ought to start talking. Is this going to be the way it is for the rest of our lives and our childrens lives and our grandchildrens lives? Weve never had that conversation.
Read more:
The burning world crises that wont get solved this week at the U.N.
In Trumps U.N. speech, an emphasis on sovereignty echoes his domestic agenda
U.S. prisoner in Iran has pacemaker put in as Trump calls for Tehran to free him
Abby Phillip in Washington contributed to this report.
Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs office has interviewed Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein as part of its probe of Russian meddling in the 2016 election a conversation which put investigators in the unusual position of obtaining the account of a man who has authority over their work, according to two people familiar with the matter. (Brynn Anderson/AP)
Special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs office has interviewed Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein as part of its probe of Russian meddling in the 2016 election a conversation that put investigators in the unusual position of obtaining the account of a man who has authority over their work, according to people familiar with the matter.
The interview was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, which said that it took place in June or July and that it was about President Trump's removal of James B. Comey as FBI director. Special counsel investigators have been probing whether the president might have attempted to obstruct justice leading up to Comey's firing.
[Special counsel is investigating Trump for possible obstruction of justice, officials say]
Precisely what investigators have asked Rosenstein, or how key a figure he is in the probe, remains unclear. Rosenstein undeniably played a role in Comeys firing authoring a memo highly critical of the FBI director, which the White House used initially to justify the firing.
Rosenstein told the Associated Press in June that if his conduct were to become germane to the probe, he would step aside.
"I've talked with Director Mueller about this," Rosenstein told AP. "He's going to make the appropriate decisions, and if anything that I did winds up being relevant to his investigation then, as Director Mueller and I discussed, if there's a need from me to recuse, I will."
A spokesman for Mueller declined to comment Tuesday night. Justice Department spokesman Ian Prior said: As the deputy attorney general has said numerous times, if there comes a time when he needs to recuse, he will. However, nothing has changed.
Rosenstein, who holds the No. 2 position in the Justice Department, appointed Mueller in May to oversee the investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to influence the 2016 election. Attorney General Jeff Sessions had earlier recused himself from the case because of his role in the Trump campaign a decision which drew scorn from the president.
While he does not conduct day-to-day supervision of Mueller, Rosenstein can veto any investigative step the special counsels office takes though Rosenstein must then notify Congress. Rosenstein also approves Muellers budget and can remove him from his post.
Rosenstein told Fox News earlier this year that Mueller was not reporting to me about individual decisions made in his investigation.
Trump has said publicly that he was thinking of the Russia investigation when he fired Comey, and he has asserted he would have removed his FBI director no matter the recommendation he got from his other top law enforcement officials.
[Trump said he was thinking of Russia controversy when he decided to fire Comey]
The deputy attorney general wrote a memo lambasting how Comey handled the conclusion of the FBIs investigation into Hillary Clintons use of a private email server when she was secretary of state, particularly by making public statements on the matter. He concluded his recommendation by saying that the FBI was unlikely to regain public and congressional trust until it has a Director who understands the gravity of the mistakes and pledges never to repeat them, and asserting that Comey cannot be expected to implement the necessary corrective actions.
White House officials initially pointed to that, and a recommendation from Sessions, as the reason Trump removed Comey from his post.
It is unclear whether Rosenstein knew Trump was thinking of the Russia case when he wrote the memo. Trump did give Rosenstein and Sessions a draft letter which outlined his grievances against Comey, though it did not dwell on Russia, according to people familiar with its contents. Mueller is said to be examining that letter.
Rosenstein and Sessions have both said they discussed the possibility of removing Comey before either of them was confirmed, and many months before the president solicited their opinion.
In one of my first meetings with then-Senator Jeff Sessions last winter, we discussed the need for new leadership at the FBI, Rosenstein said in a briefing to Congress in May. Among the concerns that I recall were to restore the credibility of the FBI, respect the established authority of the Department of Justice, limit public statements and eliminate leaks.
Rosenstein has said he learned on May 8 that Trump intended to remove Comey from his post, and, Notwithstanding my personal affection for Director Comey, I thought it was appropriate to seek a new leader. He said he finalized his memo on May 9, asking an ethics expert who had worked in the deputy attorney generals office during multiple administrations to review it first.
Rosenstein said he told that attorney that Trump was going to remove Comey, and he was writing a memorandum to the Attorney General summarizing my own concerns.
I wrote it. I believe it. I stand by it, Rosenstein said in a statement to Congress.
Baquer Namazi and his son Siamak Namazi. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said on Sept. 18, 2017, that both men, Iranian Americans serving 10-year prison sentences on spying charges in Iran, should be immediately freed and paid restitution. (Babak Namazi/AP)
An elderly U.S. citizen with a heart ailment was hospitalized and given a pacemaker Tuesday shortly before President Trump demanded that Iran release all Americans and other foreigners he described as unjustly detained.
The health of Baquer Namazi, 81, who had undergone triple bypass surgery before being imprisoned 18 months ago and convicted of espionage in a secret trial, has raised concerns that the former UNICEF official might die in custody.
At least three other Americans are imprisoned in Iran, and a fourth has been missing for a decade, but Namazis health is considered particularly fragile. The United States does not have diplomatic relations with Iran, so it has asked Switzerland, the U.S. protecting power in Iran, and other countries with embassies in the country to urge Tehran to release him.
Namazi was rushed to a hospital in Tehran on Monday, five days after a cardiologist recommended that he be taken immediately to a cardiac-care unit for tests, Namazi's son Babak said in an interview in New York City.
But prison guards insisted on taking the elder Namazi back to Evin Prison, where a staff physician said urgent hospital care was unnecessary, Babak Namazi said.
On Monday, as Baquer Namazis health deteriorated, he was rushed to the hospital. An angiogram showed his condition was serious enough that a pacemaker was put in, said Babak Namazi, who learned of his fathers health crisis from family members in Iran. He was expected to be returned to Evin Prison on Wednesday, his son said.
"What's next?" said Babak Namazi, whose brother, Siamak, also has been convicted of espionage and has been imprisoned in Evin for almost two years. "What do I need to do as a son to get my father home, alive?"
It is unclear whether any progress will be made at the United Nations this week on the case of the U.S. prisoners. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who addressed the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, spoke with Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Monday. But the U.N. leader's spokesman declined to say whether they had discussed Namazi. Foreign Policy reported that Guterres, who headed the refugee agency for which the elder Namazi worked, wrote confidentially to Rouhani this summer asking for Namazi's release on humanitarian grounds.
Relations between the United States and Iran, longtime foes that talk to each other only at periodic joint committee hearings to discuss the progress of the 2015 nuclear deal, have worsened since Trump came to office vowing to ditch the agreement negotiated with Iran by the Obama administration and five other world powers.
When the Iran nuclear deal took effect in January 2016, it involved a prisoner swap that freed five Americans, including Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian.
The United States hopes Iran will release on humanitarian grounds the remaining Americans, including two taken into custody since the Iran deal was implemented.
Xiyue Wang, a Princeton graduate student, was arrested last August while conducting historical research and sentenced to 10 years for espionage and "assisting a hostile government." He also has suffered health problems in detention.
Karan Vafadari, an Iranian American who owns an art gallery in Tehran, was arrested with his wife in July 2016 and accused of holding mixed-gender parties where the couple served alcohol.
A former FBI agent, Robert Levinson, has been missing in Iran for more than 10 years.
The case of the Namazis, father and son, has drawn the most attention, because they are well known Iranian American business executives. Siamak Namazi, who promoted closer ties between the United States and Iran, was detained in October 2015. His father was picked up four months later when he went to Iran to try to free his son. Both were tried and convicted of collaborating with the United States and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
In his speech at the United Nations on Tuesday, Trump called on Iran to free all the Americans, although he did not mention their names.
It is time for the regime to free all Americans and citizens of other nations that they have unjustly detained, he said.
On Monday, the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said the Namazis should be freed immediately and paid restitution. It called their detention arbitrary and part of an emerging pattern of Tehrans targeting dual nationals, a status Iran does not recognize.
Some of the prisoners are said to be in poor health and growing despondent.
Relatives fear that Siamak Namazi, who reportedly has been beaten and shocked with a stun gun, may take his own life. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British Iranian woman serving five years on national security charges, is said to be losing her hair and experiencing depression. Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese technology specialist with a U.S. green card who had worked on State Department contracts, has gone on hunger strikes. Baquer Namazi is reported to have lost 35 pounds.
Babak Namazi said he came to the United Nations big annual meeting, as he did last year, because his father belonged to the U.N. family and because New York City is filled with diplomats he hopes may be able to help. He wants to plead his fathers case with senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
Today the world came together at the U.N. to talk about issues, including the American hostages. What does it take to get an 81-year-old man free? I need to get him back, and I need to get him back alive. If this continues, we will be facing a tragedy.
Kim Jong Un's regime tells the North Korean people every day that the United States wants to destroy them and their country. Now, they will hear it from another source: the president of the United States himself.
In his maiden address to the United Nations on Tuesday, President Trump threatened to "totally destroy North Korea."
Analysts noted that he did not even differentiate between the Kim regime, as President George W. Bush did with his infamous axis of evil speech, and the 25 million people of North Korea.
"President Trump has handed the North Koreans the sound bite of the century," said Marcus Noland, an executive vice president at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and one of the authors of its North Korea: Witness to Transformation blog. "That footage will be used time and time and time again on North Korea's state television channel."
[That speech on North Korea was really unhelpful, China tells Trump]
Since the Korean War ended in an armistice in 1953, the Kim regime has portrayed the United States as an "imperialist aggressor" pursuing "hostile policy" to crush North Korea again. To keep control of and unify the populace, the regime has kept alive the memories of the Korean War, when the United States destroyed 80 percent of all the buildings in the North and killed as many as 20 percent of its people.
North Koreas streets and airwaves are filled with calls to resist the American imperialists, and from a young age, children watch cartoons showing squirrels and hedgehogs (North Koreans) fighting off evil wolves (the United States).
The threat from the United States is the whole reason North Korea needs nuclear weapons, the regime tells the people, while denying them access to the Internet or any other outside information.
The Kim regime argues that only it is capable of protecting the country from the existential threat North Korea faces from hostile foreign forces led by the United States, Noland said. All of the depravity and the denial of rights is all justified by this.
Trumps words feed right into that narrative, analysts say.
"This will reinforce the leadership's position that the United States is hostile to North Korea," said Jung H. Pak, chair of Korea studies at the Brookings Institution. "This is exactly what North Korea is talking about, and [Trump] said it right there on TV in front of the whole world."
Furthermore, Trumps demonizing of Kim personally will inflame the situation, she said.
At the United Nations, Trump referred to the 33-year-old North Korean leader as "Rocket Man," a moniker the president used on Twitter two days earlier.
[ Trump, at the U.N., threatens to totally destroy North Korea ]
Directing criticism at the Kims is heretical for a regime that has created an all-encompassing personality cult around its leaders, turning them into virtual deities.
Previous attacks on Kim Jong Un personally have elicited an outsize response from North Korea's apparatchiks. When a U.N. commission of inquiry recommended that Kim be indicted in the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, North Korea's usually quiescent U.N. representatives strongly protested and even attended conferences to defend their leader.
This slander against the supreme leader in front of an international audience . . . is going to cause the Foreign Ministry to have to leap to the defense of Kim, whether or not Kim orders it, said Robert Carlin, a former CIA analyst on North Korea who remains a close reader of its statements.
Tuesdays speech came on top of Trumps previous warnings that Kim will feel the full fire and fury of the United States and that the United States was locked and loaded.
These sentiments have been echoed, although in more nuanced terms, by the generals around the president, who have repeatedly said they have military options for dealing with North Korea, even if those would have horrific consequences.
[ Jitters and surprise in South Korea and Japan over Trump U.N. speech ]
If Trumps words are aimed at calling Kims bluff and forcing him to stand down, they will almost certainly backfire.
"His speech could give Pyongyang an excuse or incentive to redouble its nuclear and missile development, which means more testing," said Duyeon Kim, visiting senior fellow at the Korean Peninsula Future Forum in Seoul.
The whole rationale of deterrence is to persuade the opponent not to carry out an intended action, because the costs outweigh their benefits, Duyeon Kim said. The question now is whether Kims regime, which is struggling to interpret Trumps unconventional style, considers the threat real.
Pyongyang might interpret his bluster as credible and work harder on its nuclear weapons, she said. Or, Pyongyang might laugh and not take his warnings seriously, which is also a big problem, too. We just dont know for sure.
North Korea is, however, likely to glean one clear message from Trumps speech, analysts said: Theres no point signing a denuclearization deal with the president, because he wont honor it.
Trump called the international nuclear accord with Iran an embarrassment and one of the worst and most one-sided agreements ever forged. He strongly hinted that his administration would soon back out of the deal with Irans murderous regime.
His trashing of the Iran nuclear deal will raise warning signs for North Korea, said Pak, of Brookings. This is not going to get them to talk if the U.S. is just going to tear it up.
Instead, North Korea will probably just wait out Trump, she said. They think in terms of dynasties, she said, and they know that we think in terms of electoral cycles.
Read more:
Why does North Korea hate the United States? Lets go back to the Korean War.
Why Trumps threat to totally destroy N. Korea is extraordinary even for him
Trumps menacing United Nations speech, annotated
Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
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Hong Kongs last British governor, Chris Patten, said yesterday that calls for the citys independence from China dilute support for democracy, and residents should engage in dialogue and not hate speech.
Patten, who presided over the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997, spoke at a luncheon at The Foreign Correspondents Club in Hong Kong.
A debate on freedom of speech has raged at universities in Hong Kong over the appearance of independence slogans on campus. Patten expressed his disapproval of calls for Hong Kong independence, saying it would never happen, is provocative and dilutes support for democracy.
Hong Kong has to have a grown-up discussion about civil disobedience and how much is allowable. But I certainly dont think that it makes sense for people to shout at one another from the opposite sides of the barricades, he said.
Hong Kong maintains civil liberties unseen on mainland China, including freedom of speech, but many residents fear Beijing is tightening its grip.
Some young activists started promoting the once-unthinkable notion of independence from mainland China after massive pro-democracy protests ended without resolution in 2014. Theres almost no chance of success but their ideas have alarmed Chinas Communist leaders in Beijing.
Hong Kongs Beijing-backed government has clamped down on such sentiment.
AP
Cut a country up into little pieces and no two parts are likely to be the same. That much is clear from the huge variety of shapes, sizes and characteristics making up the voting districts for this Sundays election in Germany.
The main factor in deciding the 299 German Wahlkreise (constituencies) is population. The rule is that the number of eligible voters in each one cannot deviate by more than 25% from the average of all voting districts. The map below shows what is special about a selection of these constituencies.
For instance, the largest constituency by size Mecklenburgische Seenplatte II Landkreis Rostock III at 6300 sq km is more than 200 times larger than the smallest Berlin-Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg Prenzlauer Berg Ost.
Hover over the highlighted constituencies to see what is special about them An dieser Stelle finden Sie Inhalte von Drittanbietern Um eingebettete Inhalte anzuzeigen, ist deine widerrufliche Einwilligung in die Ubermittlung und Verarbeitung von personenbezogenen Daten notwendig, da die Anbieter der eingebetteten Inhalte als Drittanbieter diese Einwilligung verlangen [In diesem Zusammenhang konnen auch Nutzungsprofile (u.a. auf Basis von Cookie-IDs) gebildet und angereichert werden, auch auerhalb des EWR]. Indem du den Schalter auf an stellst, stimmst du diesen (jederzeit widerruflich) zu. Dies umfasst auch deine Einwilligung in die Ubermittlung bestimmter personenbezogener Daten in Drittlander, u.a. die USA, nach Art. 49 (1) (a) DSGVO. Mehr Informationen dazu findest du . Du kannst deine Einwilligung jederzeit uber den Schalter und uber Privatsphare am Seitenende widerrufen.
The type of voters going to the polls is obviously going to be pretty different across the country too. Eight out of ten people in Schwandorf are Roman Catholic while seven out of ten in Aurich-Emden are Protestant. These are different worlds to Berlin-Marzahn-Hellersdorf where just one out of ten residents identifies as a Christian.
The disposable income of the average person in Munchen Land, the countrys richest voting district, is nearly 14,000 higher than those in Germanys poorest, Gelsenkirchen. The Ruhrgebieten constituency also has the highest number of residents on benefits, one in five people living there, according to the latest statistics.
Take a look at the map to see if there is anything special about the area in which you are voting on Sunday.
It was March 2020, and the world was closing down as the COVID-19 pandemic spread. At first, the news of...
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/09/2017 (1881 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
For Wayne Johnston, getting reacquainted with his fictional journalist character Sheilagh Fielding was like seeing an old friend.
The 59-year-old Johnstons critically acclaimed 1998 novel The Colony of Unrequited Dreams, arguably his breakout novel, is a fictional account of the life of former Newfoundland politician Joey Smallwood, the man largely responsible for the provinces entry into Confederation in 1949 and who went on to become its first premier. It marked the introduction of Fielding to readers, whose story continued in 2006s The Custodian of Paradise.
Fielding returns in First Snow, Last Light, a story told from the alternating perspectives of Fielding and Ned Vatcher, who is introduced as a teen shortly before his parents vanish without a trace. Ned leaves Newfoundland and learns about the world of business in Boston before returning to the Rock and becoming a successful businessman albeit one obsessed with solving the mystery of what happened to his parents.
Mark Raynes Roberts
Theres a comfort to coming back to a character because theres not as much laying of groundwork, Johnston says of Fielding from his Toronto home in advance of tonights launch of First Snow, Last Light at McNally Robinson Booksellers. I know Fielding so well, know her voice really well. I can slip into those things very quickly and write at a fairly high level.
The return to mid-20th century Newfoundland and the reappearance of Fielding is in part why the book is being loosely dubbed the third in Johnstons so-called Newfoundland trilogy. Its a trilogy in the sense that it carries forward themes from the other two books. And it does feature Sheilagh Fielding and one or two other people (from other books) make little cameos. But you could read the books in any order and understand the context.
Like in The Colony of Unrequited Dreams, Johnstons main character is based on a real-life Newfoundlander in this case businessman and TV mogul Geoff Stirling.
Anyone familiar with Geoff Stirlings life will see that I have by no means stuck to it, and thats why I didnt use his name, explains Johnston. With Smallwoods story I stayed so close to what he actually did, except for Fieldings involvement, that I felt I was justified in using his name.
Where Ned Vatcher and Geoff Stirlings stories stray from each other is the mysterious disappearance of Neds parents. (Stirlings parents died in a car crash.) I wanted this figure who early in life lost his parents and then was faced with two questions: what do I do and why did I lose them? Johnston explains.
This meant building a story around a mystery that had to carry through the entire novel, something Johnston found to be a challenging, but ultimately rewarding exercise. I have a renewed appreciation for people who write literary mysteries, because you have to be so careful not to be obviously planting a hint or directing the reader away from what might be a giveaway.
You have to hold the readers interest not only about the characters but about this mystery, keeping it close enough to the solution that the reader will keep guessing, but withholding it as well.
Johnstons penchant for fiction set in the past spans beyond his home province. His 2002 novel The Navigator of New York, which was shortlisted for the Giller prize and Governor Generals Award for fiction, starts in St. Johns, N.L., but moves to the titular city before the characters race north to the Arctic in the hopes of being the first to get to the North Pole.
Similarly, his 2011 novel A World Elsewhere is set in part in St. Johns, but quickly delves into the America of the Gilded Age (its loosely based on the life of millionaire George Vanderbilt).
And while Johnstons fiction often ventures beyond Newfoundland, hes still often thought of as a Newfoundland writer much in the same way ex-Winnipegger Miriam Toews (also now living in Toronto) is considered a Manitoba writer.
I dont mind the idea of being called a Newfoundland writer. I have no doubt, even though I cant put my finger on it, that no matter where I set my books theres something about the way I write, something about my style, sentence by sentence, that is peculiar or unique to Newfoundland, Johnston says.
Perhaps as a result of that isolation, Johnston sees his home province as a place populated by many with compelling stories to be told. Newfoundland is a place that is given to producing people who seem larger than life. The inspiration for this book, for instance, Geoff Stirling if anyone ever writes a biography of him, they will see it will be very difficult to convince this reader that all these things are true.
books@freepress.mb.ca
MGM Resorts International revealed plans on Monday for a USD675 million waterfront casino in Connecticuts largest city, the latest salvo in a competition with two Native American tribes that run two of the worlds largest casinos in the southeastern part of the state.
MGM is already building a nearly $1 billion casino in Springfield, Massachusetts, that threatens to take revenue and jobs away from the Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. The Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes responded by proposing a casino less than 20 miles away from Springfield in northern Connecticut that was approved by Connecticut officials and awaits final approval by federal authorities.
The two tribes said in a statement Monday that the Bridgeport casino isnt anywhere near receiving required approval from the state legislature and Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. They also said approval of the resort would violate the gambling compact between the tribes and the state that gives the tribes exclusive casino development rights in Connecticut.
MGM and its partner on the Bridgeport casino, development company RCI Group, vowed to work diligently to obtain the needed approvals.
The Bridgeport casino would be located along Long Island Sound in Bridgeports Steelpointe Harbor, the same area where President Donald Trump proposed a casino in the 1990s.
The new casino would include 2,000 slot machines, 160 table games, a 700-seat theater, a 300-room hotel, restaurants and retail shops, according to MGM. It would add more than 7,000 new jobs in the Bridgeport area, as well as provide $50 million in license fees to the state this fiscal year, $8 million in yearly payments to the city of Bridgeport and $4.5 million in annual payments to surrounding communities, according to MGM.
James Murren, MGMs chairman and chief executive officer, said the casino can help to turn the economic tide of this state. We just need the political commitment to make it happen, said Murren, who is a Bridgeport native.
Malloy said later Monday that he hadnt reviewed the Bridgeport proposal. He said if the state violates the compact with the tribes, it could lose nearly $500 million over the next two years in revenue from the tribes two casinos. The state gets 25 percent of the slot machine revenue from Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun under the compact.
I cant imagine any scenario in which the tribal nations would agree to open up the compact on those grounds, Malloy said. I cant imagine entering into an agreement with any entity that would endanger our agreement with the tribal nations.
MGM sued Connecticut in 2015 over the process used by the state to approve the casino proposed by the two tribes in East Windsor, about a 20-minute drive from the Springfield casino site. MGM said it was put at a competitive disadvantage after Connecticut officials created a special pathway for the tribes to build a casino on non-tribal land.
A federal appeals court in June 2017 upheld a lower court judges decision to dismiss the lawsuit. AP
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A Winnipeg man who made money from an underage girl in the sex trade at a West Broadway apartment where Tina Fontaine spent some of her last days has been released from jail.
Jesse Thomas, 32, pleaded guilty this week to a single charge of receiving a material benefit from sexual services provided by a person under 18, was given credit for more than two years hed already spent behind bars, and was released to complete 18 months of probation after Crown and defence lawyers reached a plea bargain.
Thomas and three others previously faced human-trafficking charges after police discovered a 17-year-old girl had been doing sex work inside an apartment building on the 400 block of Furby Street, but those charges never played out in court.
PHIL HOSSACK / FREE PRESS FILES Police discovered a 17-year-old girl had been doing sex work inside an apartment suite on Furby Street.
Two other young women who also spent time at that apartment suite, 15-year-old Tina Fontaine and her cousin, 29-year-old Jeanenne Fontaine, are now dead.
Thomas was set to begin a week-long trial Monday, but instead pleaded guilty, admitting he was present and received money from the sex work of a 17-year-old girl with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder between May and June 2015.
The girl was a ward of Child and Family Services, a chronic runaway, and someone who struggled with addictions. She was, as Crown attorney Daniel Chaput said, vulnerable.
The girl was advertised under a fake name and photo on an online classifieds site and her real age wasnt given. Court heard Thomas would be present when she met johns sometimes he stayed in the washroom of the Furby Street apartment or went with her to out calls and would take a cut of the money she made.
Effectively, Mr. Thomas was providing a presence and some form of security, whether you want to use that term or not, Chaput told court. He said the 17-year-old had been willing to testify against Thomas and was thankful he pleaded guilty.
These are serious offences and the proliferation of such offences and allegations in the justice system is concerning, and ought to be concerning to the court, he added. Were dealing with vulnerable young women who tend to be preyed upon by the likes of Mr. Thomas and others, and those who would engage their services.
The charge to which Thomas pleaded guilty carries a minimum sentence of two years, and Court of Queens Bench Justice James Edmond agreed with the recommendation from Chaput and defence lawyer Laura Robinson to sentence him to the 2.2 years hes already spent in jail. While Thomas has convictions for drugs and violating court orders, he doesnt have prior sexual or violent offences on his record.
Robinson told the judge her client was remorseful and planned to work as a telemarketer upon his release.
Two other men, twin brothers who knew the 17-year-old was being exploited, were also charged with human trafficking in connection with the Furby Street apartment.
Eric Wirffel pleaded guilty to receiving a material benefit from sexual services and was sentenced to two years in prison. Charges against Clinton Wirffel were dropped after a preliminary inquiry in June 2016.
Jeanenne Fontaine, 27 at the time, told court she had been forced to take photos of the 17-year-old girl at the Furby Street address that were intended to be used to advertise escort services. She tearfully pleaded guilty to advertising sexual services and was released in December 2016, with credit for 323 days served.
Within four months of her release from jail, Fontaine was killed though Winnipeg police have said she wasnt the intended target of a shooting and fire at her North End home this spring.
Three men, Christopher Matthew Brass, Malcolm Miles Mitchell and Jason Michael Meilleur, have been charged with homicide- and arson-related offences in her death.
The August 2014 homicide of Fontaines cousin Tina, who visited the Furby Street apartment before she went missing and was later found dead in the Red River, sparked national calls for an inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada.
katie.may@freepress.mb.ca
Twitter: @thatkatiemay
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The $10-million pedestrian riverbank walkway in St. Boniface moved a step closer to becoming reality Wednesday after Mayor Brian Bowman and members of his executive policy committee (EPC) unanimously endorsed the project.
The Promenade Tache project goes to council for a vote next week.
Controversy has surrounded the Tache project after it was recently disclosed by the administration that the price tag had almost doubled from $5.188 million to $10 million.
An artist rendering of the Tree Top Lookout that would be part of the Tache Promenade project. (SUPPLIED)
The project involves the creation of a 2 1/2-kilometre-long pedestrian walkway on the St. Boniface side of the Red River, from the Provencher Bridge to the Norwood Bridge.
The administration said the higher cost is the result of additional riverbank stabilization work that wasnt anticipated in the original estimate, along with road construction, street lighting, engineering work, unspecified overhead costs and a contingency allowance.
The federal government is contributing $500,000 to the project and the Winnipeg Foundation is contributing $1 million for the construction of a tree-top lookout.
While the project was never identified as a priority by any civic department, ward Coun. Matt Allard repeatedly described it as a core infrastructure project and as transformative, and work necessary to stabilize the areas riverbank.
The administration is urging the additional costs be approved by council this fall so the necessary riverbank stabilization work can be carried out over the winter, ensuring the entire project is completed by the fall of 2018 to coincide with celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the arrival of Joseph-Norbert Provencher to establish a mission in the area that became St. Boniface.
The report is also recommending that council give authority to the chief administrative officer to award the construction contract without council or committee approval, and give the CAO authority to fund any further over-expenditures by dipping into savings realized from other projects that come in under budget.
Other initiatives endorsed by EPC include: a request from the Winnipeg Police Board to allow the board to appoint two more members and to hold fewer board meetings; an administrative proposal to submit seven infrastructure projects totalling $348.8 million for federal funding; and additional funds to cover an anticipated Winnipeg Transit deficit this year. All the proposals require council approval.
Police board chairman David Asper appeared before the committee to urge support of the changes to the police board. Asper said the current structure of the board has created an oppressive workload, board members are required to serve on multiple committees and there are too many meetings.
The board has 10 regular meetings a year in addition to regular meetings of four committee and community consultations the board is required to conduct, which results in an annual average of 51 meetings for individual members, Asper said.
The workload has been oppressive for what is supposed to be a civilian governance group of members of the community, Asper said, noting the workload is proving to be a disincentive to people who might be interested in serving on the board.
Provincial legislation states police boards must meet at least quarterly, and sets the minimum number of members at seven, with two of those appointed by the province and the remainder by the municipality. The city bylaw requires the board to meet nine times a year and the number of members at seven.
The board wants council to amend the bylaw to reduce its schedule from monthly meetings during the year to quarterly meetings, and increase the maximum number of members to nine, with the two additional to be recommended by the board itself, for appointment by council.
aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca
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OTTAWA The federal Liberals say it might not be too late to restore rail service to Churchill before the fall freeze, despite Manitoba moving ahead with propane shipments to help the cut-off town get through the winter.
Were confident that were going to be able to move forward and help Churchill, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday, as the town of 900, located 1,000 kilometres north of Winnipeg, entered its 17th week without its rail lifeline.
Private talks are ongoing as Ottawa tries to facilitate a transfer of the rail line and port from Denver-based owner Omnitrax to two northern Manitoba groups. But an extensive, independent engineering report stressed work must start by early September to get the tracks operational before the November freeze.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-OmniTrax The owners of the Hudson Bay Railway line say flooding that submerged a section of the track, shown in this handout image, and stopped service on May 23 has caused "unprecedented and catastrophic" damage that will take months to repair.
Yet, Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr suggested the actual deadline could be later. There are probably various points of view on that, Carr told the Free Press, but he wouldnt specify who offered another timeline, and what it was.
We want to make sure that were moving at the quickest pace that the situation will allow, said Carr, who represents Winnipeg South Centre. The commitment is unwavering, to the people of Churchill, their future and the future of the transportation links that are essential for the growth of that very important Manitoba region.
Regardless, the province is proceeding with its shipment of 2.2 million litres of propane.
The $6-million shipment will leave Montreal Sept. 26 and is scheduled to arrive in Churchill Oct. 10, pending weather. Premier Brian Pallister announced the fuel July 21, as a safety measure in case rail line wasnt restored.
Carr said he isnt reading too much into that, though he did say Transport Minister Marc Garneau is helping plan necessities in case the line cant be fixed this year.
NDP MP Niki Ashton, whose riding includes Churchill, says the Liberals need to complete the takeover as the town approaches its vital polar-bear tourism season.
Maybe Trudeau needs a refresher on what construction season looks like in northern Canada. Maybe its time he actually come to Churchill, Ashton said in an interview.
She noted the two northern Manitoba groups are working together for a takeover, and have laid down their individual chances at full ownership of the line.
The federal government is failing to show them the political will and frankly the courage to stand up to Omnitrax, Ahston said. People have been frustrated with Omnitraxs games.
Conservative MP Candice Bergen said the slow pace of takeover talks could bring economic chaos to northern Manitoba.
Missing the freeze-up deadline is a clear failure on the part of Justin Trudeau and the Liberals, Bergen wrote. You can be rest assured that the Liberals would have never let a similar situation occur in Ontario or Quebec.
In late July, Trudeau pledge to Churchill Mayor Mike Spence that Ottawa would repair the line. When the Free Press asked the prime minister why Ottawas missed the early-September deadline, Trudeau blamed the lines owner.
Omnitrax is not living up, has not lived up to its contractual obligations, and getting them to accept that we would move forward without them was a challenge, he said.
Omnitrax Canada head Merv Tweed refused to comment on the ongoing talks with Ottawa. While we have had some productive discussions, time is running out and we hope to see this process accelerate, he wrote.
Yet, Spence also said it might not be too late for his town.
Time is running out, but we have not given up on repairs to get the rail line operational before freeze-up, he wrote. The pressure is on for all involved to find a solution.
dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
Opinion
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This article was published 20/09/2017 (1881 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The federal government is set on legalizing marijuana by summer 2018. While the Liberals will enjoy the political payoff of appearing progressive, all the problems and the logistics of legalizing pot will fall on the shoulders of the provincial governments.
Read the other side of this debate below: Public monopoly wrong model for pot sales
There are strong correlations between how a drug or an indulgence, such as gambling, is made available to the public and the propensity for individuals to indulge in it, and the negative health and social outcomes associated with its use.
In other words, it matters how we legalize marijuana, not just that we legalize it.
Provincial governments might want to draw lessons from the last time an illegal substance alcohol was legalized, following Prohibition in the late 1920s, as well as insights from current public-health efforts to eliminate tobacco use.
For starters, it might make sense to make acquiring recreational marijuana reasonably expensive and somewhat difficult.
All provincial governments (except Alberta, which eliminated its liquor board) should consider selling recreational marijuana only in government liquor stores because they have the secure infrastructure to deal with a drug with narcotic properties. They also have well-trained staff and secure logistical facilities to ensure its distributed in a socially responsible manner. This will eliminate the potentially enormous political problem of licensing and determining where (and when) dispensaries will be permitted. It will also prevent organized criminal elements from operating dispensaries.
Most critically, governments should control the retail end of marijuana and the wholesale side. They should sell recreational marijuana as a store brand in plain packaging and offer only a few types. This will prevent manufacturers from developing and promoting brands of pot through advertising.
Store brands are more profitable for retailers largely because they gain more control over manufacturing and cut out supplier middlemen. As the sole wholesaler in a province, liquor boards will be able to drive hard bargains with manufacturers.
There must also be significant taxes imposed on marijuana. But taxes will not earn significant revenues, as the government must also cover the costs associated with its (mis)use.
Government revenues from the sale of pot will already be restricted given the decline in pot prices over the past 25 years: on the illegal market, a gram of pot in the 1990s cost $15, while today it costs less than $10.
Contrary to popular belief, the legalization of marijuana will require an increase in police and legal efforts to stamp out the black market. When government liquor commissions took over alcohol distribution, bootleggers had to be eliminated or they would undercut the states monopoly on sales, and its ability to control how it was sold and consumed.
Policies will also need to be developed to allow police to determine which pot has been legally procured and which has not. Since federal legislation will permit Canadians to grow marijuana at home, verifying legally procured marijuana will be considerably more difficult.
Provinces should also be wary about offering edible pot. Ingesting marijuana substantially increases its potency and its often sold in child-attractive products such as brownies, gummy bears and the like, substantially increasing the potential for accidental consumption including by children. If provinces decide to sell edibles, they should ensure that dosage amounts per item are consistent between products and are presented in a way thats easy for consumers to understand.
The provinces will also need to establish a permit-and-purchase tracking system. If individual sales can be tracked to original purchases, and purchasers, this would aid in preventing marijuana from ending up in the hands of minors. Persistent violators who resell marijuana could have their permits revoked.
Governments should consider restricting the purchase age to 21, as recommended by many medical practitioners.
And in order to limit consumption and normalization of its use, there should be no advertising or promotion of marijuana.
Provincial governments must make the best of a very difficult situation. Consumption of marijuana will likely rise, as will the costs of dealing with its effects.
Like many issues in Canadian federalism, this is a classic case of the federal government being wholly detached from the reality of implementing policy and the real costs associated with it.
Malcolm Bird teaches political science at the University of Winnipeg and is an expert adviser with EvidenceNetwork.ca.
Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press files
Public monopoly wrong model for pot sales
As recreational cannabis becomes legal nationally on July 1, Canadians are faced with tremendous opportunity and risk. Our country is essentially rolling back a long-existing illegal trade to facilitate a legal, regulated market. The purpose, as the federal Liberal platform says, is: to ensure that we keep marijuana out of the hands of children, and the profits out of the hands of criminals, we will legalize, regulate and restrict access to marijuana.
With much yet to be figured out, the following focuses on the issue of how to implement retail distribution, which rests with each province.
The primary question we are addressing here is whether to create a government monopoly. Many have the impression that the only alternative is a Wild West model of mom-and-pop shops multiplying unrestrainedly, without regard for safety or risk and harm reduction. This black or white comparison is oversimplified.
It is a balanced approach that will resolve the issues we face and that monopolies simply cannot fix. Monopolies may actually contribute additional issues such as higher prices, leaving the door open to increased competition from cheaper illegal suppliers, online and elsewhere.
Rarely, if ever, do monopolies facilitate normal market forces in solving important problems such as providing least-cost access to product, without unnecessary delays and to a wide geographic range of people. Economic opportunities to multiple participants in the cannabis business are lost. Moreover, a government monopoly diminishes the opportunity for Indigenous economic participation and benefit.
There is, however, a crucial role for government to play in creating a comprehensive regulatory and legislative framework that it can enforce with rigorous safety-related testing infrastructure. Competitors who can meet these demands and requirements may then be screened for participation.
As Manitobans know well, the province is founded on successful business, from early Indigenous trading prior to European arrival to subsequent innovators such as Ashdown Hardware and onwards to modern national and global leaders like Great-West Life, the Richardsons, Nygard and, most recently, an exciting group of Machine Learning companies. As it has always been, private-industry involvement is a key to finding solutions to many of the questions a monopoly simply cant address.
We believe that the best way to continue to advance the social, justice and security concerns of Manitobans in time for recreational cannabis becoming legal is through the development of an innovative and competitive private-sector model. In our case, we are willing to risk tens of millions of dollars in investment. Although we are the leader in our field now, we would not be the only company that would eventually qualify.
Profoundly relevant to this debate is that there is already a 30-year-mature cannabis business. The federally appointed Task Force on Marijuana Legalization and Regulation commented that the illegal trade of marijuana reaps an estimated $7 billion in income annually for organized crime.
In the medicinal cannabis world we know there are many blends and combinations of cannabinoids with varying chemical attributes that affect people differently. The current recreational black market has millions of customers with established buying patterns and sophisticated tastes based on buyer choice and low pricing.
What would make these millions of consumers switch from current buying patterns without product variety, affordability or availability? As one paper said of Ottawas position, inadequate supply of marijuana from authorized vendors could play into the hands of illegal dealers, creating a gaping hole in legal sales. None of this achieves any of the governments goals for legalization.
The police cant magically erase the black market. After three decades of the failed war on drugs, its time to show new leadership.
Many legal companies such as ours have been acting within the law and in good faith for years under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations. These private companies have diligently serviced legitimate medical needs legally.
We are a longtime leader of a doctor-led clinical model for medical treatment with 10 locations nationally, including in Winnipeg. As a national, publicly traded company, our ownership disclosure eliminates room for organized crime.
If you look at the history of government-controlled liquor distribution and how rampant youth consumption has always been, youre compelled to naturally dismiss the absurd pretense that government monopoly equals absolute safety.
As already discussed above, the government monopoly model may, in fact, play right into the hands of organized crime.
If we are to achieve the stated objectives for legalization, what really provides the solution at retail is a balanced approach. For this reason, we advocate strong government regulations and legislation and a private-market model that allows experienced, safe, well-governed, -financed and -disclosed companies to compete for consumer demand in the recreational cannabis market.
Mark Goliger is chief executive officer of National Access Cannabis.
With a mass exodus of Rohingya Muslims sparking accusations of ethnic cleansing from the United Nations and others, Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday said her country does not fear international scrutiny and invited diplomats to see some areas for themselves.
Though an estimated 421,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh in less than a month as their villages burned and hundreds were killed, Suu Kyi said the great majority of Muslims within the conflict zone stayed and that more than 50 percent of their villages were intact.
The Nobel Peace laureates global image has been damaged by violence since Rohingya insurgents attacked Myanmar security forces on Aug. 25. Rohingya fled their villages in the military crackdown that followed, and many of their villages have been burned. The government has blamed the Rohingya themselves, but members of the persecuted minority have said soldiers and Buddhist mobs attacked them.
Suui Kyis first address to the nation since the violence erupted came days after she canceled plans to attend the U.N. General Assembly, a decision widely seen as a response to international criticism.
Suu Kyi said anyone found to have broken the law would be punished. Human rights violations and all other acts that impair stability and harmony and undermine the rule of law will be addressed in accordance with strict laws and justice, she said.
The Rohingya, who live mainly in northern Rakhine state near the Bangladesh border, have had a long and troubled history in this predominantly Buddhist nation of 60 million.
Though members of the long-persecuted religious minority first arrived in the western state of Rakhine generations ago, most people in Myanmar consider them to have migrated illegally from Bangladesh. Denied citizenship, they are effectively stateless. They cannot travel freely, practice their religion, or work as teachers or doctors, and they have little access to medical care, food or education.
The attacks on Rohingya villages in the last month appear to many to have been a systematic effort to drive them out. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres has described it as ethnic cleansing.
Satellite imagery released by Human Rights Watch yesterday shows massive swaths of scorched landscape and the near total destruction of 214 villages. Also yesterday, a group that focuses on Rohingya rights said the attacks drove nearly all Rohingya out of one of the three northern Rakhine townships where the ethnic group is concentrated in Myanmar.
The Arakan Project found that almost every tract of villages in Maungdaw township suffered some burning. Most Rohingya villages in Rathedaung township also were targeted, but relatively few were hit in Buthidaung township.
Suu Kyi sought to assure foreign diplomats gathered for her speech in Naypyitaw, the capital, that those who fled to Bangladesh would be allowed to return if they passed a verification process. She also said the government was working to restore normalcy in the area.
Though fires have continued to flare in recent days in northern Rakhine state, she said there have been no armed clashes and there have been no clearance operations for the past two weeks.
Nevertheless we are concerned to hear that numbers of Muslims are fleeing across the border to Bangladesh, she said. We want to understand why this exodus is happening. We would like to talk to those who have fled as well as those who have stayed.
She said she it would be helpful to understand why conflict did not break out everywhere. She invited the diplomats with visit villages that werent affected so they could learn along with the government why are they not at each others throats in these particular areas.
Rohingya now in camps in Bangladesh were angered by the implication that Rohingya who were driven from their villages were themselves responsible, or that some members of the ethnic group are safe.
In the Kutupalong refugee camp, Abdul Hafiz said Rohingya once trusted Suu Kyi more than the military that not only ruled for half a century before, but also held her under house arrest for many years. Now Hafiz calls Suu Kyi a liar and says Rohingya are suffering more than ever.
He said Suu Kyi should give international journalists more access to their destroyed villages. If Rohingya are proven wrong that they were attacked, he said, we will not mind if the world decides to kill us all by pushing us into the sea.
Chris Lewa, founder of the Arakan Project, said the government rules for verifying Rohingya as citizens are too strict, requiring documents dating back decades. Many people would have lost their documents in the fires, and many children were already unregistered, she said.
Those fires, she added, have destroyed thousands of homes. So where are they going to go? I hope not in segregated camps, as in Sittwe, a Rakhine state city where tens of thousands of Rohingya have been confined since another round of ethnic violence five years ago.
Some observers who attended the speech said it was progress for Suu Kyi to invite diplomats to at least some Rohingya villages.
Todays welcoming of the international community to travel to Rakhine and see for ourselves what the situation is, I think that is a positive statement, said Andrew Kirkwood of the United Nations Office for Project Services.
W. Patrick Murphy, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Southeast Asia, left the event without commenting.
Russian and Chinese diplomats praised the speech. The message is quite clear that Myanmar is ready to cooperate with the international community, said the Russian ambassador to Myanmar, Dr. Nikolay Listopadov.
Rights groups were far more critical. Amnesty International regional director James Gomez accused Suu Kyi of a mix of untruths and victim-blaming.
There is overwhelming evidence that security forces are engaged in a campaign of ethnic cleansing, Gomez said. While it was positive to hear Aung San Suu Kyi condemn human rights violations in Rakhine state, she is still silent about the role of the security forces in this.
The exodus continues to grow. The U.N.s migration agency raised its estimate of the number of refugees in Bangladesh to 421,000, and UNICEF says more than a quarter-million of those are children. Hundreds of thousands more Rohingya were already in Bangladesh from waves of violence years earlier.
Spokesman Joel Millman of the International Organization for Migration says an estimated 20,000 people are flowing across Myanmars border into Bangladesh every day. AP
The top Canadian military officer in the North American Aerospace Defence (NORAD) command told a parliamentary committee last Thursday that the US would not defend Canada in the event of a North Korean ballistic missile attack.
This sensationalist statement was a calculated attempt by the top brass of Canadas military to stampede public opinion behind its longstanding push for Ottawa to join Washingtons ballistic missile defence shielda program aimed at developing and deploying the technological means for US imperialism to wage a winnable nuclear war.
Appearing before a special session of the House of Commons Standing Committee for Defence, called to discuss North Korea and the war danger on the Korean peninsula, NORADs deputy commander, Lieutenant-General Pierre St-Amand, said, Were being told in Colorado Springs [NORAD headquarters] that the extant US policy is not to defend Canada. That is the policy thats stated to us.
St-Amands claim took government and opposition MPs alike by complete surprise. Not only has North Korea, an impoverished country now in the cross-hairs of US imperialism, never issued any threat to attack Canada, let alone with a ballistic missile. It is, to say the least, highly unlikely NORAD would stand down if Canada were ever to be threatened by a ballistic missile strike, whatever its provenance; if only because the vast majority of Canadas population lives within 100 miles of the US border, making it next to impossible to determine whether such a missile was aimed at Canada or the US until immediately prior to impact.
St-Amand admitted as much under questioning, stating that yes, the Pentagon might in the heat of the moment take steps to bring down the incoming missile, but the Canadian military would be absent from that discussion.
Canadas military top brass was never satisfied with the decision of Paul Martins Liberal government in 2005 not to join the US ballistic missile (BMD) defence program in the face of mass popular opposition to the George W. Bush administration and its illegal war of aggression against Iraq. A number of reports by think tanks have since called for Canada to reconsider the decision and in recent months several prominent Liberals have called on the government to join BMD, including Senator Romeo Leblanc and former Defence Ministers Bill Graham and David Pratt.
Underscoring the sensationalist character of St-Amands claim and the militarys blatant intervention into the democratic process, Mark Gwozdecky, deputy minister for international security at Global Affairs Canada, acknowledged that Pyongyang has made no direct threat to Canada and in fact views Ottawa as a potential avenue for communicating with the United States. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland met with her North Korean counterpart on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference this summer, and Canadian diplomats, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus national security adviser, travelled to North Korea in August to secure the release of a Canadian pastor who had been detained by Pyongyang.
In pressing for Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government to increase military cooperation with the US, including by joining BMD, the military is kicking at an open door. However, the government is concerned of a popular backlash if it is too closely associated with Trumps bellicose America First foreign policy. As Evan Solomon wrote recently in Macleans magazine following discussions with senior government officials, The political challenge for the Liberals is that they believe Canadians dont want to do a big military deal with the unpopular Trump.
The Liberals, nonetheless, are fully committed to advancing Canadian imperialisms predatory global interests by expanding Ottawas seven-decades-old military-security partnership with Washington, including by assisting the US in its provocative incitement of tensions with North Korea.
In June, Foreign Minister Freeland stated in a keynote foreign policy address that Canada must be ready to use hard power, i.e. wage wars, and Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan announced a 70 percent hike in military spending. The Liberals new defence policy avoided dealing explicitly with the issue of BMD, but prepared the ground for such a discussion by pledging to partner with Washington in the modernization of NORAD. At the same time, the Liberal government has deployed hundreds of Canadian troops to Eastern Europe to lead one of NATOs battalions on Russias border, extended Canadian military training operations in support of the virulently anti-Russia regime in Ukraine, and expanded Canadas role in the Mideast war in Iraq.
Moreover, the Trudeau government is intimately involved in the Trump administrations preparations for war with North Korea. Since the US president declared early last month that he would rain down fire and fury on the impoverished country and Defense Secretary James Mattis vowed that the US had the capabilities to obliterate the North Korean population, Canadian government officials have focused all of their criticism on the North Korean regime. Not a word of criticism has been uttered by a single government official of Trumps and Mattis incendiary threats.
A small but politically symbolic contingent of 15 Canadian military personnel participated in the joint US-South Korean military exercises in late August, a deliberate provocation that prompted Pyongyang to launch another missile test and conduct its sixth nuclear weapon test.
The Canadian Armed Forces are also integrated into the US military build-up throughout the Asia-Pacific region, which, like the targeting of North Korea, is aimed at encircling, isolating and preparing for war with China. Canadian ships recently returned from a months-long mission in the region that saw them operate in the hotly-contested South China Sea, and call at South Korean ports to conduct joint operations with Seouls navy.
Earlier this month, the Canadian Armed Forces co-hosted with US Pacific Command the Indo-Asian Chiefs of Defence Conference, a gathering of over 20 military commanders from the Asia-Pacific region in Victoria, British Columbia. According to Chief of the Defence Staff General Jonathan Vance, the conference provided a forum to discuss concerns of mutual importance, including, but not limited to, common security challenges, promotion of military relationships, and fostering regional collaboration.
These policies are being implemented behind the backs of the population, concealed with rhetorical commitments to human rights, a feminist foreign policy and peacekeeping.
A critical role in burnishing the Trudeau governments progressive credentials is being played by the trade unions, which, as Ottawa continues to ratchet up tensions with North Korea, are collaborating closely with the Liberal government in the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the Trump administration. The chief goal of these talks is to create an overtly protectionist, US-led North American trade bloc, which will be used to project US and Canadian imperialist interests around the world against their economic and geopolitical rivals like China.
The corporate media has buried any reference to Canadas aggressive posture towards North Korea and China. Instead, all of the major media outlets breathlessly amplified St-Amands sensationalist remarks as part of their ongoing efforts to portray North Korea and its rudimentary nuclear weapons program as the chief threat to global peace. A sample of headlines over recent days suffices to convey a sense of the tenor of the coverage: What would happen if a nuclear weapon hit Canada (CTV News); Canada should join ballistic missile defence system, but it will cost us: experts (Global News); and Of course we should join missile defence. We should have done so long ago (Global News).
Support for intimate cooperation between the Canadian and US militaries is overwhelming within the political establishment. Over the past quarter century, Canada has directly participated in all but one of the US-led wars of aggression.
In 2015 the CBC revealed that top military officials from the US and Canada met repeatedly in 2013 to discuss the possibility of establishing a joint intervention task force composed of troops from both countries under a single command structure that could be deployed anywhere in the world. The generals even discussed the possibility of merging the American and Canadian militaries entirely. (see: Why are Canadas politicians mute about the Canada-US military integration plans?)
A recent documentary presented further evidence of the criminal character of the New Zealand Defence Forces activities in Afghanistan. The Valley aired on TV3 on August 14 and is also available on Fairfax Media's Stuff.co.nz website. It describes in detail a tactic called bait and hook, used by the elite Special Air Service (NZSAS) to terrorise civilians and provoke battles, as well as the offensive and intelligence-gathering operations of the regular armys so-called Provincial Reconstruction Team (NZPRT).
Successive governments have fraudulently portrayed New Zealands military operations in Afghanistan as a peacekeeping effort and part of the fight against terrorism. In fact, the ongoing war is one of several predatory imperialist ventures, including the wars in Iraq, Syria and Libya, undertaken by the US to reverse its historic decline and gain control over resource-rich regions. Now the US is threatening North Korea and building up its forces against nuclear-armed Russia and China.
New Zealands ruling elite joined the Afghan war to strengthen its alliance with the US, which it relies on to support New Zealands neo-colonial interests in the Pacific region. The NZSAS was first sent to Afghanistan in 2001 by the Labour Party government of 1999-2008, supported by its left coalition partner, the Alliance, whose MPs voted to endorse the mission. The 140-strong NZPRT was deployed in 2003. Under Labour, the NZ military also joined the occupation of Iraq.
The National Party government withdrew the bulk of New Zealands forces from Afghanistan in 2013, although 10 military personnel remain in the country. About 140 New Zealand soldiers are currently in Iraq.
The NZSAS are highly trained killers, valued by the US. They received a citation from President Bush in 2004. The new documentary follows revelations in the book Hit and Run, published in March, that NZSAS troops led a raid on a village in 2010 in which six civilians were killed and 15 others wounded. The government and Defence Force sought to cover up and deny NZ involvement in the raid.
Two men from Uruzgan province interviewed in the Valley described a bait and hook operation in 2004. NZSAS troops entered their village and kicked, slapped and punched people in the bazaar, accusing them of collaborating with the Taliban. Later that night, the villagers heard gunfire nearby, where the SAS troops had set up camp.
The next day, SAS troops returned to the village with dead bodies of insurgents strapped to military vehicles. In front of terrified locals, the bodies were dumped on the ground. The soldiers then ransacked houses, tied several villagers hands behind their backs, shouted abuse and threatened to kill them. Sources within the military confirmed this version of events and asked whether the firefight needed to happen at all.
In 2007, corporal Willie Apiata was awarded a Victoria Cross medal for carrying a wounded soldier to safety during the 2004 Uruzgan firefight. The entire political establishment and the media glorified Apiata as one of New Zealands greatest heroes. He is regularly wheeled out at Anzac Day ceremonies to encourage young people to join the military.
The official Defence Force version of events was that Apiatas team came under surprise attackrather than the battle being deliberately provoked by the soldiers' brutal actions. In an email to military staff, leaked to Fairfax Media on August 30, Defence Force chief Tim Keating said we never mistreated bodies as the documentary claimed but gave no further details.
The Valley also shed further light on the role of the NZPRT in Bamiyan province. Officially a peacekeeping force, it in fact led offensive operations, including the botched Battle of Baghak in 2012, which resulted in the deaths of two New Zealanders and four Afghan Army soldiers.
The NZPRT was an integral part of the US occupation. Part of its work was to forcibly collect biometric data such as eye scans and fingerprints from Afghan civilians and slain combatants. The data was uploaded to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) database, which passed the information on to intelligence agencies such as the CIA.
Former National Party defence minister Wayne Mapp defended the intelligence gathering, about which the New Zealand public was never informed. Interviewed for the documentary, Mapp declared that you dont send soldiers overseas only to do reconstruction, even though this is precisely what New Zealanders were told the PRT was doing.
Former Labour Party Prime Minister Helen Clark responded to The Valley by claiming she had no recollection whatsoever of hearing of the alleged events before and after the firefight involving Willie Apiata and his colleagues. She continued to insist that Apiata was a hero and his decoration was a proud moment for the SAS.
In an attempt to appeal to widespread anti-war sentiment ahead of the September 23 election, Clark told Fairfax Media that if Labour had won the 2008 election it was unlikely her government would have continued the NZPRT deployment.
This is manifestly false. On September 21, 2009, then-Labour leader Phil Goff told Fairfax media the PRT continued to make an effective contribution to Afghanistan.
Current Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern declared during a televised election debate on August 31 that she supported the National Party governments decision on August 25 to send three more troops to Afghanistan, following a request by the Trump administration.
Former Green Party MP Keith Locke was interviewed for the Valley and feigned opposition to the war, describing it as a waste. The Green Party, however, was a key supporter of the Clark government and backed New Zealands involvement in Afghanistan. Following the death of a New Zealand soldier in 2010, Locke told parliament that the Greens were proud of the good peace-keeping and reconstruction work that our Provincial Reconstruction Team has done in Bamiyan province and we mourn the loss of one of its members.
The Greens are contesting the election in a formal alliance with the Labour Party. Both parties support the military alliance with the US, including the governments announcement last year of $20 billion to upgrade the military and strengthen New Zealands integration into the US military build-up against China.
Whichever parties win the election on Saturday, the next government will continue to deepen New Zealands involvement in US-led wars. Ardern told TVNZ on September 17 that she supports New Zealands membership in the Five Eyes intelligence network, in which the NZ intelligence agency, the GCSB, has played a major role in spying on China on behalf of the US. The Labour Party, like the National Party, has not ruled out joining a war against North Korea, which Trump has threatened with nuclear annihilation.
Attend the Socialist Equality Group public meeting on October 1: After the New Zealand election, the way forward in the fight against war
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Billy Bush is no longer a celebrity newsman, but he continues to make headlines in the space. The latest? That he has split with his wife, Sydney Davis, after 20 years of marriage.
Page Six was first to report the news with a confirmation from Bushs attorney, Marshall Grossman, who said, I can confirm they are now separated, and on a short-term break.
The lawyer offered no timeline as to when the short-term break would end.
Billy Bush and Sydney Bush, pictured at an event in 2007, have separated, Bushs lawyer tells Page Six. (Photo: John M. Heller/Getty Images)
According to the New York Posts gossip site, Grossman refused to discuss the reasons behind the split. He did, however, say it was not caused by infidelity.
Their separation comes nearly one year after the notorious tape of Bushs lewd 2005 conversation with Donald Trump, then the star of The Apprentice, was made public on Oct. 7, 2016. In it, Bush egged on Trump as he spoke about Bushs Access Hollywood co-star Nancy ODell as well as the soap opera star Arianne Zucker, and ultimately he lost his job at the Today show over it.
Bush, who is part of the famous political family, later talked about how his middle daughter, Mary, cried when she first heard her fathers conversation with Trump, which the latter chalked up to locker room banter. However, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter from May in which Bush addressed the scandal for the first time, he said his wife Sydney was supportive of him throughout the ordeal.
My wife, Sydney, knows the environment and the atmosphere I was in at the time, and she knows very well the person she married, he said. She has been very supportive from the very beginning.
Here is a photo Bush posted following the scandal with his wife:
Beautiful Day. Beautiful wife. Thank you for sharing the trail. #shesinbettershapethanme #gratitude A post shared by William Bush (@billybush) on May 20, 2017 at 11:25am PDT
She also appeared in his Instagram feed over the summer:
A beach bar is always a good call. #cabo time. A post shared by William Bush (@billybush) on Jul 10, 2017 at 3:17pm PDT
Bush and Davis were married in April 1998 and are parents to three daughters.
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Conan OBrien aired another installment of Conan Without Borders, and this time the late night host visited Israel. Conan spent most of his time joking around with the Israeli people. He headed to the famous beaches of Tel Aviv, where he made an announcement from a lifeguard tower. Looking out over all the beachgoers, Conan said over the loudspeaker, This is an important announcement. Will all Israeli men wearing Speedos please leave the area!
Rejected by Wonder Woman
Conan even met with one of the most famous Israelis, Wonder Woman herself, Gal Gadot. Although she didnt seem too thrilled to see Conan. He showed up at Gadots door and she, jokingly, pretended to be too busy to hang with him. But that didnt stop him from trying. He offered to make her pancakes, a delicious offer that Godot turned down.
Echoes of war
But it was difficult for Conan to ignore what many people in that region are dealing with on a daily basis. While visiting the Golan Heights on the Syrian border, the late night host could hear gunfire off in the distance. Standing with an Israeli soldier, Conan said, Ive never heard an actual war before. Thats pretty sobering.
Palestinian wall
Conan also headed into a Palestinian zone, where he came upon a group of Palestinian activists along the wall that separates them from Israel. One woman asked Conan if he thought the wall looked normal, to which he replied, No, I dont think any wall like this is normal. The woman then added, Its an open-air prison at the end of the day. You dont create peace by segregating people.
It was a difficult region for him to visit, but even in a place where there is so much suffering, Conan was able to do what he does best make people laugh.
Conan airs weeknights at 11 p.m. on TBS.
Watch Conan take a shade bath in the Dead Sea in Israel trip teaser:
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There will be no fighting in the Cambridge household! During the Duke of Cambridges visit to the Spitalfields Crypt Trust on September 19, the royal was presented with three wooden owls for each of his children one for son Prince George, another for daughter Princess Charlotte and a third for his and wife Kate Middletons impending bundle of joy.
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Prince William (pictured with Bernard Bristow) was gifted three wooden owls for his children during his visit to the Spitalfields Crypt Trust Photo: David Rose - WPA Pool / Getty Images
The pieces were made at the charitys restoration workshop. Restoration Station manager Rhys Pritchard presented Prince William with the gifts, saying: One for each, because we dont want any arguments, to which the 35-year-old replied, Thanks very much. Yes, we dont want arguments. The proud dad added, "Very nice."
RELATED: Prince Harry reacts to his brother having another baby
Rhys Pritchard told HELLO! that each owl, like the ones gifted to the Cambridge children, "is unique" and made by students Photo: Sabine Zetteler
SCT, which runs a number of social enterprises like the Restoration Station, supports people recovering from addiction by helping them get clean and sober, develop self-respect and hope for a better future. Each student who goes through the workshop as part of the Hanbury Project starts by making an owl.
GALLERY: KATE'S BEST MATERNITY STYLE FROM SECOND PREGNANCY
The Duke visited the charity, which runs a number of social enterprises that help people recover from addiction & homelessness Photo: DAVID ROSE/AFP/Getty Images
SCTs Director of Services Sheona Alexander told HELLO!, "We thought it would be nice to give three owls, so a) there was no fighting amongst the kids! And b) it follows a whole story for someone from the very start of their journey to then becoming a trainee within Restoration Station." After being congratulated on his wifes pregnancy, Prince William joked with a former addict, now a trainee midwife, "All the best with the midwifery, I may see you sooner than you think."
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William and Kate are expecting their third child together Photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage
Kensington Palace announced earlier this month that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their third child. As with her previous pregnancies, Kate is suffering from acute morning sickness. Last week the Prince gave an update on his pregnant wife telling a patient at Aintree Hospital, Shes doing very well, thanks.
Once complete, section 001 produced a full line of furniture and other objects for the office (shelves, desks and organizational storage), kitchen (a dining table and chairs, chandelier, cabinets and tableware) and living spaces within the studio (lounge seating, a coat rack and coffee table) and even incorporated outdoor elements (a porch swing and firepit).
Final critiques in DAAP are seen more as milestones than deadlines. Theres always a critical angle in the studio that allows students to grow both as designers and makers and grow an investment of their projects by creating a dialogue, Slaughter explains. He and Dixon invited DAAP Dean Robert Probst, Interim Director of the School of Architecture and Interior Design Michael McInturf and director Muratovski to check out the final collection. What the professors expected to be a quick viewing turned into a two-hour crit by their own bosses.
The conversation was like nothing I could imagine, Slaughter says. It was at such an amazing level. The students benefitted from it, and the work progressed as a result. It was clear the class had an impressive exhibit on its hands, and that was confirmed at the exhibition. ICFF awarded DAAPs section 001 with the 2017 Editors Award for best school installation.
Having learned from DAAPs past entries in the show, section 001 made a concerted effort to integrate the collections design color palate and overall aesthetic with all the furniture pieces and the display booth itself. As one of 15 schools showing at ICFF, DAAPs display impressed attendees and judges.
Our students are really good at designing for a brand and fitting in with what the market wants, Dixon says. Some people didnt understand that it was from a university. Their first reaction was that it was not student work. The quality was great, he says, but it was the cohesion among the pieces that really drew attention.
Emilia Clarke has gone and turned herself into Khaleesi.
The actress is famously a blonde when she portrays Daenerys Targaryen on Game of Thrones. Shes talked extensively about the white blond wig she wears on the HBO show and how its been a lifesaver in her rise to stardom because fans dont notice her when shes not wearing it.
Well, all that is about to end. On Tuesday, Clarke shared a photo straight from her hairstylists chair on the set (see the pic of the Hound, Sandor Clegane, over her shoulder) with the update that shes officially gone blond.
AAAAHHHHHHH SHHHHIIIII****** was how Clarke started the post. I done did it. Mother of dragons meet Emilia. Emilia meet mother of dragons. If you squint just so you might never know.
She credited the magnificence of hairstylists Kev Alexander and Candice Banks for the transformation, noting they were also the genius creators of [the] Khaleesi wig. She added that at long last theyve made this magical moment a reality.
Because GoT watchers are always trying to read the tea leaves, the hashtags she used were Khaleesi kicks off, Game of Thrones, and Coming home never felt so good.
In 2013, Clarke told GQ magazine that while her character has been one of the most recognizable from the hit show, she has been the opposite. Im so immediately unrecognizable, she said. It takes a die-hard fan to actually spot me. These HBO events, where Ill be talking to someone for a fair amount of time, and then suddenly theyre like, Oh sh**! Thats what you do! They think Im some crazy Brit who snuck her way into a Hollywood party.
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Heres Emilia Clarke having her hair touched up on the set of Game of Thrones in Spain last October. (Photo: Iconic/GC Images)
Clarke actually even begged producers to let her wear the wig out on the town. No surprise, they declined. They insist theres no way, she said. They wont let me go partying with it on. I would be killed on the spot. She went on to say that she knows her brown locks, which she often highlights, arent as memorable. Its silly to say, but when I take the wig off at the end of the day, Im rather disappointed when I look in the mirror, she said.
Unbelievably, Clarke has even auditioned for movie roles for directors who watch her show but didnt recognize her. Thats going to change now that shes goldilocks.
Production on GoTs Season 8, which will be the final season, is reportedly slated to begin in October and run as late as next August. Its likely the show will premiere in late 2018 or early 2019, so it will be some time before we see her new hairstyle on the small screen. Until then, look for it on the red carpet and Instagram.
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Lee Ann Womack, one of the most distinctive and decorated vocalists in modern music, is set to release her latest album, The Lonely, the Lonesome & the Gone Oct. 27. The set taps deeply into the country, soul, gospel, and blues of her native East Texas, resulting in an audacious, personal, and sharp-edged work of art.
Womack sat down with Build Series in New York City to discuss how growing up in a diverse but not commercially driven musical region has continually informed her 20-year career, not the least to say her latest album, which contains covers of songs from fellow Texan legends George Jones and Lefty Frizzell.
I grew up in East Texas, and the music field there is just wide open. Theres not as many barriers. Its not that much of a business the labels are in Nashville and New York, she explained. Those people are selling; its like a product. But in Texas, its just a way of life. So theres all kinds of music there. They just dont worry so much about labels in Texas.
Additionally, the record was produced by another native Texan Womacks own husband, Frank Liddell, whose resume also includes work with standout Texas artists Miranda Lambert and the Eli Young Band. The album was recorded at Houstons legendary SugarHill Studios, where George Jones, Willie Nelson, and Lightnin Hopkins recorded some of their earliest works.
It make sense that Womack chose to record in her home region, because, as she noted, she prefers a homelike atmosphere to record in. I dont like going out into the hallway and running into a bunch of businesspeople, she said. I like to have a chef come in and cook so we dont have to leave. I never leave my house, I never go anywhere. Im sort of a little bit of an introvert, which is weird to say because I do this for a living!
I wanted to feel like we were making music, she added, regarding her approach to the album. Not making McRecords I wanted it to feel like a bunch of friends making music, and I hope thats what we achieved.
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Womack also addressed her love for Houston where she and Liddell own a home and concern for the tragedy the city has been through as a result of Hurricane Harvey. It is the coolest city. I could go on and on about how cool it is, so I hate to see them have any struggles at all.
Watch the full interview with Womack below:
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - With the North Korean nuclear crisis looming large, 51 countries on Wednesday lined up to sign a new treaty outlawing nuclear weapons that has been fiercely opposed by the United States and other nuclear powers.
The treaty was adopted by 122 countries at the United Nations in July following negotiations led by Austria, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa and New Zealand.
None of the nine countries that possess nuclear weapons -- the United States, Russia, Britain, China, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel -- took part in the negotiations.
NATO condemned the treaty, saying that it may in fact be counter-productive by creating divisions.
As leaders formally signed on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed as historic the first multilateral disarmament treaty in more than two decades.
But Guterres acknowledged that much work was needed to rid the world of its stockpile of 15,000 atomic warheads.
"Today we rightfully celebrate a milestone. Now we must continue along the hard road towards the elimination of nuclear arsenals," said Guterres.
The treaty will enter into force when 50 countries have signed and ratified it, a process that could take months or years.
"At a time when the world needs to remain united in the face of growing threats, in particular the grave threat posed by North Korea's nuclear program, the treaty fails to take into account these urgent security challenges," the 29-nation Western alliance said.
It added: "Seeking to ban nuclear weapons through a treaty that will not engage any state actually possessing nuclear weapons will not be effective, will not reduce nuclear arsenals, and will neither enhance any country's security, nor international peace and stability.
- Rejecting need for nuclear weapons -
Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz of Austria, one of the few Western European nations that is not in NATO, rejected the idea that nuclear weapons were indispensable for security.
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"If you look at the world's current challenges, this narrative is not only false, it is dangerous," he told AFP.
"The new treaty on the prohibition on nuclear weapons provides a real alternative for security: a world without any nuclear weapons, where everyone is safer, where no one needs to possess these weapons," he said.
Brazilian President Michel Temer was the first to sign the treaty. Others included South African President Jacob Zuma and representatives from Indonesia, Ireland and Malaysia as well as the Palestinian Authority and the Vatican.
But even Japan, the only nation to have suffered atomic attack and a longstanding advocate of abolishing nuclear weapons, boycotted the treaty negotiations.
Japan is a top target of North Korea, which has triggered global alarm over its rapidly progressing drive to develop nuclear weapons, following its sixth and most powerful nuclear test and the firing of two intercontinental ballistic missiles.
The signing ceremony came a day after President Donald Trump threatened to "totally destroy North Korea" if the United States is forced to defend itself or its allies Japan and South Korea.
Nuclear powers argue their arsenals serve as a deterrent against a nuclear attack and say they remain committed to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
That decades-old treaty seeks to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. It recognizes the right of five nations -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- to maintain them, while encouraging them to reduce their stockpiles.
White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, left, reacts as he and first lady Melania Trump listen to U.S. President Donald Trump speak during the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly - AP
John Kelly, Donald Trump's chief-of-staff, appeared to go through an "existential crisis" on Tuesday, social media users joked, as he listened to the president's address to the UN General Assembly.
Mr Trump used his maiden address to the world's leaders to escalate his standoff with North Korea over its nuclear challenge, threatening to "totally destroy" the country of 26 million people and mocking its leader, Kim Jong-un, as a "rocket man."
A great and important day at the United Nations.Met with leaders of many nations who agree with much (or all) of what I stated in my speech! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 20, 2017
It was described by one observer as a "42-minute tweetstorm" and by another as president George W. Bush's "'axis of evil' speech on steroids."
But it was the reaction of his right hand man, Mr Kelly, that became one of the main talking points on social media.
White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, left, reacts as he and first lady Melania Trump listen to U.S. President Donald Trump speak at the United Nations General Assembly Credit: AP
Seen with his head in his hand in one photograph, and looking down at the floor in another, Twitter users guessed he wasn't enjoying what he heard.
"John Kelly apparently went through some sort of existential crisis during Trump's UN speech," Kyle Feldscher, a reporter, commented.
Welcome to our world, Kelly. https://t.co/OqLElcqHYl Scott Weinberg (@scottEweinberg) September 19, 2017
Did Kelly not know what Trump was going to say? https://t.co/LKrq6wrLck Otillia (@o_tilli_a) September 19, 2017
John Kelly has a terrible poker face https://t.co/JIM05ybgWF Jessica Taylor (@JessicaTaylor) September 19, 2017
John Kelly, doing his best impression of Kif Kroker's weary sigh. pic.twitter.com/rYYPHOJiqI MAURICE LAMARCHE (@MAURICELAMARCHE) September 19, 2017
John Kelly at UNGA is all of us. pic.twitter.com/Wza8wrzdCY Mira Rapp-Hooper (@MiraRappHooper) September 19, 2017
Others said his facial expressions summed up what everyone was thinking.
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The comments echoed the reaction to his facial expressions during Mr Trump's controversial press conference on the violence at the Charlottesville white supremacist rally, in which the president said both sides were to blame.
White House Chief of Staff Kelly checks his watch as he listens to U.S. President Trump deliver his address to the UNCredit: Reuters
My Kelly, 67, was brought in at the start of August to bring order to the White House.
Within a month, however, there were reports of tensions, with Mr Trump allegedly lashing out at the chief of staff.
Mr Kelly told colleagues he had never been spoken to in such a way during 35 years in the military, the New York Times reported.
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The latest attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act is getting a second wind as it approaches its final deadline.
With less than two weeks before a budgetary deadline that would allow the bill to pass with a simple majority, the so-called Graham-Cassidy bill is within a handful of votes from passing.
Named for its sponsors: Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, the bill would devolve the current system and let red and blue states go their own way on health care, while cutting federal support over time.
Its a sweeping proposal. Right now, the federal government pays about $110 billion each year to fund healthcare. This funding goes chiefly to Medicaid expansion, an Obamacare linchpin that 32 states have signed up for, and federal subsidies that ease the burden of healthcare costs for lower-income Americans. Under Graham-Cassidy, these programs would be done away with.
In their place, Graham-Cassidy would introduce a block grant system, which would divvy up healthcare funding among the 50 states for them to spend on their own healthcare systems.
If you like Obamacare, you can keep it, Graham has said of the plan. If you want to replace it, you can.
There would be no more federal mandates for health insurance, for either individuals or employers, though states would have the power to impose them.
But the block grant system would be temporary the bill has it set to expire by 2027 creating a cliff of sorts that could create a crisis for individual states a decade from now, even though the bills proponents emphasize Graham-Cassidy as a triumph of states rights.
Critics of the bill say that the elimination of Medicaid expansion and subsidies could potentially leave tens of millions of Americans uninsured, according to a report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Larger, generally more liberal states like California and New York will be the hardest hit, since theyve invested the most in programs offered by Obamacare; an annual parcel of funding from the government might not be enough to compensate.
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Graham-Cassidy would also eradicate the Obamacare mandates for health insurance. Individuals will no longer be required to have health insurance, and employers would no longer be required to provide it to their employees. The bill would eliminate the financial penalty imposed on those that dont oblige.
As with this summers failed repeal bill, Graham-Cassidy would also freeze Medicaid funding of Planned Parenthood for one year.
Correction: The original version of this story misstated the position of Bill Cassidy. He is a Republican Senator from Lousiana, not a Representative.
(NAYPYITAW, Myanmar) After a mass exodus of Rohingya Muslims sparked allegations of ethnic cleansing, Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi said Tuesday her country does not fear international scrutiny.
She told the world that even with an estimated 412,000 Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh in less than a month as their villages burned and hundreds were killed, the great majority of Muslims within the conflict zone stayed and that more than 50% of their villages were intact.
The Nobel Peace laureates global image has been damaged by violence since Rohingya insurgents attacked Myanmar security forces on Aug. 25. Rohingya fled their villages in the military crackdown that followed. Many of their villages were in flames when they left. The government has blamed the Rohingya themselves, but members of the persecuted minority have said soldiers and Buddhist mobs attacked them.
Suu Kyi told foreign diplomats gathered for her speech in Naypyitaw, the capital, that the government was working to restore normalcy in the area.
Though fires have continued to flare in recent days in northern Rakhine state, home to most Rohingya, she said there have been no armed clashes and there have been no clearance operations since Sept. 5.
Nevertheless we are concerned to hear that numbers of Muslims are fleeing across the border to Bangladesh, she said. We want to understand why this exodus is happening. We would like to talk to those who have fled as well as those who have stayed.
She said she it would be helpful to understand why conflict did not break out everywhere. She invited the diplomats with visit villages that werent affected so they could learn along with the government why are they not at each others throats in these particular areas.
Rohingya now in camps in Bangladesh the implication that Rohingya who were driven from their villages were themselves responsible, or that some members of the ethnic group are safe.
In the Kutupalong refugee camp, Abdul Hafiz said Rohingya once trusted Suu Kyi more than the military that not only ruled for half a century before, but also held her under house arrest for many years. Now Hafiz calls Suu Kyi a liar and says Rohingya are suffering more than ever.
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He said Suu Kyi should give international journalists more access to their destroyed villages. If Rohingya are proven wrong that they were attacked, he said, we will not mind if the world decides to kill us all by pushing us into the sea.
The Rohingya have had a long and troubled history in Myanmar, where many of the countrys 60 million people look on them with disdain.
Though members of the long-persecuted religious minority first arrived generations ago, they were stripped of their citizenship in 1982, denying them almost all rights and rendering them stateless. They cannot travel freely, practice their religion, or work as teachers or doctors, and they have little access to medical care, food or education.
Donald Trumps pledges to meet North Korean premier Kim Jong-Uns nuclear threats with fire and fury is probably one the root causes for the recent defense stock rally. But there are plenty of other factors that are fueling the sector. Lets talk about those briefly (read: 3 Top Ranked Aerospace and Defense ETFs For Your Portfolio).
Mergers and Acquisitions
The aerospace and defense sector is thriving with mergers and acquisitions. Most recently, defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC) announced an agreement to buy Orbital ATK Inc. for more than $7.8 billion.
As per Bloomberg, the merger would widen Northrops portfolio of aerospace and defense electronics and boost its expertise in composites and rocket propulsion. Also, Bloomberg cited that the deal will place the entity in a better position to compete with Boeing to replace the U.S. ground-based nuclear defense system.
In early September, United Technologies UTX agreed to a $30 billion deal to buy the avionics and interiors maker Rockwell Collins. This acquisition adds tremendous capabilities to [their] aerospace businesses and strengthens complementary offerings of technologically advanced aerospace systems, as per United Technologies (read: ETFs to Profit if UTX-Rockwell Deal Sees the Light of Day).
Trump's Afghanistan Strategy
In late August, President Donald Trump commented that as many as 4,000 more U.S. troops will be employed to handle Afghanistans terror issue and that he will launch a political arrangement with the Taliban. Trump mentioned that the war will crush al Qaeda and prevent Taliban from taking over Afghanistan.
The President also said that a quick removal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan may once again attract terrorists to fill that gap. Since more wars mean more weapons, defense stocks rose broadly following Trumps remarks (read: Trump's Afghanistan Rhetoric Helps/Hurts These ETFs).
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Strong Sector Fundamentals
The aerospace sector, though making up only 2%% of the S&P 500 Index, registered 5.2% earnings growth in 2016 and is expected to log 6.1% growth in 2017, 9.9% in 2018 and 13.1% in 2019, as per the Earnings Trends issued on Sep 14, 2017.
Coming to revenue growth, the sector is expected to log growth of 3.2% in 2016, 2.2% in 2017, 3.8% in 2018 and 5.0% in 2019. On top of it, plenty of commercial orders are another plus point for the sector. For example, The Boeing Company BA recently agreed to sell 16 of its airplanes to Malaysia Airlines. Investors should also note that the Zacks Sector Rank is in the top 19% while the Zacks Industry Rank is in the top 16%.
Passage of a $700 billion Defense Bill by Senate
The Senate passed a $700 billion national security measure on Monday by an 89-8 vote. This National Defense Authorization Act would allow $60 billion of war spending, surpassing President Donald Trumps budget proposal. The measure would approve 94 F-35 jets manufactured by Lockheed Martin (LMT). This indicates 24 more jets that were requested by the president and seven more agreed by the House.
ETFs to Buy
Aerospace and defense ETFs like iShares US Aerospace & Defense ETF ITA, PowerShares Aerospace & Defense Portfolio PPA and SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF XAR are well positioned to capitalize on the above-mentioned factors. These funds have a Zacks ETF Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
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By Valerie Volcovici
ST. LOUIS (Reuters) - During a peaceful protest moments before St. Louis would erupt into three nights of racially charged riots, five people confronted a black police officer alone in his Jeep.
"How do you sleep at night?" Lisa Vega, who is Hispanic, asked the officer through an open window. Next to Vega, two black men and two black women nodded.
Such questions are typical of what African-American police officers face every time a white colleague kills a black man in the United States.
Black cops are sometimes accused by their fellow African-Americans of betraying their race by joining the police, while at the same time they face pressure from their colleagues to stand by another officer.
A number of police departments across the United States have been accused of excessive force and racially discriminatory conduct in recent years, fueling a public debate and the Black Lives Matter movement.
The black cop in the Jeep calmly responded that he slept well and that he had bills to pay. He declined to be interviewed by the reporter who witnessed the encounter.
Peaceful daytime protests in St. Louis turned into three nights of vandalism and unrest that resulted in at least 123 arrests. With rain falling, Monday night's demonstrations remained peaceful.
The disturbances were provoked by the acquittal last Friday of white former officer Jason Stockley, 36, who was charged with first-degree murder in the 2011 shooting death of African-American Anthony Lamar Smith, 24, following a police chase.
Prosecutors accused Stockley of planting a gun in Smith's car, but Judge Timothy Wilson found the officer not guilty in a non-jury trial.
CONSEQUENCES
St. Louis Detective Sergeant Heather Taylor took a stand against Stockley, publicly declaring in a video message posted on YouTube and a police association website three days before the verdict that he should be convicted.
"Someone needed to say it," said Taylor, 44, president of the Ethical Society of Police, an association formed by black officers in 1972 to combat racism within the St. Louis police department and improve community relations.
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She sees her role as calling out fellow officers for unjustified killings, which she hopes police of all races will eventually embrace.
But doing so has consequences.
After she appeared in the video with Redditt Hudson, co-founder of the National Coalition of Law Enforcement Officers for Justice, verbal abuse poured in, largely on social media and from retired officers because, she said, no officer would dare confront her on the job.
"I was called everything. You name it," Taylor said, citing the most offensive of racial and misogynistic slurs.
Taylor said she was unbowed by the attacks from the law enforcement family, but rejection from her fellow African-Americans cuts deep.
"Things like that, they hurt me," she said. "But just imagine if law enforcement didn't have minorities."
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department did not respond to requests by Reuters for comment.
CODE OF SILENCE
Demonstrator Bill Monroe said Taylor's video came too late to be effective and expressed little confidence that reformers like her can improve the system from within.
Monroe, 71, is a black former St. Louis police detective with gray dreadlocks who is writing a screenplay about his experiences on the force in the 1960s and 1970s. He marched with a T-shirt reading "Anthony Lamar Smith" and a U.S. flag hanging upside down on its staff, a U.S. sign of distress.
"My community is in distress, and that's why I walk amongst those brothers and sisters trying to get justice," Monroe said.
While all police officers still encounter an internal code of silence that prevents them from speaking out more forcefully against abusers, this is especially true for black cops, Monroe said.
"Nobody wants to be known as a troublemaker," he said.
Taylor, the president of the largely black police association, expressed confidence that police culture could change with steps such as hiring more officers of color. In a city that is 44 percent white and 49 percent black, according to U.S. Census data, only 29 percent of St. Louis police are black, Taylor said.
In the meantime, she faces resistance within and outside the force. Taylor grew up in what she called the ghetto of St. Louis and said her fellow African-Americans were shortsighted in their criticism of black cops.
"I wish that people who felt that way would walk in our shoes," Taylor said. "Walk in our shoes and you would see how difficult it is to be a minority or a double minority in this police culture."
(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici in St. Louis and Daniel Trotta in New York; Writing by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
Brasilia (AFP) - A corruption trial against Brazilian President Michel Temer moved one step closer Wednesday when the Supreme Court rejected a last-ditch attempt to have the case suspended.
A 7-1 majority on the court voted against Temer's appeal to put the racketeering and obstruction of justice charges on hold, with three more justices still due to vote when the session was suspended.
That clears the way for the case to be considered by the lower house of Congress in Latin America's biggest country.
"It's up to the chamber of deputies now," said Justice Luis Roberto Barroso on casting his vote.
If the chamber of deputies votes by a two thirds majority in favor, Temer -- the first sitting Brazilian president to face criminal charges -- would have to stand down for 180 days and face trial at the Supreme Court.
However, the center-right president is confident he has enough support to easily defeat the charges, which are the peak in a mammoth graft scandal shaking the country. A first charge of bribe-taking in June was thrown out overwhelmingly by allied deputies.
The latest charges involve Temer's alleged agreement to pay hush money to keep a jailed politician from testifying and his leadership of a group in Congress that took millions of dollars in bribes from companies seeking state contracts.
His lawyers attempted to put the case on hold, arguing before the Supreme Court that one of the main pieces of evidence in the prosecution -- plea deal testimony from a meatpacking tycoon -- needs to be reconsidered because of irregularities.
His lawyers also argue that some of the alleged crimes took place before he was sworn in as president last year, after replacing impeached president Dilma Rousseff.
A review of the case might have suited Temer because the prosecutor general who brought the charges, Rodrigo Janot, stepped down at the end of last week. Janot was replaced by Raquel Dodge, whom analysts say may be less aggressive.
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At issue now is testimony given by JBS meatpacking magnates Joesley and Wesley Batista, who confessed to conducting wide ranging bribery of politicians and testified against Temer.
- Alleged kickbacks ring -
Janot's charge against Temer illustrated the reach of Brazil's powerful prosecutors and judges in a three-year operation codenamed "Car Wash," which has uncovered vast networks of bribery and embezzlement throughout Brazilian politics and business.
According to the charges, Temer "acted as leader of a criminal organization" comprising senior officials from his center-right PMDB party. They allegedly took the kickbacks in exchange for contracts at public companies like oil giant Petrobras.
The alleged ring operated from May 2016, when Temer first took over as acting president from leftist president Dilma Rousseff following her impeachment, Janot's office said.
Temer called Janot's accusations "absurd" and accuses the prosecutor of overreach, -- an argument that has some sympathy in Congress, where scores of legislators are also accused of corruption.
Although Temer is expected to survive the congressional vote on a trial, he could still face prosecution after leaving office. His term ends at the start of 2019 and he is not expected to run for another term in October 2018 elections.
Also, his reputation is in tatters. Among those charged with him last week were his chief of staff Eliseu Padilha and Moreira Franco, a close confidant who holds a ministerial level administrative post in the presidency.
Another was a former minister, Geddel Vieira Lima, who was imprisoned this month after police discovered the equivalent of $16 million in cash stuffed into boxes and suitcases in an apartment he used.
A Brazilian judges decision to approve gay conversion therapy is raising controversy in the South American nation.
Last week, Waldemar de Carvalho, a federal judge in the capital of Brasilia, issued a ruling overturning a 1999 decision by the Federal Council of Psychology forbidding psychologists from offering treatments that claim to cure gay people of their homosexuality.
The ruling was in response to an action brought by psychologist Rozangela Justino, an evangelical Christian who had her license revoked in 2016 after she offered to convertgays to heterosexuality, according to the Guardian.
The outlet says Justino told Brazilian reporters in 2009 that homosexuality was a disease and that she felt directed by God to help people who are homosexual.
Since last weeks ruling, Brazilian pop stars and gay-rights activists are protesting de Carvalhos decision.
Toni Reis, who heads Brazils National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Alliance, said he plans to appeal the ruling at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, according to the Associated Press.
Brazilian superstar Ivete Sangalo also protested the decision on Instagram, and said calling homosexuality a disease is an absurdity.
A post shared by Veveta (@ivetesangalo) on Sep 18, 2017 at 6:59pm PDT
The blowback from the decision has inspired a Twitter protest using the hashtag #curagay.
They tried to make me go to rehab
I said, no, no, no #curagaypic.twitter.com/maqS4B0MMu Ubiratan (@ubimalanconi) September 19, 2017
People practicing so-called gay conversion therapy often have a religious motivation, as Justino did.
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Methods used range from talk therapy, to electric shocks, to treating homosexuality as if its an addiction like drugs or alcohol which its not.
Dr. Jack Drescher, a leading specialist and critic of conversion therapy practices, told HuffPost the reason there isnt a standard set of practices is because none of them really work.
Riyadh (AFP) - Saudi Arabia and Britain signed a framework deal for military cooperation, Saudi state media said on Tuesday, just two days after Gulf rival Qatar signed a deal to buy jet fighters from the European nation.
The agreement came after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed security ties with visiting British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, the Saudi Press Agency said without disclosing details of the agreement.
"During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations particularly the mechanism... joint coordination in the field of defense. They also discussed... efforts to combat terrorism," SPA said.
The agreement comes as Britain seeks to explore lucrative trade deals outside Europe, including energy-rich Gulf monarchies, after voting to leave the European Union.
Qatar on Sunday signed an agreement to buy 24 Typhoon fighter jets from Britain, a second major defence deal signed by Doha during its prolonged diplomatic dispute with its neighbours.
Regional kingpin Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt cut ties with Qatar in June, accusing it of backing extremism and fostering ties with their Shiite rival Iran.
Qatar denies the charges, claiming the dispute is an attack on its sovereignty. Britain and other Western powers have urged Arab states to end their Qatar boycott, but analysts say the crisis shows no sign of ending.
The 43-year-old had warned about seeing 30-50 men in motor boats with rifles and arrows: Twitter
A British woman believed to have been murdered on a solo kayaking trip in the Amazon joked on social media about being killed just days before she went missing.
Brazilian authorities have arrested a man and two teenagers in relation to the disappearance of Emma Kelty.
One of the teenagers arrested told local police the 43-year-old was attacked by a group of men who stole her belongings and shot her.
Ms Kelty, a former headteacher from London, had posted frequent updates on her journey in northern Brazil on Facebook.
So in or near Coari (100km away) I will have my boat stolen and I will be killed too. Nice, Ms Kelty wrote on 10 September.
She posted another update two days later, reassuring friends and family that she was in the clear. All ok.
But just two hours later, she returned to Facebook to warn that she had seen 30 to 50 men in boats with arrow and rifles.
My face [must] have been a picture!! (Town was uber quiet... too quiet!!) she wrote, before adding: All good at the end.
She had been on day 42 of her 4,000-mile trip kayaking along the Solimoes River when she went missing.
The area is known for pirates and drug traffickers.
Ms Keltys body has not been found, but authorities said they had discovered her kayak and belongings earlier this week.
Relatives of the British adventurer have paid tribute, describing her as active and determined.
In a statement released by the Foreign Office, Ms Keltys three siblings said she was dearly loved by us all and her strength will be sorely missed.
Emma was an active and determined sister who challenged herself, latterly through her adventures on the Pacific Coast Trail, as well as in the South Pole and Amazon River, the statement said.
In a world that is today a much smaller place, the explorer in our sister found herself seeking ways to prove that challenges were achievable. We are extremely proud of our sister.
Ms Kelty was known for tackling perilous journeys, including a solo ski trip to the South Pole.
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She had told BBC earlier this year that she had taken a self-defence class to minimise the risk of being harmed on her kayaking trip.
Emma Kelty had gone on previous adventures, including a solo skip trip in the South Pole (PA)
Im going to a self-defence course which is going to be tailored to de-arming people, so if I do come across that situation at least Im prepared for it, she had said.
In her last Facebook post on 13 September, Ms Kelty wrote: At 1am, such a dramatic change in one day... but such is the river... every km is different and just because 1 area is bad doesnt mean next is.
The Foreign Office has said it is providing support to Ms Keltys family.
Additional reporting by AP
Catalan nationalists protest in Barcelona A pro independence supporter waves an esteleda, or Catalan pro independence flag, during a rally in support of the Catalonias secession referendum, in Bilbao, northern Spain, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017. Catalonias planned referendum on secession is due to be held Sunday by the pro-independence Catalan government but Spains government calls the vote illegal, since it violates the constitution, and the countrys Constitutional Court has ordered it suspended. (Photo: Alvaro Barrientos/AP)
Thousands of pro-unity demonstrators opposing a banned referendum on Catalonian independence from Spain gathered in a Barcelona square on Saturday in a sign of how the disputed vote on Sunday has divided the country.
The referendum, declared illegal by Madrid, has thrown the country into its worst constitutional crisis in decades and raised fears of street violence as a test of will between the central government and the wealthy northeastern region plays out.
Demonstrators waving Spanish flags filled the central square outside the seat of the regional government and Barcelona city hall. One man burnt the Catalan flag while a group tried to tear down a banner reading More democracy hanging from the front of the town hall to cheers from the crowd.
Hours before voting was due to start, it was still unclear whether the referendum would go ahead despite the regional governments assertions that it will proceed and Madrids insistence that it will block the move.
Tens of thousands of Catalans are expected to attempt to vote on Sunday, although the ballot that will have no legal status as it has been blocked by Spains Constitutional Court and Madrid for being at odds with the 1978 constitution.
Catalonia has 7.5 million people, many of whom speak the Catalan language, and has a larger economy than Portugal. (Reuters)
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Beijing (AFP) - Beijing hit back Wednesday at US President Donald Trump's veiled criticism of its territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea, countering that the United States was a greater threat to sovereignty.
In his speech to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump decried "threats to sovereignty" in Ukraine and the resource-rich South China Sea, without explicitly mentioning Russia or China.
"We must uphold respect for law, respect for borders, and respect for culture, and the peaceful engagement these allow," Trump said.
China asserts sovereignty over almost all of the strategically vital waters in the face of rival claims from its Southeast Asian neighbours, and has rapidly turned reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes.
The United States has conducted three "freedom of navigation" operations near islands held by China to challenge Beijing's maritime claims since Trump took office in January.
"For some time now, some countries have used the pretext of freedom of navigation to bring their planes and fleets near the South China Sea," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Wednesday.
"Actually, I think this is behaviour that has threatened the sovereignty of South China Sea countries," Lu told a regular news briefing.
Lu said the situation in the sea "has been cooling down" thanks to efforts by China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
"I hope that this situation can be respected by relevant countries," he said.
The spokesman also called for "restraint" in response to Trump's warning that he will "totally destroy" North Korea if it threatens the US or its allies.
Lu reiterated Beijing's call for efforts to bring the nuclear issue "back to the right track of peaceful settlement through dialogue and consultation."
BEIJING (Reuters) - Violent incidents in Myanmar's Rakhine state are unacceptable and there should be understanding of the Myanmar government's efforts to protect social stability, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Indonesian counterpart, state media said. More than 400,000 Muslim Rohingya have fled across the border to Bangladesh following a counter-insurgency offensive by Myanmar's army in the wake of militant attacks on security forces. U.N. officials have described Myanmar's strategy as "ethnic cleansing". The remarks by Wang to Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi on the sidelines of a United Nations meeting in New York on Tuesday, however, appeared to show some sympathy for the difficulties Myanmar faces quelling the insurgency. The Rohingya issue has been around for a long time, and it is complex and sensitive, Wang said, according to the official Xinhua news agency. "The urgent task is to ease the tense situation as quickly as possible, avoid innocent people being harmed, prevent the humanitarian crisis spreading, and encouraging and supporting Myanmar and Bangladesh to seek a fundamental resolution via dialogue and consultation," he said. China, which has close economic and diplomatic ties with Myanmar, is willing to continue playing a constructive role along with the international community, Wang added. Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday condemned rights abuses in Rakhine state and said violators would be punished, but she did not address U.N. accusations of ethnic cleansing, drawing cool international responses and calls for action to help minority Muslim Rohingya. Western diplomats and aid officials, hoping for an unequivocal condemnation of violence and hate speech, welcomed the tone of the Nobel Peace laureate's message, but some doubted if she had done enough to deflect global criticism. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
Washington (AFP) - The police killing of a university student suffering from depression has sparked unrest on campus and opened another chapter in the debate over use of deadly force by American law enforcement.
Scout Schultz, a fourth-year computer engineering student in the US state of Georgia, did not pose an immediate danger to police and instead needed help, but was gunned down nonetheless, according to his family.
Schultz, 21, was a gay rights activist on Georgia Tech's campus, where he headed the university's Pride Alliance.
According to his family, Schultz did well academically, but paid a price for his dedication to his studies and his activism, spending last summer fighting bouts of depression.
On Saturday evening, Schultz left three suicide notes in his room and called the 911 emergency line, reporting a suspicious person on campus and giving his own description, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
Schultz described the person as holding a knife and possibly being armed with a gun, GBI said.
Police found Schultz outside a university residence, walking barefoot and apparently very disoriented.
An amateur video of the incident shows police ordering Schultz to drop a knife, to which the student responds: "Shoot me!"
As Schultz continues to advance, the tense confrontation ends with a gunshot fired by police, followed by the cries of the mortally wounded student.
Georgia Tech said police officers found Schultz with "a weapon" and that the student refused to drop it.
But the attorney for the family, L. Chris Stewart, said Schultz was holding a closed multi-tool and did not pose any immediate danger.
- Campus unrest -
"The multi-purpose tool in Scout's possession did not have the blade out. The family now wonders where the narrative came from that Scout was wielding a knife and was a danger to officers," Stewart said in a statement.
"It's tragic that as Scout was battling mental health issues that pushed them to the edge of desperation, their life was taken with a bullet rather than saved with non-lethal force," Stewart said.
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The shooting is just one of many in which American police have killed mentally ill people who refused to comply with orders.
The problem persists despite the prevalence of non-lethal options such as stun guns that can still subdue a suspect without resulting in death.
Schultz's death sparked an outpouring of emotion on campus, which resulted in clashes on Monday night.
After a vigil for the slain student, "a group of approximately 50 protestors marched to the Georgia Tech Police Department. One police vehicle was damaged and two officers suffered minor injuries," the university said.
Georgia Tech instructed students to stay inside during the unrest, but later announced that "the campus has been cleared of any threats."
Schultz refused to be identified by the pronouns "he" or "she," instead preferring the gender-neutral "they," which the Pride Alliance used in a statement mourning its president's death.
"They pushed us to do more events and a larger variety events, and we would not be the organization we are known as without their constant hard work and dedication," it said.
"Scout always reminded us to think critically about the intersection of identities and how a multitude of factors play into one's experience on Tech's campus and beyond."
Y
ouve seen the headlines: massive cyber breaches at major corporations compromising the confidential information of millions; global ransomware attacks that hold critical systems and data hostage; well-orchestrated spear phishing campaigns devised to disrupt American national security interests; and large-scale distributed-denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks that take down websites of all sizes.
Add to that the surging levels of internet-based crimes that often dont make the news, from cyberbullying to internet scams and identity theft. No longer the actions of a few rogue hackers, online attacks are now big business and todays cyber criminals are more sophisticated, better resourced and increasingly more difficult to track down.
Enter Richard Harknett. For more than 25 years, the University of Cincinnati professor of political science has researched and advised senior government officials on how to protect against and deter threats, both real-world and cyber, in an interconnected world.
Harknetts impressive resume includes cybersecurity briefings at the White House, Pentagon, U.S. State Department and Great Britains No. 10 Downing St. In the 1990s, he advised the Clinton administration on the development of critical cyber infrastructure before being appointed to Ohios Cyber Security Education and Economic Development Council.
In 2015, Harknett became the first scholar-in-residence for U.S. Cyber Command, an initiative of the Department of Defense, where he interacted with top American military and intelligence leaders to improve the nations cybersecurity policies. He most recently returned from England, where he had spent the past year as a U.S.-U.K. Fulbright Scholar in Cybersecurity at the University of Oxford.
An academic at heart, Harknett shrugs off the accolades. I take very seriously the fact that were a public research university and that theres a public service role for us, he says.
FROM NUKES TO HACKS
The savvy political scientist began his academic career researching another global threat, nuclear weapons, before arriving at UC in 1991. Then, the Pentagon called him up.
They said, We got this thing called a browser. What do you think? says Harknett with a laugh.
For the next few years, Harknett shifted his focus from the specter of nuclear war to the nascent informational warfare threat, becoming one of the few social scientists in a field still dominated by techies. He had resumed his work on nuclear weapons when, in 2006, the government came calling again.
The Department of Defense said, Hey, you know all that stuff you did in the 1990s? Well, you were pretty much right. Could you reprise it for us? Harknett says.
Frankfurt am Main (AFP) - Chancellor Angela Merkel may be on track to win a fourth term in Sunday's election, but exactly what Germany's next government will look like is anyone's guess as thorny coalition talks loom.
Despite having a double-digit poll lead, Merkel's conservative CDU/CSU bloc is expected to fall short of a parliamentary majority and the kingmakers they choose could shake up Berlin's stance on anything from eurozone reforms to refugee policies.
For the first time since reunification in 1990, a record six parties are set to enter parliament. And with the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) possibly becoming the third-strongest party, an election campaign widely described as boring could spring a few surprises yet.
"We really don't know what kind of government we will get," said Sudha David-Wilp, deputy director of the German Marshall Fund in Berlin. "The political suspense will begin after the vote on Sunday."
The latest survey by the Emnid institute for the Bild newspaper showed a slight dip in support for the CDU/CSU to 36 percent, with the Social Democratic Party (SPD), led by Merkel's main rival Martin Schulz, trailing at 22 percent.
With neither side eager to continue their loveless "grand coalition", attention is shifting to the race for third place between four smaller parties -- all polling at around eight to 11 percent.
"I'm telling everyone that this election hasn't been decided yet," Merkel said in an interview with broadcaster RTL on Tuesday.
With two recent surveys suggesting 25 to 39 percent of voters remain undecided, it seems there's everything to play for.
"There's still a lot of volatility in the polls," said Thorsten Benner, director of the Global Public Policy Institute in Berlin.
- 'Complicated' -
The liberal and pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), re-energised by youthful leader Christian Lindner, are hoping for a comeback as Merkel's junior coalition partner after embarrassingly crashing out of the Bundestag in 2013.
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But the latest surveys suggest the two natural bedfellows may need the help of a third party, the left-leaning Greens, to clinch a majority.
Such a three-way tie-up, dubbed a "Jamaica coalition" in the country's colour-coded politics, would be unprecedented in Germany and involve some serious horsetrading given the stark ideological differences.
These would "likely be fairly drawn out and complicated negotiations", said Benner.
The FDP's desire to take over the powerful finance ministry portfolio from the CDU's veteran Wolfgang Schaeuble promises to be one major bone of contention, while the Greens can expect stiff resistance to their demand for an end date on polluting diesel engines.
Merkel could also find herself hamstrung on the European stage if the FDP maintains its objections to closer eurozone integration, as pushed for by French President Emmanuel Macron.
For Merkel, another left-right coalition with the Social Democrats may be the most straight-forward choice.
"If she is true to what she has insinuated with President Macron, she wants European reforms," said Benner, which she could carry out with the support of the staunchly pro-EU Schulz, a former European Parliament chief.
- Rise of the AfD -
But four more years of the same risks angering grassroots Social Democrats eager to step out from under Merkel's shadow, and could drive more disgruntled voters to the fringes.
In a sign of the growing discontent, the anti-euro, anti-Islam and anti-immigration AfD is tipped to become the first hard-right party to clear the five-percent bar to win seats in the national parliament since the end of World War II.
Seemingly undiminished by months of infighting and scandal, the AfD has been inching ahead in the polls in recent weeks and could now surpass the far-left Die Linke as the largest opposition party.
But any stronger-than-expected showing by the AfD -- which capitalised on anger over Merkel's open-door asylum policies -- would send shockwaves through the political establishment.
Benner said the AfD appeared to be resonating with voters fed up with the status quo after 12 years of "Mutti" (mama) Merkel.
"The election campaign has been sleepy between the SPD and the CDU. But there's a lot of anger too," said Benner, in a nod to the AfD protesters who have jeered and booed Merkel on the campaign trail.
Mainstream parties have vowed to close ranks on the AfD, shunning it from any coalition talks.
The SPD in particular will be keenly aware that one way to prevent the AfD from becoming the loudest opposition voice in parliament, is to lead the opposition itself.
The AfD's entry into parliament would be "a disgrace for Germany", Schulz told the Tagesspiegel daily.
Conan OBrien took his show to Israel, and on Tuesday night gave viewers quite the tour through the Holy Land.
As expected, the hosts antics resulted in lots of hilarious moments, from OBrien drinking with bar-goers in Tel Aviv to throwing himself an impromptu bar mitzvah in Jerusalem.
But the special also showed OBrien traveling to the West Bank, speaking with activists along the separation wall, smoking hookah with locals and visiting with refugees in the Aida Refugee Camp. He even toured a hospital on the Golan Heights thats been providing care for individuals injured during Syrias civil war.
Lets face it. Its impossible to do justice in 40 minutes to the incredibly complex and polarizing country of Israel. But I did accomplish my goal, which was to make friends wherever I went, OBrien said. I want to thank the people of Israel and the West Bank for their incredible hospitality, their humor and their coffee. Everywhere I went, I was offered coffee by complete strangers.
OBrien was referring in part to his new friend Sami in Bethlehem, who sealed the deal with a kiss.
Conan was a hit everywhere we went. (Photo: TBS)
Head over to Conans website to watch more of the hosts Israel special.
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Conan hosted the White House Correspondents Dinner for the first time in 1995 and he will do so again in 2013.
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Conan interviews Martha Stewart on "Late Night."
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Late Night Interview 1997
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Dave Chappelle stops by "Late Night."
Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy Fallon's debut "Late Night" appearance on 2/18/1999. He'd go on to take over the show from Conan.
Late Night Interview 2000
Conan interviews Britney Spears at the height of her popularity.
Late Night Interview 2001
Interviewing Tina Fey in 2001.
Conan O'Brian at 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Inside
Conan made a splash when hosting the 2002 Emmy Awards, which he would repeat in 2003 and 2006.
Late Night Interview 2003
Interviewing Christopher Walken in 2003.
Brad Pitt and Janet Jackson Visit "Late Night with Conan O' Brien"
Conan interviews Brad Pitt.
Conan & His Wife
Conan and his wife Liza Powel O'Brien. They have two children.
Late Night "Year In Review"
Talking to "George W. Bush" in his 2005 year in review special.
58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards - Show
He was a big hit when he again hosted the Emmys in 2006.
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
Louis CK, who started his career as a staff writer on "Late Night," visits Conan on "The Tonight Show."
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
Conan reunited with Andy Richter for "The Tonight Show."
Conan O'Brien Performing
After leaving "The Tonight Show," Conan traveled across the country on the "Legally Prohibited From Being Funny On Television Tour."
Conan O'Brien
Conan reappeared on TBS for a new talk show, "Conan."
Guitar Battle With Jack Black 2010
Conan playing guitar with Jack Black on "Conan."
Christmas in Washington
Conan hosts the "Christmas in Washington" show with the First Family.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Conan OBrien aired another installment of Conan Without Borders, and this time the late night host visited Israel. Conan spent most of his time joking around with the Israeli people. He headed to the famous beaches of Tel Aviv, where he made an announcement from a lifeguard tower. Looking out over all the beachgoers, Conan said over the loudspeaker, This is an important announcement. Will all Israeli men wearing speedos please leave the area! Conan even met with one of the most famous Israelis, Wonder Woman herself, Gal Gadot. Although, she didnt seem too thrilled to see Conan. The late night host showed up at Gadots door and she, jokingly, pretended to be too busy to hang with him. But that didnt stop him from trying as he offered to make her pancakes, a delicious offer that Godot turned down. Although, it was difficult for Conan to ignore what many people in that region are dealing with on a daily basis. While visiting Golan Heights on the Syrian border, the late night host could hear gunfire off in the distance. Standing with an Israeli soldier, Conan said, I've never heard an actual war before. That's pretty sobering. Conan also headed into a Palestinian zone, where he was confronted by a group of Palestinian activists along the wall that separates them from Israel. One woman asked Conan if he thought the wall looked normal, to which he replied, No, I don't think any wall like this is normal. The woman then added, It's an open-air prison at the end of the day. You don't create peace by segregating people. It was a difficult region for him to visit, but even in a place where there is so much suffering, Conan was able to do what he does best -- make people laugh.
Police in Arizona appear to suspect a missing mother of two who disappeared this past spring was murdered and dumped in a landfill.
Phoenix police are finalizing plans to dig through a landfill in search of Christine Mustafa's body beginning in October, according to reports.
Watch: Police Searching for 4 Young Men Who Went Missing Within Days of Each Other
The 37-year-old failed to show up to work at a Walgreens pharmacy in May. Court documents said Mustafa hadn't missed a scheduled day of work in 11 years.
Mustafa's 15-year-old and 8-month-old daughter never saw their mother again.
In the months following her disappearance, the investigation became focused on Mustafa's ex-boyfriend, Robert John Interval.
Interval told officers that he and Mustafa had gotten into an argument on the evening of May 10 and the morning of May 11 because he believed she was cheating on him, but he denied any physical altercation ensued, according to court documents.
According to KPHO, police believed in June they had sufficient evidence to arrest Interval. He was booked on a murder charge, though no body has been found.
Interval has pleaded not guilty.
As prosecutors close in on their day in court, police are preparing to pull out all stops in their search for Mustafa's body.
Watch: Man Accused of Killing Pregnant Girlfriend Faked Plea for Her Safe Return: Cops
Back in July, local reports emerged that suggested were going to take on the massive job of a landfill search.
At the time, authorities reportedly asked landfill operators to stop dumping at the site.
Watch: Remains of Missing Teen Discovered 10 Years After Disappearance
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President Donald Trump was not the first to call a North Korean leader by the nickname Rocket Man.
Trump used the term to describe the pariah states current dictator Kim Jong Un during his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.
Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime, said Trump. The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.
He also tweeted the moniker over the weekend:
I spoke with President Moon of South Korea last night. Asked him how Rocket Man is doing. Long gas lines forming in North Korea. Too bad! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 17, 2017
But British business news magazine The Economist actually used the same nickname to describe the nuclear weapon aspirations of Kim Jong Uns father, Kim Jong Il, more than 11 years ago:
It's rocket man, JUNIOR, I believe pic.twitter.com/MCiy9UYVFJ Simon Cox (@s1moncox) September 20, 2017
The cover of The Economists July 8, 2006 edition showed Kim Jong Il, who died in 2011, blasting off into the sky above the caption, Rocket man.
Twitter users called out Trump for the duplication:
Apparently his vocabulary so limited #trump had to use plagiarize a name for #KimJongUn lol The Economist called his father #RocketMan Marilyn T (( 44)) (@MarilynT4) September 20, 2017
Trump was pretty pleased with his phrase at #UNGA today...
Kudos to @brianstelter for digging out this 2006 Economist, ft Kim's father... pic.twitter.com/Jl8tY6Iypv Harriet Alexander (@h_alexander) September 20, 2017
This is an Economist cover from 2006. Does Trump think this was recently? #RocketMan pic.twitter.com/LtcZgRMv8F Todd A (@heytodda) September 19, 2017
Related Coverage
Story continues
14 Chilling Photos Of The Difference Between North Korea And South Korea
Trump Mentions 'Rocket Man' Kim Jong Un As White House Tries To Be Unified On North Korea
Trump Called Kim Jong Un Rocket Man And Twitter Just Cant
Also on HuffPost
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Take your body-shaming elsewhere.
Thats the message South African plus-size model, blogger and photographer Lesego Lee Legobanehad for a Twitter troll who attempted to make a joke using her image.
On Tuesday, Twitter user Leyton Mokgerepi used a photo of Legobane in a meme comparing her to another bikini model. He attempted to disparage her, writing, Girls that I like vs. Girls that like me.
Girls that I like vs Girls that like mepic.twitter.com/3TDfKVs7bo Leyton Mokgerepi (@imleyton)September 19, 2017
Someone tagged Legobane in the post, she told HuffPost, and she decided to reply because she felt he was being rude.
And she made it clear theres no affection there.
Her response went viral with over 730,000 likes and counting, including from Nicki Minaj, Ariana Grande and Ava DuVernay.
Im overwhelmed by the love from people from all over the world, its [so] sweet! she wrote to HuffPost in an email Wednesday. Ive been getting DMs from women thanking me for embracing my body and loving myself. This is why body positivity on a public platform is so important, because others [are] able to draw inspiration from me and I appreciate that. [It] means a lot to me that I can change someones perception about their physical appearance by loving my own.
A post shared by fat gal (@thickleeyonce)on Sep 20, 2017 at 1:15am PDT
Legobane wants men to know that plus-size women are not to be patronized.
I hate it when men think that fat girls are desperate and that we like every other guy [because] we dont have options, she told HuffPost. Its utter nonsense. I can be fat and still be out of your league.
A post shared by fat gal (@thickleeyonce)on Sep 18, 2017 at 9:31am PDT
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A post shared by fat gal (@thickleeyonce)on Sep 3, 2017 at 10:34am PDT
American and French men currently dominating my DMs! Issalot sis!https://t.co/B3vYO1EXTr lee (@ThickLeeyonce)September 20, 2017
As for the body-shaming commenter, Twitter users dont think things are looking too good for him.
Picture of the girls who actually like you after this post:pic.twitter.com/LXRMvkQXUd Chad (@ItnHmn)September 19, 2017
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Democratic Senator Patty Murray said Tuesday she thought a bipartisan deal to repair Obamacare was still possible, despite the announcement by her negotiating partner, Republican Senator Lamar Alexander, that they had failed to reach an agreement.
Murray, in a statement, said she had made some "tough concessions" in the talks, when it came to giving states more flexibility under Obamacare. She was disappointed that Republican leaders had decided to "freeze" the bipartisan approach "but I am confident that we can reach a deal if we keep working together and I am committed to getting that done."
Alexander and Murray had been working to protect the government payments made to insurers to help reduce medical expenses for low-income Americans enrolled in Obamacare. Alexander also wanted states to have more flexibility to design insurance plans under the program.
(Reporting by Susan Cornwell; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Elton John and Bernie Taupin wrote the song "Rocket Man" almost 50 years ago.
But the song, which tells of the melancholy and loneliness experienced by an astronaut on such a timeless flight, has been getting plenty of publicity in recent days courtesy of Donald Trump, who has chosen it as his nickname for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
On Tuesday, in his address to the UN General Assembly, Mr Trump focused much of his attention on the East Asian nation, using language that represented a major departure from diplomatic convention.
During a bellicose speech, the US President threatened to totally destroy North Korea if it did not step aside from its nuclear weapons programme.
Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime, Mr Trump said. He said of the US: If it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.
During his first speech to the body, Mr Trump adopted a puglistic, nationalist approach.
"I will always put American first. Just like you, the leaders of your countries, should and always put your countries first. The U.S. will forever be a great friend to the world and especially to its allies, the Republican president said.
But we can no longer be taken advantage of or enter into a one-sided deal in which the United States gets nothing in return."
Not everyone was there to hear Mr Trumps words. While the North Korean delegation was seated just yards from where he spoke, its Ambassador to the UN, Ja Song Nam, left the room shortly before the US President entered the room.
Donald Trump has said he is prepared to totally destroy North Korea warning Kim Jong-un he is a rocket man on a suicide mission.
The US President ramped up the rhetoric in a fiery speech at the UN headquarters in New York threatening the complete destruction of the country if it does not abandon its drive toward nuclear weapons.
In a wide-ranging speech, Mr Trump also reaffirmed his desire to put America first; addressed the threat posed by international terrorists such as Isis; slammed the embarrassing nuclear deal with Iran, which is described as economically depleted; and described the US as a compassionate nation in relation to the refugee crisis.
Trump delivering his speech at the UN headquarter in New York
Mr Trump, who has previously warned of fire and fury if Pyongyang does not back down, said: The scourge of our planet today is a small group of rogue regimes that violate every principal on which the United Nations is based.
They respect neither their own citizens nor the sovereign rights of their countries.
If the righteous many do not confront the wicked few then evil will triumph.
When decent people and nations become bystanders to history the forces of destruction only gather power and strength.
North Korea has been increasingly testing inter-continental ballistic missiles
No one has shown more contempt for other nations and for the wellbeing of their won people than the depraved regime in North Korea. It is responsible for the starvation deaths of millions of North Koreans and for the imprisonments, torture, killing and oppression of countless more.
Turning his ire directly towards Kim, Mr Trump continued:
No nation on earth has an interest in seeing this band of criminals arms itself with nuclear weapons and missiles.
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The United States has great strength and patience but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.
Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime. The US is ready, willing and able but hopefully this will not be necessary.
It is time for North Korea to realise that the denuclearisation is its only acceptable future. The United Nations security council recently held two unanimous 15-0 votes adopting hard-hitting resolutions against North Korea and I want to thank China and Russia for joining the vote to impose sanctions along with all the other members of the security council.
Big day at the United Nations many good things, and some tricky ones, happening. We have a great team. Big speech at 10:00 A.M. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2017
Mr Trump didnt reserve his words of warning for North Korea alone, also turning his ire towards Tehran.
It is far past time for the nations of the world to confront another reckless regime. One that speaks openly of mass murder, vowing death to America, destruction to Israel, ruin for many leaders and nations in this room.
North Koreas recent strides towards building nuclear weapons has brought the hermit nation into sharp international focus.
The Iranian government masks a corrupt dictatorship behind the false guise of a democracy.
It has turned a wealthy country with a rich history and culture into an economically depleted rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed and chaos.
Rather than use its resources to improve Iranian lives, its oil profits go to fund Hezbollah and other terrorists that kill innocent muslims and attack their peaceful Arab and Israeli neighbours.
Kim Jong-un has twice flown missiles directly over Japan in recent weeks
This wealth which rightly belongs to Irans people also goes to shore up Bashar Al Assads dictatorship, fuel Yemens civil war, and undermine peace throughout the entire Middle East.
We cannot let a murderous regime continue these destabilising activities while building dangerous missiles and we cannot abide by an agreement if it provides cover for the eventual construction of a nuclear programme.
The Iran deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into. Frankly that deal is an embarrassment to the United States and I dont think youve heard the last of it believe me.
President castigates a small group of rogue regimes
Iran nuclear deal an embarrassment to the United States
World leaders address UN general assembly: live updates
Donald Trump has threatened to totally destroy North Korea in a bellicose first address to the UN general assembly, in which he lashed out at a litany of US adversaries, calling on righteous nations to confront them.
The speech was greeted in the UN chamber mostly with silence and occasional outbreaks of disapproving murmurs, as Trump castigated a succession of hostile regimes.
In an address heavy with echoes of George W Bushs Axis of Evil State of the Union address more than 15 years earlier, Trump said: The scourge of our planet today are a small group of rogue regimes.
If the righteous many do not confront the wicked few, then evil will triumph, the president said.
He first singled out North Korea, recounting its history of kidnapping, oppression, and missile and nuclear tests.
The US has great strength and patience, Trump said but he added: If it is forced to defend ourselves or our allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.
As alarmed murmurs spread around the hall, Trump had another barb. Using his newly adopted epithet for Kim Jong-un, Trump said: Rocketman is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime.
He said that the US was ready, willing and able to take military action, but said hopefully that would be unnecessary, if the rest of the world stepped up its efforts to constrain the Pyongyang regime.
That is what the United Nations is for, the president said. Lets see how they do.
Trump moved on to Iran, claiming that the Islamic Republic had robbed a great people of its destiny, adding that what the Tehran government feared second only to US military might was its own people.
He said that the Iran nuclear deal, signed by the US under the Obama administration and five other countries two years ago, was an embarrassment to the United States.
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I dont think youve have heard the last of it, he added, in an apparent reference to his decision on 15 October on whether to certify Iranian compliance or not. His withdrawal of presidential endorsement could lead to Congress reimposing nuclear-related sanctions and the collapse of the agreement.
Like much of the 41-minute speech, Trumps reference to the Iran deal was met by stony silence in the general assembly chamber. The deal is overwhelmingly supported by UN member states, including most of Washingtons closest allies, with the exception of Israel.
The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu was one of the few to applaud when the US president said the world could not abide by the Iran agreement if it provides cover for the eventual construction of a nuclear programme.
Netanyahu swiftly issued a statement praising Trump. In over 30 years in my experience with the UN, I never heard a bolder or more courageous speech, Netanyahu said. President Trump spoke the truth about the great dangers facing our world and issued a powerful call to confront them in order to ensure the future of humanity.
Trump is also almost entirely isolated on climate change. Unlike the other opening speakers, including the UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, Trump made no mention in his speech of an issue that most other leaders in the chamber consider to be the greatest threat to the world.
There were more gasps and whispering when Trump warned that some parts of the world in conflict were going to hell.
But the US president had clearly not come to the UN to placate foreign leaders but rather to speak over their heads to his own supporters.
He picked out one adversary after another, pointing out that he had taken steps to reverse Barack Obamas policy of detente with Cuba. But he reserved much more of his speech to a rigorous denunciation of the government of Nicolas Maduro, which he said was strangling Venezuela through faithfully implemented socialism.
The US has already imposed severe sanctions on the Maduro government and Trump said Washington was ready to take further action until full democracy is restored.
Attacks on other governments took up much of the second half of Trumps speech. The first half was devoted to outlining his view of international relations, which he said repeatedly said should be based on strong sovereign nations with different cultures and values.
Trumps argument against humanitarian intervention and nation-building is an approach favoured by Russia, China and much of the Non-Aligned Movement.
As president of the United States, I will put America first, just as you as leaders of your countries will always put your countries first.
It was one of the few lines that drew significant applause. Trump did not explain how these concepts squared with the second part of his address calling for action against rogue regimes for their lack of democracy.
Donald Trump has used his first address to the UN General Assembly to make clear that the US may have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.
With North Korean diplomats sitting just yards from him, Mr Trump said he will have no option to resort to such actions if Pyongyang does not halt the development of its nuclear weapons programme.
In perhaps the most striking piece of sabre-rattling yet, Mr Trump said that unless the regime of leader Kim Jong-un backed down, we will have no choice than to totally destroy North Korea.
According to a seating chart of the General Assembly Hall of the New York Headquarters, North Korea was seated in plain view of Mr Trump, in the front row.
However, the senior diplomat for the isolated nation left the room just ahead of Mr Trumps speech.
In a reference to Mr Kim and a tweet he had sent at the weekend, the US President claimed the North Korean leader appeared to determined to choose a path of self-destruction.
Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime, he said.
Chatter briefly filled the hall as Mr Trump referred to another by a nickname, on the record of the world body.
He said North Koreas pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles threatens the entire world with unthinkable cost of human life.
In what may have been a veiled prod at China, the Norths major trading partner, Mr Trump said: It is an outrage that some nations would not only trade with such a regime but would arm, supply and financially support a country that imperils the world with nuclear conflict.
In a speech that appeared to be aimed as much at middle America as at the world leaders listening to him, Mr Trump spent much of his focus on the issue of North Koreas nuclear weapons programme something his predecessor, Barack Obama, warned would be likely to be his toughest foreign policy challenge.
He said Pyongyangs increased testing of intercontinental missiles and nuclear payloads, threatens the entire world with unthinkable loss of life.
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If the righteous many dont confront the wicked few, then evil will triumph, he said as he called the Kim regime depraved and detailed several egregious human rights violations including the death of 22-year-old American college student Otto Warmbier.
Shortly before Trumps speech, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appealed from the General Assembly lectern for statesmanship to avoid war with North Korea.
We must not sleepwalk our way into war, said Guterres, the former prime minister of Portugal.
Mr Trumps speech had started as a defence of his America First policies, but descended into a roll call of what he called rogue nations, attacking Iran and Venezuela.
The President called the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama and a number of world powers, an embarrassment and hinted that he may not recertify the agreement when it comes up for a mid-October deadline. I dont think youve heard the last of it, he said.
He called Iran an economically depleted rogue state that exports violence and a murderous regime. Denouncing the dictatorship of Venezuela leader Nicolas Maduro, Mr Trump called the collapsing situation in the country completely unacceptable and said the United States cannot stand by and watch. He warned the United States was considering what further actions it can take.
The main bulk of the start of the 41-minute speech was aimed at setting out a US foreign policy aimed at downgrading global bureaucracies, basing alliances on shared interests, and steering Washington away from nation-building exercises abroad.
Mr Trump, who entered the White House eight months ago, told the 193-member global body that the United States does not seek to impose its will on other nations and will respect other countries sovereignty before then attacking the perils of socialism in relation to Venezuela and Cuba.
He said America needed to take care of its own citizens: I will always put America first, just like you as the leaders of your countries will always and should always put your countries first.
I will defend Americas interests above all else, he said. But in fulfilling our obligations to other nations we also realise its in everyones interest to seek a future where all nations can be sovereign, prosperous and secure..
As part of that vision, he has called for reform of the UN. During the election campaign, Mr Trump frequently denounced the UN, saying that it was bad for democracy and wasted public money.
He said it was just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time in a December 2016 tweet.
In his first UN meeting on Monday, Mr Trump had said that in recent years the United Nations has not reached its full potential because of bureaucracy and mismanagement.
On Tuesday, he did indeed urge the members to meet their financial obligations as he reiterated his commitment to reform the organisation.
At the same time he emphasised that the US would forever be a great friend to the world and especially to its allies.
All responsible leaders have an obligation to serve their own citizens. Our governments first duty is to its people.In foreign affairs we are renewing this founding principle of sovereignty, the President claimed, harkening back several times to former President Woodrow Wilson and the Marshall Plan, which aided the rebuilding of Western Europe in the wake of the Second World War.
The speech especially the rhetoric on North Korea, was met with distain in some quarters. Mr Trumps bold rhetoric was embarrassing, according to Dr Stephen Saideman, an expert and professor at Canadas Carleton University.
Mr Saideman told The Independent that despite the Presidents previous threats of fire and fury and appearing to have a fatalistic attitude toward using military options, nothing has really changed.
Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom who crossed her arms when Mr Trump mentioned he could look to totally destroy.
It was the wrong speech, at the wrong time, to the wrong audience, Ms Wallstrom later said.
Venezuela also rejected the threats from a racist President Trump.
But Mr Trumps threats aimed at Iran did bring him one fan in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wgo was due to address the world body later on Tuesday, who said: In over 30 years in my experience with the UN, I never heard a bolder or more courageous speech.
Mr Trumps America First rhetoric also had some fans in American conservatives, with former Presidential candidate Mitt Romney praising a strong and needed challenge to the UN.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesday urged Palestinians to unite and "be ready to co-exist" in peace with Israelis, in his address to the United Nations.
Speaking a day after a first meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Sisi said an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal was a "necessary precondition for the entire region" to enjoy stability.
Egypt has been leading mediation efforts between Palestinian arch-rivals Fatah and Hamas as part of a push to return to the forefront of Middle East diplomacy.
Departing from his prepared remarks to the UN General Assembly, Sisi said he wanted to "tell the Palestinian people, it is important to unite ... to overcome the differences and to be ready to accept co-existence with the other, with Israelis, in safety and security."
The Egyptian leader made a similar appeal to Israelis, saying that decades of Israeli-Egyptian peace could be expanded to the Palestinians to "overcome the barrier of hatred forever."
"We can repeat this experience, this excellent step once again, together with the peace and security of the Palestinian citizens," he said.
Egypt, which signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, has called for steps to kick-start Israeli-Palestinian talks that have been comatose since 2014.
In his address, Netanyahu said Israel was committed to achieving peace with all Arab countries and with the Palestinians, but he did not elaborate on how this could be achieved.
Sisi said "an independent Palestinian state" with east Jerusalem as its capital is "a necessary precondition for the entire region to transit into a new phase of stability and development."
An Israeli-Palestinian peace deal would eliminate "one of the main excuses" used by terrorists in the region, he argued.
Turning to the United States where President Donald Trump has said he is pushing for negotiations, Sisi declared that there was an "opportunity to write a new page in history to achieve peace in this region."
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The meeting between Sisi and Netanyahu in New York on Monday followed a rare phone conversation between Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas of Fatah and Hamas chief Ismail Haniya.
Egypt has been mediating between Abbas' internationally recognised Palestinian Authority located in the West Bank and Hamas, which has controled the Gaza Strip since 2007.
After Haniya met Egyptian officials in Cairo last week, Hamas announced it agreed to demands by Fatah to dissolve what is seen as a rival administration in Gaza, while saying it was ready for elections and negotiations to form a unity government.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Council President Donald Tusk said he would meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May in London next Tuesday to discuss Brexit, days after she is due to make a keynote speech on her vision for future ties with the EU. He made the comment in a tweet after meeting May at the United Nations General Assembly. The London meeting between the pair will come at a sensitive time - just after her speech in Florence on Friday and before an EU heads of state dinner on Sept. 28 in Tallinn, Estonia. The Financial Times said May's top EU adviser has told his counterparts in several European that she would in Florence offer to fill a post-Brexit EU budget hole of at least 20 billion euros. The newspaper cited officials briefed on the discussions. Senior EU officials have given talk of such offers short shrift. They have dismissed suggestions floated in British media that an offer of up to 30 billion euros payable during a transition period after Brexit would be acceptable to Brussels. It could not be, they have said, an alternative to the 60 billion or so that the EU executive has estimated may be payable before Brexit in March 2019. Brussels negotiators acknowledge privately that it may help the British government "sell" its settlement to domestic voters if London can meld the exit payments with transition payments to reduce the headline "divorce bill". EU officials told Reuters there would be no discussion of Brexit at the Tallinn dinner but that May might take the opportunity to brief the bloc's other 27 leaders on her position. Talks on Brexit have made little progress and deepened rifts in May's party, setting up the Florence speech as a chance to put negotiations back on track and reassert her authority. While Tusk is coordinating the 27 EU leaders on Brexit, only Michel Barnier is negotiating with the British and they have made clear to London that he is the only point of contact for Brexit talks. Barnier's negotiating directives have frustrated his British counterparts, who want to move the talks from divorce issues such as the EU departure bill and Irish border to future relations. Barnier first wants to see progress on the terms of Britain's exit. (Reporting by Julia Fioretti and Alastair Macdonald; Editing by John Stonestreet)
A cancer diagnosis is devastating for any family, but for Eva Longoria's, the challenge was particularly intense: Breast cancer struck Eva's special needs sister, Liza, who she's described as "mentally challenged."
"It was just a yearly mammogram," Longoria recounted to AOL, explaining that after catching it in stage one, Liza quickly entered treatment and is now in remission. But it pains her to think of all the women who receive later-stage diagnoses: "Even though there's been so many great advances in technology and medicine, preventative care, early detection -- stage four patients get the least amount of funding. So we want to redirect people's attention to these women who are dying."
"We" refers to Longoria and global healthcare company Novartis, who teamed up for their #KissThis4MBC campaign to raise research funding and awareness for the metastatic breast cancer community. For every Boomerang or selfie with the hashtag, Novartis will donate $10 up to $200,000. And for Longoria, the personal connection extends even beyond her sister's battle.
"I remember speaking to a woman who had cancer, and she said she was in the hospital for seven months, so all she did was watch [Desperate Housewives]," Longoria said. "The whole thing, from season one to season eight. She was like, 'I would have chemo, radiation, I would have radiation, I would have my infusion,' and she just knew she could look forward to watching the show."
The conversation still sticks with Longoria: "That just made my heart burst with joy," she said. "If I could bring one ounce of joy to this woman's life, it makes everything worth it."
Another source of joy? Her husband, Jose Baston, who she wed in 2016. "We are in a honeymoon every day," Longoria said. "Everyone will tell you that. They look at us and they go, 'Oh my God, can you guys please stop?!'"
The two spend much of their free time with their large families, who are "identical. Our mothers are the same, our siblings are the same, he's very close with his family, I'm very close with mine. So we usually end up doing everything together," she said. "This summer we went to Spain with all of our families, and every reservation was like, 'Table for 47?'"
A World War I-era German submarine (commonly referred to as a U-boat) filled with 23 bodies was discovered in the waters off the coast of Belgium, officials said Tuesday.
The intact, century-old vessel was found by researchers on the floor of the North Sea bordering the region of West Flanders, Governor Carl Decaluwe told the Associated Press.
Its quite amazing that we found something like this, Decaluwe said. The impact damage was at the front, but the submarine remains closed and there are 23 people still onboard.
Damage to the front of the U-boat suggests that it struck a mine with its upper deck, according to the AP. Other than the mangled front, the only other damage to the ship that researchers found was two destroyed torpedo tubes.
The 88-foot-long U-boat has collected a lining of barnacles and seaweed over the years, as well as fishing gear and nets, video obtained by the AP shows.
The exact location of the subs discovery remains unknown as Decaluwe declined to comment until the site has been protected. For now, he has reached out to German officials so they can figure out what to do with the human remains, according to the AP.
The North Sea was patrolled by a number of submarines on both the Allied and Central sides during World War I. German U-boats would target Allied warships and cargo carriers launched from Bruges on Belgiums coast.
The latest discovery is the 11th World War I-era wreck to be found in Belgian waters, according to the AP.
Facebook (FB) has practically courted controversy during its 13-year history. But it has never had to battle allegations that it abetted a massive Russian propaganda campaign aimed at disrupting American democracy until now.
The social media giant has tangled with politicians and regulators before over privacy issues, questions of political bias, antitrust concerns and other matters. It has generally prevailed, and kept government regulators at a distance. But Facebook and its smaller cousin Twitter (TWTR) are now embroiled in a high-stakes political controversy, with national-security implications, that could dwarf any regulatory challenge faced before. Some critics liken it to the weaponization of social media.
If Facebook and Twitter are now seen as agents of a foreign actor, that becomes a rationale for significant regulatory intervention, says Simon Rosenberg, president of NDN, a center-left think tank in Washington, DC. This could be a game-changer for both.
Facebook recently provided special counsel Robert Mueller, whos investigating Russias role in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, data on ads purchased by Russian interests during last years campaign which might violate U.S. election law. Facebook says total spending on the campaign was no more than $150,000, for perhaps 5,200 of the small ads that show up in users news feeds. Thats roughly .0005% of Facebooks $26.7 billion in revenue last year. If thats the extent of it, maybe its no big deal.
How much did Facebook know?
But thats probably not the extent of it. Facebook has indicated there could be more questionable ads it doesnt know about, and if thats the case, Mueller, with subpoena power, will likely find out. Some members of Congress think Facebook hasnt disclosed all it knows, and theyre planning to call Facebook executives to testify under oath. And a group of Democratic members of Congress have called on the Federal Election Commission to issue new guidance on how to prevent political activity by foreign interests on American social-media sites. That could be a prelude to new regulation.
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Technology experts, meanwhile, wonder how Facebook which markets itself as a master of targeted data, with an algorithm for everything could fail to know Russian interests were using the companys platform to roil a U.S. presidential election. Theres also a growing body of evidence that Russian agents created millions of fake Twitter and Facebook accounts to promote Donald Trumps candidacy for president last year, which isnt necessarily illegal but risks tarnishing the brands and the trust users put in them.
I believe that what we know now will be the tip of the iceberg, says Tim Chambers, who runs the digital arm of the Dewey Square Group and authored a recent paper on the malicious use of social media in American politics. Weve had spam, false accounts and click-fraud before, but this pulls all of them together and adds the idea of intentional mass propaganda. Its a whole new area of seriousness.
Facebook and Twitter generally suspend fake accounts and suspicious activity once theyve been identified. Both companies say theyre developing new technology and other methods to better police political activity on their platforms. Neither responded directly to questions from Yahoo Finance for this story.
Yet the rising prominence of social media, long a boon for both companies, has now created a new vulnerability for them and the United States as a whole. This isnt just a question of commerce, says Meredith McGehee, chief of policy for Issue One, a nonprofit that monitors government ethics. This is a political question and that always makes people move. They are probably going to face great pressure to change their business model.
The exploitation of social media by foreign interests for political purposes which researchers at Oxford University call computational propaganda is basically a digital twist on established forms of influence operations such as broadcasting political messages into a target country, or even dropping leaflets from airplanes. The goal isnt just to influence elections, but to sow discord and confusion and weaken trust in national institutions, such as the electoral system, the government and the press. While American investigators are focusing on Russias attempts to do this in the United States, American intelligence agencies have operated in similar fashion in places hostile to U.S. interests.
The rise of bots
Whats relatively new is the brazen use of Facebook, Twitter and other social-media networks for these purposes. Ads are just a small part of the toolkit. Another factor are bots fake accounts meant to impersonate real people that spew political messages and generally exist to stir up trouble. Twitter has estimated that about 8% of all accounts on its network are fake; outside researchers think it could be nearly twice as many. Since Twitter has about 300 million users, that would amount to roughly 45 million fake accounts. Theyre not all nefarious and theyre not all Russian, but most exist for some kind of illicit purpose.
Facebooks numbers are harder to estimate because the company is cagier about its user data than Twitter. In its latest quarterly filing with the SEC, Facebook estimated that 1.5% of its 2.01 billion monthly users are undesirable accounts, including fake ones. That would total 30 million undesirable accounts. Facebook also said, however, that its estimate may not accurately represent the actual number of such accounts because its based on a limited sample. A recent New York Times investigation identified hundreds or thousands of fake Facebook accounts specifically linked to Russian sources that generally published information last year supporting Donald Trump regarded as the Kremlins favored candidate, because of his dovish views toward Russia and deriding Hillary Clinton.
These fake bot accounts arent literally robots that operate with no human intervention. Software, rather, helps human operators run networks of bots, or botnets, with some automated features and some human input. Some researchers prefer the term cyborg, to connote a human augmented by technology.
A human controller operating, perhaps, from a reputed bot farm in St. Petersburg, Russia might oversee 50 or 100 bots. I would envision a control room where the human operator has a screen telling what activity is going on with each bot, says V.S. Subrahmanian, a cybersecurity professor at Dartmouth University. The software automatically suggests text, pictures, emojis, and links that should be in the posts. For bots targeting an American audience, the operators would almost certainly speak English.
Well-run bot accounts appear to be human because they steal personal details from the online accounts of real people, and scrape appealing photos from anywhere on the web. Gaining friends and followers is key to appearing like a legitimate account. Software can identify real social-media users inclined toward whatever message the bot is designed to propagate, and connect with them using the various tools Facebook and Twitter offer. As the bot posts begin to come, dialogue between the bot and real users ensues, the bot begins to get retweeted or reposted, and social media begins to amplify whatever message the bot is sending.
Twitter audit, a free online tool, estimates that 43% of President Trumps 38.6 million Twitter followers are fake accounts. Trump himself has retweeted posts by bots, including one in August that complained about fake news exactly the kind of catchphrase bot software might highlight for inclusion in a post. Influence bots are trying to surreptitiously influence how Americans think and vote, says Subrahmanian. This is a new kind of trap, one unleashed more or less for the first time in the last election.
Democracy makes the U.S. vulnerable
Theres a peculiar irony to the weaponization of social media: the United States cant do to Russia, or most other adversaries, what Russia seems to be doing to us. Thats because Russia, China and most nondemocratic nations tightly control the Internet and other forms of media, and some ban Facebook and Twitter completely. So Russia, in effect, is exploiting American companies that thrive on the openness of information in the United States to harm the United States. Facebook and Twitter are not serving their users well, says Chambers, and theyre not serving the country they were founded in particularly well.
This situation isnt entirely new. McGehee of Issue One likens the current wild-west atmosphere on social media to the early days of radio, when anybody could broadcast, fake news was rife on the airwaves and bogus information occasionally created panics. That led to government control of the spectrum and the issuing of licenses, which required broadcasters to follow certain rules. Television followed the same model when it came along. Social-media advocates howl that such regulation on the internet would stifle free speech. But that argument now faces a powerful counterargument. Every government understands the power of disinformation and propaganda, McGehee says. The challenge is finding the right public policy without trying to restrict speech in any way.
Self-regulation?
As the issue heats up in Washington, Facebook and Twitter will almost certainly argue that they should be able to self-regulate when it comes to computational propaganda, as they already do on other issues by prohibiting hate speech and other types of offensive content. The big question is whether the social-media giants can be trusted. Twitter, for instance, could lose a significant number of accounts, at a time when analysts have been hammering the company for lack of growth and the stock has been struggling. So it may actually have a financial incentive to tolerate fake accounts. Facebook is a different story, with stratospheric profits and plenty of financial headroom. Yet that raises the basic question of why Facebook didnt catch the Russians sooner, and why it takes news coverage or other outside inquiries to unmask fake accounts Facebook itself didnt flag. The answers coming over the next few months will tell us a lot about the future of social media.
Confidential tip line: rickjnewman@yahoo.com. Encrypted communication available.
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Rick Newman is the author of four books, including Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman
Sydney (AFP) - A first wave of refugees will leave remote Pacific detention camps and be resettled in the United States in coming weeks, Australian authorities said Wednesday, under a deal that has rankled President Donald Trump.
Canberra sends asylum-seekers who try to enter the country by boat to processing facilities on Nauru and Papua New Guinea's Manus Island, with those found to be refugees barred from resettling in Australia.
They are instead relocated to third countries, or resettled elsewhere in PNG.
The Australian government struck a pact with Washington under former president Barack Obama to resettle some of them in the United States in return for taking an unspecified number of asylum-seekers from Central America.
Doubts over the arrangement surfaced after Trump took office and attacked it as a "dumb deal" in a heated phone call with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, before begrudgingly agreeing to honour it.
New concerns were raised in July by the sudden withdrawal from PNG of American officials assessing the refugees, days after the US passed its annual 50,000-refugee intake cap.
But Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the first group were expected to depart PNG and Nauru "in coming weeks".
"The refugees will receive notification of the outcome of their application to resettle under the US Refugee Admissions Programme in coming days," he said.
"Processing of other individuals continues and further decisions by US authorities are expected in due course. As we have made clear from the outset the resettlement arrangements will take time and will not be rushed."
Turnbull added that this was the "first stage".
"About 25 from both Manus and Nauru will be going to the United States. I just want to thank again President Trump for continuing with that arrangement," he said.
Their move was subject to Washington's "very, very thorough vetting, their extreme vetting," he added.
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"But we look forward to more refugees, people who have been judged to be refugees on Nauru and Manus, to be taken to the United States."
- 'Don't leave them in limbo' -
Nearly 800 men are being held on Manus, and 371 men, women and children are detained on Nauru, according to Australian immigration data as of July 31.
The camps' conditions have been widely criticised by refugee advocates and medical professionals, who say some asylum-seekers suffer from mental health problems due to their prolonged detention.
A PNG court ruled last year that holding people on Manus was unconstitutional, and Canberra is set to shut the camp in October, but it remains unclear what will happen to those not taken by the United States.
Amnesty International urged Washington to take as many refugees as possible to ensure "not a single person is left behind".
"Amnesty International acknowledges the US for giving people a genuine chance at settling and restarting their lives in a safe place," said the group's refugee coordinator Graham Thom.
"But for the sake of those still living in the harmful conditions on Nauru and Manus we are urging the US to take as many people off these islands as possible."
The Human Rights Law Centre echoed these sentiments, saying while some now had hope, the majority remained in limbo.
"In signing the US deal our government was rightly conceding that it couldn't just abandon people on Nauru and Manus forever," said the centre's director of legal advocacy Daniel Webb.
"That was an important and long overdue concession. Now, it is our government's responsibility to make sure not a single person is left behind. Not one life can be abandoned in limbo."
(Photo: shutterstock)
Sales associates at Macys flagship store in New York Citys Herald Square were told to look out for or not sell to customers of Asian descent, four former employees alleged in a recent lawsuit.
The directives were based on a stereotype that opportunistic foreign customers would buy products to resell in Asia, according to a press release from Wigdor LLP, the firm that filed the suit on behalf of the former associates.
The company has said the claims are false.
Macys denies the allegations in the lawsuit filed by the former Herald Square employees, a spokesperson said in a statement provided to HuffPost. We are confident that the allegations in this matter will ultimately be found to be without merit.
The plaintiffs, most of whom identify as Asian-American, alleged that managers told sales associates they should refrain from selling more than one unit of the same product to Asian customers, among other discriminatory instructions. Official store policy allows shoppers to purchase up to six units of a single product.
Employees working in the loss prevention department would allegedly make Asian shoppers uncomfortable by staring them down until their transactions were completed.
The plaintiffs say they were fired after they filed grievances with Macys union and brought up the matter to their managers. Wigdor LLP called their terminations a blatant act of retaliation against those employees who dared to speak up against such unlawful racial profiling.
Although gray market sales of products for a markup a practice referred to as daigou in China have been documented, experts say the allegations would point to wrongful stereotyping if true. They also argue that the allegations shed light on the poor treatment experienced by immigrants and people of color, who are often profiled as national security and economic threats.
This is hardly the first time Asians have been racially profiled due to rampant stereotypes, said Karin Wang, vice president of programs and communications at the nonprofit Asian Americans Advancing Justice-LA. She highlighted a number of Asian scientists who have wrongfully been accused of espionage, as well as the frequent discrimination that Muslim Americans face.
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Racial profiling is not effective, period, and escalates the danger of using race illegally, Wang said. While this may be the latest big headline case, singling out people by race, ethnicity, religion or other protected characteristic is not a new phenomenon.
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LONDON (Reuters) - Sebastian Gorka, a former adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump who quit after top White House political strategist Steve Bannon was ousted, has joined a nationalist pro-Trump campaign organization, the group announced on Tuesday. The MAGA Coalition, dedicated to helping advance Trump's "America First" principles, said it had hired Gorka as "Chief Strategist." MAGA is headed by Adam Gingrich, a Pennsylvania political operative who backed Trump's presidential campaign. A MAGA statement announcing Gorka's appointment said its mission was to "identify the obstructionists in (Washington) DC and to advocate the America First principles that catapulted Donald Trump to the White House". It quoted Gorka, 46, as condemning "DC swamp-dwellers thinking they know better than the people they represent". Gorka has been an outspoken advocate of tough U.S. anti-terrorism policies and in the past asserted that U.S. efforts to counter Islamic State and other jihadist propaganda were "pin-pricks and often counter-productive". Prior to his time on Bannon's White House team, Gorka was national security editor at Breitbart.com, the far-right website which Bannon headed before joining the White House and then rejoined after leaving the White House last month. Gorka, the son of Hungarian refugees who was born in Britain, also previously taught classes at the U.S. Marine Corps University. While at the White House, Gorka regularly appeared on cable news shows to promote Trump's policies. But intelligence professionals and diplomats viewed him as an ideologue who lacked real-world experience. In late August, the conservative Federalist website published a letter from Gorka saying he was resigning from the Trump Administration. But a White House official said in a statement: "Sebastian Gorka did not resign, but I can confirm he no longer works at the White House. (Reporting by Mark Hosenball; editing by Mark Heinrich)
By Maggie Fick NAIROBI (Reuters) - A French IT company that supplied the electronic system used in Kenya's nullified election last month has told the election commission its technology will not be ready to use again by the Oct. 17 date set for a re-run of the vote. The statement presents a hurdle for the commission. It could threaten the timing of the election that President Uhuru Kenyatta, whose win on Aug. 8 win was cancelled by the Supreme Court, will contest against opposition leader Raila Odinga. When the Supreme Court nullified the results of the presidential election citing irregularities, it ordered a new poll within 60 days. The commission then declared Oct. 17 as the date for the re-run. In a letter from Paris-based OT-Morpho to the election commission, the company said the two electronic systems it supplied for the vote would have to be reinstalled for the re-run. "This represents a very significant amount of work, which cannot be secured by October 17," said the letter dated Sept. 18 and seen by Reuters. OT-Morpho provided 45,000 tablets for identifying voters using biometric technology and the system used to transmit results counted at polling stations aas well as a photograph of the paper sheet from each station. Delays in transmission of the tally sheets was an irregularity raised by the opposition in its petition to the Supreme Court. The court has not released its full verdict but has said it will do so by Thursday. A spokesman for the company confirmed the letter was accurate. Andrew Limo, a spokesman for the election board, said he was aware of the letter and the board met on Monday to discuss it. Earlier in the day, he told Reuters that "changing the date (of the election re-run) is a last resort strategy." The date of the new poll has been a source of tension between Kenyatta and Odinga. Kenyatta and his ruling Jubilee party have said the re-run should be held on Oct. 17 as scheduled by the commission, while the opposition is threatening to boycott the new poll if its demands for the sacking of key election officials are not met. (Additional reporting by Duncan Miriri and George Obulutsa; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg)
Scout Schultz, left, was shot and killed by a Georgia Tech police officer on Saturday. Now Kirby Jackson, the students friend, is speaking out. (Photos: Remembering Scout Schultz via Facebook, Kirby Jackson via Facebook)
Georgia Tech student Scout Schultz, 21, was shot and killed on Saturday by campus police. It was the tragic ending to a situation that reportedly began when Schultz called 911 to report that a suspicious individual who turned out to be Schultz was lurking around with a knife. The fourth-year student who identified as transgender, preferred to be called by the pronouns they and them, was intersex (referring to a variety of conditions in which a person is born with sexual anatomy that doesnt fit the typical definitions of female or male), and served as the president of the campus Pride Alliance had apparently attempted suicide in the past and saw this as a new route to ending their life. Several suicide notes were found in the students dorm room. But Schultzs parents have pleaded for answers as to why the shot was ever fired, and a campus vigil held in the students honor on Monday turned chaotic, when angry students protested the shooting and several were arrested. In an attempt to learn more about what went wrong in the death of Schultz, Yahoo Lifestyle spoke with Kirby Jackson, 23, of Decatur a Georgia Tech psychology major, currently on a break from school for personal issues, who was Schultzs friend. This is her story, as told to Beth Greenfield.
I saw Scout just the week before [the shooting] and everything seemed fine. We played board games, we hung out, we laughed, and everything seemed okay.
There are only so many queer people on campus and we made friends, mostly through mutual friends and similar interests Dungeons & Dragons, and gaming, activism, political beliefs. Were both trans, and were both pansexual [attracted to all sexes and genders]. So we connected in those ways.
Scout was incredibly ardent and well educated and knew that things could be and should be a certain way, which was really great for talking activism. Scout was always pushing us to be better and to be the best we could be, just in everything. Scout listened too sometimes argued, but you know how some people argue but they dont really listen? Scout could listen while still comprehending and understanding, or trying to, at least.
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I know Scout had attempted suicide in the past. Ive attempted in the past as well, so wed sometimes talk a little about it, but we never had a real heart-to-heart. We were friends we were more than acquaintances but not best-best friends.
From having talked a lot with a closer friend, I know Scout had apparently talked about how, if ever attempting suicide again, suicide-by-cop might be easier. So apparently Scout was the one that called police saying there was a threatening person on campus.
Before they did that, they dropped off some stuff for their closest friend a box of Magic cards and then went out and had a multitool in their hand. It wasnt extended, and it was a really shitty multitool too. At a party once I asked to borrow it for the bottle opener and they lent it to me and I had to give it back because I almost broke it and couldnt open the bottle. But it was metallic and flashy and they had it in their hands and were yelling, Shoot me, all the stuff youve seen online.
I shouldnt have watched [the video] but I did. If I were to make a bracket of people getting into one-on-one fights, Scout wouldnt be a very high seed. How were you threatened by Scout enough to have to kill them?
Its come out that the cop that pulled the trigger hadnt undergone any sort of crisis [training], and that has been my biggest thing. Watching the video, they just yell at Scout multiple times, Put down the weapon! Put down the weapon! There wasnt any attempt of like, Hey listen, we know youre going through something, we can help you, none of that. People dont generally like to be angrily yelled at, people tend to feel threatened when angrily yelled at. It wasnt helpful for sure.
And then also there were many more armed cops than there were Scouts, and even if Scout couldnt be talked down, Im incredibly surprised that the cops couldnt have wrestled Scout to the ground, or found some nonlethal way of ending that situation. We just found out the officers name [on Tuesday], and we still dont know if theyre suspended or if theyre still working.
The mental health services offered on campus right now just dont have enough depth. You can only get 16 sessions with the counseling center, and then you have to wait a full calendar year before starting more which can be fine for stuff thats very temporal, but not for more ongoing issues. Plus there are not enough counselors. It always books up. So if you have an invisible illness depression or anxiety or panic disorder or anything that might interfere with your ability to deal with class it can be difficult to get the accommodations necessary.
This came up on Monday night after the vigil. The vigil was very nice it was a candlelight thing, a very moving, symbolic gesture. It was something Scout wouldve hated, as Scout was much more the type for action. At the end of the vigil, several students who were very upset at how theyve been treated, and trans students who knew Scout very well, were talking about how we can make campus better and safer for trans students and how we can make things better, mental-health wise, for students. Stuff like, The president makes a million dollars a year, but we cant afford enough therapy for the student body? People were venting, there were maybe 50 to 100 people.
Then it turned into a march over to GTPD [Georgia Tech Police Department] headquarters, and it was tense theres a lot of anger about how they treated Scout, plus anger at police in general across the country. Then a protester got on the hood of a police car. GTPD did not tell her to get down, they did not warn her that she would get arrested, they just grabbed her, dragged her off the hood and put her in. She looked to me like she was choking. Thats when things turned more violent, when someone lit the car on fire, when people were trying to get involved more directly against the police, who were now moving into the crowd and grabbing people and harming them. Three people were arrested.
The media keeps saying that a lot of people at the protest were not students just out-of-towners looking for a fight but a lot of people there were students. I saw plenty of people [from the Georgia Tech community] who belonged in that protest.
Now a lot of students are being very pro-GTPD, and a lot of it has been very anti-Scout and sort of shaming Scout.
Theres a part of me that wonders, if Scout was more gender conforming and less different looking, if it wouldve been different. But its not like the shooting specifically happened because Scout was Pride president, you know? But also, its not like Scout wasnt a queer and gender-nonconforming individual going to that situation. That is a difference, and its still important to mention how it might have played a role in what happened.
Campus as a whole needs a lot of improvement, as does society. But I think were a reflection of the America we live in, which also has some work to do.
Did Scout get what they wanted? I would say that the job of the police is not to kill someone. Scout may have wanted to die, thats true, but it didnt have to be the polices job to kill them. It shouldnt have been Georgia Tech that did it. I mean, ideally, no one should have. I dont think theres any situation in which one person should end the life of another, regardless of whether theyre asking for it or not.
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Republican Ed Gillespie and Democrat Ralph Northam share a moment of levity before their second gubernatorial debate. (Photo: Washington Post)
MCLEAN, Va. The closest thing to hard-edged partisan sniping during Tuesday nights gubernatorial election debate came when Democrat Ralph Northam took a dig at Republican Ed Gillespie over health care and implied that Gillespie hadnt done the kind of work to care for disadvantaged people that Northam, a pediatrician, has.
I didnt remember seeing you there, Northam said of a medical clinic where he has volunteered.
Gillespie didnt respond in kind. Instead, he complimented Northam, Virginias lieutenant governor, on his humanitarian work, and the two moved on.
If the hour-long debate was notable for anything, it was that the two candidates were as friendly and polite with each other in a race with national implications at a time when the broader political conversation is so frenzied and angry.
During a break halfway through, the two men joked with each other. Their exchanges were about as substantive as possible in a fast-moving format, and at the end they shared a warm handshake. Debate moderator Chuck Todd of NBC News commented on the positive tone.
Virginia deserves some civility right now, especially after what we watched on the 16th, Northam said afterward, referring to the terrorist attack in Charlottesville last month by a white supremacist that killed one and injured a few dozen others. The rally was held on the same day that neo-Nazis and KKK members gathered in that city to protest the proposed removal of a statute of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from a city park.
Democrat Ralph Northam shares his view on Confederate monuments during gubernatorial debate. (Photo: Washington Post)
Gillespie and Northam are both temperamentally low key, so major fireworks were not exactly expected. But the political dynamics of the race also have not incentivized risk-taking. A number of recent polls show the race to be close, with Northam holding a 3-point lead in the Real Clear Politics polling average. Voters will go to the polls to choose a governor on Nov. 7.
And both candidates are trying to avoid alienating the extremes of their party while also appealing to middle-of-the road voters. For Gillespie, that means distancing himself from President Trump in subtle ways without explicitly repudiating the president. Northam is dealing with agitation among progressives over a proposed gas pipeline, and is trying to balance a hunger on the left for opposing everything Trump does with a concern among others that the next governor should be able to work with the administration to benefit the state.
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Northam gave qualified support for the pipeline, but pending a review process, leading Todd to say he couldnt tell if Northam actually supported it or not.
Related slideshow: Violent clashes erupt at Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va. >>>
And Northam said he would work with [Trump] to try to end the budget sequestration that has hurt many Pentagon contractors in Virginia. He said that along with his opposition to a government shutdown, there are some things that we share in common. He then tried to pivot and hang the Trump albatross around Gillespies neck, listing a number of actions taken by the president that he finds abhorrent, and linking the Republican candidate with Trump through his support for those items.
Trump may be broadly unpopular in Virginia, but still has strong support from a significant number of active voters. Thats why Gillespie only narrowly won the primary this past summer over Corey Stewart, who campaigned in support of Confederate statues and was a vocal Trump backer.
When Todd asked Gillespie if he wanted Trump to come campaign with him or for him in the commonwealth, Gillespie sidestepped the question but indicated he didnt need the president to come. Ill take help from anybody anywhere, Gillespie said, but then added that he thinks Virginians want to hear from him. He said that if he tried to tie Northam to national Democrats such as House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, that wouldnt add jobs, ease traffic or make college more affordable.
Gillespie has avoided condemning Trumps response to Charlottesville, but referred dismissively during the debate to these KKK members with their shields and their torches and described them as the presence of evil.
Related slideshow: White nationalists march with torches in Charlottesville, Va. >>>
Both candidates also threw some cold water on health care proposals being put forward by some in their own party. Gillespie said the current Republican plan being debated in the Senate the Graham-Cassidy bill falls short of protecting Virginia from being punished for not expanding Medicaid under Obamacare. But he later qualified that by saying he was not taking a position for or against the legislation, which Congress may vote on this month.
And Northam said he does not support single-payer, government-run health care, an idea that is gathering momentum among a number of Democratic senators with presidential ambitions.
This country is not ready for single-payer, in my mind, Northam told reporters afterward.
The meat of Gillespies case against Northam is that Virginia has fallen behind the rest of the country economically and needs to cut taxes responsibly, he is always careful to note to help create a business environment more friendly to small businesses.
My policies will get us unstuck, Gillespie said.
Republican Ed Gillespie speaks during the second gubernatorial debate with Democrat Ralph Northam in Washington. (Photo: Washington Post)
Northams campaign is focused on drawing a contrast in profiles between their candidate and Gillespie, starting with Gillespies work in the past as a highly paid lobbyist in Washington, D.C., and then tying him to Trump.
An Army doctor and a pediatric neurologist who was volunteer director of a childrens hospice is compelling, and compares exceedingly well to someone whos background is a Washington, D.C., lobbyist, said Northam pollster Geoff Garin on a Monday conference call.
But on that same call, Northams campaign director, Brad Komar, acknowledged that Democratic hopes for an overwhelming win in Virginia that would repudiate Trump were overly optimistic.
This is going to be a close race, Komar said.
Tuesdays showdown was the second of three debates. The third will be held Oct. 9 in Wise, a town in Virginias southwest region.
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WASHINGTON The renewed push to pass a health care overhaul in the Senate is running into the same old problem Republicans have faced all along: They dont have the votes, and if they cant win over Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), their repeal effort looks doomed.
Even as Republicans projected optimism on Tuesday, there were signs their confidence might be less than genuine. When Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was asked if he would commit to bring to the floor this latest bill which would hand over federal dollars to the states to manage health care McConnell said lawmakers were in the process of discussing that.
Republicans are trying to use the budget reconciliation process to move this legislation, meaning they need only 51 votes in the Senate and that includes Vice President Mike Pences yes vote to break a tie. But the fiscal 2017 budget resolution allowing them to use this process expires at the end of fiscal 2017.
If we were going to go forward, wed have to act before Sept. 30th, McConnell said.
If Democrats and some Republicans were able to run out the clock on this latest proposal, however, GOP leadership could still come back with another health care budget resolution on which to hang another attempt to repeal Obamacare through the reconciliation process. In other words, even if the bill authored by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) dies, it can come back to life again, like just about every other GOP health care plan.
For now, Republicans are using the Sept. 30 deadline to try to pressure their colleagues into voting for the Graham-Cassidy legislation before it has received a hearing, a markup or a full assessment from the Congressional Budget Office. Those procedural problems have been significant enough for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) to suggest hed vote no on the proposal, although his position could change if Republican leaders were able to win over Murkowski.
With Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) looking largely unpersuadable, McConnell cant afford to lose Murkowski. And if he cant convince her to vote yes, theres no point pressuring McCain.
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All along, GOP leaders have figured that Paul and Collins would be the two Republican senators to vote against a health care proposal Collins because it went too far in repealing Obamacare, Paul because it didnt go far enough.
But with Murkowski, the idea has always been to buy her off somehow. Health care is expensive in Alaska under Obamacare, and her state receives a disproportionate amount of assistance per capita under the Affordable Care Act. Relying so heavily on the law now, Alaska has more to lose from its repeal.
Knowing that, Graham and Cassidy have said they structured their bill to make sure Alaska is OK. Alaska is about a third the size of the country with 750,000 people, Graham said Tuesday. It is a bedeviling problem.
But just how much they have spared Alaska is a matter of interpretation.
Over the next 10 years, the Graham-Cassidy bill would reduce federal spending by less than some past Republican repeal bills would have. But states like Alaska would still end up losing money, relative to current law, according to an analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Past 2026, things get worse. At that point, the new block grants to the states would expire, so thered be no money at all unless Congress decided to fund the program anew. Thats dramatically harsher than any other GOP proposal to date, and its clear that states like Alaska where 25 percent of the population is on Medicaid would suffer severe coverage losses.
Murkowski, for her part, continues to be evasive about where she stands. On Tuesday, she came up behind a group of reporters in the Capitol and said, Guess what? I dont have any news!
She insisted shes still looking at the bill, although Alaska Gov. Bill Walker (I) on Tuesday signed on to a letter with nine other governors opposing the legislation.
Murkowski said she understands that the bill would give states more flexibility. She also noted that the governor had told her, If I get half as much money, flexibility doesnt help me.
Grahams claim is that almost every state, including Alaska, would make out under his bill. He acknowledges that some big blue states, like California and New York, would be hit with huge cuts. Im not out to hurt them, Graham said Tuesday. But Im trying to make you know, create parity here.
But even that line isnt true. Plenty of states red ones, even would suffer cuts as a result of Graham-Cassidy, even in the first 10 years. And every state would face a substantial Medicaid reduction after that first decade.
That seems to matter very little to most Republican lawmakers. GOP senators and representatives have repeatedly promised to repeal Obamacare, and for many, fulfilling that promise appears to be more important than replacing it with a health care system that works.
When Graham was asked about his past statements that he wouldnt vote for any new money to stabilize Obamacare no matter what the impact, as one reporter put it, mentioning rising premiums and people losing insurance the senator stood by his hard line.
Im speaking English, right? Graham said. Im not going to throw another penny at a system that will never work. Why would I? Why would you continue to do what I think is insane?
Jeffrey Young and Jonathan Cohn contributed reporting.
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Dramatic video footage has emerged of a helicopter accidentally firing a rocket at bystanders watching Russia's military drills.
At least two bystanders were injured and two cars burnt down in the incident that occurred during the Zapad 2017 military exercises, the 66.ru news website reported Tuesday, citing an unidentified source familiar with the situation.
According to the Yekaterinburg regional news website 66.ru that first broke the story and published a video of the incident, two military helicopters were chasing a target when one of them accidentally fired air-to-ground rockets at bystanders.
The video of the incident, published by 66.ru, depicts a helicopter firing a shot at a man walking near three cars.
[The helicopters] were 500 meters away from the target. They activated the weapon chain, but something malfunctioned, and rockets went down [earlier], the source told 66.ru and added that two people most likely journalists were hospitalised with serious injuries.
The incident was reported to have taken place at the Luzhski range right outside of St. Petersburg. It remains unclear when it happened, but the 66.ru report suggests that it wasnt long before Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the range on Monday.
Later on Tuesday the RBC news outlet reported that the incident happened on September 16, citing an anonymous source close to Russias Defence Ministry. The source claimed three people got injured in the incident, and none of them were civilians.
RBC published another video of the incident, showing the helicopter firing rockets at a military truck parked near three apparent civilian cars.
The Defence Ministry refuted claims that the shot was fired at bystanders who were watching the Zapad exercise.
The video posted by 66.ru depicts an incident that happened at a different period of time, during another army aviation exercise, the Ministry spokespeople told RBC.
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They confirmed the fact that a helicopter accidentally fired a rocket at a parking lot, and said that an empty military truck was damaged as a result.
Information about many people heavily injured is either deliberate provocation, or someones personal silliness, the Ministry officials said.
Zapad 2017 is a large-scale joint military exercise of Russia and Belarus that raised concerns in neighboring European countries as a potential threat to regional security. 12,700 troops are officially said to be participating, together with some 140 tanks, up to 150 artillery and air defence units and more than 40 planes and helicopters.
If book sales are any indication and they are readers did, in fact, want to know What Happened during the 2016 election.
According to an Associated Press report verified by HuffPost, former presidential candidate Hillary Clintons recently released book about her defeat at the hands of now-President Donald Trump has sold more than 300,000 copies across hardcover, ebook and audio formats. The opening hardcover sales alone (168,000) were enough to position What Happened as the highest-selling nonfiction release in five years. (In comparison, Mark Owens 2012 book No Easy Day, about the death of Osama bin Laden, sold more than 250,000 copies in its first week, per AP.)
Simon & Schuster confirmed the sales in an email to HuffPost on Wednesday. The publisher contends that the book set a company record for weekly digital audio sales, too; it sold more ebook editions in one week than any nonfiction debut from the company since Walter Isaacsons 2011 Steve Jobs.
(Photo: CBS Photo Archive via Getty Images)
Several independent bookstore representatives told HuffPost that initial sales for What Happened were strong. Leigh Altshuler, communications director at the Strand in New York City, said the store sold 113 copies over the first day and a half, and hundreds of people stood in line to purchase the title from a nearby Barnes & Noble location on the books release day. First-week sales amounted to over 300 editions sold, bringing the title to No. 1 on the Strands website.
Weve certainly seen solid sales for What Happened since it was released, Jon Purves, director of marketing and publicity at Politics and Prose in Washington, D.C., told HuffPost on Sept. 13, the day after the book debuted. More than 20 people preordered the book, which is strong for a new release, and there were several people waiting for us to open. Since then weve sold more than 50 copies in total. On top of that, he added, Politics and Prose hosted an in-person talk with Clinton, providing 2,000 copies to ticket-holders at the event.
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As of Wednesday afternoon, What Happened is No. 1 on Politics and Proses nonfiction sales breakdown and No. 2 on Portland-based Powells bestseller list. Beyond the indie purveyors, Clintons book is topping Barnes & Nobles bestseller chart and coming in at No. 1 on Amazons weekly nonfiction list, despite early controversy on the e-commerce platform. Shortly after the books release, Amazon reportedly deleted hundreds of one-star reviews of What Happened, many of which were allegedly written within hours of the debut by users without verified purchases of the title.
Amazon Customer Reviews must be reviews related to the product and are designed to help customers make purchase decisions, an Amazon spokesperson told HuffPost. In the case of a memoir, the subject of the book is the author and their views. Its not our role to decide what a customer would view as helpful or unhelpful in making their decision. We do however have mechanisms in place to ensure that the voices of many do not drown out the voices of a few and we remove customer reviews that violate our Community Guidelines.
Hillary Clinton attends a book signing at the Union Square location of Barnes & Noble in New York City. (Photo: Andrew Kelly / Reuters)
Library checkouts in parts of the country appear to echo What Happeneds sales success. On Sept. 12, the day the book released, the New York Public Library told HuffPost that there were 543 holds on 62 copies of the books print edition, 150 holds on the 26 copies in ebook format and 355 holds on 15 copies of the audiobook. According to NYPLs website, there are currently over 1,000 holds on the print edition.
Over in Michigan, Kristen Krueger-Corrado, a marketing and communications manager for the Grand Rapids Public Library, said that 19 holds had been placed on seven copies of the book, which has yet to go into actual circulation. (The voter share of Kent County, of which Grand Rapids is a part, went to Trump during the 2016 election.) Meanwhile, in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, a county whose majority vote went to Clinton in the 2016 presidential election, 282 people were already on the waiting list for 95 copies of the physical book on Sept. 12, with that number growing quickly.
We also have nine audio copies of the book, with 115 people on the waiting list, Suzanne M. Thinnes, communications manager at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, told HuffPost. The holds are spread out all across the county. Something like 55 of our 70-plus locations show up as a pick-up location, so the interest is widespread [...] A staff member told me that one of her friends speed-walked from her place to our Mt. Washington location in order to get a bestseller copy on Tuesday.
Earlier this month, some critics took issue with Clintons decision to rehash the divisive presidential election not even a year after its surprising results. The best thing she could do is disappear, a former Clinton fundraiser reportedly told The Hill. Shes doing harm to all of us because of her own selfishness. Honestly, I wish shed just shut the f**k up and go away.
Yet the sales response to What Happened indicates readers feel otherwise. There is clearly an overwhelming desire among readers to learn about and experience, from Hillary Clintons singular perspective, the historic events of the 2016 election, Simon & Schuster CEO Carolyn Reidy said in a statement. In its candor and immediacy, What Happened is satisfying that demand.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article incorrectly identified the Portland-based Powells as being located in Seattle. We regret the error.
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Chelsea, Bill, and Hillary Clinton after the first Clinton-Dole debate in Hartford, Connecticut. October 6, 1996.
A stop during Hillary Clinton's senate campaign, summer 2000.
Campaigning at a rally in Athens, Texas. August 28, 1992.
The Clintons, with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Cherie Blair, rest after a receiving line before a state dinner. February 5,1998.
At a campaign rally in Balboa Park, San Diego, following Bill Clintons presidential debate with Bob Dole there. October 16, 1996.
Firing a US Secret Service sniper rifle at a water-filled jug while touring the Secret Service training center in Beltsville, Maryland. The jug can be seen exploding down-range. October 4, 1997.
At the state dinner in the White House for Chinese President Jiang Zemin. October 29, 1997.
President Clinton and Hillary Clinton in a meeting about healthcare reform in the White House's Roosevelt Room. February 17, 1993.
Addressing the press and taking questions on a wide range of topics in the East Room of the White House. The seventy-two-minute Q&A came months after reporters began demanding that Clinton discuss her role in criticized commodity trades and an Arkansas land deal first reported on in 1992. It was her only such event during her tenure as First Lady. April 22, 1994.
Speaking with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright aboard Air Force One en route to Europe. May 26, 1997.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Hillary Clinton stopped by The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, where she discussed President Trumps Tuesday speech to the United Nations. I thought it was very dark, dangerous, not the kind of message that the leader of the greatest nation in the world should be delivering, Clinton said.
Clintons dark descriptor likely had something to do with Trumps declaration that the United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, well have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.
Clinton went on to say that the best course of action should have been diplomacy. What I hoped the president would have said was something along the lines of, We view this as dangerous to our allies, to the region, and even to our country. We call on all nations to work with us to try to end the threat posed by Kim Jong Un.
Trump sent out a tweet out on Sunday calling Kim Jong Un Rocket Man and then doubled down on the name during his U.N. speech. Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime, he said.
I spoke with President Moon of South Korea last night. Asked him how Rocket Man is doing. Long gas lines forming in North Korea. Too bad! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 17, 2017
Clinton also thought that name-calling was maybe not the best idea either: And not call him Rocket Man the old Elton John song, but to say, clearly, We will not tolerate any attacks on our friends or ourselves. But you should lead with diplomacy. You should lead with the commitment of trying to avoid conflict, however you can.
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. on CBS.
Check out Bernie Sanderss message to Hillary Clinton after her books accusations:
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Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
Hillary Clinton strongly denounced President Donald Trumps speech to the United Nations Tuesday, telling Stephen Colbert the rhetoric was bombastic and inappropriate for the President of the United States.
I thought it was very dark, dangerous, not the kind of message that the leader of the greatest nation in the world should be delivering , she told Colbert during an appearance on The Late Show Tuesday night, adding that she had only seen parts of the speech, not the entire thing.
Trump delivered his first Presidential address to the United Nations Tuesday. In his speech he espoused the America First policy that has defined both his candidacy and his administration arguing that the U.S. paid an unfair monetary burden to the United Nations. He also threatened to totally destroy North Korea if it continues to build up its nuclear arsenal, calling the countrys leader Kim Jong Un Rocket Man on a suicide mission. He slammed the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal as one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into.
The former Secretary of State said that diplomacy should always be paramount, and that Trump should have stressed the need for countries to work together to stop North Korea, rather than taunting Kim Jong Un.
You should lead with the commitment of trying to avoid conflict however you can, she said.
Clintons appearance on The Late Show comes a week after the release of her memoir, What Happened, which chronicles her account of the 2016 election that resulted in her shocking loss to President Donald Trump. In her book, she blames her flaws as a candidate for her unexpected defeat, but also highlights the impact of Russian interference in the election. Her book argues that Trump has a bizarre fascination with dictators and strongmen, describing how he had even praised Kim Jong Un at one point for his ability to consolidate power within his government.
DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran will not be bullied by the United States and will react strongly to any "wrong move" by Washington on Tehran's nuclear deal, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Iran was violating "the spirit" of the 2015 deal under which it got sanctions relief in return for curbing its nuclear program. State television quoted Khamenei as saying Iran was standing firm "and any wrong move by the domineering regime regarding the (nuclear accord) will face the reaction of the Islamic Republic." Washington extended some sanctions relief for Iran on Thursday under the nuclear deal with world powers, but said it had yet to decide whether to maintain the agreement. Trump must make a decision by mid-October whether to certify that Iran is complying with the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). If he does not, Congress has 60 days to decide whether to reimpose sanctions. "Today, despite all the commitments and discussions in the negotiations, America's attitude toward these negotiations and their outcome is completely unjust and amounts to bullying," Khamenei said in a speech to Iranian police academy graduates. "The Americans should know ...there will be no retreat by the Islamic Republic." The Foreign Ministry in Tehran condemned as "continued Iranophobia" Washington's move on Thursday to impose sanctions on 11 individuals and firms, including two based in Ukraine, state news agency IRNA reported. The U.S. Treasury accused the 11 of supporting Iran's ballistic missile program or its Revolutionary Guards, or engaging in cyber attacks against the U.S. financial system. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Sunday he believed Iran was in technical compliance with the nuclear deal but had stepped up destabilizing activities in Yemen and Syria and continued to have an active ballistic missile program. "None of that, I believe, is consistent with that preamble commitment that was made by everyone" in the nuclear deal, he told CBS' "Face the Nation." ROUHANI INVITATION Iran said last month it could abandon the nuclear agreement "within hours" if the United States imposed any new penalties, after Washington ordered unilateral sanctions over Tehran's ballistic missile tests. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, speaking on Sunday before leaving to attend a U.N General Assembly meeting in New York, said Washington should join the countries that continued to support the nuclear deal, which he compared to a dinner party. "They can choose the right path and also enter the room where the food is served. We would not have a problem with that," IRNA quoted Rouhani as saying. The United States imposed unilateral sanctions, saying Tehran's ballistic missile tests violated a U.N. resolution that endorsed the nuclear deal and called on Tehran not to undertake activities related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. Iran denies its missile development breaches the resolution, saying the missiles are not designed to carry nuclear weapons. (Reporting By Dubai newsroom; Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu in Washington; Editing by Susan Fenton and Peter Cooney)
Vienna (AFP) - Iran's nuclear chief on Monday accused the United States of seeking to undermine a landmark 2015 deal with major powers, calling on the UN watchdog to resist Washington's "unacceptable demands".
"The American administration's overtly hostile attitude and actual foot-dragging policies and measures aimed at undermining the nuclear deal... are contrary to the letter and spirit" of the accord, Ali Akbar Salehi said in Vienna.
He hit out at the US envoy to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, for making a "host of unjustifiable, peculiar demands" in talks with IAEA chief Yukiya Amano in Vienna last month.
These reportedly included that the IAEA inspect military sites in Iran, something which officials in Tehran have rejected.
US Energy Secretary Rick Perry told the Vienna meeting that Washington would "not accept a weakly enforced or inadequately monitored deal".
But Haley's demands are "far beyond the purview of the JCPOA and its collectively negotiated and well-defined provisions," Salehi said, referring to the full name of the deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
"We remain confident that the (UN atomic) agency, and for that matter the director general, will resist such unacceptable demands," Salehi told the International Atomic Energy Agency's annual meeting of member states.
For his part, Amano on Monday repeated in his speech that Iran "is now subject to the world's most robust nuclear verification regime".
US President Donald Trump has called the agreement reducing Tehran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief "the worst deal ever negotiated".
Trump has to certify in mid-October whether he believes Iran is abiding by the nuclear deal.
If Trump decides not to certify, Congress will then have 60 days to debate whether to re-impose sanctions.
On Sunday Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Tehran would not submit to US "bullying".
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"The corrupt, lying, deceitful US officials insolently accuse the nation of Iran... of lying, whereas the nation of Iran has acted honestly and will continue on this path until the end in an honest manner," said Khamenei.
The nuclear deal is expected to be a major topic of discussion at the general assembly of the United Nations starting this week in New York.
The gathering in Vienna also saw as expected the Japanese Amano, 70, appointed to serve a third four-year term as IAEA director general.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani - AP
Hassan Rouhani, the Iranian president warned Donald Trump that the US would pay dearly if he scrapped the nuclear deal signed by the Obama administration.
In a wide-ranging interview with CNN, Mr Rouhani also rounded on Mr Trump's diplomacy by Twitter, saying that his tweets were often at odds with other members of his administration.
"And this, by its nature, causes a certain deal of chaos."
Mr Trump has repeatedly threatened to pull out of the agreement Tehran reached with not only the US, but the EU, Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia.
Under the agreement, which was signed in Vienna in 2015, Iran agreed to sacrifice two-thirds of its ability to enrich uranium in return for an ending of economic sanctions.
FAQ | Iran nuclear talks
During the election campaign, Mr Trump described the deal as catastrophic, a view which put him on a collision course with America's western allies, including Theresa May, who said the agreement was "vital".
Over the weekend Rex Tillerson, the US secretary of state, said that while Iran was technically complying with the nuclear agreement it was also supporting terrorist groups and backing militias in Yemen and Syria.
Mr Rouhani used the interview to warn the Trump administration of the consequences of pulling out of the deal.
"Exiting such an agreement would have - would carry a high cost for the United States of America," he said.
"I do not believe that Americans would be willing to pay such a high cost for something that will be useless for them."
Reneging on the deal would chip away at international trust placed in the United States of America.
Iran would react within days if Washington scrapped the agreement.
Mr Rouhani said Iran was opposed to nuclear weapons and believed that they should be destroyed throughout the world.
Iranian leader says his country would respond resolutely if US reneged on deal
US secretary of state confirms Trump has decided whether to walk away
Hassan Rouhani said Donald Trumps speech was beneath the dignity of the UN. Photograph: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters
A rift between the Trump administration and Europe, over whether to stick to a nuclear agreement with Iran, deepened considerably on Wednesday after a meeting on the deals implementation at the United Nations in New York.
The US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, emerged from the meeting conceding that Iran was abiding by the letter of the 2015 deal, but he still insisted Tehran was not fulfilling the expectations of the agreement. He confirmed that Donald Trump had made a decision on whether to continue to stick with the deal or walk away next month.
The European Union foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, who was hosting the session of a multilateral joint commission on implementation, said there was no doubt the agreement was being kept and she warned that if any country broke it, it would be in violation of the UN Security Council resolution that enshrined the deal in international law.
All member states are considered to be bound by its implementation, Mogherini said. The international community cannot afford to dismantle an agreement that is working and delivering.
Referring to the worsening standoff on the Korean peninsula, she added: We already have one potential nuclear crisis that means we do not need to go into a second one.
Mogherini said that European states would continue to stick to the agreement even if the Trump administration violated it. The other signatories to the deal - the UK, France, Germany, Russia and China have all urged Trump not to torpedo it.
Tillerson said Trump had rebuffed an inquiry from Theresa May on what he had decided to do about the agreement, when the two leaders met at the UN.
He has not shared that with anyone externally. Prime Minister May asked him if he would share it with her. He said no, Tillerson said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Irans president, Hassan Rouhani, said his country would respond decisively and resolutely if the US walked out on the deal.
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Rouhani told journalists Iran would feel it had a free hand if the US broke the agreement by re-imposing sanctions. He said one of the options would be an expansion of work on uranium enrichment, strictly limited under the agreement, but he insisted Iran would never seek to build nuclear warheads.
The Iranian president said his countrys response would be heavily influenced by the manner in which European countries reacted to any US abrogation of the accord.
At the meeting of the joint commission on the sidelines of the UN general assembly on Wednesday, Tillerson met his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, for the first time, the highest level encounter between the two nations, since the Trump administration took office.
It was a good opportunity to meet and shake hands, the secretary of state said. The tone was very matter of fact. There was no yelling. We didnt throw shoes at one another. It was not an angry tone at all.
However, he said the US and Iran had very different interpretations of the 2015 agreement. The secretary of state said that Iran had not lived up to the expectations expressed in the documents preface, which says the signatories anticipate that full implementation of this JCPOA will positively contribute to regional and international peace and security.
Pointing to Irans role in the Syrian, Iraqi and Yemeni conflicts as well as its missile programme and cyber operations, Tillerson said: Its pretty difficult to say that the expectations of the parties that negotiated this agreement have been met.
None of the other signatories to the agreement agree with that interpretation. Mogherini said all such non-nuclear issues were outside the scope of the agreement.
Donald Trump had used his speech to the general assembly on Tuesday to repeat his denunciations of the deal, agreed upon by his predecessor Barack Obama, as the worst ever, and encouraged Iranians to overthrow their government.
The next day President Rouhani described Trumps speech in which he also threatened to totally destroy North Korea as ignorant, absurd and hateful rhetoric that was unfit to be heard at the United Nations.
He said Iran was waiting for Trump to apologize for the speech and what he described as an insult to the Iranian people.
It would be a great pity if this agreement were to be destroyed by rogue newcomers to the world of politics, Rouhani said.
The world will have lost a great opportunity.
Rouhani said that the 2015 deal, signed by Iran and six world powers in Vienna, could become a new model for international relations. As a result of the agreement, Rouhani said Iran had opened our doors to engagement and cooperation, and he insisted Tehran would abide strictly to its terms.
Iran will not be the first country to violate the agreement, Rouhani said. But it will respond decisively and resolutely to its violation by any party.
We never threaten anyone but we do not tolerate threats from anyone, he added. If the US breaks its commitments under the [nuclear agreement], then no other country be willing to enter into negotiations with the US.
He said Iranian officials had spent a lot of time thinking how to respond to the US walking out of the agreement, and were considering various scenarios.
Rouhani suggested one response could be an increased level of uranium enrichment for Iranian reactors, but not an attempt to develop a nuclear warhead.
On Wednesday, Trump told journalists he had made a decision on whether to withdraw certification of the 2015 nuclear deal by a congressional deadline of 15 October.
The US president a former TV reality show host who clearly enjoys building anticipation for his announcements said I have decided and repeated it three times, but did not say what he had decided, telling reporters: Ill let you know.
If he does not certify the agreement, under which Iran radically reduced its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief, Congress would have 60 days to decide whether to reimpose US sanctions. If the legislature makes no decision, the onus passes back to the president.
Trump received support from the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, for his stance on the nuclear agreement, and on Wednesday Saudi Arabia added its backing.
The kingdoms foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, said his country did not believe Iran was abiding by the deal.
We expect the international community to do whatever it takes to ensure that Iran is in compliance, Jubeir told reporters at the UN.
It is unclear whether the agreement would survive if the US violated the deal by imposing new sanctions. Before Rouhanis speech, Tehran had said it was willing to remain committed if the other five national signatories did the same.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Macron said he wanted to add new pillars to the international communitys relations with Iran; agree restrictions on its development of ballistic missiles; develop a follow-on deal that would apply after major elements of the existing agreement expire in 2025; and have an open discussion with Iran about current situation in the region.
Germanys chancellor was also frank in her criticism of Trumps UN speech, addressing his comments on North Korea.
I am against threats of this kind, Angela Merkel told the broadcaster Deutsche Welle, adding that her government considered any type of military solution absolutely inappropriate.
In my opinion, sanctions and enforcing these sanctions are the right answer. But anything else with regard to North Korea I think is wrong. And that is why we clearly disagree with the US president.
Merkel proposed that the Iran deal could work as a blueprint for a similar diplomatic effort with North Korea: We took part in negotiating the Iran agreement, which I think is good, and better than having no agreement at all.
North Koreas ambassador to the United Nations Ri Yong-ho dismissed Trumps threat as the sound of a dog barking.
Asked to comment on Trumps mocking description of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as Rocket Man, he said: I feel sorry for his aides.
By Maher Chmaytelli BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Monday he had formally demanded the Kurdistan region suspend an independence referendum that regional neighbors and Western powers fear could undermine a campaign against Islamic State militants. Turkey, which like Iran harbors fears of Kurdish separatism on its own territory, carried out military exercises at the Iraqi border. Iran warned of unspecified consequences if the Iraqi Kurds went ahead with their plans. But the Kurdish leadership in northern Iraq showed no sign of flinching despite coming under intense international and regional pressure to call off the Sept. 25 vote. Kurdish forces have, with U.S. backing, been in the forefront of the battle against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. But the Kurdish involvement strains relations between Washington and Ankara. The Iraqi Supreme Federal Court approved Abadi's demand to consider "the breakaway of any region or province from Iraq as unconstitutional", his office said in a statement. "Holding (the referendum) will lead to dangerous outcomes, resulting in the division of Iraq and threatening civil peace." The court, in charge of settling disputes between the central government and the provinces, "ordered" the government of the autonomous Kurdish region to stop the referendum. The court's order bears legal weight but it cannot be implemented in practice in the Kurdish region which has its own police and its own government, led by Massoud Barzani. Iraqi state TV said the court had issued an "order to stop the procedures of the referendum planned on Sept. 25 (..) by the Kurdistan regional presidency". The United Nations, the United States, Britain and France have renewed over the past 48 hours their rejection of the vote, seen as a distraction from the war on Islamic State militants who continue to occupy parts of Iraq and Syria. They called on Erbil, the seat of the Kurdistan Regional Government, to talk with Baghdad to resolve land and power sharing disputes. TURKISH MANEUVERS Iran also demanded restraint from the Iraqi Kurds. "Any damage to this strategic principle (of Iraq's unity) would lead to the revision of and serious alteration in the existing cooperation between Iran and Iraqs Kurdistan region, said Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, according to state-run Press TV. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has said the planned Sept. 25 referendum is an issue of national security, and warned that Turkey will take any necessary steps in response. Around a hundred Turkish military vehicles, mostly tanks, took part in exercises near the Habur border gate, a crossing point into Iraq, the private Dogan news agency said on Monday. Vehicles carrying missiles and howitzers also participated. Turkey especially has large commercial investments in northern Iraq and long cultivated close relations with Erbil, despite a conflict on its own territory with Kurdish separatists that has run since 1984. Oil is a central issue. The Kurdish regional government announced on Monday that it had agreed with Russian oil major Rosneft to invest in its gas pipeline infrastructure and to export large supplies of gas to Turkey and Europe. Kurdistan has been exporting oil independently from the central government in Baghdad since 2014 and Kremlin-controlled Rosneft joined the list of buyers this year, lending the semi-autonomous region hundreds of millions of dollars in loans guaranteed by future oil sales. "All outstanding issues between the federal Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government should be resolved through structured dialogue and constructive compromise," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement on Sunday. (Reporting by Maher Chmaytelli; additional reporting by Firouz Sedrat in Dubai; editing by Ralph Boulton)
There isn't a clear answer on what happened to Kenneka Jenkins the 19-year-old who was found dead in a walk-in freezer at a Chicago-area hotel Sept. 10 but an ugly trend has already emerged. Some are participating in the controversial Irene Challenge.
Jenkins death arguably went viral because of the video her friend, Irene Roberts, took the night she died. It showed her singing to music in Crown Plaza Hotel room and turning up the music when Jenkins allegedly said, Help me. She had red hair and mirrored sunglasses, which led some people to impersonate her looks and accent. As a result, they dubbed it the Irene Challenge.
While some people tweeted the impersonation was funny, others said it was in bad taste. Some of their reactions have been posted below:
Stop laughing at a serious matter that girl lost her friend and you sick people are making a joke out of it smh #ireneChallenge Jali (@focusgranxde) September 18, 2017
Y'all are really doing a #ireneChallenge ? What's next a Kenneka challenge? Walking y'all selves into freezers smfh #KennekaJenkins pic.twitter.com/isqA2EC32G Psychotic Bully (@KVNGBALOR) September 18, 2017
This dumbass #irenechallenge smh people don't realize how insensitive hey are being to the family trying to spite the girl in the video smh pic.twitter.com/B6Ii2A59OX ChaCha (@ChaBella718) September 18, 2017
Stop laughing at a serious matter that girl lost her friend and you sick people are making a joke out of it smh #ireneChallenge (@focusgranxde) September 18, 2017
Y'all taking the #ireneChallenge to srly. They're not making fun of Kenneka's death, it's really just roasting Irene. So calm tf down_ lifeaschels_ (@chelsxrob) September 18, 2017
And y'all know y'all dead ass wrong for this Irene challenge but I'm HOLLERING_ _reallifehippy (@0gKayyy_) September 18, 2017
so there's an #IreneChallenge SMH people are real life sick and ignorant to the fullest level POOH (@iamblake___) September 18, 2017
A memorial was held for Jenkins Saturday. Dozens gathered to release white and purple balloons, the Chicago Tribune reported the same day.
Police claimed Jenkins walked into the freezer on her own accord, saying she was drunk. But the explanation didnt sit well with Jenkins mother, Tereasa Martin. Investigators released some of the surveillance video filmed at the hotel, which showed Jenkins stumbling around the ninth floor kitchen by herself, but they didnt release it in its entirety.
Activists threatened to protest outside the Crowne Plaza hotel if they didnt release the full video. They want the FBI involved. We're here at the FBI building asking for a second look, activist Mark Carter told reporters while standing outside the FBI office on the Near West Side.
Kenneka Jenkins
Photo: Facebook/Kenneka Jenkins
Martin wanted to FBI to get involved because she said the timeline of events didnt add up. I'm not a professional, but the FBI, from what I heard, they are professionals, she told the Chicago Tribune. I'm just looking for help that's all I've been asking for since day one.
The footage they were shown did not show Jenkins walking into the freezer. Despite requests for all evidence, we have received only snippets of video, none of which shows Kenneka Jenkins walking into a freezer, the statement from family attorney Larry Rogers, Jr. said Friday. The family has not been provided any video or other evidence of Kenneka Jenkins walking into a freezer. Rogers added: Serious questions remain as to how she ended up in a Crowne Plaza Hotel freezer and why it took a day and a half for the hotel to find Kenneka.
Amid calls for the FBI to get involved in the case, the Rosemont Public Safety Department officials released a statement Monday. Their full statement was provided below, courtesy of WGN-TV.
I would like to respond to the inquiries surrounding the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) intervening with the death investigation of Kenneka Jenkins. At this time, the death investigation of Kenneka Jenkins will remain in the hands of the Rosemont Public Safety Department. This investigation has been and remains the utmost priority for us. Throughout this investigation we have used any and all outside agencies necessary to complete a thorough investigation and will continue to do so as needed. As with any investigation, we have resources and assistance available from the local, county, state, and federal level. I am fully confident in the ability of each and every one of the officers, detectives, and leadership team charged with this case. At no time have I doubted the work that is being done.
Amateur sleuths claimed to know various different reasons and ways Jenkins died. One popular conspiracy theory was that her friends allowed Jenkins to be raped and killed for $200. Another unverified explanation was that the hotel was involved in an organ trafficking ring, which is allegedly why she was found in the freezer.
None of these accusations have been substantiated by police.
Jenkins death is not being investigated as a homicide.
Roberts was not named as a suspect.
An autopsy report for Jenkins cause of death was still pending at the time this article was written.
This is a developing story. Please check back for more updates.
Kenneka Jenkins
Photo: Twitter
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Jerusalem (AFP) - Israel's military fired a Patriot missile on Tuesday to bring down what it said was an Iranian-made drone operated by Hezbollah on a reconnaissance mission over the Golan Heights.
The drone took off from a Damascus military airport before entering the demilitarised zone approaching the Israeli-controlled part of the Golan Heights, Israeli military spokesman Jonathan Conricus told AFP.
"We scrambled fighter jets but they did not engage the UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle)," Conricus said.
"It was instead shot down by one Patriot missile that was fired by Israeli air defence soldiers."
He said details of the drone were still being evaluated, including whether or not it was armed. It fell in the buffer zone between the Israeli- and Syrian-controlled parts of the Golan.
Israel and Syria are still technically at war, though the armistice line on the Golan Heights had remained largely quiet for decades until civil war erupted in Syria in 2011.
Israel seized 1,200 square kilometres (460 square miles) of the Golan Heights from Syria in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed it in a move never recognised by the international community.
In April, Israel used a Patriot missile to shoot down what it identified as "a target" over the Golan Heights, with Israeli media reports saying it was a drone.
It has also seen regular spillover fire from the conflict in Syria and acknowledges carrying out dozens of air strikes there to stop advanced arms deliveries to Hezbollah.
Earlier this month, Syria's army accused Israeli warplanes of hitting one of its positions, killing two people in an attack that a monitor said targeted a site where the regime allegedly produces chemical weapons.
- UN speech -
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is due to address the UN General Assembly later Tuesday, has boosted his criticism of arch-foe Iran and Hezbollah in recent months.
He has particularly spoken out about Iran's presence in neighbouring Syria, where it is backing President Bashar al-Assad's regime, like Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah.
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When meeting US President Donald Trump on Monday, Netanyahu said he wanted to focus on the Iranian threat and Tehran's growing clout in Syria.
During a visit by UN chief Antonio Guterres last month, Netanyahu accused Iran of building sites to produce "precision-guided missiles" in both Syria and Lebanon.
On Tuesday, Conricus said "it is not the first time that we see Hezbollah operating UAVs for reconnaissance missions," but added that Israel decided to shoot it down after it entered the buffer zone.
He said the decision to do so had no link with Netanyahu's speech later in the day in which he is expected to focus on Iran.
Israel's military "will not allow any breach of Israeli sovereignty or any hostile attempts by organisations like Hezbollah, the Islamic Jihad, Iranian terror organisations and Shia militias to harm the Israeli state and its citizens and we will respond swiftly and forcefully to any such attempts," he said.
Jerusalem (AFP) - Israel has become the only country to openly support an independent Kurdish state, a result of good ties between Kurds and Jews and expectations it would be a front against Iran and extremism, experts say.
Iraq's Kurdish region plans to hold a non-binding referendum on statehood on September 25 despite the objections of Baghdad and neighbouring Iran and Turkey, as well as the United States.
On Monday, Iraq's supreme court ordered the suspension of the referendum as legal and political pressure mounted on the Kurds to call off the vote.
Israel became the first and so far only country to openly voice support for "the legitimate efforts of the Kurdish people to attain a state of its own," as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last week, without specifying where and how.
Netanyahu's statement came after remarks made earlier in the month by former general Yair Golan, who said he liked the "idea of independent Kurdistan".
"Basically, looking at Iran in the east, looking at the instability (in) the region, a solid, stable, cohesive Kurdish entity in the midst of this quagmire -- it's not a bad idea," Golan said at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
He also noted Israel's "good cooperation with the Kurd people since the early 1960s".
To Gideon Saar, a former Israeli minister, the Kurds are a minority group in the Middle East that, unlike the Jews, have yet to achieve statehood.
"The Kurds have been and will continue to be reliable and long-term allies of Israel since they are, like us, a minority group in the region," he said.
"We need to encourage independence of minorities that were wronged by regional arrangements since Sykes-Picot over the past 100 years and have been repressed under authoritarian regimes, like Saddam Hussein's in Iraq and the Assads in Syria," Saar said.
The Sykes-Picot agreement was a World War I-era deal between Britain and France laying out boundaries in the Middle East.
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Saar too noted Kurdistan's efforts in pushing back Islamist forces.
"Looking at the Kurds' location on a map you realise they can be a dam blocking the spread of radical Islam in the region, and in practise we've seen them exclusively fighting IS," he said.
"Throughout the years the Kurds were never drawn to anti-Israeli or anti-Zionist perceptions and maintained good ties with the Jewish people and Israel."
- 'Buffer against extremism' -
Ofra Bengio, who heads a Kurdish studies programme at Tel Aviv University, noted that Israel supplied covert military, intelligence and humanitarian aid to Kurdistan in the years 1965-1975.
When Jews living in Iraqi cities were subject to harassment under Baath rule in the early 1970s, Kurds smuggled them out of the country to safety, she said.
Former Kurdish leader Mustafa Barzani visited Israel, as did his son, current president of the Iraqi Kurdistan region Massud Barzani, and many Israeli officials have visited Kurdistan, Bengio said.
"I don't know to what extent (Kurdistan) could be an ally since it would be pressed by all kinds of Arab factors, but at least it won't be hostile towards Israel. That's certain," said Bengio, author of the book "The Kurds of Iraq: Building a State Within a State."
"What's more important, it would be a buffer against extremist elements -- not just Iran, but also others," she said, noting IS and Iraqi Shiite militias.
A Kurdistan which emphasises "secularity, democracy, moderation and acceptance of the other" would be "a positive element in a region that is becoming increasingly extremist and unstable," Bengio said.
The US supports the current Kurdish autonomy in northern Iraq and relies on its forces in the war against the Islamic State group, but has urged the Kurds to call off the potentially "provocative and destabilising" independence referendum.
To Saar, the former minister, Israeli leader Netanyahu should "use our leverage in the US to strengthen the Kurds in a very crucial moment of their national struggle."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took an opportunity at his U.N. General Assembly speech Tuesday to praise President Donald Trump, who he said was improving Israels reputation abroad.
Netanyahu joined his U.S. ally, President Donald Trump, in disparaging the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed by President Barack Obama, along with the leaders of Iran, China, France, Germany, Russia and the U.K in July 2015. The landmark agreement lifted sanctions against Tehran in exchange for Iran severely restricting its nuclear production capacity, but Netanyahu and Trump have accused Obama of being too soft on their mutual foe and. After facing a cold shoulder from Obama last year, Netanyahu embraced Trumps tough talk Tuesday, which he said proved a crucial defense for Israel.
Related: Iran threatens to destroy Israels Tel Aviv, but Gulf Arab states appear closer to former foe
After 70 years, the world embraces Israel and Israel embraces the world, Netanyahu said. Slowly but surely, there are signs of positive changeeven in the U.N., which he called the epicenter of global anti-Semitism.
Theres also a marked change in the positions of some of our key friends, he added. Thanks to President Trumps unequivocal support for Israel in this body, that positive change is gathering force.
Netanyahu echoed his previous criticisms of the JCPOA, saying it actually paved the way for Iran obtaining a nuclear bomb by taking advantage of so-called sunset clauses that roll away restrictions against Irans nuclear production over time. He warned of an Iranian curtain descending across the Middle East, creating a vast Iranian Islamist empire that could one day wield nuclear weapons as a result of the deal.
From the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean, from Tehran to Tartus, an Iranian curtain is descending across the Middle East. Iran spreads this curtain of tyranny and terror over Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and elsewhere, and it pledges to extinguish the light of Israel, Netanyahu said.
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The light of Israel will never be extinguished, he added, addressing Irans Ayatollah Ali Khamenei directly. Those that threaten us with annihilation put themselves at peril.
While Iran and Israel have never engaged in a direct conflict, Israel has clashed with Iran-sponsored organizations, such as the powerful Lebanese Shiite Muslim militia and political party Hezbollah. Hezbollah, which fought two all-out wars in Israel in 1985 and in 2006, has become a central player in neighboring Syria, where it supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Assads recent nationwide victories against rebels and jihadis attempting to overthrow him since 2011 have resulted in an increased Iranian and Hezbollah presence in Syria, something Israel fears could compromise its national security.
In response, Israel has become increasingly involved in the Syrian conflict, despite publicly remaining neutral, and has launched airstrikes on suspected Iranian, Syrian and Hezbollah positions. Israel shot down a suspected Hezbollah drone Tuesday as brewing tensions between the two foes raise concerns about a new war. Netanyahu said Tuesday it would not allow Iranian permanent bases in Syria.
Iran has also been a primary supporter of Hamas, a Palestinian Sunni Islamist militant group and political party in charge of the Gaza Strip. Like Hezbollah, Hamas has been deeply critical of Israels treatment of the Palestinian community and has fought with Israel on multiple occasions, most notably during two major uprisings known as intifadas launched in 1987 and 2000.
Israel has had a controversial relationship with the U.N., with the U.S. using its veto power as a permanent member of the Security Council to block a number of resolutions critical of Israel. A row erupted between Netanyahu and Obama last year when the U.S. abstained rather than veto a resolution condemning Israels occupation of Palestinian territories. Netanyahu took an opportunity Tuesday to criticize a July report by the U.N.s cultural organization, UNESCO, which declared a site known to Jews as the Cave of the Patriarchs and to Muslims as the Ibrahimi Mosque to be a Palestinian World Heritage Site.
In 2012, Netanyahu brought with him to the U.N. podium a cartoon sketch of a bomb intended to detail Irans path to building weapons. The Obama administration later mocked the Israeli leader by displaying its framework for the JCPOA using Netanyahus drawing as the background.
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Among the world leaders expected in New York this week for the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly is one who should, technically, already be retired. Congolese President Joseph Kabilas constitutionally mandated two-term limit came to an end late last year. Yet he has used one contrivance after another to delay elections for his successor and cling to power, cracking down mercilessly on political opponents and pro-democracy activists and dispatching his security services to gun down more than 170 peaceful protesters in 2015 and 2016.
Yet in meetings at the U.N. this week, the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo will try to convince world leaders that Kabila is committed to holding elections and relinquishing power if only he is given more time. The consequences of blindly accepting such empty promises could be devastating for the Congolese people.
After the end of Kabilas second term came and went last December with the president still firmly entrenched in office, the Roman Catholic Church mediated an emergency power-sharing arrangement the so-called New Years Eve agreement that called for a series of concessions to be made by the government, including the appointment of a new prime minister from the ranks of the opposition, and for elections to be held by the end of 2017.
With that new deadline fast approaching, elections are still nowhere in sight.
Meanwhile, the ruling coalition has defied the main tenets of the New Years Eve agreement by excluding members of the main opposition coalition from the new government and by appointing a prime minister who was dismissed from the main opposition party. It has also systematically banned meetings and demonstrations by the opposition while jailing scores of opposition leaders and supporters, as well as human rights and pro-democracy activists. Many are being held in secret detention facilities without charge or access to family or lawyers. Others have been tried on trumped-up charges. In July, unidentified armed men shot and nearly killed a judge who refused to hand down a ruling against an opposition leader. The government has also shut down Congolese media outlets, kicked out hard-hitting international journalists and researchers, and periodically curtailed access to social media.
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To make matters worse, well-placed security and intelligence sources describe official efforts to sow violence and instability across much of the country in what appears to be a deliberate strategy of chaos to justify further election delays. Since August 2016, violence involving Congolese security forces, government-backed militias, and local armed groups has left more than 3,000 people dead in the countrys southern Kasai region. Six hundred schools have been attacked or destroyed, and 1.4 million people have been displaced from their homes. Eighty mass graves have been discovered in the region, the majority of which are believed to contain the bodies of civilians and militants killed by government security forces.
In March, two U.N. investigators Michael Sharp, an American, and Zaida Catalan, a Swedish and Chilean citizen were killed while investigating serious human rights violations in the region. Human Rights Watch investigations and a Radio France Internationale report suggest government responsibility for the double murder.
Predictably, the president of Congos electoral commission has since cited the violence in Kasai as the main reason why elections cannot be organized this year.
Kabilas refusal to step down can partly be explained by the considerable fortune that he and his family have amassed during his tenure. Recent reports by Bloomberg and the Congo Research Group at New York University tell of Kabila family members with ownership stakes in more than 80 companies whose revenues total hundreds of millions of dollars since 2003. Meanwhile, hundreds of millions of dollars paid by mining companies to state bodies in the past few years have disappeared, never making it to the national treasury, according to a report by Global Witness.
Corruption has left the government bereft of funds to meet the basic needs of an impoverished population. Hundreds of government workers have gone on strike in recent weeks, including hospital workers who havent been paid since 2016. This comes amid a national cholera epidemic and impending famine threatening millions of Congolese.
Congos Catholic bishops sounded the alarm in June, singling out a small group of Kabila allies for failing to organize new elections in accordance with the New Years Eve agreement. Apparently convinced that Kabila wont leave office unless he his forced to, the bishops called on the Congolese people to stand up and take [their] destiny into [their] own hands.
In response, leaders of pro-democracy youth movements, civil-society organizations, and representatives of the Catholic Church together published a manifesto in August, demanding Kabilas resignation and calling for a citizens transition to be overseen by officials who would be excluded from standing for office whose primary objective would be organizing credible elections.
Congos international and regional partners should endorse this citizens transition. To increase the pressure on Kabila to resign, the United States and European Union should impose new targeted sanctions on Kabilas family members and close associates who have misused funds and abused power to undermine the democratic process. The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo should also be mandated to protect the Congolese people during the transition period.
World leaders gathered in New York this week should voice their support for a democratic Congo and call on Kabila to step aside. Remaining silent as elections are repeatedly delayed will only embolden him in his strategy of repression, violence, and theft.
Photo credit: PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP/Getty Images
Sunayana Dumala (R), wife of killed Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla, who was shot dead in the US state of Kansas, is consoled by family members prior to performing the last rites at his funeral in Hyderabad on February 28, 2017. (Photo: NOAH SEELAM via Getty Images)
Days after Indian immigrant Srinivas Kuchibhotla was killed in a suspected hate crime in Olathe, Kansas, his widow Sunayana Dumala took to Facebook to ask the question that she believed was in every immigrants mind after the tragedy: Do we belong here?
It was meant to be a philosophical query about Indian immigrants place in American society. But in the months that followed, the question of whether Dumala belonged in America became a serious legal one.
Because her visa was tied to her husbands, Dumalas own legal status in the U.S. was thrown into question after his tragic death. She was reportedly at risk of being deported.
With the help of her congressman, Dumala was able to get a temporary authorization that allowed her to continue to stay in the U.S. Now, shes using her influence to bring awareness to the need for immigration reform, particularly as it impacts women.
We need to get this fixed for many Sunayanas out there, Dumala wrote on Facebook. Especially all the women out there, I urge you to shed your fears and raise your voice. It will be very powerful when few hundred or thousands of them raise voice and say we dont want to be another Sunayana.
A picture of Srinivas Kuchibhotla, an immigrant from India who was recently shot and killed in Kansas, is surrounded by roses during a vigil in honor of him at Crossroads Park in Bellevue, Washington, U.S. March 5, 2017. (Photo: David Ryder / Reuters)
An Indian American Home Ripped Apart By Hate
On Feb. 22, Dumalas husband and a friend, Alok Madasani, were drinking at a bar in Olathe when a shooter opened fire. The suspect, Adam Purinton, had reportedly questioned the mens immigration status and hurled ethnic slurs at them. Kuchibhotla was killed in the attack, but Madasani survived his injuries. Purinton was indicted on federal hate crime charges in June.
After the tragic loss of her husband, Dumala had to contend with the fact that her immigration status was no longer certain. Since Dumalas visa was still tied to her husband, she worried that she wouldnt be able to return to America after attending her husbands funeral in India in February.
Dumalas congressman, Republican Rep. Kevin Yoder, heard about her concerns. With the help of his office, Dumala obtained a one-year employment authorization in the U.S. that will give her time to apply for an employment visa on her own.
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Yoder has long held typically Republican attitudes on immigration reform opposing a pathway to legal status for undocumented workers, and believing that the government should restrict funding to sanctuary cities. But he seems to have made an exception for highly skilled immigrants who have entered the country legally, many of whom are Indian.
An All Too Familiar Predicament For Indian Immigrants
Dumalas struggles with her visa status highlight an issue that is profoundly important to the Indian American community as a whole, but particularly to recent immigrants.
Her husband, an engineer, was in the country on an H-1B visa, an employment-based visa that is often used by tech companies to bring highly-skilled workers to America. The vast majority of H-1B visas (about 70 percent in 2014) are given to workers from India. Many ultimately pursue a green card after arriving, in order to adjust their status to that of a permanent legal resident.
But the wait for a green card, especially for Indian immigrants, is notoriously long. The federal government puts a strict limit on the number of employment-based green cards that can be issued to immigrants from any one country within one fiscal year. Currently, that limit is seven percent, regardless of a countrys population size. This means applicants from countries like India, with its booming population and large number of H-1B visa holders, may have to wait more than a decade for their green cards.
The current United States immigration law includes quotas that dont account for the large number of highly skilled immigrants coming to this country from nations including India and China, Dumala told HuffPost in an emailed statement. As a result, while there are many talented immigrants here on temporary visas, the process for getting permanent residency status can literally take a decade or more.
Some advocates have likened the situation to indentured servitude, with H-1B holders constantly worried about pleasing their employers, or having to uproot their families (including their American-born children) if they lose their jobs.
The uncertain visa status of these H-1B holders has a significant impact on their wives. Their spouses are able to come to the country under whats known as the H-4 visa. In 2015, 80 percent of H4 visas were issued to Indian passport holders.
Like Dumala, many of these H4 visa holders are women who are highly educated themselves. However, most H4 visa holders are prohibited from working. As a result, these women become dependent on their husbands. Some complain of long hours spent in isolation in their houses, while others regret losing their financial independence. Activists have documented the loneliness, depression, and in some cases, abuse, that these H4 spouses face while waiting for their immigration status to change.
As part of immigration reform spurred on by the Obama administration in 2015, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service allowed some H4 visa holders who are applying for green cards to receive work permits.
But challenges could be looming for H-1B visa holders and their families. President Donald Trump has been a critic of the H-1b visa program, claiming that it is used to replace American workers. In addition, the Department of Homeland Security is currently reviewing a lawsuit that seeks to eliminate the ability of H-4 spouses to work.
President Donald Trump signs an executive order to try to bring jobs back to American workers and revamp the H-1B visa guest worker program during a visit to the headquarters of tool manufacturer Snap-On on April 18, 2017 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. (Photo: Scott Olson via Getty Images)
A National Debate Gets Personal For Dumala
The debate around the H-1B and H4 visas had a concrete impact on Dumala and Kuchibhotlas lives. Dumala was able to remain in the country because of the H4 visa. For years after her marriage, she was unable to work in the U.S. Eventually, she and her husband applied for a green card on Kuchibhotlas H-1B visa. In May 2016, Dumala started working as a data systems developer at a pharmaceutical marketing agency, according to The New York Times.
Dumalas congressman wants to make it easier for immigrants like Dumala to receive their green cards. Hes proposed a bill, HR 392, that would speed up green card wait times for highly skilled workers.
Because of these unfair backlogs, Sunayana was faced with the prospect of having to return home to India because of her visa status. Thankfully, we were able to help her stay for now and are working towards a permanent fix, but if our bill had already been signed into law she would likely have already gained permanent residence and would not have faced the threat of deportation on top of the horrific loss of her loving husband, Yoder wrote on his Facebook page. For Sunayana, and the millions more like her, HR 392 must be signed into law as a part of a solution to our immigration problems.
Dumala told HuffPost she sees Yoder's bill as a "positive step forward." But she said she'd also like to see the government address challenges that can occur when families immigrate under one principal applicant.
"Should something happen to the principal applicant, it is important that his or her dependents automatically be granted their own independent immigration status," she wrote. "This would eliminate unnecessary stress and frustration for valued members of our communities, who must undergo a lengthy application process once again under current law."
"I was fortunate to have friends and family support me through this reapplication process. But it did not lessen the added trauma it caused me, and not everyone has the same level of support I do," she added.
Suman Raghunathan, executive director of the advocacy group South Asian Americans Leading Together, told HuffPost that the H4 visa program prevents women like Dumala from fully integrating into American public life. Its also emblematic of the discrimination that South Asian workers have faced in the U.S. for more than a century.
I think the flawed reality for our nation is that its immigration policy for quite some time has been to explicitly and implicitly welcome the work, but not the families of all our communities, Raghunathan told HuffPost. Unfortunately, the current nature of the H4 visa program continues to mirror at this point, more than a century of discriminatory immigration policies, not only against high-skilled Indian and South Asian workers, but against many others.
Also on HuffPost
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Satya Nadella
Satya Nadella, 47, became CEO of Microsoft in 2014, after 20 years with the company. Since then he has steered the software behemoth away from its singular focus on Office products, to mobile and cloud-centred growth. Nadella was born in Hyderabad, the son of an IAS officer. He got his engineering degree from the Manipal Institute of Technology in 1988, followed by a masters in computer science at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. He then worked at Sun Microsystems as part of their tech team, before completing an MBA from the Chicago Booth School of Business.
Shantanu Narayen
Shantanu Narayen, 52, became CEO of Adobe in 2005 after seven years with the company. Narayen is also the co-founder of Pictra, which pioneered photo sharing over the internet. At Adobe, Narayen has led a transformation of the company from being a licensor of products such as Photoshop and Illustrator to a cloud-based subscription service. Like Nadella, Narayen grew up in Hyderabad. He graduated in electronics engineering from Osmania University and then moved to the University of California, Berkeley, for his MBA. Narayen started his Silicon Valley career with Apple, before moving to Silicon Graphics. He left the job to co-found Pictra.
Padmasree Warrior
Padmasree Warrior, chief technology officer at Cisco Systems, was born in 1961 in Vijayawada. She grew up in India, and graduated from the elite Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi in 1982. Warrior did a masters in chemical engineering at Cornell, and then embarked on a 23-year-long career with Motorola, where she rose to become one of its top executives and among the few women leaders in male-dominated Silicon Valley. Warrior left Motorola in 2007 to become the chief technology officer at Cisco. She was considered among the front-runners to succeed John Chambers as CEO, a job that was eventually taken up by Chuck Robbins.
Amit Singhal
Amit Singhal manages the product that made Google a dominant force worldwide: the search engine. Away from the limelight, Singhal is responsible for the algorithm that governs Google Search, still the biggest revenue earner for the company. Singhal was born in 1968 in Jhansi, the son of a government bureaucrat. He got his bachelors degree from IIT Roorkee in 1989 and then moved to the U.S. for a masters at the University of Minnesota. He then got a Ph.D. from Cornell, where he worked with Gerad Salton, considered the father of digital search. He then joined AT&T Labs in 1996, until his friend Krishna Bharat, who was then working on creating Google News, got him to join the company in 2000.
Ruchi Sanghvi
Ruchi Sanghvi, 33, was the first woman engineer to be hired by social media giant Facebook as product manager. She was responsible for news feed, the crucial algorithm that governed what users saw on the site. Sanghvi left Facebook and started Cove, a collaboration startup, in 2011, with fellow Carnegie Mellon alumni Aditya Agarwal. Dropbox acquired the firm a year later, and Sanghvi continued working there until 2013 as vice president of operations.
Deepak Ahuja
Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk is known to be among the most demanding bosses in the valley. Among his most trusted executives is Deepak Ahuja, who joined Tesla since inception. Ahuja got his bachelors degree in ceramics engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi in 1985. He then moved to the U.S. and earned an MBA from Carnegie Mellon in 1993. Ahuja joined Tesla in 2008, after a long career at Ford. In June 2015, he said that he would be leaving Tesla, which has revolutionized the electric car industry, to pursue other interests.
Pooja Sankar
Pooja Sankar started Piazza, an online platform that enabled teaches and students to collaborate, after working with Facebook and Oracle. The idea for Piazza developed while she was in Stanford's MBA program. Since its inception in 2009, the startup has raised $8 million from Khosla Ventures and Bessemer in its latest round.
Kavitark Ram Shriram
Kavitark Ram Shriram, founder and managing partner of Sherpalo Ventures, was among the first investors in Google. Like Khosla, his influence in the valley came with successes in the startups that he put his money in. He sold $400 million worth of stock when Google went public, taking his net worth to $1.6 billion. He is also an investor in InMobi, the global mobile ad network and StumbleUpon. Shriram, who holds a bachelor degree in science from Loyola College, Chennai, started his career in the Valley working with Netscape, the first internet browser. He then founded ad-bot portal Junglee, which Amazon bought in 1998 for $185 million. He invested much of that into Google, then, still a startup operating out of a garage in Menlo Park.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Nairobi (AFP) - Kenya's Supreme Court on Wednesday blamed the election commission for last month's annulled presidential vote, rebuking officials for bungling the transmission of results and basing the outcome on dubious documents.
The full ruling detailing the court's shock decision on September 1 to annul President Uhuru Kenyatta's victory struck a searing blow to the credibility of the election commission, casting doubt on its ability to organise a new poll in less than a month.
Deputy chief justice Philomena Mwilu described "disturbing, if not startling, revelations" about the conduct of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and singled it out for ignoring a Supreme Court order to open up its computer servers after opposition allegations of hacking.
The four judges who decided in a majority decision to annul the vote said the election commission had failed to verify the numbers before declaring Kenyatta the winner. Two judges also delivered dissenting judgements in the court session which lasted over 10 hours.
Lawyers for Raila Odinga's National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition last month challenged Kenyatta's re-election alleging rigging, hacking and tampering with results.
On the hacking charge, the IEBC was excoriated for failing to provide evidence that could have cleared up some of Odinga's claims, with Mwilu arguing the burden of proof was on the electoral commission.
"Our order of scrutiny was a golden opportunity for the IEBC to place before the court evidence to debunk the petitioner's claim," Mwilu read from the court's detailed judgement.
"If IEBC had nothing to hide it would have readily provided access to ICT (information and communications technology) logs and servers to disprove the petitioner's claim.
"But what did IEBC do with it? It contemptuously disobeyed the court orders in these very critical areas."
Mwilu said the judges were left with no choice but to accept opposition claims the election commission's "ICT system was infiltrated and compromised and the data therein interfered with, or IEBC officials themselves interfered with the data, or it had bungled the transmission system and were unable to verify the data."
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However Chief Justice David Maraga rejected Odinga's calls to prosecute top IEBC officials, saying there was no evidence to prove electoral offences.
"What we saw in evidence is systematic institutional problems and we were unable to find specific fingerprints of individuals who may have played a role in the commission of illegalities," he said.
Maraga also said there was no evidence of misconduct from Kenyatta.
- 'Mysterious puzzle' -
Mwilu said that while voting day had gone off smoothly on August 8, the "system thereafter went opaquely awry".
The IEBC was heavily criticised for failing to prove it had received tally sheets, known as forms 34A, from all 42,000 polling stations before declaring the final result on August 11, awarding Kenyatta victory with 54 percent of the vote.
Mwilu described the obscurity around the forms 34A as a "mysterious puzzle of labyrinthine proportions".
Thousands of the forms were not made available, as legally required, by the time results were announced. A court study of a random sample of those that were provided showed many lacked security features, stamps and signatures.
The IEBC blamed network failures for missing and delayed tally forms, but the judges dismissed this excuse saying they should have been prepared, and that it should have taken only a few hours to get to a spot with enough connection to scan through the forms.
The way the result is transmitted "is as important as the result of the election itself", said Mwilu.
"Failure of the electronic system was a direct violation of the law."
- 'Neither transparent nor verifiable' -
Maraga slammed "inexplicable irregularities that go to the very heart of electoral integrity".
Both judges questioned how an election costing taxpayers 43 billion shillings (347 million euros, $416 million) could result in problems with transmission and "disturbing" questions over the security of forms -- which were all meant to be printed by the same company.
"We find that the 2017 presidential election was neither transparent nor verifiable," leading to the unprecedented decision to nullify the vote, said Mwilu.
Maraga ordered the IEBC to "put in place a complementary system" to be used in the event that technology fails in the new election due on October 17.
Wednesday's detailed ruling, plus opposition demands for an overhaul of the commission and warnings from the French firm that provided digital voting kits that it will not be ready on time, have raised fears it will be impossible to meet the poll deadline.
Kenya's constitution says a new election must be held within 60 days of the court's annulment.
Nairobi (AFP) - Kenya's chief justice on Tuesday hit out at political leaders and their supporters over a wave of threats against his court, which annulled last month's presidential election over widespread irregularities.
Scores of supporters of President Uhuru Kenyatta gathered outside the Supreme Court to demand he be sworn in, before being dispersed with teargas, while isolated protests blocked roads elsewhere in the country.
Chief Justice David Maraga said the demonstrations were "clearly intended to intimidate individual judges".
Maraga and his fellow judges are putting the final touches to their highly-anticipated full judgement, expected to be read out Wednesday, which will point out in detail why they took the unprecedented decision to overturn the August 8 poll.
Maraga in his brief ruling nearly three weeks ago mentioned only "irregularities and illegalities" in the transmission of vote results, when he annulled Kenyatta's victory over his rival Raila Odinga.
While the chief justice became an overnight hero to many across the continent, he inspired fury among the ruling party.
Kenyatta took to the streets referring to Maraga and his fellow judges as "crooks", and threatened to "fix" the Supreme Court if re-elected.
He then attempted to row back on his comments, saying he was merely angry, in what was seen as attempt to appease Maraga's Kisii community -- an important voting bloc -- ahead of the new election.
However local media has reported moves by ruling party lawmakers to curb the powers of the Supreme Court.
Maraga said: "Individual judges particularly of the Supreme Court as well as other judicial officers and staff have been attacked, threatened and negatively profiled on social media.
"Senior political leaders have also threatened the judiciary promising to cut it to size and teach us a lesson."
He said the police had ignored calls to act on these threats.
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Maraga, who was speaking on behalf of the Judicial Service Commission, said such "attacks are degrading, demeaning and are meant to intimidate, threaten and cow the institution and cow the judges".
"If leaders are tired of having a strong and independent judiciary they should call a referendum and abolish it all together," he added.
"Before that happens, the judiciary will continue to discharge its mandate in accordance to the constitution."
According to Maraga's ruling Kenya must hold a new election by October 31.
The embattled electoral commission set the new poll for October 17, a date looking less and less likely as the main players bicker over how to hold a credible poll.
The French firm providing technology for identifying voters and transmitting results said Monday its system would not be ready in time.
Reuters
LONDON (Reuters) -Russia's Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, said on Sunday that a former mercenary who was filmed being executed by a sledgehammer blow to the head after changing sides in the Ukraine war was a traitor. Prigozhin, a Russian businessman who founded the Wagner private military group, was responding to an unverified video distributed on Telegram that showed a man identified as a former Wagner mercenary being executed after admitting that he had changed sides in September to "fight against the Russians". In the footage, the man, who gave his name as Yevgenny Nuzhin, 55, was shown with his head taped to a brick wall.
A 5-year-old boys parents are speaking out after they say their son was suspended from school for telling a teacher that he had a bomb in his backpack.
Jackson Riley allegedly made the claim at Great Valley Charter School in Modesto, California late last month after he refused to take his backpack off when asked, explaining that by doing so may cause the bomb to explode, his father, Ian Riley, told HuffPost.
After the teacher checked his backpack presumably for explosives the childs father was called to come get him from school. Jackson was suspended for one day, and his permanent record was marked with the claim that he made terrorist threats to school officials, his father said.
Thats something Jacksons parents want changed.
We just want to get our childs situation rectified, Ian Riley told HuffPost on Wednesday. Hes a happy, healthy 5-year-old with a healthy imagination.
The 5-year-old boy's parents want his school record cleared of the accusation that he made a terrorist threat. (Photo: Fox 40 News)
Initially, the school accused Jackson of having intentionally engaged in harassment, threats or intimidation, Riley told Sacramento station Fox 40 News, which obtained a copy of the schools letter.
But since that code violation can only pertain to fourth through 12th graders, Jackson later received an amended letter in his file that accused him of having made terrorist threats to school officials, Riley said.
That accusation was even worse, the childs parents argued.
He said he couldnt take his backpack off because it would explode, meaning he doesnt want anybody to get hurt, so I mean, granted, its all in the world of pretend-play, and were talking about an imaginary bomb., Jacksons mother, Michelle Riley, told Fox 40. But where was the threat? We still havent really received a clear answer to that.
Ian Riley said a meeting has been scheduled for Friday between the parents, the principal and the schools CEO, allowing them to discuss the matter further. Hes hoping it will end with the mark being removed from his sons record.
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We really want it to be known that we love the teachers and we love the environment, we just have an issue with the policy, he told HuffPost.
The incident otherwise doesnt appear to be affecting Jackson, who is not aware that his story is getting national attention.
A day later he was outside picking flowers for his teachers, he said of his son.
As far as other parents at the school, Riley said theyve been really, really supportive.
In a statement to Fox 40 News, the school said they cannot discuss the specific case but that they take student safety and discipline very seriously.
A request for comment from the school on Wednesday was not immediately returned to HuffPost.
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Last year, deep house producer and DJ Lane 8 (real name: Daniel Goldstein) started a movement that sent shockwaves across the musical landscape -- he stopped letting fans record his shows on their phones. As attendees trickled into the San Francisco venue hosting his newly conceived concept last summer, staff members placed opaque bands around the camera lens of every phone in an attempt to pull everyones attention away from their screens and onto the stage and the like-minded people around them. The anti-camera theme was called This Never Happened.
It was a risky move in a time when most concert-goers are used to having their views blocked by a phone recording a grainy video thatll likely be posted to Snapchat and never accessed again. But This Never Happened resonated with Lane 8s audience. The idea that was initially supposed to last for one show was extended to every concert hes headlined since, spanning from North America to Australia and India.
That being said, many will be pleased to know phones will be allowed at CRSSD festival, where Lane 8 is billed as a headliner for the first time alongside iconic performers like Hot Since 82 and The Magician -- who in fact aided the rise of Lane 8 in 2013 when he played one of his first tracks on his radio show.
The Denver-based producer talked with AOL ahead of CRSSD (Sept. 30-Oct. 1 at San Diegos Waterfront Park) about the festival, his thoughts on the underground electronic scene and the reasoning behind his no-phones policy.
AOL: Youve performed at CRSSD a couple times, and now youre back as a headliner. What has your experiences with CRSSD been like, and have you been able to perceive any inflection points that have helped you rise to headlining status here?
L8: I think its a really special festival. Its a pretty unique setting, and I think it translates really well to the whole festival experience. A lot of festivals I play are primarily focused on more mainstream media and have the deeper stage, whereas CRSSD is really just about deeper, underground music. Its not like youre on some tiny stage and everyone is off seeing Tiesto. Its more focused on the type of music that Im really into, so its a perfect fit.
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AOL: Before CRSSD revealed the second phase of its lineup that you were a part of, the events Facebook page posted an update with a hint for each of the upcoming acts so fans could guess whod be playing. The hint given for you was, A DJ who doesnt like phones in the club -- and a ton of people in the comments section pegged you for that immediately. Are you comfortable carrying that label around as the no phones guy?
L8: I think the fact that people would recognize it so quickly, it makes me proud that we've successfully gotten our message out. When we started the whole This Never Happened concept, one of the biggest concerns we had was getting the word out and having fans understand what it is that we were trying to do. I think, luckily, weve had fans that understand why its important to disconnect when youre at a club or a concert venue.
AOL: When you set out to do This Never Happened, what were you expecting for the reception of it and howd that compare to the reality?
L8: There were some nerves and doubts over whether we could pull it off. Especially in San Francisco, which is like the tech capital of the world. But then, at the time it was the best show wed ever done. Everyone was fully aware of the concept. People were self-policing. If someone whipped their phone out, wed see people within the crowd telling them off, which is what wed always wanted and were hoping for. It was one of those rare occasions where the way you dreamed it up is exactly how it happened.
I have to give credit to people that worked with me on it, but also to the fans, because ultimately it's up to them to adopt this concept and really live it or not. Its a testament to fans to be willing to try something new and different, and to be respectful of an artist's wishes at a concert. So its kind of restored a lot of faith in humanity for me as well, to see how well its gone down.
AOL: I know a few fans of yours who have gotten into electronic music after you acted as a sort of gateway artist into the genre. What do you think it is about your brand of melodic deep house that has the ability to win over fans like that who might not like other electronic music?
L8: Thats a really complex question that I could talk about for hours. Theres obviously been a huge commercialization of dance music over the last 5 or 6 years. Its entered the pop realm and the music has changed. If were talking about the example of Tiesto, he used to make amazing music back in the day. And now he makes pop music, and you can say whatever you want about it.
But I dont think the core of dance music has necessarily changed that much since the 80s. Obviously, different genres have popped up and production techniques have advanced. Its just that now, the biggest acts in electronic music are actually pop artists, rather than just the best underground artists, if that makes sense. But theres always been and always will be amazing underground music, and Im happy to be a part of that.
This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.
Four Latino Democratic politicians were arrested outside Trump Tower in New York on Tuesday while protesting the presidents actions on immigration and calling for legislation to protect young undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children.
Reps. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), along with New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito (D), and several other protesters, sat on the street blocking traffic during a protest organized by immigration advocacy group Make The Road New York. President Donald Trump was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly and stayed at his home in Trump Tower.
Demonstrators goal was to make it clear to President Trump, the Republicans and the Democrats that we will continue this peaceful fight for Dreamers and immigrants as long as it takes to enact legislation and put Dreamers in a safe place, Gutierrez said in a statement, referring to young undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children.
A few Congressmen and elected-officials gathering in front of Trump Tower doesnt mean much if it is not backed up by the grassroots and allies and today we are standing with diverse allies to make sure Congress and the President do more than just talk about solutions, they actually follow through with action, Gutierrez added.
Trump rescinded the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, this month. Although he did not revoke work permits and protections for so-called Dreamers immediately, they will begin to lose DACA protections in greater numbers beginning on March 6 unless Congress intervenes.
Members of Congress in both parties have said they want to help DACA recipients, but have not settled on a way forward. Democrats are pushing for the Dream Act, a bill that would grant legal status to young undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, and party leaders in Congress said last week that they had a loose deal with Trump to tie that legislation to border security measures.
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Trump and other Republicans denied that there was a deal and said they would not agree to anything without border security and enforcement measures included.
The protesters outside Trump Tower called for a clean Dream Act that would not include separate border security measures.
Activists sit on Fifth Avenue blocking traffic alongside Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), Speaker of the New York City Council Melissa Mark-Viverito (D), Reps. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) before getting arrested, during a rally to demand that President Donald Trump work with Congress to pass a clean Dream Act. (Photo: Darren Ornitz / Reuters)
We are here to defend our immigrant communities, Mark-Viverito said before her arrest, according to the New York Daily News. We dont want families to be divided. Trumps policy goes against what the majority of this nation supports and believes in. It goes against our values.
Espaillat, the first formerly undocumented member of Congress, participated because he wanted to stand up for immigrant youth to say loud and clear unequivocally, that he dedicates his work in Congress to protecting immigrants, immigrant families, and their future in America, his spokeswoman Candace Randle Person said in a statement.
Since day one, the Trump Administration has threatened Latinos, Muslims, LGBT, women and the list continues, Person said. His decision to end the DACA program earlier this month increased the urgency of whats at stake and the lives at risk when we fail to speak out against racism in America.
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Sponsor of last-gasp legislation bullish about Republican healthcare bill
Republicans racing to secure 50 votes before 30 September deadline
Senator Lindsey Graham, flanked by senators John Barrasso and Mitch McConnell, speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill on Tuesday. Photograph: Aaron P Bernstein/Reuters
The Republican sponsor of a last-gasp effort to tear down the Affordable Care Act (ACA) said on Tuesday that he had never felt better about the chances of repealing the 2010 law.
The new bill, authored by Republican senators Lindsey Graham who expressed his optimism and Bill Cassidy, comes as the White House and GOP leaders push for a showdown vote on the repeal package by the end of the month.
The renewed effort revives a seven-year drive to dismantle the ACA, Barack Obamas signature legislative achievement, which extended coverage to more than 20 million peopletwo months after a previous repeal bill fell one vote short in the Senate.
That effort was given a jolt this week when the Graham-Cassidy bill considered improbable two weeks ago began attracting support from congressional Republicans and, notably, the president.
Now Senate Republicans are under increasing pressure and an imminent deadline to pass the latest repeal measure.
In a show of support, the vice-president, Mike Pence, shuttled between New York to Washington to attend a weekly caucus lunch on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, in between meetings related to the annual United Nations general assembly session. Before the lunch, Pence told reporters aboard Air Force Two that his pitch to Republicans was simple: This is the moment, now is the time. We have 12 days.
Reconciliation, the process that allows lawmakers to pass budget legislation with a simple majority, expires on 30 September. After that, budgetary legislation must clear a 60-vote threshold. Democrats agree the law has problems but have so far remained unanimously against repeal.
This is the moment, now is the time. We have 12 days Mike Pence, US vice president
The Republican healthcare bill would transfer billions of dollars of federal spending under the ACA to states, eliminate the laws mandate that requires all Americans to have insurance coverage or face a penalty and carve out deep cuts to Medicaid, the national insurance program for low-income families.
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Under the plan, millions of Americans could lose insurance coverage as spending discretion is transferred to the states in the form of block grants calculated according to a complex formula that accounts for factors such as cost of living and population density. The proposal would also allow states to waive ACA protections that prohibit insurers from charging higher premiums to sick people and ensure that healthcare plans include benefits such as maternity care and mental healthcare.
Race before 30 September deadline
If the Senate passes the measure, the bill then goes to the House, where Graham said he had assurances from the House speaker, Paul Ryan, that it would pass. The House could not change the bill after the 30 September deadline without returning it to the Senate, where the bill would then require 60 votes.
In an effort to rally support, some Republicans have argued that the Republican healthcare plan is the only way to prevent Democrats from enacting universal healthcare, a virtual impossibility with a Republican-controlled Congress.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Graham held up his hands for emphasis: Federalism or socialism, he said.
On the same day last week that Republicans introduced their healthcare plan, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent, unveiled his Medicare for All bill, which would establish a government-run health insurance program and guarantee coverage for all Americans.
While the Vermont senator has stated clearly that the legislation will not pass in a Republican-controlled Congress, the universal healthcare plan has served a useful foil for Republicans. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force Two earlier on Tuesday, Graham said Sanders bill was a gift from God.
Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, said Democrats remained uniformly opposed to the Republican plan, which he called a sham and the most dangerous repeal legislation yet.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, who supports Bernie Sanders universal Medicaid proposal, called the Republican plan cruel, heartless, shameless. Photograph: Yuri Gripas/Reuters
Democrats have declared this a red siren moment and are running a full-court press to draw attention to the legislation. On Monday night, Senate Democrats staged an hours-long talk-a-thon in protest. Elizabeth Warren, of Massachusetts, slammed the bill as another version of the same old cruel, heartless, shameless plan that Republicans have spent the last eight months trying to jam down the throats of the American people and Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut called the proposal the meanest version of Trumpcare yet.
In recent days, Donald Trump and Pence, along with other administration officials, have worked the phones to pressure senators, including Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia who is not expected to support the bill.
But complicating the outreach, a group of 10 governors including five Republicans came out against the measure, urging senators to abandon the plan and pursue a bipartisan path. Influential health care groups including AARP and the American Hospital Association have also announced their opposition.
If Republicans can cajole 50 of their 52 members to support the bill before the end of the month, they will vote without knowing the impact on insurance coverage or premiums. The Congressional Budget Office said it would release a preliminary assessment by next week, but would not have an full analysis for at least several weeks.
Republicans can only afford to lose two votes if Democrats remain uniformly opposed to the bill. Already Senator Rand Paul, a libertarian from Kentucky who favors wholesale repeal, has said he was firmly against the Graham-Cassidy legislation because the plan retained too much of the ACA framework.
A trio of Republican senators who felled the last effort to repeal the ACA in July remain publicly undecided. Senator Susan Collins of Maine said she had a number of concerns with the legislation, especially the deep cuts to Medicaid . Senator Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska, said she has not made up her mind and is in close contact with the states governor, Bill Walker, an independent who on Tuesday warned that the plan could exact drastic cuts to Medicaid.
Meanwhile, Senator John McCain has expressed concerns with the fast-track process being used to bring the bill to the floor. But he has suggested he may ultimately support the plan.
Graham said senators faced a clear choice. If youre a Republican and you vote against federalism, youve got to explain to people back home why Washington knows better, he said, suggesting the proposal could even tempt Democrats.
At the end of the day, I really believe that were going to get 50 Republican votes and Ill make a prediction: there are going to be a lot of Democrats struggling with a no vote, he said.
At 23 years old, Irish actress Saoirse Ronan already has two Oscar nominations to her name and is poised to receive a third for her acclaimed star turn in Lady Bird, one of the best movies that Yahoo Movies saw at the recently concluded Toronto International Film Festival. And while general audiences wont see that Greta Gerwig-directed film until Nov. 10, theyll soon be able to view Ronan in a whole different color palette in the groundbreaking animated film Loving Vincent, which opens in limited release on Friday. (Watch an exclusive clip featuring Ronan above.)
The first fully oil-painted animated film, Loving Vincent investigates the mystery surrounding the death of celebrated artist Vincent van Gogh. Ronan plays Marguerite Gachet, a physicians daughter and star of two of van Goghs most famous portraits. While piecing together van Goghs final days, Armand Roulin (Douglas Booth) visits Marguerite for her impressions of the post-impressionist painter. Directors Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman filmed Ronan performing this scene and then turned the live-action footage over to a team of animators, who used it as visual reference for their emulation of van Goghs own painting style. According to the films official website, the finished film contains over 65,000 painted frames, a mammoth undertaking that was partially funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign. Between Lady Bird and Loving Vincent, dont be surprised to see Saoirse Ronan represented in both the live-action and animated categories at this years Oscars.
Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:
A man wearing a swastika armband was caught on video being punched in downtown Seattle: Twitter/Peter Baggenstos
A man wearing a swastika armband was punched to the ground in downtown Seattle, after activists spread his photo across Twitter. The incident was caught on camera and uploaded online on Sunday.
The Seattle Police Department said they received reports of a man wearing a swastika armband and instigating fights late Sunday afternoon. When officers arrived on the scene, however, they found him on the ground. The man removed his armband and left without telling police what had happened.
Hours before, an anti-fascist Twitter account had shared a photo of a man riding the bus in Seattle with a Nazi armband on his right arm.
Nazi s***head on D line headed to downtown #Seattle. Submitter said they were harassing a black man on the bus, the account wrote, indicating that the photo had been submitted by a third party.
The photo spread quickly around anti-fascist social media accounts. Anti-fascists, or Antifa, as some of them are called, are a loosely organised group of activists who seek to fight racism, sexism, and other oppressive forces.
#AntiFascistAlert
Nazi sh** head seen on D line headed to downtown #Seattle
Submitter said they were harassing a black man on the bus pic.twitter.com/ianQUnyCsC BabyGoose (@bigotbasher) September 17, 2017
The original tweet was re-tweeted almost 60 times, and the photo was also shared on Reddit.
Shortly after it was posted, Seattle residents began to tweet out reports of a man matching the photo at a specific downtown intersection. According to Twitter reports, the man was yelling at passerby and spewing racist vitriol.
Less than an hour later, video emerged of a man with a swastika armband being punched by another man in a grey sweatshirt. In the video, the man falls to the ground and remains motionless as the man in the sweatshirt walks away.
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Night night, the videographer says.
Seattle Police said no one at the scene contacted officers to report the incident.
While some Antifa Twitter accounts celebrated the incident, it is unclear whether the assailant in the video is anti-fascist-affiliated.
The Antifa are known to occasionally use violence when confronting neo-Nazi and other white supremacist groups. The practise gained mainstream attention last year, when self-proclaimed white nationalist Richard Spencer was punched on the street.
The movement returned to the national spotlight last month, when President Donald Trump accused the Antifa of being very, very violent at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
According to Antifa activists, however, the bulk of their work consists of researching and publicly identifying members of far-right movements just as activists did in Seattle this weekend.
Through research we can identify their leadership, their resources, their level of influence, and how best to deny them what they want, an activist for the Atlanta Antifascists told The Independent last month.
It's harder to recruit when they it obvious that this is what will happen to you if you join and take leadership roles," the activist added.
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When Melania Trump descended from the White House with President Donald Trump en route to Hurricane Harvey-stricken Houston, Texas in August, everyone had something to say about her choice of footwear.
Some felt her black Manolo Blahnik stilettos were inappropriate attire for visiting victims of a natural disaster. Others, like her director of communications Stephanie Grisham, felt that during a natural disaster, the inappropriate response was to focus on shoes.
The Manolo Blahniks in question. (Photo: Alex Wong via Getty Images)
But what does Blahnik, a longtime friend of the Trumps and one of the most iconic footwear designers of all time, have to say about the whole thing? Its kind of complicated.
Blahnik talked to Harpers Bazaar U.K. about the incident, saying he doesnt think shes insensitive.
I think shes working non-stop to make it work possibly she was just wearing the shoes she left New York in, he said. Yes, I think probably she could have worn Hunter boots but she was wearing what she was wearing. Im not good at advising people on what to wear because they wear what they want to.
Donald and Melania Trump at a launch party for a Manolo Blahnik exhibition in 2003. (Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris via Getty Images)
Its not necessarily a glowing endorsement, but its not a criticism of the first lady, who changed into sneakers and a FLOTUS hat upon arrival in Texas. Things get a little fuzzy after that, though. Blahnik told the mag, They should just get rid of everybody and keep her, but he doesnt mean it the way you think.
Aesthetically, I mean, Im not talking about politics I dont give a damn about that and I dont know much about it, he said. But in terms of fashion and beauty well, I love her, shes a beauty and thats all there is to it.
Were not sure what it means to get rid of someone aesthetically, but for what its worth, the first lady was spotted heading to Florida after Hurricane Irma hit wearing a pair of flats.
A different shoe for a different storm. (Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM via Getty Images)
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Sophie Theallet
Sophie Theallet ignited the conversation about dressing Melania Trump when she wrote an open letter in November 2016 refusing to do it -- and encouraging other designers to follow suit. As one who celebrates and strives for diversity, individual freedom, and respect for all lifestyles, I will not participate in dressing or associating in any way with the next first lady," she wrote.
Tom Ford
Tom Ford was refusing to dress Melania Trump even before she became first lady. Ford said on "The View" in December 2016 that he'd previously declined to dress Trump because she is "not necessarily my image," adding his belief that the first lady, no matter who she is, should wear clothing the American people can relate to. President-elect Donald Trump responded by claiming Ford was never asked to dress his wife. "I'm not a fan of Tom Ford," he said.
Christian Siriano
Although he originally said in December 2016 he would have to wait and "see how it goes" before making a decision about dressing Melania Trump, Siriano told Time in April 2017 he doesn't think he would dress the first lady. "She is representing whata happening politically and whats happening politically right now is not really good for anyone, he said.
Zac Posen
Posen said in March 2017 that he doesn't plan on dressing the first lady any time soon. "I'm staying away from bringing my brand into politics," he said, citing "issues that are being questioned that are fundamentally upsetting" to him including LGBT and women's rights.
Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs told WWD in November 2016 that he "has no interest whatsoever" in dressing the first lady, opting instead to put his "energy into helping out those who will be hurt by [Donald] Trump and his supporters."
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Kelly Roberts, first lady Melania Trumps pick to be U.S. ambassador to her homeland of Slovenia, withdrew her name from consideration for the position, according to several reports. Two sources familiar with the matter indicated that Roberts, chief operating officer of the Mission Inn in Riverside, California, opted to remove her name due to the divestiture of her assets, Politico reported.
The first lady helped select Roberts because she believed that a businesswoman would best fit the role of the U.S. in the European nation. Roberts initially requested an ambassadorship to other countries but agreed to take the diplomatic post at Trumps insistence. Despite not being formally nominated, Roberts started her background check process, a step required for senate confirmation. According to Politico, she then submitted a letter requesting her withdrawal prior to starting her ambassador training.
Roberts and her husband, Duane Roberts, are prominent Trump and GOP supporters, The Hill reported. Both have donated $1.2 million to Republican candidates in the 2016 election cycle and $50,000 to President Donald Trumps super PAC, Great America PAC, in October 2016.
Roberts stood out from a dossier of potential candidates to take the ambassadorship, according to a report by New York magazine. Roberts has taken an active role in the management of the historic hotel since 1992. Before she and her husband purchased the inn, Duane Roberts built his fortune by creating the frozen burrito, the magazine added.
The first ladys deep interest in filling the ambassador post is in direct contrast with the low profile she maintained during the first months of the Trump administration. Many questioned at the time whether she would assume an active role since she did not move into the White House right after her husband took office in January. Instead, she decided to stay in the familys Manhattan penthouse until their 10-year-old son, Barron, completed his school year.
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Melania Trumps decision to stay in New York drew criticism because taxpayers had to foot her security bill. A Change.org petition was created in March asking the first lady to move to the White House or pay her security costs from her own pocket. The New York Police Department estimated costs between $127,000 and $146,000 per day to protect the first lady and her son, The New York Times reported.
Delays in appointing vital staffers to her office also posed a hurdle in carrying out her duties as first lady, NBC News reported in February.
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First lady Melania Trump is reportedly expected to address first spouses on Wednesday, speaking as an advocate of global child-focused initiatives.
According to POLITICO, the Slovenia native will denounce bullying in her speech, in addition to addressing other global issues that affect global child populations.
"No child should ever feel hungry, stalked, frightened, terrorized, bullied, isolated or afraid, with nowhere to turn," the first lady will reportedly say. "We need to step up, come together, and ensure that our children's future is bright."
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Melania Trump's speech will be delivered at a luncheon attended by first spouses of global world leaders.
From the national opioid epidemic to the violence of Charlottesville, Melania Trump has spoken out on a number of issues since her husband became president -- but children have been a central focus of her visits and public appearances on multiple occasions.
From reading with children at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll to visiting with students at multiple schools, Melania Trump appears set on addressing the needs of children from varying backgrounds. Even while abroad during her lengthy foreign trip earlier this year with President Trump, she stopped by both Queen Fabiola University Hospital in Brussels and Bambino Gesu in Rome where she snapped photos and visited with sick children. She also separately stopped by to greet children at Necker Hospital in Paris when the first couple visited France to celebrate Bastille Day.
RELATED: Melania Trump visits sick children in France
Melania Trump addressed world leaders about bullying, but all eyes were on her hot-pink dress. (Photo: Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images)
Melania Trump delivered an antibullying speech to world leaders, but her neon-pink attire may have overshadowed her message.
Taking the podium Wednesday at a luncheon held at the United Nations in New York City, Melania wore a $2,950 Delpozo fuchsia, knee-length coat with billowing sleeves and matching heels. The most important and joyous role I ever had was to be a mother to my young son, Melania told the crowd. And what could possibly be a more essential focus in everyones life than that of loving, educating, and bringing up our next generation to be happy, productive, and morally responsible adults?
Melania Trumps dress made headlines. (Photo: Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images)
Speaking for seven-and-a-half minutes, the first lady described the importance of teaching children empathy and communication, the basis for kindness, mindfulness, integrity, and leadership, which can only be taught be example. She also spoke about her hopes of teaching children to treat others as they would want to be treated, despite the prevalence of bullying on social media.
But while Melania spoke, Twitter was buzzing with commentary about her bold coat. While plenty complimented the first lady on her style choice, many cracked jokes about the items size and color.
I actually need shades to watch Melania's speech at the UN. Don't know if it's a dress or a neon bulb she's in. pic.twitter.com/OjTr7H6J6A Javier Arias (@javierariasPTY) September 20, 2017
FLOTUS Melania Trump dons oversized hot pink dress at United Nations event in NYC, but did it distract from her speech on bullying? pic.twitter.com/vcXBnQz3Oj Anna Giaritelli (@Anna_Giaritelli) September 20, 2017
Just watched Melania Trump speech. For some reason it made me think of the blueberry girl from Willy Wonka. #FLOTUS pic.twitter.com/ohOHxFdXRY Elaine (@rosalita2740) September 20, 2017
Uhhh hellodid we already forget about snug-eez? Weathers getting chilly guys. pic.twitter.com/lRqKFq3sEv LaMuerteNoPide ID (@velanvinny) September 20, 2017
According to Politico, Melania was the only speaker at the luncheon, where she was seated with other first ladies such as Brigitte Macron of France, Sophie Trudeau of Canada, and Emine Erdogan of Turkey.
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The first ladys speech came one day after President Trump delivered remarks at the U.N. referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as Rocket Man who is on a suicide mission for himself, while describing the nation as a depraved regime.
The president experienced his own viral moment Tuesday after the White House chief of staff John Kelly was photographed looking exasperated during the speech, covering his eyes with his hand and looking downward, prompting White House press secretary Sarah Sanders to address the moment on Fox & Friends Wednesday. I would certainly not read anything into that picture anymore than probably, just like the rest of us, were tired trying to keep up with this president whos working hard every day trying to help America, she said.
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Melania Trump and her Calvin Klein power suit at the U.N. (Photo: Getty Images)
Melania Trump wore a power suit, and people on social media are losing their minds.
With one hand in her trouser pocket, the first lady accompanied the president to the General Assembly in the United Nations building in New York City on Tuesday wearing a $1,995 Calvin Klein gray, double-breasted glen plaid wool blazer with houndstooth pants, a black top, and black pumps.
First Lady Melania #Trump in off-the-runway, grey Calvin Klein suit from Raf Simons' debut collection for the American fashion brand. pic.twitter.com/hSwFqjJRxl John Binder (@JxhnBinder) September 19, 2017
If it looks familiar, its because it just made its debut at New York Fashion Week last week.
The Calvin Klein power suit worn by Melania Trump. (Photo: Getty Images)
Social media gave the 47-year-olds business attire a thumbs-up, with many tweeting that she looked polished and professional, a departure from feedback in recent weeks.
Wow, Melania looks incredible in a suit; don't @ me Dina Fierro (@eye4style) September 20, 2017
melania looks stunning in that suit#calvinklein d (@dougalpollux) September 20, 2017
@MELANIATRUMP looking like an independent woman in a pant power suit. Not First Lady like at all. Separating herself gradually? #UNGA Tara NeyhardCampbell (@mrs_actor_dude) September 19, 2017
Sarah Palin even approved of the ensemble.
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According to CNN, President Trump remarked in a speech to 100 world leaders that the United States would totally destroy North Korea if forced; and in reference to leader Kim Jong Un, Trump added, Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself.
Of Melanias presence on Tuesday, Laura Bushs former chief of staff, Anita McBride, told Inside Edition, Here is the one thing to remember about first ladies everyone gets to rewrite the playbook according to the rules that they want to live by. I think for Mrs. Trumps part, she set an early marker that she was going to do this on her timetable and her way.
In late August, en route to Texas in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Melania boarded Air Force One wearing a pair of Manolo Blahnik stilettos, sparking outrage from the public, many people deeming the shoe choice out of touch and inappropriate.
The backlash even prompted Stephanie Grisham, the first ladys communications director, to tell the New York Times, Its sad that we have an active and ongoing natural disaster in Texas, and people are worried about her shoes.
Blahnik himself came to Melanias defense on Monday, telling Harpers Bazaar UK, I dont think shes insensitive. I think shes working nonstop to make it work possibly she was just wearing the shoes she left New York in. Yes, I think probably she could have worn Hunter boots, but she was wearing what she was wearing. Im not good at advising people on what to wear because they wear what they want to.
The first lady received higher marks when landing in Houston wearing black skinny jeans, a white button-down shirt, and white sneakers. However, soon after, on a return trip to Texas, she wore another pair of Manolo Blahnik heels snakeskin this time which she paired with a Ralph Lauren shirtdress.
And on Friday, Melania raised eyebrows by wearing a $7,995 metallic silver gown by Monique Lhuillier, only hours after returning from Florida to view the devastation by Hurricane Irma.
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President Trumps contempt for his predecessors chief foreign policy accomplishment, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or the nuclear deal with Iran, is no secret. On the campaign trail, he routinely called it one of the worst and stupidest agreements in history, and he pledged to dismantle it. Now, in his first speech before the UN General Assembly, Trump has suggested that if he has his way, the United States wont continue to implement it.
During his speech, Trump described the deal as one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into and an embarrassment to the United States. And he pledged once again to take action on it, stating, And I dont think youve heard the last of it. Believe me. The president justified his position, arguing, We cannot abide by an agreement if it provides cover for the eventual construction of a nuclear program. Of course, the JCPOA doesnt provide cover for Irans nuclear program; its nuclear program is the very subject of deal. Nevertheless, the speech implied that the administration wont be sticking to the agreement much longer.
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In mid-October, Trump must announce his administrations approach to the JCPOA. As part of the agreements implementation, the president must certify to Congress every 90 days that Tehran is (or isnt) complying with its obligations under the agreement. If the president communicates to Congress that Iran isnt complying, or simply fails to certify that it is complying, he kicks the ball over to Congress for new potential sanctions to be imposed on the country.
But so far, theres no evidence to back Trumps stance on the JCPOA and to justify his potential decertification or failure to certify the agreement. The International Atomic Energy Agency, a UN body tasked with monitoring Irans nuclear program, has issued several reports on the status of the nuclear deals implementation to date, stating that Tehran is upholding its end of the bargain. The United Statess allies and negotiating partners, the European Union and its member states, have echoed this view. On the day of Trumps UN General Assembly speech, Vice President Mike Pence met with the EUs High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini. Mogherini chairs the joint commission that oversees the nuclear deals implementation. According to a press release put out by her staff, she told Pence that the agreement is working, and that Iran is delivering on its commitments, as certified so far seven times by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It is therefore important that a full and effective implementation of the JCPOA, in all its parts and by all parties, continues.
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Other European leaders have come forward in support of this position. French President Emmanuel Macron, for example, has become much more proactive in recent weeks, signaling to the United States that the agreement cant be repealed and replaced. Speaking shortly after Trump at the UN General Assembly, Macron warned the United States that itd lose confidence if it doesnt abide by its commitments; he called repealing the deal reckless in the absence of alternatives. If America decides to unilaterally withdraw from the JCPOA while its working, undermining multilateral agreements and empowering Iranian hardliners, itll have to go it alone.
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And the prospect of Trump withdrawing America from the nuclear deal isnt just worrisome to Europeans.
Even critics of the nuclear agreement have expressed concerns about the possibility of a unilateral U.S. withdrawal without any clear evidence of Iranian noncompliance. For example, Senator Bob Corker, a vocal Iran hawk and opponent of the Obama administrations Iran policy, has said that the White House shouldnt tear it up. And even Trumps own cabinet, including its many Iran hawks, such as Secretary of Defense James Mattis, are opposed to withdrawing from the process. After all, this isnt just about the future of the nuclear deal or Iran, but about American credibility.
American withdrawal from the deal without a substantive reason will empower Iranian hardliners.
What does all this mean for the future of the JCPOA? Trumps UN speech makes it seem increasingly likely that he wont recertify Iranian compliance with the deal in October. Whether he will go so far as to all-out decertify it remains to be seen. But he may well kick the ball over to Congress, making it a key player in determining the agreements future.
For its part, Iran has signaled that itll continue to implement the agreement even if the United States withdraws, provided that its European partners stick to it. This has caused quite a stir in Iran. But Irans statements are designed to put the onus on the Europeans to preserve the future of the JCPOA regardless of the United States decision. As a result, it could ostensibly continue without America. But U.S. withdrawal wouldnt come without implications.
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First, continued implementation of the nuclear agreement without the United States will serve to undermine the countrys leadership in this processand future ones, too. Itll send a signal to the international community that such major endeavors dont need America. And next time Washington tries to build a coalition and bring friends and foes to the table to tackle a security challenge, allies and adversaries alike will think twice before jumping on board. And sanctions, as a tool of foreign policy, will be weakened.
Second, without America on board, the international community will have a difficult time implementing the JCPOA. Indeed, investors and businesses will be more reluctant to engage Iran, making it more difficult for Iranians to collect the dividends of the dealand, therefore, less enthusiastic about implementing it.
Lastly, American withdrawal without a substantive reason will empower Iranian hardliners. For decades, the Islamic Republic has tried to sell an anti-American ideology to the Iranian people. But its death to America chants have largely failed to bring the Iranian people on board. Trump, however, has been helping the regime make that case, through his anti-Iran rhetoric in Riyadh, his failure to send a sympathetic message to Iranians after the Islamic States attack in Tehran in Juneand, now, through what seems to be an imminent withdrawal from the nuclear deal.
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Two Ohio men face charges after a father donned a clown mask and chased his 6-year-old daughter through the streets, prompting a concerned neighbor to start shooting.
Vernon Barrett Jr., 25, was charged with inducing panic and child endangerment after Saturdays clown caper. Boardman police said Barrett thought the clown mask would scare his daughter into behaving.
A neighbor, Dion Santiago, 48, was charged with using weapons while intoxicated. He acknowledged firing out his apartment window after the frightened child ran into his home fleeing the clown, police said. He claimed he aimed at a nearby yard.
Barretts clown mask stunt immediately took a turn when his daughter fled through traffic and into the strangers apartment, according to an arrest report obtained by HuffPost.
A passing motorist summoned police, saying a little girl ran in front of her car and jumped into it screaming she was being chased by a clown, according to the police report. The masked man then pulled the girl from the car, said the woman, who told police she wasnt sure if it was a prank.
Vernon Barrett Jr., 25, and Dion Santiago, 48, were arrested on Saturday following a neighborhood shooting involving a clown mask, authorities said. (Photo: Boardman Police)
A responding police officer found Barrett in the driveway of a nearby apartment wearing the mask. Upstairs, Santiago was hollering out a window: Thats him right there officer.
Barrett told the officer hed been playing a prank on his daughter and she ran into Santiagos home through an unlocked door. He said he didnt know Santiago, and said the man had fired a gun out the window.
The little girl was still inside the home, afraid to come outside even after the officer explained the clown was her father wearing a mask.
Police said they were called to this Boardman, Ohio, neighborhood on Saturday over a clown chasing a child. (Photo: Fox 8 News)
As the officer worked to calm the girl, Barrett and Santiago began yelling at one another, police said. Barrett was handcuffed after allegedly ignoring orders to back away from Santiago.
Santiagos son, who saw the girl burst inside, told police he had heard stories of people dressed as clowns and got nervous and scared when he looked outside the window and saw a man with a clown mask on, according to the police report.
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The father allegedly told police that he was only trying to discipline his daughter when he put on the clown mask, a similar one seen here, to scare her. (Photo: Dorling Kindersley via Getty Images)
Police said Barrett told officers he decided to use the clown mask into scaring [his daughter] to behave because her mother was incarcerated for child abuse. Barrett said he cannot discipline his daughter, so they have been having behavior problems with [her] at school and home.
The child was placed in the temporary care of her fathers girlfriend.
Barrett and Santiago were released later Saturday to await court. Both men told Fox 8 News they plan to fight the charges.
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As far as cease and desist letters go, youll be hard pressed to find one more charming than the one Netflix recently sent to the purveyors of a pop-up Stranger Things themed bar located in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago.
The bar originally sprang up in late August and, rather appropriately, was called The Upside Down. As you would imagine, the Stranger Things influence in the bar is ubiquitous and impossible to miss. The location even features a well-crafted replica of the iconic lit-up alphabet wall we saw during the shows first season.
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As a pop-up bar, The Upside Down was slated to run through September 23. With that date fast approaching, Netflixs legal team sent the bar owners a letter with a message that they shouldnt be angling for a second or extended run. But what makes Netflixs letter stand out is that the streaming giant is okay with the bar owners keeping things operational until next week. Whats more, the letter Netflixs legal team sent is humorous and amiable, which, all things being equal, is refreshing to see every once in a while.
The letter, via DNA Info, reads as follows:
My walkie talkie is busted so I had to write this note instead. I heard you launched a Stranger Things pop-up bar at your Logan Square location. Look, I dont want you to think Im a total wastoid, and I love how much you guys love the show. (just wait until you see Season 2!) But unless Im living in the Upside Down, I dont think we did a deal with you for this pop-up. Youre obviously creative types, so Im sure you can appreciate that its important to us to have a say in how our fanc encounter the worlds we build. Were not going to go full Dr. Brenner on you, but we ask that you please (1) not extend the pop-up beyond its 6 week run ending in September and (2) reach out to us for permission if you plan to do something like this again. Let me know as soon as possible that you agree to these requests. We love our fans more than anything, but you should know that the demogorgon is not always as forgiving. So please dont make us call your mom.
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For as tone-deaf as many large corporations tend to be with the Pepsi commercial featuring Kendall Jenner being a prime example its nice to see that the folks who work at Netflixs legal department are anything but humorless automatons and actually seem like reasonable human beings.
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The North Koreas ambassador to the United Nations walked out in a boycott ahead of President Donald Trump's address to the General Assembly on Tuesday.
Ja Song Nam, who has been North Korea's ambassador since February 2014, exited just before Trump spoke, leaving only a junior representative as the countys delegation, according to NBC.
In his speech, Trump again derisively referred to North Korea's leader as "Rocket Man" after using the moniker in a Twitter posting on Sunday. Trump also issued his harshest warning to the authoritarian country.
"The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself and its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. 'Rocket Man' is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime," said Trump.
The latest warning builds upon Trumps characteristically bellicose rhetoric toward North Korea. In an August press conference on opioids, Trump warned North Korea faced "fire and fury."
"They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen ... he has been very threatening beyond a normal state. They will be met with fire, fury and frankly power the likes of which this world has never seen before," said Trump.
Trump also thanked the U.N. Security Council for approving new sanctions on North Korea last week.
"I want to thank China and Russia for joining the vote to impose sanctions along with all of the other members of the Security Council. Thank you to all involved," said Trump. "But we must do much more. It is time for all nations to work together to isolate the Kim regime until it ceases its hostile behavior."
China and Russia are North Koreas biggest economic partners and have been resistant to sanctions in the past. Trump has leaned on China to help curtail North Koreas behavior.
The newest round of sanctions is aimed at hurting North Korea economically. They were passed in response to North Koreas sixth and largest nuclear test earlier this month. North Korea claimed the bomb they tested was a hydrogen, or thermonuclear bomb.
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The sanctions upset North Korea who retaliated by launching a ballistic missile that flew over Japan on Thursday. North Korea also test-launched two intercontinental ballistic missiles in July, proving they theoretically could hit a city in the continental U.S.
U.S. armed forces may now consider shooting down North Korean missiles even when they are not threats to the U.S. or its allies, according to CNN Tuesday.
[North Korea is] intentionally doing provocations that seem to press against the envelope for just how far can they push without going over some kind of a line in their minds that would make them vulnerable, Defense Secretary James Mattis told reporters Monday.
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US President Donald Trump speaks with US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley: AP
The more sanctions the US and its allies impose on North Korea, the faster the country will work to develop its nuclear weapons programme, North Koreas official KCNA news agency has reported, citing a foreign ministry spokesman.
The UN Security Council unanimously voted last week to ratchet up sanctions on North Korea following its sixth and largest nuclear test, although the penalties fell short of the sweeping sanctions the Trump administration had originally demanded.
A foreign ministry spokesman for the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK), the Norths official name, said the latest sanctions represent the most vicious, unethical and inhumane act of hostility to physically exterminate the people of the DPRK, let alone its system and government.
The new penalties include bans on textile imports and the sale of natural gas to North Korea. They also limit the amount of refined petroleum sales to the country to two million barrels per year.
Both Russia and China, North Koreas main economic ally, had opposed the USs call for an oil embargo and other far-reaching sanctions.
During this weeks United Nations General Assembly, an annual gathering of diplomats and world leaders, Donald Trump is expected to discuss the growing standoff between the US and North Korea with his foreign counterparts.
This will be a great week, we look forward to it, as far as North Korea is concerned, I think that most of you know how I feel, Mr Trump said as he walked into the UN headquarters building in New York on Monday.
Over the weekend, Mr Trump referred to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as rocket man in a tweet, and said it was too bad! that long petrol lines have been forming in North Korea.
The US president in August had stated that North Korea would face fire and fury like the world has never seen if it continues to menace the US remarks that were met by belligerent threats from North Korea, escalating tensions.
US officials have said that while the US prefers a diplomatic approach, the nation and its allies are prepared to respond to North Korea with military force.
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Nikki Haley, the USs ambassador to the UN, last week cast the new sanctions as a victory, but said the US does not take pleasure in further strengthening sanctions.
We are not looking for war, Ms Haley added. The North Korean regime has not yet passed the point of no return. If North Korea continues its dangerous path, we will continue with further pressure. The choice is theirs.
But despite the tougher penalties, Kim Jong-uns regime continues to display its evolving military prowess. On Friday, in a significant show of defiance to the international community, North Korea fired another ballistic missile over Japan.
North Korea state media has said that the country's goal is to reach equilibrium of military force with the US.
Former President Barack Obama mocked Republicans in a speech on Wednesday for repeated efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, his signature health care law also known as Obamacare.
The legislation that we passed was full of things that still needed to be fixed, Obama said at an event hosted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in New York City.
It wasnt perfect, but it was better, he continued. And when I see people trying to undo that progress for the 50th or 60th time with bills that would raise costs or reduce coverage or roll back protections for older Americans or people with preexisting conditions the cancer survivor, the expecting mom or the child with autism or asthma, for whom coverage would once again be unattainable it is aggravating.
GOP leaders on Capitol Hill made repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act the No. 1 priority following President Trumps inauguration. But efforts to do so have thus far failed to gather enough Republican support.
The latest legislative push the so-called Cassidy-Graham bill would devolve Medicaid and Obamacare subsidy spending to individual states, leading to big cuts for some blue states like Massachusetts while boosting red states that did not expand Medicaid under Obamacare. It also repeals Obamacares individual and employer mandates.
According to an analysis by the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the Cassidy-Graham bill would cause many millions of people to lose coverage, radically restructure and deeply cut Medicaid, eliminate or weaken protections for people with preexisting conditions, and increase out-of-pocket costs for individual market consumers.
Related: Jimmy Kimmel: Sen. Cassidy lied to my face on health care
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell plans to consider the plan next week on the Senate floor.
All of this being done without any demonstrable economic or actuarial or plain common sense rationale, it frustrates, Obama said. Its certainly frustrating to have to mobilize every couple of months to keep our leaders from inflicting real human suffering on our constituents.
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Obama said Wednesday that the people who worked on drafting the Affordable Care Act werent just politicians and policy wonks but parents who had the experience of a sick child or crushing medical bills that threatened to bankrupt them.
And for the first time, more than 90 percent of Americans know the security of health insurance, he said. Paying more for insurance or being denied insurance because of a preexisting condition or because you are a woman, thats not a thing anymore. We got rid of that and people are alive today because of it, and thats progress.
The former president wondered aloud how Obamacare became so controversial.
Those of you who live in countries that already have universal health care are trying to figure out whats the controversy here, he said. I am too.
But Obama said that pushing back against efforts to roll back progressive legislation is typically how progress is won.
On every issue we have to stand up for each other, recognize that progress is never inevitable that it can be fragile and is in need of constant renewal, he said. Our collective progress depends on our willingness to roll up our sleeves and work.
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Bamako (AFP) - A Malian soldier was killed and a number of others were injured Wednesday in an ambush in northern Mali, where gunmen also attacked two military camps, including a UN mission, a military source said.
The ambush took place 55 kilometres (34 miles) from Menaka, when one of the unit's vehicles ran over a landmine, the source said.
Meanwhile, in the northern region of Kidal, gunmen attacked a camp run by the UN mission in the country, known by the acronym of MINUSMA, and another camp due to host so-called mixed patrols, another security source said.
Intended to provide security for the troubled region, mixed patrols comprise regular army soldiers; pro-government armed groups known as Platform; and ex-members of a predominantly Touareg rebel group, the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA).
Northern Mali is the site of frequent clashes between rival armed groups, as well as a haven for jihadist activity.
In 2012, key cities fell under the control of jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda, who exploited an ethnic Tuareg-led rebel uprising, leading to a French-led military intervention and the eventual deployment of MINUSMA.
Although the Islamists were largely ousted, much of the region is lawless and attacks have continued on UN and French forces, civilians and the Malian army.
This month, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita inaugurated the headquarters for a planned five-nation force to combat jihadists in the Sahel region.
The five-battalion, 5,000-strong force, will comprise troops from Niger, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Burkina Faso.
Two more men have been arrested in connection with the Parsons Green bombing, taking the total to five.
Scotland Yard said men aged 30 and 48 were detained during a raid by counter-terrorism officers at a home in Newport, South Wales at around 5.10am on Wednesday.
A third man, 25, who was arrested at a separate address in Newport shortly after 7pm on Tuesday, and two other suspects detained on Saturday remain in custody.
Commander Dean Haydon, head of the Met Counter Terrorism Command, said: "This continues to be a fast-moving investigation.
The Parsons Green 'bucket bomb' left dozens injured Credit: Pricey1983aa/Twitter
"A significant amount of activity has taken place since the attack on Friday."We now have five men in custody and searches are continuing at four addresses.
"Detectives are carrying out extensive inquiries to determine the full facts behind the attack."We anticipate that the searches will take some days to complete and may cause further disruption.
"However, it is important that we continue with these searches and I'd like to thank all those affected for their support, patience and cooperation."
How the London Underground attack unfolded
Witnesses to Tuesday's arrest described officers "jumping" a man who was put into a police car and driven away.
Nearby resident Sully Ali, 19, a part-time model, told the Press Association: "A big van pulled up and six officers got out and jumped this guy.
"There were two armed officers there, they didn't have their guns pointed at him but they had them on show. The guy was smiling. I didn't hear him saying anything or the police saying anything to him."
Mr Ali said the arrested man worked as a painter and decorator for some local residents.
He added: "They were Met Police officers, they were wearing hats saying Met Police and they didn't speak like anyone from round here.
"He was arrested and handcuffed by officers wearing suits. They handcuffed him and led him away, they didn't put him in the van though, they put him in a marked police car."
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Residents said the arrested man had lived in the area for many years and attended local mosques.
"He was a nice guy, everybody knew him," one man said. "He was a student here and he worked as a painter and decorator."
One mother added: "He did some painting on our house about two years ago. He was a nice guy, he was very softly spoken.
"He used to condemn terrorism in front of my husband, my husband would condemn terrorism and he would agree with him. I know he is a Muslim but I don't know what mosque he went to.
"Muslims in this area are totally shocked, we condemn terrorism totally and we totally condemn what happened in London."
Parsons Green London Underground terror attack, in pictures
The latest raids were carried out by the Met Counter Terrorism Command, assisted by Gwent Police and the Welsh Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit (Wectu) and both addresses in the town were being searched on Wednesday.
Detectives had already been granted more time to question two suspects, Yahyah Farroukh, 21, and an 18-year-old man, over Friday morning's bomb attack on a London Underground train, which injured 30.
Donald Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort was wiretapped by U.S. investigators prior to and following the 2016 presidential election, sources claim. The wiretapping of Manafort as part of the investigation into Russias alleged interference in the U.S. election came under court orders, sources with knowledge of the issue told CNN.
According to the news channel, Manafort's wiretapping revealed instances in which investigators feared he may have encouraged Russia to aid Trumps campaign, although this evidence was deemed by two of the sources not to be conclusive.
The findings of the surveillance have reportedly been passed along to special counsel Robert Mueller, who is leasing a probe into alleged collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign.
The investigation and surveillance of Manafort was subsequently dropped in 2016, the sources told CNN, but began once again under a new order from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, as part of the FBIs investigation into possible links between Trumps team and Russia in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election, the sources added.
Manafort, who denied any wrongdoing in August 2016 after The New York Times revealed that he was due to receive a cash payment from Ukraines ruling party, was also present at the controversial meeting between Donald Trump Jr. and Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya, ahead of which Trumps eldest son was promised damaging information about Hillary Clinton.
Although surveillance of Manafort is believed to have taken place both during the campaign and after Trump assumed office, no recordings of the meeting with Veselnitskaya which has now become a part of the greater Russia probe have been found. However, the surveillance period could have included times when Manafort spoke with Trump after the latter took office.
The former campaign chairman has also had his home raided in connection with the Russia investigation while passing along more than 400 pages of documents to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Most recently, his spokesman testified before a grand jury.
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Manafort maintained in an interview with The New York Times that he had never knowingly spoke to Russian intelligence officers and had never been involved with anything to do with the Russian government or the Putin administration.
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SHOSHONE After voters rejected a $6 million bond in August, the Shoshone School District plans to try again in November.
The measure will appear on ballots for the Nov. 7 election. In August, it received 58.4 percent support, but not enough to clear the required two-thirds supermajority.
The $6 million measure would pay for a new multipurpose building including a stage and gymnasium plus a new vocational building and a small building with a couple of alternative school classrooms. It would also pay for remodeling the existing school.
One change over the last election: If the bond is approved, taxpayers will pay less $6.67 each month per $100,000 of taxable value, down from more than $7.
Two factors play a role. One of them is the states bond levy equalization rate came in at 25 percent, up from the original 18 percent estimate, Superintendent Rob Waite said Tuesday. It means theres more money available to the Shoshone School District to pay for the construction bond, based on the districts enrollment and socioeconomic status.
Also, the taxable valuation of properties in the school districts boundaries has increased 8.5 percent.
Because of those two things combined, then it would now, of course, lower the rate, Waite said.
If approved, the bond would pay for the same projects proposed for the August election, but with a few minor tweaks.
The location of a new access road would be moved, and new classrooms for alternative school classes would be built on property the school district already owns, instead of potentially doing a land swap to acquire Lincoln County property.
The new vocational building would be used specifically for general industrial arts, with possibilities to expand the agriculture program.
Shoshone residents can expect to see information in the mail about the bond measure, Waite said.
The school district will also likely schedule a community meeting, but a date and time hasnt been set.
Vice President Mike Pence at a meeting of the Security Council on Wednesday. (Photo: Lucas Jackson/Reuters)
Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday pressed Myanmars military to end its violent campaign against the countrys Rohingya Muslim minority and urged the U.N. Security Council to respond forcefully to the resulting humanitarian crisis in Southeast Asia.
Unless this violence is stopped, which justice demands, it will only get worse, and it will sow seeds of hatred and chaos that may well consume the region for generations to come and threaten the peace of us all, Pence told the U.N. Security Council.
Pence warned that the militarys terrible savagery systematic destruction of Rohingya villages, killings of civilians, leading to an exodus of hundreds of thousands into neighboring Bangladesh is ultimately endangering the sovereignty and security of the entire region.
Related slideshow: Rohingya flee to Bangladesh after Myanmar attacks >>>
The vice presidents remarks, the strongest language from Washington to date, betrayed growing U.S. impatience with Myanmar (formerly Burma) leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, who has drawn criticism for her relatively muted response.
On Tuesday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spoke to Suu Kyi, long revered at home and around the world as the countrys champion for democratic rule, and urged the Burmese government and military to facilitate humanitarian aid and confront the allegations of human rights abuses, Pence said.
And while we welcome Suu Kyis comments that returning refugees have nothing to fear, the United States renews our call on Burmas security forces to end their violence immediately and support diplomatic efforts for a long-term solution, the vice president added.
Rohingya refugees get off a boat after crossing the Bangladesh-Myanmar border through the Bay of Bengal on Sept. 11. (Photo: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters)
President Trump wants this Security Council and the United Nations to take strong and swift action to bring this crisis to an end and give hope and help to the Rohingya people in their hour of need, Pence said.
The long-simmering humanitarian crisis in the Buddhist-majority Myanmar escalated sharply with a military crackdown on Aug. 25 in the northern Rakhine State in response to attacks by Rohingya militants. Suu Kyi is skipping the U.N. General Assembly, which brought Pence and Trump to New York.
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On Sept. 14, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell warned against unfounded criticism aimed at Suu Kyi after discussing the crisis with her by telephone. McConnell, arguably Congresss leading voice on Myanmar, noted that she does not control the military.
Burmas path to representative government is not certain, and it is not over, and attacking the single political leader who has worked to further democracy within Burma is likely to hinder that objective in the long run, the senator said.
Read more from Yahoo News:
Sickening photos show blood and embalming fluid leaking from behind a Louisiana funeral home Thursday and seeping onto the street, according to WBRZ.
To many, the large puddles that formed from the mixture appeared to be straight from a horror film, but a spokesperson for Greenoaks Funeral Home blames the horrific sight on the sewage system in Baton Rouge.
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William Daniel, director of city-parish environmental services, told the Advocate the mixture flowed from a storage tank that holds excess fluid behind the building. He said a blockage in a valve prompted the leak, which ended up taking about 20 minutes to contain.
Fortunately, the leak didn't affect the public sewer system or storm drains as it took place on private property, officials told KATC.
SEE ALSO: People with the highest cancer death rates live in this state
The funeral home has since apologized for the incident and issued a statement saying that as soon as they noticed it they were able to immediately stop the leak, clean and disinfect the area.
The funeral home, which is under new management, reportedly did not have a permit with the Department of Environmental Services. It is unclear whether or not there will be repercussions.
A police car was set on fire at the Georgia Institute of Technology on the night of September 18, during protests against the fatal police shooting of a student the previous day.
Georgia Tech student Scout Schultz was fatally shot by campus police on the universitys Atlanta campus late Saturday, September 16, after refusing drop a knife.
Protests erupted on the campus Monday night, coinciding with a vigil planned for that night.
This video shows a campus police car on fire. Credit: Instagram/dyoo31 via Storyful
(UNITED NATIONS) President Donald Trump, in a combative debut speech to the U.N. General Assembly, threatened the total destruction' of North Korea if it does not abandon its drive toward nuclear weapons.
Trump, who has ramped up his rhetoric throughout the escalating crisis with North Korea, told the murmuring crowd at the U.N. on Tuesday that it is far past time for the nations of the world to confront Kim Jong Un and said that Kims reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons poses a threat to the entire world with an unthinkable loss of human life.
Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime, Trump said about the North Korean leader. He said of the U.S.: If it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.
Elected on the nationalist slogan America First, Trump argued that individual nations should act in their own self-interest, yet rally together when faced with a common threat. Using bellicose language rare for an U.S. president at the rostrum of the United Nations, Trump touched upon hot spots around the globe, declaring The scourge of our planet is a group of rogue regimes.
He urged nations to join together to stop Irans nuclear program he declared the deal to restrain it an embarrassment for the United States and defeat loser terrorists who have struck violence across the globe. He denounced radical Islamic terrorism, the inflammatory label he has recently shied away from. He warned that some violence-plagued portions of the world are going to hell. And he made little mention of Russia.
North Korea drew most of Trumps attention and anger.
Trump, who has previously warned of fire and fury if Pyongyang does not back down, claimed that no one has shown more contempt for other nations and for the well-being of their own people than the depraved regime in North Korea. And he scolded nations that it was an outrage to enabled and traded with North Korea, seeming to slight China, though he did not mention it by name.
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Addressing the General Assembly is a milestone moment for any president, but one particularly significant for Trump, a relative newcomer to foreign policy who has at times rattled the international community with his unpredictability. He has pulled the Unites States out of multinational agreements, considered shrinking the U.S. military footprint in the world and deployed bombastic language on North Korea that has been criticized by other world leaders.
Trump frequently belittled the U.N. as a candidate and some within his White House believe the U.N acts as a global bureaucracy that infringes on the sovereignty of individual countries. He urged the world leaders to embrace their own national sovereignty to do more to ensure the prosperity and security of their own countries.
But the president stood before world leaders and a global audience and declared that U.N. members, acting as a collection of self-interested nations, should unite to confront global dangers.
I will always put American first. Just like you, the leaders of your countries, should and always put your countries first, said Trump, who assured the U.N. that the United States would not abdicate its leadership position in the world but needed other countries to contribute more.
The U.S. will forever be a great friend to the world and especially to its allies, the Republican president said. But we can no longer be taken advantage of or enter into a one-sided deal in which the United States gets nothing in return.
World leaders, many of whom will be seeing Trump in person for the first time, were certain to take the measure of the man and parse his every word for clues on how he views the U.S. role in the world and within the U.N. Trumps remarks produced surprised chatter in the crowd and the North Korean delegation, assigned by a lottery to a seat near the front, departed as the president began speaking.
Trump also called the U.N.-backed Iran nuclear deal an embarrassment to the United States and suggested it was one of the worst international pacts ever struck. And he hinted that his administration, which has accused Tehran of aiding terrorism in the Middle East, could soon declare Iran out of compliance with the deal, which could unravel it.
I dont think youve heard the end of it, Trump said. Believe me.
He vowed again to take the fight to terrorists but warned that parts of the region were so plagued by violence and poverty, they were going to hell. He also decried the disastrous rule of Venezuelas Nicolas Maduro and urged the U.N. to step in.
It is completely unacceptable and we cannot stand by and watch, Trump said.
To put it simply, we meet at a time of both immense promise and of great peril, he said. It is entirely up to us whether we lift the world to new heights or let it fall into a valley of disrepair.
Outside of an oblique reference to a threat to Ukraines sovereignty, Trump made no mention of Russia or its president Vladimir Putin. He again chastised the U.N. for what he said was its bloated budget and bureaucracy but did not threaten Washingtons commitment to the world body. He pledged the United States would be partners in your work to make the organization a more effective force for world peace.
While running for office, Trump had labeled the U.N. weak and incompetent. He has suggested it was not a friend to the United States or democracy while deriding it as a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time.
He spoke often during the presidential campaign about putting America first, and has withdrawn from some multilateral agreements that he found unfavorable to the United States, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. He also announced his intention to withdraw from the Paris climate accord, which would leave the U.S. one of the few countries outside the pact. Aides have since suggested Trump would be willing to renegotiate terms of the deal but European leaders have dismissed that approach.
The administration has shied away from talk of nation-building or creating democracies through the use of the U.S. military.
We do not expect diverse countries to share the same cultures, traditions or same systems of government, Trump said at the U.N. He added that he does expect all nations to respect the interest of their own people and the rights of every other sovereign nation.
All year every year, streams of North Korean schoolchildren make the pilgrimage to Sinchon, a farming town south of Pyongyang. There, a palatial museum teaches them a fundamental lesson: America is the enemy.
Each diorama-filled room of the Sinchon Museum of United States Atrocities is dedicated to the jackals that infiltrated into all areas of life of the Korean people to suck blood out of the country. From brainwashing missionaries to the Hitler-esque U.S. troops who, displays claim, slaughtered 35,000 civilians nearby at the start of the 1950-53 Korean War America is portrayed as craving to exterminate the free people of Korea.
The massacres committed by the U.S. imperialist aggressors in Sinchon evidently showed that they are cannibals and homicides seeking pleasure in slaughter, Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un said during a visit in 2014, according to state news agency KCNA.
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump did his bit for Sinchons gate receipts and Kims propaganda machine in general. Addressing the U.N. General Assembly in New York for the first time, Trump said, If [the U.S.] is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. He added a snarking rebuke for the Supreme Leader: Rocket man is on a suicide mission.
Kim Jong Uns efforts to develop a ballistic missile that can strike the continental U.S. shouldnt be a laughing matter for the U.S. commander-in-chief, though a sense of frustration seeps through his jibes. More worrying, however, is that Trump is playing into the hands of the Stalinist regimes victim complex by threatening its annihilation. Such rhetoric endorses the propaganda posters that pepper the isolated state, urging death to U.S. imperialists, and for its embattled 25 million populace to remain on a war footing, sacrificing freedoms to be a state of perpetual combat readiness.
This is just a boon to North Korea, Prof. Stephan Haggard, a Korea expert at the UC San Diego School of Global Policy, says of Trumps speech. Because you have a regime that has built its entire existence around the idea that the United States is out to destroy them, and the U.S. President is saying just that.
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Indulging that feeling naturally makes the regime less, not more, likely to negotiate to halt its weapons program. Libyan tyrant Muammar Gaddafi and Iraqi despot Saddam Hussein were both coaxed into abandoning their nuclear ambitions, only for the U.S. help topple their regimes when the political winds changed. Trumps U.N. speech which also took aim at fellow rogue regimes like Iran and Venezuela painted redemption as nigh impossible. Margot Wallstrom, foreign minister of Sweden, called it, a speech at the wrong time to the wrong audience.
Its a viewpoint shared by China. In an editorial, the state-run China Daily said: todays dangerous deadlock has been the result of Pyongyangs and Washingtons persistent pursuit of their own interests in disregard of other countries efforts to persuade the two antagonists to talk. [Trumps] threat to totally destroy the DPRK if need be will, therefore, likely worsen the already volatile situation.
Nor does it make much sense. Kim has tested 22 missiles and a 120-kiloton nuclear device his nations sixth this year alone in his bid to achieve military equilibrium with the U.S. His latest missile flew further than the distance to U.S. Pacific territory than Guam. Given the conventional, and possible nuclear, weaponry North Korea could use against U.S. allies South Korea and Japan, Trumps threats are largely impotent. They also drive a wedge between Americas East Asian alliances.
China will be worried about the speech, like other related countries around the world, Shi Yinhong, professor of international relations at Beijings Renmin University, tells TIME. Its such an important forum. Its hard for South Korea to follow Trump when he is as wild as this. And the gap between China and America on this issue will deepen.
Keeping Beijing on side is paramount for the strength of U.N. sanctions, given China is responsible for around 90% of North Korean trade across the 880-mile shared frontier. China has the power to rein the shadowy cross-border cartels that provide the revenue that keep Pyongyangs nuclear program solvent, by clamping down on the Chinese members. However, Beijing will never squeeze hard enough to foment the collapse of the regime and an influx of refugees, especially as uniting the peninsular may put U.S. troops on its border.
There is also resistance within the Chinese leadership on ideological matters. While many consider North Koreas escalating nuclear and missile tests a dangerous provocation, there remain hardliners who believe North Korea is a socialist brother worthy of Beijings support. While it is hard to gauge all the opinions within the opaque Chinese Communist Party, there are some clues.
Zhou Xiaojia, a postdoctoral researcher at Fudan University of Shanghai, recently published an ambitious survey titled, The North Korean Nuclear Issue and the Perspectives of Chinese Scholars. In it she found a broad swath of opinions, from those that backed Washington, to those that supported Beijings attempts to peacefully cajole Kim to relinquish his nuclear arsenal, to those that supported North Koreas right to have a nuclear deterrent. It is likely that Chinas governing officials fall into similar camps. Trumps rhetoric, however, bolsters the claims of those who say North Korea is the victim of American aggression.
Which is exactly the impression Kim wants to inculcate, and why, after his visit in 2014, the young despot ordered a full refurbishment of the Sinchon museum. A grand new exhibition hall was constructed with terrifying fresh exhibits, such as a display of an American soldier pulling the hair of a young Korean woman lashed to a tree, as another Yankee plunges a knife into her chest. For Kim, threats of total destruction are not concern but a source of succor. Adds Haggard: theres a rally around the flag when youre under this type of assault.
With reporting by Yang Siqi/Beijing
President Trump has a long history of consorting with conspiracy theorists, including Alex Jones and Roger Stone. He has expressed paranoid speculation about global warming, foreign business competition and the American electoral system. That attitude has infected his administration, where, according to a report in the New York Times, White House officials privately express fear that colleagues may be wearing a wire to surreptitiously record conversations for [special counsel Robert] Mueller an unprecedented level of suspicion at the upper echelons of an American presidency.
Are those fears justified? How did we get to this point?
Michael DAntonio, the author of Trump biographies Never Enough and The Truth About Trump, said the president has confessed to being a little paranoid and suggested this can help someone succeed in business.
I think Trump is temperamentally inclined toward conspiracy theories and, at the same time, disinclined to do the work of studying matters fully, DAntonio told Yahoo News. It takes a flexible, curious mind to seek out competing ideas and weigh them. Then it takes even more rigor to fashion a complex solution to a vexing problem. Its much easier to listen to one or two voices who affirm your preconceptions and dismiss all others because they are somehow against you.
According to DAntonio, paranoia is an easy way out for someone like Trump, who is so upset by the prospect of being wrong that he almost never admits that he is.
This frame of mind allows him to cling to the belief that anyone who criticizes him is out to get him and that their observations are attacks which must be met with a force that is, in his words, 10 times greater. Paranoia justifies obliterating opponents because they dont just disagree, they are out to get you, he said.
Donald F. McGahn, an American campaign finance lawyer, exits Trump Tower in New York City, Jan. 14, 2017. (Digitally enhanced photo: Stephanie Keith/Reuters)
On Sunday, the New York Times published an in-depth article about the hostility and clashes between Donald F. McGahn, the White House counsel and assistant to the president, and Ty Cobb, a lawyer tasked with running the Trump camps response to the federal investigation into Russian meddling. A particularly revealing passage states that White House staffers fear their colleagues may be wearing a wire to help Mueller:
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Tension between the two comes as life in the White House is shadowed by the investigation. Not only do Mr. Trump, Mr. Kushner and Mr. McGahn all have lawyers, but so do other senior officials. The uncertainty has grown to the point that White House officials privately express fear that colleagues may be wearing a wire to surreptitiously record conversations for Mr. Mueller.
There is no outside evidence to support those fears, but it would be a remarkable development, almost certainly unprecedented, if investigators were recruiting White House staffers to secretly record other members of the administration.
To be sure, historians and White House experts say its unlikely law enforcement and intelligence agencies have resorted to this tactic, now or in the past.
As far as someone wearing a wire from the special prosecutor, I dont know of that ever happening before. And certainly if it happened during the Watergate investigation, it never became public, Richard Benedetto, a retired White House correspondent and professor of journalism at American University, said.
Benedetto suggested the White House staff must feel an awful lot of pressure from the Mueller investigation and the media right now.
Special counsel Robert Mueller departs after briefing members of the U.S. Senate on his investigation into potential collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 21, 2017. (Digitally enhanced photo: Joshua Roberts/Reuters)
Theres a Mueller story in the press almost every single day many times more than one, he said. That causes a lot of people to not only soul-search but look over their shoulders.
Matthew Dallek, a political historian at George Washington University and a Yahoo News contributor, said it is not surprising that staffers would worry someone is wearing a wire given the White Houses chaotic response to the Mueller probe and Trumps own extreme defensiveness.
Hes got these outside lawyers and White House counsel. Trump sort of breeds suspicion and paranoia in people around him and for good reason. He intentionally attacks them in front of one another and undercuts them behind their backs, Dallek said in a phone interview.
Dallek suggested that this fear among Trumps aides and lawyers is a reflection of the frequent leaking to the press from people privy to sensitive meetings, as well as the culture of paranoia that has gripped this White House and the culture of conspiracy theories that Trump has fostered.
Behind this fear, he said, is a very aggressive special counsel with a team of leading lawyers pursuing criminal charges on an array of issues that directly lead to the president in some cases, including obstruction of justice.
But, he added, In terms of evidence that people are entering the White House wearing a wire on behalf of the special counsel, theres obviously no evidence of that. That would be unprecedented.
Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, President-elect Donald Trumps choice for national security adviser, waits for an elevator in the lobby at Trump Tower, Dec. 12, 2016, in New York City. (Digitally enhanced photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Dallek told Yahoo News he doesnt know of an instance in which a White House aide did the bidding of an investigation by wearing a wire. He said anyone who may have had a reason to cooperate with investigators, such as former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort or former national security adviser Michael Flynn, has already left Trumps inner circle.
Renato Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor in the Securities and Commodities Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorneys Office, said fears of a staffer wearing a wire likely are the product of the active imaginations of administration officials, betraying the lack of trust that pervades the administration. He suggested that Trumps management style of fostering competition for favor may contribute to this atmosphere, which he adds is counterproductive to mounting a legal defense.
You have a team that is so disunified that you have the lawyers hiding information from each other, openly talking in public restaurants about their distrust and dislike of each other, screaming at each other, Mariotti told Yahoo News. When you are fighting a federal prosecution, you need to be unified and present a common, united front.
According to Mariotti, the government wants people who are the subjects of investigations to be at odds with one another so these differences can be exploited to make them provide information. He said he would expect the presidents legal team to be more unified, with open discussion about the best path forward and tight control over what information is revealed to the outside world.
An operation thats more like that is Muellers operation, he said. Everybody in the outside world is trying to find out what that guys doing, and its not always easy to do.
But for pro-Trump media, the presidents paranoia (and by extension his staffers) is entirely justified because they see him as under siege by the political establishment and a liberal media.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, conservative pundit Dinesh DSouza and right-wing sites like Breitbart News seized upon a new report from CNN to argue that Trump had been vindicated for claiming without presenting evidence that Obama wiretapped his phones at Trump Tower.
Trump: I was "wire tapped"
CNN: Haha. That idiot @realDonaldTrump thinks he was wiretapped.
..Six months later..
CNN: Trump was wiretapped Julian Assange (@JulianAssange) September 19, 2017
So Obama WAS wiretapping @realDonaldTrump after allonce again Trump is right & the media hyenas prove to be wrong Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) September 19, 2017
But they are overstating the facts. On Monday evening, CNN reported that former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was under FBI surveillance as a result of his consulting work for former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovychs pro-Russian party. At some point last year the surveillance was dropped, but resumed, under a new warrant, as investigators turned their attention to ties between Trumps associates and suspected Russian operatives. U.S. investigators reportedly listened to Manaforts conversations sporadically before and after the election including when he was Trumps campaign chairman. It was not known whether the agents picked up calls with Trump.
Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my wires tapped in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism! Trump said in the first of four tweets in March accusing his predecessor of malfeasance.
At the time, Trumps accusation was widely ridiculed and dismissed, provoking a rare response from Obama through his spokesman, Kevin Lewis: A cardinal rule of the Obama administration was that no White House official ever interfered with any independent investigation led by the Department of Justice. As part of that practice, neither President Obama nor any White House official ever ordered surveillance on any U.S. citizen. Any suggestion otherwise is simply false.
In a court filing on Sept. 1, the Justice Department said there is no evidence to support Trumps claim. The departments National Security Division and the FBI confirmed that they have no records related to wiretaps as described by Trump.
Paul Manafort, campaign manager for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, is interviewed on the floor of the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans Arena, July 17, 2016, in Cleveland. (Digitally enhanced photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)
To state the obvious, for the FBI to monitor Manafort because of his Ukrainian and Russian connections is not the same thing as Obama personally ordering a wiretap on Trump himself.
Even though there is no evidence of Trump being wiretapped, David M. Shapiro, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a former FBI special agent who worked in counterintelligence against the Soviet Union, said he would not be surprised if it turns out that the real estate tycoon had been tracked by the intelligence community but for his foreign business dealings rather than politics.
If youre running an intelligence operation, its largely based on risk assessment, like anything else in law enforcement. You dont want to throw good money after bad adventures, Shapiro told Yahoo News.
Shapiro said surveillance of suspected foreign agents is a high-risk activity for law enforcement, reserved for figures who are believed to be major actors. Even before he became president, Trump was a prominent businessman with investments and interests overseas.
I dont think Trump has been treated unfairly here, Shapiro said. Although like a lot of what Trump says there are kernels of truth to what seems like madness at times.
Read more from Yahoo News:
Photo credit: Getty
From ELLE UK
A day after Kate Middleton made her first public appearance in a video for mental health and three weeks after announcing she was expecting her third child, Prince William has suggested that the due date for their little one might be sooner than we expected.
On 4 September, Kensington Palace announced the news the Duchess was expecting another royal baby, leading many people to presume the royal family was waiting until the recommended three-month mark before announcing the pregnancy.
As a result, it was widely thought the baby was expected to arrive sometime in April 2018.
However during a visit with Spitalfields Crypt Trust, a charity that supports those dealing with homelessness and addiction in East London, Prince William dropped a major hint that his wife might be further on in her pregnancy than we were originally led to believe.
Today The Duke of Cambridge is visiting the Spitalfields Crypt Trust, a charity that helps people recover from addiction & homelessness. pic.twitter.com/DF8M9H6ISx - Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 19, 2017
Congratulated for expecting his third child with Kate Middleton at the site visit, William told one midwife: 'All the best with the midwifery, I may see you sooner than you think.'
SCT operates a homeless drop-in centre, as well as providing a personal development & training centre where students can learn life skills. pic.twitter.com/nqTGwGJGrc - Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 19, 2017
Following the meeting, the Prince received a wooden owl as a gift for his newborn-and two more for Prince George and Princess Charlotte, so they wouldn't get jealous, reports People.
'We don't want arguments,' he joked.
The father-of-two also quipped with hairstylist Taz Kabria at a men's hairdressers next door to the charity: 'I don't have much hair, I can't give you much business.'
Could baby number three be coming sooner than we thought?
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Barcelona (AFP) - Catalonia's executive admitted Thursday that plans for an outlawed independence referendum had been dealt a major blow by a police crackdown, but vowed to press ahead, urging support from the international community.
In Barcelona, several thousand protesters flooded the streets for a second day running after police detained key members of the team organising the October 1 vote in the wealthy northeastern region which is deeply divided over independence.
The protesters gathered outside the High Court demanding that the leaders be freed, while a Catalan government spokesman said eight of the 14 people arrested had been released.
The arrests, as well as Wednesday's seizure of nearly 10 million ballots destined for the vote, have seriously damaged separatist plans to conduct a referendum with a semblance of legitimacy, even if it was never going to be recognised by Madrid.
Regional vice president Oriol Junqueras, whose deputy Josep Maria Jove was among those held, told Catalonia's TV3 that the crackdown meant "the rules of the game have been changed."
"The circumstances today are different because a significant part of our team, half of the economics team, has been arrested," he said.
"That (the referendum) cannot be held in the circumstances that we wanted is obvious," he said.
Catalonia's president Carles Puigdemont issued a statement late Thursday saying the referendum would be held "because we had prepared some plans to protect ourselves from any eventuality and guarantee the vote".
He added "there is the support a huge majority of the population which is fed up with the arrogance and the abuse of the government of the Popular Party" in Madrid.
Puigdemont also tweeted a link to a page where he said Catalans could find their polling stations -- although AFP could not get access when it tried to consult the site.
- Scottish leader weighs in -
In an open letter published in Britain's Guardian newspaper, Puigdemont called on the international community "to stand with Catalonia in its defence of democracy and true European values".
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His words earned him the support of Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the pro-independence Scottish National Party who raised concerns about the crackdown, saying the right to self-determination should be respected everywhere.
But the road ahead is complicated.
Police have seized over 45,000 notifications destined for those selected to staff the polling stations.
And they have threatened to arrest mayors who facilitate the vote if they do not comply with a criminal probe. Officials have also tightened control over the region's finances.
And Spain's interior ministry has chartered three ferries which can house up to 6,600 police who are being sent to back up forces in Catalonia.
The confiscation of millions of ballot papers delivered an added blow.
Also contributing to their woes, the Constitutional Court said Thursday it would impose a daily fine of between 6,000-12,000 euros ($7,100-$14,300) on 24 organisers until they acted in full compliance with an earlier ruling ordering a "suspension of the referendum".
"Madrid's legal response to the Catalan challenge looks increasingly likely to stop the organisation of the self-determination vote, or at least void it of any legitimacy," wrote Antonio Barroso, an analyst at Teneo Intelligence.
- Resentment growing -
But Inigo Mendez de Vigo, spokesman for the Madrid government, defended the measures, telling Spanish radio: "It would be strange if the justice system did nothing when there was disobedience."
Polls show Catalans are sharply divided on whether they want independence or not, with the latest survey in July showing 49.4 percent against and 41.1 percent in favour.
But Madrid's repeated insistence on the illegal nature of the independence drive has generated much resentment in a region where separatists were once far fewer.
And critics in both camps say the central government has not made any attempt to win over hearts and minds.
This has led to a perception that the central government doesn't care -- a perception exacerbated by the recent economic crisis and the fact that Catalonia pays more in taxes than it receives in investments and transfers from Madrid.
EU officials have remained tight-lipped on the issue regarding it as an internal matter for Spain.
"Recognising Catalonia would create a terrible precedent for the EU, one which Brussels would find very hard to manage and which every separatist movement would try to use in future," Dan Dungaciu, the head of the Institute of Political Sciences and International Relations of the Romanian Academy told AFP.
- 'Not constructive' -
Juan Jose Moya, a 63-year-old caretaker who is against independence said that "both governments have bad policies," referring to the administration in Madrid and the one in Barcelona.
But he was not impressed by the arrests.
"It's not constructive," he said.
"It would have been best to have a referendum agreed by the government," he added, noting that the Catalan executive was also at fault as it had been "unable to negotiate."
Despite the divisions, a large majority of Catalans want to vote in a legitimate referendum to settle the matter, polls show.
By Yara Bayoumy and Jeff Mason UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on Tuesday renewed a call for "unconditional dialogue" to end a crisis pitting Qatar against four Arab states while U.S. President Donald Trump said he expected the dispute to be resolved quickly. Speaking from the podium of the 193-member United Nations General Assembly, Sheikh Tamim renewed the call "for an unconditional dialogue based on mutual respect for sovereignty". Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain cut diplomatic and trade links with Qatar on June 5, suspending air and shipping routes with the worlds biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas, which is home to the regions biggest U.S. military base. The nations say Doha supports regional foe Iran and Islamists, charges Qatars leaders deny. Kuwait has been trying to mediate and the United States has taken an increasingly robust role in trying to end the crisis, but as yet to no avail. Trump and Sheikh Tamim later held a meeting in which the emir was careful to emphasize the strong Qatar-U.S. relationship after Trump appeared to be more sympathetic to the Saudi position at the start of the crisis. Qatar hosts Al Udeid air base, the largest U.S. military facility in the Middle East. "As you said, Mr. President, we have a problem with our neighbours," Tamim said, adding that with Trump's intervention, "hopefully we can find a solution for this problem." Trump, who has said he would be willing to mediate the worst dispute in decades among the U.S.-allied Arab states and Qatar, said he had a "very strong feeling" the dispute would be solved "pretty quickly". In a speech severely criticizing the four Arab states' conduct during the dispute, the emir said the countries were inflicting damage on the "war on terror." "The countries who imposed the blockade on the State of Qatar interfere in the internal affairs of many countries, and accuse all those who oppose them domestically and abroad with terrorism. By doing that they are inflicting damage on the war on terror," Sheikh Tamim said in his speech to the annual gathering of world leaders. "We have refused to yield to dictations by pressure and siege." A Gulf official from one of the opposing countries said it was "unfortunate that Emir Tamim continues to talk about a blockade when even he in the same speech acknowledged that his ship lanes are open." "It's disappointing that he talks about interference in the internal affairs of others while refusing to admit that is a core part of the four nations' complaints against Qatar," the official added. Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia suspended any dialogue with Qatar, accusing it of distorting facts, just after a report of a phone call between the leaders of the two countries suggested a breakthrough in the Gulf dispute. Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke by the telephone with Qatars emir in the first publicly reported contact between the two leaders since the start of the crisis. (Writing by Yara Bayoumy; Editing by James Dalgleish)
BLAINE COUNTY The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has weighed in on whether the Wood River Valley needs a secondary power transmission line.
Idaho Power Co. wants to construct a 12-mile line from Hailey to Sun Valley, saying it would add better redundancy for customers all the way to Galena Summit.
But the Blaine County Planning and Zoning Commission denied the companys conditional use permit application earlier this year. At an Aug. 1 public hearing, the Blaine County Commission heard an appeal from Idaho Power, but upheld the P&Zs decision.
The Blaine County P&Z and the city of Ketchum have argued a new line isnt necessary, will be an eyesore and is less efficient than using alternative local power generation.
The PUC, however, determined a new transmission line through Blaine County is necessary to protect the health and safety of 9,000 residents. It granted a certificate for public convenience and necessity this month.
The CPCN is an important milestone, Idaho Power spokeswoman Stephanie McCurdy said. But theres more work and more collaboration going forward.
The commission said in its decision it was persuaded that structure failure along the existing line, with no redundant source of power, could result in a major outage lasting days or weeks due to limited access.
We believe this possibility poses an unacceptable risk to public health and safety, the commission said.
But Idaho Power still needs a conditional use permit from Blaine County to move forward with the project.
McCurdy said the deadline for petitions for reconsideration of the PUCs decision is Oct. 6. After that date, the company plans to meet with Blaine County officials to try to come up with an amended plan. This plan could address concerns such as those regarding pole heights, she said.
We plan to submit a new conditional use permit application with Blaine County, McCurdy said.
The new line, as proposed, was expected to cost $30 million and include 10 miles of overhead lines through Blaine County and 2 miles of underground lines through Ketchum and Sun Valley.
Idaho Power has been working to create the new line since 2007 so it can rebuild its existing 1962 line without planned power outages.
Another one of our favorite Hollywood couples, Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen, have reportedly split.
Theyve been on the outs for a couple of months. They are completely, officially done, a source told Us Weekly, which was first to report the news. The individual claimed distance played a part in the split, as Bilson is living full-time in Los Angeles while Christensen is in Toronto, Canada.
Another source confirmed the split to E! News, saying, It was a gradual buildup of issues and problems. They were in agreement it was time to move on as a couple.
They have very different lifestyles and interests, the source added. Rachel is very social and likes to hang out with friends. Hayden is reclusive and off the grid. She accepted that for a long time, but sometimes it was a lot to handle.
HuffPost has reached out to reps for both Bilson and Christensen for more information and will update this post accordingly.
Bilson and Christensen met in 2007 while filming Jumper together, and have been on and off over the years. In December 2008, the pair got engaged, but in June 2010, they decided to take a break. By August of that year, the two had called off their engagement, though, just a few months later the couple decided to give their relationship another go.
Three years later, in October 2014, Bilson gave birth to the couples daughter, Briar Rose.
According to the source who spoke to E!, Bilson remains close with Christensens family and hopes they can still be a family and do things together.
Also on HuffPost
Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt
The couple, who were together for 11 years and married for two, announced their plans to divorce in September. Since then, Jolie and Pitt have been involved in an intense custody battle over the safety of their six children.
Amber Heard & Johnny Depp
Heard and Depp were married for 15 months before calling it quits in May. Shortly after, the actress claimed she was a repeated victim of domestic violence at the hands of Depp and soon the pair were entangled in a nasty divorce saga. They reached a settlement in August, with Depp agreeing to pay Heard $6.8 million, but after a recent mix-up, the actor is taking a step back. Heard plans on donating all the money to charity.
Lady Gaga & Taylor Kinney
After five years together, the engaged couple called it quits in July. But, Gaga did take to social media to say they hope to one day rekindle their love.
"Taylor and I have always believed we are soulmates," she wrote on Instagram. "Just like all couples we have ups and downs, and we have been taking a break. We are both ambitious artists, hoping to work through long-distance and complicated schedules to continue the simple love we have always shared. Please root us on. We're just like everybody else and we really love each other."
Naomi Watts & Liev Schreiber
After 11 years together, Watts and Schreiber, who were never married, called it quits in September. They remain dedicated to sharing a friendship and raising their two young sons together.
Drew Barrymore & Will Kopelman
Barrymore and her third husband, Kopelman, split in April after nearly four years of marriage. They share two daughters together, Olive, 4, and Frankie, 2.
Diane Kruger & Joshua Jackson
After 10 years together, Kruger and Jackson ended their relationship in July. They remain friends.
Taylor Swift & Calvin Harris
Swift and Harris, who dated for over a year, surprisingly called it quits in June. Since then, there has been some bad blood, Hiddleswift and breakup songs, but it appears all is settled now.
Taylor Swift & Tom Hiddleston
Speaking of Hiddleswift, they caused quite the commotion when they were photographed in Rhode Island in June, but broke up after three months together.
Shannon De Lima & Marc Anthony
Anthony and his third wife, De Lima, split in November after two years of marriage.
Mariah Carey & James Packer
Mariah and her billionaire fiance ended things in October after having a fight while away in Greece. They were together for two years.
Demi Lovato & Wilmer Valderrama
Young lovebirds Lovato and Valderrama decided to end their six-year relationship in June, saying, This was an incredibly difficult decision for both of us, but we have realized more than anything that we are better as best friends. We will always be supportive of one another.
Kirsten Dunst & Garrett Hedlund
After four years of dating, Dunst and Hedlund split in April. Shortly after, Dunst began dating her "Fargo" co-star Jesse Plemons.
Christie Brinkley & John Mellencamp
In August, the couple split after a year of dating. They vowed to remain best friends.
Jennifer Meyer & Tobey Maguire
The longtime couple separated in October after nine years of marriage. They have two children together -- daughter Ruby, 10, and son Otis, 7.
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
British adventurer Emma Kelty, 43, who has been killed while on a solo kayaking expedition in the Brazilian Amazon - PA
One of the men suspected of murdering British canoeist Emma Kelty in the Amazon jungle last week has been shot dead.
Brazilian police said that 24-year-old Evanilson Gomes da Costa, known as Baia, was shot twice in the early hours of Wednesday morning at his home in the remote town of Coari and then died in hospital.
Evanilson Gomes da Costa, known as Baia Credit: Brazilian Police
They believe that a member of another gang of pirates went after da Costa to steal the valuables he had robbed from Miss Kelty, including mobile telephones, a tablet, a GoPro camera and a drone.
Police said that before dying in hospital da Costa identified the man who shot him. They are currently trying to locate the suspect, who is already known to local police.
Emma Kelty Credit: Twitter/Emt101s
Police believe that da Costa was the leader of the local gang of pirates responsible for killing Miss Kelty.
A police spokeswoman said: After killing Emma and stealing her money and possessions, the suspects celebrated and drew a lot of attention to themselves. Other criminals came looking for them.
So in or near coari (100km away) i will have my boat stolen and i will be killed too. Nice Emma Tamsin Kelty (@Emt101s) September 10, 2017
A 17-year-old boy has allegedly confessed in custody that on the night of Wednesday 13 September, members of da Costas gang shot Miss Kelty twice with a sawn-off shotgun and then dumped her body in the river.
Two other members of the gang have also been arrested. The police are hunting for three other men linked with the attack and are trying to track down the stolen goods.
Turned corner and found 50 guys in motor boats with arrows!!! My face mist hve been a picture!! (Town was uber quiet... too quiet!!) all go Emma Tamsin Kelty (@Emt101s) September 12, 2017
The Brazilian Navy and rescue services are continuing to search for Miss Keltys body.
The search for Miss Kelty was launched after she triggered a distress signal at about the same time as the attack is believed to have occurred. Her kayak was discovered on a lawless stretch of beach along with some of her belongings.
Three days before she was last heard from, Miss Kelty wrote on Facebook on September 10: So in or near coari (100km away) i will have my boat stolen and i will be killed too. Nice.
Moscow (AFP) - Russia on Tuesday accused US-backed rebels in Syria of targeting regime forces to try to halt their advance against Islamic State jihadists around the city of Deir Ezzor.
In a statement the Russian military said it had received reports from Syrian generals that regime forces that crossed the strategic Euphrates River were faced with "gunfire from the north" near Deir Ezzor.
Moscow claimed that shooting came from a zone controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) supported by Washington.
The statement also accused the rebels of opening dams on the Euphrates to stop government forces from crossing the river.
"A few hours after the Syrian forces started to cross the river, the water level rose and the speed of outflow doubled," it said.
Despite this, Russia said that Syrian forces have captured some 60 square kilometres (23 square miles) of territory on the eastern side of the river after bridging it on Monday.
Until Monday, Syrian troops had been fighting only west of the Euphrates, while the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces waged a rival offensive against IS east of the river.
To prevent the two operations from clashing, the coalition, the SDF, Syria's government and Russia have agreed on a "de-confliction line" in northeast Syria.
That line runs from the neighbouring province of Raqa southeast along the Euphrates to Deir Ezzor.
On Saturday, however, the US-led coalition backing the SDF accused Russian aviation of bombing them in the north east of Deir Ezzor, which Moscow denies.
A spokesman for the US-led coalition targeting IS Colonel Ryan Dillon said he did not "know how that could be the case" that the SDF or coalition were slowing the Syrian advance.
Dillon said it was "beneficial" to have all sides there, adding: "IS now has to swivel their heads to the east and to the west and to the north, because they're being assaulted from so many different directions".
Moscow (AFP) - A ruling by the European Court of Human Rights criticising Russias handling of the Beslan siege which left hundreds dead will not be contested, the justice ministry said Wednesday.
In April the ECHR found "serious failings" in Russia's response to the 2004 school siege in which 330 people died, 186 of them children.
It ordered Russia to pay a total of three million euros ($3.2 million) in compensation to 409 surviving hostages and relatives of the deceased.
At the time, the Kremlin reacted furiously, saying the judgement was "absolutely unacceptable" and challenging it in a higher chamber, arguing that several of the court's conclusions were "not backed up".
But earlier this week, the court rejected the challenge, effectively finalising the ruling -- which Moscow on Wednesday agreed to accept.
In a statement, the justice ministry said the court's decision was now "deemed to have come into force", noting that it would not raise any further challenge.
- Not done enough -
In its earlier ruling, the court said the Russian authorities had not done enough to prevent the siege despite having "sufficiently specific information" about the attackers' plans.
And it said the use of "lethal force by the security forces" had contributed to casualties among hostages.
In response, Russia argued that the circumstances of the siege "needed a more in-depth and balanced examination", saying the ECHR ruling could "create problems for preventing acts of terror".
Chechen militants demanding that Moscow withdraw troops from Chechnya attacked the school on September 1, 2004, holding 1,100 people, including 800 children, in a school gym rigged with explosives.
After three days of negotiations, explosions inside the building prompted security forces to storm the school.
The lawyer for the hostages and their relatives, Mikhail Trepashkin, on Tuesday said his clients were not pleased with the ECHR decision because it outlined "inadequate" compensation.
The Beslan massacre was one of a string of brutal attacks Russia suffered in the 1990s and 2000s stemming mainly from an insurgency in Chechnya that morphed from a separatist rebellion into an Islamist campaign.
There were two separatist wars in Chechnya in the 1990s and 2000s, but violence in the region has largely been suppressed under the iron-fisted rule of strongman leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
British people have been stranded around the globe by the airline - Facebook/BBC/Reuters
Ryanair passengers have been left stranded for days at a time, with some desperate to get back to young children and others racking up huge and unexpected bills as they are forced to stay abroad for longer than planned.
Because of the multiple flight cancellations, Britons have been left in foreign countries, with some unable to get a new flight for days.
The budget airline has announced a 2 per cent reduction in scheduled flights until the end of October.
This has left some unable to return to work after their trips, and cost an unaffordable amount in unexpected hotel bills. Some, frustrated by how long they say it has taken to get a new flight from the airline, have shelled out for last-minute return journeys from other, more expensive, airline providers.
Kenny Jacobs, Ryanairs chief marketing officer, has said the company was working hard to fix the problem, but some don't think it is being resolved fast enough.
The Telegraph has contacted Ryanair for further comment.
@Ryanair cancelled our return flight back to U.K from Madrid. So now we are in Madrid and stranded! 3 young children at home #Unbelievable Mat Briscoe (@matbriscoe) September 16, 2017
Entire wedding party 'split up'
Charlie Osman told the Irish Times of how members of his brother's wedding party were stuck in Bergerac, France, including sick people, old people and children.
He said: "We were unlucky enough to be affected in a pretty bad way.
"There are sick people, old people and people with children. We were not helped or advised at all from Ryanair and we had to all sort everything ourselves at our own expense. The booking was done by one person and he was informed of the cancellation via email. As we didnt have internet access, we only discovered this last minute once we arrived at the airport.
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He says the party was not offered alternatives.
He explained: "We are on average all around 400 out of pocket, with one of the grooms still stuck in France until tomorrow. The entire wedding party has been split up, I had to fly to Southampton and make my way to London. Some are in the midlands, some Birmingham and some just decided to hire a car and drive. It feels like its put a big downer on the wedding."
Extremely annoyed @Ryanair My flight was cancelled without notice AND apparently I'll be stuck in Madrid until Monday Valesca (@VaLescaL) September 16, 2017
Couple takes 13-hour trip home after being stranded in Poland
Carrie Ann Woodgate and her partner, Alan Fosberry, from Newcastle, told the BBC of how their romantic meal in Wroclaw, Poland, was ruined when they received a text message telling them their flight home had been axed.
She said: "We booked this trip in June, and have been looking forward to it as a nice thing to do in September."
They were offered a refund of their 19.99 tickets, or a rescheduled flight four days after they were supposed to return home.
Thanks @Ryanair for just leaving me stranded at faro with my daughter who is 6 months pregnant clare bear (@claretrickett) September 19, 2017
Ms Woodgate spoke of how she had lost trust in the company: "I feel pure frustration and anger at Ryanair for leaving us stuck in the middle of Poland. We rely on these companies to get us home.
"If it is a lack of staff or late flights, they knew this was coming. It is a perfect storm."
They had to resort to a 13-hour trip home via Dusseldorf.
She said: "We need to get back. Alan has work and we have a cat that needs to be fed as the neighbours are unavailable."
@Ryanair Paid for flights, accommodation, hire car, airport parking, booked time off work and arranged child care & you're running a lottery Georgeson (@P31983731) September 16, 2017
Cancer patient stuck in Madrid
Barbara Moss has been stranded in Madrid Credit: Barbara Moss/Facebook
Cancer patient Barbara Moss and her husband, Mark, are trying to get home to Worcester from a cancer conference in Madrid.
They thought their text cancelling their flight must be a joke - but found out it was true.
She told the BBC: "There was no assistance.
"We waited until Saturday morning when the [information] line was supposed to reopen, but it just stated that no agents were available.
"I looked for alternative flights with the airline, but nothing was available until Friday [22 September]."
Young women stranded in Budapest
Tarryn from Chelmsford and her friend Christie are stranded in Budapest after Ryanair announced the cancellation of 1000+ flights. pic.twitter.com/qUOaTXAkE5 BBC Essex (@BBCEssex) September 18, 2017
'In tears': Hen party stranded
Kirstin Armsden, whose flight home from France was cancelled, which stranded her and the hen party she was with, told Sky News: "We're in the middle of France with no phone signals - currently in the nearest town.
"(There are) 15 girls on a hen party we are now having to split up to go home with the majority of the party leaving a night early which means we've paid for a villa we're not using and it's cutting into our holiday.
"A lot of the party are getting a 24 hour bus home - one of these girls is pregnant another suffers from Crohn's disease - as other flights were extortionately priced.
"We are all absolutely gutted and there's been a few tears!"
Absolutely useless! Leaving me and my 7 month pregnant girlfriend stranded Phil Carter (@PhilCarter_) September 19, 2017
Grandparents to miss grandchild's move to college
Cathriona told Sky News said her grandparents Kevin and Kathleen Heffernan were going to miss her move to college because Ryanair left them stranded in Germany.
She said: "They were supposed to fly out Sunday night back to Dublin and now they have to wait until Thursday with no offer of paying for hotel or transport that is going to be needed for their extra four days.
"They are very upset as I was supposed to be moving away to college on Monday and they were coming with me. Now they are going to miss that milestone.
"They are quite distraught and upset as they have already been away for nearly a week and I think the fact they didn't even get a phone call to explain why has just made them equally angry and upset."
Reading the #Ryanair stories whilst stranded in madrid. The customer service is awful was offered a flight five days later!No help from them Mat Briscoe (@matbriscoe) September 18, 2017
When is the full list of services affected coming out?
The Irish carrier broke the news over the weekend that it was set to cancel as many as 470,000 bookings on 40 to 50 flights daily. After a delay releasing the full details of those services affected, it now says it will publish a full list on its website by Tuesday.
Ryanairs chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs said passengers due to fly on cancelled services would receive an email. We advise customers to check the email addresses used to make their booking, he said.
The airline also posted a list of the cancelled flights on its website, but only up to September 20. It said customers whose flights is impacted will receive an email and a text.
The airline says passengers whose flights have been cancelled can either change their flight for free or obtain a refund.
It says that any refund will be processed within seven working days and that alternate flights will be subject to seat availability.
Q&A | Ryanair flight cancellations
CNN and the New York Times yesterday published dueling scoops on former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort.
As former FBI Director James Comey might put it: Lordy, there appear to be tapes.
First, CNN reported that U.S. government investigators wiretapped Manafort both before and after the 2016 presidential election. According to CNN, the court that provides judicial oversight for the administration of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act authorized an FBI investigation into Manafort in 2014 focused on work done by a group of Washington consulting firms for Ukraines former ruling party. Manaforts firm, among notable others, had failed to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act for work with the former pro-Russian Ukrainian government. Justice Department prosecutors reportedly halted this first investigation in 2016 because of lack of evidence, but a second warrant was later issued in service of the FBIs investigation into Russian influence of the election and potential ties between the Trump campaign and Russian operatives.
CNN reported that interest in Manafort was reignited because of intercepted communications between Manafort and suspected Russian operatives, and among the Russians themselves. The FBI also conducted physical searches: one of a storage facility belonging to Manafort and a more widely reported search of his Alexandria home in late July. Manafort was not under surveillance when he became chairman of Donald Trumps campaign, CNN sources suggested, because of the gap between the two warrants.
While CNN did not report a known start date for the second surveillance period, it suggested that the FBI had already noticed what counterintelligence agents thought was a series of odd connections between Trump associates and Russia by the time Manafort left the campaign in August. CNN describes as unclear whether FBI surveillance of Manafort took place while he was residing in Trump Tower, and there is no new evidence in this report to indicate that Trump himself was under surveillance. The Justice Department and the FBI have denied that Trump was subject to wiretapping.
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Shortly after CNNs story broke, the New York Times published its own scoop regarding Manafort. The story is largely a scene piece but includes a number of highly significant facts. The Times catalogs what it describes as aggressive tactics that special counsel Robert Mueller has employed in his investigations of Trump associates, specifically Manafort and former national security advisor Michael Flynn. First, the Times reveals that after the July raid on Manaforts residence, Muellers prosecutors warned Manafort that he would be indicted. The story also reports that Muellers team has subpoenaed several of Manaforts associates, including Jason Maloni, a former Manafort spokesman; the heads of Mercury Public Affairs and the Podesta Group; and one of Manaforts former lawyers (with Muellers team claiming an exception to attorney-client privilege). While White House officials have been given the opportunity to appear for voluntary interviews instead of before grand juries, Manaforts associates have been subpoenaed, marking a less deferential approach to the Manafort investigation. The Times suggests that Mueller, leaving no rock unturned, is investigating Manafort for possible violations of tax laws, money-laundering prohibitions and requirements to disclose foreign lobbying.
These stories come on the coattails of recent news about the Mueller investigation, including the Sept. 15 Wall Street Journal report that Facebook gave Mueller records of Russian ad purchases, apparently in response to a warrant. Earlier this month, the New York Times reported that Mueller had obtained a letter drafted by President Trump detailing his rationale for firing Comey.
Lets start with a key disclaimer: We dont know that all the reported facts in these stories are correct, and we dont know what other facts not reported may complicate the picture. So far, no other journalistic organization seems to have independently reported the key facts in these stories, giving additional reason for caution, for now. That said, the following are some initial questions on peoples minds, along with some early and necessarily preliminary answers that could change as facts continue to develop.
What does it mean that Manafort was informed he would be indicted?
The Times revelation that Manafort has been informed that he will be indicted involves a pretty spare set of reported facts. In fact, theres really only one fact: The special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, then followed the house search with a warning: His prosecutors told Mr. Manafort they planned to indict him, said two people close to the investigation. The language here is not legally precise. It could mean that Manafort has been formally informed that he is an investigative target a designation that means that prosecutors intend to ask a grand jury to indict him. It could, instead, suggest something less than that a kind of verbal aggressiveness designed to put pressure on him to cooperate.
The significance of this is that it means that Muellers investigation has reached a critical stage the point at which he may soon start making allegations in public. Those allegations may involve conduct unrelated to the Russia investigation that is, alleged bad behavior by Manafort and maybe others that does not involve the Trump campaign but which may nonetheless serve to pressure Manafort to cooperate on matters more central. Or they may involve conduct that involves his behavior with respect to the campaign itself. Note that if Manafort cooperates, we may not see anything public for a long time to come. Delay, that is, may be a sign of success. But in the absence of cooperation, the fireworks may be about to begin.
This is not the first indication in recent weeks that the Mueller investigation is nearing the litigation stage. The fact that Muellers staff executed a search warrant against Manafort in July which was first reported on Aug. 9 by the Washington Post was telling, implying that the special counsel had shown a court probable cause of criminal activity. The Times rightly notes that the circumstances of the execution of the warrant were aggressive:
It is unusual for a prosecutor to seek a search warrant against someone who, like Mr. Manafort, had already put his lawyer in contact with the Justice Department. No search warrants were executed during the investigations by Mr. Starr or Patrick J. Fitzgerald, a special counsel appointed during the George W. Bush administration to investigate the leak of the name of a C.I.A. officer. To get the warrant, Mr. Muellers team had to show probable cause that Mr. Manaforts home contained evidence of a crime. To be allowed to pick the lock and enter the home unannounced, prosecutors had to persuade a federal judge that Mr. Manafort was likely to destroy evidence. Said [Jimmy] Gurule, the former federal prosecutor, Clearly they didnt trust him. All of this suggests that theres something significant the public does not yet know about the Manafort case some reason why Mueller would, with a judges permission, behave this way.
The Wall Street Journals report that the Mueller investigation has obtained a separate warrant for materials from Facebook connected to Russian ad buys during the campaign which again suggests that a judge found probable cause of a crime is further indication of an investigation reaching critical mass. Combined with a flurry of stories about subpoenas, grand-jury appearances, and other activity, its reasonable to expect that Mueller is moving forward on a number of different fronts and is getting close to entering a litigation phase.
The key question is what he will allege, to what extent it will deal with campaign activity, and against whom he will allege it.
What the FISA warrant mean?
Under Title I of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a person can be targeted if the government establishes probable cause that he or she is the agent of a foreign power. The definition of agent of a foreign power is different for U.S. persons versus non-U.S. persons. Manafort is a U.S. person (a category that includes but is not limited to U.S. citizens). That means he can be treated as the agent of a foreign power under FISA, the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, only if the government shows probable cause that he:
(A) knowingly engages in clandestine intelligence gathering activities for or on behalf of a foreign power, which activities involve or may involve a violation of the criminal statutes of the United States; (B) pursuant to the direction of an intelligence service or network of a foreign power, knowingly engages in any other clandestine intelligence activities for or on behalf of such foreign power, which activities involve or are about to involve a violation of the criminal statutes of the United States; (C) knowingly engages in sabotage or international terrorism, or activities that are in preparation therefor, for or on behalf of a foreign power; (D) knowingly enters the United States under a false or fraudulent identity for or on behalf of a foreign power or, while in the United States, knowingly assumes a false or fraudulent identity for or on behalf of a foreign power; or (E) knowingly aids or abets any person in the conduct of activities described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) or knowingly conspires with any person to engage in activities described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C).
This means that in order for a U.S. person to qualify as the agent of a foreign power under FISA, there typically needs to be some indication of criminal conduct. That is not quite the same as the ordinary warrant requirement of a showing of probable cause that a crime has or will be committed an important distinction.
Notably, CNN reported that two FISA warrants were issued against Manafort, first before he worked for the Trump campaign and then after he was no longer affiliated with it. The first centered on work done by a group of Washington consulting firms for Ukraines former ruling party and was discontinued at some point last year for lack of evidence. While it is unclear when the second warrant began Comey has testified that the FBI investigation began in July 2016 this time it was related to the investigation of ties between Trump campaign associates and suspected Russian operatives.
Manafort isnt the first Trump advisor media reports has confirmed to be a FISA target. In April, the Washington Post reported that the government had obtained a FISA warrant against Trump advisor Carter Page also as part of an investigation into possible links between Russia and the campaign.
Are these leaks big deals and are they prosecutorial leaks?
Earlier this month, Lawfare published a guide to reading Trump-Russia stories and understanding where they are coming from. What can we say about these two reports?
Short answer: The CNN leak is bad. Lets deal with the Times article first.
The Times story shows every indication of being principally sourced to the defense bar, particularly to lawyers for Manafort himself. The opening passage, as quoted above, is sourced to two people close to the investigation. But the passage contains no information that only prosecutors or investigators would know. And a defense lawyer for a soon-to-be-indicted target can reasonably be said to be close to the investigation closer than he or she probably wants to be. The next paragraph describes the story more generally as coming from lawyers, witnesses and American officials who have described the [hardball] approach Mueller is taking. American officials here is consistent not just with people in Muellers office but with both congressional and White House staff both of whose viewpoints the story sometimes reflects and lawyers can be on the defense side as well as on the prosecution side.
Theres really only one passage in the story that gives rise to any suspicion of a prosecutorial disclosure:
His team has occasionally been caught by surprise, hearing of possibly important information only when it is revealed in the news media. This was the case in July, when Mr. Muellers prosecutors learned about email exchanges between Donald Trump Jr. and an emissary for a Kremlin-connected Russian oligarch only after they were disclosed in The New York Times, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
This could be a leak, a recent disclosure, but it could also reflect contact from the time of those earlier New York Times stories that took Muellers staff by surprise. It is not unheard of, and not necessarily inappropriate, for investigators to make contact with journalists who have gotten ahead of them on key matters by way of catching up.
The CNN story is a different matter. The story discloses FISA wiretaps against a named U.S. person. Whatever Manafort may have done, he is a citizen of this country, and this is an egregious civil liberties violation. Its also a significant compromise of national security information. Simply put, FISA information should never leak. When it does, it erodes the systems through which the government protects national security and it rightly erodes public confidence that the systems designed to protect civil liberties work as intended.
Political leaking of wiretapping information is the stuff of the Hoover era. It has no legitimate place in our politics.
Who is responsible for this particular leak is unclear. The story is, for starters, vaguely sourced. Here are all the sourcing references in the story:
This kind of sourcing is not ideal journalistic practice. It is possible that this is the best CNN could do given its relationship with the sources in question, but its not helpful to readers to have no information with which to assess a story like this. To wit, none of the references gives any indication of what sort of sources the story relies on, only that there appear to be at least three sources for individual facts and that some of them were familiar with the investigation and some were briefed on the investigation.
This isnt a lot to work with, but heres what we can say. The categories of people legitimately aware of FISA surveillance are not many. There are people associated with the FISA court. There are people associated with the FBI or the investigation. There are political echelon folks who receive intelligence product and sometimes underlying information about how it was obtained. And there are congressional oversight committees. With respect to FISA material, its reasonable to assume the sources here are not defense lawyers, as FISA material would not have been disclosed to them before any indictment. The sourcing is consistent with any of the above categories or some combination of diverse sourcing among them.
For what its worth, a congressional or political echelon leak here seems to us more likely than either an investigative leak from Muellers shop or a leak from the court. The FISA court has been a black box since its creation in 1978. Muellers shop has been very quiet since its inception and these leaks are to a considerable degree at his expense. The world, after all, now knows (assuming the story is true) that he has Manafort tapes during a period in which Trump was talking to Manafort; and Trump now has a great talking point about how his claims of having had his wires tapped have been vindicated. In that sense, at least, its a bad day for Mueller.
So was Trump right to say that he was wiretapped?
No.
Nothing in this report vindicates Trumps claims that he or Trump Tower were wiretapped.
Trump accused President Barack Obama of wiretapping him.
Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my "wires tapped" in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 4, 2017
This story reports that Manafort was a target of collection and that Trump was talking with him at the time Manafort was under surveillance. It does not report that Trump Tower, where Manafort did have an apartment, was the location of that targeting.
Press reports have indicated for months that at least one, and potentially multiple, close associates of Trump were subject to FISA warrants. It is possible now as has been noted many times since Trump tweeted his accusation in March that if the U.S. president was in communication with these individuals, his communications might have been incidentally collected. That isnt the same as being wiretapped and being subject to incidental collection as part of lawful collection against a third party really is not the same thing as being wiretapped by Obama. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R) has already attempted to spin incidental collection into presidential vindication in a bizarre series of press conferences unveiling intelligence revelations which later turned out to have been fed to him by the White House itself.
CNN reported that it is unclear whether Trump himself was picked up on the surveillance. But there isnt anything untoward about incidental collection, even if it did happen. It happens routinely in both criminal and intelligence contexts, when non-targeted individuals communicate with the target. To the extent that there has been significant additional confirmation of incidental collection of Trump campaign staff, it came in the form of the resolution of the unmasking stories also pushed by Nunes and in conservative media. Multiple stories confirm that Obama officials unmasked the names of Trump campaign officials in order to give proper context to intelligence information related to their interactions with foreign officials. Both Republicans and Democrats on the intelligence committees have concluded that there was no wrongdoing by Obama officials, and current national security advisor H.R. McMaster has determined that his predecessor, Susan Rice, did nothing wrong. Those stories contain more explicit confirmation of incidental collection than does this newest bombshell. For those who dont believe those prior stories vindicate Trumps claim of wiretapping and we do not think they do then neither does this one.
What does this mean for the Trump-Russia investigation?
No one knows for sure and take with a grain of salt anyone who predicts things confidently. Its clear that the Russia situation isnt going away anytime soon. Its clear that Mueller knows a great deal that the rest of us do not. And its clear that the White Houses public dismissiveness aside, there is real reason for the president and his coterie to worry about the many shoes left to drop. Beyond that, things remain very murky.
Consider, for example, that for all the certainty on the part of the Times that Manafort will be indicted, neither the Times nor CNN gives much hint beyond the vaguest phrases of what charges might be expected. People anticipating a swift end to this drama should temper their expectations.
Photo credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images
By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As Congress faces a possible fight over the future of the Iran nuclear agreement, senior Senate Democrats demanded on Wednesday that the Trump administration provide lawmakers with any information showing Tehran is not complying with the international pact. In a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and other Cabinet officials first reported by Reuters, the lawmakers said the administration had not provided any such information, as is required under the 2015 Iran Nuclear Review Act. Republican President Donald Trump has long criticized the nuclear agreement, one of the signature foreign policy achievements of his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama. In a speech at the United Nations on Tuesday, Trump blasted the deal reached by the United States, five other world powers and Iran, known as the JCPOA. He called it an "embarrassment to the United States." Trump is facing a mid-October deadline for certifying whether Iran is still complying with the JCPOA, in which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. On Wednesday, a senior U.S. official said Trump was leaning toward not certifying that Iran is complying with the pact, and letting Congress effectively decide whether to kill the agreement. The 2015 Iran Nuclear Review Act gives Congress the right to vote on whether to reimpose sanctions suspended under the JCPOA, once the president decides to decertify. The law also requires, however, that the president formally notify Congress of any evidence he has to justify that decision. REPUBLICAN CONCERNS While Wednesday's letter was signed only by Democrats, even some of Trump's fellow Republicans have questioned the wisdom of breaking from the agreement, unless Trump can provide concrete evidence that Iran is not complying with it. Congressional aides from both parties also said leaving the agreement seemed unnecessary, especially when Washington needs to work with international partners on complicated issues like North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles program and the civil war in Syria and refugee crisis. Ed Royce, the Republican chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, said on CNN after Trump's U.N. speech that the United States should stay in the Iran deal, but "enforce the hell out of it." The Democrats' letter on Wednesday noted that the 2015 review act required the president to provide information to Congress on any Iranian breach of the agreement or compliance concern within 10 days of receiving the information. "To date, the Senate has received no such notification and the Administration has provided little public testimony to Congress on the status of Iranian compliance with the agreement," the letter said. The letter asked the administration to provide a written report and, where appropriate, public testimony to Senate committees, before Oct. 6, if it is aware of any information suggesting Iran is not complying or that would lead Trump to conclude that the continued suspension of sanctions is not in the U.S. national security interest. The letter to Tillerson, Mattis, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, Energy Secretary Rick Perry and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats was signed by Senators Sherrod Brown, Maria Cantwell, Ben Cardin, Richard Durbin, Patrick Leahy, Jack Reed and Mark Warner. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Peter Cooney)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China and Vietnam's Communist parties have a "shared destiny" and there is great potential for bilateral economic cooperation, a senior Beijing official said on Tuesday on a visit to Vietnam, which has clashed with China over the South China Sea. Although both nations are under Communist rule, they are deeply suspicious of each other and relations have been strained over the past few years because of disputes in the strategic South China Sea. China has appeared uneasy at Vietnamese efforts to rally Southeast Asian countries over the busy swathe of sea as well as at its neighbor's growing defense ties with the United States, Japan and India. In July, under pressure from Beijing, Vietnam suspended oil drilling in offshore waters that are also claimed by China. However, Hanoi and Beijing have also tried to prevent tensions from getting out of control, and senior officials from two countries make fairly regular visits to each other. Liu Yunshan, a member of the Chinese Communist Party's elite Standing Committee that runs the country, told Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Hanoi, in the first such high level visit since relations deteriorated in July, that the two parties "constitute a community of shared destiny with strategic significance", China's official Xinhua news agency reported. "The sound and stable development of the bilateral ties will help to solidify the ruling position of the two parties, which is in the interests of the two parties and people of the two nations," Xinhua cited Liu as saying. "The two economies are highly complementary, with huge potential for practical cooperation," the report quoted him as saying. Phuc told Liu that two countries should strive to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea and avoid all activities that could increase tension, the Vietnamese government news website reported. He also urged China to "have substantial discussions soon" with Southeast Asian nations to reach a code of conduct in the disputed sea, the report said. While both the Chinese and Vietnamese reports made no direction mention of the South China Sea by Liu, they quoted him as suggesting the two countries "properly manage and control their divergences, so as to create favorable environment for bilateral cooperation". China claims nearly all the South China Sea, through which an estimated $3 trillion in international trade passes each year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan also have claims. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Additional reporting by Mai Nguyen in Hanoi; Editing by Michael Perry/Mark Heinrich)
Inner-city gunshot and stabbing victims had a better chance of surviving when they rode to trauma centers in private vehicles rather than in ambulances, a new study showed.
Those transported to urban U.S. hospitals in emergency vehicles were 62 percent more likely to die of gunshot or stab wounds than patients with similar injuries who arrived in private vehicles, researchers reported in JAMA Surgery.
"In this narrow population of trauma patients, emergency medical services is not the answer," said senior author Dr. Elliott Haut, a professor at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.
When a person is critically wounded, every minute matters. The five minutes it might take for an ambulance to arrive on the scene of a shooting "might be the difference between life and death," he said in a phone interview.
Although the study findings seem counterintuitive, they were no surprise to Haut, a trauma surgeon who regularly witnesses the benefits when victims of penetrating trauma take the most expeditious route to a high-level emergency room. As a result, he has instructed his relatives that should he be shot or stabbed, they should drive him to the closest trauma center.
But not all trauma doctors are ready to call off ambulances for gunshot and stabbing victims.
Dr. Nick Johnson, a professor of emergency medicine at the University of Washington's Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, cautions against friends and relatives driving wounded loved ones to hospitals.
"Expecting an untrained layperson to be able to safely drive an injured friend or family member with a gunshot or stab wound to the hospital safely is unrealistic, and potentially unsafe," he said by email.
"We need to better understand the consequences of such a recommendation before making any system-wide changes," said Johnson, who was not involved with the new study.
Haut and Johnson do agree that the findings support the fastest possible transport to trauma centers for people who've been shot or stabbed. Where they part ways is over the role of emergency medical services prior to the trip.
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Johnson acknowledged, though, that how best to care for gunshot and stab victims before they arrive at trauma centers remains unclear.
Haut and his team examined U.S. national trauma data from 2010-2012 on more than 100,000 teens and adults treated at 298 urban hospitals for gunshot and stab wounds.
A disproportionate share of the patients who died as a result of their wounds had been brought to the hospital in ground emergency vehicles - nearly 12 percent, compared to 2 percent of those transported in private vehicles.
"We've built this amazing system of trauma and trauma centers that do a great job," Haut said. "It turns out that maybe this pre-hospital system isn't as beneficial as we originally thought for this small, narrow range of patients."
Johnson, however, warned that driving an injured loved one to the hospital after a gunshot wound or stabbing could carry its own risks.
"These are very stressful situations, and the potential for downstream problems, such as car crashes related to driving under these circumstances, is not well understood," he said.
Johnson and Haut both previously worked in Philadelphia, where police officers routinely drive shooting and stabbing victims to nearby trauma centers. Haut's experience in Philadelphia, where he saw police, relatives and friends regularly transport gunshot victims to emergency rooms, compared to his experience in Baltimore, where victims tend to wait for ambulances, prompted the research, he said.
Johnson cautioned that Philadelphia's system is unique.
"These are specially trained officers working in a system familiar with this practice with very short transport times in a dense, urban area," he said. "It may not work in other systems."
Reporting by Ronnie Cohen
SOURCE: JAMA Surgery, September 20, 2017.
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TWIN FALLS If youve struggled to pay medical bills or for health insurance, youre not alone.
Idahoans spend an average of 17 percent of their disposable income on health care. Thats nearly double whats considered affordable: 9.5 percent.
We fundamentally know and believe that health care and particularly, the cost of health care today is not sustainable, St. Lukes Magic Valley Medical Center site administrator Mike Fenello said Tuesday.
About 30 people, most of whom are health care providers or administrators, attended a community health care education day at the Turf Club in Twin Falls.
The luncheon was organized by the regional Idaho Small Business Development Center and Patient Financial Navigator Foundation. Topics included health care challenges, services available for patients and employers, and potential next steps for health care in the Magic Valley.
Organizers invited attendees to consider signing up to form a group to explore insurance alternatives in Idaho for small employers, such as a co-op.
One of the presenters Day Egusquiza, founder and president of the newly-formed Patient Financial Navigator Foundation has more than 35 years of experience in health care operations. She leads AR Systems, Inc., a health care auditing and training company based in Twin Falls.
The nonprofit foundation offers no-cost services to help patients, employers and community members navigate the health care system. Its goals include community outreach, employer outreach and a strategic partnership with St. Lukes Magic Valley to create an onsite navigator resource library.
When an entrepreneur opens a business, one of the biggest concerns is often how to pay for employee health insurance, Egusquiza said.
For patients, nobody asks to come to a hospital, she said, adding theyre scared and dont speak the health insurance language. At the foundation, were the translators.
Patients are sometimes surprised after a surgery, for example, when they receive separate bills from the anesthesiologist, surgeon and pathologist, Egusquiza said. It gets confusing for our patients.
During the community luncheon, Fenello talked about the vision for St. Lukes and the future of health care. A growing population of baby boomers and a higher rate of youth obesity is compounding the problem of growing health care costs nationwide, he said, and it will likely get worse without intervention.
With higher health insurance premiums, more people are opting for high deductible plans, Fenello said, but 40-50 percent of Idaho households dont have enough money to cover their deductible. And a small group 5 percent of all patients account for 50 percent of health care expenses. They typically have five or more problems and are considered medically complex, Fenello said.
St. Lukes has hired care advisers who oversee those patients, he said, and work to figure out proactive measures to improve their health.
Speaking broadly about health care challenges in the United States, Fenello said he believes leaders in Washington, D.C. political division aside cannot or wont solve the problem. Its too difficult of a political issue, we believe, for the government to solve.
St. Lukes community health administrator Kyli Gough told the crowd they have the opportunity to work together to make a collective impact to improve health in the Magic Valley. Often, groups have the same mission in mind, but theyre not working together, she said.
Gough told the group a community health needs assessment which St. Lukes is required to complete shows three big areas of need: improving the management and prevention of diabetes and obesity; improving mental health and reducing suicide; and improving access to affordable health insurance.
Since the Twin Falls County-owned hospital was sold to St. Lukes after voters approved the proposal in May 2006, theres sometimes a perception its no longer the communitys hospital, Fenello said. Thats the last thing we want.
Here in the Magic Valley, We recognize that St. Lukes has gotten pretty large, and that can get daunting and scary for people, Fenello said.
But the hospital system wants to act small, he said, in that building relationships happen one patient encounter at a time.
Fenello talked with attendees about St. Lukes efforts toward improving population health, and how its working to be directly responsible for the costs and outcomes of care.
Traditionally, hospitals have used a fee-for-service model where it bills for services such as lab tests and gets paid. But now, St. Lukes has 161,000 people enrolled under a pay-for-value model, he said, where St. Lukes receives a set amount of money per year from an insurer for each patient. If health care costs exceed the budget, St. Lukes is responsible for covering the extra expenses.
St. Lukes partnered with health insurance company SelectHealth in 2012 with the idea of lowering costs and improving patient health, but so far, hasnt seen results on lowering costs or insurance premiums, The Idaho Statesman reported Saturday.
Last year, a payment model with SelectHealth was implemented: fee-for-service with a global budget, the Statesman reported. St. Lukes didnt stay within budget and was accountable for the deficit.
Pay for value is a fundamental shift in how the hospital system gets paid, Fenello said, adding St. Lukes is embracing the change. It cant mend the increasing health care costs under a fee-for-service structure, he said.
Plus, when people think of hospitals, they tend to associate them with treating sick and injured people, and delivering babies, he said. We have to be in the wellness part of the business.
By Paul McLeary with Adam Rawnsley
Trump, meet the U.N. President Donald Trump plans to call Islamic militants losers in his first address before the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday morning, and administration officials told reporters that hell also take a hard line on North Korea and apply pressure on Iran to give up its ballistic missile program.
Theirs is a shared menace and nations cannot be bystanders to history and if we dont confront the threats now, they will only gather force and become more formidable, the official said of North Korea and Iran. If Iraq were still on the hot seat itd sound like a rehash of 2002s Axis of Evil speech then-president George W. Bush delivered during his State of the Union address.
Tehran express. Adding fuel to the fire, outgoing Fifth Fleet commander Vice Adm. Kevin M. Donegan says Iran has been smuggling more advanced weaponry into Yemen, sending anti-ship cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and explosive boats to aid its Houthi allies in the war against the Saudi-led coalition. Its not rocket science to conclude that the Houthis are getting not only these systems but likely training and advice and assistance in how to use them, said Donegan.
Japan moves missile interceptor. The Japanese military has moved a Patriot anti-missile system to the northern island of Hokkaido, close to the trajectory of two recent North Korean missile tests that have overflown the island, Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera announced the move on Tuesday.
Mattis hints at North Korean war plan. The U.S. and Japan have so far not attempted to shoot down any North Korean missiles, but Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon Monday that North Korean missiles have been falling in the middle of the ocean, making shootdowns unnecessary. Were they to be aimed at Guam, or U.S. territory, he added, that would elicit a different response. Mattis also confirmed that the South Koreans had asked about the possibility of deploying U.S. tactical nuclear weapons to their country.
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He also said that he believes there are military options for striking the North that would not put the South Korean capital of Seoul at risk, but would not elaborate further. Seoul is only 35 miles from the border, and thousands of North Korean artillery pieces are dug into hard granite hills, ready to rain tens of thousands of shells on the capital within minutes.
Drone strikes. President Trump has given the CIA more authority to carry out drone strikes that might not have been authorized under previous administrations, according to NBC News. The Trump administration is also in the process of tearing up the Obama administrations Presidential Policy Guidance, planning to disregard rules mandating that drone strikes only take place when analysts can be certain civilians arent going to be killed.
American bombs. Across Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, American warplanes are dropping more bombs than at any point in years, underlying the Trump administrations loosening of authorities which allow pilots and local commanders to take strikes that likely would have been denied under the Obama administration.
FPs Paul McLeary writes that in Iraq and Syria, the air campaign seems to be paying dividends, as the territory claimed by the Islamic State has shrunk to a fraction of what it held after rampaging through those two countries in 2014 and 2015. Its less clear that the Afghan campaign has proven as effective; the Taliban continue to take district centers and ISIS has established a stronghold in Nangarhar province in the countrys mountainous East.
Ribbon cutting. The U.S. and Israel have opened on the first permanent American military base in Israel, opening an air defense base in the Negev desert to be run by U.S. European Command
Welcome to SitRep. As always, please send any tips, thoughts or national security events to paul.mcleary@foreignpolicy.com or via Twitter: @paulmcleary.
Warrants. The FBI applied for and received warrants to carry out surveillance on former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, according to a bombshell scoop from CNN. The warrants authorized surveillance on Manafort before and after but not during the presidential campaign. Manafort first because the subject of an FBI investigation in 2014 as part the bureau investigated political advocacy work done on behalf the ousted Ukrainian government. The warrant on Manafort expired some time before the presidential campaign but the FBI applied for and received a second warrant on Manafort at some unspecified point after he was fired from the Trump campaign in August of 2016.
You down with PNG? Yeah, you know me. Expelling North Korean diplomats is the hot new trend among U.S. allies and it hardly seems coincidental. On Monday, both Kuwait and Spain announced that they were giving the North Korean ambassadors in their countries until the end of the month to leave in the wake of the Norths increasingly aggressive missile and nuclear warhead tests. The announcements follow a similar move made by Peru, which declared the North Korean ambassador in its country persona non grata last week.
Unmanned tech. China is following the U.S. lead on unmanned ships, announcing the development of an unmanned multirole surface ship made by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. In 2016, the U.S. unveiled the Sea Hunter, an autonomous unmanned surface vessel developed by Darpa to carry out anti-submarine warfare.
Vacancies. Senate Democrats are telling the Trump administration that now would be a good time to appoint some people to the many unfilled Asia policy positions as the U.S. ratchets up its rhetoric on North Korea. Senate Democrats from the Intelligence, Armed Services, and Foreign Relations committees wrote that the Trump administration needs to hurry up an appoint an ambassador to South Korea, an Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and an Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs in order to deal with the ongoing problem of North Korean aggression.
Frequently bought together. An investigation by the U.K.s Channel 4 News finds that buyers purchasing components useful for making homemade bombs from the web retail giant Amazon.com receive helpful suggestions for other necessary bomb ingredients from the sites Frequently bought together algorithm.
Into darkness. In a new graphic the Rand Corporation lets you visualize how areas conquered by the Islamic State went dark over time as electricity became scarcer in the caliphate.
Mais non. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian is planning to lobby President Trump to stick to the Iran nuclear agreement during this weeks U.N. General Assembly meetings, saying that France will try to persuade President Trump of the importance of this choice and that Iran is abiding by the terms of the agreement.
Snapchat. The feud between Qatar and its Gulf neighbors has grown to include Snapchat, which has blocked Saudi users from accessing the channel of Qatari-owned news channel Al Jazeera on the social media platform in response to pressure from Saudi Arabia.
No guns for you. The Trump administration has officially nixed the sale of $1.2 million worth of American firearms to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans bodyguard service in retaliation for their assault on protesters in Washington, DC during Erdogans last visit to the country.
Trade dispute. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says hes not interested in picking Boeings F/A-18 to replacement its aging fleet of fighter jets, saying we wont do business with a company thats busy trying to sue us and trying to put our aerospace workers out of business. Boeing has filed a trade dispute against the Canada-based Bombardier, accusing it of dumping artificially cheap passenger jets on the U.S. market. British Prime Minister Theresa May also said she would raise the Boeing case with President Trump this week, complaining about the potential impact on jobs in Northern Ireland where Bombardier has a plant.
Personnel. The Navy fired two more senior officers in response to a series of ship collisions in the Pacific. The service fired Task Force 70 commander Rear Adm. Charles Williams and Destroyer Squadron 15 commander Capt. Jeffrey Bennett, citing a loss of confidence in their ability to command.
Troll so hard. The Oxfam America charity has found a creative way to protest President Trumps anti-refugee policies, renting out Trumps childhood home in Queens, New York to host refugees from Somalia, Syria, Vietnam while they tell the story of their journey to the United States.
Even as scientists have warned that a sixth mass extinction may be coming with over 30 percent of all vertebrate species declining in numbers over the past 25 years researchers who carried out a global analysis of thousands of species have found that body size of vertebrate species is an important factor in determining how much risk they face in terms of going extinct. The other important factors, according to the study, was the size of the habitat for the species especially the smaller ones and human activity.
In a paper titled Extinction risk is most acute for the worlds largest and smallest vertebrates that appeared online Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers first put together a database of body masses of 27,647 vertebrate species, and the analysis of their extinction threat levels found the smallest and largest vertebrates at the highest risk. These included land animals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and marine creatures as well.
Knowing how animal body size correlates with the likelihood of a species being threatened provides us with a tool to assess extinction risk for the many species we know very little about, William Ripple, a professor of ecology at Oregon State University and lead author of the study, said in a statement Monday.
Ripple and his colleagues from Australia, Switzerland and the United States considered species assessed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature in its Red List of Threatened Species, of which some 4,400 face the risk of extinction.
They found that while mid-sized animals have a relatively low extinction threat, the problems faced by large and small species are different.
Extinction Risk
Photo: Oliver Day, Oregon State University
Many of the larger species are being killed and consumed by humans, and about 90 percent of all threatened species larger than 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) in size are being threatened by harvesting. Harvesting of these larger animals takes a variety of forms including regulated and unregulated fishing, hunting and trapping for meat consumption, the use of body parts as medicine and killing due to unintentional bycatch, Ripple said.
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At the other end of the scale, the smallest threatened species usually weigh less than 3 ounces (77 grams) in body weight, and suffer most due to loss or degradation of habitat, which is usually a result of human activities like pollution, logging and agriculture. The worst affected are the small species that live in freshwater habitats.
Some specific examples of large species that need to be focus of conservation activities, as listed by the authors, include the whale shark, Atlantic sturgeon, Somali ostrich, Chinese giant salamander and the Komodo dragon. Similarly, examples of small vertebrates that are especially imperiled included the Clarke's banana frog, sapphire-bellied hummingbird, gray gecko, hog-nosed bat and the waterfall climbing cave fish. A range of different conservation strategies will be needed to save these varied species from disappearing forever, the researchers said.
Our results offer insight into halting the ongoing wave of vertebrate extinctions by revealing the vulnerability of large and small taxa, and identifying size-specific threats. Moreover, they indicate that, without intervention, anthropogenic activities will soon precipitate a double truncation of the size distribution of the worlds vertebrates, fundamentally reordering the structure of life on our planet, the paper said.
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BRATISLAVA (Reuters) - Slovakia will postpone a planned fighter jet purchase pending a broader upgrade of its armed forces, the defense minister said on Wednesday, following warnings that such a move could prolong its dependence on Russia. The central European NATO member state has been in talks with several firms about replacing its aging Russian-made MiG-29s. Peter Gajdos mentioned U.S. F-16 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin and Gripen jets made by Sweden's Saab as options. Neighboring Hungary and the Czech Republic already operate the latter. Slovakia was expected to make decision by the end of this month, but Gajdos said this would be delayed. "We need to modernize the ground forces which are the backbone of our military. While we have been replacing some parts of the air force, the ground forces have not been renewed for decades," he said. Slovakia is due to spend about 6.5 billion euros ($7.80 billion) by 2030 to modernize its army, the defense ministry said in a strategy document, released last week and to be debated in the first half of 2018. Its spending on defense is due to rise from 1.1 percent of GDP to 1.6 percent in 2020 and 2.0 percent by 2024. Prime Minister Robert Fico said last month Slovakia should pick "European solutions" for the army if it wanted to be part of a more deeply integrated core European Union. Gajdos, from the nationalist, eurosceptic SNS party that forms part of the governing coalition, has faced criticism from both its partners -- Fico's leftist Smer and the centrist Most party -- that delays in closing the fighter deal could prolong Slovakia's dependence on Russia. "If the finance ministry and government earmark money for all projects, we are ready to finalize the ongoing negotiations and close the deal" on new jets, Gajdos said. In 2015, Slovakia made a deal to buy nine U.S.-made Black Hawk helicopters to replace its Russian Mi-17 fleet, and signed with Italy's Alenia Aermacchi for two Spartan C-27J transport aircraft to replace Russian Antonovs the year before. The government already approved a plan to spend 1.2 billion euros ($1.44 billion) to replace its outdated armored personnel carriers in May. Slovakia has a maintenance contract with Russia for its 12 MiG-29s until autumn 2019. If it does not order new jets soon it would need to prolong that, as they would typically take 18-24 months to deliver. "Prolongation of the Mig-29s contract is the plan B, the plan A is the purchase of new jets. I won't accept any other than a pro-European and pro-Atlantic solution (for their replacement)," Gajdos said. (Reporting By Tatiana Jancarikova; editing by John Stonestreet)
Chris Sommers, owner of Pi Pizzeria, talks to supportive customers in his Central West End location in St. Louis on Wednesday. (Photo: Joseph Rushmore for HuffPost)
ST. LOUIS Chris Sommers was pissed. The owner of Pi Pizzeria had been handing out cups of water at one of his restaurants in the citys Central West End on Friday night, hours after a judge declared a former St. Louis cop not guilty in the 2011 killing of a black man fleeing a drug stop. Sommers wanted to calm the protesting crowd, to put a human face on his business, maybe to keep someone from smashing his windows.
When it looked like the protests had mainly passed, Sommers prepared to head home. But as he got in the car, he saw police officers with gas masks and shields marching down an empty street toward his business. He ran back to the restaurant. One of the officers, he said, began indiscriminately shooting off pepper balls, a less lethal form of crowd control that hits with a sting and explodes with a burn.
Sommers started filming. He got mad. He yelled. He lost his shit, in his words. Police tossed a tear gas canister at him. Someone nearby picked it up and threw it back. The cops came running. Sommers barely managed to close the door to his restaurant in time to keep them out. Tear gas seeped inside, and he sent everyone home.
You generally want to be friendly with the police, Sommers told HuffPost in an interview around lunchtime on Wednesday. And then they shoot at you.
Sommers isnt the kind of guy youd expect to get into a conflict with the police. He has St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewsons cell number. He gives police a 50 percent discount. He has donated to law enforcement groups. He considered himself a police supporter, even though, he said, St. Louis cops never seemed to solve any of the crimes occasionally committed against his restaurants.
But Sommers accusations of police misconduct during the weekend protests kicked off a chain of events that led to employees fielding harassing phone call after harassing phone call at his restaurants on Wednesday. On Twitter, hed used the term dimwits to describe officers who chanted Whose streets? Our streets on Sunday night after they arrested people downtown, in a sweep that led to peaceful demonstrators and a couple of journalists spending up to 24 hours in jail.
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Blue Lives Matter, a right-leaning retort to the Black Lives Matter movement that has grown on Facebook and morphed into a pro-police news site, didnt like what Sommers had said. Someone wrote up a critical post on Tuesday. The St. Louis County Police Association posted that story on Facebook, along with phone numbers for Pi Pizzerias various locations, and urged supporters to call the restaurant if their freedom of speech needs a little exercise. (The police association appears to have since deleted the Facebook post.)
Sommers then laid out his story in a lengthy Facebook post that was republished by Riverfront Times,
The harassment began.
Pi Pizzeria was inundated with threatening and harassing phone calls on Wednesday. (Photo: Joseph Rushmore for HuffPost)
On Wednesday, the phones were still ringing almost constantly. One caller used an anti-gay slur. At another location, someone tried to place a fake order totaling more than $600. Callers said Blue Lives Matter. Someone apparently spread a rumor among protesters claiming that Pi was handing out free pizza.
The online reaction has been vicious. People labeled Sommers a lib-tard. New one-star reviews have claimed that there were roaches at Pi Pizzeria. That there was bondage equipment inside. That the pizza sucked. People wrote that they hope the windows get smashed, that the business fails. The online reaction, Sommers said, just goes to the character of these guys that think that cops are infallible.
Sommers said he did think a lot of the officers were dimwitted based on the decisions they made during these latest protests. Who thought that was a good idea? he said of their tactics. Whos standing up to it? Thats the problem, that this isnt a few bad eggs. Whos standing up to this behavior? Are they stressed? Yeah. Are they tired? Yeah. So am I. Im out here trying to protect my business, protect my team, and they start terrorizing us.
His criticism was focused on actions he personally witnessed on Friday, Sommers said, although he has broader concerns about policing in general. His actions supporting police should speak louder than my opinions of what they did this weekend, he said.
Employees at Pi Pizzeria received an anonymous gift of Insomnia Cookies from someone hoping to show support. (Photo: Joseph Rushmore for HuffPost)
What I think is important is that we stop talking about Chris and pizza, and start talking about why everyone is so upset, Sommers said. What people are supporting us about is what they too know, what we experience every year with corruption and racism. Different value of life in the city is real.
Sommers considers himself a peacemaker. He said hes long been supportive of both police officers and activists. But that doesnt matter anymore to people who want to sell a story around a narrative, he said.
When [conservative commentator] Dana Loesch tweets about me this morning, you know youre kind of on the right side of justice and history when shes condemning you, right? Sommers said. If Im pissing her off, Im probably doing the right thing.
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Pi Pizzeria's location in the Central West End of St. Louis. (Photo: Joseph Rushmore for HuffPost)
Sommers said he worries about the harassment campaign against his business, which could have consequences well beyond the inconvenience of a broken window. But so far hes been encouraged by the backing of his customers. The Central West End location was more packed than usual for Wednesday lunch, with people stopping by to lend support.
The restaurant owner isnt done. He expects to testify in federal court in connection with legal action bought by the American Civil Liberties Union over the cops behavior.
Did I run my mouth? Yes, certainly, after I got assaulted. Do I regret some things? I regret the impact on my employees and my wife. But I know what I said is true, and there are a lot of dimwitted people in the police department, because this stuff is happening everywhere, Sommers said. Its not a few bad eggs. Its happening everywhere, and what we need is more good eggs who stand up, for police officers to come out and acknowledge whats going on.
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Republican Left of Catalonia party's (ERC) Member of Parliament Joan Tarda at a demonstration outside the regional Economy Ministry in Catalonia during a police search for documents connected with the organisation of the Catalan independence referendum, in Barcelona, Spain - EFE
Thousands of angry demonstrators burst onto the streets of Barcelona on Wednesday after Spanish police arrested 14 people in sweeping raids on Catalan government departments in a bid to halt the region's controversial referendum on independence.
Tensions flared between supporters of the referendum set for October 1 and police ordered to prevent the vote that has been suspended by Spains highest court.
At raided offices across the city, protesters shouted "Fascists!" and "Out, forces of occupation!" as members of the Civil Guard military police moved in in riot gear.
Several high ranking government officials were detained, among them Josep Lluis Salvado, the treasury secretary, and Josep Maria Jove, secretary general of the finance department and number two to the vice president, Oriel Junqueras.
Among 41 raids, police searched the Catalan governments economy, foreign affairs, and labour and social affairs departments, as well as offices in the Presidency.
They also confiscated a haul of 9.6 million referendum ballot papers - believed to be the government's entire consignment.
People surround Spanish Civil Guard Police cars outside the Catalan Vice-President and Economy office as police officers hold a searching operation inside on September 20 Credit: David Ramos/Getty Images
Carlos Puigdemont, the Catalan president, accused the Spanish state of "authoritarian" behaviour and suspending Catalonia's autonomy by stealth.
The Spanish state has effectively suspended our self-government and applied a de facto state of emergency," he said, after a crisis meeting.
Mr Puigdemont branded the crackdown a "coordinated aggression" by a state that had "crossed the red line that separated it from totalitarian regimes".
He insisted the vote would go ahead, even if it had to be carried out in an improvised manner. On October 1 we will leave our homes, carrying a ballot paper and we will use them.
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People holding 'Esteladas' (Catalan pro-independence flags) attend a protest in front of the Economy headquarters of Catalonia's regional government Credit: LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images
Catalonia would never accept a "return to times past", he vowed - a reference to the Franco dictatorship, under which Catalan institutions and identity were brutally repressed.
But Spain's prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, insisted that the Catalan government had forced the raids by violating the Spanish constitution and ignoring court warnings over a vote it did not have the legal power to call.
Protesters clash with Catalan regional police officers Credit: LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images
The state has to react. The referendum cannot take place because it would liquidate national sovereignty and the right of all Spaniards to decide what they want their country to be, added Mr Rajoy.
The operation was heavily criticised by Pablo Iglesias, leader of the Left-wing party Podemos, who said it was "shameful" that Spain would have "political prisoners".
The President of the Catalan parliament Carme Forcadell (C) leaves the headquarters of the Catalan regional government Credit: JOSEP LAGO/AFP/Getty Images
Even many opponents of independence have questioned Mr Rajoy's approach, arguing that his dogmatic stance is feeding the separatist movement.
That dynamic was on full display on the streets of Barcelona, where incensed protesters accused Madrid of taking the country back to the days of dictatorship.
A crowd of protesters gather outside the Catalan region's economy ministry after junior economy minister Josep Maria Jove was arrested Credit: REUTERS
Outside the headquarters of the CUP, the junior Catalan coalition partner, where hundreds attempted to face down raiding police, one woman wept as she cried: "The dictatorship has returned! Franco lives again!"
Another, Maria Angels Marquez, a retired teacher, said she remembered the repression of the dictatorship years and that the crackdown "is making me relive things that I never thought would be again".
Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister Alfonso Dastis said Catalan separatists are using "Nazi" tactics to intimidate their opponents Credit: Christopher Goodney/Bloomberg
"How I would like to be Scottish!" she told The Telegraph, a reference to the 2014 independence referendum longingly admired by many Catalans.
Miquel Catasus, a bank worker in his fifties, called for the European Union to step in, telling the Telegraph that the Franco dictatorship "never died and has now come back to finish its work".
But Madrid and its supporters say it is the Catalan government which is behaving undemocratically. Earlier this month Catalonias parliament passed a law to enable a referendum after barely a few hours of heated debate.
The law does not make any provisions for a minimum turnout threshold for its result to be binding, and provisions have been made for Catalonia to declare independence within 48 hours of a yes vote.
With both sides refusing to give ground, how the referendum will play out remains unclear.
There are only two political proposals on offer today: one is that we all vote and the population expresses its points of view and respecting the side that wins; the other is state repression. There is nothing else, Catalonias foreign affairs chief, Raul Romeva, told The Telegraph.
'Nazi' tactics
Spain's Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis has accused Catalan separatists of using "Nazi" tactics to intimidate their opponents before the referendum.
"Referendums are a weapon of choice of dictators," he added during an interview broadcast Tuesday with Bloomberg television in New York.
Pro-separatist parties captured 47.6 percent of the vote in a September 2015 regional election in Catalonia which was billed as a proxy vote on independence, giving them a narrow majority of 72 seats in the 135-seat Catalan parliament.
But opinion polls show that Catalonia's roughly 7.5 million residents are deeply divided on independence.
A survey commissioned by the regional government in July showed that 49.4 percent of Catalans were against independence while 41.1 percent were in favour.
But more than 70 percent of Catalans said they wanted a referendum on independence to settle the issue.
Catalonia, a wealthy region which accounts for about one-fifth of Spain's economic output, already has significant powers over matters such as education and healthcare.
But Spain's economic worries, coupled with a perception that Catalonia pays more in taxes than it receives in investments and transfers from Madrid, have helped push the cause of secession.
Montreal (AFP) - The number of asylum seekers illegally entering Canada from the United States increased by more than six times in July and August compared to previous months, official data showed Tuesday.
Canada's immigration ministry said more than 5,700 people were intercepted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in August, while over 3,150 were detained in July.
The monthly average for the first half of the year was 727 people intercepted.
Most asylum seekers who arrived during the summer were Haitians fleeing the United States ahead of the expected loss at the end of the year of temporary protection granted to nearly 60,000 people from the country following a devastating 2010 earthquake.
In total, more than 13,200 people have been intercepted this year by the police, who then hand them over to border authorities for their asylum applications to be processed.
The vast majority of detentions are made in Quebec, where migrants from the US use a forest trail several kilometers from the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle border post, 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of Montreal.
Under an agreement between the US and Canada, asylum seekers must apply in their country of arrival, but this does not apply to those who manage to cross into Quebec while avoiding official entry points.
Crossing the border, often in wooded areas, ensures that the migrants' asylum applications will be considered.
But Canada rejected half of the asylum claims by Haitian nationals last year.
Faced with the sudden influx of asylum seekers, the Canadian government has increased personnel on the border and built temporary shelters for migrants.
By Brendan O'Brien ST. LOUIS (Reuters) - The legacies of racism, not only the violent protests that gripped St. Louis after a white former police officer was acquitted of murdering a black man, must be addressed, the city's mayor said on Tuesday. Mayor Lyda Krewson said she had listened and read the reaction of residents since the controversial verdict on Friday and was ready to find ways to move the city forward. "What we are seeing and feeling is not only about this case," Krewson told reporters. "What we have is a legacy of policies that have disproportionately impacted people along racial and economic lines," she added. "This is institutional racism." The city has been working to expedite existing plans to increase equity as well as develop new approaches, including changing how police shootings are investigated and granting subpoena powers to a police civilian oversight board, and expanding jobs programs, Krewson said. "We, here in St. Louis, are once again ground zero for the frustration and anger at our shared legacy of these disproportional outcomes," she said. "The only option is to move forward." Krewson said town halls scheduled for Tuesday night and later were canceled. As she spoke, dozens of protesters chanted outside her office. Some activists had planned to voice complaints about police tactics used during protests after a judge found former officer Jason Stockley, 36, not guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of Anthony Lamar Smith, 24. Largely peaceful protests during the day have turned violent at night with some demonstrators carrying guns, bats and hammers, smashing windows and clashing with police. Police arrested 123 people on Sunday, when officers in riot gear used pepper spray on activists. The clashes have evoked memories of riots following the 2014 shooting of a black teenager by a white officer in nearby Ferguson. Protesters have cited anger over a police tactic known as "kettling," in which officers form a square surrounding protesters to make arrests. Some caught inside police lines Sunday said officers used excessive force, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis police are also investigating whether some of its officers chanted "Whose streets? Our streets," appropriating a refrain used by the protesters that one civilian oversight official said could inflame tensions. "I wish that wouldnt have been said," Krewson said. The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri asked the city in a Tuesday letter to preserve video evidence ahead of what it said was a likely lawsuit challenging police tactics. Complaints of police misconduct were being reviewed, but intimidation tactics would not be tolerated, Krewson said. Police had generally shown "great restraint," she said. (Reporting by Chris Kenning in Chicago; Editing by Robin Pomeroy and Steve Orlofsky)
Kenneth Gleason, 23, has been accused of killing two black men in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo: East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office)
A Louisiana man accused of killing two black men in what may have been racially motivated attacks last week reportedly had a copy of an Adolf Hitler speech in his home.
A police source, speaking to The Associated Press, confirmed the unsettling discovery by authorities at the Baton Rouge home of Kenneth Gleason. The 23-year-old, reportedly an Eagle Scout, faces two counts of first-degree murder for the separate shootings.
Authorities declined to comment on the discovery of a speech by the Nazi leader or on a possible motive in the killings at a Tuesday news conference, saying only that theyre looking into all possibilities at this time, including whether the killings were motivated by racism.
Baton Rouge police Sgt. LJean McKneely had previously told the AP that there was a strong possibility that it could be racially motivated.
What we know about Kenneth Gleason, Baton Rouge man booked in killings of two black men https://t.co/M9GmkjhxMV pic.twitter.com/is03I1RA7A Emma Discher (@EmmaDischer) September 19, 2017
Gleason was arrested over the weekend on unrelated drug charges after authorities said they linked his red car to the deaths of 59-year-old Bruce Cofield on Sept. 12 and 49-year-old Donald Smart on Sept. 14.
Police had said that the victims, who were shot first from a car and then again at close range, appeared targeted at random.
Gleason posted bail Sunday on the drug charges before being arrested again in the slaying investigation as well as for suspicion of aggravated criminal damage for a third shooting in which a gunman fired at the home of a black family in Gleasons neighborhood.
Police said shell casings recovered from the scenes matched and that Gleasons DNA was found on some of them.
A conviction on the murder charges could bring a death sentence, said East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore III, who described the attacks as cold and calculated.
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Had there not been a swift conclusion to this case, I feel confident that this killer probably would have killed again, said Interim Police Chief Jonny Dunnam.
Gleason, who was seen wearing what appeared to be a T-shirt for the Boy Scouts rugged Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico during his arrest Tuesday, earned the top Eagle Scout rank in 2012 after completing a construction project for a United Methodist Church, according to The Advocate in Baton Rouge.
In a statement to HuffPost, Boy Scouts of America CEO Gary Mertz, of the Istrouma Area Council, said they were shocked to learn about the allegations against Gleason.
This behavior runs counter to everything for which the BSA stands. Although this matter is unrelated to Scouting, our thoughts and prayers are with all those impacted by this terrible tragedy, Mertz said, adding that Gleason is not currently registered in Scouting and will not be welcomed back to any future programs.
This story has been updated with the BSA statement.
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
WASHINGTON Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price needs to travel on private jets for his job because he is extremely busy, a spokeswoman said Wednesday in response to criticism that chartering flights is expensive and wasteful.
Politico reported Tuesday that Price took five private flights just last week, including a half-hour trip from Washington to Philadelphia.
We believe that those trips were important for him to get outside of Washington, D.C., talk to real people on the ground, and using the travel arrangements we did was the best way to get him there, HHS spokeswoman Charmaine Yoest told HuffPost.
Cabinet secretaries usually dont charter their own planes because doing so often is much more expensive than flying commercial. But Price isnt the only Trump administration official flying the questionable skies.
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin used an Air Force jet to visit Kentucky for an August trip that included viewing the solar eclipse. Mnuchin also reportedly requested a military flight for his honeymoon.
And EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has racked up sizable expenses for frequent commercial flights to his home state of Oklahoma. Travel expenses for both Pruitt and Mnuchin are being reviewed by inspectors general within their departments.
Democrats on Wednesday blasted Price in response to the Politico story. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees HHS, said Price had used taxpayer funds as a private jet slush fund.
There is no reason to be regularly chartering private flights at the taxpayers expense between commercially serviced routes such Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia, Pallone said.
Politico reported that on Sept. 15, Price left Dulles International Airport at 8:27 a.m. and landed in Philadelphia at 9:01 a.m. to visit an addiction treatment center. His return trip touched down in Dulles at 1:19 p.m. that afternoon.
That morning before leaving he was in the office really early being briefed on both Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma, so this has been a particularly unusual time with a lot of demands on his time, Yoest said. She added that Price works 13 hours most days.
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Driving to Dulles from HHS headquarters would typically take about 40 minutes. Driving to Philadelphia would take about 2.5 hours.
Prices use of private jets flies in the face of the Trump administrations messaging on government spending. Earlier this year, the administration proposed slashing agency budgets, including a 17.9 percent cut to HHS.
Previous HHS secretaries didnt use private jets, according to Politico.
Price engaged in questionable stock trades while overseeing the health industry as a congressman before being nominated to lead HHS.
In 2009, then-Rep. Price blasted private jet travel by members of Congress.
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Africa is a continent of tremendous, tremendous potential, U.S. President Donald Trump told African leaders at a luncheon on Wednesday.
Africa has tremendous business potential, Trump continued, while hosting the leaders of Cote dIvoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda during the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
I have so many friends going to your countries trying to get rich. I congratulate you, he said. Theyre spending a lot of money.
He went on to praise health care advancements in the non-existent country of Nambia. It is unclear if he was referring to Gambia in West Africa, Zambia in southern Africa, or perhaps Namibia in southwest Africa. White House transcripts suggest the latter.
Trump, at a lunch with African leaders, refers to the non-existent country of "Nambia." pic.twitter.com/N8megnC1Xi David Mack (@davidmackau) September 20, 2017
Trump also announced hes interested in boosting American investment to create jobs in Africa.
His administration has been closely monitoring and deeply disturbed by the ongoing violence in South Sudan and in the Congo, and will be dispatching U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley to Africa to discuss avenues of conflict and resolution and, most importantly, prevention, he added.
In his first speech before the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump spoke for 41 minutes on a number of controversial topics, at one point threatening to totally destroy North Korea.
But members of the Zimbabwean delegation, including President Robert Mugabe, seemed far from interested. A widely shared image appears to show the 93-year-old leader falling asleep in his seat.
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Maybe Trumps speech would have been better received by Nambian leaders.
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BURLEY Nearly a year after a Burley woman was critically injured when she was hit by a car as she walked in a rain storm, she continues to fight to regain her mobility and rebuild her life.
The doctor tried to fix the nerves, but he said he doesnt know if Ill ever walk again and that it would be a miracle if I do, Altera Starr Moore said as she sipped a drink while lying in her hospital bed at Parke View Rehabilitation and Care Center on Sept. 18.
Moore, 41, has no recollection of being struck near 16th Street and Parke Avenue.
She suffered multiple injuries including a fractured neck, back, pelvis, wrist and arm along with a tear in the artery and a head injury, and she was in a coma afterward.
Ive had too many surgeries to count, she said.
Her mother, Debbie Moeller, of Rupert said Moore has challenges because of learning disabilities, and she walked to the places she went.
Melissa Rae Wodskow of Heyburn was driving the car that hit Moore and was issued a misdemeanor citation for driving without privileges. She was fined $472 and sentenced to 180 days in jail with 170 days suspended.
At the time, Wodskow said she was driving south when she realized she had hit something and heard a bump.
She told officers that she was going the speed limit, 25 mph.
Moore was transferred about a month ago from South Davis Community Hospital in Bountiful, Utah, to Burley.
She will continue receiving rehabilitation indefinitely. She is unable to stand or walk but has the use of her arms and hands.
Im learning to put my shoes on, she said.
Transferring to a new rehabilitation center has been tough, and although some friends visited when she first arrived, the visits have dwindled and she misses the supportive staff at the Utah hospital and her former roommate.
I used to live right down the road from here, Moore said. Some people say just get over it, but its hard.
Although she is back in Burley, it doesnt feel like home.
Moore is eager to get on with her life, and she worries about placing a burden on her family.
Her emotions tend to run high at times as she grapples with bringing her life into perspective.
I think its time for me to do things on my own, she said.
Some things that people take for granted, she said, like standing or walking, can be terrifying for someone who has to relearn those basic skills.
Im really afraid of falling, she said.
Family friend, Billie Jo Cannell of Nampa keeps in contact with Moore through Facebook.
Shes a fighter, Cannell said. I know shell walk again. She can do anything she wants to do once she puts her mind to it. At one point they didnt think she would live because she was in such bad shape after the accident.
Cannell said Moore is funny, sweet and really brave.
She always has such a positive outlook, Cannell said.
Moore never got to face Wodskow in court, but she wants Wodskow to know that she forgives her and would welcome a visit.
I want her to know that she should get on with her life because thats what I plan to do, Moore said. I want her to know that I forgive her, and I want her family to know that, too. I cant go on with my life without forgiving her.
Moore said she is part to blame because it was dark and raining, and she shouldnt have been walking on the street.
We were both distracted that night, she said.
Moore has overcome many obstacles created by her learning disabilities, and shes confident she can meet any challenges that her future holds.
Moore dreams of getting married and maybe one day having a family of her own. She also yearns to take college classes and maybe study for a career as a cyber-crime analyst or a social worker.
Just because you cant walk doesnt mean you cant do other things, she said.
I want her to know that she should get on with her life because thats what I plan to do. I want her to know that I forgive her and I want her family to know that too. I cant go on with my life without forgiving her. Altera Starr Moore
President Donald Trump's mission to renegotiate or scrap a historic nuclear treaty put into effect by his predecessor and Iran and other leading powers could risk sparking a conflict in the Middle East, observers say.
While addressing the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, Trump took the opportunity to attempt to pressure Iran into further concessions on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 deal that lifted billions of dollars' worth of sanctions against Iran in exchange for Tehran agreeing to curb its nuclear production. Both he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also attacked the deal Tuesday, have argued that the agreement was too soft on Iran and have demanded new terms.
Related: Iran threatens to destroy Israel's Tel Aviv, but Gulf Arab states appear closer to former foe
"We can no longer be taken advantage of or enter into a deal where the United States gets nothing in return," Trump said during his General Assembly speech. "The Iran deal was one of the worst and one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into," he added, calling it an "embarrassment" to the U.S.
The only problem, observers say, is that the U.S. and Israel are not offering anything in return.
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BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images
"Going there, picking fights with every American ally, talking crap about the deal, walking out of the Paris Agreement, questioning NATO and other American commitments and trade deals, etc. does not increase the U.S.'s credibility in any way, shape or form," Trita Parsi, president of the National Iranian American Council, tells Newsweek.
Parsi further stated that the U.S. was not even completely living up to the deal at present. Article 29 of the document states that the EU and U.S. "will refrain from any policy specifically intended to directly and adversely affect the normalization of trade and economic relations with Iran." Meanwhile, Trump has demanded that the international community "work together to isolate Iran."
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Tearing up the deal was one of the Trump campaign promises that resounded most powerfully with his supporters. When Trump was elected, not only did it empower conservatives in the U.S. to reconsider what they felt to be a relic of President Barack Obama's administration, but Iranian hard-liners took the opportunity to slam what they regarded as an unnecessary concession to the West.
Deep mistrust between the two countries dates back to the U.S.'s support for a CIA coup that saw the country's democratically elected leader, Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, overthrown and arrested, with absolute power restored to Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in 1953. Pahlavi, who was friendly to U.K. oil interests, went on to lead for nearly 26 years until he himself was deposed in the 1979 Islamic Revolution and took refuge in the U.S.
The incoming revolutionary Shiite government held hostage 52 U.S. diplomats and citizens for 444 days. While all were eventually returned alive, the incident sparked outrage in the U.S.
After decades of diplomatic silence and opposing interests in the Middle East, Obama quietly reached out to Iran. The election of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, a moderate with aspirations of opening the country's economy, helped advance the talks, which ultimately were made public and finalized in 2015. Since then, the two countries have taken divergent political paths.
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AFP/Getty Images
In contrast to Washington's conservative shift in 2017, Iran's presidential race in May saw Rouhani beat his hard-line, populist opponent, Ebrahim Raisi, who received the blessing of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Parsi says that although Iran's conservative religious movement enjoys support from only about 15 to 20 percent of the country's population, it maintains economic control through the elite Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.
While Iran's clerics remain suspicious of how foreign investment could shift Iran's internal balance of power, the country's government as a whole has remained publicly committed to the deal. Earlier this year, the U.S. accused Iran of breaking the "spirit" of the deal with a series of ballistic missile tests, but the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency and even Trump's own State Department have repeatedly found Iran to be in compliance with the treaty's terms. As a result, Iran has let Trump do most of the talking.
"The JCPOA failing would be against U.S. national security interests, especially if Washington was seen as undermining the agreement. I fear that the U.S. is positioning itself to be isolated by constantly questioning an agreement it negotiated. Criticizing Iran's commitment without any evidence of wrong-doing could prove to be damaging to U.S. credibility," Alireza Nader, a senior international and defense researcher at the Rand Corp., tells Newsweek.
"It makes a lot of sense to stick to an agreement which has constrained Iran's nuclear capabilities," he adds.
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AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images
Conservative backlash, however, continues to fuel U.S. calls for the deal's renegotiation or abandonment. James Phillips, a senior research fellow for Middle Eastern affairs at the Heritage Foundation, agreed with Trump's assessment that the deal was an "embarrassment" to the U.S., mostly because it gave Iran exactly what it wanted without demanding more from a government that Washington accuses of perpetrating human rights abuses and funding terrorism abroad.
"The U.S. walked away from five decades of nonproliferation and gave Iran a better deal than it did most of its allies," Phillips tells Newsweek.
"What's really incredible is the Obama administration misplayed its hands. It played a very strong hand weakly because Iran needed the deal more, but it was the Obama administration that was bending over to make concessions," he adds.
Phillips criticizes the deal's so-called sunset clauses that gradually decrease nuclear restrictions. He also disagreed with the Obama administration's decision not to include harsher measures against ballistic missile tests and the movement of funds to foreign militias, some of which are considered terrorist organizations by the U.S. and allies.
Iran has extensive influence across Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen and has powerful partners willing to fight in each. So far, the U.S. and Iran's common goal of battling the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) has kept the two from significantly engaging each other, but tensions remain high over past incidents between proxy forces and direct confrontations at sea. As the U.S. seeks greater cooperation with Russia in Syria, however, it's also ceded territory to groups backed by Iran.
This move has irked Israel, which sees Iran and its Lebanese partner, the Shiite group Hezbollah, as an existential threat. Netanyahu has long sought to either renegotiate or end the Iran deal and has now found a partner in Trump, as well as in Saudi Arabia, which sees Iran as the greatest threat to the kingdom's influence in the region.
"Those who threaten us with annihilation put themselves in peril," Netanyahu said Tuesday.
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JALAA MAREY/AFP/Getty Images
With the U.N. General Assembly underscoring a united anti-Iran front among the U.S. and Israel, what the deal has already achieved is at risk. Jarret Blanc, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Geoeconomics and Strategy Program and deputy lead coordinator and State Department coordinator for Iran nuclear implementation at the State Department under Obama, says a U.S. abandonment of the JCPOA could ultimately lead to more clashes and, a nuclear-armed Iran. And it could mean further alienation between the U.S. and European allies that remain committed to the deal.
"The consequences of the U.S. pulling out of the JCPOA would be catastrophic," Blanc tells Newsweek. "The only thing that emerges from the U.S. walking away from the JCPOA is a weaker U.S. and a stronger Iran."
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WASHINGTON Sen. Luther Stranges (R-Ala.) bid to keep his seat is backed by much of the GOP establishment, which has blanketed the airwaves in Alabama for weeks with television ads in support of his campaign.
Both President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, who carried the Cotton State overwhelmingly in last years presidential election, say he deserves the job, and plan to campaign for him just days before the election on Sept. 26.
And his opponent, former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, has a long history of making controversial comments, including one just over the weekend about minorities. He was also twice removed from his position for flouting the law.
Despite those advantages, the incumbent Alabama senator has struggled to compete against Moore, a staunch evangelical who has led in most polls and who is seen as the prohibitive front-runner in the race. Why, then, is a Trump-backed candidate with serious financial support coming up short in a state that Trump carried by nearly 30 points in November?
Strange has been pretty universally disliked in Alabama since his appointment by [former Alabama Gov. Robert] Bentley. That hump is really hard to get over, Montgomery-based radio talk show host Dale Jackson told HuffPost.
When he was state attorney general, Strange faced accusations of stalling his investigation into Bentley, who resigned amid a sex scandal earlier this year. The conduct of Stranges deputy during a public corruption case against former Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard, who was sentenced to four years in jail, also raised questions in some corners of the state about Stranges fitness for office.
(Photo: Bill Clark via Getty Images)
Strange also hasnt had much success defining an opponent who appears to be at least so far made out of the same material as Teflon Don Trump. Attacks lobbed by the Strange campaign and the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC aligned with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), against Moore have had marginal success. (One recent poll, however, did show Strange narrowing the gap.)
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What most people outside of Alabama dont realize is that Moore is probably the most Trump-esque candidate in the country right now, Alabama-based GOP pollster and strategist Brent Buchanan said. Say anything and it doesnt affect his numbers, no matter how much you attack him.
In their latest salvo, the SLF aired an ad highlighting comments from Moore that suggest he opposes building Trumps proposed wall along the Mexican border. Politifact, the website that fact-checks candidate statements, said the ad was selectively edited. A statement on Moores campaign website reads, If a wall is our only option, then we should build it immediately, which his opponents are attempting to portray as showing daylight between him and Trump.
Moore has further benefitted by consolidating anti-establishment support, railing on Strange for his ties to McConnell. Over the weekend, he secured the endorsement of Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), who finished third in the first-round primary with 20 percent of the vote. The two men arent exactly friends, given the bruising primary battle this summer, but they are ideologically aligned and share a common enemy: McConnell and the swamp in Washington.
The former judge has also enjoyed an uptick of positive coverage from Breitbart News, the website espousing white nationalist views, ever since Steve Bannon left the Trump administration and rejoined the outlet this month. The controversial former White House chief strategist is targeting a number of incumbent GOP senators during the 2018 midterm elections, including Strange, setting up a showdown with his former boss.
Sebastian Gorka, another ousted Trump aide and Bannon ally, is also expected to rally for Moore this week alongside onetime anti-establishment heartthrob and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
Moores supporters say their opposition to Trumps favored candidate does not reflect on their attitude toward the president, but rather toward Strange himself.
Luther is a rubber stamp, said state Rep. Mike Ball, who endorsed Moore. Hes kissed the presidents butt so much, obviously the president likes that.
Yet there is a sense among Moores supporters that Trump may be rewarding the wrong candidate in the race one that even the president doesnt seem particularly enthused about.
In order to expect loyalty, you have to give loyalty. To him it looks like a one-way street, Ball said, referring to Trump.
(Photo: Bill Clark via Getty Images)
Given the strong unlikelihood of a Democratic pickup in a deeply conservative state like Alabama, a win on Tuesday would make Moore the odds-on favorite to be its next U.S. senator. It would also represent an embarrassing defeat for both McConnell and Trump, two men who couldnt be more different temperamentally yet who also share a legislative agenda that is dependent on a reliable Senate vote from Alabama.
Trump has basically said, Ive gone down this path, and I cant go back. If I can make a difference, Im going to do it, because if he loses, [the media] will say Trump has no stroke in a red state. I think Trump knows that, Jackson said.
Still, there may be time to turn it around.
Trumps rally with Strange on Friday, just days before the runoff, is likely to give the incumbent senator a significant boost perhaps even one large enough to catapult him to election. After all, he has helped other Republican congressional candidates cross the finish line to victory.
Moreover, the fact that the event is being held in Huntsville, Alabama, is likely no accident. The conservative enclave on the northern edge of the state falls within the boundaries of Alabamas 5th Congressional District, which is represented by Brooks.
Hes really making a play for the Brooks voters, Madison County GOP Chair Sam Givhan said, referring to some of the countys residents who are still undecided.
Trump is also likely to generate higher interest in the competitive race. Voter turnout in last months first-round primary was particularly dismal, and a president known for his flair could drive more residents to the polls on Tuesday.
Will Trump out-Trump Moore? pondered Givhan. I dont know the answer to that.
CLARIFICATION: A reference to Stranges re-election campaign has been amended, as this is his first effort to be elected to a post to which he was initially appointed.
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New York (AFP) - US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he has reached a decision on whether to recertify Iran's compliance with an international deal to curb its nuclear program.
Without revealing his decision, Trump told journalists "I have decided" ahead of an October 15 deadline to re-up the agreement. "Ill let you know what the decision is," he said.
Trump has already reapproved sanctions relief for Tehran and is not expected to declare Iran in non-compliance with an Obama-era agreement to scale back uranium enrichment.
But he could still refuse to recertify the agreement by the October deadline, a decision that is still fiercely contested inside Trump's adminstration and is likely to be the subject of numerous discussions in the next month.
While the White House wants to confront Iran over its ballistic missile program and support for proscribed groups across the Middle East, there is no consensus on whether the US should back away from the nuclear deal.
Doing so could provoke an international crisis, infuriating allies in Europe and setting up confrontation with powerful Iranian forces and proxies from Yemen to the Strait of Hormuz.
The 2016 campaign continues.
President Trump lashed out at Hillary Clinton after his former election opponent called his speech to the United Nations General Assembly very dark and dangerous.
After allowing North Korea to research and build Nukes while Secretary of State (Bill C also), Crooked Hillary now criticizes, Trump tweeted Wednesday.
Trump also retweeted a comment from a user who said, It is the height of hypocrisy. Obama and Clinton in effect gave nuclear weapons to North Korea by their policy of appeasement.
In an appearance on the The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Tuesday, Clinton said she had seen parts of Trumps speech earlier that day, including the part when he threatened to totally destroy North Korea.
I thought it was very dark, dangerous not the kind of message that the leader of the greatest nation in the world should be delivering, Clinton said.
Employing his newly coined moniker for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Trump also said in his speech, Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime.
Clinton, a former secretary of state, stressed that world leaders should lead with diplomacy; you should lead with the commitment to try to avoid conflict however you can.
Trumps response to Clinton Wednesday was part of a Twitter outburst in which he mused about the many interesting leaders at the U.N., retweeted and responded to compliments, and without context thanked Fox & Friends, which he called a great show, before touting the GOPs latest attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and pumping up Luther Stranges Senate campaign.
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Despite the fact that the election ended more than 10 months ago, the two former opponents have continued their rivalry well into 2017. Clinton remains a favorite target of Trumps, and the two traded barbs on Twitter just last week, as Clinton ramped up her public criticism of the president while promoting her election memoir, What Happened.
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In 2002, Bush used his UN speech to argue for action against Iraq. Lets hope Trumps first UN speech isnt the opening salvo in a preventable war with Iran
Why would North Korea deal with Trump if he doesnt live up to US commitments? Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
In 2003, the United States initiated perhaps the greatest strategic disaster in US history by diverting attention from a necessary war in Afghanistan to an unnecessary war in Iraq. The Iraq war resulted in hundreds of thousands dead and wounded, untold economic catastrophe, states in the Middle East in complete ruin, and the rise of Isis all while the effort to go after terrorists in Afghanistan languished.
President Donald Trumps first speech before the United Nations general assembly this week made clear that Trump wants to take America down a similar path by diverting much-needed attention from North Korea to starting an unnecessary conflict with Iran.
If the United States and the world cannot convince Trump to support the Iran nuclear deal and instead focus on real problems, America may once again plunge into a violent disaster in the Middle East, and in the process damage efforts to deal with a country that already has nuclear weapons.
The threat from North Korea is real, and Trump used his speech to outline the need for an international pressure campaign against Kim Jong-un. There is little disagreement on the need for a tough stance against North Korea, as evidenced by the UN security councils recent unanimous vote to impose new sanctions.
But Trump is having a difficult time implementing a coherent strategy on North Korea. He has picked a fight with Americas South Korean ally, whose support is essential. He frequently hurls hyperbolic rhetoric, raising the chances of miscalculation that could lead to conflict. And he talks as though war is inevitable, a theme he reiterated before the worlds leaders when he said, Rocket Man [Kim Jong-un] is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime.
Significant challenges remain in dealing with North Korea, even if Trump can get his own act together. China is unwilling to apply maximum pressure on North Korea for fear Pyongyang will collapse. Enforcing sanctions elsewhere is often like putting fingers in a dam full of leaks. Its unclear what kind of a diplomatic deal the United States wants with North Korea. And little seems capable of convincing Kim Jong-un that he will be safe without nuclear weapons.
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With obstacles this great, Trump should be providing leadership in pursuing an effective international strategy to deter North Korea, reassure US allies, add sanctions pressure, and engage in real diplomacy.
Instead, Trump is looking to rip up the deal that is currently preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. If he succeeds in doing so, he will help turn Iran into the next North Korea and ratchet up the chances of conflict.
The deal prevents Iran from getting a nuclear weapon for years. UN inspectors have verified that Iran is complying with the terms of the deal. Even Trumps administration has certified twice that Iran is living up to its end of the bargain. Moreover, the world backs the deal, with Russia, China and Europe all helping to enforce it.
If an Iran-style nuclear deal had been on the table at any point with North Korea, the United States would have jumped at the opportunity (and in fact came very close to making the Agreed Framework deal with North Korea work in the 1990s). Tearing up the Iran deal would be the strategic equivalent of shooting oneself in the foot.
But thats exactly what Trump seems to want. In his UN speech, Trump placed the Iran nuclear deal in his sights: The Iran deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into. Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I dont think youve heard the last of it. Believe me. Recent reports back up this message that Trump intends to rip up the deal, and the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, almost said as much in a recent speech on Iran.
Its hard to overstate the potential disaster of destroying the Iran deal. Iran would be incentivized to race to get a nuclear weapon. The partners that helped make the Iran deal happen Europe, China, Russia would leave the US behind and continue doing business with Iran, making impossible any renewal of international pressure. And if Iran actually acquired a nuclear weapon, it could embolden Iran to escalate its regional provocations. All of this would result in more confrontation with the United States, and greater chances of war.
In fact, withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal would undermine Trumps efforts to convince the world that he is looking for a diplomatic solution with North Korea: if Trump is willing to rip up a deal preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, why should anyone believe hes willing to deal with North Korea? And why would North Korea deal with Trump if he doesnt live up to US commitments?
In 2002, less than a year after invading Afghanistan, President George W Bush used his speech before the UN general assembly to make the case to the world for action against Iraq. Lets hope, when history looks back on Trumps first UN speech, its not viewed as the opening salvo in a completely preventable war with Iran.
These days, confrontations between President Donald Trumps supporters and left-leaning activists are expected to be filled with anger, insults and, at worst, violence.
But a different scene played out during the right-wing Mother of All Rallies at the U.S. Capitol on Saturday when Trump supporters invited Black Lives Matter counter-protesters to speak on stage.
Clips from the rare moment went viral Monday on Facebook, and while people found it refreshing that the opposing groups could come together, the Now This video didnt show the entire interaction.
Henry Davis, a black Trump supporter and performer at the rally, was the first person to invite the BLM activists to join him, but he quickly changed his mind.
I want Black Lives Matter to see a black patriot, Davis said as the group walked to the front of the crowd. However, once the Black Lives Matter group stood on stage, Davis kicked them back off after warning them to be quiet.
Dont nobody want to hear you speak, Davis told the BLM group while instructing them to stand behind a line. A few awkward moments passed as Davis clashed with the protesters before rally organizer Tommy E. Hodges took over the microphone.
So you guys know that the Mother of All Rallies was to end the political violence, he told the BLM group. Its about freedom of speech. Its about celebration.
So what were going to do is something youre not used to, and were going to give you two minutes of our platform to put your message out. Whether they disagree or agree with your message is irrelevant. Its the fact that you have the right to have the message.
Its your right to say what you believe, Hodges told the group. And its their right [referring to the pro-Trump crowd] to let you know what they think about what youre saying.
Then he handed the microphone to Hawk Newsome, president of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York.
I am an American, Newsome told the crowd, eliciting cheers and applause. And the beauty of America is that when you see something broke in your country, you can mobilize to fix it.
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So you ask why theres a Black Lives Matter, Newsome continued. Because you can watch a black man die and be choked to death on television and nothing happens. We need to address that.
To be sure, the crowd wasnt willing to accept all of Newsomes speech. At times they booed him and yelled out Bullshit and All lives matter!
But there were moments when the crowd accepted the black rights activists message. When Newsome said he was a Christian and was taught to Love thy neighbor, the crowd cheered. And the crowd responded with a mix of cheers and groans when Newsome proclaimed he was not anti-cop.
We are anti-bad cop, he said. We say if a cop is bad, he needs to get fired like a bad plumber, a bad lawyer, like a bad fucking politician!
When Newsome said All lives matter, right? But when a black life is lost, we get no justice, some people called him a liar.
Newsomes speech did end with a message of unity: If we really want America great, we do it together.
Then the crowd broke out into a chant of U.S.A.
Watch the full interaction between the Trump supporters and Black Lives Matter activists in the video below.
The rally was a relatively small demonstration, outshined by a neighboring demonstration organized by Juggalos, fans of the Detroit rap duo Insane Clown Posse, who often wear clown makeup. Juggalos on Saturday were protesting the FBIs 2011 decision to designate the group as a loosely organized hybrid gang.
The MOAR demonstration brought in a crowd of a few hundred people and zero elected officials or members of Congress. The rally did, however, feature a few D-list conservative pundits, including the founder of Latinos for Trump, Marco Gutierrez, who once warned that there would be taco trucks on every corner if the U.S. didnt curb immigration.
Aside from the moment that Trump supporters listened to Newsomes speech, tension mounted between self-described anti-fascists, or antifa, and white supremacists standing on the perimeter of the rally. U.S. Park Police officers intervened as opposing groups engaged in heated arguments.
Speaking to the video news site Now This after the speech, Newsome said the moment restored my faith in some of those people, meaning the Trump supporters who let him speak.
I feel like we made progress. Two sides that never listen to each other actually made progress today, he said. If not on a grander level, but just person to person, I think we really made some substantial steps without either side yielding anything.
Also on HuffPost
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Protesters gather in Freedom Plaza before a march to the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters march toward the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 13, 2014.
A protester stands in Freedom Plaza before the march against police violence.
Young protesters hold signs in Freedom Plaza on Dec. 13, 2014.
A protester in Freedom Plaza that Saturday.
Protesters in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters gather in Freedom Plaza for the march to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Protesters in Freedom Plaza on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters march toward the U.S. Capitol.
Protesters pose for a photo in Freedom Plaza on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters march toward the U.S. Capitol.
Protesters head toward the U.S. Capitol.
Protesters rally in the nation's capital on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters march toward the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters in Washington on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters rally in Washington on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters in Freedom Plaza on Dec, 13, 2014.
Protesters march toward the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters march toward the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 13, 2014.
Georgetown Law students protest at Freedom Plaza that Saturday.
Protesters in Freedom Plaza on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters gather in Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C.
Protesters gather in Freedom Plaza before marching to the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 13, 2014.
Al Sharpton speaks to protesters gathered in Freedom Plaza on Dec. 13, 2014.
Samaria Rice, mother of Tamir Rice, speaks to people gathered in Freedom Plaza on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters march toward the U.S. Capitol.
Filmmaker Spike Lee participates in a march on the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters march down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
It was not a very good speech.
Such presidential United Nations General Assembly speeches rarely are. It is hard to conjure a theme. But this was a jangly speech about Americas view of the world that said hardly anything about Europe, China, India, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, or the non-Venezuela parts of South America.
It was a speech about the righteous many standing up to the evil few but not just about that. The speech did have one theme one pair of cymbals that the percussionist-in-chief clanged again and again. At least 16 times, by my count. The magic word was sovereignty. Sometimes just sovereign.
If the president hits a term 16 times in one speech, I guess the speechwriters really, really want the listeners to notice it. The sovereignty two-by-four with which the president kept hitting us over the head means that national governments, within their borders, are totally in charge. They get to do whatever they want, without meddlesome interference from, for example, what the president called unaccountable international tribunals and powerful global bureaucracies.
This is the logic hole. The bad guys are mainly in trouble for trying to build nuclear weapons and also for doing dastardly things to their own people for example, North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba. Granted, Iran is also meddling in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. But, gosh, who isnt?
Sorry, but a country cannot (logically) both be a sovereignty absolutist and a high-minded enforcer of international norms regarding what other countries are doing inside their own territories. (Exhibit A: The foreign policy of sovereignty absolutist China, which in this matter is at least fairly consistent.)
And while we are on the subject of China, the only line in the speech that referred indirectly to China was this one: We must reject threats to sovereignty from the Ukraine to the South China Sea.
Since China claims that virtually the entire South China Sea is its sovereign territory, the Chinese government on a daily basis echoes this statement.
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Think about it for a moment (which is more than the speechwriters did): If the United States government wanted to disagree with Chinas sovereignty claim, it would have to invoke sovereigntys enemy number one: international law, including the Law of the Sea treaty and the ruling of the international tribunal that recently applied that treaty to the South China Sea. The U.S. Senate has not ratified that treaty, and the current administration has ignored it, because you guessed it the treaty threatens our sovereignty!
But back to the big logic hole. A country whose leader stresses sovereignty with practically every breath will find it hard to denounce any evil except international aggression. Little of what the president attacked amounted to that.
On North Korea, the president actually seemed to straddle both positions. He promised to destroy North Korea if it committed aggression, then said, denuclearization is its only acceptable future. Specifically, building nuclear weapons inside ones borders is a sovereign right, unless international norms (enforced by both other countries and powerful global bureaucracies) have a right to intrude. And if they have a right to intrude on sovereign rights in order to sustain that norm uh oh.
This is a logic hole so big that any country can drive a mobile intercontinental ballistic missile launcher through it. The speechs one theme, reiterated at every turn, slams the speechs one policy message.
Photo credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - US President Donald Trump will take aim at Iran and North Korea and strike a stridently nationalistic tone in his maiden address to the UN General Assembly Tuesday, rejecting the half-century-old drive toward global governance.
A top aide said Trump will take aim at "rogue regimes that threaten world stability and peace," singling out Pyongyang and Tehran during his half hour remarks and arguing responsible nations must step in to curb their behavior.
Trump has warned North Korea faces "fire and fury" if it does not abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and argued a global deal to curb Iran's uranium enrichment must be reworked.
In both instances, Trump's "America first" stance faces significant pushback from international partners -- from Russia to China to European allies -- who aides say Trump is likely to press to be tougher, but perhaps not name explicitly.
When he steps up to the famous green marble rostrum, Trump will also set out his vision for a world shorn of what one senior advisor familiar with the speech called the overarching "global bureaucracy."
Trump will argue nation states should be free to pursue their interests unfettered -- a contentious message for delegates to the world's foremost multilateral forum.
Since coming to office in January, Trump has sought to unravel US involvement in multilateral deals from the Paris climate accord to an agreement curbing Iran's nuclear program.
He has cancelled a major trans-Pacific trade pact, sought to renegotiate a free trade deal with Mexico and Canada and even threatened to leave the World Trade Organization.
Aides said Trump will not rule out accords between sovereign states -- such as those that underpin security in Europe and Asia -- but will argue against overbearing global governance.
- Nation-state -
"It's an appeal to each nation to use sovereignty as the basis for mutual cooperation, the idea being that rather than appealing to a top-down model of global bureaucracy, it's a model that's from the nation-state up," a senior official said.
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"It is about the nation-state being the best vehicle, as the president has said before, for the elevation of the human condition."
During his first day at the UN General Assembly Trump warned that "bureaucracy" was holding the United Nations back, a barbed message to the world body he once derided as a talk shop.
Trump warned that as chief executive of the United States -- a founding member of the UN and its biggest financial contributor -- he wants a better return on his investment.
"The United Nations was founded on truly noble goals," he said, adding that while progress has been made, "in recent years the United Nations has not reached its full potential, because of bureaucracy and mismanagement."
- Low bar -
Allies and foes alike will rummage through Trump's speech on Tuesday for a better idea of how this lurching superpower foresees its future place in the world.
"The bar for success, as usual, is very low," said Thomas Wright of the Brookings Institution. "If the president can make a half decent attempt at playing the role of the leader of the free world, everyone will breathe a sigh of relief."
"The risk, also as usual, is that he goes off script and says what he really thinks."
More tub-thumping at the UN would thrill his diehard fans at home, but bellicose warnings to North Korea would undoubtedly make Tokyo and Seoul -- both well within range of North Korean ballistic missiles -- uneasy.
Shredding the "bad deal" that curbs Iran's nuclear program could burnish Trump's hard-charging businessman brand, but would infuriate European allies and risk setting loose havoc across the Middle East.
For the district to count an early release day as a school day, there must be a minimum of four hours of instructional time. After Sept. 1, the district realized the original schedule did not allow for that at the middle school level, and elementary schools were not able to include a recess for their students.
WASHINGTON President Donald Trump, a billionaire, is reportedly using money raised by the Republican National Committee to cover legal fees associated with the Department of Justice investigation into his 2016 presidential campaign.
Trump has used over $230,000 in money raised by the RNC for his own legal defense, according to Reuters. The president is currently under investigation for potential illegal coordination with Russia which is alleged to have hacked the Democratic National Committee and intervened in the election to defeat Hillary Clinton and for possible obstruction of justice when he fired James Comey, the former FBI director, in May.
In a bit of an ironic twist, the RNC money with which Trump is paying for his legal defense is available for him to use thanks to the work of Clintons campaign lawyer, Marc Elias. Elias played a key role in negotiating the expansion of campaign contribution limits for the political parties in 2014. Based on reports from Politico and HuffPost, it was Elias who proposed the existence of an account that could cover nearly any legal expense.
That account was created under a deal between House Republicans and Senate Democrats to expand political party fundraising capabilities as part of the omnibus spending bill passed in December 2014.
Not only were the Democrats involved, but Democrats spearheaded this, Paul S. Ryan, a campaign finance lawyer with the nonpartisan watchdog group Common Cause, told HuffPost.
Then-House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said at the time that the provision was worked out in a bipartisan way to allow those who are organizing political conventions to raise the money from private sources as opposed to using taxpayer funds.
The bipartisan deal created two new fundraising accounts and expanded another for political party committees like the RNC and the DNC. The new and expanded funds could each receive a maximum contribution of $100,200 from a single donor a massive increase from the $33,400 limit that applied to the main party account. Of the two new accounts, one was to be spent on any updates to a partys offices and the other was to be spent on political conventions. The expanded account had originally collected money to pay for legal expenses in the event of an election recount. Now, not only could this account receive larger contributions than before, but the funds could be spent on nearly any legal expense at all.
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The process that created these accounts began after Republicans voted to end public funding for the party conventions. They suddenly needed to raise more money for their 2016 presidential nominating convention. So, they sought to create a new party account with higher contribution limits to help defray the costs, and sought to get some Democratic Party support. Senate Democratic leadership agreed to the new political convention account, and then asked for the inclusion of the office account and the expansion of the recount account to cover any and all legal expenses.
The thinking behind the expanded legal accounts was to help pay the costs associated with challenging GOP-backed voting restrictions and redistricting maps that could discriminate based on race. Elias has successfully argued many cases challenging voter identification laws and gerrymandered maps as the Democratic Partys lead lawyer in these suits.
But that one change has also enabled the billionaire Trump to use money raised by the RNC to cover his legal defense. He is the first president to use political party campaign funds to pay for his own criminal defense lawyers.
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Marmaris (Turkey) (AFP) - Turkey on Wednesday was preparing to wind up naval exercises with fellow NATO members being held at a time of a crisis in relations with several alliance states and controversy over Ankara's plan to purchase weapons from Russia.
The NATO exercises, focused on submarine rescue operations and called "Dynamic Monarch", were taking place in Turkish waters in the Mediterranean Sea off the resort city of Marmaris and involved 1,000 personnel and nine countries including France, Britain and the United States.
The drill, the first in Turkey since 2000, is aimed at demonstrating multinational submarine rescue cooperation and interoperability. But its hosting by Turkey is also a symbol of Ankara's importance within the alliance during a tense period.
"I would just recognise that the Turkish navy have consistently continued to be one of the greatest supporters of my command," said the head of the NATO maritime force, Vice Admiral Clive Johnstone.
- 'Turkey is essential' -
A NATO official, who asked not to be named, added: "Turkey is essential for the security of Europe. It has NATO's second largest army and makes an important contribution to the alliance including our missions in Afghanistan, Kosovo and the Aegean Sea."
The manoeuvres got underway earlier this month and the press were permitted to witness the drill on Wednesday, with the operation due to wrap up on Friday.
Mainly Muslim Turkey is one of NATO's key members, having joined in 1952.
However its relations with several key alliance members, in particular Germany, have been damaged over the merciless crackdown after last year's failed coup.
Ankara in turn accuses EU states of failing to round up Kurdish militant and coup plot suspects.
Ties with the United States meanwhile have been hurt by Washington's support of a Syrian Kurdish militia Ankara regards as a terror group.
The exercises come just a week after Turkey ruffled feathers within NATO by announcing it had signed a deal with Russia to purchase Moscow's sophisticated S-400 air defence systems.
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NATO officials warned that interoperability of equipment was crucial between alliance members but President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has shrugged off the warnings.
Analysts have however warned that despite the signing, thorny issues still need to be resolved before delivery including Turkey's demand for technology transfer and Russia's order backlog for the hardware.
Financial details have not been disclosed but according to Russian press reports the deal is worth $2 billion with Turkey seeking a credit from Russia to assist the payment.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Trump called him about US legal action targeting 19 people involved in clash with peaceful protesters in Washington this year
Recep Tayyip Erdogan listens to Donald Trump during a dinner at UN headquarters. Photograph: AP
After the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, claimed Donald Trump called to apologize for the US indictment of 15 Turkish security officials over a violent brawl with peaceful anti-Erdogan protesters in Washington this year, the White House issued a denial.
In an interview with PBSs Judy Woodruff to air on Tuesday night, Erdogan said, according to a translator: President Trump called me about a week ago about this issue. He said that he was sorry and he told me that he was going to follow up on this issue when we come to the United States within the framework of an official visit.
.@RT_Erdogan tells @JudyWoodruff Trump called him abt incident in DC this summer to say he was sorry + wanted to "follow up on this issue." pic.twitter.com/CoVXYFamDV PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) September 19, 2017
A White House official told the Guardian: They discussed a wide range
of issues but there was no apology.
In May, according to witnesses, violence broke out when the Turkish presidents security detail attacked protesters while Erdogan was visiting Washington DC. The protesters were waving a flag of a Kurdish political party. Nine people were injured. One eyewitness, Seyid Riza Dersimi, told the Guardian at the time: This is crazy they are kicking us, I could have died this is America, this is unacceptable.
In the aftermath of the clash, Senator John McCain demanded that the Turkish ambassador to the United States be expelled from the country in response. We should throw their ambassador the hell out of the United States of America, McCain said in an interview.
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The Arizona senator added: These are not just average people that did this beating. This is Erdogans security detail. Somebody told them to go and beat up on these peaceful demonstrators, and I think it should have repercussions, including identifying these people and bringing charges against them.
In June, 16 participants in the violence were charged by Washington police for their involvement. A total of 19 were formally indicted in August for a variety of crimes. All were with charged with conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years. This charge came with a bias crime enhancement which, under DC law, could increase the length of the sentence by up to 50%.
Two of the men, both of whom are American, have been arrested. The other 17, including 15 Turkish security officials and two Canadians, are still at large.
The incident aggravated the already tense relationship between the United States and Turkey. The two countries have clashed over US support for Kurdish rebels in Syria as well as Turkish demands that the United States extradite Fethullah Gulen, a cleric whom Erdogan blames for a 2016 coup attempt. In addition, Erdogan has become the subject of criticism internationally, as he has moved to consolidate power in Turkey, particularly in the aftermath of the 2016 coup, cracking down on press freedom and civil liberties.
By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) - A retried Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer was sentenced on Wednesday by a U.S. judge to five years and two months in prison, after pleading guilty to 10 money laundering charges related to a scheme to smuggle Arctic narwhal tusks. Gregory Logan, 59, of Saint John, New Brunswick, had been accused by U.S. prosecutors of smuggling more than 250 tusks from 2000 to 2010 into the United States from Canada, in a scheme to sell tusks to collectors and send proceeds back to Canada. The tusks were worth as much as $3 million. "Unlawful wildlife trade like this undermines efforts by federal, state, and foreign governments to protect and restore populations of species like the narwhal, a majestic creature of the sea," acting Assistant U.S. Attorney General Jeffrey Wood said in a statement. Kaylee Folster, a lawyer for Logan, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Narwhals are a species of whale that live mainly in Arctic waters, and have large, protruding ivory tusks. Male narwhals can rub their tusks together as a means to communicate. It is illegal to import narwhals, or parts of narwhals, into the United States for commercial purposes. Logan, who retired as a Canadian mountie in 2003, had been a target of a narwhal tusk-smuggling probe, dubbed "Operation Longtooth," by a Canadian government agency now known as Environment and Climate Change Canada. The defendant was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John Woodcock in Bangor, Maine. According to court papers, prosecutors sought a more than seven-year prison term, while Logan sought credit for time served. Logan had been indicted in the United States on money laundering, smuggling and conspiracy charges in November 2012. He was extradited to the United States in March 2016, under an agreement limiting the case there to the money laundering offenses. Logan pleaded guilty six months later. In 2013, Logan pleaded guilty in Canada to a related wildlife smuggling crime. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
By Steve Holland and John Irish UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Iran said on Wednesday it did not expect the United States to abandon the Iranian nuclear deal as U.S. officials sent mixed signals on what they plan to do about the international accord. A collapse of the 2015 deal, which U.S. President Donald Trump has called "an embarrassment" but which is supported by the other major powers that negotiated it with Iran, could upend relations in the Middle East and trigger a regional arms race. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani vowed that his country would not be the first to violate the agreement under which Tehran agreed to restrict its nuclear programme in return for the loosening of economic sanctions that had crippled its economy. "We don't think Trump will walk out of the deal despite (his) rhetoric and propaganda," Rouhani told reporters on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly gathering of world leaders. He also ruled out the idea of renegotiating the pact. "Either the nuclear deal remains as it is or it will collapse," he added. Trump, who on Tuesday called the pact "one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into," told reporters he had made up his mind whether to keep the pact but declined to disclose his decision. Trump must decide by Oct. 15 whether to certify that Iran is complying with the pact, a decision that could sink the deal. If he does not, the U.S. Congress has 60 days to decide whether to reimpose sanctions waived under the accord. A senior U.S. official said Trump is leaning toward not certifying that Iran is complying with the pact and letting Congress effectively decide whether to kill the agreement. The official said Trump could always change his mind before the deadline and noted he publicly and privately has fumed about the deal, feeling the United States was taken advantage of. A source familiar with the U.S. discussions said the Trump administration is also considering ways to leave the agreement intact, sanction Iran for its missile tests and support for extremist groups, and then seek to strengthen the pact. Speaking at the U.N. General Assembly of world leaders, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani responded forcefully to Trump's pugnacious speech on Tuesday by saying Iran would not be pushed around by a relative newcomer to the world stage. But he also said Iran desired to preserve its accord with six world powers under which Tehran agreed to restrict its nuclear programme for at least a decade in return for the loosening of economic sanctions that crippled its economy. "The Islamic Republic of Iran will not be the first country to violate the agreement," Rouhani said, adding that Iran would respond "decisively and resolutely" to a violation by any party. "It will be a great pity if this agreement were to be destroyed by 'rogue' newcomers to the world of politics: the world will have lost a great opportunity," he said in a dig at Trump, who on Tuesday called Iran a "rogue" state. Trump, a businessman and former reality TV star whose first elected office is the presidency, told reporters, "I have decided," when asked if he had made up his mind after having criticized the accord in his own U.N. speech on Tuesday. But he declined to say what he decided. U.S. officials have sent mixed signals about the nuclear agreement Iran hammered out with six major powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. The Republican president hinted on Tuesday that he may not recertify the pact, negotiated by his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama. "I don't think you've heard the last of it," he said. The seven nations that negotiated the agreement met at the United Nations, marking the first time U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had met in the same room. The prospect of Washington reneging on the agreement has worried some U.S. partners that helped negotiate it, especially as the world grapples with North Koreas nuclear and ballistic missile development. French President Emmanuel Macron said it would be a mistake to pull out of the pact. "We have to keep the 2015 agreement because it was a good one," he told reporters. However, an official from a Gulf nation suggested that his nation could accept the deal's collapse. Should Trump either not certify Iranian compliance or withdraw from the deal entirely, the Gulf official said: "I think we can live with that." (Reporting by Yara Bayoumy, Parisa Hafezi, Steve Holland, John Irish, Michelle Nichols, Jeff Mason and Arshad Mohammed at the United Nations, Patricia Zengerle, John Walcott and Susan Heavey in Washington, Andrew Osborn in Moscow and Babak Dehghanpisheh in Beirut; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Grant McCool and James Dalgleish)
Tel Aviv (AFP) - Tens of thousands of Africans who fled misery at home for safety in Israel are living in limbo, fearing deportation though some have lived in the country for more than a decade.
Recognising a rising tide of discontent among Israelis over the migrants' presence in south Tel Aviv, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently visited the area.
He posed for TV cameras with an elderly woman who said she was afraid to leave her apartment at night for fear of her African neighbours.
"We will return south Tel Aviv to the citizens of Israel," Netanyahu pledged, adding that the Africans were "not refugees but illegal infiltrators".
Adi Drori-Avraham, of the Aid Organisation for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Israel (ASSAF), says that although they originally crossed the border "irregularly", they have since been issued short-term residence visas.
"They're not illegal because they go every two months and they get a visa from the ministry of the interior," she said.
"They're here and they work and they pay taxes. They're not illegal."
Israeli government figures from June 30 show a total of 38,043 African migrants in the country. They include 27,494 Eritreans and 7,869 Sudanese.
A 2016 UN commission of inquiry into Eritrea's harsh regime found "widespread and systematic" crimes against humanity and said an estimated 5,000 people flee the country each month.
The International Criminal Court has indicted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide related to his regime's counter-insurgency tactics in the 14-year-old conflict in Darfur.
Drori-Avraham says that among those seeking asylum in Israel are "thousands" from Darfur whose applications have yet to receive an answer.
"Some of them have been waiting for years," she said.
- 'Didn't choose it' -
Migrants started coming in large numbers across the porous border between Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula in 2007, when nearly 5,000 entered, interior ministry figures show.
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By 2011 the number had shot up to more than 17,000 but the following year the government completed fencing the border and deploying electronic sensors.
In 2013, only 43 people were caught, while in the first six months of this year nobody made it across.
Beyond wanting to be seen as responding to residents' complaints, the government is also concerned with maintaining Israel's Jewish character.
Only Jews or those with Jewish families are allowed to immigrate.
Thousands of the migrants have since been removed -- voluntarily according to the ministry, under duress according to the ASSAF.
Over the years, those caught at the Egyptian frontier were detained at prisons in the Negev desert in southern Israel.
On release they were given bus tickets to Tel Aviv, arriving at the central bus station on the south side of the city.
Many stayed in the surrounding Neve Shaanan neighbourhood, long rife with prostitution and crime.
Rents there are low and landlords are not choosy about tenants.
"The reason we are here is that this is the only area we know. We didn't choose it," said Tsgahans Goytiom, a 30-year-old Eritrean known in the neighbourhood as Johnny.
"No Israeli wants to be here in this neighbourhood."
In 2012, an anti-migrant demonstration in Tel Aviv drew about 1,000 protesters.
One speaker was Miri Regev, a lawmaker from Netanyahu's Likud party, who is now a minister in his right-wing government.
"The infiltrators are a cancer in our body," she told the rally, which spiralled into a race riot in which there were shouts of "Blacks out!" and attacks on African-run shops.
Today the streets of Neve Shaanan are lined with African grocery stores and hairdressers alongside storefront law offices advertising advice for migrants.
- 'Everybody is waiting' -
Israeli residents have formed "The South Tel Aviv Liberation Front" to lobby the government for harsher measures against the newcomers.
"They brought here a Third World culture, lots of misogyny, lots of chauvinism, lots of homophobia and a lot of disrespect," Front leader Sheffi Paz alleged.
"Disrespect towards the authorities, disrespect towards the law, disrespect towards the residents."
The migrants, who Drori-Avraham says meet the UN definition of refugees, live in a strange half-world where the rules are often contradictory.
Their visas do not grant the right to work but when the holders go to renew them every two months they are asked to produce payslips to prove they are employed, the migrants and their supporters say.
The government tacitly recognises the Sudanese and Eritreans cannot be returned to their dangerous homelands.
So Israel has signed deals with Rwanda and Uganda, which agree to accept departing migrants on condition they consent to the arrangement.
Candidates are offered payments of $3,500 and threatened with indefinite detention if they refuse, Drori-Avraham says.
Those who accept find themselves stranded in alien countries where they have no roots and no common culture or language.
Israel's Supreme Court ruled last month that open-ended imprisonment is illegal and that migrants can be held for no more than 60 days.
Netanyahu said he would find a way round that decision, and draft legislation has been written which would allow the deportation of migrants if passed.
Goytiom has been in Israel for eight years, arriving after a gruelling trek across Ethiopia and what he says was kidnap and torture by Bedouin in Sudan and the Sinai.
With his wife he runs a kindergarten for migrant youngsters.
"If we had the option of change in Eritrea we would not stay here another month," he told AFP. "Everybody is waiting for the present situation to change."
In Virginias contentious gubernatorial race, Democrat Ralph Northam has identified what he sees as a new vulnerability in Republican Ed Gillespies political consulting work: His clients included major corporations that laid off Virginia workers.
Gillespie or his firms previously advised Bank of America, Anthem and AT&T, companies that shed hundreds of jobs in Virginia, in some cases while Gillespie was advising the clients.
You know a man by the people he serves. Ralph Northam has spent his entire life serving his country and the commonwealth of Virginia, while Ed Gillespie spent over 30 years of his career fighting for wealthy special interests including corporations that laid off thousands of Virginians, Christina Freundlich, the Northam campaigns deputy communications director, said in a statement. Virginians shouldnt have to question whether or not their governor is going to fight for their jobs, or fight for the wellbeing of corporate clients that lined Gillespies pockets with cash.
The Gillespie campaign did not immediately respond to a request for a response to the accusation.
Republican Ed Gillespie is promoting tax cuts in his run for governor. (Photo: The Washington Post/Getty Images)
Gillespie has a long history of advising the three corporations in the past decade and a half, a tenure punctuated by a brief stint in the White House of then-President George W. Bush and two political campaigns.
Virginia law does not require candidates for statewide office to disclose the name of every company operating in the state that they have retained as a client. But Gillespies campaign revealed that Gillespies firm, Ed Gillespie Strategies, advised Bank of America, Anthem and AT&T in 2016, as well as Microsoft.
In the 2014 financial disclosure for Gillespies failed Senate bid, he also listed Bank of America and AT&T as clients of his firm in the preceding two years.
And prior to joining the Bush White House as a counselor to the president in 2007, Gillespie was at the helm of QGA Public Affairs, the bipartisan lobbying and consulting powerhouse that he co-founded. The firms many clients included Bank of America, AT&T and Anthem.
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Bank of America paid QGA at least $780,000 in lobbying fees from 2005 until Gillespies 2007 departure for the White House, and retained Gillespies consulting services again in 2013 as it sought to fend off a potential effort to break up the big banks.
Meanwhile, shortly after Gillespie left QGA to join the Bush White House, the bank began laying off workers in Virginia, continuing to do so until 2015. Bank of America laid off 136 workers in the Richmond-area location in December 2007, and another 135 workers in August 2010 in the same region. The firm laid off hundreds more workers in subsequent years, including over 100 employees in Henrico County and Norfolk in early 2014, and more than 200 workers from a single Norfolk location in March 2015.
Gillespies relationships with Anthem and AT&T follow a similar pattern. His work for both companies either coincides with or follows significant layoffs.
Anthem announced an unspecified number of layoffs in April 2015, while AT&T laid off 62 employees at a relay center in Norton, Virginia, in August 2015.
It is not clear whether Gillespie was advising either company at the time of the layoffs or merely began his work with them in 2016. But Gillespies relationship with AT&T goes back more than a decade. Under Gillespies leadership, QGA received $540,000 in lobbying fees from the telecommunications giant in 2006 and the first half of 2007.
The nature of Gillespies consulting work for Anthem and AT&T also has the potential to prove controversial on the campaign trail. His services for the two companies involved counseling them on potential mergers, according to Gillespies campaign.
Health insurer Anthem tried to merge with its large competitor Cigna, but a federal judge blocked it in February 2017 on the grounds that it would harm consumers. For its part, AT&T is currently seeking to merge with Time Warner, and the Trump administrations Department of Justice is close to completing a review that would allow it to proceed.
Mergers of large firms often lead to industry consolidation that limits competition and hurts consumers, critics say. The four largest health insurance companies controlled 83 percent of the market in 2014, up from 74 percent in 2006, according to the nonpartisan Commonwealth Fund.
The mergers would also likely have resulted in additional layoffs at Anthem and AT&T. By creating redundancies in personnel, mergers typically result in layoffs. After Verizon, HuffPosts parent company, acquired Yahoo in June, it laid off 15 percent of Yahoo and AOLs combined workforce.
It is not clear whether Northams attack on Gillespie will stick, given the regularity with which companies lay off employees and Gillespies indirect connection to the companies human resources decisions.
Virginia Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam (D) is betting that in a battle of biographies, he has the advantage. (Photo: Larry French/Getty Images)
But the broadside is part of Northams broader efforts to depict Gillespie, 56, a former Republican National Committee chairman and longtime Beltway power broker, as an out-of-touch D.C. insider as they vie for control of the governors mansion this November.
Northam, 58, who is the current lieutenant governor, is betting that he has the advantage in a battle of biographies with Gillespie. Northam is a pediatric neurologist and Army veteran, whose deep heritage in the Old Dominion state is evident in his gentle drawl.
Earlier this month, the Northam campaign debuted a 30-second video, entitled Whoever, which compares Northams record as a doctor and elected official with that of Gillespie, who the ad dubs a Washington, D.C. corporate lobbyist.
He shows up for whoever pays him, the ad concludes.
Northam has cast himself as a steady hand at the wheel, a continuation of the relatively popular tenure of Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe. He is running on using Affordable Care Act funds to expand Medicaid, which a Republican legislature has blocked, and offering Virginians a free associate degree in exchange for public service.
Gillespie has promised to unlock economic growth and job creation through tax cuts for all Virginians.
Democrats are eager to notch a win in Virginia, one of two states the other is New Jersey with state-level elections this November. In the 2016 general election, Hillary Clinton defeated Donald Trump by 5 percentage points in Virginia.
Northam had a strong summer of fundraising, bringing in $7.2 million in July and August compared to Gillespies $3.7 million. That gives Northam $5.6 million cash on hand compared with Gillespies $2.6 million.
But it remains a neck-in-neck race. Northam and Gillespie are tied at 42 percent each, with 12 percent undecided, according to a Suffolk University poll released Thursday. Other polls have shown Northam with a modest lead.
Northam and Gillespie face off in their second debate at Capitol One headquarters in Tysons, Virginia, at 7 pm on Tuesday.
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President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver his first address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday morning.
Trump, who is slated to speak at the U.N. at 10:30 a.m. EST, has a controversial history with the international organization. He has often espoused an America First policy that doesnt always align neatly with the values of international cooperation that define the body, and during his presidential campaign he dismissed the international body as a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time.
However, the White House has said that Trump will stress the need for international cooperation, particularly in relation to terrorism and the nuclear capacities of North Korea and Iran, in his speech.
Trumps speech is expected to be similar to the ones he made in Saudi Arabia and Poland earlier this year. The White House said its content will focus on both Iran and North Korea, emphasizing the role all countries need to play in taming these countries nuclear ambitions, particularly in regards to North Korea.
The President is also expected to discuss applying his America First policy on an international stage. What the President is doing is explaining how the principle of America First is not only consistent with the goal of international cooperation, but a rational basis for every country to engage in cooperation an administration official said on a briefing call with reporters Monday.
KETCHUM The Sun Valley Realtors Give Foundation is hosting its second annual 5K & Tailgate Party on Sept. 30. Registration is available online at www.5BVeterans.org . The check-in time for race participants, including Sept. 30 registrants, is 9 a.m. KBs is providing a post-race lunch for purchase, and Sawtooth Brewery is providing free beer.
5B Realtors for Veterans raised over $16,000 last year for this project. It will give 100 percent of the 5K & Tailgate Party proceeds to sustainable housing assistance for local veterans and their families. To date, the program has helped two veterans, who would otherwise be homeless, with rental assistance and a third, a WWII veteran, with major home repairs so that he is able to continue living safely in his home.
Mexico City was struck by a 7.1 earthquake Tuesday afternoon, leaving at least 116 dead and impacting an estimated 28 million others. The quake left widespread damage, power outages, cracked roads and toppled buildings throughout the city.
Drone video captured in the aftermath of the quake revealed some of the damage. Footage showed at least one building virtually fully collapsed as people stood atop it and surveyed the devastation.
The earthquakes epicenter was near the town of Raboso, approximately 76 miles southeast of Mexico City, the United States Geological Survey reported Tuesday. The search for victims continued into Tuesday night as the full extent of the damage was realized. Other photos and videos captured rescue workers searching the rubble for survivors, sifting through debris to see whether anyone was beneath.
Somewhere between 50 and 60 people have already been pulled alive from the rubble, said Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera, according to The Guardian. Mancera also said at least 44 buildings had collapsed in the quake.
Less than two weeks ago, southern Mexico was hit by an 8.1 magnitude earthquake. President Enrique Pena Nieto was traveling to survey the damage left in Oaxaca from the previous earthquake when Tuesdays hit and promptly turned around to return to the capital, the Washington Post reported.
And in an eerie coincidence, Tuesday marked the 32nd anniversary of a 1985 earthquake in the region that left thousands of people dead and portions of the city utterly devastated. Many places in Mexico City were participating in safety drills when Tuesdays earthquake struck.
Its a law that all schools and public institutions have to do safety drills on Sept. 19, Greg Berger, a journalist and professor in Cuernavaca, told National Public Radio. Then it started shaking again, and my son told me he thought it was another drill, but a high-tech drill.
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President Donald Trump sent his support to Mexico via Twitter in the aftermath of the earthquake.
God bless the people of Mexico City, he wrote. We are with you and will be there for you.
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Photo: Reuters
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A nanny cam has captured the moment a babysitter violently threw a newborn baby she was hired to look after, into a crib.
Worried mother Annemarie Theron set up the secret camera in her home in Namibia, Africa, after she started noticing bruises on her baby girl's neck, shoulders, and feet.
RELATED: Your child Is sick. You need to work. What now?
After reviewing horrific footage of the family's nanny, Nicolin Hoeses, manhandling the baby and tossing her into the crib, Theron told MailOnline she felt "betrayed" and like "a failure" for trusting the woman.
The 31-year-old mother said she and her husband installed the camera in the morning, the same day the incident took place, after growing suspicious of Hoeses and learning of their daughter's injuries, who they also said appeared to have grown "frightened of her nanny."
"When I saw what she had done to Laila, I cried and cried. I held my baby girl close and kept telling her I was so sorry," said Theron. "I had so many emotions - betrayed, and a complete failure as a mum. It was the worst feeling I have ever had and never ever want another mother to have to go through that."
SEE ALSO: Two babysitters arrested for putting crying infant in refrigerator, posting video to Snapchat
Theron and her husband immediately reported Hoeses to the local authorities shortly after reviewing the footage. Hoeses has since been arrested for the attack and is facing charges of child abuse, assault and attempted murder.
She appeared in court Monday but was denied bail and will remain in custody until October.
Theron apologized to her daughter in a public Facebook post and thanked friends and family for their support.
Members of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans security detail are shown violently reacting to protesters during his trip to Washington in May. (Voice of America via AP)
WASHINGTON The White House is rejecting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans claim that President Trump said he was sorry for a May incident in which security personnel from Turkey attacked protesters in Washington, D.C.
Erdogan made the claim in an interview with PBS NewsHours Judy Woodruff. Asked Wednesday about the Turkish leaders comments, White House National Security Council spokesman Michael Anton offered a terse response in an email.
Its wrong, Anton said.
The incident occurred in May when Erdogan was in Washington to visit Trump. Erdogan has a residence in D.C., and when he returned there after the meeting with Trump, there was a group of protesters outside. Video footage showed a group of men in suits attacking the protesters and beating them as Erdogan observed. Washington, D.C., police, who stepped in to stop the violence, said some of the men who attacked the protesters were members of Erdogans security detail. Turkish media has also reported the men were security officials. The State Department called the situation deeply disturbing, and the D.C. police released a statement describing it as standing in contrast to the First Amendment principles we work tirelessly to protect.
In his interview with Woodruff, which was released Tuesday, Erdogan said he recently discussed the incident with Trump.
President Trump called me about a week ago about this issue. He said that he was sorry, and he told me that he was going to follow up on this issue when we come to the United States within the framework of an official visit, Erdogan said, according to a PBS translation.
Yahoo News pressed Anton for details about his contention that Erdogans version of events was incorrect and whether there was any promise of a follow-up from Trump. Anton said the pair did talk about the incident, but denied Trump said sorry.
The topic was discussed. There was no apology. Beyond that refer to the readout, said Anton.
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The White House released a readout of a Sept. 9 phone call between Trump and Erdogan.
President Trump emphasized the common commitment of the United States and Turkey to work together to increase regional stability, the readout said.
President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and US President Donald Trump (2 L) chat each other during a dinner hosted by United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres (not seen) within the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York, United States on Sept. 19, 2017. (Photo: Turkish Presidency/Handout/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
In June, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia charged nine Turkish security officers and three Turkish police officers for their role in the attacks and issued arrest warrants for them. A Washington, D.C., grand jury indicted three more Turkish security officials in August. At the time, the 15 Turkish nationals facing charges in this country remained at large. Speaking on Turkish television last month, Erdogan described the indictments as completely a scandal.
It is clearly a scandalous sign of how justice works in America, Erdogan said.
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Read more from Yahoo News:
The woman who had an affair with one of Americas most notorious serial killers fears she would have been his next target had he not been caught.
Holly Eudy is still coming to terms with the terrifying trail of bodies left by Todd Kohlhepp, the man she was in love with for 10 years.
Read: Video Shows Rescue of Woman Chained in Shipping Container by Serial Killer
Kohlhepp is the real estate broker from Spartanburg, S.C., whose crimes shocked the nation.
Kohlhepp was arrested last November after a woman he had kidnapped, Kala Brown, was found chained by the neck inside a storage container on his property.
When cops rescued Brown in a storage container on his property, she told them what Kohlhepp had done to her boyfriend, Charlie Carver.
She said that Kohlhepp shot Carver three times in the chest, wrapped him in a blue tarp and put him in the bucket of the tractor. He later told her Carver was dead and buried.
As Brown was being transported to the hospital, she made a stunning statement: "Some girl named Holly, he's supposedly planning to kill."
My mouth fell open, Eudy told Inside Edition. I rewound and listened a few times. She just said my name. She just said my name!
Eudy can't help but feel that she could have been next, and as she toured the property with Inside Edition, she got spooked all over again.
[I'm] looking at it, trying to put myself in Kala's shoes. I know I wouldnt have survived out here, Eudy said. I knew there was something about him, but I couldnt put my finger on it.
She is also revealing her relationship with Kohlhepp for the first time, telling Inside Edition that he gave me a lot of attention [and] made me feel like I was important.
Eudy, who is married, met the clean-cut real estate broker in 2006 and never suspected that he had already murdered four innocent people.
It was Eudy who actually loaned Kohlhepp the money to buy the storage container in which Brown had been found.
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Kohlhepp told Eudy he needed the container for supplies.
He had it delivered to his remote, 95-acre property that was mostly dense woods, miles from civilization.
He lined it with shelves and stocked it with food and water. Eudy couldnt have known that he was turning the container that she helped him buy into a prison.
Read: Cops Say Suspected Serial Killer Met With Mom Before Confessing to Quadruple Murder
She gave Inside Edition a tour of his property and pointed out that container was surrounded by woods and was so isolated that no one would be able to hear a scream.
She said she never suspected a thing and thought it was all for storage and nothing seemed off. Eudy even saw the storage container at one point and didn't notice anything strange.
Eudy eventually admitted the affair to her husband and they are now expecting a baby. She said what Kohlhepp did was "disturbing."
Todd Kolhepp avoided the death penalty by pleading guilty to seven counts of murder as well as kidnapping. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Watch: Woman Held in Shipping Container Speaks Out for First Time
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Global anxieties about a nuclear war are at their highest level in decades, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday as he opened a gathering of world leaders dominated by the crisis with North Korea.
Addressing the high-level debate at the General Assembly, Guterres said millions of people are living in dread as a result of North Korea's provocative nuclear and missile tests.
"The use of nuclear weapons should be unthinkable," Guterres told the 193-nation assembly meeting in New York.
"But today global anxieties about nuclear weapons are at the highest level since the end of the Cold War."
The fear of nuclear warfare "is not abstract," he added. "Millions of people live under a shadow of dread cast by the provocative nuclear and missile tests" carried out by Pyongyang.
The United States backed by Japan, South Korea and its western allies are pushing for a strong international response to North Korea after it conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test and fired missiles over Japan.
But China and Russia have warned that US talk of military options to address the North Korean crisis would have a catastrophic result and are pushing for diplomatic talks.
US President Donald Trump, who has threatened North Korea with "fire and fury" unless it changes course, will be in the spotlight on Tuesday when he delivers his maiden address.
Guterres warned that rising tensions were increasing the chance of miscalculation and that "fiery talk can lead to fatal misunderstandings."
He called for a political solution, saying "this is a time for statesmanship."
"We must not sleepwalk our way into war," he said.
- Myanmar must end military operations -
Guterres again called on Myanmar to halt its military campaign against Rohingya Muslims, just hours after Aung San Suu Kyi delivered a nationwide address that failed to quell an international outcry.
More than 420,000 Rohingya have been forced to flee violence in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state in what the United Nations has described as "ethnic cleansing."
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"We are all shocked by the dramatic escalation of sectarian tensions in Myanmar's Rakhine state," said Guterres.
"The authorities in Myanmar must end the military operations, and allow unhindered humanitarian access. They must also address the grievances of the Rohingya, whose status has been left unresolved for far too long."
In her televised address, Suu Kyi insisted that army "clearance operations" in response to attacks by Rohingya militants had finished on September 5 and denied that Rakhine was in flames.
Guterres also spoke out in favour of the Paris agreement on climate change, saying extreme weather events like Hurricane Irma are becoming "the new normal of a warming world."
Kevin Hart's Wife Spotted Wearing Wedding Ring in L.A. as He Films in Atlanta Amid Extortion Scandal Kevin Hart, Eniko Parrish in Apart Amid Scandal
Kevin Hartsemotional apology seems to have worked.
The comedians pregnantwife Eniko Parrish, 33, was seen still wearing her wedding ring just days after an alleged extortion attempt prompted Hart to issue a mea culpa on social media.
Wearing a camouflage sweatsuit, Parrishs enormous engagement and wedding ring were clearly visible as she took their dog Roxy to the vet in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Im at a place in my life where I feel like I have a target on my back, Hart said in the clip. And because of that I should make smart decisions. And recently, I didnt. You know, Im not perfect. Im not going to sit up here and say that I am or claim to be in any way shape or form.
He continued: I made a bad error in judgement and I put myself in a bad environment where only bad things can happen and they did. And in doing that I know that Im going to hurt the people closest to me, whove I talked to and apologized to, that would be my wife and my kids.
Someone tried to set Kevin up in a failed extortion attempt, Harts rep confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE. As law enforcement is involved, we cannot comment further as it could affect the investigation.
Officials have reportedly identified the woman in the alleged footage, and believe she or someone else attempted to blackmail the star.
Sources told PEOPLE that Parrish is supporting her husband amid the allegations and that there is absolutely no divorce talk.
She obviously knows about the cheating allegations. To her, Kevin is a great husband, said the source. Eniko is aware that Kevin has been accused of being a ladies man. She doesnt care. He is her husband and he always comes home to her.
The alleged extortionist reportedly told TMZ that he or she was trying to get money and expose Hart for cheating. The person also claimed to have seen Hart partying in Las Vegas last month, and accused the actor of cheating on Parrish with several women.
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Hart, whos dad to daughter Heaven, 12, and son Hendrix, 9, with ex-wife Torrei and is expecting a baby boy with Parrish, added that there are no excuses for his wrong behavior and described the situation as a s-y moment.
According to a source, the family is focused on seeing the investigation through.
The legal issue seems to be more important to the family than any sexual gossip that goes along with it, the source said.
With reporting by LINDA MARX.
An experiment is under way in Twin Falls to see if a community can, in this most noisy of times, create a new way to calmly talk, listen and find common ground.
This community has been to hell and back. Its members could be excused for wanting to turn inward, or tune out. But when I visited Thursday, I found people optimistic and ready to engage, not retreat.
Just this week, we learned that part of the 2016 anti-immigrant tumult in the Magic Valley was ginned up by a Russian front group that posted Facebook messages that demeaned immigrants and called for a rally to protest Muslim refugees. And the Russian meddling was in addition to agitation by Breitbart News, which sent a representative to the valley to stir up angst against immigrants, including exploiting a tragedy a child sexual assault and falsely painting it as a knifepoint rape by Syrian youth.
This week, 150 people gathered at the Turf Club in Twin Falls for a Constitution Day lunch that also served as the first meeting of what organizers hope will be a nonprofit, nonpartisan Twin Falls City Club. Organizer Russ Tremayne, a history professor at the College of Southern Idaho, said a core of 50 or so people are ready to sign on and support a city club, which would host four or six forums a year. Those forums would be modeled on clubs in Boise and Idaho Falls, which host monthly public policy discussions and Q&A sessions with experts, leaders and newsmakers.
Im not a disinterested party in this conversation. Im a former president of Boise City Club and was involved in early efforts to encourage a city club in Twin Falls, under the leadership of the Idaho Humanities Council and with the help of the Idaho Falls City Club. A seed well planted, said organizer Curtis Eaton, a special assistant to CSI President Jeff Fox.
Five Idaho Falls members lawyers, ranchers, retired teachers drove two and half hours to the Thursday event in Twin Falls. We just wanted to lend our congratulations, said Tim Hopkins, a lawyer.
In addition to heavy lifting by Tremayne, Eaton, Fox and others at CSI, the Times-News newspaper has demonstrated a powerful commitment to advancing community dialogue. When refugee/immigration tensions were at their peak, the newspaper hosted a public forum that drew 700 people. That success is one motivation for Publisher Travis Quast to lend his newspapers support to a city club in Twin.
There was really a need and a desire for people to understand what was going on in their community, said Quast. That kind of renewed the effort around a city club, and started those talks again because there is more than just the refugee issue facing our community.
Another advocate for creating opportunities for civil discourse around the state is the Humanities Council, and its patient, persistent Director Rick Ardinger, who offered Idaho Falls leaders seed money and other help to start the city club there more than a decade ago.
Civility doesnt happen by accident. Youve got to attend to it, said Jenny Emery Davidson, the chairman of the Humanities Council board.
In two corners of the state, we have these really vibrant city clubs, and I think we have witnessed the difference they makes to citizen engagement in those areas, Davidson said. But in a state that covers as much geography as we do, its important that those dialogues can happen in other corners of the state.
The effort in Twin has the backing of folks as diverse as Twin Falls Republican Rep. Steve Hartgen and constitutional scholar David Adler. Adler was on the Constitution Day panel Thursday. The mission of a city club, he said, runs completely in harness with the grand experiment undertaken by the framers of the Constitution, who asked if it is possible for people to govern themselves within the context of reasoned discussion and debate.
Idaho Supreme Court Justice Robyn Brody talked about the need for jurists and journalists to better explain the complicated workings of the courts to a busy, confused populace.
Don Burnett, the former University of Idaho Law School dean, got my attention when he talked about the little-appreciated value of an impartial judiciary. Id never thought in terms of the crucial fact-finding that courts have to do before rendering judgments the slow, methodical, dispassionate determination of knowable truth. Its a concept that is almost passe in a world dominated by 140-character snap judgments and online experts ready to pounce and pronounce, whether they know anything or not.
Burnett retold the story of Ben Franklin, emerging from helping to draft the Constitution in 1787, being asked: What have you given us?
A republic, Franklin famously challenged, if you can keep it.
Keeping our country functioning is the work of our time. It sometimes feels as if we are no longer up to the task. We no longer trust our institutions churches, courts, cops, corporations, Congress, correspondents to help us work through our disputes and differences. It would be easy to decide that its less work and less risk just to hunker down and disengage.
Just the opposite is happening in Twin Falls. Creating a place where people can join calm, collegial conversations about our republic is a heartening response to Ben Franklins challenge.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can come away from the UN General Assembly in New York in the knowledge that he succeeded, particularly on the matter of Iran. Not so much because of his speech in the chamber, but rather because of the fact that Netanyahu managed to leverage Donald Trump's election promise of canceling the nuclear agreement by transforming it into an official threat.
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To be sure, Netanyahu always demanded the cancelation of the agreement, but he got precisely what he had wanted the whole time, namely the strengthening of the mechanisms of supervision in the current agreement.
Moreover, he managed to inculcate an understanding in the international community that Tehran is seeking to spread its control throughout the Middle East and is hell bent on Israels destruction. That's why, as far as he is concerned, the Ayatollahs cannot be allowed to turn Syria in a client state under its patronage.
PM Netanyahu (Photo: Reuters)
Netanyahu achieved all of this and during his speech he made it abundantly clear to the Iranians that Israel will not hesitate to launch a military assault on them if the threat increases. This statementThose who threaten us with annihilation put themselves in mortal peril. Israel will defend itself with the full force of our arms and the full power of our convictionsshould not be dismissed because it has never been so explicitly uttered.
Another achievement by Netanyahu was the tightening of relations between Jerusalem and Washington as well as his personal relationship with President Trump himself.
The compliments he furnished on the president were like rain falling on arid land. Trump is seldom the recipient of such flattery from world leaders but Netanyahu has positioned himself as a loyal and devoted friend of the American president who is repeatedly vilified both at home and abroad.
In return, in stark contrast to his predecessors, the president failed to mention even a single word in his speech about the Palestinian issue. It is quite conceivable that Trump opted to avoid raising the subject due to loyalty demonstrated by Netanyahu and his willingness to stand by his side.
This appears to be a silent understanding between the two leaders and even if the nuclear agreement with Iran is not entirely nullified, the US will at the very least do more to prevent the Iranians from extending their physical presence into Syria.
President Trump (Photo: AFP)
Netanyahu proved yesterday at his 11th speech at the UN that he is a gifted and captivating orator in English, but its a shame that the General Assembly in New York was half empty.
Israels grievances against the UN have been given an additional impetus which can largely be attributed to Trump. Credit is also due to Israels ambassador to the US Ron Dermer who is ensuring that the grievances continue to be at the top of the agenda.
Undoubtedly Netanyahus speech was not bereft of exaggerations, one of which was the claim that a revolution has begun in Israels international standing. But in the main, the speech was well structured.
However, and it is a big however, everything that we heard yesterday amounted to little more than trite threats, both from Trump and Netanyahu.
Trump did not outline anything concrete regarding his obligations on Iran and Netanyahu only hinted that Israel, and perhaps the US also, would attempt to overhaul the Iranian regime. But neither categorically stated that this was their intention.
The thing that the Iranian regime fears above all else is not surviving. The things said by Netanyahu to the Iranian people that they are friends of Israels, unlike their rulers, are more than a clear allusion to the fact that the US and Israel will also act to foment an internal threat in Iran to the regimes survival.
Nevertheless, as mentioned, in the meantime these are all mere threats and no action. And this is one of the central problems of the Trump administration. Just ask North Korea.
I have been an admirer of Vietnam since 1954. My admiration originated from that countrys military prowess. Then I came to admire Vietnam for its success in the arena of economic development. More recently, my positive attitude toward Vietnam was enhanced by its achievements in the field of foreign relations.
1954 was the year in which, as stated, my admiration for Vietnam was born. The largest of the three territories that comprised the colonial eras French IndochinaCambodia and Laos were the other twoVietnam had long sought a release from Frances colonial stranglehold and a return to its proud history as a free nation. When Paris would not budge on the independence issue, Ho Chi Minh and his band of nationalists began a long and bloody war; that war lasted from 1945, when the Japanese invaders were defeated, and ended thirty years later.
The war for independence from France ended in the middle of 1954 with the French Armys ignominious defeat. The Vietnamese fighters, led by the brilliant General Vo Dinh Giap, trapped their adversary in the Dien Buen Phu valley and forced the mighty French forcesthese included French Foreign Legion Troopsunder Gen. Christian de Castries to surrender. In military annals Gen. Giap is now regarded as an iconic figure and Dien Bien Phu has become a symbol of military ineptitude.
The withdrawal of France from Indochina and the creation under the subsequent Geneva accords of the communist state of North Vietnam left a military void in the Indochinese Peninsula that the US considered dangerous. The US Congress then authorized a massive increase in the American presence in democratic South Korea. Thus began the conflict that history has come to know as the Korean War.
American marines dramatically waded ashore along South Vietnams coast in 1965; exactly ten years later the US withdrew all its personnel from South Vietnams capital, Saigon in manifestation of Washingtons realization that Americas might could not beat the black-pajamas-clad Vietcong. After defeating France, North Vietnam had now defeated another major power.
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But the US and France were not the only powers that the Vietnamese had successfully challenged. Historically the Chinese Empire had coveted Vietnams northernmost provinces, and China and Vietnam had fought each other from time to time over those areas. The last skirmish between the two countries, which took place in 1979, ended in a standoff.
The Vietnamese-Chinese antagonism has shifted from land to sea, and Vietnam is one of the oppositors of Chinas nine-dash-line claim, which in 2016 was declared void by the UN-supported Permanent Court of Administration. A clash between the Chinese and Vietnamese navies took place several years ago on the issue of Vietnams claim.
Vietnams achievements in the field of economics are no less deserving of admiration. After the cessation of US support for the erstwhile government of South Vietnam, the victorious forces of Ho Chi Minh realized that they had an enormous reconstruction and economic-development job to do, and they quickly embarked on a program designed to create a strong modern Vietnamese state. Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnamese communist party moved to minimize corruption, improve the bureaucracy, rebuild the nations infrastructure, open the door to investments, encourage entrepreneurship and provide support to agriculture.
Today Vietnam is arguably the rising star of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). With a population of 94 million and a per capita income of $6,925, it has one of ASEANs highest growth rates and is one of the largest ASEAN recipients of FDI (foreign direct investment). Not at all bad for a country that was almost bombed to hell four decades earlier.
A further Vietnamese achievement that is worthy of admiration came into being only recently. Towards the close of the 50th ASEAN anniversary meeting, Vietnam, against the opposition of all the other ASEAN membersexcept, possibly, Singapore insisted on the inclusion in the final communique of references to Chinas militarization of the South China Sea and Chinas land reclamation activity in that highly controversial body of water. One of the foremost oppositors was the Philippines, ironically, the anniversary host, which under the Duterte administration, has been highly fearful of offending China. Vietnam was adamant on the inclusion of its suggested wording, and it got its way.
For all these reasons, I say, Bravo, Vietnam.
E-mail: romero.business.class@gmail.com
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The ruler of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani Tuesday renewed his countrys readiness to engage in dialogue with its neighbors.
Weve always said that were very open for dialogue, and well always be open for dialogue, Sheikh Tamim said in a statement to the media before a meeting with US President Donald Trump, in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Qatar has been embroiled in a crisis with its neighbors, namely Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, plus Egypt since June 5, after the four countries severed diplomatic ties and cut air, sea and ground links with Doha that they accuse of supporting terrorism.
Doha has vehemently denied the charges and has pointed out that it is victim of a smear campaign.
The boycotting countries have issued a list of 13 demands including shut-down of Doha-based Al Jazeera network and reduction of the diplomatic ties with Iran before thawing ties.
The Qatari ruler said he is convinced that an interference on the part of President Trump will help solve Qatars problems with its neighbors.
We have a problem with our neighbors, and your interference will help a lot. And Im sure that, with your interference, hopefully we can find a solution for this problem, he said.
Answering him, President Trump said confidently We will get it solved.
Amidst reports that Saudi Arabia and the UAE have considered taking military action against Qatar, Bloomberg reported that the US warned the two Gulf countries against taking such action.
Leaked e-mails dated May 2017 between UAE Ambassador in Washington, Yousef Al-Otaiba, and US diplomat Elliott Abrams revealed that Saudi Arabia was preparing for a military attack on Qatar and that the UAE seemed approving the move.
Through the e-mails, the UAE diplomat seemed quite sure that Trump would back the military action. But according to the Middle East Monitor, the US president has reportedly called both countries to back off, arguing that any military action would trigger a crisis across the Middle East.
Police in Kenya on Tuesday fired teargas at supporters of President Uhuru Kenyatta outside the East African nations Supreme Court in the Capital city, Nairobi.
The supporters of the incumbent president were protesting outside the court against the invalidation of the Aug. 8 election.
The Supreme Court nullified the presidential election on Sept. 1 and ordered fresh election within 60 days. The court said a total of 5 million votes had not been verified.
The historic decision, the first of its kind in Africa, was welcomed by many as a rare sign of independence on the part of Kenyas judiciary.
However, waving placards and chanting slogans against the Chief Justice, the demonstrators loyal to the incumbent president on Tuesday, accused the judges of having stolen their victory. They said the court should instead have ordered for a recount of the votes.
President Kenyatta has called for calm and peace after the court ruling earlier this month, and said that he was ready to go back to the campaign trail and face voters again.
Kenyas sixth election since introducing multi-party democracy in the 1990s has been marred by widespread public mistrust, fake news, and in some cases violence.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame met with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, as diplomatic relationships between the two nations remain hostage to the 1994 genocide, Reuters reports.
Rwanda and France have an on-going dispute about the circumstances surrounding the 1994 plane crash, where most victims were from the minority Tutsi ethnic group.
The ensuing genocide that took place between April and June 1994, left 800,000 dead within 100 days.
A statement released on Kagames twitter handle on Tuesday said, the president of the East African nation and Macron on Monday discussed collaboration on issues of mutual interest including peace (and) security in Africa.
In 2006, Rwanda cut diplomatic ties with France after the investigating magistrate then in charge of the genocide case issued arrest warrants for several people including Kagame, for shooting down the plane of President Juvenal Habyarimana.
Rwandas Kagame last year, warned of a showdown with France after a French investigation into the events leading to the genocide was reopened.
PM: Turkey spent nearly $30B on upkeep of Syrian refugees
Turkey spent about $30 billion on the upkeep of Syrian refugees, Turkish Prime Minister BinaliYildirim said during his visit to Singapore, the Turkish media reported, Aug. 21.According to the Prime Minister, the biggest number of Syrian refugees is currently located in Turkey.Yildirim noted that Turkey, like Russia and Iran, stands for peace and stability in Syria.Thanks to Turkey, Russia and Iran, a truce between the opposition and the forces of the regime was reached in Syria, added the prime minister.It should be noted that more than three million Syrian refugees live in Turkey.Syria has been suffering from an armed conflict since March 2011, which, according to the UN, has claimed more than 500,000 lives.Militants from various armed groups are confronting the Syrian government troops. The Islamic State, the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) and the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) are the most active terrorist groups in Syria.
Tbilisi hosts International Conference on Democracy, Europe
By Tina Tskhovrebadze
On September 12-13, 2017 Georgia hosts Tbilisi International Conference: A World in flux: The Future of Democracy, Europe and the Middle East organized by the McCain Institute for International Leadership, Arizona State University and Economic Policy Research Center.Political leaders from Western Europe, the United States and Georgia will discuss the vision of Europe, how Europe maintains freedom and peace, challenges for eastern European nations and strategies for future.The first day covered three main issues: 1. Georgia Now and in the Future, 2. The Future of Liberalism, Democracy and Populism, 3. Energy in the Region: Where are we now?Kurt Volker the Executive Director of the McCain institute for International Leadership mentioned a few important aspects in his welcoming speech. Volker defined the main aim of the conference with a short statement: Values Matter, values of freedom, democracy, market economy, rule of law, human rights, security.In his speech, Volker brought a clear message of what the West can be.The West is not geography! The West is not a place, the West is a sort of ideas, ideas about people, how they relate to government about protecting freedom, protecting democracy, protecting families, giving opportunities for growth and for security for everybody. It is not a limited concept its an open concept, Volker maintained.Among main issues the soft-power of Russia known as propaganda, which gives negative stereotypes about Europe, was also mentioned.Discussing the soft power, President Giorgi Margvelashvili said the propaganda serves to create a feeling that Europe will make Georgians lose their self-being and threaten their citizenship. Regarding the question, if Georgia needs more support from NATO and the EU, President Margvelashvili responded that Georgia needs more assistance and is waiting for more effective steps.Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili maintained that the main focus should be not only to keep consistency towards NATO and the EU, but also to remain in line with the four- point agenda of the country that will lead Georgia to the democratic development.The conference made it clear that Georgia is seen as a geopolitical partner of the West and seeks effective mechanisms to improve democracy and ensure economic development for further integration.
President offers alternative constitutional draft with opposition
By Messenger Staff
President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili offers opposition parties to develop an alternative draft of constitutional changes, taking the current contradictions into account.Margvelashvili announced this after his meeting with the opposition, just prior to the voting of the constitutional draft initiated by the ruling party with its third and final reading in Parliament.We see that a certain document already exists. Take it as a starting point, make notes on the basic paragraphs that were being discussed, write your own version and offer to the government as an outcome. Doing it this way, you will make your partners see that different political forces do things together, Margvelashvili said.Opposition political parties are ready to accept the President's offer and develop an alternative draft.After the meeting with the President, the proposal was accepted by the United National Movement opposition, European Georgia, New Georgia, Democratic Movement and several minor parties.However, despite the acceptance of the offer, Nika Melia from the United National Movement and Elene Khoshtaria from European Georgia said they think that the ruling team will adopt the constitutional amendments regardless of the oppositions position; the amendments have already been approved in two readings.Giorgi Vashadze, a member of the New Georgia party, stated that if the government does not take the offer into consideration they may organize protests.The President, opposition and NGOs strongly oppose the notes in the constitutional draft which read that the country will move to fully proportional elections from 2024 and not from 2020; the President will no longer be elected by the people after the 2018 presidential elections; there will be no election blocs, and most undistributed votes (the votes received by the parties failing to overcome an established threshold in the elections) may be received by one party without a fair sharing between the parliamentary parties.The majority says the new draft is a perfect one and plans to adopt it this month, after the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe releases its final recommendations.It is very likely the Presidents efforts will prove to be fruitless. If the majority wanted to make changes in the draft, they would have accepted such a change earlier.
The News in Brief
FM Janelidze Meets Armenian Counterpart, President
Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze met his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian and President Serzh Sargsyan on September 11 during a one-day working visit to Yerevan.
Georgias Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported after Mikheil Janelidzes meeting with Edward Nalbandian the two diplomats spoke about bilateral relations between the two countries. Particular emphasis was drawn to trade and economic cooperation prospects, including transport, energy, culture, tourism and other fields, the Ministry stated.
The sides also outlined the steps aimed at resolving the issues of Georgian-Armenians concern, the Armenian Foreign Ministry stated.
The Armenian Presidents office said in its press release of the meeting, that along with bilateral relations, Minister Janelidze and President Sargsyan also discussed the Georgian-Armenian cooperation in international and multilateral formats.
At both of his meetings in Yerevan, Minister Janelidze expressed gratitude to Armenia for its support in quelling the massive forest fire in Borjomi in late August.
Armenia is one of the leading trade partners for Georgia, according to the State Statistics Office, Geostat. Georgias trade turnover with Armenia stood at USD 367.6 million in 2016, with exports at USD 150.8 million (USD 180.1 million in 2015) and imports at USD 216.8 million (USD 175 million in 2015). (Civil.ge)
,b>Another Georgian soldier injured in Afghanistan
One Georgian soldier has been slightly injured after a suicide bomber attacked a convoy from the NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan on September 11.
The attack took place near Bagram airfield, outside the capital Kabul.
The Georgian Defence Ministry said in a statement a short time ago that corporal ZaurKomakhidze suffered a minor barotrauma and his life is no under risk.
Barotrauma is an injury caused by a change in air pressure, affecting typically the ear or the lung. The Ministry did not specify which was the case for Komakhidze.
However, the Ministry added that the Georgian peacekeeper is currently undergoing necessary medical tests at the military hospital of Bagram airfield, after which he is most likely to be discharged tomorrow.
International media reported that three civilians were also injured following the terror attack.
Resolute Support headquarters in Kabul said that it will release details once more information became available.
The Taliban claimed the attack that came a few days after a bomber blew himself up outside the military facility, leaving three Georgian peacekeepers injured. The health condition of one of these three is critical and is being treated in Germany. (Agenda.ge)
Bridget Brink praises Georgias reforms
Deputy Assistant of U.S. Secretary of State Bridget Brink has praised the reforms implemented in Georgia and welcomed the significant progress achieved by the country.
Bridget Brink has held a meeting with Georgias PM, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, yesterday.
As reported by Georgias governmental administration, the parties have discussed the Georgia-U.S strategic partnership, planned reforms and U.S Vice President Mike Pences visit to Georgia.
According to Georgias Prime Minister, Vice President Mike Pences visit confirmed once again that the United States is Georgias devoted friend and trustful geopolitical ally as well as main strategic partner.
Georgias progress at the European and Euro-Atlantic integration has also been emphasized during the meeting.
As Bridget Brink has declared, U.S. continues supporting Georgias democratic development, as well as economy, defense and security.
U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly, First Deputy FM Davit Zalkaliani and PMs Advisor for External Affairs TedoJaparidzehave attended the meeting. (IPN)
@MarbinMiller and @MaryEllenKlas
Four days after the owners of a Hollywood nursing home released a detailed time line casting blame for the deaths of nine elders on Florida health administrators and a local utility, Gov. Rick Scotts administration issued a time line of its own declaring that the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills failed to do their basic duty to protect life.
The time line, and a release of 159 pages of records, fueled an ongoing finger-pointing war between the nursing home and Scott, who was himself a healthcare executive before running for office.
As the parties fought, the death toll rose: Late Tuesday, the Hollywood Police Department reported that a ninth resident from the nursing home, identified as 93-year-old Carlos Canal, had died.
Canal joined eight others who perished the morning of Sept. 13, when a partial power outage, combined with the failure of portable air coolers, turned the home into a deadly hothouse. The deaths are the subject of a criminal investigation by the Hollywood Police Department, together with administrative reviews by two state agencies, the Agency for Health Care Administration and the Department of Children & Families.
The nursing home is adjacent to a private psychiatric facility, Larkin Community Hospital Behavioral Health Services, and the two are affiliated with a troubled South Miami Hospital called Larkin Community Hospital. The nursing home and psychiatric facility sit across a parking lot from Memorial Regional Hospital, to which many of the 142 residents were evacuated after several began to succumb to the heat. Story here.
Photo: Dawn Schonwetter stops to look at a memorial of flowers and messages left on the sidewalk of the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017. Nine residents of the nursing home died in the wake of Irma, including one an who was added to the toll on Tuesday. AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
@alextdaugherty
Puerto Ricos power grid is a mess.
The islands utility provider filed for a form of bankruptcy in July, and two months later Hurricane Irma passed just north of San Juan, knocking out power to nearly 1 million people and causing an estimated $1 billion in damage.
With thousands still without power, Hurricane Maria is approaching. It will likely be Puerto Ricos first direct hit from a Category 5 hurricane since 1928.
No generation has seen a hurricane like this since San Felipe II in 1928, said Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello in a statement on Tuesday. This is an unprecedented atmospheric system.
The Puerto Rican government, which sought bankruptcy relief in exchange for supervised fiscal belt-tightening in May, will need federal assistance to recover from Maria and Irma. Repairing and replacing power lines and stations throughout the territory after Maria will likely cost billions, though the island doesnt have any voting power in Congress.
No member of Congress is going to want to see thousands of people die in Puerto Rico, said Rep. Darren Soto, a Florida Democrat of Puerto Rican descent whose Orlando-based district includes a large number of Puerto Ricans.
Certainly... the fiscal crisis has made PREPA [the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority] less financially prepared to do this on their own and the fact remains that this is part of the U.S, Soto added.
Congress passed a Hurricane Harvey relief bill two weeks ago after Texas sustained billions in flood damage. The $15.25 billion package was part of a deal between President Donald Trump and Democrats that included raising the nations debt ceiling and a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through December.
Florida Sen. Bill Nelson said Tuesday that Irma and Maria will require much more than $15 billion in federal relief.
Were going to have to put the full resources of the federal government in there because this is a Cat 5 and they lost power on the last hurricane that brushed them, Nelson said. This is going full bore right into the island.
Read more here.
@alextdaugherty
Marco Rubio indicated tentative support for the latest attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare in the Senate, eight weeks after the Republican-controlled Senate failed to act on the partys signature campaign promise.
Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., are the architects of a bill that replaces the Affordable Care Act with a system of block grants doled out to state governments. They introduced the bill in July as the Senate debated a separate Obamacare repeal measure, but their plan has gained momentum in recent days.
Ive got to see some of the details on how it impacts Florida, but by and large returning power to the states is something Ive long believed in, Rubio said to reporters on Tuesday. I dont think you can design a one-size-fits-all system on virtually anything for a country this size.
The Graham-Cassidy plan is not expected to garner any Democratic support and Rubio, a Republican who has opposed Obamacare since entering the Senate in 2011, has voted in favor of past efforts to repeal Obamacare.
Republicans have just 10 days to pass the Graham-Cassidy proposal with a simple majority of 50 senators in support plus Vice President Mike Pences vote. After Sept. 30, Senate rules will require 60 votes to pass the proposal, which means it wont pass because Republicans only control 52 seats.
President Donald Trump and Pence are supportive. Pence was on Capitol Hill Tuesday to woo Republicans on Graham-Cassidy.
Florida Sen. Bill Nelson announced in July that he was working with Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine on a bipartisan health care proposal, and Tennessee Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander was working with Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray on a health care plan. But the latest effort by Graham and Cassidy has stalled any talks between Democrats and Republicans.
Rubio has said for weeks that bipartisan talks on health care are a waste of time, and he reiterated that stance on Tuesday.
Theres no realistic chance of a bipartisan solution, Rubio said. Ideally youd be able to fix this in a bipartisan way but theres a massive difference of opinion on the federal governments role on health care.
Read more here.
@alextdaugherty
Florida Sens. Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson are continuing their push for federal help after Hurricanes Maria and Irma severely damaged the Caribbean, including the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The pair sent two letters to President Donald Trump and attorney general Jeff Sessions on Wednesday, hours after Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico as a Category Four hurricane.
"It is important that the federal government stands ready to assist in the difficult days after Hurricane Maria passes, when hope must be available to combat despair," Rubio and Nelson said in their letter to Trump. "However, as even the best laid plans can be overwhelmed by natural forces, we urge your administration's continued attention to this dangerous storm so that appropriate federal resources can quickly be made available as locally unmet needs arise."
The letter to Sessions urged the Justice Department to quickly set up task forces to combat "illegal activity" related to Irma and Maria.
Nelson said Tuesday that a federal hurricane relief package for Irma and Maria will cost "much more" than the $15.25 billion package passed by Congress after Hurricane Harvey caused flooding in Texas. Puerto Rican officials estimated that Irma caused $1 billion in damage on the island and knocked out power to nearly 1 million people.
Irma, unlike Maria, did not directly hit Puerto Rico.
For picture posts from 2010 and earlier, see the Earlier Picture Posts Page
The federal government has announced a program to provide $1.3 billion in debt relief for about 36,000 farmers who have fallen behind on loan payments or face foreclosure. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the farm loan relief program funded from $3.1 billion set aside in the Inflation Reduction Act allocated toward assisting distressed borrowers of direct or guaranteed loans administered by USDA. The law was passed by Congress and signed by Biden in August. The money anounced Tuesday is the first round of payments designed to help farmers hard hit by pandemic-induced market disruptions or climate-driven natural disasters including drought stay in business or re-enter farming. The USDA says additional programs are to come.
Don't rush into the decision of choosing the University of Montana's next president.
Seek out public opinion, including input from students.
If necessary, start over.
"I don't want to settle just because we're in a hurry," said UM professor G.G. Weix. "We don't have to settle. The University of Montana deserves the best president."
Tuesday, Weix and four other members of the Missoula Campus Community Coalition, formerly the UM Advocacy Coalition, raised those concerns about the hiring process for UM president. Members of the group also made recommendations for moving forward, such as the advice to gather ample feedback and ensure final vetting is deliberate.
"I think you need to give people adequate opportunity to give meaningful feedback, but also to seek that out," said Isabel Langlois, a student majoring in political science. "That's part of the duty of people who are taking on the voice of students or taking on the voice of faculty."
Coalition members generally have been critical of the direction higher education officials are taking UM, but also said they don't necessarily share the same specific concerns.
The critiques they raised Tuesday included the search process, committee structure, and the makeup of finalists they see skewed to business interests.
Lewis Schneller, an outspoken critic of UM administrators, said the coalition is concerned the next UM president will be selected based on his or her business expertise, given the background of the candidates.
And Michel Valentin, former faculty member and vocal detractor of local and state higher education officials, said so far, none of the candidates has shown a vision for how to bolster the liberal arts.
Cameron Best, a UM graduate in geography, said the liberal arts and sciences are not the focal point of the finalists. Rather, he said, one candidate is a corporate executive, another comes from banking, and a third has expertise in hotel management.
"I don't know that these candidates necessarily have the educational background to pursue a strong commitment to liberal arts," Best said.
And Weix, a professor of anthropology, said the UM president should reflect the strengths of the flagship, a research institution that U.S. News and World Report just ranked No. 207. U.S. News ranks 1,388 institutions and measures "15 indicators of academic excellence."
One of the finalists may be a solid leader, Weix said. However, she said so many important positions at UM have been on hold or in limbo that she doesn't want the decision to fill this post hurried as a result.
"It may be that one of these candidates will be the appropriate next choice, but we'd better vet them very thoroughly before we choose the next president," Weix said.
***
Dean Chris Comer heads the College of Humanities and Sciences at UM and is one of the 20 or so search committee members. Comer said the humanities were represented well on the committee, which included Department of English Chair Beverly Chin.
Comer said he did not go to the final interviews, but he closely reviewed files of the 13 semifinalists, who included people with backgrounds in the humanities. He said committee members who conducted in-person interviews offered a thorough briefing to the rest of the group, and their reviews matched his own assessments.
"I think a lot of factors are taken into consideration, and I think the final list is an appropriate one," Comer said.
Commissioner Clayton Christian is leading the search, and spokesman Kevin McRae said all four finalists have strong backgrounds in the humanities given their leadership or academic experience.
"They include two university presidents who run universities with strong humanities programs, a university provost over the humanities, and a Rhodes scholar with two master's degrees in the humanities," McRae said.
At least three finalists have expressed public support for the liberal arts. At a public forum Monday, finalist Mirta Martin, who has a background in academia and banking, said the liberal arts help prepare students for jobs that don't even yet exist.
Andrew Feinstein, provost at San Jose State University, holds a public forum 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20, at the University Center Theatre. Feinstein has a doctorate in Man-Environment Relations, and the humanities chair in San Jose earlier said Feinstein put the university on a healthier track financially and emotionally.
Seth Bodnar, an executive with General Electric and Rhodes scholar, earlier said to the Missoulian that a liberal arts education is "more vital today than ever." Bodnar, first in his class at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, holds a public forum 3:30 p.m. Friday at the UC Theatre.
Charles Ambrose, who has a doctorate degree in education, holds a public forum 3:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25. Ambrose earlier said he is the product of the liberal arts and sciences, and the humanities make students competitive in "both career and life."
After all the finalists visit UM, the search committee will meet and tell Commissioner Clay Christian which ones would be acceptable as the next president. McRae said the committee may recommend as many as all four candidates or none of them. However, he would not comment on whether the search committee would consider latecomers if necessary or take another look at the original pool of 99 applicants.
"No need to speculate because we believe the search will culminate in success," McRae said in an email.
***
Some coalition members also disapprove of the search committee structure and process.
Weix said the central weakness of the search committee is that Commissioner Christian made himself its chair. And Christian isn't allowing committee members to rank finalists as she sees it, the purpose of such an advisory committee.
"He is both the chair of the committee and the commissioner who will be working with the regents (Montana Board of Regents) to select the next president," Weix said.
McRae said once the commissioner has a list of acceptable candidates, he will confer individually with regents in order to choose a finalist to recommend to the board. And he said the process has been inclusive.
"The law and state policy say the board can simply appoint a university president," McRae said in an email. "This board opted for an inclusive model with a deep and broad search advisory committee and public forums and feedback.
"Yes, we think this structure is a meaningful national search, and public inclusion is better than the board just appointing someone whom the campus community has never met or had a role in selecting."
***
Langlois also wants to see more active solicitation of public input by decision-makers, and she and Best said the finalists' agendas didn't include specific forums for students. She herself sought an opportunity to visit with Martin, and she said she was not able to.
After the advocates raised the issue, a higher education official said they could attend the meeting with the Associated Students of the University of Montana, although Weix noted the meeting room wasn't large enough to accommodate more than leadership.
That's an example "of the leadership Montana has right now," Best said. "It's not very focused on the students. It's focused on a marketing scheme."
In an email, UM communications director Paula Short said all the campus sessions are open, but the 3:30 p.m. forums are intended for "anyone and everyone to come and ask questions." She also said ASUM is planning to engage more students with its own sessions.
"I also think it's important to note every student, faculty member, staff member and community member has the opportunity to engage in the search and inform the selection of the next UM president," Short said.
Finalists' resumes and visit schedules are posted online, and Short said everyone can comment in a linked survey: http://www.umt.edu/president/Presidential%20Search/Finalists.php. She also noted MCAT is streaming public forums.
"It's difficult to create a one-size-fits-all opportunity, so we have several. The variety of options represents an earnest attempt to facilitate engagement in this process for everyone," she said.
The public is invited to the grand opening celebration of the new Missoula College at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 22, with a tour of the new 115,000-square-foot building.
Montanas 63rd state Legislature appropriated $29 million of taxpayer dollars to help fund the new two-year college building in 2013. On Friday, the Payne family of Missoula, Blackfoot Communications and other key private donors also will be recognized.
Speakers include Gov. Steve Bullock, University of Montana President Sheila Stearns, Missoula College Dean Shannon OBrien and Commissioner of Higher Education Clay Christian. Students from the colleges award-winning culinary arts program will provide treats after the formal program.
The family of Salish Indian elder Louis Adams will provide a Native American blessing and honor song. Adams died in 2016, but he blessed the groundbreaking of the new building in August 2014.
This building will ensure we are nimble and quick to respond to Montanas workforce needs, OBrien said. This beautiful new structure is an investment in the economy and the future prosperity of Montana.
Located at 1205 E. Broadway, across the Clark Fork River from the central UM campus, the building has views of the river, Mount Sentinel and Washington-Grizzly Stadium. OBrien said UM officials have nicknamed the area the river campus.
Missoula College is UMs two-year educational unit that provides transfer, occupational and technical education in 35 program areas across five academic departments. Areas of study include health care, business, applied computing, electronics and energy, and industrial technologies.
The new building has three culinary arts kitchens, a cybersecurity center with two labs, a math learning center, a cadaver lab and an expanded library.
Missoula College used to be called the College of Technology, and originally was opened as a vocational center in 1967. It became an academic unit of the University of Montana in 1994. Enrollment swelled to more than 2,200 in the past decade and classes had to be held in overflow units in outlying trailers, so in 2013 the Legislature funded the new structure.
Andy Feinstein made people laugh more than once at a forum Wednesday for the Faculty Senate and then again at a public forum later.
"I have significant experience with budgeting, which may come in handy here," said Feinstein, one of four finalists for president of the University of Montana.
Feinstein, provost at San Jose State University, brought an air of levity to the University Center Theatre even as he addressed serious challenges facing UM. The second finalist to visit UM told the campus he's "battle tested," having handled budget cuts in California and raised morale.
He spoke about his fundraising experience, high regard for research at UM, and commitment to faculty, even having sat in on 50 classes at San Jose State during his first year in order to be on the ground with instructors.
"I'm not a faculty member anymore, but a little bit of me still thinks I am," Feinstein said.
At the public forum, the candidate told the full house the reasons he was interested in the job and the ways he believed he could move the institution forward.
Although Feinstein comes from a campus with some 35,000 students, he said the complexity of UM with affiliate campuses is attractive to him, as are the "world class" programs, such as journalism and forestry.
He also said he's interested in the socioeconomic diversity at UM and the fact that many students are first in their families to attend college.
"It starts with the students. You have an incredible student body here," he said.
Feinstein said he believes a lot of learning happens outside the classroom, and for that reason, he finds UM's focus on athletics and performing arts appealing too. There, he said, people make lifelong relationships.
***
When a faculty member asked how Feinstein would compete with aggressive recruitment by Montana State University-Bozeman, he shared his own experience. His son's "blue ribbon" high school held a college fair a couple of weeks ago, he said.
"Guess who was there? Guess who wasn't there? MSU was there. UM was not there. I don't know why. I'm not placing blame," Feinstein said.
But he had wanted to share that example: "I feel better now."
As for the fix, Feinstein said he was looking forward to visiting with vice president for enrollment Tom Crady. At the same time, he said UM's graduation rate over six years is just 49 percent, and it wouldn't have to recruit as heavily if it could hold onto the students it has.
"They're leaving campus, and you can't help them continue to graduate if they're gone," he said.
Sometimes, even a couple of hundred dollars make a difference to a student who can't pay a bill, and he's supported a micro-grant program to help.
"It's been very effective and successful," Feinstein said.
***
At the morning session, Feinstein held an information conversation with faculty, taking questions from the get go.
"I'm entertaining any questions or any conversations that we can have.
"Like what color I like," Feinstein joked.
Professor Doug Coffin joked right back that he'd start with an easy question: "What's your vision for our university?"
In fact, Feinstein said he'd been reading a series of UM's planning documents, and he wouldn't be stepping onto the campus with a complete vision of his own. Rather, he said if the strategic plan and other documents were created organically, they would offer direction themselves, and he would use them along with information he'd gleaned from conversations with the campus community to lead.
"There's a lot of great ideas there," Feinstein said of the strategic plan.
He especially appreciated the idea to reinvent the heart of the curriculum, he said. He said the strengths of the campus include the types of programs it offers, such as the humanities, the arts, social sciences, and also business and technology.
A book called "The Fuzzy and the Techie: Why the Liberal Arts will Rule the Digital World" discusses the fact that a lot of industry leaders aren't engineers or even scientists but people who studied history, political science, and English, he said.
"These companies want people that are creative, that understand the human condition and can actually leverage these ideas," Feinstein said.
At UM, he said he believes there's a nexus of leveraging "the fuzzy and the techie," although he doesn't see the value of the liberal arts only through a job creation lens.
At the public forum, one person asked him to name the authors that inspire him in his reading. Feinstein said he'd just read "The Fuzzy and the Techie," and he'd also read "Thank you for Being Late," by Thomas Friedman, and "Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future," by Martin Ford.
"If I come back, I hope that everyone in this room has read those," Feinstein said.
San Jose State's new president is a Renaissance scholar who is trying to learn how the humanities and the arts fit into the "age of acceleration," he said. He's reading the books she's reading to learn about the revolution of technology.
"It's not all being driven by the geeks and engineers. There's a real need to bring in the humanities and the arts, and I think that's what you'll see moving forward," Feinstein said.
Of course, he said he'd also read investigative author Jon Krakauer's most recent book. It's based in Missoula and discusses the national problem of campus rape.
***
One student asked Feinstein what he found most innovative at UM, and he said he was impressed with how UM has built its research enterprise in a time of budget constraints.
At UM, he said, research expenditures are at some $90 million a year, more than the $55 million at San Jose State. Even if his trip here doesn't lead to a job offer, he hopes to learn how and why UM is able to succeed in that area and take lessons home to San Jose State.
"It's remarkable, and I think it's a testament certainly to the strength of the faculty," Feinstein said.
As president, he would want to support research at UM, as he has at other institutions, he said. Elsewhere, he's added an office of research, invested $5 million over four years into research initiatives, provided seed grants for faculty in the performance arts and humanities, and changed the way grant administrative costs are distributed to support scholarship.
As for the innovation he'd bring to UM, Feinstein said he knows people have focused on his background in hospitality, but he also has experience in simulation modeling.
"I feel very strongly that the strength of education is really those interdisciplinary experiences across the campus," Feinstein said.
He said the new president's first priority, though, should be to fill the interim posts in the cabinet, including provost, because having a leadership team in place is key. And he said addressing budget and enrollment issues were top priorities as well.
"It's so complex there isn't a perfect answer. There isn't a perfect solution. It's going to take a lot of heavy lifting," Feinstein said.
***
In response to a question, Feinstein also talked about his fundraising experience. The state has a projected $230 million budget shortfall, and UM's share could be $12 million over two years.
The candidate said his fundraising record includes steering a successful $500 million campaign at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas; bringing in $150 million for California State Polytechnic University in Pomona; and raising more than $20 million personally.
While he doesn't see international students as offering only a financial benefit, he said San Jose State has increased its percentage of international enrollment to 11 percent and has a goal of hitting 15 percent. Reaching the target would mean another $40 million for the campus, he said, or more money for student success and faculty research.
"We're talking significant resources for the campus," he said.
Across the country, he said universities are struggling financially, so UM isn't alone, although its experience may be more severe. But he said UM would be here 600 years from now.
"I could be naive, but in talking to Clay (Commissioner of Higher Education Clay Christian) and hearing other reports last week, the state of Montana does not want the University of Montana to fail. They're not going to allow this university to fail."
Back in March, nine days into his new post as Interior Department secretary, Ryan Zinke accepted a blessing ceremony from Blackfeet tribal leaders, and heard their request to protect the Badger-Two Medicine area next to their reservation by Glacier National Park.
On Sunday, a leaked draft of Zinkes report to President Donald Trump on revisions to national monument indicates he proposes to grant that wish.
On the next-to-last page of a 19-page memo advising Trump to amend the boundaries and management plans of 10 national monuments, Zinke suggested the creation of three new monuments:
the Union Army Camp Nelson training center for African-American soldiers in the Civil War in Kentucky,
the home of assassinated civil rights leader Medgar Evers in Jackson, Mississippi.
And No. 3? The Badger-Two Medicine area.
Another location that may qualify for protection under the Act is the Badger-Two Medicine area, which is approximately 130,000 acres within the Lewis and Clark National Forest in northwestern Montana, the memo states.
It is bounded by Glacier National Park, the Bob Marshall Wilderness, and the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. This area of the Rocky Mountain Front was designated a Traditional Cultural District in May 2014, and is considered sacred by the Blackfeet Nation. It is candidate for co-management with the Blackfeet tribe.
That caught a lot of people by surprise, said Land Tawney, the Missoula-based executive director of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers who had just visited with Zinke about monuments the week before. As youre attacking the seminal accomplishments of (President Theodore) Roosevelt and at same time talking about adding a monument, it didnt make much sense.
The Washington Post obtained a copy of the draft report, stating it was issued on Aug. 24. The report more specifically details concerns with 10 national monuments, starting with the most controversial Bears Ears National Monument in Utah, Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in Oregon and California, Gold Butte National Monument in Nevada, and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah. The leaked report does not specify acreage changes or specific management plan revisions.
Blackfeet cultural leaders consider the Badger-Two Medicine area a sacred center of their creation stories and an important part of their traditional homeland. During the 1980s, Reagan Administration officials granted numerous oil and gas exploration leases in the area, without consulting the Blackfeet tribal government or doing proper environmental analysis. While similar leases in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex were ruled legally invalid, the Badger-Two Medicine holdings remained unresolved until 2016.
Last year, a lengthy legal and administrative campaign nearly ended with then-Interior Secretary Sally Jewell formally canceling most of the Bader-Two Medicine leases. Two leaseholders still maintain they have rights to drill in the area, and those cases are pending in court.
The National Parks Conservation Association was one of the organizations assisting the Blackfeet tribal government in overturning the drilling leases. Spokesman Michael Jamison said Zinkes suggestion to protect the Badger-Two Medicine while reducing other national monuments was confusing.
Everyone is grateful to see Secretary Zinke paying attention to permanent protection of the Badger-Two Medicine, Jamison said. But its not acceptable to propose monument protection of the Badger while at same time proposing to strip protections from Bears Ears and other sacred places for Native Americans. If monuments arent permanent, we dont want monument status. If its so transitory and impermanent it can be undone by the stroke of a pen in some future administration, its not permanent protection.
Zinke spokeswoman Heather Swift answered a Missoulian request for more information about the Badger-Two Medicine proposal with a one-sentence response: Please direct all questions regarding the document to the white house. The White House press office did not respond to emails from the Missoulian requesting further comment on Tuesday.
Blackfeet tribal officials also did not return Missoulian requests for comment on Tuesday.
Trump called for a review of national monument designations created or expanded since 1996 in April. In May, Zinke ordered a public comment period focusing on 21 monuments, including Montanas Missouri Breaks National Monument. On Aug. 24, his office released a public report that contained few specific recommendations about changes, although it did remove the Missouri Breaks from the review list. The leaked draft memo dated the same day was much more detailed.
President Trump was correct in tasking the Secretary of Interior (Secretary) to review and provide recommendations of all monuments that were designated from1996 to the present that are 1) 100,000 acres or greater in size or 2) were made without adequate public consultation, Zinke stated in his draft executive summary. This is far from the first time an examination of scope of monuments has been conducted.
The draft memo states No president should use the authority under the Act to restrict public access, prevent hunting and fishing, burden private land or eliminate traditional land uses, unless such action is needed to protect the object.
Among the concerns the memo investigates, public access comes up repeatedly.
(W)hen developing transportation plans, Federal land managers have found the most efficient way to protect objects in monuments is to limit access, whether by ceasing to maintain roads or outright closing them. Therefore, public access is of great concern related to monument designations. Hunters, anglers and recreationists are at times prevented from visiting these lands. Further, some tribes raised concerns from some tribes (sic) that their cultural practices such as wood and herb gathering are constrained by lack of access.
Supporters of the review argued it would restore state and local control, and re-open federal land to resource extraction including timber, grazing, petroleum and coal.
For example, Grand Stairway-Escalante contain(s) an estimated several billion tons of coal and large oil deposits, Zinkes draft memo noted. But the recommendations that follow dont mention resource extraction while asking the president to protect objects and prioritize public access; infrastructure upgrades, repair, and maintenance; traditional use; tribal cultural use; and hunting and fishing rights.
The final move will be the presidents. Trump has not mentioned a deadline for his own response to the report.
Do they do it all at once, or string it out individually? Tawney wondered. They could sit and do nothing. They could kick it to Congress. Were in wait-and-see mode.
Montanas Senate delegation is picking up where it left off on repealing the Affordable Care Act as lawmakers prepare for another vote, possibly next week.
Democratic Sen. Jon Tester called the GOPs latest attempt to appeal the ACA, a 2010 law commonly referred to as Obamacare, as a dangerous bill that will raise rates, kick hardworking folks off their health plans and shutter rural hospitals.
Should the latest health care bill proposed by Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy get a vote before the end of the month, Tester will oppose it. Among other things, the bill cuts federal funding for Medicaid, ends federal funding of Medicaid expansion and allows insurers to once again increase rates on Americans with pre-existing conditions, according to Montanas senior senator.
Republican Steve Daines said the GOPs latest attempt at a health care re-do could be good for Montana. The Graham-Cassidy bill would replace current flow of the federal money for Medicaid and other ACA subsidies with block grants. Those block grants will be smaller than current federal ACA support levels in some states, but Daines said it looks like Montana will receive more money. Dating back to his 2013 term in the U.S. House, Daines has been a consistent yes vote for repealing the ACA.
You look at whats going on in Montana with the fiscal situation, Daines said. The governor has a train wreck going on. Under the current Obamacare legislation, Medicaid is on a glide path, down from 100 percent to 90 percent. That shift, under current law, will even add more fuel.
Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock on Tuesday added his name to a bipartisan list of governors asking the Senate to kill the Graham-Cassidy bill and focus instead on making health care more available and affordable for Americans. The governors said they prefer a bipartisan attempt in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to stabilize market prices for individual insurance.
The HELP Committee ended its efforts Tuesday, when Chairman Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., declared a partisan impasse. The committee was debating whether to increase federal cost-sharing reduction payments to states, which insurers say they need to stay in individual markets.
Insurers have until Sept 27 to commit to state individual market programs for another year. If they don't commit, state's will lose insurers offering subsidized policies to people on the individual market.
Tester lately has been arguing against plans by both the left and right to ditch the Affordable Care Act. On Sept 13, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., unveiled his Medicare for All plan. The politically independent senator, who ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat in the 2016 presidential primary elections, is proposing that Medicare be expanded by stepping down the eligibility age every year for four years until every American qualifies.
A couple dozen Democrats, including the possible presidential candidates like Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, signed onto the Sanders plan. Tester didnt sign on.
Tester told The Gazette the Senates focus should be on improving the Affordable Care Act, not a Medicare expansion bill with no chance of becoming law. Since January, hospitals in Montana have been telling Tester repealing ACA would damage rural health care across the state.
What they told me is 'Fix the current health care system,'" Tester said. "Keep whats in it that works and fix whats in it that doesnt. Thats how Ive approached all of this going forward.
The Montana Hospital Association strongly opposed Republicans' attempt in July to repeal ACA. Medicaid expansion is working, MHA argued, but the federal government wasnt doing enough to preserve services in rural Montana. Profit margins at hospitals had fallen 40 percent since Medicaid expanded, MHA said. The association said unadjusted reimbursement rates, combined with rising drug and supply costs, were eroding profits.
The American Hospital Association announced its opposition to the Graham-Cassidy bill for not stabilizing the insurance market. AHA said the block grant program would end in 2026, cutting support for millions of people.
Daines said the block grant program pencils out until 2026 because all federal budgeting is done on 10-year cycles.
After receiving reports of a mountain lion prowling around Laurel during the past week, the Laurel Police Department is asking residents to secure sources of food that might attract the animal.
The cat was first spotted last week, eating a dead animal near the intersection of First Avenue and 12th Street during the early morning hours, according to a press release from Police Chief Rick Musson.
Captain Mark Guy also reported a mountain lion munching on a dead deer near the intersection of Beartooth Drive and Valley Drive late Monday morning, the release states.
Citing Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesman Robert Gibson, Mussen added that most likely, the animal is simply roaming its territory.
"It is looking for food and will likely move on if it finds none," the release states. "The message, therefore, should be to keep ones yard and neighborhood clean and free of prey and the lion will go elsewhere to eat."
The state wildlife department's policy is to euthanize any mountain lions captured by state officials, and therefore aims to avoid trapping them. The release also notes that the Rimrocks north of Laurel and areas around the Yellowstone River are normal mountain lion habitat.
Recommendations from the agency to residents include:
Installing outdoor lighting.
Supervising children, especially during dawn and dusk.
Educating children on how to behave if they encounter a mountain lion.
Pruning dense vegetation the cats may use as cover.
Removing bird seed and other foods that could attract prey animals.
Securing pets and garbage.
Protecting and sheltering livestock.
Missoulians endured their seventh week of smoky, particulate-laden skies from western forest fires. Houston, Texas, will be decades recovering from an epic storm and biblical flooding. Both states are led mostly by wealthy, white, aging, male Republicans. I call them WWAMRs. Tragically, these men are climate change deniers.
Brian Fadie (of the Montana Environmental Information Center) wrote recently (guest column, July 20), Ever since the Montana Public Service Commission pulled the rug out from under commercial solar projects in late June, the opinion pages have been on fire with outrage ... so it was disappointing to see that when NorthWestern Energy responded to the criticism ... it sought to muddy the water rather than clarify the situation. Every wind and solar contract signed by NorthWestern Energy since 2013 only happened because the law forced the company to do so... The company s long-term planning document... calls for absolutely no new wind or solar projects. None. Instead the plan calls for 13 new expensive and risky gas-fired plants ($1.3 billion worth to be precise).
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines also writes guest columns (July 26): Historic drought conditions in eastern Montana warrant relief from regulations that limit producers ability to utilize our lands in the best possible way... As we continue to pray for rain in Montana, we must do all we can to loosen the regulatory burdens that tie farmers and ranchers hands."
Its not regulations that will tie our neighbors hands, its denial. You can change or ignore regulations but there wont be a thing anyone can do when Montana rivers and streams run dry. The drought in eastern Montana this summer is indeed historic, but it will be routine for these agrarian citizens if they continue to vote Republican.
Following is a Montana denier short list; Daines, U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, State Auditor Matt Rosendale, Roger Koopman and Bob Lake (Montana Public Service Commissioner) and many executives at NorthWestern Energy. According to the final sentence of a recently written article in the Missoulian, ("Talen changes Colstrip exit plans," Aug. 10), NorthWestern has said it expects Colstrip Units 3 and 4 to be viable through 2046.
Republican Rosendale is running for U.S. Sen. Jon Testers seat next year. Heres the article headline after his announcement: Rosendale focusing on fossil fuels in campaign (Aug. 5). His ideas are described thusly: Rosendale is of the opinion that state and federal regulations have harmed development of coal, oil and gas, including the non-development of major mining projects.
High Country News reported on Zinke (Aug. 21): "21number of Interior Department political hires known to come from the resource extraction industry... So far, just three hires come from a conservation, recreation, hunting or fishing background.
Bill McKibben, co-founder of 350.org, knows that fossil fuels must stay in the ground. In a timely Nation article (May 8) he wrote, We are going to demand action commensurate with the problem... an end to new fossil-fuel infrastructure. McKibben's colleague at The Nation, Patricia Williams, put our climate catastrophe this way (July 3): Consider how Trump frames coal production only in terms of wealth production... Or how drought and flood and species extinction and food-chain collapse are framed less as holes in the planetary boat in which we re all sinking, and more as winnable wars over unlimited resources. But that kind of wealth is not whats at stake in this battle. Instead whats at stake is our planets gorgeously resonant eco-system, sustained by very fragile interconnections upon which all future life is inextricably interdependent.
Vote out deniers as if your life depended on it. It does.
As cooler temperatures and precipitation finally bring relief to smoke-weary Montanans, the unusual nature of summer 2017 is coming into focus and the influence of climate change is impossible to ignore.
Extreme weather has been the dominant story throughout the country this summer as hurricanes have ravaged the southeastern United States and wildfires have wreaked havoc in the West. A simple Google search will yield hundreds of stories about the impacts of these events, but, unfortunately, very few mention climate change as a contributing factor.
Collectively, we have over 65 years of experience studying western climate and forest systems, and we are among the authors of the forthcoming Montana Climate Assessment, a report focusing on climate trends and their consequences for Montanas water, forests and agriculture. We invite everyone to consult the report, which will be available after Sept. 20 at www.montanaclimate.org.
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Was this fire season remarkable?
2017 is already a record-breaking wildfire season in regions of Montana, and the fingerprints of climate are easy to spot. In many ways, what weve seen this year is exactly what weve come to expect, but in other ways, its even more worrisome.
Large fires have increased in the last three decades, and this year will be one of the worst, especially in Montana, where wildfires have burned over 1 million acres (www.nifc.gov). The persistence of some of these fires has been unusual, choking western Montana with health-threatening smoke for weeks.
***
What role did climate change play?
Climate has played a big role. While its impossible to tie any one weather event or wildfire directly to climate change, we can say with certainty that increases in temperature in the last decades have set the stage for drier conditions and more fires. In a given year, warmer weather and less precipitation dries out fuel loads and creates conditions for rapid fire spread. Fire records dating back decades to millennia show a clear link between warmer temperatures, lower precipitation and an increase in the number of fires and acres burned. This situation is precisely what we expect to see from climate change.
Montana has been on a steady warming trend for decades, up over 3F since 1950, and all projections are that it will continue. This summer was the second warmest on record since 1950 at 4 degrees F above average, and the persistent high temperatures coupled with the record lowest rainfall in July and August led to extreme drought by midsummer.
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What can we expect in the future?
These extreme weather events werent unforeseen and are not without a systemic cause. As the buildup of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere intensifies, our overall climate and weather patterns will continue to change. We can expect additional warming with less precipitation in the summer. Over the next century, extreme heat days (above 90F) are projected to increase by an additional 5-35 days. As a result of greater drought, forest fires will likely increase in size, frequency and possibly severity.
Factors contributing to wildfire are complicated, but they involve both forest management and climate conditions. From 2006-2015, 95 percent of wildfires were suppressed at a cost of $13 billion. This level of expenditure is not sustainable and the burden on state and local resources is enormous. New adaptive approaches are needed to manage forest fuel loads and reduce wildfire risk and costs (e.g., fuel treatments, especially on private land, and fire-adapted planning and land use) while also recognizing that fire is part of healthy forests. We must consider policies that will curb greenhouse gas emissions, which are the main driver in climate change.
Together, we can and must develop plans to increase resilience, mitigate expected impacts and address the known causes of climate change.
FELONY POSSESSION
Police booked a homeless man, Joseph Wright, 52, at 4:55 a.m. Friday at the Town Pump, 2711 Harrison Ave., for felony possession of dangerous drugs. Police stopped Wright because both he and his car matched the description of a possible suspect of a theft at the Town Pump in Rocker that took place at 9:30 p.m. Thursday. That crime is still under investigation.
Once in police custody, a probation officer arrived because Wright allegedly has not been reporting to his probation officer. The probation officer searched Wrights car and found two syringes and a spoon, according to police. One syringe was allegedly loaded with a liquid substance.
In addition to the felony booking, Wright was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor and probation violation, a felony.
AGGRAVATED DUI
Christopher Keck, 24 of Verndale, Washington, was booked at 2:15 a.m. Sunday for a felony count of aggravated DUI at Platinum and Montana. Heading west on Galena Street, Keck allegedly ran a stop sign and accelerated to 55 mph in a 25 mph speed zone on Montana Street. He tested to have twice the legal limit of alcohol, according to police. Keck was also booked for speeding and a stop sign violation, both misdemeanors.
CELL PHONE AS WEAPON
Shannon Bowling, 28 of Butte, was booked at about 2 p.m. Saturday for partner-family member assault for a minor injury to a male in the 1000 block of West Woolman Street.
Bowling allegedly threw a cell phone and a glass cup at the male, and hit him in the head several times with the cell phone. The male had a cut on the back of his head and was bleeding, according to police.
Bowling was also booked for an outstanding warrant on criminal contempt, a misdemeanor.
NO CHILD RESTRAINT
Police allegedly found Trisha Heick, 28 of Butte, driving with a 4-year-old child lying on the back seat of her car at about 4 a.m. Monday. Police stopped Heick at Harrison and Marcia due to a front headlight out. She also lacked a drivers license and insurance on the vehicle, according to police. Police booked her for failure to properly restrain a child, driving with a suspended or revoked license, driving without liability insurance and an outstanding warrant with Montana Highway Patrol, all misdemeanors.
DUI REFUSAL
Jace Jaap, 27 of Butte, was booked for refusal to take a DUI test and driving without a valid license, both misdemeanors. Police noticed Jaap at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday when he allegedly squealed his tires while turning from Park to Main. Police stopped him on Broadway. He was also cited for careless driving, also a misdemeanor.
SNEAKY THEFT
Frank Howard, 48 of Butte, was booked at about 5 p.m. Friday for walking out of Walmart wearing a pair of new boots valued at $39.66 that authorities said he did not pay for. According to police, Howard selected the pair of boots, put his old shoes into the boot box and put the box back onto the shelf. He then paid for three containers of fruit punch and left the store. Police booked him for shoplifting, a misdemeanor.
A Butte doctor is under investigation with the states Division of Criminal Investigation at the request of the Butte-Silver Bow County Sheriffs Department, a state spokesperson said Monday.
Eric Sell, with the Department of Justice, confirmed that Dr. Patrick McGree, a family practice physician, is under investigation. Sell said the Butte-Silver Bow County sheriff's office requested the state to investigate McGree in late December 2016.
Because the investigation is ongoing, Sell could not divulge details, he said.
Sheriff Ed Lester said he could not comment on why his department requested the state to investigate McGree. He would only confirm that the investigation is ongoing and that the state is in charge of it.
A call to McGree's office was answered by office personnel but McGree did not return the call.
The state's licensing board said Monday that McGree's medical license is in good standing and still active. It is up for renewal in March.
According to the website Healthgrades, McGree is 62 and has been in practice for 35 years.
Pizza is all about the dough and the crust. And the way to a really sensational crust is to refrigerate the dough for 3 to 5 days. When your basic pizza dough is only made from flour, water, salt, and yeast, it takes time for real flavor to develop, and that happens slowly in the cold of your refrigerator.
Let me explain. When you mix the dough ingredients together, you start the process of fermentation. The yeast breaks down the carbohydrates in the flour and converts them to alcohol and carbon dioxide. In a warm environment, say 85 to 90 degrees, fermentation happens at a rapid pace so rapid, in fact, that theres little time for the dough to develop any flavor.
But in the cold, over a period of a few days, complex flavors arise from the breakdown of the flour carbs and proteins and their recombination into hundreds of different flavor compounds. Its a magical thing, like cooking, but it takes place without you doing a thing.
Ideally, for a Neapolitan-style pizza, the crust is thin with a raised edge that is chewy and full of bubbles. The color of the pizza is a patchwork ranging from light brown to black, and that means the pizza flavor will be all over the place with each bite giving you a different taste.
Now I can hear you saying that you want your pizza now. Tonight. Not in three to five days. I get it, and heres my solution. Buy a ready-made ball of refrigerated pizza dough. Most markets carry these doughs, and theyre usually made by a local bakery. The best part is that the dough has been cold-fermented for a number of days. So no waiting for pizza!
To get that blistery crisp crust youll need a baking stone or baking steel that will sit on an oven rack adjusted to the upper third position. Its best to preheat your baking surface for 45 minutes to 1 hour at 500 degrees or even a bit higher depending on your oven.
To shape the cold dough, unwrap it and coat it with a thin layer of all-purpose flour. Knead it briefly between your hands, reshape the dough into a ball, and put it seam-side down on a lightly floured surface. Cover the dough with an inverted bowl or plastic wrap, and let it rise until puffy and light, anywhere from 1 to 2 hours depending on the warmth of your kitchen. Have ready a wooden bakers peel a paddle-shaped squarish surface with rounded edges and a long handle for shaping the pizza and transferring it to the oven. Lacking a peel, you can use a plywood board or any sort of surface for shaping the pizza and sliding it onto your hot baking surface.
In the meantime, get your topping ingredients together. For a Pizza Margherita, the most typical, and in my opinion, the best Neapolitan pizza, have ready about - to -cup of a simple tomato sauce of your choosing. If you have some homemade sauce, great. Use it. If not, follow this quick and easy recipe from Cooks Illustrated magazine: Drain one 28-ounce can Italian plum tomatoes in a strainer set over a bowl until no more juices drip out. Shake the strainer occasionally to speed the draining. Put the tomatoes into a food processor and add 1 chopped garlic clove, 1 tablespoon olive oil, teaspoon salt, black pepper to taste, and 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar. Process until smooth, about 30 seconds. Thats it.
For the cheese, I like 4 ounces shredded full-fat mozzarella (not fresh mozzarella in brine or any fresh mozzarella), and cup finely shredded Parmigiano Reggiano.
Also have ready about 8 to 10 fresh basil leaves.
To shape the pizza, pat the ball of dough out to a circle about 6 inches across, with a flat center and raised edge. Pick up the dough by an edge with both hands and let the doughs weight do the stretching for you. Rotate the dough as you keep stretching it to a circle about 13 inches in diameter. If the dough resists at ay point, cover it and let it rest for 10 minutes to relax the gluten. Lightly flour the dough as necessary and make your pizza fairly thin with an edge about -inch thick. Lightly flour your peel, board, or other surface, and transfer your dough circle to it. Adjust its shape as necessary.
Spread - to cup of tomato sauce on the dough keep the sauce layer thin scatter basil leaves on the sauce, and sprinkle both cheeses on top. You can top the pizza with a few cherry tomatoes cut in half, as I did for the photo. Gently shake the surface your pizza is on to make sure pizza is not sticking, then open the oven door, put the pizza onto the far end of your baking surface and quickly yank away your shaping surface.
Bake about 8 minutes, until pizza has a well-browned edge and the topping is bubbly. Remove pizza by sliding your shaping surface under it and taking it out of the oven. Cool about 5 minutes before cutting and serving.
If you want to make another pizza just have another lump of dough and begin shaping it once your first pizza is in the oven. Theres enough sauce for two pizzas. Double the amount of basil and cheeses, and youre set.
If you want to make your own pizza dough enough for two large pizzas and let it ripen in the fridge for a few days, heres a recipe I adapted from www.seriouseats.com, a terrific website with lots of information and instruction for different pizzas.
Homemade Pizza Dough
For accuracy, please use a scale.
Ingredients:
3 cups bread flour (15 ounces)
3 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoons instant yeast
10 ounces cool water (1 cups)
1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and yeast. Add the water and stir well with a wooden spoon to make a dough that just gathers together. Knead by hand on an unfloured or only lightly floured surface for 2 to 3 minutes, to make a smooth, pliable, fairly firm dough. Return the dough to the bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and leave the dough at room temperature 68 degrees is ideal for 8 to 12 hours. This is a good step to do the night before.
2. The next day, put the dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide it in half. Shape each half into a ball and enclose in a quart-size zip-top bag. Refrigerate for 3 to 5 days. When ready to make pizza, remove dough from refrigerator, unwrap, lightly flour and reshape into balls. Set seam-side down on your work surface, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and let dough rise at least 2 hours before shaping and baking. If only making one pizza, leave the second portion of dough in the refrigerator.
Five Purple Heart recipients will have a new opportunity to fill their deer tags this fall.
For the first time, Fort William Henry Harrison on Helenas west end is opening up the military owned property for five deer hunters in what the fort is calling its Purple Heart Deer Hunt.
Maj. Gen. Matthew Quinn, the Adjutant General for Montana, learned about a similar program while visiting a post in Minnesota, and decided to bring it back to Montana and see if Fort Harrison could offer a similar hunt on its 8,500 acres.
I just thought about veterans wounded in combat or war time and restricted from going out to areas to hunt, maybe we could open up Fort Harrison to allow them to get their deer, he said.
To qualify for the first-come-first-serve hunt, applicants must be a Purple Heart recipient and hold a permit to hunt from a vehicle issued by the state. The fort falls within Hunting District 388, which has a weapons restriction of archery equipment, shotgun, traditional handgun, muzzleloader or crossbow only.
This year is open to five qualified hunters, with registration starting Oct. 1 by calling Fort Harrison Range Control at 324-3694. Available dates for the hunt are Nov. 13-18.
The district is open to both either sex mule deer or whitetails with a general deer license.
Hunters will check in at the training center and get an overview of open areas on the military property, with some sections closed for safety. Mindfulness of neighbors and good hunter safety will be expected, Quinn said.
Hunters in need of assistance can bring help along, or Quinn said it would be easy to call and find some helpers who would find it rewarding to assist.
Because it is the first year of the program, the fort decided to do the hunts over a work week. In future years the forts environmental office plans to monitor deer populations and adjust hunter numbers accordingly.
"The veterans who will take part in the Montana Purple Heart Deer Hunt have given so much to our nation that this new program is the least we can do in return, Quinn said.
Butte's REC Silicon facility has laid off 30 employees as part of a cost-cutting effort, the company announced Wednesday morning.
The company has about 250 employees. The 30 who were laid off were across the spectrum from managers to shift workers, said senior vice president Kurt Levins.
But the balance of layoffs affects the shift workers because there are more of them, Levins said.
The company is making the move due to shifting to manufacture of polysilicon for semiconductors, which are used in computers and car engines.
Were moving back to providing high purity silicon, Levins said Wednesday.
Currently, there is a large inventory in the worldwide market for polysilicon products for semiconductors. But Levins said that is expected to clear by 2019 or 2020.
Tore Torvund, REC Silicons CEO, said in a news release that "becoming leaner will allow Butte to better compete in the semiconductor market, particularly at the current time, where excessive polysilicon inventories have not yet cleared.
"We expect that once those inventories do clear, semiconductor polysilicon demand will increase and Butte will be well-positioned in the future,'' he said.
The move comes due to the restrictions placed on solar grade polysilicon from the ongoing solar trade dispute between the U.S. and China, the news release said.
"Going forward, the company will better align the polysilicon production in Butte with semiconductor market demand by shifting the polysilicon production mix. Because of this change in polysilicon production, there will be less production and processing needs in Butte. Accordingly, a reduction in headcount of approximately 30 employees has been undertaken,'' the release said.
A more comprehensive cleanup than the one currently underway at the Montana Pole Plant could cost a minimum of $100 million and might cost up to $1 billion, state project manager David Bowers said.
Bowers' statements came during and after a contentious two-hour neighborhood meeting Monday evening at the Silver Bow Fire Training Center on Josette Avenue, at the edge of the 40-acre site. About 15 members of the public attended, along with several officials from the county and the state and the volunteer members of Citizens Technical Environmental Committee, which translates Superfund for the public.
Moreover, Bowers said, the state would have to spend $6 to 8 million of taxpayer money in addition to the $29 million it currently has from a settlement before the state could reopen the legally binding document that outlines the cleanup.
Even then, there would be no guarantees that the cleanup and how much money is available for it could be revisited.
Ian McGruder, CTECs long-time consultant, said that after years of attending meetings with the state to hear presentations on the pole plant site, he felt the "elephant in the room" was that when the legal document was signed in the 1990s, officials thought they had a solution to the site.
But things havent gone as planned.
It always seems like its on the tip of the tongue, we wish we had $100 million but we dont, McGruder said, trying to sum up the situation.
Bowers agreed with McGruder.
You never want money to drive (the cleanup). The (legal documents) were signed in 1993 and 1995 and thats when it was hashed out. That was very eloquently put, Bowers said.
Many who listened to Bowers presentation on the former industrial plant, which straddles both sides of interstates 90-15 just west of the off-ramp to S. Montana St., expressed frustration that the cleanup has taken 20 years and that the cleanup has been only partly successful.
The site contains a host of contaminants, including PCP and dioxins. Bowers said the PCP was the contaminant that drove the cleanup. The state considers the PCP cleanup successful.
But while the dioxin may have broken down some, it didnt break down enough to be considered safe. The states solution is to create a cap that will contain the dioxin, which is a carcinogen, underneath several layers that will include gravel, clean soil, a membrane, a grading layer and an intermediate cover layer.
Dioxin is not mobile, Bowers said. So once it is underneath a cap, the public should be safe. But there is a caveat.
The state is obligated only to clean up the site to meet a level considered safe for recreational use, which means it is only safe enough for limited visits to the site. Recreational use could be a trail system or a park or a wildlife management area.
There is also a water-quality issue. The plant was meeting Montana water quality standards until May 2017 when the state revised its standards.
The site houses a water treatment facility that pumps and treats the ground water before it eventually makes its way to Silver Bow Creek. Now the state has to reevaluate the plant to see how to improve it so it can meet the new standard. Bowers said that reevaluation will begin next year and will take a couple of years.
But, not only does the state not have the kind of money it might like to have to perform a more significant cleanup at the site, Bowers said at the meeting the state has only enough money left for about 30 more years to treat the ground water.
Which is a problem because the site could require about 50 years more worth of work to fully clean the ground water of contamination.
Questions were raised by various community members as to why the state doesnt incinerate the waste or ship it off site.
Bowers said the state would need around $100 million for either of those cleanup efforts. After the meeting, Bowers told The Montana Standard the cost could be as high as $1 billion.
The state has about $29 million left of the $34 million "cash out" the state received from the responsible parties in the 1990s as part of a legal settlement. The money has earned interest along the way, but the amount of money the state has left leaves DEQ with significant restraint in what it can do to clean the site.
Bowers said he is open to suggestions for new cleanup methods, as long as those suggestions are feasible.
The county's Superfund coordinator, Jon Sesso, told Bowers that the states plan is not acceptable to our community.
Im hearing youve made this decision (on how to move forward with the site).Im going to go on record here on behalf of this community, Sesso said. This isnt going to fly. We have a formal way to object.
Thursday, Sept. 21
WOLVES ARE TOPIC
The Montana Tech Public Lecture Series will host Doug Smith with the Yellowstone Wolf Project at 5 p.m. in the Chemistry/Biology Building, Room 101. Smiths talk will cover the history of gray wolves in Yellowstone National Park, the role these animals play in ecosystem function and the human understanding of wolves as part of the regions natural history.
'SIMON AND GARFUNKEL' CONCERT
The Guthrie Brothers present "Scarborough Fair,'' a Simon and Garfunkel Experience, at 7:30 p.m. in the University of Montana Western Beier auditorium in Dillon. Dillon Concert Association membership grants admission into all 2017-18 performances. Single event tickets will be sold at the door: Adults $15; College $10; Students/Youth $6. Details: Laurie Hagenbarth at 406-683-5050.
INNOVATION NETWORK
The Mile High Innovation Network will meet at 4:30 p.m. in the ballroom of the Thornton Building, 65 E. Broadway St. Guest speaker will be Joe Willauer, the new executive director of the Butte Local Development Corp.
CAR SEAT CLINIC
The monthly car seat safety clinic will be held from noon to 2 p.m. at the Uptown Fire Station, Montana and Mercury. This month its in conjunction with National Child Passenger Safety Week. Some new technicians will finish up their certification by installing seats at the clinic. Details: Mary Stosich, Butte-Silver Bow Health Department, 406-497-5016.
DIABETES WORKSHOP
A Diabetes Workshop continues at St. James Healthcare from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursdays, Sept. 21 and 28. People will learn all about aspects of diabetes management including preventing complications, how to begin an exercise program and how to form a meal plan without giving up your favorite foods. There is a cost for the workshop and insurance will be billed. To register, call Ida at 406-723-2960.
RESTORATION COUNCIL
The Butte Natural Resource Damage Restoration Council meets from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Butte-Silver Bow Archives, 17 W. Quartz St. Discussion include updates of Buttes Groundwater Restoration Plan; Area One Restoration Fund; and Parrot Tailings Removal Project. Details: 406-533-6882.
CLUBS AND MEETINGS
Butte Democrats meet at 5:30 p.m. in Carpenters Union Hall, 156 W. Granite St., with a guest speaker from the Montana Human Rights Network.
Chateau Quilt Guild meeting starts at 7 p.m. at 300 Mount Highland Drive Community Center. Details: Shari, 406-782-2164. New members welcome.
Duplicate bridge is offered at the Hawthorne Community Center 3500 Whiteway, enter through the back. September schedule: Every Monday and Thursday at 1 p.m.; Tuesday, September 26, at 6:30 p.m. is a regular game.
CODY, Wyo. Theres still part of a dynamite charge stuck in a hole along a sandstone cliff near Greybull, Wyoming, where in 1962 stonemasons removed tons of ancient native petroglyphs for display at what is now the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.
One really cant be critical of what they were doing back then, said Larry Loendorf, a noted rock art expert who lives part-time in Red Lodge. I suspect if I was around back then I would have been supportive of what they were doing.
He noted that it was common practice decades ago to outline the rock art with chalk to make it more visible and to take casts of impressions, which is now known to harm the stone.
But in the 1960s, under the direction of then-museum director Harold McCracken, the Greybull rock was removed with the idea that the stone and its pecked human and animal figures which could have been made 800 to 1,000 years ago would be better protected in a museum than on the side of an exposed cliff where gunmen were using them for target practice.
On the road
Fifty-five years later, the nine stone blocks have been moved to a new home through a unique partnership. On Sept. 10 Marieka Arksey, collections manager for the office of the Wyoming State Archaeologist, helped box the petroglyphs after they were found in a pile next to acoustic tiles in a museum storage warehouse in Cody. The next day the ancient depictions were given a ride to Laramie where they will be photographed and eventually reassembled in 3-D on a computer.
The site itself hasnt been fully documented, said Marit Bovee, archaeologist for the Bureau of Land Managements Worland office. Now with this, we have the technology to digitally put these blocks back on the rock face.
Old art
Many of the rocks contain depictions of shield warriors, human figures standing behind large round objects. The shields contain different designs. Photographs taken in 1962 for a Billings Gazette article show five of the round figures and one large square-bodied figure, its arms raised, and wearing what could be a headdress.
The largest figure in the center of the photo has an arrow drawn into its head, the opposite end of which is boxed.
Loendorf said the rock also contains a long-necked animal with curved horns, similar to a bighorn sheep, a depiction he called unusual for the area.
It will be a lot better when we get them in the light, he said.
Also seen on the rocks before they were packed away was a small thunderbird image.
Bovee said new technology allows the light to be rotated while the camera remains stationary. The different lighting brings up contrasts in the stones texture, which will hopefully highlight the ancient art when the images are all pieced together digitally. Then the stones will be stored in a controlled environment.
We also need to talk to the tribes and see what they want done, Bovee said.
Loendorf said that its hard to attribute the art to any modern tribe, although the Shoshonean-speaking people were early occupiers of the region.
Collaborators
Bovee and Arksey worked with Bonnie Smith, curatorial assistant at the centers Draper Natural History Museum, to locate and move the long-forgotten treasures. After being removed from display, the blocks were set aside and institutionally forgotten. Since 1996 they had been stored in a stack at the warehouse.
For me, my priority was getting these stabilized and out of here, Bovee said. They were very vulnerable in here.
Its the first time theyve been together in a while, Smith said as the three women, along with volunteer helpers, worked to lift, photograph and then box up the stones in foam-lined crates for hauling.
Reunited and it feels so good, sang Corey Anco, assistant curator at the Draper, who had volunteered for the hot, dusty work.
BLM rocks
Bovee was involved in the project because it was later discovered that the rock panels had been removed from BLM property. When the rock was blasted, it was believed to have been on a ranch owned by John Tillard, located along the Bighorn River between Greybull and Basin.
The stuff still on site is in better shape than the stuff in here, Smith said.
Bovee said the BLM is lucky that this type of removal is not that common, although she could cite a couple of similar instances in Wyoming, and Loendorf noted that petroglyphs near Colstrip were removed as the coal strip mine expanded. Those are now housed at the Montana Historical Society.
Arksey said she ran into similar dynamite-style removals when she worked in Central America, although those were typically treasure hunters.
New style
Were very much more about data collecting now than collecting stuff, Arksey said. And people will be able to access it rather than have it in a pile in a warehouse.
Center executive director and CEO Bruce Eldredge said its important for museums to return objects that have long been warehoused and are no longer being displayed for educational purposes. Thats a trend that Arksey said shed like to see other museums, large and small, follow.
More and more people are looking out for the good of the object, Arksey said. Now museum folks are more interactive. Older collectors were more insular.
Older groups were also mainly male, a strong contrast to the three women leading this project.
Smith was so happy to have found the stones and to connect Arksey to them so the rock art could be documented.
They just looked like big blocks of sandstone with screws stacked on them, she said.
I think whats happening is really very intelligent, Loendorf said. Bonnie Smith triggered that and pushed it. Now we have good ways to learn whats on them.
If there's one thing that we can agree with Secretary of State Corey Stapleton about, it's that his office should be investigating fraud.
We don't just mean that if there is evidence of fraud that his office should be leading the charge against it; Stapleton should be held responsible for perpetuating a political hoax at the expense of undermining Montana's electoral process.
Some things that should be beyond partisan gamesmanship. Confidence in Montana's election process should be one of those sacred, off-limits topics which should be agenda-free.
Blaming Montana media
Stapleton has instead used his position as Montana's chief elections officer to undermine Montana's confidence in voting and then, when his own unsubstantiated views are debunked, he can do nothing more than blame the media for his own political shenanigans and petty games.
Let's explain: Stapleton, following a popular conservative ploy nationwide, jumped on the "voter fraud" bandwagon. In testimony to an interim legislative committee he called into question why there were no cases of voter fraud in Montana, and then said that more than 300 ballots cast during the state's Special Election for Congress were illegal.
When a reporter followed up on that number with Stapleton, he pegged the number of illegal (his word, not ours) ballots at 360, and also raised the question of whether they were counted.
And so that the reporting, done by the Associated Press, Lee Montana Newspapers and The Billings Gazette, remained part of the unchallenged record since the meeting on July 20.
On Thursday, nearly two months later, Stapleton was asked to appear again before the State Administration and Veterans Affairs Interim Committee to clarify and update those shocking numbers.
Skipping SAVA meeting
Instead of appearing in person, Stapleton decided to send his chief of staff. He didn't have the courage or conviction of his apparently strongly held beliefs to explain to the committee that those numbers (as many as 360) were wildly misleading. We feel sorry for Stapleton's chief of staff, who had to read a letter riddled with grammatical errors. He blamed the entire issue on the media and misreporting. He even went so far as to say that he had reached out to editors to correct the stories after they appeared. His chief of staff named The Billings Gazette specifically as one of the media organizations he reached out to.
Yet the editors at The Gazette have no record of being contacted. Furthermore, neither The Gazette nor the Associated Press ever printed a correction on the stories.
When Stapleton visited The Gazette editorial board on Aug. 18, almost a month after the stories appeared, he complained of inaccuracies in the stories, but failed to give one concrete example, saying that it wasn't his job to correct a reporter's story. When asked why he wouldn't want citizens to have the correct information if there was indeed errors, he again asserted that his job isn't to talk to reporters.
Throughout reporting on Stapleton and the issue of voter fraud in Montana, reporters with this organization and other media have called him for comment and explanation. We've done that because it's not only sound journalistic practice, but also because Stapleton, in his elected position, should be the authority on the subject. Sadly, Stapleton has a long track record of not returning phone calls, and then complaining loudly when he doesn't like something in the press. In fact, in an August editorial that was critical of how he was using the "voter fraud" issue for political points, The Gazette reached out for comment and clarification before drafting an editorial. Those calls, which we made sure were received because we talked to an assistant to assure that he got the message, went unanswered.
In short, we have continuously given Stapleton the opportunity to comment, clarify and correct. He simply refuses.
That leads us to believe Stapleton has used this issue of voter fraud to undermine confidence to score political points. When he was unable to justify his numbers or rhetoric, he blames an easy scapegoat, the media, which plays well to the same group that also yearns to believe in voter fraud.
No fraud in Missoula
We'd point out the three cases that his chief of staff cited as fraud at Thursdays committee meeting have not been substantiated. In fact, Committee Chairwoman Sen. Sue Malek reported that investigation of the alleged fraud case in Missoula yielded no evidence of crime, according to the Missoula County attorney. Fraud requires proving the intent to deceive. Ballots werent counted because they were turned in late, had no signatures or signatures that didn't match the voters signature on file at the county elections office. Maybe evidence of sloppiness, but certainly not fraud.
Stapleton by his actions has undermined the system he was elected to protect. He seems proud to disseminate misinformation and then refuses to correct it. Finally, he makes accusations against the media that are unsubstantiated.
There is fraud, Mr. Stapleton, and it's been perpetuated by you on the citizens of Montana when you've given them a reason not to trust the results of a free and open election. This is nothing more than a farce, designed to incense lawmakers who will then take steps to make voting unnecessarily difficult which would have the effect of disenfranchising entire blocs of voters.
The Billings Gazette
Butte-Silver Bows industrial park should have city-supplied drinking water by next summer, a major upgrade thats been sought for years because it could help recruit new businesses and manufacturers.
The wait was worth it, officials say, because recent upgrades to the countys Metro Sewer Plant have presented a way of delivering potable water to the park that will save taxpayers $3.5 million or more in construction and logistical costs.
Not only does it make it an easier construction project, it makes it a much cheaper project, said Kristen Rosa, administrator of the Tax Increment Financing Industrial District (TIFID) that oversees the Montana Connections Business Park.
The Council of Commissioners is expected to approve a $1.36 million contract with H&H Contracting Inc. Wednesday night to install underground pipes to deliver the water. With previous engineering costs, the total project will cost about $2.5 million, Rosa said.
Having city-supplied drinking water and establishing new railroad spurs have been major priorities in recent years to help existing businesses at the industrial park and get new ones to locate there. The park is located in a sprawling area west of town and Interstate 15.
Last month, the county started seeking formal proposals from engineering firms to help design and analyze rail extensions. The TIFID Board has earmarked $5 million for that project so far, including design and construction.
The county taps Silver Lake to deliver water for industrial uses at the park, but businesses there have had wells dug to supply their own water for drinking, showering and flushing. That comes with upfront costs and regulations, and for businesses with a lot of employees such as Montana Precision Products, there must be constant monitoring of water quality, Rosa said.
There is nothing inherently unsafe about water from the wells, she said, but the city-county does all the monitoring and maintenance on the system it uses to deliver drinking water to residents and businesses. If it sends water to the industrial park, it takes on those responsibilities.
Public Works Director Dave Schultz said city-supplied drinking water is a good recruiting tool and is what a good industrial park should have.
A few options were considered in recent years for getting treated water from the Big Hole River to the park. They included realigning a pipeline into Butte via the Rocker area, but that would have meant very costly construction and new easements and digging, Schultz said.
A new option became available when $30 million worth of upgrades to the sewer plant were completed last year. Before then, the plant sent some of its effluent water to a 100-acre area in the TIFID that was used to grow turf grass.
The newer plant takes certain nutrients out of the water so it doesnt need a secondary place to go. That freed up the sod farm so it can be used for railroad extensions and now, a new water line will be laid along the same path that was used to deliver effluent water to the sod farm.
A few options were considered in recent years for getting treated water from the Big Hole River to the park. They included realigning a pipeline into Butte via the Rocker area, but that would have meant very costly construction and new easements and digging, Schultz said.
A new option became available when $30 million worth of upgrades to the sewer plant were completed last year. Before then, the plant sent some of its effluent water to a 100-acre area in the TIFID that was used to grow turf grass.
The newer plant takes certain nutrients out of the water so it doesnt need a secondary place to go. That freed up the sod farm so it can be used for railroad extensions and now, a new water line will be laid along the same path that was used to deliver effluent water to the sod farm.
Schultz said existing pipes will be broken apart and new 10-inch pipes put in their place. No new easements are needed and there will be much less digging since the new pipe will be pulled into place underground as the old pipe is burst apart.
The plan will bring costs down from $6 million or more to $2.5 million, Rosa said. And when completed, hopefully by next July, it will be a big deal to existing businesses and anyone else looking to locate there, she said.
Amarillo, TX - Amarillo police arrested a nurse Wednesday in connection with the June death of a 3-year-old boy from Shamrock.
Laura Alethia Garrison, 44, turned herself in to the Randall County Jail and has been charged with injury to a child intentionally causing serious bodily injury, according to the Amarillo Police Department.
The crime is considered a first-degree felony, punishable by up to 99 years or life in prison and a fine of $10,000.
APD said her arrest stems from the death of Nethanial Lee Luce, who died June 10 in a childrens hospital in Fort Worth after being transferred there from a local facility. APDs Special Crimes Unit took over the investigation after Luces death.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office performed an autopsy on Luce on Aug. 11 and ruled the manner of death a homicide. The cause of death was listed as a closed head injury with complications, according to the Medical Examiners Office online report.
On June 8, APD officers were dispatched to the 4000 block of South Bowie Street on a call that a young boy was unconscious and not breathing. The child was under the care of a home health care professional away from his home, according to APD.
A public records search in Potter and Randall counties showed that Garrison has no prior history of criminal charges.
Garrison will be represented by Amarillo attorney Jesse Quackenbush, the Quackenbush Law Firm announced Wednesday afternoon.
He said in a news release that his client is a hero, not a child killer.
In this case, we will ask the judge for a speedy trial so my client can resume her work life as a nurse and clear her good name, Quackenbush said. The unfortunate death of Nethanial was not caused by anything my client did or didnt do.
MUSCATINE Hotel mogul Andy MacLellan discussed his vision Tuesday for the Merrill Hotel and Conference Center, which is expected to open on West Mississippi Drive in January.
The $42 million four-star boutique hotel will include 122 guest rooms and suites, a parking garage with more than 100 spaces, a meeting venue and ballroom. Named after HON Industries chairman and CEO Stanley Merrill Howe, the hotel should create 70 jobs and boost economic development in Muscatine's downtown, according to MacLellan.
MacLellan, the founder of Scottford Enterprises, met with about 30 Muscatine residents and entrepreneurs at Sunrise River Gallery, an event hosted by the local Startup Grind group. MacLellan said he has been working with Muscatine for four years to develop the hotel, planning ways to turn the project into an "economic engine."
On any given day, he said the hotel might house 80 guests, who are "hopefully roaming the streets of Muscatine; hopefully going to be in the restaurants and bars and boutiques and using all of the services in the downtown area."
The Merrill Hotel, he said, will be designed to encourage guests to leave the building and explore the community. Developers are creating a sculpture park to get people outside, and will possibly hold walking tours and other events related to the city's history.
The hotel's kitchen will be limited, mostly to breakfast, according to MacLellan, who hopes the new facility will boost business for restaurants and shops in the area.
The consultant firm working with the developers, MacLellan said, estimates the hotel will bring in between $6 million and $10 million in revenue each year. In eight years, he said the hotel could generate $81 million in the state and create 550 jobs.
He also plans to work with businesses and community leaders to reach those estimates. Along with hiring staff and outside businesses to operate parts of the hotel, such as the spa, he wants to bring visitors from all over the state.
He expects the large conference room to attract groups from throughout Iowa, plus encourage local organizations to hold meetings in the city. MacLellan is also considering working with the Muscatine Art Center to open exhibits, and hopes to bring unique events to the hotel, such as yoga retreats or film festivals.
MacLellan wants the Merrill Hotel and Conference Center to help show off Muscatine's downtown. Tuesday night, he boasted the city's amenities, including the riverfront.
"There are tremendous opportunities for people who want to get out of the hotel and enjoy (the downtown)," he said. "Walkability is one of those things that gives us a real leg-up ... That is just not common unless you're in a bigger [city] environment."
The hotel, however, will also enhance the downtown, according to MacLellan. The parking garage will bring additional parking spaces; the workout center and swimming pool will be open to the public for a fee; and the sculpture park will add more green space.
MacLellan said funding the Merrill Hotel and Conference Center has been made possible by a state hotel tax rebate program, which will add about $10 million over 20 years, plus a TIF district created by the city.
WAPELLO - Almost one year to the date of first discussing an alley vacation in Wyman, the Louisa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved three quit claim deeds to the county property.
Tim Dunbar and his sister Misty Graber had attended the Sept. 20, 2016, supervisors meeting to request the action to help settle a family estate.
During that meeting, the supervisors indicated they were willing to consider the action, but also encouraged the two to contact another neighbor about the possible transfer. Eventually, the other neighbors, Carl and Denise Stogdill, also met with the supervisors and expressed an interest in some of the property.
However, the families continued to disagree over final details of the split, which was also complicated when another landowner expressed interest in some land and claimed they had not been contacted.
Louisa County Auditor Sandi Elliott rejected those claims, explaining all adjacent properties owners had received notice from her office about a public hearing the board held on the issue earlier this year.
Under the three deeds approved Tuesday, the Dunbar family will receive title to a short section of platted street that now serves as a driveway to the family home, while the abandoned alley will be split between the two families.
Louisa County Attorney Adam Parsons, who drew up the quit claim deeds, said he understood both families had agreed to the split. Tim Dunbar, who was the only deed recipient to attend the meeting, said he agreed with the split.
Supervisor Randy Griffin said, if any disagreement continued over the issue or either of the families declined the deeds, the only recourse for the county would be to sell any remaining property.
In other action, the board adopted the countys updated HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) Manual for Louisa County and then met with Roger Shindell, President and CEO of Carosh Compliance Solutions, Crown Point, Indiana, the countys HIPAA consultant.
The federal legislation mandates a variety of policies and other actions to ensure privacy and other safeguards for medical data and other personal information.
Shindell said the manual would provide those policies and directions, but pointed out key issues his company would continue to provide were training and monitoring.
He said the countys renewal with Carosh would be due in October and he presented a proposal that would maintain the annual service for a fee of around $8,500, the same as the prior year.
The supervisors did not take any action on that proposal.
The board did accept bids on installing new flooring and other work at the Louisa County Complex as part of its plans to move the Louisa County Public Health Service (LCPHS) to that site later this year.
Supervisor Brad Quigley said he had obtained several bids for the work, with the low bid for labor of $3,850 provided by Conrad Briggs, Wapello. Briggs will also provide additional construction labor for $1,250. Quigley said Carpetland provided the low bid for the flooring at around $9,000.
The board also agreed to sign a resolution providing $7,500 as the countys share of a local match for the Great River Housing Trust Fund.
In final action, the board met with Von Smith, Wapello, and learned the Memory Lane Cruisers of Southeast Iowa planned to donate a concrete bench for the county courthouse.
Democrats say they are planning to look into a report about Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price taking five work-related trips on private jets last week, costing taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars more than had he flown commercial.
Price -- who has vowed to cut wasteful spending in his agency -- traveled to a resort in Maine where he was part of a discussion with a health care industry CEO, as well as community health centers in New Hampshire and Pennsylvania.
The flights were first reported by Politico. Charmaine Yoest, the assistant secretary for public affairs, confirmed to CNN that the money for the trips came out of the HHS's budget.
"I would remind Secretary Price that taxpayer funds are not meant to be used as a jet-setting slush fund," Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., the top Democrat on the House energy and commerce panel, said in a statement Wednesday. "There is no reason to be regularly chartering private flights at the taxpayers' expense between commercially serviced routes such Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia."
He said Democrats plan to ask the HHS inspector general to review Price's travel. The IG's office has not received an official request from the Hill but it will likely open an inquiry once they receive the official request from members of Congress, the office told CNN.
Price's travel itinerary included private jets that charter operators estimated would cost at least $60,000, according to Politico.
His travel breaks with the precedent set by former President Barack Obama's HHS secretaries Sylvia Mathews Burwell and Kathleen Sebelius, who flew commercially when flying within the US.
Yoest said Price scheduled the private jets because of his demanding schedule.
"Within an incredibly demanding schedule full of 13-plus-hour days, every effort is being made to maximize Secretary Price's ability to travel outside Washington to meet with the American people and carry out HHS's missions," she said in a statement. "The travel department continues to check every possible source for travel needs including commercial, but commercial travel is not always feasible."
HHS legal counsel reviewed the request for Price to fly on a private jet, she said. She also added the decision was made because Price has a "packed tight" schedule and "no room for error," meaning delays or cancellations that are possible on commercial flights. She also sited "security concerns."
Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, the ranking member on the Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management Subcommittee, wants to look into the report as well, according to an aide.
Politico found that there were commercial flights and trains available for Price's trips, including one to Philadelphia, which is only a 125-mile drive from HHS headquarters in downtown Washington to the center where Price spoke.
Price is a frequent critic of government spending. He told CNN in April that he wants to cut redundancy and waste in his agency.
"For us to say, 'OK, let's just throw more money at that system. Let's see if more money helps that out' is the wrong way," Price told CNN's Sanjay Gupta.
And in 2009, Price railed against congressional expenditures in the hundreds of millions of dollars for several private planes that would ferry members of Congress.
"This is just another example of fiscal irresponsibility run amok in Congress right now," Price said in a CNBC interview at the time.
CNN's Dan Merica and Ashley Killough contributed to this report.
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 []
Being a full-time attorney and winery owner/operator would probably be enough to satisfy the time and needs of most.
But not Napan Bruce Ahnfeldt.
Bruce Ahnfeldt also happens to be married to Celeste Carducci-Ahnfeldt one of the most active business women in Napa.
The couple are also owners and operators of a local bed and breakfast and a tasting salon both in the heart of our fast-growing downtown business district.
Celeste gets an early jump on the morning with some form of physical activity (run, workout class, yoga, etc.), before heading to the historic McClelland-Priest Bed and Breakfast to prepare nutritional breakfasts for guests daily.
Bruce will pop into Uncorked at Oxbow to pour wine and musically entertain guests (he also plays the flamenco guitar) following a full day of servicing clients at his own law office.
Again, may I remind you that they own a winery? It actually produces several award-winning wines.
So thats a total four local businesses, a huge commitment to the local business economy and community, yet theyre still not finished!
Last Thursday, the Napa Chamber hosted a ribbon cutting for yet another Ahnfeldt-owned business as Hot Yoga Napa officially opened its doors to the local health and wellness community.
It was pretty apparent that this is Celestes favorite of them all. Shes been teaching health education classes at Napa Valley College since 1991. Health and fitness has always been her true passion, so when this opportunity presented itself they just couldnt say no.
On behalf of the Chamber, our board of directors, Ambassadors, members and the entire local business community, congratulations and thank you, Bruce and Celeste!
Garret Ahnfeldt is Bruces oldest son and partner at Napa Wine Thief, a tasting room that ironically competes for customers on the adjacent corner of Uncorked. He may have summed it best when he simply said, My dad is the definition of hard work. He and Celeste are true pillars of this community.
NCC Golf Tournament update:
Only a few spots remain for the Chamber tournament at the Silverado Resort and Spa South Course on Wednesday, Oct. 4.
The day will begin with a hosted continental breakfast at the 18th Green VIP Hospitality Suite, followed by a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m.
Players will finish the day re-convening in the VIP Suite for hosted food and beverages while taking in the remaining action of the Pro-Am.
The invitation-only pre-tournament party will be held at Kitchen Collective on Tuesday night from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Final details of this event are still being finalized, and last years special guest appearance of Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala will be hard to top. Contact Lura Compoginis ASAP at lura@napachamber.com if youre interested.
Upcoming NCC event:
Please join us for Business After Hours on Thursday, Sept. 21 from 5:30 -7 p.m. at CRU @ the Annex at the Oxbow Market.
Enjoy amazing wines of Vineyard 29 and the work of Bob McClenahan, Napa photographer extraordinaire.
American Canyon City Manager Dana Shigley is retiring after six years as chief executive in the countys second-largest city.
After much discussion, my husband [Paul] and I have decided to take the plunge and retire, she told the City Council Tuesday night. I am excited to move on to new adventures and yet sad to leave the fantastic team we have at the city.
She didnt set a specific date for her retirement and said she would stay in office as long as it takes to find a replacement, a process that usually takes at least several months.
I have enjoyed my six years as City Manager, she said, but look forward to having more time for the things I enjoy.
Shigley, 54, was hired in October of 2011 and took office the following January. She had previously served a variety of positions, ultimately city manager, with the city of Anderson, a Central Valley community with a population of about 10,000.
Shigleys tenure at American Canyon has coincided with a maturing of the city, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2014. She and Mayor Leon Garcia have talked extensively about building a sense of community in the city, which has struggled to find a cohesive identity.
Overall, I think my focus was on reconnecting with the community and tremendously improving our relationship with the community, Shigley said before the council meeting. We do a much better job of informing our community about what is happening and soliciting their feedback. We havent met all our community goals, but our residents know what is going on and can get involved.
After a period of explosive growth in its early years, American Canyon has had to wrestle with increasing congestion on Highway 29, an issue that has loomed large for Shigley and her staff. They also had to deal with a number of major development projects, including an expansion of the complex that is home to the Wal-Mart and also planning for the Watson Ranch, which could add more than 1,200 homes to the city.
Her administration was challenged by the prolonged drought that gripped California for almost five years. Unlike the other incorporated areas of Napa County, American Canyon has no reservoir of its own, depending entirely on deliveries from state sources. That made it tricky to find enough water to supply the city during the driest years of 2013-15.
Shigley said she and her husband plan to relocate to Santa Rosa, where they recent bought a house.
I am appreciative for the opportunity to work here and will miss American Canyon, Shigley said on Tuesday.
ST. HELENA Rhonda Ogle was just pulling out of the Safeway parking lot Thursday when she heard a strange noise coming from the engine compartment. The car wasnt purring as it normally did. Instead, it was meowing.
She backed the car into a free parking space, opened the hood, and found a black-and-white cat in the engine compartment, behind the engine, jammed above the transmission. The cat wasnt happy, and Ogle had no idea how it got there.
After a few neighborly shoppers tried to help retrieve the cat, Ogle went into the store and got a little bit of meat from the butcher in an attempt to entice the cat to come out. Ignition wires were removed, and a clear path was offered to the cat to eat the food. No luck.
A number of people took turns reaching down, petting the cat, trying to grab hold anything to get it from the engine compartment. But the cat just hunkered down further, ignoring the food, and periodically giving a plaintive Meow!
Ogle called 911 but to no avail.
Didnt the Fire Department used to get cats out of trees? asked one bystander.
Meanwhile Safeway manager Traci Nuernberger had come out to investigate the commotion in the parking lot. By this time, there were five people trying to extract the cat, calling sweetly, offering meat, discussing the situation and complaining about the lack of response from the local city departments. But nothing could dislodge the frightened feline.
Eventually, Nuernberger had her turn and sleeves rolled up to the elbow and with a bit of sooth talk, and a strong grip she convinced the cat to relinquish its perch on the transmission. As the cat emerged, the bystanders softly cheered.
The cat, a long-haired black and white, didnt complain at all. Nuernberger held it tight to her chest and petted it as she asked to be allowed to sit in Ogles car to calm it. Ogle said Of course.
The next question was What to do with the cat? No one wanted to let it go in the parking lot again. And it was unclear if the cat was actually from St. Helena or from Calistoga where Ogle lives. Finally someone said What about We Care?
We Care Animal Rescue at 1345 Charter Oak Ave. is St. Helenas no-kill animal rescue and adoption center. Its a 501 c (3) nonprofit organization that provides a refuge and sanctuary for cats and dogs in Napa Valley. It has a large screened-in yard where its residents are free to roam in a safe and protected area as they await adoption. The shelter is also a sanctuary for animals that are too disabled by injury or disease to be safely adopted.
This was the next logical step to take this rescued cat until its owner could be found.
Nuernberger was driven to We Care, and Cindy Hood We Cares shelter manager took charge of the cat.
Hood said that although We Care was filled with animals at the time, they would check it for a chip and post it on the organizations Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/WeCareAnimalRescue).
Nuernberger said that she thought the cat must belong to someone because it seemed so sweet and grateful to be out of the engine.
On Sunday, Hood called the St. Helena Star to report that the cat did not have an identification chip, and that no one had claimed it on Facebook.
If you recognize the cat or perhaps know to whom it belongs, call Hood at We Care Animal Rescue at 963-7044.
Seven lucky dogs and six lucky cats arrived in Napa on Sunday, part of a larger group of pets rescued from chaotic, post-hurricane conditions in Houston by a coalition of animal care organizations.
These animals had been living in a Houston shelter before Hurricane Harvey struck earlier this month, said Monica Stevens, co-founder of the Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch (JARR) of St. Helena, which joined a group of organizations to fly a total of 73 dogs and cats out of Texas on Sunday.
In the aftermath of the destructive hurricane, Houstons shelters are overrun by lost animals and pets whose owners no longer have the ability to care for them, Stevens said Tuesday.
By flying a group of pets to the Bay Area, organizations are making room for Houston shelters to absorb more animals, she said.
All of the animals were vetted, vaccinated and checked over for medical problems by Mad Dog Rescues Disaster Relief Team and a veterinary technician, Bergen Verdu, deployed from JARR prior to being given clearance for transfer to California.
Actor Renee Zellweger, who has been on the ground helping with the animal rescue efforts after Hurricane Harvey, was on hand to help load the dogs and cats onto the plane in Houston, organizers said.
It was extraordinary to be there, to know all those animals would be safe and have a new life in California, Stevens said.
The Lucy Foundation of Los Angeles donated the plane that flew the pets to a private airport in Hayward, where they were farmed out to Bay Area groups for care and adoption.
Also participating in the rescue were Mad Dog Rescue, the Milo Foundation, San Francisco SPCA and Muttville Senior Dog Rescue.
We have an incredible Disaster Relief Team who have been deployed multiple times since the hurricane hit helping with the emergency evacuation of pets, said Ryan Darfler of Mad Dog Rescue, We will continue to do so until every animal is safe.
California has been the destination for other Texas animal rescues by other organizations. A plane with 15 cats and 54 dogs flew into Oakland International Airport on Sunday night.
The 13 cats and dogs coming to Napa were checked over by local veterinarian Dr. Juliana Rockwood before their foster families took them home.
All were very sweet, Stevens said of the animals. Nobody had a bad attitude. They were happy to be in California, I think.
The animals will be quarantined with foster families for two weeks and will be neutered and spayed as necessary, Stevens said. Some pets are likely to be adopted by their foster families, while others will be put up for adoption locally, she said.
The dogs range from 6 months to 8 years of age and are of all body types, from 20 to 80 pounds, Stevens said. The six cats are all older, she said.
JARR has spent $5,000 from its emergency fund to participate in the Houston rescue, Stevens estimated. An appeal on Facebook has already brought in half of that amount, she said.
To learn more about adoptions, contact JARRs Adoptions and Foster Manager Deassa Binstock at deassa@jamesonrescueranch.org.
For years, I worked with congressional Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to vigorously police Barack Obamas presidency.
We attacked the Obama administration with speed and enthusiasm. No corner of the federal government was safe from our scrutiny. Any appearance of impropriety was thoroughly investigated.
We told the American people and ourselves that taxpayers had a fundamental right to know what was going on with their money inside their government. Like a mantra, we spoke out about the need to hold the executive branch accountable and provide a check-and-balance to the presidents power.
Flash forward to 2017: Under the Trump administration and an even larger congressional majority, oversight Republicans are completely MIA.
What happened to their bravado and self-righteousness? What happened to holding the president to the highest possible standard of ethical scrutiny?
A new report from Bloomberg reveals how President Donald Trumps son-in-law and senior White House adviser, Jared Kushner, is on a desperate hunt for cash to address hundreds of millions of dollars his familys real estate business owes on a 41-story office building on Fifth Avenue.
The mortgage on the building is due in just 18 months. And Kushners hunt for cash appears to be an international one, shaking the money trees in South Korea, France, Israel, China, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
At the same time, Kushner, as reported by The Washington Post, has been playing the role of shadow diplomat, becoming the primary point of contact for presidents, ministers, ambassadors from more than two dozen countries ... in Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region.
In June, when Kushner, who has zero diplomatic and foreign policy experience, traveled to the Middle East to pursue a peace deal between the Israelis and the Palestinians, it is conceivable that he was simultaneously furthering his hunt for cash.
Remember when candidate Trump accused Hillary Clinton of running a vast criminal enterprise out of the State Department?
Well, Mr. President, what in the world would you call what your daughters husband is doing right now from inside the West Wing?
At best, its a conflict of interest. At worst, its an invitation for bribery.
Either way, it is beyond inappropriate for Kushner to continue working inside the West Wing and on the federal government payroll. He may be using his position and proximity to the president to gain access to high-profile, international money men in the hopes that theyll cut him and his family a hundred-million-dollar check.
What strings do you think that check would come with, and does anybody really believe those strings align with the best interests of the United States of America?
Keep in mind, Kushner still has a security clearance!
And when Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., led an effort in July to revoke that clearance, congressional Republicans unconscionably blocked it because they would rather play politics than act in the best interests of the country they are sworn to protect. They apparently think its fine to leave our country vulnerable to someone who is a prime target for blackmail and financial extortion.
Remember, too, that congressional Republicans were foaming at the mouth at the prospect of investigating Hillary Clinton and the Clinton Foundation had she won the presidency. Some of their activities certainly warranted scrutiny but no more so than what Kushners up to.
So much for the devotion to vigorous oversight that we championed and regurgitated for the eight years under President Obama.
I can tell you with 100 percent certainty that if a relative of Obama had been working in the West Wing while also soliciting foreign dollars for the family business, we would have launched a full-scale investigation that would have included depositions, subpoenas and congressional hearings.
Maybe the congressional oversight committees will finally start doing their jobs and investigate the vast criminal enterprise being operated out of the West Wing. More likely, nothing will happen and Trump, with the silent acquiescence of Republicans in Congress, will help institutionalize this corruption.
I will admit to being somewhat addicted to the daily drama that emanates from Washington and the greater geopolitical phenomenon known as TrumpWorld.
I listen to the various television pundits of all manner of stripes and persuasions, and read what columnists opine in various newspapers and magazines. I revel in the information that is made available to me because of the willingness of unnamed sources to leak information that would otherwise remain hidden.
I continue to be surprised when one of the commentators will express surprise that the President said this or tweeted that, or chose to refer to a person or an event in some unorthodox or seemingly self-damaging manner.
The latest iteration of Trumpantics has been described as the Chuck and Nancy show; that is the Presidents willingness to go against all previously expected political maneuvering and negotiate deals directly with the Democratic leaders in Congress. He is receiving somewhat muted, but nonetheless existent, praise for seeking a bipartisan approach to addressing legislative action that hasnt even been considered by the Republican leaders of Congress.
Others wonder if he is embarrassing the leaders of the controlling party at this own peril; it is argued that they will ultimately have to do the actual legislative crafting and vote gathering (known as sausage making to the experienced) and they may choose to drag their feet or something worse.
And we all know that some other issue or drama will replace this in the next 24 hours; this has been the pattern since January, and there is absolutely no reason to expect otherwise.
Now to my point. While our collective senses are inundated with all manner of news, commentary, ranting, raving, obfuscation, and fake news, the most important person has said nothing about what he knows and what he is doing.
To my knowledge, Special Counsel Robert Mueller has given no press conference otherwise communicating anything. What we know comes from people who are identified as witnesses, potential targets of the investigation, and the myriad opinions and conjectures of various experts familiar with the process.
What we are led to believe is that he is focusing on whether or not President Trump acted to obstruct justice; that is, to use the power of his position to consciously take action to impede a federal investigation. We are further led to believe that this is primarily, but not exclusively, based on the the presidents own televised statements that he fired FBI Director Comey because of the Russian investigation.
Donald Trump has spent his business life bullying people, mistreating women, employees and competitors, and using/abusing tax and bankruptcy laws when it suited his own personal goals. It is apparent that he has attempted to continue in a comparable manner as a government official. He appears to be using tactics to do everything he can to disparage Mr. Comey in hopes of reducing his effectiveness as the star witness.
It would be historic if the results of the Mueller investigation were to indict Mr. Trump on charges of obstruction of justice, and that this prompted the Republican-led Congress to vote on articles of impeachment.
It would be seismic if he also concluded that, ironically, there was no evidence of collusion with the Russians.
Now wouldnt that be special.
Eric Zimny
Vineyard workers and their contribution to the wine industry has been in the news a lot lately. Many articles tout their importance and their difficulties. There is talk of farm worker housing issues and labor shortages.
Recently there was a big fundraiser by the Napa Valley Grapegrowers; a couple million dollars was raised to help vineyard workers and families in many ways. This is all wonderful and very nice. However, one thing would help vineyard workers and their families the most: pay them more. Pay them a wage that is commensurate with the work they do, the conditions they work in, the skills they have, the hours they keep.
Im not sure how many non-vineyard workers have ever spent any time in the vineyards to understand what their responsibilities entail. They arent in the winery lab, a cool cellar, or the air-conditioned tasting room with use of clean bathrooms and break rooms with refrigerators, microwaves, vending machines, coffee makers and cold water.
They are outside in 100-plus degree heat, in the dirt, with the bugs and spiders, tending to the vines to ensure they ripen so wine can sell for $50 to $300 a bottle. They prune the vines properly to produce the proper canes to produce the right number of grape clusters, they get up and start the wind machines in the middle of the night, they remove the weeds and keep pests in control, they remove just the right leaves to allow the proper sunlight into the grapes so they ripen just right, they pick in the dark, and there is more. These are skilled employee positions.
The industry needs to honestly assess what they are paying vineyard workers and the impact on them and their families. The handouts and help are nice, but theyd rather get paid a proper wage, be independent, and not reliant on kindness. They want to make their own way.
Napa Valley growers and winery vineyard owners can increase the overall pay of vineyard workers 50 percent and it really wont add that much to the cost of a bottle of wine. A 50 percent increase in vineyard wages increases the cost of wine $1-$3 a bottle. If wines are selling for $50 to $300, Im pretty sure the growers and the wineries can afford it even if they cant raise the selling price.
Sonoma has the same issue, as does the Central Valley. Increasing wages in the Central Valley has less impact as there is more mechanization and generally larger crops per acre. It would be more difficult to absorb or pass along the cost increase in the Central Valley as wines produced from that region sell for a fraction of Napa wines.
But that is not Napas problem. The Napa Valley grape growing and wine industry needs to do what is right for its vineyard employees and let other regions handle any fall out. Napa needs to be a leader and do the right thing.
Mark B. Smithers
St. Helena
Possible affordable housing solutions
Napa County has about $2.8 million in spending money to help tackle the regions affordable housing problems, and county supervisors are working on strategies.
That money is the available balance in the countys affordable housing fund established in 1992. Developers pay housing impact fees that typically total $1 million to $2 million annually.
Supervisors voiced their ideas for spending future affordable housing funds, though none of the proposals would erase the affordable housing problem. Rather, supervisors are trying to chip away at it.
Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Belia Ramos said, We cannot believe well be able to build our way out of the problem we have.
But she mentioned one concept that involves what Ramos called stepped-up home ownership a person would have a mortgage on half a home and rent the other half from the county.
Ramos also said the state of California owns a large amount of land in Napa County. Perhaps this could provide space for building affordable housing.
Supervisor Diane Dillon mentioned the challenges faced by some seniors on fixed incomes. These seniors might have spare rooms where they could create junior dwelling units of 500 square feet or less to rent out.
Supervisors also considered raising commercial housing impact fees to bring more money to the affordable housing fund, something they last did in 2014.
Seven lucky dogs and six lucky cats arrived in Napa on Sunday, Sept. 17, part of a larger group of pets rescued from chaotic, post-hurricane conditions in Houston by a coalition of animal care organizations.
These animals had been living in a Houston shelter before Hurricane Harvey struck earlier this month, said Monica Stevens, co-founder of the Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch (JARR) of St. Helena, which joined a group of organizations to fly a total of 73 dogs and cats out of Texas.
In the aftermath of the destructive hurricane, Houstons shelters are overrun by lost animals and pets whose owners no longer have the ability to care for them, Stevens said recently.
By flying a group of pets to the Bay Area, organizations are making room for Houston shelters to absorb more animals, she said.
All of the animals were vetted, vaccinated and checked over for medical problems by Mad Dog Rescues Disaster Relief Team and a veterinary technician, Bergen Verdu, deployed from JARR prior to being given clearance for transfer to California.
Actor Renee Zellweger, who has been on the ground helping with the animal rescue efforts after Hurricane Harvey, was on hand to help load the dogs and cats onto the plane in Houston, organizers said.
It was extraordinary to be there, to know all those animals would be safe and have a new life in California, Stevens said.
The Lucy Foundation of Los Angeles donated the plane that flew the pets to a private airport in Hayward, where they were farmed out to Bay Area groups for care and adoption.
Also participating in the rescue were Mad Dog Rescue, the Milo Foundation, San Francisco SPCA and Muttville Senior Dog Rescue.
We have an incredible Disaster Relief Team who have been deployed multiple times since the hurricane hit helping with the emergency evacuation of pets, said Ryan Darfler of Mad Dog Rescue, We will continue to do so until every animal is safe.
California has been the destination for other Texas animal rescues by other organizations. A plane with 15 cats and 54 dogs flew into Oakland International Airport, also on Sept. 17.
The 13 cats and dogs coming to Napa were checked over by local veterinarian Dr. Juliana Rockwood before their foster families took them home.
All were very sweet, Stevens said of the animals. Nobody had a bad attitude. They were happy to be in California, I think.
The animals will be quarantined with foster families for two weeks and will be neutered and spayed as necessary, Stevens said. Some pets are likely to be adopted by their foster families, while others will be put up for adoption locally, she said.
The dogs range from 6 months to 8 years of age and are of all body types, from 20 to 80 pounds, Stevens said. The six cats are all older, she said.
JARR has spent $5,000 from its emergency fund to participate in the Houston rescue, Stevens estimated. An appeal on Facebook has brought in half of that amount, she said.
To learn more about adoptions, contact JARRs Adoptions and Foster Manager Deassa Binstock at deassa@jamesonrescueranch.org.
Thanks, Tona Kovacevic, for reaching out so quickly in both the Star and Register (How in the world did St. Helena survive before?," Sept. 14, St. Helena Star.) But Im sorry to inform you that nobody in St. Helena can out-hick me. We wrote the book on hick-ism back in my little rust bucket Rhode Island town long ago. Im sure you will agree that I was head hick when you hear that my mom made me wear corduroy knickers (that went shripp, shripp when you walked). Add argyle socks and Buster Browns. Then, being poor hicks, my Mom turned our shirt collars when they became worn out on one side. I hated them; it was like having a neon sign on your back, Billy Ryan wears turned collars. Well, Tona, you get the picture.
Let me tell you about some other prominent family hicks. My moms mother immigrated from Europe as an infant. Her family gave her away because they could not afford to feed her. Its the perfect start to high hick-ism. But she ended up in a town of 100 people in R.I. married to Grandpa Randall who got his Yankee name at Ellis Island. She had seven kids who all flourished as hicks -- including teachers and nurses and butchers while sending my Uncle Sam off to war where he was a B-17 gunner in Europe then a B-24 gunner in the Pacific.
Up at 4 a.m. every day to make fresh bread and buns, my grandmother worked hard. Rarely did we see her sitting down with a cup of coffee and her cat, Snitch in her lap. My jobs were to keep the wood box behind the black iron stove full -- and feed the pigs -- certainly a sure route to high hick.
Her husband, Mike Randall, ran the country general store in town and during the worst of the Depression in the 30s he gave the two needy families in town a box of groceries every Friday night for years. As a big-time local hick, he was elected fence viewer year after year -- deciding whether or not a fence was built to spite a hick neighbor.
My Dad was a pretty successful local hick too. He got a head start by being all alone when he was only 13. He ended up a successful auto dealer for 42 years -- even though it was painful for him to write his own name. He climbed the hick ladder because he kept his business going during the recession in a small mill town that was frequently on strike. Then, he reached the Hick top rung when our country stopped the production of new civilian automobiles between 1942 and 1946 -- to make tanks for WWII. He crossed my own bar to hick heights one cold, dark, snowy Christmas Eve when a customer called to say her battery was dead. He suited up and trudged out to replace it for her. Thats why my hick Dads business lasted 42 years.
So Tona, now that we have the hick pecking order determined, lets take a quick look at the rest of your note. Sure, applaud the long term residents who built this town But they failed us when it counted most back in the early 70s when Americas Boomers started their long-term love affair with fine wine. Boomers quickly and decisively appointed St. Helena their World Wine Capital -- not California, not Napa Valley St. Helena.
Because it was a happy accident -- not something we did, we didnt understand it, nurture it, plan to broaden and extend it. We didnt really value it and still dont.
While Yountville, Calistoga and Healdsburg were still asleep, the Boomers flew past Temecula, Paso Robles and Napa on a holy journey to see their new best friends in St. Helena. We shot ourselves in the foot time after time -- right up to today. Heres just a couple of those ill-fated decisions; keeping train passengers from debarking in St. Helena. Train opponents lied to us -- saying that there would be 400 passengers on every train -- every day of the year -- and that each would need to pee on arrival.
Another doozy kept Hall Winery from choosing famous architect Frank Gehry to design a building not even to be seen from the highway. A resident (who still lives here) led the attack -- saying that, if he were chosen, people from around the world would come here to see the building and clog up our parking spaces. Not 5 percent of the people in the world know who Frank Gehry is -- and they think hes a third baseman for Detroit.
And here is the sorry result. Look at these most recent rounded off TOT revenues: St. Helena - $2.1 million, Yountville - $7.1 million, Calistoga - $6.1 million. We never recovered from being discovered. Now were broke. How sad. Please give me a call soon for a coffee and some more sad but real stories of 41 years of St. Helena gaffes that even your best hicks would deplore.
Bill Ryan
St. Helena
As a marketing organization, the Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) does an excellent job, and is of great value to our industry and our valley. But theyre tone deaf when it comes to land use politics, generally taking the wrong side and causing consternation within our community. As marketers, the NVV seeks to be on the side of the politically correct. Others believe that reasonable regulations and long-term economic viability are more important than short-term marketing gains. As a past NVV Director and 1986 Wine Auction Chairman I quit NVV years ago over their poorly conceived land use positions. Once again, NVV has gone off the political rails over land use.
Their proposed solution in search of a problem is called the Watershed & Oak Woodlands Initiative (NV Register Watershed initiative is reborn, Sept. 10). If this initiative is approved new vineyards in the oak woodlands will be prohibited, buffer zones up to 125 feet wide will be required along water courses and a County permit will be required to cut any oak over 5 inches in diameter and a County Use Permit will be required for cutting 10 or more oaks.
NVV has lost its moral compass. Its crucial to note that the initiative exempts all existing vineyards and the replanting of all vineyards. The most affected by this initiative are those who havent already developed their vineyard, property or home. NVV wants to award itself a big shiny Environmental Merit Badge, not for the hard work and sacrifice of its members, but for the sacrifice to be made by those non-exempted landowners. Clearly the NVV learned from the old political adage Dont tax you, dont tax me tax that guy behind the tree.
When you encounter vintners or growers who support this initiative, ask them if their vineyard, home or barn is set back from the top of any stream bank by 125 feet as this initiative requires for new development in the Ag Watershed or are they exempted? It seems to me that if the NVV wants to regain credibility then all NVV members should reject their exempted status, fully comply with the requirements and remove all vineyards within 125 feet of any Class I water course.
If we espouse environmentalism, shouldnt we all, without exception, do our part for the environment? Forcing others to do what you are not willing to do yourself is morally repugnant, yet that is exactly what NVV is proposing with this Initiative.
I cannot understand how NVV representatives think they can secretly negotiate this initiative with two members from Vision 2050 and not realize the harm theyve done to our industry, their organization and themselves.
On Sept. 1, the NVV filed this proposed ballet initiative with Napa County and then waited four days before informing their members. The NVVs 525 members were never informed nor asked for input before the NVV submitted the initiative. This process was underhanded for sure, poor governance by any standard and utterly unprofessional.
It is especially disturbing that no stakeholders representing oak woodlands property or hillside vineyardists were present to add insight and defend their rights. Additionally, the Wine Growers, the Grapegrowers and the Farm Bureau were also excluded and lied to by omission, thus bringing into question issues of trust and integrity that may jeopardize any future NVV cooperation amongst these groups. Maybe if a more diverse group of stakeholders had been involved the folly of trying to placate Vision 2050 would have been avoided.
I oppose this initiative because its not good for Napa County nor the Napa wine industry. Initiatives are an important tool when government fails to do its job correctly. That is not the case in Napa County. We have a beautiful valley with some of the most environmentally sensitive farmers anywhere in the world. The Napa River is one of the cleanest and most diverse rivers in Northern California because of the wine industrys stewardship. In 2014 the State Water Board voted to delist the Napa River for nutrients and I suspect that delisting for fine sediments isnt too far away.
Oak tree protection is not needed because any conversion of land to vineyard must obtain an Erosion Control Plan permit which allows county planners to review all relevant environmental issues. While development of new homes and buildings will not be prohibited, the initiative will markedly increase costs in those areas containing even a few oak trees. Requiring a county permit to cut down a single oak 5 inches in diameter is ridiculous. Requiring a Use Permit costing thousands of dollars to cut 10 oaks or more in one year on your property is ludicrous.
Napa County is a right-to-farm county and if this initiative passes, it will dramatically curtail the growth of our wine industry by prohibiting new vineyards in the oak woodlands and may weaken the longstanding public resolve that Napa County agriculture is the highest and best use of the land. I am asking that NVV members reconsider what is in the best long-term interest of our valley and our wine industry and withdraw this ill-conceived and divisive initiative.
Stuart Smith
St. Helena
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ORLANDO, Florida Halloween Spooktacular returns to SeaWorld Orlando this Saturday, earlier than ever before for six weekends of spooky fun.
Guests of all ages can join everyones favorite furry friends from Sesame Street as The Count, Elmo, Abby and others take the stage in Sesame Streets Countdown to Halloween.
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Families will also enjoy a Halloween Dance Party and meet whimsical characters inspired by the sea.
During this special event, children can dress in their Halloween costumes and take part in fun-filled trick-or-treating in the park.
The daytime Halloween fun takes place every Saturday and Sunday starting September 23 through October 29, 2017 and is included with park admission. Event hours are 11 a.m. to park close. Halloween Spooktacular Highlights Include:
Sesame Streets Countdown to Halloween
Celebrate a Spooktacular Halloween at SeaWorld with The Count, Elmo, Abby, and the rest of their Sesame Street friends! The Count is feeling lonely this Halloween, and its up to the loveable monsters from Sesame Street to get him into the Halloween spirit. Batty bats and spooky skeletons join the fun in a song-filled stage show that invites guests to dance, play and sing along.
Penelopes Garden Party
This dynamic underwater environment comes to life with a live DJ, bubbles floating overhead, unique photo opportunities and colorful sea-themed characters.
Pets Ahoy Halloween
Guests can enjoy a special Halloween version of this side-splitting show with surprise twists, and a cast of unlikely characters that will have the whole family laughing from beginning to end.
Waves of Trick-or-Treat Fun
Costumed youngsters can trick-or-treat from 11 a.m. to park close for ghoulish goodies. Each sea-themed, trick-or-treat station features an assortment of candy favorites including Tootsie Roll, Airheads and Junior Mints, just to name a few.
Halloween Dance Party
Children join Princess Penelope and her under-the-sea friends for a Spooktacular Dance Party where they can participate in line-dancing favorites as clouds of bubbles fill the evening air. The party kicks off in the front of the park every event night one hour before park closing.
Mermaid Grotto
Meet a mystical mermaid from an underwater world of fantasy. Capture the amazing moment with a Mermaid Photo Package, available for purchase at the park.
Upgrades to Your Spooktacular Day at SeaWorld:
Count von Counts Spooktacular Breakfast
Back by popular demand, Count von Counts Spooktacular Breakfast features a delicious buffet enjoyed with the furriest characters in town, this breakfast is a fun-filled experience sure to delight kids and parents alike. Starting at $9.99 for kids and $19.99 for adults, reservations can be made online, at the Information Counter or by calling (407) 545-5550.
Reserved Seating: Sesame Streets Countdown to Halloween
Enjoy a reserved seat at a showtime of your choice for Sesame Streets Countdown to Halloween show at SeaWorld Orlando. Priced at $19 per person, guarantee a seat for a showtime of your choice.
Spooky Game Pass
Guests can enjoy a variety of games throughout the event, each with a guaranteed prize! The Spooky Game Pass offers guests the opportunity to play 5 games for the price of 4. Available for $20 in advance online.
Seasonal Craft Brew Sampler
Sip and enjoy 10 craft brews from a wide seasonal selection of unique craft brews offered daily including a wide selection of seasonal fall flavors. All samples are 7 oz. and include over 20 local brews from Florida. Sampling lanyards are priced at $30 and can be purchased online and around the park. Guests must be 21+ to purchase.
Update: The newest Titan to join the CSUF family has arrived at Titan Student Union. Workers have completed the installation of the woolly mammoth fossil, now on display for public view.
Tuffys ice-age ancestor, a rare Siberian woolly mammoth fossil, is coming to Cal State Fullerton this fall in a permanent display in the Titan Student Union.
Orange County resident John Gregg and his Gregg Family Foundation donated the extinct giant mammoth skeleton to the University.
Most of the worlds woolly mammoth population vanished about 10,000 years ago, with Asian elephants the closest living relative of the extinct beast. The prehistoric woolly mammoth fossil is a perfect fit for CSUF because of the Universitys modern-day pachyderm mascot named Tuffy Titan, Gregg noted.
Gregg, a geotechnical engineer and president of Gregg Drilling & Testing Inc. based in Signal Hill, has kept the fossil in crates and looks forward to seeing the mammoth on public display.
Im happy that the mammoth is going to get out of the dusty storage shed so people can enjoy viewing it, he said.
The fossil, which is almost fully intact, is estimated to be about 20,000 years old and was found about 15 years ago in a remote area of western Siberia, Russia, near the Ob River, said Gregg, who acquired the mammoth from a friend and fossil collector.
The mammoth skeleton, which is 11 feet tall at the shoulders and 24 feet in length from tusks to tail, will be in a museum-type display in the Titan Student Unions Chapman Atrium, a high-traffic area outside the Portola Pavilion.
CSUFs Division of University Advancement, the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, John D. Cooper Archaeological and Paleontological Center and Associated Students Inc. partnered with Gregg to make the donation possible and build the exhibit.
This is a priceless fossil that will help educate and inspire thousands of students and guests as they walk through the Titan Student Union, said Michael Karg, senior director of development. Its hard to put a value on it, but similar mammoth fossils have been sold at auction for between $200,000 and $400,000.
ASI orchestrated the design and construction of the exhibit site, removing planters and building the platform space to meet seismic and other standards. The design includes a glass wall, security cameras and alarm system to keep the woolly mammoth at arms length from visitors, said Carol McDoniel, ASI director of administration.
James F. Parham, associate professor of geological sciences and Cooper Center faculty curator of paleontology, is excited about having such a rare fossil display on campus.
Its hard not to look at this spectacular fossil of an extinct elephant and not reflect on its extinction and how long ago it lived on Earth, said Parham. The story of elephants from the prehistoric past and into the future is intertwined with that of humans.
Mammoths and mastodons went extinct during the last ice age, along with saber-toothed cats, dire wolves and many other large mammals, Parham noted.
The woolly mammoths extinction has been attributed to human hunting and climate change, Parham continued.
While the shaggy-coated mammoths did not roam in what is now Orange County, Columbian mammoths and mastodons lived in the region, including near campus in Fullerton, Parham explained. He and his students are currently studying these local fossil relatives at the Cooper Center, a partnership between CSUF and OC Parks.
For me, the most exciting thing about this fossil donation is that it will allow the community to see a spectacular woolly mammoth real tangible evidence of ancient, extinct life. But also it is the starting point for another conversation about the fossil elephants of Orange County.
Future plans include adding exhibit space next to the woolly mammoth to showcase Cooper Center fossils and artifacts, and faculty-student research.
20:19
Pakistan's former dictator Pervez Musharraf today claimed that Asif Ali Zardari was responsible for the killing of his wife Benazir Bhutto, saying the former president gained the most from the assassination of the country's first woman prime minister, media reports said.
The 54-year-old Pakistan Peoples Party chief and a two-time prime minister was killed along with more than 20 people in a gun and bomb attack in Rawalpindi's Liaquat Bagh during an election campaign rally on December 27, 2007.
Former president and army chief Gen Musharraf, who was last month declared a fugitive by an anti-terrorism court which ordered seizure of his property in the Bhutto murder case, accused PPP co-chairman Zardari of "having the most to gain from Benazir Bhutto's murder" in a video posted on his official Facebook page.
"Asif Ali Zardari is responsible for the Bhutto family's demise and is involved in the deaths of Benazir and Murtaza Bhutto," he said in an address to the three Bhutto-Zardari children, the Bhutto family and the people of Sindh, Dawn news reported.
"Every time there is a murder, the first thing that needs to be seen is who has the most to gain from the death. In this case, I had everything to lose as I was in power and the murder put my government in a difficult situation," he said.
"There was just one person that had everything to gain from Benazir's assassination and that was Asif Ali Zardari," Musharraf said, adding that it was his analysis of the case.
Zardari was in power for five years, why did he not look into the case, why was the investigation not active -- because he was involved in Benazir's murder, Musharraf alleged.
"The evidence is clear that Baitullah Mehsud and his people were involved in the murder, but who had asked them to target Benazir Bhutto -- it could not have been me, the group hated me and the feeling was mutual.
"It is a known fact that I wanted Mehsud dead and so did the government of Pakistan, after his group had attempted to kill me," Musharraf said.
Zardari, on the other hand, had a great relationship with then Afghan president Hamid Karzai, a link he could have used to influence Mehsud and his people, he claimed.
McNair Scholars Program earns federal grant
by Tim Crosby
CARBONDALE, Ill. A program that has helped dozens of disadvantaged students earn college degrees will be around for another five years at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, thanks to federal grant that honors the memory of an astronaut.
The university will receive five more years of funding for the Ronald McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program, known on campus as the McNair Scholars Program. The program is part of the U.S. Department of Educations TRIO outreach program, designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Established at SIU in 2003, McNair Scholars are typically first-generation college students from low-income families or groups that traditionally are underserved in higher education. The program serves about 29 participants each year, focusing on enhancing students scholastic and research skills while also providing the mentoring and support that prepares them for success in graduate school.
The program is named for the late Ronald E. McNair, a physicist and astronaut who died in the 1986 explosion of the space shuttle Challenger.
Karen Renzaglia, director of the McNair Scholars Program, wrote the initial grant for the SIU effort in 2002, securing the first few rounds of four-year funding cycles. Funding cycles changed to five-year periods as of 2012, and the latest funding is for 2017-2022.
Since the programs start at SIU, 158 participating students have earned bachelors degrees, 76 earned masters degrees and 11 earned doctoral degrees. Currently, 23 participants are enrolled in masters programs with another 9 enrolled in doctoral programs. The program has had a total of 178 participants.
Renzaglia said the program supports students from disadvantaged backgrounds who do not have the cultural capital to successfully navigate higher education.
We provide opportunities for students to engage in professional development, especially to conduct research side by side with our faculty, she said. These experiences change lives, opens doors and lead to scholarly contributions and academic advancements for students who were largely neglected prior to coming to SIU.
The program fits beautifully with SIU's mission to increase access, to provide excellent enrichment and scholarly activities, and to serve students from diverse backgrounds, Renzaglia said.
The grant provides $241,556 annually for five years.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-19 23:45:18|Editor: Yang Yi
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Members of the Greek-Turkish Youth Orchestra (GTYO) perform at Zappeion hall in Athens, Greek, on Sept. 8, 2017. Ten years ago, Leni Konialidis brought together a group of young Greek and Turkish musicians with the belief that through music, longstanding rivalries could be overcome and friendship could flourish. Ten years later, the Greek-Turkish Youth Orchestra (GTYO) toured Greece for its tenth year this September as an exemplar of intercultural dialogue that builds bridges of communication over the Aegean Sea. (Xinhua/Lefteris Partsalis)
by Maria Spiliopoulou, Valentini Anagnostopoulou
ATHENS, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Ten years ago, Leni Konialidis brought together a group of young Greek and Turkish musicians with the belief that through music, longstanding rivalries could be overcome and friendship could flourish.
Ten years later, the Greek-Turkish Youth Orchestra (GTYO) toured Greece for its tenth year this September as an exemplar of intercultural dialogue that builds bridges of communication over the Aegean Sea.
From Sept. 1 to 8, the 60-member ensemble comprised of an equal number of Greek and Turkish young artists held five concerts in Rhodes, Crete, Elefsina and Athens, spreading the message of peaceful coexistence and cooperation.
Shortly before the closing performance at Zappeion hall in the Greek capital, Xinhua talked to the GTYO founder and president, along with this season's conductor Zoe Zeniodi and the young musicians about how music brings people closer together.
"I believe music is a universal language that allows people to communicate without their own language and nationality. It is very beautiful to see in this Greek-Turkish orchestra how the musicians have occasions to meet each other, to make friendships through music, and all boundaries are forgotten," Konialidis said.
A mother of three, Konialidis noticed how all her children stopped fighting as soon as they started playing music together. Music also helped her children integrate while the family was living in Uruguay.
She said music had the power to change relationships and foster understanding and that when people from different backgrounds play classical concertos or symphonies, they can discover common ground.
"I think this is very important for the future, the world we are living in. Maybe it is not a solution for everything, but it is a beautiful thing for the youth," she said.
The members of GTYO are chosen each year by the maestro through video recordings. They meet for the first time for rehearsals about a week before the first concert. After performing in Greece or Turkey, they return home.
Konialidis said that when it came to how the cultural experience affected the children, she said they went away with new friendships, good memories, and a new perspective on each other's nations.
"I think it affects them enormously. First of all, Greeks and Turks do not have an occasion to meet. So just the fact of meeting, they discover other cultures, other countries," Konialidis said.
"I think the mission is to develop friendships and to develop relations between the youth and be able to listen to each other and to live in harmony," she said.
Cellist Gokce Bahar Oytun, 27, was one of the soloists on this year's tour. She joined GTYO four years ago upon an invitation by Turkish maestro Cem Mansur who was the conductor of the ensemble at the time.
She said music promoted unity and helped make differences disappear.
"When we are playing in the orchestra, we just want to share music and do our best for music. So it is just about being one," she said, adding there were no differences between humans.
Timoleon Kimon Anastasiadis, 25, plays the violin, and joined GTYO for first time this year.
He said of the long-held prejudices on both sides of the Aegean that when he returned to Cologne to continue his studies, he hoped that he had helped a little to break them.
"It was a very beautiful experience, because you can see how many things we have in common with the Turkish people after all," he told Xinhua.
"Indeed, there is nothing dividing us. The beautiful thing is that this also stands for the Turks. They also see us like brothers," he said about his new friendships.
"Music unites, music builds bridges, it is music that brings us closer," Zeniodi said.
She said she felt lucky to have the chance to see it happening before her eyes at GTYO. She sees for herself the striking difference between the young people who meet each other on the first day and how they embrace each other pledging to keep in touch at the end.
"Prejudices? Yes, it is possible for some people, depending on how they were brought up and based on what we are hearing," she commented.
"Music cannot make everything alone. This is certain. We need other things also and it is not our job to do everything. We can do this part -- concerts, rehearsals, work together -- so that we can take the world a few steps forward," the conductor said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-19 23:50:20|Editor: Mengjie
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TOKYO, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Over 10,000 people rallied here on Tuesday to protest against the controversial security laws that were enacted by the parliament two years ago and the government's attempts to revise the pacifist Constitution.
The protesters gathered in front of parliament buildings Tuesday night, holding banners written with slogans such as "Scrap the new security laws and the conspiracy laws" and "Abe shall step down."
Kazuo Shii, head of the Japanese Communist Party, said that the new security laws enacted two years ago could drag Japan into a dangerous place and shall be scrapped.
He also criticized Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's possible decision to dissolve the lower house of parliament and call a snap general election, saying that the prime minister's move was aimed at fleeing from accusations.
Mizuho Fukushima, deputy head of the Social Democratic Party, said that the Abe administration, having forcibly enacted the security laws, is now trying to revise the pacifist Constitution.
"Such moves are a mockery of Article 9 of our Constitution and are absolutely unforgivable," she said.
Hirokazu Tozaki, a citizen in Tokyo, called for the new security laws to be scrapped "as soon as possible."
He also criticized Abe for failing to give sufficient explanations to the public for the influence-peddling scandals that the prime minister was implicated in, saying that he "felt ashamed" for having a prime minister fleeing from scandals.
The Japanese government forcibly enacted the controversial security laws on Sept. 19, 2015, which marked a significant overturn of Japan's "purely defensive" defense posture and caused widespread concerns and criticism at home and abroad.
Abe reiterated his intention to revise the pacifist Constitution in May this year on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Constitution coming into force, saying that he hopes to see a revised Constitution go into effect in 2020.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 00:50:53|Editor: Zhou Xin
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The Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark Task Group Commander Guan Bailin (L, front) shakes hands with Vice President Victor Bockarie Foh of the Republic of Sierra Leone (R, front) at Port Freetown, Sierra Leone, on Sept. 19, 2017. The Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark on Tuesday arrived at the shores of Sierra Leone, with a mission to deliver free medical services to 2,000 people within eight days till September 26. (Xinhua/Shi Song)
by Alusine Sesay
FREETOWN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark on Tuesday arrived at the shores of Sierra Leone, with a mission to deliver free medical services to 2,000 people within eight days till September 26.
At the ceremony held in the conference room of the ship which arrived at Freetown on Tuesday morning, Task Group Commander Guan Bailin reflected on the importance of the diplomatic relations between China and Sierra Leone, stating that their mission to offer free medical service to Sierra Leone is geared towards enhancing the cooperation between the two countries.
He disclosed that Peace Ark was commissioned in 2008 and has traversed 31 countries, providing free medical services where they arrived, adding that "this is the first time the ship has visited West Africa."
The naval commander recounted the contributions of China to the development of Sierra Leone and the cooperation between the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic relationship in 1971, reiterating the medical assistance China provided to Sierra Leone during the Ebola crisis in 2014, among others.
Sierra Leone's Vice President Victor Bockarie Foh welcomed the team. "China has made its presence in Sierra Leone in terms of development. We are grateful for all the contributions China has made to Sierra Leone since we established diplomatic relationship in 1971," he said.
"We have made to climb the ladder with the help of China in a win-win situation. The contribution of China in the (medical) sector is so profound and we are very much grateful for that. I believe your medicine would help the people," Victor Bockarie Foh added.
The ceremony was climaxed with a tour of the facility by the Vice President, the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone Wu Peng, the media and other dignitaries from various institutions.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 01:05:57|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 19, 2017. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday highlighted "nuclear peril" while addressing the General Assembly in his work report. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday highlighted "nuclear peril" while addressing the General Assembly, which kicked off its annual general debate.
"Today global anxieties about nuclear weapons are at the highest level since the end of the Cold War," he said.
"Millions of people live under a shadow of dread cast by the provocative nuclear and missile tests of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)," he added.
"I condemn those tests unequivocally," he said.
In his annual work report to the General Assembly, Guterres said that "our world is in trouble. People are hurting and angry. They see insecurity rising, inequality growing, conflict spreading and climate changing."
The UN chief listed the most serious threats that face the world, including nuclear peril, terrorism, unresolved conflicts and systematic violations of international humanitarian law, and climate change.
"The use of nuclear weapons should be unthinkable. Even the threat of their use can never be condoned," he said.
"I call on the DPRK and all member states to comply fully with Security Council resolutions," said the UN chief.
The secretary-general said that last week's unanimous adoption of resolution 2375 "tightens sanctions and sends a clear message regarding the country's international obligations."
"I appeal to the Council to maintain its unity," he said, adding that "only that unity can lead to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and -- as the resolution recognizes -- create an opportunity for diplomatic engagement to resolve the crisis."
Once again, the UN chief stressed that the solution "must be political. This is a time for statesmanship."
"We must not sleepwalk our way into war," he warned.
Speaking of terrorism threat, the UN chief said that "nothing justifies terrorism -- no cause, no grievance."
"Terrorism continues to take a rising toll of death and devastation," he said, adding that "It is destroying societies, destabilizing regions and diverting energy from more productive pursuits."
He stressed that "Stronger international cooperation remains crucial against terrorism."
Turning to humanitarian crisis in Myanmar's Rakhine State, the UN chief emphasized that "the authorities in Myanmar must end the military operations, allow unhindered humanitarian access and recognize the right of refugees to return in safety and dignity."
The secretary-general warned that "we will not be able to eradicate terrorism if we do not resolve the conflicts that are creating the disorder within which violent extremists flourish."
Talking about climate change, Guterres said that "millions of people and trillions of assets are at risk from rising seas and other climate disruptions."
He noted "we should not link any single weather event with climate change. But scientists are clear that such extreme weather is precisely what their models predict will be the new normal of a warming world."
The UN chief urged the governments to implement the historic Paris Agreement with ever greater ambition, adding that he welcomes the initiatives of the thousands of private enterprises, including major oil and gas companies that are betting on a clean, green future.
The General Assembly of the United Nations on Tuesday morning started its annual general debate, with heads of state and government and other senior national representatives gathering at the UN headquarters to present their views about pressing world issues.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the General Debate of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, at the UNheadquarters in New York, Sept. 19, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)
STOCKHOLM, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom has slammed U.S. President Donald Trump's first United Nations (UN) address as "bombastic and nationalist," saying the speech was "in breach of the UN charter."
Wallstrom commented on the speech soon after Trump stepped off the podium at the UN headquarters, telling Swedish national radio on Tuesday that Trump's speech was "remarkable" and contained a direct military threat, in breach of the UN charter.
"He threatened North Korea with extinction," said Wallstrom, adding that Trump's speech was a plea for the nation state and was "delivered to the wrong audience." Asked if she found the speech shocking, Wallstrom replied: "Yes, and I think I share that feeling with most people. It was absolutely not a speech in defense of cooperation."
In his first speech at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, President Trump warned that the United States "will have no choice than to totally destroy" the Democratic People's Republic of Korea unless Pyongyang refrains from its nuclear tests and missile launches.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 05:02:53|Editor: Mengjie
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LONDON, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- A 25-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday in the Welsh city of Newport, becoming the third suspect to be arrested in connection with the Friday explosion at a subway station in west London, British police said.
Scotland Yard said that the man was arrested at about 7:08 p.m. local time on Tuesday. A building in the Welsh city was being searched, said the police.
The latest arrest was made after two other men aged 18 and 21 were arrested in connection with the bomb attack at Parsons Green subway station, which left 30 people injured.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said that the third man was arrested under section 41 of the Terrorism Act, which allows police to detain suspects without charge beyond the four days allowed for suspects connected to other crimes.
"The arrest was carried out by officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, supported by colleagues from Gwent Police and the Welsh Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit (WECTU)," the spokesman said.
Detectives were granted more time on Monday to question two young men held in raids over the Parsons Green station terrorist attack.
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the fifth terrorist attack in the country over the past six months.
Previous attacks in London this year at Westminster Bridge, London Bridge and Finsbury Park as well as a blast at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester killed dozens of people and injured more than 150.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 07:48:44|Editor: Mengjie
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CHICAGO, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Walgreens Boots Alliance (Walgreens) said on Tuesday that it has got regulatory approval to buy Rite Aid Corp. (Rite Aid) stores for 4.38 billion dollars.
The Illinois-based drugstore chain secured clearance for a revised deal under which it will buy 1,932 stores, three distribution centers and related inventory from Rite Aid, Walgreens said in a press release.
Store purchases are expected to begin in October, and be completed in spring 2018. After the purchases, Walgreens will have about 10,000 stores across the United States.
The company said it expects to realize more than 300 million dollars in annual synergies within four years.
Walgreens initially proposed a takeover of Rite Aid in 2015 and the deal encountered regulatory hurdles concerning antitrust.
Headquartered in Deerfield, IL, Walgreens is an American holding company that runs Walgreens, Boots and a number of pharmaceutical companies.
Rite Aid is a top U.S. drugstore chain, headquartered in the state of Pennsylvania.
Chinese Minister of Education Chen Baosheng (R) and his Ukrainian counterpart Liliya Grynevych attend the 2nd meeting of the subcommittee on education cooperation of the Chinese-Ukrainian intergovernmental commission in Kiev, Ukraine, on June 23, 2017. (Xinhua/Chen Junfeng)
KIEV, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- China and Ukraine on Monday signed here a framework agreement to push forward their cooperation in film and media industries.
The deal was inked during the 7th International media forum "Kiev Media Week" by Tian Yuhong, vice president of China Radio International (CRI) and Zurab Alasania, director general of the Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine (PBCU).
The agreement stipulates for airing Chinese films on the Ukrainian TV and lays the foundation for the joint production of media content between the two countries.
As a part of the agreement, four Chinese TV series and movies will be aired this season in prime time by the PBCU, which covers about 97 percent of the Ukrainian territory.
The number of Chinese films on the Ukrainian screens is expected to further expand in the future.
"The catalog of the films is very large. We have been discussing them for a long time. We, the members of the television crew, really like them," Alasania told Xinhua after the signing ceremony.
He said that the majority of the films will be dubbed into Ukrainian, while several movies will be broadcasted in Mandarin with subtitles, allowing the Ukrainian audience to gain greater insight into China.
In the future, Ukraine plans to broadcast its movies in China, Alasania said, noting that the two-way cooperation may become a cultural bridge between the two countries, helping their people to better understand each other.
Speaking on a possible co-production of media content between China and Ukraine, Alasania said it could yield good results given a wide variety of locations and experienced TV staff in Ukraine and modern media-production technologies in China.
Ukraine is very much interested in developing its cooperation with China in film and media industries, Alasania stressed, noting that his country still has much work to do ahead to reach high standards of Chinese content production.
The five-day "Kiev Media Week" kicked off in the Ukrainian capital earlier on Monday, with the participation of film and media industry professionals from 25 countries.
The PBCU, the largest state-run Ukrainian media company, is broadcasting content via two nationwide and 25 regional TV channels.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 09:29:00|Editor: Mengjie
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TOKYO, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Japan logged a goods trade surplus of 113.6 billion yen (1.01 billion U.S. dollars) in August, the government said on Wednesday.
According to preliminary report by the Finance Ministry, Japan's exports rose 18.1 percent on year while its imports increased 15.2 percent from a year earlier on a customs-cleared basis.
Japan's trade surplus with the United States expanded to 534.70 billion yen (4.79 billion U.S. dollars) in the recording period, as exports increased 21.8 percent and imports rose 5.7 percent, the ministry said.
The Finance Ministry also said that Japan booked a trade deficit with China of 239.84 billion yen (2.14 billion U.S. dollars), with exports to its major trading partner soaring 25.8 percent and imports rising 11.0 percent.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 10:59:27|Editor: Liangyu
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U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the General Debate of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 19, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday pressured the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to give up its nuclear weapons program and signaled a possible end of the Iran nuclear deal in his first speech at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.
BLAST ON DPRK
In his over-40-minute speech, Trump talked tough on the DPRK, warning that the United States "will have no choice than to totally destroy" the country unless Pyongyang refrains from its nuclear tests and missile launches.
Trump, who tossed threats against the DPRK in his tweets in the past months, said at the UN that DPRK leader Kim Jong Un was "on a suicide mission for himself and his regime."
Tension on the Korean Peninsula has been escalating following a series of missile launches and the Sept. 3 nuclear test conducted by Pyongyang.
The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Sept. 11 to impose new sanctions on the DPRK over its latest nuclear test.
However, the Korean Peninsula crisis should be solved through a political process, said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his debut address to the UN General Assembly, just minutes before Trump's remarks.
"We must not sleepwalk our way into war," Guterres added.
China said the six-party talks are still an efficient platform to address the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.
At a routine press briefing in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China is open to all efforts that are conducive to solving the issue peacefully via political and diplomatic means.
"EMBARRASSMENT" TO U.S.
Iran is another major target in Trump's speech, who called Iran's nuclear deal negotiated in 2015 during the Obama administration "an embarrassment" to the United States and indicated that he may not ratify the deal at its forthcoming mid-October deadline.
In his speech, Trump referred to the deal as "one of the worst and one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into."
According to the Iran nuclear deal, or formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran will be removed if the country proved to have abided by the deal over the next few years.
"The JCPOA is an important outcome of international security governance, as well as an example of resolving international hot-spot issues through diplomacy," said Lu, the Chinese spokesman.
"It plays an important role in upholding the international non-proliferation regime and maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East," Lu added.
Iranian senior officials on Sunday warned against the U.S. "breach" of the nuclear deal and called for Washington's adherence to its pertaining commitments.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told the media on Sunday that he would explain some points about the U.S. misconduct pertaining to Iran's 2015 nuclear deal in his UN speech scheduled for Wednesday.
AMERICA FIRST
During his speech, Trump reiterated his "America first" agenda, the slogan which has been widely regarded as one of the key reasons that helped him get elected in 2016.
Trump said he would "defend America's interests above all else," stressing that the United States would no longer be taken advantage of while getting nothing in return.
He also noticed that the U.S. military would soon be "the strongest it has ever been."
"It's my deep belief that the best way to preserve the American interests is to engage positively in global affairs," Guterres told a press conference last week.
In his maiden show, Trump also warned that the United States is mulling possible further actions on Venezuela.
"We cannot stand by and watch," he said.
The United States has slapped several rounds of sanctions on the South American country after Venezuela held elections in late July for the National Constituent Assembly tasked to rewrite the constitution.
Venezuelan officials said unilateral sanctions by Washington would harm both U.S. companies and Venezuela's economy.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 11:09:31|Editor: Mengjie
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TOKYO, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Japan logged a goods trade surplus of 113.6 billion yen (1.01 billion U.S. dollars) in August, the government said on Wednesday.
According to a preliminary report by the Finance Ministry, Japan's exports rose 18.1 percent on year while its imports increased 15.2 percent from a year earlier, on a customs-cleared basis.
The figures came in above median analysts' expectations and are evidence of robust growth in exports this year, they said.
"In a word, the trade data is strong. Imports were strong, but exports were stronger, and this is definitely a positive reading," said Yoshiki Shinke, chief economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute.
The rising imports figure, also beating median analysts' forecasts, contributes to embryonic signs that domestic demand, although skittish, is solidifying, although a tight labor market and stagnant wages continue to provide headwinds, senior economists said.
"In the third quarter, we will see a trend reversal in the Japanese economy. External demand will be strong and consumption will lack momentum," said Hiroaki Muto, chief economist at Tokai Tokyo Research Center.
Japan's trade surplus with the United States, meanwhile, expanded to about 534.70 billion yen (4.79 billion dollars) in the recording period, as exports increased 21.8 percent to 1.18 trillion yen and imports rose 5.7 percent to 648.75 billion yen, the ministry said.
The Finance Ministry also said that Japan booked a trade deficit with China of 239.84 billion yen (2.14 billion dollars), with exports to its largest trading partner soaring 25.8 percent to 1.22 trillion yen and imports rising 11.0 percent to 1.46 trillion yen.
The Finance Ministry also said that Japan booked a surplus of 514.46 billion yen (4.61 billion dollars) with Asia as a whole, and logged a trade deficit with the European Union of 84.56 billion yen (758.08 million dollars).
Japan's trade figures are an important gauge for the government and are used as a key monthly economic indicator.
A positive balance of trade, in which Japan's exports exceeds its imports effectively represents a net inflow of domestic currency from foreign markets.
This remains a mainstay of Japan's export-led economy, despite the government's seeming hope of an economy that will be driven by domestic demand, a proposition found by leading economists to be somewhat implausible.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 11:39:35|Editor: Liangyu
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NEW DELHI, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Heavy rains hit India's financial capital Mumbai and affected rail and air traffic in the city, officials said Wednesday.
The rains started Tuesday afternoon and continued throughout night, triggering water logging and traffic jams.
Meteorological department officials have predicted more rains and high tides in the next 24 hours.
In the anticipation of rains, local government has ordered closure of schools and colleges in the city as a precautionary measure.
In wake of the heavy rains, five Western Railways trains have been cancelled, officials said.
Last month Mumbai city experienced the heaviest rainfall in the past 15 years, triggering flood like situation and water logging.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 11:59:41|Editor: Liangyu
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HONG KONG, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) signed an agreement with International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, on Sept. 19, local time in London, committing one billion U.S. dollars to the innovative Managed Co-lending Portfolio Program (MCPP) debt mobilization platform for emerging markets.
According to the HKMA, the authority will support IFC in financing projects across more than 100 countries, including in infrastructure, telecom, manufacturing, agribusiness and services.
"MCPP is an essential part of IFC's business development in emerging markets. This new partnership with the HKMA signifies the expansion of IFC's base of important long-term, strategic partners," said the IFC Vice President, Dimitris Tsitsiragos, at the signing ceremony.
"With the collaborative efforts of two institutions, we look forward to further realizing the growth potential of emerging markets in a sustainable manner, and the HKMA's participation in MCPP will allow IFC to provide more financing to projects, benefiting millions of people by creating jobs, raising living standards, and improving connectivity," Tsitsiragos said.
The Chief Executive of the HKMA, Norman Chan, said, "We are very pleased about this new partnership with IFC, which provides a useful platform for the HKMA to broaden its investment opportunities in the credit market."
"Emerging markets present a broad array of untapped investment opportunities with good long-term growth potential. Joining hands with IFC allows long-term institutional investors like the HKMA to ride on the considerable expertise, experience and network of IFC in sourcing investable opportunities with proper risk management and governance framework," Chan said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 13:45:09|Editor: Mengjie
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HANOI, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's first field hospital will join the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in South Sudan early next year, the Vietnam Peacekeeping Center said on Wednesday.
A total of 69 soldiers and officers of the field hospital have undergone practical training with the assistance of foreign experts, so that they can improve their capacity of deploying, operating, managing, commanding and handling medical situations.
Since 2014, Vietnam has sent 19 officers to the UN peacekeeping missions in South Sudan and the Central African Republic.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 13:55:11|Editor: Mengjie
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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during the General Debate of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 19, 2017. The General Assembly of the United Nations on Tuesday kicked off its annual general debate, with heads of state and government representatives gathering at the UN headquarters to present their views about pressing world issues. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
by William M. Reilly
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Nuclear weapons, refugees fleeing violence, terrorism and reform were the universal concerns expressed by speakers cutting across borders as the 72nd General Debate of the UN General Assembly kicked off at the UN headquarters Tuesday.
The week-long annual session gives priority to development. This year's general debate is around the theme "Focusing on people."
Some 90 heads of state, including a reigning monarch, more than 30 heads of government, four vice presidents, three deputy prime ministers and scores of ministers are scheduled to speak before the assembly by next Monday, UN officials said.
Listing rising insecurity, inequality and conflict, and the changing climate, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, "Our world is in trouble. People are hurting and angry."
He said the sense of global community was disintegrating, with societies fragmented and political discourse polarizing.
"Trust within and among countries is being driven down by those who demonize and divide," the UN chief said in his annual report.
However, he added that trust could be restored if people worked together.
Guterres also called for a political solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, saying "we must not sleepwalk our way into war."
Officially kicking off the debate, this year's assembly president, Miroslav Lajcak of Slovakia, delivered the keynote opening speech, highlighting peace and prevention as "the only way to ensure that the United Nations is doing the job for which it was created."
Lajcak called the challenges of poverty, growing inequalities, terrorist attacks and the worsening effects of climate change global challenges. "Every country is coping with at least one. But they are also individual in nature, touching on the lives of each person," he remarked.
Continuing with his "America first" stance, U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that "as president of the United States, I will always put America first," just as other leaders should always put their countries first.
Trump said countries must work in harmony without the United States entering into agreements from which it received nothing in return. "It is in everyone's interest to seek a future where all nations can be sovereign, prosperous and secure," he said.
In his over-40-minute speech, Trump talked tough on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), warning that the United States "will have no choice than to totally destroy" the country unless Pyongyang refrains from its nuclear tests and missile launches. But he added that he hoped it would not be necessary.
President Emmanuel Macron of France said the international community should acknowledge its collective failure and find methods to build a durable peace in Syria, now in its seventh year of war.
Recalling that France was a victim of terrorism, he said the world had to react against terrorism in Syria and Iraq. The use of the Internet for such threats should be challenged.
Calling the protection of refugees a moral and political duty, Macron said France has pledged to support the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in opening escape routes wherever required and by upholding the Geneva Convention.
The Geneva Convention lays down the status and treatment of wounded and captured military personnel and civilians during war.
Macron said migration and terrorism, the causes of instability, were political challenges that could be overcome through development.
On climate change, he said the planet was "taking its revenge for the folly of mankind."
The Paris climate agreement was "not up for renegotiation," he emphasized, saying taking it apart would demolish the existing pact between states and between generations. While the agreement could be improved, the international community should not backtrack on it, Macron noted.
However, Macron said he "fully respected" the U.S. decision to leave the accord, and the door was open for Washington's return.
Soft-spoken Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf presented a contrast to the colorful Trump and energetic Macron.
She said her country had "come a long way." It could not have done so without the United Nations, especially the stabilization and security provided by the UN Mission in Liberia.
Sirleaf urged the United Nations and its member states to continue to lead and spread the values of democracy, human rights and good governance, while strengthening solidarity for economic transformation and social resilience.
This will be her last appearance before the annual gathering as her term ends in January 2018.
Sirleaf said that 11 years ago, she became Liberia's newly elected president and Africa's first democratically elected woman head of state.
In less than one month, Liberia will hold legislative and presidential elections. For the first time in 73 years, political power would be handed over peacefully and democratically from one elected leader to another, signaling the country's irreversible course towards consolidating its young, post-conflict democracy.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 13:55:12|Editor: Mengjie
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MEHTARLAM, Afghanistan, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Seven militants have been killed as clash erupted between security forces and Taliban fighters in Alinegar district of the eastern Laghman province on Wednesday, spokesman for provincial government Sarhadi Zawak said.
Units of the army, according to the official, stormed Taliban positions in parts of Alinegar district early morning and so far seven militants have been killed, three injured and four others arrested.
Taliban militants are yet to make comment.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 14:35:24|Editor: Xiang Bo
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by Xinhua writers Liu Si, Yang Qingchuan and Hu Ruoyu
BEIJING, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- "Sino-U.S. relations have so far seen unexpected stability and positive cooperation during U.S. President Donald Trump's administration," Professor Wang Wen, a leading Chinese scholar, told Xinhua in an interview.
"BETTER-THAN-EXPECTED"
Since Trump took office eight months ago, "Sino-U.S. relations have grown far better than expected in at least three aspects," namely, stability, cooperation and personal ties, said Wang, executive dean of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China.
Trump was known for being a harsh critic of China during his presidential campaign.
However, since Trump assumed presidency, bilateral relations have progressed and have seen more positive signs since the two presidents' meeting at Mar-a-Lago resort in the U.S. state of Florida in April, Wang said.
Wang pointed out that the two countries have managed to cooperate with each other in a wide range of areas, even on such issues as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.
In the seven phone calls made by the two leaders, China proposed its solutions to major issues including the DPRK, regional stability and global governance, and got positive responses from Trump. "Although differences are inevitable, China and the United States have so far managed to meet each other halfway," Wang said.
In addition, the two leaders have established a good working relationship after their first meeting in April. Wang recalled that on different occasions, Trump expressed his positive attitude toward and his liking for his Chinese counterpart, which was "beyond expectations."
Wang also warned there are several challenges against the future development of Sino-U.S. relations, including risks of mutual misunderstanding and mistrust, structural contradictions in areas of trade and high-tech, as well as the battle for influence in Asia-Pacific.
MISUNDERSTANDINGS REDUCED
Speaking of differences between China and America in culture, tradition, laws and ideology, Wang said that the two countries have seen a rapid increase in people-to-people exchanges and communication, which helps reduce the two sides' misunderstandings and mistrust.
Wang has visited the United States many times in recent years and met with many American scholars. He said he found that today even the extreme conservatives in the United States have begun to view China from a "de-ideologized" perspective.
"The two countries now enjoy an enhanced basis, increased channels, expanded platforms and a rising number of people to have more exchanges and communication, which have made it possible to achieve understanding and mutual trust," said Wang.
Noting that understanding does not mean agreeing with each other, Wang said both China and the United States have managed to share different views and gradually understand each other's ways of thinking, which help them expand common interests and reduce the risk of conflicts.
To promote friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries, Wang said think tanks in China and the United States should play a larger role in serving as a platform for exchange of ideas so that the two governments and two peoples will better understand each other.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 14:50:32|Editor: Yang Yi
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TRIPOLI, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Libya's UN-backed deputy prime minister on Tuesday discussed with UN mission deputy head the state of refugees in the capital Tripoli.
Residents of the city of Tawergha have been internally displaced after they fled their homes in the 2011 uprising. The local and municipal councils of Misurata and Tawergha in June this year signed an agreement for their return.
"Deputy prime minister, Ahmad Maiteeq, held a meeting in the capital Tripoli with deputy head of the UN support mission to Libya, Maria do Valle Ribeiro, and members of the dialogue committee of Misurata and Tawergha cities, and discussed the implementation of the reconciliation agreement approved by the government, which states for the return of Tawergha refugees home," Tripoli-based government's media office said.
"The success of this project is a step in the right direction towards a comprehensive reconciliation that starts with Misurata and Tawergha cities and ends with all cities of the country," Maiteeq said.
Do Valle Ribeiro considers a success of the reconciliation an opportunity to build a strong foundation for local communities and end the suffering of the Tawergha refugees, according to the media office.
Despite a UN-sponsored peace agreement, Libya remains politically and militarily divided. The Tripoli-based, UN-backed government is at odds with an eastern government based in Tobruk.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 14:55:35|Editor: Yang Yi
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TRIPOLI, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The head of an Italian parliamentary commission on Tuesday visited Libya's eastern-based government in Tobruk to support its fight against terrorism.
Despite a United Nations (UN)-sponsored peace agreement, Libya remains politically and militarily divided, run by two rival administrations, one in Tobruk and another in Tripoli, which is back by the UN.
The Tobruk-based parliament's media office said that its speaker Agila Saleh has met with Nicola Latorre, head of the Italian Senate's Defense Commission.
The two discussed supporting the Libyan forces against terrorism and cooperation on other issues, the media office said, adding that Latorre also stressed support for the parliament's efforts in solving the Libyan crisis.
Saleh said the parliament "supports any efforts for national dialogue that aims to achieve a true political consensus."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 14:55:36|Editor: Yang Yi
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani discussed on Tuesday the importance of resolving Qatar's ongoing dispute with its neighbors and restoring unity in the region, the White House said.
At the meeting held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Trump said he has "a very strong feeling" the dispute will "be solved pretty quickly, while the Qatari emir said he believes the U.S. mediation "will help a lot."
Meanwhile, "the president acknowledged Qatar's progress implementing the United States-Qatar bilateral memorandum of understanding on counterterrorism cooperation," said a White House statement, adding that Trump stressed additional steps should be taken to cut off funding for terrorists.
On June 5, the Saudi-led quartet severed diplomatic ties with Qatar and imposed a blockade on the Gulf nation, citing Doha's support for terrorism and extremism, interference in their internal affairs, and seeking closer ties with Iran. Qatar has strongly denied these charges.
Tensions were renewed last month when Qatar announced it would send back its ambassador to Iran, a rival of most Gulf nations.
Qatar recalled its envoy in Tehran in early 2016 in a show of solidarity with Saudi Arabia after the attacks on two Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran.
Despite a flurry of diplomatic mediation efforts made by the United States, the European Union, and Kuwait in recent months, the Gulf standoff has shown no signs of abating.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 15:05:38|Editor: An
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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) shakes hands with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian during their meeting in New York, the United States, on Sept. 19, 2017. Wang Yi met with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian with the two sides pledging to step up cooperation on global hot-spot issues, climate change, among others. (Xinhua)
NEW YORK, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday met with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian with the two sides pledging to step up cooperation on global hot-spot issues, climate change, among others.
Wang said the China-France comprehensive strategic partnership has maintained momentum after the inauguration of President Emmanuel Macron. China is willing to deepen cooperation with France in an all-round manner, he said.
China appreciates France's participation in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing in May, and hopes that France can make even greater contributions to the Belt and Road Initiative, said Wang.
China appreciates France's independent foreign policy of self-reliance and treasures the tradition of China-France cooperation in international affairs, he said.
China is willing to work with France in safeguarding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, in promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes, in safeguarding an open global economy and in opposing protectionism in various forms, he added.
China is willing to work with France in the fight against climate change and in promoting the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change, said Wang.
Le Drian agreed with Wang's evaluation of the status quo of bilateral relations and his proposal for cooperation. He said France is willing to work with China on the planning of the upcoming high-level contacts between the two countries, and on promoting major cooperation projects in order to deepen their strategic partnership.
France and China, both permanent members of the UN Security Council, should strengthen multilateral cooperation and promote the leading role of the Security Council in settling international hot spot issues, he said.
France appreciates China's contributions to the formulation of the Paris Agreement and is willing to work with China to push for more efforts of the international community against climate change, Le Drian said.X France is initiating a world environment convention, and is expecting China's participation, he said.
On the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Wang said China is firmly opposed to the nuclear and missile programs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and is determined to push for de-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
China stands for a peaceful settlement of the issue and sticks to the international non-proliferation regime, said Wang.
China has always been fully and comprehensively implementing relevant UN Security Council resolutions concerning the DPRK and has honored its international obligations, he said.
Accusations that China is not playing its due role are groundless and threats to impose unilateral sanctions on China under this pretext are unjustified, Wang added.
Le Drian said France is concerned about the escalating tension on the Korean Peninsula, and believes that military means is not an option.
The purpose of sanctions is for negotiations, he said, adding only through dialogue and consultations and by diplomatic means can the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula be ultimately solved.
France will work to push the international community for the full implementation of the resolutions concerning the DPRK, said Le Drian.
France is willing to maintain communication with China on the issue, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 15:15:44|Editor: An
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BEIJING, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- China continued to be Israel's fastest growing source of tourists in the first seven months of this year, according to Israel's top tourism official.
Over 64,000 Chinese tourists visited Israel from January to July this year, up 66 percent year on year, outpacing the global average of 17 percent year on year, Yariv Levin, Israeli Minister of Tourism said during his first official visit to China.
Levin attributed the rapid growth in Chinese tourists to more convenient transportation as there are now direct flights to Israel's commercial hub Tel Aviv from Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Israel's tourism ministry has stepped up cooperation with Chinese online tourism platforms. It signed a strategic cooperation agreement with China's largest online travel agency Ctrip earlier this month to promote the country's unique tourism resources in a targeted manner.
Travelling overseas has become a popular choice among increasingly affluent Chinese. Data from China National Tourism Administration shows that about 62 million overseas trips were made in the first half of this year, up 5 percent year on year.
To meet the demands of the growing Chinese market, the Israeli tourism ministry has increased training of tourist guides and is building a Chinese version of its official website, according to Levin.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 15:30:50|Editor: Zhou Xin
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ASADABAD, Afghanistan, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Four civilians were killed and three others wounded in two separate incidents in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province, provincial police chief said Wednesday.
In one attack, which happened early Wednesday morning, a woman was killed and two children wounded when militants fired mortars on security checkpoints in Marawara district of Kunar province, bordering Pakistan, Gen. Juma Gul Hemmat told Xinhua.
The wounded children were shifted to a hospital in provincial capital Asadabad.
According to the police chief, on late Tuesday, unidentified gunmen targeted a car carrying a couple returning from Hajj pilgrimage from Mecca of Saudi Arabia, on their way to the neighboring Nuristan province, where both Hajjis and their driver were killed and another woman wounded.
The Taliban and Islamic State (IS) militants often target remote villages and highways, mostly taking victims among civilians. Earlier this month, six civilians, two of them critically, were wounded when a hotel was hit by mortar rounds in neighboring Laghman province.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 15:51:00|Editor: An
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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.
Offering his support to China in international affairs, Anastasiades said Cyprus attaches great importance to China's international status and its role in international affairs. Cyprus also appreciates China's stance on the Cypriot issue and hopes Beijing will continue to play an important role in its settlement, he said.
Anastasiades also said Cyprus is willing to work with China on the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping to tap cooperation potential for the benefit of both countries.
Wang said China and Cyprus enjoy good relations, which have become a model for countries of different sizes and systems. China attaches importance to its friendship with Cyprus and is willing to enhance political mutual trust and support each other in issues concerning each other's core interests.
China has always held that the Cyprus issue should be settled through dialogue and negotiations on the basis of UN resolutions. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China will continue to play a constructive role in finding a solution, Wang said.
The Chinese foreign minister said China appreciates Cyprus's positive response to the Belt and Road Initiative.
Wang is in New York for the General Debate of the UN General Assembly.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 15:56:02|Editor: An
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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) shakes hands with his British counterpart Boris Johnson during their meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 19, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday urged further practical cooperation with Britain to strengthen the "golden era" of bilateral relations.
In a meeting with his British counterpart Boris Johnson, Wang said this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Britain.
The two countries should continue to work together to maintain high-level contacts, deepen practical cooperation in order to carry forward the "golden era" of bilateral relations, said Wang.
China appreciates Britain's support for the Belt and Road Initiative. The two countries should work together to safeguard the multilateral trade system with the World Trade Organization at its core. They should send out positive signals of building an open global economy and opposing protectionism.
Wang expressed the hope that Britain can create favorable conditions for Chinese investment.
Johnson said China is a major country with broad international influence. Britain and China hold common or similar views on a series of important international issues. They have common stance and common interests in promoting free trade and maintaining market access, he said.
Britain attaches great importance to its relations with China and is willing to enhance high-level contacts, strengthen cooperation in various fields in order to carry forward the "golden era" relations, said the foreign secretary.
The two sides also exchanged views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in Afghanistan.
Both Wang and Johnson are in New York for the annual general debate of the UN General Assembly.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 16:01:06|Editor: Zhou Xin
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SEOUL, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- South Korea vowed to continue close cooperation with the United States to peacefully resolve the Korean Peninsula's nuclear issue after U.S. President Donald Trump made a combative speech at the UN General Assembly about the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
An unnamed South Korean foreign ministry official was quoted by Yonhap news agency Wednesday as saying that South Korea and the United States will continue close cooperation and consultation, like in the past, to achieve the common goal of peacefully resolving the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.
The comment followed the U.S. president's debut speech at the UN General Assembly, in which he said his country "will have no choice but to totally destroy" the DPRK if it is forced to defend itself or its allies.
The South Korean official told local reporters that President Trump's speech was to re-confirm the common position of South Korea and the United States to make the DPRK realize that the denuclearization is the only way left to the country.
The official was quoted as saying Trump, as U.S. president, allotted an unusually long time to expressing his stance on the DPRK, which showed how seriously the U.S. government took the issue.
Trump's speech came amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula after Pyongyang's sixth nuclear test on Sept. 3.
In response, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a new resolution toughening sanctions on the DPRK.
Days after the resolution was adopted, the DPRK flew an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) over Japan.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 16:06:08|Editor: Zhou Xin
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MOSCOW, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow was ready to take reciprocal measures if London changes its policy toward Russia, according to a Wednesday statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Lavrov had a meeting with British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson on the sidelines of the 72nd session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.
The foreign ministers discussed the prospects for establishing a political dialogue and activating Russian-British contacts in various fields, and also exchanged views on a number of pressing international and regional problems.
"The Russian side stressed the importance of normalizing relations through an equal dialogue with mutual respect, based on mutual consideration of interests. The readiness to take reciprocal measures if the British government changes its policy towards Russia was expressed," said the statement.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 16:21:13|Editor: Zhou Xin
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MOSCOW, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Russia may prepare an adequate response if the United States decides to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, a Russian official said Tuesday.
An adequate response will be prepared in order to ensure security of Russia, including with the possibility of using its air defense systems, Frants Klintsevich, the first deputy chairman of Russia's Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security, told RIA Novosti news agency.
"If the United States withdraw from the INF Treaty, Russia will surely take specific measures with the creation of similar weapons related to the intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles with a range of up to 1,500 kilometers," he said.
The comment came after the U.S. Senate passed a new defense policy on Monday authorizing the Defense Department to start developing a new cruise missile with a range of between 500 to 5,500 kilometers.
The INF Treaty was signed in 1987 by then Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev and former U.S. President Ronald Reagan to ban the development, deployment and testing of ground-launched ballistic or cruise missiles with ranges between 300 and 3,400 miles.
Moscow and Washington have repeatedly accused each other of violating the treaty.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 16:41:20|Editor: Zhou Xin
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RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's Federal Court accepted on Tuesday a denouncement against former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and one of his former Minister for bribe-taking in exchange for extending incentives of automobile industry.
The denouncement was presented by the Federal Prosecution Office. With the decision, Lula and his former cabinet minister Gilberto Carvalho officially become defendants in the new corruption charge.
According to the prosecutors, Lula, Carvalho and other five are accused of favoring vehicle manufacturers through presidential decrees.
The prosecution office states that manufacturers Mitsubishi and Caoa promised bribes of 6 million reals (1.9 million U.S. dollars) to Lula and Carvalho in exchange for benefits of the automobile industry.
Lula denied all the accusations. "Former President Lula's innocence will be acknowledged in this case as well, because he did not participate in any illicit acts. The Prosecution's charges are immaterial," said his lawyer, Cristiano Zanin.
The former president stands accused in at least five cases of corruption and was found guilty in keeping a fancy apartment bought with bribe money off the books. Lula denied the ownership of the apartment. His lawyers appealed to a superior court.
Lula intends to run for presidency again next year. His legal situation may block his way as planned.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 16:51:25|Editor: Zhou Xin
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DAMASCUS, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have taken control of 90 percent of the Syria's northern city of Raqqa, the de facto capital of the Islamic State (IS), the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Wednesday.
Heavily backed by the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition, the SDF, an alliance of Kurdish, Arab and Assyrian fighters led by the Kurdish People's Protection Units, have been advancing against IS militants in Raqqa during the three-month offensive to drive out the terror group from the city.
Activists suggest the city could fall within a few days if the Kurdish-led group kept up the momentum.
The SDF announced the beginning of the battles to liberate Raqqa Province on Nov. 6, 2016, capturing areas in the countryside of the capital city to isolate IS.
But June 6 this year marked the intrusion part of the battles into the heartland of IS in the city of Raqqa, which was declared by IS as its de facto capital in 2014.
Since then, the SDF have captured key areas on the western and eastern flanks of the city, and recently laid full siege to all exits.
A soldier rides on a Turkish armoured vehicle near the Habur crossing gate between Turkey and Iraq during a military drill on September 18, 2017. Turkey launched a military drill featuring tanks close to the Iraqi border the army said, a week before Iraq's Kurdish region will hold an independence referendum on September 25. (AFP PHOTO)
ANKARA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan late Tuesday warned of sanctions against the independence referendum to be held by the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) next week, local media reported Wednesday.
"We will make a final decision after cabinet and the National Security Council meeting," Erdogan told reporters in New York after his address at the UN General Assembly, quoted by state-run Anadolu Agency.
"The cabinet will undoubtedly evaluate this situation and assess possible sanctions, which will not be ordinary," he said.
Bekir Bozdag, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister, said in the Central Anatolian province of Yozgat on Tuesday that Turkey would not allow fait accompli in northern Iraq.
"If they go ahead to hold the referendum despite all these warnings, then it will surely be responded to," He warned.
Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli said on Tuesday in Ankara that the non-binding independence referendum would ignite a new war in the region.
"All of our security forces are on duty. We are following the recent developments very closely," Canikli said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 17:21:43|Editor: An
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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) shakes hands with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi during their meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 19, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday met with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi and exchanged views on bilateral relations and the situation in Rakhine State of Myanmar.
Wang said the recent violent incidents in Rakhine State in Myanmar are unacceptable and that the Myanmar government's efforts to maintain social stability is understandable. The issue of the Rohingya, which dates back to long time ago, is complex and sensitive, said Wang.
It is imperative to reduce tension, avoid harming innocent people, prevent the spread of the humanitarian crisis, and encourage and support Myanmar and Bangladesh in their efforts to find a solution through dialogue and consultations, said Wang.
China is willing to work with the international community to continue to play a constructive role, said Wang.
For her part, Retno said Indonesia, as the largest Muslim nation, is deeply concerned about the situation in Rakhine and is willing to play a positive role in helping Myanmar and Bangladesh avert deterioration of the situation and find a solution.
Indonesia appreciates China's stance and is wiling to maintain consultation with China, she said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 18:12:17|Editor: Song Lifang
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BEIJING, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- China has extended deep condolences to the victims of the Mexico earthquake and expressed heartfelt sympathy to their bereaved families, the Mexican government and people in affected areas, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said Wednesday.
According to reports, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit the central state of Morelos on Tuesday. At least 248 people died and the death toll is expected to climb as many people remain trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings.
"China has paid attention to the earthquake and the heavy casualties it has caused," Lu said at a routine press briefing, adding "China believes that the Mexican people can overcome the disaster and rebuild their lives."
Lu said that some Taiwan compatriots have been trapped in Mexico and one was injured.
"The Chinese Foreign Ministry and Chinese Embassy in Mexico will continue to pay attention the disaster and offer help to Chinese citizens," Lu said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 18:12:18|Editor: Song Lifang
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DUBAI, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Alternative investments account for more than 15 percent of total assets among wealthy investments in the Middle East, the highest share globally, according to study released here on Wednesday by the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC).
Meanwhile, Islamic asset management continues to grow despite the slump in the price of oil, the study said.
The report released by the biggest banking free zone in the region said that contrary to the perception that real estate plays a major role for wealthy investors in the Middle East, property makes up just under 20 percent of assets of high net worth individuals (HNWI).
The growth of alternative investments has broadened, with asset classes with a long track record such as private equity and hedge funds into newer areas including infrastructure, private lending and insurance-linked securities.
Assets invested in line with Islamic law, Shariah, continue to grow, too, said the study.
"Islamic asset management grew 2.44 percent per year since 2012 to reach 58.89 billion dollars by the end of 2016, despite the economic challenges in the Gulf Cooperation Council(GCC) caused by falling oil prices," the study said.
However, "Shariah-compliant investments have strong demographic demand but remain under-utilized, and despite developments in Islamic finance and growth in Islamic assets, Islamic wealth management remains a niche market," it said.
According to the report, the bulk of the Islamic asset management industry is concentrated in the HNWI-segment in Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.
The DIFC is home to over 457 authorized firms, among them are the four biggest banks from China.
"Chinese banks in the DIFC are in particular active in infrastructure financing in the Middle East," Salmaan Jaffery, the Chief Business Development Officer of DIFC, told Xinhua.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 18:37:31|Editor: Zhou Xin
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SHANGHAI, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Starting Sept. 21, China will have the world's fastest bullet trains.
The domestically developed trains running between Beijing and Shanghai, called the Fuxing (meaning "rejuvenation" in Chinese), show that China, which has started late on the high-speed track, is cementing its leading role in the race.
The new trains run at a consistent speed of 350 km per hour, cutting travel time to 4.5 from 5 hours on China's busiest rail line. At that speed, the current train ride from London to Paris of two hours and 16 minutes could be half an hour shorter.
With free Wi-Fi and more power outlets, USB ports and legroom, Fuxing is more comfortable to ride in. It is safe, too, said Zhang Bo, researcher with the Locomotive and Car Research Institute of China Academy of Railway Sciences (CARS).
China has paid scrupulous attention to safety in developing its high-speed railway, Zhang said.
The train contains more than 2,500 sensors -- 500 more than previous models -- to simultaneously collect some 1,500 real-time indicators from all carriages. Alarms are activated if an abnormality occurs in the cooling, braking or air-conditioning systems. If necessary, the train will slow or stop on its own.
To avoid damage to carriages and fatalities, new trains are armed with more advanced shock and crash energy absorption equipment.
Devices in the fairing can absorb energy equivalent to lifting a 210-tonne object one meter, said Zhang.
The Fuxing can serve for 30 years, 10 years more than the existing model, and consumes 10 percent less power when running at 350 km per hour.
"Fuxing puts China on a higher stage," said Sun Zhang, professor at Shanghai Tongji University.
For over a decade, China has learned from developed countries to build a world-class high-speed railway system. Now it holds the complete intellectual property rights for Fuxing, which is designed and manufactured without help from the West.
However, this does not mean that parts for the trains cannot be imported.
"It is common practice in the industry to buy certain components and parts best produced by a country in such a globalized market," said Sun, a specialist in transportation planning and management.
For instance, many train makers worldwide purchase insulated gate bipolar transistors from French producers, while China's buffers and chain couplers are also used by foreign producers due to their reliability, Sun said.
Though it was a latecomer, China now has the world's greatest high-speed rail network -- 22,000 kilometers as of the end of 2016, or about 60 percent of the world's total.
Indeed, China is endowed with an advantage in developing bullet trains. Its diversity of geological, climate and even air conditions push Chinese engineers to break boundaries and achieve technological breakthroughs.
Railroads are laid in subtropical and frigid zones in China, on loess land, soft soil and lava areas, along the coast and in the highland. Now China is building the Sichuan-Tibet railway, which will climb from the Sichuan Basin to the Roof of the World, at an elevation of more than 4,400 meters above sea level.
More than 80 percent of the line will be tunnels and bridges, avoiding snowy mountains and rivers.
Such demanding tasks have made Chinese engineers and builders more experienced and Chinese-manufactured trains more reliable and compatible, said Sun.
The Fuxing trains are able to run in extreme temperatures of minus 40 degrees Celsius and 40 degrees Celsius and can be adapted to various geological and operational situations, said He Huawu, chief engineer of China Railway Corp.
Fuxing will be China's main high-speed rail export in the future, and Made-in-China trains have already made their way to countries like Indonesia, Russia, Iran and India.
Experts, including Professor Sun, are confident that the new model will be welcomed in many countries, especially in Asia, Europe and Africa.
To meet international demand, China will work ceaselessly to make the high-speed rail system more intelligent in terms of safety, maintenance, comfortability, and for technical upgrades.
Interconnectivity should also be taken into consideration, as the train system may be used overseas, Sun said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 18:57:36|Editor: Lu Hui
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel delivers a speech during an election rally of Christian Democratic Union (CDU) for Germany's federal election in Schwerin, Germany, on Sept. 19, 2017. Germans will elect a new federal parliament on Sept. 24. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi)
BERLIN, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- A survey by opinion research institute Emnid Tuesday underlined the strong support Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) enjoys concerning the German trust in her abilities as a politician.
Emnid has surveyed German citizens for the news channel N24 on the perceived level of competence of the chancellor candidates of the six largest parties in different political areas.
Merkel tops the ranking on almost every political field, even outranking former President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz (SPD) on the subject of Europe. AfD candidate Alice Weidel receives the lowest values in all areas.
55 percent of the survey participants selected Merkel as the candidate with economic competence, followed by Christian Lindner, chairman of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) at 32 percent. Schulz was chosen by 31 percent of those surveyed, trailing behind Merkel.
Cem Oezdemir (The Greens) reached 17 percent, Sahra Wagenknecht (The Left) 12 percent and Alice Weidel (AfD) came last in the area of economic competence at six percent.
While Schulz has not been active in German federal politics over the past years due to his long career in the European Parliament, he is not viewed as more competent than Merkel regarding European politics.
59 percent of the survey respondents consider the incumbent chancellor to be competent, Schulz reached 46 percent, followed by The Green co-chair Oezdemir at 21 percent, Lindner at 18 percent and Wagenknecht at twelve percent. Only five percent consider Weidel to be competent in matters of European politics.
Although Merkel's stance on the refugee crisis was met with heavy criticism, only few trust Merkel's political opponents to make a more solid refugee policy than her. Merkel is considered competent by 52 percent, followed by Schulz at 35 percent, Oezdemir at 28 percent, Wagenknecht at 22 percent, Lindner at 19 percent, and Weidel at 11 percent.
The area of social justice, according to the survey, is the only one in which Schulz achieves a higher perceived level of competence than Merkel.
"Time for more justice" is the motto under which the SPD spearheads the election campaign. Schulz' proposed citizens' insurance scheme, the abolition of the unfounded temporal limitation of employment as well as the elimination of exceptions to the minimum wage convinced the survey participants. 44 percent of respondents consider Schulz to be competent, while Merkel reached 40 percent.
Questioned on competence concerning environmental policies, The Greens candidate Oezdemir is considered the most capable. Almost every second respondent accredits competence in matters of environmental policy to Oezdemir at 49 percent. 39 percent of the respondents consider Merkel a competent environmental lawmaker, followed by Schulz at 24 percent, Wagenknecht at 16 percent, Lindner at 15 percent and Weidel at six percent.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 19:32:53|Editor: Zhou Xin
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MADRID, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Maritime Rescue Services on Wednesday confirmed they have saved 34 immigrants who were attempting to cross the Straits of Gibraltar between Morocco and the South of Spain in a rubber dinghy.
At 10 a.m. local time, the Maritime Rescue Services tweeted that one of their helicopters "Helimar 220" had "found a dinghy 15 nautical miles west of Tarifa" and that the rescue boat, Conception Arenal, was heading to the point.
An hour later, they confirmed that the Conception Arenal had "rescued 40 people from on board the dinghy", and that the vessel was headed to Tarifa.
On arrival on the port, which is close to the city of Cadiz, it was confirmed that a total of 34 people had been rescued -- "21 men, 12 women and a baby", and that all were of Sub-Saharan origin.
Thousands of immigrants attempt to cross from North Africa into Europe in recent years. The Maritime Rescue Services reported recently they saw a 19 percent rise in activity in the first 6 months of 2017.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 19:47:59|Editor: Zhou Xin
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CANBERRA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has expressed concerns that government subsidies given to renewable energy start-ups are "too generous," after it was revealed that a Saudi Arabian billionaire is set to make more than 180 million Australian dollars (144 million U.S. dollars) in electricity revenue over the next 15 years.
Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel, billionaire owner of the Moree solar farm in New South Wales, recently signed a deal with Australian company Origin Energy, guaranteeing 180 million Australian dollars over the next 15 years.
The windfall came into the spotlight as it came after a 101.7 million Australian dollars government subsidy and a 60 million Australian dollars concessional loan from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), both backed by Australian taxpayers.
Late on Tuesday night, and after learning of the Moree project's deal with Origin, Turnbull declared that renewable energy subsidies were "too generous" considering the inevitable benefits, but conceded that until the law is changed, the subsidies were still on the table.
"You're not going to be able to change it between now and 2020 - the question is what you do subsequently," Turnbull told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio on Tuesday night.
The government is currently seeking from the Labor opposition a bipartisan approach to a more reasonable subsidy while also boosting investment in what it calls "clean coal."
According to News Corp on Wednesday, supporters of the Moree solar project said the Origin Energy deal only illustrates the success of the subsidy program, while they also said that subsidies could make building new solar farms even cheaper in the future.
Australia is currently in the midst of an energy supply and pricing crisis. The government has in recent months ordered energy companies to keep prices competitive in order to "keep the lights on" for struggling Australians.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 19:58:03|Editor: Zhou Xin
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MANILA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Nine local communist rebels were killed on Wednesday in an exchange of gunfire with government forces in northern Philippines, an army spokesman said.
Lt. Col. Isagani Nato, spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Northern Luzon Command, said a clash broke out between army troops and some 15 New People's Army (NPA) at around 7:25 a.m. local time in a village in Carranglan town in Nueva Ecija province.
NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, which was founded in 1968 and has been fighting a guerrilla war against the government ever since.
Nato said an army soldier was also wounded in the right leg during the firefight that lasted more than two hours.
Military also recovered nine high-powered firearms, including five M-16 rifles, two M653 rifles, and AK-47, and an M-14 rifle, and eight backpacks containing the rebels' belongings.
"The villagers reported the presence of the rebels, prompting the military to send army soldiers to the area," Nato said.
Several Philippine administrations in past decades tried to negotiate and reach a peace agreement with the leftist rebels but efforts remained fruitless.
Talks to end the communist insurgency hit a snag in July after President Rodrigo Duterte suspended the peace talks after a series of NPA attacks.
Duterte, however, has recently hinted that he might revive the talks. His spokesman, Ernesto Abella, said Duterte needs to consult first his security cluster before making a decision to resume the talks.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 20:13:09|Editor: Zhou Xin
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COLOMBO, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka will reform regulations to attract more investment to tackle growing debt and target economic growth, the country's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Wednesday.
Both 2018 and 2019 would be crucial years for Sri Lanka because of high debt repayments, Wickremesinghe said in Colombo.
"We are on the right track. We have strengthened the external situation of our country to better face global market vulnerability. We are creating a series of measures to attract non-debt creating inflows, particularly for exports and Foreign Direct Investment," he told a capital market forum.
The government is planning to introduce new regulations to improve macroeconomic management, deal with debt and reduce red tape for improved foreign investment.
One key foreign exchange inflow would be the 1.1 billion U.S. dollars received from a joint venture with a Chinese company for a port in the southern part of Sri Lanka.
An additional 600 million dollars would be invested by China Merchant Holdings to further develop the port.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 20:28:16|Editor: Zhou Xin
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PUL-E-KHUMRI, Afghanistan, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- As many as 11 militants and an Afghan senior army officer have been killed and 15 more insurgents wounded over the last 48 hours of clashes in the northern province of Baghlan, an official said Wednesday.
"Fighting erupted few days ago, between the Afghan forces and militants loyal to the Taliban group in Surkh Kotal area, some kilometers outside provincial capital Pul-e-Khumri, leaving 11 insurgents dead and 15 others wounded," said Gen. Ekramuddin Sari, the provincial police chief on Wednesday.
Sari also confirmed the death of an army officer of the 209 Shaheen Corps based in the northern region.
Fighting has escalated in Afghanistan as the Taliban insurgency spreads from its traditional strongholds in the south and east to the once peaceful region in the north, where the militants have been recruiting fighters from among the jobless youth.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 20:28:18|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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Liu Yunshan (L), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, also president of Cambodian People's Party, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Sept. 20, 2017. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)
PHNOM PENH, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Liu Yunshan met here on Wednesday with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, and they agreed to cement bilateral cooperation and party-to-party exchanges.
China always regards Cambodia as a priority in its diplomacy with neighboring countries, said Liu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, who is on an official visit to the country.
Liu said the two countries, treating each other as a good neighbor, friend, brother and partner, have scored fruitful cooperation in all fields since China and Cambodia established diplomatic ties 59 years ago.
China will work with Cambodia to implement the important consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Hun Sen, and to consolidate mutual political trust and comprehensively deepen strategic cooperation, said Liu.
The ties between the CPC and the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), whose president is Hun Sen, play a leading role in state-to-state ties, said Liu, expecting the two parties to maintain high-level contacts, learn from each other on party ruling and state governance, and deepen exchanges in all areas, so as to drive the party-to-party ties to a new high.
Hun Sen, for his part, thanked Liu for leading the CPC delegation to visit Cambodia ahead of the 19th CPC National Congress, saying the tour showed China's great attention to the development of Cambodia-China relations, and he wished the 19th CPC National Congress a success.
Cambodia will work with China to push forward bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to accomplish more development, while maintaining mutual support on issues of each other's grave concerns, said Hun Sen.
He called for more pragmatic cooperation in economy, trade, development, people's livelihood and big projects, and closer communication and coordination in international and regional affairs.
The CPP will work with the CPC to promote the party-to-party ties to develop at a high level, said Hun Sen, expressing the will to maintain firm support to China on issues relating to China's core interests.
The two leaders attended the signing ceremony of cooperative documents between the two countries after the meeting.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 20:38:22|Editor: huaxia
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by Matt Walsh
CANBERRA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Australia is currently in the grip of its worst flu epidemic in recent memory, and while some politicians have blamed the vaccine for not being fully effective, Australia's blase attitude to the flu has also contributed to the more than 160,000 cases, according to medical professionals.
So far in 2017, more than 166,000 cases of influenza have been recorded in Australia, a massive jump from the 91,000 recorded in 2016, while at least 97 people have died so far from this year's strain.
In particular, the state of Victoria has been hit hard.
The state was recently rocked by the news that an eight-year-old girl had died, while on Wednesday, news surfaced that a 33-year-old mother who was suffering from the flu while pregnant was induced into a coma and has given birth to a boy in an emergency birth.
A young father also died on Father's Day in August after contracting the flu.
The state's health minister has already conceded that this year's flu vaccination had "not been fully effective," but some medical experts have said that Australia's relaxed attitude toward sickness, combined with a reluctance to visit a doctor, contributed to this year's horror season.
Earlier this month, President of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) Michael Gannon warned the nation's leaders that the country was "woefully unprepared" for the upcoming flu season, while the AMA's vice-president, Dr. Tony Bartone, on Wednesday said that Australia's culture was to blame.
The AMA VP said that many Australians confused the influenza with the "common cold," meaning many do not seek out their flu shots or dismiss symptoms of the flu as minor.
The federal government has already declared that it would be commissioning a review into this year's bumper flu season.
A spokesperson for federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the next priority needed to be creating "stronger" vaccines in the future.
"The minister has asked the Chief Medical Officer to examine whether there are ways to strengthen the National Immunization Program, including holding talks with manufacturers on new and strengthened vaccines," the spokesperson for the minister told News Corp on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, there are renewed calls for flu shots to be made free in the wake of the death of eight-year-old Victorian girl Rosie Brealey this week.
Currently in Australia, vaccines are free to those aged 65 years and older, pregnant women and those of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island background, while everyone else must pay 11 Australian dollars (8.80 U.S. dollars) plus the cost of a doctor's visit.
Deputy chief health officer in Victoria, Dr, Brett Sutton, said that flu shots are free for children in Britain, a fact which should open up a "national conversation."
"The experience internationally is the more (children) can be immunized... the less that the elderly need to worry about being exposed to (influenza)," he told Fairfax Media. (1 Australian dollar equals 0.81 U.S. dollar) Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 20:38:23|Editor: Zhou Xin
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MANILA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine House of Representatives approved on Wednesday the third and final reading of a bill banning discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, aiming to protect the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
Voting 197-0, the lawmakers passed House Bill Number 4982 or an Act Prohibiting Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity or Expression (SOGIE).
Also known as SOGIE Equality Bill, it penalizes people found prohibiting and discriminating against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.
The bill, co-authored by transgender Representative Geraldine Roman last year, punishes discriminatory acts such as denial of access to public services, refusing admission or expelling students in schools based on SOGIE, including SOGIE as a criteria for hiring or dismissal of workers, denying access to health services, denying the application for professional licenses and similar documents, and imposing disciplinary actions that are harsher than customary due to the student's SOGIE.
It also punishes act denying access to establishments, facilities, and services open to the general public, forcing a person to undertake any medical or psychological examination to determine or alter one's SOGIE, and subjecting persons to harassment motivated by the offenders bias against the offended party's SOGIE, which may come in the form of any medium, including telecommunications and social media.
Those who will be convicted of committing these acts will be fined not less than 100,000 pesos (1,962 U.S. dollars) but not more than 500,000 pesos (9,812 U.S. dollars), or be imprisoned for less than one year but not more than six years or both.
The bill has been repeatedly refiled for the past 17 years but failed to take off.
Last year, Roman, the first transgender member of the House of Representatives in the Philippines' history, took to the podium to urge other representatives in the House to finally pass the bill. A similar measure is pending before the Senate.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 20:43:25|Editor: An
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ACCRA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Ghana needs to take advantage of China's support to the South-South Cooperation to develop solar irrigation facilities for farmers across the country in the face of high power tariffs, an official of the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) said.
This, the official believes, will enable the farmers remain profitable and competitive in their chosen vocation.
Francis Ohemeng, Director of Irrigation Technology and Innovations Department at GIDA observed
At a one-day workshop on solar energy technology held here Tuesday, Francis Ohemeng, Director of Irrigation Technology and Innovations Department at GIDA observed that increasing electricity cost has been a major hindrance to growth in the agricultural industry and especially irrigated agriculture.
The workshop organized by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in collaboration with Ghana's Energy Commission was to introduce some top Chinese renewable energy institutions to public and private sector players in Ghana's energy industry.
"Renewable energy is a good option to develop agriculture because it provides the needed support by increasing the energy supply required to distribute water all year without any interference and at an affordable cost," Ohemeng said.
"The use of Solar PVs has come at an opportune time especially when the government intends to implement flagship policies such as the One-Village-One-Dam; One-District-One-Factory; and Planting for Food and jobs," he said.
Beside favorable government policy and available sunshine as some of the incentives for investment, the official said investors should also take advantage of financing available under the South-South Cooperation, to which China has pledged financing support.
Ghana's agriculture depends heavily on rainfalls which becomes erratic, causing much headache to farmers and consumers.
The UNDP is leading the implementation of the China-Ghana-Zambia Renewable Energy Technology Transfer (RETT) program, a trilateral cooperation project, implemented by the governments of China, Ghana and Zambia, which aims at enhancing transfer of knowledge on renewable energy technologies from China to other African countries including Ghana and Zambia.
Zhang Weidong, Program Manager for UNDP China said the RETT program is, among other things, geared towards achieving rural access to modern energy and testing a demand-driven approach under South-South Cooperation for knowledge transfer on renewable energy technology.
The project, including the development of appropriate solar irrigation systems for rural farmers, will ensure renewable energy technology transfer, capacity building, and experience sharing among the tripartite countries.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 21:03:36|Editor: An
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ZAGREB, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Croatian electric vehicle manufacturer Rimac Automobili has closed a 30-million-euro deal with China-based Camel Group Ltd., the Croatian company announced here on Tuesday evening.
It is the single largest foreign direct investment in a Croatian technology company, according to a statement from the company.
"This investment will help us further accelerate growth, introduce new products to the market and expand our global presence. Two key areas are building a new, state-of-the-art production facility for our technology business and launching our next-generation electric supercar which will be shown to the world next year", Mate Rimac, founder and CEO of the company said in the statement.
Out of the total investment, three million euros will be allocated to Rimac's sister company Greyp Bikes that produces high-performance electric bicycles.
Rimac Automobili was founded in 2009, and just two years later, the company designed and manufactured the world's fastest accelerating electric vehicle, Concept One.
While the Croatian company sells electric high-performance vehicles under their own brand, these cars are just a showcase of the company's technological capacity. The main business is developing and producing advanced battery systems, powertrains, and other vehicle components for other companies.
"Our strategy is to move aggressively into the New Energy Vehicle Business -- providing advanced battery systems, powertrains and other vehicle components to major commercial and passenger vehicle manufacturers in China. Rimac is a perfect match for us," Liu Changlai, CEO of Camel Group, the largest battery manufacturer in China, said in the statement.
He commented that his company is impressed by the fact that Rimac is developing and manufacturing all key vehicle systems in-house.
"We are excited to use our synergies to deliver world-class Electric Vehicle components and technologies to the market and help accelerate the transition to a fully-electric fleet," Liu said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 21:13:42|Editor: Liangyu
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Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov (R) and Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo attend the joint press conference in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Sept. 20, 2017. Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and his visiting Polish counterpart Beata Szydlo here on Wednesday said the European Union (EU) should maintain its unity and move at the same speed. (Xinhua/Wang Xinran)
SOFIA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and his visiting Polish counterpart Beata Szydlo here on Wednesday said the European Union (EU) should maintain its unity and move at the same speed.
Poland and Bulgaria believed that the unity of the EU was the foundation for the future and development of the EU, Szydlo said at a joint press conference after bilateral talks.
There have been discussions in the EU on the construction of a two-speed Europe, and some countries, mostly from the old part of the EU, have been trying to divide Europe in order to protect their interests, Szydlo said.
All politicians and circles who wanted to divide the EU, actually tried to destroy it, she said.
Meanwhile, countries such as Poland and Bulgaria wanted unity, openness and enlargement of the EU, Szydlo said.
"We are looking for a compromise; we are open for talks in order to be together, and this is the most important message that we today in Sofia can deliver as Prime Ministers of Poland and Bulgaria," she said.
"We will not allow ourselves to be divided because the EU is priceless for all of us," Szydlo added.
"We insist that we should move at the same speed," Borissov said in turn.
Newer EU members would make efforts and catch up to keep Europe united and not to have Europe at two speeds, he said.
With joint efforts, the EU countries should be its equal members, Borissov said.
It would not be easy because each country had its own problems, but it could be achieved through compromise and understanding, he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 21:18:44|Editor: An
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SHANGHAI, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- China Express Association predicted Wednesday that the industry would handle more than 1 billion packages for "Singles' Day" shopping between Nov. 11 and Nov. 16.
Sun Kang, vice president with the association, said that the time was a test for China's courier services, as 19 provinces, autonomous regions and cities would see a record high deliveries.
According to Shi Miao, vice president with logistics company Cainiao, part of e-commerce powerhouse Alibaba, to prepare for the shopping spree Cainiao has launched automated warehouses in many places, such as Shanghai, Tianjin, and Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces.
The industry is also pondering the environmental challenge posed by its heavy use of courier packages. The main component of packaging materials, polyvinyl chloride, can take hundreds of years to degrade.
Shi said that Cainiao would work with logistic partners and online stores to open 20 "green warehouses" globally. The parcels delivered from these warehouses will use boxes without tape, as well as biodegradable bags, during the "Singles' Day" shopping period. It will also recycle carton boxes in major cities.
"These new measures can help reduce the use of packages and alleviate the pressure of rising cost of packaging paper," Sun said.
November 11 is known in China as Singles' Day because the date, 11-11, resembles four "bare sticks," a term used in China to refer to single people.
The day started to become associated with commerce when Alibaba launched a major promotional campaign centered on Singles' Day in 2009.
The Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark has arrived at the shores of Sierra Leone on Sept. 19, 2017, to deliver free medical services. (Xinhua/Shisong)
FREETOWN, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark has arrived at the shores of Sierra Leone, with a mission to deliver free medical services to 2,000 people within eight days till September 26.
At the ceremony held in the conference room of the ship which arrived at Freetown on Tuesday morning, Task Group Commander Guan Bailin reflected on the importance of the diplomatic relations between China and Sierra Leone, stating that their mission to offer free medical service to Sierra Leone is geared towards enhancing the cooperation between the two countries.
Sierra Leone's Vice President Victor Bockarie Foh shakes hands with Peace Ark Task Group Commander Guan Bailin on Sept. 19, 2017. (Xinhua/Shisong)
He disclosed that Peace Ark was commissioned in 2008 and has traversed 31 countries, providing free medical services where they arrived, adding that "this is the first time the ship has visited West Africa."
The naval commander recounted the contributions of China to the development of Sierra Leone and the cooperation between the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic relationship in 1971, reiterating the medical assistance China provided to Sierra Leone during the Ebola crisis in 2014, among others.
Sierra Leone's Vice President Victor Bockarie Foh welcomed the team. "China has made its presence in Sierra Leone in terms of development. We are grateful for all the contributions China has made to Sierra Leone since we established diplomatic relationship in 1971," he said.
"We have made to climb the ladder with the help of China in a win-win situation. The contribution of China in the (medical) sector is so profound and we are very much grateful for that. I believe your medicine would help the people," Victor Bockarie Foh added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 21:29:34|Editor: Zhou Xin
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People urge their buffaloes forward during an annual water buffalo race at Vihear Sour pagoda in Kandal province, Cambodia on Sept. 20, 2017. Thousands of Cambodians flocked on Wednesday to watch the traditional water buffalo race at Vihear Sour pagoda. (Xinhua/Sovannara)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 21:28:50|Editor: Zhou Xin
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ROME, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Telecom Italia's board of directors voted Wednesday to appeal a ruling from Italy's securities regulator CONSOB that said French media giant Vivendi had acquired de facto control of the former Italian state monopoly even though its ownership share fell just short of the level indicated by law.
Vivendi owns 24 percent of Telecom Italia's shares, just below the 25-percent threshold used to indicate a controlling share. But CONSOB ruled Sept.13 that the Paris-based company had de facto control of the former Italian state telecommunications monopoly as evidenced by its influence over the company's board.
As such, half of Telecom Italia's board was nominated by Vivendi, and it is not a big surprise the board voted to appeal the CONSOB ruling. The appeal is likely to draw out the process, which is now likely to last into 2018.
In a statement explaining the decision to appeal, the board said no rules had been broken. While assuring the company's full compliance with the discipline such qualification requires, the board has confirmed with a majority vote the intention to contest the decision, the statement said, referring to the CONSOB ruling.
Vivendi, which is the largest single shareholder in Telecom Italia, denies that it exercises control over the Italian company.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 21:33:52|Editor: An
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Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao meets with a delegation of Japan Democratic Party politicians led by Takahiro Yokomichi, former speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan, in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 20, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)
BEIJING, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao said Wednesday he hoped that Japan could work with China to improve bilateral ties.
Li made the remarks when he met with a delegation of Japan Democratic Party politicians led by Takahiro Yokomichi, former speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan.
"China hopes Japan can work with China to inject more impetus into the development of bilateral ties," Li said.
Yokomichi said he had deeply realized the importance of peace when visiting the Nanjing Massacre Museum during the trip.
He said Japan should bear in mind history, shoulder responsibility and actively improve the bilateral relationship for the future.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 21:33:54|Editor: Zhou Xin
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NYALA, Sudan, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir will visit Kalma camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) in South Darfur State on Friday, despite reports of protests against his visit, local authorities said Wednesday.
"All arrangements have been completed for the visit of the president to Kalma IDP camp on Friday," Adam Al-Faki, governor of South Darfur State, said at a press conference in the state's capital Nyala.
"There is information published through social media about protests in Kalma camp in rejection of the visit," he said. "There could be a small percentage rejecting the visit, but the majority of the IDPs in the camp support the visit."
According to Al-Faki, al-Bashir will be the first Sudanese senior official to visit the camp.
Earlier, activists on the social media published photos showing thousands of IDPs inside the Kalma camp protesting Tuesday the expected visit of al-Bashir to the camp.
The IDPs at the Kalma camp said they would demonstrate over the coming two days against the president's visit scheduled for Friday, Sudanese Al-Tareeq electronic newspaper reported.
The report said the IDPs had asked the United Nations- African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) to secure their peaceful protests against al-Bashir's visit.
The camp's administration also confirmed its rejection to the visit, according to an official document signed by the camp leaders and published by social media.
Al-Bashir will head to South Darfur's capital Nyala on Thursday, where he is scheduled to visit IDP camps of Kalma, Shattaya and Greida.
The Kalma camp was established in February 2004 in Bileil, some 15 km east of Nyala.
According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Kalma, which accommodates 126,200 IDPs, is the biggest IDP camp in Darfur.
The IDPs started to arrive at the camp in 2004 to flee the fighting in Shattaya, villages in the southeast of Jebel Marra, as well as Mukjar and Murni in West Darfur State and areas around Netaiga.
The Sudanese authorities accuse the majority of Kalma IDPs of being loyal to the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Abdul-Wahid Mohamed al Nur, a major armed rebel group in Darfur which refuses to sign a peace deal with the Khartoum government.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 21:38:57|Editor: Zhou Xin
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ISLAMABAD, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday confirmed death sentences to four "hardcore terrorists" who were awarded the capital punishment by military courts for committing offences related to terrorism, said the military media wing.
"The chief of Army staff confirmed death sentences awarded to four hardcore terrorists, who were involved in heinous offences related to terrorism, including abducting and slaughtering of soldiers, destruction of government girls school, attacking law enforcement agencies and armed forces of Pakistan," a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations said.
"On the whole they were involved in killing of 21 persons and injuring another person," the statement said, adding that fire-arms and explosives were also recovered from their possession.
All of them were members of a proscribed organization based in Pakistan and were arrested from different areas across the country.
All of the convicts had admitted their offences before the magistrates and the trial courts, according to a statement.
The army courts were set up after the terrorist attack on an army school in the country's northwest city of Peshawar in December 2014 for the speedy trial of the terrorism-related accused.
According to the legal experts, the convicts have the right of appeal to the president under the law. However, the president has previously rejected all the mercy petitions in terrorism-related cases.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 21:38:57|Editor: Zhou Xin
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JAKARTA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- An official at monitoring post for Gunung Agung volcano in Indonesia's resort Island of Bali has warned people to be alert as authorities have been preparing for evacuation.
Gunung Agung volcano in Karang Asem district has showed a rise in seismic activity recently, prompting the country's volcanology agency to increase its alert status to the second highest level on Monday night, with extension of dangerous zone to 7.5 km in the north, south, southeast and southwest of the volcano, according to head of mitigation department of the agency Devy Kamil Syahbana.
"Although the frequency of tremor is not as high as those two days ago, people have to remain alert," an official in charge at the monitoring post told Xinhua in a text message on Wednesday.
Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency Willem Rampangilei has visited the island to ensure full preparation for the eruption, including evacuation.
"The purpose of my visit here is to check all the preparation. Whether the early warning system can function in line with the procedures, and if eruption occurs, how is the plan for evacuation and where the location for the evacuation," he told Xinhua Wednesday.
In other parts, the dangerous zone has been declared in the radius of 6 km from the crater, Syahbana said.
Bali island, the center of Indonesia's tourism industry, is visited by a total of about 200,000 foreign tourists every month, according to the national statistics bureau.
Gunung Agung volcano, with a height of 3,031 meters , last erupted in 1963-1964. It is still active, with a large and very deep crater which occasionally belches smoke and ash.
Indonesia, an archipelagic nation with over 17,500 islands, has a total of 129 active volcanoes.
Surgeons from the Tianjin Medical University General Hospital conduct a minimally invasive operation on a cataract patient in north China's Tianjin Municipality, June 29, 2012. (Xinhua/Zhang Chaoqun)
ANNANARIVO, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- A group of Chinese ophthalmologists will be sent in November to Madagascar's capital Antananarivo to perform 200 cataract surgeries for Malagasy patients, the Chinese ambassador to Madagascar Yang Xiaorong has said.
A Memorandum of Understanding for Bright Journey Project in Madagascar, aimed at providing 200 free cataract surgeries scheduled in November, was signed on Tuesday by the Chinese Ambassador to Madagascar Yang Xiaorong and Madagascar's minister of Public Health Lalatiana Andriamanarivo.
"Madagascar has a real problem of accessibility, especially from a financial matter. Many patients cannot afford to be operated especially in the field of ophthalmology," Madagascar's minister of health said on Tuesday.
The minister of Health added that not only Chinese ophthalmologists will operate the patients freely but they will also leave their medical equipment for our Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona Hospital, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 21:49:02|Editor: Zhou Xin
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KIEV, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Five countries which are investigating the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in July 2014 over Ukraine will jointly finance the criminal prosecution over the crash, local media reported Wednesday.
According to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, the governments of the Netherlands, Australia, Malaysia, Belgium and Ukraine, whose representatives form the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), will soon sign a draft memorandum to co-finance the prosecution of those guilty of downing the plane.
In July, the JIT has adopted a decision to probe the case in a Dutch court.
Flight MH17 crashed in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, while flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. All 298 people on board died, including 196 Dutch citizens.
A report published by the JIT in September 2016 concluded that the plane was shot down by a Russian-made Buk missile fired from a region in eastern Ukraine controlled by independence-seeking insurgents.
Moscow and the leadership of the insurgents in eastern Ukraine have denied the allegations, saying that the plane was hit by a missile from the territory controlled by Ukrainian government troops.
In December 2016, the JIT said that it had identified about 100 people who were linked to the crash.
The armed conflict between the government and the insurgents in eastern Ukraine has been underway since April 2014, claiming some 10,000 lives.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 21:54:06|Editor: Zhou Xin
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MOSCOW, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Eastern Military District has started special tactical exercises for its radar units in the country's Far Eastern regions, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday.
"The aim of the exercises is to improve the air defense control system, " the ministry said in a statement.
Radar specialists will perform tasks of deployment and topographical location of Nebo and Nebo-SVU modern radar complexes in the Amur and Primorsky Krai regions.
Servicemen will practice sighting, capturing and tracking different air targets of a simulated enemy, it said.
In addition, radar specialists will search and detect interference stations of a simulated enemy, obtaining, analyzing and providing information about the air situation in the two regions.
About 500 soldiers, 40 automobiles and special vehicles will be involved in the drills.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 21:59:10|Editor: An
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TOKYO, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- A photo exhibition themed with people-to-people exchanges between China and Japan kicked off on Wednesday at the China Cultural Center in Tokyo.
The exhibition, titled "The Civil Power," showed nearly 100 pictures featuring key historical moments on Sino-Japanese people-to-people exchanges and the friendship between the two peoples.
Guo Yan, minister at Chinese Embassy in Japan, said at the opening ceremony that people-to-people exchanges have always been a driving force for development of bilateral relations between China and Japan.
She called upon peoples of the two countries to have more active and extensive communications and make contribution to the improvement and development of bilateral ties.
Yukio Hatoyama, former prime minister of Japan, said that joint efforts of insightful people of the two countries were indispensable to the normalization of bilateral ties.
He said that he hopes viewers of the exhibition, especially Japanese viewers, could have a deeper understanding of the fruits and importance of people-to-people exchanges and taking this as an opportunity to further extend the friendship between the two nations.
The exhibition, co-sponsored by People's China magazine, China Pictorial magazine and China Cultural Center, will run through Sept. 29. It is open to the public for free.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 22:14:20|Editor: An
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BEIJING, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Beijing unveiled a scheme to introduce homes with property rights to be shared by the government and buyers Wednesday.
According to a document issued by the city's housing authorities, individual buyers will be able to buy a share in such homes and still have the full right of use.
The policy has several restrictions. Buyers and their families cannot already own homes in their name. They should have no records of home transfers. Single people making purchases must be at least 30 years old. And a family can only apply for one home. The buyers enjoy equal rights in household registration and children's schooling as other home owners.
"The new model lowers the threshold for house ownership, makes things more affordable for families and can cut government expenditure," said Liu Hongyu, a real estate researcher at Tsinghua University.
New housing policies have also been piloted in other major cities to stabilize the property market in accordance with the instruction by central authorities that "houses are built to be lived in, not for speculation."
In July, authorities in the southern city of Guangzhou decided to give tenants and homeowners equal rights to local education resources.
In many Chinese cities, the right to attend schools is limited to the children of homeowners rather than tenants. Guangzhou is the first top-tier Chinese city to grant such rights to tenants.
According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and other government departments, measures would be taken in cities with net population inflows, including increasing rental housing supplies and setting up a government-backed home rental service platform.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) shakes hands with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi during their meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 19, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday met with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi and exchanged views on bilateral relations and the situation in Rakhine State of Myanmar.
Wang said the recent violent incidents in Rakhine State in Myanmar are unacceptable and that the Myanmar government's efforts to maintain social stability is understandable. The issue of the Rohingya, which dates back to long time ago, is complex and sensitive, said Wang.
It is imperative to reduce tension, avoid harming innocent people, prevent the spread of the humanitarian crisis, and encourage and support Myanmar and Bangladesh in their efforts to find a solution through dialogue and consultations, said Wang.
China is willing to work with the international community to continue to play a constructive role, said Wang.
For her part, Retno said Indonesia, as the largest Muslim nation, is deeply concerned about the situation in Rakhine and is willing to play a positive role in helping Myanmar and Bangladesh avert deterioration of the situation and find a solution.
U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in New York, U.S., September 19, 2017. (Xinhua/REUTERS)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani discussed on Tuesday the importance of resolving Qatar's ongoing dispute with its neighbors and restoring unity in the region, the White House said.
At the meeting held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Trump said he has "a very strong feeling" the dispute will "be solved pretty quickly, while the Qatari emir said he believes the U.S. mediation "will help a lot."
Meanwhile, "the president acknowledged Qatar's progress implementing the United States-Qatar bilateral memorandum of understanding on counterterrorism cooperation," said a White House statement, adding that Trump stressed additional steps should be taken to cut off funding for terrorists.
On June 5, the Saudi-led quartet severed diplomatic ties with Qatar and imposed a blockade on the Gulf nation, citing Doha's support for terrorism and extremism, interference in their internal affairs, and seeking closer ties with Iran. Qatar has strongly denied these charges.
Tensions were renewed last month when Qatar announced it would send back its ambassador to Iran, a rival of most Gulf nations.
Qatar recalled its envoy in Tehran in early 2016 in a show of solidarity with Saudi Arabia after the attacks on two Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran.
Despite a flurry of diplomatic mediation efforts made by the United States, the European Union, and Kuwait in recent months, the Gulf standoff has shown no signs of abating.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 22:54:39|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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MANAMA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Bahrain's government on Wednesday announced it has hired a law firm to secure the release of 19 fishermen who were caught by Qatari authorities.
Qatari officials impounded 16 Bahraini fishing vessels and their crew, which, Bahrain officials said, has violated international maritime regulations.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms that it has hired a law firm to follow up the case," a ministry's statement said. "We will take all necessary legal measures to protect the detained fishermen and preserve their rights, especially after Qatar's repetition of such practices."
The ministry said such issues are governed by the international maritime safety treaties, stressing that it will continue efforts to ensure the release of the fishermen and fishing vessels as soon as possible.
Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt severed ties with Qatar on June 5 following accusations that it supported terrorist groups and attempted to destabilize the region.
Bahrain closed its land, air and sea borders with Qatar and has also revoked Qatar Airways' licence to operate there.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 23:09:45|Editor: Yang Yi
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Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 20, 2017. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
BEIJING, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday that China and Singapore should deepen political trust and consolidate ties.
Xi made the remarks when meeting with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Beijing.
The president said maintaining high-level contact was a fine tradition established by the older generation of leaders, which showed the close relationship between the two countries.
He said he believed that Lee's visit would deepen traditional friendship and promote greater development for cooperation.
Deepening political trust and relations not only conforms to the interests of the two countries and their people, but also contributes to regional and world peace, stability and prosperity, he said.
Xi said that the two sides should adhere to mutual understanding and respect and show support for each other's core interests and major concerns.
China and Singapore hold similar positions and share broad common interests in economic globalization, free trade and investment, he said.
He said he hoped that the two sides could synergize their development strategies and give full play to the role of the Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation.
Xi said the two countries should continue people-to-people exchanges to carry forward their traditional friendship.
Noting that the Belt and Road Initiative was the priority of bilateral cooperation, Xi said he hoped that the two sides could center on infrastructure connectivity projects and promote the participation of regional countries in the creation of a new trade route.
Lee said he fully agreed with Xi's position on bilateral ties.
He said Singapore had stuck to the one-China policy, opposed "Taiwan independence" and hoped for a stable and prosperous China.
Singapore hopes for closer cooperation with China in the fields of infrastructure, interconnectivity and human resources, Lee said.
He agreed to align Singapore's development strategy with China to bring more benefit to the two peoples.
Singapore supports the Belt and Road Initiative and the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, he said. Singapore is ready to promote regional and world development and help to expedite China-ASEAN cooperation, he added.
The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.
China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang and Wang Qishan, head of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, also met with Lee on Wednesday.
Zhang, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said the NPC expected to cement exchanges with Singapore's legislative body to offer a sound legal and institutional environment for cooperation.
Wang briefed Lee about the CPC's efforts in strict Party governance, as well as China's anti-corruption campaign.
Lee is paying an official visit to China from Tuesday to Thursday.
A still image taken from Russian Defense Ministry footage shows the launch of a Yars missile on Sept. 20, 2017.
MOSCOW, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Russia test-fired a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile on Wednesday toward a range on the country's Kamchatka Peninsula, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The solid-fuel mobile missile, equipped with a multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle, was launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northwest Russia's Arkhangelsk region.
The experimental warheads hit the target and the purpose of the launch was to test the reliability of the Yars missile system, according to the statement.
Deployed since 2010, the Yars missile has a potential range of 11,000 km, and can carry as many as 10 independently targetable warheads.
In May, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the Russian Strategic Missile Forces have been receiving modern Yars missiles, which have increased Russia's capability to penetrate missile shields.
A total of 17 regiments will be re-armed with the Yars missiles by 2021, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-20 23:50:04|Editor: ZD
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BAGHDAD/CAIRO, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Tensions are flaring up as Iraqi Kurds are set to hold a controversial independence referendum next week, raising fears that it could open a Pandora's box of violence and conflicts.
Amid signs of heightened tensions, a curfew was imposed Tuesday in the ethnically-mixed northern city of Kirkuk, after one was killed and three others wounded when Turkmen security guards exchanged gunfire with some Kurds celebrating the upcoming vote.
The shooting came after a suicide car bombing that rocked Kirkuk on Saturday, in which three people were killed and nine others wounded.
On Monday, Iraq's Supreme Court issued a verdict to suspend the referendum in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region slated for Sept. 25, in response to the Kurdistan Parliament's vote on Friday to approve holding the referendum as scheduled.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who dismissed the referendum as unconstitutional, has warned that Baghdad is ready to use force if the referendum turns violent.
A new conflict will not only hinder Iraq's plan for reconciliation and reconstruction at a time when the war-torn country is near achieving full victory in defeating the terror group Islamic State (IS), but also sow new seeds of violence and instability in the already chaotic Middle East.
MAJOR REASONS BEHIND IRAQI KURDS' PUSH FOR INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM
Iraqi Kurds have a century-long dream of creating a Kurdish state in areas they control, which now have expanded to include many oil-rich areas that Kurdish fighters took over from IS militants over the past years.
The Kurds now want the northern oil-rich province of Kirkuk and parts of Nineveh, Diyala and Salahudin provinces to be incorporated into their region.
The Kurds used to live under the iron-fisted rule by former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. But since the end of the U.S.-led first Gulf War in 1991, they have gained a high degree of autonomy.
Masoud Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Regional Government, has been the leading figure pushing hard for the independence referendum.
For one reason, Barzani, leader of the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP), has exceeded his term in office that ended in 2015, and hoped to start the process of seeking independence before the next elections scheduled in early November.
Moreover, many believe that Barzani hopes to take advantage of the referendum to establish his status as the leader of the Kurdish independence movement.
"Barzani wants to accomplish independence through referendum and gain a political card in the region as the leader of the Kurdish movement," Nursin Atesoglu Guney, dean of the economic, administrative and social sciences faculty at Bahcesehir Cyprus University in Istanbul, was quoted by the Turkish paper Daily Sabah as saying.
REFERENDUM AS FIRST CONCRETE STEP TOWARD KURDISH INDEPENDENCE
A "yes" vote in the upcoming referendum does not mean the immediate independence of the Kurdistan region. Rather, it would be the first concrete step in the Kurdish movement toward declaring independence.
Such vote would give the Kurdistan Regional Government considerable bargain power to hold negotiations with the Iraqi government on the distribution of oil revenues, and control of some disputed territories.
In addition to the lack of international support, inner friction is also an obstacle to declaring independence by the Kurdistan Regional Government.
Though the KDP spearheaded the bid to hold the referendum, the opposition Kurdish parties such as the Change Movement and the Kurdistan Islamic Group have called for postponing the referendum and letting the Kurdistan Parliament to make the decision by passing a law.
As the two parties boycotted, 68 lawmakers of the 111-seat parliament did not show up for the vote on Friday.
Analysts said that even the Kurds finally split from Iraq, life would be very difficult for a newly-created Kurdish state as its territory is geographically landlocked.
Despite its rich oil resources, the region relies heavily on the Iraq-Turkey pipeline to export its oil, which could be closed by Turkey if it breaks away from Iraq.
POTENTIAL IMPACT ON MIDDLE EAST PEACE AND STABILITY
The international community, especially Turkey, Iran and the United States, has voiced strong opposition to the referendum.
Indeed, the referendum, whose result is widely predicted to be a "yes" vote, could have a potentially destabilizing effect on the already chaotic Middle East region.
First, a "yes" vote will damage Iraq's unity and territorial integrity. The separation of the oil-rich Kurdish region is set to deal a heavy blow to the country politically and economically, while it is still reeling from wars and terror attacks.
If the Iraqi government intervenes militarily, a bloody conflict could be inevitable as Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, known for their capability in fighting IS militants, will prove to be a viable enemy for Iraqi government forces.
Second, the referendum could aggravate the infighting within the Kurdistan region, especially between the two major factions the KDP and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, as they could vie for the control of the government and oil like in the 1990s when they had an armed conflict.
There are also worries that violence could erupt between the predominantly Sunni Kurds and ethnic minorities including Shiite Muslims and Turkmens, due to their different positions on the referendum and other feuds.
Third, Iraqi Kurds' independence movement could inspire other Kurds living in neighboring countries, adding to the chaos and instability that have already plagued the Middle East.
Behind the warnings by Iraq's neighboring countries such as Turkey, Iran and Syria lies the deep worry that Iraqi Kurds' success in seeking independence would have a domino effect that threatens their own territorial integrity.
Kurds make up about 19 percent of the Turkish population, and about 10 percent of the population in Iran and Syria.
On Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned of sanctions against the Iraqi Kurds over the referendum. Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli also warned that the Kurdish referendum would ignite "a new war in the region."
In a show of force, Turkish troops have held military drills along the Iraqi border in the past week ahead of the referendum.
A senior Iranian military official warned last week that the Kurdish referendum will create a new crisis in the region, which could be used by certain outside forces as an excuse to gain control of the region through intervention.
Amid the rising tensions, the United Nations and the U.S. government have called for resolving the Kurdish issue through peaceful dialogue.
On Friday, the White House slammed the Kurdish decision to hold the referendum as a "provocative and destabilizing" move, while urging the Kurds to hold "serious and sustained dialogue" with the Iraqi government.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday also called for resolving the issue through "structured dialogue and constructive compromise," citing that the referendum would undermine the fight against terrorism.
| 2017-09-21 00:03:42|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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SINGAPORE, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry S. Iswaran on Wednesday launched the Electronics Industry Transformation Map, which maps out strategies that will build the electronics industry of tomorrow, according to a press release from Singapore Economic Development Board.
The Map says Singapore's electronics industry is expected to achieve a manufacturing value-add of 22.2 billion Singapore dollars (about 16.52 billion U.S. dollars) and introduce 2,100 new professional, managerial, executive and technical jobs by 2020.
It says Singapore will transform the electronics industry to attract and anchor high value-added manufacturing activities, boost productivity through the adoption of robotics and automation, and support companies to undertake advanced manufacturing innovation.
Meanwhile, Singapore will strengthen the innovation ecosystem to harness new growth opportunities and support companies in developing new capabilities. The country will convene multi-party innovation platforms to create new solutions and shorten innovation cycles, and become an innovation hub for new products and solutions.
Besides, the Map says Singapore will develop a Skills Framework for continuous learning to nurture a nimble and dynamic workforce, and equip Singaporeans with necessary skills to capture new opportunities.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-21 00:05:09|Editor: huaxia
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MANILA -- The Philippine military has put over 1,000 soldiers on standby in case some groups try to disrupt the rally scheduled on Thursday to commemorate the martial law that former President Ferdinand Marcos imposed in 1972.
Military spokesman Col. Vic Tomas said on Wednesday that the soldiers are on call to help the police in maintaining peace and order when some 10,000 protesters are expected to take to the streets on Thursday, a day Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared as a "national day of protest." (Philippines-Security)
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DHAKA -- A massive fire has razed a multi-storey textile factory in a central Bangladesh district, killing six people and injuring several others.
Fire official Ziaur Rahman told Xinhua that the blaze started in the four-storey Ideal Textile factory at about 9:57 a.m. local time in Munshiganj district, some 27 km southeast of capital Dhaka. (Bangladesh-Fire)
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JAKARTA -- An official at monitoring post for Gunung Agung volcano in Indonesia's resort Island of Bali has warned people to be alert as authorities have been preparing for evacuation.
Gunung Agung volcano in Karang Asem district has showed a rise in seismic activity recently, prompting the country's volcanology agency to increase its alert status to the second highest level on Monday night, with extension of dangerous zone to 7.5 km in the north, south, southeast and southwest of the volcano, according to head of mitigation department of the agency Devy Kamil Syahbana. (Indonesia-Bali-Volcano)
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PHNOM PENH -- Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Liu Yunshan met here on Wednesday with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, and they agreed to cement bilateral cooperation and party-to-party exchanges.
China always regards Cambodia as a priority in its diplomacy with neighboring countries, said Liu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, who is on an official visit to the country. (China-Cambodia-Ties)
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NAY PYI TAW -- Myanmar government will resettle refugees displaced at home and abroad due to conflicts in the country's northern Rakhine state, said U Win Myat Aye, minister of social welfare, relief and resettlement on Wednesday.
The local people in the affected areas by the recent attack on Aug. 25 are being provided with humanitarian aid without any discrimination, the minister said, adding that at present, the authorities are increasing more humanitarian aid to reach all areas in Rakhine state with the help of donor countries and organizations. (Myanmar-Rakhine-Refugees) Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-21 00:10:11|Editor: Liangyu
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The photo taken on Sept. 20, 2017 shows a Turkish military truck with tank on it in Hatay Province, Turkey, Sept. 20, 2017. Turkey has deployed fully equipped commando units as part of military reinforcements along its southern border with Syria, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Wednesday, citing a military source. (Xinhua)
ANKARA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Turkey has deployed fully equipped commando units as part of military reinforcements along its southern border with Syria, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Wednesday, citing a military source.
The military vehicles loading fully equipped commandos travelled to the Syrian border on Wednesday, near Reyhanli district of southern Hatay province, according to the anonymous source.
The source said the new deployment was part of reinforcements for troops already stationed there.
The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has deployed several batches of heavy weapons, including tanks and howitzers, to Syrian border since last month, amid strained tension between Turkish government and Syria-based Kurdish militants.
Meanwhile, the military drill that started on Monday on Turkey's southeastern border with Iraq Kurdish region is still ongoing, according to the General Staff.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-21 00:15:13|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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by Ahmed Shafiq
CAIRO, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The recent reconciliation between Palestinian rival groups Fatah and Hamas is not just a blessing for the Palestinians, but also positive news for Egypt which brokered the deal between the two major Palestinian factions.
After in-depth negotiations hosted by the Egyptian Intelligence in Cairo, Hamas ruling the Gaza Strip and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party eventually reached a reconciliation pact on Sunday to heal their decade-long rift.
Moreover, they agreed to form a unity government and prepare for the general parliamentary and presidential elections.
Surprisingly, Hamas also promised to dissolve the administrative committee it formed in March to manage daily affairs in Gaza, which Hamas has been ruling since it routed Abbas' military forces in the summer of 2007.
The formation of the committee, which was considered by Abbas a shadow government, pushed the Palestinian president to introduce unprecedented tight measures against the coastal enclave, including a 30 percent slash in staff salaries, refusing to pay for electricity services and sending 7,000 employees to early retirement.
Observers believe the reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas is also something in favor of Egypt.
"Egypt is keen to have a strong and legitimate authority in Gaza to secure its borders in Sinai, a hotbed for terrorists who killed hundreds of Egyptian army and security men," Professor Abdel Mohdy Motawe, a Cairo-based Palestinian political analyst, told Xinhua.
Egypt has on many occasions accused Hamas of aiding terrorists linked to the Islamic State (IS) in Sinai, which borders the Gaza Strip, a charge that Hamas has always denied.
Unifying the Palestinians once again will help Egypt regain its regional weight as the leading Arab country, Motawe explained.
Cairo has been working hard to renew the stalled peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis, but the internal Palestinian division has always been an obstacle to peace talks, the Palestinian expert noted.
The peace process has seen no progress since former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry failed to broker negotiations between the two sides in April 2014 after a nine-month quest.
"Israel has always used the Palestinian split as an excuse to avoid peace negotiations with Abbas," Motawe said. "But reuniting the Palestinians will corner Israel and provide Egypt with more space to maneuver for relaunching serious peace talks."
The seven-decade Palestinian-Israeli conflict has been a major concern in the turmoil-stricken Middle East region. A Saudi-led Arab peace initiative in 2002 urged Israel to fully withdraw from the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 in return for normal relations with the Arab world. However, the Jewish state rejected the initiative.
Although Hamas and Fatah expressed willingness to end rift, Motawe warned that the recent agreement may not see the light as both factions had previously inked many reconciliation agreements, but never worked to implement them on the ground.
"The two parties have agreed to implement the Cairo Reconciliation Agreement signed in Cairo May 2011. This shows how the reconciliation on the ground could be extremely difficult," he said.
It is Hamas who always failed to implement reconciliation deals with Fatah, the expert noted, expecting Egypt to take punitive measures against the party that delays or undermines the full implementation of the Egyptian-proposed deal.
Samir Ghattas, an Egyptian lawmaker and an expert in the Palestinian affairs, also expressed alarm at the seemingly positive step, as it could be "a scheme from Hamas to release pressure exercised by Egypt and other regional powers."
"The Hamas move should be welcomed, but Hamas previously foiled at least five reconciliation agreements," Ghattas told Xinhua.
The Egyptian legislator put forward a serious question about security in the Gaza Strip and the relationship between Hamas and regional powers.
"Will Hamas fully hand over power in Gaza to the legal authorities? If there are no clear answers to the question, the Hamas declaration remains a mere maneuver to get around the Palestinian reconciliation and the dire economic and political conditions it has been going through," Ghattas explained.
Since 2013 when Egypt's former Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, a Hamas ally, was ousted by the military, Egypt has destroyed most of the tunnels used to transport food, weapons and goods into Gaza.
The closure of Rafah crossing, Gaza's only window to the outside world through Egypt, has further strengthened the isolation of Hamas.
"These factors might be behind Hamas agreement to patch up with Fatah this time. But Hamas always avoided talking about reconciliation when it had power and cash," Ghattas said.
"I hope Hamas is sincere about achieving reconciliation and I believe there must be real guarantees, especially from Egypt, that Hamas will not act as it did in previous agreements," the Egyptian expert said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-21 00:25:22|Editor: Liu
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BEIJING, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. heavy machinery giant Caterpillar is optimistic about China's economic outlook in the coming years and expects steady market growth in the country, a company executive said Wednesday.
The company unveiled three new-generation hydraulic excavators during a construction machinery exhibition held in Beijing Wednesday.
"We see stable growth for the Chinese economy in the next two to three years. We are optimistic about that," said Chen Qihua, vice president of Caterpillar Inc. and chairman of Caterpillar China. "We also expect steady growth for our industry -- no huge growth, but sustainable growth."
After a nearly five-years downturn, China's excavator industry has been picking up since the second half of last year.
In the first eight months of 2017, more than 85,000 excavators were sold in the country, up over 111 percent year on year, according to the China Construction Machinery Association.
Chen attributed surging sales to strong demand from infrastructure and real estate projects, improvement in the mining sector supported by rising coal prices, as well as low bases in previous years.
Urbanization, rural construction, the Belt and Road Initiative and the increase of public-private partnerships drove up infrastructure sector demand, Chen told reporters.
He predicted that the excavator sales for the year would reach 11,000, while expecting the market growth to slow to a sustainable pace in the coming years.
Along with the industrial turnaround, Caterpillar saw its China business grow, and expanded investment in the country.
In August, Caterpillar celebrated the sale of 20,000 mini hydraulic excavators in China. This week, the company's Suzhou plant in the eastern Jiangsu Province witnessed its 20,000th machine roll off the production line.
Earlier this year, Caterpillar announced it would increase investment into its plant in Wujiang in Jiangsu to expand its capacity.
Damien Giraud, vice president of Caterpillar's global construction and infrastructure division, highlighted the fact that the new-generation excavators, which are more energy-efficient, productive and smart, were first released in China, instead of the United States or Europe.
Chen hailed Wednesday's debut of the new excavators as a new milestone for the company's development in China.
"We aim to build the world's highest-quality and most valuable industrial chain in China," Chen said.
Iraqi Kurds fly Kurdish flags during an event to urge people to vote in the upcoming independence referendum in Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, on Sept. 16, 2017. (AFP photo)
BAGHDAD/CAIRO, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Tensions are flaring up as Iraqi Kurds are set to hold a controversial independence referendum next week, raising fears that it could open a Pandora's box of violence and conflicts.
Amid signs of heightened tensions, a curfew was imposed Tuesday in the ethnically-mixed northern city of Kirkuk, after one was killed and three others wounded when Turkmen security guards exchanged gunfire with some Kurds celebrating the upcoming vote.
The shooting came after a suicide car bombing that rocked Kirkuk on Saturday, in which three people were killed and nine others wounded.
On Monday, Iraq's Supreme Court issued a verdict to suspend the referendum in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region slated for Sept. 25, in response to the Kurdistan Parliament's vote on Friday to approve holding the referendum as scheduled.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who dismissed the referendum as unconstitutional, has warned that Baghdad is ready to use force if the referendum turns violent.
A new conflict will not only hinder Iraq's plan for reconciliation and reconstruction at a time when the war-torn country is near achieving full victory in defeating the terror group Islamic State (IS), but also sow new seeds of violence and instability in the already chaotic Middle East.
MAJOR REASONS BEHIND IRAQI KURDS' PUSH FOR INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM
Iraqi Kurds have a century-long dream of creating a Kurdish state in areas they control, which now have expanded to include many oil-rich areas that Kurdish fighters took over from IS militants over the past years.
The Kurds now want the northern oil-rich province of Kirkuk and parts of Nineveh, Diyala and Salahudin provinces to be incorporated into their region.
The Kurds used to live under the iron-fisted rule by former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. But since the end of the U.S.-led first Gulf War in 1991, they have gained a high degree of autonomy.
Masoud Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Regional Government, has been the leading figure pushing hard for the independence referendum.
For one reason, Barzani, leader of the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP), has exceeded his term in office that ended in 2015, and hoped to start the process of seeking independence before the next elections scheduled in early November.
Moreover, many believe that Barzani hopes to take advantage of the referendum to establish his status as the leader of the Kurdish independence movement.
"Barzani wants to accomplish independence through referendum and gain a political card in the region as the leader of the Kurdish movement," Nursin Atesoglu Guney, dean of the economic, administrative and social sciences faculty at Bahcesehir Cyprus University in Istanbul, was quoted by the Turkish paper Daily Sabah as saying.
REFERENDUM AS FIRST CONCRETE STEP TOWARD KURDISH INDEPENDENCE
A "yes" vote in the upcoming referendum does not mean the immediate independence of the Kurdistan region. Rather, it would be the first concrete step in the Kurdish movement toward declaring independence.
Such vote would give the Kurdistan Regional Government considerable bargain power to hold negotiations with the Iraqi government on the distribution of oil revenues, and control of some disputed territories.
In addition to the lack of international support, inner friction is also an obstacle to declaring independence by the Kurdistan Regional Government.
Though the KDP spearheaded the bid to hold the referendum, the opposition Kurdish parties such as the Change Movement and the Kurdistan Islamic Group have called for postponing the referendum and letting the Kurdistan Parliament to make the decision by passing a law.
As the two parties boycotted, 68 lawmakers of the 111-seat parliament did not show up for the vote on Friday.
Analysts said that even the Kurds finally split from Iraq, life would be very difficult for a newly-created Kurdish state as its territory is geographically landlocked.
Despite its rich oil resources, the region relies heavily on the Iraq-Turkey pipeline to export its oil, which could be closed by Turkey if it breaks away from Iraq.
POTENTIAL IMPACT ON MIDDLE EAST PEACE AND STABILITY
The international community, especially Turkey, Iran and the United States, has voiced strong opposition to the referendum.
Indeed, the referendum, whose result is widely predicted to be a "yes" vote, could have a potentially destabilizing effect on the already chaotic Middle East region.
First, a "yes" vote will damage Iraq's unity and territorial integrity. The separation of the oil-rich Kurdish region is set to deal a heavy blow to the country politically and economically, while it is still reeling from wars and terror attacks.
If the Iraqi government intervenes militarily, a bloody conflict could be inevitable as Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, known for their capability in fighting IS militants, will prove to be a viable enemy for Iraqi government forces.
Second, the referendum could aggravate the infighting within the Kurdistan region, especially between the two major factions the KDP and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, as they could vie for the control of the government and oil like in the 1990s when they had an armed conflict.
There are also worries that violence could erupt between the predominantly Sunni Kurds and ethnic minorities including Shiite Muslims and Turkmens, due to their different positions on the referendum and other feuds.
Third, Iraqi Kurds' independence movement could inspire other Kurds living in neighboring countries, adding to the chaos and instability that have already plagued the Middle East.
Behind the warnings by Iraq's neighboring countries such as Turkey, Iran and Syria lies the deep worry that Iraqi Kurds' success in seeking independence would have a domino effect that threatens their own territorial integrity.
Kurds make up about 19 percent of the Turkish population, and about 10 percent of the population in Iran and Syria.
On Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned of sanctions against the Iraqi Kurds over the referendum. Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli also warned that the Kurdish referendum would ignite "a new war in the region."
In a show of force, Turkish troops have held military drills along the Iraqi border in the past week ahead of the referendum.
A senior Iranian military official warned last week that the Kurdish referendum will create a new crisis in the region, which could be used by certain outside forces as an excuse to gain control of the region through intervention.
Amid the rising tensions, the United Nations and the U.S. government have called for resolving the Kurdish issue through peaceful dialogue.
On Friday, the White House slammed the Kurdish decision to hold the referendum as a "provocative and destabilizing" move, while urging the Kurds to hold "serious and sustained dialogue" with the Iraqi government.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday also called for resolving the issue through "structured dialogue and constructive compromise," citing that the referendum would undermine the fight against terrorism.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-21 00:40:28|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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HANGZHOU, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- A top university in eastern China has sparked controversy after adopting a rule to assess the works of students and teachers as academic achievements if they receive a high click-rate in online media.
According to the Zhejiang University rule, works published by major media outlets -- the People's Daily, Guangming Daily and Qiushi Journal, may be recognized as equal to publications in authoritative domestic journals if they are viewed as influential.
Works picked up by major commercial portals such as Sina, Sohu and Netease and major publications at Xinhua News Agency and China Central Television as well as on mobile apps and social media accounts, such as WeChat and Weibo, are also equal to publication in key journals if they result in significant influence.
The document also says that the works should be transmitted by no less than 10 mainstream media outlets and have more than 100,000 page views if it is on WeChat.
"Excellent Internet cultural achievements," including original articles, video and animation works, are among academic requirements for promotion or prizes.
However, the rule, which took effect in early September, has sparked debate over its feasibility and the extent to which it may devalue academic work.
Viewing the move as an exploration of academic evaluation, the university said outstanding online work would be recognized by a committee of experts in June each year.
"Given the trend of media convergence, a number of professional scholars, institutions and government departments are more willing to publish their academic works through new media first," said Zhu Wei, a communication researcher at the China University of Political Science and Law.
The academic value and influence of some online works far exceeds those of core journals, Zhu said.
Zhu Haijiu with Zhejiang Gongshang University also supported the move.
"In the era of the Internet, only recognizing publications in journals as academic output, is like only recognizing work done with brushes in the era of the pen," Zhu Haijiu said.
But others had misgivings about the rule.
"There may be some problems with the current promotion and evaluation system, but academic value should not rely on the number of clicks," said Yin Jun, a teacher at Shenzhen University in Guangdong Province.
"Papers have strict evaluation procedures, but it is hard to assess articles published on public media," said a teacher at Zhejiang University.
Zhejiang University is not the only school to explore the evaluation of online work.
Shanghai Jiao Tong University has piloted a rule that excellent Internet works can be a qualification for the promotion of certain officials. Jilin University also adopted a rule encouraging the creation of online work.
In 2013, the Ministry of Education proposed to formulate a regulation on the absorption of excellent online work when calculating academic results. In 2017, the ministry said it would advance the regulation.
"I am happy to see such an innovative measure, but I hope supervision covers the publication platforms during implementation to ensure fairness," said one web user.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-21 01:15:43|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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NEW YORK, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese supply chain firm BEST Inc., backed by e-commerce giant Alibaba, made its trading debut on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Wednesday.
BEST priced its IPO offering at 10 U.S. dollars per American Depositary Receipt (ADR), the lower end of the pricing range of 10 dollars to 11 dollars given by the company, trading under the ticker symbol of BSTI.
BEST raised 450 million dollars at 45 million ADRs, which is smaller than the 869.4 million dollars expected a couple of days ago when BEST planned to price 62.1 million ADRs between 13 dollars and 15 dollars per ADR.
However, it is still the biggest Chinese IPO in New York so far this year.
The company started trading at 11.48 dollars per share on Wednesday, jumping 14.8 percent from its pricing.
BEST is a leading and the fastest-growing logistics smart supply chain service provider in China. Its multi-sided platform combines technology, integrated logistics and supply chain services, last-mile services and value-added services.
The company has been focusing on scale and growth, through the expansion of network and service coverage, in line with its philosophy to build and invest for the long term.
BEST is backed by Alibaba and Cainiao Network. The company has a strategic relationship with its largest shareholder, making it a key logistics provider to the world's largest retailer, as Alibaba's platforms serve more than 10 million merchants and more than half a billion consumers.
For the six months ended on June 30, 2017, BEST's revenue was 1.2 billion dollars, up 133.5 percent from the same six months a year ago, while its net losses for the six months ended on June 30 were 92.1 million dollars, 1.06 percent narrower than the year-ago period, according to the company's filing.
The company was founded by Johnny Chou, former president of Google China, and is led by a team with technology and logistics expertise.
"New York is one of the world's most important financial centers. By choosing NYSE to go public, BEST will have a better international vision, which can better serve our customers in the future," Chou told Xinhua before the opening bell on Wednesday.
Investors kept a close eye on IPO this year, as public offerings have been slowing down these years.
Proceeds from the U.S. IPO market were only 18.8 billion dollars last year, down from 86.6 billion dollars in 2014, according to investment banking firm Renaissance Capital.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-21 01:25:48|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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TIRANA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Albanian government remains committed to fully support the new bodies established to "vet" around 800 judges and prosecutors of Albanian justice system, Albanian Justice Minister Etilda Gjoni told reporters Wednesday.
The vetting bodies were set up in the framework of the justice reform.
"The vetting bodies who will vet around 800 judges and prosecutors in Albania for their professional ability, moral integrity and independence from organised crime, corruption and political officials, will have government's full support," Gjoni told media.
She also said that the members of the vetting bodies were ready to start the screening of judges and prosecutors.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-21 02:51:15|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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TEHRAN, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday censured U.S. president Donald Trump's recent anti-Iran speech as "ignorant and spiteful" at the UN General Assembly.
Trump's "rhetoric against Iran was ignorant and spiteful, abundant with false information and baseless allegations," Rouhani said, addressing the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly.
During his speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump accused Iran of "destabilizing" the Middle East region and "supporting terror."
Besides, Trump called the Iran nuclear deal, reached during former President Barack Obama's administration, "an embarrassment" for the United States, indicating that he may not recertify the deal at its mid-October deadline.
Trump blasted the deal as "one of the worst and one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into."
According to the Iran nuclear deal, or formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran will be removed if the country is proved to abide by the deal over the next few years.
In reaction, Rouhani dismissed the U.S. allegations and supported the JCPOA as an international accord.
"The JCPOA does not belong to one or two countries. It is a UNSC document, which belongs to the entire international community," Rouhani said, adding that Iran would respond to any breach of the JCPOA.
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani answers a question during a press conference in New York on September 20, 2017, on the sideline of the 72nd Session of the United Nations General assembly. (AFP Photo)
TEHRAN, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday censured U.S. president Donald Trump's recent anti-Iran speech as "ignorant and spiteful" at the UN General Assembly.
Trump's "rhetoric against Iran was ignorant and spiteful, abundant with false information and baseless allegations," Rouhani said, addressing the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly.
During his speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump accused Iran of "destabilizing" the Middle East region and "supporting terror."
Besides, Trump called the Iran nuclear deal, reached during former President Barack Obama's administration, "an embarrassment" for the United States, indicating that he may not recertify the deal at its mid-October deadline.
Trump blasted the deal as "one of the worst and one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into."
According to the Iran nuclear deal, or formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran will be removed if the country is proved to abide by the deal over the next few years.
In reaction, Rouhani dismissed the U.S. allegations and supported the JCPOA as an international accord.
"The JCPOA does not belong to one or two countries. It is a UNSC document, which belongs to the entire international community," Rouhani said, adding that Iran would respond to any breach of the JCPOA.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-21 03:16:27|Editor: ZD
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Photo taken on Sept. 20, 2017 shows a scene of the eighth session of the Algerian-Russian Joint Committee in Algiers, Algeria. Algeria and Russia have contributed to stabilizing oil prices in world markets, Russian Oil Minister Alexander Novak said here on Wednesday. (Xinhua)
ALGIERS, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Algeria and Russia have contributed to stabilizing oil prices in world markets, Russian Oil Minister Alexander Novak said here on Wednesday.
"The governments of the two countries have contributed to the stability of oil prices within the framework of cooperation between OPEC countries and non-OPEC members," said Novak in a speech at the opening of the eighth session of the Algerian-Russian Joint Committee.
The world market witness a sharp drop of oil prices since mid-2014. In December 2016, OPEC members and its non-OPEC partners reached an agreement in Vienna to work together to reduce production.
In addition, Novak stressed that both countries have common positions in the area of energy cooperation, which dates back to many years ago, and was strengthened through a joint working group on energy.
Algerian Finance Minister Abderrahman Raouya said at the session that the partnership between the two countries should be extended to other areas.
"We have to continue our joint work and expand it to other sectors and we hope to diversify our strategic partnership," said the minister.
Algeria and Russia have signed a strategic partnership in April 2001 in Moscow.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-21 03:36:37|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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RIGA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Latvian environmental authority caught PARS Terminals, a stevedore based at the Freeport of Riga territory, emitting unbearable stench in the nearby neighborhood of Vecmilgravis, Latvian public media website lsm.lv reported Wednesday.
In Vecmilgravis, two schoolchildren had to be taken to hospital after the odor made them sick.
Maruta Buklevica, representative of the Latvian State Environmental Service, said that the agency had received multiple complaints from local residents about foul stench spreading in Vecmilgravis. Inspectors from the environmental service checked a number of oil terminals at the port but failed to detect the source of the bad smell. One terminal was asked to slow down its reloading operations though.
However, the environmental inspectors later succeeded in locating the possible source of the odor. It apparently came from PARS Terminals which was loading an oil tanker at the maximum speed.
The inspectors took oil product samples from the vessel to test them for potentially harmful substances.
The local authority of the Latvian capital city also reacted to the developments at the port. Riga Vice Mayor and Freeport of Riga Board Chairman Andris Ameriks said that if the tests reveal violations in the terminal's operations, the port's board will decide on sanctions, which might even include the terminal's closure.
Earlier on Wednesday, two teenage students of a high school in Vecmilgravis -- a boy and a girl -- were taken to hospital after suffering nausea and fatigue from the obnoxious emissions in the area.
Representatives at the children's hospital where the two teenagers were treated said the patients were in satisfactory condition and would be released on Wednesday.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-21 03:51:43|Editor: huaxia
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DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- A Tanzanian official said Wednesday that Tanzania has been selected to house the center of African Liberation Heritage Programme that seeks to celebrate Africa's recent past in which Africans achieved their freedom through struggle and sacrifice.
Tanzania and South Africa agreed the center should be located in the East African nation's political capital Dodoma after bilateral talks between held there, Tanzanian Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Harrison Mwakyembe, told a news conference.
Mwakyembe said the two countries appointed a special committee to explain the creation of the center to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in accordance with the African Union and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
"The program will enable Tanzanians and Africans at large to preserve the liberation heritage and write their own history," said the minister.
"Currently stories on the liberation struggle are still in people's heads. We need them to tell us of what happened and put them in writing and other format such as videos and audio recordings for future generations to understand our past."
He said his ministry has already conducted interviews with at least 100 liberation struggle veterans in efforts to preserve the history.
Mwakyembe said the education ministry has also started reviewing its curriculum to include a subject on the liberation struggle in schools. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-21 03:56:46|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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YEREVAN, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan Wednesday met here with visiting Lebanese Minister of Tourism Avedis Guidanian on promoting bilateral economic ties, according to the official website of the Armenian government.
The Armenian prime minister emphasized the need to develop bilateral relations not only in the sphere of tourism, but also in other economic fields such as light industry, agriculture and IT.
Karapetyan also encouraged Lebanese businessmen to attend a huge economic and investment conference which will take place next fall in Armenia.
The Lebanese minister said that there was a high interest among Lebanese tourists visiting Armenia and their goal is to double the number of tourist arrivals in Armenia.
According to Guidanian, the Lebanese side agreed with the Ministry of Economic Development and Investments of Armenia to realize several targeted activities to boost development of relationship in the tourism sector.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-21 04:11:53|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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ZAGREB, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Zagreb Misdemeanor Court has rejected a motion by the Traffic Inspectorate of the Ministry of Transport to ban the cab booking Uber application, Croatian news agency HINA reported on Wednesday.
The ruling means Uber can still operate in the southeastern European country in spite of taxi driver protests in the last few months.
After one such protest on July 21, the Traffic Inspectorate filed an indictment against Uber Croatia and Uber International Holding with a request to ban the application in Croatia. The Ministry of Transport argued that Uber was operating illegally in Croatia because the company offers taxi services although their partner drivers don't have the necessary licenses and permits.
Uber expressed regret that the ministry's Traffic Inspectorate wanted its application banned in Croatia. The Ministry didn't comment the latest verdict, but the court spokesman told HINA that it might appeal.
Since the end of 2015, when Uber started operating in Croatia, the Traffic Inspectorate has seized dozens of Uber drivers' cars, but that didn't affect the company's business in the country.
There are more than 1,500 Uber drivers in Croatia who are competing with taxi drivers whose business is suffering. In June, taxi drivers protested by blocking the busiest streets in the center of the capital Zagreb. At the top of the tourist season, taxi drivers blocked a road to the airport in Dubrovnik.
The Croatian government is working on the new Road Traffic Act which will regulate Uber. A public debate about new regulation is expected soon.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-21 04:16:55|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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TEHRAN, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday censured U.S. President Donald Trump's recent anti-Iran speech as "ignorant and spiteful" at the UN General Assembly.
Trump's "rhetoric against Iran was ignorant and spiteful, abundant with false information and baseless allegations," Rouhani said, addressing the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly.
During his speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump accused Iran of "destabilizing" the Middle East region and "supporting terror."
Besides, Trump called the Iran nuclear deal, reached during former President Barack Obama's administration, "an embarrassment" for the United States, indicating that he may not recertify the deal at its mid-October deadline.
Trump blasted the deal as "one of the worst and one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into."
According to the Iran nuclear deal, or formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran will be removed if the country is proved to abide by the deal over the next few years.
In reaction, Rouhani dismissed the U.S. "destabilization" allegations and supported the JCPOA as an international accord.
"Today, we are on the frontlines of fighting terror and religious extremism in the Middle east; not for sectarian or ethnic reasons, but for an ethical, humanitarian causes," he said.
Iran does not seek to restore its ancient empire, impose its official religion on others, or export its revolution to other countries through the force of arms, he pointed out.
Moreover, Iran's nuclear deal is the outcome of two years of intensive multilateral negotiations, overwhelmingly applauded by the international community and endorsed by the Security Council as a part of Resolution 2231, Rouhani said.
"The JCPOA does not belong to one or two countries. It is a UNSC document, which belongs to the entire international community," Rouhani said, adding that Iran would respond to any breach of the JCPOA.
The Iranian president also draw the global attention to what he referred to as "threats" posed to the Middle East region by the nuclear arms at the disposal of Israel.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-21 04:27:00|Editor: huaxia
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CAPE TOWN, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Protesting students set fire on properties in South Africa's Cape Town on Wednesday, drawing immediate condemnation from the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
Lecture theaters and financial aid offices at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) were burned during the protest that has continued for days, university authorities said.
Police and firefighters were deployed to the main campuses of CPUT as the situation went out of control.
Police fired stun grenades to disperse protesting students at some point, witnesses said.
So far there was no reports of injuries, according to police.
CPUT's various campuses have experienced sporadic unrest, amid protests that appeared to revolve around student accommodation, unhappiness over campus security and student safety and insourcing, CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kansley said.
The ANC issued a statement, condemning "in the harshest possible terms" the torching of several buildings at CPUT campuses.
"These criminal acts must be punished using the full might of our law enforcement system as they can never be a justification for any grievance anyone may have had," ANC national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said.
"All stakeholders are further called upon to redouble their efforts to find amicable and lasting solutions to disputes and the restoration of the academic programme," Kodwa said.
The latest protest was reminiscent of the widespread protests against fee increases at major institutions of higher learning across the country in 2016.
According to the Department of Higher Education and Training, the cost of damage to universities as a result of the 2016 protests was estimated at approximately 459 million rand (about 35 million U.S. dollars). Enditem
Mahmoud Abbas, President of Palestine, addresses the 72nd UN General Assembly on September 20, 2017, at the United Nations in New York. (AFP Photo)
GAZA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas called Wednesday for an end to the "apartheid" that Israel had imposed on the Palestinians, local media reported.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Abbas warned that the new U.S.-led drive for peace talks resumption must not jettison the two-state solution.
"If the two-state solution were to be destroyed due to the creation of a one-state reality with two systems, apartheid, this would be failure," Abbas said in his speech.
"Can the world accept an apartheid regime in the 21st century?" he asked.
Abbas told the assembly that the international community must do for the Palestinians what was achieved for South Africa.
Abbas slammed Israel over the construction of new settlements "everywhere," saying they were putting the two-state solution in jeopardy.
The UN considers Israeli settlements illegal under international law and has repeatedly called for a halt to their expansion on land earmarked to be part of a future Palestinian state.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-21 05:02:23|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Forces loyal to Yemen's internationally-backed government shot down on Wednesday an Iranian-made reconnaissance drone belonging to the Shiite Houthi group in the southern province of Lahj, a military official told Xinhua.
According to the official of the Fourth Regional Military Command based in Aden, the air forces unit successfully shot down the Houthi unmanned aircraft as it was flying over government-controlled areas in Lahj province.
"The Yemeni Air Defense forces supported by the Saudi-led coalition will not permit any attempts by the Houthi rebels to use the Iranian-made drones to spy and collect information about our troops in Yemen," the source said.
"The Houthi rebels will not gain any benefits from using these drones and our forces will act with high determination to abort any attempts," he added.
The Yemeni military source accused Iran of providing the Shiite Houthi group with such drones and other military equipments to confront the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces.
There has been no immediate response of the pro-Houthi authorities in the capital Sanaa regarding the reports of striking down their drone in Lahj province.
It is the first time that the Saudi-backed government forces in the country's southern part announce destroying a reconnaissance drone drone that belongs to the Shiite Houthi group.
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani answers a question during a press conference in New York on September 20, 2017, on the sideline of the 72nd Session of the United Nations General assembly. (AFP Photo)
TEHRAN, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Iran has ruled out talks with the United States on revisiting a 2015 nuclear accord as "waste of time," local media reported on Wednesday.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday ruled out talks with U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on revisiting a 2015 nuclear accord and said Tehran had "various options" if Washington pulls out, IRNA reported.
"An American government that chooses to trample on her legal and legitimate international commitments, a conversation with such a government would be a waste of time," Rouhani told reporters on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said there was no question of reopening negotiations, a day after Trump called the accord an "embarrassment."
Rouhani said that Iran had "various options" including "the removal of obstacles" if the United States pulls out of the agreement.
"Iran has never sought, is not now seeking and will never seek nuclear weapons," he said.
The dispute centers on uranium enrichment, which Iran says is for civilian use but critics led by Israel say is intended to build nuclear weapons.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-21 05:17:31|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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RIYADH, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia on Wednesday requested a termination of the independent referendum by Iraqi Kurds scheduled for Sept. 25.
Saudi Arabia "looks forward to the wisdom and experience" of Kurdistan Regional Government leader Massoud Barzani not go ahead with the plan, Saudi Press Agency reported, citing an official source in a statement.
It added that in view of the current conditions and risks being experienced by the region, and also to avoid new crises, the plan should be terminated.
Saudi Arabia calls in the statement on all the components of the Iraqi parties concerned to engage in a dialogue for the interests of Iraqi people, and preserve unity and sovereignty of the country.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-21 05:27:35|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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BOGOTA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Colombian authorities said on Wednesday a man had been arrested after threatened to blow himself up in a bank at the Plaza Imperial commercial center in the Suba district of Bogota.
The man was demanding money from a cashier but no explosives were found on him later.
The commercial center said in a statement that this incident was separate from an evacuation which happened on Wednesday morning, in which 3,000 people evacuated the mall after hearing an explosion.
According to General Hoover Penilla, commander of the Bogota police, this explosion was due to a small explosive device which went off in a dustbin outside the mall, without causing any damage.
A person entered Banco Davivienda speaking about having explosives. A call was made to the police and a police bomb squad was called in and control the situation in an hour.
The police reported that the suspect had no explosives on him and had said he urgently needed money. He is being held for a mental health exam.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-21 05:32:37|Editor: Yang Yi
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Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addresses the 72nd session of United Nations General Assembly on the second day of the general debate at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 20, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said here Wednesday that his country will preserve an international deal on Iran's nuclear program, but decisive response would be made to possible violation by the United States.
"I declare before you that the Islamic Republic of Iran will not be the first country to violate the agreement. But it will respond decisively and resolutely to its violation by any party," Rouhani told the UN General Assembly.
He was in a clear response to U.S. President Donald Trump's threat that Washington may pull out of the deal spearheaded by his predecessor Barack Obama. The deal was reached in July 2015 between Tehran and the six world powers of Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.
"It will be a great pity if this agreement were to be destroyed by rogue newcomers to the world of politics," said Rouhani, throwing the word "rogue" back to Trump, who on Tuesday called Iran a "rogue" state and the Iran nuclear deal "an embarrassment."
Rouhani said Trump's "ignorant, absurd and hateful rhetoric filled with ridiculously baseless allegations" and was unfit to be heard at the United Nations, which was established to promote peace and respect between nations.
He reiterated that the defense capabilities of Iran, including its missiles, are solely defensive deterrence and that his country had never intended to acquire nuclear weapons.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-21 05:32:39|Editor: huaxia
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TEHRAN -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday censured U.S. President Donald Trump's recent anti-Iran speech as "ignorant and spiteful" at the UN General Assembly.
Trump's "rhetoric against Iran was ignorant and spiteful, abundant with false information and baseless allegations," Rouhani said, addressing the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly. (Iran-Rouhani-Trump)
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DOHA -- Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has called for an international convention to settle its diplomatic crisis with Saudi-led Arab quartet through peaceful means, state-run Qatar News Agency reported Wednesday.
"The blockade was imposed abruptly and without warning, prompting Qataris to consider it as a kind of treachery," Al Thani said in a speech at the opening of the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly. (Qatar-Diplomatic Crisis)
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MANAMA -- Bahrain's government on Wednesday announced it has hired a law firm to secure the release of 19 fishermen who were caught by Qatari authorities.
Qatari officials impounded 16 Bahraini fishing vessels and their crew, which, Bahrain officials said, has violated international maritime regulations. (Bahrain-Qatar-Fisherman)
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ANKARA -- Turkey has deployed fully equipped commando units as part of military reinforcements along its southern border with Syria, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Wednesday, citing a military source.
The military vehicles loading fully equipped commandos travelled to the Syrian border on Wednesday, near Reyhanli district of southern Hatay province, according to the anonymous source. (Turkey-Syria) Enditem
The Turkish Navy MOSHIP (Submarine Rescue Mother Ship) TCG Alemdar takes part in the "Dynamic Monarch-17" NATO submarine escape and rescue exercise on September 20, 2017, off the Turkish Naval base of Aksaz in Marmaris. (AFP Photo)
ANKARA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Turkey was holding naval exercises with fellow NATO members at a time of crisis in strained ties with alliance states, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Wednesday.
Turkey on Wednesday was preparing to wind up naval exercises with fellow NATO members being held at a time of a crisis with alliance states and controversy over Ankara's plan to purchase weapons from Russia, the report said.
The NATO exercises, focused on submarine rescue operations and called "Dynamic Monarch," were taking place in Turkish waters in the Mediterranean Sea off the resort city of Marmaris.
The naval exercises involved 1,000 personnel and nine countries including France, Britain and the United States.
The drill, the first in Turkey since 2000, is aimed at demonstrating multinational submarine rescue cooperation and interoperability.
But its hosting by Turkey is also a symbol of Ankara's importance within the alliance during a tense period.
A NATO official said "Turkey is essential for the security of Europe. It has NATO's second largest army and makes an important contribution to the alliance."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-21 06:02:48|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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by Xinhua writers Mahmoud Fouly, Zheng Kailun
CAIRO, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- At the palace-like Gezira Art Center in downtown Cairo, an Egyptian female photographer tells vivid stories about the everyday life of Chinese, as well as many of China's famous landmarks and landscapes through the "Tales from China" photo exhibition.
With decorative red lanterns hanging from the ceiling of the exhibition hall, red paper-cuts of fish and the Chinese word "happiness" put on the walls, and traditional Chinese music playing in the background, the exhibition by Sara Fouad shows a unique photographic vision of the Chinese capital city of Beijing and Shandong Province.
The exhibition, held under the auspices of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture from Sept. 13 to 27, reflects the Chinese culture and civilization as seen through Egyptian eyes.
"The exhibition hall has separate corners and I made each corner tell a separate tale from China. A tale can consist of one, two or three photos out of total 44 photos in the exhibition," Fouad told Xinhua.
The photos were taken by Fouad during her two-week stay in Beijing and Shandong in 2014 in a trip supported by the Chinese Cultural Center in Cairo.
Fouad, a bachelor of arts in Middlesex University of London and also a member of several photography associations in Egypt, Britain and the United States, said that her photos of the Chinese people were inspired by the kindness, hospitality and warm help she received from them during her short stay in China.
"The Chinese people are so kind and friendly. Although I did not speak Chinese, they were helpful and they never annoyed me or prevented me from taking photos. A female hotel worker even left me a gift in my room before I left China," Fouad added.
The largest photo at the center of the exhibition displays an overview of a Chinese woman in traditional garment holding a red umbrella with embroidered white flowers.
Other photos show a newly-wed couple, common Chinese people on the streets and marketplaces, a chef grilling fish and shrimps outside a seafood restaurant, the cliffy road on the way to the Great Wall, a bird's-eye view from a cable car and many others.
Mohamed Hadad, an architect who likes visiting art exhibitions, was obviously impressed by the photos. He carefully studied nearly every photo on display in the gallery, while stopping before some photos to take a deep look and reading the captions.
"This photography exhibition introduces different details about China, such as their food, habits and traditions. It tells also details about nature and landscape. I like so much the photo showing the way to the Great Wall of China over there. I also like the central photo of the woman with a red umbrella," Hadad told Xinhua.
"The exhibition lets me know more about China from inside. Each photo talks itself," he continued. "I am impressed that the Chinese people preserve their culture, habits and traditions. They are not so much affected by globalization like others."
Another visitor, Amira Nour, a photographer of a magazine belonging to Egypt's largest state-run media foundation Al-Ahram, said that her profession urges her to attend various photo exhibitions, noting that she herself held an exhibition on China after her visit in 2013.
"I found that 'Tales from China' is so different in terms of the neat layout and method of display that take a visitor from one corner to another as if from one tale to another, moving from social life, habits and traditions to temples and architecture," she told Xinhua.
Besides people, the exhibition also displays many photos of unique Chinese landmarks, famous structures and tourist attractions, including the Forbidden City, the National Museum of China and the National Grand Theater in Beijing, the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in Qingdao, the Kite Museum and railway station in Weifang, and the Thousand Buddha Cliff and Daming Lake in Jinan.
Fouad was recommended to the Chinese Cultural Center by award-winning Egyptian photographer Ayman Lotfy, who said that it was an advantage to get a country photographed by a different eye.
"Street photography is not easy as it is crowded and full of details and icons, but Fouad's eyes discovered China so neatly and calmly with so accurate components, and the cuts and angles make the photos look like enjoyable works of art that a visitor would like to get and hang at home," Lotfy told Xinhua at the exhibition.
China and Egypt have held several joint cultural activities including festivals, folklore performances, and art exhibitions to celebrate the growing bilateral relations and cultural exchanges since the two countries marked 2016 as the China-Egypt Cultural Year.
Chinese Cultural Counselor to Egypt Shi Yuewen, who attended the opening ceremony of the "Tale from China" exhibition, praised the photos as "artistically and vividly captured."
He said that Fouad took pictures of what caught her eyes in China, especially from her Egyptian and female perspectives.
"The exhibition effectively enhances the Egyptian people's understanding of modern China, which is vitally important to deepen the friendship between the two peoples," Shi told Xinhua.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-21 06:47:53|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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By Gao Lu
HOUSTON, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- In the aftermath of tropical storm Harvey, expert believe there is a long way to go to improve emergency preparedness system in the United States.
Category four Hurricane Harvey made a landfall along the coast of Gulf of Mexico. The storm brought unprecedented rainfall to the greater Houston area in south U.S., killing dozens of people. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said damage by Hurricane Harvey would reach 150 billion to 180 billion U.S. dollars.
During an exclusive interview by Xinhua, Jim Blackburn, co-director of Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation Center from Disasters in Rice University, said the disaster showed there is a lot to improve the emergency preparedness system in the U.S.
"We have a long way to go in emergency preparedness system. There's a much better warning system that we could have. In fact it would be very easy to have."
According to him, the flood-alert system in the Texas Medical Center (TMC) in Houston sets a good example for the entire country.
Designed by Rice University civil engineering professor Philip Bedient and other experts, the Flood Alert System - now in its third version - uses radar, rain gauges, cameras and modeling to indicate whether Houston's Brays Bayou is at risk of overflowing and flooding the TMC. The system can predict maximum flooding conditions two to three hours ahead of time and track rain totals more accurately than radar alone.
The lead time was crucial, said TMC's President and CEO Bill McKeon. It allowed the hospitals to shut their floodgates and evacuate basement garages before the flood hit.
In the end, the only damage the hospital sustained was downed trees and leaky roofs, McKeon said.
This was not the first time the system worked well. When Tropical Storm Allison hit Houston in 2001, the system gave accurate predictions. During the past two decades, it has been upgraded from the first version to the third and monitored more than 150 storms.
In an interview with local newspaper in 2015, Bedient said the existing National Weather Service only issues warning by county which is too general, while the TMC Flood Warning System is designed to provide its users more specific flood warnings by monitoring key watersheds. Moreover, the system is interactive and provides real time updates every five minutes.
Blackburn believed the flood alert system in TMC should be widely used in the country. "It tells them when they need to deploy their flood gates that they have, it tells them when to tell their employees not to come in, and when to shut down for business. We need that for the entire county," he said.
During and after the flood disaster, hurricane victims criticized the authorities of fragmented information. Flood alerts were given in the state, county and city levels. People complained about overwhelming, sometimes confusing or even conflicting information on social media.
Blackburn agreed that there needs to be more government involvement in dealing with disasters than there used to be. Although against local political culture, he admitted an authoritative central source is needed in the future crisis management.
"That's part of the change we need to implement. I think Texans like a less authoritative government. But in something like this we need to be authoritarian," he commented. "I think you'll see that in the future. It was certainly a legitimate criticism of this storm."
As the fourth largest metropolitan in the U.S., Houston is famous for its tolerance, welcoming immigrants from all over the country and the world.
However, there's not good information for someone on how to survive a Houston flood. There's not an official document like that. There should be. We can help people a lot more than we do, Blackburn said.
He said it's time for the authorities to put people's need ahead of economic development of the city.
"I think it's really about putting people first. Houston has often put development and economic growth ahead of the people that are here. And I think that is something that will also change," Blackburn concluded.
Cops nab cops in roadblock
During a search of the marked PoS Division police vehicle, officers found three unlicensed firearms, a quantity of ammunition and several crocus bags filled with compressed marijuane. The two police officers remained in custody up to last night.
Sources said the officers left a police station in Port of Spain, telling seniors they were going out on enquiries. They drove all the way to Cedros. At 5 pm, South-Western Division officers on mobile patrol, became suspicious when they spotted the PoS police vehicle escorting another vehicle which contained men known to be from the underworld.
The officers called on the two police officers to pull their vehicle to the side of the road but instead the police vehicle sped off at high speed. The police officers who were giving chase, called for back-up and a roadblock was set up which eventually led to the PoS officers coming to a halt.
As the illegal items were found in the police vehicle, the two officers were ordered to surrender their sidearms and police ID cards. They were then arrested by Sgt Ali of the Southern Division Task Force. ACP (Crime) Irwin Hackshaw and Ag Snr Supt Ajith Persad were contacted and both went to South-Western Division last night to assist in the investigation.
The two policemen were at the Oropouche police station being interrogated. Acting Police Commissioner Harold Phillip is expected to receive an interim report on the arrest and seizures today.
Looking for Junior Grandison
One of the attorneys for some of the ten men, who have convinced President Anthony Carmona to send their cases back to the appellate court, to consider Grandisons subsequent declaration that he lied under oath, have asked for a subpoena to ensure he attends court. In 2015, three years after Grandison swore a statement saying he lied at the trial, President Carmona agreed to have the case remitted to the Court of Appeal to consider this new evidence of the prosecutions then main witness.
Grandison swore in a declaration dated June 1, 2011, that evidence he gave at the trial, was false and did not represent the truth. He was the main witness in the trial of Michael Rat Maharaj, Samuel Maharaj, Damian Tommy Ramiah, Bobby Ramiah, Seenath Farmer Ramiah, Daniel Fella Gopaul, Richard Huggins, Leslie Huggins, Mark Bico Jaikaran and Junior Heads Phillips.
The ten were convicted on August 7, 2001, after a trial which lasted 33 days. They lost their appeals but escaped the hangmans noose because of the delay in hearing their appeals at the London Privy Council. Their sentences were commuted to life imprisonment.
In his submissions to Justices of Appeal Alice Yorke-Soo Hon, Prakash Moosai and Rajendra Narine, Edward Fitzgerald, QC, who represents Damian Ramiah, urged the judges to accept Grandisons sworn declaration contained in an affidavit given by attorney Gerald Ramdeen and audio recording of a conversation Grandison had in May of this year with Michael Maharaj, in which he repeated what was said in his 2011 statement.
In objection, special State prosecutor Travers Sinanan submitted the evidence of Grandison and the telephone conversation were not capable of belief and cannot be accepted at face value.
He said Grandison must go into the witness box and give evidence and allow himself to be cross-examined.
The court ordered that Grandison give his evidence when the matter resumes next Tuesday
Kidnap victim relives ordeal
Michael Murray is on trial for kidnapping Straker. The matter is being heard before Justice Maria Wilson and a jury of nine in the San Fernando High Court. Yesterday, Straker testified how she was taken against her will by a man and later recognised the driver of the getaway as being the accused, Michael Murray.
The incident occurred on June, 21 2007 minutes after Straker left her Coora Road, Siparia home. She said that at about 8.30 pm, she was walking on the left side of the road when a white car pulled up alongside her, a man alighted from the vehicle, slapped her and dragged her inside the car which then sped off. When he dragged me into the car, he pushed my head down. It was while inside the car, the driver turned around and I noticed his face, Straker said she identified the driver as her neighbour, Michael Murray. The State was represented by attorneys Trevor Jones and Sara De Silva. Attorney Ainsley Lucky is representing the accused.
Soldiers hurt in crash
Those hospitalised have been identified as driver Jamie Loubon, 28, his girlfriend Cassie Fonrose and their three children, four-yearold Emmanuel, two- year-old Candy and ten-month-old Jamieson all of Penal Rock Road, Moruga and Private Denzil Toussaint. Jamie is reported to have lost his right arm.
Fonrose along with Privates Kendall Morris, Jonathan Mohammed, Kevin Carter and Jerome Samaroo were all treated and subsequently discharged.
A police report stated that around 8.20 pm on Monday, an army jeep was travelling along Moruga Main Road, Bois Jean Jean, Moruga when the driver swerved to avoid colliding with another vehicle that came into its path. The jeep crashed into Loubons car, injuring his girlfriend and children.
Deal with root causes of crime
She also called for improved dialogue between business and labour, saying this was the time for all hands to be on deck. Thomas-Felix, later, welcomed the decision of the Labour Movement to rejoin the National Tripartite Council of Trinidad and Tobago (NTAC).
She said, These relationships should be aimed at developing strategies that can impact on the survival and profitability of businesses and the promotion of sustainable, equitable economic growth in Trinidad and Tobago. Speaking on economic inequality in TT, she said that as the country deals with the fall in energy prices and other challenges, The gap between the haves and the havenots is widening. Thomas-Felix talked about the possible link between poverty, inequality and crime, saying that crime and poverty have always been closely linked in this country, adding, Despite our gains made in development, there is a shrinking middle class and an increasing number of poor citizens, including those who can be defined as the working poorthose who are employed but are still living below the poverty line. She said crime created instability and fostered a semi-permanent culture of fear among citizens.
Critically, this instability and fear also permeate specific sectors, particularly the business sector as they depress the entrepreneurial spirit, incur tremendous costs in terms of security provisions, limit customer activity and purchasing power and work to generally prevent businesses from thriving, particularly small businesses. She said the country must collectively and urgently address the root causes of this crisis.
Judge sworn in as member of JLSC
Chief Justice Ivor Archie said a sitting judge being appointed to the JLSC was perfectly permissible within the boundaries of the constitution.
The Commissions constitution states that its members should include the Chief Justice, head of the Public Service Commission, a sitting or retired judge and two persons with legal qualifications.
Earlier this year, the United National Congress, challenged the composition of the JLSC claiming that a retired judge does not fall in the last category, which was meant for lawyers.
In dismissing the lawsuit, the Court of Appeal agreed with State attorneys who claimed that judges were attorneys before their appointment and were still qualified after retirement, albeit without permission to appear before courts for ten years. The UNC has since taken the matter to the Privy Council.
Speaking about Pembertons qualifications, Archie said those made her a very valuable addition to the JLSC. He said she held a diploma in International Arbitration and she was the first person in the hemisphere to achieve a perfect score.
That is testament to her commitment to excellence and meticulous attention to detail which is one of the qualities I know she will bring to the work of the JLSC, he said.
Archie said it was a happy day for the country because in spite of the vilification and attacks people go through because they want to serve their country, Carmona had been successful in persuading people of this calibre to offer themselves to national service and the country could be grateful and proud.
Also sworn-in yesterday was Chairman of the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) Dr Fazal Ali and its members, Joanne Joseph-Hannays, Elizabeth Crouch and Anushka Anya Alcazar.
He said the Commission was a very important group of people who had acquired competencies to deal with all that awaits them.
He said, In producing teachers who help students pass exams we also need to produce teachers who build human capacities, great human beings that is what we need in TT, he said.
I WILL SHOOT HIM
In the end, the man was coerced into dropping his weapon and was arrested. The student hostage, though extremely traumatised, was unharmed.
The gunman was taken to the Maloney Police Station while his estranged girlfriend who is 20 and a student of the school was taken to the Malabar Police Station where she gave investigators a statement.
The 17-year-old student hostage was taken to hospital for treatment.
The woman told police that she had recently ended a relationship with the 32-year-old suspect who followed her as she left her Arima home and entered the maxi taxi that she boarded, all the while accusing her of being unfaithful and also of giving him a disease. The woman said she left the maxi taxi and boarded another, eventually making her way to the MIC Institute of Technologys OMeara compound.
The man arrived later at the school and a heated argument took place as he threatened to shoot her.
The police were contacted and a shoot-out ensued between the suspect and officers. The man later grabbed the 17-year-old student and a stand-off ensued. The suspect kept his gun to the students head, using the teens body as a shield from the officers.
A video recording showing the hostage drama was later uploaded to social media. In the video, the suspect shouts obscenities at the officers all the while crouching behind the teen and keeping the gun to his head.
Police come and I take a student hostage, ok? I have a gun too and is only allyuh could save him (the student) because if police step bad, I will shoot this one here, the man shouts. I will shoot him, he reiterates as a voice is heard in the video telling him to cool down.
Aye! Tell them police to move! I am seeing two police over there, the suspects then shouts. The video then ends. While this was taking place, other students began running in different directions to seek a hiding place away from the gunman.
Police officers led by Cpl De Leon of the Arima Police Station later talked the suspect into dropping the pistol and surrendering.
Police said the pistol contained three rounds of nine-millimetre ammunition and was unlicensed.
The mans ex-girlfriend who was sobbing in an office, was taken in another police vehicle to the Malabar police station where she gave a statement and was receiving counselling up to press time.
Snr Supt Daniel along with Supt David, ASP Edwards, Inspector Birch and others visited the school and commended Cpl De Leon and other officers for ensuring no bloodbath took place. Students said when they saw the suspect grab the teenager, many ran and hid in classrooms and offices.
It is something you would see on American news, where some crazy person invades a school and there is mass murder. I never thought this would happen in little Trinidad and Tobago. This is the first time, I witnessed something like this. It was scary, said a student who asked not to be identified. Police sources said they could not recall a similar incident taking place locally and as such officers who responded had to use common-sense in speaking with the suspect as they are not trained in hostage negotiations. A report on the incident is expected to be sent to Education Minister Anthony Garcia. ASP Mervyn Edwards is investigating.
A release from the MIT Institute of Technology yesterday said staff is assisting police in their investigations.
Calling the incident an isolated one, the school said that just after 9 am, staff alerted officers of the La Horquetta, San Raphael, Arima and Pinto Road police stations when the armed intruder was seen arguing with the female trainee outside the compound.
The MIC, the release stated, has called a meeting for Thursday to discuss the incident with parents whose children attend the OMeara Technology Centre, while the Employee Assistance Programme remains in effect for all employees and Trainees.
Maria devastates Dominica
In a post on his official Facebook page, Dominicas Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said that everything that money could buy, was destroyed in Dominica by the monster storm.
Initial reports based on communication via ham radio, estimated that between 75 to 85 percent of all structures in Dominica were completely demolished while others had extensive damage including roofs being torn off.
There were no reports up to press time of casualties.
Reports out of Guadeloupe, which Maria also lashed, had one person confirmed dead and two missing.
Assistance is being coordinated by the Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of National Security and the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs.
An Office of the Prime Minister release said that a Coast Guard vessel was due to depart for Dominica around midnight last night and a National Helicopters Services Limited helicopter was due to leave at daybreak today.
Among those included to travel were six personnel each to form part of the initial damage assessment and search and rescue teams of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), and one to assist in manning Dominicas National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), Office of Disaster Preparedness (ODPM) Deputy Chief Executive Officer Colonel Dave Williams told Newsday.
A coordinating meeting was held yesterday with stakeholders including Caribbean Airlines and the Immigration Department.
Government has also been liaising with the Caricom Secretariat and other Caricom members throughout the day to obtain information and work out logistics to provide support and assistance to Dominica.
The National Security ministry reiterated that TT remains willing to assist its CARICOM neighbours affected by severe weather systems and will respond accordingly in consideration of the present economic realities, while ensuring that our ability to respond to any eventuality at home remains a priority. The last official communication out of Dominica from Prime Minister Skerrit was issued at 1.13 am yesterday via the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. In the statement, Roosevelt said, Initial reports are of widespread devastation. So far we have lost all what money can buy and replace.
My greatest fear for the morning is that we will wake to news of serious physical injury and possible deaths as a result of likely landslides triggered by persistent rains. The winds, he said, have swept away the roof of almost every person I have spoken to or otherwise made contact with. The roof to my own official residence was among the first to go and this apparently triggered an avalanche of torn away roofs in the city and the countryside. As soon as the all clear was given, he said, he was going in search of the injured and those trapped in the rubble.
Former MP Dominican- born Herbert Volney told Newsday that he had been out of touch with his two older brothers living in Dominica and was concerned about their welfare. He was speaking with one of them when the storm touched down at about 9.15 pm on Monday and he described the house as trembling.
AG: Judiciary, DPP getting help
Al-Rawi made this point as he concluded debate on the Indictable Offences (Pre-Trial Publicity) Bill 2017.
Referring to statements made by Chief Justice Ivor Archie at the 2017- 2018 ceremonial opening of the law term on Monday, Al-Rawi said Government supported Archie when he went to Nigeria and received computer software from the Nigerian government.
He said this software is being used in the Family and Childrens Division of the High Court and, has been bettered by the Government of Spain. Al-Rawi said this country has been able to shift from spending millions of dollars in software management and other expenses to, a glorious US$5,000 full stop for the year. He also said under the Peoples National Movement (PNM), a computer system is now being applied to the Magistracy, for the first time ever in the history of TT. Al-Rawi also said efforts are being made to improve transcription services in the court and it underscores Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowleys approach that, the position of readiness for us is a matter of getting the minutia dealt with. Al-Rawi said there is regular dialogue with the DPP about filling critical positions in his office. Saying no such conversation took place under the former Peoples Partnership (PP) government, Al-Rawi said the PNM acknowledges the independence of the DPP and the importance of the DPP in having an input regarding the individuals who fill these positions. Saying his permanent secretary writes and calls the DPP every single Monday morning on this, Al-Rawi said, I can only do my part. He rejected claims that Section 22 of the bill was the new Section 34. Referring to the 2011 legislation which contained the infamous clause, Al-Rawi reminded senators that Section 34 indicated that matters shall be discharged after a particular period of time. In contrast, he said Section 22 in the current bill used the word may regarding the discharge of matters.
How on earth could shall and may be the same? Al-Rawi asked.
He recalled that Section 34, came alive by virtue of a Cabinet decision on August 9, 2012. Al-Rawi said that decision was confirmed on August 16, 2012 and both decisions were signed off by then prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
He identified Winston Dookeran, Prakash Ramadhar, Jack Warner, Dr Roodal Moonilal , Dr Tim Gopeesingh and Dr Bhoe Tewarie as some of the other former Cabinet ministers who agreed to the proclamation of Section 34.
Kamla claims misbehaviour
The issue of a lease operator allegedly swindling $80 million from state-owned Petrotrin by over-billing the company for oil it never provided to Petrotrin, was first raised by Persad- Bissessar at a UNC meeting on September 10. At the partys Monday Night Forum at the Union Presbyterian Primary School in Claxton Bay, the fake oil scandal was again her main focus.
Persad-Bissessar also weighed heavily on the fact that Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley had publicly acknowledged that he was friends with the owner of the company at the centre of the scandal. She said that a telephone call by a senior member of government, to the owner of the lease firm, raises serious questions and to her, suggests that the government official is guilty of misconduct and misbehaviour in public office. She said that it was passing strange at the government official did not call Petrotrins line minister Franklin Khan or Petrotrin chairman. Instead, the official chose to call the owner of the lease company.
This phone call raises some serious questions and the question arises as to whether the (name called) may be guilty of misconduct and misbehaviour in public office, Persad- Bissessar said. The question arises as to whether (name called) may be guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice, she added.
Persad-Bissessar also condemned recent attacks on media by personnel associated with the company and wondered whether the perpetrators felt emboldened because they have a friend in high office. She also condemned a police raid on Monday at the television studio offices of crime watch host Ian Alleyne, saying the nation is witnessing Gestapo tactics by the government.
Senate prays for hurricane victims
Kangaloo made her appeal as senators delivered Republic Day greetings in the Senate .
Kangaloo said while this country had been blessed during its 41 years as a republic, thoughts and prayers should be extended to people in other Caricom countries at this time .
In delivering greetings on behalf of the Government, Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee- Scoon said TT had recorded many achievements and there was much to celebrate. She also noted the country continued to have many challenges and urged citizens to join hands in dealing with them. Opposition Senator Wade Mark said TT still had a long way to go in realising its full potential as a republic. Mark described recent attacks on local media personnel as an example of this .
Independent Senator Dr Dhanayshar Mahabir said Republic Day offered citizens the opportunity to, reflect on our maturity.
NP hopes to make contact with staff in Dominica
NP says that as of 11 am yesterday (Tuesday), We have not been able to make contact with anyone on the island but we remain hopeful that all of our employees and their families are safe, and our main concern is getting whatever they need most, to them as soon as is feasible. The company added that once give the allclear, it will mobilise a team to go to Dominica to ascertain the extent of the damage to property at our service stations, offices and Jet fuel facilities. NP also intends to develop a plan as to how best it can recover and assist its employees on the island.
We join with our NP family throughout Trinidad and Tobago in praying for all of Dominica at this time, the company said.
Maria causes flooding in south Trinidad
Some of the affected residents are from the Cedros, Santa Flora and the Penal area.
The Siparia Regional Corporation (SRC) estimated yesterday that at least 20 houses were severely affected by the flooding at Bonasse Village, Cedros.
Vice-chairman of the Cedros Village council Anthony Steele believes a heavy overnight downpour on Monday and the discriminatory dumping of garbage are mainly responsible for disaster faced by residents.
My neighbourhood has to understand that they cannot dump garbage and things like bottles, old mattresses and pillows. The water was so much in such short space of time. I cannot saw how much inches fell, but it was more than we ever witnessed in a long time. What made it worse, tide was full so the water couldnt go anywhere, Steele said.
Steele, also a community activist and worker of the Disaster Management Unit of SRC, added that contractors were repairing a bridge and so, water had to be diverted in the interim. He noted that while it contributed to the flooding, it was not the major factor.
Among those affected was 82- year-old amputee Jane Abraham.
Abraham has diabetes and hearing problems. Residents, using a pump borrowed from the nearby contractors, had to bail out water from Abrahams home and removed her to safety. They also used buckets to bail out water from her home and other affected residences. Steele called on the ODPM to facilitate residents with a pump for situation like this in Cedros.
Councillor for Cedros Shankar Teelucksingh yesterday visited the affected residents among them Abraham. He added that about six weeks ago works started on the bridge which he said contributed significantly to the flooding.
Teelucksingh added: Due to the work, the water had to be diverted and the volume of water was too much to handle. I am not blaming the contractor but the Minister of Works. My heart went out to those people and we are lending a hand. At Santa Flora, murky brown flood waters surrounded several homes and residents said they expected it to recede by evening.
One home was surrounded by water and residents said it was a normal occurrence whenever heavy rain fall. They said that the water normally subsided in a few hours. Along the SS Erin Road, Quarry Village, Siparia, near Bajnath Trace, a tree fell and SRC workers had to cut and clear the debris from the road.
There were also reports of flooding along Penal Rock Road in Penal and environs.
Roget calls OPM retrenchment statement deceitful
During a news conference outside Rowleys office, St. Clair Avenue, St. Clair, on September 13 after three hours of talks, Roget said the meeting had been able to get the Government to put a hold on plans for further retrenchment of public sector workers.
However, the Office of the Prime Minister issued a statement a few days later saying that Rogets claim was absolutely misleading and that the Government had no plans for massive retrenchment of public sector workers.
The statement said the labour movement had always claimed that the government was engaging in mass layoffs although this was not true and the Government was at pains to point out that its actions were the opposite and meant to keep as many persons employed even as the countrys finances posed a serious challenge to this objective. The statement added that notwithstanding this factual situation, labour insisted on asking for a moratorium until December on something that was neither occurring nor was planned at this time. The statement from the Prime Ministers Office said it was very disappointed that its efforts at engagement with labour intending to build trust and cooperation in the national interest can be so easily undermined by self-serving and misleading representation of the facts. Speaking to Newsday yesterday following the formal opening of the Law Term of the Industrial Court, Roget said that statement was totally unwarranted and it was totally unprovoked and it was meant to serve as a distraction from the ongoing fiasco with the friends of the government with respect to the alleged over-fiscalisation of oil at Petrotrin.
Roget said the persons involved are known friends of senior members of the Government and accused Rowley of acting just like the previous government.
The last government used to govern by distraction. Every time an issue came up, they tried to create another issue to distract from that. Roget said despite Rowleys denial, We verily believe that there was going to be mass retrenchment and we still do verily believe that there would be mass retrenchment. He said the denial was issued to water down what had been achieved by the trade union movement and it was deceitful and deceptive for the Office of the Prime Minister to issue that statement which, he said, breaks down the trust and confidence between the two sides. He said the trade union movement can no longer take the Prime minister at his word because the government is adopting the same approach as the last government, an approach which reeks of dishonesty and deception.
Ferry crisis deliberate
He traced the root of current ferry woes to a mysterious removal of an exit clause from the contract to hire the Warrior Spirit (known as a charter-party), so the Port Authority couldnt terminate the contract for non-performance, despite the boat limping along on just one engine and taking 15 hours on the sea-bridge.
Alleging a failure of due diligence (proper research before contracting), he asked, Why was the exit clause excised? Annisette then contrasted two different stances on signing the charter- party. He bemoaned that no charter-party was ever signed for the Super Fast Galicia, saying such a contract would have prevented this ship from suddenly leaving TT.
By contrast, seemingly referring to the Ocean Flower II and/ or Cabo Star, Annisette lamented that a charter- party was signed even before the vessel( s) reached TT and had undergone sea-trials.
That is unheard of.
Id like that to be investigated, he demanded.
Annisette concluded, In my view this thing was calculated and designed to have this result. Nobody could change my mind. I and my executive spoke to Minister (Rohan) Sinanan and I warned him of the consequences of not signing a charter- party agreement.
He said They could go! Nobodys holding this Government to ransom.
They have vessels outside there. Blaming Sinanan, Annisette said, If the vessel left under your watch you should be man enough to take responsibility for the chaos that the leaving of the Galicia caused. Alluding Sinanan had erred, Annisette said six ships submitted for tender had all failed.
Annisette cryptically alleged that four months before the arrival in TT of the Atlantic Provider the union had known it was due.
Ex-minister warns of fake oil spin
There is an attempt to spin this fake oil issue away from the fact that it happened in 2016 to 2017, that is what the report says and the Minister of Energy is taking very long to get a copy of that report, Ramnarine said.
During the four years and two months that I was minister of energy, on no occasion was any information or evidence presented to me that this sort of thing was going on in Petrotrin, he said.
Ramnarine was addressing the UNCs Monday Night Forum meeting at the Union Presbyterian Primary School, Claxton Bay on Monday evening. He reminded the audience that he had taken action against the so-called diesel racket when evidence of fraud had been uncovered.
And with Finance Minister Colm Imbert expected to present the 2018 budget on October 2, Ramnarine warned the large contingent of party supporters that the budget would be rough given the declining economy.
New vehicle sales down 20 per cent, cement sales down 20 per cent in 2016, 6 per cent in 2017, containerised cargo at PLIPDECO down 24.9 per cent, he said, adding, The economy recorded negative 2.3 per cent growth, the worst ever growth in 30 years in 2016, the International Monetary Fund said it is not 2.3, it is really (negative) 5.1 per cent. Construction is at a halt, unemploymentthe CSO gave us some figures on unemployment, I dont believe them, many of you all have children who are unemployed, we have a stagnant economy and a few days ago, the Minister of Planning said there would be more pressure to come in the 2018 budget, he said.
The budget to be read on October 2 is going to be rough and I advise everybody to brace for impact.
Ministry to get counselling for MIC students
Speaking in the Senate, Garcia said he was meeting with MICs chairman and vice-chairman when he received a call at 7.45 am about the situation.
There was a slight concern about a person armed with a gun and who held somebody hostage, the minister told senators. After getting all the facts, the decision was taken that counselling services would be provided to students, staff and the parents commencing Wednesday and continuing the day after, Garcia said.
He said additional counselling would be given if necessary and identified Elder and Associates as the provider.
Garcia said the firm of Elder and Associates will be providing counselling services today and tomorrow.
Asked by Independent Senator Paul Richards whether security checks would be made at the institute, Garcia replied, We have been assured that the security that is in place is adequate.
President Muhammadu Buhari has told a gathering of over 150 world leaders that recovery of stolen wealth from Nigeria will only be possible through their cooperation.
Buhari said this while delivering his speech at the 72nd United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.
The President further stated that ISIS fighters who were under fierce attacks were fleeing to the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel where armies had weaker capacities to defeat them.
He, therefore, urged world leaders to cooperate better in the fight against terrorism.
Buhari said, Through our individual national efforts, state institutions are being strengthened to promote accountability, and to combat corruption and asset recovery. These can only be achieved through the international community cooperating and providing critical assistance and material support.
We shall also cooperate in addressing the growing transnational crimes such as forced labour, modern day slavery, human trafficking and cybercrime.
These cooperative efforts should be sustained. We must collectively devise strategies and mobilise the required responses to stop fleeing ISIS fighters from mutating and infiltrating into the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, where there are insufficient resources and response capacity is weak.
The President said Nigerias commitment towards promoting democracy in Africa was unshakable, adding that the nation had helped maintain democracy in Cote DIvoire and The Gambia.
Buhari thanked the UN for assisting Nigeria to tackle its humanitarian crisis in the North-East.
He also commended the UNs role in helping to settle thousands of innocent civilians caught in the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The President added, In particular, we must collectively thank the government of the Federal Republic of Germany under the commendable leadership of Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Governments of Italy, Greece and Turkey for assisting hundreds of thousands of refugees.
He expressed fear of a nuclear war due to the activities of the North Korean Government.
Buhari asked the UN to set up a special delegation to visit North Korea with a view to ensuring a lasting solution to the potential crisis.
The President urged the UN not to forget United Nations Security Council Resolutions from 1967 on the Middle East crisis which remain unimplemented.
He further lamented the killings in Myanmar which, he noted, had been targeted at the Muslim-majority Rohingya population.
The President also asked the United Nations not to forget the people of Palestine who had been suffering for decades.
Buhari said, New conflicts should not make us lose focus on ongoing unresolved old conflicts. For example, several UN Security Council Resolutions from 1967 on the Middle East crisis remain unimplemented. Meanwhile, the suffering of the Palestinian people and the blockade of Gaza continue.
Additionally, we are now confronted by the desperate human rights and humanitarian situations in Yemen and most tragically in the Rakhine State of Myanmar. The Myanmar crisis is very reminiscent of what happened in Bosnia in 1995 and in Rwanda in 1994.
The international community cannot remain silent and not condemn the horrendous suffering caused by what from all indications is a state-backed programme of brutal depopulation of the Rohingya inhabited areas in Myanmar on the bases of ethnicity and religion.
We fully endorse the call by the Secretary-General on the Government of Myanmar to order a halt to the ongoing ethnic cleansing and ensure the safe return of the displaced people of Rohingya to their homes in safety and dignity.
The Federal Government on Tuesday said it had approved the concession of Kano and Port Harcourt airports, as well as transaction advisers for the process.
The Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, disclosed this while speaking on the certification of Nigerian airports at the ministrys headquarters in Abuja.
On September 11, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said the Federal Executive Council had approved the concession of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja.
Osinbajo did not mention the Kano and Port Harcourt airports.
But Sirika, while commenting on the latest certification of the MMA by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, noted that FEC had also approved the concession of both Kano and Port Harcourt airports.
He said, President (Muhammadu) Buhari has approved that the Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt airports be under concession.
The Federal Executive Council has also approved it as well. FEC has also approved transaction advisers for the airports and they will start the process soon.
On the recent certification of the MMA by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Sirika described the feat as noble, adding that the Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kaduna airports were the next in line.
According to him, the benefits of an NCAA-certified airport cannot be overemphasised, as he noted that no airport had ever been certified in Nigeria in the past by the authority.
Sirika explained that with the certification, the government would be able to value the airport and know how to relate with its concessionaire when the facility is eventually given out in concession.
He said the certification showed that the airport could now be described as air safety compliant, adding that passengers would start enjoying the gains of an NCAA-certified MMA in no distant time, as this might lead to a reduction in the cost of flight tickets in the near future.
Meanwhile, workers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria on Tuesday morning disrupted activities at the MMA to protest against the proposed concession of the Lagos and Abuja airports.
The protest was led by the National Union of Air Transport Employees, National Union of Pensioners and Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria.
The unions and workers of FAAN disapproved of the plans by the government to concession both airports.
The workers who stormed the Freedom Square leading to the entrance to the FAAN headquarters in their hundreds as early as 8am, described the planned concession as an illegal act of selling off of the airports to people who were unknown to them.
The General Secretary, NUATE, Mr. Olayinka Abioye, stated that the unions would continue to mobilise and frustrate the governments plan to concession the airports without discussing with them.
He said, The government needs to engage the unions before it can consider the concession of the airports and tackle the issues that will arise from the concession, including job losses, which should be properly looked into.
The Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, must also demonstrate transparency on the concession of these airports. FAAN already has 64 legal cases over concession that have not been resolved, yet the government wants to go ahead to concession the airports.
The National President, ATSSSAN, Mr. Illitrus Ahmadu, said the workers were opposed to the concession of airports because the process was not clear to them.
We will use every instrument at our disposal to battle the government and frustrate the concession of the airports, he said.
In Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, scores of aviation workers on Tuesday also protested against the planned concession of some airports by the government.
One time Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has written a letter to the UN after the Indigenous People of Biafra was declared a terrorist organization and their activities banned.
In a letter written to the United Nations over the proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), former Nigerias Senate President during the end of the third republic, Ameh Ebute, said the group, which he described as a terrorist sect, was capable of causing mass genocide in Nigeria.
Below is the letter in full:
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The league of elder statesmen in Nigeria sends you special compliments as well as extends same to the entire staff of the UN Secretariat Headquarters, New York.
We are sure the UN is aware and indeed monitoring the precarious insecurity situation in Nigeria, heightened by terrorist sects and other violent insurrectional groups. These crises escalated in the last few years beginning from the year 2009, when Boko Haram terrorists invaded Nigeria terrifyingly.
The extremists Boko Haram Islamic sect members mindlessly and gruesomely murdered people; abducted hundreds of Nigerians; perpetrated acts of arson and violently seized swathes of land under Nigerian territorial sovereignty and committed other heinous atrocities already recorded by history. It has deposited on the land internally displaced persons (IDPs) the UN has estimated at over 2.4 million people in northeast Nigeria, where terrorism hibernated for years before its defeat by the Nigerian Military.
The federal government of Nigeria (FGN) under President Muhammadu Buhari has been battling the scourge of terrorism and allied insurgencies in parts of Nigeria in the last two years. But as the insecurity situation in Nigeria is gradually being normalised, the country is again woken up by sounds of unpleasant drums of war chanted by emerging terrorists sects, garbed in ethnic separatist movements which have perfected plots to unleash more heinous atrocities on Nigeria.
We wish to notify your office that investigations by the appropriate security authorities in Nigeria have identified the latest and budding terrorists sect in the country as the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), whose leader is Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The activities of IPOB members which are mainly confined to south-east Nigeria presently is an organisation, which operates in the guise of agitations for secession or actualisation of a republic of Biafra.
While it is clear IPOB is opposed to conventional tools for its campaigns for secession, its members have wittingly engaged in unwholesome acts, which bear bold imprints of terrorism. IPOB sect members, led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu have embarked on bile and hate campaigns against other ethnicities in Nigeria, adopting inciting or indecorous language, and laced in distasteful violent acts, intent on provoking another civil war in Nigeria. They consistently nourish the platform for the planned civil strife it intends to illegally foist on Nigeria, which would lead to mass genocide against innocent Nigerians.
We are concerned at the exposure of traits of terrorism in IPOB as revealed by an intensive, painstaking security investigation and analysis of the activities of IPOBs Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his band of followers. The conclusions have been sourced and established from its relentlessly violent siege on Nigeria and promotion of hate campaigns as well as physical enforcement of compliance with illegal sit-at-home order through its militant wings.
In accordance with the above acts which bear semblance of terrorism, the Nigerian military on Friday, September 15, 2017 declared IPOBs leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the organisation as manifesting in intent, plan and purposes as analysed, is a militant terrorist organisation.
The Nigerian defence headquarters which issued the proclamation cited IPOBs perpetration of acts like the formation of a Biafra Secret Service (BSS); advanced stages in the formation of Biafra National Guard (BNG); militants possession/use of weapons; physical confrontations and attempts to snatch military weapons from the military troops on patrol and unauthorised blockage of public access roads and extortion of money from hapless members of the general public. These act built an unfathomable tension in the southeast and Nigeria.
It is also instructive that almost simultaneously after Nigerian military authorities declared IPOB a terrorists organisation, the governors of the five states in the south-east, under the aegies of South-east Governors Forum (SGF) held an emergency meeting. After intensive deliberations on the actions of the IPOB leader and activities of the organisation, the SGF in a communique issued on same day, September 15, 2017 unanimously resolved and proscribed the activities of IPOB.
Furthermore, it is a matter of serious concern that the south-east states governors, who are the chief security officers of their respective states, reviewed the prevailing preposterous insecurity situation in the south-east hatched through the violent operations of IPOB members and the concomitant consequences to outrightly proscribe its activities. It is express confirmation of the deep-rooted threats of terrorism IPOB constituted to the south-east region and corporate existence of Nigeria; public peace and order as well as national security.
Only the prompt intervention of the Nigerian military that saved a nationally ominous, violent implosion, which would have snowballed into a terrible and devastating crisis, leading to mass genocide of Nigerian people.
We are scared for the future of Nigeria and posterity with the continued existence of the Mazi Nnamdi Kanus IPOB. Its leader has vowed repeatedly through utterances and actions to unstoppably trigger crisis of genocidal proportions in Nigeria come rain, come sun shine. (Please, find attached, video clips of Nnamdi Kanus threats to cause genocide in Nigeria)
It is therefore imperative for the UN through its organ of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to invoke the suitable laws to intervene in an apparently smoldering crisis in Nigeria. Permitting the progression of this crisis to the level of explosion would be devastating and definitely affect peace and security on the African continent as a whole and create humanitarian crisis of international dimension.
The UN is pleaded to immediately commence the process of investigating the activities of IPOBs leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and members of the organisation which have radiated in flames of a terrorists sect. It has led to its tagging as a terrorists organisation by Nigeria and UN is prodded to act in order to identity and do the needful to these pregnable threats to Nigeria and trans-regional security in Africa.
The UN is implored to further initiate actions that would save Nigeria from this pending catastrophe arranged by IPOB in order to safeguard international peace and security. Our experiences indicate that some terrorists groups tormenting Nigeria today have confessed to been foreign-backed and funded. It underscores the need to give more attention to IPOBs fierce aggression on Nigeria.
Please, accept our profound appreciation as we anxiously await an immediate response to this plea for intervention to halt the imminent disruption of peace and the obvious plunging of Nigeria into avertable crisis.
A Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for Transparency and Good Governance has warned that the Nnamdi Kanu led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) will be worse than Boko Haram if not urgently tackled.
The coalition noted that before its proscription by the military and southeast governors, IPOB had exhibited all the characteristics of a terrorists group to the extent that it had become the metaphor for describing the southern equivalent of Boko Haram led by Abubakar Shekau.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, the National Coordinator of the Coalition, Patriot Sabo Ode recalled Kanu had declared Biafra Republic same as Shekau declared an Islamic Caliphate; where he called Nigerians animals like Shekau called them infidels.
He said, Both men promised to deliver the heads of Nigerian Presidents to their declared enclaves; IPOB and Boko Haram adopted flags other than the green-white-green; they formed cabinets; they radicalised youths, they called for attacks on Nigeria and Nigerians; and they both declared the state and its military as their enemy.
Ode said the coalition had observed that some unrepentant members of IPOB have resorted to ramping up their campaign of fake news, which they have been using to brainwash residents in south-east.
The pseudo-online news portals they deploy for their propaganda have ramped up their farcical activities to an extent that they are now lying against foreign dignitaries in the hope that this would distract the Federal Government from its resolve to protect all Nigerians.
The latest of such attempt is an headline EU Condemns and Cautions Nigerian Military, Reject the Declaration of IPOB as a Terrorist Organization. In the poorly written story cooked up to justify the lying headline, the impression was created that the President of the European Union Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker was in support of a Terrorist organisation destroying Nigeria. Unfortunately for this fake news site, the slightest fact checking reveals no such statement exists in the database of if statements issued by the EU Commission or Juncker.
For the avoidance of doubt, the most current news about Juncker and the EU is about him doing his best to prevent BREXIT, the breakaway of Great Britain from the EU even after Britons have voted in a referendum to leave the union. Our view is that it will take a supremely illiterate persons to attempt blackmailing Nigeria with fake news while using an organization and leader that favour more countries staying together to form a super nation.
Ode called on Nigerians not to be swayed by such lies and to take note of sites that circulate such fake news.
Morocco expressed its willingness to offer training to the border security forces of the G5 Sahel force bringing together troops from Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Chad.
Speaking at a Francophonie ministerial meeting on security and development on the sidelines of the General Assembly, Moroccos Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said Morocco is ready to share its expertise in terms of hard and soft power, mentioning in this regards the Kingdoms multilayered approach to counter terrorism, notably through reforming the religious field and training Imams on the genuine values of tolerance and coexistence inherent to Islam.
He lauded the creation of the G5 force as a milestone in cross-border cooperation against terrorist groups, which have spawned in the region.
Bourita also commended the actions led by the International Francophonie Organization (OIF) in promoting democracy and reinforcing crisis management and conflict prevention mechanisms, citing the Hanoi Charter, the Bamako Declaration and Saint Boniface Declaration.
The Moroccan Foriegn Minister also recalled that his country is among the 20 first contributors in UN peace keeping forces.
He said that Francophone peacekeepers are best placed to contribute to UN peace promotion efforts in the French speaking countries in the continent, deploring the obstacles that stand in the way of further participation of African French speaking troops, notably in terms of equipment and training.
Therefore, he said, Morocco insists on training of African francophone peacekeepers, particularly in the field of the rule of law, disarmament, and humanitarian coordination.
He said the Francophonie organization has a crucial role to play in the field of promoting human rights and fighting violent extremism and terrorism.
At the economic level, the Minister welcomed the adoption of the Francophonie economic strategy in Dakar in 2014, adding that economic development is conducive to the efforts to install security.
The peace, security and development nexus was highlighted by the Minister, who shed light on Moroccos full support for the OIF vision for the emergence of an economic francophonie.
In this respect, he called on French speaking Africa to build on its shared assets to foster an economic and digital francophonie that is poised to achieve a successful integration in the world economy.
The leadership of King Mohammed VI and his steadfast commitment to promoting the values of tolerance, inter-religious dialogue and coexistence at home and abroad received the praise of renowned figures attending a ceremony held in New York on the fringes of the United Nations General Assembly, during which the international foundation Global Hope Coalition (GHC) distinguished the Sovereign with its prestigious Special Recognition Award.
Director-General of UNESCO and GHCs Honorary President, Irina Bokova, who handed the award to the Kings brother Prince Moulay Rachid in a ceremony attended by heads of state, leading philantrophists, former officials and renowned figures from the realm of arts and science, praised the King for his personal commitment to preserve Moroccos heritage, recalling her visit to Fez with the Sovereign, during which they toured revamped 14th, 15th and 16th Century Medrasas.
Bokova, who chaired the GHC Summit, lauded the endeavor of the Moroccan king in promoting tolerance as a means to counter extremism and radical ideas and strengthening the values of mutual respect and openness.
Malian president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was awarded the Courageous Leadership Prize at the same ceremony, congratulated the King for Leadership in championing the values of tolerance and cross-cultural dialogue.
Speaking on the same occasion, former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair congratulated the King on receiving the well-deserved award that attests to the sovereigns leadership in promoting tolerance and inter-cultural dialogue.
Echoing him, former President of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn, said the award is an expression of the recognition of the international community to the efforts spearheaded by the King in terms of championing the values of moderation and tolerance.
For his part, Director of the Middle East Program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI), Tally Helfont, underscored the key role of the King, in his quality as Commander of the Faithful, saying that this status grants the King an unparalleled legitimacy to lead the fight against religious extremism.
In this regards, he recalled the call made by the King to the Moroccan community to uphold the lofty values of Islam and reject all forms extremism.
In the same vein, Joel Ruet, head of the international think tank, the Bridge, said the distinction went to the King in recognition of the coherent and steady policy adopted by the King since his enthronement.
Ruet also pointed out to the significance of the context in which the award was presented in parallel with the 72nd General Assembly, lauding Moroccos openness and its integration initiatives in Africa.
Morocco, under the reign of King Mohammed VI, is also a bulwark against religious extremism, said Juan Zarate, former security advisor to President George W. Bush.
King Mohammed VI plays a key role in the fight against religious extremism, he said, adding that Morocco under the leadership of King Mohammed VI represents a model of what a modern and open Muslim society should be like.
The Global Hope Coalition is an initiative bringing together public leaders, private sector and civil society advocates in the fight against intolerance and violent extremism.
The Global Hope Coalition, officially launched in September 2017, seeks to provide a global platform to bolster the civil society campaign to fight violent extremism and intolerance, preserve cultural heritage, and promote intercultural dialogue.
The Coalition endeavors to identify, engage, mobilize, and foster the global network of Everyday Heroes fighting extremism and intolerance. It also aims to build bridges of entente and understanding throughout the world.
Besides the special gala dinner held on Monday evening, the coalition convened a Joint Action Meeting on Women, Children and the Trauma of Extremism.
The panel of renowned experts, led by Prof. Phyllis Magrab of Georgetown University, discussed the urgent need to protect and assist the most vulnerable victims of terrorism and violent extremismwomen and children. They underscored the devastating long-term effects on emotional well-being, growth and development on those exposed directly or indirectly to the impact of violent extremism and terrorism.
Morocco, acting chair of the UN Peacebuilding commission, has called for the reinforcement of the capacities of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
The call was made by Moroccan foreign minister Nasser Bourita during a high-level meeting held Tuesday in New York on the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) within the frame of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Bourita deplored the surge of violence in this African country, saying armed groups should not be allowed to undermine the political transition process. He also warned against the danger of the ethnic and sectarian violence that rocked lately Bangassou, a region, which was a symbol of tolerance and cohabitation.
The top Moroccan diplomat also urged the international community to act to help resolve this crisis, which could have serious consequences for the future of the country due to the apparent signs of ethnic cleansing.
He hailed the work accomplished by MINUSCA and paid tribute to the peacekeepers who lost their lives in the line of duty, including Moroccan soldiers who sacrificed their lives to defend the civilians. Those who committed these crimes should be caught and tried to the fullest extent of the law, he said.
Morocco, long-time partner of the Central African Republic, has always supported this country in the most difficult times and will continue to do so, he went on to say.
Plagued by decades of instability and fighting, the impoverished Central African Republic witnessed a resumption of violence in December 2012 when the mainly Muslim Seleka (meaning alliance in the local Sango language) rebel coalition launched a series of attacks.
A peace agreement (Libreville Agreement) was reached in January 2013, but the rebels seized the capital, Bangui, in March, forcing President Francois Bozize to flee. A transitional government was established and entrusted with restoring peace. The conflict however took on increasingly sectarian overtones by December as the mainly Christian anti-Balaka (anti-machete) movement took up arms and inter-communal clashes erupted again in and around Bangui.
Months of violence led to wrecked State institutions, leaving millions on the brink of starvation and threatened to suck in the wider region. Thousands of people are believed to have been killed, while others have been internally displaced or fled to neighboring countries: Cameroon, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo.
Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, the Security Council authorized MINUSCA to take all necessary means to carry out its mandate, within its capabilities and its areas of deployment.
Morocco is contributing 1470 peacekeepers in MINUSCA, which has a total of 12,870 uniformed personnel including 10,750 military personnel and 2,080 police personnel.
MINUSCA has been tasked to protect the civilian population from threat of physical violence, support the political transition process and the efforts seeking to address root causes of the conflict and establish lasting peace and security in the CAR.
The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres underscored that the Libyan Political Agreement signed under the aegis of the UN in Skhirat, Morocco, in December 2015, remains the transitional framework for peace and reconciliation in the North African country.
The UN chief who was participating in a high-level event on Libya organized Wednesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly said There is no military solution. Violence has only dimmed hopes for peace, undermined institutions, damaged Libyas vast economic potential and exported instability to the region.
Expressing confidence that there is an opportunity for a political solution in Libya, he stressed the crucial need to fashion a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political solution and voiced the world bodys strong commitment to help Libyans build stability, security and national unity.
This will also help address broader regional and international issues such as terrorism, violent extremism, instability and migration, he said.
Antonio Guterres then detailed his Organizations strategy for achieving these goals, which seeks, he said, to reinvigorate an inclusive political process, build credibility with the Libyan people, strengthen security arrangements and national security architecture, coordinate international engagement, improve socio-economic conditions, support migrants and uphold long-standing international norms on migration, and secure predictable support for humanitarian assistance.
The UN secretary Generals Special Representative for Libya, Ghassan Salame, also pointed out that the Skhirat agreement is the inescapable reference point on which to make progress in the reconciliation and stabilization process in Libya.
The Libyan Political Agreement led to the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNA). Chaired by Prime Minister Fayez al Sarraj, the Tripoli-based GNA enjoys recognition from the international community, but failed to extend its authority over the entire Libyan territory, particularly due to the opposition of Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who controls the eastern part of the country.
Ghassan Salame conceded that the 2015 agreement needed some small adjustments, but made it clear that it cannot be replaced.
He announced that technical meetings are scheduled for September 26 between the experts of the two Libyan rival assemblies to draft together () some amendments that will allow, he said, a broader support among Libyans to the LPA.
In his address, Guterres said his Special Representative will strive to unify and consolidate the various initiatives, and to promote dialogue towards the formation of a unified national government and the immediate end of parallel institutions. Unifying military and security institutions is critical, he insisted.
Abdelhak Khiame, Head of Moroccos counterterrorism agency, the Central Bureau for Judicial Investigations (BCIJ), said that the Kingdom is working on a new strategy to track Moroccans who become radicalized in Europe as part of beefed-up counterterrorism measures.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Khiame noted that the crackdown on radicalized individuals abroad comes in the aftermath of the Catalonia attacks, which were perpetrated by Spanish extremists of Moroccan origin.
Really, I was frightened by what we saw happen in Barcelona. They were all youths of Moroccan origin, their parents were Moroccan but they themselves had no connection to Morocco other than their origin and their family, Khiame told AP.
He said Morocco, as a key player in the global anti-extremism struggle, is monitoring and gathering intelligence on foreign fighters who joined terrorist organizations in the Middle East and Libya.
In this respect, he said the BCIJ is cracking down on foreign fighters and has arrested 85 men and 14 women after their return from the ranks of terrorist groups.
Khiame also warned of a risk of reverse terrorism, or Moroccan emigrants who become radicalized in Europe then come to Morocco to stage attacks.
He cited the example of a man who embraced extremism while living in Catalonia and who was interrogated by Moroccan authorities after the Barcelona attacks, and found to be plotting violence in Morocco.
Khiame said the man had no link to the Barcelona attacks, which left 16 people dead after a partially failed attempt by a network of teens and other young Spaniards to set off explosions in the area.
The BCIJ was instrumental in helping French police find a leading suspect in the November 2015 attacks on the Bataclan Theater, cafes and a stadium in Paris.
Alaskas Bill Walker, one of ten governors who expressed support for bipartisan health-care negotiations on the very day they were shut down. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images
Until this week, if there was any real health-care-policy action, it was probably the low-key, slow-motion, but potentially fruitful bipartisan discussions being fostered by the chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee, Lamar Alexander, and ranking Democrat Patty Murray. The deal they were working toward would have traded Obamacare stabilization measures (especially the regularization of the cost-sharing reduction subsidies for insurers, which the president keeps threatening to withhold) for language that would make the Affordable Care Acts super-waiver authority for big, state health-care experiments friendlier to conservative reforms.
Then, suddenly, the Graham-Cassidy Obamacare repeal bill received a jolt of energy from the Senate GOP leaderships willingness to take it seriously. Unsurprisingly, conservative indifference to what Alexander and Murray had been up to soon soured into disapproval. After all, if states could get significant flexibility as Murray was promising, in a gesture of her willingness to compromise why go through the painful process of partially repealing and replacing Obamacare?
The big guns came out for Alexander and Murray immediately. Orrin Hatch already annoyed by the Tennessean Alexander, who Hatch thought was getting too big for his jurisdictional britches by taking turf he thought belonged to his own Finance Committee thundered against any cost-sharing reduction deal, calling it an insurance-company bailout. Then Paul Ryan sent word to the Senate leadership that any deal worked out by Alexander and Murray would go straight into the trash can in the House. The White House sent similar messages: It was the Graham-Cassidy way or the highway.
With bipartisanship on health care under renewed attack, a bipartisan group of ten governors offered support for the Alexander-Murray approach, while dissing Graham-Cassidy, in a letter to Senate leaders. Only open, bipartisan approaches can achieve true, lasting reforms, said the governors in an implied rebuke to Mitch McConnells entire health-care strategy.
The most newsworthy gubernatorial signature on the letter probably belonged to Alaskas Bill Walker, whose senior senator, Lisa Murkowski, could very well represent the deciding vote on Graham-Cassidy. Yes, Walker is an independent aligned with Democrats in Alaska, but he still could have encouraged Murkowski to negotiate for a big bribe for her vote. Instead, hes decided to flatly oppose the GOP bill.
Its also embarrassing for Louisianas Bill Cassidy the prime mover of the current legislation that his governor, John Bel Edwards, signed the letter, though Edwards is a Democrat. It may be even more embarrassing to original co-sponsor, Nevada senator Dean Heller, that his governor, Republican Brian Sandoval, signed on to this rebuke. During an earlier phase of the Senate health-care debate, Heller often appeared to be delegating his vote to Sandoval. Not anymore and Nevada Democrats will be taking note that Heller is pursuing legislation his governor considers damaging to the state.
Ironically, even as his handiwork was receiving some praise, Alexander announced today that the bipartisan effort he had co-led had failed.
But it may still matter that five Democratic and five Republican governors are offering Alexander and Murray encouragement at a time when theyve essentially been run off the legislative road by the big, bad Graham-Cassidy 18-wheeler.
If Graham-Cassidy craters, can Alexander-Murray make a comeback? That may depend on how and when the final Obamacare repeal bill fails. If it happens after an excruciating process that raises the hopes of the conservative-base voter that they will finally harpoon the great white whale of Obamacare say, via an October or November House vote, after the bill has triumphantly emerged from the Senate the blowback from the right could be such that the ground for bipartisanship might well be scorched, if not salted, for the foreseeable future. Otherwise, a common-sense desire to salvage something positive from this long, nasty debate could survive and thrive.
Lindsey Graham looks on as Bill Cassidy pitches their radical Obamacare-repeal bill on Tuesday. Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images
In late July, Republicans suffered a humiliating defeat when Majority Leader Mitch McConnells effort to ram an extremely unpopular Obamacare-repeal bill through the Senate in an absurdly short time frame fell three votes short of passage. Democrats breathed a huge sigh of relief and started musing about Medicaid for All. Meanwhile, cooler heads in the Senate made progress on a promising bipartisan fix for the mostly functional health-care system thats already in place.
But then, last week, Republican senators Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy announced one last last-ditch effort to repeal Obamacare. Their innovative proposal: Ram an even more radical health-care bill through the Senate, and give everyone far less warning.
The White House and most congressional Republicans quickly lined up behind the Graham-Cassidy bill, which converts federal Obamacare and Medicaid subsidies into underfunded block grants to the states, and gives states the freedom to roll back consumer protections. The legislation must pass by September 30 to avoid a Democratic filibuster.
On Tuesday the effort faced a potential setback, when many of the same forces that had killed previous Trumpcare efforts mobilized against the new bill. Grassroots groups are urging people to call their representatives to say they oppose the bill, and at least 16 health organizations have come out against it, including the American Medical Association, the American Heart Association, and the March of Dimes.
The biggest blow came from a bipartisan group of 11 governors who sent a letter to Senate leaders urging them to reject Graham-Cassidy and focus on the effort to fix Obamacare that Republicans had just abandoned. Most significantly, the group includes Alaskas Bill Walker, who might influence his states senator, Lisa Murkowski, one of the three Republicans who killed the last Trumpcare push. On Tuesday afternoon, Murkowski said she would need to see a more detailed explanation of how the bill would affect her state, which has particularly high health-care costs.
If it can be shown that Alaska is not going to be disadvantaged, you gain additional flexibility. Then I can go back to Alaskans, and I can say, Okay, lets walk through this together. Thats where it could be different, she said.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has already said that it wont be able to provide a full analysis by next week.
The letter was particularly embarrassing for two of the health bills sponsors. Nevada senator Dean Heller is now officially at odds with Brian Sandoval, his states popular Republican governor, but Heller has already defied Sandoval by voting for skinny repeal in July. The letter was also signed by John Bel Edwards, governor of Cassidys home state of Louisiana. Edwardss opposition isnt surprising hes a Democrat but he did contribute to a Cassidy pile-on.
On Monday, Rebekah Gee, Lousianas health secretary, sent Cassidy a letter saying, The legislation youve introduced this past week gravely threatens health-care access and coverage for our state and its people. In his response, Cassidy suggesting that by raising concerns about his bills deep cuts in federal health-care funding, Gee was advocating for penalizing poor families that cant afford health insurance.
Cassidy has made many dubious claims about his bill in recent days, and on Tuesday night Jimmy Kimmel devoted his monologue to calling Cassidy out on it. He said the senator just lied right to my face when he appeared on his show in May. During that appearance, Cassidy had called for legislation that passed the Jimmy Kimmel test by guaranteeing care for any child born with a preexisting condition, such as Kimmels son.
I dont know what happened to Bill Cassidy, Kimmel said. But when he was on this publicity tour, he listed his demands for a health-care bill very clearly. These were his words: He said he wants coverage for all, no discrimination based on preexisting conditions, lower premiums for middle-class families, and no lifetime caps. Guess what? The new bill does none of those things.
If you too are disappointed in Sen @BillCassidy #GrahamCassidy let them know it - call (202) 224-3121 pic.twitter.com/eswlh6BaoV Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) September 20, 2017
When asked for a response, Cassidys office released a disingenuous statement about his bill, which lets states revoke protections for preexisting conditions and would likely take coverage from tens of millions of people.
We have a September 30 deadline on our promise. Lets finish the job, he said. We must because there is a mother and father whose child will have insurance because of Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson. There is someone whose preexisting condition will be addressed because of GCHJ.
Despite the objections of medical groups, elected officials, and late-night hosts, Republicans seem determined to forge ahead with their repeal effort. They touted a letter of support from 15 Republican governors though that letter called for adequately funded block grants to the states, which Graham-Cassidy wouldnt actually provide. That letter was signed by Kentucky governor Matt Bevin, who may have some sway over Senator Rand Paul. Hes been railing against Graham-Cassidy, but he took the same stance before voting for skinny repeal.
The White House has thrown its support behind the effort, too, with Vice-President Mike Pence attending the weekly Senate Republican policy luncheon to urge lawmakers to back it. Pence said Trump told him to try to find some Democratic votes too, but apparently the VP only went as far as making a phone call to Senator Joe Manchin, the most right-leaning Democrat. Manchin told Pence aides he couldnt support it, and no Democrats are expected to defect.
Democrats are mulling procedural moves to delay the vote past the September 30 deadline, and they may have been aided by Grahams gentlemanly ways: Despite the tight deadline, senators went home for Rosh Hashanah on Tuesday, and they arent expected to be back in Washington until Monday evening (just in time for Tuesdays phony health-care hearing).
Graham, who is Baptist, said that despite his fervent desire to pass his (widely hated) health bill, he isnt interested in demanding that the Senate work during religious holidays. I want to honor every religions holiday, so if we have to break for the Jewish holiday, we have to break for the Jewish holiday, he said. I dont want to get on the wrong side of God, but I am determined to do all I can as long as I can to repeal and replace Obamacare.
Paul Manafort. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call,Inc.
A month into his stint as Donald Trumps campaign manager, Paul Manafort emailed a close ally of Vladimir Putin, offering private briefings on Trumps bid for the White House, the Washington Post reports. The emails are part of a trove of materials that special counsel Robert Mueller is digging through and another piece of leverage in his reported attempt to flip Manafort into serving as a witness against Trump.
Though hes not named in Manaforts email, the Putin ally is believed to be wealthy aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska, who was referred to in a 2006 diplomatic cable leaked by WikiLeaks as among the 2-3 oligarchs Putin turns to on a regular basis.
Classified US embassy cable: Paul Manafort contact Oleg Deripaska is "among the 2-3 oligarchs Putin turns to on a regular basis." pic.twitter.com/7D5ayBfybW Defend Assange Campaign (@DefendAssange) September 20, 2017
Investigators dont have any evidence that Deripaska took Manafort up on his offer and a spokeswoman for the billionaire oligarch brushed off the idea. Manafort spokesman Jason Maloni told the Post the offer was for a routine briefing and said none ever took place anyway.
Still, Muellers team thinks it has something, the Post says:
Nonetheless, investigators believe that the exchanges, which reflect Manaforts willingness to profit from his prominent role alongside Trump, created a potential opening for Russian interests at the highest level of a U.S. presidential campaign, according to people familiar with the probe.
Manafort and Deripaska, who has previously been denied entry into the U.S. because of ties to organized crime, admit to having a relationship. In 2008, Manafort helped Deripaska set up a meeting with thenpresidential candidate John McCain and later Manafort was paid to work for the billionaire as an investment consultant.
As Mueller attempts to put the screws to Manafort, he also appears to be aggressively investigating whether President Trump has has committed obstruction of justice since moving into the White House. Reports Wednesday from both the Post and the New York Times say Muellers team has asked the White House for records relating to the firings of former FBI director James Comey and former national security adviser Mike Flynn, among other things.
Mueller is also interested in learning everything he can about the meeting in which Trump told Russian officials that firing Comey relieved great pressure and the now-infamous meeting between Donald Trump Jr. and a Russian attorney. White House lawyer Ty Cobb has begun to comply with the special counsels request and told the Post, We are committed to cooperating fully.
Myanmars state counselor Aung San Suu Kyi delivers a national address in Naypyidaw on September 19, 2017. Photo: Ye Aung Thu/AFP/Getty Images
Myanmars crackdown against the Muslim minority Rohingya continues, with nearly 400,000 Rohingya refugees fleeing from the countrys Rakhine State to Bangladesh in recent weeks. Myanmars de facto leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has been mostly silent on the crisis, and amid international pushback, she skipped the United Nations General Assembly Meeting meeting this week, promising to address the crisis in a nationally televised speech.
Suu Kyi delivered that speech on Tuesday, but did little to appease critics who say she is ignoring a genocide in her midst. Though she condemned all human-rights violations and unlawful violence, she did not mention the Rohingya by name, and papered over the atrocities by suggesting the reports of people fleeing were overblown.
We want to find out why this exodus is happening, she told an audience in the city of Naypyitaw. We want to talk to those that have fled, as well as those who have stayed. I think it is very little known that the great majority of Muslims in the Rakhine State have not joined the exodus.
Aung San Suu Kyi: The Myanmar government wants to know why some Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh. MORE: https://t.co/xcbBqpRzK2 pic.twitter.com/9Vo4Hv1pPB Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) September 19, 2017
The basis for the exodus is well-documented, and stems from a military crackdown that began August 25, after militants associated with the Rohingya clashed with Myanmar security officials, killing 12. The military met the attack with disproportionate force, incinerating villages and driving waves of men, women, and children across the border to Bangladesh, to refugee camps that lack basic necessities.
Suu Kyi failed to acknowledge the targeted campaign against Rohingya villages, going so far as to defend the military that had put her on house arrest for years. The security forces have been instructed to adhere strictly to the code of conduct in carrying out security operations, to exercise all due restraint and to take full measures to avoid collateral damage and the harming of innocent civilians, she said, also claiming there had been no clearance operations for two weeks.
Supporters of Suu Kyi have defended her inaction on the Rohingya, saying she is beholden to the whims of military, even as she tries to usher in a fledgling democracy in Myanmar. Suu Kyi seemed to use this as a defense, as well, calling her government a young and fragile democracy facing many problems.
The plight of the Rohingya was expected to come up at this weeks gathering at the United Nation, with or without Suu Kyis conspicuous absence. According to Reuters, investigators have already begun collecting testimony to support evidence of human-rights violations, and Human Rights Watch called on the U.N. Security Council to impose sanctions on Myanmar.
What Suu Kyi told her people and the world is a complete lie. If what she said is not a lie then let the world media in, so that they can see whether we are tortured or we are happy, Abdul Hafiz, a Rohingya refugee in a camp in Bangladesh told the Washington Post, after Suu Kyis speech. Let them see the plight of the people there.
If its a lie, then you can throw me in the sea and kill me, he said. We will not mind.
Pharma bro Martin Shkreli. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
We are living in a world full of assholes. To be sure: There are no census figures to back this up, no national registry from which to draw statistics, but one need only look at the headlines to see that the asshole population has not only grown in recent years but also spawned some new and rather alarming mutants. I mean, Martin Shkreli? Travis Kalanick? PewDiePie?
You can make the argument that we are living in Peak Asshole, says Robert Sutton, a Stanford professor who, as the author of the iconic 2007 book The No Asshole Rule, is perhaps the worlds leading expert on the species. According to Sutton, the problem of disrespectful, demeaning, and downright mean-spirited behavior is worse than ever, which, while it may be bad news for humanity, is good news for The Asshole Survival Guide, the book Sutton came to New York to promote. And he has a point, citing the recent fiascoes at Uber and Fox News as examples of assholes running wild. Then, of course, theres the degeneration of American political discourse, as Sutton delicately puts it. We are sitting, on a Monday afternoon in mid-September, in what may arguably be the red-hot center of an Asshole Heat Map, if one existed: the pink, veined lobby at the base of the colossal penis that is Trump Tower.
Sutton is not a Trump supporter, but, sipping an iced tea from the buildings beleaguered Starbucks, he is hesitant to outright label Trump an asshole, although his definition (a person who leaves people feeling demeaned, deenergized, and disrespected), he agrees, certainly applies. But Sutton doesnt want to be, you know, an asshole: Most of politics is everybody calling everybody else assholes. And assholism, after all, is contagious. Nasty behavior spreads much faster than nice behavior, unfortunately, Sutton says. As he points out in his book, research shows that even a single exposure to negative behavior, like receipt of an insulting email, can turn a person into a carrier. Literally like a common cold, he adds. Similarly, when the president calls his detractors haters and losers in a tweet, when the wallpaper of life is made up of faces that belong to certified assholes like Steve Bannon, Stephen Miller, Chris Christie, Rudy Giuliani, Don Jr., etc., etc., ad infinitum, it most likely has a trickle-down effect. The more assholes youre around, the more asshole-y you get. But there are other factors that have led to this explosion of assholes, Sutton points out, everything from heat and crowding to imbalances in power and the wealth gap. The research says that when were in those situations, theres envy going up, and sort of disdain goes down. Research also shows that technology has increased the asshole problem, as Sutton puts it, because people are much more likely to be mean if they dont have to make eye contact. And because technology has created the expectation for things to happen faster, and at all hours of the day, hurriedness and sleep deprivation have become major factors.
Thats the other thing with him, Sutton says, lowering his voice in reference to the insomniac-in-chief, as though he might be swarmed by a team of guys in MAGA caps any minute, although the only people in evidence are European tourists. Sleep deprivation is one of the most reliable ways to put someone in a bad mood. So maybe he should only be allowed to tweet after he was certified that he had eight hours of sleep three nights in a row.
Sutton wasnt always the Asshole Guy, as he somewhat reluctantly calls himself. As a psychologist, he has always focused on the expression of emotion in the workplace. But in the course of working in academia among tenured professors, and in talking to his wife, who spent time as a litigator at a large firm, the subject of assholes naturally came up. And back in 2003, when a friend at Harvard Business Review approached him about contributing to its Breakthrough Ideas feature, he said he had one idea but he wasnt sure it was a breakthrough assholes having been around since the dawn of man and the journal probably wouldnt print it. It did. When the article came out, Sutton received an incredible storm of emails, he says. This may have had something to do with the fact that 2004 was also a banner year for assholes, with the Iraq War and the Martha Stewart trial in the news and Fahrenheit 9/11 and Mel Gibsons Passion of the Christ in theaters, but in any case, interest was sufficient that, when Sutton finished a long book about evidence-based management, he turned back to the subject for The No Asshole Rule.
Nasty behavior spreads much faster than nice behavior, unfortunately.
The book was a best seller, and its titular coinage has since sunk into the lexicon. Today, a company that doesnt at least claim to have a no asshole rule would be as odd as a person who doesnt have, well, an asshole, although it does not seem to have had much of an effect on their proliferation. Sutton is frequently approached by people touting the rule who are clearly assholes. Its even worse when they say they have it and theyre assholes, because then, as I say, theyre assholes and hypocrites, says Sutton, noting that in the decade since, the breadth of academic literature focusing on all things asshole has expanded considerably. Its a real growth group, he says. Now theres Berkeley professor Geoffrey Nunbergs Ascent of the A-Word; Assholes: A Theory, by University of California professor Aaron James; Dacher Keltners The Power Paradox; and Suttons friend Adam Grants Give and Take.
Again, theres no data proving that this academic boomlet is indicative of a worldwide increase in assholes, but studies in related areas, like workplace bullying, suggest its possible, and Sutton himself was soon drawn back to the topic. It may, he allows, have something to do with his increased exposure to the growing tech industry through his work at Stanford, where he co-founded the Technology Ventures Program, which puts him in contact with many present, past, and future employees of Silicon Valley tech companies. We produce a lot of those bros who become assholes, unfortunately, he says, although finance and health care also rank high on the list of professions in which power differences and time pressure and fatigue combine to create toxic environments. His favorite strategy for coping with assholes comes from a Stanford administrator whose equanimity Sutton always admired. I never could figure out why he was so serene in the face of certain assholes, especially in particular a petty tyrant we have in our midst. But what he does is he pretends when people are nasty that hes a doctor who specializes in studying assholism. And he says to himself, Oh, what a fascinating subject or specimen. I cant believe how lucky I am to see this close up, which is funny, because I guess thats partly who I am. He also likes a strategy he calls time travel: Think about it like its tonight and youre looking back at it, and it wont seem so bad.
Although the new book seems exceptionally well timed, Sutton finished writing before the election, and he notes in it that he doesnt buy into the adage that assholes finish first. The presence of a major-league asshole in the Oval Office would seem to prove him wrong, but Sutton stands by this theory. The evidence generally is that when you treat people badly, the only time it really seems to work is if youre in a zero-sum game and its a shorter-term game, he explains. And my perspective is that even if youre in the zero-sum game, where the assholes get ahead, theres all this negative carnage. The people around them, their physical and mental health and personal relationships, they all suffer. And I dont want to go to Trump too much, but God, look how many people hes gone through. In the long run, he concludes, people who treat each other with some civility generally do better.
But what about when the long run is, you know, long? It could always be worse, Sutton says, as we step on the escalator that will take us down through the towers pink innards, back into the breathable New York City air. One thing I could say about Trump is that the duration of it is really long, but theres some that are even longer, he says. For example: Im with all these colleagues that are all tenured, and Stanford has no mandatory retirement, he points out. So when Im with an asshole, all I can do is hope.
*This article appears in the September 18, 2017, issue of New York Magazine.
Trump and Turnbull. Photo: Nathan Edwards/Newspix via Getty Images
Australia is the kind of friend that takes your side even when youre wrong. In geopolitical terms, this means that when the United States asked for some help with our quagmire in Afghanistan, Australia sacrificed 42 of its young people to our cause.
So, when Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull reminded President Trump of Americas commitment to take in 1,250 of the refugees that the Aussie government had been keeping in (inhumane) detention centers, he had little reason to believe that hed be met with a torrent of verbal abuse.
But he was.
I am the worlds greatest person that does not want to let people into the country, Trump informed his Australian counterpart. This is a stupid deal. This deal will make me look terrible I think it is a horrible deal, a disgusting deal that I would have never made.
In the coming weeks, that stupid, horrible, disgusting deal will finally go into effect and provide the first 25 (heavily vetted) refugees from the islands of Nauru and Papua New Guinea with a chance to start a new life in the United States.
I just want to thank again, President Trump for continuing with that arrangement, Turnbull told the Australian media Wednesday.
Under the terms of that arrangement, the U.S. is free to reject any refugees who fail to meet their vetting standards. Thus far, the Trump administration already identified roughly 50 refugees that it is comfortable taking in. In exchange for this hospitality, Australia will resettle some of the Central American migrants who are being held in U.S.-run detention centers in Costa Rica.
As of July, at least 791 men were still being held in an Australian facility on the island of Manus. This week, Turnbulls government agreed to pay roughly $52.75 million to more than 1,900 detainees who had alleged that they suffered physical and psychological injuries during their time at that facility.
Murkowski. Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Lisa Murkowski voted against every Obamacare repeal bill thats come before the Senate this year and became more popular with her states voters in the process. In April, 59 percent of Alaskans told Morning Consult that they approved of the Republican senator; today, that figure is 65 percent, making Murkowski the sixth-most beloved senator in the United States.
Murkowski has proven that she does not need the Republican Partys support to retain political power. In 2010, she lost her Senate primary to a tea-party challenger and defeated him in November with a write-in campaign.
Three months ago, she promised her constituents that she was committed to ensuring that important provisions of the ACA, such as covering those with preexisting conditions, continued support for Medicaid expansion, coverage for dependents and no lifetime limits, and funding for Planned Parenthood remain intact. She has also, repeatedly, insisted that she isnt comfortable supporting any health-care bill without seeing a full analysis from the Congressional Budget Office.
Now, Senate Republicans have introduced a health-care bill that would allow states to end protections for those with preexisting conditions; end the Medicaid expansion, entirely; allow states to permit lifetime limits; and defund Planned Parenthood.
Senate Republicans plan to vote on the legislation before the CBO releases a score on its effects.
Nonetheless, some of those effects are plainly apparent. The Graham-Cassidy bill is a document with a lot of complexities. But the basic thrust is simple: It cuts federal funding for and regulations on the provision of health insurance to a more radical degree than any previous GOP health-care bill.
And yet, for some strange reason, Mitch McConnell ostensibly believes that he can convince Lisa Murkowski to vote for this thing in fact, his entire legislative strategy depends on it. On Wednesday afternoon, Politico reported that Rand Paul and Susan Collins are viewed as hard nos. If true, that would mean Murkowski can now kill the bill single-handedly (McConnell can only afford to lose three votes).
So far, shes refused to pull that trigger. This has led to speculation that her vote can be bought. And this scoop from Business Insiders Josh Barro suggests that Republicans do, in fact, think her support is for sale:
On Tuesday evening, Robert VerBruggen of National Review noticed something odd: The financial projections produced by Sen. Bill Cassidys office showed that, in 2026, his healthcare proposal would award each state almost precisely $4,400 in federal subsidy for each eligible beneficiary except Alaska, which would receive $6,500, or 48% more than everybody else.
I asked a staffer in Cassidys office and was told the office would be revising the projections. The spreadsheet came down off the senators website after I inquired about it.
The staffer said a forthcoming version of the projections would reflect a bonus for low-density states whose healthcare costs are more than 20% above the US mean. These states would get a bump in the rate theyre paid per beneficiary to account for their higher costs.
The bill defines a low-density state as one with fewer than 15 residents per square mile. There are five such states, but according to Kaiser Family Foundation only two of them have per capita health spending more than 20% above the US mean: Alaska and North Dakota.
Lindsey Graham confirmed his partys interest in giving Alaska special treatment Wednesday, telling reporters, Were very interested in helping Alaska because Alaska has 750,000 people. And a land mass bigger than Texas.
Clearly this position has nothing to do with the current Senate math, and is merely a reiteration of the timeless conservative principle that states with 750,000 people and a lot of land deserve more help than other states.
Barro has dubbed the bills new funding formula the Alaska Purchase. But the formula doesnt actually give Murskowskis state more money than it receives under the status quo. On the contrary, Alaska still appears to lose money under Graham-Cassidy it just loses less money than other Medicaid expansion states.
So: The GOPs (ostensible) plan for passing Graham-Cassidy is to win over a politically secure senator who has opposed every other repeal bill and owes nothing to the Republican Party to the most radical repeal legislation yet, even though it violates at least five separate promises she made to her constituents, by offering to cut federal subsidies to her state by a relatively modest amount.
Maybe McConnell has some other pork project or piece of blackmail material up his sleeve. But right now, it is impossible to understand why Murkowski would ever vote for her colleagues latest legislative monstrosity.
President Trump addresses the annual National Republican Congressional Committee dinner on March 21. Photo: JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images
President Trump is a billionaire, but he prefers to spend other peoples money whenever possible. As the Washington Posts David A. Fahrenthold doggedly reported during the 2016 campaign, Trump stopped donating to his personal foundation in 2008, yet hes been accused of using the funds other people donated to support political causes and buy himself gifts. After it was discovered that he was using Donald J. Trump Foundation money to settle lawsuits against him and his companies, he had to promise not to use the charity to pay off the $25 million settlement related to fraud lawsuits against Trump University.
Now it appears Trump is applying this principle to his legal fees related to the Russia probe. Reuters reported on Tuesday that Trump is using money donated to his reelection campaign and the Republican National Committee to pay the lawyers he hired to handle the Russia case. According to CNN, the RNC paid more than $230,000 in August to cover Trumps Russia-related legal fees:
The RNC paid Trumps personal attorneys Jay Sekulow and John Dowd $131,250 and $100,000, respectively, via their law firms, the official said. The fees to Sekulows law firm covered work by other attorneys at his firm, the Constitutional Litigation and Advocacy Group, a person familiar with the payments said.
The payments will be disclosed in the RNCs spending report for the month of August, which the committee plans to release on Wednesday.
When asked about how Trumps bills were being paid, Dowd told Reuters, Thats none of your business. Later, RNC spokesperson Cassie Smedile confirmed CNNs figures.
The RNC has also paid nearly $200,000 to the law firm of Alan Futerfas, who is representing Donald Trump Jr. The presidents son became more deeply embroiled in the Russia case when it was revealed several months ago that he met with several Kremlin-connected Russians during the campaign.
The Trump campaigns role is less clear. The campaign has paid the law firm Jones Day nearly $4 million, mostly for routine campaign expenses but the firm has also done some work related to the Russia investigation. The campaign is due for another financial disclosure on October 15.
Trumps use of RNC and campaign funds is legal, but unprecedented. While other presidents have used such funds to cover election-related legal expenses, Trump is the first to have them cover fees related to a federal investigation.
Smedile said the RNCs payments came from a preexisting legal-proceedings account and do not reduce by a dime the resources we can put toward our political work. CNN notes, Wealthy donors to the RNC typically donate to such funds when making large contributions.
The Trump campaign is still soliciting donations as small as $3, and theoretically supporters may be irritated that their contributions are helping the president cover his Russia-related expenses. But the reports may be far more damaging within the Trump administration. Thanks to the Russia probe, even Trumps lawyers have been forced hire lawyers, and, according to multiple reports, some less-wealthy White House staffers are struggling to afford their high-priced attorneys. Presumably they wont be pleased to learn that their billionaire boss is letting others cover his familys legal fees, while theyre forced to liquidate their childrens college funds.
Photo: Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Just days after last years election, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg told an audience that the suggestion that misinformation on his social network had any substantial effect on the outcome was pretty crazy. Now, imagine a disembodied Ron Howard narrator voice saying, It wasnt. And then smash cut to September 2017: Facebook is turning over evidence to federal investigators that Russian governmentlinked agencies bought Facebook advertisements with the intent of influencing the election. Today, it gets even weirder: The Daily Beast reports that a Russian-created, Trump-supporting Facebook group actually threw well-attended pro-Trump rallies in Florida.
As stories of Facebook being used by Russian agencies and trolls to influence the election trickle out, the general narrative certainly Facebooks narrative has been that this is a misuse of Facebook, an abuse of its platform. In April, the company called the strategies used in last years election insidious forms of misuse, including attempts to manipulate civic discourse and deceive people.
Certainly, we can agree that its bad that hostile foreign powers are able to easily and cheaply sow discord and division among American voters. But its not at all clear to me that what Russia is doing is a misuse of Facebook. Isnt this the company that explicitly markets its ability to influence and swing voters? Isnt this the company whose decadelong mission has been to allow people on one side of the globe to communicate and influence people on the other side?
Didnt Zuckerberg say last year, We stand for connecting every person. For a global community. For bringing people together. For giving all people a voice. For free flow of ideas and culture across nations? You dont have to be particularly cynical to see how Russians sharing Trump memes falls under the free flow of ideas across nations. As Zuck put it: Weve gone from a world of isolated communities to one global community, and we are all better off for it. Well, maybe we wouldnt go that far.
The point is this: Facebook has always wanted, from a business and ideological perspective, to be a tool with which people can reach across the ocean and exert influence on one another. The problem is that 2016 is a case study in why mere connection is not enough to make something good. Cynically motivated Russian actors used Facebook to pose as grassroots Americans, and did so in support of an authoritarian reality-television star.
And Facebook should have seen this coming. There were warning signs of this, much earlier than 2016; in 2012, Zeynep Tufekci wrote an editorial for the New York Times called Beware the Smart Campaign in the wake of Obamas reelection. She wrote:
[Online targeting takes] persuasion into a private, invisible realm. Misleading TV ads can be countered and fact-checked. A misleading message sent in just the kind of e-mail you will open or ad you will click on remains hidden from challenge by the other campaign or the media. Or someone who visits evangelical Web sites might be carefully shielded from messages about gay rights, and someone who has hostile views toward environmentalism may receive messages stroking that sentiment even if the broader campaign woos the green vote elsewhere.
Tufekci concluded, You should be worried even if your candidate is for the moment better at these methods. Democracy should not just be about how to persuade people to vote for one candidate over another by any means necessary.
As it rejiggered itself earlier this year, pushing its Groups product for smaller and slightly more isolated communities, Facebook seemed to have stopped pushing the vision of a hyperconnected global community. After a decade of mind-blowing growth, the company seemed to realize that there is no one definition for making the world a better place, and that building an incredibly powerful and ostensibly value-neutral platform will lead people to use it in ways that you think are wrong, and they believe are right.
And yet, somehow, Facebook is still learning that if you give people a blank slate, theyll find a way to use it for causes that any half-decent person would find objectionable. Last week, ProPublica discovered that Facebook allows advertisers to target users who describe themselves as Jew haters. Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg announced changes to the companys policies today, acknowledging that because these terms were used so infrequently, we did not discover this until ProPublica brought it to our attention. We never intended or anticipated this functionality being used this way and that is on us. And we did not find it ourselves and that is also on us.
Being unable to anticipate offensive behavior on the internet is, in 2017, an embarrassment for a company that counts a quarter of the global population among its users, and employs more than 20,000 people. It defies belief. To tout your platforms global scale and political influence, and then be shocked when it is used for those exact purposes is similarly disconcerting. It suggests that Facebooks executives and engineers are either incompetent at their jobs or unfamiliar with their product. Or, worse, that they dont actually care.
James Damore. Photo: James Damore/Twitter
When James Damore was fired from Google over a multipage memo he wrote that claimed the pay gap isnt real, and that women are biologically worse at technical jobs than men, he quickly became a cause celebre among people for whom the value of free expression in the workplace trumps all other concerns. Damore did not, at first, appear to be a troll or a jerk; his memo was written in an aggressively reasonable tone and with all the right caveats (I value diversity and inclusion, it begins). From the pages of the New York Times, David Brooks even called for the resignation of Google CEO Sundar Pichai.
But his star began to fade. For a reasonable, logical kid whod been caught up in the culture wars, Damores friends were awfully fringe. He chose to do his first public interview with alt-right YouTube personality Stefan Molyneux, and changed his Twitter avatar (his handle at the time: @Fired4Truth) to a portrait taken by a man called the Annie Leibovitz of the alt-right. By the time he compared being a conservative working at Google to being gay in the 1950s, he was no longer being touted by centrist pundits as a martyr to political correctness.
And now, today, I think we can finally say his moment is over. People had just stopped talking about him when Damore posted a Twitter poll about the KKK. In it, Damore calls the KKK horrible and denounces them, but wants to discuss how their internal title names are cool.
The KKK is horrible and I dont support them in any way, but can we admit that their internal title names are cool, e.g. Grand Wizard? James Damore (@JamesADamore) September 20, 2017
Of the four answer choices, yes is currently in the lead. (The poll closes in three days.) This seems like an obvious bad-joke tweet, but Damore, never one to know when to stop talking, decided that it was part of a point he wanted to make about politics. The KKK, he went on, is a moralized issue because you cant criticize its heroes or acknowledge any positive aspect of its villains. He also compared it to teaching your child to be responsible about drugs and sex without addressing the fact that they can be fun. Oh, and there was also this nugget about how people are being pushed into the KKK.
If you make the actual KKK the only place where you can acknowledge the coolness of D&D terms, then youll just push people into the KKK. James Damore (@JamesADamore) September 20, 2017
(Select All would like to formally pronounce our site a safe space to acknowledge the coolness of D&D terms. Here, you can talk about how you think wizards exclusively wizards of the non-KKK variety are cool.)
The point is not, of course, that these tweets have revealed James Damore as an incorrigible racist its that theyve revealed him to be impulsive, immature, self-destructive, and unable to keep quiet when he should. Which is the kind of behavior that tends to get people fired, much more than making anti-P.C. speech.
TBH is the latest anonymous app sweeping the teen world.
Claire knows what her classmates think of her. A boy in the ninth grade at her high school in Massachusetts thinks shes so crafty she could build a house. Another female classmate says she looks like a snack. A different guy describes Claire as always fiending on that boba. (Teens, man.) Claires got screenshots to prove these compliments she just doesnt know who any of them are from.
Welcome to TBH, short for to be honest, the latest anonymous-gossip app to emerge overnight as every teenagers favorite app. Last Sunday was the first time I heard of it, Luci, a junior from Texas told Select All about the apps sudden rise. It got really popular overnight; it was weird! Almost everyone I know uses it now. Its currently the No. 1 free download in the Apple App Store no small feat, considering TBH is only available in a limited number of states. And its secret is kindness?
Like Sarahah, the megapopular anonymous-comment app that took over adolescents phones earlier this year, TBH allows users mostly teenagers and young adults to comment anonymously about their friends and peers. But unlike Sarahah or other infamous anonymous-comment apps (remember Yik Yak?), TBH is not a cesspit of toxic gossip and petty cruelty. In fact, its downright nice: The app only allows its users to say positive things about other users, a limitation that, believe it or not, only seems to make the app more popular.
The way the app works is simple: You sign in with your first and last name. You select your school, gender, and grade. They have questions like always nice to talk to and going to win an Academy Award, and other nice things, Claire explained. You have four options [names of friends and classmates], and you click on one. When you are picked, its anonymous. You have no idea who picked you. The questions think 2017s version of yearbook superlatives are generated both by the TBH team and submitted from users.
TBH first launched at a single high school in Georgia in August, where 40 percent of the student body downloaded the app on the first day. The next day, they expanded the app to three more schools in the area to the same results. Basically, every iPhone owner at the school downloaded it, said a TBH spokesperson, who asked not to be named. (TBH is currently not available on Android.) Since then, the app has been released in nine states: Florida, Washington, Rhode Island, Texas, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, and California. (Its also currently available in New York City as a test, but the app is working toward a statewide release very soon.) I think at this point, over 25 percent of students in California have the app installed, the spokesperson said, noting that the app has 2 million daily active users across the United States. It seems to be the new rage for now, said Sharleen, a California senior.
A few screenshots from a teen TBH user.
TBHs overnight success isnt unfamiliar. Again, earlier this summer, Sarahah (the name loosely translates to honesty in Arabic) spread like crazy among teenagers. But unlike TBH, Sarahah was a free-for-all. Users could anonymously leave comments of any nature which in practice means comments that are either really nice or really mean, as one 17-year-old user told me at the time. Female users in particular were targeted with bullying and overly sexual comments.
TBH is striving to be the anti-Sarahah. Its heavily moderated to avoid harassment, and while I hesitate to call any app woke, TBH is definitely in that neighborhood. Superlatives submitted by users are vetted by the TBH team, which receives about 10,000 submissions per day. One percent of those make it to the app. Sometimes theyre funny; sometimes theyre catty, Luci said of the prompts, though the cattiness is always winking the worst Luci could come up with was, Always wins their drama, a far cry from the cruelties of most anonymous comments.
Anytime we get a complaint about a question, we remove it right away, the spokesperson said. We usually dont deliberate too much; if it upsets someone, its gone. The app offers a nonbinary option for users who dont want to identify as a boy or girl. I guess you could say it assumes everyone is bisexual, Luci told me, when explaining that all prompts, including the flirty ones, are accompanied by mixed gender user choices.
Like Sarahah, part of using TBH takes place off of the app itself. Teens will screenshot the superlatives they receive these are also visible to their friends on the TBH app in a News Feed and upload them to their Snapchat or Instagram stories. Part of the fun of anonymous apps is trying to get people to admit that it was them, Luci explained, adding that nobody ever actually fesses up. I posted one on my Snapchat because the question was, Waiting for our first date, and I was like, Reveal yourself, Im waiting too.
Another reason users need a secondary app is because TBH currently has no way for users to communicate with each other. Which means they cant discuss who received what TBHs, or speculate who sent them, from within the app. The lack of communication options definitely helps with the whole no-bullying thing, but isnt super conducive to building a social platform. We definitely will hint that something related to messaging is around the corner, but we wont say anything more about what it is, TBH told Select All.
The app is going to need some new features if TBH expects to maintain its status as the hottest thing in teen tech. Anonymous-compliment Facebook pages and apps, like Brighten, have come and gone, and though theyre nice while they last, users often lose interest. For better or worse, the lure of anonymous apps is the drama, and the potential for harassment that comes with said drama.
Its a temporary-use app like Pokemon Go or Ask.fm, Madison, a junior, told me when I asked if she thought her friends would keep using TBH. Its not like Instagram or Snapchat or Twitter. Its worth noting that both Pokemon Go and Ask.fm are both actually still kicking, theyve just lost their hype. At the end of the day, everyone reverts back to their Snapchats, Twitters, and the few that are still really into Instagram, Luci said. These apps last around a week or two before someone finds an even more obscure, new form of social media.
Probably the biggest thing thats shocking in my skin-care routine is that prior to what Im doing now, I was on active duty in the U.S. military. I did eight years of active duty around the world, including a tour in Iraq. I was a combat arms officer in Iraq, and before and after missions which would sometimes be four or five days long, and youre not able to take a shower I remember coming back and the first thing I would always do is wash my face and double-cleanse. My soldiers would just make fun of me because they didnt really understand.
The first thing I do every morning and evening is an oil cleanse. Right now, Im using an oil cleanser from Hanskin, a Korean brand. When we first started Soko Glam, a Korean-beauty store, when wed say K-beauty people would say, Is that Kardashian beauty? My co-founder came up with the ten-step skin-care routine, and almost all of my products are Korean. The Hanskin cleanser is a nice little pump by my sink counter and shower. I always put it on with a dry face and massage it in to get all that oil and debris of my face. It turns into a milky consistency.
Kony: Order From Above was one of the most nominated films at the just-concluded Uganda Film festival (UFF) in Kampala.
Even when the film lost all the possible accolades to Devils Chest, another film about the northern Uganda warlord, people have not stopped talking about it. In fact, some filmmakers believe the judges for the festival may not have watched the film and thus not giving it any accolade.
The film follows the life of a rebel who secretly tries protecting his lover after she is abducted and eventually turned into one of Konys wives. Directed by Steven Anyeny, Kony: Order From Above is a breath of fresh air in an industry littered with Hollywood recycled storylines.
This film gets out of the box with the execution; from the topic that speaks to many Ugandans that have seen or read about Konys terror, the film scores major marks.
But it is the delivery of the story that makes Kony: Order From Above outstanding. Mostly written in Acholi and Kiswahilli, the film manages to come off naturally from the actors who deliver many of the lines with the right emotions.
With a main theme of love, Anyeny manages to use his lead actor and actress to tell stories of captivity, forced marriages, occult and superstition in a take; from one shot to the next, we follow the lovebirds Otti and Agutti try to keep their love alive as well as stay alive.
The two lovers are caught in a conflict as they have to choose between duty and love. The male lead Otti was abducted at 11 years and later raised as a rebel; however, despite the hard situation, he has never forgotten about the love of his life, Agutti.
Through letters, he continues to track her, but tragedy strikes when rebels attack Aguttis school, taking all the girls. Upon arrival at the rebel camp, the abductees are paraded before Kony, whose interest falls upon Agutti without knowing of her relationship with Otti.
Otti has to pretend he does not know Agutti, even when she is directly placed under his watch in one of the camps. It becomes a tough choice between following his master and following his heart.
Things, however, change when Otti and Agutti secretly start seeing each other and eventually expect a child together. What follows is tension in the camp that forces them to look for a way out.
The film uses a big cast, most of whom are conversant not only with the language, but the story; they do a good job in giving the whole script a genuine feel and tell the story without struggling.
With the guiding hand of Michael Wawuyo Snr, the make up and costume department impresses especially when they have to create wound or scar effects. Besides the bad sound that seems to run throughout the film, Kony: Order From Above is a step up.
No wonder the film won this years Best East African Film at the Zanzibar International Film festival.
kaggwandre@gmail.com
East or West, home is best. For Joseph Kigozi, that home may be NBS TV, after all. Kigozi has resigned his job as CEO of BBS Terefayina Buganda kingdoms TV station and is set to return to Media Plaza to deputise his former boss and mentor, Kin Kariisa.
Kigozi returns to NBS as Chief of Strategy. He left the same station two years ago to spearhead the formation of BBS.
I have decided not to renew my employment contract after serving two years at the helm as chief executive officer, reads part of his resignation letter.
He further appreciated the Kabaka, katikkiro, Buganda ministers and staff of the Bulange-based station for the opportunity to serve.
I pledge my loyalty to Buganda kingdom and I will be available whenever needed. Ssabasajja Kabaka Awangaale reads the resignation letter in conclusion.
Kigozi, before his departure from NBS, had been credited with turning the station around and turning it into one of the leaders in news broadcasts and live coverage.
Bulange is still mum on who replaces Kigozi at the TV station said to have some of the best newsroom and studio setups.
Dave Dash gets mentally disturbed
Pictures said to be of media personality and events host Dave Dash are making rounds on social media with allegations that he has gone mad.
The pictures show a dreadlocked Dash walking about totally naked in an area reported to be in Ggaba Bbunga. Dave Dashs bout of mental illness is said to be a result of drug abuse. Those who know him claim on social media that he used and dealt in cocaine, part-time.
Dave Dash did a stint at NTV where he used to drop in for a gossip segment during The Beat music show hosted by Douglas Lwanga. He was also a big-time events MC until he disappeared off the scene.
It is alleged that he has been battling drug and alcohol abuse for some time. On a light note, unkind social media users noted that he must have put in time at the gym, before losing his mind and tearing off his clothes, because his body looked toned; another joked that the socialite was just working out. Naked.
But seriously, hope you find the much-needed help, Dave Dash.
Juliana so friendly these days
Just a few days back, songstress Juliana Kanyomozi was online ranting after a wrong story was written about her on one of the gossip websites.
But when she is not getting mad over wrong stories, Kanyomozi is mending fences with artistes people rarely see her with these days. Last Sunday, she shared pictures of herself having a good time with the Kyagulanyis at their home and just as people were still enjoying and sharing that, this weekend she shared another one at Iryn Namubirus place.
Much as many of her fans are looking at the positive side of things and lauding her for promoting unity in the industry, others wonder whether she is making silent announcements about future projects.
Some speculated that the two songbirds could be plotting a reunion show for their I-Jay fans, while others chose funnier captions for the photos, like Juliana always visiting friends during lunch time
Whatever it is, Star Trail hopes she is working on new music. It has been a while!
Man gets rare gym accident
A man who stuck his penis in a dumbbell weight spent three hours surrounded by firefighters who sliced him free with power tools.
Angle grinders, a saw and a hydraulic rescue tool usually used to prize crash victims from vehicle wreckage were used to smash the 2.5kg disc on Friday.
This was after doctors were unable to remove the weight following the mishap at a gym in Worms, Germany. The victim had to be sedated as firefighters from the city of Worms smashed the weight to free his penis, according to Metro.
Firefighters shared a picture of the smashed weight on social media with some helpful advice for anybody tempted to squeeze their manhood into tight spots: Please do not imitate such actions!
The East African Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki Utamaduni festival (Jamafest) happens every two years on a rotational basis.
First edition was held in Rwanda in 2013 and two years later, the festivities shifted to Kenya where Uganda was announced as hosts of the 2017 edition that took place last week. For many artistes and promoters, Jamafest is a golden concept.
It is an idea that doesnt only promote art and culture but carries tourism with them, commented one Eric Ntaro on his social media page.
A group from Yumbe performs
The festival at each edition brings together artistes from all the member states of the East African Community to turn the host city into a melting pot of arts and culture; this is a chance for the host to market more than what they programme, since unlike the visitors, they can invite as many exhibitors as possible with little financial impact.
Indeed Uganda had more exhibitors than all the other countries combined; some just showed up to sell merchandise without being invited, but that was almost it. Since the organizers government had not advertised the event, Ugandans knew little to nothing about what was going on.
The anticipation of artistes selling their work to exhibition patrons quickly became a fluff. The anticipated pour-in from Ugandans buying visual art or even watching performers from Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan and Rwanda also did not happen; most of the time, the performances at Kololo ceremonial grounds were watched by the performers from other countries instead of the intended audience.
The stage and organization here is good, said an official from Tanzania, adding that the only problem was a small crowd. Its like we are performing for ourselves most of the times.
The official wondered why Jamafest was not on Kampalas billboards downtown or even near the two venues Kololo and the National theatre.
According to an insider from the ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, The ministry had wanted to organize the whole show at Namboole stadium with a hefty budget set aside for the venue.
Drummers from Burundi
The source says after moving back and forth, Namboole was rejected in favour of Kololo and the National theatre, although works to renovate the latter for the festival would only start in mid-July.
Because there was no promotion for the festival, the opening Saturday that had a carnival in Kampala only became a traffic disaster with many people questioning what was going on. The follow-up cultural presentation did not save things as even the invited diplomats were a no-show.
The ministry diplomats, politicians and MPs invited for the festival whose official opening at Kololo was meant to be graced by President Yoweri Museveni didnt show up.
Instead, the president embarked on countryside trips to talk about the land bill amendment on radio, and like that, the diplomats, MPs and many politicians reportedly cancelled their attendance.
The diplomats tent was empty, glaring at us all through, complained Andrew Ssebaggala, an artist.
Without an attendance from both politicians and the public, exhibitors such as Teddy Nabisenke of Tsenke Designs did not make any sales even as they labored to showcase their works at Kololo for all the days the festival was on.
The festival had some glory days at the National theatre where some people actually showed up for the traditional music showcases for at least two days, which convinced organisers to move the closing festivities there too to avoiding empty seats suffered at Kololo.
Tanzania was announced the host of the 2019 edition and they have vowed to teach Uganda what hosting an event like Jamafest means.
kaggwandre@gmail.com
A Catholic friend was once disturbed by his parish priests demand that parishioners honour their tithes. This friend called tithing uncatholic and a practice borrowed from Pentecostals.
He demanded to know where in the Bible God instructs him to pay tithe, and when I pointed out the scriptures, he was shocked, but not convinced.
I wish I had told him, in addition to quoting the Bibles position on tithe (the most explicit is Malachi 3), what motivates me personally, to tithe.
I think Christians obsess about who uses the tithe, for what, and end up not honouring it. Frankly, it is my joy to see myself prosper, as my pastor and his family prosper too.
Others have reasons why they prefer having a weather-beaten wo/man of God pray for them to break through, and I respect that.
I tithe because my church does not pay any salary to my pastor, yet he too feeds a family; he too educates children; he too has personal, non-church dreams.
After all, a tithe is just 10 per cent of ones income. And not all churchgoers earn big. Some peoples tithes are Shs 1,000.
And it is a personal conviction, not forced on anyone; so, dont be too harsh on people who choose to exercise their faith to the biblical letter!
When I first tithed 15 years ago, the 10 per cent I gave to my church was so little, yet I still felt its pinch. But I continued tithing.
Today, what was my full salary from 15 years ago, is not even my tithe. I am proud that I still pray/tithe in the same church where I have experienced that spiritual and financial growth. And as we grow, our spiritual leaders naturally grow too and I am okay with that.
Plus, I never lose sight of the fact that our legal tender circulates in a massive pool; a pool drawn from and deposited into by witchdoctors, sorcerers, thieves, false prophets, Satanists, practitioners of human sacrifice, rapists, and Gods children, alike.
So, I tithe. It is my way of dedicating my finances to God and spiritually dissociating myself and my finances from whichever place the money may have been.
God does not lie when He promises to bless a tither and rebuke the devourer, in Malachi 3. Tithing is a very personal decision and I know many Pentecostals do not tithe, because they are not convinced about it. But many more still, tithe. Dont lose sleep over them.
My cousin got saved in the early 1980s, but only started tithing in 2004 after we had a long discussion and she finally understood it.
I see many insulting statements about pastors from people who know little about the faith, especially on the issue of the wo/men of God leading a comfortable life.
Well, all of them started out dirt-poor. And they testify the times people said they were waiting to see if your God truly works before they too could profess salvation.
Im sure you too have ridiculed a hungry-looking street preacher before, saying, Let God help you first!
But when God does, you will turn around and call that poor street-preacher-turned-renowned-pastor, a thief. Lord have mercy.
malita@observer.ug
Todays column is on a sensitive subject. Depending on the lenses you wear, you are allowed to quip: Isnt it, always!?
But on a serious note, the issue of impairment, absence of some erogenous zones or body parts essential to sex what can one do to keep their marriage healthy?
Marjorie (not real name), 60, admits she separated from her husband of three decades after a hysterectomy (removal of a womans womb) left her feeling sexually handicapped.
My husband and I have always enjoyed a very healthy sex life, even with the usual ups and downs of a marriage, she narrated. But when doctors suspected cancer in its initial stages, they recommended a hysterectomy. However, things just felt off after that and we drifted apart.
Top Hollywood actress and the former Mrs Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, on discovering she had the BRCA gene, said to predispose some people to cancer more than others, proactively had a double mastectomy (breast removal) and hysterectomy in 2013.
Brave, considering that breasts are a top erogenous zone and even where a lump is detected, I know women that have balked at the thought of having a breast cut off to save their lives.
The uterus and ovaries have many nerve endings and hormones that contribute to a womans stimulation. Their removal triggers a surgical menopause, which is why hormone treatments are given to mitigate the effects.
Some women never recover from this, never feeling like a full woman again, mainly because sometimes the counselling provided is inadequate.
But just like the body reorganises itself in a blind mans life to sharpen the perfectly-working senses more, allow your body time to learn how to adjust and compensate.
The medical literature is replete with instances in which the human body has learned to compensate for seemingly insurmountable impairments. It would seem that this phenomenon is once more amply demonstrated in the various sexual adaptations of circumcised women, Hanny Lightfoot Klein said in a 1991 presentation on Orgasm In Ritually Circumcised African Women.
The presentation was during the first international conference on orgasm in New Delhi. The presenter had carried out research among Sudanese women and astonishingly found that despite their severely mutilated sexual organs, they were still able to get intense orgasms.
This was mostly through heightened sensitivity in other erogenous zones, in addition to their scarred genitals. Not what all of us that cant wait for female genital mutilation to be history wanted to hear, but it is good demonstration.
So, have you undergone major surgery be you male or female that has severely crippled the sex in your marriage?
Please dont throw in the towel out of feeling sorry for yourself and your spouse. It is perfectly understandable that such an adjustment takes time, but it does happen, according to various researches.
For example, you may be a very physical husband who always sees your wifes body with your hands, etc, but now a bad case of diabetes, an accident, or similar, has caused you to lose your hands to save your life.
If only you allow yourself to get up and start living again, you will find that your senses of smell, sight, hearing, etc have become heightened and could even save your marriage.
I listened to a young woman on radio last week, testifying how after losing her right arm through amputation, has learnt to do everything with just the left.
Dont dejectedly reach for the divorce papers at the first detection of change due to the absence of your former normal.
Hang in there and your new normal will pleasantly surprise you.
carol@observer.ug
President Museveni at UN
President Yoweri Museveni has said the conflict in South Sudan was caused largely by a lack of ideology and the actions of politicians who promote identity politics.
A State House statement released on Tuesday said Museveni made the comments on Monday as he briefed the United States permanent representative to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, on the security situation in South Sudan, Burundi and Somalia.
During the meeting at Uganda House in New York, he acknowledged the importance of identity but observed that it shouldnt compromise the common interest of the people.
Even Uganda was a failed state but was rescued by a student movement that taught people to forget about identity politics, Museveni said.
South Sudan descended into chaos in 2013 when a political disagreement between President Salva Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar pitted Kiirs Dinka tribesmen in the army against Machars Nuer.
Efforts to end the subsequent civil strife that has left more than 100,000 people dead, and displaced four million others, suffered a reversal after fresh fighting broke out in July 2015. The fighting scuttled the Igad-mediated peace agreement which had returned Machar as vice president.
Museveni, who is in New York to attend the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, said various factions of the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Movement have to be brought together a task he is trying to accomplish alongside Ethiopian prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn.
South Sudans conflict has forced an average of 1,800 South Sudanese to flee into northern Uganda each day over the past year, according to the UNHCR. The influx has become the fastest growing refugee crisis with more than 85 per cent of the refugees being women and children aged below 18.
Another one million South Sudanese refugees are spread across Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Central African Republic.
The statement quotes Haley as having commended Museveni and the government of Uganda for supporting the refugees and spearheading reform efforts in Somalia and South Sudan.
Uganda has been a good example of what it means to take in refugees. US offers its support as you continue to do that, she said.
Norbert Mao
On September 18, national leaders of the Democratic Party (DP) held a breakfast meeting at Sheraton Kampala hotel to discuss a draft policy brief on land reform.
Ugandas oldest party hopes its MPs will now have a better appreciation of the Constitution Amendment Bill 2017, which seeks to give government powers to take possession of private land without prior compensation of the owner.
DP officials feel that this bill was designed to divert attention away from the planned amendment of Article 102(b) to scrap the age limits for presidential aspirants.
On the sidelines of Mondays meeting, DP president NORBERT MAO spoke to Sadab Kitatta Kaaya about these fears.
Why does DP think that the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2017 on land is diversionary?
That is typical of President Museveni; it has every hallmark of Museveni. He knows how to deceive and to confound and to confuse.
In this case, his main target is to mobilise for the removal of the constitutional [presidential] age limit but he knows that there is another issue of land.
You can see that now, he has said he will soften on land but while softening on the amendment on land, he is hardening on the age limit. He is now giving money to youth groups to go around orchestrating support for the lifting of the age limit.
As DP, we saw through that and that is why from the beginning, we launched a campaign of Kogikwatako [Should you dare touch it], meaning, in protecting Article 102, you will have also protected land because the major enemy to land is Museveni and his NRM power structure.
I believe that events coming in the future will actually validate the fears that were expressed here; namely that, the amendment on land was just a red herring.
The activities you launched against the amendments stopped. Why?
Public vigilance requires us to work together as political parties. We have been having conversations with other political parties to see how we can have a united front.
As DP, we have been having what I would call popcorn protests. You pop up in Mbarara, you pop up in Kabarole, in Busia, in Jinja, etc. Those are simply for testing the local feeling. For instance, I was in Bushenyi and I was surprised to find people there opposed to the lifting of the age limit.
I wish to assure the public that, over the next few weeks, we are going to intensify [our campaign] more systematically. Above all, we dont gain much when our activities are stopped by the police. We actually want to address massive rallies and give our messages to the people.
But DP itself seems to be disjointed. Some members are in support and others opposed to your Kogikwatako campaign. How are you dealing with that?
We have not heard that officially and as far as I am concerned, there is nobody in DP who supports the lifting of the presidential age limit.
I dont think there is anything wrong with other people bringing their approaches. What we want is innovative approaches, we want what works. So far, we are focussed on distributing stickers to boda boda cyclists, we have leaflets that we are going to distribute in all the urban centres, we want to start holding rallies
I am not one of those who spend time criticising other peoples approaches. The decision was made in the national executive committee and anybody who thinks that there is something we can do differently, is welcome to suggest.
As you plan all these, the age limit removal group is preparing to table its motion on Thursday. Do you have any plans of stopping them?
The good thing is that 2021 is not tomorrow, it is some years ahead. So, even if as a plan B they succeed in amending the Constitution, then it will be up to Museveni to sign the amendment in which case, he will now have identified himself with it fully.
As president, a bill does not become law unless he signs it. So, parliament is only one aspect but also, when an amendment is tabled, it goes to committee stage. So, it is not like it is going to be tabled in the morning, passed in the afternoon and signed at night.
It will first of all go to the [Legal and Parliamentary Affairs] committee where we shall all go and make presentations. So, the intention of those goons in the caucus is simply to create an artificial emergency to create panic.
But those of us who know cannot panic even if, God forbid, Museveni signs it into law, we are still in a position to mobilise for the required signatures to subject it to a referendum in which case, the amendment will again undergo an amendment.
But Article 102(b) is not among the entrenched articles that require a referendum for amendment. Citizens are free to demand for a referendum by signing [a petition] and the moment the signatures are verified by the Electoral Commission, it has to happen.
One of your former colleagues in the opposition tried mobilising for a referendum but her campaign collapsed along the way. Do you expect Ugandans to trust and support you on that path?
I will not speak for the Honourable Beti Kamya. We signed [her petition for a referendum], why she didnt take the petition to the Electoral Commission is up to her to answer.
As far as I am concerned, the signatures [she got] were enough. So, I have no further comment on that. For me what I know is that Ugandans need to know that we have many arrows in our quiver for defending the Constitution.
By calling a breakfast meeting to discuss a land policy, arent you moving away from the core principle of Kogikwatako?
Kogikwatako does not require any in-depth debate. For instance, do you expect us to have a policy breakfast on whether God exists or not?
The Kogikwatako campaign is already a shared position but the issue of land is technical. There is nothing technical about the age limit removal. In fact, our MPs are briefed about Kogikwatako, we have met them and like you heard me say [at the breakfast meeting], every month, we have one interface between the management committee of the party and our 15 members of parliament.
The next policy breakfast meeting will be discussing constitutionalism, mainly centred on proportional representation but I believe we shall also discuss Article 102(b).
What do you intend to achieve in this land policy that you have drafted because previously, the opposition has made suggestions which the government ignored?
They havent been ignored. Actually, it is the suggestions we made that forced the NRM to appoint [the Justice Catherine Bamugemereire judicial commission of inquiry on land] to study the issue further.
This one [the draft policy on land] is broader than even the amendment on Article 26 [which proposes compulsory acquisition of private land by government for public works without prior compensation of the owner].
As you can see, we are evaluating the political economy of land policy and practice in Uganda. We are not just looking at compensating people when government compulsorily acquires land; we are looking at the entire implications of the successive legal regimes that Uganda has been going through.
So, it is broader. In other words, we are equipping our members of parliament for any debate beyond the amendment of Article 26.
sadabkk@observer.ug
In this last of the three-part series on documenting the 22 years of the Constitutional court, SULAIMAN KAKAIRE analyses the nature of reliefs the court has been granting and how politics has influenced the court's work.
When the Constitutional court started its work in 1995, many litigants proclaimed it as a watershed moment in Ugandas judiciary given that there were several pending cases that needed constitutional interpretation. It was expected to settle these matters expeditiously.
Things seemed to go smoothly until the courts biggest test came in 1997. Gen David Sejusa, then known as Maj Gen Tinyefuza, sought to retire from the army after being appointed a presidential adviser.
However, the state objected to this, claiming he did not take the right procedure as guided by then minister for state Defence, John Patrick Amama Mbabazi.
Gen Sejusa challenged the rejection of his resignation and on April 25, 1997, the Constitutional court unanimously agreed with Sejusa that since the president had appointed him as a senior presidential advisor on defence and internal affairs, he had been removed from the army and, as such, his resignation process was not a matter of military law as argued by the attorney general.
(L-R) Justice Minister Kahinda Otafiire talks to Attorney General William Byaruhanga and Chief Justice Bart Katureebe
Incidentally, current Chief Justice Bart Katureebe was the attorney general at the time and he appealed the matter in the Supreme court, which agreed with him that the appointment of Sejusa as a presidential advisor did not amount to him leaving the army as it was a mere secondment to serve in the civil service.
Justice Kenneth Kakuru argues that the Constitutional courts decision was instrumental in the sense that it underscored the values of constitutional interpretation.
There was a clear appreciation of the context of our Constitution of promoting individual freedoms and he issue of interpreting the constitution in the liberal and purposive way with the aim of promoting of human rights, he says.
Kakuru further notes that the decision explains the political context within which the court was born.
Our politics at the time was devoid of the culture of constitutionalism. So, it was thought that maybe the Constitutional court can be the custodian of constitutionalism, he said.
Isaac Ssemakadde, a budding constitutional lawyer, told The Observer early this month that constitutional courts across the world are political.
What must be examined is the political objective of the court in question. For instance, the constitutional court of the US is composed and behaves based on the politics of the day. In South Africa, their court embarked on the political journey to do away with racial discrimination that had plagued their country. You see, the democratisation process is not for the legislation or executive only but the court must be part of the process, he said.
As to whether Ugandas Constitutional court had an objective, Ladislaus Rwakafuuzi, a lawyer, told The Observer this was the case from inception.
If you look at the way it went through its work at the beginning, it showed the court had a political objective of promoting constitutional democracy. When you look at the Tinyefuza case, it shows courage and establishing values to guide the court, he said.
However, he adds that the court got distracted from this objective because it was hijacked by the executive.
There was no political will on the part of the executive to let the court go about its work. This is why it took President Museveni almost two years to substantively constitute the court. From 1995, there was almost an ad hoc court, in essence, they adopted judges Patrick Tabaro and Stephen Egonda-Ntende to tentatively compose the court. When they decided the Tinyefuza case contrary to what the executive wanted, it was disbanded, he said.
In the wake of the Tinyefuza case, some lawyers who practiced before the court thereafter argue that the tone of the court changed.
Justice Kakuru, one of the practitioners then, argues that the following year, most of the cases that sought to challenge the constitutionality of offences of sedition and publication of false news got dismissed on technical objections by the state.
This started with the minority dissenting opinion of Justice Seth Manyindo in the case of Salvatori Abuki, where Manyindo held that some sections of the Witchcraft Act were not unconstitutional. Majority opinion was that the provisions were unconstitutional.
After the Abuki case, subsequent cases filed in the Constitutional court were dismissed on technicalities.
Sixteen cases, some of them where I acted as the lawyer, where dismissed on funny grounds, Kakuru said.
In hindsight, Kakuru said the abandonment of the liberal and purposive approach was due to the fear by the court to be at a collision course with the executive.
The case of Tinyefuza had serious political implications and its reception by the executive could have influenced the subsequent conduct of the court, he said.
Some of the technicalities upon which the court could refuse to grant reliefs sought include the 30-day rule, political question doctrine, defects in pleadings and the jurisdiction on ground that the court is not an enforcement court.
30-DAYS RULE
The 30-days rule was raised in the 1997 case of Uganda Journalists Safety Committee and Haruna Kanabi vs Attorney General.
The petitioners sought for the nullification of some sections of the Penal Code Act, which provided for, among other things, the offences of sedition and false news. Rule 4(1) of Legal Notice 4 required a petition to be lodged within 30 days after the date of the breach complained of in the petition. The court dismissed the case for not complying with the rule.
Subsequently, the 30-days rule was declared unconstitutional in the 2003 decision of Uganda Association of Women Lawyers vs Attorney General. The court held that the aforesaid rule was inconsistent with the Constitution to the extent that it imposes restrictions on the right of access to the Constitutional court.
For petitions that were rejected on grounds that the Constitutional court was not an enforcement court for human rights, the Supreme court settled the 1998 matter of Ismail Serugo vs Kampala City Council and Attorney General, by ruling that the Constitutional court had jurisdiction to enforce human rights where interpretation of the Constitution is required.
Similarly, the court has clarified that the 1995 Constitution empowers any citizen to file a petition to enforce constitutional provisions, regardless of the fact that they are directly or indirectly affected by the act complained of.
POLITICAL QUESTION DOCTRINE (PQD)
Whereas practitioners before the court litigated against the technical objections, there remained one im- pediment; the political question.
In 2000, when Dr Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere and Zachary Olum challenged the constitutionality of the Referendum and Other Provisions Act 1999 as well as having been passed by parliament without due regard to the requirements of quorum and procedures laid down by the Constitution, the Constitutional court shied away from determining the case on grounds that it had no jurisdiction to inquire into political questions.
Observers say this was exposition of the fact that the court was scared of inquiring into political questions, fearing to rub the executive the wrong way.
However, when the petitioners went to the Supreme court in 2002, it trashed the Constitutional court for abdicating its duty.
The Constitutional court is under a duty to make a declaration, one way or the other. In denying that they had no jurisdiction to make a declaration on this petition, the learned majority justices of the Constitutional court abdicated the function of that court, read the lead judgment by Prof George Wilson Kanyeihamba.
Even then, Prof Joe Oloka-Onyango, a constitutional law lecturer at Makerere University, observes that; despite the impressive and fairly progressive jurisprudence that has developed over the past two decades...the PQD lives on... the PQD was successfully upheld by the Constitutional court in the case of CEHURD vs the Attorney General, Oloka observed during his professorial inaugural lecture in 2015.
In the CEHURD case, Oloka said the court declined to find the government in violation of its obligations in a case concerned with maternal health care.
Indeed, the matter never even reached a hearing on the merits because the court agreed with the attorney generals preliminary objection that the case called upon the court to make a determination of a political question, he said.
CEHURD successfully appealed against the decision and the Supreme court reiterated its view that the Constitutional court had the jurisdiction to determine the case.
POLITICAL CLOUDING
Although the court has had to internally deal with its own politics, the executives politics has also clouded the courts work in various ways.
In 2005, during the process of amending the Constitution, the executive came up with the government white paper containing comments and proposals on the report of the Constitutional Review Commission and government proposals on constitutional issues not addressed in the Report of the Commission.
So, in an attempt to deal with the Constitutional courts decisions, wherein the court was declaring provisions of old statutes as null and void, the executive proposed, Excluding from the Constitutional court the power to nullify an expired statute.
Well, the executive-proposed amendment did not succeed, but even then, the executive has refused to support in the enforcement of the Constitutional court decisions.
In an article entitled Human Rights and Public Interest Litigation In East Africa: A Birds Eye View, Prof Oloka-Onyango argues that although the voice of the judiciary has been growing in confidence, some of its decisions do not have a marked impact, either because the state defied them and reintroduced legislation to thwart the decision... or because the courts themselves were not very clear in terms of the remedies they stipulated.
For instance, the executive and parliament have not amended provisions of the Penal Code Act, Divorce Act and the Succession Act that have been declared unconstitutional to see that the pre-1995 laws are in harmony with the constitution.
SELECTING OF PANELS
It also appears that the executive also controls the Constitutional court through the deputy chief justice (DCJ). Since the Tinyefuza case, the DCJs who have acted in the court have always decided in line with the executive side. In cases that are politically sensitive, the DCJ selects a panel that manifestly shows that progressive minds are the minority.
For instance, when the NRM sought for the eviction of the then NRM rebel MPs from parliament, the panel included; Justices Steven Kavuma, Augustine Nshimye, Faith Mwondha and Richard Buteera, whom the MPs thought were pro-NRM. Remmy Kasule was the only member of the panel considered to be progressive.
Justice Remmy Kasule had the only dissenting judgment in the rebel MPs case
The MPs; Theodore Ssekikubo, Wilfred Niwagaba, Barnabas Tinkasiimire and Muhammad Nsereko, sought for the reconstitution of the panel but this was to no avail.
Indeed, the justices decided in favour of the NRM although their judgment was eventually reversed by the Supreme court, which agreed with the dissenting opinion of Justice Kasule.
STRATEGIC RETHINKING
Weighing in on the journey of the court, most stakeholders The Observer interviewed for this special report said there is need for strategic rethinking to inform the new direction of the court if it is to live up to its dream of being the custodian of constitutionalism.
On delayed justice and backlog, Justice Kakuru proposes that the court can also adopt the practice of having standard judgements of three to four pages since most of the principles are settled, except in instances where lengthy judgments are needed.
It is the only way we can clear backlog in the court and also determine most of these cases expeditiously. After all, most of the principles, upon which these cases are decided, are settled, he said.
Senior lawyer Peter Walubiri agrees with Kakuru and adds: alternatively, the courts rules should think of making brief or summary judgments and give reasons later like it is the case with presidential election petitions.
Other proposals include guaranteeing security of tenure for justices of the court.
On backlog, the judiciarys committee that investigated backlog in the court, recommended that the chief justice should demand that: all judicial officers with cases whose judgement has been pending since December 2015 should submit all their judgements to his office by April 30, 2017 beyond which they should provide an explanation; failure do so should attract disciplinary action.
Secondly, all judicial officers with judgement pending beyond the standard should not be allowed to take on new cases until they have cleared all judgements pending.
When contacted last week, Chief Justice Katureebe said they have implemented the recommendations but he is yet to receive findings from the follow-up.
I have tasked the committee to do the follow-up for me and next month they will be giving their findings, he said.
JUDICIARY SPEAKS OUT
Whereas Katureebe acknowledges the backlog plaguing the court, he could not state what interventions are being made to fight it.
I cannot micro-manage. I cannot go there and fix the cases. The deputy chief justice is there; I have been engaging him on that issue and I cannot share with you the contents of the correspondences but just know that my office is concerned as well about the issue of backlog, he said.
When contacted, Justice Kavuma directed us to send him an email raising our questions and clarifications sought in regard to this special report. He has not yet replied to the said email.
Nevertheless, Katureebe told us that as the judiciary, they are engaged in a process to amend the rules that govern courts.
We have an ongoing exercise to review the rules. Retired Justice Wilson Tsekooko is the lead consultant on this project. All those suggestions proposed by the stakeholders are going to be considered so that amendments are effected so as to make the court efficient, Katureebe.
skakaire@obsserver.ug
This article is a product of The Watchdog and was produced with support from the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME).
Civil society offices of Action Aid in Kasanga and Great Lakes Institute For Strategic Studies in Ntinda are under police siege with staff not allowed to leave the premises.
Police cordoned off the offices this evening, according to the sworn affidavit sworn before by Makindye Chief Magistrate's court by AIP Henry Peter Walya attached to the Criminal Investigations Department because Action Aid in particular is suspected of being used for elicit transfer of funds for illegal activities.
Police drove in and prevented staff from leaving the premises
Policeman atop a building opposite Action Aid offices in Kasanga
The two NGOs have been vocal against the lifting of the presidential age limit from between 35 years and 75 years from the Constitution.
According to Crispin Kaheru, coordinator of the Citizens Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CEDDU), police indicated interest in the IT, Accounts and Country Director's offices. All electronic devices were put under search according to him.
Yesterday, 287 of 296 the National Resistance Movement (NRM) MPs voted in support of a motion by Igara West MP, Raphael Magyezi seeking leave to present a private member's bill to lift age limit from the Constitution.
Some of Action Aid staff were reportedly dressed in these activism T-shirts calling for the age limit to be maintained in the Constitution.
PROCESSIONS BANNED
In a related development, Police chief Gen Kale Kayihura has banned any processions ahead of the anticipated debate in Parliament over lifting the age limit. Opposition MPs and civil society had called on the citizenry to attend parliament to witness the 'castration' of the Constitution. It is also understood that NRM has also mobolised its supporters to counter any opposition demonstrators.
Kayihura has advised the demonstrators to use other means such as TV and radio networks, indoor meeting, electronic and print media among others to express their support or disapproval.
Reports indicate that cabinet has finally agreed to the process of amending the Constitution.
In the backdrop of the current heated debate on the proposal to amend two articles of the 1995 Constitution 26 and 102 Ugandans must be reminded of the eccentric comments made by the minister for Kampala, Beti Kamya.
Ironically and without exception, Kamya is still waiting for her cabinet colleagues to challenge and/or fault her for saying that President Museveni is more intelligent than all of them combined.
Therefore, until Kamyas comparative analysis is proven wrong, we can conclude that the Ugandan cabinet is made up of stooges. In the real-life theatre of the absurd, stooge is a one-word, positive description of a person who does whatever he/she is told to do without question.
Should Ugandans, therefore, allow stooges to amend the Constitution? Unless they stand up and be counted, the cabinet members confirm Kamyas missive; doing Musevenis life presidency bidding without questioning.
We all remember what happened in 2005 when some of them sold out for Shs 5m to remove term limits. The bid to amend Article 102 also confirms what Museveni said on January 26, 2017: I am not a servant of anybody. I am a freedom fighter. That is why I do what I do; I am fighting for myself, for my belief; thats how I come in. If anybody thinks you gave me a job, he is deceiving himself
On the ethical and moral concern, unless Museveni is undergoing some kind of invisible reverse aging, how many Ugandans do not see that actually the president is physically waning?
Just like there is a law against child-labor and exploitation, the youthful Evelyn Anites of this country rallying to remove the 75-year age cap simply do not wish Mzee Museveni well.
This lot should be ashamed, cautioned and/or charged with a conspiracy to commit cruelty, abuse and exploitation of elders. On the other hand, as a senior citizen, Museveni should be ashamed of gross dishonesty, manipulation and exploitation of desperate youths such as Anite to satisfy his personal belief and vainglory.
Raymond Otika,
Kampala.
Name our airline heroes
There is an ongoing effort to reinstate Uganda Airlines. We that were relatively young in the early 1990s when it was closed would like the government to reveal the heroes that were responsible for its closure.
Lately, a lot has been done to slap into our faces all sorts of national heroes. It is high time that those that closed the national airline are revealed so that their names, too, are kept in the annals of Ugandas history.
It is time someone accounted for some of these great disservices to our nation.
Peter Ssetumba,
Kampala.
What's wrong with Uganda?
Do we still have state institutions? Courts are keeping people in parliament that should ideally be out of it. MPs are behaving like co-wives trying to appease a wealthy husband.
Civil servants cannot perform unless they are bribed!
Every transaction now involves a third party, call them brokers. Religious and cultural leaders are quiet about societys sufferings as long as they ride in beautiful cars and their flock pays enough tithe! The president is now literally in charge of everything!
Who bewitched Ugandans to the extent that someone tells them he is not anyones servant but they still vote him into power?
Simon Kato,
Mubende.
Do we need an 18- year-old president?
Ugandans are debating whether or not to change Article 102 (b) of the Constitution to lift the presidential age limit of 75 years.
Some people have proposed that if the upper age limit of 75 years is lifted, the lower age limit of 35 years should also be moved to 18. I strongly disagree with this. Which country, in the world has ever had an 18-year-old president?
A young person is likely to make mistakes in leadership. The Bible warns against immature and inexperienced leadership when it says: Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child. (Ecclesiastes 10:16).
North Koreas 3rd supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, is only 33 years old. Yet, Kims reckless experimentation with nuclear weapons has alarmed the world, attracted international condemnation and economic sanctions from the UN Security Council.
The Daily Mirror reported on September 14, 2017 that North Korea was preparing an imminent launch of an intercontinental missile which could reach United States or Britain! This makes one wonder whether such incredible power should be in the hands of someone so young.
Josepha Jabo,
josephajabo@gmail.com.
Letter to Justice James Ogoola
My lord, media houses last month appraised Ugandans on the progress of The Elders Forum in respect of a national dialogue quoting you and Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda.
Certainly, it is a big positive given our history of strapping rifles to address political dissatisfaction. In spite of this piece of good news, it appears you and the other proponents of this idea of a national dialogue are conceptualizing it in terms of either regional-level consultations or a Kampala affair.
Additionally, there is the detested open secret: irony of some members featuring on the national coordination team known to be never steadfast often remaining shamefully aloof when their flocks expect clear positions.
In a nutshell, with the absence of a robust peace-building structure right from the grassroots, chances are high that radicals on either side will jeopardize the whole thing because they cant contemplate a Uganda without President Museveni or, rather, a brutalized rival at the helm.
Wilson Bbosa,
wilsonbbosa@gmail.com.
letters@observer.ug
A few years back, a book titled Heresy in the University edited by Prof Jacques Berlinerblau caused uproar, especially in North America.
The book followed Martin Bernals Black Athena: The Afro-Asiatic Roots of Classical Civilization in which the author argues that Greeks acquired their civilization from Egypt. In the second and third volumes of the book, Prof Bernal gives archaeological and documentary poof of his assertions. The heresy Berlinerblau refers to is Bernals contention that Africans civilized Europe.
In this essay, I would like to demonstrate that the basic discoveries and inventions that have fundamentally impacted human culture and civilization were contributed by Africans.
So much appears from Dr Cheikh Anta Diops book, Civilization or Barbarism: An Authentic Anthropology. Since entire books have been written on the subject, I will concentrate on mathematics, science and technology.
It is a good idea to study Martin Bernals book because in volume one of Black Athena, he gives the explanation why Eurocentric writers, especially academics, allege that Africans have never discovered or invented anything of use to mankind.
The oldest mathematical statement in written form is found in Africa. This is the Ishango bone found at Ishango village to the west of Rwenzori mountains, straddling the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
It was discovered by Jean de Heinzelin, a Belgian national, in 1960. The bone is currently believed to be more than 20,000 years old.
An analysis by mathematicians, scientists, and archaeologists shows that the three columns on the bone indicate the instrument was used to construct a numeral system or as a counting tool since the markings on the bone are arranged in prime numbers.
One scientist, Alexander Marshack, after examining the bone microscopically, proposed that it might represent a calendar (lunar) based on the movement of the moon.
The ancient Egyptians are on record as having stated that their origin is the Great Lakes region at the foot of the Mountains of the Moon [Ruwenzori]. We do not know whether there is a nexus between this Ishango mathematics and the knowledge systems of the ancient Egyptians apart from the DNA/melanin similarity.
However, by 4236BC, the Egyptians had made a calendar based on 365 days it takes the earth to orbit the sun. This means the black people of Egypt beat Copernicus (14732- 1543 AD) by more than 5,000 years in discovering heliocentricity that is the phenomenon that the earth moves around the sun, and not the other way round. In 2500BC, Pharaoh Nefrikare sent a military expedition to the Rwenzori mountains.
Further and more complicated evidence of knowledge of heliocentricity is found in the comparison between measurements at the base of the great pyramid at Giza, built by Khufu (Cheops in Greek) and the distance traced by planet Venus round the sun. This indicates that the African people knew that all the planets of the solar system orbit the sun.
The classical Greeks who civilized Europe appear on the historical scene very recently, between 650BC and 300BC when the familiar scientists and philosophers such as Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle appear on Europes intellectual scene after their studies in Egypt.
All these Greek thinkers, apart from Socrates, have been established to have studied under priest sages of Egypt. One of the famous Greek scientists was Hippocrates (460-377BC) of the Hippocratic Oath taken by doctors on graduating from medical school hailed as the father of medicine in Eurocentric circles; but he researched from the library of Imhoteps temple in Egypt to study Egyptian medicine.
As Dr Charles Finch shows in his book African Background to Scientific Medicine, the black Egyptians wrote medical textbooks 5000 years ago, and had specialist doctors.
The diseases of each human organ were under the care of a specialist after careful physical diagnosis of patients. It is for these reasons that the father of medicine was Imhotep, the Egyptian, and not Hippocrates, the Greek according to many authorities.
An apt observation in the same field of medicine is the record made by Dr Felkin when he visited Bunyoro in 1879 in connection with a caesarean operation performed by a Munyoro native doctor. This type of surgical operation was known in Buganda and eastern Congo.
The Munyoro doctor saved both the mother and the baby; in Europe then, only the mother could have been saved according to Dr Felkin.
Evidently, Africa was ahead of Europe in that regard as late as 19th century when European powers met at Berlin in 1884-1885 to dismember Africa.
The mathematics, astronomy and science of the black Egyptians is best explained in the technology embodied in the construction of the pyramids.
From the measurements of the great pyramid, one can calculate the value of pie, the distance from the earth to the sun and the circumference of the earth, to mention only three of the wonders of the pyramid technology and mathematics.
These accounts appear incredible precisely because Asian and Europeans invaders had a systematic policy of destroying African civilization as have done many conquerors in history. African history was written and falsified by victors against the vanquished.
The author is a retired judge.
There is something important our revolutionary leader, Gen Yoweri Museveni, has skipped this year celebrating his birthday.
This is something he has religiously done annually since 2014 when he turned 70. On his 70th birthday celebrated on August 15, he revealed that he was born around September 15, 1944.
Skipping this annual family fete tells you how cautious Gen Museveni has become with his age. He doesnt want to be reminded when he was born. Reminding him, I think, is about to be declared an offence.
The truth of the matter is that even after all the alleged editing has been factored in, Museveni will be 76 in 2020 and, therefore, ineligible to appear on the 2021 presidential elections ballot paper.
That is why fortune-hunters have seized the moment to help him change the Constitution so he can realize his dream of dying in the presidential office.
I dont intend to dwell much on the demerits of life presidency. This is something more qualified people dealt with starting in 2003, again when Museveni shamelessly started mooting the idea of removing the presidential two-term limit.
I assume that everybody in Uganda appreciates the danger of a life presidency including those parochial NRM MPs who want to become its champion.
What we must not forget is that there are personal rewards for pushing for it. MPs Peter Ogwang from Katakwi and Evelyn Anite from Koboko, who are part of the gang pushing for the constitutional change, will never feel for Museveni like Eriya Kategaya, Mugisha Muntu or Augustine Ruzindana [all NRM veterans] did. And Museveni knows it.
They are just hunting for fortunes. That is why those of us fighting to stop them must avoid looking like them. We must avoid presenting ourselves as publicity-seeking politicians who have seized on this campaign to make names for ourselves.
Seeking personal heroism and manoeuvres has, in the past, cost us some battles. That is why we must be as cautious as Museveni is with his age.
In Zambia, the population was able to stop President Fredrick Chiluba in 2001 from changing the Constitution to remove presidential term limits because it allowed the Church to lead the campaign.
Unlike ours, the Church in Zambia took up the fight to safeguard presidential term limits as a Godly project. First, the Christian Council of Zambia, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia and the Zambia Episcopal Conference drafted a declaration pleading with Chiluba not to change the Constitution.
It urged him to exercise statesmanship by unambiguously pledging to uphold, protect and defend the Constitution of Zambia and not contest the 2001 presidential elections. It also appealed to the Zambians (the likes of Ogwang, Anite, Adolf Mwesige, etc) to protect democracy.
The Church organized and even led demonstrations. The Church had played a similar role to end Kenneth Kaundas life presidency project. In fact, the pulpit became the main platform against Kaundas hold onto power.
The Church played the same role in stopping Malawis Bakili Muluzi. Muluzi threatened the Church not to interfere with politics but they didnt relent.
Again, the Church had played the same role during dictator Hastings Kamuzu Bandas era. Kamuzu Banda, at one time, sentenced eight Catholic bishops to death for attempting to remove his government, but they didnt waver.
For us in Uganda, the Church looked the other side as the revolutionary changed the constitution. Rwanda soon followed suit and Burundi was taking note.
An opportunity has availed itself to us again and we must cautiously seize it. Let the Church and maybe the Ummah lead or at least join the campaign to stop the life presidency.
The traditional leaders must also not only speak out, but actively participate in this campaign. If we dont stop Museveni, he is willing to go down with our country. It is today or never.
semugs@yahoo.com
The author is Kira Municipality MP and spokesperson of the Forum for Democratic Change.
Following persistent reports of corruption in government health facilities, particularly at Naguru hospital, the minister of state for Health in charge of General Duties, Sarah Opendi, took it upon herself to find out the truth.
Disguised as an ordinary patient, the minister arrived on a boda boda and feigned some illness. The nurse attending to her asked for Shs 5,000 before anything could be done while the laboratory technician demanded Shs 150,000 for a blood test.
With that, the minister had confirmed her fears. Ms Opendi must be commended for picking interest in service delivery under her docket and going an extra mile to establish the truth.
If all ministers and other government officials took their work as seriously as Opendi often does, service delivery would go up as corruption goes down.
However, its not as simple as that. Health workers in Uganda are some of the poorest-paid government employees, and this has partly fuelled corruption.
While poor pay should never be used to justify corruption, the latter is harder to fight amid the former. Besides, our public health facilities should be equipped to serve all Ugandans irrespective of their standing in society.
Having two or even three categories of Ugandans; whereby one goes abroad at taxpayers expense for simple treatment, another goes to the best private hospitals in the country, while the other goes to corrupt public health facilities is sad.
Minister Opendi neednt disguise herself if Naguru hospital was well equipped to attend to all Ugandans of all walks of life, including ministers.
She and her colleagues would have visited from time to time, and most likely the services would be better and the workers less inclined to bribery.
Otherwise, if government facilities are not good enough for its own officials, we shouldnt be surprised that they are a bastion of corruption and the services are wanting.
This applies to other sectors too. If public schools are not good enough for ministers and MPs children, no one should be surprised that they are not delivering the right outcomes.
In February, AES Energys Escondido battery storage facility in California was hailed as the largest one to date, with a capacity of 30 MW/120 MWh. Now, Tesla is building a bigger one100 MW/129 MWhin Australia. On the face of it, its a race for the bigger battery storage system. But theres much more to it than that.
The race is on for increasingly reliable, grid-scale, quick-to-install energy storage solutions that will make the shift to all-renewable power much more realistic. In this, factors such as renewable-friendly regulation and integration of storage systems with renewable power generation capacity can tip the energy transformation scales.
California is one of the places to be if youre a renewables fan. Its authorities have ambitious plans in this regard, eventually hoping to replace all fossil-fuel generation capacity with renewables. Wholly reliable grid-scale storage systems are crucial for this strategy, and they are becoming increasingly popular in the state.
Unfortunately, the initiative to make the 100-percent renewable plan a law fell through. Unions, worried about possible job losses, pulled their support. Legislators themselves tweaked the bill, so its goal is now to produce 100-percent greenhouse-gas-free energy. The debate about the feasibility of the plan and how fast it could become a reality continues. California is a cautionary tale for other ambitious clean energy proponents. Related: Can Russia Develop Its Shale Reserves?
Meanwhile, the leaders of the battery pack are expanding. AES recently teamed up with Siemens on a joint venture, Fluence, focusing specifically on energy storage system development. Fluence will deal in AES Advancion and Siemens Siestorage platforms, the companies said, adding it will target the development of new energy storage capacity across 160 countries worldwide.
Tesla is looking in another direction. It already has the largest portfolio of completed energy storage projects globally, at 300 MWh. What it is looking for now is integrating future storage systems with wind and solar electricity producers.
When Tesla said it had won a deal for the construction of the worlds biggest lithium-ion battery storage facility in Australia, it noted that the deal involves partnering with local wind power producer, Neoen, which will supply the battery complex with electricity.
At the same time, AES is working mainly with traditional utilities to supply them with energy storage capacity, focusing on constantly improving the energy density and efficiency of its arrays. Teslas all-renewables focus is well documented, and now it could give it the lead in the energy storage race. Related: Could Kurdish Independence Spark An Oil War?
Earlier this month, Tesla closed another partnership, with wind power leader Vestas, to develop integrated wind power-energy storage solutions. The Danish company announced earlier this year that it has big plans for energy storage, with Chairman Bert Nordberg telling Reuters that the company had 3.2 billion euro (US$3.84 billion) in cash and no debt, so it could afford some good investments. So far this year, Vestas has invested in almost a dozen battery storage makers.
Energy storage, according to AES CEO Andres Gluski, is the Holy Grail for renewables. It is the key to the renewables kingdom of the future, eliminating the adverse effects of renewable powers intermittency. Integrating this Holy Grail with the clean energy producers is the next step. Tesla and other battery makers have already made it. Yet staying with traditional utilities might not be a bad strategy either: it will be some time before renewables become the predominant energy source in the world.
By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com
More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Iraq doesnt see a need for more collaborative oil production cuts currently, but it would support consensus within OPEC if such need arises, Iraqi Oil Minister Jabbar al-Luiebi said on Tuesday, adding that it was still too early to decide on actions to take beyond March next year.
OPEC and the non-OPEC producers that are part of the deal are discussing several options, including extending the cuts and even deeper cuts, yet its premature to decide on now, according to the Iraqi minister.
Some producers favor extending the deal for three to four months beyond March 2018, while others believe it should be extended until the end of next year. Still another groupincluding Ecuador and Iraqthink that more cuts may be in order, al-Luiebi said.
Asked by Reuters if Iraq would push for additional 1-percent cut at the November meeting, the minister said: There are proposals and there are ideas... I dont think it will be implemented but it will be considered and studied.
Al-Luiebi appears to be on the same page as the other big OPEC producers, which feel that the market is rebalancing, and think it is simply too early to say that it is necessary to take additional measures to stabilize it.
The market now is reaching a good position of stabilization. There is an improvement in the market, so let us wait how the improvement gets from now until March. It is very early now to judge and decide what to do, al-Luiebi told Reuters.
The minister also boasted that Iraq had reached its assigned target to cut 260,000 bpd, over complying with its pledge.
Related: Supermajors Prepare For A Permian Bidding War
At the beginning of this month, al-Luiebi said that Iraq was producing 4.32 million bpd of oil, below the 4.351 million bpd ceiling it had pledged in the production cut deal.
Under OPECs agreement, Iraq pledged to cut 210,000 bpd and keep output at 4.351 million bpd, but has so far failed to show it has fully complied with its promise. In August, Iraq produced 4.448 million bpd, down by 23,100 bpd over July, but still off the 4.351 million bpd mark, according to OPECs secondary sources.
By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com
More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
OPEC could extend its production cuts through the end of 2018 in an effort to rebalance the market, according to comments from Iraqs oil minister.
A few OPEC members even want the cuts to be deepened, Iraqi Oil Minister Jabbar al-Luaibi said at an oil conference in the UAE. Some think that cuts should be extended beyond March, three or four months, or six months, or maybe till the end of 2018, al-Luaibi said. Some, like Ecuador and other countries, even Iraq, think there should be another cut of 1 percent.
OPEC officials have time and again hinted at possible actions as a way of influencing market sentiment. Often, the jawboning works, at least temporarily. Sometimes it can backfire if it raises expectations too much.
The latest iteration of this game of market psychology came a few weeks ago when top OPEC officials suggested they were considering a three-month extension, pushing the deal out through June 2018. It wasnt exactly an overwhelming show of force, and oil prices didnt move all that much on the rumors.
Most oil analysts are of the view that the OPEC cuts are working, but only if they remain in place. There is no shortage of projections from investment banks, energy watchers, and government forecasters that see oil prices crashing if OPEC abandons the cuts at the end of the deal in March 2018. That is why OPEC officials are laying the groundwork for a possible extension.
Related: Supermajors Prepare For A Permian Bidding War
But the comments from Iraqs oil minister are more significant, for a few reasons.
First, and most obvious, is that he says the group is considering much longer cuts. Extending the output limitations through 2018 would go a long way to reassuring the market that a return to full production is off the table for now.
Second, he hinted at deeper reductions. That would be a heavier lift for OPEC and the non-OPEC participants and there would certainly be some countries resistant to such an outcome. A few months ago Ecuador decided it could no longer cooperate with the production limits because of the financial burden involved. Asking struggling producers to cut deeper would require a heavy sacrifice. Still, if OPEC pulled it off, it would be a lot more bullish for oil than a simple extension.
A third reason why the latest rumors are more significant than previous comments are because of where they are coming from. Iraq has been one of the laggards to the agreement, failing to fully comply with its promised output cuts for most of this year, so the cooperative tone from Iraqs oil minister carries more weight than if it had come from Saudi Arabia or Kuwait.
In fact, compliance has improved lately, with Iraq in particular carrying out deeper cuts. Iraqs oil minister said his country is now producing less than what is required as part of the deal output stands at 4.32 mb/d, below its ceiling of 4.35 mb/d. That has contributed to more confidence in the OPEC deal, which is putting the oil market on a positive trend, al-Luaibi said.
Others dispute those figures, but whatever the exact production figures are, there is a general sense that Iraq is improving its compliance rate. Nevertheless, Iraqs spotty record warrants some skepticism, analysts say. News that Iraq is giving positive signals about supporting deepening cuts is helping oil prices, Nitesh Shah, commodities director at asset management firm ETF Securities, told the Wall Street Journal. But, Iraq hasnt complied with its portion of the quota since this started so [prices] could come off very quickly, he warned. Related: Is Artificial Intelligence The Next Step In Total's Tech Push?
The improved compliance rate comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is also specifically trying to target oil exports in order to take more barrels off of the global market. Saudi Arabia said that it will lower its exports by 350,000 bpd in October even though there is plenty of demand for its crude. Despite refiners request for more crude, the decision was made to maintain cuts, an industry source told Reuters earlier this month. That could help improve the oil market outlook in the months ahead.
The expiration date of the current deal is drawing closer, and more importantly, there is one major official OPEC meeting left on the calendar (November 30) before that date arrives. That makes the upcoming meeting in Vienna in two months the crucial deadline for an extension.
By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com
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The September 25 Kurdish independence referendum in Iraqs Kurdish region is seen by Kurdish supporters as a major step forward to fulfilling its dream: an independent Kurdish state. The dream, however, could be met with a military response from the Iraqi government and surrounding countries Iran, Syria and Turkey.
The bloody history of the Kurds in the Middle East could soon add a new chapter. Now, the Kurdish national state could even be met by a combined Shia and Turkish military force.
Turkish forces are already holding major military exercises on the border of Iraq, while the Iraqi government continues to threaten the Kurds with a full military reaction to any Kurdish independence movements. Iran and its puppet state, Syria, have indicated a forceful reaction may be in store.
Still, all hope hasnt vanished for a Kurdish success story. The vote in the Arab world is still out. Several Gulf states have overtly supported Kurdish movements toward independence, not only to quell possible Iranian power projections in the north of Iraq, but also to put extra pressure on Turkey.
Ankaras move to support Qatar in the fight against the ATQ (Saudi-led Anti-Terror Quartet alliance) and Turkeys rapprochement with Iran has caused heightened tensions within the region. Ankaras increased military cooperation with vast parts of the Iranian military establishment, evidenced by the visit of the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces to his Turkish counterpart, has been viewed angrily by Saudi, Emirati and Egyptian government officials.
Ankara and Tehran seem to be preparing a combined military strategy to quell any Kurdish independence gains. However, these allies may have overlooked the changing position that Russia, Irans main ally in Syria, is currently taking inside the Kurdish movement.
Growing business links between Moscow and Erbil, such as the major deal just signed by Rosneft to build a vast gas export pipeline in Kurdistan, show that Moscow is once again playing a Russian roulette version of the Middle East chess game. Growing cooperation between the Kurdish government, led by the KDP, President Masoud Barzani, and Putins associates, could put the Kurds in a better position to achieve and maintain independence.
The West, represented by the U.S. and its European partners, plays a disputed and fledgling role. After promoting and supporting the de-facto Kurdish independent state after the removal of Saddam Hussein, while arming them during their battles against Daesh/IS and Al Qaeda, Western governments show a lack of stamina and political influence.
The already-weak position Western countries presently have in the Middle East is particularly apparent now. Washington, London, Brussels and Paris havent been willing to support the democratic moves made in Erbil, while also ignoring the growing instability and security issues confronting the Kurds in their home regions. From Washington and Europe, the Kurdish state shouldnt expect a message of love.
Now, even Western countries are putting pressure on Erbil to either postpone the referendum or change its meaning. Here, Washington and Tehran seem to be on the same track. Both have indicated that a single Iraqi state is their ultimate goal. Tehran and Washington have also cooperated in their fight against Daesh in Iraq. This alliancefocusing on a unitary state (one Iraq)has become especially clear over the past few weeks. Related: Could Kurdish Independence Spark An Oil War?
General Qasem Soleimani (leader of Irans Quds Force), Brett McGurk (Trumps envoy in the fight against Daesh) and U.S. Ambassador in Iraq Douglas Silliman have all put pressure on the Kurds to defer the independence referendum. Iran and the U.S. dont have the same motives. Irans motives are clear. Iraq should be under Iranian control, while the US wants to support Haider al-Abadi in his run-up to next years Iraqs elections.
However, a conflict is brewing. The Iraqi Kurds have started a movement that cannot be stopped, except by force.
A Kurdish independencethe referendums expected outcomewill not only confront the region with a new independent and partly powerful state, Kurdistan, but will also stir tensions within the region.
Neighboring countries wont agree to accept an independent Kurdistan. Irans growing anti-Kurdish hysteria and posturing also leaves Tehran no other option but to seek confrontation. This could even be under the pretext of an Israeli interference or pro-Israeli Kurdish state.
In the end, Washington will be forced to choose sides, which, based on their support of the Kurds autonomy since 1991, should be clear.
A real potential place for a confrontation between western forces and their allies on the ground (Kurds) and Iranian-backed parties is in and around Kirkukthe oil-rich and multi-ethnic city surrounded by vast oil and gas reserves is a price that all are vying for.
Kurdish claims are clear, and historically could be strong, but Saddam Husseins policies of migrating other ethnic groups to Kirkuk, which has continued until now, will make it a battlefield. No Kurdish state will survive without taking full power in Kirkuk and other former Kurdish areas.
President Barzani has openly stated that the Kurds will fight at Kirkuk. Major reinforcements are already in place. Iraqs government has also acted, lately by removing the powerful mayor of Kirkuk, which was greeted by violence and rejection.
The real unknown now is Turkeys president Erdogan, who has cozied up to the Iraqi Kurdish power players (like Barzani) for years. A good bilateral relationship between Turkey and the Iraqi Kurds has helped Ankara in its fight against the PKK, as they could no longer rely on a safe haven in northern Iraq.
Still, Ankara shows signs of concern.
The growing drive for independence by all Kurdish parties in Syria, Iran and Turkey could receive a major boost by the Iraqi Kurds independence. Turkeys military is already severely constrained, partly because the anti-Gulen purge has hit the armed forces hard, and also due to its military involvement in Syria, Iraq and Eastern Turkey, fighting both PKK (and its proxies) and Daesh. A new full military operation against the Iraqi Kurds could be too much for the already stretched Turkish forces.
In just two weeks, the region could change beyond recognition. An independent Kurdistan could be a fact of life, but life could be full of disaster, bloodshed and regional instability. A military confrontation on a supra-regional scale still isnt on the horizon, but some mishaps could take place and the worlds super power(s) and regional adversaries could meet on the battlefield.
Related: Have Oil Markets Reached A Turning Point?
An unstable Kurdistan, confined to the Kurdish borders (fictional still), would have only a minor effect on global oil and gas markets. Although Kurdish oil and gas reserves (or northern Iraqs) are important and attractive, the market impact could be minimal and mitigated by current oil stocks. However, taking a more rational approach, a confrontation spilling beyond these borders is easy to paint.
A destabilized Iraq, a confrontation between Arab-Western forces and Iran, or the involvement of Turkey could lead to a grand-scale disaster. In a region already known for the Mother of All Battles, a real clash could hit oil and gas severely. Taking out the northern regions (Kurdistan, eastern Turkey and Iran) would impact oil and gas supply coming from the Middle East and the Caucasus region.
A Mother of All Battles would meet an Oil Fury.
By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com
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South Sudanese authorities reported the deaths of at least 25 people on Tuesday following a clash between government forces and rebel groups in the oil-producing regions in the north of the worlds youngest country.
The rebels pledge their loyalty to Former Deputy President Riek Machar, who has been exiled by the central government. On Monday, a village called Nhialdiu became the site of the clash, continuing a months-long pattern of the town changing hands unpredictably.
"The number of the bodies that were found on the ground were 25," said Lam Tungwar, information minister for Northern Liech State, adding that the rebel attack was "repulsed".
The rebels, who go by the acronym SPLA-IO, said that the attack was a successful operation which gave the gallant SPLA-IO forces control of Nhialdiu. Nineteen South Sudanese soldiers died, allowing the group to seize the weapons under their command.
Last year, Tungwar had announced an increase in security in Northern Liech to ensure that oil production continues its recovery through the ongoing civil war. The Tharjiath field had been slated to resume output at pre-2013 levels after the security checks had been completed, though key repairs remained incomplete.
Related: Supermajors Prepare For A Permian Bidding War
After the visit of the minister of petroleum on 4 January, we managed to complete all preparations for the protection of the oil field in Northern Liech, Tungwar told reporters at the time. We are now waiting for the national government to send the companies so that they repair the damaged facilities during the fighting. So, if this is thing is done, we will restart the production.
It is unclear if the oilfield has been affected by the string of clashes in recent months, but South Sudans goal for the year was to double oil output to 290,000 barrels per day, according to a January announcement.
By Zainab Calcuttawala for Oilprice.com
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The Energy Information Administration is overestimating U.S. crude oil production, Continental Resources chief executive Harold Hamm said today in an interview with Fox Business. Hamm was notably the only shale oil major executive who warned against the too-quick boosting of shale oil production after the OPEC-non-OPEC output cut deal from the end of last year.
EIA over-forecast what U.S. production was going to be this year by about 100 percent, Hamm said, adding that the EIA has been revising its production estimates down but by a much more moderate rate than the actual decline in production. And 100 percent too much is a fairly large number, and the market was only too happy to see at least a small adjustment, which was made in the EIAs latest Short Term Energy Outlook (STEO). According to Hamm, the EIA made an adjustment of 130,000 barrels down to compensate.
We are showing about 9.35 million barrels, 9.4 million barrels by the years end for the U.S. In comparison their prediction was 9.8-9.9, close to 10 million barrels, Hamm also told Fox Business Maria Bartiromo. The EIAs September STEO also pegged year-end oil production in the U.S. at 9.3 million bpd, and average 2018 production at 9.8 million bpd.
According to Hamm, the recent improvement in prices was to a large extent caused by the downward revisions of production rates that the EIA has made over the last two months, despite the fact that they were much smaller than they should have been: about half a million bpd, according to Continentals CEOs estimate.
Related: The Worlds Largest Offshore Oil Field Is Back In Action
That could certainly pressure prices, with market observers increasingly unsure who to believe with regard to production estimates. And Hamm did not stop there. He drove his point home with a punch, saying, If you look back when Nigeria and Libya brought on an extra 400,000 barrels, the price was hit some 20 percent, it went down $53 to $43, and we feel like thats about the adjustment thats due right now.
By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com
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Oil prices rose by 1 percent on Wednesday morning and were set for the biggest third-quarter gain since 2004, as investors weighed the renewed talk of possible deeper OPEC cuts, along with the results of this weeks EIA inventory report.
At 8:27am EST, WTI was topping the US$50 mark, rising 1.07 percent at US$50.01, while Brent was up 1.03 percent at US$55.71. Near 2:00pm EST, prices had climbed even further, with WTI up 2.16% at $50.55, and Brent up 2.14% at 56.32, as investors enjoyed a lower-than anticipated build in crude oil inventories.
Some producers favor extending the OPEC/non-OPEC deal for 3-4 months beyond March, while others believe it should be extended until the end of next year. Still another groupincluding Ecuador and Iraqthink that its more cuts that should be discussed, Iraqi Oil Minister Jabbar al-Luiebi said on Tuesday.
However, al-Luiebi noted that Iraq didnt see a need for more oil production cuts currently, but it would support consensus within OPEC if such need arises. It is still too early to decide on actions to take beyond March next year, the Iraqi minister said, reigniting market speculation about whether OPEC would or should cut deeper to speed up the rebalancing of the market.
Asked by Reuters if Iraq would push for additional 1-percent cut at the November meeting, the minister said: There are proposals and there are ideas... I dont think it will be implemented but it will be considered and studied.
I cant see the market tightening unless OPEC cuts output further next year, Commerzbank strategist Carsten Fritsch told Reuters on Wednesday.
An improving macro-economic backdrop should spur oil demand growth over the next couple of quarters and if OPEC increases its adherence to production cuts, higher prices will come, ANZ Research said in a note, as carried by Reuters. All things being equal, ANZ Research continues to see oil prices testing new 2017 highs by the end of the year.
Oil prices are supported today by Tuesdays report by the American Petroleum Institute (API), which reported a 1.4-million increase in crude inventories against expectations of a 3.5-million increase, while gasoline and distillate stockpiles declined in the week to September 15.
By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com
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Three decades of failure should lead us at least to question the conventional wisdom [of the 'China is the key to North Korea'meme]. Perhaps the true Chinese attitude toward the North Korean nuclear program is more favorable than appears. It might do well to reflect on the phrase barbarian handlers that is, Chinese official or unofficial representatives whose job it is to shape foreigners perceptions of China.
The conventional wisdom ignores the geo-strategic benefits that China derives from the North Korean nuclear program. The prospect of North Korean nuclear weapons has distracted U.S. attention in Asia since the Clinton Administration, and has rendered the U.S. a supplicant to China, soliciting its help.
This pays off for China in many ways. As we have seen, the Trump administration has withheld its fire on trade and financial issues as a result. The Bush and Obama Administrations welcomed Beijing convening leading nations in multi-party talks, thus enhancing Chinas regional and diplomatic prestige. China may not unreasonably believe that all this gives it a freer hand to act aggressively in other arenas, such as Chinas unlawful efforts to seize control of the South China Sea ...
If China truly wanted to press North Korea to end its nuclear program, such measures would be on its agenda. But there is no indication China is thinking along these lines.
If, on the other hand, China actually regards the North Korean nuclear program as geopolitically advantageous, then its current policy makes good sense. By keeping the U.S. hoping that the next set of sanctions will do the trick, China buys time for the other gains it reaps.
All this would suggest the U.S. adopt a course less tolerant of Chinas role. Indeed, the Trump Administration has hinted at stronger measures.
None of this proves, of course, that Americas decades-long conventional wisdom is wrong. But if policies based on it have repeatedly fallen short, isnt it at least time for the general Washington community to rethink basic assumptions and the policies toward both North Korea and China that flow from them?
For the past three decades the diplomatic elites in Washinton have told us that China is the key to controlling the aggressive ambitions of North Korea. I accepted that conventional wisdom and have cited it in a number of posts over the years. But I'm beginning to think that the entire 'China-is-the-key-to-North Korea' meme is wrongthat the NoKos crazy behavior benefits China. Like many ideas emanating from our diplomatic elite, our reliance on China to control NoKo is doomed to failure.In a fascinating article on this subject, Abram Shulsky and Lewis Libby write:I'm not sure there is any way we can force the Chinese to act. In fact, trade sanctions, although potentially a viable forcing function, would hurt us as much as they would hurt China. In fact, I'm not sure sanction that raise the price of goods and potentially create unemployment would be politically viable in this country.But if China won't act in a manner that is effective, then what?
It must be nice to be Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and live your life where only perfect is acceptable and mere progress is bad.
The Senate Republicans are close to taking up a last ditch effort to repeal Obamacare utilizing a proposal by Sens. Lindsay Graham (R-SC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Dean Heller (R-NV). The essence of the bill is to reduce Medicaid expansion, eliminate the individual mandate, and redistribute existing financial support for Obamacare to the states in the form of block grants. Mr. Paul immediately declared his opposition to the bill branding it Obamacare light a sobriquet that Mr. Paul has applied to virtually every proposal to repeal and replace Obamacare.
You see Mr. Paul, like his father before him (Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)), is a purist a free market, small government Libertarian. There is nothing wrong with that and, in fact, it is important that someone like Mr. Paul continues to promote those concepts to remind us that this country was made great utilizing the free enterprise concepts of robust competition, limited governmental interference and individual responsibility. In doing so Mr. Paul draws a bright line between the past progress of America and the more recent slide into the welfare state where the well being of government has now supplanted individual rights and responsibilities.
Mr. Paul has promoted a stand-alone repeal of Obamacare a repeal unaccompanied by a replacement. He points to a series of votes over the last several years when virtually every Republican senator voted to repeal Obamacare including Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) who have now succumbed to the lobbyists and hefty campaign contributions of the pro-abortion lobby and thus voted against the repeal and replace measure in the Senate this year. But those were all votes that counted for nothing because the Republican senators knew that then-President Barack Obama (D) would veto any such legislation. It is unclear whether Mr. Paul demands the stand-alone repeal as a matter of principle or simply as a means of demonstrating the hypocrisy of his Republican colleagues who have run their mouths for repeal over the last seven years without a clue as to how to actually accomplish it. I choose to think it is a little of both.
However, Mr. Paul actually has a plan to replace Obamacare it is just not a government involved plan. (That is in marked contrast with the despicable Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) who simply opposed the previous Senate plan so as to deny President Donald Trump a victory and who had absolutely no alternative plan to promote.) It is a pure free market plan which simply allows individuals and businesses alike to band together in forming collaborative purchasing entities of sufficient size to force health insurance companies to bargain with them for coverage think AARP using the collective economic might of its 55+ membership in negotiating Medicare supplemental coverage with UnitedHealthcare. Because it is a free market solution all it requires for implementation is for the federal and state governments to get out of the way in this case it means a federal law prohibiting states from barring individual health insurance providers as they now do currently using protectionist regulations.
Mr. Paul has acknowledged that any such plans would require pre-existing condition coverage. Presumably such negotiated plans will provide flexibility that allows such things as single men not being required to purchase ob-gyn or pregnancy coverage, single women not being required to purchase coverage for prostate health or erectile dysfunction, or abortion coverage for those who oppose abortion as a matter of conscience.
The problem with Mr. Pauls plan is that it cannot pass the United States Senate. In all probability it cannot garner more than one vote in the Senate Mr. Pauls vote. Regardless of its worth, the other Republicans will run from it like it was the plague because the non-partisan, but highly biased*, Congressional Budget Office (CBO) will score Mr. Pauls measure as resulting in the loss of coverage for tens of millions of Americans (the expanded Medicaid crowd and those burdened by the individual mandate) and the Democrats will gleefully roll out videos of Mr. Paul pushing Grandma in her wheelchair over a cliff (even though Mr. Pauls proposal has nothing to do with Medicare which provides Grandma her healthcare).
However, there is a solution. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) should allow Mr. Pauls stand-alone repeal bill to come to the floor accompanied by Mr. Pauls free-market buying collectives authorization and let it stand for a vote. And Mr. Paul, in exchange, should commit to supporting the Graham-Kennedy measure amended to include the free-market buying collective authorization, should Mr. Pauls stand alone repeal fail. There is an added benefit to such a solution in that it will allow Reps. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Mark Meadows (R-NC) along with the other members of the House Freedom Caucus to clearly see that a stand alone repeal is not possible in the Senate and thus reinforce their current decision to support the Graham-Kennedy proposal.
I dont disagree with Mr. Paul that the Graham-Kennedy measure is, to a degree, Obamacare light. But it is progress. Whatever it is it is better than Obamacare which is out of control and failing. Shifting the responsibility for administering healthcare coverage and Medicaid to the states allows for greater flexibility in design, efficiency and accountability. If a state like Idaho decides that it wants to impose conditions on Medicaid eligibility drug testing, workfare for the able-bodied, or elimination of abortion coverage it should be allowed to. If a state like Oregon wants to make abortion (including partial birth abortion) mandatory and utilize its funds to increase benefits for SEIU union members, it can.
In the end, how each state treats healthcare coverage will become, like taxes and business regulation, a competitive factor in attracting and retaining people. My guess is that the result would be an increased flow of business and skilled workers to places like Idaho and a continuation of the migration of welfare recipients and public employees to places like Oregon and California.
_______________
*The Congressional Budget Office is populated with career public employees just like the other federal agencies of the government. Regardless of their nominal party affiliation they are overwhelming big government acolytes who recognize that government provides them with unlimited job opportunities and security. The CBOs history in accurately scoring (predicting) federal legislation is abysmal and routinely favors continuation and growth in federal programs as opposed to reduction or elimination of such programs.
I do not fear global scrutiny over Rohingya crisis: Aung San Suu Kyi
NAYPYIDAW: In her much-anticipated address, Aung San Suu Kyi said on Tuesday that she does not fear global scrutiny over the Rohingya crisis, pledging to hold rights violators to account and to resettle some of the 410,000 Muslims who have fled army operations in her country.
The de facto leader of Myanmar, however, offered no concrete solutions to stop what the UN calls ethnic cleansing. Amnesty International said that the Nobel peace prize winner was burying her head in the sand by ignoring army abuses. Her speech was warmly welcomed in Myanmar.
Suu Kyi has been strongly criticised by the international community for failing to speak up publicly for the stateless Rohingya or to urge restraint on the military.
In a 30-minute televised speech on Tuesday, she reached out to her critics, deploying the soaring rhetoric that once made her a darling of the global rights community.
In an address timed to pre-empt likely censure at the UN General Assembly in New York, she said that Myanmar stood ready at any time to repatriate refugees in accordance with a verification process agreed with Bangladesh in the early 1990s.
In less than a month, just under half of Rakhines one-million-strong Rohingya minority has poured into Bangladesh, where they now languish in one of the worlds largest refugee camps.
Those verified as refugees will be accepted without any problems and with full assurance of their security and access to humanitarian aid, Suu Kyi said.
It was not immediately clear how many Rohingya would qualify to return.
But the subject of their claims to live in Myanmar is at the heart of a toxic debate about the Muslim group, who are denied citizenship by the state and considered to be illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
Myanmars government has previously said it will not take back people linked with terrorists and suggested that many of those who fled had set fire to their own villages before leaving.
Suu Kyis pledge to repatriate the refugees is new and significant, said Richard Horsey, an independent analyst based in Myanmar, explaining it would in principle allow for the return of those who can prove residence in Myanmar - rather than citizenship. However, there continues to be a live crisis in the north of Rakhine, he said.
A siege mentality has emerged in Myanmar with the UN, international NGOs and foreign media the focus of anger for apparent pro-Rohingya bias.
Many Facebook users changed their profile picture on Tuesday to carry a banner with a photo of The Lady and a message reading, We stand with you Daw Aung San Suu Kyi using an honorific.
In an address delivered entirely in English, Suu Kyi insisted that army clearance operations finished on September 5 without any further militant attacks.
But AFP reporters have seen homes on fire in the days following September 5, while testimony from refugees arriving in Bangladesh suggests army operations have continued.
Fresh satellite date published by Human Rights Watch on Tuesday purportedly shows 214 Rohingya villages in ashes.
If nothing has happened since September 5th, and all the Rohingya have left, who burned them? Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch told AFP.
Inside Myanmar, supporters say that the 72-year-old leader lacks the power to rein in the army, with which she is in a delicate power-sharing arrangement.
Deftly avoiding blaming different ethnic groups or the army for violence, Suu Kyi promised to punish anyone found guilty of abuses regardless of their religion, race or political position.
Rights monitors and Rohingya refugees allege the army often flanked by ethnic Rakhine mobs systematically torched their villages, while the UN has accused Myanmars military of ethnic cleansing.
The army denies that, insisting its operations are a proportionate response to the raids by Rohingya militants, whom they label extremist Bengali terrorists.
Amnesty International, which once tirelessly campaigned for Suu Kyis release from house arrest, pilloried her speech saying The Lady and her government are burying their heads in the sand about the horrors unfolding in Rakhine.
Around 170 Rohingya villages have been razed to the ground, the government says, nearly 40 percent of the total in Rakhine.
Suu Kyi said the majority of Muslims in the Rakhine state have not joined the exodus [...] more than 50 percent of the villages of Muslims are intact.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met US Vice President 20 September, 2017
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Hand Wash and Toiletries in Pakistan And the Role of DUPAS in Reshaping the Industry
Woke Bingo Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met US Vice President Mike Pence on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, with the two sides resolving to remain engaged and carry forward the relationship that has been on a downward trajectory since announcement of the US policy for Afghanistan and South Asia.
Abbasis meeting with VP Pence is the highest contact between the two sides since the policy was announced on Aug 21. Pakistan had after the policy announcement postponed the then planned bilateral interactions.
The meeting on the sidelines of the 72nd UNGA session in New York was held in a cordial atmosphere, a handout issued by the Foreign Office said.
"Prime Minister [Abbasi] shared Pakistans concerns and views with regard to the US strategy for South Asia," it said.
Also read: 'No point in PM Abbasi meeting US VP Pence at UNGA,' says Senate chairman
Abbasi and Pence agreed to work together to carry forward the bilateral relationship and discussed matters relating to peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.
"It was agreed that the two countries would stay engaged with a constructive approach to achieve shared objectives of peace, stability and economic prosperity in the region," the FO statement said.
In his opening remarks, the US vice president greeted Abbasi on behalf of President Donald Trump. He recalled the strategy articulated by Trump on South Asia and said the US valued its relationship with Pakistan, a long term partnership for security in the region.
We look forward to exploring ways so that we can work even more closely with Pakistan and with your government to advance security throughout the region, he told Abbasi.
In response, Abbasi said Pakistan intends to continue efforts to eliminate terrorism in the area.
We have made our contributions, we fought a very difficult war, we suffered casualties and have suffered economic losses and that is the message that we bring to the world, he said. We are partners in the war against terrorism.
It was a good meeting, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua told reporters after the 45-minute meeting that US had requested.
Responding to questions, she termed the progress made at the meeting as an ice-breaker. She said a US delegation will visit Pakistan next month to continue the process of bilateral dialogue, according to a Radio Pakistan report.
The foreign secretary said Abbasi during the meeting expressed concern over the greater role the new policy advocated for India.
Fractious Pakistan-US relations got further strained last month when President Trump unveiled his administrations policy on Afghanistan and South Asia. The policy lays special emphasis on kinetic operations to subdue Taliban militancy in Afghanistan, envisions greater role for India in Afghanistan and the overall regional security, and has been particularly hawkish on Pakistan accusing it of being an insincere partner in the fight against terrorism.
The new policy, which was seen here as humiliating, disrespectful to Pakistani sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, and indifferent to Islamabads security concerns, prompted a re-assessment of ties at the highest level.
The process is yet to complete, but indications from different levels of government point towards an existing consensus that there is no other option, but to stay engaged with US.
Pakistan asks OIC to become voice of Rohingya's plight
Pakistan expressed deep concern over the ongoing Rohingya crisis on Tuesday, urging the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to play a leading role and become a voice of conscience for the Rohingya.
Addressing the OIC Contact Group meeting at the UN headquarters, PM Abbasi assured the OIC that it would have Pakistan's firm and abiding support to this virtuous cause.
Pakistan reiterates its commitment to take full part in any humanitarian effort by the OIC or UN to help the Rohingya Muslims, the prime minister said.
Abbasi said over 400,000 Rohingya have been forced to flee their homes and seek protection and shelter in neighbouring countries, demanding an end to this systematic and endemic discrimination.
He said the international community must exert its utmost pressure on the Government of Myanmar to stop the carnage of the Rohingyas. Pakistan also demanded of the Government of Myanmar to take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation, and ensure safety and security of the Muslim Rohingya population.
The prime minister said Myanmar must create favourable conditions for the safe return of all Rohingya refugees and grant legitimate rights including citizenship, communal participation and representation and freedom of movement, to the Rohingya, as equal citizens of Myanmar.
Pakistan, Iran for deepening bilateral cooperation
Prime Minister Abbasi in a bilateral meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the UNGA session also discussed strengthening of relations between the two countries, besides focusing on the issue of regional peace and security.
President Rouhani, reaffirming Iran's commitment to strengthen ties with Pakistan, emphasised that the two countries should work together closely in deepening cooperation in areas of border management, trade, and investment.
Abbasi thanked the president for Iran's support to the legitimate struggle of people of India-held Kashmir for their right to self-determination.
The two leaders agreed that there is no military solution to the Afghan conflict and a politically negotiated settlement is vital for achieving lasting peace in Afghanistan.
Underscoring that Afghanistan's neighbouring countries were seriously affected by the growing instability in Afghanistan, they emphasised the need for adopting a regional approach for bringing an end to the prolonged Afghan conflict.
Living in the reality that is Starke and writing from that perspective. Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't.
The mathematical (and other) thoughts of a (now retired) math teacher,
One hundred and eight Ghanaians have been deported from Benin following the takeover of their residence by the Beninoise government for the construction of a habour, TV3 reports.
Made up of men, women and children, the deportees arrived in the Central Region where they were registered and screened by officials of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Ghana Health Service.
According to Eric Arthur, Regional Public Relations Officer of NADMO, the deportees will soon be dispatched to their respective communities across the country.
He however hinted that they are still expecting more returnees from Benin.
"We've been able to identify the communities where they live in Ghana. We are expecting a total number of 336. The only challenge we have is that, we don't actually know when they are coming. To be honest, we received the information last night, at 2am," he said on News360.
In June this year, it was reported that the Ghanaian fishing community at Akpakpadodome in Benin was facing eviction following the governments decision to develop the area.
One of the elders in the community in an interview on Kofi TV lamented that the Benin government had refused to compensate them.
People from Benin who leave in the area have been compensated but the government gave us nothing because we are from Ghana he said.
The Ghanaians were expected to be deported in July but the exercise was extended to September following the intervention of the Ghanaian Mission in Benin.
The community, according to reports, is made up of 860 Ghanaians who survived on small-scale fishing.
Source: ghanaweb.com
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The golden opportunity inside this Virgo new moon (just hours away from the fall equinox) invites industriousness, shrewd focus, economy, modesty and humility. Such qualities are not among the most glamorous, and yet true success and high glamour arent as related as the current culture seems to want them to be.
TODAYS BIRTHDAY (Sept. 20). Youll get better at delegating as you focus on whats going to challenge and inspire you. Supporters will leap to assist you: Just say the word. Travel leads to money and money leads to travel in 2018. The more you see of the world (including via relationships with new people) the richer you get (in more ways than one.) Leo and Aries adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 3, 2, 19, 35, 11.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). In todays case, the question might be a lot more complicated than the answer. This is great news. Hop off that question as soon as possible. Grab a good thing. Apply the simple fix, and get on with it.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Some say honesty is interesting, and others say its boring. Much depends on the context, of course, but maybe what matters is not the level of truth in the words but the level of truth in your intention.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You already know not to base your self-worth on peoples reactions to you. Still, sometimes its hard not to take the various moods of your loved ones a little too personally.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Today you will make a stellar impression, partly because of your careful attention to your appearance, and mostly because you are the best listener around.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). When do you make the sensible choice? When it makes sense to you! Going against your heart or swallowing your passion makes no sense at all to you, and neither does the option that will cause you to wonder What if?
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The circumstance of the day may have you feeling like a new adult, entering the workforce astounded at the drudgery of some jobs, wanting to be free like a child again.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Just because you devote a large portion of your life to one thing, that doesnt mean youre defined by it. Youre not one thing. No one is. To defy strict categorization today, you will show the world some other sides.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). This mission youre considering will be a long one, much longer than you initially thought. The African proverb suggests, If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Many of your impulses will be spot on today. This is a day to get the ideas out fast; act on them; and be done with it. Dont agonize. Dont ruminate. Dont second-guess your notions or doubt yourself.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Youre bold in ways that others wish they were. The people around you may not understand exactly what it is you do, but they appreciate that you do it.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). As a rule, its usually better to go than to stay, to meet people than to not and to learn than to remain ignorant. Of course, rules dont always apply. There are some interactions youd be better off not having. Go with your gut.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The younger a person is, the more likely he or she is to think in terms of all or nothing. Experienced people arent as afraid to deal in subtleties and complications. They arent as afraid to negotiate.
LAKE GEORGE The growing trend of hiring foreign students to bolster the local economy is finally going to be organized.
Local leaders got real numbers Wednesday at a meeting about the J-1 visa. Federal officials came armed with every detail about the foreign students they approved to work here, from the actual number of workers (1,007) to the most common countries of origin (Jamaica, followed by Turkey and Russia).
They also revealed that 19 companies are officially sponsoring the students far more than the handful of sponsors known by local officials.
Sponsors recruit students, help them get their visas and are nominally in charge of them while they are here. But in practice, theres very little hand-holding. Students fly into JFK and have to figure out their own transportation to Lake George, then find apartments themselves.
Thats where sponsors and business owners are falling short, said Michael James of the Department of State. He spoke at the first of many seminars on the J-1 program local officials have planned for the off-season this year.
James called housing a fundamental weakness in the J-1 program, and called out sponsors for not doing enough about it.
They should work only with employers that have identified suitable and affordable housing, he said. They should also collaborate to identify and avoid problematic landlords, he added.
In other words: They should not leave it all up to the student.
Sponsors took that seriously.
Lauren Kelly of sponsor CIEE said they will start inspecting apartments in the region. They already come here to do site visits.
We should be checking their housing, she said after listening to complaints from several members of the public at the meeting.
We will build a stronger network around housing in this community, she promised.
In addition, Mayor Robert Blais said the Village Board is working on a law that would allow code enforcers to inspect. They will also use the information to tip the sponsors off about which landlords to avoid in the future, he said.
Business owners asked sponsors to require students to stay overnight in New York City before traveling upstate. That way, they can get to Lake George during the day, giving them time to meet their employers and set up an apartment lease. If they take a bus upstate directly from the airport, they usually arrive after 7 p.m., when their employers have gone home for the night.
The students often cant set up a rental in advance. Because some students have cancelled at the last minute, many landlords have refused to rent to people who arent here yet, said Matt Gates, general manager at the Tahoe Resort.
So they were showing up at night. They had no housing, he said. Then youre having to call on the phone, trying to find a place for the night.
Business owners were surprised to learn that the Department of State expects them to help make the J-1 program a cultural experience.
Its a cultural exchange program to experience American life, James said.
Work is allowed to offset the students costs, but its not supposed to be their primary reason for being here.
You want them to go home having good things to say about it, he said.
So he and the sponsors recommended that employers act as tour guides. They should tell students which roads are safest to bicycle on, where the urgent care office is located and when a local organization is having a free event.
Sponsors can tell when students had a good time. Each J-1 applicant gets to decide which location and job to take. They consider a buffet of choices, and often decide based on the job duties, pay and location. If theyve heard good things about Lake George from their friends, they flock here.
If they dont, they pick a different place to go. One local business was rejected 70 times this year. (The owner declined to give her name or her companys name.)
Students from Jamaica used to come here in droves. But this year, far fewer came from that country, even though it was still the most common country of origin, James said.
Some business owners were also surprised to learn that students dont have to work to keep their visa. Students usually sign a contract to work for three months and then travel for a month. But if they choose to quit their job, they do not have to find another one. They could simply start traveling early, James said.
You cannot hold them hostage, he said.
WHITEHALL A home on county Route 10 was damaged by fire on Wednesday morning but no injuries were reported.
The blaze was reported at 259 county Route 10, also known as Sciota Road, around 7:35 a.m. in Whitehall's district and firefighters from Fort Ann, Hampton, Fair Haven, Vermont and Poultney, Vermont were called out as mutual aid.
Whitehall Assistant Fire Chief Steve Brock said firefighters arrived to find smoke and flames in the basement. They were able to knock it down quickly and confine fire damage to the basement and a first floor kitchen, Brock said.
The home was an older, "balloon style" construction without fire stops, he said.
A resident was home at the time, and the home was temporarily uninhabitable but salvageable, Brock said.
The fire was believed to have an accidental cause, and remained under investigation later Wednesday.
HADLEY Former Corinth Police Chief Rodney Niedziejko died in a one-vehicle accident on Antone Mountain Road early Wednesday, authorities said.
Niedziejko, 51, drove off the road just after 6:15 a.m. and was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later. The Saratoga County Sheriffs Office said he was driving a 2003 Ford tow truck north when the vehicle left the east side of the road in a sharp bend near the intersection with South Shore Road, hitting a tree. He was not believed to have been wearing a seat belt.
Police said it was unclear what caused Niedziejko to drive off the road, but alcohol and drugs did not appear to be factors. The investigation was continuing later Wednesday.
He had been driving the truck for a company that did vehicle repossessions, according to Post-Star newspartner NewsChannel 13.
Niedziejko worked for the Corinth Police Department in the mid-1990s, rising through the ranks from patrolman to become chief in 1998.
He stayed with the department for about two more years before he transferred to the Saratoga County Sheriffs Office in 2000.
The Corinth resident worked for a decade at the Sheriffs Office before retiring in 2010.
Niedziejko was very active during his tenure with the Corinth Police Department, helping lead an effort to deal with an influx of drug activity in the late 1990s as crack cocaine became more prevalent in the village of Corinth. He had worked as a police officer in Vermont before he came to New York.
He was also was known for his positive attitude and sense of humor.
He was a good guy, said Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo, who extended condolences to Niedziejkos family. He was very funny, likable and a good deputy who always had your back.
Warren County sheriffs Investigator Chris Hatin got his start working with Niedziejko at the Corinth Police Department,
He was a lot of fun to work with, Hatin recalled. He had my back as a coworker and a chief. It was under his initiative that we cleaned up Corinth from open-air crack dealing in 1996. I learned a lot from him, and miss those early days of my career working with and for him.
The Sheriffs Office was assisted by the Corinth and Greenfield fire departments and Jessups Landing Emergency Medical Services.
GLENS FALLS Five local women will be honored in conjunction with the Centennial of Womens Suffrage in New York from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Queensbury Hotel.
The honorees are Joan Grishkot, Karen Guiseppe, Cindy Hess, Kate Hogan and Bernice Mennis. Each has distinguished herself by improving the lives of women in the local community and exemplifying the Service Above Self motto of the Rotary.
The event, hosted by the Glens Falls Rotary in cooperation with Zonta, Soroptimist and American Association of University Women, will recognize the women for their persistence in championing womens issues locally as well as Glens Falls Rotarys first female member 30 years ago, Donna Farrar.
The event is open to the public and tickets will go on sale Sept. 29. Price per ticket is $45 and seating is limited.
The Glens Falls Rotary is now accepting advertisements for the event program from organizations or individuals who wish to congratulate the honorees and nominees; recognize other women who have had a personal influence in their lives; or place an advertisement for their business in support of the event.
To buy event tickets, advertisements or for more information, visit glensfallsrotary.com or email info@glensfallsrotary.com or GFRotaryWomenAndChildren@gmail.com.
FORT ANN Voters on Tuesday approved a proposal by Fort Ann school officials to spend nearly $3.7 million to address maintenance needs and upgrade classrooms.
The vote was 110 in favor to 34 opposed.
The project would address maintenance items such as reconstruction of the slate roof, exterior woodwork and flashing. There would also be site improvements including fixing a drainage issue that causes water to flood into the rear entrance of the building. In addition, the bus loop would be located from the rear of the building to the front.
The bus garage is getting new roof, siding, three exterior doors, furnace and an air handling unit. A fuel leak monitoring system also would be installed.
New, energy-efficient lighting would be installed throughout the district, including in the bus garage and gymnasium.
The project would also relocate the fitness room to another section of the building and use that space for a MakerSpace, where students can do hands-on projects. It will include LED monitors, multiple whiteboards, reconfigurable furniture and storage and cabinets.
Other projects include replacing six electrical panels, upgrading the public address system, upgrading exit and emergency light systems and replacing gym doors and hardware and exterior doors, installing a new auditorium sound system, reconstructing the stage apron and installing air conditioning for the high school computer lab.
The district plans to tap $200,000 from fund balance. It would bond the remaining $3.49 million and receive state aid reimbursement of around 76 percent. The district has debt coming off the books, so there would be no tax impact.
The district plans to submit designs to the state Education Department. School officials hope to begin construction in the summer of 2019, with completion set for summer 2020.
FORT EDWARD Washington Countys tax foreclosure auction may be run differently next year to save money.
The profitable event occurs every summer when the county sells tax-delinquent property. Owners who havent yet paid the 2016 tax bill will face foreclosure next year, even if they have paid their taxes for 2017 or 2018.
That rule led to complaints this year, and may be changed by the state Legislature. However, the county is focusing on ways to continue running the sale for at a lower cost.
Currently, an outside contractor researches every property for the county. That contractor determines who has an interest in the property such as the bank that issued the mortgage or a lien-holder. The county must notify all of those entities before the sale.
Its a very large and cumbersome list, said county Treasurer Al Nolette.
Its tedious, detailed work that could land the county in hot water if even a single entity is missed. That entity could sue for the loss of property.
Liability is huge, Nolette said.
Even with the contractor, the county was still liable for mistakes. Now Nolette has proposed adding a new part-time employee to handle the work, as well as a seasonal employee for the summer. The costs range from $26,629 for a part-time employee, working 20 hours a week all year, to $35,747 to hire a more experienced part-time account clerk and a seasonal employee.
The contractor costs $45,000, so either option is a savings. Nolette said he would rather have the account clerk and seasonal help, but advised them to take the cheapest option for fiscal prudence.
The clerical needs of the office have grown, he said. And the contract is up, so Id have to go out for an RFP anyway.
A new contract might also be more expensive than the current $45,000.
The county used to do the work in-house, years ago, Nolette said. Hes convinced the county can do it now.
This is really a Can it be done better? look. We will report back next year. We can always go back to using a contractor, he said.
Supervisors did not make an immediate decision they are holding off until theyve gone through the entire budget next week but offered him words of support.
I commend Al for even looking at this and thinking outside the box, said Cambridge Supervisor Cassie Fedler. We asked everyone to do this, and he did it.
He also found a duplicate charge that had been accidentally included in the budget for years. The county had set aside $10,000 in postage to notify every interested party before the foreclosure auction. But it was in both Nolettes treasurer budget and the real property budget.
It was in the budget twice, Nolette said.
Supervisors might also get rid of a $50,000 expense associated with the auction. They had been setting aside $50,000 every year to save up in case they wanted to rehab a property prior to selling it. The idea was that they could fix up a building to get more money for it, or remove hazards so that someone would be willing to buy it.
But that fund has never been used. It now has $261,020.
Nolette argued that the supervisors should use the fund, noting that they have not yet foreclosed on four parcels in Greenwich and Jackson because of fears of buried environmental contamination there. Once the county takes title, it is stuck dealing with the problem, and it is sometimes cheaper to ignore long-delinquent taxes than to take on a huge cleanup.
Weve stayed away from them, he said. Dig some holes. Separate fact from fiction. If Im a homeowner, maybe I want to say theres barrels buried down there so you dont take it.
He urged them to use the fund if you want to start attacking some of these bigger dogs.
Hartford Supervisor Dana Haff proposed removing the $50,000 charge instead.
Nolette said that would be justified if the supervisors dont want to take on the projects of the problem properties.
If you dont have an appetite for that, $260,000 is more than youll ever need, he said.
The three changes could reduce the county budget by about $80,000. That still leaves a great deal of cuts needed toward the goal of cutting $2.5 million from the $86.5 million budget.
Budget Officer and Hebron Supervisor Brian Campbell was undeterred.
We will get there, folks, he said.
Editor:
A writer to The Post-Star named Mr. Scoonzarielli asked for one example of liberal left media bias against President Trump, and I could offer numerous examples, but at least heres one.
I enclose a picture of President Trump and First Lady Melania in hands on actual love and mercy being extended to Harveys victims. POTUS and his wife actually donned healthy gloves and joined in passing and serving food and water in the evacuation shelter. The Post-Star refused to give this information to front page news or headlines simply because it does not fit their bias against POTUS as racist-in-chief. While I know The Post-Star reported this evidence of a compassionate man, they did in fact do so on page A7 in the obvious hope that it would not attract attention and only the New York Post, which is owned by Fox News, gave this front page attention, and I enclose a copy of that news.
Secondly, The Post-Star did not even report or cover the service of Vice President Pence and his wife Karen actually helping clear debris along with victims, laboring physically in Rockport, Texas after praying with Dr. Franklin Graham, Gov. Phil Abbott in his wheelchair, and Karen Pence in a flooded area two days before. What was reported by the liberal left media of this? To the New York Post and all others except Fox News and New York Post, it did not happen.
James Knapp, U.S. Navy Veteran, Vietnam Era, Plattsburgh
Editors Note: We are the first to concede that news judgment is subjective. Rarely will two people agree on what is the most significant news story of the day. In The Post-Stars case, we give priority toward local news and events before considering national or international news on our front page. On the date in question, The Post-Stars main story and photograph were of a local news story while Mr. Knapp uses as an example from a New York City tabloid with a very different mission. We take pride that our standards are different than the tabloids in the city. Our news judgements are based on what we believe are the most significant news events of the day.
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groSolar an EDF Renewable Energy Company, and the Town of Ontario, New York, are pleased to announce the completion of the Town of Ontario Solar Project (Project) located on land shared with the towns wastewater treatment facility. Ontario further solidifies our commitment to sustainable growth, smart government, and diversity of energy resources, said John Smith, Town of Ontario, Town Supervisor.
The Project is an excellent example of how municipalities, state agencies, and private companies are collaborating to bring new sources of distributed power generation to communities across the country, said Timothy Heinle, groSolar Vice President.
The Project will generate approximately 3,500,000 kilowatt-hours of clean renewable energy in its first full year of operation; enough electricity to power more than 250 homes and offset nearly 2,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide produced by more traditional energy generation sources. The Project further provides power at a fixed price to the Town of Ontario for the next 25 years; offering the town substantial savings and insulation from volatile energy prices.
The Project was made possible by the leadership of the Town of Ontario, Town Supervisor John Smith and funding through Governor Cuomos NY-Sun initiative which is building a self-sustaining solar industry in New York. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) administers NY-Sun.
Under Governor Cuomos Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) strategy, solar power is integral to driving the states clean energy economy while reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions, said Alicia Barton, President and CEO, NYSERDA. The Town of Ontario Solar Project serves as a model for other communities across the state that want to reduce energy costs and create a clean, sustainable future.
On Wednesday, September 20th, the Town of Ontario and groSolar will welcome project stakeholders and community members to celebrate the completion of construction. groSolar is excited to continue its work with communities across New York and support the states renewable energy goals with our industry leading solar solutions, said Mr. Heinle.
First Christian Church of Moline was so busy in the 1960s, there were three services on Sundays and chairs had to be brought in every week to accommodate the crowd.
Dwindling membership and financial support in the past several years, part of a trend seen across the United States, means the church will officially close on Oct. 1.
This date ties to the 111th anniversary of the church founding, and events are planned to start at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, with a special service, light lunch and time to share memories beginning at noon.
LaVelle and Paul Stewart, Moline, are longtime members of First Christian Church: LaVelle for 62 years and Paul for 70 years. They recall when the late Rev. Charles Willey did a daily inspirational radio show.
"New members joined us every Sunday, and we had three services on Sundays," LaVelle Stewart said. "We had to set up chairs in the back to accommodate the people."
The decision to close First Christian Church came after many prayers, according to the Rev. Jane Courtright, interim pastor. Courtright, who has a background in helping people to transition and grow in life, joined First Christian more than a year ago, never planning to be part of a church closing.
According to the Gallup Poll, Americans are much less likely now than they were in the past to claim membership in a church, synagogue or mosque.
In 1937, when Gallup first asked about church membership, 73 percent said they were a member of a church. This figure dropped into the upper 60 percent range in the 1980s and decreased from that point on. It fell to its lowest point of 54 percent in 2015 but increased slightly to 56 percent in 2016.
Still, as Stewart said, "It was a very difficult decision to close."
Back in the day
When the church was large and growing, there was a picnic every year at Indian Bluff Forest Preserve. The Stewarts had a pony, and borrowed a second one, to offer children pony rides.
Small games were popular, including when the Stewarts colored rocks gold and hid them. The child collecting the most gold rocks won a prize.
More recently, Emma Jean Dorbeck of Moline remembers when the church hosted a "Trunk or Treat" event every Halloween. This went on about 15 years, she said, and wound down in 2015.
Dorbeck said church members were invited to drive their car and park in a circle with the trunks on the outside. Each car would be decorated, and the owners would hand out treats to children.
There were hot dogs and hot chocolate served, and Dorbeck remembers when a homeless person came and ate six hot dogs.
"Everyone enjoyed this event," she said, including her late husband, Dick, who died two years ago. "It was his favorite time."
Top challenges
Courtright said the top challenges to First Christian are financial and tied to low attendance.
About three months ago, the church board of directors explored the decision to close, and it was ultimately approved by a vote from church members.
The three-story church in the Uptown area of Moline has been sold, but Courtright would not identify the new owner. However, she did describe it as another church.
Money from the building sale, and other funds, will be given back to the community in one-time gifts and also to the parent denomination, Disciples of Christ. There will be perpetual gifts, she said.
"That way, their ministry can go on, financially," she said.
Courtright has made a list of churches in the area for members such as Dorbeck and the Stewarts.
"There are several," she said. "People will find a new church home."
As for Courtright, 61, she and the church staff are job-hunting.
She has served churches for the past 25 years, much of that time in Sheffield, Illinois, but moved in the past few years with her husband to Rock Island.
"We will all find our way to a new place," Stewart said.
Davenport Schools Superintendent Art Tate has responded to an ethics complaint lodged by the state last year, asking that it "be dismissed in its entirety."
Tate, represented by the Davenport law firm of Lane & Waterman, filed the response on Sept. 15 to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, Des Moines.
The ethics complaint involves Tate's decision in 2016 to spend district reserve funds to pay for programming costs in excess of allowable limits set by the state. He did so with the full support of the Davenport School Board and to make a point about inequities in the law that allows some districts to spend more per pupil than others.
The educational examiners board has set a hearing for Feb. 6, 2018, to be heard by an administrative law judge, Margaret LaMarche.
Tate responded that he agrees to the date, time and place of the February hearing, but he asks that it be held before the entire Board of Educational Examiners, or BOEE.
He also requests that while he will participate in person at the hearing, others witnesses may be part of the hearing by telephone.
Tate also will determine later if he wants to request a prehearing conference.
Tate denies he has failed to comply with state law and offers information on what Iowa districts have done with what is called "spending authority."
That spending authority is part of the school funding formula and is set by the Iowa Legislature for all districts in Iowa.
In the ethics complaint lodged by Ryan Wise, head of the Iowa Department of Education, Tate was charged with willfully using the district's reserve funds to pay programming costs.
In his official response, Tate denies "willfully departing from or failing to conform to the minimum standards of acceptable and prevailing educational practices in Iowa."
To the extent that Davenport exceeded its spending authority in the past four years, the superintendent said there have been 36 instances of other districts overspending their spending authority.
"In none of those situations, was a BOEE complaint brought against a district superintendent, nor has a superintendent's license been affected on such basis," Tate's response states.
The state's investigation in late August ended with two counts against Tate: that he failed to comply with state law and that he "willfully departed from, or failed to conform to, minimum and prevailing educational practices in Iowa."
In his response, Tate admitted to exercising his right to free speech by saying that in his opinion, the Iowa school funding formula is unfair, should be amended and results in discrimination in educational funding, specifically that his students are treated as if the are "worth less" than other students in Iowa.
Also in Tate's response, it points out that district leaders have spent the past three years working through legislative channels to get a "fix" for disparities in school funding.
In addition, Davenport sought permission from the Iowa School Budget Review Committee to spend the difference in funding, calculated at $175 per student, from its reserve funds, but that request was denied in December.
"Tate has followed the proper channels in bringing the issue of funding disparities to the forefront. Unfortunately, though his candor about the inequity of the funding formula has met with great support, it has not been successful in obtaining a legislative solution," according to the response.
"There has been no suggestion that Tate either used any money inappropriately, or that Tate departed from acceptable and prevailing educational practices," the response reads, referring to the 36 other districts that routinely incur negative unspent balances in Iowa.
Finally, in his response, Tate denied violating any law applicable to fulfilling his professional obligations.
"Tate's attempt to obtain equal treatment for his students has been done with the utmost transparency and has resulted in the complaint being filed against him," the response reads.
In addition, the response lists "affirmative defenses" to show that Tate has not broken any state law, that sanctioning Tate would not be in the public interest and that he has acted in good faith in his attempts to obtain fair treatment of his students.
The issue of overspending is moot, the response reads: Tate has recently presented a five-year plan to eliminate the district's negative unspent balance, which will be submitted to the Iowa School Budget Review Committee. If the committee approves the plan, it will eliminate the negative unspent balance.
The state's complaint is based on "arbitrary and capricious enforcement," Tate's response reads.
He requests that the state's complaint be dismissed entirely or that the state prepare a "more definitive and detailed Statement of Charges" so he can prepare for the 2018 hearing.
Tate's attorneys are Richard Davidson and Wendy Meyer of Lane & Waterman, the district's legal firm.
Tate currently holds a professional administrator license in Iowa, due to expire Aug. 31, 2022. On Sept. 11, the Davenport School Board voted to extend his contract to 2020.
The Trump administration has taken a step toward final approval of a stopgap measure in Iowa to stabilize the state's individual insurance market, officials said Tuesday.
The proposal would dramatically alter how the Affordable Care Act is carried out in the state.
The Iowa Insurance Division announced Tuesday the administration has issued a "letter of completeness" in response to its request to waive several provisions of the ACA, also known as Obamacare. The letter kicks off a 30-day comment period.
"We appreciate the Trump Administrations commitment to state flexibility and providing relief from the ACA," Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen said in a statement. "We look forward to swift approval by the administration after the federal comment period closes so the Iowa Stopgap Measure can be ready for the 2018 open enrollment period starting November 1, 2017."
The insurance division said in June it was proposing the plan in response to the possibility that no insurer would be willing to sell policies on the individual insurance market in Iowa in 2018. That would put 70,000 Iowans at risk, it said.
The state's proposal was formally presented to the administration in August.
After the initial announcement, Minnesota-based Medica said it would re-enter the marketplace but only at markedly higher premiums than this year.
State officials have continued to push for the stopgap measure, however. They say that without it, 22,000 Iowans would leave the individual marketplace.
The administration's letter, which was sent Tuesday from Randy Pate, deputy administrator at the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, says a preliminary examination of the proposal has been conducted and comments will be taken through Oct. 19.
A final decision would be made within six months of that date, the letter said. However, Ommen said Tuesday the state expects a decision by Nov. 1. He said the division is in "regular communication" with the Trump administration.
The state insurance division also said Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield and Medica have submitted rate proposals to offer plans through the stopgap proposal that are significantly lower than what would occur under the ACA.
The stopgap proposal would establish a single, standardized plan that each carrier would offer. In addition, premium tax credits under the ACA would be restructured and a reinsurance program utilizing ACA funds would be established to handle high-cost patients. The tax credits, which would be based on age and income, would be available to all Iowans in the individual market, regardless of income. Currently, the ACA cuts off the the tax assistance to those making more than 400 percent of the poverty level.
Since the major provisions of the Affordable Care Act have kicked in, the state's uninsured rate has shrunk by about half, according to Census Bureau estimates. But those who don't buy insurance on the individual market or don't qualify for tax credits have seen premiums increase substantially.
Since the state's proposal, some analysts have questioned whether the Trump administration can grant a waiver under the law, which has certain requirements. Among the questions is whether the stopgap measure will meet the law's requirement that a comparable number of people continue to be covered and that protections against excessive out-of-pocket expenses would be comparable to what they are under existing law. The state's proposal says it meets the affordability and availability requirements for an ACA waiver.
The insurance division says that comments should be submitted to CMS Administrator Seema Verma and Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) Director Randy Pate by email at StateInnovationWaivers@cms.hhs.gov and should include "Iowa Section 1332 Waiver Comments" in the subject heading. Commenters should include their name, organization (if any) and email address with the comments.
Humans beings are complicated, flawed creatures that mustn't be judged without context. And Johnson County Supervisor Supervisor Rod Sullivan risks ignoring this imperatives in his desire separate the Richard Mentor Johnson from the county that bears his name.
Sullivan said recently that he's "pretty serious" that Johnson County should shed its link to the United States' ninth vice president. A healthy debate is always welcome, and a free people has every right to designate its heroes. But, on this topic at this time, Sullivan's histrionics might backfire and only add fuel to the very people Sullivan hopes to out-maneuver.
Most historians will tell you that it's perilous intellectual ground to judge a figure outside of his or her time. Norms and maxims are always evolving. Applying current ethics to someone dead centuries ago skews history. Such an undertaking is, at its core, a political exercise, not a historical one.
It is a fact that Johnson owned slaves. His promotion of manifest destiny and the devastation brought to Midwestern Native American groups is shameful from a postmodern perspective. But Iowa wouldn't exist without the push for westward expansion.
Yes, the lawmaker from Kentucky was deeply involved in all the brutality of his time. From a 21st-century perspective, he also got a few things right. Johnson championed debtors relief, a major issue in the early 19th century, when simply owing a creditor was grounds for arrest. His defense of the separation of church and state and support for religion free from government interference still holds up today. He was a decorated veteran of the War of 1812.
Johnson's ownership of African slaves and rhetoric that resulted in direct conflict between American settlers and Native Americans don't fully define him. Nor do his other political exploits of the less notorious nature. They're all just fragments of a larger picture of a complex man.
In fact, the prejudices of Johnson's own time ultimately hindered his political career. Johnson didn't hide what amounted to a common-law marriage to a mulatto slave and his love for his mixed-race daughters. Johnson's affection for a woman outside his race was an effective political weapon that scuttled more than one campaign, according to U.S. Senate archives. Mixed-race marriages were outlawed throughout the South until 1967.
The point here is simple: Johnson was a complicated individual even by the standards of his time. The same could be said for Caesar Augustus, Queen Victoria and Thomas Jefferson. They were all prisoners of their respective times.
The only rational approach to judging someone like Johnson is applying the standards of the world within which he lived and not one two centuries after his death. And, by that measure, he merits recognition.
The timing of Sullivan's debate also is problematic. Naturally, the attempt will right or wrong be linked with efforts to remove Confederate statues from public parks throughout the country. The two issues are fundamentally dissimilar. Unlike Johnson, Confederate generals committed treason specifically to maintain the institution of slavery. Even in 1860s, slavery was quickly becoming a moral outrage. It's no less pertinent that most of these statues were erected in the early 20th century at the height of Jim Crow. They were never monuments honoring dead soldiers. They were threats aimed at African Americans who wanted integrated schools, voting rights and economic opportunity.
Again, context is everything.
Sullivan is adding unnecessary fuel to the wrong-headed argument that do-gooders and social justice warriors are looking to whitewash history. He's providing more evidence that quixotic revisionism holds out-sized sway in local politics. Ultimately, he's damaging more appropriate calls for putting Confederate statues where they belong in museums by muddying an already-contentious debate.
By modern tastes, Richard Mentor Johnson wasn't a model citizen. But that's not, nor should it be, the point.
We are proud to join like-minded sportsmen-legislators from across the nation in celebrating the 45th National Hunting and Fishing Day on Saturday. On this day, it is important to recognize the time-honored traditions of hunting and angling, as well as the historical and current contributions of the original conservationists hunters and anglers in supporting sound, science-based fish and wildlife conservation.
Through purchasing licenses, tags and waterfowl stamps, and by paying excise taxes on firearms and other hunting and fishing equipment, sportsmen and women drive conservation funding in the United States. Collectively, the nations unique user pays-public benefits system brought in $64 million to fund conservation efforts in Illinois.
All Illinoisans benefit from these funds through improved access to public lands, public shooting facilities, improved water quality, habitat restoration, fish and wildlife research (game and non-game) and private and public habitat management.
National Hunting and Fishing Day is a great time to recognize the contributions of sportsmen and women to conservation; without them, Illinoiss fish and wildlife would not be nearly as abundant, nor would our economy be as vibrant. Through these contributions, our state opened 470,000 public acres to hunting, built 125 public boat launches, and conserved an additional 90,000 acres of habit important for all wildlife, game and non-game alike.
On Saturday, join us in celebrating the many and varied benefits that hunting and angling provide for The Prairie State. Enjoy this special occasion and the vast opportunities to hunt and fish in Illinois. The outdoor traditions of hunting and angling should not be taken for granted and opportunities to hunt and fish should continue to be abundantly available for future generations.
Neil Anderson
Andalusia
Editor's note: Anderson is a Republican in Illinois Senate. This letter was co-signed by fellow Sens. Chuck Weaver, R-Peoria, and Pamela Althoff, R-McHenry.
FORT PIERRE -Typically, when Mason Moody is in the arena, his focus is on winning. But, during this year's South Dakota 4-H Finals Rodeo, the 14-year-old junior bull rider took a break from the competition and turned his attention to Jordan and making sure that the young man with disabilities had fun during the South Dakota 4-H Finals Rodeo first Special Needs Rodeo.
"When I saw his face light up and could see that he was having fun - that made me feel good on the inside," explains Mason, who helped Jordan enjoy a number of modified rodeo activities like stick-horse barrel racing, goat tail untying and roping.
Held in conjunction with the South Dakota 4-H Finals Rodeo hosted in Fort Pierre Aug. 18-20, the Special Needs Rodeo was designed by 4-H volunteers as a way to serve the special needs community of Pierre and Fort Pierre.
"Service to others is a large focus of 4-H. "Hands for Larger Service," is right there in our pledge,'" explains Hilary Risner, SDSU Extension Regional 4-H Youth Program Advisor. "This was a fun activity for participants, but I think it had even more value for the volunteers. Helping with this service project gave 4-H rodeo athletes an opportunity to see firsthand what it's like to live with disabilities. This event helped us remember not to take our abilities for granted."
Mason's mom, Tracy Moody would agree. A 4-H alumnus, Tracy was first introduced to a special needs rodeo through her daughter, Bailey, who volunteered during the National High School Finals Rodeo held in Rock Springs, Wyo., when she was a high school freshman.
"Helping people with disabilities during that rodeo made such a large impact on her life. Bailey is in college now and is going into special education," Tracy explained. "This activity is good for kids. It opens their eyes to things in life that they may not always be exposed to."
Along with service to others, John Keimig, SDSU Extension 4-H Associate, said 4-H Rodeo instills perseverance in youth and creates an environment where healthy competition thrives. "Rodeo is a sport where strong friendships are formed. It's a sport where it's not just about the athlete and how well the athlete did in a specific event but it's about how well other athletes do," Keimig said. "There have been many cases when if a horse is injured and cannot compete, a 4-H member will actually share their horse with their competitor."
For Tracy and her family, rodeo also provides an opportunity to spend time together. "We practice together and on the weekends, we travel to rodeos together," she said.
And, like the special needs rodeo service opportunity, 4-H rodeo is an activity that also teaches her children life lessons.
"We live in an era where kids are given so much. Rodeo teaches them that they need to work for things. It teaches them responsibility. They learn that they will lose sometimes," Tracy said.
To learn more about 4-H and how you or someone you know can become involved, contact your local SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisor. A complete list can be found at www.iGrow.org under Field Staff Listing.
On Friday morning, Sept. 29, a few dozen cowboys will put on their boots and saddle their horses. Custer State Park employees will arise before dawn. And thousands from across the state, country and world will gather, all to continue a 52-year tradition.
The Buffalo Roundup is an experience unlike any other. You can feel the ground shake as over 1,000 half-ton creatures stampede across the prairie. Watching the brave riders drive the beasts to their destination is quite incredible. Witnessing the buffalos power and speed from such a short distance creates a feeling of being back in the Old West.
At one time, there were about 60 million buffalo roaming North America, but that number fell to fewer than 2,000 in the early twentieth century. Although population levels are nowhere near the historical peak, South Dakota buffalo have made a comeback from near extinction, thanks in part to Custer State Park.
Riders will round up a herd of 1,300 buffalo on Sept. 29, after which about four days are needed to work the herd. Volunteers will vaccinate and brand the calves, check the cows for pregnancy and identify 250 buffalo for Novembers sale.
After the Friday morning Roundup, visitors can stay for lunch and watch the volunteers work the herd. There will be plenty of things to do for those who decide to stay for the weekend. The Arts Festival will continue through Saturday, the exhibits at the newly renovated Peter Norbeck Education Center will be open, and Crazy Horse Memorial visitors will be permitted to hike to the arm of the mountain carving during an organized Volksmarch on Sunday.
The Roundup is something every South Dakotan should see at least once. People from all over the world come for this one-of-a-kind experience because theres nothing like it anywhere else. Consider making this worthwhile journey. I hope to see you there!
SALT LAKE CITY | A high-ranking polygamous sect leader recaptured after a year on the run pleaded guilty Wednesday in a food-stamp fraud and escape case, ending a wide-ranging investigation seen as a crackdown on the secretive group.
Lyle Jeffs is facing three to five years in prison after pleading guilty to two felony counts in an agreement that also called for him to pay $1 million in restitution.
U.S. Attorney for Utah John Huber said it was a fair end to a hard-fought court battle. "We're not out to punish people of faith, people with sincerely-held religious beliefs. We're out to punish fraudsters. Lyle Jeffs is now a convicted fraudster," he said.
Defense attorney Kathryn Nester declined to comment.
Jeffs will be sentenced Dec. 13 by U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart the same judge who reversed an earlier ruling and released Jeffs from jail to home confinement in 2016 while he was awaiting trial in the food-stamp fraud case.
Days later, Jeffs slipped off his ankle monitor using olive oil and escaped. He was on the run for nearly a year. Jeffs was caught after South Dakota pawn shop workers recognized him as he sold two pairs of pliers. He was apparently living out of his pickup truck.
Jeffs was one of 11 members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints charged with helping funnel millions in food-stamp benefits to a communal storehouse and front companies. The funds were used to pay for a tractor, truck and other items. Jeffs was accused of orchestrating the scheme.
The other defendants have agreed to plea deals or seen the charges dismissed. Critics of the secretive sect have been frustrated that none of the others have served prison time, though prosecutors pointed to liabilities like a ruling allowing defense attorneys to argue that members were simply living out religious beliefs in sharing everything they had with the group.
Huber said his office has long seen Jeffs differently than the other defendants, as he was a leader who lived lavishly while low-ranking followers suffered.
"He's in shackles. He's in chains. He's not getting out anytime soon," Huber said.
Jeffs, 57, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit benefits fraud and failure to appear. Prosecutors dropped a money-laundering count in exchange for accepting the plea deal. Huber acknowledged that some may criticize the terms of the deal, but he said investigators will begin searching for property in Jeffs' name to seize for the restitution.
Authorities believe Jeffs was struggling in the weeks before his arrest without the help of fellow sect members after falling out with his brother Warren Jeffs, who runs the group while serving a life sentence in Texas for sexual assault of underage brides, the FBI has said.
The sect is based in a small community on the Utah-Arizona border. Members believe polygamy brings exaltation in heaven. The sect is an offshoot of mainstream Mormonism, which disavowed polygamy more than 100 years ago.
The food stamp-case coincided with other government efforts to go after the group, including child labor cases in Utah and a religious discrimination case in Arizona. In that case, a jury found last year that the border towns that form the sect's home base denied nonbelievers police protection, building permits and water hookups on the basis of religion.
The communities of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz., are now under court supervision for the next decade as punishment.
PIERRE | The state's Judicial Qualifications Commission sent six names for Gov. Dennis Daugaard to consider as the successor to retired Justice Lori Wilbur on the South Dakota Supreme Court.
The governor traveled to Sioux Falls last week and interviewed each of the six. On Tuesday, he announced his choice. South Dakota Supreme Courts new justice will be Circuit Judge Steven Jensen of Dakota Dunes.
Jensen is presiding judge for South Dakotas First Circuit covering Aurora, Bon Homme, Brule, Buffalo, Charles Mix, Clay, Davison, Douglas, Hanson, Hutchinson, McCook, Turner, Union and Yankton counties.
Judge Jensen is a leader in our states legal community and, with 14 years on the bench, he is widely respected, Daugaard said in his statement announcing the appointment.
Daugaard said Jensen, as presiding judge, led new approaches such as drug and DUI courts and HOPE 24/7 probation programs. He has been called upon many times to contribute on important state issues, such as the reform of the juvenile justice system and the implementation of new technology in the court system. He will be an excellent justice, Daugaard said.
Jensen said he was truly honored to be appointed by the governor.
It is both a tremendous opportunity and responsibility. I look forward to further serving the people of South Dakota in this new role, Jensen said.
Jensen, 54, grew up at Wakonda and is a 1985 graduate of Bethel College in St. Paul, Minn. He received his law degree from the University of South Dakota in 1988.
After graduation from law school, Jensen worked as a law clerk for Justice Richard W. Sabers of the South Dakota Supreme Court. He next was a lawyer in private practice in Dakota Dunes and Sioux City, Iowa.
Then-Gov. Mike Rounds appointed Jensen as a circuit judge in the First Judicial Circuit in 2003. Jensen was re-elected without opposition in 2006 and 2014. He sat several times as a temporary justice with the Supreme Court. Jensen became the circuits presiding judge in 2011.
The governors chief of staff Tony Venhuizen said the group of applicants was extremely strong.
All six were sitting circuit judges and any of them would have been a good addition to the court, Venhuizen commented.
Due to the mandatory retirement age, three more justices will have to retire in the next three or four years, and the governor was pleased to see a strong pool of prospective future justices, Venhuizen added.
The future of Ellsworth Air Force Base appeared to be further solidified this week when a high-ranking Air Force official signaled that new bomber planes under development will eventually be stationed at bases that already have existing bombers.
Air Force Chief of Staff David Goldfein made the comments Monday in an interview with Defense News.
Based on the infrastructure required to support a bomber force, its highly likely that if youve got a bomber at your base, youre going to have a bomber at your base, Goldfein was quoted as saying.
Ellsworth, near Rapid City, is currently home to B-1B Lancer bombers, which are as old as 31 years. In future years, the Air Force plans to accept delivery of new B-21 Raider bombers that could replace the B-1s sometime during the 2020s. Northrop Grumman is developing the B-21s at an anticipated cost of $550 million per plane, with the Air Force expected to order 100 to 200 of them.
U.S. Sen. John Thune greeted Goldfeins comments with enthusiasm Tuesday and said its another sign of Ellsworths improved strength since nearly being closed during a round of base closures in 2005.
This is a massive turnaround from where we were back in those dark days, Thune said.
Ellsworth's history dates to 1942, when it was called the Rapid City Army Air Base. Community and state leaders have fiercely defended it from closure over the years because of the thousands of jobs, both military and civilian, that the base supports in the region.
In recent years, the bases standing in the Air Force was improved with the expansion of the Powder River Training Complex, a vast training airspace operated from the base.
Thune referenced rising tensions with North Korea as evidence of the need for an upgraded bomber force and noted that the B-21s are being designed to carry nuclear weapons.
The necessity of a new bomber platform to be part of our arsenal is really critical, Thune said. Were going to need bombers, and our base is well-positioned to continue to be a host for them.
A move to disallow verbal public comments at Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board meetings is being re-examined before its debut, due to an imperfect process and criticism of the change.
The board meets up to once per month for up to four hours per meeting. Public comments of up to three minutes apiece are typically allowed if there is time near the end of each meeting.
But the agenda for the 1 p.m. meeting today at the Mystic Ranger District office says, Comments may be provided in written format and provided to the committee coordinator prior to the meeting.
The Journal received a tip about the change Monday and sought an explanation for it. Bob Burns, the chairman of the board, said Tuesday that the new agenda language was apparently the result of his discussions with Forest Service employees since the last meeting.
Burns had noted that during recent meetings, some public comments had drifted into the middle of the meeting rather than the end, and some comments had extended well beyond the three-minute limit. His attempts to limit those comments resulted in some tense moments.
Burns said his recent discussions with Forest Service employees about the problem were cut short by his own travel schedule and by the demands of the wildfire season on the agency. The language on the new agenda, Burns said, was apparently an effort by Forest Service staffers to interpret his concerns and offer a solution.
But Burns said he is not necessarily committed to eliminating verbal public comments and replacing them with advance written comments.
"We'll probably discuss it at the meeting," he said, "and we may go ahead and allow public comments, but really tighten them up."
Burns said the purpose of the advisory board meetings is to allow the staff of the Black Hills National Forest to hear advice and recommendations from the 16 members of the board, who are appointed to represent forest-related interest areas such as recreation, mining, logging, environmentalism and livestock grazing. Burns said the board's bylaws allow for public comment at meetings but do not require it, and people who want to have input are encouraged to privately contact individual board members who represent their area of concern.
Sam Griner of the Black Hills Prospecting Club of South Dakota regularly attends the meetings as a member of the audience. He said if the change from end-of-meeting comments to advance written comments is carried out, it would amount to censorship.
Id be kind of disappointed if they would do that, Griner said. I think public comment is good for any government agency when they have a public meeting like that.
Kent Jacobs of the Black Hills Mountain Bike Association also attends many of the meetings. He said the opportunity to provide advance written comments would not be a satisfactory substitute for the verbal comment period.
Jacobs said agenda items are typically vague, with only a few descriptive words and no supplementary information, which would make it difficult for members of the public to offer informed written comments beforehand rather than reacting verbally to what they hear at the meetings.
It definitely feels like a bit of a muting move, Jacobs said.
The fallout from a controversial Facebook post by state Rep. Lynne DiSanto, R-Box Elder, continued late Tuesday when a Rapid City-based nonprofit dropped her from a community event scheduled for next week.
Working Against Violence Inc., aka WAVI, announced Tuesday night on its Facebook page that it had dropped DiSanto as a speaker from its second annual Power of Purple event. The event, which begins at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 27 at the Dahl Arts Center, is intended to generate community support, awareness and education about victims of domestic violence.
DiSanto faced a media firestorm earlier Tuesday when awareness of a Sept. 7 post on her Facebook page suddenly rocketed around the internet, sparking outrage and criticism. DiSanto's post was a so-called "meme" an item copied and shared by numerous internet users that depicted stick-figure people being run down by an SUV. Three lines of text on the meme said, All Lives Splatter, Nobody cares about your protest and Keep your (expletive) out of the road.
Above the meme, DiSanto had written her own comment: I think this is a movement we can all support. She added the hashtag alllivessplatter a play on the slogan "All Lives Matter," which arose in response to the Black Lives Matter movement to make the post appear with other similar posts on Facebook.
As critics of the post rapidly spread the word about it Tuesday, DiSanto came under fire from numerous internet commenters and also from the South Dakota Democratic Party, which released an afternoon statement condemning the Facebook post and calling on DiSanto to apologize.
At 7:24 p.m. Tuesday, a post appeared on the Facebook page of Keller Williams Realty Black Hills that said, "Due to recent events, Lynne Disanto is no longer associated with Keller Williams Realty Black Hills." DiSanto had been listed as an agent with the company.
Nearly two hours later came the Facebook post by WAVI, which said, "We are aware of the posting by Representative Lynne DiSanto and are meeting as a staff tomorrow to discuss the situation and seek another speaker. WAVI doesn't condone violence of any kind. Thank you for your comments and concerns."
Before the announcements by Keller Williams and WAVI, DiSanto had spoken to the Journal by phone about her Facebook post.
"I am sorry if people took offense to it and perceived my message in any way insinuating support or condoning people being hit by cars, she said. I perceived it differently. I perceived it as encouraging people to stay out of the street.
House Majority Leader Lee Qualm says the move was an error in judgment.
The controversy comes at a time of heightened national awareness about violence at protests. In August, for example, one person was killed and others were injured when a man drove a car into a group of people who were protesting against white supremacists in Charlottesville, Va.
State Rep. Lynne DiSanto, R-Box Elder, was criticized by the state Democratic Party and others Tuesday and lost her position at a real estate firm after she made a post to Facebook that joked about striking protesters with a vehicle.
The post consisted of a drawing of an SUV mowing down stick-figure people, plus three lines of text: All Lives Splatter, Nobody cares about your protest and Keep your (expletive) out of the road. The drawing and text appeared to be a so-called meme an item that is copied and spread by numerous internet users.
Above the meme, DiSanto wrote her own comment: I think this is a movement we can all support. She added the hashtag alllivessplatter a play on the slogan "All Lives Matter," which arose in response to the Black Lives Matter movement to make the post appear with other similar posts on Facebook.
The post, dated Sept. 7, attracted numerous comments from other Facebook users, including many who wrote comments Tuesday. Some of the comments were supportive, and others were sharply critical.
DiSanto removed the post from her Facebook page by mid-afternoon Tuesday and spoke shortly afterward with the Journal by phone.
I am sorry if people took offense to it and perceived my message in any way insinuating support or condoning people being hit by cars, DiSanto said. I perceived it differently. I perceived it as encouraging people to stay out of the street.
Just prior to that interview, the South Dakota Democratic Party had issued a news release about DiSantos Facebook post.
The right to peaceably assemble is fundamental to our democracy so fundamental, in fact, it is included in the First Amendment to our Constitution, said a quote in the release attributed to state Democratic Party Executive Director Sam Parkinson. Whether one supports the cause of protesters or not, sharing an image promoting running them over is offensive and beneath the dignity of the office Rep. DiSanto holds. Even though she removed the image from her Facebook page, she still owes the people of South Dakota an apology.
Then, at 7:24 p.m. Tuesday, a post appeared on the Facebook page of Keller Williams Realty Black Hills that said, "Due to recent events, Lynne Disanto is no longer associated with Keller Williams Realty Black Hills." DiSanto's occupation is listed as "Realtor" on her legislative biography page on the South Dakota Legislature website.
The controversy comes at a time of heightened national awareness about violence at protests. In August, for example, one person was killed and others were injured when a man drove a car into a group of people who were protesting against white supremacists in Charlottesville, Va.
DiSanto said she failed to consider examples of violence against protesters when she shared her Facebook post.
That was a lack of judgment on my part to not take that into consideration, the highly charged political environment that were in, she said.
Earlier this year, a highly publicized, monthslong protest came to an end against an oil pipeline in North Dakota near the border with South Dakota. That protest included some roadblocks by protesters, and state legislatures in North Dakota and some other states subsequently considered legislation to protect drivers from prosecution if they accidentally strike a protester on a road.
Though that legislation was not introduced in South Dakota, the Legislature and Gov. Dennis Daugaard did approve with a yes vote from DiSanto a different protest-related law in March. The new law gives state and local government officials new powers to restrict and respond to large-scale protests, and says that unless otherwise directed by law enforcement or other emergency personnel or to seek assistance for an emergency or inoperable vehicle, anyone who stands on a paved or improved or main-traveled portion of any highway with intent to impede or stop the flow of traffic is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Ukraine's Naftogaz demands $5 billion from Russia in Hague court
MOSCOW, September 20 (RAPSI) Ukrainian largest oil and gas corporation Naftogaz has filed a lawsuit with the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague seeking to recover $5 billion from Russia due to losses of assets in Crimea, the companys statement reads on Wednesday.
The plaintiffs in the case are Naftogaz and six companies of the Naftogaz Group. Their interests will be represented by Covington & Burling LLP law firm, known for providing legal assistance to former shareholders of Yukos in a dispute with Russia.
According to the plaintiffs, Russia unlawfully seized Naftogaz Groups property in Crimea.
The company expects to hear the courts ruling in the case by the end of 2018.
On July 4, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled to proceed with two arbitrations commenced by Ukrainian oil and gas companies over losses allegedly caused by Russias actions in Crimea. The Court ruled that it has jurisdiction in these cases. Both claims were filed on June 15, 2015, under the 1998 bilateral treaty between Ukraine and Russia.
The first legal action was brought by Ukrnafta, one of Ukraine's largest oil and gas companies. The second action was brought a number of Ukrainian companies, including Stabil, Rubenor, Rustel, Novel-Estate, PII Kirovograd-Nafta, Crimea-Petrol, Pirsan, Trade-Trust, Elefteria, Satek, Stemv Group.
Ukrainian companies allege that in April 2014 Russia breached its obligations under the treaty by interfering with and ultimately expropriating their investments in petrol stations located in Crimea.
Bill on registry of socially beneficial NGOs passed in first reading
MOSCOW, September 20 (RAPSI) The State Duma, the lower house of Russias parliament, adopted in the first reading on Wednesday a bill granting regional governments a right to evaluate the quality of socially beneficial services provided by socially-oriented non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
According to the bill, regional bodies of Russias Justice Ministry will be able to acknowledge certain NGOs as providers of socially beneficial services and include them in a special registry.
On January 1, the law on socially-oriented NGOs, granting these organizations a right to obtain a special status stating that they provide socially beneficial services, came into force.
In March 2016, a group of MPs and senators filed a bill introducing a new term of socially beneficial NGOs with the lower house of parliament. Such status may be received by a socially-oriented NGO that provide quality socially beneficial services for at least a year, does not have a foreign agent status and does not have tax or other debts to the government. These NGOs receive prioritized support from the government.
Every day across this county millions of Americans go to work outside of the home. They go to their place of employment to make money, to be able to pay their bills, to be able to take care of their families. Most of them never think about the different ways their employer works to keep them safe. Many of them never think about the ways they themselves can help keep their workplace safe. It never crosses their mind. However the employees overall health and mindfulness can mean the success or failure of the very business they need in order to take care of their family and get a head in life. A healthy workplace culture is the foundation of a successful organization, with success being measured in several different ways: Rates of absenteeism, incidents of occupational injuries and employee engagement and satisfaction.
Sadly it comes as no surprise that Montana has one of the worst workplace safety records in the nation. According to the Montana Department of Labor and Industry 2014 report our workplace incidence rate is 47 percent higher than the national average. Our duration of claims stretches much longer than most other states, and our average cost per medical case for workplace injuries is 55 percent above that of the rest of the nation. In Montana, injured workers stay out of work an average of 23 days longer than workers in the rest of the country. The associated costs are significant.
Workers who stay out of work longer are less likely to ever return to their positions. They are more likely to develop serious complications and psychological issues. They are also more likely to lose traction in their careerssetting back their lifetime earnings. Companies suffer, too. Those additional 23 days are expensive in terms of workers compensation and health care payments. They also result in lost productivity and additional costs to train new employees to take over injured workers duties.
In Montana, workplace tragedies stretch across genders, age groups, industries and geography. They affect every business in the form of higher workers compensation rates. They devastate far too many Montana families, personally and financially. Reversing these trends is vital for the financial, emotional and physical health of our citizens. A serious workplace injury or death changes lives forever for families, friends, communities, and coworkers too. Human loss and suffering is immeasurable. Occupational injuries and illnesses can provoke major crises for the families in which they occur. In addition to major financial burdens, they can impose substantial time demands on uninjured family members. Every person who leaves for work in the morning should expect to return home at night in good health. Can you imagine the knock on the door to tell you your loved one will never be returning home? Or the phone call to say hes in the hospital and may never walk again? Ensuring that husbands return to their wives, wives to their husbands, parents to their children, and friends to their friends that is the most important reason to create a safe and healthy work environment.
It begins by creating safer workplaces. Workplaces with comprehensive safety plans and safety committees that routinely work to improve a companys overall safety. Workplaces that put safety first, whether theyre baking pies, running heavy equipment or doing data entry. But most important of all, it requires focused attention from workers themselves. Each of us is responsible for creating a culture of safety, following rules, wearing personal protective equipment and improving conditions when necessary. These are little things that are often overlooked; it only takes a momentary lapse or little short cut to change a life forever. As a state, weve had far too many of those.
Its time we all put safety at the top of the this is important list.
Whereas employee safety should be every companys top priory it isnt the only reason to improve your business practices. There are many benefits to structuring appropriate job descriptions, offering extra training, doing pre-employment screenings and even offering on-site consultations.
Reducing injuries reduces costs to your business
If a worker is injured on the job, it costs the company in lost work hours, increased insurance rates, workers compensation premiums and possible litigation. Productivity is lost when other workers have to stop work to deal with the injury. Even after the injured employee has been sent home, taken to the clinic or hospital, other employees may be distracted or need to take time off from work in the aftermath of the incident. Even a single injury can have far-reaching and debilitating effects on your business.
Safe workers are loyal workers
Any business knows that employee absenteeism is a major obstacle. When you create a healthy and safe workplace, you reduce this issue in several ways. By budgeting for safety improvements and making safety part of your operational plan, you engender trust. By involving employees in safety decisionsthrough reporting, committees, walk-throughs and meetingsyou show that their opinion matters to you. By following through on their input and improving safety, you prove quite tangibly that you care about their well-being. Workers typically respond by working harder, showing more pride in their jobs and remaining loyal.
Safety improves quality
Time and again, companies that put safety first turn out higher quality products. In some cases, thats because a safe workplace tends to be a more efficient one, free of debris and tangles of cords. In other cases, its a matter of focus. By working in a clean, efficient environment, workers are able to reduce distractions and truly focus on the quality of what they do. The results? Better products that create customer loyalty, bigger margins and increased sales.
In these ways and others workplace safety is about much more than legislation. Its about creating the kind of productive, efficient, happy and inspiring workplace we all want to be part of. Its about creating a highly profitable company.
Every business should have the same goal, and that goal should be to change the historical pattern of work in Montana as one of high risk, high injury and high cost. Every worker should go home at the end of the day safe, in one piece.
References: 2014 Montana Department of Labor and Industry report www.lmi.mt.gov. 2014 The national Institute for Occupational Safety and Health www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2014-150/pdfs/2014-150.pdf. 2017 WorkSafeMT http://www.worksafemt.com.
Questions and or comments regarding this weeks health column please contact Desiree Tibbs, Program Coordinator at Marcus Daly Occupational Health Services, 1200 Westwood Drive, Hamilton, MT 59840. Working together to build a healthier community!
Since October 2013, the Community Meals program has dished up 25,337 free hot meals, thanks to volunteers who have given 8,761 hours of meal preparation and serving.
The meals are now served five nights a week, from Labor Day to Memorial Day.
Community Meals organizer Gary Locke said the meals help with food insecurities in the community.
Its amazing what were doing, Locke said. We figure one out of five children in the Bitterroot has hunger issues. Were seeing a lot of people on fixed incomes - were seeing veterans, social security, disabled, in addition to single moms and kids. There is an issue out there. Its significant. Its important to keep serving.
Community Meals coordinators Dennis and Cheryl Calvert organize volunteers from 12 local churches to cover a month of meals. Participating churches are Assembly of God Church, Bitterroot Valley Church of the Nazarene, Canyon View Church, Connor Wesleyan Church, Cornerstone Church, Corvallis Community Church, Faith Lutheran, Federated Methodist/Baptist Church, First Christian Church, First Presbyterian Church, Grace Lutheran, St. Francis Catholic Church and St. Paul Episcopal.
The Calverts also keep the count of actual plates served.
The first night (October 2013) we started we served three that night, Calvert said. We have had nights where we have served over 100 plates.
In 2013-2014, they served 3,567 guests, during the course of 94 days, with 1,973 volunteer hours. In 2014-2015, Community Meals served 5,997 guests in 102 days, with 2,004 volunteer hours. During the 2015-2016 season, they served 5,970 guests, in 92 days, with 1,616 volunteer hours. Last year the Community Meals served 9,803 guests, in 127 days, with 3,168 volunteer hours.
On Tuesday, the United Methodist American Baptist Church's cooking and serving team arrived at 3 p.m.
Were making Sloppy Joes, said Verna Scott with tears in her eyes. I just finished dicing all the onions.
They also served homemade cookies and coleslaw.
Retired Hamilton teacher Virginia Opitz said she has been the organizer of her churchs involvement in Community Meal preparations for four years.
The first year I was just the go-for, she said. Now I help cook. I mostly let everyone do their thing - theyre better cooks. I supervise. Im the shopper, the schlepper, and the planner.
Opitz taught middle school at Hamilton schools.
This was something I was waiting to retire to do, she said. Ive always wanted to participate. I see former students coming through the line sometimes. I acknowledge them because were all part of the community and it is fun to see them as grownups.
Heather Milleson said that Mondays team served 121 meals.
There was strawberry and blueberry yogurt pie. It was all homemade, she said. This program is about the members of the community feeding the community.
Opitz added that it is an opportunity for patrons to visit with each other and the servers.
Team member Becky Neil said that some people come more for the company than the food support.
They dont like to eat alone, she said. I dont blame them. I talked a friend who recently lost her husband into coming and now she comes every time.
Milleson said the meal program meets more needs than hunger.
We try to minister to people as well, she said. People come that others might ignore homeless, people with disabilities, people that are alone, or people that might be dirty because they live on the street or whatever. We are showing Gods love.
Opitz said that is why she welcomes more servers.
I appreciate when we have 15 or more helpers because then it allows me to go sit and visit with folks or allows the helpers to go visit, she said. That is a big part of why we are here we are the Lords hands and feet. There is no sermon, it is love in action.
Angela Blume has helped with the meals for three years.
I do it for the fellowship I get to know my co-volunteers better, she said. Also, the people are so appreciative of the meals. I was just amazed - they eat then come back to the kitchen to thank us.
Milleson said on occasion the meal program often has leftovers and sends food home with guests. They also deliver extras to the Youth Home.
Locke said the program is receiving a little assistance.
The Dennis and Phillis Washington Foundation gave us a grant of $2,500 for plates, utensils and serving items, Locke said. We will now be receiving some commodities from the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program. There isnt a dollar amount; we order what we want and they send us what theyve got. We got that last May four days before our last meal served so it is really new to us this year.
The free Community Dinners started Sept. 11 and will continue until May 25.
The meals are served 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at Cornerstone Bible Church, 280 Fairgrounds Road.; 6 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Hamilton Assembly of God Church, 601 West Main St.; and on Friday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at St. Francis Catholic Church, 411 South Fifth St.
Cheryl Calvert said the Community Meals team is extremely thankful for the generous communities that have enabled the program to continue and grow.
We not only receive the support of the churches that cook and serve each night, but we receive additional funding from several other local churches, civic groups and individuals, she said. Their participation has enabled us to provide not only meals, but fellowship, for all who attend. It has been very exciting to watch it grow from a few meals on the first night to what it is now, and we would like to say thank you to all who help.
Calvert said Community Meals are always seeking donations. Contributions can be sent to Community Meals in care of Bitterroot Family Shelter, P.O. Box 656, Hamilton, MT 59840. For more information, visit the website or contact Gary Locke at 406-239-8833.
The Bitterroot National Forest lowered the fire danger to moderate on Sunday, after more than a month of extreme fire conditions.
Since Thursday, area fires have calmed significantly while the Bitterroot Valley experienced widespread rain and temperatures dropped nearly 40 degrees. But fire managers caution that it will take many more days of wetting rain or snow to put fires completely out, according to a press release from the Bitterroot National Forest.
Wed call this a season-slowing event, said Tod McKay, a public information officer for the Bitterroot National Forest. Its allowing fire crews to get in and do some rehab on hand and dozer lines. Its allowing us to go on the offensive.
"Fire season is not over. Next week it jumps into the high 60s and 70s and the long-range forecast is warm for October. People will still need to make sure theyre not leaving a campfire unattended.
According to the National Weather Service in Missoula, this summer was the driest on record since 1929 with only one day of measurable rainfall since June 21. This years low rainfall ties the record, which also was set in 1929.
Trent Smith, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Missoula, was more optimistic. Smith said that widespread rain will continue throughout Montana on and off for the rest of the week with temperatures 20 degrees below average.
The cool, wet pattern were seeing throughout the rest of the week is a season-ending event. Ill go on the record for that, Smith said. I dont want to give the illusion that you wont see billows of smoke periodically, but fire season is at an end and the threats will no longer be significant.
Firefighter crews from the Bitterroot have responded to and extinguished 65 wildfires in the Bitterroot National Forest this summer. More than 43,000 acres burned across the forest this summer.
As of Tuesday morning, the Lolo Peak fire had burned nearly 54,000 acres, and cost $47.8 million for firefighting activities, according to a news release. The fire is 87 percent contained and all evacuation warnings and orders have been lifted.
The Meyers fire, which grew into the Bitterroot National Forest, is now more than 62,000 acres and 90 percent contained with no current evacuation warnings or orders. More than $32 million has been spent fighting the Meyers fire.
On the West Fork District, the Nelson Creek fire has been kept to 280 acres and is 60 percent contained with no current evacuation warnings or orders.
According to McKay, plenty of mop up and rehab work will continue on the fires for the next several weeks. But regardless of whether fire season is over or mostly over, the mood around the Bitterroot Valley seems to have improved.
Theres certainly been a lot of smiles around the fire shop the last few days, McKay said. Resources were extremely thin and tapped, dating back to July. People are really pleased that we got this break.
Its not that uncommon to drop several levels in fire danger, but this summer has not been common at all, McKay said. The decision to lower or raise fire danger takes into account current weather, moisture in the vegetation, the number of human-caused and natural fire starts, and firefighting resource availability.
Fires can still start from accidental causes when fire danger is Moderate, but the number of fires is low and the fires that do start are easier to manage. Stage 2 fire restrictions, which prohibited open burning, campfires, and smoking outside flammable-free areas, will be dropped after midnight Tuesday, according to McKay.
This has not been in any way a normal year, McKay said. Its been very difficult, long, and unusual. Theres nothing that you could compare this season to since I got here in 2010.
Guwahati: Journalists' Forum Assam (JFA) in northeast India expresses concern over the ongoing crackdown on newspaper & radios in Cambodia with an aim to silence the media ahead of next year's general election. The recent shut down of an independent English newspaper in the southeast Asian country has shown the authority's intolerance towards the mainstream media, alleged the forum based in northeast India.
The media rights body of northeast India revealed in statement that The Cambodia Daily (www.cambodiadaily.com) was forced by the government agencies to close down its publication over a tax dispute. The newspaper was slapped with a purported $6.3 million tax bill recently and the authority ordered the amount to be paid by September 4 last or shut down its operation. Since the day the newspaper has not gone for the press and it was confirmed by the Pnong Pen office.
'Facing imminent threats of closure and legal action over a disputed $6.3 million tax bill, The Cambodia Daily will cease operations as of today (4 September 2017), bringing to a close more than 24 years of independent journalism. The power to tax is the power to destroy. And after 24 years and 15 days, the Cambodian government has destroyed the newspaper that has been regarded a special and singular part Cambodia's free press,'A quoting said the owner Deborah Krisher- Steele, the daily's website revealed.
Cambodia's information ministry also ordered the closure of nearly 15 radio stations broadcasting programs from international broadcasters namely Radio Free Asia (RFA), Voice of America (VOA), Voice of Democracy (VOD) etc. Meanwhile, the RFA decided to close its Phnom Penh bureau citing the recent of media crackdown by the authority. Another United States-funded broadcaster VOA is also planning similar actions.
'It is now logical to describe Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen as an anti-media politician. He has seemingly no intention to allow the media to exercise its freedom ahead of the crucial national election scheduled for early 2018,'A said a statement issued by JFA president Rupam Barua and secretary Nava Thakuria adding that the influential media bodies around the world should condemn the Cambodian authority for its latest anti-media crackdown.
Guwahati : With a vision to promote business in biotechnology and allied areas through entrepreneurship development, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday laid the foundation stone of the Technology Incubation Centre of Guwahati Biotech Park at Amingaon in Guwahati.
The new initiative would facilitate faster penetration of biotech industry and to accelerate the research & development activities in biotechnology and related fields with effective utilization of the rich natural resources of this region and to educate and utilize local human resources.
'We have inherent skills in organic farming. Assam and northeast are rich in natural resources and its biodiversity holds potential to capture the markets of entire south east Asia through concentration in the organic sector. Biotechnological interventions can immensely help us in becoming an organic hub,'A Sarbananda Sonowal said this while speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony.
'Stating that the traditional cultivation skills and farm processing techniques of the region are required to be modernized to increase productivity and income generation, Sonowal observed that a judicious mix of biotechnological know-how and conventional farming would immensely gear up the agro-based industry in the state.
Further to create a scientific ecosystem in the region, the Assam CM urged the students and the youth to build scientific mentality and take benefit of science and technological initiatives of the government towards the skill development as well as entrepreneurship development utilizing the facilities of Guwahati Biotech Park and the rich bio-resources of the region.
'Science and technology is going to be the way of life in the days to come and no one would be able to prosper without taking its advantages. This is a golden opportunity for our youth and I call upon you to reap maximum benefit from the Guwahati Biotech Park and contribute in the economic growth of the state,'A Sonowal quipped.
The Assam CM also outlined his vision for making Guwahati as the gateway to south east Asia and various initiatives mooted for materializing the same including execution of state capital region expanding the radius of Guwahati city and proposed World Trade Centre in Guwahati.
Science and Technology Minister Keshav Mahanta while delivering his speech informed that already an area measuring 64 bighas of land has been earmarked for setting up permanent campus of Guwahati Biotech Park at Amingaon, which will be a unique centre in the entire north east. An amount of Rs 35 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of Technology Incubation Centre and work for the same is expected to complete in 2019.
Mahanta stated that the Guwahati Biotech park would support from incubation to business and will develop exclusive Business and Industrial Zones and added that this will benefit college as well as university students for research alongwith business.
The Science and Technology Minister also spoke about ongoing projects of the department, which include setting up of District Science Centres, planetariums for generating scientific environment.
Further informing that state government would soon start construction of a Science City at Sonapur, Mahanta stated about organizing Science fairs and lunching of 'Mukhyamantrir Bigyan Darshan' for common people in the state.
'These initiatives would bring about a paradigm shift in the science and technology sector in the next few years in the state,'A Mahanta said.
Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarman and Director of IIT, Guwahati Professor Gautam Biswas also spoke on the occasion. Additional Chief Secretary, Science & Technology Department Rajib Kumar Bora delivered the welcome address.
Legal Adviser to Chief Minister Santanu Bharali, Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia, MLAs Suman Haripriya and Nandita Das, DC Kamrup who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Guwahati Biotech Park Vinod Seshan and host of other dignitaries were present in the programme.
(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
Soldiers, rescuers and people work at a collapsed building after an earthquake in Mexico City, Mexico, on September 19, 2017. Photo: Reuters
MEXICO CITY, Sept 20: Rescue crews and ordinary citizens searched through rubble for survivors as night fell on Tuesday on battered cities in central Mexico, including the capital, where the death toll from a major earthquake grew to at least 149.
The magnitude 7.1 quake toppled dozens of buildings, broke gas mains and sparked fires less than two weeks after another powerful quake killed at least 98 people in southern Mexico. It also hit just hours after emergency drills marked the anniversary of a temblor that killed thousands in 1985.
Millions of people fled into the streets, where they weathered the violent shaking and desperately sought word about the welfare of family and friends.
Emergency personnel in Mexico City, a metropolitan region of about 20 million people, searched frantically with picks and shovels for survivors beneath the rubble of what the sprawling citys mayor calculated to be as many as 44 collapsed buildings, including at least one primary school.
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said late on Tuesday more than 20 children and two adults had been found dead at the school, Colegio Enrique Rebsamen, in the neighborhood of Coapa. Another 30 children and 12 adults were missing, he said.
Emergency personnel and equipment were being deployed across affected areas so that throughout the night we can continue aiding the population and eventually find people beneath the rubble, Pena Nieto said in a video posted on Facebook earlier on Tuesday evening.
Rescue workers and soldiers toiled around collapsed buildings where heat-sensing equipment suggested survivors could still be trapped. Bystanders joined in where they could, clearing debris with their bare hands or whatever tools they could find nearby.
My wife is there, said Juan Jesus Garcia, 33, choking back tears outside one building in Mexico City.
I havent been able to communicate with her. She is not answering, and now they are telling us we have to turn off our cellphones because there is a gas leak.
The quake had killed 49 people in the capital by late Tuesday, according to civil defense chief Luis Felipe Puente. The highest toll, he said, was in Morelos State, just to the south, where 55 people were killed.
Another 13 people were reported killed in the neighboring states of Mexico and Guerrero. Thirty-two deaths had been counted in the central state of Puebla, also to the south, where the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) located the quakes epicenter.
As many as 4.6 million homes, businesses and other facilities had lost electricity, according to national power company Comision Federal de Electricidad. Most of them were in the greater Mexico City area and in the states of Guerrero, Morelos, Puebla, Oaxaca, and Tlaxcala.
GRIDLOCK, AFTERSHOCKS
In the capital, ambulances and fire engines confronted gridlock as millions of workers tried to get home, many of them after participating in annual readiness drills that commemorate the previous disaster on this date in 1985.
Much of the country was also shaken when an 8.1 magnitude quake, the strongest in more than eight decades, struck southern Mexico on Sept. 7, killing at least 98 people.
Earthquakes of magnitude 7 or above are regarded as major and are capable of causing widespread heavy damage. Another 11 aftershocks were registered after the initial quake at around lunchtime on Tuesday, the most powerful of which measured 4.9, according to the USGS.
In addition to the school, a supermarket and a factory collapsed in the capital. Much of the damage was in the fashionable Condesa and Roma districts near the city center.
On Twitter, relatives posted pleas for news of family members. At least one survivor was pulled from a collapsed building in Condesa and another was rescued from a six-story apartment building nearby.
Mexican media showed images of desperate locals forming human chains in search of people still trapped in collapsed buildings after nightfall. With power out in much of the city, the work was carried out in the dark or with flashlights and generators.
In Obrera, a central neighborhood in Mexico City, people applauded when rescuers managed to retrieve four people alive, with cheers of si se puede, or yes we can, ringing out.
Volunteers continued arriving throughout the night, following calls from the civil protection agency, the Red Cross and firefighters.
In Puebla, university student Jevon Minto, 24, said he had just arrived at class when he felt the shaking. We were seated when the place started shaking real, real hard ... You can literally feel the fear and the panic in this city.
Banker Jesus Gonzalez Hernandez, 55, said office lamps and furniture swayed when the tremor began. He and colleagues rushed to evacuate. But while exiting down the stairs, the walls were coming apart, said Gonzalez Hernandez, who fractured his ankle in the chaos.
Mexican stocks and the peso currency dropped on news of the earthquake and Mexicos stock exchange suspended trading.
At the same time as the earthquake, Mexicos Popocatepetl volcano had a small eruption. A church collapsed during mass, killing 15 people, in Atzitzihuacan on the slopes of the volcano, Puebla Governor Jose Antonio Gali said.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Twitter: God bless the people of Mexico City. We are with you and will be there for you.
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Mathew Burciaga is a Santa Maria Times reporter who covers education, agriculture and public safety. Prior to joining the Times, Mathew ran a 114-year-old community newspaper in Wyoming. He owns more than 40 pairs of crazy socks from across the globe.
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"Jeff Sessionss evidence-free crime strategy" | Main | Interesting account of gender discrimination in Wyoming alternative sentencing boot camp program
September 20, 2017
"Does barring sex offenders from church violate RFRA?"
The title of this post is the title of this interesting new article in the Indiana Lawyer discussing interesting litigation working through the Indiana courts. Here is how the piece gets started:
Shortly after the controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act went into effect in Indiana in 2015, the unlawful entry by a serious sex offender statute, which prohibits certain sex offenders from accessing school property, also became law. Now, those two statutes are at odds with each other as the Indiana Court of Appeals decides whether an interpretation of the statute that prohibits three men from going to church constitutes a RFRA violation. Under the unlawful entry by a serious sex offender statute, Indiana Code 35-42-4-14, offenders convicted of certain sex offenses cannot knowingly or intentionally enter school property without committing a Level 6 felony. The Boone County sheriff determined that statute meant sex offenders in the county, including John Does 1, 2 and 3, could not attend church if their churches offered programs for children at least 3 years old who are not yet in kindergarten. The Boone Superior Court agreed, determining that anytime churches offer such programs, they are considered school property, and, thus, are unavailable to the John Does. But because each of their churches offer childrens programming simultaneously or nearly simultaneously with adult services or Bible studies, the three men told the Indiana Court of Appeals during oral arguments in the case of John Doe, et al. v. The Boone County Prosecutor, et al., 06A01-1612-PL-02741, the sheriffs letter effectively prohibits them from attending church at any time. The appellate case turns on two central issues that divided counsel for the state and the offenders: whether churches can be considered school property and whether the prohibition against the Does attending church violates their rights under RFRA.
September 20, 2017 at 05:15 PM | Permalink
Comments
RFRA isn't absolute anyway -- the compelling interest of these things might be exaggerated but it is often assumed to be pretty compelling.
Posted by: Joe | Sep 20, 2017 7:47:08 PM
Should not kids in school or in church be considered to be the safest from predators? They have continual adult eyesight supervision. Once again, with the lawyer stupidity.
Posted by: David Behar | Sep 20, 2017 8:44:40 PM
Where better for a "criminal" to be then in Church?
In my opinion: every case should be treated with concern and facts. Not all accused sex offenders are actually guilty of a sexual offense. Elementary students should not be on a sex offender list, incompetent judgement puts them there.
Posted by: LC in Texas | Sep 21, 2017 1:48:28 PM
LC. What an excellent point. Apologies if praise from me tarnishes your reputation among the assholes on this blog, especially the feminists.
Religion is a far more effective source of morality and proper behavior than the legal system. So, take some of the most morally wretched people, people who sexually abuse children, and keep them from getting religion. Take locations where children are the safest of all, continually, eyesight supervised churches and schools, and by dozens of responsible adults. Now, keep child sex predators away from there. The lawyer forbids it.
What is the most dangerous location for child victims of sexual abuse, their home. Let's meet a divorced matron on Tinder, go to her house. While she is asleep drunk, go after her children sexually. No comment from the lawyer profession.
Posted by: David Behar | Sep 21, 2017 4:58:57 PM
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"Advancing Justice: An Agenda for Human Dignity & Public Safety" | Main | It's Alive!!: Senators Grassley and Durbin talking about reintroducing federal Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act
September 19, 2017
"Jeff Sessions may have been a fine Senator, but he has proven to be a feckless Attorney General."
The title of this post is a sentence from the first part of this lengthy commentary by Gregg Jarrett at Fox News headlined "Sessions should resign, but not before taking action against Clinton, Comey and Rice." The bulk of the commentary makes the case for bringing criminal cases against Hilary Clinton, James Comey and Susan Rice, and here is how it starts and ends:
Jeff Sessions should never have accepted the position of Attorney General of the United States. His leadership has proven unproductive and ineffectual.... Jeff Sessions either wittingly or unwittingly bungled his confirmation hearing, which led to the recusal that is said to have angered Trump and alienated the AG from the president. Regardless, Sessions performance as Attorney General ever since has been notable only for a series of failures to act when action is demanded. The moment the President of the United States no longer has confidence in his Attorney General, it is time for him to submit his letter of resignation. But first, Sessions can restore integrity to the Department of Justice and salvage his own tattered reputation by taking aggressive action against Comey, Clinton and Rice. Then he should quietly bow out.
September 19, 2017 at 07:40 PM | Permalink
Comments
See FOX New's priorities are in order.
Posted by: Joe | Sep 19, 2017 8:43:10 PM
Mueller should be fired by Sessions, before he resigns.
Sessions got his job by supporting Trump early. Unfortunately, Sessions is part of the Washington swamp, the failed elite, real Americans sent Trump to the White House to rid this country of.
Sessions is a lawyer. No more need be said. He should be replaced by an experienced police official. Failing that, a student in Life Skills class, learning to eat food with a spoon, would represent a marked upgrade in policy decision making. "Hillary, bad, bad girl."
Trump is weak. We need an American Duterte, or Duterte himself. Duterte is as qualified to be American President as Obama ever was, or even McCain, born in Panama.
Posted by: David Behar | Sep 19, 2017 10:54:05 PM
Does anyone actually care what this guy has to say?
Posted by: peter | Sep 20, 2017 12:00:13 PM
His tag line always says "former defense attorney." He was a civil defense attorney for a short time and has no experience whatsoever with criminal law but portrays himself as a criminal law expert in print and on t.v.
Posted by: Jay | Sep 20, 2017 12:54:32 PM
Before "bowing out," Sessions should have himself indicted for perjury before Congress and for filing false forms respecting contacts with the Russians.
Posted by: aon15 | Sep 20, 2017 3:15:56 PM
Our dotard president appointed this sycophantic troglodyte. They deserve each other.
Posted by: aon15 | Sep 22, 2017 7:59:26 AM
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Continuing a deeply infuriating trend, the San Francisco Sheriff's Department reports that another law enforcement officer's gun was stolen out of a rental car.
ABC 7 says that according to Sheriff Vicki Hennessy, the gun was reported missing at about 6:30 p.m. that evening. Hennessy went on to say, "Preliminary information indicates the firearm was stored in violation of our policy. Our department policy mandates that a firearm stored in a vehicle be stored in a metal or composite lockbox that is affixed to the interior of the vehicle and out of public view."
When the Chronicle asked if the deputy would be brought up on criminal charges for losing their gun, Hennessy only said, "The San Francisco Police Department has a report, and they will forward it to the district attorney for a charging decision."
As you may already know, this is far from the first incident of a gun being stolen from law enforcement officials. Most recently, a stolen police gun was used in the murder of Abel Enrique Esquivel, Jr., who was shot near the 26th Street and South Van Ness in August. A few days after that shooting, police arrested three suspects, two of whom were previously wanted for "several robberies that occurred in the Mission District between August 13th and August 15th." A GoFundMe campaign for Esquivel Jr.'s family stated that he was killed in one of those robberies.
Later, the story took a strange turn, as it was revealed that two of the three arrested suspects were formerly wanted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. 18-year-old Erick Garcia-Pineda was apparently wearing an ICE-issued tracking ankle bracelet and 24-year-old Jesus Perez-Araujo was the target of an ICE detainer request, which was ultimately denied because of the city's sanctuary city policy. Since then, the right-wing media (including Fox News) has latched onto Esquivel Jr.'s murder case, holding it up as an example of "what can go wrong" with such a policy.
The Examiner of course connects the stolen gun (this time taken from a U.S. Bureau of Land Management agent), that was allegedly used by undocumented immigrant Jose Ines Garcia Zarate to kill Kate Steinle. Zarate is scheduled to stand trial for the murder soon. But even in that case, Steinle's family filed a lawsuit against the BLM for their negligence in handling their firearms.
The gun stolen on Sunday has yet to be recovered, and one can really only worry about where it might be and what it might be used for in the near future.
Update: KTVU reports that the deputy whose gun was stolen out of a parked rental car on Sunday evening has been fired. Apparently the deputy (whose name has not been released) was still under probationary status, and had been with the department for less than a year.
Moreover, ABC 7 spoke with the Board of Supervisors about their frustration over the rash of stolen guns. "I am fed up and angry about the number of car break-ins in San Francisco," said Supervisor Hillary Ronen. "If a police officer, if a sheriff cannot secure their car and their vehicle in San Francisco, then nobody can." Supervisors Ronen and Norman Yee have apparently also introduced legislation instructing the police to form a "property crimes unit" to combat further car break-ins.
Related: Submachine Gun Stolen From FBI Agent's Car While It Was Parked Somewhere In The East Bay
Following a brief, two-and-a-half-year period in which it was illegal to produce or sell foie gras in California, following the implementation of a law that dated back to 2004 in the California banning the stuff on the basis of animal cruelty, Californian foodies and restaurants have been free to buy and serve the stuff since a 2015 federal court decision that struck down the ban. Now, following an appeal shortly thereafter by then state Attorney General Kamala Harris, a three-judge panel at the Ninth Circuit has ruled that the ban can take place again but the plaintiffs in the case are already appealing to the Ninth Circuit once more, as the Chronicle reports. This means that you can still consume the ultra-rich liver luxury item for the time being, but its days on California menus may once again be numbered.
The issue, since the get-go, when then state senator John Burton introduced the law over a decade ago, is the allegation borne out on many animal rights activists' videos that ducks and geese used to produce the fatty delicacy are force-fed and therefore tortured in order to produce the product, which has been popular for centuries in French and prized by many star chefs.
Opponents of the law, which include many Bay Area chefs led in part by Napa chef Ken Frank of La Toque, have contended that not only do the birds over-eat on their own when in the wild and preparing to migrate (something that only one foie gras farmer has been able to replicate in Spain, because the birds are so easily domesticated), but that the birds esophaguses are much more pliable than those of humans, and the tube-feeding that occurs to produce foie gras on a farm is not cruel.
As Reuters reports, the appeals court judges ruled last week that, contrary to the earlier federal court decision, "Nothing in the federal law or its implementing regulations limits a states ability to regulate the types of poultry that may be sold for human consumption."
The original decision had been based on the federal Poultry Products Inspections Act, which prohibits states from imposing certain conditions on food, but writing for the majority last week, Ninth Circuit Judge Jacqueline Nguyen wrote that the California law "did not impose a preempted ingredient requirement," and "The difference between foie gras produced with force-fed birds and foie gras produced with non-force-fed birds is not one of ingredient. Rather, the difference is in the treatment of the birds while alive."
PETA has been celebrating the decision, of course, with PETA president Ingrid Newkirk issuing a statement saying that "no one but the most callous chefs could stomach and revealing that foie gras is torture on toast and unimaginably cruel."
After the law finally took effect in 2012, long after it had initially passed, it was met with some unhappiness among foodies, and a sort of foie "underground" among California chefs, many of whom continued to buy the stuff from New York State producer Hudson Valley Foie Gras who is one of the plaintiffs in the current case, along with Southern Californias Hots Restaurant Group and Canadian nonprofit Association Des Eleveurs de Canards et DOies du Quebec. The law effectively shut down California's only foie producer, Sonoma-Artisan Foie Gras, and it led to chefs hiding surprise foie gras courses in their tasting menus as "gifts," thereby skirting the law about selling it.
Interestingly, there's been a growing movement in France to institute a ban on foie gras but there, just as here, it's not like everyone across the board really craves or requires this delicacy.
Frank tells the Chronicle not to worry: "I have no doubt it will eventually fail. This law was flawed when John Burton cooked it up, in a number of ways. Itll take a lot of money and lawyering, but it will fail."
Previously: Foie Gras Alert: Attorney General Kamala Harris Is Appealing Federal Judge's Decision That Overturned The Ban
Two years after San Francisco passed a law requiring soda companies to place warnings on their advertisements and billboards, a federal appeals court has blocked the requirement with an injunction saying that the order infringes upon the soda companies' First Amendment rights.
As we shared in 2015, the SF law basically required soda companies to place a health warning on all of their billboards and advertisements, the size of which must be no less than 20% of the total ad space. The warning would have to read: "WARNING: Drinking beverages with added sugar(s) contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay." Exceptions were in place, however, for vintage signs, including the Coca-Cola light-up billboard in SoMa.
The ABA's appeal argued that such a requirement would "overwhelm any messages the companies wanted to present," says the SF Examiner. Regarding the ruling, Circuit Judge Sandra Ikuta wrote:
By focusing on a single product, the warning conveys the message that sugar-sweetened beverages are less healthy than other sources of added sugars and calories. This message is deceptive in light of the current state of research on this issue.
William Dermody, a spokesperson for the ABA, commented on the ruling, saying, "Todays decision affirms our position that the San Francisco warning mandate not only violates the constitutional right to free speech but it is also deceptive and misleading to consumers."
Senator Scott Weiner has chimed in with his response to the ruling, writing in a statement:
I authored the soda health warning law to protect the health of everyone in our community, particularly the kids who are targeted by these multi-national corporations. Apparently, corporate free speech matters more than the health of our children. Soda and other sugary beverages are a unique contributor to the type 2 diabetes epidemic exploding in our cities, particularly in our low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. If these corporations are going to spend billions targeting our communities with misleading advertisements that make it seem like drinking sodas is all happiness and rainbows, we should require them to add a little honesty in the form of a simple warning label.
According to a 2012 study by the California Diabetes Program , 8.3% of people in the state are affected by diabetes. The California Diabetes Coalition also reported in a 2012 study that 7% of adults over 20 in San Francisco county are also affected by diabetes. Between 2014 and 2015, the amount of adults in San Francisco who qualify as obese has also increased, going from 46.6% to 50%, according to the San Francisco Health Improvement Partnership
Relatedly, a June 2012 study from the Harvard School of Public Health found that sugary drinks "increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and gout." How much of an impact that's had on the population of San Francisco hasn't exactly been quantified, though the soda tax that made headlines the past few years has proven to be effective in reducing soda consumption. In January, the Chron reported on a UC Berkeley study, which said that the tax resulted in a "21% reduction in consumption of sodas by low-income residents."
While the tax's effects have had a measurable effect on soda consumption, the impact of warnings on sugary drinks has mostly been measured on a preliminary basis. In a 2016 UCSF study that compared sugary beverage warning labels with tobacco warning labels, researchers found that parents who saw these labels "believed that SSBs [sugar-sweetened beverages] were less healthy for their child and were significantly less likely to select an SSB for their child from an online vending machine."
Going forward, the city has the option of contesting this ruling, bringing it up to a panel of 11 judges within the appeals court, or taking the fight to the U.S. Senate.
Previously: [Updated] Supes Approve Soda Ad Warnings; Will Iconic SoMa Coca-Cola Billboard Get One?
Police are seeking two suspects in an aggravated assault on Muni that sent the victim to the emergency room Tuesday evening.
Police say the beatdown began on a Muni bus on Mission Street near Geneva Avenue, at around 11:03 p.m.Tuesday.
The 28-year-old male victim was jumped by two men in their 20s, who punched him repeatedly.
According to the San Francisco Police Department, the victim attempted to end the attack by running from the bus, but the men followed and continued their assault. However, the suspects escaped before police arrived, fleeing in an unknown direction.
The victim was transported to an area hospital for injuries police say are not life-threatening. The suspects remain at large, the SFPD says, and no arrests have been made in the case.
Related: Gang Of Women Beats And Robs Fellow Muni Patron
In further evidence that Milo Yiannopolous was at the very least padding his list of "confirmed" speakers for Free Speech Week with names of people he'd like to see there but whom he may not even have contacted, ex-Googler James Damore says on Twitter that he won't be taking part, and that he was put on the schedule without his knowledge. Also, the university continues to push back, saying the event is welcome to go on outdoors on the steps of Sproull Hall and other spots as now planned, but student group The Berkeley Patriot failed to meet several deadlines and has lost the indoor venues they had wanted and the university will not be subsidizing security costs as they did for last week's Ben Shapiro event, which was a one-time deal.
Damore's name appeared on this schedule Yiannopoulos put out with a press release last Thursday, as part of Monday's lineup, with the theme "Zuck 2020." Since then we've seen that other "headline" speakers Ann Coulter and Steve Bannon, as well as Breitbart's London editor Raheem Kassam, are now missing from the schedule submitted to the university, suggesting that Yiannopoulos likely had not confirmed or even formally invited any of them.
As you'll recall, Damore, an engineer, was recently fired from Google after he published an internal memo that many in the company saw as promoting a sexist view of women in tech, and railing against diversity in general. His firing quickly made him a hero in conservative and alt-right circles.
Damore says, diplomatically, "I may not agree with the events provocative style, but I hope that some good comes of it and we all remain receptive of differing views."
Below, Damore's response, posted Tuesday evening:
1/ Regarding Berkeley Free Speech Week: I was put on the list of announced speakers without my knowledge and wont be speaking at the event. James Damore (@JamesADamore) September 20, 2017 3/ Different people have different ways of fighting for free speech and Im not arrogant enough to claim to know the best way of doing so. James Damore (@JamesADamore) September 20, 2017 4/ I may not agree with the events provocative style, but I hope that some good comes of it and we all remain receptive of differing views. James Damore (@JamesADamore) September 20, 2017
The Daily Californian has a timeline of the deadlines missed by the Berkeley Patriot, which we learned yesterday was a group formed over the summer out of the ashes, as it were, of conservative campus paper The California Patriot, which had been getting a few hundred dollars in university funding the last couple of school years, but which had not printed a physical paper or updated its website in at least several years. The new Berkeley Patriot has a website, but it has only published a handful of articles since August.
Regarding the security costs and the argument over subsidizing them, university spokesperson Dan Mogulof tells the Daily Cal that in the case of the Shapiro event, "Chancellor Carol Christ wanted to challenge the 'false narrative' that UC Berkeley would not allow conservative or libertarian speakers on campus," so she authorized the one-time subsidy.
He adds in a statement to the Daily Cal, "We continue to hope that the student organization will meet its obligations and provide the campus and UCPD with the information needed to complete security arrangements. The University cannot defend spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to provide security arrangements for events based on a schedule built on a long list of unconfirmed speakers and/or a press release issued by an external commercial enterprise."
Meanwhile, the New York Times has launched this online survey for UC Berkeley students and faculty (it sounds like they'll be following up by email or phone to confirm that the response is from a real student or professor), asking them whether "any type of speech" should be allowed on campus, and whether they fear for their safety, among some other questions.
Should we be taking bets on whether and when Milo is going to cancel all this in a huff and go on Fox News to talk about how the university effectively canceled it and liberals are evil?
Previously: Latest On Free Speech Week: Coulter And Bannon Not On Schedule; And Who Is 'The Berkeley Patriot'?
#092017WF1 UPDATE 2 3 victims -1 adults Critical -1 adult moderate burns -1 child moderate -6 adults displaced 212 Hrs fire und control pic.twitter.com/JB5SIyTKB9 San Francisco Fire (@sffdpio) September 20, 2017
Three people were injured Wednesday one critically following an early-morning fire at a San Francisco home.
Bay City news reports that callers to 911 reported the blaze at 1:55 a.m. Wednesday.
When firefighters arrived at the burning home, which is located at 376 Harvard Street, near McLaren Park, "they saw a fire from the front window on the second floor of a two-story apartment building and observed a 17-year-old boy fleeing the burning structure," the Chron reports.
The teen told firefighters that his parents were still inside the home, offering specific directions on where to find them inside the house. Firefighters used those directions to rescue a woman, who KRON 4 reports was still conscious. They also pulled a man from the blaze, who "was unconscious and firefighters attempted to resuscitate him."
The fire was under control by 2:12 a.m., the SFFD announced via tweet.
All three of the victims were transported to an area hospital for treatment, the teen and woman with moderate burns, the man with critical injuries. An update on their conditions were not available as of publication time.
Three other residents of the building were also displaced in the fire. It's unclear if they were home at the time of the incident.
According to the San Francisco Fire Department, the cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
Late last night, UC Berkeley students found Sproul Plaza covered in chalk graffiti containing hateful anti-LGBTQ, anti-immigration, anti-abortion messages. A few of the tags read: "Illegals, ICE is coming"; "Build a wall, deport them all"; "Abortion is genocide"; and "ANTIFAGS" the latter also an apparent reference to antifa.
After ASUC Senator Juniperangelica Cordova-Goff reported the graffiti to Dean of Students Joseph Goodwell, she and a few other students set to washing down the plaza early Tuesday morning. Speaking with the Daily Cal, Cordova-Goff said, "I think they were trying to intimidate us. This was intended to make people uncomfortable. But Im also really proud of the students that came out at 1 a.m. to wash off the chalk."
As well, apparently, UCPD was made aware of a "hate incident" late Monday night, but did not see any chalk graffiti at Sproul Plaza, according to UCPD spokesperson Sgt. Sabrina Reich. They also pointed out that the photos of the graffiti which were posted online by ASUC Senator Alexander Wilfert shortly after they were found did not match what was given in the report regarding the hate incident. Wilfert also commented on the graffiti, saying, "Theres clearly a disconnecting dialogue. This is not okay, and this is not what we endorse."
This incident comes just a few days before the Berkeley Patriot and Milo Yiannopoulos begin their so-called "Free Speech Week," where they've invited various "alt-right" pundits, provocateurs, and critics to speak on campus. That being said, the event has been losing "scheduled" speakers left and right, with ex-Googler James Damore being the most recent dropoff.
In addition to this, KRON 4 reports that Canyon Middle School in Castro Valley is dealing more anti-Semitic, racist graffiti, which was found spray-painted onto a school district bus. The school reported the graffiti (which included swastikas) and a smashed bus window to authorities at 6 a.m. this morning.
In response, community members around the school gathered to welcome students as they arrived at school in the morning, holding signs that said "Castro Valley United Against Hate."
Community members welcome kids to Castro Valley Mid school w/loving msg. after racist msg. scrawled on school truck. pic.twitter.com/hg3NlLWce9 Amy Hollyfield (@amyhollyfield) September 20, 2017
ABC 7 says that authorities are currently investigating, and will treat the incident as a hate crime. There are unfortunately no witnesses, but police are currently reviewing surveillance footage. NBC shared Alameda County spokesperson Sgt. Ray Kelly's statement on the investigation. Kelly wrote: "We take crimes of this nature seriously. Racist and offensive vandalism will not be tolerated in our schools."
Related: Berkeley College Republicans Threatened By Graffiti
SIOUX CITY | Many days, Kris Hurlbert's business is literally buzzing with activity.
This is a good thing since his more than 2 million employees have a tendency to be a bit flighty.
Nevertheless, Hurlbert is as content with his workforce as they are with him. With more than 40 hives with around 60,000 bees a piece, he realizes the marketplace can be sweet but he acknowledges it can also sting likes the dickens.
More than six years ago, Hurlbert began producing raw, unfiltered honey at his home in rural Sioux City. Deciding to go into business, he named the company Ollie's Little Honey Bees, after his son Oliver, who is now 5.
"I want to eventually pass the business down to Oliver and his 2-year-old sister Agnes," he said. "You're never too young to start acquiring a good work ethic."
Perhaps the two can look to honeybees for inspiration.
"The lifespan of honeybees is typically about 40 days and they literally work themselves to death," Hurlbert explained.
The typical day in the life of a honeybee consists of visiting a flower and gathering nectar -- a sugar-rich liquid produced in the glands of many plants.
Nectar can keep a colony of bees alive in the winter. But, when left alone, nectar can ferment. This is why bees turn the nectar into honey, a greater source of honey.
This requires a whole lot of teamwork.
From the worker bees searching for nectar-rich flowers to the hive bees who turned it into honey, all have an important job to perform.
And how much honey can a single bee produce in its lifetime? About 1/12th of a teaspoon.
That's why operations like Hurlbert's require so many hive and so many bees.
"Each year, we increase the number of hives we have," he said. "First, we had one. The next year, we had four. After that, 12. Now, we have 40."
"I think 40 is manageable," Hurlbert said. "We don't want the business to grow too big."
After all, Ollie's Little Honey Bee was created as a way to teach his kids the importance of hard work.
So, how is that working out?
"We sell Ollie's Little Honey Bees products at both the Marketplace and Southern Hills Mall Hy-Vee stores," Hurlbert said. "Oliver loves to tell people it's his name on the label."
Likewise, Agnes is intrigued by the buzzing little hive dwellers.
"Yeah, they've been bitten before," Hurlbert said. "But I've been bitten a lot more."
Watching over his hives in mid September, Hurlbert knows it is getting close to the end of honey-making season.
"Bees are most productive in July and August, when the days are hot and sunny," he said. "By September, they aren't quite so active."
Which just means Hurlbert will have more time to sample the handiwork of some honeybees.
"I love sweetening my morning coffee with a spoonful of honey," he said. "I also love using it on any type of grilled meat.
"There's something wonderful about pure honey. You can really taste the difference."
SIOUX CITY | Accused child abductor, Danica Noel Arzaga, 25, was arrested in Sioux City Wednesday afternoon, according to police.
Sioux City Police Sgt. Jim Cunningham said she was located near the intersection of Outer Drive and Division Street on Sioux City's northside around 4:15 p.m.
Authorities have been searching for Arzaga since she allegedly abducted her three children from Royal, Iowa, Tuesday morning. A wide-spread Amber Alert was issued and was canceled after the three young girls were found abandoned in Sanborn, Iowa, late Tuesday. At that time, Arzaga had not been located.
Jail records say she was booked into the Woodbury County Jail at 4:52 p.m. on three counts of third-degree kidnapping, class C felonies. Her bond has been set at $30,000.
She is expected to be transferred to Clay County where the alleged crime was committed.
The Amber Alert issued Tuesday said the girls were abducted at 7:30 a.m. in Royal. The children were identified as Olivia Sophia Arzaga, 4, and 8-year-olds Adia Johnson-Enos and Lillian Johnson-Enos. They were taken to an undisclosed location by representatives of the Iowa Department of Human Services.
SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa | A Spirit Lake man pleaded guilty Wednesday to shooting a woman in the leg last fall.
Scott Sidles, 55, entered his plea in Dickinson County District Court to a felony charge of reckless use of a firearm and a misdemeanor charge of assault with a dangerous weapon. Charges of attempted murder, intimidation with a dangerous weapon and willful injury will be dismissed.
According to court documents, prosecutors will recommend that Sidles receive a 10-year suspended prison sentence and be placed on probation for the felony charge. Sidles will receive a one-year jail sentence with credit for time already served in custody for the assault charge.
Sentencing was set for Dec. 4.
Sidles admitted in his plea that on Oct. 2 he fired a .22-caliber pistol recklessly from the driveway of his home in the 1200 block of Fargo Avenue in Spirit Lake and shot his next-door neighbor, who was sitting in a chair on her patio, in the leg.
SIOUX CITY | Emergency repairs to the Woodbury County Courthouse bottom-tier columns are on the way, and at a less than estimated cost.
The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday also made changes to a rural drainage district composition, after the first major study of that entity in decades.
The supervisors approved an emergency repair project contract with Vector Construction, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for $21,661. The work will take roughly a week and be done in October.
Three weeks ago, county Building Services Department Director Kenny Schmitz had roughly estimated the column repairs at $50,000.
"It is quite a bit less than what we had anticipated, which is very good," Schmitz said.
The upcoming repair will address deterioration of four columns, with the worst two on the east side of the courthouse. Vector Construction will aim to halt the corrosion by applying a coating of zinc that will meld with the existing steel-reinforcing bars.
"Sub-basement column deterioration over many years has exposed rusty rebar within the column pilings, forcing large pieces of concrete to break away," Schmitz wrote in an August memo.
This marks at least the third time in 18 months such emergency repairs have been ordered in the aging courthouse, which the supervisors are considerably fixing up now, to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars. They are doing that work before the building marks 100 years of operation in 2018.
WOLF CREEK DRAINAGE DISTRICT
In other business, the county supervisors, who also act as the trustees for the Wolf Creek Drainage District, approved the annexation of new properties into the district and deleted some existing properties.
Several hundred drainage districts were created in Iowa about 100 years ago as landowners followed state law in banding together to help control creeks and streams near farmland. It was a way to try to ensure that crops would not be destroyed by floods. Owners along several-mile tracts combined to fund drainage systems of mutual benefit.
Wolf Creek Drainage District lies east of Anthon, Iowa, in the county. County Engineer Mark Nahra said the possible annexation of properties arose out of complaints about drainage in the southern stretch of Wolf Creek. Nahra said it was time to consider changing the properties included.
To help with that research, the ISG engineering firm of Storm Lake, Iowa, prepared a report that was discussed Tuesday. That report said some landowners in the rural Willow and Grant townships are getting drainage benefits without paying for them, and so recommended seven parcels covering 246 acres be annexed into the district.
The report also recommended 911 acres of land on roughly 20 tracts be removed from the drainage district, since they "have never received drainage or flood benefit from the facilities of the Wolf Creek Drainage District."
Landowners Timothy Dahms and Daniel Hair, spoke against the annexation and asked the supervisors to drop the issue. Dahms said making the drainage district changes would be "a huge waste of money," and wouldn't address actual drainage needs.
The five supervisors/drainage trustees unanimously voted to make the changes Tuesday. The next step is for Nahra to compute the amounts the district's new landowners will pay for drainage benefits, based upon the beneficial impact on each property.
"It is vital at this time to review the taxation of the benefited properties within the district, so that the expense of upcoming (drainage) projects is appropriately addressed," Nahra wrote in a memo.
ROYAL, Iowa | An Amber Alert involving the disappearance of three children from Royal, Iowa, Tuesday morning has been canceled, according to officials.
The Clay County Sheriff's Office said the children were located in Sanborn, Iowa, late Tuesday afternoon.
The emergency warning said the girls -- two 8-year-olds and a 4-year-old -- were abducted at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Clay County community.
The warning claimed the mother of the children, Danica Noel Arzaga, 25, was the suspect in the abduction. The sheriff's office said the children showed up at an address in Sanborn, Iowa, where they were abandoned.
Azaga is still at large and police are asking for information as to her whereabouts. They believe she is still operating a maroon 2003 Cadillac with plate number 561XEY.
The missing children were identified as Olivia Sophia Arzaga, 4, and 8-year-olds Adia Johnson-Enos and Lillian Johnson-Enos.
The children were taken to an undisclosed location by the Iowa Department of Human Services.
The Clay County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations, Iowa State Patrol, State Fire Marshal, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Spencer Police Department, Department of Human Services, Sanborn Police Department and the O'Brien County Sheriff's Office.
CEDAR RAPIDS | Although President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind the Graham-Cassidy health care overhaul, Sen. Chuck Grassley thinks Republicans are one to two votes short of being able to pass the Obamacare replacement bill.
And I dont see those other one or two votes coming, Grassley told Iowa reporters Wednesday morning. I hope Im wrong.
Grassley is leaning toward supporting the legislation, but didnt give it the full-throated endorsement that the president tweeted earlier Wednesday. The president called Graham-Cassidy GREAT! Ends Ocare.
Grassley said he could list 10 reasons why the bill shouldnt be considered, but said the GOP needs to carry through on its promise to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
Republicans campaigned on this so often that we have a responsibility to carry out what you said in the campaign, Grassley said in a conference call with Iowa reporters. Thats pretty much as much of a reason as the substance of the bill.
And there are things in the bill he likes and believes would benefit Iowa. He called it a deregulation bill that will provide the resources so each state can run their health care system to fit their state to meet the needs of their people as they see it, not how Washington sees it.
Graham-Cassidy would provide states with block grants as well as repeal parts of the 2010 Obamacare law. It would keep most of the taxes that the ACA created.
According to some analyses of the plan, Iowa will see a $2.3 billion decrease in federal health care funding by 2027 and an overall 27-percent decrease in funding from 2020 to 2036.
Just the opposite, Grassley said when asked about those estimates. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, provided him with numbers showing Iowa would be a net gainer as result of legislation. For one thing, he said, four states now get 45 percent of all of the money for expanded Medicaid. Graham-Cassidy would redistribute those funds so all states, including Iowa, would share in the funding.
Grassley disputed warnings that Graham-Cassidy would cut funds for Medicaid, let insurers charge older Americans higher premiums, increase out-of-pocket costs and end guaranteed protections for those with pre-existing conditions.
Youre assuming that all 50 states are going to do what you just said, he said. However, we have a diverse country, very vast geographically, our population is very heterogeneous and what might fit Massachusetts and New York and Maryland doesnt fit Iowa very well. So the upside of it is that were going to give states the opportunity to deliver health care more efficiently and effectively in a more affordable manner than Obamacare has in the past.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has not said when he will bring Graham-Cassidy up for a vote. House Speaker Paul Ryan has predicted it would win House approval if the Senate sends it the legislation.
SPIRIT LAKE, IOWA | Colton Baschke, 26, of Spirit Lake, has been identified as the man who died Tuesday after he crashed his pick-up truck into East Okoboji Lake.
Baschke was pronounced dead at Lakes Regional Healthcare, according to a news release from the Spirit Lake Police Department.
Spirit Lake police initiated a traffic stop on a 2004 Ford F-150 pickup at 12:30 a.m., when the Baschke sped away. After a short pursuit, officers lost contact with the pickup. It was located a few minutes later after it had traveled through a residential yard, struck a small utility shed and come to rest 15-feet off-shore in East Okoboji Lake.
During the crash, Baschke was ejected from the vehicle and law enforcement officials provided medical attention to him prior to his transport to the hospital.
A technical accident investigation is underway by the Iowa State Patrol.
"The Barbarian cannot make ... he can befog and destroy but ... he cannot sustain; and of every Barbarian in the decline or peril of every civilization exactly that has been true."
Hilaire Belloc's depiction of the barbarian is recalled to mind as the statues honoring the history and heroes of the Republic and of the West continue to be vandalized and smashed.
A week ago, the statue of missionary and Catholic Saint Fr. Junipero Serra was beheaded at the Santa Barbara Mission he founded. A century-old Columbus statue in Central Park was defaced and spray-painted with: "Hate will not be tolerated."
Baltimore's monument to Francis Scott Key, who observed the bombardment of Fort McHenry on a British warship late in the War of 1812 and was inspired to write "The Star-Spangled Banner," was covered in red paint. "Racist anthem" was written across it.
In Berkeley, home of the Free Speech Movement, the university last week had to spend $600,000 to protect an invited speaker of the college Republicans from being assaulted.
But St. Louis was where the real action was. Friday, a mob hurled rocks and bottles injuring 11 cops, leaving one with a broken jaw. They smashed windows at the mayor's residence and marched miles to the Central West End to berate diners on patios of restaurants with the menacing chant: "Off the sidewalk. Into the street."
Saturday, the mob invaded and shut down a suburban mall, and then smashed windows across a nightlife district.
The protesters' rationale: rage at a not-guilty verdict in the murder trial of ex-cop Jason Stockley in the death of Anthony Lamar Smith -- in 2011.
Stockley's police van had been struck by Smith's car, who had been nabbed in an alleged drug deal and led police on an 80-mile-an-hour chase, at the end of which Stockley emptied his gun in Smith.
Yet even Attorney General Eric Holder declined to investigate.
On Sunday, Black Lives Matter showed up at the St. Louis police headquarters chanting, "Stop killing us!" But if the killing of black folks is a legitimate grievance, we need to ask: Who is killing them?
Last year, there were 4,300 victims of shootings in Chicago and 762 deaths. How many of those shootings were by cops?
How many of those shootings, mostly of blacks, were acts of "terrorism by White supremacists, White nationalists, neo-Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan," all of whom our ever-heroic Congress demanded that President Trump, in a joint resolution after Charlottesville, denounce.
Nowhere in the resolution was there any mention of Antifa, the "anti-fascist" fighters on the other side of the Charlottesville brawl, where a protester was run down and killed by a Nazi sympathizer.
What is it in their DNA that causes Republicans reflexively to sign on to a one-sided Democratic denunciation of President Trump for the sin of suggesting there were two parties to the Charlottesville brawl?
And are neo-Nazis really a threat to the republic?
In 1963, this writer was at Dr. King's March on Washington, which began on the Monument grounds where George Lincoln Rockwell's Nazis were yelling slurs. On the site where Rockwell's Nazis stood, there stands today the African-American Museum.
When my father was a 21-year-old Al Smith Democrat in D.C. in the Calvin Coolidge era, scores of thousands of anti-Catholic Klansmen strode up Pennsylvania Avenue, and the national Klan numbered in the millions.
But is the KKK of today a serious threat to civil rights?
Lately, St. Louis and East St. Louis have boasted the highest murder rates in America. Is that the doing of white supremacists?
This morning we read there have been so many smashed and stolen bicycles that Baltimore is canceling its Bike Share program.
Did David Duke and his Klan friends steal all those bikes?
Who are the ones shouting down speakers? Who violently disrupts political rallies, on campuses and off? Who engages in mob violence after almost every police shooting of a black suspect? As for interracial assaults, rapes and murders, according to FBI crime statistics, these are primarily the work of black criminals against white victims.
The Justice Department should report on hate crimes by white racists. But from the stats, anti-white racism is far more common and far more manifest in crimes of violence. Who reports that truth?
Are Christian supremacists murdering Muslims in Europe, or are Muslim supremacists committing acts of terrorism in Europe and conducting genocide against Christians in the Middle East?
The left has been marinated in an ideology where the enemy is always to the right. People blinded by ideology, unable to see the true enemies of their civilization, end up losing it, and their lives as well.
"We sit by and watch the Barbarian," wrote Belloc, "We tolerate him ... We are tickled by his irreverence; his comic inversion of our old certitudes and our fixed creed refreshes us; we laugh. But as we laugh we are watched by large and awful faces from beyond; and on those faces there are no smiles."
Environment, Indigenous September 20, 2017 Ontarians for a Just Accountable Mineral Strategy
Ontarians for a Just Accountable Mineral Strategy (OJAMS) condemns the Wynne governments recent decision to begin road construction to the Ring of Fire mineral deposit in 2019 without obtaining the free, prior and informed consent of the Matawa First Nations. This decision is not only in violation of the constitutionally-recognized rights of Aboriginal peoples, but also the Ontario Governments Regional Framework Agreement with the Matawa First Nations finalized in 2014. The Ring of Fire is a large, crescent-shaped mineral deposit containing chromium, copper, zinc, nickel, platinum, vanadium and gold. It is located in the traditional territories of the Matawa First Nations in the James Bay lowlands in Ontarios Far North, site of one of the worlds largest remaining intact forest ecosystems. Hyped as Ontarios version of the Oil Sands, the deposit has been said to contain $60-billion in mineral wealth. But after an initial staking rush in 2007, development stalled in 2014 following the collapse of the commodities super cycle. While mining industry proponents have blamed onerous environmental regulations and negotiations with Indigenous peoples for the delay, the reality is that the project cannot go ahead without significant public sector support. OJAMS is composed of people from diverse communities and interests in Ontario that want to see a mineral strategy that: Sustains the environment and the resources for future generations,
Protects the public from the risks associated with mining, smelting and refining,
Heals the damage already caused by the industry,
Captures a fair share of the revenues generated by the industry for Ontarians and First Nations, and
Respects the rights of First Nations to free, prior, informed consent to development on their lands. For more information, visit our website at www.ojams.ca.
The Ontario government decision announced on August 21, 2017 to fund a road to Ring of Fire mining claims over the objections of most of the Matawa First Nations has the mining and construction industry cheering. But the road is not going to happen unless there is consensus among the Matawa First Nations.
The plan is for three of the First Nations (Marten Falls, Webequie and Nibinimik) to be the proponents of the road project, with the province funding it. However, a condition of the funding is that the road has to service the Noront Ring of Fire claims.
The Ring of Fire is a large, crescent-shaped mineral deposit containing chromium, copper, zinc, nickel, platinum, vanadium and gold. It is located in the traditional territories of the Matawa First Nations in the James Bay lowlands in Ontarios Far North, site of one of the worlds largest remaining intact forest ecosystems. Hyped as Ontarios version of the Oil Sands, the deposit has been said to contain $60-billion in mineral wealth. But after an initial staking rush in 2007, development stalled in 2014 following the collapse of the commodities super cycle. While mining industry proponents have blamed onerous environmental regulations and negotiations with Indigenous peoples for the delay, the reality is that the project cannot go ahead without significant public sector support.
Marten Falls is now a shareholder in Noront. In April, 2017, the First Nation was given over 300,000 shares in Noront, in return for fulfilling certain obligations and arrangements [which are of course confidential]. With more than 327 million Noront shares outstanding, this is a drop in the bucket to Noront, but a serious compromise of Marten Falls position. Was one of the obligations that they would not publicly oppose the project? What are the restrictions on selling their shares?
Days after the announcement, Neskantaga and Eabametoong First Nations put out a press release (Aug. 24) stating:
The reality is that all the roads to the Ring of Fire traverse the territory of our Nations, and nothing is happening without the free, prior, and informed consent of our First Nations, said Neskantaga Chief Wayne Moonias.
Neskantaga and Eabametoong First Nations have been actively working to have their rights recognized by Ontario, along with all 9 Matawa-member First Nations, at the Regional Framework Negotiations and the Jurisdiction Table. Both of these processes are intended by our Nations to be collective, community-driven discussions.
Citing a divisive approach as being behind the Wynne Government announcement, the two communities of Neskantaga and Eabametoong pledged to honour their respective community processes and to ensure that a concrete agreement over First Nations jurisdiction is actually in place as a pre-condition to road approvals. The Elders and Youth of both communities have stated their support for the positions taken by the leadership.
In May, 2017, Wynne had threatened the Matawa Chiefs
My government announced $1-[billion] to support infrastructure into the Ring of Fire three years ago and if we are going to deliver on that we can delay no further, Ms. Wynne said in the letter, which was obtained by The Globe and Mail . While I continue to hope progress can be made, I am prepared to continue to advance discussions with those First Nations that would like to pursue transportation infrastructure through our bilateral processes.
She and her government have since pursued exactly that divisive strategy. Her government cut a backroom deal with three of the Chiefs.
The Chiefs of Nibinamik and Webequie scrambled to explain their position. On August 25, they held a press conference in Thunder Bay to clarify Wynnes announcement. Reported APTN :
Webequie First Nation Chief Cornelius Wabasse and Nibinamik First Nation Chief Johnny Yellowhead said they did not agree to construction of the all-season road, but rather a study of the feasibility of a multi-purpose corridor that could include a road, transmission lines and other infrastructure needed to underpin expected Ring of Fire development.
Noront is Desperate for the Road to be Built
Noront, which now holds 75% of the Ring of Fire claims, is getting desperate for the road to be built. From the beginning of their investment in the Ring of Fire, the company has said the road (which will cost a minimum of $1-billion, and likely much more) has to be paid for by the province.
The company is deeply in debt to Resource Capital Fund ($15-million due at the end of the year), and has already had one extension of the loan. Through one of their subsidiaries, they also owe $25-million to Franco-Nevada, due in 2020.[1]
Federal and Provincial Government Subsidies
Noront has raised the capital it needs to exist through many issues of flow-through shares. This is a federal and provincial program that allows the costs of exploration and development expenses to be claimed by investors that need tax write-offs. The foregone taxes, and the credits that go with them, affect all of us.
The province and the federal government have basically paid for most of the First Nations consultation, paying salaries for the lawyers, technical consultants and community mining advisors, including the Ring of Fire Secretariat, Bob Rae and Frank Iacobucci.
The federal government put in $15.98-million from 2010 to 2016 through the Strategic Partnerships Initiative to support first nations mining readiness activities in the Ring of Fire. In 2016, the government announced it was extending this program for another three years.
The federal government also funds a program called Comprehensive Community Planning (in the amount of approximately $700,000). This appears to be at least part of the $200-million Carolyn Bennett said would be spent on indigenous children.
What else could have been done in the Mattawa communities if the money were used for supporting kids, housing, water, and sustainable job creation instead? As Bob Rae commented to CBC : This cant be a process that is driven exclusively on the interests of one project or another, Rae said. It has to be seen as responding to a broader concern which is the isolation, the poverty, the real needs of these communities.
Former federal Natural Resources Minister Greg Rickford is on the Noront Board.
No Feasibility Study for Ring of Fire Chromite
No feasibility study has been completed on the chromite deposits. Cliffs Resources walked away from the project just as the feasibility study they commissioned was to be finished and sold the project to Noront for $22-million. The only feasibility study undertaken to completion was for Noronts Eagles Nest project; a carrot-shaped deposits of nickel, copper and PGM metals. It made it clear that the project needed the province to put up the road/rail costs or Eagles Nest could not be built.
The other question hanging over the Ring of Fire is the need for a ferrochrome smelter to process the ore. The location of the project is again in question, with Sault Ste Marie, Timmins and Sudbury all in competition for it. That smelter cannot be economic without serious electricity subsidies, in a province where electricity costs a great deal to produce.
Conclusion
Ontarians for a Just Accountable Mineral Strategy (OJAMS) condemns the Wynne governments recent decision to begin road construction to the Ring of Fire mineral deposit in 2019 without obtaining the free, prior and informed consent of the Matawa First Nations. This decision is not only in violation of the constitutionally-recognized rights of Aboriginal peoples, but also the Ontario Governments Regional Framework Agreement with the Matawa First Nations finalized in 2014.
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.
LA PLATA, Md. (Sept. 19, 2017)On September 16, Tony Covington, State's Attorney for Charles County hosted an Opioid Abuse Awareness fundraising event at the Southern Maryland Blue Crab's game. As part of the event, the State's Attorney's Office, in partnership with Charles County Emergency Medical Services, had an opioid drop-off center for community members to drop off their unwanted and unneeded prescription medications, as well as receive educational resources to combat opioid abuse.
Over 200 students attending the event received a free Under Armour book bag from the State's Attorney's Office. Students also received Chick-fil-A La Plata cards for free meals. Both adults and youth received wristbands to raise awareness about opioid abuse, as well as brochures with more information about opioid abuse, prevention and treatment. During the event, over 75 students signed a pledge to make good decisions and stay away from drugs and alcohol9 of the children walked the field with State's Attorney Covington as he addressed the Regency Furniture Stadium crowd about opioid abuse.
Proceeds from the tickets purchased through the fundraiser will be donated to a drug addictions treatment program.
Covington commented on the evening saying "This was a great event for our community. We were able to reach a number of peopleespecially kidsand let them know this opioid abuse really is an epidemic. Thousands are dying. That isn't exaggerated hypeit is real. I hope parents understand the need to educate their kids that painkillers, even though prescribed by a doctor, are still dangerous and can lead to deadly consequences. Also, I can't say enough about G.S. Proctor and Associates, Terrence Byrd of Under Armour, Chick-fil-A La Plata, Charles County Emergency Medical Services and, of course, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs for their great support of this important community awareness event."
CENTREVILLE, Md. (Sept. 19, 2017)Today at approximately 1:24 p.m., the Maryland State Police Centreville Barrack responded to a reported car fire in the area of John Brown Road at Maryland Route 213 in Queen Anne's County. While in route, numerous witnesses called and advised that a male subject lit himself on fire at the scene.
The incident involved Jamie Lee Richarts, 35, and Deny Richard Coursey, 42, both of Centreville. Initial contact was made with Richarts. Richarts stated that Deny Coursey, her boyfriend, pulled his vehicle in front of her vehicle causing Richarts to stop her vehicle. It is believed this incident is ongoing from a domestic incident the couple were engaged in the prior evening which was handled by the Queen Anne's Sheriff's office. When the vehicles were stopped, Coursey exited his vehicle and approached Richarts' vehicle with a fuel can in his hand. After a short argument outside of Richarts' vehicle, Coursey doused himself with fuel and lit himself on fire. Coursey quickly returned to his vehicle and left the area.
Coursey was located as he walked into Easton Memorial Hospital with numerous burns. An emergency petition for an evaluation was filed on Coursey and the investigation continues. Coursey will be transferred to a burn center for treatment of his injuries.
In the midst of the storm of the century, the City of Oakland Park moved ahead with plans to ban conversion therapy.
At a recent meeting commissioners approved the drafting of an ordinance that would prohibit the practice of conversion therapy within the boundaries of this eastern Broward County municipality. Several residents spoke in favor of the ban, some offering personal accounts of the harmful nature of the so-called therapy.
Conversion therapy is part of the system of homophobia which starts with the premise that being gay or lesbian is something to change, said Mitchell Rosenwald, a licensed clinical social worker for the State of Florida.
Rosenwald, a gay man, said conversion therapy also known as reparative therapy has been debunked by every major American scientific organization. The American Psychological Association reports conversation therapy efforts have serious potential harm to harm young people because they present the view that the sexual orientation of lesbian, gay and bisexual youth is a mental illness or disorder, and they often frame the inability to change ones sexual orientation as a personal and moral failure.
Rabbi Noah Kitty of Congregation Etz Chaim, a LGBT inclusive synagogue, implored the city to act to protect its children.
When parents fail children its up to elected officials to step in, Kitty said.
Michael Rajner, a Broward County human rights activist, called conversion therapy evil witchcraft.
Our youth should not be preyed upon, Rajner said.
One woman, Rebecca Zucker, spoke against the ban.
Theres a parent side of this, Zucker said. Im a grandparent. I have boys and girls. I would not want to see a city take my rights away. I understand the point. I respect the LGBT community. I have LGBT friends. I have family, but I would never go to a community and say put a limit on something and tell someone they are wrong.
Zucker said she has lived in Oakland Park for three years having moved from the midwest where she worked as a real estate agent. She said the ban on sexual orientation change was contrary to the spirit of love the city should convey.
By putting restraints on others choices we are doing the same to them its just a reverse model, Zucker told the commission.
Oakland Park Mayor John Adornato III and Commissioners Tim Lonergan, Michael Carn and Matthew Sparks attended the meeting. Commissioner Sara Guevrekian was absent. Adornato said he asked for public comments after reading of other cities banning conversion therapy.
As one of the more highly populated LGBT communities in Florida and perhaps the country we need to respect our residents and respect our youth and provide leadership for them and send the right message that respect for our children is critical, Adornato said.
Commissioner Sparks, a gay man, said his parents sent him to conversion therapy and it did not work.
Once was enough for me, Sparks said. Im absolutely in favor of this, lets ban it.
Commissioner Carn called conversion therapy a form of hate.
Who are you to control who I am or who I suggest I am?, Carn said.
Vice Mayor Lonergan said he considers conversion therapy a harmful practice and strongly supports the ban. He suggested the ban also cover adult individuals with disabilities who have a legal guardian.
A nonbinary Georgia Tech student and campus pride leader named Scout Schultz was shot to death by campus police early Sunday morning in a possible suicide-by-cop.
The officers arrived to the scene in response to an emergency call Schultz made claiming they saw a man lurking on campus carrying a knife and perhaps a gun.
The person they described was themself.
In a phone call to 911, Schultz described the strange figure they saw as a white male, with long blonde hair, white T-shirt and blue jeans who is possibly intoxicated, holding a knife and possibly armed with a gun on his hip, the Washington Post reported.
An investigation found that through citing the characteristics of the armed man in question Schultz had in fact offered to police a self-description. That Schultz who identified as nonbinary and preferred the pronoun they to he or she intended to die that night, made clear by three suicide notes they left behind in their dorm room.
In a statement to the Washington Post, attorney L. Chris Stewart, who represents the Schultz family, said: Its tragic that as Scout was battling mental health issues that pushed them to the edge of desperation, their life was taken with a bullet rather than saved with non-lethal force.
When officers from the Georgia Tech Police Department responded to Schultzs emergency call, they found the student holding a knife in the dormitory parking lot matching the description of the character which the student described. When Schultz refused to relinquish their pointed weapon and approached the police closer, an officer fired his gun.
Stewart said only one officer fired and that none of the other officers who responded from the Georgia Tech police department had been issued Tasers, the Post reported.
Thats baffling to me that on a college campus youd rather give the officers the most deadly weapons and not equip them with less lethal weapons.
Scout, a leader of Georgia Techs Pride Alliance, was favored among their peers.
I dont think there was a single person that didnt love them and cherish them for their involvement in the different causes, Bill Schultz, Scouts father, said to the Post.
Lynne Schultz, the victims mother, described Scout as a very loving and caring and empathetic person.
The firing officer has been identified by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation as Tyler Beck.
On Monday a group of fifty incensed mourners marched across the Georgia Tech campus toward the police department in protest of the extremity that the previous days violence had wrought upon their college mate, which they believed could have been avoided had the officers not used guns as their primary recourse in dealing with Schultz.
The Associated Press reported Lance Wallace, spokesman for the university, as saying that two officers incurred injuries during the riot, one of whom required hospitalization, and that one police vehicle was damaged.
Three people were arrested on charges of inciting a riot and battery of an officer.
My story is that typical narrative of a Midwestern boy who comes out of the closetor doesnt come outin his hometown and then leaves, explained playwright Michael Patrick Spillers, who grew up in the Ozark mountains of southwest Missouri.
Spillers, now 48, headed west to Los Angeles, but instead of settling in the traditionally gay enclaves of West Hollywood or Silver Lake, he found himself in the grittier Hispanic neighborhoods of East L.A.
But, at the risk of generalizing, I didnt fit into that stereotype of upward mobility of the white gay men who make it to the big city, double income-no kidsat least until recentlywith the sort of financial security and affluence that is usually associated with West Hollywood, he continued. West Hollywood left me feeling cold and I gravitated to the other side, LGBT communities of color.
Spillers experience in his early 20s would become the basis for a one-man show and, later, a five-actor play, White Boy, that explores the clash of cultures he experienced as he immersed himself into and began dating within the Latino community. His play will receive its southeast premiere Sept. 27 Oct. 22 at Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale.
Like Spillers, the white boy in White Boy is Patrick, a young Midwesterner who makes a move to East Los Angeles and falls for Lobo, a Chicano gang member. The unlikely couple must deal with the clash of cultures and confront racism and labels.
Spillers pointed out that young Latino gay men often have a more difficult time separating their sexual identities with the priority their culture places on family.
For a lot of young gay Mexican and Salvadoran kids, that connection to family is much more difficult to negotiate. They are often living at home helping take care of extended family members or still connected to roots in a different countryand their gay lifestyles are more integrated into their culturethe music, brands of beer and even the language. It can come across almost like self-segregation because they hang out in clubs where bartenders are going to hear them in their language, Spillers said.
Even self-identifying as gay can be an issue for some.
One of the pioneering concepts, being gay or MSM (men who have sex with men) for communities of color doesnt work. Why doesnt everyone call themselves gay? The terminology and idea of connecting with other men at a sexual level without identifying as gay is complicated. Its not just a matter of being in the closet, he added.
Spillers, who is also directing, was convinced to remount a production of White Boy by local producer Ronnie Larsen. Spillers shelved the work nearly 20 years ago, but soon realized that the issues of race and culture were every bit as relevant today.
Even the title, White Boy, can be tricky given the current racial tensions in this country, Spillers pointed out. He reimagined, reinvented and revived the play and, in the process, discovered how current and contemporary it could be for a new generation of audiences.
White Boy by Michael Patrick Spillers will be performed Sept. 27 Oct. 22 at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Dr. in Fort Lauderdale. Tickets start at $30 at RonnieLarsen.com.
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.
The spectacular aurora borealis, or the northern lights, over Canada is sighted from the International Space Station near the highest point of its orbital path. The stations main solar arrays are seen in the left foreground. This photograph was taken by a member of the Expedition 53 crew aboard the station on Sept. 15, 2017. Credit: NASA. NASA
The Expedition 53 crew worked on a variety of astronomy gear today that looks at meteors in Earth orbit and harmful radiation from deep space. The crew also explored how microgravity affects human bones and muscles.
Flight Engineer Mark Vande Hei worked on a camera for the Meteor experiment, ongoing since March 2016, which peers out of a specialized window in the Destiny laboratory module. The camera observes meteors and meteor showers and analyzes the imagery to determine their physical and chemical composition.
Flight Engineer Joe Acaba installed the Fast Neutron Spectrometer in the Unity module today to explore a new technique that measures deep space radiation. The new technology may be used to provide a more accurate assessment of the mixed radiation future crews and spacecraft may be exposed to.
Cosmonaut Sergey Ryazanskiy strapped himself into the Muscle Atrophy Research and Exercise System (MARES) chair today for a look at his calf muscle and tendons. Flight Engineer Paolo Nespoli assisted Ryazanskiy into the MARES chair and Commander Randy Bresnik collected ultrasound imagery of his leg. The data is being collected for the Sarcolab-3 experiment that is observing space-induced chemical and structural changes in muscle fibers.
On-Orbit Status Report
Space Headaches: The daily questionnaire for the ESA Space Headaches investigation was completed by a 52S crewmember. The Space Headaches investigation collects information that may help in the development of methods to alleviate associated symptoms and improvement in the well-being and performance of crewmembers in space. Headaches during space flight can negatively affect mental and physical capacities of crewmembers that can influence performance during a space mission.
Marrow: Today the crew successfully collected the breath and ambient air samples that were not able to be completed yesterday due to an issue with the collection hardware. The Marrow investigation looks at the effect of microgravity on bone marrow. It is believed that microgravity, like long-duration bed rest on Earth, has a negative effect on the bone marrow and the blood cells that are produced in the bone marrow.
Human Research Program (HRP) Collections (Biochemical Profile, Repository): Today a 51S crewmember completed the urine sample collections that began yesterday in support of the Biochemical Profile and Repository experiments. With operator assistance, the subject also conducted blood sample collections and the samples were processed for double spin operations using the Refrigerated Centrifuge prior to being placed in the Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI).
The Biochemical Profile experiment tests blood and urine samples are obtained from astronauts before, during, and after spaceflight. Specific proteins and chemicals in the samples are used as biomarkers, or indicators of health. Post-flight analysis yields a database of samples and test results, which scientists can use to study the effects of spaceflight on the body.
Repository is a storage bank used to maintain biological specimens over extended periods of time and under well-controlled conditions. This repository supports scientific discovery that contributes to our fundamental knowledge in the area of human physiological changes and adaptation to a microgravity environment and provides unique opportunities to study longitudinal changes in human physiology spanning many missions.
Zero Boil-OFF Tank (ZBOT) Hardware Setup: The crew completed the ZBOT hardware configuration in the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) Work Volume that began yesterday. Rocket fuel, spacecraft heating and cooling systems, and sensitive scientific instruments rely on very cold cryogenic fluids. Heat from the environment around cryogenic tanks can cause their pressures to rise, which requires dumping or boiling off fluid to release the excess pressure, or actively cooling the tanks in some way. ZBOT uses an experimental fluid to test active heat removal and forced jet mixing as alternative means for controlling tank pressure for volatile fluids.
Meteor Grating Configuration: The crew removed and replaced gratings in the Meteor camera located in the Window Observational Research Facility (WORF) payload volume. The Meteor payload is a visible spectroscopy instrument with the primary purpose of observing meteors in Earth orbit. Meteor uses image analysis to provide information on the physical and chemical properties of the meteoroid dust, such as size, density, and chemical composition. Since the parent comets or asteroids for most of the meteor showers are identified, the study of the meteoroid dust on orbit provides information about the parent comets and asteroids.
Space Test Program H5 Innovative Coatings Experiment (STP-H5 ICE): The crew photographed four ICE material strips on STP-H5. The harsh radiation and extreme temperatures of space can corrode the paint and coatings that protect spacecraft exteriors, potentially damaging a spacecrafts hull. Optical coatings are also important for robotic and human navigators, who would rely on specialized markings to capture or repair spacecraft. The STP-H5 ICE investigation studies new coatings for use on spacecraft in low-Earth orbit, determining their stability after 2 years in space.
Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) Configuration for Advanced Combustion via Microgravity Experiments (ACME): The crew began configuration activities for the CIR optics bench which supports the ACME investigation. Due to the amount of hardware requiring installation, configuration activities will be conducted over the next two days. The ACME investigation is a set of five independent studies of gaseous flames to be conducted in the CIR. ACMEs primary goal is to improved fuel efficiency and reduced pollutant production in practical combustion on Earth. Its secondary goal is to improve spacecraft fire prevention through innovative research focused on materials flammability.
Fast Neutron Spectrometer: The crew completed the installation of the Fast Neutron Spectrometer in Node 1. Neutron spectrometers are used to make a wide range of measurements, including studies of a planetary bodys composition and measuring the flux of high-energy neutrons that could be harmful to humans. The Fast Neutron Spectrometer (FNS) investigation studies a new neutron measurement technique that is better suited for the mixed radiation fields found in deep space. Future manned and exploration missions benefit from clearer, more error-free measurement of the neutron flux present in an environment with multiple types of radiation.
Sarcolab-3: With USOS operator assistance, a Russian subject ingressed the Muscle Atrophy Research & Exercise System (MARES) chair in the Columbus module and adjusted pads and constraints for the Sarcolab-3 ankle protocol. The operator then collected ultrasound images of the subjects leg. The subject is continuing the Sarcolab protocol. The data collected for Sarcolab-3 will be compared to pre and post flight measurements to assess the impact of hypothesized microgravity induced muscle loss. Myotendinous and Neuromuscular Adaptation to Long-term Spaceflight (Sarcolab) investigates the adaptation and deterioration of the soleus (calf muscle) where it joins the Achilles tendon, which links it to the heel and carries loads from the entire body. Muscle fiber samples are taken from crew members before and after flight, and analyzed for changes in structural and chemical properties. MRI and ultrasound tests and electrode stimulation are conducted to help assess muscle and tendon changes caused by microgravity exposure.
EVA Mobility Unit (EMU) Resize: Today the crew will continue activities to prepare for the upcoming EVAs. They will resize EMUS to fit the specific crewmembers that will go outside during those upcoming EVAs. The goals of the EVAs include performing an R&R on the SSRMS Latching End Effector (LEE) A, lubrication of the LEEs, and external camera replacement.
Todays Planned Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Marrow Breath And Ambient Air Sample Collection Subject
DUBRAVA. Observation and photography using Photo Equipment
?3 Fan Screen Cleaning in MRM2
Vacuum Cleaning ??1 and ??2 air ducts in MRM2
Replacement of ??1, ??2 Dust Filters and Cleaning ?1, ?2 Fan screens in MRM2
Preparation of Reports for Roscosmos web site and social media
URAGAN. Observation and Photography
Replacing filters in FGB ??1, ??2 Dust Collectors
ECON-M. Observation and photography
HRF Generic Urine Collection Male Subject
HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection Double Spin Collection
HRF Generic Refrigerated Centrifuge Double Spin Configuration
Virus Definition File Update on Auxiliary Computer System (???) Laptops
Combustion Integrated Rack Hardware Gather
SARCOLAB. Conference
HRF Generic Sample MELFI Insertion
COSMOCARD. Preparing for and Starting 24-hr ECG Recording
Combustion Integrated Rack Session Review
MARES Ankle Shaving Preparation
Meteor Install On Board Training
Removal of [??] TV Cameras 1, 2 and ???-302 Light Units in Soyuz 734 [CA].
Environmental Health System (EHS) Formaldehyde Monitoring Kit (FMK) Deployment Operations
Zero Boil-OFF Tank Hardware Setup
SARCOLAB (MARES) Ultrasound 2 Powerup
Environmental Health System (EHS) Grab Sample Container (GSC) Sampling Operations
MARES Ultrasound session
Crew time for ISS adaptation and orientation
Ultrasound 2 Guided Data Export
Columbus Video Camera Assembly 2 Adjustment
Fast Neutron Spectrometer Node 1 Install
MARES subject electrodes equipment
MRM1 ????1, ????2 Dust Filter Replacement
HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection Conclude Stow
Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (RGN) Wastewater Storage Tank Assembly (WSTA) Fill
Cyclops ICE Experiment Photos
??? maintenance
PMA1 Intermodule Ventilation (IMV) Cone Screen Cleaning
ISS Crew Orientation
METEOR Grating Configuration
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Long Life Battery (LLB) Terminate
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Long Life Battery (LLB) Initiate
Combustion Integrated Rack Optics Bench Translation Out
Soyuz 734 Transfers and IMS Ops
Combustion Integrated Rack Optics Bench Configuration 1 for ACME
Environmental Health System (EHS) Rad Detector Rotate
MARES Power On and Battery Charge
MSG CTB Audit and Clean up
MARES Ankle setting adjustments
Environmental Health System (EHS) Radiation Area Monitors (RAM) Deployment
MARES Ankle configuration fit check
Space Headaches Daily Questionnaire
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Resize
IMS Update
MARES Battery Charge control
Photography of Plume Impingement and Deposit Monitoring Unit [????] position on MRM2 from SM window No.13
Completed Task List Activities
None
Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Battery capacity tests
Standard ground commanding
Three-Day Look Ahead:
Wednesday, 09/20: Sarcolab, CIR Bench Config for ACME #2, Emergency Hardware OBT
Thursday, 09/21: Sarcolab, Mouse Habitat Closeout, Node 3 IMV Fan Cleaning
Friday, 09/22: Sarcolab, ELF Sample Refill, Advanced NanoStep, FIR Troubleshooting
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 Idle
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab Full up
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 Off
Space weather Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Could the flapping of a butterflys wings in Costa Rica set off a hurricane in California?
The question has been scrutinized by chaos theorists, stock-market analysts and weather forecasters for decades. For most people, this hypothetical scenario may be difficult to imagine on Earth particularly when a real disaster strikes.
Yet, in space, similarly small fluctuations in the solar wind as it streams toward the Earths magnetic shield actually can affect the speed and strength of space hurricanes, researcher Katariina Nykyri of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has reported.
The study, published on September 19 in the Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics, offers the first detailed description of the mechanism by which solar wind fluctuations can change the properties of so-called space hurricanes, affecting how plasma is transported into the Earths magnetic shield, or magnetosphere.
Those hurricanes are formed by a phenomenon known as Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) instability. As plasma from the Sun (solar wind) sweeps across the Earths magnetic boundary, it can produce large vortices (about 10,000-40,000 kilometers in size) along the boundary layer, Nykyri explained.
The KH wave, or space hurricane, is one of the major ways that solar wind transports energy, mass and momentum into the magnetosphere, said Nykyri, a professor of physics and a researcher with the Center for Space and Atmospheric Research at Embry-Riddles Daytona Beach, Fla., campus. Fluctuations in solar wind affect how quickly the KH waves grow and how large they become.
When solar wind speeds are faster, the fluctuations are more powerful, Nykyri reported, and they seed larger space hurricanes that can transport more plasma.
Gaining deeper insights into how solar wind conditions affect space hurricanes may someday provide better space-weather prediction and set the stage for safer satellite navigation through radiation belts, Nykyri said. This is because solar wind can excite ultra-low frequency (ULF) waves by triggering KH instability, which can energize radiation belt particles.
Space hurricanes are universal phenomena, occurring at the boundary layers of Coronal Mass Ejections giant balls of plasma erupting from the Suns hot atmosphere in the magnetospheres of Jupiter, Saturn and other planets, Nykyri noted.
KH waves can alter the direction and properties of Coronal Mass Ejections, which eventually affect near-Earth space weather, Nykyri explained. For accurate space weather prediction, it is crucial to understand the detailed mechanisms that affect the growth and properties of space hurricanes.
Furthermore, in addition to playing a role in transporting energy and mass, a recent discovery by Nykyri and her graduate student Thomas W. Moore shows that KH waves also provide an important way of heating plasma by millions of degrees Fahrenheit (Moore et al., Nature Physics, 2016), and therefore may be important for solar coronal heating. It might also be used for transport barrier generation in fusion plasmas.
For the current research, simulations were based on seven years worth of measurements of the amplitude and velocity of solar wind fluctuations at the edge of the magnetosphere, as captured by NASAs THEMIS (Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms) spacecraft.
Nykyris paper in the Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics, published by the American Geophysical Union, was titled Influence of Velocity Fluctuations on the Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability and its Associated Mass Transport. Her co-authors were Andrew Dimmock and Adnane Osmane of Finlands Aalto University; Xuyane Ma and Antonius Otto of the University of Alaska Fairbanks; and Claire Foullon of the University of Exeter, United Kingdom. (Ma currently works for Embry-Riddle.)
The paper is scheduled for publication online as of 10:00 a.m. EST on Tuesday, September 19, 2017.
The research was supported by the Academy of Finland, the National Science Foundation, NASA and the International Space Science Institute.
1. Associated article: Cross-Scale Energy Transport in Space Plasmas, Moore, T.W., Nykyri, K. & Dimmock, A. P. Nat. Phys. 12, 1164-1169 (2016).
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As summer comes to a close, so too do the Build-Outs of Summer. Its bittersweet in a lot of ways. Though the dog days are behind us and the best coffee-drinking weather is quickly approaching, we have to close the book on our season-long look at brand new cafes big and small.
But before we pen the epilogue on the 2017 Build-Outs, theres still a chapter or two left to write. Todays verse comes via Gray Squirrel Coffee Roasters in Carrboro, North Carolina. On top of the 2,400-square-foot cafe/roastery/lab profiled here, they are in the throes of opening up a scaled-down kiosk inside the Chapel Hill Public Library. Sometimes expansion comes in chunks. So lets take a look inside the biggest chunk, Gray Squirrel Coffees massive new roastery space.
As told to Sprudge by Shaw Sturton.
For those who arent familiar, will you tell us about your company?
We are a small-batch specialty coffee roaster, roasting in-house and serving a minimal menu of finely crafted espresso drinks and drip coffee as well as a small array of locally made baked goods.
Can you tell us a bit about the new space?
We will still be located in beautiful downtown Carrboro. The new space is approximately 2,400-square-feet and will be our flagship roastery, espresso bar, bakery, and lab. Not venturing far from our original idea, we worked closely with our architect and builder to create a clean functional space that is simple and focused, and just like our original 250-square-foot roastery and espresso bar, the design is about workflow and clean lines, again a form within function approach.
Also, we will be opening within the Chapel Hill Public Library (100 Library Drive) by mid-September. We will be serving from behind a custom Alpha Capsule, which fits wonderfully in the lobby of the library. We will offer a scaled-down version of our menu as well as bean sale.
Whats your approach to coffee?
Our approach is to buy balanced, clean, and sweet coffee, and develop a roast profile that will highlight the coffees best characteristics.
Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up?
We will be moving all of our current equipment and adding a three-group Synesso Hydra and a FETCO 2132XTS for our batch brew. Our trusty La Marzocco Linea MP will move into the lab and we will add another Mahlkonig K30 Twin.
At our library location, we will have a La Marzocco Linea, Mahlkonig K30 Twin, and FETCO HWD-2105TOD as well as a Fetco 2131XTS for batch brew.
Whats your hopeful target opening date/month?
Our target date for our flagship location is early fall, and for the library mid-September.
Are you working with craftspeople, architects, and/or creatives that youd like to mention?
We are working with some great local folks! Our architect is Matthew Ford of Moment Studio. Leo Gaev Metalworks took care of all our metal needs, such as building our awesome outdoor canopy, as well as all of our tables. Cray Gunn of Custom Carpentry Group made it all happen.
Thank you!
The Build-Outs Of Summer is an annual series on Sprudge. Live the thrill of the build all summer long in our Build-Outs feature hub. Got a Build-Out of your own? Get in touch.
The frontrunner for smallest cafe in the world is in Nottingham, UK. Its stuffed inside an iconic red British phone box and is appropriately named DiallingIn. In North America, the smallest cafe is La Distributrice. Its tucked beneath a staircase and has a service window which opens onto the sidewalk in Montreal, Quebec. Which brings us to Torontos smallest cafethough larger than both of the former, The Coffee Lab has a tiny footprint of only 52 square feet and finds itself wedged between a used bookstore and a vape shop in Torontos Annex neighborhood.
Despite its meager dimensions, The Coffee Lab is outfitted with a three-group La Marzocco FB 70, two Mazzer Majors, and a Mazzer Mini. Owner and sole barista Joshua Campos also brews filter coffee by the cup on a French press, Chemex, and Bee House brewer using a custom crocodile-skin-wrapped kettle from Australia.
Campos is an alumni of the American Barista and Coffee School. After his training in Portland, Oregon, he learned roasting at Classic Gourmet Coffees Rufino Espresso and did further training at the late Sense Appeal. Before opening The Coffee Lab in the heart of Toronto in November of 2015, Campos operated a pop-up coffee stand at a farmers market in Rexdale.
The Coffee Lab is a multi-roaster cafe but their primary roasting partner is Glitch Coffee out of Japan. We were the first to carry [Glitch] coffee in North America and believe we are still the only ones to carry their coffee, said Campos, recalling how on his first order, Glitch sent two people to personally deliver the coffee to his shop. The Coffee Lab is also known to retail and serve coffees from North American roasters such as Parlor Coffee, Devocion, Hale Coffee, and Anchored Coffee, to name a few. Campos keeps test tubes full of the daily bean offerings on bar for customers to smell before making a decision on what to order.
The Coffee Labs signature drink, called The Drop, is a condensed shot of espresso over cold milk. Campos learned the unusual tamping and shot pulling technique he uses to make The Drop from the folks at Glitch Coffee. In keeping with a lab theme, it is served in a small frosted beaker. The Coffee Labs off-menu beverages include Cup of Excellence coffees roasted by Glitch, which are priced anywhere from $12 to a whopping $45 per cup.
The Coffee Lab may be modest in size, but Campos has created an inversely massive following on Instagrammore than 15,000 fansby posting daily inspirational quotes. I wake up after I have my coffeethats when I start my day, says Campos. Having a quote with coffee is a motivation. [Its] also a motivation for myself to run the shop.
The cafe attracts many students and faculty from the neighboring University of Toronto. Although The Coffee Labs space is standing room only, customers are welcome to peruse the adjoining used bookstore as they sip on their beverages or sit outside on the stoop if the weather permits. 20
Ashley Tomlinson is the founder of The Little Black Coffee Cup, a digital coffee publication based in Toronto. Read more Ashley Tomlinson on Sprudge.
Rookie pacers will be in the spotlight for the $816,000 Metro Pace and $500,000 Shes A Great Lady this Saturday (September 23) at Mohawk Racetrack.
The Metro Pace, harness racings richest race for two-year-olds, features a field of 10 colts and geldings led by elimination winners Stay Hungry (1:50.2), Twin B Tuffenuff (1:51.1) and Pedro Hanover (1:51.2).
The Shes A Great Lady for pacing fillies did not require eliminations last week and will see a field of eight competing for half a million dollars.
A 12-race card has been put together for Saturday and total purses for the evening exceed $1.5 million. The Metro Pace has been carded as Race 9, while the Shes A Great Lady goes as Race 6.
The Metro Pace, which was first raced in 1988, is annually the biggest race for two-year-old pacers and has an impressive list of past champions, including legends Artsplace, Presidential Ball, Rocknroll Hanover and Somebeachsomewhere.
Trainer Tony Alagna, who won the Metro in 2013 with Captaintreacherous, sends out a pair of starters, including the undefeated Stay Hungry.
A son of 2007 winner Somebeachsomewhere, Stay Hungry won arguably the toughest of last Saturdays three eliminations by edging out Lost In Time and Hayden Hanover by a neck in 1:50.2, which established a new seasons mark for a two-year-old pacer.
Stay Hungry is three for three to start his career for owners Brad Grant, who is Mohawks leading owner, and Irwin Samelman. His two other victories came in a $14,000 conditioned race and a $97,880 division of the Champlain. The bay colt was a $150,000 purchase at last years Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.
Doug McNair will be seeking his first Metro title and will guide Stay Hungry from post position two.
"This is kind of where you aim for to start a season," McNair said following Stay Hungrys elimination victory. "He's coming into the Metro final in good shape -- dropped two more seconds off his previous mark and he did it pretty handily. He felt pretty good [while] they were battling up front. He's green once he clears - he hesitates a bit, but he's real smart; he knows what he's doing."
Alagna will also send out Odds On Lauderdale (PP8, Sylvain Filion) in Saturdays rich final.
Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion Pedro Hanover is arguably the hottest horse coming into the Metro Pace. The Andrew Harris trainee is on a four-race win streak with all four victories coming in stakes events.
Also a son of Somebeachsomewhere, Pedro Hanover paced a final-quarter of :26.2 to secure a 1:51.2 victory in his elimination. Driver Andrew McCarthy first sat behind the bay colt in winning a $112,525 division of the Nassagaweya on August 26 and has since guided the rookie to two more victories.
"I got very lucky [when] Tim Tetrick couldn't make it up here for the Nassagaweya, and he mentioned my name, so I got to come up and race him up here," McCarthy said after Pedro Hanovers elimination score. "They went [fast] enough in the first quarter, so I knew that'd take a bit of the sting out of them. As long as I was handy enough at the head of the stretch, I know he's going to kick home in 26-and-change; he can really fly."
Pedro Hanover was an $80,000 yearling purchase last November at Harrisburg and is owned by locals Brad Gray of Dundas, Ontario and Denise Guerriero of Toronto, Ontario.
Pedro Hanover is five for seven with $260,656 earned. Hell start from post-four.
Twin B Tuffenuff was the surprise winner of last Saturdays three eliminations. The Steve Elliott trainee and driver Brett Miller came through with a 7-1 upset to break his maiden in 1:51.1.
A son of Rock N Roll Heaven, Twin B Tuffenuff hadnt been finding the wire first prior to Saturday, but was showing tremendous speed on the end of his miles.
"This is a very nice colt," Miller said after the elimination score. "As you can see on his lines, at the quarter, at the half, he's been 15 lengths off -- 15 lengths off at the half and pacing unreal back halves. He has troubles steering, so I knew, if I could ever get him close from the half on, he'd be tough to beat.
Owned by Marvin Rounick, Twin B Tuffenuff was a $75,000 yearling purchase at Harrisburg and is one for eight with $35,830 earned. He leaves from post three on Saturday.
The Metro Pace final is completed by St Lads Neptune (PP1, Jody Jamieson), Lost In Time (PP5, Scott Zeron), Nutcracker Sweet (PP6, Tim Tetrick), Taste Of History (PP7, Louis Philippe Roy), Springsteen (PP9, Chris Ryder), Hayden Hanover (PP10, Andy Miller).
The $500,000 Shes A Great Lady promises to be an exciting showdown, as eight pacing fillies will square off.
Come See The Show will be looking to make her momma proud starting from post-four with driver Tim Tetrick. The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere is the second foal out of 2009 Shes A Great Lady winner Put On A Show.
Trained by Linda Toscano, Come See The Show has two wins and two runner-up finishes in five starts for earnings of $72,498. The bay filly was purchased for $550,000 at last Octobers Lexington Selected Yearling Sale by co-breeders Joanne Young and Richard Young.
The talent runs deep in the Shes A Great Lady, as local standouts Kendall Seelster and Percy Bluechip are set to lock horns once again.
Trained by Paul Reid, Kendall Seelster is riding a two-race win streak into Saturday, which includes a 1:51.1 score in the $169,381 Champlain Stakes on September 2. The daughter of Shadow Play has posted three wins and four runner-up finishes in eight starts.
Randy Waples, who won the Shes A Great Lady in 2015 with L A Delight, will guide Kendall Seelster from the rail.
Dr. Ian Moore trainee Percy Bluechip generated a ton of buzz with her debut performance and is coming into Saturdays race with four wins in five starts. Her only loss was a runner-up finish to Kendall Seelster in the Champlain.
Also a daughter of Shadow Play, Percy Bluechip has banked $283,111 for owners Shadow Two Stable, James & Wilma MacKenzie and Hudson Standrdbrd Stb Inc. She was a $110,000 Forest City Yearling Sale purchase.
The field of pacing fillies also includes New York Sires Stakes standout Youaremycandygirl for trainer Ron Burke. The daughter of American Ideal is three for five with $81,545 banked. She will start from post-eight with Yannick Gingras listed to drive.
The Shes A Great Lady field is completed by Kissin In The Sand (PP2, Yannick Gingras), Twin B Peaches (PP3, Andrew McCarthy), Pueblo Blue Chip (PP5, Jody Jamieson), Sidewalk Dancer (PP6, Brett Miller).
Fans are reminded that Mohawk will be hosting a New Owner Seminar prior to Saturdays races. The seminar will offer fans the opportunity to learn about affordable and easy options for becoming involved in racehorse ownership.
The seminar will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Directors Lounge. Signage will be posted at the Grandstand entrance to guide those wishing to attend.
Prospective owners who attend Mohawks New Owners Seminar will have the opportunity to enter the "Win A Share in A Racehorse" contest in conjunction with the London Selected Yearling Sale and the Ontario Sires Stakes.
Post time for Saturdays 12-race card is 7:30 p.m.
To view the entries for Saturday's card, click one of the following links:
Saturday Entries - Mohawk Racetrack
Program Pages (courtesy TrackIT)
Program Proof
(with files from WEG)
Longtime racing official Diane Twasnick passed away this morning (September 20) at Grand River Hospital in Kitchener, ON after a brief battle with cancer. She was 59.
Dianes career as a Race Secretary and Charter spanned more than three decades at Elmira Raceway, Grand River Raceway and Hanover Raceway.
Diane had a deep affinity for harness racing, and its horses and people. Beyond her astute skills and knowledge, she had a glowing smile, bright personality and fabulous sense of humour.
Her family will hold a private ceremony. Details of a Celebration Of Life are forthcoming.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Diane Twasnick.
(with files from Grand River)
A blog published by Susan Eisen that has columns on all the latest jewelry fashions, news, and store information.
It's Election season and our editor's mailbox is overflowing. Who do your neighbors support? Read about it here.
The state Department of Commerce has awarded more than $10 million in Community Development Block Grants to 23 cities and counties, including projects in Cowlitz and Lewis counties.
The grants will be used to improve rural water, sewer, street and fire protection systems, support affordable housing and community planning.
Cowlitz County was awarded $222,410 for a housing rehabilitation program and $188,707 for a public housing rehabilitation program. The city of Winlock, which is located in Lewis County, also was awarded $24,000 for a culvert replacement plan.
These infrastructure investments in our communities are crucial to support and sustain healthy local economies that work for all Washingtonians, Gov. Jay Inslee said in a press release Tuesday..
The state program receives money annually from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and targets assistance to benefit lower-income persons in rural areas.
For more information about CDBG and a full list of the grants, go to www.commerce.wa.gov/cdbg.
Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler was in town Tuesday touting her move to block Oregon from placing tolls on Interstates 5 and 205, two federal highways that are heavily used by Southwest Washington commuters.
In comments delivered at a Pioneer Lions Club luncheon in Longview, the 3rd District Republican criticized key elements of Oregons new $5.3 billion infrastructure funding package.
The plan, which was signed into law by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown in July, calls for $1.1 billion in new tolls to pay for congestion and freight relief projects along I-5 and I-205.
About 74,000 Washington residents cross the border daily to get to workplaces located in Oregon, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The bill tasks Oregons transportation commission with obtaining approval from the Federal Highway Administration to place tolls on I-5 and I-205 by Dec. 31, 2018.
After reviewing the legislative text, Herrera Beutler said her staff determined that the plans main goal is congestion relief. However, Herrera Beutler argued that the plan also has an ideological bent.
Their goal is to make it more difficult for folks who essentially commute from Southwest Washington who have to work in Portland, she told the crowd. Theyre calling it congestion pricing.
Congestion pricing, also known as variable time-of-day pricing, is a method to reduce traffic by charging a fee to road users during peak hours.
The commission shall implement value pricing to reduce traffic congestion, the bill reads. Value pricing may include, but is not limited to, variable time-of-day pricing, it adds.
But Herrera Beutler said the money generated by the tolls would not pay for expanding the freeways, adding new lanes, or improving public safety.
Theyre tolling for tollings sake, she said. The way I see it, its an actual ideological bent out of folks in Portland.
Reached by phone, Oregon Department of Transportation Travis Brouwer said Herrera Beutlers comments are premature.
We are still at a very early point in our efforts to explore this value pricing, he said. We do not have a definitive plan for where we would potentially impose tolls on I-5 or I-205.
Brouwer said the transportation commission plans to set up an advisory group including residents of Clark County to look at where tolls might be feasible.
Brouwer also said ODOT primarily wants to explore adding a highway toll to rebuild or expand infrastructure or a managed lane where people can voluntarily pay to get a faster, more reliable trip.
Tolls arent always popular, but a lot of times the public comes to accept them after seeing the benefit that comes with them, he said.
Earlier this month, Herrera Beutler secured an amendment prohibiting Oregon from establishing tolls along I-5 and I-205 to the House funding plan for the U.S. Department of Transportation. That agency oversees interstate highways.
None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to enter into an agreement for the establishment or collection of tolls on Interstate Route 5 or Interstate Route 205 in the State of Oregon or Washington, the amendment reads.
The measure passed the House last Thursday; if it passes the Senate, a one-year hold will effectively be placed on the tolling aspect of the plan.
While Herrera Beutler opposes Oregons tolling plan in its current form, she said shes not completely against tolling.
Our message isnt dont ever toll, but if youre going to toll you have to do it justly and it needs to be user fees, she said. That person that pays that toll should see a benefit from it. It shouldnt just be punitive; thats ridiculous.
Herrera Beutler said shes hoping to enlist the help of Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell to help ensure the two states agree on a solution.
Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman is redoubling her efforts to move the states May presidential primary to March, a move she says would give residents more say in electing the nations top leader.
After time off to receive treatment for a cancer diagnosis, a healthy Wyman is hitting the road to build support for her top priority for the 2018 legislative session.
In an interview with The Daily News on Monday, Wyman, a Republican, said she wants a coalition of Western states to form a primary election bloc to serve as a counterweight to the Super Tuesday primary traditionally held by about a dozen states in February or March. A majority of the Super Tuesday states are from the South, giving them what many election observers call an inordinate influence on presidential elections.
Wyman said a previous bipartisan attempt to shift Washingtons presidential primary failed because Democrats were reluctant to jettison the state partys caucus system. However, that could change after Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanderss upstart campaign crushed establishment favorite Hillary Clinton by 45 points in Washington, Wyman said.
Oregon Secretary of State Dennis Richardson is pushing a similar proposal that would move the states presidential primary forward by two months into early March. Meanwhile, California lawmakers recently voted to move the Golden States presidential primary to early March in 2020. That bill still awaits Gov. Jerry Brown's signature.
Wyman said shed love to see a western equivalent to Super Tuesday.
I would love to coordinate and do the same thing, especially if we could get a regional primary, she said. If we could all go on the same day, thats huge. Then I think well get attention from those national candidates who will actually come here and do more than just fundraise.
Wyman said party rules for presidential primaries should permit such an arrangement so long as other states dont attempt to supercede Super Tuesday.
Wymans proposal would also allow unaffiliated voters to vote in either major partys primary contests.
As the states top election official, Wyman is also asking lawmakers to grant her office the authority to remove candidates from the ballot when they have suspended their campaigns.
During the 2016 Republican presidential primary, only Donald Trump, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz were actively campaigning when it was time to print Washingtons primary ballots. However, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and neurosurgeon Ben Carson also would have appeared on the ballot despite effectively ending their bids.
According to Washington law, candidates must agree to have their names removed from a ballot. Wyman said her office contacted Rubios campaign and he readily agreed. But Carson wouldnt, so his name stayed on the ballot.
Wyman also said while the results of a recent study showed voter fraud in Washington is a minor issue, any amount of voter fraud is unacceptable.
President Trump made headlines shortly after his inauguration by claiming that more than 3 million people voted illegally nationwide. He has provided no evidence to support the claim, though Trump recently created a commission to investigate electoral fraud in last Novembers election.
A recent study revealed 74 potential cases of suspected voter fraud out of 3.36 million votes cast in Washington last fall. That would give the state a 0.002 percent rate of suspected voter fraud in the last election if those cases are confirmed.
Make no mistake, there is no acceptable level of people breaking the law and committing fraud, Wyman said. Its still 74 votes that they negated of other voters who were eligible.
That number could still seem high to those who remember Washingtons 2004 gubernatorial election, in which Democrat Christine Gregoire beat Republican Dino Rossi by 129 votes after a recount.
Three of the suspected voter fraud cases were from Cowlitz County.
According to public records, one individual allegedly voted in two different states; one individual allegedly tried to use a deceased persons identity to vote; and one person allegedly voted in two different counties. Wymans office has turned its findings over to the Cowlitz County Prosecutors Office.
A transgender American student is among nine defendants facing up to 10 years in jail over a violent anti-fascist demonstration in France.
The protesters are accused of smashing up and then setting fire to a police car while two officers were still inside during a march in Paris in May last year.
The American, named only as 28-year-old Kara B., has already admitted throwing a metal bar at officers while 'driven by excitement and anger'.
Joining her in the dock are brothers Antonin and Angel Bernanos, 19 and 23, the great-grandsons of Georges Bernanos, one of France's most famous writers.
The pair are students at Nanterre University, in the suburbs of Paris.
Along with fellow defendant Bryan Morio, 22, all have been described as belonging to the Radical Ultra-Left Movement.
If you thought it was bad enough what Antifa was doing in the USA, wait'll you see what at least one of their members was arrested for doing while rioting in France (Hat tip: Hot Air and Ace of Spades ):Read everything available, and watch the video , but be warned that it's graphic. If there's anybody else in France who's dangerous besides the Islamofascists, it's ultra-leftists like the ones who committed this horrific crime, and are now standing trial for their repulsive acts.
Labels: France, islam, jihad, misogyny, Moonbattery, racism, terrorism, United States
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PM reaffirms BD's commitment to end sexual abuse of peacekeepers
BSS, New York :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reiterated Bangladesh's firm commitment to the UN secretary general's noble initiative to eradicate sexual violence and abuse of peacekeepers, declaring a pledge of $100,000 token contribution to the victim support fund.
"As a major troop and police contributing country in the UN peacekeeping, we attach high importance to the issue of sexual exploitation and abuse. In this context, our approach is 'zero tolerance' to the allegations of sexual violence by the peacekeepers," she said.
The prime minister said this in a statement at a high-level meeting on "Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse" at Trusteeship Council Chamber at the UN Headquarters here on Monday.
Appreciating the UN secretary general's initiatives for taking lead in combating his scourge of sexual exploitation and abuse within the UN system and beyond, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh all the years has dealt strongly all allegations in this regard.
She said allegations of sexual abuse against the peacekeepers are handled with extreme urgency. "The members under such allegations are immediately repatriated at his own expenses and his/ her (UN) allowances are suspended until the investigation is complete," she said.
"Protection against sexual exploitation and abuse has been made an integral part of our pre-deployment training," she added.
The premier said all contingent commanders have been empowered with legal and administrative authority to address any allegation of sexual exploitation and abuse. "They can investigate and prosecute the allegations within the mission area," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the senior most peacekeeper in the mission area has the authority to take disciplinary actions against the Bangladeshi peacekeepers if they are charged with any criminal offence.
Referring to Bangladesh's experience in worst form of sexual violence during its War of Liberation, Sheikh Hasina said over two hundred thousands women were violated by the Pakistan occupation forces and their collaborators at that time.
She recalled the bold initiatives of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to acknowledge the contribution of the oppressed womenfolk to our Liberation War, saying Bangabandhu recognized those women as 'Biranggana' (war heroines). "We have ensured justice by trying the perpetrators and the abettors of such heinous crimes through international crimes tribunal," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladeshi peacekeepers have consistently maintained good image and credibility almost in all UN missions. "This was due to our strong moral values, effective motivation and high standard of discipline," she said.
"We believe all victims of sexual exploitation and abuse deserve justice and also opportunities for rehabilitation," she added.
Iran in UN spotlight as Trump threatens nuclear deal
President Donald Trump told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday that the \"Iran deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into\".
AFP, United Nations :
Tehran will defend itself on the world stage on Wednesday with President Donald Trump threatening to trigger a new international crisis by pulling out of the Iran nuclear accord.
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani is to address the United Nations General Assembly, where worried world leaders are fearful of a new stand-off even as they grapple with the North Korean menace.
After the speech, the parties to the 2015 nuclear deal will meet, providing a venue for a tense first encounter between Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
The stakes are high. Trump is due to report to the US Congress by October 15 on whether he believes Iran is upholding its side of the accord, under which it accepted limits on its nuclear program.
If Congress decides to reimpose economic sanctions-in the teeth of opposition from fellow deal signatories Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia-the deal would likely collapse.
US allies in Europe, along with many of Trump's critics in Washington, fear this could trigger a new Middle East arms race even as the world faces an aggressive nuclear-armed Pyongyang.
And if America is blamed for tanking the deal, Trump's ability to lure Kim Jong-Un to the negotiating table may be fatally wounded.
Nevertheless, the tough-talking US leader did not hold back in his own General Assembly address on Tuesday, sending his clearest signal yet that he intends to torpedo the agreement.
"The Iran deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into," he declared, reprising a main theme of his campaign for office.
"Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I don't think you've heard the last of it-believe me.
"It is time for the entire world to join us in demanding that Iran's government end its pursuit of death and destruction."
Several of Trump's advisors, including Tillerson and UN ambassador Nikki Haley, have argued that Iran's ballistic missile tests and support for militant groups breaches the "spirit" of the deal.
Now, they want Europe to help them reopen negotiations on a tougher deal which would not allow Iran to resume uranium enrichment in 2025 and would halt missile tests.
"We do need the support, I think, of our allies, our European allies and others, to make the case as well to Iran that this deal really needs to be revisited," Tillerson told Fox News.
The UN nuclear watchdog IAEA says its inspectors have found Iran in technical compliance with the restrictions imposed on its nuclear program, but it is for the deal signatories to decide if the accord is broken.
Representatives of Iran and the powers who signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) are to meet on Wednesday evening in New York for what may be a stormy session.
It will be the first joint meeting of foreign ministers from the seven signatory countries since the Trump administration took office in January.
Aside from the US, the other signatories have signaled support for keeping the deal, even if European capitals share Washington's concerns about Iran's subversive activities in the Middle East.
France's President Emmanuel Macron has suggested that more work could be done on measures to restrict Iran's enrichment abilities after the terms of the deal begin to "sunset" in 2025.
But, in his UN address Tuesday, Macron insisted on the importance of the existing deal remaining in place.
"Let's be stricter, but let's not unravel agreements that have brought security," he said, dubbing the accord a "solid, robust agreement that verifies Iran will not build a nuclear weapon."
Tillerson said the "sunset provision" was "the most glaring flaw" and drew a parallel with North Korea, where an agreement on dismantling its nuclear program collapsed in 2002.
"It's not a stiff enough agreement. It doesn't slow their program enough," he said. "We can almost start the countdown clock as to when they will resume their nuclear weapons capability."
For his part, Rouhani warned the United States would only harm its own credibility if it sinks the deal.
"After such a possible scenario, which country would be willing to sit across a table from the United States of America and talk about international issues?" he warned.
"The greatest capital that any country has is trust and credibility."
The renewed doubts over the Iran deal come as Washington and North Korea are also exchanging blood-curdling threats-as Pyongyang builds a missile arsenal.
The United States has persuaded the UN Security Council to tighten sanctions, hoping to force Kim to come to the table to negotiate the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
But if a collapse in the Iran deal damages the credibility of any US counteroffer to North Korea, might the diplomatic route fail and leave the threat of devastating conflict?
Iran policy hawks say not, arguing that Trump's uncompromising stance will "signal credibility."
"I think a strong line against Tehran could only help their hand in the case of any prospective with Pyongyang," argued analyst Behnam Ben Taleblu of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
Other experts disagreed. Former State Department policy planner Stewart Patrick, now a fellow at the Council for Foreign Relations, was dismayed by Trump's hardline speech.
"I do think that the North Koreans are watching carefully to see how Iran is treated, and to see what could be expected were they ever in the position to give up their nuclear weapons," he said.
Aside from Rouhani, the highlights of Wednesday's second day of leader speeches at the UN assembly will include Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Britain's Theresa May.
Myanmar's second vice president, Henry van Thio, is also due at the podium, at a time when his government is accused of driving more than 420,000 minority Rohingya from their homes.
Hindus fleeing Myanmar violence nowhope for shelter in India
A Hindu family is seen at a shelter near Maungdaw in Rakhine State.
Reuters, New Delhi :
Caught in the crossfire between Myanmar's military and Rohingya insurgents, hundreds of Hindus who have fled to Bangladesh are placing their hopes on the Hindu nationalist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in neighboring India.
Nearly 500 are sheltered in a cleared-out chicken farm in a Hindu hamlet in Bangladesh's southeast, a couple of miles from where most of the 421,000 Rohingya Muslims who have also fled violence in Myanmar since Aug. 25 are living in makeshift camps.
The Hindu refugees say they are scared of going back to their villages in Buddhist-majority Myanmar's restive Rakhine state, but also wary of staying in mostly Muslim Bangladesh.
Modi's government, meanwhile, is making it easier for Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and other minorities from Bangladesh and Pakistan to gain citizenship in India.
"India is also known as Hindustan, the land of the Hindus," said Niranjan Rudra, sitting on a plastic sheet in the chicken farm flanked by his wife, who sported a large vermilion red dot on her forehead typical of married Hindu women. "We just want a peaceful life in India, not much. We may not get that in Myanmar or here," he said. Fellow refugees nodded in agreement, stating that they wanted the message to reach the Indian government through the media. The Indian government declined to comment on the Hindu refugees' hopes. A government source said it was waiting while the Supreme Court hears an appeal against the home ministry's plans to deport around 40,000 Rohingya Muslims from the country.
But Achintya Biswas, a senior member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), or the World Hindu Council, which has close ties with the ideological parent of Modi's ruling party, said India was the natural destination for the Hindus fleeing Myanmar.
"Hindu families must be allowed to enter India by the government," Biswas said by phone. "Where else will they go? This is their place of origin."
Biswas said the VHP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the umbrella group that mentors Modi's ruling party, would submit a report to the home ministry on the refugees and demand a new policy allowing Hindus from Myanmar and Bangladesh to seek asylum in India.
The Hindu right who form the bedrock of Modi's support have long believed India is the home for all Hindus.
India's Home Ministry spokesman K.S. Dhatwalia declined to comment.
A senior home ministry official in New Delhi, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that no Hindu in Myanmar or Bangladesh affected by the violence had approached Indian authorities.
"At this juncture we have no SOS calls from Hindus," said the official. "Also, the Supreme Court is yet to decide whether India should deport Rohingya Muslims or not. The matter is sub-judice and any policy decision will be taken only after the court's order."
Hindus make up a small but long-standing minority in both Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Refugee Rudra, a barber from Myanmar's Thit Tone Nar Gwa Son village, showed Reuters what he said was a temporary citizenship card issued in 1978 by the authorities there. The card listed his race as "Indian" and religion as "Hindu".
Rudra and other Hindu refugees said they had fled soon after Rohingya insurgents attacked 30 Myanmar police posts, triggering a fierce military counteroffensive.
Since then, rights monitors and fleeing Rohingya say the army and Rakhine Buddhist vigilantes have mounted a campaign of arson aimed at driving out the Muslim population, leaving many villages in northern Rakhine empty.
"Our village in Myanmar was surrounded by hundreds of men in black masks on the morning of Aug. 25," said Veena Sheel, a mother-of-two whose husband works in Malaysia.
"They called some men out and asked them to fight the security forces ... a few hours after we heard gunshots."
Sheel left the next day with eight other women and their families, walking for two days to reach Bangladesh.
"There are so many people all around us. No peace here, no peace back in Myanmar," said Sheel. "We should be taken to Hindustan, that's our land. Wherever we stay, we want to feel safe." Since taking office in 2014, Modi's government has issued orders stating that no Hindu or member of another minority from Pakistan or Bangladesh would be considered an illegal immigrant even if they entered the country without valid documents on or before Dec. 31, 2014.
It also plans to nearly halve to six years the period Hindus, Christians and other minorities from those countries need to have lived in India to be granted citizenship by naturalization.
"We are regularizing only those who have come due to religious persecution in Bangladesh and Pakistan," junior home minister Kiren Rijiju told Reuters last month, adding that there was no policy on refugees from Myanmar.
It will not be easy for secular India to accept the Myanmar Hindu refugees' demand while the government is pushing for the deportation of Rohingya Muslims.
Modi's government has already been criticized by activists for not speaking out against Myanmar's military offensive, and accused of vilifying the Rohingya in the country to seek legal clearance for their deportation.
Ctg businessman sent to jail
A Correspondent :
A Chittagong court on Tuesday sent a businessman to jail in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on charge of embezzling Tk 72 crore from Jamuna Bank Ltd.
The accused businessman is Md Abu Sayed Samrat, 38, managing director of Sayed Food Limited and owner of Siddique Traders in the city's Khatunganj area.
The court of Chittagong Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Shahe Noor sent him to jail after he surrendered before the court, said Inspector Amran Hossain of the ACC.
"Earlier, he secured bail from High Court for six weeks and surrendered before the court as the bail ended on Monday," said Inspector Amran Hossain.
Russia's B&N bank seeks bailout: Central bank
AFP, Moscow :
B&N Bank, Russia's 12th biggest lender by assets, on Wednesday asked the central bank for a bailout, less than a month after another major Russian bank had to be rescued.
"The owner of B&N Bank has asked the Bank of Russia to consider the possibility of a rescue of the bank," the central bank said in a statement.
"We will make a decision on this issue in the near future," it added.
B&N Bank, known locally as Binbank, was founded in 1993 and is part of the
Safmar Group that also includes oil and property companies and is controlled
by tycoon Mikhail Gutseriyev and his family.
B&N Bank said Mikhail Shishkhanov, a co-owner of the bank, would once again head the lender's board of directors and together with the central bank work on a bailout package.
"We are currently in active negotiations with the Central Bank of Russia," he was quoted as saying.
"I fully agree with the position of the Central Bank of Russia, one of whose most important tasks is to support the stability of the Russian financial market."
Shishkhanov stepped down as bank chairman in May, asking Gutseriyev, who is his uncle, to take over.
In late August, the central bank had to step in to save the country's eighth largest lender, Otkritie, amid fears over its stability following a sharp drop in customer deposits in recent months.
China rises at Frankfurt car show
AFP, Frankfurt :
Traditional heavyweights Fiat, Peugeot and Volvo may have shunned this year's Frankfurt auto show (IAA), but for Chinese and Taiwanese carmakers looking to make inroads in Europe the chance to step into the limelight was not to be missed.
Two years after becoming a surprise hit at the last IAA with an electric sedan concept car to rival Tesla's Model S, Taiwanese upstart Thunder Power was back at Europe's top industry showcase, which runs until September 24.
But this time there was no mistaking its ambitions.
Positioning itself a stone's throw away from luxury brands Maserati and Ferrari, Thunder Power unveiled a second prototype, a high-end electric SUV with which it hopes to capture a slice of the booming 4x4 market.
"I'm not interested in gasoline cars. I want to build an electric car that is the best in the world," said chief executive Wellen Sham.
The sedan is set for mass production in 2019, followed by the SUV a year later, he told AFP, adding that the firm already had a factory in China and planned to set up one in Spain.
Starting with Germany and Britain, Thunder Power eventually aims to sell 40,000 units a year in Europe, he said.
On the other side of the mammoth Frankfurt convention centre, fairgoers marvelled at the renaissance of storied German brand Borgward, which went under 50 years ago but was brought back to life in 2015 with the help of Chinese truck maker Beiqi Foton.
"We are coming to Europe this year," said chief executive Ulrich Walker, adding that its limited-edition BX7 SUV, priced at around 45,000 euros ($53,000), will go on sale in Germany first before other models are launched across the continent.
Tapping into nostalgia for the brand's heyday, Borgward also unveiled a sporty Isabella concept car inspired by a legendary 1950s coupe of the same name.
Binge drinking may alter brain activity in teenagers
Life Desk :
Is your teenaged son or daughter a binge-drinker? Beware, he or she is more likely to have altered brain activity, which may indicate delayed brain development and be an early sign of brain damage, researchers have warned. The findings showed that the brains of adolescents, which are yet in the developing stages, might be more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol abuse than adults.
Researchers from the University of Minho in Portugal, examining electrical activity in various brain regions in college students found that binge drinkers had altered brain activity at rest. They also had significantly higher measurements of specific electrophysiological parameters, known as beta and theta oscillations, in brain regions called the right temporal lobe and bilateral occipital cortex.
These changes might indicate a decreased ability to respond to external stimuli and potential difficulties in information processing capacity in young binge drinkers, and may represent some of the first signs of alcohol-induced brain damage, the researchers said, in the paper published in Frontiers in Behavioural Neuroscience. "These features might be down to the particularly harmful effects of alcohol on young brains that are still in development, perhaps by delaying neuromaturational (child development) processes," said lead author Eduardo Lopez-Caneda, from the varsity.
"It would be a positive outcome if educational and health institutions used these results to try to reduce alcohol consumption in risky drinkers," Lopez-Caneda said. Binge was describes as drinking five or more drinks for men and four or more for women within a two-hour period. Previous research has linked binge drinking to a variety of negative consequences including neurocognitive deficits, poor academic performance, and risky sexual behaviour.
- IANS, London
Giggs and Scholes no-show angers India fans
AFP, New Delhi :
Manchester United legends Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes have angered Indian fans by failing to turn out for a futsal tournament in which they billed as the star attractions.
The Hindu newspaper said the pair were "understood to be 'tired' " on their arrival in Bangalore for the event on Tuesday.
Scholes, 42, is meant to be captain of the Bangalore team and Giggs, 43, for Mumbai in the Premier Futsal tournament.
Scholes did participate in the Mumbai leg of the tournament on Saturday.
But the pair were not even on the bench for the first game in Bangalore and fans were not impressed.
Ethnic cleansing : Another ugliest form of violence
Dr. Md. Shairul Mashreque :
Rohinga cleansing is one of the ugliest forms of violence ever witnessed by the world community. This is eye boggling. Every day we have breaking news about the massive atrocities committed by Burma government influenced by the military junta. Suchi continues to be in blissful slumber. Paradoxical is the fact that she a noble prize owner in peace. Despite she is at one with the junta on Rohinga issue hiding fact about tragic incidences of death, arson, and drowning of children in Naf River. Now she is facing music about to be put on trial for involved in the killing spree. According to international news reports:More than 400,000 Rohingya Muslims have streamed out of Myanmar in recent weeks, fleeing a bloody military crackdown that a top United Nations official described as "a textbook example of ethnic cleansing."Now the Rohingya are facing expulsion from another country: India, where an estimated 40,000 refugees are scattered amid a population of 1.3 billion.
With this rampage of killing and annihilation Shchi and his military brothers are going to write a text book on ethnic cleansing. They wrongly termed as Bangalees being settled in Rakhaine. A paper written by Mohammad Jashim Uddin(The New nation 15. 9 2017) raised by question who are Rohingas? To cite him:
There are about 18 lakh Rohingya Muslims in Arakan, a little less than half of the total population. By the new Citizenship Act of the previous ruling military junta in Myanmar and supported by the present so-called democratic ruling government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace (?) Laureate, the Rohingya Muslims are denied of their rights, right to own property, and right of franchise. Even their basic human rights, i.e. right to live with identity and dignity and honour has been taken away. The Rohingyas have been facing inhuman torture, in so much as they had to leave their hearth and home leaving all their properties.
Very cleverly Myanmar government claims that the Rohingyas are outsider. Interestingly they are not mentioning from where how they have entered there. But how could such a huge number of people suddenly enter into Arakan, so that the government of Myanmar (then Burma) could claim that they are not nationals of Myanmar? We know that the Rohingyas have got a history; they are descendants of those who have been settling there in Arakan from a thousand years before. The Rohingyas have got a language, a culture, and a heritage, and above all the 18 lakh Rohingyas from a homogeneous group. Even they were independent from 1430-1631. In 1630, because of a devastating famine they became economically weaker and for this Burmese government suddenly attacked then and made them their part as they were rich for natural resources.
This is eyesore to the ruling junta of Myanmar and this is the reason why they have been trying to expel the Rohingyas, men, women and children. Ours is just a preliminary hints; it is felt that more intensive investigations have to be undertaken to get a total picture of the whole issue.
The first Muslim setters in Arakan were the Arabs; they were the shipwrecked people coming to the east for purpose of trade. We see that initially, the Muslims did not enter into Arakan in their own interest, rather they were invited by the rulers of Arakan. In fact one of the outset kings of Arakan Narameikhla (Min Sawmun) was restored to his throne by the Muslim arms of Bengal. He and his successors invented the Muslims to exploit their economic resources because their own people could not do it or did not know to do it.
The economic development of Arakan and also of Myanmar has come to its present position due to the toil and labour of the foreigners, Kala as they call them. The key to development of Arakan is due to the Rohingyas, who are known being expelled by the Myanmar rulling government. Even when Arakan was occupied by the king Bokawpaya of Burma (now Myanmar), one third of the total population of Arakan were Muslims. So it can be said that the Myanmar past and present governments are responsible for the present condition to fulfill their voluptuous intention. It is should be stopped right now; otherwise, it will be a dark example to the upcoming generation and they must hate the human being.
The UN says Rohinga Muslims are facing ethnic cleansing According to New York Times;
Myanmar has long persecuted the country's Rohingya Muslim minority, being deprived of basic rights like to marry, to worship and to an education. After violence unleashed in 2012 by Buddhist extremists drove tens of thousands of Rohingya out of their homes, many risked their lives to escape in smugglers' boats; more than 100,000 others are living in squalid internment camps. Now, a counterinsurgency operation by Myanmar's military is again forcing thousands of Rohingya to abandon their villages. Rohingas are crossing from Myanmar into Bangladesh taking refuge due largely to e escalating violence." An official from the International Organization for Migration, a United Nations agency, told the news agency that he had seen more than 500 people enter its camps in the hills near the border. Meanwhile, Reuters also reported fighting between security forces and rebels on Myanmar's border with China.The military's counterinsurgency operation began as a response to an attack on Oct. 9 by armed assailants that left nine police officers dead in Rakhine State. It is not clear who the assailants were, and theories range from drug gangs to Islamist terrorists. Since then, more than 100 people, mostly civilians, have been killed by the military. Satellite images published by Human Rights Watch indicate that at least 430 homes were burned in villages in northern Rakhine State between Oct. 22 and Nov. 10.There are credible allegations of soldiers looting, killing unarmed people and raping women. The government denies this. U Aung Win, the chairman of a Rakhine State investigation into the Oct. 9 attack, said soldiers would not rape Rohingya women because they "are very dirty."
So stop genocide. Genocide for flushing out the ethnic community like Rohingas. They are firstly human beings. Gautom Buddha spread the gospel of peace and tranquility and humanitarian values. Why the Bugddist in Burma support letting looser reign of horror in the locality like Rakhaine following earth scorched policy? Buddhists all over the world should condemned such action reminding them Suchi and her compatriot to the values of Buddhuim. Suchi at the moment is not expected to sit on the fence. Already many a think tank would not like to keep Suchin at par with Malala, Nesom Mandela and. Dalalam. They adcocate wiothrawal of Sucjhi's Nobel prize. Although legally.
(Dr. Md. Shairul Mashreque teaches public Administration in Chittagong University)
Suu Kyi`s speech cannot silence the critics
STATE Counsellor of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi finally broke her silence on the Rohingya refugee crisis Tuesday insisting that her country was not "afraid of international scrutiny." But her speech in Naypyidaw drew widespread criticism, such as; she did not denounce atrocities against Rohingyas and claimed the government needed more time to investigate the exodus of the minority group. Suu Kyi condemned human rights violations in Rakhine State and said the perpetrators would be brought to book, but she did not address UN accusations of a campaign of ethnic cleansing by the military.
The speech was delivered entirely in English and aimed directly at an international audience as she had cancelled a planned appearance at the UN General Assembly. She claimed Myanmar is ready to repatriate refugees in accordance with a "verification" process agreed with Bangladesh in the early 1990s. It was not immediately clear how many would qualify to return as most of them were denied of their legal citizenship even though they were born in Myanmar. Though Suu Kyi promised to resettle some refugees, but offered no solutions to halt the army-led campaign against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine, where soldiers are accused of burning down villages and shooting fleeing civilians.
She did not use the word "Rohingya" in her speech to describe Muslims living in Rakhine, so it is difficult to ascertain whether she is referring to the state's entire population, or specifically the Rohingya Muslims population. But she did mention the ARSA militant group - the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army. Western diplomats and aid officials welcomed the tone of her message, but some doubted if she had done enough to deflect global criticism. Amnesty International described her speech as "little more than a mix of untruths and victim-blaming", saying she and her government were "burying their heads in the sand" for ignoring the army's role in the violence. However, her speech is welcomed by India, China and Russia.
It clearly visible that, Myanmar is actually being ruled by the army. Myanmar's military junta is so ruthless that they kept Suu Kyi under house arrest for 15 years over a 21 year period. She could not see her British husband when he was in his death bed. Her children were stripped off from their Burmese citizenship and cannot live with their mother. In fact, Myanmar's military junta has a reputation of ignoring international rules and regulations. Not only Rohingya Muslims but they have led merciless attacks on Chin, Kachin, Chinese and many other ethnic minorities. They are a barbaric group of people who only understands the language of war.
Institutional inefficiency making SDG attainment impossible
CORRUPTION, bribery, money laundering and human rights violations continue unabated in the country, posing serious challenges towards attaining the Sustainable Development Goal-16. Anti-Graft Watchdog Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) observed that various government agencies were not functioning as expected due to political influence, centralisation of power and dominance of executive branch.
We do not find reasons to disagree with the observation of Berlin-based Global Anti-Corruption campaigner. The government now-a-days is seemingly taking efforts to formulate many policies but the institutional ineptness, impunity, inclination to financial corruption, bureaucratic entanglement, and poor law and order situation are the prime impediments for attaining the SDG-16 which is vital for achieving all the 17 global goals by 2030.
The watchdog body said Bangladesh may face challenges to achieve the targets : significant reduction of illicit financial and arms flows, strengthening recovery and return of stolen assets, and combating all forms of organised crimes by 2030; substantial reduction of corruption and bribery in all forms; development of effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels; and ensuring public access to information and protecting fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislations and international agreements.
The government hurls blame to the political opponents for depositing illegal money at Swiss banks but the deposit of Bangladeshi citizens and organisations in Swiss banks has increased from Tk 4,627 crore in 2015 to Tk 5,560 crore in 2016. Lack of accountability of state-owned commercial banks, and politico-bureaucratic union in committing corruption are among the challenges which need to be overcome to achieve the goals. The economy has been running out of proportion as the money launderers remain out of legal process due to lingering trial process. Moreover, they belong to or maintain link with people who have political powers, mostly from ruling class. In 2010, only 10 money-laundering cases saw verdicts, while 222 such cases are now under trial.
Corruption is "hugely present" in the country despite having sufficient legal and institutional means in place to combat it. The efforts of Anti-Corruption Commission is not up to the mark as only a few cases are investigated and even fewer cases end in conviction. Alongside legal limitations, the ACC has no strategic plan to combat graft, while wealth statements of public servants are not available for common people, which are key challenges to achieving goal. More importantly, ACC works at the instruction of the government and more busy to keep the opposition figures under pressure.
The executive power is exercised by or under the authority of the head of the government, not by the Cabinet while the judiciary suffers from a huge case backlog. Regarding protection of fundamental freedoms, there are a number of issues to be worried about. Despite continuous protests by various human rights organisations, extra-judicial killings, arbitrary or unlawful detentions, and forced disappearances by government security forces have continued. The government continues to deny even the existence of any extra-judicial killing.
SDG-16 sets challenges for promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions. To achieve the goal, firm political commitment, bureaucratic preparedness, administrative openness and accountability as well as curtailing the politico-administrative corruption liaison must be ensured through a deliberative process.
Access to refugee zone to be restricted
Reza Mahmud from Cox's Bazar : Rohingyas are still pouring into Bangladesh through the borders from Myanmar further worsening the conditions of the country's southeastern border district Cox's Bazar, where more than 400,000 Rohingyas have already arrived after fleeing violence in Rakhine State since August 25. More than 500 Rohingyas reached Bangladesh after crossing Naf River on Wednesday morning. Most of them were elderly people. An engine boat carrying the refuges reached Shah Pori Dweep last night and later they walked for Teknaf by a hilly road. They reached Bangladesh with whatever they could carry, some even with livestock. A large number of Rohingyas are also preparing in the Myanmar side to make the perilous crossing, said the refugees who crossed into Bangladesh on the day. Conditions have already worsened in the border district where the majority of refugees are living in desperate circumstances. The fresh influx will further worsene the situation, officials said. They said the district administration is facing intense pressure to deal with the huge number of Rohingya refugees, as it lacks manpower and logistic shortage. The newly arrived Rohingyas are sharing accommodation with other families in six previous makeshift settlements and refugee camps, six spontaneous settlements, and with host communities in Ukhia and Teknaf. They are in immediate need of food, health services, WASH facilities, protection, and cash for work modalities, according to International Organization for Migration (IOM). Multiple outbreaks of unrest in October 2016 and August 2017 in the Rakhine State of Myanmar triggered large influxes of Rohingyas crossing into Bangladesh through the borders in Teknaf and Ukhia upazilas of Cox's Bazar.
US pledges $32 m for Rohingyas
The United States will provide nearly $32 million for humanitarian assistance to Rohingya Muslims displaced by sectarian violence in Myanmar. The announcement by the State Department comes a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said she did not expect US President Donald Trump to help her with the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees who have escaped to Bangladesh.
Tonu killers yet to be identified
UNB, Comilla :
Although 18 months have elapsed since the tragedy, the murder case of Comilla Victoria College student
Sohagi Jahan Tonu is yet to witness any progress as the killers still remain unidentified.
Tonu, a 2nd-year student of the History department of Comilla Victoria College and member of Victoria College Theatre, was found dead in a bush beside a culvert inside Comilla Cantonment on March 20 last year.
Take steps to address Rohingya crisis: UN
As the number of Rohingya who have fled to Bangladesh surpassed 400,000, UN agencies are scaling up their efforts to assist the displaced people with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres renewing his call to Myanmar to take steps to address the crisis.
"We're all shocked by the dramatic escalation of sectarian tensions in Myanmar's Rakhine state," Guterres said in his address to the opening of the General Assembly's high-level debate. "A vicious cycle of persecution, discrimination, radicalisation and violent repression has led more than 400,000 desperate people to flee, putting regional stability at risk," he was quoted as saying in a news release UNB obtained from the UN News Centre on Wednesday.
He stressed that the authorities in Myanmar must end the military operations, allow unhindered humanitarian access and recognise the right of refugees to return with safety and dignity.
They must also address the grievances of the Rohingya, whose status has been left unresolved for far too long, he added.
Marzuki Darusman, the Chairperson of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that it is clear that there is a 'grave humanitarian crisis' underway that requires urgent attention.
In addition to the over 400,000 people who have sought refuge in Bangladesh since 25 August, Darusman noted that there are reports that nearly 200 Rohingya villages in the affected areas have been emptied.
"It's important for us to see with our own eyes the sites of these alleged violations and abuses and to speak directly with the affected people and with the authorities," he stated, noting that the Commission has requested the government of Myanmar for unfettered access to the country.
As the number of those crossing the border into Bangladesh increases, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) is ramping up its operations, including moving new arrivals into family tents and temporary communal shelters at a new extension site next to the Kutupalong camp near Cox's Bazar.
Spokesperson Duniya Aslam Khan told a news conference in Geneva that refugees have told UNHCR staff that they suffered from cold and rain during their treks from Myanmar.
"Many had fallen ill, particularly small children. There is urgent need for more latrines, not least to reduce risks of a spread of disease with so many people living in close quarters. Many also complained of hunger and said they had eaten little on their journeys, which took up to 10 days on foot," she stated.
With an estimated 415,000 refugees having arrived since late August, the humanitarian challenges have become immense, according to UNHCR, which noted the 'remarkable generosity' by many individual Bangladeshis, with people trucking food and clothes to the refugees in the camps and others camping along the single main road.
OIC leaders must unite
Hasina seeks urgent humanitarian aid, proposes creation of 'safe zones' inside Myanmar, calls for implementation of Kofi Annan Commission's recommendations
Badrul Ahsan from New York :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the leaders of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to unite over the Rohingya crisis.
Expressing Dhaka's readiness to join any initiative to be taken by the forum, the Prime Minister said unity only can help solve the plight of Myanmar's ethnic minority Rohingya Muslims in Bangladesh. "It is necessary for the Muslim leaders to unite to solve any crisis," the premier told an OIC Contact Group Meeting on Rohingyas at UNGA Headquarters here Tuesday on the sidelines of the 72nd UN General Assembly.
The Prime Minister also sought "Urgent humanitarian assistance" from the Muslim brotherly countries for the Rohingyas Muslims fleeing their home in the face of "ethnic cleansing".
She said that the Muslim brothers and sisters in Myanmar's Rakhine State were exposed to ethnic cleansing in the face of an ongoing military operation, causing the "largest exodus of Rohingyas of all times".
"It is an unbearable human catastrophe. I myself have visited them and listened to the stories of their grave sufferings, particularly of women and children. I would like you all to come to Bangladesh and hear from them about the atrocities in Myanmar," she said.
She said Myanmar was spearheading a state-sponsored propaganda to dub Rohingyas as 'Bengalis' which must be stopped and the country must recognize them as their nationals. OIC Secretary General Dr. Yousef Al Othaimeen also spoke on the occasion, among others, when the Bangladesh premier said "all forms of atrocities against the Rohingya Muslims must be stopped immediately".
Sheikh Hasina said all forcibly displaced Rohingyas must also be allowed to return to their homeland in Myanmar with complete safety, security and dignity.
She proposed creation of 'safe zones' inside Myanmar to protect the innocent civilians, especially women, children and elderly persons and called for implementation of Kofi Annan Commission's recommendations "immediately, unconditionally and entirely".
The premier said that until the arrival of the latest surges of refugees, Bangladesh hosted for three decades another 400,000 of them.
Take back Rohingyas
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has urged the government of Myanmar to take urgent steps for the sustainable return of Rohingya refugees and internally and externally displaced Rohingya Muslims to their homeland, in safety, security, dignity and with ensured livelihood.
The heads of state and government of the member states of the OIC recently held a meeting to discuss the current developments of the situation of the Muslim Rohingya community in Myanmar.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 1st OIC Summit of Science and Technology in Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan, at the initiative of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkey, the current chair of the OIC Summit, said the Foreign Ministry here on Wednesday.
The meeting expressed grave concern over the recent systematic brutal acts perpetrated by security forces against the Rohingya Muslim community in Myanmar, which constitute a serious and blatant violation of international law, and which have affected over 4000,000 Muslims who have been forcibly displaced to Bangladesh, in addition to the burning of their houses and places of worship. The meeting called upon the government of Myanmar to accept the UN Human Rights Council's factfinding mission to conduct a thorough and independent investigation into all the alleged violations of international human rights law and bring the perpetrators to justice, said the Foreign Ministry here on Wednesday.
They urged the government of Myanmar to honour its obligations under international law and human rights covenants, and to take all measures to immediately halt acts of dispersion and discriminatory practices against Rohingya Muslims, as well as the continuous attempts to obliterate their Islamic culture and identity, including delisting them from household lists and demolition of places of worship, institutions and houses of Muslim minorities.
The meeting urged the government of Myanmar to eliminate the root causes, including the denial of citizenship based on the 1982 Citizenship Act which has led to statelessness and deprival of the rights of the Rohingya Muslim Minority, and to continued dispossession and discrimination against them, and urged it to work towards a just and sustainable solution to this issue.
They reiterated its call to the government of Myanmar to revive the agreement to open an OIC Office for humanitarian affairs in Yangon after signing a Memorandum of Cooperation with the OIC to that effect.
The purpose of the OIC office was to provide pure humanitarian assistance without distinction between the victims of violence.
They called upon Myanmar to take all necessary measures to restore peace and inter-communal harmony through dialogue and a comprehensive reconciliation process concerning all segments of the Myanmar society community.
This includes tackling the rise of hate speech and the spread of propaganda by right wing extremists against the Rohingya population.
The meeting urged Myanmar to take concrete steps to prevent the further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Rakhine and ensure the right of each individual to live and move without fear and persecution based on their religion or ethnicity.
They welcomed the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission headed by Kofi Annan, and urged the Government of Myanmar to take concrete steps towards their earliest implementation.
Tribunal reveals horrific details of atrocities against Rohingyas
New Straits Times :
A woman from Laung Don village fled her house when Myanmar soldiers came into the village, leaving behind her sister who had just given birth and her newborn baby.
"Later, upon her return to the village, she found their bodies. She told me that the baby had been stamped to death while her sister's breasts had been cut off and placed on the pillow next to her. They had also stuck a rifle into her vagina," said Razia Sultana, a human rights activist and Chittagong-based lawyer who visited the Kutupalong Refugee Camp on December 21-24 last year and interviewed the woman along with 20 other female refugees. Razia revealed these gruesome details in her evidence presentation on the second day of the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal held at the Law Faculty of Universiti Malaya on Wednesday.
The women told her that altogether 16 of their children had been killed, injured or declared missing.
"Two of their babies were burned alive, one had his throat cut while another was thrown to the ground and is now brain damaged," she added.
The women also reported seeing at least 70 women and girls being raped, taken away to be raped or were found after being raped.
"They told me that most rapes took place when the women were forcibly gathered outside their villages during security operations.
"In Yae Khat Chaung Gwa Son village, groups of soldiers pulled young women away to be raped. Some were just 10 or 12 year olds.
"They could see the girls being raped by over 30 soldiers and men in civilian shorts.
"They were gang raped. Each girl was raped by five to six men in turn. They cut off their clothes and held a knife to their mouths so they would not shout," Razia said, recalling her interview.
The women were then forced to deny these violations by the Myanmar police and soldiers in front of the camera.
"They were rounded up in a field at a police station and guns were pointed at them. They were asked, "Who burned your houses? Was it RSO (Rohingya Solidarity Organisation)? Did RSO kill your parents and children?"
"Afraid they would be shot if they said no, the women had to say it was the RSO who burned their homes and committed the killing."
According to Razia, in January, an interim report of the National Investigation Committee into the Maungdaw Attacks, led by the vice president and former army general, Myint Swe, found "insufficient evidence" of rape allegations.
"In February, the United Nations in its Special Rapporteur after a visit to the Bangladesh border found "allegation after allegation of horrific events" having taken place in the Rakhine state.
"However on March 10, the National League for Democracy-led government spokesperson in response said that the United Nations' claims of crimes against humanity in Rakhine are exaggerated," she added.
In her presentation, Razia also called on the international community to use every means, including diplomatic and economic sanctions, to pressure the Myanmar government.
"We have to make sure to hold their security forces accountable for the recent atrocities in Maungdaw. We must also end the systematic persecution of the Rohingya," she said.
The tribunal, taking place on Wednesday until Friday, is held to hear crimes against humanity that were carried out by the government forces in Myanmar on the Rohingya and other minority ethnic groups.
The judges at the tribunal are Nursyahbani Katjasungkana, Shadi Sadr, Gill H. Boehringer, Daniel Feierstein, Helen Jarvis, Nello Rossi and Zulaiha Ismail.
The findings from the tribunal will be delivered to international bodies, especially the United Nations, for further action to be taken against Myanmar and with the aim of ending the violence at the same time.
We need diplomatic offensive with the option of military cooperation
A Rohingya refugee boy jostles for aid in Cox\'s Bazar on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
Diplomatic Correspondent :
No sweet diplomacy will work. Military in Myanmar has taken calculated military decision to throw the Rohingyas out of their country knowing the weakness of Bangladesh. Their military assessment was that without the support of India Bangladesh will not have the courage or guts to move to meet the challenge of aggression committed against it.
It shows no understanding of the crisis or the challenge when anybody says that if we can feed sixteen crore (160 million) of our own people, we can also feed four lakhs Rohingya refugees. They have not come here to be fed by us because they were not poor or starving in their own country. Now they had to leave behind everything to save their lives.
It is very unkind to imply that they came here to be fed by us. The international community has shown their willingness to offer all humanitarian help without waiting for our government to appeal. Such humanitarian help like food, medicine etc. will be available if the refugees themselves so seek. So feeding these refugees is not the real problem if we can end the mismanagement of distribution both international and local aid.
Among the Muslim countries Turkey, Indonesia and Malaysia have been playing much more an active role for mobilising world opinion in eliminating the cause of displacement of Muslim Rohingyas from their homeland than we have so far.
We have not been able to grasp the challenge on us and so we have no policy formulation either. To be blunt, Bangladesh government sees no hope anywhere without the support of India. Although from the beginning, the US has been expressing concern for the Rohingya crisis to put pressure on the Myanmar government, yet our Prime Minister sees no hope in American policy. This is not the way to get new friends.
At the United Nations conference also American President Donald Trump assured of being on the side of Bangladesh. But our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is not hopeful to get any help from the US President.
She may be right. But one can ask what she is doing to be hopeful about other countries and what kind of help she wants. Besides India, the two others of her most trusted friends China and Russia have left her and are supporting Myanmar unhesitatingly. Let her try to get their support. If no meaningful help for us can be secured from them then what? We shall live in the crisis, and do nothing.
Our understanding is: Myanmar is determined not to take back the Rohingya Muslims. The army has made that clear. The world can rightly condemning Aung San Suu Kyi for moral cowardice and emptiness of her human considerations for the brutal ethnic cleansing in her own country. She has steadfastly refused to criticise the army. The UN has called the massacre of Muslims "a textbook example of ethnic cleansing". In the language of a report in New York Times "It was a remarkable parroting of the language of the generals..... ".
The Rohingyas were stripped of their citizenship in 1982. So there cannot be any denial that the Rohingya Muslims were citizens of Myanmar. The Annan Commission that Suu Kyi formed also recommended to give back the Rohingyas their citizenship to secure their safety in their own country. Not a word about it is heard from the de facto government of Suu Kyi in support of the Commission's report.
It is against international law to take away citizenship of anybody or any community at the fancy of the government. Under the international law, the Myanmar government cannot drive them out of their country only to create huge humanitarian and demographical problems for Bangladesh. We have to take it as an uncalled for act of enmity against us.
To force the Rohingyas into Bangladesh calling them Bengalis is certainly a military action if not aggression against Bangladesh.
Strong diplomatic activities are called for from Bangladesh government for peaceful solution to show that we mean business. Our diplomatic offensive must include military cooperation for a military response if proved unavoidable. No independent country can tolerate such an unprovoked military operation to create problem in its country from outside. In every way we want to live in peace with Myanmar. But Myanmar cannot treat us as weak and friendless one.
The question is not who is on the side of Bangladesh. The question most pertinent is who are their friends ready to take up the cause of the homeland of Rohingyas usurped by the military of Myanmar. As because Myanmar has done an act of enmity against us our government has no option but to seek resolution of the crisis and friends everywhere.
Myanmar army slaughtered hundreds of people, raped women. Now those who have got shelter in Bangladesh are passing miserable days. Children are dying for inadequate medical care.
We have also no choice but to take up the cause of the Rohingyas sent to our country and give leadership to save us and the Rohingyas for going back to their country. If our friends have deserted our government then we must seek new friends. We are not friendless. Meanwhile we must keep our armed forces on alert.
Myanmar Army Chief visits Rakhine
The Irrawaddy, Yangon :
Myanmar Army chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Rakhine State capital Sittwe on Tuesday afternoon for the first time since militant attacks in late August.
His visit comes amid condemnation from the international community against him and the army for allegedly killing
self-identifying Rohingya Muslim civilians and burning their homes in northern Rakhine State in response to the attacks of Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army. So far, an estimated 420,000 Muslims from Rakhine have fled to Bangladesh, with reports of killings, rape, and destruction of property by government forces. Home affairs minister Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe, border affairs minister Lt-Gen Ye Aung, air force chief Gen Khin Aung Myint, and other senior military officers accompanied the army chief, the commander-in-chief's office reported.
Trump urges `strong and swift` U.N. action: Pence
Washington, Reuters :
US President Donald Trump is urging the United Nations Security Council to take "strong and swift action" to bring Myanmar's Rohingya crisis to an end, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Wednesday.
Speaking at the United Nations, Pence reiterated a call for Myanmar's military to end the violence immediately, warning that if it continued, it would "sow seeds of hatred and chaos that may well consume the region for generations to come and threaten the peace of us all."
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.
Country
United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
. . .
Apple's new camera on its wireless charging pad
The first sentence of Techcrunch's iPhone 8 review is "This is a camera review." Full stop.
The big news is "Portrait Lighting," a software feature that allows you to change the apparent lighting of portraits after the fact using software algorithms. Apple's engineers analyzed thousands of professionally-lit portraits and devised software fixes to imitate different kinds of lighting on the same original picture.
Author Matthew Panzarino notes later in the article that "The iPhone is the worlds most popular camera, by far, and Apple continues to take seriously the business of improving it." In the article, Matt gives his credentials as a longtime photography enthusiast and explains in detail why he thinks Apple is innovating with its phone cameras more than any other smartphone maker. His verdict? "So, how does the camera in the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus stack up?" New paragraph: "Killer."
Unlike its predecessor, the back of the new camera is glass. It's developed by Corning Incorporated which is about 45 minutes down the road from where I live*. "[Apple] works directly with Corning to develop stronger glass. It then gets exclusive access to this glass for some time before any competitor can use it."
Unfortunately, yours truly won't be getting a killer iPhone 8+. I decided last year to "keep up" with Apple iPhone cameras, and spent a lot of money to upgrade my perfectly fine iPhone 6+ with an iPhone 7+. The camera is indeed better, although, overall, I liked the iPhone 6+ a little more. I ought to upgrade to the iPhone 8+, but I won't be doing so...same problem everybody else has: too expensive to keep up with every update. They happen too fast. The iPhone 7 was new only a year ago, and I just need to keep my devices longer than that. If this were a smartphone blog, it'd be different....
Mike
(Thanks to Ned Bunnell)
*It makes Corning, New York, a unique and somewhat odd town, one of the few rural small towns to host the headquarters a vastly wealthy multinational corporation. It causes some friction between the paternalistic company and the locals, some of whom are somewhat paranoid about the relationship. Corning reportedly subsidizes many of the shops on fashionable Market Street so its employees have pleasant places to shop, and it runs daily private jet flights to New York city, available even to mid-managers and their families, so its employees don't feel too isolated. It's also the reason why the Corning Museum of Glass (CMoG), a superb large museum that would not be out of place on the Mall in Washington or in downtown Manhattan, is located essentially out in the middle of nowhere. Despite its location, the Museum is a regular stop for busloads of Asian tourists on their way from Niagara Falls to New York city.
Original contents copyright 2017 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.
Keeping up, sort of
Give Mike a Like or Buy yourself something nice
(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:
Pak-Ming Wan: "I hate to say it Mike, but you're wrong, wrong, wrong. Ever since Apple started their 'Photo taken on iPhone' advert series, they have strongly hinted to the world that the killer feature or unique selling point on their Phone is the camera.
"I strongly urge you to consider what a camera test of a mobile phone might look like as a post. Perhaps compare it with a traditional camera? Who knows? But you as a photography expert, I think a photography review of the iPhone 8 is warranted (and you should contact Apple for it).
"There are a couple of reasons for this. Music as a killer feature has been dying a slow death with streaming over the past few years. Traditionally, telephony providers wanted products to consume their network services, and mobile phones do this brilliantly, especially data services. People share texts, photos, and videos with each other more than ever. Applications like facebook drive users to create content and you need a phone to do this. Photos are still the easiest way to create rich beautiful content that is user focused and socially sharable.
"The other unique selling proposition on phones are the actual features of the phone itself: there's less of that now in the market, Apple is trying with AR, but we haven't seen good use of that yet (and it is very gimmicky), and until it hits mainstream and results in sharable content, I doubt it will take off.
"I could go on and on about the past as I used to work for some telecoms providers and watched apple transform their business...but now I watch with interest as I see Apple and others in a massive arms race to build the best social media consuming and sharing device. A large part of that is photography, like it was before with film.
"I think you should consider reviewing mobile phones as cameras."
Scott Paris (partial comment): "OK, I've read a couple of articles about the iPhone 8; they all mention that the back of the phone is glass. One says that makes the 8 heavier than the previous phone. None say why the back is glass. It's not transparent, as far as I can tell. Why is it glass?"
Kevin Purcell replies to Scott: "To permit contactless inductive charging (with the Qi standard chargers). You can't do that through a (conductive) aluminum or stainless steel back. The iPhone 4 and 4s previously used glass backs, but for the looks and design symmetry more than anything else."
More than 40 local musicians are coming together during the the first weekend in October to raise money for those affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Hurricane Irma in Florida.
The weekend of performances, dubbed Couldnt Stand the Weather, is set for Oct. 6-8 at three Southern Illinois venues. Musicians are donating their time for the event, said Bill Harper, a Murphysboro-based performer who is organizing the effort.
Natural disasters seem to connect with people in a unique way. It brings out our sympathetic and empathetic natures, Harper said in a news release. Musicians, especially, make that connection because of our inherent abilities to create from joy, pain, suffering and redemption. It was not difficult to find professionals to volunteer their time and talents to this worthwhile endeavor.
The event kicks off rain or shine at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, at Brews Bros. Taproom, 1105 Chestnut St. in Murphysboro. A food truck also will be on site for the evening of music. A $10 minimum donation will be collected at the door. Musicians on tap for this evening include Candy Davis, Roy Hitman Hawk, Bill Carr, Larry LowDog Davis, Ethan Taylor Stephenson, Clayton Gribble, Sarah Lannom, The Twang Kings, Kristen Kearns Duo and The Violet Hour.
The festivities continue starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at The Varsity Center, 418 South Illinois Ave. in Carbondale. The concert will be held in the newly refurbished balcony theater with a $25 minimum donation to enter. The bar opens at 6:15 p.m. Acts that night include Mama Rocket, the Naas Brothers, Dakota Holden, Sweet KayTeeJay and Exeters Landing Duo, with Harper and Ray Maring.
The final day of the effort is set for Sunday, Oct. 8 and is hosted by Trails End Lodge, 425 Skyline Drive in Cobden. Donations accepted all day. Food and drinks will be on sale on site., with a percentage of receipts being donated. Musical acts start at 1 p.m. and include: Clear Eyed View, Moving Mary, Loose Gravel, Ethan Stephenson Band, Radio Days, Blackberry Blossoms, Lone Howl, Exeters Landing Band, and Low Dog Band.
Marshall Anderson and Chris Brown are providing PA/Sound/Stage Management for the events.
All proceeds will be split between The Houston Food Bank in Houston and the Second Harvest Food Bank in Clearwater, Florida.
The voluntary exodus of lawmakers from the Illinois General Assembly is a telling symptom of the dysfunction that grips Springfield.
For years, members of the General Assembly have turned a blind eye to district maps that are illogical to the point of resembling Rorschach tests. Representatives and senators have resorted to constant campaigning to maintain their seats.
Now, as detailed in an Associated Press story this week, lawmakers are heading to the exits like students heading to Florida on spring break. The AP reported about 15 percent of the General Assembly have either resigned or announced they wont seek re-election.
That number ticked up slightly Tuesday when John Cavaletto, R-Salem, announced he wont seek a sixth term. Earlier his summer, Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Eldorado, citing health concerns, announced his resignation from the House. His cousin, Natalie Phelps Finnie, was appointed to serve the remainder of his term.
Another telling symptom of dysfunction, the legislators fleeing Springfield arent all Republicans tired of being the minority. Democrats are also calling it quits.
The most telling commentary regarding the exit came from Rep. Steve Anderson, a Geneva Republican.
There is a toxic environment, he said. People seem to not be able to get along, even outside of the Capitol. Thats not a good environment, and thats not an environment I want to be a part of.
That sentiment is completely understandable. Most adults have experienced a dysfunctional workplace. The only reason to endure such misery is if a person believes strongly in his or her accomplishments.
Since were talking about the Illinois General Assembly, the last statement is obviously a non-starter. Illinois has just emerged from a two-year budget crisis. Legislators had to override Gov. Bruce Rauners veto just to get a budget in place. Before they had a chance to catch their breath, they dealt with a contentious school-funding battle.
In addition to dealing with dysfunction and polarization, legislators must deal with constituents who are less than pleased with their work.
Anderson reported receiving hate mail, and even death threats, after breaking with other Republicans and casting a vote to break the budget stalemate.
The problems with Illinois state government are readily apparent. Dissatisfied voters have been clamoring for a housecleaning for years. And, the case can be made that legislators willing to walk away from their offices arent likely to cure what ails Springfield.
Still, there is something bothersome about the number of legislators willing to turn their backs on Springfield. Turnover of this magnitude raises concerns about the loss of institutional knowledge.
Conversely, Springfield can use an infusion of new ideas, new approaches. But, this feels too much like treating the symptoms while the actual disease festers. A lot of new members will be seated in 2018, but the specter of the Mike Madigan, Speaker of the House, vs. Gov. Bruce Rauner feud will overshadow Springfield, unless, or course, Madigan is denied an 18th term.
Still, unless Illinois makes fundamental changes, its unlikely there will be great change in the short term.
Illinois must make some fundamental changes. Redrawing districts would be a good start. The tortured political map benefits no one except the majority party.
And one other thing -- wed also like to see Illinois adopt new rules for replacing members who resign in mid-term. Phelps-Finnie is just the latest example, but the practice is essentially an Illinois tradition. In Southern Illinois alone, Dave Luechtefeld was appointed to fill Ralph Dunns senate term in 1995; Gary Forby was appointed to fill Larry Woolards senate term in 2003; John Bradley was appointed to fill Forbys House seat; and Jerry Costello was appointed to fill Dan Reitzs seat in 2011.
Currently, 31 of 118 members of the General Assembly were originally appointed to their seats. The people of Illinois deserve an elected, not an appointed, legislature.
To the Editor:
In a recent Letter to the Editor, writer Ray Hollmann gets a couple of facts utterly wrong.
If you look at the political landscape in Illinois, every single special interest has someone advocating on their behalf with the exception of taxpayers. Thats where the Illinois Policy Institute comes in.
Since 2002, the Institute has supported policies that will make Illinois competitive and allow residents to build a better life for themselves and their families.
Our policy experts create original, research-based policy solutions and provide thought leadership on the most important issues facing our state, from pensions to the budget to Illinois economy.
The Institute exists because thousands of people in Illinois believe in our ideas and support our mission. Before he ran for office, the governor numbered among our donors. But Hollmanns implication that the governor helped start the Institute is wildly inaccurate. The Institute existed well before the governor ever donated to us, and well continue to exist long after his term in office has ended.
Hollmann also attempts to discredit the Illinois News Network because of its affiliation with the Institute. I wonder if Mr. Hollmann has the same concerns about other news outlets?
Theres ownership and investment, and then theres editorial control. The same is true for legacy media. The Chicago Sun-Times vowed to maintain journalistic integrity after an investment group led by a coalition of labor unions and a former Chicago alderman bought out the newspaper.
INN completely controls the stories their reporters write and how they tell these stories.
The Illinois Policy Institute exists to provide hope to Illinoisans who feel forgotten at the Statehouse. Weve become a vehicle that allows Illinoisans to hold lawmakers accountable and advance solutions to problems theyre facing as middle-class taxpayers working to build better lives for themselves and their families.
We encourage Mr. Hollmann and other Illinoisans who are fed up with the status quo in Illinois to visit illinoispolicy.org to learn more.
Eric Kohn
Illinois Policy
Chicago
CHARLESTON -- On the heels of the first construction contract for the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project being awarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Carolina Ports Authority welcomed the CMA CGM Theodore Roosevelt, the biggest ship ever to transit the Panama Canal to call U.S. East Coast ports.
"The first dredging contract awarded for harbor deepening is outstanding news for SCPA and the State of South Carolina, and the arrival of the biggest ship ever to call our port is a timely and visible example of the importance of the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project," said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO.
"Our harbor will ultimately be the deepest on the East Coast, allowing vessels like the Roosevelt to transit without tidal restriction. Today reaffirms our efforts and investments in terminals and infrastructure to prepare for the big ships being deployed to the East Coast following the Panama Canal expansion and completion of the new Bayonne Bridge."
As announced Sept. 14 by USACE, a $47 million construction contract was awarded to initiate dredging work on the entrance channel, which will be deepened to 54 feet. It is the first of two contracts to be let for entrance channel dredging, which will begin later this year. The main shipping channel will be deepened to 52 feet, offering unfettered access to 13,000-14,000 twenty-foot equivalent container unit (TEU) vessels.
The Roosevelt, a 14,414 TEU vessel, arrived in Charleston with only blue shipping containers visible following a celebratory voyage to the Port of New York and New Jersey for the inauguration of the new Bayonne Bridge. SCPA is expected to handle approximately 3,000 container moves, or 5,200 TEUs, on and off the ship at the Wando Welch Terminal. The Roosevelt is deployed on the weekly OCEAN Alliance South Atlantic Express (SAX) service connecting Charleston with Hong Kong, Yantian, Ningbo and Shanghai via the Panama Canal.
Previously, the largest ship to call Charleston was the 13,208 TEU OOCL France. Today 18 of SCPA's 24 weekly container vessel services are comprised of ships too large to transit the Panama Canal prior to its expansion.
Thrace-LINQ grows
larger in Dorchester
COLUMBIA -- Thrace-LINQ, a global supplier of fabrics for the textile industry, is expanding its Dorchester County operations. The $9 million investment is expected to create at least 10 new jobs.
Thrace-LINQ manufactures nonwoven fabrics used in a variety of textile applications, including geosynthetics, automotive, construction and floor covering. With its North American headquarters, marketing and distribution center in Summerville, Thrace-LINQ is a member of The Thrace Group of Athens, Greece.
Located at 2550 West Fifth North St. in Summerville, Thrace-LINQ will begin the installation of a state-of-the-art production line in early 2018. Hiring for the new positions should begin in the second quarter of 2018.
Citizens looking to hold a candidate forum in the Edisto Drive community were confused to learn that they wont be able to use the neighborhoods John W. Stroman Center.
In Mondays Orangeburg County Council meeting, Arnold Ray spoke about being denied use of the center to hold the forum.
My purpose for attending this meeting is to simply ask why the residents of the Edisto Drive community cannot use the John W. Stroman Center for a county council District 6 candidates forum? Ray said.
We requested the center, and went through the proper channels, only to be denied by Ms. Margaret Frazier who is a cousin of candidate Deloris Frazier whos running for that seat, he said.
Ray believes Deloris Frazier instructed her cousin to deny the request.
The Edisto Steppers, which is a dance group headed up by Deloris Frazier, uses our community center three nights a week: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night, he said. My question is how can any organization or group have exclusive rights to a county facility?
The John W. Stroman Center is not a dance studio, he added.
Contacted after the meeting, Deloris Frazier said she has not heard anything about the center being used for a candidates forum.
I know nothing about it, Frazier said. Arnold Ray has not come and asked me about having a forum.
I dont know why hes trying to discredit my name, she added.
Frazier said the center has a monthly calendar of events that is submitted to the county. Because of previously scheduled classes and events, the center is booked for use from Monday through Friday.
The center is a county-owned Community Resource Enhancement Site. The county maintains the property while the community provides the programs.
County Administrator Harold Young said, The community group that runs the center, that has the legitimate rights to run the center, produced a calendar and they gave me a calendar that showed that the facility had already been booked by the dance group and some other things that the community group allowed.
The key is the community group is not asking for that forum, its him and some of his people, Young said. Thats like a group saying that I want to have a forum at your church without asking the church members. If the church members say no, you have nothing else you can do.
Young went on to say that he had already let Frazier know on a previous occasion that because she is a part of the group that uses the center, she cannot do political activities in there because it would be a conflict.
He also said that because Ray used to run the center and Frazier does now, it would politicize the center.
We felt like because of his past run-ins with that community group, it was best that they keep it neutral and go to Rivelon School and have it there instead of politicizing the community center, Young said. There would end up being an argument.
In other business:
Council approved second reading by title only of an ordinance issuing no more than $2.5 million in general obligation bonds to fund the purchase of county vehicles.
Young said this is part of a regular five-year plan to replace vehicles. Sheriffs vehicles, EMS equipment and other public equipment will be replaced.
The county is moving toward replacing the sheriffs office sedan-style vehicles with SUVs.
County administration believes these larger vehicles will face less wear and tear on bumpy, rural roads, lowering maintenance costs.
Young said the SUVs would only be about $2,000 more up front, but provide a greater value to the county.
Council gave two ordinances first reading by title only regarding an economic development project currently operating anonymously under the name Project Profile. The ordinances give certain tax credits to the project and places it in a multi-county industrial park.
The prospect is considering two options.
The first option is a capital investment of $8 million and the creation of 15 full-time jobs and five part-time jobs. Under option 2, the prospect promises an investment of at least $10 million and the creation of 15 full-time jobs and five part-time jobs.
Anderson said the prospect has not yet chosen an option but will have done so by second reading.
Council approved $56,045 to have Mag International do an Orangeburg County comprehensive classification and compensation study.
Young said the Orangeburg County human resources office requested qualification statements for professional consulting firms to conduct an in-depth study of the countys comprehensive classification and compensation program.
The study will evaluate the countys present salary structure as well as compare it to the relevant job market in comparable positions in both private and public sectors.
Council gave third reading to an ordinance transferring the authority to conduct municipal elections in the town of Norway from the Norway Municipal Elections Commission to the Orangeburg County Board of Voter Registration and Elections Commission.
In a similar ordinance, council gave third reading to an ordinance transferring the authority to conduct municipal elections in the town of Livingston from the Livingston Municipal Elections Commission to the Orangeburg County Board of Voter Registration and Elections Commission.
Council passed second reading of an ordinance rezoning property at 2437 Russell Street from Residential General to Commercial General for the construction of a restaurant.
Councilman Willie B. Owens appointed John N. Thomas to the County Planning Commission to replace Jerry Hannah, who recently won a seat on City Council and cannot hold the two positions at the same time.
Vernon Stephens and Councilman Heyward Livingston were appointed to the Lower Savannah Council of Governments Board.
Councilwoman Janie Cooper-Smith thanked county EMS Director Billy Staley for his work during Hurricane Irma. The council also commended Public Works, volunteer fire departments, the sheriffs department, detention center and the Salvation Army who fed travelers coming from Florida and Georgia.
Council went into closed, executive session to discuss economic development updates for anonymous projects operating under the names Project Recycle, Project Halo, Project Blue Lake, Project Profile, Project Palmetto and the Gateway Enterprise Zone.
Denmark Technical College has teamed up with SC GEAR UP to help students make the transition from high school to college.
Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs is a federally funded statewide program that includes 22 high schools as well as several colleges and universities.
The mission of GEAR UP is to accelerate academic achievement so that more students are equipped with the content knowledge and performance skills needed to make the transition from high school to college.
Interim President Christopher Hall says hes excited to partner with the SC GEAR UP program.
Denmark Tech is always striving to provide an affordable, quality education for the tri-county region and partnering with SC GEAR UP helps us equip our students with the resources and opportunities to help them succeed in todays global economy, Hall said.
Our goal is to provide every student who wants an education the means to do so and GEAR UP is yet another tool towards achieving that goal, he said.
The DTC GEAR UP Program will focus on providing academic support, tutoring, career development, study clusters, workshops, student activities and cultural experiences.
As new college students, participants will also be able to benefit from the new student freshman advisement program, which offers resources and academic guidance.
Denmark Technical College has enrolled students from ten of the 22 high schools that partner with SC GEAR UP for its 2017-2018 academic school term.
We are excited about the new cohort of students that we will be working with in collaboration with the SC GEAR UP Program, said Marcus Corbett, associate vice president for enrollment management.
It is our goal to ensure that in the very near future, we recruit students from all 22 high schools to build on our cohort, helping students matriculate while experiencing college life and competing in a global society, he said.
Corbett also serves as the DTC GEAR UP coordinator.
This year National GEAR UP week is running from Sunday, Sept. 17 to Saturday, Sept. 23.
For more information on the program, contact Corbett at 803-793-5289.
During the Bamberg School District 2 Board meeting on Monday, Superintendent Dr. Thelma Sojourner advised board members on how fuel prices will impact the school district.
We have been notified by the State Department that because of the uncertainty surrounding the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey (and now, I am sure Hurricane Irma), temporary measures are being taken to ensure the bus fleet can meet its primary objective to transport students to and from school, she said.
Sojourner explained how fuel prices could directly impact the school district.
The state department is temporarily discontinuing sale of state fuel to local school districts for district-owned activity buses. Additionally, the department is temporarily suspending the permitting of state-owned buses for district-sponsored events and activities. Sojourner said.
The district could still use school buses for field trips. However, the district would be responsible for finding and paying for fuel on its own.
She sought clarification from Tim Camp, director of the S.C. Department of Educations Office of Transportation.
I wanted to make sure that I had a clear understanding of what the letter was saying. Also, our school transportation office and principals are fully aware of this temporary situation, Sojourner said.
Sojourner also shared some positive news.
Our students are rapidly being rewarded with college scholarships. We are not at our first mid-term period yet. But our students earned over one million dollars in scholarship monies yesterday during our College Application Day exercises, she said.
Sojourner also announced a fresh opportunity from the state Department of Education.
Our students have also been awarded a Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program grant, she said. The superintendent said the FFVP sub-grant is to be implemented during the 2017-18 school year at Denmark-Olar Elementary School.
In other business:
Board Secretary Loretta P. Goodwin shared a letter of Conditions for Community Facilities Loan/Grant that established conditions to purchase a vehicle and an activity bus for the district. The total vehicle project is $46,000 with $11,500 consisting of a CF loan and $34,500 a CF grant.
The total project cost of the activity bus is $61,000, with $15,300 coming from a CF loan and $45,700 from a CF grant.
Deon Branch, a biology teacher at Denmark-Olar High School, was recognized for representing the district at the 2017 Science P.L.U.S. Institute.
MaTerius Rumph, Kenia Wallace and Bellrica Williams were recognized as district students of the month representing: Denmark-Olar Elementary School, Denmark-Olar Middle School and Denmark-Olar High School.
Jennifer Sanders was recognized as the districts teacher of the month for the month of August.
Board members Tonie Holmon and Beverly Bonaparte were appointed to attend the Delegate Assembly.
Dr. Ruby J. Johnson, director of Instructions, announced that the first 45 days of testing for pre-K is beginning and issued assessment calendars.
The Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce will be having its third annual legislative delegation breakfast on Friday, Oct. 27, at the Orangeburg Country Club, 2745 Griffith Drive in Orangeburg.
The presenting sponsor for the event is AT&T.
This breakfast will provide an opportunity to express ideas and suggestions to the Orangeburg County Legislative Delegation and to thank them for their service to the community.
It will also provide an opportunity to conduct a general discussion on key issues coming before the South Carolina General Assembly in the upcoming year that may impact businesses of Orangeburg County.
Sign-in will begin at 7:30 a.m. and the buffet breakfast will begin at 8 a.m.
Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis for Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce members. Historically, the event sells out at an early date.
Applications can be found at www.orangeburgchamber.com or by calling the chamber at 803-534-6821.
A more aggressive approach is needed at South Carolina State University in academics and institutional development. Gradualism -- modus operandi now lacks immediacy for addressing current needs educating the needy and advanced students in the regions higher education programs.
Having studied at the university in 1960, I find the universitys performance is at a level undignified and failing at a mission that will do what it routinely did in segregated South Carolina: instruct and graduate students in a university environment that competed effectively in the marketplace. The universitys decline can be attributed to integration of the higher education schools in the state and the leadership problems covering the period between 1965 and present.
The recent near shutdown of the university was a wakeup call to alumni, the public and government officials. It is not clear what guidance or mandate was directed by the Legislature to a state board at S.C. State, but no strategic plan has been developed or made public as sought by alumni. An investigation into the terms given Charles Way by the Legislature for accepting the chairmanship of the state-appointed board may answer many questions facing the future of S.C. State.
In meetings with Chairman Way and President James Clark, alumni were informed on the universitys accreditation efforts and budget controls. Clark later shared circumstances of his appointment by the board and his conditions for accepting the office. A key concern is the plan for returning the university to its top-university status in the state and as a leading Historically Black College and University in the nation.
The thought of the university being a restricted university limited in the scope of its academics hurts funding efforts across the board from alumni, the public and business. Inequitable university funding by the state to S.C. State is a claim that persists and long has been a concern. The university needs to engage the state to get funding routinely appropriated to other major universities in the state.
The five-year, $100 million funding plan presented to Mr. Way and Mr. Clark to support and supplement university operations for aggressive curriculum and increasing enrollment has not been acted on. University relevance and its higher education role today are debated. It needs to offer programs favorable and marketable to constituents and students not just in the state but the nation.
The leadership must address how to attract students; structure programs that stand out; and programs that excite alumni and funding sources.
In as much as Branchvilles famous Raylrode Daze Festivul always falls on the last full weekend in September, its not surprising that hurricanes are an issue. Late September is the prime season for the big storms in South Carolina. Again this year, eyes are on the ocean.
After South Carolina was spared the worst of mega-storm Irma, there are new worries about Hurricane Maria. Though forecasts indicate the storm will not impact the Palmetto State, one has only to look back just days to the history of Irma. The forecast changed markedly over the storms history. No one will feel secure until Maria passes by and heads for oblivion.
No matter, in Branchville the show will go on.
Few of South Carolinas celebrated festivals can match the tradition and longevity of Raylrode Daze a reunion that is taking place for the 49th year. The big days are upcoming and it wont matter about the weather forecast.
Consider the past.
In 1989, 28 years ago, Hurricane Hugo delivered its blow to South Carolina. It was a time of recovery after the overnight storm of Sept. 20-21. Many people were without power. Damage in Branchville and surroundings was very real.
But the festival, albeit in an abbreviated and different form, went on anyway that Saturday.
Call it the spirit of Raylrode Daze, that kinship that makes the festival one of the largest and most popular in what is a sea of festivals in the state.
Fast forward to July 18, 1995. In the early morning hours, tragedy struck in Branchville when fire ravaged the historic railroad depot that is the symbol of the town's claim to fame as "The World's Oldest Railroad Junction."
Again, even the loss of the festival's very symbol did not spell demise for Raylrode Daze. Thanks to the leadership and continuing involvement of a long line of Branchville citizens, rebuilding ensued and the festival went on that September.
Another huge test came in March 2008 when a tornado went through the town. The twister left major destruction, including at the festivals center, Branch Junction. But by the time for Raylrode Daze in September, even though rebuilding and repair were not complete, the show had to go on.
Branchville is not going to miss Raylrode Daze. The town and its people are proud of their festival and their railroad history, which began in 1832 when the South Carolina Railroads tracks reached the settlement. It became the worlds first railroad junction when the company extended tracks that paralleled the Indian trails to the west and north. The western route reached Hamburg, a small town outside of Augusta. The other track went north to Orangeburg and Columbia.
Today Branchville is not daily the hub of activity it came to be more than 150 years ago via the railroad, but if you want to experience a festival with the hometown feel of a reunion, complete with lots of people who want to be part of it, check out Raylrode Daze this weekend rain or shine.
By Trend
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has urged the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to make every effort to support the measures to end Armenias aggression against Azerbaijan, avoid illegal economic and other activities in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, limit all forms of cooperation with Armenia.
He was addressing the OIC Contact Group meeting on the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan, which was held in New York on the sidelines of the 72nd Regular Session of the UN General Assembly, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said.
It was noted that for the period after the first meeting of the OIC Contact Group, the situation on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts settlement process didnt change, on the contrary, clashes on the frontline, as well as cases of deliberate killing of Azerbaijani civilians residing along the contact line between the Armenian and Azerbaijani troops increased.
Mammadyarov also urged the OIC countries to refrain from Armenias armament in order to prevent the escalation of the conflict, and ban the transit of weapons and military equipment through their territories for this purpose.
Azerbaijan relies on the consistent solidarity of the Islamic world in resolute condemnation of the use of force against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country and the occupation of its territories, Mammadyarov said.
It should be noted that during its summit in Istanbul in April 2016, OIC made a decision to establish a contact group for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which included the foreign ministers of the OIC member-states. The decision was made at Turkeys initiative.
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
The restoration of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and Georgia is the main condition for peace in the South Caucasus region.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the remark while addressing the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 19.
We must make more efforts to resolve conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. We must not forget that any crisis we ignore today may develop into a regional and even a global conflict tomorrow, he noted.
Azerbaijan and Armenia for over two decades have been locked in conflict, which emerged over Armenian territorial claims. Since the 1990s, 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 adopted four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal from Azerbaijan's occupied lands, but they have not been enforced to this day.
Turkey has always supported the resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on Azerbaijans territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of the country's internationally recognized borders.
Turkey and Armenia severed diplomatic relations in 1993 due to occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenian Armed Forces and Yerevans claims to recognize the so-called Armenian genocide.
During his visit to Azerbaijan this March, Erdogan stated that the borders would only be reopened after Armenia ceases the occupation.
By Alan Hope / Trend
On September 18 the President of the United States Donald Trump had addressed the world leaders in a much-anticipated high-level meeting on the United Nations reform proposal. As the world, fueled by that speech, holds its breath in anticipation Trumps inaugural speech at the General Assembly floor on Sept. 19 a deeper look at the US supported UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterress reform initiatives proves to be prudent, if not imperative.
What is UN?
The United Nations Organization (UN) was created by the 51 original member states as an intergovernmental organization tasked with the promotion of international co-operation on Oct 24, 1945. It was established after the end of World War II, as a functionally decentralized system, organized as a set of loosely connected communities of interest, effectively replacing the inept League of Nations.
At that time, the ongoing decolonization processes, as well as the onset of the Cold War, had derailed UNs original mission, forcing it to focus mainly on the support of a large number of newly independent states. During the Cold War, the UN had played a role of a diplomatic platform that, to some extent, helped in handling the intricacies of the bipolar worlds reality. With the end of the Cold War and the acceleration of globalization, many had hoped for the UN lead development decade, which unfortunately was faltered by its fizzled peace keeping missions.
In the post-9/11 era, the UN has played a certain role in strengthening the international cooperation and capacities in the global fight against terrorism, yet not as effectively as it could have as it was held back by its bureaucracy.
As of late, the UN had become a complex system of organizations, agencies, funds, programs, and other bodies, the financing of which is very multifaceted and complex. Its funding is comprised of the assessed (obligatory payments made by member states to finance the UN regular budget and peacekeeping operations) and voluntary (left to the discretion of each member state) contributions.
Due largely to the increase of the UN mandates, the organizations overall budget, formation of which is frequently referred to as opaque (as an overload of data with little or no explanation), grew significantly over the past decade, which brought UNs annual expenditures to almost $49B in 2016.
Adding to UNs bureaucratic and budgetary problems of the voting structure (one-country-one-vote) of the General Assembly constantly brings forth the complaints of a free-rider problem, whereby countries that contribute relatively minimal resources still have voting power and maintain control over financial decisions. As such, 77 states, whose membership includes over two-thirds of the General Assembly, consistently favor budget increases, while the countries which account for more than 85 percent of the UN budget are unable to prevent them.
Thus, the present-day UN had turned into an overstaffed well-oiled bureaucratic machine, which doesnt provide much needed impact on the current problems, including unraveling and frozen conflicts, constant humanitarian disasters etc., as its decisions and resolutions still carry more of an advisory, rather than obligatory character.
It became an overspending enterprise with tarnished reputation, unjustifiably mismanaged and abused. Indeed, in view of ongoing military crises in Syria and Ukraine, frozen conflicts in Nagorno Karabakh and Transnistria, nuclear threats of North Korea, continuous humanitarian crisis in Myanmar amongst many others, the UN is proven itself ineffective, almost destined to follow the path of its predecessor.
What Trump wants?
Within the view of the abovementioned what does US President Donald Trump want of the UN?
First of all, like with many other things, Trump views the United Nations as a business enterprise that can be salvaged, if properly restructured and managed. Thus, Trump encourages the organizational reform of the UN, aiming at the corporate restructuring, which could enhance the accountability framework aligning authority with responsibility.
He wants to end the business as usual practice, by redesigning the UNs mandate procedures, to exclude further redundancies and overlaps. Trump calls for the improvement of the UNs management policies, including the human resources management, aiming at widening the geographical base to include those who are closer to the problem and may have an insider view of its resolution.
As a true businessman, the US president perfectly knows that the UN peacekeeping operations are cost-effective, as UN missions overall are eight times cheaper than U.S. forces acting alone. They also constitute the largest deployed multinational military force in the world (125,000 personnel on 16 missions). Thus, by optimizing the UN peacekeeping efforts Trump wants to keep American boots off the ground of a conflict zone, and simultaneously preserve US lives and save money diverting it to more pressing domestic matters.
At the same time, as UNs prime donor, providing 22 percent of the organizations biannual operating budget totaling at $5.4B, with the USs total budgeted financial contribution of almost $5B in 2017 alone, Trump calls for fiscal responsibility.
That call is not for intended for decrease of the USs financial contributions share, but aimed to see results in line with [its] investment, an also to ease the disproportionate [militarily or financial] share of the burden.
All-in-all, some adversaries of the Trump declaration are calling it autocratic and viewing it as a hostile takeover to be followed by the corporate raid. The reality of the fact is that present-day UN is already a lame duck, if not the one already dead in the water, which urgently needs a shock therapy. Fortunately, US president was bold enough to call on the so-much needed reforms as UN stands at the crossroads of following in its predecessors path or serving its true purpose.
By Azernews
President of the United States, Donald Trump has said that the dispute between Qatar and its Arab neighbors would be resolved quickly.
We are right now in a situation where were trying to solve a problem in the Middle East. And I think well get it solved, I have a very strong feeling that it will be solved pretty quickly, Trump said in New York as he met Qatars Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the White House press service reported.
The meeting in expanded format was attended by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, U.S. Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin, National Security Advisor to General Herbert McMaster, Presidential Adviser Jared Kouchner, Economic Advisor to President Dinah Powell and two other U.S. officials.
Trump continued: It's my great honor to be with the Emir of Qatar. And we've been friends a long time; people don't realize that. We know each other for a long time. And we are right now in a situation where were trying to solve a problem in the Middle East, and I think we'll get it solved.
The Gulf crisis erupted after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting extremism. Qatar has vehemently denied the charges as baseless.
Trump earlier this month was optimistic he could force a breakthrough. 'I think youd have a deal worked out very quickly,' he said. But a call he arranged between the leaders of Qatar and Saudi Arabia didn't bear fruit and led to disparate statements from the two nations.
The Qatari Emir, in turn, confirmed that the relationship between the United States of America and Qatar is a very strong relationship, a historic relationship.
We have a lot to talk about -- trade, military cooperation, security cooperation, he said, further adding: We have a problem with our neighbors, and your interference will help a lot.
And I'm sure that, with your interference, hopefully we can find a solution for this problem. We've always said that we're very open for dialogue, and we'll always be open for dialoguethe Emir said.
The four Arab states boycotting Qatar said that sanctions would remain in place until it met their demands and that they would keep a close eye on the tiny Gulf monarchys efforts to fight terrorism funding.
They issued a 13-point list of demands to end the standoff. The demands include shutting down the Al Jazeera news network, closing a Turkish military base, cutting ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, and downgrading relations with Tehran.
Qatar insisted it would not agree to any measures that threatened its sovereignty or violated international law.
By Azernews
The authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan seem determined to hold an independence referendum despite the warnings of Iraq, Turkey, the U.S and others.
Residents in provinces controlled by the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) will vote on September 25on independence from Baghdad. The oil-rich province of Kirkuk is among the contested areas where the vote is planned.
The long-awaited vote is strongly opposed by Iraq and neighboring Iran, Turkey and Syria, as they fear separatism may spread to their own Kurdish populations and also obstacle fight against terrorism.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned of sanctions against the KRG if it proceeds with its planned referendum for independence next week.
We have always supported the KRG, Erdogan told reporters in New York after his address at the UN General Assembly. We think this approach of theirs amounts to ignoring the Republic of Turkey, which has stood by them and counted them as a close ally.
The cabinet and the National Security Council will convene to make a final decision, Erdogan said.
"The cabinet will undoubtedly evaluate this situation and assess possible sanctions, which will not be ordinary," he said.
Media reports that Ankara may cease the activity of the consulate of Iraqi Kurdistan operating in the country, and also close the border checkpoint Khabur in the province of Sirnak, which is the only checkpoint connecting the autonomous region with Turkey.
Turkish media reports that the independence referendum could lead to military intervention by Turkey in the north of Iraq.
Reportedly this option can be considered at a meeting on national security issues in Turkey, which will be held on September 22.
The head of Kurdistan, Masoud Barzani, previously threatened war if the central government in Baghdad interferes with the holding of the referendum.
He noted that preparations for the referendum have been completed. The Kurdish Autonomy does not intend to postpone holding the referendum on independence each time, Barzani said.
The Iraqi government opposes the poll, claiming it will affect the war against Daesh, cause instability and violate the Iraqi Constitution. Turkey, the U.S., Iran and the UN have all backed Baghdad in speaking out against the referendum.
The Iraqi Prime Minister has slammed the planned vote as unconstitutional. The UN called on Iraqs Kurdish leaders to abandon the upcoming vote, saying it would undermine the ongoing battle in the Arab country against ISIS terrorists.
Israel is the only nation to have openly supported the independence bid.
Kurds are the fourth-largest ethnic group in the Middle East although they have never obtained a permanent nation state. In Iraq they make up an estimated 15-20 percent of the population of 37 million. Kurds acquired autonomy following the 1991 Gulf War.
The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) said it has signed an agreement with Lebanons Capital Markets Authority (CMA).
The MoU will enhance information sharing and co-operation on supervisory issues, further extending the existing relationship between the two markets, said a statement from DFSA.
It also provides the foundation to facilitate the entry of some financial institutions into the Dubai International Financial Centre, DIFC, from Lebanon, through information sharing, remarked Ian Johnston, the chief executive of DFSA, after signing the deal with Sami Saliba, the executive board member of CMA, at DFSA's headquarters.
"Building strong frameworks of cooperation with our regional peers has always been a strategic objective for us. We have MoUs in place throughout the GCC as well as in Egypt, Jordan and the Banque du Liban (BDL) in Lebanon," remarked Johnston.
"Todays MoU affirms the success of our relationship with the Lebanese authorities and recognises the joint oversight of brokerage firms, investment banks and other non-banking financial institutions in the two jurisdictions," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Engineering Contracting Company (ECC), one of the leading contracting companies in the region, has appointed Instinctif Partners as its new business communications agency for the Middle East region.
The appointment will see Instinctif Partners roll-out an integrated communications strategy that encompasses corporate reputation, media relations, media training, digital support and events management, in addition to supporting ECC with all content development and strategic business communications consulting.
As one of the UAEs market leaders in providing engineering solutions, ECC is known for providing unique design and build solutions.
Completed, managed, as well as ongoing projects include key sectors such as hospitality, residential, commercial, historical, educational, institutional, industrial, healthcare, leisure and retail.
Its key clients include Emaar Properties, Dubai Investments Real Estate Company, Etisalat, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Union Properties, Dubai Festival City (DFC), Deyaar, Damac and the Roads Transportation Authority (RTA).
Samantha Bartel Al Khalaf, the managing partner at Instinctif Partners Middle East, said: "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with ECC at this exciting time in the companys journey. As one of the UAEs oldest companies operating in the construction sector, it is an honour to work together to ensure many more years of success to come."
"Our objective is to build and maintain a leadership position for our client, strengthening their already excellent reputation, while adding value to their daily operations ultimately showcasing ECC as thought leaders in their industry," she stated.
Cian Farah, the managing director, ECC, said: "Our decision to appoint Instinctif Partners as our public relations agency is a reflection of their reputation and track-record servicing well-known clients in the region. We are therefore pleased to have partnered with an agency capable of serving our diverse and unique requirements.
Instinctif Partners areas of expertise include capital markets, corporate affairs, public policy, engagement, life sciences, content and creative, strategic insight and research.
It operates from 23 offices across 13 countries, with its Middle East operations headquartered in Dubai, serving clients across the GCC and the Mena region.-TradeArabia News Service
The Abu Dhabi government has started work on a strategic tunnel project in line with its Vision 2030 to create a world-class wastewater treatment system, said a report.
Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, was briefed about the ongoing developments at the project site including the construction of a permanent canal attached to it.
He praised the progress in this strategic project and the efforts of all the people involved to adopt the highest international standards, reported state news agency Wam.
He was speaking at a meeting with a delegation of Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company at the Abu Dhabi Crown Princes Court.
The companys Strategic Tunnel Enhancement Programme, (Step), is a major part of the future infrastructure projects being implemented by the Abu Dhabi government and its social, urban and economic development plans, which aim to fulfil the emirates long-term needs and provide sustainable solutions, stated the report.
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) has signed an agreement worth more than SR80 million ($21 million) with Nesma Water & Energy to develop the third phase-C of the Industrial Valley (IV).
The third phase-C of the IV comprises 1.2 million sq m.
Under the terms of the contract Nesma will design and build the core infrastructure for Phase Three-C including a comprehensive water system covering fresh water supply, sewage, drainage and effluent as well as electrical systems to prepare the area for built-up development.
The growth of the Industrial Valley is essential to sustain the citys economic cycle and rests on our ability to provide a comprehensive, customized solution to investors, said Fahd Al-Rasheed, Group CEO and of KAEC. Nesma is one of the Kingdoms most trusted and respected names in infrastructure development and we welcome their continued partnership with King Abdullah Economic City.
Nesma Water & Energy has already provided core water and electrical systems for the Al Murooj Beach Community at KAEC and for Phase 2 of the IV. The company is also known for its participation in the Riyadh Water Supply Enhancement, for which it met extraordinary deadlines to build thirteen deep water wells with filtration and cooling towers in just six months.
The new contract continues the on-schedule development of the Industrial Valley and reflects the continual growth in demand for facilities and services. The 55-sq- km Industrial Valley is the regions fastest-growing logistics and manufacturing hub. More than 120 local and international companies have invested in manufacturing, distribution and logistics facilities. Thirty factories are already in commercial operation.
Our investors and partners have come to rely on our ability to implement the various phases of the IV on schedule and with maximum attention to quality, said Rayan Qutub, CEO of the Industrial Valley. Nesma Water & Energy has a track record of implementing best practices in construction and infrastructure and will be an important partner in the continued expansion of the Industrial Valley.
King Abdullah Economic City is the largest privately-funded new city in the world. Situated on the west coast of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KAEC covers an area of 181 sq km of land, approximately the size of Washington DC. TradeArabia News Service
Batelco, Bahrains leading digital solutions provider, has been presented with the Best Emerging and Frontier Market Initiative Award and The Innovation Award at the 11th annual Telecoms World Awards ceremony, held at the Ritz Carlton in Dubai this week.
The prestigious ceremony and dinner was held as part of the Telecoms World Middle East conference, which is among the regions largest conferences dedicated to examining the future of telecoms in the Middle East, North Africa, South and Central Asia and across the globe.
The Telecom World Awards, judged by an esteemed panel of industry judges, are designed to recognise the telecoms industry operators that have demonstrated outstanding performance, major achievement and innovation during the year.
The Best Emerging and Frontier Market Initiative Award recognises the operator that has invested time, effort and money to transform its networks and operation to ensure it has the necessary ecosystem in place to meet the challenges that prevail in the communications industry as the world goes digital. As part of its evolution, Batelcos is deploying a nationwide Superfast Fibre Network which positions Bahrain at the forefront of technological innovation in the region, said a statement.
The significant Innovation Award recognises the operator that is investing towards the delivery of innovative new products and services for its customers. Among Batelcos initiatives during the past year was the launch of its Cloud based IPTV service, Batelco TV, a first of its kind in the region. Batelco TV is a fully fledged OTT based IPTV service which comes with a unique business model that is aligned with the future trend of everything cloud, providing dynamic content blended with a world class high definition TV experience.
Batelco Bahrain CEO Engineer Muna Al Hashemi said she was delighted with Batelcos success at the Telecoms World Awards in winning two prestigious awards.
Batelco recognises that excellence in ensuring innovative products and services underpins the success of any telecom operator and accordingly Batelco has invested heavily in areas such as its superfast fibre network and value added services such as a cloud based TV offering, she said.
The winners were awarded at the Gala dinner attended by senior executives, personalities and VIPs from the regions leading establishments. Batelco Group chief digital officer Karan Ponnudurai and Batelco Group chief wholesale officer Ahmed Abdellatif, who were speakers at the event, collected the awards for Batelco. - TradeArabia News Service
The contract covers a 48" transit line.Image: Bigstock. For illustration only.
The Hydrocarbon Division of Larsen & Toubro (L&T), an Indian multinational, has won a major pipeline contract with a value close to 1700 crore ($264.41 million) from Kuwait Oil Company (KOC), said a statement from the company.
The contract covers the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of a new 48 crude transit line (TL- 5) from North Kuwait to Ahmadi.
The completion of the project is scheduled in the third quarter of 2020.
The order was won against stiff international competitive bidding which reinforces L&Ts unique capability to deliver 'design to build' engineering and construction solutions across the hydrocarbon spectrum, the company said.
L&T is currently executing Gathering Centre-30 (GC-30) project for Kuwait Oil Company.
L&T has been serving the onshore hydrocarbon sector since early 1990s. The companys track record includes successful completion of several challenging projects for domestic and international clients, it added. TradeArabia News Service
Four Seasons veteran leader Ahmed Khalaf has been named the new general manager of the soon-to-open Four Seasons Hotel Tunis.
Most recently general manager of Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano, Khalaf began his Four Seasons career in his hometown of Cairo, first at one of the brands two hotels in the city, then crossing the Nile to the other. Before returning to Egypt in 2013, he was also part of the senior leadership team at Four Seasons Hotel Doha.
Ahmeds unwavering commitment to the highest standards of service and his breadth of experience across the region made him the ideal candidate to open our first hotel in Tunisia, and expand our growing portfolio across North Africa, says Simon Casson, president, Hotel Operations - Europe, Middle East and Africa.
In preparing for the hotels opening later this year, Khalaf is deeply involved in hiring some 300 Tunisian and international staff who will bring world-renowned Four Seasons hospitality to local guests, while offering travellers an unparalleled luxury experience.
"Everything we achieve, we achieve through our people, Khalaf said, adding that: Tunisians are very optimistic about the future, and Four Seasons is proud to be an integral part of a new era of growth and prosperity in the country.
Noting the hotels proximity to a diverse array of ancient and modern cultural attractions as well as key business and commercial areas, he added: The city has such rich culture and beauty that inspires us to create the best possible experience for every person who will walk through our doors, whether staying or dining with us, or hosting events at Four Seasons Hotel Tunis.
The Four Seasons Hotel Tunis is expected to open later this year. - TradeArabia news Service
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Drinking a beer after a run is as satisfying as eating popcorn in a movie theater. As trail runners, we tend to seek out beers that are as adventurous as the trails we play on.
Sure, the standard lager has its place. Its the 5K road race of the beer world. But after a great day on the trails, its only fitting to sip on a beer that swerves from the well-beaten path.
Portland, Oregon is both a trail-running and craft-brewery hub. The city is surrounded by wilderness. Forest Park alone, set on the eastern slopes of the Tualatin Mountains, has over 5,000 acres of hilly terrain to explore.
Celebrate this city of roses, dirt and suds with these urban pub-to-pub routes that begin and end at craft breweries.
The Ridge Trail via Occidental Brewing (7 miles)
If you have to run on a sidewalk, it doesnt hurt to be suspended 200 feet above the Willamette River. This run starts at Occidental Brewing at the north corner of Cathedral park. Make your way across the iconic Saint Johns Bridge on a sidewalk thats just wide enough for single-file running. On the west entrance to the bridge, graffitied concrete stairs lead up to the Ridge Trail, a seriously uphill singletrack that links in with Forest Park.
Continue up until you reach Leif Erikson Drive, a blissfully car-free former road of dirt, hard-packed gravel and occasional stretches of crumbling asphalt.
Get on the Wildwood Trail and run forever in and out of woods with moderate elevation gain, or link the Trillium and Hardesty Trails for a thigh-burning loop back to Leif Erikson Drive and a few birdseye glimpses of the Saint Johns bridge on the descent. The views are worth pausing for and are some of the best in the park. But dont wait too long, because theres an Occidental Hefeweizen waiting for you. Its a crisp, American take on a German tradition, a little taste of the old world.
Tip: Look closely at a map before this one, as the Ridge Trail is poorly signed.
The Aspen Trail via Portland Brewing (4 miles)
Locals know the Aspen Trail as an easy way to squeeze in forest time after work. The Aspen Trailhead begins on Aspen Avenue. There is usually street parking available nearby; however, for a tidy four-mile route, park at Portland Brewing and jog the few blocks uphill to the trailhead. This is a well-signed section of Forest Park, with wide trails and the occasional pedestal-mounted map. Run just under a quarter mile on the Aspen trail, until it verges right to just under one and a half miles of moderate hills on the Wildwood Trail before turning right onto the Wild Cherry Trail, which takes you back to Leif Erikson Drive. For a longer run, continue on Wildwood to earn your second round.
Portland Brewing has long been a popular spot for road bikers, so they welcome sweaty, thirsty customers who earn their beer by putting in miles.
Portland Brewing brewer Josh Riggs bike commutes into work most days, but hes also been known to run in via Forest Park. When you have that first drink after a run, it feels great, he says. Riggs recommends Smash, a single-malt, single-hop Summer Pale Ale for cooling down after a run.
The Cumberland Trail via 10 Barrel Brewing (6.5 miles)
Start this run anywhere near 10 Barrel Brewing, in a part of northwest Portland thats been freshly rebranded as The Brewery Blocks. Enjoy the moderate incline through Portlands swanky Alphabet District, and then push past mansions in the well-heeled West Hills. The prize for these hills is the Cumberland Trail, which meanders through a dense forest of Douglas firs for a quarter mile before continuing on to Wildwood Trail for a mile more of the same. After crossing Cornell Road, ditch Wildwood in favor of Lower Macleay Trail to the right, which follows an idyllic creek and exits to the city at Lower Macleay Park. Pick your way back through neighborhoods for a well-deserved Pearl IPA.
A lot of my beers are based off of desserts, says brewer Whitney Burnside. Brewing is a lot like liquid baking.
Her Pearl IPA gives a nod to traditional IPAs, with a twist. Its the first beer she brewed at 10 Barrel and it came easy, she says. 10 Barrels bar manager Josh Ohlsson says, Its intimidating at first, but then it mellows out. Its so beautiful. Thats a pretty good description of this run, too.
River View Natural Area via Oaks Bottom Public House (7 miles)
Lompoc Brewings Oaks Bottom Public House is in the perfect place to start and finish a hilly, scenic run. This route passes through a city park, a cemetery and a wooded natural area. Start near the pub, make your way through Sellwood Park and cross the Sellwood Bridge to reach the entrance to River View Cemetery on the west side of the Willamette.
After running through the cemetary, hit a quarter mile of pavement to the southwest and, ultimately, the River View Natural Area.This park has many narrow dirt paths that wind back on themselves, offering the chance to extend your mileage. Reverse the route back through the cemetery for negative splits and scenic river views.
Beer and running go hand-in-hand, says Lompoc owner and brewer Jerry Fechter, who has been proudly supplying Portlands hasher running clubs for years, selling them dozens of kegs to fuel romps in the woods around Portland.
Fetcher recommends the Oktoberfest. We actually toast some of the barely in house, bringing out a biscuity flavor, he says. Weve also added more hops to make it a little bit more northwest.
Note: River View Cemetery is open from 8 a.m.-dusk. No dogs allowed in River View Natural Area or River View Cemetery.
Parents, listen to your children, because mine never did.
That suggestion was the last delivered by the jokester in the leather jacket, Henry Winkler, to more than 1,300 people gathered early Wednesday at the Casper Events Center for the 19th annual Awards & Recognition Breakfast.
Beneficiaries of the breakfast are the more than 11,000 youth in three counties Natrona, Converse and Johnson served by the 10 branches of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming.
Prior to counting the money given by those attending the breakfast, $644,277 has been raised, including $200,000 from the Daniels Fund, $175,000 from the McMurry Foundation, $72,000 from the BGCCW Foundation to the operating fund and $50,000 from Peter and Marla Wold.
With an operating budget of $3.1 million annually, the goal heading into the breakfast was to raise $750,000.
Pledges made at the breakfast took the total to $743,897 and attendees had the option of sending in pledges via payment made later.
Casper oilman Peter Wold was the award recipient, Winkler was the featured speaker.
Welcomed to Casper as the event was beginning, Winkler said, to a person, the people here are so, so outgiving. My soul lives in the West, my heart lives in New York and my body lives in Los Angeles.
Former Wyoming governor and ambassador to Ireland Mike Sullivan introduced his friend, Wold, noting two flat spots in an otherwise sparkling resume.
Raised in Wyoming is shorthand for wasnt born here, Sullivan joked, and received his bachelors degree from CSU for Gods sake, Peter, what were you thinking?
Sullivan then credited Wolds parents, the late John and Jane Wold, who set a standard for philanthropy that will be long remembered and not easily matched.
As the business of the breakfast wore on, Wold stepped to the podium and said his wife, Marla, had given him advice in three words: Keep it short.
His acceptance remarks were among the shortest in the 20 years of the award.
Travelocity has named Casper number one among the top 25 most giving cities in the nation, Wold said. Philanthropy is more than money. Money is the gas in the car, volunteerism is the car.
He named Hogadon and the YMCA, both started in the 1950s and both recently refurbished, the Boys & Girls Clubs continued growth and expansion and the new David Street Station as examples of entities all privately funded and reasons why Casper was given the Travelocity designation.
Wold said that the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming helps children negotiate the world.
A young Winkler struggled negotiating the world but overcame it to earn bachelors and masters degrees and co-write 34 novels for children.
Winkler struggled with dyslexia all of his life and took the same geometry class for four consecutive school years and summer school sessions before passing with a D-.
From 1963, the year I graduated high school, to today, 2017, not one person has ever said the word hypotenuse to me. What the hell were they thinking? he asked.
He said he was in the bottom 3 percent academically in America and had just one teacher in his early school years who said to him, when you get out of here, you will be great.
He implored the crowd, if you want to make America great, making America great starts right here in Casper, Wyoming.
To the youth in attendance, he said, you have greatness inside and it is your job to figure it out, dig it out and give it to the world.
And to the adults, he said, your power is to give every child you meet you give them your strength.
The University of Wyoming may spend $68 million renovating four dorms in the coming years, and a housing official at the school says theres a good chance two other residence halls will be demolished and replaced.
Late last week, the UW Board of Trustees were presented with a draft of the universitys 10-year housing plan, created by KSQ, a national design firm specializing in campus housing. University officials aim to attract 1,100 additional students and need to provide on-campus housing for them.
The goals for the housing plan are to make housing a positive for recruitment, rather than the drain that some think of it as; to diversify housing options and support the universitys planned enrollment growth; to make the campus more attractive; and to enhance Greek life and increase the number of sorority and fraternity members from 650 to 1,000.
The plan a final version of which will be presented to trustees in November identified a number of areas where the university could improve its housing, but the general message was that it needed to offer more. More privacy and space in bathrooms, more amenities, more community spacing.
Students want more amenities, said Eric Webb, the executive director of residence life at UW. Theyre used to that at home. Our competitors have it, as well. We are limited. I think what we have was very competitive in the 1970s, but I think its not particularly competitive now.
Indeed, in focus groups, students and administrators noted narrow and overheated hallways, poor Wi-Fi, a lack of temperature control and rooms that didnt allow for personalization. Students wanted larger and more private bathrooms that had countertops.
Currently, mostly freshmen live in the four Washakie Halls. Sophomores who live in dorms typically live in Crane and Hill Halls.
Students ideal common spaces, according to KSQ, would include large, open lobbies, and a mix of smaller common rooms on upper floors, and small kitchens with ovens. They said that UW is lacking in communal space and that there is no real community space on the first floor. Because of that, most students socialize in fish bowls meeting rooms with glass windows or at the campus union.
Compared to UWs main educational competitors the University of Northern Colorado, Colorado State, South Dakota State, Montana State and Utah State the university has some of the least diverse housing options. Two-thirds of housing is in traditional residence halls, rather than in suite-style or more modern dormitories.
To address student concerns, KSQ recommended low ratios in bathrooms eight to 10 students sharing one facility with stalls and showers that have doors, rather than curtains. It further recommended $68 million in renovations to the four Washakie, freshmen-heavy dorms.
Washakie halls have very few deficiencies that need to be addressed, KSQ reported. Its costs are primarily associated with reconfiguring bathrooms, adding community spaces and HVAC systems and re-skinning the building to enhance exterior appearance.
Webb said the two sophomore-level facilities, Crane and Hill, would likely be torn down and replaced with two or three new, more modern facilities. While the cost for that part of the plan is unclear, he said the total price tag including the $68 million to Washakie halls and the $26 million to university-owned apartments would not be paid by the Legislature.
He acknowledged that cost is a concern, especially in the states current fiscal climate. The university has lost roughly $41 million over the past 16 months.
What we bring in for revenue has to pay back the cost, Webb said. So thats part of the fence we walk, how can we build this and try to keep our room rates low and still have the most wow factor?
The plan would be phased in over the next 10 years.
Webb said he thought the trustees were receptive to the plan.
When this is final, it will be the guiding tool for us for the next 10, maybe even 12 years to continue to advance our housing and give us more competitive edge in what we offer here at the university, he said.
PITTSBURGH (AP) An Army veteran who fended off a mentally ill man who tried to attack a chess class the veteran was teaching at an Illinois public library is one of 18 people being honored with Carnegie medals for heroism.
The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, based in Pittsburgh, announced the winners on Tuesday.
James O. Vernon, 75, was in a conference room at the Morton Public Library with 17 children and four women when 19-year-old Dustin Brown burst in with two large knives on Oct. 13, 2015.
"He actually ran into the room yelling, 'I'm going to kill some people,'" Vernon told the Pekin Daily News days after the attack.
The knives were hunting-type weapons with fixed blades about 5 inches long, Vernon said.
"I can't let this happen," Vernon told The Associated Press at the time.
Letting the children and women escape, Vernon then positioned himself between Brown and the door and fended off Brown until police arrived. He suffered two slashed arteries in his left hand and damaged a tendon in a finger.
Brown pleaded guilty but mentally ill to charges in the attack and unrelated child pornography counts. He's serving 32 years in prison.
The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission was founded and endowed by the late steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who was inspired by stories of heroism during a coal mine disaster that killed 181 people, including a miner and an engineer, who died trying to rescue others.
The commission investigates stories of heroism and awards medals and cash several times a year. It has given away $39.4 million to 9,971 awardees or their families since 1904.
Four of those honored Tuesday died in rescue attempts, including 10-year-old Kevin D. Little Jr., of Milwaukee, who died from complications of smoke inhalation three weeks after trying to rescue his 2-year-old cousin from the bedroom they shared when their house caught fire on Oct. 20, 2015.
Other winners announced Tuesday, with rescues taking place in the hometown of each winner unless otherwise noted:
Kevin L. Hestleton , 44, of Tiburon, California, rescued a woman from a man with a gun and a pair of pruning shears who attacked her in her yard in San Rafael, California in June 2016.
Nathan Michael Stieg , 30, and Jayden Charles Concha , 14, both of Dickinson, North Dakota, saved a man from drowning and unsuccessfully tried to save a man with him when their all-terrain vehicle broke through ice on Lake Sakakawea in Mandaree, North Dakota, in February 2016.
Merrill O. Naylor , 56, of Stephens City, Virginia, saved a 70-year-old woman from burning in her home in November 2015.
Michael Lumahang , 39, and Jesse T. Haw , 24, both of Ottawa, Ontario, saved a 12-year-old boy who fell into the Ottawa River while fishing in August 2014. Lumahang drowned.
Richard William Dorrity , 64, of Livingston, California, saved a passenger from burning in a pickup truck that crashed and caught fire in April 2016.
Eric W. Edwards , 39, of Lodi, California, saved a man from drowning after he was caught in a rip current in the Pacific Ocean off Watsonville, California in February 2015.
Jamie Alan Hyatt , 34, of Wood Lake, Minnesota, died of asphyxiation while helping to rescue a man who had collapsed in an oxygen deficient tanker-trailer in Granite Falls, Minnesota in January 2016.
David E. Hammond, 64, of Gulf Breeze, Florida, saved a disabled woman from burning when her house caught fire in July 2016.
Vincent Santaniello, 56, and Harold Shaw , 68, both of Uhrichsville, Ohio, saved a woman after her pickup truck crashed and caught fire in September 2016.
Rene Roy , 55, of Sherbrooke, Quebec, saved a man after his car crashed and burned in August 2016.
Bobby Lynn Arnold , 36, of Onalaska, Texas, drowned helping to rescue a 7-year-old girl who fell off a boat into Lake Livingston in Trinity, Texas, in June 2016.
John Paul Hollyfield, 56, of Accokeek, Maryland, saved a 6-year-old girl from being crushed by an 80-foot tree limb that fell and crushed a slide she was riding on in the Moyaone Reserve in July 2015.
Tanner Douglas Boslau , 30, of Bend, Oregon, saved a woman from drowning when her inner tube floated dangerously close to a dam on the Deschutes River in August 2016.
The Wyoming governors race has been thrown wide open after former U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis announced that she will not enter next years Republican primary.
With strong name recognition across the state and financial resources, Lummis was the heavy favorite to win both the primary and general election if she ran.
I thought when I returned home that I would run for governor, Lummis acknowledged in an interview with the Wyoming Tribune Eagle on Tuesday. But the Wyoming native, who decided not to run for reelection to Congress last year, said that she was enjoying time off from public office.
Floodgates open
Republican strategist Bill Novotny said that Lummis announcement upends the field and will likely prompt many prospective candidates to enter the race in the coming weeks and months.
This is going to open the floodgates, Novotny said. Most of the serious candidates Ive spoken to were waiting for her to officially declare her plans.
Wyoming Treasurer Mark Gordon and Secretary of State Ed Murray have both said they are considering entering the race but have not yet made decisions. As statewide officials they have experience with large-scale campaigns.
Gov. Matt Mead, who was elected in 2010, is barred from running again in 2018 due to term limits.
Murray said that he had learned in July that Lummis was unlikely to enter the race and had recently spoken to her personally. Murray said her decision not to run makes it more likely that he will.
Murray called Lummis a political powerhouse in an interview Wednesday and said that her presence in the race would have made it difficult to promote his own policies.
Ideas that I believe would be transformational could have been overlooked simply because a candidate like Cynthia Lummis would have attention, he said, hastening to add that she deserved that recognition.
Gordon was not available for an interview Wednesday.
Many other names have been floated as prospective candidates, but Gordon and Murray remain the most formidable to have expressed interested. Sheridan businessman and political novice Bill Dahlin is the only Republican candidate to have officially entered the race so far.
Bill Cubin, who has served as Lummis campaign treasurer, said that her absence from the race is likely to make the primary more regional.
It will come down to who can perform the best in the most populated counties, he said.
Former Cheyenne state legislator Mary Throne appears to have the Democratic partys backing in the governors race, though Republicans are the heavy favorites to win statewide office in Wyoming.
Mary is looking forward to a robust and healthy debate about the future of Wyoming over the next 14 months, Throne campaign official Bri Jones wrote in an email responding to a question about Lummis decision not to run.
History of public service
Lummis was first elected to public office in 1979 as a state representative. She subsequently served as a state senator and finally state treasurer from 1999 until 2007, when she was elected to Congress. Multiple attempts to reach Lummis this week were unsuccessful.
Lummis told the Tribune Eagle that she will likely run for public office in the future, despite not entering the 2018 governors race.
Wyoming Sen. Mike Enzi will be up for reelection in 2020 if he chooses to run again.
Lummis clashed several times with GOP leadership in the U.S. House and eventually joined the House Freedom Caucus, placing her among the more right-wing Republicans in Congress. But with decades of public service under her belt, she remains in the mainstream of Wyoming politics.
The former chairman of a hardline conservative advocacy group has taken over as chair of the Wyoming Republican Party, following the resignation of the previous leader last month.
Vice-chair W. Frank Eathorne became chairman Sept. 1, the party announced last week. Eathorne previously served as chairman of WyWatch, a political action committee that supported Judeo-Christian values and took socially conservative positions on a host of issues from its creation in 2008 until the founder left Wyoming and shut down the organization last year.
But Eathorne said his prior role with WyWatch will not impact his leadership of the party. He said he will remain faithful to the partys platform, which is set by the central committee.
I dont direct, its not my title, its not my job, he said. I work for the state central committee.
While Republicans dominate politics in Wyoming, WyWatch often staked out positions to the right of GOP lawmakers in the Legislature, many of whom have a more libertarian bent that eschews legislating on social issues. WyWatchs advocacy covered a litany of hot-button issues including pornography, LGBT rights, gambling, school choice, evolution, abortion and global warming.
In Wyoming primaries, some candidates focus on transgender bathroom issues Tyler Lindholm wants to talk about new revenue sources for the state and potential budget cu
But Eathorne, a Converse County rancher, said the priorities for the Wyoming GOP are state finances and, increasingly, state sovereignty. Keeping the states finances in shape remains the top goal.
Weve got to have financial stability if were going to accomplish much else, he said.
Eathorne was appointed following the resignation of former chairman Ryan Mulholland, of Sheridan, who accepted an out-of-state job with Google last month, according to Wyoming GOP Executive Director Kristi Wallin.
Eathorne said he will work to ensure Republicans are elected to all statewide offices and as many seats in the Legislature as possible during the election next year.
Eathorne previously ran for party chairman in 2015, losing to GOP strategist Matt Micheli. He said he has served on the states central committee for eight years before running for vice-chair last spring. Eathorne also served as the Converse County GOP chair. Eathorne said he ran for the leadership position last spring at the urging of other party activists and after being pleased with the direction of the party over the last two years, which he said has developed closer relationships with elected Republican officials in the state.
GOP elects new leadership after two years of infighting Republicans elected new state leadership Saturday, possibly ending a contentious period in w
The Douglas native said that while Republicans dominate politics in the Cowboy State, there was still plenty of work for the state party organization to do.
Somehow we seem to keep busy even though, if you want to call it a super majority, there are many issues that still challenge our state, Eathorne said. We feel we need to support our elected officials in that to keep Wyoming strong.
Republicans control all five statewide offices, both U.S. Senator positions and the states sole U.S. House of Representative seat. The party controls 78 of the Legislatures 90 seats. But with the Democrats effectively marginalized in state politics, Republican lawmakers often split along ideological lines, with some taking more moderate positions and others expressing more conservative views.
As for internal divisions, Eathorne said he believes party unity has also been improving.
Wed have heated debates among state party officials but at the end of the meeting, at the end of the month, at the end year we shake hands and go home Republicans, he said.
Eathorne takes over a little less than one year before the primary for the 2018 general election, in which a number of prominent Republicans are expected to enter the race to replace Gov. Matt Mead.
Wyoming GOP executive director Kristi Wallin said that under party bylaws the vice-chair automatically assumes the chairman role if that position is vacated and that the party will select a new chair at its meeting in November.
The military wants North Dakota and four other states with nuclear missile arsenals to consider introducing new rules aimed at preventing conflicts between wind turbines and helicopters that provide security at launch facilities.
GARDINER, Mont. When Stan Grier looks out over the grassy valleys and snow-dusted hilltops unrolling southward from Roosevelt Arch, his view of the landscape differs from that of most of the millions of visitors who stream into present-day Yellowstone National Park each year.
Chief of the Piikani Nation of Alberta, Canada, Grier drove to the parks North Entrance to gather Saturday with about 15 chiefs, chairmen, council members and other dignitaries from more than a half-dozen Indian tribes urging the U.S. government to change the names of two features in Yellowstone bearing the names of historical figures with ties to genocide and white supremacy.
So well did we know this area, that some of the names our people use for features of this land are still used today, like the Beartooth Mountains, the Heart Mountain near Cody, and today we are here because of very different names, Grier told about 50 people gathered in the Gardiner Community Center on Saturday afternoon.
After a ceremony that included speeches by Grier and others, representatives from the Blackfoot Confederacy and the Sioux Nation signed and delivered a petition to Yellowstone Park officials that formally requested the name change.
Tribal leaders view the governments use of names referring to Gustavus Cheyney Doane whose story includes the massacre of an estimated 174 Native Americans in 1870 and Ferdinand Hayden a geologist who explored Yellowstone who also held racist views that endorsed genocide as a desecration of lands the tribes long have considered holy.
Brandon Sazue, Chairman of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, urged park officials, three of whom attended the ceremony, to work with local tribes to help educate visitors on the sometimes violent history of present-day Yellowstone.
Can you imagine the killings of 174 Piikani people an army, Sazue said. These are soldiers killing 174 people 15 of them probably were of fighting age children in their mothers arms. Would we do that today? Weve been through so much already, but in order to stand on the same side as equals, we have to start somewhere.
Many tribal nations in the Western U.S. historically used the lands within Yellowstone both for survival and spirituality. The ancestors of present-day Blackfeet would pick herbs, gather materials for paints and hunt bison in the park, Grier noted, while also using the land as a site for celebrating the earth and embarking on vision quests.
And still today in Yellowstone and its surrounding areas there remain pictographs and other archaeological evidence of the tribes presence over thousands of years, noted Louise Dixie, the cultural resources director of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of Idaho.
Our history is here, and it will continue to be here, Dixie said.
Grier also responded to a local historian quoted in Fridays Billings Gazette, who noted that while Doane had unquestionably committed and later expressed pride in the slaughter of scores of Native Americans, Hayden had only written favorably on those types of policies without committing his words to actions.
Words are what incite genocide; even recent history tells us that, Grier said, pointing to United Nations declarations against those found to have helped incite the Rwandan genocide campaign in the 1990s.
After the petition-signing ceremony, a procession of tribal members on horseback and on foot marched to the sounds of drumming and singing through the historic Roosevelt Arch and to the parks North Entrance to deliver the document to Deputy Superintendent Pat Kenney.
While several tribal officials noted their opposition to the names of Hayden Valley and Doane Peak was made public years ago, a final determination on the proposal is unlikely until next year.
Changing a name
Even when the proposal goes through, changing the names of Mount Doane and Hayden Valley will not happen overnight.
The ultimate authority rests with the U.S. Board of Geographic Names, a federal body composed of 22 representatives from more than a dozen governmental agencies.
According to Jennifer Runyon, the boards senior researcher, the process goes like this: The board receives an official application for a name change, including a summary of the reasoning behind the request. Board staff then solicit input from county, state and, in this case, Park Service officials and prepare a case brief based on the information theyve gathered.
Once everyone has weighed in and the materials are prepared, the item is added to the agenda for the board, which meets once every three months, to discuss the pros and cons.
Even if we got a proposal today, were talking six to eight months, Runyon told the Gazette.
The federal board has been aware of the tribes condemnation of the two geographic labels for a couple years, she said, but the process cant begin until a proposal is formally submitted.
That never happened, so theres essentially the perception out there that the board hasnt been doing anything, and we cant until they propose it, she said Thursday.
Once the ball gets rolling, however, changing a geographic features name can often run up against local opposition, as has been the case in similar instances around the country.
Precedent
In Arizona, local Indian tribes began petitioning state and federal leaders to rename a prominent peak near Phoenix that bore a derogatory name for Native American women, Squaw Peak, in 1992. In 2003, the mountain was renamed Piestawa Peak.
Name changes within Yellowstone arent without precedent, noted the parks branch chief of cultural resources, Tobin Ropp, on Saturday. But aside from the switch from Squaw Lake to Indian Pond back in the 1980s, he said he wasnt aware of any other changes that stemmed from cultural sensitivities within the parks boundaries.
Officials with Yellowstone National Park have yet to indicate whether the park will support the name change. Along with Park County, Wyoming, the states board of geographic names and tribes with historical ties to the area in question, Yellowstone Superintendent Dan Wenk will also be asked to submit a recommendation.
Kenney, the parks deputy superintendent, didnt offer an indication either way Saturday and echoed previous park statements in his remarks to the Piikani leaders delivery of the petition.
We came today to listen, learn and hear your perspective, Kenney told Grier, adding that he looked forward to continuing a dialogue with the tribal leaders.
In his speech prior to the ceremony, however, Grier made clear his perspective on present-day Yellowstone is rooted in a painful past.
This is the worlds first national park, not a city park. Its not a statue, he said. This was our land. This was our traditional peoples lands.
Because Social Security rules can be so confusing to so many people, and because it can take some time to explain those rules, I usually spend an entire column trying to clarify just one topic. But every once in a while, I like to give short and quick answers to as many questions as possible covering a wide array of subjects.
Q: I am turning 66 and am about to file for my Social Security. What documents will I need?
A: Generally, you will need your birth certificate and a copy of your last W-2 form (or tax return if you are self-employed). You need the former to prove you are old enough to qualify for benefits. You need the latter because your benefit is based on your earnings. The Social Security Administration will have a record of all your past earnings, but they may not have the most recent year posted yet.
Q: If I apply for my Social Security at age 62 but still work part time, I understand that I am penalized if I make more than about $16,000 per year. Will those penalties apply to me for the rest of my life?
A: No. Once you reach age 66, those penalties go away. You could make a million dollars per year from age 66 on and youd still get your Social Security checks.
Q: We have an unusual situation. My wife and I just got married about two years ago. I am 72, and she is 71. And this was a first-time marriage for both of us. But Im worried that I might die before we hit the 10-year marriage mark and my wife wont get widows benefits on my record. Are there exceptions to that rule?
A: The 10-year marriage rule only applies to divorced people. So assuming you two lovebirds are still married when you die, and assuming your Social Security benefit rate is higher than hers, your wife will get widows benefits on your account.
Q: I am getting my own Social Security. My ex-husband is getting a lot more than I am. I wonder if I am due anything on his record. But if I am, I dont want to hurt him. Will his check get cut if I get some of his Social Security?
A: Anything paid to a divorced spouse is just an add-on benefit. In other words, if you are due any extra benefits on his record, it wont take a dime away from what he is getting. Your own benefit can be supplemented up to one third to one half of his, depending on your age.
Q: I have power of attorney for my elderly mother. I called SSA to file a change of address, and they wouldnt talk to me. What gives?
A: SSA is very strict about privacy laws. Those laws say the information from your mothers records can only be given to her. If she is mentally incapable of handling her own affairs, they can be shared with her representative. You can get a power of attorney designation for lots of reasons, not just mental incompetence. If your mother is mentally alert, she has to change her own address. If she is not, then you should request to be what SSA calls her representative payee. If you do that, it not only means you can handle her Social Security affairs, it also means her Social Security benefits will come in your name for her.
Q: Why does the law require me to carry my Social Security card and my Medicare card with me at all times?
A: There is no such law. I havent had my Social Security card in my wallet for over 40 years. And my Medicare card is buried in one of my desk drawers. I dig it out when I go to the doctor. But even they rarely ask to see it anymore.
Q: I am getting Social Security. We have a 16-year-old daughter who has been severely disabled since birth. She is also getting benefits on my account. Will her checks stop when she turns 18?
A: No, her Social Security checks will continue, probably for the rest of her life. But shortly before her 18th birthday, you need to contact SSA and fill out some forms to get her converted from regular dependent childs benefits to what they call disabled adult child benefits.
Q: I know youve answered this question a thousand times before. But now Im 62 and it applies to me and Im finally paying attention! Can I take my husbands Social Security now and save my own until Im 66?
A: Well, for the thousand and one time, no! If you take any Social Security before age 66, you MUST apply for your own benefits first. By the way, I was assuming your husband is still alive. If hes not, then you can do what you proposed because the rule I just cited doesnt apply to widows.
Q: Recently, I received a letter from Social Security telling me they overpaid me about $5,000. They want the money back. What can I do?
We've collected a few front pages from newspapers.com to give you a look at some Sept. 20 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.
PHOENIX Saying all marriages are created equal, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the wife of a gay woman who has given birth is entitled to the same parental rights as any husband would be.
Chief Justice Scott Bales, writing for the majority, acknowledged that Arizona laws dealing with presumption of paternity use terms like father, he and man. Those laws say the husband in a marriage is presumed to be the parent of any child born within 10 months of a marriage.
He also conceded that Tucsonan Suzan McLaughlin, who sued over parental rights, could not possibly be biologically related to the child born in 2010 to Kimberly McLaughlin, to whom she was legally married at the time.
But Bales said thats irrelevant after the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that states cannot limit marriage to one man and one woman. The U.S. high court said same-sex couples are entitled to civil marriage on the same terms and conditions as opposite-sex couples.
Tuesdays ruling also undermines arguments by some foes of same-sex marriage that the 2015 ruling allows nothing more than marriages and does not void other laws that provide disparate treatment.
Bales said the U.S. Supreme Courts decision will require a reassessment of various state statutes, rules, and regulations to the extent they deny same-sex spouses all of the benefits afforded opposite-sex spouses. That includes taxation, property rights, hospital access, adoption rights and more.
It would be inconsistent ... to conclude that same-sex couples can legally marry but states can deny them the same benefits of marriage afforded opposite-sex couples, Bales wrote.
The chief justice said those laws could be reviewed and voided by courts on a piecemeal basis, as those denied equal rights file suit. But he said it would be better for the governor and Arizona lawmakers to repeal the rules and laws that discriminate.
The Legislature can forestall unnecessary litigation and help ensure that Arizona law guarantees same-sex spouses the dignity and equality the Constitution requires namely, the same benefits afforded couples in opposite-sex marriages, Bales wrote.
We will review the decision, said Daniel Scarpinato, press aide to Republican Gov. Doug Ducey.
House Speaker J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, said he appreciates the justices saying it is up to the Legislature to establish policy.
But at this point I really dont know what we will do, Mesnard said. He said it may be preferable to let individual cases make their way through the courts rather than open up the whole statute to look for laws that could be considered discriminatory.
Thats also the assessment of Senate President Steve Yarbrough, R-Chandler. Whether we choose a massive rewrite of our law or allow real, specific fact situations and disputes to be resolved by the courts is a question that requires careful analysis, he said.
Court records show that Kimberly and Suzan McLaughlin, legally married in California in 2008, agreed to have a child through artificial insemination using an anonymous sperm donor.
Kimberly became pregnant in 2010. The couple moved to Tucson, entered into a joint parenting agreement and executed mirror wills, declaring they were to be equal parents to the child. After the 2011 birth, Suzan stayed home and cared for the boy while Kimberly worked as a physician. When he was nearly 2, Kimberly moved out, taking him with her and cutting off his contact with Suzan.
Suzan filed for divorce and sought parenting time, citing the law that says the husband is the presumed parent of a child born within 10 months of a marriage. When a trial judge agreed to let the case proceed, Kimberly appealed, saying the law applies only when the other spouse is a man.
But Bales said applying the law in a gender-specific fashion in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision violates the Equal Protection Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Denying same-sex couples the same legal treatment in marriage and all the benefits afforded opposite-sex couples works a grave and continuing harm on gays and lesbians in various ways demeaning them, humiliating and stigmatizing their children and family units, and teaching society that they are inferior in important respects, the Arizona chief justice said.
Writing separately, Justice Clint Bolick said he agrees that, given the facts of this case, Suzan McLaughlin is entitled to be seen as the boys legal parent in the pending divorce case. But he declined to conclude that the paternity laws as written are unconstitutional and said there is no basis for the court to extend its reach to same-sex marriages.
Arizona had a now-overturned 2008 voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage.
The saguaro stays.
Six days after Tucson economic-development officials announced they were sending a 21-foot saguaro to Seattle, Amazon company officials got back to them and said they werent accepting any gifts. In effect, No thanks.
Thats a good thing, even if we had to go through a little embarrassment to get to this point. A Sonoran Desert native like that cactus never belonged on a truck to Amazon headquarters, doomed to die there or maybe on a return trip to Tucson.
Now the saguaro will stay in its desert home. But the reason? Thats telling: Its staying because it was an unwelcome sort of gift, the wrong kind of incentive in todays economic development game.
As youll recall, our economic-development representatives at Sun Corridor Inc. came up with the gimmick last week. It was an attention-getting effort, announced Wednesday, in our quest to land a massive Amazon headquarters project.
The company is projecting that the new headquarters will employ up to 50,000 people, with compensation of around $100,000 per employee per year.
On Friday, I panned Sun Corridors effort as too ambitious, arguing Tucson doesnt meet the criteria and just isnt up to landing a project as coveted as Amazon anyway. Since 2013, Ive been arguing that if Tucson wants to land more big companies, most of all we need to work on ourselves the schools, transportation system and crime. Were working on those.
But in the meantime, were fishing for lunkers with a cane pole and an inch worm. And a cactus. Since last Wednesdays announcement, the saguaro has stayed put, packed for a trip but waiting in the nursery yard on West Prince Road, where the press conference took place. It was still there Tuesday. Paperwork issues delayed departure, Sun Corridor spokeswoman Laura Shaw said in the interim.
Finally, Amazon ended the strange chapter on Tuesday. The company said via Twitter, ThxSunCorridorInc! Unfortunately we cant accept gifts (even really cool ones) so we donated it to @DesertMuseum.
In other words, they asked that the gift be re-gifted to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum before it was even delivered.
That felt like a pretty solid, if not unexpected, rejection.
But there is deep irony in Amazon saying we cant accept gifts. Ha! What are they pretending this whole competition is about anyway?
Lets take a look at their request for proposals under the heading Key Preferences and Decision Drivers. There, it says one of the key factors that candidate cities should highlight is Incentives.
Identify incentive programs available for the Project at the state/province and local levels. Outline the type of incentive (i.e. land, site preparation, tax credits/exemptions, relocation grants, workforce grants, utility incentives/grants, permitting, and fee reductions) and the amount. The initial cost and ongoing cost of doing business are critical decision drivers.
So, the truth is that Amazon doesnt want an incentive in the form of a 21-foot cactus, but it desperately does want tax breaks, free land, free electricity, job-training rebates, moving expenses, etc., etc., etc.
Its like a kid who says she doesnt want any birthday presents, but Amazon gift cards would be great!
Thats the way the economic-development game is played. Weve won at it a couple of times lately notably in winning a headquarters for Caterpillars surface mining division, in part through generous incentives offered by Rio Nuevo.
When a big company publicly announces a competition for a massive project like the Amazon headquarters or the Tesla battery plant that practically compels competitors to offer piles of corporate welfare just to be noticed.
Or, on the other hand, you can offer a 21-foot cactus.
This was, in retrospect, an ecologically insensitive gift idea. And it made Tucson look a little stupid.
But, I must admit this: It got noticed. For better or worse, thats more than youll likely be able to say for the dozens of other cities vying for Amazons attention.
For more information: Senior Editor Debbie Kornmiller at 573-4127 or dkornmiller@tucson.com
Send checks, payable to Sportsmen's Fund, to: Send a Kid to Camp, P.O. Box 16141, Tucson, AZ 85732-6141.
Thank you so much for your continuing efforts to provide this experience for Tucson families. We had a great summer and in reviewing our camper surveys the No. 1 thing they liked about camp was the friendships and meeting new people and 95% of campers left with a feeling of personal growth. What a great investment in the youth of our community! Thank you again for allowing camp to be a partner in service to the Tucson community.
Eat chili; Send kids to camp
For 10 bucks you can taste exquisite chilis of all flavors during the Fun Chili Cook-Off at Jonathans Cork, 6320 E. Tanque Verde Road, Saturday, Oct. 7.
The annual fundraiser helps send local boys and girls to overnight summer camp through the Arizona Daily Stars Sportsmens Fund Send a Kid to Camp program.
Local restaurants will donate their best chili some made specifically for this event for the public to sample and judge from noon to 2 p.m., or until the last spoonful is consumed.
Over 13 year, the chili cook-off has raised $145,403 for the Sportsmens Fund Send a Kid to Camp program.
Tickets at the door are $10 for chili tasting from the following Tucson Originals restaurants: Casino del Sol, Claire's Cafe, Eclectic Cafe, Jonathan's Cork (2014 and 2012 champion), Kingfisher Bar and Grill (2013 champion), Pastiche (2009 and 2016 champion), Mama's Hawaiian Bar-B-Cue and Noble Hops and Rocco's Little Chicago Pizzeria.
In addition to chili while it lasts, raffle tickets will be sold and tequila tasted.
For more information about the Fun Chili Cook-Off, call Jonathans Cork at 296-1631.
The analysis of President Trump's address to the UN was as usual an angry, distorted piece by an Associated Press writer filled with hate for the president. I watched the address live and could see the reactions in real time. The speech was one every American could be proud of, but these days, the hatred towards our president seems to be worked into the reporting of every event and speech.
Hatred eats away the soul of each person it inhabits. Hatred has gained a foothold in the press. I watched our president declare his passion for our great nation. I saw his passion for other nations. I saw the president look evil in the eye and give it a name. I am proud to be an American and proud President Trump is the leader of our nation. I believe the greatest threat to our nation is not from the outside, but from hatred in the hearts of our press and spewed freely in print and on TV.
Gov. Doug Duceys administration is exploring a change through which the state employment process would no longer ask job seekers filling out on an initial application if they have been convicted of a crime.
This change makes sense.
Removing that initial hurdle could mean more employment opportunities for Arizonans who have a criminal conviction and have trouble finding work because they are automatically sifted out of the applicant pool.
The Arizona job application now asks: Have you ever been convicted of any crime, even if set aside or expunged? Yes/No
If the answer is yes, the applicant is required to fill out the date, jurisdiction, disposition and location for any felony, misdemeanor or serious driving offenses.
On the application the criminal background check comes before education, training, certification and employment history.
Eliminating that question from the initial application or banning the box would widen the group of experienced job seekers applying for state positions.
Its already in place in Tucson, Tempe and Phoenix for municipal jobs. President Obama removed the question from federal job applications in 2016.
The goal is to remove roadblocks to employment that people with convictions typically face even if their sentence was suspended, or they paid a fine and werent incarcerated.
Ducey has rightly been focused on reducing recidivism, and this change would support that effort.
People with convictions, even those from years ago, often have a difficult time finding a job and cant afford housing which makes it more likely they will re-offend.
This change would not mean that convicted criminals would be driving school buses or that the question about criminal history would never be asked.
A person must pass a Department of Public Safety background check to receive the fingerprint card required to work in schools or state jobs that involve interacting with children.
An applicant would have to answer the conviction question further along in the hiring process after the potential candidate has been evaluated for his or her qualifications and experience.
The city of Tucson, for example, does a background check only once a person is a finalist for a position.
Duceys spokesman, Daniel Scarpinato, told the Arizona Capitol Times that, We have a real commitment to reducing recidivism, he said.
We encourage Ducey to nix the conviction question on the application.
Many young Vietnamese have turned to vocational schools shortly after their university admission, believing that it is better to be a skilled worker than an incapable college graduate.
With so many fresh graduates, even those with masters degree failing to land a suitable job or having to accept work in fields that have nothing to do with the majors in which they are professionally trained, many Vietnamese youth are seeing a better future in vocational schools.
Job ensured after graduation
At the Dung Quat Vocational College of Technique and Technology, in the central province of Quang Ngai, Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper met four young men who had left their university admissions behind in order to become a worker.
Two of them had been admitted to Quy Nhon University in the south-central province of Binh Dinh, one to the University of Economics, Ho Chi Minh City and another to the Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture.
But none of these young men, all hailing from the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, will begin their student life.
Instead, they have applied for a high-quality program at the Dung Quat vocational college and will become skilled auto mechanic engineers after three years.
K Duong and K Khanh write their applications for the Dung Quat vocational college.
Each of the young men has their own reasons for making the choice.
Many people in my village remained unemployed after their university graduation and some have had to work at coffee plantations, one man, Y Chuan, said of his decision.
In the meantime, there is huge demand for auto mechanics in my province, given the number of farming vehicles being used for coffee growing, but few are qualified for the job.
The second young man, K Khanh, said he had first thought of landing a job at a state office, but was later discouraged, knowing that the meager salary would not be enough to make ends meet.
Then I learned of this high-quality program for auto mechanics with a more promising future and did not hesitate to apply, Khanh said.
Khanh said he plans to work for Truong Hai Auto, one of Vietnams biggest automakers, after graduating from the vocational college to gain experience before opening my own garage.
For K Co and K Duong, graduating from a vocational school means they will almost certainly land a job with a monthly income of at least VND6 million ($264).
We will have to take loans to afford college and may be unable to repay these debts after graduation, Duong said.
Students are seen at a vocational school.
Many university students have decided to quit their college dream midway, and turned to vocational training.
Le Huy Tin finished his first year at the Da Nang Architecture University when he decided to quit and applied for the auto mechanic program at the Dung Quat vocational college.
Tin began his higher education much later than his friends. When he was a freshman at the Da Nang Architecture University, his peers had already graduated and began looking for jobs.
Seeing my friends struggle to find a suitable job encouraged me to quit university, Tin said.
Tin said he had worked as a mechanic in Ho Chi Minh City and made VND5 million ($220) a month even though I was not really skilled.
So I wanted to improve my skills and enrich my knowledge at the Dung Quat vocational college, he said.
After graduation, I will work in Japan as some of the vocational school graduates have found good jobs with high income there.
According to experts, one of the main reasons for the glut of university graduates unable to find a suitable position is that what they are trained is of little use in the actual job market. Many business leaders have pointed out that the curricula of many universities in Vietnam are problematic and outdated, Prof. Truong Nguyen Thanh, vice chancellor of Hoa Sen University in Ho Chi Minh City, told Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper. While technology is changing rapidly we have a new piece of tech every six months or a year what is taught in the four-year university program [in Vietnam] remains unchanged for decades.
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Young cancer patients at a major hospital in Hanoi have been able to indulge in the fun and excitement of a variety of cartoons thanks to a weekly cinema recently opened at the infirmary.
Managers of K Hospital (National Cancer Hospital) in the Vietnamese capital have reserved an entire room for children with cancer, who are being treated at the facility, to watch movies.
The cinema has been opened every Thursday since the beginning of July.
The movie room features cartoons, whose content focuses on the themes of family, friendship, and the world of animals, and has attracted a lot of young visitors.
According to Nguyen Ba Tinh, head of the social affairs department of K Hospital, the room is equipped with modern screens, aimed at providing psychological therapy for young patients aside from their medical treatment at the infirmary.
Hospitals in Vietnam often organize schools and theaters as forms of mental therapy for pediatric patients.
K Hospital is one of the few infirmaries to establish a regular cinema.
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Vietnam will always be a responsible and active member of the United Nations, State President Tran Dai Quang said on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Hanoi joining the international organization.
The admission of Vietnam as an official member of the UN on September 20, 1977 is an important event for the country, President Quang told reporters on Tuesday.
The Vietnamese state and people always treasure the valuable and practical assistance that the UN has provided.
As an active and responsible member of the international community, Vietnam regards the cooperative ties with the UN as one of the top priorities in its external affairs policies, the head of state said.
Since the first days as a member, Hanoi has been proactively involved in many activities within the intergovernmental organization, Quang stated, adding that the international community recognized the countrys active contributions to the building and implementation of UN treaties and conventions.
The Southeast Asian country will continue enhancing its cooperation with the UN in a deeper and more effective manner, contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region and the world.
Vietnam vows to promote fundamental principles of the UN Chapter and international law as well as equal, friendly and cooperative relations among nations, ensuring legitimate interests of all countries, especially developing ones, the president said.
He asserted that the country will increase its involvement in the UN peacekeeping activities and support the UN reform efforts towards efficiency, transparency and democracy in all activities.
Vietnam is running for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council in the 2020-2021 tenure, with the hope to make contributions to the UN efforts in safeguarding international peace and security, Quang remarked.
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Check out what is in the news today, September 20
Politics
-- Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc announced at a seminar on Tuesday that Vietnam has completed the erection of 1,002 landmarks along the 2,337km borderline with Laos as part of the two nations efforts in frontier demarcation.
Society
-- More than 600 experts and scientists from 32 countries contributed solutions to chronic traffic congestion and inadequate infrastructure faced by Vietnam and other South Asian nations at a four-day international seminar ending Thursday in Ho Chi Minh City.
-- A former chairman of the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai is under inspection for his numerous wrongdoings, including allowing the import of a large amount of timber with unclear origin and appointing relatives with limited ability into the provinces top positions.
-- Colonel Pham Huyen Ngoc, director of the Police Department in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan, has confirmed they had suspended five police officers in Phan Rang Thap Cham City from work for their wrongdoings that resulted in the death of a 25-year-old suspect held in custody earlier this month.
-- Storm Doksuri, the fiercest to hit the north-central province of Ha Tinh for nearly three decades, injured 80 people and killed two others in the aftermath while causing damage totaling over VND6 trillion (US$261 million), the provincial Peoples Committee revealed on Tuesday.
-- The Center for Preventive Medicine in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long has confirmed the provinces first infection of Zika, caused by a virus transmitted primarily by the Aedes mosquitoes.
Business
-- The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has issued new regulations in serving air passengers in cases of flight delay or cancellation. The rules, to be adopted on November 1, stipulate that airline staff ease their clients discomfort with drinks, food and proper shelter if the delay lasts for several hours.
-- Experts suggested at a seminar on South Koreas industrial tourism held in Hanoi on Tuesday that Vietnam should adopt the East Asian countrys model of organizing tours to conventional scenic attractions combined with factories and war museums to further appeal to tourists.
Lifestyle
-- The picture of Vietnams conventional publishers has seen upbeat notes as Fahasa Co. has reached its 100th bookstore milestone throughout the country and is poised to put another two book cities in operation by year end.
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Five police officers in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan have been suspended over links to the death of a drug suspect who died under their watch at a local jailhouse.
Colonel Pham Huyen Ngoc, police chief of Ninh Thuan, made the announcement on Tuesday evening.
According to Ngoc, the officers were under investigation by the Supreme Peoples Procuracy of Vietnam for their alleged use of corporal punishment that led to the death of Vo Tan Minh.
Minh, 25, had been investigated by Ninh Thuan police on charges of dealing drugs, and had recently been transferred to a detention center in the provinces Phan Rang Thap Cham City.
At around 3:00 pm on September 8, Minh became involved a fight with one of his cellmates after the other man initiated an attack, confirmed by security camera footage.
Four corrections officers could be seen entering the cell shortly after and escorting Minh into another room.
Minh was later rushed to the General Hospital of Ninh Thuan Province, where he was pronounced dead at 5:00 pm on the same day.
Bruises are seen on Vo Tan Minhs body. Courtesy of Minhs family
Large bruises were evident on his arms, legs, back and on the nape of the mans body, according to photos taken by Minhs family after they retrieved his corpse from the hospital.
The officers initially denied any responsibility, claiming they had taken Minh to hospital after he was found unconscious in his cell.
Nevertheless, scene investigation and an autopsy revealed evidence of the use of corporal punishment by the officers, the investigative unit of the Supreme Peoples Procuracy of Vietnam concluded on Tuesday.
It prosecuted the criminal case the same day, citing Article 298 of the countrys Penal Code.
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Businesses in the north-central Vietnamese province of Ha Tinh have suffered enormous losses after a four-day blackout brought about by Storm Doksuri caused their frozen fish to spoil.
Over 100 metric tons of frozen fish owned by companies in Cam Nhuong Commune, Cam Xuyen District, have been destroyed following the power cut, said Nguyen Van Hung, vice-chairman of the Cam Nhuong Peoples Committee.
The financial loss is estimated at between VND5 billion (US$219,897) and VND7 billion ($307,856), Hung added.
All of the spoiled fish was gathered in one location to be disposed of.
Countless bags of spoiled fish are disposed of.
The products included recent catches and those that remained following last years environmental disaster, pending compensation.
According to vice-chairman Hung, the blackout began on the night of September 14 and continued until the end of September 18.
Four days without electricity accompanied by an inundation caused by the storm resulted in the loss, the official elaborated.
Electric generators could not provide the required power for the freezers to work either, he added.
Unusable fish are kept inside thick plastic bags.
Typhoon Doksuri, which was considered the strongest to hit Vietnam in the past decade, made landfall in the north-central region on Friday last week, packing winds of 103 to 133km an hour and squalls of up to 183km per hour.
Nine people were killed and four others went missing during the storm.
Ha Tinh Province suffered damages worth over VND6 trillion ($263.8 million).
In Cam Nhuong Commune, 52 houses were devastated, of which 10 were completely destroyed.
A resident displays two fish that await disposal.
A crane is used to pick up the bags of spoiled fish.
Fish are buried in a large hole.
Chemicals are used to eliminate the unpleasant smell.
Houses are damaged after the storm in the coastal Cam Nhuong Commune.
Some houses are completely knocked down.
A representative of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper offers support for a family in Cam Nhuong Commune.
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Authorities in Vinh Long Province, located in Vietnams Mekong Delta, have reported the areas first Zika victim.
The provincial Preventive Medicine Center announced on Tuesday that N.H.K., 63, residing in Trung Chanh Commune, Vung Liem District, was the first patient to be diagnosed with the mosquito-borne Zika disease.
K. has been put under close supervision, while measures have been taken to prevent the spread of the disease.
Initial information reveals that the patient had gone to the southern province of Dong Nai prior to his diagnosis in Vinh Long.
Twenty-seven Zika cases had been recorded in seven Vietnamese provinces and cities in the first seven months of this year, among which Ho Chi Minh City has the highest number of patients, Tran Dac Phu, head of the General Department of Preventive Medicine, stated at a conference in late July.
Zika is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by the Aedes mosquitoes, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
People with Zika can exhibit symptoms including a mild fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or a headache that normally lasts between two and seven days, the WHO said.
The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention said on its website that the virus can be transmitted via two species of mosquitoes, the Aedes aegypti and the Aedes albopictus, both infamous for spreading dengue, chikungunya, and other known viruses.
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The life of revered Irish comedian Dave Allen is to be dramatised in a one hour drama, Dave Allen At Peace.
Allen, whose Dave Allen Show ran from 1972-1986, will be played by Aidan Gillen (aka Game of Thrones very own Littlefinger). He received his first big break in Australia, hosting Tonight With Dave Allen on Nine in 1963 before later being fired.
Written by Stephen Russell (Were Doomed: The Dads Army Story, Peaky Blinders), the drama will explore how Allens comedy genius was shaped by the tragic loss of his father, his brother and his finger. How he survived decades of the Roman Catholic Churchs wrath, death threats from the IRA and a ban by Irish and Australian TV, only to have his television career end in controversy when he used the F-word in an innocuous joke.
It will be structured in affectionate homage to Allens original television format. From his famous bar stool, the comic will reflect on his formative years and showbiz career. Flashbacks, some visualised as comedy sketches, will intercut his bar stool repartee bringing significant moments to life.
BBC Shane Allen, Controller of Comedy and Commissioning says: Dave Allen defined and pushed at the boundaries of where television comedy were set and paved the way for modern stand-up to tackle controversial themes and taboos. This film explores what shaped his trail-blazing career and celebrates this hugely popular comedian who ridiculed authority figures with a twinkle in his eye, a glass of whiskey and the most talked about finger in comedy history.
Martin Clunes has his next drama project sorted with his production company Buffalo Pictures to produce Manhunt for ITV.
Manhunt is the real life story of how the murder of French National, Amelie Delagrange in 2004 was eventually linked to the murders of Marsha McDonnell in 2003 and the abduction and murder of Milly Dowler as she travelled home from school in 2002.
Clunes will play former London Metropolitan police detective DCI Colin Sutton who determinedly and tenaciously pursued serial killer Levi Bellfield.
Based on Suttons memoirs, it is written by Ed Whitmore (Silent Witness, Rillington Place, Strike Back)
Walking home following a night out with friends, 22 years old Amelie was savagely attacked and struck several times on the back of the head with a hammer.
Although relatively experienced in murder investigation, DCI Sutton was assigned to the case by Londons Metropolitan Police. Hard working and instinctive, Sutton dedicated himself to finding Amelies killer. With very little evidence, his painstaking approach and the diligence of his fellow officers gradually led to breakthroughs in the case. Not to be underestimated, Sutton never ruled out similarities to the murders of Marsha McDonnell and Milly Dowler in the same southwest corner of London despite superior officers refusing to make the connection.
ITVs Head of Drama Polly Hill said, ITV has a strong tradition of bringing these important true stories to screen, so we are proud to commission Manhunt from Buffalo Pictures. With the full co-operation of ex DCI Colin Sutton, Manhunt dramatises his fight to find Amelies killer, Levi Bellfield. It is a powerful, compelling script from Ed Whitmore, which illustrates how a dedicated and resilient police officer was determined to leave no stone unturned. I am delighted that Martin Clunes is to play Colin Sutton, in what will be a powerful and unmissable performance.
Producer Philippa Braithwaite: Ed Whitmore has written a very sensitive and accurate portrayal of this significant case based extensively on DCI Colin Suttons very personal memoirs during his years as a senior police officer. We are very pleased to be producing Manhunt for ITV.
Manhunt will be directed by Marc Evans (Trauma, Safe House, Hinterland) and produced by Philippa Braithwaite (Doc Martin, Arthur & George) and filming will begin in the London area in March 2018.
Expect Seven, or possibly ABC, to go after this one for Australia.
Doc Martin returns to ABC on October 1 with a final season expected in 2018.
Season 5 of Chicago P.D. will screen on Universal in early October, two weeks after its US return.
This season of Chicago Police Departments elite Intelligence Unit will feature its 100th episode.
Combatting the citys most heinous crimes, the priority of Detective Sergeant Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) and his intelligence team has always been to protect their great city, bringing criminals to justice by any means necessary. Facing a new day and age in Chicago, Police are under siege and under a microscope. The Federal Government, politicians and local citizens put pressure on the department as their brand of justice is challenged. Racial tensions, political ambitions and new regulations play significant roles in how the squad functions. With police reform in full swing, the team is forced to navigate treacherous conditions in their pursuit of justice.
Tuesday, October 10 at 8.30pm on Universal.
Help India!
Dhaka/New York, (IANS): Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged Myanmar to take back 420,000 Rohingya Muslims who have taken refuge in her country and also called for an end to propaganda that labelled the ethnic group as Bengalis.
We have told Myanmar that they will have to take back their citizens. Provide security for them, she said on Tuesday at a reception by her Awami Leagues US unit in New York where she is attending the UN General Assembly.
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The Prime Minister said Bangladesh was making diplomatic efforts to persuade Myanmar to take back the Rohingyas who have fled violence in Rakhine state.
But the Myanmar government is not responding to the calls. Rather, Myanmar is laying landmines along the border to stop the return of Rohingyas to their homeland, she was quoted as saying by bdnew24.com.
Referring to her recent visit to the Coxs Bazar refugee camp, she said it reminded her of the situation during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971.
When the Pakistani forces burned down our houses and killed our people, around 10 million people crossed the border into India. Now they (Rohingyas) are in danger and we definitely need to give them shelter.
Hasina called for greater international pressure on Myanmar over the crisis which unfolded in the past three weeks.
The Rohingya refugees began fleeing Myanmar from August 25 when Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) rebels attacked police checkposts and killed 12 security personnel, triggering a military crackdown.
Myanmar has said its military operations in Rakhine were in response to the August attack and that the military was battling terrorists.
Hasina said Myanmar was spreading propaganda and calling the Rohingyas Bengalis and demanded that be given Myanmar citizenship.
She also presented a six-point proposal over the Rohingya crisis at a meeting of Islamic nations on the sidelines of the UN assembly.
The proposals included an immediate end to violence against Rohingya Muslims, creation of safe zones in Myanmar for them and urgent humanitarian assistance for the refugees from OIC countries until they can return to Myanmar.
Hasina urged the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to unite and resolve the crisis before it is too late. Bangladesh is ready to join any joint initiative on the issue.
If the situation in Myanmars Rakhine state persists, UN agencies estimate the total number of refugees entering Bangladesh may hit one million.
Hasina is expected to speak on the Rohingya issue in her General Assembly address on September 21 and then meet UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
Help India!
Agartala, (IANS): A journalist working for a local television channel was allegedly killed in an attack by tribal party cadres in Tripura on Wednesday, police said.
Police said that agitated members of Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) and CPI-Ms tribal wing Tripura Rajaer Upajati Ganamukti Parishad (TRUGP) gathered at Mandai in western Tripura after Tuesdays series of violent attacks across the state.
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Since Tuesday, prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) were promulgated in more than 10 places of West Tripura and Khowai districts, including Mandai.
Police resorted to lathicharge and dispersed the mob in Mandai as they assembled there violating the prohibitory orders. The IPFT members killed journalist Shantanu Bhowmik, 28, during the melee. Police later recovered his body and brought it to government-run Govind Ballabh Pant Medical College and Hospital, a police official said.
Bhowmik along with his colleagues had gone to Mandai to cover the development there.
Later, Deputy Inspector General of Police Arindam Nath told IANS that police subsequently arrested four IPFT members from the spot, 35 km north of here.
Wednesdays incident at Mandai was an upshot of Tuesdays series of violent attacks across the state.
On Tuesday, over 60 members of TRUGP were injured in separate attacks allegedly by rival IPFT cadres at 12 places in Tripura.
The injured also included women and a police official. Of the 60 injured, 11 TRUGP members were seriously wounded and were admitted to the government-run medical college and hospital here.
TRUGP President Jitendra Chowdhury said: The IPFT members attacked the TRUGP men and women when the latter were coming in vehicles to Agartala from different places in Tripura to attend a party rally here.
The IPFT cadres also burnt down at least two buses in which the TRUGP men were travelling, though no one was injured.
The TRUGP rally was addressed by Chief Minister and CPI-M politburo member Manik Sarkar, party President and Lok Sabha member Jitendra Chowdhury, and Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) Chief Executive member Radha Charan Debbarma, among other leaders.
The IPFT and the Twipraland State Party have been agitating for upgrading the existing TTAADC to a separate tribal state.
Let's clear up the confusion about the outrageous tab for the EU. I know it involves a little bit of maths and few of us love maths, but bear with me it's very straightforward. (The figures are huge so I've rounded them).
A) Amount we hand over to the EU every year 350 million per week 18.2 billion per year. B) Rebate won by Mrs Thatcher in the 80's (Always demanded back by EU) 6 billion per year. C) Amount EU says it returns to us for farmers and other UK science, education etc projects. 6.7 billion per year. D) Net payment to EU from UK, (what we give minus everything we get back) 5.5 billion per year or 106 million per week.
5,500,000,000.00 free extra money every year, plus control of our own laws, borders and trade.
Huzzah. Not too shabby I'd say.
That means even if we keep funding every EU project, both valuable and ludicrous, channelling the same cash into science, farming and education that the left keep screaming will be lost, we will still be up by 106 million pounds every week. It is also indisputable that the figure would continue going up, indeed by the time we leave in 2019 the gross figure (A) is predicted to rise from 350 million to 375 million per week. It is also beyond doubt that the excesses including private jets for Jean Claude and the lack of accountability (no one can remember when the last auditor stated the EU accounts were true and accurate) are scandalous and show no sign of improving.
What Boris said and why
What Boris carefully stated was that the UK could take back control of the 350 million and he is correct. We could choose to spend that money differently. The 106 million is undisputed extra money the 244 million could if so prioritised, go into hospitals at the expense of farmers and scientists for example.
So Boris was correct! But why begin the debate again? Possibly it was a trap for fools and plenty rushed in where angels feared to tread. Unless Sir David Norgrove, Head of the UK Statistics Authority, has evidence of The Foreign Secretary saying something far more damning than has come out to this point he should consider resigning.
He is a public servant and in that role should not try to influence political issues. He jumped on an issue apparently incorrectly and demonstrated his support for Remain, as too many public servants have done and continue to do - Mark Carney Head of the Bank of England leaps to mind.
Perhaps Boris wanted to influence the type of Brexit we end up with. Amber Rudd and Phillip Hammond seem to be urging a capitulating Brexit that risks betraying democracy. Boris may have wished to stiffen Mrs May's resolve. Ms Rudd may be better served devoting more time to her own constituency, otherwise her wafer-thin majority might disappear and she could be looking for new employment rather than managing one of the great offices of state after the next election.
Don't rock the boat you fools, we're winning!
On the whole, although he was correct, I do not think he was wise to raise the issue again and make a speech about his vision for the UK after leaving the EU. It detracted from a great moment and highlighted divisions within the Conservative Cabinet.
The defeatist moaners wailed explanations about how it had taken the EU seven years to negotiate a trade deal with Canada and swore to everyone that leaving would destroy those opportunities for the UK. In one brief but tremendous visit Teresa May knocked all that tut and depression out of the window. Canada through its Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, demonstrated a wise desire to work with Britain immediately to ensure both countries continued to benefit and displayed an admirable warmth and respect.
Many news outlets including the BBC noted this vital development grudgingly and in passing, but ran with the headline that Teresa May was facing a leadership challenge from Johnson amid infighting within the Cabinet.
Outstanding opportunities
Revolting anti-British reporting it's true, but it was unwise of Boris as well as Amber Rudd to allow the left wing press an open goal. More discipline must be demonstrated if we are to seize the outstanding opportunities on offer and keep the most appalling shower of a shadow government well away from power. As I stressed in a previous article, Not Now Boris.
A deadly earthquake has been raging through various states of Mexico, the worst of which is the country's capital, Mexico City. Over 200 people have been killed in the ensuing chaos from the earthquake, including 22 children who have been found dead in a primary school that collapsed in the quake. Mexican President Neito has spoken out in response to the earthquake, saying that the country will stand "united" in the face of this adversity. Now, the rest of the World are voicing their support.
Everyone from the Vatican to Donald Trump has responded
Pope Francis has made a statement in Rome, speaking to a crowd of pilgrims, telling them that he was praying for the victims of the earthquake in Mexico City, including those wounded by it, the rescue workers desperately working to save them, and the families of those involved. Mexico is a heavily Catholic country, and the Pope said, "In this moment of pain, I want to express my closeness and prayers to all the beloved Mexican people."
US President Donald Trump has even spoken to show his support for the Mexican people at this time. He's famous for his hate speech about Mexico, with some attributing the success of his election campaign to his promise to build a wall between the United States and Mexico.
But now that the capital city of Mexico is being consumed by destruction by forces of nature, even Trump has sympathy for them (or at least the veneer of sympathy), tweeting, "God bless the people of Mexico City. We are with you and will be there for you."
National Cheeseburger Day is celebrated every year on September 18th. Cheeseburgers are one of the most delicious and mouth-watering sandwiches that have been enjoyed by Americans since the 1920's.
Different states within the United States celebrate this day in different ways. However, one of the best and most common way to celebrate the invention of the cheeseburger is for local fast-food stores to offer their customers special deals or free burgers on that one day of the year.
Burger chains and diners offering deals today
Based on the popularity and love of cheeseburgers, there is a very good chance that the millions of diners and food chains around the country offered some kind of deal for their participation in National cheeseburger Day.
Fast-food chains like McDonald's and Burger King offered deals on National Cheeseburger Day, so lots of people checked in with their local store. Places like Farmer Boys, a popular chain in California and Nevada, priced their Cheese cheeseburgers at just $1.00 but customers were limited to only one. There were plenty of apps, coupons, and individual burger stores offering specials.
Differences in the way we eat them
Even if most Americans, except vegetarians - of course, share a common love for these sizzling sandwiches, the commonality ends there.
As many millions of people there are in this great land of ours, that is as many variations on how to cook, eat and season these tantalizing sandwiches that there are.
Hamburger with cheese
In its simplest form, a cheeseburger is a hamburger that is topped with cheese.
Depending on if you make your own, or buy them at a fast food restaurant, the cheese will either be processed, or you can add mozzarella, cheddar, blue cheese, Swiss, and any combination or variation of any cheese that melts.
Normally, the cheese will be added to the hamburger while the patty is cooking, but just before the beef patty is entirely cooked, allowing the cheese to melt completely.
Toppings optional
As with other sandwiches, your cheeseburger may, or may not, include toppings. Bacon, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise are the most popular toppings, but that is just the start. Whatever you can think of, you can add to your beef patty.
Community Table Parade wrote that "When German immigrants began arriving in New York and Chicago, many earned a living by opening restaurants.
Menus frequently featured Hamburg steak, an Americanized version of the German offering." Nevertheless, the person who invented the sandwich version is unknown.
The invention has probably become on one of the most diverse meals in the USA as it's all about you, and your taste buds.
When it became clear that Donald Trump would become the new President of the United States, it was only a matter of time before First Lady Melania Trump highlighted a cause that she would tackle during her time in the White House. While Melania claims that she has taken on ending cyberbullying, Hillary Clinton isn't impressed with the effort she has put in.
Hillary on Melania
After Donald Trump first announced he was running for president back in the summer of 2015, it didn't too long before it became apparent that he wouldn't see eye to eye with the majority of the mainstream media.
From his controversial remarks and Twitter tirades, to his questionable policy proposals, the former host of "The Apprentice" found just enough support to become the GOP nominee and later pull off the upset against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Despite this, those who oppose Trump have not held back their thoughts, with those on the left of the political spectrum often finding ways to protest against the administration. One area that has caused many to speak out has been in the form of Trump's use of Twitter, with critics accusing the president of cyberbullying his critics. The irony of Trump's actions on social media come when lined up with Melania Trump's number one focus in the White House; ending cyberbullying.
After nine months, Melania has done little to advance her initiative, which Clinton was quick to comment on during an interview with Mic on September 19.
EXCLUSIVE: Hillary Clinton says Melania Trump isnt doing enough to fight cyberbullying https://t.co/Ozu2CY23FH pic.twitter.com/JQTcgQluOt Mic (@mic) September 19, 2017
While speaking to the internet magazine Mic earlier this week, Hillary Clinton was questioned about her thoughts on Melania Trump's attempt to end cyberbullying.
When asked if she believed Melania had been doing enough to curb bullying on the internet, the former Secretary of State replied, "No, no and, look, I dont think anybody is doing enough on cyberbullying."
"If she were serious and able to follow through on it, I bet there would be so many people who would be willing to try and help her out on that," Hillary Clinton said of Melania Trump's lack of effort on the issue.
Not stopping there, Clinton expressed a need to move faster when it comes to stopping cyberbullying, warning that it "has a particularly damaging effect on young people."
Hypocrisy?
The most common reaction to Melania Trump speaking out against cyberbullying was shock. Due to Donald Trump's actions on Twitter, including his controversial and often offensive behavior in attacking his critics, many have pointed to the alleged hypocrisy of the first lady whose husband is known to some as the most famous cyberbully in the world.
The road to true romance is paved with shared experiences and for the next four years a Texas couple will share the experience of sitting inside a federal prison. U.S. District Court Judge Marcia A. Crone sentenced Amanda Lynn Mollison, 29, and Justin Chadwick Brown, 39. to spend 51 months in prison for their roles in a meth conspiracy.
It wasn't your typical drug conspiracy, according to the grand jury indictment. Brown was already sitting in the Collin County, Texas Detention Center facing charges of stealing, the latest on a long rap sheet that includes 13 convictions, mostly for fraud, theft, and meth charges.
He probably was not going to be behind bars long on his current charge, but he couldn't wait until he was on the streets again to get high, according to the indictment.
Brown was needing a pick-me-up message from his girlfriend and did not care what kind of message she sent in his Greeting Card, as long as the card received a special coating. When the plan was concocted is not exactly clear, but Brown and Mollison, who also has a shorter rap sheet, but has frequently strayed to the wrong side of the law with arrests for credit card abuse, tampering with government records, and fraud, discussed strategy during telephone conversations while he was in the Collin County Detention Center. Neither realized that calls are routinely recorded.
Texas prisoner wanted girlfriend to work on card so he could get high
On September 30, 2016, according to the indictment, Brown asked Mollison "to work on my card tonight" because "I want to get high." Brown called her from the jail five days later to receive a status update on their project. "Did you do what I asked you to do?
he asked. She reported she had. Brown called her again the next day and asked if the greeting card had been mailed. She said it had.
The plan was thwarted when Sheriff's Office employees intercepted the greeting card when it arrived on October 11. They discovered that both the card and the envelope contained "a detectable quantity of a methamphetamine."
In fact, Mollison had not been discreet as she did her best to see that her boyfriend received what he wanted.
The greeting card and the envelope were both soaked with the illegal substance. After that, Collin County authorities began reviewing the recorded telephone calls and uncovered the conspiracy. The U.S. Postal Service was called in and eventually, a federal grand jury indicted the couple.
On Tuesday, Donald Trump made his first appearance at the United Nations General Assembly and addressed dozens of world leaders who were in attendance. Following his controversial speech, Trump received massive backlash despite a failed defense by White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Sanders on Trump
In the over two years that Donald Trump has been on the scene has a politician, he's dominated the news cycle due to his inflammatory remarks and controversial campaign style. Whether it's his comments about illegal immigrants from Mexico being "rapists" and "murderers," to his non-stop attacks on Twitter, the former host of "The Apprentice" has not been one to hold back his thoughts.
Since pulling off the historic upset over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the general election last November, Trump has continued his loose style, which has contributed to his approval rating dropping to just 35 percent. When the president arrived at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday morning, no one knew exactly what he would say. During his speech, Trump left many looking dumbfounded, including members of his own administration, especially when he referred to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as "Rocket Man," before threatening to "destroy" the country. In response, Sarah Huckabee Sanders did her best to defend the president with a tweet on September 19.
Presidents have always been clear to deter threats: We could, obviously, destroy North Korea with our arsenals -@BarackObama last year Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) September 19, 2017
Taking to her Twitter feed to come to the aid of Donald Trump and his speech to the United Nations, Sarah Huckabee Sanders was quickly debunked for taking an old Barack Obama quote out of context.
"Presidents have always been clear to deter threats: 'We could, obviously, destroy North Korea with our arsenals' -@BarackObama last year," Sanders tweeted. Obama's remarks came from an interview with CBS News during his last year in office.
Sarah Sanders Defends Trumps Destroy North Korea Remarks by Taking Obama Way Out of Context https://t.co/aSlvuoVKsO pic.twitter.com/fjQwGTgb7g Mediaite (@Mediaite) September 19, 2017
However, Sarah Huckabee Sanders conveniently left out the rest of Barack Obama's quote, which read.
"We could, obviously destroy North Korea with our arsenals. But aside from the humanitarian costs of that, they are right next door to our vital ally, Republic of Korea."
Twitter reacts
Within minutes of Sarah Huckabee Sanders' tweet, critics of the administration were quick to point out the blunder. "Ah, the joys of taking things out of context to lie," Kurt Eichenwald of Newsweek tweeted out.
When you omit the rest of his statement YOU LIE!!!! JimWyler (@JimWyler) September 19, 2017
In some sort of Barn? Trump Pinata (@pinata_trump) September 19, 2017
I think it's only $178k/year. Amazing. Edward R Keating (@edbeerrn) September 19, 2017
"Jesus jumped up Christ, Sarah, really? REALLY? How do you get up out of bed every day and do this sh*t? How much does the human soul cost?" one Twitter user wrote. "....how do you sleep at night?" Jeremy Wein tweeted back.
Ah, the joys of taking things out of context to lie. pic.twitter.com/Z4zz2FrYgp Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) September 19, 2017
Do you enjoy lying and intentionally misleading your fellow citizens for a living? I really don't understand why you do this. Michael Frey (@cmichaelfrey) September 19, 2017
Girlfriend. Being clear on deterring threats is cool. Name calling from one crazy to another, ON THE UN FLOOR, is insane. chris crandall-hyman (@chrisehyman) September 19, 2017
could vs will. There is a great deal of nuance that @realDonaldTrump seems to not be interested in. Phil (@loveservegrow) September 19, 2017
"When you omit the rest of his statement YOU LIE!!!!" yet another tweet read.
"Do you enjoy lying and intentionally misleading your fellow citizens for a living? I really don't understand why you do this," another social media user wrote. As the backlash continued, it became clear that those who oppose Donald Trump were not going to let up anytime soon.
Just 24 hours after Donald Trump gave his now infamous speech to the United Nations General Assembly, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was sent out to do damage control. While an interview on Fox News is normally a safe space for the administration, Sanders had a difficult time explaining the negative reaction to the speech by some members of the White House.
Sanders on Trump
In his first appearance at the United Nations General Assembly since taking office, Donald Trump stood in front of dozens of world leaders on Tuesday morning and gave a speech that might have gone over well with his core voting base, but resulted in massive backlash from the majority of the media and critics.
During the speech in question, the former host of "The Apprentice" mocked North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, labeling him "Rocket Man." Not stopping there, Trump went on to threaten potential war against the rival nation, stating, "If forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea." As expected, those who oppose Trump were quick to lash out, but it was the visuals of his own administration looking dumbfounded that caught the eye of many, most notably Chief Of Staff John Kelly who was seen with his head in his hand during the speech. During a September 20 interview on Fox News, Sarah Huckabee Sanders was forced to defend Trump's speech, as well as explain Kelly's controversial reaction.
Joining the hosts of "Fox & Friends" on Wednesday morning was Sarah Huckabee Sanders who did her best to smooth things over in regards to Donald Trump and his speech at the United Nations General Assembly. Co-host Brian Kilmeade brought up John Kelly's reaction, stating, "He's (Kelly) either holding his head or showing exasperation or staring at the ground...people are looking at those photos and saying hes unhappy with the president."
In an attempt to downplay John Kelly's response, Sarah Huckabee Sanders wrote it off as nothing more than exhaustion.
"I would certainly not read anything into that picture," Sanders said. "Just like the rest of us, we're tired trying to keep up with this president who is working hard every day to help America," she added.
Sanders on "Rocket Man"
Co-host Ainsley Earhardt went on to press Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Donald Trump's use of the nickname "Rocket Man" to describe Kim Jong-un, with the press secretary doing her best to dismiss the backlash.
"If the mainstream media thinks it's bad, most Americans probably like it," Sanders said.
In response to Hillary Clinton's criticism of the speech, Sarah Huckabee Sanders didn't mention the former Secretary of State by name, but once again came to the defense of Donald Trump. "Look, everyone wants to talk about Donald Trump escalating things. He isn't, North Korea is," Sanders noted, before adding, "he's going to protect Americans. Protect out allies."
SOFIA - A Bulgaria-China business forum that was held here on Tuesday drew representatives from some 50 companies and aimed to deepen bilateral ties between the countries.
Organized by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Beijing Sub-Council (CCPIT Beijing), the event provided information to help Bulgarian and Chinese companies do business with each other.
Addressing participants, Lin Bin, vice-chairperson of CCPIT Beijing, said CCPIT and BCCI had maintained very good relations.
Lin said she sincerely hoped that the efforts of the two business associations would lead to Chinese and Bulgarian companies achieving better results.
Vasil Todorov, general secretary of BCCI, said in turn that Bulgarian business was interested in conducting more of such events with Chinese companies.
Todorov added that BCCI and CCPIT Beijing had been working successfully since 1985, and updated their cooperation agreement in 2015.
According to the Bulgarian National Statistical Institute, China was Bulgaria's second largest export destination outside the European Union (EU) and the third largest non-EU importer in 2016.
Guideline designed to build trust in online matchmaking platforms
China moved a step toward helping people find love on Monday, with the issuance of a guideline governing dating websites.
Government bodies will coordinate to promote real-name registrations and authentication on dating sites and crack down on marital fraud and other crimes related to matchmaking services, according to the guideline issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the National Health and Family Planning Commission.
The number of singles in the country remains large, while available online dating platforms come with doubts about authenticity.
"It's a common need of young adults and a big issue in life to fall in love and get married," the guideline said. "The work related to young adults' love and marriage will not only affect their healthy development but is also related to social stability and harmony."
Vowing to promote trustworthy matchmaking services that will meet the diversified needs of young adults by mobilizing nongovernmental bodies and social forces, the guideline also said "there should be more channels for them to voice their needs and comment" in matchmaking services.
With about 200 million unmarried people in the country, the Chinese government has kept marriage on its agenda. The guideline was drafted to help execute the Middle and Long-Term Youth Development Plan (2016-25).
Published in April, it was the first 10-year development plan for youth, defined in the plan as those aged from 14 to 35. Marriage is one of the 10 categories it covers.
He Junke, a senior official of the CYL Central Committee, said in May that youth organizations, including the CYL, will help young adults tie the knot.
While many netizens gave the government a thumbs-up for its high-profile attention to young people, some say the guideline is depressing.
"Growing up in the traditional Chinese cultural atmosphere, I also think it's right to get married at the proper time to enjoy a happy family life. But it happens that we may fail to find our Mr Rights in time," said 24-year-old Han Yanni, who works for a security company in Beijing.
She said she has been pushed by her parents to get married. The guideline just brings more pressure and makes her think of herself as a loser, she said.
The guideline was published after a suicide made headlines for days and triggered widespread concern about the authenticity of dating websites.
On Sept 7, tech entrepreneur Su Xiangmao, 37, killed himself in part because his ex-wife had hidden the fact that she had been married briefly before, according to the note he left behind.
The couple met in March on dating website Jiayuan.
According to the suicide note, the woman told him about her previous marriage just one day ahead of their marriage registration in June.
Su wrote that his wife's character changed after they got married, and they divorced on July 18, after Su agreed to give her a villa in Hainan province and 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) she demanded for mental distress. He added that she also threatened to tell the authorities he had been evading his taxes.
houliqiang@chinadaily.com.cn
A victim of identity theft has received a college acceptance letter in Luoyang, Henan province, and now has a chance to realize her dream.
Wang Nana, 34, said she registered as a freshman majoring in marketing at the Luoyang Institute of Science and Technology, using the acceptance letter on Sept 18, something that she has dreamed about for 14 years.
"I am joining in military training with my classmates on the playground now," she told China Daily.
She said she was emotionally moved when she received the acceptance letter.
In 2003, she took the national college entrance exam, or gaokao. However, another woman - Zhang Yingying - stole Wang's ID and entered Zhoukou Vocational and Technical College in Zhoukou, Henan.
She never learned that she had been admitted to college until she applied for a bank loan in 2015. She discovered that her hopes for a better future had been upstaged by Zhang.
Zhang later graduated with a certificate that carried her own photograph but Wang's name and ID number, landing a job as a teacher at a vocational school.
The truth came out in March 2016. After a police investigation, nine officials were punished and Zhang's student status was revoked.
A bribe paid by Zhang's father, combined with lax record keeping in Zhoukou allowed Zhang to assume Wang's spot and graduate with a degree. Zhang and her father were both convicted of bribery and fraud in 2016.
Wang Qian contributed to this story.
qixin@chinadaily.com.cn
(China Daily 09/20/2017 page4)
BEIJING - A new anti-telefraud app that can identify phone numbers used in frauds and filter out phishing websites is being shown at an internet security event in Shanghai that concludes on Sept 24.
The annual event, first held in 2014, is part of the country's effort to provide security in cyberspace.
The app was co-developed by the anti-telecom crime office of the State Council and e-commerce giant Alibaba.
The Central Leading Group for Cyberspace Affairs was established in 2014 and has enacted a cybersecurity law and regulations, tightened supervision and cracked down on online crime.
"Cybersecurity includes the security of the people as well as the nation," said Shen Yi, deputy director of the Cyberspace Governance Study Center at Fudan University. He said internet security cannot be evaluated solely by technical indicators but also had to bring public benefits.
China's web users are enjoying a cleaner internet environment since various governmental departments have acted to clean up cyberspace. In a recent campaign led by the National Office Against Pornographic and Illegal Publications, an investigative team seized 50 suspects, destroyed 118 websites and took down 913 online billboards that were considered pornographic or that traded in personal information.
The office closed 73 illegal livestreaming platforms in the first half of this year and imposed lifetime bans on 1,879 streamers who severely violated regulations.
In 2016 alone, Chinese law enforcement confiscated more than 16 million illegal publications and banned more than 14,000 websites deemed harmful.
Internet forums are also being targeted. The Cyberspace Administration of China published a list of rules in August, requiring real-name registration on bulletin boards. Many believe it will contain the spread of obscenity, violence, terrorism and false information. The regulations will take effect on Oct 1.
To standardize the way internet companies collect, store, use and transfer private information, several government departments have examined the privacy policies of 10 popular domestic internet products and services. The move aims to prevent criminals from illegally obtaining personal information from the internet. Internet companies are also playing an active role in the fight against cybercrimes.
In May, a piece of malicious software called WannaCry attacked computers worldwide. Internet security companies, including Qihoo 360, Tencent and Kingsoft Security, have since increased their security services.
A total of 1,116 "internet police offices" have been set up by the Ministry of Public Security and internet companies including Baidu and Tencent in an attempt to investigate illegal information posted on their websites.
Twenty-one universities have cybersecurity colleges, and China plans to create up to six international-standard internet security institutes over the next decade.
But a gap remains in the education of cybersecurity professionals. As of last year, China had only 143 internet security majors across 126 universities - only 10 percent of the country's technology universities.
Xinhua
Editor's note: In the lead up to the 19th Communist Party of China National Congress, which begins Oct 18, chinadaily.com.cn is focusing on delegates to the congress.
Li Yufeng (left), 34, joined the army in 2002, and heads the SWAT team of the Heilongjiang Corps of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force. [Photo by Li Jianjun/Provided to China Daily]
At first sight, Li Yufeng's thin and not very tall figure makes it hard to believe he can complete the task of climbing five floors along the drain pipe outside the building with his bare hands in just 10 seconds.
Beyond that, he can shoot a coin from 100 meters away and put together a disassembled gun in 20 seconds with his eyes covered.
Li, 34, joined the army in 2002, and heads the SWAT team of the Heilongjiang Corps of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force.
However, he did not do well in physical fitness tests in the very beginning of his enlistment.
He ranked after most of his comrades on 5-kilometer run tests several times continuously, which made him quite uncomfortable and so he began to amplify his effort.
An ambassador rarely speaks for the people of the foreign country where he or she is posted. However, I've heard China's Washington envoy Cui Tiankai speak for the Americans at least twice recently.
On both occasions, he spoke out to counter the rhetoric that threatens to undermine Sino-US trade, even derail bilateral relations, which could harm the interests of the people in both countries.
Cui's first retort came two months ago at a meeting of US governors. The parley followed some ups and downs in China-US relations in the first half of this year, including Washington's decision to impose high "punitive" tariffs on Chinese goods that smacked of protectionism.
Problems in China-US relations mostly come from the federal government, but it is always the US states which end up footing the bill, Cui said at an event that was part of the US National Governors Association's meeting in Providence, Rhode Island, on July 13.
And as it always happens, ultimately the workers, entrepreneurs and overseas students in the US suffer. "This is unfair to them," Cui said. "Congressmen should be very clear about what their voters' needs are, and should know better how to fulfill their obligations to the people in their constituencies."
To understand the extent to which the economic relations between the world's two largest powers are intermingled, one only needs to know that Chinese enterprises have invested in every US state and almost all congressional districts, mostly in the manufacturing sector, and thus helped create 141,000 jobs for Americans.
Overall, the China-US trade volume increased from $2.5 billion in 1979 when the two countries established diplomatic relations, to $524.3 billion last year.
Cui expressed his concerns for the second time last weekend at the Chinese embassy when he was asked to comment on the so-called "secondary sanctions" on China.
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump said in his tweet Washington is considering "stopping all trade with any country doing business with North Korea".
And on Sunday, US Senator Tom Cotton, a Trump ally, talked about "putting pressure on China" again.
Cui said that if someone were to pressure China or impose sanctions on China over the DPRK's repeated missile tests, such an attempt would be "off-target", and it would probably not be supported even by many US citizens. "Workers at US airplane factories, farmers growing soybeans, companies that sell smartphones in China, manufacturers that enjoy large market shares in China, companies in the service sector that have gained trade surplus in China, US states that engage in robust trade with China would all stand against it," the Chinese ambassador said on Sept 15.
China and the US have benefited tremendously from bilateral trade. And people in both countries have the right to reap benefits from a good China-US relationship. Such a right should not be impaired by any means.
Three months ago, I attended a US-China think tank symposium in Des Moines, Iowa, where I got hold of some telling figures and heard anecdotes about bilateral relations.
Last year, General Motors sold 3.87 million automobiles in China, or one car every eight seconds, Hong Lei, China's consul general posted in Chicago, told the symposium on June 12. And McDonald's, which boasts of at least 2,200 stores in China, sells 1,600 hamburgers every minute.
In a visit to the Des Moines-based Principle Financial Group, Hong met the company's president, Dan Houston, who told Hong that by 2030, the world's GDP will be equally distributed among China, the US and the rest of the world.
"He asked me where should he go as a multinational enterprise if he did not go to China?" Hong said. Which shows Cui has addressed the concerns of Houston and his peers.
Contact the writer at huanxinzhao@chinadailyusa.com
Editor's note: The Communist Party of China will hold its 19th National Congress on Oct 18. In the runup to the meeting, China Daily asked two prominent experts to provide their views on developments in China and the country's global leadership.
It was during a meal with 10 elderly law professors in 1998 that Jeffrey S. Lehman, vice-chancellor of NYU Shanghai, was first inspired to become a bridge between his native United States and China.
At the time, he was dean of the University of Michigan Law School and had been invited to China on a business trip. The aging academics, all former faculty at the school, suggested grabbing dinner after hearing he'd be in town.
The professors had helped establish Soochow University Law School in Shanghai in the 1930s. Although the school was closed two decades later, they had all stayed in the city.
"Meeting these people in their 90s, for whom the connection between China and the US had been a big part of their lives, was very emotional for me," Lehman recalled. "They were talking about how symbolically important it was for them that Michigan was coming back to China.
"It had a deep impact on me, and I started thinking about how I wanted to live my life and try to make a contribution. I felt like I was given this opportunity to be a bridge between the US and China."
Lehman went on to become president of Cornell University in New York state, where part of his job was to renew its relationship with China.
In 2008, he accepted his first appointment in China, becoming the first dean of Peking University's School of Transnational Law, which is based in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.
Four years later, he received calls from New York University and the Chinese government asking him to serve as vice-chancellor of NYU Shanghai, the first China-US joint university. He has lived in the eastern metropolis ever since.
"Each year I'm here, I feel more and more rooted in the city," said Lehman, 60, who remarked on the tremendous changes in the city over the past five years.
In particular, the city's art scene has blossomed, he said. "It seems that every time you turn around there's another museum or art gallery opening. You just feel in the city right now a kind of creative energy that makes you happy to get out of bed every morning.
"What I also love about Shanghai is everywhere you look, there's someone from somewhere else," he added. "When I walk on the street I hear Chinese, English, French, German, Dutch and Japanese, and so on."
Yet it is not a recent feeling that Shanghai, and China as a whole, is developing rapidly, according to Lehman.
From his eye-opening trip in 1998, he also recalled a hotel porter who, after helping to carry the US scholar's bags to his room, had asked in fluent English, "Has anyone ever told you that you look a lot like Bill Gates?"
"That was in 1998, and this man spoke terrific English and knew what Bill Gates looked like well enough to make this match. I thought then that China was opening up on a fast track," Lehman said.
Lehman worked for two years in Paris, where he said people can meet citizens from across France and get a sense they have all come to build something important together.
He had that same sense in Shanghai, he said. "I feel like a huge percentage of people come here from elsewhere because there is a sense this is a place that is supposed to be built into something really special to serve the whole country.
"When talented people gather together in one place, great things happen," he added.
NYU Shanghai, which has been designed to produce global citizens for an increasingly globalized world, graduated its first class this spring - more than 260 students from 33 countries.
"We're so proud of them, and we cared deeply to make sure they didn't regret their choice, as they came to a school that did not exist while turning down opportunities to go to famous, well-established schools," Lehman said. "They believed in the concept of NYU Shanghai and believed it would be beneficial to them."
About half of the Class of 2017 will go to graduate schools, mainly in the US, while the rest will find jobs, he said, adding that at least 10 international graduates will work in Shanghai.
What do you feel has been China's biggest achievement over the past five years? What's the most notable change you've observed?
The past five years have been a very important time for China. China has adopted a strategy to avoid the so-called middle-income trap, to push the development of an innovation economy led by private enterprises. It's been remarkable how many companies I've seen that have moved beyond using designs developed elsewhere in the world and adapting them for China. Now, they're creating original designs that have the potential to improve the quality of life for people all over the world.
What three words would you use to describe China today?
Transforming. Sophisticated. Cashless.
What's the biggest challenge China faces, and how do you feel the country can go about overcoming it?
China needs to continue its work to ensure it has universities that will prepare the current generation to lead a happy and successful life in a cosmopolitan age of smart machines, a challenge for universities all over the world. The key to doing that is for China to stick to a strategy, which is decentralized, that says each university needs to develop its own approach and try new things to ensure education keeps up with the talent of the students and with the demands of the outside world.
What are your expectations for the upcoming 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China? What are the key issues you care about most?
I'm especially interested in how the Party will ensure its Standing Committee maintains a diversity of policy perspectives. It's hard with such a small group to sustain the diversity of policy perspectives, but it's important for effective risk management.
What is your impression of President Xi Jinping?
He is a very sophisticated national leader who has a very deep understanding about the effective way to exercise power in a large and complicated society.
How do you view China's role in today's world?
China is one of just a handful of countries whose every action has worldwide implications. What that means is that China has a key voice in every conversation about how countries should cooperate to face challenges, to ensure the world continues to progress. China has the capacity to be a consistent and stable force for peaceful and sustainable global development according to a shared and consistent understanding of international law.
Do you believe that some of China's experiences or practices could be used to solve pressing global problems? If so, what are they?
Two obvious pressing global problems are climate change and the rise of nationalist movements worldwide that are trying to cut off international cooperation and movement of people and ideas. China can be a critical force against both. With climate change, China has an important leadership role in implementation of the Paris Agreement. With respect to the rise of nationalism, China has an important role in showing consistent and sustained commitment to the policy of reform and opening-up.
What do you think China will be like in five years' time? How do you view China's longer-term future?
Over the next five years, we will see China commit even more resources to building a significant welfare state. For people to be able to move to different places without worrying their family will be put at risk, and for people to be able to take risks, it's critical they know their actions will not put them or their family in danger of poverty or at risk of losing their healthcare. I think we will continue to see China invest significant resources in the construction of national systems of health, education and welfare.
zhouwenting@chinadaily.com.cn
(China Daily 09/20/2017 page7)
China and Russia agreed that tensions on the Korean Peninsula must be solved peacefully and the "vicious cycle" must end, when their foreign ministers met on Monday in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi said "the vicious cycle, which is worsening, must be broken", and added that resuming dialogue and peace talks is a necessary step in implementing UN Security Council resolutions regarding the nuclear and missile tests of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The road map China and Russia proposed to solve the peninsula's nuclear issue is "realistic and feasible", and both countries should work to obtain more understanding and support from the international community, Wang said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia shares a "completely identical" position on the issue to that of China's, and the two countries should work together to promote a peaceful solution.
Tuesday also marked the 12th anniversary of the signing of a statement on Sept 19, 2005, at the fourth round of the Six-Party Talks.
In the "9.19" statement, all parties reaffirmed their goal of denuclearizing the peninsula peacefully. The DPRK promised to abandon its nuclear weapons and programs and the United States confirmed it had no intent of attacking or invading the DPRK.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Tuesday the statement's core contents are still the objectives parties involved in the Korean Peninsula issue "crave to achieve".
The spokesman said he believes the parties will be able to find a way to solve the issue if they return to the statement's core ideas.
Contact the writers at wangqingyun@chinadaily.com.cn
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi shakes hands with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres prior to their meeting at UN headquarters in New York on Monday. Brendan McDermid / Reuters
Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China, which attaches great importance to sustainable development, has incorporated "ecological construction" into its national development strategy.
Wang called on developing countries to fully participate in global environmental governance at a summit to launch the Global Pact for the Environment at United Nations headquarters in New York on Tuesday.
The summit, opened by French President Emmanuel Macron, was based on a French proposal for the global pact, aimed at creating a binding international code of environmental law.
Miroslav Lajcak, president of the United Nations General Assembly for the 72nd session; UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the four other permanent members of the UN Security Council - Britain, China, Russia and the US - attended the summit.
Wang affirmed France's key role in international environmental governance. France worked with the international community to reach the Paris Agreement on climate change in 2015.
Wang said China supports strengthening dialogue and cooperation to address sustainable development issues, including environmental protection through multilateral platforms. China welcomes and appreciates France's global pact proposal, he said.
"We have held innovation, coordination, green, open and share as our concepts of development; and we have already incorporated ecological environmental construction into the national development strategy," he said.
President Xi Jinping, at a speech at the UN office in Geneva earlier this year, stressed that "ecological construction" will become an important aspect of a shared international future.
Wang said China is willing to participate in global environmental governance, firmly support and implement the Paris Agreement, and contribute its share to advance a fair and reasonable, win-win cooperative multilateral system of international environmental governance.
Wang said China also believes that in the process of promoting governance cooperation, including the Global Pact for the Environment, interests of all parties need to be taken into account.
He suggested that they adhere to four cardinal principles: Firstly, environmental ssues should be discussed within the framework of sustainable development.
The international community should adhere to the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities", to help developing countries steadily improve the level of environmental governance and sustainable development capacity.
Another principle is "national sovereignty of environmental resources". The fourth principle is insistence on full participation by developing countries.
Guterres said that human beings are all affected by climate change and that the problems could be solved only by a joint effort.
He said that in the coming months there will be a climate change conference in Bonn, Germany; President Macron's climate summit in Paris, and the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya.
"We urgently need to build on these events with even stronger, more coordinated action to reach our 2030 (sustainable development) targets," he said.
Climate roundtable
At an informal roundtable of heads of state and government on climate change on Tuesday, Wang said all countries should implement what they had promised in Paris and firmly enhance cooperation in solving climate change.
Wang said all parties should enhance actions and measures on climate change and make nationally determined contributions toward achieving the goal.
Developed countries should fulfill their promises, offer financial and technological support, capacity building and other assistance within their abilities to help developing countries.
The international community should combine the action on climate change with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and be well prepared for possible challenges while seeking development.
Wang stated that to solve climate change efficiently and successfully implement sustainable development, energy consumption should emphasize green and low-carbon development as well as sustainable use.
Secondly, there should be a push for the reform of the global structure of energy consumption.
Third, he called for international cooperation and multilateral processes in reforming global energy cooperation and a push to establish a win-win and equitable mechanism on climate change.
Zhang Ruinan in New York contributed to this story.
xiaohong@chinadailyusa.com
Rescuers hold a firefighteras he cuts away debris from a flattened building during a search for survivors on Tuesday after a powerful earthquake hit south-central Mexico. YURI CORTEZ / AFP
MEXICO CITY - Desperate rescue workers scrabbled through rubble on Wednesday in a floodlit search for dozens of children feared buried under the rubble of a Mexico City school, one of hundreds of buildings wrecked by the country's most lethal earthquake in a generation.
The magnitude-7.1 quake killed at least 225 people, nearly half of them in the capital, 32 years to the day after a devastating 1985 earthquake and less than two weeks after a powerful tremor killed nearly 100 people in Mexico's south.
China has extended deep condolences to the victims and expressed heartfelt sympathy to their bereaved families, the Mexican government and people in affected areas, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Wednesday. "China has paid attention to the earthquake and the heavy casualties it has caused," Lu said, adding that "China believes that the Mexican people can overcome the disaster and rebuild their lives".
Lu said that some Taiwan compatriots have been trapped in Mexico and one was injured. "The Chinese Foreign Ministry and local Chinese embassy will continue to pay attention to the disaster and offer help to Chinese citizens."
Amid the twisted concrete and steel ruin of the Enrique Rebsamen school, soldiers and firefighters found 22 children and two adults dead, while another 30 children and 12 adults remained missing, President Enrique Pena Nieto said. Bulldozers moved rubble under the buzz and glare of floodlights powered by generators, as parents of students at the school clung to hope their children had survived.
"They keep pulling kids out, but we know nothing of my daughter," said 32-year-old Adriana D'Fargo, her eyes red after hours waiting for news of her 7-year-old.
Parts of colonial-era churches crumbled in the state of Puebla, where the US Geological Survey located the quake's epicenter, about 160 kilometers southwest of the capital, at a depth of 51 km.
REUTERS - XINHUA - AP
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HCM CITY The difficulties involved in developing smart cities and possible solutions were on the agenda of a conference on General Solutions for Smart City (Smart City 360 Degrees) held in HCM City on Tuesday.
Speaking at the opening, Prof Dr Nguyen Ky Phung, deputy director of the citys Department of Science and Technology, said in general a smart city is a city that uses information and communication technology to enhance quality, performance and interactivity of urban services, reduce cost and resource consumption, improve contact between citizens and the government and ensure sustainable development.
In the technology-driven trend of connectivity and interaction, many technologies of Industry 4.0 have become the core technologies for a smart city, Phung, who is also director of the Institute for Computational Science and Technology, said.
The need to use automated and human- interactive devices in management (such as security, energy, transportation, and others) and social security (such as healthcare and education) is also growing rapidly, he said.
HCM City has drafted a master plan for turning into a smart city in 2017-20 period and is seeking contributions and feedback from experts and scientists, he said.
Le Quoc Cuong, deputy director of the citys Department of Information and Communications, said building a smart city and the citys seven breakthrough programmes aim to meet four basic goals: ensure economic growth; improve the quality of living and working; efficient urban management based on forecasts; and enhance public participation in urban management.
A lack of a common database for departments and agencies to share information is among the hurdles to make HCM City a smart city, he said.
Therefore, the city would focus on e-governance and connecting and sharing information and data among departments to improve management efficiency in various sectors, he said.
The database would contain information about socio-economic development policies that can be accessed by businesses, citizens and investors.
The city also plans to enhance interaction between the government, the public and public service providers, create a level playing field for all companies and improve competitiveness and attract more investment, he said.
Phung said, there is a difference between smart and modern cities, he said, pointing out that developed countries like the US, France and the UK have good infrastructure and so are modern cities.
A smart city requires the use of ICT to serve the Government, public and businesses, he explained.
Dr Nguyen Trong of the HCM City Computer Association said five things are needed to build a smart city: defining the basic information the public needs to be provided, creating technologies and the requisite social environment, building common databases, creating a mechanism for getting and analysing information and enabling easy access to technical infrastructure and information services for everyone.
Dr oan Xuan Huy Minh of the Institute for Computational Science and Technology (ICST) said a smart city is a relatively new field in Viet Nam, and so many issues need to be studied and resolved.
Delegates called for creating close linkages between the Government, businesses and science and technology professionals for creating the smart city.
At the event, a Nang shared its experience in implementing e-governance and taking the initial steps for turning into a smart city.
Held by the ICST in collaboration with the HCM City Computer Association and PC World Vietnam magazine, the conference brought together Government agencies in HCM City and other cities and provinces, institutes and universities, businesses and others. VNS
HA NOI Shares declined on the two exchanges on Tuesday as investors increased selling to capitalise on profits after a long rally.
On the HCM Stock Exchange, the VN-Index erased Mondays gains, edging down 0.24 per cent to end at 805.93 points. The key market index increased 0.25 per cent in the previous session.
On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index dropped 0.38 per cent to end at 104.73 points. The northern market index gained 0.62 per cent on Monday.
The overall market breadth was negative with 249 stocks falling, 201 rising and 263 remaining unchanged.
There was no consensus among large-cap stocks as 17 of the top 30 largest shares by market value and liquidity on the southern bourse (VN30) declined and 11 advanced.
Vinamilk (VNM), brewer Sabeco (SAB), Vietcombank (VCB), Mobile World Group (MWG), Masan Group (MSN) and PV Gas (GAS) were among losers.
Stocks which maintained an upward trend included VinGroup (VIC), FLC Faros Construction (ROS), Vietinbank (CTG), BIDV (BID), insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH), IT group FPT (FPT), steelmaker Hoa Phat Group (HPG) and PetroVietnam Drilling and Well Services (PVD).
The fact that many stocks corrected today had created strong pressure on the market, which is proven by the decrease in the afternoon trade, analysts at BIDV Securities Co wrote in a note.
Profit-taking pressure increased after the VN-Index touched the 810 resistance level in early afternoon trade. However, the positive signal was that money shifted from large caps to speculative stocks in the real estate, construction and building materials.
The most active stocks on Tuesday included FLC Group (FLC), Sai Gon Thuong Tin Real Estate (SCR), KLF Joint Venture Global Investment (KLF), Kim Vi Inox Import Export Production (KVC) and C.E.O Group (CEO) with trading volume of between 2-19 million shares each.
According to analysts at Vietnam Investment Securities Co, cash flows tend to look for stocks that are expected to have positive third-quarter earnings. However, there is still a long time to go before the reporting season so the market will likely see large divergence.
Thus, the selection of stocks is very important and investors should be consistent when looking for stocks to increase, analysts said.
Liquidity decreased slightly with a total of 230.4 million shares worth a combined VN4.5 trillion (US$198.2 million) being traded in the two markets, down 9.3 per cent in volume and 2.2 per cent in value compared to the previous session. VNS
HA NOI Viet Nams revenue from information and technology in 2016 reached nearly US$68 billion, posting an 11.49 per cent year-on-year increase.
The figures were announced at a ceremony held in the city on Tuesday on the publication of Viet Nams 2016 White Book on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The annual publication, issued for the past eight years, provides official information and data on the ICT sector. This years edition provided data on 12 areas, including IT application, information safety, telecommunications and broadcasting.
Speaking at the release ceremony, Minister of Information and Communications Truong Minh Tuan said the White Book would help not only Vietnamese people but foreign investors gain an overview of Viet Nams ICT situation, spurring investment.
With the fast steps in ICT development in the past few years, Viet Nam has had a high position in the worlds map of IT services and software outsourcing, Tuan said. Last year, it took the first position in the economic index using mobile applications among six ASEAN countries.
The book also said in the 2015-16 period, 14 new policies were promulgated, contributing to the development of a complete legal framework on ICT. The Law on Information Security was also promulgated on November 19th 2015.
In the telecom sector, after the pilot period, the three big telecom providers of Viettel, VinaPhone and MobiFone were officially granted licence to establish and provide fourth generation (4G) LTE services in October 2016. The countrys telecom market therefore has been seen positive competition.
Last year, the country had 79 telecom companies with total revenue of VN136.5 trillion ($6.16 billion), representing a 1.6 per cent increase from the previous year.
The total number of operating mobile phone subscribers in 2016 was around 128 million, including 36.2 million of broadband subscribers.
IT has become one of economic sectors with a rapid and sustainable growth rate, bringing high revenue and export value and contributing to the countrys GDP.
Revenue from the hardware industry was $58.8 billion, software $3 billion, digital content $739 million and IC services $5 billion.
Viet Nam earned $60.8 billion from exports of IT products last year, contributing VN34.3 trillion to the State budget.
In the area of telecommunications, Viettel is the largest company with 46.7 per cent of market share of 2G and 3G mobilephone subscribers. It was followed by MobiFone with 26.1 per cent, VinaPhone 22.2 per cent, Vietnammobile 2.9 per cent and Gtel 2.1 per cent.
The White Book will be published both in Vietnamese and English versions in October. VNS
QUANG NINH Nearly 50 businesses from the Fujian province of China and Viet Nams northeastern province of Quang Ninh gathered at a seminar in Ha Long City on Tuesday to seek investment and trade co-operation opportunities.
The Fujian enterprises are operating in the fields of industrial production, trade, finance, transport infrastructure, export-import, logistics, IT, high-tech and green energy. Meanwhile, firms from Quang Ninh Province specialise in tourism, auxiliary materials, infrastructure construction and real estate.
Ta uc Quyet, director of the Mai Quyen Tourism One Member Company Limited, said that in the past decade, apart from tourism, his company had co-operated with several Chinese businesses in mining.
He expressed hope that through the seminar, Quang Ninh would further simplify its administrative procedures to facilitate the operation of businesses.
Nguyen uc Tuyen, chairman of the Board of Directors of ong A Group, which specialises in metallurgy, said his group had partnered with foreign counterparts, including those from China, to improve the product quality.
The seminar created an opportunity for the participating enterprises to expand the market and seek co-operation opportunities in trade and investment, thus improving their competitiveness and ability for international integration.
On May 13, the two provinces signed an agreement on establishing friendship relation during the official visit of Vietnamese President Tran ai Quang to China.
In 2016, the total import-export turnover between Fujian and Viet Nam reached US$3.14 billion, posting a 13.9 per cent year-on-year increase. In the first half of the year, the two-way export turnover was $1.77 billion, which was a 10.6 per cent increase from the same period last year, while the import turnover was $570 million, posting a 50.2 per cent year-on-year rise. VNS
HA NOI The 5th International Precision Engineering, Machine Tools and Metalworking Exhibition & Conference featuring the latest technologies and equipment will be organised in Ha Noi on October 11-13.
More than 190 exhibitors from 19 nations and territories, including several newcomers, will display their products and services. It is expected to attract some 5,000 visitors.
Taking place at the Ha Noi International Centre of Exhibition (ICE), the show will be the largest and most diverse edition in its long history, with exhibits covering the entire manufacturing value chain, spread over 4,500sq.m of exhibition space.
The event will see the participation of many international firms and showcase technology solutions that will be introduced for the first time in Viet Nam. These include Big Daishowa, Beijing Jingdiao, Carl Zeiss and Dine, as well as Doosan Infracore, Fischer Instrumentation, Makino and Marposs, along with Mitsubishi Electric, Mitutoyo, Nikon and NT Tool, in addition to Optical Gaging, Renishaw, Sandvik, Sodick and Sumitomo.
Representatives from Viet Nam will be also a highlight at this years event, with prestigious brand names such as Cybertech, Tinh Ha, Bibus, Van Su Loi and CAD/CAM showcasing modern products and solutions specifically designed for the local market.
The exhibition will focus on new products and hands-on experience in metal-forming, laser cutting and machining tools; CNC lathes; milling machines and electric discharge machines; as well as metrology and test equipment; laser systems; and other machine parts.
After over a decade of being part of Viet Nams mechanic sector, we realised that the markets scale in the northern region was half of the southern region. However, this is an open and rich potential market for development. This is the reason we are bringing the exhibition to Ha Noi in particular and the northern region in general, BT Tee, general manager of UBM VES, the organiser said.
Like in previous editions, MTA HANOI 2017 continues to receive staunch support from various international associations, with seven country and territories group pavilions from South Korea (four groups), Singapore, Taiwan (China) and Thailand.
Michael Wang, general manager of Beijing Jingdao Viet Nam said: Our participation in MTA events over the years has enabled us to reach out to Viet Nams evolving manufacturing sector. We have noted that Viet Nams manufacturing capability has grown and as such, its increased appetite for more high-value machinery and solutions.
MTA HANOI 2017 will also have seminars, interactive workshops and lively panel debates on some of the current issues affecting the manufacturing and precision engineering sectors. A wide range of topics will be discussed at the seminars, including new paths to the fourth industrial revolution, Internet of Things (IoT) and smart manufacturing; technological trends and practical applications of Industry 4.0; industrial safety and security solutions; and intellectual property protection in the new era of the industrial revolution.
MTA HANOI 2017 is being organised by UBM VES Viet Nams leading trade exhibition and conference organiser and supported by the VCCI Exhibition Service. VNS
BRUSSELS A forum was held in Brussels, Belgium, on Monday to promote economic ties between Viet Nam and Belgium and other European nations, with over 100 business representatives in attendance.
Deputy Prime Minister Vuong inh Hue, who chaired the event, detailed Viet Nams socio-economic development plans and highlighted the countrys role in connecting European firms with the AsiaPacific market. The Vietnamese government pledged to continue building a transparent and friendly environment for investors, Hue said. He encouraged Belgian and European firms to hasten the signing and ratification of the Viet Nam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which is expected to create opportunities for enterprises on both sides.
Hue added that they should invest in common interest sectors, particularly manufacturing, hi-tech industries, infrastructure and the environment, as well as finance banking, agro-forestry-fishery, food processing and energy, in addition to Information Communications Technology (ICT) and pharmaceuticals.
The Deputy PM called on investors to study opportunities to become strategic partners of Vietnamese State-owned enterprises during the equitisation and divestment process. Nothing can get in the way of boosting stronger relations between Viet Nam and Belgium and the EU in general, he said. Belgian and European enterprises lauded the socio-economic achievements Viet Nam has made over the years. They showed interest in investment opportunities in Viet Nam and noted the countrys important position in business links between the EU and Asia-Pacific. They also made recommendations to improve the Vietnamese investment climate, including strengthening dialogues between the government and enterprises. Most participants praised the potential role of EVFTA in creating a legal framework and opportunities for firms on both sides.
On the same day, the Deputy PM had separate meetings with leaders of a number of groups, such as the Beverage AB InBev Group, the steel wire transformation and coatings Bekaert S.A Group of Belgium and the Pharma Group Vietnam. During the meetings, he informed the groups of Viet Nams policies on developing sectors relevant to them and encouraged them to connect with Vietnamese firms to expand operations in the country. The groups praised the measures taken by Viet Nam to create a favourable business environment for foreign investors.
They also reiterated their support for ensuring the EVFTA comes into effect soon and said they would convey this message to the governments of EU member states. VNS
OKINAWA, Japan FPT Group has official launched a research and development centre in the Okinawa Prefecture to boost FPTs growth in the Japanese market.
FPT Okinawa R&D (FORD), the groups fifth facility in Japan, will operate as a near-shore centre of FPT in the country to improve its accessibility to advanced technology to transform innovative and creative ideas into products and services.
Chairman of FPT Group Truong Gia Binh was quoted as telling the Japanese media that it is also a centre for research and development (R&D) of advanced technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things and Big Data.
FORD is also expected to play an important role in FPTs globalisation strategy, Binh said. Currently, FORD has won its first two contracts -- with a large SI company in Japan and a company operating in the field of technology in Kyoto.
He emphasised there were three reasons for choosing Okinawa Prefecture to set up a research and development centre of FPT.
First, regulations on security under Japanese law do not allow machines being used for system development to be brought abroad. Second, Okinawa Prefecture government has several policies to support information technology enterprises. Finally, Okinawa is the closest place in Japan to Viet Nam with many similarities in food, climate and culture.
Okinawa Prefecture Governor Takeshi Onaga expressed his delight at Okinawa being selected by FPT as a bridge to promote friendly relations between Viet Nam and Japan, saying the prefecture always welcomes and facilitates foreign businesses to invest in the province.
FORD will have some 30 employees in its first year of establishment and is expected to employ 500 employees by 2020.
In addition to the establishment of FORD, FPT is considering opening a university in Okinawa to train high-quality human resources in the information technology sector. This policy is being encouraged by the Okinawa government, which committed to provide infrastructure and financial support.
FPT University in Okinawa is expected to have a four-year training programme, of which students will spend the first three years at the school and the last year training at business establishments.
With the establishment of the R&D facility in Okinawa, FPT Japan currently has five establishments in Japan -- Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka and Okinawa -- directly creating jobs for 800 people.
It is expected that by the end of 2017, FPT Japan will reach US$170 million in revenue, and by 2020, it will contribute 50 per cent of FPTs revenue target of $1 billion from foreign markets.
In the first eight month of the year, foreign markets of FPT recorded revenue of VN4.2 trillion ($187.4 million), up 16 per cent year-on-year and before-tax profit of VN628 billion, up 24 per cent over the same period last year, accounting for nearly one-third of the groups profit.
From January to August, FPT Groups consolidated revenue and before-tax profit rose by 11 per cent and 16 per cent year-on-year, respectively, to reach VN27.34 trillion and VN1.99 trillion. Profit-after-tax reached nearly VN1.7 trillion, an increase of 15 per cent over the same period last year. VNS
HCM City The Sai Gon High-Tech Park (SHTP) should tie up with investment companies for funding for technology and research projects, Politburo member and HCM City Party Secretary Nguyen Thien Nhan said during a visit to the park on Tuesday.
Ive recognised a good trend of many scientific and technology enterprises starting their businesses in SHTP.
The SHTPs Enterprise Incubation should work closely with the city Science and Technology Department and HCM City Communist Youth Union to set up a website for business start-ups with information about the citys support programmes, potential projects and investment companies.
The 15-year-old SHTP has attracted many global technology companies like Samsung and Intel, which have plants here.
It has domestic enterprises researching and developing modern semiconductor, nano and bio technologies.
Nhan said: The SHTPs project deployment experience has greatly contributed to the creation of a legal framework for developing high-tech parks in the city and around the country.
It has also created a support chain for high-tech parks in nearby industrial parks.
Hailing the SHTP management for the parks achievements, he exhorted it to accomplish even more, keep abreast of the construction plans of the Scientific and Technology Park, closely work with relevant authorities and promote training and research at universities.
According to the management, as of June the park had 36,719 workers, 376 of them foreign nationals.
On the same day Nhan also visited the Sai Gon Silicon City and Minh Nguyen Enterprises, which produces components for Samsung and the smart anti-flooding pumping system installed on Nguyen Huu Canh Street in Binh Thanh District. VNS
HA NOI - Efforts by the Vietnamese authorities to speed up resolution of legacy problem loans could help address the asset-quality issues that weigh heavily on banks viability ratings.
However, the resolution process is unlikely to improve significantly in the short term due to the considerable implementation challenges, Fitch Ratings says in a statement this week.
Besides, the statement notes, rapid lending growth continued to add to the risk of a rise in non-performing loan (NPL) creation.
According to Fitch, the Resolution 42/2017/QH14 on piloting the bad debt settlement of credit institutions, which took effect mid last month, could remove some of the legal impediments to effective loan resolution.
The resolution includes measures to improve lenders ability to enforce collateral security, which already appears to have made banks more aggressive in seizing commercial property to foreclose bad loans, Fitch says, adding that it also enhances the trading of bad debt in the secondary market.
Bad debt can now be sold to any legal entity, including foreign investors, without them needing a licence for debt trading.
According to Fitch, the attempt to involve foreign investors could increase the amount of funds available for debt resolution, particularly given the recent strong interest in Viet Nam from foreign investors -- net FDI inflows were among the strongest in Asia Pacific countries in 2016, at 5.6 per cent of GDP. However, the sale of debt to foreigners could still be constrained by remaining uncertainties, including restrictions on foreign investors taking security over property.
"This is just one example of the problems that, in practice, are still likely to hinder bad debt resolution. The new framework will only be properly tested when large cases are handled, and we expect remaining shortcomings to be addressed only slowly, Fitch says.
Fitch expected that a more effective debt resolution regime could, over the longer term, help banks reduce asset-quality problems, which weigh on their earnings and profitability.
The reported system NPL ratio was 2.55 per cent at end-March 2017, but this did not take into account banks bad-debt sales to the Viet Nam Asset Management Company (VAMC).
Quicker debt resolution could also reduce banks capital charge burden, which would better position banks for the scheduled implementation of Basel II in January 2020. As it stands, banks reported capital adequacy ratios (CARs) meet minimum requirements, but these are based on official NPL ratios that understate problem loans in the banking sector. The IMF estimates that the full adoption of Basel II will reduce CARs by 200bp to 400bp, Fitch says.
However, Fitch says potential progress on resolving legacy bad loans should be weighed against asset-quality risks that could be stoked by recent rapid loan growth.
Current asset-quality problems can be traced back to rapid credit growth and poor lending standards during the 2000s. Risks crystallised in 2011-13 and caused significant stress to the financial sector. Another extended period of rapid credit growth to meet GDP targets could eventually trigger another wave of defaults, Fitch concludes. - VNS
CULTURE VULTURE
The eighth German Film Festival has closed in the central province of a Nang. Nine films were screened in big cities throughout Viet Nam, including the opening festival movies, 24 Weeks and Millennials.
The movies featured Anne Zohra Berrached as film director and leading actress. Born in 1982 in Erfurt, East Germany, Berrached won a degree in social education, with a focus on psycholgoy. Then she worked as a drama teacher in London for two years. She began to study directing at the Film Academy in Baden-Wurttemberg. In her third year, she completed her first feature film, Two Mothers.
The movie premiered worldwide at the 63rd International Film Festival in Berlin in 2013. Her second feature film 24 Weeks also premiered at the Berlinale in 2016. It received 16 international awards, including Best Director and Silver Lola Award.
Director Berrached spoke about her films in Ha Noi, HCM City and a Nang.
Is it accident that you made movies Two Mothers and 24 Weeks about maternity and did you know why both of them were shown at the Berlinale Film Festival?
It was by chance. I just wanted to tell truthful stories through film. The Berlinale festival raises political and social issues. My movies also raise social concern.
24 Weeks, which has won international awards, was chosen to open the German film festival in Ha Noi. Could you tell me more about it?
I remember that after a movie show in Germany, when I went on stage a woman yelled: "The movie popularises abortion." Many in the audience applauded her. I explained that I was an artist and had the right to make a film about everything in society. The movie does not popularise abortion. It is a story of a couple who face late abortion because their child will not be born healthy.
24 Weeks uses real doctors and medical providers in the cast. I wrote the script within one year and I went to meet obstetricians and couples who had problem with unborn children. I interviewed them with a tape recorder. I wanted to make the movie in documentary style. I also shot real doctors carrying out research. The movie doesnt only reflect the fact that 90 per cent of expectant German mothers with unhealthy babies decide to abort late, but also conveys my message.
I wanted to make the movie to help people know more about what pregnant women and their families and friends think about late abortion.
Prenatal testing is a national programme in Viet Nam because many women feel secure about their babies. What about in Germany?
In Germany, abortion after the 24th week is a taboo subject. That is why I made this movie for people to discuss. And people are still discussing it. I dont aim to change government policies, but I want women to have the right to make decisions. Women who abort after three months usually feel guilty. Throughout the movie, I want them to feel liberated to make decisions on their own. Actually, no women want to lose her child.
Will your message be conveyed to women in Asian countries where some abortion is illegal?
The movie is received in different ways because of cultural differences in various countries. Europeans are allowed to express their opinions. In South Korea, people receive the movie more carefully.
I think we should support women who have no rights to make their own decisions. I was once asked by a reporter why I let the wife in the movie make the decision, not her husband.
The woman bears her child in her womb and she needs to be a decision maker. I cannot imagine a man having the right to decide on abortion. I dont support late abortion, but I support a womans right to make her own decision. VNS
HA NOI A range of activities to promote the Vietnamese cinema industry are being organised from now until September 21 in Poland on the occasion of the 42nd Polish Film Festival held in Gdynia.
The Viet Nam culture ministrys Cinema Department, led by director Ngo Phuong Lan, will meet Polish filmmakers to develop co-operation between two countries cinema industries. Polish partners have promised to attend the Viet Nam Film Festival in a Nang on November 24-28, and there they will sign Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with Vietnamese filmmakers.
On the occasion, the department will screen two documentaries: Phien Cho Vung Cao (Highland Market) and Mui Ne - Vung Bien Thuc (Mui Ne The Sea of Knowledge) in Warsaw to promote Vietnamese tourism, especially the potential of Ha Giang and Binh Thuan, two provinces mentioned in the films.
These documentaries, each 12 minutes long, have subtitles in English and French. They were produced by the Viet Nam Administration of Tourism and the Cinema Department, and have been screened in Singapore, South Korea, Cuba and Canada. Previously, the Cinema Department worked with friendship associations in two countries and the association of Polish film producers to present the film Em Chua 18 (Jailbait), directed by Le Thanh Son, to local audiences and Vietnamese people living in Poland.
The film screening held at the Kino Kultura Cinema in Warsaw was attended by 200 filmgoers and diplomats.
Piotr Gadzinowski, vice president of the Poland-Viet Nam Friendship Association, expressed his gratitude to the Viet Nam Cinema Department on their efforts to enhance co-operation between the cinema industries of the two countries.
I highly appreciated the initiative of presenting new Vietnamese films in Poland, he said. Through the screenings, Polish audiences have a chance to understand more about Viet Nams cinema, tourism and culture. VNS
The stability and development of Viet Nam Laos border areas will contribute to strengthening solidarity between the two countries people and boosting social, economic and cultural development in border localities. VNA/VNS Photo Xuan Tien
HA NOI The stability and development of Viet Nam Laos border areas will contribute to strengthening solidarity between the two countries people and boosting social, economic and cultural development in border localities, said Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung.
Trung, who is Chairman of the National Boundary Commission, made the remark during an interview recently granted to Vietnam News Agency.
The interview came as a conference reviewing the implementation of the master plan on increasing and upgrading Viet Nam Laos border markers took place in Ha Noi on Tuesday.
Asked about major points in the settlement of Viet Nam Laos border issues, Trung said the Viet Nam Laos borderline stretches as far as nearly 2,337km, through 10 Vietnamese and 10 Lao provinces. On July 18, 1977, Viet Nam and Laos concluded negotiations and signed the Convention on National Border Demarcation.
Accordingly, from 1978-1987, both sides basically completed border demarcation in the field and settled emerging issues such as the transfer of land, people and assets in line with international law.
The results were hailed in the Supplementary Treaty to the 1976 Treaty on National Boundary Delimination signed on January 24, 1986 and the Protocol on border demarcation in the field and border marker planting inked on January 24, 1986 and the supplementary Protocol to the Protocol on border demarcation in the field and border marker planting signed on October 16, 1987.
Since 1987, the two sides have devised a digital Viet Nam Laos national map at a scale of 1:50,000, dealt with all discrepancies in borderline, border markers and border sections, signed the Viet Nam Laos China and Viet Nam Laos Cambodia border conventions.
From 2008-2016, the two countries partnered to implement the project on increasing and upgrading Viet Nam Laos border markers. There are now 1,002 border markers and posts at 905 positions, which are specified in the Protocol on Viet Nam Laos borderline and border markers signed on March 16, 2016.
Regarding main contents of two Viet Nam Laos legal documents which took effect on September 5, 2017, Trung said the Protocol on Viet Nam Laos borderline and border markers signed on March 16, 2016 featured the outcomes of border demarcation and marker planting from 1977-1987, the settlement of several demarcation differences and the implementation of a project on increasing and upgrading Viet Nam Laos border markers for 2008-2016.
The Agreement on Viet Nam Laos border and border gate management regulations comprises specific provisions regarding collaboration between the two countries agencies in managing and safeguarding borderline and border markers, handling border events and managing border gates to maintain security, social safety and order in border areas.
According to the official, the Viet Nam Laos border areas play a significant strategic role in the two countries national defence-security and socio-economic development. Therefore, ministries, agencies and localities should implement legal documents on border areas signed between the two countries in order to build a Viet Nam Laos borderline of peace, friendship, stability, co-operation and sustainable development. VNS
The NASC asked the Government to order a review of official appointments nationwide to address voter concerns that the wrong people and/or family members were being appointed to positions where they could easily abuse their power. VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Dan
HA NOI Bribery in the form of giving Government officials gifts is getting more and more complicated and artful, with recipients only giving back the gifts if theyre caught, head of the National Assemblys Legal Committee Le Thi Nga told a session devoted to the Governments report on anti-corruption measures.
More than 1.1 million Government and State officials made asset declarations this year, but the Government only verified 77 and found three cases of violations, according to the report presented to the National Assembly Standing Committee (NASC) on Tuesday. Corruption has become thornier issue while local anti-corruption activities are weak, according to the report.
In the report, the Government admitted that the ethics of some officials are low, with many pestering enterprises for bribes. The report also pointed out that some groups of officials had abetted in protecting businesses for the benefit of the groups of people or personal interests.
Voters suspicions of interest groups and backyard control of State-owned enterprises (SOEs) for private benefit are logical based on inspection results of the Party Central Commitees Inspection Commission, according to the National Assembly (NA) Legal Commitee.
The reports authors blame insufficient economic management mechanisms and policies for the shortcomings. But the report forecast that coruption would be reduced next year due to efforts by authorised agencies. After evaluating the report, the NA Legal Committee agreed with the Government report on the handling of corruption in recent years.
Under the close instruction of the Anti-Corruption Central Steering Committee, many cases of serious economic corruption were investigated and prosecuted, helping to reinforce peoples trust in the Party and States determination to fight the scourge. However, the legal committee pointed out that many measures of corruption prevention were formalistic and ineffective.
The committee asked the Government to further clarify the basis on which this years corruption and the forecast were evaluated. The legal committee suggessted the NA and Government set up regulations on transparency and monitor private properties and incomes of all people, especially high-ranking officials, as well as introducing sanctions for fraudelent declarations.
The NASC asked the Government to order a review of official appointments nationwide to address voter concerns that the wrong people and/or family members were being appointed to positions where they could easily abuse their power. VNS
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives Liu Yunshan, Secretary of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Tuesday. VNA/VNS Photo Thong Nhat
HA NOI Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan hailed the progress made in Viet Nam-China co-operation while receiving Liu Yunshan, Secretary of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Tuesday.
Talking to Liu, who is also a member of Chinas Politburo Standing Committee, PM Phuc reiterated that the Vietnamese Party, State and people always attach importance to the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership with China.
He applauded recent substantive co-operation achievements, especially in investment, trade and tourism, along with Chinas expansion of imports of Viet Nams goods and agricultural products.
He asked both sides to promote the effectiveness of co-operation mechanisms, improve substantive co-operation in all fields, work harder to tackle existing problems in bilateral ties, while accelerating and bettering the quality of joint projects.
They also need to make concerted efforts to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea, comply with the common perceptions shared between leaders of the two Parties and countries, avoid any actions that may escalate tensions, and join ASEAN countries to negotiate a code of conduct of parties in the East Sea (COC).
Secretary Liu also stressed that the Chinese Party and State treasure relations with their Vietnamese counterparts and want to join Viet Nam in lifting the comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership to new heights.
Bilateral co-operation, particularly in economy and trade, is flourishing, he said, noting that China supports the healthy and balanced development of economic and trade ties. It also hopes for the continued enhancement of connecting the two countries development strategies.
At another meeting in Ha Noi, NA Chairwoman Ngan congratulated China on its recent major achievements, valuing the encouraging outcomes in bilateral ties in various fields, including the relationship between the NA of Viet Nam and the National Peoples Congress of China.
She also asked both sides to fully and seriously implement agreements and common perceptions reached by leaders of the two Parties and countries. They should also further consolidate the social foundation and friendship between the two peoples, thus developing Viet Nam-China relations in a healthy, stable and long-term manner.
Meanwhile, the Chinese official expressed his hope for stronger political trust, sharing of strategies, cooperation and friendship exchanges, thereby fostering connections between the Parties and the countries. He also voiced his support for more exchanges between the two parliaments and peoples. VNS
HA NOI Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stated that Party, State and Government leaders of Viet Nam and Laos have always paid special attention to border and territory-related issues between the two countries.
He was speaking at a conference reviewing the implementation of a master plan on increasing and upgrading Viet Nam-Laos border markers in Ha Noi on Tuesday.
The PM said before the master plan, only one marker was installed every 10km, and even as little as every 40km, along the border line. There are now 1,002 border markers and more than 2,337 poles standing along the borderline, with most of them in mountainous areas with rough terrain.
The outcome is significant as it serves as a foundation to complete a legal dossier for the Viet Nam-Laos border line, he said.
The completion of the master plan is an important event which demonstrates the unity, mutual trust and understanding between the two Parties, States and peoples, he said.
This effort is also a vivid symbol of the special, long-standing friendship, solidarity and comprehensive co-operation between Viet Nam and Laos, helping to facilitate exchanges of border residents, consolidate political security, social order and safety, and guarantee national defence and border security, PM Phuc said.
He applauded efforts made by relevant Vietnamese ministries, agencies and ten border localities which have constructively participated in the work, and thanked the Lao Government, ministries, agencies and people for their cooperation and support during the implementation of the master plan.
Talking about potential risks to regional and global security, PM Phuc underscored the need to build and protect the national border on the basis of equality and mutual respect, in line with international law.
To improve the efficiency of border management in the new situation, the leader pointed to the necessity of carrying forward the outcomes of border marker planting and upgrades, taking care of the material and spiritual life of border residents, especially ethnic minorities living in difficult circumstances, preserving a border of peace, friendship and co-operation, and ensuring security and order, with particular attention paid to combating drug crime and trafficking.
Viet Nam and Laos should continue their collaboration in realising the protocol on borderline and border markers, and the agreement on land border and border checkpoint management mechanisms, he said.
The PM also called for close coordination between Vietnamese and Lao ministries, agencies and localities in promoting trade, investment and tourism in the border areas.
Efforts should be channeled into developing socio-economic infrastructure, especially in transport, and border gates, he said.
Another important job is to raise public awareness of the significance of the border markers, he added.
The Viet Nam-Laos borderline stretches nearly 2,337km, through ten Vietnamese and ten Lao provinces. On July 18, 1977, the two countries concluded negotiations and signed the Convention on National Border Demarcation.
Accordingly, between 1978 and 1987, both sides basically completed border demarcation in the field and settled emerging issues such as the transfer of land, people and assets in line with international law.
From 2008-2016, they partnered to implement the project on increasing and upgrading Viet Nam-Laos border markers, with the participation of more than 1,000 personnel. VNS
Belgian leaders told Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vuong inh Hue that they attach importance to the relationship between the two countries as well as Viet Nams important position in EU-ASEAN ties. Photo baoquocte.vn
BRUSSELS Belgian leaders told Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vuong inh Hue that they attach importance to the relationship between the two countries as well as Viet Nams important position in EU-ASEAN ties.
Deputy PM Hue had a working session with Belgian Deputy PM and Minister for Employment, Economy and Consumer Affairs Kris Peeters, and met with Senate President Christine Defraigne, and Minister-President of Flanders Geert Bourgeois on Tuesday as part of his visit to the European nation.
The two sides agreed to promptly roll out plans on trade, investment and cultural promotion in each country to mark the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Viet Nam and Belgium (1973-2018).
They also agreed to maintain high-level meetings and the exchange of all-level delegations, while continuing to closely coordinate and support each other at multilateral forums.
They held that economy is the main pillar of bilateral co-operation, and consented to take more active measures to facilitate exports and encourage Belgian businesses to invest in Viet Nam in areas such as maritime transportation, logistics, green technologies, agriculture, renewable energy and health care which are of their priorities and strengths.
Deputy PM Hue lauded relations between Viet Nam and all-level authorities of Belgian regions and localities, saying they have brought about pragmatic outcomes in research, education-training, French language teaching, health care, technical support, environmental protection and cultural exchanges.
Deputy PM Peeters and Senate President Defraigne shared Deputy PM Hues views about the importance of the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement in promoting economic links between EU members, including Belgium, and Viet Nam.
The two sides, therefore, agreed to collaborate in accelerating the signing and ratification of the deal.
Deputy PM Hue suggested the Flanders region expand its co-operation programmes in Vietnamese localities.
Minister-President Bourgeois said that Flanders enterprises always place importance on the Vietnamese market and will step up their trade and investment activities in the country, as well as other nations in ASEAN and Asia-Pacific through Viet Nam.
The two sides will advance the relations, especially via scholarship programmes, joint research studies between their universities and research institutes, expand collaboration in the realms of Flanders strengths and Viet Nams interests like research in new materials, sustainable aquaculture, IT and medical products, and increase the operational efficiency of the Flanders Investment and Trade (FIT) in Viet Nam.
Also on Tuesday, Deputy PM Hue had a meeting with European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Environment Karmenu Vella, during which he called on the EU to continue its support for Viet Nam in building policies on water resources management, environmental protection planning, forest administration and forestry product trading.
Vella promised that the EU will increase its support for Viet Nam in maritime environmental management and sustainable exploitation of maritime resources.
Regarding illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, Deputy PM Hue affirmed that Viet Nam has implemented many inclusive solutions to tackle the issue.
They agreed to maintain dialogue channels to effectively handle the problem.
The EU pledged to assist Viet Nam in joining relevant international conventions.
The same day, Deputy PM Hue left Brussels for Bratislava, beginning his working visit to Slovakia. VNS
HA NOI The Drug Administration of Viet Nam under the Ministry of Health has requested a halt to purchases and use of three batches of Human Albumin 20% due to concerns over Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
This medicine is albumin extracted from human plasma and used to stabilise blood circulation, while Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a fatal brain disorder that kills 90 per cent of all sufferers within a year of diagnosis.
The request followed an announcement from the Economic and Trade Commission, the Delegation of the European Union to Viet Nam and a warning from the Italian Drug Administration and Hungarian National Institute of Pharmacy and Nutrition on the issue.
At present, the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease infection has not been confirmed.
The suspension was to ensure the safety for users while awaiting evaluation from the administration and the Hungarian counterpart, the administration said in a dispatch sent to heath departments, hospitals and businesses trading the product.
Health facilities nationwide were ordered to monitor, detect and deal with the potential side effects of the medicine. A report on any incident should also be sent to the national centre of pharmacy information.
The Codupha Central Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company, Binh Viet uc Co Ltd and Central Pharmaceutical CPC1 Joint Stock Company were asked to temporarily stop importing, purchasing, selling and distributing the product.
They were requested to manage the product and inform trading businesses and treatment facilities to suspend the purchase, sale and use of Human Albumin 20%, 500ml bottle.
A report on the quantities of products left in stock is believed to have been submitted to Drug Administration of Viet Nam before today (September 20).
According to a report from Binh Viet uc Co Ltd, three batches of Human Albumin 20% produced by Hungarys Human BioPlazma Manufacturing and Trading Limited Liability Company, including 29610616, 29700916, 29590616, have been imported into Viet Nam.
Binh Viet uc Co Ltd was also asked to co-ordinate with the manufacturer to update information on the circulation of the medicine to Vietnamese authorities. VNS
A NANG The International Media Centre for the 2017 Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Summit has been completed for official launching in mid October after one year decoration.
The central citys Department of Information and Communication said the media centre, which covers 1.3ha, will provide working space for nearly 3,000 journalists during the APEC meeting from November 5-11.
The department said the centre will offer the best facilities for domestic and foreign media working through the week of APEC.
Four press conference halls offer 400-seat for different press conferences. A main hall has been set aside for the Presidents final press conference.
The International Media Centre for the 2017 APEC Summit is ready. VNS Photo Cong Thanh
According to the department, the media centre cost a total of VN178 billion (US$7.8 million).
As planned, the city will host a heads-of-state summit with CEOs from 21 APEC member nations as well as 15,000 visitors.
The city also said the Ariyana a Nang Exhibition and Convention Centre a major location for the APEC CEO Summit will be ready for hosting more than 1,000 CEOs at a business forum.
The city has also launched the Smile of a Nang campaign to raise awareness of APEC among local residents, civil servants and tourists. VNS
NINH THUAN The Supreme Peoples Procuracy has decided to prosecute a case relating to the death of a drug trafficking suspect who died in police custody.
The suspect, Vo Tan Minh, 35, from Thap Cham Districts Phan Rang City, was arrested in April and held in provincial police custody in the central province of Ninh Thuan, the HCM City Phap Luat (HCM City Law) newspaper reported.
After four months of investigation, Minh was transferred to the local Phan Rang-Thap Cham Prison on September 8.
However, Minh was hospitalised on the same day after prison officials found him seriously injured. He later died.
Following an inspection and autopsy, the investigation agency suggested that prison officials might have used corporal punishment against Minh.
Five officers from Phan Rang-Thap Chams police department have been suspended, said Colonel Pham Huyen Ngoc, head of Ninh Thuans police department.
The police is continuing its investigation into the case. VNS
BAC LIEU Police in southern province of Bac Lieu are investigating an incident relating to the smuggling of 1.4 tonnes of suspected ivory.
Colonel Luu Hoang Ha, commander of Nha Mat Border Guard Station, said on Sunday night Criminal Police Department of Bac Lieu along with other forces inspected a car parked near the station.
Police discovered 49 packages of goods suspected to contain ivory, weighing more than a tonne, in the car.
The driver was identified as Nguyen Thanh Long, 35, who resides in Vinh Loi Districts Chau Hung Commune.
He told police the car belonged to a man from Bac Lieu Citys Vinh Trach ong Commune.
The suspected ivory was believed to have been smuggled into the country via a fishing boat.
Police have proposed forensic testing on the seized ivory to determine its origin.
Earlier on September 6, customs officials in HCM City discovered 1.3 tonnes of ivory hidden in asphalt barrels on its way from Africa to Cambodia. VNS
BRASILIA Brazils scandal-plagued former leftist president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and a tough-talking rightwing congressman lead voter intentions ahead of next years presidential elections, a poll said Tuesday.
Underlining the turmoil in Brazilian politics, the poll also confirmed plummeting support for the current centre-right government, with 75.6 per cent saying it is doing a bad job. Only 3.4 per cent said the government is doing a good job, down from 10.3 per cent in February.
More than 84 per cent of those polled disapprove of President Michel Temers performance, while just 10.1 percent approve, the poll from the MDA research institute said.
Temer is presiding over unpopular austerity reforms that he says will help accelerate Brazils timid exit from its worst recession in history. He is also hobbled by several criminal charges of corruption, while much of his government likewise faces graft probes.
General elections are due in October 2018 and Temer, who took over last year after Dilma Rousseff was removed in an impeachment trial, is not expected to seek a new term.
With voters in an angry, anti-establishment mood, the poll commissioned by the National Transport Confederation showed high rejection rates for all probable candidates.
Lula was hugely popular during his 2003-2010 two-term presidency but his reputation has been damaged by steep economic decline under his handpicked successor Rousseff and a mammoth corruption scandal.
Investigators have revealed that swaths of political parties and politicians -- allegedly including Temer, Lula and many others at the top -- took bribes from big Brazilian companies for years in exchange for contracts.
Lula has been sentenced to more than nine years in prison after being convicted of bribe taking, but he remains free on appeal. He also faces five more corruption trials, any one of which could result in him being imprisoned or barred from seeking election.
And late Tuesday, a federal judge filed yet another corruption case against him, the seventh currently open. It is a case claiming he took money linked to the auto industry.
His attorney denied any blame, and claimed it was yet more "political persecution."
The poll released earlier found Lula would easily win a first election round against all comers, with around 32 per cent of the vote, compared to just under 20 per cent for his nearest rival, the rightwing firebrand Jair Bolsonaro.
Ecologist Marina Silva, who got 21 per cent in the first round of the 2014 elections, would now get 11 to 12 per cent in scenarios with Lula and Bolsonaro.
In a runoff second round, Lula would also win, the poll found, hitting more than 40 per cent of the vote in most scenarios, compared to between 15 and 29 per cent for potential runnersup.
Former paratrooper runs second
Bolsonaro, a former paratrooper who revels in making provocative comments against homosexuals and in support of torture during Brazils 1964-1985 military rule, runs a strong second in most scenarios for first and second rounds.
Without Lula in the race, Bolsonaro would win a run-off round against several more establishment candidates, the poll found.
He would win with 28 per cent to Sao Paulo Governor Geraldo Alckmins 23.8 per cent, according to the poll, and by 28.5 per cent to 23.9 per cent against Sao Paulo Mayor Joao Doria. However, he would lose narrowly in a head to head with Silva.
The MDA interviewed 2,002 people between September 13-16 for the survey. AFP
ST JOHN ISLAND, United States Hurricane Maria closed in on the US Virgin Islands late Tuesday as the US National Hurricane Centre warned of a "potentially catastrophic" impact from a storm that has already killed at least two people in the Caribbean.
Winds packing 255 kilometres an hour were already lashing the US islands as Maria barreled westwards, forecast to make landfall Wednesday before heading to Puerto Rico.
"Preparations against life-threatening storm surge and rainfall, flooding and destructive winds should be rushed to completion," the NHC said, warning the eye of the Category Five hurricane was approaching St Croix, one of the US Virgin Islands.
On St John Island, locals reported seeing trees swirling in the wind, with rain pouring "sideways" as Maria continued on its path of destruction after battering the island of Dominica and other territories in the eastern Caribbean.
Arriving just as islanders are struggling to recover from devastating Hurricane Irma, which struck earlier this month, Maria claimed two victims in the French territory of Guadeloupe, where two other people were missing.
One person was killed by a falling tree as powerful winds whipped the archipelago, authorities said, while another died on the seafront. Two more disappeared when their boat went missing in the storm.
Judi Buckley, former senator for St Croix Island, traveled to St John from her South Carolina home to help with the Irma relief effort -- only to get caught up in Maria.
"We have become the Irma relief hub and our brothers and sisters across the pond cant afford for us to be crippled," she said, referring to those on St Croix.
On neighbouring Dominica, premier Roosevelt Skerrit posted on Facebook that there were initial reports of "widespread devastation", with official communications to the island completely cut off in the wake of the storm.
The airport and ports have been closed on the tropical island of 72,000 people.
St Martin, a French-Dutch island that was among the worst hit by Irma with 14 dead, was under a maximum "violet" alert, with people ordered to stay indoors.
A similar measure was in place in the British Virgin Islands.
"Our islands are extremely vulnerable right now," the territorys premier Orlando Smith said in a statement, warning that the storm could turn debris left by Irma into dangerous projectiles.
On Puerto Rico, Governor Ricardo Rossello described Maria as "the worst storm of the last century."
Schoolteacher Noemi Aviles Rivera, 47, who experienced Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and Georges in 1998, said: "Im not denying Im scared. I feel worried because its the first time Ill see a hurricane of this magnitude."
Everything is shaking
Guadeloupe was serving as a base for aid flights to Irma-hit French territories after the hurricane, and there were fears that major damage there could hamper the relief operation. Authorities announced a driving ban, with several areas around the largest city Pointe-a-Pitre flooded and fallen trees blocking many roads.
Some 40 per cent of households in the territory of 400,000 were without power.
"Everything around me is shaking," former French minister Victorin Lurel told BFMTV from his home in the south of the island.
The Dominican Republic, whose east coast was battered by Irma, ordered citizens in part of the north to evacuate ahead of Marias arrival.
St Kitts and Nevis, the British island of Montserrat, and the Puerto Rican islands of Culebra and Vieques were also on alert.
Preparing for the worst
Britain, France and the Netherlands boosted resources for the Caribbean ahead of the storm, after facing accusations that they were ill-prepared for the damage done by Irma in their overseas territories.
"We are planning for the unexpected, we are planning for the worst," said Chris Austin, head of a UK military task force set up to deal with Irma.
France said 110 more soldiers would be deployed to the region after widespread complaints of looting and lawlessness on St Martin after Irma.
Building supplies were hurriedly flown in to help islanders repair roofs torn off by Irma as Maria approached. AFP
ROYAL, Iowa -- An Amber Alert involving the disappearance of three children from Royal, Iowa, Tuesday morning has been canceled, according to officials.
The Clay County Sheriff's Office said the children were located in Sanborn, Iowa, late Tuesday afternoon.
The emergency warning said the girls -- two 8-year-olds and a 4-year-old -- were abducted at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Clay County community.
The warning claimed the mother of the children, Danica Noel Arzaga, 25, was the suspect in the abduction. The sheriff's office said the children showed up at an address in Sanborn, Iowa, where they were abandoned.
Azaga is still at large and police are asking for information as to her whereabouts. They believe she is still operating a maroon 2003 Cadillac with plate number 561XEY.
The missing children were identified as Olivia Sophia Arzaga, 4, and 8-year-olds Adia Johnson-Enos and Lillian Johnson-Enos.
The children were taken to an undisclosed location by the Iowa Department of Human Services.
The Clay County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations, Iowa State Patrol, State Fire Marshal, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Spencer Police Department, Department of Human Services, Sanborn Police Department and the O'Brien County Sheriff's Office.
DES MOINES (AP) An Iowa woman who says she was wrongly ticketed by an automated traffic camera when she wasnt speeding has accomplished the unusual feat of getting the state Supreme Court to consider her $75 small-claims case.
For Marla Leaf, 67, its not about money, but about constitutional rights. Her attorney, James Larew, argued Wednesday that the city of Cedar Rapids, where Leaf lives and was ticketed, is violating equal protection and due process clauses of the Iowa Constitution in part because it delegates police power to Gatso USA the private, for-profit company hired to run the equipment.
Leaf said she pursued the case all the way to the Iowa Supreme Court for a simple reason: Shes not guilty. Given her experience, she also questioned whether Cedar Rapids system is fair to motorists.
Why should I pay for a ticket I didnt do, she asked after the hearing. Why should others have to pay for tickets they didnt do?
Leafs case, which the Iowa Supreme Court combined with another case with similar arguments involving six vehicle owners, is unusual because small claims rarely make it to the states highest court.
It shows that what seems sometimes like the smallest case can actually involve really major issues, said Drake University law professor Mark Kende.
Such cases are closely watched by other communities with automated traffic equipment, much of which is run by private companies. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says 142 communities in the United States use automated speed camera systems and 420 have automated red light cameras.
Leaf was driving her Ford Mustang home from an eye doctors appointment on Feb. 5, 2015, when the automated speed camera system on Interstate 380 in Cedar Rapids clocked her at 68 mph in a 55 mph zone. She recalls the roads were icy and she was driving so slowly that cars were passing her on both sides. Leaf, who had never had a speeding ticket, insists she was traveling between 50 and 55.
Cases involving traffic cameras have been appealed before to federal and state courts on various constitutional grounds, but its unusual for the Iowa Supreme Court to take a case already considered once on appeal. The cases heard Wednesday were assigned to the Iowa Court of Appeals last year and in February the court ruled in favor of the city. Leaf and the other ticketed vehicle owners sought and were granted further review from the Supreme Court.
One of their arguments is based on the fact semitrailers and government vehicles are not ticketed by the automated Cedar Rapids interstate cameras. Larew claims in court documents its clearly arbitrary and unreasonable.
Patricia Kropf, an attorney for the city, contends that doesnt matter.
Incremental problem solving or under inclusiveness does not make an ordinance unconstitutional, she argued in court documents.
Another argument centers on a requirement citations be appealed to a city administrative hearing officer, which in Leafs case was the son of a police officer. Larew alleges that denies people of their right under state law to appeal directly to a magistrate or district court judge.
But Kropf pointed out the ticketed vehicle owners obviously have had the opportunity to appeal to the courts.
Several justices seemed skeptical about the citys contentions, especially regarding whether it was clear to ticketed motorists that they could appeal their fines through the court system and why semitrailers werent ticketed.
Kropf noted the citation sent to motorists that outlined their options now has been changed to add clarity.
Hindsight is 20-20, she told the justices.
Larew said the case also raises fundamental questions about whether the city can impose fines on people driving on a federal interstate highway. Iowa is the only state to allow automated speed cameras on interstates.
The Iowa Department of Transportation ordered the speed cameras removed a year before Leaf was ticketed in February 2015, but Cedar Rapids has been allowed to keep them while it appeals. The state agency requires speed cameras to be at least 1,000 feet from a posted speed reduction, but Larew said the camera is 896 feet beyond a sign that reduces the speed limit from 60 mph to 55 mph.
It likely will be several months before the court makes a decision.
Western Illinois University (WIU) named Liz Nolte as its new director of development. She will be based at the WIU-Quad Cities campus, but will serve the entire university and report to the vice president of advancement and alumni relations. Nolte earned her bachelor's degree and was a member of the track and field at WIU, and previously served as the operations and communications director for Renew Moline in Moline, Ill. and the director of alumni engagement and annual giving at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa.
DES MOINES After already cutting or borrowing tens of millions of dollars to try to balance the fiscal 2017 state budget, GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds said Wednesday she will order $13 million more in IOUs to make ends meet but Iowa will avoid having to call lawmakers back in special session to take further action.
The news Wednesday morning, delivered in a briefing by David Roederer, director of the Iowa Department of Management, and Courtney Kay-Decker, director of the Iowa Department of Revenue, comes after legislators earlier this year took back or transferred $118 million in money they already had approved for state agencies and then dipped into reserves for another $131 million they promised to pay back in two years.
This has been a difficult budget year, but I am pleased we were able to manage lower-than-expected revenues without cuts to education or Medicaid, Reynolds said in a statement. We have been monitoring funds daily since the end of the fiscal year on June 30 and took a measured approach in dealing with the states finances. We continue to closely monitor the current fiscal years balance sheet and do not believe action is needed at this time.
Although the state budget was growing over the previous year, it was not growing nearly as much as expected. Then-Gov Terry Branstad blamed lagging farm income, but Democrats blamed Republican mismanagement.
Reynolds, who took over this year when Branstad resigned to become ambassador to China, said she has authority to borrow up to $50 million from reserves without legislative approval.
She said Wednesday it will be far less borrowing $13 million from the emergency fund and combining it with $1.6 million in unspent money from the fiscal 2017 to plug a total shortfall of $14.6 million.
Reynolds said the state still will have another $605 available in reserve funds.
The budget officials said the fiscal 2017 budget was projected to grow by 2.7 percent but actually grew by 2.5 percent. In all, the state took in $7.095 billion.
The states fiscal year is July 1 through June 30. Fiscal budgets are always named in the year they end.
The fiscal 2017 state budget, which began in 2016, ended on June 30 but it takes weeks to reconcile accounts. Although the state now has moved on to its fiscal 2018 budget, the books on the fiscal 2017 budget wont be closed until the end of this month.
And when they are closed, the budget is required to balance.
Retirees potluck
slated Thursday
WATERLOO The Supervisors Club will host the monthly retirees potluck on Thursday, for all former and current members of the club.
Bring a dish to share and table service. Social hour begins at 5 p.m., with serving at 6.
Pasta samples
at market
CEDAR FALLS There will be a Pasta Salad Day at College Hill Farmers Market Thursday at 4 p.m.
The market is located at the corner of W. 22nd and College streets.
Water quality
testers needed
CEDAR FALLS The Black Hawk Soil & Water Conservation District is partnering with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources IOWATER (Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program) to gather water quality data on the Dry Run Creek watershed located in the Cedar Falls area.
A snapshot water quality monitoring event will be held Sept. 30. Volunteers will help collect water samples and field data.
Volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. at the Cedar Falls Tourism and Visitors Bureau, 6510 Hudson Road. Individuals will be grouped together and assigned several water monitoring locations. After a brief training, groups will be sent out to collect water samples and field data.
This event will take place rain or shine. Participants should dress accordingly. Individuals, families and groups are welcome. No previous experience is required.
For more information on this event or to RSVP, contact Josh Balk at 296-3262 ext. 3 or joshua.balk@ia.nacdnet.net.
The persons identity and condition werent immediately available, but police said the injuries dont appear to be serious.
The accident happened at about 10 a.m. Wednesday when the car had stopped on Northeast Drive for the short train, which was traveling at about 10 mph, according to Waterloo firefighters. The driver apparently fell asleep while waiting for the train, and the car slowly rolled into the train, which dragged the car about 25 feet, firefighters said.
Back in 2013, Iowa was rolling in money with an $800 million surplus.
Given the state had doled out 373 separate tax credits, exemptions, deductions and exclusions worth $12 billion since 2010 and was still awash in cash, the Legislature felt empowered to keep the party going as part of the Republican pro-business agenda by approving Senate File 295, Iowas largest tax cut.
Of course, it wasnt for individuals, but for owners of commercial and industrial property as well as apartment buildings, formerly classified as commercial, which were lumped in with assisted-living centers and mobile home parks as a multi-residential property class.
Because cities, counties, school districts and other local governmental entities largely rely on property taxes, the Legislature vowed to make good on lost revenues with a backfill, an annual reallocation of funds.
But the Legislature has consistently shorted local governments in the name of economic development. According to the Des Moines Register, the state subsequently allocated $391 million in backfill to local governments $107.2 million less than they would have received without the changes.
Fast-forward to fiscal year 2017. Lawmakers had to cut $118 million in January because of a projected revenue shortfall and borrowed another $131 million from reserves in March when the black hole deepened. Last month, the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency predicted about $100 million more in red ink.
Gov. Kim Reynolds can borrow $50 million from the reserve fund for an emergency, but must call a special session if the need exceeds that.
All of which is making local governments worry legislators will target the backfill allocation, which is supposed to be $152.1 million next year.
A lot of counties are starting to have concerns: Will that always be around? asked Lucas Beenken, public policy specialist for the Iowa State Association of Counties. Were trying to remind our legislators that was their buy-in.
Losing that money could have serious repercussions because 808 of the 947 cities are taxing at the maximum $8.10 property tax rate, including Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Waverly, Independence and Grundy Center. Likewise, Black Hawk and all the contiguous counties are at their general fund limits.
According to the Register database, the backfill has meant allocations to the following governmental entities in fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017:
Black Hawk County: $516,355; $1.11 million; $1.04 million.
Waterloo: $998,677; $2.12 million; $2.1 million.
Cedar Falls: $502,936; $1.09 million; $725,801.
Waterloo school district: $861,303; $1.6 million; $1.47 million.
Cedar Falls school district: $348,909; $669,525; $739,855.
SF 295 was prompted, in part, by the Tax Foundation ranking Iowa No. 40 based on the proportion of commercial property taxes assessed compared to residential properties. Yet that national ranking hasnt changed.
Commercial, industrial and railroad properties, which had been taxed at 100 percent of their assessment, were lowered to 90 percent. Beginning with the past fiscal year, multiresidential properties were taxed at 86.25 percent of value, also down from 100 percent. That decline will continue at a rate of 3.75 percent annual until reaching the same percentage as residential properties in FY 2022.
Meanwhile, residential levels increased from 54.40 to 56.94 percent during the past four years.
The LSA estimated in 2013 the legislation would save commercial, industrial and railroad properties $254.4 million during the past fiscal year $218 million just for commercial properties. It fell significantly short at $157.6 million $125 million for commercial properties. Owners of multi-residential property taxes saved $24.7 million in 2017.
If the backfill is reduced appreciably, vital services could be jeopardized.
Sen. Charles Schneider, R-West Des Moines, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said he wouldnt consider backfill changes for FY 2018, which started July 1. He wants an open conversation with cities for FY 2019 and going forward.
If we do start paring back the backfill at all, then I think the best way to do that would be to work with the cities to make sure that were not doing so in a manner that would require them to peel back any critical services.
The various tax cuts for businesses beg the question of when the predicted payoff in bountiful revenues will occur. Even as state government becomes smaller, the red ink grows larger.
Iowans expect a certain quality of life from government. Instead, we have 4,000 rape evidence kits dating back to the 1990s sitting untested in the state crime lab because of lack of personnel; state patrol and corrections jobs cut; fewer investigators for child welfare and the fewest mental health beds in the nation.
And thats at the state level. Reneging on the backfill will speed a decline in local services.
Legislators need to start keeping their promises.
Interest conflict
BILL KAMMEYER
WATERLOO There has been a lot of interest by the media into councilman Bruce Jacobs apparent conflict of interest with the sale of the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center. Not surprisingly there hasnt been equal coverage of another conflict of interest from the City Council.
On Sept. 11, the council again voted to sell the infamous Sunnyside South development for $1 to Sunnyside South Addition LLC which is a partnership that includes former city attorney Jim Walsh. According to VGMs website, Walsh serves as board chairman and general consul. Waterloo city councilman Tom Powers is employed by VGM as well, according to his city council bio.
Ill leave this question up to the public: Does it appear to be a conflict of interest for a city councilmember who is an employee of VGM to vote to sell city property to his very own employers board chairman?
Editors Note: City Attorney Dave Zellhoefer said he researched whether there would be a conflict for Powers, at Powers request, prior to the vote, including conversations with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, and found no conflict.
SPLC facts
KENT GUILD
WATERLOO Facts about the Southern Poverty Law Center: The SPLC is an American nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public interest litigation. It defends low-income people against hate groups. Notable cases: 1974, the Alabama Legislature gerrymandering to prevent blacks from being elected. 1981, Texas, KKK targeting Vietnamese shrimpers with intimidation and racial harassment. 1982, North Carolina, KKK terrorizing a black prison guard. 1987, Mobile, Ala., the lynching of a black teenager. 1988, Oregon, the fatal assault of an Ethiopian college student. In 1991, the murder of a black Navy war veteran. In 1995, South Carolina, the KKK arson of churches. In 2007, Texas, assault of a black, mentally challenged man. In 2008, Kentucky, an all-white jury awarded a Panamanian $1,500,000 because KKK members severely assaulted him. In 2010, Mississippi, correctional facility neglect of medical care and failure to provide proper conditions and treatment for special needs offenders.
These are actions to send signals to hate groups that hate will not be tolerated. To suggest with an opinion the SPLC does not know the laws of our great country is like spitting into the wind. The SPLC is proud to defend all poor, just people.
Honor Flight
RICHARD WIEBBECKE, LAURENCE SVOBADA, HARRY HLAS, MARVIN BOHNSTENGEL and MARK KUCERA
Clutier veterans
CLUTIER The Waterloo Honor Flight Board of Directors, volunteers and many supporters need to be commended for their outstanding dedication to veterans by providing the Waterloo Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.
We had the privilege of going on the Sept. 12 flight. It was an incredible day, one we will remember and treasure forever. Were proud to have served this great nation. Thank you Waterloo Honor Flight!
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Trump at the UN
After watching live the UN speech of Trump at the UN meeting. I now understand that no one is in charge in America. No one, but lots of wannabes
Even a simpleton like me can see that foreign policy of America is turned over to the military, the banks are predominate in the White House admin and Trump is a loser. Or better yet, fears for his life, lied and or everything is trumped as we say
This link below sums it up better than I can do. I watched the whole speech and agree with 90% of what the article says
[contentcards url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2017/sep/19/fact-checking-donald-trumps-speech-un/]
I voted for the man, because Hillary was the worst case scenario, but Trump is fast becoming Hillary Jr
Nothing, I men nothing that the man said he would do is coming true and if it does seem like he is doing what he says, then maybe you need to look closer at what is happening
Three countries called out as the evil of all the world
Syria, North Korea, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela (Where is Russia?) all called out to the carpet. I have to say that Israel like his speech
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: In over 30 years in my experience with the UN, I never heard a bolder or more courageous speech.
Now that makes me all warm and fuzzy! Nutcase Netanyahu has spoken and you should swoon at his words
Several quotes by Trump
President Donald Trump threatened to totally destroy North Korea and called Iran a rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed and chaos, during an address to the United Nations General Assembly.
And
Trump denounced North Korean leader Kim Jong Un who he dubbed Rocket Man and said Pyongyangs pursuit of an enhanced nuclear weapons program threatens the entire world with unthinkable loss of human life.
And
Guess what? Once again our failings are tossed around the world and pinned upon others who are doing nothing to us and or the world. Only the USA is threatening daily, countries left and right. If we get threatened back by par to our threats, then maybe we need to change how we view the world
The issue is that all the countries called out and many more called out daily time and time again, such as Russia and China, are not anything as to what we says they are. We are spoon fed lies and many of us believe these lies
We had the power in our hands to change the world to the better, except we are using that power to destroy the civilized world. Are we that ignorant?
You must remember that nothing, but nothing that is said by the USA in the media and government is truth. Nothing, except the fact we will bomb small countries to get our way
Who is the threat to the world?
* * * * *
Maybe Trump is scared for his life and families life? Maybe Trump is an idiot? Maybe Trump is actually that ignorant? Maybe Trump has no power whatsoever? Maybe Trump is a super puppet and we all fell for it!
* * * * *
If we do not get off our asses and change the monster that governs America, we will not have a country as we see it today and that what we see today is a far cry from the country that we had 50 years ago. Then again, the country we had 50 years ago was a lying sack of %^$# and we had many wars to prove it. But, it was a vastly better sack of %^$# than what we have now
What Russia says is actually very accurate below
Konstantin Kosachev, head of the foreign affairs committee in the upper house of the Russian parliament: Syria, Cuba and Venezuela are (painted as) almost the worst dictatorships in the history of the humankind. He said the speech was contradictory, mixing expressions of respect for nations sovereign rights with a barefaced U.S. pretense to determine who has such rights and who does not.
But half (at least) of America is happy happy, joy joy over the prospect of war war war
Beat them drums Trump! You made a fool out of me and millions of others
Good way to look at what just happened
Margot Wallstrom, foreign minister of Sweden: This was a bombastic, nationalist speech. It must have been decades since one last heard a speech like that in the U.N. General Assembly. This was a speech at the wrong time to the wrong audience.
Other words: We just showed the world that we are out of control, both foreign and domestic in our policies and way behind the modern world and times
I call it psychotic chaos
WtR
http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/neocon-watch/2017/september/15/nikki-haley-meltdown-assad-must-goand-war-with-north-korea/
There must be something about being named US Ambassador to the UN that brings out the inner mass murderer in people. Madeline Albright famously admitted that she thought 500,000 dead Iraqi children due to US sanctions was worth it. John Bolton never met a disagreement he didnt want to turn into a war. Samantha Power barked about human rights while her Administrations drones snuffed out human life in unprecedented numbers. The real butcher of the Balkans Richard Holbrooke sold the Yugoslavia war on lies. John Death Squad Negroponte sold the lie that Saddam Hussein needed to be killed and his country destroyed for democracy to flourish, and so on.
Considering how many millions of civilians have been killed on the war propaganda of US ambassadors to the UN, perhaps the equivalent of another Holocaust could have been avoided if Ron Pauls HR 1146 has passed 30 years ago.
But nothing could have prepared us for Nikki Holocaust Haley, who has thundered into the Trump Administration as US Ambassador to the UN despite hating Trump and Trump hating her. Why would President Trump pick someone for such an influential position despite her being vocally and publicly opposed to the foreign policy that provided the margin of victory for him? We can only guess. Was Trump lying on the campaign trail? Possibly. Does he not bother to notice that he has surrounded himself with people who are deeply opposed, at the DNA level, to the policies he ran and won on? Seems more likely. As Johnny Rotten famously ended the Sex Pistols run, ever get the feeling youve been cheated?
In fact yes. One-time top Trump supporter Ann Coulter today Tweeted the question is there anyone out there left who doesnt want Trump impeached?
Coulter meant the wall or something else, but she could just as well have been complaining about the foreign policy about-face. Trump ran as a Ron Paul Republican, he governs as a George W. Bush Republican. Cheated? Yes, once again.
Which brings us back to the odious Nikki Haley. Today she no doubt thought she was being clever Tweeting in response to the predictable fact that yet another round of sanctions against North Korea did not result in Kim Jong-Un doing a Gaddafi suicide knife dance, that since the sanctions destroying the North Korean economy such as it is have not resulted in Kims surrender it was time to hand the matter over to Defense Secretary James Mattis.
Said US top UN diplomat Nikki: We cut 90% of trade & 30% of oil. I have no problem kicking it to Gen. Mattis because I think he has plenty of options.
We killed their trade, we destroyed their oil imports and still they have the nerve to defy us and not surrenderso time for World War Three! Thats Nikki. No foreign policy experience beyond the fetid breath of the neocon experts whispering in her all-too-willing ear.
But Nikki was not done today. After threatening a war on North Korea that would likely leave ten or more thousand US troops dead, hundreds of thousands of South Korean civilians dead, and maybe another million North Koreans dead, she decided to opine on the utterly failed six year US regime change operation in Syria. Today, as Deir Ezzor has finally been liberated by the Syrian government from the scourge of ISIS, Nikki Haley chose to go on record defending ISIS and al-Qaeda by repeating Obamas line that Assad must go.
Ponder this for a minute: Assad has just defeated ISIS in Deir Ezzor. ISIS is the reason the US has invaded Syrian sovereignty and initiated military action. Yet according to Nikki Haley Assads reward for wiping out ISIS is that he must be deposed presumably in favor of US-backed rebels who have been in bed with ISIS for six years!
Is Nikki Haley pro-ISIS? Is she pro-al-Qaeda? Is she evil or just stupid?
You decide.
But if she is not removed from office soon, she will be leading perhaps a million people to their graves.
Sep 20, 2017 | By Tess
Polish 3D printer manufacturer Sinterit has made an announcement that is sure to please the maker community: it is slashing the cost of its Sinterit Lisa SLS 3D printer by roughly 50 per cent. The 3D printer, which previously cost around $12,500, is now available for as little as $5,960 (4,990).
The Sinterit Lisa 3D printer was first introduced in 2015, and gained attention for being one of the most low-cost SLS 3D printing solutions on the market. Competing against other SLS printers, which can cost upwards of $100,000, the Sinterit Lisa has been a distinctly accessible machine for those in need of selective laser sintering.
Moreover, the machine has also been recognized for its high quality prints, and Sinterit says its varied client base has offered much praise for what the Sinterit Lisa has helped each customer accomplish.
As Sinterit explains, Previously only industrial machines operated in the SLS technology, while prints were prepared solely upon a subcontractor order. Sinterit made this advanced technology accessible even to small and medium organizations enabling them to work on their projects directly, right after the completion of the virtual planning process.
Now, thanks to new technological solutions and the optimization of the printers production, Sinterit has been able to seriously reduce the cost of its SLS 3D printing system. In addition to the dramatic price drop, the company says it will be launching online sales for the 3D printer, making it even more accessible.
Suspension structure 3D printed on the Sinterit Lisa
Micha Grzymaa-Moszczynski, Sinterit co-founder, explains that after three years of having the Sinterit Lisa on the market, the company found that by scaling up the production of the 3D printer and offering online sales, it could drastically reduce the cost of the machine.
From the very beginning our goal was to bring to market the most affordable SLS machine, he says in a video interview. Now, it seems like the Sinterit team really has.
From top left, clockwise: 3D printed bearing, variable pitch impeller, caradan joint, and cable tie
Unlike FDM and SLA 3D printing, selective laser sintering has largely remained an expensive and thus mainly industrial additive manufacturing process. The technology, which uses a laser to sinter (often nylon-based) powdered material, is known for producing highly precise and very strong parts.
These features, along with the fact that it is possible to print articulated parts using SLS, make the technology well suited for manufacturing functional prototypes as well as small-batch production parts.
The Sinterit Lisa, hailed as the first desktop SLS system, boasts a build chamber of 150 x 200 x 150 mm, a variable layer thickness of between 0.075 and 0.175 mm, and compatibility with PA12 Smooth and Flexa Black materials.
Any interested businesses, professional designers, or makers are invited to check out Sinterits low-cost SLS 3D printing system via its website.
Posted in 3D Printer
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They spent five hours hiking to the top of Vail Mountain, where he then pulled out the ring. On their way back into town via gondola ride, he planned for Champagne. And just like that, Brittany Montalbo and Drew Chansky, who had been dating for seven years, decided to tie the knot. The betrotheds set their minds on gorgeous destination wedding in Cabo, Mexico.
Anticipating that weddings can be too fleeting, Montalbo and Chansky wanted to make the most of their time with loved ones. As San Franciscans with family in Cabothe bride's family owns a villa therethe Mexican vacation spot popular among Bay Areans was an easy option, and once they saw the Cape Hotel, they knew they had found their venue. As with most inspiration nowadays, Montalbo discovered the hotel on an Instagram feed.
"I saw their gorgeous tiled floors and amazing wood accents and was obsessed. I know, so millennial of me," she says.
A natural color palette of white and greenery made for striking but classic adornment. Florals consisted of a plethora of white roses, tea roses, lisianthus, peonies, and freesias. The wedding arch offered a unique element with an asymmetric design: a wood frame was draped with fabric on one side and adorned with white roses on the other. Paired with the serene coastal backdrop, their simple theme was chic and timeless.
Capturing all the memorable moments and details was the couple's photographer and close friend, Michelle Scolman, who, like many photographers, jumped in to handle much more than just snapping great shots.
"She does such great job we knew that we had to have her come out to photograph our special day," says Montalbo. "Also I needed her there for moral support."
On the day of, there was nothing but excitement, including a quick mishap. At one point, water spilled onto their ceremony site when a guest overflowed the plunge pool. Luckily, it was cleaned up without the bride and groom even taking notice. Accidents aside, the wedding went off with just one hitch (of the matrimonial sort). The couple wrote their own vows, had an epic dance party at the reception and followed it with a bash at Montalbo's parents' villa, where she admits, there was a lot of tequila flowing.
"I was so happy to marry my BFF!"
Montalbo's tips for planning a wedding abroad:
Hire a planner . There is so much that goes into this day and it is impossible to plan something like this on your own in another country.
. There is so much that goes into this day and it is impossible to plan something like this on your own in another country. Scout the venue in person first. We were lucky enough to go down to Cabo in April before the wedding, which was very helpful. We did our food tasting, visited the rental companies, and went over all of the details with the planner.
Venue: The Cape, A Thompson Hotel
Wedding dress: Pronovias in NYC
Maid of Honor dress: Flynn Skye from Revolve
Reception dress: Naeem Khann
Shoes: Aquazzura, ordered online from Intermix
Photography: Michelle Scolman from Vivienne Tyler PhotographyVivienne Tyler Photography
Planner + Day Of Coordinator: Amy Abbott Events
Flowers: Lola De Campo
Invitations: Minted
Table numbers/ other printed materials: Bells and Whistles in Cabo
Calligraphy: Amy Abbott Events
Decor: Amy Abbott Events and Del Cabo Rentals in San Jose Del Cabo
Cake: The Cape Los Cabos pastry chef
Hair and makeup: Los Cabos Make Up
Catering: The Cape Hotel
Engagement rings: Mark Areias in Aptos, CA (family jeweler that her mom, grandma and aunt go to)
Wedding rings: Padis Jewelry in the SF Jewelry Mart
Ackerman + Gruber
How nurse practitioners can practice varies by state
In February, South Dakota became the 22nd state to enact full practice authority for NPs. This means they can practice without supervision from physicians. In December 2016, the Department of Veterans Affairs also gave full practice authority to NPs and other advanced practice registered nurses in the VA health system, despite the objections of the American Medical Association, which represents physicians. NPs in the other 28 states are confined to reduced or restricted practice: They can provide care only if they collaborate with a physician. If that relationship ends, the NP cant practice until establishing an agreement with a new physician. Physicians can also dictate what NPs can and cant do.
An NP emphasizes preventionnot just treatment
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who received care from NPs and other advanced practice registered nurses were less likely to visit the ER after hospitalization than those cared for by a physician, according to a 2016 study by the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. We tend to focus more on prevention and wellness its a more holistic approach to health care, says Penny Kaye Jensen, an NP with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Adds Rebecca Bates, an NP who works with uninsured patients at free clinics in Northern Virginia: We are educated differently. We have different models of how we care for patients.
Nurse practitioners face some resistance
The American Academy of Family Physicians, one of the largest doctors groups in the U.S., states on its website: The nurse practitioner should not function as an independent health practitioner [and] should only function in an integrated practice arrangement under the direction and responsible supervision of a practicing, licensed physician. Care costs and avoidable hospitalizations are at their lowest when patients are treated by an optimal mix of primary care physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, according to a report by the Robert Graham Center, a research organization that is aligned with the academy. But NP proponents say restricting their ability to practice without physician collaboration reduces competition. In states that have removed restrictions, NPs are more likely to work in rural and underserved areas, Bates says.
Ken Budd is a former health editor and executive editor of AARP The Magazine. He is the author of a memoir, The Voluntourist.
What's next for SD Gov. Kristi Noem as she heads into her second term?
Her kin signal what Kristi Noem hopes to accomplish in her second term: strengthening South Dakota households through various efforts.
Wins Another Major European National Lottery Operator
Sydney, Sep 20, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - OtherLevels Holdings Limited ( ASX:OLV ) ("OtherLevels") has announced that it has signed a major European national lottery operator.
The initial contract is valued at A$260,000, and is expected to grow as additional OtherLevels products and services are deployed.
OtherLevels will work with the operator and implement web and app messaging solutions including notification, interstitial and inbox messaging types.
Brendan O'Kane, OtherLevels Managing Director, commented, "OtherLevels already supports two of the world's top national lottery operators with Camelot (UK) and Tatts (Australia). We are thrilled to add another major lottery client. OtherLevels will enable the operator to deploy advanced segmentation and create sophisticated user journeys, both of which will increase visitor conversion, and player engagement and retention. We look forward to working closely with them as they continue to enhance and expand their digital offerings."
About Otherlevels Holdings Ltd
OtherLevels Holdings Ltd (ASX:OLV) (FRA:7OL) is a leading second-generation digital marketing platform with offices in Europe, the US and Australia.
The OtherLevels platform enables clients to acquire sooner, engage smarter and retain longer across desktop, mobile web and apps audiences. The OtherLevels platform offers both Intelligent Messaging for Conversion, and Intelligent Messaging for Marketing Clouds and CRM, hence delivering both acquisition and engagement capabilities for digital marketers. OtherLevels leading clients include Camelot (UK), Tatts/Tabcorp, Coles, Flight Centre, IHG, LadbrokesCoral, Betfred and Doubledown.
For more information, please visit https://otherlevels.com.
For media enquiries please contact media@otherlevels.com.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani appealed to Pakistan to work together to curb extremists, seeing an opportunity as the United States sends in more troops.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Ghani said US President Donald Trumps new Afghan strategy sent a signal to Taliban guerrillas that they cannot win on the field and must negotiate peace.
We welcome this strategy, which has now set us on a pathway to certainty. The Afghan people have looked to the United States for this type of resolve for years, Ghani said.
Trump last month announced an Afghanistan strategy that reversed his previous calls to wind down Americas longest war, which was launched after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
He instead has sent thousands more troops to Afghanistan and pledged a tougher line on Pakistan, which has long faced US criticism for its intelligence services ties with jihadists and for harbouring Osama bin Laden.
We now also have an opportunity for a dialogue with our neighbours on how we can work together earnestly to eliminate terrorism and contain extremism, Ghani said.
I call upon Pakistan to engage with us on a comprehensive state to state dialogue on peace, security and regional cooperation leading to prosperity, he said.
Analysts see Pakistans continued relationship with insurgents as part of a fixation on containing historic rival India, which has warm ties with Afghanistans post-Taliban government.
Due to heavy rains waterlogging has been witnessed in several parts of the city. Often people walk on streets flooded with water and there is a possibility of citizens getting infected with leptospirosis. The disease is caused when people come in contact with rats urine and faecal matter that get mixed with accumulated water. Different kinds of animals carry this bacterium, but the most common ones being cattle, pigs, dogs, horses, sheep, rats and mice.
Already leptospirosis has claimed five lives in the city till August. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has already issued a health advisory to citizens mentioning that they are prone to develop leptospirosis. People below the age of 35 years have been affected the most by leptospirosis. The civic body nonetheless claims that this year only five deaths have been recorded as compared to 16 last year. Leptospirosis is more likely to spread in slum areas where often waste is not segregated properly and people follow poor hygiene standards. According to health experts those people suffering from fever, vomiting, abdominal pain and breathlessness should avoid self-medication and consult doctors.
If the rains pour once again continuously, we can expect another 26th like situation in the city. Few days back many gave up their lives and the city was restless. Entire Ganesh festival went silent in rainstorms. Navratri will begin today but city is not at peace to welcome Maa Durga. Sena-BJP-Congress -NCP everyone failed to give flood-free Mumbai; Shiv-Sena is just lured in corruption on every level, be it BMC or Mumbai roads or drainage arrangements. This time even BJP has promised flood- free Mumbai but failed flat. Shame on these political parties and promises that they made to people, equally big shame on those who choose them again and again.
Mumbai, which witnessed heavy rains in the last two days, will see more downpours in next few days. Who can envisage that rains can even prove to be curse for someone? The metropolis has a population of 12,442,373 as per 2011 census. As per the guidelines, there should be at least 124 community shelters. But it seems that neither the Maharashtra Government nor the Municipal Corporation is concerned about the risk of life every homeless may face during rains in the absence of any shelter. A response received through an RTI has revealed that there is no shelter built by Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) as per National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) guidelines and only seven night shelters are in existence prior to NULM guidelines that do not match the standard inmates capacity.
Rains are a scary ordeal for homeless folks to protect their children and infants, the sick and the aged. It poses a risk to their lives. What is important to know that whether the government is bothered to take care of its poorest citizens to ensure them protection from any kind of life risk? Visit the street side and see how these lives are messed, they have dumped in suffocating spaces just to hide heads.
As per census of 2011, there are 57,416 homeless persons in Mumbai. The guidelines under NULM of the Ministry of Housing and Urban poverty Alleviation state that there should be a permanent community shelter for every one lakh population.
Those small-time vendors, whose shops are situated on ground floor in National park area had to bear severe losses. When rain continued, the dams were opened by authorities to avoid heavy water pressure in the dam. As a result, the entire water got into streets, shops, houses, cars and two wheelers sailed from one side to another. Forget about human losses but many shopkeepers had to incur heavy losses when seven feet water all of a sudden entered in to their shops. Everything just got washed out. Vegetable vendors had to go through another trauma. Those who keep their stomach on hands had to starve for many days. But there is no compensation or considerations for them from government or authorities.
Schools and colleges have been shut in view of the heavy rainfall. There are many schools still under water but Government has hardly anything to offer than keeping the schools closed. Many areas are waterlogged; main runway is shut at Mumbai airport and 56 flights got diverted.
Torrential rain lashed Mumbai for the second time in weeks, flooding low-lying areas, paralysing rail, road and air traffic in the countrys financial hub. Worst is yet to get over. This is what happens in every monsoon, but authorities are not ready to fight these seasonal casualties.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has everybody to accuse for the upshots of Mumbai rains except themselves. They are yet to realise that, somewhere their inefficiency is causing lots of damage to the city and its mankind. As usual, BMC has pinned the blame on everyone except itself, practically giving itself a clean chit. While Mumbaikars damned the BMC for its poor crisis management during heavy rains (300mm) on August 29, followed by massive flooding and loss of lives, the civic agency has blamed everyone, including the India Meteorological Department and railways, but has refused to take up any blame or accountability. Lets suppose IMD failed to issue a warning well in advance. But the monsoon is not new to the civic body. What did they do to fight the disaster? The BMC is endlessly at denial and they refused to acknowledge its own inadequacies in terms of incomplete projects, rearrangement of storm water drains, and circuit houses/pump houses to clear water from waterlogged areas and most importantly, the lack of readiness for monsoon rage. The Mumbai deluge left at least 20 people dead; one of the deceased included a doctor who slipped into a manhole on a waterlogged area. There were three deaths by falling in Borivali gutter but all went unnoticed, as those people were not celebrities but the strays. Forget about human lives, the animal lives too have gone miserably; many stray dogs went missing in floods. Mumbai has remained with empty hopes and false promises. Its our hard earned tax that we pay to government for our welfare and safety but looking at these crises, the citizens feel cheated.
(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com)
At least 248 people, including 117 in the capital, were killed by a powerful earthquake that rocked Mexico on Tuesday, the authorities have said. The dead included at least 21 children crushed beneath a primary school that collapsed on Mexico Citys south side during the 7.1-magnitude quake, they said. President Enrique Pena Nieto, who rushed to the site, warned the toll could rise.
The destruction revived horrific memories in Mexico on the anniversary of another massive quake in 1985, the disaster-prone countrys deadliest ever.
One of the most gut-wrenching scenes was at the Enrique Rebsamen primary school on Mexico Citys south side, whose three floors collapsed into one, trapping students and teachers inside. Twenty-one children and four adults were killed, said deputy education minister Javier Trevino.
There are 30 children and eight adults still missing. Rescue operations are ongoing, President Enrique Pena Nieto told journalists.
Local media reports said soldiers had located one child alive beneath the ruins. They administered oxygen through a tube, but were so far unable to extract him.
The devastation struck across a swath of central states.
Rescue crews and volunteers in Mexico City home to 20 million people clawed through the rubble of at least 49 collapsed buildings looking for survivors and bodies.
Local media reported that families were getting WhatsApp messages pleading for help from desperate relatives trapped under debris.
Memories of the devastating 1985 earthquake, which killed at least 10,000 people, surged to the surface on what was meant to be a low-key 32nd anniversary.
Adding to the national sense of vulnerability, the quake also came just 12 days after another that killed nearly 100 people and left more than 200 injured, mainly in the southern states of Oaxaca and Chiapas.
Many in the capital quickly ran for safety outdoors when walls around them swayed and cracked.
Im so worried. I cant stop crying. Its the same nightmare as in 1985, Georgina Sanchez, 52, sobbed to AFP in a plaza in the capital.
The quake which occurred in the early afternoon, hours after city authorities had conducted an earthquake drill caused massive damage in the bustling center of the city.
It was horrible, said resident Leiza Visaj Herrera, 27. I had to hold on to the ground.
Scenes of chaos erupted in the quakes aftermath. Traffic jammed to a standstill before blanked-out stoplights, and anxious people ran between vehicles as ambulances tried to make headway, sirens blaring.
In several locations, large crowds of people clambered on buildings that were now piles of stone and tangled metal, trying to pull people out.
Emergency workers held up signs commanding Silence so crews could listen for the sounds of any survivors.
Everyone was frantic
Jorge Lopez, a 49-year-old Spaniard living in Mexico City, said he raced to his childrens school in the central Roma district, to find it collapsed but his offspring safe but terrified.
We arrived at the school and everyone was crying, everyone was frantic, and the kids were holding on to a rope, he said.
Patients were evacuated from a nearby hospital, wheeled out on beds and wheelchairs.
Pena Neto said on Twitter he had ordered the evacuation of damaged hospitals.
At one collapsed building in the Roma district, dozens of people dug through rubble as they waited for the arrival of heavy machinery to move the massive chunks of stone. Officials called out for more volunteers, and for water.
A woman standing and watching the efforts with her husband, a doctor, turned to him and said, Darling, if you want to help, go ahead. Just give me your glasses, and be careful.
Mexico Citys international airport closed for more than three hours following the quake. The stock market was forced to shut.
Fearful residents whose homes were damaged were preparing to spend the night on the street or in parks.
On the clogged and darkened roads, muggers came out at night to assault motorists.
Trumps prayers
Officials in several other countries responded to the quake with offers of help.
Honduras sent a 36-strong rescue team.
US President Donald Trump, who has forged an antagonistic relationship with Mexico, tweeted: God bless the people of Mexico City. We are with you and will be there for you.
Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, tweeted: Devastating news from Mexico City. My thoughts are with those affected by todays earthquake Canada will be ready to help our friends.
Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray responded by saying Mexico sincerely thanks the displays of international solidarity that we are receiving.
The Bombay High Court on Monday refused to allow the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) the use of heavy machinery or transportation vehicles at night for the Metro III line work, observing that it will disturb the residents.
The MMRCL had sought the courts permission to bring heavy vehicles to the construction sites in South Mumbai during the night hours to transport construction material and debris.
A bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice N M Jamdar, however, said that it could not pass such a blanket order.
The bench was hearing a writ petition, filed by advocate Robin Jaisinghani, alleging a violation of noise pollution norms by the MMRCL in the construction of the Metro III line.
Acting on the above petition, the court had last month restrained the MMRCL from carrying out any construction or ancillary work on the Metro III line between 10 pm and 6 am.
Today, the MMRCLs counsel, Kiran Badalia, told the HC that considering the above prohibitory order of the court, and a recent circular of the city traffic police that bans heavy vehicles in South Mumbai from 7 am till midnight, it was facing difficulties in carrying out construction work for Metro III.
The MMRCLs request, however, was vehemently opposed by the petitioner, who argued that the sound from transportation vehicles was a major source of noise pollution.
The bench, meanwhile, suggested that the MMRCL time its work in a manner that it does not need to use heavy vehicles after 1 pm.
Aiken, SC (29801)
Today
Sunny to partly cloudy. High 56F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph..
Tonight
Cloudy. Low near 45F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
The future of the monument memorializing the Hamburg Massacre and a man who died during it will be discussed Monday evening.
When legislators return for the next session, immediate remedies should be sought for issues raised by issues raised by the state's watchdog organization and advocates for the disabled.
September 19, 2017
Egyptian graphic designer Ghada Wali has created the Lets Play project that is designed to help early learners and foreign speakers learn the Arabic language. The book Wali has designed uses colorful Lego bricks to create Arabic letters, with the Latin equivalent for each letter and its phonetic pronunciation listed. A 400-word dictionary is also included in the book.
The book also aims to help the user understand the challenges of the Arabic language, such as isolated, initial, medial and final forms of each letter by using Legos to show how each letter changes depending on where it appears in a word.
We need innovative ways of Arabic-language education, Wali, 27, told Al-Monitor, underlining that she hopes teaching Arabic would form a bridge between Arabs and non-Arabs. I thought about how I could make the world stop seeing us [Arabs] as evil, as terrorists, and start perceiving us as equals, as fellow humans.
It was this desire that led her to use Lego bricks, which she describes as a symbol of innocence and the language of a childs play, to teach Arabic.
Wali said that the Lego bricks were just a metaphor for communications without borders. That's because we are all made of the same unit, she said, adding that she wants to see a future where the barriers between people whether linguistic, cultural or political come tumbling down.
Walis academic background focuses on experimental typography. She obtained a masters degree in graphic design from the Istituto Europeo di Design in Florence, Italy, in December 2016, and she graduated from the faculty of applied sciences and arts at the German University in Cairo in 2011. She worked as a senior art director at the advertising agency MI7 Cairo, as a graphic design tutor at the American and German universities in Cairo, and for multinational advertising and marketing companies such as J. Walter Thompson and Fortune Promoseven.
While Wali was studying for her masters degree in Italy, she missed her language. I missed looking at its beautiful letters and exploring their meaning. So, one day, I walked into one of the biggest libraries in Italy in search of an Arabic book," she said.
When she could not find Arabic poetry or fiction books, she decided to do something to show the richness of Arabic literature and language.
Wali has set up similar projects in the past, such as creating a typeface that translates Latin letters and words into hieroglyphics and vice versa.
In 2016, Walis work won the Granshan competition in Munich, two Adobe Design Achievement awards in San Diego and she was voted among the best 100 graphic designers in the world by the Society of Typographic Arts Chicago.
Wali also made it onto the 2017 Forbes 30 under 30 list for her graphic design achievements, which she said is an honor and encouragement to push harder."
It takes a very long time, years of hard work and tons of challenges before an Arab woman can have a stab at a fair chance of global recognition in a world that is dominated by males and by the West, Wali noted.
Arabic is the official language of 22 countries with more than 300 million speakers, primarily in North Africa and the Middle East. The language spread with the rise of Islam in the 7th century. The Quran is written in classical Arabic, which is the common language of literature and media throughout the Arab world. Arabic speakers, however, do not communicate in classical Arabic, but use modern standard Arabic, or local dialects, instead.
My aim is to break the fear of language and to transform the educational experience, Wali said, expressing hope that her colorful learning tool one day becomes an application and a board game and is used in schools to facilitate Arabic learning.
She added that she wants to make Arabic letters more accessible to a larger audience and facilitate the Arabic language to become a common language in the world.
September 20, 2017
Around 6:30 p.m. Sept. 19, Iranians were tuned in, waiting to hear what US President Donald Trump would say in his address to the UN General Assembly with regard to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The 2015 pact resulted in the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions against Iran.
Trump said, We cannot abide by an agreement if it provides cover for the eventual construction of a nuclear program. The Iranian government masks a corrupt dictatorship behind the false guise of a democracy. It has turned a wealthy country, with a rich history and culture, into an economically depleted rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed and chaos.
The president's harsh words about Iran and his lamentation about the JCPOA reached between Iran and the P5+1 (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States plus Germany) went beyond Iranians' already negative expectations. Iranians reacted to the speech by launching the hashtag ShutUPTrump to express their displeasure with his words and stands. One Iranian, Javad Aghaie, tweeted, I wish that before Trump's speech they had taken an alcohol and drug test so that he wouldnt talk in such contradictory ways.
Foreign Minister Mohamamd Javad Zarif was one of the first Iranian officials to protest the speech, tweeting, Trump's ignorant hate speech belongs in medieval times not the 21st Century UN unworthy of a reply. Fake empathy for Iranians fools no one.
The day after the speech, Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, told the Tasnim news agency, We should thank Trump for unmasking the real face of the US. The speech of the US president shouldnt go unanswered, and I hope the [Iranian] president gives a decisive, revolutionary and enlightening response in his address.
Jafari also said, Taking a decisive position against Trump is just the beginning, and what is important strategically here is that the US witnesses a more painful response in practice and based on decisions Iran will take in the next months.
Moreover, Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, told reporters, The US presidents remarks stem from his poor understanding of international agreements and their legal bases, and [these] remarks are considered worthless in the eyes of the international community.
He continued, The US president is a liar and a supporter of takfiri and terrorist groups in the region. [During the 2016 presidential election] Trump described Obama as the founder of IS [Islamic State], but in recent months and by his order, the US military has repeatedly [helped] the terrorist forces to flee while they were surrounded."
Gen. Hassan Firooz-Abadi, former head of Irans armed forces, was surprised by the harshness of Trumps remarks, telling the Fars News Agency, This was the most embarrassing and hollow speech at the UN. He added, I pay condolences to the American nation for having such a president. Trump has turned away from God and is hostile to humanity. He was the incarnation of the Great Satan in the UN General Assembly, and he acted against the representatives of the worlds' nations as he is acting against the American people."
Meanwhile, some Iranian analysts said Tehrans commitment to the JCPOA and not violating the deal has tied Trumps hands preventing him from scrapping it or presenting a new approach to Irans nuclear program and the JCPOA in his UN speech in his attempt to persuade members of the P5+1 to ditch the agreement. Describing Iran as the winner after Trumps speech, Sadegh Ziba-Kalam, a prominent Reformist analyst, wrote in Sharq Daily, Many Iranians were waiting to see if Trump would say and announce new policies regarding the JCPOA. The United States' president didnt say anything new. He reiterated his previous remarks. Once again, he bitterly spoke of the JCPOA, his opposition, anger and dissatisfaction with it, but he couldnt provide a new substitution for it. Two years have passed since the JCPOA, and Irans behavior has been such that no pretext was given to the Americans [to destroy the deal].
Warning of an escalation in tensions following Trumps speech, Ali Khorram, former Iranian ambassador to the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, told the Iranian Students' News Agency, Prior to this, I had only heard such insulting words from Benjamin Netanyahu. Trumps speech wasnt diplomatic and conventional, and we can say that was a declaration of war.
The former ambassador further said, It seems that Netanyahu, Saudi Arabia, the hard-liners around Trump and Republicans had reached an agreement over this speech, and [we] can consider that [speech] as the result of their joint work Iran should maintain Europe, Russia, China, and other countries [position] against the US by honoring the JCPOA. We should enhance the consensus that has been formed behind us.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in his speech to the UN General Assembly delivered Sept. 20, said of Trump's remarks about the JCPOA, The new US administration only destroys its own credibility and undermines international confidence in negotiating with it or accepting its word or promise.
Rouhani said of Trump's speech, The ignorant, absurd and hateful rhetoric, filled with ridiculously baseless allegations, that was uttered before this august body yesterday, was not only unfit to be heard at the United Nations which was established to promote peace and respect between nations but indeed contradicted the demands of our nations from this world body to bring governments together to combat war and terror.
Noting the reasons behind US discontent with the nuclear deal, Rouhani said, Unfortunately, some have deprived themselves of this unique opportunity. They have imposed sanctions really against themselves, and now they feel betrayed. We were not deceived, nor did we cheat or deceive anyone.
Rebutting allegations about Irans regional ambitions, Rouhani said, Iran does not seek to restore its ancient empire, impose its official religion on others or export its revolution through the force of arms. We are so confident in the depth of our culture, the truth of our faith and tenacity and longevity of our revolution that we will never seek to export any of them in the way neo-colonialists do, with the heavy boots of soldiers.
Rouhani also tried to define Iran's foreign policy, which he claimed is based on moderation. He defended Tehrans presence in Iraq and Syria as an attempt to confront terrorism and took a swipe at Trumps friendship with Saudi Arabia and his visit to Riyadh earlier in the year, saying, Moderation is the synergy of ideas and not the dance of swords. The path of moderation nurtures beauty. Deadly weapons exports are not beautiful; rather, peace is. Today, we are on the front lines of fighting terror and religious extremism in the Middle East, not for sectarian or ethnic reasons, but for an ethical, humanitarian and strategic one.
September 20, 2017
How do Iranian Sunnis survive in a Shiite-dominated landscape? This is a common question among people who follow Iranian affairs, given reports suggesting that Sunnis suffer from religious discrimination nationwide, such as not being allowed to build mosques in major cities or to practice their religious rituals. Iran's Sunnis encompass a range of ethnic minorities, from Arabs to Kurds to Turkmens. In August, I visited Sunni Kurdish cities in northwest Iran, attending a wedding in Bukan and then traveling to neighboring Mahabad and Saqqez to see how Iranian Sunni Kurds live. It was my first time in the area, which extends over the large provinces of Kurdistan and West Azerbaijan.
The route to Bukan was mountainous. The farther we drove, the more mountains we encountered. You got the feeling that all the countrys secrets lie hidden behind the last mountain, but that you would never get there. We arrived in Bukan quite late, but not too late for the traditional hana bandan, a pre-wedding ritual that involves adorning the bride with henna.
People were gathering in the street outside the home of the bride's family. They were singing, dancing and preparing for the arrival of the groom. The men wore traditional Kurdish attire, while the women, some without scarves, put the finishing touches on the table where the bride and groom would sit. Sisters and friends of the bride wore yellow and black outfits, helping the bride into her traditional red dress. The moment the groom arrived, the street turned into a big party as an older man broke into song accompanied by two younger men, one playing a flute and another beating the tonbak, a drum typically used at weddings.
Upon first impression, it seemed that the people of Bukan were able to hold their weddings freely and publicly without interference. Luqman, a young student from Bukan who lives in Tehran, told Al-Monitor that such celebrations are respected by the authorities. Every time theres a wedding or celebration, we come to our town," he said. "They respect our traditions as you can see, nothing is banned. The next day the wedding will be held in a very big hall in the city. People will flock there and the celebration will have a more modern look, different from the one you saw today.
At 2 a.m. the celebration came to an end as we made our way to the city's only hotel. Surprisingly, the streets were still alive at such a late hour. Restaurants were open and barbecues were ablaze. In Tehran, shops and amenities would be closed at this time.
The next day, we headed to Saqqez, an ancient Kurdish city south of Bukan. The Saqqez River runs through the city, and the streets are named after prominent Islamic figures such as the first and second caliphs, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq and Omar bin al-Khattab. Shiites generally do not fully endorse those caliphates, but in Saqqez, the two mosques in the city are named after them.
From Saqqez we headed north to the city of Mahabad. The city is known for being the capital of the short-lived Kurdish republic the Republic of Mahabad which was declared in January 1946 and dissolved in December of that year. It was prayer time when we arrived, so we headed to the citys monumental Red Mosque, which was built in the 17th century during the Safavid era. There we met the custodian of the mosque, Sheikh Yahya Ismaeli, who led the communal prayer and then told us the history of the 18-domed structure.
This mosque was built by Boddaq al-Sultan during Shah Safis era [1629-1642]," he said. "Its also a religious school where leading scholars of Kurdistan have studied and taught. Sharia students come here to study and its a place that the people of the area have a special relation with.
He continued, We are living here alongside our Shiite brothers. What we want is more care from the government for such a monument so that people will continue to come here and practice their prayers. [We also want] students to continue studying so our mosque will continue to be a minaret of knowledge and Islam in our region.
These first impressions of cities in northwest Iran are not enough to fully understand the situation of Sunni Kurds in Iran, though they do provide a hint. As far as religion goes, Sunnis dont seem to have a problem praying or attending school. Sunni students are taught religion according to their own version of history, given that the Shiite version of Islamic history differs in many respects. According to official statistics, thousands of Sunni mosques can be found in Iran, including grand mosques in Zahedan and Kermanshah, where many Sunnis live.
There are 20 Sunni representatives in the Iranian parliament, while three Sunnis are members of the Assembly of Experts, which is responsible for supervising, electing and dismissing the supreme leader. (Those Sunni representatives are not Kurdish but from other ethnic minorities.) No Sunni has ever been appointed to a ministerial position, though one Sunni diplomat was appointed as an ambassador during President Hassan Rouhani's first term. Here lies the key point: The main problem for the Sunnis of Iran is a political problem, not a religious one.
Iran's Sunni populations are concentrated along the border. This alone puts a heavy burden on their back, given the situation in Iraq and the loose security along the border with Pakistan. With regard to Sunni Kurds, their history of insurgency and their ambitions for independence have made Iranian governments cautious in dealing with this minority. More than four Kurdish revolts took place between 1922 and the first years after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. A continued yet contained insurgency against the Iranian government is led by Kurdish groups along the border with Iraq. In Sistan and Baluchistan, groups such as Jundallah, Jaish ul-Adl and Ansar al-Furqan have been fighting the government since 2004. Iran fears that through such groups, the government's regional rivals, mainly Saudi Arabia, might gain leverage in the country and pose a serious security threat to national security.
The Sunni question in Iran is very sensitive, and the establishment in Tehran walks a delicate line in its attempts to build relations that could lead to Sunni integration. At the same time, the establishment's primary concern is to protect the country from attempts at destabilization a hard task that requires the patience of a rug weaver and the exactitude of a careful artist.
September 17, 2017
A quiet war is being waged in Israel. No firearms are employed, even though the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are involved. And none of Israels external enemies are involved. Nevertheless, both of the warring sides view this struggle as an existential one, a real fight for survival, which is being waged within the very heart of the Jewish state. It is a struggle of the Old Israel versus the New Israel. It is a war between Israels original Liberal-Zionist-secular statesmanship with the values on which it was established 70 years ago versus a more religious Israel, a more conservative and traditional mindset that is less liberal and also far less democratic. This newer Israel is now trying to exploit its electoral assets into the power to rule. A one-sentence summary: a war between everything that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu symbolizes, and everyone else.
Netanyahus first term of office, which began in 1996, ended traumatically. Netanyahu was deposed from power in 1999 by the old elites, the media and the public. In his years outside the system, Netanyahu understood that in order to remain in power and establish himself, he would need to take matters into his own hands. In other words: to forcefully take control of positions of power and all key positions from which his enemies could fight him. Netanyahu crafted a detailed program to realize this goal, in incremental stages. The plan was first launched hesitantly, step after step. But as time went on, the pace of its implementation quickened.
Netanyahu did not content himself with positions of power but continued full steam ahead to do the following: constrain the authority of the Supreme Court, weaken the status of states juridical echelon, boycott the free press and conduct a final takeover of the Likud. From a party that had once been a liberal democratic bastion in which no one feared expressing an opinion, the Likud morphed into a bulletproof vest with the sole objective of protecting its leader, even from state institutions and legal authorities.
Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked submitted on Sept. 14 to the Knesset a bill draft she conceived. If turned into law, this bill would allow the prime minister to declare war without the authorization of the Cabinet. In addition, while this very article is being written, the HaBayit HaYehudi party, led by Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Shaked, is working hard on a new bill that would clip (with a 61-seat Knesset majority) the wings of the Supreme Court.
This new bill, which will officially be called the Basic Law of Legislation, is designed to empty the Supreme Court of its most essential powers. Today, the Supreme Court can override a law passed by the Knesset if the law is found to conflict with constitutional principles that are anchored in basic laws. Israel has no organized constitution; instead, there are a number of basic laws, which are special laws that anchor the basic principles of law in Israel.
Although the Supreme Court does not invalidate Knesset laws frequently, it has done so recently (by suspending the regularization law) when it felt that the laws directly impinged on basic principles such as that of equality. Now the Knesset hopes to create for itself absolute superiority over the law, thus violating the very sensitive checks-and-balances system of Israeli democracy.
In recent years, it had seemed that Netanyahu was succeeding in gaining full control over the state and its institutions. His choice for attorney general was a man who had served as Netanyahus private lawyer (Yehuda Weinstein, who served as attorney general from 2010-16). Netanyahu also appointed the police commissioner and the civil service commissioner. The prime minister greatly reduced the authority of the Foreign Ministry and became foreign minister himself. Netanyahu retained control of the media portfolio and used it to conduct a witch hunt against media outlets that criticized him. He got involved in the appointment of the state comptroller and turned the civil service commission into almost a pool of supporters for himself.
Netanyahus victories in the elections of 2009, 2013 and 2015, together with his continued predatory takeover of the countrys centers of power, regulation and democracy, turned this voyage into a wild victory dance. After his 2015 great victory, it seemed that Netanyahu was completely throwing all restraint mechanisms to the four winds. His son Yair, 26, has become the final arbiter with everything connected to the media policies of Netanyahu. Thus, the style has become louder, sometimes heavy handed, but mainly fearless. It all came to a climax Sept. 9, when Netanyahu Junior did not hesitate to use an anti-Semitic caricature in order to excoriate his fathers political adversaries in Israel. Only after hundreds of anti-Semitic sites throughout the world congratulated Yair Netanyahu, and David Duke praised him, did he remove the post from his Facebook page. Yair Netanyahu's father did not apologize or deal with the event at all, even though the caricature was censured by Jewish groups and representatives throughout the world, to this very minute.
But more than everything else, Benjamin Netanyahu lost his sense of fear. He feels omnipotent and invincible. An example of this overconfidence is the way he dared oppose the highest IDF echelon headed by Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot and then-Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon with regard to the affair of the Hebron soldier who was convicted of killing a neutralized terrorist. Another example is Netanyahus declaration of war against President Barack Obama and the American administration in 2014, with everything connected to the nuclear agreement with Iran.
But then, when he reached the highest he could go, Netanyahu began his nosedive. All the systems and apparatuses over which he ostensibly reigned renounced him and declared their independence. He was disconnected from the Communications Ministry, which had been the apple of his eye, after the tapes of his conversations with Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon Mozes were made public and following an extensive investigation of the Israel Securities Authority (in which the ministrys CEO, a close associate, was involved). Afterward, the police started in on him, headed by the very same commissioner Netanyahu had appointed (Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh) and an attorney general who had been Netanyahus Cabinet secretary (Avichai Mandelblit), in a large series of criminal investigations against him and this is only the beginning.
The legal apparatus crossed the Rubicon when officials decided to indict Sara Netanyahu (subject to a hearing). For generations, she has been terrifying anyone who gets near her husband. In his dire straits, Netanyahu has made the entire Likud dance to his tune: All senior party members are publicly forced to defend and safeguard the prime minister. Anyone who tries to adopt a different tune is threatened. Veteran Likud members or members of the historic fighting family (a reference to the Likuds origins in the pre-state resistance group) who dare raise doubts or claim the prime minister is corrupt are brought in for hearings before being ousted from the party.
Yes, Netanyahu still has many foot soldiers in lockstep behind him and significant public support. Opposite him is the immune system of Israeli democracy. Both sides are weakened, but know this is a fight to the death. At least one side has no inhibitions and will go to any lengths to survive in power. The die will be cast in the coming year. At this point in time, there is no way of knowing in which direction.
September 20, 2017
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu devoted the bulk of his 2015 speech at the UN General Assembly meeting in New York to warning of the risks inherent in the nuclear agreement signed three months earlier between Iran and six world powers.
The speech was firm, its messages sharp. Netanyahu was eloquent as always, but his threats surrounding the nuclear agreement with Iran sounded more than a little anachronistic. After all, that train had already left the station. Besides, US President Barack Obama wasn't very concerned about what the Israeli prime minister thought about the agreement, having such a tense relationship with him. At the end of his speech, Netanyahu attacked Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as well, but then announced that he was prepared to renew negotiations with the Palestinians.
Two years later, on Sept. 19, Netanyahu was back at the same podium. Most of his speech was devoted to how Israel is thriving economically, politically and scientifically under his leadership. In keeping with his longstanding tradition, he veered off to the threat posed by the nuclear agreement with Iran. Netanyahu said that the signatories should either "fix it or nix it," adding, "Today, I have a simple message for Ayatollah [Ali] Khamenei, the dictator of Iran: The light of Israel will never be extinguished. Those who threaten us with annihilation put themselves in mortal peril. Israel will defend itself with the full force of our arms and the full power of our convictions."
Unlike in 2015, this time Netanyahu's remarks sounded more relevant. He delivered his speech to the General Assembly just a few hours after President Donald Trump's own bellicose address, in which he renounced the agreement with Iran, a major component of Obama's legacy. Trump sounded like he was reading Netanyahu's talking points when he described the nuclear agreement as "one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into." He then threatened to withdraw from the agreement and sent a serious warning to North Korea as well. He made no mention of his commitment to renewing negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians or the Palestinian issue at all, for that matter.
In his speech, Netanyahu ignored the Palestinian issue almost entirely, uncharacteristically making no effort to attack Abbas for failing to prevent incitement in the Palestinian Authority.
As far as the prime minister is concerned, his address to the UN was a huge success. Negotiations with the Palestinians have dropped off the agenda, while the Iranian threat to Israel has returned to take their place. It was the conclusion of a well-coordinated effort with the White House that began a day earlier during the meeting between Netanyahu and Trump. Much like their speeches to the General Assembly, the statements they issued after their meeting focused on Iran. Netanyahu found Trump to be the perfect partner. He can pat himself on the back for his success in recruiting his American colleague for the struggle against the nuclear agreement.
Netanyahu paid Trump back by showering him with compliments. "Ive listened to countless speeches in this hall, but I can say this: None were bolder, none more courageous and forthright than the one delivered by President Trump today. President Trump rightly called the nuclear deal with Iran, he called it an embarrassment. Well, I couldnt agree with him more. And heres why: Iran vows to destroy my country every day. Iran is conducting a campaign of conquest across the Middle East and Iran is developing ballistic missiles to threaten the entire world."
Netanyahu will remember the UN General Assembly meeting of 2017 as the opening salvo of a major campaign to restore the Iranian nuclear threat to the top of the agenda. In the two years since the nuclear deal was signed during the Obama administration, no one has paid much attention to the issue, whether in Israel or elsewhere. Netanyahu suddenly found himself without the item that dominated his agenda from 2009 to 2015. Netanyahu turned the Iranian threat into the be-all and end-all of his policies, pushing the Palestinian issue off the public agenda. He described the Iranian nuclear program as an existential threat to Israel and warned that Israel could attack Iran's nuclear facilities.
For Netanyahu, the 2015 deal reshuffled the deck. He had to come up with alternative agendas to maintain political relevance. His handling of the Palestinian issue was limited to occasional lip service, intended to signal to the international community that Israel was not the party rejecting negotiations.
There's another motivation for him to get the Iranian threat back to the top of the national agenda. Netanyahu arrived in New York after a successful visit to Latin America, leaving behind the criminal investigations that threaten his political future. For weeks now, Israeli headlines have featured the Netanyahu investigations on a daily basis. They are the opening story on all the news broadcasts and the news is generally bad.
It is safe to assume that Netanyahu really does see Iran's nuclear capacity as an existential threat to Israel and believes that it is his historic mission to fight it. Even if Israel is not threatened with destruction, Netanyahu has convinced large swaths of the population that it has the potential to be a second Holocaust. Netanyahu knows that the Iranian issue evokes existential fear among Israelis. Protected by this fear, his vast experience in handling security affairs and other critical national issues is a distinct advantage over other politicians. He also wants to convince the Israeli public that the charges against him, which include receiving bribes, are minor issues mere and ultimately irrelevant political persecution, considering his critical activities on behalf of Israel's security.
Netanyahu was hoping to sideline public interest, at least for a while. But even before Israel entered the Jewish New Year holiday (Sept. 20-23), headlines announced new developments in the investigations.
Still, Netanyahu managed partially to shift the agenda. The memory of his successful UN speech may dim quickly, but Netanyahu has already succeeded reinvigorating focus on the Iranian threat. He will now be able to return to it whenever he wants to divert attention.
September 19, 2017
Jews around the world traditionally eat honey on the eve of the Jewish New Year as a symbol and blessing for a sweet new year. Consequently, honey consumption in Israel skyrockets as the new year approaches. According to figures released by the Israel Honey Council, the holidays during the Hebrew month of Tishrei (September-October) account for some 40% of honey consumption in Israel. About 1,600 tons of honey are consumed during this period alone. Some groups, however, are concerned by these figures. They argue that honeybees pose a threat to the wild bee population.
"Pollen is the source of sustenance for bees," said Sharoni Shafir of the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and the Environment at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. "Over the past few years, the natural habitat of bees has been shrinking as part of a worldwide phenomenon. Wild bees meaning bees that tend not to live in colonies find themselves fighting with honeybees for the same food sources to sustain themselves."
According to Shafir, there are about 25,000 different species of wild bees in the world, with over 1,100 species a relatively large variety in Israel alone. "We live in a region very rich in bees, but some of the wild bees here have already gone extinct, due to a loss of food sources," he said.
One group waging war against honeybees and their beekeepers is the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel. In June, it published a detailed document that presents the risks that honeybees pose to the wild bee population. The document, titled "The Impact of the Honeybee Habitat on Wild Bees and Nature in Israel," was written by Achik Dorchin of the Hebrew University. Dorchin claimed in the report that honeybees cause severe environmental damage to the wild bee population and to various wild plants. In contrast, pollination of these plants (such as the purple iris) by wild bees is far more effective, he said. The document recommended introducing regulations to remove honeybees from the natural habitats of wild bees, including a buffer zone of at least 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) between honeybee hives and nature reserves.
Joining the call to keep a distance between honeybee hives and nature reserves is Yehoshua Shkedi of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, although his reasons are slightly different. Shkedi told Al-Monitor that he does not believe the current research is unequivocal in determining that honeybees threaten wild bees in Israel. He claims that the presence of beehives, with the beekeepers' comings and goings, harms the natural environment in its surroundings. The beehives scare visitors, which keeps the visitors from coming. Shkedi also described situations in which beekeepers placed their hives in the migratory paths of European bee-eaters (Merops apiaster), a migratory bird that, as its name indicates, feeds on bees. As a result, the beekeepers harm the birds to save their bees.
Shkedi said that he has been attacked by beekeepers after ordering that eucalyptus trees be chopped down. While the trees are a source of nectar for honeybees, Shkedi said, "Eucalyptus trees are an invasive species from Australia. They take up space at the expense of local species, whereas the Israel Nature and Parks Authority promotes the protection of natural ecosystems in our nature preserves. Our policy with regard to foreign and invasive species is dictated by international standards and intended to protect nature."
Meanwhile, beekeepers feel increasingly persecuted. One of them said on condition of anonymity that Shkedi is "talking out of his hat." Ze'ev Meidan, the director general of the Israel Honey Council, told Al-Monitor that the war against honeybees is the result of "dishonest demagoguery, which is not based on scientific fact." He said there has yet to be any serious research to support these claims. Shai Spector, the former chairman of the Organization of Beekeepers, was even more blunt, saying, "The Israel Nature and Parks Authority is not interested in Israel's food industry. All they care about is their own little space. Even if there is minor damage to the wild bee population, it is dwarfed by the contribution of honeybees to Israeli agriculture."
Spector quoted figures from the Ministry of Agriculture, which claimed that honeybees are responsible for the pollination of some 40% of food crops and of many other plants consumed by animals in nature. "Bees contribute some 2.5 billion shekels [$712 million] to Israeli agriculture per annum. Indirectly, they contribute some 5 billion shekels [$1.4 billion] per annum. The honey market brings in 100 million shekels [$28 million] every year. In other words, the contribution of honeybees is disproportional to the sums they bring in." According to figures provided by the Israel Honey Council, there are some 500 beekeepers in Israel, tending to some 100,000 hives throughout the country. Of these, about 60,000 hives are located in agricultural areas, where the bees pollinate wild flowers and other plants.
In a study conducted by Haifa University, researchers attempted to test whether there is, in fact, competition between honeybees and wild bees in Israel. What they discovered was that while there is competition, there are also "understandings" between the different bee populations. Ofrit Shavit, who conducted the study, told Al-Monitor that honeybees do, in fact, drive wild bees out of their natural habitats. "But at the same time," she said, "in some cases, the bees found a kind of 'peace arrangement' between themselves, in which they divide the flowers among themselves spatially."
It seems as if the hawks on both sides of the bee debate have reached some kind of agreement, just like the bees themselves. Both Shkedi and Spector are unhappy with the Ministry of Agriculture, saying that while the ministry is aware of the enormous contribution of honeybees, it is not doing enough, particularly when it comes to planting trees, including eucalyptus trees (outside of nature reserves), to provide for the pollination of crops. If it fails to take action, they warn, within a few years, the Ministry of Agriculture will have to support the beekeepers in order to save agriculture.
As far as Spector is concerned, these days the Ministry of Agriculture simply doesn't care about the issue. "The minister of agriculture may be interested in rebuilding the Temple [in reference to religious Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel], but bees don't interest him. They [the ministry people] are fighting against us. They've turned us into thieves. I feel frustrated," he told Al-Monitor.
September 20, 2017
BAGHDAD Iraq's highest court has ordered a halt to the Sept. 25 Kurdish independence referendum, saying it wants to examine complaints that the vote would be unconstitutional. The Kurds, however, don't appear to be backing down.
The Federal Supreme Court's order Sept. 18 followed a vote Sept. 12 vote by a majority of parliament that rejected the referendum. Parliament issued a decision stating that Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi should take all measures to preserve Iraq's unity and begin a dialogue to address outstanding issues.
Parliamentarian Nazim al-Saadi of the State of Law Coalition described the referendum as contrary to the Iraqi Constitution and the principles of the political process, in which the Kurds are a key player. The referendum is legally void, which makes the government responsible for preventing it by all means and all powers, he said.
The rebellion of the Kurds represents a flagrant threat to security and political stability in the country," Saadi told Al-Monitor. "The Baghdad government has multiple cards it may use to pressure Kurdistan and prevent the referendum.
Iraqi Kurdistan, an autonomous region in northern Iraq, is led by Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Massoud Barzani. The KRG is based in the city of Erbil, in Erbil province. However, the referendum would include 15 ethnically diverse areas, among them the highly coveted, oil-rich Kirkuk province, which is home to Kurds, Turkmens and Arabs.
Saadi expects the central government to squeeze the KRG by withdrawing contracts for service projects in central and southern Iraq that were awarded to Kurdish companies, which would cause them heavy financial losses. The government can also put pressure on the province of Kirkuk, which is the gateway to the Kurdistan region, by cutting the salaries of its security forces and staff. All this aims to embarrass Barzani and those who support him and his projects, he added.
Baghdad seeks to dissolve the Kirkuk local government because of the proposed referendum. Niyazi Mimamr Oglu, a Turkmen parliament member representing Kirkuk, said in a Sept. 15 press statement that parliamentarians' signatures "are being collected on a petition to dissolve the Kirkuk provincial council, declare a state of emergency and appoint a military commander in the event of continued insistence on including this province in the referendum.
Oglu explained that Baghdad is beginning to reap the benefits of the international rejection of the referendum.
Baghdad's government will probably ask these countries to cut their support and sever their ties with Kurdistan at the military and economic levels, he said.
Turkey, Kurdistans closest neighbor, is one of those countries. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan this week reiterated his rejection of the referendum. And Turkey is not alone in believing the referendum is a threat to Iraqs national security; Iran and the United States share that opinion.
Commenting on this subject, Iraqi parliamentarian Habib al-Tarfi, head of the National Wisdom Movement (Al-Hikmah) bloc, believes the Kurdish threat represents a precedent that exceeds all international standards, and comes in light of critical conditions in the country. He told Al-Monitor, The mere talk about self-determination and the use of the vocabulary of the alleged independence represent a crime for which Kurdish leaders must be held accountable.
He wondered how one of the country's components can call for independence while it is represented by the president of the Republic of Iraq, the deputy speaker of parliament and a number of ministers. He disputed Kurds' claims that they have been marginalized in government and he stressed the importance of activating all means of negotiation and communication to restore national unity among the Iraqi people.
A Turkmen parliamentarian who spoke with Al-Monitor, Nahla Hababi, called for closing border crossing points in agreement with Turkey and Iran; quickly liberating Hawija province, which is still controlled by the Islamic State; imposing a military presence in Kirkuk; cutting the salaries of Kirkuk state employees; and suspending the disbursement of Kurdish farmers funds.
Talks about independence are just a storm of statements, she added. Foreign countries will respond [negatively] to Barzani, his family and supporters, who will bear the consequences of what they are calling for.
In a parallel movement, Abadi said Sept. 16 that Baghdad is prepared for a military intervention if the Kurdistan independence referendum leads to violence. This escalation comes after a wave of provocative statements by Barzani, who has remained in office even though his presidential term expired in August 2015.
In an interview with BBC, Barzani said, But if any group wants to change the reality of Kirkuk using force, they should expect that every single Kurd will be ready to fight.
Commenting on options available for the Iraqi government to respond to calls for the referendum, Kurdish legislator Ardalan Noureddine described the decision of the Iraqi parliament as unjust and unfair, asserting that Kurdish leaders will appeal the decision before the Federal Court and will reject any attempt to rob the will of the Kurdish people.
In a telephone interview with Al-Monitor, he said, The Iraqi parliament decision was issued following internal and external pressures. Instead of solving the crisis, this decision makes this worse. We call on the parliament to make the right decision and resort to the law and the constitution.
He further added, Iraqs parliament has become a parliament for Arabs. The Kurds are not represented in it. The secession decision reverts to the people. We will not renounce our claim."
In fact, three days after the parliament in Baghdad voted to reject the referendum, the Kurdish parliament in Erbil voted to reject Baghdad's decision.
Regarding another option, submitted by a representative of the United States, Britain and the United Nations to Barzani, Noureddine said, The alternative proposal is to postpone the referendum in exchange for serious and transparent dialogue with Baghdad under an international guarantee. This would give the Kurds new entitlements, would ensure them a full partnership and resolve all outstanding issues.
Some observers predict that because going through with the vote could create unpredictable political, security and economic risks, Barzani will wait as long as possible to postpone the referendum as a way to bring the other side to the negotiating table and ensure that Kurds' voices are heard in Baghdad.
September 19, 2017
The West Bank leadership is not dissolving the Palestinian Authority (PA) but rather transforming it from an administrative and municipal authority to a resistance authority, a Fatah official said recently. Mohammad Shtayyeh, a member of Fatahs Central Committee, told Al-Quds newspaper the PA will begin focusing on issues such as boycotting Israel and obstructing settlement construction.
Shtayyehs Aug. 30 statements came two weeks before the Sept. 13 anniversary of the signing of the Oslo Accord between the PLO and Israel in 1993.
Hamas, on the other hand, has said it is dissolving its administration in the Gaza Strip. Perhaps that's why some Palestinians have speculated lately about the possible collapse of the PA and its transformation into a self-governing authority rather than a sovereign state. Shtayyeh, who previously served as the minister of public works, told Al-Quds that dissolving the PA is out of the question.
We do not want to preserve the same status quo. The Palestinian government, with all its institutions, including the police, the security apparatus and other institutions, has to contribute to this shift. They have to turn into a resistance authority against Israeli settlements. We should be able to take measures without the permission of Israel, such as digging water wells and reforesting Area C in the West Bank, among other steps," he said.
"We should not forget that 138 countries recognize the state of Palestine and its high time we reflect this on the ground.
Palestinian leaders, however, have yet to issue an official statement to that effect.
The words of Shtayyeh, who is close to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, reflect the state of despair and frustration plaguing the Palestinian leadership because there have been no real breakthroughs in the peace process with Israel. Palestinians believe that US President Donald Trumps administration has failed to pressure Israel to stop its settlement measures and its attempt to impose a fait accompli in the West Bank and Jerusalem without coordinating with the PA.
Al-Monitor was unable to reach Shtayyeh for comment.
However, Abdullah Abdullah, a member of Fatahs Revolutionary Council and chairman of the Palestinian Legislative Councils Political Affairs Committee, spoke with Al-Monitor about the situation.
Palestinians will not commit unilaterally to political agreements while Israel is not adhering to any," he said. "At the same time, we are well aware that we cannot declare a Palestinian state alone, in light of a US veto that awaits us at the UN Security Council. However, we will have a new policy, which has yet to be set forth, whereby we will galvanize the international community into pressuring Israel. At the same time, the PA will not give up its tasks in providing services to our people through the ministries and institutions. However, we will follow a different political path, whose sides are still not clear and [which] is still debated by the Palestinian leadership.
As Fatah officials talk about reinventing the PA and changing the image it has had since it was established in 1993, more Palestinians have come to criticize its performance. According to an opinion poll conducted by the Jerusalem Media and Communications Centre in September, 54% of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank consider the PA's performance to be poor; still, 65% oppose its dissolution.
The New Yorker magazine reported in August that the PA is taking its last dying breath and noted that Abbas popularity has declined significantly because he opposes the armed struggle against Israel and continues to cooperate with Israel on security matters. Palestinians have lost confidence in their leadership, which has failed to make any political breakthroughs.
What used to be a vibrant if fractious political debate, nourished, tolerated and often exploited by the leadership, has turned into a dull and dismal discourse, steered by political directives, and driven by fear of suppression and the loss of position inside an ever-swelling bureaucracy," The New Yorker said. "The PA has become more and more reliant on the flow of funds from the US and the European Union, and on Israels goodwill in dealing with the daily needs of the Palestinian population in the territories."
But the kind of change being discussed isn't really feasible, said Raed Nairat, a political science professor at An-Najah National University and head of the Nablus Contemporary Center for Studies and Policy Analysis.
The growing talk by Palestinian officials about changing the PAs function is practically unrealistic. The PA cannot reinvent itself now, even if it wants to, given its minimal financial capabilities. The PA is standing still without any serious review of its performance and future policies. These talks are wishful thinking," Nairat told Al-Monitor.
There is other talk, however disturbing talk. Israel and the United States are discussing alternative options to a Palestinian state, such as establishing a self-rule enclave or a confederation with Jordan. This is not to mention that the Jewish National Union Party, a partner in the Israeli government, approved Sept. 13 a plan to deport Palestinians from the West Bank in exchange for financial compensation. While he did not comment on the plan specifically, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a traditional congratulatory message to the party convention where the plan was approved.
The Jewish National Union Partys political discourse represents the far right and does not recognize the PA. The party has been working to dissolve the PA, calling upon the Israeli government to stop transferring funds to the PA.
Tayseer Nasrallah, a Fatah Revolutionary Council member in the northern West Bank, told Al-Monitor, Since its establishment 24 years ago, the PA has been offering security services to Israel and municipal ones for Palestinians. This policy should come to an end. The international community must understand that we need to change this situation. We are well aware of the Israeli lobbying to maintain the status quo, which serves it well.
A Palestinian minister who refused to be named told Al-Monitor, During the weekly meetings, the [Palestinian] government has been studying the political situation, but Abbas has yet to give an order to take actions on the ground, despite the leaks and reports. Any new policy for the PA in the West Bank necessitates field plans to be implemented on the ground, which are not available."
The Palestinian situation is worsening in the face of an unprecedented political stalemate with Israel, which could push the Palestinian leadership to threaten more revolutionary actions, such as dissolving the PA. Perhaps this revolutionary rhetoric could restore the popularity of an authority that has lost its momentum and public support. Yet this bold step remains far-fetched, given the PAs almost complete reliance on external support and funding.
Correction: Sept. 25, 2017. An earlier version of this article erroneously stated that Netanyahu had blessed the National Union Party's plan to deport Palestinians. Netanyahu only sent a congratulatory message to the convention where the plan was approved.
September 20, 2017
Saudi Arabia dispatched its top humanitarian aid official to Washington this week amid a growing US backlash against the kingdoms war in Yemen.
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Raabeah, the head of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid & Relief Center (KSrelief), is making the rounds with policymakers, journalists and think-tank experts to tout the countrys relief efforts amid what the UN calls the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor in between meetings with Senate staffers and the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Raabeah defended Riyadhs record in Yemen.
I dont want anybody to think that Saudi Arabia wants any harm for Yemen, Raabeah told Al-Monitor. Saudi Arabia is there to help Yemenis. Were there to see stability, to see safety.
In particular, the Saudi official is making the case that international assistance should be relocated to new ports away from rebel-controlled areas, including in Saudi Arabia. The push comes amid increasing US and international resistance to Riyadhs de facto blockade of Yemens largest port, Hodeidah, which is in Houthi hands.
Raabeahs visit comes as the March 2015 Saudi-led intervention to restore the UN-backed government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi has contributed to a famine and public health crisis in what was already the Middle Easts poorest country. Riyadh and its partners have been accused of indiscriminately bombing civilian targets, such as schools and hospitals, in addition to the Iran-backed Houthi rebels they are fighting.
KSrelief was established in 2015 shortly after the Saudi coalition began bombing Yemen. Promotional materials distributed by Saudi lobbyist Qorvis MSL indicate that the agency directs 82.6% of its budget to Yemen, providing the war-torn country with $847.6 million between 2015 and 2017.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has requested that member states contribute $2.3 billion to humanitarian relief efforts in Yemen, of which only $1 billion or 44% has been raised to date. In an uncharacteristically blunt statement, David Beasley, the executive director of the UNs World Food Program, told Reuters in September that Saudi Arabia should end the war or pay for 100% of humanitarian assistance to Yemen. Riyadh says it has provided $8.2 billion in aid to Yemen from 2015 to 2017.
I dont want anybody to think that Saudi Arabia wants any harm for Yemen, Raabeah told Al-Monitor. Saudi Arabia is there to help Yemenis. Were there to see stability, to see safety.
Raabeah said KSrelief operates 153 projects in Yemen, ranging from medical treatment for victims of the war and the countrys cholera epidemic to public health, sanitation, food security and the rehabilitation of child soldiers pressed into combat by Houthi militias. He also stressed that KSrelief operates throughout Yemen, including in Houthi-controlled areas, pointing to KSrelief-supported hospitals in Saada and Hajjah.
Humanitarian organizations remain extremely skeptical of Saudi Arabias good intentions. While they recognize that KSrelief may earnestly be seeking to help Yemenis, they point out that it exercises little control over Saudi Arabias wartime policy decisions.
Yemen is the biggest food security emergency in the world today, Scott Paul, the humanitarian policy lead for Oxfam America, told Al-Monitor. The Saudi-led coalition is conducting hostilities in a way that is exacerbating the crisis itself.
The coalition has come under intense international scrutiny for its high volume of civilian casualties. A UN report published Sept. 5 blamed Saudi Arabia for more than half of the 5,144 civilian deaths documented between March 2015 and August 2017, and it called for a probe of human rights abuses in Yemen. Human Rights Watch has accused the coalition of directly targeting civilians. The rising death toll, in turn, has put pressure on the United States to end its de facto support for the campaign through its refueling of coalition planes and munitions sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
"A lot of what people read in public has to do with civilian casualty incidents, but some of the most damaging impact of airstrikes has been on critical economic infrastructure, said Paul.
Paul pointed to the coalition bombing of farms, bridges, hospitals, schools and ports, particularly the bombing of cranes used to unload cargo, including food assistance, at Hodeidah. The Saudi coalition infuriated international aid groups when it destroyed five of the ports seven cargo cranes in 2015, greatly hampering ships abilities to unload humanitarian assistance and commercial goods. Paul estimated that about 80% of the Yemeni population is in need of food assistance and that 70% of Yemens food and fuel imports go through Hodeidah.
The UN Security Council, hoping to forestall a coalition offensive on Hodeidah that would further devastate humanitarian aid, has proposed turning the port over to a neutral authority, but the Houthis have not agreed to the proposal. And while USAID has paid to replace the five cranes to Hodeidah to offload goods, the cranes remain stalled in Dubai as Saudi Arabia refuses to permit their installation until the Houthis turn Hodeidah over to a third party.
"Saudi Arabia would love to see Hodeidah work in full capacity, so they would love to see the cranes being installed, Raabeah told Al-Monitor. However, Hodeidah is being controlled by militia groups, and they are actually violating international humanitarian law. They are putting high dues on both humanitarian and commercial ships, and they are either confiscating or hindering the movement of shipments.
Raabeah suggested seeking new Yemeni ports for humanitarian aid shipments, adding that Saudi Arabia is contributing four cranes to ports at Aden, Mukalla and al-Mokha. He also argued for using Saudi Arabias large port in Jizan along the Red Sea coast near the Yemeni border, which KSrelief already uses to distribute its aid to Yemen, as another point of entry.
Paul, however, questioned whether Yemens other ports can handle the kind of traffic that comes through Hodeidah.
Most other ports in Yemen dont have either the piers or the infrastructure to accommodate the kind of imports you want, Paul said.
He also pointed to the relative isolation of most ports, meaning that assistance through Jizan in Saudi Arabia or alternative Yemeni ports could delay aid convoys as they get held up at military checkpoints.
Arranging for commercial imports to go through Jizan and then importing it overland in Saudi Arabia is not going to solve the problem of extreme food insecurity among more than half of the population, argued Paul.
To help unblock the situation, Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., introduced an amendment in July to the annual defense authorization bill that would have barred US weapons sales to Saudi Arabia until the secretary of state certifies that Riyadh is allowing the delivery and installation of World Food Program cranes in Hodeidah. Senate leadership, however, did not bring up the amendment when the bill came up for a floor vote on Monday.
The Saudi-led coalition has unnecessarily delayed desperately needed humanitarian shipments to Yemen and refused to permit the delivery of much-needed US-funded cranes to the port of Hodeidah, Young told Al-Monitor. Delivery of the cranes would facilitate quicker delivery of food and medicine needed to save lives in immediate danger.
In addition to Hodeidahs five out-of-commission cranes, Paul also pointed to a de facto blockade he argues the Saudis have imposed on Yemen.
Essentially, the coalition is using naval assets to stop and delay most imports coming into the country, said Paul.
According to Paul, the blockade, combined with the coalitions threats to attack Hodeidah, has caused insurance rates to surge, making it harder to maintain credit for imports and thereby causing a spike in the cost of food and consumer goods.
Saudi Arabia maintains that the blockade is necessary because Iran is smuggling arms to the Houthis, including missiles used to attack Saudi territory. A UN report released in 2016 noted that anti-tank guided missiles intercepted during transfer off the coast of Oman were made in Iran. And just Monday, The New York Times reported that US Vice Adm. Kevin Donegan, the commander of the Bahrain-based Fifth Fleet, said that Iran is continually providing the Houthis with missiles, sea mines and explosive boats.
Paul, however, said that he has yet to see a credible report of Iran using aid shipments to smuggle weapons to the Houthis.
One thing thats hardest for me to wrap my mind around, and I think least credible, is the idea that Iranian weapons are coming in commercial grain shipments or on container ships, he said. Thats just not how its going to get done.
September 20, 2017
ALEPPO, Syria Syrian regime forces continue to bomb cities and villages in Eastern Ghouta in Rif Dimashq, despite the de-escalation agreement the armed opposition forces and the Syrian regime reached in Cairo under the auspices of both Russia and Egypt on July 22. The opposition-controlled Jobar neighborhood in Damascus was heavily bombarded by the Syrian regime with six surface-to-surface missiles Sept. 14, with no injuries inflicted, while a number of civilians were wounded by artillery shelling targeting the city of Ain Tarma in Eastern Ghouta on the same day.
The shelling of towns and cities in Eastern Ghouta is accompanied by military operations launched by the Syrian regime forces against the armed opposition in Jobar and around Ain Tarma. As a result, al-Rahman Legion, one of the largest military factions operating in Eastern Ghouta, spoke on Sept. 10 about the possibility of calling off the cease-fire agreement in the region should the Syrian regime forces refuse to show commitment to the pact.
Muwafaq Abu Ghassan, the director of al-Rahman Legions media office, told Al-Monitor, Ever since the cease-fire came into effect, the regime forces have not once stopped bombing Eastern Ghouta. They tried to break into Jobar neighborhood and Ain Tarma city on several occasions, but all their attempts failed.
He added, We knew the Syrian regime would never abide by the agreement, but the guarantees the Russians provided made us believe that this time could be different and the cease-fire could stand.
Under the terms of the agreement between the Syrian regime and the Syrian armed opposition, Russia pledged to facilitate all civil, economic and commercial transactions and activities, in addition to allowing the entry of sufficient quantities of goods determined by al-Rahman Legion into Eastern Ghouta.
Abu Ghassan noted, We agreed to a cease-fire to meet the demands of civilians in Eastern Ghouta who only want to live in safety, but at the same time we were fully prepared for any attempt by the regime forces to penetrate into Ghouta, which indeed happened. We told the Russians about the regimes violations and they always responded with promises to verify the information and act accordingly, but they never took any measures to pressure the regime forces or truly implement a cease-fire.
Activists in Eastern Ghouta believe that the role played by Russia in order to achieve a cease-fire in the region will not yield results. Russia portrays itself as a neutral party on the one hand and fights alongside the regime forces and supports it politically and militarily on the other. It turns a blind eye to all violations committed by the regime, not only in Eastern Ghouta, but in other Syrian areas where cease-fire agreements were supposed to be applied, such as in Homs northern countryside and Hamas southern countryside.
Sariya Abu al-Bara, an activist from Eastern Ghouta, told Al-Monitor, We do not understand the role that Russia is playing. It wants to be seen as the neutral party that wants to end the war in Syria. At the same time, Russian soldiers and planes are helping regime forces fight rebels across Syria. Sure, they are fighting the Islamic State in the northeast of the country, but they also have a presence in the outskirts of Eastern Ghouta.
Abu al-Bara added, All this time, Russia the regimes most powerful ally could not pressure it to implement the cease-fire agreement that it supports and sponsors. The situation has become crystal clear the Russians want to end the war militarily, but they have been unable to do so. Meanwhile, the rebels are ready for all possibilities, and this was expressed by the spokesman of al-Rahman Legion Wael Alwan when he said that rebels will respond on the field to any violation by the regime forces.
Civilians inside Eastern Ghouta continue to suffer under difficult humanitarian conditions in light of the Syrian regimes lack of commitment to the cease-fire agreement. The prices of foodstuffs significantly increased after the Syrian forces closed the crossing of al-Wafideen camp on Sept. 11, not to mention the ongoing bombardment using surface-to-surface missiles, mortars and rockets.
Mohammed al-Domani, a resident of Eastern Ghouta, told Al-Monitor, When the cease-fire agreement was signed, we actually had high hopes. The terms included putting an end to battles, stopping the shelling and opening the crossings into Ghouta for humanitarian cases but nothing changed. Not only are the battles still ongoing, but the regime also closed al-Wafideen camp crossing and the prices of basic foodstuffs skyrocketed.
Domani added, The residents cannot take this anymore; they are always the bigger losers. We wish the regime forces would be further pressured to implement the cease-fire agreement so we can at least live what is left of our lives in safety and be able to buy the goods we need at reasonable prices.
The regime forces military operations in Eastern Ghouta aim to control Jobar neighborhood and the city of Ain Tarma, and thus tighten the noose once and for all around the rest of Eastern Ghouta. If the regime forces were to control Jobar, the armed opposition would be trapped inside Eastern Ghoutas towns and villages. If the regime forces also take Ain Tarma, all of the oppositions future attempts to infiltrate into the neighborhoods of the capital, Damascus, would fail, and Eastern Ghouta would be entirely besieged.
September 19, 2017
NEW YORK US President Donald Trump, in his debut address to the United Nations today, lumped Iran in with North Korea as a rogue regime. His call for the world to shun Iran clashed sharply with other parts of his speech, where he repeatedly focused on sovereignty and made no mention of the repression of autocratic US allies such as Saudi Arabia.
The entire world understands that the good people of Iran want change, and, other than the vast military power of the United States, that Iran's people are what their leaders fear the most, Trump said. This is what causes the regime to restrict internet access, tear down satellite dishes, shoot unarmed student protesters and imprison political reformers.
In a lengthy speech that sought to reconcile his nationalistic America First credo with international cooperation symbolized by the UN, Trump said the United States did not seek to impose its system of government on other countries.
In America, we do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to watch, Trump said, describing his foreign policy approach as "principled realism."
But Trumps emphasis on nation-state sovereignty the president mentioned sovereignty or sovereign 21 times and his realism about how other nations choose to govern themselves did not extend to Iran, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea. About a tenth of his 4,500-word speech was focused on Iran.
We cannot let a murderous regime continue these destabilizing activities while building dangerous missiles, and we cannot abide by an agreement if it provides cover for the eventual construction of a nuclear program, Trump said.
Calling the Iran nuclear deal forged by his predecessor Barack Obama and five other world powers an embarrassment to the United States, Trump vowed, I dont think youve heard the last of it believe me. This was evidently a reference to his decision next month on whether to certify to Congress that Iran remains in compliance with the deal.
Trump called on the Iranian regime to free detained American citizens, including Iranian-American businessman Siamak Namazi and his 81-year-old father Baquer Namazi, Princeton University scholar Xiyue Wang and former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who went missing on Irans Kish Island a decade ago. He also demanded that Tehran stop supporting terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas and proxy groups seen as destabilizing countries such as Yemen.
It is time for the entire world to join us in demanding that Iran's government end its pursuit of death and destruction, Trump said. It is time for the regime to free all Americans and citizens of other nations that they have unjustly detained. And above all, Iran's government must stop supporting terrorists, begin serving its own people and respect the sovereign rights of its neighbors.
The speech was greeted coolly by the audience, with the exception of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who applauded during Trumps bashing of the Iranian nuclear deal. Netanyahu later raved on Twitter that Trumps address was one of the strongest speeches he had heard in 30 years.
Jared Genser, a lawyer for the imprisoned Namazis, said the elder Baquer Namazi underwent surgery today to install a pacemaker, and was notified that he will be returned shortly to Evin Prison. Babak Namazi, Baquers son and Siamaks brother, said his family is worried about his fathers deteriorating health.
My family is rapidly running out of time. My father's health situation is dire and I am horrified that he is being returned from a major surgery to recover in Evin Prison, Babak Namazi said in a statement today. I urge the president to spare no effort to bring my family home.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will have a chance to bring up the Namazi case and Trumps larger agenda when he is expected to have his first encounter with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif on Wednesday evening on the sidelines of the General Assembly meeting. The two men are both scheduled to attend a ministerial meeting of the eight-body Joint Commission overseeing implementation of the Iran nuclear deal, along with representatives from the UK, France, Germany, China, Russia and the European Union.
Already, Zarif has made it clear that Tehran flat-out rejects Trumps bellicose rhetoric.
Trump's ignorant hate speech belongs in medieval times not the 21st Century UN unworthy of a reply, Zarif tweeted after Trumps speech. Fake empathy for Iranians fools no one.
Top Trump advisers insist US policy on Iran is behavior change, not regime change.
The US is seeking to change the regimes behavior, a senior administration official, speaking not for attribution, told journalists on a call last week. The United States wants the Iranian government to not do cyberattacks, to stop proliferating weapons to militant proxies to use against us and allies, to stop human rights abuses, to stop destabilizing neighboring governments and to stop supporting international terrorist groups such as Hamas.
We want to see changes in the Iranian regimes behavior, the senior administration official said.
But some Iran scholars say Trumps remarks will be seen in Iran as validation of hard-liners argument that Washington will never accept the Islamic Republic. They worry that Trumps verbal attacks on the regime will only reduce the political space for more moderate figures such as President Hassan Rouhani who seek to engage with the West.
The problem is that it has very real implications, Ariane Tabatabai, an Iran expert and visiting professor at the Georgetown University School of International Affairs, told Al-Monitor. If you are Rouhani, you cant come out now and say lets find a solution to the ballistic missile program. Iran will now absolutely double down on its ballistic missile program.
September 19, 2017
In a Sept. 5 interview with the Tunisian state paper Essahafa, Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi revealed in a surprise statement that he was disappointed with his Islamic allies in power. Speaking about his alliance with the Ennahda movement, he said, We thought we could at least draw Ennahda to the civic arena, but it seems that we were wrong in our assessment."
After a three-year alliance between Essebsis Nidaa Tunis party and the Islamic Ennahda, the president is no longer convinced that the movement has turned into a civic party.
Although Ennahda did not offer an official response to the presidents statement, the movements leader, Abdelkarim Harouni, said in a press statement reported by the local news website al-Jarida on Sept. 7 that Ennahda and Nidaa Tunis have chosen consensus and will remain on the same page.
This is why some observers might assume that the presidents statements, regardless of how important they were, might not really affect the future of the alliance between the two parties.
In this context, Karim Yahya, a correspondent for the Tunisian newspaper al-Ahram, told Al-Monitor, This consensus or alliance between Nidaa Tunis and Ennahda continues to grow stronger, as we have seen in the vote over the Administrative Reconciliation Act regarding employees and businessmen accused of corruption.
On Sept. 13, the Tunisian parliament ratified the Administrative Reconciliation Act, which grants judicial amnesty to dozens of senior state employees and businessmen who are associated with former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Alis regime and accused of administrative and financial corruption.
The act was approved by 117 votes, most of which were from the Nidaa Tunis and Ennahda blocs, while one member of parliament refused to vote and nine voted against.
Yahya added, It [the alliance] also seemed evident in the formation of [Prime Minister] Youssef Chaheds new government, which adopted a program that is reflected in the economic and social programs of both parties and the long-term pragmatic nature of the conduct of both parties' leaderships.
Following the Cabinet reshuffle Sept. 11, Ennahda maintained the number of ministries it held in the government of national unity. It still has eight members of the government, including ministers and state secretaries, while Nidaa Tunis has 12 members out of 42 ministers and state secretaries in the Cabinet, as it was the winning party in the October 2014 legislative elections.
He added, In addition, there is US-European support for the so-called consensus path between the two parties that dominate the government, the parliament and the overall political life. There is a Western desire to integrate the so-called democratic Islam into the political game and governance of the southern Mediterranean.
Both the Nidaa Tunis and Ennahda blocs constitute the majority in parliament. The Ennahda bloc includes 69 deputies, while the Nidaa Tunis bloc comprises 56 deputies. The alliance between the two movements started to take shape in the wake of the 2014 legislative elections and, together with the two liberal parties, Afek Tounes and the Free Patriotic Union, formed a coalition government.
Yahya continued, It seems clear that the so-called conflict over issues regarding personal status, endowments and the relationship between religion and the state is not a priority [for now] compared to the alliance between the two parties. Ennahdas great dilemma is that it is keen on maintaining its alliance with Nidaa Tunis, although [Ennahda] considered [Nidaa Tunis] before the 2014 elections as nothing but a reproduction of the Democratic Constitutional Rally of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
Yahya noted, Ennahda is putting itself at stake in light of the economic, social and perhaps unpopular security policies, knowing that most people were negatively affected by the neoliberal policies and the legacy of the dictatorship that still exists to this day. Ennahdas keenness to remain part of this alliance, which guarantees it a position in power, seems to be justified by its fear of ending up like Islamists in Egypt.
Independent journalist Mohammed Baltayeb told Al-Monitor, The future differences between Ennahda and Nidaa Tunis will not be about passing laws in parliament or appointing ministers in the government; they will rather stem from the upcoming municipal elections. Ennahda is relying on an electoral audience that has an Islamic background and does not agree with Nidaa Tunis, its program and especially not with Essebsis views.
He added, Ennahda is so keen on showing itself as a political representative of the conservative class. The proof is it did not support the presidents initiative on Aug. 13 to pass laws regarding equal inheritance between men and women and allowing Muslim women to marry non-Muslim men.
Baltayeb further explained, On the contrary, a few days later on Aug. 29, Ennahda leader Rachid Ghannouchi launched an initiative aimed at re-establishing the religious endowment system, abolished in 1957. Despite separating religious work from political action during Ennahdas 10th conference in May 2016, it is still a victim of the Islamic identity discourse, from which it draws its popular power and voter strength.
Nidaa Tunis and Ennahda come from two different backgrounds. The Islamic Ennahda movement was founded in the early 1970s as a religious group and then developed into a political organization, inspired by the Muslim Brotherhood. After Ben Ali's departure in 2011, it started working legally and declared that it had abandoned its Islamic political references. Nidaa Tunis was founded in 2012 and brought together liberal supporters of former President Habib Bourguiba, including its founder, Essebsi, who headed several ministries between 1956 and 1987 during Bourguiba's reign, a bitter enemy of the Islamists.
Baltayeb pointed out that the future of the alliance between Nidaa Tunis and Ennahda will be subject to several objective factors, including the municipal and local elections scheduled for December 2017. It is also prone to the internal situation of both parties, which are divided by political and organizational differences. This is particularly true for Nidaa Tunis, whose division resulted in this alliance between a secular and an Islamic party.
It seems that a wedge has been driven between the Islamic Ennahda movement and Nidaa Tunis. Essebsis statements are nothing short of a representation of the differences between the two allies.
The upcoming local elections seem to have pushed both parties to get voters on each of their sides, after losing a big part of their popularity over the past three years, as their failure on the economic level caused a lot of damage for the middle class and the poor.
After founding his party in 2012 for the sole purpose of confronting Ennahda, Essebsi lost the bulk of his supporters after allying with the movement in 2014. Same goes for Ennahda, which made it as a ruling power in 2011 by claiming to be an extension of the January 2011 revolution, before many of its supporters gave up on it after it joined forces with those it believed to be more dangerous that extremist Salafists.
However, regardless of all disagreements between them, the consensus that holds Nidaa Tunis and Ennahda together will undoubtedly remain until the next legislative elections in the fall of 2019, the outcome of which will determine the ultimate fate of this alliance.
September 19, 2017
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may have increasing difficulties with the West, but his position in the Middle East is not all that easy either.
His regional archenemy, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, continues to make headway, while his nemesis in Egypt, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, remains in power. The Qatar crisis caught him unaware and unsettled him. Meanwhile, he is bracing for the reign of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia, who is an enemy of the Muslim Brotherhood, which Erdogan feels a close affinity to. In addition to this, Hamas, which Erdogan also supports strongly, is ready to concede to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his secular Palestinian Authority, while in the background to all of this Iran continues to consolidate its regional position.
Erdogans worst nightmare, however, is the Kurdish question that the Syrian crisis and developments in Iraq have spawned. He is trying to cope with this now by seeking cooperation with leaders he would rather have avoided.
Very little turned out as Erdogan wanted after the now all-but-forgotten Arab Spring. Ahmet Davutoglu, Erdogans overreaching foreign minister at the time, was convinced that Turkey would steer winds of change in the Middle East.
Today, however, Turkey is being steered by events in the region that are beyond its control. As it turned out, Erdogans Islamist agenda driven by a desire to be a defender of the downtrodden Islamic masses suited none of the Middle Easts established powers.
Those who backed Erdogan and expected his support against the established order, on the other hand, have mostly been driven from the scene. Erdogan has to deal now with the regions traditional leadership, which opposes his brand of political Islam.
It was not long after the Arab Spring first broke before Erdogan was accused of working for Muslim Brotherhood-led governments to come to power across the region through ballot box victories, similar to that of his own Justice and Development Party (AKP). Ankaras policies in Syria also resulted in Erdogan's being accused of favoring Sunnis over others and engaging in sectarianism.
In the end, Erdogan managed to raise eyebrows both in Saudi Arabia and Iran the Middle Easts principal rivals showing that suspicions about him cut across the sectarian divide.
Hasan Koni, a professor of international relations at Istanbuls Kultur University, believes Turkeys mistake was that it mixed up realpolitik and emotions in the Middle East.
Erdogan managed to raise eyebrows both in Saudi Arabia and Iran ... showing that suspicions about him cut across the sectarian divide.
OK, Muslims are being persecuted and human rights are being violated [in the Middle East]. But what are the consequences of the policy I have endorsed regarding these problems? What do I get in return? Koni asked rhetorically in an interview with Hurriyet Daily News published Sept. 18.
With most of his expectations falling by the wayside, Erdogan finds himself now having to engage in diplomatic contortions to regain lost ground in the region. A case in point is his relationship with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.
A year ago, he was exchanging barbs with and hurling insults at Abadi after the Iraqi premier demanded that Turkish forces stationed in Bashiqa, near Mosul, be withdrawn, and insisted that Turkey would not be allowed to participate in the liberation of Mosul from the Islamic State (IS).
You must know that we will do what we want, Erdogan retorted defiantly, adding that Abadi was a nobody compared with him and calling on the Iraqi prime minister to know his place.
Turkish troops are still in Bashiqa but have not been allowed to participate in the Mosul operation. Ankara is also not being given the say it wants on how the citys demography will be configured following its liberation. There is also no change in Baghdads position regarding Turkish forces in Iraq.
Erdogan, however, is seeking Abadis support now to prevent the Kurdistan Regional Governments (KRG) independence referendum on Sept. 25. He told reporters on Sept. 17, prior to flying to New York for the UN General Assembly meeting, that he would meet with Abadi in the United States to discuss this matter. Our goal is the same. Our goal is not dividing Iraq, he said.
Ironically, Erdogan has a friendly relationship with KRG President Massoud Barzani, even inviting him to AKP congresses in the past and hosting him in Ankara not so long ago with the KRG flag flying at the airport, much to the anger of Turkish nationalists.
Erdogan has to also tread cautiously with Barzani, given the billions of dollars Turkey invested in northern Iraq especially in the energy sector. Trying to prevent Kurdish political aspirations in Iraq while balancing his ties with Abadi and Barzani without alienating either will remain a major challenge.
Turkeys ties with Iran are another example. It was only in June that Erdogan, in an attempt to curry favor with Gulf states during a conference in Bahrain, accused Tehran of Persian expansionism, saying this has to be prevented.
Iran has not changed its regional policies since then, but Erdogan is relying on Tehran now to also help with the Kurdish problem, even though the two countries still have major differences over key issues relating to Iraq and Syria.
Erdogan will travel to Tehran in early October for a meeting of the Turkey-Iran High-Level Strategic Council, when the Kurdish issue is expected to be discussed in his talks with President Hassan Rouhani. At around the same time, Turkeys chief of the General Staff, Hulusi Akar, will be in Tehran for talks with his Iranian counterpart, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bakiri, who visited Ankara not so long ago.
Another major challenge for Erdogan is in the Gulf region, where he is trying to balance his ties with Qatar and Saudi Arabia in a way that will enable him to maintain his strong support for Doha against Riyadh and its allies including military support while at the same time not undermining Turkeys ties with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.
He toured the Gulf in July in an effort to defuse the Qatar crisis, and although he was received cordially in Saudi Arabia, there was little to suggest that his efforts made any headway. Ankara has since left mediation in this crisis to Kuwait.
In a further sign that Ankara wants to maintain ties with all the Gulf states, Erdogan hosted Qatars Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Ankara last week at around the same time that Prime Minister Binali Yildirim was hosting Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Hamad al-Sabah.
Experts believe, however, that Turkeys normalizing its ties with regional powers to the extent that it can play an important role in the reshaping of the region will take time due to suspicions about Ankaras ultimate motives in the Middle East.
Suha Umar, a former Turkish ambassador to Amman who is retired now, said that Turkey had lost much credibility in the region due to serious policy mistakes. He also believes that Ankara does not have the power of military deterrence or the economic clout it once had in the region.
Turkey today appears to be an unreliable partner in the eyes of many in the Middle East. Every step it takes now should be aimed at overcoming this impression, Umar told Al-Monitor. This, however, will take a long time because the key powers in the region with which Turkey should have cooperated all along have been alienated like never before.
Maintaining that the rational approach Ankara is trying to display now is correct on paper, Umar nevertheless argued that Turkey is unlikely to regain its regional influence under the present administration, given the suspicions its vacillations have resulted in.
September 20, 2017
As the new school year started in Turkey on Sept. 18, civil society groups and media outlets rang alarm bells. The issue is Turkeys new K-12 curriculum, updated over the summer to remove all instruction on evolution from science classes and expand religious instruction.
The debate started earlier in the summer when the Ministry of National Education updated the K-12 curriculum by removing evolution and introducing the concept of jihad. Education Minister Ismet Yilmaz defended the decision July 18, arguing that evolution is above the students level and not directly relevant. Not surprisingly, critics questioned whether, if evolution is too complicated for adolescents, religious texts with their frequent use of metaphors and allegories might be even harder for them to grasp.
In a supposedly secular country run by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, which has roots in political Islam, education policy is hotly contested. Turkeys Education and Science Workers Union, the countrys largest teachers union, harshly criticized the new curriculum for being designed in a way that reflects the governments world view. Union officials also said the AKPs misguided policies will commercialize and liquidate public education by forcing middle- and upper-class parents to send their children to private schools. Defenders of the new curriculum point out that Turkeys decades-old educational system relied on rote memorization and outdated pedagogical methods.
International headlines reflect secular Turkish worries. While The New York Times interpreted the news as, Ataturk, Darwin and jihad get face-lifts, the BBCs headline summarized the secular concerns best: Jihad in, evolution out. The Guardian reminded its readers that Turkeys new curriculum reflects President Recep Tayyip Erdogans desire to create a new devout generation of Turks.
Although critics fears are well taken, they are overdue. For anyone paying attention, Turkeys educational system took a religious turn in the early 1980s. It was the military regime of 1980-83 that imposed a series of mandatory courses on religion. Officially called Culture of Religion and Knowledge of Morals, the classes were introduced at the fourth grade and then taught several times until the end of high school. At the time, the military regime and, after the transition to civilian rule, center-right governments hoped to counter communist and socialist influences.
Despite the objective-sounding name, the so-called religion classes did not teach students about different faiths in the Middle East and around the world. Instead, they served as the main avenue through which the supposedly secular Turkish state indoctrinated young minds according to the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam. Rote memorization of Quranic verses is compulsory. Because very few Turks could read Arabic script, students had to read some of the most important lines from the Islamic holy book transliterated into modern Turkish, which uses the Latin alphabet. A very important part of a students grade came from reciting these verses in front of the class. Tellingly, Turkeys dwindling Christian and Jewish citizens often ask that their children be exempted from the religion classes.
According to a study prepared by Turkeys Education Reform Platform, a group that brings together a diverse set of educational foundations, those problems will persist under the new curriculum.
With respect to evolution, the removal of Darwinian thinking is only an acknowledgement of the beliefs Turkish society has held for many years. In a 2006 survey among the worlds most developed 34 countries, the only society that ranked lower than the United States in accepting evolution was Turkey, where only 25% of the population accepted the notion that humans and other modern primates share a common ancestor.
What the AKP government is doing to Turkeys educational system could spell disaster for the country for decades to come. But it is important to recognize that the ruling party has only placed into overdrive a process that started a long time ago.
September 20, 2017
For the last couple of years, it has become almost impossible, even for avid Justice and Development Party (AKP) supporters, to talk about Turkey without exclusively focusing on the almighty Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan rules without any challenge. From high school entrance exams to laser hair removal, all issues are decided exclusively at the palace. Whether one uses the label one-man rule as praise or criticism, there are no checks left on Erdogan, whose words promptly become the law of the land.
For a long time, Erdogan critics were hopeful that senior AKP members may be able to check the president, but as Erdogans powers expanded, the number of influential founding members of the AKP still active in policy decreased. One way or another they were all removed, and none proved himself to be a force to be reckoned with. There is only one exception Abdullatif Sener, a founding member of the AKP and deputy prime minister for five years, who left the party in 2007 on his own will.
Former Erdogan allies who have been dismissed are called Erdogans X-Men, a term coined by cheeky Ankara bureaucrats who are more in tune with Hollywood than their own culture. We should note that just like in X-Men movies, the term is gender neutral. So what happened to the dozens of Erdogans X-Men who helped him establish his one-man rule?
There are at least three categories where former AKP heavyweights wind up. First is the group of founding AKP members who have held crucial political posts, such as former President Abdullah Gul, former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and former Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc. Just before the end of their terms, these men suffered social media attacks from core-Erdogan supporters and all other critics who had to suffer these political figures meek decisions over the years. These founding AKP members were forced to hand over their posts. Even if none of the allegations stuck, their political reputations were destroyed. Erdogan rarely ever speaks ill of his former colleagues. As one savvy Ankara bureaucrat told Al-Monitor, Why would he get blood on his hands when there are all those others who are eager to gorge on anger and jealousy? In-group fighting has reached a climax in Ankara, and whatever leaks out of this cauldron to the media angers Erdogan and his media team the most.
These once-respected and power-holding men were stripped of their political clout; they lost the limelight as well as their legal shields. A seasoned journalist who works for the pro-government media told Al-Monitor, They know well how one can go from the top of the political ladder to the middle, how their secrets can be revealed. They experienced what it means to be vulnerable. So they keep quiet for two reasons: one is the fear of prison, which is the No. 1 nightmare of almost all government employees as well as media members in Turkey now; second, the possibility of being part of the administration again. The glory along with all freebies is great, and Erdogan skillfully utilizes the carrot-stick policies.
The second group, whose numbers are small, are those who failed to switch sides on time that is, before the corruption scandals of Dec. 17 and 25, 2013. For example, prominent Islamist Ali Bulac was one of the most respected Erdogan advisers since the early 1990s when Erdogan was the mayor of Istanbul. Bulac was writing for Zaman daily, just like Erdogans current press secretary, Ibrahim Kalin. However, unlike Kalin, Bulac did not stop writing after the corruption scandal and continued criticizing the governments failing Syria policies. Today, Bulac is on trial for being a member of the Gulen movement, but not many Islamists are convinced he was ever a member. However, Bulac symbolizes a small yet crucial group of Erdogans X-Men. His current condition in prison signals to all others that there will be no mercy for those who dare to cross Erdogans red lines. It is not easy for current Erdoganists to resign or raise criticism because jail is a real and imminent threat now.
The last category of Erdogans X-Men is the most visible. The men now serve in alternative media outlets. One of the most prominent of these figures, Akif Beki, was Erdogans outspoken press secretary from June 2005 to January 2009. Beki is known as a secular journalist. After leaving his post, he became a columnist for Turkeys most prestigious Dogan media outlet papers, Radikal, then Hurriyet dailies. On Aug. 8, Beki was fired from Hurriyet. However, as with X-Men of this category, he did not go out of the public eye. Rather, third category X-Men are pushed out to the margins of the pro-AKP media. Beki joined Karar daily and on Sept. 12 posted a piece explaining how he arrived at Karar. Bekis words were moderately critical of the government. He was simply asking for freedom of the press. This is quite intriguing given the fact that Beki should assume a significant portion of the blame for the lamentable working conditions of the media today, as he was single-handedly responsible for arbitrarily revoking the accreditation of several journalists while he was press secretary. When he was in a position of power, there were several other complaints about Beki, such as allowing only pro-AKP journalists on travel programs, avoiding reporters calls, name calling and targeting critical journalists. Several seasoned Ankara reporters, most of whom are unemployed today, told Al-Monitor that Beki not only set the tone but also the precedent to current discriminatory policies and helped design a relentless cheerleading squad for Erdogan. Now Beki has become a victim of this establishment.
Most of the columnists of Karar daily are the former big shots of the pro-AKP media, such as Elif Cakir, who was dismissed from the daily Star after the notorious Kabatas lies where unsustainable allegations were made about Gezi protesters violently attacking a young headscarved mother and baby.
Karar is one of the last places of refuge for Erdogans X-Men in the media. Hakan Albayrak, a lifelong Islamist who was one of the participants on the Mavi Marmara flotilla and the co-founder of Yeni Safak daily, a pro-Erdogan Islamist daily, joined Karar on March 2016 as a protest to horrible attacks on his fellow colleagues. Albayrak has openly complained that due to the internal strife, X-Men are now left to fend for themselves. He acknowledges that pro-AKP media outlets would rather have them disappear from the public eye. Indeed, Albayrak and others have tried to establish other newspapers prior to Karar but failed. For now, Karar and other marginal pro-AKP media provide some sort of government criticism and a good degree of encrypted complaints about their former colleagues, rather than directly about Erdogan. Still, according to Albayrak, they have been targeted as pro-Davutoglu or pro-Gul. However, when you read the paper and the columns regularly, you see that even in their alleged criticism, there is a significant amount of applause for Erdogan. Even out of the spotlight, these X-Men produce light opposition and Erdogan-approved criticism of Erdogan to the public. In Ankara circles, it is also referred to as fake opposition.
Just like in any other one-man rule, Erdogan does not allow any deputy to rise above him or even get positive attention for too long. Anyone that is gaining significant political approval is fast discredited then dismissed. Yet Erdogan never publicly scolds the X-Men; instead, he allows for internal competition to bring the rising stars down.
Now the crucial question is what does the real opposition do? Mostly opposition spends their time discussing whether they should be accepting X-Men into their ranks. But frankly, the real question is if the palace opens its doors to X-Men, how many of them would come back running?
Part of the story of ZeroRPM and CEO Lance Self is perseverance.
It took the Cullman-based company more than a year to develop its idling mitigation technology, and then another year before it began installing its products in U.S. Border Patrol vehicles.
Lance Self accepts an imerge award from Tom Stanton, CEO of ADTRAN in Huntsville.
And Alabama isn't usually thought of in national conversations about "green technology," Self said. But that could soon change.
ZeroRPM aims at turning regular vehicles, essentially, into hybrids. The product allows the vehicle to shut the engine off while allowing the driver to use all the vehicle's technology.
"The main inspiration was the environmental aspect," Self, 47, said. "If the engine's not running, it's not creating a carbon footprint. Some buyers want it based on that alone, but some want to see the fuel savings which will pay for the equipment over time.
"A police car, for example, at the end of a 140,000 mile life, may spend about 10,000 hours idling on the engine. Another vehicle with that same mileage may not have a few hundred hours of idling."
The patented application's uses were self-evident with vehicles in professions that are used to idling, such as police cars, fire engines, ambulances and bucket trucks. But it still took time to find the right customers, as the police market entailed dealing with complicated approval cycles through public safety committees and other government red tape.
So the company turned to U.S Customs, K-9 units carriers and ambulance companies. And by that time, Self said, the business was ready to go. It began in a tiny barn-sized garage and moved into the Wallace State Community College business incubator. Using a state grant and support from Cullman's economic development agency, the company got a good head start.
"The first two years, Wallace State provided our space, phone system, tools and equipment and students to help," he said. "That allowed us to go out and raise capital and put the money together to develop the product."
The business was recently honored during the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama's first imerge awards in August, when ZeroRPM was named Corporate Innovator of the Year among small companies with up to 50 employees.
Self already had a background in technology before ZeroRPM, working in auto supply companies and tech jobs. He also spent time in the ministry and business consulting.
On the side, he is a partner in a venture called 24toDouble with his pastor at Daystar Church, Jerry Lawson.
"If you're a church, we guarantee if you join our system, your congregation will double in 24 months or we'll give you a refund, which is the cost of a video subscription," he said.
Self credits his success to support from his wife Sandra and his three adult children. His oldest, Landon, is the company's engineering manager. He says he draws inspiration from the Biblical parable of the talents, which states that "to whom much is given, much is required."
"It's just not just about doing things the right way," he said. "At the end of the day, we're all people as well as employees. That means I'm trying to help my employees have as healthy and meaningful a life as I possibly can."
A group of ten retired U.S. military leaders are calling on the Trump Administration to support American-made steel and aluminum in the interests of national security.
In a letter dated Sept. 12, the group of leaders called on Trump to use "all available tools" to maintain domestic manufacturing and a military-ready infrastructure.
"Our national security rests on a healthy industrial base," the group wrote. "America's increasing reliance on imported steel and and aluminum from potentially hostile or uncooperative foreign governments, or via uncertain supply routes, jeopardizes our national security."
One of the signers was retired U.S. Army Brigadier Gen. John Adams, who lives in Pensacola. During a decorated career, Adams was on duty at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, and participated in immediate recovery operations there.
Adams said in a phone interview his interest in the issue began as part of a 2013 research program into how vulnerable the nation's military-industrial infrastructure might be to foreign exploitation or loss of capacity in time of war or natural disaster. The team identified 14 areas of vulnerability, one of which was steel.
"Our economy is part of our national security," Adams said. "We've got to keep the industry strong, not just in Alabama, but nationwide."
The facts are well known: U.S. capacity is shrinking, while Russian and Chinese sources are growing. China has added a billion tons of steel capacity since 2000, while at the same time U.S. steel has declined. Over the last decade-and-a-half, Chinese aluminum production has swelled from 11 percent globally to more than half. Only two U.S. aluminum smelters are currently running at a capacity.
Earlier this year, Trump and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced there would be an investigation into the effects of steel and aluminum imports on national security under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. But a 270 day deadline came and went with no action.
U.S. steel producers have been lobbying for action by Trump, whether through protection acts or increasing infrastructure spending, to undo some of the lasting effects of the recession and globalization on the steel industry.
Adams said Americans should be concerned at the current state of the nation's domestic steel and aluminum making capabilities.
"We don't tend to think of these things unless we're in conflict," he said. "The chances are, if a conflict broke out, we would have enough steel for the first phase. But we'd have to ramp up production fast. That's the danger - of not having the production capacity that can operate under stress in a crisis."
It's not just a question of producing enough steel, either. For example, American aircraft carrier hulls are made with a specific type of steel. Fighter jets are made with high purity aluminum. The specifications for those materials, he said, should be valued appropriately.
"Our research and development capability domestically can produce better steel," he said. "We're going to lose that ability to do R & D if we don't act. And if we shortsightedly give that R & D capability away, it would be terrible for national security."
Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson visited actor Nicolas Cage on the set of the supernatural thriller "Between Worlds" on Wednesday afternoon and presented him with a key to the city in a Facebook Live post.
"That key can get you in any door that you want to get in," Stimpson said. "I'm not sure you need that. I think you could probably get in anywhere in Mobile that you wanted to."
Live with Nicolas Cage on his new film set in Mobile. Posted by Sandy Stimpson on Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Cage, sporting a beard and wearing a hat with a rolled-up brim, graciously accepted the ceremonial key. He acknowledged that "Between Worlds" is the third movie he's filmed in Mobile, in addition to "Rage" in 2013 and "USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage" in 2015.
"I just want to say, Mayor Stimpson, that this is my third movie here, and each and every time I've been in Mobile I've been welcomed with great hospitality and friendship," Cage said.
He went on to thank the U.S. Coast Guard in Mobile for "their outstanding humanitarian efforts" in responding to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in recent weeks.
"The word's out nationwide, from New York to L.A. and everywhere in between," he said. "Everyone knows how Alabama went above and beyond" in the relief efforts.
Cage also mentioned his Aug. 30 visit to the University of South Alabama Children's and Women's Hospital, during which he visited with patients and their families, as well as staff members.
"I had a remarkable time," he said. "I was deeply moved by the affection and care that was administered to the young people" who were patients there.
He also complimented the recently re-elected Stimpson. "People here really appreciate what you've done," he said. "As a visitor, that makes me happy to be here."
Tajuan McCarty, who founded The WellHouse ministry in Birmingham to fight sex trafficking, has signed a deal with a Christian film production company to have a movie made about her life.
Big Film Factory, which produced the 2016 film "I'm Not Ashamed" about a Christian student who was killed in the Columbine High School massacre, has agreed to do a movie based on McCarty's life story, she said.
"I've signed a movie contract with them," McCarty said. "It's going to be a Christian film, not a horrible sex trafficking movie. What we're going to do is a movie of hope. If God can change my life ... really?"
In August, McCarty joined the staff of Truckers Against Trafficking as a field trainer.
"God is so amazing how He opens doors and brings people together," McCarty said. "Who would have thought 30-plus years after walking onto the first truck stop lot when I was being trafficked, He would bring me to this."
She helps train law enforcement officers, people in the trucking industry, casino executives and others to recognize the signs of sex trafficking and how to help stop it.
"It is imperative that law enforcement and industry approach the crime of human trafficking with a victim-centered approach," said Truckers Against Trafficking Executive Director Kendis Paris. "She has already made an incredible impact on all of the audiences we have put her in front of."
McCarty recalls one truck driver who had been trained by Truckers Against Trafficking who spotted a recreational vehicle at a truck stop and reported it as suspicious.
"There was a little girl in there being held against her will," McCarty said. "He looked at something, saw it with a different eye, and saved lives."
McCarty says she ran away from home at 15 and met a man who offered to help take care of her. She was exploited by a pimp who began selling her into prostitution and forced her to sell drugs, which led her into a cycle of drug addiction and prostitution. While she was being trafficked all over the United States, Canada and Mexico, she spent so much time in Birmingham it became her home.
In 2009, McCarty walked into the Birmingham Dream Center, founded by the Church of the Highlands in Woodlawn. She met counselor and radio show host Lisa "Roxanne" Holifield, who helped Tajuan turn her life to Christianity. They began working together to reach out to prostitutes with a message of faith.
In 2011, McCarty founded The WellHouse, using her knowledge of sex trafficking to help other victims escape. She served as the executive director, but in 2014 stepped down to focus more on speaking.
"I had 31 speaking engagements in a month," she said. "We were growing exponentially."
The WellHouse needed a new director who could take over the administrative responsibility, she said.
"It was God's ministry and not mine," McCarty said.
Carolyn Potter was named executive director of The WellHouse in September 2014.
McCarty has now done hundreds of public speaking engagements and in 2013 her story was featured on Christian Broadcasting Networks' "The 700 Club."
"I feel like what I'm doing is the right thing to do," McCarty said. "Every speaking engagement I do, I hear someone say, 'Me too - I've been abused, I've been raped, I've been trafficked.'"
School-age children need more straight talk about sex, McCarty said.
"We don't want to talk to them about sex," McCarty said. "We put up a wall that they can't talk to us about sex. I say penis and vagina and answer their questions. Every single one starts giggling. It's not an embarrassment. It's part of life. People aren't talking about it. That's why kids get exploited."
In 2015, McCarty received the Louise Branscomb Barrier Breaker Award, named for the late United Methodist physician.
Like many people, I've always been fascinated by the story of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Over the years, I have researched Alabama ties to the tragedy and knew the story of Mobile native Col. Archibald Gracie, a first-class passenger who survived the sinking only to die from complications of diabetes eight months later. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, where he lived at the time of his death.
But until recently when two readers pointed it out, I didn't know a Titanic survivor is buried in Alabama. I was amazed and it proves that no matter how many stories I write, there will always be more to learn about our intriguing state.
The grave
Located in Oak Hill Cemetery in Birmingham is a simple rectangular stone inset in the ground. It marks the final resting place of Clanton, Ala., native Alvis Contance Ehrman Mock and her husband, Philipp Edmund Mock. [Note for genealogists: His name is spelled varying ways in records, Phillip/Philip/Philipp. His headstone is inscribed "Philipp Edmund Mock."]
I contacted Stuart Oates, director of the Oak Hill Memorial Association, who confirmed the Mocks were interred there and sent a photo of the marker.
One reason relatively few people know of the grave is that Mock's remains were cremated when he died in 1951 at age 69 in Daytona Beach, Fla., where the couple lived at the time. His ashes were brought to Birmingham upon the death of Alvis Mock in 1963, Oates said. However, numerous sites dedicated to Titanic lore claim Mock's ashes were scattered or that they were kept but never buried, leading to much confusion. It remains unclear where the ashes were between the deaths of husband and wife. Anyone with information can email kkazek@al.com.
In addition, the Mocks grave site is not on any lists of "famous burials" in Alabama that I could find and there is no historic marker at the grave. When I learned about the burial, I researched Mock's story.
Philipp Mock aboard the Titanic
The 30-year-old Mock was aboard the Titanic with his sister, Mrs. Emma Schabert. He was born in 1881 to wealthy German immigrants Richard and Emma Mock, who died before the Titanic sailed. Mock was coming home from a business trip to his first wife, Emma Clark, while his sister was headed to the U.S. to discuss divorce with her husband.
Although Philipp was known for his talent creating the miniature paintings popular at the time, he held a salaried position with the Sterling Piano Company, which required regular overseas travel, according to the article "Siblings' love survives fateful night" by Michael Poirier.
Poirier writes that brother and sister were likely staying in cabin 28 on E deck for the voyage. Because of the depth of that area, they felt the impact of the iceberg more than many other first-class passengers and immediately knew something was wrong.
According to numerous accounts, crew members tried to get Emma Schabert to board a lifeboat early in the evacuations but she refused to leave without her brother, whom she affectionately called "Boy." Eventually, she boarded Lifeboat 11 and, after he'd convinced another woman, Edith Rosenbaum, to jump in as the boat was being lowered, Philipp made the leap himself.
Philipp would later say that as the survivors boarded their rescue ship Carpathia, those already on board searched the lifeboats for loved ones. "The women waiting and watching frequently fainted, and the groans and shrieks that were forthcoming were heart-rending."
Mock sent a Marconi telegram from the Carpathia to let his brother-in-law Paul Shabert know he and his sister had survived. The telegram survived and is in a private collection.
Both Philipp and his sister soon divorced their spouses and Philipp married Alvis Ehrman in 1914. After the wedding, Mock gave up his position with Sterling, the couple moved to New York, where Philipp worked as a banker, according to BhamWiki.com.
They had no children and retired to Florida in 1935, where Philipp worked as an art instructor in a girls' school. After his death, Alvis returned to Alabama and lived in Birmingham until her death. Her husband's ashes were buried with her in the Ehrman family plot in Oak Hill Cemetery.
A convicted felon with at least 20 criminal charges over the past decade is back behind bars after a Hoover home break-in.
Police on Tuesday responded just before 8 a.m. to the 700 block of Flag Circle on a report of a possible burglary in progress, said Lt. Keith Czeskleba. Officers were summoned to the home by a woman who told them she could see a man trying to break into her neighbor's house.
Once on the scene, they found a man in the back yard. He was carrying a backpack and was armed with a pistol.
The suspect fled on foot but was captured after a brief chase. Czeskleba said the backpack contained suspected stolen property and burglar's tools.
Bobby Earl Townsend, 34, is charged with possession of burglar's tools and felon in possession of a firearm. He will be transferred to the Jefferson County Jail later Wednesday with bond set at $30,000.
Court records show the Russellville man has been charged with 20 crimes in various Alabama counties dating back to 2004. He was convicted in 2006 of receiving stolen property, unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle, and theft. He was sentenced to serve nine months in prison.
In 2012, Townsend was convicted of burglary and received a five-year suspended sentence. He has had his probation revoked several times, but it's not immediately clear how much time he actually spent in prison. Hoover police Capt. Gregg Rector said Townsend just got out of lockup three months ago.
"Bobby Earl Townsend is yet another career criminal who should not be roaming the streets,'' he said. "We also fully anticipate bringing additional charges, possibly federal, as this suspect is certainly forbidden to possess a handgun."
"The residents in the Lake Crest neighborhood should be commended for their efforts by immediately calling 911 after seeing suspicious activity,'' Rector said. "I can't say enough about the level of community engagement that we share with our residents."
A suspended Birmingham lawyer was sentenced to probation today for one count of stealing money from a federal program.
Kelli Hogue Mauro pleaded guilty in April-- just two days after being formally charged-- to one count of misappropriating at least $5,000 in funds from a federal program. She was sentenced Wednesday morning by Chief District Judge Karon O Bowdre to five years of probation, with five months of home confinement.
"This crime was one I can only rationalize as being one of greed," Bowdre said.
In addition, Mauro must pay $10,288.32 in restitution to the Birmingham Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program-- where she served as the executive director from 2010-2013. According to the program's website, more than 2,700 low-income Alabamians receive legal help from the group each year, and more than 500 attorneys donate time to the program.
Mauro, 48, spoke at her sentencing hearing. "I accept full responsibility for my actions. I want to express my most sincere regret for the decisions that led me here today," she said. She also said she plans to use her talents to serve the Birmingham community while on probation.
According to court documents, the investigation into Mauro began in August 2012, when a "very concerned intern" told Legal Services Alabama that Mauro and another employee at BBVLP were using sub-grant funds for paying family cell phone bills, using program credit cards for personal use, and writing BBVLP checks to themselves for personal use. Legal Services Alabama is a grant recipient of Legal Services Corp., and issues grant funds to BBVLP.
Mauro was notified in 2012 about the investigation and asked her to provide documentation for the group's funds for the past year and bills for BVLP from 2010-2012. She provided documentation, but court records show Mauro falsified some of the records she gave to forensic auditors.
After auditors and investigators reviewed all the records provided, they concluded Mauro used a BBVLP operating checking account and the group's Capital One credit card to "divert program funds for personal uses." Documents showed within a two-year time period, Mauro made over 100 transactions for herself and her family from BBVLP funds, totaling $35,116.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Byron Jones "to avoid any appearance of impartiality" from the Northern District of Alabama. Byron Jones said that Mauro abused her position of power in the BBVLP by taking its funds.
Mauro's attorney, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Doug Jones, said Mauro has made bad decisions, but she transformed the BBVLP into a federal program of "the likes of which we had not seen before." He said, "She made that program an award-winning program."
Doug Jones said Mauro treated the BBVLP "like a child," and remains committed to serving her community.
While on probation, Mauro will be under several special conditions ordered by Bowdre. She must complete a money management program and report back to the judge to discuss what she learned; write an open letter of apology to the Birmingham Bar Association, the BBVLP, and Cumberland School of Law; and complete 20 hours of community service to an organization approved by the judge. Mauro's law license is also suspended, and she must register as a convicted felon. "That is a huge price to pay," Bowdre said.
Mauro's crime was "not just a bank teller skimming from the teller drawer," Bowdre said. "It's a sin against the profession as a whole."
However, Mauro did make contributions to the BBVLP and transformed the program, the judge said. "You made [BBVLP] into something the Birmingham Bar and the state bar can be very, very proud of.
Mauro, a Gainesville native, graduated from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 1994. She currently lives in Mountain Brook, and worked at The Crittenden Firm from 2013 to 2017. Crittenden Firm partner Rachel Stewart Martin spoke on behalf of Mauro at the hearing, stating Mauro was her mentor for years before becoming a co-worker. "She is my friend. She is my role model as a wife and mother... She has so much to offer other people."
After the sentence was announced, Bowdre said, "The practice of law is a privilege, not a right."
Members of the Birmingham Fraternal Order of Police voted Tuesday night to endorse Randall Woodfin for mayor.
AL.com was told Woodfin received 30 votes and incumbent Birmingham Mayor William Bell received 13. Three members abstained from the vote.
The Birmingham FOP has 1,147 active members. It is the largest fraternal police organization in the state of Alabama.
The body endorsed Bell ahead of the Aug. 22 municipal election. Birmingham FOP President Sgt. Heath Boackle issued of letter of endorsement to Bell on Aug. 16.
Bell and Woodfin will face each other in the Oct. 3 runoff.
Retired Birmingham police Det. Kenneth Prevo, FOP lifetime member and former FOP vice president, issued this statement through Woodfin's campaign on Wednesday:
"This vote is reflective of the overwhelming sentiment among the FOP membership. The FOP has a real opportunity to sit at the table and help Mr. Woodfin implement his public safety plan as Mayor of Birmingham.
"The FOP cares about respect, retention and retirement. Birmingham Police deserve good wages, good healthcare and retirement benefits, and improved workplace conditions that will allow us to do our jobs. This is a turning point for the Birmingham Police Department to form a new relationship with City Hall. We are thankful that Mr. Woodfin approached us to open a dialogue with the FOP."
In a statement on his campaign Facebook page, Woodfin said he is honored to receive the FOP endorsement.
"Every day, I am inspired by the courage of our first responders," he stated. "Sadly, William Bell has failed to treat these brave men and women like the true heroes they are. Experienced employees should be rewarded for their commitment and years of service to our city. As mayor, I would restore annual cost-of-living salary adjustments and longevity pay for Birmingham Police and Fire & Rescue personnel -- a policy Bell abandoned."
Bell's campaign issued this statement on Wednesday to AL.com: "It is sad to see Randall Woodfin playing political games with our police officers. Randall Woodfin has not spent one day experiencing the tough job these men and women do for our city each and every day. For him to try to pull this stunt with the city's police officers is embarrassing. Mayor William Bell has been endorsed by the FOP due to his proven leadership and experience and he will continue to support all of our police officers."
A 42-year-old Birmingham woman has been arrested and charged with murder for her role in deadly 2016 traffic crash in Dora.
Rebecca Ann Watson was booked into the Jefferson County Jail Wednesday morning. She is charged in last year's death of 56-year-old Tammy Gail Marie Bernard.
The crash happened about 9 p.m. on May 23, 2016. Jefferson County sheriff's deputies, as well as West Jefferson and Bagley firefighters, responded that night to a report of a single-vehicle accident in the 5900 block of Snowville-Brent Road in western Jefferson County.
Once on the scene, they found a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck in a ditch. Bernard was found unconscious and trapped in the passenger's seat of the truck and had to extricated from the vehicle.
Watson was the driver. Both women were taken by ambulance to UAB Hospital.
Bernard remained in the Trauma and Burn Intensive Care Unit until June 1, when she was pronounced dead at 12:40 p.m.
Chief Deputy Randy Christian on Wednesday said the information from the scene that night was that the drive - Watson - was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the wreck. Sheriff's detectives conducted an investigation that included requesting medical records and toxicology from blood drawn following the accident.
The information took several months to compile. Detectives completed their investigation and presented their findings to the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office in May of 2017. An arrest warrant was issued charging Watson with murder.
Watson had left the state of Alabama. She was arrested in Orange County, North Carolina for the outstanding warrant and returned to Jefferson County. She remains in the Jefferson County Jail with bond set at $30,000.
As a photojournalist capturing the suffering of the Rohingya, I wonder whether our pictures are doing anything to help them at all.
It is mid-day. The humidity is unbearable. The stench of stale sweat hangs in the air.
We are in a small and impoverished Hindu community in the Bangladeshi port city of Coxs Bazar, telling the stories of some of the more than 400,000 Rohingya who have fled neighbouring Myanmar.
A 16-year-old girl one of the minority of Rohingya who are Hindu is wailing, grieving for her murdered husband. She is six months pregnant.
None of the other refugees here pays her much attention. They are too busy with their own sorrows, their own desperate attempts to survive. But a few local men gather, surrounding her. They take out their phones to film and photograph her as she cries.
I feel sickened, disgusted by the scene, by the idea that people can feel so detached from the suffering before them that they would choose to record it rather than offer comfort.
I feel sick because surely this is what I, as one of the hundreds of journalists who have descended upon the refugee camps here, have been doing.
I have photographed and filmed images of desperationand sorrow unlike any I have witnessed before: the mother whose ear had been hacked off and her 10-year-old daughter who lost every other member of their family, the four-year-old whose parents had been killed, the little boy cradling his unconscious baby sister after their father was murdered and they became separated from their mother. Each story seemingly more tragic than the last.
I wonder whether to me and other journalists this 16-year-old widow is a story. An opportunity to prove our journalistic credentials. A chance to capture the definitive image of suffering and despair that will somehow encapsulate all the suffering and despair we see around us crammed into every square foot of this city or to at least secure a few more likes or television rating points.
Annica Bhar looks at their cameras with hope, the same hope with which I have seen others look at mine. She, like them, allows us to photograph her in her most desperate moments, in the hope that our cameras might offer some relief. But they do not.
In a few days, I will leave here to return to my comfortable life. I will leave the misery, the disease and the mud behind. But Annica and the other Rohingya refugees will remain. They will stay here begging and tussling for the little aid that arrives, distributed haphazardly from trucks to those who are still strong enough to grab it while the weaker among them lose out. They will stay as epidemics set in in the overcrowded and unsanitary camps, while torrential rains pound their flimsy shelters. And I will wonder what good our pictures did after all.
Moscow, Russia On Tuesday, a statue of Mikhail Kalashnikov, the creator of the Kalashnikov rifle, was unveiled in the Russian capital.
The monument was commissioned by the Russian Military History Society and was installed in time for the Day of the Armourer, celebrated in Russia on September 19.
At the military ceremony organised for the occasion, Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky, who also heads the Military History Society, described the Kalashnikov rifle as a cultural brand of Russia. Its creator was the embodiment of the best features of the Russian people, he said.
Not everyone agreed with him.
t the ceremony, a young man held up a poster that read, Designer of weapons = designer of death. He was quickly taken away by the police.
Later on Tuesday, Russian rock star Andrei Makarevich wrote on Facebook: A statue of Kalashnikov? So thats what we should be proud of. If we count how many people his weapon killed around the world, it would be millions. The AKM appeared after the war with the fascists [World War II], so then where did it defend our borders? In Afghanistan? Ukraine? Georgia? Africa?
WATCH: Kalashnikovs invention A blessing or a curse?
Kalashnikov designed Avtomat Kalashnikova, which became the standard issue rifle of the Soviet army, in 1947 hence the abbreviation AK-47.
Today, it is the most commonly used assault rifle in the world, widely perceived as a highly reliable and sturdy weapon.
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union not only sent shipments of AK-47s to various friendly and allied countries worldwide, but it also transferred its technology of production.
As a result, dozens of countries from Nigeria through Israel to China now produce variants of the AK-47 and contribute to the global proliferation of small arms, which feeds various armed campaigns around the world.
Bulgarian kalashnik
As a former Soviet satellite and a key arms exporter to Soviet allies, my country, Bulgaria, has also participated; Bulgarian weapons dealers and military officials Ive talked to brag about the Bulgarian kalashnik being the best quality.
Needless to say, the AK-47 has also been widely used in all the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
It has also been part of massive transfers of weapons that the United States and its allies have carried out over the past few years and which, according to various human rights organisations, have been used to commit war crimes and grave human rights violations.
The inflow of weapons, mostly made in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, including Bulgaria, into the Middle East has created a thriving internal black market.
In Syria, Ive been told, a good AK-47 goes for as little as $500; in the Kurdish region of Iraq, it is worth $700.
Today the Kalashnikov rifle makes up a small part of Russias military exports, which are the second biggest in the world after the US.
In 2016, Russia exported some $15bn worth of weapons (the US exported three times more), and like the US, it also sold weapons to states committing human rights abuses.
Unwanted spotlight
Russias arms exports to Myanmar, for example, have recently come under the spotlight, as Moscow has refused to openly condemn the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya.
Earlier this year, Russia along with China blocked a United Nations Security Council resolution expressing concern about the violence in the country.
After ethnic violence against the Rohingya escalated and demonstrations were held in the Chechen capital, Grozny, and Moscow, President Vladimir Putin condemned all acts of violence, no matter who their perpetrators or targets are.
Russia is Myanmars second-largest supplier of weapons after China, with $50m worth of arms in 2016.
In 2009, Moscow sold the Myanmar army 20 MIG-29 fighter jets worth $570m, while last year a Myanmar delegation visiting Russia showed interest in Russian military helicopters.
READ MORE: Kalashnikov felt guilt for AK-47 victims
Unsurprisingly, the Kalashnikov rifle has also been used in the various conflicts in Myanmar, and local press has even reported that an armed group has tried to replicate the Chinese variant and produce it locally.
Given the existence of so many knock-offs and variants of the AK-47, it is difficult to estimate how many units exist today around the world.
It is even more difficult to say how many people it has killed but, without a doubt, the figure is very high.
Realising the extent of human loss his invention had resulted in, Kalashnikov wrote a letter to the Russian Patriarch Kirill shortly before his death in 2013, saying: The pain in my heart is intolerable, [there is] one unanswerable question: Since my rifle robbed people of their lives, will I, Mikhail Kalashnikov, 93-year-old, son of a peasant, a Christian and an Orthodox myself, be guilty of their death, even if they were enemies?
The patriarch responded that the responsibility lies not with the inventor but with those people who use the achievements of technological progress to do evil to others.
The latest episode of the Hamas-Fatah reconciliation saga is not a step closer to a unity government, analysts say.
The latest episode of the Hamas-Fatah reconciliation saga is by no means a step closer to a unified government and an end to a 10-year political schism, analysts say.
On Sunday, Hamas pledged to dissolve its administrative committee which runs the Gaza Strip and expressed its willingness to hold general elections in a bid to reconcile with its rival Fatah political party in the occupied West Bank.
Hamas used the committee to run the internal affairs of the Gaza Strip, after accusing the Fatah-ruled Palestinian Authority (PA) of neglecting to do so.
In turn, the PA accused Hamas of using this administrative committee, which was announced in March, as a shadow government to further entrench political division and derail the prospect of a unity government.
Although the dissolution of the administrative committee was packaged as a step towards reconciliation and hailed by politicians as such, experts on the ground say it was no more than a public relations stunt in the power struggle between the two parties.
This whole issue of dissolving the administrative committee has no value. Even if it is dissolved, there must be another kind of committee that can run the daily and civil lives of people in the Gaza Strip, Abdulsattar Qassem, a political science professor at the an-Najah University in Nablus, told Al Jazeera.
When Hamas said it will dissolve the administrative committee, it threw the ball into the Palestinian Authoritys yard, in the sense that they have acquiesced to their demands, so now what will the PA do for Hamas? Its a tit for tat, a barter, added Qassem.
READ MORE: Hamas ready to reconcile with Fatah: reports
On Tuesday, the PAs Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah announced that he will visit the Gaza Strip to meet Hamas officials.
Alaa Tartir, programme director at the Al-Shabaka Palestinian think-tank, told Al Jazeera: Hamas wanted to put the ball in Abbas and Fatahs court before heading to the UN and before meeting Trump so that they remain a key actor in the political equation.
Abbas and Fatah are expected now to offer something in return.
The last Palestinian unity government agreement was signed by the two factions in the summer of 2014, a month before Israel launched its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip. The 52-day war severely damaged the besieged Strips already weak infrastructure and killed more than 2,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom were civilians.
The unity government, which was effectively opposed by Israel and the United States, was meant to usher in general elections the following year but was not implemented. Subsequent Qatar-brokered attempts to restart talks between Fatah and Hamas yielded no results.
In the last few months, Hamas has been under heavy pressure by PA President Mahmoud Abbas recent measures against Gaza, aimed at pressuring Hamas to relinquish control of the Strip. Punitive measures included cutting the salaries of PA employees living in Gaza and reducing electricity supply to the Strip.
Hamas capitalised on the opportunity afforded by the recent thawing of relations between itself and Egypt, and used the issue of the committee as political leverage against Fatah, in what Tartir describes as a blame-game.
What was being asked of Hamas is to completely give up administration of the Strip, which would mean the end of the movement as an organisation and a military movement, Belal Shobaki, a Hebron-based political analyst, told Al Jazeera.
Based on this, Hamas announced the administrative committee in March it was Hamas attempt to create some new negotiating leverage in talks with Fatah, added Shobaki.
And while dissolving the administrative committee may mean that the PA would take control of administrative affairs in the Strip, Hamas iron fist over security and the economy is unlikely to weaken.
Hamas has been the de-facto ruler in the Gaza Strip since 2007 after the party defeated Abbas long-dominant Fatah party in parliamentary elections.
Hamas then pushed Fatah out of the Strip in a bloody conflict when the latter refused to recognise the result of the vote. Hamas and Fatah have ruled the Gaza Strip and the West Bank respectively ever since.
READ MORE: A guide to the Gaza Strip
Getting rid of the committee has little bearing on implementing the long-awaited national unity government, with issues such as security and the salaries of PA employees in Gaza a point of contention between the two sides.
The issues undermining the prospect of an agreement being reached, says Hamas expert and policy fellow at Al-Shabaka, Tareq Baconi, are still as relevant today as they were during the 2014 reconciliation deal.
These include the PAs inability or unwillingness to assume the public burden of Gaza without Hamas relinquishing absolute control, beyond its administrative capacity; Hamass refusal to soften its grip on Gaza, particularly over security-related issues; and, perhaps most importantly, Israels systematic and aggressive refusal to allow Palestinian unification, Baconi told Al Jazeera.
The end game, ultimately, of the reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas would be general elections for the Palestinians, the last of which took place over a decade ago.
Pointing out that Abbas mandate expired in 2009, Qassem says that there is no legal authority nor legitimate rule in Palestine.
If Abbas cares about the interests of the Palestinian people, Fatah should announce political elections immediately, he said.
However, the one who decides the elections is Israel and the US. As long as Israel and the United States cannot find the right person to enter elections and win, then we will remain without any elections.
The last time that Palestinians engaged in general elections was in 2006. In a shock result, Hamas, which had entered the elections for the first time since its establishment in 1987, won, delivering a blow to Fatah and more importantly the US, which had pushed for the elections to take place.
In the aftermath of these elections, then senator of New York Hillary Clinton said in leaked recordings, I do not think we should have pushed for an election in the Palestinian territories. I think that was a big mistake. And if we were going to push for an election, then we should have made sure that we did something to determine who was going to win.
READ MORE: UN warns of Gazas total collapse amid power crisis
The possibility of a general election being called in the near future, however, is unlikely due to each factions tenacious hold on power in their respective territories.
Substantial lasting and positive developments can be only realised through an inclusive and participatory political process that neither Fatah nor Hamas are interested in pursuing, Tartir said.
Qassem attributes the obstacles to a unified government to an older, monumental event in Palestinian history.
The root of the problem, says Qassem, is the Oslo Accords signed in 1993 and 1995 between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel.
The agreement was meant to lead to the creation of an independent Palestinian state through the establishment of an interim Palestinian government the PA. Yet it also included damning clauses and written deals that gifted Israel complete control of the Palestinian economy, civil and security matters in over 60 percent of the West Bank, and introduced the controversial security coordination between Israel and the PA.
If one hundred agreements were made and Oslo still existed, these agreements will amount to nothing, Qassem said.
Oslo pitted Palestinians against one another. Those who signed the Oslo Accords knew beforehand that this agreement would result in the bloodshed of fellow Palestinians, at the hands of Palestinians.
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An entire village consisting of more than 40 Palestinian Bedouin families will be forcibly removed if an Israeli Supreme Court ruling is successfully implemented.
Residents of Khan al-Ahmar village, situated near occupied East Jerusalem, are now preparing to fight the upcoming court decision, which they say is likely to be inherently biased.
Last February, residents of the village received a demolition order. Earlier this month, they received a verbal notice from the Israeli forces about the states plan to transfer them, according to the villages leader, Eid Abu Khamees. He says the village has been struggling to maintain its existence since Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967, and annexed East Jerusalem later that year.
The village, inhabited by the Jahalin tribe, has since become encircled with politically influential Jewish settlements Maale Adumim to the east, and Kfar Adumim to the west.
The village became like a prison, encircled and trapped, Khamees told Al Jazeera.
Bedouins rely on their herds and on their animals for wealth, and with this encirclement, we no longer have the needed distance or area for our cattle to graze, the 52-year-old explained.
Israeli Rights group, BTselem, say that the forcible transfer of an entire Palestinian community in the occupied territories would be virtually unprecedented since 1967.
IN PICTURES: Bedouin face Israeli demolitions
Particularly during the last few years, with the separation wall blocking access to Jerusalems Old City, village residents faced dire economic impacts, Khamees said.
Every year, Bedouins here sell more and more of their cattle for money just to stay afloat Bedouins in East Jerusalem are no longer able to sell their produce in the markets, Khamees added.
The court hearing, scheduled for September 25, will see two cases; a petition filed by the communitys lawyer against the demolition order, while the second is a court case filed by settler movements calling for the destruction of the villages only school to more than 150 children.
The communitys lawyer described the current situation as critical, and the political climate unprecedented. The decision to transfer the community comes three weeks after Avigdor Lieberman, Israels defence minister, disclosed to local media the states plan to move forward with the eviction of the Khan al-Ahmar community last month.
Lieberman said that the West Bank village of Susya would also face eviction orders in the coming weeks.
Al-Haq, a prominent human rights NGO based in Ramallah, said the main objective behind the targeting of Khan al-Ahmar is to push Palestinians out the area.
The goal behind demolitions and other measures in Khan al-Ahmar, Susya and the rest of the occupied West Bank aim at creating a coercive environment to force Palestinians to leave and replace them with Israeli settlers, Al-Haq researcher Tahseen Elayyan, told Al Jazeera.
This would ultimately link the village to the adjacent Maale Adumim settlement and would render the area as part of East Jerusalem.
Area C of the West Bank, which comprises Khan al-Ahmar and other Palestinian villages, is under total Israeli administrative and military control. It includes all of the 125 Jewish settlements in the West Bank, housing more than 300,000 settlers. Settlements are considered illegal under international law.
Although the area covers more than 60 percent of Palestinian territory, less than five percent of the Palestinian population live there, facing severe restrictions on planning, construction and access to resources such as water.
According to Al-Haq, in 2016 alone Israeli forces demolished 575 structures on the basis that they lacked necessary construction licenses a 73 percent increase compared with 2015. Of those, more than 300 were houses sheltering some 1,600 people, now forcibly displaced.
And since the beginning of 2017, Israeli forces demolished 116 structures, including 64 homes, displacing some 347 people.
Shlomo Lecker, the lawyer who has been working with the Jahalin tribe since 2009, told Al Jazeera that several pro-settler Israeli NGOs have filed petitions to the state over the years regarding illegal structures, claiming they lack the necessary building permits.
But residents say these construction permits are impossible to obtain.
The situation has never been so bad because of the political developments, said Lecker, who is an independent lawyer based in West Jerusalem.
Now they [the state] is going to declare that the school will be removed, he explained, referencing the latest political developments.
READ MORE: Palestinian Bedouins live the Nakba every day
Pro-settler movements have a history in aiding the Israeli government in forcibly evicting Palestinian communities and demolishing Palestinian-owned homes.
Regavim, a Zionist NGO as stipulated on the groups website, has worked since 2012 in conjunction with the state, in monitoring the construction activities inside Palestinian villages and towns in East Jerusalem.
The group, says Khamees, monitors his tribe and are the reason behind his peoples plight.
They monitor us day and night, making sure not a single new unit is built in our village, he said.
According to their website, Regavim works to recruit officials and state resources to act on the principles of Zionism contacting authorities responsible for land management and law enforcement demanding that they take all necessary legal measures to halt and demolish the illegal construction.
Israel had previously hoped to relocate the Jahalin tribe to the Palestinian village of Nuweima in the Jordan Valley, but according to Khamees, the land was confiscated territory, offered to them at the expense of another Palestinian population.
Of course, all parties rejected this proposal, said Khamees.
Now they want to move us to the West Bank town of al-Eizariya. They also confiscated a section of land there and told us that this was their solution, he added.
The area in al-Eizariya is largely closed off and does not adhere to the Bedouin culture and way of life, residents say, who compared it to Guantanamo prison.
Residents of al-Eizariya, says Khamees, are refusing to give up their land.
They are the rightful owners and will not give them up to anyone not to Bedouins, not to a Palestinian, not to an Israeli, not to anyone at all, he said an argument that has been included in the form of a statement from al-Eizariyas residents.
Meanwhile, in a letter addressed to the Israeli government on September 4, BTselem pointed out that if the eviction and forcible transfer of the communities of Khan al-Ahmar and Susya were successfully implemented the actions would amount to war crimes under international law.
Al Jazeera reached out to the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), an Israeli military body that administers parts of the West Bank, for comment on the matter but did not receive a response in time for publication.
Both Lecker and Khamees share similar reservations about the courts anticipated decision.
The declaration by the minister of defence, he knows what the state can do otherwise he cannot make such an announcement it seems that this time they are pretty sure that they will do it [demolish the two villages], said Lecker, who added that a best-case scenario would be a delay in the courts decision.
Khamees is particularly pessimistic since, according to him, a settler will judge the upcoming hearing.
The decision of demolition will be announced in a hearing where the judge himself is a settler, basing his ruling on an occupying powers laws, he said. So I expect the September 25 ruling to be a harsh, dangerous one.
If the judge is one of them, then who do you complain to?
The State of Israel was conceived at the turn of the 20th century in Eastern Europe by a group of elite European Jews who launched a movement called Zionism that sought to establish a physical nation state exclusive to Jews. It was a typical settler colonial enterprise, complete with the narrative of a divine mandate and a non-existent or savage indigenous population, central to which was the myth that Jews of the world formed a singular people, favored by God, who were returning to their singular place of origin Palestine after a three thousand year absence.
Although it was a project conceived in Europe by Europeans and for European Jews, they lacked sufficient numbers to build a population large enough to conquer the indigenous Palestinian population. Thus, recruitment of Jews from the surrounding Arab world was a necessary inconvenience. They did so through propaganda and by creating false flag terror incidents (bombing of synagogues or Jewish centres) in order provoke an exodus of Arab Jews. A prime example of this happened in Iraq, where the oldest Jewish community in the world had lived for millennia as contributing members of Iraqi society, and who prospered, contributed to the arts and the economy, and participated in government.
But these Jews were not embraced as brethren by European Zionists. Zionism was decidedly colonial, and that meant that Jews of the Arab world were seen as incomplete, barbaric, dirty, uncivilised. Zaev Jabotinsky, one of the forefathers of Zionism said, We Jews have nothing in common with what is called the Orient, thank God. To the extent that our uneducated masses [Arab Jews] have ancient spiritual traditions and laws that call the Orient, they must be weaned away from them, and this is in fact what we are doing in every decent school, what life itself is doing with great success. We are going in Palestine, first for our national convenience, [second] to sweep out thoroughly all traces of the Oriental soul.
READ MORE: The shocking story of Israels disappeared babies
A multitude of programs and protocols were implemented towards this goal. One of the most egregious was a large initiative of stealing the babies of Arab Jews and giving them to be raised by European Jews. But the larger efforts were simple propaganda campaigns that were implemented in schools, communities, and national projects.
In essence, it was a project to strip ancient peoples of their identities, which was not unlike what they tried to do to Palestinians. Zionists were trying to create a new nation with a unified people. So, they could not abide allowing parts of this population to continue to identify as Iraqi, Moroccan, Persian, Tunisian, and so on, and certainly not as Arab Jews. At the same time, the racist impulses of colonialism could not abide putting these people on par with Jews of Europe. They could not simply be Jews in the new Jewish state.
Thus, the word Mizrahim, from the Hebrew and Arabic words meaning those of the East, was popularised to lump all of these peoples of different nations into a single miscellaneous category that erased their individual ancient histories and cultures that spanned thousands of years of life and tradition, replete with countless and invaluable achievements in their respective nations.
Before Israel, Jews of Iraq identified as Iraqi, of Morocco as Moroccan, of Tunisia as Tunisian, of Iran as Persian, of Syria as Syrian, of Egypt as Egyptian, and of Palestine as Palestinian. They spoke Arabic, ate the same foods as their Christian and Muslim compatriots, celebrated and partook in the same national events and traditions, lived by the same social protocols, and moved through their respective cultures as other natives did. And despite the similarities of their cultures, Tunisians were distinct from Egyptians, who were both distinct from Iraqis, who were distinct from Moroccans, etc. But Israel collapsed them all under a single identity, which was to be distinguished only from Ashkenazis, European Jews, who were higher up on the social order, and, of course, from non-Jewish Palestinians and Arabs, who were to be despised. The level of their resulting self-hate can be measured in the heightened cruelty they practise against Palestinians.
However, as Zionists would learn from Palestinians, erasing the identity of others is not an easy task. Memory is stubborn, and roots will continue to tug at humans long after theyve been uprooted. Arab Jews continued to speak Arabic at home, to dance to Arabic music, eat Arab food, and dream of once again seeing the mountains, rivers, architecture, libraries, and colours of Persia, Babylon, North Africa and the Levant.
READ MORE: Israel urged to apologise for disappeared babies
Israel has moved away slightly from early Zionisms contempt for our part of the world. And while it remains a colonial project, bent on erasing the native Palestinian presence, their social efforts are more focused on indigenising themselves to the land. The obstinacy of Arab Jews in clinging to their cultural roots has provided a convenient avenue to lay claim to regional indigenous culture. So now, Arab foods (like falafel, hummus, shakshouka), traditional Arab clothing (like tatreez, galabiyas, keffiyehs), and Arab folkloric dances are all being rebranded as Israeli, yet another phase of colonial renaming, and they use the rebranded Arab Jews to justify their claim.
Susan Abulhawa is an international bestselling novelist, poet, and essayist. Her latest novel The Blue Between Sky and Water has been translated into 26 languages.
The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Survivors of genocide are obliged to take action when others are being threatened with the treatment they once received.
A year ago, I wrote about Aleppo and Syria. Today, I am writing about another country, another people and yet another crime. I feel obliged to write, because genocide survivors bear a responsibility to react when they realise that others are being threatened with the treatment they once received. My story thus brings me to Southeast Asia and Myanmar, or as we used to call it Burma. And, therein Arakan.
Arakan is a land in the west of Myanmar. The Rohingya people, the majority of whom are Muslim, live in the northern parts of Arakan, in townships such as Maungdaw and Buthidaung, towards Myanmars border with Bangladesh. The Rohingya have been living in these areas for a long time, as they are indigenous to this region. But today, some people claim that the Rohingya moved to this area during the British colonial rule and they use this claim to argue that this persecuted minority is not entitled to any right or status in Myanmar.
The persecution of the Rohingya in Myanmar began as early as 1982 they have been denied basic civil rights and freedoms for decades. I know this because I have been reading about the arduous fate of this people for days.
I dont know whether we would have heard about the plight of the Rohingya if they were not Muslims or whether that is precisely why the news about their fate reached us in Srebrenica and strongly resonated with us. What I do know is that, to me, their ethnicity or religion does not matter. They are my brothers regardless of religion. I call them my brothers because we share the same story and the same fate. They are brothers and sisters to everyone from Srebrenica.
Never again to anybody
Everything that is happening in Myanmar today had happened at dozens of other places before, and it had happened to us, too. These current events are exactly what we have in mind when every year on July 11 we say in our prayers never again to anybody.
The Rohingya are now enduring what we, Bosniak-Muslims, endured during the war and the genocide, and what we are still enduring to this day in the Republika Srpska. by
Violence has been present in Myanmar for years. Segregation became legal, persecution desirable, and entire villages and towns were proclaimed free of Rohingya long before the current events. The closing of mosques, revocation of citizenship rights, propaganda and pressure have been a significant part of the Rohingyas daily reality for a very long time. These are facts that are really easy to unearth, and these are the stories we must share.
The Rohingya are now enduring what we, Bosniak Muslims, endured during the war and the genocide, and what we are still enduring to this day in the Republika Srpska.
As the international communitys interest for our region and the Bosnian returnees diminishes, we find ourselves asking, Is our story going to repeat itself once again?
Today, our childrens protests are being ignored and Muslims are being bullied in Republika Srpska. Are these the signs of a far worse situation approaching?
Fundamental to the suffering of both Bosniaks Muslims and the Rohingya, as I see it, is dehumanisation.
They erase our cultural institutions from their cultural strategies, they forget our writers, they dont hire our journalists, they block the renovation of our cultural and spiritual sites, they deny our right to language and they raid our villages. When our mothers ask, Who murdered our children? or when we ask, Where are the bones of our brothers?, they refuse to answer.
OPINION: The very least the UK owes the Rohingya is protection
Currently, Bosniacs are nothing but a dot in the Republika Srpska. We, the survivors and the returnees, are cornered. Just like the ill-fated people at the border of Myanmar and Bangladesh, we remain tacitly unwanted on both sides.
An attempt to resettle
They would rather resettle us worldwide, which they have tried both during the war and afterwards. They would be the happiest if we have never returned to our homeland, if we neglected our villages and left our land uncultivated. They would rejoice if all disappeared and vanished, if our monuments lost their white colour, if tombstones were not visited, if Al-Fatiha wasnt recited to those we can no longer see, if laughter of our children wasnt heard.
This is why Myanmar is not far away from us. The Rohingyas cries are not far away. Those cries that we hear so clearly are warning us that we alone can win the fight for our freedom, and that we should never wait and pin our hopes on someone else. They will all deceive us, and their symbolic gestures and support will last as long as the commercials on TV.
Therefore, it is important that we, as people who have been through the same, support the Rohingya. This is why I welcome the decision of Grand Mufti Husein Kavazovic to establish a Committee in support of the Rohingya. I am willing to do whatever I can to help.
May it never happen again to anybody. We do not want to say never again in our prayers for our lost sons, while we know that a second, third, fourth people is going through the same. When will never again be truly never again?
Camil Durakovic, a survivor of the March of Death, was the mayor of Srebrenica between 2012-2016.
The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Judges say election process was neither transparent nor verifiable but dismiss opposition claims against Kenyatta.
Kenyas Supreme Court has criticised the countrys election board for failing to verify official results of last months presidential election which were later nullified over irregularities and illegalities before announcing them.
The court, based in the capital Nairobi, offered a detailed ruling on Wednesday as to why it annulled the August 8 election and ordered a fresh presidential vote on October 17 after opposition leader Raila Odinga challenged the original result.
The election board had said incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta won the contest by 1.4 million votes, but the opposition said the countrys electronic voting system had been hacked and the results were doctored.
The board overseeing the 2017 vote did not have all the tally forms when they announced results, the court ruled on Wednesday. It also said that some forms lacked security features such as watermarks, signatures or serial numbers, which calls their authenticity into question.
OPINION: Can Kenya pull off a second election within 60 days?
The election did not meet the simple test, said Chief Justice David Maraga. We are unable to validate the result.
Maraga added: If elections are not seen to be free and fair they can trigger instability. We do not need to look far for examples.
Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu said the forms should have been quickly available for inspection, noting officials had said that thousands of forms from polling stations were still unavailable four days after the official results were announced.
The fact that the Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had refused the court full access to its computer system suggested opposition claims of hacking could also not be disproved, Mwilu added.
The IEBCs refusal to provide access to its servers left the court with no option but to accept the claim that it [the result] was compromised, Mwilu said.
Although the tallying process was questioned, voter registration, identification and voting all appeared to be conducted in accordance with the law, she added.
Claims against Kenyatta were largely dismissed by the Supreme Court as judges said the opposition failed to show evidence he had campaigned using state resources or undue influence.
Al Jazeeras Stefanie Dekker, reporting from Nairobi, said that it was expected that the court would point the fingers at the election board.
Expressing his displeasure with the courts ruling, Deputy President William Ruto tweeted: Evidently a supreme coup on sovereign will of the people was executed on basis of technicalities against their verdict captured in ballots.
Kenya used two parallel systems: a quick electronic tally vulnerable to typos and a slower paper system designed as a verifiable, definitive backup. The official results were based on the electronic tally before the paper results were fully collated, the judges said.
READ MORE: A letter from Nairobi
The system was designed that way after a disputed 2007 presidential vote sparked violence that killed around 1,200 people and displaced around 600,000 more.
As the Supreme Court delivered its full judgement, police used tear gas to disperse rival groups of protesters who had gathered outside the courthouse.
Nairobi was tense this week ahead of the ruling, with police tear-gassing protesters and the US embassy urging calm.
US-based group Human Rights Watch (HRW) late on Tuesday urged police to protect the judges involved in the ruling.
Dismas Mokua, a political risk analyst, warned of the potential of a constitutional crisis in Kenya.
The IEBC should now go through the Supreme Court verdict with great detail, identify the illegalities and irregularities and address those issues to be ready for another election, he told Al Jazeera.
War monitor says Syrian and Russian jets struck four facilities, including maternity hospital, in retaliatory assault.
At least four hospitals have been targeted by air raids in Syrias northwestern province of Idlib, killing three people and wounding several, according to a war monitor and rescue teams.
Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), said Syrian government and Russian warplanes conducted the air attack on Tuesday in the countryside of Hama and Idlib.
The attacks came after opposition factions led by a former al-Qaeda affiliate launched an assault on a number of government-held villages along the border between Idlib and Hama.
The raids hit a maternity hospital in the village of al-Tah and a medical outpost in the town of Khan Sheikhoun, as well as near two other hospitals in Idlib province, Abdel Rahman told AFP.
READ MORE: Syria diplomatic talks A timeline
The raids on the maternity hospital in al-Tah killed an elderly woman who was an employee of the hospital, in the first civilian death in air strikes in Idlib province since May, he said.
According to the medical charity UOSSM, which has provided equipment to the maternity hospital, the woman killed was a cleaner in the facility and other medical staff were wounded.
In a statement distributed to journalists, the charity said two sets of attacks hit the maternity hospital, setting fuel-storage tanks on fire and leaving its incubator room totally destroyed.
The Syrian government-affiliated Central Military Media outlet acknowledged the opposition offensive in Idlib and said that forces responded with intensive aerial bombardment and shelling, killing a number of fighters.
UOSSM condemned the attacks and said that systematic attacks on hospitals are back despite de-escalation deals.
Idlib is mainly controlled by Hayet Tahrir al-Sham, an alliance of anti-government groups formed in January and linked to al-Qaeda.
It is led by Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as al-Nusra Front.
READ MORE: Seven White Helmets medics killed in Syrias Idlib
The SOHR said the air raids were in retaliation for the killing of 19 soldiers when Hayet Tahrir al-Sham launched an attack on government forces in the northern Hama countryside.
The fighting comes just days after Iran, Russia and Turkey announced they would jointly police the de-escalation zone in Idlib and parts of adjacent Hama and Latakia provinces.
Russia has already deployed military police to the other three de-escalation zones Eastern Ghouta near Damascus, parts of the south and some areas of the central province of Homs.
The agreement excludes the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group and Hayet Tahrir al-Sham.
Committee to Protect Journalists say government uses anti-terror law to silence and intimidate the media in Cameroon.
Cameroons anti-terror law is being used by authorities to arrest and threaten local journalists, creating a climate fear among political reporters, according to an international media watchdog.
The legislation was enacted in 2014 to counter the Boko Haram armed group, blamed for a number of deadly attacks near Cameroons border with Nigeria over the past few years.
But in a report released on Wednesday, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said the anti-terror law was being used to silence media workers who report on Boko Haram, or on civil unrest in Cameroons English-speaking regions.
The report said that the crackdown on the press has left journalists too scared to cover politics.
With elections due to take place next year in Cameroon, journalists are steering away from sensitive issues in fear of reprisals, the CPJ said.
READ MORE: Is Cameroon persecuting its English speakers?
Cameroon is clearly using anti-state legislation to silence criticism in the press, said Angela Quintal, CPJ Africa Program Director and author of the report.
When you equate journalism with terrorism, you create an environment where fewer journalists are willing to report on hard news for fear of reprisal, Quintal added.
Cameroon must amend its laws and stop subjecting journalists who are civilians to military trial.
Al Jazeera requested a comment from a government spokesperson but did not receive any response.
READ MORE: Cameroon shuts down internet in English-speaking areas
Rights groups have criticised the anti-terror law as overly broad and with the potential for abuse. It allows authorities to detain indefinitely those accused of terrorism and carries a maximum sentence of the death penalty.
Journalists have been repeatedly arrested under the act, including Radio France Internationale broadcaster and CPJ International Press Freedom Award honouree Ahmed Abba.
Abba was arrested in July 2015 and is currently serving a 10-year-sentence. He has routinely suffered beatings at the hands of prison guards, according to rights groups.
There were four journalists held under the act, until a presidential decree in August 2017, secured their release.
All of them faced trial before a military court and, if convicted, they would have faced the death penalty, said the CPJ report, titled Journalists Not Terrorists: In Cameroon, anti-terror legislation is used to silence critics and suppress dissent.
One editor told the CPJ that journalists are increasingly unsure of what they are able to report on, given they are fearful of contravening the anti-terror law. A newspaper proprietor told the CPJ that they have stopped reporting on issues that are considered unfriendly to the regime even if they are true.
Cameroons President Paul Biya, who took office in 1982, is one of the worlds longest-serving leaders. Critics say he is becoming increasingly authoritarian since presidential term limits were removed in 2008.
Over the past year, news outlets seen as partial to an ongoing unrest in the Anglophone regions of the country, have been targeted and shut down.
Thousands have repeatedly taken to the streets to protest against what they claim is the marginalisation of the countrys English-speaking minority population.
On September 1, dozens of English-speaking activists were released from jail in Cameroon, more than six months after their arrest for organising peaceful protests demanding equal treatment.
President Carles Puigdemont denounces detentions of high-ranking regional officials in the run-up to independence vote.
Catalonias president has accused Spains central government of totalitarian behaviour after police arrested the regions junior economy minister and 12 others in raids of Catalan government offices in the run-up to a planned independence referendum.
Carles Puigdemont, the regional leader, denounced Wednesdays operation as a coordinated aggression by the Spanish governments police force to stop the Catalans from going ahead with the October 1 vote.
The Spanish state has by all rights intervened in Catalonias government and has established emergency rule, Puigdemont said in a televised address.
We condemn and reject the anti-democratic and totalitarian actions of the Spanish state, he said, adding that Catalans should still turn out in force to vote in the referendum on a split from Spain that the central government in Madrid has declared illegal.
OPINION: The case against Catalan secession
Besides arresting Josep Maria Jove, the junior economy minister, police also entered the local government offices of the economy, interior, foreign affairs, welfare, telecommunications and tax, Catalan government sources said.
A dozen high-ranking local officials were arrested, local La Vanguardia newspaper said. The police confirmed they were carrying out raids connected with the banned referendum, but did not give details. The Catalan government sources could not confirm the other arrests.
Spains Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy defended the crackdown, saying that the operations in Catalonia were the result of legal rulings and were to ensure the rule of law.
The government is fulfilling its obligation, and I have to say that we will continue to do so until the end, he said.
Later on Wednesday, thousands of pro-independence supporters gathered outside the regional government offices in the centre of Catalonias main city of Barcelona, waving the red-and-yellow Catalan flag and chanting Occupying forces out and Where is Europe?.
These protesters are very passionate, but a number of them are carrying flowers, saying we will remain peaceful because we want to fight the central Spanish government with smiles and democracy, Al Jazeeras Karl Penhaul, reporting from the protest in Barcelona, said.
Police efforts to stop the referendum have intensified in recent days as the northeastern region shows no signs of halting it.
Acting under court orders, police have raided printers, newspaper offices and courier services in a search of campaign literature, instruction manuals for running voting stations, and ballot boxes.
On Tuesday, the Civil Guard, a national police force, seized more than 45,000 envelopes packed in cardboard boxes that the Catalan government was ready to send to notify people around the region about the referendum.
The first of more than 700 Catalan mayors were also forced to appear before the state prosecutor on Tuesday after they said they would back the referendum.
READ MORE: Defiant Catalan mayors back independence referendum
Spains Constitutional Court has suspended the vote after the central government challenged its legality.
Rajoys government says the referendum goes against the countrys 1978 constitution which states Spain is indivisible.
Under Article 155 of Spains constitution, Madrid has the power to suspend the regional governments authority to rule. It has yet to exercise this option as it seeks to block the vote through the courts.
Opinion polls show Catalonias roughly 7.5 million residents are divided on independence.
A survey commissioned by the regional government in July showed 49.4 percent of Catalans were against independence while 41.1 percent were in favour.
Over 70 percent of Catalans want a legal referendum on independence to settle the issue.
More than 50 nations sign agreement calling for a global ban on nuclear weapons, but none of them possess such arms.
In a new attempt towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons, the United Nations has introduced a new treaty banning the use, development, testing or storing of nuclear weapons under any circumstances.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday in New York by more than 50 UN member states, but several nuclear powers, including the US, UK and France, boycotted the signing ceremony.
There remain some 15,000 nuclear weapons in existence. We cannot allow these doomsday weapons to endanger our world and our childrens future, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday.
Officially known as the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the agreement was adopted in July 2017 at a UN conference in New York.
A total of 122 countries had voted in favour of adopting the treaty, while the Netherlands was the only country that voted against it Singapore abstained.
The move was seen as only symbolic since all the nuclear-armed states and several other countries did not take part in the July vote.
This initiative clearly disregards the realities of the international security environment. Accession to the ban treaty is incompatible with the policy of nuclear deterrence, which has been essential to keeping the peace in Europe and North Asia for over 70 years, the US, UK and France said in a joint statement in July, adding that they do not plan to ever become party to the treaty.
The agreement comes amid increasing tensions over North Koreas nuclear and missiles tests. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump vowed to totally destroy North Korea if needed.
This treaty [banning nuclear weapons] offers no solution to the grave threat posed by North Koreas nuclear program, nor does it address other security challenges that make nuclear deterrence necessary, added the July statement by the US, UK and France.
The pact is one of the several international agreements aimed towards nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. Two other major treaties are the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, introduced in 1970 and 1996 respectively.
The latter has yet to come into force, subject to ratification from China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan and the US.
Rescue workers race to find survivors after deadliest tremor in 32 years kills 223 in central Mexico.
Mexico City, Mexico Fabiola Luna Rios was in her house in the southern part of this city when Tuesdays earthquake struck.
This was a horrible experience, the 47-year-old told Al Jazeera as she sat with her husband, Jesus Alberto, on Obregon Avenue on Tuesday night.
I really felt panic, she said. I went out to the street, but when I saw my house, I saw it moving left to right.
Alberto, who was in Mexico state at the time, added that he thought the ground was opening up.
I felt houses were falling and for two seconds, I thought we would die, he told Al Jazeera.
The 7.1 magnitude earthquake, which struck shortly after 1:00pm local time (18:00 GMT), caused dozens of buildings to collapse and sent residents fleeing to the streets.
Luis Felipe Puente, the director of the governments civil protection service, tweeted that the death toll was at 223 on Wednesday.
At least 93 deaths were reported in Mexico City, 69 in neighbouring Morelos state, 43 in Puebla, 13 in Mexico state, four in Guerrero and one in Oaxaca.
Scenes of chaos and destruction were seen across Mexico City, as rescue workers and others raced to find and help survivors still trapped under collapsed buildings.
It was the second earthquake to strike Mexico in less than two weeks. The first tremor a powerful 8.1-magnitude earthquake hit southern Mexico on September 7, killing at least 98 people and destroying and damaging thousands of homes.
This was way stronger
For those who were alive in 1985, Tuesdays quake brought back familiar feelings experienced during the devastating earthquake that killed some 10,000 people exactly 32 years ago.
This is not the first time Ive felt something like this, Luis Alvarado, 39, told Al Jazeera from the neighbourhood of La Condesa in Mexico City.
I witnessed the one in 1985, and the feeling wasnt very different, he said.
Maria Irene Pies, who lives in the La Roma neighbourhood, agreed but said she felt Tuesdays quake was much stronger.
I was here during the 1985 earthquake, but I felt this was way stronger, the 73-year-old told Al Jazeera.
I was in my house when the earthquake started, and it was really strong, she said.
Mirrors started falling, the furniture started moving.
Pies, who lives near a medical laboratory, has been told to stay away due to fears that chemicals may have spilled during the tremor.
Like many others in Mexico City, she has moved to the streets over worries of aftershocks.
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, who said on Twitter that he had been flying to Oaxaca when the tremor struck, returned to Mexico City on Tuesday afternoon where he called an emergency meeting.
In a tweet, he warned Mexicans to review the damage, disconnect the lights and turn off gas before returning to their homes.
READ MORE: Victims complain of slow response after early September quake
He also visited the site of a collapsed school where pupils were killed. Thirty-eight remained missing.
Officials gave out the numbers of shelters and hostels for those needing a place to stay.
We are united
Fernando Irando, who also lives in Mexico City, said that while he is used to earthquakes, this [one] went above and beyond any he has felt before.
I think the city resisted it and I think there will be aftershocks and I hope we will be able to resist it, the 61-year-old told Al Jazeera.
Just after nightfall, rescue workers and residents continued to search for those who were trapped under rubble.
In the neighbourhood of La Roma, residents desperately called for help, asking friends and family to bring medicine, food, water, lamps and batteries to help rescue workers and those still trapped under collapsed buildings.
There are people trapped among the rubble, and we are trying to give all the support, Ana Marina Orenday Porras told Al Jazeera.
Colonia Roma [Street] is devastated, she said, referring to one of the main avenues of Mexico City.
As we walked around, we realised that many buildings have fallen and many are about to fall, and we are trying to give all the support we can, as citizens, because authorities cant cope with the size of the disaster.
Back on Obregon Avenue, Rios and Alberto said that unlike in 1985, they felt people were better equipped to react to a tremor this size.
This time, I feel that people were more helpful [than in 1985], Rios said.
Alberto agreed, adding after all, we are all Mexicans and we are always united.
Turkish leader says Ankara is mulling sanctions if Iraqs Kurdish region proceeds with September 25 referendum.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that his government will consider imposing sanctions on northern Iraqs semi-autonomous Kurdish region over its planned independence referendum.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) plans to hold the referendum on support for independence on September 25 in three governorates that make up the region, and in disputed areas controlled by Kurdish forces, but which are claimed by Baghdad.
The plebiscite has alarmed neighbouring Turkey, which has a large Kurdish minority. Iran and Syria also worry that the vote will encourage secessionist ideas among their own Kurdish minorities.
OPINION: Regional implications of the Kurdish independence vote
Steps such as demands for independence that can cause new crises and conflicts in the region must be avoided, Erdogan told UN members during his address to the General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.
He told reporters later that Turkeys National Security Council and cabinet will discuss on Friday what kind of sanctions we can impose, or if we will.
The Iraqi government is opposed to the poll, claiming it would affect the war against ISIL, cause instability and violate the Iraqi Constitution.
Turkey, the US, Iran and the UN have all backed Baghdad in speaking out against the referendum.
READ MORE: UNs Guterres urges Kurds in Iraq to scrap referendum
Last week, Iraqi members of parliament voted against the referendum and called on the Baghdad government to negotiate with the KRG.
On Monday, Iraqs Supreme Court ordered the suspension of the planned vote following a review of multiple requests to stop the referendum.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Tuesday called on Kurds to scrap the vote after Kurdish President Masoud Barzani asked Baghdad for a deal good enough to convince him to forgo the vote.
READ MORE: Iraqi army to intervene if Kurds referendum escalates
Barzani is playing with fire, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Tuesday, according to state-run Anadolu news agency.
The right thing is to give up playing with this fire, submit to common sense, and cancel the referendum, he added.
With just a few days to go before Sundays elections, SPD contender faces mounting criticism for his campaign.
With just a few days to go before what is expected to be a comfortable victory for German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Sundays elections, her main contender on the left is facing mounting criticism for his campaign.
Martin Schulz, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) candidate, is stuck in polls of about 20 percent support, seemingly unable to make any headway against the CDUs Merkel.
He is an extremely accoplished politician, Al Jazeeras Laurence Lee, reporting from Karlsruhe, said, referring to Schulz, a former president of the European Parliament.
And yet, at a time when many Germans are unsure about Angela Merkel, he has made precisely no progress against her.
Some supporters of the SPD have pointed out that there is little to distinguish their party leader from Merkel.
Sometimes I feel like they are a long married couple, Jan Siebenbrock told Al Jazeera.
The choice of German leader could affect everything from the future of the countrys car industry to the state of Brexit negotiations.
Sunday also could mark the day the far-right Alternative for Germany enters the national parliament for the first time.
While Merkel and her Christian Democrats are the favourites to win, the vote will only mark the start of coalition talks as Germany waits to see what shape its next government will take.
Hurricane Maria has struck Puerto Rico as a powerful Category 4 storm.
The eye of the hurricane, which has already killed two people in the Caribbean, made landfall near Emajagua, in the southeast of the main island, inflicting potentially catastrophic damage to the island.
The eye wall had earlier grazed the southwest of the island of St Croix, in the US Virgin Islands, when the system was still a Category 5 hurricane.
The storm is expected to bring a surge of up to three metres and as much as 750mm of rain to Puerto Rico.
This would lead to flash flooding and bring the risk of landslides across the mountainous island.
READ MORE: Macron France will rebuild St Martin island after Irma
Maria strengthened after hitting Dominica on Tuesday, bringing sustained winds of 280km per hour (kph). To be classed as a Category 5 system, on the 5-point Saffir-Simpson scale, the winds have to be over 252kph.
Very violent and intense right now as we have just begun to experience hurricane force winds, said 31-year-old Coral Megahy late on Tuesday, as she hunkered down on St Croix.
We can hear debris banging on the aluminium windows, as well, right now.
On St John Island, locals told AFP news agency that trees were swirling in the wind and rain was coming sideways as Maria continued on its path of destruction.
Hurricane Maria was pounding the Caribbean just two weeks after Hurricane Irma started its onslaught of the Leeward Islands.
Following so closely behind Irma, there is the risk that debris left by Irma could be turned into dangerous projectiles.
St Martin, a French-Dutch island that was among the worst hit by Irma, was under a maximum violet alert as Maria crossed the region, with people ordered to stay indoors.
Fortunately, Maria was a relatively small storm and its eye passed over 200km to the south of the island. St Martin was therefore spared a repeat of the devastation caused by Irma.
READ MORE: Irma Gone but never to be forgotten
Instead, it was the island of Dominica which felt the full force of the hurricane. Premier Roosevelt Skerrit posted on Facebook that there were initial reports of widespread devastation, with official communications to the island completely cut off in the wake of the storm.
The airport and ports are also inoperable.
The eye of Maria then brushed the French island of Guadeloupe, claiming two victims and leaving two more people missing.
As the storm churned away from the island, it reintensified and grew in size.
As the cyclone bore down on St Croix, hurricane force winds (winds above 119kph) extended 95km from the centre of the storm.
Puerto Rico measures only about 180km in length, so a direct hit by the storm would ensure that much of the island would experience highly destructive winds.
On Puerto Rico, Governor Ricardo Rossello described Maria as the worst storm of the last century.
Although Hurricane Irma didnt make landfall on the Puerto Rico, it is estimated to have caused damage of up to $1bn as it skirted across the north of the main island.
After striking the island of Puerto Rico, Maria is expected to head northwards, staying to the east of the Bahamas.
Strongest storm to hit the US territory in nearly 90 years kills at least nine in its wake across the Caribbean.
Hurricane Maria, the second major hurricane to hit the Caribbean this month, has struck the US territory of Puerto Rico, flooding streets, damaging buildings and bringing down telecommunication towers and power lines.
Leaving at least nine people dead in its wake across the region, Maria blew ashore in the morning in the southeast coastal town of Yabucoa as a Category 4 storm with winds of 250km per hour (km/h).
It was expected to buffet Puerto Rico, home to about 3.4 million people, with strong winds for 12 to 24 hours.
Rivers burst their banks, and the winds downed trees and damaged homes and buildings, including several hospitals, according to local news media.
News pictures showed whole blocks flooded in the Hato Rey neighbourhood of the capital, San Juan.
Electricity was out across the island on Wednesday, El Nuevo Dia newspaper said, while thousands of people were seeking safety in shelters.
Maria is threatening to bring 750mm of rain to some parts of the mountainous island, so there is a high risk of flash floods and landslides, said Al Jazeeras meteorologist Steff Gaulter, referring to the most powerful storm to hit Puerto Rico in almost 90 years.
Its expected to weaken as it crosses Puerto Rico, but then strengthen again as it moves over the sea once more.
Its going to get very close to Hispaniola, Turks and Caicos and Bahamas. A slight wobble and any of these places could get a direct hit.
But even without a direct hit, there are still likely to be damaging winds, flooding rains and a significant storm surge of up to three metres.
Puerto Rico is grappling with the largest municipal debt crisis in US history, with both its government and the public utility having filed for bankruptcy protection amid disputes with creditors.
Al Jazeeras Andy Gallacher, reporting from San Juan, said at least one million people were already without power as Puerto Ricos ailing electricity grid is still recovering from Hurricane Irma.
This time, power could be out for months, he said.
This is an island with huge debt, about $75bn. The electricity company, which has a monopoly here, has about $9bn worth of debt. Its grid is very weak, and most of the plants are twice the age of the industry standard
Repairing and getting power back to the 3.4 million people who live on this island is going to be a very long and painful process.
Maria killed at least seven people on the island of Dominica, government officials said, and two people in the French territory of Guadeloupe. It also caused widespread damage on St. Croix, one of the US Virgin Islands.
Broken windows, damaged awnings and gutters dangled haphazardly from buildings in San Juan or were destroyed entirely.
Hurricane Irma, which ranked as one of the most powerful Atlantic storms on record, also left a trail of destruction in several Caribbean islands and the US state of Florida this month, killing at least 84 people in the Caribbean and the US mainland.
God is with us; we are stronger than any hurricane, Governor Ricardo Rossello said on Twitter on Wednesday. Together we will rise again.
Resiste Puerto Rico Dios esta con nosotros; somos mas fuerte que cualquier huracan. Juntos nos vamos a levantar. Ricardo Rossello (@ricardorossello) September 20, 2017
Even though Irma grazed the north of Puerto Rico and did not hit the island directly, it knocked out power for 70 percent of the island and killed at least three people.
Maria was set to be the strongest hurricane to hit Puerto Rico since 1928 when the San Felipe Segundo hurricane slammed the island and killed about 300 people, the National Weather Service said.
Before hitting Puerto Rico, Maria destroyed roofs and brought down trees as it passed west of St Croix, home to about half of the US Virgin Islands 103,000 residents, as a rare Category 5 storm, the top of the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale.
Some 65 to 70 percent of the buildings on St Croix were damaged by the storm, said Holland Redfield, who served six terms in the US Virgin Islands senate.
In Guadeloupe, at least two people were killed, according to Frances minister for overseas territories.
Many roads were blocked and some 80,000 people, or 40 percent of the population, were without power, the overseas territories ministry said in a statement.
In the largest city, Point-a-Pitre, there was flooding of more than three feet in parts of the city, access to the port was blocked, and a hospital was damaged, it said.
The island of Dominica, with a population of about 73,000, was devastated by Maria earlier in the week.
Housing was significantly damaged or destroyed, and there was no electricity, phone service or running water, Henry said.
Warning rogue newcomers to the world of politics, Irans leader slams potential US withdrawal from 2015 nuclear deal.
Irans President Hassan Rouhani says Tehran will not be the first country to violate a 2015 nuclear deal, hitting back at US President Donald Trump who has hinted he might pull out of the pact.
Addressing the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday, Rouhani said his country would respond decisively and resolutely if the agreement signed between Iran and world powers under which Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear programme in return for relief from economic sanctions is violated by any party.
By violating its international commitments the new US administration only destroys its own credibility, he said, reiterating Irans assurance that Tehran is not planning to develop nuclear weapons.
READ MORE: Trump threatens to destroy North Korea if necessary
He also criticised Trump for the speech he made at the UNGA on Tuesday, in which the US president claimed Iran was exporting violence and destabilising the Middle East and bashed the nuclear deal as an embarrassment to the US.
Rouhani called Trumps remarks an ignorant, absurd and hateful rhetoric filled with ridiculously baseless allegations.
It will be a great pity if this agreement were to be destroyed by rogue newcomers to the world of politics: the world will have lost a great opportunity, Rouhani said, adding that Iran was a moderate country dedicated to maintaining peace.
Al Jazeeras James Bays, reporting from the UN headquarters in New York, described Rouhanis address as a carefully crafted speech.
Clearly, what the Iranians try to do is make their president look like the good guy, Bays said, adding that the word moderation was repeated throughout Rouhanis speech.
At the same time, he also attacked the tone of Trumps speech, Bays added.
It is interesting that he mentioned that the Iran deal was endorsed in a Security Council resolution, so if Trump pulls out, he in effect could be in violation of a Security Council resolution, in effect of international law.
So I think the Iranians are already thinking one step ahead as I think they are beginning to feel that its likely that Trump will pull out.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that sunset clauses that allow Tehran to resume its nuclear programme after a certain period of time were a primary shortcoming of the agreement.
One can almost set the countdown clock to Iran resuming its nuclear activities, he said.
He went on to say that in the broader context, the aspirations of the deal had not been met, although reports from the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), continue to confirm that Iran is in technical compliance with the agreement.
Decision made
Trump said on Wednesday that he had made his decision on whether his country will remain in the nuclear pact, but declined to reveal it.
I have decided, Trump told reporters when asked if he had made up his mind.
Mark Farha, assistant professor at Doha Institute, told Al Jazeera Trump was ambiguous on purpose.
This is the way Trump operates in all diplomatic matters. He likes ambiguity; he thinks thats a strength, he said.
He likes brinkmanship, keeping people on their toes, not knowing which move he will make next, its part of his strategy.
Its a dangerous strategy, especially in cases like North Korea and Iran where you have a lot of other contingencies at play.
READ MORE: UN nuclear watchdog defends Iran agreement
The prospect of Washington reneging on the agreement has worried some US partners that helped negotiate it.
French President Emmanuel Macron said it would be a mistake to pull out of the pact.
According to me, we have to keep the 2015 agreement because it was a good one, Macron told reporters at the UN.
Russia is concerned by Trump questioning the Iran nuclear deal, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Russian reporters at the UN in comments published by his ministry on Wednesday.
Its extremely worrying, Lavrov said. We will defend this document, this consensus, which was met with relief by the entire international community and genuinely strengthened both regional and international security.
Lavrov, referring to Trumps speech, said that if you simply condemn and threaten, then were going to antagonise countries over whom we want to exert influence.
Junior economy minister held in morning raid and local government offices searched in run-up to contentious referendum.
Spanish police have arrested the Catalan regions junior economy minister as part of a morning raid on several government offices in the run-up to an independence referendum, according to sources within the regional government.
Besides arresting Josep Maria Jove, police on Wednesday entered the local government offices of the economy, interior, foreign affairs, welfare, telecommunications and tax, the sources said.
Spains Guardia Civil police on Wednesday searched several headquarters in Barcelona of Catalonias regional government, a Catalan government spokesman said.
Al Jazeeras Karl Penhaul, reporting from Catalonia, said the police are looking for any evidence of wrongdoing, and evidence of support by the regional government for the October 1 independence referendum, which the central government has dubbed undemocratic and illegal.
The operation comes amid mounting tensions as Catalan leaders press ahead with preparations for the independence referendum on October 1 despite Madrids ban and a court ruling deeming it illegal.
Catalan leader accuses Spain of totalitarian attitude and unlawful arrest of officials.
Police were searching the Catalan governments offices of economic affairs, foreign relations and the presidency, the spokesman said.
READ MORE: Spain Is this the end of the Socialists?
The operation comes a day after police seized a trove of documents related to the October 1 referendum from the offices of private delivery company Unipost in the Catalan city of Terrassa.
Pro-separatist parties captured 47.6 percent of the vote in a September 2015 regional election in Catalonia viewed as a proxy vote on independence, giving them a narrow majority of 72 seats in the 135-seat Catalan parliament.
Control of finances
Spanish authorities on Monday took control of Catalonias finances to prevent funds being used for the independence referendum, a move that limits the regions autonomy and puts in doubt the payment of thousands of public workers salaries.
Earlier, on Friday, the conservative government announced it would take over the payment of essential services and public workers salaries in Catalonia to prevent it from spending money.
Catalonias pro-separatist government challenged the measure in Spains Supreme Court but a court spokeswoman told AFP it was in force and would not be suspended while judges rule on its legality.
READ MORE: The case against Catalan secession
Spains regions pay taxes to the central government and are then given a quota to spend on healthcare, education and public infrastructure.
Catalonia, which is roughly the size of Belgium and home to around 7.5 million people, receives about 1.5 billion euros ($1.8bn) a month from Madrid to cover essential services.
About a quarter of Catalonias revenues comes directly from certain taxes which it collects itself as well as from university tuition fees.
READ MORE: Defiant Catalan mayors back independence referendum
To prevent the Catalan government from using this money, the Spanish government has asked banks to control all movements in the accounts and credit cards managed by Catalan leaders.
Opinion polls show Catalonias roughly 7.5 million residents are divided on independence.
A survey commissioned by the regional government in July showed 49.4 percent of Catalans were against independence while 41.1 percent were in favour.
Over 70 percent of Catalans want a legal referendum on independence to settle the issue.
Women, elderly people and police among 25 killed by exiled politicians fighters in oil-rich Unity state, say officials.
Fighters loyal to an exiled former deputy president in South Sudan have attacked government forces in Unity state, leading to the deaths of 25 people, including civilians, according to officials.
Unity is home to oil fields that have been abandoned due to fighting.
The clash between Riek Machars loyalists and government forces occurred early on Monday in Nhialdiu, a village close to the town of Bentiu which has changed hands repeatedly since a civil war began nearly four years ago.
The number of the bodies that were found on the ground were 25, said Lam Tungwar, information minister for Northern Liech state, adding that the attack was repulsed.
READ MORE: South Sudan A country captured by armed factions
Those killed during the fighting included women, elderly people and local police officers, Lam Tungwar, state minister of information for Northern Liech, told Reuters news agency.
Lam Paul Gabriel, a spokesman for the SPLA-IO fighters, confirmed the clash, claiming a successful operation in which the gallant SPLA-IO forces took control of Nhialdiu, killed 19 government soldiers and seized dozens of weapons.
Tungwar said most of the dead were civilians.
Dickson Gatluak Jock, military spokesman for South Sudanese Vice President Taban Deng Gai, said the attack coincided with dialogue in Nhialdiu between rival clans aimed at securing peace in the region.
After gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan descended into war in December 2013, pitting President Salva Kiirs troops against fighters loyal to Machar.
A peace accord was signed in August 2015 and Machar returned to the capital in April last year to share power with Kiir.
However, the deal fell apart less than three months later, and Machar and his supporters fled the capital, Juba.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed and more than 3.5 million have been displaced since the conflict began.
The war has created what has been called one of the worlds fastest-growing refugee crises, and both sides of the conflict have been accused of abuses.
Russia and Belarus are holding large-scale joint military exercises, called Zapad (meaning West in Russian), on NATOs eastern border.
Russia and Belarus are holding large-scale joint military exercises, called Zapad (meaning West in Russian), on NATOs eastern border.
It is the first time the Zapad-2017 war games are being held since Russia annexed Ukraines Crimea peninsula in 2014, causing concern among neighbouring countries.
The war games one of Moscows largest since the Cold War have been under way since last Thursday.
Moscow says just under 13,000 personnel have been participating, though Western observers believe the real number is far higher.
Al Jazeeras Rory Challands reports from Belarus.
ISIL fighters are now confined in Raqqa city centre, the SDF alliance says as it announces the opening of a new front.
A US-backed coalition of Kurdish and Arab fighters, says the three-month battle for ISILs self-declared capital in Syria, Raqqa, has reached its final stages with the opening of a new front.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said in a statement on Wednesday that it had started a new offensive against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group on the northern edge of Raqqa.
This was a feature of the final stages of the Euphrates Wrath campaign, which is nearing its end, the statement said.
We can say that 80 percent of the city of Raqqa has been liberated, it said.
The SDF group spent months encircling the city before entering it in June and sealing off all access routes.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Wednesday that the alliance had taken more than 90 percent of the city, adding that the major remaining hurdle for its forces was a large concentration of mines in the area.
Because of the heavy coalition air strikes, ISIL withdrew from at least five key neighbourhoods over the past 48 hours, said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Observatory.
This allowed the Syrian Democratic Forces to control 90 percent of the city.
ISIL (also known as ISIS) was now confined to the city centre, in government administrative buildings, the stadium and tunnels.
The remaining ISIL fighters in the city have nearly run out of food and munitions, the Observatory reported.
WATCH: Enemy of Enemies The Rise of ISIL (47:29)
SDF launched its offensive on ISIL in Raqqa city in June, backed by US-led air raids and special forces on the ground.
Tens of thousands of civilians have fled the fighting in recent months.
Estimates of the number still inside the city range from fewer than 10,000 to as many as 25,000.
SDF said on Wednesday it had helped hundreds of civilians escape the city in recent days.
Years of conflict
Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and millions more displaced since civil war broke out in Syria following protests against President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011.
It has since evolved into a complex, multi-front conflict involving government forces, Syrian rebels, Kurdish fighters and armed groups, including ISIL.
ISIL seized Raqqa in early 2014, transforming the city into the de facto Syrian capital of the caliphate it declared after taking control of large parts of Syria and Iraq.
It quickly became synonymous with the groups most gruesome atrocities, including public beheadings, and ISIL is thought to have used the city to plan attacks abroad.
In recent months, ISIL has seen the territory under its control diminish quickly.
Qatars emir appeals to world leaders before meeting US President Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
United Nations, New York City Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani used the pulpit of the UN General Assembly to attack the four neighbours that have imposed a blockade against it, accusing them of terrorism-like behaviour.
Sheikh Tamim also met privately US President Donald Trump at the annual diplomatic session in New York on Tuesday as Qatar sought to win international support in its 106-day-old spat with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt.
The emir blasted the unjust blockade as a betrayal from his neighbours that had ultimately failed to bring Qatar to its knees and to capitulate to a total tutelage to be imposed on it.
The blockade aimed to pressure Qataris via foodstuffs, medicine and ripping off consanguineous relations to force them change their political affiliation to destabilise a sovereign country, he said in a 22-minute address from the UNs iconic marble rostrum.
Isnt this one of the definitions of terrorism? Sheikh Tamim asked.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke in the same UN session after Sheikh Tamim and showed support for Qatar in a wide-ranging speech.
Erdogan called for the lifting of sanctions negatively affecting the living conditions of the Qatari people and urged the regions elder brother Saudi Arabia to show sincere will for the resolution of the issue.
Sheikh Tamim-Trump meeting
Trump initially sided with the Saudis and called Qatar a funder of terrorism but has since worked to broker a way out of the crisis and in his meeting with Sheikh Tamim on the sidelines of the General Assembly on Tuesday renewed his vow to help solve the crisis in the Gulf.
We are right now in a situation where were trying to solve a problem in the Middle East and I think well get it solved, Trump told reporters before the meeting, adding that he has a strong feeling it will be solved pretty quickly.
Sheikh Tamim reiterated Dohas call for dialogue and thanked the US president, noting that Washingtons interference will help a lot.
Sheikh Tamim was flanked by Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and other Qatari officials; the US delegation included Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, National Security Advisor HR McMaster, Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and others.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt, cut ties with Qatar, the worlds biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas, on June 5, accusing it of supporting terrorism and cosying up to regional rival, Iran. Doha has denied the allegations as baseless.
On June 22, the group issued a 13-point list of demands, including the shutdown of Al Jazeera, limiting ties with Iran, and expelling Turkish troops stationed in the country as a prerequisite to lifting the blockade.
Doha rejected all the demands, denouncing them as an attempt to infringe on Qatars sovereignty, while US-backed Kuwaiti mediation has failed to end the dispute.
For Sigurd Neubauer, a Middle East analyst, the Trump-Tamim meeting was a win for Qatar because it signalled that Doha has friends at the highest level in Washington despite being ostracised by its four US-aligned Arab neighbours.
Qatar wants to show that its bonds with the US are unbreakable. Washington wants to show that it doesnt value its relationship with one Gulf country over another. It wont point fingers at who started this crisis, it just wants it resolved, Neubauer told Al Jazeera ahead of the meeting.
From Washingtons view, theres a Kurdish referendum coming, Palestinian reconciliation, defeating ISIL, the Astana talks on Syrias war and North Koreas nukes. Whether Qatar has a wise foreign policy or not? Thats a different matter.
READ MORE: Qatar-Gulf crisis All the latest updates
Imad Harb, a research director at Arab Center Washington, DC think tank, agreed, but questioned whether the diplomatic flurry in New York takes us anywhere towards ending the crisis as conditions are not right for reconciliation.
The meeting will show Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and others that Trump has changed his mind since the beginning of this crisis and is no longer playing favourites among the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), of which Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE are members, Harb told Al Jazeera.
But that is not necessarily a game-changer for Saudi, the UAE and others, he said.
From the beginning, they intended for regime changes and though it didnt work, they havent disabused themselves of that idea.
Follow James Reinl on Twitter: @jamesreinl
Gainesville, the first city in Florida to become a welcoming city in March 2016, will celebrate its designation this week.
This years Welcoming Week festivities began Monday evening and will last through Sunday night. This is the second year Gainesville has celebrated Welcome Week.
The events include a speech given by an immigration attorney on Tuesday night, a screening of 8 Borders, 8 Days on Wednesday night at the Reitz Union and a speaking engagement Sunday night with Cindy Nelly, a nurse practitioner who has served overseas in war-torn countries, said Richard Macmaster, the president of Welcoming Gainesville and Alachua County.
Immigrants and refugees were celebrated on Monday at the Welcoming Week Proclamation. About 20 people gathered outside Gainesville City Hall at 5 p.m. and heard speeches from Mayor Lauren Poe, County Commissioner Ken Cornell, an immigrant student from Eastside High School and UF student leaders from Students Organize for Syria, Gators for Refugee Medical Relief and CHISPAS.
Welcoming Week is meant to embrace and thank foreign-born Alachua County residents for their contribution to the community, Poe said.
We dont care where you came from or how long youve been here, were just happy that youre our neighbor, he said.
Rebecca Prince, a 19-year-old UF health science sophomore, attended Mondays event to represent Students Organize for Syria. As the treasurer of the club, she hopes to use Welcoming Week to raise awareness for the humanitarian crisis in Syria.
Its so important that we recognize the people who are the most downtrodden right now in our point in history, she said.
There was one woman in attendance who was vocally not celebrating Welcoming Week. As the event was coming to a close, she stepped forward to offer her criticism of the event and on immigration as a whole.
They talk about the government is making war on the immigrant community, thats not true, she said. They are enforcing the existing code of law regarding illegal aliens.
The woman said she is not anti-immigrant or anti-diversity. She believes that many Americans are misinformed about immigration policies.
The left wants to portray any sort of following the law as racist and bigoted and anti-immigrant, she said.
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Mayor Lauren Poe displays the Welcoming Week Proclamation along with Gainesville City Commissioners Helen Warren, Adrian Hayes-Santos, Harvey Budd and David Arreola. This is the second Welcome Week held by the City of Gainesville.
At the first annual UF Google Games, students huddled close to their laptops, ready for a logic competition to win prizes.
The UF Association for Computing Machinery and alumni Google software engineers hosted the event Tuesday night in Turlington Hall. About 250 students completed coding and puzzle questions in teams of three to five, said Steven Hurtado, the vice president of professional affairs of the Association for Computing Machinery.
Students had to solve as many questions as they could in 90 minutes to win gift bags full of Google merchandise.
Caroline Hobson, a UF computer engineering sophomore, said she hoped her team would pull through with grit, determination and logic.
Hobson said she was excited about competing with her team since last Wednesday, when she saw the event on Facebook.
I think it will give me some foreshadowing of what Im expected to know later in the future when Im a junior or a senior, the 19-year-old said.
Hobson said she felt proud of herself for completing one of the nine puzzles. The puzzles had themes, including smartphones and Old Spice. Competitors had to write code to solve them.
Theyre really just a bunch of logic puzzles, so its really more about thinking outside the box than anything else, she said.
John Zoldos, a UF computer engineering senior, felt prepared to take home the title of Google Games Champion.
It seemed like a cool thing to do with friends while also networking with Google recruiters, the 21-year-old said.
@Christina_M18
cmorales@alligator.org
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(From left to right) Master's computer science students, 35-year-old Pradeep Rajan and 25-year-old Harshit Vijayvargia, excitedly open goodie bags from Google. Rajan and Vijayvargia were some of the lucky few who ran up to get these bags.
Students gathered to register and meet with their teams before the start of the Google Games. About 250 students registered to compete.
Student Government Senate passed a resolution affirming UF President Kent Fuchs support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program Tuesday night, but not without debate.
The resolution, authored by Senator Dylan Santalo (Impact, District A), the Hispanic Student Association President Robert Lemus and Senator Soloni Patel (Impact, District D), advocated support for UF students and their families represented under the DACA Program.
Senator Yael Diamond (Impact, Springs) said she and Senator Daniel Weldon (Impact, Keys) opposed the resolution because they do not believe its Fuchs place to comment on politics as the president of a federally funded institution.
Just because the president says something, that doesn't mean we have to support him," Weldon said at the meeting about Fuchs' statement.
After debate, senators passed the resolution with a vote of 49-11.
Diamond said neither she nor Weldon oppose DACA but believe SG shouldnt take a political side.
Senate Chambers is not the proper place for this legislation to be passed, Diamond said.
At the meeting, Weldon, who is the president of UF Young Americans for Freedom, said he thinks SG is isolating conservative students by passing the resolution.
Weldon said some of his constituents and people on campus reached out to him concerned SG is not representing them appropriately.
Victor Santos, a UF business management junior and candidate with Inspire Party, spoke during public debate at the meeting and told senators he objected to the resolution because Fuchs should have just said, This is happening, but were here to help you.
President Fuchs is essentially endorsing coming here illegally and telling students that are here illegally that it was OK that they basically committed a crime, Santos said.
The 20-year-old said he came to the U.S. legally in 2010 after his mother had saved enough money to bring him. Santoss mother transferred work location with a restaurant chain from Brazil to the U.S. in 2007, after three years of working with the American government to do so.
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Its not fair for people like me that did the hard work to endorse people that applied to DACA, said Santos, adding students have other legal options to stay in the U.S.
Ben Lima, the president of Inspire Party, said in a statement the party supports students of all backgrounds and ideologies, but political views expressed by candidates do not necessarily reflect the party's views.
When he presented his resolution, Santalo said he didnt take a side. He said he wrote the resolution because he wanted to commemorate Fuchs statement that DACA students who came to the U.S. to improve themselves can stay here and continue what theyre fighting to do.
I think its great we have continued discussion in Senate, Santalo said. I am happy that the bill passed.
Senator Ian Green (Impact, Business Administration) spoke in favor of the resolution and said he believes it is not about politics, but about supporting students who would be affected.
The only side of this resolution is speaking towards the side of the Gator Nation and making sure its welcoming for all students, Green said.
@taveljimena
jtavel@alligator.org
Trees fell, a hot cop was suspended and Gainesville recovery efforts are ongoing, but an auction of authentic alligator purses and Seminole Indian prints stops for no one or hurricane aftermath.
Amidst cosmetic repairs in the wake of Hurricane Irma, the Matheson History Museum is set to reopen this Saturday for the Antique, Vintage Floridiana and Rare Book Sale.
The sale, which takes place on Sept. 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., is free and open to the public. Visitors can expect to look at and purchase an overwhelming array of one-of-a-kind products, ranging from antiques to rare 19th century books and vintage memorabilia.
Over 13 vendors will attend, including the museum.
All sellers are Floridiana experts, hand-picked and recruited from across the state. Most travel to Gainesville specifically for this event, rejoicing in the thrill their goods bring to collectors.
Last year, one item in particular drew the attention of many senior Gainesville residents in the room: a rare glass framed photo collage of Glen Springs, a local recreation area that closed in 1970.
Dewy-eyed visitors who had once swam in the spring began to shout out their offers, and soon the Matheson became equivalent to an adrenaline-filled bidding war.
The collage sold immediately.
As for Matheson executive director Peggy Macdonald, it was a first edition of Harriet Beecher Stowes Palmetto Leaves that caught her fancy.
This 1873 memoir, one of the first guide books written about Florida, also sold in record time for only $75.
I was really jealous, Macdonald said. But a lady came from Middleburg just to buy that book.
Fanaticism runs high at the sale, so while the casual sightseer might stay for only half an hour, some avid collectors spend all day sifting through the small treasures.
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Once they see something they like, they have to have it, Macdonald said, who left one years sale with an alligator purse she had successfully bid on.
(In other words, arrive early and prepared if you want the best items.)
Concerning her favorite aspect of the Matheson sale, Macdonald couldnt help but gush over the variety of unusual and historical artifacts for sale.
Its a real feast for the eyes, Macdonald said. When you walk in, you wont know where to start. We have specialty bottles, old tins, old photographs, postcards dating back one hundred years, stereograph cards from the 1870s, and rare books with a regional, southern theme. Theres really something for every price range.
Certainly, the sheer volume of vintage Floridiana leaves nothing to be desired. Not even cravings, as light food and drink will be sold to fund the museums maintenance and rotating exhibitions.
With such a wide range of collectibles on display, Macdonald believes that the sale is a wonderful opportunity to build a collection or add to a pre-existing one, and a fun one at that.
Its a great diversion after weve survived Hurricane Irma, Macdonald said.
It may also bring in a new stream of regular museum visitors to the Matheson, many of whom would benefit from the Matheson library archives and in-house librarian.
One such possible recruit is Viviana Moreno, an 18-year-old UF English freshman who found the event on social media.
When the Matheson Antique, Vintage Floridiana and Rare Book Sale popped up on my Facebook feed, I grew very excited, Moreno said. The event immediately drew me in. A Saturday spent thumbing through yellowed books and interesting antique finds sounds like heaven to me!
So, is heaven really the Matheson on a Saturday? Ill leave you to figure it out.
The Matheson History Museum is located on 513 East University Avenue.
The Antique, Vintage Floridiana and Rare Book Sale is on Sept. 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is free and open to the public.
POINT DE VUE Africa discusses stronger tax regimes in Abuja
Alwihda Info | Par Info Alwihda - 20 Septembre 2017
The Third International Conference on Tax in Africa (ICTA) from 26 to 29 September in Abuja.
The 3rd International Conference on Tax in Africa (ICTA) planned for later this month in AbujaNigeria, will be opened by His Excellency The Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON. The flagship conference of the African Tax Administration Forum, has its theme as: Building Strong Domestic Tax Regimes in Africa: Strengthening VAT, PIT and CIT.
The conference will also celebrate and recognise the six African experts selected to serve on the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters. Five of the six members
come from ATAF member countries and two of these are on the ATAF council! These include Mr William Tunde Fowler (Nigeria), the Chairperson of ATAFs Council and Mrs Elfrieda Stewart Tamba (Liberia). This is a wonderful acknowledgement of the sterling work of ATAF in transforming taxation in Africa and the expertise within its ranks.
To end poverty and hunger by 2030, the UNs 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are premised on strategies that build economic growth to address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection. Tax revenue, is therefore viewed as the main enabler for achieving these
goals.
The African Union, for its part, has set Agenda 2063 to build an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in international arena.
To fulfil this vision, Agenda 2063 talks of the need for inclusive growth and sustainable development as well as good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law. To bring this agenda into fruition, domestic resource mobilisation takes a central role, as donor fatigue is now only too evident.
African countries are signatories to both these ambitious milestones. For ATAF, continent meeting both these agendas will, largely hinge on effective domestic resource mobilisation (DRM) or
strengthening domestic tax regimes in every African country. In light of this, both the Forums Council as well as its General Assembly have given the directive for a strong focus on domestic
taxes, hence the theme for ICTA 2017. The Conference is focusing on specific domestic taxes including VAT, Personal Income Tax (PIT) and Corporate Income Tax (CIT) due to their potential contribution and the underlying risks that are likely to undermine the revenue take.
Value Added Tax (VAT) is administered in 44 of the 54 African countries and is seen as the tax of the future as it has a broad base and therefore, needs review of processes for effectiveness and
efficiency in its administrations.
Corporate Income Tax (CIT) is in the spotlight as more manufacturing industries take root in the continent. Similarly, there is a growing service sector constituting the financial, telecommunication
and real estate.
Personal Income Tax derived from individuals such as employee PAYE, other withholding tax schemes and High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI) are also key contributors to domestic revenue.
These tax heads have a quicker turn-around time if well administered in terms of taxpayer registration, return filing and payment, audits, collections, refunds and dispute resolution and can
readily contribute to financing recurrent budgets of the African continent. The conference program is designed along expert panel discussion sessions and presentations.
The ICTA 2017 will look at:
Technical challenges, successes and good practice in the administration of VAT in Africa;
Enhancing performance of PIT through broadening the tax base, sanitising the taxpayer register
and improved taxpayer experience with regard to managing compliance.
Dealing with complexities of CIT taking into account the filing of corporate tax returns, enhanced customer service delivery, corporate structures vis-a-vis tax planning, tax audits and investigation.
This years ICTA is expecting delegates and panellists well beyond its 38-member countries including from other revenue authorities and organisations such as the African Development Bank, the World Bank, OECD, International Tax Compact, GIZ, Tax Justice Network Africa, ECOWAS and CREDAF.
Dans la meme rubrique : < > Tchad : "une cuisante defaite" pour "les pessimistes" du Dialogue national (Abdelmanane Khatab) Tchad : lechec de la politique de lemploi, une opportunite entrepreneuriale ? Tchad : aller au federalisme dans ce contexte, cest cautionner leclatement (Dr Oguelemi) Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
English News Chinese experience included in Xi Jinpings book worth learning: Cambodian readers
Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 20 Septembre 2017
China has been forging ahead under Xis leadership over the past 5 years, and the Cambodian readers are keen to find Chinese solutions and methods in the book, said Liu Xiaoguang, editor-in-chief of The Commercial News of Cambodia.
By Ding Zi, Zhang Zhiwen from Peoples Daily The Cambodian version of the book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China", which offers a new way to understand Chinese President's governance philosophy, has won popularity among Cambodian political, academic circles as well as readers since the book was launched in the country in mid-April.
The book collects speeches, talks, interviews, notes and letters of the Chinese leader.
The book is a best seller among all political books of its kind and receives the best reader reviews, said Quan Yangang, general manager of a Chinese bookstore in Cambodian capital Phnum Penh.
A total of 1,600 Cambodian copies of the book were sold in a short period of time after the publication of the first 2,000-plus books, Quan told Peoples Daily.
Before the book was published, we did a survey, during which a lot of local readers asked us to leave a book for them so that they could learn it in detail, Quan disclosed. After my friends bought the book, they didnt read it just to kill time, instead they learned the book very carefully, he added.
China has been forging ahead under Xis leadership over the past 5 years, and the Cambodian readers are keen to find Chinese solutions and methods in the book, said Liu Xiaoguang, editor-in-chief of The Commercial News of Cambodia.
Many readers are still contacting us to learn more information about the book, such as where to buy it and how do they feel about it, Liu said.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen speaks highly of the book, saying it is a collection of President Xis important governing philosophy and includes the essence of Chinas experience in building a socialist society.
Hun Sen said he was impressed by Xi's ideas on China Dream, governance of the country, anti-corruption, deepening reform, rule of law and peaceful development.
The prime minister said he always asks officials, scholars and students in his country to carefully study the book, draw experience from it and put the knowledge into their work of pushing forward the countrys development.
Cambodian readers expressed that after reading the book, they come to fully appreciate the Chinese Presidents pragmatic style of work and personal charm in running the country.
You will see Xis charisma of administering the country after reading his book, said Chea Munyrith, former director of the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, who assisted in the translation of the book into Cambodian.
Xi is a politician with an international horizon who closely connects China to the world. He is also an outstanding diplomat who promotes the concept of peaceful development and common prosperity on the world stage, Chea noted, adding that his proposal of the construction of the Belt and Road enables China to drive the global economy with practical actions.
Dans la meme rubrique : < > Nansha: linking Hong Kong and Macao, a new gateway for China's high-level opening up China issues 145 million digital driver's licenses China accelerates green, low-carbon development Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
1. On 19 September 2017, the United Nations convened a meeting on the preparations for the elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, in the margins of the General Debate of the seventy-second session of the United Nations General Assembly. The meeting agreed on a coordinated []Source : http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric...
Russian president Vladimir Putins spokesman seemed to put it to rest the supposed love affair with President Trump with one remark. Dimitri Peskov told ABCs George Stephanopoulos that relations between the United States and Russia are maybe even worse than during the Cold War. This is not evidence of Russian collusion.
The problem with Russia hysteria of the last 9 months, besides no evidence, is that the scrutiny was beginning to draw too much attention to more tangible allegations of Russian collusion. Hillary Clinton, as Secretary of State, used her office and her foundation to sell favors and influence to Russia in its quest to acquire uranium mines in the United States. It is within this context that we ponder the future of U.S., Russia relations. By future I dont mean the next election, I mean the next generation.
National security policy is supposed to consider the state of the world in as clear-headed and sober a manner as possible. Being humans, we cant be completely objective, but the U.S. cant afford to act out of weakness or fear. It seems that many in the professional foreign policy establishment and pundit class cant get past the Cold War era they imbibed in their formative years. Im old enough to remember living under the threat of Mutually Assured Destruction.
We can argue until the end of time why the two super powers avoided direct conflict. The Soviet Union and the U.S. fought each other indirectly for decades, but in 1989 the Berlin Wall and the whole Soviet edifice crumbled. The existential threat of an aggressive, nuclear-armed Communist regime evaporated seemingly overnight. But the end of history was not to be and the Russian Bear still lurks at the edge of Europe.
More than 25 years after most of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics became the Russian Federation, Putin has gone about reclaiming bits of its crumbled empire namely Georgias South Ossetia, the Crimea, and a stretch of eastern Ukraine. Dissidents and businessmen have been murdered or jailed. Europe is threatened with the shutoff of much its energy supply.
This is Putins Bear, irritable and hungry. The Russian Federation has had only three presidents and two of them are Putin. Medvedevs term was only a placeholder until Putin could resume power. Lets stipulate from the start that Putin is a killer and a thug. Now what? This description unfortunately describes far too many of the worlds leaders, including Chinas Xi Jinping.
Chinese security is aided by Google in tracking down free speech dissidents and then harvests their organs for sale on the international market. Its well past time to stop pretending China is anything other than a red fascist state with which weve chosen to have strong commercial ties. The George H.W. Bush administration argued that economic engagement would open China up and introduce a new era of political and personal freedom to the Middle Kingdom. In the quarter of a century that has elapsed, it hasnt happened.
Anything you can say about Putins Russia you can say about Xis China -- and often much worse, reportedly harvesting the organs of political prisoners for sale on the global black market. The regime has also coopted Silicon Valley to help track down dissidents on the Internet. (Under Xi, China continues to use North Korea as its junkyard dog to tie up the U.S. as it builds a string of military outposts in disputed waters in the South China Sea and gains a foothold in the Horn of Africa.
The biggest threat the U.S. is likely to face in the medium and long term is a China increasingly willing to assert its growing military power. Its important to note that this could happen because of Chinas soft economy that cant continue to grow as it did over last decade. Chinas young men will need an outlet that their economy and their society, because of a shortage of young women, wont be able to provide. Picking fights with Taiwan, the Philippines, Japan and the U.S. will be preferable to confronting a restless population at home.
Although Putin has pursued stronger ties with China with some success, this doesnt mean there are not policies the U.S. can pursue to complicate and degrade their relationship. Sino-Russian relations have historically been poor, and the U.S. should work to convince Russia that China would not be a reliable partner going forward. Putin only has to look at the duplicitous way China has treated the U.S. even though the countries have strong economic ties. Russia cant expect better from China given the historical tensions and the close proximity of the two nations. Russia could be a helpful bulwark against an expansionist China.
U.S. foreign policy makers cannot afford to be bogged down by an obsession with Putin, elevating him to a bogeyman, hiding under our beds. The hyperventilating from some in the establishment about the threat Russia poses has a bit of a Cold War hysteria quality to it that does not bear close examination. It is particularly strange, since as recently as the end of 2016 President Obama himself publicly dismissed Russias ability to alter or even influence a U.S. election. His State Department under Hillary Clinton pushed the farcical reset with Putin and signed off on Russian control of some U.S. uranium mines and acquiesced to Russias aggression toward its neighbors. The Obama administrations hands-off, leading from behind approach to the Global War on Terror invited Putins strategic move into Syria to prop up the Assad regime in the face of a devastating civil war.
The promise of President Trumps foreign policy is the opportunity to cajole, convince, scold and seduce Putin to behave more responsibly in general, and to behave in a way that benefits the U.S. and Russia in relation to China in particular. This would take a certain amount of dexterity because while the U.S. should pursue better relations with Russia, Putin as dictator for life, is not in the U.S. interest. The groundwork needs to be laid now to encourage his exit from the world stage sooner rather than later. Russia can never become a true republic instead of a dictatorship if Putin is allowed to keep power just because he wants to.
Despite Putins bare-chested swagger, Russia is vulnerable, perhaps even fatally so. Its declining population, limited economy, dependence on oil and gas in the era of fracking-driven price declines, and oppressive government represent challenges Russia is ill-equipped to resolve. While Putin and perhaps Russia itself will never be a close ally of the U.S., it should be possible to craft a course that allows for the two countries to be strategic partners when possible and strategic competitors only when necessary.
If a convincing example of the damage done to the female psyche by a strict Islamic upbringing is needed, look no farther than to Linda Sarsour.
The treatment of women is brutally degrading within Islam; they are raped and harassed daily, and not worthy of protection. Traditional gender roles provide that men are superior to women and the female is responsible for the familys honor; hence, they must be obedient to the many prohibitions or punished -- even murdered.
Islam should be considered a shame-honor religion, as Arab and Muslim cultures are shame-honor cultures that provide a means of manipulation and control by the family or group. It allows for no creativity and no autonomy. When shame becomes a destructive force, it leads the victimized family member to seek revenge and spill blood. It is brought by the families who migrate to the West, and further exacerbated if they observe traditional rigid regulations of surveillance, a key concept that leads to tension and crippling development.
The daughter (and the son up to age 7) spends her time with the devalued mother who was herself a deprived, distressed child who grew into a troubled adulthood, unable to nurture healthy children. The girls especially do not develop independently, but understand that they are like their mother and any other women who serve as wives to the authoritarian male head of household. The women live in dread of losing favor, of being beaten, abused, kept naked in isolation, or even annihilated. If the husband divorces her, by simply repeating the divorce mantra thrice, she is left with only the dowry provided by her parents at the time of her arranged marriage.
The child is injured by strict sharia laws, and by the disharmony, rivalry, and envy that exist within the Islamic household, not to mention the fear and anger caused by the intense political hatred found in the Koran and repeated in prayers five times daily. The pre-adolescent girl is further traumatized and degraded by the physically and psychologically painful Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) that is performed on her without anesthesia, under non-medical conditions, that may well cause lifelong infection.
Children living under circumstances of neglect, abuse, and trauma grow up with defective bonding relations and stay forever connected to the mother, in a painful traumatic bonding or terror bonding. When the daughter is ultimately given in marriage to a man of any age, not of her choosing, she is programmed to replicate the life of her devalued mother.
A young Muslim in Gaza or Judea and Samaria (West Bank) would have experienced enough shame to be overwhelmed by rage and aggression, resulting in never developing empathy with others. They are treated as objects from an early age and, thus, treat as mere objects real people with real needs. Boys who are radicalized at an early age bond violently and aggressively to females, including to the mother; girls internalize that same male rage, also directing it against the female and eventually become pawns of male extremist groups.
So now we have Linda Sarsour, the oldest of seven children born to a Muslim family from Gaza and living among people of the same background in Brooklyn, New York. She promotes herself by championing cool issues, but seeks leadership roles to promote Islam and Palestinian self-determination. She professes to stand for the feminist movement, but rejects all those who support Israel and silences any who speak of Islams severe cruelty to women.
She spoke briefly of her ties to her mother when she said she had to attend the local school, her mothers choice. No doubt, her spare time was spent assisting with the care of her six younger siblings at the expense of a typical American childhood, thus denying her the opportunity to play and work through fantasy life.
Steeped in the Islamic ideology and the Palestinian narrative, Sarsour endured FGM and shuts down all who criticize the practice. She was limited to meeting young men and women of her own heritage and shared mentality and chose the hijab for further identification. Given in marriage at age 17 to her parents preference, she bore three children by the time she was in her early twenties. Where she is duty-bound to repress her anger against her family about her own personal abuse, she directs her rage outwardly against Americans, women, and the President of the United States.
She joined several Muslim organizations and labeled herself a radical activist, that is, a civilizational jihadist, an Islamic supremacist who, through multicultural coalitions, seeks to manioulate the public into accepting Islam. She has joined rallies of Nation of Islam, Black Lives Matter, and, more recently, the Womens March. She is deeply involved with community, may seek a City Council seat, and ponders becoming mayor of New York City.
Islam is democracys sworn enemy because its belief system, its raison detre, is based on envy and hatred. The Koran contains 109 versus that decree war with Jews and Christians, commands all manner of torture and extermination, and warns that non-fighters for Allah will go to hell. One of many such commands is Fight against those to whom the Scriptures were given." 9:29
A subtle proponent of prescribed terrorism, Sarsour is a jihadist. Pew Research estimates that 330 million Muslims believe in violent jihad, a number that exceeds that of the Nazis. Although not trained in armed warfare, Sarsour conducts her own war with lies and propaganda, and her cries of Palestinian injustice and suffering through social media and the Womens March. She bears a strong odium for Israel, and was proud to share a stage with a convicted terrorist murderer of two Jewish university students.
As she thwarts all comments about womens oppression under Islam, she extols the benefits of FGM, by explaining it as a mere cut. And it is here that we find her not trying to free her oppressed female coreligionists, but sanctioning their position of submission, their bondage, and the pathology of her severe jihadi hatred of women. She warns American Muslims not to assimilate. Of Brigitte Gabriel, Sarsour tweeted, I wish I could take their (female sexual organs) away; they dont deserve to be women. Of Ayaan Hirsi Ali she tweeted, Brigitte Gabriel = Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Shes asking 4 an a$$ whippin. I wish I could take their vaginas away they dont deserve to be women.
Sarsour is pathologically fused to, dependent on, and smothered by her mother. While male jihadists attempt to cleanse and release themselves from the maternal bond by killing others, she has exposed a similar malignancy in her desire for bloody violence against her despised enemies, which include all women, Israel, and President Donald Trump. Unable or unwilling to join the physical war, she will continue seeking to inveigle the public through her multicultural activism, spewing hatred and finding her own path of perpetual rage as she works to make the misogynist sharia law, Islamic violence and destruction, legally part of our American way of life.
During his speech to the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, September 19, 2017, President Donald Trump might as well have been muttering to himself, "Is it for all time or simply a lark, is it a deal not worth thinking of, or is it at long last friendship?" A week before, on September 14, 2017, President Trump had renewed an exemption to imposing sanctions on Iran that were suspended under the 2015 JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) deal signed in Vienna by the P5+1 countries and Iran in July 2015. In October, Trump has to certify to Congress , according to congressional law, that Iran is in compliance with the deal.
By the agreement, Iran accepted limits on its nuclear program in exchange for relief from sanctions. Have there been any infractions? The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said Iran is complying with its commitments under the arrangements, including inspections. Indeed , the IAEA has said that at present, Iran's stockpile of low-enriched uranium is a good deal less than the maximum allowed under the JCPOA. The same is true of the stockpile of heavy water. Nevertheless, Iran's nuclear behavior has been described by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies as "problematic." The institute pointed out that Iran was testing its most advanced centrifuge, the IR8 model, which can facilitate the enrichment process.
U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley has urged the IAEA to be more aggressive in its inspections and to concentrate on Iran's military sites, which Iran has declared off limits to inspectors. Iran calls this campaign for such inspection a "dream." The IAEA is reluctant to inspect the military facilities, unwilling to engage in a fishing expedition, though it has the right to request and have access to them. The U.S. Institute for Science and International Security calls for access to military sites and the sharing of relevant information. Nevertheless, Iran has limited any access to its Parchin facility, near Tehran.
A key problem of the nuclear deal has always been that Iran will be able to restart uranium enrichment quickly, get nuclear facilities in the future, and enrich uranium on a large scale. The so-called "sunset clause" sets expiration dates on the limits of the nuclear program. Iran can extend its centrifuges beyond the present limit of 6,000 after ten years and later will be able to increase its nuclear stockpile and heavy water reactors, which can generate weapons-grade plutonium. It is almost certain that Iran will continue its quest for a nuclear bomb.
Donald Trump as candidate and as president remains critical of the nuclear Iran deal, even if he is hesitant to abandon all of it, as Ambassador Haley has suggested. Trump during the electoral campaign talked of the nuclear deal as "the worst deal ever negotiated." Like Haley, he believes that technical compliance by Iran is insufficient. Iran has violated not only different parts of the deal, but also the spirit of it.
Iran has a history of deception. It continues its development of ballistic missiles. What is important that in addition to this active ballistic missile development are also Iran's cyber-activities; its destabilizing actions, such as its sponsorship of missile attacks on Saudi Arabia by Houthi rebels in Yemen, to whom Iran ships weapons; its support for President Assad in Syria; its supply of arms to Hezb'allah; its increasing participation in conflicts in the Middle East; and its weapons-smuggling.
The Trump administration has responded. In July 2017, the U.S. responded to the Iranian provocative launch of a rocket into space, a rocket capable of carrying a satellite weighing 550 pounds, and using technology capable of carrying a nuclear payload. On July 28, the U.S. put sanctions on six Iranian organizations involved in the project. It imposed sanctions on a industrial group, Shahid Hemmat, that is central to the ballistic missile program by producing the medium-range Shabab-3, based on a North Korean missile, and imposed tighter sanctions against individuals associated with the Revolutionary Guards Corps (Quds Force), known for their support of terror and hijacking activities.
The real issue involved is not merely the nuclear ambition of Iran, but three factors: its desire for political expansion, its role in state-sponsored terrorism, and its ability to obtain nuclear facilities in the future
A significant factor is Russia's defense of Iran in the international arena. Russia is allowing Iran, which has been almost isolated since 1979, to play a growing role in political and security affairs, though the two nations differ on some issues. One is that Russia and Iran are both supporting Assad and favor the existence of Syria within present borders, but Russia is less interested than is Iran in keeping Assad in power.
Another point of disagreement is that Moscow does not approve of Iran's animosity toward Israel. Vital in this regard is the difference over Iran's support for Hezb'allah. Yet Russia did put an advanced S-400 air defense system near the Iranian weapons factories in Syria, factories that produce long-range guidance missiles for Hezb'allah. Israel has used missiles to target Iranian-sponsored weapons convoys in the area.
Nor does Russia approve the continuing U.N. bias against Israel or the BDS movement, now recently illustrated by the UNHRC blacklist concerning Teva; Egged; Coca-Cola Israel; and Israel's two largest banks, Bank Hapoalim and Leumi, plus U.S. firms Caterpillar, Trip Advisor, and Priceline. Compliance with this program violates US law.
In this complex international game, there have been secret visits by officials of the Saudi government, deadly rivals of Iran, to Israel in recent days. The most meaningful is the reported visit in September 2017 by a royal prince, believed to be Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This is not surprising because of the common enemy: Iran. Noticeably, Arab countries have allowed Israeli businesses to operate in the Gulf Countries and allowed Israel's El Al to fly over Saudi airspace.
What is necessary is a more enlightened European policy. The E.U. supports the nuclear deal because the E.U. holds that it is not an agreement between two countries, but one by the whole international community and Iran and is supported by the U.N. Security Council. But the E.U. is also concerned with economic issues. On July 3, 2017, the French energy company Total signed a $5-billion deal with Iran, arguing that economic development is also a way of building peace. European hotel chains Melia and Accor are interested in projects in Iran.
The great British political philosopher Ringo Starr, the drummer of the Beatles, gave unsolicited advice to Prime Minister Theresa May about Brexit. "It is a great move," he said. "Get on with it." In dealing with the growing threat of Iran, the U.S. Congress and President Trump should take Starr's advice and get on with it.
If youre one of the 143 million Americans who just got screwed by the massive security breach at Equifax, you may be wondering what you can do to protect yourself going forward. Ive compiled some ideas and hope readers will include additional suggestions in the comments section.
To recap for those whove been living under a rock, the personal data that was stolen included names, addresses, social security numbers, and birthdates. In addition, 209,000 had their credit card numbers stolen, 182,000 had dispute documents with personal data stolen, and an undetermined number of people had their drivers license numbers stolen.
Of course, if youve been living under a rock you probably need not worry about any of this. For everyone else, if you had your identity stolen (and the chances are greater than 50% that it was), the actions you take to protect yourself will need to be implemented for the rest of your life since the information has long since been disseminated over the dark web. Its out there. Forever.
Welcome to our brave new world. Its hard not to be cynical, skeptical, or downright fuming over the fact that so many organizations collect data on us, even if we didnt ask them to. And then they get hacked and our information is stolen. But I dont want to go off on a tangent of commentary on this hideous debacle. I just want to offer some possible solutions.
First, how do you know if youve been a victim of this gargantuan breach? Well, Equifax will tell you. Sort of, slightly, vaguely, and unreliably.
As for the smaller subset of folks who had their credit card number stolen, Equifax plans to send out notifications. If you receive a legitimate notification, cancel your card, request a new one, update your new card number if you have automatic payment set up, and remember that its always good practice to review your transactions on a regular basis.
As for the rest of the motherload of data that was stolen from Equifax, no notification will be sent. Instead, you can visit their web site and type in your name along with six digits of your social security number to find out the status of your info.
Yeah, thats right. Equifax is asking for your name and most of your social security number in order to tell you whether your data may or may not have been breached.
There are several problems with this arrangement: (1) The language is vague. May? Thats hardly better than what we already know. (2) Since this breach is being investigated, its possible the number of people affected may further expand. (3) If comments on articles about this are any indication, the response you get from Equifax after typing in your information is unreliable. People are reporting that after multiple attempts to check, the messages they receive change. Sometimes the message says their data was likely part of the breach. The next time the message says their data was likely not breached.
So the entire system to check if your information was impacted is absurd. Given the scale of this breach, it seems prudent to assume your data has been compromised. So what, if anything, can or should you do?
Theres a general consensus on a few steps to take (here, here, here).
Check your credit reports at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
Under federal law, youre entitled to a free copy of your credit report on an annual basis.
It doesnt matter if you have or havent contracted with any of the three credit agencies or their services. They all collect data on us. One resource where you can check all three places is Annual Credit Report.
Be aware theres often a lag time from when criminals try to open a line of credit in your name and when that activity shows up on your report. In addition, there are situations when nefarious activity doesnt show up at all. But if it does, you should report it to the Federal Trade Commission where youll receive guidance on what to do next.
Your credit report wont tell you if money has been stolen from a bank account or if theres any suspicious activity on your credit card.
Place a fraud alert or a credit freeze on your files.
A fraud alert lets creditors know you may have been a victim of identity theft and they should verify anyone seeking credit in your name, though the system isnt fool proof as not all creditors comply. Most alerts only last 90 days, so you need to keep renewing it for longer coverage.
A credit freeze locks your credit report to anyone trying to access it. In order to make it available to potential lenders, youll need to unfreeze it. Then, should you desire, youll need to freeze it again. A credit freeze is a state-regulated action, so check your state for additional information (here).
To read more about credit alerts and credit freezes, see here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
Of note: Dont be lulled into a sense of security because accessing your credit report requires answers to personal questions that only you could know above and beyond all the info thats been stolen. Scammers have ways to get around those questions.
Monitor all financial resources including bank accounts, social security income, retirement investments, credit cards, etc. Report suspicious activity.
Read all your statements carefully and in a timely manner. Be aware that in many cases, theft begins small and occurs across multiple accounts.
Contact your bank and other financial institutions to find out about their security measures. If interested, ask if theyre set up to notify you whenever a transaction occurs so you can verify/approve first.
Consider hiring a service that monitors credit and provides identity theft protection.
File your taxes early.
The idea is to beat the ID theft criminal to the punch. As soon as you have all the information you need to file your taxes, file them.
Meanwhile (and pardon me while I roll my eyes), Equifax is offering free credit monitoring services for a year to all U.S. customers, irrespective of whether their information was stolen (here and here). The deadline to enroll is 11/7/17.
What else? Well, some might be wondering if they should change their social security number. It appears that unless you can prove youve been a victim of identity theft, you cant change your social security number. And in situations when people can prove it and change their number, the implications are far reaching, with many ripple effects (here and here).
One area of risk rarely addressed in articles on the Equifax breach that also has far-reaching consequences is that of medical identity theft. As Consumer Reports notes:
When thieves take your personal data to get prescription drugs, doctor care, or surgery, it can endanger your health and trash your finances.
While were all vulnerable to medical identity theft, some demographic groups are at greater risk than others, including people on Medicare (because the Medicare ID number is the social security number), people with frequent interaction with the health care system (because the more active your health-related accounts the more vulnerable they are), people who post personal information on social media (because scammers can connect social media information with other identifying information they already have), and children (because parents usually dont see their childs credit report until the child turns 18 and can secure credit in their own name).
Here are some ideas on how to monitor and protect your medical identity, culled from research with some of my own thoughts sprinkled in (here and here):
Routinely check the following for accuracy: medical records, communication from your health care providers, medical bills, communication from health insurance companies including Explanation of Benefits statements, as well as your prescription records.
Refuse to provide your social security number if a health care provider asks for it. (The main reason they want it is if past due bills need to be sent to collections.) Ask if there is some other identifying number theyll accept. More importantly, ask why any of these numbers are being requested.
Before divulging any of your medical information, be sure the person youre dealing with is legitimate.
Dont post health-related news on social media.
Contact your health care providers and health insurance company to find out what measures theyre taking to protect you.
Insist health care providers be diligent about asking for a photo ID when patients check in.
Find out if the medical records department would put an alert on your file so youre contacted when a records request is submitted.
here, To learn more about medical identity theft, see here here , and here
Some general tips about identity theft include creating good habits with respect to your personal information, shredding sensitive documents you no longer need, keeping important paperwork in a safe deposit box, locking your file cabinet when you go out and storing the key in a secure place, maintaining good computer habits when managing and saving sensitive data, using a secure computer and an encrypted network connection when accessing personal information online, and being aware of your surroundings when having phone conversations where you may need to divulge personal information.
If criminals use your identity to impersonate you, it can take months or years to recover from the impact which may occur on multiple fronts financial, medical, and/or criminal. AT readers, please take care. And as you move forward, proceed with caution. There are a load of scams out there, including people posing as callers from Equifax. Dont trust people making wild claims and/or who have part or all of your social security number. Make sure everyone youre dealing with is legit.
To read more about the Equifax breach, about identity theft in general, and for resources to help, see here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
Well, well, well. Hope the "destroy Trump" media enjoys the taste of crow now that it has been revealed that, yes, Virginia, Trump Tower and its occupants who were in contact with both candidate and President-elect Trump, including one Paul Manafort, were in fact wiretapped as Trump claimed. Obamas DOJ and James Comey were both liars in denying the wiretapping for which Trump was widely mocked:
Department of Justice lawyers say that the department has no evidence for President Trumps controversial claim that President Obama ordered wiretaps of Trump Tower during last years presidential campaign. In a filing made public on Friday, the lawyers wrote that both the FBI and [National Security Division] confirm that they have no records related to wiretaps as described by Trump. The filing was made in response to a Freedom of Information Act request made by the group American Oversight. In a series of early-morning tweets sent on March 4, Trump had claimed, without offering any evidence, that he had just found out that Obama had tapped Trump Tower toward the end of last years presidential race.
When asked about Trump Tower being wiretapped, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said that he would have been aware of any FISA court-ordered surveillance of Trump Tower and the Trump surrogates within during the campaign by the Obama administration., He says he was not, implying there was none:
A former top intel official under President Obama asserted Sunday that President Trumps phones were not tapped, contradicting a claim made by the current president.Obviously, I cant speak officially anymore, but I will say that for the part of the national security apparatus that I oversaw as [Director of National Intelligence], there was no such wiretap activity mounted against the president-elect at the time or as a candidate or against his campaign, James Clapper said Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press.Clapper maintained that he wouldve been told of there was a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act court order to survey Trumps phones on something like this.I can deny it, Clapper said, asserting that an order related to Trump or Trump Tower does not exist to his knowledge.
Clapper may think that the Obama administration is incapable of such an act, the Obama administration who used the IRS in a way Richard Nixon only dreamed of, targeting the Tea Party movement that had arisen in opposition to ObamaCare. Such an act would indeed make Watergate look like, well, a third-rate burglary. Clapper forgets as well how the NSA and the Obama administration spied on world leaders, starting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel:
The record of James Clapper and the Obama administration on truthfulness is suspect. The Obama administration has spied on world leaders, American citizens, and the press. It was said that Trump has provided no proof of Obama administration surveillance, which is hard to do in a tweet. But Breitbarts Joel Pollak has put together an interesting timeline of the surveillance scenario, including not one, but two FISA requests featuring such items as:
1. June 2016: FISA request. The Obama administration files a request with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISA) to monitor communications involving Donald Trump and several advisers. The request, uncharacteristically, is denied. 4. October: FISA request. The Obama administration submits a new, narrow request to the FISA court, now focused on a computer server in Trump Tower suspected of links to Russian banks. No evidence is found -- but the wiretaps continue, ostensibly for national security reasons, Andrew McCarthy at National Review later notes. The Obama administration is now monitoring an opposing presidential campaign using the high-tech surveillance powers of the federal intelligence services. 7. January: Times report. The New York Times reports, on the eve of Inauguration Day, that several agencies -- the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Treasury Department are monitoring several associates of the Trump campaign suspected of Russian ties. Other news outlets also report the existence of a multiagency working group to coordinate investigations across the government, though it is unclear how they found out, since the investigations would have been secret and involved classified information.
Interestingly, the New York Times on January 20, 2017 ran a story on the front page titled Wiretapped Data Used in Inquiry of Trump Aides which was denied later by one of the authors, one Michael S. Schmidt, presumably after being reminded of the career hazards of reporting the truth:
On January 19th and 20th 2017, The NY Times reported that wiretaps of people on the Trump team were passed along to the Obama White House, one of the storys authors was Michael S. Schmidt. On Saturday that same Michael S. Schmidt was one of the reporters who wrote the story, Trump, Offering No Evidence, Says Obama Tapped His Phones. Thats right, the same NY Times reporter who was one of the sources for the Presidents claim, said that there was no evidence for the claim.
Those denials were lies. Paul Manafort, who was Trumps campaign manager during the late primaries and convention period and then worked in Trump Tower during the transition, was in fact wiretapped as others may have been, including the President-elect they were undoubtedly in contact with. As The Hill reports:
The government wiretapped the phone of President Trumps former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, during and after the 2016 presidential campaign, CNN reported on Monday. Sources familiar with the matter told CNN that the government obtained a secret court order under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) in 2014. The warrant allegedly focused on his work consulting for the government of Ukraine. That warrant was reportedly ended in 2016, but the FBI obtained a second one soon after which lasted until early 2017, including periods when Manafort was speaking with Trump.
Call it Watergate 2.0, the unthinkable wiretapping of a presidential candidate by the administration of a political opponent. This is the electronic version of the Watergate breakin, something more worthy of a dictatorship like Venezuela than the United States.
In an irony on steroids, Manaforts work for the Government of Ukraine, the justification for the wiretapping of Trump Tower, may lead to an indictment of Manafort while Hillary Clintons collusion with that same government for the purposes of obtaining information on Manafort will not.
If you want real collusion with a real trail of evidence of people trying to do real things interfering with the 2016 campaign, try Hillary Clintons real collusion with the Ukraine to derail and besmirch Team Trump. As Politico reported in a story that went nowhere at the time:
Ukrainian government officials tried to help Hillary Clinton and undermine Trump by publicly questioning his fitness for office. They also disseminated documents implicating a top Trump aide in corruption and suggested they were investigating the matter, only to back away after the election. And they helped Clintons allies research damaging information on Trump and his advisers, a Politico investigation found. A Ukrainian-American operative who was consulting for the Democratic National Committee met with top officials in the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington in an effort to expose ties between Trump, top campaign aide Paul Manafort and Russia, according to people with direct knowledge of the situation. The Ukrainian efforts had an impact in the race, helping to force Manaforts resignation and advancing the narrative that Trumps campaign was deeply connected to Ukraines foe to the east, Russia. But they were far less concerted or centrally directed than Russias alleged hacking and dissemination of Democratic emails.
Here you have a meeting between a DNC operative in a foreign embassy receiving materials used to defame and derail the Trump campaign. This meeting had real consequences other than in the case of the Trump meeting of boring its participants to death.
Was anyone interested? Certainly not MSNBCs Brian Williams and Andrea Mitchell, who were puzzled as to what Donald Trump was referring to when he tweeted about Team Hillarys collusion with Ukraine:
On MSNBC Wednesday morning, two of MSNBCs most prominent anchors admitted they had no idea what Trump was referring to, when he tweeted out that the Clinton campaign also sought out information from foreign government officials to help boost her campaign, during the 2016 election. After reading the tweet, Brian Williams asked Andrea Mitchell if she knew what he was talking about. Im hoping you can help me decipher this, he asked. Its hard to figure out what this is about, Andrea Mitchell quizzically responded.
It wouldnt have been so hard if the crack investigative reporters at MSNBC and CNN had followed the facts and the named sources in the Politico report, instead of unnamed sources who produce fake news about Team Trump which result in stories being retracted and reporters resigning. As MRC/Newsbusters reported:
Trumps tweet was referring to a seven-month old report from Politico, which found that Ukrainian officials worked with the DNC to help do opposition research on Trump in order to help Clintons campaign. This research was also leaked to several American journalists, according to the report. Politico found that a veteran DNC operative, Alexandra Chalupa, sought out information to damage the Trump campaign after media reports speculated Paul Manafort had ties to Russia. She sought out help to do this from the Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. and one of his top aides, with the DNCs encouragement, Politico reported. Chalupa spoke to Politico, which recalled: She [Chalupa] said that, when Trumps unlikely presidential campaign began surging in late 2015, she began focusing more on the research, and expanded it to include Trumps ties to Russia, as well. She occasionally shared her findings with officials from the DNC and Clintons campaign, Chalupa said. The report went into further detail, but the long and short of it explained how Ukrainian officials admitted to working very closely with Chalupa, who then shared this information with the DNC. One official, Andrii Telizhenko told Politico: They were coordinating an investigation with the Hillary team on Paul Manafort with Alexandra Chalupa. Telizhenko recalled that Chalupa told him and Shulyar that, If we can get enough information on Paul [Manafort] or Trumps involvement with Russia, she can get a hearing in Congress by September.
Say what? This is what you really call empirical evidence of collusion with a foreign government -- inviting them to interfere in the 2016 election. Yet the media ignores it, Congressional Democrats avert their eyes, and Congressional Republicans, afraid of their own shadow, let Democratic bottom feeders like Rep. Adam Schiff and Rep. Chuck Schumer beat up on President Trump without any meaningful response or defense.
Where are the congressional hearings on Hillarys collusion with the Ukraine? Where is the special prosecutor preparing an indictment based on wiretaps of Team Clintons collusion with the Ukraine? Were these things lost in the alleged conversation on the tarmac between President Clinton and Obama AG Loretta Lynch? Were they lost on the cutting room floor when James Comey wrote his memo exonerating Hillary Clinton before key witnesses, including Hillary herself, were ever questioned?
Trump told the truth and is totally vindicated. Let the investigation of the real criminals and colluders begin.
Daniel John Sobieski is a freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in Investors Business Daily, Human Events, Reason Magazine and the Chicago Sun-Times among other publications.
President Trump delivered a bang-up speech at the United Nations' General Assembly yesterday. Do not listen to the fake news media's characterizations asserting that it was "a string of tweets, but no doctrine" or focusing solely on his comments regarding North Korea. The MSM are just too immersed in their anti-American ideology to hear anything the president actually said.
Here are some of the highlights:
1) President Trump made a case for America First (no more apologies at the U.N.), stating that sovereignty is to be expected from the U.S. to its citizens, just as it is to be expected for all other countries. (And the president got applause for this, something the left will not understand.)
2) He gave a warning to North Korea that if Kim Jong-un continues to act provocatively, he is on a suicide mission, and the U.S. will have "no other choice" but to lay waste to that whole country.
3) Iran is a terrible dictatorship, using its resources to support terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezb'allah instead of to improve the lives of Iranian citizens. The Iran "nuclear agreement" is the worst deal the president has ever seen, and America will not abide by it if Iran's end goal is to have a nuclear program.
4) The U.N. Human Rights Council consists of a bunch of hypocrites, where countries with some of the most egregious human rights violations sit on the council purportedly condemning the human rights violations of other countries.
5) The president will not lift sanctions on Cuba until Cuba makes fundamental reforms of its corrupt regime.
6) America will stand by her allies. The president made several criticisms of countries that denounce Israel. After the speech, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this was the most courageous and the boldest speech he's heard at the United Nations in 30 years.
7) The U.S. pays a disproportionate amount to support the United Nations. Other countries need to step up their commitment to the values espoused by the U.N. and be more accountable for their actions. Trump's prelude speech on Monday night asserted that since the year 2000, the U.N. has increased its budget by 140 percent and doubled its staff, but those increases yielded nothing. On Tuesday, he reiterated that our investment will be worth it if the U.N. genuinely works toward the causes it claims to champion.
8) We will be working to have refugees placed in countries closest to their own homes. It will cost less and be better for the refugees.
The president's message was strong and clear and showed leadership. The president did not mince words, nor did he apologize for America's so-called "transgressions." Instead, he made it clear he is not leading from behind (as Obama did), but that America and our Constitution serve as an example for freedom and hope around the world.
This was the message from the president. It was well received. It left no room for misunderstanding and no room for pontificating about its meaning unless, of course, you are the Fake News Media, in which case, it's really hard to hear anything the president actually said from inside your bubble.
The above comments were paraphrased. It's worth your while to google "President Trump's full speech at the United Nations" and then either listen to the video or read the transcript. He's back!
Most of the Fox News employees both on-air talent and executives who have been accused of sexual impropriety during the past year have been left to defend themselves and have eventually been fired or forced to resign. An exception is Fox Business Network host and Fox News guest host Charles V. Payne. Last July 6, Payne was suspended after the National Enquirer ran a story claiming that he had engaged in an extramarital affair with a frequent Fox News Channel female guest and that he used his position to harass and manipulate her for his own sexual gratification, with the result that her career was irreparably harmed.
Charles V. Payne.
The story made its way into the mainstream media, and, true to form, Fox immediately suspended Payne and had him investigated by the law firm Paul, Weiss. Two months later, on September 8, the same day Fox News host Eric Bolling and Fox "parted ways" after allegations that Bolling had harassed three female colleagues, Payne was reinstated in his on-air duties. Payne's return was a pleasant surprise to his fans, who probably expected a different outcome in light of the fact that another case of a male Fox employee who had been similarly accused but was subsequently reinstated did not immediately come to mind.
On September 18, Payne's accuser, Scottie Nell Hughes, a conservative commentator who emerged on the scene during the rise of the Tea Party, upped the ante by filing a civil lawsuit in federal court that charged for the first time that she had been the victim of rape by Payne. One wondered if these new allegations would lead to new problems for Payne at his workplace. But it was reported almost immediately that Fox News and 21st Century Fox, which are also named in Hughes's lawsuit, have denied the charges and are mounting a "vigorous" defense. (Payne has his own lawyer, of course.)
Scottie Nell Hughes.
The New York Times detailed the charges in Hughes's lawsuit:
The lawsuit, alleging gender motivated violence, gender discrimination, retaliation and defamation, was filed on Monday in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. . . In her lawsuit, Ms. Hughes said that Mr. Payne had "pressured" his way into her hotel room in July 2013 and coerced her to have sexual intercourse with him, even though she had refused his advances by telling him "no" and "stop." According to the suit, Ms. Hughes was "shocked and ashamed" and did not immediately report the episode. She said that over the next two years she was forced to engage in a sexual relationship with Mr. Payne. In exchange, she said, she received career opportunities, including increased appearances on Fox News and Fox Business and the promise that Mr. Payne would help her land a contributor contract, a job that can pay up to several hundred thousand dollars a year. Ms. Hughes never became a paid contributor at either channel. Ms. Hughes, a regular guest on Fox News and Fox Business from 2013 through 2016, asserted that after she ended the relationship with Mr. Payne, the network blacklisted her. After she reported her allegations against him, she said, the network leaked a story to the news media about a romantic affair between Ms. Hughes and Mr. Payne.
Jonathan Halpern is an attorney representing Payne. His statement on Monday was quoted by the Los Angeles Times:
My client Charles Payne vehemently denies any wrongdoing and will defend himself vigorously against this baseless complaint. We are confident that when the evidence is presented in this case, Mr. Payne will be fully vindicated and these outrageous accusations against him will be confirmed as completely false.
On the other side of the case, Hughes's attorney, Douglas Wigdor, said in a statement:
As alleged in the complaint, after Ms. Hughes confidentially reached out to Fox to disclose that she was sexually assaulted and raped by Fox anchor Charles Payne, Fox ruthlessly leaked her name to a reporter at the National Enquirer, along with a self-serving "statement" by Payne apologizing for what he falsely described as an "affair." We intend to aggressively litigate Ms. Hughes' claims and hold Fox accountable to the fullest extent under the law.
The Los Angeles Times article quoted a Fox News spokesperson:
The latest publicity stunt of a lawsuit filed by Doug Wigdor has absolutely no merit and is downright shameful. We will vigorously defend this. It's worth noting that Doug is Ms. Hughes' third representative in the last six months to raise some variation of these claims which concern events from four years ago, since it apparently took some time to find someone willing to file this bogus case.
It remains to be seen if Hughes's lawsuit will be settled, dismissed, withdrawn, or ultimately tried in court. To this point, none of the complaints against male Fox employees by women has made its way through the judicial system. In the meantime, it appears that Fox has Payne's back and that his job is secure.
Peter Barry Chowka is a widely published author and journalist. He writes most frequently these days for American Thinker. His website is AltMedNews.net. Follow Peter on Twitter.
President Trump's blast at the horrors and failures of Venezuela's socialist hellhole regime in his United Nations speech Tuesday was by far the most direct accusation against the regime's failures ever delivered by a leader of the free world. In a long passage, Trump indicted Venezuela's dictators and socialism itself, with unprecedented scorn.
The socialist dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro has inflicted terrible pain and suffering on the good people of that country. This corrupt regime destroyed a prosperous nation by imposing a failed ideology that has produced poverty and misery everywhere it has been tried. To make matters worse, Maduro has defied his own people, stealing power from their elected representatives to preserve his disastrous rule. The Venezuelan people are starving and their country is collapsing. Their democratic institutions are being destroyed. This situation is completely unacceptable and we cannot stand by and watch.
A speech like that should get anyone's attention.
But if one needs an indicator of how ruined the country's basic rights and freedoms are, a look at the press is the first stop.
The reaction there to that impassioned speech?
Almost nothing.
Very few media outlets, even purportedly independent ones, had much to say, and none featured the news prominently in today's press.
I found meager items in the largest non-state Venezuelan media print outlets: one a web-only piece in El Nacional reporting that Trump was planning to step up sanctions on the regime in remarks similar to his U.N. remarks, at a dinner the night before. Over at Ultimas Noticias, there was a small item buried low on the page with Cuba's foreign minister's reaction to the blast on Venezuela, claiming that Trump's "threats" against Venezuela were "unjustified and arbitrary." Not a word from Venezuelan officials just their Cuban masters, and no visible reporting on what Trump actually said. El Mundo had a buried item that did report the news, but its front page had only a defense of the dictatorship from China, which is Venezuela's fiscal guarantor, offering "support" from Trump's "threats." El Universal, meanwhile, had nothing.
Radio was better, with Union Radio, the country's fearless independent radio station, offering far more coverage not just Trump's speech, but the comically inept reactions of Chavista officials and shills. Union Radio not only carried the speech itself, but also carried President Nicolas Maduro's whining reaction, saying Venezuela is a threat to no one and he will be glad to debate socialism with Trump any time. It also carried Bolivian president Evo Morales's rejection of Trump's remarks; Chavista shill Eva Golinger's claim that Trump just wants control of Venezuela's oil; Maduro's wife Delcy Rodriguez, who also runs the puppet National Constituent Assembly (this is the group Maduro appointed to supersede the real one), claiming that Trump threatens the whole world; and one of her underlings, someone named Saul Ortega, claiming that at long last, Trump has admitted to instituting a "blockade" (using Cuban language appropriate for a Cuban puppet). It also had a follow-on story from European Union officials, warning of new sanctions to follow.
Union Radio was the exception. The rest of the press coverage was nominal if not absent.
One could guess that maybe the statements of a U.S. president would be of minimal interest in a foreign country. That's unlikely, given that the U.S. draws tremendous attention from any nation it gives attention to. One could also argue that Venezuela is a hopeless basket case, and the opportunity for change came and went, and this is something Venezuela already knows. People are tired of the topic and figure there will be no follow-up. Possible, but unlikely.
The most likely reason is censorship, either implied or direct. The Chavista regime doesn't want anyone reading this stuff, thus the reporting has been muted, not front-page stuff as one might expect.
By contrast, the coverage of the Trump speech was quite normal in Colombia, with El Tiempo, for one, reporting the story with the prominence that might be expected. They even had a comical response from Maduro, calling Trump "a new Hitler."
It shows what a miserable state Venezuela's rights and freedoms are in, right alongside its wretched food and toilet paper supplies. What we are seeing here is a dictatorship that would rather its public not know about Trump's statement delivering the truth about the regime. Such a statement might give strength and succor to Venezuela's beleaguered democrats, or maybe encourage someone from the military to get rid of the problem. They don't want to hear too much from President Trump.
The right-wing nationalist party Alternative for Germany (AfD) is set to enter the German parliament for the first time thanks to the reaction to Chancellor Angela Merkel's refugee policies.
The election will be held this Sunday, where Merkel's SPD coalition of conservatives and Social Democrats are expected to win easily, giving Merkel a fourth term. The socialists, led by Martin Schultz, have been dropping like a stone in the polls, largely because they are in favor of letting in even more refugees than Merkel.
Seeing an opening, AfD has countered with a strong nationalist campaign that has resonated with German voters. They would likely be in an even stronger position without the hysterical charges by the media and other parties that they are Nazis.
AAP:
Leading AfD candidate Alexander Gauland denies they are Nazis, saying others only use the term because of the party's popularity. It has won support with calls for Germany to shut its borders immediately, introduce a minimum quota for deportations and stop refugees bringing their families here. "We're gradually becoming foreigners in our own country," Gauland told an election rally in the Polish border city of Frankfurt an der Oder. A song with the lyrics "we'll bring happiness back to your homeland" blared out of a blue campaign bus and the 76-year-old lawyer said Germany belonged to the Germans, Islam had no place here and the migrant influx would make everyone worse off. Gauland provoked outrage for saying at another event that Germans should no longer be reproached with the Nazi past and they should take pride in what their soldiers achieved during the World Wars. The AfD could end up as the biggest opposition force in the national assembly if there is a re-run of the current coalition of Merkel's conservatives and Social Democrats (SPD) - one of the most likely scenarios. That would mean it would chair the powerful budget committee and open the general debate during budget consultations, giving prominence to its alternatives to government policies. Georg Pazderski, a member of the AfD's executive board, told Reuters his party would use parliamentary speeches to draw attention to the cost of the migrant crisis, troubles in the euro zone - which the AfD wants Germany to leave - and problems related to the European Union. Gauland said the AfD would call for a committee to investigate the chancellor after entering parliament: "We want Ms Merkel's policy of bringing 1 million people into this country to be investigated and we want her to be severely punished for that."
It has been a given in German politics since the end of World War II that the taint of Nazism was on not only political leaders, but the entire German military. Is it time to recognize that many German soldiers were not Nazis and were forced to fight for Hitler? This would be an attack on the concept of "collective responsibility" that has dominated German politics to the point that it was a sacrilege for Gualand to state otherwise.
Germany is not ready to put the past behind itself in that sense. And Gualand made a political blunder by making that statement. But "Germany for Germans" is an effective theme for a campaign, which is why AfD will probably shock the world and gain more support than expected.
CNN reporters couldn't understand Trump's message to the U.N. I knew that their reporters were stupid, but how would any reporter not understand his message?
I believe I know why it was incoherent to them: because somehow, they believed that Obama's lead-from-behind policy was good. Trump was incoherent only to people who believe that Obama, Kerry, and Hillary did anything to make the world safer.
They did make sure that Russia, Iran and N Korea got Uranium. They did allow our diplomats to get killed while they blamed a video to protect their political power. They reneged on a commitment to put missile shields up. They had a pretend red line in Syria that amounted to nothing. They paid ransom to Iran and lifted up the mullahs. They lied continuously to get the deal done with Iran.
They screwed the people in Cuba.
They allowed Russia to do whatever it wants.
They pulled out of Iraq, which allowed ISIS to gain massive strength.
I challenge anyone to tell us what Obama, Kerry, and Clinton did to make the world safer in eight years.
The war against the symbols of racism took a surreal and bizarre turn in the last week as social justice warriors took to social media to complain in two separate incidents of a hugely disturbing phenomenon.
Who would have guessed that cotton was a trigger?
First, Hobby Lobby made the mistake of offering for sale cotton stalks in a vase as an item to be used in home decor. Innocuous, right? Not for SJWs desperately seeking something anything to attack as "racist."
That's right. We can't use cotton because 160 years ago, it was a primary source of income for white plantation owners who used slaves to pick it. It won't do any good to point out that cotton is no longer handpicked and cleaned by slaves. It's what was going on a century and a half ago that matters.
Have these people lost their minds? If they have, their mental disease is contagious.
A college president will meet with black students after he hosted a dinner for some of them and used a cotton stalk centerpiece that apparently triggered rage over this racist symbol. (The dummy also served collard greens with the meal. Perhaps he would have sent them to the mental hospital if he had served watermelon.)
Tennessean:
Lipscomb University President Randy Lowry said he would meet with black students this week in the wake of a controversy over the decor and food at a dinner in his home. Lowry said he would make "special efforts" to talk to students who were offended by cotton stalk centerpieces that were set out last week for the dinner he hosted for black students enrolled at Lipscomb. "We'll invest a lot of time this week talking with students and trying to understand at deeper levels," he said. "Rather than running away from something, I'll lean into those kinds of conversations and relationships." Some students took to social media to criticize the centerpieces, which they considered a callous symbol of slavery. Students also took issue with the menu, which featured collard greens and corn bread a day after Latino students had come to Lowry's house for fajitas. On social media, students described Lowry's initial reaction to their concerns as flippant. They said he brushed aside their concerns and suggested cotton was not offensive. Lowry issued a public apology to the students on Friday and doubled down Monday in an interview with USA TODAY NETWORK Tennessee, saying he understood students' concerns and would continue to seek forgiveness. "You roll these things back and you wish you would have spent more time here and said these words more carefully," he said during an interview from his office. "The bottom line is students were invited to my house for dinner. And I wanted to host them and celebrate their being at this university. I am extraordinarily sorry that anything got in the way of that.
The president's mortal sin was that he didn't walk on eggshells when planning the dinner. He failed to take into account the stratospheric hypersensitivity of the snowflakes, whose paranoia has now become so pronounced that whatever link to reality they had has been totally severed.
You can see where this is headed.
1. Sugar will be removed from restaurant tables because it is a reminder of the sugarcane harvest by slaves.
2. SJWs will accost people smoking or chewing tobacco, berating them for using a product grown by slaves.
3. There will be a movement to outlaw rum because of its involvement in the "Triangle Trade" during the 1800s.
Could never happen, right? Come back and visit in a few years. What surreal attacks we can imagine will pale in comparison to the reality of how the tragically diseased minds of these snowflakes work.
Jews across America welcome Rosh Hashanah this week, the Jewish New Year, and receive greetings from our president. You might assume that the annual presidential greetings are meaningless boilerplate, but they are actually quite revealing of the presidents' feelings toward Jews and Israel and toward the Muslim threat to America.
Here is President Trump, whom the Democrat media would have us believe is a new Hitler:
I am proud to stand with the Jewish people and with our cherished friend and ally, the State of Israel. The Jewish State is a symbol of resilience in the face of oppression it has persevered in the face of hostility, championed democracy in the face of violence, and succeeded in the face of very, very tall odds. The United States will always support Israel not only because of the vital security partnership between our two nations, but because of the shared values between our two peoples. And I can tell you on a personal basis, and I just left Israel recently, I love Israel. That is why my administration has successfully pressured the United Nations to withdraw the unfair and biased report against Israel that was a horrible thing that they did and to instead focus on real threats to our security, such as Iran, Hezbollah, and ISIS.
Read the whole speech here.
Our former president, Barack Hussein Obama, struck a different note in his first Rosh Hashanah greetings. Using his familiar tone of condescending preachiness, Obama told the Jews of America to repent and remember those in need and promoted the Palestinian cause. (Remembering, I am overwhelmed with New Year's gratitude for President Trump.) This was President Obama's message:
At a time when prejudice and oppression still exist in the shadows of our society, it is up to us to stand as a beacon of freedom and tolerance and embrace the diversity that has always made us stronger as a people[.] ... [T]oday we had an opportunity to move forward, toward the goal we share -- two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.
Astonishing for a political holiday greeting, Obama had not one word of praise for Judaism or American Jews. In fact, he said the word "Jews" only once.
In contrast, Obama's Ramadan message to American Muslims was a weird outpouring of praise:
Islam's role in advancing justice, progress, tolerance, and the dignity of all human beings. Islam has always been part of America and that American Muslims have made extraordinary contributions to our country.
Obama false list of Muslim virtues is actually a list of what Islam is not. Yet these precise virtues are strikingly true of American Jews, for whom Obama had not one good thing to say nothing.
President Trump's Ramadan message in May, as the Washington Post noted with dismay, focused on our fight against Islamic terrorism:
This year, the holiday begins as the world mourns the innocent victims of barbaric terrorist attacks in the United Kingdom and Egypt, acts of depravity that are directly contrary to the spirit of Ramadan. Such acts only steel our resolve to defeat the terrorists and their perverted ideology. On my recent visit to Saudi Arabia, I had the honor of meeting with the leaders of more than 50 Muslim nations. There, in the land of the two holiest sites in the Muslim world, we gathered to deliver together an emphatic message of partnership for the sake of peace, security, and prosperity for our countries and for the world. I reiterate my message delivered in Riyadh: America will always stand with our partners against terrorism and the ideology that fuels it. During this month of Ramadan, let us be resolved to spare no measure so that we may ensure that future generations will be free of this scourge and able to worship and commune in peace.
President Trump's Rosh Hashanah greeting this week was full of warmth and praise. Where Obama mentioned Jews only once in his message, President Trump spoke affectionately of them ten times:
I am grateful for the history, culture, and values the Jewish people have given to civilization. We forcefully condemn those who seek to incite anti-Semitism, or to spread any form of slander and hate and I will ensure we protect Jewish communities, and all communities, that face threats to their safety. I want to thank each of you for the ways in which you contribute to our nation. America is stronger because of the many Jewish Americans who bring such life, hope, and resilience to our nation.
Happy New Year.
The purpose of this post is not to draw an exact parallel between the ancient world and the one we live in today. Rather, it was good for conservatives (and anyone else who thinks through the international issues) to hear their president call out and denounce and expose nations by name.
This post explains the cultural background to many Christian believers here in the U.S. and elsewhere and why they were delighted to hear Trump's speech at the U.N.
The main cultural foundation for these believers is Scripture. Trump, in essence, not in detail, followed the tone and tenor of Scripture when its authors write about their own international relations and nations.
Here's how.
First, on Mt. Carmel, Elijah mocked the prophets of Baal.
At noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." (1 Kings 18:27)
Trump mocked Kim Jung-un with the apt "Rocket Man":
Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime. The United States is ready, willing, and able, but hopefully this will not be necessary. That's what the United Nations is all about; that's what the United Nations is for. Let's see how they do.
In other words, though the tassel-toed prissy left and pundits and more traditional conservatives may not like a little mockery to shame opponents, it rightly shows contempt for extremists like Kim.
Second, Amos criticized Damascus: "For three sins of Damascus, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath" (Amos 1:3).
Trump singled out Syria and Damascus and Assad for denunciation:
The actions of the criminal regime of Bashar al-Assad, including the use of chemical weapons against his own citizens even innocent children shock the conscience of every decent person.
About 1,400 years ago, Damascus was hijacked by a religion that expanded through violence. Following this religion's jihad DNA, Syria's dictator is making a mess of the world. Trump called him out.
Third, Amos also denounced Gaza: "For three sins of Gaza, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath" (Amos 1:6)
Trump said Hezb'allah, headquartered in Lebanon and the Gaza strip, is a terrorist organization:
Rather than use its resources to improve Iranian lives, its oil profits go to fund Hezbollah and other terrorists that kill innocent Muslims and attack their peaceful Arab and Israeli neighbors.
For conservatives, Trump's words were refreshing.
Fourth, Zechariah prophesied during the rise of Persia (modern Iran). He supported Israel and said it was time for the king of Persia to allow Israel to rebuild:
"Proclaim this word: This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, 15 but I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they [Assyria and Babylon] added to the calamity.' 16 "Therefore, this is what the Lord says: 'I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,' declares the Lord Almighty. 17 "Proclaim further: This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'My towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.'" (Zech. 1:14-17)
Trump denounced Iran:
The Iranian government masks a corrupt dictatorship behind the false guise of a democracy. It has turned a wealthy country with a rich history and culture into an economically depleted rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed, and chaos. The longest-suffering victims of Iran's leaders are, in fact, its own people.
The point in these four examples is not to go over every detail of the speech and principles in Scripture and draw close parallels between them. It is not to say everything Trump does is biblical. And it is not to say some sort of biblical prophecy is being fulfilled (I'm not a Bible prophecy guy).
Instead, this post zeroes in on one narrow thesis: Trump fit the tone and tenor of the ancient prophets. Conservatives recognized it.
There is a split among the Christian right and the Christian left, especially among the young varieties. The left accuses the right of conformity and supporting the (vague and ill defined) "system" and withholding government checks from the poor, while the left speaks truth to power and defends the poor and so on. The left tends to focus only on domestic issues.
Trump's speech proves that he, in contrast to the left, understands international relations and spoke truth to power internationally.
It is time for the Christian left to celebrate their president and his prophetic courage in his U.N. speech.
James Arlandson's website is Live as Free People, where he has posted How the left misreads world affairs, and A defense of Joel Osteen, and Charlemagne: Interesting Facts and Stories.
During the 12th century, people in the central and western parts of France erected small towers in their villages with windows at the top, in which lamps were placed like in a lighthouse, although none of them were near the sea. These structures are known as Lanterns of the dead and are thought to indicate the position of a cemetery. But this might not be true, considering that some of these towers are located nowhere near a cemetery.
The towers come in all shapes and sizes, but usually, they take the form of a column or a small turret with a conical cap and a cross at the top. A small entrance in the lower part gives access to the towers interior, so that a lamp could be raised by a pulley to the required height at dusk. One of the most perfect examples is located in the commune of Cellefrouin, where there is a series of eight attached semicircular shafts, raised on a pedestal, and crowned with a conical roof decorated with fir cones. The window through which the lamp shines out faces the main road.
Lanterns of the Dead. Photo credit (from left to right): Johann Jaritz, Benutzer:Griensteidl, Jebulon
The precise origin and purpose of these towers is debated among scholars. Some believe that they were originally called Lanterns of the Moors rather than Lanterns of the Dead, but because the French words for moors ( maures) and "dead" (morts) sounds so similar, somewhere along the line they got mixed up. This theory definitely holds water as careful mapping of the original locations of the lanterns indicate that they were located near ancient roads, particularly those associated with pilgrimages. So the Lanterns of the Dead could simply be guide lights for ancient travellers.
Scholars have also found evidences that connect the construction of these towers to the Crusade. For instance, the origin of the lantern in Sarlat-la-Caneda, in Southern France, is linked with the abbot Bernard of Clairvaux, who played a major role in the Second Crusade. It is said to have been built after a visit of the abbot in the city, in 1147, possibly by the Knights Templar.
Many of these Lanterns of the Dead scattered across the countryside have their own little mystery. Take as an example, the lanterns in Vergeze, southern France, which look like the chimneys of the Bakhchisaray Palace, the Palace of the Crimean Tatars in Crimea, located more than 3,000 km away. Indeed, the lanterns other name is "Saracen chimney". Saracen is an ancient word meaning Muslims or Arabs, and Bakhchisaray Palace is a Muslim palace.
Lanterns of the Dead are not geographically restricted to within France, although this is where they occur in highest numbers. Lanterns of the Dead can also be found in England, Austria, Germany, and Poland.
Lantern of the Dead in Cellefrouin, France. Photo credit: Jack ma/Wikimedia
Lantern of the Dead in Ciron, France. Photo credit: Daniel Jolivet/Flickr
Lantern of the Dead in Antigny, Poitou-Charentes, France. Photo credit: Pays Montmorillonnais-Vien/Flickr
Inside the tower of the Lantern of the Dead in Saint-Genou, France. Photo credit: Daniel Jolivet/Flickr
Lantern of the Dead and ossuary in Lieding, Austria. Photo credit: Johann Jaritz/Wikimedia
Lantern of the Dead in Journet, Poitou-Charentes, France. Photo credit: Pays Montmorillonnais-Vien/Flickr
Antifa bigots are even worse than the neo-Nazi they beat up in Seattle
Prince Harry got lucky. Moreover, Sid Vicious, Keith Moon, Brian Jones, Siouxie Sioux, Ron Asheton, Peter Rabbit, TV baker Paul Hollywood and Paul Dutton, 48, who was ejected from his local branch of Asda in Cambridge after a fellow shopper complained about his attire a classic formal black suit of the type produced by Hugo Boss in the 1940s and favoured by Hitlers notorious SS. Had any of those people who like to dress as Nazis been spotted walking about Seattle, theyd have been beaten to a bloody pulp by intolerant, bigoted, lazy-thinking, needy anti-fascist thugs.
Buzzfeed reports:
The person using the @teethnclaws account asked not to be identified, citing concerns over his personal safety. He said he wasnt aware of who actually threw the punch, but credits anti-fascist Twitter networks for making it happen. I would say that we successfully identified, tracked and coordinated to neutralize a clear and present danger to Seattle. Whether we coordinated the actual punch or not, he said, I, for one, applaud the anonymous hero. @teethnclaws described himself as an active anti-fascist fighter for the last 20 years and said that the punch in Seattle was the coordinated effort of horizontal organizing between concerned neighbors. He said nobody knows who threw the punch and that he wouldnt help anyone find out. When anti-fascists, casual or organized, have their identity broadcast they are put in extreme danger, he said.
This is how our saviours communicate:
Of course the guy in the armbands a knob. Hes making full advert of that. His swastika is notable and maybe even shocking because of its rarity. The idiot on the bus isnt at the vanguard of the Fourth Reich.
The white man seen punching the neo-Nazi fool in the face, having joined others in cornering their target and engaging him in conversation, doubtless sees himself as a noble champion of ethnic minorities. Hes the antithesis of fanatical, thuggish white supremacists and their agenda of elitism and violence. Hes pitifully wrong. Like the neo-Nazis they obsess over, the so-called alt-Left celebrates violence in the pursuit of moral superiority, in which the Untermensch are expelled. The cretin in the Nazi get-up is punched because hes transgressed the limits of what these alt-Left vigilantes deem acceptable speech and dress. Free speech and free expressions are cornerstones of democracy, but neo-Nazis and antifa share a monocular view: agree with us or else.
Get a load of that guff.
The cod military language saying intel in everyday conversation is but a short goose-step away from wearing camouflage in city centres and screaming at pigeons. The celebration of violence. The soaring self-righteousness. This mob are more brattish than brave. Get a grip. And get a clue. The man on the bus does not reyupresent a return to Nazism. You are not the embodiment of The Few, a freedom fighter risking it all to defeat censorship, groupthink and the intrinsic superiority of one kind of human over another. Youre a violent thug with a grievance using others to define your narcissism and self worth.
And heres the thing. Screaming fascist at anyone who debates your world view might make you ever worse than the neo-Nazi goon you hate. At least hes not clambering over the graves of the genuinely courageous who died fighting for the freedoms you take for granted.
Anorak
Posted: 20th, September 2017 | In: Key Posts, News Comments (3) | TrackBack | Permalink
(ANSA) - Rome, September 20 - Valentino Rossi, who suffered a double leg fracture in training less than three weeks ago, is heading to Spain with the intention of taking part in Sunday's MotoGP Grand Prix of Aragon. He will have to successfully complete a mandatory physical check on Thursday by the MotorLand Aragon Chief Medical Officer to be declared fit to race, the nine-time world champion's Yamaha team said on its website on Wednesday. The 38-year-old did some test laps at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in Italy on Monday and Tuesday and decided to head to Aragon after a medical examination Wednesday.
Rossi, who won seven of his world titles in the premium class, is fourth in the rider standings, 42 points behind leader Marc Marquez.
"At the end I decided I will leave for Aragon and will try to ride my M1 this weekend," Rossi said in a statement on Yamaha Racing's website.
"If I will be declared fit to ride, I'll have the real answer after FP1, because riding the M1 will be a much bigger challenge. We'll see. See you in Aragon!".
NEW YORK - UN special envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame said Libya must be "stronger and more capable" in order to fight terrorists and protect borders, speaking during the high-level event on Libya on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly Wednesday.
"The Libyan Political Accord in its current form isn't adequate; there's consensus on the fact that it needs amendments," Salame said.
"The next steps, once amendments are adopted, will be the organisation of a national conference, and then the House of Representatives and the constituent assembly will have to work together," he said.
This will be the first step for the creation of a new constitutional framework in preparation for convening elections.
"It's my great belief that there's the opportunity for a political solution in Libya; we can't miss this possibility," said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, during the high-level meeting on Libya on the sidelines of the General Assembly.
"We must all come together regardless of differences of opinion; resolving the crisis in Libya must be a priority for the whole world," Guterres said.
"There isn't a military solution; the Libyan Political Accord is the only solution," he said.
BEIRUT - Tens of thousands of civilians are trapped in the eastern area of eastern Syria's Deir ez-Zor, the last ISIS-controlled urban stronghold in the Middle East, local activists in the city and others in contact with family there told ANSA.
"Civilians are trapped under incessant Russian airstrikes; foreign ISIS directors use Syrian manpower as meat for slaughter," said Omar Abu Layla, reached by Skype.
Deir ez-Zor has for days been the centre of a Russian-Iranian-Syrian government offensive and the advance of US-backed Kurdish troops.
Meanwhile, 90% of Raqqa, considered the "capital" of ISIS in Syria, has been taken by majority Kurdish forces backed by the United States, according to Lebanese media citing the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
SOHR said combat as well as US-led coalition airstrikes continue in the city's centre and northeast.
Heavy bombing by the US-led coalition forced ISIS jihadists to retreat to five zones in the past 48 hours, said SOHR director Rami Adbel Rahman.
That allowed the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to take control of 90% of the city.
ISIS militants were forced to abandon the entire northern area of Raqqa and are now confined to a limited area in the centre.
PARIS - Paris wants to re-do the "look" of Tour Montparnasse, the Parisians' least-beloved skyscraper, planted like a torpedo in the heart of the city. A team of French architects - meeting at the "New Agency for the Maine-Montparnasse Operation" - has been charged with completely rethinking the building, turning it into a more open and green skyscraper.
The city's residents have never fully recovered from the trauma of the 1970s, when the colossal, Manhattan-style tower disrupted the uniformity of the Parisian skyline. Visible from the four corners of Paris, the skyscraper is inseparable from the city's urban landscape.
As a joke, some say that going up to the top floor of Montparnasse Tower is the most beautiful experience one can have in Paris, because "it's the only place from which you don't see it".
CAIRO - Human rights attorney Ibrahim Metwaly, legal consultant to the family of Giulio Regeni, the Italian graduate student who was killed in Cairo in early 2016, has had his provisional detention in jail extended by 15 days, his defense attorney Ezzat Ghonem told ANSA.
Metwaly was arrested on September 10 at the Cairo Airport en route to Geneva to participate in a session of the UN Human Rights Council.
Ghoneim, speaking by phone from Cairo, said Metwaly has been accused of "conspiracy with a UN director", without providing any names.
Referring to the "Association of the Families of the Disappeared", which Metwaly founded after his son disappeared under mysterious circumstances, Ghoneim said his colleague is also being accused of a list of crimes including "training and management of a group created against the law". There's also the accusation of unauthorised contacts with "foreign parties" and "spreading false information".
Regarding the accusations, Ghoneim said it's "unprecedented that an activist is prosecuted only for having defended human rights".
Speaking on the relationship between Metwaly and the family of Regeni, the Italian researcher who was tortured and killed in Egypt last winter, Ghoneim said Ahmed Abdallah, president of the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF) and Regeni family consultant despite having the title of "engineer", was the one who instructed Metwaly to contact the Regeni family. He said, however, that he doesn't know ("I have no idea") if contact actually took place. (ANSAmed).
(by Massimo Lomonaco)
TEL AVIV - Hamas has dissolved the government committee administrating Gaza and is ready to give executive powers in the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), its leader Ismail Haniyeh has said.
''We haven't only issued a statement and announced that the administrative committee is dissolved - said Ismail Haniyeh, leader of Hamas, during a press conference at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt,- but we took initiatives that make that committee de facto not operational''.
If the announcement in the coming days will be followed up, a passage of powers with the PNA will take place along with an historic reconciliation with Fatah, the party of President Abu Mazen, which was announced several times and never took place before.
The rift led to Hamas gaining control of the Gaza Strip in 2007. Haniyeh also said he agreed with organizing general elections - an objective repeatedly demanded by the PNA which accused Hamas of preventing the vote.
From Ramallah, Palestinian Premier Rami Hamdallah said he was ready to take the ensuing political responsibilities. He added that he has ''drafted plans to manage the various aspects of life in Gaza'' and comply with all duties towards the local population ''to reduce their suffering''.
We'll ask UN to return to Libya - Gentiloni Premier in New York for General Assembly
(ANSAmed) - ROME, SEPTEMBER 20 - Italy wants the United Nations to return to Libya, Premier Paolo Gentiloni said in New York on Wednesday ahead of his General Assembly address. "We are devoted today to the Libya issue," Gentiloni said. "There's a meeting involving the principle leaders and I'll see (Libya Prime Minister Fayez al-) Sarraj in a few minutes to prepare.
(The aim is) to call on the UN to return to Libya. It is necessary for the peace process and for the migratory issue because the conditions of refugees in Libya must be monitored and improved on the human rights front". (ANSAmed).
MADABA (JORDAN) - The denomination may be surprising, but if one looks deeper into the nature of the Jordanian city of Madaba, less than 20 km from Amman, and in reality in this entire Middle Eastern country, one will see that here, coexistence of faiths is a fact of life. In Madaba, every Friday the Muslim faithful fill the Mosque of Jesus Christ.
Built in 2008, thanks to the effort of a Palestinian businessman who lives in Ukraine (there's a banner outside marking his contribution), the mosque is dedicated to Jesus as a prophet of Islam. "And Mary is the most praised woman in the Quran. And all the sacred books of all religions praise God, let us remember," said custodian Abed Elrheem Dahbur. He then points to the inscriptions that exalt the virtues of the Madonna.
In Madaba, Christians and Muslims even have the same last names, and the reciprocal respect is palpable. Not far from here, in fact, is the Greek-Orthodox church of St. George, which preserves an extraordinary relic: the "Map of the Holy Land", a Byzantine-era mosaic that shows the road to reach Jerusalem from 150 places in the region. Only one-third of it has survived, but the symbolism it contains is still powerful, with its 157 captions in Greek. No one knew of its existence until 1890, when the church was built.
The church is regularly visited also by Muslims - of the approximately 70,000 residents of Madaba, 20,000 are Christians, one of the largest communities in Jordan - just as happens for a site of extraordinary importance for believers: Mount Nabo, from where, according to Scripture, Moses saw the Promised Land, where however he wasn't allowed to enter and where he would be buried. From up there - the site is managed by the Franciscans - one can see the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, and Israel. Here too, important mosaics testify to the Christian presence. "Pope John Paul II declared it a pilgrimage site for Christians, and every year many people come," said Father Emmar, one of the three priests who manage the site. "Here there haven't ever been problems, the pilgrims haven't decreased," he said.
But the most ancient testimony of coexistence is certainly the nearby Umm ar-Rasas, remains of an ancient Roman-Byzantine caravan-route city where a full 56 churches rose up. From 665 A.D. through the year 900 it flourished as a stopping point for cargo and people, even under the Islamic domain of the area. An earthquake destroyed it (it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004, but only a small part has been brought to light through excavations), and today it sits in a windswept land where, not far from other splendid mosaics in the Church of St. Stephen, there is a small Muslim cemetery. .
Al Mulla joins Etihad Aviation Group from Khalifa Industrial Zone (KIZAD) where he served as Chief Executive Officer from 2015. Prior to that, he was Vice President Corporate Support of Abu Dhabi Ports, and Managing Director of Dubai Refreshments Company PJSC.
He is a well-known business leader in the Middle East and has an extensive network of relationships with major firms and business communities across the UAE.
Ray Gammell, Interim Group Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Aviation Group, said: We are delighted to welcome Mana to the leadership team. His appointment brings a wealth of relevant operational and business experience and he strengthens our group leadership.
The new service will utilise Gogos existing Ku-band satellite network, the same trusted high capacity satellite network that is currently providing bandwidth for more than 550 commercial aviation aircraft across 10 airlines globally.
Gogo is currently bringing additional HTS (high throughput satellite) capacity online as part of its global satellite network, which will boost the performance of both its new business aviation Ku solution and its commercial aviation network solutions. Service is expected to be available in the second half of 2018.
Gogos Ku satellite service will deliver a superior experience to anything else in the market today for anyone flying globally on business jets, said Sergio Aguirre, senior vice president and general manager for Gogo Business Aviation. Our customers hunger for data continues to increase and Gogo is ready to meet those needs on a global scale. While satellite networks used by competitors are designed and built for multiple markets including maritime, our network is designed for and fully dedicated to aviation, which will result in greater capacity and a better overall inflight Wi-Fi experience. And for those who fly internationally in and out of the U.S., Gogo Ku will be the perfect complement to the Gogo Biz 4G air-to-ground network one comprehensive solution from one provider.
The Gogo network can leverage an open ecosystem of more than 100 satellites for built-in redundancy. As demand for bandwidth increases, Gogo can leverage the growing network of Ku satellites to ensure customers can access increased capacity. And Gogo can add capacity more economically than other providers who can only add capacity by launching new satellites.
Gogo Ku will deliver reliable, redundant coverage around the globe with streaming-class internet, and service from takeoff to landing. It provides fast web browsing and other activities such as live streaming video and audio, on-demand movies, large file downloads, personal smartphone use, real-time data for cockpit apps, and remote diagnostics and support while in flight.
The primary components of the onboard system include a tail-mounted antenna, and hardware that is compatible with the Gogo AVANCE platform. With an open architecture that leverages current and future high throughput Ku satellites, Gogo Ku offers unrivaled adaptability to keep aircraft connected now and in the future.
Announced in March 2008, the G650 had one of business aviations most successful product launches, with more than 200 firm orders following the aircrafts introduction. With a nonstop range of 5,000 nautical miles/9,260 kilometers at Mach 0.90 and 7,000/12,964 at Mach 0.85, the aircraft established its position at the top end of the business jet market, a position it retains today.
In flight test, the G650 exceeded original range projections, allowing Gulfstream to announce enhanced range of 6,000 nm/11,112 km at Mach 0.90. In May 2014, the company introduced the Gulfstream G650ER, an extended-range variant of the G650, with the ability to travel 6,400 nm/11,853 km at Mach 0.90 and 7,500/13,890 at Mach 0.85.
The G650 set a new standard in business aviation, whether for its unmatched range and payload, industry-low cabin sound levels, or its award-winning four-living-area interior, said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. It has redefined what business jet operators could expect from their aircraft.
The G650 received its FAA type certificate on Sept. 7, 2012, and entered service on Dec. 20, 2012. Today, more than 250 G650 and G650ER aircraft operate in 40 countries.
Developing light aircraft in Tunisia has been a challenge met by Sousse-based Avionav, despite being in a segment of the market where it is competing with well-established manufacturers.
However, the company has bigger ambitions, according to its founder, Ferid Kamel.
Avionav was set-up in 2007 by two Italian manufacturers in Mateur. It was later bought by a group of Tunisian engineers and shifted to Sousse.
Since then, we have been doing our very best to give entire satisfaction to our clients through high quality and top-of-the-line products at very reasonable prices, 30% less than our competitors, Kamel said.
More than 1,300 of its models are now flying and around 40 light aircraft (two-four seats) come off its production line each year.
The aircraft are involved in many different missions, from training and agricultural roles through to advertising banner towing and leisure flying.
The company has a diversified and broad market including the US; Europe (Belgium, France, Italy and Spain); Latin America (Brazil and Argentina); Asia/Middle-East (Pakistan, UAE and Iran); and Africa (Tunisia and Algeria). New markets are being tapped like Costa Rica, Czechoslovakia and Qatar, according to Kamel.
Africa is a very promising market. We are currently discussing with Senegal and Mauritania, he said.
This development shows the determination of Avionav and other flourishing North African companies to have a role in the aviation sector by emphasising their strengths of tradition and geographical location, at the crossroads between the Middle East and Mediterranean Europe.
Avionav has five models, of which four are on the production line. Its design and engineering team is presently polishing a fifth prototype, the Sea Xilon, a four-seater amphibian seaplane that has been specifically designed to land on lakes and the sea as well as on a hard runway. There will also be a two-seat version. Its a very ambitious project, which requires much resource. Hopefully, the first two prototypes will be ready in a year, said Kamel.
The company can deliver any of its aircraft one month after being ordered. Which is quite rare in this sector, says Kamel proudly.
For its high-winged Rally aircraft, the company has chosen carbon fibre for its numerous advantages. It is ultralight aircraft manufacturers (ULM) and light sport aircraft (LSA) certified.
Century (low-wing) with the same certification, has proven to be robust since 1991 when it came on the market.
Certified experimental in the US, Fury is an extended variant of the Century. It can accommodate two more seats.
The RG is another variant derived from the Century. This two-seater, with a retractable gear, needs another certification.
Avionav also provides design and engineering services to its clients in many fields of expertise including: computational fluid dynamics (CFD), radar Doppler multifunction (RDM), structural analysis, electrical design and certification.
Evada Aircraft, affiliated to the Swiss company, MCI, also wants to take its share of this niche market with its cost-effective aircraft models, the Evada A2, powered by a 130hp Rotax 915 engine, and the Evada A4, equipped with a six-cylinder Lycoming 0-540 engine.
Both models will be equipped with a full avionics and a retractable gear, enabling them to land on water or a hard runway. Retractable skis will be offered as an option.
Our goal will be to have both the A2 and A4 Evada aircraft prototypes completed and certified with more than 100 units sold before this time next year, said company CEO, Joseph Bourne.
Avionav and Evada Aircraft have entered into discussions over contract manufacturing and services with the view to launching the prototype of the amphibian aircraft.
The competition is part of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre Science Event (MBRSC Science Event), that will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on October 21, at Etihad Museum under the theme Through Space we Flourish.
Explore Mars Competition targets university undergraduate students in science or engineering disciplines. The students will need to propose an innovative mission design to Mars and highlight a novel approach in either engineering design or in the science mission. The competition is geared towards identifying and solving a scientific or engineering challenge in planetary exploration.
The competition is divided into two categories, the first is focused on introducing a scientific project, and the second focuses on developing an idea to design a mission to Mars. Students who are interested in the first category about Mars Science can suggest a topic related to the Martian atmosphere or Mars geology. Furthermore, in Mars mission category, topics can address unique concepts and designs for space missions to Mars, new designs for scientific instruments for Mars science, or innovative spacecraft.
Omran Sharaf, Project Manager of the Emirates Mars Mission at MBRSC said: Holding the Explore Mars Competition for a second year is a depiction of the commitment of the EMM team towards students and engaging them early on in the process of mission design from both a scientific and engineering perspective. The youth in the UAE are a wealth of ideas and innovative approaches, and this competition provides them with the space to explore space through their unique solutions to challenges".
Students who are interested to participate in the competition can send their projects to science@mbrsc.ae <mailto:science@mbrsc.ae> before October, 8, 2017. During the science event, the projects will be presented as posters, and discussed by a specialized scientific and technical committee composed of local and international engineers and scientists in the field of Mars Science and Space Systems Engineering.
The top two winners are going to receive valuable prizes. The first winner will receive AED 10,000, and the second AED 5,000. The committee will judge the mission concepts based on the applicability of the mission, the rationale as well as the novelty of the mission defined.
The Alireza company works with the Kingdoms Ministry of Defence and is using Rubb to partner on two military aircraft shelters and are now looking at a long-term relationship as part of the Saudi 2030 Vision.
Visiting DSEI, George Antonopoulos, CEO of Alirezas Industrial Division, said: We are delighted to announce this strategic partnership with Rubb Military Buildings, who we recognise as a world leader in expeditionary relocatable shelters for the military market. This important agreement sits neatly with Alirezas commitment to support the Kingdoms Vision 2030.
While Rubb has undertaken work in the wider Gulf Region, Saudi Arabia has proved to be more difficult to penetrate. Vision 2030 will see the Saudi Arabian government aiming to localise over 50% of military equipment spending by 2030, through a programme of strategic partnerships between Saudi companies and leading defence companies. The partnership between Rubb and Alireza will work to support this goal.
The House of Alireza is the oldest Saudi owned company, established in 1867, and has continued its activities uninterrupted through all the development stages of the Kingdom. Business activities include shipping, port facilities in Jeddah and Dammam, logistics, electronics and security system, broadcasting, sea water desalination and lubricating oil refining under license from ExxonMobil. The House of Alireza is also one of the largest aviation fuel bunkering companies in the GCC, including supplying the Royal Saudi Air Force.
The delegation is being led by Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Higher Education and Chairman of the UAE Space Agency.
Organised by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), the IAC is one of the worlds premier space events, attracting more than 5,000 participants, from policy-makers and heads of international space bodies to industry experts and students
Hosted this year by the Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA), IAC will covers all sectors and topics related to space exploration, regulation, and education. It also offers attendees the latest academic trends and industry developments, as well as providing excellent networking and partnership opportunities.
The UAE Space Agency will use the Congress as an opportunity to strengthen its relations with the international space community, and to support the UAEs bid to host the 71st IAC in Dubai in 2020. The Space Agency is exhibiting at the IAC, and will use its presence to advance these goals.
In addition, Space Agency engineers will present four academic papers highlighting the unique experiences of the Emirati space sector and industry, including advanced astronomy projects, local training programs and Mars exploration plans
Dr. Al Falasi said: The Agencys participation in this international space event is a necessity, given the rapidly evolving nature of space science and exploration. Additionally, since the Agency is responsible for funding and supervising a range of initiatives, we need to remain informed of all the latest developments in the field of space exploration.
He added: Being a part of this international gathering is consistent with the Agencys strategic plans to continuously develop partnerships and strengthen relations with major international bodies. We aim to support the space sector in the UAE with the latest international developments, which will be reflected throughout existing and future projects.
Mohammed Nasser Al Ahbabi, Director General of UAE Space Agency added: The global space sector is experiencing rapid expansion in activities. As a result, there are a range of new challenges posed by the increasing accessibility, attractiveness, and commercial viability of space. We believe it is essential that the UAE and the international community prepare for such challenges in order to ensure the long term sustainability of space activities.
Goyal's assurance came after IACC President N Srinivasan flagged the issue of the depleting stock of coal at power stations.
Coal Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said his ministry is taking urgent steps to ensure coal supplies to power stations stabilise by month end or by early October.
New Delhi: Coal Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said his ministry is taking urgent steps to ensure coal supplies to power stations stabilise by month end or early October.
He was speaking at the annual convention of Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) in Mumbai.
Goyal's assurance came after IACC President N Srinivasan flagged the issue of the depleting stock of coal at power stations.
"Instead of buffer stock of 30-40 days, most of the power stations are having stock for 2-3 days," a statement quoted Srinivasan as saying.
While promising that coal supply will be ramped up soon, Goyal said the ministry was regularising production for the last 18 months as power plants were not lifting the fuel because of its easier availability owing to all-time high record production.
He said the coal secretary had written to chief secretaries of all states urging them to impress upon power stations to start stocking coal but the plea fell on deaf ears.
The surge in demand for coal could be attributed to the fact that power supply from hydel, nuclear and other sources fell by 12 per cent, 36 per cent and 7 per cent respectively last month and as a result demand for power from thermal power plants rose substantially, he added.
He however said the shortage of coal stock at power stations augurs well as it will reignite the private investment.
Responding to another query from Srinivasan whether the government would restore the coal cess, which is subsumed under GST, Goyal said the coal cess was introduced with the twin objective of funding promotion of renewable energy and for fair pricing of coal-based energy generation.
While assuring that the importance given to renewable energy would continue vigorously, he said the introduction of GST is in the national interest and sectarian interests should be submerged in the large interest of the nation.
Goyal, who was recently given the charge of railway ministry also, said 100 per cent electrification of railways was his priority so that Rs 16,000 crore spent on diesel import every year for railways are saved.
The railways will focus to ramp up renewable energy considerably by utilising flexible light-weight solar panels on the rakes and stations, he said.
Goyal, who had a meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis late last night, informed that he would come up with initiatives to rapidly scale up facilities for suburban railway commuters.
The minister harped on the need for improving the railway safety saying India needs to invest heavily in railway infrastructure to meet the decades-old backlog.
The Finance Minister also announced the merger and modernisation of 17 Government of India Presses.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said the government will take additional measures to bolster the economy. (Photo: PTI)
New Delhi: With the economic growth slowing to a three-year-low of 5.7 per cent GDP, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said the government will take additional measures to bolster economy.
Addressing the media after the Union Cabinet meeting, the finance minister said "We have taken note of all economic indicators which are available... the government will take any additional moves which are necessary. I am not in a position to announce today in the press conference. I will be certainly consulting the prime minister before that and when we decide, you will come to know".
He also said that the government has approved the merger and modernisation of 17 Government of India Presses. "Cabinet approves rationalisation/merger and modernisation of 17 Government of India Presses (GIPs) into 5 GIPs at Rashtrapati Bhawan, Minto Road and Mayapuri in New Delhi, Nashik in Maharashtra and Temple Street in Kolkata," an official statement said.
The exchequer cost will be "zero", said a government statement, adding that there will be no retrenchment and employees will be absorbed.
According to the statement, 468 acres of land belonging to these units that are to be merged will go to the Land & Development Office of the Ministry of Urban Development.
With the deadline for filing the GSTR-3B invoice expiring on Wednesday midnight, Jaitley urged taxpayers to not wait till the last day to file tax returns as it puts pressure on the GSTN portal.
In line with its disinvestment plans, the Centre also decided to exit three ITDC hotels including Jaipur Ashok and handover them to the state governments concerned. The Union Cabinet approved the transfer of Hotel Jaipur Ashok and Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel, Mysore, to the governments of Rajasthan and Karnataka.
According to PTI, this policy is in line with the view that running and managing hotels is not the job of the government or its entities.
The Army officials here said that Pakistani troops targeted the Indian soldiers deployed at their Pimple Post in Kupwaras Keran sector.
Photo of Army Sepoy Rajesh Khatri who lost his life in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Keran sector. (Photo: ANI)
Srinagar: An Army jawan was killed and three others were wounded in sniper attack from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmirs Kupwara district on Wednesday.
The Army officials here said that Pakistani troops targeted the Indian soldiers deployed at their Pimple Post in Kupwaras Keran sector earlier during the day, injuring four jawans of 5/9 GR unit of the Indian Army. They were airlifted to Srinagar and admitted to the Armys 92-Base Hospital at Badami Bagh Cantonment where one of them identified as Rajesh Khatri was declared dead on arrival. The condition of another soldier is stated to be critical.
The Army sources said that it was a sniper attack carried out from across the de facto border as the area was calm till this incident took place. However, after the incident, the facing armies exchanged small arms for some time in this sector, the sources said.
A defence spokesman here added that the unprovoked action by the Pakistani troops in violation of the November 2003 ceasefire agreement leaving one jawan dead and three others wounded evoked necessary and adequate response from the Indian troops.
However, it is not yet know if the Pakistani troops suffered any casualties in the Indian retaliatory action.
On September 15, a Border Security Force (BSF) constable Bijender Bahadur was killed in the firing by Pakistan Rangers in Arnia sector along the International Border (IB) in Jammu district of the State.
Earlier the LoC in neighbouring Poonch and Rajouri districts witnessed repeated ceasefire violations by the Pakistan troops for days. The Indian officials had said on last Thursday that two Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory action by the BSF earlier during the day.
They said the action came after three Indian jawans were injured in unprovoked firing and shelling by Pakistani troops along the IB and the LoC in Jammu and Poonch districts on September 14.
However, Pakistan had denied the charge and accused the Indian troops of initiating firing but along the LoC and the IB called Working Boundary by it.
Indias Deputy High Commissioner, J. P. Singh, was summoned to Foreign Office in Islamabad by Pakistans Director General (South Asia and SAARC), Dr. Mohammad Faisal, over alleged ceasefire violations by Indian troops along the LoC which had resulted in the killing of two civilians.
The firing, he was told, took place in Phulian sector on the Pakistani side of the de facto border and that also three persons including a woman were injured.
Islamabad accused the Indian troops of deliberately targeting civilians and termed it deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws. It urged India to respect the 2003 ceasefire agreement and investigate various incidents that have taken along the LoC.
But India has strongly denied Pakistani allegations and said that the incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops have increased sharply this year. The officials said that till August 1, there have been 285 such actions by the Pakistan army, while in 2016, the number was significantly less at 228 for the entire year.
On the other hand, Pakistan has claimed that there have more than 700 ceasefire violations by the Indian troops this year, which resulted in the killing of 32 civilians on their side of the LoC.
Court was hearing an appeal on Mamatas controversial decision not to immerse Durga idols on Muharram day.
Earlier in August, the chief minister sparked a controversy after she declared that Durga idols will not be immersed after 6 pm on September 30 and October 1 on account of Muharram. (Photo: PTI)
Kolkata: Why are you creating communal distinction between Hindus and Muslims, the Calcutta High Court asked the West Bengal government on Wednesday, hearing an appeal on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees controversial decision not to immerse Durga idols on Muharram day.
The Calcutta High Court questioned the state governments decision and asked why the two communities could not celebrate together.
On August 23, Mamata sparked a controversy when she declared that Durga idols would not be immersed after 6 pm on September 30 (Dashami) and October 1 because of Muharram.
The court asked: "When you (state government) are firm there is communal harmony in the state, why are you creating communal distinction between the two?" "Let them live in harmony. Do not create a line between them. Let them live together," the High Court said according to ANI.
Mamata had received flak from the BJP for indulging in appeasement politics. State BJP president Dilip Ghosh had described Mamata Banerjees announcement to postpone Durga idol immersions as unconstitutional.
He had said her decision would be challenged in court. The RSS also expressed displeasure over the chief ministers decision.
Read: Don't play with fire: Mamata warns BJP ahead of Durga Puja, Muharram
The chief minister at a programme had said, Since Muharram falls on October 1, Durga Puja idol immersion can be done till 6 pm on Bijoya Dashami. There will be no problem for those who want to immerse idols before 6 pm. The idol immersion can not be done on Ekadashi (the day after Bijoya Dashami).
She had added, We sometimes prefer not to immerse idols on this day. Muharram is also on that day.
This year Durga Puja & Muharram fall on the same day. Except for a 24 hour period on the day of Muharram... 1/2 Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) August 23, 2017
She had said, Immersions can take place on October 2, 3 and 4.
... Immersions can take place on October 2, 3 and 4... 2/2 Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) August 23, 2017
Last year, the government had imposed similar restrictions, which were rejected by the Calcutta HC.
The five presses are to be redeveloped and modernised through monetisation of their surplus land.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that as per valuations, the Jaipur property would fetch the Centre Rs 14 crore, Mysore Rs 7.45 crore and Itanagar Rs 3.89 crore. (Photo: PTI)
New Delhi: As part of the disinvestment exercise, the Centre on Wednesday decided to exit three ITDC hotels including Jaipur Ashok and hand them over to the state governments concerned.
The cabinet also approved merger and modernisation of 17 Government of India Presses (GIPs) into five entities at Rashtrapati Bhawan, Minto Road and Mayapuri in New Delhi, Nashik in Maharashtra and Temple Street in Kolkata.
The five presses are to be redeveloped and modernised through monetisation of their surplus land.
The Cabinet Committee on CCEA chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the transfer of India Tourism Development Corporation Ltd (ITDC) hotels Jaipur Ashok and Lalitha Mahal Palace Mysore to the governments of Rajasthan and Karnataka.
It also cleared disinvestment of ITDCs 51 per cent equity in Donyi Polo Ashok, Itanagar, in favour of Arunachal Pradesh.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that as per valuations, the Jaipur property would fetch the Centre Rs 14 crore, Mysore Rs 7.45 crore and Itanagar Rs 3.89 crore. As per disinvestment policy of the Government of India wherein ITDC Hotels and properties are to be leased or sub-leased jointly with states, he said.
The ministry of tourism has to date transferred the properties or units of Hotel Lake View Ashok, Bhopal; Hotel Brahmaputra Ashok, Guwahati and Hotel Bharatpur Ashok, Bharatpur to the state governments concerned.
In another decision, the Union Cabinet also approved rationalisation of 17 GIPs by merging them into five units.
Cabinet approves rationalisation/merger and modernisation of 17 GIPs into 5 at Rashtrapati Bhawan, Minto Road and Mayapuri in New Delhi, Nashik in Maharashtra and Temple Street in Kolkata, said an official statement.
Modernisation of presses will help them take confidential and multi-colour printing work of union government ffices across the country, added the statement .
The five presses are to be redeveloped and modernised through monetisation of their surplus land. The exchequer cost will be zero as well as without any retrenchment and employees will be absorbed, Mr Jaitley informed. Under the approval, 468 acres of land belonging to these units that are to be merged will go to the Land & Development Office of the Ministry of Urban Development.
The CJI said senior lawyers would not be allowed to make a mention and only AOR could mention the matters.
New Delhi: Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra on Wednesday put an end to the practice of oral mentioning by senior advocates and said that henceforth only advocates on record (AOR) would be permitted to make oral mention.
Oral mentioning is a practice being followed every day in the court of the Chief Justice at 10.30am when lawyers plead for urgent listing of fresh petitions, appeals and applications. Invariably, the mentioning goes on for 15 to 20 minutes. The CJI, who is the administrative head, will take a call whether to the matters deserved urgent listing or not. This practice was given up for a brief period during the tenure of former CJI S.H. Kapadia who abolished it. But his successor Justice Altamas Kabir restored it.
On Wednesday, the CJI said senior lawyers would not be allowed to make a mention and only AOR could mention the matters.
This was done to ensure that the bulk of the time was not taken over by seniors without giving a reasonable opportunity to juniors to make their submissions.
Khatta revealed that among the people murdered at the instance of Ram Rahim was one Gora Singh, a teenage boy.
Self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is now undergoing a 20-year jail sentence for having raped two sadhvis of his dera. (Photo: AFP/File)
Chandigarh: In a startling revelation, it has come to light that there are over 600 skeletons inside the Dera Sacha Saudas Sirsa headquarters, a mass grave of sorts. Mr P.R. Nain, senior vice-chairman of the Dera Sacha Sauda, who was questioned by the Sirsa police SIT, has said that nearly 600 skeletons can be found buried inside the Dera headquarters in Sirsa.
Mr Nain claimed these were bones of devotees buried by their families in the belief it would give moksha (salvation). Deputy superintendent of police Kuldeep Beniwal, who heads the SIT which questioned Mr Nain, told the media: They have a complete record of people whose bones were buried in the dera, and Nain has handed over a list to the police. Mr Nain also told the SIT the dera had started planting saplings on the land where the skeletons were buried based on the advice of a German scientist.
A day before search operations began at the dera under the supervision of A.K.S. Pawar, the court commissioner appo-inted by the Punjab and Haryana high court, dera mouthpiece Sach Kahoon admitted that human remains were buried inside the premises.
Mr Nains revelations assume significance in light of the allegations by Khatta Singh, a former driver of Ram Rahim Singh, that several people were murdered at the instance of the dera chief and their bodies were buried inside the dera.
Khatta had been Ram Rahims driver for nine years and has moved a plea before the CBI special court to allow him to depose as a witness in two murder cases against the dera head. Khatta revealed that among the people murdered at the instance of Ram Rahim was one Gora Singh, a teenage boy.
Self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is now undergoing a 20-year jail sentence for having raped two sadhvis of his dera.
Deputy commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh will be in-charge of the school during this period, said sources.
Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday refused to stay the arrest of Ryan International School owners in connection with the alleged murder of a Class 2 student in their Gurgaon branch.
Ryan Pinto, the CEO of Ryan International, and his parents Augustine and Grace Pinto, the founders, had gone to the high court last week requesting anticipatory bail. Justice Inderjit Singh did not grant the Pintos any reprieve on Wednesday. The single bench has issued a notice of motion to the Haryana government seeking its response on the anticipatory bail plea, said the counsel for the Ryan trustees.
On Tuesday, another judge, A.B.Chaudhari, withdrew from the case, reportedly on grounds that he knows the Pintos and it wouldnt be fair for him to hear their petition. The Pintos moved the Punjab and Haryana high court after the Bombay high court rejected their request for protection from arrest on September 14. The Haryana government had last week handed over the probe into the sensational Pradyuman murder case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The announcement was made by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar shortly after he met the victims parents at their residence. He had also announced that Haryana government will take over the management of the school for next three months. Deputy commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh will be in-charge of the school during this period, said sources. Seven-year-old Pradyuman Thakur was found with his throat slit in the washroom of the school on September 8. The school bus conductor Ashok Kumar has emerged as the prime suspect and has been arrested. The post-mortem report later said that Pradyuman sustained an 18 cm long wound a little over his neck which cut through his ears up to the superficial scalp tissue behind the ear. The wound was 2 cm deep said the post-mortem report of Pradyuman. The report also said that Pradyumans veins near the throat region and food pipe were found slashed. His trachea (windpipe) too was damaged.
Also, wound, 12-cm long and 2-cm deep, was found below the first injury.
On September 14, the Bombay High Court had rejected the anticipatory bail pleas of the three Mumbai-based trustees.
Students take out a candle march to pay tributes and demand justice for seven-year-old Pradyumna Thakur in New Delhi on Sunday, who was found murdered in Ryan International School in Gurugram. (Photo: PTI)
Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Haryana government on the anticipatory bail plea filed by the three trustees of Ryan International School in connection with the murder of a student in its Gurgaon school.
However, the single bench of Justice Inderjit Singh did not grant a stay on arrests in the matter.
The court has posted the matter for next Monday.
"The single bench has issued notice of motion to the Haryana government seeking its response on the anticipatory bail plea," said the counsel for the Ryan trustees.
The group's CEO, Ryan Pinto, and his parents, founding chairman Augustine Pinto and managing director Grace Pinto, had approached the High Court last week, seeking anticipatory bail.
On Tuesday, Justice A B Chaudhari had recused himself from hearing their plea.
On September 14, the Bombay High Court had rejected the anticipatory bail pleas of the three Mumbai-based trustees.
The Pintos had approached the Bombay High Court after the school was accused of negligence in the death of seven-year-old Pradyuman who was murdered in a toilet of Ryan International in Gurgaon on September 8.
Read: Ryan School murder: SC seeks report from Centre, state in 3 weeks
Bus conductor Ashok was arrested in connection with the crime.
Various theories have been proposed.
Washington: Music is a worldwide phenomenon and part of every culture, but the origin of music remains a longstanding puzzle.
Various theories have been proposed, some of which emphasize the biological and social aspects of music. But, one theory that has been confirmed might be really useful for men. In a new study, women rate photographs of male faces more attractive and are more likely to date the men pictured when they have previously heard music.
Moreover, highly arousing music led to the largest effect on sexual attraction. "There are currently few empirical findings that support Darwin's theory on the origin of music. We wanted to use a new experimental paradigm to investigate the role of music in choosing a mating partner," said Manuela Marin, the leader of the study and former associate of the Institute for Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods at the University of Vienna.
In the current study, Marin and her colleagues investigated the impact of musical exposure on the subjective evaluations of opposite-sex faces. "Facial attractiveness is one of the most important physical characteristics that can influence the choice of a partner. We wanted to find out how music can alter the perception of this feature," shared Helmut Leder from the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Vienna.
Since music, especially before the advent of modern technology, has always been experienced in the here and now, and mostly in a social context, it is plausible to assume that music could positively influence the visual perception of faces.
"There is some evidence in the psychological literature that so-called arousal transfer effects can occur if two stimuli are processed consecutively. The processing of the first stimulus produces internal arousal, i.e. increased physiological activity, which is then attributed to the second stimulus. This mostly unconscious mechanism can then influence our actions, in this case, the choice of a partner," explained Manuela Marin.
In their experiment, the scientists presented heterosexual participants with instrumental musical excerpts that varied in their emotional content, followed by a photograph of a face from the opposite sex with a neutral facial expression.
The face was assessed in terms of its attractiveness on a scale. In addition, participants were asked to rate whether they would date the person pictured. In the control condition only faces without music were presented.
There were three groups of participants: women in the fertile phase of their cycle, women in the nonfertile phase of their cycle, and men. These groups were similar in their musical preferences and musical training, as well as in their mood before the experiment and in their relationship status.
The results showed that female participants rated the male faces as more attractive and were more willing to date the men pictured when previously exposed to music. The fertility cycle did not have a large influence on the ratings. Overall, highly stimulating and complex music led to the greatest effect compared to the control condition. This effect was not present among male participants.
The results are promising and open up new possibilities to investigate the role of music in partner selection in connection with aspects of physical attractiveness. "Our goal is to replicate these results in a larger sample and to modify some aspects of the experiment. For example, we would like to clarify whether musical abilities and creativity can compensate partially for deficiencies in terms of physical appearance and fitness," shared Bruno Gingras from the Institute of Psychology at the University of Innsbruck.
Helmut Leder added, "Our results also recall the well-known Capilano Suspension Bridge experiment of Dutton and Aaron from the early 1970s. In that case, male participants crossed either a suspension bridge or a sturdy bridge and were then interviewed by an attractive female confederate who gave them her phone number. Participants who walked over the suspension bridge were much more likely to contact her later. We are planning similar experiments with music in a social context."
Marin concluded, "There is an increasing number of empirical findings showing that music has the power to influence human behavior with regard to partner selection. But how can Darwin's theory be reconciled with other biological and social theories on the genesis of music? Music can promote social cohesion, and it also plays a role in the mother-child relationship. Until we understand these connections, there will be a long way to go."
The study was published in journal PLOS ONE.
it's one of the country's top tourist attractions.
SAPANTA, Romania: Death isn't always tragic, at least not in this Romanian cemetery, where the dead beguile visitors with tales of their lives.
The Merry Cemetery in the northwestern village of Sapanta is a collection of more than 1,000 elaborate wooden Orthodox crosses etched with colorful epitaphs and childlike drawings. There are few secrets in this small community and whatever flaws someone had when they were alive are turned into "grave art" when they die. This darkly humorous and matter-of-fact approach, rooted in the traditional peasant culture of the region, intrigues visitors.
Despite its remote location some 600 kilometers northwest of the Romanian capital, Bucharest, it's one of the country's top tourist attractions. "I've seen what touches (tourists). This cemetery... is not just a cemetery. People realized that this indeed is a place where you can laugh at death itself," said sculptor Dumitru Pop Tincu, 62, who crafted many of the crosses. He spoke to The Associated Press in his workshop, dressed in a traditional costume of an embroidered smock, loose trousers and a straw hat.
One recent morning, German tourists were taking in the rows of intricately carved blue, yellow, green and red crosses, looking at the cartoon-like drawings and limericks written in a quirky language used by locals. Some consider the place less a graveyard and more an outdoor museum. Romanian-born Gerhard Schuster, 63, who lives in Kempten, southern Germany, said: "Ever since I was a child I heard stories about this. My parents were talking about the Merry Cemetery and I've always wanted to come and see it but wasn't able to until now. "
One of the drawings features a young man and a subway carriage - the man was run over by a train. His epitaph reads: "I enjoyed life so much, I went to western Europe; may it be cursed along with the Paris metro. I used to be a gambler, and I died in 2001 when I was 16 years old." Some of the crosses resemble modern-day morality tales.
One epitaph for a truck driver warns the living about the perils of working too hard. "I used to work to be wealthy and I had to leave everything behind. I wish people would stop and read this on my cross," it reads. "Here's what happened: the truck rolled over and the dirt smothered me. I died in Barcelona in 2002 when I was 42 years old."
In 1935, local wood sculptor Stan Ioan Patras came up with the idea of engraving epitaphs and simple drawings onto crosses, and went on to craft a total of 700 crosses until his death in 1977. His grave says he was the creator of the Merry Cemetery. Crosses costs between 2,000 and 5,000 lei ($520 to $1,300) and it can take weeks to create one.
While some crosses are amusing, others are simply sad.
One shows a three-year-old being run over by a car, and another tells the story of a 38-year-old man who had a "merciless death" that snatched him from his wife and two daughters. Tincu mused about the philosophy behind the cemetery. "These texts and images contain elements that remind you of what life is about," he said.
The police has arrested five of the six accused so far.
Mumbai: Dadar polices probe into the death of gastroenterologist Dr Deepak Amarapurkar, who fell into a civic manhole in Elphinstone Road during the heavy downpour on August 29, revealed that the six men who allegedly opened the manhole had posed as BMC workers when a police constable halted them, questioning their act.
The accused had lied to hide their illegal act. The probe also revealed that a local had tried his best to save the doctor by clutching his hands in his final moments but the water pressure sucked him inside the manhole.
The police has arrested five of the six accused so far. The accused told the police that some time after 4 pm on August 29, they had decided to open the manhole located at a point around Senapati Bapat Marg and SN Matkar road, as their street-side chawl residences were overflooded, said a police source. The manholes metallic cover was very heavy and required the efforts of at least six persons. It was then that the constable, Naineshwar G, accosted them, asking them why they were uncovering the manhole.
When the doctor stepped into the manhole, he was struggling to stay afloat for a few seconds even as a local, Anant Patil, rushed to clutch his hands, but in vain.
The gushing waters force pulled in the doctor despite the efforts of the local, said assistant commissioner of police (Dadar) Sunil Deshmukh. In the end, Patil was left clutching the doctors his umbrella, which had distinctive marks that eventually helped in identifying the body.
The constable, who had questioned the accused, subsequently identified the first four accused after their in an Identification Parade, while the fifth accused got bail after his arrest. The five men were arrested under section 304(A) of the Indian Penal Code that pertains to death caused by negligence.
A four-member team comprising of crime branch and EOW officers have left for Singapore to extradite Kadir.
A four-member team comprising of crime branch and EOW officers have left for Singapore to extradite Kadir. (Representational image)
Mumbai: A team of Mumbai crime branch has left for Singapore on Wednesday to extradite an accused in 2008 overseas job scam case in which at least 31 persons were duped to the tune of around Rs 31 lakh.
The accused, identified as Mohammad Abu Bakr Kadir, was apprehended in May this year based on a red corner notice (RCN) issued against him in 2012.
Following his arrest in May, an extradition proposal was sent in June and was processed soon. The proposal comprised of the details of the 31 victims, their statements and the modus operandi of how they were duped. They were promised jobs in Gulf countries, and money was taken from them, said a crime branch officer.
Kadir and his wife are both accused in the case registered with the Economic Offences Wings (EOW), police sources said.
His wife was however released on bail. Kadir fled after the money was transferred to his bank account.
He had been shuttling between Malaysia and Singapore, and after his movements were tracked, the crime branch moved for issuance of the RCN.
The RCN was set to expire in July this year. However, Kadir was apprehended before it expired.
A four-member team comprising of crime branch and EOW officers have left for Singapore to extradite Kadir.
The process of handing him over has been completed, and the team is likely to return from Singapore with Kadir in a couple of days.
Whether many Gazans will vote for Fatah, if the fresh elections proposed by Hamas go ahead, remains to be seen.
This weeks fresh initiative for a Hamas-Fatah rapprochement is bound to be viewed with scepticism, given the depressing history of previous attempts to reconcile the rival Palestinian factions. It may be different this time, though, given that Hamas willingness to compromise is fuelled by sheer desperation.
Its Gaza Strip administration established in the wake of a civil war, after the various powers-that-be had decreed that Hamas success in the 2006 Palestinian Authority (PA) elections deserved to be honoured in the breach has seldom been on shakier ground. Egypt has collaborated with Israels blockade of the territory, particularly since Cairos waltz with democracy ended in tears, while Qatars value as a rich ally has diminished since it was ostracised by key Gulf neighbours.
Perhaps the unkindest cut of all came in June from Ramallah, when the PAs President Mahmoud Abbas asked Israel to sharply reduce the amount of electricity it supplies to Gaza. One of the consequences has been a drastic drop in the territorys capacity for sewage treatment.
Much of the raw waste has been redirected into the sea, further polluting the 25-mile coastline that for most Gazans is their only outlet for recreation. If Abbas was determined to make life even more miserable and poisonous for Gazans as a means of twisting Hamas arm, he may have succeeded.
Whether many Gazans will vote for Fatah, if the fresh elections proposed by Hamas go ahead, remains to be seen.
Israels Likud-led administration detests the idea of Palestinian unity even though that has never prevented it from making the most of the fact that Abbas does not speak for all Palestinians. It also relies on the PA to clamp down on the more credible critics of the occupation, such as Hebron-based human rights activist Issa Amro, the founder of Youth Against the Settlements, which documents abuses by settlers and the Israeli military. He was taken into custody recently after a Facebook post in which he decried the arrest of anti-Abbas journalist Ayman Qawasmeh.
Israel and its allies in the West could scarcely conceive of a more pliable Palestinian leader than Abbas, yet even he is prone to expressing his frustration over the absence of credible negotiations towards ending the 50-year occupation, recently referred to by Donald Trumps ambassador to Israel as an alleged occupation. A US official clarified the comments did not signify a change in American policy. That is easy to accept.
Late last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces corruption allegations, declared at an event celebrating the half-century of Israels occupation of the West Bank, We are here to stay forever. There will be no more uprooting of settlements in the land of Israel. It has been proven that it does not help peace. That, too, is easy to accept. After all, as a senior aide of his predecessor Ariel Sharon admitted more than a decade ago, Israels evacuation of the Gaza Strip was intended precisely to forestall the prospect of having to do the same in the West Bank. In that respect, everything is going according to plan.
The plan was hatched long ago, and initially bore fruit with the Balfour Declaration of November 2, 1917, in which the British foreign secretary, Arthur Balfour, informed a leader of Britains Jewish community, Lord Walter Rothschild, and through him the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland, that His Majestys government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.
The statement was intended, in large part, to gain Jewish support for the Allied war effort. The only Jewish member of David Lloyd Georges cabinet, secretary of state for India Edwin Samuel Montagu, vehemently opposed the declaration, saying: The policy of His Majestys government is anti-Semitic in result and will prove a rallying ground for anti-Semites in every country of the world. He was half right. Many anti-Semites embraced the idea of an exodus of European Jews to the Middle East, and even today some of Likudite Israels closest allies, not least in the US, barely disguise their hatred for Jews.
A century ago, Jews comprised less than 10 per cent of the population in what became Mandatory Palestine. The demographics are very different today, yet still insufficiently weighted for latter-day Zionists. Hence the open-ended occupation and its awful consequences, which are bound to be broadly disregarded at this weeks session of the United Nations General Assembly.
By arrangement with Dawn
The Israel Prime Minister also expressed his desire to visit Antarctica.
United Nations: He may have hosted over a hundred of world leaders to Israel this year but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu feels the visits by the US President Donald Trump and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi were "truly historic".
Netanyahu mentioned this on Tuesday during his address to the United Nations General Assembly here.
With Modi, Netanyahu said, they imagined the endless possibilities for Israel, for India and for all of humanity.
"I stood here last year on this podium, and I spoke about this profound change in Israel's standing around the world. Just look at what has happened since, in one year, has happened cents. Hundreds of presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers, and other leaders have visited Israel, many for the first time," Netanyahu said.
"Of these many visits, two were truly historic. In May, President Trump became the first American president to include Israel in his first visit abroad. President Trump stood at the Western Wall, the foot of Temple Mount, where the Jewish people, or rather the Jewish people's temples, stood for nearly 1,000 years," he said.
And when the President touched those ancient stones, he touched our hearts forever, Netanyahu said.
In July, Netanyahu said, Modi became the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel. He also shared with the world leaders his meeting with the Indian premier.
"You may have seen the pictures. We were on a beach in Podera. We rode together in a jeep outfitted with a portable desalinisation device that some thriving Israeli entrepreneur invented. We took off our shoes, waded into the Mediterranean, and drank seawater that had been purified only a few minutes earlier," Netanyahu said.
He said in the past year, Israel has hosted a number of world leaders and visited six different continents.
"(In) One year -- six continents. I went to Africa, where I saw Israeli innovators increasing crop yields, turning air into water, fighting AIDS. I went to Asia, where we deepened our relations with China, and with Singapore, and expanded our cooperation with our Muslim friends in Azberbaijan and Kazakhstan," he said.
"I went to Europe, where in London and Paris, Saloniki and Budapest, we enhanced our security and economic ties," he said.
The Israel Prime Minister also expressed his desire to visit Antarctica.
"Now, it's true. I haven't yet visited Antarctica, but one day I have to go there. I want to go there, too, because I've heard penguins are also enthusiastic supporters of Israel," he added.
Trump signaled he is ready to rip up a nuclear accord with 'murderous regime' in Tehran, and berated US foes from Pyongyang to Caracas.
US President Donald Trump addresses the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, at UN headquarters in New York (Photo: AP)
United Nations: A bellicose President Donald Trump used his maiden address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday to warn "Rocket Man" Kim Jong-Un that he will "totally destroy" North Korea if it threatens the United States or its allies.
Appearing before the 193-member body that emerged from the ashes of World War II, Trump boasted of America's military strength, signaled he is ready to rip up a nuclear accord with the "murderous regime" in Tehran, and berated US foes from Pyongyang to Caracas.
"The United States has great strength and patience," Trump said, as he followed in the footsteps of US presidents from Harry Truman to Barack Obama, "but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea."
"Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime," he said, using his Twitter-friendly new nickname for the North Korean dictator. "The United States is ready, willing and able, but hopefully this will not be necessary."
Throughout the 42-minute remarks, Trump did little to temper his trademark tough-guy language for the assembled statesmen and women, warning that swathes of the world were "going to hell" and declaring any trade with North Korea an "outrage."
In language some commentators compared to former president George W. Bush's "axis of evil" speech, Trump pilloried Iran as a corrupt "rogue state" and threatened to rip up the landmark international deal struck in 2015 to curb Tehran's nuclear program.
"Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I don't think you've heard the last of it," Trump declared.
"Believe me. It is time for the entire world to join us in demanding that Iran's government end its pursuit of death and destruction."
But, the US leader added, the greatest threat to the Tehran regime was not the American military but the restless Iranian people.
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif responded on Twitter: "Trump's ignorant hate speech belongs in medieval times -- not the 21st century UN -- unworthy of a reply. Fake empathy for Iranians fools no one."
US President Donald Trump says "rogue nations" pose a threat to the world, in his maiden address to the UN General Assembly pic.twitter.com/CNpJojcNaq AFP news agency (@AFP) September 19, 2017
- 'America's interests' -
The packed General Assembly hall greeted Trump's tough rhetoric and calls for nation states -- rather than supranational bodies -- to form the basis of the global order with some polite clapping.
But a few pauses for applause were met with stony silence.
Trump did not back away, suggesting his populist "America First" campaign rhetoric should be an example to other UN members: "Our respect for sovereignty is also a call for action. All people deserve a government that cares for their safety, their interests."
"As long as I hold this office, I will defend America's interests above all else, but in fulfilling our obligations to our nations, we also realize that it's in everyone's interests to seek the future where all nations can be sovereign, prosperous and secure."
After decades in which America has led the drive toward a global rules-based order, Trump indicated his foreign policy would define the national interest much more narrowly.
"For too long the American people were told that mammoth, multinational trade deals, unaccountable international tribunals and powerful global bureaucracies were the best way to promote their success," Trump said.
"But as those promises flowed, millions of jobs vanished and thousands of factories disappeared."
The speech provoked strong responses almost immediately -- drawing praise from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump notably made no mention of the Middle East peace process -- nor of climate change, nor the crisis in Myanmar -- during his remarks, and scarcely touched on relations with China and Russia.
But Trump's tough talk on Iran delighted the Israeli leader who dedicated much of his own later speech to alternating praise for Trump with a promise to fight what he said was an "Iranian Curtain" descending across the Middle East.
In Washington, Trump's speech was welcomed by many prominent Republicans, including Senator Orrin Hatch, who welcomed Trump's stark challenge to North Korea's Kim.
"Good for him," Hatch told reporters. "It's about time that somebody talked turkey to that little bastard over there."
- 'Irresponsible' -
But foreign policy experts were less impressed, with some saying Trump was attempting to fashion an ad hoc policy doctrine to justify and unite a diverse series of campaign promises and impetuous Tweets.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned the United States would forfeit the trust of the international community if it abandons the nuclear accord with Tehran.
"If the United States were not to adhere to the commitments and trample upon this agreement, this will mean it will carry with it the subsequent lack of trust of countries," Rouhani, in New York to attend the UN General Assembly, told NBC.
French President Emmanuel Macron, in his own UN address, said ending the deal would be a "grave error, and not respecting it would be irresponsible."
There were petitions floating online calling for 'Daw Suu' to be stripped of her Nobel Peace Prize.
Naypyitaw [Myanmar]: When Myanmar State Councillor Aung San Suu Kyi broke her silence over the Rohingya refugee issue and delivered a State of the Union address at Naypyitaw on Tuesday morning, she refrained from referring to the Muslim minority as 'Rohingyas', inviting the ire of the global community.
There were petitions floating online calling for 'Daw Suu' to be stripped of her Nobel Peace Prize.
In her defence, however, she asserts that she intended to not use 'emotive' terms for an already affected population.
"There has been a lot of controversy with regard to the term used to describe the Muslims in Rakhine as there are those who want to call themselves as Rohingyas or who want to refer to the Muslims there as Rohingyas. There are those who want to call themselves as just Bengalis, which are not ethnic Rakhine," Suu Kyi said, in an exclusive interview with ANI in Myanmar's Naypyitaw.
"I think instead of using this emotive term as it is 'highly charged', it is better just to say Muslims. It's just a description that nobody can deny. We are talking about the Muslim community in the Rakhine state, and I do not see any point using terms that inflame passions further," she added.
Read: Suu Kyi must act fast on Rohingyas rights
When asked to make a distinction on whether the Rohingya issue was a humanitarian or a socio-economical crisis, the de-facto leader said, "It is a humanitarian issue, which has risen out of long-term social-economic problems. The problems of the Rakhine state go back to the 19th century. We have to deal with it and resolve it. And obviously, it is not something we can do overnight and it's not something we can find simple answers to, because building up trust and harmony between the two communities that have been hostile to one another is not easy. But there are places in the Rakhine state, where the communities live in a harmonious way and we want to see why it is not possible in some other places."
In her Tuesday's address, the de-facto leader condemned human rights abuses, but did not blame the army or address allegations of ethnic cleansing.
It's also noted that during her speech, Suu Kyi mentioned the Rohingyas by name only once, in reference to the armed militant group - the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa).
Leaders and diplomats from several countries have since expressed strong disappointment with her stance.
More than 4,00,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since late August.
The latest unrest in the troubled Rakhine state was sparked by attacks on police stations across the state last month, blamed on a newly emerged militant group, the Arsa.
Suu Kyi, in her state address, had stressed on the short time her government has been in power for, adding, "I am aware of the fact the world attention is focussed on the situation in the Rakhine State as a responsible member of the community of nations. Myanmar does not fear international scrutiny and is committed to bring a sustainable solution that will bring peace, stability and development for all communities within that state."
Suu Kyi also defended her country from international criticism and said "more than half" of Rohingya villages were not affected by the violence and invited diplomats and foreign observers to visit them to see "why they are still there when they are surrounded by a state of turmoil" as she addresses the nation on Rakhine issue.
Search is underway in collapsed office building in city centre. The 7.1 quake hit several states. The death toll now stands at 248, including 20 children with 30 more missing. Rescue teams and volunteers claw with their shovels and bare hands seeking survivors.
Mexico City (AsiaNews/CNA) Five Taiwanese nationals are trapped in the rubble of a toppled office building in Mexico City after a magnitude-7.1 earthquake jolted central Mexico on Tuesday.
Taiwan's representative office in the country and a Taiwanese businessman's association have sent people to the site to help search for their compatriots.
The massive quake hit the Mexican capital at 1:14 pm (local time) as well as the neighbouring states of Guerrero, Morelos, Puebla, Oaxaca, and Tlaxcala.
The epicentre was near Atencingo in Puebla state, about 120 kilometres from Mexico City, at a depth of 51 kilometres.
Mexicos Civil Protection Agency announced that the death toll stood at 248 deaths, including 20 children who died when their school collapsed. Another 30 are still missing.
As many as 4.6 million homes, businesses and other facilities had lost electricity.
Teams of rescuers and volunteers worked through the night clearing rubble with picks, shovels and bare hands.
Many people were caught in the earthquake just as the countrys annual readiness drill ended. The latter commemorates the 1985 quake that killed thousands.
On 7 September, an 8.1 magnitude tremor shook the south killing at least 90 people.
by Santosh Digal
The Church must be a reconciling presence". We need to build bridges, not division and hate. The Filipino Church and Caritas are committed to the displaced. Young Moro design and sell t-shirts to raise funds.
Manila (AsiaNews) Many Christians and Muslims are working hard to re-establish peace in the conflict-stricken city of Marawi, as well as the Mindanao region as a whole, said Mgr Edwin de la Pena of the Prelature of St Mary in Marawi.
The Catholic Church mission on Marawi is to be a reconciling presence, said the prelate. We respect each others culture and faith. Certainly, we are not and will never be happy when either side is put in danger. We need to build bridges of reconciliation and compassion, not division and hate.
On 23 May 2017, the Abu Sayaff and Maute terrorist groups carried out an attack in Marawi, pushing President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao. Marawi is a predominantly Muslim city and the capital of Lanao del Sur province, southern Philippines.
Since May, the Catholic Church has invested 12.3 million Filipino pesos (US$ 240,000) to help more than 3,000 families affected by the conflict in Iligan City, most of whom are Muslim Maranaos.
As of 18 September, more than 800 people have died in the fighting, including 673 terrorists, 149 soldiers and police, and 47 civilians.
On 30 August, the Church launched a 4.8 million peso (US,000) Duyog Marawi programme, in partnership with Redemptorist missionaries and the Ranaw Association for Muslim-Christian Dialogue for Peace.
According to a press release by the National Social Affairs Secretariat (NASSA) and Caritas Philippines, the Catholic Church efforts are focused on institutional development, community building, and peace and conflict resolution, together with the provision of food and non-food relief, livelihood, sanitation and hygiene promotion, and psychosocial support.
Kind words and concrete expressions of compassion are ways to heal the ongoing Marawi crisis in the southern Philippines, said Fr Edwin A. Gariguez, executive secretary of Caritas Philippines.
We all can help lighten the situation in Marawi by exchanging kind and sincere words, instead of derogatory and hurtful remarks, Fr Gariguez said.
NASSA and Caritas Philippines are the social arm of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines and are committed to development, advocacy and humanitarian outreach.
Meanwhile, some young Muslim Moro volunteers have been selling t-shirts to raise funds to help the Maranaos displaced by the siege of Marawi.
This is our way of helping [our] Maranao brothers and sisters displaced due to the armed confrontation in Marawi City, said Bai Ashrafia Alonto Biruar, one of the conveners of We Are Marawi Fundraiser Team.
Many people are supporting their efforts. Biruar said that We are Marawi shirts are currently being produced in the cities of Cotabato, Iligan and Davao.
Volunteers have already bought two batches of relief goods for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Lanao del Norte.
We were able to give food packs, prayer mats, prayer dress, hygienic kits and toys for the children, Biruar added.
The group, which includes young Moro professionals and students, is considering a new design for the shirt with more active and positive slogan.
Applause for Trump's speech. Criticism of the nuclear agreement. When "the sun sets" on the restrictions, a dark shadow will be cast over the whole Middle East and the world. " He also accused the UN of not being able to distinguish "black and white, right and wrong" when it comes to Israel.
New York (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promises to fight the "Iranian curtain" that is descending on the Middle East. In the wake of the famous "iron curtain" proclaimed by Winston Churchill in 1946, Netanyahu hurled himself against Iran during his speech to the plenary session of the UN General Assembly.
After acclaiming the Donald Trumps denunciation of Iran and North Korea - "No one more decisive, courageous and direct" - Netanyahu accused Tehran of carrying out a " campaign to conquer the Middle East" and of developing ballistic missiles to "threaten the whole world".
Reiterating his criticism of the 2015 nuclear agreement, the Israeli prime minister announced that when "the sun sets" on restrictions imposed on the Iranian nuclear program, "a dark shadow will fall over the whole Middle East and the world."
"From the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean he continued - from Tehran to Tartus, an Iranian curtain is descending across the Middle East. Those who threaten us with annihilation put themselves in mortal peril. Israel will defend itself with the full force of our arms and the full power of our convictions".
In his speech, the premier also criticized UN decisions on the Jewish state which unlike - "Israel's enthusiastic supporters" - has difficulty "recognizing that some things are white and black, right and wrong."
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), recently said that Iran is respecting the nuclear agreement.
The two were waiting for an appeal against prior convictions. Human rights group say the authorities want to crush the countrys human rights movement. Since the start of the month, they have rounded up 30 clerics and scholars.
Riyadh (AsiaNews/Agencies) Saudi police arrested two human rights campaigners, Abdulaziz al-Shubaily and Issa al-Hamid, both founding members of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA), this according to Amnesty International.
The latter accuses the kingdoms rulers of crushing the countrys human rights movement.
The two men were awaiting appeals of prison sentences handed down against them last year.
Shubaily was sentenced to an eight-year prison term earlier this year for what authorities described as a threat to public order. Other charges include providing information to foreign organisations about human rights violations in Saudi Arabia.
Hamid was tried in April 2016 by Saudi Arabias Specialised Criminal Court (SCC) a secretive counter-terror court that convicts human rights defenders and other peaceful dissidents to lengthy prison terms.
The court convicted him on a long list of charges including inciting [people] to breach public order, insulting the judiciary, and publishing statements and articles on various issues, including the right to protest and human rights violations by the Interior Ministry.
So far, Saudi Authorities have not yet released a statement on the matter or confirmed the arrests.
This is a dark time for freedom of expression in Saudi Arabia, said Samah Hadid, director of campaigns for Amnesty International in the Middle-East.
These two arrests have confirmed our fears that the new leadership under Mohammed bin Salman is determined to crush the Kingdoms human rights movement, she added.
ACPRA was founded in 2009, then shut down in 2013. All 11 founding members have since been jailed.
Saudi authorities have rounded up some 30 clerics, intellectuals and academics this month, more than 20 in the last week alone, in what Human Rights Watch has described as a coordinated crackdown on dissent.
By Mata Press Service
Korean designers are set to dominate the catwalks as the Vancouver Fashion Week opens its 30th season this week.
All is all Vancouver will play host to over 90 designers from 20 countries from the 18th - 26th of September, said Jamal Abdourahman, who founded Vancouver Fashion Week in 2001.
VFW is the fastest growing fashion week in the world and the only industry event that actively
seeks out to showcase international award winning designers from over 25 global fashion capitals, said Abdourahman.
For 30 seasons, Vancouver Fashion Week has celebrated multiculturalism and up-and-coming on their runways.
We strive to identify undiscovered designers by providing an accessible and internationally reputable platform, he said.
Among those in this years fall edition is Choi Boko, a first generation fashion designer from Korea, who has created a womenswear brand known for its constructive but comfortable silhouettes combined with artistic prints and patchwork patterns.
This seasons theme is based on the contingency of Simulacrum. I wanted to express the process of constructing another nature in the form of a fashion object, rather than a costume that imitates nature said designer Choi Boko about his SS18 collection.
Debuting at this years event is designer Hyunmi Jang with her label MEZIS.
Originally from the eastern province of Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea, Hyunmi has established her brands MENZIS and Free Balance within the industry in shows around the globe including Germany, France and China.
Another first timer from Korea at VFW SS18 is Lee Youjung presenting her brand L by L. The featured brand targets women with global senses; it expresses romance and according to the designer is created to reflect a woman's sensibility on a modern scale.
This seasons event will be the biggest representation from Korea to date with eight designers presenting a range of styles and trends from their home country, said Abdourahman.
Others showcasing their designs this week are returning designers include, Canadian artist Katherine Tessier, Tieler James from the USA and Anna Francesca from Panama.
Jamal Abdourahman, the founder of Vancouver Fashion Week has done his best to make sure of that. For the past 30 seasons, Abdourahman and his team have worked to put together a seasonal showcase of local and international designers that has grown considerably over the years.
Abdourahman said he was a nightclub promoter when he had the idea of staging a major fashion show in his club.
Since I love dancing, I did the choreographing of the fashion shows to begin with he said.
Fashion consumers nowadays have more access to local designer items. They also buy more goods from local designers because they want exclusivity, and uniqueness in their purchase.
The designers for this season are great and very creative. Each season I try not to see their new collections, I like to be as surprised as our guests..I talk to them regularly however and by conversing with them, I am able to see where their heads are at and share in their excitement he said.
Guest Commentary
By Andrea Elliot
New Canadian Media
You dont have Canadian experience. This is what a new immigrant from New Delhi with a university degree, an MBA and a wealth of prior business experience was told at a recent job interview. In her 40s, the woman had arrived from India, confident she would have greater career opportunities and a better life for her daughters, but was quickly disheartened to find her impressive resume held little weight within our borders.
This is a story that has become all too common in Canada especially when you consider that we have the highest foreign-born population (20%) of any G-8 country. While most Canadians take great pride in our nations rich history of diversity, the sad truth is our businesses are not always so welcoming to people with different names, customs and attire. A recent Canadian employment study proved as much, revealing that job candidates with Asian names (Chinese, Indian or Pakistani) are less likely to be called for interviews than their counterparts with Anglo-Canadian names, even when they have a higher level of education.
In my role at Dress for Success, its heartbreaking to see these stats come to life every day. Over the past five years, the number of new Canadians who have turned to our organization for career help has climbed to a point where immigrants now represent almost half of the women we serve. But, while our charitable organization is best known for providing women in need with professional attire, these new immigrants face challenges that go far beyond finding the right outfit for an interview.
Imagine entering a new country as a refugee. Youre a young parent with kids and no income. English is your second language. You dont have a computer to work on your resume, or a smartphone to communicate with potential employers. You have to go to the public library to access the internet. You have no social network to rely on, and youre certainly not on LinkedIn. Sometimes, I have to remind our volunteers and community partners of just how difficult an uphill climb our immigrant population faces to find employment.
We help women position their experience and education for a Canadian audience, removing any hidden cues that may cause employers to be dismissive of their resume.
Then, there are the hidden obstacles, understanding not just how to dress for an interview, but the social cues that could be holding them back (for instance, it might be inappropriate for a conservative Muslim woman to shake hands with a man during a job interview, but an employer may not be aware of this).
Needless to say, the learning curve for immigrants is steep. Each woman who shows up at Dress for Success has her own personal journey and it is our mission to embrace that journey, so they can gain confidence, find a job and earn financial and economic independence. We start by getting to know them through private, one-on-one conversations that last up to two hours and often become incredibly emotional. These are smart women who are desperate for nothing more than a better way of life, and our volunteers cant help but become intimately involved.
After chatting about their interests and qualifications, we help these women position their experience and education for a Canadian audience, helping remove any hidden cues that may cause employers to be dismissive of their resume or LinkedIn profile. We also have them create elevator pitches on why they should be hired, and stage mock interviews to help them prepare. We even hold networking events where they have the opportunity to introduce themselves to executives and managers, and practice speaking in a corporate setting.
When it comes down to it, our mission is to build these women up every day so they not only gain confidence about what they can do, but feel good about who they are as individuals. There are many ways for people to get involved in our cause, but this is really a rallying cry to corporate Canada Im calling on our countrys business leaders to examine their hiring policies from the top down and take a more active role in providing new Canadians with opportunities.
For all the talk of a global marketplace, our businesses still act local. The number of women who continue to tell me they feel theyre being judged by their family name is significant and disheartening. Its also disappointing when qualified candidates who have held great jobs in their home countries are not considered for similar positions here in Canada.
The sad truth is that while many of todays corporate leaders are concerned with reaching male-female ratios and gender equality, promoting opportunities for new Canadians is not on their radar, even though it would be in their best interests to do so in 2015, the Conference Board of Canada estimated that if Canadian employers and professional regulatory bodies did a better job of recognizing immigrants skills, they would earn an additional $10 billion annually, at minimum.
There is simply no reason or excuse for a Canadian experience job requirement to exist in 2017. And, as we continue to celebrate Canada 150, its time for our businesses to realize as our country did years ago that opening their doors to new immigrants will only make them stronger.
Andrea Elliott is Chair of the Board of Directors of Dress for Success Toronto, and its fundraising committee, Corporate Giving.
This piece was originally appeared in New Canadian Media.
See http://newcanadianmedia.ca/component/k2/42288-demanding-canadian-experience-is-no-way-to-conduct-business-comment
Participants of the Second Walk for Reconciliation will pay tribute to intergeneration lives taken, survivors and those impacted by the residential school system.
After Chief Joseph gives an opening blessing, the walk starts at 9:30 am at West Georgia and Cambie Streets. From 10:30 am to 3 pm, the first Reconciliation Expo at Strathcona Park will run.
The walk is hosted in partnership with Reconciliation Canada, the Government of Canada and Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation.
Vancouver is a City of Reconciliation and the Walk for Reconciliation is the final Signature Event to cap off our Canada 150+ celebrations. The walk is a historic opportunity to show support for the progress weve made together towards reconciliation, says Mayor Gregor Robertson.
There is no relationship more important to our government than the one with Indigenous Peoples. We must take concrete steps toward a renewed relationship based on recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and partnership, says Melanie Joy, Minister of Canadian Heritage.
Chief Dr. Robert Joseph saw this walk as an opportunity for healing among Indigenous peoples and all Canadians. The walk is also a new way to move forward together in the spirit of Namwayut recognizing We Are All One. In 2013, the first walk gathered 70,000 people.
New relationships are forged, understanding deepens and a new way forward is paved with justice, equality and inclusion, says Joseph.
By Jeremy J. Nuttall
New Canadian Media
Canada could turn into a U.S.-style partisan battleground if its politicians and media dont mend their ways, says former Conservative MP Chris Alexander.
Alexander, one of the Harper government cabinet ministers defeated in the 2015 election and an unsuccessful leadership candidate, has recently been vocal about the media, politics and the alt-right in Canada.
In a Tyee interview he acknowledged extreme right-wing factions were allowed a place in the Conservative party, but predicted that will change as a result of the backlash after deadly racist demonstrations in Virginia last month.
That kind of violence hasnt hit Canada, Alexander said, and politicians and journalists need to work to make sure it never does.
But Alexanders attempt to set out the failings of the Canadian media in an opinion piece he wrote for Macleans has drawn its own backlash.
Alexander accused the media of viewing Canadian politics through an American lens and inflaming tensions that divide the country.
And he set out what he called false accusations that he was anti-Muslim, linking them to a March 2015 speech by Justin Trudeau at McGill University reprinted in Macleans and then repeated over and over.
In the speech Trudeau says Alexander stood in the House of Commons and declared a womans hijab was an indefensible perversion of Canadian values.
I never said any such thing, Alexander wrote in the Macleans piece. My wife Hedvig, who is Danish, wore a hijab through seven years in Afghanistan. Alexander was Canadas ambassador to Afghanistan from 2003 to 2005 and representative of the United Nations mission in Afghanistan until 2009.
Alexander, defending the Conservative governments bid to require women to remove their hijabs head scarves during citizenship ceremonies, did say the hijab has been used to cover the face of women... under the terrible influence of the Taliban in places like Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Those practices have no place in our citizenship ceremonies, where we insist on confirming the identity and confirming the commitment of new citizens to our laws, to our sovereign, to our values, and to our traditions, he told the House of Commons.
Alexanders opinion piece sparked a rebuke from Ottawa Citizen columnist Shannon Gormley.
She said Alexander and other far-right populists were trying to scapegoat elites for their own failings.
Adding insult to self-inflicted injuries, perhaps they should be pitied and politely ignored, she wrote. Only, in largely blaming others for their own fall just as they blamed them for social decline, populist misopportunists diminish the truth and the social cohesion they claim to desire.
Alexander told The Tyee the Citizen column highlighted the failings of Canadian media he described in Macleans.
The column noted Alexanders role in the 2015 pre-election announcement of a barbaric cultural practices tip line widely panned as anti-Muslim by pundits and political opponents.
But he maintains the tip line plan didnt reflect bigotry or anti-Muslim sentiments. Alexander said he spoke to victims of cultural practices like forced marriage as he researched the initiative and they used the word barbaric to describe their experiences.
Victims even insisted the word be used in the government's tip line name, Alexander said.
But the media mislead the public, he alleged, painting it as a bigoted policy.
Literally people go around calling it an anti-Muslim snitch line, he said. They are misleading the audience in the most dangerous way. There was nothing exclusive anti-anybody in that legislation.
Alexander said if he had a dime for every person who referred to the line negatively without mentioning things like forced marriage or honour killings hed be a rich man.
Alexander still speaks to the news media. But he said the barbaric cultural practices tip line coverage is the kind of story causing Conservatives to boycott media outlets like the CBC, which they say is biased against them.
While some wont speak to the CBC, many Conservatives including Alexander did speak to the Rebel, a controversial right-wing online media outlet.
Alexander had been interviewed by the Rebel and appeared at the organizations rallies.
In March he tweeted he would no longer attend Rebel events after a piece by contributor Gavin McInnes entitled 10 things I hate about Jews.
We have a responsibility, all of us, to hold media and social media to account to the extent they allow themselves to be platforms for spreading hate, Alexander said then.
Alexander said he wants to talk to all media, and deciding what organizations he wont speak to is subject to constant review.
He said his philosophy is talk to everyone, pander to no one and not to say different things to different outlets.
I dont think we should be, as a matter of course, boycotting media just because we disagree with reports that they put out, he said. I will continue to talk to the CBC and all the other professional media outlets.
Alexander said the Canadian media is generally professional but declining circulations and audiences are having a noticeable affect on quality.
The downward trend, he said, has many Canadians relying on foreign news services as their go-to source for information.
During his years in Parliament from 2011 to 2015, Alexander said he noticed Canadians were increasingly less interested in consuming news from Canadian outlets.
One result has been the growing influence of the polarized political coverage from the United States, he said. It crowds out our national story, he said.
The Canadian media needs to change to avoid the same kind of partisan breakdown, Alexander said.
Media must create a shared sense of public service, he said, rather than existing to produce clickbait. Canadians should feel served by their media.
Often Canadian media seem to allow their headlines to be determined by negative attacks from a politicians opponents, he added.
Reporters cant allow the spin coming out of someones war room to drive their coverage, Alexander said, calling for more in-depth reporting and analysis.
Let's put things in the context of real policy.
Jeremy J. Nuttall is The Tyees reader-funded Parliament Hill reporter in Ottawa.
This piece was originally appeared in New Canadian Media.
See http://newcanadianmedia.ca/component/k2/42274-canadian-media-falling-into-us-style-polarization-says-former-harper-minister
By Catherine Sas,
Special to The Post
In this age of information technology, Canada's department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provides considerable online information for prospective immigrants.
A visit to IRCC's website (still listed under the former CIC acronym) on their home page provides the following:
SERVICES AND INFORMATION Get Answers to Your Questions
"Find quick and direct answers to frequently asked questions in our Help Centre".
A few more clicks and you are also invited to CALL US 1-800-242-2100 (in Canada only) where they advise that IRCC Client Support Centre agents "can help you with general and case specific enquiries".
Sounds terrific - right?
There is just one problem, the information that IRCC provides isn't always correct and if you rely on it, they take no responsibility for their advice and you can lose your status in Canada or have your application refused.
This reality is highlighted in a recent email shared by an immigration lawyer colleague:
"This is in response to your inquiry sent on July 31 regarding working off-campus while holding part-time status during the final academic session of a program. We apologize for the contradiction on our webpages and any confusion that it may have created.
Currently, the webpage that you linked is in error. Students are not currently eligible to work off-campus during the final academic session of a program if they are studying part-time as they do not satisfy the eligibility requirements set out in the PDI on off-campus work.
We appreciate you bringing the discrepancy on our website to our attention and are working to correct it."
Having met with many students over the years, I am aware that it is commonly understood within the student community that they are permitted to work off-campus in their last term of study if they are completing their program and their course load is less than full time.
This common perception has been fostered by the information on the IRCC website. However, as the IRCC email above confirms, this information is not correct. Students that rely on this misinformation may be found to have been in breach of Canada's immigration laws.
The maxim To Err is Human" is fitting for this dilemma. The immigration officials and agents that write on line application packages, provide bulletins or answer phone inquiries do their best to provide accurate information but as humans, they sometimes err.
Catherine Sas, Q.C. has over 25 years of legal experience. She provides a full range of immigration services and is a leading immigration practitioner (Lexpert, Whos Who Legal, Best Lawyers in Canada). Go to www.canadian-visa-lawyer.com or email casas@shaw.ca.
I arrived in Australia last July 4, 2017 and was set to depart on September 28, 2017. I recently applied for a skilled provisional visa 489 while in Australia and was automatically granted a BVA. Based on what I've read, this BVA will not take into effect until my Visitor visa (Class FA) expires. Here are the details of my current substantive visitor visa:
Visa grant date: 30 June 2017
Must not arrive after: 30 June 2018
Stay period: 3 months from the date of each arrival
Travel Facility: Multiple
Visa conditions: 8101 No Work; 8201 Maximum 3 months study
In this case, I would like to clarify the following:
1) Which period are you reffering to regarding the expiration of my current substantive visa before my BVA comes into effect? Is it the 3 month stay period or the visa validity of 1 year?
2) If the period you are referring to is the validity of my visitor visa for 1 year as per question 1, will I be able to travel outside Australia, come back before it expires on June 2018, stay in Australia until then and be allowed to legally stay with the BVA?
3) It says on the email that the visa conditions for my BVA is nil. It also mentioned that when my bridging visa (class WA) is in effect, I will have full permission to work. Is this correct? If so, what sort of work can I apply for?
Many thanks in advance!
Image of Hyundai Ioniq electric vehicle courtesy of Hyundai.
Hyundai Motor Co. is recalling 218 2017-model year Ioniq electric vehicles because theyre at risk for stalling, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Manufacturing defects within the electronic power control unit (EPCU) may allow coolant to contact the units circuit board. If coolant contacts the EPCU, a stall may result, increasing the risk of a crash, NHTSA warned on its website.
Hyundai dealers will inspect and replace the EPCU, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin Sept. 29.
Vehicle owners can reach Hyundai customer service at (800) 633-5151. Hyundais number for this recall is 166.
Photo of groundbreaking of Berkeley County plant courtesy of Volvo.
Volvo Cars is expected to double its investment in a South Carolina assembly plant that's now under construction and should open in late 2018 to produce the next generation of its S60 sedan, reports the Post and Courier.
The Swedish automaker is expected to invest $1 billion in the Berkeley County plant and hire 3,900 workers, sources told the media outlet. Volvo initially planned to invest $550 million in the new facility to produce 100,000 cars per year.
While no new production target has been announced, the Ridgeville plant would add 1,900 workers above the initial estimate. The Berkeley County Council on Monday agreed to provide $3.5 million in economic incentives for the project.
Volvo broke ground on the plant in September of 2015.
Red Cross Disaster Relief Worker Lynette talks to Tricia about hurricane damage to her home. The boat in her front yard is from somewhere down the street it washed up during the storm surge on Marathon in the Florida Keys. Since 2015, the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation has donated $1 million per year to the Annual Disaster Giving Program to provide a funding base for disaster relief services. Photo via Marko Kokic/American Red Cross
Hurricane Irma forced Enterprise Holdings to initially close more than 100 of its neighborhood and airport car rental locations (Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental, and Alamo Rent A Car) throughout Florida mostly due to power outages. Over half of these locations have started operations again, with more opening each day, according to the company.
In the Caribbean, Enterprises franchise locations in Tortola, St. Maarten, and St. Barths sustained some of the worst damage; they remain closed for inbound reservations. The Enterprise location has reopened in Turks & Caicos. Although many of the locations cant currently accept inbound reservations, they are working with locating partners in the recovery process and working with local customers to provide vehicle rentals, according to Enterprise.
Similar to what was done for customers impacted by Hurricane Harvey, Enterprises brands waived one-way rental fees for customers who rented vehicles in Southeast Florida and needed to drop them elsewhere when evacuating.
The Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation has pledged $750,000 to the American Red Cross and $250,000 to Americares. This $1 million donation follows the devastation left behind by Hurricane Irma and will assist with relief efforts in the Southeast U.S. and Caribbean, according to the company.
The donation is in addition to the $1 million the Foundation gave to support Hurricane Harvey relief in late August as well as a $1 million gift to the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP) made earlier this year. This funding brings Enterprises support for disaster relief this year to $3 million.
We know firsthand how services from the American Red Cross and Americares can be life-changing and make a positive difference for disaster victims, said Carolyn Kindle Betz, senior vice president and executive director of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation. These are the communities where our employees and customers live and work, and we will continue to support the efforts of those organizations to help people in their times of greatest need.
Harold Pierce covers education and health for The Californian. He can be reached at 661-395-7404. Follow him on Twitter @RoldyPierce
The Kern County Board of Supervisors will hear an appeal Tuesday from a property developer who wants to establish a massive event venue in a f
Fearing police were on to him, confessed murderer Jonathan Hearn had bouts of paranoia and, to avoid wiretapping, began using an internet phon
ABC/Randy HolmesChris Cornell will be posthumously honored for his philanthropic and humanitarian efforts at the L.A. Chefs for Human Rights benefit dinner, held September 25 at the Los Angeles restaurant Cassia.
During his life, Cornell and his wife Vicky helped support vulnerable children around the world through their Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation. Two months before his death, he released a new song called "The Promise," which he wrote for the film of the same name, about the Armenian genocide.
"We're deeply honored to celebrate the life-changing work Vicky and Chris have accomplished, and which she continues to carry on," says Kim Luu-Ng, human rights lawyer and co-owner of Cassia.
Vicky will accept the award on behalf of her late husband.
The L.A. Chefs for Human Rights dinner will raise money for the Program for Torture Victims, a rehabilitation program devoted to helping survivors of torture.
For more info, visit LA.ChefsforHumanRights.org.
Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman held a joint press conference on Sept. 19 with Duke Energys Florida President to talk about debris removal and lessons learned from Hurricane Irma.
Debris removal in St. Pete started 2 days early
FEMA paying $4 million for debris removal
Calls renewed for Duke Energy to strengthen power grid
"We announced that we would be starting removal of debris officially yesterday, Kriseman said. But thanks to a lot of hard work by my team and our consultants, we were able to start our debris removal two days early."
FEMA is paying $4 million for the debris removal thats expected to take several weeks. Residents should put their storm debris in a pile on their front curbside. Crews will conduct multiple sweeps of the city.
Duke Energys Florida President Harry Sideris said power will be restored to all of the 35 counties the utility operates in by Tuesday night. Kriseman called Duke irresponsible for giving people false hope that power would be restored by last Friday.
The mayor acknowledged that remark during the press conference.
"I am sure I have probably driven [Sideris] crazy over the past week-and-a-half or so, said Kriseman. But that is what us mayors do. So, my apologies Harry."
Other local politicians, like State Sen. Jack Latvala, a Republican running for governor, have called for Duke Energy to strengthen the power grid. Specifically, Latvala wants electric utilities in Florida to stop donating to political candidates and instead spend that money on the grid.
That money may not solve the entire problem, but it will be a good start, Latvala said. Im sure the thousands of Floridians who are still struggling to live without electricity would be more than happy to hear our states utilities will stop political donations and instead focus on their welfare and needs.
Latvala acknowledged that he has accepted money from utilities in the past, but said he will not in the future. Sideris would not say whether Duke Energy will stop its political contributions, but indicated the utility learned some lessons from Irma.
"We had a lot of issues and we're going to learn from those to be better in the future, said Sideris. We do have plans for more undergrounding our system.
Sideris also apologized again for the problems customers experienced, and said Duke Energy will upgrade its I.T. system that was overwhelmed by Irma.
Another thing we're going to be adding over the next few years is automated meters, he said. We will be able to then automatically know when people's power comes on or is off, without people having to call us."
Many customers complained on our Facebook page that Duke Energy did not do a good job trimming trees around power lines before the storm hit. Sideris said they maintain their right of ways.
"We have a very robust tree trimming program that's guided by the Public Service Commission, he said.
Sideris did concede, however, that one reason they missed the Friday deadline was because crews ran into more downed trees in power lines than expected.
The attorneys general of 41 states, including Florida, are investigating opioid makers for possible deceptive practices that may have contributed to the nation's opioid epidemic.
41 states subpeonaing opioid makers for documents
Looking for deceptive practices contributing to the opioid epidemic
In Florida, 1,616 people died in the first six months of 2016
Attorney General Pam Bondi joined state attorneys across the country in issuing subpeonas from the following opioid manufacturers:
Endo International -- Percocet, Opana ER
Janssen Pharmaceuticals -- Duragesic, Ultracet, Ultram
Teva Pharmaceuticals -- manufactures generics like Hydromorphone, Morphine and Oxycodone
Allergan -- Kadian, Norco
The group also asked for additional documents from Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, among others.
The group also demanded documents from distribution companies AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson.
Over the last decade, the growth of opioids has contributed to drug overdoses across the country. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, in the first six months of 2016, 1,616 people died with at least one prescription drug contributing to their death.
Bondi says prescription drugs are cited more often than illegal drugs as the cause of drug-related deaths in Florida.
Florida citizens continue to become addicted to opioids and die daily -- meanwhile, prescription drug manufacturers, distributors and the medical profession all point fingers at each other as the cause of this national crisis, said Bondi in Tuesday's announcement. This far-reaching multi-state investigation is designed to get the answers we need as quickly as possible. The industry must do the right thing. If they do not, we are prepared to litigate.
You can read the letters sent to the pharmaceutical companies by going to the attorney general's website.
Florida Governor Rick Scott visited the Hillsborough County Sheriff's office on Sept. 19 to thank first responders for their hard work and dedication during Hurricane Irma.
Scott expressed concerns about housing, standing water following Irma
Standing water could lead to renewed problems with Zika virus
Scott reminded Floridians to remain vigilant
"From the bottom of my heart, thank you for what you do," Governor Scott said.
Meanwhile, the governor said he's doing everything he can to help residents recover from the storm. Housing is one of the biggest concerns, and two percent of the state is still in the dark.
Scott said more than 30,000 utility men and women came from as far away as Canada to help restore power.
"I think we all expect to have our power on as quickly as possible," Governor Scott said. "I've been talking to the utility companies every day."
Scott emphasized that recovery was important for residents and also for tourism, as getting things up and running again will bring tourists back to the state.
"We got to get our tourists back, because so many of our jobs are tied to tourism," said Scott.
One way to attract tourists again, the governor said, is to pick up debris left by the storm.
"We've got debris around the state," Scott said. "I've asked every county what's their plan. This is a local responsibility."
With all the standing water, Scott also expressed concerned about the mosquito-borne virus Zika.
"So I'm asking everybody to think about draining your properties as fast as you can," Scott said. "Don't have any open containers sitting outside, wear bug repellent, all of those things so we don't get Zika again."
Finally, Scott warned residents not to let their guard down despite Irma being a memory, as Hurricane Season runs through Nov. 30.
"Hopefully this won't happen again, but this seems to be a very active hurricane season," Scott said.
Organizations from both sides of Tampa Bay came together on Sept. 19 to help members of St. Petersburgs Jordan Park community get back on their feet following Hurricane Irma.
Jordan Park hit hard by Hurricane Irma
Feeding Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Bucs, other groups stepped in
Volunteers handed out supplies provided by groups
The sun was shining on the neighborhood Tuesday, but the devastation from Hurricane Irma still lingered throughout the neighborhood.
"There were a lot of trees down, the power went out, I'm pretty sure everybody's food was spoiled -- it was terrible," resident Amanda Collins said.
Jordan Park was hit hard during last weeks storm. Many residents were left in the dark, unable to go to work or give their families a hot meal. Much of their food went to waste.
Several Bay area Organizations, including Feeding Tampa Bay, Coca-Cola, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers joined forces with St. Petersburg's Mayor's office plus its Police and Fire Departments to lend a helping hand.
"We know people didn't work this week, so the biggest thing is they were only going to get paid a couple of days, so how can we bring food into the community?" St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway said.
Members from Feeding Tampa Bay brought in pallets of food, while volunteers lined up assembly line-style to bag the food and water, then handed them out to families in Jordan Park.
Photo: Katie Jones, staff
"I think it's beautiful," resident Pat Wright said. "It's wonderful ... it's lovely that they're able to come out and help the community."
The residents sense of appreciation is what staff and volunteers said make their jobs well worth it.
"To me, this is a beautiful showing of the community coming together and helping everyone get back on their feet, chase their dreams and to make a difference in this world, Feeding Tampa Bay's Clarissa Rain said.
A Port Arthur man who was stopped after switching lanes without signaling last September is accused of driving while intoxicated for the seventh time.
James Harold Sampson, 78, was indicted on a third degree felony charge of driving while intoxicated Wednesday.
Vincent Gamuzza, OD, a New Jersey-based optometrist, pled guilty to healthcare fraud in a federal court earlier this week, according to a Penn Live report.
Here are four things to know:
1. Dr. Gamuzza operated 11 Pearle Vision Centers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey before he was accused of submitting false claims for services at multiple locations.
2. Between December 2015 and July 2016, Dr. Gamuzza pled guilty to submitting claims to Highmark for services that weren't provided at one of the chain's locations.
3. The maximum sentence for the false claim charge is 10 years in prison or a $250,000 fine, or both.
4. A Pittsburgh federal grand jury initially indicted Dr. Gamuzza last year and his sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 23, 2018.
Pacific Standard ran an analysis of campaign donations to Senators using MapLight's donation tracker tool. These 10 senators received the most money from health insurance companies between Nov. 2010 and Nov. 2016.
Tim Scott, R-S.C. $178,000
Gary Peters, D-Mich. $168,300
Ron Wyden, D-Ore. $148,550
Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. $134,350
Orrin Hatch, R-Utah $128,250
Mark Warner, D-Va. $124,700
Patrick Toomey, R-Pa. $116,850
Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. $113,200
Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. $112,150
Robert Casey Jr., D-Pa. $105,600
Note: MapLight's tracking system attempts to track donations from companies, company employees and relevant political action committees. A political scientist from the University of Texas in Rio Grande Valley, told Pacific Standard, he believes the numbers may be "grossly undercounted."
The White House and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wis., informed Senate Republicans they opposed a bipartisan bill which would have stabilized the ACA, Politico reports.
Here's what you should know:
1. President Donald Trump's administration and Mr. Ryan prefer for the ACA to be repealed.
2. The Republicans failed to repeal the ACA twice already. Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., introduced another ACA repeal bill last week. Ryan, the White House and Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., all support the bill.
3. Politico reports the Senate will vote on the bill next week. Republican insiders believe it can pass.
4. Senate Health Committee leader Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said Republicans stopped working on the bipartisan bill because of a lack of agreement between parties. However, Senate democrats said Republican leadership made the decision to kill the bill.
5. Vice President Mike Pence said the Trump administration is attempting to rally Republican Senators to pass an ACA repeal. He said the White House is attempting to deliver the following message on the repeal, "This is the moment. Now is the time."
6. The Republicans have to pass an ACA repeal before Sept. 30 to fit into the window of their budget reconciliation measure. The measure allows for a bill to pass by simple majority.
7. Mr. Graham suggested that Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., may support the bill. Mr. McCain was opposed to the party's last attempt. Mr. McCain offered no comment on the subject.
8. Despite party support, a bipartisan group of governors are in opposition to the bill. This group includes Alaska Gov. Bill Walker, I, Ohio Governor John Kasich, R, and Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, R. The governors sent a letter to the Senate asking it to concentrate on the bipartisan approach.
9. The American Medical Association released a statement against the bill, as did Colon Cancer Alliance CEO Michael Sapienza.
Mr. Sapienza criticized the bill on multiple levels. He said in a release, "Allowing insurers to charge patients with cancer histories higher premiums is precisely the opposite of what we should be doing, and for that reason the Colon Cancer Alliance, along with more than 35 other cancer groups, strongly opposes this amendment while urging the Senate to not consider it."
North Charleston officials reached a unanimous decision to support Medical University of South Carolina's pediatric ambulatory campus in Charleston, according to The Post and Courier.
Here are four key points:
1. On behalf of MUSC, the South Carolina Jobs-Economic Development Authority issued $46 million in economic development bonds for the project. The city did support the plans in a unanimous resolution Sept. 14.
2. MUSC broke ground on the nearly $50 million ambulatory campus June 30.
3. The 100,000-square-foot facility will include a pediatric surgery center. It will also include a pediatric multispecialty medical office building, equipped with imaging facility, infusion rooms and an urgent care clinic.
4. MUSC expects to complete construction early 2019.
A federal grand jury indicted Williamsburg, Va.-based Cullom Eye and Laser Center's former administrator for alleged embezzlement, according to the Williamsburg Yorktown Daily.
Here are five things to know:
1. Cullom Eye and Laser Center employed Sherea Darnell as administrator from March 2012 to September 2016, during which time she is accused of embezzling around $500,000 from the center. She is charged with wire fraud, bank fraud and filing false tax returns in addition to unauthorized access to a device, according to the report.
2. During her time as administrator, Ms. Darnell had access to two business credit cards to purchase supplies and office equipment. However, she allegedly used the cards for personal purchases including private school tuition for her son and maid services.
3. Court documents reveal more than $90,000 in cash advancements were made on the eye center's credit cards while Ms. Darnell had access to them.
4. Ms. Darnell resigned from her post in September 2016 and moved out of state. Center owners examined bank accounts more closely after her resignation and noticed large payments were made to the office cards.
5. In this case, Ms. Darnell faces penalties of 30 years on each bank fraud case, 20 years on each wire fraud case and three years for filing false tax returns, according to the report.
In a tweet last night, Shawn wrote, "My deepest condolences are with those affected by the earthquake in Mexico City today. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances, we will be unable to continue on with my Mexico City show scheduled for tomorrow. My love is with all of you and I promise I will be back."
Shawn's concert at Mexico City's National Auditorium was to have been his final show until November 25, when he was scheduled to kick off a tour of Australia, New Zealand and Asia in Auckland.
Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Critics are citing concerns over the $200 million donation to University of California Irvine that will launch a new health program to promote integrative medicine, which combines alternative medicine, such as preventive medicine, therapeutic and lifestyle approaches, with conventional medicine, according to STAT.
"This is ultimately a very bad thing. It's putting emphasis and the imprimatur of a university on things that have been discarded as medical fraud for 50 years," Steven Novella, MD, a neurologist at New Haven, Conn.-based Yale University, told STAT.
Other individuals in academia are raising red flags as well, including Tim Caulfield, a Canada-based University of Alberta health law professor, who argues the donation will legitimize invalid practices.
Despite the criticism, the leaders behind the initiative, Howard Federoff, MD, PhD, CEO of UC Irvine's health system and Shaista Malik, MD, the director of UC Irvine's Center for Integrative Medicine, defended their approach. Drs. Federoff and Malik argue that since so many people seek alternative care, it means conventional medicine has lapses.
In addition, the leaders behind the initiative claimed other medical schools were too slow to adopt alternative therapies that revealed promise in clinical trials. They further defended exploring alternative medicine, suggesting it was time to transform healthcare to focus on a patient's full range of needs rather than just treating an illness, according to the report.
"We take patient safety as our highest calling and we will never deploy any approach integrative or not that put patients at risk. Any non-proven or non-evidence based approach? We will not deploy it," Dr. Howard told STAT.
Mary Ann Barnes, RN, president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals Hawaii Region, retired Sept. 8.
Here are four things to know.
1. Ms. Barnes joined Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente more than 43 years ago as an intensive care unit nurse.
2. She joined Honolulu-based Kaiser Permanente Hawaii in 2014.
3. Bill Caswell, senior vice president and COO for Kaiser Permanente Southern California in Pasadena, will serve as interim regional president while an executive search is conducted.
4. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals Hawaii Region also appointed Ray Hahn senior vice president and COO.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus can cause numerous health issues, including skin infections, sepsis, pneumonia and bloodstream infections, according to the CDC.
Here are 20 findings on MRSA in 2017, beginning with the most recent:
1. University of Hong Kong researchers identified a chemical compound that can help fight MRSA, without resorting to antibiotics. The compound, NP16, inhibits the MRSA-produced staphyloxanthin, which can resist the human immune system. The researcher published their findings in mBio.
2. Nursing scrubs with antimicrobial properties do not prevent bacterial contamination in healthcare settings, according to a study published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. Of 120 nurse shifts studied, researchers found new contamination on scrubs during 39 shifts. Staphylococcus aureus including MRSA and methicillin susceptible S. aureus was the most commonly transmitted pathogen.
3. A study published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology shows healthcare-associated infections due to multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria and MRSA elevate mortality risk among patients. Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study of inpatients in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs system between Oct. 1, 2007, and Nov. 30, 2010.
4. Even if healthcare workers wash their hands perfectly, they could still transmit MRSA to vulnerable infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. Researchers from Philadelphia-based Drexel University created a simulated NICU at Newark, Del.-based Christiana Care to see the potential for per-hour infant-to-infant MRSA transmission via a healthcare worker resulting in colonization. They published their findings in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
5. Screening for the colonization of MRSA in the noses of patients upon admission does not fuel prolonged use of the antibiotic vancomycin, according to a study published in the American Journal of Infection Control. The research team assessed the duration of antibiotic use among 2,910 patients administered intravenous vancomycin at Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System from January 2013 through November 2015.
https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/mrsa-screening-not-linked-to-prolonged-antibiotic-use-study-finds.html
6. A decolonization effort spearheaded by the Veterans Health Administration reduced the rate of MRSA infections among residents at Salisbury (N.C.) Veterans Affairs Community Living Center by 89 percent over a four-year span. The initiative included giving residents who tested positive for MRSA daily chlorhexidine baths and treating them with intra-nasal mupirocin. The researchers presented their findings at the 44th Annual Conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, June 14 to June 16 in Portland, Ore.
7. Hospital door handles often harbor MRSA, a study in Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, shows. Researchers swabbed 120 door handles, stair railings and other high-touch areas in three hospitals in Ghana, West Africa. A total of 47 of the swabs (39 percent) were positive for S. aureus, and eight of them were MRSA.
8. Children suffering from MRSA-related bloodstream infections have a high risk of developing complications, which worsen each day the infection is left untreated, according to a study published in Pediatrics. Researchers examined MRSA infections in 232 patients, younger than 18 years, from 2007 to 2014 in three large children's hospitals.
9. Scientific researchers created a hybrid cell fusing components of viruses that attack bacteria with human immune cells. In mice, the hybrid cells successfully treated life-threatening MRSA. The researchers published their findings in Proceedings for the National Academy of Sciences.
10. A study published in the American Journal of Infection Control shows MRSA pneumonia incidence decreased among patients at U.S. hospitals, accompanied by improvements in mortality rates. Researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of the National Inpatient Sample from 2009 to 2012.
11. Bathing daily with with chlorhexidine gluconate can reduce incidence of some hospital-acquired infections, such as MRSA and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus. Researchers conducted the study in four inpatient units in a Canadian hospital from May 1, 2014, to Aug. 10, 2015. The study results were published in the American Journal of Infection Control.
12. Germs on hospital room floors can move rapidly to high-touch surfaces and then healthcare worker hands, thus making dirty hospital floors more of an infection risk than previously thought, according to a study in the American Journal of Infection Control. Researchers cultured 318 floor sites from 159 patient rooms in five Cleveland-area hospitals, as well as gloved and bare hands and other high-touch surfaces like clothes, call buttons and medical devices.
13. A study published in Chemical Science shows an antibiotic substance created by bacteria found on a species of African ant native to Kenya inhibits the growth of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci and MRSA. The bacteria isolated from the African fungus-growing plant-ant Tetraponera penzigi has been dubbed Streptomyces formica.
14. A refined extract from red berries of the Brazilian peppertree inhibited MRSA in mice. To determine whether the plant's botanical properties could be used to treat drug-resistant infections, researchers extracted a refined flavone-rich composition from the plant's berries. Scientific Reports published the study.
16. An international team of researchers discovered silver ion-coated scaffolds biomaterials that are created to hold stem cells can slow and even prevent, in some cases, the spread of MRSA, while also regenerating new bone. The researchers coated the threads of a bone-forming scaffold with a silver ion-containing solution before testing. Tissue Engineering, Part A published the study.
17. An organic compound extracted from a deep-water marine sponge displayed potent antibacterial capabilities when introduced to MRSA, according to research published in Marine Drugs. Researchers found the sponge while searching for unusual marine organisms near the Bahamas.
18. A new study published in BMC Infectious Diseases examined the efficacy of different approaches for cleaning environmental surfaces to prevent contact transmission of MRSA and other hospital-acquired infections. The study shows whole room cleaning just before first patient care activities of the day was more effective than whole room cleaning at other times. Additionally, whole room cleaning reduced the number of MRSA transmitted to the susceptible patient by 54 percent.
19. Adding ultraviolet-C light disinfection to standard terminal room disinfection practices can reduce transmission of drug-resistant organisms, including MRSA, by a cumulative 30 percent, according to a study led by Durham, N.C.-based Duke Health and published in The Lancet. The trial took place from 2012 to 2014 at nine hospitals three Duke University Health System hospitals, a Veterans Affairs hospital and small community healthcare settings.
20. Between October 2007 and September 2015, monthly rates for hospital-acquired infections of MRSA dropped significantly in Veterans Affairs facilities, a decrease that is associated with a VA campaign focused on reducing MRSA rates, according to a study in the American Journal of Infection Control. The campaign included having a dedicated MRSA prevention coordinator at each facility to oversee a bundle of interventions. Some of the interventions were contact precautions for those colonized or infected with MRSA and adherence to hand hygiene.
Medovex launched its DenerveX System, a device designed to relieve facet joint syndrome, in Spain.
Here are five insights:
1. The DenerveX System is designed to denervate and remove capsular tissue from the facet joint in one procedure.
2. The system removes the targeted facet joint synovial membrane and joint surface while heat ablation destroys tissue and denudes any residual nervous and synovial membrane overlying the joint.
3. Medovex released the results of two patients assessed five weeks after being treated with the system. One patient reported 70 percent reduction in pain and other reported pain decreased 80 percent.
4. Training for the system and first order began earlier in September. In addition, DenerveX System received Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration approval.
5. The system has not received FDA clearance.
Mazor Robotics received the CE mark for its Mazor X Surgical Assurance Platform.
Here are three highlights:
1. Equipped with the approval, Mazor will work with commercial partner Medtronic to market the platform in the European Union.
2. Mazor CEO Ori Hadomi commented Medtronic will head Mazor X marketing and sales in Europe.
3. The Mazor X system integrates preoperative planning tools and analytics with intraoperative guidance to assist surgeons during minimally invasive surgery.
Prime Minister Theresa May has been criticised for not "sending a strong warning" to US planemaker Boeing over its industry challenge, which could threaten jobs here.
Mrs May met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Canada on Monday, over a challenge to aerospace giant Bombardier, which could scupper a multi-billion deal for its C Series aircraft.
Bombardier employs around 4,500 workers in Northern Ireland.
Speaking after meeting Mr Trudeau in Ottawa, Mrs May said she would be raising the dispute with Mr Trump later this week.
"I will be impressing on him the significance of Bombardier to the United Kingdom and particularly to jobs in Northern Ireland," she said.
The Unite union's regional secretary, Jimmy Kelly, said: "Unite is very disappointed not to have heard Prime Minister Theresa May deliver a clear message to a very worried public that this is a priority concern for the UK government too. The UK is the second largest purchaser of Boeing products - we urge the UK prime minister to use the huge leverage she has here."
Simon Davis takes the original crossover for a drive to see how it fares.
What is it?
Ask anyone at Nissan and they'll tell you that the Qashqai is the original crossover vehicle. The first-generation model was launched back in 2007, and since then the Japanese manufacturer has gone on to sell around 2.3 million examples in Europe alone.
Now in its second generation, Nissan is confident that the latest Qashqai will be able to continue on the success of its predecessor.
What's new?
From an aesthetic point of view, not a huge deal has changed with the new Qashqai compared with the second-generation model that was launched in 2014. There's a slightly revised front end, with a larger 'V-motion' grille, sleeker headlights and taillights and more chrome brightwork to help give the Qashqai a more upmarket image.
A new top-flight trim level has also been introduced - called Tekna+ - which Nissan hopes will appeal to those buyers after a more premium crossover. There's also greater emphasis on refinement in the cabin.
The biggest headline with the new Qashqai, however, is Nissan's ProPilot autonomous driving technology. This will be available from 2018, and will allow the Qashqai to control its steering, acceleration and braking in a single lane on motorways at cruising speed and in heavy traffic.
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What's under the bonnet?
We were handed the keys to the range-topping Tekna+ model, which was fitted with Nissan's 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel engine. This power plant develops a modest 109bhp and 260Nm of torque, which allows for a 0-60mph sprint time of 11.7 seconds and a top speed of 113mph.
While performance might not be this engine's forte, it's certainly impressive as far as economy is concerned. Nissan claims the 1.5-litre diesel unit can manage a combined fuel consumption figure of 74.3mpg, while CO2 emissions stand at 99g/km.
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What's it like to drive?
To say the Nissan Qashqai is an exciting car to drive would be an overstatement. It's certainly capable, but it's not going to set your heart racing with any outstanding dynamic abilities. Through the corners, it's predictable and while there is a bit of body roll, it's not enough to make you feel unsettled.
While the Qashqai may not be at home on a winding country back road, as a long-distance cruiser it makes a great deal of sense. Even on those large 19-inch alloy wheels, our test vehicle dealt with imperfections in the road rather well, and there wasn't a great deal of road or wind noise that made its way into the cabin. The seats are also impressively comfortable, combining a good amount of softness and support.
How does it look?
Compared with its predecessor, not a great deal has changed. The front end has been touched up a bit, while the back end of the car has also been slightly revised. There's new headlight and taillights, while the V-Motion grille at the front end of the car has also been enlarged.
Higher-specification models feature a greater amount of exterior chrome brightwork to help give the Qashqai a more upmarket look.
While these changes certainly aren't drastic, they do help the Qashqai look fresh when compared with its immediate rivals. That said, they don't go far enough to making the Qashqai look truly desirable. It's certainly not unattractive, but it's not going to excite anyone, either.
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What's it like inside?
You can tell that Nissan has really worked hard to make the interior of the latest Qashqai an appealing place to sit. Our top-flight Tekna+ model featured plush quilted leather seats, a premium Bose stereo system and smart-looking piano black panelling around the infotainment system. However, while these features might go some way to lifting the appeal of the Qashqai, there are still a number of surfaces that remind you it isn't quite the premium crossover it's cracked up to be.
As far as interior space is concerned, the Qashqai will easily meet the needs of most families. There's more than enough room across the back seats for three children, and two taller adult passengers will also be able to ride in comfort over longer journeys. Boot space stands at 430 litres with the rear seats in place, and can be increased to 1,598 litres with the seats folded down.
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What's the spec like?
As you would expect from a top-level trim, Tekna+ offers Qashqai buyers plenty of kit for their money. Prices start at a fairly considerable 27,830 and will get you standard equipment such as full Nappa leather upholstery, a premium Bose sound system, electronically adjustable driver's seat and a panoramic glass roof.
However, the vast majority of Qashqai customers will likely opt for the mid-range N-Connecta models, which start at 23,805. Standard equipment with this trim level includes a seven-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation, 18-inch alloys, and a range of driver assist systems such as intelligent emergency braking and lane departure warning.
Verdict
The new Nissan Qashqai may not be the most exciting on sale, or even in its segment, but that's not to say it isn't incredibly capable. We'd probably steer clear of the top-flight Tekna+ model and opt instead for one of the more affordable mid-range models, as they represent better value for money in our eyes, but if you can afford it, it's unlikely you'll be disappointed with the top-flight car.
It needn't cost a fortune to live in a big house, is the message from a young Northern Ireland architect who moved his family from a small east Belfast terraced house into an impressive modern build in the countryside.
Micah Jones' 'four bedroom supershed' creation has been his dream since he was handed his first hammer and saw as an eight-year-old.
But the 29-year-old said his principal motivation in building his own house so early in his career was to create a larger home for his growing family.
"Belfast is quite expensive, especially when you are looking at a three bedroom-sized house. It was actually the same sort of cost to buy a site and build our own," he told the Belfast Telegraph.
Micah and his wife Elaine spotted the site just outside Ballygowan where they built their home on the Property News website back in 2014. They started the build in 2016. To add to the challenge, the couple's third child was born in June, just as they were moving in.
Their remarkable story of transforming a dilapidated old agricultural building is set to be featured on the Channel 4 series Grand Designs tonight.
Micah insisted the process of building your own house is less stressful than many might think - despite having to live on a caravan on site - and also possible on smaller budgets. He and his wife had initially set a budget of 210,000, and completed the build for 245,000.
"We had been living in a little terraced house in east Belfast; we wanted to move from our first house to our last house," he explained.
"I had grown up in the country, whereas my wife is a city girl. That's what started us looking. Ballygowan is also quite a handy spot in terms of getting into Belfast. For most architects it is something to aspire to (building your own house), although it was probably a bit early in my career. It was out of necessity. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole process. The house is completely different to anything currently on the market."
Micah joked that one of the biggest challenges has been adapting from life in a small terrace to suddenly having space.
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"It was built around the idea of a big shed, the bedrooms are on the ground floor, upstairs is a big long space. There are no real doors or walls, it is split up into a few areas, but it is one big space."
While Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud has seen impressive designs across the UK, Micah said he was very positive about his Ballygowan project.
To see the final completed property, tune into Grand Designs, Channel 4 tonight, at 9pm
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Game of Thrones actor Aidan Gillen will star in a biopic based on the life and career of Irish comedian Dave Allen.
The hour-long BBC2 drama, which has already begun filming in Northern Ireland, will also star Ballycastle actor, and Gillen's Game of Thrones co-star, Conleth Hill as Allen's brother John, while his father and mother will be played by Irish comedian Tommy Tiernan.
Dave Allen at Peace will focus on the comedian's controversial forty-year career, which is said to be "shaped by the tragic loss of his father, his brother and his finger."
The film will look at Allen's timeline from performing alongside his brother as a Butlins Redcoat to becoming one of the UK and Irelands comedy greats - and also a ban by Irish and Australian TV.
Shane Allen, Controller of Comedy Commissioning, said: Dave Allen defined and pushed at the boundaries of where television comedy were set and paved the way for modern stand-up to tackle controversial themes and taboos.
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"This film explores what shaped his trail-blazing career and celebrates this hugely popular comedian who ridiculed authority figures with a twinkle in his eye, a glass of whiskey and the most talked about finger in comedy history.
Charlotte Surtees, Executive Producer, Darlow Smithson Production, added: Dave Allen was compulsory viewing at home growing up.
"His warmth, wit and keen eye for the ridiculous was underpinned by a fierce intellect. As free speech faces uncertain times in an uncertain world, Daves extraordinary comedy is a timely reminder to never take ourselves too seriously."
The NI Screen and RTE joint venture will also feature cameos from Cold Feet star Robert Bathurst, Father Ted actress Pauline McLynn, and Belfast actor Ian McElhinney.
Producers say the project will be structured "in affectionate homage" to Daves original television format on shows like Tonight with Dave Allen and Dave Allen at Large, including life reflections from the comic's famous bar stool.
One of the most renowned stars of British acting is set to be honoured with the freedom of Belfast, it can be revealed.
Sir Kenneth Branagh was born in north Belfast and spent his early childhood in the city before his family moved to England.
Since then he has gone on to establish himself in theatre, big screen movies, on television and also directing productions, winning three BAFTAs along the way.
He grew up in the Tiger's Bay area of Belfast and attended Grove Primary School before his family left Northern Ireland when he was just nine, but Sir Kenneth told the Belfast Telegraph last year that he always regards the city as his home.
Former Lord Mayor Brian Kingston nominated Sir Kenneth for the honour in April this year in recognition of his "outstanding achievements and international status in drama and cinema, as an actor, director, producer and screenwriter".
As is the council procedure for such requests, this was put to the party groups, and it received "overwhelming support".
Minutes for a meeting of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee due to take place on Friday also record that Sir Kenneth has indicated that he would be honoured to accept the award.
Councillors attending that meeting have been recommended to agree to award the Freedom of the City to Sir Kenneth, and that a Special Meeting of the council be convened at 6pm on Monday, October 2.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph last year, Sir Kenneth said his first taste of what became his life's passion came at the old Grove Theatre on the Shore Road.
"I went to see the great Joseph Tomelty playing the Ghost of Jacob Marley in a production of Scrooge, and I remember that being very powerfully impactful on me," he said. "I was also aware then of an actor called Stephen Rea. He was talked about in our household as a 'proper' actor. So there was a great pride in those who were achieving a degree of prominence."
He starred as Billy, in the Billy Plays, set in Belfast in the early 1980s, before mastering Shakespearean plays in London's West End, and also starred in a number of movies, most recently epic war movie Dunkirk. He is currently directing and starring in a film adaptation of Agatha Christie's detective novel Murder on the Orient Express, alongside Judi Dench and Johnny Depp.
Sir Kenneth will be the 82nd person to receive the Freedom of Belfast, following in the footsteps of Michael Longley and Van Morrison.
Maoliosa McHugh (second from right) with (from left) party colleagues Raymond McCartney, Martina Anderson and Elisha McCallion
A row has broken out after a Sinn Fein mayor wore his chain of office to Maghaberry Prison to visit a jailed republican.
Maoliosa McHugh was photographed alongside a party delegation outside the jail on Friday after meeting Tony Taylor.
Mr Taylor is a former IRA man who was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 1994, and again jailed for three years in 2011. His licence was revoked in March 2016.
Sinn Fein and others have long called for his release, stating there is no evidence of any wrongdoing.
But the visit angered a former DUP Mayor of Londonderry, who has called on Mr McHugh to "apologise for hurt caused to the unionist community".
Hilary McClintock, who was Mayor of Derry and Strabane District Council last year, said there are serious concerns within the unionist community about the neutrality of the office.
Alderman McClintock said the mayor's prison visit is a "step too far" and the move has "deeply hurt" unionists.
"Since Mayor McHugh took up office, we have witnessed him wearing the chain of office to a Sinn Fein election victory event and heard the very inadequate response that he offered after that event," he said.
"The mayor has never made any attempt to include those whose wish is to use the rightful name of the city of Londonderry. As Mayor I would have used the term Derry-Londonderry, whether I agreed with it or not, he hasn't.
"His latest support for Tony Taylor, a man convicted of planting a bomb in Londonderry and possessing a rifle, causes further alienation of a large section of the community he should be representing.
"The mayor was given authority by councillors to visit Tony Taylor's family in his role as mayor.
"But he actually went to Maghaberry Prison wearing his chain of office with his Sinn Fein colleagues.
"It looked like he was going in his official position to the prison, representing the council and wearing the chain to visit a man who has been convicted of terrorism offences in the past."
This is not the first time Mr McHugh has been criticised for wearing his official chain inappropriately.
In July he came under fire for addressing a rally for Mr Taylor in Londonderry.
Alderman McClintock added: "This mayor has set back community relations at a time when Sinn Fein constantly demand respect and equality."
Mayor McHugh was not available for comment.
A spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council said: "The mayor was part of a delegation that travelled to Maghaberry last week to visit Tony Taylor.
"Earlier this year Derry City and Strabane District Council passed a motion supporting calls for the immediate release of Tony Taylor who is presently detained in Maghaberry."
A Belfast mum-of-two who has been on the Housing Executive's waiting list for nine years has revealed she regularly goes without food for up to three days to keep a roof over her children's heads
A Belfast mum-of-two who has been on the Housing Executive's waiting list for nine years has revealed she regularly goes without food for up to three days to keep a roof over her children's heads.
The woman (27), who does not wish to be named, says she "drinks lots of water" to cope with hunger during her part-time job in a grocery store. Yesterday, the Belfast Telegraph revealed how almost 1,000 properties owned by the Housing Executive are lying vacant - some for several years - despite the organisation having 37,611 households on its waiting list.
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The Housing Executive's 926 vacant properties have remained empty for a combined total of 1,677 years - an average of nearly two years per property.
The single mum told this newspaper that she struggles to make ends meet due to high private sector rents, and fights to hide the reality from her children, aged nine and two.
"The Housing Executive haven't offered me anything in the nine years that I have been on the waiting list," she revealed.
"I'm in temporary accommodation in the private sector, I get very little housing benefit, and with the hours I work in my part-time job I can hardly afford to pay the rent. I regularly skip meals for two or three days so the kids can eat. They don't know how hard things are.
"On the days I can't eat, I drink a lot more water to stop feeling faint. I go into work and I'm surrounded by food, but you get used to it. It's shocking to have to do this today in Northern Ireland. If we got a Housing Executive house the rent wouldn't be as high."
There are 23,694 people in housing stress or priority need and over 16,000 homeless people in Northern Ireland. The average waiting time for a home is around 38 months - just over three years. The Belfast region has 321 properties which have been vacant for 345 years in total. That is despite 12,952 applicants there waiting for a home for an average of just under 39 months.
SDLP MLA Nichola Mallon said that the "fact that we have vacant properties that could be turned into much-needed family homes cannot be ignored".
Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson called for action to bring vacant properties "back into the public housing stock, either through housing associations or the Housing Executive".
A Housing Executive spokesperson said the 926 properties without a tenancy at the end of July were "1% of our total stock." She added: "Of those, almost 50% of properties were waiting for a new tenant to move in imminently as the previous tenant's tenancy had terminated. Our lettable voids are at their lowest ever level."
She said the most common reason for a house becoming vacant was the death of a tenant.
Before a new tenancy, each property took on average 15 days to be assessed for services such as gas and electricity and to make repairs, compared to a UK average of 23 days.
The other 50% of houses, known as non-actionable voids, were "generally held vacant for operational reasons", such as accommodating families during major improvement schemes, during the adaptation of homes for disabled people, and pending demolition of properties to make way for new social homes.
One of the cars involved in the fatal collision at Burntollett Bridge outside Londonderry in 2013
A 69-year-old grandfather was killed when one of two cars racing along a road on the outskirts of Londonderry four years ago lost control and crashed into his oncoming car, a jury has heard.
David John Ritchie died at the scene on the Glenshane Road and his 17-year-old granddaughter, who had been his front seat passenger, was also injured.
On trial is Stephen Magee, from Ivy Mead in the Altnagelvin area of Derry.
He denies causing Mr Ritchie's death by dangerous driving on April 17, 2013.
His co-defendant in the case, Thomas Hyndman, from Knockbrack Road in Ardmore, was also to have gone on trial.
But just before the trial started he was re-arraigned on six charges relating to the fatal crash, which he had originally denied. He pleaded guilty to causing Mr Ritchie's death by dangerous driving, driving without insurance and while disqualified, failing to remain at the scene of the accident and failing to report the accident.
Hyndman also pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily injury to Magee by dangerous driving.
The court was told that Magee sustained brain injuries in the fatal crash for which he is still being treated.
A prosecution barrister told the jury that both Magee and Hyndman drove Vauxhall Astra cars at speed along the Glenshane Road, at times overtaking other vehicles.
The prosecutor said they raced each other from a garage in the village of Drumahoe to the scene of the accident three miles away.
As they raced each other, the car driven by Magee lost control and crashed into a roadside barrier.
It rebounded off the barrier and veered into the path of the oncoming car being driven by Mr Ritchie.
The car driven by Magee spun in a clockwise direction, smashed into Mr Ritchie's car and then crashed down a nearby embankment.
"The prosecution case is the two Astra cars had been engaged in racing at speed along a stretch of the Glenshane Road about three miles from Drumahoe," the prosecutor said.
"The collision occurred close to Burntollet Bridge when the car being driven by Mr Ritchie on his correct side of the road was struck by the car driven by the defendant Magee.
"The two Astras were at times close to each other and only a few feet separated them.
"The defendant Hyndman during his police interview accepted he was driving over the speed limit and overtook the car being driven by his friend, the defendant Magee, by crossing over the central white lines. He looked in his rear view mirror and saw that the car being driven by his friend had lost control, struck a crash barrier and collided with Mr Ritchie's car."
The barrister said that by their actions both men had caused the death of Mr Ritchie.
Hyndman was released on continuing bail after his guilty pleas until sentencing at a later date. In the meantime, Magee's trial is expected to last up to a week.
The Co Londonderry owner of a cat left blinded after being shot in the face has said she's horrified by the vindictive cruelty.
The pedigree Maine Coon called Leo was on owner Maureen Newman's property, on Halfgayne Road in Maghera, and climbing along the garage roof, when he was blasted.
The majestic two-year-old feline staggered to safety behind the garage wall, trapping himself.
The cat, whose full name is 'Leo Aston Martin Teca Newman', spent several hours quivering in pain as Maureen (56) sought to entice him out.
She said: "It was about 8.15pm on the Saturday night and I had just fed the cat a few Dreamies treats. We were outside at the aviary, me with the cat and my King Charles Spaniel, Charlie.
"The cat walked along the wall and onto the garage. All of sudden there was an unmerciful bang - we knew it was a gunshot. The dog was terrified and ran into the house and the next thing I saw Leo, he had been shot."
Mrs Newman said she spent more than three hours trying to reach him behind the garage before rushing him to Glenshane Vets in the town, after midnight.
Leo underwent an eight-hour operation to save his life but lost his right eye and part of his paw. His left ear was also damaged.
"Leo stayed with the vet over the weekend but is now home with a load of painkillers," said Mrs Newman. "I am nursing him but the poor thing is very nervous, he's very, very shaken."
Mrs Newman, who has lived in the area her whole life, said she does not believe the cat was shot accidentally.
Daniel Barclay, from Northern Ireland Says No to Animal Cruelty, said stiffer sentences are needed for animal cruelty.
"Whoever did this should not be walking the streets," he said. "They do these things because they can, because there is something inherently wrong with them. The police investigate and then bring it to the courts, but time and time again we are let down by a light sentence.
Police in Maghera are investigating.
Murphy admitted to "pursuing a course of conduct which amounted to the harassment" of his estranged wife.
A 59-year-old farmer from Newry who displayed a "wilful disregard for court orders" was sent to prison on Wednesday for carrying out a campaign of harassment against his estranged wife.
Handing Sean Murphy a seven-and-a-half month sentence, Judge Sandra Crawford told the father of five: "Due to the calculated nature of your harassment, you were bound to know your conduct would have caused considerable stress to your wife."
Newry Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, heard Murphy, from Carnally Road in Silverbridge, could not accept the breakdown of his 35-year marriage. The court also heard that following the separation, Murphy had failed to adhere to several court orders, including non-molestation orders to stay away from Caroline Murphy.
Prior to sentence being passed, Murphy's barrister asked on behalf of his client if Murphy could address the court, but his request was rejected by the Judge.
The court heard that Murphy - who was described in court as a qualified chartered engineer who now runs the family farm - initially denied harassing his wife on a number of occasions between January and March 2016.
A trial was held in January of this year, and on the second day of the hearing and after Mrs Murphy had given evidence, the defendant changed his plea and admitted his guilt. Following the plea, a total of seven charges of breaching a non-molestation were not proceeded with and were "left on the books".
Judge Crawford said that in the period between entering his plea and today's sentencing, Murphy failed to attend a court hearing which resulted in an arrest warrant being issued. She also spoke of a history of breaching restraining and non-molestation orders.
Regarding the offence itself, Murphy admitted to "pursuing a course of conduct which amounted to the harassment" of his estranged wife.
The harassment including texting Mrs Murphy, sitting outside her house in his car on five occasions, and "encountering" when she was walking from her solicitor's office to Newry Courthouse.
Judge Crawford said that after listening to Mrs Murphy giving evidence at the trial earlier this year, it was "clear to the court her vulnerability and the fear and distress she suffered" due to this conduct.
The court heard a pre-sentence report was compiled on Murphy, and the probation officer concluded Murphy was in denial that his marriage was over, that he "projected blame" onto his estranged wife, that he took no responsibility for his actions and that he has shown no remorse.
Judge Crawford said the report indicated that as well as there being an absence of remorse or insight, Murphy's actions also displayed a "high degree of malicious intent."
The judge told the defendant: "Until you start to recognise the harm your behaviour causes, you will not reduce your high likelihood of reoffending."
Telling Murphy he had shown a "wilful disregard for court orders designed to protect the victim", Judge Crawford said that while she accepted the breakdown of his marriage has had a "profound" impact on his, he had to change his attitude towards his offending.
Judge Crawford also issued a restraining order banning Murphy from "intimidating, harassing, pestering or annoying" Mrs Murphy when he is released from custody. Failure to do so, the Judge warned, would result in a further period in prison.
A rally by IRA victims in the centre of Dublin will be held on October 28, according to campaigner Willie Frazer.
Mr Frazer yesterday led a delegation of victims from south Armagh and representatives of the Kingsmill families to meet senior Garda officers to plan for the event.
The campaigner said the aim of the demonstration was to "highlight the issue of a lack of co-operation from the Irish Government" over the release of documents that could aid the inquest into the 1976 Kingsmill atrocity and lift the lid on other IRA activity.
Earlier this month, Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said he believed all documents had been handed over to the Coroner's Office and that"no games were being played".
But Mr Frazer has consistently claimed that Dublin has failed to properly engage on legacy issues.
Northern Ireland's top human rights official has said that a lack of leadership from the UK government is holding up progress on legacy issues.
This comes as the UK is set to clash with the United Nations over its adoption of a number of human rights recommendations made earlier this year as part of universal periodic review by the UN Human Rights Council - something which each member state is subject to every five years.
In a statement to the Belfast Telegraph, Northern Ireland Human Rights Chief Commissioner Les Allamby said: "Were disappointed by the lack of leadership on human rights across the UK Government, and would like to see a concerted effort to address the mounting number of outstanding recommendations from the United Nations human rights system.
"In particular we note that the UN Human Rights Council has now joined with the Council of Europe and numerous UN Treaty Bodies in calling for a swift and effective investigations on all the deaths linked to the conflict in Northern Ireland, through implementation of the Stormont House Agreement and the Human Rights Council have specifically highlighted the need to providing funding for the Lord Chief Justices proposal to address legacy inquests."
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is accredited by the United Nations and receives funding from the UK government, but operates independently.
The comments were made ahead of a commitment from Secretary of State for Northern Ireland James Brokenshire to publish plans for dealing with legacy issues before the end of the year - whether or not there is a deal between the DUP and Sinn Fein to restore the Stormont Executive.
Human Rights Council discussion
Head of the UK-wide Equality and Human Rights Commission David Isaac is due to appear before a regular session of the Human Rights council on Thursday, where he will be representing the UK's three national human rights institutions.
In May of this year, the United Kingdom attended a working group of the Human Rights Council and received 229 recommendations - but has opted to support just 96, or 42%, of the total number made.
The average for international rate for supporting the recommendations sits at 72%, and during its previous review in 2012 the UK supported 54% of recommendations made.
The meeting on Thursday will give UN member states their first opportunity to discuss the UK's updated human rights position.
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Speaking ahead of the meeting, Mr Isaac said that the UK had historically been a champion of human rights, but that reputation was now under threat due to "the negative tone of debate from some politicians and many parts of the media around the Human Rights Act, and the potential risk to peoples equality and human rights protections when the UK leaves the European Union".
Northern Irish issues
Resolution of legacy cases involving some of the most controversial killings of the Troubles has been a bone of contention for Northern Ireland's top judge Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan since he took up the position in November 2015.
In a speech earlier this month to mark the start of the legal year, Sir Declan said that it was a point of "deep frustration" that it had not been possible to implement a five-year plan for dealing with legacy issues that he had recommended in February 2016, due to a lack of resources.
As well as allowing the justice system to deal effectively with legacy issues, recommendations were also made to the United Kingdom in relation to law governing access to abortion in Northern Ireland.
On the issue of abortion, the report of the working group from the Human Rights Council recommended the UK should: "Ensure that the law governing access to abortion in Northern Ireland fully complies with international human rights law, by decriminalising abortion and ensuring access to abortion in cases of severe and fatal fetal anomalies and where the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest."
The European Parliament's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt in Belfast at the start of a two day fact-finding mission
The UK must address its failure to present a workable solution to the Irish border problem before Brexit negotiations can proceed to the next stage , a key player in the European Parliament has warned.
The parliament's Brexit co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadt said the answer could lie in Northern Ireland remaining in the customs union and single market post-Brexit, even if the rest of the UK leaves those structures.
However, the Belgian MEP stressed the onus was very much on the UK Government to propose an acceptable resolution, insisting the ideas tabled by Whitehall to date were not up to scratch.
Mr Verhofstadt was in Belfast at the start of a two-day fact-finding mission to the island of Ireland. He met the leaders of the region's main political parties at Stormont before heading to the border to hear the concerns of those living on what will be the UK's only land frontier with the EU.
He told the Press Association a "unique solution" was needed to avoid a hard border.
"A unique solution in that there is no resurrection of a hard border in Northern Ireland because that is not in the interests of business in Northern Ireland and Ireland, neither in the interests of the citizens," he said.
"That is also the reason I am here - to hear from the political parties in Northern Ireland how they can find this solution even though we all know this unique solution has to be proposed by the UK side, because the problem is a consequence of the decision of the UK to leave the European Union."
The former Belgian prime minister will spend Thursday in Dublin, where he will meet Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and also address a special joint sitting of Irish parliamentary committees.
Mr Verhofstadt, who is the link man between the EU negotiating team and the European Parliament, voiced scepticism about the UK's position paper on the border post-Brexit, a document that suggested there would be no need for physical customs checks on the frontier even if the UK was outside the customs union.
"For the moment we don't see a workable solution being put forward by the UK Government," he said.
In an interview with RTE Radio One, he added: "There are possibilities, for example you could imagine one proposal on the table that Northern Ireland continued to be part of the customs union and even of the single market.
"The point is it is the UK Government that has to come forward with such unique solutions."
The MEP's visit comes ahead of next month's crucial summit in Brussels when leaders of the EU 27 will decide whether sufficient progress has been made in the first phase of negotiations to progress talks to focus on future trading relations.
The EU has insisted progress has to be made in three key areas: citizens' rights, the size of the UK's exit bill and the shape of the Irish border post-Brexit.
Asked about speculation Prime Minister Theresa May will outline a sum the UK is prepared to pay in a keynote speech on Friday, Mr Verhofstadt said: "Let's have the speech of Mrs May and then we can make an analysis."
He said there remained a "dispute" on the exit bill and that there were "big differences" in terms of both sides' position on citizens' rights.
European MP Diane Dodds joined her party leader Arlene Foster in the Democratic Unionist delegation that met Mr Verhofstadt at Stormont.
Afterwards, Mrs Dodds insisted Northern Ireland could not be treated any differently to the rest of the UK.
"We would not countenance and indeed it would be calamitous for the economy in Northern Ireland if there were barriers to trade with our largest partner which is the rest of the United Kingdom," she said.
Responding to Mr Verhofstadt's claim that the onus for drawing up a solution rested with the UK, Mrs Dodds added: "These talks will only be successful if the two sides are willing and able to talk through a sensible solution to Brexit.
"So therefore soundbites like this ... will not reflect the reality of the solution when it comes."
Sinn Fein's Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill said she had found Mr Verhofstadt very understanding.
"We've made very clear to him today the issues which we need to see - we need to remain in the customs union, we need to have access to the single market, we need to see no return to hard borders and to see citizens have access to the European Court of Justice," she said.
Mrs O'Neill added: "At least he's had the manners to come and talk to people about the implications which is far more than any British minister has done."
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said there was an "economic and political tsunami" heading for Northern Ireland.
He said Mr Verhofstadt shared his party's position.
"He has the right position," said Mr Eastwood.
"He understands that we need to accommodate the unique circumstances in Northern Ireland, he understands that people in Northern Ireland voted to remain and that has to be respected."
UUP leader Robin Swann said the lack of a powersharing executive at Stormont, due to an ongoing political stalemate between the DUP and Sinn Fein, was harming the region at a crucial time.
"It was shame and disgrace today that we were meeting as individual parties and there wasn't an executive representing Northern Ireland in what is a crucial moment and crucial activity in how Northern Ireland progresses at this moment in time," he said.
Former Alliance party justice minister David Ford said their discussions had included how the UK's withdrawal from the EU could impact on cross-border security issues.
Mr Ford said: "We had significant discussions on the potential dangers of the UK moving away from the EU arrangements, the need to remain full members of international bodies such as Europol and Eurojust to ensure that the UK plays a part in setting the regulations."
After his meetings in Belfast, Mr Verhofstadt posted a Twitter video in which he stressed the need to secure the success of the peace process.
"Every solution inside Brexit needs to take into account that the peace process and Good Friday Agreement is secure and there is no hard border between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland," he said.
"It is something that is a concern that is not sufficiently present around the negotiating table."
On Wednesday Mr Verhofstadt visited the 220-acre dairy farm of the Hughes family, which straddles Co Armagh in Northern Ireland and Co Monaghan in the Republic, and which would be badly affected by reimposition of a hard border.
The Belgian politician said: "This problem was created by the decision of the UK to leave the Union.
"It is not Ireland who is leaving the Union or the rest of the European Union that is making things difficult.
"So we expect a solution for that and the first paper that has been produced was not convincing, so we think that the proposal was not really a proposal that avoids a hard border.
"So we are waiting for a new proposal from the UK side and from our side we will in the coming days and weeks and on the negotiation table repeat that a hard border is no option."
He said there was a possibility that the whole of the UK stayed in the Customs Union and the Single Market.
The UK Government has set out its vision of a free-flowing and unmonitored Irish border post-Brexit, with the majority of local businesses avoiding customs tariffs.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for across Northern Ireland with heavy rain forecast for Wednesday afternoon.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for across Northern Ireland with heavy rain forecast for Wednesday afternoon.
The weather warning will take effect from midday on Wednesday and will remain in place until 8pm.
The public have been warned to expect spray and flooding on roads, leading to difficulty driving and longer journey times.
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Whatsapp The yellow weather warning will be in place from midday until 8pm.
For those concerned about a repeat of flooding that hit Northern Ireland in August - which caused substantial damage in the north west region - the Met Office has said there is "a lower likelihood of isolated property flooding" from the downpour.
More than 300 presumed victims were reported to or detected by gardai from 2012 to 2016, 94 of them children, a review found
A European watchdog has warned that Ireland's criminal justice system is inadequate for dealing with human trafficking.
Between 2012 and 2016 more than 300 presumed victims were reported to or detected by gardai, a review has found.
More than half were females and 94 were children.
According to the Council of Europe - the 47-nation organisation which oversees the European Court of Human Rights - Ireland is primarily a destination country for traffickers but increasingly people are being trafficked within these shores.
Seventy-three of the presumed victims were Irish and the majority of them were children who were sexually abused and exploited.
But the watchdog's Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (Greta) warned that the Government's efforts to tackle the issue of trafficking fall short.
"Greta is concerned by the inadequate criminal justice response to human trafficking in Ireland and notes that failure to convict traffickers and the absence of effective sentences engenders a feeling of impunity and undermines efforts to support victims to testify," it said.
The Council of Europe called on the Director of Public Prosecutions to develop specialism in trafficking issues and for investigating units in the Garda, immigration offices and the state's employment rights units to be resourced properly.
It said more should be done to educate and train gardai, prosecutors and judges about the seriousness of trafficking, the severe impact of exploitation on the victims and the need to respect their human rights.
The Greta report called for a review of the law to address gaps.
It warned that the number of prosecutions for trafficking offences was low compared with the number of investigations - 58 from 2012 to 2015.
"Human trafficking cases require significant investment to ensure that there is no over-reliance on vulnerable victims and that those benefiting from the exploitation are identified and sanctioned, including through following the money flows and online activity and engaging in transnational co-operation," the report said.
Victims of trafficking are most likely forced into sex work, the review said.
But it found 82 people were essentially slaves forced into work, another 13 victims were ordered to commit crime and there was one case of forced begging.
Some 121 people came from Europe and 50 from west Africa.
But the Council of Europe, which focuses on human rights and democracy, warned that the numbers do not truly reflect the scale of the phenomenon in Ireland, due to difficulties in identifying victims.
It accepted evidence from the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) that an increasing demand for foreign workers, a shortage of legal migration and inconsistencies around the law are creating a large undocumented population in Ireland.
It is estimated to be up to 26,000 people.
The Greta report raises concerns about pop-up car washes run by organised crime gangs, particularly from Romania. They recruit vulnerable unemployed men with the promise of a well-paid job in Ireland.
It also raised concerns about the issue of sham marriages and cannabis grow houses.
Inspectors from the watchdog also took issue with the state forcing victims of trafficking to live in Direct Provision centres.
The Council of Europe called for victims to have access to a compensation scheme and for an independent rapporteur to be appointed to deal with allegations related to trafficking.
It also said anyone hiring an au pair should be forced to open their doors to inspectors.
The burnt out getaway van was found nearby
Gardai have launched a manhunt after a father-of-two was gunned down in what is believed to be yet another gangland feud.
They believe John Gibson (28) from the Lucan area of Dublin, may have been lured to his death.
He was gunned down in an ambush as he sat in his silver Audi car outside the CityWest Shopping Centre on Monday night.
The fitness instructor managed to get out of his car in a bid to escape, but was shot again.
He received medical treatment at the scene but was pronounced dead a short time later.
Gardai and forensic officers remained at the scene throughout yesterday morning. Forensic tents covered Mr Gibsons body and his car.
His body was eventually removed from the scene by ambulance shortly after 11.30am.
Garda Superintendent Peter Duff said Mr Gibson was in his car at the shopping centre car park when another vehicle entered the car park at around 9.20pm on Monday.
It was at this stage he was shot a number of times.
A Volkswagen Caddy van believed to have been used in the murder was found burnt out nearby. A magazine for a gun was found on the passenger seat.
Mr Duff said he was uncertain at this stage how many gunmen were involved.
He added that it was clear Mr Gibson was targeted and may have been lured to his death.
It is understood that as part of the investigation gardai are probing links to the murder of Darragh Nugent in Clondalkin, west Dublin, last week.
Mr Nugent was known to gardai and his death is believed to have been gang-related.
Mr Gibsons murder is not believed to be linked to the notorious Kinahan-Hutch feud.
An increase in gangland crime is becoming a major concern for gardai.
Ryanair passengers are reporting problems with the process of refunds or compensation for cancelled flights, saying information supplied by the airline is incorrect and calls are going unanswered.
Angry customers are inundating Ryanair's Facebook page with reports of problems with the airline's refund and compensation process, and its complaints tracker.
Many are also complaining their calls and messages through the airline's call centre and online "chat" service are going unanswered or being cut off.
Holly Jayne Austin posted: "Has anyone managed to get through to Ryanair or had a refund? Won't let me refund and they are just cancelling my call" while Laure Savoy wrote: "How can I ask for the EU261 compensation and refund if on your website the cancelled fight number is unknown for you?"
Lena Heritage wrote: "Please let me know how we can contact you! You emailed us two days ago to notify us that our flight home from Barcelona has been cancelled, instructing us to sign in to our account to rearrange an alternative flight.
"We have since been stuck in a constant loop of being asked to verify our account and being asked to change our password.
"We've not been able to get through on the extortionately-priced phone line (repeatedly in a queue then eventually cut off)."
Birinder Singh Tiwana posted: "I applied for refund and compensation by filling a form on their website and got a customer reference number of seven digits via email which does not work on their complaint tracker system.
"I tried to chat to their agents about this but the agent had no answer and disconnected the chat instead."
The complaints follow some other Ryanair passengers reporting having to pay a second time to pick seats or take hold luggage when rebooking cancelled flights.
The travellers who were offered "free" replacement flights discovered they were not refunded for charges on extras paid on their original booking, leaving them having to pay twice.
The Dublin-based carrier - which is shelving up to 50 flights daily over the next six weeks - said it was aware of the issue and any customers who were double-charged for seats or hold luggage will be refunded.
Ryanair faces a compensation bill of up to 20 million euro (17.7 million) over the cancellations brought about by the over-allocation of pilots' holidays during a relatively busy period.
The airline said it was cancelling flights at airports where it ran the busiest schedules so it would be easier to place passengers on alternative flights.
Customers affected by cancellations which run until October 28 will be emailed offers of alternatives or full refunds and details of their compensation entitlement, the budget airline confirmed.
Michael O'Leary, the airline's chief executive, told a press conference on Tuesday that it was clear the debacle had a "large reputational impact" and apologised.
Ryanair said a ll 315,000 customers affected by the cancellations received an email on Monday advising them of their flight changes and offering alternative flights, refunds and EU261 notices.
The airline said it expected to have re-accommodated more than 175,000 customers on other Ryanair flights and to have processed refunds for more than 20% of those affected by close of business on Wednesday.
Ryanair's Kenny Jacobs said: " We apologise sincerely to each and every one of the 315,000 customers whose original flights were cancelled over a six week period in September and October, while we work to resolve this short term rostering failure.
"We have taken on extra customer service teams to speed up the rate at which we accommodate and action alternative flight requests or refund applications. We expect to have the vast majority of these completed by the end of this week.
"The vast majority of these requests are being dealt with online, but as our call centres and chat lines are extremely busy we ask affected customers to bear with us as we do everything we can to respond to their requests and try to resolve any problems we have created for them, for which we again sincerely apologise."
Which? managing director of home products and services, Alex Neill, said: " Ryanair's approach to informing affected passengers about compensation falls woefully short. It is legally required to spell out compensation rules when a flight is cancelled and, in our view, have so far failed to do that, leaving passengers hunting around for information.
"This is another blow for the thousands of passengers who have already had to endure huge inconvenience as a result of this fiasco. The airline must now automatically compensate eligible passengers without them having to go through the additional hassle of making a claim."
Boris Johnson has condemned the "racial prejudice" of the military in Burma against the Muslim Rohingya minority in a significant escalation of the British response to the campaign of violence (Seth Wenig/AP)
Aung San Suu Kyi must show the leadership she is capable of in an effort to end the suffering of the Muslim Rohingya people in Burma, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has said.
Mr Johnson who has condemned the racial prejudice behind the violence and criticised Nobel Peace Prize winner Ms Suu Kyi, the countrys de facto civilian leader said the world was united in anguish about the situation.
The Foreign Secretary said there had been condemnation of the Burmese military from the international community gathered at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
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Mr Johnson joined representatives of the US, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Turkey, Australia, Canada, Sweden and Denmark to raise the issue with Burmas national security adviser on the margins of the gathering.
In a video message recorded at the UN, Mr Johnson said: The world is united in anguish at what is happening to the Rohingya and, obviously, strong denunciations of the Burmese military for their role.
There was an absolute determination to stop the killing and calling on Aung San Suu Kyi to show the leadership she is capable of to try to heal that terrible situation.
Mr Johnson had earlier told the Guardian that Ms Suu Kyi was clearly not doing enough to express peoples legitimate outrage at the treatment of the Rohingya.
Meanwhile US secretary of state Rex Tillerson raised the treatment of the Rohingya in a telephone call with Ms Suu Kyi thought to be the first time they have spoken directly.
The State Department said that while he had welcomed the Burmese governments commitment to end the violence and allow the refugees to return home he had also pressed for it to address the allegations of human rights abuses.
The UK has announced it will withdraw its engagement with Burmas military until the violence is stopped.
Answers to written parliamentary questions showed that the UK does not provide combat training, but instead seeks to educate soldiers in democracy, leadership and the English language.
Boris Johnson has warned the situation in North Korea is very, very serious after referring to Donald Trumps mockery of Rocket Man Kim Jong Un.
The Foreign Secretary said the world faced a catastrophe if North Korea a rogue nation was able to mount a nuclear warhead on an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
He repeated his call for China to put more pressure on the Pyongyang regime as he urged a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
In a social media video message recorded at the United Nations in New York, Mr Johnson referred to Mr Trumps debut speech at the annual gathering of world leaders.
Mr Trump told the UN Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime and added that if the US was forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.
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Mr Johnson said: You heard the President of the United States speech about Rocket Man Elton John getting a place in Donald Trumps speeches.
Of course its very, very serious. The world faces a catastrophe that it hasnt seen before, that is a rogue nation being able to use an ICBM equipped with a thermonuclear hydrogen warhead.
That is very, very dangerous, something we have got to stop.
The key to it, we think, is to work together with all our friends and partners here in the UN, get the Chinese to put more economic pressure on Pyongyang.
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At the summit, Mr Johnson met Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and urged him to keep up the pressure on North Korea.
The Foreign Secretary told the Guardian: No one in their right minds wants to see the US driven to use its military options I do not see any good military options and that is why all the pressure has to be on the Chinese to tighten the sanctions on oil.
That is the jugular of the North Korean economy.
China has been responding in a mature way, and they say if you go in too hard you will cause a catastrophe and mass migrations. Before that happens it may be possible to bring Kim Jong Un to the table.
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Mr Johnson also met Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono and reiterated the UKs solidarity with Japan over the threat it faces from Kims regime.
Meanwhile, a Downing Street spokeswoman said military force must remain an option to deal with the rogue state.
We are clear that North Koreas actions are provocative and destabilising and our focus is on increasing the pressure on them to change course.
As President Trump said, the international community must continue to work together to confront rogue regimes and that is exactly what the Prime Minister will be doing in discussions with world leaders in New York this week.
No-one wants to see military action, but as we progress with efforts to secure a peaceful diplomatic resolution, it would be wrong to rule anything out.
The leader and deputy leader of far-right group Britain First have been charged with religiously aggravated harassment.
Kent Police said Paul Golding, 35, and Jayda Fransen, 31, both from Penge, south east London, were arrested in May as part of an investigation into the distribution of leaflets and the posting of online videos during a trial held at Canterbury Crown Court the same month.
The trial involved three Muslim men and a teenager who were eventually convicted of rape and jailed.
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Kent Police said Fransen had been charged with four counts of causing religiously aggravated harassment and Golding three counts. Both were been bailed to appear before Medway magistrates on October 17.
The former leader of the English Defence League (EDL) was given a suspended prison sentence for contempt of court in May after filming outside the court during the same rape trial.
In a video posted online, Tommy Robinson filmed himself describing the defendants, who had not yet been convicted, as paedophiles and claiming: Its going on across our country.
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Shortly before entering the police station, Golding and Fransen filmed themselves vowing to never give up on standing up for the British people.
Golding said in the Facebook Live footage: It doesnt matter what happens today or what happens in the future, you can rest assured that you have two political party leaders here who will never give up under any circumstances.
We will fight to the bitter end for our country and we will never surrender, we will never give up.
The maximum penalty on conviction of religiously aggravated harassment is two years imprisonment.
Prime Minister Theresa May has lobbied Donald Trump over the importance of preserving jobs at aerospace giant Bombardier in Northern Ireland, as the pair met for talks in New York.
And Mrs May pressed the US president over the importance of the international nuclear deal with Iran, which Mr Trump has threatened to tear up.
During the 30-minute talks on the margin of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr Trump assured the Prime Minister of the USAs desire for a strong trading relationship with the UK, including a trade deal once Britain leaves the EU, said a Downing Street source.
Seated in front of a row of US and UK flags as the pair shook hands, the president said: We will be doing a lot of trading with the United Kingdom and we look forward to it.
Weve gotten to know each other over the last period of a year and its a real honour to have you here.
Downing Street said the Prime Minister reiterated the importance of Bombardier to the economy of Northern Ireland and the priority she placed on protecting the jobs the company provides.
A preliminary ruling is expected from US trading authorities within days on a complaint from Boeing alleging unfair dumping on the American market of the Canadian firms C-Series jets, whose wings are made in Belfast.
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Mrs May also discussed Bombardier with Canadas PM Justin Trudeau during a visit to Ottawa on Monday.
It is understood she was pressed to raise the issue by DUP leader Arlene Foster, whose 10 MPs are propping up her minority administration in the House of Commons.
Mrs May reaffirmed the UKs strong commitment to the nuclear deal with Iran, telling the president it was vitally important for regional security and should be carefully monitored and properly enforced, said Downing Street.
The pair also discussed the need to counter destabilising Iranian activity in the region.
Mrs May and Mr Trump agreed that North Koreas missile tests were conducted against all standards of international behaviour and that it was vital for the international community, including China, to come together to exert maximum economic pressure on the regime, said Number 10.
The bilateral meeting at the Lotte Palace Hotel in Manhattan began half an hour late after Mrs Mays keynote address to the UN was delayed because previous speakers overran.
The UK is engaged in an internal battle over its Brexit position, the European Parliaments negotiator has said.
Talks are not going well and Britains position is not clear enough, Guy Verhofstadt added.
He warned the outcome needed to be positive for both sides as the UK and EU gear up for a fourth round of negotiations next week following Theresa Mays major speech in Florence on Friday.
Mr Verhofstadt said: We feel, hopefully I am wrong, that we dont receive always a clear UK position.
There is still internal battle in UK about what is their position, what they want.
For us there was not a problem, there was a single market, a customs union, no one was complaining about that, but by leaving all these points come back.
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The British Government has said it is working together to deliver Brexit and seeking a deep and special partnership with the EU.
Boris Johnsons Brexit intervention in a Telegraph article on Saturday has overshadowed the Prime Ministers three-day visit to the US and Canada ahead of her crucial Brexit speech in Florence.
The Foreign Secretary was forced to deny he was planning to resign, while Mrs May faced calls for her to sack him from her Cabinet.
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But the threat of a damaging outcome to the bust-up receded as Mr Johnson backed away from his key demand that the UK should cease payments to the EU after the date of Brexit in 2019.
The Government has also faced criticism from a number of pro-European Conservative MPs for its handling of a key piece of Brexit legislation.
Mr Verhofstadt, a former Belgian prime minister, is on a two-day fact finding mission to Northern Ireland and the Republic.
He is the link man between the EU negotiating team and the European Parliament.
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On Wednesday he visited the 220-acre dairy farm of the Hughes family, which straddles Co Armagh in Northern Ireland and Co Monaghan in the Republic.
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK which will have a land frontier with an EU state after Brexit in March 2018.
Mr Verhofstadt said the UK had yet to make a concrete proposal on resolving the border question.
Asked about the general state of negotiations he said: For the moment things are not going very well.
UK troops and residents are bracing themselves as dangerous Hurricane Maria sweeps through the Caribbean towards British overseas territories already battered by Irma.
After rolling by the British Virgin Islands during the early hours of Wednesday, the US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said the storm has decreased to a category four as it begins to barrel towards the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The centre said preparations against a life-threatening storm surge and rainfall, flooding and destructive winds should be rushed to completion.
Maria has already claimed at least one life, as officials on the French island of Guadeloupe confirmed a person was killed by a falling tree, and another two are missing after their boat sank.
Dominica, where Maria made landfall on Monday, lost nearly all its communications as the storm knocked out phone lines and the islands broadcast service, and 70% of properties lost their roofs according to reports.
International Development Secretary Priti Patel has described the situation as an unprecedented crisis and stressed the UK Government is working flat out.
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The NHC said: Little change in strength is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Maria is expected to remain a dangerous major hurricane through Friday.
Emergency steps are being undertaken on the Turks and Caicos Islands to prepare for the looming onslaught, with sustained wind speeds predicted to reach 140mph from Thursday.
Relief workers are striving to secure debris left strewn after Irma, as loose items have the potential to make the coming hurricane more hazardous if it is picked up by high winds.
Brigadier John Ridge, second in command of the UKs Joint Task Force, said officials are continuing to track Maria as it rolls through the Caribbean region.
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Ms Patel said: This is an unprecedented crisis with two hurricanes of such brutal force hitting the Caribbean in less than a fortnight.
Families have lost their homes, lives have been ripped apart, and the victims of Hurricane Irma are now facing the new threat of Hurricane Maria.
But they should know, the UK Government is working flat out to put the right supplies in the right places to cope with the fallout from this new hurricane.
Hurricane warnings remain in place for Turks and Caicos and the BVI.
The Foreign Office is advising against all travel to the BVI, as well as all but essential travel to Montserrat, Turks and Caicos and Anguilla.
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Hurricane Maria arrived in the region less than two weeks after Hurricane Irma, one of the most powerful storms in decades.
Dominica suffered widespread devastationat the hands of Hurricane Maria, the countrys prime minister Roosevelt Skerrit said forcing the closure of its airport.
More than 1,300 UK troops are in the Caribbean after being sent to help with relief and repair work after Irma.
An additional 42-strong military resilience team has also been deployed to the BVI, ready to offer support and assistance after Maria.
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Brig Ridge said secure buildings, ranging from hotels to government buildings and shelters that are as safe as possible, have been identified for the military on to hunker down in.
RFA Mounts Bay has moved out the way of the hurricane to safety, but the moment the storm has passed through, the vessel will be pushed back in again.
HMS Ocean, which is carrying another 60 tonnes of aid to complement 75 tonnes of relief items which have already arrived, will drop anchor in the region this weekend.
Foreign Office minister Sir Alan Duncan told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: This has been a fortnight of just relentless catastrophe.
He described suggestions that the UK could have reacted quicker to Hurricane Irma as an utterly unfounded accusation.
Theresa May will have the opportunity for an extended discussion with Boris Johnson about his views on Brexit when the pair share a seven-hour flight back to Britain from New York.
The Foreign Secretary had been planning to return separately from the United Nations General Assembly, but Mrs Mays official spokesman confirmed that he would now join the Prime Minister on her RAF Voyager jet on Wednesday evening.
Mrs May and Mr Johnson met on Tuesday night for the first time since Mr Johnson published an explosive personal Brexit manifesto, when both attended a reception for Commonwealth leaders at the UN.
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The PMs spokesman gave no details of any conversation that the pair had at the event.
Mr Johnsons Telegraph article on Saturday has overshadowed Mrs Mays three-day visit to the US and Canada in the run-up to her crucial Brexit speech in Florence on Friday.
The Foreign Secretary was forced to deny he was planning to resign, while Mrs May faced calls for her to sack him from her Cabinet.
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But the threat of a damaging outcome to the bust-up receded as Mr Johnson backed away from his key demand that the UK should cease payments to the EU after the date of Brexit in 2019.
In an interview with The Guardian, he conceded that Britain must pay our dues during any transition period, as well as meeting financial demands where our lawyers say we are on the hook for stuff.
Reports suggest Mr Johnson and other hard Brexit-backing ministers have been squared off over Mrs Mays plans to offer the EU some form of payment to break the deadlock in negotiations.
But Downing Street described as speculation a Financial Times claim that chief Brexit sherpa Olly Robbins, who moved on Monday to a role reporting direct to Mrs May, had told Germany she will offer to pay 20 billion in the period up to 2020 to cover gaps in the budget left by the UKs departure.
Speaking in New York, one of the Governments most enthusiastic Brexiteers, International Development Secretary Priti Patel, insisted the Cabinet was united behind the approach of Theresa May.
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Ms Patel told Sky News: Im for Brexit and thats what the PM is trying to achieve shes been clear, the Cabinet is clear that we want best deal for Britain.
Lets be clear, this isnt about individual views of Cabinet ministers, we in Cabinet are united behind the approach of Theresa May and that is the right approach, as it is focused on getting the best deal for the UK.
Mrs May has called a special meeting of Cabinet at Number 10 on Thursday to discuss the following days speech in Italy, which Mr Johnson is due to attend.
Speaking to The Guardian, the Foreign Secretary declared himself mystified by the response to his 4,000-word essay, pointing out that his critics had accused him of remaining silent on Brexit.
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So I contributed a small article to the pages of the Telegraph, and now everyone who had previously accused me of saying too little are now saying I am saying rather too much, he said.
People have got to make up their minds. What do they want ? What I want from my critics is some bloody consistency, the great inveterate jalopies.
Mr Johnson conceded that the UK should make contributions for access to the single market during the transition, but not after.
He said: I dont think the sums should be too high, but it is obviously legitimate and right that we should pay our dues we are a law-abiding country during the period of membership.
Where our lawyers say we are on the hook for stuff, then we are going to have to pay.
But what I do not envisage is that we should pay into the EU just for access to the single market, or some such concept.
A photo of a pizza served at Trump Tower in New York has sparked debate online.
When Politicos White House reporter Annie Karni tweeted a tongue-in-cheek photo of her meal on Twitter, she probably didnt think she would horrify thousands of Twitter users.
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Her meal was a thin crust margherita pizza from Trump Tower and it looked a bit sad.
Who knows how the pizza tasted, but it certainly didnt look appetising to Karnis followers.
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Its not clear where exactly Karni bought her pizza, but a margherita is on the Trump Tower On-the-Go cafe menu for $11.50 (8.50) and comes with a choice of thin or thick crust.
Some saw the pizza as an insult to the famous New York pizza.
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These New Yorkers decided to recommend places Karni should visit to enjoy real NY pizza.
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Ankara has confirmed its agents were captured
Two Turkish intelligence officials have been captured by Kurdish rebels in neighbouring northern Iraq.
Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu confirmed to Al-Monitor news website that two National Intelligence Organisation agents were kidnapped by the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, while on a mission in northern Iraq.
Mr Cavusoglu said Turkey is working for the return of "all citizens that the PKK kidnapped", adding Ankara was not engaged in direct talks with the militant group "to bring back those two person".
Reports claimed the agents were captured during an anti-PKK operation in Iraq in August.
The group is considered a terror organisation by Turkey and its allies.
AP
An uprooted tree covers a house in Guadeloupe after the passage of Hurricane Maria
Hurricane Maria "reintensified" into a category five storm as it swept towards British overseas territories already battered by Irma yesterday.
The US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said Maria had regained strength, with sustained winds of up to 160mph, as it approached the British Virgin Islands (BVI).
In the first confirmed death, officials on the French island of Guadeloupe said one person has been killed by a falling tree.
Another two people are missing after their boat sank. Maria had briefly been downgraded to a category four storm after making landfall in Dominica on Monday, but US Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft reported it had returned to the highest level.
The NHC said Maria is a "potentially catastrophic" storm, adding: "Some fluctuations in intensity are likely during the next day or two, but Maria is forecast to remain an extremely dangerous category 4 or 5 hurricane until it moves near or over the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico."
Emergency steps were being undertaken on the BVI yesterday to prepare for the onslaught, although an official co-ordinating the operation warned the islands had been "weakened" by Irma and the situation "doesn't look good".
Relief workers were racing to secure debris left strewn across the islands that have the potential to make the coming hurricane "more hazardous" if they are picked up by high winds.
Another British overseas territory, Montserrat, may face a devastating storm surge, while torrential rain could trigger deadly flash floods.
Lord Patten, Hong Kong's last British governor, listens to a reporter's questions during a promotion event of his new book First Confession in Hong Kong (AP)
Hong Kong's last British governor has urged Chinese president Xi Jinping not to treat the city's residents as dissidents.
Lord Patten's comments come amid flaring tensions over calls for independence on the semi-autonomous region's college campuses.
He was the UK's top official in Hong Kong until Beijing took control of the colony on July 1 1997.
In a speech during a visit to the city, Lord Patten said he hopes Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, who took office earlier this year, will advise Mr Xi to refrain from taking a hard-line approach.
"I hope that she makes it clear to Beijing that talking about democracy in Hong Kong is not an act of subversion," he said.
The threat of a 'hard' Irish land border is the only substantial bargaining ploy available to Britain's Brexiteers. As in 1912-22, Ireland is again pivotal to a crisis of the British state, but now unionists - not nationalists - are key players at Westminster, and it's a crisis too for the Irish Republic and the whole EU.
Despite knee-jerk responses from Sinn Fein demanding a border poll and from Democratic Unionists claiming that an 'Irish Sea border' undermines political union with Britain, Northern Ireland's constitutional position is not the issue.
The necessary poll is very unlikely, and majorities North and South for a 'united Ireland' are even less likely given Brexit uncertainties - as SF now seems to realise.
Yet there appears to be no recognition - especially not from the DUP propping up the Brexit Government - that Northern Ireland, along with the Republic, is being 'held to ransom' in the probably doomed attempt by Brexiteers 'to have their cake and eat it'. That, and the damage here if they don't get their way, is the real and immediate issue.
Ireland's borders are central to the resolution or the deepening of the crisis - unless the UK has customs union access to the single market which would get rid of the border problem at a stroke.
It is possible to distinguish four other scenarios. The first two were outlined in the Belfast Telegraph (August 4), and the second two arise from the UK's recently published negotiating stance on the border. It has been variously seen as incoherent, stupid, clever or too clever by half, but cannot be read simply at face value.
SCENARIO ONE: The disaster of a 'hard' Irish land border by default.
It will happen unless a proper alternative is agreed. Briefly, it's a disaster waiting to happen: economically, politically and socially destructive, attracting paramilitary attacks on border posts and creating a smuggling bonanza.
For it's an inherently leaky border, and the de facto secure borders would be the seas around Ireland, with checks at ports and airports in Britain and the continental EU (eg to exclude non-Irish immigrants, and sub-standard foreign goods, respectively).
SCENARIO TWO: Northern Ireland in a customs union with the EU: the sea borders solution
Again briefly, instead of a single 'hard' border, the EU and the UK can be separated by two 'soft' (but actually more secure) ones with Ireland in between them.
Its position would be like the space between the double security doors for entering and exiting banks, except here one 'door' links Ireland with Britain, the other with the continent.
This safeguards the existing movements between Ireland and both Britain and the continent, except for people and goods which originate outside Ireland.
Northern Ireland needs single market access.
As once acknowledged by Arlene Foster (though before the RHI scandal dented her power within the DUP), "Northern Ireland could have a different relationship to the EU's single market, or customs union, from the rest of the UK following its exit from the EU" (Reuters October 29, 2016).
That inevitably requires sea borders of some sort. It's also the Irish Government's default preference if the UK as a whole does not have access to the single market.
SCENARIO THREE: The UK's new customs union relationship: no border problem
Rather than actually being in a customs union, Britain's Brexit negotiators want to 'mirror' EU procedures, and therefore also be able to do their own trade deals where goods would not meet EU standards, but they promise not to export these on to the EU. However, this would be a very complicated, unprecedented arrangement, requiring a lot of trust and goodwill - currently in short supply. It seems destined to fail.
But Brexit negotiators hold a substantial bargaining chip, and, unfortunately, we are it. Their scheme removes the border problem with the non-too-subtle threat that the alternative is the (British-created) Scenario One disaster.
If they don't get their way, we and the EU suffer the damage. Cynically, they have waxed lyrical about not wanting a 'hard' border, knowing full well that they are creating circumstances which could force the EU to insist on a 'hard' land border to protect the single market.
Knowing too that immigration is better controlled at Britain's ports and airports, the UK negotiators have shown no interest in creating their own checks at the Irish land border.
Much of the criticism of their stance is misplaced. If it's 'incoherent' that is because of their ulterior motives: holding a friendly neighbouring state and its own Northern Ireland citizens to ransom might seem hostile or lacking in goodwill, and is better hidden by 'spin' and obfuscation.
Far from being 'stupid', their ploy is actually cunning. But the DUP leaders (Nigel Dodds and Sir Jeffrey Donaldson more than Mrs Foster, who comes from a border area) have been too easily persuaded by the nonsense of a 'frictionless' land border. DUPes selling their Northern Ireland 'birthright for a mess of pottage', or unaware they are collaborating in it being held hostage. They missed the bigger picture, whether because of simplistic notions of sovereignty (shared with Brexiteers in Britain), or exaggerated worries of becoming 'semi-detached' from Britain by a sea border (NI is already 'semi-detached' without the union being endangered, and they don't seem to worry about 'semi-detachment' when supporting different NI legislation on 'moral' issues).
SCENARIO FOUR: A 'hard' border through crashing out of the EU by design.
A 'hard' border could occur by default - British negotiators 'too-clever' and unrealistic. But there's the 'nuclear option' where more 'realistic' (or extreme) Brexiteers calculate that Scenario Three has no chance and plan to 'crash out' by collapsing negotiations with the EU and holding it responsible (what will they do without it?).
This offers them the possibility of a 'hard', decisive Brexit which they don't have a majority to achieve democratically. For some, it cannot happen soon enough. They fear compromises in a long 'transition' and want an early exit which stops them, restoring their independence to again stride the world making deals.
But this is where Brexit really does unravel. Making their own deals while retaining access to the single market has the logic of additional trade possibilities (if the EU would allow it).
However, giving up their privileged access to the world's largest trading bloc, and imagining they can then make better deals than it can, make up the difference in lost EU trade and make additional gains, is seen by most observers as delusional, the realm of imperial nostalgia and neo-liberal fantasy.
The deals could be 'better' only in the sense of including goods not up to EU health and safety standards; an 'independent Britain' desperate for deals would be vulnerable to them.
It might, for example, accept lower standards in food imports from the Americas which would provide cheaper food. But that could damage British and Irish consumers and farmers.
It could scupper Britain's Scenario 3 plan of 'mirroring' the EU customs union, given the scepticism about separating out goods which don't comply with EU standards.
The UK as a whole being in some customs union arrangement would remove the border problem, but the 'hard' land border now seems more likely.
Virtually everyone on the island (smugglers and paramilitaries excepted) would suffer - North and South, unionist, nationalist and neither. Scenario Two, the sea borders solution, offers a clear alternative and the damage-limitation or disaster-prevention campaign should start now.
James Anderson is Emeritus Professor of Political Geography in the Mitchell Institute and a founder-member of the Centre for International Borders Research at Queen's University, Belfast
The majority of Ryanair pilots at Dublin are likely to reject an offer of up to 12,000 for working days off over the next year, it is understood.
It raises the prospect of a showdown with management as the airline continues efforts to plug a pilot shortfall that has caused flight chaos. Adding to the continued confusion for passengers, the airline admitted yesterday that at least one flight - a service from Paris to Dublin tomorrow - had been incorrectly listed as cancelled.
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It has also been learned that Ryanair has begun contacting pilots who previously applied for jobs with the airline but did not take up employment with it. It has asked them if they rejected an offer because their preferred base was not available, and if it was, would they now join and when would they be available to start.
On Monday, Ryanair offered captains 12,000 extra for working 10 of their days off over the next year, and flying for at least 800 hours in total.
But it is thought the plea will be widely snubbed - although pilots may yet feel pressurised into accepting it. Pilots at Ryanair's Italian bases are already understood to have rejected the offer.
If most of the estimated 350 pilots Ryanair has based in Dublin also spurn the management proposal, an already tense relationship will be severely tested.
On Monday, Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary did not rule out cancelling all pilot leave if necessary in order to tackle the flights fiasco that has struck hundreds of thousands of passengers. Contracts state that all leave can be cancelled in exceptional circumstances, it's understood.
Some are already understood to have had their leave cancelled.
Ryanair insists that its pilots take one block of a month off every year, and they receive an additional 10 ad-hoc days per annum. Pilots have been asked to work at least five of their 10 days off in a single block.
Those who had already been assigned the month of October off were asked by Ryanair chief operations officer Michael Hickey to let the airline know by today what their "preferred availability" is next month.
A newly arrived Rohingya family takes shelter from the rain at the Leda refugee camp in Teknaf, Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, Sept. 19, 2017.
Every night up to 30 Rohingya refugees men, women and children sleep next to each other in Maimuna Begums 21- by 21-foot hut at the Leda refugee camp in southeastern Bangladesh.
The mat they rest on covers soil in her bamboo and plastic hut, which is divided into a kitchen and living room. Because space is so tight theres hardly room for the occupants to turn their bodies as they shift in their sleep.
Rohingya refugees like Begum, who have been here for years and survived amid miserable conditions, are taking in exhausted, hungry and traumatized newcomers who trekked for days to escape a fresh explosion of violence in Rakhine, their home state in neighboring Myanmar, as a BenarNews correspondent observed during a visit to the camp this week.
We, 13 members, had been living in this room. But, recently, 16 people have taken refuge at our room. They are our men. They are hapless; they lost everything in Arakan [Rakhine]. We have to shelter them no matter how difficult it is for us, Begum told BenarNews.
Leda, one of 12 refugee camps and settlements scattered across southeastern Bangladesh along the Myanmar border, has swollen to nearly 28,000 residents, and about half are Rohingya Muslims who fled from Rakhine amid the new wave of arrivals since Aug. 25, according to the latest situation report from the Inter Sector Coordination Group.
The ISCG coordinates the humanitarian response to the refugee situation in southeast Bangladesh among government and international agencies and aid groups.
Every family has sheltered at least 10 new Rohingya. Twenty to 30 people sleep in a room, Begum said.
Struggling to shelter them
Begum and her family live in Block C at Leda Camp in Teknaf, a sub-district of Coxs Bazar. Begum fled to southeastern Bangladesh in 2012 when an earlier cycle of violence in Rakhine sent thousands of Rohingya across the border.
At least 420,000 Rohingya refugees have arrived in Bangladesh as they sought shelter from the newest wave of violence in Rakhine, according to the ISCG.
The new influx has doubled the overall Rohingya refugee population to more than 800,000 people and strained humanitarian resources, according to relief agencies.
Every day, more and more refugees are coming in. We are really struggling to shelter them, Fazlar Rahman, a team leader with NGO Bangla-German Sompriti, who works at Leda Camp, told BenarNews.
Some of the new arrivals say they feel safer now that theyve crossed into the relative haven of Bangladesh and away from Rakhine where military forces and local militia allegedly have been targeting Rohingya in atrocities. Those began after coordinated attacks on border police outposts by an insurgent group, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, in late August.
We are relieved that the [Myanmar] military or the Mogh would not find us and kill us here. But life is very difficult here. Many of us were rich in Rakhine, one of the new refugees at Leda, who identified himself as Alam, told BenarNews, using a name that refers to members of Rakhines Buddhist majority.
Another newcomer to Leda, Jamila Khatun, 45, was sheltering in the hut of fellow refugee Sabbir Majhi, after having escaped with her newly orphaned 18-month-old grandson from their neighborhood in Maungdaw township, Rakhine.
Two days before the Eid-ul-Adha [Sept. 2], the military first shot dead my son, Bashirullah, and then raped my daughter-in-law, Sharifa. They killed Sharifa after the rape by cutting her belly, Khatun told BenarNews.
Daily life
Leda occupies 25 acres in the hills near Teknaf town. It is one of the so-called unregistered camps that sprouted up in southeastern Bangladesh amid the humanitarian fallout from the strife in Rakhine five years ago.
Because the camps population is not registered with the Bangladeshi government, the refugees cannot benefit from public services including education. However, the camp has potable water and sanitation facilities and donor agencies and NGOs have given money to build up its infrastructure.
A narrow paved road cut through the middle of the camp, but the thoroughfare was crowded with pedestrian traffic when BenarNews visited it earlier this week. Rickety structures made of bamboo, plastic and tarpaulin similar to Begums home lined both sides of the street.
Rohingya children here were playing in the road or in nearby fields. Many others could be seen begging along the Teknaf-Coxs Bazar highway.
To eke out a living, the camps male residents work to earn meager wages as day laborers and agricultural workers. Others work as fishermen on a contract basis.
Many of the women dont have day jobs and resort to begging as they hold their children in their laps.
We cannot afford fish or meat. Rice and chili-onion mixture is our main food. Without begging, how we can live with a daily income of 200 taka [U.S. $2.47], a Rohingya mother of seven living at Leda told BenarNews.
Muhammad Nur Solikin gestures in the East Jakarta District Court after being sentenced to 11 years in prison for his role as mastermind in a failed suicide bombing involving his wife, Sept. 20, 2017.
The husband of Indonesias first would-be suicide bomber was sentenced Wednesday to 11 years in prison for his role in masterminding a failed attempt to attack the Presidential Palace in Jakarta in December 2016.
A three-judge panel of the East Jakarta District Court handed the term to Islamic State-linked militant Muhammad Nur Solikin, 27, whose wife, would-be bomber Dian Yulia Novi, 28, was sentenced last month to 7 years for the plot to carry out a suicide bombing during a changing-of-the-guard ceremony outside the State Palace. Her sentencing on Aug. 25 was about a week before her due date to give birth.
I had not known that she was already pregnant [at the time of the planned attack], Solikin told BenarNews before the hearing. Dian gave birth on Aug. 29, according to Indonesian media reports.
They were arrested along with militant Agus Supriyadi on Dec. 10, 2016, on the eve of their planned attack using a pressure-cooker bomb.
Also on Wednesday, Agus was sentenced Wednesday to six years in prison for helping rent a car to transport the pressure-cooker bomb from Solikins place in Karang Anyar, Central Java province, to Jakarta.
Densus 88
Indonesias special anti-terror squad Densus 88 arrested Solikin and Agus in East Jakarta after they surveyed the location of their planned attack. Earlier, the squad arrested Dian in her rented room in the West Java city of Bekasi, located about an hour from Jakarta, and found the pressure-cooker bomb.
The court issued a stiffer sentence to Solikin, the leader of a small IS cell in Central Javas city of Solo, than his wife because he served as the mastermind. His sentence was shorter than the 15 years sought by prosecutors.
Defendant Agus Supriyadi enters the East Jakarta District Court to hear his sentence for his role in a failed suicide bombing, Sept. 20, 2017. (Arie Firdaus/BenarNews)
At the same hearing, Agus, who received a sentence shorter than the eight years sought by prosecutors, did not react as calmly as Solikin when responding to the three-judge panels verdict at the East Jakarta District Court.
Leaving the courtroom with his fist in the air, Agus shouted God is Great after Chief Judge Syafrudin Ainor Rafiek asked for his response to the verdict.
Like it or not, I have to accept this. But I just want to remind you that whoever do cruel things will receive Gods revenge, Agus said.
Kamsi, the lawyer for both defendants, said his clients accepted the verdicts.
He [Solikin] has also admitted his act, said Kamsi, who uses one name.
Verdict
The panel found both men guilty of violating Indonesias anti-terror law.
In addition, Syafrudin said a conspiracy charge against Solikin was proven through Telegram message exchanges with Bahrun Naim, a leading Indonesian IS leader who was believed to be in Syria. The IS leader instructed Solikin to ensure the bomb was in Jakarta on Dec. 10, one day before the planned attack.
So, it is true that there is an evil conspiracy, and the use of violence in the terror act committed by the defendant, Syafrudin said.
Fatwa
Solikin took on Dian as his second wife because a fatwa issued by IS required women to have permission of their fathers or husbands to carry out any activities outside their home even for worshipping, including by becoming a martyr, according to a report published earlier this year by the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC), a Jakarta think-tank.
The criminal indictment stated the goal of the marriage was to allow Dian to blow herself up in a suicide attack, something she had planned while working as a migrant in Taiwan in 2015.
A second woman, Tutin Sugiarti, was sentenced previously to 3 years in prison, less than the five years sought by prosecutors, for recruiting Dian and introducing her to Solikin.
Buddhist monks pray during a ceremony marking Visakha Bucha Day in Thailands southern province of Narathiwat, May 20, 2016.
A Buddhist monk infamous for hate speech against Muslims has been detained by security forces, sources told BenarNews on Wednesday.
Phra Maha Apichart Punnajanto, a monk at Bangkoks Benchamabophit Temple, used social media to promote violence against Muslims in Thailands Deep South because insurgents from the violence-scarred region are blamed for killing more than a dozen monks in the past 13 years.
He was detained by military officials in the southern province of Songkhla, Ruckchart Suwan, president of Yala-based Buddhist Network for Peace, told BenarNews by phone.
I called Fort Senanarong, the military there said he was transferred to the Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok. But when I called it, the police said nothing, Ruckchart said.
Fort Senanarong is an army base in Songkhla, and some of its districts are part of the Deep South region, together with Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces.
BenarNews was unable to reach the Crime Suppression Division of the Bangkok police for confirmation.
Dusit Promsin, a police colonel in Songhkhla, told the Associated Press that Phra Apichart had been detained there Tuesday because of videos he had posted online.
In a YouTube video uploaded on March 10, Phra Apichart said he wanted to see Deep South Muslims in the same situation like Rohingya people, who were hunted, beheaded by Burmese, from children to older ones. Rohingya Muslims have been subjected to arson, rapes and killings by security forces and civilian militias in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, rights advocates say.
Phra Apichart also urged Buddhists to exact revenge on Deep South Muslims by burning mosques.
Buddhist Network for Peace and other non-governmental organizations called for authorities to clarify the status of the monk.
Though the Foundation disagrees with hate speech regarding religions, the authorities mishandling of religious figures may fuel the flame, Pornpen Khongkachonkiet of the Cross Cultural Foundation said in a statement released Wednesday.
If the authorities are to tackle seditious speeches, they must carry it out in an open manner, under the framework of laws and human rights, with understanding of the sensitivity of the issue in Deep South, ASEAN and international level, she said.
Nearly 7,000 people have been killed since 2004 in violence linked to a separatist movement in Thailands southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat areas that were part of a Malay Muslim sultanate before being annexed by Bangkok in 1909.
Muslims live throughout Buddhist-majority Thailand, where a lack of understanding about the Deep South conflict and media focus on violence there, has fueled Islamophobia, experts say.
In June, Buddhists in northeastern Thailand filed a petition to stop a Muslim communitys efforts to register a recently constructed mosque, citing fears of violence similar to that in the countrys insurgency-stricken Deep South.
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By Bonnie Blankinship
Dr. Karen Root, an associate professor of conservation biology, will have the opportunity over the next six years to greatly expand her contribution to conservation and to the community of professionals who share her values. Root was recently elected to the leadership of the Society for Conservation Biology North America. She will serve as president-elect for two years, then president for two years and finally past-present for another two years.
Her deeply felt commitment to both the cause and her peers led her to take on the role with the society.
"This is an organization I believe in," she said. "They're highly motivated, very passionate people giving so much of themselves and doing the thing they care most about, all on a volunteer basis. It's my professional home where I feel most comfortable."
With members from academia, the private sector and governmental agencies, the society is a strong and united voice for the role of science in policy and management decision making. As its vision statement says, "The Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) envisions a world where people understand, value, and conserve the diversity of life on Earth. We envision SCB, a global community of conservation professionals, as a leading scientific voice for the study and conservation of Earth's biological diversity."
Root's research over the last 24 years has focused on the conservation of native biodiversity, including ecological surveys, habitat and population modeling, and conservation planning and management.
Conservation is an extremely complex topic, Root said, and one that must consider multiple factors beyond the strictly biological, including political and cultural differences, competing interests, different landscapes and a variety of scientific disciplines. There are many hard choices that have to be made, and many viewpoints are needed. Part of the society's mission is to identify and support the scientific research needed to understand and conserve biological diversity.
"We reached an environmental peak in the 1970s and '80s, when our air and water improved a lot. But now we're shifting back in the other direction, especially after the recession, and have to avoid becoming complacent."
Conservation biology by its nature tends to be collaborative, she said. The society "gives us the opportunity to coalesce and speak authoritatively in a strong, unified voice that will have a greater impact than we could individually."
Whatever the ultimate decision in any case, "We feel strongly that all the evidence needs to be considered," Root said.
She is already setting goals for what she hopes to accomplish in her six years in leadership. "I feel there's a need for professional development opportunities across our careers," she said. "There's a lot of support at the front end but not a lot for those in the middle and later years, or for big career shifts. I would like to see us help provide an entryway into the field to enable more people to take part."
Root made a shift from working in the private sector to working in academia when she came to BGSU.
This professional development could include not only the usual workshops and journal articles but also other ways of sharing knowledge, she said, such as virtual web classes accessible from anywhere.
She is also committed to diversity and equity. Although many conservation biologists are women, some related fields such as wildlife biology are still predominantly male and white. In addition, while volunteer experience counts heavily toward admission to academic programs and other opportunities, this can shut out students whose financial situation does not allow them the luxury of participating instead of working, she said.
Root is eager to explore funding for fellowships and grants from a variety of sources so that the society can support growth and greater inclusion. "We want to not only give people hope and encourage them to care about conservation but also give them the tools so that they can make a difference," she said.
She is also keenly interested in promoting citizen science, giving ordinary people avenues to contribute. "We need to be open-armed; it's like recruiting the army to save the planet," she said. "We need to embrace inclusivity and a diversity of views."
Root has twice served on the SCB Board of Directors. In 2000, the global organization decided to divide itself into seven regional affiliates to better address unique local and regional issues and cultures, while remaining under the larger umbrella of the international society. Root served on the first North American board, finishing her first term in 2004 after helping develop the initial bylaws and policies of the section. Ten years later, she was interested in the progress that had been made and ran for her second term on the board, as it became an independent affiliate this year. That term expired this year when she became president-elect.
She wanted to run for SCBNA president because "I wanted to give back, and I had some ideas that were well received," she said. The board developed a focus for its strategic plan and is working on implementation of the goals. It is exploring funding possibilities, from grants to private entities, in addition to planning the biennial meetings.
"This year the North American section become independent and we can direct our own budget and be the voice for our regions, providing a lot of new opportunities," Root said.
Having a six-year term in leadership is valuable in that it will allow her and her colleagues to do longer-term planning, implementation and assessment, she said. The overlap with the current president and board members helps form strong relationships and build bridges. Root is also chair of the conference committee planning the sectional meeting in Toronto next year, which will be attended by about 1,200 people. The sectional and global groups alternate years for their bi-annual meetings.
Root has been a member of the global society since she was a graduate student at the Florida Institute of Technology. Her first exposure to it came when she unexpectedly had to take the place of her graduate adviser, Dr. Hilary Swain, at the society's international conference in Guadalajara, Mexico. Swain was the SCB secretary at the time but was on maternity leave and could not attend.
"So I went in her place and had to sit in all the board meetings and take notes," Root said. "I got to talk to the leaders in my field, and it was very impressive. I really saw how much it takes to run an organization, to decide priorities and what content to include in the journals and what are the most important issues to concentrate on, what are the big questions in the field. I decided it would be a good idea to be an active member."
She was able provide something of that experience to her graduate student this summer when she took her to the international society's meeting in Cartajena, Colombia, and introduced her to other scientists and leaders in the field.
"It's a great leveler," Root said. "It gives you hope to know there is a community of like-minded people who are working on the same issues."
The reasons for the Ryanair chaos
Von: ROLF KLEINE AND FRITZ ESSER
Ryanair is cancelling more than 2000 flights up to the end of October. According to the company, this has been done to make other connections more punctual.
BILD knows more about the background.
There are not enough pilots! Since the beginning of the year, 140 Ryanair pilots switched to Ryanairs cheap competitor, Norwegian. Pilots earn more at Norwegian and are hired as permanent staff rather than self-employed contractors, as is the case with the Irish airline.
Head of Ryanair Michael OLeary (56) denies this and claims: There is no pilot shortage.
However, in an internal email (made available to BILD), the Ryanair executive board is offering a bonus of up to 12 000 euros to pilots who are willing to fly on their days off. Moreover, the airline will allegedly pay a welcome bonus of 10 000 euros to new pilots. Markus Wahl, director of the pilots association Vereinigung Cockpit, is also convinced: Its because of the pilot shortage.
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Ryanair is saving up its flight hours. Aviation expert, Gerald Wissel, suspects that Ryanair wants to take over the take-off and landing slots currently held by the bankrupt airline Air Berlin. If Air Berlin suddenly cant manage to provide its services, Ryanair could then immediately step in with its available planes and pilots.
All of this is at the expense of customers who cant get away. Ryanair is offering to rebook them for free or their money back. Better than nothing
PS: Sind Sie bei Facebook? Werden Sie Fan von BILD.de-Politik!
For Immediate Release, September 20, 2017 Contact: Elise Bennett, Center for Biological Diversity, (727) 755-6950, ebennett@biologicaldiversity.org
Allen Salzberg, New York Turtle and Tortoise Society, HerpDigest, (718) 275-2190, asalzberg@herpdigest.org New York Ends Unsustainable Commercial Terrapin Turtle Harvest Coastal Turtles Threatened by Habitat Loss, Harvest Pressure ALBANY, N.Y. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation today adopted a rule to end commercial harvest of diamondback terrapins, responding in part to comments from the Center for Biological Diversity, the New York Turtle and Tortoise Society, HerpDigest and other turtle experts. The new rule received unanimous public support during the public comment period. Im thrilled New Yorks conservation leaders followed the science by ending collection of these beautiful little turtles, said Elise Bennett, a Center attorney dedicated to protecting rare reptiles and amphibians. The harvest ban on diamondback terrapins will help this exceptional species survive in New York. And itll help protect the health of our coasts for generations. Diamondback terrapins, which are found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, are the only North American turtles that live exclusively along the coast where fresh water meets the sea. They play a key role in coastal ecosystems because they eat salt marsh periwinkle snails, which can become overpopulated and devour the marsh grasses that protect shorelines and sustain wildlife. But terrapins are struggling against threats from habitat loss, accidental capture in crab traps, vehicle strikes, pollution and over-collection. The new rule to end unsustainable commercial collection goes into effect May 5, 2018. Congratulations to the New York State DEC for closing the terrapin season, said Allen Salzberg, conservation committee chair for the New York Turtle and Tortoise Society and editor of HerpDigest. This allows conservationists concerned with the plight of New York States terrapins to concentrate their time and resources on solving the other critical threats to the turtles existence. In December 2016 more than 60 scientists signed a letter in support of a proposed rule to end the commercial harvest of terrapins, explaining that the practice harms the animals precarious populations. New York will now join nearly every other state in the species range to end this unsustainable practice. Ending harvest of terrapin turtles is an important step forward that brings New York regulations in line with those of most other states and makes it clear that terrapin populations, like those of most other turtles, cannot withstand harvest, said Dr. Russell Burke, Donald E. Axinn distinguished professor in ecology and conservation at Hofstra University. We can now focus our efforts on addressing habitat loss and other threats to diamondback terrapins. Background
As part of a campaign to protect turtles in the United States, the Center for Biological Diversity has been petitioning states that allow commercial turtle collection to improve regulations. In 2009 Florida responded by banning almost all commercial turtle collection from public and private waters. In 2012 Georgia approved state rules restricting commercial turtle collection, and Alabama completely banned it. Most recently, in Iowa in March, new regulations setting closed seasons and possession limits for commercial turtle trappers went into effect.
For Immediate Release, September 20, 2017
Contact: Hannah Connor, (202) 681-1676, hconnor@biologicaldiversity.org EPA Report: Agency Failing to Regulate Dangerous Factory Farm Air Pollution WASHINGTON A new report from the Environmental Protection Agencys inspector general lambasted the agency for failing to ensure that Americas factory farms meet legally mandated measures for limiting dangerous air pollution. The millions of pounds of largely untreated waste from the nations massive industrial animal-feeding operations are significant sources of air pollution, including ammonia, particulate matter and the greenhouse gas methane a major driver of climate change. Its outrageous the Trump EPA is so willing to subject rural Americans to dangerous, debilitating air pollution from factory farms, said Hannah Connor, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. People living around these massive industrial animal operations are quite literally choking on polluted air. But the EPA is failing to enforce the same air-emission standards required for the rest of the nations industries. Livestock facilities were required by a 2005 agreement to participate in a national study to develop air emissions monitoring methodologies. In exchange participating facilities were granted civil enforcement protections. Those included a promise by the EPA not to sue for potential violations of the Clean Air Act and other statutes until emissions-estimating methodologies were developed or the agency determined that it could not develop such methods. Despite completing the study in 2010, the EPA has failed to develop a plan for monitoring air pollution released from the estimated 1.4 trillion pounds of waste produced every year by the nations animal-feeding operations. Every single day Trumps EPA shirks its duty to regulate these dangerous air emissions is another day of suffering for people who live and work near these massive industrial animal operations, said Connor. For more than a decade the EPA has said it was delaying enforcement of air pollution from factory farms while it created a plan for estimating those emissions. But the inspector generals report found the agency has failed to release any such plan. Factory farm emissions like particulate matter, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide are known to contribute to serious health problems, including acute and chronic respiratory diseases among workers and at-risk people like children and the elderly. People living near and working on factory farms have reported health issues, including headaches, nausea, diarrhea, respiratory irritation and congestion, heart palpitations and shortness of breath.
Starting your day with a cup of mushroom coffee can give a much-needed twist to your daily regimen. Many speak of its benefits, and some even prefer it to regular coffee. But given its unique
Each year the BBC awards an outstanding African journalist with the BBC World News Komla Dumor Award and this year's winner is Nigerian journalist Amina Yuguda.
Amina Yuguda.
The award celebrates the best in African journalism and was created in memory of the BBCs late colleague Komla Dumor. Yuguda will spend three months at the BBC headquarters in London to work with some of the worlds best news teams.
Yuguda, who hails from the northern Nigerian town of Yola, is a presenter on the 8pm news on Gotel Television in north-eastern Nigeria. A well-known and respected face locally, she has reported on a range of the regions high-profile news stories, including the Boko Haram insurgency.
As she accepts the BBC World News Komla Dumor Award at a ceremony in the BBC Radio Theatre in London, Yuguda begins her three month placement at the BBC.
To kick off, Yuguda attends a course with the BBC Academy. She will then join BBC News teams - across TV, radio and online which will provide her with the opportunity to gain skills and experience across BBC News multifaceted platforms. Towards the end of her placement, Yuguda will have the opportunity to travel to a country in Africa, with a top BBC producer, to report on a story for a global audience. The story will then be broadcast on BBC platforms, which reach audiences of 348 million across the world each week.
Yuguda commented: I was overwhelmed with joy, when I heard that I had won. In Africa, storytellers have always had an important role, relaying culture, traditions and history. This is what defines us. Today journalists are taking on that responsibility, and to bring African stories to a global BBC audience is a huge honour. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to continue the work of the previous winners of the Komla Dumor Award, Nancy Kacungira and Didi Akinyelure.
The BBC said Yuguda stood out from the crowd with her tenacity and superb story telling ability: Much like Komla, she is committed to challenging preconceived stereotypes by asking the questions that provide clarity, unlock insights and have the potential to deepen understanding. Her passion for telling these stories will resonate with BBCs global audiences.
Francesca Unsworth, director of BBC World Service group and deputy director of news and current affairs, said, The BBC World News Komla Dumor Award was established to recognise and empower Africas leading talent in journalism. Komla was highly respected, not only among his peers, but also by audiences across the continent and beyond. To find someone who possesses many of Komlas qualities is something for us to celebrate, and we are very excited about working with Amina.
The award was set up in honour of presenter Komla Dumor who died in January 2014 and aims to continue Dumors legacy by celebrating African journalism and finding exceptional talent. The judging panel included Rachael Akidi, editor of the BBC's Focus on Africa radio programme; Paul Royall, editor of the BBCs Six and Ten o'clock news in the UK; and Khadija Patel, editor-in-chief of South Africa's Mail & Guardian newspaper.
A new factory on Praslin, the second-most populated island in Seychelles, is launching a new and innovative way to manage and make better use of seaweed: turning it into agricultural fertiliser.
Bernard Port-Louis told SNA that the business, called 'Seaweed Seychelles,' is the brainchild of his son Benjamin. "He is currently in his final year at James Cook University in Townsville, Australia and has always believed in the sustainable development of our islands. So we have decided to develop the factory," Port-Louis said.
"This new seaweed harvesting business will be collecting washed up seaweed, and processing it to extract the organic matter in liquid form," he said, adding that seaweed will be collected from the inner islands.
Seaweeds are aquatic plants that live attached to rock or other hard substance in coastal areas, and the most common type found on the Seychelles beaches is ocean algae "sargassum" along with the seagrass. This happens on a large-scale during the south-east monsoon - May to October - when the sea is rough, and the algae are torn from the seabed and end up in piles on the beach.
The seaweed is not only an eyesore but is smelly and attracts flies which pose as a nuisance for people, especially beach visitors. In some areas where this problem is severe, locals are contracted to clean and dispose of the seaweed.
No-waste production of seaweed fertiliser
The new factory, located on the man-made Eve island of Praslin, is near completion and Port-Louis said it is expected to be operational in two months. Seaweed Seychelles will produce up to 8,000 litres of seaweed liquid per day, and according to Port-Louis, this will be sold to farmers as fertiliser.
Port-Louis said: "Once the liquid is extracted, the solid leftovers of the algae will be grounded to powder to produce soil conditioner, to ensure that there is no waste and all by-products are fully utilised."
This new venture has been endorsed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation which is the federal government agency for scientific research in Australia. The factory will be using green energy for all its operations and installed a solar hot water system that can produce 4,000 litres of hot water and a 12-kilowatt photovoltaic solar system to produce electricity for the daily running operation.
According to an article in the 12th edition of the Saint Ange tourism report, "the accumulation of seaweed on some of the beaches (on Praslin) has become a serious issue, posing a great challenge for hoteliers who have been trying to market Seychelles as having white sandy beaches, and crystal clear waters."
Seaweed harvesting for processing is new in the Seychelles' archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. The region, on the other hand, is known for seaweed farming, where this practice is common in Zanzibar, Tanzania, Madagascar and Mauritius.
As proven by WTM Africa 2017, which saw $365,950,813 of business generated, exhibitions remains a powerful marketing tool for business, particularly for an experiential business in the travel and tourism sector where buyers appreciate face-to-face negotiations.
Image Supplied
In addition, it has been reported that across the WTM Portfolio in 2016, the amount of business done totalled an incredible $7bn.
Recreating the pull of travel experiences
Chardonnay Marchesi, portfolio director for Reed Exhibitions Africa Travel Week, attributes the success of WTM Africa 2017 to the human-centric approach taken to create an environment ripe for business deals, and ensuring that both buyers and exhibitors needs are met through an intensive feedback process each year. At WTM Africa 2018, experiences focusing on the five senses of touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing will become integral to on-site innovations designed to recreate the emotional pull of a variety of travel experiences.
According to ufi.org, 80% of businesses agree that customers spend more money with companies they have met with face-to-face. While according to the CEIR survey's consensus, visitors value in-the-moment interaction with your exhibiting team that will let them experience everything there is to know about your product. This includes product demos, sensory engagement with products to let visitors see, touch, smell and taste (where possible) your product, and leaving with relatable information takeaways that they can explore after leaving your stand.
Harnessing the power of technology
Technology is becoming an increasingly important component of exhibitions too, with the digitisation of content and the utility of hardware such as touch screens, virtual reality apparatus and gaming elements all being brought onto the exhibition floor. This was demonstrated at WTM Africa 2017 with the inclusion of a dedicated section on the show floor for travel technology providers, and with the Travel Tech Show, a conference theatre for technology-specific content.
The City of Cape Town, for example, demonstrate the highlights for a traveller in the city using virtual reality technology.
Says Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Patricia de Lille: WTM Africa remains one of the foremost exhibition shows hosted by the City of Cape Town. We are delighted that our virtual reality experiences and touch screen information kiosks were a hit among delegates. The use of technology in the City of Cape Town exhibition stand also earned us the award for the Most Innovative Stand at WTM Africa 2017. Since 2014, the City of Cape Town has made significant progress in harnessing the power of technology. We have set ourselves the goal of becoming the digital capital of Africa. Our investment in the digital city is one of the biggest contributions we can make towards building the opportunity city of the future by leveraging technology for progress. Becoming a truly digital city is one of the key factors that will help unlock growth in all sectors.
Bringing the world together in one room, facilitating international business
When approached with strategic and well-planned messaging, goals and activations, exhibitions remain one of the most effective platforms to market your brand from, with many organisations experiencing a positive return on investment in financial, brand awareness and marketing capacities, reports Marchesi.
Exhibitions have the ability to bring the world together in one room. Each year, there are approximately 31,000 exhibitions globally, with over 4.4 million companies that exhibit. There is something truly exciting about being able to connect and communicate with international visitors on a common interest, which inevitably leads to the opportunity to do business internationally, making a positive mark on the economy.
Worldwide, it is estimated that over $109bn is spent at exhibitions by visitors and exhibitors. Our team has seen this first hand at WTM Africa where, in 2017, over 5,000 industry professionals from 72 countries attended the event in Cape Town with the primary objective to do business with one another. Over 200 hosted buyers were present and an incredible 11% year-on-year increase in the number of appointments has been recorded, concludes Marchesi, citing statistics from a survey done by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research.
NAIROBI, Kenya - Structures endorsed by the African Union have been finalised to promote the audiovisual and cinema industry in Africa which accounts for US$5 billion in continental GDP.
African Union member states endorse the draft statute of the African Audiovisual and Cinema Commission (AACC) to boost the African cinema industry.
The African Audiovisual and Cinema Commission (AACC) has been formally established and will be responsible for the promotion of the African audiovisual and cinema industry. Ministers of youth, culture and sport of the African Union member states meeting in Nairobi endorsed the Draft Statute of the African Audiovisual and Cinema Commission (AACC) at the Extraordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Youth, Culture and Sport (STC-YCS2).
The AACC was established in June 2016 in Addis Ababa Ethiopia as a specialised agency of the African Union. The Ministers also approved establishment of the AACC Temporary Secretariat in Nairobi, Kenya.
The establishment and the endorsement of the statutes is the result of concerted efforts led by the Government of the Republic of Kenya; the Pan African Federation of Filmmakers (FEPACI), currently hosted by the Government of Kenya; the African Union Commission (AUC); and leading film producing countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote DIvoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe among others.
Establishment of AACC was first called for by the AU Executive Council in Maputo, Mozambique, in 2003.
African cinema
The African Audiovisual and Cinema Commission (AACC) will be responsible for the promotion of the rapid development of the African audiovisual and cinema industry and shall encourage creation of appropriate structures at the national, regional and continental levels; strengthen cooperation between African States in the area of audiovisual and cinema; and promote the use of audiovisual and cinematic expressions as factors of job creation, integration, solidarity, respect of values and mutual understanding in order to foster peace, a positive image of Africa, and prevent conflicts.
The audiovisual and cinema industry accounts for US$5 billion in continental GDP, employing an estimated 5 million people. With the current push for its development, this industry is expected to grow to over 20 million jobs and US$20 billion in annual GDP contribution.
With the current push for its development, this industry is expected to grow to over 20 million jobs and US$20 billion in annual GDP contribution.
The AACC is part of a four programme ecosystem that is mobilising US$410 million in programme funds for the promotion of this industry over the next five years. These resources will be raised from both the private and public sector and will be implemented primarily by the private sector.
The National Governments and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) shall have the responsibility of incorporating sectoral activities of the audiovisual and cinema industry into their economic and social priority strategies to give the right signals for resource mobilisation.
Benefits
This renewed effort will have following benefits for African countries:
Grow the sector from 5 to 20 million jobs in the medium term. Grow the sector from US$5 billion to 20 billion in annual GDP contribution, in the medium term. A robust audiovisual and cinema industry capable of projecting a positive image of Africa. Facilitate attainment of Agenda 2063, the Africa We Want, and be a good base for the export of African film products and services to international audiences and customers. Enhance capacity of the continent to meet its foreign policy objectives particularly peace building, integration, and Pan-Africanism.
The meeting also took note of FEPACIs proposal on Regional Centres of Excellence in Film Production and Post-Production for the promotion and development of the audiovisual and cinema sector in Africa. Members were requested to support the creation of these centres across the continent to enhance production of more quality films.
It also took note of the initiative by FEPACI and AUC to develop cinematic expressions on African Unions Agenda 2063 that will encompass all players in cinema production. This will also enable better domestication and popularisation of the AU Agenda 2063.
The Pan African Federation of Filmmakers, founded in 1969, is the voice of the African filmmaker. The FEPACI Secretariat moved to Kenya in 2013 and began its work of facilitating, strengthening, and promoting the interests of the African Filmmaker through creation of structures and programmes.
My colleague Seelan was about to head off to Sun City this past weekend and take the Jeep Renegade we have as a test car ... until he discovered how little room there is in the car.
With a young family, he needs space when he travels and his VW Jetta is the ideal family transport. In that, Seelan is a lot like me: when I was younger and the kids were smaller, our Jetta took us all over Namibia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and South Africa.
We were, literally, a happy part of that Volkswagen Family. Back in the early 90s, VW made a really memorable TV ad called Days of my Life, which featured a haunting song as the backtrack and a series of vignettes of a family growing and changing their cars as their circumstances changed but always staying within the VW family.
That ad always makes me a bit emotional (the sign of a great ad) because it evokes those times in our lives when the first Jetta and later the second were always in the background.
They gave us precious family moments. One of the most precious family moments comes from the peace which results from enough room in the back seat, so the offspring dont start World War III. And in Seelans Jetta there will be plenty of peaceful space.
But what if you were even more productive than the twochild family norm? Say you have four what do you do then? If you have the money (because theyre not cheap) you opt for VWs new Kombi.
Its a lot more upmarket than the famous surfing shaggin wagon so beloved by hippies. It still hauls people and goods around like few other vehicles.
I saw an ad for the new Kombi this week and, although it has been around for a few months, it still grabs the attention.
Thats because the original Days of my Life soundtrack is still there and the story of what used to be known as the Volksie Bus is told through the years, just like in the original ad.
The ad demonstrates not only the size and versatility of the vehicle, but it tugs at the heart strings and reminds you that the latest people carrier has great DNA. So an Orchid to VW and its agency, Ogilvy.
Wasnt it amazing in this country the place of the its not my fault excuse and where the national bird should really be the Responsibility Duck that KPMGs senior management jointly fell on their swords yesterday after the investigation into the Gupta shenanigans was completed.
There are cynics and I am partly like that myself who will say that the accounting and business advisory firm really had no option but to make heads rolls if it was to continue to generate business.
After all, British PR firm Bell Pottinger crashed when it failed to move quickly and decisively enough after revelations of its own links to the Guptas emerged.
The resignations at KPMG, which went right to the top (even though the investigation claimed there was no evidence of criminal wrongdoing) demonstrated that the buck has to stop somewhere. But promising to donate money earned from the Gupta relationship (R40 million or so) to charities was a clever reputation management move.
Added to that, the company agreed to pay back the R23 million it earned by compiling a controversial report on the SA Revenues Service.
The fact that the money will go to a good cause will go a long way to help repair KPMGs battered image.
Good reputation management is good marketing, so KPMG gets an Orchid from me.
A rise in bogus health practitioners has forced the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) and medical schemes to strengthen their forensics units to curb fraud.
A team at the HPCSA is conducting about 400 investigations into bogus practitioners. To date, just more than 40 arrests have been made, but prosecutions are slow.
Data from this special investigation unit suggests that about 7% of all medical aid claims in SA are fraudulent and stem from both bogus practitioners and unscrupulous ones.
Estimates are that this type of fraud costs the private sector R22bn a year.
Bogus practitioners include those who had previously been registered with the HPCSA, but were struck off for various infractions, while others had no medical qualifications or experience and used practice numbers belonging to registered healthcare practitioners.
Eric Mphaphuli, a senior inspector at the council, said on Monday that, initially, his team had issues getting the police on board and had to convince the authorities that the problem was serious and on the rise.
Since that conversation took place, arrests were being made every other week. "Recently a practitioner was arrested and sentenced to 20 years for practising illegally," Mphaphuli said.
Bonitas Medical Fund, the second-largest open scheme in SA, had identified more than R79m in irregular claims involving medical practitioners in 2016 and recovered about R20m.
Gerhard van Emmenis, Bonitas's principal officer, said the biggest single deterrent to fraud, waste and abuse was making it known that schemes were actively investigating every suspicious or unusual claim or activity.
In 2016, Bonitas introduced advanced analytical software into the live claims environment, using a mix of technology, analytics and expert skills to identify fraud, waste and abuse.
During this process, Bonitas red-flagged 574 healthcare professionals, 34 of whom were charged, while another four were arrested.
"We believe the HPCSA are too lenient on offenders. According to section 66 of the Medical Schemes Act, medical aid fraud, committed either by a member or a healthcare practitioner, is a criminal offence which carries a fine or imprisonment or both," he said.
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union said it was concerned about rising corruption in the healthcare system.
Union spokesman Khaya Xaba said bogus practitioners compromised the healthcare system and the union was concerned about this.
United Democratic Movement general secretary Bongani Msomi said the Department of Health needed to "blacklist" bogus practitioners.
Non-profit organisation Surgeons For Little Lives has launched its second big project - to build a lactation unit and breast milk bank at Soweto's Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital - fundraising over R6m at a recent event.
The unit will have four components: an educational facility for antenatal and postnatal education, a lactation facility where mothers/donors can express in a supported environment, a milk pasteurising plant, and a breast milk bank.
The launch event was held at The Shed at Steyn City and was attended by individuals and entities that have supported and contributed the success of Surgeons For Little Lives, an NPO dedicated to saving the lives of sick children, since its inception in May 2015. An opening pledge from Rand Merchant Bank of R5.2m was received. The format of the evening was somewhat unusual as the guests could literally watch the new unit being built as guests made their pledges. This was made possible using virtual reality technology. In addition to the pledges for the building costs, an auction was held for an artwork by Stompie Selibe (Candice Bergman Gallery), jewellery from Elegance Jewellers, a Paco rug and a stay at Ivory Tree Game Lodge.
Our event last night was a great success, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved. Surgeons For Little Lives has become a wonderful success story, contributing positively to the healthcare of children requiring surgery in Gauteng. This is as a result of our partners who have contributed on so many levels to making this possible, said Professor Jerome Loveland, chairman of the board at Surgeons For Little Lives and head of paediatric surgery at the University of the Witwatersrand.
Run by paediatric surgeons, volunteers
Surgeons For Little Lives was launched in 2015 and is run by a group of paediatric surgeons and ordinary volunteers. It is focused on raising the level of care given to patients in the paediatric surgery wards of state hospitals in the Greater Gauteng area. It is solely reliant on funds raised by the organisation and donations from individuals and corporates alike to achieve this objective.
In July 2016, a project was launched at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital to build a world-class paediatric surgery and outpatient clinic, including a sleep-over facility for caregivers. The new clinic is due to be opened in November 2017.
For more info, go to www.surgeonsforlittlelives.org.
Digital media in South Africa is no longer a new concept. As the internet evolves at the speed of lightening, many existing print media houses have had to quickly adapt to stay alive and competitive.
A growing number of South African consumers have access to the internet thus creating the impression of digital media being a mass media vehicle. Concerns of certain jobs and roles, such as journalism, becoming obsolete have been salvaged by the dire need of relevant content the backbone of the digital industry. Digital allows for new ways of connecting with readers and consumers.
The challenge comes in where this evolution needs to be monetised for business and still maintain the flow of great content, which beckons the question: Is digital media seen as a fully-fledged media type in South Africa, especially within the advertising and marketing industry?
As it has become more main stream with skilled professionals, it seems the digital world is not quite fully securing its fair share of the media budget. If South African consumers are spending as much time with digital media as they are with traditional media, surely adspend should reflect this.
Content is key
Considering how fast the digital audience is growing and the time consumers spend on the internet, advertisers need to react and take full advantage of this. Online display advertising continues to make a good profit, which should be continuously implemented before adblocking gains traction in South Africa.
To attract and retain digital audiences, South African industries need to invest in good quality content providing value to receive it, and acknowledge the convergence of traditional media and digital media.
Digital media in South Africa has matured, is mainstream and continues to grow. Consumers are flocking to it in droves which means marketing and advertising industries must adapt in a rapid way.
Pick n Pay said on Monday it was unlikely to roll out the Bitcoin payment platform until there was a regulatory framework for managing risks associated with cryptocurrencies.
The grocery retailer piloted the bitcoin payment system at its Cape Town store in what is described as a world first. Industry insiders say other retailers should follow suit.
Bitcoin is gaining traction across the world and although not recognised by financial regulators locally, it is being taken seriously. The South African Reserve Bank recently established a fintech programme to explore the implications of virtual currencies and other financial technologies for financial regulation and activities such as lending and investing.
Pick n Pay deputy CEO Richard van Rensburg said the pilot was "limited to our canteen store in our head office for a specific period of time and is no longer active".
He said: "We don't expect that in the near term accepting Bitcoin will unlock any significant new business and we are unlikely to roll out the solution until the payments industry and regulatory authorities have established a framework for managing the risks associated with cryptocurrencies. We have proved to ourselves, though, that it is technically possible to roll out a solution very quickly."
He said cryptocurrencies were still in "relative infancy" and would take some time before they become widely accepted as a form of tender. "Progress is unlikely to be hampered by technology but rather by regulatory issues and concerns," Van Rensburg said.
Blockchain Academy MD Sonya Kuhnel said Bitcoin created opportunities that retailers should take advantage of. "It also allows people who do not necessarily have bank accounts to transact at retailers instead of using cash. Furthermore, transactions are also not subject to reversals or costly charge backs," she said.
Kuhnel said the transaction fee retailers had to pay could range up to 1% on debit cards and 2% on credit cards. Smaller merchants could pay up to 7% for card payments.
"Bitcoin transaction fees are significantly less and if we take the example of PayFast, one of SA's payment processing companies, they charge their merchants a 1.9% transaction fee as compared to 3.5% for debit and credit cards payments."
Bitcoin's payment system at Pick n Pay operates similar to a Snapscan or a Zapper payment, where customers are able to check out items by scanning a QR code from a smartphone.
Source: Business Day
#InnovationMonth: A new way of retail with Now Showing
Now Showing is a constantly evolving boutique store, gallery and events space that recently opened its doors at 109 Waterkant Street in Cape Town. Brought to you by the cool cats from popular design store The Space , Now Showing is the first Cape Town out-of-mall shop from this Durban born brand and promises to give shoppers a unique and innovative consumer experience.
Now Showing is split into two definitive spaces downstairs offers a starkly white and mirror adorned labyrinth-like space showcasing fashion from top local designers such as Colleen Eitzen, Amanda Laird-Cherry and Leigh Schubert, while upstairs offers an ever-evolving and meticulously curated and crafted boutique store. Currently showing is The Dark Side which runs until 28 October. Offering gifts, oddities, decor and art for those with a wonderfully wicked outlook on life and dark sense of humour, Now Showing fills a gap in an otherwise predominantly generic shopping sphere. Think charcoal water, inky black pasta, macabre jewellery, darkly cute art, erotic leather paddles and taxidermy. Image by Tony Christie We got in touch with founder and retail entrepreneur Neil Roake to find our more for #InnovationMonth. What was the inspiration behind launching an everchanging retail space? What was the inspiration behind launching an everchanging retail space?
Recently, a new mall opened in Ballito and if you had to walk through the mall you could be anywhere in South Africa - all the same shops with the same shopfronts are just stepped and repeated, and everything is very vanilla. Boring. The Space brand is now 20 years old and we wanted to try something out-of-mall that had some energy and split the home wear and gifting into a new genre of shopping a sensorama smell and touch are key factors. Neil Roake - Image by Elsa Young Image by Tony Christie The shop seems to straddle the lines between retail, art and events how do you balance these elements? The shop seems to straddle the lines between retail, art and events how do you balance these elements?
We are not in a mall so we need to attract attention. Our opening party drew 160 crazy folks and loads of wine was consumed. Now we offer weekly wine tastings in an informal way and introduce new customers to our store. Its in essence very personal shopping.
Can you share some of the upcoming themes? Can you share some of the upcoming themes?
We currently are in The Dark Side, with all things that go bump in the night and then were opening The Light Side on Thursday, 2 November. From 1 February 2018, the multi-talented Egg Design team will refit the upstairs into Apartment Waterkant showcasing their new furniture collections fresh from Maison Objet in Paris it will be a complete apartment including kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and lounge. In May 2018, we go Afro Addict and take a spin across the African continent.
How do you select your designers, artists and suppliers? How do you select your designers, artists and suppliers?
They are curated for the themes, so I am constantly looking around, keeping one eye open for exciting talent.
Can you explain why there is a division between the lower and upper floors? Will the lower floor also be ever changing? Can you explain why there is a division between the lower and upper floors? Will the lower floor also be ever changing?
The ground floor houses the collections of founder designers Colleen Eitzen and Amanda Laird Cherry, as well as stalwart Leigh Schubert. These include their premium collections and highlights the talent of these homegrown designers. As the themes changes, so will new inputs arriving as the fashion seasons change.
Image by Simon Deiner
What has the response been like since the launch? What has the response been like since the launch?
Fantastic I can sense that when people arrive they are touched by just a little magic dust. If I can have people just feel a little and love a little longer, I will be very happy.
What would you like to see change in the local retail space? What would you like to see change in the local retail space?
Retail in SA is dominated by large groups who simply roll out stores by the dozens. I would like to see some curated content, unique touch points and immersive experience... Keywords that are very overused but need to now be taken seriously.
Image by Tony Christie
Do you plan to launch more concept stores like this? Do you plan to launch more concept stores like this?
Nope we want this to be a unique experience. Maybe something else, but firstly The Space launches its online offering on 1 November 2018. That is keeping us busy.
Dates to diarise:
The Dark Side: Until 28 October 2017
The Light Side: 2 November 2017 27 January 2018
Apartment Waterkant featuring Egg Design: 1 February 31 March 2018
Lammershoek wine tastings: 21, 28 September and 5, 12, 19 and 26 October
For more information, visit thespace.co.za or follow Now Showing on Instagram and Facebook.
A new phosphate mine on the West Coast is being challenged by environmental activists and state departments who say the mine has been unlawfully established and fear it could damage the surrounding sensitive environment.
Elandsfontein phosphate mine. Photo: Kropz
The Elandsfontein mine borders the West Coast National Park and is about 3km from where the fossilised remains of the Saldanha Man were found.
The mining company, previously known as Elandsfontein Exploration and Mining and now known as Kropz, managed to secure a mining licence in January 2015 and a water use licence in April 2017, despite strong opposition, including court action. Patrice Motsepe's firm, African Rainbow Capital, owns a 25% share in the Elandsfontein mine. Kropz says the mine is situated on the second largest deposit of phosphate in South Africa and will create about 300 permanent jobs.
Kropz has now halted the commissioning of the mine for an "extended period" due, among other things, to "a long delay in the issuing of the mine's water use licence, which has consequently impacted on the mine's ability to access suitable ore required to achieve target rock phosphate concentrate grade".
"The situation has been further aggravated by technical issues identified during commissioning, as well as the fact that current world rock phosphate prices have reached a ten-year low, decreasing by almost 30% since Elandsfontein was awarded its mining right," said the mine in a statement.
The West Coast Environmental Protection Association has been fiercely opposed to the mine since its conception. The association is currently involved in a court application to review the granting of the mining right and is appealing against the granting of the water use licence in the Water Tribunal.
However, Kropz told GroundUp that it has not been notified by the Department of Water and Sanitation, of an appeal against the water use licence.
Minister of environmental affairs questions Kropz's mining rights
Two recent appeals by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning and West Coast Environmental Protection Association against approvals given to the mine have been dismissed by the Minister of Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa.
In both decisions, the minister said that she believed that the fact that the Department of Mineral Resources had granted a mining right to Kropz without environmental authorisation (EA), "casts doubt on the validity of the mining decision".
She said that Kropz's mining activity "was unlawful when it first commenced and continues to be unlawful to the extent that such mining activity is ongoing".
But, because the review against the approval to mine was still ongoing and these particular appeals related to this, Molewa said that she had to decide this appeal on the basis that the approval was correct.
When asked about this, Michelle Lawrence, technical director for Kropz, said that "in law, all administrative decisions - such as a mining right - have legal consequences until they are reviewed and set aside by a competent court". She said: "In this instance, the minister of mineral resources must first review the decision of the director general to grant the mining right before a competent court can review it."
SANParks' change of heart
SANParks, which manages the West Coast National Park, had initially objected to the granting of the water use licence, but later withdrew its objection. Its opposition was based on several specialists' reports and consultations carried out over 12 months. "Extreme caution should be exercised in all proposed mining activities due to the very sensitive nature of the area," SANParks said then.
SANParks said the mining activity would be in the buffer zone of the park. According to the West Coast National Park Management Plan for the period 2013-2023, Elandsfontein is located within the "buffer zone".
According to the plan, "buffer zones" are areas outside the park but where land use change could have an effect on the park. The Elandsfontein area is seen as key to the "long term persistence of biodiversity in and around the park".
However, Kropz says that "from a legal perspective" no buffer zones have been established around the park as the buffer zone has not been published in the Government Gazette, and so is not "official".
SANParks also expressed concern about excess, contaminated water left over after Kropz had drained the area for mining: "There are major concerns about the possible creation of artificial wetlands in the park and the water not being returned to the aquifer as planned, thus potentially endangering the Langebaan Lagoon."
SANParks has not responded to GroundUp's questions about why the objections were withdrawn, despite numerous requests.
Concerns over fossils and fresh water
Elandsfontein farm is the site of numerous fossil discoveries. A report commissioned by Kropz on the possible effect of the mining activity on the fossils in the area states that unless measures are taken, mining will have a direct negative impact on the fossil content in the ground. But if measures are put in place to prevent the loss of fossils, the report says, that the impact will actually be positive as hidden fossils could be found.
However, the report states: "There remains a medium to high risk of valuable fossils being lost in spite of management actions to mitigate such loss."
Another report commissioned by Kropz on how mining would affect fresh water in the area says that the only likely impact of the mine would be on the Langebaan Lagoon and that this was "highly unlikely" due to the distance between the mine and the lagoon.
Concerns over mining since 2011
Even in the early days of the project, there was opposition from local environmental groups, residents and several state departments.
In 2011, the initial prospecting application was refused by the Department of Mineral Affairs because "the proposed prospecting activities fall within a critical biodiversity area".
Kropz appealed against this, claiming that the critical biodiversity areas "have not been adopted in terms of the National Environmental Management Act". The Elandsfontein mining area is also not classified as "critically endangered" and is only classified as "vulnerable" according to the Act.
The minister of mineral resources then granted the prospecting right in 2013.
In late 2014, the environmental sub-directorate recommended rejecting Kropz's application for a mining right, saying that "the granting of this right would only result in unacceptable pollution, avoidable ecological degradation or damage to the environment".
The Department of Water Affairs was also "not in favour of mining rights being allowed... due to the impact on the ground water resources".
The West Coast Environmental Protection Association has also strongly objected to the Saldanha Bay Municipality's intention to use water from the aquifer and supply it to the mine, "to effectively circumvent the prohibition in the water use licence".
Kropz said the company was investigating whether it could also supply water to the municipality from the aquifer to assist the municipality in the drought.
The municipality had appointed a hydrogeologist to investigate this.
Kropz said requests to meet with the chair of the West Coast Environmental Protection Association had been declined.
The people of the Sahel are forging networks and collaborations that will help them contend with the challenges of insecurity and climate change that are besetting Africa's most vulnerable regions.
The Sahel is a vast semi-arid region of Africa separating the Sahara desert to the north and tropical forests and savannas to the south, characterised by harsh weather and periodic drought. While in some geographical usages the Sahel may extend to the Red Sea, for political purposes the term most commonly refers to the countries of Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad.
At a summit in Burkina Faso in mid-June to assess strategies for grappling with climate change, the presidents of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger agreed on the need for wider cooperation among their countries.
Above all, said President Roch Marc Christian Kabore of Burkina Faso, we must ensure the participation of local populations, because theyre the ones who live every day with the torments of drought and degraded land and water.
Just a few days before the summit, civil society and religious leaders had met in Bamako, Mali, to promote religious tolerance in Sahelian states torn by armed conflict. And a few days later some 40 women parliamentarians from across the Sahel convened in Chad to promote womens leadership in the prevention of violent extremism.
Not just conflict
Much international attention toward the Sahel has concentrated on armed insurgency and terrorism, observes Leonardo Villalon, coordinator of the Sahel Research Group at the University of Florida in the US. But, he cautions, that focus is narrow and often superficial. The Sahels concerns are also environmental, political, demographic, and economic. The regions security is itself intricately interrelated with broader socioeconomic dynamics.
With the collaboration of more than 40 other experts from Africa, Europe and North America, Professor Villalon is editing a book on the challenges facing the countries of the Sahel, The Oxford Handbook of the African Sahel, scheduled for publication by the UKs Oxford University Press. The book will provide a comprehensive analysis of the many factors shaping the region today.
From any angle, the Sahels challenges appear formidable.
The region, frequently struck by drought and food insecurity, is projected to be one of the areas most severely affected by global climate change in the coming years. With up to 80% of its people living on less than $2 a day, poverty is more widespread in the Sahel than in most other parts of Africa.
The Sahels population growth rate also is among the worlds highest. Experts project the six countries population of approximately 90-million people to jump to 240-million by 2050 a rapid increase that could undermine educational efforts, stretch already limited public services and leave more young people without job opportunities. Already unemployment afflicts half of all youths in Mali. Such circumstances, in turn, contribute to the risks of crime and violence.
Poor governance does not help. Most governments in the Sahel are formally democratic, but for many ordinary citizens, elections have not yielded tangible improvements, while bureaucratic corruption and favouritism remain common, observes Jean-Pierre Olivier de Sardan, who teaches in France and Niger. Those shortcomings, he says, have led to a widening gap between the privileged class and the masses of the population.
Re-greening of Niger
Improvements in official agricultural policies in the Sahel in recent years have contributed to an increase in farm production, especially food for growing populations. But most of these achievements depend heavily on the efforts of ordinary farmers and livestock herders.
Producer organisations are emerging across the Sahel, notes Renata Serra, a development economist at the University of Florida.
Since the mid-1980s, farmers in the countrys southern regions have protected and managed at least 200-million trees, according to Chris Reij of the World Resources Institute in Washington, DC. Satellite images and aerial photos analysed by Gray Tappan and colleagues of the US Geological Survey show a visible re-greening of wide areas, with more trees and shrubs in the densely populated areas of Zinder as well as other locations.
A similar expansion of tree cover is going on in parts of Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal but it is happening in Niger on a spectacular scale, unique for the Sahel and probably unique for Africa, comments Reij.
In turn, denser vegetation has boosted the yields and diversity of farm production, generating strong commitment from farmers. Donor-funded programmes have contributed to the re-greening phenomenon. But the most important factor, researchers argue, has been the emergence of village committees to protect and manage trees.
Studies of farmer-led tree management efforts indicate that women have been particularly active, in part because they are prime beneficiaries. Some tree varieties produce fruit and leaves that they can sell for extra income, while the availability of more trees overall helps reduce the time women spend collecting fuelwood.
In Keita town, central Niger, women are planting trees for peace, as in similar campaigns by Kenyan women environmentalists, reports professor Ousseina Alidou, a scholar from Niger teaching at Rutgers University in New Jersey, US.
She also notes that some groups in Burkina Faso, Niger and Senegal are fighting for gender equality and pushing the boundaries of womens status within current family laws. They are also agitating for legal adoption of refugee children and orphans, an innovation under prevailing local Islamic legal practices.
In Burkina Faso, Senegal and elsewhere in the Sahel, civil society organisations are also campaigning against practices such as female genital mutilation and child marriage.
Citizen engagement
Likewise, political life is beginning to show the impact of citizen involvement. In Burkina Faso and Senegal, civil society groups remain active, mounting campaigns against corruption, for greater transparency in mining industries, for better public services and around other issues.
Civil mobilisations in elsewhere in the Sahel have been more sporadic, but at times have nevertheless been notable.
In countering threats of terrorism and armed violence, all governments of the Sahel are aware that they need to strengthen their security forces and cooperate more closely with each other.
In February the presidents of the Group of Five, also known as G5 Sahel, (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger) agreed to boost joint military training, intelligence sharing, and logistical infrastructure, as well as to form a joint military force against terrorism and drug trafficking.
In some countries, including Burkina Faso and Senegal, military officers are trying to improve relations with civilians.
Civilians are also taking initiatives of their own to counter jihadist ideology. In Dori and Gorom-Gorom in Burkina Fasos far north, a Muslim-Christian civil association regularly organises interfaith dialogues.
However, for such efforts to make real headway, the regions governments must do much more to reach out to their own citizens, argues Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, president of the Center for Strategy and Security in the Sahel-Sahara, headquartered in Mauritania.
They must heed the popular demand for better management of African economies and political rights, says Ould-Abdallah, a former UN secretary-generals representative to Somalia, adding that, Demanding better governance less corruption, more social inclusion, more professional and less tribalised security forces, and good border policies will all contribute to fighting violent extremism more effectively.
Article published courtesy of Africa Renewal.
Standard Bank and the Competition Commission were at loggerheads over the whereabouts of the antitrust regulator's forex investigation record, with the bank arguing the commission was retaining the record for strategic reasons.
The commission hit back with claims that Standard Bank was trying to gain access to evidence before pleading to the charges against it.
The bank, one of 18 banking entities that was accused in February of rigging trade in the rand-dollar currency pair, has sought access to this record since March, according to arguments before the Competition Tribunal on Monday.
The complaint has since been tied up in lengthy legal processes including exception applications from 13 entities. Three entities - Absa, Barclays Capital and Barclays plc - have applied for leniency, while Citibank has settled and Standard Chartered is said to be in settlement talks.
"The exceptions have not been adjudicated upon, and Standard Bank is not obliged to plead in the circumstances," said Greta Engelbrecht, counsel for Standard Bank.
Standard Bank said it had asked the commission to provide an index to the record, indicating which portions were restricted and the reasons for that, as well as to provide copies of the record by March 15 2017.
E-mail correspondence attached to Standard Bank's application to compel the commission to produce the records show the commission agreed to do so and responded to reminders from the bank's lawyers with assurances that it was working on the record. But it had not produced the record by April, when the bank advised it would bring the application to compel it to do so.
The commission failed to respond to the threat, and the application was launched five days later.
"The commission initially sought to comply with the request but, on further consideration, determined it was an impermissible attempt by Standard Bank to gain access to evidence before pleading to the complaint against it," said Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, counsel for the regulator. "The commission then took the decision to deny Standard Bank's request."
But Engelbrecht said the Competition Appeal Court had previously ruled on a similar matter involving Group Five, where it found the regulator was a public body to whose records legislators had offered a general right of access. "The aspersions cast by the commission must be dismissed out of hand," said Engelbrecht.
Ngcukaitobi said the commission had decided not to grant the records, so the matter before the tribunal was not about the bank's rights of access.
"Is a party in the position of Standard Bank entitled to disregard a decision of the commission and go behind it?" Ngcukaitobi asked.
"The answer " is not to be found in Group Five. Rather, it is to be found in principles of administrative law."
Ngcukaitobi argued that the bank accepted the commission had made a decision, and the only power the tribunal could exercise was that of review or appeal.
The tribunal reserved judgment on Monday.
Birds and damage in grain breeding trials are synonymous, and each breeder will have his or her unique way to tackle it. Some will go on the offense and others on the defense. The first usually leads to the culling of birds. It's a last resort action that only brings reprieve for a season or two, and not an acceptable option for bird lovers.
Evgeniy Zakharov via 123RF
Over the past ten years, there has been a significant increase in the hectares being planted at Welgevallen Experimental Farm as part of breeding trials of the plant breeding laboratory (PBL). These efforts form part of contract research being conducted in support of the local wheat industry.
Rethinking defense mechanisms
Covering our trials with nets became an almost impossible task and too expensive. The netting also made the use of newer phenotyping platforms, i.e. drones, impossible.
The PBL, therefore, had to rethink our defense mechanisms and started exploring different deterrents. With a school on the one side and a residential area on the other, options are, however, significantly limited. In 2015, following extensive research on possible deterrents, we made contact with Eagle Eye Bird Control and got hold of a high-powered handheld laser. The laser was extremely effective in chasing away unwanted birds but needed a human operator. We realised later that this was not a sustainable long-term solution.
New technology a winner
Fast forward to the 2017 season. Following the extensive search in regard to bird laser deterrents, Professor Google forwarded an alert in 2015 for a new product. It was for the autonomic bird repelling laser from a Dutch-based company called Bird Control Group (BCG). We made contact and in May 2017 a demonstration unit was imported and installed at WEF. This was the first time the technology was deployed in South Africa.
The unit consists of a high-powered, class 3B, green laser that is housed in a watertight casing, similar to that of a security camera. The lasers path can be programmed and is completely adaptable to the users requirements. The unit can, therefore, autonomously cover the pre-determined area 24/7 without any human intervention apart from the initial programming.
But does it work?
Yes. This season we have suffered almost no damage in the areas covered by the laser beam thus far.
How does it work? The birds identify the lasers beam as a physical threat and flee from it. In most cases, our experience is that once it flees it will not return. The autonomic laser is also extensively used in other areas of the world, at airports and industries prone to bird damage. The versatility of the technology is further illustrated with the Seabird saver laser system that was developed in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund.
The laser is generally regarded as safe and fitted with BCGs patented Projection Safety System (PSS) that blocks the laser from shining outside the programmed area. This keeps birds away without harming them while not impacting the environment or impacting WEFs neighbours, thereby providing a high-tech, innovative solution for a low-tech problem. Stellenbosch University
Confusion persists regarding UIF contributions since a new Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) scale of benefits came into effect on 1 April 2017. The limit for those claiming benefits was increased from R178,464 per annum to R212,539 per annum (or from R14,872 per month to R17,712 per month).
Photo by Pawel Chu on Unsplash
The cause of confusion
In previous years, changes to UIF benefits and the value of contributions deducted from employees (and matched by employer contributions) were implemented on the same date, for the same value. So, many assumed that the increase in benefits limits should likewise be applied to contribution limits. But no formal statement to that effect had been issued. As a result, employers and payroll practitioners were uncertain about updating their payroll parameters.
In May 2017, the South African Payroll Association (SAPA) published an article by one of its directors, Arlene Leggat, offering clarity. It explained that contributions and benefits are regulated by two separate laws. Contributions are governed by the Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act of 2002 and any changes must be announced by the Minister of Finance through the government gazette. Benefits, however, are regulated by the Unemployment Insurance Act of 2001 and the Minister of Labour must announce changes, also through the government gazette.
Like SAPA, various commentators have addressed the issue. Sadly, the very bodies that should supply much-needed answers have not only failed to do so but have compounded the problem.
Making things worse
Leggat refers to an infographic, issued by the UIF at the time of the increase, encouraging organisations to also increase their contribution ceilings. Lately, weve seen this erroneous document doing the rounds again, creating more confusion, she notes.
Worse still, it was recently reported that the Department of Labours own online U-filing service had applied the new threshold to its calculation for contributions. When asked why, the UIF explained it was an error that was being corrected.
It appears that even the Department of Labour employees are unsure, observes Leggat. This demonstrates a lack of communication that must be resolved at the highest level.
The effect of the problem
In terms of Section 7(5) of the Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act of 2002, if an employer makes deductions in excess of the payment prescribed by the Act, they must return the amount to their employees even if theyre not refunded by the UIF. However, according to Section (7)(3)(c), if the employer fails to deduct the correct amount, they become liable for the contribution. This puts employers in a catch-22 situation, says Leggat. For companies with hundreds or thousands of employees, it could become a major administrative problem.
The solution
Our attempts to provide employers with logical answers have little effect if the Department of Labour is as confused as everyone else, concludes Leggat. The Minister of Labour, the Minister of Finance or the Unemployment Insurance Commissioner should make a public statement that instructs employers on how to proceed in no uncertain terms.
SAPA formally requests that such a statement be made and invites concerned parties to join its petition of the government to do so.
Every organisation, no matter how large or small, has a unique culture that defines it. The values, principles, ideologies, and beliefs of the company make up its culture. Consequently, the culture will influence how people relate to each other in the workplace. It will also have a significant effect on the performance and productivity of employees. Company culture can, therefore, make or break your business.
Photo by rawpixel.com on Unsplash
Here are some of the benefits of a strong workplace culture:
1. Identity
Every organisation is recognised by its culture. Therefore, you need to have a strong culture which will help you stand out from the rest. This will play a major role in creating the preferred brand image for your company. The organisational culture should be instilled in new employees and reinforced as often as possible. Having a strong identity will help unite employees regardless of their backgrounds.
2. Enhances loyalty
Do your employees love working for your organisation or are they looking for the first opportunity to leave? Do they feel a sense of ownership towards the company? The culture of your organisation will have a major effect on the loyalty of your employees.
It is not enough to motivate your employees with incentives. You need to create a workplace culture where employees are treated with respect and trust. Be sure to involve them in decision-making as much as possible. This will enhance loyalty and subsequently improve productivity.
3. Boosts employee retention
Contrary to popular belief, it is not appraisals or compensation that keeps employees in a company for a long duration. There are many employees that are well compensated but still unhappy.
A recent workplace culture study showed that about 40% of employees are not satisfied in their jobs. For instance, someone that is always being micromanaged will not be happy, regardless of how much they are being paid.
Be sure to create a workplace culture where employees can relate well with their colleagues and seniors. Any arising disputes should be dealt with quickly and amicably.
Encourage employees to take up new opportunities and allow them to make their own decisions.
Having a positive workplace culture will enhance job satisfaction and minimise employee turnover.
4. Attracts new talent
A healthy workplace culture will not only help you retain employees but will also help you attract the right talent.
When looking for jobs, there are many other things people consider besides the salary. For instance, many job seekers look for organisations that can accommodate their personality and lifestyle. If your company is too strict about things such as dress code, it could easily put off some prospective employees.
Therefore, you need to breed a culture which will make people desire to join your organisation. When your employees are satisfied with their jobs, they are likely to spread the word and thus help attract new talent to your company.
Khethi Ngwenya, MD and founder of SchoolMedia and curator of the Johannesburg Global Shapers Hub, represented his hub at this year's annual curators' meeting, which took place in Geneva from 8-11 September 2017.
Khethi Ngwenya at the Annual Curators Meeting.
Global Shapers is a network of hubs across the world led and developed by young people driving dialogue, action and change. Hubs are city-based teams of shapers, united by common values, inclusion, collaboration and shared decision-making. Together, shapers create projects and positive change for their communities.
The annual meeting brings together the curators globally in order to equip them with new skills for impact. Ngwenya is one of the five South African curators that attended the meeting in Switzerland. This event is aimed at uniting some of the smartest, innovative and most dynamic young people in the world.
Founder of the World Economic Forum, Professor Klaus Schwab, opened the event, which is committed to improving the state of the world, as an international organisation for public-private co-operation.
Youth get opportunities to change their communities
Ngwenya says that the highlight of his trip was meeting young, driven individuals from different parts of the world and hearing about similar challenges that South Africa faces. He found that the Nigerian hub was the most inspirational hub, as it recruits global shapers according to what is needed. He also found it interesting that the Denmark hub raises money in order to organise outings and camps for children. Some families cannot afford to take their children on holiday so this is a wonderful initiative something that South Africa needs to start investing in, says Ngwenya.
He believes that being part of the Global Shapers Community is important for the youth because they are given an opportunity to offer youth led initiatives and solutions for change in their communities. This is a platform where the young people are central to responding to issues such as poverty, climate change and building inclusive communities. The youth are our future leaders and it is vital for them to become involved in making the world a better place, concludes Ngwenya.
For more information, click here or call +27 (0) 11 720-7174.
iStock/ThinkStock(NEW YORK) -- With Hurricane Maria bearing down, residents in Puerto Rico are hunkering down, preparing for 175 mph winds, 6- to 9-foot storm surge and up to 25 inches of rain. Unfortunately, most of the homes in Puerto Rico are built to withstand just 125 mph winds, characteristic of a Category 2 hurricane, according to one expert on building codes on the island.
With current gusts reaching 175 mph or more, the Category 5 storm, which slammed into the eastern Caribbean islands of Dominica and Guadeloupe Monday night, is expected to wreak havoc on the island, with the governor calling it the "potentially most catastrophic hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in a century.
According to University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez engineering professor Dr. Luis Aponte-Bermudez, Puerto Rico adopted the "International Building Code" in 2011, which requires residences withstand 140 mph winds, characteristic of a Category 3 storm.
When it comes to wind worthiness, these building codes are similar to the ones that govern mainland U.S. cities like Miami, an engineer at the Insurance Institute of Business & Home Safety tells ABC News.
However, the majority of the homes on the island were built prior to 2011, to a weaker code, and were "grandfathered" in.
Before 2011, Puerto Rico was using the "Uniform Building Code," which only required residences to withstand 125 mph winds, adopted after Hurricane Georges pummeled Puerto Rico in 1998.
Most legally built homes on the islands use that UBC 125-mph standard.
Worse still, many homes dotting the island fall into what's called "informal construction" -- built to no standard whatsoever.
These are homes built illegally, without proper regulation, by people who lack the economic resources to hire a constructor and instead just buy wood and other materials from the local hardware store.
These structures are "extremely vulnerable ... most of these homes are going to get destroyed," Aponte-Bermudez says, noting that many similar homes on the nearby island of Culebra were recently wiped out by Hurricane Irma.
"With the passage of Hurricane Irma, the people of Puerto Rico not only demonstrated our resilience, but we banded together to show our kindness and hospitality to thousands of our fellow Americans in the U.S. Virgin Islands, BVI [British Virgin Islands], St. Marteen and beyond," Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello said Tuesday afternoon.
"Now were looking down the barrel of Maria, a historic Category 5 hurricane. Although it looks like a direct hit with major damage to Puerto Rico is inevitable, I ask for Americas prayers," he continued. "No matter what happens here in the next 36 hours, Puerto Rico will survive, we will rebuild, we will recover and with your support, we will come out stronger than ever."
ABC News' Melissa Griffin and Josh Hoyos contributed to this report.
Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
The new Ford Kuga has arrived in South Africa and is said to build on the car manufacturer's global SUV expertise and heritage. It also claims to offer five-star safety and improved fuel efficiency.
Says Tracey Delate, general marketing manager, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa: "With stunning new design inside and out, smart technologies, fuel-efficient yet powerful engines, and five-star safety, it's a vehicle that will stand out for our customers."
The new Kuga joins the EcoSport compact SUV and the Everest seven-seater SUV.
There is a choice of two petrol engines in the 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre EcoBoost petrol units, as well as the 2.0-litre TDCi turbodiesel engine. Depending on the model, there is the option of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive models, and manual or automatic transmissions.
"We know from customer feedback and research that vehicle design and style are key factors in the car buying decision process," Delate says. "In many cases, it's actually the top consideration which is why we're particularly excited about the new Kuga. In addition to being a very capable, functional SUV with a fantastic suite of smart technologies, it's also a vehicle that will turn heads wherever it's driven."
What about safety?
Standard safety features across the range include a total of seven airbags - including a driver's knee airbag - as well as ABS brakes with electronic stability programme (ESP), trailer stability function, hill launch assist and rollover mitigation.
An enhanced version of Ford's 'active city stop' with low-speed collision mitigation and avoidance has been introduced, which can be specified as with the driver assistance pack available as an option on the Trend and Titanium models. This pack also includes adaptive cruise control, blind spot information system (BLIS), lane departure warning and lane keeping aid, as well as advanced active park assist.
NEW DELHI, India: Ford Motor and India's Mahindra Group have announced they will work together in a fresh partnership as the US giant looks to boost its presence in one of the world's fastest growing auto markets.
Photo by chuttersnap on Unsplash
The two, who parted ways from a tie-up in 2005, will co-operate for three years on a number of areas including electric vehicles and sourcing.
"Ford is committed to India," said Jim Farley, Ford executive vice president and president of global markets in a statement.
"This alliance will allow us to work together to take advantage of the changes coming in the auto industry."
Most foreign automakers have struggled in the budget-sensitive Indian market and Ford has a less than three percent market share.
The electric car market is expected to explode as governments around the world, including India and the world's biggest market China saying they intend to shift completely away from fossil fuelled cars within the next few decades.
Mahindra is the only Indian automaker that makes electric cars, and at a fraction of the cost of global brands such as Tesla and an agreement would give Ford access to the cheap technology. Mahindra on the other hand will be given access to new designs and markets.
Abdul Majeed, a partner at consultancy PwC, said more automakers would in future seek strategic tie-ups as the industry sees a major shift towards greener transport and greater use of information technology.
"Alliances are critical"
"Alliances are critical to survive going forward. No one can resolve these (issues) on their own," Majeed told AFP.
"There's a fundamental shift happening in the sector and you're getting competition from new emerging companies so you have to align to survive."
Japan's Toyota Motor and Suzuki announced plans to work together earlier this year to exchange expertise, while General Motors and Ford are also in various experiments with US ride-sharing giant Uber Technologies.
The announcement marks a U-turn for Ford under new chief executive Jim Hackett after his predecessor Mark Fields had put the firm's India business on review.
Source: AFP
Human rights activist Justice Albie Sachs, Swiss cultural centre Pro Helvetia and law firm Webber Wentzel have all been honoured with Special Awards at the 20th Annual BASA Awards, partnered by Hollard and Business Day.
The Special Awards are selected by the Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) Board of Directors and celebrate remarkable contributions by individuals, businesses, and organisations to the sustainability of South Africas arts. The awards promote the core goals of BASAs strategy, i.e. to act as a change-maker, and to facilitate connectivity and sustainability through robust and ongoing research and diverse public, private and civil society programmes.
Justice Albie Sachs was named this years Art Champion, while the Chairmans Premier Award went to Webber Wentzel for pro bono legal service offered to the Gerard Sekoto Foundation from 1986 - 2017. Pro Helvetia, was honoured with the Diplomacy in the Arts Award for ongoing support of diverse arts projects in Southern Africa.
This years Special Awards winners are powerful endorsements of the ability of individuals, businesses and other organisations to make an impact on South Africas arts sector and highlight the extensive work that BASA is doing in creating exciting and innovative partnerships, said Andre le Roux, Chairman of the BASA Board.
Art Champion recipient Justice Albie Sachs appreciation for art began as a child. While in exile during the 80s, he acquired some of his most precious South African artworks. A highlight of Justice Sachs involvement and support for the arts is the Constitutional Court Art Collection. In 1994, when he was appointed Justice of the Constitutional Court, Sachs together with former Justice Yvonne Mokgoro, sought the input of dozens of artists local and international, renowned and amateur as they decorated the court. The collection, which is available for the public to see, currently holds over 450 pieces by local and international artists and was assembled as a symbol of one of the founding principles of South Africas radical new Constitution namely, Humanity.
Sachs, who currently resides on the boards of both the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa as well as the National Arts Festival, recognises the power of artworks to enable transformative moments of exchange and, in that way, fundamentally alter the ways in which we interact with one another.
"Judge Sachs has served on the National Arts Festival Board since 2008 and, in his tenure, has brought his considerable passion for the arts; his empathy; and his intellectual curiosity to bear on all that we do. He is a formidable ally in our ongoing mission to sustain the arts sector and position it to make a contribution to the rebuilding of our country. This BASA award is an acknowledgement of the entirety and integrity of his contribution - both seen and unseen - and we extend our warmest congratulations to him," Ayanda Mjekula, National Arts Festival Chairman.
The Diplomacy in the Arts Award is given in recognition of foreign missions that contribute to the development and preservation of the arts in South Africa, as well as the continued prioritisation of cultural diplomacy between South Africa and the international community.
Pro Helvetia reaches out to most countries in the Southern African region in order to promote artistic and cultural exchange. While raising awareness of Swiss contemporary arts in the region, Pro Helvetia forges ties with local organisations and event organisers. In the process, it develops and nurtures long-term partnerships, initiates co-productions with artists from the region and organises tours and residencies. Their programmes are interdisciplinary and exploratory in nature, placing special emphasis on music, contemporary dance and theatre, as well as visual and digital arts and design.
Pro Helvetia encourages initiatives that forge connections between the world of the arts and other fields of inquiry and work. It also supports exchanges around critical issues and questions facing artists and the arts field within the differently demanding and complex realities of Southern Africa and Switzerland.
The Chairmans Premier Award is made at the discretion of the Chairman of BASA and recognises sustained and extraordinary commitment to the arts in South Africa. This years recipient is Webber Wentzel for providing pro bono legal services to the Gerard Sekoto Foundation (GSF) for almost 30 years.
Gerard Sekoto is considered by many to be the Father of South African Art. As a South African, some of his works have achieved extremely high value on the international art market with pieces carried in private and corporate collections around the world.
Since the original founding of the Gerard Sekoto Foundation, Webber Wentzels legal team has provided free legal advice in researching Sekotos life, searching for his artworks and publishing books about his art. To date, the law firm has provided pro bono work to the GSF to the value of R12m.
About BASA:
Business and Arts South Africa (NPC) is an internationally recognised South African development agency with a suite of integrated programmes implemented nationally and internationally. BASA encourages mutually beneficial partnerships between business and the arts, securing the future development of the arts sector in South Africa and contributing to corporate success through Shared Value. BASA was founded in 1997 as a joint initiative of the Department of Arts and Culture and the business sector as a public/private partnership. For more information on BASA contact us on 011 447 2289 or visit our website: www.basa.co.za
The members of the BASA Board are Andre Le Roux (Chairman), Herman Bosman, Michelle Constant (CEO), Mandla Langa, Hilton Lawler, Khanyi Mamba, Gianni Mariano, Dorothea Moors, Carel Nolte, Yacoob Abba Omar, Charmaine Soobramoney, Mandie van der Spuy (Deputy Chairperson) and Gail Walters.
British Airways will be starting its services to the Seychelles, offering more flights to Mauritius, with more seats on other routes as part of its African network expansion. This will include services to the Seychelles between March and October, which will be operated by the airlines newest fleet of aircraft, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, as well as expanding its three current Boeing 777 services to five, from Gatwick to Mauritius as from October.
British Airways A380 over Cape Town
The expansion within Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands comes after British Airways announced a multi-million-pound investment plan, with a focus on excellence in the premium cabins and more choice and quality for all its customers.
The Indian Ocean Islands are not the only place the airline is growing its presence. It is offering more seats to Lagos, replacing the daily Boeing 777 flight with a larger Boeing 747-400 aircraft, adding 511 seats a week on the route. The Super High J aircraft is configured with a larger business class cabin than its other 747s and has 70 Club World seats.
From next month, it will also add 680 more seats a week between London and Johannesburg, when it begins flying a double-daily A380 service. Other than Los Angeles, Johannesburg will be the only British Airways route with two daily A380s.
As from November, the daily London/Cape Town Boeing 747 service will increase to double daily for the South African summer season, and the airline will start operating three additional Boeing 777 services from Gatwick. It will also provide a number of extra services from Heathrow to meet demand over the New Year peak, Indaba, UK half term in February and Easter. With the A380 services on Johannesburg and the expanded Cape Town schedule, well be offering more seats to South Africa than we ever have before, says Sue Petrie, commercial manager Southern Africa.
The latest generation Wi-Fi will be available across the long-haul and short-haul fleets over the next two years.
#NewCampaign: Liquorice makes its Mark on Avon emoji chatbot
Since winning the Avon account in July, digital agency Liquorice has developed an innovative personalised video bot using Facebook Messenger to launch Avon's Mark Liquid Lip Matte product range.
This froms part of its first campaign for the client, which officially launched at the beginning of the month when the new range was revealed, followed by the release of the emoji chatbot last week which forms part of the user engagement phase. Its always exciting for us to work with a brand like Avon and with a team who are willing to take a chance on something new that will disrupt the market, and in doing so help develop and nurture their brand, says Liquorice founder and CEO Miles Murphy. We couldnt be more proud of the innovative personalised video bot work weve had a chance to create for Mark Liquid Lip Matte, and this is just the first part of what we are seeing as a long and successful partnership with Avon. How it works: On Avons Facebook page, youre encouraged (OK somewhat tempted) to send three emojis that best describe you via Facebook Messenger. The bot then replies with a video that showcases what your emojis say about you and recommends the lip shade from the range that best suits your personality. If you like what you see, you can share the video on social media (watch mine below) and order the product from an Avon representative in your area. After playing with the bot, I got back to work (feeling rather flattered... ) and interviewed Bianca Joynt, business unit director at Liquorices Johannesburg office to find out the thinking behind this innovative Facebook Messenger bot campaign and why it's relevant to the Avon brand. What sparked the idea to develop a personalised video bot using Facebook Messenger to launch the range? What sparked the idea to develop a personalised video bot using Facebook Messenger to launch the range?
The Mark target audience love the freedom of self-expression that make-up gives them. They want their look to reflect how they feel at any given time, giving the world a real reflection of who they are. They also want on-the-go content, which is easy to engage with, speaks to them and not at them, and shows that they are integral to the brand. Developing the Facebook Messenger bot seemed like the perfect medium through which our audience could quickly engage as well as receive on-the-fly video content no matter where they are. This also meant that the content could be delivered according to their personality and even their mood with a range of emojis at hand, giving them the perfect lip shade no matter what the day had in store. How does the campaign digitally portray the way Avon sells its products through its representatives? How does the campaign digitally portray the way Avon sells its products through its representatives?
Avons business model is focused around representatives, a network of women who sell directly to the end-consumer. This links in with Avons brand mission Beauty with a Purpose which aims to empower women in the way their products do.
What this means is that the Avons purchasing process is personal, always one-on-one, which allows the women to develop partnerships and friendships with the women they sell to, and empower each other. The campaign Liquorice developed is really around the personalisation of the content, from the fans chatting directly to Avon, through to submitting emojis that represent who they are, right down to the video content that speaks to them and tells them what their emojis say about them and also their perfect lip shade match. Ending in the consumer being able to purchase their Mark Liquid Lip shade straight from the rep, starting this personal journey with them.
What makes it innovative? How is it disrupting the market? What makes it innovative? How is it disrupting the market?
The innovation lies in the way the Facebook Messenger bot has been developed and serves the content. Fans dont just see one single video that speaks in part to them, but rather is delivered bespoke content that is about them and who they are.
The innovation is in the way the bot uses the emojis submitted and based on this, through an integrated API, slices a customised video together in real-time that speaks directly to the fans personality.
Its no longer about generic content that tries to speak to everyone, but rather individualised and personalised content that makes our audience connect with the brand and product, and doesnt leave anyone out.
Why is innovation important, especially when it comes to digital? Why is innovation important, especially when it comes to digital?
We all know that digital is a continually evolving space with new tools, new technologies and new ways to engage. What this means is that what was innovative and cool one day, is mainstream and old the next. Innovation is what keeps digital fresh and keeps brands at the forefront of advertising, ensuring that audiences are continually engaged in interactive ways that speak to their lifestyle. Innovation is about creating continued ease for the consumer and giving them what they need, when they need it and how they need it. And with digital being a continued touchpoint in the lives of our audiences, digital has the power, playground and onus to innovate to continue enriching the lives of the consumer.
Comment on your work with the Avon brand team and Facebook Africa. Comment on your work with the Avon brand team and Facebook Africa.
Working with the Avon brand team has been incredibly exciting and invigorating as they have been so open to going on this innovation journey. Digital is a key focus for Avon moving forward and together we are hoping to drive innovation within digital and within the category for Avon. Having Facebook behind us 100% has also meant that the work is collaborative and of the best quality for the brand within the channel. Overall, we are lucky to have both the brand team and Facebook working with us to produce truly innovative work together.
What is the desired result? What is the desired result?
Our aim is to allow the audience to engage with the Avon brand in a way that theyve never done before. We want to incentivise this engagement through creating bespoke content that reflects what the brand embodies Beauty with a Purpose. Our message empowers the audience to share a piece of their personality through engaging with the campaign. Then of course, ultimately, we want to increase brand awareness and encourage trial or purchase through the representative base.
The campaign runs until mid-October. Whats next?
We have a lot of exciting work coming up with Avon, so all we can say is to keep watching this space as we continue this partnership with them and really showcase Avon in the digital space. With such a diverse range of products and audiences, the possibilities are endless with what can be done on digital, and with such an exceptional brand team to work with, we cant wait to show consumers what Avon is all about.
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But she offered no concrete solutions, according to Amnesty International which said the Nobel peace prize winner was "burying her head in the sand" by ignoring army abuses.
Communal violence has torn through Rakhine state since Rohingya [...] staged deadly attacks on police posts on August 25. Hundreds have been killed and hundreds of thousands of Muslim Rohingya driven out of mainly Buddhist Myanmar into Bangladesh.
Suu Kyi has been strongly criticised by the international community for failing to speak up publicly for the stateless Rohingya or to urge restraint on the military.
In a 30-minute televised speech Tuesday she reached out to her critics, deploying the soaring rhetoric that once made her a darling of the global rights community.
In an address, timed to pre-empt likely censure at the UN General Assembly in New York, she said Myanmar stood ready "at any time" to repatriate refugees in accordance with a "verification" process agreed with Bangladesh in the early 1990s.
In less than a month just under half of Rakhine's one-million-strong Rohingya minority has poured into Bangladesh, where they now languish in one of the world's largest refugee camps.
Those "verified as refugees" will be "accepted without any problems and with full assurance of their security and access to humanitarian aid", Suu Kyi said.
It was not immediately clear how many Rohingya would qualify to return.
Myanmar's government has previously said it will not take back people linked with "terrorists" and suggested that many of those who fled had set fire to their own villages before leaving.
Suu Kyi's pledge to repatriate the refugees "is new and significant", said Richard Horsey, an independent analyst based in Myanmar, explaining it would in principle allow for the return of those who can prove residence in Myanmar -- rather than citizenship.
"However, there continues to be a live crisis in the north of Rakhine," he said.
Many Facebook users changed their profile picture on Tuesday to carry a banner with a photo of 'The Lady' and a message reading "We stand with you Daw Aung San Suu Kyi" -- using an honorific.
Her speech was warmly welcomed in Myanmar.
"She told the real situation to the world on behalf of Myanmar people," Yu Chan Myae, 27, told AFP.
The entire village of Syn Inn Gyi had fled due to the brutal killings by the Military Council. All the villagers had fled except for an 88-year-old...
The firefight lull of a month or so was broken when in September 11, the Tatmadaw clashed with the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) Battalion-987 and Tatmadaw Division-77 troops at the upper side of Loi Ka Lay village of Kyaukme Township, according to the situation report of the TNLA.
Again on September 13, the TNLA and Tatmadaw troops clashed in 3 separate places, in Namtu, Namhsan and Kyaukme Townships.
In a battle in Namhsan Township at the place between Hu Kin and Man Mai Main villages, the Tatmadaw was said to suffer 3 dead, although there is no confirmation from the government or Tatmadaw side.
As recently as September 18, armed clashes have been occurring in Kutkai Township, according to the TNLA situation report.
Maj Mai Aik Kyaw recently told the media that the Tatmadaw has reinforced its troops in areas where the TNLA also maintains a presence. He said the Tatmadaw has increased its 88th, 77th and 33rd Light Infantry Divisions, as well as two military operations commands, resulting in about 6,000 Tatmadaw troops currently active in Kyaukme, Mogok, Hsipaw, Namhsan, Namtu, Kutkai, Hsenwi, Muse, and Namkham Townships.
During the past few months with the exceptional break of about a month in August and early September, sporadic armed engagement has been the order of the day, not only with the Tatmadaw but also with the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA).
The conflict between the two started in the aftermath of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) signing in October 2015, of which RCSS is also a signatory. Shortly after the RCSS reinforced its troops in northern Shan State, which the TNLA claimed to be within its area of operation, the military confrontation began between the two until today. The TNLA accused the RCSS of infringement into its area, while the RCSS said that it had been only protecting its Shan or Tai population, which it accused the TNLA of riding roughshod, and reinforcing its troops in its original stamping ground.
Thus, as a result the three groups, the Tatmadaw, the TNLA and RCSS/SSA are regularly engaged in armed clashes in this part of the northern Shan State, where troops operating in the area tend to step on each other toes, intentionally or unintentionally.
However, the regular meeting have been taking place, due to the possible problematic friction of geographical and operational area overlapping, between the RCSS and the United Wa State Army (UWSA), said to be also the arms supporter of the TNLA and also a member of Pangkham political alliance, the Federal Peace Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC) made up of seven ethnic armies. Apart from that the recent last few weeks meeting between the two was said to include on how the armed conflict between the RCSS and the TNLA should be resolved.
FPNCC is formed this year in April with the UWSA, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP), the TNLA, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Arakan Army (AA) and the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA).
General Yawd Serk told Democratic Voice of Burma on September 15 that the inter-ethnic conflict persists and that the leaders of the RCSS and the TNLA were willing to meet somewhere in the near future, to de-escalate tensions in northern Shan State, where both claim territory, although location and date has not yet been agreed upon.
We planned a lot of times to meet with them but it didnt actually happen. Now, we are still arranging to meet with them, he said
While the thawing of difficult conflict situation between the RCSS and the TNLA might now be in sight, for whatever reason they might have in store, the possibility of TNLA and Tatmadaw coming to terms to sit down and talk is still a long way off.
On August 21, Mon News Agency reported that fighting will not end until the Tatmadaw changes its attitude, according to an official from the TNLA during the FPNCC summit, from August 18 to20, in northern Shan State, at Pangkham, the UWSA headquarters
If there is no dialogue and the Tatmadaw does not change its attitude, fighting will not end no matter what kind of [ceasefire] agreement has been signed. The situation is very bad. Its very difficult to stop the civil war, Brigadier General Tar Bone Kyaw, general secretary of the TNLA told the media.
The seven-member FPNCC gathered to review its political dialogue policy and unanimously agreed that the groups will only meet with government negotiators collectively.
The problem is that the Myanmar government wants to meet the Wa or [UWSA] and the Mongla or the [NDAA] separately. As you all know, the Tatmadaw has officially said we [the TNLA, the AA and MNDAA] can only meet with them and participate in the peace process after we surrender our arms, so we are in a very difficult position, he said.
And as such, the Tatmadaw seems to be bent on military success or negotiated surrender of the TNLA. Its undertaking of area clearance, domination of the TNLA operational area and the ongoing heightened offensives could be only seen as an indication to further the said military solution. Besides, it has not budged an inch from its commitment of meeting the FPNCC separately and not as a group as the alliance has agreed to go about with the peace negotiation process with the government and the Tatmadaw.
As it is, the fate of the TNLA is tied to the FPNCC and the changing of Tatmadaws attitude to be more lenient or accommodating. Otherwise, the status quo situation of on and off military confrontation will continue between the TNLA and the Tatmadaw, without real movement of progress to negotiate with the FPNCC, which in turn would only mean the stagnation of the peace negotiation process as a whole for the country.
(Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)
My trip this time had two purposes:
I havent been there for over 3 months now and I need to update myself with whats happening there
On 25 August, a terriblesome will say brilliantcoordinated multiple attack took place in Rakhine. Knowing how the Tatmadaw tends to react to this kind of onslaughts especially along the border areas, where whatever happens cannot be completely screened off from the neighboring countries I wanted to know how it would affect the ongoing peace process.
The visit also coincided with RCSS/SSA chief Gen Yawd Serks visit to Naypyitaw to meet the State Counselor and the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Tatmadaw.
Needless to say, I would like to know how people saw it. Especially after a series of political and military hiccups with both the government and the Tatmadaw in the past few months.
I hope the journal provides some, if not all, of the answers to the interested reader and myself.
Day One. Monday, 11 September 2017
Peace is the result of re-training your mind to process life as it is, rather than you think it should be.
SayingQuotes.com
While waiting for the plane, I run into some friends one of whom tells me matter-of- factly:
At least two member organizations of the FPNCC (the 7 member new alliance on the Chinese border) have been bought off, lock, stock and barrel, by You-Know-Who (He sounds rather like those witches in the first book of the Harry Potter series, doesnt he?)
The Rakhine border (following the territorial clearance operation by the Tatmadaw against ARSA) is so tightly sealed, the drug smugglers are in trouble getting their merchandize across.
Anyway, at 12:30, Im at the Pyidaungsu Institute Yangon (PIY) run by Dr Sai Oo aka Sai Lao Liang, who has been helping the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC)
There, his researchers inform me about their current assignments:
Two of them are working on local government, which the PI believes may be a solution to the increasing calls for new ethnic states
Two others meanwhile are working on bilateral ceasefires signed between Naypyitaw and 15 EAOs. (They have a lot of questions. I tell them maybe able to answer some. As for the rest which I cant, I can pass them on to those who can)
At 18:00, Dr Sao Lao Liang takes me to Tawwin Hninizi (Royal Rose) in downtown Shwe Gon Daing, where Hkun Htoon Oo is celebrating his 74th birthday.
I have known him since 1962 in Taunggyi, where we were members of the Tai Youth Association. He was then known as Lan Tha-ye (Road Devil) by those who loved and hated him alike.
In 1996, after my arrival in Chiangmai to rebuild the Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN) with the late Hsengzeun Hsoikhamherng, we made a long distance call to him. I can still remember the first thing he said after the customary greetings: I was quite wild in those days, wasnt I?
Today, hes one of the most admired and respected man, not only among Shans but also non-Shans, including myself. Asked me why, I have often replied what is the plain truth: People like me can afford to be brave, because we live outside the country. But him, without a weapon, without armed bodyguards, and living in an unpredictable surrounding, is never afraid to speak his mind, at anytime, anyplace, to anybody. Hes one guy all of us Shans can be proud of.
It is there at the party where I also receive what I have been looking forward to The King and I, personal memories of Sai Hseng Mook about his years with the late Khun Sa (1934-2007).
Im eager to know what he knows about the King that I dont, so I take it to my bed to read it. I dont finish it, however. You know why.
Day Two. Monday, 12 September 2017
They say they are for federalism. Then they say they want a centralized one. These are funny people.
A former general poking fun at todays Tatmadaw leaders, 13 September 2017.
The day begins with good news from Naypyitaw on the yesterdays meetings General Yawd Serk had held with top government and Tatmadaw leaders there:
The State Counselor who spoke mainly about cooperation against illicit drugs
U Kyaw Tint Swe, Vice Chair of National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC) and Minister of the State Counselors Office, who agreed that the much criticized Framework for Political Dialogue (FPD) should be jointly amended
Deputy Commander-in-Chief Soe Win who reached agreement with him to hold a review on the bilateral agreement which has been differently interpreted by each side and has led to more than 20 armed clashes since the signing of the NCA in 2015.
Best of all was the atmosphere, an RCSS/SSA officer chews over. It was exceptionally pleasant.
I spend the morning hours at the PIY again to work on a Power Point presentation on PI and its role in the peace process.
At 13:00, we have a most wonderful lunch at a Kokang restaurant called Ajuyi ().
As shown here in the photos, rice is placed in the middle of a tray normally used to winnow rice, and the savories around it. We are given a flat plate and a pair of chopsticks each.
New in this game, I ask my friends, So how do I eat without a spoon and fork? Or the regular rice bowl if I have to use these sticks?
They laugh and put on the plastic bags placed before us. Which turn out to be plastic gloves. Then they start to pick up the savories with their gloved hands and I follow suit.
This is the first time Ive ever used a glove to eat and its exciting. But after a while my stomach is full and my hand becomes so hot I have to pull it off.
The rest of the day, I spend my time visiting friends in Kokkine and Komin Kochin.
One friend, looking at the photos of Sao Yawd Serk which appear on his Facebook, remarks: Why did he sit jammed between two of his officers when he met Daw Su? This one (pointing at the photo where Sao Yawd Serk was meeting with the Deputy CinC) is better. This is how they should sit.
He wasnt at the lecture session which I attended on 4 September, but readers of my Learning to Share journal will remember he is saying the same thing our resource person was telling us on that day.
Day Three. Wednesday, 13 September 2017
The only law I believe in is the law of preservation.
Chief villain in Destry (1954)
Today Im meeting friends at two unidentified places. The first one, we (Saw Htoo Htoo Lay and myself) find 12 of them, the second 3 of them. 4 of them used to be high ranking officers in the Tatmadaw. Needless to say, they have full of information and full of ideas for a poor, knowledge-starving exile visiting Hopeland.
These are the things they say that should be food for thought for all of us:
On RCSS/SSA visit
Very timely, because had we waited until after 25 August to prepare, it wouldnt have taken place. The visit has also saved the peace process in a way. Because some had been advising the Tatmadaw to remove the RCSS/SSA from the list of signatories (due to its perceived violations of the NCA and bilateral agreements).But the Deputy CinC reportedly asked them, So you think the remaining 7 will stick together with us after Yawd Serk leaves? That stopped them. As it was obvious the suggested move would have tilted support for the hardliners in KNU/KNLA and others.
On Rakhine situation
Too much misinformation and disinformation on both sides. We are calling the ARSA attack as an act terrorism. But people outside are calling our counterattack as an act of genocide. We are already been accused of committing 1-4 of the 5 acts defined as genocide.
(For the sake of those who are not familiar with the 5 acts, including myself, here they are:
Killing members of the (national, ethnical, racial or religious) group Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group (Burma/Myanmar is a signatory of the Convention since 1949) The Tatmadaw has reportedly proposed that the two townships in conflict be declared under martial law in accordance with Section 412 of the 2008 constitution. Kokang in Shan State, for instance, is still under Martial Law. However, the government doesnt agree.
The situation meanwhile is worsening: the slowing of foreign investment, cancellations of tourist visits (a friend says one agency alone has complained the loss of $150,000 two days ago) and interfaith tensions might aggravate the situation and eventually become uncontrollable. Then there are going to be some hotheads calling for the enforcement of Section 417 (b) through which just 4 members of the all-powerful National Defense and Security Council (NDSC) can declare martial law throughout the country, on the grounds that the situation has gone far enough to endanger the sacred Three Causes. Everything will be back to square one, comments a foreign friend whom we have known since 2000, if this happens.
A friend then suggests the EAO signatories should release a statement in support of the Tatmadaw. That will slacken the tensions between the EAOs and the Tatmadaw, he believes.
But another former officer like him disagrees. That will only serve to exacerbate the situation. He instead suggests more informal meetings that will help build more trust and confidence between the two sides. Its been sometime since the KNU and the Tatmadaw chief have last met, he says. These meetings should resume, the sooner, the better.
Closer relations between the Tatmadaw and the EAOs
You want to amend the constitution. But without trust between the main stakeholders the EAOs and the TatmadawI dont see any other way right now. Other approaches should also be sought: like doing a security sector research together.
The Tatmadaw is still suspicious the EAOs will join up with the NLD, and together with a peoples uprising, will try to overthrow it.
On the Peace Process
The finishing line used to be nearer. But as we move on, it has gone farther.
Both sides government and EAOsappear to be undergoing divisions among themselves. And the gap between the two sides has increasingly become wider.
Human beings are creatures of emotion. We should therefore not feel prematurely assured that nobodys going to be foolish enough to go back to war.
Lets try to reach a common agreement for the whole union first. Only afterward should we negotiate on what each group wants.
On the government
One friend says, The time for comparing the government in office with the previous one is over. Now we have to focus on how best to work with the present one.
It doesnt stop another from picking holes with the NLD-led administration. We have the National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC), but it hasnt met once during the past 10 months, he says. The only two meetings it has had were with the PC.
According to them, the whole peace process is at the mercy of just 3 persons: The State Counselor and her two deputies. And since she has her hands full with other responsibilities, she seems to have placed everything that has to do with peace on the two. The process used to have a rudder, says another. Now we have none.
Both the NRPC and PC need more people to make it work. The PC doesnt have an office staff and had to rely on Dr Tin Myo Wins 3 personal assistants. And recently they were fired, without rhyme or reason.
And while we are having lunch, one quips, This is not just a mission impossible. Its a suicide mission.
On FPNCC
The only good thing we can say about the FPNCC (Federal Political Negotiations and Coordination Committee) is that it has sworned not to be a military alliance. But since it has spurned the NCA, holding negotiations with them now is out of the question.
However, the more we refuse to meet, the worse the relations will become. For one thing, we can arrange informal meetings like weve been doing with chairmen Yawd Serk and Mutu Saypoe. For another, we can discuss border development projects, if not politics. And to start building mutual trust from there.
Maybe the PPST should start thinking about lending a hand here.
On the UNFC/DPN
The Tatmadaw has no reason to sign a separate agreement with the alliance. But we can agree to a joint statement after agreement on its proposed 8 points has been reached. We also have no objection, if it agrees to sign it with the PC.
We stand by the NCA, no more, and no less.
On JICM
The Tatmadaw thinks holding a JICM is a good idea. However, the NRPC has not responded to the PPSTs request on 25 August. Probably it doesnt understand what and why the PPST wants it.
An official letter from the PPST is recommended. Bureaucrats (I use it in a neutral sense) are at ease only when everything is official. Informal ones make them uneasy. If you understand this, you wont be in a hurry to find fault with them.
On China
The Communist Party of China (CPC) is holding its 19th National Congress next month. And since it is going to make a far-reaching change in the makeup of its top leaders, security is especially tight. They dont want any trouble along the border. Particularly not at this time.
As for the peace process in our country, they think it will take at least another 10-15 years to achieve peace. So their biggest worry is not about peace, but stability along the border.
In line with that view, its special envoy Mr Sun Guoxiang reportedly visited the PC lately.
I drop in at my brothers home in Htedan to discuss about a translation project I have in mind. As I take leave, swinging my arms into the backpack, my niece says, You look like a kindergartener.
Then when I put on my cap, she giggles and exclaims, Now you are a kindergartener.
Since its the first time Ive been called this since 1956, I have a good laugh. Somehow it makes me feel good.
Day Four. Thursday, 14 September 2017
If youre not enjoying your work, youre in the wrong job.
Tweet for President Trump, Thai Channel 3, 6 August 2017
I have 4 meetings today. But since most are a repetition or confirmation of what I have already reported yesterday, I wont bother the reader with more details.
The next day, Im back in Chiagmai. As the plane bumps on the runway, I turn off the last page of The King and I.
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PR Newswire
SYRACUSE, N.Y., Sept. 19, 2017
SYRACUSE, N.Y., Sept. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- According to reports, Wubbels' lawyer Karra Portler told the Salt Lake Tribune "implied consent has not been the law in Utah since 2007." The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2016 that the Constitution "permits warrantless breath tests in drunken-driving arrests, but not warrantless blood tests." Although that statement is true, it is not entirely correct. According to Syracuse DWI Lawyer Scott Brenneck of Team Green Lawyers, there are several specific things to consider as it pertains to similar cases in New York.
What the Supreme Court stated was: "And applying this standard, we conclude that motorists cannot be deemed to have consented to submit to a blood test on pain of committing a criminal offense," (Birchfield v. North Dakota, 579 U.S. _____ 2016). The significant difference here in New York is that the penalties for refusing the chemical test are largely civil in nature and do not create a separate criminal offense with additional criminal penalties. In Birchfield, the Supreme Court went on to say "Our prior opinions have referred approvingly to the general concept of implied-consent laws that impose civil penalties and evidentiary consequences on motorists who refuse to comply. See, e.g., McNeely, supra, at ___ (plurality opinion) (slip op., at 18); Neville, supra, at 560. Petitioners do not question the constitutionality of those laws, and nothing we say here should be read to cast doubt on them" (Id).
Given that what the investigating officer was trying to do would be legal in New York, would Alex Wubbels have been legally permitted to draw the patient's blood at the officer's request? Yes. New York has an implied consent law which is New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law section 1194 (2):
Chemical tests. (a) When authorized. Any person who operates a motor vehicle in this state shall be deemed to have given consent to a chemical test of one or more of the following: breath, blood, urine, or saliva, for determining the alcoholic and/or drug content of the blood provided that such test is administered by or at the direction of a police officer with respect to a chemical test of breath, urine or saliva or, with respect to a chemical test of blood, at the direction of a police officer:
Should the investigating officer wish to conduct a blood draw either because the suspect in unconscious or believed to be under the influence of something other than alcohol, New York has very specific rules on who may draw the blood. Both the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law and the New York State Public Health Law provide the guidelines for a proper blood draw. According to the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law section 1194 (4)(a)(1):
Testing procedures. (a) Persons authorized to withdraw blood; immunity; testimony. (1) At the request of a police officer, the following persons may withdraw blood for determining the alcoholic or drug content therein: (i) a physician, a registered professional nurse, a registered physician assistant, a certified nurse practitioner, or an advanced emergency medical technician as certified by the department of health; or (ii) under the supervision and at the direction of a physician, registered physician assistant or certified nurse practitioner acting within his or her lawful scope of practice, or upon the express consent of the person eighteen years of age or older from whom such blood is to be withdrawn: a clinical laboratory technician or clinical laboratory technologist licensed pursuant to article one hundred sixty-five of the education law; a phlebotomist; or a medical laboratory technician or medical technologist employed by a clinical laboratory approved under title five of article five of the public health law. This limitation shall not apply to the taking of a urine, saliva or breath specimen.
This unfortunate situation for Alex Wubbels highlights the intense pressure and invasive methods that can be utilized in motor vehicle accidents or DWI investigations. This case has raised awareness of the laws that impact many lives every day, yet most know nothing about. This case also shows the significant differences in the laws from state to state. Anyone facing a situation where they have questions about the criminal procedure or the tactics used by law enforcement is encouraged to contact a Syracuse DWI lawyer at Team Green Lawyers at (315) 424-8326.
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There are several enemies in Candice Millards Destiny of the Republic, the terrific 2011 narrative history of the assassination of President James Garfield during the summer of 1881.
The most obvious foe is the delusional Charles Guiteau, who believed himself the nations savior when he shot President Garfield twice at a Washington DC train station on July 2, 1881.
Then there were the microbial infections transmitted during improperly sanitized operations performed by Garfields doctor at the White House, causing blood poisoning that worsened the presidents suffering and ultimately killed him.
For the purposes on this website, however, I was drawn into the tales of two New York politicians who became victims of rumor-mongering that summer.
From Puck Magazine: The Great Presidential Puzzle: Illustration shows Senator Roscoe Conkling, leader of the Stalwarts group of the Republican playing a puzzle game. All blocks in the puzzle are the heads of the potential Republican presidential candidates.
Boss of the Gilded Age
Powerful New York senator Roscoe Conkling was seen as a political rival of Garfields, a thorn in the presidents side, especially considering Conklings own political protege his pawn, really was Garfields vice president, Chester A. Arthur.
Traumatic crises in this country are frequently accompanied by a churning undercurrent of suspicion and conspiracy, and Conkling and Arthur became victims of just such a shadowy accusation that summer.
Many believed Conkling to be culpable of the assassination attempt himself perhaps not of pulling the trigger, but of fostering and encouraging the discord that inspired it.
The Fifth Avenue Hotel. Read more about Conkling and the Fifth Avenue Hotel here.
Its not a stretch to consider Conkling an embodiment of the spoils system which determined hundreds of government jobs through political affiliation. Guiteau thought himself unfairly left out of that patronage system when he attacked Garfield that hot July day.
Conkling endured the disintegration of his political career from his rooms at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, the luxury accommodation at 23rd Street off Madison Square that became senators second home and a regular scene of political intrigue for the Republican Party.
Arthur in charge?
Meanwhile, many were mortified at the very thought of Arthur, hardly a universally admired figure, ascending to the presidency.
While the president lay incapacitated in Washington, there was even debate as to when presidential responsibilities should cede to the vice president. Nobody seemed enthusiastic at the prospect of a President Chester A. Arthur.
Thus, Arthur essentially spent his summer hiding out in his townhouse at 123 Lexington Avenue (below), fearful of seeming overly ambitious even as the fate of President Garfield seemed uncertain.
123 Lexington Avenue, taken from an Arthur biography (via Daytonian in Manhattan)
The Presidential Brownstone
On the day the president finally succumbed to his injuries, Arthur sobbed uncontrollably from his shuttered home as servants shooed away the press.
Several hours later, he was sworn in as the 21st President of the United States on September 20, at 2:15 a.m, from the green-shuttered parlor of his home here.
To quote from an excellent biography of Arthur The Unexpected President by Scott S. Greenberger:
Judge R. Brady of the New York Supreme Court, who had been fetched out of bed, administered the oath of office at 2:15 am. Arthur recited the words solemnly, kissed his son, and accepted the congratulations of his friends. There were several carriages and a handful of reporters outside Arthurs brownstone, and French had ordered two police officers to patrol the sidewalk in front. Otherwise, there was nothing to indicate that history had been made behind the closed blinds of 123 Lexington Avenue.
He spend his first two hours as President smoking and chatting with friends, [t]oo nervous and too excited to sleep. He finally went to sleep at 5 am, the first morning of his presidency.
The brownstone at 123 Lexington Avenue still exists today. For decades, the Mediterranean grocer Kalustyans has inhabited the first two floors of the building.
123 Lexington Avenue, photo by Greg Young
And this is not the only landmark to Arthur in the neighborhood. A bronze statue to the former president stands in the northeast corner of Madison Square Park, dedicated on June 13, 1899.
Photo by Greg Young
The reaction to the presidents death in New York City is reported here in the New York Times. This article originally ran on September 20, 2017.
John Moore/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- First Lady Melania Trump will host other first spouses of world leaders at a United Nations luncheon on Wednesday.
The first lady will deliver remarks that, according to early excerpts provided by the White House, will shine a spotlight on vulnerable children around the world.
"Together, we must acknowledge that all too often it is the weakest, most innocent and vulnerable among us -- our children -- who ultimately suffer the most from the challenges that plague our societies," the first lady is expected to say at the lunch. "Whether it is drug addiction, bullying, poverty, disease, trafficking, illiteracy or hunger, it is the children who are hit first and hardest in any country. And, as we all know, the future of every nation rests with the promise of their young people."
Trump has accompanied her husband on previous foreign trips and embarked on her own personal excursions, including a visit to the Vatican's children's hospital and a school in Saudi Arabia in May.
However, she has yet to adopt a specific focus area typical of previous first ladies, who have used their platform to highlight issues such as child obesity, illiteracy or anti-drug use.
It was initially expected for Trump to take on online cyberbullying as her issue, though the idea was mocked by the president's critics who pointed to his regular and often merciless bullying of political adversaries on his own Twitter feed.
Trump's remarks at the lunch instead seem to expand on her own personal interactions with young people and her hopes for their well-being in general.
"No child should ever feel hungry, stalked, frightened, terrorized, bullied, isolated or afraid, with nowhere to turn," she is expected to say. "We need to step up, come together and ensure that our children's future is bright."
Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that balancing the books for the first time in ten years is the greatest priority of his government, the Dail has heard, writes Daniel McConnell, Irish Examiner Political Editor.
In the first Leaders' Questions of the new Dail year, Mr Varadkar said that public spending will increase next year by 1.5bn and will be spent on better services and improved infrastructure.
We are not going to repeat the mistakes of the past, but we are going to learn from them, said Mr Varadkar to Labour leader Brendan Howlin during testy exchanges.
I didn't twist your words, Deputy Howlin, you twisted mine, Mr Varadkar said as he described Mr Howlin's comments as nonsense.
Mr Howlin called on Mr Varadkar not to waste the additional money available to Government next year by reducing taxes, but rather to spend it on increasing services, specifying four examples.
The Labour leader said the proposed cuts will mean 4 a week to the top earners or 2 a week to lower paid workers, adding no one will see any benefit from that.
Mr Varadkar was also pressed by Independent TD Noel Grealish on the threat of a pull out by Apple from their planned 850 million development in Galway, and called on the Taoiseach to give a commitment that planning laws would be changed to ensure such large developments are not jeopardised.
The plant would be the most significant development in the West of Ireland if it goes ahead.
Mr Varadkar said he has spoken recently with senior Apple officials who voiced their frustration at the delays in the planning process but said they remain committed to the Athenry site.
The Taoiseach said he was concerned that such delays could jeopardise future projects in Ireland and said it is a matter which is under review.
I agree with your sentiments, decisions should be made quickly. It is frustrating that such decisions are delayed and it is not limited to the private sector, he said.
We will work very hard to bring this project to fruition, Mr Varadkar said.
Gardai investigating organised crime in Dublin seized a firearm and drugs in a raid yesterday.
The search, lead by detectives from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, was carried out at an address in Blanchardstown.
Officers found a Baikal pistol and ammunition along with a stolen high-powered motor cycle.
They also discovered cocaine and cannabis with a street value of around 30,000.
A 22-year-old man was arrested during the operation and is being held at Finglas Garda Station under the provisions of Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act, 1939/98.
The Justice Minister says he wants to end the 'scourge' of gangland killings in Dublin.
Charlie Flanagan says he's discussed funding for the gardai with Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe in order to keep large numbers of officers working on the issue.
Landlords are objecting to what they call more "bureaucracy" in the housing market.
An Oireachtas Committee this morning will discuss the potential of putting homeless families in shared hubs instead of hotels.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May has lobbied Donald Trump over the importance of preserving jobs at aerospace giant Bombardier in Northern Ireland, as the pair met for talks in New York.
And Mrs May pressed the US president over the importance of the international nuclear deal with Iran, which Mr Trump has threatened to tear up.
During the 30-minute talks on the margin of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr Trump assured the Britsih Prime Minister of the USA's desire for a strong trading relationship with the UK, including a trade deal once Britain leaves the EU, said a Downing Street source.
Seated in front of a row of US and UK flags as the pair shook hands, the president said: "We will be doing a lot of trading with the United Kingdom and we look forward to it.
"We've gotten to know each other over the last period of a year and it's a real honour to have you here."
Downing Street said Mrs May reiterated the importance of Bombardier to the economy of Northern Ireland and the priority she placed on protecting the jobs the company provides.
A preliminary ruling is expected from US trading authorities within days on a complaint from Boeing alleging unfair dumping on the American market of the Canadian firm's C-Series jets, whose wings are made in Belfast.
Mrs May also discussed Bombardier with Canada's PM Justin Trudeau during a visit to Ottawa on Monday.
It is understood she was pressed to raise the issue by DUP leader Arlene Foster, whose 10 MPs are propping up her minority administration in the House of Commons.
Mrs May reaffirmed the UK's strong commitment to the nuclear deal with Iran, telling the president it was vitally important for regional security and should be carefully monitored and properly enforced, said Downing Street.
The pair also discussed the need to counter destabilising Iranian activity in the region.
Mrs May and Mr Trump agreed that North Korea's missile tests were conducted "against all standards of international behaviour" and that it was vital for the international community, including China, to come together to exert maximum economic pressure on the regime, said Number 10.
The bilateral meeting at the Lotte Palace Hotel in Manhattan began half an hour late after Mrs May's keynote address to the UN was delayed because previous speakers overran.
The UK must address its failure to present a workable solution to the Irish border problem before Brexit negotiations can proceed to the next stage, a key player in the European Parliament has warned.
The parliaments Brexit co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadt said the answer could lie in Northern Ireland remaining in the customs union and single market post-Brexit, even if the rest of the UK leaves those structures.
However, the Belgian MEP stressed the onus was very much on the UK Government to propose an acceptable resolution, insisting the ideas tabled by Whitehall to date were not up to scratch.
Mr Verhofstadt was in Belfast at the start of a two-day fact-finding mission to the island of Ireland. He met the leaders of the regions main political parties at Stormont before heading to the border to hear the concerns of those living on what will be the UKs only land frontier with the EU.
He told the Press Association a "unique solution" was needed to avoid a hard border.
"A unique solution in that there is no resurrection of a hard border in Northern Ireland because that is not in the interests of business in Northern Ireland and Ireland, neither in the interests of the citizens," he said.
"That is also the reason I am here - to hear from the political parties in Northern Ireland how they can find this solution even though we all know this unique solution has to be proposed by the UK side, because the problem is a consequence of the decision of the UK to leave the European Union."
The former Belgian prime minister will spend Thursday in Dublin, where he will meet Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and also address a special joint sitting of Irish parliamentary committees.
Mr Verhofstadt, who is the link man between the EU negotiating team and the European Parliament, voiced scepticism about the UKs position paper on the border post-Brexit, a document that suggested there would be no need for physical customs checks on the frontier even if the UK was outside the customs union.
"For the moment we dont see a workable solution being put forward by the UK Government," he said.
In an interview with RTE Radio One, he added: "There are possibilities, for example you could imagine one proposal on the table that Northern Ireland continued to be part of the customs union and even of the single market.
"The point is it is the UK Government that has to come forward with such unique solutions."
The MEPs visit comes ahead of next months crucial summit in Brussels when leaders of the EU 27 will decide whether sufficient progress has been made in the first phase of negotiations to progress talks to focus on future trading relations.
The EU has insisted progress has to be made in three key areas: citizens rights, the size of the UKs exit bill and the shape of the Irish border post-Brexit.
Asked about speculation Prime Minister Theresa May will outline a sum the UK is prepared to pay in a keynote speech on Friday, Mr Verhofstadt said: "Lets have the speech of Mrs May and then we can make an analysis."
He said there remained a "dispute" on the exit bill and that there were "big differences" in terms of both sides position on citizens rights.
European MP Diane Dodds joined her party leader Arlene Foster in the Democratic Unionist delegation that met Mr Verhofstadt at Stormont.
Afterwards, Mrs Dodds insisted Northern Ireland could not be treated any differently to the rest of the UK.
"We would not countenance and indeed it would be calamitous for the economy in Northern Ireland if there were barriers to trade with our largest partner which is the rest of the United Kingdom," she said.
Responding to Mr Verhofstadts claim that the onus for drawing up a solution rested with the UK, Mrs Dodds added: "These talks will only be successful if the two sides are willing and able to talk through a sensible solution to Brexit.
"So therefore soundbites like this ... will not reflect the reality of the solution when it comes."
Sinn Feins Stormont leader Michelle ONeill said she had found Mr Verhofstadt very understanding.
"Weve made very clear to him today the issues which we need to see - we need to remain in the customs union, we need to have access to the single market, we need to see no return to hard borders and to see citizens have access to the European Court of Justice," she said.
Mrs ONeill added: "At least hes had the manners to come and talk to people about the implications which is far more than any British minister has done."
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said there was an "economic and political tsunami" heading for Northern Ireland.
He said Mr Verhofstadt shared his partys position.
"He has the right position," said Mr Eastwood.
"He understands that we need to accommodate the unique circumstances in Northern Ireland, he understands that people in Northern Ireland voted to remain and that has to be respected."
UUP leader Robin Swann said the lack of a powersharing executive at Stormont, due to an ongoing political stalemate between the DUP and Sinn Fein, was harming the region at a crucial time.
"It was shame and disgrace today that we were meeting as individual parties and there wasnt an executive representing Northern Ireland in what is a crucial moment and crucial activity in how Northern Ireland progresses at this moment in time," he said.
Former Alliance party justice minister David Ford said their discussions had included how the UKs withdrawal from the EU could impact on cross-border security issues.
Mr Ford said: "We had significant discussions on the potential dangers of the UK moving away from the EU arrangements, the need to remain full members of international bodies such as Europol and Eurojust to ensure that the UK plays a part in setting the regulations."
Donald Trump has said a peace deal between the Israelis and Palestinians may be the toughest he has ever tried to negotiate - but the US president reckons he has a "pretty good shot" at achieving it.
As he opened a meeting with Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas, Mr Trump said: "We are looking seriously at peace and maybe ultimately peace for the whole of the Middle East, and I think we have a pretty good shot, maybe the best shot ever.
"It's a complex subject, always been considered the toughest deal of all: peace between Israel and the Palestinians, the toughest of all.
"I think we have a very, very good chance. I will certainly devote everything in my heart and within my soul to get a deal made."
Since taking office, the president has talked confidently about using the skills he sharpened as a real estate developer to help broker an agreement which has eluded several of his predecessors, but there are few tangible signs that progress toward a deal has been achieved.
He has given the Middle East portfolio to his son-in-law Jared Kushner, now a White House adviser.
Mr Kushner and other officials, including the US ambassador to Israel and Mr Trump's deputy national security adviser, recently returned from a trip to the region.
Mr Trump has spent this week powering through a series of one-on-one meetings with foreign counterparts in New York for the annual UN General Assembly session.
He addressed the gathering for the first time on Tuesday, but made only passing references to the Middle East when talking about terrorism.
He offered no detail on prospects for a peace agreement.
White House officials played down the prospects for a breakthrough on the Middle East as they headed into the New York meetings.
Mr Abbas, meanwhile, expressed confidence that diplomats are "on the verge" of a deal, possibly before the end of the year.
"This meeting attests to the seriousness of your efforts to achieve the deal of the century during the year or in the coming months," Mr Abbas said, ahead of closed-door talks with the US leader.
Behind the scenes, the Palestinians, in particular, have grown restless with Mr Trump's lack of specifics.
Neither he nor his negotiators have sketched out the contours of what they think a final agreement should look like, or outlined any strategy designed to restart Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
And top Palestinian officials said Mr Trump's envoys recently relayed that they will need another three or four months to devise a plan.
In the meantime, Mr Trump's declarations about Middle East peace appear to have moved the Palestinians further away from their goal of an independent country alongside Israel.
Mr Trump has not explicitly supported an independent Palestine and has raised the possibility of looking beyond a two-state solution, the preferred outcome of Democratic and Republican presidents for decades.
Mr Trump met in New York earlier this week with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Mr Trump said at that meeting that a peace deal would be a "fantastic achievement" and that "we are giving it an absolute go".
AP
Footage has emerged of some of the damage that yesterday's magnitude 7.1 earthquake has inflicted on Mexico City.
It shows terrified people fleeing as buildings sway in the city before tumbling down into the crowded streets.
Google has pledged more than 1m to help fund projects to tackle online and offline extremism.
The internet giant says grants of between 2,000 and 200,000 will be handed out to various schemes.
Two more men have been arrested in connection with the Parsons Green bombing, taking the total to five, Scotland Yard said.
Men aged 30 and 48 were detained during a raid by counter-terrorism officers at a home in Newport, South Wales at around 5.10am today.
A third man, 25, who was arrested at a separate address in Newport shortly after 7pm on Tuesday, and two other suspects detained on Saturday remain in custody.
Commander Dean Haydon, head of the Met Counter Terrorism Command, said: "This continues to be a fast-moving investigation.
"A significant amount of activity has taken place since the attack on Friday.
"We now have five men in custody and searches are continuing at four addresses.
"Detectives are carrying out extensive inquiries to determine the full facts behind the attack.
"We anticipate that the searches will take some days to complete and may cause further disruption.
"However, it is important that we continue with these searches and Id like to thank all those affected for their support, patience and cooperation."
Witnesses to Tuesdays arrest described officers "jumping" a man who was put into a police car and driven away.
Nearby resident Sully Ali, 19, a part-time model, told the Press Association: "A big van pulled up and six officers got out and jumped this guy.
"There were two armed officers there, they didnt have their guns pointed at him but they had them on show.
"The guy was smiling.
"I didnt hear him saying anything or the police saying anything to him."
Mr Ali said the arrested man worked as a painter and decorator for some local residents.
He added: "They were Met Police officers, they were wearing hats saying Met Police and they didnt speak like anyone from round here.
"He was arrested and handcuffed by officers wearing suits.
"They handcuffed him and led him away, they didnt put him in the van though, they put him in a marked police car."
Residents said the arrested man had lived in the area for many years and attended local mosques.
"He was a nice guy, everybody knew him," one man said.
"He was a student here and he worked as a painter and decorator."
One mother added: "He did some painting on our house about two years ago.
"He was a nice guy, he was very softly spoken.
"He used to condemn terrorism in front of my husband, my husband would condemn terrorism and he would agree with him.
"I know he is a Muslim but I dont know what mosque he went to.
"Muslims in this area are totally shocked, we condemn terrorism totally and we totally condemn what happened in London."
The latest raids were carried out by the Met Counter Terrorism Command, assisted by Gwent Police and the Welsh Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit (Wectu) and both addresses in the town were being searched on Wednesday.
Detectives had already been granted more time to question two suspects, Yahyah Farroukh, 21, and an 18-year-old man, over Friday mornings bomb attack on a London Underground train, which injured 30.
The family of the second suspect questioned over the Parsons Green bombing earlier insisted he was innocent and "loves the UK", according to reports.
The older mans family expressed their shock after the Syrian refugee was arrested on Saturday night as he finished a shift at a fried chicken takeaway.
His brother Hamed told the MailOnline from Egypt: "My father, God bless his soul, brought us up to live decently and with high morals.
"Yahyah has never mingled with bad guys or militants or Daesh people."
The family said they left Damascus, in war-torn Syria, in 2012 and moved to Egypt, where their sick father died recently.
Farroukh left for the UK in 2013, they said.
Both Farroukh and the younger man, understood to be the suspected bomber, are believed to have spent time in foster care with Penelope and Ronald Jones, aged 71 and 88 respectively, who previously received MBEs for services to children and families.
British drone pilots who bomb Islamic State (IS) fighters could be awarded military medals under a review of how servicemen and women are recognised for their contribution to British operations, the UK's Defence Secretary has announced.
Currently medals are awarded according to a consideration of rigour and risk, with risk defined as being physically exposed to danger.
But Michael Fallon said a rethink may be needed as the UK deploys more unmanned aircraft on operations such as those targeting IS, also known as Daesh, from the skies above Iraq and Syria as part of Operation Shader.
Speaking on a visit to British troops in Iraq, he said: "The changing character of warfare provides new challenges - not just about how we fight but also how we recognise and support those who serve.
"As fighting has evolved we have adapted, ensuring our troops have cutting-edge equipment including unmanned systems operated from outside the battle space. Our recognition of service, the risks taken, and the long-term effects must therefore adapt too.
"That is why we need to examine how to provide medallic recognition for those making a vital contribution to Op Shader outside the battlespace, from Reaper pilots taking life-and-death decisions to those who ensure our planes can strike Daesh targets."
Mr Fallon also announced the creation of an Operation Shader medal for those who have fought IS, which he described as "the evil of our time".
It follows Labour calls for recognition of servicemen and women fighting IS.
The Defence Secretary said: "It is only right that those who've performed above and beyond in this fight against the evil of our time get the recognition they deserve. This medal will do just that.
"Our troops have made huge contributions to the fight against Daesh, helping end its tyranny in large parts of Iraq and Syria.
"They have conducted over 1,500 strikes against Daesh terrorist targets and helped train nearly 60,000 Iraqi Security Forces.
"The campaign is not over but for those that have served we rightly honour the critical role they have played in helping keep us safe."
During the visit, on the eve of the bombing campaign's three-year anniversary, Mr Fallon met personnel from the British Army's Mercian Regiment, Engineer Regiment, Intelligence Corps and medical regiments at Erbil and Taji.
They have been involved in training Iraqi Security Forces, Kurdish forces and Ninewah police.
Britain has provided more than 1,400 servicemen and women to the global coalition fighting IS and there are currently around 600 soldiers on the ground in Iraq, mainly training local security forces.
On his trip to the Middle East, the Defence Secretary also visited the Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, where the UK is working closely with the US as the two largest contributors to the coalition's military campaign.
Boris Johnson has warned the situation in North Korea is "very, very serious" after referring to Donald Trump's mockery of "Rocket Man" Kim Jong Un.
The Foreign Secretary said the world faced a catastrophe if North Korea - a "rogue nation" - was able to mount a nuclear warhead on an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
He repeated his call for China to put more pressure on the Pyongyang regime as he urged a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
In a social media video message recorded at the United Nations in New York, Mr Johnson referred to Mr Trump's debut speech at the annual gathering of world leaders.
Mr Trump told the UN "Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime" and added that if the US was "forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea".
Mr Johnson said: "You heard the President of the United States' speech about Rocket Man - Elton John getting a place in Donald Trump's speeches.
"Of course it's very, very serious. The world faces a catastrophe that it hasn't seen before, that is a rogue nation being able to use an ICBM equipped with a thermonuclear hydrogen warhead.
"That is very, very dangerous, something we have got to stop.
"The key to it, we think, is to work together with all our friends and partners here in the UN, get the Chinese to put more economic pressure on Pyongyang."
At the summit, Mr Johnson met Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and urged him to keep up the pressure on North Korea.
The British Foreign Secretary told the Guardian: "No one in their right minds wants to see the US driven to use its military options - I do not see any good military options - and that is why all the pressure has to be on the Chinese to tighten the sanctions on oil.
"That is the jugular of the North Korean economy.
"China has been responding in a mature way, and they say if you go in too hard you will cause a catastrophe and mass migrations. Before that happens it may be possible to bring Kim Jong Un to the table."
Mr Johnson also met Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono and reiterated the UK's solidarity with Japan over the threat it faces from Kim's regime.
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68th Precinct
Bay RidgeDyker Heights
Victimizing vendors
Police arrested a man on Sept. 7 who had been stealing money from vendors at the Seventh Avenue small business where he worked.
The mans employer told police around 2 pm on Sept. 14 that he had discovered his employee had been adding fraudulent amounts to invoices he sent to vendors on behalf of the business located at 65th Street causing them to pay extra cash, which he then pocketed. The employer said he had discovered that the man had been swindling vendors for approximately six months, and that he illegally pocketed nearly $1,975.
Window shopping
A crook broke into a mans work truck parked on Fifth Avenue on Sept. 12 and stole nearly $1,200, a Social Security card, three credit cards, and a wallet.
The perp committed the crime after the driver parked his 2007 Isuzu NPR outside a storefront at Senator Street, just after 4 pm. Police found that the thief had punched in the drivers front side lock to force entry into the truck, where he stole the items. Police are looking for surveillance footage in the area, according to the report.
Julianne McShane
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Cops are hunting for a man who allegedly groped a 12-year-old girl in Washington Park during a movie night sponsored by a Park Slope middle school on Sept. 14.
The suspect approached the girl inside the park near Third Street between Fourth and Fifth avenues at 7:45 pm, when he grabbed her backside and fled, police said.
Investigators worked with the executive director of the nearby Old Stone House at 336 3rd St., who provided them with footage of the incident from the historic cottages surveillance cameras.
The museum employee, who was at work the night of the alleged assault, told this newspaper that it occurred on a pathway between the parks lawn and an adjacent playground and concluded quickly. The suspect fled before volunteers from MS 51s parent teacher association or cops all of whom were at the event could respond, she said.
It was a terrible thing, but the police were here that night, so they were able to respond quickly and the PTAs volunteers were on top of it, said Kim Maier.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 5778477. The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All tips are strictly confidential.
Eagles can tie franchise record, but first they have to fix one issue
A 24-year-old man is facing a slew of felony charges for illegal straw purchase of 21 guns at gun stores, almost exclusively in Bucks County. Leonard Truesdale was arraigned on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, on 21 counts each of making false statements on firearm purchase forms, criminal conspiracy to make false statements on firearm purchase forms and selling or transferring...
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In November, there are hundreds of new and returning TV showsit can be overwhelming to try and choose what to watch. That's why we've selected some of the best options...
A survey of over 200 trainee roofers by Redland has revealed that fear of injury or death is the biggest concern for 43% of them. Of the 212 surveyed, 63 said that they were most worried about falling from height, 12 cited health and safety issues, 11 said injuries and five said they feared death.
The budding roofers are all learning their trade at ten colleges and training groups with links to the Redland support programme, launched earlier this year to support young people and others as they train to be roofers. Through the programme, Redland provides direct training, online training and resources and materials for practical sessions.
On one hand, I am pleased that these students are aware of the potential risks of roofing work because safety must be everybodys responsibility, said Redlands Technical Training Manager Mat Woodyatt. But these results are also a stark reminder that the industry needs to do more to ensure that we are working safely. How can we attract more young people to our industry if they are facing these fears?
Statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that the trainees are right to be concerned. In 2015/16, four of the 45 workers killed in construction were involved in roofing activities.
Redland has been working to counter unsafe working practices since it opened the National Training Centre in 1983. To date it has trained over 45,000 people and is the only manufacturer approved to deliver the CITB-funded Basic Competency Programme (BCP) for pitched roofing which entitles operatives to apply for a red experienced worker CSCS card.
Safety is an integral part of all the training we do, understanding what the risks are, discussing what the safest working practices are and learning where accidents have happened in the past, says Woodyatt.
Findings from the survey also suggest that the industry needs to do more to reach would-be roofers during their time at school and college. By far the most common reason for students gave for joining the industry was having friends or family in roofing: 22%, followed by 14% who wanted to work outside, 12% who were attracted by money and 12% who wanted to have a trade. Just 2% said that they were attracted by a career in roofing through school or college and 2% came to roofing through apprenticeships or work experience.
Roofing is currently one of the hardest hit trades in terms of skills shortages. A survey by the Federation of Master Builders in the last quarter of 2016 showed that 46% of small and medium-sized construction companies were experiencing difficulties in hiring roofers.
In a very British twist to the survey results, there was one thing that worried would-be roofers even more than safety issues: 65 students or 31% said they were most worried about the weather and an additional 34 or 16% were worried about winter.
Housing and Planning Minister, Alok Sharma has welcomed plans by Ibstock, the UKs largest brick manufacturer, to invest 50m in a new factory in Leicestershire.
Speaking today at the Builders Merchants Federations Members Day, attended by representatives of the UKs leading builders merchants, Alok Sharma emphasised the vital role builders merchants play in getting more homes built in this country
He welcomed the success of the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) as a major representative of the sector and commended the resilient performance of builders merchants throughout 2017, supporting housebuilding and building repair and refurbishment across the UK.
According to the latest figures released by the BMF through the Builders Merchants Building Index (BMBI), builders merchants year-to-date sales are 3.8% higher compared to the same period in 2016.
The Housing and Planning Minister also highlighted the need for the Government and sector to work together to improve fairness across the housing market, bridging the skills gap and encouraging the development of well-designed and good quality homes.
Alok Sharma, Housing and Planning Minister, said: Delivering more homes is a key priority for this Government. Builders merchants have an absolutely vital role to play in this, supplying the essential materials we need to get our country building faster.
Ibstocks major investment at their Leicestershire site is fantastic news for the building materials industry, demonstrating continuing confidence in this sector and growing consumer demand.
I congratulate the resilient performance of UK builders merchants over this year, and I look forward to working with the sector to put into action the far-reaching reforms of the Housing White Paper. By working together, we will ensure we have the right building blocks in place to meet local housing needs and promote growth across all areas of the country.
Speaking at the event, BMF CEO, John Newcomb confirmed that builders merchants order books are being sustained by private housing and RMI work. However, he warns that as Britain prepares to leave the EU, the industry is bracing to face upcoming challenges posed by increasing prices due to the falling value of sterling, and the potential of shortages in certain key products.
John Newcomb, BMF CEO, said: As a country we need to build many more homes, but these cannot be built without the materials and products that BMF members make, stock and deliver on a daily basis to where they are needed. There are also thousands of households wanting to repair, extend or adapt their home, and again they rely on builders merchants to provide the materials to do this.
Despite our members robust performance so far this year, there are still some challenges facing our sector such as the supply of materials and the potential for the price of materials to increase due to higher commodity prices and fluctuations in exchange rates. We also want to see the Government press ahead with its proposals contained in the Housing White Paper, as this will bring a welcome boost to housebuilders.
Mr Newcomb also pointed to Ibstocks 50 mllion investment as a sign that the UK building materials industry is rising to the challenges posed by Brexit and the Governments housebuilding plans.
Wayne Sheppard, Chief Executive Officer of Ibstock, said: Were incredibly proud to be making such a significant investment in our Leicestershire site. Brick is the number one construction material of choice, and we are increasing our production capacity in order to meet growing demand from our customers that is being driven by growth in housebuilding.
We welcome the Housing Ministers positive comments about Ibstocks investment, and we are pleased to see the Government recognise the important role that the building materials supply chain plays in providing essential materials to support housing growth and growing the economy across the country.
How international students in South Jersey celebrate the holidays
South Jersey's international students share how they cope when they can't make it home for the holidays by finding new ways to celebrate the season.
Britain and its trade unions called on Wednesday for Germany's Thyssenkrupp and India's Tata Steel to keep previous commitments to safeguard Welsh jobs when they merge their European steel operations.
The fate of Tata's British businesses, including the UK's largest steelworks at Port Talbot in Wales, has been uncertain since Tata Steel said more than a year ago it planned to sell the British assets following heavy losses.
The preliminary agreement struck on Wednesday would see a 50-50 joint venture to create the continent's No.2 steelmaker.
In a joint statement, business minister Greg Clark and Roy Rickhuss, chair of the National Trade Union Steel Co-ordinating Committee said they welcomed the move "as long as commitments to safeguard jobs and extend blast furnace operations over the long term at Port Talbot were maintained".
They also said they were seeking reassurances on the relining of the site's second blast furnace.
Electric vehicles may have a limited visibility on the Indian roads at the moment. But the government focus and push on electric vehicles (EVs) has led to a sharp rally in stock prices of small-cap companies with an exposure to EVs. Share price of two companies which are into electric buses- JBM Auto and Goldstone Infratech- have more than doubled since April this year. The government had first talked about its intent of making India a hundred per cent electric vehicle nation by 2030 in March this year.
Delhi headquartered JBM Auto, a company that has been present in the auto component space for over three decades, did not enjoy great valuations at the stock markets until recently compared to some of its peers. In last one month alone the stock has rallied more than 73 per cent to Rs 597 and has more than doubled since April 2017. The company now commands a market cap of Rs 2,435 crore based on Wednesday's closing price.
Uber has begun reviewing its operations in India after the US Department of Justice (DoJ) launched a probe to investigate whether the company had broken US laws by bribing foreign officials.
has stepped up its focus on the renewables business, evaluating both greenfield and inorganic acquisitions., managing director and chief executive officer, Tata Power, tells Nirmalya Behera and Jayajit Dash how the company is looking at increased digitalisation and disruptive technologies to cut costs of thermal and solar power, and its efforts to tide over underrecovery at its 4,000-Mw Mundra power project. Edited excerpts:
What are your plans to build a green energy portfolio? How will the additional investments be funded?
We have ambitious plans to keep fuelling multifold growth across the value chain. We have gross generation capacity of 10,613 Mw, of which clean energy is 3,141 Mw, making us one of the largest non-fossil based energy players in India. To aggregate its clean and renewable energy portfolio, has initiated the process of carving out 500 Mw of clean energy assets from its books into Renewable Energy. This is a 100 per cent subsidiary and has an operating capacity of 1,959 Mw, comprising 907 Mw in wind, 932 Mw in solar and 120 Mw of waste heat generation capacity.
We have reiterated our commitment to clean energy and have announced our non-fossil fuel energy output to be 35-40 per cent by 2025. The company is also in the process of implementing organically nearly 500 Mw of renewable power projects at various locations.
Is solar power a key growth driver?
Solar power is a focus area of the government, with 100 Gw installation being targeted by 2022. In line with the target, Tata Power will also focus on solar. New technologies like third generation photovoltaic have reached incremental efficiencies in lab tests. We wish to increase our solar businesses significantly over time, as the government is expected to bid out large scale projects to meet its target.
For wind energy, we will continue to look at opportunities as and when these come. The company is exploring multiple options, both new projects and acquisitions, to capture the market for both solar and wind-based generation. As of now, we are able to fund the proposed renewables' growth from internal resources. The company is also in the process of acquiring land parcels in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to develop solar and wind projects.
Solar power rates tumbled to record lows at recent bids. Will these be sustainable?
The falling rates are a result of falling solar module prices, easier availability and competitive capital, and excess capital chasing limited capacity, resulting in developers willing to take greater risks and perhaps with lower return. It will be unfair for us to comment on price bids of others and whether those are sustainable. Each bid has its unique parameters (solar park costs, location, solar resource, scale, offtaker, etc) and renders the comparability difficult. Central projects offer greater payment security and ease of approvals, which only some states can offer.
How does Tata Power plan to cut costs of both thermal and solar power generation?
We operate both at benchmark costs and will continue to pursue digitalisation and other disruptive technologies, to optimise cost and efficiency.
Are you evaluating buyouts of any stressed power projects to boost your inorganic growth?
We have partnered global investors to invest as much as $840 million in projects. The platform has commitments from Canadas Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec, Kuwait Investment Authority, Omans State General Reserve Fund and ICICI Bank to take over troubled power plants that have regulatory uncertainties, fuel supply disruptions, low demand and high debt. Mostly, the collaborations intend to buy out power plants that are stressed.
After the Supreme Court order disallowing compensatory rates, you were looking to cut debt. Any progress?
After the order for CGPLs (its Coastal Gujarat Powers plant at Mundra, Gujarat) 4,000 Mw plant, we are pursuing all alternative options to tide over the underrecovery on fuel, including sourcing of competitive coal and use of low grade and blended coal options.
Efforts are also on to optimally refinance debt and minimise the total cost incurred on servicing.
The combined investments in Indonesian coal mines, along with investment in coal logistics and CGPL, when considered together, provide a natural hedge towards future fluctuation in coal prices. For long-term sustainability of the power station, however, the company is exploring all options to so structure the investment that it earns reasonable return.
What is Tata Power's total debt to equity ratio? What options are you considering for deleveraging?
The ratio is 3.09 and needs to be lowered to below sector normative levels of 2.33. We are evaluating options for sale of non-core investments.
Your take on power demand in the country?
The power ministry recently estimated that India won't need any new power plants for the next three years, with the present capacity of 330 Gw. These are operating at 60 per cent capacity because of poor offtake by distribution . Indias per capita consumption of 1,000 Kwh is a third of the global average. If we have to improve consumption, it is the distribution sector that has to ensure it caters to consumers on a 24x7 basis.
Its predicted that demand is likely to pick up after 2019, as the Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana and village electrification programmes start yielding results. However, as power plants take a long time to be commissioned, it is important to keep investing in the sector, so that energy is readily available when the country becomes hungry for it in 2019-2020 and beyond.
The Hyderabad-based Limited on Wednesday said that its Unit-2 plant in Visakhapatnam, which has been under import alert for the past six months, has resolved all issues related to the observations made by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) in its latest CGMP audit.
A day before Tata Sons' crucial general meeting to seek shareholders' approval to become a private company, Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata said the face of Tata group would change in 10 years, and as long as it operates with ethical standards and value systems, he would feel very proud.
German steel maker ThyssenKrupp and Tata Steel have agreed to form an equal joint venture that would create Europes second-largest steel firm, after ArcelorMittal. Tata Steel has said it would shift 2.5 billion of its debt to the new entity. ThyssenKrupp would also be shifting its liabilities worth 3.6 billion that it had gathered from its pension schemes.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), which on Tuesday more than halved the interconnect usage charge (IUC) from 14 paise to 6 paise per minute, cited consumers benefit as one of the key reasons for its decision.
Eighteen outlets of fast-food major McDonald's have reopened in New Delhi on Tuesday even as joint venture partners Vikram Bakshi and McDonald's India Pvt Ltd (MIPL) remain embroiled in a dispute.
An alleged Hizbul Mujahideen militant was arrested in south Kashmir's Anantnag district on Wednesday, the police said here.
Aadil Ahmad was arrested from the Bijbehara area in a joint operation by security forces, a police official said.
Ahmad, a resident of Jiblipora area of Bijbehara, belonged to Hizbul Mujahideen outfit, the official added.
Used to a life of ultra-luxury, disgraced Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh will now earn a daily wage of Rs 20 for cultivating a small farm holding near his prison barrack and growing vegetables.
The rapist sect chief, who used to spend millions of rupees on his public appearances and crores to build flashy mansions for his comfort, will now have to survive on his meager earnings from manual work inside the prison, Director General K P Singh, Jails, said on Tuesday.
He told media here that Gurmeet Singh was being treated as a common prisoner in jail and would be assigned farming work from next month as part of the 20-year rigorous imprisonment sentence awarded to him by a CBI special court.
The DG denied reports that special facilities were being given to him inside the prison at the District Jasil at Sunaria near Rohtak town.
"All news reports about special treatment and his health are misleading and divorced from truth," he said.
"Jail rules allow two persons having a blood relation to talk to a prisoner over the phone. The prisoner is allowed to talk after police verification of the phone numbers. Gurmeet Singh gave two phone numbers, one of which belongs to Honeypreet, while the other is his own. Honeypreet's number is not reachable and Gurmeet Singh might have left his phone in the Dera."
"Since these numbers have not been verified so far, Gurmeet Singh has not taken advantage of the convenience of any phone call," he said.
He also said that the information from fellow prisoners, who were being released from the same prison, regarding Gurmeet Singh were not correct as only a few prisoners were allowed to go to his barracks due to security reasons.
"His safety is being taken care of on the basis of reports of police, intelligence, and other security agencies. Jail management is not letting every prisoner go to Gurmeet's barrack. Prisoners who were giving an interview to the media after coming out of jail did not have access to the barrack of Gurmeet Singh," Singh said.
"The news about Gurmeet crying while keeping his head in his mother's lap who came to the jail to see him, was also misleading as glass and a net separates a visitor from the prisoner," he added.
Referring to work allocated to Gurmeet Singh in the jail, the DGP said keeping in view the security scenario, the jail administration has decided to entrust farming to him.
"There is an empty place close to his barrack where he has been given the task of planting vegetables and he is preparing for the task. He will plant vegetables in the first week of October. In front of the barrack, there are some trees which have been given to him for harvesting. He will earn a daily wage of Rs 20," the DGP added.
The sect chief has been lodged in prison since August 25 when he was convicted by the CBI court in Panchkula on two counts of rape of female disciples in 1999.
He was later sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of over Rs 30 lakh.
(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.)
Maya Mirchandani: The Rohingya issue is something that has been dominating the headlines, certainly in India, on the diplomatic front for the last few weeks. The reason for this perhaps is that the junior home minister had said all Rohingya in India would be sent back, they would not be welcome.
Doctors can find it hard to diagnose cervical cancer in young women because the same symptoms, such as bleeding between periods or after sex, are common in women with genital infections or taking contraceptives. For decades the Pap smear has been used as a screening test to prevent women from getting cervical cancer. It is not used as a screening test in women younger than 25 because it isnt effective at preventing cancer in this age group. But what if the Pap smear could be used to diagnose cervical cancer in young women?
As part of the disinvestment exercise, the Centre on Wednesday decided to exit three India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) hotels, including Jaipur Ashok, and hand them over to the state governments concerned.
The Union Cabinet approved the transfer of Hotel Jaipur Ashok and Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel, Mysuru, to the governments of Rajasthan and Karnataka, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said.
It also cleared disinvestment of ITDCs 51 per cent equity in Donyi Polo Ashok, Itanagar, in favour of Arunachal Pradesh, he said.
Briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jaitley said that as according to the valuation, the Jaipur property would fetch the Centre Rs 14 crore, Mysore Rs 7.45 crore and Itanagar Rs 3.89 crore This is according to the disinvestment policy of the Government of India wherein and properties are to be leased or sub-leased jointly with states, he said.
The policy has been formulated in line with the view that running and managing hotels is not the job of the government or its entities.
In addition, the in-principle approval for transfer of Hotel Janpath, New Delhi, to the Ministry of Urban Development, has also been accorded by the CCEA.Following the Cabinet move, the shares of ITDC on Wednesday zoomed nearly 17 per cent.
The stock soared 16.43 per cent to settle at Rs 577.45 on the BSE. Intra-day, it jumped 19.99 per cent to Rs 595.10.
World Bank India chief Junaid Ahmad on Tuesday described GST as a "tectonic shift" in the country's taxation policy that has increased the possibility of 8 per cent plus growth.
India recorded a growth rate of 7.1 per cent in 2016-17 and 5.7 per cent in the first quarter of the current financial year.
"Today India is at the brink of a possibility of moving into 8 per cent plus growth rate. Why? Because India has made a very bold step in integrating internally its nation into one market. So the shift into GST is a tectonic shift," World Bank Country Head in India Junaid Ahmad said at an industry event.
If the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is implemented efficiently, the growth boost India will get is going to be huge, he said while addressing members of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry here.
The economic corridors of India will change and that will require change in transportation as well, he added.
"You (India) need systems of transport, particular multi-modal, in order to respond what GST is offering as one market. If GST is implemented efficiently, the growth boost that you will get from internal movements of goods is going to be huge," he said.
Part of it (growth boost) lies in the implementation of the GST but it also depends on how the country invests in logistics, he added.
Ahmad said if integration of India's local markets are done correctly, the gains in next 5-8 years from the internal integration will outweigh those from global integration (of markets).
"And indeed the internal integration linked to your port system can change the nature of growth of India," he added.
However, he said it was pertinent for India to have a highly professional service delivery mechanism in every sphere of life, be it the water system, electricity, railway or solid waste management system.
He said the optimal service delivery mechanism of basic infrastructure is one of the biggest challenges India faces today.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The India-Japan defence relationship is soaring, but high-profile deals like the US-2i Aircraft and Soryu class submarines are unlikely to come to fruition anytime soon, argues this writer in today's BS Special.
Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal. They do not reflect the view/s of Business Standard.
India will reach the level of 20 Gw of installed solar capacity by the end of this financial year, consultancy firm Bridge to India said on Tuesday.
India installed 7.5 gigawatts (Gw) in the last four quarters and the total utility-scale solar capacity hit 16.2 gw by September 2017, the firm said in its latest report.
According to the study, an additional 10-Gw capacity has been allocated to developers and is in various stages of development.
Telangana has surpassed Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu to become India's top state for solar deployment. Sixty-two per cent of India's solar pipeline remains concentrated in four southern states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
According to its September edition of India Solar Map 2017 report, India's total installed solar capacity has grown over 84 per cent in the last four quarters.
ALSO READ: Solar industry in search of sunshine
In a statement, Vinay Rustagi, Managing Director, Bridge to India, said: "It is a curious time for solar sector in India. We are coming off a period of exceptional growth of over 80 per cent over the last 3 years. But the future looks more subdued - demand for solar power is slowing down when tariffs have fallen to a low of Rs 2.42 per kWh level, making solar the cheapest new source of power in India."He further said, "... We expect investors to shift their attention to the secondary market, where some large M&A transactions are in the pipeline."The report showed that Greenko and ReNew Power have once again retained their top developers position on the basis of capacity commissioned during the last four quarters.
There has been a marginal increase in the market share of Indian manufacturers, but Chinese suppliers continue to hold over 80 per cent, it added.
The government of South Korea has expressed a desire to widen the existing trade agreement with India, a day before commerce and industry minister Suresh Prabhu is to visit Seoul for a review.
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Working with the countrys central bank is a highly sought-after aspiration. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) takes various exams for recruitment program to select the deserving candidates to be appointed as the officers under different grades. Unlike from other Public Sector Banks that hire the candidates through the IBPS exams, the RBI has its own selection process to conduct exams, counsel and recruit the best candidates. The Bank periodically releases advertisements or notifications for recruitment of various positions in leading newspapers and Employment News/Rojgar Samachar. For all the Class I posts (officers rank), the Reserve Bank of India Services Board (RBISB) conducts examinations /interviews. Candidates need to apply to the General Manager, RBISB in the format published in the advertisements along with all your relevant documents.
Backed by a healthy growth in sectors like motor and health insurance, investments of non-life companies rose by around 128 per cent in the past five years. A majority of the investments got channelised into government securities.
Significant progress has been made by most of the states with regards to implementation of e-NAM. Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh deserve appreciation for their work in this regard. Chhattisgarh and Telangana are already making headway. .
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The officials should run awareness campaign among farmers and sensitize both farmers and traders about the benefits of online bidding. .
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Honble Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shri Radha Mohan Singh appreciated the progress made by the states in implementation of e-NAM. He said that Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh deserve appreciation for their work. Chhattisgarh and Telangana are already making headway. Several other states are also making progress in this regard. He said it today during the e-NAM review meeting held at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi. .
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The Minister said that the officials should run awareness campaign among farmers and sensitize both farmers and traders about the benefits of online bidding. The Government is also doing this through the strategic partner. .
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He said that the laboratories need basic facilities to boost inter-mandi trading and interstate trading. A workshop was organized on 13th Sept 2017 at Krishi Bhawan and all the states who have implemented e-NAM participated along with those who will implement e-NAM. Equipment manufacturers exhibited their products and spoke about the technologies available in the market for quick and reliable testing of agricultural produce. .
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To incentivize online trading and participation in e-NAM, some States like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have reduced user/market fee for online traders. Rajasthan has instituted Upahar award to encourage for the same. .
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Talking about model APLM Act, 2017, the Minister said that the states should adopt unified single market to boost inter-state trading. Under the act, a cap is levied on market fees to reduce the burden on the consumers. Apart from this, there is a provision for an alternative market so that farmers can access liberal agricultural market and get better value for their produce. .
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India to conduct the First BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise- 2017 from October 10-13
The First BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise- 2017 (BIMSTEC DMEx-2017) will be conducted by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) as the lead agency from October 10-13, 2017 in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). This Exercise will be a platform for sharing Best Practices on all aspects of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), strengthening regional response and coordination for Disaster Management among the BIMSTEC member countries.
Delegates from all seven nations of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) grouping, - namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand, representatives from Embassies/High Commissions of BIMSTEC nations in Delhi, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and Senior Officers from the Nodal Ministries are participating in the event.
At the 17th BIMSTEC Senior Officials Meeting held in Kathmandu, Nepal on February 7, 2017, it was decided that India would organize the first annual Disaster Management Exercise for the region.
The main focus of the BIMSTEC DMEx-2017 will be on testing the regions preparedness and resilience towards effective activation of inter-Governmental interaction/dialogue/agreements for immediate deployment of regional resources for disaster response. It will help create synergy and synchronize efforts to institutionalize regional cooperation among the member countries. The exercise will help strengthen the effective utilization of the Search & Rescue Teams for Disaster Relief & Emergency Response, including Emergency Rapid Assessment Teams and Management of mass casualties especially in situations involving breakdown of infrastructure and communication.
At the end of the four-day Exercise, a publication will be brought out on the outcomes and recommendations of the Joint/Common Exercise and include Agreement among BIMSTEC Nations on regional cooperation for Disaster Management and Emergency Response. This would be presented to the BIMSTEC Leaders at the Summit to be hosted by Nepal in October/November, 2017.
The BIMSTEC DMEx-2017 is being conducted in two phases in Delhi and NCR.
The main exercise will comprise of Table Top Exercise (TTX), Field Training Exercise (FTX) and After Action Review (AAR) which is scheduled for October 10-13, 2017. Earlier, the first phase comprising a Preparatory Meeting and field visit of site selected for FTX during the main exercise, was held in Delhi NCR on August 8-9, 2017.
India has been at the forefront of DRR efforts by hosting the South Asian Annual Disaster Management Exercise (SAADMEx) and the Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR). India has also offered its expertise and capabilities in DRR such as the South Asia satellite, GSAT-9, and the Tsunami Early Warning Centre to other countries. Disaster Management was one of the important Agenda items the BIMSTEC leaders deliberated upon during the Goa BRICS Summit in October last year where BIMSTEC leaders were the Special Invitees.
The BIMSTEC region is home to around 1.5 billion people, constituting around 22% of the global population with a combined GDP of US $2.7 trillion economy. Majority of the BIMSTEC countries are situated in the South Asian Region (SAR), prone to natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, earthquakes, avalanches and drought.
MoS Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurates first Pension Adalat today Anubhav Awards 2017 presented to 16 pensioners Minister launches Mobile App to avail the services of Pensioners Portal
The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated the first Pension Adalat here today at the Pre-Retirement Counselling Workshop organised by the Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India. He also presented the Anubhav awards 2017 to 16 pensioners for their contribution towards creating institutional memory for the departments. On the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh launched a Mobile App that has been created to avail the services of Pensioners Portal. The Secretary to President Shri Sanjay Kothari was the Guest of Honour.Addressing on the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh congratulated the recipients of Anubhav awards. He said that under Anubhav, the retiring employees give an account of their experiences during service. These experiences are of great help to the Government, he added. He said that these experiences will become an important account for research and resource for administrative reference and thus will help in improving our working.While inaugurating the first Pension Adalat, he said that Pension Adalats will help in on the spot redressal of pensioners grievances. He said that this will also inspire the states. He appealed to the states to implement the good governance measures taken by the Government.The Minister said that a number of reforms have been undertaken by the Government to facilitate the pensioners. Highlighting the initiatives of the Government, he said that one of the main initiatives taken was to fix the minimum pension at Rs 1,000. He said that other initiatives such as Bhavishya, Sankalp, Jeevan Praman-digital life certificates, doing away with the obsolete laws and self attestation, among others have also been taken. He said that a mechanism has been put in place where pensioner will get PPO on the day of his retirement.
He further said that the retired population is increasing in India and we should do our best to channelize their energies in a positive manner. There should be smooth transition from their active life to retired life, he added. The pensioners should re-orient themselves to the new beginning, the Minister said. Shri C. Viswanath, Secretary (Pensions) said that the aim of the department is to provide a life to dignity to the pensioners post-retirement. He said that the pension and gratuity amount has also increased considerably. He further said that about 90% pension accounts have been seeded with Aadhar. He said that Mobile App for Pensioners Portal is an initiative of moving from e-governance to m-governance. He said that about 3,700 write ups have been published under Anubhav. Shri Viswanath said that Pension Adalat will help resolve the grievances of pensioners. In future, the Pension Adalats will be set up in other places outside Delhi also, he added. The Mobile App will extend all the services meant for the pensioner, which are currently available on the Pensioners Portal of the department, to the mobile handset. The Pensions Portals features include Personalised Pension Process Road Map, Bhavishya, Pension calculator, CPENGRAMS and What is New. A pensioner can avail various services on it such as checking the date of credit of his first pension, action taken, calculating the commuted pension and giving feedback. Under What is New, the new orders issued by the department will be available. The Pension Adalats are being convened with the objective of bringing on a common table the aggrieved pensioner, the concerned department, the bank or CGHS representative, wherever relevant, so that such cases can be settled across the table within the framework of extant rules. The Anubhav scheme had been instituted on the call of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to encourage retiring/retired employees to submit their experiences while working in the government with the objective to create an institutional wealth for the government for future governance as well as to enthuse and inspire the future generations of government officials in their respective assignments. Senior officers of the Department were also present on the occasion.
I would take this opportunity to convey on behalf of the people of India, and the Government of India the warmest greetings to the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Member States on the occasion of 61st General Conference..
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India has always given primacy to IAEAs role in the promotion of peaceful uses of atomic energy, both in the area of nuclear power and nuclear applications, while maintaining due support in IAEAs role in safeguards. .
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I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your election as President of the 61st General Conference. I am sure that the current General Conference will accomplish successfully all the tasks laid before it under your leadership. .
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We welcome Granada as a new Member to IAEA..
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I would like to compliment Dr. Yukiya Amano for his reappointment for the third consecutive term as the Director General of IAEA. Your Excellency, Mr. Amanov, through your tireless effort you have steward the work of the Agency so that it can be better prepared to face the contemporary challenges and also realize the immense opportunities that lie ahead. .
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Indias Minister of State for External Affairs participated in the IAEA Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Security held in Vienna in December 2016. In the meet, India reiterated its commitment to global nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. .
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I am happy to inform that we have signed Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement with Bangladesh in April this year alongwith two more complementary Agreements. .
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We are collaborating with our Russian and Bangladeshi partners on establishing Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh..
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India became Associate Member of European Organisation of Nuclear Research (CERN) in November 2016 with whom we have been working for the last five decades. .
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We have also signed Civil Nuclear Cooperation agreement with Japan and Vietnam. .
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Let me tell you some of the recent developments in our country in the field of the Nuclear Energy and its applications: .
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This year we have completed 7 decades of our independence. 70th year of Indian independence has also been an year of exceptional achievements for us in the area of nuclear power, heavy water, nuclear fuel and associated material, uranium mining and milling, rare earth, radio isotopes and cancer care. All our research facilities, including synchrotron, cyclotron and reactors achieved their highest ever performance. .
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We are making sustained efforts to achieve major growth in our programmes of nuclear energy and nuclear applications..
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Recently, Indian Government has approved the construction of 10 Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors in serial mode and also the construction of 2 more reactors at Kudankulam. Apart from the objective of major growth in carbon free electricity production, this step will give major boost to the industries producing the reactor equipment in India. .
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With these reactors we will now have 21 reactors under construction and 22 reactors in operation. This will increase the capacity to over 22,000 MWe by the end of next decade. We shall continue to add more capacity in future. .
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To cater to the needs of expansion of nuclear power programme, we are also stepping up our exploration and mining operation for production of uranium. In the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor front, after completion of construction, the commissioning activities are making steady progress while fulfilling all the safety requirements. .
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In the Cancer care sector, we have started major expansion by taking up construction/ upgradation of 6 additional facilities throughout our country. This will help us in doubling number of new patients treated from the present figure of 70,000 in the next 4 - 5 years. We have established a cancer grid connecting over 100 hospitals for diagnostic and therapeutic consultancy. We are also reorganizing ourselves to cater to further expansion in terms of research, education and patient care..
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In the frontier science area, we are establishing a small underground research laboratory in one of our uranium mines for pursuing research on dark matter. This will enthuse scientists from all generations. .
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As part of our celebration of 70 years of independence of our country, we organized a side event at this venue on Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership and I thank all of you who participated in the programme. This Centre will have 5 schools covering safety, security and societal activities. I invite Member States to make use of this facility under the aegis of IAEA. We thank the city of Vienna, and the people and the Government of Austria, for hosting the IAEA and this event. India looks forward to IAEAs continued leadership for fostering safe, secure and sustainable use nuclear energy in the future. India will continue to support IAEA in all areas of its endeavor. .
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We wish the 61st General Conference a grand success. .
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Thank you..
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A group of youth from the Gurez Valley of Jammu & Kashmir, participating in Operation Sadbhavana, called on the President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (September 20, 2017). .
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Welcoming the youth, the President said that young people are the future of Jammu & Kashmir and it's their responsibility to play a role in the development of the state. He stated that successive Indian governments had worked for the welfare of the people of the State. He asked the youth to learn from the discipline of the Indian Army. He also congratulated the Army on the Sadbhavana initiative and wished the programme all success. .
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The Sadbhavana tour was organised by the 109 Infantry Brigade of the Indian Army with an aim to develop trust among and reignite the minds of youth towards national integration. As part of this tour, these youth are visiting Srinagar, Delhi, Lansdowne, Rishikesh and Dehradun. .
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iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- A little over a year ago, few people gave Germany's controversial, right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) Party any chance of making a dent in German national elections. In recent months, the party suffered through several embarrassing internal spats and saw its polling numbers sink amid growing support for Chancellor Angela Merkel.
But AfD is now poised to become Germanys third largest political party after Sunday's elections. Opinion polls show the AfD scoring as much as 12 percent of the vote on Election Day, allowing it to send dozens of lawmakers to national Parliament - or Bundestag - and potentially disrupting German politics.
If the predictions hold, it will be the first time since the end of World War II that a far-right party has attracted enough votes to enter Germanys Parliament. And the strong showing means the AfD will be the biggest opposition party if Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) continues its governing coalition with the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD).
"It's without question a significant achievement for a right-wing party when you view it historically, said Karen Donfried, the president of the German Marshall Fund, referring to Afd. She said because of its Nazi history, German voters have usually rejected right-wing parties in elections.
But this is a significant shift for the German political landscape, she noted.
Founded in 2013 as an anti-European Union party, the AfD shifted its focus from the euro zone debt crisis to immigration after Merkel in 2015 opened the doors to over a million migrants, many fleeing war in the Middle East.
Since then, the party has increasingly found success by becoming the most visible anti-immigration party in Germany. It scored well in a series of regional elections thanks largely to a growing public anger over Merkel's welcoming policy toward refugees, particularly from Syria and elsewhere in the Arab world.
Gideon Botsch, a political scientist at the University of Potsdam just outside Berlin, said AfD's success is partly due to the disillusionment voters feel with Germany's established political parties.
Many voters, especially on the right but also in the center, have felt that the two traditional parties have not addressed the issue of immigration and German cultural identity, Botsch said. And that has led them to consider voting for the AfD.
The party's platform is staunchly anti-immigrant and opposes any welcoming of Muslims to Germany.
The AfD has called for sealing the European Unions borders, instituting rigorous identity checks along Germany's national borders and setting up holding camps abroad to prevent migrants from leaving for Germany in the first place. The party also wants to deport anyone whose application for political asylum is rejected while encouraging foreigners to return to their home countries.
Party leaders believe the few migrants who are allowed to remain have a duty to fully integrate into German society, emphasizing the primacy of the German language and traditional German culture. Many of its top officials have outwardly rejected the idea that Islam is part of German society.
German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel equated the party with the Nazis who ruled the country from 1933 to 1945, an insult rarely heard in national politics.
If were unlucky, then these people will send a signal of dissatisfaction that will have terrible consequences, Gabriel, a member of the Social Democrats, said in an interview with Internet provider t-online.de. Then we will have real Nazis in the German Reichstag for the first time since the end of World War II.
Justice Minister Heiko Maas warned that the AfD's religious, family, criminal and European policies are in clear violation of the German constitution. In an essay published in the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper, he singled out a blanket ban on minarets - the towers on mosques from which the muezzin calls the faithful to prayer - which the AfD has promised to introduce.
Though the official AfD platform says that the party supports direct democracy, separation of state powers and the rule of law and order, throughout its short history critics have accused individual members of promoting neo-Nazi ideas and using neo-Nazi language.
Earlier this month, the party was forced to defend its co-leader Alice Weidel following media reports that she had expressed racist views in a private email four years ago. Top AfD officials dismissed a report in the weekly Welt am Sonntag that quoted from an email Weidel allegedly sent to an acquaintance in which she claimed the government was trying to cause "civil war" by systematically flooding German cities with Arab and Roma migrants.
The AfD also developed a series of controversial campaign ads, including one showing the belly of a pregnant woman that says New Germans? We'll make them ourselves. Another ad declares Burkas? We prefer bikinis.
In years past, these kinds of ads would turn off many voters in Germany, Donfried said. But this time around they seem to resonate with some voters and thats been a problem for the two main politics parties.
Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Bain Capital is seeking more financial support from Apple as it tries to seal its acquisition of Toshibas memory chips business, according to a person familiar with the matter. The US buyout firm is now asking the iPhone maker for about $7 billion in capital, up from a previous agreement for about $3 billion, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the matter is private. The revised proposal would include about $1 billion for equity and $6 billion in debt, the person said, a part of a total bid of roughly $19 billion. Apple representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The future of money looks very different in the world of cryptocurrencies. There is a growing consensus among businesses, investors and countries (Venezuela in particular) that these alternative forms of online money are going to dominate payments in the next decade. There may be agreement on the potential, but quite how regulators and central banks will respond is still up in the air.
Rescue workers scrabbled through rubble as dawn broke on Wednesday, searching for dozens of children feared buried beneath a Mexico City school, among hundreds of buildings destroyed by the country's most lethal earthquake in a generation.
As the forced expulsion of the Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar gathers pace and attracts increasing condemnation, its clear that the world either ignores or misunderstands the truth behind Myanmars politics. The violent campaign against the Rohingyas is not the disease, but merely a symptom of a political system that has been failing for decades.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has complained to the United States about the greater role President Donald Trump wants for India in Afghanistan, according to media reports.
Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua said that in a meeting here on Tuesday with Vice President Mike Pence, Abbassi expressed concern over the greater role that Trump advocated for India in his new Afghan policy, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).
She also said that Abbasi told him that Pakistan categorically rejected allegations against Islamabad in Trump's Afghan policy speech last month adding that "scapegoating Pakistan will not help bring stability to Afghanistan," the news agency reported.
A statement from Abbasi's office only said that the "Prime Minister shared Pakistan's concerns and views with regard to the US strategy for South Asia" and Januja's remarks expanded on that.
In his address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday Trump had again reiterated his warning of strong action against countries that support or finance organisations like the Taliban, but did not name Pakistan as he had in his speech last month on Afghanistan.
Significantly, Trump did not meet Abbassi, as he had some other prime ministers like Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu, and had delegated it to his Vice President.
The Pence meeting was the first high-level direct contact between the US and Pakistan since Trump's ground-breaking address to the nation on his Afghan policy on August 21 which was met with strong criticism in Islamabad.
Abbasi's office statement said the discussions with Pence on the sidelines of the General Assembly meeting took place in a "cordial atmosphere".
In a tweet after their meeting Pence said, "Met w/ Pakistani PM Abbasi at @UN. Reiterated @POTUS' belief that 'Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with our effort" in the region.'" (POTUS is the US government acronym for President of the United States.)
Met w/ Pakistani PM Abbasi at @UN. Reiterated @POTUS' belief that "Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with our effort" in the region. pic.twitter.com/kTEiSyrZp8 Vice President Pence (@VP) September 19, 2017
In last month's Afghanistan speech, Trump had asked India "to help us more with Afghanistan" and said a "critical part of the South Asia strategy for America is to further develop its strategic partnership with India -- the world's largest democracy and a key security and economic partner of the US".
He also had said bluntly, "We can no longer be silent about Pakistan's safe havens for terrorist organisations, the Taliban, and other groups that pose a threat to the region and beyond."
Islamabad had "much to lose" by harbouring terrorists, he warned.
APP quoted Pence as telling Abbassi, "We look forward to exploring ways so that we can work even more closely with Pakistan and with your government to advance security throughout the region."
In response, Abbasi told him, "Pakistan has been a long-standing partner and we intend to continue efforts to eliminate terrorism in the area."
Abbasi's office said, "Both sides agreed to work together to carry forward the relationship which has been a historic partnership for the last seven decades."
President Trump brought the same confrontational style of leadership he has used at home to the worlds most prominent stage on Tuesday as he vowed to totally destroy North Korea if it threatened the United States and denounced the nuclear agreement with Iran as an embarrassment that he may abandon.
Bharati Defence and Infrastructure, Walchandnagar Industries, Shivalik Bimetal Controls, Toyo Rolls and Tinplate Company are among 10 stocks, which have rallied more than 50% in past one week.
With the even spread of rainfall in the second half of the current monsoon season raising prospects of better kharif oilseed output, edible oil production in the crushing season 2017-18 is likely to be the highest ever in the country.
SBI Life Insurance Company Ltd is the Indias largest private life insurer in terms of new business premium (NBP) generated in each fiscal year since FY10. It has also increased its market share of NBP generated among private life insurers in India, from 15.9% in FY15 to 20% in FY17. Over FY15-17, the companys NBP increased by 35.5% CAGR, which is the highest among the top five private life insurers (in terms of total premium in FY17) in India.
The Securities and Exchange Board of Indias (Sebis) proposed move to simplify category classifications of mutual fund schemes may lead to a change in the definition of balanced funds. The capital regulator has been going slow on approving balanced funds in the past few years and unofficially insisting on a 50:50 equity-to-debt mix for new scheme approvals. Currently, there is no standard definition of balanced funds.
A Delhi High Court on Wednesday announced that it will pronounce the verdict in 2G spectrum case on October 25.
The court had asked all the accused former telecom minister A Raja, Rajya Sabha member and Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam leader Kanimozhi, former telecom secretary Sidharth Behura, Raja's private secretary RK Chandolia to file their clarifications.
Meanwhile, all the accused are out on bail.
A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge OP Saini observed that documents, filed in the case, were voluminous and technical in nature, and will take substantial time to go through them.
The court will announce the date of the verdict on next hearing. The court had also concluded final arguments in the case on April 26.
The court was hearing two separate cases related to 2G spectrum cases; one is being probed by the CBI and the other by the Enforcement Directorate.
The CBI has alleged that former Telecom Minister A Raja, during the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance's rule, had caused a huge loss to the exchequer as he had undercharged telecom firms for frequency allocation licences. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India had estimated the total loss to the exchequer from the scam to be around Rs 1.76 trillion.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Baloch Republican Party (BRP) activists protested outside the United Nations in Geneva on Tuesday to highlight the growing atrocities of the Pakistani forces, during the ongoing 36th session of the Human Righs Council.
They shouted anti-Pakistan and anti-China slogans and raised demands to stop the progress of the multi-billion dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Balochistan, literally meaning the land of the Baloch, has been turned into a land of human tragedy under the successive Pakistani military and civil regimes.
Instead of peacefully resolving the political issues and addressing the rightful demands of the Baloch people, the state has responded with the use of force to crush their voices.
The military operations in civilian-populated areas, enforced disappearances, torture, extrajudicial custodial killings of political activists and students, mass abduction of families, silencing journalists and human rights activists, denying access to the media and the NGOs are some of the gruesome measures taken by the Pakistan security apparatus in Balochistan, which defy all international human rights standards.
These cruel violations of human rights have intensified in the wake of the CPEC, the flagship project of China's OBOR/BRI initiative, which aims to connect the Xinjiang region to the Arabian Sea through the Gwadar port of Balochistan.
Ironically, the Chinese investment and extensive development projects under the CPEC have deteriorated the human rights situation, as the state has intensified the use of force to silence the Baloch reservations on the projects.
"We have been sending the same message again and again to the people inside the offices of the United Nations that the Baloch people are suffering enormously at the hands of the Pakistan military and intelligence agencies and these crimes against humanity are growing day by day," Abdul Nawaz Bugti, an activist from the Baloch Republican Party, told ANI.
"There has been a voice inside also. Our main purpose is to take an action against the Pakistani atrocities by the United Nations. This is aimed at achieving by such protests demonstrations, awareness campaigns and the statement inside the UNHRC," he added.
Ahmar Mastikhan, the founder of the American Friends of Balochistan, said that they are creating awareness and there has been a big change in the U.S. and in all these cases, when America takes interest, then all the other countries also get involved in these issues.
The spokesperson of the Baloch Republican Party, Sher Mohammad Bugti, accused China of supporting and funding Pakistan's terrorism and oppression on the people of Balochistan.
He also urged China to stop funding Pakistan.
"Why are people not highlighting their story? Why is there no press in Balochistan's aid? Why can't the media come here and tell people what the Pakistan government and military are doing to these people? It shouldn't be a disputed territory; it is their land. Pakistan is taking their land and giving them nothing. They are killing the most educated people in their community; to leave the uneducated population so they can enslave them," said Tommy Robinson, a British journalist and activist.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights on Wednesday filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court against Centre's notification seeking deportation of Rohingyas.
The learned Counsel Kalyan Bandyopadhyay is representing the Commission.
Earlier, India had announced that it plans to deport around 40,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees living illegally in India.
The Centre has also said that even Rohingya's registered with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees would be deported.
The Commission dubbed the above mentioned notification of the Central Government as not only inhuman but anti-human also.
The Commission also asserted that, "Rohingyas are being systematically tortured and killed in Burma. The United Nation referred them as the most persecuted community in the world."
"In this situation deporting the Rohingya children and their mothers staying in different shelter- homes and correctional homes of West Bengal means to throw them into the jaws of death," it added.
Rohingyas are being denied citizenship in the Buddhist-majority Myanmar and regarded as illegal immigrants, despite claiming roots that date back centuries.
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Expressing concern over escalating prices of petrol and diesel in Madhya Pradesh, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Babulal Gaur has written to the state Finance and Commercial Tax Minister Jayant Malaiya, demanding a reduction in the Value-Added Tax (VAT) levied on the petroleum products.
Speaking to ANI here, Gaur said, "The VAT imposed on petrol and diesel in the state is the highest here compared to neighbouring states like Maharashtra, Delhi and Gujarat. This has resulted into a steep fall in the sale of petroleum products in the state and people and traders residing on the border districts are not purchasing petroleum products from the these petrol pumps. I request them to cut down VAT on petro products."
Gaur further appealed to the Finance Minister to respond quickly to his request considering public welfare.
The VAT on petrol and diesel in Madhya Pradesh is 39.75 per cent, Gujarat is 28.96 per cent, Chhattisgarh is 29.68 per cent, Rajasthan is 32.81 per cent and Uttar Pradesh is 31.17 per cent.
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Highlighting the atrocities of Pakistan on the people of the Gilgit-Baltistan region, Abdul Hamid Khan, the chairman of the Balawaristan National Front (BNF), on Wednesday wrote to the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, urging to take control over the disputed region.
Khan, in his letter, stated that Pakistan has turned the region into a 'Nazi-style Torture Camp', where the people have been deprived from their basic right to speech and justice and the one seeking them are put behind the bars by the Pakistani forces without any trail.
"The BNF appeals to the U.N. and the U.N.S.C. to take control over this disputed region, or, at least, ask Pakistan to give the cases of the political workers and other activists to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or any other impartial court for a fair trial," read the letter written by Khan.
Khan wrote that the people of the Gilgit-Baltistan region are witnessing a 'New Definition of Terrorism' in which they are being falsely framed under the controversial anti-terrorist act.
Elaborating the situation, Khan wrote that the real terrorists, killing innocent people and creating violence in the region, are left free and have not been brought to justice to the day.
"Political activists, religious persons and students of Pakistan occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB), who do not comply with occupation regime's dictation have been framed under the controversial anti-terrorist act and Schedule 4," read the letter.
"On the other hand, the real terrorists, who actually kill innocent civilians by bombing shrines, highways, and other places of peaceful social gatherings, roam freely despite video evidences and eye-witnesses," it added.
Khan revealed that the anti-terrorism law is not imposed on the one killing indigenous people or against the one posing a threat to the humanity. "But it is being imposed on the one seeking help and raising voice against any injustice, or writes letters to the UN, or ask for their right given by UN as per the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," he added.
"In spite of no presence of any U.N. declared terrorist organisations here in the PoGB, more than a 150 people of the PoGB are facing Schedule 4 (a China-Pakistan draconian law). The Schedule 4 accused are subject to worst conditions than a prison. Whereby the accused persons are even barred horn dropping their own minor children at schools or taking them to a hospital for treatment," the letter explained.
The violation of these restrictions lands the people behind the bars without bail for years and those who disobey Pakistani orders by making peaceful demands for their rights are declared as terrorists, Khan said in his letter.
Further describing the terrible condition of the people of the region, Khan wrote that Pakistan has deployed its citizens in all the administration to deprive the indigenous employees from their due rights and to ensure its colonial control over the region.
"These Pakistani-deployed senior officials are prejudiced and have evil designs against the indigenous people, who bully and defer the fundamental rights of the people of the occupied Gilgit-Baltistan. On the other hand, Pakistan shamelessly keeps blowing the siren for self-determination for Jammu and Kashmir at almost every international forum where it is invited," the letter read.
Khan said that being the United Nations-declared disputed part of Jammu and Kashmir, they don't even have any access to free, fair judicial system and have no place to file an appeal/writ against the 'Pakistani allegations, slanders and atrocities.'
He added that the entire judicial system of Pakistan is subservient to the Pakistan Military and no judge dares to deliver any judgement on his own against the will of the Pakistan Military and its administration.
Khan alleged that the lives property and freedom of the people is under a serious threat due to Pakistan and China's joint conspiracy 'to strengthen their occupation under the grab of the CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor)'
"Pakistani forces have choked legitimate voices and grabbed our lands to build cantonments and torture cells for the Pakistani and the Chinese forces and their intellgence agencies," the letter read.
Khan even recalled the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) of 1949 as per which Pakistan has no right to retain in this disputed land and had to withdraw within a period of three months, which they never did.
"After a lapse of 69 years of non-compliance, Pakistan has now virtually changed the whole demography and converted 72,000 sq km area of this U.N. declared disputed region into a Nazi-style torture camp," the letter read.
"The tyranny of Pakistan against the indigenous people is not only a flagrant violation of the UNCIP resolutions, but it also ridicules the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and even violates Pakistan's own constitution and the Supreme Court verdicts," it added.
As per the letter, BNF members including its editor-in-chief Daulal Jan has been put behind bars by imposing Schedule 4 and the anti-terrorist act.
They are facing false cases and they can either be hanged or kept in prison for life without giving the right to appeal in any fair, impartial and legal/constitutional High Court and Supreme Court.
"Many people including political workers and religious workers and leaders are facing death sentence in Gilgit and Chilas Jail and other areas without giving them the right to appeal in any legal/constitutional High Court or Supreme Court," the letter added.
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The Cabinet has approved the transfer of Hotel Jaipur Ashok, Jaipur and Lalitha Mahal Palace, Mysore, which are units of India Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. (ITDC) to Government of Rajasthan and Government of Karnataka respectively, asserted Union Minister Arun Jaitley at the Cabinet meeting today.
"A few months back, the operated hotels of ITDC were approved to be handed over to the state government for redevelopment, either by themselves, or through partners," said Arun Jaitley, while addressing the media.
The Cabinet has also approved disinvestment of ITDC' 51 percent equity shares in M/s Donyi Polo Ashok Hotel Corporation Ltd., the joint venture company running Hotel Donyi Polo Ashok, Itanagar, in favour of the Government of Arunachal Pradesh.
"The Central Government is withdrawing and the properties are being transferred to the states. Now the states will redevelop it or run it, will be the state's purgative," Arun Jaitley said.
This is as per the disinvestment policy of the Government of India, whereas:
- ITDC hotels, properties to be leases, sub-leased jointly with the states,
- Where states have not agreed to the proposal of the leasing, sub-leasing the properties may be returned back to the States at their officially valued price.
"The policy has been formulated keeping in view that running and managing hotels on professional lines is not the job of the Government or its entities," said Finance Minister during the Cabinet meeting.
The second issue that the Finance Minister discussed was the rationalisation or merger and modernisation of the presses of the Government of India.
"The Cabinet approved rationalisation, merger and modernisation of seventeen Government of Indian Presses (GIPs), units into five GIPs at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Minto Road and Mayapuri in New Delhi; Nashik Maharashtra and Temple Street, Kolkata," said the Union Minister.
Five Presses will be redeveloped and modernised by monetisation of their surplus land, informed Arun Jaitley.
He also asserted that wherever there are surplus employees, they will redeploy in the Presses only, and made sure that the existing jobs will be protected.
"Land measuring 468 acres of the other merged Presses will be given to Land and Development Office, Ministry of Urban Development," said Jaitley while addressing the media.
He also stated that modernisation of the Presses will enable them to undertake important confidential, urgent and multi-colour printing work of the Central Government Offices all over the country.
"This will be carried out at zero cost to the exchequer and without any retrenchment," Arun Jaitley said at the Cabinet meeting.
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The Congress on Wednesday said that the silence of Myanmar State Councillor Aung San Suu Kyi on the Rohingya issue had disappointed many people, but now everbody is looking forward for her further role in the further developments in the matter.
"The silence of Aung San Su Kyi on Rohingya issue had disappointed many people. But now, we look forward for her further role in the Rohingya issue," Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit told ANI.
Meanwhile, another party leader Tom Vadakkan said that the international community is worried and extremely conscious of the fact that there has been a huge human rights violation.
"She is investigating the matter before coming to any conclusion. She has asked the military to restrain and to take care of the situation and see that the justice is done. But yes, the world community is worried and extremely conscious of the fact that there has been a huge human rights violation. There is an effort made by the leadership to look into the matter and give justice where it is due," he said.
Suu Kyi yesterday said the country would soon begin a verification process for the return of Rohingya refugees, who had fled the western Rakhine state, in a bid to aid those who wish to return.
"We are concerned about the number of Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh. We are prepared to start the verification process soon," she said, referring to the unprecedented exodus of the Rohingya Muslims to Bangladesh, in a nationally televised address, the first since an army crackdown on the minority community was branded as "ethnic cleansing" by the United Nations.
"It is not the intention of the Myanmar Government to apportion blame or to abdicate responsibility. We condemn all human rights violation and unlawful violence. We are committed to the restoration of peace, stability and rule of law throughout the state," she added.
The de-facto leader of Mynmar further said she felt "deeply" for the suffering of all people caught up in conflict scorching through the Rakhine state, urging the world to see the country as a whole, and not as a "nation divided by religious beliefs."
She said that it was "sad" that the international community was concentrated on one among the country's many problems.
"We don't want Myanmar to be known as a nation divided by religious beliefs or ethnicities. Hate and fear is the main scourge. I believe the real responsibility lies with the people of this country. But we would like our friends to join our endeavour. We will give security to you," the world leader stated.
"Myanmar has invited former U.N. general secretary Dr. Kofi Annan to lead a commission that would help us resolve the long-standing problems in the Rakhine state. We are determined to implement recommendations of the commission. They will bring speedy improvement in the situation within a short frame of time. The government is trying its best to restore the situation to normalcy," Suu Kyi added.
Suu Kyi further said that an action would be taken against anyone, who goes against the law of the land or violates human rights, 'regardless of race or political position.
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Wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow said he was extremely pleased to have scored his first ODI century and join the 'elusive club' during England's comfortable seven-wicket win over West Indies at the Old Trafford on Tuesday.
In only his second innings as an opener in ODIs, Bairstow hit 100 not out off 97 balls to help England take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
The Yorkshire man was ably supported by Joe Root (54) as the hosts backed up an impressive bowling performance as West Indies could only post 204/9, with Ben Stokes taking 3/43 including the wicket of his old foe Marlon Samuels.
Before Tuesday's match, England skipper Eoin Morgan had emphasised that Bairstow would have the opening slot and deserved a run there after waiting patiently in the wings for a long time. The wicketkeeper-batsman repaid his captain's faith amply, starting confidently and never letting up.
"I'm really pleased.It seems a long time ago since I made my debut at Cardiff," Sport24 quoted Bairstow as saying.
"I'm delighted to have scored my first one-day hundred for England. There aren't many people who've done it - and to join that elusive club is something, when you make your debut at Cardiff against India, you want to do.So you've got to enjoy it when you do," he added.
The second match will be next played at Trent Bridge on Thursday.
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Hot on heels of her Emmy win for best actress in a drama series for her role in 'The Handmaid's Tale,' actress Elisabeth Moss has found her first feature to the blockbuster TV series with 'Call Jane'.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Moss has signed on to star in 'Call Jane', an abortion drama to be directed by 'My Week With Marilyn' filmmaker Simon Curtis.
The screenplay, based on the true story of a 1960s movement called the Jane Collective, was written by Hayley Schore and Roshan Sethi.
Set in 1960s Chicago, Call Jane focuses on the true story of an underground network of suburban women who secretly provide safe abortions for women in need pre-Roe v. Wade.
Moss will play Jane, a married woman who is unexpectedly pregnant and discovers the underground group of women.
Talking about the script, Brenner said, "This script [for Call Jane] is commercial and entertaining, but it's also really relevant to what is going on with the world today. Women's rights are important and no one should have the right to control a woman's body. And that such an idea can be challenged today and that we can go back in time on these issues is scary."
The makers want to start production in the first quarter of 2018.
Moss won two Emmys on Sunday night for 'Handmaid's Tale,' one for acting and the other for producing the Hulu series.
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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that global anxieties about nuclear weapons are at the highest level since the end of the Cold War due to nuclear and missile tests by North Korea.
Speaking at his first General Assembly gathering on Tuesday, Guterres warned that "Fiery talk can lead to fatal misunderstandings". "The solution must be political - this is a time for statesmanship - we must not sleepwalk our way into war."
"Today proliferation is creating unimaginable danger, and disarmament is paralyzed," Guterres said in New York.
"Millions of people live under a shadow of dread cast by the provocative nuclear and missile tests of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," the secretary-general said, referring to North Korea by its formal name. "I condemn those tests unequivocally."
Guterres commended the unity of the U.N. Security Council in its recent tightening and imposing of economic sanctions on Pyongyang, saying the move sends "a clear message" to the leadership there.
Calling for intensifying the global efforts against terrorism and radicalisation, the Secretary-General said that "It is not enough to fight terrorists on the battlefield," he said.
"The radicalization is the root cause of terrorism and we need to address the roots of radicalization, he added.
Stressing the need for "a surge in diplomacy today" and "a leap in conflict prevention for tomorrow," he said that it is possible to move from war to peace, and from dictatorship to democracy.
"Only political solutions can bring peace to the unresolved conflicts in Syria, Yemen, South Sudan, the Sahel, Afghanistan and elsewhere. That was why he announced the creation of a high-level advisory board on mediation," he added.
To tackle the challenges of nuclear peril, climate change, and ongoing conflicts, he said, the UN has launched initiatives to reform itself. Looking over the packed General Assembly Hall, he said that the UN is needed, and "multilateralism is more important than ever" when there are competing interests and even open conflict.
"We call ourselves the international community; we must act as one," he concluded.
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Justice F.M. Ibrahim Kalifullah, Former Judge of Supreme Court, has today (Sep 20, 2017) inaugurated a new School of Law inside B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent University (BSACU) campus at Vandalur and delivered the inaugural Address.
Justice K.N. Basha, Former Judge of Madras High Court and Former Chairman, Intellectual Property Appellate Board, was the Guest of Honour. Justice G.M. Akbar Ali, Former Judge of Madras High Court, offered felicitation.
Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato' Sri Prof. Lr., Dr. Sahol Amid Bin Abu Bakar; Vice Chancellor; Mr. Abdul Qadir A. Rahman Buhari, Chairman; Arif B. Rahman and Mr. Syed Mohammed Bukhari, Members of Board of Management and Dr. Syed Masood Jamali, Dean, School of Islamic Studies, of BSACU, were present.
Aimed at producing able and competent law graduates and to cater to growing demand for legal professionals, the Crescent School of Law offers integrated programmes of five year B.Com LLB (Hons) and BBA LLB (Hons). The sanctioned strength of each programme is 120 with two sections of 60 each.
Aspirants with Plus II (Intermediate) qualification are eligible to pursue the programmes and will get a professional degree after successful completion of five years of study and can enroll as Advocates with Bar Council of India. The courses spread across ten semesters with five subjects a semester.
"There is demand for legal professionals in the Corporate and world and these five year programmes, the University offers are sure to meet the requirements, equipping students with required knowledge and skills to excel in the field of law," said Mr. Abdul Qadir A. Rahman Buhari.
"To enable students have practical exposure and real-time experience in the field of Law, the courses have been designed in such a way that there is right balance between theory and practicals with due emphasis on presentation skills and MOOT court practice. In all the even semesters the students need to undergo practical internship programme in all the four years. Apart from this our Crescent Law School is planning to conduct field visits, extension lectures and groups discussions to impart the skills of court-craft to the learners," he added.
Dr. P.V. Nagendra Sarma with two decades of experience in the field of teaching law and who has served as Principal of different law colleges in Andhra and Telangana States is heading the teaching faculty as Dean.
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Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has called on Pakistan to work together to eliminate terrorism and contain extremism for the stability of the region, while also praising United States President Donald Trump's strategy for Afghanistan and South Asia.
"We now have an opportunity for a dialogue with our neighbours on how we can work together earnestly to eliminate terrorism and contain extremism. Now, we call on all of our neighbours, near and far, to join us through the Kabul process in our comprehensive quest for peace and regional stability. I call upon Pakistan to engage with us on a comprehensive state-to-state dialogue on peace, security and regional cooperation leading to prosperity," Ghani addressed a conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Ghani appealed to the international community to change their perspective regarding Afghanistan's problem.
"For too long, the conflict in Afghanistan has been viewed through the prism of civil war. But this war is not within our soil, it is over our soil," he said.
"Today, there are over 20 international terrorist groups operating on the Afghan soil. The future of Afghanistan matters, because we are on the frontlines of the global effort to eradicate the threat of terrorism."
"U.S. President Donald Trump's new Afghan strategy sent a signal to the Taliban guerrillas that they cannot win on the field and must negotiate peace. The Afghan people have looked to the United States for this type of resolve for years. With President Trump's recent announcement of his strategy to counter terror and stabilise South Asia, Afghanistan's enduring partnership with the U.S. and the international community has been renewed and redirected," Ghani added.
Citing an example that the Afghan government is committed to peace as demonstrated by the peace agreement with Hizb-i-Islami, Ghani said, "Sixteen years after the tragedy of September 11, the threat of violence by non-state actors has taken the form of a Fifth Wave of political violence. Driven by transnational terrorist networks, criminal organisations, cyber-crime and state sponsorship of terror, this Fifth Wave promises to be a decades-long threat to the international security rather than a passing phenomenon. In the 20th century, the came together to push back the spread of fascism, so that democratic freedoms could be secured."
"Today, these very freedoms are under attack from global terrorism. Terrorism is not only an attack on human life and basic freedoms, but an attack on the compact of citizenship--an attack on the nation state's relationship with its people which makes democratic societies unique, fair and free. We must confront the threat of terrorism as a united force, and meet it with a long-term solution that matches the long-term agenda of the terrorists themselves," he added.
Ghani also laid emphasis on the Rohingya crisis, saying, "Despite the incorporation of tenets of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the constitutions of most countries of the world, the crimes against humanity still occur with painful regularity. The ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya Muslims is especially shocking. Aung San Suu Kyi's lengthy silence was tragic, as our hopes that an icon of human rights would choose principle over power."
The Afghan President also asked the international partners to provide Afghanistan a seat in the Human Rights Committee, saying, "I do welcome the chance for Afghanistan to have a seat on the Human Rights Committee in order to have a more central role in discussions on these important issues. As people, who are still experiencing crimes against humanity - the latest being killing of civilians in the Mirza Ulang village and attacks on mosques in Kabul and Herat, we are keen to add our voice in support of the Human Rights."
Overcoming the destructive and disruptive patterns of change in the 21st century requires collective and coordinated action at the global, regional, national, local and individual levels, Ghani said, adding, "an effective, efficient and respected United Nations is the need of the hour - we must put our 20th century institutions to the test."
"But in today's ever-changing world, the dominant contextual characteristic defining our times is an extreme uncertainty. It is easy to illustrate this uncertainty by looking at threats we are facing to our economies, our security, and our values," Ghani further said.
"There is an emerging consensus that advanced economies have yet to arrive at 'proper growth models' to overcome high unemployment, decreasing income and wealth inequality. The threat of economic crisis, therefore, still hangs over us. If the U.N. did not exist today, we would have to invent it to address the demands of our time," Ghani concluded.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India has reiterated its commitment to the cause of Palestine and has expressed solidarity with its people.
"In the NAM ministers meeting on Palestine, we reiterated our commitment to the cause of Palestine and our solaridity with cause of its people," the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Raveesh Kumar, said, during a press briefing.
He informed that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday had nine engagements, bilateral and multilateral meetings.
"The External Affairs Minister called on the Prime Minister of Mauritius and she had meetings with the Foreign Minister of Mexico, Norway and Belgium. In addition to these meetings, she also chaired an India-CARICOM (Caribbean Community) meeting," he said.
Kumar further said the minister delivered her address at the NAM ministerial meeting on Palestine and also spoke at leadership summit on the environment pact, which was presided over by the President of France.
He added that Sushma Swaraj also attended the United Nations secretary general's meeting on select leaders on climate change.
"At the India-CARICOM meeting, which was the third such meeting, we announced an emergency aid of USD 20,00,000 to the countries, which are affected by the recent hurricanes in this reason," the spokesperson said.
"At the leadership summit on environment pact, which was presided by the French President, India said that it has been at the forefront of the debate on environment and development and also mentioned that New Delhi and Paris are working together on the international solar alliance," he added.
Kumar further said that India at the U.N. secretary general's meeting on the climate change, India stated that New Delhi is willing to work above and beyond the Paris agreement.
There were also a discussion on the possibility of a high-level visit from Belgium to India later this year, he added.
Responding to a question about Sushma Swaraj not being present during United States President Donald Trump's address at the UNGA, Kumar said, "She was around the UNHQ and there were lots of meetings. So it's not always possible. The idea is to maximise her meetings with other leaders and that is what we are trying to do.
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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday said that India will not take any Rohingya refugees as they pose a security threat to the nation, adding that the pressure is mounting on Myanmar State Councillor Aung San Suu Kyi to take back refugees migrated to India and Bangladesh in large numbers.
"The international pressure is mounting on Suu Kyi to take back refugees migrated to India and Bangladesh in large numbers. They have been the point of discussion world over. The reputation of Suu Kyi as a peace leader was damaged. India is very clear that it will not take any Rohingya refugees as they are a security threat," BJP leader S. Prakash told ANI.
He added that India is also pressurising Myanmar to take back the Rohingyas refugees to sort out the issues and address their concerns.
"Many instances of their association with the LeT and other terror organisations have come to light. India is also pressurising Myanmar to take back the Rohingyas refugees, sort out the issues, address their concerns and restore normalcy," he said.
Suu Kyi yesterday said the country would soon begin a verification process for the return of Rohingya refugees, who had fled the western Rakhine state, in a bid to aid those who wish to return.
"We are concerned about the number of Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh. We are prepared to start the verification process soon," she said, referring to the unprecedented exodus of the Rohingya Muslims to Bangladesh, in a nationally televised address, the first since an army crackdown on the minority community was branded as "ethnic cleansing" by the United Nations.
"It is not the intention of the Myanmar Government to apportion blame or to abdicate responsibility. We condemn all human rights violation and unlawful violence. We are committed to the restoration of peace, stability and rule of law throughout the state," she added.
The de-facto leader of Mynmar further said she felt "deeply" for the suffering of all people caught up in conflict scorching through the Rakhine state, urging the world to see the country as a whole, and not as a "nation divided by religious beliefs."
She said that it was "sad" that the international community was concentrated on one among the country's many problems.
"We don't want Myanmar to be known as a nation divided by religious beliefs or ethnicities. Hate and fear is the main scourge. I believe the real responsibility lies with the people of this country. But we would like our friends to join our endeavour. We will give security to you," the world leader stated.
Suu Kyi also said her government does not fear "international scrutiny" into her government's handling of the situation in the Rakhine state.
Suu Kyi further said that an action would be taken against anyone, who goes against the law of the land or violates human rights, 'regardless of race or political position.
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One army jawan lost his life on Wednesday after Pakistan violated ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir's Keran Sector.
Earlier on Tuesday, two Pakistani terrorists were killed after the Border Security Force (BSF) troops foiled an infiltration bid across the international boundary in the Ajnala Sector near Amritsar, Punjab.
When challenged by the BSF troops, the infiltrators fired along the ambush line with automatic weapons.
Taking cover, the fire was appropriately retaliated and infiltrators were neutralised near the Border Security Fence.
The forces also recovered four packets of Heroine, one AK-47 Rifle, one AK Mag, one pistol, one mobile phone, and Pakistani currency worth Rs. 20,000.
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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday said that Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley righty lashed out at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi over his dynasty remark, citing that the saffron party has never believed in the ideology.
"Arun Jaitley has rightly pointed out that the dynasty will become a burden for a period of time which was seen in the Samajwadi Party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and the Indian Congress (INC) itself. Over a period of time, they have failed to develop a parallel leadership, an alternative leadership in the party. Sonia Gandhi has been the president of AICC for the last 18 years. The replacement will be only her son, once again a Nehru dynasty," BJP leader S. Prakash told ANI.
"Even after 70 years, they are struggling to find an alternative leader outside Mrs. Gandhi's domain. Rahul Gandhi says it's a norm here. But it is not so," he said.
He said that the BJP has never believed in the dynasty politics.
"The BJP has never believed in the dynasty politics. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah have come up from the grass-root level to become the Prime Minister and the president of the party respectively. It is this culture that strengthens the democracy roots and beliefs in the people. It is in this backdrop that Mr. Arun Jaitley slammed Rahul Gandhi," he added.
Jaitley yesterday took a dig at Rahul Gandhi, calling the former's recent observation on dynasty politics in India as 'shameful'.
While speaking at an event, Jaitley said, "I felt ashamed when in the United States of America, it was said that the dynasty politics is in the nature of India."
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had, during a speech at University of California, Berkeley, hit back at those who have accused him of reaping the benefits of "dynasty politics" and justified the charges against him, saying that the entire nation is running on it and hence, one should not go only after him.
"Most of the country runs like this. Akhilesh Yadav is a dynast. Stalin is a dynast. Dhumal's son a dynast. Even Abhishek Bachchan is a dynast. Also Mr. Ambani. That's how India runs. Don't go after me," he said.
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Liam Hemsworth has come out in support of same-sex marriage, saying that "It's a human right."
In a lengthy heartfelt post on Instagram, 'The Hunger Games' actor wrote, "I personally do not believe that same sex marriage should come down to a vote. I believe it's a HUMAN RIGHT to be able to marry the person you love regardless of gender."
Encouraging his fellow Australians voting on marriage equality to support it, he said, "To all the Australians that care about equality and human rights please say YES to same sex marriage. Let's not be silly about this. Vote YES for same sex marriage in Australia."
I personally do not believe that same sex marriage should come down to a vote. I believe it's a HUMAN RIGHT to be able to marry the person you love regardless of gender. To all the Australians that care about equality and human rights please say YES to same sex marriage. Let's not be silly about this. Vote YES for same sex marriage in Australia. A post shared by Liam Hemsworth (@liamhemsworth) on Sep 19, 2017 at 10:12am PDT
Hemsworth posted the message alongside a series of photos from the recent rallies for the cause from his home country.
The Hollywood heartthrob, like his older brother Chris Hemsworth , Margot Robbie, Kylie Minogue, Russell Crowe and others, is a big supporter of the campaign.
Miley Cyrus, who's Hemsworth fiance, is also a huge advocate for gay rights, helping homeless and LGBT youths with her organization, The Happy Hippie Foundation.
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Hyderabad Police busted another marriage racket on Wednesday and arrested 17 persons , including eight sheikhs belonging to Saudi Arab, Oman and Qatar along with four Muslim clerics, on the charges of cheating innocent girls in the name of marriage.
Four lodge-owners and five brokers were also arrested by the police in the Old city for their involvement in the racket.
The Arab Sheikhs had married two minor girls namely Falakhnuma and Chandrayan Gutta on a contract basis, according to Police.
Earlier, Fareed Ahmed Khan, the chief qazi of Mumbai, was detained by the police on Monday after the investigation, which revealed that he was involved in providing marriage certificate for the minor girl which helped an Omani sheikh to obtain a visa.
Several marriage rackets have been busted in the past by the police in Hyderabad which reportedly persuades girl's parents to get them married to sheikhs on a contractual basis by offering money.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a Bizarre Development here at the 72nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the Pakistan Government has accused the Swiss Government of supporting terrorism.
This move by Pakistan comes in the wake of the Baloch, Sindhi and other oppressed minorities of Pakistan highlighting their plight through public expressions and demonstrations in Geneva on the sidelines of the UNHRC meet.
Clearly taken aback by the level of Human Rights charges and expression of the atrocities being committed by the Pakistani forces on the Baloch and Sindhi minorities, Islamabad has made a shocking charge on the Swiss authorities that Switzerland is encouraging terrorist actions from its soil.
Reacting to Pakistan's bizarre charge, Baloch and Sindhi leaders, who are organising anti Pakistan protests here, said, "It is ironic that the Pakistan government would accuse the Swiss government of allowing terrorists to use its soil for anti-Pakistan activities. Pakistan's role in sponsoring terror groups to further its strategic interests is a known fact. The Afghan Taliban, Haqqani network, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)all freely operate from Pakistani soil."
They further added that "recently, the US President Donald Trump has called Pakistan a safe haven for terrorists. Even China, Pakistan's closest ally, has issued a joint BRICS declaration that mentions terror groups being harboured in Pakistan".
Terming Pakistan's charge against the Swiss Government as "laughable", the Baloch and Sindhi leaders have today called upon the Community not to buckle under Pakistan's ridiculous charge and instead Sanction Pakistan immediately as a State Sponsor of Terrorism.
They said that this charge was yet another "ploy" by Pakistan to prevent the Baloch and other oppressed minorities of Pakistan from speaking at the UNHRC and highlighting the grim Human Rights situation in Pakistan.
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The Indian Coast Guard on Wednesday rescued fourteen fishermen on board an adrift boat.
The fishing boat, Seagull, which went missing since last ten days after battling rough sea conditions with heavy rains, sent out a distress call on September 17 from around 137 miles from Mumbai.
Coast Guard Dornier located the boat after which ship Smudra Prahari sailed from Mumbai on September 18.
After struggling and braving through very rough seas, it located the boat and towed it and the crew safely to Mumbai.
It handed over the boat to fisheries department today.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Due to the heavy rains and runway closure at the Mumbai airport, flight operations will continue to be impacted on Wednesday.
"All passengers booked on Mumbai bound flights are being notified via SMS, calls, emails with revised schedule updates," the Carrier IndiGo said.
IndiGo further assured that all passengers with confirmed tickets to and from Mumbai will be given 100 per cent refund of tickets.
They will also waive off the charges against the booking required changes to the alternate dates.
Alternatively, passengers can also cancel their reservations online and claim for refund of charges of the fees by emailing their PNR number.
However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said there is no threat as such now, because rainfall level will lower down in Mumbai.
IMD Scientist Ajay Kumar added that in next 48 hours situation will be normal.
Speaking to ANI here, Kumar said, "In western coastal areas, generally the rainfall is heavy so it is a very normal procedure and process over here in Mumbai. There is no threat as such now, because rainfall level will lower down. In next 48 hours, the situation will become normal."
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning, in Mumbai, which led to water-logging in many areas, had stalled the lives of its residents in more than one way.
The Western Railways had cancelled five trains till now. As many as six trains were cancelled and two others were diverted on the Central Railways till 6 a.m. today.
The heavy rains had affected the airlines too. Only the runway No. 14 and 32 of the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport are operational for now. All the flights bound for Mumbai have been diverted to Goa, Bengaluru, Delhi and Hyderabad.
A total of 56 flights coming to Mumbai were diverted.
The airport authorities are also carrying operations to taking out the aircraft that was stuck in mud yesterday during landing.
The Mumbai University instructed all the colleges under its jurisdiction to remain closed as per the Education Minister's orders due to an expected heavy downpour.
On August 29, Mumbai recorded 297.6 mm rain in nine hours (8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.), higher than any 24-hour rain in August in a decade which had brought the city to a halt, as commuters waded through chest-deep waters.
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Myanmar State Councillor Aung San Suu Kyi, in an exclusive interview with ANI, spoke about the ongoing Rohingya refugee crisis, counter-terrorism, The Dalai Lama's "Buddha to help Rohingyas" assertion and the way forward.
Here's the full transcript of the interview:
You are now part of the government. And you are facing the same issues of civil liberties, a democracy that you fought for before. So, how has this transition been? Has it been comfortable, has it been difficult? Or challenging?
It has been very challenging. We always thought that it would be because as you know democracy is not exactly perfect one because we are working in the framework of a constitution, which is not truly democratic. We always knew it would be a challenge. So, challenging but not a surprise.
In your words, can you actually describe how you are dealing with the issue (Rohingyas)? Is it a humanitarian issue? Is it a socio-economic issue or is it something else?
It's a humanitarian issue which has risen out of long-term socio-economic problems and politics of course. In the Rakhine State, go back to the 19th century, and periodically trouble has broken out there between the Muslim community and the Rakhine community. And we have inherited this very complex problem and we have to deal with it and have to resolve it. So, obviously, it is not something we can do overnight.
It is not something that we can find simple answers to because building up trust and harmony between two communities, that have in many parts of the region, have been hostile to one another, is not done easily. And I say in many parts of the region because there are places in Rakhine where Muslims and Rakhines live in a harmonious way. And we want to see how that is possible in some places and not in others.
There has been a lot of criticism about what the Myanmar Government has referred to as a 'clean-up operation' in the Rakhine area. You have actually said that they are ethnic communities and there are minority Muslim communities that are having problems. You have not used the word Rohingya at all in the statements that you have issued. Yesterday also, you referred to them as minority Muslims. Is there any particular reason for it?
Yes, because there have been a lot of controversies with regard to the term used to describe the Muslims of the Rakhine. There are those who want to call them as Rohingyas or who want to refer the Muslims there as Rohingyas. And the Rakhines will not use any term except Bengalis, meaning to say that they are not ethnic Rakhines.
And I think that instead of using emotive terms, this term has become emotive, and highly charged. It's better to call them as Muslims which is a description that nobody can deny. We are talking about the Muslim community in the Rakhine state and other terms may be applied to that community but I do not see any point in using terms that simply inflame passions further.
We have seen off late that you have said that law will take its course and you will apply the law strictly against anti-social elements and people who are indulging in violence. Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army. Have those steps been activated?
We have taken action against those who have been found to have broken the law. And by the way, I think it's better to answer the first part of the question about the clearance operation. I think that what they are referring to.the clearance operations after armed conflicts and excessive use of force and many people were injured or had to flee or lost their lives as a result of these operations.
We are investigating all these allegations, but you in India, as a common law country, know that we need the kind of evidence that will stand up in court before we condemn anybody for the particular act. And we have taken people to court if it has been found that they have broken the law or they have overstepped their conduct when they are carrying out their responsibilities. We have a very strong code of conduct that has been distributed to all the security forces and they have been instructed to follow them very closely.
You have said that Myanmar is ready to take back the displaced population of close to over half a million people across South Asia, provided they meet the verification standards.
I don't know whether 'verification standards' is the phrase to use. We have had similar repatriations in the past. The first time that these criteria were established was back in 1993. The criteria on which both Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed and it's in line with the criteria that we will receive back those who have been displaced from Rakhine because we are not certain of the exact numbers.
Has the verification process started?
We are ready to start it anytime.
You have agreed to a committee headed by Mr Kofi Annan
We didn't agree to it, actually, we invited him. We invited him to head a commission, that we believe, would help us to find out what the fundamental problems in the Rakhine were and how to address those problems. And his commission had completed the work and.. he (Annan) has already submitted the report.
The other concern that is dominating the public space is that organizations like the ARSA have some kind of influence on the displaced population. And this ARSA has been receiving some kind of patronage or help from terrorist groups based in Pakistan as well as the ISIS and the ISI. Do you agree with that view? How would you like to respond to that?
Well, counter-terrorism is something that we have to take very seriously. And I have to confess that our country has not had experiments with regard to counter-terrorism. But, in India, you have had a lot of experiments and you know that it is a very delicate matter because counter-terrorism must be carried out in such a way that the innocent are not affected. Whatever we do, we should try to avoid all collateral damage and any action that would hurt innocents.
Counter-terrorism is very difficult because terrorism by its nature means that some of the members are embedded in the ordinary population and how we distinguish one from the other is very important.
We don't want to hurt those who are innocent and at the same time, we have to make sure terrorists are not allowed to carry on with their activities.
Are you talking to Islamabad in any way on this issue in particular?
No, we have not had any discussions with Islamabad on this.
As a global peace prize winner, I am sure that you must be feeling sympathetic to the displacement of so many people. There is also criticism regarding that you might be, according to reports, under some kind of political compulsion not to voice what your true feelings are. Is that a correct statement to make?
No, my true feelings are very very simple. I want peace and harmony in Rakhine. It's the responsibility of every government to maintain a position of integrity and fairness. We have to be fair to all communities. We have always maintained this that we don't condemn either of the communities. We condemn actions that are against the rule of law and that are against the humanitarian needs of all people. But we have never condemned communities as such.
We have condemned the ARSA because we have now officially declared it as a terrorist organization. And we condemn all terrorism.
The Dalai Lama has expressed concerns about what is happening in the Rakhine state. He said that Buddha might have helped Muslims in distress. How would you respond to that kind of statement?
We are doing our best to help all those who are in distress within the borders of our country, making no distinction between Muslims and Hindus or Rakhines or small Hindu community in the Rakhine state who have been also caught in the conflict and have been killed. We are trying to help everyone.
Saying that a solution lies in socio-economic development or infrastructure, do you agree with that?
That has to be part of the solution. It's not the whole solution. It is not as simple as that. But certainly, socio-economic development is a very important part of the solution.
Going forward, what do you think is the most amicable solution for ending this distress of over half a million people?
The most amicable solution would be to promote love and compassion throughout the communities. But it may be the most amicable, the most desirable, but it is not necessarily the easiest one to achieve.
You must know that it is the most difficult thing in the world to make, who are hostile to each other, learn to open their hearts and to accept the differences and make those differences strength and a bond between them.
So, while the most amicable and the most desirable solution is to create harmony and understanding, it's not something that we can create overnight. We have to take time over this.
When you say time, can you say it to be short-term or a long-term, approximately how much?
No, I don't think we can say this. But we have to work at it now. It's not a matter of how long it will take but when you are going to do this and how we are going to go about it. Example, with regard to humanitarian aid, which is very important in a situation like this, we started two days after the attack took place on August 25. On 27th our minister for resettlement and relief was already in Rakhine taking rounds of communities that have been affected and the ones who were accessible and doing his best to give humanitarian aid not just in material terms but also to allay the fears and concerns of the people.
So, we have to work at it all the time and immediately. I think it's a matter of doing everything that you can from day to day instead of trying to forecast how many days it's going to take.
The UN and the diplomatic community here, have by and large, welcomed your address to the nation. And they said that it's a welcome statement that they have seen. They see light at the end of what is possibly right now a dark tunnel. How would you respond to that?
Well, it's nice that they said. But I am also little intrigued because what I said yesterday was really not different from what our government has been saying again and again.
We have been issuing various statements in this situation and what I said yesterday, doesn't differ very much from what has been said before. Maybe I put it a little bit more emphatically because I just wanted to give a message across but it is the same message.
We have had very good relations between Myanmar and India, you had the recent visit of our Prime Minister between September 5th and 7th. Would you be kind enough to say what have been the major takeaways from that visit?
I always say that major takeaways from any exchange of visits between countries are the strengthening of understanding and mutual respect. And on that basis, we can build the kind of relationship that can overcome the inevitable difficulties that any two countries will have to overcome, especially when they are neighbours.
Branding the Congress with another acronym PPT - 'Political Pakhand ke Tattu', Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Wednesday slammed the party vice-president, Rahul Gandhi, for referring to intolerance as a challenge in the country and said that he is unaware of the culture of the Indian society and hence, makes such remarks.
Naqvi's statement came in light of Rahul's address at the Princeton University, New Jersey in United States, where he said that intolerance and unemployment are the key issues that pose a serious challenge to India's security and development.
Naqvi mocked Rahul saying that intolerance is in DNA of the nation and is an integral part of Indian history and culture.
"I think Congress has become PPT- 'Political Pakhand ke Tattu', whose CEO is Rahul Gandhi. Few people are ignorant, not well aware of the culture and history of the country, they only makes such kind of statements. Tolerance is in the culture of this nation; it is in the DNA," Naqvi told ANI.
He said that as far as the question of the development of the nation lies, the country is moving at a fast pace under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"For the past three years, the country is moving forward under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi, defeating corrupt practices and scams. The people having problem with this are the ones, who believed that scams and corruption are their birth right," he said.
He further asserted that such statement shows the desperation of the Congress after losing the previous general elections and clearly indicates that they can see their future in dark.
"They are just criticising the development of the country to malign the image of the country at an international level. Polarisation has been witnessed in the country, but for development, to end corrupt practices and against communalism. If this polarisation is not suiting him, then that is not our problem," he said.
Earlier in the day, Rahul, while addressing students in New Jersey, said that New Delhi needs to work on providing adequate education and health facilities to all its people, irrespective of whether they are rich or poor.
"The central question is how India gives its people jobs. If you, as a modern country, are unable to give your people jobs, it's very difficult to give them a vision. Everyday nearly 30,000 new youngsters come into job market. 450 jobs are being provided today," he said.
"Education and health facilities at the top level are very good, but if you go to a state like Bihar or Uttar Pradesh things don't remain the same. If you are poor, things are not very good for you in India," he added.
He even targetted the Centre over its policies, adding that the politics of polarisation needs to be eradicated from India.
Rahul said that historically, India's strength has always been in its ability to embrace people. "So, if we alienate our own people, it gives the miscreants a chance to play on and aggravate tensions," he said.
"One of the the central challenges in India is the politics of polarisation. Where you pick one community over another, you create spaces for other people to come in. There is a belt of 100 million tribal people who do not feel comfortable with the vision," Rahul added.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
North India leading real estate company TDI Infracorp Ltd. today announced the promotion of Nitesh Kumar to CEO, effective immediately. Mr. Kumar formerly served as COO of TDI Infracorp Ltd.
In his new role, Nitesh Kumar will navigate the company along with aggressive growth trajectory, pursue further development opportunities and oversee the company's entire portfolio of real estate, hospitality, retail and Infrastructure to create the most enterprising residential, commercial, hospitality, retail and township developer real estate Company in India.
Kamal Taneja, Managing Director of TDI Infracorp Ltd., commented, "As TDI Infracorp continues its expansion, Nitesh is the natural choice to lead the company. As CEO, he brings an in-depth knowledge of the real estate industry, extensive experience of being at the cutting edge of new technological developments and a global vision. In his previous role with the company, Nitesh was an invaluable asset and played an integral role in transforming TDI into one of the most reliable and trustworthy real estate companies on North India. He is therefore perfectly placed to steer TDI Group into the next exciting chapter of its prestigious history."
Having joined the company in 1997 Kumar has successfully done many assignments and proved himself on many occasions. He made a move to lead real estate vertical in Indiabulls Real Estate from 2008-2010 after which he was called back to join TDI again in 2010.
It's return TDI Group and brought a new zeal and professional work culture in to the organisation. This last 12 years of his career were in top management position. Since becoming part of the group, he has overseen the huge expansion of the company Launches 1500 acers huge township in North of the capital city at Kundli. 300 Acers Township in Panipat.
He is one of the key decision maker to make TDI Group One of the biggest real estate developers in North and Central India. It has a diversified portfolio spread across segments like residential, integrated townships, commercial, retail and hospitality. Having its presence marked in prime locations across Delhi NCR, Gurgaon, Kundli, Sonepat, Panipat, Chandigarh, Mohali, Moradabad, Meerut and Agra, he has not only evolved TDI Infracorp Ltd. as a realty venture to reckon on with but as a benchmarking index for the future of the industry
Nitesh Kumar commented, "I couldn't be more proud to take on the challenge of leading the company that I've been both a fan of, and then a part of, in 18 years in TDI, and I can't thank our Managing Director and Chairman enough for their support. Knowing the strength of the executives at both companies, I'm excited that we'll be surrounded by a team that is more than capable of achieving the ambitious goals that we share."
Nitesh kumar is a keen planner and strategist with expertise in new product launching, new and market development, product positioning, achieving sales and profitability targets for the company having qualities of an inspirational Leader, entrepreneurial skills, strong business acumen and analytical skills. He believes in ground zero hands-on management, improvising proven management tools.
Leading from the front, Kumar evolves a team culture that emphasizes the importance of members and recognizes the value they bring to the organization. He has amassed extensive industry experience in identifying growth opportunities and undertaking negotiations for strategic partnerships in new markets. His across the Board experience and strategic decision making has facilitated writing several commercial success stories.
He holds a Double Master's Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering. He has served in various capacities in many of the top corporate including Indiabulls Real Estate Ltd.
He is a wizard in turnkey management to actualize a real estate development vision into a reality. From feasibility studies, land acquisitions, architectural planning in coordination with architects, business development, marketing strategies, advertising and PR to post sales appraisals and CRM is his forte.
With such wide exposure, HR and general administration and operations are just second skin to him.
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Famous for his outspoken nature, Rishi Kapoor recently graced Neha Dhupia's podcast, 'No Filter Neha,' as the guest, where didn't hold back from voicing his mind.
When asked about why he doesn't wave out to fans just like Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, senior Kapoor responded, "Who will I wave to? My driver? People want to see them, nobody wants to see me. I don't live in a fool's paradise. There are people who want to see them, me they are very gracious that they do it."
"I don't like giving autographs, taking pictures. I don't have the patience and I'll come out and wave to people? You must be joking," he stated.
The 65-year-old actor also sort of blamed directors Anurag Basu and Anurag Kashyap for giving his son, Ranbir Kapoor, two flops despite being amazing directors.
He said, "Anurag? There is Anurag Kashyap, who made Bombay Velvet, but he made a better film in Gangs of Wasseypur, I couldn't understand head or tail of Bombay Velvet."
"Then there is Anurag Basu who made Barfi and I am thankful to him for casting my son Ranbir in it. My son got great recognition because of the movie. But then he made this Gajja Jasoos..Jagga Jasoos. The film was as messy as my pronunciation. He probably just got too much indulged in the movie," he added.
"Both the Anurags got too indulged in their movies. They are capable of making films on a certain budget but then when they are given huge budget it's like bandar ke haath mei khilona ni aa jaata and he goes berserk over it. This is what happened with these guys. It happens with every director, every actor you can't have a hundred percent record anyway.So it happens," Kapoor continued.
Dhupia further questioned him about the too-much-hyped "airport trends" of today's celebrities, to which he replied, "This fashion-conscious generation goes for the 'Chautha' which takes place in an air-conditioned hall. It is an occasion for them to wear their whites and beige clothes and wear dark glasses."
"These actors wear sunglasses to airports even at night, these shameless actors, don't they feel ashamed? I understand that you've had a bad night but it's become a style statement. We're talking about airport look; same has become a chautha look," he noted.
The 'Bobby' star also revealed his intense dislikeness for selfies, saying, "This is a generation where everyone carries a smartphone and everybody wants t take a selfie."
"I just can't take it yaar! I just get very unnerved when someone ask for selfie," he revealed.
The actor also cleared up the air regarding his controversial tweets on Twitter, saying, "I tweet for myself and not for others. People mistake it for a personal comment. I can't be right always."
The father-of two was last seen in romantic-comedy 'Patel Ki Punjabi Shaadi' alongside actors Paresh Rawal, Vir Das and Payal Ghosh.
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One of the three criminals succumbed to injuries sustained in an encounter with the police, while they were trying to escape after looting a Honda City car and Rs. 1.5 lakh.
The incident took place in Noida's P.S. Bisrakh area, in which two of them escaped and one got seriously injured. He was later pronounced dead in the hospital.
The car and cash have been recovered.
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A panel of experts at the United Nations has said that Pakistan has resorted to using 'Jihad' and terror organisations to further its foreign policy goals in places like Jammu and Kashmir.
"In the case of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan, which is barely able to sustain itself, has always raised the stakes by embarking on 'Jihad' as a foreign policy in order to manoeuvre and force a favourable outcome and keeps exercising this as a state policy to this very day," Burzine Waghmar, of the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies, SOAS South Asia Institute and Centre for the Study of Pakistan, said.
Waghmar argued that the Composite Dialogue Process, thanks to Mumbai 26/11, is pretty much composite for which Kashmiris have much to be embittered about and should blame Pakistan for in this case.
"India's men in uniform face intense scrutiny in Kashmir; the Pakistani Army enjoys a far freer hand decimating whole villages across the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Balochistan. The Hurriyat Conference and especially its hard-line leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, should pause to reflect and commiserate with those distraught Baloch relatives who discover mutilated corpses by roadsides stuffed with faeces in their mouth as part of the Pakistani's deep state's pick up and dump routine," Waghmar stressed predominantly on the Jammu and Kashmir issue, during his speech at the event organised by the European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS), a policy research institution based in Amsterdam, held a side-event on "Terrorism in South Asia" during the 36th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Waghmar continued by saying that the "stunning silence of Pakistanis particularly, or Muslims generally that matter, vindicates the sordid truism that they are selectively animated by outrages visited upon Muslims."
While defining terrorism, Prof. Boris Wilke, a senior researcher and political scientist claimed that "terrorism is a strategy and not a creed."
Prof. Wilke explained how in South Asia promoting sectarianism and outsourcing military power as strategy has led to the growth of religious extremism, which has eventually resulted in proxy wars which are a threat to global peace.
Wilke added that "Jammu and Kashmir is an example in this regard."
He further stated that Pakistan's friendship with China is based on Realpolitik and not Moralpolitik. He ended his speech by emphasising that developing localised and regionalised peace-justice equilibria between South Asian countries has become a necessity for global peace.
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Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has targetted the Centre over its policies, adding that the politics of polarisation needs to be eradicated from India.
Rahul, while addressing students at the Princeton University on Tuesday, said that historically, India's strength has always been in its ability to embrace people. "So, if we alienate our own people, it gives the miscreants a chance to play on and aggravate tensions," he said.
"One of the the central challenges in India is the politics of polarisation. Where you pick one community over another, you create spaces for other people to come in. There is a belt of 100 million tribal people who do not feel comfortable with the vision," Rahul added.
"There are a number of states; they do not need a single vision forced down upon them. There are minority communities that don't feel that they are part of the vision. So to me, that's what the real danger is," he concluded.
Answering a poser on a uniform civil code, Rahul said that he has faith in the judiciary and feels that it will do justice in the matter.
Rahul also said that it was very important for India to compete with China expeditiously as it is moving ahead with 'tremendous power.'
Rahul Gandhi further said that the centralisation of power is another issue which India needs to deal with.
Rahul also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Make-in-India programme instead of targetting large business should concentrate on promoting small businesses.
He added that India needs to work on providing adequate education and health facilities to all its people, irrespective of whether they are rich or poor.
Rahul Gandhi's address comes days after his recent address at the University of California, Berkeley, where, in his speech on 'India at 70', he reflected on contemporary India and the path forward for the world's largest democracy.
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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Wednesday asked Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to present the report card of his last three generations before the people of India.
Shah was responding to Gandhi's recent comment where he asked the BJP to present the work it had done in past three years after coming to office in 2014.
"Rahul Gandhi has asked us to give the report card of our government's three years in office. We will present our party's three year's work. But Rahul ji, the 125 crore people of this country are asking about the report card of your three generations," he said.
He further said, "The Congress Party has ruled the country for three generations. First Jawaharlal Nehru, then Indira Gandhi, then Rahul's father Rajiv Gandhi and later Sonia Gandhi along with Manmohan Singh ruled the country for ten years. I am giving people the record of ten years, now you (Congress) give the record of three decades."
A day ago, Rahul, while addressing students at the Princeton University, slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India', saying it targets only large businesses. He also blamed the government at the Centre on other fronts as well.
In his first visit to Uttarakhand since the BJP won in the assembly elections, Shah listed out his party's achievements in past three years. "The changes emerged in the country are witnessed not just by the people but by the world," Shah said.
He recalled schemes introduced by his party such as Ujjwala Yojana, MUDRA Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to end open defecation, One Rank One Pension, and others.
He also said that Uttarakhand will be made a 'model-state' in terms of development.
In his visit to the hill state, where Trivendra Singh Rawat led BJP government has completed its six months in office in the state, Amit Shah held series of meetings with party members in Dehradun.
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Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Make-in-India flagship programme is not garnering the right people.
Rahul, while addressing students at the Princeton University on Tuesday, said that Prime Minister Modi's Make-in-India programme instead of targetting large business should concentrate on promoting small businesses.
While asserting that the Democratic Alliance's (NDA) initiative should help small businesses prosper, Rahul said, "In my view, the highlight of the 'Make in India' concept and the target of the 'Make in India' concept should be different. So, the prime minister feels that target of the concept should be large businesses. I feel that the concept should be targetting the smaller businesses."
"The problem is not enough small medium businesses are getting access to the finance, physical system or political system. You have large companies that have a role, but then the small or medium companies should be turning in large companies and that's not happening. And that is the thing from where jobs are going to come from," he added.
Rahul Gandhi further said that there is need of focussing on the agricultural front.
"We also have to look into the agriculture sector; from there also, a lot of jobs can be produced," he said.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has said that unemployment is one of the major threats to the growth of the nation.
Rahul also said that New Delhi needs to work on providing adequate education and health facilities to all its people, irrespective of whether they are rich or poor.
Gandhi further averred the need to work on the lines of gender equality.
Rahul Gandhi's address comes days after his recent address at the University of California, Berkeley, where, in his speech on 'India at 70', he reflected on contemporary India and the path forward for the world's largest democracy.
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Ace film director SS Rajamouli on Wednesday met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu at the state Secretariat in Amaravati.
They both held discussions on the building designs of Assembly, Secretariat and High Court.
During the discussion, Rajamouli was asked to support the Andhra Pradesh government for finalising designs submitted by Norman Foster Partners, UK; for which the Chief Minister sought more modifications.
Meanwhile, the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) Commissioner along with Municipal Minister Narayana have shown architectural designs to Rajamouli in Hyderabad.
The director first met Naidu at his residence and later at the venue of collectors' meeting during lunch break.
Rajamouli is the director of the two-part Baahubali series, which is based in the ancient kingdom of 'Mahishmathi'.
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The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its order over Cauvery river water dispute, involving the tussle between the two neighbouring states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
The Supreme Court bench concluded the hearing earlier today.
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry had filed petitions seeking modification of Cauvery Tribunal's final order, which was delivered in 2007.
The apex court on July 11 commenced the final hearing on the appeals filed by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala against the 2007 Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) final award.
A bench of the apex court, headed by now Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, had earlier directed the Karnataka Government to provide 2000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu till its further order.
The top court, earlier in January, dismissed a plea seeking compensation from both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Governments for the loss of property during the Cauvery water related dispute between both the states.
Siva Kumar, a Tamil Nadu based activist, had earlier filed the petition in the apex court on the same.
On January 9, the Tamil Nadu Government sought a compensation of Rs 2,480 crores from Karnataka for not releasing water to the state despite getting the Supreme Court directive to do so.
The lawyer from the side of Tamil Nadu, Shekhar Naphade, urged the three-judge bench to bring the matter to a logical end for which there should be a continuous hearing.
On December 9 last year, the apex court upheld its constitutional power and right to hear appeals filed by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.
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UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called on Myanmar to put an end to its military campaign against Rohingya Muslims just hours after the country's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi addressed the nation on the situation in Rakhine state.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the 72nd annual session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, Guterres said he "took note" of Suu Kyi's promise to abide by the recommendations of a report by former UN chief, Kofi Annan that underlined the need for granting citizenship to the Rohingya.
Guterres said "the Asian country's authorities must end the military operations in Rakhine state, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and address the grievances of the Rohingya Muslims, whose status has been left unresolved for far too long.
"We are all shocked by the dramatic escalation of sectarian tensions in Myanmar's Rakhine state," Guterres added.
"The authorities in Myanmar must also address the grievances of the Rohingya," Guterres said.
On the Israel-Palestine conflict, the two-state solution remains the only way forward, he said.
Turning to climate change, Mr. Guterres urged Governments to implement the historic Paris Agreement with greater ambition.
"We should not link any single weather event with climate change. But scientists are clear that such extreme weather is precisely what their models predict will be the new normal of a warming world," UN chief said, noting that mega-hurricanes, super storms and rain bombs are added to the vocabulary to describe what is happening.
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External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on India's Caribbean partners for a stronger collective action to deal with the threat posed by terrorism, citing that counter-terrorism requires a strong collective action by the global community.
"I look forward to working with all of you to strengthen and deepen India's relations with the CARICOM countries and to join hands to combat the threat posed by terrorism as there is a need for a strong collective action by the global community to deal with counter-terrorism," Sushma said, as she concluded her statement at the third India-CARICOM ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
"These are very important for us to chart out the future course of action. We have taken careful note of all the valuable suggestions and ideas. Today a decisive, energetic and action oriented leadership is in-charge in India and it is making special efforts to connect to all its friends across the world," she added.
Sushma asked the Caribbean partners to enhance high-level interactions and offered concessional financial credit to the CARICOM countries for projects in varied sectors.
"We have also been offering concessional financial credit to some CARICOM countries for projects in sectors such as irrigation, drinking water, infrastructure, agriculture and renewable energy. We would be happy to extend such soft loans to other countries in CARICOM as well. It will not only bring us closer but enhance our links and further strengthen our political, economic and people-to-people ties," she said.
"India will like to share its experiences on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that was adopted during the U.N. Summit in September 2015 and enhance cooperation with all CARICOM countries on various global issues in multilateral forums," Sushma added.
Emphasising on enhancing cooperation in capacity building, business and trade, Swaraj said that India's excellent relations with every individual Caribbean country has been reinforced by New Delhi's growing relations with CARICOM.
Asserting that India's ties with the Caribbean region are historic and civilization, the she also added that India would invite the CARICOM member countries to sign International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement.
"Today a decisive, energetic and action oriented leadership is in-charge in India and it is making special efforts to connect to all its friends across the . In this context, we also realise the importance of regular interactions with our Caribbean partners," Sushma said.
"Our discussions today have once again shown that there is much to gain by sharing our experiences in various fields such as capacity building. On our part, we are ready to give as much assistance as we can and share all our experiences with the CARICOM countries. For instance, during his visit to the region in 2014 Prime Minister Modi had offered to share India's experience in the IT sector and we have been setting up IT Centres of Excellence in various countries of the LAC region. We would be happy to extend cooperation to set up such centers in the countries that do not yet have them," she added.
Swaraj further said that India has been offering concessional financial credit to some CARICOM countries for projects in sectors such as irrigation, drinking water, infrastructure, agriculture and renewable energy and would be happy to extend such soft loans to other countries in the CARICOM as well.
Earlier, Swaraj also held bilateral meetings with Norway's Foreign Minister Borge Brende and Belgium's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Didier Reynders.
She also attended the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Ministerial Meeting on Palestine and reaffirmed India's support for the Palestinian people and their cause at the United Nations General Assembly.
"It is a personal honour for me to be here today. India's support for the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause is historical, going back to a period before our own independence," Sushma said.
"In the NAM ministers meeting on Palestine, we reiterated our commitment to the cause of Palestine and our solidarity with cause of its people," the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Raveesh Kumar, said, during a press briefing.
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India's External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj held bilateral talks with Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani in New York on Wednesday.
"Boosting strategic partnership with a special friend.EAM @SushmaSwaraj calls on Afghanistan President @ashrafghani," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a tweeted.
The talks comes after US President Donald Trump last month urged India to play a bigger role in Afghanistan while announcing his new Afghanistan policy.
Earlier, Swaraj also met Moldova Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Andrei Galbur, Brazilian and Saudi Arabian counterpart Aloysio Nunes Ferreira and Adel al-Jubeir respectively.
President Ghani had earlier, called on Pakistan to work together to eliminate terrorism and contain extremism for the stability of the region, while also praising United States President Donald Trump's strategy for Afghanistan and South Asia.
"We now have an opportunity for a dialogue with our neighbours on how we can work together earnestly to eliminate terrorism and contain extremism. Now, we call on all of our neighbours, near and far, to join us through the Kabul process in our comprehensive quest for peace and regional stability. I call upon Pakistan to engage with us on a comprehensive state-to-state dialogue on peace, security and regional cooperation leading to prosperity," Ghani addressed a conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Ghani had yesterday appealed to the international community to change their perspective regarding Afghanistan's problem.
"For too long, the conflict in Afghanistan has been viewed through the prism of civil war. But this war is not within our soil, it is over our soil," he said.
Swaraj had also recently met Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani and held delegation level talks j aimed at advancing 'India Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Council'in New Delhi.
The two had agreed to remain united in dealing with the challenges posed by cross border terrorism.
The Indian Foreign Minister arrived in New York on Sunday for seven days during which she is holding of back-to-back engagements centering around the U.N. General Assembly.
Conclusively, Sushma Swaraj is set to have several bilateral meetings and multilateral commitments, apart from speaking at the U.N. general debate on September 23.
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The experts at the United Nations underlined the involvement and link between the British Sunni Muslims and the Pakistani-armed Islamic groups that are responsible for spreading terrorism from South Asia to Britain and beyond Europe, while also adding that the terrorist threats targetting the U.K. have roots in the Swat Valley (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan).
"The British Islam is historically bound up with Islam in Pakistan, which has also meant that problems or issues in Islamabad have at times become problems and issues in the U.K. When the international terrorist groups gained influence in Pakistan, they were successful in directing attention towards Britain and Europe," Dr. Paul Stott, from the University of Leicester, the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy at the SOAS London and an expert on Jihadism of South Asian-origin in Britain and mainland Europe, said.
The experts also discussed the link between South Asia and global terrorism at the event organised by the European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS), a policy research institution based in Amsterdam, held side-event on "Terrorism in South Asia" during the 36th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. They also talked about the complexities of terrorism in South Asia, Indo-Pak relations and Jammu and Kashmir conflict.
Dr. Stott argued that "historically, the terrorist threats targetting the U.K. have originated in the Swat Valley (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan) than in Damascus and that the strength of the Pakistani diaspora within the British Islam will keep ensuring that there is a ready welcome for visiting speakers from Pakistan to Britain, who advocate discrimination and violence. He also remarked that Britain cannot look to represent organisations within British Islam to take the lead on addressing support among British-Pakistanis for terrorist groups in Pakistan or individuals like Mumtaz Qadri."
Dr. Stott used the term "British Jihadism" to refer to the "involvement of a highly significant number of the British Sunni Muslims with the Pakistani origin in armed Islamic groups since the early 1990s in Bosnia, Jammu and Kashmir and in Afghanistan."
"Britain's focus on terrorism should not disregard the challenges imposed by the relations between London and Islamabad," Dr. Scott said.
Prof. Rob McCusker, the Head of Division for Community and Criminal Justice at De Montfort University in Leicester, said, "In the Afghanistan-Pakistan region (AFPAK region), there exists a nexus between terrorism and organised crime that flourishes in failed states which are governed by warlords, militias and other violent non-state and state actors. It is widely believed that Pakistan has provided safe haven to terrorist groups like the Quetta Shura Taliban (QST), Haqqani network and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)."
Prof. McCusker added that the Haqqani Network still operates along the AFPAK border and that the "Taliban maintains an annual surplus of between $110 and $130 million while it supressed cultivation of poppy in Afghanistan to manipulate the international market price.
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A 25-year-old man, third suspect of the Parsons Green station terror attack has been arrested by the police under the Terrorism Act in Newport, Wales on Tuesday.
"The 25-year-old man was arrested under section 41 of the Terrorism Act at approximately 7.08 pm at an address in Newport". said Scotland Yard spokesperson.
The third arrest comes after a homemade bomb partially exploded at Parson Green tube station in west London on Friday, injuring atleast 29 people.
Earlier, A 21-year-old man was arrested in the west London suburb of Hounslow just before midnight on Saturday, the Metropolitan Police force said in a statement.
He was detained under Britain's Terrorism Act and taken to a south London Police Station.
An 18-year-old teenager, an Iraqi refugee was also arrested in the departure area of the port of Dover in connection with the attack on Saturday morning who is suspected of being planted the bomb.
He was arrested by the Kent Police under the Terrorism Act and remains in London police' custody.
It was a "significant arrest" as the investigation continues, The Guardian quoted a statement of Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, the senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism policing.
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United States President Donald Trump and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussed ways to address North Korea's dangerous and destabilising behaviour, in New York on Tuesday.
The two leaders exchanged views on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action for Iran and how to curtail the country's destabilising activities in the region.
They also discussed how to accelerate the destruction of ISIS and help resolve the Syrian civil war in a manner consistent with the American and French security interests.
The two presidents further discussed how to best protect the environment, while promoting economic growth for both countries.
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Myanmar State Councillor Aung San Suu Kyi has been facing mounting international pressure for her handling of violence in the Rakhine state and the Rohingya refugee crisis.
Amid the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fleeing across the border to Bangladesh since the latest outbreak of violence that began on August 25, The Dalai Lama had called on Myanmar to follow the example of the Buddha and come to the aid of the country's persecuted Rohingya minority.
Responding to the assertion, Suu Kyi has said that the Myanmar government has been trying to help all those who are in distress, irrespective of their ethnicity.
"We are doing our best to help all those in distress within the borders of our country without distinguishing between Hindus and Mulsims or the natives of the Rakhine state. So, you know, of course, we have a small Hindu community in the Rakhine, who were also caught up in the conflict and some of whom were killed. We are trying to help everyone," she said, in an exclusive interview with ANI in Myanmar's Naypyitaw.
Almost 90 per cent of the Myanmar's population are Buddhists, according to government figures, while the Rohingyas have long been marginalised for their Muslim faith.
Considered to be among the world's most persecuted people, the Rohingyas are denied the right to citizenship in Myanmar despite having lived there for generations, making them effectively stateless.
They have also been the subject of multiple clearance operations by Myanmar's military, the latest of which intensified in late August following an attack on border posts by Rohingya militants.
Speaking to journalists in North India, the Tibetan spiritual leader, The Dalai Lama, had earlier expressed grief over the ongoing violence inside Buddhist-majority Myanmar, saying the Buddha would have "definitely helped" the Rohingya.
"They should remember, Buddha, in such circumstances, Buddha (would have) definitely helped those poor Muslims. So, still I feel that (it's) so very sad ... so sad," he told reporters.
For the unversed, the Myanmar State Councillor broke her silence on the Rohingya crisis in the country and said that the government does not fear scrutiny by the international community, in a State of the Union address on Tuesday morning, even as more than 4,00,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled from the northern Rakhine State.
"There have been allegations and counter-allegations that need to be investigated. The government still needs to find out what the real problems are," Suu Kyi said, in a nationally televised address, the first since an army crackdown on the Rohingya Muslim minority community was branded as "ethnic cleansing" by the United Nations.
Suu Kyi further stressed on the short time her government has been in power for, adding, "I am aware of the fact the attention is focussed on the situation in the Rakhine State as a responsible member of the community of nations. Myanmar does not fear international scrutiny and is committed to bring peace and sustainable solution that will bring peace, stability and development for all communities within that state."
"We don't want Myanmar to be a nation divided by religious beliefs or ethnicities. Hate and fear are the main scourge and a transition for us is a transition to democracy after half a century or more of authoritarian rule. We now are in the process of nurturing our nation and yet imperfect democracy. Peace and stability have to be achieved after nearly 70 years of internal conflict that started on the day of our independence back in 1948," she stated.
Suu Kyi further said that an action would be taken against anyone, who goes against the law of the land or violates human rights, 'regardless of race or political position.'
During the speech, however, she mentioned the Rohingyas by name only once, in reference to the armed militant group Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army.
In her defence, however, she asserted that she intended to not use 'emotive' terms for an already affected population.
"There has been a lot of controversy with regard to the term used to describe the Muslims in Rakhine as there are those who want to call themselves as Rohingyas or who want to refer to the Muslims there as Rohingyas. There are those who want to call themselves as just Bengalis, which are not ethnic Rakhine," Suu Kyi told ANI.
"I think instead of using this emotive term as it is 'highly charged', it is better just to say Muslims. It's just a description that nobody can deny. We are talking about the Muslim community in the Rakhine state, and I do not see any point using terms that inflame passions further," she added.
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The Uttar Pradesh government will bring a stringent law to prevent deaths from the consumption of poisonous alcohol in the state, under which life imprisonment and fine upto Rs 10 lakh will be imposed on the guilty.
UP Excise Minister Jai Pratap Singh on Wednesday said, "To stop poisonous alcohol in UP, which is responsible for a lot of deaths, a new section has been introduced, under which life imprisonment and fine upto Rs. 10 lakh will be imposed on those who found guilty, if people die due to the consumption of illicit liquor."
"The provisions of capital punishment are also there. It has been passed as an ordinance and in the next session it will be passed as a law in the Assembly," he added.
In July 2016, at least 26 people died after consuming illicit liquor in Aliganj area of Etah in Uttar Pradesh.
Following the incident, a state-wide crackdown was carried against production and sale of illicit liquor in the state.
The teams had recovered huge quantity of illicit liquor and its raw material from various places including Bareilly, Kushinagar, Bijnore, Allahabad, Sonbhadra, Etah, Mau and Kanpur Dehat.
Police had arrested several persons in the matter.
The main accused in the hooch tragedy, Sripal, was arrested from Nayagaon area.
Reports had stated that five government employees, including three from the excise department, have been suspended following the incident.
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Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has said that India is not competing well with China.
Rahul, while addressing students at the Princeton University on Tuesday, said that it was very important for India to compete with China expeditiously as it is moving ahead with 'tremendous power.'
"We have to compete with China and we are not doing that well. China has a very clear vision. Does India have a similar vision? What does that vision look like? What kind of cooperation do we have between the two nations? These are the fundamental questions we are looking forward to. We need to realise that China is moving ahead with a tremendous power. And we have to work in accordance with that," he said.
Rahul Gandhi further said that the centralisation of power is another issue which India needs to deal with.
Vouching for a more transparent system, he said, "The centralisation of power is one big reason. Too few people control too much. The decentralisation of power is needed. Transparency is needed. People should know what is happening in the meetings in which laws are made. To me. it's all about opening up."
Rahul also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Make-in-India programme instead of targetting large business should concentrate on promoting small businesses.
While asserting that the Democratic Alliance's (NDA) initiative should help small businesses prosper, Rahul said, "In my view, the highlight of the 'Make in India' concept and the target of the 'Make in India' concept should be different. So, the prime minister feels that target of the concept should be large businesses. I feel that the concept should be targetting the smaller businesses."
Rahul also said that India needs to work on providing adequate education and health facilities to all its people, irrespective of whether they are rich or poor.
He further averred the need to work on the lines of gender equality.
Rahul Gandhi's address comes days after his recent address at the University of California, Berkeley, where, in his speech on 'India at 70', he reflected on contemporary India and the path forward for the world's largest democracy.
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The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the progress under National Health Mission (NHM). The Cabinet was also apprised of the decisions of the Empowered Programme Committee (EPC) and Mission Steering Group (MSG) of NHM. National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was launched in April 2005 and it morphed into National Health Mission (NHM) with launch of National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) during 2013. Thereafter, NRHM and NUHM became two sub-missions under the overarching NHM.
Cabinet noted the progress under NHM including accelerated decline in MMR, IMR, U5MR and TFR. It also noted the progress in respect of various disease control programmes like TB, Malaria, Leprosy etc.
The Cabinet noted that:
The rate of decline in U5MR during NHM period has nearly doubled.
With the rate of decline achieved in MMR, India would have achieved the target of MDG 5.
Millennium Development Goal 6 of halting and reversing the incidence of Malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS had been achieved.
Number of endemic blocks with prevalence more than 1 case of Kala Azar per 10000 population was 230 in 2010. It has been brought down to 94 blocks in 2016.
Incentives were being provided @ of Rs 150 to Post-Partum Intra-Uterine Contraceptive Device (PPIUCD) service provider and Rs 150 to ASHA for motivating/escorting the client for PPIUCD insertion. To provide impetus for uptake of PPIUCD and Post-Abortion Intra-Uterine Contraceptive Device (PAIUCD) services, proposals for provision of incentives to the acceptor of PPIUCD services and incentives on the same pattern for PAIUCD were placed before the MSG. The MSG approved proposals for providing an incentive to acceptors of the PPIUCD to cover incidental cost and travel cost for follow up visits and provision of incentives for PAIUCD insertion tor acceptor, service provider and ASHA at the same rates as applicable to PPIUCD.
Relaxation of norm of one MMU per 10 lakh population in cases where patients served through existing MMUs exceeds 60 patients per day in plain areas and 30 patients per day in hilly areas, on a case to case basis. The MSG also noted the operational guidelines for MMUs.
The proposals under Menstrual Hygiene Scheme for Adolescent girls to - (i) increase the budget support from Rs.8 to Rs.12 for a pack of 6 sanitary napkins for the first year for the 19 States that are yet to take up the scheme and thereafter at the existing rate of Rs 8 for a pack of 6 sanitary napkins and (ii) authorise Ministry to approve any further cost escalations.
Increase in ceiling of Programme Management Budget under NHM, including monitoring and evaluation, from existing 6.5% to 9 % of the total Annual Work Plan for that year for bigger States and existing 11% to 14 % of the total Annual Work Plan for that year for smaller States/UTs.
Proposal for strengthening of school health activities under NHM in all the public and private schools in the country in coordination with Ministry of Human Resource Development through specified activities including promotion of healthy lifestyle behaviours.
Incentive to ASHA @ Rs 100 per month for mobilising and conducting mother's meeting for promotion of breast feeding for conducting Mother's Group Meeting under Mother's Absolute Affection (MAA).
Implementation Strategy:
Facilitate increased access and utilization of quality health services by all.
Forge a partnership between the Central, state and the local governments.
Set up a platform for involving the Panchayati Raj institutions and community in the management of primary health programmes and infrastructure.
Provide an opportunity for promoting equity and social justice.
Establish a mechanism to provide flexibility to the states and the community to promote local initiatives.
Develop a framework for promoting inter-sectoral convergence for promotive and preventive health care.
Targets:
Achievement of universal access to equitable, affordable & quality healthcare services that are accountable and responsive to people's needs.
Major impact:
Under 5 Mortality Rate (U5MR): Declined from 59 in 2010 to 43 in 2015. Percentage annual rate of decline during 2010-2015 has accelerated to 6.1% from 3.7% observed during 1990-2010. Annual rate of decline in 2014-15 was 4.4%. India is likely to have achieved the Millennium Development Goal 4 of U5MR at the present rate of decline.
Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): (number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births) declined from 178 during 2010-12 to 167 during 2011-13. Subsequent data is yet to be notified by RGI. India is likely to have achieved the Millennium Development Goal 5 of MMR at the rate of declines that were achieved.
Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) (number of deaths of children less than one year of age per 1000 live births) - declined from 39 in the year 2014 to 37 in 2015.
Total Fertility Rate (TFR) - declined from 2.5 in 2010 to 2.3 in the year 2015 (Presently it is 2.2 as per NFHS 2015-16). We are likely to achieve the 12th Five Year Plan target for TFR of 2.1 by 2017.
Malaria API has declined from 1.10 in 2011 to 0.84 in 2016. The 12th Plan target in respect of Malaria has been achieved and the API has been kept below 1 case per 1000 population.
Mortality due to TB per 100000 population reduced from 40 in 2010 to 36 in 2015. Prevalence per 100000 population reduced from 465 in 1990 to 195 in 2014.
Similarly, incidence of TB per 100000 population also been reduced from 289 in 2000 to 247 in 2010 and to 217 in 2015. The annual prevalence and mortality from TB have been reduced to half as compared to 1990 level.
Leprosy Prevalence Rate at the national level per 10000 population has been reduced from 0.68 as on 31st March, 2012 to 0.66 as on 31st March, 2017. By March 2017, 556 districts had achieved the 12th Plan target.
Kala Azar - Number of endemic blocks with prevalence more than 1 case of Kala Azar per 10000 population was 230 in 2010 which has been reduced to 94 by 2016.
Filariasis - Till 31st March 2017, 94 districts achieved <1% Mf rate out of 256 endemic districts which was validated by Transmission Assessment Survey (TAS) and successfully stopped Mass Drug Administration (MDA).
In the period from 2012-13 to 2016-17, the amount released to States and UTs was 88,353.59 crore (including kind grants) while Rs 18,436.03 crore (including kind grants) was released to States and UTs during the financial year 2016-17.
NHM is implemented for universal benefit - i.e. entire population; services are offered to everyone visiting the public healthcare facilities; However during 2016-17, total people who availed Out-Patient services in public facilities was 146.82 Cr and 6.99 Cr people availed In-Patient services. Public health facilities carried out 1.55 crore surgeries during 2016-17.
It will cover all States and Districts in the country.
Programmes already running:
National Health Mission (NHM), has two Sub-Missions, viz. the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM). While NRHM was launched in April 2005, launch of NUHM was approved by the Cabinet on 1st May 2013. NHM envisages achievement of universal access to equitable, affordable & quality healthcare services that are accountable and responsive to people's needs. The main programmatic components include Health System Strengthening in rural and urban areas, Reproductive-Maternal-Neonatal-Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) interventions and control of Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases.
Progress under NHM during 2016-17 is as under:
The following initiatives were also rolled out under NHM during 2016-17:-
New Vaccines roll out:
Measles-Rubella (MR) Vaccine: Rubella vaccine introduced in Universal Immunization Programme as Measles-Rubella combination vaccine to provide protection against congenital birth defects caused by Rubella infection. The vaccine was introduced on 5th February 2017, initially in five states namely Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Puducherry & Lakshadweep though MR vaccination campaign for children aged between 9 months and 15 year. Till 31st March 2017, 3.32 crore children were vaccinated in MR vaccination campaign in these States.
Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV): India is polio free but to maintain this status, IPV launched on 30th November 2015.
Adult Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine: National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) had identified 21 high burden districts from Assam, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal for adult JE vaccination in the age-group of 15- 65 years and more than 2.6 crore adults in these 21 districts were provided JE vaccination.
Rota-Virus vaccine: To prevent morbidity and mortality in children due to rotavirus, Rotavirus vaccine introduced in Universal Immunization Programme. In first Phase, vaccine introduced in 4 states: Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Odisha; Planned to be scaled up in few more states after evaluation of its implementation in four states.
Mission Indradhanush (MI)
Mission Indradhanush was launched in December 2014 to rapidly increase the full immunization coverage of children to at least 90% and sustain the same by 2020.
Three phases of Mission Indradhanush have been completed and fourth phase is ongoing. A total of 528 districts were covered in the four phases of Mission Indradhanush. During the three phases and ongoing fourth phase of Mission Indradhanush, as on 31st March' 2017, around 2.11 crore children were reached of which 55 lakhs children were fully immunized. Further, 56 lakhs pregnant women were also vaccinated with Tetanus Toxoid.
The first two phases of Mission Indradhanush led to an increase of 6.7% in the full immunization coverage across the country.
During 2016-17, Mission Indradhanush Phase-3 was carried out in 216 districts during which around 61.84 lakh children were reached of which 16.28 lakh children were fully immunized. Further, 17.78 lakh pregnant women were also vaccinated with Tetanus Toxoid.
Free Drugs Service Initiative:
Support provided to States for provision of free drugs and setting up of systems for drug procurement, quality assurance, IT based supply chain management system, training and grievance redressal etc.
Aimed at reducing Out of Pocket Expenditure at the point of care.
Detailed Operational Guidelines developed and released to the States on 2nd July 2015.
Model IT application Drugs and Vaccines Distribution Management Systems (DVDMS), developed by CDAC, shared with States.
Drugs procurement, quality system and distribution streamlined through IT based Drug Distribution Management Systems in 23 States.
All States and UTs have notified policy to provide essential drugs free in public health facilities.
Free Diagnostics Service Initiative:
Operational Guidelines developed and shared on 2nd July, 2015
Also contain model RFP documents for a range of PPPs e.g. Tele radiology, hub and spoke model for lab diagnostics and CT scan in District Hospitals.
Bio Medical Equipment Maintenance:
Aim - reduce dysfunctional rate of bio-medical equipment in public health facilities valuing about Rs 11,000 crores (varies between 20% -60% in States)
States did inventory mapping and BMMP effectively rolled out in 13 States during 2016-17.
Total 7,56,750 number of equipments in 29,115 health facilities of 29 States, costing approximately Rs. 4,564 Crore identified.
Rs. 113.11 Crore approved in 2016-17 to 20 States/ UTs under this initiative.
Launch of Kayakalp- an initiative for Award to Public Health Facilities:
Launched to promote cleanliness, hygiene and infection control practices in public health facilities.
During 2016-17, Kayakalp initiative extended to Sub District Hospitals (SDHs) /CHCs and PHCs in addition to DHs
Approved Rs 107.99 crore to 27 States.
Over 30,000 Public Health facilities assessed and over 1100 public health facilities including 179 DHs, 324 SDHs/CHCs and 632 PHCs received Kayakalp Prizes.
Kilkari & Mobile Academy:
Weekly time-appropriate 72 audio messages about pregnancy, child birth and child care directly sent to families' mobile phones from the second trimester of pregnancy until the child is one year old.
Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand covered under Kilkari.
Approximately 5.82 crore successful calls (average duration of content played in each call: approximately 1 minute) made under Kilkari as on 31st March, 2017.
Mobile Academy - free audio training course designed to expand and refresh knowledge base of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and improve their communication skills.
Rolled out in Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
79,660 ASHAs registered in MCTS started the Mobile Academy course, out of which 68,803 (i.e, approximately 86%) ASHAs completed the course as on 31st March, 2017.
Mother and Child Tracking System (MCTS) / Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) portal
Web based name based tracking system called Mother & Child Tracking System (MCTS) across all the States & UTs to facilitate timely delivery of entire complement of quality MCH services including antenatal and postnatal care services to all the pregnant women and immunization to all the children.
1.68 crore pregnant women and 1.31 crore children registered in MCTS / RCH portal as on 31st March, 2017.
Family Planning - Three new methods introduced in the National Family Planning program:
Injectable Contraceptive DMPA (Antara) -3-monthly injection.
Centchroman pill (Chhaya) -non hormonal once a week pill.
Progesterone-only pills (POP) - for lactating mothers.
New Family Planning Media Campaign:
A 360o holistic Family Planning campaign with a new logo launched.
Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP)
121 Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CBNAAT) Machines existed till 2016.
500 additional CBNAAT Machines provided in States/UTs
Provides rapid quality diagnostics for fight against TB, especially DR-TB.
New anti-TB drug Bedaquiline introduced under Conditional Access Programme (CAP) to improve outcomes of drug resistant TB treatment.
Background:
The Cabinet approvals of the NHM framework provided for setting up of the Mission Steering Group (MSG), chaired by the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare with 10 Ministers of related Ministries, 16 Secretaries, 10 independent experts, 4 State Secretaries etc and the Empowered Programme Committee (EPC), chaired by the Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare. Besides policy guidance and oversight, these bodies have been delegated powers to provide and approve/ modify financial norms in respect of all schemes and components that are part of NRHM. The Cabinet approval further stipulates that exercise of these delegated powers would be subject to the condition that a progress report regarding N(R)HM, along with deviation in financial norms, modifications in ongoing schemes and details of new schemes be placed before the Cabinet for information on an annual basis.
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The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for rationalization/merger and modernization of 17 Government of India Presses (GIPs)/Units into 5 Government of India Presses (GIPs) at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Minto Road and Mayapuri, New Delhi; Nashik, Maharashtra and Temple Street, Kolkata, West Bengal.
These 5 Presses will be redeveloped and modernised by monetisation of their surplus land.
Land measuring 468.08 acres of the other merged Presses will be given to Land & Development Office, Ministry of Urban Development. Land measuring 56.67 acres of the Government of India Text Books Presses (GITBPs) at Chandigarh, Bhubaneswar and Mysuru will be returned to the respective State Governments.
Modernisation of the Presses will enable them to undertake important confidential, urgent and multi-colour printing work of the Central Government Offices all over the country.
This will be carried out at zero cost to the exchequer and without any retrenchment.
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Divi's Laboratories gained 5.99% to Rs 915.60 at 12:03 IST on BSE after the company said that all previous observations of unit-2 of its Visakhapatnam facility have been confirmed as completed and resolved after US drug regulator's inspection.
The announcement was made during market hours today, 20 September 2017.
Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 0.92 points, to 32,401.45.
High volume was witnessed on the counter. On the BSE, 9.35 lakh shares were traded in the counter so far, compared with average daily volumes of 2.93 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 919.50 and a low of Rs 866.45 so far during the day. The stock had hit a 52-week high of Rs 1,355.45 on 20 September 2016. The stock had hit a 52-week low of Rs 533.10 on 29 May 2017.
The stock had outperformed the market over the past one month till 19 September 2017, gaining 36.23% compared with 2.78% gains in the Sensex. The scrip had also outperformed the market in past one quarter, rising 33.87% as against Sensex's 3.48% rise. The scrip had, however, underperformed the market in past one year, falling 35.58% as against Sensex's 13.16% rise.
The large-cap company has equity capital of Rs 53.09 crore. Face value per share is Rs 2.
Divi's Laboratories said that all previous observations have been confirmed as completed and resolved of unit-2 of its Visakhapatnam facility after inspection carried out by United States Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) from 11 September 2017 to 19 September 2017.
This inspection was for full cGMP and verification of all corrective actions proposed against the previous Inspection observations.
On completion of this inspection, Divi's Laboratories has received a Form 483 citing six observations which are procedural and the company will be responding to these within the stipulated time.
The USFDA had issued an import alert on the unit II of the company in March and a warning letter to the same in May. The plants that are on FDA's import alert are not permitted to export drugs to the US.
Divi's Laboratories had said in April that USFDA had exempted some more products manufactured at the company's unit-II at Visakhapatnam from the import alert issued under clauses 66-40 & 99-32 of the FDA regulations.
Divi's Laboratories' net profit fell 41.5% to Rs 176.54 crore on 19.3% decline in net sales to Rs 821.20 crore in Q1 June 2017 over Q1 June 2016.
Divi's Laboratories is primarily engaged in the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) & intermediates for generics; custom synthesis of API's and advanced intermediates for discovery compounds for pharma giants; building blocks for peptides; building blocks for nucleotides; carotenoids; and chiral ligands.
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There is a need for multi-dimensional approach from different sector from government, financial institutions, individual women entrepreneurs for a flexible integrated and coordinated specific approach for development and promotion of women, said Mr Keshav Prasad Maurya, Deputy Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh at an ASSOCHAM event.
"There will be end of ill governance and gundaraj in Uttar Pradesh and development will be seen soon, said Mr Keshav Prasad Maurya, Deputy Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh.
The objective behind this Standup Women campaign is to promote entrepreneurship among women, scheduled castes and tribes by enabling them secure easier loans and this could be an engine of job creation for the youth.
He said, Our Prime Minister has been trying to increase innovations at the ground level where we have seen a major lacuna for the past few years, said Deputy Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh.
This scheme will transform the lives of Dalit and Tribal communities. Under the scheme, SC/ST and women entrepreneurs will be provided loans between Rs.10 lakh and Rs.1 crore for setting up new enterprises.
This will help in creating 2.5 lakh entrepreneurs throughout the country as every bank branch will be required to provide two such loans - to a Dalit or SC/ST person and a woman.
The scheme aims to empower every Indian and enable them to stand on their feet. It seeks to convert job-seekers into job-creators., said Keshav Prasad Maurya.
Demand for credit by startups is not as high as corporate entities, while they are more labour intensive. Nurturing these start-ups helps in their growth into larger industrial houses".
It has always been a tall task for women to start their own business. Women entrepreneurs are doing good in the entrepreneurial ecosystem and if they are given proper support then they would excel in this field.
In a commendable development, under the Standup India scheme launched in 2016-17 to support entrepreneurship among the Dalits, tribal and women, over 16000 new enterprises have come up in areas such as food processing, garments, diagnostic centres etc. As per the sixth Economic Census, there are a total of 8050819 establishments under female entrepreneurs in India Tamil Nadu has the highest percentage of female entrepreneurs at 13.5% out of the total establishments, whereas UTs and North Eastern states at the bottom, as per the report released during the event.
As per the report, Uttar Pradesh Information Technology & Start up policy is formulated to facilitate all stages of IT/ITeS industry encompassing Startups/Entrepreneurs, MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) and large IT/ITeS Industry by providing best of the incentives with conducive policy framework.
The state has 482379 women led enterprises comprising 5.99% of total women entrepreneurs in India. There government in Uttar Pradesh is taking several initiatives to promote women led enterprises thereby, boosting employment in the state.
Women contribute significantly to the national income of the economy and help in maintaining the sustainability of the world community. They face many barriers majorly being socio-cultural attitude, legal barriers, financial barriers and family support. They lack accessibility to easy finance. Microfinance is an emerging tool for empowering women. Women can benefit from microfinance as many micro finance institution targets women.
It has been found that investing in women offers the most effective means to improve health, nutrition, hygiene, and educational standards for families and consequently for the whole of society.
In general, women need access to small loans (especially for working capital), innovative forms of collateral, frequent repayment schedules more appropriate to the cash flows of their enterprises, simpler application procedures and improved access to saving accounts. Thus, a special support for women in both financial and non-financial services is necessary.
The financial needs and support services required by women entrepreneurs will have to be researched and documented. Due to limited knowledge and experience in this area, financial institutions may have to begin the product development process with market research followed by pilots in select geographies.
Next, with an understanding of the needs of women entrepreneurs, financial institutions can focus on building a brand as a financial partner for women-owned businesses, catering to the full spectrum of their financial needs. A suite of financial products and services specifically tailored to the financial needs of these entrepreneurs can be offered, along with associated sourcing and marketing strategies.
In addition to developing tailored products and services and a women-friendly brand, financial institutions can align policies, procedures, and systems to become more accessible to women entrepreneurs. Financial institutions can build brands as banks that serve women entrepreneurs through targeted sourcing/marketing strategies, generate awareness about products and services, and provide tailored tools to women such as doorstep services, online, and phone support.
Since a key demand-side constraint is the lack of awareness of products and services, financial institutions should proactively build awareness about tailored products and services available. Banks could organise workshops, seminars, town council meets, and group discussions. Such events offer opportunities to women entrepreneurs to have one-on-one interactions with bankers and get to know about financial products and schemes for women. They also offer opportunities for women entrepreneurs to build networks.
Training programs on human resources, financial management, business management, marketing, and financing the venture. These skills can be extremely beneficial in supporting women entrepreneurs sustain and grow their enterprises, making them long- term and better customers.
MSME toolkit to help women businesses at different stages of the business cycle -inception, start-up and growth - in areas such as business planning, financial projections, input management, marketing, market linkage, and branding. Women-owned businesses that are unable to engage expensive advisory services can benefit from this type of intervention.
A simplified collateral regime will greatly encourage women entrepreneurs and enable access. Governments may focus on developing an effective secured transactions regime for women enterprises characterized by a wide range of allowable collaterals (immovable and movable), the establishment of clear priority rankings of claims over collateral, efficient collateral registries, and effective enforcement of collateral in case of default. Governments may focus on developing a credit guarantee scheme to enable women entrepreneurs borrow from formal financial institutions in the absence of collateral.
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With effect from 28 August 2017
Elnet Technologies announced the resignation of Dr. Rajendra Kumar, IAS (Nominee of ELCOT, Promoter company) resigned as Chairman - Director of the Company with effect from 28 August 2017.
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A FICCI-PwC report on 'Smart Border Management' has spotlighted the threats and challenges faced by various agencies in the deployment of an effective coastal security mechanism across the Indian coast.
India's long coast line presents a variety of security challenges including illegal landing of arms and explosives at isolated spots on the coast, infiltration/ex-filtration of antinational elements, use of the sea and off shore islands for criminal activities, smuggling of consumer and intermediate goods through sea routes etc. Absence of physical barriers on the coast and presence of vital industrial and defence installations near the coast also enhance the vulnerability of the coasts to illegal cross border activities.
In addition, the Indian Ocean Region is of strategic importance to India's security. A substantial part of India's external trade and energy supplies pass through this region. The security of India's Island territories, in particular, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands remains an important priority.
Drug trafficking, sea-piracy and other clandestine activities such as gun running are emerging as new challenges to security management in the Indian Ocean Region.
FICCI believes that Industry has the technological capability to implement border management solutions. The Government could consider exploring integrated solutions provided by Industry for strengthening coastal security of the country. The report was released here today by Mr. Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Government of India, at the FICCI conference on 'Smart Border Management'.
The FICCI-PwC report recommends a 20-point action agenda to effectively tackle India's coastal security requirements.
These are:
Consolidation of various stakeholders More cooperation between State and Central government agencies
MHA to concentrate on training of marine police with recruitment of talented local fishermen and provision of incentives such as sea duty allowance
Inclusion of private players in maritime security
Integration of marine police in the coastal security chain to track coastal fishing activity
Setting up of Central Marine Police Force to standardise equipment and seamlessly integrate all the realms of costal security
Fast-tracking the setting up of the National Marine Police Training Institute in Dwarka (Gujarat), followed by intense interaction between the institute and the Marine Police Training Centres in state and UTs
All coastal states and UTs to set up maritime boards
Setting up of a multi-disciplinary National Maritime Authority (NMA) under the aegis of MHA
Creation of modern fishing harbours as part of Sagramala
Strengthening the human intelligence (HUMINT) capability
More emphasis on port security infrastructure
Deployment of a satellite constellation for coastal surveillance
Creation of a joint technical cadre along with logistics infrastructure for maintenance of boats used for patrolling to address the issues related to operational availability of these assets
Optimum utilisation of funds allocated under the CSS
Enactment of the Coastal Security Bill which has been pending since 2013
Creation of the National Coastal Security Corps of the National Cadet Corps
Increased interaction with other countries to adopt and customise the best practices being followed by them
Formulation of standards and policy for the procurement of equipment for coastal security, and
Induction of hovercraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as part of the CSS
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Recent reports suggest that India - with a GDP of $6.84 trillion- will emerge as the third largest economy in the world by 2030, surpassing - Japan, Germany, Britain and France. It is clear that India's trajectory towards the world's top- 3 largest economies will be shaped by the movement of output of India's top states. In particular, it is the transformation of these Indian states to provincial powerhouses, akin to those in the United States or China that will shape India's destiny going forward.
Maharashtra, with a GDP of 0.25 trillion is the richest state in India, followed by Tamil Nadu ($0.17 trillion) and Uttar Pradesh ($0.16 trillion). However, Maharashtra's GDP equals that of Connecticut ($0.26 trillion)- a state ranked 23rd in the US by GDP. To further put things into perspective, Maharashtra's area is 21 times larger and it has a population 31 times as large as Connecticut. US's richest state- California, with a GDP of $2.5 trillion in 2015 and with only 3 per cent of India's population was significantly ahead of India's GDP of $2.09 trillion even in 2015. It becomes pertinent at this juncture to understand how India's richest state- Maharashtra, can contribute to the India growth story by leapfrogging to a trillion-dollar economy by 2025, at about the same time as India is poised to becoming the third largest economy in the world.
A report prepared by FICCI-SPJIMR has suggested a five-point agenda for leapfrogging Maharashtra to a trillion-dollar economy by 2025 by transforming the State into an investment led economy.
The report recommends a balanced regional development of all districts and divisions through a cluster approach, improving institutional mechanisms, strengthening of connectivity and industrial infrastructure, development of the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise segment and development of manufacturing as the base for growth and employment.
The following are the recommendations in detail:
1. Balanced regional development of all districts/ divisions through cluster approach: Maharashtra has been the richest and most industrialised states in India. This growth, however, has been concentrated in specific divisions, particularly, in the Mumbai, Thane and Pune belt. Amravati and Nagpur divisions have shown strong growth in the Gross District Value Added in 2015-16. The government will need to focus on developing these regions further, as also ensure more equitable and balanced growth within these specific divisions as well. The government may work on a more decentralised development model, based on developing districts including Sangli, Miraj, Kolhapur, Amravati, Buldhana, Solapur, Chandrapur, Jalgaon among others. Such a development model should be based on development of industrial clusters in these regions based on the high potential growth industries for each region.
2. Improving Institutional Mechanisms: The decision to invest in a state is primarily driven by ease of doing business, and the presence of a conducive environment to foster efficiency and transparency. In order to drive its competitive advantage, Maharashtra will need to focus on improving the institutional mechanisms associated with business, as also improve governance. The industry demands with regard to provision of a single-window clearance, easier and more transparent labour laws and faster dispute resolution will go a long way towards enhancing investments in the region. At the same time, the government will need to work on the industry complaints with regard to prevalence and persistence of lethargy, redtapism, bureaucracy and corruption.
The government will need to reduce the uncertainties and cost of doing business in Maharashtra.
3. Further Strengthening of Connectivity & Industrial Infrastructure: Creation of infrastructure and connectivity is a key determinant of growth in the state. The Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) and the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) are likely to be a game changers and Maharashtra can significantly benefit from these infrastructural developments. However, such infrastructure and connectivity has to be more broad-based, enveloping the hinterlands of Maharashtra. The state needs to further draw benefits from developing integrated townships with comprehensive industrial and social infrastructure. From a long term planning perspective, airports need to be developed in every region. These should include the building of Low Cost Carrier airports, with low frills, which can facilitate the low cost airline industry. The development of industrial clusters will also require developing infrastructure to provide increased connectivity. While the state government's fiscal position is in shape, public funding of various infrastructure and public services poses its own constraints. As such, the government may explore greater Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) which draw on the strengths of both the public and private sectors for delivery of quality public services.
4. Development of the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise (MSME) Segment: MSMEs play an integral role in employment creation, exports, as also the output of the manufacturing and services sector. The transformation of Maharashtra will equally rest on the transformation of this key segment. As a key strategy for enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of MSMEs, the government of India has announced a scheme for development of potential clusters to facilitate deployment of available resources for effective implementation and more sustainable results in medium to long term. Such industrial cluster projects for MSMEs should be further encouraged. Given the importance of this segment to employment creation, a specific emphasis on MSMEs should focus on addressing key challenges they face which includes access to technology, credit availability, provision of business/ technical advisory and support, access to new markets in a globalizing environment and development of appropriate marketing mechanisms.
5. Develop Manufacturing as the base for growth and employment: The importance of the manufacturing sector to a region's growth and employment generation is well-documented.
The service sector has been the important contributor to the state Gross State Domestic Product. The state will need to focus on growing its manufacturing sector as well. The new manufacturing policy has proposed the development of seven large integrated areas called National Investment and Manufacturing Zones (NIMZ) along the DMIC, with two of these being in Maharashtra.
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On private placement basis
The Committee of Executive Directors of ICICI Bank at its meeting held on 20 September 2017 has approved the allotment of 10,800 Basel III compliant unsecured subordinated perpetual Additional Tier 1 bonds aggregating Rs 1080 crore on private placement basis, date of allotment being 20 September 2017. The notes carry a coupon of 8.55% p.a. payable annually and were issued at par. The bonds would be listed in the Wholesale Debt Market segment of BSE and/or National Stock Exchange of India.
The bonds are rated CARE AA+; Stable by Credit Analysis & Research and [ICRA]AA+ (hyb) by ICRA.
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L&T rose 1.71% to Rs 1,247.40 at 10:10 IST on BSE after the company announced that it won contract valued around Rs 1700 crore to build crude oil pipeline from KOC, Kuwait.
The announcement was made during market hours today, 20 September 2017.
Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 7.02 points, or 0.02% to 32,409.39.
On the BSE, 54,181 shares were traded in the counter so far, compared with average daily volumes of 5.85 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 1,249.95 in intraday trade, which is also a 52-week high for the stock. The stock had hit a low of Rs 1,229.95 so far during the day. The stock had hit a 52-week low of Rs 863.54 on 9 November 2016.
The stock had outperformed the market over the past one month till 19 September 2017, gaining 8.44% compared with 2.78% gains in the Sensex. The scrip had also outperformed the market in past one quarter, rising 4.86% as against Sensex's 3.48% rise. The scrip had also outperformed the market in past one year, gaining 24.28% as against Sensex's 13.16% rise.
The large-cap company has equity capital of Rs 280.11 crore. Face value per share is Rs 2.
L&T said that its hydrocarbon division has bagged a major pipeline contract with a value close to Rs 1700 crore from Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) for engineering, procurement and construction of a new 48'' crude transit line (TL-5) from Kuwait to Ahmadi.
The completion of the project is scheduled for the third quarter of 2020. The order was won against stiff international competitive bidding which reinforces L&T's unique capability to deliver 'design to build' engineering and construction solutions across the hydrocarbon spectrum.
L&T is currently executing the Gathering Centre-30 (GC-30) project for Kuwait Oil Company. The company has been serving the onshore hydrocarbon sector since early 90s. The company's track record includes successful completion of several challenging projects for domestic and international clients, it added.
L&T's consolidated net profit rose 50.6% to Rs 1028.30 crore on 9.6% rise in net sales to Rs 23810.86 crore in Q1 June 2017 over Q1 June 2016.
L&T is a major Indian multinational engaged in technology, engineering, construction, manufacturing and financial services.
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Transactions expected to close in November 2017
Mahindra & Mahindra announced that on 20 September 2017, the Company has signed two Share Purchase Agreements for acquiring:
(i) 100% of the Share Capital of Erkunt Traktor Sanayii A.S.; and
(ii) At least 80% of the Share Capital of Erkunt Sanayi A.S. (which includes approx. 35% of Erkunt Sanayi A.S. which is held by Erkunt Traktor Sanayii A.S.)
Erkunt Traktor operates in the Farm Equipment industry. The acquisition would provide the Company access to Turkish agriculture machinery market (4th largest tractor market globally). The consideration for the transaction would be in cash upto Rs 478 crore.
Erkunt Sanayi (Erkunt Foundry) operates in casting and machining industry. The acquisition would provide the Company access to a full service casting and machining company with capability to manufacture engine blocks, cylinder heads and transmission cases. The consideration for the transaction would be in cash upto Rs 322 crore.
Both transactions are expected to close by 30 November 2017.
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At least 119 people were killed in a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake that hit Mexico on Tuesday, officials said.
Mayor Miguel Angel Ancera said that 30 people died in the capital city, where 50,000 first responders were searching for people feared trapped amid the rubble of 44 buildings that were toppled by the temblor, Efe news reported.
The epicentre of the earthquake, was located 12 km southeast of Axochiapan, a city in the central state of Morelos, at a depth of 57 km.
Most of the confirmed fatalities -- 54 -- were in Morelos, while the government of neighbouring Mexico state reported eight persons killed and 22 others injured.
At least 26 people were killed in Puebla state, which also borders Morelos.
The state government secretary in Morelos, Matias Quiroz, told Milenio Television that the collapse of a bridge forced the shutdown of a stretch of the major highway linking Mexico City with the Pacific coast resort of Acapulco.
Schools in Morelos appeared to have escaped major damage and authorities were still in the process of evaluating the condition of the state's hospitals, Quiroz said.
Television stations in Mexico City has broadcast images of partially destroyed buildings in the centrally located Condesa, Roma and Del Valle districts, as well as footage of fires burning around the capital.
The temblor sent frightened residents streaming out of buildings and into the streets on the 32nd anniversary of the quake that killed thousands of people in the capital.
"It was awful, I felt it much more than the one the other day (Sept. 7)," Ana Bofill, a Spanish citizen preparing to return home on Tuesday, told EFE.
Jonathan Barbosa, a Colombian living in Mexico City, said he was surprised by the temblor's power.
"I have never experienced a quake like this, and I thought it was going to be quick and very smooth. The building rocked a lot, I thought it was going to collapse," Barbosa told EFE.
President Enrique Pena Nieto said he was returning to Mexico City from Oaxaca state.
"PlanMX has been activated," the President said in a Twitter post, adding that he was returning "immediately to Mexico City to deal with the situation caused by the earthquake."
On September 7, a magnitude-8.2 earthquake affected 2.3 million people in Chiapas and Oaxaca states, killing at least 98 people.
The quake was the most powerful to hit Mexico since 1932.
Tuesday's earthquake hit the capital as residents marked the 32nd anniversary of a powerful temblor that devastated Mexico City.
The magnitude-8.1 earthquake that hit Mexico City on September 19, 1985, was the most destructive to ever hit Mexico, killing some 10,000 people, injuring more than 40,000 others and leaving 80,000 people homeless.
In 2015, Mexico City's government installed a warning system, which uses 8,200 loudspeakers located across the capital's 16 boroughs, to alert residents to an earthquake.
The Seismic Warning System gives Mexico City residents a 50-second alert to prevent a repetition of the tragedy that occurred 32 years ago.
The warning is generated by sensors along the Pacific coast, located about 400 km from the capital, giving residents time to get out of buildings that could collapse in a temblor.
Mexico, one of the countries with the highest levels of seismic activity in the world, sits on the North American tectonic plate and is surrounded by three other plates in the Pacific: the Rivera microplate, at the mouth of the Gulf of California; the Pacific plate; and the Cocos plate.
The Cocos tectonic plate stretches from Colima state south and has the potential to cause the most damage since it affects Mexico City, which has a population of 20 million and was constructed over what was once Lake Texcoco.
--IANS
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Thousands of emergency crews and volunteers raced against time in search of survivors on Wednesday after a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake shook Mexico, killing at least 225 people, leaving many trapped under collapsed buildings and forcing people on to the streets for a second time in two weeks.
As President Enrique Pena Nieto announced a national emergency, rescuers armed with cutting tools and sniffer dogs in Mexico City continued to scramble to reach survivors of the 2.15 p.m. Tuesday disaster pinned inside the ruins of offices, schools and apartment blocks amid plumes of dust and wailing sirens.
Local residents, police and firefighters used their hands to dig through the rubble.
"The priority now is continue rescuing those who are still trapped and provide medical attention to the injured," said the President early Wednesday. "We are facing a new national emergency."
Power cuts left much of the capital in darkness. Many people had spent the night outdoors, fearful of aftershocks.
Windows buckled and shattered, falling several storeys to the ground while thousands of people streamed on to the streets running away from buildings and potential gas leaks.
Mexico City, the country's capital, was the worst hit. Also battered were the states of Puebla, Guerrero, Oaxaca and Morelos, CNN and Efe news said. The quake's epicentre was 4.5 km east-northeast of San Juan Raboso and 55 km south-southwest of the city of Puebla.
According to the country's civil protection agency, 94 persons died in Mexico City, 71 in Morelos state, 43 in Puebla, 12 in the State of Mexico, four in Guerrero and one in Oaxaca.
It was the second major earthquake to hit Mexico in two weeks and came on the anniversary of the 1985 quake that devastated Mexico City, killing thousands. Just hours before the latest quake, many people took part in drills and commemorative events.
As many as 37 people -- 32 children and five adults -- died when Enrique Rebsamen primary school collapsed in Mexico City's southern Coapa district, local media reported.
The quake was felt far and wide. In Mexico City, there were power outages and more than 40 buildings collapsed crushing cars and trapping people inside. There was widespread panic, the media reports said.
Dozens of buildings collapsed or were severely damaged in densely populated parts of nearby states also.
The public transportation system temporarily shut down operations. Nearly five million people were without power early on Wednesday.
The President said an emergency had been declared in the affected areas and the military was being drafted in to help with the response.
All public and private schools in Mexico City and some of the states affected by the earthquake will remain closed until further notice, Education Minister Aurelio Nuno tweeted.
Foreign leaders sent messages of support to Mexico.
US President Donald Trump, who has courted controversy with his plans for a border wall with Mexico, tweeted: "God bless the people of Mexico City. We are with you and will be there for you."
China extended deep condolences to the victims of the earthquake and expressed heartfelt sympathy to their bereaved families, the Mexican government and people in affected areas, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said.
"China believes that the Mexican people can overcome the disaster and rebuild their lives," he said.
--IANS
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At least 47 people were killed in a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake that hit Mexico on Tuesday.
As many as 42 people were killed in the state of Morelos, Governor Graco Ramirez said on Twitter, while the Governor of Mexico State, Alfredo del Mazo, said five persons were killed in his state, Xinhua news agency reported.
Authorities in the capital Mexico City have yet to report the number of casualties.
The first National Seismological Service (SSN) report noted that the tremor on Tuesday occurred 12 km southeast of the municipality of Axochiapan.
In Mexico City, residents immediately came out of the buildings due to the intensity of the earthquake.
An earlier report of the US Geological Survey said that an earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale jolted 5 km ENE of Raboso, Mexico on Tuesday.
The epicentre, with a depth of 51.01 km, was initially determined to be at 18.5838 degrees north latitude and 98.3993 degrees west longitude.
--IANS
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The central and state governments should pump in about Rs 50,000 crore ($7.5 billion) to transform half a million or one million hectares of fallow land into farmland and create the right atmosphere for private investment to rid the country of the ongoing agrarian crisis, says an eminent agricultural scientist.
"India is facing an agrarian crisis. There shouldn't be any doubt in anybody's mind that farmers have been protesting for any other agenda," former Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) Director General Mangala Rai told IANS.
And private investment is one of the solutions he sees to resolve the crisis.
"There is an urgent need of investment to create the necessary infrastructure for agriculture and to provide farmers the right price for their produce.
"Governments, both at the Centre and in the states, have to make investments and they have to create the right atmosphere to attract private investment," he said, noting that, in the 1970s, India had 140 million hectares of arable land. In 2017, the total agriculture land has remained the same, despite a three-fold rise in population.
He said the central government should come up with a policy in the right perspective to make agriculture competitive.
"This is because those making investments will require a return on their investment. In the past, the government had tried to attract private investment in building storage capacity, but failed," said Rai, a former president of the prestigious National Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
Known for his candid views on agriculture and the country's farmers, Rai suggested a three-pronged approach to ensure inclusive development in a phased manner to raise farmers' incomes and usher in fast agricultural growth.
"In India, we have 107 million hectares of degraded and barren land, which can't be used for agriculture... Why shouldn't the government invest or spend Rs 40,000 crore to Rs 50,000 crore to transform half a million or one million hectares of degraded land into the land suitable for farming? It will be a big asset for the country," the 69-year-old maintained.
The second strategy should be allotment of degraded or barren land to the non-farming sector instead of providing it farmland.
He also called for a comprehensive policy to increase the irrigated land rather than adopting patchwork methods.
"Till now, despite huge funding on irrigation, it has failed to benefit farmers. During the last two plans, the net addition to irrigation was zero. Patchwork will not serve any purpose in the agricultural sector if the government is serious on high sustainable growth rate and to increase famers' income," Rai said.
Referring to angry peasants hitting the streets in states like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, Rai said with agriculture passing through a "crisis period" and that farmers "are not ready to sit silently".
"After what happened in Madhya Pradesh during the farmers' protests, it is clear they are not ready to sit silent and pray for fulfilment of their demands... The farmers' anger lies in their expectations following the promises made to them."
Six farmers died in clashes with the police and firing in June during the peasant protests at Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh.
Rai said across the country, the health of the soil was fast deteriorating.
"There are nutritional imbalances and decreases in the availability of water for irrigation. Farmers have been finding it difficult to cultivate land with the cost of labour increasing. There is a lack of storage capacity.
"Three decades back, farmers used to produce 50 kg wheat by using 1 kg nitrogen, potash and phosphorus. Now farmers have been producing only 8 kg wheat by using 1 kg nitrogen, potash and phosphorus," he added.
"What worries me is that there is no trace of price fixation. When farmers are producing more with their hard labour, they are not getting the right price for their produce. This is not a good sign for agriculture. In fact, agriculture has become unprofitable," Rai contended.
A huge Arab marriage racket, involving minor girls, has been busted here with the arrest of eight Omani and Qatari nationals and three qazis, police said on Wednesday.
The arrested qazis include the chief qazi of Mumbai Farid Ahmed Khan. Four lodge owners and five brokers of Hyderabad have also been held.
City Police Commissioner M. Mahender Reddy told reporters that the Arab sheikhs were marrying minor girls with the help of brokers, qazis and lodge owners. Of the sheikhs arrested, five are Omani nationals and three Qatari.
The racket, which was spreading from Hyderabad to Oman and other Arab countries, was busted during the investigation into a case registered last month in Falaknuma area of the old city of Hyderabad.
A woman had complained to the police that her husband with the help of some brokers 'sold' their minor daughter to a 70-year-old Omani Ahmed Abdullah. The girl is stuck in Oman.
The police chief said efforts were on to rescue the girl and arrest the accused and bring them to Hyderabad.
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A massive racket that involved marrying off underage Indian girls from poor families to rich Arabs has been busted here with the arrest of 20 people, including eight men from Oman and Qatar and 12 Indians including qazis, police said on Wednesday.
Those arrested include the chief qazi of Mumbai, Farid Ahmed Khan. Four lodge owners and five "brokers" of Hyderabad have also been held.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner M. Mahender Reddy told reporters that the "Arab sheikhs" were marrying minor girls with the help of brokers, qazis and lodge owners. Of the Arabs arrested, five are Omani nationals and three Qatari.
The arrested foreigners have been identified as Al Mayahi Habib Ali Issa, Al Salhi Talib Humeid Ali, Al Ubaidani Juma Shinoon Sulaiman, Al Salehi Nasser Khalifa Hamed and Al Qasimi Hassan Mazaaul Mohammed of Oman and Omer Mohammed Seraj Abdal Rahman, Hamad Jabir O Al-Kuwari and Safeldin Mohamed Mohamednour Salih of Qatar.
Police said the arrests were made when the sheikhs aged between 50 and 60 were about to marry girls aged between 15 and 17 years at some lodges in the old city of Hyderabad.
The police commissioner said the police rescued 12 girls.
During the raid on a lodge, Oman national Ali Issa was caught while he was about to marry a 15-year-old girl with the assistance of his friends Humeid Ali and Shinoon Sulaiman.
Omani agents Khalifa Hamed and Mazaaul Mohammed were also taken into custody.
Two Qatari Sheikhs along with one agent were caught red handed when they were about to perform child marriage at a guest house.
Owners of four lodges were arrested for providing accommodation to sheikhs and abetting illegal activities.
The police identified 15 brokers from Gulf countries who were involved in fixing matches of young local girls with Sheiks.
The racket was busted during the investigation into a case registered last month in Falaknuma area of the old city.
Saeedunnisa had complained to the police that her husband with the help of some brokers 'sold' their 16-year-old daughter to a 70-year-old Omani national Ahmed Abdullah Amur Al Rahbi for Rs 5 lakh.
The police chief said efforts were on to rescue the girl and arrest the accused and bring them to Hyderabad.
The arrested local brokers include Ahmed, Saeedunnisa's brother Sikandar Khan and the latter's wife Ghousia Begum, who played a key role in performing the marriage.
Chief Qazi of Mumbai Farid Ahmed Khan has been identified as kingpin of the racket. Police said the qazi prepared forged nikahnama as if the marriage was performed at Mumbai. Assistant qazi of Mumbai Munawwar Ali, who helped chief qazi and qazi Habeeb Ali of Hyderabad, who performed the marriage of the minor girl, were also arrested.
Police were on the lookout for one more qazi of Hyderabad, Ali Abdullah Rafia.
The police identified 15 brokers from Oman and Qatar, who were helping sheikhs in trapping poor parents by offering them money. "After reaching the new country the women end up getting exploited at the hands of several others," police chief said while citing the statements of a few victims.
The police have also identified 35 local brokers including 25 women, who help sheikhs select the girls and perform the marriages with the connivance of qazis.
Police opened suspect sheets against 38 local brokers, four lodge owners and Qazis who are resorting to illegal activities.
--IANS
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From the time of her birth, Antimbala was told she was unwanted and a burden to her family. She was convinced she was blighted by destiny and couldn't succeed in life.
Antimbala struggled to form or write words and sentences. It's not that she didn't have the ability, but she was made to believe that she couldn't be as good as her peers.
Then there was Narazna who was so named because everybody in her family was angry when she was born. She was made to feel unwanted ever since she can remember.
For these two girls and many others, Safeena Husain, a graduate from the London School of Economics and imbued with a zeal to change the existing order of things, is a saviour. She has been making sure that girls from underprivileged backgrounds are not condemned to rue their fate and that they are given opportunities in the school system.
Safeena wanted to make sure that girls like Antimbala -- her name literally means the 'last girl' -- are able to stand on their own feet, on their own merits, and not become victims of a conservative society's biases and prejudices.
Through her NGO, Educate Girls, she and her team works with community-level volunteers called Team Balika, who go door-to-door to identify out-of-school girls in remote rural areas and convince their parents to send them to school.
"When Antimbala started classes, she was withdrawn and didn't join her classmates during the learning activities. Our volunteer started engaging her in classroom games and tried to gauge why she was so aloof," Safeena told IANS when she came to the capital to receive an award in recognition of her work.
"A year after getting support, she (Antimbala) can now read the stories in her text book with relative ease and her confidence has greatly increased," said Safeena.
For a cause that she believed in passionately and urgently, Safeena started her remarkable journey years ago, and has helped more than 200,000 out-of-school girls become part of the system.
She was involved in various development projects for around 10 years spanning South America, Africa and Asia, before starting the NGO.
"I returned to India to drive the agenda closest to my heart -- that of girls' . From the very outset, I had a strong personal motivation to make a change in India's system primarily because I myself found my pathway through education," Safeena told IANS.
And today, around 200,000 girls from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have been enrolled in schools with the help of over 11,000 Team Balika volunteers.
Safeena said the challenges that these girls face in their everyday life are huge.
"A girl is generally seen as a liability. Also, they are indoctrinated to believe that girls must only be seen and not heard," Safeena said.
Referring to Narazna, the girl who was so named because everybody in her family was angry when she was born, she said: "Imagine the unwantedness!"
"This is violence that inflates forever... the child knows that she is something less and that she is not as wanted as boys."
What started as a test project in Pali in Rajasthan has now expanded to 13 districts -- 10 in Rajasthan and three in Madhya Pradesh. However, the inception of this journey was not without challenges.
When Safeena and her team approached people, asking them about their daughters so as to enrol them in schools, they had doors shut on their faces.
"Why do you want to know about our girls? Go away!" they were told.
In the scorching heat of Rajasthan, they relentlessly spent days going door-to-door to speak with the village folk, struggled to set up community meetings and eventually earned the trust of school authorities.
"They called us mad dogs, slammed doors on our faces... all of this was not surprising. For those people, we were strangers trying to convince them to challenge the status quo.
"The talk around girls' education was not as rife then, as it is today. But even now when we enter a new district, resistance has the same core reason -- the mindset."
Safeena believes that the most important step in combating resistance was to let them see that the voice speaking to them was not foreign.
"We would use meetings to challenge the mindset around girls' education and gender discrimination by regularly conveying the benefits of education and how it is a way to alleviate poverty and improve living," she said.
A class three girl from a village near Udaipur explained how this sexist mindset kept her away from education.
"My mother did not want us (me and my sister) to go to school. She said that education was useless for girls," the 11-year-old, who cannot be named, told IANS.
"For six months, these people kept trying to speak to my mother. She used to yell at them and ask them to leave," she said, adding: "One day, they came with an elderly person from the village who was quite respected by many."
"After that, she finally agreed to send us to school. I'm very glad that Sir (Educate Girls' field coordinator) managed to convince my mother. We love going to school to read books and also because we have made a lot of new friends."
The NGO's journey had started with a desperate request to the Rajasthan government by Safeena to let her work in the most educationally backward areas.
"I decided to pick Pali district to commence a small 50-school test project with a handful of people," said Safeena.
Having aligned with the Rajasthan government on where the need was greatest, she successfully conducted the pilot with the help of a local team, which led to her NGO being formally registered in 2007.
(This story is part of a special series that will showcase a diverse, plural and inclusive India and has been made possible by a collaboration between IANS and the Frank Islam Foundation. Mudita Girotra can be contacted at mudita.g@ians.in)
--IANS
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BJP President Amit Shah on Wednesday said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the party has ended the "dynastic, casteist and appeasement" in the country and started a new practice of " of performance".
"In May this year, our government under the leadership of Modiji completed three years in power, and in these three years a lot of changes have been seen in the country," Shah said while addressing a press conference in Dehradun.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief is on two-day visit to Uttarakhand.
"In these three years, we have given a transparent, corruption-free and decisive government as compared to the policy-paralysed and corrupt 10-year rule of the Congress," he said attacking the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government led by the Congress.
He also said that under Modi's leadership, the BJP had brought an end to the practice of dynastic, casteist and appeasement .
"We have started a new practice of politics of performance," Shah noted.
Highlighting the work of the BJP-led central government, Shah said that under Modi's leadership the world had recognised India as the fastest emerging economy.
Referring to the army's surgical strike across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir last year, Shah said: "It has changed the view of world towards India."
"Earlier, India lacked political will to give befitting reply to our enemies. And since the surgical strikes, India has become the second country after the US which has given befitting reply to its enemies," he said.
Describing demonetisation as a major step to curb black money, the BJP President said: "By bringing demonetisation, our government has succeeded in removing the ill effects of black money from the economy."
--IANS
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Border Security Force troopers killed two drug smugglers in an encounter near the international border with Pakistan in the Ajnala sector of Amritsar, BSF sources said on Wednesday.
They said around five kg heroin was recovered from the spot. Search operation in the area was on.
The BSF troopers, who were patrolling the border belt in the Border Out Post (BoP) Shahpur area in Ajnala, saw suspicious movement inside the Indian territory ahead of the barbed wire fence.
When the troopers challenged the people, they opened fire. The BSF retaliated, killing two smugglers.
--IANS
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A government on Wednesday approved extending till December 31, 2018 the time period of Udaan scheme which provides job training to the youth in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared the extension without any modification and cost escalation.
The Union Home Ministry had proposed the extension of the period of Udaan, a national integration scheme initially set up till 2016-17 with the goal to mainstream Jammu and Kashmir youth with the rest of the country.
Udaan not only provides skill enhancement and job opportunity but also connects bright youths from Jammu and Kashmir with the country's vibrant corporate sector, a Ministry statement said.
It provides exposure to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to the best of corporate India and corporate India to the rich talent pool available in the state, it added.
"So far, 109 leading corporates have partnered with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under Udaan with a commitment to train youth from the state covering organised retail, banking, financial services, IT, ITES, infrastructure, hospitality and more," it said.
So far, 34,587 candidates have been selected of whom 31,903 have joined, 22,237 have completed the training, 7,649 are undergoing training and 14,694 have been offered jobs, the statement said.
In spite of four months of unrest, the scheme has gained a good momentum and pace of implementation has been the best during 2016-17 since its inception, it said.
More than 12,000 candidates had joined training and nearly 10,000 were offered jobs while 140 mega selection drives were held so far covering all districts of the state.
--IANS
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The CBI has filed a corruption case against a retired Orissa High Court Judge I.M. Quddusi for helping an Uttar Pradesh-based educational trust, barred by the government from admitting medical students, in settling the legal matter, an official said on Wednesday.
Besides Quddusi, Bhawana Pandey, a Delhi-based conduit, B.P. Yadav, Palash Yadav, Sudhir Giri, Biswanath Agrawala, a resident of Odisha and some unidentified public servants have been booked under charges of criminal conspiracy of the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a First Information Report on Tuesday on the basis of information and conducted raids on Wednesday at eight locations in Delhi, Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh and Bhubaneswar in Odisha, an official said.
During the raids, including at the residence of Quddusi in south Delhi's Greater Kailash, the CBI recovered Rs 1.91 crore.
The CBI sleuths recovered Rs 1 crore from the possession of middleman Biswanath Agrawala who received the amount from a hawala dealer and the remaining Rs 91 lakh was seized from others. Agrawala has been detained and could be arrested anytime, said sources.
The CBI FIR said B.P. Yadav and Palash Yadav are managing the Lucknow-based Prasad Educational Trust which runs the Prasad Institute of Medical Sciences.
The institute is among the 46 colleges that have been barred by the government from admitting medical students for the next two years (till 2019) because of substandard facilities and non fulfilment of the required criteria.
"B.P. Yadav and Palash Yadav have been pursuing this matter by having regular meeting in New Delhi and had challenged the debarment in the Supreme Court which in its order on August 1, 2017, had directed the government to consider the materials on record," the FIR said.
The FIR later said: "In compliance thereof, the government afforded an opportunity of hearing to the college and thereafter passed a decision on August 10, 2017, to debar the college for two years, 2017 to 2019, and also authorised the MCI (Medical Council of India) to encash the bank guarantee of Rs 2 crore."
It said that "B.P. Yadav got in touch with retired Odisha High Court Judge I.M. Quddusi and Bhawana Pandey, through Sudhir Giri of Venkateshwara Medical college in Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) and entered into criminal conspiracy for getting the matter settled".
"B.P Yadav, in furtherance of the conspiracy, requested Quddusi and Bhawana Pandey who assured to get the matter settled in the Supreme Court through their contacts and they further engaged Biswanath Agrawala for getting the matter settled."
Agrawala claimed very close contact with senior relevant public functionaries and assured that he would get the matter favourably settled. "However, he demanded huge gratification for inducing public servants by corrupt and illegal means in lieu of help," the FIR said.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday decided that the Centre would surrender its 50 per cent stake in three ITDC hotels to the respective state governments, which would now have full authority over the redevelopment of these properties.
"The Centre is withdrawing its 50 per cent ownership stake in these ITDC properties and hand them to the states... the hotels are Ashok Jaipur, Lalitha Mahal Palace, Mysore, and the Donyi Polo Ashok at Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh)," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told reporters here after the cabinet meeting.
"A consideration will be fixed for the three properties," he said, adding that the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) -managed hotels are owned jointly by the Centre and the concerned states.
Following the Centre's surrendering of ownership, "states will have the authority to decide on how these (hotels) will be redeveloped, al also on who with to form joint ventures for their redevelopment et cetera", Jaitley said.
The central government had earlier decided to hand over three other such hotels to the states in question. These are the Hotel Lake View in Bhopal, Hotel Brahmaputra Ashok in Guwahati and Hotel Ashok in Bharatpur, Rajasthan.
--IANS
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China on Wednesday praised a multilateral nuclear agreement between G5+1 countries and Iran, a day after US President Donald Trump called it an "embarrassment" during his maiden speech at the UN General Assembly.
The nuclear deal was signed in Vienna on July 14, 2015, by Iran and G5 + 1, comprising China, France, Russia, UK and the US, plus Germany.
"I want to stress that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is an important outcome of multilateralism," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang during a press conference.
"It is a model of resolving international hot-spot issue through political and diplomatic means," Lu was quoted as saying by Efe news.
His comments came after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in an interview with Fox News that Trump wanted to redo the deal.
Lu stressed the key role played by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in upholding the international non-proliferation regime and peace and stability in the Middle East and added that China had always favoured a strict implementation of the JCPOA.
The JCPOA was struck in 2015 after some 22 months of negotiations between Iran and G5+1 countries. Tehran agreed under the deal to apply certain limits to its nuclear programme, and its partners agreed in return to terminate a series of sanctions against the country, including those unilaterally imposed by individual countries.
--IANS
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India has made significant progress in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by UN member-states in 2015 but finances remain an issue, a study of the country's Voluntary National Review (VNR) submitted earlier this year indicates.
India has said that despite its significant efforts toward mobilising domestic resources, it is unlikely to gather sufficient revenues for achieving the SDGs. Availability of finances would be a key determining factor for attaining SDGs. In this context, taking benefit of the dynamic relations between the SDGs, the developing countries can harness other financial sources such as climate finances.
A review of the VNRs of Bangladesh and Nepal also indicates significant progress being made in achieving the SDGs, but here too, inadequacy of finances appears to be a limiting factor. Bangladesh has indicated it may require around $1.5 trillion worth of additional resources to fully implement SDGs. Nepal, with an annual budget of $9,990 million in 2016-17, has clearly expressed its limitations in meeting the SDG targets.
The decreasing flow of Overseas Development Aid (ODA), including grants, loans and technical assistance, from 85.7 percent of the 1999/2000 commitments to only 55.4 percent in 2014-15, contributed to 2.6 percent of GDP in 2014-15 and is, therefore, grossly inadequate for meeting the SDGs.
The nature of the SDGs was evolved in such a manner that the advancement of one goal may lead to progress in other goals as well.
For instance, Goal 2 -- end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture -- will have a direct bearing on Goal 3 -- ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages. Therefore, financial commitments by the developed countries under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), through institutions like the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), Adaptation Fund (AF) and the latest Green Climate Fund (GEF) can offer some solace.
In July 2017, India nominated the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) as the National Implementing Entity for the overall project monitoring and implementation of multilateral climate change funding. NABARD, as the name suggests, is active in bringing transformation in climate-sensitive farm-based economic sectors.
Shifting away from traditional agencies of funding and by opting for such an action-research organisation, India has paved the way for successful pathways for convergence with the SDGs of measures to cope with climate change.
Jump-starting its function, NABARD has already facilitated the implementation of a project on resilience in vulnerable tribal areas of Odisha with a $31.63 million outlay funded by the Global Carbon Fund. Though the proposed action is envisaged to reduce vulnerability and mitigate the emission of green house gases, it will help in achieving several SDGs.
It would thus be ideal for all South Asian and other developing countries to plan such a convergence of programmes relating to climate change with the SDGs.
(Lenin Babu is a consultant with Karnataka State Women's University, Vijayapura. The views expressed are personal. The article is in special arrangement with South Asia Monitor)
--IANS
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Model-event manager Deepak Ghimire is set to debut as an actor with a Nepali film titled "Anuraag".
"I'm excited that I finally got my acting break with a Nepali movie. I have grown up watching Nepali movies. I couldn't be more lucky. I am playing the lead role along with actress Aliza Gutam. It's a musical love story. We will start shooting for the movie from end of October," Deepak said in a statement.
The movie is to be produced under Aliza Films Production and directed by Satya Raj Chaulagain.
Deepak, based in Nepal, has Bollywood dreams too.
"I also want to act in Bollywood movies. It will be my dream come true," he said.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Actress Deepika Padukone on Wednesday shared a logo of her much-awaited movie "Padmavati" -- thereby starting the promotions of the film, which was mired in controversy during its shoot over its subject.
"Rani Padmavati arrives tomorrow... With the sunrise," Deepika tweeted with a photograph featuring the simple logo, which features the movie's title on a plain black background.
The first look of the movie will be unveiled on Thursday.
Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali -- known for his grand period dramas -- "Padmavati" also features Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor.
"Padmavati" tells the story of Alauddin Khilji, the medieval-era Delhi ruler who fell in love with Rajput queen Padmavati.
The movie's shoot went through a lot of hurdles.
In January, activists of outfit Shri Rajput Karni Sena had assaulted Bhansali and vandalised the movie's Jaipur set over alleged distortions in the film's script.
Later, once the filmmaker had moved the film's shoot to Maharashtra, an outdoor set of the historic period drama in Kohlapur was reduced to ashes after two dozen unidentified persons torched it in March.
--IANS
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Describing the government stand on Rohingya refugees as a "policy issue", Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday indicated there would be no change in the stance towards them, as it is a well considered issue.
Asked about the Rohingyas refugees from Myanmar, who the government has said are illegal migrants and should go back, Jaitley said: "We have given a clear affidavit on this issue. What is there in the affidavit is the government's stand."
"What are the security implications, what is India's foreign policy on this, what are our humanitarian considerations? We are also helping Bangladesh... we have sent food grains and other material as humanitarian aid."
"After all, what is the impact on national security situation and what is the impact on demographic balance... All these factors were considered while taking the decision," he said.
"This is a policy issue and we have presented our views on it in the affidavit to the Supreme Court."
The Centre on Monday urged the Supreme Court not to interfere in the Rohingya issue as the move to deport them was a policy decision in the country's larger interests and that some of them were linked to Pakistani spy agency ISI and other terrorist groups.
The government told the apex court that the Rohingya matter was not justiceable and when there existed a fair procedure prescribed by law for deportation, "it should be left to the central government to exercise its essential executive function by way of a policy decision in the larger interest of the country".
The Centre told the bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud that many Rohingyas "figure in the suspected sinister designs of ISI/ISIS and other extremist groups, who want to achieve their ulterior motives in India including flaring up communal and sectarian violence in sensitive areas of the country".
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Leading Indian software firms like Infosys, Wipro and Cognizant on Wednesday interacted with Chinese hardware firms to forge partnerships for collaborations in the seaport city of Dalian, according to a Nasscom statement.
The opportunities for tie-ups were explored at a day-long first India-China Dalian IoT (Internet of Things) Conference, organised by the Indian IT industry trade body Nasscom and the Dalian Municipal People's Government in the Chinese city.
"When Sino-Indian firms combine their strength in manufacturing and software, they will be able to build a robust ecosystem of IoT and smarter products that are in demand the world over," said the statement.
"Though India and China have made a mark in the global economy with domain expertise in software and hardware, the changing dynamics of the world call them to jointly build new solutions in automation, IoT and artificial intelligence," it said.
About 30 delegates representing the Indian government and Indian firms and 50 delegates from the Chinese industry attended the event.
Dalian Mayor Xiao Shengfeng hoped the Indian software industry and the Chinese hardware industry strengthen communication, increase understanding and promote cooperation to achieve results in IoT, smart equipment manufacturing and big data analysis.
"We believe the conference serves as a platform for upgrading Dalian industries and drive the integration of the Indian IT industry and the strong manufacturing industry of Dalian," said the Mayor on the occasion.
Indian Commerce Department Joint Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey called for greater collaborative opportunities between Indian and Chinese firms in the IT and IT-enabled Services (ITeS) sector.
"Chinese companies should take advantage of the opportunities in the 'Make in India' initiative of our government," reiterated Pandey at the conference.
The Indian delegation also complimented the Chinese initiative to liberalise and promote trade in services.
"With the new digital wave, we have a unique opportunity to merge hardware and software to create smart solutions for the world," said Nasscom's Global Trade Development Director Gagan Sabarwal.
"I am sure our joint initiative will lead to many partnerships to create value and jobs in both the countries."
--IANS
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Actor Leonardo DiCaprio has announced that his Foundation will give $20 million in grants to more than 100 environmentally focused organisations.
The new grants, ranging from wildlife and habit conservation and combating climate change to the defence of indigenous rights, increase the organisation's total direct financial impact to over $80 million since 1998, reports variety.com.
"These facts have been presented to the world time-and-time again for decades. Quite simply, we are knowingly doing this to ourselves, to our planet and to our future, and the cost of our inaction is becoming clearer," DiCaprio said during a Yale Climate Conference hosted by John Kerry on Tuesday.
"Yet with all of this evidence - the independent scientific warnings, and the mounting economic price tag - there is still an astounding level of wilful ignorance and inaction from the people who should be doing the most to protect us, and every other living thing on this planet."
DiCaprio encouraged everyone to vote in midterm elections for political candidates who believe that climate change is real and to support companies that provide climate-friendly products.
The Oscar winning actor also called for a global shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
"Our challenge is to find new ways to power our lives, employ millions of people and turn every individual into an advocate for clean air and drinkable water. We must demand that politicians accept climate science and make bold commitments before it is too late."
The grants were announced in six areas, including climate change, wildlife and landscape conservation, marine life and ocean conservation, innovative solutions, indigenous rights, and the California programme.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced the formation of a nine-member board of administrators, headed by ousted Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leader Binay Tamang, to run the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).
GTA is the developmental body in the north Bengal hills.
"The power that was enjoyed by the Chief Executive of the elected body, we are transferring the same power to a board of administrators and they are all from the hills," Banerjee said at the state secretariat here.
"Many a time work of the GTA was not being done properly when power was vested in a single government official."
The development comes close on the heels of a meeting held by the Chief Minister with Tamang and Anit Thapa at the secretariat earlier this week.
Tamang was expelled from the GJM along with party colleague Thapa on September 1 on charges of "conspiring with the state government to derail" the movement for a separate state of Gorkhaland.
The Trinamool Congress leader said Tamang would be the chairman and Anit Thapa the vice chairman of the GTA.
Other members include Gorkha National Liberation Front leader Mann Ghising, legislator Amar Singh Rai, Anu Chhetri, J. Khatun, L.B. Rai, Sanchari Subba and the Principal Secretary of GTA.
"They will run the GTA. Including Principal Secretary, they are nine in total. Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Mirik are represented. If there are more public representatives they can shoulder more responsibility," Banerjee said referring to Section 65B of the GTA Act, 2011.
"They will assume charge with immediate effect and can work till the elections are held. Since there is no possibility of elections now, we are forming the board. When the atmosphere becomes conducive to conduct polls and elections take place, then the elected body will work," she said.
All elected GTA members including its chief executive Gurung, had resigned from the administrative body in June after the GJM revived the Gorkhaland agitation.
"We are in favour of an elected body. We didn't tell anyone to resign, everyone did so on their own accord," Banerjee said.
She said IAS Barun Roy was given administrative charge of GTA after the members stepped down.
Armed with more powers than its predecessor - the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council formed in the late 1980s - the GTA was created on July 18, 2011, via a tripartite between the GJM and the state and central governments.
The GJM won the first GTA elections held in 2012, and ran the board till its leaders resigned.
The elected body's five year term ended on June 30.
On June 27, the GJM burnt the GTA Regulation act documents in public as a symbolic protest against the board.
--IANS
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(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday slammed Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for meeting Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leader Roshan Giri who has been slapped with a lookout notice.
"I know that a lookout notice was issued against him. When such a notice is slapped against someone, generally it (meeting the person) should not be done. It (Home Minister) is a constitutional and an important post. They are doing what they feel is right. If I were in that place, I would not have done so," Banerjee said at the state secretariat.
A small GJM delegation on Tuesday met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi and raised the issue of Gorkhaland and the need for a "tripartite dialogue" to resolve the long-pending demands of the Gorkhas.
The six-member delegation, led by GJM leader Swaraj Thapa, held a 30-minute meeting with Rajnath Singh at his residence on Tuesday in which Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and Union Minister S.S. Ahluwalia, who is an MP from Darjeeling, were reportedly present.
"In the meeting with Home Minister Rajnath Singh, the GJM delegation raised the issue of Gorkhaland and the need for a tripartite dialogue to resolve the long-pending demands of the Gorkhas," a GJM statement said.
The GJM members, including Roshan Giri, Thapa, D.K. Pradhan, Tilak Chand Roka and P.T. Ola, also sought immediate central government's intervention to end the 96-day indefinite strike.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former "Bigg Boss" contestant Manu Punjabi will host a new chat show titled "BB Chai Pe Charcha with Manu Punjabi".
The host of MTV's "A Date To Remember" has now come up with his own YouTube channel 'MAINMANUHOON' where his new show will air soon.
"We are working on it. A lot of things are being lined up and are yet to be finalised. This one will be a talk show, and topics will be chosen by the public or depending on trends. It is going to be fun, crazy and wild," Manu said in a statement.
"We will have commoners and celebrity guests in our show. I hope people will love me the same way they did during my other show," he added.
--IANS
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The Mexican president on Wednesday said his priority is to rescue people still trapped under the debris of collapsed buildings and provide medical assistance to those injured in the 7.1-magnitude earthquake that killed at least 224 people.
In an address to the nation, Enrique Pena Nieto called for a national emergency committee meeting and ordered the activation of an emergency plan, including the deployment of thousands of members of the Army, Navy and the federal police to assist in rescue and relief efforts.
Pena Nieto said he was closely coordinating with the governors of Mexico City, Puebla and Morelos, the cities that suffered the most damage, reports Efe.
The emergency services of the Mexican Social Security Institute, the Institute for Social Security and Services for State Workers and the Armed Forces were also standing by to assist people affected in the quake, he added.
Pena Nieto also expressed condolences to those who had lost a family member or loved one in the earthquake and reported that 40 percent of Mexico City and 60 percent of Morelos state were still without power.
The President said shelters had been set up for all those who need them and asked people to stay indoors as far as possible to facilitate aid efforts and the deployment of emergency services.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Alleging that the Modi government has rehashed, repackaged and renamed 23 schemes which were launched by previous governments led by the Congress, the party on Wednesday said "they (BJP) were trying to mislead the nation".
"Recently, a set of senior political advisors to the BJP during the 2014 election campaign have made a startling and astounding revelation.
"They have accepted the stark truth that as many as 23 schemes started earlier by previous Congress governments have been rehashed, repackaged and renamed by the present Modi government," said Congress spokesperson and MP Rajeev Shukla.
"In June this year, when the Congress party listed these 23 schemes, the BJP government refused to accept this and thereby misled the nation," he added.
He said the BJP inherited the 23 schemes on a platter - which were already at various stages of implementation, and "now they have completely failed".
"Whether it is 'Make in India' or 'Skill India', whether it building affordable housing for poor or whether it is distributing Soil Health Cards to farmers, BJP's glaring failures are completely evident."
"No wonder, the present Modi government has brought the country to a grave economic situation," he added.
The party pointed out some of the changed names of earlier schemes and their "worsening status under the Modi government".
Indira Awaas Yojana now renamed as Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana, Rajiv Awaas Yojana now renamed as Sardar Patel National Urban Housing Mission, No Frills Account now called Jan Dhan Yojana, National Manufacturing Policy now called as 'Make in India'.
National Skill Development Mission now renamed as 'Skill India', National Girl Child Day Programme now called 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao', Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission now renamed as AMRUT, Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana now called Deen Dayal Updadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Mumbai Airport's main runway failed to open at 2 p.m. on Wedesday as work on towing out a stranded private airlines aircraft continued amid heavy rains, low visibility and strong winds, officials said here.
An Air India technical team is assisting the SpiceJet authorities to retrieve the stuck plane and clear the runway for regular operations.
As a result, flight operations are continuing now on the secondary runway leading to huge delays, diversions, go-arounds and cancellations.
Unofficial sources indicate that the work on towing the aircraft may take several hours owing to inclement weather but airport authorities declined to comment.
Till morning, the figures of diversions stood at more than five dozen flights. Over 100 flights, including international ones, have been diverted to various other cities like Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
According to IMD figures, Mumbai suburbs recorded a whopping 304 mm rainfall till Wednesday morning, making it the third highest downpour in a single day since the great Mumbai floods when the city experienced 945 mm rains, followed by 316 mm on August 29 this year.
"We are experiencing heavy rainfall and bad tail winds at the airport.
The flights are taking off and landing from the secondary runway. There are delays (of up to 30 minutes) in arrivals/departures because of the fluctuating weather," a spokesperson said.
A 22-member Zimbabwe Under-19 team, which was supposed to reach Mumbai on Tuesday, has been stranded at Nagpur's Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport since overnight.
Air India passengers stuck in Nagpur faced a harrowing time as the airline could not arrange for sufficient hotel rooms which were booked mostly by private airlines, said an official.
All flight operations on both runways were suspended for around 30 minutes on Tuesday evening, forcing diversion of four incoming flights and seven go-arounds due to poor visibility.
Later, around midnight, there was another suspension of operations after a SpiceJet Boeing aircraft skidded due to wet runway, hitting the operations on the main runway.
All through Wednesday, heavy rains continued to clobber Mumbai, the entire coastal Konkan region and parts of western and northern Maharashtra affecting normal life in various cities, towns and villages.
This comes three weeks after the Mumbai deluge of August 29 and 30 which paralysed the city and notched over a dozen deaths.
The city's critical lifeline, the suburban trains and the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus services, were also reported running with delays.
The IMD has forecast heavy and widespread rains over large parts of Maharashtra and surroundings till Saturday.
On Wednesday the warning was downgraded for Mumbai and surrounding areas, which can expect "only intermittent rains for next two days in few places".
Till Wednesday morning, the IMD said Mumbai suburbs received 304 mm rains while the city experienced 210 mm rainfall.
As a precaution, Education Minister Vinod Tawde late on Tuesday announced closure of all schools and colleges in Mumbai metropolitan region.
Mumbai's famed Dabbawalas also announced cancellation of their regular 200,000 tiffin box delivery services on Wednesday.
Till 7 a.m., the BMC Disaster Control said the western suburbs received 245 mm rains, eastern suburbs recorded 186 mm and south Mumbai notched 126 mm.
Several low-lying areas in central Mumbai like Parel and Dadar and some areas of the suburbs like Chembur, Kurla, Andheri, Malad, Borivali and Dahisar experienced water-logging, slowing down the morning office-bound traffic.
In the Konkan region, many towns and villages experienced water-logging in Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Raigad and Palghar districts, disrupting normal life.
In Nashik, Kolhapur and Pune districts, torrential rains resulted in lowlying areas getting flooded in the major cities and hampering normal movement of people and traffic.
The City of Palaces has been decked up to host its world famous 10-day 'Mysuru Dasara' fest starting Thursday with pomp and pageantry and an increase in the number of tourists is expected this year, officials said.
"This year's festival is expecting at least 30 per cent increase in the footfall. We are making all the necessary arrangements to make this year's fest much bigger than the last year," Additional Deputy Commissioner T. Yogesh told IANS.
Mysuru, located about 150km from Karnataka capital Bengaluru, attracts visitors from across the world during Dasara, which has been celebrated over centuries to mark the triumph of good over evil.
The fest includes a multitude of cultural celebrations and the iconic Mysuru Palace built in 1912 is lit up with thousands of light bulbs during the evening. This spectacle draws at least 10 lakh visitors from the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Maharashtra among others.
According to officials, at least 10,000 tourists from across the world also gather in the city to witness the festival celebrations.
Security in the city has been beefed up with the inflow of lakhs of visitors.
"At least 5,000 police personnel have been deployed in the city for the coming 10 days," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) N. Vishnuvardhan told IANS.
The celebrations will be flagged off by renowned poet K.S. Nissar Ahmed along with other state officials on Thursday atop Chamundi Hills, located 13 km from Mysuru.
On Thursday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will inaugurate the Dasara flower show, one of the main attractions of the fest. The flower show is expected to have over 3.5 lakh visitors, according to officials.
Cultural events, also to be inaugurated by the Chief Minister in the evening, will include several dance performances by the likes of Padma Shri Shobana, folk performances, Hindustani and Carnatic music concerts, farmer Dasara exhibition, food melas, film festival etc., that would be held across various venues in the city.
Visitors can also take a helicopter ride for a panoramic view of the illuminated city.
A procession by caparisoned elephants around the lanes of the royal palace is also one of the much-awaited sights during the fest each year.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The telecom regulator, which sent the industry into a tizzy with its decision to slash interconnection usage charges (IUC), justified the move by saying it "will result in direct benefit to customers". Contradicting this claim, industry experts said that, given the current scenario in the sector, there will be no such direct benefit to end users.
"The IUC termination charge cut is not expected to provide any direct benefit to end customers. In the current hyper-competitive situation, most tariff packages already offer free voice calls," Arpita Pal Agrawal, Partner and Leader, Telecom Industry practice, PricewaterhouseCoopers India, told IANS.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Tuesday cut call termination charges from mobile to mobile by over half to 6 paise per minute effective from October 1.
The sector regulator also plans to phase out IUC by January 1, 2020.
"The elimination of IUC will result in direct benefit to customers through lower tariffs," TRAI said.
Domestic termination charges are the charges payable by a telecom service provider (TSP) whose subscriber originates the call, to the TSP in whose network the call terminates.
Agrawal explained: "The IUC is a cost that a telco pays to another telco for terminating off-net calls. Even with the prevailing termination charge of 14 paise per minute, telcos are offering free voice calls so no further direct benefitS are expected to accrue to customers in the short term. On the contrary, this reduction would increase financial stress for the incumbents and could hamper future investments."
Similar views were expressed by Rishi Tejpal, Principal Research Analyst for Telecom Business Strategy at Gartner.
"Almost all the operators are offering free calls. Given the present scenario of the industry, I doubt whether it will be passed on to the end customers," Tejpal told IANS.
"Certainly, this IUC cut will have an impact on the balance sheets of the telecom companies. As it is, revenues of telecom companies are in danger. They are suffering quarter-on-quarter. With the IUC cut, they will suffer more; pressure on balance sheets will go up and to overcome it they may increase tariff," he added.
The prevailing IUC regulation was notified on February 23, 2015, and came into effect from March 1, 2015. At present the telecom companies pay 14 paise as call termination charges.
"The latest directive from TRAI bringing down IUC is yet another stressful thing to happen to the telecom sector in India. The operators won't be able to pass on the benefit to the consumers and one should not expect call charges to go down further," said Faisal Kawoosa, Principal Analyst Telecommunications & ESDM, CyberMedia Research.
"The reduction of IUC is going to adversely hit the investments and ROI (return on investment) on the existing infrastructure investments of operators at a time when revenues are colliding (collapsing) because of the disruptions in the market from techno-commercial perspectives," he added.
(Aparajita Gupta can be contacted at aparajita.g@ians.in)
--IANS
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Declining a stay on the disqualification of 18 rebel AIADMK MLAs, the Madras High Court on Wednesday ordered that no floor test should be held in the assembly till further orders nor can by-elections be held in those assembly constituencies.
Justice M. Duraiswamy passed the order while hearing the petition from legislators owing allegiance to T.T.V. Dinakaran challenging their disqualification by Speaker P. Dhanapal on Monday and the DMK petition that sought an immediate floor test. The judge adjourned hearing in the case to October 4.
The judge, while extending the stay on a floor test, also ordered that no by-elections will be held to the seats rendered vacant by the disqualification of MLAs.
On a petition filed by the DMK, the court had last week directed that no floor test will be held till Wednesday.
The DMK, which had petitioned the court to order Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao to convene the assembly and ask Chief Minister K. Palaniswami to prove his majority, claimed the court's order was a "big victory" for the party and democracy. Party spokesman and lawyer Saravanan said it was an order arrived at with the "consent" of parties.
Dushyant Dave, counsel for the 18 disqualified lawmakers, argued that the Speaker's action was biased as no action was taken against the AIADMK MLAs who had voted against the confidence motion moved by the Chief Minister soon after assuming power earlier this year.
He said the demand of the MLAs was only to change the Chief Minister and they still continue in the party.
Dave wanted a stay on the Speaker's order so that they can participate in a trial of strength in the assembly.
On the other hand, Aryama Sundaram, counsel for the Speaker, maintained that the disqualification was as per law and sought time for filing his reply and documents in the case.
Kapil Sibal, appearing for DMK, said there should be no floor test till the court decides on its petition seeking a trial of strength and the disqualification of MLAs.
The court also ordered notices to the Chief Minister, Speaker, Assembly Secretary and AIADMK's Chief Whip asking for their stand on the matter.
Meanwhile, the DMK party has postponed the meeting of its legislators slated in the evening.
The leader of Dalit party VCK, Thol Thirumavalavan, said people should understand that the BJP-led central government is "behind the political happenings" in Tamil Nadu.
He said the disqualification of the 18 legislators is unlawful.
Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar accused the DMK and Dinakaran of trying to bring down the state government.
--IANS
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Asserting that there were no specific instructions from the central government on the Rohingya refugees, the BSF on Wednesday said there were no new cases of their infiltration into India this year.
"We have alerted our troops and mobilised resources on the entire 4,096-km India-Bangladesh border. We have faced no infiltration problem so far this year," BSF Additional Director General (Eastern Command) R.P. Singh said on the sidelines of an event here.
The officer said the Centre had not given any specific instructions vis-a-vis the Rohingyas.
"Being a border guarding force, it is our duty to prevent infiltration. There has been no specific instructions from the Centre about the Rohingyas," Singh said.
"For us, infiltrators are just infiltrators. So, whether they are Rohingyas or Bangladeshis, if they do not have a valid passport, it does not make any difference," he added.
The BSF officer said there were no fresh arrests of illegal migrants after the Rohingya influx into Bangladesh.
The United Nations last week said that over 4 lakh Rohingyas had fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar since August 25.
"We have fully sealed the border and redeployed our assets. After the recent cases of the Rohingyas moving to Bangladesh, the BSF has not apprehended anybody. However, the Rohingyas have been apprehended in previous years."
--IANS
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A criminal was shot dead in an encounter with the police in Uttar Pradesh's Noida early on Wednesday, an officer said.
The incident occurred in the Greater Noida area, when three men were fleeing after stealing a Honda City car and Rs 1.5 lakh in cash from Noida's sector 58.
They were chased by a police team. A gun battle erupted near Bisrakh in Greater Noida, the police spokesman told IANS. One criminal was fatally shot. Two others, however, managed to escape.
The car and the cash have been recovered, the official added.
--IANS
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An image-breaking project like "Bareilly Ki Barfi", devoid of portraying her in the trappings of an urban Bollywood heroine, is just what Kriti Sanon was looking for after featuring in movies like "Heropanti", "Dilwale" and "Raabta".
Kriti has won hearts with her de-glam and spirited role in the rustic and entertaining drama "Bareilly Ki Barfi", directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari.
"I think the response (to my de-glam role has been) great, and it's something I was looking for. It takes one person to believe in you and believe in the actor in you rather than the person they see on screen, where you're playing a glamorous role and urban roles.
"When someone believes in you as an actor, and try and put you in a different mould, it's interesting for you as an actor as well," Kriti told IANS over phone from Mumbai.
Happy that the audience and film fraternity has appreciated her performance, she added: "They have liked me in a new light and a lot of messages that I got from friends, family and industry members, said it's my best performance. Also, a lot of people did not expect me to do a character like that... I am glad that people will see me in a different way after Bitti's character in 'Bareilly Ki Barfi'."
The movie's trailer described her character as; she stays in Bareilly -- a small town in Uttar Pradesh, does breakdance and watches English films.
Kriti feels the reason why the character is "evolved, progressive and liberal is because perhaps she's a little more educated than the others around her".
"She's a working girl, thinks of things very differently, puts logic and questions gender bias... These are things you do when you're educated," added the actress, who has been appointed Education New Zealand brand ambassador.
In this new role, she will play a catalyst in supporting the educational and career prospects of students from India to New Zealand.
Kriti holds a BTech degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering. She wanted to pursue higher studies abroad herself, but then showbiz happened.
"I am what I am because of the education I've had. I was planning to do my post graduation from outside India, but by then that was my first year or second year in college and then modelling happened. It made me realise my passion for acting and I completely switched paths.
"But for my parents, they wanted me to have a backup or security as all middle-class parents do. They are all scared and protective of their children, especially daughters who are going into a field so alien to them," said the daughter of a chartered accountant and a university professor.
"I did give GMAT and got a good score. So if things would have not worked well (in showbiz), I would have perhaps been in a university abroad, studying and doing my masters," quipped Kriti.
Does her engineering background help her in any way in her acting career?
"Education enhances your overall personality. It gives you a lot of confidence. You can have strong opinions based on your education and you have a sense of being independent. You are more aware about things happening around, and make decisions with more clarity.
"In engineering, everything is about putting logic. You put a question to everything -- if this is happening, why is this happening. I think I've become like that as a person. I put logic to things and don't just follow norms or do things like I am told to do without thinking why am I doing that.
"Even when I'm on set and preparing for a character, I put in a lot of thought to why is this character behaving like this. I have a lot of questions which I ask the directors. That does somewhere come from my educational background," Kriti said.
If given a chance, would she pursue a formal course in the acting or filmmaking space.
"Yes, I'd love to. I haven't had any education in filmmaking part aspect, and never learnt anything in filmmaking. Maybe a few years from now, if I can take out some time in between... I think it's always important for actors to go out and refresh themselves, their methods and learn new ways of doing what they do, to break away from the monotony."
(Radhika Bhirani can be contacted at radhika.b@ians.in)
--IANS
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The Delhi government on Wednesday said a political party was levelling "misleading and malicious" allegations to malign the Construction Workers Welfare Board.
Earlier during the day, Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party President Manoj Tiwari said there was a "Rs 100 crore scam of misappropriation of the board funds" by the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government.
Tiwari was referring to media reports and urged for a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry.
The Delhi government on Wednesday evening issued a rejoinder. "Attention of the Department of Labour has been drawn towards some false, misleading and malicious allegations levelled by a political party with the intention to malign the Construction Workers Welfare Board," the rejoinder said.
"All figures mentioned in the allegation are incorrect and it appears the political party concerned had done no homework before making wild allegations."
Tiwari said they feared that the government could destroy records of labour funds and the Lt. Governor should order sealing of all relevant records.
--IANS
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In a first of its kind order, the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed Unitech to pay the litigation cost to home buyers who had succeeded before the grievance redressal commission in their lawsuit against the real estate major but later opted for the return of their principal amount with interest instead of flats.
A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud directed the real estate major to pay Rs 80,000 each as litigation cost to 39 flat buyers who had opted out of the developer's Vistas project in Gurugram.
The court directed Unitech to pay the amount towards litigation cost within four weeks to buyers at Unitech's Vistas project who have succeeded before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) but later opted out of the project.
The top court by its February 20 order had directed Unitech to pay interest at the rate of 14 per cent to the 39 flat buyers, but they later opted out of the project.
The 39 flat buyers had paid Rs 16.55 crore to the builder and sought both principal amount and interest thereon after builder did not hand over the possession of the flats as promised by 2012.
The happiness of the beneficiaries was so much that a woman standing in the visitors' gallery loudly thanked the court. Later, she was escorted to the point from where lawyers address the judges and once again thanked the judges.
Meanwhile, 70 flats buyers of Amrapali Silicon City -- a company of the Amrapali Group -- on Wednesday moved the top court, challenging insolvency proceedings against the company before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
The Amrapali Silicon City is a project located in Noida.
The tribunal has already admitted a plea by the Bank of Baroda against the company over a loan default.
In the case of Jaypee Infratech, the top court by its September 11 order had appointed senior counsel Shekhar Naphade and advocate Shubhangi Tuli to represent the home buyers at the meetings of the Committee of the Creditors.
The committee would consider the plan for restructuring of Jaypee Infratech by the Interim Resolution Professional appointed by the tribunal on August 9.
The top court had on September 4 stayed the order of the NCLT appointing an insolvency resolution professional to carry out corporate insolvency resolution proceedings on IDBI's plea seeking recovery of Rs 526 crore from Jaypee Infratech.
The stay of the August 9 order of the NCLT restored the management of Jaypee Infratech back to the defaulting company. The IDBI Bank had moved the top court for the vacation of the September 4 stay order.
The top court on September 11 modified its September 4 order on a plea by Attorney General K.K. Venugopal, who had told the court that if the control of Jaypee Infratech continued with its erstwhile management, then it would affect the rights of both the creditors and consumers.
--IANS
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Once friends, and now his arch foes -- rebel JD-U leader Sharad Yadav and RJD chief Lalu Prasad -- took pot shots at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday, accusing his government of massive corruption after a portion of an irrigation canal in Bhagalpur district collapsed hours before its inauguration.
"Three hundred and ninety crore rupees was spent on constructing the canal. And it broke a day before its inauguration, which proves the money meant for construction of the canal was looted," Yadav told reporters in New Delhi.
A portion of the Rs 389.31-crore Bateshwarsthan Ganga Pump Canal Project collapsed on Tuesday evening in Bhagalpur district of Bihar, leading to inundation of residential areas and the National Thermal Power Corp (NTPC) plant in Kahalgaon. JD-U President and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was forced to cancel his visit to the area on Wednesday for its inauguration.
The project was begun in 1996-97 and took years to get ready.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) accused the Bihar government of "criminal negligence" and demanded a high-level probe into the incident.
"Through the collapse of the dam, the hollowness of Bihar government's modus operandi stands exposed," RJD spokesperson Manoj Jha told IANS.
"It is a text book case of criminal negligence, which demands that the accountability must be fixed from the top. Nitishji has spent more time in political manipulation rather than addressing the pressing concerns of the people," Jha added.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav took to Twitter and accused the Nitish Kumar government of rampant corruption and alleged that poor quality of construction led to its collapse.
According to state government officials, the canal was a joint scheme of Bihar and Jharkhand under which 18,620 hectares of land in Bhagalpur and 4,038 hectares in Godda district of Jharkhand would be irrigated.
The Planning Commission had approved the project in 1977 at an estimated cost of Rs 13.88 crore.
--IANS
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Popular television actor Karan Kundra, who shot for digital survival series "Stupid Man Smart Phone" -- wherein a smartphone and a super network was the only means of survival -- says the show was life threatening sometimes.
"This show was life threatening at times, but the beauty of Arunachal Pradesh took my breath away. I've done travel reality shows in the past as well, but this show was like none other, especially given that we had a chance to interact with our fans through social media, where we would ask them for assistance, directions and even the most basic survival tips," Karan said in a statement.
A VOOT Original, the show will go live on Viacom 18's video-on-demand streaming service from Wednesday.
It features Karan, as well as celebrities like Sumeet Vyas, Evelyn Sharma and funnyman Sahil Khattar scaling a treacherous mountain pass, battling wildlife and river rapids in the forests and beating the gruelling desert sun. Their social media followers aid in their survival choices.
Produced by BBC Worldwide Productions, the show is hosted by Sumeet, who said: "Travel, adventure, survival and reality coupled with the idea of a smartphone coming to your rescue - 'Stupid Man Smart Phone' as a format to me was extremely exciting".
"The show challenged me to push my personal boundaries, be it physical or mental to perform stunts that I would never have thought possible. This journey, along with my three co-contestants has been an enriching experiment and one that I will cherish throughout my lifetime," he added.
Recounting her experience in the lush forests of the Tamil Nadu and Kerala border, Evelyn said: "I am a passionate traveller and the show allowed me to explore a terrain that I wouldn't have dreamed of doing otherwise. I don't think any amount of training could truly prepare us for what we faced whilst on the journey but it was a fun experience nonetheless."
Khattar, who accompanied Sumeet on the second leg of the trip to Rajasthan, said: "It was one crazy ride. I found myself uprooted from my comfort zone and facing trials like drinking camel milk, eating cacti and surviving a hot desert which was both difficult and fascinating."
The show is unique with today's social media madness at the heart of it, commented Monika Shergill, Head of Content, VOOT.
--IANS
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India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani discussed on Wednesday ways to boost strategic partnership between the two nations.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a tweet, "Boosting strategic partnership with a special friend, EAM @SushmaSwaraj calls on Afghanistan President @ashrafghani."
Swaraj visited Ghani at his hotel for the meeting.
The meeting follows a visit to Delhi by Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani earlier this month.
At that meeting, both countries had agreed to promote a new development partnership and undertake 116 projects in Afghanistan.
Rabbani, according to media reports, asked India to expedite the construciton of the Chhabahar port it is building in Iran to provide landlocked Afghanistan an outlet to the world using the Indian-built Delaram-Zaranj highway to the Iran border.
He also asked India to expand expand the air corridor established earlier this year between the two countries.
Rabbani's visit came after US President Donald Trump asked India "to help us more with Afghanistan".
In an address to the nation in August laying out his new policy for Afghanistan, where the US has been bogged down in a 16-year war, Trump said that a "critical part of the South Asia strategy for America is to further develop its strategic partnership with India -- the world's largest democracy and a key security and economic partner of the US."
Since 2001, India has pledged aid worth $3.1 billion to Afghanistan.
Among projects to be undertaken are the Shatoot dam, water supply for Kabul and Charikar, and housing for returning refugees.
A show-case project is the parliament built by India and another is building major highways, both built in the face of Taliban attacks.
India has also given Afghanistan military helicopters -- and General John Nicholson, the US commander in Afghanistan, has said that country could do with more of them and other military supplies.
--IANS
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Two more men were arrested on Wednesday over last week's terror attack on a London Tube train, taking the total number of suspects held to five, officials said.
A 48-year-old man and a 30-year-old man were detained under the Terrorism Act in the early hours after a search at an address in Newport, south Wales. Their identities and nationalities were not made available by the Scotland Yard, BBC reported.
Thirty people were injured when an improvised explosive device camouflaged inside a paint bucket partially detonated on a London Underground train at Parsons Green station on Friday.
"This continues to be a fast-moving investigation," said Commander Dean Haydon, head of the Metropolitan Police's counter-terror force. "Detectives are carrying out extensive inquiries to determine the full facts behind the attack."
Another man was arrested late Tuesday night in Newport, where police raided several homes. On Saturday, an 18-year-old was arrested at Dover port and a 21-year-old was arrested in Hounslow, an area near Heathrow airport.
Police also carried out raids on homes in Surrey, a county just outside southwest London, and Hounslow.
Shortly after the bombing, the UK raised the terror threat level to "critical" in response, but lowered it back to its second highest level on Sunday, meaning an attack was highly likely but not imminent.
--IANS
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Paris, Sep 20 (IANS/AKI) The head of the UN culture organisation UNESCO on Wednesday deplored the slaying of Somali radio and TV reporter Abdullahi Osman Moallim in a bomb attack and urged the country's authorities to probe the killing.
"I condemn the killing of Abdullahi Osman Moallim," UNESCO director-general Irina Bokova said in a statement.
Moallim, 24, died from head injuries three days after he was wounded in a suicide bombing in the city of Beledeweyn in the central Hiran region on September 13. Two other Somali reporters were also injured when the attacker detonated an explosive vest outside a cafe in the city.
"Journalists the world over are being attacked based on their mission to keep the public informed," Bokova said.
"I call on the responsible authorities to investigate this attack and extend my condolences to the victims and their families."
Moallim worked for the privately owned station Radio Codka, as do the other two reporters wounded in the suicide bombing. He also worked for the regional government owned Jubbaland TV.
The bombing was reportedly claimed by the Al Qaeda-aligned militant group al-Shabaab.
At least 62 journalists have been killed in relation to their work in Somalia since 1992, many of them in bombings, making the war-wracked country one of the world's most dangerous places to be a reporter, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
--IANS
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An artist's impression of the Mars probe including lander and rover. Provided to China Daily
China is on track to launch its first Mars probe around 2020, with the plan to retrieve soil and rock samples before 2030, according to the mission's chief designer, Zhang Rongqiao.
The nation aims to be the first to conduct orbital and surface explorations of Mars in a single mission, Zhang said on Wednesday at an international forum on lunar and deep-space exploration in Beijing.
The probe will consist of three parts an orbiter, lander and rover and will include 13 pieces of test equipment, seven on the orbiter and six on the rover.
Zhang said the orbiter and the rover will collect data on the Red Planet's atmosphere, electromagnetic fields, temperatures and landscape, among other things, while the rover will also be used to test equipment for sample-retrieval missions between 2025 and 2030, he added.
"Chinese scientists are doing preliminary research now to anticipate the data that will be collected from Mars, so we can publish our reports faster," Zhang said.
He added that the Mars mission is "going smoothly and all according to plan" despite the failure of the Long March 5 carrier rocket launch in July.
China also has plans to send probes to Jupiter in 2036 and Uranus in 2046, he said.
Russia, India and the United States have all had probes orbit Mars, but only the US has successfully landed a rover and carried out surface missions.
Facebook-owned WhatsApp has reportedly rejected the British government's request to access encrypted messages that the authorities had made in the wake of recent terror attacks in the country.
The inability to access terrorists' encrypted conversations is creating a "black hole" for security services, Britain-based Sky News quoted security sources saying on Tuesday.
Terrorists were "frequent users of encrypted apps" - specifically WhatsApp and another app Telegram. "It is crucially important that we can access their communications -- and when we can't, it can provide a black hole for investigators," the report said, quoting sources.
WhatsApp said that it cannot provide data that WhatsApp itself does not collect.
The company said that it "appreciates the work that law enforcement agencies do to keep people safe around the world. We are prepared to carefully review, validate and respond to law enforcement requests based on applicable law and policy".
"Naturally, people have asked what end-to-end encryption means for the work of law enforcement. WhatsApp appreciates the work that law enforcement agencies do to keep people safe around the world. We carefully review, validate, and respond to law enforcement requests based on applicable law and policy, and we prioritise responses to emergency requests," WhatsApp said in a statement.
Encrypted messaging apps were used ahead of the attacks on Westminster, Manchester and London Bridge. The devices of one of the suspects was recovered and investigated by intelligence agencies.
Apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Apple iMessage employ end-to-end encryption. Messages sent by users are protected by a code contained on the app on their smartphone.
During a discussion with technology honchos at United Nations on Wednesday, British Prime Minister Theresa May was expected to ask them to help governments fight terrorism.
Actor Irrfan Khan says he wants to do a children's film and explore different "shades of love" through cinema.
With projects like "Paan Singh Tomar", "Talvar", "Maqbool", and "7 Khoon Maaf", Irrfan has carved a name for himself in Hindi cinema. He has gradually established himself in the West too.
The actor has been associated with foreign films like "The Namesake", "Life of Pi", "A Mighty Heart", "Slumdog Millionaire', "The Amazing Spider-Man" and "Inferno" -- which will premiere on the Indian small screen on Sony PIX on September 24.
"I want to do a movie where I can entertain kids... Like 'Jurassic World'... I want to engage kids and younger generation. I want to do a film which is about love, which I did in 'Piku' and 'The Lunchbox'. I would love to explore different shades of love and romance," Irrfan said during the promotions of "Inferno" in Singapore.
"So, there are a few areas which you (I) want to explore. There are real life characters which I would like to play, but I will not name them," he said, adding that there is no horror cinema and political cinema in India.
Irrfan joined Hollywood actor Tom Hanks in his quest to save the world on the silver screen in Oscar-winning director Ron Howard's film "Inferno".
Talking about the film, Irrfan said: "Working with cinematic legends like Tom Hanks and Ron Howard was an incredible experience. The overwhelming response that we got in the theatres was amazing."
--IANS
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When an expert on Indian Accounting Standard (Ind-AS), the new financial reporting standard, arrived in Ahmedabad for an industry master class on the subject, he was dismayed to find the attendance was thin. When he asked the organisers why the event didnt evoke much interest, he was offered an interesting explanation: Had this been a master class on GST, be assured there would have been a full house. Accounting standards are something businesses here feel their headquarters will take care of.
The Madras High Courts order stalling the floor test till further orders thwarted the E Palaniswami-O Panneerselvam camps plan to go ahead with it after the disqualification of 18 AIADMK Assembly members loyal to T T V Dinakaran (pictured). This was largely welcomed by the people of Tamil Nadu. That the Speaker overstepped his authority in disqualifying the dissident Assembly members is not being contested seriously.
If it (the US) is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself. These were the extraordinary words of President in his address to the UN General Assembly on September 18.
Eight of the 18 pro-Dhinakaran MLAs disqualified by the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker on Tuesday moved the Madras High Court challenging the action against them under the anti-defection law.
The Narendra Modi government faces narrative altering next two months. As it brainstorms a policy initiative to spur economic growth, criticism of the government's economic policies is increasing not just from the Opposition and on social media, but within the party and the Sangh Parivar.
One person was arrested in connection with the murder of an ashram owner at Sandila in Hardoi district, the police said today.
Tejbir Singh was arrested by the police last evening.
Circle officer of Hardoi police station Arun Kumar Singh said the accused confessed that he has committed the crime with the help of his two accomplices.
The other accused are still absconding, the police official said.
Dayarani, the owner of an ashram, was murdered on September 3, the police said, adding property dispute could be the reason behind the murder.
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At least 12 people died and 92 were missing after heavy rain caused flooding in two villages in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, an official said today.
"The provisional toll, after torrential rain hit the villages of Bihambwe and Matanda in Masisi territory, is 12 dead, 18 injured, and 92 missing," said Julien Paluku, governor of Nord Kivu province, where the villages are located.
The rain started yesterday, causing a river to flood, local residents told AFP.
"The rain began in the afternoon, forcing those coming back from the fields to take shelter in homes near the river. The flooding caught them by surprise," said Joseph Ndabita, a resident of Bihambwe.
He told AFP he had counted "10 bodies and (seen) others being swept away by the strong current towards the river."
"The water which came down from the mountains has caused damage," said Safari Ayobangira, a local MP, who said searches were underway to find the missing.
'Most of the victims were farmers whose fields bordered the Bihambwe river which passes the two villages that lie about 50 kilometres northwest of Goma, the regional capital.
In mid-August, at least 150 people died when a massive mudslide devastated Tara, a fishing village on the shores of Lake Albert near the country's northeastern border with Uganda.
The vast country has experienced several natural disasters caused by torrential rain.
In May 2010, a wall of mud swept through the eastern village of Kibiriga, killing 19 people and leaving 27 missing. And in 2002, about 50 people died when a wave of mud and rocks struck the eastern town of Uvira, submerging about 150 homes.
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Two Nigerians have been arrested from here for allegedly possessing 20 kilograms Amphetamine, worth around Rs 50 lakh by sleuths of the Narcotics Control Bureau, a senior official said today.
"We have arrested two Nigerians from the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus on Monday. They had come to Mumbai by Rajdhani Express from Delhi. We have recovered 20 kilograms of Amphetamine from their possession," Zonal NCB director Kumar Sanjay Jha told PTI.
Jha said the accused, Tatteh Joseph and Ani Stanley Chukwuma, were to take the contraband to South Africa.
"We were alerted by the Delhi NCB so that we can swoop on the entire network including the Mumbai support", Jha said.
The NCB official said they recovered a table from the duo and when they broke it they recovered the contraband.
"Joseph has two passports, one of Ghana and other of Nigeria. But he admitted to being a Nigerian", added Jha.
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At least 248 people were killed when a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Mexico, including 21 children crushed beneath an elementary school that was reduced to rubble.
The destruction revived horrific memories in Mexico on the anniversary of another massive quake in 1985, the disaster-prone country's deadliest ever.
One of the most gut-wrenching scenes was at the Enrique Rebsamen primary school on Mexico City's south side, whose three floors collapsed into one, trapping students and teachers inside.
Twenty-one children and five adults were killed, said Major Jose Luis Vergara of the Mexican navy yesterday, who was coordinating a rescue effort that involved hundreds of soldiers, police, civilian volunteers and rescue dogs.
He said another 30 to 40 people remained trapped inside, while 11 children have been rescued so far.
Emergency workers found a teacher and a student alive beneath the rubble and are trying to get them out, he said.
But the situation was precarious. Late into the night, part of the wreckage collapsed as rescuers continued their search.
Local media reports said soldiers had administered oxygen to one trapped child through a tube.
President Enrique Pena Nieto, who rushed to the site, warned the death toll could rise.
"Unfortunately, many people have lost their lives, including children, in schools, buildings and homes," he said in a national address.
The devastation struck across a swath of central states and the death toll as of early today was 248, the head of the national disaster response agency, Luis Felipe Puente, said on Twitter.
In addition to Mexico City, people were also killed in Puebla, Morelos, Mexico state and Guerrero, said Interior Minister Miguel Osorio Chong.
Well after nightfall, rescue crews and volunteers in Mexico City -- home to 20 million people -- were still clawing through the rubble of dozens of collapsed buildings looking for survivors and bodies.
Local media reported that families were getting WhatsApp messages pleading for help from desperate relatives trapped under debris.
Memories of the devastating 1985 earthquake, which killed at least 10,000 people, surged to the surface on what was meant to be a low-key 32nd anniversary.
Adding to the national sense of vulnerability, the quake also came just 12 days after another temblor that killed nearly 100 people and left more than 200 injured, mainly in the southern states of Oaxaca and Chiapas.
Many in the capital ran outdoors when walls around them swayed and cracked.
"I'm so worried. I can't stop crying. It's the same nightmare as in 1985," Georgina Sanchez, 52, sobbed to AFP in a plaza in the capital.
The quake -- which occurred in the early afternoon, hours after city authorities had conducted an earthquake drill -- caused massive damage in the bustling center of the city.
"It was horrible," said resident Leiza Visaj Herrera, 27. "I had to hold on to the ground."
Scenes of chaos erupted in the quake's aftermath. Traffic jammed to a standstill before blanked-out stop lights, and anxious people ran between vehicles as ambulances tried to make headway, sirens blaring.
In several locations, large crowds of people clambered on buildings that were now piles of stone and tangled metal, trying to pull people out.
Emergency workers held up signs commanding "Silence" so crews could listen for the sounds of any survivors.
Jorge Lopez, a 49-year-old Spaniard living in Mexico City, said he raced to his children's school in the central Roma district, to find it collapsed but his offspring safe but terrified.
"We arrived at the school and everyone was crying, everyone was frantic, and the kids were holding on to a rope," he said.
Patients were evacuated from a nearby hospital, wheeled out on beds and wheelchairs.
Pena Neto said on Twitter he had ordered the evacuation of damaged hospitals.
At one collapsed building in the Roma district, dozens of people dug through rubble as they waited for the arrival of heavy machinery to move the massive chunks of stone. Officials called out for more volunteers, and for water.
A woman standing and watching the efforts with her husband, a doctor, turned to him and said, "Darling, if you want to help, go ahead. Just give me your glasses, and be careful."
Mexico City's airport closed for more than three hours following the quake. The stock market was forced to shut.
Fearful residents whose homes were damaged were preparing to spend the night on the street or in parks.
On the clogged and darkened roads, muggers came out at night to assault motorists.
Officials in several other countries responded to the quake with offers of help.
Honduras sent a 36-strong rescue team.
US President Donald Trump, who has forged an antagonistic relationship with Mexico, tweeted: "God bless the people of Mexico City. We are with you and will be there for you."
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted: "Devastating news from Mexico City. My thoughts are with those affected by today's earthquake -- Canada will be ready to help our friends.
(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.)
Around 250 junior doctors at the state-run Gandhi Hospital here today boycotted elective duties and held a protest condemning the alleged attack by attendants of a patient on a house surgeon in the early hours.
According to the protesting doctors, the attendants of a 70-year-old patient, suffering from kidney ailment, who had died at around 3.30 am at the hospital during medical tests, assaulted a duty house surgeon and beat him up accusing him of "killing" the elderly man.
The protesting doctors held placards like 'We condemn attack on doctors' and demonstrated in the hospital premises demanding that the government immediately look into the matter.
"There is no proper security. This is not the first incident of attack on doctors by attendants of patients. We want deployment of Special Protection Force (SPF) personnel and installation of CCTV cameras. Those who attacked the duty surgeon should be immediately punished," they demanded.
"The patient was initially admitted to Gandhi Hospital at around 11.30 pm yesterday and the medical staff provided him treatment. But, his attendants took him to a private hospital where he was administered some injections.
"Apparently in view of high medical charges at the private hospital, the patient was again brought back to Gandhi Hospital at around 3.30 am and when he was taken for some tests he died. The patient was very sick," Gandhi Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr P Shravan Kumar told PTI.
Suddenly the attendants of the patient beat up the duty surgeon and condemning this around 250 junior doctors resorted to protest by boycotting elective duties.
Emergency services at the hospital were not hit. "We are hopeful the protesting doctors will resume duties tomorrow," the Superintendent said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi Police said today it has arrested four men for allegedly stabbing to death a man and injuring his friend following an argument in Geeta Colony area of Shahdara.
Nishant Arora, 29, and Gaurav Sharma, 27, were attacked by the accused on the night of September 16 and 17 after the duo intervened in an argument among the four over giving way to one of their vehicles.
Of the four, three were on a motorcycle, and the fourth was driving a car.
According to the FIR, Arora and Sharma were heading towards Jheel Chowk in Geeta Colony on a scooter when they found three motorcyclists arguing with the car driver.
Arora and Sharma tried to pacify them. But one of the motorcyclists stabbed the duo, the police said.
Arora was declared brought dead at a hospital and Sharma was being treated at the GTB Hospital, they added.
The four accused have been identified as Deepanshu Chabra (24), Devender Sharma (24), Rohan alias Gagan Vermani (22) and Gufran (22), the police said.
They were arrested from Haridwar late last night, said Nupur Prasad, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara).
The police suspect the four accused were drunk during the argument.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake stunned central Mexico today, killing at least 139 people as buildings collapsed in plumes of dust. Thousands fled into the streets in panic, and many stayed to help rescue those trapped.
Dozens of buildings tumbled into mounds of rubble or were severely damaged in densely populated parts of Mexico City and nearby states. Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said buildings fell at 44 places in the capital alone as high-rises across the city swayed sickeningly.
Hours after the quake, rescue workers were still clawing through the wreckage of a primary school that partly collapsed in the city's south looking for any children who might be trapped. Some relatives said they had received Whatsapp message from two girls inside.
The quake is the deadliest in Mexico since a 1985 quake on the same date killed thousands. It came less than two weeks after another powerful quake caused 90 deaths in the country's south.
Luis Felipe Puente, head of the national Civil Defence agency, tweeted Tuesday night that the confirmed death toll had risen to 139.
His tweet said 64 people died in Morelos state, just south of Mexico City, though local officials reported only 54. In addition, 36 were killed in the capital, 29 in Puebla state, nine in the State of Mexico and one in Guerrero state, he said.
The count did not include one death that officials in the southern state of Oaxaca reported earlier as quake-related. Mancera, the Mexico City mayor, said 50 to 60 people were rescued alive by citizens and emergency workers in the capital. Authorities said at least 70 people in the capital had been hospitalised for injuries.
The federal interior minister, Miguel Angel Osorio Chong, said authorities had reports of people possibly still being trapped in collapsed buildings. He said search efforts were slow because of the fragility of rubble.
"It has to be done very carefully," he said. And "time is against us."
At one site, reporters saw onlookers cheer as a woman was pulled from the rubble. Rescuers immediately called for silence so they could listen to who might be trapped. Mariana Morales, a 26-year-old nutritionist, was one of many who spontaneously participated in rescue efforts.
She wore a paper face mask and her hands were still dusty from having joined a rescue brigade to clear rubble from a building that fell in a cloud of dust before her eyes, about 15 minutes after the quake.
Morales said she was in a taxi when the quake struck, and she got out and sat on a sidewalk to try to recover from the scare. Then, just a few yards away, the three-story building fell.
A dust-covered Carlos Mendoza, 30, said that he and other volunteers had been able to pull two people alive from the ruins of a collapsed apartment building after three hours of effort.
"We saw this and came to help," he said. "It's ugly, very ugly."
Alma Gonzalez was in her fourth-floor apartment in the Roma neighbourhood when the quake pancaked the ground floor of her building, leaving her no way out until neighbours set up a ladder on their roof and helped her slide out a side window.
Gala Dluzhynska was taking a class with 11 other women on the second floor of a building on trendy Alvaro Obregon street when the quake struck and window and ceiling panels fell as the building began to tear apart.
She said she fell down the stairs and people began to walk over her before someone finally pulled her up.
"There were no stairs anymore. There were rocks," she said.
They reached the bottom only to find it barred. A security guard finally came and unlocked it.
The quake sent people throughout the city fleeing from homes and offices, and many people remained in the streets for hours, fearful of returning to the structures.
Alarms blared and traffic stopped around the Angel of Independence monument on the iconic Reforma Avenue.
Electricity and cellphone service was interrupted in many areas and traffic was snarled as signal lights went dark.
The US Geological Survey said the magnitude 7.1 quake hit at 1:14 pm (2:15 pm EDT) and was centred near the Puebla state town of Raboso, about 123 kilometres southeast of Mexico City.
Puebla Governor Tony Gali tweeted there were damaged buildings in the city of Cholula, including collapsed church steeples.
Earlier in the day, workplaces across Mexico City held earthquake readiness drills on the anniversary of the 1985 quake, a magnitude 8.0 shake that killed thousands of people and devastated large parts of the capital.
At least seven workers were killed today when the roof of a pump house collapsed in Rajanna-Siricilla district of Telangana, the state government said.
Quoting the project's executive engineer from the site, a state government release here said seven workers were killed when the roof of an underground pump house at the Kaleswaram irrigation project site draft tube caved in this afternoon.
A draft tube at the end of a turbine increases the pressure of the exiting fluid at the expense of its velocity.
Six of them belonged to Jharkhand and Odisha, while one person hailed from Jaishankar Bhoopalapalli district of Telangana, according to the release.
Earlier, District Superintendent of Police Kampati Vishwajith said the roof of an irrigation tunnel in which the labourers were working caved in at around 12:30 pm.
Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao said the agency is carrying out the works at the site, around 130-km from Hyderabad, has announced a financial assistance of Rs five lakh each to the family of the deceased.
Rao ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the incident.
The release quoted irrigation engineer-in-chief as saying that appropriate steps would be taken at the project site after receiving suggestions from experts and also the inquiry report.
Expressing shock over the death of the workers, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao urged authorities to take steps to prevent such incidents, a release from his office said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
AAP MLAs today staged a protest outside the Shastri Bhawan here, which houses the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, over the rising fuel prices.
In a letter to Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, AAP's Delhi unit convenor Gopal Rai said oil companies should be immediately instructed to link petrol and diesel prices to international market.
He said oil prices in the country continue to remain in the range of Rs 70-80, as they were in 2014, despite the price of crude oil in the international market falling by 50 per cent since then.
"Huge profits made by these oil companies should be passed on to the public," he said.
A senior police official said the MLAs were detained briefly.
"Around 1:30 PM, 22 AAP MLAs and three corporators were protesting outside the Shastri Bhawan over the rising fuel prices. They were detained and later released," said a senior police official.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today petitioned the police here seeking action in connection with what it called a big scam in National Institute of Open Schooling, under which 1,200 candidates in Madhya Pradesh who did not even write the exam were allegedly declared pass in June this year.
"Even before the AAP's intervention, the matter was brought to our notice. We immediately conducted a preliminary probe and after finding discrepancies in the result, ordered a central agency probe into it," NIOS Chairman Professor Chandra Bhushan Sharma told PTI today.
AAP convenor, Alok Agrawal today approached Maharana Pratap Nagar police station and handed over a 250-page complaint with supporting documents to the law-enforcers, seeking registration of an FIR in the case.
He alleged that 1,200 candidates of three schools who even did not appear in the exam of NIOS held in March-April 2017 in Madhya Pradesh had been declared pass.
The result of the above examination was declared in June 2017.
"We have received a complaint from AAP on the issue and after investigations will take appropriate action in the matter," sub inspector, D S Singh told reporters.
After petitioning the police, AAP convenor alleged that NIOS which is a body under Central Board of School Education, had conducted examination for 12th board this year and surprisingly passed 1,200 candidates belonging to three schools in Madhya Pradesh despite the fact that they did not even appear in the exam.
"Out of 1,224 candidates belonging to three schools, only 24 appeared at three different examination centres set up for conducting exam. But all 1,224 were declared passed," Agrawal said, adding, "It smacks of major corruption on the lines of the infamous Vyapam scam and an FIR should be registered in the matter."
He also demanded constitution of a SIT under the supervision of a High Court judge to probe the scam.
These 24 students appeared in Sehore district's Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Central School Sagaod in Ratlam district and Navodaya Vidyalaya, Umaria centres respectively, he said while rest of the 1,200 remained absent as per records which AAP had submitted to the police along with its complaint, Agrawal said.
Agrawal also informed that his party will also file a petition on the issue in the High Court and also stage protest in the entire country.
The AAP leader also said that there are a total of 280 centres in Madhya Pradesh where this exam was conducted and suspected that similar scam may have also taken place in other places.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas today urged the United Nations to end what he described as an "apartheid" regime imposed by Israel in the Palestinian territories.
"We are entrusted and you are entrusted to end apartheid in Palestine," Abbas told the UN General Assembly in a nearly 45-minute address.
"Can the world accept an apartheid regime in the 21st century?" he asked.
Taking the podium a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Abbas slammed Israel over the construction of new settlements "everywhere," saying they were putting the two-state solution in jeopardy.
"There is no place left for the state of Palestine and this is not acceptable," he said.
The United Nations considers settlements illegal under international law and the Security Council in December adopted a resolution demanding an end to the expansion of the Jewish outposts on the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
The resolution passed after the United States under the previous administration of Barack Obama declined to use its veto and instead abstained.
The Palestinian leader vowed to push for full recognition of Palestinian statehood at the United Nations, a move that would require approval from the Security Council where the United States, Israel's key ally, holds veto power.
Abbas spoke at the assembly after meeting US President Donald Trump who said he was "working very hard with everybody involved toward peace" but offered little detail.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav today called Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's 'white paper', highlighting the failure of previous regimes, a "book of lies".
He allged that the Adityanath government failed to bring about any development in the past six months.
"The 'white paper' released by him is a book of lies. The BJP just looks for misleading issues to garner votes," the former chief minister told reporters.
The Uttar Pradesh CM, in its 'white paper' released two days ago, indicted the previous Mayawati (2007-12) and Akhilesh Yadav (2012-17) governments over alleged corruption and anti-people policies.
Alleging that the BJP fooled farmers on loan waiver, Akhilesh said they have understood that the government had played a cruel joke on them.
"While highlighting his achievements, Adityanath forgot to check the certificates of the meagre loan amount that he has waived so far," he said.
He also hit back at the chief minister for saying that Akhilesh did not know the definition of a 'farmer'.
"I invite the CM to visit my village with me and say which tree will bear what fruit," he said.
The former CM said the Adityanath government was hampering development work in the state by calling off the projects initiated during his regime.
"The double engine" (state and Centre together) government should work at the speed of a 'bullet train' but it is not doing so. I challenge the government to perform better than my government," he said.
Asked about the CM's charges that two riots took place every week during the previous regime, Akhilesh said, "There is no law and order in the state. Policemen are being beaten up. The morale of the force has gone down."
The SP chief also raised the issue of the saffron party's alleged association with convicted 'godman' Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, and said that a number of photographs show BJP leaders with the Dera chief.
The ruling party is just trying to divert attention from core issues, Akhilesh said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Timely detection of a 'rail cut' near Cantonment Railway Station here averted a possible train accident, South Western Railways said today.
The cut was noticed yesterday when Marikuppam-KSR Bengaluru passenger train was aboutto chug into the station. The train was detained for 36 minutes till the damaged portion was repaired.
According to a South Western Railway press release, head constable Thirumalesha and constables Chandramani and R S Sundo of Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) were on track patrol duty near Railway cantonment to prevent theft of passenger related offences when they noticed rail cut.
Immediately, information was passed on to the officers concerned. RPF Inspector along with senior section engineer, and station master rushed to the spot, it said.
Appreciating the promptness with which the fault was detected, South Western Railway General Manager A K Gupta announced Rs 5,000 cash award to the RPF staff.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
All medical colleges and hospitals in Bihar would have eye bank by end of March next year, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said today.
This was decided at a meeting of Health minister Mangal Pandey with a society concerned with donating body organs after death here.
Sushil Modi was present at the meeting along with principal secretary of Health department R K Mahajan.
There are 10 government medical college and hospitals in Bihar at present and three in private sector.
Rajendra Nagar Super Speciality hospital would have an eye bank by end of this December.
Pandey announced that a nodal officer would be appointed at state level for facilitating donation of body organs by citizens.
An advisory committee would be constituted at state level under Health minister on subjects linked with donation of body organs after death.
The state Health minister said that a committee of experts would be notified for declaration of a patient as brain dead.
"With the consent of kins, organs of a brain dead person would be taken out for utilising them for needy," a statement issued by Sushil Kumar Modi said.
The state government would also appoint a motivator in every medical college and hospital to inspire people to donate body organs for needy.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Actor Chris Pratt praised his estranged wife actor Anna Faris for her appearance at the 69th Primetime Emmy awards.
The 38-year-old actor, who parted ways with his wife after eight years of marriage last month, said she did an "amazing job" while presenting one of the awards at the event, reported Us Weekly.
"I know she did great. Anna did an amazing job. She rules! She was great. Her and Allison (Janney - her 'Mom' co- star), they both looked great," Pratt told the photographers on the sidelines of the show.
The former couple confirmed their separation by issuing a joint statement on their respective social media accounts, where they requested for privacy.
The duo met in 2007 on the sets of "Take Me Home Tonight". They got married on July 9, 2009, in Bali, Indonesia.
Their son, Jack, now four, was born in August 2012. He arrived nine weeks premature and spend a month in the NICU.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A fresh petition was today moved in the Delhi High Court seeking a court-monitored probe into alleged over-invoicing of imports of raw material and equipment relating to power projects in India by electricity generating companies of Adani and Essar groups.
The petition by former bureaucrat and social activist Harsh Mander was filed in a pending identical matter involving NGOs, Centre for Public Interest Litigation and Common Cause.
When the NGOs' plea came up for hearing, a bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and Sunil Gaur asked them to give details of the DRI enquiry against alleged over-invoicing of equipment and fuel imported for power plants and tagged the fresh petition along with it.
The court asked for the information from the NGOs which have sought an SIT probe into the issue, and listed the matter for hearing on October 25.
However, Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain said the pleas would obstruct the ongoing probe.
The DRI said it would be appealing against its adjudicating authority's decision giving a clean chit to the Adani group in connection with one of the show cause notices issued to the company for alleged over-pricing of equipment.
No one appeared for the two group companies as they have not been made parties in the petition, which has incorporated the Centre, the DRI and the CBI as the respondents.
Senior advocate Vivek Tankha, who appeared for Mander, sought a direction to the Department of Revenue and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) to implement a recommendation that every bill of export or shipping, should include an entry regarding the international market price of the goods or machineries which are sought to be imported.
"This simple step would go a long way in curbing this menace. It is pertinent to mention here that the DRI itself has issued a general alert finding 40 companies to be indulging in rampant over-invoicing," the plea filed through advocate Vaibhav Srivastava said.
During the hearing, advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the two NGOs, alleged that over-pricing was also a cause for the rising number of non performing assets (NPAs) of the banks.
He alleged that Adani and Essar groups have set up shell companies overseas which buy equipment from the suppliers and then sell them to the power companies at inflated prices.
He claimed that on the basis of the over-invoicing, the companies were "lifting huge loans from public sector banks" and, through this modus operandi, "siphoning off money".
Apart from this, these power companies charged a higher tariff from consumers on the ground of the over-priced equipment and fuel, he contended, adding that "they are defrauding consumers by saddling them with higher power tariffs."
The bench, however, said it first wanted to understand the issue and asked the NGOs to give a note indicating the content of the various show cause notices issued to the two groups by DRI as well as the status of investigation and adjudication by the agency in each case.
The NGOs have alleged in their plea that one and half years have passed since DRI issued an alert regarding over- pricing of equipment and coal, but the agency had not taken any concrete step.
They have also alleged that the power firms belonging to the two groups were allegedly inflating the value of imports for their power plants to siphon money abroad and avail higher power rate compensation.
"The modus operandi is identical in all these cases. The coal or power equipment, even though (these are) shipped directly to India, but its invoicing is routed through a different company incorporated abroad which is directly owned and controlled by the promoters of the project in India," the PIL has alleged.
The two NGOs have also claimed in their plea that they have learnt that the CBI had registered a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) based on the DRI show-cause notice to Adani in May 2014.
However, the CBI apparently closed the PE without registering an FIR during the tenure of then CBI Director Ranjit Sinha, the PIL has alleged.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
At least six fighters have been killed and 48 wounded in four days of clashes between rival armed groups in Sabratha, a hub for illegal immigration on Libya's Mediterranean coast, the two sides said today.
The toll compiled from a security force loyal to Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) and the militia of the head of a former people smuggling network, Ahmad Dabbashi, could not be independently confirmed.
Dabbashi's militia said four of its fighters were killed and eight wounded, while a commander of the pro-GNA force, speaking on condition of anonymity, gave a casualty toll of two dead and 40 wounded among its ranks.
The clashes followed an exchange of gunfire on Sunday at a checkpoint manned by the force in which a militiaman was killed.
Libya has plunged into insecurity and political chaos since the ouster and killing of its longtime leader Moamer Kadhafi in a NATO-backed 2011 revolution.
People smugglers have fed on the turmoil, turning violence-wracked Libya into a key gateway for illegal migration to Europe.
Sabratha, 40 kilometres west of Tripoli, where the GNA is based, is Libya's main departure point for migrants trying to reach Europe.
Dabbashi is reportedly among several people smugglers who have decided to halt their lucrative business and cooperate with authorities.
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German drug and agrochemicals major Bayer expects to close acquisition of Monsanto by early 2018 as the talks with regulators around the world and other stakeholders are in advanced stages.
Bayer had in September 2016 agreed to take over the American seeds major Monsanto for USD 66 billion, ending months of wrangling with a third sweetened offer that marked the largest all-cash deal on record. The deal was to be closed by end 2017.
"In consultation with the European Commission, we filed an application on September 18 this year to extend the review deadline (for acquisition of Monsanto) by 10 working days until January 22, 2018, with the aim of facilitating an appropriate evaluation given the size of the transaction," Bayer president for crop sciences division and management board member Liam Condon said.
Condon was addressing a visiting media delegation from India at the company's Future of Farming Dialog 2017 here on Tuesday.
"Due to this, an anticipated closing of the deal in early 2018 is now more likely than end of 2017," he said.
Bayer submitted applications for clearance to almost all of the around 30 relevant authorities, and has already received approvals from over one-third of them, he added.
He said the European Commission is working very closely with the departments of justice in US and Canada and other regulatory authorities around the world.
Condon said there are very constructive talks going on with the regulators around the world to conclude the deal. "We've a reasonably clear picture what the issues could be and we don't expect any surprises going forward."
Whether Bayer is looking at selling any businesses where Monsanto also has presence, Condon said there is not much overlap.
"The overlap is in the area of seeds and traits and herbicide technology. These are the areas that are under discussions now with regulators and we will find out what are the necessary divestment to ensure that competition remains strong in future as well.
"We are in discussions with many interested parties who are interested in acquiring these assets either in total or as a parts of the overall package. Right now, we don't have a preference about who the acquirer is," Condon said.
On their digital farming business, he said they have lined up a huge investment. "We are committed to investing at least 200 million euros in our digital farming business between 2015 and 2020."
Innovative digital farming technologies help farmers big and small to grow healthier crops more efficiently and more sustainably, he said.
Bayer's global R&D head for crop sciences division, Adrian Percy said his division has been investing nearly 1 billion euro annually to bring in new products and to address challenges affecting farmers worldwide.
The Bayer-Monsanto deal has become the signature transaction in a consolidation race that has roiled the agribusiness sector globally in recent years, due to shifting weather patterns, rising competition in grain exports and a souring farm economy globally due to bad weather conditions.
The deal will create a conglomerate commanding over a quarter of the combined world market for seeds and pesticides.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi today assured that the territorial government would implement Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new 'mantra' for governance, "Human touch, efficiency and innovation."
In her twitter handle, she said the Puducherry government would implement the 'mantra' (guidelines) to help the union territory and its people.
She said she had circulated the newspaper clippings containing the message of the Prime Minister to all the Secretaries of government departments, the Director General of Police with simultaneous intimation to Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues.
The Prime Minister has stressed on the need to add human touch to governance, revamp office memorandum-circular system and make top officers spend five to six days a month in the field.
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The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP today hit out at NC leader Omar Abdullah over his remarks on Rohingya Muslims, claiming that the statement carried "communal" overtones and said the decision about their settlement rested with the Centre.
The former chief minister had yesterday questioned those calling on the Rohingya to leave the country, asking whether they would also demand the Tibetan government-in-exile to leave the Indian shores.
"Though Omar is a member of a major political party of the state and is a former chief minister, he matches the separatists in his statements and gives the impression of being fundamentalist and communal in his approach," BJP state spokesperson Virender Gupta alleged.
In a statement, he asked the National Conference working president whether his sympathy and statement in favour of their settlement carried "communal overtones" in light of his and his party's resistance to the settlement of people from Jammu, who are permanent citizens of the state, in Kashmir valley.
Gupta alleged that during the Amarnath land row in 2008, Abdullah and the NC opposed temporary shelters for pilgrims near base camps in the valley and in the Parliament, he announced that land could not be given for construction of theshelters which were to be removed after pilgrimage.
He alleged that in 1990, a situation was created in the valley that forced the minorities to leave and now the party was opposing their return and settlement in Kashmir.
"Abdullah and his party are opposing the establishment of Sainik Colony even for those Sainiks who are permanent residents of the state," Gupta alleged.
He claimed that he would appreciate the concern for the Rohingya if Abdullah took them along to the Valley and made arrangements for their settlement there.
"The decision to allow or not to allow the Rohingya to settle rests with Government of India which was elected by people of the country. It is the central government which has been given responsibility of thinking in the interest of the country," he said.
He alleged that when the NC was in power, Jammu region was badly affected.
"All the policies of the NC are Kashmir-oriented and biased against Jammu region," he alleged.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rejecting the BJP's allegation of phone-tapping by the Siddaramaiah government, the ruling Congress in Karnataka today said it was a serious matter and dared the opposition party to prove it with evidence.
"Whoever is making such an allegation, he, in this case (former minister R) Ashok, should prove it if he has any evidence. Yes, it is a very serious matter," Karnataka Congress president G Parameshwara told reporters here.
Siddaramaiah had yesterday rejected the allegation levelled by Ashok recently that the phones of BJP and JD(S) leaders in the state were being tapped.
The chief minister had also alleged that it was the BJP- led central government which had been tapping the phones of Congress leaders.
Asked who were the Congress leaders whose phones were being tapped, Parameshwara said he had no idea.
"The chief minister must have some information, since he also heads the intelligence wing," he added.
State Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy had also dismissed the BJP's charge and hit out at the Centre, alleging that it was not only tapping "our phone calls", but also "misusing" agencies like the CBI to harass Congress leaders.
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Brazil's Supreme Court opened the door today for Congress to debate whether to put President Michel Temer on trial for corruption in a new peak for the mammoth graft scandal shaking Latin America's biggest country.
The court rejected a last-ditch attempt by Temer to have his obstruction of justice and racketeering case suspended. A 6-0 majority on the court voted down Temer's appeal, with five more justices still due to vote.
That clears the way for the case to be considered by the lower house of Congress.
If the chamber of deputies votes by a two thirds majority in favour, Temer -- the first sitting Brazilian president to face criminal charges -- would have to stand down for 180 days and face trial at the Supreme Court.
However, the centre-right president is confident he has enough support easily to defeat the charges. A first charge of bribe-taking in June was thrown out overwhelmingly by allied deputies.
The latest charges involve Temer's alleged agreement to pay hush money to keep a jailed politician from testifying and his leadership of a group in Congress that took millions of dollars in bribes from companies seeking state contracts.
His lawyers attempted to put the case on hold, arguing before the Supreme Court that one of the main pieces of evidence in the prosecution -- plea deal testimony from a meatpacking tycoon -- needs to be reconsidered because of irregularities.
His lawyers also argue that some of the alleged crimes took place before he was sworn in as president last year, after replacing impeached president Dilma Rousseff.
A review of the case might have suited Temer because the prosecutor general who brought the charges, Rodrigo Janot, stepped down at the end of last week. Janot was replaced by Raquel Dodge, whom analysts say may be less aggressive.
At issue now is testimony given by JBS meatpacking magnates Joesley and Wesley Batista, who confessed to conducting wide ranging bribery of politicians and testified against Temer.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indian-origin business tycoon SanjeevGupta's UK-based GFG Alliance today reached an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Australia's ZEN Energy as part of a strategic partnership.
The deal was struck through GFG Alliance's energy division SIMEC Energy with ZEN, described as a prominent emerging Australian energy company providing businesses and households with affordable, reliable and tailor-made solutions.
SIMEC ZEN Energy, the new joint venture, will work to improve energy security and reduce the cost of power for GFG Alliance and other businesses in Australia.
"The high cost of energy for Australian consumers is debilitating for the economy and a crying shame for a country so rich in resources. We clearly see a need for industrial groups and energy generators to work together," said Gupta, executive chairman of GFG Alliance.
He said that long-term sustainable energy solutions had to be founded on both economic and environmental principles in order for them to work properly.
Gupta added: "Combining our power expertise developed in the UK, and Zen's local knowledge in Australia, is a natural partnership. ZEN Energy is proudly Australian and brings unparalleled market and technological knowledge to address the challenges faced by the Australian power sector. We are delighted to partner with them on projects and look to invest for further growth. Our main focus, as in the UK, will be renewable energy."
Building on its experience in designing and installing solar and battery storage solutions for residential and commercial customers, ZEN offers power supply solutions to large industrial customers.
ZEN works closely with some of Australia's largest energy users to reduce costs, increase reliability, and increase the amount of low-emissions energy used in industry, GFG Alliance said.
ZEN uses a combination of energy sourced from new and existing power plants, demand management technologies and energy storage to deliver energy supply solutions at a competitive price.
It also manages the development of new renewable energy projects.
Ross Garnaut, chairman of ZEN Energy, said: "ZEN has spent many years building the strategy, business models and management and technological capacities to introduce new solutions to Australia's energy problems of weak competition, high costs, low reliability and unnecessary pollution.
"We have been looking for the right capital investor and strategic partner to help realise our plans, and have found the perfect match in Sanjeev and the SIMEC Energy team.
"Their understanding of the energy dilemma this country faces, which is making much of our industry uncommercial and environmentally unsustainable, means we see the market need and opportunity in the same way. We are excited about the future, as this will yield benefits for Australian jobs, investors, communities and the environment."
SIMEC ZEN Energy will become a member of the GFG Alliance and will work closely with SIMEC Energy's existing global energy team which already has 600 MW of power generating assets in the UK with another 400 MW under development, ranging from solid biomass and liquid bio fuels, to hydro and tidal, to wind and solar, and also cutting-edge waste-to- energy projects.
ZEN Energy will partner with SIMEC to deliver cheaper, more reliable and environmentally sustainable energy for SIMEC's mining operations in South Australia and Liberty OneSteel's operations in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia.
SIMEC ZEN Energy will also project-manage the development of SIMEC Energy Australia's new large scale energy projects, including solar PV, battery storage and pumped hydro facilities.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Chhattisgarh government has signed an MoU with datacenter and enterprise cloud start-up Pi Datacenters Pvt Ltd to set up a data center in Naya Raipur, the upcoming new capital of the state.
The agreement was inked between Naya Raipur Development Authority (NRDA) and the company in the presence of Chief Minister Raman Singh here at his official residence last evening, a government official here said today.
It will be developed on a sprawling 10 acres of land in sector-22 of Naya Raipur at a cost of Rs 200 crore.
It will provide jobs to at least 310 people, he said.
Chief Executive Officer of NRDA, Mukesh Bansal and director of Pi Datacenters Kalyan Muppaneni signed the agreement on behalf of their respective agencies, according to which the facility will be fully operational within 18 months, he added.
Hailing the initiatives being taken in the IT sector, chief minister Raman Singh said Naya Raipur will have underground facilities of electricity supply, internet connectivity and water supply.
The state government is committed to ensure uninterrupted facilities to IT service providers companies interested to invest in the state, he said.
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Infotech Promotion Society (CHiPS) CEO Alex Paul Menon apprsied that the proposed data center in Naya Raipur will be first tier-IVdata center of central India.
It will cater to diverse geographies for high performance computing needs and intensive workloads, Menon said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Union Cabinet today approved rationalisation of 17 Government of India Presses by merging them into five units.
"Cabinet approves rationalisation/merger and modernisation of 17 Government of India Presses (GIPs) into 5 GIPs at Rashtrapati Bhawan, Minto Road and Mayapuri in New Delhi, Nashik in Maharashtra and Temple Street in Kolkata," an official statement said.
Modernisation of presses will help them take important confidential, urgent and multi-colour printing work of the union government offices across the country, said the statement.
The five presses are to be redeveloped and modernised through monetisation of their surplus land.
The exchequer cost will be "zero" as well as without any retrenchment and employees will be absorbed, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said during the cabinet briefing.
Under the approval, 468 acres of land belonging to these units that are to be merged will go to the Land & Development Office of the Ministry of Urban Development.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The inauguration of the Rs 389.31 crore Ganga pump canal scheme scheduled for today has been cancelled after wall of the canal collapsed during a trial run and inundated areas of a township,
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was scheduled to inaugurate the canal scheme, aimed at providing irrigation facilities in the state and neighbouring Jharkhand.
The wall of the canal collapsed when water from the Ganga forcefully hit it after the pump was switched on for trial run at Bateshwarsthan in Bhagalpur district.
The water gushed into Kahalgaon and inundated areas in NTPC township as well some civil areas including the residence of the Kahalgaon civil judge and the sub-judge.
"The proposed programme of the Chief Minister at Bhagalpur today has been cancelled due to technical reasons," an official statement said in Patna yesterday.
Advertisements were yesterday put out in newspapers about the inauguration of the project by the CM in the presence of Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lallan and local Congress MLA Sadanand Singh.
RJD workers burnt an effigy of Kumar and Lallan in Bhagalpur alleging corruption in construction of the project.
Principal Secretary of Water Resources department Arun Kumar Singh along with the Bhagalpur DM and SP are on the spot to supervise measures for draining out water from NTPC township and some civil areas of Kahalgaon, around 3 km from the project site.
"Sand bags are being put to check flow of water," Arun Singh told reporters.
It is a joint scheme of Bihar and Jharkhand. Under it 18,620 hectares of land in Bhagalpur would get irrigation facility while 4038 hectares of areas in Godda district of Jharkhand would be irrigated, a government brochure on the project said.
The Rs 389.31 crore project has a total irrigation capacity of 27603 hectares out of which 22816 is in Bihar and 4887 hectares in Jharkhand.
The Planning Commission had originally approved the project in 1977 at an estimated cost of Rs 13.88 crore. The first administrative approval to the project was provided in 2008 involving a cost of Rs 389.31 crore, the brochure said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The CBI registered an FIR against a retired judge of the Orissa High Court and five others in an alleged corruption case and carried out searches at eight places today.
Justice (retired) Ishrat Masroor Quddusi has been booked on corruption charges, along with B P Yadav and Palash Yadav of the Prasad Educational Trust which runs a medical college in Lucknow, Biswanath Agrawala a middleman and two others -- Bhawana Pandey and Sudhir Giri, according to a CBI spokesperson.
Justice (retired) Quddusi was a judge in the Orissa High Court between 2004 and 2010.
The spokesperson said the agency had carried out searches at eight locations, including the residence of Justice (retired) Quddusi, here. Searches were also carried out in Bhubaneswar and Lucknow.
The spokesperson also rejected reports that the residence of a sitting judge of the Orissa High Court was raided by the agency. All such reports "are baseless and factually incorrect", the spokesperson added.
According to the CBI FIR, Prasad Institute of Medical Science in Lucknow was among the 46 medical institutes that were barred by the government from admitting new students because of shortcomings in infrastructure, the FIR said.
The issue was challenged in the Supreme Court by the college. The Apex Court had directed the government to consider the material on record afresh, it said.
In compliance with the order, the government heard the matter and debarred the college from taking admissions for two sessions -- 2017-18 and 2018-19.
It also authorised the Medical Council of India to encash the college's bank guarantee of Rs 2 crore, it said.
The matter was being pursued by the Prasad Education Trust in the apex court. The trust had filed a writ petition.
B P Yadav got in touch with Justice (retired) Quddusi and Pandey through Sudhir Giri of Venkateshwara Medical College, Meerut.
Yadav requested the retired judge and Pandey for help who assured him of getting the matter settled in the apex court through their contact and they further engaged Biswanath Agrawala, a Bhubaneswar resident, the FIR alleged.
"Biswanath Agrawala claimed very close contacts with senior relevant public functionaries and assured that he would get the matter favourably settled. He demanded huge gratification for inducing public servants by corrupt and illegal means in lieu of aforesaid help," the FIR alleged.
The agency laid a trap and recovered Rs 1 crore from Agrawala in Delhi which he had allegedly received from a hawala operator, Ram Dev Saraswat, the CBI sources said.
They said during the searches, Rs 85 lakh were recovered from the hawala operator and Rs 5 lakh from Pandey.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Centre is planning to start helicopter and smaller aircraft services to hilly areas, Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands under the second phase of UDAN scheme, Minister of State Jayant Sinha said today.
"Under the UDAN round 2, we have given special consideration to hilly areas, north-east, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and provide concessions so that we can operate helicopters as well as smaller planes in these places," he told reporters here.
Last month, the government had announced increasing viability gap funding for helicopter operators and allowing smaller planes, among other concessions, under the regional air connectivity scheme.
The second phase of UDAN seeks to connect unserved and under-served airports as well as make flying more affordable with fares capped at Rs 2,500 for one-hour flights.
Hoping that there will be "better" participation from the airlines during round 2 of UDAN, the MoS for Civil Aviation said under the first round, the government was able to add around 30 new airports.
He said the Centre was also working on adding more international routes from southern cities like Coimbatore and Tiruchirapalli.
"Passengers wanted more international flights from Coimbatore. We are working on that. There is a demand for more international flights from Tiruchirappalli as well," Sinha said.
Referring to the Chennai airport, the minister said the annual passenger traffic was set to increase from present 20 million to 35 million in coming years.
He said the Centre was working on a greenfield airport for Chennai for which around 2,000 acres of land would have to be provided by the Tamil Nadu government.
Sinha and senior government officials were here to unveil the Chennai-Mysuru direct flight service offered by 'Trujet' under the UDAN scheme.
"We are very pleased today to start one more flight in our ground breaking regional connectivity scheme. I am here to launch the flight that will go from Chennai to Mysuru," he said.
"The flight which arrives from Hyderabad to Chennai would resume its journey to Mysuru. So it is not only connecting Chennai and Mysuru, but also connecting Hyderabad to Mysuru," he said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As part of the disinvestment exercise, the Centre today decided to exit three ITDC hotels including Jaipur Ashok and handover them to the state governments concerned.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the transfer of India Tourism Development Corporation Ltd (ITDC) hotels Jaipur Ashok and Lalitha Mahal Palace Mysore to the governments of Rajasthan and Karnataka.
It also cleared disinvestment of ITDC's 51 per cent equity in Donyi Polo Ashok, Itanagar, in favour of Arunachal Pradesh.
Briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that as per valuations, the Jaipur property would fetch the Centre Rs 14 crore, Mysore Rs 7.45 crore and Itanagar Rs 3.89 crore.
This is as per disinvestment policy of the Government of India wherein ITDC Hotels and properties are to be leased or sub-leased jointly with states, he said.
The policy has been formulated in line with the view that running and managing hotels is not the job of the government or its entities.
The Ministry of Tourism has to date transferred the properties or units of Hotel Lake View Ashok, Bhopal; Hotel Brahmaputra Ashok, Guwahati and Hotel Bharatpur Ashok, Bharatpur to the state governments concerned.
In addition, 'in-principle' approval for transfer of Hotel Janpath, New Delhi, to Ministry of Urban Development, has also been accorded by the CCEA.
Shares of ITDC closed at Rs 577.45, a surge of 16.43 per cent from the previous close.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
CESC Ltd, the utility supplying power in Kolkata and Howrah, today assured uninterrupted power supply during Durga Puja starting September 26.
"About 6,000 employees will be on duty to ensure adequate generation and distribution. The accent is on uninterrupted power supply and electrical safety," CESC officials said.
Till today, more than 4,000 applications were received for special connection to puja pandals and some more are expected within the next two days since the last day for submitting applications was extended to September 22.
Ballygunge Durga Puja Samity Maddox Square and New Land Puja Committee are seeking highest load this year with 370 KW and 350 KW respectively.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The government is hopeful that the strategic Chabahar Port in Iran will be operational by the end of 2018, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said today.
He further said that the port would be a "win win" situation for India, Iran and Afghanistan as it would serve as a "growth engine" for the entire region.
Chabahar port, located in the Sistan-Balochistan province in the energy-rich Persian Gulf nation's southern coast, lies outside the Persian Gulf and is easily accessed from India's western coast, bypassing Pakistan.
"We are hopeful of starting operations at Chabahar Port by the end of 2018. It will be a win-win situation for India, Iran and Afghanistan as trade and business through this route could reach to even Russia and Europe," Shipping, Road Transport, Highways and Water Resources Minister Gadkari said at an event here.
"India can be a big market for Iran and investors from here can invest there," Gadkari said adding that Iran is expected to send an application to the EXIM Bank of India for providing first tranche of loan from the USD 150 million credit line.
For greater trade and investment flow with Iran and neighbouring countries, the Cabinet last year cleared proposals for development of Chabahar port including a USD 150 million credit from Exim Bank.
It also authorised the shipping ministry to form a company in Iran for implementing the Chabahar Port Development Project and related activities.
As per the MoU signed between the two nations in May last year, India is to equip and operate two berths in Chabahar Port Phase-I with capital investment of USD 85.21 million and annual revenue expenditure of USD 22.95 million on a 10-year lease.
Ownership of the equipment will be transferred to the Iranian side on completion of 10 years or for an extended period, based on mutual agreement. The Iranian side had requested for provision of a credit of USD 150 million in accordance with the MoU.
Gadkari said the contract for four key mounted quay cranes at Shahid Beheshti Port, Chabahar, has been finalised.
The minister said bottlenecks for the project have been removed and work was likely to be fast-tracked.
Last month, the minister had been to Tehran as a special envoy of India deputed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the inauguration of the second tenure of Hassan Rouhani as the President of Iran.
During his visit, both sides had reiterated their commitment to complete and operationalise the port at the earliest that would contribute to bilateral and regional trade and economic development and also provide alternate access to landlocked Afghanistan to regional and global markets.
On trilateral transit and transport agreement, Gadkari said India is hopeful of commencement of the work soon.
The trilateral pact was inked during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Tehran in May 2016.
The pact envisages establishment of Transit and Transport Corridor between India, Iran and Afghanistan using Chabahar Port as one of the regional hubs for sea transportation in Iran besides multi-modal transport of goods and passengers across the three nations.
The Cabinet and the President had ratified the pact in November and December, 2016 respectively.
India has already built the Zaranj-Delaram Road in Afghanistan where the cargo reaching Zehedan can connect to.
The rail route is aimed at connecting the existing rail network of Iran at Zahedan, and subsequently to Mashad in north area, thereby providing access to Turkmenistan as well as northern Afghanistan through its connection to the Bafq- Mashad route.
This project will significantly enhance the opportunity for trade and business among the nations.
Chabahar-Zahedan Railway line project is located in the Sistan-Baluchistan province in eastern Iran.
Besides, the bilateral pact to develop the Chabahar port, for which India will invest USD 500 million, a trilateral Agreement on Transport and Transit Corridor has also been signed by India, Afghanistan and Iran.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Beijing hit back on Wednesday at US President Donald Trump's veiled criticism of its territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea, countering that the United States was a greater threat to sovereignty.
In his speech to the UN General Assembly yesterday, Trump decried "threats to sovereignty" in Ukraine and the resource- rich South China Sea, without explicitly mentioning Russia or China.
"We must uphold respect for law, respect for borders, and respect for culture, and the peaceful engagement these allow," Trump said.
China asserts sovereignty over almost all of the strategically vital waters in the face of rival claims from its Southeast Asian neighbours and has rapidly turned reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes.
The United States has conducted three "freedom of navigation" operations near islands held by China to challenge Beijing's maritime claims since Trump took office in January.
"For some time now, some countries have used the pretext of freedom of navigation to bring their planes and fleets near the South China Sea," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said today.
"Actually, I think this is behaviour that has threatened the sovereignty of South China Sea countries," Lu told a regular news briefing.
Lu said the situation in the sea "has been cooling down" thanks to efforts by China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
"I hope that this situation can be respected by relevant countries," he said.
The spokesman also called for "restraint" in response to Trump's warning that he will "totally destroy" North Korea if it threatens the US or its allies.
Lu reiterated Beijing's call for efforts to bring the nuclear issue "back to the right track of peaceful settlement through dialogue and consultation.
China's Mars probe will carry 13 types of payloads, including six rovers, in its first mission to the red planet scheduled for 2020, as Beijing aims to catch up with the US, India and Russia.
"The Mars exploration programme is well underway," said Zhang Rongqiao, chief architect of the Mars mission at the Beijing International Forum on Lunar and Deep-space Exploration, which opened today.
"The payloads will be used to collect data on the environment, morphology, surface structure and atmosphere of Mars," Zhang was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua news agency.
China looks to catch up with India, the US and Russia in sending probes to Mars.
China plans to send a spacecraft to orbit, land and deploy a rover on Mars in 2020. The probe will be launched on a Long March-5 carrier rocket from the Wenchang space launch center in southern China's Hainan Province.
The lander will separate from the orbiter at the end of a journey of around seven months and touch down in a low latitude area in the northern hemisphere of Mars where the rover will explore the surface.
India's low-cost Mars spacecraft completed 1,000 Earth days in its orbit in June this year, well beyond its designed mission life of six months or 180 days.
India had on September 24, 2014 successfully placed the spacecraft in the orbit around the Mars in its very first attempt, joining an elite club of countries with expertise in space technology.
Shaven-headed skipper Mauro Icardi rescued a 1-1 draw for Inter Milan at Bologna on Tuesday that ended his side's perfect start to the Serie A season.
Luciano Spalletti had been looking to make it five wins from five but had to settle for just one point in Bologna.
Simone Verdi's superb long range first-half goal was just the second conceded by Inter before Icardi -- with a new distinctive shaved-head look -- stepped up to convert a contentious spot kick with 13 minutes to go at the Stadio Dall'Ara.
"We had to take advantage of the last quarter of an hour," said Icardi after his sixth goal this season. "We could have done something more, but we were not able to finish.
"Now against Genoa (on Sunday) we have to go back and win at home. With our fans we have an extra player. We have to go back to continue the positive streak."
Inter have emerged as one of the title challengers to rival Juventus and Napoli who also had maximum points after four matches.
Now with 13 points, Inter move provisionally top but Juventus and Napoli can pull ahead when they play Fiorentina and Lazio respectively on Wednesday.
A win by Lazio -- sitting fourth -- would however put the Romans equal on points with Inter.
"There are two lost points, we will see what went wrong this week," said Inter striker Eder.
"We have to look at ourselves not Napoli and Juventus, our goal is the Champions League and we have to fight at all costs."
- 'Not a scandal' -
===================
Spalletti had made just one change to the side that beat Crotone on Saturday with Japanese defender Yuto Nagatomo in for Brazilian Dalbert.
But Inter suffered in the first half with Icardi just failing to get on the end of an Ivan Perisic cross before Verdi got on the scoresheet after 32 minutes after half a dozen early shots at goal.
Inter gained momentum after the break but failed to find a way through until the controversial foul by Ibrahima Mbaye on Eder which was confirmed by the video assistant referee.
Eder won the spot-kick, as he was running away from goal when Mbaye tripped and accidentally landed with his arm on the forward's heel.
"He scored tonight, so we'll shave his head every day now," joked Spalletti of Icardi who had failed to find the net against Crotone.
"It's not a scandal for a team to draw," added the Inter boss. "We were slower than usual, unable to make the ball move well in vertical lines, especially in midfield, so we gave Bologna the chance to close down our channels."
Bologna move up two spots to 11th as they bounced back from the weekend defeat at Fiorentina.
"We deserved something more, on the pitch we showed it," said Verdi. "There are still many doubts about that penalty.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amid the political tussle in the state, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami today took a dip in the river Cauvery even as his rival TTV Dhinakaran took a swipe at him, saying no amount of holy dips could wash off his "betrayal".
The chief minister took the holy dip at the Cauvery Pushkaram function at a temple in Mayiladuthurai in Nagappattinam district.
Palaniswami was accompanied by senior party leaders including Handloom and Textiles Minister O S Manian and chief government whip S Rajendran.
His holy dip came on a day when the Madras High Court extended its stay on the conduct of floor test of his government, against the backdrop of Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal disqualifying 18 AIADMK MLAs owing allegiance to Dhinakaran.
Taking a jibe at the chief minister's action, Dhinakaran said "In whichever river he takes a bath, even if at Rameswaram (sea) or Kasi (Varanasi), his betrayal of 1.5 crore party workers and its General Secretary (V K Sasikala) will not go away,"
"Only the purity of the river will be affected," he quipped.
On MLAs supporting him moving court against their disqualification, Dhinakaran told reporters at Tiruchirappalli "Palaniswami and co have forgotten that court exists" and exuded confidence that "we will get justice."
Dhinakaran and Palaniswami are engaged in a tussle for power, even as the former has been accusing the chief minister of "betraying" Sasikala, saying she was the one who nominated him to the top post following a revolt by then rebel leader and now deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam in February.
While the two factions led by Palaniswami and Panneerselvam had merged on August 21, the very next day, 19 MLAs owing allegiance to Dhinakaran had met Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, saying they had lost confidence in the chief minister.
They had sought his removal. However, one MLA later switched to the Palaniswami camp.
Since then opposition parties including DMK, besides the Dhinakaran faction, have been demanding that Rao order a floor test for the Palaniswami government, saying it has "lost majority."
Speaker Dhanapal had disqualified the 18 MLAs on September 18,. Eight of them had moved court yesterday.
Today, the Madras High Court extended its September 14 stay on conducting floor test in the state Assembly, besides directing that no poll notification should be issued to the respective Assembly seats that fell vacant pursuant to the disqualification.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Coal Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday assured that power plants will get adequate coal supplies by the end of the month or early October as the government is taking urgent measures to resolve the supply issues.
About a dozen power plants have been facing erratic coal supplies for a month or so, and the minister blamed the states and power plant operators for the crisis.
"We are taking urgent measures to step up to power stations. Coal supplies to power stations across the country will be normalised by the end of September or early October," Goyal told the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce after the chamber's president, N Srinivasan, flagged the issue of the depleting stock of coal at power stations.
"Instead of the buffer stock of 30-40 days, most power stations have a stock for only two to three days," said Srinivasan.
The minister pointed out that though the Union coal secretary had written to all the chief secretaries urging them to impress upon power stations to start stocking coal, this plea fell on deaf ears.
He also blamed the surge in coal demand to the steep fall in power generation from other sources like hydel, nuclear and other sources which declined by 12, 36 and 7 per cent respectively, last month.
On whether the government would restore the coal cess, which got subsumed into GST, Goyal said the coal cess was introduced with the twin objectives of to fund and promote renewable energy and for fair pricing of thermal power generation.
Goyal, who is also the railway minister, said 100 per cent electrification of the Railways is his priority so that Rs 16,000 crore spent on diesel every year by the national transporter can be saved.
The Railways will focus on ramping up renewable energy considerably by utilising flexible light-weight solar panels on the rakes and stations, the minister said.
The city police have busted a racket of 'contract marriages' of local minor girls with elderly men from Gulf countries and arrested 20 people, including five Omani and three Qatari nationals, police said today.
With the busting of the 'contract marriage' (short-term marriage) racket, the police have foiled attempts by eight sheikhs from Oman and Qatar to marry local girls, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South Zone) V Satyanarayana said today.
They also arrested three qazis (people who conduct the marriage), four lodge owners and five brokers/agents who mediated to get such marriages solemnised, he said.
Among the accused Al Mayahi Habib Ali Issa, Al Salhi Talib Humeid Ali, Al Ubaidani Juma Shinoon Sulaiman, Al Salehi Nasser Khalifa Hamed, Al Qasimi Hassan Mazaaul Mohammed (all from Oman), Omer Mohammed Seraj Abdal Rahman, Hamad Jabir O Al-Kuwari, Safeldin Mohamed Mohamednour Salih (all from Qatar) and three qazis, including Mumbai's chief qazi, Farid Ahmed Khan, were held from different parts of the city, police said.
"Two minor girls have been rescued. Preliminary investigation has revealed that through the contract marriages, these people planned to traffic at least 20 minor girls," he said.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner M Mahendar Reddy told reporters they identified 35 brokers and unearthed the network that is spread from Hyderabad to Oman and other Gulf nations.
The police, during the investigation into the marriage of a 16-year-old city girl to a 65-year-old Omani national a few months ago, found that one Omani sheikh, Ahmed Abdullah Amur Al Rahbi, married the minor and allegedly raped her before flying back to his country, Reddy said.
He also paid "huge amounts" to brokers and obtained passport of the minor girl by deceitful means and subsequently trafficked the victim by submitting forged documents in the embassy and to other authorities, Reddy said.
Diplomatic efforts are on to bring back the minor girl along with the absconding accused Rahbi, Reddy said, adding "the police are in touch with the Embassy of Oman in India to rescue the girl."
Farid Khan, Mumbai's chief qazi, allegedly facilitated the trafficking of the teenager to Oman, the city police chief said.
"He prepared a forged 'nikahnama' (marriage contract) to show the marriage was performed in Mumbai and provided a forged marriage certificate with the stamping of the Omani embassy," he said.
"The victims were not only sexually exploited by the elderly married sheikhs but also by other men and later given divorce," the Hyderabad Police chief said.
Reddy said they identified as many as 35 local brokers, 25 of them women, who arranged minor girls from poor families for these marriages.
The local brokers/agents would exhibit the girls to the sheikhs in upscale and star hotels. The foreigners would also visit the houses of the girls to select them for marriage," the police commissioner added.
The brokers' main job was to identify poor families which were prepared to give away their daughters for marriage in lieu of money without bothering about the age of the prospective bridegroom, the senior police official said.
"The parents of such girls were paid around Rs 1 lakh, while the sheikhs spent between Rs 5 to Rs 10 lakh for paying middlemen, qazis and procuring fake documents," he added.
The Hyderabad police had in the past also busted several contract marriage rackets in the Old City area wherein such marriages were performed with help from fabricated documents.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The police have busted a racket of 'contract marriage' of local women and minor girls with men from the Middle East and Gulf countries.
The police have arrested 20 persons, including eight foreign nationals, in this connection, a senior official said today.
They also arrested three qazis (people who conduct the marriage), four lodge owners and five brokers/agents who mediated to get such marriages solemnised, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South Zone) V Satyanarayana said.
"We busted the 'contract marriage' (short-term marriage) racket and foiled attempts by eight sheikhs from Arab, Oman and Qatar to marry local girls," he said.
"Two minor girls have been rescued. Preliminary investigation has revealed that through the contract marriages, these people planned to traffic at least 20 women and minor girls," the senior police officer told PTI.
Further probe was on into the racket, he said.
The Hyderabad police had in the past also busted several contract marriage rackets in the Old City area wherein such marriages were performed aided by fabricated documents.
The modus operandi of the agents in such rackets is to trap minor girls from poor families by luring them with money, and then practically selling them off to foreigners with the help of priests who solemnise the marriages, police earlier said.
At the time of marriage, the bride is made to sign blank bond papers of 'talaq', they said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a remark that may stoke another controversy, BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj today said couples displaying affection in public should be put behind bars.
"Be it a motorcycle, car or park, couples can be seen behaving in a vulgar fashion. They hug each other as if the girl will eat the boy or the boy will eat the girl," the Lok Sabha member from Unnao in Uttar Pradesh said.
Maharaj told reporters in Bharatpur in Rajasthan, "It will be appropriate to take action and put such couples behind bars before anything wrong occurs."
Known for not mincing his words, the BJP leader said everyone ignores them but when rape occurs people demand action by the police.
Maharaj, who had earlier defended Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, said he had no ties with him but some political leaders seek cooperation of fake godmen to fetch votes.
The Dera chief has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping two of his disciples.
"People such as Ram Rahim and Rampal have emerged from vote bank politics and political leaders need to introspect on whether such godmen (babas) should be encouraged," he said.
Ram Rahim and Rampal were "hypocrites", he alleged.
On the Rohingya Muslim refugees issue, the BJP MP said they had no right to stay in the country.
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CPWD engineers' association members today staged a protest outside the Nirman Bhawan here to press for their demands, including revision of pay scale of assistant engineers, promotions and regularisation of ad-hoc employees.
All India CPWD Engineers Association general secretary A K Asthana said the union will intensify its protest if the "long pending and most genuine" demands are not met.
The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) is an attached office of the Housing and Urban Affairs (HUA) Ministry, which is located in the Nirman Bhawan.
Asthana said assistant engineers in the CPWD are placed in a lower grade pay as compared to its equivalent posts in other central and state government offices, and demanded its revision.
Other demands include regularisation of ad-hoc posts of engineers, which are currently around 500 in the organisation, and pending promotions, besides filling up of around 800 vacant posts, he added.
Union president R K Singh said their demands also include the "immediate implementation" of the EY's recommendations on working of the CPWD, saying it will increase the efficiency of the organisation.
Later, the union also submitted its memorandum of demands to CPWD Director General Abhai Sinha and a copy of it to Union HUA Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and HUA secretary D S Mishra.
Asthana said the All India CPWD Engineers Association has around 4,000 members.
Hundreds of its members from national capital participated in the protest during the lunch hour. Similar protest were also held in various offices of the CPWD across the country, Asthana said.
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Consuming cranberry products may be a low risk, cheap and effective way to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), a study claims.
The study, published in The Journal of Urology, suggests that doctors may recommend cranberry products as first line of defence against the disease.
Researchers conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis and assessment of human clinical trials and 28 studies on nearly 5,000 patients.
They found that overall, the use of cranberry products led to a statistically significant risk reduction in repeat UTIs.
The medicinal properties of cranberries may be attributed to their unique polyphenol, proanthocyanidins (PACs), researchers said.
Their ability to keep infection-causing bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract walls may be the major reason for their effectiveness in limiting infection growth and recurrence, they added.
"Our investigation supports that cranberry products can be a powerful tool to fight off frequent UTIs," said Angelo Luis, from the Universidade da Beira Interior in Portugal.
"While recommendations for dosage and duration of treatment require further study, the efficacy of the medicinal properties of cranberry products has been well- established," Luis added.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi High Court today castigated the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) poll candidates for defacing the national capital, saying they owe an apology to the patient city, otherwise the offence would have landed them in jail.
The high court asked the DUSU leaders and candidates to place an action plan within a week on how they propose to clean up the defacement in the DU and the manner in which the elections would be conducted in future.
"You owe an apology to the city. It is only because of a patient city that you are not yet sent to jail.
"It is not a joke. This is violence against the city and its people. We shall have a clean Diwali. Come back in a week and show us a cleaned Delhi University," a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar observed.
The court had earlier sought the presence of 23 candidates who had contested the recently held DUSU polls and issued show cause notice to them to explain why action should not be taken against them for defacing public property.
NSUI candidate Kunal Sehrawat, who won the post of vice president and was present in the hearing, was asked by the court as to what leadership they would give to the students if they behave in such a manner.
"You are a law faculty student and expected to follow law. Is this the leadership you will provide? During elections you all have defaced public properties, used spray paints, defaced metro stations. Who will clean it?
"The whole university comes to a standstill during elections," the bench said.
It also said that the candidates will have to bear the cost of cleaning all the defaced public properties, otherwise the offence entails a punishment of 10 years in jail.
When Sehrawat's counsel said they are planning to carry out a cleaning drive, the court shot back, "Now the students will miss classes to clean the defacement done. Does this happen anywhere in the world?"
The court issued fresh notices to those candidates who have not been served and listed the matter for October 16.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in its status report told the court that stickers and posters were being removed regularly and in case of defacement by spray paint, white wash is being done.
The high court was hearing a PIL by advocate Prashant Manchanda seeking a complete ban on the alleged defacement of the public properties by the candidates for the DUSU polls.
The court was also hearing another plea by advocate Sahil Sharma seeking to refurbish the properties defaced during the polls and for taking action against the candidates.
It had earlier pulled up the Delhi Police for not taking action or arresting the violators for the offence of defacing public properties which attracts a maximum jail term of 10 years.
The bench had said the offence was cognisable and liable to be punished and a strong message should go so that the violators learn a lesson.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Enforcement Directorate has attached assets worth Rs 1.53 crore in connection with its probe into alleged black money generation post demonetisation in Bihar's Gaya.
The central probe agency said it has issued a provisional attachment order against two flats and a house in Muzzafarpur in the state along with some bank deposits, under the provisions of the Prevention of Act (PMLA).
It said the alleged black money was generated involving "use of third party accounts for huge cash deposits in demonetised currency in certain bank accounts of the Bank of India in Gaya during demonetisation period."
"These attached properties are held in the name of Rajesh Agrawal, proprietor of Ms Maa Tara Agency, Muzaffarpur Bihar and R K Gupta proprietor of Ms Harikripa, New Delhi," it said.
The probe agency said that during the investigation, it was found that officials of the Bank of India, Gaya in connivance with some businessmen misused the bank account of certain innocent persons to deposit huge amount of demonetised currency in their bank accounts.
"The money was layered through various bank accounts in the guise of fake business transactions to the tune of Rs 1.46 crore in demonetised currency, and deposited in the bank account of two persons without their knowledge and consent," the Enforcement Directorate said.
The said amount, it said, was further transferred to the account of Ms Maa Tara Agency, Muzaffarpur.
"In a similar manner, Rs 82.5 lakh demonetised currency was deposited into bank account of a third person and thereafter transferred to the account of M/s Harikripa, New Delhi.
The proprietor Rajesh Agrawal and R K Gupta could not offer any explanation of such deposits and transaction," the ED said.
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi today urged Palestinians to unite and "be ready to co-exist" in peace with Israelis, in his address to the United Nations.
Speaking a day after a first meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Sisi said an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal was a "necessary precondition for the entire region" to enjoy stability.
Egypt has been leading mediation efforts between Palestinian arch-rivals Fatah and Hamas as part of a push to return to the forefront of Middle East diplomacy.
Departing from his prepared remarks to the UN General Assembly, Sisi said he wanted to "tell the Palestinian people, it is important to unite ... To overcome the differences and to be ready to accept co-existence with the other, with Israelis, in safety and security."
The Egyptian leader made a similar appeal to Israelis, saying that decades of Israeli-Egyptian peace could be expanded to the Palestinians to "overcome the barrier of hatred forever."
"We can repeat this experience, this excellent step once again, together with the peace and security of the Palestinian citizens," he said.
Egypt, which signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, has called for steps to kick-start Israeli-Palestinian talks that have been comatose since 2014.
In his address, Netanyahu said Israel was committed to achieving peace with all Arab countries and with the Palestinians, but he did not elaborate on how this could be achieved.
Sisi said "an independent Palestinian state" with east Jerusalem as its capital is "a necessary precondition for the entire region to transit into a new phase of stability and development."
An Israeli-Palestinian peace deal would eliminate "one of the main excuses" used by terrorists in the region, he argued.
Turning to the United States where President Donald Trump has said he is pushing for negotiations, Sisi declared that there was an "opportunity to write a new page in history to achieve peace in this region."
The meeting between Sisi and Netanyahu in New York yesterday followed a rare phone conversation between Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas of Fatah and Hamas chief Ismail Haniya.
Egypt has been mediating between Abbas' internationally recognised Palestinian Authority located in the West Bank and Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007.
After Haniya met Egyptian officials in Cairo last week, Hamas announced it agreed to demands by Fatah to dissolve what is seen as a rival administration in Gaza, while saying it was ready for elections and negotiations to form a unity government.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kerala governor Justice (retd) P Sathasivam has asked Vice Chancellors of Universitites in the state to ensure active participation of all academic institutions in the fortnight-long 'Swachchta Hi Sewa" campaign of the Centre.
The governor has also sought an action taken report from the Vice Chancellors on the participation inNational AcademicDepository and on the conduct of 'Swachchta Hi Sewa' campaign among colleges and affiliated institutions, an official release said here today.
He also forwarded a letter received from the Union Home Ministry regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to conduct the campaign between September 15 and October 2 to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for consideration, it said.
"All vice chancellors have been asked to organise the campaign in the spirit of a public movement through shramdan and other activities," the release said.
Depository, set up by the Union Ministry of Human Resources Development, ensures 24x7 digital safe store house of all academic awards like degrees, mark lists, diplomas and cerficiates.
It allows institutions to upload academic awards and records which are authenticated and validated.
President Ram Nath Kovind had launched 'Swachchata Hi Seva' (Cleanliness is Service) sanitation campaign in Uttar Pradesh on September 15.
The nationwide campaign is aimed at highlighting the Modi government's flagship cleanliness initiative Swachh Bharat Mission.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
At least six people, including a woman, were killed today when a fire broke out in a textile factory in Bangladesh's Munshiganj district, police said.
The fire erupted in the first-floor of the Ideal Textile mill building where chemicals were stored, they said.
The blaze has left the factory in Charmuktarpur area near the district town severely damaged, police said.
Four fire-fighting units from Munshiganj and Narayanganj are working at the scene to put out the blazes, said Md Joynal Abedin, in-charge of Muktarpur police outpost.
"A few other workers are still missing, so the death toll may rise. Renovations were going on the same floor, where welders were at work," Abedin was quoted as saying by bdnews24.
"A spark caused the fire at the chemical warehouse, which spread to other parts soon after," the police officer said.
The victims did not die from the fire rather suffocated from the fumes of the chemicals, the official added.
Police have detained four officials of the mill, including the general manager.
Fires are common in Bangladeshi textile factories, despite efforts by the government to improve the poor working conditions.
At least 25 people were killed and over 70 injured in a huge fire triggered by a boiler explosion at a packaging factory in Bangladesh in September, in one of the worst industrial accidents in the country since 2013 when a building collapse claimed more than 1,100 lives.
At least 13 people died in a fire at a plastics factory in Dhaka. In 2012, 112 workers died in a fire at a factory just outside the capital.
The country suffered an even greater tragedy in 2013 when the Rana Plaza garment complex collapsed on the outskirts of Dhaka, killing 1,135 people, after another clothing factory building collapsed, trapping over 3,000 workers.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Saddled with a buffer stock of 18 lakh tonnes of pulses, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today said the government is trying to dispose of the dals and asked entities, including cooperative NCCF, to do the needful.
He also said the government will procure pulses in the current year as well if the rates fall below the minimum support price (MSP) level.
For the first time, the government had last year decided to create a buffer stock of pulses to ensure better prices to farmers and at the same time use the stock to augment local supply in times of price rise. About 20 lakh tonnes of buffer were created through local procurement and imports.
"We have stock of 18 lakh tonnes of pulses. We are trying to disposing it of at the earliest as dals have short shelf- life. We have appealed many organisations like the NCCF," Paswan told reporters after the 49th AGM of the National Cooperative Consumers Federation (NCCF).
Although some quantity has been sold to traders through auction, the sale has not picked up. The food ministry is trying other means to clear the stock. It is in talks with welfare organisations and cooperatives to sell the stock, according to official sources.
The buffer stock of pulses and the fall in MSP have discouraged farmers as they have grown pulses in less area during the ongoing kharif season of the 2017-18 crop year.
However, to ensure better prices for farmers, the government has recently lifted ban on export of tur, urad and and moong dals.
The country had procured a record 22.95 million tonnes of pulses in 2016-17 crop year due to good monsoon.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Madras High Court today began hearing a batch of petitions challenging the disqualification of 18 pro-Dhinakaran MLAs by the Tamil Nadu speaker.
Eight of the 18 MLAs had moved court yesterday, challenging the action against them under the anti-defection law.
They attacked Speaker P Dhanapal's order disqualifying them as MLAs as 'unauthorised' and 'illegal' in their individual petitions.
The petitioners sought to restrain the speaker, government chief whip S Rajendran, Chief Minister K Palaniswami and the Assembly secretary from interfering with their rights as elected representatives.
Acting on a plea by Rajendran, the speaker had on Monday disqualified 18 MLAs, loyal to sidelined AIADMK leader T T V Dhinakaran, under the assembly anti-defection and disqualification rules of 1986 formed in accordance with the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.
The chief whip had moved the speaker after the MLAs met Governor Ch Vidaysagar Rao on August 22 and expressed lack of confidence in the chief minister.
Condemning the disqualification, Dhinakaran had said they would legally challenge the speaker's action.
The petitioners are P Vetrivel, N G Parthiban, P Palaniappan, Jayanthi Padmanabhan, Senthil Balaji, R Murugan, R Balasubramani and S Muthiah.
They sought to quash the disqualification order passed by the speaker as "unauthorised and illegal and without jurisdiction as per the binding law..."
They also asked the court to grant interim stay on the operation and implementation of the September 18 impugned order and permit them to participate in the proceedings of assembly, including the trust vote on the present government.
Senior counsel P R Raman had made a mention before Justice M Duraiswamy and sought an urgent hearing, following which the judge agreed to hear the petitions today, if filed.
With the disqualification of the 18 MLAs, the 234-member assembly has only 215 elected members with one seat being vacant already.
The government now needs only 108 votes to prove its majority in the assembly now in case of a floor test.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Madras High Court today extended till further directions its stay order on a floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly for the Palaniswami government.
Justice M Duraiswamy gave the interim order on petitions filed by 18 rebel AIADMK MLAs loyal to sidelined party leader TTV Dhinakaran challenging the September 18 order of Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal disqualifying them under the anti-defection law.
However, there was no direction by the court on the issue of stay on the disqualification of the MLAs.
After hearing lengthy arguments by senior counsels for the petitioners and the respondents, the judge in his order said: the respondents "shall not conduct floor test for the trust vote until further orders of this court".
He also ordered: "There shall not be any election notification for conducting the election for the 18 Legislative Assembly constituencies pursuant to the impugned order dated 18.09.2017, which are the subject matter in the writ petitions until further orders of this court."
The judge said the directions were being passed by "consent of both sides" (petitioners and respondents) and posted the matter to October 4 for final hearing.
He had on September 14 ordered there will be no floor test for the Palaniswami government to prove its majority till today.
The order was passed after one of the Dhinakaran camp MLAs P Vetrivel and DMK Working President M K Stalin, who had filed a petition for a floor test, had then expressed apprehension that the Speaker might disqualify the 18 MLAs and it may go in favour of the chief minister in the event of a confidence vote.
Eight of the 18 disqualified MLAs moved the court yesterday challenging the Speaker's action against them under the anti-defection law.
The petitioners contended the Speaker's order was 'unauthorised' and 'illegal' and sought to restrain the respondents -- the Speaker, government chief whip S Rajendran, Chief Minister K Palaniswami and the Assembly secretary -- from interfering with their rights as elected representatives.
The other 10 disqualified MLAs filed their petitions this morning. The judge had yesterday agreed for an urgent hearing if petitions were filed.
The Speaker had disqualified the MLAs on a petition by the chief whip who sought action against them for giving letters to Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao on August 22 stating that they were withdrawing support to the chief minister.
When the matter came up for hearing today, senior counsels Dushyant Dave, Salman Kurshid and P R Raman appeared for the petitioners and said the Speaker's order was subject to judicial review and cited the Supreme Court order in a similar case involving former Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa.
"The order is mala fide. The rule clearly says if an MLA voluntarily gives up his membership of a party he will lose the assembly membership. But these members have not quit the party. The letter which was given to the governor does not attract disqualification," Dave argued.
The letters only stated that the dream and vision of late party supremo Jayalalithaa was not being implemented by the chief minister, the counsel said.
He further pointed out no notice was issued to 12 MLAs including the then rebel leader O Panneerselvam who voted against the present chief minister, till date and he had now been made the deputy chief minister.
"It may be the thought of the Speaker that the present chief minister may succeed if a floor test is conducted with disqualification of these MLAs... This is mala fide," Dave submitted.
This was strongly opposed by senior counsel Aryama Sundaram appearing on behalf of the Speaker.
"The facts of (former Karnataka chief minister B S) Yeddyurappa case are entirely different from this case," he said.
Counsel Vaithyanathan, appearing for the chief minister, submitted that there was no need for elaborate arguments on the main plea (of Stalin) as the chief minister has not sought a floor test.
The governor's counsel Rakesh Trivedi submitted that the assembly stands prorogued as of today and the chief minister had not so far sought for a floor test.
Dave then submitted that the last part of the disqualification order says the 18 seats have become vacant and the Election Commission might notify elections to them.
"Once election process is commenced the court cannot interfere so I need a protection," he said.
With the disqualification of the 18 MLAs, the 234-member assembly has only 215 elected members with one seat being vacant already.
The government needs 108 votes to prove its majority in the assembly now in case of a floor test.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice to the Haryana government on the anticipatory bail plea filed by the three trustees of Ryan International School in connection with the murder of a student in its Gurgaon school.
However, the single bench of Justice Inderjit Singh did not grant a stay on arrests in the matter.
The court has posted the matter for next Monday.
"The single bench has issued notice of motion to the Haryana government seeking its response on the anticipatory bail plea," said the counsel for the Ryan trustees.
The group's CEO, Ryan Pinto, and his parents, founding chairman Augustine Pinto and managing director Grace Pinto, had approached the High Court last week, seeking anticipatory bail.
Yesterday, Justice A B Chaudhari had recused himself from hearing their plea.
On September 14, the Bombay High Court had rejected the anticipatory bail pleas of the three Mumbai-based trustees.
The Pintos had approached the Bombay High Court after the school was accused of negligence in the death of seven-year- old Pradyuman who was murdered in a toilet of Ryan International in Gurgaon on September 8.
Bus conductor Ashok was arrested in connection with the crime.
The Delhi High Court today directed the CBI not to take any coercive step against a retired army officer, now a DRDO scientist, accused in a Rs 500 crore land scam case.
Justice Ashutosh Kumar issued the direction on a plea by the scientist seeking to quash an FIR lodged against him by the agency under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and for offences of cheating and criminal conspiracy under the IPC.
The maximum punishment for the offence of cheating under IPC and under section 13 of the PC Act is seven years.
While granting the interim relief to Lt Col (rtd) M G Thimmaya, the court directed him to participate in the probe.
It also issued notice to the CBI and sought its reply on the plea by the next date of hearing on October 11.
The court also said that if the accused does not participate in the probe, the agency can take steps to cancel the interim protection.
According to the CBI, Thimmaya, while he was the Estate Manager for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Bengaluru, and property developer N H Rustumji had allegedly defrauded the authority of several acres of land acquired for it by the government.
The agency has alleged that between 2004-06, Thimmaya had unauthorisedly transferred land acquired for DRDO to the land owners causing undue gain to them and undue loss to the government.
The CBI alleged that the two filed a joint memo before the Supreme Court in a land dispute matter between land owners and the DRDO.
Thimmaya allegedly gave a memo in the Supreme Court in the land dispute matter which was different from the one cleared by the Defence Ministry, according to the CBI's case.
The vigilance department of the Defence Ministry had pegged the alleged scam at Rs 500 crore.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Citing lack of funds, the Union Health Ministry has asked the AIIMS here to review its projects, both sanctioned and proposed, estimated to cost over Rs 12,000 crore, and prioritise those based on its current needs.
According to a senior government official, during the tenure of the previous director of the institute, several projects were conceptualised and sanctioned in a piecemeal manner without assessing if those are financially viable.
The issue came up in a meeting held earlier this month between officials of the health ministry and the AIIMS.
"It is not only just about building the infrastructure. Funds are required for equipment, staff and recurring costs. Thus, AIIMS has been asked to prioritise the projects based on its current need and sustainability," the official said.
"The issue of prioritising projects would be taken up for discussion in the Governing Body meeting scheduled on October 10. The Standing Finance Committee will review the development work on October 9," he said.
Nine projects at AIIMS, including building a surgical block, Mother and Child Block, OPD block, doctor's hostel and Geriatric ward are at various stages of completion.
"Due to lack of funds, a lot of work in these projects are incomplete," the official said.
Besides, five projects, including the Trauma Centre Expansion and Emergency-cum-diagnostic Block to cost Rs 8,885 crore, are at advanced stages of being sanctioned. A few more projects are in the pipeline.
Another official said the AIIMS had asked for more than Rs 2,000 crore from the government in this financial year for various development works, but received Rs 576 crore till now.
Following the meeting with the health ministry, the AIIMS on September 12, constituted an 18-member committee to review the projects to be executed at institute's Masjid Moth campus and Trauma centre.
"Keeping in mind the needs of the AIIMS, a relook committee has been formed to prioritise various projects on the basis of the needs of the departments and the institute," AIIMS Director, Dr Randeep Guleria said.
"For example, AIIMS is witnessing a huge influx of patients in the emergency Block with many of them having to wait in the corridors. Therefore, development of the Emergency Block will be one of our priorities," he told PTI.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Patrolling has been stepped up along the Indo-Nepal border in Maharajganj and adjoining districts to nab jailed Dera Sacha Sauda chief's adopted daughter Honeypreet Insan.
Police today said that officials from central and state intelligence agencies have been camping here for the past couple of days and keeping a strict eye on movement along the border.
Honeypreet Insan has been booked in Haryana for allegedly inciting violence following the conviction of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.
Posters of Honeypreet with an appeal to the public to inform the police if she is sighted, have been pasted on walls along streets and at the police station at Sonauli in Maharajganj close to the Nepal border.
All Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) border outposts have been directed to ensure that Honeypreet does not escape.
"Security personnel have been alerted and asked to ascertain the identity of people before allowing them to cross over the border," SSB Deputy Inspector General Ranjeet Singh said.
A high alert has also been sounded in Lakhimpur, Balrampur, Siddharthnagar, Shrawasti and Bahraich - the other districts which border Nepal.
UP shares a 599.3 km long open border with Nepal touching seven districts - Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich, Sravasti, Balrampur, Sidhharthnagar and Maharajganj.
Women personnel in plain clothes have also been deployed to keep vigil on suspects and vehicles transporting goods too were being checked.
"Patrolling of public places such as cinema halls, hotels, rail and bus stations has also been intensified," the DIG said.
"We are taking all precautionary steps to maintain law and order," he said.
Haryana Police had issued a lookout notice for Honeypreet and teams were formed to arrest her along with other accused.
The 50-year-old Dera chief, who is lodged in Rohtak's Sunaria jail, has been sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment by the CBI court for raping two of his disciples.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Normal life in Mumbai was affected as incessant rains pounded the megapolis and its suburbs for the second day today, while five people were killed in rain- related incidents in Palghar district.
The rains affected air services as 108 flights were cancelled and suburban train services were delayed by about 15-20 minutes.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD), which had last evening given a heavy to very heavy rainfall warning in parts of Mumbai region for Wednesday, in its forecast issued this afternoon, said the city would receive intermittent rains.
Schools and colleges in Mumbai Metropolitan Region were instructed to remain closed today in view of heavy rains.
"Several parts of the metropolis, including South Mumbai, Borivali, Kandivili, Andheri and Bhandup, received heavy rainfall. However, no untoward incident has been reported so far from any part of the city," BMC officials said.
In its forecast issued at 2.30 pm, the Mumbai unit of the IMD predicted intermittent rains in the city and the suburbs for today. It also predicted that heavy rainfall may hit a couple of places in the city.
On Tuesday evening, the IMD had issued a forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall in parts of Mumbai region. There have been incessant showers since last evening.
From 8.30 am yesterday to 5.30 am today, the Colaba observatory recorded 210 mm rain, while the Santacruz observatory recorded 303.7 mm rain in the period, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
"The effect of water logging due to high tide got over by the afternoon and water slowly started receding in many areas," disaster management cell officials said.
Fishermen have been warned against venturing into the deep sea, an IMD official said.
Flight operations at the Mumbai airport were hit badly as 108 flights were cancelled and another 51 diverted to nearby airports till this morning due to heavy rains and non- operation of main runway (09/27) following the skidding of a SpiceJet aircraft last night, a Mumbai airport official said.
With the aircraft still stuck on the runway, it remains out of bound for operations and efforts are on to remove the plane from the runway and make it functional.
The SpiceJet Boeing 737 aircraft carrying 183 people overshot a wet runway while landing at the airport in rain-hit Mumbai and got stuck in the mud, officials said yesterday, adding that all passengers were safely evacuated.
Following the downpour, several airlines issued travel advisories to passengers.
The trains witnessed lesser crowd today as many people preferred to remain indoors due to the heavy rain forecast.
Central Railway's chief spokesperson Sunil Udasi said few short-destination local trains had to be cancelled yesterday night to streamline the services.
"Since 10 pm yesterday, our services on the main and the harbour lines are running at regular intervals with lesser frequency and restricted speed in water-logging prone areas. Our field staff and supervisors have been deployed to keep a tab on the water level," Udasi said.
The trains on the Western Line were also running late by 10 to 15 minutes, according to an official of the Western Railway (WR).
The long distance trains which were regulated and stranded at various locations due to heavy water-logging at Nallasopara, Virar have been cleared, WR said in a statement.
Some intercity trains like Manmad-Mumbai Express, Gujarat Express, Saurashtra Express, Bandra-Terminus Surat Intercity Express and Mumbai Central-Ahmadabad Shatabdi Express have been cancelled, as per the officials of the Central Railway and the Western Railway.
Vehicles were moving, though a bit slowly, on the city's two major roads - the Eastern Express Highway and the Western Express Highway, the BMC official said.
"The traffic situation in the city is normal as of now. All the roads, including the Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL), Pedder Road, Sion Bridge are open and traffic movement is smooth. However, Aarey Colony Bridge has been closed for operations and traffic has been diverted," Amitesh Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) said.
Due to the water logging at S V Road in western suburbs, the traffic has been diverted via Linking Road, he said.
The 'dabbawalas' of Mumbai today cancelled their delivery of over two lakh tiffins to office-goers in view of the disruption of suburban rail services after heavy rains.
Besides, the heavy rains, the civic body had to tackle with the menace of wrong messages sent by rumour mongers throughout the day.
The civic administration has decided to take action against such elements as per the provisions of the Disaster Management Act 2005.
The civic body has written a letter to the joint police commissioner (Law and Order) of the Mumbai police in this regard. It also appealed to the people not to believe in such rumours.
"Civic chief Ajoy Mehta has written a letter to the joint police commissioner (Law and Order) of the Mumbai police Deven Bharti to weed out the rumour mongers who, by their misleading social media messages created a sense of fear among the people," a senior civic official said.
Amid rains, a message of a cyclone scheduled to hit the island city today and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link being shut due to it, made rounds on social media and messaging apps, warning people to stay indoors and not take the route.
The civic body held a press conference to deny the contents of the message that were making rounds on social media.
Even the Disaster Management Cell of the civic body tweeted clarifying that no such warning has been issued by the weather department and appealed to the Mumbaikars not to believe in such rumours.
"As informed by IMD there is no cyclone warning for Mumbai. Citizens r requested not to spread & trust rumour," the BMC's Disaster Management cell tweeted.
"On behalf of BMC commissioner, we urge the people of the city not to believe and spread rumours of a cyclone warning for the megapolis. There is no element of truth in such messages which are spread to create unnecessary fear among the people," Sudhir Naik, deputy municipal commissioner of BMC's (GAD) told reporters here.
"If people have any query or problems, they are free to contact us on our number 1916," added Naik.
He said that city recorded over 300 mm rainfall in a single day from yesterday, which is almost equal to entire September month's average rainfall of 320 mm.
Owing to heavy rainfall, BEST buses plying through Kohinoor city Vidyavihar, Shell Colony in Chembur and National College in Bandra had to be diverted due to water-logging, said officials.
Water-logging was reported at several places like Hindmata, Sion, Veera Desai Road, Air India Colony, Milan Subway, Andheri Subway, Bandra, Dahisar, Chembur, Mankhurd where pumping machines were pressed into services, the BMC said.
It said 168 cases of tree/branches falling were recorded, 21 incidents of short-circuits and five cases of wall or parts of wall collapse have been reported with the disaster management cell in last 24 hours.
Meanwhile, police said traffic in the city by and large remained normal, expect on few routes.
"Traffic is currently by & large normal except trafficdiversion at Aarey Colony Bridge to Rd no 3 & thru linking rd for SV Road," it tweeted.
Central Railway and Western Railway ran lesser services.
"Local trains ran seamlessly throughout the day, though they were running 10-15 minutes behind the schedule," seperate statements issued by the Central Railway and Western Railway said.
Meanwhile, in Palghar five persons, drowned in nullahs and rivers in separate incidents, a senior district administration officer said, but did not elaborate.
The deceased have been identified as Sandeep Jadhav (42), Rajesh Bhosle (32) Aksah Rai (22), Sandeep Tandel (56) and Rabiulla Aliraja Shah (16), he said, adding Rs four lakh assistance will be provided to their kin.
In Dahanu at least 50 houses were damaged due to the rains and the occupants were shifted to different camps.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India's dream for high horse power locomotive moved closer to reality with the arrival of the first bodyshell of 12000 HP loco from Alstom France at Kolkata port today.
This first-of-its-kind high-power electric locomotive will be used to haul freight trains at twice the existing speed by next year.
The bodyshell for the fleet of the twin-section electric locomotives which Alstom is to supply to Indian Railways was unloaded at Haldia, ready for delivery to the factory at Madhepura where it will be assembled.
In November 2015, the public transporter inked a contract with the French company to manufacture 800 such train engines over the next 11 years in a joint venture at the Madhepura locomotive factory in Bihar.
This is the first major FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) project in the rail sector.
The first such locomotive, estimated to cost about Rs 30 crore, will be assembled with components brought in from Alstom's factories in France and will have its trial run by February next year.
The contract allows for the first five locomotives to be imported, but the remaining 795 are to be manufactured locally in support of the government's Make in India campaign.
The total contract is worth above three billion euro. This project includes the set-up of a plant at Madhepura (Bihar state) and two maintenance depots at Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh state)and Nagpur (Maharashtra state). The delivery of the locomotives will spread between 2018 and 2028.
The locomotive will run at a speed up to 120 km/h.
The Railways is currently using 6,000HP locomotives for freight services. The increase in speed would also result in improving line capacity in the rail network, a railway official said.
As per schedule, 35 locomotives would be rolled out from the factory by 2020, 60 in 2021, followed by 100 every year till the target of 800 is completed.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An Indian robot made in China, which could recognise people by their nationalities and guide customers in a bank, today captivated Chinese manufacturers at an IT event held in the southern port city of Dalian.
The five-feet Robot Mitra which was designed in Bengaluru but manufactured in the Chinese city of Shenzhen was presented as a model of merger of India's software prowess with China's hardware, Gagan Sabharwal, Senior Director, Global Trade Development, NASSCOM told PTI.
Mitra is a perfect example of how Indian software and China's hardware can be merged, Sabharwal said, adding that the agreement helps to bring the small and medium-sized enterprises and startups of both the countries to launch into Internet of Things (IOT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), he said.
Its inventors could not bring it to the first India-China Dalian Internet of Things (IoT) Conference which was well attended by top Chinese and Indian manufacturing firms as the airlines did not allow its heavy batteries to be transported.
Instead it was introduced through a presentation which drew considerable attention, Sabharwal said.
The robot helps identify people at the airports and other places through nationalities or ethnic backgrounds and recommends hotel, restaurants and places of interests.
Mitra has been deployed at Canara Bank in Bengaluru to guide customers in banking operations.
NASSCOM plans to take it to a major IT event in Japan next month to highlight its operational utility at the airports, Sabharwal said.
During the event, NASSCOM and Dalian local government signed an agreement to further strengthen software and IT communication and cooperation amid opportunities brought about by the global digital revolution.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In the backdrop of allegations of police-drug peddler nexus in the state, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in a letter written to all the legislators has asked them to desist from making statements which are demoralising for the police force.
Parrikar has said that any information about the drug activity in the state known to the legislators should be informed to him so that strict action can be initiated.
Congress party has taken strong objection to Parrikar's letter claiming it as "censorship on the MLAs."
"It has been observed that some of the MLA's are making public statements regarding availability of drugs and nexus between the drug peddlers and some police officials," the chief minister has said in a letter, copy of which is with PTI.
Parrikar has said that such a public statements lead to dampening of the morale of police force, unwarranted sensationalism, dent in the image of the state, and does not help us resolve the issue as criminals are made alert by such statements.
"Given the sensitive nature of the issue and firm resolution of the state government to make Goa a drug free state, it is requested that such information about drugs or related activities be brought to the notice of the undersigned, so as to jointly fight this menace," he said in the signed letter.
"I assure you that due cognizance and strict action will be taken on every such issue brought to the notice of the undersigned," he added.
Meanwhile, Congress has criticised the letter expressing surprise that Parrikar should issue a censorship order against his own MLAs restraining them from criticising the policemen in Goa on drugs issue.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Shantaram Naik said he is also of the opinion that Goa policemen should be encouraged to raid the dens of drug peddlersas they are a menace to the society.
"But CM writing a note on his file asking his MLAs restraining from exercising their democratic rights of free speech is yet another example of fascism that BJP Government in Goa seeks to implement through back door," he added.
The Congress leader said he has high regard for Goa Police force but CMs order will be embarrassing to even policeforcewhich will not prefer an arbitrary protection of the type CM wants to give them, to the detriment of right of free speech of elected members.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The National Green Tribunal has directed the Delhi government to inspect mosques in East Delhi and check if the noise levels generated by loudspeakers during 'azaan' were exceeding the permissible limit.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar asked the AAP government and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to take appropriate action against them in case of violation.
The counsel for various mosques submitted that they were using loudspeaker without exceeding the prescribed parameters.
"Counsel for respondent nos 6 to 10 and 12 (mosques) submits that they are using loudspeaker but they are not exceeding the prescribed parameters. They further state that they have no intention of disturbing the public at large or to violate the prescribed decibel standards.
"Counsel for the NCT of Delhi and the DPCC submits that they would conduct the inspection to check the noise level from different masjids stated in this application and would test the ambient air quality and noise level. If noise levels are found to be exceeding the prescribed decibel, they would take action in accordance with law," the bench said.
The tribunal passed the order as it disposed of a plea by NGO Akhand Bharat Morcha alleging that illegal use of loudspeakers at such places adversely affected the health of the residents living in their vicinity.
The plea had alleged that the activities of some mosques were in violation of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.
It had claimed that these places of worship were located in silent zones housing schools and hospitals and their loudspeakers surpassed the laid down decibel levels.
The plea had said the residents of the area had informed the authorities, but no action was taken.
"Direct the police to ensure no noise pollution is caused by the respondent mosques and that the use of loudspeaker if any is within the prescribed limits of the law," the plea said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Shares of India Tourism Development Corporation today zoomed nearly 17 per cent after the Centre decided to exit three ITDC hotels including Jaipur Ashok and hand them over to the state governments.
The stock soared 16.43 per cent to settle at Rs 577.45 on BSE. Intra-day, it jumped 19.99 per cent to Rs 595.10.
At NSE, shares of the company surged 16.64 per cent to end at Rs 580.50.
As part of the disinvestment exercise, the Centre today decided to exit three ITDC hotels including Jaipur Ashok and hand them over to the state governments concerned.
The Union Cabinet approved the transfer of Hotel Jaipur Ashok and Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel, Mysore, to the governments of Rajasthan and Karnataka, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said.
It also cleared disinvestment of ITDC's 51 per cent equity in Donyi Polo Ashok, Itanagar, in favour of Arunachal Pradesh, he said.
This is as per disinvestment policy of the Government of India wherein ITDC Hotels and properties are to be leased or sub-leased jointly with states, he said.
The policy has been formulated in line with the view that running and managing hotels is not the job of the government or its entities.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Japan's Emperor Akihito today visited a shrine dedicated to ancient Korean settlers in a small town north of Tokyo.
Akihito, accompanied by his wife, Empress Michiko, paid respects at Koma Shrine in the town of Hidaka as part of a two-day private study trip to the region, palace officials said. Akihito has made short trips to small Japanese towns to learn about local history, traditions and culture for more than a decade.
Nearly 1,800 Koreans settled in the area in the 7th century, and the shrine was established to commemorate their leader.
Akihito, 83, listened intently, sometimes asking questions, as the 60th head priest escorted the couple and explained the history of the shrine and the region.
Akihito has noted an ancient Japanese document citing a link between the Japanese monarchy and Korea's Goguryeo dynasty, as he expressed friendship with South Korea.
The emperor and the empress also walked in a nearby park filled with red spider lilies in full bloom.
Preparations for Akihito's abdication are underway after he expressed a wish last year to retire.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today took stock of the Delhi government's key projects, including Mohalla clinics during a meeting with his cabinet colleagues here, a day after he returned from a 10-day Vipassana course in Maharashtra.
He came back to the national capital last night.
In the meeting today, progress of all critical projects were discussed department-wise, an official said.
"The chief minister reviewed the progress in setting-up of Mohalla clinics in government schools and told the department to finalise its proposal at the earliest. He also asked the officials to fast track the next phase of Mohalla clinics," the government said in a statement.
Kejriwal took stock of the functioning of the existing Mohalla clinics and directed the health department to take note of complaints and shortcomings if any and resolve those by the end of the month, it said.
At present, 158 mohalla clinics are operational in Delhi. The government aims to set up 1,000 clinics to provide better health facility to the people.
The chief minister also said shortage of doctors should be plugged.
According to the statement, Kejriwal reviewed the decisions taken in a meeting with the medical superintendents of all government hospitals last month. He directed the chief secretary to remove all hurdles in filling up of vacancies in government hospitals.
"The chief minister also directed the health department to ensure more counters for free medicines to ease the rush at hospital medicine counters," it said.
Kejriwal also reviewed the progress of development works in unauthorised colonies of the national capital.
He directed the finance department to ensure that Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation, and, Irrigation and Flood Control, the nodal departments for carrying out developmental works in unauthorised colonies, do not face any hurdle due to lack of funds.
Kejriwal also asked for the list of all social welfare schemes, including for the SC and ST communities, to examine if those are being properly implemented, an official said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi Chief Minister will meet in Chennai on Thursday and the two will have "political discussions", a member of the Aam Aadmi Party said on Wednesday, amid indications the veteran actor may join politics soon.
Haasan has been very active politically of late, often times levying corruption charges against the state government.
He had congratulated the CPI(M)-led LDF government in Kerala for "good governance" on its first anniversary in May this year. He fuelled speculation about his expected political plunge when he attended an event organised by the DMK party in Chennai last month.
An AAP functionary, seeking not to be named, said: "Kejriwal will leave for Chennai today morning and meet Haasan."They are expected to have "political discussions", the functionary said without giving any details.
The Delhi CM will also visit a Tamil Nadu government-run skill development centre in Chennai, he said.
Haasan had been opposing the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, whose political adversary DMK has voiced support for him.
Kenya's Supreme Court has blamed the election commission for last month's annulled presidential vote, rebuking officials for bungling the transmission of results and basing the outcome on dubious documents.
The full ruling yesterday detailing the court's shock decision on September 1 to annul President Uhuru Kenyatta's victory struck a searing blow to the credibility of the election commission, casting doubt on its ability to organise a new poll in less than a month.
Deputy chief justice Philomena Mwilu described "disturbing, if not startling, revelations" about the conduct of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and singled it out for ignoring a Supreme Court order to open up its computer servers after opposition allegations of hacking.
The four judges who decided in a majority decision to annul the vote said the election commission had failed to verify the numbers before declaring Kenyatta the winner. Two judges also delivered dissenting judgements in the court session which lasted over 10 hours.
Lawyers for Raila Odinga's National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition last month challenged Kenyatta's re-election alleging rigging, hacking and tampering with results.
On the hacking charge, the IEBC was excoriated for failing to provide evidence that could have cleared up some of Odinga's claims, with Mwilu arguing the burden of proof was on the electoral commission.
"Our order of scrutiny was a golden opportunity for the IEBC to place before the court evidence to debunk the petitioner's claim," Mwilu read from the court's detailed judgement.
"If IEBC had nothing to hide it would have readily provided access to ICT (information and communications technology) logs and servers to disprove the petitioner's claim.
"But what did IEBC do with it? It contemptuously disobeyed the court orders in these very critical areas."
Mwilu said the judges were left with no choice but to accept opposition claims the election commission's "ICT system was infiltrated and compromised and the data therein interfered with, or IEBC officials themselves interfered with the data, or it had bungled the transmission system and were unable to verify the data."
However Chief Justice David Maraga rejected Odinga's calls to prosecute top IEBC officials, saying there was no evidence to prove electoral offences.
"What we saw in evidence is systematic institutional problems and we were unable to find specific fingerprints of individuals who may have played a role in the commission of illegalities," he said.
Maraga also said there was no evidence of misconduct from Kenyatta.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today announced to transfer development work and schemes to panchayat samitis and zila parishads for their effective implementation and monitoring.
These included schemes of the forest, education, irrigation and health.
The step is aimed to strengthen the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and increase their participation in the development process of the state, an official release said.
Khattar made the announcement at a 'Sankalp Se Siddhi' programme for PRI members at Panchkula, near here. The chief minister also announced that adequate fund would be arranged for panchayat samitis and zila parishads to carry out these works in their respective areas.
He said arrangements of independent offices would be made for zila parishads and block samitis that do not have its own buildings.
Referring to works which would be transferred to the PRIs, Khattar said two plantation schemes of forest department -- Har Ghar Hariyali and Har Gaon Ped Ki Chaon -- would be transferred to the panchayat samitis.
Funds and saplings would be provided by the department. Besides, plantation, the panchayat samitis would also be responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of trees, he said.
There are more than 6,500 villages in the state and the department alone could not cover such large number of villages, the chief minister said.
He said that for zila parishads, work for the construction of new buildings for 'anganwadis' and maintenance of existing buildings would be given.
It has also been decided to hand over the mid-day-meal scheme of the school education department to zila parishads for its effective implementation.
Khattar said the state government wants the PRIs to "work as mini government in the villages whereproposals are approved, budget is passed and also the audit is done".
He said that the government has a plan to implement the social audit system in villages with cooperation of PRIs and people.
'Gram Sachivalyas' have been set up in 1,537 villages in the state to provide various citizen centric services to the people. The state government has a target to set up such secretariats in all the state's villages, Khattar said.
The chief minister said there was no dearth of funds with the government for development works and likened corruption to cancer.
The state government is committed to eradicate this menace at all levels and urged the PRIs to come forward and assist the government, he said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
This puja, pandal-hoppers will be able to gauge the rush and time required to reach the top 20 puja pandals in the city.
"We will offer an estimated time of arrival (ETA) from the last person in the queue to the pandals of 20 major pujas in the city," Kolkata Police Joint Commissioner of Police (establishment) Sujay Chanda told PTI.
The social festival app offered jointly by Kolkata Police and UtsavApp will offer real-time ETA for pandal-hoppers this puja, Chanda said.
Based on the real-time calculations, the app will allow flexibility to a pandal-hopper to decide whether to stand in the queue or try another pandal, he said.
UtsavApp said it will be covering all 350 major pujas in Kolkata and Salt Lake.
Users can find a guide map to each and every puja with a detailed storyline of each puja. They can even rate and review the pujas.
One can upload photos related to the puja and by using UtsavApp an user can check-in and share their status on Facebook.
This year, UtsavApp will also have some new and exciting features like users can check the nearest pay and use toilets, police stations, hospitals and even restaurants.
One can get turn by turn navigation to these destinations as the app links them with an online map.
The app incorporates 'Chat and Adda' feature through which users can find new friends and even chat with them.
With a huge surge in smartphones, UtsavApp officials feel the number of downloads will jump manifold.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
South Korea on Wednesday called for broadening the scope of free trade agreement (FTA) with India for boosting two-way commerce and investments.
South Korean Deputy Minister for trade, industry and energy Young Sam Kim said that there is a need to enhance cooperation in manufacturing and infrastructure sectors.
The world-class technology of Korea in the manufacturing sector can help India achieving the objectives of Make in India initiative besides in smart city development, he said.
Kim was speaking at industry body Ficci's India-S Korea Economic Cooperation Forum here.
On FTA, officially dubbed as comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA), he said both the sides should work on ways to expand two-way trade and investment in terms of quantity as well as quality.
To do so, he added, there is a need to enhance the scope of the agreement.
"CEPA has achieved remarkable things such as increasing bilateral trade volume. But it is also true that there is still room for improvement," he said, adding that both the sides can work on broadening the pact and look at the rules of origin.
He said both the countries can look at early conclusion of the negotiations for the review of the CEPA.
Two rounds of negotiations have already been concluded. For the third round of talks, Indian delegation led by Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu will visit Korea.
The agreement between the two countries was implemented in January 2010.
The review assumes significance as India had a trade deficit of about $8.5 billion in 2016-17. Under the widening of the scope of the agreement, South Korea wants addition of more products such as machinery and certain kinds of steel products under the pact.
The bilateral trade in 2016-17 increased to $16.82 billion from $16.57 billion in the previous fiscal.
Speaking at the event, Additional Secretary in the commerce ministry, J K Dadoo said that over 880 Korean companies such as Samsung and LG have presence in India.
"The trade deficit needs to be corrected... There is a huge potential for India's exports in Korea," he said, adding that India's share in Korea's textiles imports is minuscule.
A court in Himachal Pradesh today extended till October 3 the judicial custody of eight police officers, including an IG rank officer, in connection with the custodial death of an accused in the rape-and-murder case of a minor in Kotkhai on July 4.
Inspector General of Police Z H Zaidi, Deputy Superintendent of Police Manoj Joshi and six other police officers were arrested by the CBI on July 29 and remanded to police custody till September 4 for the death of Suraj in police custody.
Their police remand was first extended till September 7, and then they were sent to judicial custody till September 20.
A local court today further extended their custody by two weeks.
Except Zaidi, who has been admitted to the Indira Gandhi Medical College in Shimla since September 13 after he complained of chest pain, all the seven others accused in the case were produced before the court today via a video link.
The seven officers have been lodged in Kanda jail, nearly 16 kilometres from Shimla.
Zaidi was heading a Special Investigation Team (SIT) which investigated the rape and murder of the minor in Kotkhai on July 4, whose body was found two days later . The case later came to be known as "Gudiya" rape-and-murder case.
Zaidi had arrested six people in the case, but one of the accused - Suraj - died in police custody. The police initially claimed Raju - another accused in the case - killed Suraj.
But when the High Court on July 19 handed over the case to CBI, the agency arrested Zaidi and seven other police officers on July 29.
The CBI is set to submit a fresh progress report on the case in the High Court tomorrow.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 21-year-old law student from Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur district was allegedly raped by a self -styled godman based in Rajasthan, police said today.
Based on the woman's complaint, a case was lodged against 70-year-old Swami Kaushlendra Prapannachari Falahari Maharaj with the women police station here on September 11, said Bilaspur Additional Superintendent of Police Archana Jha.
The incident had allegedly taken place at Madhusudan ashram of the godman in Alwar, Rajasthan, on August 7 this year, she said.
As per the complaint, the parents of the woman, who is studying law in Jaipur, are followers of Falahari Maharaj for the past several years, the police officer said.
On the baba's recommendation, she did an internship under a senior lawyer in New Delhi for which she received a stipend of Rs 3,000. Her parents asked her to donate the stipend amount to the baba's ashram in Alwar, the ASP said.
Following her parents' advice, she went to the ashram on Raksha Bandhan last month. Citing occurrence of 'grahan' (eclipse) that day, the self-proclaimed religious guru advised her to stay in the ashram which she agreed to, Jha said.
During the night, the baba called the woman in his room and allegedly sexually assaulted her, the ASP said, quoting from the complaint.
The baba asked her not to tell anyone about the incident and threatened to harm her if she did so, she said.
When the survivor came home here this month, she narrated the ordeal to her parents following which a rape complaint was lodged with the women cell, Jha added.
A case was registered against the accused under IPC sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation), the police officer said.
The survivor's statement was recorded before a magistrate here and the case diary sent to the Alwar police for further action, she added.
"Bilaspur police have sent the complaint here. We have registered a case of sexual exploitation and initiated investigation," SHO Aravali police station, Hemraj Meena, said.
He said that they visited the ashram of the accused from where it was found that he was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Alwar.
He will be interrogated after permission from doctors, Meena said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A pet parrot managed to place an online shopping order by mimicking its owner on a voice- controlled smart speaker, a British newspaper reported today.
The parrot, Buddy, ordered a 10-pound (USD13.50, 11.50 euro) set of gift boxes via Amazon's Alexa voice-controlled system, The Sun reported.
The mystery order triggered an inquest in Corienne Pretorius's house in southeast London, but after ruling out her husband and son, she figured out Buddy was to blame after hearing him interact with the speaker.
"I couldn't believe it when I realised that Buddy had made an Amazon order," the South African said.
Users can shout commands to the Amazon Echo speaker to access a host of services. It responds to the name Alexa.
Footage on the Sun's website shows the parrot squawking "Alexa!" and the device next to his cage lighting up blue, indicating that it is listening for commands.
"Buddy said 'Alexa' and some gibberish, and the machine replied, 'What is it you want to order?" Pretorius said.
She thought nothing more of it until she got a notification that an order had been placed for some golden gift boxes.
"I laughed out loud because I knew then that it was Buddy."
Amazon said customers were asked to confirm a purchase by saying "yes", and the settings can be adjusted to turn off voice purchasing.
"Buddy is hilarious. We have a cat and he mimics that, too. He is such an attention-seeker. He also swears in Afrikaans. When we go to bed, he says, 'goodnight'," his owner said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) today said it has signed pacts with Turkey-based Erkunt group to acquire its tractor manufacturing and foundry businesses for about Rs 735 crore, which will help it enhance its product portfolio.
M&M said it will acquire Erkunt Traktor Sanayii, for Rs 478 crore, a move which is aimed at entering the fourth largest tractor market in the world.
Besides, it has inked a share purchase agreement to acquire 80 per cent stake in Erkunt Sanayi AS for Rs 257 crore. The entity is engaged in production of engine blocks, cylinder heads and transmission cases.
The transaction is expected to be closed by November 30, 2017.
The Erkunt deal, which comes on the back of the Hisarlar acquisition earlier in the year, is expected to help Mahindra's farm equipment business in the strategic market of Turkey.
"Turkey is a very important market in our globalisation journey and we wish to participate in its entire agri mechanisation landscape. The acquisition of Erkunt will enable Mahindra to expand its footprint in the world's 4th largest tractor market," Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd's Managing Director Pawan Goenka said.
Mahindra's strategy for its farm equipment business is to globalise aggressively and also expand its portfolio to include various new categories of tractors and farm machinery, he said.
"We will look at farm equipment as a whole for growth. We will continue to grow market share, (and) we will grow with market," he said.
This acquisition is expected to increase Erkunt's market
share to 8-9 per cent from six per cent at present, Goenka added.
Goenka said the company has decided on markets for both organic and inorganic growth.
"We are focusing on small to medium acquisitions which will improve local presence and branding," he said.
M&M said it will acquire 100 per cent share capital of Erkunt Traktor thus giving it access to Turkish market.
"Erkunt is a strong local Turkish brand that has grown very rapidly over the last decade, by expanding its product range. We look forward to collaborate with the Erkunt leadership team to bring synergy and expand our footprint in Turkey," said Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd's President for Farm Equipment Sector Rajesh Jejurikar.
Established in 2003, Erkunt Traktor manufactures and markets tractors under Erkunt brand in Turkey. It also exports tractors to various global markets under the ArmaTrac brand.
Last year, the company sold a total of 4,700 tractors while posting revenues of 314 million Turkish Lira.
The company rolls out 23 tractor models ranging between 50 HP to 110 HP.
M&M said the investment may go up to Rs 322 crore for acquiring 100 per cent stake in Erkunt Sanayi AS (Erkunt Foundry).
The entity has a production capacity of 65,000 tons in casting and 32,600 tons in machining. It operates through three different entities around Ankara.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
French President Emmanuel Macron today said attacks on Myanmar's Rohingya minority amounted to "genocide".
France will work with other members of the UN Security Council for a condemnation of "this genocide which is unfolding, this ethnic cleansing", Macron said in an interview with the French TV channel TMC.
Macron's use of the word "genocide" marks his strongest verbal attack yet on the military drive against the Rohingya.
More than 4,20,000 members of the Muslim minority have fled Myanmar for the safety of neighbouring Bangladesh.
"We must condemn the ethnic purification which is under way and act," Macron said.
"Asking for the violence to end, asking for humanitarian access... Progressively enables an escalation" under UN auspices, Macron said.
"When the UN issues a condemnation, there are consequences which can provide a framework for intervention under the UN," Macron said.
Rohingya, who are predominantly Muslim, are reviled by many in Buddhist-majority Myanmar.
The UN human rights chief has described the systematic attacks against the Rohingya minority by the security forces as a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing".
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Madras High Court today extended by another year the CISF security cover for its main building here.
The first bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar announced that the CISF security cover will be extended from November 16 for one year after a PIL in this regard came up.
The Additional Solicitor General, G Rajagopalan, appearing for the central government, submitted that as of now the security is provided to the main building of the high court.
However, it has to be extended to the entire campus in view of agitations and rallies that were carried out inside the campus in violation of the high court order.
In his submission, Advocate General Vijay Narayan appearing for the Tamil Nadu government said if the CISF security has to be extended to entire court campus, it involves financial and infrastructural matters which have to be taken up with the state government.
To this, the judges said that all these matters can be discussed with the Security Committee of the High Court.
It further said, "At this stage we feel it appropriate to extend the CISF Security for another one year."
The security of the Madras High Court complex was taken over by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) from the state police on November 16, 2015 after lawyers created a ruckus while agitating for declaration of Tamil as an official language of the court and over contempt of court proceedings against two Madurai-based bar association leaders.
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Over 180 flights at the Mumbai airport have been cancelled since last night due to heavy rains and closure of the main runway after a SpiceJet aircraft skidded off the runway and got stuck in mud, blocking it.
The aircraft has still not been removed from there and operations on the main runway remain suspended.
According to airport sources, NOTAM (notice to airmen) has been extended till 6 am tomorrow, which means flights will continue to operate from the secondary runway, which has limited aircraft handling capacity.
NOTAM contains information concerning the establishment, condition, or change in any facility, service or procedure, among others, in airspace management.
"As many as 183 flights have been cancelled since last night besides dozens other diverted to nearby airports due to the prolonged closure of the main runway in the wake of the SpiceJet aircraft incident," a source said.
"The process of removing the stranded aircraft from the runway is going on for last 22 hours with the help of Air India but to no avail," the source said.
Till 5 pm today, 63 flights of the Jet Airways, eight of IndiGo, two of SpiceJet and one of GoAir were cancelled, a statement from the Mumbai airport said.
As many 56 flights were diverted to nearby airports till this morning.
The airport operator said efforts to tow away the stranded aircraft and clear the runway have been hampered due to incessant rains.
"The process of removing the aircraft has been affected due to continuous rains, resulting in soft soil in the area. NOTAM for closure of main runway is being extended up to 6 am tomorrow," a Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) spokesperson said.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha tweeted, "#AI team assisting #RescueOperation in removal of #SpiceJet acft from #BOM runway, the only airline in India to offer this type of facility."
A SpiceJet plane carrying 183 passengers on board from Varanasi skidded off the runway while landing at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport here at around 10 pm yesterday amid heavy rains and got stuck in the mud.
Following the incident, the airport authorities moved the operations to the secondary runway.
Mumbai airport, which is the second busiest in the country, has two crossing runways -- 09/27 (the main)and 14/32 (the secondary runway).
While the primary runway can handle up to 48 arrivals and departures per hour, the secondary runway has a capacity of 35 movements per hour. Overall, there are 930 flight arrivals and departures at the Mumbai airport every day.
Following the closure of the main runway and subsequent cancellation of flights, several domestic airlines decided to waive off airfare penalties for passengers travelling to or from Mumbai for a particular period.
Torrential rain battered Mumbai and its suburbs for the second day today, causing massive disruption in flight operations, delaying suburban train services and forcing a large number of people to stay indoors.
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Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today said the Modi government's 'Make in India' is a good initiative, but it should focus more on small and medium enterprises rather than on large businesses.
Gandhi, who is in the US on a two-week-long tour, during his interaction with students at the prestigious Princeton University said 'Make in India' is a good idea, if implemented well, it is a very powerful idea.
He was asked what is the one idea from the Modi government that he wishes his government has thought of.
He, however, said that it should focus more on small and medium enterprises rather than on large businesses.
"The prime minister feels the targeting of Make in India concept should be large businesses, I believe it should be small-scale businesses...Small and medium companies should be turning into large companies and that's not happening."
"The problem is that not enough small businesses are getting access to finance system, or getting access to the legal system or getting access to the political system," he said.
He underlined that on economic policy, broadly between the Congress and the BJP there is an agreement, but the central difference is that his party feels that India needs to carry everybody.
"Make in India is a good concept. That's a good direction. GST, is something we agree with the government...On the fine tuning slight difference," he said.
"Also, if you look at economic policy, broadly between us and the BJP there is an agreement. There is not much difference between our economic policy and theirs other than the fact that we tend to do things like NAREGA and Right to Food. On liberalisation front, on big business front, we are similar," Gandhi said.
"We feel it is dangerous if we don't carry everybody," he said.
"A lot of progress has been done but a lot more needs to be done. On economic very good movement has been there but it also has resulted in inequality. This inequality is becoming a problem," he said.
When asked about his assessment of the performance of India in the last 25 years, he said, "I would say decent performance. But what we did previously is not going to work forward."
"Public school system in Kerala is very good. Public school system in Tamil Nadu, excellent, but a large number of states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are not doing their jobs in the field of education and health," he said.
When asked what he thought was the central challenge facing the country, Gandhi said it was the lack of jobs.
Globally, he said, democratic countries are struggling to create jobs.
"Democratic countries are struggling to produce jobs and that really is a problem. That's a problem in the United States. That's a problem in India, in Europe. You can talk to any of these countries and ask them they will tell you that yes we are struggling to get blue collar jobs," he said.
"Big countries like India, US can't afford not to have blue collar jobs. And that gap is creating the churn in the country's political system and the anger that one sees."
In the last 25 years, Gandhi said, India had a good record on growth, but the job numbers are nowhere near where it should be.
"That is the crux. India has to figure out a way to solve this problem," he said.
He, however, said that India despite all its challenges has done pretty well and one should be proud of its democratic accomplishments.
"Overall if you compare to the largest percentage of the world, we have done pretty well," he said.
"Between China and us, nobody has taken more people out of poverty. And frankly, look back 10,000 years, there is no democratic country that has been able to take as many people out of poverty as India. So, that's a huge success. The scale is massive," the Congress leader said in response to a question.
"We will always have certain things not working, but certain things are working very well. I get worried when I see fundamental structural problems," he said, adding that the main challenge is how to transform the country from a rural economy to a modern urban economy.
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The Hyderabad Police today arrested a 33-year-old man on charge of making threatening calls and sending messages to a prominent industrialist and attempting to extort Rs 80 lakh from him.
Accused Sarath Kumar Sahu, an electrician, and native of Odisha was nabbed from Jubilee Bus stand here based on a complaint lodged from an industrialist in Hyderabad, who runs a family business with its head office in Mumbai, a release from Hyderabad Police said.
In the complaint lodged on September 17, the victim said he was receiving messages and calls from an unknown number to his phone number wherein the caller was using very vulgar language.
The complaint further said the caller also threatened that he has installed CCTV cameras in his bathroom and recorded all the videos of his family.
The accused threatened the complainant of dire consequences by demanding to pay Rs 80 lakh to him, police said.
The caller also threatened the victim that he will post the videos of his family on internet and social media, if matter is informed to anyone, police said.
Following the complaint a case was registered under IPC sections 387 (putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, in order to commit extortion) and 507 (criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication), the police said.
During course of investigation he was apprehended at Jubilee Bus stand.
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A 27-year-old man allegedly posed as a VIP and took over a city-based software company after threatening the firm's two directors, police said.
The Cyberabad police has arrested two persons, including the prime accused, Vamshi Rao, and the IT company's project manager, Vamshidhar.
Two job seekers had recently approached Rao and told him that they paid Rs 1.5 lakh to the company for jobs. However, when they were unable to get the jobs despite paying the money, they decided to seek a refund and to pursue it with the company, they approached Rao, the Cyberabad police said in a release issued yesterday.
Rao, in a bid to make some easy money, then approached the company's office by impersonating as a 'Very Important Person' (VIP), the release said.
Last week, he visited the firm's premises by arriving in a vehicle with a blue beacon and then held discussions with the two directors, it said.
He then allegedly threatened the directors with a gun and demanded Rs 10 lakh from them to settle the issue. The directors paid him Rs 5 lakh, the police said.
Later, Vamshidhar and two of his friends colluded with Rao. They allegedly took over the company and got hold of its accounts by confining the two directors in the office, the release said.
The accused then forced the two officials to send e-mails to their employees, stating that they have resigned from their jobs and that Rao and Vamshidhar are the new directors, the police said.
Following a complaint, the police lodged a case and yesterday arrested Rao and Vamshidhar. Their other two accomplices are absconding, the police said.
The accused were booked under IPC sections 420 (cheating), 342 (wrongful confinement) and relevant sections of the Arms Act, police said, adding that an investigation was on into the case.
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The strongest hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in over 80 years destroyed hundreds of homes, knocked out power across the entire island and triggered heavy flooding today in an onslaught that could plunge the US territory deeper into financial crisis.
Leaving at least nine people dead in its wake across the Caribbean, Hurricane Maria blew ashore in the morning in the southeast coastal town of Yabucoa as a Category 4 storm with winds of 250 kph.
It was expected to punish the island of 3.4 million people with life-threatening winds for 12 to 24 hours.
"Once we're able to go outside, we're going to find our island destroyed," said Abner Gomez, Puerto Rico's emergency management director. "The information we have received is not encouraging. It's a system that has destroyed everything in its path."
It was the second time in two weeks that Puerto Rico felt the wrath of a hurricane.
There was no immediate word of any deaths or serious injuries.
As people waited it out in shelters or took cover inside stairwells, bathrooms and closets, Maria brought down cell towers and power lines, snapped trees, tore off roofs and unloaded at least 50 centimetres of rain.
Widespread flooding was reported, with dozens of cars half-submerged in some neighbourhoods and many streets turned into rivers. People calling local radio stations reported that doors were being torn off their hinges and a water tank flew away.
Felix Delgado, mayor of the northern coastal city of Catano, told The Associated Press that 80 per cent of the 454 homes in a neighbourhood known as Juana Matos were destroyed.
The fishing community on San Juan Bay was hit with a storm surge of more than 4 feet, he said.
"Months and months and months and months are going to pass before we can recover from this," he said.
As of 2 pm EDT, Maria had weakened to a Category 3, with winds of 185 kph. Its centre was just off Puerto Rico's northwestern coast, moving at about 20 kph. It was expected to pass off the coast of the Dominican Republic late today and tomorrow.
Even before the storm, Puerto Rico's electrical grid was crumbling and the island was in dire condition financially.
Puerto Rico is struggling to restructure a portion of its USD 73 billion debt, and the government has warned it is running out of money as it fights back against furloughs and other austerity measures imposed by a federal board overseeing the island's finances.
Governor Ricardo Rossello urged people to have faith: "We are stronger than any hurricane. Together, we will rebuild."
He later asked President Donald Trump to declare the island a disaster zone, a step that would open the way to federal aid.
Many people feared extended power outages would further sink businesses struggling amid a recession that has lasted more than a decade.
"This is going to be a disaster," said Jean Robert Auguste, who owns two French restaurants and sought shelter at a San Juan hotel. "We haven't made any money this month." More than 11,000 people, and more than 580 pets, were in shelters, authorities said.
Along the island's northern coast, an emergency medical station in the town of Arecibo lost its roof, while communication was severed with several emergency management posts. A hospital and a police station reported broken windows, and a tree fell on an ambulance.
As the storm closed in on the Dominican Republic, about 4,000 tourists in the Bavara-Punta Cana area on the eastern tip of the island were moved to hotels in Santo Domingo, the capital.
Maria posed no immediate threat to the US mainland. The long-range forecast showed the storm out in the Atlantic Ocean hundreds of miles off the Georgia-South Carolina coast by Monday morning.
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Matrimony.Com, which runs online match-making portals, will list its shares on the bourses tomorrow after concluding its initial public offer (IPO) last week.
The Rs 500 crore IPO was oversubscribed 4.44 times during September 11-13.
The qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) portion was oversubscribed 1.88 times, non-institutional investors 41 per cent and retail investors 18.16 times.
The price band was fixed at Rs 983-985 per share for the IPO.
runs online match-making business under BharatMatrimony brand.
Net proceeds from the issue will be utilised towards advertising and business promotion activities, purchase of land for construction of office premises in Chennai, repayment of overdraft facilities and general corporate purposes.
Axis Capital and ICICI Securities were the books running lead managers to the offer. The registrar to the offer was Karvy Computershare Private Ltd.
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) today termed the West Bengal government's decision to appoint a Board of Administrators to monitor the development of the hills as a "mockery of the people's aspirations".
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said her government had formed a nine-member Board of Administrators (BoA), in place of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), to monitor the development works in the Darjeeling hills.
"Binay Tamang and Anit Thapa have been expelled from the party. The proposal to form a board of governors was not discussed in our party. We are not in its favour. We had unanimously rejected the idea of the GTA, so what is the use of administrators? We feel the solution to the crisis in the hills lies in a tripartite talk on the issue of Gorkhaland," GJM vice-president Kalyan Dewan said.
Both Tamang and Thapa have been inducted into the BoA.
Dewan, who is also the convenor of the Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee (GMCC), said the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland was in accordance with the "people's aspirations" and nobody should try to ignore it to serve his own interest.
The situation in the hills remained tense, although no incident of violence was reported as the indefinite shutdown in the hills entered its 98th day.
Several shops and markets in the hills remained open, braving threats and intimidation from GJM activists. However, several shops, which had opened yesterday in Mirik and Kurseong, remained closed fearing a backlash from the GJM supporters.
For the 11th consecutive day, the police, along with the administration, appealed to the locals over public address systems to open the shops and restore normalcy in the hills.
Peace rallies were taken out by the locals at Kurseong, Darjeeling and Mirik, while GJM supporters took out rallies in support of Gorkhaland and the ongoing shutdown in certain sections of Darjeeling, Sonada and Kalimpong, the police said.
The chief minister had urged the agitators in Darjeeling to withdraw their strike.
Internet services remained suspended in the hills since June 18.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India prevented the deaths of about one million children under five in 2005-15, driven by significant reductions in the mortality rates of pneumonia, diarrhoea, tetanus and measles, says a new study published in Lancet.
The study stressed that India would need to maintain the rapid decline in mortality of children in the 1-59-month group and accelerate declines in neonatal mortality to over 5 per cent annually to achieve UN global goals of reducing child mortality to at least 25 per 1,000 live births by 2030.
Between 2000 and 2015, 29 million children below five died of different causes in India, data by the United Nations show.
"However, since 2005, the progress in terms of reduction in mortality accelerated. Had the mortality rates of 2000-2005 remain unchanged, 30 million children would have died by 2015," said Dr Prabhat Jha, one of the authors and head of the Centre for Global Health Research of St Michael's Hospital in Toronto.
The study noted that an increase in spending on public health by the Indian government, launching programmes to encourage women to give birth in hospitals and for children to have a second dose of measles vaccine could all have contributed to the improvement.
Published in the leading medical journal yesterday, the report, however, found a slower decline in malaria death rates in children in the 1-59-month group.
It also highlighted that mortality rates from low birth weight rose in rural areas and the poorer states. Neonatal mortality rates in rural areas were twice that in urban areas.
In this regard, the study stressed the need for giving special attention to maternal factors, including anaemia and tobacco chewing, which also play a role in low birth weights.
A steeper decline in the number of girls dying narrowed a previously observed girl-boy mortality gap, said Dr Jha. An almost equal number of boys and girls five died in 2015.
The research is a part of the Million Death Study, one of the largest studies of premature deaths in the world, done in collaboration with the Registrar General of India. It is based on 100,000 interviews with parents who lost a child.
"Hundreds of specially trained census staff in India knocked on the doors of more than 1.3 million homes to interview household members about deaths. Two physicians independently examined these 'verbal autopsies' to establish the most probable cause of death," Dr Jha said.
The study found a 3.3 per cent annual decline in the mortality rates of neonates (infants less than one month old) and 5.4 per cent for those aged one month to 59 months.
The declines started accelerating from 2005 and were the fastest between 2010 and 2015, and in urban areas and the richer states.
Per 1,000 live births, the mortality rates among neonates fell from 45 in 2000 to 27 in 2015, while the 1-59-month mortality rate fell from 45.2 to 19.6.
Pneumonia and diarrhoea mortality rates for the 1-59- month group declined substantially in 2010-15, at an average of 8-10 per cent annual decline nationally.
Mortality rates from vaccine-preventable diseases such as tetanus and measles fell by about 90 per cent from 2005 and neonatal infection and birth trauma by more than 66 per cent.
For the 1-59-month group, mortality rates from pneumonia and diarrhoea fell by more than 60 per cent.
Co-author of the study, professor Rajesh Kumar, Dean (Academic) at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, said to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals of halving child mortality rates by 2030, India must maintain its current trajectory for the 1-59-month group and accelerate declines in neonatal mortality.
Reducing the number of neonatal deaths will require efforts to bring down deaths caused by premature delivery and low birth weights, especially in poorer states, he said.
Both are strongly linked to largely modifiable maternal and prenatal factors such as health care during pregnancy, education, nutrition, anaemia and tobacco use.
The authors also stressed the need for a stricter assessment of child mortality at district levels.
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Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta police today arrested a district treasury officer here while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1,000 for disposing of a pension case.
Lokayukta Police inspector Hitendranath Sharma said that the accused Noor Singh Maravi, the district treasury officer, was caught red-handed from his office while accepting a bribe of Rs 1,000 from a retired employee to sort out his pension case.
Indramani Shukla, a retired employee of Agriculture Department, had complained to Lokayukta police that the district treasury officer was delaying his pension case and asking for a bribe.
The police today laid a trap and caught Maravi while accepting the bribe from the complainant, Sharma said.
A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered.
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"The Complaint", a short-film by Mrinal Bahukhandi, won the first prize in a global contest held by Singapore startup Filmwallas.
The film tells the poignant tale of how a Muslim technician and an Indian retiree reconcile with old emotional scars over the course of a laptop diagnostic check.
Seventy films participated in the contest, "#ACutBeyond", organised by the Filmwallas, a platform launched in March 2017 here. The winner was announced this week.
The theme of the competition revolved around next generation technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of things, cyber security, automation, digital and analytics, and how these technological advancements are juxtaposed in today's world and human relationships.
"What makes Filmwallas' brand solutions unique is its mentorship process. For long, brands have looked down upon crowdsourcing of videos because quality becomes an issue.
"Filmwallas makes sure that its contestants go through an enrichment process by qualified Bollywood mentors who are experts in their own fields. It's because of this process that enables us to source high-quality films for brands at a very low cost," said Filmwallas founder and chief executive Zafar Anjum.
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Newly crowned world number one Garbine Muguruza pulverised Olympic champion Monica Puig 6-4, 6-0 on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals of the Pan Pacific Open.
Earlier, second seed Karolina Pliskova, who held the top ranking briefly over the summer, crushed Poland's Magda Linette 6-2, 6-1 as the Czech set up a clash with another former world number one, Angelique Kerber.
Wimbledon champion Muguruza recovered from an indifferent start to reach the last eight in Tokyo, the top seed catching fire after a trade of early breaks to rattle off the last seven games.
A booming serve down the middle sealed the first set for the Spaniard, who seemed intent on hitting the fur off the ball in her first match since reaching the top of women's WTA rankings last week.
Muguruza, chasing a third title of the year, roared through the second, a murderous backhand pass giving her a 3-0 lead to effectively kill off any hopes Puig had of mounting a comeback.
The Puerto Rican, who upset Muguruza on her way to winning a shock gold medal at last year's Rio Olympics, fell apart thereafter as her Spanish tormentor turned the screw, bringing the match to a close with an ace after an hour and 14 minutes.
"The last time I played her it didn't go my way at all," Muguruza told reporters.
"I'm also happy to win my first match as number one. To be honest nothing has really changed but I know every match is going to be even tougher now."
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Pliskova likewise tore through her second-round match, the world number four taking exactly an hour to see off Linette.
A ferocious forehand gave the Czech an early break in the first set, which she pocketed thanks to a clinical cross-court backhand.
The second set was almost a carbon copy as Pliskova again raced to a 3-0 lead before a thunderous backhand pass brought a double break.
The end came mercifully swiftly for a dejected Linette, who wafted a Pliskova serve wide on match point to sum up her contribution to a lop-sided contest.
"The number one ranking is not really my goal," insisted Pliskova, chasing a fourth title of the year and 10th of her career.
"It would be great to end the year there," added the 25- year-old, who beat Linette in the first round of the US Open by the same score before losing in the quarter-finals earlier this month.
"But my aim right now is just to try to win more titles."
German Kerber booked her place in the quarter-finals with a 7-6, 6-3 victory over Russia's Daria Kasatkina in the day's late match.
Elsewhere, China's Wang Qiang failed to capitalise on her stunning 6-0, 6-0 ambush of eighth seed Kristina Mladenovic as she was bundled out 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 by Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Muguruza heads a strong field in Tokyo featuring several top 10 players including Pliskova, Johanna Konta and defending champion Caroline Wozniacki.
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Myanmar Navy's commander-in-chief Admiral Tin Aung San today called on Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and held talks with top brass of the Indian Navy and the Army and explored ways to boost bilateral military cooperation, particularly in the maritime sphere.
The visit by the top Myanmar Navy official comes amid the Rohingya crisis.
During his meeting with Sitharaman, a host of issues relating to stepping up cooperation between navies of the two neighbours were discussed, official sources said.
"The visit is intended to consolidate and enhance bilateral defence relations between India and Myanmar," the defence ministry said.
Admiral San held extensive talks with his Indian counterpart Admiral Sunil Lanba, during which ways to increase operational coordination between the two navies were deliberated upon.
The evolving security situation in the Indian Ocean Region and overall regional dynamics were discussed during the talks.
Admiral San also met Army Chief General Bipin Rawat and they are understood to have discussed ways to ensure better coordination between the security forces of the two countries along the Indo-Myanmar border.
Myanmar is one of India's strategic neighbours and shares a 1,640-km-long border with a number of northeastern states including militancy-hit Nagaland and Manipur.
Security forces in these northeastern states sharing boundary with Myanmar have been told to keep a vigil to check possible crossing over of Rohingyas to India, sources said.
The Rohingya crisis is understood to have figured in the meetings Admiral San had with the Indian security brass, the sources said.
He reached India on a four-day visit on September 18.
"Naval cooperation between India and Myanmar has been traditionally strong, encompassing a wide span which includes operational interactions through coordinated patrols, training, port calls, passage exercises along with capacity building and capability augmentation initiatives," the statement said.
The admiral visited various naval establishments at Mumbai and Kochi as part of his itinerary prior to arriving in New Delhi, the defence ministry said.
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India's premier IT industry body today signed a major agreement with an influential local Chinese government to provide a head start for Indian firms in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things.
The National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), India's premier trade body for IT-BPM companies, signed a framework agreement with Dalian Municipal People's Government, allowing more Indian companies to penetrate into huge Chinese software market.
Dalian houses China's most high tech manufacturing firms specialising in ship building, automotive and chemical industries.
The agreement was signed at Dalian on the sidelines of the first India-China Dalian Internet of Things (IoT) Conference aimed at exploring opportunities for better alliances between Indian and Chinese companies.
The day-long event was attended by over 50 delegates from the Chinese industry along with the Mayor of Dalian, Xiao Shengfeng and 30 Indian delegates led by Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce Sudhanshu Pandey.
"India leads the world in software with great foundation of IT and BPO services," Xiao said.
He said the conference serves as a platform for the upgrading of industries of Dalian which will drive the integration of advanced IT industry of India and the strong manufacturing industry of Dalian.
"We hope that the two sides will take good advantage of this conference to strengthen communication, increase understanding, promote cooperation between Indian IT enterprises and Dalian manufacturing enterprises to achieve prosperous results in areas of IoT, smart equipment manufacturing and Big Data Analysis," Xiao was quoted as saying by the NASSCOM press release.
Pandey called for greater collaborative opportunities between Indian and Chinese companies in the IT and IT Enabled Services(ITES) sector and encouraged Chinese companies to take advantage of the opportunities available as part of the ongoing 'Make in India' initiative.
The agreement is the best option to make inroads into China's IoT and Artificial Intelligence (AI) markets after failing to get a major market share in IT, Gagan Sabharwal, Senior Director, Global Trade Development, NASSCOM said.
"This will be the best option. Traditionally Indian business have not been making much headway with respect from revenues from IT but our endeavour now is instead of going in customer and vendor relationship, we are now moving into a partnership model, where we suggest companies from the hardware and manufacturing side who want to make their solutions smarter," he told PTI in an interview from Dalian.
"Any manufacturing firm unless they make their products smarter they will be kicked out of business. China is number one in manufacturing and by partnering with India's software firms they can ride the market wave and can still be competitive and meaningful globally," he said.
The underlying theme is India should leverage its respective capabilities - manufacturing on Chinese side and software and analytics on Indian side to co-develop and co- create for the global market.
This well help penetrate China market in a "much better way," he said.
"We are already seeing some traction. We are trying this model with some of Chinese provinces like Guizhou. Dalian has much better echo system to deal with as they have the size, scale, they have big companies on manufacturing side. So that way it has much larger echo system for which our companies gets exposed to," he said.
"We met 30 Chinese companies and all echoed that we need to partner with companies who are meaningful in completion. Otherwise will be kicked out," he said.
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State-owned NBCC today announced that it has got licence to develop a commercial project at Nauroji Nagar in the national capital as 'World Trade Centre'.
The government has engaged construction firm NBCC as the implementing and marketing agency for redevelopment of three colonies - Nauroji Nagar, Netaji Nagar and Sarojini Nagar - here on sustainable finance model.
"We have got the licence from WTC, New York recently to develop the Nauroji Nagar commercial hub as World Trade Centre(WTC)," NBCC's Chairman and Managing Director Anoop Kumar Mittal told reporters here.
In this complex, he said there are 12 commercial towers, spanning over 3 million sq ft area. This project is expected to be completed by 2020.
The World Trade Centres Association (WTCA) has given licences for the development of 21 WTCs in India. At present five WTCs are operational at Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, Noida and Kochi.
Of 12 towers, NBCC in June this year sold nearly 3 lakh sq ft office space in an upcoming commercial tower at Nauroji Nagar for Rs 1,100 crore to five companies - PFC, HDFC, HPCL, SIDBI and Energy Efficiency Services.
Mittal said the company would soon put on sale more commercial towers in this project.
The company expects a realisation of about Rs 12,000- 13,000 crore from sale of these 12 towers. The proceeds would be used to meet the construction cost of redevelopment of seven housing colonies in Delhi at over Rs 32,000 crore cost.
The Union Cabinet had approved the redevelopment of seven old General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) colonies - Sarojini Nagar, Nauroji Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Kasturba Nagar, Thyagraj Nagar, Sriniwaspuri and Mohammadpur in Delhi.
Mittal said the company's net profit rose 23 per cent last fiscal to Rs 355 crore while turnover increased 8 per cent to about Rs 6,400 crore.
NBCC, which is under the administrative control of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, is present in three main segments - Project Management Consultancy (PMC), Real Estate Development and EPC Contracting.
The WTCA stimulates trade and investment opportunities for commercial property developers, economic development agencies, and businesses looking to connect globally and prosper locally.
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State-owned construction firm will launch about 1,000 flats for sale in this festival season and is in discussion with the government to develop affordable housing projects on surplus land with PSUs.
The company is also in talks with the government for developing islands in Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep, its Chairman and Managing Director Anoop Kumar Mittal said.
"We have been appointed as land management agency for the surplus land with sick PSUs. We are in close discussion with the government to develop affordable housing projects on some of the land parcels," he told reporters.
On developing island, Mittal said the company has experience in developing islands in Maldives and expects to bag similar projects in India.
"We will be launching 1,000 flats as well as commercial area across the country including Delhi-NCR in this festival. The flats will be in the price range of Rs 15 lakh to Rs 1 crore," he said.
Asked about taking over stressed projects of Jaypee Infratech and Amrapali, he said the company has not received any offer from any stakeholder including buyers, builders or the government.
However, he said the company would certainly consider if there is any opportunity, provided projects should be viable and not bring bad name to the .
On land purchase from Air India, Mittal said the company had signed an MoU with Air India for monetisation of surplus land assets of the national carrier, but there has not been much progress.
However, the CMD said that the company has recently bought a land parcel from Air India in Mauritius for Rs 3 crore. Two years back, it had bought another land parcel from Air India in Coimbatore for Rs 25 crore.
Mittal said two land parcels in Vasant Vihar and Baba Kharag Singh Marg in Delhi were given on lease to Air India by the government and the same is being returned to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
The company could develop projects on these two land parcels, he added.
Mittal said the company has an order book of Rs 75,000 crore and the same is likely to touch Rs 1 lakh crore in the next few months. The company has an order book of Rs 700 crore from overseas.
On developing railway stations, he said the company has bagged 10 projects and would like to develop at least 4-5 projects before acquiring more such projects from the Railway Ministry.
Among major projects, has bagged over Rs 2,000 crore project to develop integrated exhibition-cum-convention centre for ITPO at Pragati Maidan.
NBCC, which is under the administrative control of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, is present in three main segments - Project Management Consultancy (PMC), Real Estate Development and EPC Contracting.
The NCLAT will tomorrow pronounce its verdict over the two petitions filed by ousted Tata Sons Chairman Cyrus Mistry on maintainability of pleas against Tata's and waiver in the filing criteria.
A bench headed by Chairperson Justice S J Mukhopadhaya will pronounce the order, as per the updates from the cause list of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).
The appellate tribunal had concluded its hearing on July 24 and reserved its judgement.
The two investment firms -- Cyrus Investments Pvt Ltd and Sterling Investments Pvt Ltd -- had moved NCLAT over maintainability of their petitions filed against the Tata group and waiver required for it under the Company Act 2013.
The appellate tribunal had heard both pleas together.
Earlier, on April 17, the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) had rejected the waiver plea filed by the investment firms while on March 6, it had set aside the one over maintainability.
Following that, both the investment firms had moved the appellate tribunal.
The Companies Act mandates that a petitioner should hold at least one-tenth of the issued share capital of a company or represent 10 per cent of the total number of members to file cases alleging mismanagement and oppression of minority shareholders.
Mistry was ousted as Tata Sons chairman in October 24, 2016 and was also removed subsequently as director on the board of the holding company on February 6, 2017.
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Nepal today honoured its 76 peacekeeping personnel who sacrificed their lives to protect world peace under the flag of the UN.
A UN Peacekeepers' memorial plaque was unveiled at the UN Office here marking the International Day of Peace.
Minister for Health Giriraj Mani Pokharel was the chief guest at the function attended by chiefs of security agencies and heads of diplomatic missions based here.
Since 1948, when the UN deployed peacekeeping forces around the world, 76 Nepalese peacekeepers have lost their lives, said UN Resident Coordinator Valerie Julliand.
Altogether, 3,500 peacekeepers from various nations sacrificed their lives worldwide, she said.
"Today we remember and honour the uniformed personnel, civilian peacekeepers such as international civil servants, national staff members and the UN volunteers who have fallen," she observed.
"Our missions would not function without their bravery, integrity, as well as endurance of their family members towards the endeavours of their loved ones," she added.
Currently, 5,202 Nepali security personnel are deployed on different peacekeeping missions around the world.
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Legendary poet-lyricist Gulzar, who had witnessed the horrors of Partition first-hand and has often written on it, has come with a collection of prose and poetry on the subject.
"Footprints on Zero Line: Writings on the Partition", however, does not stop at the events of 1947 but looks at how these continue to affect our lives to this day.
Partition is a theme that Gulzar has gone back to again and again in his writings, publishers HarperCollins India said.
"It is not only a collection on a cataclysmic event in the history of our nation by one of our best contemporary writers but also a timely reminder that those who forget the errors of the past are doomed to repeat them," a HCI statement said.
Translated by Rakhshanda Jalil, this compilation marks 70 years of India's Independence.
Born in Dina (now in Pakistan), Gulzar writes in the poem 'Zero Line': "... I am back at the Zero Line/My shadow whispers from behind me,/'When you give up this body/Come back to your home/Your birthplace, your motherland'."
A stalwart of Indian literature and one of the finest poets, Gulzar has a number of poetry and short-story collections to his credit.
He has published two volumes of his translations of Rabindranath Tagore's poems - "Baaghbaan" and "Nindiya Chor".
He is a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Padma Bhushan.
In 2008, he was awarded an Oscar for his song 'Jai ho' in "Slumdog Millionaire". He received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2014.
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Silkworms and spiders spin silk by pulling rather than pushing it out of their bodies, according to a study that could lead to new, greener ways of producing synthetic fibres.
Researchers from the University of Sheffield in the UK suggest that if this process can be copied in an industrial setting, it could improve how synthetic materials are processed and offer more environmentally-friendly alternatives.
Conventional synthetic textiles are made by extrusion - pushing a liquid feedstock through a dye and then using high changes in temperature and exposure to harsh chemicals to solidify.
However, silk can solidify into a fibre at room temperature and leave only water - therefore causing less environmental damage.
"Silk is one of the most promising green biomaterials, and could be the perfect replacement for nylon and polyester based clothing," said Jamie Sparkes, a PhD student at University of Sheffield.
"Traditional production process for silk is both arduous and time-consuming, but if we can bypass that by mimicking nature in an industrial setting, we could improve not only silk, but also how we process our synthetic materials," said Sparkes.
Researchers examined how animals, including silkworms and spiders, push materials like silk out of their bodies.
"While it is easy to assume that silk is propelled out of the body like we see in comic books, we wanted to put that to the test," said Chris Holland, Head of the Natural Materials Group at University of Sheffield.
"By combining computer models with experimental data and practical measurements, we determined the forces needed to squeeze unspun silk down the animals silk gland and spin a fibre," said Holland.
"We found that to spin silk by extrusion (pushing), means a silkworm would have to squeeze itself hard enough to generate more pressure than a firing diesel engine," said Sparkes, lead author of the study published in the journal Nature Communication.
This is not possible as the animals body would be unable to contain that pressure.
However, by measuring the forces required to pull silk from the animal's body, the researchers found that it was well within the capability of the silkworm to pull a fibre, a process they refer to as pultrusion.
The researchers achieved this by adapting a rheometer, a machine used normally to measure the viscosity of liquids, into a highly sensitive spinning wheel, capable of measuring the forces needed to spin.
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Adding to the festive cheer, a six-feet tall Durga idol made of chocolate was put on display at a city hotel today.
The idol has been made of approximately 600 kg of chocolate.
Three persons, under the guidance of pastry chef Sunil, worked eight hours a day and completed the idol within a week.
The idol will be on display till September 29, the day of Mahanavami.
"We made the idol with chocolate - an all time favourite item of the Bengalis to celebrate their love for Durga Puja and sweets," Keneth Scott, a top official said on behalf of the hotel.
"We also wish to pay our tribute to the skilled artisans of Kumartuli, the idol-makers and artisans hub in city," Scott said.
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BEIJING -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday congratulated his Nepalese counterpart, Sher Bahadur Deuba, on Nepal's National Day.
In a congratulatory message, Li said China and Nepal are friends and partners that sincerely help each other.
In the past two years, Nepal has achieved rapid economic growth and progress in the implementation of its new constitution, and China is glad to see that, Li said.
China is willing to deepen pragmatic cooperation in various fields with Nepal within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative to lift bilateral ties to a new level, Li added.
Online retailer of beauty brands, Nykaa today said it expects to become profitable by March 2019, helped by a growing offline presence and larger portfolio of premium and luxury products.
The company, which was founded by former investment banker Falguni Nayar, expects to become cash-flow positive by March 2018.
"We have a very low burn rate. We haven't engaged in much advertising but transactions have grown steadily with new customers and repeat buyers. We expect our revenues to grow 2.5X-3X this year...By next fiscal, we should be profitable," Nayar told PTI.
Nykaa had started as an online platform and moved into offline retail as well. It already has eight stores in Delhi- NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Amritsar and Pune.
"We are aggressively looking at expanding our offline presence. We have eight stores under the 'Luxe' and 'On Trend' categories, which are company-owned," Nayar said.
The Luxe stores would have mostly luxury and premium brands, while On Trend stores will carry a portfolio of brands that trend on Nykaa's online platform.
By the end of this fiscal, Nykaa is looking at a footprint of 15 stores, she said adding that they are also looking at cities like Hyderabad and Chennai apart from deepening presence in the four cities where it already has stores.
Asked about the investment planned, Nayar said Nykaa would invest about Rs 10 crore in these stores apart from the costs of the inventory.
Nykaa had closed a funding round of Rs 104.3 crore in December last year.
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A Malian soldier was killed and a number of others were injured today in an ambush in northern Mali, where gunmen also attacked two military camps, including a UN mission, a military source said.
The ambush took place 55 kilometres from Menaka, when one of the unit's vehicles ran over a landmine, the source said.
Meanwhile, in the northern region of Kidal, gunmen attacked a camp run by the UN mission in the country, known by the acronym of MINUSMA, and another camp due to host so-called mixed patrols, another security source said.
Intended to provide security for the troubled region, mixed patrols comprise regular army soldiers; pro-government armed groups known as Platform; and ex-members of a predominantly Touareg rebel group, the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA).
Northern Mali is the site of frequent clashes between rival armed groups, as well as a haven for jihadist activity.
In 2012, key cities fell under the control of jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda, who exploited an ethnic Tuareg-led rebel uprising, leading to a French-led military intervention and the eventual deployment of MINUSMA.
Although the Islamists were largely ousted, much of the region is lawless and attacks have continued on UN and French forces, civilians and the Malian army.
This month, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita inaugurated the headquarters for a planned five-nation force to combat jihadists in the Sahel region.
The five-battalion, 5,000-strong force, will comprise troops from Niger, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Burkina Faso.
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A Pakistani court today issued a bailable arrest warrant against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and ordered the police to produce him before it on September 25 after he failed to appear in a corruption case linked to the Panama Papers scandal.
The accountability court, which is hearing the graft cases filed by top anti-graft watchdog National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on September 8 against ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his children and Dar, expressed anger at the absence of 67-year-old minister.
Dar's protocol officer appeared on his behalf and informed the court that the minister was out of the country and would appear on his return.
However, he failed to give any specific date for the return of Dar who is accused of possessing assets beyond his known sources of income.
NAB Prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar urged the court to issue arrest warrants, which the court accepted.
Judge Mohammad Bashir directed police to arrest Dar and produce him on the next hearing on September 25.
However, the minister can avoid arrest by submitting a surety bond worth Rs 1 million.
The judge further warned to issue non-bailable arrest warrants if Dar failed to appear on September 25.
The Supreme Court on July 28 had disqualified Sharif from the prime minister's office in the Panama Papers case.
The court is hearing the corruption cases against 67- year-old Sharif, his daughter Maryam, sons Hussain and Hasan, son-in-law Muhammad Safdar and Dar.
According to the Supreme Court, the accountability judge should decide the cases within six months.
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Pakistan's defence minister Khurram Dastagir Khan today accused India of sabotaging the route of USD 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Unveiled in 2015, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) connects Xinjiang province in northwest China with the deep-water Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea in southwestern Pakistan.
A part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road (B&R) initiative, the CPEC runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and India has raised objection to it.
"Although every country can benefit from the biggest economic project, India is involved in nothing but carrying out directly or indirectly terrorism activities on the CPEC route," Khan told a conference on CPEC in Islamabad.
He claimed CPEC was facing challenges due to conspiracies to limit China's influence in the region.
He alleged that the arrest of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav from Balochistan was the biggest evidence of India's involvement in terror activities in Pakistan.
Khan said the regional disputes were a hurdle to peace between Pakistan and India which in return was hurting chances of any effort for mutual development.
He claimed that the resolution of Kashmir would help both countries to improve their relations.
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Pakistan has raised objection with the US over President Donald Trump advocating greater role for India in the war-torn Afghanistan, the country's top diplomat said today.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi during a meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly here yesterday expressed concern over the greater role that Trump advocated for India in his new Afghan policy, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua said.
Janjua's meeting with Pence was the highest contact between the two countries since Trump announced his new policy on Afghanistan and South Asia on August 21 in which he had warned Pakistan for its continued support to terrorist groups and warned Islamabad of consequences if it continues to do so.
Trump had also asked India to play a greater role in war-torn Afghanistan, much to the dislike of Pakistan.
In the meeting, the two sides resolved to remain engaged and carry forward the relationship that has been on a downward trajectory since announcement of the US policy for Afghanistan and South Asia, the APP agency reported.
"The meeting on the sidelines of the 72nd UNGA session in New York was held in a cordial atmosphere," a handout issued by the Foreign Office said.
"Prime Minister [Abbasi] shared Pakistan's concerns and views with regard to the US strategy for South Asia," it said.
Abbasi and Pence agreed to work together to carry forward the bilateral relationship and discussed matters relating to peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.
"It was agreed that the two countries would stay engaged with a constructive approach to achieve shared objectives of peace, stability and economic prosperity in the region," the FO statement said.
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Breaking the ice in their ties, Pakistan and the US have agreed to "stay engaged" and carry forward the relationship that has been under strain after President Donald Trump warned Islamabad against providing safe havens to terrorists.
This was decided when Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met US Vice President Mike Pence on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly here yesterday, Pakistan's Foreign Office said.
"It was a good meeting," Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua told reporters on the 45-minute meeting between Abbasi and Pence. She termed the progress made at the meeting as an 'ice-breaker'.
She said it was agreed that the United States would send a delegation to Pakistan in October to continue the talks.
It was the highest contact between the two countries since Trump announced his new policy on Afghanistan and South Asia on August 21 in which he had warned Pakistan for its continued support to terrorist groups and warned Islamabad of consequences if it continues to do so.
Trump had also asked India to play a greater role in war-torn Afghanistan, much to the dislike of Pakistan.
"It was agreed that the two countries would stay engaged with a constructive approach to achieve shared objectives of peace, stability and economic prosperity in the region," the Foreign Office statement said.
Ahead of the meeting, Pakistani media had reported that Islamabad is ready with a tough diplomatic policy if the US imposes any sanctions on it or lowers Islamabad's major non- NATO ally status over failure to crack down on militants.
Meanwhile, the White House said that Vice President Pence had an "important conversation" with Pakistan's Prime Minister Abbasi on the new South Asia strategy of President Trump.
"The Vice President and Prime Minister Abbasi had an important conversation about the President's South Asia strategy that was announced late last month," the White House said in a readout of the meeting.
During the meeting, Pence highlighted ways that Pakistan could work with the United States and others to bolster stability and prosperity for all in South Asia.
Pence reiterated President Trump's belief that "Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with our effort" in the region, the White House said.
"We value our relationship with Pakistan, a long-term partnership for security in the region. And we look forward to exploring ways that we can work even more closely with Pakistan and with your government to advance security throughout the region," he said.
Abbasi thanked Pence for the invitation to meet. He said Pakistan intended to continue efforts to "eliminate terrorism." He said Pakistan contributed to a "very difficult war," suffered casualties and economic losses.
In a fact sheet, the White House said that the President outlined a new Afghanistan strategy to ensure that country cannot be used as a terrorist base to threaten the US by establishing a plan for Afghanistan that is based on conditions on the ground, not an artificial timeline.
The US is also pressing Pakistan for greater cooperation in countering all forms of terrorism and enhancing global and regional stability.
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A high-level panel has recommended to provide fuel linkage to NTPC's Vindhyachal project in Madhya Pradesh if the plant is delinked from any coal mine alloted to the power producer, a government official has said.
The Standing Linkage Committee (Long-Term) has recommended "grant of coal linkage to NTPC Vindhyachal V (Unit-13) of 500 mw from CIL (Coal India), subject to getting clearance from Ministry of Power that the plant has been delinked from the Pakri-Barwadih or any other coal block alloted to NTPC," the official said.
According to the project proponent, Pakri-Barwadih coal block in Jharkhand was alloted to the power PSU as a basket mine and NTPC's Vindhyachal V (500 mw) was one of the end-use plants.
"The coal production from the mine is supplied to NTPC Barh Stage-II owing to delay in development of its linked mine at Chatti Bariatu (Jharkhand)," the official said.
The Central Electricity Authority and the power ministry suggested to supply coal to this unit as per the provisions of the linkage policy for the power sector.
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The Punjab Cabinet today approved an amendment to the state Excise Act to allow licensed vends in the limits of municipal areas to sell liquor even if they are located within 500 meters of national or state highways.
The decision was in line with the apex court judgement of July 11, said an official spokesperson.
Section 26-A of the Punjab Excise Act, 1914, will be amended to ensure the condition for the sale of liquor through licensed vends at a distance of 500 meters from national/state highways does not apply to those within the limits of municipal area, the spokesperson said.
The cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, also gave a go-ahead to a proposal for amending the Excise Act to check liquor smuggling.
In another decision, the Cabinet also gave its approval for amendment to Section 27 of the Punjab Land Reforms Act, 1972, thus paving the way for seamless implementation of various pending infrastructure and Special Economic Zone (SEZ) projects.
Enrolment in pre-primary classes for the next academic session is all set to start in government schools across Punjab this month, with the cabinet giving nod to a proposal in this regard.
Following the cabinet approval, government schools will start enrolling children over the age of three in the pre-primary classes, which will become operational in the forthcoming academic session.
Under the existing rules, government schools could admit children only over the age of six.
Speaking at the cabinet meeting, Amarinder Singh also suggested improvement in the government school curriculum, with historical events and heroes to be incorporated to help connect the children to their roots.
Local Bodies and Tourism Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu suggested inclusion of cultural topics in the course curriculum.
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US Vice President Mike Pence today had an "important conversation" with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on the recently announced South Asia strategy of the US President Donald Trump, the White House said.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session here.
"The Vice President and Prime Minister Abbasi had an important conversation about the President's South Asia strategy that was announced late last month," the White House said in a readout of the meeting between the two leaders.
During the meeting, Pence highlighted ways that Pakistan could work with the United States and others to bolster stability and prosperity for all in South Asia.
Pence reiterated President Trump's belief that "Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with our effort" in the region, the White House said.
In the meeting Pence told Abbasi that Trump recently articulated America's renewed strategy in South Asia.
"We value our relationship with Pakistan, a long-term partnership for security in the region. And we look forward to exploring ways that we can work even more closely with Pakistan and with your government to advance security throughout the region," he said.
Abbasi thanked Pence for the invitation to meet. He said Pakistan intended to continue efforts to "eliminate terrorism." He said Pakistan contributed to a "very difficult war," suffered casualties and economic losses.
In a fact sheet, the White House said that the President outlined a new Afghanistan strategy to ensure that country cannot be used as a terrorist base to threaten the US by establishing a plan for Afghanistan that is based on conditions on the ground, not an artificial timeline, and pressing Pakistan for greater cooperation in countering all forms of terrorism and enhancing global and regional stability.
Trump has authorised an increase in strikes against terrorist groups that threaten the American people, including Al-Shabaab in Somalia, Al-Qaeda's largest affiliate.
Abbasi arrived in New York a day earlier to attend the annual General Assembly sessions of the United Nations.
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A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking recall of its order directing the NIA to investigate a controversial case of conversion and marriage of a Hindu woman to a Muslim man in Kerala.
The Kerala High Court had annulled the marriage terming it as an instance of 'love jihad', following which the man had approached the apex court.
The top court had on August 16 directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to probe the incident under the supervision of retired apex court judge, Justice R V Raveendran.
The man has now approached the apex court seeking recall of its August 16 order besides a direction to Kerala Police to produce the woman, who is residing in her father's house, before the court.
Petitioner Shafin Jahan, in an interim application filed in his appeal against the high court order, has referred to media reports and claimed that NIA has already started its probe "without the guidance of Justice Raveendran".
In the plea, filed through his counsel Haris Beeran, he has claimed that as per these reports, "Justice R V Raveendran has refused to oversee the said probe by the NIA" and the agency should be directed not to proceed further with its investigation.
"Therefore, now since the above reports are surfacing that NIA has already commenced investigation and already found a link, all without the guidance of Justice Raveendran, the worst fears of the petitioners have therefore been realised," the plea said, adding, "such an investigation is clearly not fair and is against the orders of this Court".
Jahan has claimed in his plea that the Kerala human rights commission has received several complaints regarding the detention of the woman at her father's house.
He has also claimed that the woman has made it clear that she had accepted Islam on her own free will and after the May 24 order of the high court, she has been detained against her will and her rights have been violated.
"The detenue (woman) clearly wishes to leave her parents' home and that she is being physically abused while being under house arrest," the plea alleged.
The apex court had directed the NIA to submit its final investigation report in the court to enable it to arrive at any conclusion in the matter.
Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh, appearing for the NIA, had earlier told the bench that prima facie it appears that woman's conversion to Islam and her subsequent marriage to a Muslim was not an isolated incident and other such instances have come to the agency's notice.
Jahan, who had married a Hindu woman in last December, had moved the apex court after the Kerala High Court annulled his marriage, saying it was an insult to the independence of women in the country.
The woman, a Hindu, had converted to Islam and later married Jahan. It was alleged that the woman was recruited by Islamic State's mission in Syria and Jahan was only a stooge.
Ashokan K M, the father of the woman, had alleged that there was a "well-oiled systematic mechanism" for conversion and Islamic radicalisation.
The high court, while declaring the marriage as "null and void", had described the case as an instance of 'love jihad' and ordered the state police to conduct probe into such cases.
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The long wait to receive post-mortem report from the Kolkata Police has become a thing of the past, as it can now be available online.
In its bid to modernise the nearly 160-year-old force, the Kolkata Police is planning to do away with some of its age old practices and one of them is delivery of post-mortem reports in cases of unnatural deaths.
"Now people will not have to wait for a long time for post-mortem reports. We will upload the reports on our website for the family members of the deceased," a senior officer of Kolkata Police told PTI.
The e-governance initiative has started this week.
About the process, the officer said, first one needs to visit the post-mortem section of the Kolkata Police's official website - https://pmr.Kolkatapolice.Org.
The applicant needs to provide the post-mortem number with date and a registered mobile number in the website. The applicant will then get an one-time password on his/her mobile phone which needs to be entered in the prescribed space.
The applicant will then get instructions on how to download the post-mortem report.
However, the manual process of application will also continue simultaneously for some time, the IPS officer said.
"This is just one component of the ongoing modernisation programme of the Kolkata Police. It will make our service delivery to people quicker, simpler and more transparent. We have been training personnel in computers throughout the year at all levels to help us serve people in a better way" he said.
Around 20 police personnel were recently provided 80 hours of training for 10 days on the basics of computer and networking by National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology, Kolkata, in the newly set up Computer Lab of our Police Training School, he said.
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India's Prajnesh Gunneswaran crashed out of the singles event of Columbus ATP Challenger tournament following a tight straight set defeat against American wild card Martin Joyce.
The left-handed Indian lost 6-7(4) 6-7 (1) to Joyce, who represents Ohio state in the US Collegiate circuit and is yet to turn a Pro.
Prajnesh, ranked 244, could convert none of the five break chances he earned but saved all four breakpoint he faced in the first round, which lasted one hour 34 minutes.
"I played well but did not do enough with the second serve returns. The match was decided mostly with that. I could have played better in tie-breakers but he took his chances in the tie-breaker," Prajnesh told PTI from Columbus.
"He serves and volleys and his game was little different from the style of play we usually face. He played tie-breakers better than me. Only thing I can say is that the second serve factor made the match close," he added further.
Talking about his opponent, Prajnesh said,"he will be good when he comes out of college, if he chooses to do."
India have top players Yuki Bhambri and Ramkumar Ramanathan in the singles draw.
Yuki, seeded third and world number 156, is up against Jose Hernandez-Fernandez, ranked 343.
Second seed Ramkumar, ranked 153, will open his campaign against American Sekou Bangoura, ranked 379.
Ramkumar and Prajnesh have also teamed up for the doubles and they face second seeded British pair of Brydan Klein and Joe Salisbury in their opening round.
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President Ramnath Kovind will be in Uttarakhand for two days from September 23, during which he will worship the Ganga river in Haridwar and pay obeisance at the shrines in Badrinath and Kedarnath.
He will be received at the Jollygrant airport in the afternoon by Uttarakhand Governor K K Paul, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, Chief Secretary S Ramswamy and DGP Anil Raturi, official sources here said.
The Central Command of the Army will give him a guard of honour, they said.
From the airport, the president would go to Har Ki Pauri along the Ganga river in Haridwar. After worshipping the river, he will visit the Seva Kunj Ashram.
Kovind will return to Dehradun the same evening where the governor will host a banquet in his honour at the Raj Bhawan.
The next morning, the president will participate in a tree plantation programme and then he will leave for Kedarnath and Badrinath.
He will return to Delhi that day after paying obeisance at the famed Himalayan shrines.
The chief secretary held a meeting here to review the preparations and has asked the departments concerned to make fool-proof arrangements in view of the president's visit.
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President Ram Nath Kovind will be on a day-long visit to the city on Friday to attend a series of programmes, according to senior district officials.
He is scheduled to arrive at the Nagpur airport at 10:00 am by a special Indian Airforce flight, they said.
Kovind will visit Deekshabhoomi, Shantinath Jain Temple in Ramtek, the officials said.
Later the president will inaugurate International Meditation Centre at Dragon Palace in Kamptee and will also participate in Buddha Vandana programme here.
Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union minister Nitin Gadkari will be present here, the officials said.
The president will also attend the inauguration programme of Suresh Bhatt auditorium in Reshimbagh in the evening, they said.
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A high-level inquiry has been ordered by the Uttar Pradesh government on the alleged role of a senior police officer in the arrest and subsequent release of an accused in Nabha prison break case.
According to reports in a section of media, Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi Ghyanshyampura was detained and subsequently released at the behest of an IPS officer in the state.
"The government has taken note of the media reports and a high-level inquiry headed by an Additional Director General of Police has been ordered," Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar told reporters here today.
In a sensational jailbreak, a group of armed men stormed Nabha jail in Punjab's Patiala district in police uniforms and managed to free six prisoners - Harminder Singh Mintoo and Kashmir Singh, both terrorists, and gangsters Dhothian, Vicky Gounder, Gurpreet Sekhon and Neeta Deol - on November 27 last year.
Gurpreet Singh was reportedly hiding at different places in Uttar Pradesh, including at Lucknow and Shahjahanpur.
The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had arrested three persons, Sandeep Tiwari alias Pintu, Amandeep Singh and Harjinder Singh, on September 15 from the state capital here. The trio had reportedly struck a deal with the IPS officer in question for Rs 45 lakh to free Gurpreet, official sources said.
As the controversy erupted, the Special Task Force (STF) issued a clarification stating that the said media reports were "misleading".
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The Punjab Cabinet today approved the introduction of a fresh Bill in the Vidhan Sabha to protect the interests of depositors against default.
The Cabinet, in its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, decided to withdraw the Punjab Protection of Interests of Depositors (in Financial Establishments) Bill, 2015, which was earlier sent to the Centre for obtaining the assent of the president and was pending with the Ministry of Home Affairs, an official spokesman said.
The decision comes in the wake of mushrooming of fraudulent financial establishments in the state in the recent past, the spokesman said.
The move follows serious complaints received by the state government, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) against many financial establishments allegedly indulging in unscrupulous activities to fleece innocent depositors, he said.
These establishments are found to be making impracticable or commercially unviable promises or by offering highly attractive rates of interest or rewards, with no intention of fulfilling their obligation of refunding the deposits on maturity or rendering proper services assured to the investors at the time of accepting the deposits.
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The BJP hit back at Rahul Gandhi today over his attack on the government during his US tour, saying he was running away from the battleground and travelling across the world to campaign for the Congress party.
"Let him travel across the world and campaign for his party. We will take care of India," BJP general secretary Ram Madhav told reporters here.
Referring to the Congress vice president's frequent foreign visits, including the ongoing tour of the US, Madhav said there were still more countries for him to travel.
"He is running away from the battleground," he said.
Madhav rejected Gandhi's criticism of demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax (GST), and insisted that both the decisions would benefit the country in the long term.
Gandhi, who is in the US on a two-week tour, told a group of students at the Princeton University today that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not doing enough to address the problem of unemployment in the country.
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Home Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to visit the Sino-Indian border in Uttarakhand next week, the first by a senior minister in the Modi government after the resolution of the stand-off in Dokalam, officials said.
During the visit, the home minister will interact with jawans of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), which guards the 3,488 km-long India-China border, and assess various development activities in the frontier.
This will be for the first time a senior minister of the Narendra Modi government is visiting the borders with China after the resolution of the Dokalam standoff late last month.
The Chinese and Indian troops were in a face-off situation for more than two months in Dokalam in Sikkim sector after the Indians stopped the construction of a road by China's army.
The home minister is expected to review the situation on the border, address a 'Sainik Sammelan' and assess the progress in various infrastructure projects, a home ministry official said.
Singh may also visit an ITBP post located at Barahoti in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, another official said.
There were reports that Chinese soldiers had entered 800 meters into the Indian territory in Barahoti on July 25 and stayed for some time before returning to the Chinese territory.
The 3,488 km-long India-China border stretches through Jammu and Kashmir (1,597 km), Himachal Pradesh (200 km), Uttarakhand (345 km), Sikkim (220 km) and Arunachal Pradesh (1,126 km).
The Sino-Indian border is not fully demarcated and the process of clarifying and confirming the Line of Actual Control is in progress.
The area is characterised by high-altitude terrain and thick habitation which have resulted in inadequate development of infrastructure in these regions.
To redress the situation arising out of lack of infrastructure along border with China, the government has decided to undertake construction of 73 roads of operational significance.
Of these, 27 roads involving 804.93 km are being constructed by home ministry in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh at an estimated cost of Rs 1,937 crore.
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Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Dumka on September 22 on the occasion of completion of 1000 days of the Raghubar Das government in Jharkhand.
Singh and Chief Minister Raghubar Das will lay the foundation stone and inauguration of schemes worth Rs 3185 crore, an official release said today.
Foundation stones will also be laid for 24 roads to cost Rs 1304 crore in the Santhal Parganas region, besides for village roads worth Rs 139 crore, it said.
The road development department will start constructing 481 km roads simultaneously, the release said.
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Millions of workers are employed in brick kilns in India, only to be found in endemic levels of debt bondage and the worst forms of child labour, according to a new report by an anti-slavery group.
The study by the London-based Anti-Slavery International noted that women were "invisible workers" in the kilns and were deprived of all employment benefits.
"Workers are hired as a family unit, and wages are exclusively paid to the male head of the household unit," the study said.
The report focuses on brick kiln moulders, who form the majority of the workforce at brick kilns in Punjab which was the focal point of the research.
Another finding was that one-third of the total workforce in brick kilns were children, of whom a staggering 65 to 80 per cent were between the ages of five and 14 years.
"Children reported working an average of nine hours a day in the summer months and seven hours a day in the winter months, regardless of whether they worked as a 'main worker' or 'support worker'," the study said.
These children are deprived of education and other "early childhood service".
Those between the ages of 14 and 18 years were found to be working "on average 12 hours a day in summer months and 10 hours a day during the winter months".
"Seventy-seven per cent of this age group reported working as a main worker and 23 per cent as a support worker."
Anti-Slavery International said this was in violation of international laws, under which children under 18 should not be working in slavery or practices similar to slavery, including debt bondage, or in work that is likely to harm health.
The bonded nature of labour, according to the report, is a manifestation of workers -- 96 per cent -- taking an advance or loan before starting work in the kilns.
"The provision of an advance/loan is a key part of the bonded labour system, and is used in the kilns, along with withholding of wages and other measures to control workers," the study noted.
It also brought to light practices such as payment of workers according to a piece rate, withholding of wages and payment below minimum wage, resulting in constant poverty and marginalisation, which in turn leads to exploitation and slavery.
The findings of the report are based on two primary data sources -- a 2016 research that interviewed brick kiln workers from Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, and a baseline study conducted in 2015-16 in Punjab, where over 3,000 workers were interviewed and 208 brick kilns were surveyed.
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A RJD MLA has been booked for allegedly abusing and assaulting headmaster in-charge of a government school in Rohtas district, a charge denied by the legislator.
FIR was registered against RJD MLA from Karakat, Sanjay Kumar Singh Yadav at Karakat police station on the written complaint of Headmaster In-charge of the government high school, Ramvriksha Paswan yesterday, Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Vikramganj, Neeraj Kumar said today.
Paswan in his complaint alleged that the MLA hurled abusive words on 14 other teachers too on Monday last to express his anger over the school not providing two buses to him for ferrying supporters for RJD rally on August 27 last in Patna.
School Principal Vikas Maurya was on leave that day and Paswan was officiating in his absence.
In the complaint, it was alleged that the MLA moved in class rooms and threatened teachers with dire consequences.
"Police is investigating into the matter," the SDPO said.
But, RJD MLA denied the charges.
"Fabricated charges have been levelled against me," the Sanjay Kumar Singh Yadav told PTI today.
The MLA said he had visited the school in the capacity of being ex-officio chairman of the school management committee to seek explanation over parents complaints of the school illegally charging "extra money" in the name of registration for board exam and issuing school leaving certificate.
"A large number of locals who had been making complaint to me were with me and some of them even recorded the visit to the school in their mobile which could be verified to nail the lies," he added.
The MLA said he met Rohtas District Magistrate Animesh Parashar today and urged him to probe complaint against the school officials.
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In an apparent case of road rage, a man allegedly hit two motorcycle-borne persons with his car as they objected to him smoking in front of them in south Delhi, following which one of the duo succumbed to injuries today.
Police, however, said they are probing whether it was case of accident or the accused deliberately hit the duo.
Gurpreet and Maninder Singh, both in their 20s, had gone near AIIMS for filming a documentary on pavement dwellers in the national capital on Saturday, their families claimed.
While they were having dinner near Safdarjung Hospital, a man came and started smoking on their faces, witnesses told police.
The duo objected to the man blowing smoke on their faces and asked him to not do so, the family members claimed, adding the man, who was inebriated, threatened them with dire consequences.
Gurpreet and Maninder decided to leave from there since they did not want to escalate the issue, they said.
However, the man, followed them and hit them with his car near AIIMS. The driver also went on to hit two other vehicles - an autorickshaw and a cab.
The duo was rushed to hospital. Gurpreet succumbed to injuries today while the other victim is undergoing treatment at the hospital, police said.
The accused, identified as Rohit Krishna Mahanta, was arrested from the spot, but was later granted bail. He is studying law.
He is currently in a hospital and police are awaiting to question him.
After Gurpreet's death, police have added IPC section 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder with a maximum term of life imprisonment) to the FIR.
Gurpreet's family claimed that it was an act of murder and alleged police inaction.
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Iranian President Hassan Rouhani today ruled out talks with US President Donald Trump's administration on revisiting a 2015 nuclear accord and said Tehran had "various options" if Washington pulls out.
"An American government that chooses to trample on her legal and legitimate international commitments, a conversation with such a government would be a waste of time," Rouhani told reporters on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was set today to meet his US counterpart Rex Tillerson for the first time as part of the accord, which also involves five other major powers.
But he said there was no question of reopening negotiations, a day after Trump called the accord an "embarrassment."
"It is an agreement that took over two years of negotiation over every single word and every single sentence," he said.
"We were able to agree on mutually acceptable dates and deadlines so this agreement is not something you can touch. If you take out a single brick, the entire building will collapse," he said.
Rouhani said that Iran had "various options" including "the removal of obstacles" if the United States pulls out of the agreement.
"It means that our hand would be completely open to take any action that we see as beneficial to our country," he said.
He declined to be more specific but said that Iran will never seek nuclear weapons.
"Iran has never sought, is not now seeking and will never seek nuclear weapons," he said.
The dispute centers on uranium enrichment, which Iran says is for civilian use but critics led by Israel say is intended to build nuclear weapons.
Rouhani said that Iran would also need to look at the stance of the other parties to the agreement -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- if the United States pulls out.
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The old practice of designated senior lawyers mentioning cases for out-of-turn listing and urgent hearing today came to an abrupt end, with the Supreme Court making it clear that from now on, only Advocates-on- Record (AoRs) can mention such matters.
The courtroom of the Chief Justice of India (CJI), where matters for out-of-turn hearing are mentioned, had yesterday witnessed noisy scenes after a lawyer complained that while his senior colleagues were being allowed to mention such cases, junior members of the bar were denied such opportunity.
"Only Advocates on Record will mention henceforth," CJI Dipak Misra thundered as soon as Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta started mentioning a matter for urgent hearing.
Deafening silence dawned in the otherwise chirpy and crowded courtroom, the moment the CJI made public the decision that lawyers, except AoRs, cannot mention matters for urgent hearing.
AoRs are the lawyers authorised by the apex court to file cases and pleadings before it. The apex court conducts examinations to designate a lawyer as an AoR.
The bench, also comprising Justices Amitava Roy and A M Khanwilkar, had yesterday expressed annoyance when a lawyer had complained that junior members of the bar were not allowed to mention cases.
"We cannot spend the whole day and allow mentioning to go on like this," it had observed.
Yesterday, senior lawyers including former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi and Anand Grover had mentioned their matters, following which the court had started hearing the already listed cases.
One of the lawyers, P V Dinesh who was in the queue, had then objected and alleged that senior advocates have been allowed to mention multiple cases, but others should also get at least a chance as all litigants cannot afford big advocates.
Some lawyers, who were also in the queue, supported their colleague, leading to noisy scenes in the packed courtroom.
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Brazil's scandal-plagued former leftist president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and a tough- talking rightwing congressman lead voter intentions ahead of next year's presidential elections, a poll has said.
Underlining the turmoil in Brazilian politics, the poll also confirmed plummeting support for the current center-right government, with 75.6 per cent saying it is doing a bad job. Only 3.4 per cent said the government is doing a good job, down from 10.3 per cent in February.
More than 84 per cent of those polled disapprove of President Michel Temer's performance, while just 10.1 per cent approve, the poll from the MDA research institute said.
Temer is presiding over unpopular austerity reforms that he says will help accelerate Brazil's timid exit from its worst recession in history. He is also hobbled by several criminal charges of corruption, while much of his government likewise faces graft probes.
General elections are due in October 2018 and Temer, who took over last year after Dilma Rousseff was removed in an impeachment trial, is not expected to seek a new term.
With voters in an angry, anti-establishment mood, the poll commissioned by the National Transport Confederation showed high rejection rates for all probable candidates.
Lula was hugely popular during his 2003-2010 two-term presidency but his reputation has been damaged by steep economic decline under his handpicked successor Rousseff and a mammoth corruption scandal.
Investigators have revealed that swaths of political parties and politicians -- allegedly including Temer, Lula and many others at the top -- took bribes from big Brazilian companies for years in exchange for contracts.
Lula has been sentenced to more than nine years in prison after being convicted of bribe taking, but he remains free on appeal. He also faces five more corruption trials, any one of which could result in him being imprisoned or barred from seeking election.
And late yesterday, a federal judge filed yet another corruption case against him, the seventh currently open. It is a case claiming he took money linked to the auto industry.
His attorney denied any blame, and claimed it was yet more "political persecution."
The poll released earlier found Lula would easily win a first election round against all comers, with around 32 per cent of the vote, compared to just under 20 per cent for his nearest rival, the rightwing firebrand Jair Bolsonaro.
Ecologist Marina Silva, who got 21 per cent in the first round of the 2014 elections, would now get 11 to 12 per cent in scenarios with Lula and Bolsonaro.
In a runoff second round, Lula would also win, the poll found, hitting more than 40 percent of the vote in most scenarios, compared to between 15 and 29 per cent for potential runnersup.
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Karnataka Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy today expressed confidence that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the killing of journalist Gauri Lankesh would nab the culprits soon.
"I am very confident that the SIT will nab the killers of Gauri Lankesh soon. I am also confident that the killers of (MM) Kalburgi will also be caught," he told reporters here.
The SIT was looking into all the aspects of the Lankesh murder case, Reddy said, adding that it had collected certain clues and sought time to gather more evidence.
Lankesh (55), a harsh critic of Hindutva politics, was gunned down by unidentified assailants in front of her residence in Bengaluru on September 5.
On the allegation levelled by Karnataka BJP leaders that their phones were being tapped, he said the state government would write to the Centre on the issue.
Reddy, who held a meeting with senior police officials here, said he had given instructions to invoke the stringent Goondas Act against those trying to disrupt peace in the district.
Meanwhile, the parents of Kavya, who allegedly committed suicide in the Alva's college hostel in July, met the home minister and demanded a probe into the case by the Corps of Detectives (CoD).
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A nine-year-old old sloth beer was killed after being hit by a speeding train on the Delhi-Mumbai track passing through Mukendra Tiger Reserve (MTR) here, an official said today.
The body of the sloth beer was disposed of after post- mortem was conduced today, said S R Yadav, Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF), MTR.
The incident took place at 10 pm yesterday following which a team of the forest department reached the spot where they found the animal bleeding profusely, he said.
Wildlife activists held the railways responsible for the killing.
Brajesh Vijayvergya, a wildlife activist in Kota, said a 7-km stretch of the Delhi-Mumbai railway line falls under the reserve and threat to life looms large over animals.
"Proposals for a fencing of the Delhi-Mumbai railway track have been forwarded several times to the railway department but they have been gathering dust," Vijayvergya said.
Rish Raj Sharma, a wildlife research scholar, said three tigers, proposed to be shifted to the MTR from the Ranthambore National Park by the end of this year, are also likely to face the same threat if no sincere action is taken for their safety.
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A soldier was killed as Pakistani troops opened fire at an Army patrol along the Line of Control in Keran sector of Jammu and Kashmir today.
An Army official said that "necessary and adequate" response has been given to the Pakistani firing.
"Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing along the LoC in the early hours today. One soldier was injured in the incident," the Army official said.
The injured jawan was airlifted to a hospital in Srinagar where he succumbed to injuries.
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Spain has taken control of Catalonia's finances to prevent funds being used for an independence referendum it deems illegal, a move that limits the region's autonomy and puts in doubt the payment of thousands of public workers' salaries.
"It is a total irresponsibility. They are leading us to an administrative collapse," Catalonia's vice president Oriol Junqueras said on Monday, adding the measure was "unprecedented".
Spain's conservative government announced Friday it would take over the payment of essential services and public workers' salaries in to prevent it from spending money on the referendum slated for October 1.
Catalonia's pro-separatist government challenged the measure in Spain's Supreme Court but a court spokeswoman told AFP it was "in force" and would not be suspended while judges rule on its legality.
"It is a de facto suspension of Catalonia's financial autonomy," said Alain Cuenca, an expert on the regional financing at the University of Zaragoza who opposes Catalan independence.
Spain's regions pay taxes to the central government and are then given a quota to spend on health care, education and public infrastructure.
Catalonia, which is roughly the size of Belgium and home to around 7.5 million people, receives about 1.5 billion euros ($1.8 billion) a month from Madrid to cover essential services.
"This means that from now on (Catalan leaders) no longer have their money," said a spokeswoman for Spain's budget ministry.
They won't have the right to carry out any "extra expense" beyond those already foreseen, she added.
"Does this mean they have less autonomy? Of course! But the seriousness of the measure goes hand in hand with the seriousness of the events," said Francisco de la Torre, a lawmaker with the centrist Ciudadanos party, an ally of Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's conservative government.
Madrid announced the measure after the Catalan government said it would no longer comply with a request made in July that it provide weekly accounts of its spending to ensure no money was being used to stage the contested referendum.
Junqueras said the freezing of the accounts is a disguised way of taking away Catalonia's autonomy, a measure which could in principle only take place after a debate and a vote in the Senate, Spain's upper house of parliament.
"This implies not being able to devote one euro to spending in sectors such as industry, commerce, agriculture, livestock, culture, research, sports, youth, social affairs, housing" which are considered to be nonnon-essentiale said.
For Madrid, paying the salaries of the roughly 170,000 employees of the Catalan regional government will not be an easy task.
Spain's central government will need their complete details such as bank account info or the number of sick leave days they have in order to calculate the amount they are due.
Junqueras avoided answering if his government would provide this information, saying only at a news conference yesterday that "we will act with our usual normality".
If it does not, Spain's central government will "turn off the tap" of financing for the region since this means the Catalan government "is not cooperating, that they don't want the salaries of public workers to be paid" by Madrid, the budget ministry spokeswoman said.
Joan Escanilla, president of the Catalan branch of Spain's CSIF civil servants union, said the risk that salaries will be paid late was a "real worry".
"Think of all that people who have to pay their mortgages, the problems they could have with their banks," he said.
The Catalan government downplays the risk.
"We have all the resources to face our obligations," said Junqueras.
About a quarter of Catalonia's revenues comes directly from certain taxes which it collects itself as well as from university tuition fees.
The Catalan government probably "still has a bit of margin" to pay salaries during the month of September, said Cuenca.
To prevent it from using this money, Madrid has asked banks to control all movements in the accounts and credit cards managed by Catalan leaders.
Key stock indices today settled near the base line, mainly due to passive foreign investors, as all eyes turned to US Federal Reserve's policy decision.
Geo-political issues returned after US President Donald Trump, in his speech to UN General Assembly, threatened to "totally destroy" North Korea if it persists with its ballistic missile and nuclear programme.
Asian markets struggled ahead of the Fed meeting outcome slated later in the day, analysts said. Europe too had its share of weakness.
After resuming higher, the Sensex slipped into the red, before settling down 1.86 points, or 0.01 per cent, at 32,400.51. The gauge had lost 21 points yesterday in a cautious trade.
The Nifty, after shuttling between 10,171.05 and 10,134.20, ended the day at 10,141.15 -- lower by 6.40 points -- or 0.06 per cent.
"Domestic indices traded flat for the second consecutive day ahead of the Fed rate decision scheduled later today. FII's passive trading approach with capital inflow limited to primary market and debt also might have weighed down the momentum... Investors could now be eyeing GST rate revisions and updates on GST implementation in petroleum products to take the next crucial step," said Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit Financial Services Ltd.
Key telecom stocks such as Idea Cellular, Reliance Communication and Tata Teleservices fell by up to 3.43 per cent after Trai yesterday slashed mobile interconnection usage charge (IUC) by more than half to 6 paise a minute. There would be no such charge from January 1, 2020, the regulator said.
However, Bharti Airtel wiped off early losses to close higher by 0.39 per cent on some late buying.
Market heavyweight Reliance Industries was in a sweet spot as the scrip hit a record high of Rs 872.10 (intra-day) before closing 0.85 per cent higher at Rs 847.10 after the IUC cut is seen as benefiting the company's telecom unit, Reliance Jio.
Hero MotoCorp finished at the bottom on the Sensex list, falling 2.29 per cent to Rs 3,858.10, following profit taking activity. Tata Motors fell 1.98 per cent to Rs 415.50.
Sun Pharma, Hindustan Unilever, PowerGrid and ICICI Bank were also on the losing side, falling by up to 1.96 per cent.
In contrast, Dr Reddy's was the leader by rising 3.33 per cent, to Rs 2,313.60, followed by Tata Steel 1.64 per cent, to Rs 687.65 on unabated buying activity.
The domestic steelmaker announced signing of an agreement with Thyssenkrupp to merge their steel operations in Europe in a 50:50 joint venture company.
In sector play, BSE auto lost most, falling 0.69 per cent, along with consumer durables, oil and gas and power.
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) remained passive as they sold shares worth a net Rs 1,719.62 crore. Even domestic institutional investors (DIIs) offloaded shares worth a net Rs 77.68 crore yesterday, as per provisional data.
Broader markets such as mid and small cap indices slipped form record highs.
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Spain's prime minister today called on Catalan separatist leaders to end their "escalation" as several thousand people took to the streets of Barcelona to protest at Madrid's attempts to stop a banned referendum on independence.
"Stop this escalation of radicalism and disobedience once and for all," Mariano Rajoy said in a televised statement as protesters remained in the centre of the Mediterranean seaside city after a day-long demonstration that headed into the night.
"There is still time to avoid bigger problems."
Shouting "we will vote," independence supporters started their gathering on Wednesday morning after police detained 14 Catalan government officials, raising tensions as Madrid pulls out the stops to prevent regional separatist leaders from holding the vote on October 1.
They refused to move as the day wore on, further angered by an announcement by the interior ministry that police had seized "close to 10 million ballot papers" destined for the vote outlawed by the central government.
Over in Madrid, hundreds of supporters of the referendum gathered in solidarity in Puerta del Sol square, which hosted scores of anti-austerity protests during the Spanish economic crisis.
Among those arrested by the Guardia Civil police was Josep Maria Jove, secretary general of economic affairs and Catalonia's deputy vice president, a regional government spokesman said.
The others work in various Catalan government departments and are suspects in a probe into "disobedience, misfeasance and embezzlement", the High Court in Catalonia said.
Launched in February, the probe centres around allegations that confidential data was stolen to provide separatists with information on Catalan taxpayers, a judicial source who refused to be named said.
Catalan President Carles Puigdemont condemned the "totalitarian and undemocratic attitude of the Spanish state."
He accused Madrid of imposing a "de facto" state of emergency to stop the referendum.
In central Barcelona, several thousand people were still gathered in front of Jove's office late this evening, some draped in red and yellow Catalan flags.
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External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today called on Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and discussed issues of mutual concerns, situation in the region and bilateral ties.
"Boosting strategic partnership with a special friend," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted after Swaraj called on Ghani here on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session here.
As part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'neighbourhood first policy', Swaraj so far has met heads of states of three of India's neighbours - Afghanistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh -- here.
Swaraj is unlikely to have a bilateral meeting with her Pakistani counterpart Khawaja Asif.
However, the two leaders are likely to see each other during several multilateral meetings, including that of SAARC and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
During her week-long stay here, Swaraj, leading a high- powered Indian delegation, is expected to hold about 20 bilateral and trilateral meetings with leaders attending the session.
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"Thor: Ragnarok" director Taika Waititi is reportedly in negotiations to direct the live- action adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo's anime, "Akira".
The New Zealand-born director-actor is in talks with Warner Bros. To serve behind the lens for the long-gestating adaptation of the 1988 Japanese animated film, reported Deadline.
"Akira" consists of six volumes, and there are reportedly going to be two live-action films, each based on three volumes.
Set in a future city environment called New Manhattan, the sci-fi epic follows the leader of a bike gang who must save his best friend, who has been experimented on by the government causing him to develop dangerous and destructive psychokinetic powers.
Waititi is currently gearing up for the release of the third "Thor" film which will open in theatres on November 3.
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Taiwan has once again agreed to purchase a large share of US wheat over the next two years, with most of it coming from Idaho, North Dakota and Montana.
Idaho Governor C L "Butch" Otter and Taiwanese milling industry officials signed the USD 576 million agreement yesterday at the Idaho Capitol in Boise following similar agreements being signed by Montana and North Dakota officials.
"The consumption of wheat foods in Taiwan has now surpassed rice and we appreciate that the Taiwan milling industry recognises the quality of Idaho wheat," Otter said.
According to the Idaho Wheat Commission, Taiwan mostly buys Idaho's soft white wheat to use in cookies, crackers and noodles. However, Taiwan has also been buying more of the state's hard red wheat to use in bread. A total of 5 per cent of Idaho's wheat production is purchased by Taiwan.
"Taiwan's consumers have appreciated high-quality Idaho- grown wheat and famous potatoes for decades," said Tony I-T Chen, chairman of Taiwan's milling association.
After signing the agreement, Taiwanese delegates gifted Otter with a bottle of single malt whiskey made in Taiwan with Idaho wheat. Otter then joked he might have to taste it later that night during dinner with the delegates.
This is the 11th time leaders with the Taiwan Flour Millers Association, which imports wheat on behalf of all 20 Taiwanese flour mills, have pledged to buy US wheat. Taiwan has roughly one-sixth the land mass of Idaho, but it has a population of more than 23 million.
The United States supplies more than 80 per cent of Taiwan's total wheat imports each year. For 2018 and 2019 combined, Taiwan is agreeing to buy 1.8 million metric tons of US wheat.
"The partnership between Taiwan's millers and US wheat producers is enduring and very successful," said said Bill Flory, vice chairman, Idaho Wheat Commission. "The importance of maintaining this trade relationship with this valued customer cannot be overstated.
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Shares of Tata Steel today rose nearly 2 per cent after the company said its deal with German steel giant Thyssenkrupp to merge their steel operations in Europe in a 50:50 joint venture.
The scrip gained 1.64 per cent to close at Rs 687.65 on BSE. During the day, it went up by 2.14 per cent to Rs 691.05.
At NSE, shares of the company rose by 1.66 per cent to end at Rs 687.65.
In terms of volume, 6.50 lakh shares of the company were traded on BSE and over 87 lakh shares changed hands at NSE during the day.
Earlier in the day, the domestic steelmaker announced signing of an agreement with Thyssenkrupp to merge their steel operations in Europe in a 50:50 joint venture company.
As per the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two, the proposed JV -- Thyssenkrupp Tata Steel -- would be headquartered in Amsterdam region of the Netherlands and will supply premium and differentiated products to customers, with annual shipments of about 21 million tonnes of flat steel products.
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Thai authorities have detained a Buddhist monk who has posted online videos that harshly denounce Islam.
Police Col. Dusit Promsin in the southern province of Songkhla said the monk, Apichart Punnajanto, was detained there yesterday by officers from the Crime Suppression Division.
Officers of the division refused to comment, but Dusit said the monk was taken into custody because of videos he had posted online, though he did not describe the content.
Apichart has spoken out on many issues, but is best known for posting a suggestion that a mosque be burned down anytime a monk is killed by Muslim separatist insurgents in the country's deep south, where more than 6,500 people have been killed since an insurgency flared in 2004.
The violence occurs mostly in Thailand's three southernmost provinces, the only ones with Muslim majorities in the Buddhist-dominated nation, but has on occasion spilled over into neighboring Songkhla.
Apichart also recently renewed a feud with a government religious official, saying in a video that he filed a defamation suit against him and sarcastically urging people in the south, where the official was recently transferred, to give him a "warm welcome."
The military government that took power in 2014 after staging a coup has the power to detain people without due process if they are considered a threat to public order or national security.
They are frequently held briefly for what is called "attitude adjustment" before being freed without formal charges.
The Cross Cultural Foundation, a rights group active in the south, said it doesn't support actions by religious leaders that instigate conflict among religious groups, but urged Apichart's immediate release.
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Senior Congress leader K S Thanga was today sworn in as a new minister in the Lal Thanhawla government.
Mizoram Governor Lt Gen Nirbhay Sharma (Retd) administered the oath of office and secrecy to Thanga in the swearing-in ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan.
With Thanga, Lal Thanhawla government has now 11 minister. Mizoram can have maximum of 12 ministers.
Thanga has been given the rank of a minister of state.
The 57-year-old, Thanga, a former student leader joined the Congress and won from Aizawl South -III seat in 2008 state assembly polls as Congress candidate and was appointed as parliamentary secretary.
He won from the same constituency in the 2013 assembly polls and was again inducted as parliamentary secretary from which he resigned on August 30, following the declaration of the act for appointment of parliamentary secretaries as 'unconstitutional' by the Supreme Court.
Sources in the ruling Congress said that Lalawmpuii Chawngthu was also to be sworn-in as minister today but could not be sworn in as she was in Delhi.
Lalrinmawia Ralte who had resigned from the ministry was appointed as Political Adviser to Chief Minister yesterday, and he was given the rank of Minister of State.
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Theleme Master Fund Ltd, a UK- based hedge fund, on Wednesday offloaded Bank of Baroda shares worth Rs 1,115 crore through an open market transaction.
The hedge fund sold its entire holding of 3.29 per cent or 75,817,327 shares of the bank, according to bulk deal data available with BSE.
The shares were offloaded on an average price of Rs 147.06, valuing the transaction at Rs 1,114.97 crore, data showed.
Merrill Lynch Markets Singapore Pte Ltd picked up 75,473,856 scrips at Rs 147.08 apiece. This takes the transaction size to Rs 1,110.07 crore.
Following the development, shares of Bank of Baroda gained 2.84 per cent to close at Rs 148.40 on BSE. During the intra-day trade, the stock touched a high of Rs 150.70.
The British police today arrested a second man in connection with the bombing on a London Underground train that wounded 30 people.
Scotland Yard's Counter-Terrorism Command investigating the Friday attack arrested the 25-year-old from Newport, South Wales this evening.
The Metropolitan Police said that an address in Newport is being searched in this connection.
On Saturday, an 18-year-old man was detained at Dover port, and a 21-year-old was arrested in Hounslow in west London.
Both suspects were being held under the UK's Terrorism Act and being questioned at a south London police station.
The suspects have not been named officially but the 21- year-old has been identified locally as Syrian refugee Yahyah Faroukh.
Thirty people were injured during the attack in which an improvised explosive device was detonated on a Tube train at Parsons Green underground station during morning rush hour on September 15.
The latest arrest is also under section 41 of the UK's Terrorism Act, as in the case of the other two suspects.
The arrest was carried out by the Met's Counter-Terrorism Command, supported by Gwent Police and the Welsh Extremism and Counter-Terrorism Unit.
Metropolitan Police Commander Dean Haydon said: "This continues to be a fast-moving investigation. A significant amount of activity has taken place since the attack on Friday. We now have three men in custody and searches are continuing at four addresses."
The Islamic State group has said it was behind the bombing but Met Police's Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said it was "very routine" for IS to claim the attack, whether in contact with those involved or not.
The explosion, described as a "bucket bomb", sent a "fireball" through the Tube causing burn injuries to several commuters.
The main device, which had been fitted with a crude timer using shop-bought fairy lights, failed to detonate, meaning hundreds of people were spared death and serious injury.
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Three persons were killed when their bike was hit by a roadways bus on the Bahraich- Lucknow national highway here this morning, police said.
Anil Shukla (40), Bhim Kumar (26) and Shyam (36) were rushed to the district hospital where doctors declared them brought dead, police said.
The bus driver fled the scene after the accident, they added.
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The toll in a massive explosion at a firecracker warehouse in Punjab's Sangrur district today rose to five with the recovery of one more body, the police said.
Last night, four people had died and several others injured in the explosion in Sullar Gharat village in Dirba sub division.
"We recovered the body of one person from the debris," Sangrur DSP (Dirba) Yogesh Kumar said.
All the deceased were labourers and they belonged to nearby Dhandori Kalan village in Sangrur, he said.
Five people were injured in the incident and one of them, who was stated to be critical, was admitted to a hospital in Patiala, the police said.
The reason behind the explosion was still being investigated by the forensic science laboratory, they said.
Police said that some workers who were working in the godown told the investigators that some "inflammable material" was allegedly stored for manufacturing firecrackers.
The two-storey warehouse collapsed while a nearby residential building also got damaged in this incident, police said.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh ordered an investigation into the incident.
The chief minister also announced a compensation of Rs one lakh each to the families of those killed in the incident.
Expressing grief over the death of five people and injuries to some others, the chief minister directed the district administration to ascertain the cause of the incident and take remedial measure in future to prevent its recurrence.
Amarinder asked the officials to fix responsibility for the explosion and ordered stringent implementation of fire safety rules or guidelines in the operations of all business establishments and industries using hazardous and highly inflammable materials.
No complacency or laxity in this regard would be tolerated, he warned.
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Toshiba said today it would sell its memory chip business to a group led by US investor Bain Capital, in a deal worth around USD 18 billion and seen as crucial to keeping the Japanese conglomerate afloat.
The sale to the consortium -- which includes US tech giants Apple and Dell as well as South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix -- caps a months-long saga that saw heated courtroom battles, rival bids and the near-delisting of one of Japan's best-known firms.
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: Regional carrier TruJet planned to launch flights to Salem and Kadapah from Chennai in the next two months, a top company official said here today.
The airliner today launched Chennai-Mysuru service under the Centre's ambitious UDAN regional connectivity scheme.
"We are starting Chennai-Mysuru service from today. We are also starting service in the Hyderabad-Bellary route. Chennai-Mysuru service will be everyday", TruJet, promoted by Turbo Megha Airways, Managing Director, V Umesh said.
He said the company would start services to Salem and Kadapah by November first week. It was awaiting permission for operating services to Hosur from here, he added.
To a query on when the services were expected to begin in he said "By November first week,".
On expansion of fleet size, he said the company would add one more aircraft taking the total to five (from current four) and another two over the next few months.
"Totally we will be having eight. All (aircraft will be) ATRs ", he said, adding the pricing of seats will be upto Rs 3,000.
TruJet has already commenced services on the Hyderabad-Kadapah, Hyderabad-Nanded and Nanded-Mumbai routes.
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President Donald Trump predicted a rapid end to the diplomatic and economic standoff between Qatar and its neighbours today, during a meeting with the country's emir at UN headquarters.
"We are right now in a situation where we're trying to solve a problem in the Middle East and I think we'll get it solved," Trump said, describing Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al- Thani as a long-time friend.
"I have a very strong feeling that it will be solved pretty quickly."
For more than 100 days Qatar has been subject to a Saudi-led boycott that shuttered Qatar's only land border, denied air space to its national airline and suspended maritime links.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut all ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing it of bankrolling Islamist extremists and being too close to Iran.
The White House has been sympathetic to allegations that Doha has been too cozy with proscribed groups, but has been wary that Gulf disunity has only created an opening for Iran to expand its influence in the region.
The emir welcomed Trump's involvement. "As you said, Mr President, we have a problem with our neighbours and your interference will help a lot and I'm sure we can find a solution for this problem."
Earlier, he addressed the UN General Assembly, accusing his neighbours of terrorism and made a plea for dialogue.
"I stand here while my country and my people are subjected to a continuing and unjust blockade imposed since June 5th by neighbouring countries," he said.
"It seems that those who planned and implemented it had envisaged that their move would cause a shocking and direct impact that will bring the State of Qatar to its knees and to capitulate to a total tutelage to be imposed on it," he said.
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US President Donald Trump said today he had "decided" on the Iranian nuclear deal and will let people know about it, a day after he described the agreement as the "worst" and "one-sided transactions" that America has ever entered into.
Trump was responding to a question on whether he had made up his mind to exit the Iranian nuclear deal struck in 2015.
"I have decided," he repeated three times.
Sitting in a bilateral meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestinian Authority, Trump smiled when pressed on what the decision was.
"I'll let you know what the decision is," he said.
Trump described the Iranian nuclear deal as one of the "worst and most one-sided transactions" that the US has ever entered into yesterday.
In their brief remarks to the press, Trump and Abbas expressed hope that they would be able to bring a lasting and peaceful resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
"We are fighting very hard, we are trying very hard. If we can do it, it would be a great great legacy for everybody. So let's see what happens. We're looking seriously at peace and maybe ultimately peace in the whole of the Middle East. I think we have a pretty good shot, maybe the best shot ever," he said.
"The toughest deal of all. I think we have a very, very good chance," he said, adding that all stake holders are working very hard on this.
The Palestinian President said the meeting showed Trump's seriousness to "achieve the deal of the century" during this year or in the coming months.
Abbas said he was very certain that Trump was determined to bring peace in the Middle East.
"This gives us the assurance and the confidence that we are on the verge of real peace" between the Palestinian and the Israelis, he said.
"We can coexist peacefully together," he added.
Trump kicked off his day of diplomacy with a bilateral meeting with the King Abdullah II of Jordan.
"We're working together on many problems, and some things that aren't problems that are very, very good. But we're going to make some of the bad ones turn out good," Trump said.
King Abdullah said terrorism was a scourge around the world.
"But I think Jordan will always stand beside you and your country. And we will overcome," he said as they met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York.
Trump's comment that he has made a decision on Iranian nuclear deal comes a day after he blasted Iran for its alleged support to terrorists.
"The Iranian government masks a corrupt dictatorship behind the false guise of a democracy. It has turned a wealthy country with a rich history and culture into an economically depleted rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed and chaos," Trump told world leaders in his maiden address to the UN General Assembly yesterday.
"The longest suffering victims of Iran's leaders are, in fact, its own people. Rather than use its resources to improve Iranian lives, its oil profits go to fund Hezbollah and other terrorists that kill innocent Muslims and attack their peaceful Arab and Israeli neighbours," he said.
"This wealth, which rightly belongs to Iran's people, also goes to shore up Bashar al-Assad's dictatorship, fuel Yemen's civil war and undermine peace throughout the entire Middle East. We cannot let a murderous regime continue these destabilising activities while building dangerous missiles. And we cannot abide by an agreement if it provides cover for the eventual construction of a nuclear programme," Trump said.
The nuclear agreement deal struck in July 2015 between the Obama administration, Iran, China, Russia, France, Germany and the UK requires that Iran severely curb its nuclear activities in return for global sanctions relief.
Under US law, the State Department must notify Congress every 90 days of Iran's compliance with the nuclear deal.
Obama had said the deal would make the world safer and more secure. He had said in January of 2016 after the deal was implemented that "Iran will not get its hands on a nuclear bomb".
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US President Donald Trump today signalled he would consider resuming military aid to Egypt which had been frozen because of concerns over its human rights record.
"We're going to certainly consider it," Trump said as he met President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Egypt had been furious over the US decision to freeze USD 195 million in military aid in response to Egypt's poor record on democracy and civil liberties.
The decision, made earlier this year, came as a surprise because Trump had pledge strong ties with the key US ally after they deteriorated under Barack Obama.
Egypt is seen as a key partner in the Middle East, with influence over crises in Libya, Israel and the Palestinians, and the broader region.
But that relationship has been tested since the July 2013 overthrow of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi and the subsequent bloody crackdown on Morsi's supporters.
That has been followed by a much tighter grip on non- governmental groups and the military government's critics.
"The relationship is very good," Trump said today.
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Two persons were today arrested by police here under Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA) and one 27-year-old Bangladeshi woman, who was engaged by them in flesh trade was rescued, police said.
The accused have been identified as V Nooka Raju and Mohammed Musthafa, along with a woman (who is absconding), they said.
They used to procure girls and women from various states and kept them in rented houses in Hyderabad and secretly indulged in prostitution, Rachakonda police commissioner Mahesh M Bhagwat said.
Musthafa also got Aadhar card for the Bangladeshi woman, by submitting fake documents and claiming she is his wife, the CP said.
"She is not having Bangladesh passport and she says that she was brought by dalals (agents) to Mumbai around five years ago," the senior police official said.
Further probe is on.
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Two more persons were today detained by British police as part of their investigation into the London Tube bomb attack last week, bringing the total number of arrests to five.
A 48-year-old man and a 30-year-old man were detained by Scotland Yard's Counter-Terrorism Command under the UK's Terrorism Act this morning, after a search at an address in Newport, South Wales, the Metropolitan Police said.
Yesterday evening, a 25-year-old had been arrested in Newport.
On Saturday an 18-year-old man was detained at Dover port, and a 21-year-old was arrested in Hounslow, west London.
Both are still being questioned in custody, police said.
The suspects have not been named officially but the 21- year-old has been identified locally as Syrian refugee Yahyah Faroukh.
A homemade "bucket bomb" partially exploded in a train at Parsons Green station in west London, injuring 30 people during rush hour on September 15.
The latest arrests are also under section 41 of the UK's Terrorism Act, as in the case of the all suspects in the case.
The arrests were carried out by the Met's Counter- Terrorism Command, supported by Gwent Police and the Welsh Extremism and Counter-Terrorism Unit.
"This continues to be a fast-moving investigation. A significant amount of activity has taken place since the attack on Friday," Metropolitan Police Commander Dean Haydon said.
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The Border Security Force today killed two Pakistani smugglers when they tried to enter the Indian territory, and seized heroin worth Rs 20 crore, an official said.
"The BSF conducted a joint operation with the Narcotics Control Bureau in Shahpur in Amritsar sector after they witnessed a movement of the smugglers this morning," BSF IG Mukul Goyal said.
The smugglers started firing when they were stopped by the Indian soldiers. In retaliatory firing, two smugglers were killed, he said.
Four kg heroin worth Rs 20 crore in the international market along with arms and ammunition was seized by the BSF along the India-Pakistan border here.
An Ak-47 rifle, a pistol, two magazine, a Pak simcard, a mobile phone, Pak currency worth Rs 20,330 and 32 grams drug were seized in the operation, the officer said.
The search operation is underway, he said.
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Scientists have discovered Octlantis - an underwater site built entirely by octopuses, where they communicate with each other by posturing, chasing or colour changes.
Researchers from University of Illinois in the US found the site in the waters off the east coast of Australia, that is the home of up to 15 gloomy octopuses.
It is the second gloomy octopus settlement found in the area, and the discovery lends credence to the idea that octopuses are not necessarily loners.
The first gloomy octopus site was found in Jervis Bay off the east coast of Australia in 2009.
The new site is located just a few hundred meters away from the first site, and has been dubbed Octlantis.
The site is about 10 to 15 metres under the water's surface and is about 18 metres in length and four metres wide, researchers said.
It is composed of a few patches of exposed rock and beds of discarded shells from prey animals. A total of 13 occupied and 10 unoccupied octopus dens - holes excavated into sand or shell piles - were found at the site, they said.
"At both sites there were features that we think may have made the congregation possible - namely several seafloor rock outcroppings dotting an otherwise flat and featureless area," said Stephanie Chancellor, a PhD student at the University of Illinois.
"In addition to the rock outcroppings, octopuses who had been inhabiting the area had built up piles of shells left over from creatures they ate, most notably clams and scallops.
These shell piles, or middens, were further sculpted to create dens, making these octopuses true environmental engineers," Chancellor said.
Researchers placed four cameras at the new site to film for a day, recording 10 hours of footage that showed numerous social interactions among the inhabitants. The number of octopuses observed at the site ranged from 10 to a high of 15.
"Animals were often pretty close to each other, often within arm's reach. Mating, signs of aggression, chasing, and other signalling behaviours were observed," Chancellor added.
"Some of the octopuses were seen evicting other animals from their dens. Often another animal observing this behaviour would quickly swim away," she added.
The study was published in the journal Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology.
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US-backed fighters said today they were in the "final stages" of capturing Raqa from the Islamic State group as waves of air strikes pounded the jihadists' Syrian bastion.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have now seized 90 percent of the extremists' de-facto Syrian capital, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor.
Their advance is the latest in a string of setbacks for IS in Syria and neighbouring Iraq, where the jihadists were defeated in second city Mosul in July.
The SDF, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters, said it had mounted a "surprise attack" on IS in the north of Raqa, where the jihadists have been under siege for three months.
"We consider this the final stages of the Wrath of the Euphrates campaign, which is nearing its end," a statement said.
The US-led coalition backing the SDF with air strikes, equipment and advisers said it had been bombing IS near Raqa for two days, targeting the jihadists with 42 air strikes on Monday and 30 yesterday.
"Because of the heavy coalition air strikes, IS withdrew from at least five key neighbourhoods over the past 48 hours," said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.
"This allowed the Syrian Democratic Forces to control 90 per cent of the city," he said.
IS pulled out of the north of the city and abandoned its grain silos and mills and was now confined to the city centre, in government administrative buildings, stadiums and tunnels, he added.
Coalition spokesman, Colonel Ryan Dillon, said on Twitter that the SDF were keeping the pressure on IS and that 65-70 per cent of Raqa was now under the control of the US-backed forces.
The jihadists seized Raqa in early 2014, transforming the northern city into a key hub in the "caliphate" they declared after taking control of large parts of Syria and Iraq.
Raqa quickly became synonomous with the group's most gruesome atrocities, including public beheadings, and IS is thought to have used the city to plan attacks abroad.
The SDF spent months encircling the city before entering it in June and sealing off all access routes.
Abdel Rahman said the siege had worn down IS's defensive capabilities.
"After hundreds of their fighters were killed in recent weeks, the remaining IS fighters will not be able to resist much longer in Raqa as their military equipment and basic necessities are dwindling," he said.
Without food or medical equipment, IS was unable to treat its own wounded and had retreated to the city centre, which it considered "the most secure," he said.
The jihadists have fought back using mines, snipers, car bombs, and weaponised drones.
Abdel Rahman said the SDF began operations to clear mines from the districts they seized.
"The jihadists had buried hundreds if not thousands of mines" in those areas, he said.
Tens of thousands of civilians have fled the fighting in recent months, with up to 25,000 believed to be still trapped inside according to the UN.
The SDF said today it had helped hundreds of civilians escape from the city in recent days.
"We will continue the campaign until we achieve our aim," Jihan Sheikh Ahmed, the SDF's spokeswoman for the Raqa offensive, told AFP.
AFP journalists yesterday saw a convoy transporting US- made armoured vehicles and other military equipment through northeastern Syria towards Raqa.
More than 3,30,000 people have been killed and millions more displaced since civil war broke out in Syria following protests against President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011.
It has since evolved into a complex, multi-front conflict involving government forces, rebels, Kurdish fighters and jihadist groups including IS.
After seizing swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014, IS has seen the territory under its control fast diminish in recent months.
On Monday, Iraqi forces launched an attack up the Euphrates Valley against one of IS's two remaining enclaves in Iraq.
And in Syria's eastern province of Deir Ezzor, IS faces twin assaults -- one by Russian-backed government troops and the other by the SDF.
IS also holds pockets of territory in central and southern Syria and around the capital Damascus, though some of those too are under attack.
"I don't think it is a simple question of taking away the Islamic State's territory and then the Islamic State idea evaporates," said Charlie Winter, a senior research fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence in London.
IS had made its mark by establishing its so-called "caliphate" and calling on hundreds of thousands of people around the world to join it, Winter said.
"The ideological impact of that is going to be immense for years and years to come.
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US-backed fighters have seized 90 per cent of Raqa from the Islamic State group, a monitor said today, as they announced they were in the "final stages" of capturing the jihadists' Syrian stronghold.
Under siege in the northern city for three months, IS is struggling to defend its one-time bastion under a barrage of air strikes by the US-led coalition battling the jihadists in Syria and Iraq.
"Because of the heavy coalition air strikes, IS withdrew from at least five key neighbourhoods over the past 48 hours," said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
"This allowed the Syrian Democratic Forces to control 90 per cent of the city."
The SDF is an alliance of Kurdish and Arab forces the coalition is backing in Syria with air strikes, equipment and advisers.
IS pulled out of the north of the city and abandoned its grain silos and mills, Abdel Rahman said.
It was now confined to the city centre, in government administrative buildings, the stadium and tunnels.
The SDF said its forces had mounted a "surprise attack" on IS in the north of the city.
"We consider this the final stages of the Wrath of the Euphrates campaign, which is nearing its end," a statement said.
IS seized Raqa in early 2014, transforming the city into the de facto Syrian capital of the "caliphate" it declared after taking control of large parts of Syria and Iraq.
It quickly became synonomous with the group's most gruesome atrocities, including public beheadings, and IS is thought to have used the city to plan attacks abroad.
The SDF spent months encircling the city before entering it in June and sealing off all access routes.
Abdel Rahman said the siege had worn down IS's defensive capabilities.
"After hundreds of their fighters were killed in recent weeks, the remaining IS fighters will not be able to resist much longer in Raqa as their military equipment and basic necessities are dwindling," he said.
Without food or medical equipment, IS was unable to treat its own wounded and had retreated to the city centre, which it considered "the most secure," he said.
But the battle for the 10 percent of the city still held by IS is likely to be tough, as the jihadists have heavily mined the area, Abdel Rahman said.
IS has used mines, snipers, car bombs, and weaponised drones against the SDF offensive.
Tens of thousands of civilians have fled the fighting in recent months. Estimates of the number still inside the city range from fewer than 10,000 to as many as 25,000.
In its statement on Wednesday, the SDF said it had helped hundreds of civilians escape the city in recent days.
"We will continue the campaign until we achieve our aim," Jihan Sheikh Ahmed, the SDF's spokeswoman for the Raqa offensive, told AFP.
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Vice President Venkaiah Naidu today said the money that has come back into the banking system post demonetisation should be used for the welfare of the weaker sections of the society.
He wondered as to why people are critical of 99 per cent of the higher currency cash in circulation coming back into the system after the government on November 9 last year scrapped Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.
"Isn't it good that the money has returned to banks... instead of being found in the bedroom, bathroom, under the pillow, the money reached banks. It is a matter of happiness.
"I am surprised that some people are criticising, I don't understand why (they are criticising). The money has reached banks but it should now reach the weaker sections of the society and the government has accorded priority to this," Naidu said while addressing the SC/ST Hub Confluence.
The Vice President said there exists a "misconception" that the poor do not repay loans. He observed that only the rich have evaded taxes, in an apparent reference to the likes of beleaguered businessman Vijay Mallya.
"There is a misconception that if you give loan, credit to the poor they will not pay, it is wrong. Only rich people, you have seen, have evaded taxes," Naidu said.
The Vice President pointed out that Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas was not just a clarion call and there was a need to adopt a multi-pronged approach to ensure that there is all- round development.
He asserted that merely giving reservation or admission in schools and employment will not suffice, and the oppressed sections of the society must be enrolled and given a helping hand, otherwise the disparities will increase further.
Naidu said the government should impress upon Union ministries and public sector undertakings to procure from the enterprises belonging Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe communities.
He urged the government to find out why less than 0.5 per cent of the goods were procured from SC/ST enterprises even after the Public Procurement Policy was introduced in 2012.
The policy stipulates that 4 per cent of the total procurement shall be done by ministries, departments and central public sector enterprises from the entities owned by SC/ST.
Batting for women empowerment and upliftment of the weaker sections of the society, Naidu said an effective ecosystem must be created for SC/ST entrepreneurs to thrive and make a significant contribution to the growth of India's economy.
"A weakness prevalent in our country is that politicians are a bit hesitant to meet industrialists and talk about businesses. They (politicians) don't meet them (industrialists) during day but at night," Naidu said in a lighter vein.
Addressing the conference, Minister of State for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla said although banks are autonomous bodies, the finance ministry will urge them to be more pro-active in sanctioning loans to the SC ST entrepreneurs.
Besides, Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram mentioned that tribal entrepreneurs will soon be made eligible to directly get any financial benefits from the government without the need for collateral.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Violence marred the dawn-to-dusk statewide bandh called by the All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) in protest against the Centre's decision to grant citizenship to the Chakma and the Hajong refugees in the state.
Bandh supporters damaged a number of vehicles and enforced a total shutdown in the state capital Itanagar and in various other districts of the state.
In Itanagar, bandh supporters damaged several vehicles including torching a state transport bus and a private vehicle in the morning, Capital SP Sagar Singh Kalsi said.
An ambulance was also damaged in stone pelting.
Reports of violence also came from Namsai, Changlang and several other districts.
All government offices, educational institutions, markets, commercial establishments remained closed while public and private transport mostly remained off the road.
Though a few state transport buses were seen plying during the morning hours, but the services were suspended later, police said.
Almost all tribal organisations and NGOs in the state backed the state-wide bandh.
Addressing a press conference later in the evening, AAPSU general secretary Tobom Dai said local people would not accept any decision by the central government that would alter the state's demography.
"We will intensify the movement and will initiate non-cooperation movement against the Centre," Dai said.
He questioned the three MPs from the state for remaining silent on the issue.
AAPSU president Hawa Bagang said, "People came out in support of the bandh willingly for the interest of the state."
He criticised the state government for not being able to raise its voice against the Union Home Ministry's decision to grant citizenship to Chakma and Hajong refugees.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu had written to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, stating that the issue would stir deeply held tribal emotions.
Last week, the Centre decided to grant limited citizenship to Chakma and Hajong refugees while not giving them land rights or Scheduled Tribe status.
People of the two tribes migrated to India from Bangladesh, then East Pakistan, in the 1960s following religious persecution. The Chakmas are predominantly Buddhists and the Hajongs are mostly Hindus.
In Arunachal, they are settled in the Bordumsa-Diyun areas of Changlang district and Kokila area of Papum Pare district.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
1. The Swiss Army was notable for its service in foreign armies, especially the armies of the Kings of France, throughout the Early Modern period of European history. Their service as mercenaries was at its peak during the Renaissance, when their proven battlefield capabilities made them sought-after mercenary troops. Switzerland put an end to organized mercenary activity and the principal remnant of the practice is the Swiss Guard at the Vatican.Apart from fighting wars they were indirectly responsible for the establishment of a practice renowned worldwide. State it.
The stage is set for the biggest sale battle of the year. For the next four days, two online giants-Flipkart and Amazon will engage in their fight to woo maximum customers to their platform. While Flipkart Big Billion Day Sale began yesterday midnight, its arch rival Amazon has also started off its Great Indian Festival sale for its prime customers today. For the rest of the customers, the sale will kick off from the midnight. Here's a sneak peek into the various deals offered by the two rivals across various categories
Smartphones:
Amazon:
Up to 40% off on mobile phones across brands like Apple, Samsung, Oneplus, Xiaomi, Moto, LG, SONY, Panasonic, Bose, JBL, HP, Dell, Canon is being offerd by Amazon. Also, it will launch Xiaomi's Mi Max 2 (32 GB), Mi Fitness Band, HP Sprocket Printer and various other brands from Samsung and Apple. Minimum 50% off is expected by Half-Price Electronics store on smartphones through this platform.
Flipkart:
While Flipkart has begun is grand festival sale, the smartphone users have to wait till tomorrow for the deals. If you had your eyes on Samsung's flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S7, you can get it here for just Rs 29,990 as against its launch price of Rs. 48,900. It also offers Huawei P9 at a whopping discount of Rs. Rs 20,000 from its price of Rs 39,999. You can also pick up the newly launched Xiaomi Mi A1 at Rs. 6,999 and Rs. 14,999 respectively. On the budget smartphones front, the discounts are offered to the tune of Rs 1000. It also promises great discount on iPhone, Oppo and Vivo smartphones as well.
Fashion:
Amazon is offering discounts ranging from 5% to 80% on its fashion range across brands like Puma, Adidas, United Colour of Benetton, Levis, Biba and Gap. On the other hand bags and backpacks are being offered at a discount of 25% to 65% by the e-tailer. Men's timewears from Citizen, Timex, Giorando have discount up to 70%.
Flipkart:
There is minimum 90% off on over 1 lakh festive sarees on its platform. Men's fashion too is loaded with discounts up to 60% from brands like Wrangler, Puma and UCB. There is up to 80% off brands like Ruosh, Nike, Crocs, Carlton London, Swiss Military, Lee, Pepe and Van Heusen . Accessiories too are available at attractive discount. You can have Fossil Briggs watches for Rs 3999 and Davidoff fragrances under Rs 1499
Large appliances:
Amazon
Big home appliances like washing machines, televisions, air conditioners and refrigerators are being offered at hefty discounts on Amazon. While you can save up to Rs 10,000 off on LG, Voltas & Carrier ACs, it is easy to save up to 35% on Washing Machines across brands like Samsung, BPL, IFB, Bosch & Haier. Great offers are also awaiting people willing to buy TVs. They can avail an off up to 40% on them. Chimneys from Hindware, Elica and Faber can be grabbed up to 60% off.
Flipkart:
Under its big billion day sale, Flipkart is offering flat Rs 60,000 off on Samsung 49-inch Ultra HD (4K) LED Smart TV while Onida 43-inch FHD Smart TV can be bought at a discount of nearly Rs 7,000. LG TVs at up to 40% off . There are also exchange offers on sale of televisions for the first time. The front loading washing machines from IFB are also available under Rs 20,000.
SBI Life Insurance, a joint venture between country's largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) and BNP Paribas Cardif (BNPPC) - the insurance holding company of France, is going public today with an aim to raise up to Rs 8400 crore. The price range for SBI Life Insurance IPO has been fixed at Rs 685 to Rs 700 per share.
The initial public offer (IPO) of the private life insurance firm will end on September 22.
During the initial public offer (IPO), State Bank of India (SBI) will dilute up to 8 crore shares while BNP Paribas Cardif SA will offload up to 4 crore shares.
After the listing of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance last year, SBI Life will become the second life insurer to go public.
We look at the recommendations of brokerages and analysts on the IPO.
Angel Broking
Diversified product portfolio, high solvency and persistency makes SBI Life's business more predictable: SBI Life has a well balanced portfolio (ULIP - 50.5%, non participating - 34.7% and participating - 15.4%) and is well capitalised with a solvency ratio of 211% (mandatory - 150%). This will ensure growth without dilution in the coming years, boosting the return on equity (RoE) from current level of 17%.
Strong premium growth has resulted consistent market share gain: SBI Life has been reporting strong growth in New Business Premium, with 38.9% growth in FY2017 and 3 year compounded annual growth rate of 28.3% compared with industry growth rate of 26.2% and 13.5%, respectively.
SBI Life with its strong brand name and wide distribution network is one of the best plays for Indian Life Insurance industry. At the upper price band of Rs 700, the issue is offered at 4.2 times its Embedded Value of Rs 16,538 crore, little higher than 3.8 times for ICICI Prudential.
The premium valuation for SBI is justified due to its higher incremental market share gain, and hence we recommended investors to "SUBSCRIBE" to the issue with long term perspective.
Geojit Financial
The brokerage has recommended 'Subscribe' to the issue only with a long-term perspective, given high valuation.
"The company has a wide distribution network consisting of bancassurance channel which includes State Bank, 95,177 individual agents, corporate agents and brokers etc. SBI Life's NBP and PAT has grown at a CAGR of 35.5% and 8.24% respectively over FY15-17. Over the years the company has been continuously focusing on customer satisfaction, its death claims settlement ratio improved from 92.3% in FY15 to 97.9% in FY17, which is one of the best among the peers. The company has the lowest expense ratio in the industry and it has further increased to 7.8% in FY17 from 9.1% in FY15."
"SBI Life has a strong capital position with a solvency ratio of 204% as of FY17 compared to the IRDAI mandated solvency ratio of 150%. SBI Life had an Embedded Value (EV) of Rs 16,538 crore as on FY17 with an operating RoEV of 23% (EV is a common valuation measure in the insurance industry which measures potential future profits from existing business). At upper price band of Rs 700, SBI Life is available at P/EV of 4.2 times on FY17 EV. We believe SBI Life commands a premium valuation over its peers on account of its leadership position and better financial parameters," the brokerage said in a note.
Reliance Securities
The firm considers the IPO a healthy investment opportunity owing to multiple tailwinds. "Being the market leader in new business premium, we expect SBI Life to be a key beneficiary of strong growth in Indian life insurance industry over the next few years owing to low life insurance penetration, rising income level and higher preference for financial assets (such as insurance)."
"At higher price band of Rs700, the Issue is priced at 4.2x Embedded Value of Rs165.4bn of FY17, which in our view is reasonable as its operating RoEV of 23% is the best among large private sector life insurers. We recommend SUBSCRIBE to the Issue, as in our view it provides healthy investment opportunity for the long-term investors, " the brokerage said in a note.
Hem Securities
Hem Securities has given a 'subscribe' recommendation to the IPO.
"The company is bringing the issue at P/E multiple of 55-56 on post issue Q1FY18 annualized earnings per share (EPS) of Rs 12.54. At the upper band, the firm is trading at P/EV multiple of 4.23x which is slightly higher. Although company has enjoyed superior growth but looking after valuation, we recommend "Subscribe" on issue for long term," is said in a note.
SMC Global Securities
Sounding a word of caution over high valuations, the brokerage said the offer may be suited only for long term investors. "SBI Life has seen robust growth in premium income during the past financial year and has declared dividends every year since fiscal 2012. It has also increased its market share of New Business Premium generated among private life insurers in India, from 15.87% in fiscal 2015 to 20.04% in fiscal 2017."
"As of July 31, 2017, SBI Life had a comprehensive product portfolio of 37 individual and group products (of which eight products are group products), including a range of protection and savings products to address the insurance needs of diverse customer segments. Considering all these aspects, it is expected that company would see good growth going forward. However the issue looks expensive. A long-term investor may opt for the issue," opined SMC's research note.
Choice Broking
Choice Broking has advised investors to 'Subscribe with caution'. "In December 2016, SBI Life Insurance sold a minority stake of 3.9% to two investors for a consideration of Rs 1800 crore. At an FY16 Indian Embedded Value (IEV) of Rs 13000 crore and an P/IEV of 3.5x, the firm was valued to around Rs 45,500 crore. Currently, at the higher price band, the company is demanding a valuation of Rs 70000 crore, that is an P/IEV of 4.2x on an FY17 IEV of Rs 16,180 crore."
"The demanded valuation is at a steep premium of around 54% to the December 2016 transaction and the demanded P/IEV of 4.2x is too higher as compared to the trading range of 3.5-4.4x of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Ltd. We feel that steep valuation has left limited room for price appreciation for the retail investors," said its research report.
SPTulsian.Com
SPTulsian.com said marquee pedigree, strong distribution reach, superior product mix and healthy growth make the company a worthy investment stock. Despite a not-the-most attractive price, the issue is a 'subscribe' and should be held for the long term just like any life insurance policy, the firm said.
Asit C Mehta
The stock is fairly priced at the upper end of the price band and recommends 'subscribing' to the issue from a long-term perspective. The brokerage said the company has a strong business model with multi-channel network, a well recognised brand and diversified product portfolio.
India's second largest operator Vodafone expressed dismay at the telecom regulator's decision to cut mobile call connect charges to six paise per minute, and termed the move as a "retrograde" measure.
"This is yet another retrograde regulatory measure that, unless mitigated, will have serious consequences for investment in rural coverage, undermining the government's vision of Digital India," Vodafone said in a statement.
Slamming the latest decision of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Vodafone said the Indian telecom industry was already experiencing the "greatest period of financial stress in its history".
"We are disappointed with this decision and are now considering our options in response to it," the company said but did not specify its options.
Vodafone's comments come in response to telecom regulator today announcing cut in the mobile call connection charges to six paise a minute, and a complete phasing out of these rates from January 1, 2020, a move that will benefit newcomer Reliance Jio and deal a blow to the incumbent players.
Mobile companies currently charge 14 paise a minute for allowing a domestic call from a rival operator to terminate on their network. This charge, called Interconnection Usage Charges or IUC, will be brought down to six paise per minute from October 1, 2017, TRAI has said.
Earlier today, cellular industry association COAI termed the move "disasterous", and said that most of its members will take legal recourse on the issue, to protect their financial interests.
A mobile application will be launched today for central government employees who are about to retire to help them monitor the progress of their pension settlement cases.
Retired employees will also be able to assess their superannuation funds and record complaints, if any, through the pension calculator, an official release issued by the Personnel, Public grievances and Pensions Ministry said.
The ministry already has a pensioners' portal for this purpose.
The mobile app will be extending to the mobile handset all services meant for the pensioner which are currently available on the portal of the Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare, it said.
With this application, a superannuating central government official will be able to monitor the progress of his or her pension settlement and retired officials will be able to assess or check details of their pension amounts through the pension calculator as well register grievances and get updates on orders issued by the department, it said.
The app will be launched by by Minister of State for Personnel, Public grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh.
He will also award pensioners for outstanding contributions towards 'Anubhav' a platform for retiring employees for sharing their experiences on working with the government.
To help government pensioners, a workshop on pre- retirement counselling of 300 central government employees who are on the verge of retirement is also scheduled to be held.
The objective of this workshop is to create awareness about post-retirement entitlements as well as to help them plan for life after retirement, the release said.
There will be four interactive sessions which will cover among other things a road map to retirement, medical facilities for pensioners and re-engagement of retired people for voluntary social activities, it said.
There will be a session on Income Tax and other benefits for senior citizens as well as investment and financial planning for retired people and the importance of writing a will, the release said.
The pension department in this programme will launch the first of a series of pension adalats, which seek to bring together an aggrieved pensioner, the department concerned and a bank or CGHS representative, wherever relevant, so that such cases could be settled across the table within the framework of rules.
The 'Anubhav Awards 2017' will be presented to 17 pensioners. The 'Anubhav' scheme was instituted at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who encouraged retiring or retired employees to submit their experiences while working in the government to create institutional wealth for the government for future governance and inspire the coming generations of government officials, it said.
Taiwanese smartphone and virtual reality (VR) gear maker HTC will stop trade of its shares from Thursday amid rumours of a takeover by Google's parent firm Alphabet.
"TWSE announced trading in the shares of HTC Corporation and the securities underlying the company will be halted starting from 21 September 2017 pending the release of material information. The company will apply for resumption of trading after the release of material information," Taiwan Stock Exchange said in a statement.
According to various media reports, the "release of material information" could be in anticipation of its acquisition by Alphabet. There has been no confirmation of the deal from either Google or HTC yet.
The Taiwan-based company currently produces Google's flagship smartphone Pixel, and is presently working on Pixel 2.
Google had earlier acquired mobile phone brand Motorola in 2011 before it was finally sold to China's Lenovo. This time though, Google's parent company, Alphabet, could be exploring similar options to either become 'a strategic partner' or buy HTC's entire smartphone unit.
HTC's finances have slid in recent times, with the company posting low revenue despite launching flagship devices. The deal could make sense for Google as it aims to " perfect [the] integration of software, content, hardware, network, cloud, [and] AI", a report in the Commercial Times had said.
However, it remains to be seen if Google wants to repeat the acquisition of a smartphone maker following its not so great experience with Motorola. Google had acquired Motorola in 2012 for $12.5 bn in 2012 and sold it to Lenovo for for $2.91 billion in 2014.
Earlier this year, HTC launched premium segment smartphone HTC U11 at Rs 51,990 in India.
Even on a good day, catching a flight can be a torturous affair. First the long way to the airport, then one queue after another, till you get to wait some more, before finally boarding the flight. If you have especially rotten luck, chances are your flight will be in queue to take off as well. What follows usually tests your endurance as you fidget and turn in that cramped space before landing at your destination a couple of hours later.
But what if there is a flight that could take off and land even before you could adjust the seat belt?
In fact, there is one such flight. It connects Westray and Papa Westray in Scotland and takes less than a minute, at times taking around 2 minutes, depending on the direction of the wind. The shortest flight on that route lasted for 53 seconds. This flight, run by Loganair, a Scottish airline, charges each passenger Rs 1,400 for a one-way journey.
Airplane services on this route began in 1967 and cover a distance of 2.7 km. Papa Westray, home to around 90 people also has around 60 archaeological sites. Thus, most of the passengers heading to Papa Westray are teachers, students, medical professionals, and people addressing such other emergencies.
However, tourists also do not mind spending Rs 1,400 to experience the shortest flight in the world. It is bound to be a joyride. So, do you have two minutes to spare?
Populists in Germany: You shall not pass!
Published on September 20, 2017
Story by Mathilde Dorcadie Translation by: Margaret Morrison
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On the 24th of September, Germans will choose their destiny by electing their next parliament. While the country has hindered the rise of the extreme right, Alternative Fur Deutschland is still predicted to have about 10% of votes. But a group of motivated and imaginative young people have decided to make populism nothing more than a bad memory in their country.
What do you reply to a racist remark or an opinion you dont like? How do you keep calm and keep an open dialogue while avoiding confrontation? On their website, Kleiner Funf gives advice to people wanting to know how to prevent simplistic and sometimes hate-filled discourses from spreading without being opposed. One of the best pieces of advice is to deliver constructive counter-arguments against your opponent. And to do this, you better be well-informed. Through information files and witty videos, the collective is doing their best to put out some explanations on the intentions of populist and far-right parties which are proliferating in Germany.
"We are motivators"
Who does Kleiner Funf have in its sights? One party in particular is raising concerns: Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD). Created in 2013, the party has seen rapid growth and is now predicted to take between 9% and 11% of the votes in the polls for the next legislative elections on the 24th of September. Under the German electoral system, a party receiving over 5% of votes can enter the Bundestag (the parliament) and appoint deputees. The aim of Kleiner Funf (which means less than five) is to do whatever it takes to ensure that AfD dont reach this significant threshold.
Created in May 2016, the collective consists of about 100 people spread all across Germany. A lot of its campaigning is online but also on the ground. What we do is motivate people to act. We are motivators, explains Paulina Frohlich, the organisations spokeswoman. We dont represent any party or political position. We just dont want a xenophobic party to be able to enter parliament, and for it to not only gain institutional influence and media exposure, but to also receive public money. Money it would invest in reproducing its ideas for future generations.
Once a week Paulina and her friends meet in the Wedding area of Berlin for a poster-pasting mission. The mission looks like a militant action, but Kleiner Funfs posters dont necessarily have anything to do with traditional political propaganda. They feature animals: an eagle, an elephant, a dove. And most of all they look like 'missing' posters: Where is Horst? Where is Frieda?" The collective tries to be innovative in its methods of engaging in political dialogue. They continuously mix the real and the digital world. So, if a passer-by takes the little detachable tab from the 'missing' poster, they will find out from the web address written on it where (and who) Frieda is, or Carlo or Timon. Each animal mascot represents one of the big ideas which could be threatened by the rise of right-wing populism: Europe, social security, diversity, federalism or even history.
The full plan of action imagined by the collective takes a somewhat idiosyncratic approach. Another project involves giving out small 'engagement rings' to encourage abstainers to vote. How? The motivators try to convince someone they know to 'get engaged' to go with them to the polling station, just like youd get engaged to be married. They pop the question: Would you vote with me? in the traditional way by getting down on one knee. When they agree to go with their proposer, the lucky 'fiance' will count as one more vote in the polls but more importantly: a vote that wont be for AfD. A party's success is calculated by the total percentage of votes cast, so every abstaining voter affects the final swing of results.
Upside-down politics
Every week, the collective emails a 'call to action'. Each person should try to commit five minutes of their time. For a generation that apparently spends more time liking things on Facebook than being active in a party or political movement, its not easy to battle 'slacktivism'. So Kleiner Funf proposes really easy things to do, as well as little 'activism kits'. Their ideas include calls to organise a pub quiz (obviously with political content which will stimulate debate amongst participants), poster sticking, photo competitions, but also give out addresses of organisations for those who want to take it further than the immediate electoral campaign. We dont want to do everything single-handedly. Were just a launch platform, Paulina adds: Everyone needs to get involved in the work! She says that shes learned a lot since she started to work with the Kleiner Funf team. In fact, everything depends on the way you approach someone. If I meet someone who doesnt seem to have a political opinion, and I try to impose my knowledge and my own views [onto them], that person is going to back off from [the idea], and feel intimidated.
In the streets of Wedding, Paulina and her friends are able to approach passers-by with a good sense of humour with the help of their engagement rings. This action also leads to some interesting situations. A woman says she doesnt even know where or how to vote, so the team tries to advise her on which procedures to follow. A man declares that he wont be voting, so Paulina tries some debating techniques to try to understand his position. She explains later: Most importantly I tried to listen to him, and to get him to speak. I didnt tell him what to do. It turns out he is severely disillusioned when it comes to politics and doesnt believe in any of the parties. When he leaves, she says with a smile: At any rate I hope weve shown you that there are still some young people like us who do still have faith in the political process!
The 26-year-old explains that its more efficient to focus their efforts on young people: The new generation is not into protest voting. They havent been disappointed by their previous votes. But they are also more likely to abstain. The small group of poster-pasters are between 23 and 27 years old. They all heard about Kleiner Funf through word of mouth. Its Raphaels first event. Hes interested to see an easy way of taking political action. Marie and Lore have already responded to other 'challenges' set by the 'motivators'. Ive also written some articles for their blog and handed out information to people I know, Marie says. For these idealists, the best way to instigate change is to start by convincing your own circle of friends. Take advantage of a family meal to argue against the AfD. Have a discussion with a neighbour or flatmate about the factual basis of an argument, and how to verify statistics. Convince your little brother to go and vote.
Normally, parties seek to achieve the maximum votes. Kleiner Funf is seeking the opposite to achieve the minimum. And each vote against the populist trend will be a small victory for them.
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This article was written with the support of the Franco-German Youth Office (OFAJ).
Want to write for Cafebabel? Submit your ideas here.
Story by Mathilde Dorcadie
Translated from Populistes en Allemagne : No Pasaran !
The government research institution behind the initiative to advance blockchain technology is also preparing a platform on which companies and experts will work together to come up with more applications for blockchain technology. Photo: Visual China
Despite a sweeping ban on cryptocurrency fundraising and trading, China is still a staunch believer in blockchain, the underlying technology of cryptocurrencies.
The China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), a research institution under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, on Tuesday launched the Trusted Blockchain Open Lab, the first government-led initiative to support blockchain technology development.
CAICT said it is also preparing a platform on which blockchain firms and experts will work together to advance the application of the technology.
China became the first country to ban fundraising through cryptocurrencies built on blockchain technology when it deemed the practice illegal in early September. Shortly thereafter, Chinese cryptocurrency exchanges announced their impending closure as supervisory agencies widened their regulatory scope. All major Chinese bitcoin exchanges are slated to close by Oct. 31 at the latest, with most shutting down by the end of this month.
The new technologys complexity and ability to cross sectors have spawned illegal activities, Di Gang, vice director the central banks digital currency research institute, said at a blockchain conference on Tuesday.
There have been many blockchain conferences where the number of business personnel exceeds technical personnel, he added. The number of people with liberal arts degrees surpasses those with science degrees. The companys boss speaks more than the people doing the work, and even in the U.S., Wall Street talks more than Silicon Valley. This is not conducive to blockchain development.
At the same conference, Wang Suzhen, deputy secretary general of the Payment & Clearing Association of China (PCAC), said blockchain has seen intense development, opening a door for the shared economy, but also attracting speculators and illegal activities.
Some ICOs do not have a whitepaper, and some projects have nothing to do with blockchain technology, Wang said. Many investors blindly chase ICO fundraising, she said, but because blockchain technology requires technical knowledge beyond the understanding of the average investor, these investors are not able to analyze the feasibility of a project and thus have to rely on what the issuer says.
Regulations on ICOs effectively limited the continued spread of illegal fundraising through cryptocurrencies, she said, preventing more investors from losing money.
PCAC is an industry group whose members include banks and payment service providers.
Last week, Sun Guofeng, head of the PBOC finance research institute, said that Chinas recent ban on cryptocurrency crowdfunding should not deter future research on blockchain technology.
Sun argued that blockchain is not and should not be just about cryptocurrency. Outlawing ICOs should not stop financial-technology firms from researching and developing blockchain technology that can be used in a wide array of applications unrelated to cryptocurrencies, he added.
Blockchain technology will likely need five more years to be more widely applied, He Baohong, vice director of the CAICT Standards Office, said at the same conference.
Contact reporter Liu Xiao (liuxiao@caixin.com)
US President Donald Trump addresses the 72nd United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, US, Sept 19, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]
UNITED NATIONS - US President Donald Trump on Tuesday strongly pressured the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to give up its nuclear weapons and criticized a landmark Iran nuclear deal in his first speech at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.
In his over-40-minute talk, Trump threatened that the United States "will have no choice than to totally destroy" the DPRK unless Pyongyang refrains from its nuclear tests and missile launches.
Trump's threat came minutes after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, also delivering his debut address to the UN General Assembly, said that the Korean Peninsula crisis should be solved through political process.
"We must not sleepwalk our way into war," Guterres warned.
Trump also took aim at the nuclear deal reached between Iran and world powers of Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany in July 2015, under which Iran agreed to limit its uranium-enrichment activities in return for the lifting of Western and international sanctions.
Trump called the Iran nuclear deal, reached during the Obama administration, "an embarrassment" for the United States, indicating that he may not recertify the deal at its mid-October deadline.
Trump blasted the deal as "one of the worst and one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into."
According to the Iran nuclear deal, or formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran will be removed if the country proved abides by the deal over the next few years.
"JCPOA is an important outcome of international security governance, as well as an example of resolving international hot-spot issues through diplomacy," a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday.
"It plays an important role in upholding the international non-proliferation regime and maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East," said spokesperson Lu Kang in Beijing.
In his maiden show, Trump also criticized Islamic extremists.
| BY Ricki Green |
Lovers of Mexican food are being urged to Up your taco game with the launch of a contemporary range of taco meal kits from Goodman Fielder, accompanied by a campaign from The Works featuring Run-DMCs classic hip hop track Its like that.
Google Trends data shows the boom in popularity of Mexican food with searches for tacos now ahead of traditional favourites spaghetti and roast chicken. The One Night in Mexico taco meal kits, which includes varieties such as Flame Grilled BBQ, Lime and Jalapeno, Mexican Spice and Smokey Chipotle, offers Australians a fresh new take on Mexican direct from the supermarket shelf.
Run-DMCs classic hit Its like that provides the sound track for the One Night in Mexico TVC which features a high-octane taco dance off choreographed by internationally recognised Australian dancer Alvin De Castro.
The Works was awarded the launch campaign for One Night in Mexico by Goodman Fielder.
Says Damian Pincus, founder and creative partner at The Works: Australians love of Mexican food is outpacing traditional family mealtime favourites and One Night in Mexico is a new alternative for those seeking a contemporary taste of central America. Its a privilege to be given the opportunity by Goodman Fielder to launch this brand into market and this campaign encourages Aussies to up their taco game in modern and cliche-free way.
Says Kinda Grange, general manager for Goodman Fielder grocery: Were very proud to launch this Australian innovation into Mexican Foods. One Night In Mexico was created after seeing an opportunity to bring the exciting, fresh and delicious food experience found in modern Mexican restaurants today into the grocery store, and help make it easy for anyone to make and enjoy at home. We believe One Night In Mexico offers a great way to up your taco game, and enjoy a fresh new take on Mexican at home.
The campaign includes a 30-second commercial with 15-second cut down, digital, social and shopper marketing. Goodman Fielders media agency, Slingshot, has struck an agreement to integrate the brand into the hit Network Ten show The Bachelorette featuring Sophie Monk.
The One Night in Mexico range will be available in all major supermarkets.
Client: Goodman Fielder
General manager: Kinda Grange
Marketing manager futures: Katyana Armen
Senior brand manager: Jessica Tahardi
Creative agency: The Works
Creative partner: Damian Pincus
Art director: Marijke Spain
Copywriter: Eric Franken
Creative project lead: Ben Glasson
Head of broadcast and content production: Rachel Solomon
Offline & online editor: Patrick Mazzolo
Producer: Sue Walker and Mandy Payne
Production company: Buddy
Director: Ace Norton
Music Supervisor: Anton @ Trailer Media
Casting director: Susie McLean
| BY Ricki Green |
Could artificial intelligence make awards judging fairer in the future? Introducing Pearl, the first AI jury experiment. To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the Belgian MIXX awards has asked the first artificial intelligence jury president, called Pearl, to designate the winner of a special award during this years MIXX Award gala. With Pearl, the organizers want to open a debate about the future of award judging, particularly in light of some recent criticism. Is it possible that AI could make judging fairer? Could it help make creativity measurable? And how might it complement human juries?
While award shows normally just look at the future of advertising, this time the MIXX awards have decided to look at the future of judging. This first AI experiment on judging will investigate if creativity is measurable and how AI might be able to help the judging system. Named after Radia Perlman, one of the prominent female Internet pioneers, the result is Pearl.
More or less measurable
Pearl was fed with all international MIXX case studies from the last decade and given 3 months to analyse the texts, videos, results and even music making her surely the most experienced advertising jury on the planet. Pearl uses state-of-the-art technology, for example: Microsoft gave early preview access to their Video Indexer service, which extracts insights from videos using Artificial Intelligence. She has taught herself to think like humans and has already reached an accuracy level of about 76%. In other words, if you feed her a new case, she is pretty good at being able to predict whether it will be a winner or not, and even what colour of award you might expect.
Says Jos Polfliet, head of machine learning at Faction XYZ: This is beyond our expectations, but it seems that creativity is more or less measurable after all.
Pearl is already giving us great insights into what is important in an award winning idea. She has made links between narrative styles and awards, between choice of instruments and awards, and she also has understood that the number of impressions doesnt mean that much, while number of shares is far more important.
There is room for improvement though, as she needs to be able to better recognize humour and a creative idea. On the plus side, she can detect original combinations, which helps, but sometimes she has the reasoning of a pregnant woman, says Peter Ampe, ECD of DDB in Brussels. She thinks Tuna with whipped cream sounds like a great idea! But shes still learning and her accuracy will continue to improve.
Back-up for pre-judging
Pearl is not quite ready yet to replace human jurors, but she can already complement them. She doesnt of course have the flaws human juries have as she is able to give every case the same level of attention, never grows tired, and perhaps most importantly doesnt have friends to defend or a network or country to promote.
There is no doubt AI will be able to help award shows in different ways in the future. For example, in larger award competitions, where much of the pre-judging is done in small groups, it is sometimes the case that good campaigns are overlooked. With AI, it will be possible to judge which campaigns might be potential winners and then compare this with the shortlist the human jury has put together. If some of these campaigns are not shortlisted, the human jury could perhaps look at these campaigns again and maybe reconsider their judgement.
During her first appearance, Pearl will have the honour of picking her favourite campaign amongst the different MIXX Award entries. We hope she will be invited to more award shows in the future.
What PEARL learns us:
| BY Ricki Green |
Clemenger BBDO Melbourne is pleased to welcome Richie Taaffe as group business director on NAB.
Taaffe began his career at Chemistry, one of Irelands most awarded creative agencies, prior to moving to Australia where he spent a number of years working at DDB Melbourne and more recently, TBWA Sydney, working across clients including Foxtel, Fox Sports, Gatorade, Rabobank, TAB and Telstra.
Says Gayle While, deputy CEO at Clemenger BBDO Melbourne: We are delighted for Richie to join the NAB team, he is a fantastic talent and we know he will hit the ground running. We look forward to watching him build on the work and relationships we currently have at NAB.
| BY Lynchy |
TBWA\Singapore, the agency behind Singapore Tourism Boards (STB) new global brand campaign was instrumental in the strategic and creative development of the brands latest positioning, which takes a different approach to conventional tourism campaigns through storytelling, forging a stronger more personal connection with travellers.
The campaign launch coincided with the unveiling of the unified brand of STB and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), Passion Made Possible. It goes beyond tourism and business to capture the spirit of Singapore a nation shaped by the vision, drive, and ingenuity of its people, and a place where passions and possibilities are realised.
With travellers increasingly seeking to establish a deeper connection with destinations and fully immerse themselves in culture, the team put storytelling at the forefront of the new campaign strategy to better connect audiences with the passion and depth of Singapore.
Aiming to do more than simply showcase the countrys iconic product offerings, the brand
message shifts from what you can do to what you can be in Singapore, and how it is a place where passions meet.
Some have a preconceived idea of Singapore which does not reflect the true character of the nation, so we decided to tackle this head-on, said Gary Steele, Executive Creative Director at TBWA\Singapore. With inspiring stories of everyday Singaporeans, we created a campaign fronted by the unfamiliar yet ever-present passion, vibrancy and spirit of the people, whilst showcasing the Singapore experience in a more subtle but meaningful way.
Built on the insight that passion transcends boundaries, the campaign will target audiences, not only based on demographics, but also by their passions. Using behavioural data analytics set against STBs key segments, the campaign identifies seven Passion Tribes: Foodies, Explorers, Collectors, Action-seekers, Culture-shapers, Socialisers and Progressors.
Separate tribe films focus on each of these groups, celebrating authentic personal stories of
individuals in Singapore. From national heroes to everyday locals, these stories highlight their
passion, determination amidst struggles, and how they are taking steps to turn their dreams into reality. Each tribe has its own brand personality, sharing their life journey in which they have overcome odds to forge new possibilities that inspire and make a difference.
Recognising a tourism brand will have the greatest impact with the support of locals, were
confident this campaign has rekindled and deepened a sense of national pride, said Mandy
Wong, Group Account Director at TBWA\Singapore. In a country that has moved from third
world to first in less than half a century, these passionate individuals put a name and face to
Singapore in the minds of travellers, bringing the destination to life.
The brand film has attracted over 18.5 million views, more than 70,000 likes and over 7000
Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at 10:21PM
Intel sees Artificial Intelligence as one of the tentpoles of its future. The company is investing in that future with a US $1 billion aimed to develop product innovation.
"AI will make the impossible possible: advancing research on cancer, Parkinsons disease and brain disorders; helping to find missing children; and furthering scientific efforts in climate change, space exploration and oceanic research," explained Brian Krzanich, chief executive officer of Intel.
To drive AI innovation, Intel is making strategic investments spanning technology, R&D and partnerships with business, government, academia and community groups.
"We are deeply committed to unlocking the promise of AI: conducting research on neuromorphic computing, exploring new architectures and learning paradigms. We have also invested in startups like Mighty AI*, Data Robot* and Lumiata* through our Intel Capital portfolio and have invested more than $1 billion in companies that are helping to advance artificial intelligence," he added.
While changes, which are yet to pass the Legislative Assembly, will mean companies offering such products will have submit the products to the territory's Commissioner for Fair Trading for assessment before it can be put on the market.
"The reason we find they're so suitable for the goat yoga is the fact that they are so interactive. They're used to being handled by people for the milking and their nature's a little bit calmer than a lot of your other meat breeds of goats," she said.
"The way I would expect to see this rolled out is either a whole apartment building, so the developer will partner with an energy service provider at the beginning and put the system in the building so it will be part of the offer to the potential owners of the apartments in the building," Mr Rattenbury said.
"Schools are supposed to be, beyond the home, where your child is most supported. It is the place they spend the most time apart from the home. They're entitled to get support there in whatever form it's needed."
THIS WEEK IN CAPE BRETON: Raising the peace flag, reviewing future plans for Centre 200 and more
SYDNEY During a time of conflict around the world and with racial tensions on the rise in many parts, its clear there are those who want to find a bright, positive light wherever they can. Over the next several days, the YMCA of Cape Breton will ...
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If it seems to you that FCA recalls a lot of vehicles, youre not mistaken. Out of 77 passenger-car recalls posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the past three months, Chrysler brands have accounted for eleven. Thats over 14 percent, which is a fair bit more than the companys domestic market share. (And dont even get us started on Maserati.)
Now the Italian-American automaker has issued another, and its for about half a million vehicles. This time its Ram HD trucks that are being called in for a problem with their water pumps.
The problem, according to a statement issued by the automaker, is with a bearing in the water pump that could overheat and spark a fire in the engine compartment. Fortunately FCA says it is unaware of any such incidents occurring, let alone any injuries, and no longer uses the component in question.
The recall affects Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 pickups and chassis cabs from the 2013 through 2017 model years specifically those equipped with the 6.7-liter Cummins diesel six. FCA calculates there are nearly half a million of those out there: the vast majority (443,712 units) in the United States, with another 46,220 in Canada, and 4,485 abroad.
Those units will need to be brought in to their local dealers to have those water pumps inspected, and replaced where necessary. No timeline has been set at present, but in the meantime owners and operators are advised to pay attention to the warning light on the dashboard.
Photo Gallery
The Miura is the car that started it all for Lamborghini, and its considered by many to be the first proper supercar, with a mid-engine and two-seat layout.
However, would you pay 3 million for a pristine example? Thats almost $3.6 million, and before answering this question, lets check out the actual example thats listed for grabs on Mobile.
It left the factory in 1969, in the P400 S specification, meaning that its V12 powertrain produced 370 horses, and pushed it to a top speed of almost 300km/h (186mph). Keep in mind that were talking about a vehicle thats almost 50 years old, so its performance is very impressive, even by todays standards.
The piece of info that accompanies the ad says that its first owner, a Swiss official, kept it until 1973, when he sold it to a well-known Italian collector. The latter loved it so much that he still holds on to it up to this day, but for whatever reason (financial value, perhaps?), he is now looking to let it go, for the aforementioned sum.
Now, judging by the images posted below, this Lamborghini Miura appears to be in a great shape, and it only has 29,500km (18,330 miles) on the clock, but still, is it worth that much money? Remember, a barely-used Ferrari LaFerrari, McLaren P1, or Porsche 918 Spyder costs about the same, or even less.
PHOTO GALLERY
Photo: RCMP A 'think of me' campaign is aimed at distract drivers in school zones.
Watch the road and Think of Me.
A road safety campaign aimed at distracted drivers is being launched near schools in Surrey and White Rock tomorrow.
RCMP officers from the Surrey and White Rock detachments will be issuing drivers handmade warnings created by elementary school students, as a visible reminder to 'think of me' and 'take a break from your phone' while driving.
The campaign is starting during September's distracted driving awareness month and has the backing of the Surrey and White Rock RCMP, ICBC, Surrey Crime Prevention Society, Surrey School District and students.
This campaign is a great opportunity to involve students in driving home the message that high risk driving behaviour, including distracted driving, is dangerous and can increase your risk of crashing, said Cpl. Scotty Schumann of the Surrey RCMP. Now that the school year has begun, drivers are encouraged to slow down, allow extra travel time and avoid distractions, especially around school zones.
More than 800 crashes occur every day in B.C., many of these caused by distracted driving, said Karen Klein of ICBC. No call or text is worth the risk. Distracted driving is a dangerous and preventable behaviour that we must all commit to ending.
Photo: Contributed
Effective noon Wednesday, off-road vehicles will be permitted on Crown land throughout B.C.
Cooler weather and recent rain has reduced the flammability of fuels in the region, according to the provincial government.
There has been a significant reduction in the chance of a wildfire starting from a spark or hot engine.
The B.C. Wildfire Service is reminding the public that some local area restrictions are still in place.
These areas include Crown land near large wildfires in the Cariboo, Kamloops, Southeast Fire Centre so firefighting options can continue efficiently.
The use of off-road vehicles will continue to be prohibited in the restricted areas around these wildfires, states a media release.
People found in contravention of area restrictions can be issued a fine of $767.
For more information visit this link.
Photo: Contributed Smoke from a small wildfire above Glenrosa could be seen from across Okanagan Lake.
A wildfire is burning above Glenrosa, near the Powers Creek dam area, but it's currently not near any buildings.
West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund says the department is aware of the blaze, but it's out of their jurisdiction, and the BC Wildfire Service is responding to it.
The fire is believed to have been discovered Monday evening, and is currently pegged at about 0.1 hectares in size.
A small plume of smoke could be seen from across the lake, Tuesday.
Photo: The Canadian Press Police make multiple arrests after a peaceful protest turned violent response to a not guilty verdict in the trial of former St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley Sunday.
Leaders of several faiths on Tuesday called for peace and justice amid the turmoil that followed the acquittal of a white former St. Louis police officer in the 2011 death of a black man.
Several hundred people gathered on a hot, unshaded public plaza for an interfaith service followed by a march to City Hall. The service came after four days of protests that followed a judge's decision Friday to acquit Jason Stockley of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith. Speakers at the service included Roman Catholic Archbishop Robert Carlson, black church pastors, and Jewish and Muslim leaders.
"Let us remember that we are not a divided humanity, but a human family," Carlson said. "Let us show love instead of hatred."
Several who spoke acknowledged the pain the ruling caused African-Americans in the community.
"Justice, fair treatment ought to be the right of all God's children," said the Rev. Linden Bowie of the Missionary Baptist State Convention.
More than 150 people have been arrested in the protests since Friday. No organized demonstrations were planned for Tuesday, protest leaders said.
St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson on Tuesday said she's planning to meet with protesters.
Hundreds attended a rally Monday night outside the jail in downtown St. Louis. Demonstrators chanted "free our people" to show solidarity for those jailed. On Sunday night, 123 people were arrested after a smaller group of protesters that remained on the streets after the more organized demonstrations wrapped up broke business windows downtown, smashed concrete pots and threw things at officers.
Police officers chanted "Whose streets? Our streets!" after making arrests. At a news conference Tuesday, Krewson said it wasn't acceptable for them to chant the refrain one protesters commonly use. She said police are under a lot of stress but "that's not an excuse."
The mayor also said it was "inflammatory" for interim police Chief Lawrence O'Toole to say that "police owned" Sunday night.
Photo: The Canadian Press Kenneth James Gleason is escorted by police to a waiting police car in Baton Rouge, La., Tuesday,.
A 23-year-old white man was arrested Tuesday and accused of cold-bloodedly killing two black men and shooting up a black family's home in a string of attacks last week that police say may have been racially motivated.
A law enforcement official said authorities found a handwritten copy of an Adolf Hitler speech at Kenneth James Gleason's home, and investigators said surveillance footage and DNA on a shell casing link him to the crimes.
Authorities said he would be charged with first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of a homeless man and a dishwasher who was walking to work. In each case, the killer opened fire from his car, then walked up to the victim as he lay on the ground and fired again repeatedly, police said.
"I feel confident that this killer would have killed again," interim Police Chief Jonny Dunnam said.
Gleason's attorney, J. Christopher Alexander, said his client "vehemently denies guilt, and we look forward to complete vindication."
Authorities found the Hitler speech during a search over the weekend, according to the law enforcement official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was still going on.
Asked whether police suspect the shootings were motivated by race, Sgt. L'Jean McKneely said: "We're not completely closed off to that. We're looking at all possibilities at this time, so we're not going to just pinpoint that."
District Attorney Hillar Moore said he may seek the death penalty.
"It appears to be cold, calculated, planned (against) people who were unarmed and defenceless," he said.
Authorities also said that just after midnight on Sept. 10, Gleason fired into the home of a black family who lived three houses down from Gleason and his parents.
Resident Tonya Stephens said her two adult sons were home at the time and she was away at her nurse's job. Three bullets pierced the front door and struck furniture, but no one was hurt.
Stephens said her family had seen Gleason sleeping in his car or speeding down the street, but she never had any dealings with him and "I never paid him any mind."
In the other shootings, neither victim had any connection to Gleason, investigators said.
The first killing occurred Sept. 12, when 59-year-old Bruce Cofield, who was homeless, was gunned down. The second took place last Thursday night, when 49-year-old Donald Smart was shot on his way to his job at a cafe popular with Louisiana State University students.
Authorities said ballistics tests determined that the same gun was used in all three shootings. Also, they said DNA found on one of the shell casings matched genetic material on a swab they took from Gleason.
Investigators have not found the 9 mm gun but said Gleason bought such a weapon last November, according to the district attorney. Gleason also ordered a silencer in July, but it had not arrived yet "thankfully," the prosecutor said.
One of the big breaks in the case came when a security company noticed a white man in a red car removing his license plate and perhaps putting a gun in the trunk while parked at the company's office.
Photo: The Canadian Press Hillary Clinton said Tuesday night that Putin interfered in the presidential election in part because of her work as secretary of state.
When Hillary Clinton took the guest's seat on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," she was in a mood to put Russian President Vladimir Putin on the psychiatrist's couch.
Clinton said Tuesday night that Putin interfered in the presidential election in part because of her work as secretary of state, which brought the two into conflict on various occasions. That, she said, evolved into a grudge on his part.
She said the fact she's a woman "does seem to get him agitated." And she mocked Putin for "manspreading" at one meeting. That's an aggressive posture where a man sits with legs splayed.
And she says Putin is "tied up with his anger and disappointment" with the Soviet Union's collapse.
Meantime Clinton called President Donald Trump's U.N. speech "very dark, dangerous."
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Photo: pixabay
It might be time to switch to winter tires if you frequent the mountain passes of the Southern Interior.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement warning of snow Tuesday and Wednesday night on the Coquihalla, Okanagan Connector and Kootenay and Rogers passes.
A cold upper low has settled over the province. A dusting of snow has already been received over the last few days with the arrival of the cold air. Now, as more significant moisture arrives from the north and mixes in with this cold air, the probability of getting snow is rising as is the probability of it accumulating.
The Kootenay Pass is expected to get the worst of it, where five centimetres or more is possible.
The unstable nature of the airmass makes the timing and location of snow amounts uncertain, the statement concludes.
Photo: Contributed Building the Room will show at Victoria's Roxy Theatre.
The filmmakers behind a comedic web series are facing fierce backlash after they tried to tackle economic disparity with ticket prices.
Organizers for the Victoria premier of "Building the Room" used "justice pricing" when tickets went on sale last week, with white males being charged $20, while others paid $10.
Sid Mohammed, a spokesman for the production, says organizers wanted to address the fact that white males tend to have more purchasing power than other demographics.
But he says they received a "huge amount" of backlash on the pricing, including emailed death threats and accusations that the practice was racist and constituted discrimination.
Organizers have responded by lowering the admission price for white males to $15 and announcing that any profits from the door will be donated to the Native Friendship Centre of Victoria and the Victoria Pride Society.
Mohammed says he appreciates the community's engagement on the subject and doesn't believe it will over-shadow the show's premier later this month.
"We don't think the people we want at the event are particularly angry about this," he says. "We've had a lot of support it's been quieter, for sure but we've had a lot of support for this pricing model."
Despite the uproar, Mohammed says he plans to continue pursuing what he calls justice pricing.
Photo: BC Hydro
The British Columbia Utilities Commission is expected to release a preliminary report today on its review of the $8.8-billion Site C dam in the province's northeast.
BC Hydro says it has already spent $1.8 billion on construction for the hydroelectric dam planned for the Peace River, but Premier John Horgan's NDP government asked the commission to review the economic viability of the project after taking office.
Hydro's 866-page submission to the commission says completing the dam as planned would still be best for ratepayers and terminating the project would cost $7.3 billion on a present-value basis.
The submission says demand for electricity is growing and without the dam, the province would hit an energy shortfall by 2031.
A report submitted for the commission's review by the auditing firm Deloitte LLP concluded that putting the project on hold until 2025 would cost about $1.4 billion, while cancelling it outright would cost $1.2 billion.
The Deloitte report says that the dam's construction faces major risks including contractor performance problems, unforeseen geotechnical conditions and cost issues related to major contracts that haven't been awarded yet.
I don't think a large commercial block is what's needed at the old bargain store on Bernard. I think residential and more public parking would better suit that area. Why kill off the existing businesses that are struggling down there with more commercial.
Parking is needed as the intelligent aces that decided to remove parking down at the waterfront don't seem to have a viable plan to replace the ones lost or to add any new ones.
Unfortunately we all know that because a developer is making this move then the regulars person or individual business do not stand a chance. Council will give in as always to the developer and state some justification for it and then ignore everyone. Anyway, that's my opinion.
John O'Flaherty
Photo: CTV Jarrod Bacon, right.
Just months after he was released on parole, notorious gangster Jarrod Bacon is back in prison following a big night out at the strip club.
Bacon was released on parole to a halfway house in March, after serving a portion of his 14-year jail sentence for conspiracy to traffic cocaine.
At the time, Bacon objected to the move, citing concerns for his safety, and pointing to the midday shooting in Kelowna in 2011 that left his brother Jonathan dead.
Police found Jarrod Bacon, suspected to be a high on cocaine, at a strip club on July 10 with his partner and another man with a criminal record.
Despite Bacon providing police with a fake name, they were able to identify him as Jarrod Bacon, and put him into their police car.
"You kicked the rear door window of the car to try to break it, the Parole Board of Canada said in their ruling. The police had to physically intervene to contain you and removed your shoes to prevent you from breaking the glass.
Bacon claimed he had been drinking heavily before going to the club and did not remember what he had done, but his case workers were skeptical.
"They are of the opinion that if you were drunk to the point where you blacked out, you would not have been able to give police a false identity and even less able to act with so much energy and aggression," the parole board said. "Moreover, the police did not describe you as excessively drunk, but rather suspected that you had used cocaine."
At least two of Bacon's parole conditions were broken, not associating with criminals and not entering a drinking establishment, and his parole was revoked.
The third Bacon brother, Jamie, is charged with first-degree murder in the 2007 Surrey Six killings, and is currently awaiting trial.
- with files from CTV Vancouver
Photo: CTV Working on re-establish the province's human rights commission.
Attorney General David Eby says British Columbians will have the opportunity to shape and re-establish the province's human rights commission.
Eby has launched a two-month public process that he says will help develop a modern, efficient and effective commission that aims to build a safer and more inclusive society.
The governing New Democrats promised during last spring's election campaign to re-establish the commission, which was dismantled in 2002 by the former Liberal government in favour of the BC Human Rights Tribunal.
Ravi Kahlon, parliamentary secretary for multiculturalism, will speak with individuals and groups throughout the public process, both in person and online.
Kahlon will submit recommendations and a written report to Eby by the end of the year and legislation is expected in 2018.
Eby says the human rights commission has also created a website to address questions and allow British Columbians to share experiences and ideas to help build the commission.
Photo: Neil Pendleton Demolition crews knock down the Highland Motel Wednesday
Pentictons notorious Highland Motel is gone.
Demolition crews started tearing down the structure Wednesday, following weeks of environmental remediation work.
Im so happy to see it gone, neighbour Neil Pendleton said.
The motel was a beehive of drug use and criminal activity prior it being sold and closed, bursting into flames in a suspicious manner on June 30, eviction day for remaining tenants.
The property is being developed by Azura Management Corporation the same company behind Sendero Canyon into a 35-unit townhouse complex.
Azura president Ewen Stewart said the development will also include the adjacent RV Park, which they will be purchasing in December.
He called the property a heck of a site, close to both downtown and the Okanagan Lake waterfront.
I haven't gone to market with the units yet, but people are already calling me to get on a list, he said.
Plans will try to preserve as many trees as possible, and will also likely include some sprucing up of the Burnaby and Wylie St. intersection, he said.
Azura hasnt submitted a development permit to the City of Penticton yet, but Stewart said he hopes to get started on construction in 2018.
Alanna Kelly
Four vehicles that caught fire in Glenrosa on Monday belonged to one individual, police say.
Firefighters from West Kelowna and Peachland, along with a BC Wildfire Service crew, responded to the blaze on Gates Road at 12:18 p.m., which engulfed the vehicles and spread into surrounding brush.
Assistant fire chief Darren Lee said there were at least 10 cars on the lot the day of the fire.
Police have since determined that the vehicles were each privately owned by the same individual and had been left on the vacant lot for some time prior to the incident, said Cpl. Jesse ODonaghey.
The fire grew in size to 30 by 30 metres before it could be extinguished.
Lee said the fire is believed to be human caused, as there was no lightning, and it is being investigated as suspicious.
RMCP said a clear cause of the blaze has not yet been determined. Fire investigators, RCMP and the fire department are continuing to investigate.
Anyone with information is asked to contact West Kelowna RCMP at 250-768-2880.
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Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the international community either to change, or cancel the nuclear deal with Iran.
September 20, 2017, 12:21 Israeli PM calls either to change or cancel Iranian deal
STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 20, ARTSAKHPRESS: Change it or cancel it, Netanyahu said in his address to the UN General Assembly.
Netanyahu said that he opposes the idea that the deal can somehow moderate Iran.
He also compared Iran with North Korea, adding that those defending the Iranian deal used to tell the same about North Korea.
SOFIA - A batch of 215,000 fipronil-tainted eggs has been found in a warehouse and in shops in Plovdiv, the second largest city in Bulgaria, an official said Tuesday.
According to Kamen Yankov, head of the local Food Safety Agency, the fipronil was above the norm, but far below the toxic dose.
Someone may suffer if they eat two kilograms of these eggs within a month, Yankov told reporters.
The eggs were confiscated and would be buried, Yankov told reporters.
The contamination has come through animals that have been treated with fipronil, he said.
It is a common knowledge that the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is stalled for one single reason: Azerbaijan acts against the international law and the calls and appeals by the mediator countries the U.S. Russia and France, Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan said on Wednesday, at the closing of 6th Pan-Armenian Armenia-Diaspora Conference underway in Yerevan, Armenia.
September 20, 2017, 14:02 Deputy FM: Talks are simply a cover for Azerbaijan to build up its military power
STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 20, ARTSAKHPRESS: Mr. Kocharyan noted that Azerbaijan showed its true face in 2016, which was already known by the Armenian side, Panorama.am reports.
The negotiation process is simply a cover for Azerbaijan to build up its military power and to continue pursuing the policy of war propaganda and lies, he said, adding the 2016 April war was the renewal of the 1990 aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan.
He reminded that the 1994 agreement is a document about halting the military operations, however the 2016 April flare-up was nothing more than an obvious re-launch of the military operations.
Azerbaijan once again acted as an aggressor, committing numerous flagrant violations of humanitarian law, the official said, adding that they will continue submitting the documents on those violations to the international organizations and institutions.
Police abuse is rampant. Between 2007 and 2014, a total of 1,600 complaints regarding police brutality were logged by the internal affairs directorate. The government has yet to release how many of these cases resulted in judicial proceedings.
The state of human rights in PNG is severely lacking and includes government corruption, abuse of female rights, inhumane conditions for asylum seekers, police brutality, lack of minority rights and prosecution for sexual orientation and gender identity,.
SEATTLE - While Papua New Guinea has enjoyed the benefits of economic improvement due to extractive industries, more than 40% of its population of more than seven million live in poverty.
Since 2014, the anti-corruption directorate has held a warrant for the arrest of prime minister ONeill, but a court order still prevents the police from arresting him. As a result, in June 2016, police shot at University of Papua New Guinea students for peacefully protesting government corruption. Over 30 people were injured.
The United Nations has not overlooked such violations of human rights. In May 2016, the United Nations Human Rights Council released a 687-page report critical of PNGs government and its authoritarian actions.
Police aggression and abuse have also been highly gendered, with PNG remaining one of the worst countries in the world for its rates of family and sexual violence. The normalisation of these actions has prevented aggressive prosecution of perpetrators or prosecution of these men by police.
The government has failed to rally legislative or judicial action against gender-based corruption and coercion. Violent groups of people have attacked individuals for alleged acts of witchcraft. The severe violation of human rights in PNG requires serious action but proves difficult because of cultural complexities.
Undoubtedly, there is no simple solution to changing dysfunctional cultural and national norms. The approach towards fighting against governmental corruption and gender-based violence, among many other human rights issues, requires national and community-level strategies.
An aide at a state mental health facility is facing felony and misdemeanor charges for allegedly submitting a false insurance claim.
Duane C. Hayes, 40, of Utica, was charged with first-degree falsifying business records and second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, both felonies. He has also been charged with attempted petit larceny.
The charges stem from an investigation conducted by the state inspector general's office. Hayes, a security hospital treatment assistant at the Central New York Psychiatric Center in Marcy, is accused of filing false documents to his personal supplemental insurance carrier claiming he was on workers' compensation and unable to work from Feb. 10, 2016 through June 15, 2016.
The inspector general's office said the purpose of the claim was to collect supplemental benefit payments while out of work. However, during that four-month period, Hayes was on duty at least four of the dates he said he was injured and not at the facility.
"This defendant is charged with abusing benefit systems in place that were meant to help him through a difficult time, not enrich his bottom line," said state Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott. "I will use all the resources at my disposal to put a stop to any fraud against the critical systems in place that are meant to help hardworking New Yorkers."
Hayes was arraigned in Utica City Court and released pending further court action, according to the inspector general's office.
The New York State Police assisted the inspector general's office with Hayes' arrest. The Oneida County District Attorney's office is prosecuting the case.
A coalition of states that formed after President Donald Trump announced plans to withdraw the U.S. from the landmark Paris climate agreement will meet or exceed its goals for reducing carbon emissions.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, along with California Gov. Jerry Brown and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, announced the achievement Wednesday. The 14 member states of the U.S. Climate Alliance are on pace to reduce carbon emissions by at least 24 percent by 2025.
The alliance launched in June shortly after Trump committed to pulling out of the Paris climate accord. Trump's decision amounted to an ultimatum: Either the agreement is re-negotiated, or the U.S. will withdraw. So far, other world leaders who signed the deal have resisted calls to re-negotiate its terms.
With Trump looking for a way out of the Paris climate accord, some states want to fill the void by meeting or exceeding the targets outlined in the agreement. California, Colorado, Hawaii, New York and Washington are among the members of the coalition. North Carolina joined the effort Wednesday.
The 15 states account for 36 percent of the U.S. population and $7.6 trillion, or 41 percent, of the nation's gross domestic product. If the alliance was a country on its own, it would have the third-largest economy in the world.
Cuomo is hopeful that other states will join the movement, which has bipartisan support.
"I urge my other colleagues, the other governors in this country, to take a hard look at the facts and the science and put aside the politics," he said. "I understand the political pressure, but I also understand the facts. Either we end this problem, or the problem will end us."
One idea highlighted by Cuomo at the press conference was expanding New York's Green Bank, which has committed $400 million to support clean energy projects across the state. Because clean energy projects can be difficult to finance, he views the state's Green Bank as a way to work with states on projects that will promote renewable sources of energy.
The initiatives supported by the Green Bank include NY-Sun, which led to an 800 percent growth in solar energy deployment over a five-year period.
In promoting the work of the alliance, the trio of governors, who were joined by former Secretary of State John Kerry, criticized the Trump administration's position. While there is support from some Republicans, others have backed Trump's stance that the U.S. must withdraw from the Paris climate accord.
Brown doesn't agree with that thinking.
"You can't deny science forever," he said. "You can't deny reality."
SYRACUSE Surrounded by friends and supporters Tuesday at Forman Park, Dana Balter formally announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination in New York's 24th Congressional District race.
A political newcomer, Balter decided to launch her campaign after spending months exploring a run for Congress. She has been active with CNY Solidarity Coalition, an activist group that formed following the 2016 election.
She cited several issues that led her to enter the 24th district race, including the economy, education and environmental concerns. Health care is also a top priority.
Balter supports the concept of Medicare for all, a popular proposal among Democrats and progressives. Last week, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders unveiled his Medicare-for-all bill that would allow Americans to buy into the single-payer system.
"Health care is a fundamental human right," she said.
If Balter secures the Democratic nomination, she will challenge U.S. Rep. John Katko, a two-term congressman who won the 2014 and 2016 elections with at least 60 percent of the vote. Katko, R-Camillus, has been labeled a moderate for his independent streak.
But Balter doesn't believe it's accurate to say Katko is a moderate. She referred to a FiveThirtyEight analysis of his 2017 voting record that found he votes with President Donald Trump's position 88.9 percent of the time.
A Connecticut native, Balter has lived in Syracuse since 2003. She is a doctoral candidate and a visiting assistant teaching professor at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.
Balter had to postpone her studies eight years ago after suffering an undisclosed "debilitating physical condition." The condition has been resolved and she has continued her work, although the congressional campaign may give her a reason to postpone it again.
Her interest in the congressional race came after the 2016 election. She repeated comments she made last month in an interview with The Citizen that people feel they are being ignored by their current representatives.
Balter's first appearance as a candidate was at the Westcott Street Cultural Fair parade in Syracuse. On Monday, her campaign issued a press release announcing her candidacy.
"We should not be debating how many people we will take away health care from or just how much lead we can tolerate in our water," she said. "We need to be talking about to build a strong economy where the water and air are clean, where getting sick doesn't mean going broke and where each student gets the education they deserve."
Balter is the second Democratic candidate in the race. Anne Messenger, a Manlius businesswoman, launched her campaign in July. Other Democrats have expressed interest in the race, but Balter and Messenger are the only declared candidates.
Katko is a top target for Democrats in 2018. With Republicans in control of Congress and the White House, Democrats believe they can pick up several seats in next year's election.
As they did when Messenger entered the race, Republicans criticized Balter, specifically for her support of Medicare for all.
"Today Dana Balter effectively staked out her position as a far-left liberal by embracing Bernie Sanders' $32 trillion single-payer healthcare boondoggle," said Chris Martin, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee. "While Balter is busy peddling socialist pipe dreams, Congressman Katko is leading the fight against the opioid epidemic and delivering results for his district."
The 24th Congressional District includes the western part of Oswego County and all of Cayuga, Onondaga and Wayne counties. Democrats hold a slight enrollment advantage in the district.
Three public listening sessions have been scheduled to discuss the potential use of "textalyzer" techonology in New York.
The Governor's Traffic Safety Committee will hold the forums over the next few months. The first is slated for 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 25 at Westchester County Police Academy, 2 Dana Road in Valhalla.
Another downstate session is planned for 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 25 at Morrelly Homeland Security Center, 510 Grumman Road in Bethpage.
The lone upstate discussion is scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 9 at the University of Rochester's Bloch Alumni and Advancement Center, 300 E. River Road in Rochester.
The listening sessions will open with a presentation on the "textalyzer," a new device that can determine whether an individual was texting while driving. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced in July that the state would study the technology.
A report will be issued after the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee completes its review.
The interest in the textalyzer technology stems from the state's efforts to crack down on distracted driving. New laws have been adopted over the last several years to strengthen penalties for using electronic devices while driving. But the distracted driving problem persists.
A review conducted by the University at Albany's Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research found that 678 people were killed and 169,694 were injured in distracted driving crashes in New York from 2011 to 2015.
Over that five-year period, law enforcement agencies issued 1.2 million tickets for cellphone violations. More than 217,000 distracted driving tickets were issued in 2015, including 39 percent for texting while driving.
"This year, New Yorkers set an all-time record for seatbelt use. But many of those same motorists who are saving lives by buckling up are still texting behind the wheel, putting countless lives at risk," said Terri Egan, executive deputy commissioner of the state Department of Motor Vehicles and acting chair of the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee.
"While we continue to educate drivers about the dangers of texting and driving, we will also enforce current laws, and continue to study technology that will help prevent future crashes and determine the factors behind them."
Some state lawmakers have advocated for the use of textalyzers to determine if drivers were using their phones at the time of a crash. Legislation introduced by state Assemblyman Felix Ortiz and state Sen. Terrence Murphy would allow law enforcement agencies to test textalyzers.
There are privacy concerns about the devices. In July, New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman said law enforcement shouldn't be able to access a driver's phone unless they secure a warrant. A cellphone, she said, "is your private life in your pocket."
The goal of the listening sessions is to seek feedback from the public about the textalyzers. Anyone interested in speaking at one of the forums or submitting written testimony should send an email to safeny@dmv.ny.gov.
Dorothy Roberts Leader, a resident of Signal Mountain, died of pneumonia on Monday, September 18, 2017, at Memorial Hospital. She was 91 years old.
Her father, Curtis Roberts, was a physician stationed with the United Fruit Company in Nicaragua when he met and married Angelita Delgadillo, a native Nicaraguan. Following their marriage, the couple returned to Dr. Roberts home in Mississippi. Dorothy and her twin brother Curtis were born on July 15, 1926, in New Albany, Ms. Shortly after their birth, the family moved to Central America to live in Tela, Honduras.
In 1947 Dorothy earned a bachelors degree from the University of Mississippi and began a career as a flight attendant for Chicago and Southern Airlines. She was based in New Orleans and was assigned routes to Cuba and Central America. In 1949 she married William D. Leader. The couple moved to Chattanooga in 1953.
In 1962 Dorothy accepted a teaching position at Signal Mountain Elementary School. Her teaching career lasted until 2000, and included positions at Thrasher Elementary School and Signal Mountain Middle School. During her 39-year teaching career, she taught over 3,000 students, including children and grandchildren of former students. She worked to make every class interesting and important to each of her students. She said: I believe every child can achieve in his own way, and I have devoted myself to finding that special path for each of them. She loved every one of her students, respected them and was attentive to their individual needs. Signal Mountain Middle High School continues to honor her by annually awarding the Dorothy Leader award to an outstanding history student. She was proud to be one of the first Master Teachers in Tennessee, teacher of the year, and a life time member of the PTA.
She was predeceased by her parents, Curtis McWhorter Roberts, M.D., and Angelita Delgadillo Roberts, brother, Curtis Delgadillo Roberts, M.D. (Betty of Brandon, Ms.), and husband, William Daniel Leader.
She is survived by her children, Dorothy Hallman of Chattanooga, Bill Leader (Melanie) of Nashville, and Anne Reasons of Des Moines, IA, grandchildren, Anne Hallman McEniry (Jay), Elizabeth Hallman, Laura Reasons, Stuart Reasons (Jessica), Daniel Leader, John Leader, and Elizabeth Leader, and great-grandchildren, John McEniry, Elizabeth McEniry and Sutton Reasons.
There will be a visitation at the Parish Hall at St. Timothys Episcopal Church, 630 Mississippi Avenue, Signal Mountain, at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30, followed by a memorial service and burial at 10 a.m. The Reverend Taylor Densmore and The Reverend Tricia Templeton will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Timothys Episcopal Church, 630 Mississippi Ave., Signal Mountain, Tn. 37377, or Signal Mountain Public Library, 1114 James Blvd., Signal Mountain, Tn. 37377.
Arrangements are by Wann Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Please share your memories, stories and photos at www.wannfuneralhome.com.
In his debut as a podcast host, former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara recounts his in-person meeting with President Donald Trump and why he believes he was fired from his post, despite previous assertions that he would remain as the top prosecutor for the Southern District of New York.
The first episode of "Stay Tuned with Preet" features a lengthy account from Bharara about what happened after the 2016 election. After Trump won the election, he was prepared to leave his position as a U.S. attorney. Presidents have traditionally appointed new U.S. attorneys after taking office.
But Bharara's situation was unique. Trump, a Manhattan resident, was familiar with the prosecutor's work, especially his focus on public corruption cases in New York. Eight days after the election, Bharara said he received a call from U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, New York's senior senator and his former boss. Schumer, D-N.Y., informed Bharara that Trump liked him and wanted to him to remain as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Upon learning Trump's position, Bharara said on his podcast that he was "flattered at the time." He returned Schumer's call and said he would be honored to stay.
Schumer notified Bharara that Trump was glad he would continue his work, but he wanted to meet. On Nov. 30, Bharara went with two of his investigators to Trump Tower. He recalled walking through the lobby of the Manhattan skyscraper and someone in the press yelled, "Mr. Bharara, are you here to serve Mr. Trump a subpoena?"
That wasn't the purpose of the meeting, of course. Bharara was there to discuss his future as U.S. attorney.
The attendees at the meeting included Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, and Steve Bannon, the former CEO of Trump's presidential campaign who served a brief stint as the new president's chief strategist. When Trump walked into the room and greeted Bharara, he joked about how he "gets better press than me."
On his podcast, Bharara said Trump didn't say anything inappropriate during the meeting and he didn't discuss any cases. The conversation lasted up to 20 minutes and included Trump joking about his relationship with Schumer, who was on track to become the new Senate minority leader. Trump said he talked to Jeff Sessions, the incoming attorney general, about Bharara continuing as a U.S. attorney. Trump said he wanted him to stay.
It was during the meeting that Trump asked for Bharara's contact information. According to Bharara, Trump slid a Post-It pad across the table to Bharara, who wrote down his cellphone and work phone numbers.
Bharara reiterated his previous comments about sharing his contact information with Trump that "it was odd" because presidents don't speak directly to U.S. attorneys.
"It's unheard of in my experience," he said.
It wasn't long after the Trump Tower meeting that the president-elect attempted to call Bharara. The then-U.S. attorney didn't have his cellphone with him when Trump called. (Bharara was on a tour of Rikers Island, a jail in New York City.)
After some concern and deliberation, Bharara decided to return Trump's phone call. He notified the Department of Justice transition team of the communication.
When he told his father, a retired pediatrician, about Trump phone's call, his father said, "I don't like that he is calling you, Preet. I don't like it."
Bharara described his phone call with Trump as "completely genial." Nothing improper happened during the call, he noted.
Before Trump's inauguration, the president-elect called Bharara again. Again, he checked to ensure that returning the phone call wasn't improper. He also reported it to the Justice Department's transition team. The conversation with Trump lasted five minutes. Again, it was a casual conversation.
Trump's next attempt to contact Bharara may have sealed the now-former U.S. attorney's fate. Bharara's office received a phone call on March 9 from Trump's secretary at the White House. A voicemail message requested that Bharara return the call to speak with Trump.
The phone call came as there were questions swirling about Trump's business dealings and whether his campaign had any connection to Russia's interference in the 2016 election.
Bharara acknowledged that there are those who said he served at the pleasure of the president and that he should've returned the phone call. But as a Justice Department official, he felt uncomfortable because the agency strives for independence and the appearance of independence. He referred to the controversial meeting between former President Bill Clinton and then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch at the Phoenix airport during the 2016 campaign and worried about how it would look if his calls with Trump were made public.
As he considered whether to call Trump back, one idea involved recording the phone call with the president. He decided that was "a bridge too far for us." He also thought about having a witness in the room for the conversation but didn't feel that would be proper.
Bharara consulted with Jody Hunt, Sessions' chief of staff, who agreed that he should decline the phone call from Trump.
He ultimately decided not to return Trump's call.
"I wasn't trying to be arrogant and rude, but I also wanted to protect the independence of the office," Bharara said.
Less than a day later, Bharara was one of several U.S. attorneys who was asked to resign immediately.
"I don't know if those two events are connected. We may never know," he said. "But the timing certainly is pretty odd."
Bharara said when he was contacted by a Justice Department official and asked to step down, he responded, "Are you sure that applies to me?" His uncertainty stemmed from previous assurances that he would remain in his post and Trump's support for retaining him as the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
As he awaited a reply from the Justice Department, he decided he wouldn't submit his resignation letter.
"(Trump) had asked me to stay. He should ask me to go. It's as simple as that," Bharara said.
A Justice Department official eventually informed Bharara that he was fired. After the agency's decision, Bharara said he sent a farewell email to his staff, finished the Vietnamese rolls he ordered for lunch and walked out of the office.
Bharara has his suspicious about Trump's intent. He mentioned the phone calls Trump made to then-FBI Director James Comey regarding the investigation into Michael Flynn, a Trump supporter who was appointed by the president to serve as his national security adviser. He also referenced Trump's conversations with Sessions about Joe Arpaio's case.
In both instances, Trump wanted the cases to go away.
"It's my strong belief that at some point, given the history, the president of the United States would've asked me to do something inappropriate and I would've resigned then," Bharara said. "I don't know for a fact but that's my strong belief."
High-Tech Grunderfonds third fund is now operational After announcing the successful first close at the 2017 Family Day the biggest event of the year for the venture capital sector in Germany HTGF has now begun approving investments from the new fund. The launch coincides with HTGFs publication of new investment terms.
This week sees the first investment decisions being made at HTGF, with Europes largest seed-stage investor announcing the operational launch of the HTGF III fund as planned. It currently has a volume of EUR 250 million. The target volume for the final close has now been raised to EUR 310 million, with additional corporate investors having already pledged to commit funds.
Capital isnt the only thing we provide, as we also draw on the experience we have amassed from over 480 seed-stage investments, 4,000 transactions with more than 1,500 investors, and almost 90 exits when investing in new companies. With 28 major and medium-sized companies having invested in the fund, we offer all of our portfolio companies unique access to the German business world. At the same time, our third fund can respond to start-ups needs more specifically thanks to individually configured terms and its greater volume, explains Dr. Michael Brandkamp, Managing Director of High-Tech Grunderfonds.
HTGF has the right solution to meet every start-ups financing needs
We offer founders tailored and appropriate support as well as flexible financing. We can invest up to EUR 1 million alone or together with other investors in the first financing round, while a total of up to EUR 3 million in equity capital is available per company, explains Dr. Alex von Frankenberg, Managing Director of the fund.
The financing options available have also become a lot more attractive on the whole. There is a high proportion of private investors in the HTGF III fund, accounting for over 30 percent of the fund volume. This enables HTGF to adopt a completely flexible investment approach, investing on its own or together with partners, with a freely negotiable company valuation or using the established subordinated loan model, as in the past. The move to raise the investment volume is aimed at start-ups in all areas that have higher financing needs from the beginning.
HTGF has also made another change that will be highly appealing to founders. They previously had an obligation to contribute their own capital. Although still preferred, this is now optional. In addition, HTGF now invests in companies that are up to three years old. HTGF will continue to invest across Germany, but financing can also be provided to companies headquartered outside of Germany in exceptional cases. Additional fund investors and the first investments will be announced by the end of the year.
Eurofins Scientific announces that it has signed an agreement to acquire EAG Laboratories, a scientific services company providing analytical testing and consulting solutions to a diverse and demanding set of end markets, from Odyssey Investment Partners. The transaction is expected to close in the next few months, subject to the fulfillment of customary closing conditions.
EAG is headquartered in San Diego and has 21 laboratories in 18 locations worldwide, serving approximately 4000 customers with revenue generated from more than 50 countries. It believes it is the largest independent US-centric platform in the testing, inspection and certification (TIC) market, and is a highly differentiated player in high-science analytical testing and consulting solutions. EAG serves three main markets, namely Material and Engineering Sciences, Agroscience and Biopharmaceuticals. The company has grown significantly over its 40-year history, both organically and through acquisitions.
Today EAG employs over 1000 highly educated and talented scientists and support personnel, and expects to generate revenues in excess of US$ 220m in 2017, with an EBITDA margin close to 30%. The agreed acquisition price is US$780m on a cash free debt free basis. As Eurofins and EAG have almost no geographic overlap, no site consolidations or restructuring costs are foreseen as a result of this acquisition. Synergetic top line market effects are expected in Agroscience and Biopharmaceuticals products testing based on cross selling to each organizations clients in the other companys geographic base. Based on EAGs historic and projected profitability, the transaction should be immediately margin accretive for Eurofins after closing.
EAG provides Eurofins an entry into the dynamic and growing Materials and Engineering Sciences markets, where EAG is number one in its core markets. This represents an entirely new business line for Eurofins, and provides a platform with significant organic and inorganic growth potential. The company provides highly advanced investigative testing of organic and inorganic materials, serving a wide range of industries including high tech, aerospace, defense, medical device, chemicals and semiconductors. Services include elemental profiling, advanced imaging, materials characterization, metallurgy and failure analysis. EAG differentiates itself with proprietary testing systems, software and processes, market leading capacity and turnaround time, as well as deep technical knowledge and expertise.
EAG is also a leading North American provider of advanced chemical testing services for pesticides, industrial and household chemicals, an area where Eurofins had little presence so far in the USA. It provides end-to-end support for e-fate, metabolism, eco-toxicology and residue studies required for pesticide and chemical regulatory testing to support global registration requirements. The company has extensive expertise to test molecules with highly complex profiles. EAGs agroscience business is highly complementary to the existing Eurofins agroscience business in terms of capabilities/capacities and particularly geography.
In the biopharmaceutical testing market, EAG adds a highly desirable asset to the Eurofins BioPharma Product Testing group in a geographic area of the USA where Eurofins had no presence so far. EAGs laboratory in Missouri provides an extensive range of small molecule and biologics testing and characterization services to a broad range of biopharmaceutical customers. The company provides advanced testing and scientific support services from a well-equipped and state-of-the-art facility. EAG supports biopharmaceutical, generic and biosimilar customers from the research and development phase through to commercialization.
Comment from Dr. Gilles Martin, Eurofins CEO: We are extremely pleased to welcome EAG and its talented teams to the Eurofins Group. EAGs competencies, reputation for scientific excellence and footprint further strengthen Eurofins global offering in the highly attractive biopharmaceutical and agroscience testing markets with perfect geographic complementarity. In addition EAG provides Eurofins with an entirely new business line and growth market in material sciences. We look forward to strengthening their portfolio and operating footprint by providing access to the full range of services and capabilities of the Group.
Five Minutes With Damien Geter Audio Article Vocalist, composer and Richmond Symphony artist in residence Damien Geters musical roots sprouted when he was a boy in the Matoaca District of Chesterfield County, where he was raised and...
In order to determine which states offer the most cost-effective and highest-quality health care for children, WalletHubs analysts compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 28 key metrics. The data set ranges from share of children aged 0 to 17 in excellent or very good health to pediatricians and family doctors per capita.
If youre troubled by an unsolved title defect, send a certified letter to your title insurance company and seek help from your state insurance commissioner. (Ashley Jouhar / Getty Images)
Q: I purchased a town home in 2008 from a bank foreclosure. Several months after closing, a lien was filed against my house and against the previous owner. I contacted the title company in an attempt to get them to correct the issue.
Their response: They weren't going to correct the matter because the person who filed the lien didn't try to collect from me. I feel the issue should be cleared up now, instead of later when I try to sell.
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Who should handle this, and how?
A: I need to know more facts about your purchase. Was there any requirement in the foreclosure advertisements that the purchaser be subject to any and all restrictions on title?
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Generally speaking, you have a title defect that should be resolved by the title insurance company. The excuse that "nobody tried to collect from you" makes no sense. The title insurance company guaranteed you that there would be no title issues, and now there is one.
I would do two things. First, send a certified letter to the title insurance company not the title company that was only an agent for the insurance company. Did you pay for title insurance? If so, file a claim with the company. If you did not get a copy of your policy, go back to where the closing (escrow) took place and demand that you get a copy.
Second, contact your state insurance commissioner. Each state has an insurance commissioner and one of their functions is to regulate title insurance. File a complaint with your state's commissioner and send him or her a copy of your letter to both the title company as well as the title insurance company.
That should resolve your issue.
Q: Over the years, we have kept all of our tax returns. What are the legal requirements? How long do we have to hang on to these documents?
A: The answer depends on a lot of different circumstances. In general, the IRS advises that taxpayers must keep "records that support an item of income, deduction or credit shown on your tax return until the period of limitations for that tax return runs out." Simple!
You should keep records for at least three years from the date you filed your tax return or two years from the date you paid the tax, whichever is later. However, if you claim a loss from worthless securities or bad debt, you must hang on to your proof for seven years.
If you did not report all of your income and that amount is more than 25 percent of your gross income keep your records for six years. And if you filed a fraudulent return or did not file at all you better keep your records forever. The IRS has the right to go after you at any time.
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These are the general rules. But if you bought real estate, either for personal use or investment, you should keep your records for at least three years after you sold the property. Why? To determine profit, you need to show the purchase price plus improvements, minus the sale price and costs of sale. If you bought your house 20 years ago and made a lot of improvements, your capital gain may be more than the $500,000/$250,000 capital gains tax exclusion authorized by law. Accordingly, the more improvement costs you can prove, the less your gain.
And, since Congress is giving serious thought to major tax reform including tinkering with real estate you are wise to just keep all of your house-related documents.
Benny Kass is a practicing attorney in Washington, D.C., and in Maryland. He does not provide specific legal or financial advice to any reader. Readers may email him, but he cannot guarantee a personal response.
mailbag@kmklawyers.com
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We join Dana Cree of The Publican restaurant at the Wicker Park Farmers Market, where we rescue bruised peaches for making peach sherbet. (Roger Morales / Chicago Tribune)
Dana Cree walked into the Wicker Park Farmers Market on a recent Sunday certain of only one thing: A paleta from Dove's Luncheonette is a must-do. She walked out with a cantaloupe ice pop and 10 pounds of peaches -- overripe, bruised, smooshed and, in a couple of instances, slightly moldy or a past brunch for some bugs.
The peaches were at the peak of flavor, noted Cree, pastry chef for The Publican restaurants. So what if they werent postcard pretty and some were so tender that peach juice was dripping out of the bottom of the box? After a quick pit stop at nearby Publican Anker (for buttermilk, heavy cream, sugar and two greenish Lisbon lemons), it was back to her Logan Square apartment to make sherbet.
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What kind? Overripe peach and buttermilk sherbet, of course, based on a recipe from her book, "Hello, My Name Is Ice Cream: The Art and Science of the Scoop (Clarkson Potter, $25).
Food & Dining had asked Cree, a two-time finalist for the James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Pastry Chef award, and winner of a Chicago Tribune Dining Award in 2015, to take part in an ongoing video series aimed at reducing food waste, called Ugly Food Rescue. Her challenge: Shop a farmers market, and buy vegetables and fruit that people would pass by because they were too ugly or too ripe or too bruised or too little known. These products are often referred to as seconds or, as one market vendor exclaimed, farmers choice.
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People look for fruits they want to eat out of hand, Cree said. But, at this point in the summer, what youre going to get is, especially with berries and peaches, is fruits so ripe that theyre starting to get mushy and drippy. Those are the fruits I love as a pastry chef because we dont eat fruit out of hand. I cook it into cobblers or puree it into sauces and fold those purees into things. I want them as ripe and as flavorful as possible.
The Publican takes as many seconds as possible, she added, to turn into purees for ice creams, sauces and jams.
"We make a lot of jams for the savory kitchens at all of the Publicans," Cree said. "So, we ask the farmers to bring anything that is so overripe that they can't sell it at the market."
Back in her kitchen, Cree spent a few minutes looking over the peaches, cutting and trimming away parts too far gone and removing the pits. She kept the skin on because it contains pectin that will give more body to the puree. One could puree the peaches as-is, but Cree likes the flavor of cooked peaches. She roughly broke up the peach pieces, placed them in a stock pot and boiled them for 10 minutes.
Using a coffee cup as a ladle, Cree pureed the cooked peaches in 1-quart batches in a blender, then poured the puree through a sieve into a large metal bowl. She kept 2 cups of puree out for the sherbet and portioned the rest into plastic storage bags for freezing. She'll use it later for ice pops, sauces, jams or more sherbet.
Cree also had reserved eight peach pits. She folded them into a kitchen towel and, using a heavy-bottomed skillet, smashed each and pulled out the almondlike kernel found at the center. These kernels, called noyaux, give an almond flavor to the cream and buttermilk base for her sherbet. She also uses lemon juice, 1 teaspoon at a time, to flavor the sherbet base after stirring in the peach puree. The lemon juice will give a brightness, an acidity, to the sherbet, she said.
The sherbet takes about 40 minutes in an ice cream maker to reach a soft-serve consistency. You can eat it like that -- and Cree does -- but she notes you can also freeze the sherbet overnight to achieve a firmer texture.
Cree's peach and buttermilk sherbet tastes of summer -- and to think that with that peach puree in her freezer she has the fixings to carry summer flavor deep into the fall if she chooses -- whether ice cream or jam or something else. And to think those 10 pounds of peach cost $10. She said the price would have been closer to $35 for first-quality fruit.
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Its a pretty sweet deal, she said. Agreed.
wdaley@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @billdaley
Dana Cree transforms overripe peaches into peach sherbet, a recipe adapted from her cookbook. (Foodstyling by Lisa Schumacher.) ((E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune))
Overripe peach and buttermilk sherbet
Prep: 1 hour, plus churning and freezing time
Cook: 20 minutes
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Makes: 1 quart sherbet
A recipe from Dana Cree, pastry chef for The Publican restaurants. She started with 10 pounds of overripe peaches to make puree, then used 2 cups of that puree for the sherbet. The remaining puree was divided into quart-size portions, poured into gallon-size plastic storage bags and frozen for future use. If you dont want that much peach puree, reduce the number of peaches accordingly.
10 pounds peaches, pitted, trimmed of bruises and other blemishes, cut into chunks, 8 peach pits reserved
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup buttermilk
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Fresh squeezed lemon juice, to taste
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1. Break peach pieces up roughly with your hands. Pour into a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Let cool slightly. Puree in batches using a blender, food processor or food mill. Pour through a sieve into a large bowl. Remove about 2 cups of peach puree and place in a small bowl or pan; let cool. Portion the remainder into storage bags or containers and freeze.
2. Place the sugar in a saucepan with heavy cream. Heat on medium-high heat until boiling, stirring often to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat. If using peach kernels to flavor the cream, place peach pits inside a folded kitchen towel. Smash the pits using a heavy-bottomed pan (yes, it's noisy), extract the almondlike kernel from the smashed pits. Add peach kernels or 1/2 teaspoon almond extract to the cream mixture. Place in a small saucepan or bowl and set in a large bowl filled with water and ice; rapidly cool this sherbet base. When cold, whisk in the buttermilk.
3. Pour the buttermilk-cream mixture through a sieve to remove the peach kernels if using. Mix 2 cups of the cool peach puree into the buttermilk-cream. Pour into an ice cream maker and follow manufacturers instructions to create 1 quart of sherbet. (Leftover sherbet base? Freeze in ice cube trays or paper cups to make ice pops.)
4. The finished sherbet will have a soft-serve consistency. For the firmer American hard-pack style, place the sherbet in a covered container and freeze overnight.
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The key to a successful souffle is the whipped egg whites, and not overmixing when you incorporate them into the base. (Roger Morales / Chicago Tribune)
Gird your loins, Preeps, because today we're tackling one of the most seemingly intimidating of all culinary endeavors, the souffle. For many of you, given the choice between making a souffle and wrestling Freddy Krueger in a room full of spitting cobras, you'd happily go 10 rounds with Freddy. Fortunately for us all, souffles fall into the category of "Things That Seem Scary But Then Aren't Once You Think About It."
Like a zombie baby.
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So let's change out of our worry pants and dive in headfirst.
Why you need to learn this
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Souffles, besides being delicious and deceptively easy to pull off, are totally old school. Classy with a delicate strength, like Audrey Hepburn in a ramekin, they will delight the palates of your guests, even as the more petty among them drool green envy.
The steps you take
The cardiologists among you know the souffle as that soft susurration murmuring through your stethoscope. For us regular jamokes, it's an ultralight egg dish that is baked until it puffs like an adder to golden deliciousness, only to tumble back into itself when it meets the harsh and unforgiving room temperature.
Souffles can be savory or sweet. Today we'll tackle savory only, but, regardless, they have just two components: the base and the egg foam. The base is just a thick, highly flavored sauce, and the foam, whipped egg whites.
Before we begin, let's review a few basics, shall we?
Roux: Equal parts by weight of fat and flour, cooked to various shades of white and brown.
Next, bechamel, a French mother sauce that is little more than milk thickened with a quickly cooked white roux. It's the primary base for most savory souffles.
The base can be flavored with just about anything: fresh herbs, pureed vegetables, cheese, even minced or ground seafood or meat.
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The key to a successful souffle, though, is the whipped egg whites. When you whip egg whites, you're creating bajillions of tiny air bubbles, each encased in a mostly liquid membrane. When the souffle enters the hot oven, the heating bubbles expand and rise. Simultaneously, the water in the membrane evaporates into steam, making the bubbles even larger. Both of these actions cause the souffle to rise in the ramekin until the continued heat coagulates the proteins in the eggs and flour, giving the whole thing structure.
It's also why the souffle is destined to fall when it leaves the oven: The air bubbles cool, the water vapor condenses and the top plummets into the base.
Ahh, science.
Souffles, besides being delicious and deceptively easy to pull off, are totally old school, classy with a delicate strength, like Audrey Hepburn in a ramekin. (Food styling by Mark Graham.) ( Abel Uribe/Chicago Tribune )
Here's what you do. The amounts I list will be for 6 to 8 individual souffles or one big, group souffle.
1. Butter or spray your ramekins (4 to 6 ounce size), then coat the inside with some grated Parmesan, flour or breadcrumbs. (The coating of fat keeps the souffle from sticking to the sides, making your cleanup easier.)
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2. To make the bechamel, melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a small sauce pan. Whisk in 3 tablespoons of flour, and cook, stirring, over medium heat for a couple of minutes. Remove your pan from the heat, and whisk in 1 1/4 cups of milk. Bring it to the boil, stirring constantly, then reduce the heat and simmer for several minutes, until very thick. Remove from heat.
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3. Separate 5 eggs, taking care to make sure that no yolk gets into the whites.
4. When the bechamel has cooled somewhat, stir in 4 of the yolks (Oh, I can sense the creeping panic now: "But, but what do I do with that extra yolk?" Well, I put that very question to our old friend, Mr. Google, and in exactly 0.93 seconds he came up with over 7 gazillion suggestions. You'll think of something.) and a cup of flavoring. If this is your first time, cheese is so easy: cheddar or Swiss with a little Parmesan. Season with salt to taste.
5. Whip your egg whites by hand or with a mixer. Regardless, here are some hard truths: First, the bowl has to be squeaky clean. Any grease or any yolk will prevent the foam from reaching its potential loftiness. Second, start by mixing slowly. Slow mixing means lots of small air bubbles rather than fewer, larger bubbles. As the foam builds, you speed up until the whites have attained about 8 times their original volume, and the consistency is soft to stiff peaks. Don't overmix, as that makes a dry foam, which means there's less water to evaporate into steam.
6. Fold a third of the whites into the base, then carefully and patiently fold the base into the remaining whites thusly: Pour the base onto the whites, then use your spatula to scrape and lift the whites from the bottom over the top of the base as you rotate the bowl toward you. Keep scraping and lifting (see why it's called "folding"?) until all the whites are incorporated. The batter should be thick but should fall from the spoon when picked up.
7. Divide the mixture into the ramekins, filling them three-quarters full. Bake in a 400-degree oven until they've risen above the ramekins and the tops are a beautiful golden brown. Take them out of the oven, and let them rest for a few minutes, then serve. They will fall during the resting, but that's OK. As we said earlier, that's the air bubbles cooling and the steam condensing back into water, both of which will cause the souffle to deflate.
James P. DeWan is a culinary instructor at Kendall College in Chicago.
Kim Kardashian West arrives at the U.S. premiere of "The Promise" in Los Angeles on April 12, 2017. (Chris Pizzello / Invision)
Kim Kardashian West has been added to next month's Chicago Ideas Week lineup, organizers announced Wednesday.
The reality-star-turned-entrepreneur is scheduled to chat with Washington Post fashion critic Robin Givhan about the success and impact of her brand Oct. 18 at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St. Chicago Ideas members can snag tickets for this program starting Wednesday, while the public can begin buying tickets for $15 on Thursday.
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It's unclear if Kardashian's husband, rapper Kanye West, will accompany her to his hometown. Kardashian was rumored to be planning a visit to Chicago in October 2016 to coincide with West's United Center and Allstate Arena concerts, but any plans were scrapped after she was robbed at gunpoint inside a Paris apartment. When the couple visited Chicago in December 2013, they dined at Giordano's on Rush Street.
The news of Kardashian's upcoming Chicago appearance comes as she and her family celebrate the 10th anniversary of the premiere of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" with an E! network special scheduled to air at 8 p.m. Sunday.
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Other big names set for Chicago Ideas Week, slated to run Oct. 16-22, include Emmy-winning actress/screenwriter and Chicago native Lena Waithe; Uber Chief Brand Officer Bozoma Saint John; retired Bears linebacker Otis Wilson; and "Project Runway" judge Zac Posen.
tswartz@tribpub.com
@tracyswartz
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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
Tintype photographer Margaret Muza works out of a studio in the lobby of the Pfister Hotel, where the Milwaukee native is the artist-in-residence through March of next year. Visitors are welcome to drop by the studio and gallery to learn about tintype photography. They can have their own tintype portrait made, too, starting at $150. Muza will be at the Pfister during Milwaukees upcoming Gallery Night and Day, Oct. 20 and 21. (Lori Rackl and Randi Stevenson / Chicago Tribune)
MILWAUKEE Wisconsin's largest city has many charms: Summerfest, a less crowded lakefront, beer. More beer.
But Brew City has a seriously good art scene, too, and it knows how to show it off during Gallery Night and Day. Four weekends a year, dozens of venues throw what feels like a big, communal party celebrating the visual arts on Friday night and Saturday.
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The next one takes place Oct. 20-21. If you like art and/or Milwaukee, mark your calendar and make the trip 90 miles north. You don't even need a car; Amtrak's Hiawatha train has daily service from Union Station (and north suburban Glenview) that can drop you off within a few blocks of the action.
The heart of that artsy action is centered on the century-old Marshall Building, a converted brick warehouse in the Historic Third Ward. This fashionable 'hood just south of downtown is home to a slew of art galleries, not to mention a lively public market that should be a required stop on any visit to Milwaukee.
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The Third Ward is where you'll find many of the 43 venues galleries, museums, hotels and more taking part in this autumn's Gallery Night and Day. Going on 30 years old, this time-honored tradition draws everyone from collectors to the simply curious. And the simply curiouses' plus-ones.
"Maybe half of them have never been in a gallery before, and that's what makes it so fun," Debra Brehmer said, surveying the scene of strangers milling about her contemporary art space during last spring's event.
Brehmer's Portrait Society Gallery is on the fifth floor of the Marshall Building, also home to Treat Bake Shop, another requisite Milwaukee stop and one that has the good sense to stay open during gallery weekends. Swing by the second-floor shop to pick up some ridiculously tasty spiced pecans from the ridiculously friendly owner, Sarah Marx Feldner. (It's not unusual to see people lining up outside her shop for "Cookie Friday," which lasts from 10 a.m. until the baked sweets sell out which doesn't take long.)
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 12 The Milwaukee Art Museums wings open at 10 a.m. during regular days of operation (weather permitting). They close and reopen at noon and close again at 5 p.m., or 8 p.m. Fridays. (VISIT Milwaukee)
The Marshall Building is full of artist workshops and galleries like Brehmer's Portrait Society, where several exhibits rotate throughout the year. The latest, highlighting the paintings of married couple Lon Michels and Todd Olson of Lodi, Wis., debuted in September and runs through Nov. 10.
Michels, whose 8-by-10-foot interpretation of "The Last Supper" is part of the Museum of Wisconsin Art's permanent collection, taught his partner how to paint. The couple's colorful works along with the marriage license they procured several years ago in California are shown side-by-side for the first time in the exhibit "Husband & Husband."
At last spring's event, Portrait Society served as the backdrop for Milwaukee artist Todd Mrozinski's exquisite pencil drawings of trees and clouds.
In 2015, Mrozinski did a turn as artist-in-residence at the city's venerable Pfister Hotel, a historic, 307-room property that's a bit like an art museum itself. When it opened in the late 19th century, owner Charles Pfister envisioned it as "the palace for the people." The resulting collection of Victorian art is said to be the largest of any hotel in the world. About 80 pieces are on permanent display, and chief concierge Peter Mortensen can tell you a story about each of them.
"In a lot of places, you're sleeping in a strange bed, you have insomnia, you wake up in the middle of the night, and all you can do is turn on the TV and watch infomercials," Mortensen said. "At the Pfister, you can put on your robe and fuzzy slippers, go out and tour a world-class exhibit of 19th- and 20th-century salon and genre painting, pieces of which any museum would be happy to house."
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The Pfister continues to add to its collection through its artist-in-residence program. Each year, a new artist occupies a studio and gallery in the hotel lobby, where the public can drop in and watch the magic happen. The highly coveted post currently belongs to Milwaukee native Margaret Muza, who specializes in tintype photography, a technique that predates film.
People can have Muza make a tintype portrait on the spot for roughly $150. This precursor to the selfie takes about 15 minutes to create.
Muza will be in her studio 5-9 p.m. Oct. 20 for gallery night. She'll stick around to host a reception with free snacks and a cash bar in the hotel's ballroom 9-11 p.m.
Art fans who visit the city any time of year might want to check out the Pfister's art-focused package. Starting at $279, it includes overnight accommodations, parking, a bottle of wine, a $40 dining credit and two tickets to the Milwaukee Art Museum, or MAM.
The recently renovated museum, with its stunning, Santiago Calatrava-designed addition sprouting massive, movable wings, has rightfully evolved into a symbol of the city.
In September, MAM welcomed the first retrospective of LA street photographer Anthony Hernandez. And in November, it debuts a new exhibit chronicling the development of modern art through 150 works by big-name creators working in Paris in the 19th and 20th centuries. Running Nov. 4 to Jan. 28, "Degas to Picasso: Creating Modernism in France" builds on an exhibition developed at England's Oxford University, with MAM adding a few of its own touches, like a Picasso sketch of his Daley Plaza sculpture.
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About 1,000 MAM members live in the Chicago area. Let's face it: For some folks in the northern suburbs, it's quicker to get here than to battle downtown traffic to the Art Institute.
Just in time for Gallery Night and Day, Tory Folliard Gallery on Oct. 20 will display new works inspired by glass artist Jeremy Popelka's travels to Thailand. Mid-October also sees the launch of a pair of shows at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, or MIAD: "Fantastic," an exhibition of contemporary illustration artists, and "Chair5," an homage to this ubiquitous piece of furniture that kicks off with an Oct. 20 evening reception at the Brooks Stevens Gallery of Industrial Design.
Oct. 21 marks the final night of a solo exhibition by Milwaukee-based Jon Horvath called "This Is Bliss," a multimedia project revolving around a tiny town the artist stumbled upon during a drive through Idaho. You can catch it at The Alice Wilds, a buzzy new gallery named for a Lake Michigan shipwreck. The gallery opened in June in the Walker's Point neighborhood south of the Third Ward.
As mentioned earlier, galleries aren't the only venues to get in on the act. The list of 43 official Gallery Night and Day participants includes some unexpected spots, like Great Lakes Distillery (also good for drinks) and The Iron Horse Hotel (also good for drinks, dinner and lodging). Get information about what's planned at all of the locations and a helpful map at historicthirdward.org/events/gallerynight.php, which also lists the dates for 2018 events.
The upcoming Gallery Night and Day weekend is your last chance to see the 22 sculptures that spent the summer outdoors on Wisconsin Avenue as part of the inaugural Sculpture Milwaukee program.
Featuring works by the likes of Calatrava and Chicago artist Tony Tasset, the guy behind that giant deer on Chicago's Riverwalk, the "urban avenue art experience" was designed to raise the profile of Milwaukee's historic main street.
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If you see a sculpture you like, it can be yours for a price. The public art is being sold to help raise money for the next installment of what's hoped to become an annual event.
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Twitter @lorirackl
[ Related: Late to the craft beer scene, Milwaukee's small brewers are a big hit ]
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Holocaust survivor Alexander White speaks to Harold Washington College students Sept. 12, 2017, about the German invasion of Poland in 1939 during World War II. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) (Brian Cassella)
Alexander White's voice cracked and his hands trembled as he described the atrocities he witnessed and the murder of his family during World War II.
The 94-year-old retired physician and Polish refugee who eventually settled in Olympia Fields spoke of how after the Nazi invasion of Poland, his family contemplated suicide to avoid the inevitable separation, torture and death sentence that awaited them in the concentration camps.
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"I was the only one that objected to it," White told the captivated audience last week at Harold Washington College. "I said, 'Look, if we all die, is there going to be anyone after the war to tell people what went on here?' Nobody will believe it. Even if there's a tiny chance that someone will survive, we should not kill ourselves.'"
White, as the audience well knew, survived. And he spoke about the Holocaust with a certain urgency because time is running out.
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In 2010, there were about 10,000 Holocaust survivors in the Chicago area, according to the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. Today, that estimate, which includes Jews from the former Soviet Union, is closer to 6,000 and is in rapid decline. Most survivors, who where children when the war broke out 70 years ago, are now in their 80s and 90s.
This decline has led historians and educators including curators of a new exhibit using holograms at the the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie to find ways to pass along and preserve their testimonials for future generations.
So it was that over two days last week, students sat motionless as they listened, absorbing White's disturbing recollections of the Shoah.
At the back of the room stood the person who spearheaded the talk the speaker's son, Les White, a 62-year-old psychology professor at Harold Washington College.
For nearly two decades, White has invited his father to share his memories of the Nazi occupation of Poland with city college students. Some students are required to attend, others go because they want to meet an eyewitness and many go in search of hope.
"He was a refugee," White said. "The beauty of Harold Washington is all the diversity. I have so many undocumented students, so many DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients) and refugees. They understand his story."
As a result, White feels a deep obligation to preserving the memories of his father to never let the world forget about the deaths of 6 million Jews.
"I feel very guilty, that I should become more involved in what's going on in the U.S. because (in) these stories there's a similarity," White said. "I owe something to the protest to get involved and that this story really should continue to be told."
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To that end, the Illinois Holocaust Museum will open in late October a permanent installation that uses technology and innovation to preserve the memories of survivors. Called the Interactive Survivor Experience, the display will feature three-dimensional holograms of 13 survivors speaking about their experience.
The display will be equipped with interactive voice recognition technology to replicate what it's like to have a survivor answer questions about losing loved ones and narrowly escaping death.
For the students at Harold Washington College, though, they only had to listen to the voice of Alexander White himself.
Born Alexander Bialywlos in 1923, Alexander White grew up in the town of Krosno, Poland. After the Nazis invaded Poland in 1939, he lost his mother and older sister first, and later two younger brothers. His father was shipped to the gas chambers at the Auschwitz concentration camp.
After the liquidation of the Krosno ghetto in 1942, White spent more than a year in several camps before moving to one of the camps where the German businessman Oskar Schindler saved thousands of Jews by employing them in his factories. Schindler's heroism would eventually be dramatized in Steven Spielberg's 1993 film "Schindler's List."
White then went to college and medical school in Munich before immigrating to the U.S. He met and married Inez Libby, whose father insisted he change his name from Bialywlos to White.
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But even though Alexander White persuaded his parents and siblings to live so they could tell about the atrocities, the lone survivor of his immediate family did not talk about his own experiences right away. Many Holocaust survivors feared being viewed as if they were miscreants, White recalled.
He even dodged his own children's questions until Les White was 26 and pursuing a career in film. In the early 1980s, the father and son got stuck in a Los Angeles traffic jam. Les White began to ask questions, and the conversation lasted three more days. The revelation was not only eye-opening, but it also was a turning point in their relationship.
"Whatever I imagined he went through was not the reality," Les White said. "That's why it's important to tell these stories. It puts a human face on everything.
"From that day on, my father and I became very close," he added. "It was in telling his story that we became father and son."
In 1999, shortly after Alexander and Inez White retired to Scottsdale, Ariz., his son invited him to speak at Harold Washington where he had become a psychology professor. He has invited him there ever since.
"People don't remember me. They don't remember my name," Les White said. "But I'll be on the street and I see an ex-student of mine and they ask me how my father is."
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Shoshana Buchholz-Miller, vice president of education at the Illinois Holocaust Museum, said hearing from a survivor is the most moving and powerful way to learn about the Holocaust.
"It allows these stories and big numbers to become very real and personalized," she said. "It's creating historical empathy. Understanding the human story behind the history and being able to really relate to it."
The new exhibit will feature holograms showing seven local survivors. Fritzie Fritzshall, 88, president of the museum, was one of the seven to travel to Los Angeles for five days of filming. She sought her son and grandsons' blessing before participating in the project, and her grandsons stayed by her side during the filming.
"I asked them how they felt about this. I'm leaving their name behind when I'm no longer here," she said. "They said go for it. They were there with me every single moment. They were my rock."
She, too, didn't tell her story right away, until after her son insisted she participate in an oral history project. He heard the details of his mother's time in Auschwitz for the first time in an audio recording.
Alexander White recorded his stories in a self-published memoir titled "Be a Mensch," his father's parting words before boarding a train to Auschwitz. He knows time is running out.
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"Nowadays they're very few still alive, and if we are all gone I can guarantee you there will be books that say this is all a hoax and there were no eyewitnesses," he said. "You don't need eyewitnesses."
Les White also feels pressure to tell the story and tell it accurately. He fears that he will never live up to his father's legacy.
"My nightmare is I'm up onstage telling a story and my father calls out, 'That's not how it happened.'"
mbrachear@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @TribSeeker
A man jumped in front of a CTA train and died after hitting the electrified third rail at the Western Avenue station on the Blue Line's Forest Park branch Tuesday night, authorities said.
Chicago fire personnel were dispatched around 8:45 p.m. to the Western Blue Line station for a man who was reported on the tracks, a Chicago Fire Department spokesman said. The victim was pronounced dead on the scene.
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The man jumped in front of a train and was dead on the third rail, according to police. The man also was hit by the train, according to the Fire Department spokesman and a CTA spokesman.
Power was shut off on part of the line and service was suspended between Racine Avenue and Pulaski Road, and shuttle service was put in place a little before 9 p.m.
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It was the third incident Tuesday of someone ending up on CTA tracks. At the Lawrence Avenue stop on the Red Line, a person fell on the tracks but was not hit by a train Tuesday morning; and a person became pinned under a Red Line train at the Clark/Division stop Tuesday afternoon.
Check back for updates.
Check the CTA's web page for updated transit information.
A former nurse's assistant at an Elmhurst senior living facility was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty earlier this year to stealing thousands of dollars worth of items, including jewelry, according to prosecutors and court records.
Eugene Dorsey, 31, of the 4900 block of Grace Street in Chicago, was sentenced Tuesday by DuPage County Judge George Bakalis after pleading guilty in June to 11 counts of residential burglary.
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Police say the thefts took place in November 2015 at the Park Place senior living facility.
Dorsey, who worked in the facility's assisted-living area, entered at least 11 residences in the independent-living area and stole rings, necklaces and bracelets, among other items. He then pawned the items for cash, prosecutors said.
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"Thinking only of himself, Mr. Dorsey stole thousands of dollars worth of valubles, many of which held signigicant sentimental value, from his victims," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release. "The fact that all of his victims are more than eighty years old and had placed a tremendous amount of trust in Mr. Dorsey, makes his crimes particulary appalling."
Sept. 20, 1962
FARMERS LISTEN Farmers from a seven-county area filled nearly every seat in the assembly-room of the Farm, Home and 4-H Center on Grant Avenue as they listened to Associated County Agent James Smith explain prospects for a local sugar beet industry last night. In the front row, are, on the left, Henry Stack from Genoa, striped tie, next to him sits industrial consultant, Paul Aaron, David Nettleton of East Genoa, and seated on the far right is Paul Lattimore, chairman of the Redevelopment Area Organization. Almost 300 farmers and other interested persons attended.
The FBI arrested a woman on a homicide warrant tied to her husband's slaying one month ago in Harvey, a Harvey police spokesman said Tuesday.
Sarah Buckingham, 42, of Chicago Heights was arrested by the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force early Monday, said Garrett Croon, a spokesman for Chicago's FBI field office. Buckingham was turned over to Harvey police for questioning on Tuesday, said Sean Howard, a spokesman for Harvey police.
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"She was at a residence near 87th in South Chicago, where a relative of Ms. Buckingham lived, I believe," Howard said.
The couple was inside their home in the 15000 block of Broadway Avenue in Harvey when they got into an argument, Howard said. Neighbors would later tell investigators that there was a history of domestic violence reports at the home.
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"And it's our understanding that Ms. Buckingham was the aggressor in all of those previous situations," Howard said.
Buckingham has at least two arrests on domestic battery and battery charges.
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Howard said that on Aug. 19, about 4:30 a.m. the couple again was fighting, "when it turned physical and the suspect stabbed the victim in the chest with a large blade."
Robert Tyler, 46, was pronounced dead shortly after 5 a.m. of a stab wound to the chest, according to Howard and information provided by the Cook County medical examiner's office. The couple was legally married, but she used her maiden name, Howard said.
Harvey police believed Buckingham had fled the area and they turned over their files to the Cook County State's Attorney's Office and were granted the warrant for her arrest. She was picked up without incident on a warrant that was issued Sep. 6, Croon said.
"Obviously we've had some success in our homicide rates over the last four years, but this one was a domestic, which posed no threat to the public," Howard said. He explained their homicide clearance rate has been 88- to 90 percent in the past three to four years. They've run ads in various publications about their low violent crime rate during the past 20 years, he said.
"You can't predict a domestic homicide, especially a domestic situation given the confines of a married couple's house," he said. "This is an open and shut case."
kdouglas@chicagotribune.com
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One person has died and four others hurt in a multivehicle, chain-reaction collision in a construction zone on Interstate 57 in Kankakee County.
The crash happened about 1:15 p.m. in the southbound lanes near the exit for the village of Manteno.
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A semi was slowing to a stop in the construction zone when a car that was behind it also slowed down. A third vehicle, another semi that was behind the car, did not slow down and rammed into the back of the car, causing the car to plow into the semi in front of it, Illinois State Police said.
A passenger in the car was pronounced dead on the scene by the Kankakee coroner, and the driver and another passenger were both critically injured, state police said.
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The driver was taken to St. Mary's Hospital, and the passenger was airlifted to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, police said.
The semi drivers were taken to Riverside Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital, state police said.
Chicago police officers investigate a death in the 100 block of East Lake Shore Drive on Sept. 20, 2017, in the Gold Coast neighborhood. (Alyssa Pointer/Chicago Tribune) (Alyssa Pointer / Chicago Tribune)
A man, believed to be 50 years old, was found dead early Wednesday across the street from the Drake Tower Apartments, police said.
The body was found about 5:20 a.m. in the 100 block of East Lake Shore Drive in the Gold Coast neighborhood on the Near North Side.
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He was pronounced dead on the scene at 5:43 a.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. There weren't any visible signs of trauma, Chicago police said Wednesday afternoon.
The death remained under investigation, pending autopsy results from the medical examiner's office, police said.
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The victim is from another state and was found without shoes and missing a wallet, according to police.
Police, who earlier said he appeared to be about 60.
About 9 a.m., a white sheet covered the body of the man on a sidewalk at the edge of a small park across the street from the Drake Tower.
A man who had been walking briefly stopped near the scene.
"Oh, my God," he said as he placed his hand on his chest.
People continued to walk their dogs near Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue. At least one bicyclist was abruptly stopped by the police tape.
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A 60-year-old woman, who did not want to be identified, huddled with other residents as they tried to piece together what could have happened to the man.
She said neighbors had been working with their alderman to address concerns they've had about the small park. There have been instances where people have built bonfires and at other times people have found needles.
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"Things have gotten better," she said. "(But) at night we can't go across the street to walk the dogs. It's too dangerous."
As workers picked up and placed the man's body in a white van Wednesday morning, a man and a woman stopped at the edge of the crime scene.
"Well, we wanted a little excitement in Chicago," the woman said. "I guess we got it."
The incident snarled traffic for hours on southbound Lake Shore Drive as far north as Foster Avenue.
Check back for updates.
A federal judge on Wednesday delayed for the second time a decision whether to take Chicago police Officer Marco Proano into custody following this conviction last month in the on-duty shooting of two teens during a traffic stop on the South Side.
U.S. District Judge Gary Feinerman said he needed more time for legal analysis to determine whether the counts that Proano was convicted on constitute a "crime of violence," which under federal law would require the officer to be jailed immediately.
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Feinerman's decision to delay a ruling until Nov. 7 means that even if the judge eventually sides with prosecutors, Proano wouldn't be taken into custody much before his sentencing, scheduled for Nov. 20.
Prosecutors had sought to take him into custody as a danger to the community following his conviction on Aug. 28 on two felony counts of using excessive force in violation of the victims' civil rights.
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Prosecutors argued for immediate detention on the day of the verdict, but Feinerman allowed the officer to remain free while both sides filed legal briefs on the issue. At a status hearing Sept. 6, the judge warned Proano to be prepared to go into custody, but instead the judge continued the hearing until Wednesday.
It's not the first time a police officer convicted of federal excessive force charges has been allowed to remain free despite prosecutors' arguments for immediate detention. In 2015, former Midlothian police Deputy Chief Steven Zamiar was finally ordered into custody five months after his conviction for repeatedly striking a man with a metal baton outside a bar. U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman later sentenced him to 15 months in prison, far below what prosecutors sought.
Proano, an 11-year department veteran, is the first Chicago police officer in memory to be convicted in federal court of criminal charges stemming from an on-duty shooting. He also was the first officer to go to trial in any shooting case since the court-ordered release of the Laquan McDonald shooting video in November 2015 sparked protests, political turmoil and promises of systemic change from Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison on each count but likely will get far less because he has no prior criminal history. The Police Department is seeking to fire Proano, who was placed on unpaid suspension after he was charged last September.
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Prosecutors said dashboard camera video of the shooting which unfolded in about 9 seconds showed Proano violated all of the training he received at the Police Academy, including to never fire into a crowd, only fire if you can clearly see your target and to stop shooting once the threat has been eliminated.
The video played several times for jurors during the trial, including in slow motion showed Proano walking quickly toward the stolen Toyota within seconds of arriving at the scene while he held his gun pointed sideways in his left hand. Proano can be seen backing away briefly as the car went in reverse, away from the officer. He then raised his gun with both hands and opened fire as he walked toward the car, continuing to fire even after the car had rolled into a light pole and stopped.
"Marco Proano drew first, shot next and then he tried to justify it later," Assistant U.S. Attorney Erika Csicsila said in closing arguments. "He came out of his car like a cowboy, he pulled his gun out, held it to one side and aimed it at those kids to send a message and to show who was in charge."
Proano's lawyer, Daniel Herbert, argued that the officer did exactly as he was trained to stop the threat and also protect the life of one of the teens, who was hanging from the passenger window as the car reversed.
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Prosecutors were not allowed to present evidence of Proano's checkered past, including that the shooting was his third in a three-year span. In August 2010, Proano shot and wounded a 20-year-old woman in the 700 block of West 91st Street, according to a Tribune database of police shootings from 2010 to 2015. Less than a year later, in July 2011, Proano fatally shot 19-year-old Niko Husband at close range during a struggle as police tried to break up an unruly dance party on the South Side. Proano claimed Husband had tried to pull a gun.
jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @jmetr22b
A 31-year-old truck driver living in west suburban Villa Park has decided not to contest his removal to New York to face charges he raised money in 2015 to help send fighters from the U.S. to Islamic State fronts in Syria.
Dilshod Khusanov, a native of Uzbekistan, was arrested last month on a two-count indictment unsealed in Brooklyn charging him with conspiring and attempting to provide material support to ISIS and a second terrorist organization, Nusra Front.
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Khusanov had asked U.S. Magistrate Judge David Weisman for more time to consult with an attorney before deciding how to proceed. His decision to waive his right to a hearing, announced during a brief appearance before Weisman on Wednesday, clears the way for him to be taken to Brooklyn by the U.S. Marshals Service.
Public records show Khusanov lived in Villa Park only a short time, with previous addresses listed in New York. Prosecutors said in a court filing that Khusanov had been working as a truck driver and "frequently travels across the East Coast."
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According to a release from the U.S. attorney's office in Brooklyn, Khusanov was part of a cell of "like-minded individuals" seeking to aid Islamic State and Nusra Front in Syria. Four other members of the support group, as well as two people who allegedly tried to travel to Syria to join ISIS fighters, have already pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy, according to prosecutors.
The investigation began when one of Khusanov's co-conspirators, Abdurasul Juraboev, posted on an Uzbek-language website that he wished to martyr himself on U.S. soil, possibly by assassinating then-President Barack Obama, according to prosecutors. Another co-conspirator, Akhror Saidakhmetov, was arrested in February 2015 at Kennedy International Airport as he tried to travel to Turkey and then Syria "for the purpose of waging violent jihad on behalf of ISIS," according to the charges.
Khusanov helped fund those efforts by providing his own money and promising to raise other funds to help pay Saidakhmetov's travel expenses, prosecutors alleged. In the week before Saidakhmetov was scheduled to leave for Turkey, Khusanov transferred money into the personal bank account of another co-conspirator, Akmal Zakirov, that was earmarked for Saidakhmetov's travel, according to prosecutors.
Both Juraboev and Saidakhmetov had been secretly recorded talking about a wide range of terrorist plots, according to the charges filed against them in New York.
Khusanov faces up to 15 years in prison on each count if convicted.
jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @jmetr22b
An 18-year-old man being held at Cook County Jail was handed two additional felony charges after he was identified by victims, Chicago police said.
Mishaun Drane, of the 5300 block of South Honore Street, was charged Monday with three counts of armed robbery and was denied bail because he had violated probation on a charge of receiving stolen property that he had pleaded guilty to earlier, according to court records.
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In addition to the armed robbery charges, Drane has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery and attempted armed robbery, police said in a news release Wednesday morning.
The new charges were added after victims identified Drane as the person who robbed them at gunpoint. Specifically, Drane was accused of robbing a 46-year-old man Aug. 24 about 6:20 a.m. in the 5600 block of South Springfield Avenue, police said.
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Five minutes later, Drane robbed at 73-year-old man in the 6100 block of South Kenneth Avenue. The man suffered a gunshot wound to the stomach, and was taken in critical condition to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, police said.
Area Central detectives were able to tie Drane to other armed robbery patterns released to the media that happened between Aug. 18 to Aug. 22 in the Chicago Lawn area, police said. Those robberies mostly happened in the morning hours, including six robberies that took place within about a half-hour between 8:30 a.m. and a little before 9 a.m. on Aug. 22, according to a police alert issued Aug. 23.
Drane was scheduled to appear Wednesday at a bail hearing.
An artists rendering shows a planned $100 million residence hall and academic campus at the University of Illinois at Chicago. ( University of Illinois at Chicago )
Continuing a transformation from its days as a commuter school, University of Illinois at Chicago is seeking to build a $100 million residence hall and academic complex, which would be the campus's first new dorm in more than a decade.
The Illinois Board of Higher Education on Tuesday approved UIC's proposal to construct a 10-story, 550-bed tower at the corner of Harrison and Morgan streets on the Near West Side. The facility would also include a two-story academic wing with classroom and study space, as well as a retail area.
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Construction is scheduled to start in December and would last until July 2019.
The development of the 135,700-square-foot facility comes amid a five-year plan to boost enrollment across the three University of Illinois campuses by 15 percent.
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The Chicago campus easily recorded the largest percentage increase in new freshman students this fall, in stark contrast to the majority of state universities, which saw declines. The Near West Side campus welcomed 4,064 first-time freshman students, about 700 more than last fall, which represents a 23 percent climb.
J. Rex Tolliver, vice chancellor for student affairs, said the goal of the new facility is to both increase and modernize UIC's housing.
"This will be a truly integrated living and learning community," Tolliver said. "The needs of students today are different than what they were 30, 40 years ago. Their expectations are different. We haven't provided that type of experience at UIC. It's past time for us to be doing it."
The project also follows two years of turmoil for higher education in Illinois as state leaders were locked in a budget impasse.
Now, after two years of steep cuts to state funding, the state's new 2017-18 budget provides public universities with funding akin to what they received in years before the impasse.
The end of the impasse has in turn helped stabilize bond ratings an important development that helps the university secure better borrowing terms.
Standard & Poor's took the state of Illinois off the watch list for a downgrade to junk status after legislators overrode Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto to pass a spending plan in July. S&P also took University of Illinois off its negative watch and ruled its credit outlook to be "stable."
Joseph Krist, partner of Court Street Group LLC, a financial research and consulting agency in New York, said universities would have had a harder time borrowing for major projects during the impasse because it was difficult to assess their credit risk and their financial situation. The budget agreement "basically stopped the bleeding on the state's ratings" and creates a more advantageous borrowing market, he said.
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"It's not surprising to see that parts of the university system would be looking to try to finance capital projects now that they probably felt they hadn't been able to over the last couple of years of the budget crisis," Krist said. "Because you're at that point in the credit timeline you feel a little more confident going forward."
The project will be a public-private partnership with the Texas-based American Campus Communities, a large publicly traded developer of university housing that will secure financing.
The 83,000-square-foot tower will look like a typical residence hall, with a mix of single, double and suite-style units, study and social lounges, residence life offices, a fitness center and laundry rooms.
The 51,000-square-foot academic wing will have three large lecture halls, four classrooms, small group study rooms, a tutoring center, computer stations, and social and study areas.
The remaining 1,700 square feet likely would be a cafe, according to the proposal.
"There will be students who will be able to just get out of bed, go downstairs have a cup of coffee and go straight to class," Vice Chancellor Tolliver said.
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Students walk on the campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago on Sept. 19, 2017. UIC saw a massive boost in its freshman enrollment this year. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
The building would sit near the UIC Theatre, the Behavioral Sciences Building and the Jane Addams School of Social Work, just off the Eisenhower Expressway.
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"It will be very visible, and I think it will also send a signal about the strength and vitality of the campus," UIC Chancellor Michael Amiridis said.
In an interview last week about UIC's enrollment boost, Amiridis said officials needed to focus attention on its facilities and space to be able to welcome influxes of new students. Tolliver said UIC's housing occupancy rate is at 95 percent, and some freshman this year had to be housed on the west side of campus where there is more availability.
UIC's portion of the system's five-year growth plan prioritizes recruiting more undergraduates students more likely to seek and require on-campus housing in order to fill existing and new academic programs to capacity. UIC is aiming to add almost 4,800 new students by 2021, with more than 90 percent of that increase coming through growth in undergraduate programs.
"We need an updated infrastructure. The question was, how do we do it?" Amiridis said. "Bringing the private sector in is the best way to do it because of the problems we have in Illinois. There's no way we could do this on our own."
UIC, which once primarily was a commuter campus, constructed its first dorm in 1988, then boomed with three new dorms in six years in the early 2000s. The most recent, Stukel Towers, opened in 2007.
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Twitter @rhodes_dawn
State Rep. Jim Durkin speaks at a City Club of Chicago luncheon at Maggiano's Banquets in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2017. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
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. Subscribe here.
Topspin
House Republican leader Jim Durkin on Tuesday said Illinois should pursue Amazon's second headquarters, but he doesn't "think we need to give away the store like Wisconsin just did" for Foxconn.
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Durkin was asked about Illinois' efforts to land the giant company during an appearance before the City Club of Chicago. He said he plans to meet with Gov. Bruce Rauner in the coming days and that "we need to be competitive" in pursuing the company.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker on Monday signed into law a $3 billion package of incentives for Foxconn, a company that wants to build a giant screen-producing plant.
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"We'll do whatever we can," Durkin said. "I do know that the competition is very heavy, and any time you start talking about incentives it brings out some of the worst in people down in Springfield."
He said other states might overpromise incentives on which they can't deliver. And in the end, he said, it's lawmakers who have to approve any incentives.
"There's no guarantee that the House or the Senate is going to buy into it," Durkin said. "So, as I said, when you make the pitch, be reasonable and don't oversell what you can deliver."
Durkin called the Amazon question "topical" because a delegation of Illinoisans is in Seattle to check out the company's campus. He said "Lt. Gov. Leslie Munger" is taking the lead on the effort for the state.
Munger, though, isn't Illinois' lieutenant governor. She's a deputy governor, appointed to the job by Rauner after she lost a 2016 bid to remain state comptroller. The state's lieutenant governor is Evelyn Sanguinetti.
What's on tap
*Mayor Rahm Emanuel will attend a PwC tech event. He'll also announce the city is accepting nominations for potential Amazon HQ2 locations in Chicago.
*Gov. Bruce Rauner will be at a Downers Grove hospital to sign a nurse practitioner bill. It's House Bill 313.
From the notebook
*Gutierrez arrested again: U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez was arrested Tuesday at a protest at New York's Trump Tower to show support for immigrants known as "Dreamers," his spokesman said.
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Gutierrez was arrested on two counts of disorderly conduct atFifth Avenue and West 57th Street, the NYPD said.
He and others were observed sitting on a crosswalk with interlocked arms. The participants were asked to move, and despite multiple warnings, refused, leading to arrests, a police source said.
Gutierrez later was released, spokesman Douglas Rivlin said. The demonstration was timed to President Donald Trump's speech at the United Nations, he said.
Gutierrez, 63, a Chicago Democrat in his 13th term, has a history of civil disobedience. He's racked up six prior arrests at protests in D.C. and in Puerto Rico, Rivlin said.
Gutierrez's Big Apple brush with the law follows his Aug. 15 arrest outside the White House at a demonstration supporting immigrants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which extends protections to immigrants who entered the U.S. without documents as children. That arrest led to a $50 fine.
There were 10 arrests at Tuesday's protest, according to the New York Police Department.
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Gutierrez, in a statement, said he and other demonstrators were taking steps to tell Trump they will keep up their peaceful fight for DACA recipients as long as it takes to enact legislation to put the young immigrants in a "safe place."
Trump this month announced a phase-out of DACA but later expressed sympathy for program recipients. Though the House is not in session this week, members of Congress are wrestling with whether to make permanent the protections afforded by the Obama-era program. (Katherine Skiba)
*Quick spins: Democratic candidate for governor Daniel Biss announced another endorsement from a state Senate colleague. This time, state Sen. Steve Stadelman announced he'll back Biss. ... Democrat Candace Chow announced she'll run for the Illinois House seat being vacated by state Rep. Laura Fine, who is running for Biss' Senate seat. Her campaign on Tuesday reported a $95,000 donation from Daniel Chow.
What we're writing
*Rauner-Madigan war leads to exodus of lawmakers from Springfield.
*Rauner now mum on abortion bill after earlier indications he'd veto.
*Drury drops governor bid to run for attorney general, Durkin backs Harold on GOP side, Burke daughter out.
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*Vrdolyak, associate collected $10 million in unauthorized tobacco fees, prosecutors say.
*"Tiny houses" considered for Chicago's homeless.
*Bottled Blonde hearing delayed after lawyer arrested on drug charges.
*Will South Side presidential center serve as the Obamas' final resting place?
What we're reading
*Ex-Chicago cop, a fugitive for almost 15 years, arrested in Detroit.
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*States including Illinois expand investigation of opioid makers, distributors.
*Centegra to eliminate, outsource hundreds of jobs.
Follow the money
*Track Illinois campaign contributions in real time here and here.
Beyond Chicago
*Dozens dead in Mexico earthquake.
*Trump threatens to "totally destroy" North Korea in U.N. speech.
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*Some governors oppose new GOP health care plan.
*Hurricane Maria threatens Puerto Rico.
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner on Tuesday declined to take a position on a controversial abortion bill that has yet to make it to his desk but which his office previously said he would veto.
The legislation would lift restrictions on coverage of abortions by Medicaid and state employee insurance. It also would change a provision in Illinois law that ties the state's abortion policy to the 1973 Roe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court decision that protected a woman's right to have an abortion.
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Rauner said he was "meeting with advocates on both sides of the issues raised in the bill and I'm meeting with legislators who are advocates of both sides of those issues in the bill and we are listening to their points of view."
But the governor would not say whether he would sign the bill into law if lawmakers followed through and sent it to him. Rauner's office said in April that he would veto the legislation.
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"I have not received the bill, which is the most important thing," Rauner said Tuesday after a bill signing ceremony in which he approved legislation tightening restrictions and reporting requirements for civil asset forfeitures.
Earlier in the day during an appearance on Illinois Public Media radio, Rauner accused lawmakers of "playing political games" with the bill.
The bill passed both chambers in the spring, but sponsoring Sen. Don Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat, used a procedural tactic to keep it off the governor's desk indefinitely. Harmon has said he wants to give the governor time to reverse his veto threat.
Holding onto the bill also allows Democrats to use it as a political tool to put the governor in a tricky position as he seeks re-election. Rauner needs to appeal to his conservative base, which opposes the bill, especially in the run-up to the March primary. So far, Rauner does not have a primary opponent, but signing the abortion bill means he could draw one.
Vetoing the bill, however, risks angering suburban moderates, a crucial voting bloc for the general election.
As a candidate, Rauner pledged to an abortion-rights political action committee that he was in favor of lifting restrictions on health care coverage for abortion under the state's Medicaid plan and under state employee health insurance, saying in a candidate questionnaire that he would "support a legislative effort to reverse that law."
Rauner's veto threat came in the spring, as the legislation was making its way through the General Assembly and the governor was facing pressure from conservative Republicans to come out against the bill to halt its passage. The bill passed anyway.
In May, Rauner said on WBEZ-FM 91.5 that he is only in support of the bill language that ensures that abortions will be legal in Illinois regardless of what happens on the federal level. If a proposal included only that part, Rauner said, he would "sign that legislation if that bill came to my desk."
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Of the changes to restrictions on taxpayer funding of abortions, Rauner accused Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan of adding those provisions to the bill "to create political problems" for him.
"We're one of the more progressive states," Rauner said at the time. "I support that. I want to protect that. But the bill goes further and expands taxpayer funding in a way that only two other states have. That's very divisive, it's very controversial. That part, I don't think makes sense to do now."
Terry Cosgrove, president and CEO of the abortion rights advocacy group Personal PAC, said abortion rights advocates feel betrayed by the governor.
Cosgrove said on WGN-AM 720 on Sunday that the bill won't move to Rauner's desk without a promise that he'll sign it.
"That's my view of what should happen and currently the view of the sponsors and the people in control of the legislation," he said.
Chicago Tribune's Monique Garcia contributed from Springfield.
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Twitter @kimgeiger
State Sen. Kwame Raoul, a South Side Democrat, said he is running for Illinois attorney general, after Lisa Madigans announcement that she wont seek another term in that office. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune )
State Sen. Kwame Raoul said Wednesday he is running for the Democratic nomination for attorney general, saying he wants to pursue criminal justice reforms if elected.
Raoul is a former assistant Cook County prosecutor who entered the legislature in 2004 after future President Barack Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate.
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"Attorney general is the state's chief advocate, its chief lawyer," said Raoul, 52, of the Hyde Park-Kenwood community.
"I think my record speaks to being an advocate for victims from my work on policy that protects domestic violence victims to my work with the attorney general on trying to fight manufacturers of synthetic drugs, my work to fight the heroin trafficking, my work on criminal justice reform, law enforcement reform, workers' compensation reform," he said.
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Raoul becomes the second Democratic state lawmaker to announce a bid for the office currently held by Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan. The daughter of powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan, she announced last week she would not seek a fifth term.
Raoul has served in a number of high-profile roles in the Democrat-controlled state Senate. He sponsored legislation abolishing the state's death penalty law and expanding the recording of police interrogations, as well as a new law Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner signed in June that toughens penalties for repeat violent gun crime offenders.
While Raoul credited Madigan for her four terms as attorney general, he said he would be more aggressively involved in criminal justice reform.
"Historically, some have shied away from aggressively tacking criminal justice reform because of fear of being characterized as soft on crime," he said.
"I think we're at a good place on the issue these days in a bipartisan manner. Folks are wanting to tackle criminal justice reform. I've partnered with Gov. Rauner to try to work to get comprehensive criminal justice reform that can benefit taxpayers and actually promote public safety," he said.
Raoul, who was involved in negotiations over a law mandated by the federal courts to legalize the concealed carrying of firearms, said he believes discussion about guns has become too polarized in trying to find ways to curb gun crimes.
"Too often a person that comes from Chicago is perceived to be insensitive to downstate. I think we've done ourselves a disservice in how we discuss gun policy in the state of Illinois and nationally. There's a balancing act that you have to do with public policy in general," he said.
"With regards to gun policy, I think it's been too divisive and it's been too polarized of a debate. It's important to know that law-abiding gun owners are equally against gun violence. And we can have the discussion without being polarized. I think law-abiding gun owners support the legislation that I just passed that is aimed at repeat gun offenders that could be preying on our community," he said.
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Raoul's announcement included an online video.
State Rep. Scott Drury of Highwood on Tuesday became the first Democrat to formally announce for the nomination, having given up a bid for governor that many considered to be a long shot.
Several other Democrats are weighing a bid for the nomination, and others such as Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and State's Attorney Kim Foxx have said they won't run.
Republican Erika Harold, a Harvard law graduate and former Miss America from Urbana, previously announced her campaign and is being backed by dozens of GOP lawmakers, including House Republican leader Jim Durkin. Durkin said Rauner also is backing Harold's bid.
rap30@aol.com
Twitter @rap30
An Auburn woman pleaded guilty to a felony Tuesday morning for using a Skaneateles company's checks to pay personal bills.
Julie A. McGinn, 44, of 16 Meadowbrook Dr., was charged with second-degree grand larceny in September 2016. At the time, New York State Police said McGinn stole more than $82,000 from her former employer, Empire Technical Associates, in Skaneateles.
According to police, McGinn was an office manager for the company when she wrote $82,239 worth of unauthorized company checks. She allegedly used the money to pay her personal cell phone and credit card bills from 2010 to May 2016.
On Tuesday morning, McGinn pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree grand larceny, a class C felony. The Onondaga County District Attorney's Office said she also paid $89,000 in restitution.
Supreme Court Justice John Brunetti agreed to sentence McGinn to about a month in jail. McGinn will be allowed to choose whether she serves 32 consecutive days or 16 weekends at the Onondaga County Correctional Facility in Jamesville.
McGinn was released on her own recognizance. Her sentencing was scheduled for Nov. 29.
Two medical staffers at a military hospital in Florida were barred from caring for patients after they were seen in disturbing images mishandling a newborn, making obscene gestures and calling babies "mini Satans."
One video shows a female staffer in gloves and medical scrubs holding the infant by the armpit, moving the arms and body as music played in the background. One photo shows a staffer flipping a middle finger at the infant. Its caption reads: "How I currently feel about these mini Satans."
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It's unclear from the images if the female employee in the video is the same person flipping her middle finger in the photo. ABC affiliate WFTS reported that the photo is an image from a Snapchat account belonging to one of the employees. The post also said that the "navy nurse" and her friend held up the baby and made it dance to rap music, according to WFTS.
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO of the inappropriate handling of newborns at Jacksonville Naval Hospital >> https://t.co/3TpukuQcmN pic.twitter.com/JUw1yVgZjl ActionNewsJax (@ActionNewsJax) September 19, 2017
Capt. Brenda Malone, spokeswoman for the U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, which oversees several hospitals around the country, said the employees are corpsmen or medical officers for the Navy, not nurses. Malone said they are still assigned at the Jacksonville, Florida, hospital but are no longer providing direct patient care.
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The hospital said in a statement that the infant's parents have been notified of the incident.
In a statement Tuesday, Navy Surgeon Gen. Vice Adm. Forrest Faison said that he has ordered commanding officers to make sure no photos of patients remain on social media and to personally reassure all mothers planning to deliver at Navy facilities. He is also prohibiting employees from using personal cell phones at patient-care areas.
"Unprofessional and inappropriate social media behavior is inconsistent with both our core values of honor, courage and commitment as well as our medical ethics, violating the oaths we took for our profession and office," Faison said, adding later: "In an age where information can be shared instantly, what we say and post online must reflect the highest standards of character and conduct, in both our personal and professional lives."
Malone said the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which looks into felony offenses affecting the Navy and Marine Corps, is investigating.
"Once investigation is complete, appropriate action will be taken," Malone said.
The Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, has 18 medical centers and hospitals in Washington, California, Florida, Virginia, the Carolinas and Guam. It also has locations in Italy, Japan, Spain and Cuba.
Since at least 2015, the credit reporting agency has repeatedly lobbied lawmakers on issues related to "data security and breach notification," according to federal disclosure forms. Those issues are likely to take center stage now as the company deals with the outcry over its decision to wait six weeks before notifying the public about a cybersecurity attack that exposed the Social Security numbers, driver's license information and other personal data of 143 million people.
The company's spending on lobbying peaked at $1.1 million last year, and Equifax has spent $500,000 already this year, according to data collected by the Center for Responsive Politics.
The industry's efforts have come as the Trump administration has made loosening regulations a key priority and Republicans have pushed to pare the powers of one of the credit agencies' key regulators, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
The industry, including Atlanta-based Equifax, appeared to be making headway earlier this year when a Georgia congressman introduced legislation that would limit the damages companies could be forced to pay if sued.
The legislation would "strike a fair balance," putting the penalties credit reporting agencies could face under the Fair Credit Reporting Act on par with what firms face under other laws, said Republican Rep. Barry Loudermilk said at a Sept. 7 hearing on the proposal. He noted that legislation had significant support from various groups, including the Consumer Data Industry Association, which represents the credit bureaus.
The timing of the hearing proved awkward: Equifax announced later that day that it had suffered a massive hack that put millions of people at risk of identity fraud. The company said its security team first observed suspicious activity July 29 and that it hired a cybersecurity firm to conduct a forensic review on Aug. 2.
Equifax said it made its findings public "as soon as the company understood the potentially impacted population."
The delay sparked a backlash, including criticism that Equifax had fumbled its response to the breach, leading Loudermilk to abandon the bill. The legislation was not a giveaway to Equifax and the other credit bureaus, as some critics complained, he said in a statement. But "given the unfounded attacks on me and the rampant misinformation circulating about this legislation, the Financial Services Committee has not scheduled further action any bill at this time," Loudermilk said.
The legislation would have addressed one of the industry's biggest issues. The number of class-action lawsuits filed under the Fair Credit Reporting Act has increased 1,700 percent over the past 20 years, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which also supported the bill. And the industry has faced some expensive court losses recently, including in June, when a jury awarded more than a dozen plaintiffs $60 million after finding that Chicago-based TransUnion didn't take reasonable steps to prevent them from wrongly being identified as potential criminals or terrorists on their credit reports.
TransUnion called the jury's award "grossly excessive" in court documents and said it would more than wipe out the profit it earned the year of the alleged misconduct. It is fighting to reduce the award or win a retrial.
The industry has been attempting to cap such liabilities for years, said Francis Creighton, chief executive of CDIA, the industry trade group. "We have been working on getting it done for a long while. We spent last Congress working within the industry to get it done" before Loudermilk introduced the legislation this year, he said.
"We continue to believe it's good legislation and that we should pass it. It has nothing to do with the incident that happened" with Equifax, he said.
"We were just trying to harmonize this one statute with the rest of the banking law. It didn't seem like something that controversial to us."
Equifax did not directly address the failed legislation, but it said in a statement that it "works to ensure that new legislation captures the benefits of credit reporting to the U.S. economy, as well as the effects of certain regulation on the financial system. We believe in fair industry regulation and advocating for policies that protect consumers' rights, as well as the integrity of the consumer data industry."
That balance is likely to tip in favor of the regulators in coming weeks and months. Equifax is already facing dozens of proposed class-action lawsuits, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., has introduced legislation aimed at cracking down on credit bureaus. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have all said they are looking into the breach. Equifax chief executive Rick Smith is set to testify before Congress on the breach Oct. 3.
"It is just the opening salvo," Jaret Seiberg, an analyst with Cowen and Co.'s Washington Research Group, said in a recent report. "We would expect other lawmakers to introduce bills that more directly attack how credit bureaus operate. Debate over those bills may stretch well into 2018."
The industry, which has long been marred by complaints that their reports are full of mistakes that consumers struggle to fix, already falls outside many of the most aggressive regulatory structures. The FTC and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau regulate different aspects of the credit reporting companies, but it is still far less rigorous than what even small banks face, consumer advocates say.
"Credit reporting companies serve as a major piece of our financial infrastructure in America but face less regulatory scrutiny," said Rohit Chopra, a former assistant director at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and now a senior fellow at the Consumer Federation of America. "A small regional bank might face far more intensive scrutiny compared to a credit reporting agency that touches far more consumers."
This has been updated to correct the last name of Equifax chief executive Rick Smith.
The special counsel investigating Russian election meddling has requested extensive records and email correspondence from the White House, covering the president's private discussions about firing his FBI director and his response to news that the then-national security adviser was under investigation, according to two people briefed on the requests.
White House lawyers are now working to turn over internal documents that span 13 categories that investigators for the special counsel have identified as critical to their probe, the people said. Special counsel Robert Mueller III, appointed in May in the wake of President Donald Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey, took over the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and whether the Trump campaign coordinated with the Russians in that effort.
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The list of requests was described in detail by two people briefed on them. Both insisted on anonymity to discuss a sensitive investigation. Some details of the requests were first reported Wednesday afternoon by the New York Times.
The requests broadly ask for any document or email related to a series of highly publicized incidents since Trump became president, including the ouster of national security adviser Michael Flynn and firing of Comey, the people said.
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The list demonstrates Mueller's focus on key moments and actions by the president and close advisers that could shed light on whether Trump sought to block the FBI investigations of Flynn and of Russian interference.
His team is also eyeing whether the president sought to obstruct the earlier Russia probe overseen by Comey.
The special counsel team's work in recent months has zeroed in on Paul Manafort, a former chairman of the Trump campaign, and Flynn. An official close to the probe said both men are under investigation.
Mueller's agents have questioned witnesses and business associates of both men about whether the men sought to conceal the nature of consulting work they did that could have benefited foreign governments. In a raid of Manafort's home last month, agents sought to seize records related to Manafort's finances.
Over the past few weeks, White House lawyer Ty Cobb began sending records to the special counsel. Cobb is working within the White House to gather more of those documents and has told staffers and other lawyers that he hoped to turn over many more this week.
Cobb declined to discuss the subjects that Mueller's team has questioned him about.
"The White House doesn't comment on any communications between the White House and the Office of Special Counsel out of respect for the Office of Special Counsel and its process," Cobb said in a statement. "We are committed to cooperating fully. Beyond that I can't comment."
Mueller also asked for any email or document the White House holds that relates to Manafort, the people briefed on the requests said. Manafort resigned from the campaign before the election amid scrutiny of his work for a powerful Ukrainian political party aligned with the Russian government.
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Mueller has requested that the White House turn over all internal communications and documents related to the FBI interview of Flynn in January, days after he took office, as well as any document that discusses Flynn's conversations with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in December. Mueller has also asked for records about meetings then-Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates held with White House counsel Don McGahn in late January to alert him to Justice Department concerns about Flynn, as well as all documents related to Flynn's subsequent ouster by the White House.
Regarding Comey, Mueller has asked for all documents related to meetings between Trump and Comey while Comey served at the FBI, records of any discussions regarding Comey's firing and any documents related to a statement by then-press secretary Sean Spicer made on the night Comey was fired. He has also asked for any documents related to a meeting Trump held in the Oval Office with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov the day after Comey was fired.
Mueller has also asked for all records related to the June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower with a Russian lawyer hosted by the president's son, as well as all documents related to the White House's response to the publication of accounts of that meeting in July 2017.
Mueller is moving as quickly as he can and is taking his mandate very seriously, one government official told The Washington Post. He believes for the moment that he has all the resources he needs and that the office is now a fully formed agency vigorously using a grand jury for subpoenas and interviews, the official said.
"I am convinced that no matter where they end up, this investigation will run to completion even if they fire Mueller," the official said. "There is a feeling of inevitability now that we didn't have before - not of the outcome of the investigation but that there will be an outcome. There is no escaping this thing, whatever the conclusions."
The Washington Post's Ellen Nakashima contributed to this report.
Trump's statements at the United Nations General Assembly came in the middle of the night for Koreans, but they prompted late-evening rebuttals from leaders in Russia, a country with which Trump had hoped to foster a breakthrough in relations.
In this month alone, North Korea has tested a hydrogen bomb and launched an intercontinental ballistic capable of striking the United States on a test run over the Japanese island of Hokkaido. The United Nations Security Council responded with toughened sanctions earlier this month.
In Russia, which has largely defended North Korea's interests although it supported sanctions against the country earlier this month, Trump's remarks were seen as a dangerous harbinger of instability.
Leading members of the Russian foreign policy establishment said that Trump's statements echoed his inexperience and were potentially dangerous for U.S. allies.
"Any military conflict means deaths of civilians. It is especially odd as the U.S. considers South Korea and Japan its allies and they could be affected in case of a strike," Andrei Klimov, chairman of the Foreign Affairs committee in Russia's upper house of parliament, told the Interfax news agency in an interview on Tuesday.
While Russian officials were initially excited about Trump's readiness to overturn the international order, a promised detente with Russia has failed to materialize while bellicose rhetoric against Russian partners like North Korea and Iran has stepped up.
At least "unlike his predecessors, he didn't put Russia among the main threats to mankind and even praised our country for cooperating with the Security Council on North Korea," wrote Konstantin Kosachyov, another senior member of Russia's upper house of parliament, in a post on Facebook.
But Trump's speech was "disappointing," said Kosachyov, who was in New York for this week's summit, particularly for "the extremely dangerous statements about the readiness to 'totally destroy North Korea' and exit the Iran deal as 'one of the worst for the U.S. and an embarassment.' Plus Syria, Cuba and Venezuela as though they were the worst dictatorships in the history of mankind."
Trump's attack on North Korea came hours after Spain announced that it has given the North Korean ambassador assigned to Madrid until the end of September to leave, becoming the fourth country this month to expel Pyongyang's representative in the wake of the regime's sixth nuclear test.
The move follows similar steps by Mexico, Peru and Kuwait.
The expulsion will please Trump administration officials, who have been asking countries with diplomatic relations with North Korea to scale them back as a way to further isolate Kim Jong Un's regime.
The United States has been leading efforts to punish the regime for its repeated missile launches this year, which Pyongyang says are part of an effort to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile aimed at reaching the U.S. mainland.
But these efforts have intensified following North Korea's huge nuclear test Sept. 3, which experts say appears to have been the detonation of a hydrogen bomb, as Pyongyang claimed, rather than the relatively smaller atomic bombs it had previously exploded.
The Spanish Foreign Ministry said it was expelling Kim Hyok Chol, who became North Korea's first ambassador to Spain when the country opened an embassy in Madrid at the beginning of 2014.
"Today, the North Korean ambassador was summoned and was told of the decision to consider him as a persona non grata, therefore he must stop working and abandon the country before 30 September," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, according to Reuters. It also announced the move on Twitter.
This month, just four days after the nuclear test, Mexico's Foreign Ministry said it had given the North Korean ambassador to that country, Kim Hyong Gil, 72 hours to leave the country.
"With this diplomatic step, Mexico expresses to the North Korean government its categorical repudiation of its recent nuclear activity, which is an increasingly brazen violation of international law and which poses a serious threat to the Asian region and to the world," the ministry said in a statement.
North Korea is a growing threat to the world but particularly to key allies of Mexico such as Japan and South Korea, it said.
Before leaving, Kim Hyong Gil sharply criticized the decision.
"Mexico took an ignorant measure to declare an ambassador of a revolutionary regime from an independent country as persona non grata," he said in a statement to the Mexican news media, as reported by the specialist website NK News. "I condemned and totally rejected the U.N. Security Council's sanctions resolution as an infringement on our independence."
The Security Council approved the latest set of sanctions against North Korea on Sept. 11.
Peru also took extra steps to limit the North Korean presence in Lima. The Peruvian government had said in July that it would reduce the number of diplomats accredited there, in accordance with a U.N. Security Council resolution passed late last year.
That resolution, No. 2321, required member states to reduce the number of staff members at North Korean diplomatic missions and consular posts, and to limit the number of bank accounts to one per diplomatic mission and one per diplomat.
During a trip to Latin America in August, Vice President Mike Pence called on Chile, Brazil, Mexico and Peru to sever all diplomatic relations with North Korea.
The day after the latest nuclear test the same day that the U.N. Security Council passed its latest resolution the Peruvian government told North Korea's ambassador in Lima, Kim Hak Chol, he had five days to leave. He had been in Lima since the end of 2013.
These moves follow an announcement from Kuwait that it would expel the North Korean ambassador there, So Chang Sik, as part of a move to scale down Pyongyang's diplomatic presence in Kuwait City.
U.S. Marines keep watch as unseen Afghan National Army soldiers participate in an IED (improvised explosive device) training exercise at the Shorab military Camp in Lashkar Gah in the Afghan province of Helmand on August 28, 2017. (Wakil Koshar / AFP/Getty Images)
In Kabul, Afghanistan, American Embassy personnel who want to meet with their counterparts at the nearby U.S. military base have to travel a mere 100 yards. But they don't make a practice of walking or driving. They go by military helicopter, reports The New York Times. The space between is too dangerous to cross on the ground.
It's the sort of bizarre fact that might have emerged in Ken Burns' new PBS series on the Vietnam War, illustrating our inability to turn South Vietnam into a safe, stable place. But it's not the past; it's the present.
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The Vietnam War was the greatest U.S. military catastrophe of the 20th century. A conflict begun under false pretenses, based on ignorance and hubris, it killed 58,000 Americans and as many as 3 million Vietnamese. It ended in utter failure. Never in our history have so many lives been wasted on such monumental futility.
It was a national trauma worse than any since the Great Depression, and it left deep gashes in the American psyche. It instilled an aversion to wars of choice that became known as the Vietnam syndrome.
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The allergy might have lasted for generations. It didn't. In 2001, just 26 years after the fall of Saigon, the United States invaded Afghanistan. American troops have been fighting there twice as long as we fought in Vietnam.
Once again we find ourselves mired in an incomprehensible land, amid people who distrust us. Once again we are aligned with a corrupt regime that couldn't survive without our help as we incur casualties in the pursuit of goals we never reach.
In Burns' documentary, President Lyndon B. Johnson is heard in 1965 confiding, "A man can fight if he can see daylight down the road somewhere, but there ain't no daylight in Vietnam." Afghanistan has also been an endless journey down a pitch-black mine shaft.
The American military drew some obvious conclusions from Vietnam. Gen. Colin Powell, who served in combat there, had them in mind when he formulated what became known as the Powell Doctrine. It advised going to war only if we can identify a vital interest, have clear, achievable purposes, are prepared to use decisive force and know our exit strategy. But Powell's wisdom eventually was forgotten.
How could we be repeating the mistakes of Vietnam already? We didn't wake up one day with severe amnesia. It was not a one-step process. It occurred through a succession of military interventions that convinced us we were clever enough to avoid the pitfalls that had brought us to such ruin in Southeast Asia.
Ronald Reagan lamented the Vietnam syndrome but shrewdly declined to send American forces to fight leftists in Central America. He did, however, undertake a brief, low-risk invasion of the Caribbean island of Grenada, against a Castro-backed Marxist regime. Our forces removed the government, and we soon departed.
In 1989, George H.W. Bush tried a more ambitious mission, invading Panama to eject a dictator. Then came Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, which provoked Bush to send a huge air and ground force to expel Saddam Hussein's army a fight that proved far easier than expected.
Bill Clinton had his own victory, an 11-week bombing campaign that forced Serbia to leave the breakaway province of Kosovo. He managed it without a single American combat fatality.
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By 2001, when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, we Americans had gotten our swagger back. We had proved we could bring about regime changes in hostile countries while incurring few casualties and avoiding long-term entanglement.
We thought we had cracked the code of successful military interventions. The general attitude in Washington was: "We've mastered this."
We proceeded to plunge into Afghanistan, where we realized a stunning initial victory, and then into Iraq, where we rapidly routed the enemy and toppled his dictatorship. The lessons of Vietnam, many assumed, had been refuted once and for all.
But they were just waiting to be retaught. In Afghanistan and Iraq, American troops once again discovered the confusion and terror of fighting an enemy who blends into the populace. They found how hard it is to defeat a guerrilla insurgency without killing innocents and turning locals against us. They learned that their government was willing to expose them to death rather than admit a terrible mistake.
It has been a painful re-education. And there is no guarantee the knowledge will last.
Steve Chapman, a member of the Tribune Editorial Board, blogs at www.chicagotribune.com/chapman.
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The First Amendment protects your right to say what you want online. It doesn't mean, however, that you won't face consequences for it. (Tim Graham /Getty Images)
Last spring, an employee with Florida's Seminole County clerk's office made national news when he called for the lynch-mob-style execution of Florida's first black chief prosecutor.
Like many people, assistant financial director Stan McCullars was angry about Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala's decision not to seek the death penalty for accused cop killer Markeith Loyd.
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Unlike most people, though, he took to Facebook to declare: "Maybe SHE should get the death penalty."
And: "She should be tarred and feathered, if not hung from a tree."
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The comments cost McCullars his job.
Now he's arguing that he was unfairly ousted and that the public should pay him for the "mental suffering" he has endured.
In a lawsuit against against Seminole Clerk Grant Maloy, McCullars wants money possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars for emotional distress, lost wages, future lost wages, attorney fees and punitive damages.
All because, he says, his First Amendment right to free speech was violated.
It strikes me that, in the rant-first-think-later age of social media, it's time for a refresher on what the First Amendment actually means.
It means that you have a right to speak your mind.
It does not mean that you can't face consequences for doing so.
It means you can say vile, bizarre or offensive things without worrying about the government throwing you in jail.
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It does not mean that you are guaranteed to an $86,000-a-year paycheck, regardless of how you behave.
I think most of us know this.
I know, for instance, that if I took to Twitter to trash my boss or spout racist views, I could lose my job.
Why? Because I have a constitutional right to speak my mind not a constitutional right to be a newspaper columnist.
That second part is up to my employer. And employers are within their rights to question an employee's judgment and consider how statements reflect on their offices.
We saw the same thing last month when a University of Tampa instructor lost his job after tweeting that the deadly floodwaters in Houston were "instant Karma" for Texans who voted for Donald Trump.
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The university decided those comments didn't reflect the private school's values the same way Maloy said McCullars' comments didn't reflect his.
But McCullars' attorney, respected First Amendment lawyer Howard Marks, says "private employers and public employers are completely different" since public employers are essentially the government reacting to speech.
While acknowledging the matter is complex, he said courts often look at whether the employee made the statement as a private citizen, whether the statement caused a disruption in the workplace and whether the employee was debating "a matter of public concern."
Marks can probably successfully argue that McCullars was making his death wish on his own time. But he may have trouble on the other two points. McCullars' comments sparked nationwide outrage. And while it certainly would've been legitimate to debate whether Ayala should have pursued the death penalty, Marks may have a tough time convincing a jury that it was legitimate to debate whether Ayala should be killed for her decision.
Which brings me to another point: Litigation aside, it'd be nice if people stopped acting like idiots on social media.
It's possible to disagree with someone without wishing her or him dead.
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Admittedly, we live in a culture of coarseness. The same week the Tampa instructor got sacked for making light of drowning deaths in Houston, conservative pundit Ann Coulter tweeted: "I don't believe Hurricane Harvey is God's punishment for Houston electing a lesbian mayor. But that is more credible than 'climate change.' "
Coulter didn't get fired. She got more than 13,000 "likes."
That's because Coulter works largely for herself. Instead of working for an institution that cares about decency, she caters to an audience that apparently "likes" jokes about tragedies that others find gross.
Still, tasteless tweets often encourage more tasteless tweets and people losing their jobs.
"In the old days, most of this would never happen, because this was all just water-cooler talk," Marks said. "That's where it stayed, at the water cooler. It never got out."
He's right about that. But I think most people know that and act accordingly.
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That way, they don't end up in messes like this, suing the public for all the "mental suffering" they endured after calling for a prosecutor to be hanged.
Tribune Content Agency
Scott Maxwell is a columnist at the Orlando Sentinel.
smaxwell@orlandosentinel.com
Roberta Villegas, center, is embraced by family member Itzel Melendez as they wait outside a quake-collapsed building in Mexico City on Sept. 22, 2017 where Villegas' son, Paulino Estrada, is believed to be trapped. (Rebecca Blackwell / AP)
Early in the morning of Sept. 19, 1985, a ferocious earthquake shook Mexico City. For almost two minutes, the wobbly metropolis trembled and jumped, jolted by a movement not felt since a 1957 tremor toppled the Angel de la Independencia, one of the city's most renowned landmarks, from its 120-foot column. In 1985, the golden statue stood aloft, but the consequences of the earthquake were otherwise devastating: Hundreds of buildings collapsed within seconds, including hotels, hospitals, theaters and scores of apartment complexes. Close to a million people were left homeless, living in makeshift camps, in some cases for years on end. More than 12,000 people died, according to some estimates.
On Tuesday, exactly 32 years later, another violent earthquake whiplashed the city a few minutes before lunch. Forty buildings buckled, the harrowing scenes broadcast over the internet like a live version of an apocalyptic movie. By nightfall, Mexico's government had confirmed more than 200 people dead, with many more buried in the rubble all over Mexico City (the city's strict building codes prevented a worse outcome). The number of structures that have suffered severe fundamental damage could reach the hundreds. In southern Mexico City, the heartbreak became almost unbearable when authorities confirmed the collapse of the Enrique Rebsamen elementary school, where at least 20 children died and more are missing.
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And yet, from within the cloud of unspeakable tragedy, a silver lining has glimmered through. Like in 1985, Mexican solidarity has lifted a country sunk in violence and acrimonious political and social discontent. Scores of volunteers spontaneously joined authorities and first responders, including the Mexican armed forces, to dig through the rubble. People took to the streets to offer water and food, activists quickly established collection centers, and social media worked its virtuous magic, connecting possible volunteers with places where they were needed.
Mexico's defiant camaraderie in the face of calamity is well-known around the world, not least in the United States. In 2005, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Mexican government sent a 45-vehicle army convoy with 200 men to help out. And help they did, serving 170,000 meals and distributing more than 180,000 tons of supplies to the needy in three weeks of work. Mexico again sent much-needed assistance after Harvey's devastation of Houston last month, including emergency supplies and a large team of paramedics.
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Unfortunately solidarity has not been reciprocal. The Trump administration's latest episode of morally reprehensible behavior began 10 days ago, when a different major earthquake hit Mexico, sinking Oaxaca and Chiapas, the country's poorest regions, into grief and misery. It took President Donald Trump one long week to reach out to Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to offer the most basic of condolences after tweeting a laughable excuse for his diplomatic blunder.
On Tuesday, after the latest earthquake had shaken Mexico City, Trump found the time and energy to pick up his phone and write a short tweet asking God to bless Mexico City. (A few hours later, he seemed more enthused while commenting on the "bad" ratings for the 2017 Emmy Awards.)
It wasn't always like this. In 1985, the Reagan administration moved quickly to publicly express solidarity and fully support its southern neighbor. First lady Nancy Reagan traveled to Mexico's devastated capital less than a week after the earthquake. There, she walked among the rubble and spoke to rescuers and survivors. "We stand ready to assist in any way possible," she said. "We're all working together." She carried an initial check for $1 million in disaster aid and a letter from her husband, in which Reagan expressed his "sympathy and support" to the Mexican people as they struggled "with the tremendous tragedy that has befallen Mexico."
Toward the end of her stay in Mexico City, Nancy Reagan told reporters the day had proved to be "a very emotional experience. I have tremendous admiration for the Mexican people and what they are doing to help themselves. We are good neighbors and always will be."
Trump should, for once, follow the words and deeds of Ronald Reagan and prove that, despite his long, unfair and very public confrontation with Mexico and its citizens on both sides of the border, America's better angels (and perhaps Trump's own as well) can prevail in the face of unspeakable tragedy. Nativist prejudice should find its limits in sudden human suffering. The alternative would be cruel and, yes, un-American.
The Washington Post
Leon Krauze is an award-winning Mexican journalist, author and news anchor. He is the lead anchor at KMEX, Univision's station in Los Angeles.
About a dozen of us strolled wearily and unhappily into the Greyhound bus station early that morning on a date that we would never forget. It was Nov. 19, 1969, the date that our government told us to report for the military draft.
Suddenly, as we were looking around the station to see which line to stand in next, the peaceful echoes in the vast, cathedral-like waiting room were disrupted by a musical blast, the opening notes of a popular hit by the African-American female vocal group, The Shirelles:
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"So-o-ol-dier boy," they sang. "Oh, my little so-o-ol-dier boy/ I'll be true to yoo-oo-ou ..."
We were strangers still, but suddenly we all turned to each other in stunned, wide-eyed, disbelief and pointed in the direction of the music, as if to say, "Can you believe this?" We were not sure whether some unseen disc jockey was giving us sad sacks a salute or playing a cruel joke.
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Forgive me. Obviously I have entered my anecdotage, a stage of life in which you can't stop retelling old stories.
This particular bout has been triggered by the early episodes on PBS of "The Vietnam War: A Film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick," that, for me, marks the capstone of Burns' long-running efforts to suggest how we Americans should think about ourselves.
Like most military draftees, as it turned out, I never was sent to Vietnam. But like just about every American who was around at the time, the war had an impact on my life that often drives me to movies, books and documentaries about the period to try to make sense of it.
In that regard, it is appropriate and, as Burns has said in interviews, virtually inevitable that his filmmaking stardom, which began with his stunning 1990 nine-part PBS series "The Civil War," would lead to his new 10-part series on Vietnam, co-directed by Novick.
The Civil War era created the two-party system as we know it today, although their agendas have shifted over time, particularly on race. Yet, as we can see in the recent racially inflamed violence over a Civil War monument in Charlottesville, Va., William Faulkner's line still applies: "The past is never dead. It's not even past."
The Vietnam era, including the civil rights revolution and anti-war movements, similarly created the left-versus-right political and cultural landscape over which we fight today. As Burns and Novick show us, the Vietnam War was one of many issues and tragedies that shook up our national innocence and caused widespread questioning of our national leaders in ways unmatched since the Civil War.
I served my two years in the Army and returned home as many did, looking for some silver lining in a war that, as Burns' documentary shows, did not have to happen. The best I could come up with was to hope that, at least, we Americans had learned enough from our tragedies in Southeast Asia that we won't make that kind of mistake again. No, we have learned how to make new ones.
That was illustrated by our ill-fated quest to find "weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq.
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"If we are forced to fight, we must have the means and the determination to prevail or we will not have what it takes to secure the peace," declared President Ronald Reagan, denouncing the "Vietnam syndrome." "And while we are at it, let us tell those who fought in that war that we will never again ask young men to fight and possibly die in a war our government is afraid to let them win."
That's a wonderful thought. Yet, here we are again, trying to find ways to prop up Iraq, fight the so-called Islamic State in Syria and somehow withdraw from Afghanistan, even as we try to figure out what "winning" is supposed to look like in that region.
History is written for the living. Years later, I feel blessed, not only to have survived the Vietnam call-up but also to have learned from it. At a young, impressionable age, I learned what it is like to serve in the military, an experience that is becoming increasingly rare for Americans in the post-draft era. I was able to know real heroes, sung and unsung, who had sacrificed in a cause much larger than my individual self.
The Vietnam War left us with more than 58,000 dead Americans, more than 3 million dead Vietnamese and a new cynicism about our leaders. The Vietnam syndrome has its virtues. It should not make us afraid to fight for what we know is right, but it should make us extra careful about questioning what we think we know before we are confronted tragically by the awful truth.
Clarence Page, a member of the Tribune Editorial Board, blogs at www.chicagotribune.com/pagespage.
cpage@chicagotribune.com
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Twitter @cptime
Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced last week that she will not seek re-election. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune)
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan isn't running?
What devious game of three-dimensional political chess is she playing?
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What Machiavellian strategy is behind her unexpected decision not to throw her hat in the ring?
Does she know something we don't know about her prospects?
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The chatterers and cynics were asking these questions in the wake of Madigan's surprise announcement Friday that she won't seek re-election next year, just as we were asking them eight years ago in the wake of Madigan's surprise announcement that she wouldn't be running for the U.S. Senate or governor in 2010.
Rumors are rampant:
She's secretly setting herself up to run for mayor of Chicago in two years!
She'd rather let someone else deal with the state's fiscal mess for the next four years, then she'll run for governor!
She's lined up an appointment to another powerful job!
In the summer of 2009, the rumored appointment was to the Cabinet of her former seatmate in the Illinois legislature, President Barack Obama.
This year, the speculators and wild-guessers say she's looking for a seat on the Illinois Supreme Court.
But Madigan never ran for mayor, governor or the U.S. Senate, and never got that Cabinet appointment.
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And in a phone call Friday to the Tribune Editorial Board she denied having an interest in becoming a state Supreme Court justice, saying "Be a judge? That's not me. They sit. I can't sit all day."
Last week, as in 2009, Madigan didn't rule out a run for higher office at some point "I'm ready for a new challenge," was her vague explanation to the Editorial Board. In 2009, she said: "I have a job that I love right now," adding that the decision not to seek a promotion was "agonizing" which conventional wisdom saw as leaving the door open more than a crack.
Maybe, however and I know how crazy this sounds but stay with me maybe she's not sufficiently consumed with ambition to devote the rest of her life to the pursuit of political advancement.
Maybe most of us were wrong in 2002, when she first ran for Illinois attorney general, to assume that she was as obsessed with yanking the levers of power as her father, veteran Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, and to assume that, like so many who occupy lower constitutional offices, she would reach for the next rung of the ladder as soon as she could.
Maybe the idea of subjecting herself to the brutal indignities of running for Illinois governor or mayor of Chicago, then becoming ringmaster of the circus that is Illinois or Chicago doesn't appeal to her.
Maybe Friday's announcement that she'll step down as attorney general at the end of her current term in early 2019 was simply a move toward reinvention.
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Maybe she changed her mind after having said in May that it was "the plan" for her to run for re-election. And maybe, at 51, she sees a better life for herself outside of electoral politics, a life in which she can earn a lot more money and undergo a lot less public scrutiny than she does now.
Maybe the reason she's passed on many opportunities to seek advancement including a run for governor in 2014 that looked certain until she bowed out and now plans to leave politics, is that, at heart, she's more of a normal person than we, and perhaps she, once thought.
Or maybe not.
My track record in making assumptions about Lisa Madigan has been poor. From initially discounting her appeal to voters and her talents, to overestimating the influence her father would have on her performance in office, to forecasting her next moves over the years, I've been as wrong as most of the other would-be analysts.
Lisa Madigan could be playing a long game here or have some dark reasons for her stunning about-face. I wanted to ask her about my theory and others, but her press office declined to arrange for a quick interview.
I can't read her mind, but I can read her history from the past 16 years. It's telling me I'm right this time. Maybe.
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ericzorn@gmail.com
Twitter @EricZorn
OWASCO With wide eyes and excited hand gestures, students at Emerson Park rattled off what they learned about birds on Tuesday.
Some Owasco Elementary School children said that in movies, the sound a bald eagle makes is often switched out with the loud call of a red-tailed hawk. The students did their impressions of the sounds, with some of the children giggling at each other's attempts in-between.
Cianna Bailey, 11, and Ava Pinckney, 11, were among the students who also talked about topics like how many mating pairs of bald eagles were in New York state at one point.
Those students were a part of the 2017 Cayuga County Conservation Field Days, in which presentations on everything from bats to fire safety to identifying fish to composting to identifying animal skulls were held for hundreds of little learners from throughout the county.
Groups of sixth-grade students from the Auburn, Cato-Meridian, Moravia and Port Byron school districts attended Tuesday. Children from Auburn and other school districts were also set for the event Wednesday. Valerie Horning, conservation district technician at the Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District, said the event has been held for over 20 years.
Dennis St. Amour, a science teacher with the Cato-Meridian school district, said that when going over some of these relevant topics with students later, he can bring up some of the concepts instructors talked about to help students remember or learn that subject in class.
For example, one of the presentations covered trees, which will be covered in the school's sixth-grade curriculum, St. Amour said. He said the presentation included subjects like the functions of roots and the differences between the rings of a tree in the spring and in the summer, so he will he able to refer back to the presentation when talking to students about those things later.
Kathryn Vellone, of the Owasco Lake Watershed Inspection Program, was teaching a group of Owasco students about macroinvertebrates various invertebrate creatures like dragonflies and mayflies. Vellone said she participated in a field days event in Emerson Park when she was in school as a Jordan-Elbridge student.
She said the field days allow students to learn in a hands-on environment and make connections about what they've been taught and what they are actively seeing in nature at that moment.
"They can really kind of think about what they're learning outside of the classroom," Vellone said.
If English is your first language, you might take the ability to open your mouth and effectively communicate with other English speakers for granted.
Literacy Chicago is hoping to bring that ease and confidence to those who didn't grow up speaking English, by offering free classes open to all Chicagoans.
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"Imagine not being able to read prescription medication or talk to a teacher about your child," said Richard Dominguez, executive director for Literacy Chicago.
Literacy Chicago was founded in 1968 as two separate organizations: Literacy Volunteers of Chicago and the Literacy Council of Chicago. The two merged in 1992. Two and a half decades later, Literacy Chicago as we know it today continues to expand its efforts to help Chicagoans learn English as their secondor sometimes third or fourthlanguage.
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According to Literacy Chicago, thousands of adults new to Chicago come to their organization for ESL classes, workforce development assistance, GED preparation, path to citizenship guidance and transportation assistance.
"When our students move into a neighborhoodwhether they're Polish, Chinese or Hispanicthey tend to stay in their two block radius," Dominguez said. "My initiative is to help them feel confident enough to get out into their communities and beyond that radius."
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Programming within the organization does not equate "literacy" only to learning how to read and write in English. Classes through Literacy Chicago have expanded to include health, computer and financial literacy, as well.
Over the course of each session of classes, the program serves more than 500 students, with a median age of 42 years old. 71 percent of students are female and 45 percent of the total student population is unemployed.
Forty-two percent of students are seeking ESL classes, 35 percent attend Adult Basic Education (ABE) classes and the remaining 23 percent seek assistance to prepare to obtain their GED.
To become a tutor, volunteers must pay a $50 tutor registration fee and complete a one-day training session, offered two Saturdays out of every month. The next session is Saturday, Oct. 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Other volunteer opportunities include positions such as receptionist, fundraising events volunteer and database project assistant.
"Our organization has such a rich history," Dominguez said. "If you want to get involved and see a change in somebody's life, this is that opportunity."
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@shelbielbostedt | sbostedt@redeyechicago.com
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From dishes customizable down to the spice blend to meals you literally make yourself at your tabledo-it-yourself food options make dining out easy for even the pickiest of eaters and adds some fun to the experience. We've rounded up 10 of the best DIY, made-to-order-focused restaurants in Chicagoand a couple of build-your-own cocktails to make things extra interesting.
Geja's Cafe
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340 W. Armitage Ave. 773-281-9101
What would a DIY food roundup be without fondue? Go a la carte with cheese fondue served with apple wedges, grapes and assorted breads for dipping ($15.95) or chocolate fondue with an assortment of fruit, pound cake, Rice Krispies Treats, graham cracker crumbs and marshmallows for dipping and roasting ($15.95). If you want to spring for something a little heavier, choose one of Geja's entrees like the beef and lobster ($55.95/person) which comes with cheese fondue, salad, vegetables, dipping sauces, flaming chocolate dessert fondue and coffee.
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Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot
2342 S. Wentworth Ave. 312-929-3224
Never had a hot pot before? No worriesit's simple and cost effective once you get the hang of it. Think of it as fondue, except you're actually cooking the food you order. Start by picking your brothspicy, original or half and halfand then pick the food you want to go with it. Meat and veggies will come raw, and noodles will come uncooked. You simply put the food items in the boiling broth, wait for them to cook (about 15 seconds for red meat, two minutes for veggies and three minutes for seafood, chicken and noodles) and dig in! Choose the all-you-can eat option for endless plates of food ($21.99) or go a la carte if you're not that hungry.
Imperial Lamian
6 W. Hubbard St. 312-595-9440
Stop by Imperial Lamian on a weekday between 3 and 6 p.m. for happy hour build-your-own Lamian ($12). First, pick your style of house-made noodles including regular, flat or hand-shaved. Then, pick from pork, miso or beef broth. For your protein you have the options of pork belly, beef brisket, mixed mushroom, minced pork or char siu and wonton. Need a little something extra? Add on an egg for $1, charsiu for $2 or a wonton for $2.
Fremont Chicago
15 W. Illinois St. 312-874-7270
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Think Moscow mules have to be simple and classic? Think again. For $5 on Thursdays, Fremont will hand you a copper mug with a shot of vodka and send you on your merry way to their build-your-own Moscow mule bar, complete with ginger beer, juice varieties, an assortment of bitters, fruit andin case all that wasn't enoughcandy, because gummy worms are always an appropriate garnish.
Butcher and the Burger
1021 W. Armitage Ave. 773-697-3735
Customize literally everything about your burger at this Lincoln Park counter-service restaurant. Start with the patty with a choice between the house-blend prime beef, grass-fed prime beef, sirloin steak, turkey, lentil brown rice, bison, salmon and shrimp ($8.50-$11.95). Then choose between 11 different spice blends, five different buns, seven different cheeses, as many traditional complimentary toppings as you please and premium add-ons like black truffle mayo, avocado and foie gras.
Midnight Mac and Cheeserie
6979 N. Sheridan Road 847-886-2601
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"Cheese your own adventure" with Midnight Mac and Cheeserie's build-your-own mac. Start with one of the house combos like "Antonia's Decadent Lobster" with gruyere, roasted garlic and lobster ($14.50) or the house mac with sharp cheddar, gruyere and crumb topping ($9.50) and choose add-ons from a variety of cheeses, veggies, proteins and "extras" ranging from curry to goat cheese to mini meatballs. This ain't no Kraft.
Baptiste and Bottle
101 E. Erie St. 312-667-6793
Light a candle, ask for it three times, spin in a circle and it will appear. Baptiste and Bottle offers bottomless (yes, you read that right) bloody marys and mimosas during brunch at their create-your-own bar. ($22). Start with your liquor of choice, then head over to the bar to choose your own hot sauce (do you sip it mild or hot?), spices, juice and garnishes. See, not so spooky after all.
Sunda
110 W. Illinois St. 312-644-0500
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Sunda offers build-your-own Poke bowls starting at just $15. The bowl starts with wakame, red onion, sesame seeds, scallions, masago and puffed rice, but the rest is up to you. Pick a base of rice or greens, a protein like tuna, albacore or salmon, two vegetables to add some extra color and as much sauce as you want. Additional toppings like tofu ($4), king crab ($8) and mango ($4) can be thrown in for an extra charge.
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Noyane
101 E. Erie St. 312-667-6796
Sizzle yourself silly at Noyane with hot-stone DIY cooking. The rooftop restaurant offers multiple cuts of Japanese A5 black wagyu, which guests then cook on a hot stone at their table. Choose from a tenderloin, ($45), ribeye ($54) or New York strip ($50). Each comes with mushroom vinegar sauce, wasabi, a selection of salts, finger limes, fried shallots, pickled veggies and other toppings to get all dressed up with.
Fuh
2218 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-270-4418
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Go pho yourself at Fuh in Lincoln Park with customizable versions of the popular Vietnamese soup. Start with your base orderpho noodles or a pho soup bowl ($8.95)then pick your protein, broth, veggies and extras. Protein selection includes beef brisket, pulled beef, meatballs, chicken breast, rare steak, stir fried mushrooms and crispy tofu. Choose as many vegetables as you desire from the options of mixed cabbage, carrots, basil, bean sprouts, jalapenos, green onions, mint and cilantro. Finish it off with a sauce and make it as spicy or mild as you like.
@AudreyGorden | agorden@redeyechicago.com
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Aurora aldermen are set to vote on a number of items that will help a major data center in town to expand.
The City Council Sept. 26 is expected to vote on an annexation agreement for almost 22.5 acres of land south of Diehl Road for CyrusOne, LLC. The company is located on the southwest corner of Diehl and Eola roads.
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In addition to approving the annexation, the council is expected to rezone the property for a combination of uses on three different lots.
One lot would be Office, Research and Light Industrial zoning for the expansion of CyrusOne, which already is underway. Ed Sieben, the city's zoning administrator, said the company is building a 316,000-square-foot, two-story data center next to the current data center. Some 6,500 square feet of the building would be offices.
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A second lot would get Conservation, Open Space and Drainage district zoning, because it will hold a detention pond for property drainage.
The third lot would get Estate Single-Family Detached Dwelling district zoning. That lot would include 40 feet of right-of-way dedicated to the city along Molitor Road. CyrusOne told aldermen this week, during a Committee of the Whole meeting, that the company has nothing planned for that property right now.
The vote on the items would be at the Sept. 26 City Council meeting at 6 p.m. in the council chambers, City Hall, 44 E. Downer Place.
The data center is one of 24 the Dallas-based company has in the country, but it is one of its most significant. It handles data for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
That has caused telecommunications companies to want to locate antennas as close to CyrusOne as possible. Every bit closer a communication antenna can get to CyrusOne is all the sooner it can get and process the data from the Mercantile Exchange. In the trading business, every second counts, city officials said.
It is a hot spot because the location is similar to only one other place in the country, in New Jersey, which hosts data handling for the New York Stock Exchange.
Also this week, another company, Scientel, went before the Planning Commission for a recommendation on a special-use permit for a 195-foot tower on land across the street from CyrusOne.
slord@tribpub.com
A developer wants to put 80 apartments into the historic Campana Building on the border of Batavia and Geneva. (Linda Girardi / The Beacon-News )
Stormwater issues were the center of attention as Batavia aldermen began to discuss the future of the historic Campana Building on the border of Batavia and Geneva.
Evergreen Real Estate Group has submitted a zoning application with Batavia to renovate the former Campana factory for a mixed used, mixed-income development with 80 market-rate and income-restricted apartments.
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The 131,000-square-foot building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and received a local historic landmark designation in 2003.
Roughly 60 percent of the building is occupied by businesses, including a data center and mattress store.
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The Batavia City Council Committee of the Whole Tuesday night questioned why requests for zoning amendments were before them yet the developer had not submitted a stormwater management plan for the 12.2-acre site.
Aldermen Alan Wolff and Scott Salvati questioned why that wasn't part of their review.
City officials said for approval of zoning entitlements, the city does not require final engineering.
"Final engineering would be part of the building permit review process. They will need to demonstrate compliance with the stormwater management code before the permit is issued," said Joel Strassman, Batavia planning and zoning officer.
"I know it's not necessarily required until we get to the permit stage," Salvati said of the stormwater management plan, "But the fact is there is a significant amount of surface area that needs to be accounted for. I would really like to know what the plan is. It doesn't have to be the final."
Salvati said he has heard from neighbors who have flooding issues and would prefer to see the developer's plans are in compliance with the stormwater management ordinances of both the city and Kane County.
Alderman Michael O'Brien said he wants to take every precaution knowing the city "historically" has dealt with flooding problems.
"Stormwater management issues are a main concern for all of us. I am uncomfortable with saying we will wait until a little later. It's a major quality of life issue for residents in the surrounding area. We as council need to get our support behind this to address it more forcefully," O'Brien said.
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Mike Renner of Eriksson Engineering Associates, speaking on behalf of Evergreen, said the plan shows there are approximately 23,347 square feet of impervious area at the Campana site. He said the local stormwater management ordinances require stormwater detention when a development exceeds 25,000 square feet of net impervious area.
"Our plan doesn't trigger that, at least the interim plan ... When we presented it to the Plan Commission, it was a plan that does not require stormwater detention because it is not required by your ordinance," Renner said.
Aldermen were not satisfied, saying that the site is very close to triggering the stormwater detention provision.
"That's not just a close call. That's less than the square footage of someone's house. That's super close," Alderman Dan Chanzit said.
Evergreen's development director David Block said "there will be a fully worked-out stormwater design" for the parking areas at the site.
"We will present them to the city of Batavia building department for review," Block said. "The detailed design that goes into the stormwater calculations will happen at the design phase and be available on record."
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Evergreen's proposal to convert the 1936 Campana Building for apartments has been the subject of mounting opposition from residents surrounding the property.
Opponents have raised a variety of concerns, from the suitability of a former factory being converted into residential units to the traffic it would generate at the Fabyan Parkway and Route 31 intersection.
Preservation advocates have praised the project, while others have endorsed the concept because it would fill a need for affordable housing in the area.
Alderman Susan Stark prefaced the public testimony portion of the meeting by saying she was unhappy with rumors flying around about the project.
"I take great offense that anyone on the City Council or anyone in the city of Batavia is having their pockets lined by the developer. That is way uncalled for. This is not Springfield," Stark said.
"We look at facts," she said. "We do listen to the residents ... we make a vote based on the information we have. I have been simmering over this through the Plan Commission meetings. We do this because we have a vested interest in Batavia, Geneva and the surrounding communities."
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She said the council will weigh all the information before making its final decision.
"We do listen to both sides," Stark said. "...The people against projects tend to speak the loudest. While there are people here tonight against the project, there are a lot of people who are equally for this project."
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
The Kane County State's Attorney's Office will offer its first crisis intervention training for police officers next month as part of an ongoing push to better prepare law enforcement for encounters with people dealing with mental health issues.
While this will be the first time the office is offering the program, Fox Valley police departments have already been training their officers how to respond during those kinds of situations.
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"(Crisis intervention training) and safely and effectively helping those in crisis and with mental illness is a huge priority for the Aurora Police Department," Aurora Police Department spokesman Dan Ferrelli said. "We started in 2009 and have been growing our ranks over the years. After sending 14 more officers through training at the end of this month, we will have 37 officers and three (booking officers) trained."
He said the Aurora department will also take advantage of the new program through the State's Attorney's Office.
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"We will send an additional officer to the SAO's training if we can secure the spot," he said.
Elgin police have been training their officers in crisis intervention since about 2006, said Deputy Chief of Police Bill Wolf, and plan to use the Kane County training to help get more officers through the process.
"We are training 40 more officers this year in-house. We are also sending four additional to the training offered through the Kane State's Attorney's office at (Elgin Community College)," Wolf said. "We currently have about 50 officers certified and will have about 95 out of the 182 officers certified by the end of the year."
Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon praised the Kane County Board for approving a $40,000 budget item to train approximately 120 officers around the county as part of the program.
After receiving tentative approval of its crisis intervention curriculum by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, the office scheduled the inaugural session for Oct. 16 to 20. It will feature licensed psychologists, social workers, crisis intervention certified officers and professional actors to role-play scenarios in the training that combines lectures and hands-on learning.
"I'm thrilled this office can play a part in offering that training," McMahon said, noting it will provide the instruction and resources which officers are seeking. "I expect it to be full."
Last year, McMahon and representatives from community based organizations discussed the connection between social issues, including mental health, and the criminal justice system. In particular, a Kane County Jail study revealed that 20 percent or approximately 1,900 total of inmates in 2014 reported or were found to have mental health issues.
That has led to the call for improved recognition by police officers of such struggles and better ways to respond beyond making an arrest or walking away from someone who is in need of some type of assistance.
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"That's the goal: help people who need help," McMahon said. "It gives police officers another option."
North Aurora is among the police departments in the Fox Valley which have a crisis intervention team. The group is comprised of officers who have received specialized training to improve responses to people that are mentally challenged, have special needs, or who are in crisis, department officials said.
The team members will take a primary role in responding to calls that involve persons in a crisis situation, they said.
The Naperville Police Department earlier this year established its own crisis intervention team, "to better serve people in the community with mental health disabilities," Cmdr. Lou Cammiso said.
The team by the end of this month will have 34 members, including two social workers and three police dispatchers, Cammiso said. All received special training during a week-long program, learning "how to respond to people with mental health disabilities and how to arrange the best treatment and referrals for them."
Team members were sent earlier this summer to a home on the city's east side, where a distraught man had barricaded himself in the basement. Cammiso said team members talked to the man and ultimately persuaded him to come out of the basement, and then saw to it that he received appropriate treatment.
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Cammiso added the team "is designed to address situations where medical treatment (or counseling) may be more appropriate than incarceration" for a crime.
McMahon is hoping the new program through his office in Kane County will be a popular one. He is aiming to add a second training each session costs about $10,000 before the year's end. He will ask the Kane County Board to roll over any unused funds into next year's budget to fund future rounds of crisis training.
Dan Campana is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News. Naperville Sun reporter Bill Bird, Beacon-News reporter Hannah Leone and freelance reporter Janelle Walker contributed to this article.
Geneva police have found no validity to a rumor about a shooting threat at Geneva High School. (Stephanie K. Baer / Chicago Tribune)
Geneva police can't find "any validity to the rumors" of a possible shooting threat at Geneva High School, but they provided an extra presence at the campus Wednesday as a precaution.
Geneva police Cmdr. Julie Nash confirmed that the school had been notified of a possible threat but did not find any validity in the rumors. Police will remain on the campus as a safeguard, she said.
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"We have been alerted to rumors of a disruptive event occurring at Geneva High School, but have investigated the rumors and do not believe there is any validity to the rumors," she said. "However, until definitively proven to not be a valid threat, we are taking every precaution necessary to make the school safe and secure.
"Geneva police and extra staff were at the school this morning," she said Wednesday. "We will continue to take extra precautions until we have determined that our students are totally safe attending our school."
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In a letter to the community, Geneva High School Principal Tom Rogers said that "in the early morning hours of Sept. 20, Geneva High School and the Geneva police became aware of some social media posts referencing rumors of a possible shooting at Geneva High School. As a result, emergency communications were made to parents prior to the school day alerting them to this information. As a precaution, student belongings were searched upon their arrival at school. Additionally, the Geneva Police Department provided increased support."
He said that Geneva School District worked closely with the Geneva Police Department to investigate the rumors.
"At this time, both the Geneva School District and the Geneva Police Department have determined that there is no credible evidence to substantiate any specific rumor of violence at Geneva High School or any other Geneva school," he said in the letter. "Rather, the conclusion is that social media posts have perpetuated rumors that spread very quickly."
He said that people need to be careful about spreading rumors.
"We encourage everyone to please refrain from perpetuating unsubstantiated rumors on social media," he said in the letter. "Instead, please contact Geneva High School or the Geneva Police Department directly with information you believe would be helpful."
He said the "Geneva Police Department and Kane County Sheriff's office patrol units are making Geneva schools their top priority this week."
The rumor of violence came two days after a student poured gasoline on himself out of a water bottle in the school's cafeteria. He was stopped by students and staff from doing anything further, according to a news release from the Geneva School District.
Students are also dealing with the news of the death of a recent graduate of Geneva High School.
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Eweart Rice-Picasso, 18, of St. Charles, was pronounced dead at 10:20 a.m. Sunday at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. He was involved in a vehicle crash on Interstate 55 south of Pontiac on Saturday.
Rice-Picasso graduated this year from Geneva High School.
"The past few days have been challenging for the Geneva High School community," Rogers said in the letter. "As we move forward together, the safety and security of the students we serve continues to be our priority."
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
Members of the public are invited to a meeting and presentation about the organizational structure of Cayuga County government.
The meeting will take place prior to the Cayuga County Legislature meeting at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, in Room T229 of Cayuga Community College's Technology Building, 197 Franklin St., Auburn. The body's meeting will follow at 6:30 p.m. in the BIC Room of the Regional Economic Center Building.
The Center for Governmental Research, a firm the county hired in June for $75,000, will begin the meeting with a presentation on what is being called the Countywide Organizational Assessment project. The group will review objectives, approach, types of information it will review and a timeline for the project, according to a county release.
In June, CGR President Joseph Stefko had said some questions the firm will consider are how the county delivers its services to taxpayers, and where the county could pick up some savings.
Members of the public and county employees are encouraged to attend and ask questions or make suggestions to the project team as it moves forward with the research.
Fox Valley veteran Howard Keskitalo was presented with the Legion of Honor medal from the consul general of France.
Howard Keskitalo, a first lieutenant with the U.S. Army's 388th Bomb Group and 563rd Bomb Squadron, flew 35 missions aboard a B-17 bomber in World War II, including during the D-Day invasion of Normandy in France.
And still, the retired Caterpillar man, who will turn 97 next month, was not all that comfortable being honored for his service Wednesday morning at the VFW in his hometown of Batavia.
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"I think they are making too big a deal of this," he told me before the ceremony began.
The nation of France, however, disagreed.
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Prior to pinning the Legion of Honor medal, the country's highest award, on Keskitalo's lapel, Deputy Consul General Frederic Chole described the guest of honor as "a great man" whose "unfailing determination and bravery" not only "restored hope to millions of people," it "changed the course of history for the entire world."
Deputy Consul General of France Frederic Chole hugs Howard Keskitalo of Batavia after pinning the Legion of Honor medal, France's highest award, on the World War II veteran. (Joe Toma/Submitted)
"France has not forgotten," declared Chole, who is with the consul general's Chicago office. "France will never forget."
Which is why, in 2004, in what could be described as a race against time, the French government began issuing Legion of Honor awards to Allied veterans for risking their lives fighting on French territory during the war.
According to Pascale Furlong-Thome, communication attache for the consul general's office, about 100 files a year come into the 13-state Midwest office, where officials go to great lengths to research the information before bestowing such a prestigious honor.
"It can take a lot of work" to find these old veterans, she noted, as the few who are still around often have memories compromised by age or the trauma of war.
"But the effort is well worth it," Furlong-Thome added, as France is "dedicated to keeping the memory alive," in cities and across the villages and countrysides that were so greatly impacted by both world wars.
"We feel it is important to find and honor them," she said.
Harry Sawyer, assistant director for the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, said it was while compiling routine information for Keskitalo that a file clerk noticed he was eligible for, but had never received, this French award. According to Furlong-Thome, the consul general obtained the request in 2016. And this summer it was approved.
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Joe Toma, chairman of the Aurora Veterans Advisory Council, shakes the hand of Legion of Honor recipient Howard Keskitalo Wednesday in Batavia. (Denise Crosby/The Beacon-News )
"He was surprised," said Howard's daughter Jean Keskitalo, of the phone call that came in August.
It is an honor, officials noted, that is long overdue.
"Many years have passed since June 6, 1944, when thousands of young soldiers reached the coast of Normandy ... far from their homeland and their loved ones," Chole reminded the audience that included Keskitalo's family and friends, state and French officials, veterans and emergency responders.
"The journey was long and dangerous ... with battle after battle across France and beyond. They endured the harshest conditions ... too many of them did not return home, but they will always remain in our hearts and memories."
Chole described the sacrifices of these Americans from the "Greatest Generation" as an example to future generations. But it is also a reminder, "especially during these challenging times, that the French and American friendship has deep and long lasting roots that crossed many centuries."
"Dear Mr. Keskitalo, thanks to your courage, to France's American friends and allies, France has been living peacefully for 70 years, the longest period of time in modern French history," Chole said. "I could not be more honored to present the Legion of Honor to you today."
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Keskitalo, whose family says he still drives, works in the yard and does his own taxes on the computer, declined the invitation to speak at the ceremony. But the smile on his remarkably unlined face certainly reflected the gratitude he must have felt for this recognition so many years after risking his life on those many bombing missions.
And, while the applause that broke out after the French official pinned the medal on his chest made it difficult to hear the old veteran's response, it was not impossible.
"I am humbled," he said.
Erica Jeffries, director of Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, and Frederic Chole, deputy consul general of France, chat with Legion of Honor recipient Howard Keskitalo before Wednesday's ceremony at the Batavia VFW post. (Denise Crosby/The Beacon-News )
DCrosby@tribpub.com
Twitter @dencrosby
Patricia Austin, 78, of Chicago, was found in a bathroom stall just before 8 p.m. July 14, 2017, at a Lifetime Fitness, according to police. Austins last swipe of her membership card showed she entered the club two days earlier. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)
The son of a Chicago woman found dead at a Burr Ridge health club two days after she was last recorded entering the facility in July filed a petition in court Wednesday seeking more information about the circumstances of her death.
Patricia Austin, 78, of the Garfield Ridge community, was pronounced dead after being found unresponsive about 8 p.m. July 14 in a bathroom stall at Life Time Fitness, according to Burr Ridge police.
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Austin's last swipe of her membership card showed she entered the club about 7 p.m. on July 12, said Marc Loftus, Burr Ridge deputy police chief.
Surveillance video shows Austin entering the club July 12, but she's never seen coming out, and her car remained in the parking lot for the two days before she was discovered, Loftus said.
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"We have so many unanswered questions right now. We don't know how something like this could happen," Austin's son Terrence Austin said at a news conference Wednesday. "It's frustrating ... stressful. We just don't have the answers that we need."
In his petition which was filed in Cook County, Austin is requesting that Life Time provide video, maintenance records, operational manuals, and information on other members who were at the club those days in July. Attorneys said the Austin family members want their questions surrounding Patricia Austin's death answered before seeking restitution.
Patricia Austin was found in a handicapped-accessible stall, attorney Mark Novak said at the news conference. Another woman working out at the club used the bathroom July 14 and noticed someone's feet under the stall, Loftus said. She later returned to the bathroom after her workout, saw the same feet and alerted an employee at the front desk that someone may need help.
After knocking and not getting a response, an employee crawled under the stall and found Austin unresponsive on the toilet, Loftus said. Employees then called for help and administered CPR until police and paramedics arrived.
Austin was pronounced dead at the scene. She died of natural causes, specifically atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease, according to a spokeswoman for the Cook County medical examiner's office.
Terrence Austin, right, the son of 78-year-old Patricia Austin, large photo at left, listens to a news conference Sept. 20, 2017. Patricia Austin was found dead in July in the bathroom stall of a Lifetime Fitness health club in Burr Ridge two days after she entered. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)
Terrence Austin said his mother was an active person and had appeared to be in good health.
Several signs indicate Austin may have been deceased long before the fitness center employees administered CPR, according to the Terrence Austin and his attorneys.
Terrence Austin said he had been worried about his mother in the days before she was discovered. He and his siblings hadn't heard from her for at least two days, he said.
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He had been searching for her around the Garfield Ridge area before he received a call from Life Time Fitness on the evening of July 14. An employee told him that "an incident" occurred at the club and that his mother was being given CPR, Novak said.
When Terrence Austin arrived at the club, police officers informed him his mother had died. He was brought into the ladies' locker room and into the handicapped bathroom stall, and, upon seeing his mother's body, was overcome with grief, Novak said.
Novak said that Anderson noticed that both his mother's feet and one of her arms were a deep purple. Later, when a funeral home representative arrived to take his mother's body, Terrence Austin asked to see her one more time. As he bent down to kiss her, he noticed her face appeared distorted and that her jaw felt rigid.
His mother was found wearing the same polka-dot shirt she had been wearing in the surveillance footage of her entering the club July 12, Novak said.
Novak said a worker at the funeral home handling the woman's arrangements told Terrence Austin that it appeared his mother had been dead for at least a day or two when she was found.
Jason Thunstrom, a spokesman for Minnesota-based Life Time Fitness, said Tuesday that the company interviewed employees but could not determine how long Austin had been in the stall before she was found.
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The Burr Ridge club is open 21 hours a day, closing between the hours of 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. While guests can't enter the club during those hours, many who started working out before 1 a.m. may still be there when it closes, finishing up their workouts or and using the bathroom facilities before leaving, Thunstrom said. It's not uncommon for cars to be in the parking lot during those hours because cleaning and maintenance repairs usually take place when the club is closed.
Burr Ridge police photo of the bathroom stall at Lifetime Fitness where 78-year-old Patricia Austin was found dead two days after she entered in July 2017. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)
"As a large facility with several thousand members visiting daily, it is not uncommon for bathroom stalls to be occupied as staff conducts their cleaning protocol," he said in a statement. "Out of respect for members, cleaning staff do not disturb individuals in occupied stalls. Moreover, cleaning staff rotates throughout the course of the day with responsibility for cleaning varying as shift changes occur.
"We are terribly saddened by this tragedy and continue to have our heartfelt thoughts and prayers with the family," he added.
Loftus said an employee told police the stall might not have been checked daily because it was thought to be out of order.
Patricia Austin was a member of Life Time Fitness for a short amount of time, Terrence Austin said. She went to the club a few times a week and mostly exercised in the pool.
She had four children, including Terrence Austin, and a grandchild.
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She was a caring woman who volunteered at several organizations, her son said. In the days before her death, she had been volunteering at Midway International Airport as a greeter at the information desk.
In the petition, Terrence Austin is asking for all videos of Patricia Austin on the premises of Life Time Fitness from July 12 through July 14. He's also asking for the names, addresses and telephone numbers of anyone who saw his mother on the premises of the club during that that time.
In addition, he is asking for all cleaning, maintenance and plumbing records related to the women's locker room from July 12 through July 14, and all contracts, subcontracts, agreements, payroll and payment records, correspondence or communication between Life Time Fitness and any third parties involved in the cleaning and maintenance of the facility.
Terrence Austin also asks for all operational manuals detailing the protocols and procedures for the cleaning and maintenance of the facility and for closing the club.
Attorney provided artwork of the Lifetime Fitness health club in Burr Ridge where Patricia Austin was found dead in a bathroom stall two days after she entered in July 2017. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)
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Peotone artist James Bowden works on the composition of an unfinished painting in his home studio. Bowdens work will be exhibited at local galleries from September to November. (HANDOUT)
Anyone who believes the old saying, "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach," doesn't know Peotone artist James Bowden.
Bowden, 79, a retired art professor whose artwork was recently selected for exhibit at several juried art shows, has blended career and calling into a lifetime of accomplishment.
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Two of Bowden's untitled pieces will appear in the exhibit "Mark of the Hand" from Sept. 29 to Nov. 4 at the Tall Grass Gallery in Park Forest.
The art show will feature two and three-dimensional artwork which "celebrates the legacy of traditional pre-1800 art tools and processes."
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Bowden's three-dimensional untitled tri-color woodcut is a self-portrait carved from two blocks of wood. A second piece is an engraving of a crab, etched by hand on a piece of copper and infused with dye to create a printed image.
Both are early examples of Bowden's representational artwork.
"Triple Play," one of Bowden's more recent works, will be part of the "Art in Illinois" exhibit from Oct. 2 to Oct. 31 at Gallery Seven in Joliet.
The abstract acrylic painting is representative of much of Bowden's current work, painted on a sheet of PVC plastic which eliminates the more tedious and traditional work of framing and stretching canvas, he said.
The "triple play" of the title reflects Bowden's use of several pieces of his artwork to create the painting: drawings, collages and previous paintings.
"It's the overall composition and the paintings and the tensions I set up against one another and colors," he said. "It's all about how I control the space. I know these things sound kind of vague, but that's really what picture making is all about."
Bowden said the process is working well for him; he's already produced "about half-a-dozen" works this year.
"I never have a meaning as such," Bowden said. "I take forms that I get interested in, and I intuitively put them together."
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Bowden's teaching career seems to have been intuitive, as well. He takes pride in his 38-year career as an educator, bringing the study and appreciation of art to students, and reflections on his career are those of sharing what he knew about art and furthering the art of others.
Simply put, Bowden said despite being a "taskmaster," "I've always gotten results, and I enjoyed teaching."
Through a series of teaching successes with students from the suburbs to Chicago's inner city public schools to universities Bowden gained the recognition of other educators, eventually becoming an art professor at Chicago State University where he remained for 32 years.
Accomplishments came in other forms, too. During that time, Bowden also founded a sign company, creating signs that served as marketing tools when the concept was a new one, he said.
The success of his business and his artistic ability led to a number of mural commissions in the Chicago area, including the Northern Trust Corporation, Turtle Wax Corporation, Amphenol North America, Continental Can Company, Noral Color Corporation and Kean Brothers, Inc.
Since his retirement in1999, Bowden has slowly transitioned back into creating personal artwork. He is adding to his portfolio of artistic accolades and awards that range from acceptance of his first competitive entry during his graduate years by the Chicago Art Institute to the most recent art award in 2015 from the Gretchen Charlton Art Gallery in Kankakee.
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Ginger Brashinger is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Mark of the Hand
When: Sept. 29 to Nov.4
Where: Tall Grass Gallery, 367 Artists Walk, Park Forest
Admission: Free and open to the public
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Contact: 708-748-3377; tallgrass367@sbcglobal.net; tallgrassarts.org
Etc.: Opening reception from 7-9 p.m. Oct. 6
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The Art of Illinois
When: Oct. 2 to Oct. 31
Where: Gallery Seven, 116 N. Chicago St., Suite 102, Joliet
Admission: Free and open to the public
Contact: 815-483-4310; gallery7@ymail.com; galleryseven.net
Etc.: Opening reception from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 7
The Frankfort Police Department is accused in a lawsuit of denying Officer Jennifer Panattoni reasonable job accommodations and a properly fitting protective vest while she was pregnant and also of forcing her to go on leave months before her due date. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune) (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)
A suburban police department discriminated against a pregnant officer by denying her reasonable job accommodations and a properly fitting protective vest, and then forcing her to go on leave months before her due date, she claims in a newly filed lawsuit.
Frankfort police Officer Jennifer Panattoni said the south suburban department refused to provide clothing and gear needed to perform her patrol duties safely as her pregnancy progressed last year.
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The 14-year veteran said she and her union representative tried repeatedly to negotiate temporary modifications to her patrol officer duties, but department leaders rejected the proposals.
"My intent was to continue working with this department in any capacity possible," said Panattoni, 37, of south suburban Manhattan. "I tried to come up with as many different jobs that I could possibly do while still being productive within the department. Working with the detectives, following up on cases, witness interviews, community service, taking walk-in complaints at the station. ... It seemed like any time I brought something up, it was just automatically denied."
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Frankfort Village Administrator Rob Piscia said in a written statement that while he could not comment on the details of a pending lawsuit, the village has complied with state and federal law as well as the terms of the Police Department's collective bargaining agreement.
"The Village of Frankfort and the Frankfort Police Department are strongly committed to a discrimination-free workplace and to providing reasonable accommodations to employees who need them to perform their jobs," he said. "Both the village and the department have long maintained and enforced comprehensive equal employment opportunity policies and strictly prohibit retaliation against employees who engage in protected conduct under those policies."
Panattoni said she and her husband, a sergeant in the same police department, tried to have a baby for years and began fertility treatments in 2014.
In January 2016, she informed Frankfort police Chief John Burica that she was pregnant and tried to discuss modifications of her job duties as the pregnancy progressed, according to the lawsuit, which the American Civil Liberties Union filed against the village of Frankfort on Panattoni's behalf Monday in federal court.
"Chief Burica refused to discuss accommodations," the suit says. "He told Officer Panattoni that modified duty assignments were only available to officers injured on the job. He explained that he did not want to 'set precedent' by extending 'light duty' to a pregnant officer, and that he only had to treat Officer Panattoni like 'someone with a broken leg' whose injury occurred during off-duty hours."
The chief told Panattoni she would have to go on leave if she could not perform her job duties without any changes, according to the lawsuit. She said she went on leave involuntarily at five months pregnant, first exhausting her paid benefits and then drawing on her disability pension, which was roughly half her regular paycheck.
The department also refused her requests to provide extenders so she could comfortably wear her body armor without it pressing against her abdomen, making it difficult for her to breathe and causing her vest to pop open, according to the lawsuit.
"My bulletproof vest, it was so small that it wouldn't cover my belly, it wouldn't stay closed," Panattoni said. "I got to feeling that just due to my equipment by itself that I wasn't safe, especially being pregnant."
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Panattoni had requested a maternity uniform and the department "ultimately only provided her with two ill-fitting men's shirts and one pair of non-maternity pants. Officer Panattoni was charged with providing her own suspenders to keep the pants from falling down," the court documents say.
She was also denied permission to carry her equipment pepper spray, Taser, radio in the pockets of her vest to relieve the pressure from her 25-pound duty belt, which was causing her growing belly pain, according to court documents.
The lawsuit says the department has allowed other officers to carry equipment in their vest carriers and that similar uniform and body armor requests have been granted to nonpregnant officers.
Panattoni in July filed a discrimination complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
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After a healthy pregnancy, Panattoni gave birth to her son, Nathan, in August 2016 and returned to work that October. She said she has begun fertility treatments again and hopes to have more children, but wants her department to change its approach to pregnancy accommodation for her and other officers who might become pregnant in the future.
"I don't think I should have to quit my job and choose. I think I should be able to do both," she said.
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She is seeking compensation for pay lost while on leave, damages for emotional distress and revision of department policies regarding pregnancy and childbirth.
ACLU attorney Amy Meek said it's very common for police departments to make accommodations for employees injured on the job, and it doesn't create a hardship for the force.
"The law entitles pregnant employees to have similar or equal treatment to other employees who need accommodations," she said. "We hear all the time from women who feel like they are put in a situation where they have to choose between maintaining a healthy pregnancy and keeping their jobs."
eleventis@chicagotribune.com
Twitter: @angie_leventis
Children play with balloons Saturday at Olivia Shorters sickle cell awareness event in Matteson. (Frank Vaisvilas/Daily Southtown )
Olivia Shorter, of Matteson, decided she wanted to celebrate turning 7 years old not with a birthday party but an event that would raise awareness of sickle cell disease and the need for blood donors.
As her parents went about making her wish come true, they were astounded by the outpouring of community support.
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More than 200 people showed up to support little Olivia and about 75 people donated blood throughout the four-hour event Saturday at the Matteson Community Center.
"This is her birthday wish," said Olivia's grandmother, Linda Brown. "I think that this was a great sacrifice for her."
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Olivia's mom, Danielle Shorter, 37, had asked her earlier what she wanted for her birthday.
"I'm thinking she'll say Play-Doh or baby dolls," Shorter said.
Although she was surprised by the answer, Shorter understood why wanted Olivia wanted the awareness event.
Olivia has sickle cell disease and had met other children with sickle cell during a recent stay at Lurie Children's Hospital.
"I wanted to help other kids (with sickle cell disease) have fun," Olivia said.
In March, doctors removed Olivia's spleen as a result of the disease.
But she seems to have recovered well for her awareness party Saturday as she was running around with other children, dancing and playing with balloons.
The event also included food, a DJ, face painting, a blood drive by the American Red Cross and information about sickle cell disease.
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Olivia Shorter, 7, center, with face paint, dances with Jada Young, 6, and Brandy Johnson, 8, at her sickle cell awareness event in Matteson. (Frank Vaisvilas/Daily Southtown )
Kevin Klabisch, 23, of Manhattan, came to donate blood after receiving a request from the Red Cross, an organization where he volunteers.
Tanesha Seaton-Brown, of Country Club Hills, brought her nine-year-old son to the event after reading about it on Facebook.
She said her son, Kejuan, has sickle cell disease and she wanted him to have fun with other kids with the disease.
"I think it helps because he doesn't know anyone else with sickle cell," Seaton-Brown said. "He could be himself without worrying about fitting in."
Sickle cell disease is a form of anemia in which patients do not have enough healthy red blood cells to carry enough oxygen throughout the body, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Symptoms include repeated infections and episodes of pain.
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It is an inherited disease and can be found typically in people whose ancestors were from regions in the world where malaria is common, such as Africa, the Mediterranean and South America.
Doctors believe people who have the sickle cell trait are less likely to have severe forms of malaria, according to the Centers of Disease Control.
Jeni Cates, 79, who is Olivia's great grandmother, said she was born with the sickle cell trait and suffered from aches her entire life but still served on the Chicago police force for 23 years.
"It slows you down but it doesn't stop you," she said.
The disease affects about 100,000 Americans, including about one in 365 blacks and one in 16,300 Hispanics.
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"I know we can cure this disease," said Matteson Village President Sheila Chalmers-Currin, who attended Olivia's awareness event.
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She said elected officials from surrounded towns, such as Hazel Crest, Robbins and Dolton expressed interest in the event and would like to make it an annual happening.
"It's going to get bigger and better," said Olivia's father, Adam Shorter III, who is a Matteson village trustee.
Danielle Shorter said she's accepting donations to pay people back for the food from this year's event and to pay for next year's event.
She said once event expenses are paid for any other money would be donated to Lurie Children's Hospital.
Donations can be made to: Sickleschmickle, PO Box 1000, Matteson, IL 60443.
The Shorter family of Matteson includes parents Adam and Danielle, 37, Adam, 11, Dylan, 9, and Olivia, 7. Olivia decided to have a sickle cell awareness event instead of a birthday party. (Frank Vaisvilas/Daily Southtown )
Frank Vaisvilas is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
After working without a new contract for nearly 10 months, Will County workers in the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1028 ratified a new unprecedented five-year agreement Monday night, officials said.
The county board is expected to approve the new wages and benefits package at its meeting Thursday, officials said.
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"It's a great deal for both sides," said county board member Mike Fricilone, R-Homer Glen, who chairs the board's finance committee. The five-year deal "saves both sides negotiating costs and angst," and allows everyone to plan their financial futures, he added.
"Our negotiations were very deliberate, and cooperation was key," county board Speaker Jim Moustis, R-Frankfort Township, said in a news release. "I am proud that this county board could achieve this agreement without work stoppages or strikes. I believe all parties involved are pleased with the final product, but the biggest winners are the taxpayers."
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The previous contract, a four-year deal that expired Nov. 30, 2016, was reached following a 16-day strike in 2013.
The new agreement affects approximately 750 employees under the county executive and other county-wide elected officials. It calls for employees to pay a larger percentage of their health insurance premium each year, starting with 11 percent of their total health care premium in 2018 and increasing to 15 percent in 2021. For the first time, employees also will have the option to open a health savings account, according to the news release.
The contract also gives employees wage increases of 1 percent effective September 1, 2017 and 2 percent on December 1, 2017, which is for 2018. In 2019 and 2020, employees will get 2 percent increases and 3 percent in 2021. The contract will not be retroactive to the beginning of the current fiscal year.
"We are very pleased to get a contract," said Nick Palmer, chief of staff for County Executive Larry Walsh, adding that the five-year pact gives them "some certainty" in planning future budgets.
"Even though they are paying more for health care, they are getting a good deal," he said. "There is more money in this contract than last time."
Employees now pay 10 percent of their health care costs, Palmer said.
The contract raises are in addition to annual "step" increases that union members get for each additional year of employment, which average 2.5 percent, Palmer said.
Fricilone said he hopes the county board's vote on Thursday will be unanimous. He did not know the specifics of the union's vote.
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The board's negotiating team "sat down in the spirit of cooperation, to make sure both sides got a fair deal," he said.
In the last contract talks, with the Democratic-controlled board, they went into with a "bad attitude" and it resulted in a strike, Fricilone said.
"We were not going to let that happen again," he said.
The Republicans also have called for an immediate hiring freeze, and staff could be reduced through attrition, he said.
"I'm very pleased with the agreement and what we're able to offer the hardworking employees of Will County," said Board Minority Leader Herb Brooks Jr., D- Joliet, in the news release. "It's important we keep our county employees fairly compensated and healthy, so that they can better serve the residents of Will County."
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Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia will be hosting a 50th anniversary celebration Saturday. Registration has closed for the event. (Marwa Eltagouri / Chicago Tribune )
More than 20,000 people are expected to walk through the doors of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory this weekend in honor of the facility's 50th anniversary celebration.
And because of its popularity, registration has closed for the 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday event.
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The anniversary celebration, set to be the largest one held at the Batavia lab in two decades, will give visitors an opportunity to see parts of the laboratory that are normally closed to the public.
"Our relationship with the community has been very important for all of those 50 years so we wanted to invite the community to celebrate with us," Fermilab spokesman Andre Salles said. "We'll have 12 different tours people can take to see areas that are not ordinarily open. We're always interested in showing (Fermilab) off and telling people what we do here."
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During the open house, guests can participate in hands-on activities, view demonstrations, and visit the lab experiments, including the giant Muon g-2 magnet and particle accelerators. Attendees can also visit the Lederman Science Education Center and watch live video casts with Fermilab partners in France, Chile and South Dakota.
Fermilab officials are excited about Saturday's registration numbers.
"We were pleasantly surprised by the public interest in our anniversary event. It's gratifying to know that there's so much interest in the work we do," Salles said.
For those who missed their chance to register, Fermilab is open to the public every day for self-guided tours. Free drop-in public tours are offered at 10 a.m. every Wednesday, and the Ask-A-Scientist tour and lecture program takes place at 1 p.m. the first Sunday of most months. Fermilab's annual Family Open House is set for Feb. 11, 2018.
For information, go to events.fnal.gov.
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia will be hosting a 50th anniversary celebration Saturday. Registration has closed for the event. (Bob Oswald / Courier-News )
Erin Sauder is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
City Engineer Joe Evers is retiring at the end of the month after almost 30 years working for Elgin. (Mike Danahey/Courier-News )
After working for Elgin for almost 30 years, City Engineer Joe Evers is retiring from his post, with his last day at the office scheduled Sept. 29.
Evers, 56, said he intends to be drawing a pension and will do some part-time engineering consulting work as he tends to family matters.
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"I still have my health and want to enjoy some of that pension," Evers said.
Evers, an Elgin resident, explained that his job involved working to provide and maintain a solid infrastructure for Elgin and working with developers and their site plans. The job put him in contact with the Illinois Department of Transportation, where he once worked, other transportation-related agencies and environmental departments and agencies.
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Among the projects Evers has been involved with of which he is most proud, he mentioned constructing new streets along Stewart and Parkway avenues in 1997; widening and improving Shales Parkway 1998 to 2000, which took traffic pressure off Liberty and other streets; and the building of the Riverside Drive Promenade Drive downtown, the South Street and Spartan Drive extensions on the far west side and the continued replacement of the sewer system in older parts of Elgin.
Evers recalled that when he came to Elgin from a job with Carol Stream, the city had about 65,000 residents. Today it is home to about 112,000. When he worked for IDOT in 1985, Randall Road was two lanes. And in his early days working in Elgin, Evers claimed he saw tumbleweeds blowing through a portion of Elgin that was an outdoor pedestrian mall at the time.
The opening of the Grand Victoria Casino in 1994 was a godsend, Evers said, as the tax money it generated allowed Elgin to afford capital projects.
While subdivision growth is not what it was prior to last decade's recession, Evers noted there are plans underway west of Randall Road. In recent years there has been an increase in commercial site development, with about three dozen projects in various stages, Evers said.
The engineering division is about half of the size it was 10 or 15 years ago, Evers said.
Evers said his position is being filled by fellow Elgin engineer Rod Rudd, who has been handling development duties.
"On the projects where our duties have intersected, Joe has been a good guy to work with. I am looking forward to doing capital projects," Rudd said.
The city has posted it is seeking a Development engineer and capital projects engineer, jobs with salary ranges of $75,870 to $117,701,
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The posting states the development engineer will be "responsible for overseeing all development and right of way improvements including review, permitting, construction and acceptance of site and subdivision improvements." The capital projects engineer's duties will include "conducting engineering studies, preparing engineering design and cost estimates for public works and utilities projects overseeing construction inspection activities and maintaining engineering plans, records and files," the posting reads.
Evers said projects he would like for Elgin to one day be able to afford to do include revamping Route 31 and expansion of Route 20 to four lanes in more sections.
"I hope Elgin continues to improve," Evers said.
Of what he will miss about the job, Evers said, "The people here. There's a family feeling. Pretty much everyone has been kind and they've been good people to work with. I'll miss that."
Mayor Dave Kaptain returned the compliment.
"Joe has been a good employee. I've known him for decades, from the days when I worked for the Fox River Water Reclamation District, Kaptain said. "He's always been very professional and had the best interests of Elgin at heart. He also volunteers in the community. I wish him the best of luck."
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Evers said he'd like to spend more time traveling and hopes to take a return trip to Ireland with his wife. He also hopes to remodel homes.
"I can do that at my own pace," Evers said.
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Service providers in Elgin talk with attendees at the Re-Entry Collaborative Tuesday. The event is an effort by Elgin police to reduce the amount who reoffend and go back into the criminal justice system. (Janelle Walker / Courier-News )
Jermaine Jones, 27, was released from the Illinois Department of Corrections to a half-way house in Elgin on Sept. 12.
Tuesday the Chicago native, who was convicted of a felony count of delivery of a controlled substance, was at the Centre of Elgin learning what kind of support is offered locally to ensure he has a smooth reentry to life outside of prison.
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The event, called the Re-Entry Collaborative, was designed by Elgin police and its social workers as a way to introduce parolees to the services available here to help keep them out of jail in the future, officials said.
It is a project the Elgin Police Department has been working on for about a year, said Sgt. Rick Ciganek, who spearheaded the initiative.
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He was at staff and command training at Northwestern University and heard what the city of Rockford was doing to help felons reintegrate into the community once they were released and brought the idea to Chief of Police Jeff Swoboda.
"We are trying some different things but the goal here is to make the connection between those who need and those who provide," services to help them re-enter society, Ciganek said.
Elgin benefits, he said, because people returning from jail who find housing and jobs are less likely to reoffend and commit crimes in the community.
He asked to take it on "because I care. And there was nobody else doing it," locally, Ciganek said.
Earnell Brown of Building Families Together talked to the nearly dozen parolees about his experience. After years of being incarcerated in juvenile centers, he made the choice to change how he was living, Brown said.
"I did 10 years on the installment plan in juvenile," Brown said, adding there was no way to get those years back.
What it took to get his life on track was deciding that he was tired of how he was living.
"It took getting over me and finding out who I am," Brown said.
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Reentry is about more than getting a drivers license, a place to live and a job, Brown said. "It is finding that I made mistakes and that how I was living was not how people in society live their lives. They were standards that were not normal," he said.
But turning ones life around isn't easy, he said. "A little hard work will go a long way. A lot of hard work will get you there."
He is a board member at Building Families Together. The non-profit organization began in 2016 and is designed to help men coming out of prison successfully reenter society.
One of the largest hurdles is helping those parolees get identification. Before they can get a job, they need IDs, Brown said. But to get that ID they also need birth certificates and Social Security cards paperwork that is often lost due to their incarcerations. But they often need IDs to get their social security and birth certificates, creating a cycle of frustration.
"We hear it over and over again, 'I can't get an ID so I can't get social security benefits, I can't get housing, I can't get a job,'" Ciganek said.
To help with that, there are 10 officers at the Elgin department who have volunteered to drive parolees to the offices they need to get those identifications and advocate for them elsewhere, said Cmdr. Colin Fleury.
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Jones, who was arrested in Rock Island, served 2 1/2 years for a drug conviction. It was his first time in prison and he wants it to be his last, Jones said. He applied to go to a half-way house program before he left jail and chose Elgin because it was further away from some of his previous negative influences.
He changed his mentality in prison because he wanted to be there for his children and their lives, Jones said.
Seeing that there are resources to help him change his life and stay out of prison in Elgin made him glad, Jones said. "The Elgin police are willing be hands-on with individuals," he said.
There are services for women coming out of prison, but far fewer for men, said Sherry Green, CEO and founder of Building Families Together. They are working with six parolees living in the Elgin area, helping them reintegrate.
Green worked in Illinois prisons and now has a son who is incarcerated. That isn't why she started the program which is largely self-funded now but it is a factor, she said.
One detail of incarceration she finds particularly harmful is the number of parolees who, while they have served their sentences, are still in prison because they have no place to go once they are released.
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She cites incidents where those just about get parole go through all of the steps then are told that they are "violated at the door." Because they don't have a home to go to, they are held as they are now officially in violation of that parole.
One of her hopes is to get transitional housing for parolees not a half-way house, but a home they can live in while rebuilding their lives, Green said.
Since Jones has been in Elgin, he's walked much of the community and said he is hopeful that the services he's found will help keep him on the straight and narrow. It is easier, he said, because he doesn't see the open-air drug markets and the level of street crime he remembers in Chicago.
"The urge to sell drugs is killed by not seeing the opportunity," Green said.
He made a deal with Brown, who promised to take him to an appointment later in the day.
"The community is trying to find ways to deal with the things we do out there, and finding more ways to help us than trying to hurt us," Brown said. "They could just lock everybody up, but they put together service providers. So take advantage of it."
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Janelle Walker is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
A second name has surfaced in replacing retiring Rep. Steven Andersson's seat in 2018.
Richard Johnson, the president of the School District U46's Elgin Teachers Association, announced this weekend he is gathering signatures to get on the ballot for the 65th Legislative District.
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"There's only been three things I wanted professionally: I wanted to teach, I wanted to be a lawyer, and I wanted to get into politics," Johnson said this week.
The state legislator seat is one of several that will be open in the November 2018 general election. Andersson (R-Geneva) announced last month he would not seek a third term in office. "There are others who are better suited to the current partisan politics of this chamber," he wrote in a social media post detailing his decision.
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Johnson, 39, said he agrees with Andersson's statement on partisan politics, adding that "bipartisanship is the key to making things work."
The lifetime Elgin resident is running as a Democrat. Johnson said he is looking at continuing education reform, such as standardized testing and its impact on students and teachers, social and emotional learning, and easing the tax burden on Illinois residents.
"It's important to note that we need to look at (property tax relief), and raise funds without continuously losing people moving to other states," he said.
For more than a decade, Johnson was a high school teacher, spending the majority of it at Bartlett High School after he began his teaching career at Elgin High School.
During his U46 stint, he also earned master's and law degrees. Johnson graduated from law school in 2014 and passed the Illinois bar the same year.
Johnson is in the last year of a two-year term as president of the Elgin Teachers Association, which has approximately 2,500 members. He stepped down as teacher in order to take the full-time role. Johnson said he is pondering his next move with the teachers union, as elections for leadership roles will take place in the first quarter of 2018.
"I haven't completely decided yet, but I'm leaning more toward not running (for ETA president) at this point," he said.
Johnson said he will be collecting signatures in the 65th District beginning this week. The filing period for the 2018 election runs from late November to early December.
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On the Republican side, attorney Dan Ugaste, of Geneva, announced his run for Andersson's seat. Ugaste previously ran against Andersson in the 2014 Republican primary, finishing second to the incumbent.
Ugaste could not be reached for comment.
in his August announcement, Ugaste said, "In 2014, I ran to represent the people of Kane County with the promise that I would help restore fiscal responsibility to state government by reducing spending instead of raising taxes. Since, Chicago Democrats and Capitulating Republicans have teamed up to make things worse. They raised taxes to funnel more of our money into a failing system."
Ugaste described himself as a "committed" fiscal and cultural conservative, hoping to ease the tax burden on Illinois residents and businesses and standing up to Democrats.
The 65th Legislative District includes the westernmost parts of Elgin, South Elgin, Geneva, St. Charles, Pingree Grove and Hampshire.
raguerrero@tribpub.com
A refugee advocacy organization, private donors and more have come to the aid of the Syrian refugee family that was displaced when this house in the 1700 block of Lyons Street in Evanston caught fire in August. (Brian L. Cox / Pioneer Press )
The organization that helped a Syrian refugee family settle in Evanston when they arrived in this country a year ago is now aiding them in relocating after an early morning fire destroyed their residence last month.
The nonprofit advocacy organization RefugeeOne is helping a family of 10, including seven children, who were displaced Aug. 22 following an extra-alarm fire at the single-family home they were renting in the 1700 block of Lyons Street.
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The family is Syrian and came to the U.S. from Jordan as refugees. They came to Chicago in July 2016 and had been Evanston residents since shortly thereafter, said Jims Porter, communications and policy coordinator at RefugeeOne.
The family's name was not publicly provided to protect their privacy.
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The Chicago-based organization found and furnished the Evanston home when the family first arrived, Porter said. He said that finding another dwelling may not be so easy.
"With a family that large, it can be a challenge to find an affordable apartment with enough space," Porter said. "We work with a number of landlords who are willing to rent to refugees, including those from which this home was rented."
The house is owned by Sargon Isaac of Skokie, according to city and county documents.
Evanston Fire Department Division Chief Paul Polep said the early morning blaze last month has been ruled an accidental fire that initially began outside.
Severe smoke damage entered the home and has left it "unlivable," Polep said.
He explained that there were working smoke detectors in the home, but the fire ignited outdoors and delayed the ability of smoke detection by devices inside the home.
"It's going to take a bit more time for a smoke detector to pick up an outside fire because it's waiting for the smoke to build up," Polep said.
Though the 10 residents escaped the residence without serious injuries, the family is now in search of a new long-term home, Porter said.
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Porter said an agency housing manager is working closely with the family to find them a new place to live.
It is unclear what will happen with the burned out house. The owner did not return calls seeking comment.
In the meantime, RefugeeOne helped arrange for the family to live temporarily at Jesus People a faith-based church and community located in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood following the fire. The family previously stayed there when they first arrived in Chicago last year.
"Ideally, we're trying to locate something in Evanston so their children won't have to go through the trouble of changing schools. Should the children need to change schools, we'll assist with all of the logistics to make that happen," Porter said. "Once a new home is located, we will provide the majority of the household goods, from toiletries to shoes and clothes."
In addition to what his organization is doing for the family, Porter said there has also been outreach from the Evanston community, with fundraisers started to help support them.
He said one anonymous donor gave the family more than $20,000. Further, a campaign on the crowd-funding website GoFundMe raised over $2,000 of a $10,000 goal as of Tuesday.
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Porter added that other donors have been giving the family money directly.
"In the short year they've been in Chicago, they have made deep friendships with others from the community who have been overwhelmingly generous in helping the family through this crisis," Porter said.
Kyra Senese is a freelancer.
Hinsdale will continue its battle to stop or amend plans by the Illinois Toll Authority to expand Interstate 294 through the village.
The village first hired Mac Strategies Group, Inc. in May as part of its efforts to stop the widening of Interstate 294 through Hinsdale. The village is paying $6,500 per month for the firm to recommend strategies, prepare materials and represent the village's interests with legislative and regulatory government agencies.
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The Hinsdale Village Board voted Tuesday to extend its contract an additional three months, through Dec. 19, as the tollway still is working on the design of the expansion.
The authority is considering adding one or more north and southbound lanes from O'Hare International Airport south to 95th Street.
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Hinsdale officials thought the design work was supposed to be finished by the end of the summer, but tollway officials told them an initial design is expected in late October or early November, village manager Kathleen Gargano said.
If one lane is added in each direction, the sound wall that lines the highway on the west would be moved 12 to 15 feet farther west which could encroach on the backyards in the Woodlands neighborhood of Hinsdale and on village parks, village officials warned.
Tollway officials say the expansion is needed to relieve congestion through the central Tri-State, the most heavily traveled section in the 292-mile tollway network. The tollway has not been widened in nearly 25 years, the tollway reports.
Last spring, Village President Thomas Cauley, Jr., encouraged residents to organize to oppose the widening through Hinsdale and said he believed they could stop it.
Since then, it appears the project cannot be stopped, but village officials hope they can influence the design elements that would most effect the village.
They include the oasis, a track the BNSF Railway would build during construction, and sound muffling measures.
Village officials fear the oasis over the tollway will be eliminated in order to widen the highway. The restaurants and the gas stations at the oasis are Hinsdale's number one source of sales tax revenue.
The existing railroad bridge over the tollway also would be removed while the highway is being widened. Cauley is concerned the temporary track that BNSF would build near Veeck Park on 47th Street to operate during construction might remain after the project is completed and be used by BNSF to park trains.
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Village officials also want the tollway to insure that sound levels from traffic on the tollway do not exceed the current levels.
The widening through Hinsdale, Western Springs, Indian Head Park and Burr Ridge is part of a larger tollway expansion of the 22 miles from Balmoral Avenue to 95th Street. It includes rebuilding the interchange where Interstates 294, 88 and 290 intersect, improving the Interstate 55 and 294 interchange, replacing the BNSF railroad bridge, measures to reduce flooding and providing more parking for trucks.
Tollway officials say the project will cost $4 billion, which will come from bonds and tolls, without increasing the toll fees.
A timeline on the tollway website, which has not been updated since April, shows between 2017 and 2020, the project will be designed and the tollway will acquire right-of-way, coordinate with local communities and relocate utilities. Advance construction could begin as early as next year, with the main construction taking place between 2021 and 2025.
kfornek@pioneerlocal.com
Twitter @kfDoings
There is some concern and confusion as registration for the state's second year of bobcat hunting winds up at the end of this month while new legislation sits on the desk of Gov. Bruce Rauner after both the Illinois House and Senate passed a new law for 2017-18.
Concern comes from the Illinois Bobcat Foundation, which was created as a result of Illinois opening bobcats to hunting and trapping last year. The organization is run by Jennifer Kuroda of Rockford, who recently held a seminar and social meeting at the Wildlife Discovery Center in Lake Forest at Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve.
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"The IDNR (Illinois Department of Natural Resources) posted that there will be 1,0000 permits, twice the number they had last year," she said at the Sept. 14 meeting. "We're all wondering what's going on."
That's because new legislation sitting on the governor's desk would change the law in place that opened up bobcats to hunting and trapping for the first time in 40 years in 2016-17. Bobcats were taken off the state's threatened list in 1999, according to the IDNR.
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Kuroda said the Bobcat Foundation worked with Illinois state Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, and a number of other groups that were involved in the issue, including the IDNR, Illinois Trappers Association, Illinois Humane Society and Illinois Environmental Council.
The new law would allow 1,000 permits, increasing from the present 500, but would limit the harvest to 350 animals, increasing to 375 animals the following season. It would also suspend hunting in counties where no bobcat was taken the year before, Kuroda said.
Harmon said on his home page this summer that House Bill 3399 would place a two-year ban on bobcat hunting and trapping in most counties in the Northern Illinois Hunting Zone, except for counties in the west and northwest portion of Illinois along the Mississippi River.
Steve Ballen plays with Boris the bobcat at Lake Forests Wildlife Discovery Center in Lake County Forest Preserve' Middle Fork Savanna before a meeting of the Illinois Bobcat Foundation recently. (Frank Abderholden/News-Sun )
"Ultimately, our goal is to make sure the bobcat population is strong enough to withstanding hunting and trapping statewide so that these animals don't end up back on Illinois' threatened species list," he said in June.
The concern sets in because the governor hasn't signed the new bill. According to Ed Cross, IDNR spokesman, Rauner has until next week, Sept. 26, or the new law will go into effect anyway.
"Why didn't he sign it yet, since he signed the crossbow bill, which went to his desk about the same time?" Kuroda said, referring to a new law that allows more crossbow hunting.
There is some concern he could veto it. The confusion comes from a IDNR Facebook posting that mentions 1,000 permits instead of 500. Cross said that posting was made because while the department anticipates the new law taking effect, it just hasn't yet.
Kuroda also said she is not sure how the IDNR is going to restrict the harvest to 350 animals, but Cross said once that number gets close, the department would notify the permit holders and make announcements that the hunt was closing down.
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One of the controversies has been that there have been studies in southern Illinois where bobcats are abundant because of the riverine and forest habitat, but now through a $100,000 grant from the IDNR, a study of northern bobcats is underway and is scheduled to continue through winter of 2019.
The study has support from the Illinois Bobcat Foundation, Illinois Humane Society, National Trappers Association, Wildlife Restoration, Illinois Trappers Association, The Nature Conservancy, Illinois Musky Tournament Trail, Western Illinois University and landowners in central western counties of Fulton, Hancock, and McDonough, and Schuyler counties.
Kuroda has argued that the IDNR is basing its hunt on old data from southern Illinois, and if it is going to have a hunting and trapping season, it should be based on solid scientific evidence. That's why she invited Western Illinois University biological sciences assistant professor Christopher Jacques to talk recently at the Wildlife Discovery Center.
Western Illinois University biological sciences assistant professor Christopher Jacques talks to members and guests about their study of bobcats in Illinois at a recent Illinois Bobcat Foundation meeting in Lake Forest at the Wildlife Discovery Center. (Frank Abderholden/News-Sun )
Jacques is conducting the study along with graduate students Edward Davis and Tim Swearington. The foundation has helped pay for GPS collars for the study along with the humane society. He told about 40 people in attendance at the center that they are creating models to estimate the number of bobcats in a geographical area.
"Monitoring them is very difficult," he said, adding that there are many more bobcats in southern Illinois and near river and wood habitats.
"Shawnee is very different habitat," he said, referring to southern Illinois. He said the northern and west central area of the state has given way to mainly agriculture, which is not as productive habitat as down south.
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"Illinois is a poster child of habitat fragmentation," Jacques added.
One thing IDNR spokesman Cross noted when asked is that the department might not get anywhere near the 350 animals the new law would allow to be harvested.
Last year, the state had over 6,400 people join the lottery, and 500 hunting and trapping permits were awarded, with approximately 98 percent of the 6,416 applications and 96 percent of the 500 permits issued coming from existing IDNR customers. The rest was made of up protesters who entered the lottery hoping to get a permit and not use it.
The IDNR reported that a total of 141 bobcats were harvested, and hunters or trappers paid a $5 tag fee for each and only one animal per person was allowed. There were 69 bobcats taken by hunting, 49 by trapping, 12 by archery, and 11 from salvaging carcasses from roads.
Bobcats were harvested in 44 counties, which included western and southern parts of the state, and the top counties were Pike (11), Jackson (10), Jefferson (7), Carroll (6) and Randolph (6).
Graduate student Edward Davis holds a radio collar for a bobcat as he explains they now can use GPS collars in their study of bobcats in western Illinois during a talk at a meeting of the Illinois Bobcat Foundation at the Wildlife Discovery Center in Lake Forest. (Frank Abderholden/News-Sun )
fabderholden@tribpub.com
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A Chicago man believed to be selling heroin and cocaine in the Naperville area was arrested after a raid on an Aurora townhouse turned up drugs with a street value of about $10,000, Cmdr. Lou Cammiso said.
Eugene Sanders' name first surfaced in August as part of a probe into a Naperville prostitution case, leading members of the police department's Special Operations Group to develop "information that (Sanders) was selling heroin and crack cocaine in and around the Naperville area," Cammiso said.
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The investigation took detectives to a townhouse in the 700 block of Lewisburg Lane, northwest of Fox Valley Mall in Aurora, which is "believed to be the source of the narcotics," Cammiso said in a news release.
Sanders, 37, of Chicago, faces felony charges of possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer.
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The first two charges are class X felonies, each carrying a mandatory sentence of six to 30 years in prison.
DuPage County court records show Sanders was arrested in 2010 and charged with selling cocaine at an apartment complex in Wheaton. He was sentenced to three years in prison in that case and given an additional year for attempting to flee Villa Park police in 2012, records showed.
wbird@tribpub.com
For the second time in three days, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders criticized ESPN for its response to SC6 host Jemele Hills tweets about Donald Trump being a white supremacist.
During a press briefing Friday, a reporter asked Sanders whether Trumps demand that ESPN apologize for untruths about him mean that the president would be willing to apologize for his repeated insistence that Barack Obama was not born in the United States. Here was the exchange:
Reporter: The president today tweeted out that he wanted to see ESPN apologize for what he called untruths. By him saying that though, does that mean that hes willing to apologize for birtherism claims that he called on for years? Sanders: I think the president has made plenty of comments on that front. I think the point is that ESPN has been hypocritical. They should hold anchors to a fair and consistent standard. ESPN suspended a longtime anchor Linda Cohn not too long ago for expressing a political viewpoint. The networks public editor has said that there is a perception that ESPN has become liberal and that has harmed the network. This is clearly a political statement. They should be consistent in whatever guidelines that they have set themselves in that front.
The statement comes two days after Sanders said that Hills criticism of the president was a fireable offense.
"I think that the point is that ESPN has been hypocritical. They should hold anchors to a fair and consistent standard," @PressSec says pic.twitter.com/XSJ4cENQg2 CBS News (@CBSNews) September 15, 2017
In case youve somehow missed it, this saga started when Hill tweeted earlier this week that Trump was a white supremacist and the most ignorant, offensive president of my lifetime. After some fuss by ESPNs conservative critics, the network issued a statement calling Hills tweets inappropriate. Sanders comment Wednesday further inflamed the situation, and by Thursday the story was national news.
Hill eventually apologized not for what she said but for how her tweets put ESPN in a difficult situation. Later, Think Progress reported that ESPN had attempted to hold Hill off air on Wednesday, letting her do her show only when the network could not find a replacement. Trump lashed out at ESPN on Friday morning, bringing the story back to the White House briefing room.
ESPN is paying a really big price for its politics (and bad programming). People are dumping it in RECORD numbers. Apologize for untruth! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2017
Linda Cohn, whom Sanders mentioned Friday, was recently suspended for commenting that ESPNs layoffs in April were in part due to the networks alleged political leanings, though it seems likely that this discipline owed more to Cohns criticism of the company than to her political ideology.
Over the years, ESPN has been criticized by people of all political persuasions for inconsistency in how it disciplines its employees.
After getting some professional experience working on an expressionist play, North Central theater students are bringing their newfound knowledge back to Naperville.
North Central College's theater department has partnered with Chicago's Greenhouse Theatre Center to present Sophie Treadwell's classic play "Machinal." Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5-7 and 2 p.m. Oct. 8 in the Madden Theatre at North Central College.
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It is directed by Greenhouse Theatre's Jacob Harvey and movement director Elizabeth Margolius.
The actors understudied at the Greenhouse Theatre Center thanks to an immersion program developed by Carin Silkaitis, department chairwoman of art and theater at North Central College. The students understudied, observed and apprenticed to their professional counterparts at the Greenhouse Theatre's production of "Machinal."
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"We give them their own version of the process we're going through," Harvey said. "They observed the rehearsal process every step of the way and the idea is that they would perform their own version of the production at the Greenhouse for two performances and then come back to North Central and perform it on campus for a handful of performances for their fellow students and teachers.
"The idea is offering college students not only hands-on experience but also mentorship by professionals so that they hopefully make some good contacts, make some good friends, have a positive experience and grow as artists."
Working with the student actors was "amazing," he said.
"They are some of the most hard working and dedicated young actors I've ever met," he said. "They stepped up to the plate with incredible skill and professionalism."
Treadwell's play was written in 1928 and was inspired by the real-life case of Ruth Snyder, a stenographer who married her boss, had an affair with a younger man, murdered her husband and was put to death by electric chair. It premiered on Broadway with Clark Gable and is considered to be one of the most important expressionist pieces in American theater, Harvey said.
"It has transcended through the years. Here we are almost 100 years later and it's still a very resonant, very important, very urgent piece of theater," he said. "It's been overwhelming how people have responded to it. Because even a play from 100 years can feel super fresh and super important and super relevant to the moment we're living in right now."
The students performed the show on their own at the Greenhouse and will also get to see how to pack up and move a show to another venue and see how it evolves there, Harvey said.
Bridget Adams-King, a junior from Western Springs, played an older woman and an ensemble member in "Machinal."
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"Each member of the ensemble plays several different roles in the show. Some of the roles I'm playing include the stenographer, a nurse, the matron in the end," she said. "Basically, you're a different role each scene. And that goes for everyone in the ensemble. It's really interesting."
North Central College presented "Machinal" her freshman year, she said, so she was familiar with it. She likes the play because of its beauty, she said.
"It does a beautiful job of showing what expressionist theater is and really just diving into this woman's brain and how she saw the world and why she was pushed to do what she did in order to be free," she said.
Working with the professional actors was very exciting and educational, she said.
"We learned a lot. It was a very unique process and it was a great insight into what we are all trying to do," she said.
People should come see the play because "Machinal" is unfortunately a play that feels potent and very relevant to a moment we're living in right now, Harvey said, dealing with systems of oppression and how we as a society become the machine.
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"The play deals with social and societal norms, breaking out of those, trying to break out of social constructs. I think that notion is something a lot of us are grappling with in current events, but also this is a really incredible and unique opportunity for these college students," he said.
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
'Machinal'
When: Oct. 5-8
Where: Madden Theatre at North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville
Tickets: $8-$10
The Naperville City Council Tuesday night approved local landmark status for the old Nichols Library at 110 S. Washington St. (Erin Hegarty/Naperville Sun)
Naperville's old Nichols Library Tuesday night became the city's fourth building to be granted local landmark status.
After hours of emotional discussion and testimony from residents, developers, preservationists and union construction workers, the Naperville City Council voted 6-3 to approve an application designating the 119-year-old building at 110 S. Washington St. the city's first library a landmark.
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Mayor Steve Chirico and councilmen Kevin Coyne and Benny White were the three dissenters to the application submitted in June by Naperville residents Charlie Wilkins and Barb Hower.
Those opposed to landmarking the property, which owner/developer Dwight Avram acquired from Truth Lutheran Church in March, said the action would infringe on Avram's rights as a property owner. With local landmark status, the building can't be torn down or have its exterior altered without city approval.
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"I think for me, before I vote to restrict some of these rights, I want to know what all my options are on the table," Chirico said. "I'm not going to support landmark status on private property without the property owner's consent."
Jeff Brown, Avram's development partner, asked the council to "table, if not strike down, this proverbial nuclear option of landmarking."
Avram's representatives also announced Tuesday that Avram's application for development had been withdrawn from the city's Plan Commission agenda.
Chirico attempted to invoke council rules and table the vote until Nov. 7, taking the stance that landmark designation would bring to a halt any collaboration or compromise in terms of other options. Council members overruled the mayor in an 8-1 vote, opting to make a decision on the application Tuesday night.
"I disagree with the premise that by doing this we are going to kill compromise," Councilwoman Rebecca Boyd-Obarski said.
Naperville resident Charlie Wilkins addresses Naperville City Council members Tuesday night on the request to grant landmark status to the old Nichols Library, which the council approved in a 6-3 vote. Wilkins and Barb Hower, also of Naperville, submitted a local landmark application for the building in June. (Erin Hegarty / Erin Hegarty/Naperville Sun)
Landmark status means everything happens "in broad daylight," Boyd-Obarski said. "Truly good, adaptive repurposing is once again going to put Naperville on the map."
Wilkins and Hower submitted the local landmark application to the city after Avram unveiled plans in May to demolish the library to make way for a new four-story development that would include stores, restaurants, offices, condominiums and parking. In order to comply with a property deed proviso that building's front exterior and interior vestibule be preserved, Avram planned to incorporate both into the new design.
An online petition to "save old Nichols Library" has garnered more than 1,400 signatures in the last four months.
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Wilkins said he was happy with the council's decision.
"Coming into this, we really didn't know which way it was going to go," he said. With an eleventh-hour proposal to move the old Nichols Library to a new location at the northeast corner of Jackson Avenue and Eagle Street, "a lot of unknown factors were up in the air," Wilkins said.
The three other Naperville buildings to have local landmark status are the Truitt House at 48 E. Jefferson St., the Thomas Clow House at 5212 Book Road and the Naperville Woman's Club at 14 S. Washington St.
ehegarty@tribpub.com
A 16-year-old boy was charged with battery after making sexual comments and pulling the zipper down on a fellow Ridgewood High School student's sweatshirt, police said.
According to a Norridge police report, a female student stated that the boy made repeated inappropriate remarks to her and that he unzipped her sweatshirt while they stood in a school hallway.
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Police did not release the name of the student charged because he is a juvenile. The juvenile section of the Cook County State's Attorney's Office at Rolling Meadows will review the case and decide whether it should be taken to juvenile court or handled in a different manner, said Charles Tortorello, Norridge Police Department spokesman, on Wednesday.
Police said that Norridge Police Department school resource officer Theodore Vasilakopoulos was informed by a school counselor on the morning after the incident that a 15-year-old female student had told the counselor of the incident.
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In an interview with police conducted in the dean's office at the Norridge school, the girl alleged that the boy had made inappropriate remarks of a sexual nature to her several times a day before the incident, police said.
According to the police report, she said that as the boy continued to make inappropriate remarks while they were in class, she put on headphones and tried to ignore him but that she could hear him talking to another male student about her.
The girl said that after class she had told him that she would have to report the behavior if it didn't stop, police said. She alleged that as the two were standing by some lockers, the boy reached over with his left hand and unzipped her sweatshirt, police said.
Police said that school surveillance video matches up with the girl's statement.
According to the report, in an interview with the school resource officer and the dean, the male student denied any wrongdoing. He subsequently was brought to the Norridge Police Department and charged with battery of an insulting nature. He was released to his mother.
Ridgewood school officials could not immediately be reached to comment.
Founders of the Palestinian Students Scholarship Fund with Ron Robin, Prof. Mouna Maroun, and Sheren Falah and Dima Ghazali both previous scholarship recipients, at the Oak Brook fundraising dinner. (Palestinian Student Scholarship Fund)
Some 100 guests and supporters came out for an inaugural fundraising dinner hosted by the Palestinian Students Scholarship Fund, in partnership with Israel's University of Haifa at the Hyatt Lodge, Oak Brook on Sept. 10.
The evening raised scholarship funds for Palestinians who would not otherwise have access to higher education due to financial hardships or significant restraints, by helping them to receive a degree from Israel's University of Haifa. These scholarships will cover tuition, housing and living expenses.
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The Fund was set up by Talat Othman of Oak Brook, and six other Chicago-based Palestinian-Americans. In its first two years the Fund supported over 60 students in undergraduate, masters and PhD programs.
The village of Oak Park has approved $370,000 worth of repairs to the parking garage located on the campus of Oak Park and River Forest High School. (Steve Schering/Pioneer Press )
The village of Oak Park has approved nearly $400,000 worth of repairs to its parking garage at the Oak Park and River Forest High School campus.
At its Sept. 18 meeting, the village board unanimously approved a not-to-exceed $370,000 contract with J. Gill & Company to complete the repairs. Trustee Bob Tucker was absent during the 6-0 vote.
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The garage, located at 137 N. Scoville Ave., sits just south of OPRF High School, and is used by both the community and school staff, as well as Oak Park Farmers Market patrons.
"This is well-needed," resident Amanda Massie said. "We were told in 2003 [when the garage was built] the village would take care of this if repairs were needed, and they are well overdue. It's not up to par for Oak Park. I'm grateful for it getting to the condition it needs to be."
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According to Village Manager Cara Pavlicek, the village, high school and contractors are expected to meet to determine a start date for the project. She expects work to begin in early October, while expecting only partial closures of the structure as repairs are made.
"We want to make sure we have very clear communication with neighbors around the school, the farmers market and the high school," Pavlicek said.
According to officials, the work will include concrete and masonry repairs, joint repairs, new doors and a new roof on the stairwell and elevator tower.
In 2016, the high school revealed a proposal to demolish the garage and build a new aquatics center and parking garage in its place. The $44.5 million plan ultimately failed at a referendum vote that November, which led many opponents to call for the garage to be repaired and the school to look elsewhere for a new swimming pool.
"I urge you to authorize the agreement and uphold the village's obligation to maintain the garage and the obligation to the community and taxpayers," resident Monica Sheehan said. "It is unacceptable to build capital assets and fail to maintain them. Authorizing $370,000, a fraction of the replacement cost, is the fiscally responsible course of action."
According to village officials, the debt issued to pay for the garage is set to expire in 2028.
"In allocating nearly $400,000 in taxpayer funds to this garage at this time, I think that is a clear commitment to this garage until 2028," Trustee Dan Moroney said. "This garage is very expensive. There is $1.6 million remaining in principal, $160,000 remaining in interest, and the [$370,000] we're paying to maintain it."
One troubling aspect for Moroney was the estimated $8,500 in annual revenue the garage produces, which is far below the other village-owned garages. While the garage is used by high school employees during the school hours, it switches to community use following the school day.
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"I'd look into innovative ways we could increase this revenue," Moroney said. "I would like to see us have reasonable fees rather than raising taxes."
Trustee Deno Andrews said twice during recent school events he's spent 30 minutes trying to leave the garage due to traffic backup, and asked the village to study ways to direct traffic out of the structure during high-volume events.
"As we do this, I'd like to think of some ways to mitigate that problem," Andrews said.
According to village documents, four bids were received for the project, with J. Gill & Company submitting the lowest bid by more than $100,000.
sschering@pioneerlocal.com
Twitter @steveschering
Two teens have been charged in connection with a robbery and kidnapping that left a woman seriously injured.
Luis Pimentel-Maldonado, 18, of Calumet City, Ill., and Carlos Santos, 17, of Hammond, were charged in Lake Superior Court with robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and kidnapping in the incident, which was reported at about 9:45 p.m. Sept. 15.
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The woman's friend told police he brought her to the McDonald's parking lot at 5th Avenue and Grant Street in Gary to purchase a cellphone. A tan Chevrolet Blazer drove up, and the woman got into the back seat on the passenger side. The man told police he saw the driver and his friend involved in some sort of exchange when the driver drove off, traveling south on Grant Street with the woman in the back seat, the probable cause affidavit said.
The woman's friend followed the Blazer and told to police he rammed the SUV several times, court documents said. Shots were fired from his vehicle at the Blazer, records said.
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Police found the woman in the area of Grant Street and 9th Avenue, covered with gravel, vegetation and debris. The woman was taken to Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus in Gary and transferred to a Loyola University Medical Center in Illinois with bleeding on the brain, a broken femur and scrapes and cuts all over her body, records said.
Police found the damaged Blazer and its occupants at 15th Avenue and Ralston Street in Gary. Santos was driving, Pimentel-Maldonado was a rear passenger and a woman was also inside, records said. The SUV had damage that was consistent with having run off the road, and officers noted it had flat tires and bullet holes, records said.
In an interview with police, Pimentel-Maldonado told police when the victim got inside, he asked for the money, then grabbed it from her and drove off. When they got to the area of 9th Avenue and Grant Street, the woman opened the door and Santos started to push her out, court records said. Pimentel-Maldonado admitted he also put his hands on her to push her out of the moving vehicle, with Santos said in an interview was traveling about 35 mph to 40 mph at the time, records said.
Santos, who was shot once in the leg or buttocks area, told investigators he took $140 from the woman, records said.
Ruth Ann Krause is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Despite Gary placing an ad in the New York Times this week making a bid for Amazon's second headquarters, a Northwest Indiana economic development official working on a regional bid still believes there will be one unified proposal from the area.
"Everyone is working together," said Heather Ennis, president of the Northwest Indiana Forum. "We're working with the state and local economic groups trying to be as effective as possible before submitting a proposal."
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The city of Gary placed an ad in the New York Times, addressing Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO, making a bid for Amazon's new headquarters and the estimated 50,000 jobs it would bring. Bezos is the majority owner of the Washington Post.
The ad focuses clearly on Gary and not Northwest Indiana. The only other Lake County community to get a mention is Hammond, but only to add that there's a Purdue campus there.
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In the ad, Bezos is encouraged to reach out to Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson. An email address and cellphone number are included. A call made to that number was not answered Tuesday afternoon.
Calls to Freeman-Wilson's office were not immediately returned Tuesday.
Although the Forum was not aware of the ad being placed in the New York Times beforehand, Ennis said, it could have a positive impact.
"This opportunity is a big opportunity and lets the world know the we're open for business and we have great assets here," she said.
The Forum and the Indiana Economic Development Corp. both said they believe there will be one proposal to Amazon from Northwest Indiana. However, there remains some ambiguity about whether Gary will make its own proposal separate form Northwest Indiana.
"Recently, you announced that you were looking for a new community partner," the advertisement said. "Conventional wisdom says based on the qualifications outlined in the RFP, I would not make the grade. But that is because you don't know about my natural assets my location 30 miles from Chicago at the population center of North America, three class one rail lines, an international airport, the port, a commuter rail line that get people to Chicago in less than an hour and four interstate highways in a state with a pro-business environment."
Interest by communities all over the United States has sizzled after Amazon announced earlier this month that it's looking for a second North American headquarters inviting local and state governments to submit their proposals to the company by Oct. 19.
Northwest Indiana joined a long list of municipalities hoping to secure the new headquarters and the estimated 50,000 jobs.
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LaLosa Dent Burns, Gary's spokeswoman, said the city has been in communication with the Northwest Indiana Forum, but said they're uncertain "as to how the bid will be submitted."
Amazon said it prefers to be near a metropolitan area with more than a million people. But the company said it would consider urban or suburban locations with the potential to attract and retain strong technical talent.
Gary, in the ad, acknowledged the notion of Amazon building its second headquarters in the city could seem "far-fetched" but maintained that the city presented a "unique opportunity" to the company.
"We can strike a mutually beneficial deal that changes the course of my future as well as the families who live here," the ad said. "There are so many people who have counted you, me, us and the people of Gary out. Let's put our teams together, and we can and will both win."
jaanderson@tribpub.com
Twitter @JavonteA
The Gary Common Council took a step it thinks will help land the coveted second Amazon headquarters.
In a 6-2 vote, the council approved four people for the city's Port District Board. Councilwomen LaVetta Sparks-Wade, D-6th, and Rebecca Wyatt, D-1st, cast the no votes.
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"We need all the tools we can get to try to develop our community," Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson said.
City officials said they hope the new port district would be a significant part of application to be the site of a new headquarters that Seattle-based Amazon wants to build somewhere in the United States. Regional and state economic development officials across the county, including the Northwest Indiana Forum, are working toward the Oct. 19 application deadline. Amazon has said there would be as many as 50,000 jobs coming as part of the deal.
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Indiana state government gave Gary the ability to have a district to oversee the Buffington Harbor in 1977. Yet until Tuesday, city officials had never made appointments to it.
The port board will govern a port district that technically would encompass the entirety of the city. By doing this, Gary economic development officials will be able to use tax breaks and benefits usually available only to ports to try to attract all types of businesses, officials said.
Freeman-Wilson also said that tax breaks and other perks could be put into play if Gary attracts the attention of Amazon. City officials would not specify what perks exactly could be offered as part of an Amazon proposal.
Earlier this week, Gary city officials placed an advertisement in the New York Times touting the city as a new home to Amazon. Several city officials said Tuesday they were pleased to see Gary taking aggressive action. Council members said they were not aware of it and were not required to sign off on the cost.
"Maybe some other company will see these things and think twice about Gary when they want to do some sort of expansion," said Councilwoman Mary Brown, D-3rd.
Councilman Herb Smith, D-at large, said, "Even if we don't get Amazon, it might draw other attention to Gary."
Council President Ronald Brewer said he thinks that taking steps such as the Port District make Gary a realistic player in the bidding for businesses.
"I don't think it's far-fetched" for Gary to apply, he said. "This is a step in the direction that we as a city want to go."
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Those named to the unpaid board seats include: Gary businessman Gene Champion, Will Godwin, owner of Godwin Realty Co., in the city's Miller section, Delta Jones-Walker, president and CEO of Atled Financial in Schererville and former Gary Community School Corp. school board president Kenneth Stalling, of Gary. Each of those individuals will serve four-year terms, and Freeman-Wilson said one more spot still has to be filled.
Not all council members were in favor of Freeman-Wilson naming the board.
Councilwomen Rebecca Wyatt, D-1st, and Sparks-Wade both voted against the port district appointments, because the mayor, and not the Common Council members, made the appointments.
"I think it's a good idea, but I don't like the way it's implemented," Wyatt said.
Sparks-Wade said she believes the mayor should be able to appoint three members to the board, while the council should pick the other two.
The port board officials would be "unelected officials" who would have bonding authority and eminent domain powers over the entire city, Sparks-Wade said.
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"They would not be accountable to the citizens of Gary," she said, adding, "It's not my job to trust other people, it's my job to be the checks and balances over government."
Gregory Tejeda is a freealnce reporter for the Post-Tribune.
The Lake County Board of Commissioners has enacted a series of policy changes to still conduct regular business but in compliance with Indiana's transparency laws.
The Lake County Council last week passed an ordinance, which the commissioners affirmed Wednesday, that allows the board to pre-approve certain business items outside of a public meeting, a habit the Indiana Public Access Counselor found fault with in July. The new ordinance gives the commissioners clarity on what the board can and cannot approve outside of a public meeting.
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"I'm glad we have some definition," said Commissioner Jerry Tippy, R-Schererville. "I actually was happy to go through the exercise and learn in detail what should be done in public."
Commissioners' attorney John Dull said the new policy relies on state statute to pre-approve certain claims prior to a public meeting.
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"It takes a little bite in the apple in what we have to do in a meeting," Dull said.
State law allows the payment of claims including payroll, taxes, lease or rental agreements, expenses that must be paid because of an emergency, among other items.
Dull said the statute is specific and does not cover everything.
The Indiana Public Access Counselor in July found that the Board of Commissioners and County Council violated the Open Door Law, taking action behind closed doors. The access counselor found both boards took final action outside the view of the public when the commissioners signed a resolution requiring underground utilities in public rights of way and when the council signed a declaration of support for the measure.
The Post-Tribune asked the Indiana Public Access counselor, whose office issues non-binding opinions, to clarify whether the commissioners' and council's actions were done appropriately under the provisions of the state's Open Door Law.
Luke Britt, the state's public access counselor, said, in his opinion, the April 28 signing of the measure was considered "final action" and should have been conducted during a public session.
"There can be no argument disputing that the signing of these two documents constituted a final action taken behind closed doors even if done individually," Britt wrote. "I discourage such actions regardless of whether the governing body is facing an impending deadline."
In response to the opinion, the board began meeting multiple times a week to process claims, sign contracts and approve other business matters.
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Commissioner Michael Repay, D-Hammond, said he's happy the board was able to come to some resolution over the Open Door Law issue.
As the end of the year comes, Repay said he expected the board to have more special meetings but will adjust its regular schedule in October.
Tippy said he likes the plan to have two meetings a month, as the commissioners will have more time to discuss what's on the agenda.
"I think we'll probably be meeting twice a month," Repay said.
clyons@post-trib.com
Twitter @craigalyons
Parishioners of St. Luke Parish in River Forest collected supplies Sept. 15 to send to Texas in support of the victims of Harvey. (Jessie Wiktor/St. Luke Parish )
Students, families and parishioners of St. Luke Parish in River Forest spent their evening Sept. 15 packing and sorting supplies to support those affected by Hurricane Harvey.
The St. Luke community organized "Blessings for Beaumont" after reaching out to the Archdiocese of Beaumont schools, which had five schools affected by the storm.
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"One of our parents spoke to their superintendent about their situation, and this parent was in tears talking to us about their community," St. Luke STEM teacher Maria Goslin said. "They have five schools there, and two are uninhabitable at this point. The other three are trying to reopen."
In addition to the St. Luke community, Goslin said families of other schools in Oak Park and River Forest were asked to contribute to the supply drive, including St. Giles School, St. Vincent School, Trinity High School and Lincoln School.
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The supplies were driven to Beaumont, Texas, in a 52-foot trailer the evening of Sept. 15, while St. Luke officials flew to Texas to meet the driver and disperse the items.
"When we found out we were getting a really large truck, we said let's contact other schools to fill it as best we can," Goslin said
Community members collected towels, air mattresses, cleaning supplies, socks, school supplies, drinking cups with lids, phone chargers, pajamas, bug spray, plastic storage bins and other items throughout the week leading up to the drive.
"There was a whole pile of new donations in front of one of the classrooms that wasn't there in the morning," Goslin said. "It was really great to see."
sschering@pioneerlocal.com
Twitter @steveschering
Trumps UN Speech, by Paul Craig Roberts
I listened to part of Trumps UN speech this morning. I was so embarrassed for him and for my country that I had to turn it off.
I wonder if whoever wrote the deplorable speech intended to embarrass Trump and inadvertently embarrassed America as well, or whether the speechwriter(s) is so imbued with the neoconservative arrogance and hubris of our time that the speechwriter was simply blind to the extraordinary contradictions that stood out like sore thumbs all through the speech.
I am not going to describe all of them, just a couple of examples.
Trump went on at great length about how America respects the sovereignty of every country and the peoples will of every country, and how the US, despite its overwhelming military power, never tries to impose its will on any country. What was the administration thinking, or can it think? What about Yugoslavia/Serbia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Egypt, Syria, Yemen, Pakistan, Crimea, Ukraine, Venezuela, Honduras, Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, just to mention countries in the 21st century that have been subjected to US military attacks, government overthrows, and removals of political leaders who did not conform to US interests?
Is it respect for the sovereignty of countries to force them to support US sanctions against Iran, Russia, China, North Korea, Venezuela? Is it respect for the sovereignty of countries to impose sanctions on the countries? If this is not imposing Washingtons will on other countries, what is?
Is it respect for other countries to inform them that unless they do as they are told, we will bomb you into the stone age?
I heard Trump complain that the UN Human Rights commission had as members countries with the worst human rights records of our time, and I wondered if he was talking about the United States. Clearly, Trump, the speechwriter(s), the State Department, the National Security Council, the US Ambassador to the UN, indeed the entire administration, do not think that the endless slaughter, maiming, orphaning, widowing, and dispossessing of millions of peoples in many countries, producing waves of refugees, comprise human rights violations.
The arrogance conveyed by Trumps speech is unprecedented.
After assurances that America respects everyone, Trump then made demand after demand and threat after threat against the sovereignty of Iran and North Korea, demanding that the rest of the world back him up.
Neither country is a threat to the US. Unlike the US and Israel, Korea has not been at war since 1953. Irans last war was in the 1980s when Iran was attacked by Iraq. Yet both North Korea and Iran are subjected to constant threats from the US. At the UN Trump threatened North Korea with destruction, and Washington is telling more lies about Iran in order to justify military action.
Here is what former Secretary of State Colin Powell says about how carefully Washington thinks about other peoples:
We thought we knew what would happen in Libya. We thought we knew what would happen in Egypt. We thought we knew what would happen in Iraq, and we guessed wrong. In each one of these countries the thing we have to consider is that there is some structure thats holding the society together. And as we learned, especially in Libya, when you remove the top and the whole thing falls apart . . . you get chaos.
Thats what Washington does. It brings chaos to tens of millions of peoples, destroying their
lives and the prospects of their countries. This is the behavior that Trump described as American compassion for others. This is what Trump says is respecting others and the sovereignty of their countries. Washington dresses up its crimes against humanity as a war on terror. The tens of millions of slaughtered, maimed, and displaced persons are merely collateral damage.
This is why the US is considered the greatest threat to peace. International polls show that the world regards the US as a much greater threat to peace than North Korea and Iran. Yet Trump described the US, universally regarded as the greatest threat to the world, as the great protector of peace. Has there ever been a greater disturber of peace?
One wonders if the rest of the world, especially Russia and China, got Washingtons message. Washingtons plan for UN reform is a plan to turn the organization into another instrument of US foreign policy, like NATO and the EU. The message that Trump was sent to deliver to the UN is that henceforth the UN is expected to support Washingtons foreign policy agenda. Opponents to Washingtons war policy are to be isolated and lumped together with the bad countries as defined by Washington.
In other words Washington accepts no limits on its unilateralism. This means war for every country that does not accept Washingtons hegemony.
Katie Bulgrin, owner of Culvers restaurant in Skokie, gives blood on Sept. 11, 2017, in Skokie during a blood drive sponsored by Niles Township to aid the hurricane-stricken areas in Texas and Florida. (Mike Isaacs/Pioneer Press )
When Niles Township officials first decided to host a blood drive in the wake of hurricane Harvey, it did not know the need would grow even significantly greater.
The Sept. 11 blood drive in Skokie was organized to support supply relief efforts for areas across the Gulf Coast devastated by Harvey, said Niles Township Supt. Marilyn Glazer.
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By the time Sept. 11 came, however, Hurricane Irma in Florida was added to the cause.
"Unbelievable what's happened," Glazer said. "We really haven't held blood drives like these in the past, but we went with this because it seemed like a natural thing to do."
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Officials of LifeSource, which administered the blood collection , said they expected a couple dozen people to give blood during the day. Every drop counts at such a serious time, they said.
Dave Silbar, who serves as public relations director for the township and also represents LifeSource, said there has been a call for help with blood drives in the wake of the hurricanes.
"The need is always there for blood locally, but now nationally with Harvey, and certainly Irma, there's really a need," he said. "You got to figure with Harvey, there were hundreds of blood drives and community donor centers throughout Houston that were closed."
Beverly Walsh of LifeSource said the parent company of the organization reported some major impact in Texas and the certainty that there would be a shortage of blood.
"One pint of blood saves three lives," added Dipal Patel of LifeSource. "The saddest part is that a lot of people would rather donate money than blood."
Katie Bulgrin, owner of the Culver's restaurant in Skokie, gave blood late morning Sept. 11.
"With hurricane Harvey and Irma and Jose, I think there's a lot of people who are going to need our help, and anything we can do, we'd like to," she said. "Donating blood is a very simple way of helping."
misaacs@pioneerlocal.com
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By Alexander Chipman Koty
Chinas tax system can be bewildering for foreign investors unaccustomed to its intricacies and idiosyncrasies. Despite recent efforts to streamline the tax system, the World Bank ranked China 131 out of 190 jurisdictions for ease of paying taxes in 2017 down from 127 in 2016.
Several factors contribute to Chinas financial complexity, from ambiguous value-added tax (VAT) rate application to the countrys unique fapiao invoice system. Given the challenges presented by Chinas tax system, identifying the areas where foreign businesses are most vulnerable to irregularities can help ensure compliance and avoid triggering an audit.
Chinas tax system in context
Chinas low ranking for ease of paying taxes can partially be explained by the fact that it is still a developing country, but that alone does not explain its complexity. While Chinas World Bank ranking for paying taxes is higher than other booming Asian economies like India (172) and Vietnam (167), it ranks below other developing Asian countries such as Malaysia (61) and Indonesia (104), and is a far cry from its Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong (3).
According to the World Bank, it takes 263 hours annually to prepare taxes in China, compared to an average of 198 hours in East Asia and the Pacific and 163.4 hours in the OECD. Post-filing in China is particularly time-consuming, as shown by its 48.6 post-filing index rating (where zero is the least efficient and 100 the most), which also lags behind the regional average (59.6) and OECD average (85.1).
While China is not Asias worst offender in terms of accounting and compliance complexity, it underperforms for its level of economic development.
Transition to VAT
Chinas tax system underwent an overhaul with the 1994 Tax System Reform Act, which brought it more in line with Chinas market-based reforms, and in 2016 with the business tax (BT) to VAT transition.
Prior to the VAT reform, businesses in China were subject to different taxes depending on their industry. Broadly speaking, BT applied to the service sector, while VAT applied to manufacturing.
The VAT reform, besides aiming to reduce the tax burden of companies in the service sector, sought to streamline Chinas tax system by applying VAT to essentially all industries. Although this will simplify Chinas tax system in the end, the transition has inevitably introduced some growing pains.
For instance, it is not always clear which VAT rate should be applied to a given product or service. Hannah Feng, Senior Manager of Corporate Accounting Services at Dezan Shira & Associates, said, Under Chinas current VAT regime, there are six VAT rates for exporting goods and services, including zero. It is not always easy to identify the applicable VAT rate for complicated transactions.
The State Administration of Taxation has recognized this issue, recently cutting the 13 percent VAT bracket to lower the tax burden and simplify the system. However, many businesses remain uncertain about which VAT category applies to their goods and services.
RELATED: China Deepens VAT Reform to Combat Financial Complexity
Fapiao
A fapiao is a legal receipt that serves as proof of purchase for goods and services, and is unique to China. Businesses in China must purchase fapiao from the government in advance of their sales, meaning that they essentially pay taxes before actually making sales.
There can therefore be an element of guesswork in the process, as businesses might under- or over-estimate the amount of fapiao they need. Increasing ones fapiao quota can be a costly and time-consuming process.
Individuals must collect fapiao to obtain business expense reimbursements, while businesses need special VAT fapiao to claim tax deductions. Businesses unable to produce a fapiao upon request face legal jeopardy, making it essential for their fapiao systems to be well organized.
There are multiple types of fapiao including electronic ones and complicated systems for their management, issuance, and verification. With all these considerations, Chinas fapiao system invariably causes confusion and accounting issues for foreigners unfamiliar with the concept.
Chinese GAAP and CIT regulations
Chinese Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), also known as Chinese Accounting Standards (CAS), are increasingly in line with US GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), but elements unique to the Chinese system often confuse foreigners. These challenges mostly take shape in the discrepancies between the formal standards and practical realities.
For example, Chinese GAAP prescribes that sales revenue and cost of sales should be recognized when the risks and rewards associated with the product have been transferred to the buyer. In practice, however, accountants prioritize issuing or receiving special VAT fapiao as the basis for deciding when to record a transaction, as this offers more practical resource to determine when a transaction has been completed. Such practices, however, do not technically follow Chinese GAAP and can cause issues in fapiao management.
The differences in Chinese and international accounting standards become most pronounced when an overseas parent company requests financial information from its Chinese subsidiary.
As many small and medium-sized entities cannot afford the tax software used by larger multinationals, they often resort to converting reports manually. This process can lead to errors and distortions, as accountants in the companys home country may not be trained in Chinas unique system.
Transfer pricing
Reforms to Chinas transfer pricing regime in 2016 have increased reporting requirements, making transfer pricing a more important and more time consuming tax consideration for businesses in China. China supports the international Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Action Plan, which aims to curb tax avoidance.
The new transfer pricing regulations increase the number of related-party filing forms from nine to 22, requiring far more information about entities on both sides of a given transaction than before. Of these 22 forms, six are Country-by-Country reporting forms which must be prepared bilingually while the other 16 must be prepared in Chinese. Further, entities with related party transactions above certain thresholds must prepare their contemporaneous documentation in Chinese before May 31 of the following year and be prepared to submit them to authorities within 30 days of a request. Enterprises that display certain risk characteristics may be subject to an investigation by Chinas special BEPS task force.
Transfer pricing is an issue of particular note for foreign businesses in China, as they often transfer money across related parties and branches in other jurisdictions. Beyond simply complying with transfer pricing regulations, businesses must walk the line between strategic tax optimization and illegal tax avoidance.
Tax Compliance Services from Dezan Shira & Associates
Ensuring compliance in a complex environment
Besides the challenges noted above, other requirements such as strict foreign exchange controls can complicate accounting and audit in China. While Chinas tax regime can be complicated, and sometimes inefficient, recent reforms should streamline the system in the long term. However, certain particularities of Chinas tax system, such as fapiao, should be expected to remain in place for the foreseeable future.
Although China continues to reform its tax system, some changes may not be happening fast enough. Tammy Tian, Manager of Corporate Accounting Services at Dezan Shira & Associates, noted, Technology is developing quite fast, and most multinational corporations are adopting ERP management systems with basically no paper material turnover. However, although China updated accounting archive regulations to accommodate digitalization, in practice most companies cannot get rid of the need to keep paper documents.
Tax authorities appear to be aware of the practical tax issues facing businesses in China; many observers expect authorities to continue to roll out reforms to streamline the tax regime. Tian continued, China is in the age of tax reform. China is seeking reform not only in tax collection, but also in control and management. It is believe that there will be more and more changes in tax practices going forward.
About Us China Briefing is published by Asia Briefing, a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. We produce material for foreign investors throughout Asia, including ASEAN, India, Indonesia, Russia, the Silk Road, and Vietnam. For editorial matters please contact us here, and for a complimentary subscription to our products, please click here. Dezan Shira & Associates is a full service practice in China, providing business intelligence, due diligence, legal, tax, IT, HR, payroll, and advisory services throughout the China and Asian region. For assistance with China business issues or investments into China, please contact us at china@dezshira.com or visit us at www.dezshira.com
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 China 2017
This Dezan Shira & Associates 2017 China guide provides a comprehensive background and details of all aspects of setting up and operating an American business in China, including due diligence and compliance issues, IP protection, corporate establishment options, calculating tax liabilities, as well as discussing on-going operational issues such as managing bookkeeping, accounts, banking, HR, Payroll, annual license renewals, audit, FCPA compliance and consolidation with US standards and Head Office reporting.
Chinas Investment Landscape: Identifying New Opportunities
Chinas foreign investment landscape has experienced pivotal changes this year. In this issue of China Briefing magazine, we examine how foreign investors can capitalize on Chinas latest FDI reforms. First, we outline new industry liberalizations in both Chinas FTZs and the country at large. We then consider when an FTZ makes sense as an investment location, and what businesses should consider when entering one. Finally, we give an overview of Chinas latest pro-business reforms that streamline a wide range of administrative and regulatory measures.
Dezan Shira & Associates
More than 2,000 photographers from 23 countries and regions gathered at Pingyao, one of China's best preserved ancient towns, in the northern province of Shanxi.
The 2017 Pingyao International Photography Festival is held in Pingyao, north China's Shanxi Province, Sept. 19, 2017. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)
More than 16,000 photos by photographers in the United States, Britain, France and Sri Lanka among others are on display at the 17th Pingyao International Photography Festival (PIP), which opened Tuesday.
"It is a unique opportunity to participate in this festival. It is my first trip to China," said French photographer Philippe Vermes, known for his black-and-white portrait photography, at the opening ceremony.
"Photography is a binding force. It is the reason that we are here today to participate in this diverse and colorful cultural exchange," he said.
Photos that show China's industrial development by domestic photographer Wang Yuwen are on display in a special zone for exhibiting Chinese contemporary photography.
This year's festival also features works by American aerial photographer Jamey Stillings and leading British artist Marcus Lyon. The latter, in his work Somos Brasil (We are Brazil), documented more than 100 Brazilians through photography, sound and DNA sampling.
There will also be slide shows, videos, workshops, symposiums and forums during the week-long festival.
Launched in 2001, the annual PIP festival has been running for 17 years. Advocating diversity, internationalism and professionalism, it is considered an important stage for international photographers to display their talent.
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China's first television show featuring robot combat competitions will be aired in October.
The show, "Fighting, My Bots," is scheduled to be aired each weekend on Anhui TV.
The show, "Fighting, My Bots," is scheduled to be aired each weekend on Anhui TV, one of its producers, a Shanghai-based company focusing on robotic fighting, said on Tuesday.
One of the show's anchors is expected to be humanoid robot Jia Jia developed by the University of Science and Technology of China, a life-like, with natural eye movements and speech.
The camera crew will collect news about the progress of robotics in the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Israel and Japan.
Ten years ago, Leni Konialidis brought together a group of young Greek and Turkish musicians with the belief that through music, longstanding rivalries could be overcome and friendship could flourish.
Ten years later, the Greek-Turkish Youth Orchestra (GTYO) toured Greece for its tenth year this September as an exemplar of intercultural dialogue that builds bridges of communication over the Aegean Sea.
From Sept. 1 to 8, the 60-member ensemble comprised of an equal number of Greek and Turkish young artists held five concerts in Rhodes, Crete, Elefsina and Athens, spreading the message of peaceful coexistence and cooperation.
Shortly before the closing performance at Zappeion hall in the Greek capital, Xinhua talked to the GTYO founder and president, along with this season's conductor Zoe Zeniodi and the young musicians about how music brings people closer together.
"I believe music is a universal language that allows people to communicate without their own language and nationality. It is very beautiful to see in this Greek-Turkish orchestra how the musicians have occasions to meet each other, to make friendships through music, and all boundaries are forgotten," Konialidis said.
A mother of three, Konialidis noticed how all her children stopped fighting as soon as they started playing music together. Music also helped her children integrate while the family was living in Uruguay.
She said music had the power to change relationships and foster understanding and that when people from different backgrounds play classical concertos or symphonies, they can discover common ground.
"I think this is very important for the future, the world we are living in. Maybe it is not a solution for everything, but it is a beautiful thing for the youth," she said.
The members of GTYO are chosen each year by the maestro through video recordings. They meet for the first time for rehearsals about a week before the first concert. After performing in Greece or Turkey, they return home.
Konialidis said that when it came to how the cultural experience affected the children, she said they went away with new friendships, good memories, and a new perspective on each other's nations.
"I think it affects them enormously. First of all, Greeks and Turks do not have an occasion to meet. So just the fact of meeting, they discover other cultures, other countries," Konialidis said.
"I think the mission is to develop friendships and to develop relations between the youth and be able to listen to each other and to live in harmony," she said.
Cellist Gokce Bahar Oytun, 27, was one of the soloists on this year's tour. She joined GTYO four years ago upon an invitation by Turkish maestro Cem Mansur who was the conductor of the ensemble at the time.
She said music promoted unity and helped make differences disappear.
"When we are playing in the orchestra, we just want to share music and do our best for music. So it is just about being one," she said, adding there were no differences between humans.
Timoleon Kimon Anastasiadis, 25, plays the violin, and joined GTYO for first time this year.
He said of the long-held prejudices on both sides of the Aegean that when he returned to Cologne to continue his studies, he hoped that he had helped a little to break them.
"It was a very beautiful experience, because you can see how many things we have in common with the Turkish people after all," he told Xinhua.
"Indeed, there is nothing dividing us. The beautiful thing is that this also stands for the Turks. They also see us like brothers," he said about his new friendships.
"Music unites, music builds bridges, it is music that brings us closer," Zeniodi said.
She said she felt lucky to have the chance to see it happening before her eyes at GTYO. She sees for herself the striking difference between the young people who meet each other on the first day and how they embrace each other pledging to keep in touch at the end.
"Prejudices? Yes, it is possible for some people, depending on how they were brought up and based on what we are hearing," she commented.
"Music cannot make everything alone. This is certain. We need other things also and it is not our job to do everything. We can do this part -- concerts, rehearsals, work together -- so that we can take the world a few steps forward," the conductor said.
"During the process of the Chinese culture going global, the Chinese Local Chronicles Culture should act as a bellwether and pacesetter," Ji Xiangde, chief of the Chinese Local Chronicles Guidance Group (GLCGG), told Xinhua here on Tuesday.
In a keynote speech delivered at two-day the International Symposium on Local Chronicles which opened here on Tuesday, Ji said that against the backdrop of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and during the process of implementation of the "going global" strategy of the Chinese culture, the Chinese LCs Culture should have the confidence and courage to shoulder its responsibility and take a leading role.
Li Peilin, deputy chief of the General Office of the GLCGG, said this symposium, themed "Chinese Local Chronicles Culture Going Global", aims to serve as a platform for increasing communication and cooperation between Chinese and overseas scientific institutions, academies, libraries and individual collectors on local annals.
He expressed the hope that relevant organizations and personnel could share their collections and cooperate to further push this unique Chinese culture to embrace the world.
"Let's tell the stories of China, and share Chinese wisdom, Chinese experience with the world," Li said.
James Cheng, Librarian of Harvard-Yenching Library which is one of the two western libraries boasting of the largest collections of ancient Chinese books, echoed Li's remarks by proposing to Chinese and Western institutions that they cooperate in digitalization of Chinese local chronicles, and exchange their collected documents on a regular basis.
Though the compilation of Chinese LCs dated back to more than 2,000 years ago, its journey to the outside world only started in modern times.
Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, particularly since China adopted the policy of reform and opening up in 1978, exchanges between the Chinese local chronicles community and the relevant foreign organizations have seen a boost, and China's LCs Culture has sped up its journey of going global.
For centuries, the Chinese LCs, due to their professionalism and big volumes, were only paid attention to by academia and historians, especially by Chinese scholars. In recent years, with the national goal of building China into a powerful cultural country, the Chinese LCs have been playing an increasingly important role.
In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Ji said: "To serve the Chinese culture going global strategy, the GLCGG launched the Project of the Chinese LCs Culture Going Global in 2015."
"We have been using two main methods: inviting-in and going-out," he said, "We invite overseas scholars to come to China as well as send Chinese experts to Japan, South Korea, the United States, Germany, Australia and other countries to reinforce academic exchanges. We also hold international symposiums like this to gather members of the Chinese LCs community to foster friendship."
According to him, the Chinese LCs have a unique advantage among foreign scholars for their character of "telling historical facts without comments", thus they are a reliable, comprehensive and accurate source of knowing China, old and new.
The GLCGG is also working with foreign libraries such as Harvard-Yenching Library to digitalize Chinese LCs and post them on the Internet, some with English translations and interpretations, so as to provide access to ordinary people as a database, Ji added.
As a historical record reflecting the natural, political, economic, cultural and social situations of certain administrative regions, the Chinese Local Chronicles reflect history and the present through the veil of time. There are now over 8,000 categories of LCs remaining, accounting for one-tenth of China's total collection of ancient books.
During the two-day International Symposium on Local Chronicles, more than 150 professionals and experts from China, the United States, Germany, Japan and other countries and regions are gathering in Beijing to discuss topics such as LCs study, LCs collection and utilization, LCs Culture inheritance and innovation, and LCs Culture Globalization.
President Xi Jinping on Tuesday stressed the importance of preventing and controlling major risks through the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks while meeting representatives from the public security.
Xi said those working in the sector should improve their political awareness and maintain the authority and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee.
They should be sober-minded about the difficulties and challenges facing them, and deal with major risks, he said.
Xi stressed that better social governance would better solve various social problems. He told the representatives to make social governance more systematic, rational, intelligent and in accordance with rule of law. Social governance should be improved through advanced theory, a scientific attitude, professional methods and appropriate standards.
He demanded better coordination and ability to predict and prevent risks, and improve the precision and efficiency of social governance.
Xi noted that development and stability were the absolute principles, so both should be dealt with by strong hands.
"We should continue with social governance through socialism with Chinese characteristics, and become adept in converting the leadership of the Party and the advantages of our socialist system into advantages of social governance," he stressed.
Xi asked for more efforts to improve social governance by socialism with Chinese characteristics to ensure that the people lead prosperous lives, society stays in order and the country enjoys long-term peace and stability.
Over the past five years, officials in the sector have come up with new ideas, mechanisms and methods, solving a number of major problems, improving the sense of security and satisfaction of the people, and contributing to a stable environment for reform and development, the president noted.
Premier Li Keqiang and Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli also attended the meeting. After the meeting, model individuals and units were recognized for their contributions to public security and social governance.
Surveys show that the public's sense of security has improved in the past few years with their satisfaction index rising to 91.99 percent in 2016 from 87.55 percent in 2012.
Police nationwide held campaigns against terrorism, telecom fraud, underground banks, personal information infringement and crimes related to guns and drugs, among others.
China has also made use of Internet technology in its social governance.
The Ministry of Public Security has helped find 1,274 missing children with the help of a system called "Tuanyuan," or reunion, a pop-up platform on which information on 1,317 missing children has been shared since its launch in 2016.
China needs to prioritize the tackling of solid waste pollution and strengthen supervision over implementation of related law, the country's top legislature said on Tuesday.
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress conducted inspections this year on the enforcement of the law on solid waste pollution for the first time since 2005, when the revised law took effect. The inspections were finished by the end of August.
Inspection teams headed by top national legislators including Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, visited 10 areas including Tianjin, Shanxi and Jiangsu provinces. Legislators and leaders of the ministries involved discussed the results at a meeting on Tuesday.
Zhang acknowledged achievements in preventing and tackling solid waste nationwide in recent years. The teams also found problems that cause environmental and health risks, he said.
Problems arise from the large quantity of solid waste, from industrial and agricultural sources, inspections showed.
"Solid waste controls should be given priority, along with other pollution reduction efforts," Zhang said, because it is closely linked with air, water and soil pollution.
The national legislative body will urge governments to enforce the law, he said, since the inspections' results suggest that governments need to improve their procedures to make the prevention efforts work efficiently and scientifically.
Shanxi, one of the inspected provinces, has strengthened controls in reducing solid waste by building more plants to process industrial waste, helping the province, China's coal heartland, improve its environmental quality.
"In 2016, 66.1 percent of the solid waste from industrial production, like fly ash and coal refuse, has been processed, for an increase of 44.1 percentage points over the level in 2005, when the revised law took effect," said He Tiancai, vice-governor of Shanxi, in a briefing about the control efforts a week ago.
Over 123 million metric tons of solid waste was processed last year in multiple ways, said Zhang Zhanxiang, deputy director of the Shanxi Provincial Economic and Information Committee.
For example, fly ash, mainly discharged from coal-fired power plants, has been used to make construction materials like autoclaved bricks and cement, Zhang Zhanxiang said. He added that cement production could consume 9 to 11 million tons annually.
Shanxi plans to increase the processing rate for solid waste to 70 percent by the end of 2020 in order to tackle the pollution from solid waste and protect human health, He, the vice-governor, said.
More than 300 media representatives from around the world got together in Dunhuang, Gansu province on Tuesday to discuss how outlets can cooperate under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
The event - the Media Cooperation Forum on the Belt and Road - was co-hosted by People's Daily and the Gansu provincial government.
Zhang Ping, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said during the opening ceremony, that the forum provides a platform for news agencies from around the world to communicate and enhance cooperation.
He hoped media outlets would give full play to policy interpretations and communication exploring common interests at intersections and actively promote the initiative, which comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
Pavel Negoitsa, publisher of Rossiyskaya Gazeta, said the initiative proposed a vision for all countries on how to establish large-scale international relations. He said he considers the forum to be a platform on which to conduct dialogue and seek new opportunities for cooperation.
Jose Vera, the president of Agencia EFE, a major multimedia news agency based in Spain, said the ancient Silk Road was not only representative of the prosperity of business but also a means for cultural exchange in history. Today, the news media should assume the role of exchanging knowledge and ideas, he said.
"I see this as an unparalleled opportunity for the media industry to exchange ideas and solutions in an increasingly disrupted media environment," said Stephen Rae, editor-in-chief of Independent News & Media in Ireland. "I believe this kind of collaboration mirrors the spirit of the ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. The visionary initiative promotes cooperative diplomacy and collaboration in making new economic models thrive."
Olusegun Adeniyi, chair of the editorial board of Nigerian national newspaper This Day, said all the industries in Africa should be aware that the Belt and Road Initiative has created a larger space of development for everyone.
He said African countries have benefited a lot from the initiative, making it a priority to seek a path of openness and cooperation to ensure the inclusiveness. He emphasized that while implementing the initiative, people need to focus on transparency and openness, and the media have a role to play.
The forum, organized in 2014, aims to build an information highway, expand cooperation and promote communication through media collaboration. It will move to Boao, Hainan province, next year, according to Li Jun, deputy Party chief of Hainan.
Over the past few days, Fang Zhong, head of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Physics, has become something of an online celebrity.
"I hope you choose physics, and fall in love with it," Fang told freshmen at a Beijing high school in August.
The remark was a response to a worrying decline in the love for physics among senior high school students. Among the 290,000 students from Zhejiang province who took this year's gaokao - the annual college entrance exam - only 80,000, or 27.5 percent, picked physics as a prime area of interest. In Shanghai, it was 30 percent. The test is geared toward the subjects a student selects.
Criticized for forcing students to choose between science and liberal arts - requiring them to choose one path or the other - Shanghai and Zhejiang province have been running a revised system. Students can choose any three of six subjects listed, along with compulsory Chinese, math and English. But students consider physics to be difficult and don't want to risk their gaokao score, so they tend not to pick it.
"Students who are good at science but weak in physics tended to replace it with a humanities subject," said a physics teacher surnamed Hou in Zhejiang. "Those subjects are seen as safer."
The situation has raised concerns, especially among educators.
"Physics is the basis for many other natural sciences," said Li Yuwei, a physics teacher at the high school affiliated with Beijing Normal University. "Those with a physics background who transfer to other majors are more likely to succeed."
Xiong Bingqi, vice-president of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, said that students and their parents need to think about quality and personality, not just blindly pursue higher marks.
"As long as that doesn't change, the new gaokao will be no different from the old gaokao," he said.
The Ministry of Education has set new standards on science in primary schools that took effect this semester. The standards stress inspiring children's curiosity and desire for knowledge, while regulating teaching methods.
"Younger kids are very curious about a lot of things, making it easier to get them interested," said Liu Ying, a doctoral supervisor at Peking University.
Still, Xiong Bingqi wants more to be done. He thinks colleges should separate exam results from enrollment.
"Only then can we make science education an inspiration," he said.
A female fugitive wanted for graft under an Interpol red notice returned from the United States to China and turned herself in on Tuesday, said Shanghai police.
A female fugitive wanted for graft under an Interpol red notice steps down from a plane at an airport in Shanghai on Sept 19, 2017. [Photo/chinanews.com]
The 59-year-old suspect surnamed Min was previously a saleswoman at a cable company in Shanghai. She was accused of embezzling 300,000 yuan (45,800 U.S. dollars) of the company's fund and fled to the United States in 2001.
In 2014, Interpol issued a "red notice" for Min, who has U.S. nationality. She was persuaded by Shanghai police to return and hand herself in. She flew back to Shanghai on Tuesday evening.
The arrest is part of Operation Fox Hunt 2017, a campaign to catch economic fugitives hiding overseas. This year, Shanghai police have arrested 64 suspects under the operation.
A new anti-telefraud app that can identify phone numbers used in frauds and filter out phishing websites is being shown at an internet security event in Shanghai that concludes on Sept 24.
The annual event, first held in 2014, is part of the country's effort to provide security in cyberspace.
The app was co-developed by the anti-telecom crime office of the State Council and e-commerce giant Alibaba.
The Central Leading Group for Cyberspace Affairs was established in 2014 and has enacted a cybersecurity law and regulations, tightened supervision and cracked down on online crime.
"Cybersecurity includes the security of the people as well as the nation," said Shen Yi, deputy director of the Cyberspace Governance Study Center at Fudan University. He said internet security cannot be evaluated solely by technical indicators but also had to bring public benefits.
China's web users are enjoying a cleaner internet environment since various governmental departments have acted to clean up cyberspace. In a recent campaign led by the National Office Against Pornographic and Illegal Publications, an investigative team seized 50 suspects, destroyed 118 websites and took down 913 online billboards that were considered pornographic or that traded in personal information.
The office closed 73 illegal livestreaming platforms in the first half of this year and imposed lifetime bans on 1,879 streamers who severely violated regulations.
In 2016 alone, Chinese law enforcement confiscated more than 16 million illegal publications and banned more than 14,000 websites deemed harmful.
Internet forums are also being targeted. The Cyberspace Administration of China published a list of rules in August, requiring real-name registration on bulletin boards. Many believe it will contain the spread of obscenity, violence, terrorism and false information. The regulations will take effect on Oct 1.
To standardize the way internet companies collect, store, use and transfer private information, several government departments have examined the privacy policies of 10 popular domestic internet products and services. The move aims to prevent criminals from illegally obtaining personal information from the internet. Internet companies are also playing an active role in the fight against cybercrimes.
In May, a piece of malicious software called WannaCry attacked computers worldwide. Internet security companies, including Qihoo 360, Tencent and Kingsoft Security, have since increased their security services.
A total of 1,116 "internet police offices" have been set up by the Ministry of Public Security and internet companies including Baidu and Tencent in an attempt to investigate illegal information posted on their websites.
Twenty-one universities have cybersecurity colleges, and China plans to create up to six international-standard internet security institutes over the next decade.
But a gap remains in the education of cybersecurity professionals. As of last year, China had only 143 internet security majors across 126 universities - only 10 percent of the country's technology universities.
Hebei Province in northern China has a large disabled population. Over the past 30 years, the care for the disabled in the province has developed rapidly, and many disabled people have benefited from the work.
Ding Yukun is seen in a recent photo. [Photo: China Plus]
Born with congenital spina bifida, 35-year-old Ding Yukun had to have both of her legs amputated in 2008 due to recurrent inflammation. But since then she has started an online business.
She said she tried to apply for several jobs before the amputation, but there was little that was suitable for her.
"When I was nearly 20 years old, I started to look around for a job. I had tried many fields, but they didn't seem to be suitable for me. In 2008, I had amputation surgery, and then, I began my online business at home. The Internet is fantastic! It has given me wings and taken me to wherever I want to go."
But learning to use a computer was not easy for Ding, because she never attended school. Her doctor once asserted that she wouldn't make it through 12 years old.
She learned to read with the help of a dictionary and then learned typing and surfing the Internet.
For the first month, she worked 10 hours every day on the Internet as a copyreader. And she remembered clearly that her "first bucket of gold" was 270 yuan, around 40 US dollars.
Now, as a successful e-commerce businesswoman, Ding is busy with helping other disabled people. She provides an online platform to sell handicrafts made by the disabled.
Ding Yukun is one of 5.2 million disabled people in Hebei Province.
In the last five years since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held, over 10,000 disabled people in Hebei have started businesses online. The provincial government has supported 100 shops opened by the disabled on Taobao, China's largest e-commerce platform.
Also, nearly 250,000 disabled people have received training, and over 620,000 rural disabled people have been employed.
Zhu Lijie, Chairman of Hebei Disabled Persons' Federation, said laws and regulations are adequate to guarantee the disabled persons' rights.
"Under the '13th Five-Year Plan,' we have developed a solid framework for the disabled-related work we need to do. Previously, what we can do is to donate or establish a charity for them, but now, education, medical treatment, rehabilitation training, social security, protection of human rights and related issues have all been considered."
She added that 80% of all disabled in the province are expected to receive rehabilitation training by 2020.
SAARC secretariat based in Katmandu, Nepal [File photo]
Reinforcing links between regional countries, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was founded in 1985, with its current membership comprising of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
With an overall mixed performance, its highest point was in achieving an impressive 7.0 percent average growth rate over two decades. Promoting inter-action and mutual dialogue, SAARC worked for peace and harmony in the region by concentrating on common interests and settling regional issues. Unfortunately, ever since the cancellation of the last SAARC Conference in 2016, a vacuum has been created and the future credibility of the organization is at stake.
Functionally viable, in the past the group put forth different trade structures and mechanisms such as the South Asia Free Trade Agreement and South Asia Preferential Trade Agreement. Lacking any definite roadmap ahead now, it seems to have been postponed indefinitely ever since India refused to participate in the last summit in Islamabad last year.
As yet, no new date is available for the next summit though the SAARC Charter requires that heads of state or government meet once a year, this generally materializes every 18 months. The conference gets postponed if even one of the eight members refuses to participate. Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also followed suit as they are close Indian allies. Nepal could not pull out being the current chair of SAARC, it hoped that "a conducive environment be created soon to ensure the participation of all member states in the 19th SAARC summit in line with the spirit of the SAARC charter."
Thus an association for greater regional integration lies ineffective due to non-cooperation. At this juncture, it is time for a gesture like the classic Musharraf -Vajpayee hand-shake at the SAARC Summit in 2002. Proving to be the classic icebreaker of that time, it helped improve Indo-Pak relations.
Addressing the gathering in an ostensibly unplanned move, Musharraf had pointed out how the SAARC association had lost its way, The way forward is to make SAARC genuinely potent and through it sink differences, resolve disputes on the basis of sovereign equality. Let none amongst us consider themselves more equal than others. Then taking Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee by surprise, he added, As I step down from this podium, I extend a genuine and sincere hand of friendship to Prime Minister Vajpayee. Together we must commence the journey for peace, harmony and progress in South Asia. His gesture forced the Indian PM to rise and shake hands with him, in what many believe was a perfect coup de grace.
Reconciliation between India and Pakistan is the solution towards the success of SAARC, any spat between them has direct bearing on the welfare of South Asia. Perceptibly, the absence of this forum has only increased problems between the two countries while the cancellation of the last summit closed all doors for smaller states in the region to sit together and resolve issues.
Even though SAARC countries ratified and signed the SAARC 1988 Convention of Terrorism and an additional protocol in 2003, these mechanisms have proven inadequate. As of now, there is need for an India-Pakistan detente to prevent further instability in the region and put life into the SAARC body. The future of SAARC remains uncertain and playing the blame-game is not the solution of the problem.
Meanwhile, even as the hostile environment continued, Pakistan floated the idea of extending SAARC and taking in new members such as China, Iran and the Central Asian Republics. Injecting new blood into the organization may be the best solution to breaking the impasse and Pakistan had intended to propose China as the 9th member at the 19th Summit which was cancelled.
Having laid ground for new additions in the organization, Pakistan had already proposed the matter but it was set aside by India. As a senior Indian External Affairs Ministry official said: They (Pakistan) argue that China can play an important role in persuading Central Asian republics and Iran to join the new arrangement. But SAARC members will have little interest in supporting the idea. There is not much benefit for Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka in joining a land route far from their borders, and Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have their own ports.
Even then, extending SAARC remains the best way to revive the presently dysfunctional organization. This possibility needs to be deliberated upon as it would open up more opportunities for everyone concerned. Smaller SAARC states deserve to have the podium back which addressed their grievances. Suitable modification in the structure would improve trade, economic prospects and promote peace in the region.
An organization representing one fifth of humanity surely deserves a second chance and extending membership would further consolidate this geopolitical region and promote connectivity.
Sabena Siddiqui (Twitter: @sabena_siddiqi) is a foreign affairs journalist and lawyer based in Pakistan.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
Flash
[Photo/Xinhua]
Egypt is eager to tap into the Chinese market to revive its ailing tourism industry, Governor of Egypt's Luxor Governorate Mohamed Badr told Xinhua in a recent interview.
Badr noted that the number of Chinese tourists has already notably increased after the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Egypt in early 2016.
The Chinese president toured Luxor during his visit to Egypt, and the reports of this visit by major Chinese media outlets helped attract more Chinese tourists to visit Luxor, the governor said.
Badr said the inflow of Chinese tourists has somehow revived the tourism business in Luxor, which is a favorite attraction for tourists after the Pyramids.
Tourism in Egypt, a major source of its national income and foreign currency reserve, was dealt a further blow by the Russian airplane crash in North Sinai in October, 2015 after which several countries, including Britain and Russia, suspended their flights to Egypt.
Ths aggravated the recession in the country's already ailing tourism sector due to political instability.
Even before the Russian plane crash, Egypt suffered a sharp decline in tourists due to three years of political turmoil, including two mass uprisings that toppled two presidents, forcing several countries to ban their citizens from traveling to Egypt for safety reasons.
Luxor, once an ancient Egyptian capital, suffered similarly as other Egyptian tourist cities.
Amid the dire conditions, Egypt now pins big hope on China, a growing tourist market, to revive its tourism sector.
"We are focusing more on the Chinese market. I have given orders to add Chinese language to all direction signs on roads and tourist sites across Luxor," Badr said.
The governor said he has a general impression that the Chinese tourists, who are very well educated, come to Luxor because they want to learn more about the history of ancient Egypt.
Flash
China and Russia agreed that tensions on the Korean Peninsula must be solved peacefully and the "vicious cycle" must end, when their foreign ministers met on Monday in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi said "the vicious cycle, which is worsening, must be broken", and added that resuming dialogue and peace talks is a necessary step in implementing UN Security Council resolutions regarding the nuclear and missile tests of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The road map China and Russia proposed to solve the peninsula's nuclear issue is "realistic and feasible", and both countries should work to obtain more understanding and support from the international community, Wang said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia shares a "completely identical" position on the issue to that of China's, and the two countries should work together to promote a peaceful solution.
Tuesday also marked the 12th anniversary of the signing of a statement on Sept 19, 2005, at the fourth round of the Six-Party Talks.
In the "9.19" statement, all parties reaffirmed their goal of denuclearizing the peninsula peacefully. The DPRK promised to abandon its nuclear weapons and programs and the United States confirmed it had no intent of attacking or invading the DPRK.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Tuesday the statement's core contents are still the objectives parties involved in the Korean Peninsula issue "crave to achieve".
The spokesman said he believes the parties will be able to find a way to solve the issue if they return to the statement's core ideas.
Flash
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday pressured the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to give up its nuclear weapons program and signaled a possible end of the Iran nuclear deal in his first speech at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.
President Donald Trump speaks to the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017, in New York. [Photo/China.org.cn]
Blast on DPRK
In his over-40-minute speech, Trump talked tough on the DPRK, warning that the United States "will have no choice than to totally destroy" the country unless Pyongyang refrains from its nuclear tests and missile launches.
Trump, who tossed threats against the DPRK in his tweets in the past months, said at the UN that DPRK leader Kim Jong Un was "on a suicide mission for himself and his regime."
Tension on the Korean Peninsula has been escalating following a series of missile launches and the Sept. 3 nuclear test conducted by Pyongyang.
The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Sept. 11 to impose new sanctions on the DPRK over its latest nuclear test.
However, the Korean Peninsula crisis should be solved through a political process, said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his debut address to the UN General Assembly, just minutes before Trump's remarks.
"We must not sleepwalk our way into war," Guterres added.
China said the six-party talks are still an efficient platform to address the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.
At a routine press briefing in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China is open to all efforts that are conducive to solving the issue peacefully via political and diplomatic means.
"Embarrassment" to U.S.
Iran is another major target in Trump's speech, who called Iran's nuclear deal negotiated in 2015 during the Obama administration "an embarrassment" to the United States and indicated that he may not ratify the deal at its forthcoming mid-October deadline.
In his speech, Trump referred to the deal as "one of the worst and one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into."
According to the Iran nuclear deal, or formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran will be removed if the country proved to have abided by the deal over the next few years.
"The JCPOA is an important outcome of international security governance, as well as an example of resolving international hot-spot issues through diplomacy," said Lu, the Chinese spokesman.
"It plays an important role in upholding the international non-proliferation regime and maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East," Lu added.
Iranian senior officials on Sunday warned against the U.S. "breach" of the nuclear deal and called for Washington's adherence to its pertaining commitments.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told the media on Sunday that he would explain some points about the U.S. misconduct pertaining to Iran's 2015 nuclear deal in his UN speech scheduled for Wednesday.
America first
During his speech, Trump reiterated his "America first" agenda, the slogan which has been widely regarded as one of the key reasons that helped him get elected in 2016.
Trump said he would "defend America's interests above all else," stressing that the United States would no longer be taken advantage of while getting nothing in return.
He also noticed that the U.S. military would soon be "the strongest it has ever been."
"It's my deep belief that the best way to preserve the American interests is to engage positively in global affairs," Guterres told a press conference last week.
In his maiden show, Trump also warned that the United States is mulling possible further actions on Venezuela.
"We cannot stand by and watch," he said.
The United States has slapped several rounds of sanctions on the South American country after Venezuela held elections in late July for the National Constituent Assembly tasked to rewrite the constitution.
Venezuelan officials said unilateral sanctions by Washington would harm both U.S. companies and Venezuela's economy.
Flash
The first U.S. permanent military base unveiled in Israel Tuesday reveals the two sides' readiness to enhance bilateral cooperation and further curb Iran.
Israel and the United States have been working towards the base during the past two years, and all facilities necessary for a permanent military presence will be put in place soon, by when several dozens of U.S. soldiers will be stationed, said Zvika Haimovitch, head of the Aerial Defense Division in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
The IDF announced on Monday that the United States has opened a permanent military base at Israel's southern region of Negev desert.
Haimovitch told the press that the base would be established at the School of Air Defense, not disclosing whether the Americans would take part in any combat operations.
The base's opening comes as Israel faces a slew of regional threats, especially from its arch enemy Iran.
Iran has continued to work on both its nuclear program as well as its ballistic missiles, despite international criticism has kept Israel and the United States on high alert.
Analysts believe the open of the base is a follow-up move to further watch and curb Iran, whose relationship with the United States has increasingly deteriorated after the U.S. President Donald Trump took office.
After years of tension with the West, Iran struck a deal, known as JCPOA, with the world powers of Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany in July 2015, under which Iran agreed to limit its uranium-enrichment activities in return for the lifting of western and international sanctions.
However, Trump, who during his election campaign had called the Iranian nuclear deal a "disaster" and "the worst deal ever negotiated," approved new economic sanctions on Tehran last month for its missile program, which triggered worries about possible U.S. termination of the nuclear deal with Iran.
To better respond to missile threats, Israel and the United States have been working together to develop several missile defense systems. On Sunday, the IDF opened a new Iron Dome battalion, adding additional defense capabilities to Israel's air defense.
"The American base and the establishment of the new battalion bring more capabilities," Haimovitch stated.
The two countries have long maintained a good rapport with each other in terms of military cooperation, with the United States providing financial support to help develop Israel's military capabilities and Israel keeping an eye on hostile states such as Iran.
Flash
A Chinese woman has been found dead in her apartment near Atlanta, and the police are offering a reward for the whereabouts of the man suspected of killing her, local media reported Tuesday.
The victim, surnamed Li, is believed to be a 28-year-old alumni from Georgia Institute of Technology(GIT). She did not show up for work and was found dead late Monday in her Smyrna apartment by police.
Local police has identified the suspect as 24-year-old Brian Marsh Semrinec, who is believed to be driving Li's 2015 Honda CRV with Georgia tag CDD3152.
The police said Semrinec has been charged with aggravated assault and felony murder, and they offer a 2,000 U.S. dollar-reward for leads.
The Chinese Consulate General in Houston said it will reach out to local police and request a speedy investigation.
The Chinese Students and Scholars Associated of GIT have issued a warning to Chinese in the region to stay safe.
The incident is the second case in four months involving a Chinese woman living in the United States being murdered.
A female Chinese student named Zhang Yingying, who was studying at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, was reported missing on June 9 after entering a car. A suspect was arrested on June 30 but Zhang has not yet been found and is believed to be dead.
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Flash
Chinese President Xi Jinping Wednesday met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Beijing.
Xi said maintaining high-level contact is a tradition established by previous generations of leaders in China and Singapore, which also shows the close relationship between the two countries.
He said he believes that Lee's visit will deepen the traditional friendship between the two sides and promote greater development for bilateral cooperation.
Strengthening political mutual trust and consolidating bilateral relations not only conform with the interests of the two countries and their people, but also benefit regional and world peace, stability and prosperity, he said.
Xi suggested that the two sides adhere to mutual understanding and respect and show mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns.
Lee said he fully agrees with Xi on the evaluation of bilateral ties.
He said Singapore follows the one-China policy, opposes Taiwan independence, and hopes to see a stable and prosperous China.
Lee is paying an official visit to China from Tuesday to Thursday.
China Aviation Daily | Sep. 20, 2017
Airbus has inaugurated its A330 Completion and Delivery Centre (C&DC) in Tianjin, China, taking additional steps in the expansion of its global footprint and strategic partnership with China. At the same time, the first A330 to be delivered from the C&DC was handed over to Tianjin Airlines.
Located at the same site as the Airbus Tianjin A320 Family Final Assembly Line and the Airbus Tianjin Delivery Centre, the A330 C&DC covers the aircraft completion activities including cabin installation, aircraft painting and production flight test, as well as customer flight acceptance and aircraft delivery. Some 150 Chinese staff members of the C&DC were trained by Airbus experts in Toulouse.
The new plant is composed of paint shop, weighing hangar and one main hangar with three aircraft positions covering an area of 16,800m2.The A330 C&DC in Tianjin will employ more than 250 people and is ready to deliver two aircraft per month by early 2019.
"The inauguration of our A330 C&DC in Tianjin, together with the first of many deliveries, marks a new milestone for Airbus' international footprint and underlines the strong spirit of cooperation with our Chinese partners," said Fabrice Bregier, Airbus COO and President of Commercial Aircraft. "Wide-body aircraft completed in China is an Airbus and an industry first which demonstrates our mutual commitment to a strong and growing Chinese aviation sector."
To celebrate C&DC inauguration, a first A330 aircraft was delivered to Tianjin Airlines. The aircraft which was assembled and equipped in Toulouse with Chinese and European staff is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines and is configured in two classes with 260 seats.
By the end of August 2017, the in-service Airbus fleet with Chinese carrier included 1,484 aircraft, 1,282 A320 Family and 202 A330 Family. The A330 is the most popular wide-body aircraft in China operated by nine airlines.
The A330 is one of the world's most efficient and versatile widebody aircraft with best in class operating economics. To date the A330 Family has attracted nearly 1,700 orders and over 1,300 A330 Family aircraft are currently flying with more than 110 operators worldwide. With an operational reliability of 99.5 percent and various product enhancements the A330 Family is the most cost-efficient and capable widebody aircraft to date.
Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2016 it generated revenues of EUR 67 billion and employed a workforce of around 134,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners from 100 to more than 600 seats. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as one of the world's leading space companies. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide.
Contributed by Airbus
To everyone concerned about the recent vicissitudes in China-Singapore relations, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's ongoing China visit, his first state visit since August 2013, is welcome, and it is being perceived as a sign that the soured bilateral ties are recovering.
After months of unease in their relations, the timing alone before Lee's planned visit to the United States and the Communist Party of China's upcoming national congress has bestowed Lee's visit with unusual symbolism, with many reading it as Singapore "repositioning" itself and recalibrating its strategic compass.
Singapore may have been seeking to try and weigh and balance relations with big countries, but a number of unpleasant episodes over the past year sowed rare discomfort between Beijing and Singapore. These began with Singapore urging China to accept the Manila-initiated international "arbitration" over the South China Sea dispute, which Beijing rejected as being illegal and invalid, and culminated in Lee's eye-catching absence from the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in May.
However, China-Singapore relations are resilient and they are able to weather such vicissitudes, in part due to the special thread of kinship between them the majority of Singaporeans being of Chinese origin, a bond that determines a natural closeness.
And from a more utilitarian perspective, China is Singapore's largest trade partner and Singapore is China's largest source of foreign investment. Singapore has helped China tremendously in its pursuit of development. The joint venture programs Lee is visiting in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province, are fine examples of their fruitful partnership. And China's pro-globalization development initiatives, the Belt and Road in particular, will prove more than rewarding to Singapore should it choose to join in.
Singapore holds special significance to Chinese diplomacy not only because of its longstanding role as "middleman" between China and the West, but also because it is the current official coordinator of China-ASEAN relations, and will assume the presidency of ASEAN next year.
Right before coming to China, Lee said if overall relations are good, a steady stream of economic and trade cooperation projects will naturally ensue.
His visit is certainly helping to revive the two sides' previous strong rapport, and clearing the way for the said stream of mutually beneficial projects.
Yet although not widely reported, the fact is, high-level exchanges between the two sides have never stopped, and that, along with Lee's exchange of vows with his Chinese hosts to deepen political trust and upgrade economic cooperation, prove the foundations of bilateral ties are still sound and solid.
By Chen Meiling and Hu Meidong in Xiamen, Fujian | China Daily | Updated: 2017-09-20 08:03
A South African booth at the 2017 China International Fair for Investment & Trade. [Photo/China Daily by Hu Meidong]
E-commerce will become a new engine of business cooperation among BRICS countries to improve both regional and global economic growth, experts said on Tuesday.
"E-commerce can help construct a more convenient custom clearance, modernized logistics and ideal investment environment," said Wang Jinzhen, vice-chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, at the Public-Private Partnership Forum on BRICS E-commerce.
BRICS, which involves Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has 44 percent of the world's populationa potential huge market, Wang said.
The rising middle class group and upgrading consumption structure in those countries also laid a foundation for developing the e-commerce industry, he said.
It's necessary for each member to establish more related laws and regulations and inclusive and sustainable financing and investment systems when conducting overseas business, he added.
The five countries contributed 50 percent to the growth of the global economy, while the business volume only occupied 16 percent.
"With the promotion of modern trading, the number will change," he said.
Wang Zhen, director of the Asian-Pacific region of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, said at the forum that there is great potential for e-commerce cooperation among BRICS countries.
The number of netizens from those countries surpassed 1.46 billion last year, among which about 700 million go shopping online, he said.
The trading volume of the internet retail business reached $800 billion, about 11 percent of which came from cross-border e-commerce, he added.
"E-commerce played an important role in boosting regional economic growth," he said. "It also benefits small and medium-sized companies and provides job opportunities for women and young people."
Common challenges for BRICS countries to develop e-commerce include the less developed information network and logistics, as well as a lack of talent and mature market regulation and credit system, according to the E-commerce Development Report of the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises of BRICS Countries released at the forum.
The report was co-launched by the UNIDO and Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
The solution includes establishing unified international rules, multilateral negotiation and dispute-settlement mechanisms, as well as eliminating tariff barriers, the report said.
BRICS should also promote the sales of each other's major products and simplify the regulation of cross-border trade, it said.
The forum is being held during 2017 China International Fair for Investment and Trade, China's major bilateral investment promotional event held in Xiamen, Fujian province, from Monday to Thursday.
Prints by Reginald Gammon that explore aspects of African American life and history. Runs through 9/30.
Reginald Gammon (1921-2005), originally from Philadelphia, moved to New York City in 1951. He taught in the New York public schools and for 21 years at Western Michigan University. When he retired to New Mexico in 1992 he became active in the arts scene here. Gammon's paintings and prints often explore aspects of African American life and history. He was a member of the black artists' collective, Spiral, with Romare Bearden, Norman Lewis, Hale Woodruff and Emma Amos, among others. He was an avid jazz fan and saw many concerts in New York. Gammon made his own bold interpretations of such artists such as Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong and Lester Young performing. The expressiveness of his lines and color suggest the sounds and cadences of the performances represented on these silent sheets of paper. The juxtaposition of his sensuous nudes with the jazz portraits in this exhibition reflect the multisensory element of jazz syncopation. Gammon once said, "The human physiognomy is as great a landscape as you can find or as great a still life as you can find." These prints were created at New Grounds Print Workshop & Gallery in Albuquerque located just blocks from the Outpost. Gammon was a founding member of New Grounds in 1996. While in New York the artist had worked as a commercial artist, painter and printmaker. Known mainly as a painter, Gammon revived his interest in making prints when he moved to Albuquerque. In 2007-8 New Grounds Gallery and the Albuquerque Museum and the African American Performing Arts Center held exhibitions to honor Gammon and his legacy. In 1997 Gammon showed in the original Inpost Artspace Gallery at the old Outpost on Morningside Dr. Dr. Kymberly Pinder, Dean of the College of Fine Arts at the University of New Mexico has the curated this show on the 20th Anniversary of Gammon's last Inpost Artspace show. FREE!
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. Central Nebraska is preparing for its annual Junk Jaunt, an event described as the state's largest garage sale.
The event will run Friday through Sunday on a 300-mile loop through the region. Vendors and locals will sell food, antiques and other "junk" that many consider treasures.
More than 30 towns are participating in the official event, which is always held the last full weekend in September. Many are located along the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway.
Each year, more than 500 vendors register for the Junk Jaunt. Items listed for sale include farm fresh honey, records, antique musical instruments, cameras, antique furniture, craft items and tools.
HONG KONG - The upcoming signing of a free trade agreement between China's Hong Kong and ASEAN will further boost cooperation between the two sides under the Belt and Road Initiative, said a speaker at a forum on Hong Kong-ASEAN economic relations held here on Tuesday.
The 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) jointly announced earlier this month that they are to sign in November the ASEAN-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement and the ASEAN-Hong Kong Investment Agreement.
Speaking on the prospect of the Hong Kong-ASEAN FTA, Jonathan Choi, chairman of the Hong Kong-based Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, said that the FTA, which covers trade in goods and services, investment, economic and technical cooperation, as well as dispute settlement mechanism, will bring new business opportunities for the two sides and will help Hong Kong explore the rapidly growing consumer market of ASEAN.
Choi made the remarks at the Hong Kong-ASEAN Summit 2017, a forum organized by local radio Metro Finance on the economic and trade relations between Hong Kong and ASEAN.
More than one speaker at the forum talked about the growing share of Asia in the global economy and the increasing importance of the area to Hong Kong.
"The shift in gravity (towards Asia) is speeding up, and this is the biggest structural change" currently in global economy and trade, said one of the speakers, David Carbon, chief economist of DBS bank, who also emphasized ASEAN's increasing importance to Hong Kong.
Closer Hong Kong-ASEAN economic and trade relations will further promote the two sides' cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, Choi said, adding that Hong Kong could play the roles of connector, investor and operator in its cooperation with ASEAN members in projects related to the Belt and Road Initiative.
Professor Chen Kwan Yiu, chairman of HKU School of Professional and Continuing Education, said in the opening speech at the forum that to be a "regional super-connector" along the Belt and Road routes, Hong Kong needs better management of its external economic relations and the signing of Hong Kong-ASEAN FTA is one of the relevant measures.
Proposed by China in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, aiming at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes of Silk Road.
PRAGUE - A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed here Tuesday by Czech and Chinese officials to boost bilateral cooperation in the sphere of general aviation.
According to the document signed by Advisor of the President of the Czech Republic Jan Kohout and a senior official from Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province, the touchpoints and common interests were found in the aircraft manufacturing, light aircraft trade, construction of the general aviation airports, development of air traffic systems, flying security management, and flight personnel training programs.
Representatives of Czech and Chinese aviation enterprises, including Chengdu International Railways Co Ltd, Czech Metrans Inc, among others, have signed a Protocol of Intentions lining up the above prospects.
The event was hosted by New Silk Road Institute Prague (NSRIP) and Chengdu Municipal People's Government in cooperation with the Sino-Czech Aviation Association. In May 2017 Prague became a new member of the Silk Road Think Tank Network held in Beijing.
China's holding of US Treasuries climbed to a 11-month high of $1.17 trillion in July, marking the sixth consecutive month of growth, along with the expansion of the foreign exchange reserve and a strengthened renminbi.
The US Treasury Department said on Monday that China's holdings were $19.5 billion higher than in June and up by $114.9 from January. China remains the largest foreign holder of US Treasuries, $52.9 billion more than Japan.
The value of US Treasuries owned by the Chinese government accounted for about 37.85 percent of its foreign exchange reserve by July, up from 35.06 percent in January, according to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.
An easing of capital outflows and a stronger Chinese currency have facilitated purchases of US Treasuries, said experts, and this trend may continue in the short term.
"Cross-border capital flows and the foreign exchange market's supply-demand situation were generally balanced in August, while the rise of asset prices in global financial markets has pushed the growth of foreign exchange reserve," a statement of the SAFE said on Monday.
Further stabilized cross-border capital flows in the future will keep the foreign exchange reserve within a "reasonable and moderate" range, it said.
The country's foreign exchange reserve grew for seven consecutive months to $3.09 trillion by August, after a seven-month drop to a record low of $2.998 trillion in January.
A stronger renminbi has boosted the increase in the foreign exchange reserve, while capital outflow pressures have been released, said Wen Bin, chief researcher with China Minsheng Bank. His expectation of a steady growth of Chinese economy in the remaining four months this year will support a relatively stable renminbi exchange rate.
"But its fast appreciation earlier this month may be replaced by a two-way fluctuation against the US dollar", said Wen, who suggested further improving the market-oriented reform of the exchange rate mechanism.
The yuan has appreciated more than 5 percent against the US dollar so far this year, almost offsetting the 7 percent weakening in 2016.
By Zheng Xin in Beijing and Cecily Liu in London | China Daily | Updated: 2017-09-20 07:27
Chinese nuclear power giant China General Nuclear Power Corp said on Monday it is exploring a bid to invest in Toshiba's troubled 15-billion-pound ($20 billion) nuclear power station on the Cumbrian coast in northwestern England.
Huang Xiaofei, a spokesman for CGN, told China Daily the company is prepared to bid to make an equity investment in NuGeneration, the company behind Moorside, utilizing CGN's more than 30 years of experience in nuclear design, construction and operation to support the UK nuclear industry's development.
The State-owned company already holds a 33.5 percent stake in the Hinkley Point in Somerset, has a 20 percent holding in a scheme at Sizewell in Suffolk, and a 66.5 percent share in the Bradwell power station in Essex.
Known as Moorside, the power station is projected to generate 3.8 gigawatts of power, which is enough to supply electricity to up to 6 million households in the United Kingdom.
Analysts said CGN's attempt to explore a bid for the reactor project is part of its effort to use the UK as a springboard to further export its HPR1000 nuclear technology globally.
"Should CGN actually get the deal it would give tremendous boost in its bid to export its experience and know-how abroad," said Joseph Jacobelli, a senior analyst of Asia utilities at Bloomberg Intelligence
"China is definitely one of the technology leaders, and its experience in China and strong policy and financing backing for overseas projects would help the company."
According to a report on China's power utilities M&A trends by Bloomberg Intelligence, domestic and overseas M&As by Chinese electric power utilities are expected to accelerate in the next few quarters thanks to financial strength and policy support.
Jacobelli also warns that CGN may face hurdles including the possibility that the UK may not want a more diversified group of companies running its nuclear generation industry.
NuGeneration, which is more commonly known as NuGen, was a 60-40 percent joint venture between Japan's Toshiba and France's Engie. Earlier this year, Engie quit the consortium by selling its 40 percent stake to Toshiba.
Engie's departure from the consortium triggered Toshiba to contemplate selling NuGen. Several bidders have expressed an interest in buying into the ownership of NuGen.
File photo shows the national flags of China and US. [Photo/IC]
US President Donald Trump's forthcoming visit to China might lead to breakthroughs in trade and economic relations between the two countries and there is "a good chance" that the US will drop the 301 investigation against China, a former US trade negotiator said.
Deborah Lehr, who was a lead negotiator for China's WTO accession at the Office of the US Trade Representative and former director of Asian Affairs at the US National Security Council, said whether the US would drop the investigation will depend on the progress made by the two sides over the next six months.
Hopes are that political issues such as the situation on the Korean Peninsula will not spill over into the economic sphere, said Lehr, who is now the chief executive of Basilinna, a strategic business consulting firm focused on China and the Middle East.
"Fortunately, the Trump administration and the Chinese government are in very active discussion about ways of rebalancing the economic relationship, particularly in the context of the comprehensive economic dialogue," she said.
Trump has accepted Xi's invitation to visit China this year. Chinese officials have said that Beijing is ready to work with Washington to ensure that Trump's visit yields positive outcomes.
The trade relations between the world's two largest economies experienced a bump after the Trump administration formally launched the "Section 301" investigation last month under a rarely used 1974 trade law against China over intellectual property issues.
Lehr said the trade challenges are a reflection of the growing bilateral economic relationship between the two countries, which she believed can withstand certain level of disagreement.
Beijing and Washington have sought to resolve economic issues and settle disagreement through the Comprehensive Economic Dialogue, which was established by Xi and Trump in April, representing the highest-level bilateral economic forum.
"Unfortunately, the CED in Washington didn't result in developments. We are hopeful that the next one might take place during Trump's visit to China and could potentially lead to some more breakthroughs," she said.
While China has been demanding greater US high-tech exports, Lehr said the US is hoping that China could cut investment restrictions and lift the equity cap for US companies in sectors including the financial service and automobile industries.
Chinese trade experts have expressed similar views, hoping that the Trump's visit to China this year could be an opportunity for Beijing and Washington to iron out differences in bilateral trade investment issues.
"Both sides need to take positive steps to ensure the visit (is) an effective and a fruitful one," said Wei Jianguo, vice-president of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges and a former vice-minister of commerce.
"China has become a major market for US exports including high-tech goods, machineries, agricultural products and consumer goods. A trade war will definitely not be in the interest of the US," he said.
A corner of the Yanjiyou Bookstore in the upmarket commercial district of Xintiandi in Shanghai. Expanding the experience of customers has been key to the company's business philosophy. [Photo/China Daily by Gao Erqiang]
Private investment is helping to fuel the boom in newlook Chinese bookstores.
Cultural events, book launches and "public readings" are changing the landscape of an industry that looked to be in decline.
"Social investment in the bookstore sector is a trend," said Peng Weiguo, vice-director of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Press and Publication during the city's book fair in August.
"This is helping traditional bookstores develop into diverse, colorful (places)," he added.
Last month about 40 bookshops in Shanghai hosted an array of events during the book fair. These included the launch of new titles and "reading events".
Yanjiyou Bookstores was one of the "branch venues" for the fair.
Part of the privately-owned Yanjiyou Culture Communication Co franchise chain, it has eight shops in Shanghai and 30 across China.
By the end of the year, it plans to open another two stores in the city and increase its presence in Hangzhou in Zhejiang province and Nanjing in Jiangsu province, as well as the major Pearl River Delta cities.
Expanding the experience for customers is key to the company's philosophy.
"Consumers want more than just books from us," said Zhou Juan, general manager of Yanjiyou in East China.
Originally known as "Reading Today", the company started as a community book rental business in Sichuan province.
Under threat from online rivals, it made the strategic decision in 2008 to go upmarket by moving into shopping centers.
In the past few years, Yanjiyou has teamed up with commercial real estate developers to open outlets in malls dotted around urban China.
Back in 2015, the company set up a store in the upmarket commercial district of Xintiandi in Shanghai.
While bookshelves cover the walls from floor to ceiling, the 500-square-meter store has a coffee bar and a leisure area that can be transformed into a lecture hall.
Like many other bookshops, Yanjiyou also sells cultural and lifestyle items, such as imported hand drip coffee pots.
"Book sales alone can not guarantee the survival of a bookstore," said Zhou. "In fact, sales take up around 40 percent of the business volume."
To cater for these "lifestyle" customers, Yanjiyou has opened a series of much larger outlets of 3,000 sq m as it diversifies its business model.
"We have a bigger activity area in the large stores," Zhou said. "We can have handicraft workshops, galleries, photographic studios and florists, which are all about art, culture and lifestyles."
The Mix Place in the Hengshanfang area of Shanghai is smaller but just as active. In 2016, it hosted 91 events, including art exhibitions, design shows and film nights.
Linghu Lei, manager of the Mix Place, has turned the shop into a culture center for the city's art lovers.
On weekends, the store stays open until midnight because "a large number of our clientele are night owls, who feel free at night".
In Shanghai, the city's cultural administration departments regularly host meetings with bookstore managers.
"They (the government) help to channel and bridge different sectors, and introduce policies and resources we can directly benefit from," Zhou said.
Naturally, book launches have proved incredible popular. Feng Tao and his colleagues at the Shanghai Translation Publishing House have put on a variety of events for Yanjiyou Bookstores in major cities across the country.
During the Shanghai Book Fair, Feng launched the complete translated works of George Orwell, the English novelist, essayist, journalist and critic, who wrote Animal Farm, Nineteen Eighty-Four, The Road to Wigan Pier, and Down and Out in Paris and London.
His works were first published in the 1930s and 1940s.
"It is common practice for book events to take place in bookstores which have a reading space or cafeteria," Feng said.
"They usually let authors and editors use the space free of charge, as long as they trust the reputation of your institution and the quality of your books," he added.
NYSE-listed laboratory equipment provider Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc has launched a precision medicine customer experience center in Guangzhou as it eyes significant investments in China, its second-largest market.
Located in the Guangzhou International Bio-Island, the 600 square meter center showcases its products and services in genomics, proteomics and metabolomics.
It also serves as a hub for partnerships with its clients for establishing standard precision medicine platforms, and for joint research and development.
By using genetic testing, molecular imaging and other medical technologies, precision medicine analyzes a patient's genetic makeup, medical history and lifestyle, before offering customized prevention and treatment for diseases such as cancer.
Precision medicine is listed as one of the new strategic industries to receive support in the country's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) period.
Breakthroughs in precision medicine are among the goals in the Health China 2030 blueprint issued by the State Council last year.
At the first experts' meeting on precision medicine strategy hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2015, it was announced that investment totalling 60 billion yuan ($13.7 billion) was expected in this sector by 2030, including 20 billion yuan from the central government.
The support from the government and the participation by businesses are accelerating the development of this sector, with 20 percent to 25 percent annual compounded growth by 2020 forecast, according to a report of Qianzhan Industry Research Institute.
Since spending in health care as a proportion of the GDP remains relatively low in China compared with some other countries, the sustainability of healthcare goes to more precise medicine, said Gianluca Pettiti, president of Thermo Fisher Scientific China.
"There is a no better place than China today to fulfill our mission. The aging population, the incidents of chronic disease, and the goal of sustainable health care for all the Chinese people require better diagnosis and therapies at the right cost," he said.
"The market is developing very fast ... with great opportunity in the next five years for health care players," he said.
China is the second largest market of Thermo Fisher after North America.
The company will continue to invest significantly in the next few years in the country in sectors including precision medicine, food safety, environmental testing and cooperation with academic institutions, he said.
The company runs 21 offices, six factories, five labs and an innovation center in China, supplying analytical instruments, lab equipment, chemical reagents, consumables and software.
BEIJING - China's asset management businesses expanded at a slower rate in the first nine months of the year amid tightened regulation, according to industry data.
Assets under management totaled 54.09 trillion yuan ($8.25 trillion) as of Sept 10, up 4.9 percent from the end of 2016, according to the self-regulated Asset Management Association of China (AMAC) on Tuesday.
In 2016, the annual growth rate of asset management businesses was more than 30 percent.
Compared with the end of 2016, the scale of publicly offered funds went up 22.3 percent to 11.2 trillion yuan, while the scale of private investment funds went up 31.2 percent to 10.25 trillion yuan.
During the same period, asset management businesses of fund subsidiaries shrank 24.7 percent while those of futures companies went down 24.3 percent.
The slower growth came as authorities stepped up efforts to contain risks arising from wealth management products, with major financial regulatory bodies rolling out policies to identify and punish illegal activities.
According to Hong Lei, head of AMAC, while the tightened regulation gradually takes effect, there are still issues which need to be solved, such as growing liquidity risks in asset management products.
HELSINKI - Chinese digital payment platform Alipay has got the endorsement by Finnish authorities to promote the use of the paying method.
Finpro, an umbrella organization comprising sectors that promote tourism, investment and export for Finland, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Alipay on Monday to enhance the cooperation.
The number of overnight stays by Chinese tourists in Finland from January to July this year grew by 43 percent compared with last year, which is the fastest growth among all foreigners, according to Heli Mende, head of global sales promotion of Visit Finland, a tourism industry committee under Finpro.
Mende said it is very important to understand the needs of travelers coming to Finland so that they can enjoy better travel experiences.
"Alipay is a perfect example of this kind of development, and we can make it easier for travelers to come to Finland, to go to restaurants, to buy souvenirs, or to pay their accommodation in hotels and so on," she said.
The access of Alipay has increased rapidly in the Nordic, with a global off-line shopping festival was launched in the Arctic city of Rovaniemi last year, and the first on-board Alipay was activated on Finnair flights early this year.
Stockmann, a leading department store in the Nordic, also introduced Alipay as one of its payment tools earlier this month. Stockmann Group's CEO Lauri Veijalainen said the Chinese payment system is straight-forward and client-friendly, which coincides with the high-level services that Stockmann is well known for.
"Alipay with its all supplementary products will be a very good part of that (Stockmann's service), from today actually," said Veijalainen, referring to the installation of Alipay system in the Stockmann flagship in central Helsinki starting on Monday.
Rita Liu, Alipay's chief in Europe, said the cooperation with Finnish authorities would further explore the scenarios that have access to Alipay and thus better serve Chinese tourists.
"Chinese not only can buy things abroad with Alipay, they can also have fun at more recreational facilities with more information at hand and easier payment methods," she told Xinhua after the MOU was signed.
Apart from tourism, the utilization of Alipay will also enable faster growth of business exchange between China and Finland, said Antti Aumo, Vice President of Finpro.
"Whether it is export of goods from China to Finland, from Finland to China or investments from China to Finland, all those will result in the increase in business travel," he said.
"Alipay is a significant payment platform in China. It makes it easier in increasing the business travelers to be able to pay with the financial instrument that you are familiar with in your home market," added Aumo.
LONDON - Eight of London's fastest-growing tech companies are in China this week in a drive to forge stronger trade links, win new business opportunities and show that London is open for business, London & Partners, the Mayor of London's official promotional agency, said on Tuesday.
The eight entrepreneurs are visiting Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong as part of an international trade mission organized by the Mayor of London's International Business Program (MIBP).
The businesses travelling to China represent some of the most innovative B2B tech companies in London, spanning medicine, education and fintech. They include Boclips, the world's largest video library for education, Medical Realities, a VR teaching and training platform for medical students, and Opportunity Network, which connects CEOs and business leaders with potential mergers and acquisitions.
According to London & Partner, China and London have long-standing business connections. The amount of Chinese investment into London has increased more than ten-fold since 2006. In the first half of 2017, Chinese investors have committed 180 million pounds ($243 million) to the capital, nearly double the amount seen in the first seven months of 2016 (53 million pounds).
Rajesh Agrawal, Deputy Mayor for Business, said: "China is the fastest growing large economy in the world and is emerging as a tech and innovation powerhouse. It makes perfect sense for these companies to visit the country and develop closer ties.
"London and China already have an excellent trading relationship and I wish these eight companies the best of luck as they look for new trade and investment opportunities," he added.
The trade mission to China is the latest overseas visit organized by the Mayor's International Business program, which helps the capital's high-growth firms to break into new international markets or grow their existing operations overseas.
London & Partners is the Mayor of London's official promotional agency. Its purpose is to support the Mayor's priorities by promoting London internationally.
The Mayor's International Business Program, is a program partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) which aims to support high-growth companies in the life sciences, technology and urban sectors to increase their export success across a range of key markets in Europe, Asia and North America.
The attorneys general of Nebraska and 40 other states are demanding documents and information from eight pharmaceutical companies as part of a multistate investigation into the nation's opioid epidemic.
Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson and his colleagues announced the move Tuesday afternoon. Peterson's office joined the investigation in June.
The information will help determine whether the companies "engaged in unlawful practices in the marketing, sale and distribution of opioids," the Nebraska Attorney General's Office said in a news release.
Opioids are the main driver of drug overdose deaths in Nebraska and nationwide. They were involved in 33,091 deaths across the U.S. in 2015, including 126 in Nebraska.
Peterson's office said investigative subpoenas, also known as civil investigative demands, were sent Monday to drugmakers Endo Pharmaceuticals, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceuticals' Cephalon, Allergan and their related entities. They also served a supplemental subpoena to Purdue Pharma.
The states also sent "information demand letters" to distributors AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson.
The opioid crisis this nation faces today is, in part, due to the past actions of certain players in the pharmaceutical industry," Peterson said. "The goal of this investigation is to determine who in the industry should bear responsibility under our consumer protection laws."
DUBAI - Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), the biggest industry free zone in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), said on Tuesday that it has signed a deal with China to boost bilateral trade and economic ties.
DMCC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Xi'an International Trade & Logistics Park in central China's Shaanxi province at the Xi'an Dubai Free Trade Zone Economic Cooperation Conference 2017 held in China, DMCC said in an e-mailed statement.
The purpose of the MoU is to open doors for businesses in the UAE and China hoping to expand into new markets as well as organizing joint trade missions and economic delegations, the statement said.
Both sides also aim "to work together on creating a joint special economic zone passport for easier and more seamless cross-border trade and collaboration," it added.
Gautam Sashittal, chief executive officer of DMCC, said developing "closer ties in China" has become "a priority for DMCC."
"By signing this agreement with the Xi'an International Trade & Logistics Park, we aim to further help member companies in our Free Zone connect and trade across China and the UAE, while easing barriers to doing business globally," he said.
Xi'an International Trade & Logistics Park was established to help Xi'an, the capital city of Shaanxi, adjust its industrial structure and upgrade its service industry, in order to make the city an inland logistic hub.
As the starting point of the Silk Road in ancient times, Xi'an is playing an important role in the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, which aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along and beyond the ancient trade routes.
According to DMCC, China remains the UAE's top trading partner, with annual non-oil trade at about $46 billion.
Earlier this month, the UAE's Ministry of Economy announced that the country's investment in China totalled $2.1 billion in 2016.
Last week, DMCC announced it signed a MoU with the China Chamber of International Commerce to explore the possibility of establishing a joint business council, organizing bilateral trade delegations, as well as enhancing collaboration in the legal service sector.
People speak together near a scale model of an Airbus A330-200 during the Airbus annual news conference in Colomiers, near Toulouse January 13, 2015.[Photo/Agencies]
Europe's largest aerospace company Airbus SE opens its first overseas completion and delivery center for wide-body aircraft in Tianjin, North China, on Wednesday, Bloomberg News reports.
The center inaugurated by Chief Operating Officer Fabrice Bregier is designed to give finishing touches such as painting and cabin installation to A330 aircraft and aims to roll out two planes a month in a year, according to the report.
Tianjin,a city close to Beijing, is already home to assembly plant that produces single-aisle A319s and A320s.
This is a strategic move to position the company to chase billions of dollars in potential orders from an aviation market in China that's set to become the world's biggest within a decade, the report said.
Airbus China CEO Chen Juming said Chinese aviation market is expected to grow rapidly and Airbus is committed to have long-term stable cooperation with China.
"We are fully confident in the Chinese market, which is set to be the largest civil aviation market in the world," Chen said at the 17the aviation expo in Beijing.
The company predicts that the aviation sector in China and other emerging regions will double the pace of mature markets of North America and Western Europe in the next decades.
"Chinese travelers on average took only 0.4 flights in 2016, a quarter of the United States. But China has a population more than four times the latter, providing enormous room for growth," Chen said.
The growth rate of international aviation market is close to 30 percent in the past five years, and over 50 million international trips were made by Chinese in 2016, up 22.7 percent from the previous year.
Chen said the growth rate is expected to continue for a long time in the future and the Belt and Road Initiative will create new chances for the sector.
Airbus has established five joint ventures in China, covering training and support, engineering, final assembly and composite manufacturing. The company has expanded cooperation with Chinese firms in areas including aeronautic manufacturing, air traffic management, and research and technology, Xinhua reported.
Airbus has reached new industrial cooperation worth $500 million in 2015 and the figure is expected to hit $1 billion by 2010, according to Xinhua.
China introduced the first Airbus aircraft in 1985 and by the end of Aug 31, 2017, nearly 1,500 are being operated by Chinese airlines, accounting for around half of the total fleet of aircraft over 100 seats in the country.
BEIJING - China continued to be Israel's fastest growing source of tourists in the first seven months of this year, according to Israel's top tourism official.
Over 64,000 Chinese tourists visited Israel from January to July this year, up 66 percent year on year, outpacing the global average of 17 percent year on year, Yariv Levin, Israeli Minister of Tourism said during his first official visit to China.
Levin attributed the rapid growth in Chinese tourists to more convenient transportation as there are now direct flights to Israel's commercial hub Tel Aviv from Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Israel's tourism ministry has stepped up cooperation with Chinese online tourism platforms. It signed a strategic cooperation agreement with China's largest online travel agency Ctrip earlier this month to promote the country's unique tourism resources in a targeted manner.
Travelling overseas has become a popular choice among increasingly affluent Chinese. Data from China National Tourism Administration shows that about 62 million overseas trips were made in the first half of this year, up 5 percent year on year.
To meet the demands of the growing Chinese market, the Israeli tourism ministry has increased training of tourist guides and is building a Chinese version of its official website, according to Levin.
BEIJING - China's value-added tax (VAT) reform, a key part of supply-side economic reform, has given impetus to economic growth and boosted entrepreneurship.
The VAT reform, which replaced all business taxes with value-added tax, was first piloted in Shanghai in 2012. It was expanded nationwide from May 1, 2016, with construction, real estate, financial and consumer services sectors included in the VAT regime.
Tangible goods have been subject to VAT for some time, but the levy on services was imposed on the value of a firm's sales. Such a crude system resulted in a tax on tax. VAT avoids this, as it is applied to the value added at each link in the production chain.
China's VAT rate structure was further cut from four to three tiers (6 percent, 11 percent and 17 percent) starting from July 2017, with tax rates for farm produce, tap water and books reduced from 13 to 11 percent.
Statistics from the Ministry of Finance showed that the reform has so far saved more than 1.6 trillion yuan ($244 billion) in taxes for businesses since 2012. From May 2016 to June 2017, taxes were reduced by over 850 billion yuan.
However, a lighter tax burden is not the central government's only aim, or it could have just cut business tax rates. An across-the-board replacement with VAT has far more significance on China's economic development.
Expanding VAT reform across all industries will encourage the development of the service sector, support an industry upgrade, stimulate consumption and support supply-side structural reform.
"The reform has streamlined the tax system, reduced double taxation and broken taxation barriers between manufacturing and service sectors to increase the weight of the service sector in China's economy," said Hu Genrong, a senior tax consultant with the PricewaterhouseCoopers.
China is counting on services, particularly high value-added services in finance and technology, to lessen the economy's traditional reliance on heavy industry and investment.
The service sector, which contributed 59.1 percent to economic growth in the first half of the year, has maintained strong growth. The service sector production index rose 8.3 percent in July, up from 7.8 percent for the same month of 2016, official data showed.
The government is also looking to the VAT reform to stimulate mass innovation and create an amicable climate for private enterprises through reducing corporate burdens.
"The reform has given rise to innovation, entrepreneurship and the development of new business models," said economist Zhang Lianqi, who is also a national political advisor.
Private firms, mostly small and medium-sized businesses, generate about 60 percent of China's GDP and around 80 percent of the country's jobs.
The government has moved to lower corporate burdens as part of the country's supply-side structural reform in past few years. A government work report released in March promised around 350 billion yuan in corporate tax cuts and around 200 billion yuan in reductions to business fees in 2017.
According to a report released by the World Bank, China's ranking in terms of the ease of doing business has moved up eight spots every year from 2013 to 2016, while the country's ranking for the ease of starting businesses climbed 31 places during that period.
To set up a sound, pro-business environment, the central government aims to further streamline taxation procedures and introduce information technology to make them easier and more efficient, according to a statement released after a State Council executive meeting last month.
It will also improve the situation in sectors including manufacturing, finance and construction, optimize the tax structure and set a reasonable tax rate.
Laws will be revised as soon as possible to reflect the new system, it said.
Jiang Tai Insurance Brokerage Co Ltd, one of the country's largest insurance brokers, is committed to building up three platforms to help Chinese enterprises expand overseas, according to the company's chairman.
"With a better insurance coverage, deep understanding of potential risks and an online platform about overseas investment opportunities, we hope three platforms can help more Chinese companies go global smoothly," said Shen Kaitao, chairman of Jiangtai Insurance Broker Co.
The first platform is an annual conference on risks facing Chinese enterprises. The forum has been held for three years, attracting more than 3,000 enterprises, nearly 7,000 participants and more than 130 international experts.
The second platform is Utou Space, a third-party cross-border investment and trade service platform which provides a one-stop solution to risks and problems Chinese enterprises are likely to encounter during the overseas investment.
The third platform is Dajiuxing, an assistance service platform for Chinese traveling overseas as well as foreigners in China. It can quickly match the assistance service providers with the clients to meet their needs for medical emergencies or other travel-related assistance, said Shen.
The risk map for Chinese enterprises' going global will be released on March 20 of 2018, Shen added.
Technical workers assemble engines at a plant in Yiwu, Zhejiang province.[Photo provided for China Daily]
Forecast for economic growth higher due to infrastructure investment
China's economic growth will reach 6.8 percent year-on-year in 2017, although it may moderate next year to 6.6 percent, according to a forecast released on Wednesday by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Analysts said the growth of the world's second-largest economy remains on track despite weakening indicators for August.
In a report analyzing the growth prospects of the world economy, the OECD adjusted its forecast of China's GDP growth this year from 6.6 percent in its previous forecast in June to 6.8 percent, citing its brisk public infrastructure investment.
It also said China's strong growth has benefited emerging market economies. "Growth in the major emerging market economies has improved overall, helped by a rebound in some commodity producers and public infrastructure investment in China," the report said.
"Strong import demand from China in the early part of 2017 has been a key driver of the higher than anticipated growth in the region," it said.
It added that growth in China is likely to moderate next year, as stimulus measures ease and efforts continue to stabilize corporate debt and rebalance the economy.
China's GDP growth picked up to 6.9 percent in the first half of this year, up from 6.7 percent in the same period of 2016.
As China's economic fundamentals improve, international institutions have generally raised their forecasts of China's growth and expressed more confidence in the country's prospects in recent months, although indicators have pointed to slight weakening of the economy in August.
Official data released last week showed that a host of indicators for August, such as retail sales and fixed-asset investment, missed market expectations.
"The underlying health of China's economy remains relatively firm," said UBS China economists in a research note. The investment bank said China's growth remains "on track" although it may soften from 6.9 percent in the second quarter to 6.7-6.8 percent in the third quarter. China's growth for the whole year could reach 6.8 percent, it said.
Despite the still strong growth prospects, analysts agreed that China needs to tackle challenges such as a piling up of debt, especially corporate and local government debt, and the rebalancing of the economic structure.
The OECD suggested that China's policymakers should "aim to reduce the heavy reliance of economic growth on credit, thus targeting actions toward reducing the risks stemming from the significant accumulation of corporate and local government debt".
Staff of Alibaba's online shopping platform Tmall cheer as its sales volume surpasses 120 billion yuan during the Singles Day shopping spree in 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]
Delivery firms and pickup stations are getting ready for the world's largest shopping festival on Nov 11 organized by e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, as its logistics arm Cainiao Network Technology Co Ltd prepares for the event with a vast, military-scale campaign.
The number of parcels generated from the Singles Day promotion from Nov 11 through 16 is projected to smash last year's record of 657 million to hit 1 billion, putting mounting pressure on couriers as they overcome traffic congestion to satiate customers' appetite for sameday delivery, said Yu Yan, an official in charge of courier supervision under the State Post Bureau.
Yu called for enhanced coordination among vendors, couriers and pickup stations, especially in counties and townships, to ensure smooth "last-mile" delivery. She added the bureau would constantly update peak-shopping alerts to notify both suppliers and consumers.
Cainiao, which connects a consortium of Chinese delivery firms, will give a subsidy of 1.5 billion yuan ($228.4 million) to its partners to encourage the adoption of big data technologies for precise demand prediction, said company vice-president Shi Miao.
For instance, it can derive intelligent algorithm to narrow users' shopping intentions via Tmall and its sister platforms and forecast prospective sought-after items. Through data-sharing, vendors can adjust inventory across a number of key warehouses to avoid the overwhelming influx of parcels within hours.
Effects are profound. It took two days to reach the 100 million benchmark for parcel delivery during the 2013 sales. Last year, that figure dropped to 12 hours. Shi said the company is aiming for a further reduction this year.
Cainiao has also installed 200,000 parcel pickup boxes nationwide and established hundreds of thousands of service stations where consumers can fetch delivery of online-ordered goods. In rural areas, Cainiao is working with regional "last-mile" delivery firms.
This year's gala also features the establishment of eco-friendly facilities. In May, Cainiao pledged investment in 1 million new-energy vehicles and linked them onto a smart logistics platform, which can trim the rate at which its cars travel empty and reduce the driving distance.
In a greener push, Cainiao will promote the use of electronic delivery receipts and put to use 20 prototyped warehouses that use recyclable and degradable materials for packaging, Shi noted.
The over 90 percent adoption rate of digital delivery forms at Yunda Express has significantly helped accelerate the collection and dispatch of parcels and is environmentally friendly, said Lai Shiqiang, Yunda's senior vice-president. With the support of big data, the number of Yunda-handled parcels jumped 45 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2017.
Debuted nine years ago, the Nov 11 campaign emerged as a marketing ploy for the celebration of singles but quickly spawned into a massive shopping extravaganza that eclipsed the scale of Black Friday in the US. Sales in 2016 for the 24-hour shopping binge reached 120.7 billion yuan.
As the second China-Russia New Media Forum approaches, five university students are in Russia to work with 11 young partners there to prepare for the event.
Recruitment of the five took a month, including a thorough selection and interview process of applicants from more than 20 universities nationwide.
The five selectedWei Danyang, Peking University; Lan Juxin, Communication University of China; Wu Yuhong, Jinan University; Jiang Jie, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies; and Zhao Zijian, Tianjin Normal Universityfinally stood out.
A farewell meeting for them was held last week in Beijing, and they visited China Daily and spoke with journalists before departing.
Han Lei, editor-in-chief of chinadaily.com.cn, attended the farewell meeting and expressed her hopes and wishes for the student delegation. The five students traveled to Rostov-on-Don on Friday and started eight days of activities beginning in the port city and regional administrative center. The visit is led by Li Jun, deputy editor-in-chief of chinadaily.com.cn, and Professor Wu Fei of the School of Journalism and Communication at Jinan University.
According to Li, Chinese and Russian student delegations at the forum will discuss new trends, new media and new technology about the use of the internet. They will work together to make a themed video about the Don River.
The second China-Russia New Media Forum is one of the more important activities under the "China-Russia Media Exchange Year "umbrella. It is another important cultural exchange activity between the two nations following the previous "Year of Nation", "Year of Language", "Year of Tourism" and "Year of Youth". China-Russian media cooperation is expected to become even more important in the future.
This annual activity is organized by the China Daily website and Don State Technical University and supported by China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television and the Russian Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications.
The forum's aim is to build a high-level exchange platform to strengthen cooperation, help increase content, technology and personnel exchanges and deepen friendship between Chinese and Russian media.
Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen have been China's top three leading cities for mass entrepreneurship and innovation for two years in a row, according to a ranking released by big data company Youedata and National Business Daily.
The entrepreneurial conditions and climate are relatively mature in the three cities, the report said.
The index for mass entrepreneurship and innovation of 17 Chinese cities, in which China's first batch of 28 demonstration bases for mass entrepreneurship and innovation approved by the General Office of the State Council last year are located, was measured in the ranking.
It reviewed the mass entrepreneurship and innovation situation and trend in the 17 cities, taking four major factors: the environment, vitality, capability and effectiveness into evaluation.
Benefiting from the local government's support, talents and capital, Chengdu, capital city of Southwest China's Sichuan province, comes fourth in the ranking, followed by Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province.
The mass entrepreneurship and innovation program has been in full swing in China since it was initiated by Premier Li Keqiang at the 2014 Summer Davos in Tianjin.
This year's National Mass Entrepreneurship and Innovation Week will run from Sep 15 to 21 in Beijing.
Let's take a look at China's top 10 cities best for mass entrepreneurship and innovation this year.
No 10 Hefei
Index: 63.32
A worker arranges an Intel logo at the CeBIT trade fair in Hannover March 13, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]
US semiconductor maker says nation outpacing world in chip production
Intel Corp said on Tuesday that it will step up efforts to grow its semiconductor manufacturing business in China, as the US chip giant brings advanced technologies to the country.
In its latest move to outcompete rivals such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co in the foundry business, which lets other chip makers use its semiconductor fabrication plants, Intel is bringing new technologies to China to tap into the local internet of things and mobile sector.
Zane Ball, vice-president of the technology and manufacturing group at Intel, said at a news conference that China consumed about 58.5 percent of worldwide chips, and it accounted for 25 percent of the global fabless industry.
Fabless manufacturing is the design and sale of semiconductor chips while outsourcing the fabrication (or "fab") of the devices to a specialized manufacturer called a semiconductor foundry.
"Both China's semiconductor production and consumption revenues continued to outpace those of the global market, further solidifying its position as a key player in the chip sector," Ball said.
Sensing the huge potential in China, Intel is bringing to local partners its 14-nanometer chip manufacturing technology and a new, low-cost technology called 22FFL, which can effectively make chips for low-power internet of things and mobile products.
Spreadtrum Communications Inc, a major Chinese semiconductor maker, is already leveraging Intel's 14-nanometer technology to produce mobile chips.
According to Intel, it is also making efforts to build a better ecosystem to support the foundry business, including offering design kits, silicon proven intellectual properties, as well as innovative chip package and test capabilities.
Intel is locked in competition with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co and Samsung Electronics Co in the foundry sector.
Roger Sheng, a senior analyst at research company Gartner Inc, said Intel is expanding its presence in the foundry business, which can make the best use of its industry-leading production lines.
"But as it introduces more advanced manufacturing technologies to China, more efforts will be needed to upgrade existing plants. To reduce costs, it may also find a local partner to jointly establish a new factory," Sheng said.
On Tuesday, Intel also forcast that by 2020, China will produce about more than one fifth of global data and the market size of China's information communication technology sector will exceed $530 billion.
Jia Yueting, founder of LeEco, poses for a photo at LeEco headquarters in Beijing, April 22, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]
Leshi Holding (Beijing) Co, the company controlled by LeEco founder Jia Yueting, has repaid debt of more than 100 million yuan ($15 million) to its suppliers, according to a report by Securities Daily.
"Leshi Holding signed repayment deals with 28 suppliers last week and will do it with another 27 suppliers this week," a Leshi Holding insider told Securities Daily on Tuesday.
Most of the suppliers that have reached settlements with Leshi Holding are smartphone store contractors of LeMobile's LePhone, the report said.
Leshi Holding said the company received a thank-you note from suppliers for paying back their money and those who were stationed at LeEco headquarters in Beijing to collect their debts for months have disbursed, tech.qq.com reported.
However, 20 LeMobile suppliers told media they have yet to receive any repayments from Jia.
"There is a large part of Leshi's arrearage that remains to be resolved. For the rest of repayment plans, we are still trying to raise funds to address them one by one. We hope suppliers can give us a little more time," a Leshi Holding insider said, Securities Daily reported.
According to sources, Jia has been frequently shuttling between Hong Kong and the United States and has made progress in raising funding, the report said.
Last Friday, a photo of Jia having lunch at a restaurant in Hong Kong was posted on Twitter-like Weibo by a person who ran into him, finance.ifeng.com reported.
A Leshi Holding official told finance.ifeng.com Jia was in Hong Kong for two major reasons.
"One is to wrestle with the debt issue of Leshi's unlisted companies and further promote the implementation plan, another is for Leshi's automobile business, especially meeting and negotiating with investors for Faraday Future's financing."
Faraday Future, an electric vehicle startup based in the US that has developed a strategic cooperative partnership with Leshi since last January, might be the place where Jia's ambition is settled currently.
In August, he announced on his personal social media accounts that his team was working to deliver high-quality production car and Faraday Future will build a new plant in Hanford in California.
Securities Daily said Jia and his Leshi Holding have repaid a debt of around 20 billion yuan since the end of last year, of which 16 billion yuan was owed to financial institutions and the rest to suppliers.
As of this July, Leshi Holding still owed a loan of 13.85 billion yuan to financial institution, which include three banks, trust funds and several small and medium-sized financial institutions, Securities Daily reported.
It means Leshi Holding has not paid any of its debt until this 100 million yuan repayment to its suppliers since its assets was frozen by China Merchants Bank earlier July, the report said.
After China Merchants Bank applied for a property preservation order to block the 1.24 billion yuan of assets owned by Jia, his wife and three affiliated companies in June, Shanghai High People's Court froze 15.9 billion yuan worth of Jia's stocks in Leshi Internet Information and Technology Corp due to unpaid interest on debt.
In July, Jia resigned from all his positions at Leshi but still owns around 26.27 percent shares of the listed company as its largest shareholder, thepaper.cn reported.
Late on Tuesday, Leshi released an statement to Shenzhen Stock Exchange, saying its founder Jia did not fulfill his commitment of lending the capital he got by selling his stakes in Leshi to the listed company.
In addition, on September 7, Leshi Holding and LeMobile were listed as the dishonest debtors on China's highest level credit default blacklist.
Eduardo Campos, founder and CEO of Parafuzo, introduces his company at a roadshow in Beijing on Sept 19, 2017. [Photo by Song Jingli/chinadaily.com.cn]
Encouraged by China's success stories in the internet sector, the founders of eight Brazil-based internet companies and one venture capital firm took their funding roadshow to Beijing Tuesday.
Carlos Miro, founder and CEO of Truckpad, told possible Chinese investors that his company is similar to Didi for truck drivers and had $600 million in gross merchandise volume (GMV)in 2016 and had $800,000 in revenue, up by 1,200 percent year-on-year. He added that it should have broken even by August this year. According to a fundraising brochure, the company aims to raise $5 million to improve technology and products and do more marketing.
Eduardo Campos, founder and CEO of Parafuzo, said in China, when people want a taxi, they go to Didi, but in Brazil, people go to 99, which Didi has invested in. When people in China want food, they go to ele.me, but in Brazil, people go to ifood.
"In Brazil, when people want home service, they go to Parafuzo and we are like China's 58.com," Campos said.
Campos said Parafuso wants to increase marketing spending and to launch new services in more cities so that they can serve up to 200,000 homes per month in the next two years, with a yearly GMV of $75 million and a yearly revenue of $15 million.
"By then, we could be a $200 million company," the entrepreneur said. According to Parafuzo's funding brochure, the company, which was set up in 2014, already had a break-even cash flow by November 2016 and in that year, it had $2.93 million in GMV, $433,000 in net revenue and $333,000 in net loss.
"There is a $30 billion market in home services in Brazil alone and $100 billion in Latin America but currently, 99 percent of the market is still offline, " Parofuzo's funding brochure said.
The brochure also shows that the company, which has already collected three acquiring offers, aims for an IPO in five to seven years and for Serial B Funding, its target is $10 million.
"We feel we are similar to China and that's why we came to China for financing, not the United States," Arthur Brennand, who is in charge of business development in Parafuzo, told chinadaily.com.cn on the sidelines of the roadshow. He added that this is his second trip to China. For the first trip, which was mostly for leisure, he and other executives of the company visited some Chinese companies, like Alibaba.
Sangshi in her guesthouse [Photo/CHINA DAILY]
As the ecosystem improves in Nyingchi city, Tibet autonomous region, many villages have become more prosperous as a result of the local government's preferential policies for the development of tourism.
For example, Kyerpa, a settlement in Kongpo'gyada county, has seen the number of guesthouses rise to 31 this year from only three in 2006.
Last year, the village, located near Basum Lake, one of the nine holy lakes in the region, received 30,000 tourists.
About 20,000 visitors stayed in local guesthouses, which boast a combined 417 beds, generating income of 3 million yuan ($458,000), according to the village committee.
Before they opened a 16-bedroom guesthouse in 2013, Sangshi and her husband made about 30,000 yuan a year from a teashop they ran in the village. Now, their annual income has risen to 100,000 to 150,000 yuan.
Sangshi, who like many Tibetans only has one name, said the government helped her to open and upgrade the guesthouse. In 2012, she undertook a monthlong training course in Nyingchi. The government covered all the expenses for the course - which included cooking lessons and advice about running a guesthouse - including the cost of renting a room and a daily food allowance.
Sangshi said that the government also offered each guesthouse in the village more than 30,000 yuan to upgrade kitchens, toilets and bathrooms. In 2015, she received another month's free training to improve her knowledge of Mandarin and tourism services.
Palden Tsewang, deputy head of the Kongpo'gyada county tourism authority, said about 70 percent of tourists drive to the lake, and they usually choose to stay in guesthouses. This has helped to develop the villagers' businesses.
However, he said the simple furniture and other facilities provided by many of the guesthouses - where rooms usually cost about 180 yuan a night - often fail to meet the tourists' expectations.
The government plans to offer a subsidy of 100,000 yuan each to five families who plan to invest 200,000 yuan of their own money to upgrade their guesthouses. Following the improvements, the cost of a room will rise to 700 to 800 yuan a night.
The government intends to use the improvements to encourage other villagers to open guesthouses, according to Palden Tsewang, who said the authorities will offer interest-free loans to guesthouse owners who want to upgrade their facilities.
Ling Yuanli, an official in Norbu, a village in Nyingchi's Bayi district, said 49 of the 80 households have opened guesthouses that provide nearly 1,000 beds in total.
A large broadcasting base for livestreaming hosts is expected to open in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, next month.
The center, called Damara Village, covers more than 320 hectares in Caidian district and has room for around 100 hosts, according to a Changjiang Daily report.
Along with studios and accommodation, the area also features European-style architecture, such as a chapel, bell tower and wine cellar, as well as more than 20 workshops and a fans' area, Xu Tao, one of the project's investors, told the paper.
There is also room for lawyers, engineers, financial planners and other online broadcasting professionals, he added.
According to the report, students from Wuhan University's School of Journalism and Communication will use the site to carry out research on mass transmission and communication.
Zhang Yi contributed to this story.
HANGZHOU -- Ten captive-bred Chinese alligators started Wednesday wilderness training in their new home in a semi-wild zone of a nature reserve in East China's Zhejiang province, before being released into in the wild.
The alligators, three males and seven females, were selected as having the best physical conditions and genes. Each alligator has a chip implanted to track their location.
Endemic to China, Chinese alligators, also known as Yangtze alligators, were listed as a national first-class protected species in 1972. They live along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The species has been threatened by human activity and shrinking habitats over the past decades.
In 1988, a nature reserve was established in Zhejiang's Changxing county, a major habitat for the alligators, to protect the endangered animal. In 2002 and 2006 respectively, the Chinese Academy of Forestry invested a total of 60 million yuan (about $9 million) to enrich the gene pool and carry out wilderness training.
Currently, there are more than 6,000 Chinese alligators in the reserve, and over 600 have been trained in the semi-wild zone since the pilot training program began in 2012.
The released alligators have adapted well and since 2014, have begun to reproduce.
Guangdong province is expected to expand Sino-foreign exchanges in urban construction and management and adopt advanced practices during World Cities Day next month.
A series of events have been planned in Guangzhou, the provincial capital, to mark the day, which falls on Oct 31.
Li Yongjie, chief planner for the Guangdong Housing and Urban-Rural Development Department, said Sino-foreign cooperation benefits both sides.
Guangzhou's Nansha district, which sits at the mouth of the Pearl River, was largely unaffected by Typhoon Hato last month thanks to a major coastal dam.
"Construction of the super dam was the result of studying successful experiences from the Netherlands," Li said on Wednesday.
Li Liping, a senior official with the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, said more than 400 senior officials, mayors, professors and scholars from around the world, the UN and international organizations will attend the celebrations on Oct 31.
The World Cities Day theme this year is "Innovative Governance and Open Cities".
Shanghai hosted the first annual World Cities Day celebrations in 2014, followed by Milan in Italy and then Ecuador's Quito.
According to statistics from UN Human Settlements Programme, more than 50 percent of the world's population live in cities. The figure is expected to reach more than 66 percent in 2050.
In China, the population of urban residents surpassed those in the countryside in 2011.
Two foreign photographers pose before artworks exhibited at the 2017 Pingyao International Photography Festival in North China's Shanxi province, Sept 20, 2017. Under the theme "With Original Inspiration, For a Brighter Future", 16,000 photos are on display at the festival, which was attended by over 2,000 photographers from 23 countries and regions. [Photo by Sun Ruisheng/ Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
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HONG KONG -- Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Wednesday departed for London, hoping to promote trade ties.
During her stay in London, Lam will address two events organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, namely the Hong Kong Dinner in London, celebrating the long and close relationship between Hong Kong and Britain, and the "Think Asia, Think Hong Kong" symposium, which will showcase Hong Kong's business services advantages for British companies seeking opportunities in Asia.
During her four-day visit, Lam will meet with senior officials of the British government, members of parliament, as well as members of the business sector and professionals, to brief them on the latest developments in Hong Kong.
Furthermore, she will take the opportunity to meet with the Chinese community and Hong Kong students in Britain.
Since Lam took office, she has visited different places for eight times including Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar and cities in the Chinese mainland.
A Shenzhen police officer checks a stroller used for smuggling foreign coins and bank notes. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]
Police have seized more than 4 metric tons of smuggled foreign coins and bank notes after raiding a warehouse in Shenzhen.
The haul included currencies from more than 38 countries and regions across Asia, Europe, North America, Africa and Oceania, the citys border police force said on Wednesday.
Its the largest case ever cracked by the force in its three-decade history.
Police received a tipoff about a currency smuggling operation in July and set up a task force to investigate.
On Aug 28, officers raided a warehouse in Shenzhens Luohu district and discovered more than 1 million bank notes and 1.32 million coins.
Suspects detained at the scene said the currency was being packaged and sold to collectors for huge profits, according to police.
Shenzhen is in Guangdong province on the boarder with Hong Kong.
China is on track to launch its first Mars probe around 2020, and plans call for retrieving soil and rock samples from the red planet before 2030, said Zhang Rongqiao, the mission's chief designer.
China aims to become the first country to conduct an orbital and surface exploration of Mars in a single mission, he said on Wednesday at an international forum on lunar and deep space exploration in Beijing.
The Chinese Mars probe consists of three parts: orbiter, lander and rover. It will carry 13 scientific instruments - seven in the orbiter and six in the rover, he said.
The orbiter will collect data on Mars' atmosphere, electromagnetic field, temperatures, surface landscape and other key scientific indicators, he said.
The rover, weighing around 200 kilograms, will focus on collecting surface data, as well as testing other equipment to pave the way for future sample retrieval missions between 2025 and 2030.
Overall, China's first Mars mission "is going smoothly and all according to plan", he added.
Russia, India, the US and the European Space Agency have probes orbiting Mars, but only the US has successfully landed a rover and carried out surface missions. Around 2020, NASA, the ESA and the United Arab Emirates will also launch Mars probes.
Before 2020, China will launch an unmanned landing mission to the moon named Chang'e 4, as well as a moon sample retrieval mission named Chang'e 5. In the following years, China will explore asteroids and smaller bodies to understand the solar system's origin and formation, and search for information on possible extraterrestrial life.
China also plans to launch probes to Jupiter in 2036 and Uranus in 2046, Zhang said. However, these planets are so far away from the sun that light is too weak to power solar-powered probes. Chemical propulsion systems face long-term storage issues and an even harsher environment in space, he added.
"Since Mars is close to Earth and shares relatively similar characteristics, it has become the priority target in deep space exploration," Zhang said. "Not only might Mars serve for future robotic or human settlement, studying its evolution can help us answer some of the key questions in cosmology that can have a profound impact on our life."
One example is that NASA has confirmed that liquid water existed on Mars, "so is Mars the past or the future of Earth? Studying how Mars became a mostly barren, arid planet can help with our own environmental protection effort on Earth," Zhang said.
Mattis to review if a spate of recent accidents is linked to budget caps
WASHINGTON - The US Senate overwhelmingly authorized $700 billion in military spending on Monday, a substantial increase over 2017 funding and nearly 5 percent more than President Donald Trump had requested.
The 1,215-page National Defense Authorization Act of 2018 allows for increased spending on new F-35 fighter jets, ships and M1 Abrams tanks, raises military pay by 2.1 percent and authorizes nearly $5 billion for Afghanistan security forces, including a program integrating women into the country's national defense.
It also authorizes $8.5 billion to boost US missile defense - a full $630 million above Trump's baseline request - at a time of heightened tensions with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea over its testing of nuclear devices and ballistic missiles.
The bill provides for $60 billion in war funding known as Overseas Contingency Operations, and boosted military enlistment figures by 7,000.
The legislation, one of the cornerstones of congressional bipartisanship over the decades, passed 89 to 8.
The House of Representatives passed its version in July, and the two chambers will now need to thrash out a compromise bill.
"It keeps faith with our men and women in uniform," Republican John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said of the bill he shepherded through the chamber.
McCain was quick to point to the increasing number of training accidents within the military, saying the lack of force readiness was a result of ever-tightening budgets that left the army, navy and other branches depleted.
"My friends, more of our men and women in uniform are now being killed in totally avoidable training accidents and routine operations than by our enemies in combat," McCain told his colleagues.
"Where is the outrage about this? Where is our sense of urgency to deal with this problem?"
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said senior military leaders are taking a close look at whether strict budget constraints are to blame.
Since June, more than 70 US service members have either been killed or injured in training or noncombat accidents, ranging from two naval collisions in Asia to a Marine Corps transport plane crash in rural Mississippi.
"I am not willing to say right now that there is a direct line between sequestration and what has happened. I am willing to say ... we are going to take a very close look at that," Mattis said.
McCain said it was imperative that Congress lift the spending caps on a bipartisan basis in order to fully fund military operations.
The legislation also includes a wide range of provisions, including an expansion of US missile defense, a ban on Moscow-based Kaspersky Labs products in the federal government, and rejection of the closing of more military bases.
AFP-Reuters-AP-Xinhua
(China Daily 09/20/2017 page11)
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Monday that the United States would send more than 3,000 troops to Afghanistan. "It is exactly over 3,000 somewhat and frankly I haven't signed the last of the orders right now as we look at specific, small elements that are going," Mattis told reporters.
"Most of them are on their way or under orders now," he added.
The move came weeks after US President Donald Trump unveiled his new Afghanistan strategy in a national address, in which he called a rapid exit of the US troops from Afghanistan "unacceptable".
A Pentagon spokesperson said last month that 11,000 US troops are currently deployed in Afghanistan, thousands more than the previously acknowledged 8,400, which does not include troops on temporary assignment.
Xinhua
(China Daily 09/20/2017 page11)
China's first offline "digital festival", LAN Story, attracts some 100,000 visitors, mostly young people, to the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai in August. They play all kinds of games, socialize with friends and attend live concerts at the event . [Photo provided to China Daily]
Visitors to China's first offline local area network, or LAN, party, get together for cyber games and other forms of esports in Shanghai. China Daily reports.
Fu Cexiang has an answer for people who think playing video games is "just a way to kill time".
"It helps me to find friends who share the same interests. It explores and develops our potential," he says.
Fu, 32, is the business development director of live-broadcasting platform Zhanqi TV.
He was also recently involved in what was touted as the country's first and largest offline "digital festival", LAN Story.
The event comes from the LAN party concept, a gathering of gamers who are linked to each other digitally through a local area network or LAN.
The idea is to encourage participants to bring their own computers and devices to share and mingle.
There are also live concerts, competitions and arts events related to the theme.
[Photo provided to China Daily]
California-based Beaulieu Vineyard recently held a tasting event in Peninsula Beijing to unveil its wines in the Chinese market, with dishes inspired from White House dinners.
Founded in 1900, the vineyard is in Napa Valley, one of the major wine regions in the world. Since the 1940s, BV's wines have been served at the White House.
One flagship wine unveiled was the 2014 Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. The other wines released included the 2015 Prestige Chardonnay and the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (left) and US President Donald Trump pose for a photo prior to a high-level UN reform meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept 18, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]
United States President Donald Trump, in his maiden speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, was less forthcoming in his praise for the world body than his predecessor Barack Obama, indicating the US under his administration will pursue an all-for-itself approach that runs counter to the cooperative spirit of the world's foremost multilateral platform.
Trump was right that nations cannot remain bystanders given the common threats and challenges the world faces today, but cooperation cannot be shared self-interest, since for his administration that means a shared commitment to what is in the short-term interests of the US, rather than what is in the best long-term interests of all countries.
The pressing challenges the world faces today are not as the US misperceives threats to its hegemony, but rather poverty, epidemics, nuclear proliferation, terrorism and climate change.
What is needed is improved global governance, and the UN should be strengthened so that it can better fulfill its intended role in leading global efforts to address regional and international crises. Finger-pointing such as that indulged in by Trump will not help either of these processes and will only allow crises to ferment dangerously for an even longer time.
Trump called "rogue nations" the "scourge of our planet" and called on the UN to further isolate the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. But today's dangerous deadlock has been the result of Pyongyang's and Washington's persistent pursuit of their own interests in disregard of other countries' efforts to persuade the two antagonists to talk. His threat to "totally destroy" the DPRK if need be will, therefore, likely worsen the already volatile situation.
More needs to be done to improve the working style of the UN so that it can emerge from the shackles of bureaucracy and low efficiency, and better live up to its role as the defender of world peace and stability and the coordinator of nation-to-nation relations.
And in this time of "immense promise and great peril", Trump would have been better reflecting on how the US can more constructively engage with other countries, not just those that are willing to follow its lead. After all, since taking office in January, Trump has only exacerbated the confusion and uncertainty worldwide with his steady stream of contradictory tweets.
And he has withdrawn, or sought to pull out of, multilateral deals his country has signed before. From the Paris climate accord to the Iranian nuclear deal, Trump has demonstrated he is totally unconcerned about the US being good to its word.
Trump should accept that with great power comes great responsibility, and that as the world's sole superpower, the US has the responsibility to work with the rest of the world for the common good. History will show whether it is up to the task.
Flights of Air China are parked on the tarmac of Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, March 28, 2016.[Photo/Agencies]
A CIVIL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION OF CHINA OFFICIAL said on Monday that the ban on the use of portable electronic devices on aircraft will be lifted starting Oct 1, allowing airlines to decide how to implement the rule on the basis of their own security assessments. Thepaper.cn commented on Tuesday:
The latest revision in the management of portable electronic devices on aircraft probably means passengers will be free to use mobile electronic devices on Chinese flights. In 1999, China's aviation authority banned the use of any portable electronic devices on planes, because wireless signals were considered a hazard to flight safety.
Whether passengers should be allowed to use electronic devices on a flight has been debated ever since. Those arguing for the unrestricted use of electronic gadgets say that airlines in the West have given the green light to it as long as the devices are in flight mode. Even the United States, which proposed and carried through the ban on personal electronic devices on planes, officially annulled the restriction three years ago.
Like many countries, over the past decades, China has adopted many US civil aviation codes including the policy of no-electronic devices. But the ban, which the US Federal Communications Commission said was introduced to avoid causing possible disruptions to an aircraft's electronics, had been constantly and widely questioned as there was no evidence supporting it.
Later research by the FCC found that most commercial flights are undisturbed by the electronic waves from portable electronic devices. And the aviation authorities of Canada, Singapore and the European Union have since terminated the ban on the use of personal electronic gadgets.
China did not seek to remove the ban until recently, and those using electronic devices or leaving them on during a flight could face hefty fines, even detention. Such rigid adherence to the old aviation codes may be unnecessary, not least when many of them have since become obsolete.
It makes perfect sense to put flight safety before anything else. But adjustments should also be made to improve the flight experience. In that sense, it is time to lift the ban on the use of personal electronic devices on board aircraft.
In his maiden speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump threatened to totally destroy the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea if need be.
In his earlier remarks, Trump has called on China and Russia do more to restore peace on the Korean Peninsula, but he has been adding fuel to the fire by launching frontal attacks on the DPRK leader, as he did at the UN General Assembly.
On Sept 11, the UN Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 2375 to impose the strictest sanctions on Pyongyang for conducting its sixth and to date strongest nuclear test on Sept 3. But it seems the belligerent attitude of Washington toward Pyongyang prompted the latter to test-fire a missile over Japan into the Pacific Ocean despite the fresh UN sanctions and further escalating tensions in Northeast Asia.
Amid rising global condemnation of the DPRK, the United States has time and again said that China should shoulder most of the responsibility and take direct action to resolve the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue. The DPRKs nuclear tests also challenge Chinas national security and interests. And China has done more than enough to restore peace in the region, but its efforts have failed because the main disputing parties have ignored its suggestions.
The fact is that only the DPRK and the US can peacefully resolve the peninsula issue, as Pyongyang has decided to develop nuclear weapons to ensure national security and the US, unwittingly or otherwise, has influenced that decision.
The US has of late upgraded its military cooperation with its allies in the Asia-Pacific region, especially the Republic of Korea, held many large-scale military drills with them, and has deployed the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system on ROK soil, which perhaps have prompted the DPRK to conduct more nuclear tests and further worsen the situation in the region.
Besides, sanctions and isolation from the international community have dealt a blow to the DPRKs economy, forcing Pyongyang to develop nuclear weapons to bolster its security, thereby by creating a vicious circle of more sanctions followed by more nuclear tests.
Surprisingly, though, the rising tensions in the region have benefited the US. For example, using the inflammable situation on the peninsula as an excuse, the US has strengthened its alliances with some Asia-Pacific countries, such as the ROK and Japan, and widen its influence in the region.
Moreover, after the US deployed THAAD in the ROK and urged China to impose sanctions on the DPRK, Chinas relations with the two neighbors have suffered.
Beijing has always supported the peaceful denuclearization of the peninsula and made great efforts to make that a reality, as nuclear tests in the neighborhood are detrimental to Chinas national security. Beijing has always stood for stability; it has strictly followed the UN Security Council resolutions, and strongly urged the DPRK to halt its nuclear program in exchange for the US and the ROK stopping their large-scale joint military drills.
Actually, the pressure the US laid on China was not to resolve the DPRK issue but to blame Chinas opposition to the US for the worsening situation in the region. It is to put an end to such speculative diplomacy and to protect the interests of Northeast Asia, actually the whole of Asia-Pacific that China has been trying to resume the stalled Six-Party Talks, so that all parties can voice their grievances and seek their redressal.
China has done more than it could to resolve the DPRK issue. But the key to ultimately resolving the issue lies with the DPRK and the US. For the long-term good and stability of the international community, the two sides should fulfill their due responsibilities and come to the negotiation table to peacefully resolve their differences.
The author is an associate professor of world politics in the School of Public Administration, Jilin University.
SHI YU/CHINA DAILY
Civil groups from eight countries, including China, the Republic of Korea and the Philippines, have approached the UNESCO to declare "comfort women", a euphemism for women forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese army before and during World War II, as a tragic heritage of humankind.
But a report in the Japanese newspaper Sankei Shimbun says the Japanese right-wing forces have threatened that the Japanese government will stop paying the country's UNESCO membership fees if UNESCO decides to include "comfort women" in its Memory of the World Register next month.
Fourteen civil groups from the eight countries have submitted historical records that the Japanese army forced women into sexual slavery, making it the strongest international civil action to get "comfort women" included on the UNESCO heritage list to pay respects to the victimized women.
Japan has always opposed the inclusion of "comfort women" in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. It has even asked UNESCO to revise its review procedure, saying it is unreasonable and unfair. And Japanese right-wing forces, with the tacit support of their government, are trying to increase the number of Japanese staff in UNESCO, in order to prevent the inclusion of "comfort women" on the UNESCO heritage list.
When China applied to UNESCO in 2015 for listing the Nanjing Massacre and "comfort women" in its Memory of the World Register, the Japanese government organized a civil delegation to appeal to the UN body that the two incidents are not historical facts. And after the Nanjing Massacre was listed in the UNESCO Memory of World Register, Japan and some Japanese media outlets said the UNESCO's review procedure was unfair and baseless. Only some Japanese leftists supported the inclusion of "comfort women" on the UNESCO heritage list.
But the Japanese government doesn't dare to publicly oppose such moves, because that would expose Prime Minister Shinzo Abe administration's evil designs of denying history, especially the history of Japan's sordid war past.
The Abe administration has not only tried every means possible to deny the horrid Nanjing Massacre was orchestrated by the Japanese army, but also claimed that "comfort women" were actually women who voluntarily chose to "serve" the Japanese forces. And by doing so, the Abe administration has only exposed its current military ambitions.
Some Japanese right-wing scholars, too, are trying to distort history, by claiming that Japan's invasion of Asian countries was aimed at liberating "Asian people and fight against Western colonists".
The Abe administration and Japanese right-wing forces that are trying to deny the country's war past are not only dishonest but also trying to obstruct the peaceful development of the world today. They attempt to rewrite history to add legitimacy to Japan's military growth.
But the Japanese government is not likely to officially support the country's right-wing forces' threat to stop contributing to the UNESCO fund if "comfort women" are listed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register, because it knows such a move will invite international criticism.
Moreover, if Japan doesn't pay its membership fees for a long time, it could cease to be a UNESCO member, which is not what the Abe administration wants, because it needs the UN organization to promote Japan's rightist historical views that distort history.
Therefore, the Abe administration may continue to use propaganda and diplomatic pressure to deny or distort Japan's war past, and continue to be a member of UNESCO.
The author is a professor of Japan studies at China Foreign Affairs University.
Night view of Lujiazui Financial and Trade Zone of Pudong in Shanghai, July 8, 2017. [Photo/VCG]
Leonard Pratt's first foray into the world of journalism came when he wrote for the school newspaper at Columbia University in the United States. It was an experience he enjoyed so much he decided to make a career out of it.
"I realized I really enjoyed finding out about things and explaining it to other people," said Pratt, who has since been in the industry for about 40 years.
After graduation, he worked for a number of news agencies, including The Associated Press, before moving to NBC, a broadcaster based in the United States.
In 1985, Pratt was posted to Beijing to lead the NBC team covering China. During his time in the capital, he managed to build a good rapport with his peers at China Central Television, the State broadcaster, while gaining in-depth knowledge about the country.
Two years later, he was promoted to executive director of NBC in Asia and moved to Hong Kong. Despite no longer being based in the mainland, Pratt played a key role in a major media projectit involved NBC, CCTV and Shanghai TVto produce a 13-hour live broadcast from China.
In 2006, Pratt was presented with the opportunity to help Shanghai 24HMB Medical Information Education create a unique TV program on medical care.
"I found the project interesting because it was a high-end educational programnot something that involved teaching children how to countand it was vital to improving medical care in China," he said.
"Several of my friends were involved in the investment side of things, and they realized they had the money, doctors and engineers, but not a single person who knew how to create a television program.
"I had previously worked on some projects in Shanghai, and I enjoyed the city. The opportunity to come and work on a good project again was hard to pass on."
Thanks to his efforts, the program was able to help medical professionals nationwide hone and update their skills and knowledge. This program was especially useful to those in remote locations, where access to quality information can be limited.
Pratt joined the Shanghai Oriental Media Group as a foreign expert in 2011. He excelled in his role, receiving awards from the city's Department of Public Information for two consecutive years.
In addition to contributing to the outside world's understanding of China, Pratt has also lent a helping hand to Chinese through the You Dao Foundation, a charity organization that helps the children of migrant workers secure an education.
"Actually, this charity project chose me. I had some friends who were involved and they invited me to help out. I gradually became more interested and involved," he said.
"All the cities in China have a great number of workers coming from the outside, and their living conditions weren't that good. They are in this transition period, it can be difficult for them to find the right school for their children and be able to afford the costs."
For his contribution to the city's economic and social development, Pratt was given the Shanghai Magnolia Silver Award in 2014. He may already be 72, but he still regularly presents on International Channel Shanghai, the foreign-language cable network run by the Shanghai Oriental Media Group.
He pointed out that although China has developed rapidly over the past decades, it is still in the process of opening up to the world, and this means there is still great interest overseas about what is going on in the country.
"Foreign audiences are interested in anything that is coming out of China. There is a still a great deal of fascination with the country, especially in the economic and political areas. The 19th CPC National Congress is coming up and people are going to be watching that very closely," he said.
"For example, we did a report a few weeks ago on fully automated stores in China that have no workers, and it turned out to be an extremely popular story. China is always coming up with new and unique solutions to modern living, and I think people are very interested in finding out more."
What do you feel has been China's biggest achievement over the past five years? What's the most notable change you've observed?
I read a Xinhua News Agency article that said China has lifted many millions of people above the poverty line in the past five years. That's just extraordinary. It's an accomplishment that no other country has managed, particularly on this scale and over such a short period of time. This is probably what China can be proudest of.
What three words would you use to describe China today?
Dynamic. Striving. Self-confident.
What's the biggest challenge China faces, and how do you feel the country can go about overcoming it?
This one is tricky. China has a very old culture, but New China, the China we know today, is a very different country. There are many examples from history of how a new country naturally wants to make itself felt in the world. New China is doing that, which is a good and natural thing. But it involves a challengeChina's neighbors will feel a little uneasy. But the BRICS and the Belt and Road Initiative are examples of how China is looking to work with countries around it, rather than in opposition to them.
Do you believe that some of China's experiences or practices could be used to solve pressing global problems?
Yes, particularly in areas of education and urbanization. I once read that the most effective investment a country can make is educating girls, because educated girls become educated mothers, and educated mothers have educated children. In one generation you can boost a country's technical ability.
There are many areas in the world where people are living on farms and surviving on a subsistence economy. There's very low productivity. When you get these people out of the farms and into an urban environment like China has donemore than 50 percent of the population now live in citiesthat makes them more productive and easier to educate.
What do you think China will be like in five years' time?
As everyone knows, we have big problems with North Korea. If those can be solved peacefully, then China has a fantastic future. If not, we're all in trouble. Korea aside, you have a situation where China will rapidly become a premier nation in Asia and in world trade.
What's the most memorable experience or moment you've had in China?
I first came to Shanghai in 1982, and I remember looking across the Huangpu Riverthere was nothing. It was mud, dirt and some warehouses. Today, when I look across I see an incredible city that has been built in just 30 years.
Premier Li Keqiang (L) holds a welcome ceremony for Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong before their talks in Beijing, Sept 19, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]
Chinese enterprises are welcome to participate in the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said when he met with Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday.
China has advanced high-speed rail technologies to build safe and cost-effective railways, said Li, adding that he hopes Singapore can support Chinese enterprises' participation in the rail project.
The 360-km high-speed railway was announced in September 2010 to connect Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with Singapore. Three years later, Lee agreed to build the railway by 2020 with his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak.
Lee was quoted by Xinhua News Agency as saying that Singapore hopes to see Chinese offers in the international bidding scheduled for the next few months.
Lee started a three-day official visit to China on Tuesday and will travel to Xiamen, Fujian province, after his stop in Beijing.
In addition, Li said in the meeting that China would like to better align the Belt and Road Initiative with Singapore's development strategies as the city-state's biggest trading partner.
"The two nations have shown each other mutual respect and enhanced bilateral cooperation. ... I hope your visit will inject new momentum into China's relations with Singapore and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations," the premier said.
Li said China is willing to promote the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and negotiations on the upgrading of the China-Singapore free trade agreement, in addition to expanding cooperation in fields such as financing, technologies and innovation.
Singaporean companies are welcome to invest in China, he said.
As coordinator of China-ASEAN relations and the ASEAN chairman next year, Singapore is expected to play a constructive role in making a higher-level partnership between China and the bloc, the premier added.
Lee said his country is willing to work with China to promote regional connectivity and cooperation in information technology, aviation and investment. Singapore also would like to accelerate the free-trade upgrade talks and advance the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, he said.
huyongqi@chinadaily.com.cn
A damaged car is seen outside a building after an earthquake in Mexico City, Mexico, Sept 19, 2017.[Photo/Agencies]
MEXICO CITY - A magnitude 7.1 earthquake stunned central Mexico on Tuesday, killing at least 149 people as buildings collapsed in plumes of dust. Thousands fled into the streets in panic, and many stayed to help rescue those trapped.
Scores of buildings collapsed into mounds of rubble or were severely damaged in densely populated parts of Mexico City and nearby states. Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said buildings collapsed at 44 places in the capital alone.
The quake is the deadliest in Mexico since a 1985 quake on the same date killed thousands. It came less than two weeks after another powerful quake left 90 dead in the country's south.
Mancera said at least 30 had died in Mexico City, and officials in Morelos, just to the south, said 54 had died there.
At least 26 others died in Puebla state, according to state disaster prevention chief Carlos Valdes.
Gov. Alfredo del Mazo said at least nine had died in the State of Mexico, which also borders the capital.
Mancera said that 50 to 60 people were rescued alive by citizens and emergency workers.
The US Geological Survey said the magnitude 7.1 hit at 1:14 pm (2:15 pm EDT) and it was centered near the Puebla state town of Raboso, about 76 miles (123 kilometers) southeast of Mexico City.
The quake caused buildings to sway sickeningly in Mexico City and sent people throughout the city fleeing from homes and offices, and many people remained in the streets for hours, fearful of returning to the structures.
Electricity and cellphone service was interrupted in many areas and traffic was snarled as signal lights went dark.
Mexico City's international airport suspended operations and was checking facilities for any damage.
Alarms blared and traffic stopped around the Angel of Independence monument on the iconic Reforma Avenue.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept 19, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]
UNITED NATIONS - United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday highlighted "nuclear peril" while addressing the General Assembly that had just kicked off its annual general debate.
"Today global anxieties about nuclear weapons are at the highest level since the end of the Cold War," he said.
Guterres condemned the nuclear and missile tests of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
In his annual work report to the General Assembly, Guterres said, "Our world is in trouble. People are hurting and angry. They see insecurity rising, inequality growing, conflict spreading and climate changing."
The UN chief listed seven threats that face the world.
Among them, "the use of nuclear weapons should be unthinkable. Even the threat of their use can never be condoned," he said.
"I call on the DPRK and all Member States to comply fully with Security Council resolutions," said the UN chief.
The Secretary-General said that last week's unanimous adoption of Resolution 2375 "tightens sanctions and sends a clear message regarding the country's international obligations".
"I appeal to the Council to maintain its unity," he said. "Only that unity can lead to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and -- as the resolution recognizes -- create an opportunity for diplomatic engagement to resolve the crisis."
Once again, the UN chief stressed that the solution "must be political. This is a time for statesmanship".
"We must not sleepwalk our way into war," he added.
The UN General Assembly on Tuesday morning started its annual general debate, with heads of state and government and other senior state representatives gathering at the UN headquarters to present their views on pressing world issues.
Police officers stand behind a cordon on Jeffery Street on Sept 19, 2017 in Newport, Wales. [Photo/VCG]
LONDON - A 25-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday in the Welsh city of Newport, becoming the third suspect to be arrested in connection with the Friday explosion at a subway station in west London, British police said.
Scotland Yard said that the man was arrested at about 7:08 pm local time on Tuesday. A building in the Welsh city was being searched, said the police.
The latest arrest was made after two other men aged 18 and 21 were arrested in connection with the bomb attack at Parsons Green subway station, which left 30 people injured.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said that the third man was arrested under section 41 of the Terrorism Act, which allows police to detain suspects without charge beyond the four days allowed for suspects connected to other crimes.
"The arrest was carried out by officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, supported by colleagues from Gwent Police and the Welsh Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit (WECTU)," the spokesman said.
Detectives were granted more time on Monday to question two young men held in raids over the Parsons Green station terrorist attack.
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the fifth terrorist attack in the country over the past six months.
Previous attacks in London this year at Westminster Bridge, London Bridge and Finsbury Park as well as a blast at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester killed dozens of people and injured more than 150.
US Navy Secretary Richard Spencer (C) testifies during a hearing on recent US Navy incidents before Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol in Washington D.C., the United States, Sept 19, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]
WASHINGTON - Top leaders of the US Navy were urged to do better on Tuesday as they appeared before a Senate hearing over a series of deadly ship collisions involving the Pacific fleet.
"We must also call you to task and demand answers. As leaders of our Navy, you must do better," Senator John McCain, head of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told Navy Secretary Richard Spencer and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson.
The hearing was held in the wake of several Navy ship collisions, including one in August in which USS John S. McCain, a guided-missile destroyer, collided with an oil and chemical tanker near Singapore, leaving 10 US sailors dead and five injured.
The highly-publicized incident came after seven sailors were killed when the USS Fitzgerald, also a guided-missile destroyer, and a container ship collided off the coast of Japan in June, along with two other non-deadly collisions involving the Navy vessels also this year.
McCain said those incidents are "preventable" but now it will cost an estimate of 600 million US dollars for repairs.
"It is simply unacceptable for US Navy ships to run aground or collide with other ships," the Republican senator said. "To have four such incidents in the span of seven months is truly alarming."
Richardson told the hearing that the Navy was conducting reviews and probes, while blaming the incidents on "the corrosive confluence of high operational tempo, inadequate budgets and budget uncertainty."
"But make no mistake, sir, while these factors do exert a negative force on the challenges we face, at the core, this issue is about leadership, especially command," Richardson said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a top candidate of the Christian Democratic Union Party (CDU) for the upcoming general elections, speaks at an election rally in Schwerin, Germany, Sept 19, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]
BERLIN - Five days before the German federal election, no potential alternative is seen for either Chancellor Merkel or the continuation of the current German government, transferring the question to how Merkel will form the new German government.
Most polls see Merkel's conservative union (CDU/CSU) comfortably sitting between 35-37 percent, more than 10 percentage points ahead of Germany's other large party, the Social Democrats (SPD).
"Chancellor Merkel will most likely stay," said Thorsten Schneider-Haase, head of political research at research group Kantar Emnid Institute.
As to the potential coalition partner of Chancellor Merkel, there are quite a few coalitions that are possible on paper but impossible in political reality.
Everything is pointing at a continuous coalition between the CDU/CSU and the SPD yet within a 2-percent error margin, so a coalition with the Liberals (FDP) is not completely off the table, since it's currently polled between 8-9 percent and thus ready to re-enter the German parliament.
Similar to many other European countries, the political landscape in Germany has changed fundamentally over the past two decades.
Both polled around 10 percent, the populist right-wing party AfD and the far-left party Die Linke increased the number of parties that have passed the 5-percent hurdle to enter the German parliament from four to six.
The increase in the number of represented parties has made it very hard for the coalitions of the old days - either conservatives and liberals or social democrats and the green party - to get a majority in Germany.
US President Donald Trump addresses the 72nd United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, US, Sept 19, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]
US President Donald Trump's 41-minute speech at the United Nations on Tuesday, particularly his saber-rattling rhetoric on Pyongyang, has aroused a strong reaction in the United States and beyond, with many believing his words exacerbate the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
In his debut at the UN General Assembly, Trump strongly pressured the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to give up its nuclear weapons and criticized a landmark Iran nuclear deal reached by his predecessor.
Trump threatened that the US "will have no choice but to totally destroy" the DPRK unless Pyongyang refrains from its nuclear tests and missile launches.
Trump's bellicose words came minutes after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at the beginning of the General Assembly meeting Tuesday morning that a solution to the DPRK must be political.
"This is a time for statesmanship," Guterres said."We must not sleepwalk our way into war."
"I think it's to be expected that the president would declare he's prepared to defend our country and our allies," said David Lampton, director of China studies at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies.
"But there is a saying that when everyone is losing their head, it is most important to keep your own head. I think the words he used, and the way he used them does not make the situation better," Lampton told China Daily on Tuesday.
Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts and the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, tweeted on Tuesday that Trump gave a "strong and needed challenge" to UN members to confront global challenges.
But US Senator Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat, said Trump missed an opportunity to present any positive steps the UN could take on Pyongyang and offered no path forward on the Iran issue.
"The goals of the United Nations are to foster peace and promote global cooperation. Today, the president used it as a stage to threaten war," she said in a statement.
Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom told Swedish national radio on Tuesday that Trump's speech was "remarkable" and contained a direct military threat, in breach of the UN charter.
In contrast to Trump's combativeness, US Defense Secretary James Mattis said hours after the president's speech that he hopes to find a diplomatic solution to the situation with the DPRK.
"We are dealing with the North Korea situation through the international process and we will continue to do so," Mattis said, according to Reuters. "Secretary Tillerson is leading the effort, and we will hopefully get this resolved through diplomatic means."
Trump offered a note of thanks to China and Russia for supporting the UN resolutions on the DPRK, but said "it is an outrage" that some nations trade with or financially support the DPRK.
Beijing has reiterated that it has done its best in implementing all the UN Security Council resolutions on the DPRK.
A damaged car is seen outside a building after an earthquake in Mexico City, Mexico, Sept 19, 2017.[Photo/Agencies]
MEXICO CITY A powerful earthquake shook central Mexico on Tuesday, collapsing buildings in plumes of dust and killing at least 226 people. Thousands fled into the streets in panic, and many stayed to help rescue those trapped.
Dozens of buildings tumbled into mounds of rubble or were severely damaged in densely populated parts of Mexico City and nearby states. Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said buildings fell at 44 places in the capital alone as high-rises across the city swayed sickeningly.
Hours after the magnitude 7.1 quake, rescue workers were still clawing through the wreckage of a primary school that partly collapsed in the city's south looking for any children who might be trapped. Some relatives said they had received Whatsapp message from two girls inside.
The federal Education Department reported late Tuesday night that 25 bodies had been recovered from the school's wreckage, all but four of them children. It was not clear whether the deaths were included in the overall death toll of 226 reported by the federal civil defense agency.
President Enrique Pena Nieto visited the school earlier in the night. At the time, he said 22 bodies had been found, and added in comments broadcast online by Financiero TV that 30 children and eight adults were reported missing. Rescuers were continuing their search and pausing to listen for voices from the rubble.
Later, Pena Nieto issued a video message urging calm and saying the initial focus of authorities is on finding people trapped in fallen buildings.
"The priority at this moment is to keep rescuing people who are still trapped and to give medical attention to the injured people," he said.
The quake is the deadliest in Mexico since a 1985 quake on the same date killed thousands. It came less than two weeks after another powerful quake caused 90 deaths in the country's south.
Luis Felipe Puente, head of the national Civil Defense agency, reported early Wednesday that the confirmed death toll had increased to 226.
His tweet said 117 dead had been counted in Mexico City and 55 in Morelos state, which is just south of the capital. It said 39 were known dead in Puebla state, where the quake was centered. Twelve deaths were listed in the State of Mexico, which surrounds Mexico City on three sides, and three in Guerrero state.
The federal government declared a state of disaster in Mexico City, freeing up emergency funds. President Enrique Pena Nieto said he had ordered all hospitals to open their doors to the injured.
Mancera, the Mexico City mayor, said 50 to 60 people were rescued alive by citizens and emergency workers in the capital. Authorities said at least 70 people in the capital had been hospitalized for injuries.
The federal interior minister, Miguel Angel Osorio Chong, said authorities had reports of people possibly still being trapped in collapsed buildings. He said search efforts were slow because of the fragility of rubble.
"It has to be done very carefully," he said. And "time is against us."At one site, reporters saw onlookers cheer as a woman was pulled from the rubble. Rescuers immediately called for silence so they could listen for others who might be trapped.
Two more men arrested over London tube blast
Xinhua | Updated: 2017-09-20 19:52
LONDON -- Two more men were arrested on Wednesday in the Welsh city of Newport over the recent explosion at a subway station in west London, bringing total held to five, media reports said.
A 48-year-old man and a 30-year-old man were detained under the Terrorism Act after a search at an address in Newport in south Wales.
The two were arrested in connection with the Friday explosion at a packed, rush-hour carriage at Parsons Green subway station, which left 30 people injured.
The Terrorism Act allows police to detain suspects without charge beyond the four days allowed for suspects connected to other crimes.
A third suspect, a 25-year-old, who is reported to be a painter-decorator, was held in a counter-terrorism raid in Newport, South Wales, on Tuesday.
Two other suspects -- Yahyah Farroukh, 21, and an 18-year-old man -- remain in custody after detectives were granted more time to question them over the bomb attack, caused by an improvised explosive device, which failed to fully detonate on the London underground train.
Scotland Yard said magistrates had granted warrants allowing the 18-year-old to be held until Saturday, and Farroukh until Thursday.
The news came as fresh CCTV footage emerged that appears to show the Parsons Green bomb suspect is on his way to plant his home-made device.
The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the fifth attack in the country over the past six months.
Previous attacks in London this year at Westminster Bridge, London Bridge and Finsbury Park as well as a blast at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester killed dozens of people and injured more than 150.
The Confucius Institute For Scotland's Schools (also known as CISS), set up to promote China's language and culture, is extending its presence across the country with plans to open specialist classrooms and a new headquarters.
The CISS, which has been based at Glasgow's University of Strathclyde, has been elevated to a Model Confucius Institute status by Hanban, the official Chinese authority responsible for the promotion of the Chinese language overseas.
Now among the top 40 of 500 institute branches around the world, the school is moving to a new base at the university-owned Ramshorn Theatrein Glasgow following a 2-million-pounds ($2.7 million) refurbishment, which is partially funded by Hanban.
The aim is to develop the center as an accessible hub for learning and cultural exchange. The new premises are equipped with facilities to host performances, conferences and exhibitions.
Liu Xiaoming, China's ambassador to the UK, said the Confucius institute is growing fast in the UK and is an outstanding example of cultural exchanges.
He also commended the organization for the importance of its role in offering a window on China and for helping the Scottish people learn more about China and build a closer friendship with the country.
"Although it has been only five years since the CISS was established, huge progress has been achieved," the ambassador said. "While we are amazed by the achievements of the CISS, we must never forget the commitment and contribution of the Confucius Institute staff and the support of people from all walks of life."
Chinese language courses are now available in more than 400 schools across Scotland, Liu said. Chinese is officially a second foreign language in 86 elementary schools and 37 middle schools.
Fhiona Mackay, director of the CISS, said academics, speakers and performers will be invited from China to take part cultural, educational and entrepreneurial activities.
"Our new headquarters will act as a hub for Sino-Scottish relations in the heart of Glasgow," Mackay said.
The institute is also planning to open 10 new specialist Confucius classroom hubs, adding to an existing network in schools around Scotland and taking the total to 44.
Shirley-Anne Somerville, Scotland's minister for further education, higher education and science, said the classroom hubs will help to foster greater understanding and relationship between Scotland and China.
Eight of London's fastest-growing tech companies are in China this week in a drive to forge stronger trade links and win new business.
The mission, which will end on Thursday,was organized by the Mayor of London's International Business Programme and will take the entrepreneurs to Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong.
The businesses are among the most innovative technology companies in the United Kingdom's capital and are involved in fintech and the medical and educational sectors.
Among them are, Boclips, which describes itself as the world's largest video library source for education, Medical Realities, a virtual-reality teaching and training platform for medical students, and Opportunity Network, which connects CEOs and business leaders with potential mergers and acquisitions.
Rajesh Agrawal, London's deputy mayor for business, said: "China is the fastest-growing large economy in the world and is emerging as a tech and innovation powerhouse. It makes perfect sense for these companies to visit the country and develop closer ties. London and China already have an excellent trading relationship and I wish these eight companies the best of luck as they look for new trade and investment opportunities."
Lucy Stonehill, CEO of BridgeU, a platform that uses data to guide students and teachers in their choices related to university and careers, said developing a strong presence in Asia is crucial to the company's mission of helping young people bridge the gap between school and the future.
"As a London-based start-up, we have been able to establish a significant footprint in the wider region, thanks to the help of our partners and investors," Stonehill said. "I look forward to continuing this overseas expansion with the help of the Mayor's International Business Programme."
China and the British capital have longstanding business connections, and the amount of Chinese investment into London has increased more than 10-fold since 2006.
According to London's official promotional agency, London and Partners, Chinese investors committed 180 million pounds ($244.3 million) to the capital in the first half of 2017, more than double the amount from the same period in 2016 (53 million pounds).
The four-day trade mission to China is the latest overseas visit organized by the Mayor's International Business Programme, which aims to help the capital's high-growth firms break into new international markets or grow their existing operations overseas.
Meanwhile, Think Asia, Think Hong Kong, a series of events promoting the city port as an entry point to Asia for British business, started in London on Wednesday with a dinner attended by the special administrative region's chief executive, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, and other high-ranking politicians.
Seminars will take place all day Thursday. The event was organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
London's Heathrow Airport and Chinese tech giant Baidu have both pledged to transition to electric vehicles by 2030, as part of an initiative organized by the United Kingdom-based The Climate Group.
Launched this week from The Climate Group's annual summit in New York City, the EV100 campaign saw 10 major businesses make a public commitment to embrace the use of electric vehicles over the next 15 years.
Baidu, which operates China's biggest online search engine, and Heathrow are joined in the undertaking by German courier Deutsche Post DHL Group, United States-based computer firm HP, and Swedish furniture retailer IKEA. The first 10 to sign up for the pledge also includes Dutch automotive firm LeasePlan, German retail giant Metro AG, Californian electric utility firm PG&E, consumer goods multinational Unilever, and Swedish power company Vattenfall.
Depending on how their businesses operate, members can fulfill their pledge by agreeing to change corporate fleets from gas and diesel vehicles to electric, or by placing requirements in service contracts calling for electric vehicles. Alternatively, members may qualify by installing on-site charging infrastructure to encourage staff and consumers to go electric.
Wang Lu, vice-president of Baidu, noted both China's role as a leader on climate action and its status as the worlds largest car market. He encouraged other Chinese companies to join the initiative.
"We are delighted to be the first Chinese company to join EV100," Lu said. "As one of the worlds leading IT companies, we are inspired to create a better future for all through technology innovation, and are committed to sustainability across our business operations."
Baidu conducts research into artificial intelligence and is developing technology for use in autonomous electric vehicles.
"We have already made significant progress in promoting low-carbon electro-mobility. We hope that other Chinese companies will follow our lead," Lu said.
The transport sector is the fastest-growing contributor to carbon emissions, said Helen Clarkson, chief executive of The Climate Group. Clarkson said customer demand is currently not strong enough to drive a swift transition to electric vehicles.
"We want to make electric transport the new normal," she said. "EV100 will use companies' collective global buying-power and influence on employees and customers to build demand and cut costs."
"The members being announced today see the business logic in leading a faster transition and addressing local air-quality issues in their markets. They are setting a competitive challenge to the auto industry to deliver more electric vehicles, sooner and at lower cost."
Two Chinese companies ecological restoration company Elion Resources and air conditioner manufacturer BROAD Group are part of The Climate Group's other flagship campaign, RE100.That initiative, which has been signed up to by Facebook, Coca-Cola, eBay and others, sees businesses pledge to match their power usage with renewable energy production.
Visitors look at a model of the Chinese-built C919 passenger plane at the 17th China Aviation Expo in Beijing on Tuesday. WANG ZHUANGFEI/CHINA DAILY
China is working with Ukraine on an industrial park to build aircraft engines, a joint venture expected to extensively boost China's research, development and production capabilities in that area, according to project insiders.
Chongqing Skyrizon Aero-Propulsion Industrial Park, which broke ground in late 2015, will cover 5 square kilometers in the Chongqing Liangjiang New Area, and involves an investment of 20 billion yuan ($3.04 billion).
The industrial park's investors are Beijing Skyrizon Aviation Industry Investment Co, the only private aeronautical engine company in China, and Ukraine's Motor Sich Joint Stock Co, one of the world's largest aircraft engine manufacturers. In the park's initial stage, they will jointly produce Ukrainian-designed engines there.
Later on, the companies will use the park to jointly develop and manufacture new engines such as turboshaft, turboprop and turbofan models, said Wang Guangqiu, executive vice-president of the Skyrizon Innovation Institute, Skyrizon's research wing.
The first engine-testing equipment in the park has been installed and is ready for trial operations. The first assembly plants have been built, which means the first phase of construction has finished, he told China Daily in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the 17th China Aviation Expo, which opened in Beijing on Tuesday.
"Aircraft engines involve a high-tech and sophisticated industry that requires a long time for growth. There were two reasons we wished to cooperate with Motor Sich. First, we want to learn its expertise and experience in design and production via our collaboration," Wang said.
"Maybe in three to five years, we will be able to play a bigger role in the joint venture's development of new engines. In the long run, we will be capable of designing engines on our own," Wang said.
"The second reason is that Ukrainian engines have been used by Chinese planes and helicopters for decades - the first Chinese-made trainer aircraft was driven by an engine of Motor Sich," he said.
The Chinese company intends to replicate its Ukrainian partner's success in engine upgrades and aftersales service, he added.
Skyrizon began collaborating with other Chinese and Ukrainian aviation enterprises in 2014, becoming the first Chinese private company that has worked with a foreign aircraft engine company, according to Skyrizon. In 2015, the company established a strategic cooperation partnership with Motor Sich in personnel training, research and development, and production, it said.
Liu Feiyang, deputy director of international cooperation at Skyrizon, said Ukrainian engineers are as good as their Western counterparts when it comes to aeronautical engines. The Chongqing project will bring some of Ukraine's most advanced design theories and methods as well as manufacturing processes to China.
"Our introduction of foreign technologies, techniques and professionals will strengthen the overall capability of the Chinese aircraft engine sector," Wang said.
Vyacheslav Boguslaev, president and general designer at Motor Sich, said his company is working with Skyrizon to set up a joint design center in the Chongqing industrial park and the two are also planning to establish a joint maintenance center there.
Wang Yanan, editor-in-chief of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, said the cooperation between Chinese and Ukrainian aeronautical engine enterprises will help to diversify the market and offer more options to users, thus benefiting the whole aviation industry in China.
zhaolei@chinadaily.com.cn
Components for the new hybrid London black cab, designed by Chinese automaker Geely, will be manufactured at a factory in Bedwas, Wales, creating 130 local jobs.
Bedwas was transformed from a village into a colliery town in the 19th century. The last mines closed in 1984 and Bedwas has since tried to attract light industry to compensate for the loss of jobs.
The London Electric Vehicle Company (known as LEVC), which is owned by Geely, makes London black cabs and launched its new zero-emissions-capable TX model this year.
LEVC confirmed that Sapa Components UK, a subsidiary of Norwegian manufacturer Sapa, will build body parts for its European fleet.
Sapa will invest 9.6 million pounds ($13 million) on reopening its Bedwas plant, which closed in 2014.
The plant will make aluminum panels for the TX chassis, which will then be bonded at Geely's factory in Coventry, England. Aluminum is much lighter than steel, and aluminum vehicles are more fuel-efficient.
Sapa indicated that support from the Welsh government, including 550,000 pounds in funding, helped it select the Bedwas site over another European facility.
Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones said: "The opening will create a range of new job opportunities and give a new lease of life to the area."
The deal will bring the estimated 130 new jobs to Caerphilly county, where Bedwas is located, during the next five years.
Hangzhou-based Geely acquired LEVC, formerly the London Taxi Co, in 2013 for 11 million pounds and has so far invested 325 million pounds in the business, including a 300 million pound facility in Coventry where the TX is assembled.
UK legislation stipulates that from Jan 1 all new London black cabs will need to be battery-powered.
LEVC is accepting orders from London drivers and will deliver 225 hybrid cabs to Dutch firm RMC at the start of 2018 under the first European export deal for the vehicles.
Geely plans to roll out the TX in Chinese cities in the coming years and is constructing a factory in China to manufacture the vehicle.
During the summer, I told you about the finalists for WORLD Magazines Hope Awards for Effective CompassionChristian organizations that make a positive difference in their communities without receiving government funds. We now have a winner, so lets end the suspensethe envelope, please! And the winner is all of us!
Well, actually, after tallying the record number of votes from readers, WORLD selected Delta Streets Academy in Greenwood, Mississippi. DSA, which began just five years ago, has 55 students, all black and all male, in grades 7 through 11. The school aims to equip the young men who walk through our doors daily with the gospel of Christ, and the skills needed to live a life that honors God.
In 2008, Thomas McMillin Howard, 32, known as T. Mac, moved to the Mississippi Delta and taught math at the local public high school. T Mac found the students floundering academically. A third were dropping out; the ones who remained treated their school responsibilities as a joke. Eventually, he decided the at-risk young men needed a disciplined approach grounded in the Christian faith. So in 2012, T Mac left the public school and opened Delta Streets Academy, which began as an after-school and summer program for young men from at-risk neighborhoods.
The discipline is obvious. According to WORLD, [Students] must tuck in their shirts, complete homework, and act respectfully toward adults and each other. They have a mandatory study hall period during the day and access to tutors after hours. And DSA is reluctantly willing to lose students who refuse discipline.
The Christian element is more subtle, but no less real. DSA, which for now is housed in the downtown First Baptist Church, seeks to weave the Gospel of Jesus Christ into all areas of the school believing that glorifying God and enjoying Him forever is the foundation upon which all else is built. Imagine that.
A minister from another Greenwood church tells The Christian Science Monitor that T Mac wants white churches and civic groups to help heal the communitys racial tensions in a society still recovering from segregation. Hes a window into a world that many [white] Christians in Greenwood didnt know existed.
Says Marvin Olasky, the editor-in-chief of the WORLD News Group, Ive visited DSA twice and been hugely impressed by the way this Christian school educates African-American young men intellectually and spiritually. Its our 100th national or regional winner over the past 12 years, so Christian compassion is alive and well.
And that is just the tip of the compassion iceberg, according to journalist Warren Cole Smith. Those of us involved in ministry or in our local churches know that if the great work of Christian ministries and local churches went away, there would be a giant sucking sound in civil society, Warren says. However, most churches and Christian ministries do their work quietly, with little fanfare, soaccording to a Pew studymany Americans dont understand that . . . Christians are more generous with both time and money than their secular neighbors, and that without this generosity, America would be in deep trouble.
But not if the other Hope Awards regional winnersand countless other organizations offering compassionate ministryhave anything to say about it. These are Navajo Ministries in New Mexico, Hope Pregnancy Ministries in Montana, Village of Hope in Zambia, and New Life Home in New Hampshire.
In their great book, Restoring All Things, my friends Warren Cole Smith and John Stonestreet ask a great question: What is good in our culture that we can promote, protect, and celebrate? Its safe to say that WORLDs Hope Awards are a small but significant answerand we are all winners because of them.
BreakPoint is a Christian worldview ministry that seeks to build and resource a movement of Christians committed to living and defending Christian worldview in all areas of life. Begun by Chuck Colson in 1991 as a daily radio broadcast, BreakPoint provides a Christian perspective on todays news and trends via radio, interactive media, and print. Today BreakPoint commentaries, co-hosted by Eric Metaxas and John Stonestreet, air daily on more than 1,200 outlets with an estimated weekly listening audience of eight million people. Feel free to contact us at BreakPoint.org where you can read and search answers to common questions.
Eric Metaxas is a co-host of BreakPoint Radio and a best-selling author whose biographies, children's books, and popular apologetics have been translated into more than a dozen languages.
Publication date: September 20, 2017
When Tony Suarez lost his wife to cancer last year, the Passover song he learned at his first Seder meal only months before became his anthem.
Just as the Jewish people sing dayenuit would have been enoughabout God saving them from the plagues and leading them out of Egypt, the Virginia pastor proclaimed that Gods faithfulness was enough, even without the miracle he had prayed for.
That song meant everything, said Suarez, vice president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC). And we wouldnt have known it if we hadnt been in a synagogue.
Suarez is helping to lead a movement among Latino evangelicals that aspires to change the face of Christian Zionism in America.
For the past few years, the NHCLCs Hispanic Israel Leadership Coalition (HILC) has brought Latino churchessome with blue-and-white Israeli flags in their sanctuaries and Hebrew songs in their worship setstogether with pro-Israel and Jewish groups.
The coalition has organized seminars, trips to the Holy Land, and sit-downs with Israeli politicians in order to make Hispanics the most pro-Israel, pro-Jewish demographic. With arms extended and flags waving, its members pray with their congregations for the peace of Jerusalem and the well-being of Israel.
In addition to events in places like New York, Florida, and Washington, DC, HILC leaders have also advocated across Latin America against anti-Semitism and for the Jewish state. For example, Orlando pastor Carlos Ortiz has joined advocates for Israel in Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua. Nicaragua reestablished a diplomatic relationship with the Jewish state earlier this year after a seven-year ...
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A few years ago, a friend, who was a successful insurance agent, invited me to attend a high-end luncheon. The hotel ballroom was filled with a few hundred insurance agents from around the region. After lunch was served, a prominent leader in the insurance industry spoke, joking about claimants, negligence, and aggregate limits of indemnity. While the other agents laughed, nodding in agreement with the speakers comments, I fidgeted in my seat. I appreciated my friends invitation and ticket to the lunch, but I left feeling unintelligent and confused.
Every group, if its together long enough, develops insider language. The luncheon I attended used insider language targeted to their specific industry. They didnt use it to be exclusionary; they employed it for the sake of identity, clarity, and efficiency. But I realizedin maybe the clearest manner in my lifewhat happens in the hearts and minds of visitors and ...
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Satan Clubs Dying and Good News Clubs Growing Contact: Rachel Hamel,
Child Evangelism Fellowship,
636-456-4321, ext. 1177
WARRENTON, Mo., Sept. 20, 2017 /
The intention of this group was to target schools that host Good News Clubs, scare the faculty and especially the community so that they would be denied permission to hold their Satan Club and with that the Good News Club would be pushed out as well.
In 2001 the US Supreme Court ruled overwhelmingly that Good News Clubs can take place on elementary public school campuses after the last bell rings and have equal treatment. Every child that attends a Good News Club has a parental permission slip.
Moises Esteves, Vice President of Child Evangelism Fellowship said, "The Satanic Temple erected a 10-foot, 300-pound red pentagram in Boca Raton, Florida accompanied by the words: 'May the children hail Satan.' This is the reason the Tacoma club ended. Parents know that children today are confronted with many difficult issues such as violence, drugs, bullying and gangs. The last thing parents want for their children is for them to attend a Satan Club."
As the Satan Clubs are closing down, about 4,500 Good News Clubs are starting up this new school year all over the USA. Over 180,000 children will be enrolled in a high energy club that includes Bible stories, songs, games, etc. Children will receive moral and character development as well as learn respect for authority, based on biblical principles.
Esteves stated, "Principals love Good News Clubs, because it makes their job easier. As the children learn about God and the importance of loving and respecting others, their behavior improves. Better behavior means better education." One principal said, "Since the Good News Club has been a part of our school, the office referrals have decreased."
Worldwide Child Evangelism Fellowship teaches over 6.4 million children on a weekly basis in 74,324 Good News Clubs.
Child Evangelism Fellowship is an international, nonprofit, Christian ministry that has been teaching the Bible to children since 1937. CEF has 400 offices in the USA and is organized in most nations of the world, with over 3,400 paid staff and hundreds of thousands of volunteers. In its last ministry year, CEF ministered to over 20 million children in its face-to-face teaching ministries.
Share Tweet Contact: Rachel Hamel,636-456-4321, ext. 1177WARRENTON, Mo., Sept. 20, 2017 / Christian Newswire / -- Atheists disguised as members of the Satanic Temple ended their short-lived after-school program at Point Defiance Elementary School in Tacoma. After their publicity stunt, their first meeting took place December 2016, with only one child joining the monthly club.The intention of this group was to target schools that host Good News Clubs, scare the faculty and especially the community so that they would be denied permission to hold their Satan Club and with that the Good News Club would be pushed out as well.In 2001 the US Supreme Court ruled overwhelmingly that Good News Clubs can take place on elementary public school campuses after the last bell rings and have equal treatment. Every child that attends a Good News Club has a parental permission slip.Moises Esteves, Vice President of Child Evangelism Fellowship said, "The Satanic Temple erected a 10-foot, 300-pound red pentagram in Boca Raton, Florida accompanied by the words: 'May the children hail Satan.' This is the reason the Tacoma club ended. Parents know that children today are confronted with many difficult issues such as violence, drugs, bullying and gangs. The last thing parents want for their children is for them to attend a Satan Club."As the Satan Clubs are closing down, about 4,500 Good News Clubs are starting up this new school year all over the USA. Over 180,000 children will be enrolled in a high energy club that includes Bible stories, songs, games, etc. Children will receive moral and character development as well as learn respect for authority, based on biblical principles.Esteves stated, "Principals love Good News Clubs, because it makes their job easier. As the children learn about God and the importance of loving and respecting others, their behavior improves. Better behavior means better education." One principal said, "Since the Good News Club has been a part of our school, the office referrals have decreased."Worldwide Child Evangelism Fellowship teaches over 6.4 million children on a weekly basis in 74,324 Good News Clubs.Child Evangelism Fellowship is an international, nonprofit, Christian ministry that has been teaching the Bible to children since 1937. CEF has 400 offices in the USA and is organized in most nations of the world, with over 3,400 paid staff and hundreds of thousands of volunteers. In its last ministry year, CEF ministered to over 20 million children in its face-to-face teaching ministries.
EWTN to Broadcast Two Historical Events for 100th Fatima Anniversary: Historical Candlelight Rosary Procession & Worldwide Children's Holy Hour at National Basilica
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2017 /
Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J., EWTN host, in a
Earlier that day, at 10:00 a.m. ET, EWTN will broadcast the 15th annual Worldwide Children's Eucharistic Holy Hour from the Basilica. This annual event spiritually unites the children of the world before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, making reparation to console Jesus and to pray for their families, countries and the world. Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, Director of the Association of Marian Helpers of the Immaculate Conception, will preside at the Holy Hour and his
Connie Schneider, Event Director said, "Gather your families, wherever you are on the evening of October 13th, if possible, tune in to EWTN, light a candle, pray the Rosary and the prayer of Entrustment, spiritually uniting with Cardinal Wuerl. We hope Catholics worldwide will join in from their dioceses, parishes, homes, nursing homeseverywhere!" She encourages everyone to ask their pastor to gather the parishioners, to video stream EWTN's broadcast into their parish, and be a part of this event.
A
As Mother Angelica always said: "Don't miss the opportunity!"
Share Tweet Contact: Connie Schneider, 651-776-0363, connieschneider@earthlink.net WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2017 / Christian Newswire / -- On October 13, the 100-year anniversary of the final apparition of Fatima, often referred to as "The Day the Sun Danced, His Excellency Donald Cardinal Wuerl will lead an Historic Candlelight Rosary Procession and a Prayer of Entrustment for individuals and families to Our Lady of Fatima's Immaculate Heart. The Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) will broadcast the event LIVE at 7:00 p.m. ET from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, to over 140 nations.Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J., EWTN host, in a special video invitation is encouraging all people to participate in this special event. The video is 2 1/2 minutes long, but well worth watching and promoting.Earlier that day, at 10:00 a.m. ET, EWTN will broadcast the 15th annual Worldwide Children's Eucharistic Holy Hour from the Basilica. This annual event spiritually unites the children of the world before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, making reparation to console Jesus and to pray for their families, countries and the world. Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, Director of the Association of Marian Helpers of the Immaculate Conception, will preside at the Holy Hour and his video invitation encourages all Catholic schools, home schools and families, to participate.Connie Schneider, Event Director said, "Gather your families, wherever you are on the evening of October 13th, if possible, tune in to EWTN, light a candle, pray the Rosary and the prayer of Entrustment, spiritually uniting with Cardinal Wuerl. We hope Catholics worldwide will join in from their dioceses, parishes, homes, nursing homeseverywhere!" She encourages everyone to ask their pastor to gather the parishioners, to video stream EWTN's broadcast into their parish, and be a part of this event. Family Entrustment Pamphlet is available to help students and families to follow along with the prayers of this special event. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to this 501(c)3 religious organization. Please visit FatimaCandlelightCelebration.org to donate to help us with the expenses of these events.As Mother Angelica always said: "Don't miss the opportunity!"
home World Abducted Catholic priest rescued by Philippine military in 'final push' to recapture Marawi
Philippine troops have rescued a Roman Catholic priest, who has been held hostage in the southern city of Marawi for almost four months by Islamic State-linked rebels, as the military launched its "final push" to recapture the city.
Fr. Teresito "Chito" Soganub, the vicar general of Marawi, was kidnapped, along with other Christians, when rebels laid siege to the Saint Mary's Parish as the clashes broke out in the city on May 23.
The priest and a teacher named Lordvin Ocopio were able to escape from their captors on Saturday night while they were engaged in a firefight against government forces.
Secretary Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on the peace process, said that the troops were able to rescue the two after the battle to recapture a key mosque and another Islamic building that has been used as a command center by the rebels.
"The duo revealed [initially to the rescuing troops] that they escaped when their captors had a heavy firefight against the government forces in the said location," said Rear Adm. Rene Medina, commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (Navforwem), as reported by Inquirer.
"And in the course of fleeing, they were identified by the military and they were brought to a safer place," he added.
The militants were reportedly forced to abandon the Bato Mosque in Marawi on Saturday afternoon as the troops continued to push forward in the battle area.
Soganub was last seen in May in a propaganda video, in which he urged the government to stop the military operation in Marawi in exchange for sparing the lives of hostages. At the time, he said that he was with about 200 other hostages. "We want to live another day. We want to live another month," the priest pleaded in the video while standing alone in front of debris and partially burned buildings.
According to the military, the priest had been helping the militants manufacture improvised explosive devices.
A total of 149 members of government forces have died in combat, along with 47 civilians, while more than 670 militants have been killed in the clashes as of Monday.
Military chief General Eduardo AAo said that there are about 10 foreigners, who are still in the battle among some 50a60 rebels.
AAo noted that the seizing of the mosque was an "enormous" military gain because it served as a battle command center of the militants. He said that the government troops will continue to "press on relentlessly until conclusion."
"We urge the remaining terrorists, especially former hostages turned fighters, to endeavor to communicate with the military and surrender while they still have time," the general went on to say.
home US ACLU threatens to sue Oklahoma police chief for posting Bible verses on social media
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has threatened to file a lawsuit against a police chief in Oklahoma for sharing Bible verses on the police department's official Facebook page.
In a letter to the mayor of Mounds on Wednesday, the ACLU of Oklahoma voiced its concerns about the social media posts by Mounds Police Chief Antonio Porter, claiming that the use of scripture on the department's Facebook page is a "clear violation of the central tenets of the American government."
"By promoting one specific religion on its official Facebook page, the Mounds Police Department has established clear preference for that faith above other faiths and above no religious faith at all. This kind of government interference with our religious freedom is simply not permissible under United States or Oklahoma law," said Brady Henderson, legal director for the ACLU of Oklahoma, as reported by CBN News.
The ACLU also said that the scriptural posts call into question whether or not the police department can be trusted to protect its citizens. The organization has threatened to file a lawsuit if the police department continues to post Bible verses on its Facebook page.
Porter, who also serves as a pastor of Wayland Baptist Church in Eufaula, said that he starts each day by reading his devotional and posting them on Facebook and LinkedIn afterward.
He explained that his goal in posting the verses was not about picking one religion over another and said that he is trying to send a message that he is praying for others.
Mounds City Mayor Rosa Jackson said that she has no problem with Porter's posts. "I'm not offended by the postings. As a matter of fact, I appreciate them If I were offended, and I didn't like what was being posted, I'd turn it off," she said, according to Faithwire.
The mayor also contended that the posts get people talking and communicating, adding that it is good for the community.
Two state lawmakers have sent a letter to the police chief, expressing their support for his daily scriptural posts. Sen. James Leewright (R-Bristow) and Rep. Mark Lawson (R-Sapulpa) sent Porter some verses from the Sermon on the Mount to encourage the chief.
Porter said that he is not concerned about the ACLU's letter, and he has continued to post Bible verses to the department's Facebook page. "With all the negativity in the world, it is time for people to start coming together with positive words and prayer," he said.
home US After-School Satan club in Tacoma shuts down due to lack of funding
The Satanic Temple in Seattle has decided to shut down an after-school program in a public school in Tacoma, Washington due to lack of funding and volunteers.
The After-School Satan club had been offered to children from all elementary grade levels at Point Defiance Elementary School during the second half of last school year, but the Temple said that it does not have the resources to continue the program this year.
"It was a matter of funding, and also volunteers who couldn't take the time out of work because it's right in the middle of the work day, so we didn't have enough volunteers," said Temple leader Lilith Starr, according to The Chronicle.
The Temple has been attempting to launch similar programs in schools where Christian Good News Clubs were already meeting. The Christian program, which makes a presentation of the gospel to children, is sponsored by Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), which won a landmark 2001 case in the U.S. Supreme Court for equal access to school facilities. The Temple then claimed the same rights to use school facilities for its program.
Starr did not disclose the number of children attending the After-School Satan Club, but she said it had been well-attended.
In November, a group of Point Defiance parents asked the Tacoma School Board to ban the club. But district officials decided to allow the Temple to launch the program, citing the Supreme Court ruling that compels public schools that open their facilities for after-school rental to make the facilities available to all kinds of groups.
Liberty Counsel, which represents CEF, claimed that the club ceased meeting soon after the teachers from the Temple conducted the first session in December 2016, noting that only one child signed up for the Temple's program.
Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel, noted that there are less about Satanism and more about efforts to force schools to shut down the Good News Clubs.
"As we predicted, the so-called Satanist club fizzled," Staver said. "These clubs have never been successful and are doomed to fail. The atheists use scare tactics to oppose the Good News Clubs, but we are neither fooled nor intimidated. The so-called Satanist Temple and its after-school club had nothing good to offer students, so it was only a matter of time before it fizzled out," he added.
The Temple stated on its website that it is not trying to convert children to Satanism, and it only wants to provide alternative programs for students at schools where Good News Clubs are offered.
Starr said that the Temple is making the After-School Satan curriculum available to volunteers who want to run clubs in schools in their communities, with the hope that someone would step up to get the program started again in Tacoma.
home US Appeals court blocks Planned Parenthood from expanding abortion services in Missouri
The Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has temporarily blocked Planned Parenthood from expanding its abortion services in Missouri.
On Friday, the appeals court issued a one-sentence temporary stay on a lower court ruling that blocked the state from enforcing a law that required abortionists to maintain hospital privileges within 30 miles of the abortion facility.
Planned Parenthood had sought licenses to conduct abortions at its facilities in Kansas City, Columbia, Springfield and Joplin. The clinic in Kansas City is expected to start offering abortions this week as it had already received a license, but no facility license is expected to be issued to the other three clinics.
The applications of the three facilities were still being reviewed by the Department of Health and Senior Services, which issues the licenses for abortion clinics in Missouri.
Planned Parenthood Great Plains expressed disappointment with Friday's ruling, arguing that the U.S. Supreme Court had already ruled that admitting privileges and the physical requirements for abortion clinics are unconstitutional and create an undue burden on women seeking abortions.
"Let's be clear, these are politically and ideologically motivated laws that will do nothing but harm Missourians," Great Plains interim president and CEO Aaron Samulcek said in a statement, according to The Associated Press. "We have never and will never stop fighting for our patients' ability to access safe, legal abortion a that is a promise we intend to keep," he added.
The ruling has been hailed by pro-life groups as a victory. "I think what this means is that Columbia, Joplin and Springfield probably will not be licensed by the department," said Sam Lee, director of Campaign Life Missouri.
Life News reported that none of the three Planned Parenthood facilities are in compliance with the hospital privilege rule or the facility requirement of the existing law.
"We are very grateful for the last-minute reprieve from the Eighth Circuit that allows the Department of Health to fulfill its duty to protect the public," said Troy Newman, the president of Operation Rescue.
"Licensing these substandard facilities for abortions would have been a grave mistake that would have cost the lives of babies, and endangered their mothers," he added.
While the abortion facility in Kansas City was expected to begin offering abortion pill on Monday, Newman said that the clinic can only begin the process of informed consent that day because of Missouri's 72-hour waiting period. He encouraged pro-life supporters in the Kansas city area to "maintain a steady presence" at the facility.
home World Australia's Prime Minister vows to protect religious freedom amid poll on legalization of same-sex marriage
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said that religious freedom will be protected in the country regardless of the outcome of the postal survey on the legalization of same-sex marriage.
Turnbull, a strong supporter of gay marriage, defended the right of a church to refuse to marry a young couple who had expressed their support for same-sex unions. According to Reuters, the young couple in their 20s were told that they would not be able to hold their wedding ceremony at a Presbyterian church in the southern state of Victoria after the bride posted a Facebook message supporting same-sex marriage.
"Churches are free to marry whoever they like," Turnbull said at a press conference in Canberra on Friday. "As strongly as I believe in the right of same-sex couples to marry ... Religious freedom is fundamental and it will be protected in any bill that emerges from this Parliament," he added.
The postal survey on the legalization of same-sex marriage, which runs until the end of October, is non-binding, but it will inform the Australian Parliament on whether such unions should be legalized in the country.
Turnbull said that if the survey resulted in a majority "no" vote, gay marriage will be discarded as an election issue.
He said that there were two bills outlining religious protections in case the survey yields a "yes" vote. Marriage celebrants, for example, would be allowed to opt out of marrying same-sex couples.
"Overwhelmingly Australians are sensible, respectful people. This is a very important social issue and we're giving everyone a say," the prime minister said.
"The protection of religious freedoms is set out in that exposure draft. People will have different views. It is a matter for Parliament then to legislate. I'm very confident that the bill for same-sex marriage will be legalised, and then you will then see the focus on the Parliament being on the detail and it will then turn around," he added.
A recent Ipsos/Fairfax poll has shown that there is 70 percent public support for same-sex marriage. While some churches have encouraged congregants to vote against the legalization of such unions, other churches have taken a neutral stance.
The Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Australia's largest city, has called on Catholic school principals in the city to oppose the vote, but the Bishop of Parramatta, Vincent Long Van Nguyen, told his parishioners in a letter that the vote was a matter of individual conscience.
According to The New Daily, the ballots will be due back on Oct. 27, and the result will be announced on Nov. 15.
home US California Senate passes bill preventing religious employers from firing workers who seek abortions
The California Senate has approved a legislation that will prevent religious employers from firing workers who seek abortions or any other services related to the termination of pregnancy.
The measure, known as Assembly Bill 569, was passed by the Senate by a vote of 27a13 on Sept. 12, according to East County Magazine. It was later passed by the Assembly by a margin of 45a13 and is now headed to the governor's desk.
AB 569, authored by California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D-San Diego), would prohibit employers from "taking any adverse action" against employees for any decision regarding their pregnancy, including "the use of any drug, device, or medical service."
It would allow for a "ministerial exception for employees of religiously affiliated institutions," but it only applies to an "employee who leads a religious organization, conducts worship services or important religious ceremonies or rituals, or serves as a messenger or teacher of its faith."
"Women in this country have been fired for getting pregnant while unmarried, for using in-vitro fertilization and for other personal reasons related to their own reproductive health. This is outrageous and needs to stop. No woman should ever lose a job for exercising her right to decide when, how, or whether to have a family," Gonzalez Fletcher said.
Some religious organizations argued that the bill is unnecessary and would threaten their ability of to apply codes of conduct for employees according to their religious beliefs.
The legislation, which will take effect in 2018 if signed by the governor, would also prohibit employers from forcing workers to sign codes of conduct related to their decisions about their pregnancy. The governor has until Oct. 15 to either approve or veto the measure.
In late August, Catholic League President Bill Donahue sent a letter to all members of the California legislature calling the legislation a "blatant assault on religious freedom."
Donahue contended that the bill's real intention was to undermine "Catholic teaching on the sanctity of human life" by forcing the church to employ people who publicly oppose that teaching.
Under current law, employers are allowed to take action against employees for violations of their internal policies.
In 2012, a woman was fired from San Diego Christian College after she got pregnant while unmarried. She noted that the college offered a job to the father of her child shortly after firing her, prompting allegations that the religious school was discriminating on the basis of gender, not marital status.
In 2015, the Archbishop of San Francisco attempted to include a prohibition on in-vitro fertilization, birth control and abortion in the employee handbook.
home US Catholic leaders defend Trump after Pope Francis questioned his pro-life values
Catholic leaders came to the defense of President Donald Trump after Pope Francis questioned his commitment to pro-life values over his decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
On the return flight from his visit to Colombia, Francis criticized Trump for ending DACA, which allows children who were brought illegally by their parents to the U.S. to remain in the country and apply for work permits.
"I have heard the President of the United States speak," the pontiff said, according to the National Catholic Reporter. "He presents himself as a pro-life man. If he is a good pro-lifer, he should understand that the family is the cradle of life and you must defend its unity," he continued.
Some Catholic leaders, however, took issue with the pope's remarks and pointed out that Trump has already produced major pro-life accomplishments during his short time in office.
Deal Wyatt Hudson, president of the Morley Institute for Church and Culture and former publisher and editor of Crisis Magazine, said that he was "saddened" that the pontiff had refused to recognize Trump's convictions and actions when it comes to protecting the unborn.
"He does the Church a huge disservice by doubting the president's commitment to protect life because of his views on immigration, as if persons cannot be called 'pro-life' unless they agree with Pope Francis on that issue," Hudson said, as reported by Life Site News.
Austin Ruse, president of the Center for Family and Human Rights (C-Fam), pointed out several pro-life measures carried out by the White House since Trump took office.
He noted that Trump had appointed pro-life consitutionalists to the Supreme Court and the lower benches, adding that the president had also taken pro-life positions at the U.N., including defunding the "pro-abortion" U.N. population fund.
Ruse also mentioned that Trump had appointed pro-life Catholics and Evangelicals to staff the Department of Health and Human Services.
Michael Hichborn, founder and president of the Lepanto Institute, accused Francis of being silent about former President Barack Obama's "full support of the abortion industry," and criticized him for appointing a pro-abortion theologian to the Pontifical Academy for Life.
He also denounced Francis for referring to Italian abortionist Emma Bonino as one of Italy's "lost greats," as well as the pontiff's decision to host population control enthusiast in the Vatican.
Robert Royal, founder and president of the Faith and Reason Institute, questioned whether the pope understands how the U.S. government works, noting that there are still some doubts regarding the constitutionality of the DACA program.
"I don't think he understands that President Trump has thrown the problem to Congress, where it belongs, to develop - constitutionally - the right response to the situation," he said.
The pope told journalists on his flight back to Rome that he had heard of the president's decision to end DACA, but acknowledged that he had not had the time to study the details of the issue.
He said that people must be very careful not to dash the hopes and dreams of young people or make them feel "a bit exploited," noting that some of them could be tempted to turn to drugs or even suicide.
home US Christian apologist Nabeel Qureshi dies at age 34 after year-long battle with cancer
Christian apologist and author Nabeel Qureshi, who was diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer in August 2016, has passed away on Saturday at the age of 34.
Qureshi, a convert from Islam, had been given a low chance of survival by his doctors, but his faith remained steadfast throughout his ordeal. The Christian apologist had prayed for healing as he spent months in aggressive treatment, including the removal of his stomach.
In a Sept. 8 video, Qureshi said that his doctors have "pretty much given up" on treating his cancer, adding that they believe that his body is in its "final stages of life." In a previous blog post, he explained that the cancer had also spread to his liver.
On Saturday, David Wood, the man who led Qureshi to Christ, announced his passing on Twitter saying, "My beloved brother Nabeel, rest in peace and joy with the Risen Lord Jesus Christ."
Qureshi, who was raised in a PakistaniaAmerican Ahmadiu Muslim family, came to faith in Christ after he started reading the Bible to debate his Christian friend, according to Christianity Today. He recounted his journey to faith in the New York Times best-seller, "Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus," which became the only book to ever win Christian Book Awards for both Best New Author and Best Nonfiction.
The author said that it was not just physical evidence that convinced him, noting that he had three prophetic dreams about Christ.
Qureshi stated that the God of the Bible "reached me through investigations, dreams, and visions, and called me to prayer in my suffering."
"It was there that I found Jesus. To follow him is worth giving up everything," he went on to say.
Qureshi went on to study Christian apologetics at Biola University, while also studying medicine at the Eastern Virginia Medical School. He later acquired a masters degree in religion from Duke University and entered a Ph.D. program in New Testament studies at Oxford University.
The apologist served with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) until he was diagnosed with cancer last year. After the diagnosis, Qureshi announced that he was concluding his traveling ministry and affiliation with RZIM.
In May, Ravi Zacharias and his team met with Qureshi for a preliminary goodbye. RZIM issued a statement on Saturday, saying, "Our dear brother in Christ Nabeel Qureshi went to be with the Lord following a year-long battle with cancer."
"We received this news with deep sadness and yet profound hope, confident that he is finally and fully healed in the presence of his Savior," it added.
During his battle with cancer, Qureshi continued to share the gospel and updates on his treatments through videos on his social media page.
In one of his last video blogs, Qureshi said that he hopes that his ministry would leave a "legacy of love, of peace, of truth, of caring for one another."
"If at any point I have said anything that seems to contravene that, I do apologize and I hope that is not the legacy that I leave behind," he said.
home US Convicted murderer sings Christian hymns before execution
An Ohio man who was convicted of killing two people in back-to-back robberies in suburban Cleveland in 1992 sang Christian hymns as he was executed on Wednesday.
Gary Otte, 45, was executed by lethal injection at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville and was declared dead at 10:54 a.m., The Associated Press reported.
Before he was injected with a lethal combination of three drugs, Otte apologized to the relatives of his victims and sang the religious song "The Greatest Thing," with words such as "I want to know you Lord" and "I want to serve you Lord."
He quoted the Bible with his last words: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they're doing. Amen."
Otte was the second person to be executed in Ohio this year after the state ended its three-year execution hiatus prompted by difficulties finding drugs to use in capital punishment.
He was sentenced to death for fatally shooting Robert Wasikowski and Sharon Kostura in two separate home invasion robberies in February 1992.
According to authorities, Otte had asked to go inside Wasikowski's he shot the 61-year-old man and stole about $400.
The next day, he forced his way into the apartment of Kostura in the same building, shot her and stole $45 and her car keys.
Otte's public defenders claimed that his drug addiction, intoxication and depression led to the killings, and that he had poor legal assistance at trial.
County prosecutor Michael O'Malley noted in a Jan. 30 filing with the parole board that the killings were not spur-of-the moment decisions by Otte, who lingered in the victims' apartment to rob them and turned up the volume of the TV to drown out Kostura's pleas for help.
In his last-ditch appeals, Otte claimed that the use of the execution sedative midazolam is unconstitutional and he contended that he should not be put to death because he was under 21 when he committed the crimes. His attorneys argued that the drug may not render prisoners so deeply unconscious that they avoid suffering pain when the last two drugs are administered.
The anti-execution activist Sister Helen Prejean also testified that he has a low IQ and psychological problems. However, both the U.S. Supreme Court and the state's highest court denied the appeals to halt the execution.
A spokeswoman for the prison system said that he did not sleep overnight, spending his last hours visiting with his parents and calling friends and family. The last meal he ate included a mushroom and Swiss cheese hamburger, a quart of Health Bar ice cream and a slice of banana cream pie.
home US Dairy Queen franchisee defends 'In God We Trust' sign at store following complaint from customer
An owner of a Dairy Queen store in Kewaskum, Wisconsin has defended a sign on his restaurant that says "In God We Trust" after an out-of-town customer complained about it on social media.
The sign describing the store as "politically incorrect" warns customers that staff may say "Merry Christmas," "Happy Easter" and "God Bless America" to customers and hand out free sundaes to veterans on Veterans Day.
Local residents are already familiar with the sign, which has been in the shop window for four years, but it recently caught the attention of out-of-town customer Ashley Coleman, who complained about it on social media.
Coleman, an Oregon resident, posted a picture of the sign on Dairy Queen's national Facebook page on Sept. 6, claiming that it was "extremely offensive."
Store owner Kevin Scheunemann defended the sign, saying he felt it was appropriate to put it up because he wanted to be "transparent" with his customer about the store's views.
"I felt the sign was appropriate to hang in terms of being transparent about the views of the owner and staff supporting God and country. It just seems that those kinds of values and principles are becoming controversial in society," he said, as reported by Breitbart News.
According to CBS 58, the owner decided to hang the sign after a customer got upset at the Christian music being played at the restaurant. In another incident, a customer reportedly had a problem with the store's policy of giving away free ice cream to veterans.
Scheunemann said that he is open to speak with anyone who have objections to the sign, adding that he will even make arrangements for customers to come in without witnessing any expression of God or country.
Other local business owners said that they support Scheunemann's right to run his business the way he wants.
"He posted it on the door so you see it before you walk in. You don't have to walk in if you don't agree with it," said April Serwe, who owns the local bar PJ Magoos.
In response to the controversy, Dairy Queen's corporate office issued a statement saying it "does not encourage" franchisees to post "non-business related messages" in their stores.
The statement clarified that the sign on the Kewaskum store only expresses the views of the franchisee and does not speak for the corporation or other franchise owners.
"We expect our franchisees and employees to treat every person who walks through our doors with the utmost dignity and respect. Nothing less is acceptable," the statement read.
home World Egypt hands down death sentence to ISIS militants who beheaded 21 Copts in Libya
An Egyptian court has handed down a death sentence to seven people over links to the Islamic State terror group and the beheadings of 21 Coptic Christians in Libya in February 2015.
The seven suspects have been accused of being members of an ISIS cell in Marsa Matruh in northwest Egypt, and of planning attacks after receiving military training at jihadist camps in Libya and Syria, according to Agence France Presse. An unspecified number of the suspects were accused of taking part in the beheadings in Libya.
Three of the suspects were sentenced to death in absentia, and 13 others are currently on trial in the same case. The rulings against the 13 suspects are expected to be handed down on Nov. 25.
Egypt's mufti, who is the official interpreter of Islamic law, will be reviewing the death sentences, although his verdict is not considered legally binding.
The video of the beheadings was released by the terror group in 2015, with the title "A Message Signed With Blood to the Nation of the Cross." The incident sparked international outcry and prompted Egypt to launch air strikes against jihadist targets in the neighboring Arab state.
At the two-year anniversary of the beheadings in February, the relatives of the victims, who were kidnapped separately in Libya throughout December 2014 and January 2015, honored the memories of their loved ones.
The children of the 21 Copts said that they are "proud" of the courage displayed by their fathers by refusing to renounce their faith.
One of the widows said that her husband "kept the faith, and was martyred in the name of Christ. His faith was very strong. I'm proud of him. He has lifted our heads up and honored us and all the Christians."
A number of Coptic Christians have crossed into Libya in search of work despite the risks of persecution.
"We know it is more likely we will die than live in Libya but we don't have a choice... More and more people are going to Libya because of the economic crisis here. You can't get work, you can't make money in Egypt. We are aware of the dangers, particularly as Christians," a Coptic Christian said, according to The Christian Post, citing The Sunday Times.
According to a Libyan intelligence report, an estimated 700 ISIS militants have re-grouped in the valleys and desert areas south of the city of Bani Walid, and another 3,000 terrorist fighters from different groups, including al-Qaeda, are believed to be operating in the country.
home US Federal judge says Catholic farmer cannot be banned from city market over gay marriage views
A federal judge has temporarily allowed a Catholic farmer, who was banned from the East Lansing city market in Michigan because of his opposition to gay marriage, to resume selling his goods while his case proceeds.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney granted a preliminary injunction to allow Steve Tennes to return to the city's farmers market for the remainder of the 2017 season.
Tennes, owner of Country Mills Farms, was banned from the market in March after city officials learned that he does not allow gay couples to get married at his Eaton County farm near Charlotte.
Maloney said that the city likely violated the Tennes' religious and free speech rights, noting that the officials changed the rules to require vendors to comply with the city's civil rights ordinance, which bars discrimination, after becoming aware of his position on gay marriage.
"The context in which the vendor guidelines were amended and then applied to Country Mill supports plaintiffs' claim that their religious beliefs or their religiously motivated conduct was the target of the city's actions," the judge said, as reported by CBS Sacramento.
According to Lansing State Journal, the farmer's market guidelines had been changed between December and March to include "general business practice" among the areas where its anti-discrimination policy applied for vendors.
On Friday evening, the city of East Lansing released a statement expressing disappointment with the court's ruling.
The city contended that the judge only relied on the plaintiff's complaint and had failed to consider the "contrary facts that were set forth in the Defendant's answer and reply to the Plaintiff's motion."
"At the time of the Court's ruling, the Court also had the benefit of the facts established by the City's Motion to Dismiss. The City will be considering the seeking of a stay and an appeal of the ruling," the statement read, as reported by State News.
Mayor Pro Tem Ruth Beier argued that the city was not trying to control speech and claimed that Tennes was banned from the farmer's market because of his actions that have been deemed discriminatory.
On Sunday, Country Mill Farms was greeted by a steady stream of customers, along with some protesters, upon its return to the East Lansing Farmer's Market.
David and Jane Lopez drove from Southgate on Sunday morning to purchase apples, donuts and cider from Tennes. David shared his concern that Country Mill's booth will be overwhelmed by protesters.
"That's really not the message we want him to get. We just didn't want him to have a bad experience on his first day back," he said.
home US 'Fixer Upper' fans criticize Chip and Joanna Gaines over partnership with Target
Fans of the popular home renovation reality show "Fixer Upper" have expressed their disappointment with the hosts' decision to partner with Target to sell their new home furnishing line called "Hearth and Hand with Magnolia."
Earlier this week, Target announced that it has partnered with "Fixer Upper" stars Chip and Joanna Gaines to sell the new home furnishing line, which is expected to hit the stores on Nov. 5. The product line will include more than 300 items ranging in price from $0.99 to $129.99, according to a Target release.
A number of Christians have complained about the couple's decision to associate with Target, which is currently the subject of a boycott by the American Family Association because of its policy allowing shoppers to choose bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity.
"I don't shop Target anymore. I wish you would had followed your Christian values instead of the almighty dollar. Lost a little respect," one woman tweeted, as reported by The Gospel Herald.
"Very disappointed that as Christians you choose Target for your brand. Many Christians no longer shop there and my family still will not," another one wrote.
In a blog post, Chip explained that they decided to partner with Target because the company is known for its generosity, noting that a portion of the proceeds from the sales of the new product line will be used to help families in need.
"[O]ne of the main reasons we decided to team up with Target is because we have found them to be the gold-standard when it comes to generosity and giving. This really resonates with us. Jo and I believe that to whom much is given, much is required," he wrote.
A statement from Target confirmed that the proceeds from the new products will be donated to local charities.
As part of the partnership, the Magnolia Foundation, a charitable organization set up by the Gaines couple, will also work to redesign the dining room of the Target House at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. The living space was created to allow families to stay near the hospital long-term while patients are being treated.
The Gaines couple came under fire from LGBT activists last year after it was reported that their pastor opposes same-sex marriage.
The LGBT community reportedly urged HGTV network, which airs "Fixer Upper," to drop the Gaines from the show.
At the time, the AFA, which started the #BoycottTarget campaign over the retailer's bathroom policy, launched a petition urging HGTV to keep the Christian couple on the show.
home World Former Muslim says kidnappers receive money for every Coptic Christian girl they bring in
A former Muslim, who was once part of a network of kidnappers who targeted Coptic Christian girls, has claimed that Islamic extremist organizations paid them "large amounts of money" for every girl they bring in.
In an interview with World Watch Monitor, an Egyptian man who identified himself only as "G" detailed the strategies used by the network to kidnap Coptic girls.
He explained that a group of kidnappers would meet in a mosque to discuss potential victims and keep a close eye on houses of Christians and monitor their movement. The group would then come up with a plan on how to abduct Coptic girls.
The strategies used by the kidnappers are often subtle. "A Muslim boy tells a Christian girl he loves her and wants to convert to Christianity for her," he explained. "They start a romantic relationship until one day they decide to 'escape' together. What the girls don't know is that they are actually being kidnapped. Most of the time they will not marry their kidnapper, but someone else," he continued.
The man noted that the kidnappers received money from Islamic organizations for bringing in the girls, and claimed that some police officers have also been involved in the operations.
"In some cases, police provide the kidnappers with drugs they seize. The drugs are then given to the girls to weaken their resistance as they put them under pressure. I even know of cases in which police offered helped to beat up the girls to make them recite the Islamic creed," G narrated.
He further noted that the value of the reward increases if the girl is from a well-known family or is a daughter of a priest.
G said that he knew of a Salafist group that rented apartments in different parts of Egypt to hide the kidnapped girls. In these apartments, the girls are threatened to convert to Islam and once they reach the legal age, the kidnappers arrange for an Islamic representative to make the conversion official.
He also noted that the kidnappers are rarely brought to justice, and the authorities often do not report the crime as a kidnapping. The police would say that the girl "went missing" so that they could cover up the crimes of the abductors they deem to be their "Muslim brothers," G said.
In June, a 16-year-old girl named Marilyn was abducted using the "love tactic." An Egyptian researcher claimed that the girl was seduced by a boy named Taha, a recruit of a Salafi organization. The family priest, Fr. Boutros Khalaf, said they heard that the boy took her to a farm where he works.
The day before Marilyn was abducted, a 15-year-old girl named Neveen Adly Beshai Sawiris was forced into a vehicle by two men while she was walking along a street in Cairo. The 38-year-old kidnapping suspect later confessed that he forged her papers to show that she was over 18 and married her.
Last year, 18-year-old Mary Wahib was taken from her home at gunpoint by four masked men, and later appeared in a Facebook video professing Islam.
G said that many kidnappers are in it for the money, but the main goal of the network is to strengthen Islam and weaken Christianity.
home World Fulani herdsmen kill 20 Nigerians in attack on Christian village
At least 20 Christians were killed in their sleep after suspected Fulani herdsmen carried out an attack on a village in Nigeria's Plateau state in the early hours of Friday.
The state Commissioner of Police, Peter Ogunyanwo, told reporters in Jos on Friday that the preliminary investigation had indicated that Fulani herdsmen were responsible for the attack on Ancha village.
John Bulus, the church secretary of Salama Baptist Church-Ancha, noted that nine of the 20 victims were children, ranging in age from 3 months to 17 years old.
Police said that the attack was carried out in retaliation for the murder of a Fulani boy, who was found beheaded last week.
"We are investigating the matter, but from our findings so far, the attack was carried out by Fulani herdsmen to avenge the killing of a young boy," Ogunyanwo said, according to Sahara Reporters.
"We have been told that a Fulani boy resident in the village was reported missing on August 3. We are told that his body was later found without the head," he added.
A local Christian said that the terrified residents cannot understand why the village was targeted, as the murder of the boy took place at another village.
Bulus maintained that the Christian residents at Ancha have never had any problems with the Fulani, who have a settlement a few kilometers away.
He recounted that on Sept. 2, the Christian villagers saw the herdsmen moving their families and cattle out of their camp. When they asked the herdsmen about their sudden departure, they were told that a member of the Fulani community was killed some time ago in another village located five kilometers away.
"We never knew that these same Fulanis would return to attack us, as there is nothing that warrants an attack on us," Bulus told Morning Star News.
He said that he recognized some of the assailants but not all of them, adding that some villagers believe that the herdsmen were accompanies by Islamic extremists.
"I can confidently tell you that some of the persons among those who attacked us are local Fulani herdsmen who lived close to our village," he said.
According to Morning Star News, Ogunyanwo had underreported the number of victims, saying there were only seven children killed, and that only five people had been injured.
The Commissioner said that five suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder of the Fulani boy, but none had been apprehended in the massacre in Ancha village. He added that security had been deployed to the area to prevent another attack, and warned the residents against taking the law into their own hands.
home US ISIS calls for 'lone wolf' terror attacks on relief centers housing hurricane victims
The Department of Homeland Security's Southeast Bureau has warned that the Islamic State terror group is using social media to call on its sympathizers to carry out "lone wolf" attacks on relief centers housing people who are affected by recent hurricanes in the U.S.
"On Sept. 11, there was a twitter posting that appears to be authored by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) that threatens Washington, New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Miami and Las Vegas," a document from Homeland Security stated, as reported by CNBC.
The confidential "situation awareness" document, dated Sept. 14, was reportedly sent by the Homeland Security Bureau's Southeast Florida Fusion Center to law enforcement and "homeland security communities." It also pointed to a Newsweek article that cited an ISIS posting that called for attacks on Houston relief centers.
"To all the (lone mujahids) in the U.S. (warrior), pop down to Houston and drop in at any of the relief centers housing displaced people from the Houston floods, make sure to bring lots of supplies/gadgets/toys to see if you can help put any (unbeliever) out of their misery," the posting read.
Houston was severely damaged after Hurricane Harvey made landfall as a category 5 storm in Texas at the end of August, killing at least 70 people.
The posts were made as Hurricane Irma, a category 5 storm at the time, was battering Cuba and making its way to Florida. At least 18 people were reportedly killed after the storm ravaged through the Caribbean islands.
The document also cited another posting in which a jihadist described the hurricane in Florida as an "international tragedy" on American soil. The post, which includes a hurricane emoji, quotes Allah as saying that a "roaring wind in the days of the snakes" had been sent.
Other jihadists said that the natural disasters were a form of payback for U.S.'s foreign policy. A social media user, whose name is given as Abu Jandal, said that the disasters were "revenge" for the people of the Iraqi city of Mosul and the Syrian city of Raqqa, which were besieged by U.S.-backed ground forces.
An analyst commented in the document that the ISIS posts were likely "more aspirational than operational," with the hopes that followers of the group would act on the calls for attacks. The terror expert further warned against the potential dangers from lone wolf attackers, noting that a single individual can carry out a lethal knife attack with little or no training.
home World Jailed Pakistani Christian mother nominated for EU's religious freedom prize
Asia Bibi, the Pakistani Christian mother who was jailed and sentenced to death due to blasphemy charges, has been nominated for the European Union's prestigious Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought.
According to BosNewsLife, the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR), the third largest group in the European parliament, nominated Bibi on late Wednesday for what is considered as Europe's most prestigious human rights award.
"Her case is a symbol for others hurt in their freedom of expression and especially freedom of religion," said Dutch European parliamentarian Peter van Dalen, a member of ECR's faction, ChristenUnion-SGP.
"It is good that my colleagues in the ECR and I continue to defend the rights of Bibi and many others," he added.
Bibi, who has been in prison since 2009, could receive the $59,500 award that comes with the Sakharov Prize if she is backed by a majority of the European Parliament in next month's vote.
Previous recipients of the award, named after Soviet-era dissident and scientist Andrei Sakharov, include Nadia Murad and Lamya Aji Bashar Taha, two young Yazidi women who were enslaved by the Islamic State terror group.
Bibi's nomination came amid mounting international concern about her plight as she awaits hearing for her appeal in Pakistan's Supreme Court. Her attorney had attempted to have the latest hearing scheduled for June, but it was delayed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar.
The Christian mother of five was arrested in 2009 after Muslim co-workers accused her of blasphemy for praising Jesus Christ and allegedly insulting the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
In 2010, a lower court sentenced her to death by hanging, and the verdict was upheld in 2014 by a two-member bench of Lahore High Court .
The final hearing on her case was delayed after one of the judges reportedly refused to be a part of the three-member bench that was supposed to hear the case at the Supreme Court.
On October 13, 2016, Justice Iqbal Hameed ur Rehman reasoned that he was part of the bench that heard the case of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, which he said was related to Bibi's case. Taseer was assassinated by his own bodyguard in 2011 after he proposed reforms for the nation's blasphemy laws.
"The case continues to be postponed due to the problems of this country. We are in the midst of a continuing war between Islam and Kufr (infidels). But our hopes for her release are many," said Bibi's defense counsel Advocate Saif-ul-Malook.
Bibi would be the first woman in Pakistan to be executed for blasphemy if the high court upholds her death sentence.
home World Mandatory celibacy contributes to child sex abuse in Catholic Church, new report suggests
A new report has suggested that the Catholic Church's policy of mandatory celibacy is one of the major factors that is contributing to child sex abuse.
The study, authored by Professor Desmond Cahill and Dr. Peter Wilkinson, claimed that the patriarchal nature of Catholic institutions is one of the reasons why abuse often goes and challenged, noting that the risk of offending was much higher in institutions where priests had minimal contact with women.
"Their contact with women in teacher training institutions would have been carefully proscribed and then they were appointed to male-only schools where they were in charge of young boys and adolescents," the 384-page document stated, as reported by The Christian Post.
"And they were living in all-male religious communities. They had to make do with a sacralised image of a sexless Virgin Mary. It was a recipe for a psycho-spiritual disaster," it continued.
The authors warned that children are "at risk" at more than 9,000 Catholic-run orphanages around the developing world.
The report, titled "Child Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church: An Interpretive Review of the Literature and Public Inquiry Reports," was released last week by the RMIT University in Melbourne amid debates about whether priests in Australia should be required to break the sanctity of confession to expose child abuse.
Last month, Australia's child sex abuse royal commission recommended that priests who refuse to report child sexual abuse to the authorities because they heard it during a confession should face criminal charges.
The proposal was opposed by the archbishop of the archdiocese of Melbourne, Denis Hart, who said that he would risk going to jail rather than report allegations of child sexual abuse raised during confession.
Cahill, a former Catholic priest who resigned from the ministry to marry, stated in his report that Pope Pius X's 1910 mandate to lower the age at which children make their first confession to seven years indirectly contributed to putting more children at risk of abuse. He further noted that the Church, on several occasions, had allowed the seal of confession to be broken.
He believes that a priest had an obligation to report abuse if they heard about it from a child during confession. He said that doing so would not break the sanctity of confession because the child had not sinned, and reporting it to the authorities would not reveal any sin of the child.
If the priest hears about the abuse from a perpetrator during confession, Cahill said that it would be practical to tell the perpetrator that they would not receive forgiveness until they allowed the priest to tell the police, or confessed to the authorities of the crime themselves.
Cahill and Wilkinson formed their conclusions after examining reports from royal commissions, academic studies, police reports and church reports from around the world since 1985. The report estimated that about seven percent of priests had committed sexual abuse against children between about 1950 and 2000.
home World Ontario tribunal rules in favor of Christian school that refused admission to child of lesbian couple
The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario has ruled in favor of an evangelical Christian school that refused admission to a child of a same-sex couple.
An evangelical grade school that does not receive government funding has rejected the application of a lesbian couple for their adopted child to be admitted to a preschool program.
During a meeting with the school principal, one of the child's parents was told that their same-sex marriage would clash with the school's teachings, including the biblical belief that marriage is between a woman and a man.
The lesbian couple sued the school for discrimination, but the tribunal ruled that the school had the legal right to limit who attends the school, based on section 18 of the Human Rights Code.
"The school has a well-defined and specific set of creedal beliefs, mission statement and mandate. The respondent's evidence was clear that the school requires all parents to share these values if they are considering the school for their family," the ruling stated as reported by Law Times.
"While I empathize with the parents' feelings of unfairness that their child would not be admitted, the respondent made no secret of its beliefs and was upfront that it may not be the right fit for every family," it added.
The Human Rights Code prohibits discrimination on basis of sexual orientation but it excludes any "religious, philanthropic, educational, fraternal or social institution or organization that is primarily engaged in serving the interests of persons identified by a prohibited ground of discrimination."
The school, identified in the lawsuit as "The Private Academy," has a handbook explaining its policies and parents of students are required to sign a statement of faith.
Angela Chaisson, a lawyer in Toronto who was not involved in the case, alleged that the school is using section 18 of the Human Rights Code as a "cover" for discriminating against homosexuals, noting that it does not reject people who have had divorces or abortions.
The school maintained that it is a private religious institution that integrates biblical teaching into every subject including, the belief in the sanctity of innocent human life from conception and that marriage is exclusively the union of one man and one woman.
The academy's trustees and administration had only turned down three applicants in the last two decades. In the first case, the parents were rejected because they did not attend any church. The second case was because the parents were not married but involved in open fornication. In the third case, the applicants were open homosexuals, who later withdrew their application voluntarily.
The lesbian couple had claimed that they had no problem with the school teaching their adopted child about beliefs that are inconsistent with their own practices.
Ontario Minister of Education press secretary Richard Francella said that the government is currently reviewing the decision, noting that the tribunal operates independently of the government.
home US Planned Parenthood, Satanic Temple hailed for restoring abortion services in Missouri
Planned Parenthood and The Satanic Temple have been credited for doubling Missouri's abortion capacity this year through their efforts to fight the state's restrictions on abortion.
The Satanic Temple is currently waging a legal battle against two of Missouri's abortion laws as Planned Parenthood is working to gain licensing for four new abortion clinics.
In an article published by Slate on Tuesday, staff writer Christina Cauterucci connected the rise of abortion services in the state with the court challenges filed by the Temple, which argued in court that the state's abortion restrictions violate its members' rights to free religious practice.
Cauterucci wrote in her article, titled "Abortion access in Missouri is getting easier, thanks to Planned Parenthood and Satanists," that Missouri's good luck in the realm of reproductive rights might be due to an intervention from "the fiery underworld."
The Satanists contend that the laws violate two of their core tenets, namely, "one's body is inviolable, subject to one's own will alone," and "beliefs should conform to our best scientific understanding of the world."
One of the laws being challenged in court obliges pregnant women to wait 72 hours between their initial consultations and second appointments for their abortions. The other law requires patients to read pro-life literature, according to The Kansas City Star.
The case involves a pregnant Satanist identified only as "Mary Doe," who unsuccessfully tried to use a religious waiver to avoid the state's required literature and waiting period.
State and federal lawsuits filed by the Temple were thrown out in 2016 by a Cole County circuit judge, who decided that a strong enough argument had not been made.
The Temple appealed the dismissal of the case on Monday, and it is expected to present arguments before the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Sept. 20.
While the Temple wages their legal battle for abortion, Planned Parenthood had gained victories in its efforts to prevent the state from enforcing its strict requirements on abortion clinics.
On July 18, a federal judge issued an injunction against a regulation requiring abortion facilities in the state to have hospital admitting privileges. Additionally, the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services was ordered by the district court to immediately issue licenses for abortion clinics in four different cities.
Shortly after the court ruling, Planned Parenthood expressed its plans to expand its abortion services in the state.
On Monday, Planned Parenthood Great Plains announced that it will be offering abortion services at two more clinics in Missouri, including its midtown Kansas City clinic.
Members of The Satanic Temple have expressed their support for Planned Parenthood by staging counter-protests against pro-lifers outside abortion clinics in the mid-west.
In April 2016, Satanists came to a pro-life protest outside of a Detroit, Michigan Planned Parenthood facility wearing baby masks and carrying whips. The event, organized by Citizens for a Pro-Life Society, was part of a larger #ProtestPP movement in an attempt to expose the abortion giant's alleged involvement in the trafficking of aborted baby body parts.
home US Pro-life protesters jailed, then released after 'Red Rose Rescue' mission at abortion centers
Pro-life protesters in two different cities in the U.S. were arrested for simultaneously entering abortion facilities in order to persuade women not to abort their babies.
On Friday, six pro-life protesters, including two priests, were arrested at an abortion facility in Virginia and charged with trespass and obstruction of justice.
According to Life Site News, Joan Andrews Bell, Joan McKee, Julia Haag, Bonnie Borel-Donohue, Franciscan Father of the Renewal Fr. Fidelis Moscinski, and Fr. Stephen Imbarrato were arrested at the Alexandria Women's Health Clinic in Alexandria at 10:30 a.m. The activists were released at 4:30 p.m., but they are still expected to appear for an arraignment on Sept. 21.
Four protesters, who were taking part in a campaign called "Red Rose Rescue," were also arrested at an abortion facility in Michigan that same day. Monica Migliorino Miller, Will Goodman, Abby McIntyre and Matthew Connolly were charged with trespassing for entering Northland Family Planning in Sterling Heights, a suburb of Detroit, but they were released later that morning.
The pro-life activists who entered the abortion facilities offered red roses symbolizing life to mothers seated in the waiting rooms. The roses came with a card that said: "You were made to love and to be loved ... Your goodness is greater than the difficulties of your situation. Circumstances in life change. A new life, however tiny, brings the promise of unrepeatable joy." It also included contact details of local pregnancy help centers.
Two women also entered University of New Mexico Center for Reproductive Health in Albuquerque to offer a woman a red rose and support, but they managed to avoid getting arrested.
Imbarrato, who is working full time with Priests for Life, said that three women "may have changed their minds or left" after the protesters entered the abortion facility in Virginia and began counseling the women in the waiting room.
"We did decide to offer passive resistance to try and paralyze the operation of the abortion facility for as long as possible," he said.
"For all intents and purposes, the place was locked down for the bulk of the time we were there. Once the police got there, they locked the door to the facility, so nobody came in ... One gal came in and it looks like she left," he added.
The Red Rose Rescue campaign was modeled after the efforts of Canadian pro-life activist Mary Wagner, who entered abortion clinics in Toronto and offered red roses to pregnant women.
On Tuesday, Wagner was sentenced to 30 months' probation for charges in connection with her arrest at a Toronto abortion facility in December. The Canadian activist had already spent five years in jail, including six months awaiting trial for her last arrest, for her pro-life activities. She was also present at the Michigan rally to offer prayer support.
home US Protestant leaders sign 'Reforming Catholic Confession' marking 500th anniversary of Reformation
In anticipation of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation on Oct. 31, more than 250 pastors and theologians have signed a document called "Reforming Catholic Confession" on Tuesday with the aim of demonstrating unity among different Protestant denominations.
The document, produced by a drafting committee composed almost entirely of US-based scholars, outlines the main theological commitments held by a wide variety of Protestant Christians, including evangelicals, since the Reformation.
Jerry Walls, an author and professor of philosophy at Houston Baptist University, said that the purpose of the confession is to demonstrate the remarkable togetherness among Protestants worldwide on the core elements of Christianity.
The confession contains 12 articles outlining the beliefs of Protestants in basic tenets of Christianity, such as "The Triune God," "The Atoning Work of Christ," "The Gospel," and "The Church," as well as 25 explanations that capture key cornerstones and dimensions of the Christian faith.
Walls came up with the idea for the confession while researching for an upcoming book on Reformation catholicity.
"I just got the idea that one of the best ways we could actually commemorate the Reformation, and remind people of what really lay behind it and what motivated the Reformers was to come up with a confession of faith that represented the substantial unity among the heirs of the Reformation," he told The Christian Post.
He reached out to several biblical scholars and theologians, including Kevin Vanhoozer, a professor of systematic theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, to help him in drafting the confession.
Walls and Vanhoozer went on to form a group of 18 interested theologians and church leaders who agreed to serve on the drafting committee to write and edit the confession.
The first draft of the confession was completed in April by a drafting committee made up of 16 men and two women from five different nations, who fine-tuned the statement for four months before approving a final draft in July.
Initial signatories of the confession include Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission president Russell Moore, philosopher William Lane Craig, biblical scholar Tremper Longman III, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference president Samuel Rodriguez, and Billy Graham Center for Evangelism director Ed Stetzer.
Wall said that he decided to call it a "catholic" confession because he felt that it was important to reclaim the word "catholic."
"The Church of Rome simply calls itself, 'The Catholic Church.' It is not the catholic church. It is one part of the holy catholic church," he stressed.
"We want to make clear that 'catholic' is a much more expansive reality than the church of Rome. And we want Protestants to understand that when they are true to their own heritage, and their own roots, they are 'catholic' also," he added.
The signatories of the document are mostly scholars and academic leaders, but almost 20 percent are denominational leaders, pastors, or ministry leaders, according to Christianity Today.
The full text of the confession has been published online and it has already been translated into French, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish.
home US Sen. Dianne Feinstein draws criticism for questioning judicial nominee about her Catholic faith
U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein drew criticism from prominent religious figures, university leaders and academics for questioning judicial nominee Amy Coney Barrett about her Catholic faith during her confirmation hearing last week.
During the Senate hearing, Feinstein asked Barrett, who is being considered for a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, about what impact her faith would have on her interpretation of the law.
The senator pointed to Barrett's speeches in the committee hearing to express her concern that the nominee's decisions would be affected by Catholic dogma.
"When you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you, and that's of concern when you come to big issues that large numbers of people have fought for, for years in this country," Feinstein said.
Barrett is a law professor at the University of Notre Dame and had served as a clerk for Justice Antonin Scalia at the Supreme Court.
In a public letter to Feinstein, Notre Dame President John Jenkins castigated the senator for her line of questioning directed at the judicial nominee.
"It is chilling to hear from a United States Senator that this might now disqualify someone from service as a federal judge," he wrote, as reported by CBN News.
"I am one in whose heart 'dogma lives loudly,' as it has for centuries in the lives of many Americans, some of whom have given their lives in service to this nation. Indeed, it lived loudly in the hearts of those who founded our nation as one where citizens could practice their faith freely and without apology," he added.
Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty, expressed his disappointment with the hearing, noting that the senators had to question Barrett's fitness to serve due to her faith instead of considering her professional achievements.
On Friday, Princeton University President Christopher Eisgruber wrote a letter to Feinstein, saying the line of questioning Barrett received were inconsistent with the "principle set forth in the Constitution's 'no religious test' clause."
Harvard Law School professor Noah Feldman suggested that Feinstein "should acknowledge that her questions resonated with historic anti-Catholicism, retract them and apologize."
At the hearing, Feinstein was joined by Democratic Senators Al Franken and Dick Durbin, who questioned Barrett if she was an "orthodox Catholic" and how her faith might affect her decisions as a federal judge.
In an open letter to Durbin, Catholic League President Bill Donohue explained that orthodox Catholic is a term that is used to refer to those who accept the teachings of the Catholic Church. But it does not include those who reject the Church's tenets, including its stance that abortion is the intentional killing of a human being.
Donohue pointed out that Barrett had told the committee that it would never be appropriate for judges to impose their religious convictions on cases before them.
At the end of his letter, Donohue warned that the senators came "perilously close" to applying a religious test to Barrett, adding that it would have been "explicitly unconstitutional."
home US Sen. John McCain co-sponsors bill to block ban on transgender service members
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) is co-sponsoring a legislation that is aimed at blocking President Donald Trump's mandate that bans transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military.
According to The Hill, the legislation would prohibit the Pentagon from involuntarily separating or denying the re-enlistment of currently serving transgender troops based on their gender identity.
"When less than one percent of Americans are volunteering to join the military, we should welcome all those who are willing and able to serve our country," McCain said in a statement.
"Any member of the military who meets the medical and readiness standards should be allowed to serve a including those who are transgender," he added.
Other co-sponsors of the bill, which was introduced as a stand-alone legislation on Friday, are Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D.-N.Y.), Sen. Susan Collins (R.-Maine) and Sen. Jack Reed (D.-R.I.).
Gillibrand explained in a press release that the measure "would protect transgender service members by preventing the Department of Defense from removing currently serving members of the Armed Forces based solely on their gender identity. Transgender troops have been openly serving in the military since June 2016."
The bill came four days after Gillibrand and Collins introduced an amendment to the Pentagon budget bill to block the ban. However, the senators moved forward with the budget bill without voting on the amendment, prompting the lawmakers to introduce a separate legislation.
Trump announced on Twitter in July that he planned to ban all transgender individuals from serving in the military, and he followed through on the decision by signing a presidential memo in August.
On July 28, 45 senators wrote a letter to Mattis, asking him to tell the president that the ban is a bad idea. It is expected that those 45 senators will support the legislation to block the ban.
Gillibrand's bill would also require Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to assess the effects enlisting transgender individuals would have on the military, and submit the results of the review to Congress by the end of the year. Trump's order gave Mattis until Feb. 21, 2018 to complete the review, but the new legislation moves up the timeline by two months.
Mattis stated that he would establish a panel of experts to determine how to implement Trump's order, but he maintained that the currently serving transgender troops will be allowed to continue while the study is ongoing. According to a 2016 RAND study, there are currently about 1,320 to 6,630 transgender troops serving in the military.
home US Teaching of Handel's 'Hallelujah Chorus' in school prompts complaint from atheist group
A prominent atheist group has lodged a complaint to an elementary school in Tennessee after a music teacher taught her class a portion of George Frideric Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus."
The East Tennessee chapter of the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) recently sent an email to Linden Elementary School Principal Roger Ward after the group was informed by concerned parents that Handel's historical composition, which has biblical references, is being taught at the school.
"While this music may be beautiful and even inspirational for Christians, it is not acceptable for broadcasting to the entire student body at Linden Elementary," Chapter President Aleta Ledendecker wrote, as reported by The Oak Ridger.
"In consideration of all the possible choices of music, this piece with its distinctly religious content can be interpreted as proselytizing. Such actions are clearly prohibited by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution," she added.
In the email, Ledendecker included a link to FFRF's "Top Ten Public School State/Church Violations" page, which was then cited by Ward to defend Linden's use of the piece, including the website's statement that courts considered the "proportion of religious songs sung compared to secular."
"Handel has been the composer that students are studying for the past three days and will continue to be the composer for the next two," Ward explained.
The school principal noted that the composition was only taught at the school for one week out of the 36-week school year, and that only 20a30 seconds of the piece was used.
"If a curriculum is balanced, the inclusion of some classical sacred music in an educational context may not convey endorsement," the principal stated, quoting from the FFRF's website.
Bruce Lay, executive director of school leadership for Oak Ridge Schools, said that the matter has already been turned over to the school system's lawyers.
Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers told The Oak Ridger that Ledendecker had sent a request for public documents regarding the music curriculum, and that the school system is now in the process of responding to the request.
Ledendecker confirmed that she had made the request, and noted that she is now trying to find out how the music was selected and how it fits in with the curriculum.
She noted that she is still waiting for a response to the request and said that she still does not know if there are any legal issues at this time.
Ledendecker further explained that her group prefers not to go to litigation and that she prefers a "peaceful, cooperative solution" that will satisfy the parents, as well as separation of church and state issues.
Valero Energy's refinery fire on Tuesday released nearly 1 million pounds of emissions into the air, mostly from the columns of smoke caused by the burning oil, the San Antonio company estimated.
The fire, which lasted about three hours in the early afternoon, originated from an oil storage tank at the refining complex, but the cause remains under investigation. The stated pollutants released during the fire are self-reported estimates from Valero.
The fire emitted about 640,000 pounds of particulate matter - the smoke, soot, dirt and dust that, once inhaled, can affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health effects. The accident also released more than 135,000 pounds of carbon monoxide and nearly 120,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide, among other volatile compounds, according to the filing submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
The data makes it clear the fire was a huge emissions event, even though the data is preliminary and self reported, said Luke Metzger, director of Environment Texas in Austin.
"Valero released enormous amounts of particulate matter, which is very dangerous to breathe. This is unacceptable and we'll be reviewing the final report and cause of the upset," Metzger said.
There was a temporary shelter in place request for neighboring communities on Tuesday.
Valero must file an updated report within two weeks of the incident.
For comparison's sake, refineries, petrochemical plants and other industrial operations spewed some 2.6 million pounds of pollutants into the air during Harvey-related shutdowns and accidents in the Houston area, according to self-reported emissions to TCEQ. That's equal to about half of the more than 5 million pounds of emissions emissions reported for all of last year for emergency shutdowns, maintenance and accidents in the Houston region, which does not include Port Arthur.
RELATED: Fire breaks out at Valero's Port Arthur refinery
Valero's Port Arthur refinery was shuttered during Hurricane Harvey, but had restarted in recent days and was operating at close to 50 percent capacity.
There were no reported injuries and all of the employees were accounted for, Valero said.
Elsewhere, Valero had issues with its Houston refinery during and after Harvey. A collapsed roof at a storage tank at the East Houston refinery caused a release of oil and benzene, which is a cancer-causing compound of crude that can circulate in the air as vapor.
Swapping a one-bedroom apartment for a two-bedroom and getting a roommate in Houston can shave a substantial portion off the rent, particularly in suburban areas, a new report showed.
Renters with a roommate could save an average of 36.5 percent off the rent in Greater Houston, according to apartment listing site RentHop. The average one-bedroom costs $905 compared with $1,150 for a two-bedroom in the Houston metro, yielding a savings of $330 a person.
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It's long been known as one of the best live Bruce Springsteen documents from the late '70s and now fans can purchase it, all for a good and timely cause.
A live Springsteen concert recorded in Houston in 1978 is being released separately for the first time with the proceeds earmarked for the MusiCares Hurricane Relief Fund.
RELATED: Bruce Springsteen's Houston tour history through the years
The audio recording was previously tethered to the six-disc "Darkness on the Edge of Town" box set released in 2010. That album, released in 1978, and 1980's "The River," were the bridge from Springsteen's scruffier material in the '70s and the glossy "Born in the U.S.A" era of the mid-80s.
The show, recorded at The Summit on December 8, 1978, was Springsteen's first-ever Houston arena visit. He had previously played smaller shows at the Sam Houston Coliseum and most-famously, Liberty Hall. This show marked his move into bigger venues in Houston.
The set features all his hits up to that point plus early favorites like "The Fever" and "Saint In The City" which was a love letter to Houston, one of the first major cities to embrace his brand of rock.
During this era, the E Street Band was made up of Roy Bittan, Clarence Clemons, Danny Federici, Garry Tallent, Stevie Van Zandt, and Max Weinberg.
"Houston '78" is available now as MP3 and hi-res downloads including audiophile grade MQA, or as a two CD set. Snippets can be heard here of the 26-song whole show, which featured "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" in the set. It was December, after all.
RELATED: When KISS brought the thunder to The Summit in Houston in 1976
Fans can order it now at Bruce Springsteen's official live recording service.
MusiCares, the charity benefiting from the release, created a fund to support musicians and others connected to the industry who have dealt with hardship in the wake of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.
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14 Pews
800 Aurora; 14pews.org
THE OPTIMISTS: Documentary portrait of an amateur women's volleyball team. 7 p.m. Thursday
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
1001 Bissonnet; mfah.org
YOU'RE MISSING THE POINT: Mistaking him for a long-lost relative, a wealthy woman welcomes a bum (Cantinflas) into her lavish home. 2 p.m. Thursday
A FAMILY LIKE MANY OTHERS: A Mexican patriarch is upset when his daughter falls in love with a salesman who visited their home without his consent. 2 p.m. Friday
DAWSON CITY: FROZEN TIME: In 1978 Canada, a bulldozer digs up a long-lost collection of 533 nitrate film prints from the early 1900s. 7 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m. Sunday
STALKER: A guide leads two men through an area known as the Zone to find a room that grants wishes. 2 p.m. Saturday
IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND: A fortune-teller blackmails a beautiful widow whose husband has recently died. 2 p.m. Sunday
THE DINNER GAME: Wealthy Frenchmen hold a weekly contest to see who can invite the biggest idiot to their dinner parties. 2 p.m. Monday
Discovery Green
1500 McKinney;discoverygreen.com
HIDDEN FIGURES: The story of a team of African-American female mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program. 8 p.m. Friday
Memorial City Mall
303 Memorial City Way; memorialcity.com
SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE: Best friends Smurfette, Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty use a special map that guides them through the Forbidden Forest. 8 p.m. Friday
River Oaks Theatre
2009 W. Gray; landmarktheatres.com
THE ROOM: Comedy about love, passion, betrayal and lies. Midnight Friday
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW: A newly engaged couple has a breakdown in an isolated area and must pay a call to a bizarre residence. Midnight Saturday
Aurora Picture Show
2442 Bartlett;aurorapictureshow.org
SENORITA CINEMA: Shorts program of Houston's all-independent, Latina-made films. 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Houston Museum of Natural Science
5555 Hermann Park Drive; hmns.org
INCREDIBLE PREDATORS 3-D: Deconstructs the world of major predators, taking an intimate look at the remarkable strategies they use to succeed. Multiple screenings daily
PENGUINS 3-D: The tale of a penguin's journey through his species' central rite of passage. Multiple screenings daily
AMAZON ADVENTURE 3-D: A Victorian-era naturalist discovers a butterfly that reinforces Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Multiple screenings daily
Revolver Houston
6502 Washington;revolverhouston.com
FIGHT CLUB: An insomniac office worker and a devil-may-care soap maker form an underground fight club that evolves into something much more. 7 p.m. Tuesday
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Nine Inch Nails, Thom Yorke of Radiohead, Houston native Solange and Chelsea Manning are among the names atop this year's Day for Night music and art festival.
The lineup, released Wednesday morning, includes a reliably adventurous assortment of established names and newbies across four stages. Day for Night unfurls Dec. 15-17 at the old downtown post office, now known as Post HTX, at 401 Franklin.
RELATED: The best and worst things about Day for Night 2016
Tickets range from $205-$750 and are on sale now via the festival site. VIP tickets are again available this year and promise rapid entry, premium viewing areas, VIP lounges, free drinks and snacks, an onsite concierge and swag bags.
Among the other acts scheduled to appear: Cardi B, James Blake, Justice, St Vincent, Tyler, The Creator, Pussy Riot, Laurie Anderson, Perfume Genius, Sky Ferreira, En Vogue, Lil B, Of Montreal performing Hissing Fauna You Are The Destroyer, Kimbra, BOOTS, and Earl Sweatshirt.
"This dynamic lineup represents just the beginning of an aggressive three-to-five year plan to grow Day for Night into a multi-venue, five-day citywide event," said, Omar Afra, co-founder of Day for Night, in a statement.
See the full lineup on the Day for Night website.
Last year's edition at Post HTX was plagued by complaints and problems, including long lines and confusion on sets, particularly Bjork's multimedia experience. Downstairs bathrooms stopped working, overflowed into viewing areas and resulted in terrible smells. It was also much too dark in too many places, and some areas were subject to fire marshal limitations, resulting in long lines.
Temperatures last year dipped into the 30s. So please, if it's going to be that cold again this year, get more coffee and hot chocolate vendors in there.
Several people also called out last year's VIP experience, complaining about the lack of, well, anything VIP-related. A promised meet-and-greet with Bjork never happened. Others claimed they were denied access into VIP areas, and there were no viewing areas near the front of the stage.
This year's edition of Day for Night will feature 18 art installations and performances from around the world, including holograms, coding and site-specific works, by Ryoji Ikeda, Matthew Schreiber, Conditional Studio + Processing Foundation and several others.
RELATED: When did your favorite band first play Houston?
A portion of Day for Night's proceeds will go to the Greater Houston Community Foundation to help with Hurricane Harvey recovery.
Things kick off with FridaySummit, a preview panel of sorts featuring Chelsea Manning, the transgender soldier who spent time in a military prison for giving classified materials to WikiLeaks; visual artist and musician Laurie Anderson; Nadya Tolokonnikova of Russian feminist punk group Pussy Riot; and Los Angeles artist Lauren McCarthy. They will discuss the relationship between art, technology and activism.
Friday's teaser event will also feature "Soul Cleansing," a performance by Solange and her artist collaborative Saint Heron, followed by sets from Earl Sweatshirt and Kaytranada. FridaySummit is a separate, ticketed event.
Among the festival highlights, aside from NIN and Yorke, are a solid number of women.
Solange returns Sunday for a performance during the regular festival. Pussy Riot is sure to make waves. Cardi B, who rose to fame on VH1's "Love & Hip Hop: New York," has one of the year's biggest hits with "Bodak Yellow." Princess Nokia is a Puerto Rican rapper currently making a ton of noise. There's also Ferreira, Kimbra, Nina Kraviz, Jessy Lanza and Jenny Hval.
And En Vogue. En Vogue!
Their glam R&B sound on singles "Hold On," "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)," "Free Your Mind" and "Don't Let Go (Love)" helped define an era.
Day for Night debuted in 2015 as a "visually immersive art and music festival that explores light, space, and sound" and featured Kendrick Lamar, Janelle Monae and New Order. Last year's edition at Post HTX drew more than 23,000 fans to see acts Travis Scott, Bjork and Aphex Twin.
Texans across the state have come together to donate their time and money for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. One quirky fundraiser, in particular, is letting residents help out those affected on the coast, while also peaking into some pretty odd homes.
The folks at the Weird Homes Tour have set up a unique tour in Austin.
Pastor Jorge Cardenas' heart broke when he saw the extent of the flood damage from Hurricane Harvey to Church on the Rock, the house of worship he leads at 433 S. Barker Cypress.
"Every square foot of this place has a story behind it. We didn't know if we'd ever be able to recover," Cardenas said Wednesday.
Weeks after the flood waters released from nearby Barker Reservoir finally receded, the destruction was still evident. The carpets were pulled up and whole sections of the walls had to be cut away. Cardenas estimated it will cost them thousands of dollars to rebuild.
"But our people were still helping others even when our own church was flooded," Cardenas said. "We need all the help we can get."
Although Houston-area houses of worship like Church on the Rock assisted thousands of people who lost everything because of Hurricane Harvey, they are ineligible to receive relief from FEMA - the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
At a press conference at Cardenas' church, First Liberty - a Plano-based religious liberty advocacy group - asked the Trump Administration to end a policy they say is discriminatory.
"Although FEMA partners with churches to provide shelter and distribute aid to disaster areas, FEMA prohibits these churches from applying for the same relief," said Chelsey Youman, an attorney with First Liberty. "The same religious institutions that are tirelessly serving their communities in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma are being told by the federal government they don't deserve the nation's help."
Grace Community Church at 14505 Gulf Freeway was completely flooded by Hurricane Harvey, said Garrett Booth, the church's pastor.
"But immediately we started reaching out to the community. We helped more than 600 families," Booth said at the press conference. "The churches have been first responders - trying to take care of the people and the community."
Youman said President Trump has voiced support for hurricane-affected houses of worship seeking FEMA relief. Governor Greg Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sent a letter to the White House urging the president to ensure FEMA treats religious-based organizations equally with other non-profits.
"Excluding churches and houses of worship from FEMA disaster relief not only makes for bad policy, as you acknowledge, but also risks the federal government violating the constitutional rights of those who are playing an instrumental role in getting Texans back on their feet after Hurricane Harvey," Abbott and Paxton said in their joint letter.
While they support moves in Congress to legislation that may provide additional protection for houses of worship in the future, organizers of Wednesday's press conference said churches damaged by Hurricane Harvey need immediate relief.
In addition to rescinding the language in the FEMA policy guide that excludes religious organizations from receiving relief, they would like the White House to grant a 30 day extension to apply for it.
"We shouldn't be discriminated just because we have faith," Booth said. "It is our faith that takes us out of our homes to go take care of people. It is our faith that causes us to get in the boats and save people."
Authorities are searching for a 28-year-old who's been missing since earlier this month, according to the Houston Police Department.
Gayla Roy, 28, was last seen around 6:30 a.m. on Sept. 11 in the 4600 block of Aldine Bender Road, police said.
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A woman was shot and killed late Tuesday in northwest Houston.
The gunfire started about 11:15 p.m., when residents inside of their homes in the 2800 block of Stallings saw the 38-year-old woman arguing with a man outside, according to a news release from the Houston Police Department.
Then, residents heard shots being fired. Several peered outside of their windows and spotted a woman lying in the street.
By the time the Houston Fire Department arrived, the woman was dead from gunshot wounds, according to the release.
Police believe the woman lived on Stallings, but did not immediately release her name. Family members have identified the woman as Leticia Greer, local television stations report.
Police believe the shooter - described only as a man wearing a black hoodie - fled on foot. Wednesday morning, the gunman was still at large.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp's leadership of Hurricane Harvey recovery is far from A&M's sole contribution to these efforts.
Multiple Texas A&M University System agencies plus employees and students at several universities have assisted with thousands of rescue and recovery operations in dozens of Texas counties, according to new figures released by the system.
Since the storm, they distributed supplies and have started to rebuild from the damage. Sharp was tapped by Gov. Greg Abbott to lead a state commission focused on Houston and coastal recovery.
Here's how the efforts break down, with figures and information courtesy of the A&M System.
Texas Task Force 1 -- comprised of first responders, medical professionals, academics and other professionals -- is a FEMA team sponsored by the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) and based in College Station. With Texas Task Force 2, sponsored by Dallas's fire-rescue department, Texas Task Force 1 and TEEX:
Operated in 25 counties between Aug. 24 and Sept. 14.
Rescued 12,982 people.
Evacuated 35,046 people.
Checked on 4,354 people sheltering in place.
Evacuated or rescued more than 2,000 pets and animals.
At its height, 2,433 people worked under TEEX and Texas Task Force 1, A&M says.
Texas A&M Forest Service is a conservation group for the state's trees and forests. During the storm, the agency:
Responded to Rockport, Victoria and Beeville, among others.
Activated 1,437 people.
Managed Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System, which rescued thousands of people in 44 boats and 136 engines.
Put out about 100 structure fires.
Trained 112 AgriLife Extension County Agents to use an application to communicate local needs and resources.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service works county by county to lower the impact of droughts, conserve water and improve emergency management. In the storm's recovery, the agency:
Took about 5,000 phone calls from nationwide entities to coordinate hay, feed and donations for 13 animal supply points.
Agency representatives will assist county officers to distribute information on recovery.
Texas A&M University's Veterinary Emergency Team:
Accommodated Texas Task Force 1's search and rescue dogs.
Professors from system institutions:
Tested floodwater for contaminants.
Monitored chemical factory problems.
"So many people within the seven agencies and 11 universities of The Texas A&M University System put themselves in harm's way to serve the state and the save the lives of their fellow Texans since Harvey slammed into our coastal communities," Sharp said in a statement. "I am filled with pride over the Texas A&M University System employees who sacrificed in service to Texas."
As an aside, Texas A&M's list of contributions to Harvey recovery doesn't include the face of Houston's forecasts -- alum Jeff Lindner, whom the Wall Street Journal dubbed the "unlikely hero of Harvey," offering near-constant forecasts and straight-talk on Twitter.
Lindsay Ellis writes about higher education for the Chronicle. You can follow her on Twitter and send her tips at lindsay.ellis@chron.com.
In the few weeks since Hurricane Harvey sent unprecedented amounts of water into Houston homes and businesses leaving communities living with moldy debris and mountains of trash, most residential streets of West University Place are clear and signs of the disaster are quickly disappearing.
Even though, according to city officials, 116 West U homes took on water from the flooding and 17 sustained structural damage due to the storm, the city and residents made advance preparations that allowed them to kick-start the clean up quicker than some surrounding communities.
Chris Peifer, city manager, said Wednesday in an email that prior to Harvey making landfall the city had stand-by contracts in place with debris removal companies that allowed them to start initial clean-up efforts on Sept. 11, and with a second sweep scheduled for Sept. 18.
As early as Saturday, Sept. 2, Mayor Susan Sample, Peifer and Emergency Management Coordinator met with representatives of FEMA and arranged for Disaster Survivor Assistance workers to visit damaged homes.
"The FEMA personnel have made one sweep through the City and are planning on returning to visit those reported property owners who did not take advantage of electronic or telephonic registration," said Peifer.
But during unrelenting rainfall that pounded the Houston area, city first responders and personnel had to react to emergency calls they couldn't have prepared for.
West U emergency vehicles ferried a group of six emergency doctors from their homes in West U to Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital in northeast Houston through high waters and rescued emergency room workers in two waiting vans.
"These emergency room workers had been on duty and stranded at the hospital from Friday to Tuesday," said Peifer.
Closer to home, West U staff had to be rescued from chest-deep water from the Waste Water Treatment Plant that flooded due to nearby Brays Bayou.
The city of West University also provided aid to the City of Bellaire in their communications efforts and to Harris County with their Special Response Team and tactical vehicle which was deployed in north Harris County on Aug. 29 and 30.
Aug. 30
At 9:36 p.m., Officer D. Clawson observed the defendant traveling west in the 5500 block of Beechnut. Clawson observed the defendant to change lanes abruptly to pass another vehicle without signaling. During the traffic investigation the defendant was found to be driving while intoxicated. The defendant was subsequently processed for a consensual blood draw and due to a natural disaster, was released pending blood results.
At 10:09 p.m., Officers Barrientos was dispatched to the 4300 block of Effie in regards to a burglary of a habitation. Upon arrival, Ofc. Barrientos and Proctor met with the reportee who stated during Hurricane Harvey, unknown subject(s) entered her residence without her consent and took multiple personal belongings from her residence. Reportee advised because of the flood, she was not at her residence during the burglary.
Sept. 1
At 8:47 p.m., Officer Salinas was dispatched to 5134 Spruce St. in reference to a suspicious person. Officer Salinas arrived and met with a store employee outside, who informed him the suspicious person was still inside the store. The employee also identified a silver Ford Fusion parked in the 5100 block of Spruce as the suspect's vehicle. The suspect inside the store evaded detention while also being in possession of a handgun. That suspect was arrested and subsequently charged with evading arrest and unlawful carrying of a firearm. The driver of the Ford Fusion was arrested for misdemeanor traffic charges and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Sept. 2
At 1:21 p.m., Officer Schwausch was dispatched to 6611 S. Rice Ave. in reference to a burglary of a motor vehicle. Further investigation found the vehicle burglarized at 1:03 p.m. The victims witnessed the suspect inside of his van and retreat into a black Hyundai SUV, and flee the area eastbound on Cedar Street.
Sept. 3
At 11:42 p.m., Officer Proctor was patrolling the 5400 block of Bellaire Boulevard when he observed a vehicle bearing a dealer's temporary tag traveling in front of him. Officer Proctor also observed the vehicle to be driving with its hazard lights on. Officer Proctor observed the driver of the vehicle fail to maintain a single lane of travel, swerving in and out of its lane and into the lane to the right of it. Upon making contact with the driver, Officer Proctor observed the driver display difficulty locating and activating the driver side window. The driver was unable to lower his window and was forced to open his door. Proctor could detect the odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the driver's breath and noticed the driver had bloodshot and glassy eyes. Officer Proctor also observed two young children in the backseat. Upon further investigation, Officer Proctor found the driver to be intoxicated and placed him into custody for driving while intoxicated w/child passenger. Officer Proctor transported the driver to the Bellaire Jail for booking.
At 1:54 p.m., Officers were dispatched to an assault in progress in the 4600 block of Holly Street. Upon contact, no injuries were observed on the male and female. After the investigation, and contacting the Harris County Assistant District Attorney's Office, no charges were filed.
Sept. 4
At 6:45 p.m., Officer Marcotte initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle which had been blocking a moving lane of traffic in the 5100 block of Bissonnet Street. The driver was found to be intoxicated and was arrested with driving while intoxicated (DWI).
At 10:36 p.m., Ofc Clawson was monitoring Houston Police S/W primary channel and heard a police chase approaching Bellaire's city limits. This suspect vehicle eventually ended up N/B on Ave B from Fourance Place. This residential portion of Bellaire consists of mostly streets that have no outlet; therefore, Ofc Clawson went to Newcastle in an attempt to prepare for a potential foot chase. This vehicle ended traveling E/B in the 4500 block of Sunburst and coming to a stop due to this street being one of these no outlet roadways. The suspect vehicle then turned around in an attempt to continue to flee and deliberately attempted to run over some of the Houston Officers that had exited their vehicles. This action resulted in Houston Officers firing at this suspect vehicle. A resident at 4500 block of Sunburst was also struck by one of these projectiles. All three injured parties were transported to local hospitals and none received life threatening injuries.
Sept. 5
At 6:02 p.m., Officer Younger was dispatched to the 4300 block of Effie Street in regards to a resident making recorded suicidal statements through a phone agency. Officer Younger was unable to locate the suicidal subject at her residence and reported the subject as a missing person.
Sept. 6
At 3:08 p.m., Officer Delgado was dispatched to speak with a victim in regards to an identity theft in the 4500 block of Beech. An unknown suspect stole the victim's personal identifying information and opened a credit card account.
At 10:05 p.m., Officer Marcotte initiated a traffic stop in the 5400 block of Bellaire on a 2004 Toyota for expired registration. The driver was found to have a warrant for his arrest and was also found in possession of marijuana.
Sept. 7
At 1:40 p.m., Officer H. Lopez was dispatched to the Randalls Grocery store at 5130 Bellaire Blvd. in reference to a theft. Upon arrival, Ofc Lopez met with the victim who stated a female stole her purse from her vehicle while she was placing her groceries inside her own vehicle.
At 3:39 p.m., a theft in progress was occurring at 5104 Bellaire Blvd. Two unidentified suspects attempted to steal cash from the Chase Bank ATM and fled the scene. Bellaire Police Officer Younger responded in route as the primary officer.
At 7:36 a.m., Officer D. Rocha initiated a traffic stop in the 5300 block of Bissonnet Street. The driver was identified by the name and date of birth she gave. The driver was subsequently found to have had a Texas driver's license and was driving while her license currently suspended.
At 10:17 p.m., Officer Marcotte was dispatched to a motor vehicle accident in the 5500 block of IH 610 southbound. Upon arrival, it was observed a vehicle had hit a disabled, unoccupied vehicle on the shoulder. The driver of the vehicle who hit the other was found to be intoxicated and was arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI).
At 9:03 a.m., Officer Guerra was dispatched to the 4500 block of Sunburst Street in reference to a theft which occurred between 10 a.m. Sept. 5 and 8:52 a.m. Sept. 7.
At 11:50 p.m. in the area of 4300 Jane Street, a subject suffered a fatal cardiac event. Officer Clisham was the first to arrive on scene and initiated CPR. Bellaire Fire Department Personnel arrived on location shortly after and began administering advanced life support. The subject was transported to the hospital by Bellaire Medic 81 where he was later pronounced deceased by hospital staff.
Sept. 8
At 1:42 p.m., Officer Guerra was dispatched to the 4800 block of Maple Street in reference to a theft which occurred between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Sept. 5.
Sept. 9
At 2:45 a.m., Officer Barrientos was patrolling the 5000 block of Bellaire Boulevard. Ofc. Barrientos observed a white Toyota Camry parked at the signal light of Bellaire and S. Rice. The signal light was green and the Camry was not in motion to proceed through the light and was impeding traffic. Ofc. Barrientos conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle for this reason. Upon contact with the driver, Ofc. Barrientos could detect the odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the driver's breath and noticed the driver had glassy eyes and slurred speech. Upon further investigation, Ofc. Barrientos found the driver to be intoxicated and placed him into custody for driving while intoxicated. Ofc. Barrientos transported the driver to the Bellaire Jail for booking.
At 11:55 p.m., Officer Proctor was patrolling the 4700 block of Bellaire Boulevard E/B when he observed a silver GMC Yukon traveling in front of him. Officer Proctor ran the vehicle's license plate through the TCIC/NCIC database and received a return showing the vehicle to have an expired registration as of 09/2016. Officer Proctor initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle at the 6700 block of IH 610 ESR and made contact with the driver and front passenger. Officer Proctor also observed multiple cans labeled "Coors Light" on the floorboard of the backseat. Officer Proctor identified both the driver and the passenger to be under the legal drinking age. After further investigation, Officer Proctor found the driver to be Driving While Intoxicated and placed him into custody for DWI at approximately 0023. Officer Proctor found the passenger to be intoxicated and placed him into custody at approximately 0029 hours for public intoxication. Both subjects were transported to the Bellaire Jail for booking.
American Indians are over-represented in Montanas correctional system, and lawmakers hope to do something about it.
Members of the State-Tribal Relations Committee toured the Montana Womens Prison and participated in an offender re-entry simulation Tuesday. The lawmakers also heard from state officials about challenges American Indian offenders face while serving probation or parole. The interim committee is tasked with improving access to tribal resources for tribal offenders on community supervision.
While American Indians make up a little more than 6 percent of the state population, and they account for 21 percent of the states inmates and 27 percent of the states arrests for failures to appear in court or for probation or parole violations.
One reason for this discrepancy is lifestyle differences, said state Sen. Jason Small, R-Busby.
Small said many of his constituents dont have a landline in their home, and some areas in his district began getting cell service only in the past year or two.
Lots of people are sort of detached from the outside world, Small said. So requirements like regular communication with probation and parole officers can be tough to comply with.
And because Smalls district, which covers the Northern Cheyenne Reservation and part of the Crow Reservation, is so rural, its not feasible for people to walk or bike to meetings. Sometimes probation and parole officers travel to the offenders instead.
Poverty comes into play, too. Small said hes heard of people committing crimes in order to get put in jail, just to have someplace to winter out, he said.
Rep. Rae Peppers, D-Lame Deer, said most of her constituents are unable to afford their own attorneys and instead rely on the public defender system. That puts them at a disadvantage, she believes, because public defenders manage high caseloads and cant devote the same amount of time to each case that private attorneys can.
Living off the reservation
Native American offenders risk cultural alienation if they serve their supervision off of their home reservation.
The sweat lodges and smudging ceremonies that inmates at various Montana prisons can attend are often hard to find upon release, if the person serves their supervision away from home.
And officials speaking Tuesday said thats not uncommon.
Some have stated that there is nothing for them by going back to the reservation, said Harlan Trombley, American Indian liaison at the Department of Corrections. Ive heard some say that if they go back (home), they may end up going back to prison due to the drug and alcohol use that goes on there.
Roughly 65 percent of American Indians or Alaskan Natives have abused prescription drugs within their lifetime and 27 percent had within the previous year, according to a consultation the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did in 2014 on prescription drug abuse in Indian Country.
Someone from a reservation might also choose to serve their supervision off-reservation in order to be closer to things like mental health care providers and job search services.
Finding housing and employment is another challenge for offenders. Lots of reservations have Indian Housing Authority placements, but Trombley said long lines and criminal records can make it hard to secure that housing.
Models for change
Corrections officials point to a few things going well in Montana for tribal offenders that theyd like to see more of.
On the Flathead Reservation, a re-entry program coordinated out of the public defender's office helps offenders secure drivers licenses or other photo identification. It connects them with job hunting assistance, and it uses elders as mentors.
I think it is helpful because as Native Americans, we are taught to respect our elders, Trombley said. So I think by having guidance from an elder, it will help a person be successful.
Officials with the Flathead re-entry program have offered to help other reservations start similar programs, sharing information on grants and other key components of the program.
I think every reservation needs to start a re-entry program similar to theirs, Trombley said.
Billings also has an offender re-entry task force that officials say is making a difference, and has piloted projects to kickstart job searching with offenders even before they leave prison.
Billings has kind of set the pace for a lot of the state in terms of our re-entry efforts, said Katie Weston, a probation and parole supervisor in Billings.
One thing that would help Native American offenders succeed on probation and parole is a cultural mentor, said Trombley, the American Indian liaison. That would help those living off reservation and away from their home communities stay connected with their culture, he said.
The State-Tribal Relations Committee is also studying Indian student achievement, economic development in Indian Country and health care for American Indians.
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There has been a large amount of relief efforts for Harvey victims going on amongst University of Houston students, all thanks to a Facebook group that was created called UH Harvey Relief Carpooling & Volunteer Opportunities.
Currently, there are over 1,400 members of the group, and that number is steadily growing. In the group, one can find any number amount of volunteering opportunities, and Harvey related news that pertains to students.
Through the group, volunteer crews have gathered to do an assortment of work, including gutting out houses in all areas of Houston and the surrounding suburbs, providing carpool rides for students who lost their cars in the flood, and helping at donation drives.
True Furrh, a sophomore and environmental sciences and civil engineering double major at UH, is the student who started the relief and volunteer group.
"I saw a gap in immediate, day after the storm, coordination and wanted to fill it as best as I could. It started as a group of myself and 15 friends and just kept on growing," Furrh said.
Furrh said that he personally knows many people who flooded out during the storm, in the Lake Jackson and Richwood areas, including fellow UH friends.
"We gutted a student's house just the other day," Furrh said.
Since the storm, Furrh said that in terms of volunteering, he has done a little bit of everything. He helped unload food at George R. Brown Convention center, where a shelter has been set up, and then helped at Lone Star Legal Aid, where his parents work, to set up Legal Aid clinics.
"For the past week I've been doing mostly demolition work gutting houses. I've organized groups of total strangers and I've been the head driver in caravans of 15 and more students from all majors and it's been amazing. The next focus will ideally be reconstruction and helping folks reach whatever their next 'normal' will be," Furrh said.
One woman that he has helped still sticks out in his mind.
"We helped a woman near I-45 South and Beltway 8 who was rescued in over five foot waters by her brother-in-law in a small tub. She can't swim and was terrified. They'd been in their home since 1979 and were scared they might lose everything," Furrh said.
According to Furrh, in addition to the volunteer group he created, others organizations have mobilized as well. The Indian Students Association sent volunteers to the Vietnamese Martyr Church and the Metropolitan Volunteer Program did an event with the food bank.
Jessica Henry, a junior and environmental science major, also joined the relief group because she felt like she had to do it.
"I felt that since I wasn't personally flooded or affected, I was blessed to be able to help other people who were in need," Henry said.
Henry does know people who were affected though. Her boyfriend's mother's house flooded after the Addicks Reservoir was released.
"She was in the middle of selling her house too, to retire. She just canceled her flood insurance like so many others in her neighborhood, Lakeside Estates, because it never floods there," Henry said.
Henry volunteered at NRG Park, and has been helping to gut out people's flooded homes through the Vietnamese Martyr Church.
Andrew Slaton-Freeman is a graduate student majoring in law at UH, and has been helping with the relief efforts.
As for why he joined the volunteer group, Slaton-Freeman said, "What else could I do? Helping is the right thing to do, and it's cathartic. In several of Cormac McCarthy's novels, there are references to carrying a little fire - maybe even just a tiny spark - in the face of outside darkness. That's what everyone who is volunteering and helping is doing; every volunteer is carrying some light."
Slaton-Freeman participated in multiple volunteer efforts, including handing out water, blankets chairs and food to children and elderly at George R. Brown Convention Center and collected clothing and toiletries from UH students and distributed them to evacuees from UH's sister campuses.
"A group of us from the University of Houston Law Center went to NRG to help while some professors gave people advice on paperwork and the interplay between immigration status and eligibility to receive federal aid," Slaton-Freeman said.
"UH is organizing a long-term system (UH CARES) that will do incredible things for the city. They've been supportive of students and helped with volunteering so much. Service is what being a Cougar is all about and I can't think of a university better equipped to help in such a dire disaster," Furrh said.
Sept. 8
An Officer was dispatched to the West U PD Lobby regarding a found electric scooter that was found in the 3700 block of Arnold. The scooter is stored at the West University Place Police Department for safekeeping.
At 11:53 p.m., an officer observed a vehicle traveling northbound in the 6000 block of Buffalo Speedway at a high rate of speed. The vehicle was bearing an Ohio registration and displayed a Texas registration sticker on the windshield. After further investigation, it was discovered that the Ohio plate is issued to another vehicle. The driver admitted to intentionally placing the plate on the vehicle and was subsequently arrested for displaying a wrong, fictitious, and altered registration.
Sept. 9
An officer was dispatched to the West U PD Lobby in regards to an Identity Theft report.
Sept. 10
An officer was dispatched to a residence located in the 3800 block of Swarthmore in regards to suspicious activity.
Sept. 11
An officer conducted a traffic stop in the 5000 block of Auden. While speaking to the driver, the officer detected an odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. When asked about the odor, a passenger of the vehicle admitted to possessing a small amount of marijuana and then handed it over to the officer. It was later determined the subject found in possession of marijuana was eligible for the Harris County Misdemeanor Marijuana Diversion Program and elected to participate in it. The subject was provided with the information related to the program's contact and educational requirements then released from the scene without incident.
Sept. 12
At 10:09 a.m., an Officer was dispatched to the 2700 block of Tangley in regards to an accident, Failure to Stop and Give Information (F.S.G.I), that just occurred.
Sept. 13
An officer was dispatched to Harris County Sherriff's Office IPC to pick up a prisoner in custody with two outstanding West University Place warrants. The prisoner was transferred to the West University Jail Facility and booked without incident.
Sept. 14
An officer was dispatched to 4200 block of Albans in regards to a theft that had already occurred.
Officers were dispatched to the area of Rutgers and Westchester in regards to a suspicious vehicle. The vehicle was located in the 6500 block of Rutgers and an officer observed the vehicle fail to stop at a designated point, a stop sign. The officer conducted a traffic stop and during the course of the contact, the officer was able to detect an odor of marijuana emanating from within the vehicle. A vehicle search was conducted and drug paraphernalia was found. The passenger was given the opportunity to participate in a Harris County drug program, which the passenger agreed to participate in. The passenger was provided the necessary information and was released from the scene.
An officer was dispatched to the West U PD Lobby in regards to a theft that had already occurred.
At 6:07 pm, an Officer was dispatched to the West U PD Lobby in reference to an Identity Theft call, which had already occurred.
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Pomona Elementary, a new campus of Alvin Independent School District, is contributing to a 40 percent rise in sales in Manvel's Pomona community so far this year.
Other factors include completion of the amenities center, and the addition of houses on 50-foot wide lots priced just under $300,000 by Perry Homes and Highland Homes, according to developer Hillwood Communities. Houses on 55-foot wide lots, by comparison, start around $350,000. Other options include 65-foot and 75-foot wide lots.
"Within the last 3 weeks, we've seen an uptick in sales with Harvey smack dab in the middle of it all," said Russ Bynum, Houston general manager of Hillwood Communities.
"Pomona was high and dry throughout the duration of Harvey. None of our streets flooded."
During the last 3 weeks, 15 houses have sold in Pomona. That compares with 13 to 14 sales in an average month.
Work done along Mustang Bayou, which runs through the 1,000-acre community along Texas 288 just south of Pearland, contributed to the successful drainage during Harvey, Bynum said.
RELATED: Q&A: Pomona is home developer's first Houston community
Year-to-date, new home sales in Pomona are up 40 percent to 101 sales. Last year, 84 houses had been sold through Sept. 19.
Pomona Elementary, located off Kirby Drive and Pomona Parkway, will hold a naming dedication ceremony and open house at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Hillwood Communities will hold a tree planting ceremony Friday.
The school serves about 400 students in Pomona, Sedona Lakes, Lakes of Savannah and other neighborhoods, according Bynum.
Pomona Elementary was built to accommodate more than 750 students. It is ultimately planned to serve Pomona exclusively, according to Bynum. Pomona is within the boundaries of Rodeo Palms Junior High and Shadow Creek High School.
Pomona will contain 2,000 homes upon completion. Since opening in December 2015, Pomona has registered 215 home sales.
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A trio of "RuPaul's Drag Race" superstars are the latest celebrities to pitch in for Hurricane Harvey relief.
Alaska, Willam and Courtney Act -- known as the AAA Girls -- perform Thursday at Fitzgerald's (2706 White Oak). The queens are donating all proceeds from the show to local relief efforts.
Additionally, all three are contributing their performance fees for the show.
Tickets have been discounted to $10 and are available now. VIP options, including meet and greets, are also available.
"We know you guys are rebuilding in the wake of Harvey so we wanted to do our little bit to help. We are making all general admission ticket $10 and donating the proceeds to the Harvey relief effort," Act wrote on Instagram.
"We hope you come along and we can put a smile on your faces for a few hours and raise some money to help your local community!
Alaska, Willam and Act have pushed drag far beyond traditional boundaries. They have each recorded original music, from pop anthems to song parodies. As the AAA Girls, they released the "Access All Areas" album this year. It peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's Comedy Albums chart.
Alaska won Season 2 of "All Stars" and was a Season 5 runner up. Act took a runner-up slot during "Season 6" and was also a semifinalist on "Australian Idol." Willam competed on Season 4 but was disqualified. He's been seen on "Nip/Tuck, "When We Rise" and has a role in the upcoming "A Star is Born" remake with Lady Gaga.
The 15-city Access All Areas tour kicks off tonight in Dallas. Houston is the second date.
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Pumpkin Spice Pizza is the perfect blend of cynical marketing initiatives and 16th-century culinary innovations.
Villa Italian Kitchen announced their latest monstrosity food offering in a defeated press statement Wednesday morning.
"This year, Villa Italian Kitchen, one of America's favorite quick-service pizza brands, is jumping on the bandwagon, and today announced the intro of the first-ever Pumpkin Spice Pizza."
READ ALSO: Cane Rosso takes top pizza industry honor
Some poor soul had to type that and send it to people. Can you not feel their pain?
And the pizza's description reads like some bizarre Ed Woods film: A layer of pumpkin pie filling is spread onto the dough, dotted with alleged flavorings of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. The inventors saw fit to pile mozzarella on top of it.
The press release breathlessly states the pizza is "LIKE FALL IN YOUR MOUTH." Yeah, the Fall of Troy, probably.
Masochists are welcome to try this "thing" at Villa Italian Kitchen's 230 locations on Sept. 22
Crosby Independent School District is preparing a push to promote voting among its staff and students.
The Crosby ISD school board approved the TASB Culture of Voting Resolution during the Sept. 18 school board meeting.
The resolution permits district schools to implement measures that encourage educators and students to vote.
"We always believe it is a good thing for our voters and our citizens and our staff to vote," said Keith Moore, superintendent of Crosby ISD. "We're not trying to dictate how people vote, but to encourage a culture of voting."
Under the terms of the resolution, administrators may utilize district communications methods to communicate the importance of voting.
Campus assemblies may be organized to foster a pro-voting culture. Campuses can also use cost-free incentives to motivate staff to vote for example, allowing teachers to dress casually if they wear an "I voted" sticker. Additionally, the school district can collaborate on possible pro-voting efforts with related volunteer organizations, like the PTA.
Another purpose of the resolution is to facilitate access to voting-related resources, like when and where to vote, as well as special procedures to ensure employees are granted time to vote during the early voting period.
Employees may also be encouraged to take part in voter pledge programs and may be informed of resources through which to learn more about the positions of legislators and candidates on education.
"We would like to be able to encourage our staff to look at those organizations that show the different legislators that support education, and be able to share that information with them; and also work on getting students and staff registered to vote," Moore said.
Also during the school board meeting, an update was given on the progress of the district's Columbus Initiative.
The full-scale launch of Crosby ISD's Columbus Initiative was realized in September 2016 when the district provided more than 1,800 MacBooks to Crosby High School students and 850 iPads to Crosby Middle School seventh and eighth graders.
In its initial year, the Columbus Initiative focused on building a culture of proper use and maintenance of the devices in conjunction with classroom learning. The Columbus Initiative ended its first year with a device collection where the devices were given back to the district for maintenance and updates.
Last school year, Crosby ISD's educators worked on developing ways in which the use of technology could maximize aspects of lesson plans and student interaction.
This school year, Crosby ISD will deepen this goal of technology incorporation by partnering with the Region 4 ESC Digital Learning Division to provide 30 days over the course of the year during which teachers will be trained on ways to implement technology-based instruction.
The Region 4 ESC partnership launches this month.
So far, the devices have served multiple uses across difference disciplines, including the use of digital textbooks, virtual labs, organized paperless quizzes and notes, and research.
Several developments are in the works for the Columbus Initiative in its second year.
First, the district will focus on moving toward further incorporating technology into everyday learning, instead of simply using the devices as occasional supplemental tools.
Also, for the 2017-2018 school year, Crosby ISD elementary school classrooms will be issued five iPads for students to use for learning purposes. This initiative involved the purchase of about 1,000 iPads. Additionally, about 200 iPads will be available for use by Crosby Middle School sixth-grade teachers. These additions are expected to reach classrooms in September.
For more information about Crosby ISD, visit www.crosbyisd.org.
Imagine floating up and down a vertical tunnel, supported by wind blowing at up to 150 mph, to learn about terminal velocity and gravity instead of reading about these principles in a textbook.
iFLY, an indoor skydiving facility, hosted open houses at its Memorial location on Sept. 13 and at The Woodlands location on Sept. 13 and 19 to inform school administrators and teachers in the Houston area about iFLY's STEM - for science, technology, engineering and math - program, according to a news release.
iFLY offers educational STEM field trips year-round for students in kindergarten through 12 grade, but iFLY can adjust the curriculum for university field trips, according to Staci Smith, iFLY's sales manager at the Woodlands location. iFLY's STEM curriculum meets the Next Generation Science and Common Core Math Standards.
"iFLY's unique vertical wind tunnel provides the perfect environment to show students how exciting STEM can be," Smith said. "iFLY field trips make STEM relevant, interesting and accessible to students."
Former President Barack Obama set a priority during his presidency to increase the amount of students proficient in STEM fields, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
"It's more important than ever for our youth to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to solve tough problems, gather and evaluate evidence, and make sense of information," the Department of Education website states. "These are the types of skills that students learn by studying science, technology, engineering, and math."
Each field trip at iFLY lasts about three hours, depending on the group's size, according to Smith. The STEM session includes a lecture hosted by iFLY STEM educators and class activities that varies with the ages of the students, according to Smith.
During a demonstration, students test the wind tunnels with balls and each student gets the opportunity to experience indoor skydiving before the end of the field trip.
The total cost for an iFLY STEM field trip is $34.95 per person for one flight and $44.95 per person for two flights each, according to Smith. With a minimum of 16 people per group required at the Woodlands location, iFLY's STEM program hosts quarterly events for home-schooled students, said Smith.
The iFLY STEM program began in 2015, and more than 5,000 schools all over the U.S. have since attended. The Memorial location hosted STEM classes since the location opened in 2015, according to General Manager Christian Phosarath.
Students from more than 15 schools in the Houston area, including Katy High School and Lamar Consolidated High School, attended the program at Memorial's location, along with members of Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America, Sunshine Kids and other groups, said Phosarath.
"Because our STEM season is typically kicked off with our STEM Open House, we are just starting the preliminary discussions with repeat schools and new schools that are looking for rewarding activities for their students over the next school year," Phosarath said.
In 2015, high school and middle school students from a STEM summer program at Houston Community College attended iFLY, said HCC Student Services Manager Daniel Ramirez. Ramirez said teaching STEM theory is important, but taking field trips to places such as iFLY makes an impact on students.
"Especially for young kids like that, who've probably never thought about a career in some kind of STEM field, that opens their eyes to what they can really do," Ramirez said. "It makes an impact on them."
The open houses at iFLY's Memorial and Woodlands locations are free for teachers and school administrators from across the Houston area.
For more information, go to www.iFLYworld.com/houston-memorial.
Dear Toni:
Last year, the 2017 Medicare and You handbook did not include the 2017 Part D deductibles and "Donut Hole" costs, and I got in the "famous" Medicare donut hole this March. I know it is only September, but I would like to get prepared and really cannot find the answer online or at the Medicare.gov website. Please inform me what the 2018 Medicare Part D costs will be. I look forward to what you have to say. Karen, League City.
Hello Karen:
You are correct that the 2017 Medicare and You handbook did not have the 2017 Part D deductibles or out of pocket maximums. I've looked online and the Medicare handbook has not been released yet. I do not foresee it being updated until Oct. 1. But guess what? For the Toni Says Medicare newspaper column readers, we have a big surprise. I know what the Medicare Part D cost and copays and Donut Hole will be for 2018.
How the various 2018 Medicare Part D prescription drug plans compare with their specific formularies have not been released as of Sept. 11.
The 2018 Medicare Part D costs and copays are explained below.
Part D changes for 2018 are:
Initial Deductible: Will be increased by $5 from $400 in 2017 to $405 in 2018.
Initial Coverage Limit: Will increase by $50 from $3,700 in 2017 to $3,750 in 2018 where the 2018 "Donut Hole" begins.
Out-of-Pocket Cost: Will increase also increase by $50 from $4,950 in 2017 out of pocket to $5,000 in 2018 out of pocket: begins once you reach your Medicare Part D plan's initial coverage limit ($3,750 in 2018) and ends when you spend a total of $5,000 in 2018. You will spend 35 percent of covered brand name drugs, the drug manufacturer will pay 50 percent and the prescription drug plan will pay the remaining 15 percent of the covered brand name prescription. For generics in the donut hole, you will pay maximum 44 percent co pay and the prescription drug plan will pay the remaining 55 percent.
If your prescriptions are not in your Part D formulary, then you will pay all of the prescription drug cost, which is why one must verify that all of their prescriptions are in the specific chosen Medicare Part D formulary which can change every year.
Toni's Tips to help you stay out of the Donut Hole or not get in it as soon:
1. Use www.medicare.gov when selecting a Medicare Part D plan whether it is your first time or changing during Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period in the fall.
2. Talk to your doctor or doctors about which brand name drugs can be changed to generics.
3. Use your Medicare Part D plan for your brand name drugs and expensive generics. You do not have to put every prescription on your Medicare Part D plan.
"West University Area Confused about Medicare" Workshop, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 6800 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, TX 77025.
"Champion Forest Area Confused about Medicare Workshop, Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. at Champion Forest Baptist Church- Multi-Purpose Bldg., 15555 Stuebner Airline, Houston, TX 77069. Please RVSP for both sessions at 832-519-8664.
Toni King, author of the new Medicare Survival Guide and its new companion "Confused about Medicare" workshop DVD that are now on sale at www.tonisays.com.
A dolphin stranded on the beach near Port Arthur was saved Tuesday by the Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
In a Tuesday post from the Texas Parks and Wildlife, a staff member at the Sea Rim State Park was photographed wrapping the dolphin in a wet blanket. The dolphin appeared to be stuck in a pit on the beach, surrounded by some water. The bottlenose dolphin was found stranded on McFaddin Beach by a park visitor who alerted the agency, a Sea Rim State Park staff member told Chron.com.
A woman caused about $1,000 worth of damage to a deputy constable car on Monday, while en route from northwest Harris County to the jail in downtown Houston.
Savannah Keyes, 32, damaged the vehicle's cameras and dislodged the metal cage separating the front of the patrol car from the back passenger seat, causing the cage to pierce glass in the vehicle that also separates the front and rear sections of the car, said Cinthya Umanzor, spokeswoman for the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's Office, on Wednesday.
School District 2 will be looking for a new Superintendent after Terry Bouck announced that he's stepping down at the end of the year.
It's unclear exactly how trustees will conduct a search. There's no doubt that a new superintendent will face a to-do list, but none of the items should be as dire as the class-size crunch that Bouck walked into in 2012 that threatened Billings' state accreditation.
During the hiring process, Jeana Lervick, a lawyer for the district, asked trustees to think about "what is the board interested in, in a search firm, in a new superintendent?"
Here are five issues that SD2 is facing that don't have easy fixes:
Textbooks
Textbooks are one of the most accessible barometers of education for students and parents. Some research indicates that student perceptions of textbooks influence how well they read information in textbooks. If it's falling apart and has old information, it doesn't do well.
Teachers have complained about textbooks for years. School District 2 has a cycle for replacing textbooks and other curriculum materials, like videos and lesson guides, but is well behind on several high school subjects.
Replacing textbooks isn't cheap. In a district the size of Billings, overhauling a subject can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. District leaders have pitched a high school levy as instrumental in getting the job done. But a levy this spring failed, as high school levies have for the past 11 years.
High school enrollment
High school enrollment is rising rapidly in Billings as a group of especially large classes transition through middle and high school. The construction of a pair of new middle schools the past two years and a switch to a 6-8 middle school model has helped manage growth in lower grades, but high school facilities aren't sprouting extra classrooms.
Officials at Senior High compared classrooms to sardine cans in 2015, and enrollment continued to increase last school year.
More and younger students have begun taking classes at the Career Center, which has added more general education courses for students to pair with elective courses. But school officials have emphasized maintaining the close-knit character and small class sizes the building typically offers. How to deal with growth that could continue or just represent a bubble of large class sizes will be a priority for the district in coming years.
Lockwood
Or, high school enrollment could take a precipitous drop if Lockwood voters establish a new high school. An initial vote on Nov. 7 puts the concept on a ballot, but voters need to approve a second vote with a price tag for building a new high school and running a new district within two years of the first vote. If the votes fail, then Lockwood has to wait for a new five-year window to make another run at a high school.
About 10 percent of SD2 high school students live in Lockwood. The removal of those students would have major budget ramifications for SD2, as most state payments are given to schools on a per-student basis. The law allowing Lockwood to establish a high school does have some mechanisms to smooth the financial transition, but it's likely that SD2 would have to cut jobs to adjust to a smaller student population.
Educational equity
Which students can take which classes at which schools? Working toward providing level playing fields at the districts' 24 elementary schools, six middle schools and three high schools plus the Career Center was a major priority under Bouck. He pushed for similar Advanced Placement and Dual Credit offerings in high schools, and expanded Project Lead the Way, a science, technology engineering and math program, to every elementary school.
But not every school offers the same Project Lead the Way curriculum, and advanced offerings differ from school to school. As new educational initiatives emerge, it'll be up to a new superintendent to ensure that student access to them isn't limited by which Billings public school they attend.
State funding
A new superintendent will arrive in the second year of a budget crunch that's seen funding slashed for Montana schools. A pair of cuts have sliced money from school budgets after state revenue estimates have come in below expectations, and changes during the legislative session jacked up local school taxes without giving local districts a say a move that helped avoid major budget cuts but some administrators fear could jeopardize future levy passage.
Billings will likely dip into reserves, which have been increased over the past several years to near state-allowed maximums, to help get by. But if the funding picture doesn't improve, a new superintendent could be forced to make some difficult choices.
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Nearly 31.6 million gallons of raw sewage spilled across southeast Texas in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, pouring into neighboring communities and waterways as dozens of wastewater treatment plants were hit by high winds and flooding, according to state records.
Most of the sewage spilled in Harris and Fort Bend counties, with 65 separate releases dumping 20.7 million gallons of sewage in Harris County and 11 spills dumping 9.5 million gallons in Fort Bend.
Weeks after the storm hit, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality says 10 sewage treatment plants including six in the Houston area are inoperable or destroyed, and more than 40 others were operating as of Monday with problems as minor as broken-down pumps or as serious as structural damage.
Thousands of residents, meanwhile, have been told to reduce their use of affected sewage systems by limiting toilet flushes, bathing and laundry as officials work to repair the damaged facilities, although some of those warnings have since been lifted.
Now Playing: Courtesy: Ahmed Gul Video: Fox 26 Houston
"The magnitude and the nature of this flooding impacted facilities in a way that they could not operationally respond to," said Andrea Morrow, TCEQ spokeswoman.
More Information Sewage treatment plants still struggling
Here is the list of wastewater treatment plants that remain inoperable or are considered destroyed by Hurricane Harvey, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Harris County
*Destroyed: Cedar Bayou Park Wastewater Treatment Plant in Baytown, east of Houston
*Inoperable: Chevron Phillips Cedar Bayou Chemical Plant near Interstate 10 north of Baytown
*Inoperable: Turkey Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in west Houston, just downstream from the Addicks and Barker reservoirs
*Greens Bayou Electric Generating Station Wastewater Treatment Plant, 12070 Old Beaumont Highway, northeast Harris County, north of Interstate 10 and east of Beltway 8 near Highway 90
*Inoperable: Bear Creek Pioneers Park Wastewater Treatment Plant, in northwest Harris County near Addicks reservoir
*Destroyed: McDonough Marine Service, Channelview
Brazoria County
*Inoperable: City of Brazoria Wastewater Treatment Plant, nestled between the Brazos and San Bernard rivers
Jefferson County
*Inoperable: Port Arthur Products Station
Orange County
*Inoperable: Parkview Subdivision Wastewater Treatment Plant, in Orange County east of Beaumont
Washington County
*Inoperable: Rocky Creek Park Wastewater Treatment Plant, a facility operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers near Navasota
Source: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality See More Collapse
The state records an ongoing tally updated regularly online offer a glimpse into the widespread damage to wastewater treatment plants, but it's not clear which communities were affected or which plants were responsible for the spills. TCEQ has not released those details.
Brian Zabcik, clean water advocate for Environment Texas, said the plants' reports provide an incomplete picture.
"For a lot of reports, no one was able to estimate how much was released," Zabcik said. "Where there should be a reported volume of sewage released, there's either a blank or an unknown."
Among the plants that remain damaged from the storm include the Turkey Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in west Houston, downstream from the overloaded Addicks and Barker reservoirs, and the Bear Creek Pioneers Park Wastewater Treatment Plant north of the Addicks dam.
Two in Harris County are considered destroyed - the Cedar Bayou Park Wastewater Treatment Plant in Baytown and the McDonough Marine Service plant in Channelview, according to TCEQ. Others considered inoperable include two in northeast Harris County and plants in Brazoria, Jefferson, Orange and Washington counties.
Overall, the state received reports of 179 spills of sewage. Galveston reported the release of 135,000 gallons of sludge in 15 spills into Galveston Bay last week after equipment failure at the city's wastewater treatment plant. Walker County has reported four spills with 426,000 gallons, and Montgomery County has had 10 spills with 131,200.
The spills add to a problem already plaguing counties decimated by the hurricane: contaminated floodwater. This contaminated water can contain infectious organisms and intestinal bacteria, said Andrea Morrow, TCEQ spokeswoman.
Ten feet of water
The Turkey Creek plant in west Houston was submerged in 10 feet of water, knocking it offline around Aug. 26, the day torrential rains began moving through Houston.
Turkey Creek still is running on backup generators, Reed said, which is why the commission listed it as inoperable. The city's West District plant also flooded but was returned to full working order last week, said Alanna Reed, Houston Public Works spokeswoman.
She did not elaborate on how many residents were without sewer services while the repairs were ongoing.
Bruce Nichols, 71, who lives near both plants, said his neighborhood was asked to limit its water usage for about 10 days while crews worked to get the plants back in operation.
He said he was impressed by how quickly the city got Turkey Creek running again. Reducing water usage, he said, "wasn't burdensome, it really wasn't."
City officials warned Nichols' neighborhood of potential sewage overflow, but he said it didn't happen near him. Reed said there were only a few reports of problems, but she did not provide a number.
The Bear Creek area in Katy also reported sewage problems after the wastewater treatment plant was compromised. Students at Bear Creek Elementary School started classes in a local high school.
In the city of Brazoria in Brazoria County, the sewage treatment plant went offline on Sept. 3 after two feet of water flooded the electrical panels, said David Jordan, the city's public works director.
Officials ordered a mandatory evacuation until the plant began operating again on Sept. 7, he said.
The plant remains on TCEQ's "inoperable" list because officials have been unable to test the water for ammonia, oxygen and other components, he said Tuesday. The first samples were set to be sent for testing Wednesday.
As many as 3,000 city residents could have been affected by the plant shutdown, but he said he did not know how many stayed behind during the evacuation.
Millions of dollars in repairs
The state commission has not released details about how many total facilities were downed at the peak of the storm.
Morrow said TCEQ worked quickly to bring as many facilities back online as possible, providing resources such as staff, equipment and contractors. She said the commission is also diverting wastewater where possible from downed facilities to those that are working, though she did not provide details about how those transfers are being done.
When Turkey Creek was overtaken by water on Aug. 26, Reed said city officials met with oil and gas companies to strategize how to get the floodwaters out of the plant.
They considered several options, such as pumping the water, but eventually decided to wait for the water to recede, she said.
Once it did, Reed said cleanup crews worked 24/7 to clean the plant, making sure all electrical components were in good working order. Generators and transformers had to be replaced, and power needed to be restored to certain parts of the plant, she added.
City officials still are calculating the cost of these fixes, but have said it will be in the millions of dollars.
Reed was unsure how these fixes would be paid for, but Morrow said there are many resources available, including from the Texas Department of Emergency Management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Texas Water Infrastructure Coordination Committee.
Alex Stuckey covers science and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alexandra.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/AlexDStuckey.
The Austin American-Statesman is reporting that a 28-year-old Mexican man who was recently deported from Texas is dead.
Juan Coronilla-Guerrero is believed to have been kidnapped and shot to death last week by the gang members he originally fled from, according to his wife, who chose to remain anonymous and now lives in Mexico with their two children.
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Two schools in Sheldon ISD that were heavily damaged by Hurricane Harvey will remain indefinitely closed as repairs continue to be made, district officials said.
The neighboring C.E. King middle and high schools will likely remain closed for several weeks, and could be shuttered for the entire fall semester, district spokesman Derik Moore said.
"Because the floods hit so bad there, this will allow us to give contractors free reign in the building and hopefully get everything fixed up quicker," Moore said.
In response, Sheldon ISD administrators have made several changes to ensure all students resume classes by Thursday.
HoustonChronicle.com: Sheldon ISD prepares to re-open after extensive damage
C.E. King High School's roughly 2,300 students will be split between two campuses. Students in grades 9 and 10 will attend class at Sheldon Early Childhood Academy, while 11th- and 12th- graders will attend class at Sheldon Elementary School. In turn, Sheldon Early Childhood Academy's students will be spread across four buildings, and Sheldon Elementary School students will attend class at Royalwood Church.
The roughly 1,000 students from C.E. King Middle School will go to Null Middle School, where they will take classes in the morning. Null students will then come to class in the afternoon at their home campus.
The district north of U.S. 90 serves about 9,000 students in northeast Harris County. It was the last Houston-area district to resume classes, reopening seven buildings on Monday. At least 91 percent of students returned to all seven campuses, Moore said.
District officials believe they will fulfill state attendance requirements without extending the school year, largely by eliminating scheduled half days and early-release days. State law mandates students receive at least 75,600 minutes of instructional time per year.
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Sam Houston's name will remain affixed to an elementary school in Dallas after administrators considered a name change for it and 19 other schools due to possible ties to the Confederacy, the Dallas Morning News reported.
Leaders at Dallas ISD, the state's second-largest school district, have decided against reviewing 20 schools named after historical figures, including the city of Houston's namesake. Instead, the district will immediately re-brand four schools named after Confederate generals: William L. Cabell, Stonewall Jackson, Albert Sidney Johnston and Robert E. Lee.
"We are on a very short list, because we want to take action on the names that carry more significant negative meaning, and send the message to the community that we are going to do this in an expedited manner," Chief of School Leadership Stephanie Elizalde told the Dallas Morning News. "Right now, the best use of our time is take actions on the ones we know."
POLITIFACT: Did Sam Houston support slavery?
Dallas ISD officials originally listed 20 schools that "will require further research as their connection to the Confederacy varies."
Houston, who helped secure Texas' independence from Mexico in 1836 and served two terms as its president, did not support the republic joining the Confederacy. Rather, he often argued in favor of keeping the Union together, putting him at odds with many southerners.
However, Houston did own slaves and gave mixed statements on the issue, sometimes arguing in favor of slavery. Houston often framed his views on slavery in the context of how it affected Texas' economy and political future, rather than explicitly advocating for or against slavery.
SAM HOUSTON: Armed individuals, anticipating protest, surround statute
In May, hundreds of people rallied around the Sam Houston statue in Hermann Park, with plans to protect it from protesters who want the statute removed. The protesters never materialized.
Houston ISD board members voted in May 2016 to rename eight schools that were named after historical figures with Confederate ties.
There are 13 schools in Texas named after Sam Houston, according to state data. Only one campus, in Galena Park ISD, is located in the Greater Houston area.
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President Donald Trump's administration announced Wednesday that it had resumed the apprehension of immigrants here illegally following a pause in enforcement during Hurricane Harvey rescue and recovery efforts.
The change is effective immediately, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said in a statement.
"(ICE) officers have resumed regular, targeted immigration enforcement operations in the area with the exception of immediate relief operations like shelters and food banks," the agency said.
As Harvey hurtled toward Corpus Christi, the agency announced on Aug. 25 that it had suspended
immigration-related arrests during or immediately after the hurricane in affected regions. Its priority, along with U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials, was to "promote life-saving and life-sustaining activities," the agencies said in a statement.
ICE sent more than 200 officers from across the country to assist with relief efforts the sight of which instilled fear among many immigrants who sought help. Since Trump took office, federal agents have arrested more than 6,200 immigrants here illegally, the most in the country after Dallas and Atlanta, according to federal statistics.
Federal, state and local officials urged the 600,000 immigrants illegally in the Houston area to seek aid if they needed it. Mayor Sylvester Turner even promised to represent them himself if they were threatened with deportation.
But the assurances, from Washington, D.C., Austin and Houston, often weren't enough.
Many immigrants stayed home. Advocates knocked on doors and visited shelters to assuage their fears and persuade them to seek aid.
Cesar Espinosa, executive director of the immigrant advocacy group FIEL Houston, called it, "a real crisis."
ICE said in the statement Wednesday that it made no at-large immigration-related arrests during or immediately after the hurricane in the affected area, and nor did it conduct non-criminal immigration enforcement operations.
"ICE's primary goal during this crisis was to support relief efforts," the agency said.
Wednesday, that ended.
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Fort Bend County was already on official notice for what a lawyer called "an atrocious record" of preventing jail suicides when Eugene Ethridge Jr. was found in November 2015 in his cell hanging from a bed sheet.
Less than three weeks before Ethridge died, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards had warned the sheriff that the jail was at risk for being out of compliance with state law because it failed to check cells at regular intervals on the day in September 2015 when another inmate committed suicide, officials said.
Now, Ethridge's father, Eugene Ethridge Sr. is suing in federal court on behalf of himself and his son's four minor children, contending the county, Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls and other officials associated with the jail are responsible for deliberate, unconstitutional acts that led to his son's wrongful death.
Ethridge Sr., said the jail's lax cell checks deprived his grandchildren of their father, who had been arrested on a charge of driving intoxicated.
"I want to find out why they didn't check on my son," he said. "I hope this doesn't happen to any other family."
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Nehls responded through a spokesman Wednesday that he had not been served with the lawsuit and it would be inappropriate to comment under the circumstances. At the time of Ethridge's death, a sheriff's spokesman said all inmates were screened for suicide risk as part of the intake process.
The county judge forwarded a request for comment on Wednesday to the county attorney who did not have an immediate response to the lawsuit.
However, Randall Kallinen, the attorney representing Ethridge's family, said "the jail has an atrocious record of failing to prevent suicides."
The lawsuit filed in Houston claims that officials showed deliberate indifference by depriving Ethridge, Jr. of adequate supervision, observation and medical care after the jail was put on notice regarding the prior suicide.
Kallinen said, the jailers needed to make regular cell checks: "They were warned about the same thing, which could have saved him, 19 days before and they didn't do it."
The family's lawsuit also says the jail didn't make any effort to tell employees they needed to do the checks.
"We did not see any remedial measures done in those 19 days -- no memos going out, no supervisors talking to people," Kallinen said. "They failed to do rounds."
According to the lawsuit, Heriberto Correas died by hanging at the Fort Bend jail on Sept. 29, 2015. Following his death, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards sent a letter on Oct. 15, 2015 saying the Fort Bend lockup was "at-risk" of being out of compliance for not completing face-to-face checks.
The letter said the jail needed to take corrective action, said Brandon Wood, executive director of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
In Correas' case the checks had to happen every 30 minutes, because he had been designated a higher risk and those checks did not happen. In Ethridge's case, a couple of months later, the cell checks were expected to happen every 60 minutes but they did not.
The 33-year-old father of four had been booked at the jail two days prior to his death, on Nov. 1. He was distraught and agitated, focusing on the repercussions the arrest would have on his children and family, Kallinen said.
Ethridge was found dead on Nov. 3, 2015. Two days later, the state's jail commission found the facility was noncompliant with its basic standards, but by Dec. 21, 2015 it was back in compliance and has remained in compliance ever since, said Wood.
Wood said there have been four suicides at the jail in the past five years.
Every time a death in custody happens the commission takes it very seriously, he said.
"It is very disconcerting. One is enough to cause concern," he said. "They were at risk and a second suicide occurred. They simply were not following minimum jail standard."
For Kallinen the county had a simple task, to keep track of its charges. The veteran civil rights lawyer called it one of the worst failures of a jail system he'd seen.
"You're told point blank by the agency to do the checks," he said. "What more warning do they need?"
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FEMA's 100-year flood plain map doesn't have the best reputation in Bayou City just ask any Houstonian whose home was outside the flood risk zone yet still filled with water during one if the city's many and recent flooding events.
Still, a new study by Rice University and Texas A&M-Galveston suggests FEMA's hazard mapping may be even less accurate than most people think.
Researchers examined flood damage claims from several southeast Houston suburbs between 1999 to 2009 and found that FEMA's flood predictive maps failed to show 75 percent of flood damage.
"The takeaway from this study, which was borne out in Harvey, is that many losses occur in areas outside FEMA's 100-year flood plain," said study co-author Antonia Sebastian in a prepared statement.
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DAMAGES: Harvey spilled millions of gallons of raw sewage
According to researchers, three in four flood damage claims flew under the radar during the 10 year period because they didn't reach the 100-year event threshold. In other words, short and intense rainfall events may not be reflected on FEMA's 100-year flood plain map.
For example, Sebastian said an area that receives 13.5 inches of rain in 24 hours might be counted by FEMA, but not an area that receives 6 inches of rain in only a few hours, despite causing serious flooding.
The five flooding events where damage appears to be understated on flood hazard maps are Hurricane Ike (2008), Tropical Storm Erin (2007), Tropical Storm Allison (2001) and two rainstorms in 2006 and 2009.
Lastly, researchers believe FEMA's flood plain maps are too one dimensional and assume that water will either travel upstream or downstream.
RELIEF AND SUPPORT: Freebies for victims of Harvey
"That assumption doesn't hold when you're in really low-lying areas, like Armand Bayou or other coastal watersheds that are very flat," said marine sciences professor and study co-author Sam Brody in a news release. "When flooding rain accumulates in these areas, it can flow in just about any direction depending upon how high it gets."
The authors of the study, published in the journal Natural Hazards Review, hope their findings will lead to better and more predictive maps.
See a by the numbers look at the damages brought on by Harvey above.
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A Texas man is charged with endangering a child after his young infant son tested positive for methamphetamine.
Witnesses told police that Zachary Fowler, 19, of Abilene, exposed his child to "meth, pipes, smoke and paraphernalia," reports news station KTXS.
CAUGHT: Massive meth lab and distribution center in Dallas busted
Fowler and the child in his care tested positive for methamphetamine about May 23. The testing was part of a Child Protective Services investigation.
Court documents do not state the age of the child, but do state Fowler engaged in conduct that placed his child in imminent danger, according to KTXS.
Fowler posted a $10,000 bond and is out of jail.
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AUSTIN -- As a boy he weathered several nasty hurricanes that blew through his hometown on the Texas coast, including Carla and Beulah, but John Sharp's family never filed for federal disaster assistance.
In fact, until recently, he had never had contact with or knew much about the Federal Emergency Management Agency, other than reading about the miscues that brought it notoriety during Hurricane Katrina 10 years ago.
That changed when he got a late-night call from Gov. Greg Abbott's political guru, Dave Carney, alerting him that the governor would soon call to ask him to become Texas' new recovery czar. Sharp said he wasn't sure what to think.
When Abbott called a couple of hours later, his message was simple: 'Look, Sharp ... You probably work 10-12 hours a day right now, and there's another 10-12 hours a day out there that you ain't doing s---."
"Do I get to keep the job I have now?" Sharp said he asked.
Yes, Abbott said. "This (new job) is not a paid deal."
"He didn't say would you like to be. He just said he needed me to do this," Sharp, 67, the $900,000-a-year chancellor of the Texas A&M University System said. "What do you say? No, I don't want to do this? Of course I said yes. I mean anybody would."
Anybody, if you're John Sharp, an affable Texas politician with a ski nose like Bob Hope and a charming, good-old-boy approach to match, the last Democrat to win state office two decades ago who has since become a go-to for Republican governors to fix complex problems or push through controversial ideas.
Since he signed on three weeks ago to oversee Texas' recovery from Hurricane Harvey, the worst storm to blast Texas coast in more than a century, and by most measures the most destructive in U.S. history, Sharp has crisscrossed the storm-blasted areas along the Texas coast.
When Abbott announced Sharp's appointment as the head of the Governor's Commission to Rebuild Texas on Sept. 6, he said his instructions were simple: "Rebuild Texas ahead of schedule, under budget and with a friendly smile."
In the weeks since, Sharp has juggled his A&M duties with the recovery, spending hours in briefings and updates and repeatedly touring the state with Abbott, including a Thursday trip to Rockport. He routinely gives out his private cell phone number to local officials with the instruction, "call me if you need anything," and, perhaps not surprisingly, he has taken calls at all hours ever since.
And as Texas' cleanup and recovery enters its fourth week, the Sharp-led effort has logged several firsts for covered much new ground, officials confirm, including pressing Texas A&M's network of locally based agriculture extension agents into service for the first time ever to be the local contact for state recovery efforts, instead of hiring a network of expensive consultants to do the same thing.
Seasoned experts who successfully help the recovery after Katrina and Sandy have also been brought in to assist, several also at no expense to taxpayers. Sharp's first call after taking his new job was to call Billy Hamilton, a former deputy comptroller known as one of the best organizers in state government.
True to form, the straight-talking, tobacco-chewing Sharp offers a salty response when asked how those changes got approved so fast, within days after the state's recovery got into full swing: "I didn't ask."
For a get-it-done, no-BS guy who was once considered an up-and-comer who might run the state as governor someday, before Texas went from Blue to Red, Sharp said the new job is a perfect fit in some respects, even though he admits he spent the first few days "scared s----less" before he got the operational plan set and going.
"I ain't running for nothing," Sharp said, explaining why he feels free to make decisions that will push the recovery ahead quickly, even before they are not fully vetted politically. "It's a real liberating experience knowing you're not ever running for anything ever again."
"Respond immediately, fix the problem, cut red tape," read one of Sharp's homespun Rules of the Road that he issued for the recovery effort soon after he came aboard.
"No surprises," read another.
On a recent morning, as Sharp touted the battered coastal community of Rockport, near where Harvey made landfall on Aug. 25 with disastrous 140-mph winds, he said he was struck by the totality of the devastation. With Abbott at his side, Sharp's rules quickly took effect.
Recalling previous hurricanes and the controversies that turned the recovery ugly, Sharp knew that fast action was the imperative. "Every time you turned on CNN, the mayor was bitching, the parish sheriff, all those people were bitching -- and they just turned the whole tone of everything," he said. "You've got to be able to get to that mayor before he gets so frustrated that he just starts screaming and hollering about it."
So when local officials on the tour complained that they debris removal was an issue, because they had no landfills to hold the trash and couldn't burn it. Abbott signed a proclamation allowing them to burn the debris.
When a woman tearfully relayed how she had not heard from her father, who had been unable to get to safety from an island before Harvey arrived, state officials dispatched as boat that located him safe and sound.
"You don't wait around for things to happen. I'm not big on rules," Sharp said. "The governor has shown a total willingness to cut through red tape. I mean it takes him five seconds to make a decision."
Attention to detail
Sharp said he cares little whether someone is upset. What matters to him is that their needs are being properly and quickly addressed.
"Mosquito spraying. We caught a lotta s--- over that," he explained. "The beekeepers were not happy with C-130 aircraft flying over killing mosquitoes (and) organic farmers ... because they can't call their stuff organic anymore because it's been sprayed with pesticides.
"I said, 'Sorry, I've got kids trying to go to school and they've got mosquitoes stuck up their nose and we're going to kill them (the mosquitoes)."
If his bluntness may seem unusual in an era when most tea party-affiliated politicians try to spin a happy face on whatever they do, Sharp is clearly a throwback to another era.
Born and raised in Placedo, a coastal farming town of 200 near Victoria, he grew up the son of an oilfield worker and a school teacher. He jokes that has family's white frame house was "so porous the wind went right through it," to explain why it never sustained much if any damage in previous hurricanes.
It also escaped damage from Harvey. Even though his dad sold it 50 years ago, he said he checked in with the current owner -- a remark that highlights his attention to detail that has made Sharp legendary, and occasionally reviled, in state government.
After earning a bachelor of arts degree in 1972 from Texas A&M, where he was in the prestigious Corps of Cadets and served as student body president, he went to work for the Legislative Budget Board in Austin. Soon, he earned a master's degree in public administration what is now Texas State University in San Marcos.
Returning in 1978 to Victoria, where he ran a real estate firm, Sharp launched his political career by getting elected to the Texas House where he served until 1982, when he was elected to the Texas Senate. In 1986, he was elected to the Texas Railroad Commission where he helped reform trucking regulations, improve railroad safety and develop new markets for clean-burning natural gas.
In 1990, he was elected comptroller of public accounts to replace the legendary Bob Bullock, who had been elected lieutenant governor. Sharp instituted a series of reforms to make state government more efficient and accountable, despite complaints from entrenched bureaucrats, and implemented a new credit-care system for state benefits as well as a new state lottery -- in a process that became a model for other states.
In 1998, he ran as a Democrat to replace Bullock as lieutenant governor, but lost to Republican Rick Perry. Another try in 2002 was unsuccessful, when he lost to Republican Davis Dewhurst.
In 2005, at a time that Sharp's name was mentioned as a possible candidate for governor, Perry named Sharp to head a special education task force to study reforming the state's tax system. He dropped his gubernatorial aspirations, and went to work on a reform plan that eventually adopted by the legislature -- in what was considered a win for both Sharp and Perry.
After helping spearhead the passage by voters of a new program for cancer-fighting research grants, Sharp in 2008 announced he would be a candidate to replace retiring U.S. Kay Bailey Hutchison -- a decision he withdrew when he became chancellor.
At A&M he has created occasional waves as he has pushed ahead with the biggest expansion in the A&M System's history, overseeing enrollment growth from 122,000 to 148,000 and a $5.4 billion construction boom at the flagship campus in College Station.
While Abbott has said Sharp was a natural go-to guy to oversee Texas' recovery -- because of his long experience in state government and his get-it-done style, Sharp professes that he has no idea why the governor selected him.
Even so, the two had known each other for more than 10 years as neighbors in Austin's upscale Pemberton neighborhood, just northwest of downtown. "We both had adopted kids. We're both Catholics," Sharp said.
'A very astute choice'
For legislative leaders and outsiders familiar with both Abbott and Sharp, the choice seems natural -- a choice that promises to make Sharp one of Texas' most prominent non-elected officials for the rest of this decade, and perhaps beyond. Sharp estimates the recovery from Harvey will take at least three years.
"It's a very astute choice for the governor because it takes politics out of the equation: a lifelong Democrat who has no political aspirations and won't be a political rival," said Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University in Houston. "John Sharp is immensely talented, and who gets along with conservative Republicans, centrist Republicans and Democrats."
And if the recovery effort becomes controversial, Abbott can't be accused of assigning a political hack or crony to handle the showcase program.
So far, with the recovery efforts going smoothly, both remain highly complimentary of each other -- with Sharp insisting, in typical fashion, that Abbott has amazed him with his attention to detail.
"I'm telling you, he's immersed in this," Sharp said. "When I'd do this stuff for politicians, they're at the 30-40,000 foot level, you know: 'You do this; let me know when the press conference is.' We'll go into private meetings, with no press corps ... and we've got all these experts sitting back there, and who answers every question? Abbott."
Abbott aides said the governor's instructions to Sharp were simple: Advocate for for communities, and get things done without delay.
People close to Sharp say he and Abbott have something else in common: Both Texas natives have taken the state's recovery personally.
Two weeks ago, while Abbott and Sharp toured the Houston area, Ray Kendall, 49, shook hands with both officials and heard their reassurances that recovery assistance would be expedited. He had questions -- and doubts.
"Both of them guys listened and (Sharp) had someone get my information and told me to let him know if I didn't," the Fort Bend business owner explained. "I got a call back from someone later that afternoon, and they're helping me get everything lined up.
"He said he knew how to cut through the damn red tape. And sure enough."
No surprises, as Sharp said.
Correction: Gov. Greg Abbott's political guru Dave Carney was incorrectly identified in an earlier version of this story.
Federal law enforcement officials are investigating an alleged assault on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation after a 30-year-old man was found unresponsive at a home in Lame Deer last weekend.
The FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs responded Sunday morning to a report of a Lame Deer man who had been assaulted and was unresponsive, according to a press release issued Wednesday by FBI spokesman Travis Burrows.
The man was transported to Billings for medical care, and one man was arrested by the BIA Northern Cheyenne Police and remains in their custody, according to the release.
"The investigation is ongoing, and no additional details will be released at this time," Burrows said.
Jacquelyn Martin/STF
WASHINGTON U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan will lead a bipartisan delegation Wednesday to Houston and other areas of Texas and Florida hardest hit by Hurricane Harvey and Irma.
On his way to Texas, he will visit Jacksonville, Miami, and the Florida Keys to survey damage and meet with FEMA, Coast Guard and local officials.
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Residents of at least one Houston public housing complex have been asked to pay September rent for flooded units deemed uninhabitable, even as Mayor Sylvester Turner has publicly condemned private landlords for similar practices.
Half a dozen tenants of Clayton Homes, which is owned by the Houston Housing Authority, said property management asked them about rent earlier this month, even though Hurricane Harvey had rendered their units unlivable. Most paid after being told they otherwise would lose their spot at the complex, one of the city's few subsidized developments.
"I completely didn't understand," said LaShondra Ford, whose $50 rent payment was debited from her account earlier this month. "I tried to research and Google, and I was watching the news to see, is there something that can be done so I can get my money?"
Houston Housing Authority President Tory Gunsolley initially said federal rules prevented the agency from forgiving rent, even in a disaster.
"The regulations don't contemplate us not charging rent and just waiving rent collection," he said.
Gunsolley changed course Tuesday afternoon, however, after questions from the Chronicle prompted a call from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
"Tenants of public housing authorities do not have to pay for units that are uninhabitable," HUD spokesman Scott Hudman explained.
As of Wednesday evening, Gunsolley's staff was still trying to determine how many of its 183 displaced public housing tenants paid September rent for flooded units. Clayton Homes, located on the bank of Buffalo Bayou downtown, suffered the most extensive damage of the agency's four flooded public housing properties.
"We're not charging rent for uninhabitable units," Gunsolley said. "And if we find out that we have, we'll be reimbursing folks."
Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, said "there is no justification" for the rent charges, but lauded Houston's housing authority and HUD for moving quickly to resolve the issue.
"HUD and the Houston Housing Authority recognize that there is no justification for charging displaced public housing residents rent payments when they will need that limited funding for other immediate needs during the time of their displacement," Yentel wrote in an email."
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid's housing group coordinator Fred Fuchs agreed.
"It's horrible," he said. "It's good that HUD said, 'housing authority, you're wrong.' And now what will be important here is whether the housing authority complies."
Turner was unaware Wednesday that the housing authority had been charging displaced tenants rent, even though he has been urging private landlords to show tenants of flooded units some flexibility by waiving or delaying late fees. Last week he also warned any landlords that accepted September rent and then forced tenants out that he would consider such a move theft.
"And I certainly will want to work with the Harris County DA's office to prosecute them if they take the rent and then force people out, or if they take the rent and are not moving forward to make the necessary repairs," Turner said last Thursday. "We are not going to tolerate anybody in this city being victimized because they may be poor or because they may be undocumented or because they may not speak the language. We expect people to treat people right, with dignity and respect. And I will not hesitate to call people out if they are victimizing any Houstonian."
It remained unclear Wednesday how long it would take the housing authority to reimburse the residents from whom it had improperly collected rent.
"The immediate safety and health needs of the residents are the most urgent right now as the recovery process is in motion and will be for a long time," spokeswoman Sunita Dharani wrote in an email.
In the meantime, Ford, 31, was trying to see about extending her family's stay in their Conroe hotel, paid for by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
If she is unable to do so, Ford and her four children will have to move out next Tuesday. With no family in Houston, she was not sure where they would go.
The housing authority called last week to ask if Ford would be willing to move to San Antonio, Austin, Dallas or Fort Worth, but her children had just started in a new school in Conroe, and she had a new job working security.
"That's too far," she said.
Next, the woman from the housing authority asked if Ford would be interested in other public housing in Houston, but again Ford worried about uprooting her children.
"Do we have options? Do we get to choose?"
No, the woman said.
Ford would have to move wherever the agency found room for her if she wanted to keep her subsidy.
Back at Clayton Homes, where the air was thick with the stench of mold, even outdoors, Olivia Izabayo and her parents were moving their belongings from the flooded unit they paid for two weeks ago.
The housing authority had given them a new apartment up the hill last Friday, but Izabayo's father still was frustrated.
"They were telling us to pay rent when we were in the George R. Brown, for this house," Izabayo, 14, said, referring to the downtown convention center that served as Houston's main shelter in the weeks after the storm.
Down the street, Ricky Car's 82-year-old father still was living in the flooded first floor apartment he had been told to vacate.
"They said you still had to pay your rent or get evicted," said Car, who paid his father's $279 bill earlier this month.
"They're making a lot of people over here to pay rent," Car's sister Lela Carter added, as the sun set over children playing in the streets. "If it was me, I wouldn't have paid it."
Mayor Sylvester Turner said the property tax rate increase he has proposed this fall will be cut in half, thanks to increased federal reimbursements for Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts.
The mayor had proposed an 8.9 percent increase in the tax rate, the first in two decades, which would have returned the rate to where it was in 2013.
That's when a 13-year-old voter-imposed limit on Houston's property tax collections first began forcing City Council to cut the rate each year to avoid bringing in more revenue than was allowed.
Turner is able to propose a one-year increase beyond the strictures of the revenue cap because Harvey placed Houston under a federal disaster declaration.
President Trump had approved the federal government paying 90 percent of all Harvey debris removal costs, which the city has projected will be north of $200 million.
Last week, the White House approved an increase in the reimbursement rate for other categories of disaster recovery from 75 percent to 90 percent, including repairs required to public buildings, public utilities and roads and bridges.
Turner said he has received approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to pay a higher rate to debris removal contractors to entice more trucks onto the road, costing the city $35 million in higher local share.
The mayor said he will not pay more than that because it would mean doing so without any federal assistance.
"Based on the administration's position to stay within the cost constraints on debris removal," he said, "and the 90-10 match, my request on a tax rate increase is pretty much cut almost in half."
Instead of costing the owner of an average Houston home $118 next year, that amount will be closer to $50, Turner said. Those figures are based on a $225,000 home with a standard 20 percent residential homestead exemption.
Turner also said if state leaders agree to tap their roughly $10 billion rainy day fund, there would be no need for a local tax increase. That suggestion drew support from council members.
"We need it now. It's raining," said Councilman Jack Christie, who has spoken against a tax rate hike. "We're behind you to do that to where we don't have to raise taxes."
Brett Coomer/Staff
AUSTIN -- State legislators will begin sorting through the state and federal government responses to Hurricane Harvey early next month and explore how Texas can maximize money coming from Washington for storm relief.
The House Appropriations Committee, a 27-member panel, also plans to identify what and where state resources are needed for relief and recovery efforts and what opportunities the state has to invest in infrastructure projects to guard against future natural disasters.
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Monuments and statues of Confederate soldiers that are being taken down in Texas and elsewhere could find a new home in The Woodlands under an offer by The Woodlands Township Board Chairman Gordy Bunch.
During a meeting of the Texas Patriots PAC Tuesday night in The Woodlands, Bunch, in response to comments made by state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, during a talk to the group reiterating his opposition to a move to have the statues and at least one plaque removed, stood up and announced The Woodlands might be a place to relocate the statues.
"What's happening across the state and across the country is ridiculous regarding eliminating history," Bunch said. "We don't have a lot of history here in The Woodlands because we're only 42, 43 years old. For all these folks in Dallas, in Austin and San Antonio and other places looking to relocate their history, might I suggest they can take those assets over here."
READ ALSO: Texas House Speaker pushes for removing Confederate plaque
His offer was greeted by applause from most of the 60 or so people attending the gathering, and received the endorsement of Creighton.
"Great suggestion," Creighton said.
Bunch later clarified that his only interest in removed statues would be as part of a museum. In August, The Woodlands Township announced a new fine arts museum, which is expected to open in November, and other types of museums are on the table as well.
"Preserving history in museums so future generations can learn from the past failures is important," Bunch stated in an email to The Courier.
READ ALSO: Dallas mulls renaming schools with Confederacy-tied names
However, Bunch reiterated that the township has not made any offer to relocate statues; and based on feedback Wednesday night, he doesn't see any circumstance where these types of statues everl will be in The Woodlands.
"These very divisive items can be used to educate the public on the horrible history of slavery and the Civil War if there were a Civil War museum which would articulate the conflict in total," Bunch stated.
Marc Meyer, chairman of the Montgomery County Democratic Party, isn't cheering the offer, arguing that he's not aware of any Confederate cemetery in Montgomery County or of any local connection to the Confederacy.
"I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would want to bring those monuments to The Woodlands or Montgomery County, period," Meyer said.
READ ALSO: Things to know about Houston Confederate statue bombing suspect
Still, Creighton, R-Conroe, has pledged to fight attempts to remove what he's described as "historical monuments" from Texas Capitol grounds and other statues of historical significance.
During the Legislature's special session this summer, Creighton had introduced a bill that would have banned the removal, altering or renaming of any statue or historical structure that has been on public ground for more than 40 years. That bill never made it out of committee before the rush to conclude the session, with Creighton describing the measure as being "crowded out."
Earlier in Tuesday's talk, Creighton blasted the removal of a statue of a Confederate soldier from a park in San Antonio, the taking down of a Robert E. Lee statue from a park in Dallas last week, and other attempts to get rid of similar statues.
"We're not leaving it up to parents and educators and grandparents and those visiting the Capitol grounds to teach right and wrong based on history, when we're taking these monuments down and melting them down," Creighton said.
READ ALSO: Sam Houston's name to stay on Texas school, report says
Meanwhile, the controversy over Confederate statues continues to heat up after a powerful Texas Republican called for the removal of a Confederate marker in the state Capitol that rejects slavery as an underlying cause of the Civil War.
Republican House Speaker Joe Straus said Tuesday in a letter to state officials that the plaque, titled "Children of the Confederacy Creed," is "blatantly inaccurate." The plaque, installed in 1959, is one of nearly a dozen Confederate monuments and markers around the Texas Capitol.
In making the call for its removal, Straus becomes the most prominent Texas Republican to call for removing a Confederate marker or statue.
He joins sides with Texas state Rep. Eric Johnson, a Democrat from Dallas, who has been seeking to have all symbols that represent the Confederacy removed from state Capitol grounds, Johnson finds particularly objectionable a plaque at the Texas Capitol that disputes the South's attempt to secede from the Union was based on its differences with the North over slavery. He describes the plaque as "not historically accurate in the slightest."
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A beloved golden retriever from The Woodlands, made famous by her numerous appearances in magazine, TV and online ads, recently passed away after a battle with cancer.
Throughout her lengthy career spanning more than 13 years, Gold Runner, nicknamed "Goldie", helped promote The Woodlands by appearing in ads in the 2000s even before she had finished teething. In 2005, after an appearance on The Woodlands' Serenity Vitality TV ads, she became known as the "Dog of The Woodlands."
Known for being "well-behaved" and "obedient," Goldie was a "natural-born performer." Production crews often praised her ability to sit patiently while they worked around her.
HISTORY: How The Woodlands became The Woodlands
"She was very photogenic," said Susan Vreeland-Wendt, who retired from her job at The Woodlands Development Company in 2014 after 30 years. The former director of marketing worked closely with Goldie.
"Some dogs are not going to stand still that long, but Goldie had a sweet, calm disposition. She was a pleasure to work with."
Owned by Lorrie Parise, public and community relations manager for The Woodlands Development Company, Goldie was pictured on the company's holiday card in 2006 in full Christmas attire introducing the Village of Creekside Park.
"She was very playful and energetic," Parise said. "She loved everybody. She definitely liked walking."
A picture of Goldie on Tamarac bridge with two young models -- one who has since become a Hollywood actress -- became a staple at the original The Woodlands Visitor Information Center on Woodlands Parkway. The picture was later recreated when the two girls got older. Goldie has been photographed across The Woodlands in the villages of Grogan's Mill, Indian Springs, Cochran's Crossing and East Shore on Lake Woodlands.
"Goldie lived a long, happy life," Parise said. "Her secret to a successful life was trotting through the rain and occasionally eating a piece of pizza."
She was a playful puppy found off of Texas 242 at just 5 months old; and when no one reclaimed her, Parise and her family took her in. They believe she was 15 or 16 years old when she died on Aug. 21, 2017, just four days before Hurricane Harvey hit the Gulf Coast.
"All dogs go to heaven," Vreeland-Wendt said. "She was a good, old girl."
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.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. Roger and Sydney Davies were prepared for sun tans, snorkeling expeditions and dips in the resort pool when they arrived Sept. 1 at the U.S. Virgin Island of St. Thomas.
Then they got an email.
"It said, 'We've got a hurricane, and you might want to consider not coming,'" Roger said.
On Sept. 6, the Davieses would find themselves in a sweaty hotel room, surrounded by candles, waiting for Hurricane Irma to pass.
The Category 5 storm ripped through the U.S. Virgin Islands last week, killing at least three people and stranding thousands of others without food or resources.
The Davieses would make it to Puerto Rico, New York City and Denver before the ordeal was over, but the couple and their family said they're using this experience to help educate others.
'In for a ride'
Irma was just a blip off the coast of Africa when Roger and Sydney left for vacation with Sydney's cousin and her husband.
The couple was slightly concerned about the storm, but Marriott assured them everything would be fine.
"I don't think they anticipated this hurricane," Roger said.
By the time the Davieses arrived in St. Thomas, people were scheduling flights off the island, and the couple had to decide whether to stay or go.
They decided to go on with the vacation. Roger and Sydney sat out by the pool, went snorkeling and sat on the boardwalk. They took in the sights of white, sandy beaches and lush green foliage.
By the time it became clear that the storm was headed their way, there were no more flights off the island.
"It became very anxiety-producing," Roger said. "As we got closer, we realized that we were going to be in for a ride."
Sydney, a California native, and Roger, who is from Utah, had never experienced a hurricane before.
"It was our first rodeo," Sydney said.
Luckily, the two had a fourth-floor room in a sturdy building at the Marriott Vacation Club facility at Frenchman's Cove. The hotel was equipped with hurricane-proof windows and a few large generators.
The Davieses stocked up on water, nonperishable food and candles. But the preparation didn't stop them from worrying.
"The night before (the storm), I've never really slept so restlessly, knowing there was impending doom," Sydney said.
Hundreds of questions ran through her head: How am I going to get out? What if there's a landslide? What if the building doesn't hold up?
"You're thinking of every scenario," she said. "It was crazy."
The wall of the hurricane
At around 8 a.m. Sept. 6, the power shut off on St. Thomas Island.
The hotel's generators kicked in and offered some relief, but the winds began howling.
The Davieses moved furniture inside from the balcony and barricaded the largest window in the room with a mattress.
The winds got stronger, and the trees began to sway. An 80-foot palm snapped in half, while another fallen tree smashed the hotel's generator.
The Davieses and the couple with them played card games by candlelight, trying to distract themselves from the storm.
"It was loud and intense," Roger said. "Just the force of the wind would hit you, and it'd be so loud."
It was so humid in the room that tile floors became slick with moisture. The air pressure fluctuated and made their ears pop.
At the storm's peak, Roger said it looked like Wyoming during a blizzard they couldn't even see 10 feet from their room.
St. Thomas was located in the wall of the hurricane, just north of the eye. That meant unrelenting 185-mile winds blew for nearly seven hours, ravaging the island and destroying many buildings.
Back on the mainland, Roger and Sydney's six children were panicking.
Roger said he sent one of his children instructions about how to access the house and log onto his iPad, and how to find his living trust and life insurance.
"I made an emotionally technical error, but it was a correct thing I did," he said.
Sydney chimed in, "This is the worst hurricane they've ever had. You just don't know what's going to happen."
One of their daughters, Jessica Mortensen, was home in Idaho when she got the last message from them Sept. 5, saying the winds were picking up.
"We don't realize how much we depend on our ability to communicate with people," Mortensen said. "So when you're halfway across the world, and all of a sudden you lose contact because your parents are in a hurricane, it's really scary and it's really emotional."
Late at night on Sept. 6, Mortensen got some relief another message letting her know that her parents had survived. At that point, she got busy trying to get them home.
But without access to their emails or flight information, Mortensen had no idea how to help them.
"When people are going on vacation, they really need to have information ready on hand for one person," she said. "Passwords to everything, all flight confirmations, where vehicles are just that information is key if you have to reschedule anything."
Luckily a spotty message came through from Sydney's cousin it said something about getting to Puerto Rico.
Not an easy trip
Sydney and Roger stayed in the hotel on St. Thomas for two more days without electricity and with limited running water.
"Finally staff came around and said you've gotta be packed, one bag, and we're going to transport you (to Puerto Rico),'" Roger said.
They went down to the dock with hundreds of other Marriott guests, where the ferry was supposed to pick them up. But after more than an hour, nothing had come.
"We kept waiting and waiting," Sydney said. "We knew the resort was running out of resources, and we had no way to communicate with our families at all."
The island was decimated.
Power lines lay over the streets, lush greenery was replaced by brown leaves and mud, palm tree trunks jutted out of the ground.
It's going to take months if not years for the island to be put back together.
"(People on the island) will not have power for six months. They were stranded," Roger said, tears welling in his eyes.
When they got to Puerto Rico, Roger and Sydney got in touch with Mortensen, who had booked a flight home.
They had a layover in New York City before flying to Denver late Monday night. Then they headed back to Cheyenne.
Finally home
On their couch, Sydney and Roger said they were tired, but grateful for the lessons they had learned.
"It's an event that you go through that you know should never be forgotten," Roger said. "You should never take for granted what you have."
"And there are a lot of people who live in circumstances." Sydney said.
"That we have to look after," Roger said.
"We've left and come home to safety, but there are people who are left with nothing," Sydney said. "It's devastating."
Sydney's cousin started a GoFundMe page for a church the two couples visited on the island.
And Sydney recommended people take a flashlight and radio with them on vacation if they are likely to run into bad weather.
The Davieses give Marriott, Delta Airlines and the other travelers in the hotel a lot of the credit for helping them through their journey.
"People are good, they really are," Roger said.
When asked whether they'd visit the Caribbean again, Roger said, "I think I would."
"But definitely not in hurricane season."
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Montana has been shaped by the image of the cattle industry. Cows grazing, hardy ranching families working the land and the rough-hewn hands of butchers are all iconic images of our states heritage. We represent two different ends of this heritage the rancher who raises the cattle, and the neighborhood butcher who works in the meat department of your local grocery store. Unfair trade deals have put our shared culture in jeopardy.
Many of the struggles of the American beef industry can be traced back to the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994. This bad trade deal cleared the way for global meat companies to import large amounts of low-quality beef and mix it with American beef. Many Montanans have probably witnessed the endless streams of cattle trucks pouring down from Canada and wearing out our highways after NAFTA was signed.
NAFTA also removed tariffs on live cattle imports, allowing meatpacking companies to flood the U.S. market with cattle from Canada and Mexico, driving down the prices received by American ranchers and causing them to raise fewer cows. The U.S. cattle herd is now at its lowest level since 1941, which has contributed to the shutdown of 50 U.S. beef packing plants since NAFTAs passage.
Worst of all at the behest of the global meatpacking companies and Canada and Mexico the World Trade Organization recently used the threat of trade sanctions to coerce Congress into repealing Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) in 2015. This took away the ability of American consumers to know where their meat comes from, and choose beef that was born, raised and slaughtered right here in the United States.
Congress repealed COOL when we needed it most. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently discovered contaminated beef from Brazil at the U.S. border with abscesses, salmonella and E. coli. This bad shipment was caught, but it underscores the clear value of consumers knowing where their meat comes from.
Losing COOL also had a devastating impact upon ranchers. With COOL in place, ranch families got as much as $2.52/pound for their steers. After COOL repeal, prices fell to as low as $1.50/pound. These low prices havent benefited American consumers, as beef prices stayed roughly the same from 2014 to 2016.
No matter what NAFTA apologists may promise, the road to economic prosperity for our rural communities cannot be forged through the near halving of ranch families income, or the loss of thousands of good meatpacking jobs. Nor does it hinge on hiding the truth from consumers about where their beef comes from.
The United States has recently reopened NAFTA for renegotiation with Canada and Mexico. Revisiting a trade agreement is a rare opportunity. Its even rarer that the negotiations present an opportunity to support such a huge and critical portion of the American economy. Thats why the Trump administration, Sens. Steve Daines and Jon Tester, and Rep. Greg Gianforte should seize this moment to reinstate COOL and make NAFTA a better trade deal for hard-working families across Montana.
Hurricane Maria slammed into southeastern Puerto Rico as a Category 4 storm with the potential to inflict $30 billion in damages just two weeks after Irma ravaged the cash-strapped island.
Top winds reached 155 miles (249 kilometers) per hour as Maria made landfall near Yabucoa at around 6:15 a.m. New York time, the National Hurricane Center said in an advisory. Hurricane-force winds extend as far as 60 miles from its center, the storm surge may reach 9 feet (2.7 meters) and as much as 25 inches of rain may fall in some areas.
Maria is the fourth major hurricane and 13th storm in an active Atlantic season thats wreaked havoc from Texas to the Caribbean and left dozens dead. It could cause $30 billion in damage to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to Chuck Watson, a disaster modeler for Enki Research in Savannah, Georgia. Thats on top of an estimated $143 billion in damage in the U.S. alone from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
The wind is going to be the main damaging issue, said Jeff Masters, co-founder of Weather Underground in Ann Arbor, Michigan. When you sum up the billions of dollars in damage this storm is going to do, wind is going to be about half of that.
While Irma came close to Puerto Rico about two weeks ago, the only Category 5 storm to make landfall on the island was the San Felipe Segundo hurricane in 1928, Masters said. The last major hurricane to strike was Georges in September 1998. About 3.4 million people live on Puerto Rico, with some 380,000 in San Juan, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
If you are in a flood zone or wood house, your life is in danger, Puerto Ricos Governor Ricardo Rossello told residents as Maria approached. There has never been an event like this in our history in the last 100 years.
Relief and recovery efforts may be slowed by the islands weak finances. Puerto Rico filed for bankruptcy in May after years of economic decline while a series of defaults has effectively left it unable to raise money in the capital markets. Its aging government-owned electric utility operates under court protection from creditors.
Puerto Ricos emergency fund stood at about $32 million before Irma passed through and tens of thousands remain without power after that storm.
Pit of Despair
Maria could plunge their not-all-that-robust electric grid into a pit of despair, Watson said.
Before striking Puerto Rico, Marias eye swept Dominica in the Leeward Islands overnight Monday into Tuesday, tearing homes apart and washing out roads on the island.
It is devastating, indeed, mind boggling, Roosevelt Skerrit, Dominicas prime minister, said in a statement. The eastern Caribbean nation with a population of 75,000 has lost all what money can buy and replace, he said. Skerrit said he was rescued after the roof of his house was torn off by the storm.
According to an A.M. Best report, Maria could test the financial strength of Caribbean and Puerto Rico insurers. The report states, The effects if this Category 5 hurricane could be devastating to insurers and reinsurers, as the track that Hurricane Maria takes could hit areas with higher insured values, and that areas that already have sustained damages due to Hurricane Irma may suffer further damage, which would lead to concerns about which event was responsible for which damage. In addition, reinsurance limits after Hurricane Irma need to be reinstated, and although most companies have automatic reinstatement coverage to protect against a second event, not all companies are prepared to cover a third.
After it crosses Puerto Rico, Maria will likely graze the northern coast of the Dominican Republic before drifting into the Bahamas Saturday. Officials in the Dominican Republic placed the entire country on alert and said they will evacuate citizens in low-lying communities along the eastern and northern coasts, which are expected to receive the brunt of Marias impact.
A hurricane warning is in place for Puerto Rico, Culebra, Vieques, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Cabo Engano to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos Islands and the Southeastern Bahamas. A tropical storm warning is posted for Saba and St. Maarten.
Most long-range models keep Maria away from the U.S. coastline after it passes through the Caribbean and the Bahamas this week, said Shane Mill, a meteorologist with MDA Weather Services in Gaithersburg, Maryland. But I am not comfortable saying the entire East Coast is out of the woods yet.
Hurricane forecast models dont deal well with multiple storms, Masters said. Even National Hurricane Center five-day tracks can have an error rate of 225 miles, about the same as the distance between New York and Boston.
I wouldnt be surprised to see the long-term tracks change more than we are used to seeing, Masters said. At this point we really dont know if it will affect the East Coast.
Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.
Under ORS 742.061, insurance companies are required to pay their insureds attorneys fees in Oregon if, in the insureds lawsuit brought against the insurer, the insured obtains a recovery that exceeds the amount of any tender made by the insurance company within six months from the date that the insured first filed a proof of loss. The question of whether voluntary payments made by the insurance company could be factored into the determination of recovery for purposes of this statute was an unresolved issue until the Oregon Supreme Court recently weighed in on the question.
In Long v. Farmers Insurance Co. of Oregon, 360 Or. 791, 388 P.3d 312 (2017), the Oregon Supreme Court held that the insurance companys voluntary payments to the insured after the insured filed suit and the insurance companys payment of an appraisal award were a recovery for purposes of the Oregon statute entitling the insured to an award of attorneys fees. Under the facts of the Long case, Farmers had made various voluntary payments for actual cash value (ACV) involving a homeowners water leak claim brought by the insured. After the voluntary payment was made, the insured submitted a proof of loss that estimated repair costs that far exceeded the sum that Farmers had voluntarily paid. When the claim was still unresolved one year later, the plaintiff brought a lawsuit against Farmers. In the Complaint, the insured alleged, among other things, that Farmers had not paid the sums due under the policy and had failed to submit to an appraisal process that had been demanded by the insured. In its Answer, Farmers admitted that the insured was entitled to appraisal under the terms of the policy. Therefore, the trial court ordered the parties to submit the claim to the appraisal process. After the appraisal process was completed, Farmers made two additional voluntary payments to the insured. The payments made by Farmers reflected the ACV that the appraisers had assigned to some of the insureds claimed losses (which Farmers did not dispute or cover) as well as the insureds mitigation costs.
Six months later, and shortly before trial, the insured submitted a proof of loss for RCV. Three days after the submission of the proof of loss, Farmers voluntarily paid a sum that it determined constituted the RCV as an undisputed amount. At the end of the trial the insured did not recover an amount that was greater than the amount that Farmers had paid, in total, before the trial had begun, and the trial court entered judgment for Farmers. The trial was limited to the issues that remained in dispute after Farmers payments. After the trial, the insured sought attorneys fees under ORS 742.061. The insured argued that the requirements of the statute had been satisfied because after the lawsuit was filed, the insured obtained a greater sum from Farmers than it had tendered within six months after the insured had submitted the initial proof of loss. The insured argued that the voluntary payments that Farmers had made after suit was filed constituted a recovery within the terms of the statute. Farmers argued that to constitute a statutory recovery, an insured was required to obtain a judgment that exceeded a timely tender.
After reviewing various cases interpreting ORS 742.061, the Oregon Supreme Court sided in favor of the insured on the issue. In finding in favor of the insured, the Court made the following observation:
The purpose of ORS 742.061 is to discourage expensive and lengthy litigation. [citation omitted]. Requiring the insurer to pay the insureds attorneys fees if, and only if, the insured obtains more in the litigation than was timely tendered advances that purposes insofar as it encourages insurers to make reasonable and timely offers of settlement and also encourages insureds to accept reasonable offers and forego litigation. But the statute also serves a compensatory purpose. The statute ensures that, when insureds file suit to obtain what is due to them under their policies, they do not win the battle but lose the war by expending much or all of what they obtained in the litigation on attorneys fees [citations omitted].
The function that a recovery plays in that overall framework is to establish that the insured obtained something in the action payment of benefits due under the insurance policy that exceeded any amount that the insurer timely tendered. In the circumstances presented here, there is no functional difference between Farmers mid-litigation payments . . . the insured received a sum from the insurer that exceeded any amount timely tendered, a result that indicates that, at least in some practical sense, the insured prevailed in the action. It was the insurers payment, not the form of payment, that entitled the insured to attorneys fees.
We conclude that the fact that plaintiff in this case did not obtain a judgment memorializing these payments does not make ORS 742.061 inapplicable.
360 Or. at 804, 388 P.3d at 319.
As the current law now stands, any recoveries achieved by the insured from the insurer within six months from the date of the insureds first filed proof of loss will be factored into the calculation in determining a recovery for purposes of ORS 742.061.
Instilling hatred of media is the first weapon of despots! Hitler did it so stories of his atrocities would not be told or exposed; Putin has done it to cover his theft of public dollars by closing free-press outlets in Russia and threatening or imprisoning reporters. This administration is on the same course by instilling a fake news concept to all but their own slant of news. This administration the last one which should call any source fake in its pathological dishonesty must back off the media!
Media does an excellent job of telling it like it actually is in most cases. Yes! There is sensationalism; there is hyperbole, but for the most part, there is not fake. Reliable news outlets mainstream media: CNN, CBS, NPR, etc. have verification standards they impose religiously.
As if Make America Great Again were something substantive, weve become dissatisfied and so, hate politics! Really Montana? Thats lazy! Your entire governmental focus must not be shut down Washington, D.C., guard taxes from health care, from infrastructure, from benefits for the poor and elderly?
Sen. Jon Tester deals in noncontroversial issues because he knows that this R State will vote him out if he becomes entrenched in anything that might involve taxation! The other two supposed representatives are mere rubber stamps for anything R.
Please, for upcoming elections, find out about the actual stands of the candidates. Will these stands help the people of Montana? Pay attention. How do their spelled-out proposals fix real problems? And then vote!
Bonnie Eldredge
Billings
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The four General Motors plants in Ohio, including the Lordstown plant that assembles the Chevrolet Cruze, and three plants in Indiana will be supplied with 100 percent green electricity by the end of 2018.
GM has signed two long-term contracts to buy electricity from two soon-to-be-built wind farms in Ohio and Illinois.
All of the power from the Ohio farm, rated at 100 megawatts, or 1 million watts, will go to GM facilities. One hundred megawatts of the 185-megawatt Illinois wind farm will go to GM.
The Ohio Power Siting Board approved the Ohio wind farm in late 2013, before the Republican majority in the Ohio General Assembly put the brakes on wind development in the state in 2014 by limiting the distance a wind turbine could be from the fields of property owners not participating in the wind farm. No developers have proposed new wind farms since the property set-back change was made.
Senate Bill 188, introduced last week in the middle of a wind farm under construction by Sen. Cliff Hite, R-Findlay, would reduce that distance and, say wind industry proponents, usher in a wind farm building boom. Some of the House Republicans are opposed to the legislation, which Hite describes as a compromise.
The GM power purchase agreements will lock in fixed prices for 12 to 15 years, said Collen Oberc, a spokeswoman for the company.
GM's corporate sustainability goal is to power all of its plants around the world with electricity generated by renewable technologies by 2050, she said. The two new power purchase agreements take the company to 20 percent of that goal.
The company has used renewable energy technologies for decades and has tried to reduce its power consumption by adoption of energy efficient technologies and practices.
The Lordstown assembly plant, for example, built an 8,500 solar panel array in 2014. The car maker completed a 1.8 megawatt rooftop array at its Toledo transmission plant less than a year earlier. The transmission plant was the first to use landfill gas to run on-site generators years ago, said Oberc.
The Northwest Ohio Wind Farm, which, according to GM, will be developed and owned by the Starwood Energy Group, will be located in Paulding and Van Wert counties.
The Illinois wind farm, Hill Topper Wind Project, will be built by Swift Current Energy.
GM is not releasing the terms of the contracts.
The two Midwestern wind farms are not the first for GM. The company has previously signed wind power purchase deals in Texas. Its Arlington, Texas, plant will use 100 percent green electricity, said Oberc.
GM's first wind farm contract was in Mexico, she said.
While many American kids stared at National Geographic for the occasional Third World nudity shots, Vishwatej Nath was in Hyderabad, India, turning pages of the magazine in the wonder of America and its vastness.
Get Nath's recipe for Urban Farmer's Beet Salad Plate
Get Nath's recipe for Pan-Seared Walleye with Cucumber Salad, Lemon Yogurt and Braised Endive
Now 36, debonair, and executive chef at Urban Farmer and the attached Westin Downtown Cleveland, Nath has followed his dreams. He's trained at Institut Hotelier Cesar Ritz in Switzerland, and worked 10 years in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Wyoming, overseeing 200 staffers before arriving in Cleveland two years ago.
Okay, so it's not likely our fair city called to him from the pages of National Geographic. But it was somewhere intriguing he hadn't been yet, the job was right, and it came with unlimited Ohio sweet corn.
We talked to Nath last week, in advance of his participation Saturday, Sept. 30, at the Veggie U Food and Wine Gala. The benefit, once again in the grand old Huntington Bank building lobby in downtown Cleveland, brings together a small army of top local chefs to raise money for the nonprofit group and its in-school nutrition programs.
Tell me about your first impressions of Cleveland dining.
It was an eye opener for me. I never knew people could eat such large portions of food. Holy nuts. I've never seen so much food in a fine dining restaurant. I asked during the interview if these were regular portions, and they said yes. I realized I didn't know so much about this place. It took me a good six months to make the decision to come here.
And, now, two years later?
The dining scene is definitely up and coming. We need a lot more chefs to drive the route to local food, and to inspire our imaginations. I like the extended food seasons and the intimacy of buying from local farmers. My job has a lot of moving parts -- the dining room, banquets, in-room dining, and we have a Starbucks here. The staff is a decent size, 65 to 75, and my senior guys do an awesome job, which keeps me sane. Definitely my work and life balance improved very well here. The cost of living here is economical which is why I'm meeting a lot of people who are moving back here. Fortunately, I've made good friends in the community who have helped this newbie with good words. John Selick [culinary manager, University Hospitals] and I goof around. He's a funny guy. I made friends with Max Kien at the Hilton, since he was kind of new in town, too. And Brian Okin. We've done two Dinners in the Dark [local chef dinners with surprise menus]. Plus Rasul Welch at Polpetta [Porco Lounge], who is up and coming, and Jeff Jarrett. We definitely keep in touch.
You have family all over the world. Any here?
Just my cat, Nanobug. I'm learning a lot about cats. It's a nice life. If I come back in the next life, I want to be her. As for family, technology like Skype helps. My dad will forget what time it is and call me at 3:30 in the morning. But it's your dad. What are you gonna do?
What was it like growing up in a family of caterers?
We have a diverse family. We are Hindu and partly vegetarian. My mom is Roman Catholic and brought pork into the family, which was fun. It was great growing up at a table full of food, no shortages. Our grandparents lived with us, and they are traditionally head of the house. So everybody in the family ate dinner with us, out of respect. It was like a big feast almost every day.
What distinguishes Urban Farmer as a steakhouse?
The Ohio Proud beef we serve is definitely superior. We want to educate people on different kinds of beef such as grassfed, corn-fed, corn-finished, and what they taste like. We recently added Ohio Wagyu and Ohio bison to the menu. At Veggie U's event we'll be serving bison in pastry with bison n'duja oil and vegetables. We have our own drying room with beef steaks aged for 21 days, 42 days and I just got in some Wagyu beef from Colorado that we'll age for 125 days for Thanksgiving and 150 days for Christmas. My choice is 42 days. The flavor just intensifies and the meat gets like butter. I'm Hindu, but I will say it's awesome.
What would you like local farms to offer in the future?
A solution to supply and demand. There's always a limited supply. In a way, that's not bad. The product is so good, we always want more. But it's difficult for them to turn around some of the requests. I had to part ways with a couple of them when our needs were growing and they couldn't keep up. It's kind of sad.
What does the dining scene need?
As we all know, there's a good shortage of chefs in the country. Everybody wants to be the next Bobby Flay or Rachael Ray and that's not an easy way up. It shouldn't have to be tough, but hard work goes a long way. In Cleveland, so many new places have opened this year that everybody's poaching staff from each other. That's just the way business is. But there aren't enough people. When you get applicants with shallow skill sets, you have to start from scratch with them. It's hard. I try to work with Tri-C as much as I can and try to reach out to John [Selick], who's also involved with the American Culinary Federation. They're trying to provide certifications for chefs.
Where do you like to eat?
Butcher & Brewer. Michael Symon's Mabel's BBQ -- he serves pig ears! Edwins, quite a bit. Wonton Gourmet, which serves some of the best Chinese food I've had in a long time. Chez Francois [Vermilion], where I had one of the best meals, including the lobster bisque. Bombay Chaat at East 21st Street and Euclid Avenue, which has good Southern Indian and Northern Indian food, something for all the palates. Trentina, for pasta. They make it all in-house.
And is Ohio sweet corn really your favorite local food?
And tomatoes. I think Ohio sweet corn is delicious. We have some street corn in India, a big thing in the summer. Street vendors with charcoal stoves put a little griddle on top, toast the corn and put on a little lime juice and tangy black salt. The corn is a little on the drier side. Here, it's so milky and creamy, I could eat it raw.
VEGGIE U FOOD & WINE GALA
What: Annual fundraiser for nutrition education in classrooms with chefs from Flour, Urban Farmer, Hodge's, Pier W, Luna Bakery and Cafe, Green City Growers, Graffiti: A Social Kitchen, Cork & Cleaver Social Kitchen, Dinner in the Dark and Accessible Gourmet.
When: 7 p.m., Saturday Sept. 30.
Where: The 925 Building, 925 Euclid Ave., Cleveland.
Cost: $125 per person.
Contact: http://www.veggieu.org/food-wine-gala-2017/chefs, or call 440-774-8344.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cuyahoga County officials are still rectifying the lack of policies and procedures that led to millions of unpaid economic development loans.
Efforts to collect on 99 delinquent loans, totaling $9.7 million with principal and interest, are finally underway more than 18 months after issues were identified.
Inspector General Mark Griffin, who has been investigating the problems since 2015 and issued two reports, told a Cuyahoga County Council committee this week that he is not satisfied with the progress.
"Most loans have been reconciled and most analyzed for referral for collection," he said. "I am happy but frustrated. They are still not invoicing borrowers and still not posting the information on the web on loans. They still are not fully reconciled with loan balances."
Griffin said he wanted to move on to other work but needs to continue to monitor the development department. He plans to issue another report by the end of the year.
In April, county officials announced the county had loaned millions of dollars to 270 companies over the past decade, but the economic development department had no policies or procedures to keep track of repayments -- and paperwork on many was missing.
On June 30, when Griffin issued what he thought was his final report on the problems, county officials said they had successfully documented the scope of the problem. They said they had discovered more loans, bringing the total to 297, and found more than 80 cartons of files containing 4 million pages, all of which were scanned and digitized for analysis.
Economic Development Director Ted Carter, who has been working on the issues since he arrived in January 2016, gave an update on the delinquent loan issues to another council committee this week.
"While there is additional work to do, we have made great progress to gain a full understanding and control of a complex loan portfolio," he said.
He said it will take until the end of the year to get all policies and procedures in place.
"Like many things in life, this department was focused in the past on the sizzle of our work and not on the meat and potatoes, the management and process functions that supported the good work that was being done, and that is essential to operational excellence," he said. "Briefly stated, over the last 15 years, Cuyahoga County failed to create or maintain a system to record and track all its economic development loans."
Carter cited many new loan products, several office moves, poor record keeping, significant turnover, poor management practices and understaffing as the cause of the problems.
"Add to that equation a very complex operating and political environment, and you have the situation that we are discussing today," he said.
See Carter's presentation below or click here if on a mobile device.
Also see recommendations from Griffin (click here if on a mobile device) and Ernst & Young, which was hired by the county to review the loan problem (click here if on a mobile device).
Following is the status of economic development loans, according to Carter:
Active, non-delinquent loans: 130
Loans paid off: 25
Loans not yet settled: 18
Delinquent loans: 120
1999-2006 - 41
2007-2010 - 50
2011-2014 - 21
2015-2017 - 8
Council members said they were concerned there were delinquent loans in the past two years. Carter said he would provide more information in the future.
Of the 120 delinquent loans, 99 have been given to Douglass & Associates Co. of Cleveland to collect. The firm, hired in December 2016, will receive a fee based on how much it collects, up to $480,000, between July 2016 and July 2018.
Michael Reardon, an attorney with Douglass & Associates, told the council committee that the process of reviewing loan agreements and documents for loans issued from a number of different programs has been lengthy.
"We are at the point now where we are completing the balance verification and once we complete that, we can go through the process of beginning legal collections," he said.
He said more than $50,000 has been recovered, but that was from a prior legal judgment.
Many of the loans are high risk that will not likely be collected, he said. About a dozen are to companies that filed for bankruptcy
"The hard part is there is no historical reference point," Reardon said. "For some clients, I can look at a program and (make decisions) based on what was done with similar loans. I don't have a sense of the history here."
Griffin said at his meeting with council members that his office has been asked if any loan money has been stolen or misused.
"Until they get records in order we can't answer that question," he said. "It is something we have been asking since 2015."
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- "Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime." That was President Donald Trump talking about North Korea leader Kim Jong-un. But he could have been talking about himself.
In his first address to the United Nations, Trump threatened to destroy North Korea and the Iran nuke deal. "One of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into. An embarrassment to the United States. And I don't think you've heard the last of it. Believe me," Trump told the nations of the world.
While Trump was quoting an Elton John song, the speech was reportedly written by Stephen Miller, the nationalist, anti-immigration former aide to Jeff Sessions, who became one of Steve Bannon's White House attack dogs.
Why would North Korea trust doing a nuke deal with the United States when they hear the U.S. president wanting to blow up the Iran nuke deal that the ink is barely dried on?
One reason North Korea is going nuclear is because they fear being destroyed by the U.S. and others. In his UN speech, Trump helped justify North Korea's paranoia.
Trump's threat to destroy North Korea likely chilled South Korea, more than it did North Korea, which is already prepared to lose millions of lives in any war with the United States.
America First at the UN.
"As president of the United States, I will always put America first, just like you, as the leaders of your countries, will always and should put your countries first," President Trump told the United Nations, whose mission is to put the best interest of the world first.
On the up side for the UN, Trump didn't present it with an eminent domain order to transform the property into a new Trump hotel or condo complex.
Parts of the world "going to hell."
Trump declared that some portions of the world "are going to hell." Many of those listening would agree that one of those portions is the United States under the leadership of President Trump.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Free food alert: Moe's Mexican Southwest Grill is giving away free queso to customers on Thursday.
There's no purchase necessary to get your hands on a free 6-oz. cup of the cheesy concotion, which is served with a plate of chips.
People quazy for queso can also sign up on Moe's Facebook page for a chance to win free queso for life or call their queso hotline at 1-855-440-6337 to share their queso stories.
What a time to be alive.
"As we move into our 17th year of serving our famous queso, which is now available in over 700 restaurants, we know just how much our fans light up at the mere mention of the liquid gold," Moe's president Bruce Schroder says in a press release. "It is time once again to celebrate Free Queso Day together, our annual chance to say thanks to our loyal fans and invite queso newbies along to see why Moe's is known for it."
Queso has been a hot trend in the fast food industry of late, with the likes of Wendy's and Chipotle adding it to their menus. Chipotle's queso launch last week made a lot of headlines, though some, myself included, complained about the flavor of the liquid cheese and its gritty texture.
On social media, Chipotle defends their queso by saying it tastes different because unlike others' queso, its made from "real ingredients." But, in another tweet, Chipotle admits they're working to tweak the recipe.
Another rival, Qdoba, by the way, also serves queso and it's free everyday as a topping to any entree.
Moe's has locations in North Olmsted, Rocky River, South Euclid, Avon, Mayfield, Mentor, Stow, Cuyahoga Falls and Canton.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Denise Burkey leans up against the pillows, her trembling hands gripping the rails of the bed. Outside, a lawnmower roars by the window of the first-floor room.
She asks her husband to close the window; the noise is too loud. Bill Burkey acquiesces, before returning to his chair beside her bed.
For weeks, Bill Burkey has held his post at her side, calling doctors and insurance representatives, researching on his laptop, working tirelessly to find answers about the disease that sentenced his vibrant wife to a hospital bed.
Denise Burkey is the second person in Cuyahoga County and the 14th in the state to be diagnosed with West Nile virus this year, according to the Ohio Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So far, one person in the state has died this year from the disease.
While many people who have West Nile may never realize they have even contracted the virus, Denise Burkey, a Costco employee who lives in Cleveland near the zoo, is the exception. She said the pain is the worst part.
"It's never ending," she said.
At first, the pain was at a constant 10. It stretched through her entire body into her toes. Even now, weeks into the illness, it's still at a seven, she said.
Burkey, in her 50s, has the neuroinvasive form of West Nile, a more severe version of the disease that affects only 1 out of every 150 people infected, according to the World Health Organization.
While those with a mild case of West Nile experience fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and headaches, those like Denise Burkey who have a severe form also can suffer from neck stiffness, disorientation, tremors and muscle weakness. Some even go into a coma or face paralysis.
"It's an uphill battle," Burkey said from her bed at Parkside Villa, the rehabilitation center she was moved to nearly two weeks ago from Southwest General Hospital. She has trouble seeing, can't handle loud noises, has violent tremors and can walk only with assistance.
Because the disease is so rare, most of the medical professionals the Burkeys have seen never before have encountered West Nile, they said.
"No one really knows about West Nile," Bill Burkey said.
In the U.S., in 2017 there have been 740 reported cases of West Nile, 34 of which resulted in death, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The 11-year U.S. outbreak of the disease ended in 2010, but hundreds of people still are infected each year.
Denise Burkey first felt something was off Aug. 23, but just thought she had a bad cold. However, the symptoms worsened and she decided to go to the emergency room, forced to stretch out in the back of the car because the pain was too intense to sit up.
Doctors initially thought she might have Lyme disease because she had been exposed to ticks walking her rescue dog, Zane, in the woods near her house. West Nile, it turned out, was the malady.
She hasn't been home since, but hopes within a few weeks to be able to walk well enough to return to her house and her dog and set up a makeshift room on the ground floor.
"It's more frustrating for me. I expected to be home," Burkey said.
She was moved to Parkside Villa after being denied acute rehab at Southwest by her Medical Mutual insurance plan. The Burkeys, however, haven't given up hope and continue to lobby the insurance provider.
"It just seems like a step back," Bill Burkey said.
In the meantime, Burkey is trying different therapies to regain her ability to walk, to see and to control the tremors. She's on a handful of medications to manage the pain and tremors.
Nurses brought in colored pencils for her to use to trace things and sharpen her ability to focus and have talked about getting weighted utensils for her to use to help her eat despite the tremors.
"Everyone's doing this on their own. That's kind of cool. It gives me hope," Burkey said.
But still the hours drag on, especially for someone like her who was healthy and active before the West Nile took hold in late August. The pain keeps her from sleeping. She can't read or watch TV. But she takes solace in venturing outside onto the grounds of Parkside Villa, which border a paved Metroparks trail. And she was able to listen to the Cleveland Indians record-setting 22-game winning streak from the rehabilitation center.
Get well balloons, cards and flowers line the ledges of her room. But she can't have visitors - at least not for long periods of time - because the noise is too painful.
Despite everything though, she doesn't regret her outdoor lifestyle. She doesn't regret walking her dogs and those at a local shelter or listening to Tom Hamilton call Indians games from her back yard.
"There's nothing I would change," Burkey said.
How to prevent West Nile virus
Use repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol.
Wear long sleeves, pants and repellent or stay inside during the hours insects are most active: dusk to dawn.
Use good screens to keep keep mosquitos from getting into the house.
Cut down on mosquito breeding grounds by emptying standing water from things like flower pots and buckets and regularly changing water in pet dishes, bird baths and children's wading pools.
(Information provided by the Ohio Department of Health)
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Cleveland man suffered serious head injuries following a beating near an Old Brooklyn bar, according to police.
The incident happened about 3 a.m. Friday outside Mr. E's on Pearl Road near Memphis Avenue, according to the report.
The 47-year-old victim was taken to MetroHealth early Friday, but paramedics at the time did not know his identity and labeled him a "John Doe". He suffered bleeding on the brain, several facial bone fractures and a cut to his head, a police report says.
A hospital spokesman on Wednesday did not immediately provide the man's current condition. When police tried to interview him on Sunday, his injuries prevented him from speaking with officers, the report says.
Police didn't learn about the beating until Sunday when a person reported that an argument broke out inside the bar between the victim and a man described as a "biker who is a regular customer," the report says.
The customer dragged the victim into the back parking lot, where he beat him, the report says.
The customer and his wife then left the area in a red truck, the report says.
A bartender at Mr. E's on Wednesday said that the beating did not occur inside the bar. She said she did not know if the victim was inside the bar at any time before the beating, and noted that he was riding a bicycle around the time of the assault.
The bartender said the business has already turned over surveillance video to police.
Police haven't announced any charges in the case.
If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Wednesday's crime and courts comments section.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland State University, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and the city of Cleveland on Wednesday celebrated the opening of the new Campus International School on the CSU campus.
The new $24.2 million building at Payne Avenue and East 22nd Street opened at the start of the school year and houses grades K-8.
Campus International High School, also at CSU, houses grade 9 and will expand up to 12th grade over the next three years.
The international school, championed by CSU, formed in 2010. The school offers an International Baccalaureate program, which emphasizes student inquiry and a global perspective. All students take Mandarin as a second language. A grade has been added each year.
Demand was so strong that additional classes were added for grades, and space became an issue.
The growth led the school, which began at the First United Methodist Church, to move to CSU's Cole Center in 2012. But more space was needed, so the school board in 2014 leased space at the church for fifth- and sixth-grade students.
After numerous meetings, the parties agreed in 2014 to build a new K-8 school for 720 students on an L-shaped parcel owned by CSU that was used for parking.
The new school was supposed to open a year ago but was delayed as the school district and CSU negotiated a lease for CSU's 2.5 acres.
The school district agreed to pay $2.22 million over 50 years to lease the land.
The school was funded following approval by voters of a $200 million extension of the city's 13-year school construction plan.
Wednesday's ceremony for the new school included remarks from Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, CSU President Ronald Berkman and school district CEO Eric Gordon.
"As I've said before, we welcome everyone to the city of Cleveland," Jackson said in a statement. "From our ongoing partnership with Global Cleveland to our work with the International Village and my community conversations with our immigrant and refugee community, I have stood, and will continue standing with those who want to call Cleveland home. Our students deserve the best resources, and that includes state-of-the-art educational facilities. I want to thank Cleveland State University for partnering with CMSD in making this facility a reality and continue to ensure our CMSD students are provided a clear path to higher education."
The school is a major component of a longstanding collaboration between CSU and the school district.
"Our partnership with CMSD, exemplified by CIS' incredible new learning laboratory, is central to our mission as a university and provides tremendous benefits to our students and faculty," Berkman said in a statement. "It also represents the true essence of community engagement, illustrating how two anchor institutions can come together to create an Education Park in Downtown Cleveland."
Gordon said the new building "represents another milestone in our growing partnership with the university. Campus International K-8 and Campus International High School provide the community with access to an International Baccalaureate education and practices that can be applied across the district."
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio -- A man is facing felony drug charges after investigators say he attempted to mail drugs hidden in a Play-Doh set, reports say.
Jason Rager, 30, of Springfield, will appear in court Wednesday on one count of drug trafficking and one count of drug possession, the Dayton Daily News reports.
According to WDTN Channel 2, the Clark County Sheriff's Department received a call Monday from a Box King store about a suspicious package, which had a fake return-address label and was destined for Asheville, N.C.
When investigators inspected the package, they found 70 Hydrocodone tablets hidden in canisters of Play-Doh, the Daily News reports. Hydrocodone is a semi-synthetic opioid and the pills sell for about $5 to $7 each.
Rager is being held in the Clark County Jail. A suspect in North Carolina also has been taken into custody but it's unknown if he's been charged, reports say.
To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments page.
The newest mural in Bismarck is all about beauty.
It took nearly two months and more than $800 worth of paint, but Melissa Gordon is finally finished.
Gordon was commissioned by Glance Spa and Salon, 407 N. Fourth St., to complete the 150-foot-long, 15-feet high mural. The massive painting, located on a wall right next door to the salon, features different cultures' goddesses of beauty and love.
I tried to include as many cultures as I could," Gordon said Tuesday, a day before the revealing party for her wall art. "I think all people should be loved and respected.
Gordon is not new to large-scale paintings: Her first job out of college was painting billboards. She's also the artist behind the brightly colored portrait of Sitting Bull displayed in downtown's Art Alley.
"As far as specializing, I assume people are intimidated by huge spaces. Being a former billboard painter, Im not," she said. "Im an artist thats willing to do it."
Andrea Birst, owner of Glance Salon, said she had been looking for ways to refurbish the wall for several months. Birst, who recently won Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce's Entrepreneur of the Year award, bought the salon in 2009, and, in October, she and her husband bought the building.
There was another building located where the salon's parking lot is currently located, and, when it was torn down this past spring, it left her building's brick wall exposed. She began to brainstorm ways she could renovate the wall and contacted Dakota West Arts Council, which helped create the Art Alley.
"I had this idea of creating an art wall. I love the Art Alley and the positive response that it got in our community," said Birst, adding that her favorite was the portrait of Sitting Bull.
So, Birst hired Gordon to do her own wall, and the only direction she gave was to incorporate beauty into the mural make something bright and splashy, yet not too realistic.
Gordon said she began researching visions of beauty when she came across Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. Soon, she ran out of ideas just from Aphrodite, so she searched for other similar goddesses. To her surprise, she found almost every culture has a variation of Aphrodite.
"Thats where the whole jumping off point was," she said.
The wall includes Greek, Norse, African, Egyptian, Irish, Aztec and Native American deities and images of love and beauty. Gordon used bright colors, similar to the Sitting Bull painting. She drew inspiration from artists such as Erte and Alphonse Mucha.
She drew the painting first, which she submitted to the city for approval. After it was approved July 24, she got to work just six days later.
Gordon painted as often as she could so she could make it in time for the wall's reveal party, which is from 5 to 8 p.m. today in the parking lot next to Glance Salon. The event will include soup provided by Heaven's Helpers Soup Cafe, beer donated by McQuade Distributing Co. Inc, and music from MOJO 107.5. Freewill donations will be collected, with proceeds to go to the Soup Cafe.
Birst said she is pleased with the project and the response from salon clients and online.
"I think it's amazing," she said. "I do believe that Bismarck and downtown especially has been waiting for this ... We have so much more we could do."
Both Birst and Gordon said they hope the project will inspire collaborations between other businesses and artists to bring more murals.
I think Bismarck could use more art," Gordon said.
No one is seriously injured after a motorist crashed into the Schaumberg Arena at 221 E. Reno Ave. in Bismarck, on Tuesday afternoon.
A 53-year-old man driving a 2007 Nissan reportedly left "a huge, gaping hole" in the east side of the arena after striking mailboxes, a sign and a tree in the area of Tulsa Drive and South Third Street, Sgt. Mark Buschena said.
After striking the tree and breaking it in half, the man went through construction materials and into the ice arena, Buschena added. No dollar amounts in damages were available Wednesday.
Two construction workers and the driver sustained minor injuries. One worker went to a hospital after bleachers inside the arena struck him. The other worker had been struck by construction materials but refused ambulance treatment.
The driver was taken to a hospital for treatment of suspected minor injuries.
Paula Redmann, Bismarck Parks and Recreation community relations manager, said effects of the crash largely included minor damages to bleachers in the crash area. The park district is awaiting price quotes from contractors on repair costs, according to Redmann, who added the arena's ice is not yet in.
Buschena said a crash report was sent to the Burleigh County State's Attorney's Office. No arrests were made at the scene.
In an attempt to shore up the dwindling numbers of volunteer firefighters in rural areas of North Dakota, legislation has been introduced to help those first responders better afford housing, according to the office of Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D.
Across the state, 96 percent of firefighting forces are volunteer, but the average age of such first responders is increasing as the average number of years each volunteer serves is decreasing, according North Dakota Firefighters Association Training Director Robert Knuth.
Our No. 1 issue in building the next generation of volunteer North Dakota firefighters is that we have a lot of people who want to volunteer, but then they learn what the time commitment is, Knuth said.
Heitkamp introduced the legislation on Wednesday in response to growing concern with the challenge of recruiting and retaining volunteers that often precludes many would-be volunteers from committing the hours away from jobs that help them pay for rent or a mortgage.
Additionally, the price tag of purchasing a home in the state has made it more difficult for young families to become homeowners to help root them in their communities, according to Heitkamp.
Ask any fire chief from Williston to Valley City, and theyll tell you the number of volunteers on their forces isnt what it used to be but its not for lack of folks who want to give back to their communities, Heitkamp said. "By opening up more federal housing programs to volunteer first responders, we can draw more volunteers in and keep in them in the force by helping them afford homes in our communities where they can raise their families.
By expanding the eligibility requirements in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Good Neighbor Next Door Program, such legislation aims to help recruit and retain volunteer first responders across North Dakota and rural America.
When I started as a volunteer firefighter in 1978, I wanted to do something to help others in a real, tangible way, Dickinson Fire Chief Robert Sivak. That same desire to help others is still motivating people to volunteer as firefighters nationwide. But it is more difficult today for the potential volunteer. The makeup of our community has changed, spreading out and getting bigger. Employment in industry, agriculture and related services may require long hours and shift work."
Sivak said expectations of fire departments have changed and must include the ability to respond to hazardous material incidents, technical rescue situations and emergency medical calls.
"Times are a lot different for our younger generation than they were for me when I was recruited in college to volunteer, said Valley City Fire Chief Gary Retterath. For forces like ours that havent had a full roster of 40 volunteers in 20 years, her Volunteer First Responder Housing Act would help us offer the incentives we need to encourage more volunteers to climb the ranks like I did and give back to the communities they love.
Heitkamps bill, which is cosponsored by Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont, is supported by the National Volunteer Fire Council, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the North Dakota Firefighters Association, the North Dakota Fire Chiefs Association, the Housing Assistance Council and the National Rural Housing Coalition.
Governor Rick Snyder was quick to sign two bills today that will increase the influence of special interests in Michigan. SB 335 and SB 336 are unacceptable attacks on the democratic process by expanding the damage from the Supreme Courts disastrous 2010 Citizens United decision in Michigan. Common Cause had organized its 30,000 Michigan members to email and call Gov. Snyder, urging him to veto the bills.
Voters across the political spectrum want common sense limits on money in politics, said Common Cause President Karen Hobert Flynn. Instead of listening to voters, Gov. Snyder and Republicans in the Michigan legislature once again sided with wealthy special interests. No one besides a few partisan politicians and special interest lobbyists in Lansing will benefit from these new laws. The Governor has turned his back on the people of Michigan by failing to veto these bills.
Despite Snyder and the legislative proponents talking points, these bills do not just codify the Citizens United decision into Michigan state law. They will in fact compound the disastrous Supreme Court decision and give big donors more power by allowing candidates to solicit unlimited contributions for Super PACs, which would then spend the money to support the candidates.
Michigan is already ranked last compared to the other 49 states when it comes to ethics and transparency, according to a recent nonpartisan study. These bills will only make a bad situation worse, Hobert Flynn said. Instead of expanding Citizens United, Gov. Snyder and Michigan legislators should be focused on reforms that build a strong democracy and lift the voices of everyday voters. Michigans biggest and wealthiest political donors already have too big a voice in state politics, and these new laws will make it even easier for them to buy what they want.
CORNWALL, Ontario The City of Cornwalls Division Manager for Economic Development Bob Peters confirmed to Seaway News that the City would indeed submit an application to be the home of Amazons new North American headquarters.
Peters said that it doesnt hurt to put your name in the hat, and explained that by doing so, Cornwall could be considered for something like an Amazon satelite office, if not the headquarters.
He explained that Cornwalls bid was a long shot as the City did not meet Amazons basic requirements, especially when it comes to the workforce requirement. Amazon is seeking a city with an available workforce of at least 50, 000 people.
He said Cornwall could not include factors such as its proximity to metropolitan areas like Montreal and Ottawa, because the city could only include resources in its local area.
We will be tailoring our investment package to address the points brought up by Amazon, Peters said, but explained that even a city like Ottawa, with a population of around 1 million, was also unlikely to be successful.
However, Peters explained that he welcomed the opportunity that Amazon was providing.
Some people have said that it is a marketing ploy by Amazon, but we wish more companies were as open as this, he said.
At the beginning of September, Amazon announced their intention to build a new headquarters in North America and announced that they would accept bids from any city that applied.
Amazon states that the new headquarters would bring about $5 million worth of investment during the construction phase alone as well as 50, 000 high paying jobs.
Amazon currently has an headquarters in Seattle, Washington, and they estimate that their presence in that city has generated $38 billion for the local economy.
MINOT Convicted murderer Richie Wilder Jr. will be permitted no contact with his two children by the woman he murdered while they are still minors.
Judge Gary Lee had originally ordered a lifetime ban on contact between Wilder and his daughter and son, who were 12 and 6, respectively, at the time of his sentencing hearing in May. But Lee amended the no contact order in a ruling issued Monday.
"It is an order which does not respect the rights of (the children) to make their own choices regarding their father once they are of legal age," wrote Lee in his order. "The Court will therefore modify its order of no contact, out of respect for (the children) to allow them a right to decide for themselves what their relationship with Richie Wilder, Jr. will be once they become adults."
The children are currently living out of state with their maternal grandmother, who has been appointed their legal guardian.
Wilder is serving life without parole for the murder of his ex-wife, Angila Wilder, in November 2015. He is appealing his conviction to the North Dakota Supreme Court and wants a new trial.
His motion regarding the no contact order with the children was separate. He had wanted the right to have contact with the youngsters, perhaps through visits, phone calls or correspondence. His defense attorney, Raissa Carpenter, had argued that the no contact order with the children is illegal because it is not authorized by state statute. Ward County Deputy State's Attorney Kelly Dillon argued the no contact order is justified under the state's new Marsy's Law, which protects victim's rights.
Carpenter countered that no one had asserted the children's rights under Marsy's Law. Further, she argued Marsy's Law was not in effect at the time the murder was committed and the law cannot be applied retroactively.
In his ruling on Monday, Lee wrote that judges have the power to order no contact with victims in different circumstances, such as a condition of bond, before the accused goes on trial, and as a condition of supervised probation for an offender who has been sentenced.
"It would be incongruous to say that the Court has the authority at the front end to impose a no contact order as a condition of bond, and at the backend as a condition of probation, but has no authority to do the same thing in the middle while a violent felon is serving a sentence," wrote Lee. "This Court believes that it has both statutory and inherent authority to issue a no contact order to protect victims of crime, especially when the victim is a child."
Lee also wrote that judges in the state have the power to "fashion remedies" to protect victims of violent crime from having contact with a violent offender, even without legislative authorization.
The children's legal guardian at the time of the sentencing hearing in May was their stepmother, Cynthia Wilder. Cynthia Wilder was subsequently charged with conspiracy to commit murder for allegedly helping Richie Wilder Jr. plan the murder of Angila Wilder and of covering it up.
Lee wrote that he had little faith that Cynthia Wilder would protect the children from Richie Wilder Jr., so he acted in the place of a parent by his de facto invocation of Marsy's Law on their behalf.
"If the Court has erred by trying to shield these children from further contact with the cold-blooded killer of their mother, so be it," wrote Lee in his ruling. "It is a mistake the Court will make every time in order to protect children."
Lee wrote that Wilder has undoubtedly psychologically scarred his children by murdering their mother and he has abused them by doing so.
Lee also writes that Marsy's Law does not impose further punishment upon Richie Wilder Jr. He has already lost the right to custody of his children because he is serving a life sentence without parole. His loss of the possibility of any contact with the children is not further punishment but is a "collateral consequence" of his crime of murder of Angila Wilder. Therefore, Lee writes that the sentence is not unconstitutional.
Lee did concede that it was "overreach" to make the no contact order a lifetime ban, which was why he decided to lift the no contact order for each child after their respective 18th birthdays.
Richie Wilder Jr. and Angila Wilder had a contentious relationship. He had been convicted of domestic violence against her during their marriage. After they divorced, they frequently battled over custody of their children the daughter from Angila Wilder's previous relationship whom Richie Wilder had adopted and the son they had together. Their children were staying with Richie Wilder Jr. and Cynthia Wilder at their apartment on the night of the murder. Angila Wilder's 2-year-old son with her live-in boyfriend, Chris Jackson, was the only other person present in her home on the night of the murder. Richie Wilder Jr. stabbed his ex-wife dozens of times in her bed, then snuck out of the house, leaving the child alone in the house with his dead mother. The 2-year-old son was discovered in another room of the residence when his father came home from working an overnight shift at Walmart the following morning and called authorities when he saw his door had been kicked in. Angila Wilder was pregnant with a second child by Chris Jackson when Richie Wilder Jr. stabbed her to death.
In his written decision on Monday, Lee expressed particular horror over the circumstances of a "particularly evil ... crime of untold horror and depravity."
Richie Wilder Jr.'s wife, Cynthia Wilder, is currently being held at the Ward County Jail on the Class AA felony conspiracy to commit murder charge. The young daughter of Richie Wilder Jr. and Cynthia Wilder, who is now almost four years old, has also temporarily lost contact with both her parents and is in the care of her paternal grandfather out of state.
These are our favorite kid friendly things to do in Denver, so pack some snacks and get ready to explore everything this amazing city has to offer!
I bet your kids--like mine--will be begging to go back to the Mile High City as soon as you get home.
On our road trip from Las Vegas to Denver, we wanted to make each day as fun for our kids as possible.
After all, if we were going to make 2 little kids get in the car every day, we wanted the destination to be worth the trouble.
As we hiked, explored, and camped our way towards Denver, we hoped that our final destination of Denver, Colorado, would be filled with family fun like the rest of our trip.
Denver did not disappoint!
In these Denver kids activities, youll be able to learn, explore, and adventurous across the city.
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GRAND FORKS The state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation issued an order of noncompliance against the Grand Forks County jail after an investigation of an inmate death found staff did not send the prisoner to the hospital despite medical staff opinions.
The investigation, launched after the April 22 death of 45-year-old inmate Nathan Benedict Dogskin, found the Grand Forks County Correctional Center failed to place the Grand Forks resident in a padded cell despite displaying special needs and did not transport him to Altru Hospital after being advised to do so by a nurse.
The DOCR issued an order of noncompliance on July 31, which effectively puts the jail on a 18-month probation to comply with state requirements.
An inspection conducted May 15 found the jail was not compliant with nine of the 118 rules all correctional centers in the state must follow and that it needed to update at least four of its policies.
Dogskin was admitted to the jail April 17 for a probation revocation on a failure to register as a sex offender conviction from 2015. He was convicted of rape in U.S. District Court in 1998, records show.
In the days he was incarcerated, the state found he continuously demonstrated a need for closer examination. His behavior included urinating on the floor, banging his head on the floor, falling from a standing position and refusing to acknowledge staff inquiries, the report states.
He refused meals and told correctional officers he was experiencing double vision, according to the report.
Cell video reviewed by the DOCR showed Dogskin lying on the floor of his cell from 11:09 p.m. on April 20 to until staff members rolled him over at 4:30 p.m. the next day, when he was transported to Altru Hospital. He would be pronounced dead less than 24 hours later.
The DOCR interviewed Grand Forks Public Health Nurse Mary Barrett, who said she took Dogskins vitals at 8:25 a.m. on April 21 while he was lying on the floor of his cell covered with his own blood and urine. She said she told jail administrator Bret Burkholder Dogskin needed to be taken to Altru Hospital, but could not tell Burkholder a specific reason he needed to be hospitalized, though she felt very strongly that Dogskin was in need of immediate medical transport for medical care.
Burkholder said Dogskin would be monitored by medical staff over the weekend, according to the report. He would later tell the DOCR off-site inmate medical appointments are often postponed when transport officers are busy or short-staffed.
The jail is staffed by Grand Forks County Public Health nurses Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with someone on call after hours.
The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation denied requests for a report on Dogskins death, citing a state statute allowing restriction of information in an active case.
The DOCR found jail staff failed to place Dogskin in one of its padded cell areas though he presented special needs, in violation of state correctional facility rules and the individual policy of the Grand Forks jail.
After reviewing the Nathan Dogskin cell video, it is clear that inmate Dogskin should have been placed in one of these cells for closer observation, the report states. He was self-destructive, difficult to manage and medically unstable.
The report found Dogskins mattress, sheets and blankets were filthy and covered with blood.
The DOCR found the jail needed to update its policy, which describes a now-banned restraint method known as hog tying to deal with inmates who are self-destructive.
Officials also noted the facility had some noticeably unclean inmate cells with piled-up trash, a violation of jail policy and a potential fire hazard.
Staff were asked about this situation and responded, If they want to live in filth, they can, the report states.
The jail was ordered to submit all current policies to the DOCR for review and is required to have a full-time medical doctor, physician assistant or nurse practitioner to oversee medical practices.
Should the jail be in found in compliance at the end of the 18 months, the DOCR will vacate the order of noncompliance. If it fails to meet requirements, it could be ordered to close.
Burkholder deferred comment to Grand Forks County Attorney David Jones, who could not be reached for comment.
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"So they brought me to Los Angeles and asked me to cooperate with them, because all my co-workers were in the detention center and my trafficker was free. My trafficker was blaming my co-worker who had helped me. My trafficker said she didn't know me, and I had never worked at her place, and the person that brought me over was my friend, the one that helped me."
Flor was terrified of the police, but she decided to cooperate, because seriously, fuck human traffickers. Her testimony helped put her captors away ... sort of. This was in 2002, a time before human trafficking was well-known to U.S. law enforcement. "So that's why my trafficker got a light sentence -- only six months of house arrest, a fine of $75,000, and that's it. She was judged as an 'abusive employer' rather than a trafficker, because back then, human trafficking was kind of a new topic for law enforcement, so they didn't know how to judge my trafficker."
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Although honestly, that kind of thing still happens. In 2014, a Harvard couple was convicted of abusing and holding a Bolivian nanny against her will. They were fined $150,000. Once Flor's trafficker finished her time on house arrest, she immediately went to Mexico to harass Flor's family. "The last time I heard that she had contacted my family was in 2008, when she went to visit my mother, and give $20 to my mother, for my mother to call here as soon as she found out where I was. Later on, she went to my brother's house and forced my brother, intimidated my brother, to give her my address in the United States."
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Being harassed after escape is also normal for people in Flor's situation. Luckily, she had some connections by this point. She called her lawyer, who contacted the U.S. Attorney's office, who found Flor's former captor and told her to knock it off. Flor became an activist. She is now a U.S. citizen, and she currently works her butt off to stop anyone else from suffering the way she did. Her testimony was a critical part of passing a California state bill which forces companies to disclose exactly what they're doing to keep slavery out of their supply chains.
Please note that the bill doesn't actually keep slavery out of any company's supply chain. It just means they've got to tell us how they're trying to stop it. There's still a long, long way to go to make sure the next pair of hot pants that Amazon Prime delivers to your door aren't made by modern-day slaves. If you really want to avoid supporting slavery, your best bet is still to buy your hot pants secondhand, or better yet, abstain from pants altogether.
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FARGO The Fargo-Moorhead Native American Center, with support of the city of Fargos Native American Commission, will be hosting a Gathering for Healing, in memory of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, at 6 p.m. on Thursday in Island Park.
The ceremony will be led by J. R. Fox of the Spirit Lake Nation, who also spoke at LaFontaine-Greywinds funeral. LaFontaine-Greywind was a member of the Spirit Lake tribe and grew up on the reservation near Devils Lake before relocating to Fargo last year.
A poster for the event says, Many from this community and surrounding communities came together to search for Savanna. The tragedy that none of us could have imagined has had a deep and profound impact on many people. We are offering an opportunity for healing to those individuals who feel emotionally affected.
LaFontaine-Greywind, 22, disappeared while eight months pregnant on Saturday, Aug. 19, and her body was found in the Red River eight days later. Police later said that she died from homicidal violence. Two suspects have been charged with conspiring to murder her and take her baby.
Her baby, Haisley Jo, was found alive and healthy in the possession of one of the suspects in the case when police raided their apartment on Thursday, Aug. 24. The baby is now in the custody of her father, Ashton Matheny, LaFontaine-Greywinds boyfriend.
The family of LaFontaine-Greywind was not involved in organizing Thursdays event, but were consulted and approve of it. We also felt it was a good idea, said Janel Herald, a family spokesperson.
Herald encouraged anyone to attend who has been impacted by what happened, not just those who knew Savanna or helped in searching for her.
Anybody who prayed for her, anybody who thought of her, please come and seek solace, she said. We dont want anyone to feel like theyre excluded.
Herald wasnt certain LaFontaine-Greywinds immediate family would attend, but she said they hope to be there.
They want to attend, she said. They intend to intend. Im hoping they feel up to it. They want to attend because they want to be there to support the people who were supportive of them.
Fox, who will lead the event, is founder and director of Thunder Medicine Lodge, a nonprofit organization based on the Spirit Lake reservation that seeks to support and teach about traditional Native American social and cultural values, and practices. He is described on the organizations website as a Dakota Yuwipi medicine man.
Cloud News
Microsoft Cloud Partner To Midmarket: Azure 'Has Come A Long Way'
Alec Shirkey
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As senior director of Connection's Microsoft Cloud Services practice, Gina Montgomery spends hours speaking with midmarket customers about their cloud needs, and she has found that many of those businesses employ a multi-cloud strategy that includes a blend of SaaS applications or multiple public cloud platforms.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach for midmarket IT leaders, but Montgomery believes an improved Microsoft Azure can help companies turn to one platform for more needs than they think.
"Microsoft Azure has come a long way Microsoft, in general," Montgomery said Tuesday at the Midsize Enterprise Summit, which is hosted by CRN parent The Channel Company. "They're so friendly now with what used to be our competitors. It used to be Windows vs. Linux. Microsoft vs. Citrix. That's not the case anymore."
[Related: How One Partner Helped Implement Microsoft Azure Machine Learning At Hershey ]
Montgomery said she has seen a shift toward supporting more "open and flexible ideas" since Satya Nadella became Microsoft's CEO in 2014, and that the Azure platform's diverse array of services and support embodies that changing direction. Among those services are a collection of PaaS offerings, security and management tools, hybrid cloud tools, app development platforms and networking services in addition to the foundational IaaS offerings.
Connection, No. 22 on the CRN Solution Provider 500, has already witnessed rapid adoption among the large enterprises. More than 85 percent of the Fortune 500 uses Azure, according to the Merrimack, N.H.-based company, and the platform is adding about 120,000 new customer subscriptions per month.
Digital transformation-minded midsize enterprises can use Azure to build apps on PaaS, IaaS and Azure IoT, Montgomery said, and use features like application insights and the Azure OS Suite to manage them more effectively.
Gartner found that cloud office platforms can be significant money-savers for tool-savvy midmarket organizations, as well. The research firm said in a separate MES session that businesses using either Office 365 or Google G Suite could potentially save up to $1.5 million per year on top of those platforms by investing in resources such as Office 365's Delve insight engine and Teams workstream collaboration.
Bill Lindsey, information technology director at Huntsville, Ala.-based Calista Corporation, said his company moved to Office 365 and maintains an Azure presence via Active Directory Federation Services, and SharePoint.
Azure made sense, he said, because Calista maintains multiple domains within a single tenant, making it a better alternative to creating multiple VPNs. However, that presence remains limited.
"The majority of everything we do is on-prem. Still in the sand stage," Lindsey told CRN. "Not quite sure we went the right way with hyper-convergence because it seems like you can get more speed with it. They seem much easier to manage now than in the past."
Components & Peripherals News
Intel CEO: 'We've Got The Largest Collection Of Technology We Can Bring To AI'
Lindsey O'Donnell
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Intel is making huge investments in artificial intelligence, and CEO Brian Krzanich thinks its breadth of artificial intelligence products puts it at the forefront of a technology that's still in its infancy.
In an interview with CNBC Monday, Kraznich was asked about competition with GPU manufacturer Nvidia when it comes to AI.
"When you look at the AI industry, you have to look at it in its infancy," Kraznich said in the interview. "Rather than a single solution like the GPU guys are bringing, we're bringing a wide swath of solutions. We've acquired Nervana for the highest-performing solutions; we've acquired Mobileye and Movidius for drones. So we have the largest collection of technology we can bring to AI we've got a wide variety and AI is not just one solution."
Deep learning often requires the powerful and efficient parallel computing capabilities of GPUs, which Intel does not manufacture and Nvidia specializes in, to teach machines how to process text, voice and other types of data as part of artificial intelligence.
[Related: Chip Competition Intensifies As AMD, Intel Face Off With New Competing Workstation PC Platforms]
Nvidia sells a purpose-built system for deep learning, the Nvidia DGX-1. This software stack includes deep learning frameworks, including the companys GPU training system, drivers and deep learning SDKs. Nvidia did not respond to a request for comment by publication.
However, instead of manufacturing GPUs, Intel has been working up to build out its own AI portfolio, punctuated by acquiring AI startup Nervana and developing the company's technology into an application-specific integrated circuit called Nervana Engine.
Intel has said that the company aims to deliver up to a 100-times reduction in the time to train a deep learning model over the next three years, compared to GPU solutions. Intel also expects the next generation of Intel Xeon Phi processors to deliver up to four times better performance than the previous generation of processors for deep learning.
The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company has also been leveraging its partners to better understand various AI applications. Intel Tuesday said it would team up with Tata Consultancy Services to create an Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence to help easily develop AI solutions. This center will help developers, academics and startups develop their solutions from proof of concept to implementation.
On the other end of the spectrum, Intel has integrated Altera's field programmable gate arrays into its server processors, which also have specific function accelerators, including inference engines for deep learning; as well as Mobileye's technology, with plans to build a fleet of L4 autonomous test cars in the next year.
Autonomous driving is a big application for AI, and Krzanich said Intel "is poised to accelerate its autonomous driving business from car-to-cloud" particularly through plans to integrate with Alphabet's self-driving unit, Waymo, to build fully self-driving cars.
"We've had a deep relationship with Waymo for a long time. What we're doing is bringing our silicon leadership, our Xeon core, our Intel architecture x86, together with their IP around sensor fusion and how the car sees the world so this is a great way of two companies working together. They're bringing the AI, the mapping, the sensor fusion, and we're bringing the silicon technology together with them," said Krzanich in the interview.
Intel has deepened its AI focus over the past year, saying Monday it has invested $1 billion in the AI ecosystem "to fuel adoption and product innovation."
This includes forming new strategic investments in spanning technology, R&D and partnerships with business, government, academia and community groups, according to Intel. The company is also investing in startups like Lumiata and Data Robot.
Intel partners have applauded the company's strategy around artificial intelligence, particularly through acquisitions like Nervana.
Nervana Systems has some very promising but untried solutions for deep learning, and Intel has the capability to finish up the project," said Randy Copeland, president and CEO of Velocity Micro, a system builder and Intel partner based in Richmond, Va. "Also, Nervana carries IP that Intel can leverage as it moves quickly into the deep learning space, and they don't need to start from scratch with a new GPU style design.
Networking News
CRN Exclusive: Intelisys Nabs Former Cloud Provider Exec As New Southwest Region Channel Manager
Gina Narcisi
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Master agent Intelisys, a ScanSource company, is addressing the "explosion" of partner growth in the Southwest region by adding a new member to its channel team.
Cory Reutzel has joined Intelisys as senior manager of strategic partner development, Southwest Region. Reutzel, a former regional channel manager for Peak 10 + ViaWest, will be helping Intelisys and ScanSource partners grasp more cloud opportunities, according to Intelisys.
Based in Houston, Reutzel will be supporting sales partners across Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas and will report to Eddie Acosta, director of partner sales, Southwest Region for Intelisys.
[Related: Q&A: New Regional Intelisys Channel Manager On M&A Activity, Importance Of Partner Evolution]
Reutzel's experience in data center, cloud, and telecommunications services will help Intelisys guide and support both ScanSource VARs and Intelisys' base of traditional agent sales partners looking to sell more cloud services, according to Acosta.
"One of the reasons we brought [Reutzel] on was to manage those relationships and continue to grow that territory," Acosta told CRN. "He brings a unique skill set because he actually comes from the cloud space. He's going to be able to walk partners through the process and what that business practice looks like today."
Reutzel said that his experience in the industry had taught him that many partners still aren't comfortable having cloud conversations. In past roles, Reutzel worked with helping VARs sell cloud, and with Intelisys, he'll turn his attention to telecom agent partners, too.
"I'll be helping partners have those conversations and know which questions to ask their customers, and I'll be aligning them with the right suppliers as well," he said.
Petaluma, Calif.-based Intelisys was acquired by IT distributor ScanSource in 2016 for $83.6 million, plus earn-outs. The acquisition is also opening up VARs to cloud selling opportunities they may not have had exposure to before, Reutzel said.
"Being at Intelisys now and having had past relationships with some of those VARs, I'm anxious to help VARs figure out the new revenue stream around cloud," he said.
Reutzel's position is a brand-new role for Intelisys, which is seeing explosive growth in the number of channel partners and activity in the Southwest region, Acosta said.
Partners and their end customers in these states have been recently impacted by Hurricane Harvey, which has put cloud services like disaster recovery on the top of everyone's mind, Reutzel added.
Reutzel is a 15-year veteran in the IT services industry. Before his role with Peak 10 + ViaWest, Reutzel held senior channel leadership roles with service providers Birch and Windstream.
Security News
ForgeRock Lands $88M In Funding To Expand R&D, Sales Of Identity, IoT Security Solutions
Sarah Kuranda
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ForgeRock has landed $88 million in Series D funding, which the company says it will put towards sales and product development as the market for Internet of Things security and identity heats up.
The new round of funding, announced Tuesday, was led by existing investor Accel and new investor KKR. Other investors included Meritech Capital Partners and Foundation Capital, the company said.
San Francisco, Calif.-based ForgeRock looks to help companies secure identity and access management for the new wave of cloud, mobile and Internet of Things devices. The company has now raised more than $140 million in funding to date, as well as added former FireEye CEO Dave DeWalt as vice chairman.
[Related: 30 Internet Of Things Executives Whose Names You Should Know]
Philippe Monrougie, partner and CEO at Hub City Media, a South Plainfield, N.J.-based ForgeRock partner, said the new funding is "very positive" for the company. He said it is especially validating to see existing investors "double down" on the investment and to see new investors jumping in.
Monrougie said he has already seen ForgeRock expanding its sales and marketing efforts, including adding new sales executives in different regions. He said he hopes the new round of funding will help further fuel that growth, as well as provide investment for continued innovation.
"This kind of money Is very valuable," Monrougie said. "Taking this and just doubling down right now I think makes sense. We're happy about it as a partner how could we not be?"
Forgerock said it will look to put the funding towards global expansion, with focus on sales and marketing. That growth includes growing its headcount from 400 in early 2017 to more than 500 by the end of the year.
ForgeRock said it will also look to fund further product development, particularly around its ForgeRock Identity Platform.
This investment speaks to significant market validation and our ambition to build a durable, category-defining company that shapes the future of identity, privacy and access management. The next 12 months will be exciting, as global regulatory frameworks for data and privacy are evolving rapidly, at the same time the IoT is reaching critical mass. ForgeRock empowers businesses to respond to and comply with these regulations and enable great digital customer experiences," CEO Mike Ellis said in a statement.
The investment also comes as the markets for both identity and Internet of Things security heat up. Hub City Media's Monrougie said ForgeRock has a bit of a head start in those markets, as it has a strong technology and scale in those markets. ForgeRock reported sales in FY2016 of $100 million. Monrougie said the new round of funding should only help secure that position for the company.
"This is definitely a little bit of an arms race. I think ForgeRock is way out in front," Monrougie said. "This kind of scale is hard to get. A lot of the players working on internal identity and access for years, but how many of those big platform vendors can also do the massive scaling required in an IoT environment? I think that they are already out in front and this [funding] just further propels them."
Security News
Survey Shows Customers Are Behind, Misinformed On GDPR Compliance
Sarah Kuranda
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When it comes to GDPR, customers aren't moving as quickly as they should be to become compliant with the new regulation. Many don't even know if they have to, according to a recent survey.
The survey of 1,600 organizations by WatchGuard Technologies found that 37 percent of respondents didn't know if their organization has to comply with the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which takes effect on May 25, 2018, and has sweeping implications for companies who don't comply.
The survey found that, of the 37 percent who didn't know if the regulation applied to them at all, around 14 percent did collect personal data from EU citizens. That means they fall under the list of companies that must comply with the new regulation in less than a year. Twenty-eight percent of respondents said they were unsure if they collected applicable information.
[Related: 5 Things Partners Need To Know About New GDPR Regulations]
GDPR brings new requirements and regulations around data privacy, collection, management, and more for companies collecting and processing data on European Union citizens. The ultimate goal is to create better data privacy and protections. The regulations apply to companies that collect data on EU citizens and those that process data on behalf of those companies. That means the new rules could impact both solution providers and their customers.
Penalties for not complying are steep ranging from a written warning to mandated regular data protection audits, to financial sanctions of up to 4 percent of a company's yearly revenues. The penalties are tiered based on what measure companies failed to meet.
Overall according to the survey, 10 percent of businesses believe they are totally compliant with the new regulations. Almost half around 44 percent said they didn't know how close to compliance they were.
Jeremy Wittkop, CTO of Greenwood Village, Colo.-based InteliSecure, said he has been urging all of his customers to see if they need to comply with the GDPR regulations.
"I tell everyone that will listen to me that they should," Wittkop said. He said companies are "running out of time," and that he is already starting to hear boards of directors start to put the pressure on their IT teams to get up to speed.
Wittkop said the response from customers differs. He said companies are being "willfully ignorant," thinking they dont need to comply. Others, especially multi-national corporations, are "certainly investing very heavily" to meet the new requirements, he said.
Wittkop said InteliSecure is teaming up with some of its vendor partners, including Cisco and Commvault, to offer a webinar on the topic to get the word out. He said he expects regulators will look to enforce regulations quickly to "wake people up and take it seriously."
"There are some people in the U.S. especially that need to be concerned about this," Wittkop said. "The stakes are high. It's kind of a game of Russian roulette or chicken I don't know that I would want to play that game."
A formal investiture ceremony was conducted Wednesday to install Justice Jon Jensen.
With his exemplary track record as a district judge and his experience in both the public and private sectors, as well as his intellect, temperament and ability to listen, Justice Jensen is a terrific addition to our states highest court, Gov. Doug Burgum said. He is highly regarded and respected by his peers and will serve the citizens of North Dakota with utmost fairness and integrity. We are grateful for his willingness to serve and assume this awesome responsibility.
Burgum appointed Jensen to the Supreme Court effective Aug. 15, filling the vacancy created by the resignation of Justice Carol Kapsner.
Jensen was appointed to a judgeship in the Northeast Central Judicial District in 2013 by then-Gov. Jack Dalrymple. Prior to that, he and his wife, Linda Bata, were partners in a Grand Forks law firm, where they focused on taxation law, business law and estate planning.
Jensen thanked Gov. Burgum while he was at the state Capitol.
I will do my best to make sure this is one of the many things you will look back on and be pleased you accomplished as governor, Jensen said. Twenty-seven years ago, in this room, I swore an oath as a new attorney. That same year, I worked as a law clerk for the North Dakota Supreme Court. Today, I got to recite an oath to serve as a justice, and I am excited to return to the court. It is truly an honor.
During the ceremony, Burgum also acknowledged Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerald VandeWalle as the longest-serving justice in state history, having last week surpassed the record of 39 years, 1 month set in 1954 by the Honorable Adolph Christianson. Burgum presented VandeWalle with an engraved gavel as a token of appreciation.
As we celebrate a new justice on the Supreme Court, its an honor to recognize Chief Justice VandeWalles leadership and contributions he has made and continues to make, setting the standard for service to North Dakotas justice system, Burgum said.
Jensen was born in Grand Forks and grew up in North Dakota, Montana and Minnesota. He earned his law degree with distinction from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1990 and a bachelors degree in accounting from Minnesota State University Mankato in 1987. He also has served as a special assistant to the North Dakota Attorney General.
Jensen will serve on the Supreme Court until at least the November 2020 general election, when he will be eligible to run for a 10-year term pursuant to the North Dakota Constitution.
Security News
Rapid7 Channel Chief Looks To Hit Reset Button, Says Small Steps Made To Repair Partner Relationships
Sarah Kuranda
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A year ago, Rapid7 had a reputation in the channel. It wasn't a good one.
In February, the security vendor brought on new channel chief John Ryan to change this, charging the new director of Americas channel to revamp the company's historically direct go-to-market and re-engage with partners.
Now, almost a year into the company's journey, Ryan said Rapid7 is starting to see progress when it comes to the channel.
[Related: Sophos Launches New Cloud Partner Program To Capture Growing Public Cloud Security Opportunity]
"We're starting to see a lot from an incremental standpoint. Most of the business that has closed post-program launch has been incremental from the channel and pass-through business. Our reps are engaged and on board in ways they havent been in the past," Ryan said.
Ryan called the shift a "calculated risk," one he said extends all the way up to CEO Corey Thomas and COO Andrew Burton. Over the past year, that risk has included the launch of a complete overhaul process when it comes to partners, including a new partner program. Ryan said the new program is focused on the two pillars of services and turning over more Rapid7 business to partners.
With the launch of that partner program, Rapid7 also re-evaluated the partners it was working with. The security vendor realized more than half of them were just holding paper and not transacting business, he said. The company worked with its legal department to terminate many of those contracts, focusing instead on narrowing its focus on boutique companies in different regions, according to Ryan. The company used to have 400 or so partners, but now has about 160, some of which are net new since the changes were made, he said.
"It's not for everyone," Ryan said of the new partner program. "We have a very narrow focus group that we're spending our time with. It's not just an open door here. We have made some calculated risks across the country and up in Canada. It's paying off for sure."
Trever Smith, executive vice president of Victor, N.Y.-based Brite Computers, said this is a transition his business has seen first-hand. Brite Computers, a systems integrator focused on cybersecurity, has partnered with Rapid7 for a few years. He said the first year and a half of the partnership were "pretty weak," saying the company really only engaged with the vendor if it happened to find an opportunity.
"If we found an opportunity they would allow us to sell it, but there was no real healthy program," Smith said.
Smith said he has started to see the partnership change in recent months with the launch of the new partner program, adding Rapid7 has made "huge steps" with partners. Channel account managers have been spending time with Brite Computers around field communications, account mapping strategies, and encouraging field reps on the benefits of the technology. As a result, he said Brite Computers' pipeline with Rapid7 has grown five to 10 times larger than it was in years past.
"We're now putting a lot of resources behind getting up to speed with them," Smith said. He said Rapid7 also solves growing customer concern around application security, vulnerability management and pen testing, a trend exacerbated by recent high-profile breaches. "I think there's always areas of improvement. But I think they're doing the right things now and getting the field reps engaged with the channel."
Dave Doebler, vice president of sales at Pompano Beach, Fla.-based Mission Critical Systems, said he has seen a similar change at the company. Mission Critical, a dedicated IT security reseller and integrator, started working with Rapid7 about seven years ago, Doebler said. The company worked with the vendor "on and off," primarily because it liked the technology, he said. But working with Rapid7 was like "swimming upstream," Doebler said, adding that Rapid7 didn't offer consistent margins and would often not approve deal registration if it wanted to take a deal direct.
"We felt like we were in competition with Rapid7's direct sales team," Doebler said. "They weren't' seeing the value that good channel partners can bring to them."
However, Doebler said Mission Critical has seen a "complete 180 in the Rapid7 focus" and that the "mind-set has dramatically changed" over the past few months since Ryan took the channel helm. The new, formalized partner program allows for consistent margins and engagement expectations with the company for the first time, he said. Mission Critical has only been involved with the new partner program for the past three or four months so it's hard to tell exactly how much growth it will see with the vendor over time, according to Doebler, but it is working to build those relationships.
"They still have some way to go in the field with engagement with the field teams, but they are absolutely on the right track," he said. "I'm willing to give them a chance and hit the reset button with them."
Ryan said Rapid7 is also looking to change its internal culture to a channel mind-set, something he said is a work in progress. The company is working on a "sales campaign internally" to help convince sales reps that working with the channel is the best way to go, he said. What has been helping, according to Ryan, is engaging resellers in deals that Rapid7 might not have been brought into otherwise and using those as internal case studies going forward.
"This is going to sound corny, but it's a hearts and minds game," Ryan said. "The biggest thing I stress for my internal team is to find pain points, regardless of what they are and how tedious they might be, and remove the pain point for that person. Now, you have established trust. That's the approach we have taken."
The transition hasn't been an easy one, Ryan said, adding that the company had an "aggressive timeline" for transitioning to the channel internally, but quickly realized that it would be a longer transformation than anticipated.
Outside the company, Ryan said Rapid7 did run into reputational challenges as a traditionally direct company. The company has leveraged some past relationships at partners and other companies to get the transition started, he said. Rapid7 also worked with some resellers one-on-one who didn't want to sign up for higher program levels because of past experiences, Ryan said, but he has personally helped focus on those partners to gain trust and "hope they want to move forward."
"It's been a work in progress," Ryan said. "It gets back to the trust factor."
Brite Computers' Smith said personal relationships have helped go a long way to repair that broken trust relationship with partners. Channel team hires, like Ryan, have helped convince partners to give Rapid7 a second chance, he said. Ryan most recently served as regional director of commercial and channel sales for ForeScout Technologies, but has also held channel roles at EMC and Verizon.
"Its a really tough battle to go from direct to a channel company when you have so many people thinking that way. Rapid7 bringing in a really mature, tenured channel team was fantastic," Smith said.
Mission Critical's Doebler said that willingness to own up to past mistakes around the channel is a key factor in the company's ability to re-establish trust with its reseller partners. That "honest dialogue," which he said appears to extend up to top management, is key.
"I think that their openness about realizing they were not a channel-friendly company, realizing that they needed to hit the reset button, and their openness about where they were has opened up the door for an honest conversation about what they're doing and what they are doing to remedy that. When someone makes a mistake and owns up to it, I think that creates a culture for an open, honest dialogue," Doebler said.
Rapid7 has been appealing to partners based on the services opportunity its technology presents, according to Ryan. Rapid7 is working to move more of its own services over to partners, and its application security and vulnerability management technology allows them to expand on existing investments made by customers around security and offer new services, he said.
Going forward, Ryan said the investments around the channel will focus on technical enablement. That includes enablement around new technology Rapid7 is rolling out for existing partners, as well as technical enablement for the full portfolio for new partners, he said.Rapid7 has also invested in technical support for some of the higher levels of partners.
"We're trying to create an environment thats a lot friendlier than we have been in the past. We think investing in these types of outreaches and these types of engagements are going to go a long way for us," Ryan said.
4 Names of Angels in the Bible to Know
Next week's ballot offers some intrigue for North Dakotans from late congressional entries by independent candidates to term limits and marijuana legalization. Voters will decide whether to endorse changing the state constitution to limit the terms of the governor and state legislators. Another citizen-led initiative also will put the question of marijuana legalization before voters, who rejected the idea four years ago. Ninety-eight of the Legislatures 141 seats are on the ballot. All but one Democrat is up for reelection this year. Contests for secretary of state, attorney general and other state offices Also will appear on the ballot.
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A mum and dad are outraged after allegedly being fined for taking their children out of school to go to their murdered uncle's funeral.
Craig Fowler, of Regina Road, South Norwood, has lost his younger brother, Algie Ellis, who was shot 15 times in Jamaica.
The dad of three says he asked South Norwood Academy for permission to take his daughters, Shaniya,10 and Shenae, 6, but was refused.
Stunned at the alleged refusal he says he took them out of school anyway and as a result he and wife Nicola, 33, have had to pay Croydon Council a 240 fine.
Mr Ellis was just 28 and a dad of two.
Mr Fowler, 40, said: "It affected me so badly. The best way to describe it is that I didn't see the sense in going on [with life], he was my little rock."
Because of the terrible circumstances in which Mr Ellis died, back in January, his body was held in a morgue for some time.
Once Mr Fowler received notification that a funeral could go ahead, he asked the school for permission for Shaniya and Shenae to have time off so they could travel to Jamaica for the funeral.
Mr and Mrs Fowler, who also have a third daughter who is still a baby, requested three weeks off, as they wanted enough time to offer some care to Mr Fowler's devastated mother, arrange the funeral and take care of things following his death, such as his will.
Mr Fowler explained that his wife needed to be with him for the duration of the trip as he is disabled and she is his carer.
He said: "I had spinal surgery that rendered me disabled. I can't walk, I use a mobility scooter and my communication is not as fluent as it was.
"My wife could not return home with the children, as she is my primary carer."
The reaction from the school, Mr Fowler says, added to the family's grief.
He said: "The kids were really traumatised [by their uncle's death], and I was taking it really badly.
"My middle child was wetting the bed, it was a really traumatic time.
"The teachers were very supportive, they were superb, and the children were offered counselling. But when we asked to take them out of school the principal said 'no, you can't take them out for three weeks'."
He added: "He thought we were going on holiday or something. It can't be a holiday, how can that be a holiday?
"That was the worst trip of my life. To go and see my brother's body in a morgue, swollen and black, and with 15 bullets inside of him, it killed me.
"You can't fine me for a death. If I went on holiday, then fair enough.
"It's inhumane. My kids don't miss school unless they are at the point where they're too sick to go in, they have perfect attendance.
"They can't miss school I won't put up with that foolishness, my mother wouldn't stand for it and I won't."
Since returning to school, Mr Fowler says his children have been getting on fine, but he added that he would like an apology from the school.
South Norwood Academy, on Crowther Road, was approached for a comment but is yet to offer one.
Kimberly-Clark officials think the company will reach its greenhouse gas reduction goal four years earlier than expected after announcing this week a major commitment to renewable energy.
The company said it made long-term power purchase agreements for one million megawatt hours annually of electricity from two new wind power projects in Texas and Oklahoma. Officials said the energy from the wind farms is equivalent to about one-third of the electricity needs of Kimberly-Clarks North American manufacturing operations.
Kimberly-Clark owns brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Kotex and Depend. The company has a manufacturing facility in New Milford and is one of the largest employers in that town.
The wind energy will be generated by the Rock Falls Wind project in northern Oklahoma and the Santa Rita Wind Energy Center in west Texas. The renewable energy will enable Kimberly-Clark to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by up to 550,000 metric tons annually, officials said.
These agreements mark Kimberly-Clarks first use of utility-scale renewable energy and are a step-change in our energy and climate strategy to reduce climate change impacts, improve operating efficiency and benefit cost savings, Lisa Morden, global head of sustainability at Kimberly-Clark, said in a statement.
She said adding wind-generated electricity to its energy mix will allow the company to achieve more than a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2018, four years ahead of the 2022 target date. The original goal was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent from 2005 levels.
Kimberly-Clark launched its Sustainability 2022 initiative in 2015. The initiative addresses social and environmental challenges. Earlier this year it announced it had met or surpassed three of its five one-year targets.
These two renewable energy projects, combined with a number of other energy initiatives across the company, put Kimberly-Clark on-track to deliver significant multimillion-dollar cost savings from energy and climate projects by 2022, Morden said. Its a powerful demonstration of sustainability initiatives having both great environmental and business benefits.
The Rock Falls Wind project will become operational by the end of the year, and the Santa Rita facility is expected to begin commercial operation by the second quarter of 2018.
Kimberly-Clark was recognized as a 2016 Climate Leader by the EPA for excellence in greenhouse gas management.
cbosak@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3338
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Connecticut has played a central role in the history of rock n roll since the genres earliest days in the 1950s.
While never a major music center on the order of New York City or Los Angeles, the state has nurtured some of the countrys greatest pop artists, and hosted historic (and notorious) concerts.
A new book by Anthony Renzoni, Connecticut Rock N Roll: A History (The History Press), is packed with mini-biographies of stars who were born here, such as John Mayer and Karen and Richard Carpenter, as well as archival photos of Connecticut concerts that have become legendary, including the 1967 New Haven show in which Jim Morrison of The Doors was arrested in the middle of the performance for public indecency (i.e., using obscenities).
Basically I feel like Ive been researching this book since I was in high school, Renzoni jokes of his lifelong love of rock music, starting with a 1960s youth spent listening to Connecticut radio stations WPOP and WDRC.
The Branford baby boomer got hooked on rock music in his teen years and then delved deeper into the Connecticut music scene as a student at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield. Renzoni has been gathering memorabilia and recordings most of his life he has a collection of 10,000 records but didnt start thinking about writing a book until after he retired from a federal government job.
I never wrote a book before, but my daughter Carrie has a sense of these things, and she took me to R.J. Julia (Booksellers) and said, Thats the publisher you want, he says of her steering him in the direction of a shelf of books from The History Press.
Renzoni wrote to the company and found it was very interested in the idea. He set off on the several years of research and writing that produced the book.
They knew Gene Pitney, he says of the Hartford native who went to the top of the charts with Only Love Can Break a Heart and other early 1960s hits. But I had to educate them in terms of some of the popular regional groups.
Renzoni includes groups like The Wildweeds and The Ramrods, who had huge Connecticut followings but never scored national success. The book shows how every local radio station had its own top 40 chart in those days, which made it possible for a Connecticut band to get nearly as much airplay as The Beatles or the Rolling Stones.
I was pleased when the editors said they were taking a little longer than normal because they wanted to listen to the (regional) music I wrote about that indicated that what I was doing was important, he says.
The book takes readers decade by decade, showing how some Connecticut artists, like The Beehive Queen, Christine Ohlman, of Waterbury, have thrived from the 1960s until now by changing with the times. Renzoni deals with popular artists who have made the state their home for many years, such as longtime Fairfield County residents Keith Richards, of the Rolling Stones, and Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz, of Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club.
Richards has made several impromptu musical appearances in Connecticut over the years, including a jam session at Southports BoxCar Club in 2004, and joining Willie Nelson for a few songs during a concert at the Levitt Pavilion in Westport.
The purpose of the book is to pay tribute to all of these artists those with fame on an international level, fame on a regional level, fame on a local level. Hey, its all rock n roll, Renzoni says.
The book shows how the pop music scene began fragmenting around the turn of the century, with music downloads killing record stores across the state, and with Connecticut radio losing its youth audience as the medium moved away from contemporary music and into talk.
Record stores were more than businesses, they were a social thing too. A place for us to congregate, Renzoni says. The shops also made young people aware of what new music was heading up the sales charts.
Baby boomers will enjoy the section on the invention of the transistor radio and the musical freedom it gave to teens of the 1950s and 1960s. With its compact size and earbud, it was the iPod of its era.
They were so important to teenagers, the author says. They gave you independence because you could listen to whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted. Free of adult supervision.
Renzoni has been gratified by the response to the book since it was published in August.
Ive already gotten correspondence from people in the United Kingdom saying, We get it. They relate to the material on record hops and after-school hangouts. The book is really about more than just Connecticut because rock n roll is universal, he says.
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Twitter: @joesview
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BRIDGEPORTThousands of area residents sought news from friends and relatives Wednesday as Hurricane Maria slammed into Puerto Rico.
Around 30,900 Puerto Ricans live in Bridgeport roughly one-fifth of the the citys population. As the storm hit the Caribbean island with winds of 150 mph, many here helplessly watched Marias destruction on television and tried to make contact through off-and-on cellphone service
Others prayed.
At St. Marys Roman Catholic Church on Bridgeports East Side the spiritual home for hundreds of Puerto Rican families in the city the Rev. Rolando Torres reassured his flock that better days would come for their relatives and friends on the island.
I know everyone is desperate and nervous, Torres said. But I try to give them peace, and I tell them with faith in Christ, everything will turn out for the better.
More than half of the faithful at St. Marys are from Puerto Rico, and many of the others are from Mexico and other nations in Latin America, as well as the Caribbean. Most come from places that have been no strangers to calamity in recent days.
The hurricanes in Puerto Rico happened within days of two major earthquakes in Mexico, a country where around 7,200 Bridgeport residents have ties. Hundreds have been killed and thousands left homeless from Mexico City to the states of Puebla, Chiapas and Oaxaca.
Prayers for family
At Bridgeports East Side Senior Center, on the corner of East Main and Arctic Streets, there were no shortage of people worried about relatives back home in Puerto Rico.
My dad, hes 90, and I have yet to hear from him, said Yolanda Santiago, 66. Hes living in Mayaguez, on the western coast of the island, so hopefully, he got through this OK. Hes still pretty strong, despite his age, so were hoping for the best hope and pray.
Marcelino Rivera, 72, said he has five brothers and sisters as well as cousins and a nephew back in Puerto Rico.
Those people, they need help, and I cant do anything about it, he said, adding that most of his family on the island live in San Lorenzo, an inland city on the eastern end of Puerto Rico.
Im very worried, said Ruben Ortiz, 82, who was also at the senior center. My nieces are there we spoke to them a few days before it hit. But I was watching the news, and I had to turn away too terrible.
Susie Laffitte, a retired social worker from Trumbull, said she was concerned, too. Were all worried about our little island, she said in a telephone interview.
Most of Laffittes family had gathered in a single house in Baymon, a city near the Puerto Rican capital San Juan, she said. No matter what happened Wednesday, they wanted to face it together, stockpiling food and covering windows with plywood.
Im a little nervous, but then I get calm because ... God will sent this monster out to sea, Maria Valle said Wednesday morning, fretting about her husband and sister-in-law who are on the island.
Hurricane Jose, another monster storm, had missed Puerto Rico by about 100 miles, puttering out in the Atlantic. But Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello warned Tuesday that the unprecedented atmospheric system would be the worst hurricane since 1928.
Wire reports on Wednesday said that after Maria hit, the island was entirely without power. This after Hurricane Irma knocked out power across Puerto Rico last week, complicating preparations for this storm.
A very difficult week
Torres said that at Mass on Wednesday, prayers went out for more than just the victims of Hurricane Maria.
Its been a very difficult week, he said. We prayed for the people of Mexico City who just endured an earthquake, and also for the people in Texas, Florida and the Caribbean.
He said St. Marys would collecting for storm and hurricane victims soon not only money but clothing, food and other supplies to be distributed by the Diocese of Bridgeport. Collections have already taken place at the church for the victims of hurricanes Harvey and Irene, Torres.
The weekday Masses at St. Marys take place in the little side chapel called the Adoration Chapel. A statue of Our Lady of Divine Providence, the patron saint of Puerto Rico, offers a sense of peace to the distraught.
People come here from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. to pray, Torres said.
Connecticut is home to the highest per-capita population of Puerto Ricans of any U.S. state 7.8 percent or around 278,700 people according to 2015 Census estimates.
Around 750,00 more live in New York City, where Laffitte grew up. She was already organizing an Oct. 6 fundraiser for the Puerto Rican Parade of Fairfield County, for which she serves as vice president. Because of the hurricanes, the organization is earmarking some of the revenue for disaster relief.
A lot of that help is likely to come directly from family members.
Were anticipating a lot of financial need, said Gladys Ramos, of Stratford, a frequent organizer of Hispanic heritage events. Were all waiting, were all praying.
GRAND FORKS There was a time when 38 percent of JLGs Architects work came out of Williston, CEO and President Lonnie Laffen said.
The Grand Forks business was so busy that it had to buy a company plane, which was cheaper and more efficient than driving every day from Minot, the closest city that had available hotel space, he added.
I started seeing these reports of North Dakota becoming the next Saudi Arabia, Laffen said when he first saw growth estimates as a state senator. It wasnt too difficult to translate that into what that was going to mean for population growth. As architects, we live on population growth.
The boom prompted the company to open offices in Bismarck, Minot, Williston and Dickinson. Like JLG, many Red River businesses planted a stake in western North Dakota, seeing opportunity that reached beyond black gold. The booms downturn has tapered business, but many feel there is still plenty of work to do in the oil patch.
There was a lot more work than we could have ever imagined, Laffen said. There still is a lot of work.
Opportunity out west
There was opportunity in the Bakken, with companies in the Red River Valley looking to fill a need.
It was a little bit of going for it, but we got called, Laffen said. There were not enough resources in western North Dakota to do the work.
The oil patch still draws help from businesses from multiple states, including Minnesota.
The oil boom is a huge driver of a geographical area that is about four states, he said.
The larger needs focused on housing and infrastructure, and architects and engineers in the Valley started to make their way to the oil patch.
It helped that some Red River Valley companies, like Advance Engineering and Environmental Services of Fargo and Grand Forks, had locations in western North Dakota, said Steve Burian, CEO and chief financial officer for AE2S. The engineering firm had a location in Williston and has had a presence in western North Dakota since the 1990s. By the time the oil boom wrapped up it had opened three more offices: Dickinson, Minot and Watford City.
At one point, there was enough work coming out of western North Dakota that we had every office in the company working on it in some shape or form, Burian said.
JLG had its hand in high-profile projects, most of them public. That included the Watford City and Williston high schools and recreation centers, courthouse updates and new residence halls at Williston State College.
AE2S was involved in expansions to Willistons and Watford Citys wastewater treatment plants. It also worked on several street projects, as well as other private and public projects.
A focus of the growth was in the service industry and durable goods, said Andy Peterson, president and CEO of the Greater North Dakota Chamber.
Since things have slowed down out there. Its hard to say who remains out there and to what extent they are working out there, he said. Things out in the oil patch have become more related to the industry versus a boom environment, and I think that is a natural progression of any boom.
Business was exploding
Retailer Home of Economy had stores in western North Dakota for decades before the boom, but the oil activity spurred massive growth for the Grand Forks-based retailer, CEO Scott Pearson said. The business rebuilt its Williston and Minot locations and added a Watford City store by the end of the boom.
Business was exploding, he said. It was unpredictable, it was difficult to anticipate the increased amounts of products.
As more oil workers moved to the area, Home of Economy needed to adapt to the demand in products. That included offering flame-resistant clothing, and Pearson estimated every worker needed about $1,000 in the oilfield-required work wear.
Our Williston store was one of, if not, the largest-volume dealers in Carhartt (flame-resistant clothing) in the world, he said. We were told by them that we were the largest volume Carhartt dealer in the world in a single location.
Business dropped by half at the Home of Economy locations in western North Dakota since oil prices have plummeted, Pearson said. But its slowly coming back and is more manageable than during the boom years.
Sales are increasing nicely now in a much more orderly way, he said. It isnt like it was where it was unpredictable. At least now we feel like we are able to have a handle on it and stay in stock with appropriate amounts of product and the right product.
Coming east
At least one oil patch business saw opportunity in eastern North Dakota.
Dickinson-based manufacturer Steffes purchased facilities in Grand Forks in 2012 and 2014 to meet a demand for oilfield products. That added about 130 employees to the companys workforce of roughly 320.
The demand for our products exceeded our ability to recruit and retain people in that market, Steffes Chief Operations Officer Paul Eidenschink said. One of the things that was attractive to us to get into the Grand Forks region and the Red River Valley was the availability in the workforce.
Steffes was one of the few businesses that expanded from the western side of the state to the Valley, Peterson said.
The downturn of the boom forced Steffes to lay off workers, but it adapted to the needs of the area so it could hire enough employees to bring the count back to boom-era numbers, Eidenschink said.
Not going away
Work has leveled off in the oil patch, but it hasnt stopped, Laffen said.
When the prices dropped ... the first thing that shut down was all of the private work, Burian said, though local governments still had projects that needed to be finished.
That work lasted into 2016. Work has slowed for AE2S, but Burian said the company is committed to keeping its employees in western North Dakota there. It also plans to keep its offices open.
Businesses have left, but the ones that succeed in the oil patch are those that have invested in the communities, Burian added. AE2S participates in the annual rib fest in Williston and bought a clinic to convert into apartments.
We want to actually be a part of western North Dakota and not just opportunists, Burian said.
Depressed oil prices may have slowed business in the Bakken, but technology is advancing and oil will continue to be a large part of North Dakotas economy, Laffen said.
Its not going to go away, he said. Theres a need and technology is changing. Its going to be an awesome industry for a long time.
Cuban tourism workers to help in the recovery of the northern keys
A brigade with 40 tourism workers from Santiago de Cuba departed towards Coco and Guillermo keys, in Ciego de Avila province, to help in the recovery of hotels affected by the devastating Hurricane Irma.
The brigade includes electricians, carpenters, roofers and tour guides, who will collaborate in the facilities of one of the most visited tourist centers in the country.
Juan Carlos Suarez, general secretary of the Tourism Company in Santiago de Cuba, expressed the willingness to stay there as long as necessary, because this is a vital area for the reopening of the high season.
Dominican Navy ship arrives in Cuba with aid for hurricane victims
Submitted by: Juana
Local
Caribbean
09 / 20 / 2017
The Patrol 301, Admiral Didiez Burgos of the Dominican Navy, docked Monday in the Havana port with more than 86 tons of aid on board to help the areas most affected by Hurricane Irma.
Mercedes Lopez Acea, vice president of the Cuban State Council, thanked on behalf of the State and the Cuban people the Captain of Frigate Macdonald Belliard Gonzalez, commander of the patrol boat, the solidarity gesture of the Dominicans.
She said that the donation is an expression of the Martis dream of unity in Our America and the common history created by Latin American and Caribbean peoples.
We are brothers in the difficulties and with a relationship that is strengthened in the face of adversity, as in the lashing of Hurricane Irma to most of Cuba, said the vice president.
Lopez Acea reiterated the Cubans gratitude and said that Dominicans can count on the Cuban people to overcome any misfortune that nature imposes on them, which are sometimes complex and hard.
The Dominican military official said that the donation he has just brought to Cuba includes construction materials: wood, doors, aluminum carpentry, nails, metal roofing, wire and portable power plants.
We came to the call of the authorities to bring this help, and we are proud to assist this brotherly people, it is a pleasure to be here in peace and as a sign of solidarity, Belliard Gonzalez told ACN.
He said he was sure that if the devastation were in the Dominican Republic, Cuba would be the first to help, because relations between the two countries are historical and inseparable.
Joaquin Geronimo Berroa, the ambassador of that Caribbean nation to Havana, emphasized the solid union of the two countries, which was reaffirmed today with the simple gesture of solidarity, which considered little to the great demand of resources Cuba has to face the damages of Irma.
This aid is little, we know that much more is needed, but if Cuba has something is the determination, courage and will to fight of its people against all adversities; and with that victory is guaranteed, concluded the diplomat.
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 ...
North Dakota regulators approved a settlement agreement Wednesday with Dakota Access Pipeline that involves no fines for the pipeline developer but requires the company to plant additional trees and meet other requirements.
The settlement approved unanimously by the Public Service Commission resolves a dispute over whether Dakota Access violated state law when the company failed to notify regulators after rerouting the pipeline to avoid Native American artifacts discovered in the route.
The agreement also cancels an investigation into whether the pipeline developer removed too many trees and shrubs and mishandled soil during construction.
Attorneys for pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners and the Public Service Commission had been discussing the deal in recent weeks, and the company indicated shortly before Wednesdays meeting that the provisions were acceptable, said PSC attorney Zack Pelham.
The deal calls for Dakota Access to develop an industry reference manual for managing unanticipated discoveries and pipeline route changes during construction.
Commissioners emphasized that Dakota Access did notify the State Historic Preservation Office last year when it discovered artifacts in Morton County and protected the cultural resources by rerouting the pipeline.
The issue was with companys failure to notify the Public Service Commission before rerouting the pipeline. The education manual is supposed to include an explanation of the importance of communication and transparency with the commission.
Dakota Access also will be required to distribute the manual to all North Dakota pipeline companies, conduct training at the next Williston Basin Petroleum Conference and pay for a speaker to present to State Historic Preservation Office staff in Bismarck.
The settlement does not require Dakota Access to admit any liability, but is a compromise of disputed claims, the agreement states.
Public Service Commission staff alleged that Dakota Access removed too many trees and shrubs during pipeline construction. In those areas, the company agreed to replant three trees for every one tree removed. The typical requirement is to plant two trees for every one removed.
In addition, Dakota Access will be required to plant an additional 20,000 2-year-old trees in counties along the pipeline route, working with local soil conservation districts.
The trees are to be planted by the end of 2018 unless an extension is granted.
Finally, the company will be required to address any landowner concerns raised about pipeline reclamation.
Commissioner Julie Fedorchak said she thinks the settlement provides meaningful resolution.
We werent looking for the death penalty here, Fedorchak said. We wanted to hold the company responsible for fulfilling their obligations and commitments to the citizens.
Public Service Commission staff at one time proposed a fine of $15,000 and commissioners later proposed a settlement that involved Dakota Access making a contribution of $15,000 to the State Historic Preservation Office. The final settlement does not include a fine or other monetary payment.
Commissioner Brian Kroshus said he estimates the company will spend more than $100,000 to fulfill the requirements.
This really is not as much about the monetary amount at as it is about awareness and influencing future behavior, Kroshus said.
A Dakota Access spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
19 Eylul 2017 Sal, 16:38
Following 1990, everything was on track in Turkey and the region as far as the USA was concerned.
- In 1991, Ankara had been sorted out with the Hammer Force and Iraqs partitioning and embroilment in civil war in 2003 was in sight.
- The Grand Middle East Project (GMEP) and the Kurdistan projects appeared to be proceeding in a mutually complementary manner. Ankaras cooperation in the GMEP was superb.
- The anti-AmericanErbakan was sidelined on 28 February and more compliant (and more moderate) people had been made ready.
- Ecevit, who was resisting over the GMEP and Cyprus, had been sorted out with the break-up of the coalition with Bahceli, and compliant political Islam had come to power.
- The Kurdish and Cyprus openings were fostering a rapport between Ankara and the USA. Denktas became a persona non grata for Ankara.
- In 2004, Ankara, by means of the EU negotiating process (!), was made into capitalisms concubine within the West without, for sure, being made an EU member. Ankara had virtually been placed on a war footing against pro-Moscow Assad.
With all these circumstances ticking along nicely in the USAs favour, what was the meaning of pulling out FETO that it had been keeping in its pocket and launching it into action on 15 July against the new political Islamic rulership in Turkey?
Was this not a strategic error?
Or, did the USA wish by means of 15 July to take a short cut from the Turkey of Lausanne to Sevres?
Pushing it towards Russia error or not?
Did the USA not push the Islamist rulership of necessity in the direction of Russia in the region? Moreover, with it directly supporting the PYD (PKK) in Syria, what was the meaning of coming into a state of war against Turkey?
The USA has pushed Erdogan in the direction of Erbakanisation. Two reasons occur to me:
- It thought that it would directly and in one fell swoop transport Lausanne into Sevres in Turkey.
- Or, secondly, the edifice that FETO possessed under the aegis of the USA in the world and Turkey was of great importance to the USA. Its thinking was that, had it obtained a result on 15 July, its global returns would have been higher.
However, in the face of the failure of 15 July, the USA still did not put the venture at risk and decided once more to spread it out over time. Even if a result eluded it on 15 July, it thinks that the environment of internal chaos that it has caused in Turkey will be to its benefit in the end.
Parliament is not functioning, the separation of powers has vanished, polarisation domestically has reached a peak and everything has become dependent on a single person. There is an Ankara that is at Europes throat and is wrangling with everyone from Greece to the Gulf.
The USA must think that this is grist to its mill and, the way the ball is rolling, it will get to Sevres and Kurdistan. Erdogans quarrels with the West and Europe and the Afghanification of Turkey must be to its benefit.
The tragicomic side of the affair is that the USA got Turkey and Greece at one anothers throats and sold vast quantities of arms. Today, Russia is doing the same thing when it comes to the S-300s and S-400s. The USA and Russias positions vis-a-vis the PKK resemble this to an extent.
So where do we stand?
With things stacking up like this from their perspective, we are in a position in which the only remaining choice is how we would prefer to die.
We, as Ataturks Turkey, must be ourselves, in conjunction with our parliament, political parties, civil society organisations, universities, media and business and labour milieus.
Otherwise, we will hurtle to and fro like a ping pong ball between the USA and Russia and the EU and China. For precisely this reason - to get to Sevres and Kurdistan - Ataturks enemies at home and abroad want to eradicate and destroy him, just as was the case a century ago. The greatness of our founding father manifested itself in the balance and synthesis that he established between the East and West.
The Red River Valley could see severe weather Tuesday, Sept. 19, that could bring hail, high winds and tornadoes, meteorologists said in a Monday briefing.
Warmer temperatures, gusty winds and a weather front today are expected to precede a line of storms stretching from the Canadian border into South Dakota, according to the National Weather Service in Grand Forks. Meteorologist arent exactly sure where the storms will form -- that will depend on the fronts speed -- but its likely action could develop at 7 p.m. near Devils Lake or along the Grand Forks-Nelson county line, according to the weather service.
This front will help to set off the showers and thunderstorms, said meteorologist Vince Godon in the Monday weather briefing. As we get closer to Tuesday, there will be more data to look at.
The model that has the storms developing near Devils Lake shows the storms arriving in the Grand Forks area by 10 p.m. before moving into Minnesota and weakening by 1 a.m. Wednesday, Godon said.
There is a slight risk for northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota to see thunderstorms with 1 -inch hail, winds of 75 mph and possible isolated tornadoes, but the greatest risk is in southeast North Dakota, Godon said.
Todays highs are forecast in the high 70s, with most of the week staying in the low- to mid-70s, meteorologists predicted.
Pa. Dems could flip the House of Reps. Here's what that might mean
Lisa Feldner, a vice chancellor of the North Dakota University System, was fired after Chancellor Mark Hagerott accused her of making derogatory comments about staff members and speculating that some of them would be terminated.
Feldner, the university systems vice president of information technology and institutional research, was notified that she had been fired in an email Thursday and, more formally, in a letter by Hagerott on Sept. 15. In the letter, Hagerott informed Feldner that she was being fired without cause, which is allowed by university system policy for high-level staff without civil service protections.
But records in Feldners personnel file, obtained by The Forum through open records requests, document a confrontation between Hagerott and Feldner several weeks earlier that apparently led to her firing last week.
Hagerott declined to be interviewed for this story, and efforts to reach Feldner were unsuccessful.
In a letter to Feldner dated Aug. 23, Hagerott said it had come to his attention that on several occasions she made derogatory references pertaining to other staff members, past staff members, or speculated as to the likely performance failure of members of the larger North Dakota University System, even to include speculation of the possible termination of employees.
Hagerott added: Given your senior status as a Vice Chancellor, such speculations are disruptive and contrary to our core values. You must desist from such conversations.
The chancellor told Feldner that she would have to seek his clearance before any discussions or decisions pertaining to the employment status of any employee involving the university system.
Six days later, on Aug. 29, Feldner wrote a memo To Whom It May Concern, for placement in her personnel file, to deny the allegations and defend herself. Feldner had met the day before with Hagerott, whose executive assistant, Terry Meyer, also attended.
According to Feldners account, Hagerott presented her with the Aug. 23 letter and asked her to sign it, but Feldner refused.
He accused me of meeting with junior members of the system office and telling them they would be losing their jobs, Feldner wrote, referring to Hagerott. I had no such meeting. I asked him for specifics and he refused to answer.
Hagerott also said Feldner was intimidating, according to her memo, but would not provide specifics.
He claimed I am a powerful person and that presidents are afraid of me, Feldner wrote. I told him I didnt believe him and I asked for specific names and examples of what the presidents had said. He refused to answer.
Similarly, Feldner wrote that Hagerott told her provosts were afraid of her, but again refused to provide specifics.
Despite the contentious exchanges, Feldner wrote that Hagerott was pleased that she had decided not to resign, although he would not allow her to write a rebuttal for her personnel file.
He got up from his desk and said, Im so glad you are not resigning, Feldner wrote in her memo.
Before the allegations of her derogatory remarks and her firing, Feldner got high marks in her three annual performance reviews with the university system.
Your capacity for work, your attention to detail across myriad issue areas, and your creativity in problem solving all combine to produce a performance record that reflects many strong qualities, Hagerott wrote in an evaluation letter July 23, a month before the dispute. Thank you for your dedication to the North Dakota University System. Well done.
Don Morton, chairman of the State Board of Higher Education, said the policy enabling the firing of high-level employees without cause is beneficial because it allows a top administrator to make changes when an employee is not good for the organization.
We do want to recognize the good work she has done over the years, Morton said. At a certain level, you serve at the will of the chancellor. In the private sector, thats very typical.
The United Tribes of North Dakota wants the states congressional delegation to take action in cases of missing and murdered Native American women. In a letter to the delegation, prompted by the death of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind in Fargo, the tribes outline a number of steps they would like to see taken.
The requests in the letter are:
Create a federal-local law enforcement task force regarding the killing of LaFontaine-Greywind to ensure justice and appropriate crime victim resources are provided to her child and family.
Direct the Department of Justice to commission a cross-jurisdictional law enforcement task force to reopen cold files of missing and murdered Native American women. Direct the task force to create national protocols on missing Native women to coordinate with multiple jurisdictions.
Ensure all U.S. Attorneys for North Dakota fully appreciate their treaty obligations in Indian Country.
Other recommendations include ending the exclusion of tribal governments from the federal crime victims fund, requiring the Department of Justice to collect and provide statistics on missing and murdered Native American women and providing tribal law enforcement and courts additional funding to develop protocols on missing persons.
Some of these requests will require action by Congress, none can be done solely by the delegation.
LaFontaine-Greywind's death is a horrible case and its understandable why the tribes would want action. Its too early to determine whether the Fargo police response was too slow or incomplete. We know eventually the police devoted a large amount of resources to the case. Unfortunately, its likely LaFontaine-Greywind was dead by the time the police began investigating.
As the case moves through the courts we should get more answers.
The tribes proposals may have merit, but as is the case with most measures before Congress, there will be compromise involved.
Theres no doubt that Native American women have been the target of violence, too often resulting in death. More needs to be done to combat the problem.
Gov. Doug Burgum has made an effort to meet with all the tribes in the state and to improve the working relationships between them and the state. Everyone needs to take the time to listen to the concerns of all the entities involved.
LaFontaine-Greywinds case captured the attention of the state and nation. The outcome was shocking to everyone. Nows the time for us to discuss the issues and look for solutions.
The tribes requests shouldnt be discarded because they deserve a thorough discussion. Sens. John Hoeven, R-N.D., and Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., and Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., should let the tribes know how they plan to proceed.
The tragedy shouldnt divide us, it should create a momentum for cooperation and solutions.
Bismarck's First Nations Day on Oct. 6 has the theme of justice for murdered and missing indigenous women across the United States and Canada. The event, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the North Dakota Heritage Center Auditorium, can be one of the first steps in finding solutions.
On his Twitter feed it could have been discounted as mere late-night bragging. But Donald Trump was at the cathedral of international affairs, the United Nations general assembly hall, in front of 192 national delegations. Diplomatic prime-time.
If Rocket Man Kim Jong Un forced America to defend itself, said Mr Trump, he would have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.
It was odd to hear the words, odd that they generated so little reaction in the chamber. It was odd for a US president to use that mocking nickname in a forum normally so tight-buttoned.
Odd, too eerie to hear nuclear attack threatened in such a matter-of-fact way.
If Rocket Man Kim Jong Un forced America to defend itself, said Mr Trump, pictured, he would have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea
To one side sat Melania Trump, pictured, cat-like, her elliptic eyes closing slightly as though with creamy pleasure. Was she purring?
He was not shouting. He was speaking off a script and could have been telling a shoplifter not to re-offend.
And yet this was the most electrifying moment at the UN since the USSRs Nikita Krushchev banged his shoe on a desk in 1960. The sheer magnitude of Mr Trumps threat took a few seconds to register.
Then you realised, gulp, yes, he really had just forced us to contemplate the obliteration of hundreds of thousands of civilians.
You need not be a Trump supporter to admit that his shoulder-shrugging bluntness is rhetorically effective.
The general assembly chamber is supposedly a place for consensual internationalism.
Over the decades the UN elite has developed conventions of nuance and formulaic phrasing. Mr Trump blew them apart. Diplomatic procedure took one right down the chimney.
He opened his speech by saying how strong the American military was. Youre not really meant to do that.
Then he made plain what he thought about various rogue nations responsible for chaos, turmoil and terror.
Bellicosity, at the UN, tends to be uttered by dull-eyed officials hunched over conferences tables and wearing translation-headphones. But here was New Yorker Trump at a home-town lectern with his celebrated hairdo and distinctive hand gestures.
His critics have so persistently and loftily cartooned him that they have made the man himself somehow semi-real and rather riveting. Frightening though this speech may have been, it was also remarkable for its directness.
Delegates were present from the nations he criticised. An expressionless chap on the North Korea desk took a handwritten note as he heard his regime decribed as this band of criminals ripe for nuclear apocalypse. File under D for Doomsday, Miss Lee.
The Iranian delegate fiddled with a mobile telephone while Mr Trump demanded an end to Teherans pursuit of death and destruction.
A Syrian envoy clutched his head when Mr Trump deplored that countrys use of chemical weapons.
Trump opened his speech by saying how strong the American military was. Youre not really meant to do that
And when the president tore into Venezuelas socialist dictatorship, a woman in the Venezuelan delegation stared at him, transfixed, even though she was still writing on the paper in front of her.
The words must have all run together on the page. More enthusiastic reactions came from Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who nodded in agreement to part of the speech.
The hall laughed with Mr Trump when he said Venezuelas problem was not that socialism has been wrongly implemented but that socialism has been faithfully implemented.
Socialism invariably led to anguish and devastation and failure, he said.
To one side sat Melania Trump, cat-like, her elliptic eyes closing slightly as though with creamy pleasure. Was she purring?
When Mr Trump praised Russia and China for helping with the North Korean problem, a Russian delegate was to be seen chuckling.
And when Mr Trump complained that America paid too much to keep the UN in clover, a Zimbabwean diplomat leaned back and patted his large tummy.
In the British seats: Industry minister Claire Perry, a sporty lass not beyond her own explosions Trump might admire her.
Beside her was Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt, a Europhile watery as melon.
Let us hope he noted Mr Trumps repeated proclamations about the virtues of sovereign nation states the very opposite of the European Union.
Al Gore, the U.S. politician and self-appointed champion of the green cause, famously declared that the science is settled on climate change
Al Gore, the U.S. politician and self-appointed champion of the green cause, famously declared that the science is settled on climate change.
It was a claim that revealed far more about the intolerance of the environmental movement than the reality of scientific inquiry.
Research should be founded on critical analysis of the evidence, not on wishful thinking or enforcement of a political ideology.
Now the hollowness of Gores assertion is exposed again by a vital new report that shows how the apocalyptic predictions of the green lobby have been exaggerated.
In a study just published by the respected journal Nature Geoscience, a group of British academics reveals that the immediate threat from global warming is lower than previously thought, because the computer models used by climate change experts are flawed.
According to these models, temperatures across the world should now be at least 1.3 degrees above the mid-19th century average, which is taken as a base level in such calculations. But the British report demonstrates that the rise is only between 0.9 and 1 degree.
That discrepancy is a big deal, says Professor Myles Allen of Oxford University, one of the authors of the study. He is absolutely right.
The importance of this new investigation cannot be downplayed.
It shows that so many of the assumptions behind the imposition of the fashionable eco agenda such as the creation of vast, subsidised wind farms or the levying of green taxes are wrong. Yet the environmental warriors show not a shred of embarrassment over these new findings.
The BBC has given a presenter a dressing down and warned him about his future conduct on his social media accounts following comments on Twitter
Arrogance
There has been no word of apology, no sign of humility. Remarkably, they carry on preaching their diehard gospel. With their habitual arrogance, they argue that the lower levels of global warming mean that we now have even more time to implement their radical policies.
They dont seem to have considered for a moment that we might consider throttling back on the extreme measures were told must be carried out to save the planet. They display such certainty because environmentalism increasingly resembles a religious creed.
That has certainly been my experience as a Labour MP, who, because of my own knowledge of science, has long been sceptical about the climate change doctrine.
This outlook has made me a target for green campaigners, who seem to think that no voices should be heard but their own.
Dr Rutherford has absolutely no business trying to dictate who sits on independent parliamentary committees, writes Graham Stringer
A disgraceful example of this impulse towards censorship came recently from the geneticist and BBC presenter Dr Adam Rutherford, who hosts the Radio 4 programme Inside Science.
Taking on the role of latter-day witch-finder, Dr Rutherford recently launched a campaign to prevent my re-appointment to the Science and Technology Committee of the Commons, on the grounds of my scepticism about climate change.
Through social media, he urged his followers to show their righteous indignation by writing to their MPs.
It is not OK to have science so misrepresented in a democracy, he declared.
It was outrageous for a BBC presenter to behave in this manner. The Corporation is meant to be an impartial broadcaster, not a political lobbyist.
Dr Rutherford has absolutely no business trying to dictate who sits on independent parliamentary committees.
Moreover, I do not accept his accusation that I somehow misrepresent science.
I actually have a degree in chemistry from Sheffield University, and before I became a full-time politician I worked as an analytical chemist in the plastics industry.
The BBC has now given him a dressing down and warned him about his future conduct on his social media accounts.
That personalised campaign is not the first time I have had unhappy dealings with the BBC, which has long been a mouthpiece for environmental propaganda.
On one occasion, I made a programme with Conservative MP Peter Lilley and this papers writer Quentin Letts about the way the Meteorological Office has succumbed to the green orthodoxy.
Though the programme was broadcast, the BBC Trust subsequently decided it had breached editorial guidelines on accuracy and impartiality, which meant it could not be broadcast again, and cannot be found online.
Scandal
Like so many other public institutions, the BBC has adopted its eco posture without any genuine scientific literacy. Most BBC executives and reporters would be clueless about the second law of thermodynamics.
In this highly politicised field, adherence to the correct dogma seems to count more than an open mind.
But it was precisely my willingness to question received wisdom that led to my interest in the subject of global warming.
I was particularly intrigued by the infamous scandal at the Climatic Research Unit in the University of East Anglia in 2009, when a series of leaked emails appeared to show that scientists there had distorted historical research to suit the green narrative. As a member of the Science and Technology Select Committee, I followed the saga closely.
I was therefore disappointed when my colleagues on the Committee, having conducted an inquiry into the Climategate scandal, did not come to a more robust conclusion about the scale of the scientific manipulation at the unit. Too many of them seemed to be following the herd.
But, as the latest report demonstrates, the weakness of the global warmists case is now obvious. This is not just a question of misreading data. It is essentially a matter of broken computer models and a determination to ignore any inconvenient truths.
Phoney
If the environmentalists had it right, we would now be facing global catastrophe, a scorched Earth and rapidly rising sea levels. None of that has happened.
The International Panel on Climate Change warned that the Himalayan glaciers were melting away, a claim that it later admitted was false.
Similarly, it was argued that global warming would bring a new wave of malaria sweeping across the world. The opposite has taken place: global malaria rates are falling.
The triumph of the environmentalists has had an enormous and costly impact on our daily lives. Successive governments have brought in green taxes, hiked fuel duties and pushed up energy bills.
The real price is paid not by the eco justice warriors wallowing in their phoney moral superiority, but by people like those in my Blackley and Broughton constituency, who struggle to meet their household running costs.
An extra 100 a year on electricity and gas might not be much to a BBC presenter, but it is a heck of a sum for someone who lives in the Harpurhey ward of Blackley, which was named in 2013 as the most deprived neighbourhood in England.
Experts also told us we should buy diesel cars because they would help us cut our CO2 emissions. Now the same vehicles are blamed for killing thousands a year with pollution.
Crucially, soaring energy costs for businesses thanks to green initiatives, especially in the manufacturing sector, cause real damage to the British economy by driving jobs overseas to India and China, both countries that are building coal-fired power stations at an astonishing rate.
This weeks scientific report should mark a return to environmental sanity in place of the current dangerous green fundamentalism.
But given my own experience, I wouldnt bet on it.
In the age of Instagram, food trends are showing no signs of going anywhere, with the latest internet craze being cheese tea.
Originally from Taiwan, cheese tea is your regular bubble tea topped with lashings of frothy, whipped cheese.
Of course, the cheese doesn't have to be kept to bubble tea alone, with some places using the cheese to top other cold teas such as fruit and green tea.
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Originally from Taiwan, cheese tea is your regular bubble tea topped with lashings of frothy, whipped cheese
It has also appeared in food stalls in cities such as Singapore and Hong Kong and as the beverage increases in popularity it is slowly making its way to other corners of the globe.
Cheese tea is a culinary combination that no one was expecting but seems to be a hit online.
It is believed that the saltiness of the cheese helps to tone down the bitterness of the tea, creating the perfect balance.
The cheese doesn't have to be kept to bubble tea alone, with food places using the cheese to top other cold teas such as fruit and green tea
Cheese tea is a culinary combination that no one was expecting but seems to be a hit online
Some are saying that the drink is reminiscent of a milkshake once you stir it, only with a cheesier taste.
Conde Nast Traveler's Kate Springer described the taste as 'so rich, I feel a little ill'.
'When I swallow the tea and cheese together, its like drinking a refreshing tea milkshake.
'This pairing actually works the salted cheese plays up the teas floral notes, and the tea, in turn, tastes smooth and creamy,' she said.
Some are saying that the drink is reminiscent of a milkshake once you stir it, only with a cheesier taste
Conde Nast Traveler's Kate Springer described the taste as 'so rich, I feel a little ill'
The white whipped cheese-topping that sits on top of the beverage isn't a chunk of dairy cheese, but is actually made from a cheese powder to replicate the consistency of whipped cream.
This being said, as the tea gains in popularity innovators are going above and beyond to try and achieve the smoothness that they're after by using fresh cream cheese instead.
The white whipped cheese-topping that sits on top of the beverage isn't a chunk of dairy cheese, but is actually made from a cheese powder
It is believed that the saltiness of the cheese helps to tone down the bitterness of the tea, creating the perfect balance
To create the drink, people are beating the cream cheese base with evaporated milk until it begins to froth.
This is then poured into the iced tea beverage, acting as a fluffy topping.
The 'cheese moustache' you gain from slurping up the beverage is instagrammable enough on its own.
A cosplayer from Miami didn't get why Disney princesses get so much more love from fans than their male counterparts, so he decided to show appreciation for his childhood heroes by dressing up as them- and adding a sexy twist.
Jonathan Stryker, known online as JStryker, dressed up as a different male Disney character each day for a week, posting images of his brilliant costumes and makeup on his Instagram page, and gathering tens of thousands of likes and more than 35,000 followers.
The 22-year-old, originally from Argentina, has been cosplaying for more than 10 years, and creates every part of his costumes completely from scratch, from the clothing to the make-up, a process that can take him up to 20 hours to complete.
He can show you the world! Jonathan Stryker, 22, dressed as a different male Disney character each day for a week and posted the images on Instagram
Part of his world: The Miami resident has cosplayed for more than 10 years and makes every part of his costume himself, a process he said can take up to 20 hours
I make the costume, the props, everything from scratch. I do my makeup on the floor, in front of my mirror and then I style the wig on my head,' he told BuzzFeed.
He shared that he was inspired to dress up as male Disney icons after noticing that although he sees a lot of women dress as princesses, he doesn't ever see men dress up as princes.
'I dont know why guys are so scared of the princes and they were, like, our childhood heroes,' he said.
He added that having been a 'chubby kid,' it's important for him to promote body positivity through projects like his 'Disney Week' on Instagram.
Twins: Jonathan said that he was bullied in school because of his 'big chin,' and the film Hercules helped him accept this part of himself
On point: Jonathan sewed Emperor Kuzco's robe himself, even adding a little gold trim on the sleeves that perfectly matches the character's clothing in the film
Jonathan began the week dressing up as Aladdin, saying it was probably one of the first movies he ever saw as a child in Argentina, and that he loved singing the songs in Spanish.
His followers couldn't handle seeing their childhood crushes in real-life, praising both his dress up skills and how good he looked in character.
'All of a sudden I have weak ankles,' someone wrote.
And another added: 'Congrats you're my actual childhood dream man. And my adulthood dream man.'
King of Instagram: Jonathan, originally from Argentina, has gathered tens of thousands of likes and more than 35k followers with his versions of characters like Tarzan
His favorite: The Floridian said Tangled's Flynn Rider is 'definitely [his] Disney crush'
Jonathan's version of Prince Eric from the Little Mermaid had fans particularly moved, leaving comments professing their love for the cosplayer.
'This can't get any sexier,' said one commenter.
'HOLY S*** I'M DOING ARIEL,' said another.
Emperor Kuzco from the Emperor's New Groove followed; Jonathan sewed Kuzco's robe himself, adding a zipper and even a little gold trim on the sleeves that perfectly matches the character's clothing in the film.
Just like in the films: Jonathan said he was inspired to dress as male these characters because no one ever honors the male Disney icons (pictured: Milo from Atlantis)
A classic: The 22-year-old concluded his Disney Week dressing up as Simba from The Lion King
Next up were Milo from Atlantis and Tangled's Flynn Rider, who Jonathan said is 'definitely [his] Disney crush.
Some of the characters Jonathan honored have a special place in his heart, like Hercules, whose chin helped him accept his own.
'Something I really loved about Hercules was the scene when Zeus tells Hercules that he has the chin of a God,' he wrote on Instagram. 'In middle school, this kid would make fun of my big chin. I became very insecure about it for much of my life. Thanks to Hercules, I now see it differently: I have the chin of the Gods!'
Jonathan concluded the epic week dressing up as fan-favorite Simba from The Lion King.
Moving on: Jonathan is now doing a Cartoon Network Week, and has already dressed up as as Mandark from Dexters Lab
The man behind the costumes: 'I dont know why guys are so scared of the princes and they were, like, our childhood heroes,' Jonathan said
He said: 'The symbol of the lion is so big to me. It is a symbol of confidence and empowerment. The lion is sure of itself, it knows it's the king without having to compare itself with anything else.'
The talented Floridian did not expect for people to love his versions of iconic Disney characters as much as they have
I was expecting something like, Oh what is he doing? All of a sudden hes doing Disney, hes never done this before, but yeah, its been crazy,' he told Buzzfeed.
And he's is not stopping with Disney characters: This week, he's dressing up as Cartoon Network characters, having already posted pictures as Mandark from Dexters Lab, and Nigel from Codename: Kids Next Door.
Leave it to celebrities to take a traditional garment and wear it in an unconventional way and still look stylish.
This week at Catch LA's one year anniversary party, actress Charlotte McKinney, 24, wore a cropped Balenciaga leather moto as a top with One x OneTeaspoon jeans. That same evening, 'Kingsman: The Golden Circle' star, Halle Berry, donned a khaki trench-style jacket (and nothing else) by Alice and Olivia.
And they're not the only ones! Check out who else has tried the outerwear-as- innerwear trend. Plus, shop our selection of toppers, so you, too, can hit the hottest party in the hip look. Just don't check your coat at the door!
Showing some shoulder: Leave it to celebrities to take a traditional garment and wear it in an unconventional way. This week at Catch LA's one year anniversary party, actress Charlotte McKinney wore a cropped Balenciaga leather moto as a top with skinny black jeans
Nothing underneath: Halle Berry donned an Alice and Olivia trench coat style dress, while Kendall Jenner stunned in a Balenciaga denim jacket top
Red hot: Salma Hayek, 51, attended the Christopher Kane spring/summer 2018 catwalk show during London Fashion Week wearing a red leather moto by the designer
Halle, 51, slipped into her jacket style dress just hours after wearing a sheer Elie Saab Fall tulle gown while promoting her latest hit flick in London. While her Alice and Olivia trench is much more modest, the off-the-shoulder style is still very sexy.
Known for having impeccable off-duty style, Kendall Jenner, 21, was spotted in a Balenciaga denim jacket shirt during New York Fashion Week.
Salma Hayek, 51, attended the Christopher Kane spring/summer 2018 catwalk show during London Fashion Week wearing a red leather moto by the designer.
Reese Witherspoon, 41, stepped out in a Stella McCartney blazer dress for Sunday's Emmy Awards ceremony, while Kim Kardashian, 36, wore a similar style by Alexander Wang to the designer's New York fashion show.
Suited up: Reese Witherspoon, 41, stepped out in a Stella McCartney blazer dress for Sunday's Emmy Awards ceremony, while Kim Kardashian, 36, wore a similar style by Alexander Wang to the designer's fashion show
To get the look, opt for outerwear in a light, breathable fabric. Heavier jackets can be uncomfortable and cause overheating.
And since taking this layer off is not an option, it's important to select a style that you feel good in.
Look for flattering silhouettes that feature off-the-shoulder necklines, crop hemlines or cinched waists.
GET THE LOOK:
Left: Off Shoulder Denim Jacket by Topshop, $90; topshop.com. Right: Two-tone denim jacket by AE, $79.95; ae.com
Left: Point-collar cropped denim jacket by Off-White, $665; matchesfashion.com. Right: Zuma Raw Hem Crop Denim Jacket by L'Agence, $290; intermixonline.com
Left: Leather biker jacket by Balenciaga, $3,350; mytheresa.com. Right: Velvet Rider Jacket by Fleur Du Mal, $545; intermixonline.com
Left: Applique biker jacket by Mango, $79.99; mango.com. Right: Bea Belted Suedette Biker by Boohoo, $25; boohoo.com
Left: Full length jacket by MM6 by Maison Margiela, now $201; yoox.com. Right: Garment-dyed trend dress by J.Crew, $64.99; jcrew.com
The late Connie Johnson has paid tribute to The Project host, Carrie Bickmore, in a heartbreaking video message recorded just before she passed away.
Connie was 40 years old when she died from breast cancer on September 8.
Her brother, the Gold Logie winner, Samuel Johnson, shared the video he made of Connie on Tuesday night.
He confessed he 'buggered up' one of Connie's dying wishes and forgot to bring it to Carrie when he appeared on her show, The Project, on Monday night.
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The late Connie Johnson (pictured) has paid tribute to The Project host, Carrie Bickmore, in a heartbreaking video message recorded just before she passed away
Connie thanked Carrie (pictured) - 'Love Your Sister started as a small grass roots organisation and Love Your Sister has become what it is because of your support,' she said
'You supported us from the very beginning when there were very few people who backed us. You backed us. And you taking a gamble on us means that we have been able to build something really big and really beautiful' (pictured: Connie and Carrie)
Samuel Johnson (pictured with Carrie), shared the video he made of Connie on Tuesday night, after confessing he 'buggered up' one of Connie's dying wishes and forgot to bring it to Carrie when he appeared on The Project on Monday night
'I buggered up one of Connie's dying wishes,' the actor began his moving Facebook post.
'I'm not mad at myself though, coz [sic] perfection is unattainable and there's like 1000 of her wishes that I got right.
'But I got a bit befuzzled during last night's The Project desk talky bit, and I literally forgot the ONE thing Connie sent me there to do on the day of her funeral - to bring this vid to Carrie.'
Connie (pictured) was 40 years old when she died from breast cancer on September 8; she leaves behind two children
I got a bit befuzzled during last night's The Project desk talky bit, and I literally forgot the ONE thing Connie sent me there to do on the day of her funeral - to bring this vid to Carrie,' Samuel said on The Project (pictured with Connie)
Speaking on the video, Connie said from the hospital: 'Hi Carrie, it's Connie.
'Just ringing to, I'm not ringing at all, I'm just leaving you a message to say thank you.'
The 40-year-old said: 'You know, Love Your Sister started as a small grass roots organisation and Love Your Sister has become what it is because of your support.
'You supported us from the very beginning when there were very few people who backed us. You backed us.
'And you taking a gamble on us means that we have been able to build something really big and really beautiful - and something a little bit bigger - well, a lot bigger - than just a guy on a unicycle.
'The importance of your work has been tantamount to finding a cure, and we wouldn't be here without you - so thank you.
'Thank you from the bottom of my heart. With much love and much meaning.'
'The importance of your work has been tantamount to finding a cure, and we wouldn't be here without you - so thank you,' Connie (pictured) said to Carrie
'Thank you from the bottom of my heart. With much love and much meaning,' she said
On Monday night's edition of The Project, Samuel revealed the heartbreaking final moments he spent with his sister, Connie, before her death.
The Gold Logie winner said the pair spent 'half an hour laughing' before she 'fell asleep and never woke up,' while appearing on the Project on Monday night.
Co-host Carrie Bickmore could be seen choking back tears, as Samuel vowed to continue his sister's legacy just hours after attending her funeral in Canberra.
The pair have together created the charity Love Your Sister, which is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for cancer research.
On Monday, Samuel added that he now considers himself not just the chief custodian of his sister Connie's legacy, but the 'head of cancer vanquishment' in the country.
'I will accelerate the push for a cure... I'm not going to stop, mate,' he told the hosts.
'She was training her little brother to do her work when she was gone. I'm ready for that.'
The pair have together created the charity Love Your Sister , which is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for cancer research.
Samuel Johnson (pictured) revealed the heartbreaking final moments he spent with his sister Connie before her death, while appearing on The Project on Monday
Speaking on the Love Your Sister Facebook page when he shared Connie's final video, Samuel explained that the 'confronting' video was filmed on the 'last day Connie could talk'.
'She asked me to film this for Carrie... these were literally some of her last words. A village warning. This is confronting. But f**k it, we've always "gone there" and we're not going to stop now. It's cancer. And besides, Connie said so. xSamuel.'
The touching message has already reached more than 63,000 people inside twelve hours - with thousands taking to the Facebook page to share their condolences, well wishes and love.
'More than just a guy on a unicycle. Connie would be bloody proud of you and Carrie. Don't be so so hard on yourself Sammy,' one commenter posted.
'Selfless to the very end Connie. Courageous is too vanilla for you, you were a fkn [sic] warrior woman. So much love, and to you Sammy, try and feel the virtual warm embrace of your village.'
Just minutes before his appearance, Sam took to the Love Your Sister page to share a photo of himself travelling to the show, thanking an 'anonymous rich person' for helping him get there
The touching message has already reached more than 63,000 people inside twelve hours - with thousands taking to the Facebook page to share their love (pictured: Connie Johnson)
This year he won a Gold Logie for his portrayal of Molly Meldrum (pictured), dedicating the statue to his sister who was watching at home, before retiring to focus on Love Your Sisters fundraising
Connie Johnson's message in full 'Hi Carrie, it's Connie. Just ringing to, I'm not ringing at all, I'm just leaving you a message to say thank you. You know, Love Your Sister started as a small grass roots organisation and Love Your Sister has become what it is because of your support. You supported us from the very beginning when there were very few people who backed us. You backed us. And you taking a gamble on us means that we have been able to build something really big and really beautiful - and something a little bit bigger - well, a lot bigger - than just a guy on a unicycle. The importance of your work has been tantamount to finding a cure, and we wouldn't be here without you - so thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. With much love and much meaning.' Advertisement
On The Project, Samuel introduced Australia to the new fundraising campaign he developed with Connie before she passed away.
The new initiative will help fundraise for cancer research through the sale of a range of socks, named after the siblings' childhood nicknames for each other.
The socks are available in two colours, pink 'Connie Cotton Socks' and blue 'Sammy Seals'. You can buy the socks and donate to the cause here.
Connie leaves behind her two sons, Willoughby, 11 and Hamilton, who turns 10 on September 26.
A public service will be held at St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne on September 23 to celebrate Connie's life.
A four-year-old girl who was dismissed by doctors five times almost died after she was struck down with influenza.
Little Savannah Gillespie, from Adelaide, started experiencing flu-like symptoms, including feeling 'sick and cold' last month.
The girl was left fighting for life in intensive care at the Women's and Children's Hospital after she was diagnosed with influenza Type A and a bacterial infection.
Fighting back years, her mother Rhiannon revealed how the flu almost claimed her daughter's life after she was intubated for 13 days.
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Savannah Gillespie, aged four, was left fighting for life after she was struck down with the flu
Savannah has since been released from hospital but now faces a long road to recovery after her immune system and muscles were damaged. She's also anaemic
'The doctor said if we didn't take her in that night, she would've died,' Ms Gillespie told 9News as she broke down in tears.
'Just to see how quickly she deteriorated was horrible.
'Her organs were shutting down. She had to have two chest drains put in to drain fluid from her lungs. Her left lung collapsed.'
Savannah has since been released from hospital but now faces a long road to recovery after her immune system and muscles were damaged. She's also anaemic.
The girl was placed in intensive care after she was diagnosed with influenza Type A
Savannah started experiencing flu-like symptoms, including feeling 'sick and cold' last month
By sharing their story, a tearful Ms Gillespie urged fellow parents to get their children vaccinated every year to avoid the trauma her family recently endured
By sharing their story, a tearful Ms Gillespie urged fellow parents to get their children vaccinated every year to avoid the trauma her family recently endured.
'Just to prevent things like this happening to another child,' she said.
'I mean, it's not guaranteed but if you can prevent it, why not?'
The plea comes just days after eight-year-old Melbourne girl Rosie Andersen died from contracting the deadly flu virus.
A mother who was having a tough week has been moved to tears following a random act of kindness at a supermarket.
Chris Crowe, from Victoria, was buying meat at Woolworths in preparation for her late auntie's funeral when she was asked how her week was going.
After telling a deli staff member about the tragic events that happened over her week, she continued on with her grocery shopping on Friday.
But moments later, a kind-hearted deli worker found her in one of the aisles to gift her a bunch of flowers and a box of chocolates.
Chris Crowe (pictured) who was having a tough time has revealed how a Woolworths staff member gifted her flowers and chocolates after hearing about the tragic events in her life
The mother was buying meat at Woolworths in preparation for her late auntie's funeral when she was asked how her week was going (stock image)
'Today when I went to visit I mentioned my aunty as I needed to buy extra cold meat to make up some sandwiches for the funeral on Tuesday,' she wrote on Facebook.
'I also mentioned that I'd lost three family friends in the last week as well. As always, they were helpful with my shopping and generous with their sympathy.
'I went on my merry way and about 2 aisles later one of them came up to me and handed me this bunch of flowers and a box of chocolates.
'She said: "this is for you - we are so sorry you're having such a s*** time. You're one of our favourite customers and we just really wanted to give you these".'
After telling a deli staff member about the tragic events that happened over her week, she continued on with her grocery shopping on Friday (stock image)
Touched by the gesture, a delighted Ms Crowe took to the supermarket's Facebook page to praise the staff members for their generosity
Touched by the gesture, a delighted Ms Crowe took to the supermarket's Facebook page to praise the staff members for their generosity.
'So Woolies - please make sure you celebrate that team of amazingly kind-hearted humans,' she said.
'Give them a bonus - or an awesome Christmas party - or some sort of reward for their kindness because they really are a terrific bunch.
'You should be proud of them. I was so shocked and they really honestly made me smile today - after I'd finished crying at their kindness.'
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Woolworths for comment.
A Minnesota woman has the internet and passersby doing double takes with her mind-blowing similarities to actress Megan Fox, showing off an identical pink pout, piercing blue eyes, and raven hair that have many thinking the two could be twins.
Laboratory technician Bethany Anya, 26, fills her social media with selfies and professional shots of her mastered kissing face smolder and fans of her celebrity-esque looks fawn over her intensely dark brows, wispy lashes, and over pronounced cupids bow.
Her 16,000 followers are so geeked, nearly all of her photos reveal unconvinced fans who write, 'that's Megan Fox' on her photos. But the artist, although flattered, believes her look is completely her own.
Twins! Bethany Anya, 26, suddenly skyrocketed to internet fame when fans and passerby gave her doubletakes for her nearly identical appearance to Transformers actress Megan Fox
Good genes: The Minnesota artist shares dark high-arched brows, blue eyes, wispy lashes, a thin nose, and a classic pink pout in common with the sex-icon actress
Foxy lady: The laboratory technician and sketch artist reveals that she is flattered and sees some similarity but said 'I resemble myself'
'It's very flattering; I see it from time to time but I mostly just think I resemble myself,' Bethany revealed.
But the young beauty appreciates the similarity and has posted images of the Transformers actress onto her Instagram with the captions 'classic' to share her fandom for the Tennessee star. She even takes noted from Megan's poses for her own photo shoots.
'I have gotten comments that I look like her but I'm a much taller version with many more tattoos. I'm a little apathetic about it but it's always nice to be compared to someone so lovely,' Bethany shared.
The scientist even noted out, if there is a similarity, it's mostly rooted in Megan's look from her 2009 horror film Jennifer's Body, where Fox plays a possessed high school student who slays her classmates.
'I think she is incredibly smart and witty, way more than people give her credit for. She tends to get brought up just for her looks but she's certainly much more than a beautiful woman,' she added.
Perfect pout: When placed side by side the similarity between the two is undeniable
Blue-eyed gal: Even slight side profiles of the two match up under a curtain of raven hair
Celeb-approved glam: Bethany reveals, however, she only spends 15-20 minutes on make-up
However the social media star reveals that she really wants Instagram to be a place to showcase her art, not her looks.
'It's gotten my art more attention and that is ultimately what I want to use Instagram for but unfortunately in this day and age, being a pretty face gets you more noticed than your talent does, but I'd like to change that,' she said.
Nevertheless the dopppleganger's following has exposed her art to new audiences and Bethany is glowing with the awareness her gothic sketches and Hollywood and superhero-inspired pieces are getting.
'When I'm not in the laboratory; I'm painting, drawing or spending time with my amazing friends,' she shared.
'I'm incredibly blessed to have the things I have in life and being compared to Megan is just an added bonus,' Bethany added.
Strike a pose: In a photoshoot, above, Bethany even poses similarly to the actress, who she occasionally posts on her Instagram as beauty inspiration
Insta-famous: The young beauty, above dressed in costume, has amassed 16,000 fans for her uncanny Fox-y photos
Twinning: Bethany revealed that a positive outcome of the online flattery is the attention it has brought to not just her selfies, above, but also to her paintings and sketches that she posts
Despite her megawatt-looks, Bethany can't be bothered with intense make-up routines and reveals she only spends around 15 minutes every morning on her make-up and wardrobe routines.
'I usually wear black basic clothes as I work most of the time and haven't got time to dress up,' she revealed.
'On make-up, I spend about twenty-five dollars a month give or take and take around 15 to 20 minutes applying it every morning,' Bethany confessed.
'I'm a minimalist when it comes to my look and fashion. I might splurge on a bright red lipstick but that's about as dramatic as I get,' she said.
But with Megan Fox-esque genes like hers, her low-key beauty routine makes complete sense.
A Playboy model who has suffered through years of back pain wants to know whether her large breasts are to blame.
Lindsey Pelas, 26, discussed her busty frame during a new episode of The Doctors, which aired today.
The glamour model, from Loranger, Louisiana, explained that while her natural 30HH cups have been a part of her identity for a while, they are not without drawbacks.
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Drawbacks: Lindsey Pelas, 26, has suffered through years of back pain and bullying due to her naturally large breasts
Opening up: The glamour model, from Loranger, Louisiana, explained on a new episode of The Doctors that natural 30HH cups are not without disadvantages
Speaking out: 'There's a lot of bullies and a lot of hate for having natural large boobs,' Lindsey said. But being busty is really a part of who I am now. I feel beautiful this way'
'Having big boobs is not all it's cracked up to be,' she said. 'There's a lot of bullies and a lot of hate for having natural large boobs. But being busty is really a part of who I am now. I feel beautiful this way.'
However, her big breasts have long had a negative impact on her life, by causing her pain on a daily basis.
'Lately I've been feeling this nagging pain in the lower left side of my back in particular,' the model added. 'Some days it hurts all over. And I'm not sure where it's coming from.'
The pain has gotten so hard to bear, Lindsey, who is now based in Los Angeles, decided to go on the show to find out what is causing it.
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Hooman Melamed explained that Lindsey's spine is actually 'perfect', as shown in MRI scans and X-rays.
He suggested instead that Lindsey's frequent travels, as well as her increasing number of modeling jobs, could be the cause of her pain, because 'the body hates being in one position constantly'.
Problems: Lindsey's big breasts have long had a negative impact on her life, by causing her severe back pain on a daily basis
Taking measures: The pain has gotten so hard to bear, Lindsey, who is now based in Los Angeles, decided to go on the show to find out what is causing it
Tips: The show's experts recommended appropriate exercise to help relieve her pain, as well as wearing the right bra, and avoiding high heels when she travels
Message: Last month, the model took to Instagram to tell her six million followers she has to 'smile through the pain' in her pictures because her breasts cause intense pain in her back
Lindsey explained it is naturally harder for her to sit up right, and she has to really focus to achieve that straight posture.
The show's experts recommended appropriate exercise to help relieve her pain, as well as wearing the right bra, and avoiding high heels when she travels.
This is not the first time Lindsey opens up about the disadvantages of being busty.
Last month, the model took to Instagram to tell her six million followers she has to 'smile through the pain' in her pictures because her breasts, which weigh a whopping 11 pounds, are actually causing severe pain in her back.
Her message came next to a picture of herself in leggings and a crop top, which she decided to use as an opportunity to open up about her struggles with her body.
Remedies: The model, who describes herself as 'genetically gifted', said massages and stretching help to ease the pain on her back
Advice: Lindsey's followers flooded her Instagram with messages of support, advising her to consider having a breast reduction to help with the pain
Popular: The model has racked up 6.8 million Instagram followers and 440,000 Twitter fans
WHO IS LINDSEY PELAS? Lindsey Pelas, 26, was born in Louisiana, and received a degree in history from Louisiana State University before going on to pursue a modeling career. She started her career by shooting commercials, while still studying at college, before going on to land her first job for Playboy. The blonde is known for having a natural 30HH bust, and calls herself 'genetically gifted' on Instagram. Lindsey has racked up 6.8 million Instagram followers and 440,000 Twitter fans. She previously dated British star Calum Best, however the couple broke up when he entered the UK's Celebrity Big Brother house in 2016. Advertisement
The model admitted she was in pain when the image was taken, and opened up about the prejudice she faces because she is blonde and busty.
'Doing my best sweet and innocent face when I'm in pain. Haha. It's crazy how being busty can make people see your personality so differently,' she wrote.
'Speaking of busty, also crazy how bad my back hurts right now. Working out with roughly 11 pounds on my chest (yea I got bored one day) is really trying on my back.'
The model, who describes herself as 'genetically gifted', said massages and stretching help to ease the pain on her back.
'I have trouble keeping my body squared when stretching and I find I pull from my back (like many) when I need help pushing a weight,' she added.
'Stretching, massages and a nice new bed are helping to keep me pain-free.'
Lindsey's followers flooded her Instagram with messages of support, advising her to consider having a breast reduction to help with the pain.
Ivanka and Jared, 36, both joined President Trump and Melania at the UN yesterday, along with her brother Eric, and his wife Lara, who just gave birth
In May, Ivanka reportedly tried to convince her father to keep the US in the Paris Accord, an international agreement to try and mitigate global warming
Ironically, the drive took her more than ten times the normal time thanks to the city's one-way system and busy traffic
She then got into an SUV to make the very short trip to the Regency Hotel, which is approximately a two-minute walk away from her apartment building
The First Daughter, 35, left her home on Park Avenue this morning wearing a grey pantsuit and aviator sunglasses
Ivanka Trump has had a busy few days in her hometown of New York City - so much so that it appears she has grown too tired to make a short one-and-a-half block walk.
On Wednesday morning, the First Daughter relied on the use of an SUV to make the journey from her family's home on Park Avenue to the Regency Hotel, a trip which would take just two minutes on foot.
Ironically, traveling by car took Ivanka, 35, more than ten times the normal time, thanks to the city's one-way systems - and the additional traffic caused by the road closures around the UN for the General Assembly, the very reason that Ivanka is in town.
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Suiting up: Ivanka Trump cut a stylish figure as she stepped out in her hometown of New York City on Wednesday morning - before climbing into an SUV outside her apartment building
On her way: The 35-year-old hopped into the car soon after leaving her home on Wednesday morning, with the door held open for her by a Secret Service agent
Busy: The President's daughter was making a journey that was less than two blocks, and would have taken just two minutes to walk
Out and about: The First Daughter, 35, arrived at the Regency Hotel not long after leaving her apartment, having made a round-about trip through traffic in an SUV rather than just walking
Kicking back: Ivanka was pictured checking her phone in the back of the SUV as the car made its mammoth journey to the Regency Hotel, less than two blocks from her home
The big trip! As this map demonstrates, it would have taken Ivanka just two minutes to walk the block-and-a-half from her apartment, while the car journey was three times the distance
Indeed, Google Maps suggests that Ivanka could have reached the Regency within two minutes of leaving her home at Trump Park Avenue, illustrating a very quick and easy walk up one avenue, that requires nothing more than crossing two streets.
A car journey, on the other hand, requires a lot more time - and would have meant Ivanka traveled more than three times the necessary distance, with her SUV forced to cross to the other side of Park Avenue, drive up several blocks, cross again, and then double back, before finally delivering her at the hotel entrance.
And according to an onlooker who saw Ivanka making the journey, traveling by car appeared to be a lot more effort than it was worth, with the vehicle forced to make several diversions because of road closures and grid-locked traffic.
'Her cars had to go around [the] block to get to hotel and it took them about 20 minutes to arrive,' the source told Daily Mail Online.
The seemingly-convoluted route is all the more baffling given that Ivanka was such a strong supporter of the Paris Accord, an international agreement focused on tackling global warming in an attempt to mitigate its effects on the globe.
Back in May, both and Ivanka and her husband Jared were said to have tried to convince the president to keep the US in the accord, however he ultimately ignored their advice and announced his decision to withdraw - an announcement which neither Ivanka or Jared were there to witness.
But the impact of her SUV's emissions on the environment seem to have been lost on Ivanka, who made several trips in the large vehicle on Wednesday.
Sartorial: Ivanka was wearing a pair of kitten heels - a much lower style than she usually models, suggesting the footwear was not to blame for her tiredness
Finishing touches: She wore her long hair in a low ponytail and finished off her look with a pair of hoop earrings, along with her signature make-up featuring neutral tones
Duties: Her outing came the day after she joined world leaders to speak during a session on action to end forced labor, modern slavery and human trafficking at the United Nations
Shielded: She hid her eyes behind a pair of aviator sunglasses, which completed her outfit
Having already been out once in the morning before her trip to the Regency Hotel, Ivanka was later pictured returning to, and then leaving, her apartment in a grey pantsuit, which she paired with aviator sunglasses, a blue top, and light blue kitten heels, which brought an edgy touch to her outfit.
She wore her long hair in a low ponytail and finished off her look with a pair of hoop earrings, along with her signature make-up featuring neutral tones.
Strutting her stuff in the low heels - much lower than her usual choice of sky-high heel - Ivanka proceeded to climb into a waiting SUV, the door of which was held open for her by a waiting Secret Service agent.
The vehicle then made the trip to the Regency, less than two blocks away, where Ivanka was seen getting out of the car, before walking into the hotel.
Shortly after entering, she then returned to her apartment - once again traveling by SUV - making the overly-complicated one-block drive again in order to go home, a trip which took ten minutes this time, a short trip in comparison with the mammoth journey made to get there, but still an unnecessarily lengthy amount of time to make what should have been a two-minute trip.
'Ivanka stayed about an hour, and then she shot straight back to her apartment, which took about 10 minutes with traffic,' the onlooker revealed.
'If she walked it would have been so much easier.'
It is not known what Ivanka was doing at the hotel, however she is currently in town to support her father as he and First Lady Melania Trump attend the United Nations General Assembly.
Her latest outing actually came the day after she joined world leaders to speak during a session on action to end forced labor, modern slavery and human trafficking, and listened to her father's bombastic speech.
Finishing touches: She wore her long hair in a low ponytail and finished off her look with a pair of hoop earrings, along with her signature make-up featuring neutral tones
A pop of color: Ivanka's light blue shoes added an edgy touch to her work outfit
Transportation: She made her way to a car, which brought her to the Loews Regency Hotel
The suit life: Ivanka was pictured entering the upmarket hotel in the same grey pantsuit and lacy shoes she had first been seen wearing earlier on in the day
Ivanka, who met Monday with Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee for the Red Cross, was also set to meet with Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and to have coffee with Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.
The President's daughter and senior adviser has had a whirlwind few days during her New York City stay, from UN visits to TV interviews.
Last night, she went out for the evening and put on an incredibly glamorous display as she left her apartment, looking very chic in a black-and-white cold-shoulder dress.
Adding a bright splash of color to the monochrome ensemble, Ivanka - who was pictured without husband Jared Kushner, 36 - wore a pair of bright red patent leather slingback heels, as well as a slick of shiny scarlet lipstick.
She also gave her signature make-up look a rather glamorous boost, adding a dark smokey eye, plenty of bronzer, and some gleaming highlighter on her cheekbones.
The finishing touches were her accessories - a pair of large pearl hoop earrings, and a sleek black clutch - which tied the whole look together.
Ivanka certainly seems to have relished returning to her old stomping grounds over the past couple of days, making several bold fashion statements that have proved a real hit with photographers.
Out on the town! Last night, Ivanka looked incredibly glamorous as she left her apartment
Lady on the loose! Ivanka appeared to have left her husband Jared Kushner, 36, at home as she headed out for the night
Chic: Mother-of-three Ivanka looked incredibly stylish in an elegant black-and-white cold shoulder dress, which allowed her to show of some skin
Fierce! She paired her monochrome look with some red slingback heels and a slick of bright scarlet lipstick to add a fun pop of color
Earlier in the day on Tuesday, Ivanka showed off another chic ensemble as she made her way to the United Nations with husband Jared, in order to support her father, President Donald Trump, as he addressed the UN General Assembly for the first time.
Ivanka looked chic in a camel colored skirt with black embellishments, which she paired with a black turtleneck and the same black ankle-strap heels she wore the previous day.
The mother of three wore her long blond hair in a low bun. Her husband, meanwhile, looked businesslike in a suit and tie.
And on Monday, the First Daughter showcased a different kind of hairstyle, pulling her blonde locks back in a loose low ponytail, adding a girly twist in the form of a black ribbon.
She wore a black dress with a red floral design and peplum, and the same simple black ankle-strap heels she was seen wearing again on Tuesday.
It was a special day for the family, especially because Ivanka and Jared were able to meet their nephew Luke for the first time.
Ivanka's brother Eric and his wife Lara welcomed Eric 'Luke' Trump into the world last Tuesday, but the couple was in Washington, D.C. and wasn't able to see the baby.
The proud aunt took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a photo of herself holding the newborn.
'Cuddling my little nephew Luke... my favorite part of an incredible day!' she added.
Working: Yesterday, Ivanka joined world leaders to speak during a session titled 'A Call to Action To End Forced Labour, Modern Slavery And Human Trafficking'
Job: The First Daughter is also her father's senior adviser and as joined him at the UN
Awesome outfit: Ivanka looked chic in a camel colored skirt with black embellishments, which she paired with a black turtleneck and the same black ankle-strap heels
Official duties: Ivanka and Jared attended her father's first address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday and was pictured along with her brother Eric and his wife Lara
Looking on: Ivanka and Jared joined new parents Lara and Eric as President Trump addressed the assembly during the opening session of the General Debate
But Ivanka's trip to New York hasn't just been about family and fashion; on Monday, she taped an episode of Dr. Oz - set to air on Thursday - and during the interview, revealed that she suffered from postpartum depression after the birth of all three of her children: Arabella, six, Joseph, three, and Theodore, their youngest, aged one, according to E! News.
'With each of my three children I had some level of postpartum,' she admitted.
After Dr. Oz asked her to clarify her statement, she confirmed that she had suffered from postpartum depression.
'It was a very challenging, emotional time for me because I felt like I was not living up to my potential as a parent or as an entrepreneur and as an executive,' she said. 'And I had had such easy pregnancies that in some way the juxtaposition hit me even harder.'
Ivanka admitted during the interview that she didn't realize she was willing to discuss something as personal as postpartum depression, until she had been asked the question.
'It's incredibly important and look I consider myself a very hard-charging person, I am ambitious, I'm passionate, I'm driven, but this is something that affects parents all over the country,' she said.
Addressing her critics: Ivanka also insisted during the conversation that it is not her 'obligation to moderate' her father
Stating her case: While speaking with Dr. Oz for the segment, which airs on Thursday, Ivanka said people misunderstand her role as a White House senior adviser
During the interview, Ivanka also spoke out about her role within the White House, revealing that she doesn't believed it is her 'obligation to moderate' her father, as she insists her critics misunderstand her role as a White House senior adviser, addressing the expectation that she should be a moderating force in President Trump's administration.
'I think my role and [the role of] anyone who works for the President of the United States, their role is to inform, advise and then ultimately execute,' she said. 'So I am not the decision maker.
'I have my views and I share them candidly and as a daughter I have the latitude to do that,' she continued. 'But I also respect the process that my father is now president, and the America people elected him based on his agenda. My job isn't to undermine that agenda.'
Ivanka went on to say that her role is to 'embrace the areas where there is commonality', explaining she is 'deeply passionate about fueling the grown of women entrepreneurs' and 'supporting American working families'.
Trump's eldest daughter said she feels 'privileged' that he has given her a platform to push the areas and issues that are important to her when they are aligned with his agenda.
'Where I disagree with the agenda, I will share it with him quietly,' she added. 'I don't view it as my obligation to moderate. And I dont think anyone working for a sitting president should see themselves in that capacity.'
Full house: Ivanka and Jared are parents to a daughter, Arabella, six, and two sons, Joseph, three, and Theodore, one, and she had postpartum depression after all three births
Auntie: Ivanka shared this picture of herself cuddling with her new nephew Luke, Eric and Lara's newborn son, on what she deemed 'an incredible day'
Proud parents: Lara also posted this photo of herself posing with Eric and little Luke at Trump Tower on Tuesday, wishing the newborn a 'happy one week on Earth'
Many of Ivanka's critics accuse her of being a fake feminist, and those who thought she would be a moderating force in the White House have been disappointed in her inability to affect her father's agenda.
While refusing to name the first daughter directly, Hillary Clinton recently shared her belief that Ivanka should be her 'held accountable' for supporting his agenda.
'Everyone associated with him, they're either on-board with that, or they're not, and if they're not, they need to be speaking out or leaving,' she said in an interview.
During the taping, Ivanka also commented on Hillary's newly-published book, What Happened, in which the former Democratic candidate reveals her tale of the election that saw Ivanka's father become commander in chief.
'Was blown away by how beautiful and elegant Ivanka Trump was,' an audience member wrote on Facebook.
'The highlight of the show was when Ivanka joked about taking over her fathers Twitter account. Im surprised she even commented on [Hillary Clintons] book '
Chrissy Teigen has been a vocal critic of President Trump and his administration on Twitter, and she had no problem calling out his eldest daughter Ivanka for sharing a tweet with a blatant grammatical error on Tuesday.
After watching her father speak at the United Nations General Assembly, Ivanka, 35, took to her social media pages to share a photo of herself holding her new nephew Luke in Trump Tower, writing: 'Cuddling my little nephew Luke... the best part of an otherwise incredible day!'
Chrissy, 31, quickly pointed out Ivanka's poor word choice on Twitter, explaining: '"Otherwise" implies you did not like hangin with this baby' and she wasn't the only one to mock the first daughter for her embarrassing error.
Going public: Chrissy Teigen (left) pointed out Ivanka Trump's grammatical error on Twitter after the first daughter (right) misused the word 'otherwise'
Whoops! Ivanka, 35, shared a photo of herself holding her nephew Luke on Tuesday, calling it 'the best part of an otherwise incredible day'
Watch your wods: Chrissy, 31, poked fun at Ivanka's grammatical error on Twitter, explaining: '"Otherwise" implies you did not like hangin with this baby'
'Doesn't she mean the rest of the day was incredible, and cuddling her nephew was even better?' Tom Davies asked, and Chrissy doubled down when she responded: 'Overall, is the word.'
Ivanka's younger brother Eric and his wife Lara welcomed their baby boy into the world last week, and Tuesday was the first time she got to meet the little boy.
Although most people understood what Ivanka was trying to say in her tweet, plenty of people roasted her for implying the exact opposite of what she meant.
Echoing Chrissy's sentiments, Raquel Hinson tweeted: 'Girl either hates her nephew or doesn't know what otherwise means.'
No excuses: Chrissy went on to note that 'overall' was the word Ivanka should have used
Caught you: Chrissy wasn't the only Twitter user who noticed Ivanka's glaring mistake
Hmm: Raquel Hinson joked that Ivanka either 'hates her nephew' or she 'doesn't know what otherwise means
'Otherwise': A woman named Shawna shared a meme from Princess Bride
'Words mean things,' a woman named Hollie added. 'This makes no sense, dude.'
And a person known as 'amn' on Twitter referenced Ivanka starting college at Georgetown University before she transferred to the University of Pennsylvania.
'That Georgetown education shining here,' the person wrote. 'My state college education would tell me this reads as though your nephew ruined a good day.'
Chrissy was undoubtedly one of the most famous people to point out Ivanka's error, and just a few months ago she was relishing in the fact that President Trump finally unfollowed.
'After nine years of hating Donald J Trump, telling him "lol no one likes you" was the last straw,' she tweeted in July, sharing a screengrab of the message stating that @realDonaldTrump had blocked her.
'Words mean things': Another Twitter user named Holly stressed that Ivanka's tweet 'makes no sense'
'Georgetown education shining here': Another person referenced Ivanka starting college at Georgetown University before she transferred to the University of Pennsylvania
Sharing her opinion: Kayleigh Donaldson also suggested that Ivanka's doesn't know what the word otherwise means
Standing up for her beliefs: Chrissy, who is pictured with her daughter Luna, has been a vocal critic of President Trump and his administration
The last straw: A few months ago, Chrissy revealed that President Trump finally blocked her after she tweeted that no one likes him
As for Ivanka, Chrissy has made it clear that she doesn't think Ivanka should support her father, but she stated last year that she thought Trump's eldest daughter 'should probably run for office one day'.
However, it's unclear if her feelings toward Ivanka has changed since she has been working as a White House senior adviser.
'First of all, I think Ivanka seems like an incredibly wonderful businesswoman and mother,' Chrissy said in a September 2016 interview with Glamour.
'She has enviable poise and grace in a very difficult position. But I'll say this: I love my dad to death. But holy s**t, I would not advise you to vote for him for president. Ron Teigen Sr. and Donald Trump Sr. both have matching political qualifications: zero.
'Many (most) of Ivanka's ideals are the platform of the democratic party,' she added.
Americans who are married or in relationships appear to be more wistful about their exes than those who are single.
A new study by British drugstore Superdrug looks at the social media stalking behavior of Americans and Europeans, examining how frequent and how in-depth their stalking gets.
One of its most interesting findings concerns just how much people are prone to checking up on exes online: According to their research, people in the US who are married or in relationships are more likely to click over to their exes' social media pages than those who aren't committed to anyone.
Surprising: A new survey looks at social media stalking behavior, and found that 56.5% of single Americans stalk their exes, compared to 65.8% of married people
Of those surveyed, just 56.5 per cent of single Americans admitted to stalking their exes on social media at least occasionally, with most doing so once a month or less.
On the married people polled, however, 65.8 per cent said they check up on old boyfriends and girlfriends, and 66.7 per cent of those in a relationship answered the same way.
What's more, none of the single respondents admitted to checking an ex's profiles more than once a day but a small percentage of attached people did.
(Over in Europe, it looks less bleak for married people: The study found more singles did the ex-stalking than people who were married or otherwise attached.)
Genderless: Men and women seem to do about the same amount of social media stalking
The rest of the survey looked at how people stalk their crushes, not their exes. Interestingly, American men and women harboring romantic feelings for someone else are about equally likely to stalk them online with just 16.3 per cent of men and 13 per cent of women saying they 'never' do.
Women, however, are slightly more likely to stalk more frequently.
And what does this stalking entail, exactly? According to all 1,000 people surveyed (both Americans and Europeans), the most frequent examples are looking at a crush's social media pages for a couple of minutes (73.7 per cent), adding that crush as a friend or following them (32.1 per cent), and looking at that crush's friends' profiles (29.7 per cent).
About a quarter of participants admitted to sending their crushes a message and looking at their pages for more than 15 minutes.
Popular: The most common types, when it comes to staking a crush, are looking at social media pages and sending a message
Only a small percentage admitted to diving really deep: 2.6 per cent said they found their crush's number online, 2.9 per cent said they tried to log in to a crush's page, and 4 per cent sent several messages without receiving a response.
Sometimes, all this online research can have some embarrassing results. While a quarter of Americans polled said they'd confessed to a crush that they looked at their pictures, 10.4 per cent said they accidentally mentioned information they found out online.
That number is even higher across the pond, with 24.2 per cent of Europeans unintentionally letting things slip.
But how 'creepy' are these behaviors, really? Respondents were also asked to rank the creep factor of certain stalking behaviors from 1 to 10 to find out.
Whoops! Europeans are much more likely to confess to a crush that they looked at their pictures and accidentally admit to knowing too much
It's all there: Facebook is still the most popular tool for adults stalking online
In the US, both men and women said that someone 'trying to log into your social media accounts' was the most creepy thing yet women rated that at just 6.6 on a scale of 1 to 10, and men just a 6.4.
Also found to be above-average creepy by both sexes is having someone track your location, find out where you will be and pretending to run into you, and finding your number to text you.
Women found it creepier when men send them multiple messages without a response, a warning some men may want to take heed of.
Neither sex appeared to find it too creepy when others look at their social media profiles for an extended period of time, send messages, or post something with the intention of someone specific seeing it.
President and Co-Founder of the Acton Institute, Rev. Robert Sirico is quoted in an article published at Crux, praising President Trump for his remarks concerning Venezuelas current social and economic state of chaos.
The problem in Venezuela is not that socialism has been poorly implemented, but that socialism has been faithfully implemented, said Trump on Tuesday in his first address to the General Assembly of the United Nations.
Sirico tells Crux that he was relieved and encouraged to hear President Trumps remarks at the U.N. about the causes for the social, political, and economic dislocation it is presently experiencing.
Read the whole article, including Siricos remarks, here.
(Featured Image: By Carlos Diaz from Venezuela (Jovenes encadenados en Altamira, 2014 Dic 21) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons)
Prince William appeared to hint that the due date of his third child might be earlier than expected as he chatted with a trainee midwife during a charity visit.
The Duke of Cambridge jokingly told student Grace Gunn, 19, that she might see him 'sooner' than she thought when the pair met yesterday at the east London-based Spitalfields Crypt Trust.
As he said his goodbyes, William, 35, said to the teenager: 'All the best with the midwifery - might see you sooner than you think.'
It came after the royal let slip last week that he had been 'a bit anxious to start with but [we can] start celebrating this week,' suggesting the Duchess of Cambridge might be further along in her pregnancy than previously speculated.
Slip of the tongue? Prince William jokingly told a trainee midwife that she might see him 'sooner' than she thought as he visited an east London charity yesterday, pictured
Kate, 35, is planning to make her first public appearance since announcing her pregnancy more than two weeks ago. Pictured, during her last official appearance on August 30
Meanwhile Kate, 35, who was last seen in public on August 30, appears to be preparing to return to royal duties after taking time off due to severe morning sickness.
Kensington Palace today named the duchess as one of the co-hosts of a Buckingham Palace reception due to be held next month.
Alongside Princes William and Harry, she is set to welcome guests to an event celebrating the contribution of those working in the mental health sector.
The development suggests the duchess is starting to see an improvement in her health after she was struck down with Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), a complication that causes excessive nausea and vomiting which Kate suffered during her first two pregnancies.
The illness meant Kate and William were forced to make an early pregnancy announcement a fortnight ago.
As William said his goodbyes at the Spitalfields Crypt Trust yesterday, pictured, he told a trainee midwife: 'All the best with the midwifery - might see you sooner than you think'
Since then the Duchess has been forced to miss a number of planned engagements, including her son's Prince George's first day of school, because of the condition.
However, her husband, Prince William, told well-wishers that she was 'doing well' during a visit to Liverpool earlier this month.
Last week he also appeared to let slip at the time that Kate was 11 weeks pregnant. This would mean the baby could be due as early as March next year.
While supporters are eagerly awaiting the duchess' return to public life, they were treated to new images of the royal when she appeared in a charity video about children's mental health that was released earlier this week.
Growing family: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, pictured with George and Charlotte during their European tour, are preparing to welcome their third child together next year
On Monday Kate launched the 'You're never too young to talk mental health' campaign by the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families.
In a video recorded in January, several months before she is believed to have fallen pregnant, Kate urged parents to encourage their children to be 'open about their feelings'.
Donning a 1,600 Eponine blue coat, the well-spoken duchess also called on people to speak out when they have feelings that are 'too big to manage on our own'.
The campaign, which aims to promote mental health awareness in schools, includes a video introduction from Kate, which she recorded on a visit to the Child Bereavement UK Centre in East London in January this year.
on every episode of the Bake Off so far
The Great British Bake Off is renowned for its sexual innuendos - so viewers with filthy minds were quick to compare judge Prue Leith's unusual bead necklace to a sex toy during Tuesday night's episode.
Bake Off fans made the hilarious comparison while watching the Caramel Week episode, for which Prue, 77, sported a black string necklace adorned with several large beads in primary colours.
Unfortunately for Prue, viewers said the necklace looked very much like a string of anal beads - a string of spheres that are inserted into the rectum - as well as a number of other household items, including Christmas tree lights and a coat rack.
Viewers back home couldn't resist mocking the jewellery on social media - especially as it's not the first time the Cordon Bleu-trained chef has sported quirky accessories on the Channel 4 show.
Prue's colourful bead necklace from Tuesday night's episode was compared to a sex toy by some naughty fans on social media
One fan said: 'So Prue accidentally put anal beads around her neck today instead of a necklace.'
Another said: 'Wonder if Prue's necklace doubles up as Xmas tree lights.'
The necklaces was also compared to a coat rack, the solar system, a model from a chemistry set, or 'like something from the Early Learning Centre'.
One viewer wondered if Prue would audition for the next series of Netflix's horror thriller Stranger Things, which features Christmas lights that can be used to communicate to the terrifying The Upside Down world.
Prue's unusual necklace caught the attention of viewers on Tuesday night, and they compared it to a number of household items
Prue has sported strange accessories throughout her time on Bake Off since the show moved to Channel 4, such as this black and white bead necklace from Bread Week
It's not the first time that Prue has sported an unusual necklace on the show.
For Bread Week, the culinary veteran wore another beaded necklace that featured one white bead, one black bead and then a large circle of black cord.
One Bake Off viewer tweeted: 'I tell you what she's never had before - a normal necklace'.
Other than a controversial taste in necklaces, Prue, a former restaurateur who founded the eponymous Leith's School of Food and Wine, has had a major image overhaul in her senior years.
When she first opened her Michelin-starred restaurant Leith's in 1969, Prue was a 60s glamour puss wearing short skirts to show off her long legs and a cropped but bouffant haircut that framed her baby face and doe eyes.
Prue Leith was a glamour puss when she was younger in the 1960s, with a preference for short skirts to show off her long legs (left), as well as long satin dresses. Her hair was cropped as it is now but more bouffant
Prue hasn't always been the style icon some are hailing as now. She was pictured in a number of frumpy dresses that hid her trim figure (left) or tomboyish trousers and shirts in her middle aged years (right)
She has been hailed as a style icon in her late 70s thanks to an updated, tousled haircut and thick navy glasses that frame her face
But as she became middle aged, she sported frumpy shapeless dresses or tomboyish trousers that hid her trim figure.
Her haircut, meanwhile, hadn't changed much from the 1960s.
But nowadays, her hair is in a flattering quiff-like cut which she styles and lifts with product.
Her love of sharp, monochrome outfits complement her figure and her face is framed by set off by her thick dark navy rimmed glasses.
Her image has been so overhauled that she has been hailed as a new style icon.
It's just her taste in necklaces that many Bake Off fans would say needs revising.
A heartbroken father, who shared his four-year-old daughter's pain and suffering as she battled cancer through a harrowing photograph that captured hearts around the world, has today revealed he kept her body at home for 24 hours after she died.
Andy Whelan, 31, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, released a black and white image of Jessica grimacing and crying during chemotherapy to treat her neuroblastoma.
Just three weeks later she passed away on Sunday November 20 at 7am.
Speaking for the first time, exclusively to MailOnline, since losing his 'daddy's girl', Mr Whelan said he and his partner, Nicky Prendergrast, 29, made the decision that Jessica should spend her final night in her own bed after she died. It allowed him to cuddle up to her and also read her favourite story to her.
Mr Whelan has struggled with deep depression since losing Jessica but said he treasures those last few hours.
'With her passing on a Sunday, there wasnt a lot of knowledge as to what was going to happen and the last thing we wanted was for her to be taken on a Sunday just to be laid on a slab in an environment we dont know.
'We had family that wanted to come down and say their goodbyes in the comfort of our home and our surroundings, not a funeral home and coffin.
'On the Sunday evening I read her favourite story to her and we were able to cuddle up to her.'
Jessica's body was picked up at 11.30am the next day. She was taken to Manchester University Hospital for a post-mortem to check she was healthy enough to donate her tissue towards a cure.
Mr Whelan, who is now backing a World Child Cancer campaign to raise awareness of a disparity in treatment across the world.
Here he shares the turmoil he and his family have faced in the last 10 months as they cope with the loss of Jessica. Mr Whelan reveals he has battled depression and suffered from nightmares.
He also confesses he is tormented by milestones and why the distressing image of her agony will forever serve a permanent reminder that he and his partner made the right decision to end her treatment and let her go.
Andy Whelan, 31, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, released the black and white image of Jessica, whose bravery captured hearts around the world, grimacing in pain as she struggled against the terminal disease last November
She was robbed of her life on Sunday, November 20 at 7am, just three weeks after the harrowing snap was taken during chemotherapy to treat her neuroblastoma. Mr Whelan has had a long, gripping battle with depression since her death
Jessica's last weeks were spent being nursed by her parents and sleeping alongside them
'For the last few number of weeks we had moved her into our old bedroom and reshuffled it so she could be budged up alongside ours to sleep directly next to me.
'We spoke in regards to us keeping her at home until the Monday so that we could spend that final time with her before she was taken from us.
'So on the day she passed away, we moved her bed back into her bedroom and set everything back up again.
'We had spent a lot of time with her in the final weeks and days at our bedside, but we thought it was only right that she was able to spend one final night in her bedroom.'
Battling tears, he added: 'Its hard to gauge, but when she first passed away there was almost a sense of relief because shed been through so much, especially in those final two weeks.
'The day she actually passed away, wed almost been praying, begging for her to go to sleep and not wake up.'
Speaking for the first time since, Mr Whelan, who honed his photography skills as an escape from his gut-wrenching reality, said he and his partner, Nicky Prendergrast, 29, wanted her to spend her final night in her own bed
Getting clearance to keep her at home to give family the chance to pay their final respects, Mr Whelan was able to spend one last precious evening with 'daddy's little girl' and treasure her very last moments
NEUROBLASTOMA: THE FACTS Neuroblastoma is a cancer of specialised nerve cells in the nervous system and other tissues. Fewer than 100 children in the UK are diagnosed each year with the disease and most are diagnosed when they are younger than five. It is the second most common solid tumour in childhood, and it makes up eight per cent of the total number of children's cancers. Source: Macmillan Cancer Support Advertisement
Gripped by depression, tormented by nightmares and haunted by milestones
Ten months after the death of his daughter, Mr Whelan, who is a second year photography student at Blackburn University, is only now beginning to come to terms with her death.
In the time that has passed, he has been gripped by depression, tormented by nightmares of Jessica in some of her worst moments and had to endure hard milestones - of her birthday and his.
Only when he feels strong enough is he able to look at pictures of Jessica. Even videos of the youngster in the run-up to her death remain unwatched because to hear her voice saddens him.
WHAT IS THE CAMPAIGN? The Stop the Childhood Cancer Clock campaign revolves around raising awareness of the disparity in access to cancer treatment across the world. Mr Whelan, whose images of his daughter moved the world last year, has teamed up with the World Child Cancer appeal. They hope to highlight what children in developing countries can achieve if they are given the gift of growing up. Every three minutes a child with cancer dies in a developing country, figures obtained by the charity show. In the developed world, a child with cancer has an 80 per cent chance of survival. In the developing world this can be as low as 10 per cent. The powerful photo series, taken by Mr Whelan, shows the incredible things children can achieve if they are given the gift of growing up. Scroll down for more information Advertisement
Mr Whelan, who was only getting five hours sleep each night, told MailOnline: 'We're starting to get over that [her death] now. Obviously Ive been through things in life before, but nothing like this.
'This wasnt just bad moods, this was a severe depression that no matter what I did, I couldnt physically get up and do things, I was just functioning, basically surviving.
It was only when his best friend pulled him to one side and said he needed help because he was a shadow of his former-self that he sought help.
In May, doctors gave him antidepressants which took two months to kick in. Despite the medication, and taking up jiu jitsu to keep his mind busy, he has said he wont ever be the same man.
Mr Whelan, who is beginning to get his energy back from such a gruelling experience, added: Im never going to feel like that fully, because Jessica was such a massive part of who I am and who Ive become.
'Its hard to remember Jessica in any kind of happy state, the good memories can be quickly taken over by the more recent ones, the pain and the suffering. There were some nightmares and dreams that would wake you up.
Mr Whelan, who is now backing a World Child Cancer campaign to raise awareness of a disparity in treatment across the world, heartbreakingly revealed how that evening he read Jessica her favourite story and cuddled up to her
He told MailOnline: 'For the last few number of weeks we had moved her into our old bedroom and reshuffled it so she could be budged up alongside ours to sleep directly next to me'
'It was memories of Jessica and they were almost surreal. They were of her coming to the side of my bed like she used to, but followed by flashing images of after she passed away.'
Mr Whelan added: 'This Saturday is two years since she was diagnosed, in a couple of months itll be a year since she passed away, so we are going to hit some hard milestones.
We had family that wanted to come down and say their goodbyes in the comfort of our home and our surroundings, not a funeral home and coffin Andy Whelan, 31
'Weve had some already, her birthday in January this year was extremely hard. So was my birthday (June 31), I didnt even celebrate because I couldnt.
'I couldnt celebrate it for my own sake at the time, because of the thoughts of last years birthday with Jess, and those beforehand, obviously had a big impact.'
Mr Whelan is now backing a World Child Cancer campaign to highlight what children can achieve if they are given the gift of growing up.
Anyone wanting to donate to Stop the Childhood Cancer Clock initiative can do so here or by texting 'GROW35 3' to 70070.
For every 1 donated during the appeal, the Government will also contribute 1 as part of the UK aid match.
'WE TOOK THE PHOTO TO REMIND US WE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION' Mr Whelan never intended to publish the harrowing picture that went viral and touched the hearts of strangers across the world, from Colombia to Russia, weeks before Jessica's death in November last year. Instead, he and his partner released the candid photograph to remind themselves the decision to stop treatment early was the right one - to rid her of the unbearable discomfort she had to endure. Doctors said the treatment she was undergoing would have prolonged her life by a couple of precious months - but Mr Whelan said the physical cost wasn't worth it. He told MailOnline: 'I didn't set out to take the photo that has become so well known, it was a moment of her being in massive amounts of discomfort. Mr Whelan and his partner released the candid photograph to remind themselves the decision to stop Jessica's treatment early was the right one 'In all honesty, we were never going to publish that, it was taken because we had some extra decision to stop her treatment. It wasn't working anyway, but we could have prolonged her life by a month or two, but at what physical cost to her? 'I wanted to capture the moment of her in pain, so if we ever had any doubts in the future, we could look back on that record and know we made the right decision and remind ourselves of what she went through. Jessica was diagnosed with a stage four neuroblastoma in September 2015 - despite doctors initially blaming a bone infection for the pain she had to endure in her arms and shoulders. Her treatment was stopped last October, in a desperate attempt to allow her to enjoy whatever time she had left, and doctors gave her just weeks to live. Even a clinical drug trial was unable to stop the tumour from ravaging her body, prompting doctors to turn their attention to treatment that would prolong her life - not cure her. The family had aimed to raise 20,000, but the target was smashed in a matter of hours after the photograph - which her father described as the 'true face of cancer' - was published on Jessica's blog, which now has 136,000 followers. Mr Whelan was bombarded with more than 3,000 emails, Facebook messages and texts from well-wishers all over the world since the photograph was published, including former One Direction star Harry Styles who granted her dying wish of recording a video message for her. Advertisement
Jessica was diagnosed with a stage four neuroblastoma in September 2015 - despite doctors initially blaming a bone infection for the pain she had to endure in her arms and shoulders
Her treatment was stopped last October, in a desperate attempt to allow her to enjoy whatever time she had left, and doctors gave her just weeks to live. She passed away on November 20
Even a clinical drug trial was unable to stop the tumour from ravaging her small body, prompting doctors to turn their attention to treatment that would prolong Jessica's life - not cure her of the disease
Mr Whelan, who now has 136,000 followers on Jessica's memorial Facebook page, posted the candid photo to raise awareness of childhood cancer
Within 24 hours of publishing Jessicas photo in November, it reached half a million people. The outpouring of empathy, from kind-hearted strangers dotted around the world, including Colombia and Russia, was overwhelming
Mr Whelan was bombarded with more than 3,000 emails, Facebook messages and texts from well-wishers all over the world since the photograph was published, including former One Direction star Harry Styles who granted her dying wish of recording a video message for her
Ten months on from her death, Mr Whelan, who is a second year photography student at Blackburn University, is only just starting to get over it. In the time that has passed, he has battled severe depression and suffered vivid nightmares of Jessica
After her death, Mr Whelan suffered nightmares. He said that all of his memories of Jessica, who endured excruciating pain, came back to haunt him
Mr Whelan said: 'At first, it was hard to remember Jessica not being there. All the memories I had were of her being ill, some of the worst moments they come back and haunt you, those'
Mr Whelan is now backing a World Child Cancer campaign to highlight what children can achieve if they are given the gift of growing up
Mr Whelan, whose images of his daughter moved the world last year, has teamed up with the World Child Cancer appeal
The powerful photo series, taken by Mr Whelan, shows the incredible things children can achieve if they are given the gift of growing up (Max, aged one, dreams of becoming a zoo keeper when he grows up)
A mother left blinded, bald and paralysed by a parasite lurking in her contact lenses has vowed to move 10,000 miles to the UK for free NHS treatment.
Claire Wilkinson, 38, from Brisbane, has battled the acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) parasite for a decade - despite doctors initially saying she had conjunctivitis.
'The B****' - Mrs Wilkinson's name for the parasite, left her unable to go out in the light, forcing her to take sunglasses and wear a towel over her head each time she ventured outside. Her feet also swelled to twice their normal size.
But treatment failed to kill the microscopic infection, which she could feel crawling across her eye. Instead, it caused agonising ulcers to her left eye, brain surgery triggered a stroke and a complete corneal transplant proved unsuccessful.
Describing her ordeal, the former doctor's receptionist added: 'I've been through childbirth, I've dislocated my knee repeatedly but this pain was 100 times what I experienced with both.
'I was in such agony I wanted to die. It felt like shards of glass were ripping through my eye.
'I could tell when it was awake and when it was snoozing. The B**** went on to have parasite babies in my eye. It was disgusting.'
Despite being far from cured, Mrs Wilkinson, whose husband David Rochford, 44, now acts as her full-time carer, has been told there is no further treatment available for her in Australia.
Mrs Wilkinson now hopes to be treated at London's world-renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital, emigrating to the UK in four years time when her daughter is old enough for them to make the move.
Mrs Wilkinson said: 'I've been told the technology isn't available. But, I'm hopeful, there might be in London.
Claire Wilkinson, 38, from Brisbane, has battled the acanthamoeba keratitis parasite for a decade - despite doctors initially saying she had conjunctivitis
'The B****' left her unable to go out in the light, forcing her to take sunglasses and wear a towel over her head each time she ventured outside (pictured with her son Connor before her ordeal)
'I know of an operation in London which they wouldn't perform in Australia but I am hopeful would cure me of pain.
'My daughter will be leaving school in four years and afterwards we intend to move to the UK. It's a big move, but I would do anything to get better.
'As soon as my youngest child finishes school, my husband and I plan to leave Australia and try and get free NHS treatment. I cannot live with my eye like it is.
'If someone said your condition could be improved by knocking on 10 million doors and asking for a dollar from each person, I would get walking.'
When did her ordeal begin?
Mrs Wilkinson's ordeal began back in February 2007, when one morning she put her contact lenses in, like usual.
But it had not been until she got to work 30 minutes later, that she started feeling unbearable pain in her left eye.
From then on, even the slightest amount of light caused her unbearable trauma. If she went out, she wore sunglasses and a towel over her head.
But treatment failed to kill the microscopic infection, which she could feel crawling across her eye. Instead, it caused agonising ulcers to her left eye
Despite being far from cured, Mrs Wilkinson, whose husband David Rochford, 44, now acts as her full-time carer, has been told there is no further treatment available for her in Australia
Mrs Wilkinson's feet also swelled to twice their normal size as a result of the infection
Mrs Wilkinson said: 'I've been through childbirth, I've dislocated my knee repeatedly but this pain was 100 times what I experienced with both'
Visiting a local GP, she was diagnosed with the common eye infection conjunctivitis - an inflammation of the outermost layer of the eye.
Mrs Wilkinson said: 'I knew it wasn't that. I knew conjunctivitis wasn't meant to be that painful.'
Later that night, she felt something crawling across her eye. She added: 'That was agony. Then, later, it stopped.
Visiting an eye specialist
Four days later, Mrs Wilkinson, who lost her hair during the illness, saw an eye specialist at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Queensland.
They scraped off a layer of her cornea and it was confirmed she had the AK parasite in her left eye. She said: 'I couldn't believe it.'
AK is an infection of the cornea, the clear 'window' at the front of the eye, and can be very painful.
The infection is caused by a microscopic organism called acanthamoeba, which is common in nature and is usually found in bodies of water as well as tap water.
But Mrs Wilkinson said she contracted it from her contact lenses, after using ineffective contact lens solution, which was subsequently recalled over safety fears.
As a result, she received a six-figure pay-out out-of-court.
The attempted treatments
In an attempt to kill the parasite, which had eaten into her cornea and optic nerve, she was given strong eye drops to use every 15 minutes for seven weeks.
Mrs Wilkinson, who lost her hair during the 10-year battle, said she contracted it from her contact lenses, after using ineffective contact lens solution
Mrs Wilkinson now hopes to be treated at Moorfields Eye Hospital, emigrating to the UK when her daughter is old enough (pictured in hospital ahead of her brain injury surgery)
THE PARASITE IN TAP WATER Though rare, acanthamoeba keratitis is both an extremely painful and sight-threatening condition. The organism eats the cornea, the transparent cover of the eye, says Parwez Hossain, a consultant ophthalmologist at Southampton General Hospital's eye unit. Left to burrow, the amoeba can penetrate through the eyeball, causing total vision loss within weeks. 'The condition is pure torture the amoeba is attacking the nerves of the cornea and treatment itself is very painful,' Mr Hossain previously said. 'It can involve a year of regular and toxic eye drops. 'The problem is that people have no idea of the risks of swimming or showering while wearing lenses.' What's more, cases are on the rise. 'At Southampton we have noticed an increase, as have other eye units around the country, perhaps due to a lack of awareness of contact lens hygiene,' Mr Hossain added. A letter from doctors at Bristol Eye Hospital to the BMJ stated that many acanthamoeba keratitis patients had been washing lenses in tap water and showering or swimming wearing them. And there are many more common eye infections linked to poor lens hygiene that can have similarly devastating results. Not changing contact lenses when you're supposed to is another problem. But by far the biggest culprit for infections is not replacing your lens case every month. Over time, cracks in the case can form in which micro-organisms can thrive. For contact lens advice visit www.bcla.org.uk. Advertisement
Mrs Wilkinson added: 'They caused agonising ulcers to my left eye. On top of that I was exhausted. I had to just lie in the dark, as the drops made being in the light painful.
'After two weeks, I was so tired I could barely stand. So, I went to stay at my mum Carron's house nearby. She would drop them in my eye in the night, so I didn't have to get up.'
But, 10 months later, the parasite returned and, once again, she had drops and it appeared to be killed off.
At the Princess Alexandra Hospital in 2008 she also had injections in the affected eye aimed at numbing it, so she was no longer in pain.
Despite the parasite appearing to have gone, Mrs Wilkinson was still experiencing relentless discomfort.
A cornea transplant had failed and she was taking 38 tablets a day, together with pain relief injections every few hours.
Unbearable pain
Because of the parasite eating her eye, she was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia - extreme and sudden facial pain.
Mrs Wilkinson said. 'It has been described as one of the most painful conditions known.'
Desperate to be pain-free, she was delighted to be offered brain surgery in 2011, at the Princess Alexandra where medics planned to cut the nerves to her face, paralysing it, and stopping her agony.
But, during surgery, Mrs Wilkinson, step-mother to Lachlan, 19, and mother to Connor, 15, and Abbee-Louise, 13, suffered a stroke.
Mrs Wilkinson added: 'There was a one in 10,000 risk of this happening and the hospital was blameless. I was just unlucky.
'But, for months after the stroke, I was paralysed and bedbound. I couldn't eat. It was horrible for my children, seeing their mum bedbound and tube fed.'
Following intensive physiotherapy, in early 2012 she learned to walk again. But her extreme trauma made her hair fall out and her stroke caused her feet to swell.
British pets and their owners are at risk of a parasitic eye worm that can lead to blindness from dogs imported from Europe, a study warned.
The parasite is spread by a species of fruit fly recently found in southern England, leading to fears it could spread to wild animals such as foxes that might act as a reservoir if it gains a foothold.
But humans can get infected too as it can jump between species, according to research from the Veterinary Record.
Thelazia callipaeda also known as oriental eye worm is increasingly common in Europe while the fruit fly Phortica variegata has been found in Gloucestershire, Kent and Berkshire.
The first known case of the eyeworm infection in the UK was found in an one-year-old male collie cross recently imported from western Romania just last July.
British pets and their owners are at risk of oriental eye worm after cases have emerged in the UK experts have warned (stock photo)
It was later found in a 12-year-old female wire hair fox terrier had been in Lombardia and an eight-year-old female West Highland white terrier taken to the Dordogne that summer.
All had a UK pet passport and the emerging infections highlights the danger the free movement of pets poses to animals and humans in the British isles.
FIRST UK ORIENTAL EYEWORM CASE Parasitologists from the University of Liverpool reported the UKs first known case of oriental eye worm last August in a dog that was imported from Romania. All visible worms were removed from the dog and sent to Liverpool Veterinary Parasitology Diagnostics, where they were identified as thelazia callipaeda. Writing in Veterinary Record letters, the researchers said: 'This case raises awareness of a new imported disease and highlights the ongoing risks associated with pet travel and importation, and the need for vigilance when examining these animals.' Advertisement
'Hyperendemic' in some countries
Now scientists have urged vets and GPs to be vigilant to the emerging parasitic threat and called for the loophole in the pet passport scheme to be closed so all pets travelling to high risk areas are given eye drops to kill the parasite.
Infections have been confirmed in Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Greece, Belgium and Serbia.
In some locations, such as the Basilicata region in the heel of Italy, infection is hyperendemic, with the reported prevalence in dogs exceeding 40 per cent.
And infections in humans have been found in Spain, Italy, France, Croatia and Serbia demonstrating that it can jump from species.
Adult worms live in the eyes and tissues and infected animals show a variety of symptoms within two weeks, from mild conjunctivitis to severe corneal ulceration which, if untreated, can lead to blindness.
Postdoctoral Research Associate John Graham-Brown at the Liverpool Veterinary Parasitology Diagnostics, University of Liverpool said: The risks of introducing such parasitic agents to the UK posed by importation and or travel of dogs abroad have been raised and illustrated on multiple occasions, while widespread media reports of large-scale illegal importation of dogs to the UK are clearly also of concern.
The UK governments pet travel scheme (PETS) facilitates the travel of dogs to and from countries in the EU without the need for quarantine.
A mother who gave birth to conjoined twins and discharged herself has been urged to return her babies to hospital as they 'desperately need surgery'.
A woman in India 'miraculously' gave birth naturally to the infants who are attached at the abdomen but left within a few hours.
Doctors, who were unable to tell the gender of the children, have said they are vulnerable to health complications because they share an umbilical cord.
The twins were born on September 2 and each baby had all its limbs and vital organs.
The gender of these babies will only be revealed during surgery.' said Dr Rahul Aggarwal, a pediatric surgeon at Bhawani Prasad Hospital, in Uttar Pradesh in northern India, who delivered the twins.
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An unnamed woman in India gave birth naturally to the conjoined twins but quickly discharged herself within a few hours
Medics have urged the mother to return her babies to hospital who 'desperately need surgery'
'They each had four limbs and a heart and other organs, but being attached at the abdomen and sharing the same umbilical cord made blood circulation challenging.
'If they had had an umbilical cord each it would have made them much stronger babies. Now, they desperately need surgery so they can go on and have a chance.
'She had no idea'
Dr Aggarwal said the 32-year-old woman, from a nearby village, admitted herself mid-labour and scans quickly revealed she was expecting twins.
They showed they were attached at the abdomen with a length of 75cm (29.5 inches) from one head to the other babys head.
He said: The mother had already started with labour pains when she arrived at the hospital.
The infants are joined at the abdomen and were born with all their limbs and own vital organs
The babies are vulnerable to health complications because they share an umbilical cord
'And when we did an ultrasound it confirmed she was expecting twins but she had no idea as she hadnt had any earlier scans.
We prepared her for labour but within an hour she delivered naturally, which was miraculous.
'Delivering conjoined twins naturally, especially when they are attached at the abdomen, is quite challenging. Its very rare. The woman bravely delivered the twins and fortunately all did fine.
Instant bond
The mother was reportedly shocked to see her babies but bonded with them instantly.
It was amazing to see the two babies,' Dr Aggarwal added. 'If we stimulated one, both of them would react and start crying together.
'They both responded to what the other was doing. It was remarkable to watch.
He said he advised the mother to seek further medical assistance and referred them to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), in New Delhi, but she then vanished.
He said: 'The mother and twins were doing well so they were able to go home. However, I referred them to a better hospital with advanced medical facilities so they can seek further treatment.
'But they have not responded. I am unaware of their whereabouts or if at all they took the twins anywhere else. I can only hope they seek further help.'
A public information video from 1969 warning of the perils of taking LSD has been unearthed.
The unintentionally amusing film, entitled 'Case Study: LSD', documents a young woman's first acid trip where a hot dog comes to life and claims he has a wife and kids to support.
In the three-minute clip, which was sponsored by the US Government and proposed to be screened across high schools in America, the woman describes how the hot dog screams in pain as she eats him.
The 18-year-old, who narrates the cautionary tale, is left traumatized by her psychedelic experience when she realizes that she has 'murdered' the hot dog.
The amusing film, entitled 'Case Study: LSD', documents a young woman's first acid trip where a hot dog comes to life and claims he has a wife and kids to support
The well-meaning film, a series of stills and clips, begins by describing how she went to a house party and an old school friend offers her the LSD drug.
How did the clip begin?
The curious woman explained: 'I was pretty jacked up on marijuana, so I decided to try it, and I dropped it.'
At first it seems like the hallucinogenic substance has had no effect on the woman so she goes with her friend Terry to a hot dog stand in San Francisco's Mission District.
But as she orders her food and puts mustard on her hot dog, the music becomes eerie - trying to replicate the effects of the drug.
When the female narrator puts the hot dog to her mouth, she hears 'someone scream'. Then when she prepares to bite the wiener again, the scream gets louder.
She realizes the cries are coming from the hot dog and that he has a face. At this point in 'Case Study: LSD', the hot dog turns into a bearded troll doll in a bun.
The hot dog talking to the woman
In one of the most hilarious parts of the film, the hot dog begins talking to the woman and telling her about his children and wife at home.
She said: 'He started telling me that I couldn't eat him. He had a wife and seven kids at home to support.
In the three-minute film, which was sponsored by the US Government and proposed to be screened across high schools in America, the woman describes how the hot dog screams in pain as she eats him
She realizes the cries are coming from the hot dog and that he has a face. At this point in 'Case Study: LSD', the hot dog turns into a bearded troll doll in a bun
'And I stood there with this hot dog and asked Terry "Do you know this hot dog is talking to me?"
'He thought I was just faking and I told him, "Look at the thing he has a face and he's screaming!"'
Realising it was a hallucination
He started telling me that I couldn't eat him. He had a wife and seven kids at home to support The 18-year-old woman in the clip
Terry eventually joins the woman's acid trip and the pair begin conversing with the hot dog. The woman resolves that the speaking hot dog is a hallucination and bites into it.
However as she does this, a blood-curdling scream can be heard from the hot dog and the woman steps on it to stop it from shrieking.
She said: 'It [the hot dog] screamed so loud that you could hear it all over town so I had to throw it on the ground and step on it. I realized I had murdered it and I took off screaming down the street '
As she orders her food and puts mustard on her hot dog, the music becomes eerie - trying to replicate the effects of the drug
The 18-year-old, who narrates the cautionary tale, is left traumatized by her psychedelic experience when she realizes that she has 'murdered' the hot dog
The woman resolves that the speaking hot dog is a hallucination and bites into it. However as she does this, a blood-curdling scream can be heard from the hot dog and the woman steps on it to stop it from shrieking
WHAT IS LSD? Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) emerged when Swiss scientist Albert Hofmann first accidentally synthesized and dosed LSD to report its effects in 1938. Although LSD is illegal in the US and UK, it remains a popular recreational drug and not just for its most potent effects. Some people - most notably technology developers in Silicon Valley and elsewhere - report 'microdosing' LSD to boost creativity, relieve stress, and help them solve problems, while avoiding its hallucinogenic effects. One in 10 people in the United States - tens of millions of people - have reported using LSD at least once in their lives. Around one in 200 use the drug in the UK, figures suggest. Advertisement
The film ends with an image of the woman being distressed by her experience on the psychedelic drug and the realization that she has slaughtered a hot dog.
LSD is known for altering a person's consciousness - resulting in hallucinations and 'ego-dissolution,' or a loss of the sense of self.
One person can spend several hours in a very happy place - while other individuals can spend many hours lost in their own fears and paranoia.
Who was it sponsored by?
During the late 1960s, the US Government defence contractor Lockheed Corporation began sponsoring a series of educational short films for children, examining the dangers of different recreational drugs.
When this film was released in 1969, it was the recreational drug of choice in the hippie counter culture of the decade and reports of acid induced psychoses disturbed parents across America.
Richard Nixon began to wage war on the drug and education films were used in schools to warn children of the dire consequences of LSD use.
Just last month, US President Donald Trump told reporters when he was growing up LSD was the prime drug for teenagers.
The well-meaning film begins by describing how she went to a house party and an old school friend offers her the LSD drug. The curious woman (pictured with her friend Terry) explained: 'I was pretty jacked up on marijuana, so I decided to try it, and I dropped it'
An 11-year-old girl nearly died after doctors allegedly dismissed her burst appendix as a 'tummy bug' for three weeks, her furious mother has claimed.
Daizy Adams, from Plymouth, first began complaining of stomach pains before she went on holiday to Spain at the end of July.
But as her symptoms worsened, she began to lose weight - leaving the five-and-a-half stone girl as 'weak as an 80-year-old', her mother Sharyn Partridge said.
Hospital staff discharged Daizy, who looked 'anorexic', with gastroenteritis a week later, and after hours doctors made the same incorrect diagnosis.
But a week later, Ms Partridge said her daughter begged doctors to let her be kept in Derriford Hospital - where the true cause of her illness was finally discovered.
Daizy required emergency surgery to repair her bowel and flush the life-threatening infection from her body, after her appendix exploded and was 'nowhere to be seen'.
Daizy Adams, from Plymouth, first began complaining of stomach pains before she went on holiday to Spain at the end of July
Ms Partridge, 41, said: 'Her bones were sticking out. She looked like she'd lost a couple of stone. She was saying to me, "Mum, I don't want to look at myself".
'I took her home and she was just lolling on the sofa. It wasn't right, it wasn't like her at all. She's usually a maniac, she a very hyperactive kid.
'I was absolutely heartbroken to see her like that, with the weight loss. It was so hard to see her like that.
'I had to take her to the toilet - she was like an 80-year-old woman, she'd be bent over.'
Ms Partridge continued: 'She weighs five-and-a-half stone. We're just trying to build her back up.
'I think what happened is beginning to hit her now. She panics about her scar, but I tell her that scar saved her life and that it's a special scar.
'She could have died if I hadn't called the doctor's again when I did.
'She's very wary of doctors now, she's very angry at them. And she's been begging me not to take her back to Derriford.
'She's going to get there, she's a good kid. I'm slowly getting my crazy Daizy back.
'I was very angry at the doctors. I nearly lost my daughter. I'm still angry now. They did not see that she had a dangerous infection.
But as her symptoms worsened, she began to lose weight - leaving the five-and-a-half stone girl as a 'weak as an 80-year-old', her mother Sharyn Partridge said
'As a parent, you don't give in. You know your child best, you know them the most. I'm not one to take them to the doctor's willy-nilly - but I knew she wasn't right.'
When did Daizy's ordeal begin?
Daizy began complaining about her sore stomach on July 27, the day before she was set to go to Spain with her father.
Ms Partridge dismissed her concerns as just being 'nervous about the flight'. Daizy had thrown up five times on the way to the airport.
I was absolutely heartbroken to see her like that, with the weight loss. It was so hard to see her like that Sharyn Partridge, 41
On August 1, he had taken her to see a doctor who said it was just a bug and that she would probably get better in a couple of days.
He took her straight to Derriford Treatment Centre when they returned to the UK on August 4. They said she had gastroenteritis.
She looked 'anorexic'
Ms Partridge, a delivery driver, said: 'When I picked Daizy up from her dad's the next day, I cried. She looked like she was anorexic.'
Daizy complained of a constant dull ache that would spike every now and again, and so Ms Partridge took her to her local GP Practice, Ocean Health Centre.
They were referred to Derriford Hospital that day, August 8, with her GP suspecting she had appendicitis.
Hospital staff discharged Daizy, who looked 'anorexic', with gastroenteritis a week later, and after hours doctors made the same incorrect diagnosis (pictured in hospital being treated)
But a week later, Ms Partridge said her daughter begged doctors to let her be kept in Derriford Hospital - where the true cause of her illness was finally discovered
But her concern continued after she was apparently discharged that same day, with doctors allegedly also diagnosing gastroenteritis and dehydration.
A check-up at Ocean Health Centre 40 hours later also allegedly provided the same diagnosis, as Daizy's condition continued to worsen.
By August 15, Ms Partridge still did not believe her daughter had a tummy bug, and after another call to Devon Doctors at 10pm they were back in Derriford Hospital.
Doctors were confused
More confusion struck, as doctors allegedly diagnosed Daizy with an ovarian cyst before surgery revealed an infection attacking her bowel.
Ms Partridge said: 'Daizy hates doctors and anything like that, but even she was telling them, "I need to stay here - you need to keep me in this time".
'She knew she needed to be there. They kept her in and did an ultrasound, and the doctor said, 'I can see why Daizy's in pain.
'Then they called a gynaecologist, and we were told they believed she has an ovarian cyst and that they needed to operate.
'Daizy was worried and said to me, "What if I can't have children?" I told her it would be okay and put her mind at ease.'
Daizy required emergency surgery to repair her bowel and flush the life-threatening infection from her body, after her appendix exploded (pictured with Ms Partridge)
Daizy began complaining about her sore stomach on July 27, the day before she was set to go to Spain with her father. Ms Partridge dismissed her concerns as just being 'nervous about the flight'. Daizy had thrown up five times on the way to the airport
An hour after being wheeled into surgery, Ms Partridge started to wonder what was going on.
Then, one of the surgeons came out and revealed something very serious was going on and that a stomach specialist had been called.
Undergoing emergency surgery
Ms Partridge said: 'I told them to do everything they can, I need my baby to come back to me.
'She was in surgery for five hours, I've never seen so many people operating on someone. I was absolutely devastated.
'The surgeon said in 30 years they have never seen anything like that.
She added: 'Her appendix was nowhere to be seen, just pockets of puss with infection, and the infection had started to attack her bowel so they had to repair it.
'They had to wash her out to try and get rid of the infection. From then on the doctors were fantastic. I was so relieved I hugged the surgeons.
Ms Partridge, 41, said: 'Her bones were sticking out. She looked like she'd lost a couple of stone (pictured with her other daughter Tilly Adams, nine)
Still very weak, Ms Partridge said her daughter has started to realise extent of her ordeal - and is very angry with the doctors who missed her diagnosis
Ms Partridge said: 'She has to take five lots of medication a day. She's getting better, she moves very slowly and she's very weak'
APPENDICITIS: THE FACTS Appendicitis is a painful swelling of the appendix. The appendix is a small, thin pouch about 5-10cm long. It's connected to the large intestine, where stools are formed. Nobody knows exactly why we have an appendix, but removing it isn't harmful. Appendicitis typically starts with a pain in the middle of the abdomen that may come and go. Within hours, the pain travels to the lower right-hand side, where the appendix usually lies, and becomes constant and severe. Pressing on this area, coughing, or walking may all make the pain worse. Patients may lose their appetite, feel sick, and occasionally experience diarrhoea. Appendicitis is a common condition. Around 40,000 people are admitted to hospital with appendicitis each year in England. It's estimated around 1 in every 13 people develop it at some point in their life. Appendicitis can develop at any age, but it's most common in young people aged from 10 to 20 years old. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement
'When she came out she was in intensive care. She looked peaceful but she was on a ventilator.
'They told me it would be a shock to see her, but said to talk to her because she'd be able to hear me.'
Blue-lighted to a specialist hospital
Following the surgery, Ms Partridge said they were blue-lighted to the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. She stayed there between August 17 and September 8, when she was finally allowed home.
Still very weak, Ms Partridge said her daughter has started to realise extent of her ordeal - and is very angry with the doctors who missed her diagnosis.
And she believes the outcome could have been very different if she had not kept insisting that there was something else wrong with her.
Ms Partridge said: 'She has to take five lots of medication a day. She's getting better, she moves very slowly and she's very weak.
Has anyone accepted blame?
A spokesperson for Devon Doctors said: 'We are very sorry to hear of Daizy's plight, however unfortunately we are unable to comment on individual cases.'
A spokesperson for the NHS, speaking on behalf of all the organisations involved, said: 'Daizy has clearly been very unwell recently and has been through a difficult time. We are very sorry for any distress caused to Daizy and her family.
'Although no formal complaint has been received, contact has been made with the family by the different organisations and we will be thoroughly reviewing the concerns raised and if, moving forward, there is any learning to be taken from it then we will absolutely ensure this occurs.'
A spokesperson for NHS Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group said: 'We are sorry to hear about the distress that Daizy and her family have experienced.
'NHS England are the organisation responsible for commissioning GP practices in the Plymouth area and we understand that they are responding to the concerns raised.'
A Russian woman has spent two decades living with a 12-inch tube embedded in her stomach after an alleged surgical blunder.
The unidentified patient, 50, had the rubber tube put in after suffering a stroke in 2000. It was designed to keep her fed in intensive care.
But, local reports suggest that doctors forgot to remove one part of the tubing near her stomach. Somehow, it caused no symptoms.
The mistake was only uncovered recently when she went to the hospital in Ulan-Ude, close to the Mongolian border, for a regular check-up.
The unidentified patient, 50, had the rubber tube put in after suffering a stroke in 2000. It was designed to keep her fed in intensive care
Doctors at the Republican Clinical Hospital did a full body examination and found a 'strange dark object' in the patient's stomach, near the intestines.
Surgeons forgot about the probe
A spokesman told Central European News: 'The patient got better [after the stroke], got released out of hospital, and nobody remembered that probe.'
The woman reportedly said she never had a clue that the probe had been left as she had never felt any discomfort, according to Sibnet.
Dr Pavel Tverdokhlebov, based at the hospital, recently removed the tube and said the woman is recovering well from surgery.
But, local reports suggest that doctors forgot to remove one part of the tubing near her stomach. Somehow, it caused no symptoms
What did the hospital say?
A report released by the hospital said: 'A woman underwent a stroke at the age of 33, treated her in one of the Ulan-Ude hospitals.
WHAT ARE FEEDING TUBES? Feeding tubes are often given to patients in intensive care who struggle to eat normally due to their condition. They are essential to make sure the patient doesn't become malnourished - which could hamper their immune system. But they can lead to side effects, such as gastric reflux. But this Russian patient reported no such complications. The most common tube is a nasogastric tube, which is a thin tube that is put into the nose and down their throat into the stomach. Source: Critical Care Nutrition Advertisement
'During which she was fed to the stomach through a probe during the intensive care period, some of which were later left or forgotten.
'The patient went on the amendment, left, no one remembered the probe. With a foreign body longer than 30 centimeters, the young woman lived for 17 years.'
Commenting on the story in the Russian media, shocked readers said it highlighted the 'stupid medical care'.
They also questioned how many other people may still have foreign bodies from operations years ago.
A similar tale...
It comes after MailOnline reported of a similar tale in January.
A Vietnamese man who went to hospital with stomach pains was found to have a pair of surgical scissors in his abdomen - from an operation 18 years ago.
Ma Van Nhat, 54, underwent surgery in 1998 after a car accident, and carried on his life oblivious to the huge medical mistake.
He only discovered doctors left the scissors behind when they closed him up, and the implement was finally removed in an operation at the start of the year.
A mother-of-two has revealed she refuses to cover up her four-inch-wide birthmark on her face despite the stares and comments of passers-by.
Ferrin Roy, 30, from Louisiana, US, has now written a self-help book about her journey of acceptance to inspire 'anyone who struggles with being different'.
The mental health counsellor says she no longer is affected by remarks from others about her looks.
Ferrin has now written a book which challenges society's perception of beauty, which is titled The Mark She Kept: A Woman's Journey to Living Her Purpose Courageously.
'My smile is radiant and no one can put a dampener on my smile, enthusiasm or confidence,' she said.
'I completely embrace my birthmark. I never covered it and never will, I love answering questions about it and I just feel so good.'
Ferrin Roy, from Louisiana, embraces her four-inch-wide birthmark and refuses to cover it up
The 30-year-old says she has accepted the blemish and is no longer upset by remarks
'The stares felt awkward'
Ferrin says she didn't even notice her birthmark until she was nine years old and other school children accepted her.
But she revealed it's strangers in the street that often stop and ask if she has paint on her face.
'The stares felt awkward outside of home and school,' she said. 'I attended school with the same kids until twelfth grade so everyone was accustomed to seeing me with my birthmark.
'I didn't recognise stares until I was outside of home and school. Some people would squint their eyes, ask if it was paint, inquired about removal and also several people have asked to touch it.'
The mother-of-two has penned a self-help book titled The Mark She Kept: A Woman's Journey to Living Her Purpose Courageously
Ferrin says she is speaking out to help anyone who 'struggles with being different' to embrace their uniqueness
Rising above
However, Ferrin has learned to overcome feeling affected by their reactions.
'My birthmark is not only raising awareness but it's helping others embrace their uniqueness.
'Surprisingly, the second I became free of insecurities questions from others stopped tremendously.
'I honestly do not recognise if people still stare. I've been standing out since the day I was born and others make me feel like a work of art.'
The mental health counsellor, pictured with her husband, admits once let the opinion 'to linger on for too long'
Ferrin, shown here with her daughters, says 'once you accept who you are, others will have no choice but to accept you'
ABOUT BIRTHMARKS The two main types of birthmark are: Vascular birthmarks (often red, purple or pink) caused by abnormal blood vessels in or under the skin
Pigmented birthmarks (usually brown) caused by clusters of pigment cells It's not fully understood why birthmarks occur, but they're not usually inherited. Most birthmarks are harmless and don't need to be treated. Some types o will fade over time, whereas other types such as port wine stains will be permanent if they're not treated. In some cases, a birthmark will need to be treated for medical reasons for example, if a haemangioma blocks the airways, affects vision or becomes ulcerated. Some people may also decide to seek treatment for cosmetic reasons. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement
She says her family and friends have supported her in writing her book which challenges society's perception of beauty, which is titled The Mark She Kept: A Woman's Journey to Living Her Purpose Courageously.
Ferrin says she hopes to encourage others to love and accept themselves before searching for love elsewhere.
'I've always felt confident while gazing into a mirror. It was the opinion of others that I allowed to linger on for too long,' she added.
'My birthmark is a part of me, I will not cover it to satisfy the view of others.
'I will always be myself and no one is worth me changing who I am.
'My advice is to focus on self-love instead of searching for love from others. Once you accept who you are, others will have no choice but to accept you.
'People will gravitate to you, and recognise what you have instilled in you.'
For details about Ferrin's book visit here.
Practicing Tibetan yoga can help breast cancer patients weather the harsh side effects of chemotherapy treatments, a new study has revealed.
The report from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that women who participated in one-on-one Tibetan yoga sessions four times a week slept better.
Tibetan yoga practices keep people in continuous movement - as opposed to stationary positions and they are thought to improve memory and mental clarity.
Experiencing sleep disturbances is one of the most common side effects that cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy go through. They often report poor sleep quality, excessive drowsiness and insomnia, the study said.
The study's researchers are hopeful that their findings can better prepare women who receive breast cancer diagnoses to face chemotherapy, and they are suggesting that doctors recommend yoga practices to cancer patients.
A new study from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has found that practicing Tibetan yoga can help breast cancer patients cope with the harsh side effects of chemotherapy (file photo)
For the study, researchers observed 227 women who had breast cancer and were undergoing chemotherapy.
The women were broken up into three groups: one group participated in a Tibetan yoga program, one in a program that focused on simple stretches and one that did neither of the two.
Study author Dr Lorenzo Cohen said that researchers wanted the patients to practice Tibetan yoga, specifically, because it is low-impact.
'We chose to use Tibetan yoga for this study because the practices are gentle,' Dr Cohen said, adding that the patients were seated throughout the entirety of their yoga sessions.
The activity and rest cycles of all participants were tracked before and after the study was conducted.
Study participants who practiced Tibetan yoga attended sessions that were 75 to 90 minutes long during their chemotherapy treatments.
WHAT IS TIBETAN YOGA? Tibetan yoga is commonly referred to as the Five Tibetan Rites. The practices are thought to improve your mental clarity and reduce the effects of aging. Other supposed benefits of the practice include: emotional well-being
better coordination
improved strength
improved sleep quality
an enhanced memory Advertisement
During the sessions, the patients each worked with an instructor who helped them focus on visualization, posture, meditation and controlled breathing. They were encouraged to practice what they were learning daily, outside of their classrooms.
The women in the group who practiced Tibetan yoga reported that, in the months following the study, they experienced long-term sleep benefits as a result of their yoga classes.
They said that their sleep efficiency and quality was better compared to that of chemotherapy patients who did not practice Tibetan yoga. These patients also said they experienced fewer daily disturbances than did women in the other groups.
Dr Cohen said that these effects will only help chemotherapy patients who practice Tibetan yoga on a consistent basis over a period of time. He warned that if a patient only practices for two weeks, they likely will not see any positive outcomes.
'If you don't practice [often], it's not going to benefit you,' he explained.
He also said that the study's conclusions suggest that doctors should start prescribing Tibetan yoga to chemotherapy patients. 'It suggests more efforts need to go into trying to help patients form a healthy practice,' Dr Cohen said.
'Physicians need to encourage patients to engage in mind-body practices,' he added.
Dr Cohen concluded: 'While the effects of this intervention were modest, it is encouraging to see that the women who practiced yoga outside of class had improved sleep outcomes over time.'
Los Angeles health officials have declared an outbreak of hepatitis A, making it the third region in California hit by the highly contagious liver disease this year.
San Diego has more than 420 cases and 16 deaths this year, while Santa Cruz County has 69 known cases.
The outbreak was declared after two out of 10 confirmed cases in LA were acquired locally instead of from the other regions.
Hepatitis A is a viral liver disease that can spread through ingesting food and drinks that have come in contact with feces of people who are already infected.
LA has the second-largest homeless population in the nation, and due to hygiene the disease affects this group the most.
Health officials are responding early to the increase in infections to stop the spread from reaching the epidemic level of San Diego County.
LA County has experienced 10 hepatitis A cases, two of which were acquired locally. This is the third region in California this year to experience an outbreak. LA has the second largest homeless population in the US and they are the most at risk to get the disease
The two locally acquired cases in LA County are the most recent infections out of ten cases causing health officials to worry.
'We've met the definition for an outbreak,' department Director Barbara Ferrer told the board on Tuesday. 'As of this morning we've confirmed that we have two community acquired cases.'
Of the other cases, four had been in San Diego and one had been in Santa Cruz during their exposure period. Three secondary cases occurred in a health care facility in Los Angeles County.
Most of those infected in the outbreaks have been homeless or using illicit drugs.
What is hepatitis A and how can it be treated? Hepatitis A is a viral liver disease that can have both minor and severe symptoms for the person infected. It is primarily spread when a person who isn't vaccinated ingests food or water that has been contaminated with feces of an infected individual. The virus is one of the most frequent causes for foodborne infections. Symptoms The incubation period of hepatitis A is normally 15 to 50 days. People can experience: Fever
Loss of appetite
Diarrhea
Nausea
Dark-colored urine
Jaundice
Acute liver failure Who is at risk? Anyone who has not been vaccinated or has never been infected with the hepatitis A virus is at risk. Other factors that increase risk include: Poor sanitation
Lack of clean water
Recreational drug use
Living with an infected person or having sexual relations with one
Traveling to areas with high risk without a vaccination Treatment There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A. It may take some people a couple weeks to a couple months to recover from the symptoms. Doctors recommend everyone to get a vaccination to help prevent the risk of getting infected by the virus. Source: World of Health Advertisement
Several people who provide services to the homeless have also been infected.
Los Angeles County Interim Health Officer Dr. Jeffrey Gunzenhauser said vaccination is the best protection against hepatitis A and outreach teams and clinics are offering free vaccine to the homeless, active drug users and people who work with those groups.
Vaccinations are the best way to prevent hepatitis A infections, but the CDC reported that fewer than 10 percent of adults over the age of 19 are vaccinated in the United States.
And San Diego has vaccinated more than 21,000 people and still seen an increase in those infected.
The homeless are considered at high risk for infection because of poor sanitation.
The latest annual tally found nearly 59,000 homeless people in the nation's most populous county.
This is a 23 percent increase from LA's homeless population in 2016.
With an increase in this population and their susceptibility to getting hepatitis A, health officials in LA are working fast to stop the spread as quickly as they can.
Hepatitis A spreads when someone comes in contact with an infected person's feces, sometimes when hands are not properly washed after going to the bathroom or changing diapers.
The virus is then spread through food or objects.
Previous outbreaks have been caused by specific food that were infected with the viral disease.
Hawaii experienced an outbreak in 2016 from contaminated sushi that infected 300 people.
Another outbreak occurred in Pennsylvania in 2003 from green onions. This hospitalized 124 people and killed three.
LA health officials are working to figure out what triggered their own outbreak, but the close proximity to San Diego concerns them.
San Diego's outbreak is attributed to poor sanitation in the downtown area and a rising homeless population.
The city has resorted to bleaching its streets and extending public restroom hours in efforts to get the outbreak under control.
It also installed 42 hand-washing stations and gave out free vaccinations.
LA County officials might have to turn to similar options if the outbreak continues to rise.
Hepatitis A can also be spread through sex or by sharing drug paraphernalia.
Health officials say the incubation period ranges from 15 to 50 days, and symptoms include fever, malaise, dark urine, anorexia, nausea and abdominal discomfort, followed by jaundice.
In addition to vaccination and thorough hand washing, medical experts said people should avoid sex with anyone who has hepatitis A, and not share food, drinks, cigarettes, towels, toothbrushes or eating utensils.
The controversial human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine does not cause fertility problems and may actually improve chances of conception in some women, according to new research.
HPV infection, which is spread during sexual intercourse, has been linked with although not conclusively proven causing reduced semen quality and lower pregnancy rates.
There is also public concern about whether the vaccine safeguarding against it that is given to teenage girls could affect their fertility in the future.
Now, a Boston, US, study, the first of its kind, has shown little overall link between HPV vaccination and the chances of conceiving for men and women except among women with a history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
STIs are associated with lower fertility, but vaccinated women with an STI history had about the same chance of becoming pregnant as unvaccinated women who had never had an STI.
Therefore, the researchers have concluded that the vaccine had a protective effect.
New research has shown no link between HPV vaccination and infertility (stock photo)
WHAT IS HPV? The human papilloma virus (HPV) is the name given to a family of viruses. There are over 100 different types of HPV, with around 40 types that affect the genital area. Different types of HPV are classed as either high risk or low risk, depending on the conditions they can cause. For instance, some types of HPV can cause warts or verrucas. Other types are associated with cervical cancer. In 99 per cent of cases, cervical cancer occurs as a result of a history of infection with high-risk types of HPV. Often, infection with the HPV causes no symptoms and goes away by itself. But infection with some high-risk types of HPV can cause abnormal tissue growth as well as other cell changes that can lead to cervical cancer. Infection with other types of HPV may cause genital warts, skin warts and verrucas, vaginal cancer or vulval cancer (although these types of cancer are rare), anal cancer or cancer of the penis, some cancers of the head and neck and laryngeal papillomas (warts on the voice box or vocal cords). Studies have already shown that the vaccine protects against HPV infection for around 10 years, although experts expect protection to be for much longer. Advertisement
'Our study found no adverse effects of HPV vaccination on fertility and indicated that it may, in fact, protect fertility among individuals who have had other STIs,' said study author and Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researcher Kathryn McInerney.
'Our study should reassure those who are hesitant to vaccinate due to fertility concerns.'
The research, published in the journal Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, was based on an analysis of data from an ongoing study which enrolled 3,483 women and 1,022 men aged 21 to 45 years who were actively trying to conceive.
Couples were followed for 12 months or until pregnancy, whichever came first. At enrollment, 33.9 percent of women had been vaccinated against HPV, compared to 5.2 percent of men.
Why has HPV been linked to fertility problems?
HPV is so common that nearly all sexually active men and women get the virus at some point in their lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In most cases, it goes away on its own and does not cause any health problems. But for some people it causes cancer for reasons that are not fully understood.
Having HPV can increase your risk of cervical cancer and removing cancerous or precancerous cells from your cervix can reduce fertility.
And according to an article by Italian researchers in the journal Human Reproduction in 2012, 'HPV infection is associated with an impairment of sperm parameters, suggesting a possible role in male infertility.'
Vaccine controversy
In 2013, two Wisconsin sisters filed a federal claim, saying they believe a HPV vaccine caused their ovaries to stop producing eggs.
Madelyne Meylor, 20, and Olivia Meylor, 19, claimed their condition came from the Gardasil brand. However, a federal judge dismissed the claims.
In the US, both boys and girls are supposed to get two or three doses of the vaccine, starting at age 11 or 12. More than 40 percent of American teens are now getting vaccinated according to the BUSPH researchers.
In the UK, the vaccination is currently given to girls aged 12 to 13 on the NHS but controversially not boys. Uptake in adolescent girls is consistently high over 85 per cent according to Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at Public Health England.
BUSPH researchers believe their findings should reassure those concerned about a link between the jab and infertility.
'Internationally, parents have chosen not to vaccinate their children due to concerns about the vaccine's effect on future fertility,' said Ms McInerney.
'We hope this study will be useful for health providers who counsel individuals and families about HPV vaccination.'
Caught in the crossfire between Myanmar's military and Rohingya insurgents, hundreds of Hindus fleeing Bangladesh are placing their hopes on the Hindu nationalist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in neighbouring India for safe shelter.
Nearly 500 people are currently sheltered in a cleared-out chicken farm in a Hindu hamlet in Bangladesh's southeast, a couple of miles from where most of the 421,000 Rohingya Muslims who have also fled violence in Myanmar since Aug. 25 are living in makeshift camps.
The Hindu refugees say they are scared of going back to their villages in Buddhist-majority Myanmar's restive Rakhine state, but also wary of staying in mostly Muslim Bangladesh.
A Hindu family is seen at a shelter near Maungdaw, Rakhine state, Myanmar
Modi's government, meanwhile, is making it easier for Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and other minorities from Bangladesh and Pakistan to gain citizenship in India.
'India is also known as Hindustan, the land of the Hindus,' said Niranjan Rudra, sitting on a plastic sheet in the chicken farm flanked by his wife, who sported a large vermilion red dot on her forehead typical of married Hindu women.
'We just want a peaceful life in India, not much. We may not get that in Myanmar or here,' he said. Fellow refugees nodded in agreement, stating that they wanted the message to reach the Indian government through the media.
The Indian government declined to comment on the Hindu refugees' hopes.
A government source said it was waiting while the Supreme Court hears an appeal against the home ministry's plans to deport around 40,000 Rohingya Muslims from the country.
Nearly 500 people are currently sheltered in a cleared-out chicken farm in a Hindu hamlet in Bangladesh's southeast
But Achintya Biswas, a senior member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), or the World Hindu Council, which has close ties with the ideological parent of Modi's ruling party, said India was the natural destination for the Hindus fleeing Myanmar.
'Hindu families must be allowed to enter India by the government,' Biswas said by phone. 'Where else will they go? This is their place of origin.'
Biswas said the VHP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the umbrella group that mentors Modi's ruling party, would submit a report to the home ministry on the refugees and demand a new policy allowing Hindus from Myanmar and Bangladesh to seek asylum in India.
The Hindu right who form the bedrock of Modi's support have long believed India is the home for all Hindus.
India's Home Ministry spokesman K.S. Dhatwalia declined to comment.
A senior home ministry official in New Delhi, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that no Hindu in Myanmar or Bangladesh affected by the violence had approached Indian authorities.
'At this juncture we have no SOS calls from Hindus,' said the official. 'Also, the Supreme Court is yet to decide whether India should deport Rohingya Muslims or not. The matter is sub-judice and any policy decision will be taken only after the court's order.'
Rohingya refugees living in concrete pipes in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh
'Want to feel safe'
Hindus make up a small but long-standing minority in both Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Refugee Rudra, a barber from Myanmar's Thit Tone Nar Gwa Son village, showed Reuters what he said was a temporary citizenship card issued in 1978 by the authorities there. The card listed his race as 'Indian' and religion as 'Hindu'.
Rudra and other Hindu refugees said they had fled soon after Rohingya insurgents attacked 30 Myanmar police posts, triggering a fierce military counteroffensive.
Since then, rights monitors and fleeing Rohingya say the army and Rakhine Buddhist vigilantes have mounted a campaign of arson aimed at driving out the Muslim population, leaving many villages in northern Rakhine empty.
'Our village in Myanmar was surrounded by hundreds of men in black masks on the morning of Aug. 25,' said Veena Sheel, a mother-of-two whose husband works in Malaysia.
'They called some men out and asked them to fight the security forces ... a few hours after we heard gunshots.'
Sheel left the next day with eight other women and their families, walking for two days to reach Bangladesh.
'There are so many people all around us. No peace here, no peace back in Myanmar,' said Sheel. 'We should be taken to Hindustan, that's our land. Wherever we stay, we want to feel safe.'
Since taking office in 2014, Modi's government has issued orders stating that no Hindu or member of another minority from Pakistan or Bangladesh would be considered an illegal immigrant even if they entered the country without valid documents on or before Dec. 31, 2014.
It also plans to nearly halve to six years the period Hindus, Christians and other minorities from those countries need to have lived in India to be granted citizenship by naturalisation.
'We are regularising only those who have come due to religious persecution in Bangladesh and Pakistan,' junior home minister Kiren Rijiju told Reuters last month, adding that there was no policy on refugees from Myanmar.
It will not be easy for secular India to accept the Myanmar Hindu refugees' demand while the government is pushing for the deportation of Rohingya Muslims.
Modi's government has already been criticised by activists for not speaking out against Myanmar's military offensive, and accused of vilifying the Rohingya in the country to seek legal clearance for their deportation.
Haryana BJP has once again found itself in a deep hole of controversy that it will need to dig itself out from.
This time, state's finance minister Captain Abhimanyu finds himself facing allegations of stamp duty evasion over the mining affairs of a company in which he holds a substantial share.
The matter concerns the total stamp duty evasion of over Rs 18 crore by several companies, one of which is M/s Sainik Mining and Allied Services Ltd which allegedly dodged payment of Rs 85 lakh over a mining block that was allotted to it in Pichopa Kalan-1, situated in Bhiwani (now Dadri) district.
Captain Abhimanyu, Cabinet Minister in Government of Haryana
This company of the minister has its corporate office in Gurugram's tony Ambience Mall, on national highway 8, popularly called Gurugram-Jaipur Expressway.
Despite several attempts, Mail Today could not get a reaction from the minister.
After calling him, his associate said he was busy in a public event and that he would call back. Mail Today also sent him a text message, detailing the issues that needed an explanation, but received no response.
The matter came to light after the additional chief secretary and financial commissioner (ACS&FC) conducted an inquiry into complaints against the minister to the chief minister's office.
The issue had also been highlighted by the deputy commissioner of Mahendergarh.
The report, submitted to the chief secretary on September 1, however, has exonerated the minister of exercising any undue influence over the administration to facilitate the evasion.
However it raises several serious questions, some regarding propriety and probity in public life, apart from conflict of interest.
The matter concerns the total stamp duty evasion of over Rs 18 crore
Gurugram-based RTI activist Harinder Dhingra had alerted the chief minister's office about the issue.
The ACS&FC report agrees that stamp duty evasion did occur for over 37 of the 42 mines which were allotted to the companies in 2014 when the Congress was in power in the state and where stamp duty was evaded by several companies, including M/s Sainik Mining and Allied Services Ltd, by misinterpreting a Punjab and Haryana High Court order.
It goes on to say that the minister had on several occasions directed the state authorities to recover the dues.
Captain Abhimanyu holds eight portfolios in the ML Khattar government, including finance, excise and taxation, revenue and law and legislature.
Haryana BJP spokesperson Raman Malik told Mail Today that he did not see any conflict of interest.
In fact, he defended the minister saying he had presented an example of transparent governance.
'A company in which he has interests is a legal entity and he is not associated with any wrongdoing that the company does. On the contrary, he is directing authorities to penalise his own company,' he said.
However, he could not explain why the minister's company has not paid the dues for over three years.
The report accepts that duty, three per cent of the contract money, was evaded by these companies, including the one in which Captain Abhimanyu has a major interest.
The firm has been listed among his assets in his pre-election affidavit submitted to the election commission. But the report blames the state's mines and geology department for the mess, saying it should have 'complied with the statutory provisions of the Indian Stamp Act.'
The issue of conflict of interest arises when the same report, after acknowledging that Captain Abhimanyu's company too was among the evaders, says that the 'revenue minister has impressed upon the department on regular intervals to recover due stamp duty after proper adjudication of the same by Collector concerned'.
The report defends him, saying when the firm was awarded the mining contract, he was not the revenue minister of Haryana.
However, observers say Captain Abhimanyu is now directing his own department to act against his company while not paying the stamp duty, and that he was revenue minister when the evasions took place.
The report also observes that 'no influence was exercised by anyone in the Revenue Department on the subordinate authorities to not charge stamp duty'.
Abhimanyu: Doing my best to improve the system
By Mail Today Bureau
Haryana finance minister Capt Abhimanyu has come out with an explanation over MAIL TODAY's expose that a mining company in which he has a share had not paid stamp duty to the tune of Rs 84lakh, pending since 2014.
MAIL TODAY had also raised questions of conflict of interest as a government report claimed that he had urged concerned authorities to act against that very company.
The minister in a written reply to the newspaper has claimed that while the story claimed that he owned substantial shares in the company, he had only a meagre chunk.
'I hold less than four per cent share in the company which is definitely not substantial,' Captain Abhimanyu wrote in his mail to MAIL TODAY.
'As far as the issue of recovery of stamp duty is concerned the revenue department is pursuing the matter vigorously and constantly reminding the deputy commissioners to take appropriate expeditious action without any prejudice for or against anyone..it is not a matter to be dealt with by the ministry but can be dealt through a quasi judicial process at the DC level..where actions are being taken at their own end..there is no question of not recovering the dues from anyone... I believe in the highest level of transparency and integrity with full commitment,' he wrote.
The Haryana cabinet minister who holds eight portfolios in the Khattar government, including finance, said he was 'a politician' 'who is trying his best to improve the system by bringing in transparency and accountability'.
The matter pertains to total stamp duty evasion of over Rs 18 crore by several companies, one of which is M/s Sainik Mining and Allied Services Ltd which allegedly dodged payment of Rs 85 lakh over a mining block that was allotted to it in Pichopa Kalan-1, in Bhiwani district.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is back in the city after a 10-day Vipassana meditation session in Maharashtra, to roll out the political chessboard in spurring on his party, AAP.
His first move will be towards legendary actor Kamal Haasan. According to sources, Kejriwal will meet Haasan in Chennai on Thursday at the star's Alwarpet residence.
And the star is apparently excited about the meeting as he has organised a lavish lunch for the AAP convenor.
Actor Kamal Hassan could soon enter politics
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
Notably, the actor has given indications in the past on joining politics and has chosen to meet Kejriwal over any BJP or Congress leader.
The meeting was kept a secret until a few days ago. Kejriwal chose lunchtime for the rendezvous so he can catch an early morning flight from Delhi and then return to his political home ground, the Capital, by late evening.
This means the CM has not resumed his responsibilities since coming back from the meditation tour.
He didn't even attend his office on Wednesday, only meeting the lieutenant governor (L-G), Anil Baijal, over tea in the evening.
Sources say Kejriwal is now looking to spread AAP's reach beyond Delhi with the help of popular personalities.
After earning Rs 26 crore (equivalent to Rs 55 crore or US$8.5 million in 2016) for his role in Sivaji (2007), Rajinikanth was the highest paid actor in Asia after Jackie Chan at the time
He plans to use local socio-political conditions, people and parties towards achieve his goal.
Though Haasan has refused to openly side with any ideologies so far, according to sources, he may come out in the open after his meeting with the Delhi CM.
Reportedly, Kejriwal has called actor Rajinikanth as well, and will kick-start a series of such meetings with celebrities in various states in the coming months.
However, he has limited his meeting to only Kamal Haasan in Chennai for Thursday to be able to understand how politics in Tamil Nadu is evolving.
Besides this, the actor is also keen to know from the recognised political strategist what options may be available in the arena right now.
Is the tide turning in the Kashmir Valley? At first glance, the short answer is no.
Ordinary Kashmiris remain opposed to Indian security forces. Beneath the surface though there are signs that the government's 'tough-love' policy is paying dividends.
Over 150 terrorists have been killed since the beginning of the year, nearly 60 in terror-infested south Kashmir alone.
Captive audience: Modi says the new tunnel would not only help farmers in the region take their produce to the capital in less time and avoid weather disruptions
Intelligence sources estimate that there were around 250 hard-core terrorists operating in the Valley.
Even with new recruits smuggled in from Pakistan, this year's death toll of terrorists has significantly weakened the jihadis' ability to strike in the Valley.
Distrust
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti presenting a shawl to Prime Minister Narendra Modi
A second key factor is the growing distrust between factions within the terrorists' ranks.
Zakir Musa's defection from the Hizbul Mujahideen has been seen by some as the trigger for the spate of fatal terrorist encounters with the security forces.
Significantly, there were no stonepelters to derail the operation that eliminated Pakistani national Abu Ismail, the terrorist who led the attack on Amarnath yatris in July 2017.
Just a day before his death last week, Hizbul charged al-Qaeda's local unit of being subverted by Indian intelligence agencies through payment of large sums of money.
Similar accusations, though less credible, have been levelled against Zakir Musa who remains in the crosshairs of the security forces.
Posters have recently sprung up in Shopian accusing Musa of being an Indian agent.
One carried the following message in Urdu: 'This traitor is creating different outfits in league with the government. Initially, he was part of Hizb and thereafter he joined hands with the government of India.
'He even termed Hurriyat wrong. Therefore, wherever you find him, kill him.'
The third key factor helping the security forces to salami-slice Pakistani terrorists in the Valley is the increased coordination between the J&K police, the CRPF and the Indian army.
Local area human intelligence, painstakingly built up, has helped corner several high-value terrorists, including the Laskhar-e-Taiba's Abu Dujana.
Alarmed by the denudation of their terror machine in the Valley, the Pakistani army and ISI have redoubled their efforts to increase infiltration across the LoC, aided by cross-border firing to provide cover for terrorists crossing into the Valley.
The autumn window though will close shortly. Winter snow will make infiltration harder.
The Modi government's policy of toughlove in the Valley is meanwhile beginning to pay off.
J&K has seen a year of violence with angry clashes between residents and the security forces but the crowds that came to see PM Modi were in good spirits
Home minister Rajnath Singh's four-day visit to the Valley was designed to calm frayed nerves.
Local leaders like the Abdullahs have cynically used unrest in the Valley to score political points.
The controversy over article 35A has proved especially handy. To counter this, Rajnath Singh has deployed the government's strategy of playing cat-and-mouse with trouble-makers in the Valley in the J&K Assembly and outside.
His conciliatory though carefully anodyne statements on Article 35A have been welcomed by most Kashmiris.
Strong measures by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against the Hurriyat leadership have strangled funding for Pakistani terrorists still active in the Valley.
Border Security Force personnel patrolling on the fence at International Border from Jammu
Worries
Islamabad has other worries as well. It was taken aback by the fierce rhetoric from the US administration.
Washington has not ruled out the use of drone attacks on terror safe havens on Pakistani soil. That will escalate tensions with Islamabad. So far US airstrikes have been along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
Air attacks on Pakistani territory would be a significant escalation, targeting the source of terror in Pakistan.
The recent BRICS declaration, endorsed by China, naming both LeT and JeM, has further unnerved Pakistan.
The India-Japan joint declaration, also naming the two Pakistan's Punjab-based terror groups, has added to Islamabad's sense of isolation.
It has leapt into the arms of China and is looking for support from a Russia disenchanted with India's growing closeness to the US.
The India-Japan declaration on infrastructure joint ventures in India's Northeast has irked China as well.
The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying warned during an official briefing: 'China and India are working on seeking a fair and reasonable settlement which can be accepted by both sides through negotiations.
Under such circumstances, we believe that any third party should respect the efforts made by China and India to settle disputes through negotiations and any third party should not meddle in the disputes between China and India over territorial sovereignty in any form.'
Sovereignty
India and Pakistan at the border
For a country that is building the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in disputed Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), brazenly violating Indian sovereignty, Beijing's position reeks of the brazen duplicity it has consistently displayed in international relations.
While Islamabad frets at its loss of leverage in the Valley, one sentence in the India- Japan joint declaration has worried it the most.
The sentence refers to the need to hold accountable countries that have illegally supplied nuclear weapons technology to North Korea. Pakistan knows the finger of guilt points directly at itself.
North Korea's nuclear capability was built by Pakistan transferring stolen nuclear technology to Pyongyang.
This is now a menace to the US, South Korea, Japan and even China. The full weight of Pakistan's nuclear theft and illegal transfer to North Korea has the potential to impact in the long term its relationship with chief patron China.
That will boost the spirits of India's security forces as they hunt down the remaining Pakistani terrorists in a Valley where relative peace during the long upcoming winter is now a real prospect.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee
The Durga Puja-Muharram controversy in West Bengal took another serious turn on Wednesday.
Two days after chief minister Mamata Banerjee's reaction to the Calcutta high court's observation on handling of religious festivals, the court blasted the government over its latest notification on Durga idol immersion.
According to reports, the HC asked the state not to divide communities on religious lines.
The government had issued a notification prohibiting Durga idol immersion between September 30 and October 1 on account of Muharram, observed by Muslims as a day of mourning. The immersion could continue on October 2.
'Why can't two communities celebrate together? When you (state government) are firm there is communal harmony in the state, why are you creating communal distinction between the two? Let them live in harmony. Do not create a line between them. Let them live together,' the court said.
The court is angry over Didi's latest notification on the Durga idol immersion
The government had earlier asked Durga Puja organisers to complete the immersion ceremony by 6pm on September 30, which was later extended to 10 pm.
Some organisers immerse the idols on the day after Dashami. But the government said the next day was kept for tazia processions.
The government cited law and order as the reason to keep the two rituals apart. But a couple of Hindu organisations went to court and filed a PIL claiming the government was trying to divide people on the basis of religion.
Hearing the PIL, the HC had directed the government to explore if immersion of Durga idols on September 30 could go beyond midnight till 1.36 am to match the specified time of immersion in the lunar almanac (panchaang).
Activists and leaders of left front parties participate in a rally in Kolkata, protesting against rising communal tension and unrest in West Bengal and demanding restoration of peace
Indian police baton-charge supporters of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM)
The state advocate general said allowing immersion processions on October 1 would lead to law and order problems as another community would carry out mourning processions.
The judges then wanted to know the number of processions Muslims would take out. The government said they have allowed only two such processions.
The BJP, RSS and VHP said blocking Durga idol immersion was Mamata's attempt to appease Muslims.
On Wednesday the HC came out strongly against the government.
The BJP has been called a political war machine for good reason and the national Capital is about to see it first-hand on September 24 and 25 when the entire juggernaut will arrive for the 'extended' national executive at the Talkatora stadium.
The latter date has been chosen deliberately to coincide with ideologue Deendayal Upadhyay's birthday.
While the general elections 2019 may be close to two years away in the future, the party has made the upcoming national executive meeting a massive brainstorming session for the entire party, as unlike past executive meetings, the one on September 25 would be attended by all the Members of the Parliament of the party and from both the Houses.
BJP President Amit Shah waves at the party workers on his arrival in Dehradun
Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with others pay tribute to Pandit Deendayal Upadhayaya on his birthday
Keeping in view that many of the state assembly elections would also be held in close proximity of the general elections, and the admission that the party needs to do great and not just good in all the states to grab power in 2019, the meeting would also be attended by all the members of state legislative assemblies (MLAs) and members of legislative councils MLCs (in case of states with bicameral legislature) from across the country.
Adding to this, party functionaries said the extended or mega executive meet would be attended not just by the usual attendeesorganising secretaries and state unit presidents but also by four general secretaries from each of the state units.
On September 24, the usual meeting of party's national functionaries would take place to finalise the modalities and the agenda of the executive meeting.
Mail Today also accessed the inside details of the expected developments that could take place at the meeting on September 25.
The Talkatora Stadium New Delhi, India, has a capacity of 3035 people
Sources said party president Amit Shah was quite buoyed by the success of the organisational initiatives carried out under the aegis of the yearlong 'Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Janm Shatabdi Varsh' or 'Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Birth Centenary Year', which the party has celebrated across the country.
The party could extend the celebrations, and hence, the organisational activities for another year. Some of the elements of the programme carried out under the aegis of the celebrations could even be extended till 2019, when the party goes into elections.
BJP National President Amit Shah along with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and State BJP President Ajay Bhatt having lunch at dalit's house, in Dehradun
'The party president himself has toured the country so much in the last one year that he has perhaps become the first chief of the BJP to have travelled and conversed with all the state units and with workers at the local booth level.
'The success of such organisational measures means a lot of energy in the party and we want to keep it alive till the next polls,' a party leader told Mail Today.
One of the elements that could be extended is the Deendayal Upadhyay Vistarak Yojana or the scheme pertaining to trained propagators across India going about professing the ideology of the party voluntarily and full-time (Purna Kalik) for one of three periods of time15 days, six months or a year.
Britain has long prided itself on its model of laissez-faire capitalism and openness to takeovers.
But it is a system that has been widely abused by unscrupulous domestic buyers such as Dominic Chappell and Retail Acquisitions, who took BHS off the hands of Sir Philip Green, and global companies such as Kraft (now Mondelez) which plundered Cadbury.
As Britain heads for Brexit and foreign buyers seek to take advantage of sterlings depreciation, it is only right that the rules governing takeovers are tightened.
Under proposals unveiled by the City referee, the Takeover Panel, and endorsed by Business Secretary Greg Clark, the fast track to takeovers which allowed Japans Softbank to snap up the nations top tech company ARM, will be slowed.
Push: Business Secretary Greg Clarke has endorsed proposals to slow fast track takeovers of UK firms
The Panel will require buyers to make specific commitments on meeting pension obligations, maintaining research-and-development and the location and use of headquarters.
Past deals have resulted in emblematic companies including Scottish & Newcastle, British Oxygen, P&O, the airports owner BAA, Pilkington and four of the big six energy companies falling into overseas hands.
As of writing, three quoted high tech firms Worldpay, Paysafe and engineer Aveva are in the sights of foreign buyers.
The rules, however, will be too late to protect R&D and intellectual property controlled by these firms. A requirement that buyers offer watertight guarantees is desirable.
But how the pledges made in takeover documents are policed is open to question. The main weapon deployed by the panel in the past has been to ostracise those who breach the rules. How enforceable breaches would be in the courts, and who would bring the charges, is not clear.
There is one other criteria which I would like to see. That is an economic review of the impact of deals on UK plc. Such probes and assessments used to be undertaken by the old Monopolies & Mergers Commission.
It would be terrific if the successor Competition and Markets Authority would pick-up this batten. Over to you, Mr Clark.
KPMG let-off
One of the big black marks against auditor KPMG has been erased by accounting watchdog, the Financial Reporting Council. The slug-like FRC has cleared KPMGs audit of HBOS in a relatively speedy 15 months.
The FRC says the clean audit of HBOS by KPMG was not unreasonable at the time because extreme market conditions could not have been anticipated.
Is that really the case? KPMG should have recognised all was not well. Bear Stearns had collapsed. There was massive intervention by central banks in the money markets and the credit crunch meant that financial institutions did not trust each other. Northern Rock had failed and been nationalised and because short-term lending markets were moribund. The Bank of England was (at a price) taking mortgage assets onto its books in exchange for cash.
If KPMG partners and the FRC regulators couldnt recognise that the whole financial system was on a precipice in 2008 then we should consider them unfit for purpose. The stupidity of borrowing short and lending long should have been evident to auditors giving HBOS a clean bill of health.
Indeed, one of the biggest tasks for chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio when he took over Lloyds Bank (incorporating HBOS) was too end risky dependence on short-term finance. The FRC verdict may seem like vindication for KPMG. But it just exposes shortcomings at the audit regulator and suggests the hurdles for a tribunal finding of misconduct are ridiculously high.
Reckitt wake-up
An unsatisfactory element of corporate governance in the UK is the tendency of boards and shareholders to ignore the rules until things go wrong.
Adrian Bellamy has been chairman of Reckitt Benckiser through an extraordinary period of expansion and reward for shareholders. But 14 years in the top job was too long and he effectively went native, failing to rein in excessive pay (until the last year) and allowing ethical lapses to pass unchecked. It has taken the collapse of its South Korean offshoot and a setback to growth for Bellamy finally to give way.
He is to be replaced next year by Christopher Sinclair, a non-executive at Reckitt, and executive chairman of Mattel, who looks a reasonable choice. He has had the good sense to step down from Mattel and concentrate on keeping Reckitt on the straight and narrow
The worst thing about having a flight cancelled isn't the battle to win compensation it's the devastating effect on your holiday.
How on earth do you tell the kids they're staying at home after all that anticipation?
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary should bear in mind the untold knock-on effects on families as he tries to fix his scheduling bungle.
Paying every penny of compensation owed to customers and doing so automatically, rather than forcing people to claim on the airline's website (which keeps glitching) or costly phone line should go without saying.
Tightwad: Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary should bear in mind the untold knock-on effects on families as he tries to fix his scheduling bungle
Yet, as we explain, you'd be mad to expect anything more than the absolute minimum from Ryanair. It is that stingy.
EU compensation rules barely cover money lost on car hire, let alone the misery of missing your honeymoon or an Ironman competition (an extra-long triathlon that one passenger will now forego after months of training). You can't put a price on that sort of disappointment but it would help if Ryanair at least tried.
If true to form, O'Leary will resort to penny-pinching. My guess is he'll gamble that families who've scrimped all year for a holiday probably won't stomach paying an extra 50 or 100 per person to a rival airline next time they book.
No wonder standards have plummeted if meltdowns such as the ones at Ryanair and British Airways this summer don't bring greedy airlines back down to earth.
Booking ruse
STICKING with Ryanair, the issue at the heart of this week's chaos is the shameful disregard the airline has always had for customers.
Its latest booking ruse is a prime example. You now have to pay 4 per person to reserve a seat. Refuse, and you are 'randomly' allocated one.
Checking in for two people last month, I was allocated one at the front of the plane and another over the wing despite there being several available next to each other. Ryanair then offered another chance to choose my seats . . . at 15 a pop.
A passenger on Twitter who had a similar experience ended up paying 65 for a group of five who were given separate seats on a plane that had 40 empty places.
Insulting doesn't even begin to describe it let me know if you've suffered from similar rip-offs.
Data breach farce
Equifax, the credit scoring firm, still hasn't alerted the 400,000 British customers affected by its data breach in July. If you've ever used the service, my advice is to change all of your internet passwords.
The 50-day delay (so far) in notifying victims is unacceptable, given Equifax's past comments about responding swiftly to data breaches.
One email to journalists last October said: 'Whilst much focus is on preventative measures to avoid breaches . . . businesses also need to have the right steps in place should their customer data become compromised.'
Don't laugh yet the email goes on to explain that 63 per cent of consumers 'would expect to be told of compromised data within a few hours'.
Another self-righteous email in 2015 stated matter-of-factly: 'Despite sustained campaigns by government, consumer bodies and other organisations, it appears some consumers continue to be reckless with their personal information, perhaps not realising just how little fraudsters need to take control of their accounts.'
Bear in mind that Equifax hackers have allegedly broken its security by using the word 'admin' as both the username and password. You couldn't make it up!
Pensions battle
An update on our battle to win pension freedoms for the five million retired savers abandoned by the Government last year.
Money Mail's Unlock Our Pensions campaign has argued that those who retired before savers were allowed to cash in their pots should be able to swap their annuities (monthly incomes for life) for a lump sum.
From conversations with senior sources, it has become clear we need Government intervention to make progress. Now MPs have returned from the Costas and Cornwall, I'll be holding meetings in Westminster to try to thrash out a deal. Watch this space.
d.hyde@dailymail.co.uk
Bosses at scandal-hit Equifax could be hauled before MPs after it emerged a security disaster gave hackers undetected access to 400,000 British consumers details for two months.
As the scandal over the hacking grows, it emerged yesterday that experts at IT business Cisco warned a string of businesses including Equifax that their systems were vulnerable as far back as March 8 and an update was issued to fix the problem.
But the credit reference agencys website was still unprotected in mid-May allowing criminals to break in and steal the data of 148m Americans and 400,000 Britons. The hack went undiscovered by Equifaxs staff until the end of July.
Grilling: Equifax bosses could be hauled before MPs after it emerged a security disaster gave hackers undetected access to 400,000 British consumers details for two months
In the intervening period, crooks ran amok inside the business and were able to access British customers names, dates of birth, email addresses and phone numbers.
The new details show how victims may have had their personal details left in the hands of criminals months before they were aware.
Equifax has still not written to the UK customers affected meaning thousands who could be targeted by fraudsters do not even know they are victims.
Parliaments Treasury Select Committee is understood to be watching closely and could order Equifax bosses to publicly account for their actions.
Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke, a committee member, said: People will ask if there has been a cover-up. Clearly Equifax need to explain themselves.
And Justin Modray of consumer rights group Candid Money said: There should be urgent action on this, and that should be driven by Parliament. Equifax should be forced to explain itself.
As one of Britains three credit agencies, Equifax holds data on every British adult which is used by banks to determine if they can safely borrow money.
There is no opt-out and consumers have little control over how this information is shared with finance firms.
The business also likes to market itself as an expert on cyber security but its reputation is in tatters after the hacking fiasco, which has led to embarrassing revelations about how unsafe Equifaxs own systems are.
Anti-hacking firm Hold Security last week revealed that one Equifax website in Argentina allowed anyone to log in using the easily-guessed password and user name of admin and admin.
Investigators are said to believe the attack on US and UK consumers details was backed by a foreign state.
Suspicion is falling on Russia, which was blamed for a similar attack on Yahoo last year.
Equifax said it took immediate steps to solve the issue, and thought at the time the problem had been dealt with.
But in the following months, finance businesses noticed a surge in calls from fraudsters seeking to direct US victims money into fake bank accounts.
It emerged yesterday that Equifax was also hit by an unrelated US hacking attack in March, although this is not believed to have affected UK consumers.
Stepping down: Adrian Bellamy is to retire as Reckitt chairman after 14 years in the post
The man who guided Reckitt Benckiser through more than a decade of stellar growth is stepping down after criticism by investors.
Adrian Bellamy is retiring as the consumer goods groups chairman after 14 years.
The 75-year-old will be replaced by Chris Sinclair, the executive chairman of toy maker Mattel.
In changes that will take effect at the companys annual general meeting next May, pay committee head Judy Sprieser will also step down.
The shake-up is a victory for investors who criticised Sinclair and Sprieser for presiding over indefensibly high pay awards to Reckitt chief executive Rakesh Kapoor.
Kapoor is one of the best-paid bosses in the UK, receiving about 61million in total since 2012 including 25million in a single year.
Investors including ShareSoc, an association of individual shareholders, and the Railways Pension Scheme have both been critical, voicing significant concerns about the quality of board governance.
The changes are the latest in a series of senior departures from the company which produces Cillit Bang cleaning products and Durex condoms.
Brexit plan: MJ Hudson has opened an office in Luxembourg
BREXIT PLANS Asset management consultant MJ Hudson has opened an office in Luxembourg to prevent any disruption after Brexit.
OFFICE JOB Software firm Redstone Connect has won a 5.5million contract to equip the 850,000 sq ft London HQ of an unnamed financial institution.
ELECTION PROBE US lawmakers are pressurising Facebook to disclose an internal report the social media giant produced about Russian meddling in the US elections.
TECH BACKING Payments technology firm Gocardless has been given an extra 16.7million by investors Accel, Balderton Capital, Notion Capital and Passion Capital.
GROWTH FUNDS Swedish tech company iZettle is being given 26.7million to fund expansion by the European Investment Bank.
CEANING SUPPORT Graffiti remover Just Ask, which works for housing associations in London and the South East, has won a 9million investment from private equity house Bridges Fund Management.
EQUITY BOOST Investors have pumped 278million into a fund launched by private equity firm Archimed to be spent on acquiring medical technology and biopharma companies.
CASH RAISED Wealth manager Netwealth Investments, founded by former Goldman Sachs partner Charlotte Ransom, has raised 10million from 13 new supporters.
RIVAL BUYOUT Commercial property investor Palace Capital has agreed to buy rival RT Warren for 53.3million.
LUNG DRUG Drug giant GlaxoSmithKline has won approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for chronic lung disease inhaler, Trelegy Ellipta.
TESTS DEAL Genetic screening group Premaitha Health has signed an agreement to offer its tests to women in South Africa.
BOARD ROLE Video game maker Frontier Developments has hired James Mitchell, chief strategy officer at Chinese internet giant Tencent Holdings, as a non-executive director.
Tough rules are being drawn up that could finally stem the tide of foreign predators taking control of British companies, nuclear plants and tech pioneers.
City regulators yesterday outlined a series of changes to takeover rules to force bidders for British firms to come clean over their intentions including any plans to move the companys headquarters or shut down research labs.
And Business Secretary Greg Clark last night pledged to publish plans this autumn to ensure investment from overseas did not pose a threat to national security.
It followed Theresa Mays pledge in the Queens Speech to bring forward proposals to ensure that critical infrastructure is protected to safeguard national security.
And Britains bid to beef up its defences looks set for an instant test after Beijing-controlled China General Nuclear confirmed it was looking to buy into a proposed 15bn nuclear power station at Moorside in Cumbria.
A string of foreign predators have sought to take control of British firms in recent years raising fears over the future of jobs, expertise and intellectual property as well as national security.
One of the most controversial deals was the 11.9billion hostile takeover of Cadbury in 2010 by US food group Kraft, which then closed factories, laid off staff and shifted the chocolate makers headquarters out of Britain.
More recently Japanese giant Softbank bought ARM the UKs largest technology firm for 24billion and quickly sold a 25 per cent stake to investors from Saudi Arabia.
Krafts attempt to buy Unilever this year and Pfizers audacious bid for Astrazeneca last year also caused alarm, as did the proposed takeover of the London Stock Exchange by German rival Deutsche Boerse.
Push: Business Secretary Greg Clarke has endorsed proposals to slow fast track takeovers of UK firms
Although the deals collapsed, they raised fears that even Britains biggest companies are vulnerable to foreign predators.
The Takeover Panel now wants to introduce a series of changes to its rules to help protect British businesses from predators.
Under the proposals, bidders will be forced to come clean over their ultimate plans for the combined group much earlier, spelling out what will happen to the target companys HQ and research and development operations.
They will also have to reveal the impact on the entire workforce, including potential changes to the mix of skilled and unskilled workers and full time versus part time staff.
Welcoming the proposals, Clark said: One of Britains biggest assets in competing in the global economy is our deserved reputation for being a dependable and confident place in which to do business.
Setting the scene for a fresh clampdown in the coming weeks, a business department spokesman added the proposals will set out further measures to safeguard national security, while ensuring the UK remains a global champion of free trade and investment.
Jack Camilleri, from Caversham, was killed in a tragic accident just over two weeks ago
A 20-year-old rower has died while travelling across the holiday resort of Bali.
Jack Camilleri, from Caversham near Reading, was killed in a tragic accident just over two weeks ago but news of his death has only just filtered back to the UK.
Friends and family of the university student have now raised more half of the 20,000 target to buy a commemorative boat in the name of the student, who attended Oxford Brookes University and the renowned Oratory School near Reading.
According to the Justgiving page set up in Mr Camilleri's honour, the student was a keen competitive rower who captained his school's boat team between 2014 and 2015.
He had carried on with his passion while on his gap year, continuing his training at Upper Thames Rowing Club in Henley-on-Thames and while at university with the Oxford Brookes Boat Club until his death on August 30.
No details about Mr Camilleri's have been released, but an inquest was opened on Friday after his body was brought back to the UK.
Commenting on the fundraiser page, Joseph Slattery said: 'Jack became my daughter Grace's first love and very quickly a family friend and I nicknamed him Jack Sparrow due to his boating connections.
'I found Jack to be a truly nice, humble and supportive person and I know his friends meant a lot to him. He did not forget his friends even though he met Grace.
The student was a keen competitive rower who captained his school's boat team between 2014 and 2015
A JustGiving page has been set up to buy a boat in Mr Camilleri's honour
'Jack spent lots of fun times at our home and on various holidays with Grace and with our family, the last being in Barbados where a good time was had by all.
'I often spoke to Jack about his ambitions and I hope he felt I gave him sound advice. Jack, you became an extension of our family, we miss and will miss you terribly. Rest well dear Jack. Lots of love.'
Another person, Mel Hoare said: 'Jack was both a friend and mentor to my lads, Harry and Toby, through Bisham Abbey Sailing School. My boys are devastated at the news.
'Jack was always so vibrant, full of fun, supportive and generous of his time. He has been taken from this world too soon, but he achieved more in those few years than some will do in a lifetime. All my sympathy to his family.'
There has been an outpour of emotion on a Justgiving page following the death of Mr Camilleri
So far, more than 10,000 of the 20,000 target for the boat in Mr Camilleri's honour has been raised
His friend, who created the Justgiving page under the username W Lord, wrote: 'It is with great sadness that we all found out the tragic passing of Jack Camilleri who was taken too young following an accident whilst travelling over the summer in Bali.
'Jack Camilleri was a great friend to all he met and he touched so many lives. In his memory we would like to raise funds to put towards purchasing a rowing boat in his name as a memorial funded by his friends, family and loved ones.
'It will be a memorial we can use to give back to the sport which gave Jack so much joy and drive, and a sport in which he created so many memories and friends through.'
The California sheriff who kept a police officer on duty after he was accused of raping Real Housewife Lynne Curtin's daughter, Alexa Curtin, is now asking for the reality star's award to be reduced.
Court papers obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com reveal Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens is asking to cut the county's legal bill of more than $2.1 million in down to $480,840.
Hutchens claims the attorneys overcharged taxpayers, but Curtin's lawyers have slammed the demands as 'baseless' saying the the motion 'fails to offer any specific argument as to how the County arrived at that number.'
The court filing comes a month after the 24-year-old who appeared in seasons four and five of Real Housewives of Orange County, was awarded $2.25 million in damages - in addition to the legal fees - after she was allegedly raped by sheriff's deputy Nicholas Caropino, 38, in April 2014.
If successful, it would mean Curtin could lose more than two-thirds of her award as she may be on the hook to pay the extra $1.62 million.
Alexa Curtin, 24, was awarded $2.25 million in damages last month in her lawsuit claiming she was raped by an Orange County Sheriff's Deputy in April 2014
Disgraced Sheriff's deputy Nicholas Caropino, 38, allegedly forced Alexa to give him oral sex and raped her for 20 minutes in her car after he responded to a call at her then-boyfriend's home in Dana Point, California
Alexa, daughter of Orange County Housewife Lynne Curtin (center) requested $2.1M in attorney fees to be paid after winning the large settlement
According to her lawsuit, Curtin claimed she was detained by Caropino after she left her then-boyfriend's home in Dana Point, California after an argument.
Caropino searched her Nissan Versa where he found underwear and began to inappropriately question her about it.
He then had to leave to tend to 'another more pressing matter', but told Curtin she wasn't free to leave and ordered her to remain in her vehicle.
Caropino returned 20 minutes later and entered her car and sat in the passenger seat next to her, where he told her: 'Since you are still here, I am going to f**k the s**t out of you,' Curtin claimed.
The deputy then forced her to give him oral sex and raped her for 20 minutes, the lawsuit states.
Caropino was never charged with rape, but a civil court jury ruled in favor of Curtin after deliberating for less than 30 minutes in August. He was eventually fired 16 months after the sexual assault was reported.
Caropino had argued that the sex was consensual, but Curtin, who has appeared in porn films under the name Jayden Taylors, had said she was 'in fear for her safety and knew that many in law enforcement carry guns.'
'When he drove away in his car, he took a piece of me I never got back,' she told the jury, according to the OC Weekly.
In a response filed on September 11, Curtin's attorneys, slammed Hutchens's demands, arguing that the county hired a 'fee auditor' James Schrantz to inspect the billing sheets and rates requested.
'As a "fee auditor," Mr. Schrantz is not qualified as an expert to provide opinions on the reasonableness of attorneys' fees because he fails to provide an objective, unbiased review of plaintiffs' attorney fees request,' court papers state.
Curtin, who has appeared in porn films under the name Jayden Taylors, had said she was 'in fear for her safety and knew that many in law enforcement carry guns.'
Orange County Board of Supervisors also claimed they only fought the case because Curtin's original demand for $40 million was too high.
But her lawyers fired back saying that before the case was heard, they offered to settle for $2.3 million just $50,000 more than the final award but the county 'never responded.'
Curtin also claimed Hutchens was aware that Caropino was a dirty cop.
Four months before the incident, another woman had formally accused him of sexually assaulting her twice, both times while on duty.
But under the department's rules he was allowed to stay on the job while a criminal inquiry was going on.
'An officer accused of rape or murder or robbery or sexual assault remains on the job interacting with the public,' Curtin's attorney Daniel Balaban said in court, 'That policy is reckless and dangerous.'
The first woman who accused Caropino of sexual assault had been stopped under suspicion of DUI.
The officer reportedly turned off his body microphone and the audio and video recorders in his patrol car while he took the woman to the Orange County Jail.
But a camera on the jail roof recorded him keeping the woman inside his vehicle for 40 minutes time when he should have been hurrying to make sure a blood test accurately determined the amount of alcohol in her system.
Lynne left the show in season five, and soon after departing the series, she filed for divorce from her husband
The woman claimed he had ordered her to stroke his erect penis through his pants.
She also claimed that after she was released, Caropino went to her home and demanded sex. The video camera in his car proved he had stayed in the house for more than an hour.
Balaban told the jury of four men and four women that no one would expect a ship's captain or airline pilot to be left on the job after being caught intoxicated at work.
'Does it make any sense under the sun that we're going to leave a deputy accused of these things on duty with the risk he could do it again?'
U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Wilson told jurors there was no doubt that the rape had occurred and their job was to determine whether the sheriff's policy of keeping accused officers on duty had contributed to it.
Now the court battle will consider whether Balaban and his team of lawyers overcharged for attorney fees. They say their success in court proves all the hours they put in were needed.
Neither Curtin's lawyer nor Orange County officials immediately returned DailyMail.com's calls for comment.
Two Naval corpsmen have been removed from duty after images of them messing around with newborn babies emerged online.
Images originally uploaded to Snapchat but later shared on Facebook by concerned recipients shows one of the women flipping off a baby with the caption 'How I currently feel about these mini Satans.'
A second photo shows another staffer holding a baby by the arms and is taken from a video in which she makes the child 'dance' to 50 Cent song In Da Club.
Two corpsmen have been removed from duty at Naval Hospital Jacksonville, in Florida, after uploading images of themselves messing around with newborns to Snapchat. This image was taken from a video that shows the staffer making the baby 'dance' to a 50 Cent song
The women were originally reported to be Navy nurses, but a statement from the hospital has since clarified that they are junior corpsmen.
In the video the staffer can be seen laughing and joking with someone behind the camera who can be heard saying 'we're going to hell'.
The woman can then be seen holding the child, reported to be just hours old by Fox 30, under each arm.
As the song plays she moves the newborn's arms around to the beat, imitating rap musicians in music videos.
Pictures of the incident were shared hundreds of thousands of times after being posted online, and were quickly brought to the attention of hospital authorities.
A statement from the hospital's commanding officer said: 'We are aware of the inappropriate video and photos and can confirm they are hospital corpsmen, not nurses, but we are unable to confirm their names or tenure in light of the ongoing investigation.
'The individuals have been removed from patient care, meaning they will not be providing direct patient care.
'We are also contacting patients to address any questions or concerns they may have. This type of behavior is incompatible with the Navy's core values of honor, courage and commitment, as well as medical ethics.
'It also does not reflect the commitment Navy Medicine has to provide the best care our nation can offer to those who serve as well as their families.
'An investigation is underway. Once the investigation is complete, appropriate actions will be taken.'
The images were taken from Snapchat and posted to Facebook by concerned recipients. They quickly went viral, leading the hospital to remove the workers and launch and investigation
The commanding officer of Navy Hospital Jacksonville said the workers will now 'be handled by the legal system and military justice'
A statement released earlier said: 'We are aware of a video / photo posted online. It's outrageous, unacceptable, incredibly unprofessional, and cannot be tolerated.
'We have identified the staff members involved. They have been removed from patient care and they will be handled by the legal system and military justice.
'We're in the process of notifying the patient's parents.'
The images caused an outpouring of rage on social media, with the corpsmen branded 'cruel' and 'disgusting'.
Jane Agerton, who identified herself as a nurse from Tennessee, wrote: 'They need to have their nursing license revoked. I am totally disgusted. How juvenile. Grow up.'
Joy Allen added: 'As a former Navy daughter, Navy wife and mother of a child born at NAS JAX I am sicken by this behavior.
'I am sure that if I caught someone doing that to my child...your a** would have been grass under the lawn mower. Shame!'
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A Florida woman has described the terrifying moment her home was slowly swallowed up by a sinkhole.
The house in Apopka started sinking on Tuesday into the hole that measured 20 feet across and 15 feet deep.
The same family has lived in the house since 1969 and remodeled it five years ago.
They escaped without injury and are now staying with relatives.
Scroll down for video
Orange County Fire Rescue spokeswoman Kat Kennedy says crews responded Tuesday morning, shortly after the Apopka house began sinking. The homeowner, Ellen Miller, is seen above surveying the damage on Tuesday
A Florida woman has described the terrifying moment her home was slowly swallowed up by a sinkhole. The house in Apopka started sinking on Tuesday into the hole that measured 20 feet across and 15 feet deep
No injuries were reported to the home's residents. Kennedy says they're staying with relatives
The same family has lived in the house since 1969 and remodeled it five years ago
It's unclear what caused the sinkhole.
Apopka is in central Florida, about 18 miles northwest of Orlando.
The initial signs that the structure of the home was compromised were seen Monday the previous evening.
'We watched it all night and it got bigger and deeper and finally, at 4 in the morning, I saw big deep cracks in the bathroom,' homeowner Ellen Miller told WFTV-TV.
'We watched it all night and it got bigger and deeper and finally, at 4 in the morning, I saw big deep cracks in the bathroom,' Miller (above) said. The sinkhole is seen from above right
The family managed to grab whatever it could and moved it quickly onto the front lawn before the home gave way and cratered
Though it is not known definitively if the sinkhole was caused by the hurricane, scientists say that the phenomenon is not uncommon after a storm of that magnitude
'The tub was sinking and the window was coming loose and I said, "Its time to go".
The family managed to grab whatever it could and moved it quickly onto the front lawn before the home gave way and cratered.
They plan to stay next door in their daughter's home while they figure out what to do next.
Florida continues its recovery following the devastating effects of Hurricane Irma which swept through the region last week.
Though it is not known definitively if the sinkhole was caused by the hurricane, scientists say that the phenomenon is not uncommon after a storm of that magnitude.
'When you have heavy rains, the chances of sinkholes up quite a bit,' said Dr. Manoj Chopra, a UCF engineering professor.
He said sinkholes can form when the rain and flood water caused by hurricanes start to recede.
Sinkholes can happen suddenly.
Miller said the hole under her home formed in a matter of hours.
President Trump's speech before the United Nations General Assembly was a family affair, with one notable exception Donald Trump Jr was nowhere to be found.
Instead Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, along with Eric Trump and his wife Lara, who gave birth to grandson Luke just one week ago, were in the audience.
Asked by DailyMail.com where he was Tuesday, Donald Trump Jr didn't reply.
WHERE'S DON? (From left) Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Lara Trump and Eric Trump are all photographed in the audience of the United Nations General Assembly as President Trump gave his speech
Donald Trump Jr wasn't at the United Nations General Assembly and didn't respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment
Lara Trump (left), who had a baby one week before, along with Ivanka Trump (center) and Eric Trump (right) were all spotted Tuesday at the United Nations General Assembly
Yesterday the news broke that Donald Jr had given up his Secret Service protection in a move that made it look like he was trying to keep his comings and goings more low key.
He won't, however, escape from Congressional Russia probe, as the eldest Trump son is expected to testify publicly, a top-ranking Democrat said on Sunday.
'Well, it will be this fall. I know that for sure,' Senator Dianne Feinstein, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said in an interview with CNN.
It would be the first public testimony on the Russia affair by a member of President Donald Trump's inner circle, and by no less a figure than his eldest son, the co-director of the family business.
'Don Jr' already has testified behind closed doors, answering questions by Senate Judiciary Committee investigators for five hours on September 7.
Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, also testified behind closed doors before several congressional committees in July.
Ivanka Trump, whispering to U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Dina Powell, sat alongside her husband Jared Kushner, Lara Trump and Eric Trump at the president's speech
The Trump family was photographed leaving the UNGA session they attended with Lara and Eric Trump, along with Jared Kushner, taking one escalator and Ivanka Trump taking the other
Lara Trump (left) and Ivanka Trump (right) are photographed leaving President Trump's UNGA speech, with Jared Kusher (center) coming up behind them
Ivanka Trump posted a photo of herself holding baby Luke, the first time she met her one week-year-old nephew
But the lawmakers want the various Trump insiders to publicly explain, under oath, their contacts with Russians before and after the November election.
All have vehemently denied any collusion with Moscow, defending the contacts as of no significance or unrelated to the campaign.
In Trump's son's case, investigators are interested in one particular meeting he had in June 2016 at New York's Trump Tower with a Russian lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya.
She had had been presented to Donald Jr as a Russian government lawyer who could provide compromising information about Hillary Clinton.
He says the meeting never led to anything. Regardless, investigators will want to know if his father was aware of what might amount to an attempt at collusion.
Donald Jr's testimony has not yet been scheduled by the Judiciary Committee, which is controlled by Republicans.
If he refuses an invitation to testify, Congress can compel his testimony through its subpoena powers.
A dangerous sex attacker who bragged to his friends that raping sleeping women was 'easy' will be released from prison, despite having 'little empathy' for his victims.
Western Australian man Nigel Pindan, who was deemed a serious risk to the West Australian community, will be released under a supervision order as the state parliament continues to wrestle with strengthening the laws for criminals.
Supreme Court of WA Justice Bruno Fiannaca ruled on Tuesday that Pindan should be released, almost four years after he was labelled a dangerous sex offender and made subject to a continuing detention order.
Pindan has been convicted of three sexual assaults on sleeping women, beginning in 1994 for an assault that occurred the previous year in Broome when he was a juvenile (stock)
Pindan has been convicted of three sexual assaults on sleeping women, beginning in 1994 for an assault that occurred the previous year in Broome when he was a juvenile.
The second time the Kimberley man was convicted of a serious sex offence was in 1997 for an attack at a community near Derby when he was 18 years old while in 2007, when he was 28, he was convicted over a particularly heinous third assault.
The first two crimes were committed after Pindan had broken into the victims' home, while the victim of the 1997 assault was sleeping on a mattress on the verandah of her home with her boyfriend.
On each occasion, the victim woke and screamed or pushed him off, causing him to flee.
The court heard he committed the crimes while heavily drunk and had been smoking cannabis on at least one occasion, and had reoffended after completing his first sex offender program.
'It was also noted that he had demonstrated limited empathy for the victims,' Tuesday's judgment read.
Justice Fiannaca said alcohol and cannabis use remained the greatest risk to Pindan reoffending (stock)
Pindan told his psychiatrist attacking sleeping women was the 'easy thing to do' and he had heard friends bragging about doing such things, insisting that it happened on a regular basis in the West Kimberley, but he knew it was wrong.
'I am satisfied to a high degree of probability that the respondent remains a serious danger to the community,' Justice Fiannaca said.
He said alcohol and cannabis use remained the greatest risk to Pindan reoffending and it was concerning he had a negative attitude during his second annual continuing detention order review to at least some of the conditions of the proposed supervision order.
These included having to disclose his past offending to any new partner and wearing a GPS bracelet.
The court heard Pindan committed the crimes while heavily drunk and had been smoking cannabis on at least one occasion
'He perceived the supervision order to be 'stupid', as he considers that he is not a danger to anyone,' the judge said.
But provided suitable accommodation was available, the conditions of the latest supervision order, which would involve a high level of monitoring and intensive engagement with Pindan, would provide adequate protection of the community, the judge said.
He imposed 41 strict conditions and has suppressed publication of the suburb Pindan will reside in.
Nearly one in four teenage girls suffers from depression as they struggle to cope with the pressures of life, say researchers.
Analysis shows that 24 per cent of 14-year-old girls and 9 per cent of boys that age were found to be depressed.
Data collected by the Millennium Cohort Study on more than 10,000 children born in the year 2000-01 was used by University College London and Liverpool University.
When the children were aged three, five, seven, 11 and 14, their parents were questioned about their childs mental health and general behaviour.
Nearly one in four teenage girls suffers from depression as they struggle to cope with the pressures of life, say researchers (file photo)
At 14 years old, the children were also asked questions about their mental health from which the researchers determined whether they were suffering depression.
It shows that girls and boys have similar levels of emotional problems in childhood.
But once they hit puberty, girls are more likely to be affected by mental health problems.
Conversely, parents were more likely to identify boys with depression and fewer recognised girls were showing symptoms.
Children from richer families were less likely to report depression than their poorer peers.
Boys of all ages had greater behaviour problems than girls, the study found. Lead author Dr Praveetha Patalay said: In other research, weve highlighted the increasing mental health difficulties faced by girls today compared to previous generations and this study further highlights the worryingly high rates of depression.
Analysis shows that 24 per cent of 14-year-old girls and 9 per cent of boys that age were found to be depressed. Campaigners say social media is partly to blame (file photo)
Dr Marc Bush, of the charity YoungMinds, said: We know that teenage girls face a huge range of pressures, including stress at school, body image issues, bullying and the pressure created by social media. Difficult experiences in childhood, including bereavement, domestic violence or neglect, can also have a serious impact, often several years later.
Claire Murdoch, national mental health director at NHS England, said: NHS services for children and young people are expanding at their fastest rate in a decade.
This year, the NHS will treat an additional 30,000 children and young people, supported by an extra 280million of funding.
Anna Feuchtwang, chief executive of the National Childrens Bureau, added: This study of thousands of children gives us the most compelling evidence available about the extent of mental ill health among children in the UK.
With a quarter of 14-year-old girls showing signs of depression, its now beyond doubt that this problem is reaching crisis point.
Worryingly there is evidence that parents may be underestimating their daughters mental health needs. Conversely, parents may be picking up on symptoms in their sons, which boys dont report themselves.
Its vital that both children and their parents can make their voices heard to maximise the chances of early identification and access to specialist support.
A miracle mother gave birth to a baby that doctors initially suspected was ovarian cancer - seven years after she went through the menopause.
After feeling bloated, tired and sick for several months, Tess Morten, 47, was told to 'fear the worst' by doctors, but was actually three-and-a-half months pregnant.
Mrs Morten, from Reading, Berkshire, was taking HRT and had given up on having a child after three failed IVF attempts.
In January this year, she gave birth to Molly at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, who came out weighing healthy 7lb 14oz.
Tess Morten and her husband, Neil, pictured with their baby daughter, Molly, who was born seven years after she went through menopause
In January this year, she gave birth to Molly at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, who came out weighing healthy 7lb 14oz
She told the Sun: 'The hospital doctor was looking at the monitor as he rolled the scanner over my stomach and said, "Your ovaries are fine but look at this."
'I looked at the screen and could see a baby. I said, "Is this mine?"
'The nurse was holding my hand because I was scared it was bad news. I cried because I never thought it would happen to me.'
Mrs Morten and her husband, 52-year-old Neil, married in Jamaica in 2003 and immediately began making plans to add to their family.
Mrs Morten and her husband, 52-year-old Neil, married in Jamaica in 2003 and began making plans to add to their family
They eventually gave up and fostered three children to try to ease their pain after three rounds of IVF treatment
But after three rounds of IVF across the next seven years that cost more than 20,000 in total, they eventually gave up and fostered three children to try to ease their pain.
THE MENOPAUSE The menopause is when a woman stops having periods and is no longer able to get pregnant naturally. In the UK, the average age is 51, but for 1 in 100 women this happens before the age of 40. Symptoms include flushes, night sweats, difficulty sleeping, anxiety or reduced libido. These can kick in months before periods stop. HRT is normally taken after a woman has gone through the menopause and is unable to conceive. However, fertility doctors believe in rare cases it is possible that the hormones in the medication can cause the ovaries to release a few last eggs. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement
Experts believe that her ovulation may have restarted by the HRT drugs she was taking to remedy hot flushes she was having.
She added in her interview with the Sun: 'I was stunned because I had been through the menopause and didnt think it was possible. I feel Ive been blessed.'
The chairman of the British Fertility Society, Adam Balen, said: 'I have not heard of it happening seven years later. Its amazing.'
There have been several previous cases of women, who had already gone through an early menopause, falling pregnant while on HRT.
In 1997, British housewife Dawn Brooke became the worlds oldest natural mother at 59.
She was on hormone replacement therapy when she conceived and later gave birth to a healthy son, Harry.
Dr Geeta Nargund, head of reproductive medicine at St Georges Hospital, London, previously told the Mail: There are rare cases of spontaneous ovulation for women on HRT.
In the past weve seen it happen with women who have gone through early menopause.
'Theres a very small chance of that happening. Its possible for ovulation to continue on and off around the age of menopause but not once a woman is completely post-menopausal.
A prank insurance TV ad featuring Formula One star David Coulthard disguised as a taxi driver was meant to promote the value of safe driving.
As he skidded, swerved, spun, jumped and raced around suburban streets, the idea was that drivers would be won over by the value of safe driving.
However, insurance company Aviva seriously misunderstood the impact of the commercial.
For advertising watchdogs said the effect was actually to promote dangerous and reckless driving.
And the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has responded to 58 complaints by banning the ad from the small screen.
As Coulthard (pictured) skidded, swerved, spun, jumped and raced around suburban streets, the idea was that drivers would be won over by the value of safe driving
The decision is a huge embarrassment for the insurance company, given that the point of the commercial was to promote its Aviva Drive app that is designed to reward safe drivers with a reduction in their premiums.
The TV advert carried on screen text warning people should not try to recreate what was as an extreme driving experiment filmed in a controlled environment.
After the racing driver revealed his true identity to the alarmed passengers at the end of the stunts, a voice-over stated: Paying for other peoples bad driving.
Theres no excuse for that. At Aviva safer drivers could save an average of 170 on our car insurance. Download the Aviva Drive app to see if you could save.
The app monitors a motorists driving skills and gives a score out of 10, which determines how much consumers could save on their car insurance with Aviva.
The ASA said the high speed and stunts performed by the car overshadowed the message in the warnings that appeared on screen.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has responded to 58 complaints by banning the ad from the small screen
In its defence the insurance company said the David Coulthard commercials were actually part of a broader campaign driven out of a social purpose to help make Britains roads safer
It said: The manner in which the car was driven was extremely reckless and given it was performed in a regular vehicle and on public roads whilst showing other vehicles to be in motion, were scenes that could potentially be emulated by viewers, putting themselves and others at a significant risk of danger by driving hazardously and in an irresponsible manner.
Because of that, we considered that the ad had featured reckless driving behaviour on public roads and therefore concluded that the ad encouraged dangerous and irresponsible driving.
In a ruling published today, it said: The ad must not appear again in its current form. We told Aviva UK Digital Ltd that their advertising must not encourage dangerous and irresponsible driving.
In its defence the insurance company said the David Coulthard commercials were actually part of a broader campaign driven out of a social purpose to help make Britains roads safer.
The firm said the depiction of bad driving through an extreme taxi journey was intended to make the point that safer motorists should not have to pay for other peoples bad driving, but should be rewarded.
It insisted the stunts were not intended to encourage or condone dangerous and irresponsible driving, but to denounce and discourage it.
Aviva, which has dropped plans to show the ad again, said it was disappointed by the ruling by the Advertising Standards Agency
The company said its own consumer research using focus groups had confirmed that people understood this message. At the same time the organisation Clearcast, which pre-vets commercials, also gave the commercial the green light.
Clearcast said it believed a reasonable viewer would understand that the entire premise of the ad was to recognise the stunts as bad driving, not to be aspired to or emulated by drivers on public roads.
Aviva, which has dropped plans to show the ad again, said it was disappointed by the ruling.
A spokesman said: Road safety is hugely important to Aviva and we have done a lot of work, particularly over the last two years, to help promote safer driving.
We wanted to produce an advert which presented this idea in a completely different way, but still stayed true to the principles of safer driving by encouraging people to use our app which monitors their driving skills and rewards safer motorists.
However, we appreciate that some viewers felt the advert may have sent out the wrong message.
We are absolutely committed to helping make Britains roads safer and we will continue to develop new initiatives with this goal in mind.
Mr Prosser's grateful family say they will nominate him for a bravery award
Smashing the ute's window, he yanked Jacob Prosser, 22, to safety
He encountered the ute while driving down Olympic Highway 2am Sunday
A brave motorist risked his own life to rescue a man from a burning ute on a remote highway in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Cootamundra man, Michael Van Baast, didn't think twice when he encountered Jacob Prosser, 22, trapped inside his burning white ute which had collided with a tree on Olympic Highway.
Courageously setting his own safety aside, Mr Van Baast made the split second decision to smash his way to the young injured driver after hearing an explosion beneath the ute's bonnet.
What started as a weak smoulder quickly developed into tall flames, which first engulfed the front of the ute before creeping into the dashboard.
'I thought, I've gotta get this guy out right now,' he told Prime 7 News Wagga.
Ripping down the door frame, the selfless technology company director used 'brute force' to wrangle Mr Prosser to safety.
'I thought, nah, this is not going to end well, so I just decided to just brute force him out,' he recalled.
'I jumped up on top of the car and got a good grip on him, and just started yanking.'
Michael Van Baast (pictured) used 'brute force' to wrangle Mr Prosser, 22, to safety after flames engulfed his crashed ute
Meanwhile, the young driver drifted in and out of consciousness as Mr Van Baast struggled against his legs which were trapped inside vehicle.
Emergency crews arrived shortly after the injured driver was dragged to safety, with an overwhelmed Mr Van Baast keeling over in relief.
He has since been a hailed a hero by the community and Mr Prosser's family, who say they will nominate him for a bravery award.
Mr Prosser was treated for burns and a broken leg, and underwent surgery on Tuesday.
Jacob Prosser drifted in and out of consciousness as Mr Van Baast struggled against his legs which were trapped inside vehicle
Dashcam footage shared to social media has been flooded with praise for Mr Van Baast's heroic actions, with many saying he was more than deserving of the prestigious recognition.
'I would be extremely disheartened if the Australian of the year award does no go to this man! What an absolute legend!,' one user wrote.
Another adding: 'That was an amazing rescue, that young man is lucky his rescuer was a strong man. I hope he has a speedy recovery from his injuries.'
'Extraordinary footage, the young chap who crashed his car should be counting his lucky stars someone was there rescue him in time!'
Paul Manafort has lashed out at reports he was wiretapped by federal authorities and has demanded a probe into the leaks, suggesting the surveillance was politically motivated.
President Trump's former campaign manager responded to the claims on Tuesday as CNN reported that investigators working under Special Counsel Robert Mueller are looking into his activities dating back more than a decade.
The report indicates that Mueller and his team are focusing beyond Manafort's links to the Russian government.
In July, the FBI obtained a search warrant and raided Manafort's home in Virginia.
Investigators were reportedly looking for evidence of alleged financial improprieties - including money laundering and tax evasion - committed as early as January 2006, according to CNN.
Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump's former campaign manager, lashed out on Tuesday at reports he was wiretapped by federal authorities. He is seen above in this August 2016 file photo
It was reported that agents stormed the house with guns drawn while Manafort and his wife were in bed.
At one point, agents insisted on searching Kathleen Manafort for weapons - a standard practice in federal investigations.
The experience was a traumatic one which reportedly 'jarred' the Manaforts, according to CNN.
It is also an indication that Mueller wants to put pressure on Manafort to provide information that would aid his investigation.
Manafort served as Trump's campaign manager between June and August 2016 and helped guide the candidate's pivot from the Republican primary to the general election
Two weeks after the raid, in which the FBI seized financial records from Manafort's home, a company used by Manafort for offshore business dealings received a $1.25million loan from a newly-formed shell company registered anonymously in Nevada, according to documents exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com.
Jesand LLC which is owned by Manafort, his daughter Andrea, and his wife Kathleen took out the $1.25million equity loan on Andrea's home in lower Manhattan on August 7.
The home was first purchased a decade ago by Manafort and his daughter, through Jesand LLC.
The lender is a company called Woodlawn LLC, based in Carson City Nevada, which was formed on August 2, just one week before issuing the loan.
The company is registered to an anonymous agent service. The contract requires the $1.25million loan to be repaid in full by December 31, 2017.
Although Manafort's name is not on the loan agreement, the 'borrower' is listed as Jesand LLC and the address is listed as the office of Bruce Baldinger, who is Manafort's attorney.
It was also learned on Tuesday that investigators working under the supervision of Special Counsel Robert Mueller (seen above) are looking into Manafort's activities dating back over a decade
Manafort's spokesperson issued a statement Tuesday after CNN also reported that a secret court had authorized surveillance of Manafort under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), under which Americans can be targeted if they are suspected of acting as an agent of a foreign country.
Manafort became Trump's campaign manager in June 2016 but was forced to resign two months later amid reports of his business relationship with the Kremlin-backed former Ukrainian leader, Viktor Yanukovich.
The court initially authorized FISA surveillance of Manafort in 2014 but that lapsed in 2016 for lack of evidence, CNN reported.
FISA surveillance resumed later in 2016 and continued into 2017 as part of the FBI's probe into ties between Trump campaign associates and Russian operatives, CNN said.
MANAFORT AND THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN: WHAT WE KNOW March 29, 2016: Republican candidate Donald Trump announces ex lobbyist Paul Manafort as his campaign convention manager June 9, 2016: Manafort, Donald Trump Jr and Jared Kushner have a meeting in Trump Tower with a Russian lawyer who claimed she had information about Hillary Clinton that could help the campaign June 20, 2016: Manafort becomes Trump's campaign manager July 31, 2016: The New York Times reports on Manafort's business deals with Party of the Regions, a centrist pro-Russia political party of Ukraine August 19, 2016: Trump removes Manafort as his campaign manager June 15, 2017: The Washington Post reports Robert Mueller is investigating the finances of Trump associates July 26, 2017: The FBI picks the lock and raids Manafort's Virginia home and tells him he will be indicted, according to Monday's New York Times report Source: Factcheck.org Advertisement
'If true, it is a felony to reveal the existence of a FISA warrant, regardless of the fact that no charges ever emerged,' Maloni said in the statement on behalf of Manafort.
'The US Department of Justice's Inspector General should immediately conduct an investigation into these leaks and to examine the motivations behind a previous administration's effort to surveil a political opponent,' he said.
The special counsel's office and the FBI both declined to comment on Maloni's statement.
They also did not comment on CNN's original report about surveillance of Manafort.
Maloni urged the Justice Department to release any intercepts between Manafort and any non-Americans so people 'can come to the same conclusion as the DOJ (Justice Department) - there is nothing there.'
As part of the special counsel's probe, federal agents with search warrants raided Manafort's Virginia home in July.
The New York Times, citing two people close to the case, reported on Monday that prosecutors later told Manafort they planned to indict him.
CNN said interest in Manafort deepened because of intercepted communications between him and Russian operatives, and among the Russians.
The government eavesdropping continued into 2017, including a period when Manafort was known to talk to Trump after he became president.
CNN said it was unclear if Trump was picked up on the surveillance.
An inmate died in a wild brawl in the exercise yard of a high-security prison in far north Queensland.
Ashley Glenfield Gavenor got into a fist fight with another prisoner in Townsville Correctional Centre after 10am on Tuesday.
The 48-year-old collapsed about 30 seconds after the pair were separated and though prison guards rushed to his aid, they could not revive him.
Ashley Gavenor, 48, got into a fist fight with another prisoner in Townsville Correctional Centre
Detectives arrived after Gavenor was declared dead about 10.50am by medical staff and began investigating before the Corrective Services Investigation Unit arrived.
A 41-year-old man, believed to be the other man in the fight, was assisting police with their inquiries.
CSIU Acting detective Inspector Rosemary Walker said four investigators would look into the death in custody but finding a cause of death likely would take some time.
'We can't really speculate on what's caused his death, but preceding his death there has been an altercation, but we are going to be relying on an autopsy and witness statements, she told the Townsville Bulletin.
'We don't know bout his pre-existing health conditions or anything like that, so all of that will be examined.'
He collapsed and died 30 seconds after the wild brawl in the exercise yard was over
It was also not clear if any charges would be laid against the other combatant.
Together Union Townsville organiser Norm Jacobsen claimed the prison was 'severely understaffed' and operating outside its policy and procedures.
'We've been concerned with this prison for many, many years... It doesn't shock me, it's arrogance of management,' he said.
'There's always a possibility that it will happen again, especially when prisoners have friends there could be repercussions.'
Jamie Oliver, who has 41 restaurants in the UK, opened a restaurant at Nice Airport in France in July
He's built an 150million empire from his restaurants and cookbooks.
But Jamie Oliver's latest venture his first restaurant in France has been slammed by customers who say the coffee is 'undrinkable', the service 'abysmal' and the food 'bland and overpriced'.
The celebrity chef, who has 41 restaurants in the UK, opened Jamie's Deli at Nice Airport in France in July, alongside a Jamie's Italian.
The Deli, which sells coffee, cakes, salads and sandwiches, has sweeping views of the runway, which is on the edge of a cliff that plunges into the sea.
But although the views are impressive, it seems the same cannot be said about the food or the service.
Customers have taken to Twitter in hordes to criticise the Deli's 'incompetent' staff and 'dry' food.
One wrote: 'Jamie Oliver at Nice airport is understaffed and staff are incompetent- undercooked toasty and no plates!
'All this for 17', while another added: 'Outraged at the standard of food in the Deli, Nice airport, 8 for a Caesar salad with lettuce on the turn and rubber chicken'.
And another Twitter user slammed the restaurant, saying: 'Food dry, food run out, food overpriced. No butter/jam for croissant. No happy at all'.
The Deli's website promises to 'tantalise passenger taste buds' with 'delicious freshly-baked cakes and pastries', but customers claimed the croissants they were served were far from fresh.
Daniel Williams, 27, from London, visited the airport earlier this month hoping to enjoy a quick coffee and a croissant before his flight but was 'outraged' by his experience.
Customers have taken to Twitter in hordes to criticise the Deli's 'incompetent' staff and 'dry' food. Pictured is Nice Airport, where the restaurant is located (stock photo)
'I ordered two cappuccinos and croissants and what we got was cold, over frothed cappuccinos and cold, soggy croissants which had clearly been cooked days ago and kept in a fridge they were anything but French', he said.
'I was outraged by the service and the food. When we complained about the coffee being cold, the rude waitress heated the drinks up with the milk frother instead of giving us new ones we couldn't believe it.
'There was a big French group next to us who complained to the staff he's clearly not pleasing the locals either.'
Oliver, who was awarded an MBE for his services to hospitality in 2003, has always prided himself on using quality ingredients in his outlets.
But customers have urged the 42-year-old, who opened his first restaurant in 2008, to go to France to sort out the restaurant's problems as he would be 'ashamed' of the food.
'Get yourself to Nice', wrote one customer on Twitter. 'Your deli is whack. Letting the side down. Coffee is gross over sugary/ oily food'.
A representative for Oliver has been contacted for comment.
Restaurant critic AA Gill died from lung cancer last December, aged 62. In his final column, he revealed that his doctor had wanted to offer him Nivolumab but couldnt because it wasnt available on the NHS
A life-extending cancer drug which was denied to restaurant critic AA Gill has finally been made available on the NHS.
Nivolumab will be offered to 1,300 patients with advanced lung cancer after being approved by Nice, the drugs rationing body.
It is one of a revolutionary class of drugs called immunotherapy which work by teaching the bodys immune system to fight cancer. But it was initially turned down by Nice last year after being judged too expensive.
AA Gill worked for the Sunday Times and died from lung cancer last December, aged 62.
In his final column, he revealed that his doctor had wanted to offer him Nivolumab but couldnt because it wasnt available on the NHS.
He wrote that his consultant had told his partner Nicola Formby If he had insurance, Id put him on immunotherapy specifically, Nivolumab.
As would every oncologist in the First World. But I cant do it on the National Health.
As yet, immunotherapy isnt a cure, its a stretch more life, a considerable bit of life.
More life with your kids, more life with your friends, more life holding hands, more life shared, more life spent on earth but only if you can pay.
The drug will initially be paid for by the Cancer Drugs Fund, a pot of money set aside for treatments which arent yet routinely available. Its manufacturer Bristol-Myers Squibb has agreed to offer it at a discounted price.
In the meantime, Nice will obtain more evidence on its effectiveness and value for money. Professor Carole Longson, of the Nice centre for health technology evaluation, said: We know that Nivolumab is clinically effective for some people with lung cancer but the full extent of its benefit is not clear.
This new deal means that we can give patients access to what we know is a promising treatment whilst more evidence is gathered on its value.
Nivolumab will be offered to 1,300 patients with advanced lung cancer on the NHS after being approved by Nice, the drugs rationing body (stock photo)
Professor Paul Workman, at the Institute of Cancer Research said it was great news.
Im pleased to see Nice and the drugs manufacturer showing flexibility in reaching agreement on its approval.
But this is another instance where patients in the UK have had to wait far longer than necessary to access an innovative new treatment.
Initially, the drug was priced far too high to ever have been judged cost-effective by Nice. Companies need to come to the table with their best, most realistic price offer right at the start, so we get new exciting drugs, such as immunotherapies, to patients as quickly as possible.
Immunotherapies are very expensive, but one of the ways to make them more cost-effective is to direct them to patients most likely to respond.
Nivolumab works by preventing tumour cells from disguising themselves from the bodys immune system.
It will initially be offered to 1,300 patients with lung cancer who have already received chemotherapy. They will receive treatment intravenously every two weeks and a months course will cost about 5,300.
Only between 1 per cent and 4 per cent of advanced lung cancer patients are alive five years after they are diagnosed.
But a study at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, US, found 16 per cent survived for four years and ten months after using Nivolumab.
Ryanair pilots have been offered a 12,000 bonus for just ten days work, in a bid by the airline to ease the flights cancellation crisis and retain staff.
On Monday Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary hinted he would seek to strike a deal with pilots as he took responsibility for the rostering 'mess' that could see as many as 2,000 flights cancelled and leave up to 400,000 passengers stranded over the next six weeks.
Yesterday, a memo sent to pilots by the airline's chief operations officer, Michael Hickey, offered a 12,000 bonus to staff who had already been assigned a month off as part of attempts to resolve the rostering issues.
The memo is believed to be an attempt to plug the holes in Ryanair's flight schedule and ease the forced cancellation of up to 50 flights per day.
Chief executive Michael O'Leary admitted that he might have to strike a deal with some of the pilots
It read: 'To avoid further cancellations, we are requesting between one and two blocks of five days from every pilot who has already been assigned their month off.' However, although the work takes place in October this year, the payment will not be made until November 1, 2018, in what looks like an attempt by the airline to retain its pilots.
Mr Hickey states: 'All current pilots... who remain operating Ryanair aircraft between September and 31st October 2018 will receive a once-off 12,000/12,000 gross bonus for captains and 6,000/6,000 for first officers in November 2018.'
Those who accept the offer but leave the company before October 31 next year will not receive the bonus.
Pilots who have four or more unauthorised absences in that period will also lose the payment.
Part of the disruptions at Ryanair have been blamed on a number of the carrier's pilots being poached for jobs at Norwegian Air.
Ryanair has played down these reports but has admitted that at least 140 of their employees have left for the rival company.
When contacted by the Irish Daily Mail for comment yesterday, Ryanair responded: 'We don't comment on rumour or speculation, especially when it originates from competitor pilot unions.'
The fiasco could cost the airline up to 20million in compensation claims, with many affected passengers entitled to a payout of between 250 and 400, depending on the circumstances of the flight cancellation.
As many as 2,000 flights could be cancelled and leave up to 400,000 passengers stranded over the next six weeks
Yesterday it emerged that the Minister for Transport Shane Ross has been in touch with Ryanair to ensure that compensation claims would be met in full.
A spokesman for Mr Ross said: 'The minister has said that he is satisfied with the way the guidelines are being operated at the moment.'
Mr O'Leary has said: 'Everyone who is entitled to compensation will receive compensation.'
It comes as the airline industry watchdog his out at the firm for refusing to pay out if passengers re-book on rival airlines.
The Civil Aviation Authority accused Mr O'Leary of breaking a promise made by his lawyers.
It said the airline's approach raised fears that its 'express intention was to fail to meet its obligations' under EU rules. This would 'give rise to significant consumer harm,' it warned.
Ryanair has promised to refund passengers whose flights have been cancelled or book them on another flight for free.
But where this is not possible, Mr O'Leary drew the line at paying for tickets on rival airlines.
The Australian Border Force has launched an investigation after a shocking porn tweet.
The official Twitter account of commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg, @ABFComm, had 'liked' a black and white porn clip posted by the erotic account, LadyMystique_01, on July 16.
The 'like' came while during a tumultuous period for Mr Quaedvlieg, 52, who is on leave while under investigation over allegations he helped secure his girlfriend a job at Sydney Airport.
Australian Border Force Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg's official Twitter account 'liked' a pornographic tweet
Mr Quaedvlieg is believed to remain on leave while an investigation is underway into a personnel matter
The suspect pornographic tweet, posted on July 16, is listed in the posts Mr Quaedvlieg's account 'likes'
The former Queensland police detective has denied the allegations, which are under investigation by the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI).
The 'liked' tweet featured the crude caption, 'I think your c**k likes me'.
Lady Mystique described itself as 'wild and free', 'NSFW (not safe for work)' and 'sinsational'.
But it's not yet clear whether Mr Quaedvlieg, another Border Force staffer or someone else was responsible for the like.
Lady Mystique tweeted the porn video two weeks after it was revealed Mr Quaedvlieg had stood aside.
His account used to be regularly updated with pictures of Mr Quaedvlieg and occasional posts from the commissioner himself.
One of many pictures of Mr Quaedvlieg uploaded to the account. He's seen with a Vietnamese border official last November
Mr Quaedvlieg is seen here at a meeting with a Sri Lankan official in a Twitter photo
Mr Quaedvlieg is pictured during his swearing in ceremony at Parliament House in 2015
But Mr Quaedvlieg's account hasn't posted since May 25.
The Border Force was still issuing statements in the name of the 'Acting Commissioner' a week ago.
Asked whether its separate investigation into Mr Quaedvlieg was ongoing, an ACLEI spokeswoman said the organisation does not comment on operational matters.
In response to the porn post, a Border Force spokesperson said: 'The Department is investigating the matter and will not be commenting further at this stage.'
The 'like' was removed within minutes of Daily Mail Australia calling a departmental spokeswoman.
A ruthless and violent Irish drug cartel has reportedly landed in Australia, shipping huge amounts of cocaine to Brisbane from Colombia via Europe.
The Kinahan cartel is believed to be linked to the seizure of 20kg of cocaine at a Brisbane building site earlier this month with a street value of $2.4 million.
Irish underworld sources claim the cartel set up a building material site in Geebung, northern Brisbane,as a front to establish a hugely profitable trafficking venture.
Australian Federal Police officers found the stash of drugs hidden inside a bucket, and reportedly arrested an Asian national who was renting out the building site.
Ireland's ruthless Kinahan drug cartel has reportedly landed in Australia, shipping cocaine to Brisbane from Colombia. Pictured left is cartel kingpin Christy Kinahan, who is worth a reported $1.5 billion. Pictured right is son Daniel, believed to be the mob's second-in-charge
The Kinahan cartel is believed to be linked to the seizure of 20kg of cocaine at a Brisbane building site earlier this month with a street value of $2.4 million. Pictured above is an unrelated drug bust by Irish authorities in Dublin
Christy Kinahan, known as 'The Irish Godfather' and 'Dapper Don', is worth a reported $1.5 billion and is the kingpin of the notorious organised crime group.
His son Daniel Kinahan is considered by many to be the mob's second-in-charge, although he has not been convicted of any crimes.
The pair are living in exile in Dubai, immune from gangland rivals and Irish police.
Kinahan's cartel, thought to be one of the biggest wholesale drug operations in both Ireland and the UK, has been responsible for murders inside and outside Ireland over the past 10 years.
An underworld source told the Irish Independent newspaper that the Kinahan cartel had their sights set on Australia because of the huge profits to be made.
Kinahan's cartel, thought to be one of the biggest wholesale drug operations in both Ireland and the UK, has been responsible for murders inside and outside Ireland over the past 10 years (Irish police, known as An Garda Siochana, pictured above)
'The attraction of Australia for the Kinahans is obvious,' the source told the publication.
'They are paying $2,250 per kilogram of cocaine in Colombia and then selling it for $120,000 in Australia.
'They are making massive profits and for a while they were flying under the radar. This bust has exposed the entire system and it will have set them back significantly.'
Australian Federal Police confirmed the Brisbane cocaine bust, but would not comment on its alleged connection to the sophisticated Irish gang.
'The AFP can confirm it is investigating the seizure of a quantity of cocaine from the Brisbane suburb of Geebung,' a spokesman said.
'This activity is part of an ongoing investigation; as such it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.'
High Court judge Michael Kirby was forced to abandon his dream of becoming an Australian prime minister because he had to hide being gay in an era when it was illegal, his brother has said.
David Kirby, a retired judge, recalled how his high-profile sibling did everything to keep his same-sex attraction a secret during the 1960s, when homosexuality was a crime.
His older brother constantly studied in his youth to keep himself busy instead of going on dates or attending parties.
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Michael Kirby (left) as a young man with his partner, Johan, who have been together 48 years
The retired justice and his partner are both voting 'yes' in the same-sex marriage postal vote
Michael Kirby (left with his partner Johan van Vlote) hid his homosexuality as esteemed judge
Retired NSW Supreme Court judge David Kirby says his older brother Michael could have been prime minister if he didn't have to hide his homosexuality
'From an early age he did little else than study. We all thought that one day he would be prime minister,' David Kirby said in a moving piece for The Sydney Morning Herald.
David Kirby laments how his older brother, who was president of the University of Sydney Students' Representative Council in 1962, could have been prime minister if he was straight.
'At the end of his 20s, Michael determined that the price for his ambition was too high,' he said.
'He faced a life in which he would never know the intimate touch of someone he loved. He abandoned any thought of politics.'
Despite being a High Court judge, Michael Kirby kept his sexuality a secret until 1999 (pictured at his retirement ceremony in 2009)
In 1969, when Michael Kirby had turned 30, he met his life-long partner Johan van Vloten.
He kept his homosexuality a secret for another 30 years, until 1999, when as a High Court judge in Canberra Michael Kirby revealed his soulmate in a Who's Who entry in a book of prominent Australians.
Michael Kirby had to keep his sexuality a secret during a large part of his illustrious legal career, that saw him serve as a Federal Court judge and as president of the New South Wales Court of Appeal.
Homosexuality wasn't decriminalised in NSW until 1984, when Michael Kirby was already in his mid-forties.
Revealing his private life could have potentially seen him imprisoned, destroying his livelihood in the legal fraternity, which would almost certainly have stopped him serving on the High Court bench from 1996 until his retirement in 2009.
He later did a report for the United Nations on torture in North Korea.
Michael Kirby studied hard as a young man instead of going on dates because he was gay
David Kirby, a retired NSW Supreme Court judge, didn't face the same constraints as a straight man.
Now 78, Michael Kirby has announced he is voting 'Yes' in the same-sex marriage postal vote survey despite his earlier misgivings about the idea of polling Australians on an issue unrelated to changing the constitution.
His partner Johan is now also voting yes, despite his concern about Australians being asked to cast an opinion on gay relationships as part of the $122 million poll.
David Kirby says his older brother and his partner are 'just like any other couple'.
'They are still together 48 years later. It is a privilege to be in their company,' he said, adding he would be voting 'Yes' in the same-sex marriage postal vote survey.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been tipped to move into Clarence House when Prince Charles ascends to the throne.
Longstanding rumours have suggested that the Prince of Wales and Camilla want to stay in the four-storey Westminster mansion.
Charles and his wife are said to be 'very comfortable' at their current lodgings and loathe to move to 'the big house'.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been tipped to move into Clarence House when Prince Charles ascends to the throne
Longstanding rumours have suggested that the Prince of Wales and Camilla want to stay in the four-storey Westminster mansion
However, it now appears they will follow tradition and move into Buckingham Palace.
A Clarence House spokesman said: 'Buckingham Palace will remain the official London residence of the monarch'.
A senior royal aide categorically has ruled out the prince staying at Clarence House in any capacity once he accedes to the throne.
A spokesman for Clarence House has suggested Prince Charles will move into Buckingham Palace when he becomes king
Prince William and Kate will are unlikely to occupy Clarence House after Charles' departure, with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge insisting they will remain in Kensington Palace until he becomes monarch.
This would leave it free for Harry and Meghan, who have been in a relationship for more than a year and are tipped to become engaged soon.
Until such a move takes place, Harry and Meghan are likely to live in his current home, Nottingham Cottage, a two-bed house on the grounds of Kensington Palace.
Clarence House was built between 1825 and 1827 to the designs of John Nash for Prince William Henry, Duke of Clarence, who lived there as King William IV from 1830 until 1837.
It was occupied for nearly 50 years by the Queen Mother until her death in 2002, with Charles and Camilla moving in 2003, on what would have been his grandmother's 103rd birthday.
An Australian couple is raking in more than $50,000 a day selling a 'must have' kitchen device, earning them well over $20million each year.
Grace and Witek Mazur, from Perth, set up the sole Australian distribution company for German-engineered appliance Thermomix nearly two decades ago.
Financial filings show the couple has been making at least $20million a year - or around $55,000 every day - The West Australian reported.
The pair netted a $25million profit for the 2015-16 financial year and a $22million payout the year before, according to the paper.
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Grace and Witek Mazur (pictured) are raking in more than $50,000 a day selling a 'must have' kitchen device, earning them well over $20million each year
Mr and Mrs Mazur sell the Thermomix - which claims to do the job of a dozen traditional appliances - for just over $2,000
Mr and Mrs Mazur sell the 'world's smallest kitchen' - which claims to do the job of a dozen traditional appliances - for just over $2,000.
They first came across the controversial appliance visiting a friend in their home country of Poland.
'I went to (visit) a friend of mine... She wasn't expecting me,' Mrs Mazur previously told Daily Mail Australia.
'Her kids cooked the whole dinner instantly. I was impressed, they sold it to me, seeing what they can do.'
After winning the rights to become the first and only Australian distributor of the product, they founded Thermomix in Australia in 2001.
The pair spent more than $6.5million earlier this year for a lavish beachside home in Marybrook, south of Perth
Financial filings show the couple has been making at least $20million a year - or around $55,000 every day. They spent well over $6million on this lavish home
'It took us a while to convince the German company. They didn't think there was a market here in Australia,' Mrs Mazur said.
They now sell around 80,000 units annually. They spent a small portion of their wealth earlier this year on a $6.55million lavish beachside home in Marybrook, south of Perth.
The Thermomix - branded the ultimate all-in-one kitchen appliance - has had its share of controversy in Australia in recent years.
In 2014, some models were subject to recall because of a faulty sealing ring which could cause hot liquid to escape.
Owners told horror stories of mixers allegedly blowing up and causing 'world of pain' injuries and shocking second degree burns.
In June this year, the ACCC filed a lawsuit against Thermomix in Australia, alleging it failed to report injuries caused by a faulty product.
After winning the rights to become the sole Australian distributor of the product, the couple founded Thermomix in Australia in 2001
The Thermomix - branded the ultimate all-in-one kitchen appliance - has had its share of controversy in Australia in recent years
The company said at the time it was had 'been cooperating fully with the ACCC and will continue to do so'.
The watchdog also alleged that in the course of the recall, Thermomix in Australia made 'false and misleading statements' about safety of its products.
It was also accused of wrongly telling customers they needed to sign non-disclosure forms to obtain refunds or replacements.
The lawsuit came after consumer advocate group Choice sent the ACCC a report documenting 87 injuries, mostly burns, suffered by Thermomix users.
The matter is progressing through the Federal Court, the ACCC told Daily Mail Australia.
Owners told horror stories of mixers allegedly blowing up and causing 'world of pain' injuries
The lawsuit came after consumer advocate group Choice sent the ACCC a report documenting 87 injuries, mostly burns, suffered by Thermomix users
Travel-weary Eurostar passengers disembarking at Londons St Pancras International railway station last week could have been forgiven for thinking they had stepped into the middle of a major crime scene.
As well as the usual passport checks, those arriving at the terminus from Paris and Brussels were grilled about where they had been on holiday, who they had stayed with and how long they had been away for the kind of questions usually reserved for suspected terrorists, drug smugglers or illegal immigrants.
But officials were also stopping young families of all ethnic backgrounds who looked utterly bewildered when they found themselves on the receiving end of questions about Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) before being handed leaflets about this barbaric practice.
We are absolutely determined to obtain a successful prosecution, declared Inspector Allen Davis, of Scotland Yard, who arrived at the station to oversee the latest stage of Operation Limelight, an initiative involving officers from the Metropolitan Police, British Transport Police and the UK Border Force.
Travel-weary Eurostar passengers disembarking at Londons St Pancras International railway station were quizzed by police about Female Genital Mutilation
For several years now, police have been swooping on passengers on flights into the UK from countries in Africa and Asia. But this is the first time they have targeted those arriving by train into Kent and London, stopping those who may have travelled from countries of prevalence linked to FGM, such as Somalia or Ethiopia.
Many will argue that the exercise is laudable. FGM the practice of cutting a girls genitals has been illegal in the UK since 1985. In 2003, the law was further strengthened to prevent girls being taken abroad to have the abhorrent procedure, which is carried out for cultural or religious reasons.
Even stricter controls were introduced in 2015, making it a crime to fail to protect a girl from risk of FGM as well as a legal requirement for health professionals, teachers and social workers to report cases of FGM in children to the police.
Yet over the past 32 years, despite the best efforts of the Police and the CPS, there has not been a single successful FGM prosecution in Britain.
Officials stopped young families of all ethnic backgrounds and handed out leaflets containing information on the brutal procedure
Anti-FGM campaigners argue that this is a sign of just how insidious this appalling practice is and have increased calls for further action.
So, too, have politicians. In 2014, Labour MP Keith Vaz, then chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, described FGM as a national scandal and, despite the lack of evidence to support his claim, insisted that young girls are being mutilated every hour of every day.
The way FGM statistics are recorded by NHS Digital do not help to clarify the situation.
The figures are divided into four types, with further divisions, ranging from the removal of the clitoris to the narrowing of the vaginal opening. They also include women who have had genital piercings rather than any cutting.
The term newly recorded is used, suggesting these are recent procedures, but the figures include historic cases of women from overseas who have had their details noted for the first time and may have had FGM years earlier.
Indeed, of the 5,391 newly recorded cases last year, only 112 involved women and girls born in the UK. Only 57 cases involved FGM undertaken in the UK and around 50 of those were genital piercings. The remaining seven cases did not involve cutting and there is no indication that they refer to children.
Yet, as Inspector Davis made so clear at St Pancras this week, political pressure continues to mount on the police and the CPS to find an FGM perpetrator, someone who has performed it on a child, so they can secure the UKs first conviction.
And while no one would argue against the need to stamp out a cruel ritual which has its roots in Africa and some parts of Asia, there is growing concern about the heavy-handed approach being taken by the authorities when the evidence suggests that FGM in the UK may not be as prevalent as once believed.
According to UK statistics, the majority of girls victim to FGM were born in Africa (file photo)
Certainly, the idea that thousands of young girls are being dragged abroad each summer for the FGM cutting season as suggested by the high police presence at Eurostar stations in London and Kent last week does not appear to bear scrutiny.
One former midwife and health visitor, who spent her career working in Ethiopia, Somalia and Central London, says that claims of an FGM epidemic are grossly exaggerated and criminalise entire communities.
This is causing harm to some of the most vulnerable people in society, says Brid Hehir, who first came across FGM very occasionally while working in Africa, but never came across a case involving a child in the UK.
Ms Hehir, who has investigated the issue for the The Nursing Standard journal, adds: It baffles me that suddenly, overnight, there is this huge FGM problem when throughout my working life in London and my colleagues working lives we had never come across it. Theres something really wrong.
Other experts claim false accusations have seen children being taken into care or placed on child protection plans for months at a time while extensive and often drawn-out inquiries are made.
The African diaspora womens campaign group Forward told the Mail this week of one case involving an eight-year-old girl being placed into foster care for eight months while waiting to be examined. She was subsequently found not to have had FGM. Professionals are sometimes fearful of things going wrong so sometimes adopt a knee-jerk approach with FGM cases leading to procedural heavy-handedness, says Toks Okeniyi, the charitys head of UK programmes and operations.
An example of this heavy-handedness is a woman who has just given birth to a baby girl being interviewed in hospital by social workers, she adds. This can affect the bonding process between mother and baby and the mother is often terrified that her baby will be taken away.
The charity has found that those falsely accused face psychological distress as well as financial hardship because they usually do not have access to legal aid.
A traditional razor blade used to perform female genital mutilation in parts of Africa
One falsely accused mother, speaking under condition of anonymity, told of her ordeal to BBCs Newsnight earlier this month. She explained how, after a midwife mentioned FGM during her third pregnancy, she asked a question about it to clarify what it was. It was just curiosity really, she said.
That evening, a policeman arrived on her doorstep and warned her about the practice before handing her an information leaflet.
A year later, the same officer returned with a social worker saying they had been informed that she had undergone the procedure and that there were concerns of it being carried out on her daughters.
The mother denied the allegations but her daughters were placed on a child protection plan and closely monitored before theyd even been examined.
The atmosphere changed in the house. I wasnt myself, she said. Id just had a baby. I wasnt given time to recover. It felt like the whole world was crumbling down on me and my childrens behaviour changed in school.
She told how she and her children had to have examinations. And I knew that I hadnt undergone FGM and my children hadnt undergone any FGM and my children were fine and healthy. I hadnt hurt them in any way.
Earlier this year, family solicitor Dee Aktar represented another mother falsely accused of carrying out FGM on her daughter.
The unsubstantiated claims, which were made by the womans husband, came against a background of domestic abuse and the parents subsequent divorce.
Even when a physical examination proved the child had not been subjected to FGM, the mothers ordeal was not over. The father then claimed the child was at risk of being forced to undergo the procedure in the future, triggering an immediate FGM Protection Order banning the mother from taking her daughter abroad.
The ensuing legal proceedings in the Family Court involved police and social services and left the woman facing the prospect of losing her children, not to mention a potential criminal trial.
Understandably it was very stressful for her, said Ms Aktar, who works in the family law team at Miles & Partners Solicitors in London. She was adamant from the start that there shouldnt have been any suspicions at all. She hadnt had FGM and none of her other daughters had had it done.
It was clear to us our client had been falsely accused, but it took a lot of evidence gathering and presentation of a strong legal defence to convince the court of this and to free our client from the cloud of suspicion hanging over her.
The mother was finally exonerated by a judge earlier this year.
FGM campaigner Comfort Momoh, a Nigerian-born midwife, set up the countrys first FGM clinic at Guys and St Thomas Hospital in London. She is at the centre of a probe
Dr Dhanuson Dharmasena, a junior doctor at Londons Whittington Hospital, also found himself on the wrong side of the law two years ago when he became the first person in the UK to stand trial in relation to FGM since it was banned in 1985.
Dr Dharmasena had been accused of illegally stitching a 24-year-old woman back up after she gave birth, redoing the mutilation she suffered as a six-year-old in Somalia before her family came to Britain in the Nineties. In reality, the then 32-year-old doctor had saved the womans life by suturing her to stop her bleeding from an incision required for childbirth.
But even before he had set foot in court, the decision to prosecute Dr Dharmasena was announced with a fanfare of publicity by Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders and hailed as a landmark case by anti-FGM campaigners and childrens charities.
But the jury at Southwark Crown Court that heard the flimsy evidence against Dr Dharmasena took less than 30 minutes to acquit him. A second accused man, a translator present during the birth, was also found not guilty of aiding and abetting the doctor. His lawyer described the prosecution as a show trial.
Speaking afterwards, Dr David Richmond, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said the year-long case had put back action against FGM and that obstetricians indeed all clinical staff must be able to exercise their clinical judgment to provide safe, high-quality care for the women they serve without the shadow of prosecution.
Doctors on the front line do not believe FGM is taking place on anywhere near the scale that has been suggested.
WHY IS FGM PRACTICED? The World Health Organization (WHO) defines FGM as 'all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.' It estimates that more than 140 million girls and women globally have undergone this procedure. More than three million girls in Africa alone are at risk of undergoing this practice every year. Many people from communities that practice it say that it is rooted in local culture and that the tradition has been passed from one generation to another, according to Human Rights Watch. Preservation of cultural identity is cited as a reason. Women and girls are seem as gatekeepers of their family's honour, and therefore there are strict expectations regarding women's sexual 'purity'. In some societies, the prevailing myth is that girls' sexual desires must be controlled early to preserve their virginity and prevent immorality. FGM is seen as necessary to ensure marital fidelity and to prevent deviant sexual behavior. Advertisement
Dr Catherine White is clinical director at St Marys Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester, where girls deemed to be at risk are referred by police and social services.
She said: Given the demographics of the area we cover and given the amount of publicity that went round at the beginning, everyone was expecting to see more cases, but weve not seen many at all.
Since November 2014 when the referrals began, the clinic has seen just 44 referrals.
Of those, only 14 girls showed any sign of FGM and, in each instance, the girls had not been born in the UK and the procedure had been carried out abroad before they came to live here.
Dr White added: Weve had some families who insist they havent had it done, they havent even heard of FGM, but the children might have been removed from the family and then we find, upon examination, that they havent had it done.
Concerns have also been raised about the work of one of the UKs most high-profile FGM campaigners Comfort Momoh, a Nigerian-born midwife who set up the countrys first FGM clinic at Guys and St Thomas Hospital in London and was awarded an MBE for services to womens healthcare in 2008.
Four years ago, Mrs Momoh claimed her own research revealed that more than half of GPs in London had seen at least one woman in the past 12 months who had suffered FGM.
She is now under investigation after apparently exaggerating her qualifications by referring to herself as Dr Momoh.
While the 55-year-old has an honorary doctorate from Middlesex University, she is not a qualified medical doctor and has no right
to use the title. Mrs Momoh, who is being investigated by The Nursing and Midwifery Council, is also alleged to have examined children for signs of FGM despite not having the relevant qualifications.
Official medical guidelines state that only a doctor with specialist training should carry out such examinations.
Her expertise was first called into question in 2014 when a judge described her as not a reliable witness during a court case in Leeds in which a girl was alleged to have undergone FGM. After examining the child, Mrs Momoh originally said there was evidence to suggest some form of FGM. In oral evidence in court, she changed her findings.
HEALTH DANGERS OF FMG There are no health benefits to FGM and it can cause serious harm, including: Constant pain.
Pain and/or difficulty having sex.
Repeated infections, which can lead to infertility.
Bleeding, cysts and abscesses.
Problems passing urine or incontinence.
Depression, flashbacks and self-harm.
Problems during labour and childbirth, which can be life-threatening for mother and baby. Some girls die from blood loss or infection as a direct result of the procedure. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement
Sir James Munby, president of the Family Division, said she merited harsh criticism and had difficulty in providing answers about even the simplest factual question. He called her report on the child a remarkably shoddy piece of work and worse than useless.
She has hit back at criticisms, saying that while she isnt a qualified doctor, 35 years of experience around FGM make her an expert in the field.
I have made FGM known in this country when nobody wanted to know anything about it. I have encouraged people to speak out. I have supported survivors, she says.
Ive got nothing to hide. Ive done nothing wrong. The struggle continues, to support victims and to end FGM. That is the only aim of my life and I will continue.
No one, of course, would argue against a call to bring about an end to FGM. It has become a hugely popular cause among politicians as well as a safe horse to back.
As former midwife and health visitor Brid Hehir puts it: An entire industry has developed around FGM. And youre either with them or against them.
The question is, whether the kind of ostentatious displays seen at St Pancras this week and regularly seen at airports such as Heathrow and Gatwick are doing anything to help.
Certainly there is little sign that the 35 million pledged by the Government in 2013 to eradicate FGM in the UK and abroad is doing any good.
According to Toks Okeniyi, of Forward, a more nuanced approach is required: Professionals need to be sensitive to the difficulties this subject raises for survivors, victims and potential victims of FGM.
More emphasis should be placed on education and the importance of working with practising communities.
Indeed, if politicians are really determined to see an end to FGM then they need to find a way to break the cycle in which it is passed from generation to generation by working with young girls and communities to ensure they are aware of their rights rather than lying in wait at airports and railways stations hoping to find someone to prosecute.
More than half of secondary schools in England are either 'full or over capacity' with their youngest pupils.
Headmasters are cramming children into Year Seven classrooms as ever-rising numbers of primary school pupils feed into secondaries.
The problem, affecting the first year of secondary schools, is spreading to higher years. Four in ten schools are full or above their 'overall net capacity'.
The figures, obtained by the Liberal Democrats, will renew concern about unprecedented pressure on schools amid rising immigration and a baby boom that began more than a decade ago.
The research is based on Freedom of Information data from up to 100 councils across the country, 48 of which provided details on Year Seven capacity this September.
Headmasters are cramming children into Year Seven classrooms (stock photograph)
The analysis of 903 secondary schools shows that 53 per cent are either 'full or over capacity' in Year Seven classes, up from 44 per cent two years ago.
Being over capacity means the schools admitted more pupils than their published admissions number.
Meanwhile, 756 out of 1,853 secondaries are 'either full or above their net capacity' across all years.
This means the number of pupils at the schools is above the recommended level given the amount of teaching space available.
Areas with the highest proportion of over capacity secondary schools include Rutland in the East Midlands with 86 per cent, Slough in Berkshire with 80 per cent and Solihull in the West Midlands with 78.5 per cent. Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Layla Moran said the figures exposed the 'growing school places crisis in many areas'.
She accused the Government of spending millions on free schools, 'many of which open in areas where there's no shortage of places'.
She said: 'Each year, our classrooms are getting more overcrowded and our teachers more overworked.'
Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University, added: 'There's a severe shortage of places and it looks as though the government has been caught out.
More than half of secondary schools in England are either 'full or over capacity' (stock photograph)
'There has been a baby boom, with immigrants tending to have very large families. That has been affecting primary schools and it's now moving into secondary schools.
'Given that we were aware of the extra numbers in primary schools, it's surprising that the government hasn't made available enough places in secondary schools.'
In June, it emerged that numbers of pupils missing out on their first choice secondary schools were the highest since the start of the decade. One in six children in England almost 93,000 lost out on their top preference this year, increasing to almost half in some London boroughs, according to Department for Education (DfE) statistics.
But in April the DfE approved applications for 131 new free schools, creating more than 69,000 places.
A DfE spokesman said: 'The vast majority of parents secure a place for their child at their first choice of secondary school 83.5 per cent this year. We have created 735,000 new school places since 2010 with 136,000 more in the last year alone.'
French police yesterday encircled a makeshift migrant camp in a wooded area near Dunkirk, clearing out 557 people.
It was the second such operation in two days in northern France, where asylum-seekers and migrants gather in hopes of making it across the English Channel to Britain.
Sixty children were among the people removed from the camp in a clearing in the Grande-Synthe region outside Dunkirk.
Seven had been living on their own and were turned over to a youth association, officials said.
In April this year, the Grande-Synthe refugee camp was destroyed after a fire engulfed half of it
Police detained 16 other people.
Migrants have been staying in the Puythouck area since an official camp of wooden shelters housing 1,500 migrants burned to the ground in April.
Aid groups and journalists at the scene were not allowed to enter the clearing during the eight or so hours police were removing people.
Many are Afghans and Iraqi Kurds, but there are also Iranians, Pakistanis and Sudanese.
Aid workers said that with no toilets and only four water taps, conditions in the camp were deplorable, but predicted that 'they'll come back'.
'They're living in mud, (with) some people in situations of extreme fragility, children, elderly,' said Eric Etienne, a Dunkirk official. 'We can't leave them in this situation.'
Grande-Synthe mayor Damien Careme has said the region needed another official shelter to prevent migrants from living in the degrading conditions of the Puythouck camp.
The fire at the refugee camp was started after fighting broke out between rival gangs near Dunkirk
But interior minister Gerard Collomb rejected the opening of a new camp after meeting Mr Careme in Paris on Monday.
In a statement, Mr Collomb said such a move would feed the hope of getting to Britain, promoted 'by smugglers who must be fought with utmost firmness'.
President Emmanuel Macron has said ending the migrant crisis was a priority and he wants migrants off France's streets by the end of the year.
Some 85 Eritrean migrants were cleared on Monday from a camp in the nearby town of Norrent-Fontes 'under the control of smugglers', a statement by the prefect of the Pas-de-Calais region said.
A huge makeshift camp in Calais, 30 miles west of Dunkirk, was emptied of at least 7,000 migrants in a mass operation in October.
A teenage girl who was sitting in the passenger seat of an allegedly stolen van as her friend led police on a high-speed pursuit died instantly when he crashed into a parked truck.
Police allege the boy, aged 17, stole a van in Ballan, northwest of Melbourne, at 2.30 on Tuesday afternoon just three hours after a home invasion in nearby Ballarat.
He led police on a wild chase along the Western Highway, which ended in tragedy just four minutes later when he collided with the truck at speeds of over 100km/h.
His passenger, 16-year-old local girl Jacqueline Vodden, died on impact. Friends have posted tributes describing her as a 'beautiful angel' taken too soon.
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Pictured: Jacqueline Vodden, 16, died on impact when the car she was travelling in as a passenger slammed into a parked truck during a high-speed police chase
The male driver, 17, had allegedly stolen the Toyota Hiace van after a home invasion and was travelling at 100km/h before he crashed in Ballan, northwest of Melbourne. Police said the roof of the van ripped off 'like opening a tin can'
Friends and family have posted tributes describing Jacqueline as a 'beautiful angel' taken too soon
Police said the roof of the Toyota Hiace van ripped off 'like opening a tin can' and blamed a 'Fast and the Furious' mentality among troubled teens in the area.
The driver, wanted over alleged vehicle theft and a home invasion, allegedly fled the scene of the horror crash with another male passenger and left his friend dead in the mangled truck.
Police arrested him later in the afternoon after he allegedly stole another car from a farmhouse and made his way to Wendouree, Ballarat.
He is under police guard in hospital, and police say they will be laying a number of 'serious charges' after an investigation by the major crash unit is carried out.
Speaking to 3AW Radio, Assistant Commissioner for Road Policing Doug Fryer said the aftermath at the crash scene was horrific.
'I attended the scene last night and it was a devastating scene spread over hundreds of metres. The carnage was quite incredible,' he said.
He said a 'hardcore element of young kids' in the community had a 'Fast and the Furious mentality' where they 'just lived for the moment'.
Police said a 'hardcore element of young kids' in the community had a 'Fast and the Furious mentality' where they 'just lived for the moment' (victim Jacqueline pictured)
The male driver, 17, allegedly responsible for the fatal crash
Assistant Commissioner Fryer defended the actions of the police officers involved in the high speed pursuit
Assistant Commissioner Fryer defended the actions of the police officers involved in the high speed pursuit.
'They did what they needed to do. He made a conscious decision to run, and it was the wrong decision.
'Stolen vehicle, wanted for a home invasion (where) people were home, we really needed to get hold of this guy. The community expected us to try and grab him.'
He said police were forced to make decisions on whether to engage in a pursuit, often involving teenagers, 13 times a day and 70 times a month.
Friends and family members took to Facebook to pay tribute to Jacqueline Vodden.
'You didn't deserve this, you had so much ahead of you,' one wrote on social media.
'I never realised how lost we would be without each other but it's come true and (you're) gone.'
A woman, believed to be Jacqueline's mother, also expressed her heartbreak, writing: 'I just want my baby back.
A woman, believed to be Jacqueline's mother, also expressed her heartbreak, writing: 'I just want my baby back
A family's joy has turned into fury after their pet cat Storm reappeared three years after he went missing, only for the council to demand they pay $256 just to see him.
Danielle Porteous, from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, was devastated when her beloved family cat went missing in 2014.
When a registration renewal notice came for Storm nine months after his disappearance, Mrs Porteous cancelled it, under the presumption their cat was dead.
Three years later, in July this year, Mrs Porteous received a call from the pound informing her Storm was alive and well, the Sunshine Coast Daily reported.
Danielle Porteous, from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, was devastated when her beloved family cat Storm (pictured) went missing in 2014
Her relief quickly turned sour when she was stung by the Sunshine Coast council for having an unregistered pet.
Mrs Porteous said she was forced to pay $256 before she could even see Storm.
'Obviously we're super happy to have him back but it's just unfair,' she said.
'Honestly, the money is not the issue here, it's the principle of the situation and the fact that the Sunshine Coast Council are not willing to take reasonable excuses into mind when making a decision.'
Mrs Porteous said she was happy to pay the pound fee but the unregistered charge was a slap in the face.
Danielle Porteous said the family created a memorial for Storm to help their son, Zephia, grieve (pictured together)
'Obviously we're super happy to have him back It's just unfair,' Mrs Porteous said about Storm (pictured)
The Sunshine Coast mother said her family went through an emotional rollercoaster after Storm went missing, from believing he was dead, to finding him three years later.
She said the family even built a memorial for Storm to help their devastated son Zephia, who was only three at the time, deal with the loss.
When she applied for a review of the unregistered pet fee, she received a response from the pound telling her the payment would not be refunded.
Todd and Danielle Porteous thought their cat Storm was dead after it went missing three years ago - but was shocked to find him still alive and well
Mrs Porteous (pictured with husband Todd) said she was shocked when the family was charged so massively
She said the family had two dogs and three cats who were all micro-chipped and registered, but the council did not take this into account.
Despite the family's fury, a Sunshine Coast spokesman denied the family was charged.
The spokesman told the publication there was no infringement notice issued for the unregistered pet due to the unusual circumstances.
However he confirmed there were costs associated with securing, housing and caring for the cat before it was returned to its owners.
A disheveled looking Ben Cousins has had his driver's license disqualified and been fined $1200 over a head-on car crash he caused while high on methamphetamine.
The 39-year-old former AFL champion appeared in a Perth magistrates court with a shaggy beard and shoulder-length hair on Wednesday over the horror 2016 crash.
Cousins, who in March was sentenced to a year in jail for stalking his ex-partner and breaching a violence restraining order taken out by her, was told by a magistrate he was lucky not to have killed someone when he crashed into the truck while on drugs.
Ben Cousins (pictured) has had his driver's license disqualified and been fined $1200 over a head-on car crash he caused while high on methamphetamine in 2016 (Stock image)
The 39-year-old former AFL champion appeared in a Perth magistrates court with a shaggy beard and shoulder-length hair on Wednesday over the horror 2016 crash
The former West Coast Eagles premiership player and one-time captain had his license disqualified and was fined $1200 on Wednesday.
He was also ordered to pay $2295 in chemical analysis fees from the crash, which he spent three-and-a-half days in hospital for afterwards.
The court heard Cousins had 0.075mg of methamphetamine per litre of blood in his system at the time of the car crash, which the police prosecutor said was well above the level where a driver could concentrate.
'It is lucky no one was killed,' the officer said.
The Brownlow medallist also had 0.07mg/l of amphetamine in his system.
Mr Tudori said the crash happened when Cousins had a heavy drug addiction and depression over not being able to see his children, with the restraining order being the trigger that sent him on a downward spiral.
'This offence is all part of the series of offences he's imprisoned for,' the lawyer said.
He said there had been many positive changes in Cousins' life for the first time in many years, including him acknowledging his drug addiction.
Cousins (pictured) is currently serving a one-year jail sentence for stalking and breaking a VRO against his former partner, who is also the mother of his two children
Cousins was up for release in August, but his potential parole was delayed when results from a failed drug test were revealed two weeks prior
Mr Tudori told the court Cousins had 'taken and embraced' a job offer from his old employer but would not elaborate when quizzed by reporters.
Cousins would live with his parents when he was released, the lawyer said.
It comes after Cousins had his potential release delayed in August, when results of a failed prison drug test came back just two weeks before he was eligible for parole.
As such he cannot be released until he completes rehabilitation courses which his lawyer, Michael Tudori, said had taken too long to start.
Despite the incident, his lawyer said at the time that the disgraced former sportsman was 'drug-free and in positive spirits'.
Two couples were sentenced on Wednesday for kidnapping a teenage babysitter and subjecting her to more than 16 hours of sadistic torture.
The case, which is among the worst legal sources have seen before South Australian courts that didn't involve a murder, began because the drug addicted parents believed the 19-year-old girl had dobbed in their friend to police over a stolen car.
For almost a full day the girl, who cannot be named, was tied up, beaten, tortured and held in a closet with a leash around her neck as her captives accused her of being a 'dog' - all while filming the barbarity on her mobile phone.
Three members of the gang received sentences ranging from almost four years to more than nine years in prison, according to The Adelaide Advertiser.
Two drug addicted couples were sentenced on Wednesday in Adelaide for kidnapping a teenage babysitter and subjecting her to more than 16 hours of sadistic torture (pictured the victim's blackened eyes)
Judge Jack Costello handed the gang's leader, Joshua Anthony Gent (left), a term of nine years, two months and one week in jail for the brutal attack. His former partner, Keira Jane Baker (right), 28, was sentenced to six years and two months
Patrick Breen, 25, received three years and 11 months, while his fiancee and mother of two Stacey Gaffney, 23, was given a 14-month suspended sentence (pictured together)
The bedroom and closet where the victim was detained, with jumper leads on the floor and a butane canister on the bed
Judge Jack Costello handed the group leader, Joshua Anthony Gent, a term of nine years, two months and one week in jail for the brutal attack.
His former partner, Keira Jane Baker, 28, was sentenced to six years and two months.
Patrick Breen, 25, received three years and 11 months, while his fiancee and mother of two Stacey Gaffney, 23, was given a 14-month suspended sentence.
Gaffney, who cried in the courtroom with Baker, is said to have had a passive role during the ordeal, the publication reported.
The group previously admitted their involvement and Gent, Baker and Breen were facing up to 25 years each in prison.
They also confessed to stealing the girls' mobile phone, bank card, laptop, jewellery, make-up and other items valued up to $2500.
For almost a full day the girl, who cannot be named, was tied up, beaten, tortured and held in a closet with a leash around her neck as her captives accused the teen of being a 'dog'; all while filming the barbarity on her mobile phone (pictured are some of her extensive injuries)
The young and terrified teenager was forced to eat pet food (left) and drink bleach (right) during the ordeal
An ice pipe burn inflicted on the torture victim (above)
On June 16, 2016, the victim and her housemate went to babysit Baker and Gent's daughter.
When the couple returned to their Elizabeth Park home at 12.30am they accused the girl of being a snitch and referred to her as a dog, before calling Breen to 'teach her a lesson.'
The girl was tied up with a dressing gown cord and gagged with an onion before Baker and Gent threw her in the boot of their car and drove to Breen and Gaffney's home.
Throughout the 16 hours of abuse the girl was tied to a dog leash, beaten, burned with a drug pipe, made to drink bleach, eat pet food, smoke methamphetamine, inhale butane gas and clean up her own urine after she wet herself out of fear.
Prosecutor Kelly Smith said the couples filmed much of the ordeal and made the teenager believe she was going to be 'raped and killed'.
Even more shocking is that Gaffney's two-year-old son was in another room at the same time, a sentencing submissions hearing heard last month (pictured weapons and phones used during the torture)
A cigarette lighter (left) and axe (right) used against the babysitter
The girl was left deeply traumatised by her ordeal in this closet (above)
The victim's neck, which was choked with a dog lead, and her hair (right) which was cut off during the attack
Even more shocking is that Gaffney's two-year-old son was in another room at the same time, a sentencing submissions hearing heard last month.
Ms Smith said the 'horrific ordeal' only ended when police rescued her at 9.09pm on Friday, June 17, after the housemate's mother contacted authorities.
Police uncovered weapons such as knuckledusters, screwdrivers and car jumper leads at the scene of the crime which were used to 'inflict extreme pain, suffering and instil terror on the victim'.
The victim was unable to read her victim impact statement in court in August last month because of the 'heart-breaking trauma' she had endured.
A Muslim man who married a 14-year-old girl sobbed as he told a Melbourne court he thought he was 'rescuing' the child bride.
Mohammad Shakir, 35, pleaded guilty to marrying the underage girl at a ceremony at Noble Park Mosque in September 2016.
Prosecutor Krista Breckweg told the County Court on Wednesday it was a very serious example of the crime, and the first prosecution of its type in Australia.
Mohammad Shakir, 34, pleaded guilty to marrying a 14-year-old girl last year (stock image)
Shakir knew the girl's age and was warned by child protection authorities against the relationship the day before the marriage, she said.
It amounted to exploitation, and cultural misunderstanding was not an excuse, Ms Breckweg added.
'He lied in his recorded interview. He knew this was not right,' she said.
Defence barrister Sophie Parsons said Shakir came to Australia by boat as an asylum seeker from Burma and struggled to fit in to Australian life.
He felt coercion from the girl's mother and the former imam, Ibrahim Omerdic, who conducted the marriage, she said.
The former Burmese refugee sobbed as he told a Melbourne court he thought he was 'rescuing' the child bride when he married her at Noble Park Mosque in Melbourne
'Mr Shakir saw himself as somewhat rescuing the complainant and becoming that supporting figure in her life,' she said.
Omerdic was spared jail last month after being found guilty of unlawfully solemnising the marriage.
He was sentenced to two months' prison, but immediately placed on a two-year recognisance release order, meaning he won't serve time in jail.
Omerdic was an imam of the Bosnian Islamic Society and Noble Park Mosque but was later sacked and had his celebrant licence revoked after his arrest.
Former Muslim cleric Ibrahim Omerdic (pictured), who married off the girl, was spared jail last month after being found guilty of unlawfully solemnising the marriage
Video footage of the ceremony was previously played in court, showing Omerdic telling the girl it was her 'duty to obey' her husband.
Ms Parsons said Shakir wanted to apologise to the Australian community, and felt ashamed for his conduct and genuine remorse.
He understood that upon jail release he will be sent to immigration detention.
'He understands it is because he has done the wrong thing. He feels, your honour, he has destroyed his life,' she said.
Shakir is due to be sentenced on Thursday.
A Brazilian man jailed for drink driving with eight passengers in a car with a flat tyre has been given a good behaviour bond on appeal.
Arthur Rohsig, who previously described himself as a 'sick c*** living the dream' on social media, blew 0.172 after being pulled over at Phillip Bay in Sydney's southeast on April 30.
Police alleged seven people were crammed onto the backseat of the Subaru Forester, and 24-year-old Rohsig, who has a long traffic record, laughed when police explained the seriousness of the offence.
Arthur Rohsig was sentenced for drink driving with eight passengers in a car with a flat tyre
Rohsig had previously described himself as a 'sick c*** living the dream' on social media
Despite an initial sentence of six months behind bars, he walked out of court a free man on Wednesday
Police alleged seven people were crammed onto the backseat of the Subaru Forester, and 24-year-old Rohsig, who has a long traffic record, laughed when police explained the seriousness of the offence
After pleading guilty to high-range drink-driving with more than four unrestrained passengers, Local Court magistrate Jacqueline Milledge sentenced him in July to six months behind bars.
'You ought to be ashamed of yourself,' she told him. 'Thank God the police were there.'
The magistrate said Rohsig, who is on a student visa, was 'immature', had acted with 'arrogance' and was a 'disaster waiting to happen' before being stopped by police.
In addition to the jail sentence, Ms Milledge suspended Rohsig from driving for nine months for the drink-driving crime.
He was also fined $1500 and suspended for six months for the unrestrained offence.
But Rohsig's lawyer immediately appealed against the drink-driving sentence and he was granted strict conditional bail.
At the Downing Centre District Court on Wednesday, Judge Paul Conlon set aside Rohsig's prison sentence and instead imposed an 18-month good behaviour bond.
Instead of his jail sentence, Rohsig was given a strict 18-month good behaviour bond
The magistrate said Rohsig, who is on a student visa, was 'immature', had acted with 'arrogance' and was a 'disaster waiting to happen' before being stopped by police
Local Court magistrate Jacqueline Milledge, who sentenced the 24-year-old in July told Rohsig he 'should be ashamed' of his actions
He was suffering a mental illness and taking ice at the time of the attacks
A homeless Melbourne man who nearly killed two men in separate 'spontaneous' stabbing attacks has been jailed for 14 years.
John Samuel Thackray, 33, was suffering a mental illness and was taking ice at the time of the attacks and was described as a 'very real danger to the community' in the Supreme Court of Victoria on Wednesday.
Thackray had pleaded guilty to the two attacks, including one on a man who needed life-saving surgery after he was stabbed eight times at his South Yarra home, including to his heart, in March 2016.
John Samuel Thackray (pictured above), 33, has been jailed for four years after nearly killing two men in separate 'spontaneous' stabbing attacks in 2016
He admitted to intentionally causing serious injury to both John Anderson and Shaun Foo at their respective properties.
The violent attacks occurred about four months from each other, with Mr Anderson attacked early one morning in March after he found Thackray asleep on his back porch and told him: 'Time to go, buddy.'
He received stab wounds to his chest, back and wrists, and has permanently lost strength in one of his hands.
'The scars serve as a constant reminder of the terrible events of that morning,' he said in a victim impact statement.
John Anderson (pictured above, left) was attacked early one morning in March after he found Thackray asleep on his back porch and told him: 'Time to go, buddy'
He received stab wounds to his chest, back and wrists, and has permanently lost strength in one of his hands. He said scars served as a 'constant reminder' of the horrendous event
Mr Foo was attacked outside his home in July following a confrontation where it was accused he thought Thackray was stealing his car.
He was attacked with a knife to the face and head, and an artery in his leg was slashed, leaving him in hospital in an induced coma.
The victims would have died if it weren't for emergency surgery, with both men left permanently scarred.
'Both suffered injuries that would've caused death in the absence of very prompt medical care,' prosecutor Andrew Tinney told a pre-sentence hearing last week.
The new-look $10 note has been spat out by vending machines, self-serve checkouts and poker machines in what has turned into a repeat of last year's $5 bill roll-out disaster.
The brand new $10 note complete with high-tech security features was released on Wednesday, despite fears it would be rejected by machines across the country.
When the new banknote was purchased from the Reserve Bank of Australia on Wednesday, it was subjected to tests across Sydney. And while it passed some, it failed most.
The new notes have been designed with high-tech security features to stop counterfeiting
The Reserve Bank of Australia printed 200 million copies of the note which it said boasted significant changes that would make it harder to counterfeit as well as tiny embossed bumps to aid the vision-impaired.
While the bank said it was an improvement, there were concerns raised.
Betting giant Tabcorp raised concerns there could be a delay in distributing the new note from its automated terminals.
When the note was tested in TAB betting terminals on Wednesday, it was rejected, saying: 'Warning: bad or invalid banknote detected', News.com.au reported.
The note was also refused by thirty different poker machines across Sydney.
The note was also refused by thirty different poker machines across Sydney on Wednesday
While the note was rejected at self-service checkouts at two IGA supermarkets, it was accepted at Coles (pictured), Woolworths and Kmart
When the note was inserted into a vending machine at Sydney's Central Station, the machine swallowed the note without recognising it, the publication reported.
The $10 was accepted in a separate vending machine which advertised it accepted the new banknote.
While the note was rejected at self-service checkouts at two IGA supermarkets, it was accepted at Coles, Woolworths and Kmart.
The note was also accepted by New South Wales public transport card, OPAL, top up machines, News.com.au reported.
While the note was rejected at self-service checkouts at two IGA supermarkets, it was accepted at Coles, Woolworths (pictured) and Kmart
With the note causing headaches across the city, a TAB spokesman said the company planned to update its betting terminals to accept it.
A spokesman said the company was updating its terminals to accept the new note, but it might not be done until late October.
Gaming Technologies Association chief Ross Ferrar said new poker machines would be built to accept it, but note readers would need to be updated on older machines.
The note was released on Wednesday to a line-up of eager buyers, some of whom were money collectors.
The new $10 note as shown on the left maintains some similarities with the old note (right)
Problems with the $10 note mirror those of the $5 note released last year.
Lindsay Boulton, the RBA's assistant governor for business services, said businesses had been given six months to prepare for the new notes.
Provender operator Carlo Furnari told Daily Mail Australia there was a 'learning curve' to adapting with new notes, as was evidenced when the new $5 note came into circulation.
'It was a bit of a pain, but we've done it once, there's experience from the last time.'
He said software in note acceptors would need to be updated to identify the new $10 note, which cost 'about $10 or $15' according to Mr Furnari.
Similar to the redesigned $5 note, the new $10 note will have a clear top-to-bottom window, a feature which the Reserve Bank says will improve security and prevent fake notes from being circulated.
The new note (right) has a clear window running top to bottom, unlike the old note (left)
Key aspects of the existing look of the $10 note were retained, including the light blue colour, size and faces of two of Australia's most prominent writers, Dame Mary Gilmore and AB 'Banjo' Paterson.
The Reserve Bank said keeping the same look was done for 'ease of recognition and to minimise the disruption to businesses', with the notes entering circulation on September 20.
Existing $10 notes can still be used, and all previously issued banknotes remain legal tender.
Famous Australian writers Dame Mary Gilmore and AB Paterson will still feature on the note
Donald Trump lashed out at the Emmys on Tuesday night, mocking it for its low ratings after several of its hosts and winners took a series of swipes at him.
Host Stephen Colbert led a series of winners and guest performers - including former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer - in mocking the president.
'I was saddened to see how bad the ratings were on the Emmys last night - the worst ever,' Trump tweeted in response. 'Smartest people of them all are the "DEPLORABLES."'
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Mockery: Donald Trump mocked the Emmys for their low ratings on Tuesday, after attending the UN General Assembly (pictured: Trump toasting the UN during his visit)
'Saddened': Trump's sarcastic message wasn't entirely accurate. The Emmys were on Sunday, not Monday, and the ratings were up on last year's all-time low - but only by 0.1 million viewers
Trump wasn't entirely correct his remarks, which came just ten minutes after he tweeted about his day at the UN General Assembly in New York.
Firstly, the Emmys had not aired 'last night,' but on Sunday - two days prior.
Also, the ratings were not 'the worst ever' for the awards ceremony - although they came perilously close.
The Nielsen ratings clocked in at 11.4 million for the show - fractionally up from last year's absolute bottom of 11.3 million.
Some pointed out that swathes of Florida, still reeling from Hurricane Irma, had not been able to watch or report - but that would not have substantially helped the ratings.
In his 'lowest ever' summation, Trump may have been thinking of the show's 2.5 rating in the key adults 18-49 demographic - below last year's previous low of 2.8.
Still, it could be argued that Trump owed them a pop, after a decent chunk of the show's three-hour runtime was spent mocking him and his administration.
Probably most publicized moment was the surprise appearance by Sean Spicer, who entered the stage behind a wheeled podium.
Spice of life: Stephen Colbert (left) mocked Trump as a 'morally corrupt anti-hero' before introducing ex-White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer (right) to come onstage and join in
Going for gold: Donald Glover (left) won two Emmys - and said Trump oppressed black people; Alec Baldwin (right) got in a dig about the ex-Apprentice host never winning an Emmy
Colbert had just taken a handful of jabs at Trump, calling him a 'morally corrupt anti-hero,' and a 'whiter Walter White,' when Spicer arrived.
Melissa McCarthy, who portrayed Spicer on SNL, looked startled by his appearance - possibly because she'd just realized she would have to meet him at the after-party.
Spicer announced to Colbert and the crowd 'This will be the largest audience to witness the Emmys, period - both in person and around the world.'
The reference to Donald Trump's fallacious claims to having an inauguration crowd bigger than Barack Obama's - which Spicer himself had parroted - caused the crowd to roar with laughter.
Other stars who slammed Trump included Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin - co-stars in 1980 comedy 9 to 5 - who reunited to present the award for Best Supporting Actor In A Drama.
'Back in 1980, in that movie, we refused to be controlled by a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot,' Fonda said.
Then Tomlin quipped: 'And in 2017, we still refuse to be controlled by a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot.'
Trump wasn't named directly, but many detected the inference.
Mockery: Julia Louis-Dreyfuss (left), who won for Veep, said it'd be nice to have a president 'not beloved by Nazis' while host Stephen Colbert (right) got in jabs of his own
Other stars were not so coy.
Julia Louis-Dreyfuss remarked in a song skit that it'd be nice to have a president 'not beloved by Nazis'.
And when Alec Baldwin won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Trump on SNL, he got a dig in at the president.
Upon receiving the trophy, he said: 'At long last, Mr. President, here is your Emmy!'
And Donald Glover, during his speech for Best Lead Actor in a Comedy, said: 'I want to thank Trump for making black people number one on the most oppressed list.
'He's the reason I am probably up here.'
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel accused a Republican senator spearheading the latest effort to repeal Obamacare of 'lying to my face' on Tuesday.
In an impassioned six-minute monologue on his ABC show, Kimmel tore into Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana for promoting legislation that could result in millions of Americans losing their health insurance.
Kimmel accused Cassidy of lying to him in May when the senator appeared on his show and pledged that any health care bill passed by the Republican-controlled Congress would ensure coverage for routine checkups regardless of income.
Cassidy was a guest on Kimmel's show after the late-night comedian revealed that his newborn son, Billy, underwent open-heart surgery due to a congenital defect just hours after he was born on April 21.
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel accused a Republican senator spearheading the latest effort to repeal Obamacare of 'lying to my face' on Tuesday
In an impassioned six-minute monologue on his ABC show, Kimmel tore into Senator Bill Cassidy (seen right appearing with Kimmel on his May 8 show) of Louisiana for promoting legislation that could result in millions of Americans losing their health insurance
On May 1, Kimmel went on the air and tearfully revealed the news of his son's condition.
Billy was born at Cedars-Sinai, but had to be rushed to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles for emergency open heart surgery.
In an appeal to politicians not to do away with the Affordable Health Care Act, Kimmel said his family's ordeal made him all-too aware of the need for free healthcare for children.
'I hope you never have to go there but if you do you'll see so many kids from so many financial backgrounds being cared for so well with so much compassion.
Cassidy was a guest on Kimmel's show after the late-night comedian revealed that his newborn son, Billy, underwent open-heart surgery due to a congenital defect just hours after he was born on April 21
'If your baby is going to die it should't matter how much money you make,' he said.
He then went on a week-long hiatus and returned the following Monday.
On the May 8 program, Kimmel pleaded with Republicans to vote against the repeal-and-replace health care bill that was eventually voted down in the Senate.
During that show, Cassidy told Kimmel that he would only back a health care measure that passed 'the Jimmy Kimmel test', which the senator said would enable a sick child 'in the first year of life' to be covered for cases like that which affected Billy Kimmel regardless of income level.
'This guy, Bill Cassidy, just lied right to my face,' Kimmel said on Tuesday.
'I don't know what happened,' Kimmel said.
'Not only did he fail "the Jimmy Kimmel test," he failed the Bill Cassidy test.'
'It seemed like he was being honest,' Kimmel said of Cassidy on Tuesday.
Kimmel said he and his wife Molly (above with Billy and their daughter Jane) were 'very grateful' for the 'outpouring of love'
He shared a heartwarming photograph of his two-year-old daughter playing nurse for her little brother on Twitter
Kimmel took a week-long hiatus from his show in order to spend time with Billy at the family's home after he made the tearful revelation
'He got a lot of credit and attention for coming off like a rare, reasonable voice in the Republican Party when it came to healthcare, for something that he called the Jimmy Kimmel test.'
Cassidy told Kimmel that he would only support a bill that provided coverage for all, didn't discriminate against those with pre-existing conditions, lowered premiums for middle-class families, and did away with lifetime caps.
Kimmel said on Tuesday that the latest attempt to repeal Obamacare meets none of those criteria.
'Before you post a nasty Facebook message saying Im politicizing my sons health problems, I want you to know: I am politicizing my sons health problems because I have to,' Kimmel said to applause from the live studio audience.
'My family has health insurance we dont have to worry about this, but other people do,' he said.
'So, you can shove your disgusting comments where your doctor wont be giving you a prostate exam once they take your health care benefits away.'
Three hours after he was born, a sonogram revealed that a pulmonary valve in Billy's heart was completely blocked. Now the comedian says his son is doing well
'We cant let them do this to our children, our senior citizens, our veterans, or to any of us,' Kimmel said.
'Your child with a pre-existing condition will get the care he needs, if and only if as his father is Jimmy Kimmel,' he said.
'Otherwise you might be screwed.'
Senate Republicans are making one last attempt to overhaul Obamacare before a special parliamentary procedure allowing the bill to pass with a simple majority expires at the end of this month.
The latest proposal, called the Graham-Cassidy bill and sponsored by Republican Senators Cassidy, Lindsey Graham, Dean Heller and Ron Johnson, would give states money in the form of block grants, allowing them to design their own healthcare systems while maintaining some regulations of the Affordable Care Act, former Democratic President Barack Obamas signature domestic policy achievement.
The federal funding would run out by 2027, and after that would need to be reauthorized.
The bill gained momentum this week as Republicans aim to deliver on a seven-year campaign promise and one of President Donald Trumps top campaign pledges.
The bills sponsors say they are close to the 50 votes needed for passage, with Vice President Mike Pence casting the tie-breaking vote if necessary.
A schoolgirl was struck down by a flesh-eating bacteria that caused an angry red palm-sized ulcer across her knee.
Ella Crofts, 13, is still recovering from mycobacterium ulcerans six months after the festering sore appeared in April and didn't respond to antibiotics.
The teenager's mother Lucy Burns said when her daughter first complained of a sore knee it was just a little swollen - but soon looked like a 'zombie leg'.
Ella Crofts, 13, was struck down by flesh-eating bacteria Mycobacterium Ulcerans
'A couple of days later it started to get the smallest of sores like a scab or a carpet burn and then a bit of redness around it,' she told 9 News.
Soon the pain was so intense she couldn't walk properly and had to limp or walk around on crutches and only strong painkillers made it bearable.
Hospital swab tests were negative, but her parents, who both have medical backgrounds, convinced doctors to order a biopsy.
Once the frightening disease was discovered, Ella had three operations to cut out the dead tissue around her knee but she was still limping.
Infectious disease experts called Mycobacterium Ulcerans an epidemic needed to be tackled quickly before it got out of hand.
It caused an angry red palm-sized ulcer across her knee that left her limping for six months
It is common Africa but mysteriously exploded in parts of Victoria with 240 new cases last year and nine each week in the past few months.
Ella wrote on a petition calling for more funding into the disease that it creates the toxin mycolactone that decreases immune system function and results in tissue death.
'This infection comes from the same family as leprosy and tuberculosis. How the disease is spread is unknown. There is currently no prevention against it,' she wrote.
Ella's doctor Daniel O'Brien said the number of serious cases like hers doubled in the past five years and even renowned experts like her were at loss to explain it.
'Bottom line is we had 70 percent more cases last year than we have ever had and we are more than double this year already on last year,' he said.
She is one of hundreds infected with the disease across Victoria as it grows to epidemic proportions, despite only being common in Africa
'We don't know why. I can only suspect that the organism has adapted or mutated or evolved so it is becoming more virulent and causing more severe cases.'
Mycobacterium ulcerans' march through Australia started on Phillip Island in the 1990s before appearing on the Bellarine Peninsula before moving to Mornington.
Dr O'Brien said researchers were distressed and overwhelmed trying to contain the disease as they don't know how it was spread.
Theories included mosquitoes, infected possums and other animals or even getting into wounds via the soil.
'But we don't actually know where it lives, why it's there and how it gets spread to humans. How can we possibility halt an epidemic when we don't have that basic information?' he said.
A 27-year-old Australian woman has died after a horrific scooter crash in Bali.
Sophia Martini and Steele Nugent had been celebrating a friend's wedding in the tourist hub of Kuta before tragedy struck on Monday morning, Nine News reported.
Mr Nugent, who escaped serious injury, is understood to have been riding the scooter as Ms Martini sat behind him. Both were wearing helmets.
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Sophia Martini (pictured) has reportedly been killed after a horrific scooter crash in Bali
Ms Martini and Steele Nugent (pictured) had been in the tourist hub of Kuta attending a friend's wedding before tragedy struck on Monday morning
Ms Martini, from Magnetic Island in Queensland, was rushed to hospital with horrific head injuries and heavy blood loss, but was pronounced dead shortly later.
It's believed Mr Nugent is prohibited from leaving the Indonesian island until investigations into the incident are complete.
Tributes have poured in for Ms Martini, who one friend described as 'such a beautiful person taken from us way too soon'.
'This was the life that hardly begun, no time to find your place in the sun, no time to do all you could have done,' another wrote online.
'You were here one moment, then you were gone. It will be the little things I remember, the smiles, the laughter... Til we meet again, love you.'
Maggie Island Bootcamp wrote a tribute on Facebook to Ms Martini, who attended morning classes.
It is understood Mr Nugent, who escaped serious injury, had been riding the scooter (pictured) as Ms Martini sat behind him
These images show the damage to the scooter after the incident in Bali on Monday morning
'We will all miss Soph terribly, a shining light of fun and always smiling. She particularly liked the most challenging of work outs, pushing herself and encouraging others along with her with that determined gentle spirit,' the post said.
'We love you Soph and will never forget you. Rest in Peace.'
The tragedy comes after 26-year-old Australian woman Ella Knights was killed in a scooter crash in North Kuta in April.
Police said a passer-by found Ms Knights lying face down in a gutter, with a Honda scooter found lying on its side nearby, the engine still running.
The tragedy comes after 26-year-old Australian woman Ella Knights was killed in a scooter crash in North Kuta in April
In 2016, Lochie Connaughton, from Orange Central West region of New South Wales, died when his scooter collided with a concrete separator in Kuta
In 2016, Lochie Connaughton, from Orange Central West region of New South Wales, died when his scooter collided with a concrete separator in Kuta.
Just weeks later, Melbourne firefighter Adrian Newton was killed when his scooter reportedly crashed into a garbage truck, also in Kuta.
On its SmartTraveller website, The Department of Foreign Affairs warns of the dangers of using motorbikes in Bali.
'A number of foreigners, including Australians, have been killed or seriously injured in motorcycle accidents in tourist areas, particularly in Bali,' the site reads.
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Photos of John Kelly's exasperated reaction to President Donald Trump's speech to the United Nations on Tuesday had Twitter users going wild.
The usually stoic White House Chief of Staff put his hand over his face as the president addressed the 193-nation body and referred to Kim Jong Un as 'rocket man'.
In addition to nick-naming the North Korean based on threats of nuclear force, the commander in chief blasted 'loser terrorists,' the 'corrupt' Venezuelan government, and the 'murderous' Iranian regime and 'rogue regimes'.
It took no time for people to catch onto Kelly's distressed reactions - and within minutes Twitter exploded with amusement and empathy for the disgruntled chief of staff.
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John Kelly did not appear to be enjoying President Trump's speech to the UN on Monday
The progressive veteran organization Vote Vets tweeted the photos of John Kelly
Some people thought Melania Trump was looking at the president in a bewildered manner
One Twitter user noted the similarity between Kelly and this Star Trek meme
During Tuesday morning's speech Kelly clearly couldn't control his reaction - and a photo shows him with his eyes closed and his hand cupped over his temple.
The reaction was similar to one that Captain Jean-Luc Picard makes in Star Trek - as many people pointed out on social media by sharing a meme of the character.
At another point of Trump's address, Kelly put his elbows on his knees and pressed his face onto his clasped hands, looking like he was deeply contemplating his choices.
An editor of the Washington Examiner tweeted: 'John Kelly apparently went through some sort of existential crisis during Trump's UN speech.'
A number of people also expressed empathy towards Kelly's reaction.
One twitter user with the tag 'Duty To Warn' referred to the Chief of Staff's reaction as 'the Facepalm heard around the world,' adding - 'we get it, John'.
And others just plain made fun of his reaction.
Laurence Tribe, a professor at Harvard University wrote: 'Some pics wd (sic) be a bargain at 10,000 words, never mind a mere thousand.'
And another social media user wrote: 'John Kelly was embarrassed by Trump calling Un "rocket man," wait until he starts calling Mueller "inspector poopy face doody head.'
Trump tweeted that his speech was well reviewed, saying: 'A great and important day at the United Nations.Met with leaders of many nations who agree with much (or all) of what I stated in my speech!'
A number of people also expressed their empathy with Kelly's reaction. One twitter user with the tag 'Duty To Warn' referred to the Chief of Staff's reaction as 'the Facepalm heard around the world,' adding - we get it, John'
Laurence Tribe, a professor at Harvard University wrote that this picture was worth far more than a thousand words
And another person mocked Kelly's reaction - saying he should just wait because it's only going to get worse from here
While it's not entirely clear what the 67-year-old was thinking during the speech, his facial cues indicated he was less than pleased.
And though a number of people said they understood the feeling - some Twitter users were less than pleased.
Fox News Business Network host Lou Dobbs said Kelly either needs to control himself or head to Hollywood for the dramatic reaction.
Another person gave Kelly an electronic eye-roll by tweeting that he is the 'last person on planet earth who still gets surprised by Donald Trump's erratic behavior.'
People noted how several people sitting near John Kelly did not look particularly happy about President Trump's speech
Fox News Business Network host Lou Dobbs said Kelly either needs to control himself or head to Hollywood for the dramatic reaction
Another person commented that Kelly is the 'last person on planet earth who still gets surprised by Donald Trump's erratic behavior'
An editor of the Washington Examiner said it looked like he was having an existential crisis
Another person joked that Kelly's face was easy to read, making him an easy poker opponent
The facepalm is a universal gesture of exasperation or disbelief, sometimes both
His reaction was similar to how he looked when Trump first said there were bad guys on 'both sides' of the Charlottesville riots, grouping together Neo-Nazis and protesters.
Kelly is seen as one of the more grounded and straight-laced figured in the Trump administration. The New York Times once labelled him a 'beacon of discipline.'
He replaced the former chief of staff Reince Priebus in July.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was questioned about the speech and Kelly's response on Fox and Friends Wednesday morning.
Sanders laughed off the chief of staff's embarrassed demeanor - claiming that he was probably just tired.
She claimed that Kelly wasn't reacting to the speech itself, and that, in fact, he was part fo the speech writig process.
'I would certainly not read anything into that picture,' Sanders explained.
'Just like the rest of us, we're tired trying to keep up with this president who is working hard every day to help America.'
A mother-of-three has been paralysed and told she may never walk again after she fell trying to save a kitten stuck up a tree.
Perth woman Rachel Maree, 30, is in hospital after the horrific accident, and doctors told her she may never walk again.
She posted a note on Facebook saying she was 'pretty drugged up and in extreme pain'.
'Hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.'
Rachel Maree, 30, (pictured) fell from a tree after trying to rescue her kitten from a tree
The Perth-based mother-of-three had posted her ordeal on her Facebook page (pictured)
Blogger Constance Hall paid testament to her bravery while she is recovering in hospital.
Ms Hall said the woman's new kitten was stuck up a tree and when she tried to rescue it she fell, and landed on a root.
She was notified of the accident by Ms Maree's friend Rikki Livingston.
'Rikki wants you to know that this is going to be the biggest battle that you two will ever face but your facing it together,' Ms Hall wrote.
'I can't understand why this has happened to such a beautiful person.
A woman who publicly sacked a worker for advocating a 'no' vote on gay marriage has become the target of horrific abuse.
Madlin Sims of Capital Kids Parties in Canberra took to social media to reveal the nature of some of the vile messages she has received.
Ms Sims said she has received rape threats against her two-year-old son, as trolls from notorious forums such as 4chan bombarded her with hateful messages.
Madlin Sims (pictured) who publicly sacked a worker for advocating a 'no' vote on gay marriage has become the target of horrific online abuse
Ms Sims of Capital Kids Parties in Canberra took to social media to reveal the nature of some of the vile messages she has received
Madeline (pictured) was fired over an 'it's OK to vote no' post regarding same-sex marriage
Not content with abusing Ms Sims, malicious internet users even released the address of her disabled father, she said.
'The consequence for me has been threats against my family, the address of which my disabled father resides at being posted on troll forums ... rape wishes made against my two-year-old son and over 400 threatening or derogatory messages sent directly to me,' Ms Sims wrote online.
The business owner received huge amounts of online backlash, including being named a skank, wh**e, b**ch, putrid and a sl*t for firing 18-year-old Madeline after the teenager posted a profile photo with a Coalition for Marriage filter, according to news.com.au.
Ms Sims reportedly messaged Madeline after being made aware of the post, writing that the profile photo 'really bothered me'.
She took to Facebook on Sunday to announce she had sacked the contractor from her company Capital Kids Parties, saying she had a responsibility to protect the vulnerable people they work with.
However, Ms Sims shared online on Wednesday that she did not fire Madeline 'as she was a contractor'.
Ms Sims said malicious internet users released the address of her disabled father (pictured)
Ms Sims (pictured) said she has received rape threats against her two-year-old son, as trolls from notorious forums such as 4chan bombarded her with hateful messages
Trolls reportedly called the businesswoman a skank, wh**e, b**ch, putrid and a sl*t
The businesswoman has been forced to shut down websites promoting her business, according to the publication.
In a bizarre twist, another children's party website has been caught it the line of fire with online trolls slamming them, thinking it was Ms Sims' business.
Canberra Kids Party's were forced to share a post online explaining they were 'not involved' with Madlin Sims.
Canberra Kids Party's has been slammed online with trolls confusing them for Ms Sims' business and were forced to tell people they are not involved with the business owner
Josh of Canberra Kids Party's told the website people who abused them had the wrong business and they only wanted to entertain children without political drama
'Pleases do not send us messages of abuse or make abusive phone calls to us, you've got the wrong company,' they wrote.
Josh of Canberra Kids Party's told the website they wanted to entertain children without political drama.
'It's not our circus and she [Ms Sims] isn't our monkey,' he said.
Defending her decision to vote no on Triple J, Madeline said she was a Christian with gay friends and family, but that her religion played a strong part in her choice.
'I have been raised a Christian my whole life and in the bible God clearly states that a man and a man, and a woman and a woman, are not to be together,' she said.
'I love everyone, I'm not a hateful person at all and I do believe everyone should have equality, but to vote yes to me is something I can't do.'
Fair Work Ombudsman are investigating the case.
A mother who watched on a nanny cam as her childminder viciously assaulted her baby girl has described feeling betrayed and a failure for trusting the woman.
Annemarie Theron described to MailOnline how she cried and cried, cradling bruised and battered nine-month-old Laila, as she saw the appalling footage recorded on the camera that had been installed only hours before.
The 31-year-old and her husband, Johan, had become suspicious of Nicolin Hoeses after finding mysterious injuries on their daughter, who also seemed frightened of her nanny.
Mrs Theron, who lives in Namibia but is from Zimbabwe, told MailOnline, I watched the footage back with my mother-in-law - we had only installed the camera that morning.
The nanny walks into the bedroom carrying baby Laila by the neck, pictured. She appears to clear the bed, preparing to put the 9-month-old in it
The nanny drops baby Laila into the crib, pictured, and she is heard crying long after the nanny leaves the room
The hidden camera captures the terrifying moment a 9-month-old baby is abused by her child carer
'When I saw what she had done to Laila, I cried and cried. I held my baby girl close and kept telling her I was so sorry.
'I had so many emotions - betrayed, and a complete failure as a mum. It was the worst feeling I have ever had and never ever want another mother to have to go through that.
Hoeses, who has four children of her own, was arrested following the attack and is now in custody facing a charge of attempted murder.
She appeared in court on Monday and was denied bail, remaining in custody until October.
She had come to the couple highly recommended by friends who had employed her for the previous two years to care for their two children.
They feel absolutely terrible now, Mrs Theron revealed, they had had no suspicions about her at all, but are now doing their own investigations with the children with the help of a therapist.
Mrs Theron also described how she has struggled to eat and sleep in the wake of the assault last Wednesday at the couples home in a remote corner of Namibia, knowing that the abuse had possibly gone on for some time.
The mother, a sales and reservations manager at a tourist lodge in the town of Outjo, recalled finding bruises on the bottom of Lailas feet in July and then noticed bruises on her neck and shoulders last month.
I didnt want to be a paranoid first-time mum, and I didnt want to confront the nanny as I had no proof. I did not want to make her angry towards me and put my child in danger. It was very difficult to leave each morning to go to work.
My husband was home for a couple of days earlier this month and thought that Laila seemed frightened of her childminder.
'One day, she had had a fall, we were told, and had a bruise above her eye which were so swollen with all the crying she had done. She looked terrible.
Last Wednesday the couple activated a camera they had secretly installed in their bedroom, where Lailas cot was.
The appalling footage shows Hoeses walking into shot while carrying Laila by her neck and shoulder.
She begins to tidy the bed and then, shockingly, throws the baby down face-first into the cot with a thud as though she were a rag doll. The child is heard crying as the nanny leaves the room.
Laila, who is just beginning preschool, is fine despite the ordeal.
Mum Annemarie Theron posted a picture of Laila on Facebook on Sunday, pictured left, thanking everyone for the support their family received, including husband Johan, pictured right
And despite having damning footage, Mrs Theron told how she could not confront the violent carer until she had reported her to the authorities, and so was forced to act normal the day after the attack when she came to work.
I knew I had to do it by the book and report her to the correct authorities so that she would be dealt with properly. I didnt want her to be able to get another job looking after children, she said.
Taking Laila with her, Mrs Theron reported the matter to the welfare and police authorities and the woman was arrested the following day.
I feel so angry and betrayed. She has looked me in the eye for how long and been doing whatever she was doing to my daughter, I cant even think about it.
'I didnt expect to see what I saw and I was absolutely shattered. I was horrified that she could look me in the eye - like she did everyday. My heart breaks,' she added.
For now, Laila is attending a playgroup in the morning and going to work with her mother in the afternoons.
It is not going to be a solution in the long term, Mrs Theron explained, but I have to wait a while to see if I can trust another person again to look after her.
She added: 'Not all maids are bad. I grew up with a maid my whole life. It is just going to take some time to trust people and Im sure that time will come.'
Laila's story, she said, has shed more light on the nanny's character and people have come forward citing violence at home, particularly when paired with alcohol.
And speaking of Hoeses' four children, she said: 'I dont know who is going to look after them now. Theres a part of me that feels guilty.'
Hundreds of protesters have gathered in the centre of Barcelona after police raided Catalan government offices and arrested officials in a bid to halt the banned independence referendum.
The demonstrators waved the red-and-yellow Catalan flag and chanting 'Occupying forces out' and 'Where is Europe?' as tension mounted over the October 1 poll, which has been ruled illegal by Spain's constitutional court.
'The Spanish state has by all rights intervened in Catalonia's government and has established emergency rule,' Catalan President Carles Puigdemont said in a televised address.
'We condemn and reject the anti-democratic and totalitarian actions of the Spanish state.'
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Protesters have taken to the streets of Barcelona chanting Occupying forces out' and 'Where is Europe' as tensions mount in Catalonia
Demonstrators clashed with police, who have stepped up their efforts to thwart the independence referendum due to take place on October 1
Catalan regional police officers 'Mossos D'Esquadra' try to disperse protesters in front of the headquarters of Catalonia's foreign affairs ministry in Barcelona
State police arrested Catalonia's junior economy minister Josep Maria Jove in their first raid of government offices in the region, Catalan government sources said, in operation that also targeted several regional government departments.
A dozen high-ranking local officials were arrested, La Vanguardia newspaper said.
The police confirmed they were carrying out raids connected with the banned referendum, but did not give details.
Among the the protesters outside the government office in Barcelona, was Carlos, a 47-year-old taxi driver, who said: 'We're here so they know they can't do whatever they want.'
Pro-independence demonstrators try to stop the car carrying Xavier Puig, a senior at the Department of External Affairs in the Catalan Government office, after he was arrested
Thousands of Catalans took the streets to protest against the police's action
Spanish Civil Guard carried out different searches for documents related to the '1-O Referendum' resulting in the arrest of 14 people
Catalonia's regional president, Carles Puigdemont, claimed that the Spanish government has established emergency rule
Parts of the centre of Barcelona where regional government offices are located were brought to a standstill by the protests
Catalan regional police officers stand between protesters and Spanish Civil Guards during a protest against a search for propaganda supporting Catalonia's independence referendum
A man holds pro-referendum posters reading in Catalan 'Vote to be free'
Police efforts to stop the referendum, which the central government says is illegal, have intensified in recent days as the wealthy northeastern region shows no signs of halting it.
Acting under court orders, police have raided printers, newspaper offices and private delivery in a search for campaign literature, instruction manuals for manning voting stations, and ballot boxes.
Up to nine million ballot papers due to be used in the vote were seized in the town of Bigues, about 28 miles north of Barcelona.
The Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis has claimed Catalan separatists are using 'Nazi' tactics to intimidate their opponents.
'These people actually are taking some Nazi attitudes because they are putting up posters with the faces of mayors who are resisting their call to participate in this charade,' Mr Dastis said.
He also said 'referendums are a weapon of choice of dictators' referring to the two the late Spanish leader General Francisco Franco conducted before the country returned to democracy after his death in 1975.
A protestor is arrested at an office of the Unipost delivery company's office in the town of Terrasa. Police raided offices of the company seize ballot boxes, voting papers and leaflets
Mr Dastis was speaking in an interview in New York, where he is attending a meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations.
Hundreds of Catalan mayors have been summoned to answer questions on why they have backed the banned referendum appeared before the state prosecutor on Tuesday amid cheers and chants from supporters.
Marc Solsona, mayor of the town of Mollerussa, one of nearly 750 mayors facing charges of civil disobedience, abuse of office and misuse of public funds said 'voting is not a crime,' as he left the state prosecutor's office in Barcelona.
Solsona smiled, kissed and gripped hands with dozens of clapping supporters gathered outside the state prosecutor's office as he entered to chants of 'You are not alone'.
A supporter of Catalans independence holding a flag of the region, where a ballot for on breaking away from Spain will be held on October 1.
Mayor of the town of Mollerussa Marc Solsona (centre) one of nearly 750 mayors facing charges of civil disobedience, said he was committed to the referendum
A man suspected of supporting the Catalan independence referendum is grabbed by police. Polls show a minority of people in the region when to break away from Spain.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is a supporter of Catalan independence and spoke at a separatists rally earlier this year
'I'm just the mayor and I have to serve my people. I am committed to the people being able to vote on October 1 in accordance with the law passed by the Catalan parliament and what happens to me is not important,' he said.
Pensioner Angel Tena, 63, who had travelled to Barcelona to support the mayor said: 'We consider ourselves privileged to have a mayor who represents the townspeople above any other interests.'
Why some Catalans support independence Catalonia is fiercely proud of its language and customs, and has long demanded greater autonomy from Madrid. Many Catalans feel because their prosperous region contributes more to Spain's GDP than it takes out they want to go it alone. Among the supporters of independence is Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. Advertisement
Spain's Guardia Civil police has begun searching several headquarters in Barcelona of Catalonia's regional government, a Catalan government spokesman said.
Separately, police continued their search for ballot boxes, voting papers and campaign leaflets on Wednesday, raiding the offices of Spain's biggest private delivery company Unipost in the Catalan city of Terrassa, Spanish media reported.
After a series of rulings from the Constitutional Court decreed the vote illegal, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is imposing financial curbs on the regional administration and has promised tougher sanctions still if officials refuse to back down.
Although polls show less than half of Catalonia's 5.5 million voters want self-rule, most in the wealthy northeastern region want the chance to vote on the issue.
A drunk couple were kicked off an easyJet flight after boasting about necking drinks in an airport VIP lounge, with a selfie captioned 'Already tipsy on the free bar.'
Paul Brady, 39, and his wife Loretta, 34, from Droyslden, Greater Manchester, downed five pints of lager between them at Manchester Airport before boarding a plane to Copenhagen.
The pair were removed from their flight to applause from fellow passengers an hour later, after Brady became 'aggressive' while struggling to find space in the overhead cabin.
The engineer, who had a bottle of vodka with him, was heard shouting 'This is a f****** joke', before telling a cabin crew member to 'f*** off' when they asked him to calm down.
Paul Brady, 39, and his wife Loretta, 34, were kicked off an easyJet flight after they posted a selfie (pictured) captioned 'Already tipsy on the free bar'
The couple, pictured on another holiday, downed five pints of lager between them at Manchester Airport before boarding a plane to Copenhagen
Brady's wife Loretta posted a photo of themselves at the airport on Facebook, boasting that they were in the Escape VIP Lounge at Terminal 1
Police who arrived on the scene asked Brady asked to tone down his language. He replied in response: 'I pay your wages, you f****** public servant - why are you standing up for that f****** gobs****'.
He was then arrested and handcuffed as officers feared he was about to spit at them.
Before boarding the flight, Brady had posted a photograph of themselves boasting how they had been drinking at the Escape VIP Lounge at Terminal 1.
The incident occurred on August 4 after the couple toasted their trip to the Danish capital.
Brady admitted to being drunk on an aircraft and threatening behaviour at Manchester Magistrates Court.
He will now face a judge at the Crown Court, after magistrates ruled their sentencing powers were insufficient.
Brady, pictured leaving court, admitted to being drunk on an aircraft and threatening behaviour at Manchester Magistrates Court
Prosecutor Matthew Treece said the arrest took place during a police operation cracking down on the number of drunk people boarding flights from Manchester Airport using the easyJet airline.
He added: 'At 6:20 the flights began boarding and there were no problems currently from the defendant or his partner. They were the last ones to board the plane.
'But when they boarded, because they were the last ones there was limited room for their hand luggage to go in the overhead compartment.
'The defendant was moving people's luggage around to try and create space. He said "this is a f****** joke" and continued trying to shift people's luggage around. A member of staff approached him and asked him to calm down.
'They explained to him that he could leave his luggage in the hold. He refused to listen and told them to 'f*** off'. The member of the cabin crew tried to calm him down and prevent him from getting worse. He explained that if he continued then he would be removed from the flight.
Brady, pictured with Loretta, was described as being 'aggressive' after struggling to find any space in the overhead cabin for his hand luggage
'He was described as being very aggressive and threatening and didn't think he was doing anything wrong. He was showing no respect towards the staff. He eventually returned to his seat after they threatened to have him removed from the flight.'
Mr Treece continued: 'A bottle of vodka bought from the duty free section of the airport was found in a plastic bag next to his seat and staff thought it had been opened. The cabin member asked him for the bottle of vodka but he refused to give it to them.
'They said if he did not give them the bottle he wouldn't be allowed to fly but started to get very aggressive. The cabin member thought he was going to go for him or another person in the flight.
'He continued to swear at the cabin member and they asked him to collect his belongings and leave. They told him to do this three times.
'The cabin crew member went to speak to the cabin manager and the captain to let them know what was happening and the police were then contacted and escorted him from the flight.
The engineer was heard shouting loudly 'This is a f****** joke', before telling a cabin crew member to 'f*** off' when they asked him to calm down
The engineer had a bottle of vodka, which he had bought from duty free, with him when boarding the flight
'The airplane was kept on the ground which disrupted the flight for the other holidaymakers whilst a PA message was sent out saying police were about to remove the defendant and his wife from the flight - to which the rest of the holidaymakers burst into a round of applause.
'The officers walked him off the flight and back into the airport. The defendant kept saying 'I haven't done anything wrong, I haven't f***ing done anything' and officers described him smelling of alcohol.
'He continued to speak to them in an aggressive and threatening manner. The defendants wife was also drunk and they were telling her to move along too, he told them to leave them and said 'don't f****** speak to my wife like that.' They told him to watch his language and his behaviour.
'They took him to one side and explained what he had done and why he was removed from the flight but he was saying things like "I pay your wages, you f****** public servant, why are you standing up for that f****** gobs****".
'They tried to calm him down, but the defendant continued to be aggressive and they put him in handcuffs. He lunged at the constable and tried to move his body to face him, which made the officer think he was going to spit at him.
Brady was arrested by police, after he told officers: 'I pay your wages, you f****** public servant - why are you standing up for that f***** gobs****'
The incident took place on August 4, after the couple (pictured on another holiday) toasted a trip to Copenhagen
'He detained him on the floor near to the immigration section of the airline and some other officers came over to help. They took him into the police van and read him his caution and rights. He continued to be aggressive.'
The prosecutor added: 'This offence is aggravated because he was intoxicated. He clearly caused annoyance and distress to the other people on board and he refused to leave the flight when he was asked to.
'He was unpleasant with his behaviour and it is something you don't want to be dealing with when you start your holiday. He was aggressive right up until he was taken away by the police. The defendants partner was also drunk - but she wasn't arrested. She didn't behave in an unpleasant way.'
Defence lawyer Nmandi Inegbu said that Brady knew his behaviour was 'completely inappropriate and unpleasant, but argued he 'didn't intend to cause harm or distress.'
He added: 'He said that his flight was delayed and because of that he had another drink. People should be able to relax before their holidays but then you should also be able to know when you've had enough, and he realises that.
Other passengers broke out into a round of applause after the couple were removed from the easyJet flight
Brady's defence lawyer said that he knew his behaviour was 'completely inappropriate and unpleasant'
'He explained that he and his wife had five pints of lager before they boarded the flight. He explained that he was annoyed when they suggested he had drunk from the bottle of vodka because it still had the cap on.
'He was trying to explain to them that he could show them the receipt and the bottle to prove he and not drunk from it.'
Mr Inegbu continued: 'But because he was slightly under the influence he couldn't coherently explain what he wanted. His protest was to prove that he hadn't done anything wrong.
'When the cabin crew challenged him, he knows now that he reacted in the wrong way. He knew he shouldn't have sworn at them.
Brady was released on bail and will be sentenced by a Crown Court judge next month
'When the officer challenged him, he explained that he was trying to defend his wife because he thought they were being aggressive with her. He accepts this was wholly inappropriate behaviour'.
'He tells me that he flies regularly as part of his job and he is ashamed of his behaviour.
He understands that he wasn't acting like himself. He knows that they were trying to do their job.
'He knows that he was incoherent in explaining to the staff, and police, about his bottle of vodka not being open or drunk from.'
Brady will be sentenced next month and was released on bail.
Police are quizzing a jailed gangster over the murder of a young father who was gunned down in a shocking attack outside an east London pub.
Marvin Couson was just 26 years old when he was shot at the Lime London Bar in Shoreditch, in May 2002.
The father-of-two suffered devastating brain injuries as a result of the wound and spent 13 years in a vegetative state in hospital, before passing away in August 2015.
His final moments were broadcast during an emotional episode of BBC's Crimewatch in February last year.
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Marvin Couson was just 26 years old when he was shot at the Lime London Bar in Shoreditch, in May 2002, suffering devastating injuries that would leave him in vegetative state
No one has ever been found responsible for the attack, but detectives say they recently questioned a 37-year-old man under caution.
The convict has ties to a Birmingham gang and detectives believe Mr Couson's death may be linked to a dispute between warring crews.
A 40,000 reward remains on offer to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for Mr Couson's death.
Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh said: 'My team have been working extremely hard since Marvin's tragic death to investigate what happened to him that night and what the motive could be for his murder.
'At this stage everything points to a dispute between organised criminal gangs from London and Birmingham.
'It is all the more sad as Marvin was not involved in gangs or criminality and we believe he was an entirely innocent victim of a dispute that had nothing to do with him.
'Our investigation has led us to interview under caution a serving prisoner. Our enquiries continue apace and we are still appealing for witnesses and information about Marvin's murder.
'A significant reward is on offer which we hope will persuade someone to come forward. The smallest piece of information could really help.
Mr Couson spent 13 years in a vegetative state in hospital, before passing away in August 2015
Mr Couson was gunned down outside this bar in east London, after shots were fired in and outside the venue
'A lot of time has passed and loyalties change so I hope for the sake of Marvin's family - and his two children who are now teenagers - that someone can find it within themselves to do the right thing.
'In particular I would appeal for someone who previously called Crimestoppers with information about those concerned in Marvin's murder.
We urge you to please contact Crimestoppers anonymously again or the police incident room. I would like to speak to you personally as soon as possible as you may have further information that could be vital to our inquiries.'
Officers were called to Lime London, now known as the Queen of Hoxton pub, in the early hours of Saturday May 12 2002 to reports of gunfire.
Mr Couson, from west Norwood, south London, was found on the ground outside the bar with a gunshot wound to the chest.
He was taken by ambulance to the Royal London Hospital in a critical condition with injuries to his heart and other internal organs.
Mr Couson's devastated family said there 'is not a single day that goes by' where they do not mourn his death
After an operation he was transferred to the Royal Hospital for Neuro-Disability in Putney.
Such was the severity of his condition, Mr Couson was unable to care for himself or leave his hospital bed.
He could not communicate and had no capacity to understand anything said to him.
Mr Couson died on 8 August 2015. A post-mortem examination gave cause of death as brain injury suffered as a direct result of the shooting.
Margaret Couson, Mr Couson's sister, said: 'As time goes by people say the pain of losing a loved one will become less and you will find a way to cope.
'This is far from true. There is not a single day that goes by where Marvin is not in our thoughts, we imagine what he would say about family crises as they happen still.
'Marvin not being with us anymore leaves us all feeling life is so cruel, individuals like you and me in a split second become victims of crime and a life-time of suffering follows.
'Marvin did not just suffer a gunshot wound to his heart, he suffered until his death on 8 August 2015, all of 13 years, two months and 27 days in a hospital bed with hypoxic brain injury.
'Imagine your loved one lying there each day trapped in their body unable to express himself, not able to tell you what pain he is feeling.
'What makes the pain remain with our family is the mere fact that there are individuals who know a lot more than they are willing to disclose.
There is not a single day that goes by where Marvin is not in our thoughts, we imagine what he would say about family crises as they happen still Margaret Couson
'We are working tirelessly with the police investigation team who, from Marvin's untimely death on 8 August 2015, have been exceptional in their investigation, commitment and support given to our family.
'Trusting the police has allowed the investigation to proceed.
'Information sharing is all I ask from each and every one of you, there are individuals 15 years on from Marvin's fatal shooting that have still not come forward with information. This is heartbreaking to know.
'Marvin was always willing to help others no matter the circumstance.
'As a family we plead that you come forward to speak to the police, all information is useful and could lead to the arrest of whoever killed Marvin.
'We really appreciate and thank all of those who have worked with the police to aid the investigation.'
Mr Couson, who worked fitting security systems for retailers, had visited the Lime Bar with his cousin and a friend for a garage and hip-hop music night called 'Ouch'.
They fled, along with a large number of other people, after shots were fired inside the bar.
Mr Couson's murder was the subject of a BBC Crimewatch episode, which aired last year. Pictured, a still from the reconstruction of his death
Pictured, a still from the BBC Crimewatch reconstruction of Mr Couson's murder
Outside Mr Couson's friend saw a T-reg red or burgundy Ford Fiesta, thought to contain at least two black men, driving fast along Curtain Road. The vehicle struck him and he grappled with the front seat passenger.
A gun was then fired and the friend walked back towards the bar to see Mr Couson lying shot on the ground.
He was shot outside the bar, but it is unclear if the shot came from the Fiesta.
Trident officers took on the case and made several appeals for witnesses and information.
Around 600 people were at the venue at the time for a commercial party and 200-300 of them congregated in the street after shots were fired inside the club.
One man was arrested during the course of the investigation, on 23 May 2002, but subsequently released with no further action.
Detectives are still keen to trace the occupants of the burgundy Ford Fiesta to understand the full extent of their involvement.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8785 8099 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Frustrated Ryanair pilots are reportedly plotting a protest against their 'poor working conditions' by carrying out a mass 'sick day' walkout - in a move which threatens to heap only more misery on passengers.
Ryanair has already cut as many as 2,000 flights and will leave up to 400,000 passengers stranded over the next six weeks - and revealed today that just under half have new seats and one in five have been handed refunds.
Today it emerged that air crew across Europe could start a slew of new cancellations over alleged poor conditions working for the budget airline, whose share price was down two per cent today.
One senior Ryanair pilot told MailOnline: 'Pilots are now gathering and arranging meetings around Europe. Serious flight crew unrest exists with the possibility of crew action against company, including mass sick days and working to rule.
'Pilot's are sick of threatening management conduct. Michael O'Leary fabricates his pilots are well treated - if that's the case why do they all leave so fast - 719 in the past year' - a figure used by unions.
Stella Scott, 69, with her husband Robert, 61, daughter Abby, 36, son-in-law Dave, 34, and grandson Luke, three, in Spain before their Spanish holiday was ruined by Ryanair
Rhiannon Hawkins (pictured today with her boyfriend Aaron) 'cried herself to sleep' after Ryanair cancelled her flight and cut short her holiday after a 25 phone
Queues form at the Ryanair customer services desk at Stansted yesterday as customers face six weeks of cancellations
Chief executive Michael O'Leary is reportedly offering 12,000 bonuses to pilots who can ease their cancellation crisis
Upset customers reveal Ryanair's phone and online services are still creaking Ryanair passengers are reporting problems with the process of refunds or compensation for cancelled flights, saying information supplied by the airline is incorrect and calls are going unanswered. Angry customers are inundating Ryanair's Facebook page with reports of problems with the airline's refund and compensation process, and its complaints tracker. Many are also complaining their calls and messages through the airline's call centre and online 'chat' service are going unanswered or being cut off. Holly Jayne Austin posted: 'Has anyone managed to get through to Ryanair or had a refund? Won't let me refund and they are just cancelling my call' while Laure Savoy wrote: 'How can I ask for the EU261 compensation and refund if on your website the cancelled fight number is unknown for you?' Lena Heritage wrote: 'Please let me know how we can contact you! You emailed us two days ago to notify us that our flight home from Barcelona has been cancelled, instructing us to sign in to our account to rearrange an alternative flight. 'We have since been stuck in a constant loop of being asked to verify our account and being asked to change our password. 'We've not been able to get through on the extortionately-priced phone line (repeatedly in a queue then eventually cut off).' Birinder Singh Tiwana posted: 'I applied for refund and compensation by filling a form on their website and got a customer reference number of seven digits via email which does not work on their complaint tracker system. 'I tried to chat to their agents about this but the agent had no answer and disconnected the chat instead.' Advertisement
MailOnline has been inundated with calls and emails from customers who have been left stranded, broke and bereft because of the airline's cancellation crisis.
Passengers have described the stress of not knowing how to get home and spending huge sums of money after getting marooned by Ryanair.
Stella Scott, 69, was sent a text six hours before her Malaga flight and was offered seats to Bristol nine days later, leaving her family including three-year-old grandson marooned.
Lynda Lancaster's granddaughter Rhiannon Hawkins, 19, 'cried herself to sleep' after she was forced to cut her week's holiday in France short having spent 25 waiting for an answer on Ryanair's helpline.
The airline responded to claims that calls were costing 25 by saying: 'This 25 call cost claim is untrue. Our UK numbers are not premium rate numbers.
'Our reservations number costs 13p per minute and our other UK number is a low-cost local rate number. Our chat and email contact channels are completely free'.
Mark Adkins was stuck in Spain with his wife, 11-month old baby and 77-year-old disabled father, who was forced to 'crawl' on to a train from Valencia to Barcelona to get a new flight.
He told MailOnline: 'Ryanair have ruined my son's first holiday and probably my dad's last one'.
'When boarding the flight at Girona airport, our priority seats at the front were taken away and we were spread out at the back, my dad again struggled to get to his seat.
'I want everyone to know that Ryanair don't offer any care or consideration for vulnerable passengers like my disabled dad and baby son'.
Today consumer group Which claimed that the airline has broken EU laws over compensation, because there is no sign of the word anywhere in an email sent to affected customers.
Instead there is a link to click if they want to learn more about 'passenger rights'.
Which? spokesman Alex Neill said: 'Ryanair's approach to informing affected passengers about compensation falls woefully short.
'It is legally required to spell out compensation rules when a flight is cancelled and, in our view, have so far failed to do that, leaving passengers hunting around for information.
'This is another blow for the thousands of passengers who have already had to endure huge inconvenience as a result of this fiasco.
'The airline must now automatically compensate eligible passengers without them having to go through the additional hassle of making a claim.'
Helen Smith, parents Steve and Debbie Luckett, and Helen's husband Stephen Smith (left to right) were stranded in Spain after Ryanair cancelled their flight back to Manchester
Ryanair said customers affected by the cancellations received an email on Monday advising them of their flight changes and offering alternative flights, refunds and EU261 notices.
The airline said it expected to have re-accommodated more than 175,000 customers on other Ryanair flights and to have processed refunds for more than 20 per cent of those affected by close of business on Wednesday.
Spokesman Kenny Jacobs said: 'We apologise sincerely to each and every one of the 315,000 customers whose original flights were cancelled over a six week period in September and October, while we work to resolve this short term rostering failure.
'We have taken on extra customer service teams to speed up the rate at which we accommodate and action alternative flight requests or refund applications. We expect to have the vast majority of these completed by the end of this week.
Ryanair already faces big fines over Spanish flight cancellations By Gerard Couzens Ryanair has been warned by Spanish authorities it faces a fine of up to four million pounds over the cancelled flights fiasco. The airline has cut a total of 514 flights into and out of Spain over the next six weeks, around a third of the 2,100 total. Spain's Development Minister Inigo de la Serna said it was up to the Spanish Aviation Safety and Security Agency to determine the type of sanction Ryanair should face. But he told a state radio station the most likely scenario would be a fine as he ruled out the possibility the airline would be stripped of its licence. Spanish TV network Intereconomia, highlighting a widely-quoted 4.5 million euros (3.98m) figure as the size of the fine Ryanair was likely to face, described it as 'irrisory'. It claimed it would work out at just 48 euros (42.50) based on a calculation that 92,000 people had been left stranded because each plane could carry 180 passengers. Mr de la Serna said the process that could lead to a fine for Ryanair had only just begun. Addressing questions over whether the airline could be stripped of its licence, he said: 'Those are big words. 'We're talking about a range of sanctions that at the moment are economic ones. 'The most serious sanctions can reach some four million euros but it's up to the Spanish Aviation Safety and Security Agency to determine the level of seriousness.' Advertisement
'The vast majority of these requests are being dealt with online, but as our call centres and chat lines are extremely busy we ask affected customers to bear with us as we do everything we can to respond to their requests and try to resolve any problems we have created for them, for which we again sincerely apologise.'
Boss Michael O'Leary appears not to have spoken since Monday's extraordinary press conference where apologised for the 'mess' his company had caused customers.
Ryanair have now offered pilots a 12,000 bonus for ten days work to get more planes in the air.
Pilots and First Officers have been promised up to 1,200-a-day if they fly when they are meant to be on holiday over the next six weeks.
Only those who have flown less than 800 hours this year are eligible for the cash - to avoid breaching European regulations that limit pilots flying hours to 900 per year to October 31.
But it appears that many pilots are set to refuse the money, piling more pressure on bosses.
Some victims have told MailOnline how they have been left sobbing after spending 20 or more on calls to its premium rate helpline - if they can get through at all.
Many have scrambled to spend up to 1,500 on flights with rivals after being unable to find a free replacement flight until up to two weeks later.
Stella Scott, 69, was sent a cancellation text as she prepared to leave for Malaga Airport with her husband Robert, 61, daughter Abby, 36, son-in-law Dave, 34, and grandson Luke, three, and was offered a flight home nine days later.
She told MailOnline: 'It was only six hours before our flight to Bristol and we thrown into a complete panic about it. Ryanair are terrible - the next flight they could offer us was nine days later.
'My son-in-law had to be in work the next morning so was forced to fly without us to Luton and find his way back to Wales from there.
'The rest of us booked for 82 each to fly to Birmingham with BA, we then had to pay 62 to hire a car to complete our journey to Bristol. Unbfortunately we have some flights booked with them in October - but we will think twice about using them again now'.
Ryanair pilot horrifies passengers who had been waiting for a flight for three days by joking it had been CANCELLED minutes before take-off Lisa Roberts told MailOnline she was dumbfounded when the pilot joked about the flight being cancelled A Ryanair pilot horrified passengers after allegedly joking that their flight had been cancelled minutes before take-off. Some customers had been stuck in Portugal for up to three days when the unnamed worker thought it was funny to claim they faced further delays. Ryanair will strand up to 400,000 people until the end of October because of their catastrophic staffing crisis. Witness Lisa Roberts was one of the people waiting for the 5.05pm flight to Manchester from Faro yesterday and said she was appalled. She told MailOnline: 'We were waiting to board the plane and the crew walked past us getting on the plane and he [the pilot] just shouted 'your flight's been cancelled' and just started laughing. 'I was shocked. It was disgusting. People on that flight had been delayed three days. 'My brother was stood next to me and said 'Did he think that was funny? It really wasn't'.' She added: 'The woman I was sat next to was delayed for three days - she told me they sent her a text', and believes Ryanair must investigate the incident. A crowd of travellers view the departures board next to the Ryanair customer service desk at Stansted as the cancellations began to bite MailOnline has asked Ryanair to comment on the alleged incident. The airline's cancellation crisis has led to Ryanair cutting as many as 2,000 flights and will leave up to 400,000 passengers stranded over the next six weeks. Advertisement
Stephen and Helen Smith, and Helen's parents Stephen and Debbie Luckett, were appalled by their treatment when they turned up at Alicante airport on Saturday morning to fly back to Manchester after a two-week holiday in Spain.
They had to pay almost 1,000 for seats on an alternative flight with Vueling to Edinburgh on Saturday evening, a hotel and a hire car to drive home to Stockport on Sunday. Mr Smith has vowed never to fly with Ryanair again.
What are passengers' rights when flights are cancelled? Under EU Regulation 261/2004 holidaymakers have certain rights if their flight is cancelled or delayed. The flight must have departed from an EU airport and be operated by any airline, or it must be arriving into an EU airport and be operated by an EU airline. The 'EU airport' also includes the following countries; Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Firstly airlines must offer an alternative flight or a full refund, if your flight was cancelled. You can also get a full refund if the flight wasn't cancelled but was delayed for more than five hours and you no longer wish to travel. Airlines must also offer you meals, refreshments, and hotel accommodation as appropriate whilst you wait for a rearranged flight for both delays and cancellation. They should also cover any transport costs between the hotel and the airport. You should keep any food, transport or accommodation receipts to use when making a claim for compensation. Here are some of the key questions around the claims process: What rules apply? EU law protects passengers whose flights are delayed or cancelled under the Denied Boarding Regulation. This applies to flights either departing from an EU airport or those that are both arriving at an EU airport and operated by an EU airline, such as Ryanair. Are passengers entitled to a refund? Yes, passengers can claim a refund from the airline. If they have booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, they can also claim the full cost of the return ticket. What if a passenger still wants to travel? Ryanair must offer an alternative flight as soon as possible after the cancelled flight. This will be 'at worse' on the following day, Ryanair said. Do they get any assistance while they wait? Delayed passengers are entitled to claim reasonable expenditure for food, soft drinks, phone calls and accommodation. What about compensation? If less than 14 days notice is given for a cancellation, airline travellers can claim up to 250 euros (221) under EU regulation 261, depending on the timing of the alternative flight. Customers given more warning are not entitled to a payout. Is compensation automatic? No, disrupted passengers must write a letter of complaint to the airline. They should keep as much evidence as they can, such as boarding cards and receipts to claim expenses. A template letter can be found on the website of consumer watchdog Which? Advertisement
The family was not contacted to say their flight had been cancelled before setting out for the airport on Saturday and last night had still not received any official communication from the company.
Stephen, 33, an operations manager for an energy firm, said: 'Ryanair did nothing for us. The only thing they could offer was a flight seven days later.
'We had to take matters into our own hands - we couldn't afford to stay another seven days and we had to get back to work. We found the quickest way of getting back.
'We remained calm and had the facility and ability to sort out this for ourselves with credit cards.
'But some people were distraught - they were unable to do what we did and they were stranded.'
Leanne Wall was supposed to travel to Ibiza with 21 friends and family members from Manchester Airport last Tuesday.
But the 34-year-old said she was devastated to receive a series of text messages from budget airline Ryanair telling her their flight, FR2626, had been axed because of an air traffic control strike.
The party eventually made it to the Spanish holiday island after splitting up and booking new flights via Newcastle, Palma, Madrid and Barcelona with different airlines costing around 200 each.
But they missed a day of the hen do and the group also lost money from a missed booking at Ibiza's Ocean Beach club.
On Monday Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary hinted he would seek to strike a deal with pilots as he took responsibility for the rostering 'mess' that could see as many as 2,000 flights cancelled and leave up to 400,000 passengers stranded over the next six weeks.
Yesterday, a memo sent to pilots by the airline's chief operations officer, Michael Hickey, offered a 12,000 bonus to staff who had already been assigned a month off as part of attempts to resolve the rostering issues.
The memo is believed to be an attempt to plug the holes in Ryanair's flight schedule and ease the forced cancellation of up to 50 flights per day.
It read: 'To avoid further cancellations, we are requesting between one and two blocks of five days from every pilot who has already been assigned their month off.'
However, although the work takes place in October this year, the payment will not be made until November 1, 2018, in what looks like an attempt by the airline to retain its pilots.
Mr Hickey states: 'All current pilots... who remain operating Ryanair aircraft between September and 31st October 2018 will receive a once-off 12,000/12,000 gross bonus for captains and 6,000/6,000 for first officers in November 2018.'
Those who accept the offer but leave the company before October 31 next year will not receive the bonus.
Pilots who have four or more unauthorised absences in that period will also lose the payment.
Part of the disruptions at Ryanair have been blamed on a number of the carrier's pilots being poached for jobs at Norwegian Air.
Some union figures claim more than 700 Ryanair pilots left for rivals this year.
Ryanair has played down these reports but has admitted that at least 140 of their employees have left for the rival company.
When contacted for comment yesterday, Ryanair responded: 'We don't comment on rumour or speculation, especially when it originates from competitor pilot unions.'
Passengers desperately trying to rebook flights have been left incensed at a second round of fees for checking in bags and allocated seating.
The budget airline's response to the chaos triggered by its decision at the weekend to cancel more than 2,000 flights was last night described as an 'omni-shambles' as its call centre struggled to cope with furious customers.
Leanne Wall, second row on the left with ginger hair, was devastated to receive a series of text messages from budget airline Ryanair telling her their flight, FR2626, had been axed
After 50 flights a day for the next six weeks were cancelled affecting about 400,000 people travellers trying to re-book complained of being unable to get through to an adviser or of long waits on hold on a premium rate number. Others complained the 'live chat' service on its website was not working.
Haul Ryanair boss to the Commons, say MPs Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary should be hauled before MPs to explain why thousands of flights have been cancelled, according to members of a Commons committee. Members of the Commons' Transport Select Committee want to probe the businessmen on what caused the 'major failing'. Tory MP Steve Double told The Standard: 'We need to understand exactly what's gone wrong and how to make sure it never happens again.' 'I think that we need to hold them to account. I would welcome the opportunity to question Michael O'Leary.' Advertisement
The airline charges 2 per person for standard seats booked online, rising to 11 for certain priority seats, and at least 25 for each item of baggage.
Graham Walsh, from Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, said: 'Ryanair charge again for seat allocation that you've already paid on the cancelled flight.'
In another chaotic day, Ryanair, the airline promised to refund these customers. Chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs said: 'We are aware of this issue and any customer who has been double charged for bags or allocated seating will be refunded.'
The airline also came under fire from passengers who couldn't get through to its advisers, or were forced to wait on hold on its premium-rate helpline, racking up bills at 68p a minute. One passenger tweeted: 'To anyone trying to call Ryanair dig deep. I spent 15 minutes in a queue and it cost me 11.'
Another named Charlene wrote: 'Ryanair, you cancel my flight tomorrow then I can't get in contact! No link works and your phone and live chat are down!'
Ryanair insisted its chat service and call centres were 'operating as normal' but with 'higher volumes' of calls. But consumer campaigner Martin Lewis criticised the airline's reaction to the crisis. He said: 'Ryanair's response has been an omni-shambles, but it could never have been anything else.
'The company is simply not set up to deal with this.'
The airline is battling to cope with the fallout after cancelling 2,024 flights, which it blamed on 'messing up' its holiday rota for pilots, resulting in too many taking breaks at the end of the year. Yesterday they were fresh tales of misery from passengers stranded abroad.
Sheila and Stuart Mackenzie had to travel from Bristol to Stansted overnight and are at least 300 out of pocket already
Ryanair has stranded many customers with Rebecca Brown and Neil Johnson forced to spend up to 1,500 of their own money on new flights to get home
The 2,024 flights cancelled by Ryanair: Check here to see if you have been affected by the scandal Advertisement
Family's who save for a year to go on holiday have it ruined after Ryanair cancelled their flight 45 MINUTES before take-off
A family who saved up for 12 months to go on holiday were denied their dream trip when Ryanair cancelled their flight - 45 minutes before boarding.
The Roffee family were due to set off to Spain to celebrate husband Simon's 30th birthday when they were told at the gate in departures that their flight was grounded.
Kellie, 35, and her family had scrimped and saved for the 2,105 trip and stayed at home on throughout the summer and end-of-term holidays to afford the flights and a plush four-star hotel.
Since ruining their plans on Tuesday last week Ryanair have refused to even apologise according to the family who remain out of pocket.
The Roffee's flight was cancelled by Ryanair only 45 minutes before boarding and have described being 'locked away like animals'
Kellie and Simon were due to go away with daughters Casey, 15, Ella, 12, Ryan, nine and Amelia-Rose, five from Tuesday last week until today.
They wasted their whole day at Leeds Bradford Airport before driving back home to Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire.
Kellie said: 'We normally go away for a weekend camping and we couldn't do it because we were saving up for this holiday, we now won't be getting a holiday this year.
'We were waiting around the airport, the kids were really excited, we were sat in the VIP lounge and we heard this tannoy and they asking for everyone to go to gate four.
'We were really excited thinking we were going to get there and they locked the doors and they said nobody was going anywhere.
'It was 45 minutes before boarding, people were kicking off and they were really angry.
'One woman was having a panic attack and was crying, we asked Ryanair if they were prepared to pay for another flight and they said that was absolutely not going to happen.
'We were at the airport from 11am until 6pm, we wasted the whole day there.
'I feel really bad like I have deprived my children of a holiday, the kids are devastated, absolutely distraught, the next morning my Amelia-Rose came in and asked us 'are we off on holiday today then?'.
'We've had no apology or anything from Ryanair.'
Kellie, a housewife and Simon, a maintenance worker for Lincoln Council, were promised a full refund from the airline as well as an unknown amount of compensation.
A Ryanair spokesman said: 'This flight from Leeds Bradford to Malaga was regrettably cancelled due to a French Air Traffic Control Strike. The customers in question have been fully refunded. Ryanair sincerely apologised to all customers affected by this French ATC strike, which was completely beyond our control.'
Theresa May and Boris Johnson finally went face to face in public tonight after an extraordinary row which saw the Foreign Secretary threaten to quit.
The Prime Minister and Mr Johnson appeared together at the UN General Assembly in New York and looked to be engaged in an animated discussion.
Mr Johnson pointed his finger at the PM as she prepared for a major address to world leaders at the huge annual gathering.
Mrs May was sat in the UK's seat at the UN with Mr Johnson and senior aides in the row directly behind her.
The appearance draws a line under days of speculation about whether the Foreign Secretary would quit. No 10 refused for hours to say whether the pair had even met privately.
Mrs May and Mr Johnson are set to fly back together from the United States tonight after earlier planning separate travel arrangements.
Theresa May and Boris Johnson finally went face to face in public tonight after an extraordinary row which saw the Foreign Secretary threaten to quit
The Prime Minister and Mr Johnson appeared together at the UN General Assembly in New York and looked to be engaged in an animated discussion
Mr Johnson pointed his finger at the PM as she prepared for a major address to world leaders at the huge annual gathering
Mrs May and Mr Johnson were left with a long wait together for her speech as the UN meeting ran more than an hour behind schedule
The apparent truce came as it was claimed Mrs May is preparing to offer the EU 20billion in a bid to break the bitter standoff in Brexit talks.
The Prime Minister is expected to make clear the UK is ready to help fill a gaping hole in Brussels finances when she delivers a crucial speech in Florence on Friday.
The potential move - effectively going over the heads of Eurocrats like Jean-Claude Juncker and Michel Barnier to appeal to leaders of EU states - emerged after Boris Johnson dramatically pulled back from the brink of resignation last night.
After days of prevarication, in which he hinted he could walk out as Foreign Secretary, Mr Johnson finally dismissed the prospect of resigning last night - having apparently struck a deal with Mrs May.
During a bizarre encounter with journalists in a New York hotel lift, Mr Johnson - who had just returned from a run and was drenched in sweat - was asked if he was going to quit.
'No of course not, we are going to deliver a fantastic Brexit... We are a Government working together. We are a nest of singing birds,' he said.
Theresa May, pictured at the UN general assembly last night, is said to be preparing to make a financial offer to the EU in a crucial speech in Florence on Friday
Boris Johnson, picture in a hotel lift in new York today, insisted he is not going to resign as Foreign Secretary as he said the Cabinet is united behind the PM over Brexit like a 'nest of singing birds'
Columbia's President Juan Manuel Santos, left, shows a thumbs up and blanks Boris, right, from the handshake he attempts to initiate, as the past each other riding an escalator during the United Nations General Assembly
His apparent climbdown came after reports that he was so unhappy about the Government's direction on Brexit that he could resign by the weekend.
According to the Financial Times, German officials have been told to expect Mrs May to make a financial offer for the first time since talks kicked off.
The EU has insisted that discussions on a trade deal cannot start until the UK agrees to a 'divorce bill' - which Brussels has suggested could be up to 100billion euros.
But the offer could be far lower at around 20billion, equivalent to the contributions Britain would have made up to the end of 2020.
MAY HOPES 20bn OFFER WILL UNBLOCK BREXIT TALKS Theresa May is hoping that a financial offer can unblock the Brexit talks. The EU has insisted that discussions on a trade deal cannot start until the UK agrees to a 'divorce bill' - which Brussels has suggested could be up to 100billion euros. Member states are desperate to find ways of filling a huge black hole in their coffers caused by Britain's departure. Mrs May is expected to suggest that the UK could keep paying in at roughly the same level as before during a transition deal. Potentially that means handing over another 20billion by the end of 2020. That would tide the EU over until the end of the current seven-year budgeting period, when it could make new spending plans. In return, Mrs May is likely to demand a transition deal and commitments on preferential trade afterwards. UK officials are hopeful the proposal can move the negotiations to the next phase. But the EU might yet choose to play hardball, and insist that the sums must be topped up to cover other liabilities such as Eurocrat pensions. Advertisement
In return, Mrs May is likely to demand a transition deal and commitments on preferential trade afterwards.
It is unclear whether expected peace talks between Mr Johnson and Mrs May took place last night. They had been due to meet in the margins of a Commonwealth reception in New York the first time they have spoken since he published an unauthorised 4,000-word essay on Britain's post-Brexit future last week.
Sources have said Mr Johnson will now attend the Prime Minister's set-piece speech in Florence on Friday where she is due to set out 'significant' new thinking on her negotiating strategy.
But No10 remains on guard for a dramatic walkout.
A tumultuous 24 hours began on Monday night when Mr Johnson hinted he was toying with resignation, saying: 'When the burden of office is lifted from my shoulders I will of course look back with great pride on my time doing all sorts of things.'
Speculation reached fever pitch yesterday lunchtime when a friend told the Daily Telegraph that he 'could not live with' a deal that would see the UK shackled to the single market, like Switzerland.
However Mr Johnson, who was cornered by journalists in New York after going out for a jog, then insisted he was not about to quit, and added: 'It's all going very, very well.'
The PM's official spokesman also insisted he did not expect the Foreign Secretary to resign this week. 'He's the Foreign Secretary and the PM thinks he's doing a good job,' he said.
Mrs May also backed him to stay in her Government, telling reporters that 'Boris is doing good work' heading the Foreign Office and adding that the Cabinet has 'one focus' over Brexit.
The Prime Minister has summoned an extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet tomorrow to brief ministers on her Florence speech.
Its precise contents currently remain a carefully guarded secret. But No 10 yesterday indicated that the PM is planning a major reset of the Government's position.
Theresa May, pictured at the UN's HQ in New York today, said 'Boris is doing good work' heading up the Foreign Office and insisted the Cabinet is united and 'focused' on delivering the best Brexit deal for Britain
Theresa May, pictured at the UN headquarters in New York today, told reporters she backs Boris Johnson to stay on as Foreign Secretary despite his friends warning he could quit by the end of the week if she does not bow to his demands over Brexit
Mr Johnson, pictured in New Yok last night, has dismissed the idea that he would quit
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (pictured with President Donald Trump on Monday) speculated about his future in government
Her spokesman said: 'Clearly this is a significant moment in terms of progress on our future relationship with Europe.' Mrs May hopes to use the speech to break the deadlock in the Brexit negotiations and kickstart talks on a new trade deal.
She is expected to formally set out plans for a transitional deal with the EU, which would see the UK continue to make budget contributions to Brussels for around two years.
IRELAND'S EU ENVOY SLAMS JOHNSON Boris Johnson was accused of being 'out of the loop' today by Ireland's EU commissioner Phil Hogan. Mr Hogan told the Evening Standard that Mr Johnson was 'not directly involved in the negotiations on behalf of the British government'. He also accused Mr Johnson of taking 'completely contradictory' positions. 'He certainly has made very strange statements that are completely contradictory, and completely at odds with his own government's position as well as the possibility of being reasonable with the EU in finalising a deal,' Mr Hogan said. 'So it strikes me that he is completely out of the loop in relation to the type of concrete proposals that are required and that are being considered by the UK government. 'Mr Johnson is behaving and acting and speaking strangely. It's clear that his reputation is not good and he is a diminished figure in the government.' Advertisement
Cabinet sources say ministers have agreed an uneasy truce on the arrangement. But divisions remain on the UK's future relationship with Europe.
Pro-Remain ministers, including Chancellor Philip Hammond and Home Secretary Amber Rudd, are pushing for a Swiss-style deal that would keep the UK shackled to the single market.
But Brexiteers, including Mr Johnson and Environment Secretary Michael Gove, want a much looser deal focusing on trade, similar to the one enjoyed by Canada.
Relations between Mr Johnson and Mrs May remain in the deep freeze. Despite the fact the pair are staying in the same hotel in New York, they have not spoken since Mr Johnson released his essay last week, which set out a positive case for making a clean break with the EU.
The row has overshadowed the build-up to Mrs May's pivotal speech this week.
Mr Johnson also came under fire today from Ireland's EU commissioner Phil Hogan.
Mr Hogan told the Evening Standard that Mr Johnson was 'not directly involved in the negotiations on behalf of the British government'.
He also accused Mr Johnson of being 'out of the loop' and taking 'completely contradictory' positions.
'He certainly has made very strange statements that are completely contradictory, and completely at odds with his own government's position as well as the possibility of being reasonable with the EU in finalising a deal,' Mr Hogan said.
'So it strikes me that he is completely out of the loop in relation to the type of concrete proposals that are required and that are being considered by the UK government.
'Mr Johnson is behaving and acting and speaking strangely. It's clear that his reputation is not good and he is a diminished figure in the government.'
Mrs May (pictured yesterday with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau) will fly back from her visit to America tomorrow tonight and then convene a special Cabinet on her speech
A simple dispute between two drivers over right of way in a narrow alleyway escalated into foul-mouthed racial insult trading.
The pair appeared to be engaged in a heated argument after a Sikh taxi driver blocked the narrow street with his cab and refused to move.
Things escalated after the other motorist, who identified himself as a Muslim, stuck behind him appeared to throw a rock at the taxi.
A simple dispute between two drivers over right of way in a narrow alleyway escalated into foul-mouthed racial insult trading
A barrage of both men aggressively shouting 'f**k off' and 'get f**ked' followed, in footage shot over the fence by a resident in Reservoir, Melbourne.
There was a brief lull as the taxi driver, wearing a bright orange turban, prepared to leave.
He then got outraged as the other man appeared to park by the side of the road, yelling 'now you park?' and kicking off the argument again.
'Go you f**king Indian c**t,' the other man yelled, to which the taxi driver replied 'f**k off you f**king bastard' and spat twice in his direction.
'Get out of here you f**king useless Indian c**t,' the Muslim man continued, before appearing to insult the taxi driver's country.
After the enraged Sikh man yelled more colourful language at his opponent, the unseen motorist threatened to call the police.
The taxi driver was so upset he didn't care and dared the other man to call the police before yelling 'f**k your mother, f**k you'.
The pair traded more schoolyard insults until the Sikh man ran out of steam and got into his taxi as the other man shouted 'and you too, your f**king Indian mother, c**t'.
He had not driven away when the video entered but the argument stopped and relative calm descended on the neighbourhood.
MCKINNEY, TX -- The man accused of killing Pascagoula woman Jessie Bardwell has been found guilty after a five day trial, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Jason Lowe, 28, of Jackson was convicted of killing Bardwell, 27, his former girlfriend, and dumping her body in a rural area in Farmersville, Texas -- later found on May 19, 2016.
Bardwell left Pascagoula around December 2015 to live with Lowe in Richardson, a suburb of Dallas.
Around Mother's Day, Bardwell's parents had not spoken with her so they decided to call the Richardson Police Department to provide a welfare check on her.
After two or three attempts to reach Bardwell, her family traveled to the Dallas-Richardson area to file a missing person report, according to Sgt. Kevin Perlich with RPD.
Lowe took the stand on Tuesday, stating he did not knowingly cause Bardwell's death and proclaimed it an "accident", according to the Dallas Morning News.
Lowe also stated according to the Dallas Morning News that while he and Bardwell were having sex in the shower, she slipped, bumped her head against the wall, then fell and hit her head on the edge of the tub.
Per Lowe, he and Bardwell partook in a drug called, "GHB" or what is most commonly known as the "date rape" drug because of the "euphoric" feeling it provided.
Cause of Bardwell's death was deemed homicidal violence, according to Perlich. GHB was not found in her system because it is not tested for when drug tests are administered.
Lowe will face up to 50 years in prison.
This story will be updated with comment from Bardwell's parents.
Two people have reportedly been killed and three others injured after a gunman opened fire at a busy temple in Taiwan today.
The incident occurred in the early afternoon local time during a celebratory event at the shrine in New Taipei City, according to local media.
The temple is said to be located on Rixin Jie in Tucheng District, reported news website on.cc.
Police seal off the street after a gunman allegedly opened fire at a crowded temple in Taiwan
The incident took place in the early afternoon today and two people were killed, said media
The incident occurred at around 1pm when the temple was giving away 4,000kg (8,818 lbs) free rice to the public during a celebration, said various media, including on.cc and Apple Daily.
The public were said to be queuing up to receive the rice.
The suspect, described to be a man, had disguised himself as a volunteer and entered the temple with the crowd.
The name of the temple has not been revealed.
The suspect was said to shoot in the direction of the temple's master and his entourage before fleeing.
As he tried to escape, he turned around and shot three more times towards the crowd.
The suspect reportedly managed to escape into a small alleyway.
The shootings occurred during a celebratory event in the temple in New Taipei City (file photo)
New Taipei City Fire-fighting Bureau arrived at the scene after receiving information at 1:28pm, according to the on.cc report.
Staff at the firefighting department said that three men and two women were injured, reported China News, citing Taiwan's CNA News.
Two men, aged 19 and 30, had had 'no sign of life' when the rescuers arrived. They were taken to the hospital for emergency treatment.
The other three people, a 60-year-old woman, a 60-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman, were taken to the hospital.
On.cc reported that the temple's master was among the two who were killed, and the nephew of a former politician at the Democratic Progressive Party was wounded.
The police are investigating the case.
They suspected the gunman was a local 'who is familiar with the neighbourhood' and the shootings could be an act of revenge.
The latest reports indicated that the suspected had turned himself in to the police. It's said that his motive was to seek revenge on Lin Lichang, the nephew of the politician.
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A heartbreaking photo has emerged of a Rohingya Muslim mother desperately clutching her dead baby after the boat they were travelling to escape from Myanmar capsized as the family was fleeing to Bangladesh.
The image bears a tragic resemblance to the lifeless body of Aylan Kurdi, a young Syrian refugee who washed up dead on a Turkish beach in September 2015.
The desperately sad photo of the dead Rohingya baby boy, only 40 days old, was taken in south-eastern Bangladesh by photographer Dar Yasin.
He describes walking on the beach near the town of Cox's Bazar when he noticed 'some sort of commotion'.
Rohingya Muslim mother, Hanida Begum, clutches her dead baby after the boat they were travelling in to escape from Myanmar capsized just metres from the shore of Bangladesh
Hanida Begum who crossed over from Myanmar into Bangladesh, wails as she holds her infant son Abdul Masood
'A boat had capsized. Some women were unconscious. One woman was crying, as a family member had drowned; three more were in precarious condition and I was unsure if they would make it. Another woman was consoling her,' Yasin told Time.
'And then suddenly, the woman who was consoling the crying woman started wailing herself. Her husband had come over with Abdul Masood, one of their twin sons, who was dead. She held one child who was alive and one who wasn't breathing. It was heartbreaking.'
Yasin said the boat the refugees were travelling in - containing 45 members of the same family - capsized only a few meters from the shore. But it was too far away to save Hanida Begum's child.
The refugees are among hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled Burma to escape persecution at the hands of the predominately Buddhist government.
Myanmar leader and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has received criticism from across the world for her failure strongly to speak out about their plight.
Rohingya Muslim men, who crossed over from Myanmar into Bangladesh, wait for their turn to collect food aid near Kutupalong refugee camp, in Bangladesh, on Tuesday
A child waits in line for badly needed aid handouts in Kutupalong, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Over 400,000 Rohingya refugees have fled into Bangladesh since late August after an outbreak of violence in the Rakhine state
Conditions for hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees who live in flimsy makeshift shacks in Myanmar have deteriorated as they battle heavy rain, enforced relocations and extortion demands
There are fears that food shortages for hundreds of thousands refugees may become more of a problem because aid agencies in south-eastern Bangladesh have struggled to reach the area and local agencies in one of the poorest countries in the world have struggled to cope
The refugees are living in flimsy makeshift shacks - mostly made out of bamboo and plastic sheets. They have been described as some of the most persecuted people in the world and their predicament has worsened in the monsoon rains
Most refugees fled from Myanmar in overcrowded boats across the Naf river that separates the country from Bangladesh. Many in the international community have described their enforced exodus as ethnic cleansing
It is estimated that the number of Rohingya Muslims who have fled Myanmar's Rakhine state to Bangladesh has soared to more than 420,000 in a matter of weeks - they will be joining thousands of other refugees who have fled Myanmar in recent years
Conditions for children fleeing Myanmar are especially tough - with reports that many have either been killed or injured in the exodus. In addition many the UN says many children have been separated from their families have been left to fend for themselves
Rohingya people in Myanmar say they have been subjected to a campaign of terror at the hands of the Myanmar authorities which has resulted in their villages being razed and their speedy exodus from the country - often at gunpoint
Mayanmar leader and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has been criticised internationally for her lackluster response to the Rohingya refugee crisis , with some even calling for her to be stripped of her award
The refugees - who have been described as some of the most persecuted people in the world - are living in pitiable conditions in squalid camps in south-eastern Bangladesh.
Their misery has been compounded recently by strong monsoon rains which have flooded their flimsy shelters made only out of bamboo and plastic sheets.
People in the camps were left in a mudbath on Wednesday as they desperately packed their meagre belongings into plastic sacks in a desperate quest to find drier shelters.
Their numbers have soared to more than 420,000 in a matter of weeks.
The refugees also have to contend with enforced relocations at the hands of the Bangladesh authorities and extortion demands if they try to remain where they are.
The death of three-year-old Syrian boy Alyan Kurdi made global headlines in September 2015 when he drowned while he and his family were trying to reach Europe along with thousands of other refugees.
Photographs of his body quickly spread around the world and became the defining image of the horror of the Middle East refugee crisis.
A man who shared intimate images of his former girlfriend after she ended their relationship was ordered yesterday to pay her 500 in compensation.
Kelly McGurk, 29, was left devastated after her former partner Jamie Leitch sent naked pictures and a video of her, which he had secretly recorded, to his friends.
The 'revenge porn' material was shared with dozens of people after Miss McGurk called a halt to their four-year relationship and dumped him.
Kelly McGurk (left), 29, was left devastated after her former partner Jamie Leitch (right), 25, sent naked pictures and a video of her which he had secretly recorded to his friends. Leitch was ordered yesterday to pay her 500 in compensation
Leitch, 25, of Clydebank, Dunbartonshire, appeared in the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court in July and admitted sending the explicit images after their relationship broke down.
He has now been ordered to pay Miss McGurk compensation and do 250 hours of unpaid work, and has been placed on the sex offenders register for 18 months.
Miss McGurk, a beauty therapy student from Erskine, Renfrewshire, who has waived her right to anonymity, said she was pleased with the sentence.
She added: I am delighted with this result. It just shows that I never lied about what happened to me.
I hope this will maybe come as a warning to others that consider doing it and encourage victims to come forward and report this sort of thing to the police.
Mother-of-one Miss McGurk previously told how she had no idea he had recorded her.
She said: He sent the photos to his friends and girls he was trying to go out with. I went through hell and took all sorts of abuse. There were several of them. One of them was a full naked picture of me
Mother-of-one Miss McGurk, a beauty therapy student from Erskine, Renfrewshire, who has waived her right to anonymity, said she was pleased with the sentence
There was a video and at that point I trusted him and I didnt think he would have been that perverted to take a video of me.
'I was in the moment and you dont think about things like that when you are in a relationship. I was with the guy for four years I didnt think he would do something like that.
A couple of the pictures I did send him but, because of how controlling the relationship was, he pressurised me into sending him pictures by threatening to finish the relationship.
As well as paying Miss McGurk compensation, Leitch has been ordered to do 250 hours of unpaid work and has been placed on the sex offenders register for 18 months
The couple met at a call centre four years ago. Miss McGurk added: We moved in together quite quickly but after a year it went all downhill.
She said Leitch became really jealous and she eventually ended it and stopped all contact.
She is now encouraging other young women who have been a victim of revenge porn to report the crime to police.
A law aimed at tackling the rise in revenge porn came into effect across Scotland last month. It means anyone convicted of disclosing or threatening to disclose an intimate photo or video will face up to five years in prison.
The offence will cover situations where someone shares filmed or still images of another person in an intimate situation.
Miss McGurk said: I didnt realise how serious a crime it was.
I did speak to the police for advice and thats when they let me know how serious it was in this country and how seriously the police do take it.
This doesnt just happen outside relationships. It can happen in a trusted relationship and, if it ever happens to you, dont be intimidated. Dont be scared by the personal threats.
Come forward, go to the police and get them charged for it.
Leitch pleaded guilty to electronically sending sexually explicit images of Miss McGurk on January 4 this year.
A holidaymaker was left stunned when he spotted a can of Stella Artois between the pilots on a flight from Alicante.
Steve Lewis from Brackley in Northamptonshire was returning to Birmingham Airport on Monday after enjoying a holiday in Alicante with his husband.
But the 59-year-old said he was 'concerned' to notice the can of alcohol in the cockpit as he disembarked the plane, which was carrying nearly 200 passengers.
A holidaymaker spotted this can of Stella Artois between the pilots on the Jet2 flight
Steve Lewis was returning to Birmingham Airport on Monday after enjoying a holiday in Alicante with his husband
Mr Lewis claims the lager can sat at the side of the pilot 'for 20 minutes' and was visible as they opened the cockpit door when the plane landed.
The 59-year-old said although the can appeared unopened, he was shocked alcohol is allowed in the cockpit at all and questioned why it had a napkin under it.
Jet2 said that the unopened can had been left there after it was handed to a member of the cabin crew by a passenger.
Mr Lewis said: 'After we had landed at around 1.20pm, we were waiting on board for 20 minutes to get off, that's when I noticed the can.
'The plane had landed and the seatbelt light came on. I stood up to get my suitcase and as I did the cockpit door opened and I noticed the can.
'I turned to my partner Steven, who didn't believe me at first, but then he noticed you could clearly see the Stella branding.
'I was so shocked, I couldn't understand why there was alcohol in the cockpit.
'It was there for the whole time we were waiting so it wasn't like the stewards had placed it down while they were busy and went back to move it.
'It even had a napkin underneath it which is how they serve drinks to passengers, so I'm a bit skeptical to whether it was there because someone had left it.
'It concerns me that alcohol is even allowed in the cockpit, if it was open or not.
'They flew 300 people home that flight and I just think there should be some rules on alcohol in the cockpit if there isn't some already.
Mr Lewis claims the lager can sat at the side of the pilot 'for 20 minutes' and was visible as they opened the cockpit door when the plane landed.
'Airlines are really strict about how much passengers drink and our flight out to Alicante on the 7 September was an alcohol free one as it was early in the morning, surely they should follow the same guidelines for staff.'
Mr Lewis and his husband Steven, 51, had returned from an 11-night-stay in Benidorm for Pride.
Mr Lewis, who works as a doctor's reception manager said: 'An assistant got in contact with me and told me that the picture was not taken on a Jet2 flight. I felt like I was being accused of lying.
'This is what upset me the most, I explained to her that I could prove it was taken on the Alicante to Birmingham flight and she replied to say that the can had been given to the pilot for safe keeping.
'She explained that a senior member of staff had put the unopened can in the cockpit while passengers disembarked from the plane.
'I just don't think it is appropriate to have any alcohol near the flight deck.
'I would like Jet2 to look into this and admit it was wrong. They have said they are investigating but I haven't heard anything from them since.'
A spokesperson for Jet2 said: 'Upon further investigation of the photograph, we can confirm that it is an unopened can which had been handed to a member of our cabin crew by a customer when they were leaving the aircraft.
'This unopened can was then put down in the cockpit by the member of cabin crew, so that she could continue helping customers as they disembarked.'
50 lashes in 2015 - which nearly killed him - and now has 950 'to go'
The wife of a Saudi Arabian blogger sentenced to 1,000 lashes for 'insulting Islam' has told the UN that it should kick her country off the Human Rights Council.
Ensaf Haidar, who fled to Canada with the couple's three children in 2013, spoke to the council in Geneva about her husband, Raif Badawi.
He was convicted in 2013 for 'insulting Islam through electronic channels' after creating a website called Free Saudi Liberals.
Haider said she seized the 'unique opportunity' to address the council on behalf of NGO UN Watch because it was the 'first time I have ever been able to speak directly to a Saudi representative.'
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Ensaf Haidar, who fled to Canada with the couple's three children in 2013, pictured speaking at the council in Geneva about her husband, Raif Badawi
Freedom fighter: Ensaf Haidar holds a picture of her husband Raif Badawi, who was sentenced to 1,000 lashes and a decade in prison
She added that her husband was merely 'exercising a universal human right to freedom of opinion' and demanded his release so that Saudi Arabia's seat on the council could be 'deserved'.
Ms Haider also took the opportunity to ask King Salman to grant her husband clemency.
She went on:'Ironically, some of what [Badawi] was demanding is already being implemented in Saudi Arabia.
'Indeed, Saudi Arabia spoke of these reforms when it was elected as a member of this council. And yet Raif is still in prison.
'Five years in prison for an opinion? How just is that?'
She added: 'My husband did not commit any crime. He simply aspired for a better future for his country.'
Addressing the Saudi ambassador, she also appealed to the council over her children.
She said: 'Mr Ambassador, when will our three little children 13-year-old Najwa, 12-year-old Terad, and 9-year-old Miriyam get to see their father again?'
The Middle Eastern monarchy was elected to the Human Rights Council in 2013 after agreeing a deal with Britain.
Badawi, 33, was sentenced to ten years in prison and corporal punishment in 2013, and the first 50 of his lashes - which his wife says nearly killed him - was filmed.
Her speech to the UN council in full Thank you. I am honored to speak on behalf of United Nations Watch. My name is Ensaf Haidar. I am the wife of jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi. I wish to address my words to Saudi Arabia, which is sitting here as a member of this Council. Mr Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, I am here to speak to you as a wife and a mother fighting for the freedom of her husband. I did not choose this role. It was imposed on me when my world was shattered in 2012 after you arrested my husband. My husband did not commit any crime. He simply aspired for a better future for his country. As you know, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1000 lashes for criticizing the excess of the religious establishment in the Saudi Kingdom. He created a liberal forum, wrote a blog, and for that he was imprisoned. Mr Ambassador, Raif was expressing an opinion exercising a universal human right to freedom of opinion. Ironically, some of what he was demanding are already being implemented in Saudi Arabia. Indeed, Saudi Arabia spoke of these reforms when it was elected as a member of this Council. And yet Raif is still in prison five years in prison for an opinion? How just is that? I respectfully take this opportunity to ask: Will His Majesty King Salman please grant clemency to my husband? Mr Ambassador, when will our three little children 13-year-old Najwa, 12-year-old Terad, and 9-year-old Miriyam get to see their father again? Mr Ambassador, I am asking you as a wife and a mother, who did not choose this role. All I am doing is fighting for the release of my husband. Thank you. Source: UN Watch Advertisement
She is petitioning the recently instated Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia to pardon her husband, urging Saudi's ally Britain and Prime Minister Theresa May to put pressure on the Arab state.
Ensaf Haidar tweeted the video from 2015 of her husband being flogged publicly late last month.
'This crowd is not a beach party, it's how moderate Muslims act when they flog someone for expressing his own opinions,' she wrote.
Abhorrent: The family of Mr Badawi, 33, pictured in 2012 before his arrest, is urging the newly-ascended Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia to pardon him
Ms Haidar has been campaigning tirelessly to secure her husband's release, setting up the Raif Badawi Foundation to raise awareness of the case.
The first 50 of the 1,000 lashes Mr Badawi faces were administered in 2015, but following punishments has had to be postponed due to his health.
Ms Haidar says the 50 lashes nearly killed her husband, who suffers from high blood pressure.
She adds that the family have no idea how he is doing or when he is going to be flogged again.
Disgusting: Crowds can be heard cheering as Mr Badawi was publicly flogged 50 times in 2015, a punishment which nearly killed him
'We have not heard anything from Raif or from Saudi Arabia, but we know that he will face further punishment - we are not told when,' Ms Haidar told MailOnline.
'We urge the newly crowned Prince Mohammed Ben Salman to pardon Raif and prevent the 950 lashings being carried out as this is putting Raif's life at risk.
'We also ask why the government in the UK - an ally of Saudi Arabia - remains silent, and that Prime Minister Theresa May uses her good relationship with Saudi Arabia to work for Raif's immediate release and send him back home to Canada to his family.'
Ms Haidar hopes that the recent crowning of a new second-in line to the throne, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, may help her husband's case.
The Crown Prince, 32 - the youngest defence minister in the world - is known for his efforts to modernise Saudi Arabia, and for promoting social media and internet connectivity.
Torture: The father-of-three still has 950 lashes and eight years left of his sentence
Since his ascent, the powers of country's feared religious police have been curbed, and non-religious musical concerts are now allowed.
His 'Vision 2030' plan for the country promises to build a 'tolerant and thriving country in which all citizens can fulfill their dreams, hopes and ambitions.
Mr Badawi founded website Free Saudi Liberals and called for free speech and was first detained in 2008, but released after questioning.
He was arrested again in June 2012, and charged with 'insulting Islam through electronic channels' before his conviction in 2013.
A criminal investigation has been launched after a man, who was holding a stick, was shot dead by police in the southeast side of Oklahoma city last night.
A witness told the Daily Mail that people were yelling at police that the man was deaf before an officer shot him.
'We have lived in the neighbourhood for 13 years so we knew him to see and we knew that he was deaf.
'As the cops tried to approach him my husband, my daughter and I were all screaming at the police that he was deaf,' a female witness said.
Police Captain Bo Mathews said officers were responding to a report of a hit-and-run at around 8:15 pm last night when they found a vehicle that matched the description of the one in the crash.
He said that two officers confronted a man holding a stick who was near the vehicle.
One officer fired a Taser and the other shot the suspect with a firearm. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses said that the deceased man was Hispanic.
One of his neighbours told the Daily Mail that he was deaf and had special needs.
He was from a good family who worked hard. They are nice people and nice, clean neighbors, the woman said.
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A criminal investigation has been launched after a man, who was holding a stick, was shot dead by police in the southeast side of Oklahoma city last night
Police Captain Bo Mathews (pictured) said officers were responding to a hit-and-run report
Numerous people praised Oklahoma City Police online although some people said that they believed the dead man had posed no threat to officers.
Gina Smith wrote on Facebook: 'I have lived next door for two year's to this man . I have never seen him drive anything but his own red truck ... Never.'
Alma Robles wrote: 'He wasn't even a bad guy. The officers shot a deaf man after the officer was told by several people he was deaf.'
Tammy Burnett Guerra wrote: 'Prayers for the officers involved and the family of the fellow shot.'
And Kevin Cerakote Mull wrote: 'It's funny how some folks bash the police. But when their house gets broke into, car stolen or something worse. Who do they call? There is good and bad in every career field. Just remember most lawyers charge $50 plus to mail a letter.'
Police have not yet confirmed whether the man was deaf and names of the suspect and the two officers have not been released.
Police Capt. Mathews said the officer who shot the man with the firearm has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.
He said that police are at the preliminary stages of an in-depth criminal investigation and will be examining local CCTV and taking witnesses statements at the Oklahoma City Police homicide office.
The news comes just days after two police officers were shot in Chickasha, Oklahoma on Sunday while executing a search warrant.
No-one 'in their right minds' wants the US to strike against North Korea, Boris Johnson has said - as he urged China to tackle the threat from Kim Jong-Un.
The Foreign Secretary warned there were 'no good military options' to resolve the crisis after Donald Trump threatened to 'totally destroy' the nuclear aspirant state.
Mr Johnson said Beijing must act to stop the US being 'driven' to take action by tightening oil sanctions against the North Korean regime.
Speaking in New York, Mr Johnson said 'no one in their right minds' wanted the stand-off to end with military action
America first: Trump took his nationalist message to the United Nations in New York and tore into North Korea
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (pictured with President Donald Trump on Monday) said there were 'no good military options' to deal with North Korea
The call came after Mr Trump ramped up the the warlike rhetoric, again dubbing Kim Jong-un 'rocket man' in his debut speech to the UN General Assembly.
Speaking after the regime signalled defiance with a series of nuclear and missile tests, the US president told the UN: 'Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime.'
Speaking about the US, he added: 'If it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.'
At the summit, Mr Johnson met with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and urged him to keep up the pressure on North Korea.
Mr Johnson told the Guardian: 'No one in their right minds wants to see the US driven to use its military options - I do not see any good military options - and that is why all the pressure has to be on the Chinese to tighten the sanctions on oil.
'That is the jugular of the North Korean economy. China has been responding in a mature way, and they say if you go in too hard you will cause a catastrophe and mass migrations. Before that happens it may be possible to bring Kim Jong-un to the table.'
Mr Johnson also met Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono and reiterated the UK's solidarity with Japan over the threat it faces from Mr Kim's regime.
Meanwhile, a Downing Street spokeswoman said military force must remain an option to deal with the 'rogue' state.
Grand setting: Trump stood in front of the world leaders assembled at the United Nations General Assembly in New York
Where's Kim's team gone? Seats allocated to North Korea were empty during the speech
'We are clear that North Korea's actions are provocative and destabilising and our focus is on increasing the pressure on them to change course,' the spokeswoman said.
'As President Trump said, the international community must continue to work together to confront rogue regimes and that is exactly what the Prime Minister will be doing in discussions with world leaders in New York this week.
'No-one wants to see military action, but as we progress with efforts to secure a peaceful diplomatic resolution, it would be wrong to rule anything out.'
Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to have private talks with Mr Trump at the UN later today.
Two 13-year-old boys will be paid thousands of dollars in costs after NSW Police dropped charges against them over the alleged sexual assault of a six-year-old girl.
The boys were accused of attacking the girl in the toilet block of a primary school on Sydney's northern beaches between June and August last year, when they were 12 years old.
The girl told authorities one of the boys was 'putting his privates on mine and going back and forth on them', a Children's Court heard in May.
Two 13-year-old boys will be paid thousands of dollars in costs after NSW Police dropped charges against them over the alleged sexual assault of a six-year-old girl (stock image)
When asked what she thought her privates were used for, the girl responded: 'I thought they were used to go to the toilet.'
One boy had been charged with four counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 10.
The other had been charged with one count of sexual intercourse with a child under 10 and three counts of indecent assault.
But a magistrate dismissed the sexual intercourse charges in May and three months later the DPP withdrew the remaining charges.
At the Parramatta Children's Court on Tuesday, police were ordered to pay costs of $11,315 to one boy and $9746 to the other.
A man exited his car and began headbutting another car in a fit of road rage captured on film in Sydney on Wednesday.
The shocking footage obtained by Nine News shows an adult man, dressed in a black screen-printed t-shirt and a black nautical hat, screaming at the closed window of a ute stopped in traffic.
'What's up! Come on! Open the f***ing door!' he screams.
When his bellows go unanswered, he then headbutts the window before continuing to yell as he staunches the driver on Roberts Road in Greenacre.
A man was captured on film headbutting a car in traffic in Sydney on Wednesday afternoon
Still not getting the response he wanted, the raging man is seen swiping off the ute's side mirror.
With one solid hit, the mirror separates completely from the car and falls on to the road.
Jason A, who filmed the footage, said the man lost his cool after the other driver cut him off.
He told Nine News the man had not calmed down at all by the time he returned to his own car.
'After the bloke jumped back in the car he was screaming like a lunatic and driving really crazy,' Jason said.
A spokesman for NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia the incident had not been reported.
He was filmed hurling abuse at the ute driver, who remained in his vehicle through the ordeal
Theresa May's Brexit chief defended the Soviet Union and expressed regret that it collapsed, it was claimed last night.
Oliver Robbins penned an article reeling off the totalitarian country's 'achievements' and said it became a state 'its people could be proud of', according to reports.
He bemoaned its demise following the fall of the Berlin Wall as it left a world in which there 'appears to be no alternative to the mad excesses of capitalism'.
And he said the Communist experiment collapsed because of the 'unfair conditions' of its Tsarist Russian past - rather than the murderous regime's fundamental flaws.
His sympathies for the totalitarian state were laid bare in an article he wrote while a student at Oxford University in the 1990s.
Theresa May's top Brexit adviser Oliver Robbins - pictured picking up an honour from the Queen in Buckingham palace in 2015 - defended the Soviet Union in an article while he was at Oxford University, it was claimed last night
Theresa May, pictured yesterday at the UN in New York, has recently appointed Oliver Robbins to be her chief EU adviser
The comments surfaced just a day after it was announced that Mr Robbins is leaving his job as the top civil servant at the Brexit department to directly advise the PM on the negotiations.
Millions were killed in the forced collectivization of farms and the political purges and 'red terror' imposed on the Soviet Union by Stalin and later dictators.
Many others who fell foul of the tyrannical regime and the notorious secret police were sent away to preform hard labour in the country's gulags.
After decades of terror the regime eventually crumbled after mass protests led to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
In the article for the Oxford Reform Group, which is posted on the Guido Fawkes website, Mr Robbins heaped praise on the Soviet Union for its 'achievements' in health and education.
He wrote: 'The Russian state has endured more than any other major nation in the twentieth century, and has achieved more too.
As Soviet dictator Stalin oversaw the forced collectivisation of the farms and the purges which saw millions die
'I would never disagree that some of the deeds done in the name of communism were evil, but it is as well to look at the era's aims and achievements.'
He said Russia had introduced free education, housing and healthcare and had done more than the UK to tackle homelessness.
He added: 'Another achievement was the making of a state, a world power indeed, and one that its people could be proud of.
'The Soviet leaders changed Russia from a backward peasant autocracy, despised by the West, into a technological giant at whom the world cowered in fear for half a century.'
He expressed regret at the collapse of the demise of the Soviet experiment as nit 'means that for those growing up in the world today, especially western Europe, there appears to be no alternative to the mad excesses of modern capitalism.
'To the thinking man and woman, Soviet Russia may not have been ideal, but it was food for thought in the "greed is good" climate of the 1980's.'
Adrienne Crowder, 44, from East Kilbride in Scotland, was diagnosed with Meniere's disease, which caused her to lose balance and fall over
A former lifeguard has died in her sleep after self-medicating with powerful painkillers to combat a rare ear disorder.
Adrienne Crowder, 44, from East Kilbride in Scotland, was diagnosed with Meniere's disease, which caused her to lose balance and fall over.
She was found dead at her home last April with toxic levels of morphine in her system.
Miss Crowder, who was originally from Bolton, was found next to packets of the prescription painkilling drug cocodemol.
An inquest into her death in Bolton, revealed that Police Scotland did not investigate where the drugs had come from or where they went.
It emerged in the three weeks before her death, Miss Crowder had been in a car crash and needed crutches to get around.
The hearing was told former foster parent Miss Crowder - who was described as 'the life and soul of the party' - had grown up in Bolton and worked as a lifeguard at a leisure centre in Wigan, before moving to Scotland to be with her new partner.
But she had various health problems and aged 19 she was diagnosed with epilepsy and then in 2007 was told by doctors she had the heart condition dilated cardiomyopathy.
She began taking medication for it, frustrated that it impacted her sporty lifestyle.
More recently she was diagnosed with Meniere's disease, which caused her to suffer from vertigo, hearing loss and tinnitus and suffered from sciatica.
Her sister, Joanne Howcroft told the inquest: 'Adrienne always wanted to have children, and I think her looking after and fostering children confirmed that for her. She was desperate to be a mum.
'Her diagnosis had an effect on her quality of life and had a distressing effect on her, and she gradually descended in to depression and was struggling to cope sometimes.
'Her life had not gone the way she had planned. She met a man and moved to Scotland with him.
She was found dead at her home last April with toxic levels of morphine in her system
'Our mum has family in Scotland so she wasn't by herself. She was buzzing because she was about to move into a bungalow, she was very excited and the last thing we spoke about was me coming to visit once she had moved in.
'I think that she did have a high tolerance to pain medication and she could have been self-medicating. Adrienne was making plans and things for the future. She had her dog Pepe, and she would never have left him.'
Miss Crowder's mother Ann said: 'Adrienne was diagnosed with epilepsy when she was 19, which was controlled by drugs, but the seizures happened when she slept which made her scared to sleep.
'It made her frightened to sleep and she never slept well. We had an agreement that she could always call me if she needed me; I was there 24 hours a day for her. She would always put on Facebook if she was struggling, calling it her 'having a head wobble' which became something we all said.'
Miss Crowder, who was originally from Bolton, was found next to packets of the prescription painkilling drug cocodemol
In a statement, Miss Crowder's GP, Dr John Gum said she had made various appearances at the surgery in the six months before death for repeated falls. During her last appointment she expressed that she was feeling stressed about moving house and had been upset by the car crash she had.
A post mortem examination in Scotland showed Miss Crowder had therapeutic levels of pregabolin, fluoxetine, zopiclone, diazepam, codeine, co-codamol and an antihistamine in her bloodstream.
A higher than therapeutic level of morphine was found in her system, which was at a 'toxic level.'
Pathologist Dr Emile Salmo who carried out a second mortem in England said: 'There was a higher than therapeutic level of morphine could have caused or contributed to the death. But without the full toxicology report it is hard to say where the morphine came from, but it seems to be the kind that is used for pain relief as no adulterants were found.'
WHAT IS MENIERE'S DISEASE? By Stephen Matthews for MailOnline Menieres disease, which is currently incurable, causes damage to the hair cell receptors in the inner ear. These damaged cells spontaneously fire and send signals to the brain - causing sudden attacks that can affect balance and hearing. Symptoms of the condition, which strikes one in 2,000 people, include vertigo, tinnitus and pressure felt deep inside the ear. The condition usually starts in one ear, but can spread to both ears over time. It often takes hours for the symptoms to wear off. Researchers are unsure what the cause of Meniere's disease is, but it is widely linked to pressure deep inside the ear. People with allergies, immune system disorders, viral infections, head injuries and migraines are deemed most at risk. Family history is also a risk factor. Source: Meniere's Society Advertisement
Recording an open conclusion, assistant coroner Tim Brennan said: 'I have heard in a report from her GP that the deceased had a history of dilated cardiomyopathy, depression and anxiety caused by ongoing pain that was caused by the consequence of a previous hip fracture, sciatica and Meniere's disease.
'She was found in an unresponsive condition in her bed in East Kilbride where it was decided that she was beyond resuscitation and was declared dead at the scene.
'In terms of the how and the why, we did not have access to the toxicological evaluation, and could not back calculate the amount, and this inquest was hampered by the sparsity of information.
'This court was hampered by the quality of evidence, and the limited information that was received from the procurator fiscal office in this case.
It means regrettably that mystery still envelops the precise circumstances of Miss Crowder's tragic early demise.
'It is clear from this inquest that she left an impact on many people in her 44 years and she lived her life to the full.
'I was very impressed to hear of her work as a foster carer and it is clear that she was a full, vibrant and active member of the community.'
Speaking after the inquest, Miss Crowder's sister, Joanne said: 'Adrienne was full of life, and even after she was diagnosed with the condition she didn't let it hold her back. She was bubbly, the life and soul of the party and she was amazing. She had some rough times but so does everybody.
'It was a shock for us all to hear that she had died, my mum spoke to her every day on the phone and we had only spoken to her the Thursday before. She would come down and we would see her regularly, she would watch me play rounders but get frustrated that she couldn't play herself.
'The heart condition is something that can just sneak up on you, and it can be triggered by a lot of things end up being fatal. She was a brilliant, amazing person who will never be forgotten and will always be loved.'
A construction worker in south-west China has miraculously survived after a six-foot-long metal rod impaled his body from the groin to the shoulder.
The 37-year-old man had been struck by lightning, which caused him to fall on the long stick.
He was taken to a hospital in Sichuan Province with the rod inside his body. The rod measured nearly two metres (6.6 feet) long.
An X-ray scan showed how the six-foot-long rod pierced through the worker's body. The rod measures about two metres long (6.6 ft) and has a diametre of one centimetre (0.4 inches)
Doctors performed a seven-hour operation yesterday and successfully removed the rod.
According to Chengdu Business Daily, the man was struck by lightning on a construction site in Chengdu city on September 18.
He then fell and landed on the reinforcing bar.
The bar was said to impale him at about one centimetre (0.4 inches) away from the anus and run through his torso before coming out his right shoulder.
Dr Ma Lin, from the cardiothoracic surgery department of West China Medical Centre of Sichuan University, said: 'The patient is very, very lucky. The rod did not damage any of his vital organs.'
'There is no significant blood loss and his blood circulation system appears to be fine.'
The worker, whose name has not been revealed, was taken to the hospital with clear consciousness.
Experts from the cardiothoracic surgery, general surgery and urology departments teamed up to treat the patient.
Doctors performed a seven-hour-long surgical operation to remove the rod from the man
'The rod is speared through the space between his bladder and intestines. To my surprise, the rod did not damage any major arteries of his abdomen,' said Dr Ma.
An X-ray scan showed the rod had broken through the man's diaphragm and passed to the right side of his pericardial sac.
Another doctor found out the patient had suffered minor pneumothorax as the rod had damaged his right lung.
Doctors performed a thoracic operation and removed some damaged tissues from his lung and liver.
Then they removed the metal rod from his body successfully.
The rod had a diametre of one centimetre (0.4 inches).
The man is now in the intensive care unit for further observation. He is said to be recovering and is in a stable condition.
The hospital has issued a statement on their official account on Weibo, a Twitter-like social media site, to confirm the success of the operation.
The statement said the surgery ended at 4:30am on September 19.
It is reported that the man had lost 500ml blood during the surgery.
A driver has been caught taking both hands off the wheel to chow down on a bacon sarnie while driving down the M62 just outside Greater Manchester.
The reckless act was captured on video by passing motorist, Brett Mullineaux, on the way to his job on September, 12.
Footage taken on Mr Mullineaux's headcam shows inside a grey vehicle where two passengers are chomping down on breakfast - believed to be bacon sarnies.
The driver is then seen taking both hands off the wheel to dig in.
The hungry driver is thought to have been traveling at approximately 50mph down the busy motorway.
While it is not illegal to eat while driving in the UK, prosecutions can be made if drivers are not considered to be in proper control of their vehicle.
Careless driving like this can result in a fee of typically 100 and three penalty points on a license.
MailOnline reported last year how a driver was given a 145 fine and three points on her license for taking her hands off the wheel to eat a banana.
The driver appealed against the on-the-spot fine - insisting that she was in control of her car at all times - but pleaded guilty in court, sending her insurance costs soaring.
A motorcyclist catches the moment a driver is caught with his hands off the wheel to chow down on his breakfast
The vehicle was likely driving at speeds at 50mph down a busy motorway. It is illegal not to be in control of your vehicle while driving
A shocking video showing a Porsche Spyder driver injuring 11 people after crashing into them at a car event in the US has emerged.
The Spyder driver, who has not been named by police, was filmed swerving on a main road before hitting a group of car fans on the pavement who were watching the Cars and Coffee event near the Boise Spectrum in Boise, Idaho.
It is thought that the man was attempting to do a 'burnout stunt' - where the driver keeps the car stationary as he spins the wheels, causing the tyres to heat up and smoke - during the event when the incident occurred on Saturday just before 11am local time.
The Spyder driver, who has not been named by police, was filmed swerving on a main road before hitting a group of car fans on the pavement
It is thought that the man was attempting to do a 'burnout stunt' - where the driver keeps the car stationary as he spins the wheels, causing the tyres to heat up and smoke - during the event
Shocking footage shows people screaming and rushing to help after the car collides with the observers
Shocking footage shows people screaming and rushing to help after the car collides with the observers.
Witnesses can be seen trying to calm and advise the injured people who are lying on the ground as the driver leaves his vehicle and calmly walks over to the group.
Steve Vatcher, who was standing nearby with his son, Ean, told The Idaho Statesman: 'You could hear the skidding and crashing. One body after another going flying up in the air, and shoes flying everywhere, and cellphones ... And after that it was sheer screaming.'
Witnesses can be seen trying to calm and advise the injured people who are lying on the ground
The driver's vehicle has a huge dent in it as a result of the crash - he later exits his vehicle to check on the injured people
According to Boise Police six victims were taken to the hospital by ambulance while five were taken to the hospital in private vehicles
According to Boise Police six victims were taken to the hospital by ambulance while five were taken to the hospital in private vehicles.
Police Lieutenant Charles LeBar told the newspaper that the victims, some of who are children, have serious but not critical injuries and the driver, who is cooperating with the police, was not injured.
He added that witnesses told officers the driver was one of many motorists who were 'showing off for the crowd' before he lost control 'while going too fast'.
In a statement, the police said: 'The investigation is ongoing, once its complete the investigation will be forwarded to the prosecutor for possible charges.'
Britain is on the edge following the Parsons Green attack last week, with four bomb scares taking place across the country in less than 36 hours.
Six streets near Moorgate and Liverpool Street stations in central London were put on lockdown this morning amid reports of a 'suspicious package'.
Meanwhile, a bomb disposal squad was seen at Leeds city market today in a separate scare.
Bomb disposal experts were also called to a residential road in Royal Tunbridge Wells after 'suspicious items' were discovered in a house.
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Six streets around Moorgate and Liverpool Street tube stations were put into lockdown following a reported bomb threat this morning
A bomb disposal squad was seen arriving at Leeds market today in a separate scare
Meanwhile, bomb disposal experts were also called to a residential road in Royal Tunbridge Wells after 'suspicious items' were discovered in a property
Today's incidents come after a section of the M1 was closed down following reports of a 'suspicious package', leaving motorist stranded for more than eight hours
Kent Police confirmed that a 55-year-old man has been arrested and 'a quantity of chemicals' found at the address were being examined.
The official terror threat level remains at severe following the Parsons Green bombing on Friday that left 22 people injured.
It was initially raised to critical after the attack, before being downgraded to severe on Sunday.
Today's incidents come after a section of the M1 was closed off in both directions on Tuesday after a 'suspicious package' was found beneath a bridge, leaving motorists stranded for more than eight hours.
Police cordoned off the area in the City of London following reports of a suspicious package
Footage shared on social media showed police on the scene with sniffer dogs
Police have now confirmed that the corrosive substance spread across two lanes of the southbound carriageway near Milton Keynes may have been hydrochloric acid and could have been placed on the road intentionally.
Earlier today, armed police officers were scene arriving near Moorgate and Liverpool Street stations in central London, following reported bomb threat.
Footage shared on social media shows roads in the area cordoned off and officers with sniffer dogs at the scene.
Police confirmed they were investigating reports of a suspicious package on Wilson Street, but the package has now been deemed to be 'non-suspicious'.
A spokesman for City Of London Police said in a statement: 'We can confirm an incident involving a item found in Wilson Street (EC2) has now been resolved.
In Leeds, soldiers from the Royal Logistics Corps were seen arriving with bomb disposal robots
Streets around the Kirkgate Market were cordoned off after reports of a suspicious package
The city centre market (pictured) remained closed as police investigations continued
A spokesperson for Leeds City Council's Emergency Team has since confirmed that the incident is not terror related
'We first received reports of a suspicious package at 9.52am on Wednesday. Following an investigation, the item was subsequently deemed non-suspicious at 10.35am. Cordons have been now been lifted.'
A TFL spokesperson confirmed that neither Moorgate or Liverpool Street stations were closed during the incident.
In Leeds, soldiers from the Royal Logistics Corps were seen arriving with bomb disposal robots at the city's Kirkgate Market.
Streets in the surrounding area have also been cordoned off following reports of a suspicious package.
Bomb disposal experts were also called to the scene at a residential road in Tunbridge Wells
Police confirmed that a 55-year-old man has been arrested and 'a quantity of chemicals' found at the address were being examined
A spokesperson for Leeds City Council's Emergency Team said on Twitter: 'Cordons in process of being lifted. Market remains closed at this time. Incident is NOT terrorism related. Thanks 4 your cooperation #leeds'.
West Yorkshire Police said in a statement: 'West Yorkshire Police would like to thank people in Leeds for their patience following a suspicious package incident in the city centre today.
'At 10.23am, police received a report of a suspicious package in Kirkgate Market.
'A cordon and road closures were put in place and Army experts examined the item and declared it safe shortly before 3.30pm.
'The cordon has now been reduced to just the market itself, which remains closed, pending forensic examination of the scene. Wider road closures in the area have now been lifted.'
Crowds gathered as Leeds City market and the surrounding areas were cordoned off today
City council officials say the cordons are in the process of being lifted following the incident
Meanwhile, a residential road in Tunbridge Wells has been cordoned off after 'suspicious items' were found at a property following a fire at a nearby premises.
Kent Police said in a statement: 'Kent Police has arrested a 55-year-old man from after a number of suspicious items, including computers and mobile phones were discovered at his home address.
Officers were called at 6.23pm on Monday 18 September 2017 by Kent Fire and Rescue Service after concerns were raised about items in a flat that had been evacuated while they dealt with a fire at nearby premises in Brokes Way.
'While vacating the address, officers noted a quantity of chemicals and these have now been examined by fire crews and MOD personnel to ensure they are legally held and stored in a safe manner.
'At this stage, it has been established the items are legitimately held and do not pose a danger to the general public.'
The eldest son of Zimbabwe's first lady Grace Mugabe has imported two Rolls Royce limousines into the bankrupt country, it has been reported.
Russell Goreraza, 33, offloaded the two luxury cars at Harare International Airport from a plane on Sunday.
Goreraza, said to have a 'chequered reputation', was also reported to have enjoyed a 'huge celebration' with friends after the exotic vehicles arrived, with Champagne flowing freely.
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The son of Zimbabwe's first lady offloaded the two luxury cars at Harare International Airport from a plane on Sunday
Russell Goreraza (pictured), said to have a 'chequered reputation', was also reported to have enjoyed a 'huge celebration' with friends after the exotic vehicles arrived, with French Champagne flowing freely
Rolls Royce Phantoms cost a minimum of just under 400,000, but custom-built versions are sold for as much as 1 million. Media in South Africa are reporting the combined cost of the cars as about 4 million
The flash cars can be seen in a video uploaded to Twitter. They are said to have cost 4million
Goreraza was born to Grace Mugabe during her first marriage to Stanley Goreraza. Pictured left: The man himself sat in his new car. Right: The luxury interior
According to IOL, a news site based in South Africa, another car - this one an Aston Martin - is due to arrived in the capital shortly.
The cars are thought to have been bought in Europe.
Rolls Royce Phantoms cost a minimum of just under 400,000, but custom-built versions are sold for as much as 1 million. Media in South Africa are reporting the combined cost of the cars as about 4 million.
Interior: The flash cars have a distinctive 'RR' at the centre of the steering wheel
It comes as Zimbabwe is in a terrible financial position, owing huge debts to South Africa.
Goreraza was born to Grace Mugabe during her first marriage to Stanley Goreraza.
He has two half-brothers - 25-year-old Robert Jr and Chatunga, 21 - whose father is Robert Mugabe, the beleaguered African country's leader since 1980.
In 2015, he was found guilty of culpable homicide after killing a pedestrian in his car.
He was sentenced to two months in prison and ordered to pay an $800 fine.
IOL also reported that Goreraza 'ultimately lives off massive cash donations' from mother Grace, who is given a regular supply of funds by the Zimbabwean state.
Grace was accused of wounding a 20-year-old model in Johannesburg, South Africa last month.
Gabriella Engels, 20, claims that Grace beat her repeatedly with an electrical cord in a hotel on August 13.
Grace Mugabe (pictured) was accused of wounding a 20-year-old model in Johannesburg, South Africa last month. But South African authorities controversially granted Mugabe diplomatic immunity and she left the country
Grace is one of the frontrunners to replace her 93-year-old husband (pictured), although a string of recent gaffes have hurt her credibility at home and abroad
A public spat followed in which Engels and critics of President Mugabe sought to have Grace arrested, charged and brought to court.
But South African authorities controversially granted Mugabe diplomatic immunity and she left the country.
The model launched a legal bid yesterday to have Grace stripped of her immunity.
Grace is one of the frontrunners to replace her 93-year-old husband, although a string of recent gaffes have hurt her credibility at home and abroad.
A trove of documents detailing the private lives of Russia's Romanov family has returned home 100 years after the 1917 revolution.
The archive contains telegrams about hunting parties, anguished letters, photographs and drawings during the period of the Bolshevik takeover.
The collection was secreted to Europe by members of the royal family who fled the chaos and persecutions of the revolution which saw Vladimir Lenin seize power.
It was bought in July by the state-owned Sberbank Russian bank, which acquired the entire archive for 70,000 euros ($84,000). The owner and seller did not want to be identified.
The items on display contain anguished letters, photographs and drawings during the period of the Bolshevik takeover
There was a growing sense of foreboding among members of the royal family in the years leading up to the revolution with many aristocrats predicting that events were likely to end violently
Correspondence has previously gone on display which includes this letter written by a duchess who escaped the execution of other members of the royal family in 1918. She spent the remainder of her life embittered against the British for not saving her relatives from 'cold blooded devils'
Tsar Nicholas II with his wife Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna (background), the Tsarevitch (2nd from right) and his four daughters, the Grand Duchesses in 1914. A century after Russia's last Tsar and his family were executed, some of their correspondence has gone on display
The family of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia (1868-1917): Front, L-R: Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna; Dowager Empress Marie Feodorovna; Grand Duchess Olga; Two unknown women. Second row: Czar Nicholas; Grand Duke Michael. Third row: Unknown soldier (Undated photo)
Several members of the Russain imperial family were accomplished artists, including Alexander III's daughter, Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna (1882-1962) whose enjoyed painting water colours
Most of the family of Tsar Nicholas II (left) were killed by the Communists after he abdicated in 1917
'These archives are of huge interest to researchers. We were lucky to find them,' she said.
The collection consists of:
More than 200 pieces dating from 1860 to 1928
Letters written by Russia's last Tsar, Nicholas II
Letters written by other family members
Drawings and photographs by members of the royal family
The collection can now be seen at a museum in Tsarskoye Selo, the former summer residence of the tsars, on the outskirts of Saint Petersburg. It goes on display as Russia marks the centenary of the end of royal rule.
The documents are written in Russian, French and English on paper that has yellowed over time. But their age does not mask the privileged and pampered lives that were enjoyed by Russian royalty.
Death of a dynasty Nicholas II abdicated his throne in 1917 as revolution swept Russia. He and his family were placed under house arrest in Tsarskoe Selo, then evacuated to Tobolsk in the Urals in August that year. The Bolsheviks came to power in October 1917 and by March 1918 the family were forced to live on soldier's rations. The next month, the Red Army moved the Romanovs to Yekaterinburg. There were plans to put Nicholas on trial, but these were scuppered when the city became the target of the rival anti-communist White Army. The Bolsheviks decided to shoot the entire family on July 17 so they could not be rescued by the White Army. They woke them, told them to get dressed and pretended they were being moved from Yekaterinburg away from the oncoming battle. They were shot in a basement and their bodies buried in a pit near the city. Their remains were reburied in 1998 by the Russian government, who gave them a state funeral. Advertisement
In a telegram to his daughter Ksenia just before he died in 1895, Alexander III moans about a disappointing shooting expedition.
'This is not going very well. But I have hunted and killed eleven pheasants,' he wrote.
The tome of the letters gets blacker as the revolution approaches and the tumultuous events of 1917 unfold - from the fall of the royal family to the Communist seizure of power by the end of the year.
'All relations with the revolutionaries are ruined,' Grand Duke Nikolai Mikhailovich, Nicholas II's uncle laments on the day before Lenin's revolutionary forces stormed the Winter Palace.
'It is likely that the Bolsheviks will win.'
Things only got worse by the start of the next year as the new authorities launched a crackdown on the members of the royal family.
'We continue to descend down a slope and it is not difficult to imagine what awaits us,' the grand duke writes with growing despair.
'Alas, all of our friends are awaiting a place where there is neither joy or regret,' he recorded in his final letter in February 1918.
Several months later in July the Bolsheviks executed Nicholas II and his family in the central Russian city of Yekaterinburg.
Mikhailovich was shot six months later along with his brother and cousins in Saint Petersburg.
Footage has emerged of a suspected paedophile having a panic attack as he was collared by a vigilante group on Facebook Live.
The 34-year-old had a 40 minute meltdown after he was met by undercover organisation The Silent Justice, who accused him of trying to groom a 12-year-old girl for sex.
The group expose paedophiles by setting up fake profiles of children and young teens on social media, broadcast the confrontation live on Facebook.
They claimed he sent sexually explicit messages to an adult posing as a 12-year-old girl on the dating app Qeep before arriving to meet in Doncaster.
The 34-year-old had a 40 minute meltdown after he was met by undercover organisation The Silent Justice, who accused him of trying to groom a 12-year-old girl for sex
When challenged he claimed he was trying to 'keep her safe' from 'freaks' online by scaring her away from the app and insisted he had no sexual intentions.
A female vigilante asked: 'So, you think teaching her about sex is protecting her? You wanted to teach her sex.'
But the Silent Justice group revealed messages he allegedly sent in which he called her 'my little sl*t' and described in graphic detail how he would sexually abuse her.
When the 'girl' told him she was scared, he allegedly replied: 'Do as I say...and you won't get into trouble.'
He then claimed his Qeep had been 'hacked' before saying he had never used the app.
He then said he'd in fact arranged to meet a 'nurse' and accused the group of 'trapping' him.
He said: 'What the f***? I've come to meet a f****** girl who can drive. What kind of 12-year-old can drive?'
He then had a panic attack and tried to shuffle away from the group.
One of them warned: 'If I have to take you down, I will...I'm not going to attack you.'
He was then left sobbing uncontrollably on the ground.
He said: 'I've not tried to meet children. No, no, no, no.'
He continued to protest his innocence until police arrived and arrested him on suspicion of child grooming.
The footage, from September 17, was streamed live to Facebook.
He continued to protest his innocence until police arrived and arrested him on suspicion of child grooming
Earlier this week the UK's leading police officer on child protection admitted forces may have to work with vigilante groups to stop online paedophiles because of a dramatic rise in their evidence being used in court.
A Freedom of Information request by the BBC revealed vigilante evidence was used in 44 per cent of cases of meeting a child after sexual grooming in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2016 - compared to just 11 per cent in 2014.
Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the national lead for child protection at the National Police Chiefs' Council, said he wanted all self-appointed paedophile hunting groups to stop but admitted: 'I am not winning that conversation.'
Asked if they could work alongside each other, he told the BBC: 'I think that's something we're going to have to potentially have to look at, yes, but it comes with some real complexity.'
A spokeswoman for South Yorkshire Police said: 'On Sunday, September 17, police received a report of an incident of online grooming.
'A 34-year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of grooming in connection with the incident. He has since been released under investigation as enquiries continue.'
With its picturesque beaches and relaxed lifestyle, Bali has long been a popular tourist destination for Australians.
But some never make it home from their dream holiday, with rented scooters posing a serious threat to the lives of many inexperienced riders.
Since April 2016, four Australians have been killed in scooter crashes on Bali roads.
Lochie Connaughton, 16, Adrian Newton, 42, Ella Knights, 26 and Sophia Martini, 27, all died in horrific circumstances while riding scooters around the island.
Pictured: Sophia Martini, the fourth Australian to have lost her life on a Bali Scooter since 2016
On Monday, 27-year-old Sophia Martini was flung from the back of her boyfriend's bike as they rode through Kuta.
The woman, from Magnetic Island in Queensland, was rushed to hospital, had sustained horrific head injuries - despite wearing a helmet.
Combined with heavy blood loss, she did not recover and died soon after in hospital.
She and her boyfriend, Steele Nugent, had been returning from a friends wedding when she lost her life.
It's believed Mr Nugent is prohibited from leaving the Indonesian island until investigations into the incident are complete.
Ms Martini was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, but still suffered serious head injuries
She was flung off the back of a scooter being driven by her boyfriend. Pictured is the damage done to the scooter in the crash
Ella Knights, 26, had been travelling with friends in April this year when she was found dead in a gutter following a horrific scooter accident.
Less than a week before she was due to arrive back in Sydney, a passer-by found her body in a gutter in Canggu, North Kuta.
She was less than two metres from her scooter, and the bike's engine was still running.
Chillingly, Ms Knights posted a video of herself riding on the back of a scooter in Bali just days before her fatal accident.
'Sorry Mum, #nohelmet,' Ms Knights had captioned the image.
Ella Knights was not wearing a helmet when she was flung off her scooter in Kuta earlier this year
She was found in a gutter no more than two metres from her bike, with the engine still running
Adrian Newton, a firefighter from Melbourne, was holidaying with colleagues when an accident with a garbage truck ended his life.
Mr Newton was riding a scooter to Sanur from Kuta in May last year when he struck the truck from behind as it was attempting to do a U-turn.
He suffered open wounds to his cheek, chin and forehead, and died at the scene.
The head of forensics at Sanglah Hospital, Ida Bagus Putu Alit, said the 42-year-old Australian had also suffered a fracture to his jaw, a broken wrist and bruising to his abdomen in the crash.
Firefighter Adrian Newton was holidaying with colleagues in Bali when he rear-ended a garbage truck while on his rented scooter and died at the scene
Lochie Connaughton was on holiday with his family in Kuta in April 2016 when he 'lost control' of his scooter.
He drove into a concrete separator while driving out of the basement of the Marriot's Stone Hotel.
The boy, from Orange in NSW's Central West, was found lying face up with his nose bleeding.
Though he was conscious straight after the crash, he died soon after in hospital.
Lochie Connaughton, 16, had been holidaying with family when he is believed to have lost control of his scooter
It is understood Lochie had been wearing a helmet and was not under the influence of alcohol when he crashed.
Travel advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs notes: 'A number of foreigners, including Australians, have been killed or seriously injured in motorcycle accidents in tourist areas, particularly in Bali'.
They advise Australian travellers to 'wear helmets, preferably full-face helmets, and other protective clothing when riding motorcycles, scooters and mopeds overseas in order to minimise the risk of serious injury'.
Lawand Hamadamin, who was born unable to communicate, left a refugee camp in Dunkirk, France, before being offered a place at a deaf school in the UK
A deaf seven-year-old boy, who fled Iraq after ISIS said disabled children should be killed by lethal injection, has won a last-minute reprieve to stay in the UK.
Lawand Hamadamin, who was born unable to communicate, left a refugee camp in Dunkirk, France, before being offered a place at a deaf school in the UK - where he 'thrived'.
He has been studying at the Royal School for the Deaf Derby but earlier his year Lawand and his family were told to pack their belongings before being sent to Germany.
Lawand's mother Golbahar Hussein, his father Rebwar Golbahayh and nine-year-old brother Rawa were told by the Home Office they would be deported on January 9.
The family appealed the decision and were allowed to stay in the country while they fought the deportation.
Their dream of being allowed to permanently settle in Britain is now a step closer after a tribunal judge granted them permission to challenge the decision in court.
The family were forced to flee Iraq in 2015 when Islamic State ordered disabled children be 'liquidated' by lethal injection.
Following a perilous journey - during which Lawand had to cover his head with a plastic bag in order to protect his cochlear implant - the family then spent one year in a tent in the French camp.
While there, he could not learn to communicate due to a lack of volunteer teachers and was unable to charge the batteries in his implant, which began to fail.
In a desperate bid to leave the camp his family hid in the back of a lorry to gain access to the UK.
The youngster has since learned to communicate using British Sign Language at the school in Derby where staff are working with solicitors supported by DeafKidz International in a bid to reverse the Home Office decision.
Lawand's father Rebwar (pictured) said: 'We are extremely relieved that we have been granted some more time to prove to the Home Office why Lawand needs to stay in Derby'
Refugee Lawand Hamadamin (centre) with classmates Rainers Askolskis (left) and Rylee White, six
Following a perilous journey - during which Lawland had to cover his head with a plastic bag in order to protect his cochlear implant - the family then spent one year in a tent in the French camp (pictured)
Dunkirk refugee camp from where Lawland Hamadamin was rescued and brought to the UK
Lawand's mother Golbahar Hussein, his father Rebwar Golbahayh and nine-year-old brother Rawa were told by the Home Office they would be deported on January 9. File picture of the Dunkirk refugee camp
Now a tribunal judge has granted them permission to challenge his removal from the UK under the Dublin Regulations, after deciding the case is 'arguable'.
Staff at the Royal School for the Deaf hoped the decision would be reversed and more than 11,000 people signed a petition to fight his deportation.
Headteacher Helen Shepherd said: 'We are delighted that the Judge considering the case thinks it has merits.
Staff at the Royal School for the Deaf hoped the decision would be reversed and more than 11,000 people signed a petition to fight his deportation
'Lawand has made exceptional progress with us since arriving at the school and both staff and parents were devastated that he might have to leave.
'When Lawand arrived at the school he had no means of communicating with anyone, even his own family.
'Today he is signing incredibly well and we are extremely proud of this happy little boy.
'He has made good friends who he is able to communicate with, he has grown both physically and in confidence and has completely exceeded all our expectations.
'Lawand has been through a great deal for someone so young.
'There is no doubt in my mind that it would be detrimental to his health and well-being to remove him from this setting now.'
Lawand's father Rebwar said: 'We are extremely relieved that we have been granted some more time to prove to the Home Office why Lawand needs to stay in Derby.
'He has made incredibly good progress since coming to this school and we are desperate for this good work to continue.
'He would go back to the beginning if we were removed and the deportation would be frightening and devastating for the whole family.'
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. There was an interesting piece in the June issue of DC Velocity Magazine, Micro-warehouses bring fulfillment closer to the customer. Containerized micro warehouses? Its a great concept, worth putting in the spotlight.
I showed the story to a Veteran who is also a logistician, and he looked me in the eye and said, "Been there, done that, got the t-shirt."
He's right. The military did it a long time ago. Pre-loaded containers configured as a stockroom are a fantastic timesaver when you are deploying a military force and you have to hit the beach and function. Transport the box around the world, open the door, and you have a mini-distribution center ready to go.
These transportable distribution points ride on rail cars. They ride on trucks. They ride on combat amphibious assault ships, and on merchant marine container ships. They are air transportable. They line up nicely on the back of combat transport vehicles for mobility in a battle zone. They can be linked together to create standard 20-foot container configurations.
The Marines call them quadcons, palcons, and joint modular intermodal containers. The Army has larger truck or rail transportable versions that can deploy, open up, and be a distribution point ready-to-go. Heck, I used to buy coffee out of a container converted to retail and storage space in Iraq. FEMA does something similar for disaster relief, with pre-configured loaded containers deployed around the country, ready to respond immediately to a disaster.
Bottom line: containers configured to service as mobile distribution points is a concept the military has long understood. The ability to deliver what is needed when it is needed, even in the most challenging situations. Necessity is the mother of invention.
A killer released from a psychiatric hospital decapitated an 18-month-old relative with a knife and brandished the severed head in the streets of a Russian city, eyewitnesses say.
Mikhail Elinsky, 42, also stabbed his niece, the dead girl's mother, resulting in serious abdominal injuries, during the attack in the city of Astrakhan.
A video shows him repeatedly taunting officers with a knife and refusing to give himself up. But he was eventually shot by police and later died in hospital.
A video shows Mikhail Elinsky repeatedly taunting officers with a knife and refusing to give himself up. But he was eventually shot by police
A killer released from a psychiatric hospital decapitated an 18-month-old relative with a knife and brandished the severed head in the streets of a Russian city, eyewitnesses say. He is pictured after being captured in the city of Astrakhan
The man's niece Tatiana (picturedhad earlier pleaded with the authorities not to release him from psychiatric hospital, fearing he remained a danger after he had killed a woman six years ago
The man's niece Tatiana had earlier pleaded with the authorities not to release him from psychiatric hospital, fearing he remained a danger after he had killed a woman six years ago.
She desperately tried to save her daughter Natalia but was was stabbed as she came close to the kitchen where Elinsky was butchering the child.
Eyewitness Anastasiya Miloserdova said: 'The little girl was his niece, and his mother had begged not to let him out of the mental clinic.
'And look how it ended - he ran around the area with the cut off head of the little one.'
Tatiana said: 'We were about to go out, and my daughter was sitting on her tricycle.
'He pulled her off, grabbed her and took her to the kitchen. He closed the door and began to cut her.
The man's neice desperately tried to save her daughter Natalia (pictured) but was was stabbed as she came close to the kitchen where Elinsky was butchering the child
The knifeman's mother Valentina Elinskaya (pictured) said her son had complained about the noise in the family home made by the girl and her four-year-old brother who was unharmed
Mikhail Elinsky was seen in video taunting police officers with a knife before he was shot and taken in to custody
'I tried to stop him and ran to the kitchen but he stabbed me in the stomach with his knife.'
Her husband Igor was too grief-stricken to speak.
A local report said the man 'ran around the street holding up her head'.
'It took police half an hour to detain the man. He was taken to the hospital with three gun wounds,' the report said.
The man's niece Tatiana (pictured) said she tried to stop the killer from attacking her daughter
Law enforcement have confirmed the knifeman killed the child, wounded the mother and that he died of gun shot wounds in hospital.
Six years ago, the knifeman had killed a female shop assistant in the same city, repeatedly stabbing her with a knife in a drunken rage.
He was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and sent by a judge to a high security hospital for treatment.
The man was released recently as 'healthy', it was reported.
Tatiana's work colleague Viktoria Mikhaylova said: 'It is such a horror. I worked with this woman. Her daughter was slightly younger than my son. It was done by her uncle, he got drunk and did this.
'She had been so happy when her daughter was born. She also has a son. Rest in peace, little girl.'
The knifeman's mother Valentina Elinskaya said her son had complained about the noise in the family home made by the girl and her four-year-old brother who was unharmed.
'So he stabbed the little girl, who is his grand niece. Her mother is his niece,' she said. His mood changed two days ago and that was it.
'He was walking around and thinking about something.'
A local police source said: 'Nobody warned us about this man. Nobody sent us any information about him. It happens in our country. There were no reports to us he was about to be released.'
First lady Melania Trump told a gathering of spouses at the United Nations Wednesday that adults must lead by 'example' to teach children not to engage in bullying and warned that kids are 'watching and listening.'
Her remarks came just days after the president retweeted a doctored meme video that shows him appearing to hit a golf ball that then topples former rival Hillary Clinton.
In rare public speech, the first lady spoke to a gathering that included spouses of leaders gathering at the UN. She spoke to adults generally, urging anyone who might happen to be watching a group that could ultimately include her husband set a good example for young children.
'By our own example we must teach children to be good stewards of the world that they will in inherit,' said the first lady, wearing a neon pink, billowing dress in remarks carried on cable TV.
'We must remember that they are watching and listening, so we must never miss an opportunity to teach lifes many ethical lessons along the way,' she said.
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First lady Melania Trump called out bullying in a speech at the United Nations
It turns out that the Twitter user who posted the video the president retweeted had engaged in anti-Semitic bullying of his own, ranting about Hasidic Jews, transexuals, and Muslims.
'Please get rid of the Hasidic Jews. They are the worst people on the planet. They have taken over areas in NY right by me,' he wrote in one posting, BuzzFeed reported.
The user, a Trump supporter whose handle is F***upmind, also wrote: 'Here is one reason the transgender ban needs to be enforced. Stop burdening tax payers with your mixed up gender identity problems.'
In her remarks, the first lady invoked the Bible's 'Golden Rule.'
'As adults we are not merely responsible, we are accountable,' she said.
'I hope you will join me in recommitting ourselves to teaching the next generation to live by and honor the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them unto you,' she added.
'We must teach each child the values of empathy and communication that are at the core of the kindness, mindfulness, integrity and leadership which can only be taught by example,' she said.
She began her remarks by referencing hers and the president's own son, Barron.
'The most important and joyous role I ever had is to be a mother to my young son,' she said.
As adults we are not merely responsible, we are accountable,' the first lady said
The first lady called on world leaders to 'step up' to improve the lives of children who get 'terrorized' and 'bullied' in a speech at the UN Wednesday.
The White House said the audience included spouses of world leaders, among others.
One commentator, CNN's Dana Bash, posited a theory that the first lady was not oblivious to how her remarks might get taken given her husband's long history of attacking people on Twitter. In fact, she argued Melania Trump might be trying to send a message to her husband with her speech.
First lady Melania Trump greets First lady Brigitte Macron, left, wife of President Emmanuel Macron of France, after she addressed a luncheon at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017
First Lady Melania Trump arrives to address other first spouses of world leaders at a United Nations luncheon on September 20, 2017, at the United States Mission in New York. The First Lady addressed the issue of vulnerable children around the world
'Let's all live in the Trump world for a second,' Bash said immediately following the speech. 'Maybe the message wasn't just to everybody in that room, maybe the message was to her husband. To say, remember our children - our child - is watching. So maybe she is trying to communicate with her husband the same way a lot of his aides do, by television,' she added.
Spouses attending the event included: Brigitte Macron of France, Sophie Trudeau of Canada, and Emine Erdogan of Turkey, along with Jenni Haukio, spouse of Finland President Saudi Niinisto.
President Trump also went after Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul on Twitter Wednesday, but without making one of his trademark full-on attacks.
All business: Melania Trump was at her husband's side as he arrived at the United Nations on Tuesday. She is to speak Wednesday at a luncheon where she will condemn bullying
'Rand Paul is a friend of mine but he is such a negative force when it comes to fixing healthcare. Graham-Cassidy Bill is GREAT! Ends Ocare!' Trump wrote. Paul is opposing the legislation, which must move within days if it is to enjoy special protections that lets it pass on a simple majority.
Trump said that children are often 'hit first and hardest in any country' when it comes to drug addiction, bullying, poverty, disease, trafficking illiteracy and hunger.'
Reading from a teleprompter, the Slovenian-born former model added, 'We need to step up, come together, and ensure that our children's future is bright.'
'No child should ever feel hungry, stalked, frightened, terrorized, bullied, isolated or afraid, with nowhere to turn,' she said.
'When we join together as parents caring for children, whether they live in our own families, across the street, across the nation, or across the globe, we claim our responsibility to the next generation to ensure they are prepared to accept the torch of leadership for the world of tomorrow,' she said.
Those affected are often the 'weakest, most innocent, and vulnerable among us, our children,' she said.
The president and Melania Trump have a son together, Barron, who is 11.
Melania TrumpUnited Nations Luncheon, New York, USA - 20 Sep 2017
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 19: U.S. first lady Melania Trump and President Donald Trump depart the United Nations after the president's speech on September 19, 2017 in New York City. He addressed his first General Assembly meeting
'If we look at the present state of children in any society, we will see the future that our world can expect tomorrow,' the first lady said. 'We need to step up, come together, and ensure that our children's future is bright.'
Melania Trump announced in November that she would make cyber bullying a focus of her tenure as first lady.
'Our culture has gotten too mean and too rough, especially to children and teenagers,' Trump said at the time.
First lady Melania Trump will condemn bullying in remarks at a UN luncheon Wednesday
Asked this week whether she thought Melania Trump was doing enough to pursue her cause, former presidential candidate / former first lady Hillary Clinton responded: 'No, no and, look, I don't think anybody is doing enough on cyberbullying,' Mic reported.
The first lady's remarks come a day after her husband urged the UN to live up to its responsibilities and confront 'rogue regimes' like Iran and North Korea.
Then, in a tactic that can be found on the school yard, President Trump referred to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as 'Rocket man,' a term that mocks his repeated missile tests despite UN condemnations.
ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, MARYLAND - First Lady Melania Trump joins children participating in activities at Joint Base Andrews Youth Program at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland Friday September 15, 2017
President Donald Trump spoke to the General Assembly Tuesday, vowing that he would 'totally destroy' North Korea if forced to defend the U.S. or its allies.
'Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime,' the president said.
On Friday Melania Trump visited an after-school program for children at Joint Base Andrews Youth Center, at the base where she and the president fly from when they travel.
A nanny who was hired to look after a month-old girl secretly drank her employer's breast milk after the baby fell asleep, a Taiwanese mother claimed.
Ms Lin, 27, from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, said she was 'disgusted' to find out the nanny, 58, had been drinking her breast milk without her permission on more than one occasion.
After being confronted by Ms Lin on September 12, the nanny admitted she had drunk Ms Lin's breast milk but did not apologise, said the mother.
CCTV footage showed the 58-year-old nanny feeding Ms Lin's daughter in her Taiwan home
Ms Lin said the nanny avoided the camera and drank the milk after putting the baby to sleep
The incident came to light after Ms Lin uploaded a post on Facebook on September 17, accusing the nanny of drinking the breast milk she had prepared for her children.
In the post, Ms Lin shared a video, which was captured by a security camera.
The video showed the nanny, wearing a face mask, feeding milk to a baby on a sofa. The carer then looked into the security camera before taking the baby out of the living room.
Although the clip did not show the nanny drinking the milk, Ms Lin claimed there were the moments before she drank the milk.
Ms Lin said the nanny put her daughter to sleep and drank the milk in a blind spot.
The 27-year-old, pictured with her son, decided to post the footage on her Facebook account
The angry mother told MailOnline that she hired the nanny to look after her newborn baby after giving birth to her second child.
Her son is two years old and her daughter was born in August.
The mother said she had hired the helper during her postpartum confinement, a one-month period during which new mothers must stay indoors according to the Chinese culture.
She said she had reminded the carer to keep any breast milk her daughter couldn't finish and give it to her son.
On the afternoon of September 12, Ms Lin noticed there was about 450ml breast milk left in the bottle as she walked around in the house, according to the mother.
But a while later when she walked out to the living room again, she found the bottle to be empty, so she asked the nanny if the baby had finished all the milk.
The mother-of-two (left) said she had told the nanny to keep any milk her baby daughter couldn't finish and give it to her son (right), but the nanny drank the milk herself in secret
'She said yes but I couldn't believe it, so I checked the CCTV,' said Ms Lin.
The nanny later confessed to Ms Lin that she had drunk the leftover milk, said the mother, but did not apologise or explain why she had done so.
During an interview with the local media, Ms Lin claimed that the nanny said she 'had only drunk a little' and accused her of being 'mean' and 'ungenerous', according to Taiwan news website on.cc.
The nanny reportedly claimed she did not want to waste the milk, and her previous employers would give her 'leftover breast milk' to take home.
In explaining the matter, the nanny also said that she had anaemia, a common blood disorder caused by the reduction of red blood cells.
According to NHS, anaemia patients should drink less diary products such as milk, as calcium would make the body difficult to absorb iron.
Ms Lin has reported the incident to the local social welfare department.
A relevant official said the nanny's behaviour was not deemed as misconduct, but the official called on all nannies to stick to professional ethics.
A number of Muslims living in Australia are leading secret double lives as they try to break away from their religion.
One 25-year-old woman was born into a Muslim family and told The Feed she wants to leave the religion, but fears she would be disowned or 'worst case ... murdered'.
The 25-year-old claims she has not drunk alcohol, listened to music, felt wind on her skin, watched movies, dated or danced.
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One 25-year-old woman was born into a Muslim family but told The Feed she wants to leave the religion but fears she would be disowned or 'worst case ... murdered'
The 25-year-old claims she has not drunk alcohol, listened to music, felt wind on her skin, watched movies, dated or danced
'I want to take my hijab off,' the woman said.
'I feel so trapped. I'm terrified of someone finding out I'm ex-Muslim, I feel like I'm carrying around a ticking time bomb.'
The 25-year-old is one of many Muslims trying to escape the religion through a private ex-Muslim network.
The woman said she had been physically abused by her parents and was forced to practice the religion while honor killings and sexual assault were also common.
'I couldn't understand how Islam was teaching me to hate myself, finding this secret group of ex-Muslims saved my life, literally,' the 25-year-old said.
The network acts as a support group for people in the process of turning against their beliefs, keeping everything confidential so families and friends don't find out.
The 25-year-old is one of many Muslims trying to escape the religion through a private ex-Muslim network (stock image)
The network acts as a support group for people in the process of turning against their beliefs, keeping everything confidential so families and friends don't find out
One 22-year-old ex-Muslim told the program she escaped to Australia from a 'dark and gruesome' life in Islam where she attempted suicide four times.
The 22-year-old suffered threats and verbal abuse for speaking out against the religion but said she would 'rather die' than go back to Islam.
Many of the ex-Muslims lead double lives and feel safer in Australia because they had to deal with 'death threats' instead of 'murder, rape and domestic violence' in their home countries.
One of the ex-Muslims said she was sexually assaulted when she was six-years-old because 'Islam condemns all forms of abuse'.
Sydney Imam and solicitor Sheikh Haisam Farache told the SBS program young Muslims who ignored their conservative Muslim family ideals was not widely practiced.
Lisa Roberts told MailOnline she was dumbfounded when the pilot joked about the flight being cancelled
A Ryanair pilot horrified passengers after allegedly joking that their flight had been cancelled minutes before take-off.
Some customers had been stuck in Portugal for up to three days when the unnamed worker thought it was funny to claim they faced further delays.
Ryanair will strand up to 400,000 people until the end of October because of their catastrophic staffing crisis.
Witness Lisa Roberts was one of the people waiting for the 5.05pm flight to Manchester from Faro yesterday and said she was appalled.
She told MailOnline: 'We were waiting to board the plane and the crew walked past us getting on the plane and he [the pilot] just shouted "your flight's been cancelled" and just started laughing.
'I was shocked. It was disgusting. People on that flight had been delayed three days.
'My brother was stood next to me and said "Did he think that was funny? It really wasn't".'
She added: 'The woman I was sat next to was delayed for three days - she told me they sent her a text', and believes Ryanair must investigate the incident.
Ryanair's official spokesman Kenny Jacobs responded by suggesting Mrs Roberts' story was untrue - she later told MailOnline: 'Why on earth would I make it up?'.
A crowd of travellers view the departures board next to the Ryanair customer service desk at Stansted as the cancellations began to bite
The airline's cancellation crisis has led to Ryanair cutting as many as 2,000 flights and will leave up to 400,000 passengers stranded over the next six weeks.
MailOnline has been inundated with calls and emails from customers who have been left stranded, broke and bereft.
Stella Scott, 69, was sent a text six hours before her Malaga flight and was offered seats to Bristol nine days later, leaving her family including three-year-old grandson marooned.
Lynda Lancaster's granddaughter Rhiannon Hawkins, 19, 'cried herself to sleep' after she was forced to cut her week's holiday in France short having spent 25 waiting for an answer on Ryanair's helpline.
Mark Adkins was stuck in Spain with his wife, 11-month old baby and 77-year-old disabled father, who was forced to 'crawl' on to a train from Valencia to Barcelona to get a new flight.
Ryanair will strand up to 400,000 people until the end of October because of their catastrophic staffing crisis
He told MailOnline: 'Ryanair have ruined my son's first holiday and probably my dad's last one'.
Ryanair have now offered pilots a 12,000 bonus for ten days work to get more planes in the air.
Pilots and First Officers have been promised up to 1,200-a-day if they fly when they are meant to be on holiday up until the end of October.
Some victims have told MailOnline how they have been left sobbing after spending 20 or more on calls to its premium rate helpline - if they can get through at all.
Many have scrambled to spend up to 1,500 on flights with rivals after being unable to find a free replacement flight until up to two weeks later.
A town in Stoke-on-Trent has highest number of empty shops in its high street.
Nearly a third of shops in Burslem lie vacant according to a recent study.
The 11,000-strong dwelling had a shop vacancy rate of 31.5 per cent in the first half of 2017, nearly three times higher than the national average of 12.2 per cent.
Pictures of the once-thriving Potteries town now show an empty, desolate high street with dozens of boarded up shops.
Business leaders said the town had been left deserted due to the demise of the pottery industry, heavy investment in nearby Hanley instead, a lack of parking, as well as the impact of Brexit.
Slide me Pictures of the once-thriving Potteries town now show an empty high street with dozens of vacant units boarded up
Slide me Business leaders say the town has been left deserted due to the demise of the pottery industry, which gave the area its nickname
Amit Patel, 42, who has run the Booze and News Convenience Store for nine years, believes there is no incentive for new businesses to set up in Burslem.
He said: 'There are too many empty shops - far too many.
'Every month, I'm looking at it and saying 'this shop is going, that shop is going', it goes on and on. Now there's nothing here any more.
Parking is a big problem. People want to be able to park their cars, and walk a few seconds down the street in order to get what they want.
'But there's double yellow lines everywhere, and only a few car parks.
'If people want to go to a shop for a pint of milk, they don't want to pay for an hour's worth of parking.
'When it is so difficult to park, and when there are no banks, there's no attraction to come here.
'If you go to Newcastle-under-Lyme or Stoke city centre, there is free parking there. So everyone is going there.
'We need a big business to come here to encourage others, but when you're the first it is always going to be a risk.'
Burslem, in Stoke-on-Trent, is the UK's top 'ghost town', according to a recent study by the Local Data Company
In recent years, Burslem has seen the closure of its historic indoor market as well as a glass museum and around 30 shops in total sit empty
Father-of-two Uthayan Kanagalingam, 38, who has run Burslem Food and Wine for five years, said: 'There is a problem with the empty units, as it is hard to kick-start a business here.
'I tried to open another shop recently, and the problem was that there was no disabled access and no parking.
'Who is going to want that? Burslem is a wonderful place, but sadly it is not a retail hotspot, and I don't think that that will change anytime soon.'
Independent Councillor Alan Dutton, who represents the Burslem Central ward of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said the decline of the potteries has contributed to the huge number of vacant units.
He said: 'I was surprised by the study in a lot of respects.
'The fact of the matter is that Burslem is not what you would call a 'destination town'.
'I think we have been working to serve the people that live and work here, rather than looking to bring in new people.
'That's a mentality that maybe we need to change now.
'During the hayday of the potteries, this would have been a hustling, bustling place to go. As soon as the pottery went, there was almost nothing to replace it with.
'There are still empty factories where the potteries would have once been, and you could easily convert those into houses and add an extra 4,000 pairs of legs.
'Part of the problem is that landlords are charging high rents to compensate for the low footfall, but that in turn is drawing people away.
'You want low rents, more people coming in, more footfall and more money swirling around, but that is not happening.'
Traders are calling for more to be done to encourage independent stores and big chains to open after their high street was named the loneliest in Britain (pictured: empty shops in Queen Street, in Burslem)
But June Cartwright, 73, a mother-of-seven, who runs the Burslem Community group, criticised the study and claimed the town was 'on the up'.
She said: 'I think the statistics are very unfair. They have shown the worst of the town. I really don't know where they get those numbers from.
'Of course there are empty units, but you're going to get that with every town in the country.
'That's the trend at the moment, people are choosing to go to big department stores instead of independent places.
'We've all become a lot lazier. It doesn't take very long to park up in a car park, and walk to an independent store, but people don't want to put in that effort.
'Even the major supermarkets are looking to draw people into buying things online and having it delivered, it's convenience shopping.
'This area is fantastic, you have beautiful architecture here, and a lot of fantastic events on day in, day out.
'I believe that we're on the up, but studies like this don't help.'
Hundreds of shops lie empty in the town in Stoke-on-Trent (pictured: Brick House Street)
Business leaders said the town had been left deserted due to the demise of the pottery industry, heavy investment in nearby Hanley instead, a lack of parking, as well as the impact of Brexit (pictured: Market Place)
The Local Data Company, which was compiled by visiting 2,700 towns and cities, also revealed the number of shop openings in the second quarter of 2017 has fallen by 84 per cent.
Matthew Hopkinson, spokesperson for LDC, said: 'There was a striking turnaround in the second quarter of 2017 especially when compared to the trends of 2016, in the number of shop openings.
'The impact of Brexit is clear with Q2 showing a net loss of more than - 200 shops versus positive growth in the previous quarter.
'Not only has the trend turned negative with more closures than openings but the volume of activity has also dropped by 25 per cent.
'Whilst the numbers are currently relatively small to the total number of shops, the vacancy rate in Q2 started to rise and is likely to continue to do so if the current uncertainty continues.
'Stores continue to perform a vital role in the purchase cycle and consumer journey but the key questions remain around how many shops you need, what kind of format and in which locations.
'With rising costs everywhere for retailers, margins are being squeezed and therefore understanding these micro to macro location trends is fundamental for retailer success.
'The changes in the first half of 2017 are a clear indicator of the uncertainty that permeates across all aspects of the UK economy.'
The leader of the Rochdale child sex gang, Shabir Ahmed, faces an even longer jail term after launching a horrific attack on a fellow inmate at HMP Wakefield
The leader of Rochdale's infamous child grooming gang who ordered his victims to call him 'Daddy' stamped on the head of another inmate following a row about terrorism.
Shabir Ahmed is currently serving a 22-year jail sentence for a string of sex attacks on young girls, who he groomed and got them to call him 'daddy'.
The 64-year-old - who was part of the grooming gang depicted in drama Three Girls - got into an argument with another prisoner at HMP Wakefield on the day of the Brussels terror attacks last year.
Suicide bombers killed 32 and injured more than 300 in a series of attacks on the airport and a train station in the Belgium capital on March 22 last year.
Another prisoner, James Palmer, had suggested 'terrorists should be eradicated' on the day the attack, sparking violence from Ahmed.
Ahmed confronted him and threatened to kill him if he 'slagged off Muslims again', the court heard. He later punched Palmer to the face before stamping on his head 'a number of times', Leeds Crown Court heard.
Palmer was taken to the prison's healthcare department where he spent a few days being treated for a 'bust nose', a cut lip and abrasions to his head, the court heard.
The attack took place at HMP Wakefield on the day of the Brussels terror attacks
Bombers at Brussels airport and a metro station killed 32 and injured more than 300 people
The attack took place when inmates argued after seeing news coverage of the bombings
Speaking about his reaction to the terror attack, Palmer told the court: 'I was shocked and horrified again. I said these bombers have got to be eradicated.
He said Ahmed then told him: 'You effing insult Muslims again I will effing kill you.'
Ahmed denied the attack, but a jury found him guilty of assaulting occasioning actual bodily harm.
He now stands to have a consecutive sentence added to the end of his jail term.
Divorced father-of-four Ahmed was one of a gang of men convicted of preying on girls in Rochdale, plying them with drink and drugs before they were 'passed around' for sex.
The takeaway worker used his trial to launch a series of tirades, including one in which he tried to blame Western society for allowing young girls to 'parade on the streets'.
He is one of four of the gang now fighting a taxpayer-funded battle against their deportation to Pakistan.
The four who raped, abused and tormented young girls claim booting them out of the country will harm their families.
Beaches on the holiday island of Majorca have been forced to close after torrential rain caused sewers to fill up with faeces.
Ageing sewers on the island have been unable to cope with the heavy rainfall, forcing the local authorities to shut the beaches around Cala Major since Saturday.
Cala Major is roughly halfway between the island's capital of Palma and the party resort of Magaluf.
The closure of the beaches on Majorca comes amid concerns that the out of date sewerage system has led to partly treated waste being pumped into the waters of the Mediterranean.
Sewage has been flowing into the sea off Majorca, causing authorities on the island to close beaches there, including one near Magaluf
Sewage water is seen dumped in Majorca's Albufera Natural Park close to the ocean
A week earlier, the city beach of Can Pere Antoni in Palma was closed due to problems with sewage water.
According to local media, major investment has been planned to renovate the island's ageing sewage facilities.
A local newspaper said that Majorca's sewers are just unable to absorb huge quantities of rain and wrote that in such a case 'waste water always goes to the beach'.
Majorca's beaches drawn British holiday makers in their droves but they were forced off the sand by sewage in the sea
Authorities on the island do not know when holidaymakers will be allowed to go in the sea again
It is not yet known when the situation will improve and authorities will allow holidaymakers to go again into the sea.
It is currently unclear if a medical emergency on one of the beaches is related to the polluted water.
A young holidaymaker suddenly became sick on Sunday while sitting at a beach bar in Cala Major.
Her name and nationality were not made public by the authorities, who only noted that she was a foreign tourist.
She had to be taken to a local a local hospital where she was examined by a doctor.
This is the terrifying moment a buffalo ran at full speed in a Chinese city and rammed into multiple pedestrians.
The incident occurred in Meizhou, southern China's Guangdong Province, on September 16, according to local media.
The animal has been shot dead by the police.
The buffalo attacked five pedestrians on September 16 in Meizhou, southern China
The animal had escaped from a lorry which was unloading buffaloes, according to reports
Five people were gored by the out-of-control beast after it escaped from a lorry around noon time, reported video news site Pear Video.
The lorry was said to be unloading buffaloes when the animal broke the ropes and ran away.
The police were alerted immediately and officers were dispatched to catch the buffalo.
He Yinghao, a police officer from the local Diaofang Police Station, said the officers told the residents to close their doors.
Afterwards, the officers managed to corner the buffalo in an old house.
The officers decided to shoot the buffalo to prevent it from injuring more people, said the report.
The out-of-control animal created chaos on the streets of Meizhou, ramming cars and people
The suspect in a Starbucks armed robbery is now planning to sue a Good Samaritan customer who stepped in and beat him with a chair to subdue him.
Ryan Michael Flores, 30, was allegedly caught on surveillance cameras holding up a Starbucks in Fresno, California armed with a knife and a fake gun back in July.
Customer Cregg Jerri, 58, was filmed striking Flores with a chair before getting into a fight with the alleged robber as they both struggled for his knife.
Both Jerri and Flores were seriously injured and suffered multiple stab wounds during the ordeal.
Ryan Michael Flores, 30, was allegedly caught on surveillance cameras holding up a Starbucks in Fresno, California armed with a knife and a fake gun back in July
Flores' mother Pamela Chimienti said her son now plans on suing Jerri for going overboard and using excessive force.
Flores' family say he is now planning to sue the Jerri for excessive force. The 30-year-old is currently in prison facing a felony attempted robbery charge
'He has 17 total stab wounds, lacerations, and defensive wounds,' Chimienti told CBS.
'The guy, in my opinion, went from a Good Samaritan to a vigilante.
'Stabbing somebody that many times, it doesn't take that many stab wounds to get somebody to succumb to you.'
Jerri was stabbed in the neck and received six staples. Meanwhile Flores' mother said her son nearly died in the emergency room from his stab wounds.
Flores, who remains in jail facing a felony attempted robbery charge, has allegedly claimed he was simply trying to get away from Jerri when the Good Samaritan was stabbed.
Lawyers have said Flores will have a tough time selling his excessive force argument to jurors and police have labeled a potential lawsuit as 'ludicrous'.
Customer Cregg Jerri, 58, was filmed striking Flores with a chair (above) before getting into a fight with the alleged robber as they both struggled for his knife
Both Jerri and Flores were seriously injured and suffered multiple stab wounds during the ordeal as they struggled for the knife
Police hailed Jerri as a hero at the time and the footage of him thwarting the robbery quickly went viral.
It allegedly showed Flores entering the Starbucks wearing a Transformers mask and approaching the counter wielding the gun.
He held out a bag to the young woman working the register before pulling out a large knife, waving it menacingly at her.
In the background, another Starbucks worker cleaned table tops and smiled as Jerri picked up a chair and charged at the suspect.
Jerri was filmed beating the suspect over the head with the chair before they fell to the ground wrestling for the knife.
Police said Flores got into a truck and drove away from the scene, but ditched the vehicle and was later found bleeding on the side of the road.
Police hailed Jerri (above with his two daughters) as a hero at the time and the footage of him thwarting the robbery quickly went viral
The Los Angeles school board president is stepping down from his top role on the board while facing three felony charges related to his 2015 school board race.
In a note posted on Twitter on Tuesday, Ref Rodriguez said he was doing so to allow the board to remain focused on the hard work ahead of us.
I do not want to serve as a distraction to my colleagues, or to any of the other dedicated teachers, principals, and employees who do the hard work of educating students every day, he said. I have always been driven by my passion to give all kids, but especially those with backgrounds similar to mine, a chance at a brighter future, and I believe this decision will help us continue doing exactly that.
I am committed to the Kids First agenda, and have decided to step aside as Board President, so this Board can remain focused on the work. pic.twitter.com/vKCDbZimPT -- Dr. Ref Rodriguez (@DrRefRodriguez) September 19, 2017
He will remain on the board.
Rodriguezs decision to step aside from the board presidency, to which he was elected in July, comes almost a week after the Los Angeles County district attorneys office charged him with three felonies, including conspiracy, perjury, and offering false or forged testimony in connection to his first run for a school board seat in 2015.
The district attorneys office alleges that Rodriguez and his cousin, Elizabeth Tinajero Melendrez, reimbursed more than $24,000 in campaign contributionsnearly half of the estimated $50,000 he reported in a Dec. 2014 filingmade by 25 individuals who were primarily family and friends.
Both Rodriguez and Melendrez were charged with 25 misdemeanor counts of assumed name contributions, according to the district attorneys office.
Some of the people Rodriguez reimbursed, according to the Los Angeles Times, worked at Partnerships to Uplift Communities, or PUC, a Los-Angeles-area charter school network that Rodriguez co-founded.
Rodriguez is part of the pro-charter majority that now leads the Los Angeles Unified school board.
After the charges were announced, Rodriguez said in a statement that he had been working with the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission for two years to resolve the issue. He said he hoped the issue will be resolved expeditiously and fairly.
Police have charged one man and are on the hunt for a young blonde woman and a man with facial tattoos over a kidnapping.
A 22-year-old Perth man, has been charged after threatening a 26-year-old man staying at a house on Nyunda Drive about 8.20am on September 9.
The trio allegedly demanded to speak to the man before they ransacked his home.
Police have released images of Jesse Cutting (left) and Tamati Kururangi (right), who they wish to speak to in relation to a Perth kidnapping
They then took the man to a different property and threatened him with a weapon.
The man was eventually able to escape before running to calling emergency services, police said.
Police are still on the hunt for two kidnappers. They have released images of Jesse Cutting and Tamati Kururangi, who they wish to speak to in relation to the incident.
The 22-year-old has been charged with kidnapping, aggravated burglary and aggravated armed robbery.
He is due to appear in at Stirling Magistrate s Court next month.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Taco Bell is set to open 300 brand new locations under a new format and different layout known as 'cantina style' which will not have a drive-thru but will serve alcohol.
Customers will be able to guzzle beer, sangria and wine with their burritos and nachos.
'The majority of the new 'urban in-line' locations will serve beer, wine, sangria, and Twisted Freezes, aka slushies with tequila, rum, or vodka,' according to Food & Wine.
A number of Taco Bell Cantina's already exist as tester stores including Chicago and Las Vegas
A customer is handed two sangrias to drink with her order of Taco Bell the cantina in Chicago
The interior of the stores are nothing like regular Taco Bells are intended to appeal to a younger market
'One of the cool things happening in America right now is the revitalization of urban areas, and we're seeing millennials moving into downtown areas,' Mike Grams, Taco Bell's chief operating officer says.
There are currently 6,000 Taco Bell restaurants nationwide, but expanding the urban footprint, in particular, makes sense. The hipper vibe and smaller scale of these cantinas highlight another point, that the chain 'isn't afraid to try new things,' according to Grams.
The move is believed to be part of the company's push to attract more millennials to its stores - which requires a move into urban areas where youth are increasingly living.
The menu has similar delicious goodness as regular Taco Bells but with a greater focus on alcoholic beverages
The new-style locations will open by 2022 and are mostly planned for big cities.
The company has already tested the idea at seven locations across the country including Chicago, Las Vegas and San Francisco.
It's a first in the U.S. for Taco Bell, which is owned by Louisville, Kentucky-based Yum Brands Inc.
Big cities like Detroit, Pittsburgh, Nashville, and New York will have the Cantinas designed to express the local vibes with artwork, open kitchens, and digital menu boards.
The Chicago store became the first Taco Bell in the country to sell alcohol in 2015
Neil Borkan, the franchisee operating the Chicago Taco Bell told USA Today that the idea was a good one.
He explained: 'To put in a drive-thru you need land. Can you imagine buying an acre of land in a neighborhood like Wicker Park? You couldn't afford it.
'As real estate becomes more and more expensive, this kind of concept makes more sense.'
The new stores will are branded as as Taco Bell Cantina restaurants and will be the only type of Taco Bell stores to sell alcohol.
A company statement said: 'Taco Bell Cantina restaurants will be the first and only Taco Bell restaurants to serve alcohol to customers who are of legal drinking age.
Yoko Ono has threatened to sue a small British lemonade firm trying to market a new 'John Lemon' drink.
The 84-year-old claims the drink is infringing on the John Lennon EU trademark and the name of her late husband.
However, the company that distributes the product in the UK argues that the lemonade's name is not linked at all to the Beatles' legend.
Yoko Ono has threatened to sue a small British lemonade firm trying to market a new 'John Lemon' drink (pictured)
Karol Chamera, 30, founder of Mr Lemonade Alternative Drinks Ltd, insists UK sales of the drink have not been linked to Lennon's name or image.
However, he said fighting the threatened lawsuit was impossible because they simply could not afford to pay Ono's legal costs.
Mr Chamera, who lives in Bow, east London, told the East London Advertiser: 'They are trying to find a case because of similarity of the name, but these are two different names, two different brands.'
The John Lemon trademark was registered by the Polish manufacturers of the lemonade in 2014.
Their solicitor confirmed the John Lennon trademark application was not filed until 2016.
Lawyers for Lennon's widow say the lemonade brand had used the Imagine songwriter's picture and other references to him in its European marketing on social media.
The 84-year-old claims the drink is infringing on the John Lennon EU trademark
Lawyers for Ono said the firm were 'abusing and misusing the legacy of John Lennon to sell their soda'
They showed the East London Advertiser a copy of a Facebook post by John Lemon Ireland, which includes a large wall mural of Lennon holding lemons with the brand's logo underneath.
Other adverts show a pair of round glasses, synonymous with the famous Beatle, next to the words Let It Be and featuring the brand name John Lemon.
This advert was posted on the Facebook and Twitter pages of Mr Chamera's company Mr Lemonade Alternative Drinks.
The Facebook page also posted a picture of the John Lemon product along with pictures of the Abbey Road Studios.
The Polish company that manufactures the lemonade has now agreed to rebrand the lemonade, in order to continue selling it.
Karol Chamera, 30, (pictured) founder of Mr Lemonade Alternative Drinks Ltd, insists UK sales of the drink have not been linked to John Lennon's name or image. However, he says they are not able to fight the lawsuit as they cannot pay Ono's legal costs
Despite his claims, the Mr Lemonade Facebook page posted a picture of the John Lemon product along with pictures of the Abbey Road Studios
A lawyer for the manufacturer confirmed the company and its distributors across Europe were sued by Ono.
Lawyer Hugo Baazinski said the firm was 'surprised' by the lawsuit, but said they had decided to reach a settlement.
Joris Van Manen, from law firm Hoyng Rokh Monegier, which acted for Ono, said: 'They were abusing and misusing the legacy of John Lennon to sell their soda.
'I believe they are now going to call the drink On Lemon instead, which is much better.'
Ono's lawyers threatened action against the Polish manufacturers in March this year.
Letters were also sent to distributors, including Mr Chamera, warning they faced costs of 5,000 Euros (4435) per day or 500 Euros (444) for every bottle of lemonade sold if they violated the disputed trademark.
Mr Chamera, who runs his business from his flat in Bow, is now being forced to sell all his stock of the special artisan lemonade before the ban starts on October 30.
An ex-Hugo Boss supermodel has been sentenced to life behind bars for the 2015 slaying of his celebrity TV attorney girlfriend in Redondo Beach.
Robert Reagan, 53, will have the option for parole after he serves 16 years in prison for killing Loredana Nesci, Los Angeles County prosecutors said Tuesday.
Reagan broke down in tears during last month's court hearing after the guilty verdict was announced for the July 2015 stabbing of the 47-year-old 'Loredana, Esq.' actress.
According to People, prosecutors suspect that Reagan killed Nesci because they were on the verge of breaking up and 'he wanted to avoid an expensive and bitter custody battle' over their son Rocco, who was five at the time.
Los Angeles County prosecutor Allyson Ostrowski said Reagan had an expensive divorce from his first wife and wanted to avoid a similar tussle in the courts.
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Robert Brian Reagan, 53, (pictured in August) received a life sentence behind bars for the 2015 Redondo Beach murder of his former girlfriend Loredana Nesci, 47
Reagan was found guilty last month of second-degree murder for stabbing Nesci to death in July 2015
Reagan's attorney, Shephard Kopp, said Loredana Nesci, 47, (pictured) pulled a hunting knife on Reagan during an argument at their home in Redondo Beach, California. Kopp said Reagan was trying to disarm Nesci
Reality star murdered: 'Legal Diva', Loredana Nesci's body is seen being removed by the Los Angeles Coroner's office in July 2015
During the trial Ostrowski said that Reagan 'gutted' Nesci with a 'Rambo-style' hunting knife and according to the Daily Breeze her injuries were so severe that her insides looked like 'Swiss cheese'. An abdominal wound was 7 inches long.
Nesci's distraught father revealed in Torrance Superior Court Tuesday that his daughter's killing 'destroyed' the family - who will 'never' be the same.
'All of a sudden, in the dark of the night, everything was stolen from her and from all of us,' John Nesci said in the statement.
It is believed Reagan killed Nesci around 3am on July 22 and called 911 around five hours later.
During that time he went to his sister's home in San Diego to pick up his son and took a shower. Blood evidence was found in the shower drain.
Reagan's attorney, Shephard Kopp, claimed his client acted in self-defense during the attack in the couple's California home.
According to reports at the time, Reagan was 'distraught' when he called 911 on the morning of July 22, 2015. Reagan was arrested after officers discovered his former girlfriend's body. The two had a five-year-old son, Rocco Nesci-Reagan, who was not at home at the time of the incident, police said
Reagan posed for a variety of high end advertising campaigns like Hugo Boss and Calvin Klein
Kopp also said that Nesci, a bodybuilder and former fitness competitor, attacked Reagan with a hunting knife during a heated argument.
'She was an avid bodybuilder, and was exceptionally strong. She attacked Robert with a hunting knife in the midst of a domestic dispute,' he said.
'While defending himself against her assault with a deadly weapon, [Reagan] tried to disarm her, and in the intense struggle that ensued she tragically suffered a fatal wound,' Kopp said, according to Variety.
'[Reagan] is not guilty of committing any criminal offense, he is devastated by this horrible event.'
A friend of the prominent pair and real estate broker, Todd Bernstein, told the Daily Mail Reagan was 'a sweet guy' who was 'intimidated by Loredana,' which surprised him the most.
'While it's sad she's not with us any more, she was bossy, bitchy, dangerous, a real piece of work,' Bernstein said in the shocking interview.
'She was also a tactical fighter, she trained, she kick boxed, she used to be a cop ... Yes they were in love, but he was afraid of her, he told me as much.'
A friend of the prominent pair and real estate broker, Todd Bernstein, told the Daily Mail Reagan was 'a sweet guy' who was 'intimidated by Loredana,' which surprised him the most
The Hugo Boss hunk claimed his ex-reality star sweetheart treated him horribly, while Bernstein said she once got aggressive and pushy over the phone with him during a discussion about a real estate deal.
'I did a real estate deal through Loredana and she was really short with me on the phone, aggressive, she was like, 'are you gonna sell the f***ing house or what',' Bernstein said.
'Robert was always real accommodating ... he helped me a lot. He said to me, 'Listen, Loredana's really smart, but you've got to talk to her a certain way', I quickly found out what he was talking about.'
However, Reagan was found guilty of second-degree murder after an autopsy report revealed Nesci had been stabbed 'at least four times in the abdomen between her breasts and belly button,' according to the Los Angeles Times.
Nesci's LegalDiva website, which has since been shut down, said the actress worked as a Los Angeles cop prior to embarking on a successful on-screen career.
She had starred in the SundanceTV series, 'Loredana, Esq.,' which followed her life as an attorney in Redondo Beach's Riviera Village.
The convicted killer worked for a variety of high end advertising campaigns for other brands like Armani, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein back in the 1980s.
Donald Trump took another whack at Hillary Clinton this morning on Twitter, this time for 'allowing' North Korea to build nuclear weapons.
Trump blamed Barack Obama's first secretary of state for Pyongyang's nuclear advance. He took a swipe at her husband Bill, too, a former U.S. president, and one at Obama for failing to curtail North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
'After allowing North Korea to research and build Nukes while Secretary of State (Bill C also), Crooked Hillary now criticizes,' he said in a tweet.
He retweeted another user who said, 'It is the height of hypocrisy. Obama and Clinton in effect gave nuclear weapons to North Korea by their policy of appeasement.'
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Donald Trump took another whack at Hillary Clinton this morning on Twitter, this time for 'allowing' North Korea to build nuclear weapons
Trump blamed Barack Obama's first secretary of state for Pyongyang's nuclear advance. He took a swipe at her husband Bill, too, a former U.S. president
He also took a whack at Obama for failing to curtail North Korea's nuclear ambitions, retweeting the above user's complaint that Obama and Clinton are hypocrites
Hillary Clinton was critical on Tuesday evening of Trump's speech to the United Nations earlier that day as it pertained to North Korea.
She told Late Show host Stephen Colbert, 'I thought it was very dark, dangerous, not the kind of message that the leader of the greatest country in the world should be delivering.'
Clinton browbeat Trump for calling Kim Jong-un 'Rocket Man' in his remarks to the General Assembly and threatening to 'totally destroy North Korea.'
'What I hoped the president would have said is something along the lines of, "We view this as dangerous to our allies, to the region and even to our country. We call on all nations to work with us to try to end the threat posed by Kim Jong-un."
She added, 'And not call him Rocket Man, the old Elton John song, but to say clearly, "We will not tolerate any attacks on our friends or ourselves."'
'But you should lead with diplomacy,' she said.
Trump pulled no punches during his first speech to the annual international gathering.
He told world leaders: 'Our military will soon be the strongest it has ever been,' he warned, before saying that North Korea 'imperils the world with nuclear conflict.'
'No nation on earth has an interest in seeing this band of criminals arm itself with nuclear weapons and missiles,' he said. 'Now their reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles threatens the entire world with unthinkable loss of human life.'
Then came the line that had Clinton and others shuddering: 'The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.'
The threat created an immediate buzz inside the assembly hall.
Picking up a derisive term from one of his tweets over the weekend, Trump said, 'Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime.'
His stinging condemnation of North Korea hung heavy in the air as Kim's authoritarian government skipped the lecture on their misbehavior.
The country's nuclear ambitions have already led to two rounds of economic sanctions via the UN Security Council, and the U.S. is looking for more on its own.
Trump excoriated Kim for running a country beset with poverty and where torture is the norm.
'No one has shown more contempt for other nations and for the well-being of their own people than the depraved regime in North Korea,' he said. 'It is responsible for the starvation deaths of millions of North Koreans. And for the imprisonment, torture, killing and oppression of countless more.'
Dictator Kim Jong-Un has been testing both atomic bombs and medium-range ballistic missiles, threatening east Asia and at least one U.S. island territory
Where did they go? Seats allocated to North Korea were empty during the speech. One junior diplomatic aide stayed behind to hear Trump but sat elsewhere
Kim has raided his country's resources in pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Trump said last month that he would unleash 'fire and fury' at North Korea if the U.S. were threatened.
When Tuesday's speech was over, Trump told reporters: 'I think it went really well. I said what I had to say.'
Later that evening, he tweeted that his maiden speech at the UN had been a roaring success.
'A great and important day at the United Nations,' he wrote. 'Met with leaders of many nations who agree with much (or all) of what I stated in my speech!'
A British tourist is facing six months in prison in Dubai after giving the middle finger to another driver he claims was tailgating him.
Jamil Ahmad, 23, from Leicester, gestured towards the driver 'in frustration' near the Dubai Financial Centre in February.
He was arrested after returning to Dubai this month and then detained for two days at the notorious Bur Dubai police station - where another Briton, Lee Bradley Brown, was killed in 2011.
Jamil Ahmad, pictured, is facing six months in prison in Dubai after giving the middle finger to another driver he claims was tailgating him
Mr Ahmad said he was going to the airport with his wife when someone started tailgating him prompting him to flick his finger at the other motorist who reported it to police
He has now been bailed but cant leave the United Arab Emirates before his court appearance because police have confiscated his passport.
His wife was forced fly alone to their home in Leicester and leave him in the country on bail. He faces a six-month prison sentence if found guilty.
Mr Ahmad, who owns an IT company and claims to work at Number 10, was in a hire car when the incident unfolded on the way to the airport.
Mr Ahmad said: 'As a reflex I may have lifted my hand in frustration at the other driver.
'Work has not taken it the best way as they are severely short staffed and not under control anymore.
'I am worried about running out of money before I even get to court. No one plans to spend two months (or more) in hotels in Dubai'.
He claimed he had been placed in a cell with rapists and murderers before being released on bail.
He told the Sun: 'It's the kind of thing that happens in England all the time. You don't go to jail for it.
'When I came back last week for a holiday with my wife I went through passport control in Dubai and when they took a scan it started beeping loudly.
'Within seconds I was surrounded by police and taken off to jail.'
Lobby group Detained in Dubai is appealing for the charges to be dropped.
Mr Ahmad, who owns an IT company and claims to work at Number 10, was on his summer holiday with his wife and was in a hire car when the incident unfolded
Radha Stirling, founder of Detained in Dubai and Managing Partner of legal advisory Stirling Haigh, said: 'It is illegal for anyone to display what could be argued to be offensive or insulting behaviour.
'We have dealt with a number of cases where traffic frustration has led to detention. We caution visitors and expats that they could face criminal charges for behaviour that would be common in their own countries'.
Traffic in the city can be chaotic at times with roads full of foreign drivers from countries like India, Egypt and Pakistan and lane discipline is almost non existent.
The hand gesture is considered a public obscenity crime and carries a jail sentence of not less than six months, with many foreigners being imprisoned on similar charges.
If Mr Ahmad is found guilty he has two weeks to appeal the decision in an effort to reduce the sentence.
Detained in Dubai had previously defended a Danish man in a similar case who was fined
Ms Stirling added: 'We hope that the courts in Dubai are lenient with their sentencing and issue him with a fine at worst. Having to go through this stressful time, awaiting a potential sentence and paying highly, is punishment enough'.
'If a local resident has driven recklessly and suspects another driver is going to report them, it is a common tactic to open an obscenity case against the other party.
'By doing so the local resident hopes that both parties agree to drop their cases or that the prosecutor will disregard the evidence of the other party.
'By this tactic the reckless driver can avoid being charged, despite the unsuspecting tourist or expat potentially being jailed for something they didn't do.
The hand gesture is considered a public obscenity crime and carries a jail sentence of not less than six months, with many foreigners being imprisoned on similar charges. Pictured: An aerial view of Dubai from the sea
'People who find themselves in this situation suffer incredible stress, fear and emotional turmoil. They are facing an uncertain situation with potentially grave outcomes in a completely foreign location.
'They have been detained and questioned in a foreign police station and asked (or forced) to sign documents or confessions in Arabic.
'Their hopes are dashed when they realise their own government can't assist and are left trying to negotiate the legal maze alone, often without the ability to pay for a lawyer. There is no legal aid or public defender.
'We have helped people facing these unbelievable situations for ten years. Having this help and support is of tremendous use and comfort to people facing court proceedings.'
Mr Mukadam is the latest Briton to fall ful of the law in Dubai.
In May 2011 top UK surgeon Joseph Nunoo-Mensah was detained in Dubai after being accused of a making a rude gesture at another driver through the window of his car.
The consultant colorectal surgeon at King's College Hospital - who said he merely raised his hand - had his passport confiscated when he was charged with 'public indecency'. He was later released after paying a fine.
According to data released by the Foreign Office (FCO) in September under freedom of information (FOI) laws, the city-state was the destination with the second highest number of Britons detained between 2015 and the summer.
At 524 it was behind Alicante (655) but ahead of Bangkok (454), Miami (445) and Malaga (441).
A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We are assisting a British man who was detained in Dubai and remain in contact with the local authorities.'
Donors to the Republican National Committee are helping fund the legal defense not only of President Donald Trump, but of his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., as they fend off Russia probes to the tune of $430,000 and counting between them.
Trump Jr. was thrown into the Russia probe this summer when it was revealed he was the key point of contact for a June 2016 meeting with a Kremlin linked lawyer to discuss potential dirt on Hillary Clinton.
He spoke to the Senate Judiciary this month as it probed compliance with the Foreign Registrations Act, and the June meeting has become a point of interest for special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.
The RNC has paid Trump Jr.'s lawyer, Alan Futerfas and law firm Williams & Jensen $166,527.50 and $30,102.90, this month, CNN reported, citing RNC officials.
Those outlays won't be reported on the RNC's filing expected today.
The Republican National Committee has $200,000 this month for Donald Trump Jr.'s legal fees as he fends off Russia probes
The RNC also spent more than $230,000 on the president's legal fees, as costs of defending the sprawling probe mount.
Forbes calculates President Trump's assets at $3.5 billion. Celebrity Net Worth pegs Trump Jr.'s wealth at $300 million.
Trump Jr. attended the meeting after receiving an approach from British music publicist Rob Goldstone. He ultimately attended a meeting along with Kremlin-linked lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya to discuss potentially compromising material on Trump opponent Hillary Clinton.
The meeting also was attended by then-Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner.
This week it was revealed that Trump Jr. is giving up Secret Service protection, in a move described as a way for the avid outdoorsman to get more privacy.
GO FUND ME: Donald Trump Jr. is having his legal fees connected with Russia probes paid for by the the Republican National Committee
Trump Jr. helps run the Trump Organization. His wealth has been estimated at $300 million but is difficult to accurately nail down
Trump Jr. said afterward that the material was useless, and publicly released emails related to the encounter after it came to light.
President Donald Trump is using money donated to his reelection campaign and the Republican National Committee to pay for his lawyers in the probe of alleged Russian interference in the U.S. election, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The U.S. Federal Election Commission allows the use of private campaign funds to pay legal bills arising from being a candidate or elected official.
While previous presidential campaigns have used these funds to pay for routine legal matters such as ballot access disputes and compliance requirements, Trump would be the first U.S. president in the modern campaign finance era to use such funds to cover the costs of responding to a criminal probe, said election law experts.
President Trump (left) is using money donated to his reelection campaign and the Republican National Committee to pay for his lawyers dealing with the Russia probe
John Dowd (left), Trumps lead lawyer, declined to say how the president's legal bills were being paid, adding: 'That's none of your business.' Dowd was caught discussing the probe with Ty Cobb (right), another Trump lawyer, by the New York Times
One person familiar with the matter said the first payments, the amount of which Reuters could not determine, has already been made and would be disclosed in public filings.
The person did not explain how the costs would be allocated between the campaign and the RNC.
The Republican National Committee is expected to make its August spending public on Wednesday, and the Trump campaign is due for another disclosure on Oct. 15.
John Dowd, Trumps lead lawyer, declined to say how the president's legal bills were being paid, adding: 'That's none of your business.'
A spokesperson for the RNC declined to comment, but said the committee has already paid unspecified, non-Russia related litigation expenses for the campaign.
The RNC has an existing legal defense fund which has been used mainly for Election Day recounts and other routine legal matters for candidates, the spokesperson said.
Special counsel Robert Mueller is looking at possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia in last year's election, and whether Trump may have obstructed justice by firing FBI Director James Comey, among other actions.
Moscow has denied meddling in the U.S. election, and Trump denies any collusion or obstruction.
Reuters could not determine how large a legal bill Trump has incurred to date from his lawyers on the Mueller probe.
Trump hired his longtime New York lawyer Marc Kasowitz to head his defense team in May, but Kasowitz stepped down in July, with Dowd taking over the lead role, according to a people familiar.
Trump is also being represented by constitutional lawyer Jay Sekulow.
Special White House counsel Ty Cobb, who is a salaried staff member, is also working on the matter.
The Trump campaign has paid law firm Jones Day almost $4 million, according to campaign filings, mostly for routine campaign legal expenses like ballot access disputes, vendor contracts, human resources and compliance with state and federal laws.
It has also responded to Russia-related inquiries on behalf of the campaign by, for example, providing documents to Congress.
The reason Trump is able to tap into his campaign funds for legal expenses is because for the past decade, presidential candidates have abandoned public financing for their campaigns. Instead, they have built networks that collect millions of dollars from private donors, a move that comes with less restrictions on how the money is spent.
Barack Obama in 2008 was the first to eschew public financing for his campaign, and all the major-party candidates followed suit in 2012 and 2016, campaign filings show.
Trump also filed for reelection the day he took office in January, two years earlier than any previous president, ensuring a fund of millions in campaign cash would remain at his disposal.
According to its most recent filing to the Federal Election Commission, Donald J. Trump for President Inc had almost $12 million on hand by the end of June, an increase of over $4 million since January.
Adav Noti, a senior director at the Campaign Legal Center, a watchdog group that describes itself as nonpartisan, said public campaign funds as opposed to the private funds Trump has raised cannot generally be used for expenses arising from criminal investigations, or for any expenses that arise after the campaign is over.
President Bill Clinton, who ran two publicly funded campaigns, had supporters start legal defense funds and used his own insurance to help pay legal bills during the Whitewater investigation.
He still wound up with millions of dollars in personal debt which he paid off through speaking fees he earned once he left office.
Hillary Clinton, who ran a privately funded campaign, paid millions to campaign lawyers at Perkins Coie to handle routine legal matters, according to campaign filings.
Her campaign made no payments to the Washington law firm Williams & Connolly, which represented her in the probes of her use of a private email server when she was U.S. Secretary of State.
Her lawyer, David Kendall of Williams & Connolly, declined to comment on how he was paid.
Campaigns also have discretion to pay legal fees for others besides the president.
According to a July filing, the Trump campaign paid $50,000 to the law firm of Alan Futerfas, who is representing Donald Trump Jr. Futerfas did not respond for requests for comment.
A number of other current and former Trump staffers have also recently hired lawyers.
Victor Antonio Turcios-Valle, 37, was found in a shallow grave in June
Authorities in Maryland have charged six alleged members of a violent Central American gang in the death of a man in April.
The Frederick News Post reported Tuesday that police say the suspects are members of MS-13.
The El-Salvador-based gang consists chiefly of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from Central America.
Three men, Carlos Javier Hernandez Diaz, 21, and Denis Aristides Rivas-Aldana, 24, both of Silver Spring, along with Darwin Alberto Arias-Meijia, 24, of Greenbelt were charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
Two other suspects remained on the loose Tuesday while a third man is also in custody elsewhere.
Authorities allege that the six suspects participated in the death of Silver Spring resident Victor Antonio Turcios-Valle.
The 37-year-old's body was found in a shallow grave north of Frederick in June.
Maj. Tim Clarke, a spokesman for the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, said authorities are investigating whether the victim was a gang member.
He was identified through DNA, tattoos and other evidence collected shortly after a hiker led Frederick County sheriff's deputies to where the person had found the body in a shallow grave in June.
Three men, Carlos Javier Hernandez Diaz, 24, Darwin Alberto Arias-Meijia, 24 and Carlos Javier Hernandez Diaz, 21 are accused of his murder
Montgomery County police had a missing person report for Turcios-Valle, who was last seen by his family in Silver Spring on April 2.
The indictments provided very few details other than a few names and dates.
The MS-13 gang is notorious for its links to cartels and organized crime, and its ability to access high-powered weapons.
Because of unrest in Central America, many of the original gang members had guerrilla warfare experience, making them more deadly than other criminal groups.
MS-13 is a 'transnational criminal organization' engaged in such crimes as drug trafficking, kidnapping, human smuggling, prostitution, murder and extortion.
There are at least 30,000 MS-13 members in a range of countries, including 8,000 in the United States.
Because the gang members are under the age of 18, the U.S. is unable to lawfully return them to their home countries.
MS-13, also known as Mara Salvatrucha gang, which is allied with several of Mexico's warring drug cartels, has a strong presence in Southern California, Washington and Northern Virginia, all areas with substantial Salvadoran populations.
Among the most high-profile killings attributed to MS-13 in Virginia was the 2003 slaying of a pregnant teenager who had become an informant. Brenda Paz, 17, was stabbed to death and her body was left along the banks of the Shenandoah River.
In wild Africa it's the nearest thing to a McDonald's drive-thru when a hungry leopard rustles himself up a handy take-away meal.
A pack of nine wild hunting dogs thought they were in for an easy lunch after picking an impala out of a herd and bringing it down.
After quickly killing the antelope they begin to feast on it in the Kruger National Park in South Africa, eagerly tucking in with plenty for all.
But for a lone male leopard, possibly tired after hunting without any luck, he cannot believe his good fortune when he stumbles on the ready-meal.
It charges towards the pack of dogs and scatters them - and before they can regroup it snatches up the half-eaten impala in its jaws.
Then with a few long bounds it carries the heavy carcass to a tree, which the leopard scales to enjoy its meal safely out of reach of the dogs.
And like the cat that's got the cream it settles down to enjoy his prize as the grumpy pack of African hunting dogs circling the tree then realise their prize is lost.
Field guide Patrick Mziyako was taking his guests for a ride when he shot the footage at Kwaggaspan Waterhole in Mpumulanga.
He told LatestSightings.com: 'I was on a game drive from Jock Safari Lodge when I saw a pack of nine wild dogs lying down.
The pack of wild hunting dogs had worked hard to capture their prize
They thought they were in for an easy lunch after picking an impala out of a herd and bringing it down
But what looks liked a good day's hunting for the dogs rapidly turned to disaster when the leopard arrived
And on this occasion it appeared that the big cat really had won itself a free lunch
'They spotted a small herd of impala 100 metres away to the western side of the road and one wild dog started stalking them.
'Soon the rest joined in. They singled out one impala from the herd and hurried it towards the waterhole which was nice and open.
'While watching all of the dogs feed on the impala, a male leopard came out of nowhere and grabbed the half-eaten impala and raced straight up into the deadwood tree close to the road.
'Wow what a sighting. I got very excited because it is not easy to witness such a drama in the Kruger.
'The wild dogs tried to fight the leopard off, but it was too late.
'They soon left the scene after trying to [retrieve] their food out of the tree. This is a very rare sighting,' he said after posting the footage.
The leopard was able to enjoy its meal in a tree, safe from the baying of the hungry dogs
A pet owner was stunned after her parrot managed to shop online using Amazon's Alexa voice recognition software.
Corienne Pretorius, 39, was baffled after a 10 order for gift boxes, which she had not ordered, arrived at her house.
The mother-of-one questioned her husband Jan, 45, a civil engineer, and son Jaden, eight, but quickly realised the culprit was Buddy - their African Grey parrot.
Ms Pretorius, from Greenwich, south east London, says the cheeky bird mimics her voice, and must have activated her smart Amazon Echo device to place the strange order.
Pet owner Corienne Pretorius, of Greenwich, south-east London, was stunned after her parrot (pictured) managed to shop online using Amazon's Alexa voice recognition software
The mother-of-one (above) questioned her husband Jan, 45, a civil engineer, and son Jaden, eight, but quickly realised the culprit was Buddy - their African Grey parrot
She said: 'I couldn't believe it when I realised that it was Buddy who had used Alexa to make an Amazon order.
'None of us even knew how to use her for that.
'We've had the Echo for about four months and I use it to play music or make to-do lists but I've never ordered anything online.
'On Sunday we had popped out of the house for a couple of hours, but when I came home, I could hear Buddy talking but couldn't quite make out what he was saying.
'Then I heard Alexa say "sorry I didn't quite get that". Buddy then said "Alexa" and some gibberish, and she replied "What is it you want to order?"
'I didn't hear what happened after that and didn't think anything of it until I was working on my computer and got a notification that my Amazon order had been placed.
'On Sunday we had popped out of the house for a couple of hours, but when I came home, I could hear Buddy talking but couldn't quite make out what he was saying,' said Ms Pretorius
'I hadn't ordered anything and couldn't figure out what had been ordered.
'I asked my husband and my son who didn't know what I was talking about so then I asked Alexa: "What was my last order?" and she said it was these golden gift boxes.
'I laughed out loud because I knew then and there that it must have been Buddy.'
Ms Pretorius, who runs a cake decorating business, was given the 150 smart speaker by her father, who couldn't make it work.
The device allows users to connect to Amazon's shopping hub, and can also be used to control household utilities and order takeaways.
Ms Pretorius, who is originally from South Africa, bought Buddy, four, on a whim in 2013, and says he has always mimicked her when she is out of the room.
She added: 'Buddy talks a lot, but never when he can see me.
'If I'm in the room, he won't say anything because he's listening and then when I leave he talks in my voice.
'He is hilarious - we have a cat and he mimics the cat too, he's such an attention seeker.
Ms Pretorius, who is originally from South Africa, said: 'He also swears in Afrikaans, which I didn't realise I did until I heard him doing it too'
'With me, he never speaks when I'm in the room because he is listening intently and trying to pick up what I have to say.
'At the moment his favourite word is Alexa, but he also likes to say "Hi Buddy" and makes squeaky noises.
'He started making this bizarre squeaking noise, and it was only when I opened the fridge and it made the same noise that I realised that he was mimicking the door of the fridge opening.
'We couldn't stop laughing about that for ages.
'He is so much fun - every morning we wake up and he's such a joy to be around.
'He also swears in Afrikaans, which I didn't realise I did until I heard him doing it too.'
An Amazon spokesman said customers using Alexa are asked to confirm a purchase by saying yes.
He added: 'You can also manage your shopping settings in the Alexa app, such as turning off voice purchasing or requiring a confirmation code before every order.
'Additionally, orders placed with Alexa for physical products are eligible for free returns.'
This post is by Andy Calkins, Director of Next Generation Learning Challenges (NGLC), an initiative of the non-profit organization EDUCAUSE.
Americas public schools, these days, are frequently and unflatteringly described as learning factories, where kids are processed in age-based batches and moved along an inflexible assembly line. And to be sure: some factories are less factory-like today than many of our schools.
A growing cloud of innovative educators, including the Hewlett Foundations Deeper Learning Network and our own grantees and partners at Next Generation Learning Challenges, have been working feverishly at a complex and daunting challenge: creating demonstrably effective, 21st-century, next gen alternatives to the industrial-era school model, where deeper learning can thrive. There might be 500 to 1000 of these schools now serving students, nation-wide, with many showing promising results.
But hang on. Thats not really the hard part.
The hard part, and the part that we tend to get disastrously wrong in public education, is how to move these new approaches, mindsets, success definitions, and measurement benchmarks into common use without losing the power, promise, complexity and depth of the original ideas. So that tens of millions of schoolchildren, not just tens of thousands, can benefit and emerge from high school fully prepared to meet the challenges of 21st-century life.
Why is that so hard? Because the only change processes weve ever used in public education to significantly alter practice and the student experience reflect - here it comes again - industrial-age thinking and methodologies.
We are deluding ourselves, if we try to end the era of factory-model schools by using factory-model strategies for change. In the words of Albert Einstein: We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Tom Rooney understands that. Tom is the superintendent of Lindsay Unified School District in Californias Central Valley, a 100 percent-poverty-enrollment district that has emerged as a high-performing lighthouse for reformers and an influential model of next gen, personalized learning. We have to say it over and over again, Tom said to me recently after a presentation to other educators. We are codifying what were learning and trying to share it as broadly as possible. But we always say: Please do not simply try to do the Lindsay model. We hope they learn something useful from us, but they cant just transfer the model and expect the same results.
The staff and leadership at CICS West Belden in Chicago, a Distinctive Schools campus and a part of the Chicago International Charter School (CICS) network , also a luminary in the world of next gen learning, understand it too. We had to learn our lesson the hard way, principal Colleen Collins told a room full of NGLC grantees this past spring. By the time we got to our third cohort [of teachers and students], we thought we had the model pretty well figured out. So our process was different with them, more directive, less inviting of them to participate in shaping it, and that cost us. The lesson we learned was: Everyone needs to feel that theyre part of the pilot . Everyone, she was telling us, deserves to feel that theyre making a contribution, not simply following a script or a checklist. They need to feel that theyre a builder, not a renter.
Rooney and Collins are making a point that all of us in the deeper/next-gen-learning space should paste, permanently, on our refrigerator or office doors. In order for agency-driven, personal efficacy-building, next gen forms of learning to advance broadly, the change processes we use to make that happen must reflect those same core tenets. Learning models designed to enable deep development of personalized, agency-driven, 21st-century competencies cannot take root through the use of rules-and-compliance-driven 20th-century change processes. The contradiction between them is fatal. We need to think more deeply about our strategies for change.
The challenge in getting this right is that both the factory-model school and the industrial-era strategies for scaling seem to us like water feels to a fish. Were so accustomed to them that (for the most part) we dont question their presence or their legitimacy. Of course my child will be grouped in something called a grade, and of course shell receive scores and marks I understand in subjects that I recognize, like English and math and social studies. Of course we know how to scale up next gen learning: we find models like Lindsay and CICS West Belden and then we replicate them. And when we really want to get serious, we institute mandates with stakes that will incentivize even broader replication.
Heres a different way to think about this, with implications for educators and systems-shapers that I believe will determine how all of this turns out.
We all recognize the graphic below: its the Rogers Adoption Curve , depicting how innovations take root, find critical mass, and gradually become adopted across whole populations.
The Rogers Adoption Curve is seminal work and has helped countless change-makers envision how innovations can become broadly adopted. But it sends subliminal messages that make it, we feel, incomplete in telling the story of how next gen learning can grow and thrive.
Telling that story requires a second curve, as follows:
Call it the Invention Curve. This curve defines the share of a schools learning model and organizational design that is invented internally versus adopted or adapted from external sources. It is utterly non-scientific. But it surfaces two profoundly important points:
1. Everyone invents. Everyone. This is the more deeply shaded area below the Invention Curve, reflecting practice-level innovation. The Lindsays, CICS West Beldens, Kettle Moraines , Summits , and other pioneers in the wafer-thin Innovators segment are inventing perhaps 90 percent of their next gen learning models. They are impatient visionaries and super-innovators. Those in the early adopter slice - most Digital Promise and EdLeader21 districts, perhaps some of the 3,000 Future-Ready Pledge signers - are (or should be) inventing large chunks of their next gen learning approaches to suit their local contexts, capacities, and policy/regulatory environments.
The early and late majority practitioners may not be first in line to push the envelope of traditional school design. But given a sufficiently substantial base of evidence, strategies, external resources and tools, they will adopt - and if theyre observing and adopting with fidelity to next gen learnings core attributes, they too will invent portions of their model themselves. Even the trailer-laggards must invent and own their next gen approaches to some degree. Where it is implemented 100 percent out of sheer off-the-shelf application and compliance, next gen learning ceases to exist.
2. Whats above the curve is crucial. The practitioners across the entire Rogers Curve are depending on pursuing next gen learning within environments that if not explicitly enabling of these approaches, are at least not hostile to their efforts. The super-innovators just ignore conditions that dont suit them and they create with duct tape and baling wire whatever resources the market and policy fail to provide. Early adopters will need at least a little velvet, a bit of grease, and a few next-gen-oriented contractors to see their way through. Late majority adopters will need quite a bit more - and those supports and environments will need to reflect next gen design principles that focus on agency rather than compliance , enabling rather than mandating , and continuous reflection and refinement rather than checklist-style implementation.
This is the question that will determine much of the future of next gen learning. Will the people and organizations addressing the challenges of system-level innovation (resources, evidence, external supports, tools, policy/regulatory/contractual environments) do this work well enough, and quickly enough, and in ways sufficiently tuned to the core principles of next gen learning, to give the adopters what they need in order to succeed?
Partly fueled by pushback on testing and NCLB-driven narrowing of curricula, partly enabled by ESSA (at least in theory), and gradually being given form by the super-innovators, next gen learning is beginning to have a moment. The nearly century-old industrial-era approaches to school design and driving change at significant scale exert a tremendously powerful magnetic pull. The opposing magnetic force is the vision we all hold for the richer, deeper competencies represented by a true 21st-century high school diploma. Attentiveness, investment and commitment to both sides of the Invention Curve - practice-level innovation below, systems-level innovation above - is what we need in order to lean towards the better magnet.
Defense attorneys for the man being tried for the 2011 murder of Tennessee nursing student Holly Bobo on Tuesday tried to shift the blame for the crime onto a sex offender nicknamed 'Chester the Molester.'
Zachary Adams has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, raping and killing Bobo. She was 20 when she disappeared from her family's home in Parsons on April 13, 2011.
Bobo's remains were found more than three years later in woods not far from her family's home in Decatur County. Adams faces the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder. His brother, John Dylan Adams, faces the same charges. His trial has not been set.
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Shifting the blame: Attorneys for murder suspect Zachary Adams (pictured left in court on Tuesday) argued that Holly Bobo's real killer was convicted sex offender Terry Britt, also known as 'Chester the Molester (pictured right in court on Monday)
Nursing student Holly Bobo was 20 when she disappeared from her family's home in Decatur County, Tennessee, in April 2011
The highlight of the eighth day of Zachary Adams trial came when the defense called to the stand Terry Dicus, the former lead investigator in the Holy Bobo case for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, who told the jury that the prosecution has the wrong person.
Dicus explained that he had ruled out the Adams siblings and a third man named Jason Autry as suspects in the murder early on based on cellphone data, reported the station WKRN.
'I was wasting my time investigating these idiots,' Dicus said, referring to the trio of men.
Instead, Dicus focused on Terry Britt, whose lengthy criminal record stretching back to the 1970s included multiple convictions for sex crimes.
Britt, known locally by the moniker 'Chester the Molester,' lived not far from Holly Bobos home in Decatur County, and according to Dicus, his alibi was garbage.'
When interviewed about his whereabouts on the day Bobo went missing, Britt claimed that he and his wife were doing work on their house, Dicus testified Tuesday.
Star defense witness: Terry Dicus, the former lead investigator in the Holy Bobo case for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, told the court Tuesday he had ruled out Adams as a suspect and focused on Britt
John Dick Adams, grandfather of Zachary Adams, testifies during day eight of the Holly Bobo murder trial, Tuesday, September 19, in Savannah, Tennessee
Karen and Dana Bobo, parents of Holly Bobo, walk out of the Hardin County Circuit Courtroom after recess was called for the end of day eight of their daughter's murder trial Tuesday
Britt said that at one point, he and his wife went to a store to purchase a new bathtub, but Dicus said workers at that store could not recall seeing anyone matching Britt's description on the day in question.
Investigators wired Britt's phone and searched his home with the help of cadaver dogs, which detected the scene of human decomposition near shovels, a hammer and an ax found on his property, but Dicus conceded that he did not think all the dogs were accurate.
Dicus, who was pulled from the case in 2013, also said he collected blonde hair from Britt's home, and noted that his criminal history included targeting eight women who resembled the blonde nursing student.
The strand of hairs, however, did not return a DNA match to Bobo, and Britt was never charged in the woman's killing.
On Monday, Britt, who is currently serving time for an unrelated kidnapping and attempted rape, was called to the stand as a witnesses for the prosecution, saying he had thought investigators would name him a suspect in the Bobo case based on his past offenses, reported WZTV.
The jury heard on Monday from Adams' former cellmate Shawn Cooper, who said Zachary told him he was involved in the 'Holly Bobo murder case' in 2014
Britt said he had an alibi and backed up his claim by providing a receipt from the All Goods store, where he said he was shopping with his wife the day Bobo disappeared.
The jury also heard on Monday from Shawn Cooper, who was being held at the Chester County Jail in March 2014 in an unrelated case when Zachary Adams was brought there after being charged in Bobo's killing.
Cooper was awaiting transfer to Obion County Jail when he says Adams told him he was involved in the 'Holly Bobo murder case.'
Cooper said Adams told him his brother was being held in Obion County Jail, and asked him to relay to John that he should stay quiet or he would 'put him in a hole beside her.'
Cooper said those statements upset him.
Acquaintances and friends of Zachary Adams - as well as fellow jail inmates - have testified that Adams made comments about harming Bobo.
The defense could rest its case today and closing arguments could begin on Thursday.
The police officer who was filmed overreacting and arresting a nurse who refused to take blood from an unconscious patient without a warrant said on Tuesday that he wants to apologize.
On July 26 Salt Lake City Detective Jeff Payne's bodycam footage shows him cuffing nurse Alex Wubbels for refusing to take blood from an unconscious man because she couldn't get consent.
Payne's lawyer now tells KTVU that his client would 'love the chance to sit down and apologize for what happened here.
'If he could do this over, he would do it differently.'
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On July 26 Salt Lake City Detective Jeff Payne's bodyam footage shows him cuffing nurse Alex Wubbels (pictured) for refusing to take blood from an unconscious man because she couldn't get consent
Now, Detective Payne has said he would like to apologize for overreacting - saying if he could go back he would do it differently
In the video, recorded on July 26, Payne arrives at the hospital and demands a blood sample from a truck driver who was left unconscious in a burn unit after a car crash.
The driver's truck had been hit by a speeding car that had been involved in a police chase; Payne claims he wanted the sample to protect the man, not prosecute him.
Wubbels tells Payne that she can't take the sample until the man regains consciousness and consents - unless the cop has a warrant or the man is under arrest.
She makes calls to her University of Utah supervisors who say the same thing.
He doesn't have a warrant, but puts her on the phone with his lieutenant - James Tracey- who says she will be arrested if she doesn't comply.
When she refuses again, Payne grabs her and drags her outside, cuffing her hands behind her back as she screams 'I've done nothing wrong!'
In the video, recorded on July 26, Payne arrives at the hospital and demands a blood sample from a truck driver who was left unconscious in a burn unit after a car crash. When Wubbels refused he became violent
Other hospital staff are seen asking why she's being arrested, but Wubbels later said that the hospital security and university police did nothing to intervene.
She later told The Associated Press: 'This cop bullied me. He bullied me to the utmost extreme. And nobody stood in his way.'
An investigation by a civilian review board found that Payne had become frustrated after a long wait to draw the blood.
That frustration is why he in turn ignored the nurse's correct explanation that she couldn't allow him to take the blood without a warrant or formal consent from the unconscious patient.
The patient had been involved in a car crash, and Payne wanted to check his blood for drugs and alcohol.
Wubbels tells Payne that she can't take the sample until the man regains consciousness and consents - unless the cop has a warrant or the man is under arrest
Other hospital staff are seen asking why she's being arrested, but Wubbels later said that the hospital security and university police did nothing to intervene. She later told The Associated Press: 'This cop bullied me. He bullied me to the utmost extreme. And nobody stood in his way.' Wubbels is pictured on September 1 during an interview about the incident
The Salt Lake City police department apologized for the arrest and changed their blood-draw policies. Additionally, both Payne and Tracy were placed on paid administrative leave.
An internal investigation found that the officers violated several policies - and Police Chief Mike Brown is weighting punishment options.
It is possible both will be fired.
This wasn't Payne's first offence on the job - in 2013 he harassed a department employee in a 'severe and persistent' manner, including several incidents of unwanted physical contact and an abusive email.
Payne's lawyer said he has had some issues - but that it was only part of his 27-year record with the department.
Keith Tharpe, 59, was sentenced to death back in 1991 over the brutal murder of his sister-in-law Jacquelin Freeman
A murderer on death row has requested a massive last meal before he is executed in Georgia next week.
Keith Tharpe, 59, was sentenced to death back in 1991 over the brutal murder of his sister-in-law Jacquelin Freeman.
His execution by lethal injection is scheduled to take place at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson next Tuesday.
Tharpe has requested to eat three spicy chicken breasts, a roast beef sandwich with sauce, a fish sandwich, tater logs, onion rings, an apple pie and a vanilla milkshake prior to his execution.
His scheduled death comes 27 years after he killed Freeman in Jones County on the morning of September 25, 1990.
Tharpe's wife had left him a month earlier due to their violent marriage. He had told her over the phone that if she wanted to 'play dirty', he would show her how.
He stopped his wife and Freeman, who was married to Tharpe's wife's brother, when they were driving to work.
His execution by lethal injection is scheduled to take place at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison (above) in Jackson next Tuesday
CALORIES IN THARPE'S LAST MEAL: Three spicy chicken breasts: 1,260 calories Roast beef sandwich: 341 calories Fish sandwich: 325 calories Tater logs (10 pieces): 275 calories Onion rings (100g): 411 calories Apple pie (1 slice): 296 calories Vanilla milkshake (11 ounce): 350 calories Total estimated calories: 3,258 Daily recommended intake: 2,500 Advertisement
Tharpe pulled Freeman from the car, threw her in a ditch and shot her three times.
He then kidnapped his wife and was accused of sexually assaulting her by the side of the road.
Tharpe was never convicted of any rape charges.
His wife managed to call police when he drove her to a bank to force her to withdraw money.
There have been 69 men and one woman executed in Georgia since the US Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976.
If executed, Tharpe will be the 48th inmate put to death by lethal injection. There are currently 56 men on death row in Georgia.
A clemency hearing will be held for Tharpe on Monday.
Patricia Austin, 78, was found in a bathroom stall two days after she went to the gym for a workout
A woman from Chicago was found dead at her gym two days after she entered the health club for a workout.
Patricia Austin, 78, was found in a bathroom stall just before 8pm on July 14 at Lifetime Fitness, said Marc Loftus, Burr Ridge deputy police chief.
Her membership card showed that she had entered the club two days earlier at around 7pm, on July 12.
Gym officials looked at surveillance video to see Austin entering the club but she was never seen leaving, while her car stayed in the parking lot the entire time.
It was only when another woman working out at the club used the bathroom and noticed feet peeking out from under one of the stalls that Austin was found.
According to the Chicago Tribune upon returning to the bathroom after her workout she noticed the feet were still there and raised the alarm.
Staff at the gym crawled into the toilet cubicle and found Austin unresponsive. It appeared that she had been dead for days.
Son, Terry, pictured with him mom, left, is questioning the gym's practices and now it came that she was simply left to die without anyone knowing for two full days
Austin was pronounced dead at the scene. After an autopsy, the Cook County medical examiner's office ruled Austin died of natural causes, specifically atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease, according to a medical examiner spokeswoman.
The gym explained the fact the toilet stall was not checked sooner because it was thought to be out of order.
Staff also said that because the club was 24-hour, it was not uncommon for a stall to be in use while staff were cleaning.
During a press conference on Wednesday, the family's attorney, Mark Novak, told ABC Chicago the final autopsy report had not been issued and questions remain about whether Austin could have been saved if she was found earlier.
She was found just before 8pm on July 14 at Lifetime Fitness, pictured, in Burr Ridge, Chicago
Novak also wanted to know why no one noticed the woman in the bathroom when theclub closes between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. and when bathrooms are cleaned, according to Novak.
'Two straight days with that woman remaining in that stall is inconceivable to me,' said Novak. 'When you lock up the front door and you see a member's car sitting right by the entrance, I would think that it would occur to me that hey, we missed somebody, let's go back in, somebody is still in the club.'
The family are now asking to see all of the club's surveillance tapes in the hope of trying to piece together a timeline before the tragedy.
'We're filled with stress and frustration not having the answers that we desire,' said son Terrence Austin. 'We don't know how something like this can happen. Were there policies, procedures? Did they follow them? Why did this happen? How to prevent this from happening to someone else?'
A spokesman for Life Time Fitness, Jason Thunstrom, released a statement on Wednesday: 'We are terribly saddened by this tragedy and continue to have our heartfelt thoughts and prayers with the family.
'As a large facility with several thousand members visiting daily, it is not uncommon for bathroom stalls to be occupied as staff conducts their cleaning protocol. Out of respect for members, cleaning staff do not disturb individuals in occupied stalls.
'Moreover, cleaning staff rotates throughout the course of the day with responsibility for cleaning varying as shift changes occur. Finally, during the club's brief closure period each day, it is not uncommon for members to be completing their workouts and using bathroom facilities before departing, or for our staff members to be using the same bathroom facilities.'
Charlotte Brown died after a speedboat she was in during a date capsized in the Thames
Police probing the death of a woman who drowned after falling from a speedboat while on a date have charged a man with manslaughter by gross negligence.
Charlotte Brown, 24, was pulled from the River Thames in central London on the night of December 8th, 2015, but died later in hospital.
She was found in the river after a boat carrying her and her date capsized near Wandsworth Bridge. Neither were wearing life jackets, according to her family.
Police initially deemed Ms Brown's death non-suspicious, but it was confirmed earlier this year that they were investigating.
It emerged today that a 30-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter by gross negligence, and is due to appear in court next month.
A Met Police spokesman said: 'Jack Shepherd, 30, from Abergavenny, Wales, was charged by postal charge requisition. He will appear at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on October 18th.
'The charges relate to an incident at about 11.45pm on Tuesday December 8th, 2015.
'Police were called to reports of someone in distress in the River Thames near Wandsworth Bridge.'
The boat was recovered from the river. Ms Brown's family said she wasn't wearing a lifejacket
The spokesman added: 'Officers from Wandsworth borough and the Marine Support Unit attended alongside the National Police Air Service, the Coastguard, firefighters and paramedics.
'A man and a woman were recovered from the water and taken to hospital. The woman Charlotte Brown, 24, later died at hospital.'
Miss Brown, originally from Welling, south-east London, was described as a 'fun-loving' woman by her family.
Her father Graham Brown, who works for the Ministry of Justice as a prison manager, said earlier this year that there were unanswered questions that could prevent a similar tragedy from happening others.
He said: 'She died in the most tragic circumstances. It was 10pm on a full tide and they were wearing no lifejackets.'
Mr Brown began fundraising for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) followng the death of his daughter, known to friends as Charli, and raised 2,500 by running the Great Northern Run.
They may instill fear in thousands of people, but a spider's liquid gold could soon appear in households across the nation.
It is believed a tarantula spider's venom could be extracted and used successfully to cure chronic pain.
Flinders University researchers are exploring whether spider venom can be used to block pain as a new alternate medication, reported 9 News.
It is believed a tarantula spider's venom (pictured) could be extracted and used successfully to cure chronic pain
Researchers are hoping the venom can be used to create a new medication more effective than addictive oxycodone and morphine
Researchers hope a component in the venom could be used to create a new type of medication that is more effective than medications including oxycodone and morphine, which contain opioid.
The current medications are addictive and chronic pain patients build a tolerance to them over time.
'That can lead to overdoes in some cases and that's becoming an epidemic in the United States, and Australia unfortunately at the moment is following a similar line,' Associate Professor Stuart Brierley from Flinders University told the publication.
An estimated one in five Australians suffer from chronic pain and it is believed by using spider venom, there would be less side effects for patients.
While at least 70 per cent of people suffering from chronic pain can effectively manage it, there is hope the spider venom can potentially cure pain completely.
Lab trials have already show positive responses to the spider venom and researchers are looking to start clinical trials.
A Massachusetts man who was wanted for driving his car over the foot of a Massachusetts State Police officer last week was arrested mid-police chase when he stopped to apply for a job.
State police said they were in the middle of a car chase with Jose Jimenez, 26, when he stopped to fill out an application at Osprey Wireless in Westwood, Massachusetts, on Tuesday.
Jimenez, who was wanted for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, was arrested inside the store.
State police said they were in the middle of a car chase with Jose Jimenez, 26, when he stopped to fill out an application at Osprey Wireless in Westwood, Massachusetts on Tuesday.
Osprey employees said Jimenez asked several people if they had any open positions and started filling out an application
Police say that the man from Lawrence, Massachusetts, had fled a motor vehicle stop last Thursday, running over a trooper's foot with his green 1999 Toyota Camry as he drove away.
Troopers spotted him on Tuesday morning and took part in a car chase until Jimenez abandoned his vehicle outside Weston's Peterson School and ran into the nearby Osprey Wireless.
Osprey employees told CBS Boston that Jimenez asked several people if they had any open positions and started filling out an application.
Jimenez, who was wanted for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, was arrested inside the store
Witnesses said police were 'coming in from every direction'.
Officials finally approached Jimenez as he filled out the job application and said 'let's go', and he was taken into custody without further incident.
Jimenez is being held on a $250,000 cash bail and will be arraigned in Quincy District Court on Wednesday.
He was charged with failure to stop for police, operating a motor vehicle after revocation, operating to endanger, and speeding, as well as the assault with a vehicle charge from last week.
The mother of a young Western Australian woman who died in a scooter accident in Bali has pleaded with Indonesian police not to lay charges on the 27-year-old's boyfriend.
Sophia Martini died on Monday in a horrific scooter accident as she rode as a passenger in a scooter driven by her boyfriend, Steele Nugent.
The 23-year-old spent one night in police custody, but has not been named as a suspect and at this stage is still a witness, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Denpasar Traffic Chief, Commissioiner Rahmawaty Ismail told News Corp police were taking the letter into consideration.
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Sophia Martini (pictured) was killed in a horrific scooter crash in Bali, and her mother has written to Indonesian authorities, begging them to not press charges against her boyfriend
Ms Martini and Steele Nugent (pictured) had been in the tourist hub of Kuta attending a friend's wedding before the scooter they were riding spun out of control
'She said Steele and her daughter have a special relationship and she hopes we would not process the case,' he said.
Ms Martini's mother also requested to be able to bring her 27-year-old daughter's body home to Western Australia.
Police will investigate whether alcohol played a factor in the crash, but Mr Nugent is free to return to Australia under a promise he returns if requested.
The Commissioner explained to dismiss any possible charges against Mr Nugent would be a process called 'alternative dispute regulation' and would take place outside of a courtroom.
He says police are still deciding if they would grant Ms Martini's mother's wishes.
It is understood Mr Nugent, who escaped serious injury, had been riding the scooter (pictured) as Ms Martini sat behind him
Ms Martini and Mr Nugent had been celebrating a friend's wedding in the tourist hub of Kuta before tragedy struck on Monday morning, Nine News reported.
Mr Nugent, who escaped serious injury, is understood to have been riding the scooter as Ms Martini sat behind him. Both were wearing helmets.
Ms Martini, from Magnetic Island in Queensland, was rushed to hospital with horrific head injuries and heavy blood loss, but was pronounced dead shortly later.
Tributes have poured in for the woman, who one friend described as 'such a beautiful person taken from us way too soon'.
'This was the life that hardly begun, no time to find your place in the sun, no time to do all you could have done,' another wrote online.
'You were here one moment, then you were gone. It will be the little things I remember, the smiles, the laughter... Til we meet again, love you.'
These images show the damage to the scooter after the incident in Bali on Monday morning
Maggie Island Bootcamp wrote a tribute on Facebook to Ms Martini, who attended morning classes.
'We will all miss Soph terribly, a shining light of fun and always smiling. She particularly liked the most challenging of work outs, pushing herself and encouraging others along with her with that determined gentle spirit,' the post said.
'We love you Soph and will never forget you. Rest in Peace.'
The tragedy comes after 26-year-old Australian woman Ella Knights was killed in a scooter crash in North Kuta in April.
Police said a passer-by found Ms Knights lying face down in a gutter, with a Honda scooter found lying on its side nearby, the engine still running.
The tragedy comes after 26-year-old Australian woman Ella Knights was killed in a scooter crash in North Kuta in April
In 2016, Lochie Connaughton, from Orange Central West region of New South Wales, died when his scooter collided with a concrete separator in Kuta
In 2016, Lochie Connaughton, from Orange Central West region of New South Wales, died when his scooter collided with a concrete separator in Kuta.
Just weeks later, Melbourne firefighter Adrian Newton was killed when his scooter reportedly crashed into a garbage truck, also in Kuta.
On its SmartTraveller website, The Department of Foreign Affairs warns of the dangers of using motorbikes in Bali.
'A number of foreigners, including Australians, have been killed or seriously injured in motorcycle accidents in tourist areas, particularly in Bali,' the site reads.
Susan Wynne-Willson (pictured) allegedly waged a campaign of physical and mental abuse
The daughter of a Pink Floyd lighting engineer ran screaming 'no, no, no' from court after her mother was cleared of child cruelty charges against her and her brother.
Susan Wynne-Willson, 69, had been accused of a campaign of physical and mental abuse against two of her children which began in 1979 when they were living in North Yorkshire.
It was claimed Ms Wynne-Willson punched, kicked and bit the children when the family moved into a 'filthy squat' in Soho where legendary Floyd frontman Syd Barrett had also lived.
The mother-of-five, known in her 60s heyday as the 'Psychedelic Debutante', was accused of assaulting Rosa and Dan over 14 years.
Her children alleged 'sick' daily abuse included stuffing soiled underwear into her children's mouths and wrapping them in urine soaked sheets if they wet the bed.
She was accused of bouncing Rosa's head of the inside of a toilet bowl, poured cleaning products in her face and shoved her face in food.
Dan, now 40, said he was treated 'like a slave' around the house, had his head held underwater to stop him crying and was so savagely beaten he would soil himself.
Rosa claimed her mother was a 'monster' who told her children she would kill them in their sleep if they told anyone.
The children said they were so scared that when they were still aged under 10 they tried to eat plastic beads to kill themselves.
Former Pink Floyd and U2 lighting technician Peter Wynne Willson, 71, sobbed in court as he described how the children tried to do 'everything they could' to stop their mother's demeaning assaults.
Daniel Wynne-Willson (left) and Rosa Aguelo de Guero (right) are seen leaving Blackfriars Crown Court earlier in the trial
Peter said he was 'enthralled' with his 'tyrannical' former partner and regretted not doing more for his children when he was away touring.
He told Blackfiars Crown Court he still has 'actual scars' from when Wynne Willson was violent to him.
But a jury of six men and six women took three hours to acquit Wynne-Willson of five counts of child cruelty and three of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in relation to Rosa and adopted son Dan.
Wearing a grey jumper and purple jacket, she was ordered into the dock before being told she had been acquitted of all charges as Rosa and Dan watched on in the public gallery.
Rosa gasped, then screamed, then ran out of the court shouting 'no, no, no' on hearing the verdict.
Wynne-Willson took deep breaths, held her head in her hands, and looked over at her children when the verdicts were announced.
Peter Wynne-Willson (file picture) was away with Pink Floyd during the alleged incidents
The couple lived with Syd Barrett in a squat in Earlham Street, Soho and Wynne-Willson would play board games with the musician who created the psychedelic sound that made Pink Floyd famous.
After they had children they moved to large house in Yorkshire but had to to abandon their 'idyllic' and 'privileged' rural life and return to the squat with the children in 1981 when Peter's business got in financial difficulties.
During this time the couple lived next door to each other but with new partners and their life was 'complete chaos'.
As the family drama unfolded in the court, as eldest sister, Alice, who works for Greenpeace, after studying at Cambridge, said their childhood was 'dramatically different' from her siblings account.
Alice rounded on Rosa, calling her 'intimidating', 'bullying', 'manipulating' and a drug addict.
Wynne Willson said she found soiled pants in washing and claimed that she accidently fell forward and underwear went into Dan's mouth.
She admitted slapping Dan and throwing a toy elephant and biting at another daughter Poppy, who was not named as a victim on the indictment and throwing water at her kids.
But she denied the extent of torment Dan and Rosa were alleging.
She wept as she told jurors she was left 'alone', 'isolated' and depressed' by her husband's long absences and lack of involvement around the house.
Ms Wynne-Willson's eldest daughter Alice (shown) defended her mother in court
'I was out of control. I was completely on the verge of insanity,' she said.
She said the allegations were 'beyond commenting on, 'absolutely ridiculous and extreme.'
She denied she was 'frequently violent' to Daniel and Rosa, claiming that her daughter was 'fantastical' in her allegations.
'No there was not frequent violence and Rosie has made a lot of very very damaging, exaggerated and fantastical allegations,' she said.
'I am really sorry to be here in court, it is not what I wanted to be doing.
'I just wanted my children to be happy and okay.'
There are no records of the children being treated in hospital for any injuries, no record of concerns at their school, no police reports from the time and Wynne Willson has no previous convictions.
Judge Rajeev Shetty told Wynne-Willson: 'You have been acquitted by this jury of all charges, you are discharged and free to go.'
Wynne-Willson, of Gospel Oak, was found not guilty of five counts of child cruelty and three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm between 1979 and 1993.
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Belarus has insisted its ally Russia 'won't wage war' as 100,000 of Vladimir Putin's troops continue to stage military drills on the Polish border and Lithuania warned the Kremlin is 'training its army to attack the West'.
War games code named 'Zapad' or 'West' are taking place near Minsk amid Nato fears Moscow is using the training as a cover to station soldiers and equipment in the country.
Russia's neighbours have said they fear Moscow could use the exercises as a rehearsal for an occupation of adjacent nations like Poland, Ukraine or the three Baltic republics - all of which were under Moscow's rule before the Communist Soviet Union broke up in 1991.
Belarus has insisted its ally Russia 'won't wage war' as 100,000 of Vladimir Putin's troops continue to stage military drills on the Polish border and Lithuania warned the Kremlin is 'training its army to attack the West'
Aerial bombardment: War games code named 'Zapad' or 'West' are taking place in Belarus amid Nato fears Moscow is using the training as a cover to station soldiers and equipment in the country
Explosive: Shells explode during the Zapad (West) 2017 Russia-Belarus military exercises at the Borisovsky range in Borisov, Belarus, today
Military power: Tanks could be seen rumbling across open land in Belarus - which borders Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine - amid fears Putin is planning on leaving troops in the country when the games are over
The Kremlin has repeatedly said the exercises, which began on September 14, are purely defensive in nature and do not target a third country or group of countries.
Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko added today: 'The attempt to discredit the exercises is extremely unprofessional.
'We won't wage war on anyone. Do not expect any attack from us - especially on Ukraine,' he told reporters at a firing range 47 miles east of Belarus's capital Minsk after overseeing the last day of Zapad manoeuvres.
'All the troops will be back to the sites of their permanent deployment,' he said, dressed in camouflage uniform as supreme commander.
'In a week, this issue will become irrelevant.'
The Kremlin has repeatedly said the exercises, which began on September 14, are purely defensive in nature and do not target a third country or group of countries. A Ka-52 Alligator military helicopter fires missiles during the war games at a range near the town of Borisov in Belarus
Show of force: Belarussian servicemen stand in line during the Zapad 2017 war games at a range near the town of Borisov, Belarus
Attention: Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko (left) insists there is not a plan to 'wage war' amid fears the country and its ally Russia is rehearsing for an occupation of neighbouring countries
Russia's neighbours have said they fear Moscow could use the exercises as a rehearsal for an occupation of adjacent nations like Poland, Ukraine or the three Baltic republics - all of which were under Moscow's rule before the Communist Soviet Union broke up in 1991
The U.S.-led Nato alliance has said the drills lack transparency and the number of troops taking part could be much larger than the 12,700 servicemen declared by Moscow and Minsk.
Poland and the Baltics are now members of NATO and the European Union, while Ukraine is pursuing such ties.
On an overcast and rainy day, Lukashenko watched from a vantage point as allied troops of Russia and Belarus repelled a simulated attack by forces of three fictitious neighbouring nations on Belarus.
Aircraft zeroed in on ground targets after mock dogfighting, after which a ground offensive unfolded.
The U.S.-led Nato alliance has said the drills lack transparency and the number of troops taking part could be much larger than the 12,700 servicemen declared by Moscow and Minsk. This was the scene as shells exploded at Borisov during the drills
Disciplined: Russian servicemen stand in line as they prepare to take part in the joint war games in Belarus
Poland and the Baltics are now members of NATO and the European Union, while Ukraine is pursuing such ties. Helicopters can be seen taking part in the joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises today
The Kremlin said on Wednesday it had provided exhaustive information on the exercises before they were held to the military attaches of all interested countries and allowed their observers to attend the event to allay any concerns
Hours earlier, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite made the exercises the centrepiece of her annual speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
'Even as we speak, around 100,000 Russian troops are engaged in offensive military exercise 'Zapad 2017' on the borders of the Baltic States, Poland and even in the Arctic,' she said.
'The Kremlin is rehearsing aggressive scenarios against its neighbours, training its army to attack the West. The exercise is also part of information warfare aimed at spreading uncertainty and fear.'
The Kremlin said on Wednesday it had provided exhaustive information on the exercises before they were held to the military attaches of all interested countries and allowed their observers to attend the event to allay any concerns.
The Zapad 2017 exercises, held jointly by Russia and Belarus, got underway Thursday at several firing ranges in both countries and run through Wednesday.
Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo also voiced disquiet at the exercises and said Warsaw opposed any lifting of Western sanctions imposed on Russia over its annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and role in its separatist conflict
The drills have rattled some NATO members, including the Baltic states and Poland, who have criticized an alleged lack of transparency about the war games and questioned Moscow's intentions
Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko, second left, speaks to Belarus-Russia's top officers as they arrive at the Zapad (West) 2017 joint Russia-Belarus military exercises today
'I think that upon receiving this information Ms. Grybauskaite will have a chance to change her point of view,' President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo also voiced disquiet at the exercises and said Warsaw opposed any lifting of Western sanctions imposed on Russia over its annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and role in its separatist conflict.
'We are very concerned by what is happening in Belarus, from the exercises there,' Szydlo said during a visit to Bulgaria.
A 15-year-old Washington boy pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder this week after police say he shot and killed a classmate and wounded three others in a Sept. 13 school shooting.
Caleb Sharpe, a sophomore at the 300-student Freeman High School near Rockford, Wash. had carried a handgun, a semi-automatic rifle, and multiple boxes of ammunition with him in a duffel bag he took onto the school bus that morning, police said. When the rifle jammed, he began shooting with the handgun, police said. He stopped shooting when he was subdued by a school janitor, officials said.
While every act of school violence has unique attributes, the Freeman High School shooting follows some patterns that have been common in other attacks. Experts on school security and risk assessment say being mindful of such patterns can help educators and policymakers understand the value of things like mental health interventions and the limitations of common, costly school security measures, like expensive building upgrades.
School shooters often leak their intentions in advance.
The cliche that school shooters are good people who just snapped is generally inaccurate, psychologists say.
The path to a violent mass attack often starts with a relatable frustration that grows through cultivation and study by the attacker, Anders Goranson, a psychologist and threat-assessment specialist, said in a 2014 lecture. And attackers usually experience leakage before they act, giving indications that they are planning to do something, he said.
A 2002 report by the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center analyzed 37 school attacks that occurred between 1974 and 2000. Researchers concluded that attackers in 31 of those events had told at least one person about their plans beforehand. In 22 cases, two or more people knew about the planned attack in advance, the study concluded. In nearly all cases, the people who shooters told of their intentions were classmates, siblings, and friends of the attackers, it said.
Thats why states like Colorado have seen success with tip lines that allow students to anonymously report concerns that their peers are having violent or suicidal thoughts.
Court records and media accounts summarize the ways Sharpe signaled his intentions, and how his actions raised concerns among his peers and teachers:
I always knew you were going to shoot up the school, one of Sharpes classmates said before he shot him , according to court records. You know that is going to get you in trouble.
, according to court records. You know that is going to get you in trouble. The shooting came after troubling behavior by Sharpe that the documents and his classmates detailed, The Seattle Times reports. They say he brought notes to school about doing something stupid, was obsessed with past school shootings and posted videos online that showed him playing with guns.
Sharpe had been meeting with a counselor and had written a suicide note at home, the paper reported.
Sharpe bragged about his access to guns, several local media outlets reported.
The shooter got his gun from a relatives unlocked safe.
Sharpe apparently got his weapons from his fathers gun safe , the Spokesman-Review reports.
Its not unusual for school shooters to use legally purchased guns that they bought or took from a relative.
That was the case for the Montana student who shot his principal, John Moffatt, in 1986 with a gun that was left unsecured in a relatives truck.
Moffatt is part of a growing campaign of educators who oppose laws that would allow more teachers to arm themselves . Violence could more effectively be prevented with public education campaigns about how to safely store and secure guns, that group says. Thats the focus of a campaign by the PTA, which teaches local groups about responsible gun storage.
Physical school security measures arent always enough.
Its unlikely that increased physical security measures at the school would have stopped the shooting. Thats because, as a student, Sharpe could easily pass through its entrance, as the Spokesman-Review reported.
While a metal detector would have tipped school officials off to the guns police say Sharpe had in his bag, its unlikely that a small, rural high school would have such equipment. About 95 percent of middle schools and 89 percent of high schools restricted access to their buildings during school hours in 2013-14, according to the most recent federal data available. But just 9 percent of high schools and about 8 percent of middle schools did random metal detector checks that year, that data show. And theres good reason for that: Such equipment is expensive and civil rights groups have said it creates a military-like school environment that isnt conducive to learning.
That doesnt stop policymakers from responding to school shootings by pushing new mandates for things like sophisticated locks and shatterproof glass in school buildings. But school safety experts say the human elementtraining for staff and proper supports for studentsare the most important steps can take to improve safety.
Photo: Parents gather in the parking lot behind Freeman High School in Rockford, Wash., to wait for their children, after a deadly shooting at the high school on Sept. 13. --Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review via AP
Related reading on school shootings and school violence:
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A California woman battling cancer is in danger of losing her life due to US immigration authorities repeatedly denying her sister a travel visa to America.
Helen Huynh was diagnosed with myeloid leukemia, an oncological condition that affects bone marrow, on Valentine's Day 2017.
Despite the grim prognosis, doctors at the University of California Irvine Medical Center were confidant they could treat the illness.
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Helen Huynh (pictured in bed), 60, may succumb to her form of cancer due to the federal government rejecting her sister's visa application
They told the Huynh family that a stem cell transplant could save Helen's life. UCI physicians said what was required was a person that had a 70 per cent genetic match in order to conduct the proceedure.
'My aunt happened to be the exact match - 100 per cent,' Yvonne AiVan Murray, Huynh's daughter, told The Washington Post.
The US government says they are not certain that Helen Huynh's sister, Thuy, would return to Vietnam once her visa expires
'We were all like, 'Hallelujah! All we have to do is fly her here,''' Murray explained to The Post. 'And that's when everything fell apart.'
Huynh's sister, Thuy, lives in Vietnam and has never been to the United States. In the last year, Thuy has repeatedly applied for a visa to enter into America - each time being rejected by authorities.
Letters written by the federal government explaining their decision say that given Thuy's circumstances, they are not confidant she would return to Vietnam once her visa expires.
'Evidence may come in many forms, but when considered together, it must be enough for the interviewing officer to conclude that the applicant's overall circumstances, including social, family, economic and other ties abroad, will compel him or her to leave the United States at the end of the temporary stay,' the letter stated.
'Regrettably, Ms. Nguyen was unable to establish to the satisfaction of the interviewing officer that her employment, financial and family situation in Vietnam constituted sufficient ties to compel her to depart the United States.'
Helen Huynh's family say that the federal government has abandoned them and their mother
Doctors at UC Irvine Medical Center have attempted to interject on Helen's behalf, urging the government to reconsider their position
Doctors say that Helen's sister, Thuy, should be let in the United States for 'humanitarian reasons'
'It's stupid,' Murray said. 'They are looking at you and want to see you went out of your country and came back. But in my aunt's case, she's had no interest in visiting other countries... She's not poor, but that's the mentality that these interviewers have: If you are from a less developed country, you won't leave.'
Now, the family says that they have been abandoned by the US, believing that they have been caught in the middle of a bureaucratic nightmare which could cost Huynh her life.
'We feel betrayed... We feel like we're doing everything we can, we can show that we are Americans, yet there is only one thing preventing us from getting the stem cell transplant, and that's the US government,' said Murray.
So far, US immigration authorities have denied Thuy's application for a visa three times.
Doctors for Huynh, 60, have attempted to interject on her behalf, writing letters to the US government pleading with them to let her sister into the country for 'humanitarian reasons.'
'This patient will benefit from a life-saving procedure utilizing stem cells,' a physician from UCI Medical Center wrote in an August letter. 'For humanitarian reasons, we are requesting the patient's sister . . . be granted a Temporary Visa to enter the United States so that she can assist in donating her stem cells to save our patient's life.'
The family (Pictured: Daughter Sharon Adams, husband Vien Huynh, daughter Tiffany Huynh, daughter Yvonne AiVan Murray)
'This is a very urgent matter,' another doctor from City of Hope Medical Center added in a separate June letter. 'Time is of the essence.'
In a last ditch effort, the family has hired an immigration lawyer to help with the process, but are realistic about their chances.
'Nothing is for sure right now,' Murray said. 'Honestly, at this point, we're so frustrated. If my aunt was approved the first time, my mom would be well.'
The family has started a GoFundMe page to help pay for expenses associated with Helen Huynh's medical fees and legal bills.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday he has reached a decision on the fate of the Iran nuclear deal negotiated under President Barack Obama - but not what it is.
A day after he called that deal, reached along with Iran and five other countries an 'embarrassment,' Trump faced questions about his intentions following a meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah outside the United Nations General Assembly.
'I have decided,' Trump said when asked about his plans for the deal. He repeated the statement three times.
Pressed on what his decision was, Trump smiled and said: 'I'll let you know what the decision is.'
President Donald Trump said Wednesday he has reached a decision on the fate of the Iran nuclear deal negotiated under President Barack Obama, but wouldn't reveal his decision
Iran is prepared to jump start nuclear activities that are prohibited by the deal negotiated with six powers including the U.S. should the deal fall apart.
'Iran is ready for any possible scenarios if Trump walks out of the deal. That includes immediately resuming its nuclear work that was curbed under the deal,' a senior Iranian official told Reuters.
Trump blasted the deal as 'one-sided' when he delivered a fiery speech to the General Assembly where he called Iran a 'murderous regime' and went after 'Rocket man' Kim Jong-un in North Korea.
'I don't think you've heard the last of it,' he said about the Iran deal.
UN ambassador Nikki Haley told CBS that didn't mean Trump was certain to withdraw. 'It's not a clear signal that he plans to withdraw. What it is, is a clear signal that he's not happy with the deal,' she said.
Nuclear inspectors at the IAEA declared in a report that came out late last month that there was no evidence Iran was not in compliance with the agreement.
Trump unleashed broadside after broadside against Iran on Tuesday at the United Nations, warning that the 'rogue state' is still racing toward the completion of a nuclear weapon that would destabilize the entire Middle East.
During speech to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, President Donald Trump hinted that the 'rogue state' of Iran is still racing toward the completion of a nuclear weapon
President Donald Trump meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during the U.N. General Assembly in New York, U.S., September 20, 2017. He answered a question about the Iran deal after the meeting
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, U.S. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster and White House senior adviser Jared Kushner listen as U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Jordan's King Abdullah during the U.N. General Assembly in New York, U.S., September 20, 2017
Iranian president Hassan Rouhani (left), shown shaking hands with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Monday, warned that exiting the Obama administration's nuclear agreement 'would carry a high cost for the United States of America'
'Major portions of the world are in conflict, and some in fact are going to hell,' he said, in a speech to the General Assembly that included direct attacks on Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and Cuba.
The Obama administration entered into an agreement with Tehran and five other world powers in 2016, which it said would prevent Iran's rise as a nuclear military power.
Iran says it has a right to peaceful nuclear development for electric power, and denies that it is pursuing weapons.
The nation agreed to limit its number of nuclear centrifuges and to stop building heavy-water reactors for 15 years.
Amid doubts that Iran is keeping up its end of the bargain, the Trump White House has suggested that the deal needs to be scrapped if it can't be renegotiated with tougher safeguards against cheating.
'We cannot let a murderous regime continue these destabilizing activities while building dangerous missiles. And we cannot abide by an agreement if it provides cover for the eventual construction of a nuclear program,' Trump said, drawing applause from leaders of more than 180 nations in the room.
'The Iran deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into. Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the United States and I don't think you've heard the last of it, believe me,' he said.
'It's time for the entire world to join us in demanding that Iran's government end its pursuit of death and destruction.'
Big fan: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahucalled Trump's speech 'courageous'
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told CNN on Monday exiting the Obama administration's agreement 'would carry a high cost for the United States of America, and I do not believe Americans would be willing to pay such a high cost for something that will be useless for them.'
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, blasted Trump after his speech.
'By suggesting he would revisit and possibly cancel the Iran nuclear agreement, he greatly escalated the danger we face from both Iran and North Korea,' she said in a statement.
'What nation would negotiate with the United States when the agreements we reach with other countries are so easily undermined?'
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump.
'In over 30 years in my experience with the UN, I never heard a bolder or more courageous speech,' he said in a statement.
'President Trump spoke the truth about the great dangers facing our world and issued a powerful call to confront them in order to ensure the future of humanity.'
Trump also castigated Iran's mullahs on Tuesday for confiscating oil revenues and shunting the money to terrorist groups and other villainous regimes.
'The Iranian government masks a corrupt dictatorship behind the false guise of a democracy,' he said. 'It has turned a wealthy country with a rich history and culture into an economically depleted rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed and chaos.'
'The longest suffering victims of Iran's leaders are, in fact, its own people. Rather than use its resources to improve Iranian lives, its oil profits go to fund Hezbollah and other terrorists that kill innocent Muslims and attack their peaceful Arab and Israeli neighbors.'
'This wealth, which rightly belongs to Iran's people, also goes to shore up Bashar al-Assad's dictatorship, fuel Yemen's civil war and undermine peace throughout the Middle East,' he said.
'It is time for the regime to free all Americans and citizens of other nations that they have unjustly detained. And above all, Iran's government must stop supporting terrorists, begin serving its own people and respect the sovereign rights of its neighbors.'
After the speech, Trump told reporters: 'I think it went really well. I said what I had to say,' according to the Fox News Channel.
A husband accused of strangling his wife to death at their family home may have researched criminal defense strategies before her death.
Curtis Ray Nichols, 35, is accused of murdering wife Robin, also 35, at their Utah home back in August while their children, aged two, five and seven were inside.
He claims he is innocent, saying that on the night of August 24 he left to get McDonald's and returned to find Robin's body.
Now investigators believe they have uncovered evidence that he was researching ways to escape a murder conviction shortly before Robin died.
Curtis Ray Nichols, 35, is accused of strangling wife Robin to death at their family home in Utah while their children aged two, five and seven were inside
Nichols (pictured in court last week) denies being responsible for the killing, saying he came home to find his wife's cold, lifeless body
Four days after her body was discovered police say a librarian rang them after recognizing Nichols' face from news stories.
The woman said Nichols had been in her library with Robin and was using the public computers 'for some time', according to a warrant seen by Desert News.
When officers went to interview her, she gave them copies of papers that Nichols had printed 'concerning case law and extreme emotional distress defenses.'
She said he had also been copying newspaper articles, but 'was being very secretive' about what he was doing.
Robin was found with broken bones in her neck consistent with strangulation, cops say
'I believe there is information that Curtis may be researching a defense strategy or other ways to hinder, delay, or prevent the prosecution for crimes he has been charged with,' the investigating officer concluded.
The news emerged as Nichols was allowed to remain on bail after relatives paid a $100,000 bond in cash.
Lawyers had attempted to get him sent back to jail, arguing he was a danger to himself and his children, KUTV 2 reports.
The judge deferred his ruling until a later date, so in the meantime Nichols will remain a free man.
The station also reported that on the night of the killing, Nichols was found to have marks on his arms and forehead that looked like scratch marks.
When asked, he said they had come from when he was working in the kitchen.
A DNA sample taken from under Robin's fingernails was a match for Nichols.
Forensic investigation also showed bones in Robin's neck were broken, consistent with strangulation, and that there was no sign of a break-in at the home.
Nichols is due back in court on September 25.
About 50 refugees being held in camps on Manus Island and Nauru will be welcomed to start afresh in the United States.
In a deal struck between Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the Obama administration, some of the asylum seekers left stranded by Australia will be accepted as refugees into the US.
While the initial number is only a small fraction of the nearly 1200 men, women and children in the island detention centres, Mr Turnbull said more would be taken in over time.
Asylum seekers staring seen from behind a fence at the Manus Island detention centre
In a speech shared to his social media accounts on Wednesday night, he thanked US President Donald Trump for agreeing to honour the deal that was famously almost lost during a testy phone call between the world leaders.
'I thank the President and the United States for honouring the deal,' he said.
'Vetting and processing by the United States will continue, and further decisions by US authorities in respect of others are expected in due course.'
Nearly 800 men are being held on Manus, and 371 men, women and children are detained on Nauru, according to Australian immigration data as of July 31.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has thanked President Trump for honouring the deal
The camps' conditions have been widely criticised by refugee advocates and medical professionals, who say some asylum-seekers suffer from mental health problems due to their prolonged detention.
A PNG court ruled last year that holding people on Manus was unconstitutional, and Canberra is set to shut the camp in October.
In the lead-up to the closure of the camp, asylum seekers on the island have reported they have lost electricity and clean water in what they see as a move to force them out.
Tensions have been high between locals and asylum seekers, as those detained in the camps complain of attacks on the processing centres and dangerous conditions in the community.
The 'deal' between Australia and the United States involved the US accepting up to 1250 refugees in Papua New Guinea and Nauru, in return for Australia taking asylum seekers from Central America.
More than 1600 refugees have expressed interest in the US resettlement deal, but it remains unclear what will happen to those not taken by the United States.
Asked about the fate of the leftover refugees, Mr Turnbull insisted Australia's resettlement deal with Cambodia was still on offer.
Security fences surround buildings inside the Manus Island detention centre in PNG
Up to seven refugees have taken up the offer to resettle there but the majority have instead chosen to return to their countries of origin.
Australia allocated $55 million to the Cambodia deal which is largely seen as a failure.
Amnesty International urged Washington to take as many refugees as possible to ensure 'not a single person is left behind'.
'Amnesty International acknowledges the US for giving people a genuine chance at settling and restarting their lives in a safe place,' said the group's refugee coordinator Graham Thom.
US President Donald Trump has agreed to take in the refugees after a testy phone call this year
'But for the sake of those still living in the harmful conditions on Nauru and Manus we are urging the US to take as many people off these islands as possible.'
The Human Rights Law Centre echoed these sentiments, saying while some now had hope, the majority remained in limbo.
'In signing the US deal our government was rightly conceding that it couldn't just abandon people on Nauru and Manus forever,' said the centre's director of legal advocacy Daniel Webb.
'That was an important and long overdue concession. Now, it is our government's responsibility to make sure not a single person is left behind. Not one life can be abandoned in limbo.'
Bryan Lee Batchelor, 48, has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault against a public servant and one count of evading arrest with a vehicle
A Northeast Texas man was arrested Sunday after investigators say he shot two deputies who responded to reports that he had threatened firefighters who were trying to extinguish the flames ravaging his home.
Bowie County Chief Deputy Jeff Neal says deputies Westin Fannin and Eric McMillian responded to reports of a house fire in the 4600 block of Farm to Market 44 East in DeKalb at around 12.30am Sunday.
The owner of the burning home, 48-year-old Bryan Lee Batchelor, allegedly informed the volunteer firefighters he did not want them to put out the blaze, pointed a gun at them, then jumped in his truck and drove into a pasture to elude deputies as they arrived on the scene.
While McMillian and Fannin were searching for Batchelor, their patrol unit got stuck in a field, at which point Batchelor allegedly rammed the deputies' vehicle and fired several rounds at them.
The deputies returned fire and were wounded in the exchange, but not critically, according to a press release from the sheriffs office.
Batchelor sped off from the scene and was spotted on County Road 4241 by another deputy, who saw that the suspect intended to ram his patrol unit, according to the news release.
Scroll down for video
Deputies down: Batchelor is accused of shooting and wounding Bowie County Sheriff's deputies Westin Fannin (left) and Eric McMillian (right)
Pile of debris: This is that was left of Batchelor's home in DeKalb, Texas, after he allegedly refused to let firefighters extinguish the flames ravaging the property Sunday
Smashed: Batchelor is accused of ramming three Bowie County Sheriff's patrol units with his vehicle during a wild chase
Video courtesy of KLTV
Deputy Clint Freeman tried to get out of the way to avoid a collision, but Batchelor allegedly slammed into his patrol vehicle, rendering it unusable, and again fled.
Batchelor was later spotted driving along County Road 4236, where he crashed into a third patrol unit carrying two other deputies, according to the sheriffs office.
A second gun battle ensued, which concluded with Batchelor' arrest. The 48-year-old man was transported to a hospital to be treated for injuries.
Deputies Fannin and McMillian, who were wounded in the initial gunfire exchange with the suspect, were treated for minor injuries and released from the hospital the same day.
This is truly a bad situation, that only by the grace of God nobody was killed! wrote Bowie County Sheriff James Prince wrote on his Facebook page.
Surrounded: Batchelor was eventually cornered County Road 4236 and apprehended after exchanging fire with deputies
The 48-year-old Batchelor remains jailed on bond totaling more than $3million
Deputies Fannin (pictured left with his girlfriend) and McMillian (right) sustained non-life-threatening gunshot wounds and were released from the hospital Sunday
Batchelor has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault against a public servant and one count of evading arrest with a vehicle. He is currently being held on bonds totaling more than $3million, as the station KLTV reported.
in the days leading up to his arrest, Batchelor' had written a series of increasingly vitriolic and foul-mouth posts on Facebook accusing his wife of being unfaithful to him and trying to take away his home and land.
In a status update dated September 13, Batchelor wrote that he had stolen all of the guns from his brother's home and was headed to his own house.
You mother f****** think that y'all can make me sell my house and land because my wife wants to be a b**** and spread her legs I will be there about 7:30 come get it you mother*****s [sic].
Batchelors house burned to the ground in Sundays fire.
A wacky inventor has taken bottle rockets to the next level, by propelling his trike-cum-dragster to speeds of more than 160 miles per hour using water alone.
Francois Gissy reached a speed of 162mph on his homemade water-powered trike - the invention accelerating from zero to 100kph in just 0.55 seconds.
The 35-year-old French daredevil said that he has been planning to launch a large water-propelled rocket since 2009 - and on July 14 of this year, Francois got his chance.
Francois Gissy reached a speed of 162mph on his homemade water-powered trike - the invention accelerating from zero to 100kph in just 0.55 seconds
The 35-year-old French daredevil said that he has been planning to launch a large water-propelled rocket since 2009 - and on July 14 of this year, Francois got his chance
The stunt was performed at the Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet, France, where Francois said he became the first person in the world to ride a high-performance, cold-water rocket dragster.
In order to ride the invention, the driver had to fill it up 76 times with collected rainwater.
Francois, the brother of two physics teachers, said: 'Water rockets are very easy and popular.
'It is an entertaining means to get the attention of schoolboys and explain to them the basics of rocket propulsion and Newton's laws.
'In case of the trike, it is water that is contained in a tank, under pressure of compressed air.
The stunt was performed at the Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet, France, where Francois said he became the first person in the world to ride a high-performance, cold-water rocket dragster
In order to ride the invention, the driver had to fill it up 76 times with collected rainwater
In order to propel Francois' invention, the water needed to escape through the rocket at a high velocity
'Exactly like the water rockets at school, using soda bottles and compressed air, only much bigger.'
In order to propel Francois' invention, the water needed to escape through the rocket at a high velocity.
Because water is dense, a reactive force in a given direction can be interesting, Francois said - shown most clearly through the incredible acceleration the trike had off the line.
In the past, there have been a number of 'super-heated' dragsters that have been powered by hot water, Francois said, but these cannot be directly compared to the Frenchman's invention, which used much colder rainwater.
Because water is dense, a reactive force in a given direction can be interesting, Francois said - shown most clearly through the incredible acceleration the trike had off the line
Moving forward, Francois hopes to continue working on a new invention: A super-heated and very powerful rocket attached to a trike
Moving forward, Francois hopes to continue working on a new invention: A super-heated and very powerful rocket attached to a trike.
In order to make that 'monster,' however, the inventor needs to raise additional funds.
With the same principals and on a bigger scale, Francois feels it would be possible to beat the existing records on a quarter mile, which, he said, was set in 1977, in the desert, by a hydrogen peroxide rocket propelled dragster.
Of his June, 2017, feat, Francois said: 'It felt awesome!
'The a** kicking effect on the first meters is pretty cool.'
The senator behind Republicans' latest effort to repeal and replace the Obamacare law has fired back at Jimmy Kimmel after the late night TV host called him a liar.
Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy insisted on Wednesday that his bill passes the 'Jimmy Kimmel test.'
During an appearance on CNN's 'New Day program,' Cassidy said more people would be covered under his health care legislation.
'I'm sorry he does not understand,' Cassidy said of Kimmel.
He insisted that that his proposal would 'protect those with pre-existing conditions.'
Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy said Wednesday morning on CNN that late-night host Jimmy Kimmel 'does not understand' the Obamacare replacement bill he panned Tuesday night
Cassidy insisted that his bill would cover sick children like Kimmel's son, who was morn in April with a congenital heart defect
Kimmel made a plea on his program in May that no child should be denied medical care under an Obamacare replacement.
Cassidy was a guest on Kimmel's show after the late-night comedian revealed that his newborn son underwent open-heart surgery due to a congenital defect just hours after he was born on April 21.
In an appeal to politicians not to do away with the Affordable Health Care Act, Kimmel said in May that his family's ordeal made him aware of the need for free healthcare for children.
'I hope you never have to go there but if you do you'll see so many kids from so many financial backgrounds being cared for so well with so much compassion.
'If your baby is going to die it should't matter how much money you make,' he said then.
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, the bill's other Senate sponsor, said Kimmel regurgitated a 'liberal talking point' about the legislation without contacting Cassidy to hear him out
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel accused a Republican senator spearheading the latest effort to repeal Obamacare of 'lying to my face' on Tuesday
During Kimmel's May 1 broadcast, Cassidy told him that he would only back a health care measure that passed 'the Jimmy Kimmel test', which the senator said would enable a sick child 'in the first year of life' to be covered for cases like that which affected Billy Kimmel regardless of income level.
On Tuesday Kimmel claimed that 'this guy, Bill Cassidy, just lied right to my face.'
'I don't know what happened,' Kimmel said. 'Not only did he fail "the Jimmy Kimmel test," he failed the Bill Cassidy test.'
'It seemed like he was being honest,' Kimmel said of Cassidy on Tuesday.
Kimmel claimed said the new legislation being pushed by Cassidy and Graham did not fulfill the promises Cassidy made.
'Your child with the pre-existing condition will get the care he needs if and only if his father is Jimmy Kimmel. Otherwise, you might be screwed,' he said.
He went on to say how Cassidy had in the past promised coverage for all, no discrimination based on pre-existing conditions, lower premiums for middle-class families and no life-time caps.
'And guess what? The new bill does none of those things,' Kimmel said.
In an impassioned six-minute monologue on his ABC show, Kimmel tore into Senator Bill Cassidy (seen right appearing with Kimmel on his May 8 show) of Louisiana for promoting legislation that he claimed could result in millions of Americans losing their health insurance
Wednesday morning on 'Fox & Friend,' South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who is co-sponsoring Cassidy's Obamacare replacement bill, said Kimmel spoke out of turn.
Kimmel, he said, was 'describing Obamacare' when he complained about the lack of a guarantee of health care for everyone who needs it.
'About 70 per cent of the counties in this country are down to one provider. Many of them have lost all choice. Obamacare is collapsing around us,' he said.
'I understand the emotional nature of having a sick child,' he said of Kimmel, 'and we're all grateful your child is doing well.'
Cassidy was a guest on Kimmel's show after the late-night comedian revealed that his newborn son Billy underwent open-heart surgery due to a congenital defect just hours after he was born on April 21
Kimmel shared this photo of his son 'helping' him write his monologue on Tuesday
Watch the latest video at <a href="//video.foxnews.com">video.foxnews.com</a>
Graham said that insurance plans under his bill 'requires preexisting illnesses to be covered' through block grants to states. 'We run it through the CHIPs program, the children's health program that's been in existence for 20 years.'
'And I bet you this,' he addded.
'I bet you he never called Senator Cassidy and said would you please set this straight? I bet he looked at some liberal talking point, bought it hook, line, and sinker, and went after Bill Cassidy without talking to him, and I think that's unfair.'
Cassidy told Kimmel in May that he would only support a bill that provided coverage for all, didn't discriminate against those with pre-existing conditions, lowered premiums for middle-class families, and did away with lifetime caps.
Three hours after he was born, a sonogram revealed that a pulmonary valve in Billy's heart was completely blocked. Now the comedian says his son is doing well
Kimmel said on Tuesday that the latest attempt to repeal Obamacare meets none of those criteria.
'Before you post a nasty Facebook message saying Im politicizing my sons health problems, I want you to know: I am politicizing my sons health problems because I have to,' Kimmel said to applause from the live studio audience.
'My family has health insurance we dont have to worry about this, but other people do,' he said.
'So, you can shove your disgusting comments where your doctor wont be giving you a prostate exam once they take your health care benefits away.'
Police were called to the home of an Ohio State University student shortly after she was shot dead by her boyfriend in a murder-suicide but left without going inside.
The bodies weren't found until 24 hours later because officers opted not to forcibly enter the apartment.
The bodies of OSU psychology student Heather Campbell, 22, and Kyle Lafferty, 25, were found in their Taylor House apartment in Columbus at 2:30am on Sunday.
But a neighbor had called 911 at 2.34am on Saturday to report 'extreme arguing' followed by three gunshots coming from the couple's apartment.
Dead: The bodies of Heather Campbell, 22, and Kyle Lafferty, 25 (both pictured left), were found on Sunday. Cops say Lafferty, a Merchant Marine Officer, shot her, then himself
Courtesy WBNS-TV
Columbus police arrived at 2.40am but did not forcibly enter the apartment and left 24 minutes later.
'On 9/16/17, officers on 17 Precinct did respond to 5001 Olentangy River Road #149 on a report of gunshots, arguing and noises,' a statement from Columbus Police obtained by The Lantern said.
It continued: 'The responding officers did contact the neighbor who had called and the officers attempted to make contact with the residents of unit #149.
'At the time of the call, responding officers did not have sufficient probable cause to force entry into that location.'
Almost 24 hours later, at 2.33am on Sunday, Campbell's best friend called 911 after finding the couple dead.
She told a 911 dispatcher that she walked into the apartment because Campbell left her door unlocked 'every single day'.
'I haven't spoken to her since last night and I just walked in and she's just on the kitchen floor,' she told 911.
Found: Campbell was a nuclear engineer mate in the Navy, according to her Facebook page. Her neighbors had heard arguing and a gunshot before their bodies were found
Officers arrived at 2.40am on Sunday and pronounced the couple dead at 3.16am.
Police said in a statement to The Lantern that 'probable cause' is built on an officer's observations and information gathered from others.
'Columbus police officers must have sufficient probable cause to force entry into a home without a warrant,' police said in a statement. 'Warrantless entry can be made when officers are taking enforcement action such as an arrest or to render first aid or check on a person's well-being.'
Police said that Lafferty had killed Campbell before turning the gun on himself following a 'domestic related situation'.
Campbell had worked as a Nuclear Engineer Mate in the Navy since August 2016, according to her Facebook page.
On July 7 she posted up a photograph of herself with Lafferty, along with four heart emojis.
Scene of the crime: The incident occurred here, at the the Taylor House complex in Columbus, Ohio, on Sunday afternoon
Lafferty's Facebook page features no photos of the pair together, but does have a number of him in his uniform, with friends and family.
He graduated the US Merchant Marine Academy, a prestigious naval engineering school, in June 2015 after signing up in 2013.
Since then, the Merchant Marine Officer had worked at Kirby Offshore Marine in New Jersey, according to his Facebook page.
Neighbor Mwanza Wamulumba said the discovery of the two bodies was 'nuts... completely nuts.'
'That's really, that's even sad because they're so young and they have so much so much more life to live so yeah that's terrible to hear,' Wamulumba said.
After news of the death emerged, Ohio State University released a statement.
'We are heartbroken to learn about this tragedy. Heather Campbell was a psychology major from Strongsville,' they wrote.
'Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.
'Counseling is available for those students in our community who need support by calling (614) 292-5766.'
Jenna Burleigh, a 22-year-old Temple student, was killed in the early hours of August 31 after spending the night at Pub Webb in North Philadelphia
A Pennsylvania man charged with killing a Temple University student is denying the allegation.
The attorney for 29-year-old Joshua Hupperterz said outside court Wednesday that Hupperterz tells him he 'didn't cause any harm' to Jenna Burleigh.
Burleigh's body was found earlier this month on property belonging to the defendant's grandmother. The property is located about 140 miles north of the Philadelphia college's campus.
The 22-year-old Burleigh vanished at the end of August. She was last seen on surveillance video leaving a bar near campus with Hupperterz, a former Temple student.
She had messaged multiple friends begging for help about two hours before she was last seen leaving the venue.
Sources told NBC that about 30 minutes before the bar closed, Burleigh called her friend and left a voicemail. She then sent him a text asking for help.
Burleigh was spotted on surveillance cameras leaving the bar with 29-year-old Joshua Hupperterz, left. He has denied killing her back at his apartment
Burleigh had messaged multiple friends begging for help about two hours before she was last seen leaving the Pub Webb bar, pictured, with the man charged over her murder
She also sent a direct message to another friend via Instagram asking for help. It is not clear if Burleigh feared for her life when she asked for assistance.
The messages were sent between 1.15am and 1.30am but her friends didn't see them until the following morning.
She had just started at Temple as a junior transfer student.
Hupperterz was due in court for a preliminary hearing, but the case was continued until late November.
Police reported that Hupperterz had scratches on his face and a cut on his hand when questioned. He told detectives the injuries were caused by broken china
Police say Burleigh was killed at 4am inside Hupperterz's apartment. A neighbor had reported hearing screams.
Police say they discovered blood spattered near the kitchen sink, rear door and on a trash can lid at the suspect's apartment. They also allegedly found drugs and $20,000 in cash.
A coroner found Burleigh died of blunt trauma and strangulation.
Hupperterz then allegedly stuffed the student's body into a storage bin and moved it to his mother's house in a nearby neighborhood.
Police said he then used the ride-sharing service Lyft to move her body more than 100 miles away to his grandmother's house. Her body was found in a shed at the property.
George Osborne has taken on a seventh job after being invited to join top US university Stanford, it was revealed today.
The ex-chancellor quit politics in June but the burden of editing the Evening Standard, on top of five other jobs, has not proved too much.
His new post is as a distinguished visiting fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution.
Mr Osborne is also an adviser to investment management firm BlackRock and chairman of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.
He is also a fellow at US think tank the McCain Institute, an unpaid honorary professor of economics at the University of Manchester, and makes lucrative after-dinner speeches around the world for the Washington Speakers Bureau.
George Osborne (file image) has taken on a seventh job after being invited to join top US university Stanford, it was revealed today
Stanford University (pictured is its California campus) has not revealed whether the former Tory MP would be paid for his new role
Stanford University did not specify whether the former Tory MP would be paid for his new role and was unavailable for immediate comment.
But Mr Osborne was paid more than 28,400 for a three-hour speech at the Hoover Institution at the California university in October 2016.
He said: 'Stanford is at the heart of some of most exciting changes in our world.
'I hope I can bring my experience to help students of the Graduate School of Business, and the Hoover Institution navigate these changes.
'This is also a unique opportunity for me to connect to Stanford and the West Coast - because, whatever you've done in your life, you should never stop learning and wanting to understand the future.'
SEVEN JOBS OSBORNE Editor, Evening Standard Adviser, investment management firm BlackRock Chairman, Northern Powerhouse Partnership Fellow, think tank McCain Institute Honorary economics professor, University of Manchester After dinner speaker, Washington Speakers Bureau Distinguished visiting fellow, Stanford University's Hoover Institution Advertisement
Mr Osborne has controversially used his new-found power as a newspaper editor to launch a series of attacks on the Prime Minister, describing her as a 'dead woman walking'.
But writing in yesterday's Evening Standard, Mr Osborne called a truce with his former Cabinet colleague.
He admitted 'harsh words' have been swapped over Brexit but said that differences of opinion are no reason for 'intemperate language'.
He blamed much of the animosity on the PM's former top aides Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill, who quit in the aftermath of the disastrous Tory election amid anger at the 'toxic' atmosphere they created in No10.
And Mr Osborne heaped praise on the Prime Minister for leading the fight against modern slavery.
This week, I wrote about the political havoc the Every Student Succeeds Act has caused between state and local leaders over the course of the last two years. Governors in some states have refused to sign off on plans, legislatures have stripped state boards of their power at a crucial time, and at least three state chiefs abruptly resigned even as states were readying their plans for ESSA implementation.
ESSA has roiled the political landscape in states, and there are sure to be battles in the near futurenext years election season will include nearly 20 governorships, and close to 80 percent of states legislatures are up for reelection.
Here are a few reasons why these raucous debates concern policy observers and advocates:
Implementation : After state ESSA plans are approved, state departments ask school districts to create their own ESSA plans. If local superintendents, principals, and teachers dont think much of the states new accountability plan, they could drag their feet on implementation. We saw some of this sort of backlash with the wars over Highly Qualified Teacher, Common Core State State Standards, and A-F accountability systems, where opponents effectively delegitimized the initiatives in state houses, school board meetings, and teachers lounges. State departments were left attempting to rebrand iniatives or toss them altogether.
Without community input, it just makes it incredibly hard to get any implementation with fidelity, said Kathy Cox, a former state superintendent of Georgia told me last year. Even if people dont always agree with what the state policy or what the decision is, if they feel like theyve been well-informed and that theres been a very good reflective process on why a decision is being made, people will come around.
In addition, Carissa Moffat Miller, the deputy executive director of the Council of Chief State School Officers, said , In a perfect world, you dont just get feedback, step back, and implement. Youre in it for the long haul. Its the standing engagement along the way as its being implemented that also matters. Without that feedback, we risk living in a vacuum where were not improving the process that would transcend education for all kids.
Funding : Any new statewide initiative tucked into ESSA plans will require millions of dollars worth of training, tools and personnel (think here about all those new fifth indicators states want to include in their accountability systems). Indeed, some of that initial money will come from the federal government. But a large portion will eventually have to come from the governor and the legislators, who hold the K-12 pursestrings in states. States arent particularly flush with money this year, and many legislatures next year are expected to look at overhauling their school funding formulas.
In addition, with Republicans controlling the majority of state houses, many legislatures have attempted to slash away at bureaucratic overhead to cut taxes. State departments in recent years have experienced mass layoffs (Louisianas legislature last year contemplated completely defunding its department), and states have a long history of being overwhelmed with initiatives they dont have the staff to carry out.
Tara Kini, a senior policy adviser for the Learning Policy Institute, a research and advocacy organization, told me during an ESSA training session for legislators and state board members: Theres been a lot of attention to building stronger accountability systems, but not as much attention to building capacity at the state level to change the outcomes for kids.
Stability :
Researchers have concluded that education initiatives take around 3-5 years before you can start seeing results. So it concerns a lot of folks that the average tenure of state superintendents (those tasked with coming up with and implementing most statewide education iniatives) hovers at around two years now. In addition, more than half of states legislatures had this year at least one new education committee chairperson. At least three chiefs (Colorado, New Mexico, and Alabama) were fired or resigned during the ESSA planning process alone.
With each new chief and legislative leader, theres a reboot and, oftentimes a new iniative school leaders will have to implement.
Seeing all this disruption at the top levels can be unnerving to the education community, said Michelle Exstrom, the education program director at the National Conference of State Legislatures. Experience always matters because you need the legislators who tend to be more experienced and have a better sense of different education policy approaches that have been tried through the years.
New legislators and superintendents are not interested in inheriting someone elses agenda and then sustaining it, said David Conley, a researcher at the University of Oregon, in Portland, who studies education policy. You cant go back to constituents and say, Look at what I did.
Dont miss another State EdWatch post. Sign up here to get news alerts in your email inbox. And make sure to follow @StateEdWatch on Twitter for the latest news from state K-12 policy and politics.
A 14-year-old boy has been arrested for attacking a homeless man in a video of the assault in Bakersfield, California, which went viral.
The Centennial High School student was arrested on Friday at around 6pm and was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, according to Bakersfield police.
The disturbing video shows the boy walking up to a homeless man who is sitting on the ground.
Unprovoked, he whacks the man on the head with what appears to be a plastic pallet.
A disturbing video shows a boy walking up to a homeless man who is sitting on the ground outside of a shopping center
Unprovoked, he whacks the man on the head with what appears to be a plastic pallet. The homeless man has been identified as 64-year-old Harold Bartlett
According to BPD, the homeless man has been identified as 64-year-old Harold Bartlett.
Detectives spoke to Bartlett who said that he was hit with the pallet twice and that the teen pulled a knife on him.
During an interview with 23ABC News Bartlett said this is not the first time he has been attacked.
Bartlett is now being held on $30,000 bail for unrelated charges from a 2015 domestic abuse incident.
During an interview Bartlett said this is not the first time he has been attacked
The video of the attack has been viewed nearly 650K times and shared 1.5K times on social media, sparking outrage among viewers concerned for the man.
The video was posted to Facebook on September 15.
There are two other related videos of what appears to be the same group beating up another boy.
They were posted online by the same woman who posted the video of Bartlett.
One of the videos shows at least four kids punching and kicking a boy while he lays on the ground.
Another video shows a boy picking up the same victim and throwing him on the ground before punching him while friends watch. He then walks away.
Another video shows what appears to be the same group beating up another boy. Police are still looking for the suspects in the video
A police chase that began in Springfield, Massachusetts, ended in Hartford, Connecticut when squad cars surrounded the suspects' vehicle and physically forcing it to stop.
A wild video shows cruisers closing in on the suspects vehicle at about 11.30am Tuesday during the 30-mile chase on Interstate 91.
Two cars flank the vehicle colliding with it and forcing it to stop on the highway in Hartford as a further eight cars are in pursuit. Later more emergency vehicles arrive on the scene.
A wild video shows cruisers closing in on the suspects vehicle at about 11.30am Tuesday during a chase on Interstate 91
The police chase began in Springfield, Massachusetts, and ended in Hartford, Connecticut
Three suspects were taken into custody. Police said the chase stemmed from an incident involving a gun
Three suspects were taken into custody.
Police said the chase stemmed from an incident involving a gun.
The driver, Ian James, 34, of Hartford, is facing numerous motor vehicle charges, along with weapon and drug charges.
He is being held on a $250,000 bond.
Sophie Pointon, 22, told police officers that she had been sexually assaulted in the back of the cab she had been picked up in after a night out in Leeds city centre
A criminology student was bantering online with a friend shortly after she falsely accused a taxi driver of groping her.
Sophie Pointon, 22, whose dream was to become a police officer, falsely claimed she had been groped in the back of the cab she had been picked up in after a night out in Leeds and has been jailed for 16 months.
She rang 999 in the early hours of April 22 this year and continued the deception by signing a statement, giving an account of the 'attack'.
It emerged today that she was exchanging messages in jest with a friend, on Facebook shortly after telling the police she was attacked.
Ms Rees commented on one of Pointon's photos with a horse: 'what the f*** you freak.'
Pointon replied: 'Excuse me??'
Ms Rees posted back: 'you heard me attenborough (sic).'
Pointon then quipped: 'at one with nature u urban s**t x'
Ms Rees said: 'find me behind Aldi with me bag' o 'tinnies.'
And Pointon concluded the exchange, saying: 'Standard regular occurrence.'
The joking comments came just minutes after she falsely told police she had been groped by a father-of-five taxi driver who refused to accept a student's kebab-soaked 10 note for religious reasons.
The man revealed he was shunned by his local Muslim community after she lied that he sexually assaulted her.
Leeds Crown Court heard the driver, a father-of-five, was tracked down and kept in custody for six hours.
In a moving impact statement he described how the claims had left his life in tatters but her spurious accusations.
The Asian father-of-five told the court through a personal impact statement that he was a practising Muslim - and the accusations had caused him to be shunned.
It emerged today that she was exchanging messages in jest with a friend, on Facebook shortly after telling the police she was attacked
He was also banned from entering the homes of his colleagues and friends.
He said: 'I am now extremely reluctant to take lone females in case I am accused again.
'The girl who accused me is the same age as my own daughter - I cannot comprehend why she made this allegation.
'I feel religiously tainted from this, and no help from the police or the courts can help that.
'Friends stopped speaking to me and letting me in to their homes. People in my community do not even want to be seen with me.'
Pointon broke down in tears and asked if she could drop the charges when her account was challenged by police
Pointon(whose home is pictured) broke down in tears and asked if she could drop the charges when her account was challenged by police
But the case against him never even went to court, as a telephone recording of the incident, with his taxi firm, cleared him of any wrongdoing.
Pointon pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and was handed a prison sentence yesterday.
Kate Bisset, prosecuting, said the driver was interviewed and said he could recall Pointon being 'extremely drunk' when she got into his car holding a kebab.
He said Pointon threw 10 note at him when they reached the Hyde Park area but he refused to accept it as it was covered in oil from the kebab.
The driver said Pointon, who graduated this summer with a BA Honours in criminology from Leeds Beckett University, then became abusive and ran around the car opening doors.
The prosecutor said: 'He did not think much of it at the time because such incident with people who are intoxicated are not unusual.'
A recording of a conversation between the driver and a phone operator at his taxi office supported his account.
Pointon said her hopes of becoming a police officer were now ruined. She was jailed for 16 months
Pointon threw 10 at him when they reached the Hyde Park area but he refused to accept it as it was covered in oil from the kebab
The taxi driver who refused to accept a tenner lathered in kebab juices due to his strict religion says the incident made him feel 'religiously tainted'.
The court heard a GPS tracker fitted to the car also revealed Pointon's description of the taxi journey to be untrue.
Pointon broke down in tears and asked if she could drop the charges when her account was challenged by police.
She pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice. Denise Breen-Lawton, mitigating, said Pointon, from Manchester, had been studying in Leeds at the time.
She pleaded guilty to perverting justice. Denise Breen-Lawton, mitigating, said Pointon, from Manchester, had been studying in Leeds at the time
Sophie Pointon pleaded guilty to perverting justice at Leeds Crown Court (pictured) yesterday
She grew up in a 250,000 semi-detached home, owned by her parents, in a Victorian suburban street.
She said her hopes of becoming a police officer were now ruined. Yesterday, she was jailed for 16 months.
Judge Christopher Batty told her: 'Your malicious complaint has done a huge disservice to those seeking justice through the police and courts.'
The driver was stripped of his taxi licence for four weeks during the investigation into the claims.
He described in a statement how the false allegation had caused him to suffer from stress.
Crime author Michelle McNamara's final book is due to be released in February, almost two years after she passed away.
Comedian Patton Oswalt, who was married to her for 11 years, helped to finish the tome after she passed away unexpectedly in her sleep.
Called I'll Be Gone In The Dark, it chronicles one woman's attempt to unmask a real-life Californian serial murderer that McNamara dubbed the Golden Gate Killer.
Patton Oswalt has announced that a book that his late wife Michelle McNamara left unfinished when she died suddenly last year is going to be published
The tome, entitled I'll Be Gone In The Dark, will be available from February next year with an afterword penned by him after he helped finish it
The book, which is being published by Harper Collins, will contain an afterword penned by Oswalt, who has openly discussed his battle with grief in a series of tweets and Facebook posts.
Oswalt announced the release date on Twitter on Monday, simply saying of the book: 'It's amazing.'
The widower told fans that he was working to finish the book in August last year in a heart-wrenching post about coming to terms with McNamara's death.
Oswalt revealed he was helping to finish the book last year in a heart-wrenching post about dealing with grief over his wife's death
'Michelle McNamara got yanked off the planet and out of life 102 days ago,' he wrote.
'She left behind an amazing unfinished book, about a horrific series of murders that everyone -- including the retired homicide detectives she worked with -- was sure she'd solve. The Golden State Killer.
'She gave him that name, in an article for Los Angeles Magazine. She was going to figure out the real name behind it...
'Any spare energy I've managed to summon since April 21st I've put toward finishing Michelle's book. With a lot of help from some very amazing people.
'It will come out. I will let you know. It's all her. We're just taking what's there and letting it tell us how to shape it. It's amazing.'
McNamara passed away suddenly in her sleep due to prescription drugs and an undiagnosed medical condition, which proved fatal in combination.
He listed the drugs as Xanax, Adderall and Fentanyl.
Since her passing Oswalt has started dating actress Meredith Salanger, and the pair are now engaged.
Oswalt has an eight-year-old daughter by McNamara and has credited her with helping him to recover after the tragedy.
Theresa May has held talks with the Iranian President just a day after the Donald Trump blasted the 'murderous' regime for exporting 'violence, bloodshed and chaos' in his fiery speech to the UN.
The Prime Minister sat down with Hassan Rouhani for discussions while at the UN in New York despite the regime's rapidly worsening relations with the America.
Mr Trump attacked the Iranian regime during his explosive address to the UN General Assembly yesterday, threatening to tear up the nuclear deal struck between the two powers.
He branded the deal - which saw the Iranians agree to forfeit much of their ability to enrich uranium in return to an end to economic sanctions - an 'embarrassment'.
But the British government backs the deal, and British ministers are understood to have privately pressed the Trump administration to stick with it.
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Theresa May and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani sat down for talks at the UN just a day after Donald Trump tore into the Islamic Republic, branding it a 'murderous' regime which exports terror
Mr Trump also blasted the Islamic Republic for backing terror group Hezbollah, which has stirred up sectarian violence in Iraq and Syria.
Speaking at the UN today, President Rouhani defended the deal and said the US would 'destroy its own credibility' as a negotiating partner if it withdraws from the accord.
In a clear swipe at Mr Trump, Mr Rouhani said he hopes diplomacy would not be undermined by 'rogue newcomers to the world of politics.'
His comments come after the US President shocked the world with his incendiary speech, in which he attacked attacked Iran and dubbed North Korea's Kim Jong-un a 'rocket man on a suicide mission'.
In his remarkable speech, Mr Trump said: 'The Iranian government masks a corrupt dictatorship behind the false guise of a democracy.
'It has turned a wealthy country with a rich history and culture into an economically depleted rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed and chaos.
'The longest suffering victims of Iran's leaders are, in fact, its own people.
'Rather than use its resources to improve Iranian lives, its oil profits go to fund Hezbollah and other terrorists that kill innocent Muslims and attack their peaceful Arab and Israeli neighbours.'
US Vice President Mike Pence touches Theresa May's hand as the pair chat at the UN in New York. It comes six months after Donald Trump famously held Mrs May's hand at the White House
Donald Trump, pictured at the UN yesterday, launched a furious attack on the Iranians during his fiery speech to the UN general Assembly
He tore into the regime for trying to 'shore up Bashar al-Assad's dictatorship' in Syria and fuelling the civil war in Yemen.
He added: 'We cannot let a murderous regime continue these destabilizing activities while building dangerous missiles.'
Mr Trump said the Iran nuclear deal 'was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into' and suggested it should be scrapped.
But despite the astonishing attack from one of Britain's closest allies, Mrs May went ahead with sit-down talks with the Iranian President in New York.
Yet despite her chat with the Iranians, Mrs May still appeared to have a very friendly relationship with Mr Trump's White House.
As she sat down for talks at the UN headquarters, vice President Mike Pence reached out and touched Mrs May's hand.
It comes after was famously photographed awkwardly holding Mr Trump's house as she visited the president at the White House in January, soon after he was inaugurated.
Four elephant calves were rescued using a digger in Sri Lanka after they had fallen into a slippery, muddy well.
A farmer had gone to work on his fields early Wednesday morning when he saw the four elephants - all calves - stuck in one of his large wells.
The farmer quickly alarmed the wildlife officials who brought with them the digger to help with the operation.
In the video, locals can be seen throwing throwing food for the elephants to eat and hosing them down to keep them comfortable in the well.
Two of the smaller elephants nuzzle underneath one of the larger ones and they all munch on the tree leaves that have been given to them
Meanwhile the digger can been seen making a path as a crowd of locals looks on from above the well.
The only time the elephants appear to be frightened is when the digger finally completes the path and the group huddles on the far side of the well.
Eventually one of the men who is helping rescue the group manages to coax the group along the newly dug path to safety.
The elephants were spotted by a farmer after the fell down a large well in his field and couldn't get out
Kind local people sprayed the elephants with water and made sure they had enough to eat while they were being rescued
A crowd gathered round the well where the elephants were trapped. Elephants often stray into villages in search of food
After a rescue operation lasting four hours, the elephants eventually walk out of the well and are shooed away.
In the final part of the video the elephants are seen disappearing off into the bushes and the rescuers job is done.
Sri Lanka is known for its huge number of wild elephants who dominate national parks but stray out to the nearby villages in search of food.
While they rarely attack the villagers, there have been spate of incidents when the animals got stuck in pits and wells in the sugarcane and other fields and had to be rescued.
A digger was brought along to help make a path for the elephants to escape but as it was finished they appeared to be a bit frightened
Payouts from a $4billion fund for Bernie Madoff's victims are expected to begin this year, ending their nearly nine-year wait to begin recouping losses from his Ponzi scheme.
Recipents of the payouts from the government fund are 35,508 Madoff victims whose total losses exceeded $6.5billion.
Nearly all had invested indirectly with Madoff, such as through 'feeder funds,' and roughly three-quarters have received nothing since the Ponzi scheme was uncovered in December 2008.
Madoff is the admitted operator of a Ponzi scheme that is considered the largest financial fraud in U.S. history.
Bernie Madoff is the admitted operator of a Ponzi scheme uncovered in 2008 that is considered the largest financial fraud in U.S. history
Madoff is pictured above in a mug shot from March 2009. Prosecutors estimated the size of the fraud to be $64.8billion based on the amounts in the accounts of Madoff's 4,800 clients
Prosecutors estimated the size of the fraud to be $64.8billion, based on the amounts in the accounts of Madoff's 4,800 clients as of November 30, 2008.
If the 2008 financial crisis had never happened, it's possible that Madoff would still be running the operation.
When Madoff's customers started to panic in the fall of 2008, they began withdrawing hundreds of millions of dollars at a time, thirsty for that liquidity. Madoff could only give back so much before it all dried up.
A Ponzi scheme is an investment operation wherein the operator generates returns for older investors through revenue paid by new investors, rather than from legitimate business activities or profit of financial trading.
If the 2008 financial crisis had never happened, it's possible that Madoff would still be running the operation. Madoff, 79, is serving a 150-year prison term
In a letter made public on Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice said it 'recently notified victims whose petitions have been approved and is poised to issue initial distributions from the Assets Forfeiture Fund by the end of 2017.'
The undated letter by Assistant Attorney General Stephen Boyd was addressed to Florida Congressman Vern Buchanan, who had complained to the Justice Department about payout delays.
Buchanan's district is on Florida's Gulf coast.
A court-appointed trustee liquidating Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, Irving Picard, has recouped about $12 billion for Madoff customers, and is awaiting court approval for an additional $687 million payout.
Indirect investors are ineligible to recover from the liquidation.
Madoff, 79, is serving a 150-year prison term.
The scandal nearly ruined his family.
His wife Ruth continued to visit her husband in prison and talk to him regularly until their son Mark's suicide
Madoff's wife Ruth has a 989-sq-ft condominium in Connecticut, and is living off the $2.5million that federal prosecutors granted her in exchange for forfeiting every other asset
Both of Madoff's sons are dead, and his five grandchildren have all changed their last name in an attempt to escape the family's shame
On the second anniversary of his father's arrest, Mark Madoff hanged himself at his apartment in New York City.
'[He was] an innocent victim of his father's monstrous crime,' Mark's lawyer said in a statement.
Madoff's other son Andrew died from a resurgence of his lymphoma in 2014.
His wife Ruth continued to visit her husband in prison and talk to him regularly until Mark's suicide.
Ruth now lives alone in Old Greenwich, CT, in a 989-square-foot condominium.
She is living off the $2.5million that federal prosecutors granted her in exchange for forfeiting every single other asset.
She must report any purchase she makes over $100 to a bankruptcy trustee.
The Madoffs' five grandchildren have all changed their last name in an attempt to escape the family's shame.
Anthony Weiner must be jailed because he was obsessed by teen-themed pornography and convinced a 15-year-old girl to strip naked and touch himself for her on Skype and Snapchat, prosecutors said Wednesday.
The confirmation of the depths of his depravity came in a sentencing memorandum entered in court in Manhattan as prosecutors urged a federal judge to jail the pervert politician for 21 to 27 months.
Weiners sexting relationship with the underage girl was first revealed by DailyMail.com last September, and immediately prompted a federal investigation.
The former congressman has shown a 'dangerous level of denial' and 'lack of self-control' that could put other teenagers at risk, prosecutors said Wednesday.
'Although the defendant's self-destructive path from United States Congressman to felon is indisputably sad, his crime is serious and his demonstrated need for deterrence is real,' said the memo filed by prosecutors with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
'The non-custodial sentence that Weiner proposes is simply inadequate; his crime deserves time in prison.'
The 11-page document comes days before Weiner is sentenced for sexting the girl, who has not been named but has agreed to have her face show.
The case led the FBI to reopen its probe into Hillary Clintons private email server after investigators found messages between Clinton and Weiners wife Huma Abedin on the former congressmans laptop.
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Pervert: Anthony Weiner wanted his victim to strip naked and touch herself on Skype despite knowing she was 15, federal prosecutors said in court documents
Grooming: Weiner was revealed to have Skyped twice with the teenager and asked her to strip naked and touch herself. She revealed the messages to DailyMail.com
Horror revealed: Anthony Weiner sent his victim, 5, obscene images and messages about what he would do to her if she was 18 in messages revealed by DailyMail.com
A Manhattan judge is scheduled to sentence the New York Democrat on Monday for transferring obscene material to a minor.
The government urged the judge to put Weiner's claims of a therapeutic awakening in a context of a man who made similar claims after embarrassing, widely publicized interactions with adult women in the past.
'This is not merely a 'sexting' case,' prosecutors wrote. 'The defendant did far more than exchange typed words on a lifeless cellphone screen with a faceless stranger.
'With full knowledge that he was communicating with a real 15-year-old girl, the defendant asked her to engage in sexually explicit conduct via Skype and Snapchat, where her body was on display, and where she was asked to sexually perform for him.
'That offense transmitting obscenity to a minor to induce her to engage in sexually explicit conduct by video chat and photo is far from mere 'sexting'.
'Weiner's criminal conduct was very serious, and the sentence imposed should reflect that seriousness.'
The document reveals that Weiner 'has acknowledged an interest in legal, adult, teen-themed pornography'.
It said that his submission to the court that 'he deserves a lighter sentence because the Minor Victim's age meant nothing to him rings hollow'.
Weiner, 53, said in a submission last week that he's undergoing treatment and is profoundly sorry for subjecting the North Carolina high school student to what his lawyers called his 'deep sickness.'
Prosecutors attacked some of Weiner's arguments for seeking leniency and noted his full awareness that what he was doing was a crime, citing his co-sponsorship in January 2007 of a bill to require sex offenders to register their email and instant message addresses with the National Sex Offender Registry.
'While the government does not contend that Weiner engaged in inappropriate sexual exchanges with other minors or that he is a pedophile, his professed ambivalence toward the minor victim's age is belied by the defendant's own statements to the court-appointed evaluator during his evaluation,' they said.
Prosecutors said Weiner, who unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2005 and 2013, acknowledged to the evaluator an interest in legal, adult, teen-themed pornography.
The government said Weiner's 'widely-reported prior scandals' were not criminal in nature and did not involve minors but should be considered at sentencing because they reveal a familiar pattern.
'He initially denied his conduct; he suffered personal and professional consequences; he publicly apologized and claimed reform.
'Yet, he has, on multiple occasions, continued to engage in the very conduct he swore off, progressing from that which is self-destructive to that which is also destructive to a teenage girl,' prosecutors said.
Divorce: Weiner's sexting relationship with a minor has cost him his marriage to Huma Abedin, Hillary Clinton's closest aide, and the two are battling over custody of their son Jordan, five
Tip of the iceberg: Weiner admits in court documents to sending sexts to hundreds of women since 2009 - with this one being revealed. He also spoke of his love for his son, who appeared in his sext.
They added: 'Weiner's demonstrated history of professed, yet failed, reform make it difficult to rely on his present claim of self-awareness and transformation.'
Defense lawyers had portrayed the girl as an aggressor, saying she wanted to generate material for a book and possibly influence the presidential election.
Prosecutors responded that Weiner should be sentenced for what he did, and the motives of the victim should not influence his punishment.
As part of a plea bargain, Weiner has agreed not to appeal any sentence between 21 and 27 months. Prosecutors said the sentence should fall within that span, and they noted that Probation Department authorities had recommended a 27-month prison term.
WEINER'S EXCUSES: I SEXTED BECAUSE I WAS DEDICATED TO MY CONSTITUENTS Anthony Weiner's lawyers submitted more than 200 pages of documents in their bid to keep him out of prison. They called his sexting an 'illness' and said it grew out of his dedication to his constituents as a congressman. 'By 2009, Anthony's national prominence had reached new heights... At the same time, smartphones and the proliferation of social media platforms had begun to transform users' connectivity and frequency of access to online communications. 'Anthony - who prided himself on being accessible to his constituents - moved quickly to capitalize on these new technologies, developing a strong presence on Facebook and Twitter, and responding to and engaging with members of the public who reached out to him. 'Anthony began to exchange texts and other messages with constituents and admirers alike. Some of the admirers were female, validating him not just as a politician, but as a man. It seemed harmless to Anthony...' Advertisement
But last week his lawyers submitted a huge file calling for him to be spared jail.
It included claims that he has finally acknowledged the 'illness' which made him a serial sexter, and a plea from his wife, Huma Abedin, not to have their son hurt by his sentence.
He finally came clean about the extent and scale of his sexting habit - but came close to blaming his victim for the sexting scandal.
Weiner's attorneys said he continually sexted with women between 2009 and 2016 and did not take therapy seriously at the time, despite the destruction to his political career and his public claims that he was in treatment.
The scale of his sexting means that the images which have emerged - one of him in bed in a state of arousal with his son beside him - hardly qualify as even the tip of the iceberg.
It says his 'self-destructive compulsion' was driven by mental illness, including a 'mixed personality disorder' that was recently diagnosed by a therapist.
Weiner's memo also describes the 15-year-old girl as a manipulative fame-seeker writing that she baited Weiner into exchanging sexual messages with her because she wanted to influence the U.S. presidential election.
In the 68-page memo, Weiner's legal team admits that in early 2016 the former congressman was exchanging thousands of messages a month with 'dozens' of women he met online, including at least 1,500 messages with one middle-aged woman over the course of just two months.
The scandal has been toxic not just for Weiner but for Abedin, who is now divorcing him and seeking custody of their son, Jordan, five.
It also set off a bombshell chain of events which led to Hillary Clinton - Abedin's boss - having her emails re-investigated by the FBI and the move announced just days before the election.
Clinton says the announcement of the new investigation, made by then FBI director James Comey, was one of the reasons she lost to Donald Trump.
But despite a mounting list of who she blames for her loss, she has never named Weiner as one of the reasons.
He had been a part of the Clinton camp until his first sexting disgrace. She suggested he date Abedin and her husband Bill married the couple - although no photograph of him performing the ceremony has ever been made public.
The mayor of Rome has labelled this month 'a black September' for Italy after a tourist was tied up and raped in a park following a spate of other sex attacks.
A German woman was robbed before being bound and assaulted in the Villa Borghese park, in the north of Rome.
In the same 24-hour period, a doctor working alone on a night shift in a tiny clinic in Catania was reportedly raped for hours by a patient.
A German woman was robbed before being bound and assaulted in the Villa Borghese park , in the north of Rome
Italian officials have called for increased police patrols, video surveillance and tougher laws to punish perpetrators after a spate of rapes renewed attention on violence against women.
Rome mayor Virginia Raggi called for increased police patrols and video surveillance, declaring it had been 'a black September for Italy.'
Raggi, of the anti-establishment 5 Star Movement, also called for 'special laws' but didn't elaborate.
The anti-immigrant Northern League seized on the attacks to call for the chemical castration of rapists.
This week's rapes followed a case in Florence where two American students said two Carabinieri paramilitary police officers raped them after offering them a ride home from a disco.
Rome mayor Virginia Raggi called for increased police patrols and video surveillance
The officers have been suspended pending the investigation.
And in August, a Polish tourist was gang raped and her partner beaten during an attack in the beach resort of Rimini.
This allegedly carried otu by the same group of men who assaulted a Peruvian woman just a short time later, with four people later arrested.
Italian politicians and activists have long denounced a culture of violence against women in Italy that frequently erupts in domestic assaults - sometimes fatal - by jealous husbands and boyfriends.
In the recent rapes, the perpetrators were not believed to have been well known to the victims.
In the case of the Catania doctor, the town mayor said the suspect was known to law enforcement.
Health Minister Beatrice Lorenzin ordered all overnight health clinics to check their security provisions, after the doctor was apparently unable to call for help after her attacker disabled her phone line and emergency alarm.
An Iowa woman who said she was wrongly ticketed by an automated traffic camera has accomplished the unusual feat of getting the state Supreme Court to consider her $75 small-claims case.
Marla Leaf, 67, believes her constitutional rights were violated and on Wednesday the Supreme Court in Des Moines heard her case.
'Why should I pay for a ticket I didn't do,' Leaf asked after the hearing.
'Why should others have to pay for tickets they didn't do?'
Marla Leaf, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, speaks to a reporter outside the Iowa Supreme Court building on Wednesday, September 20, 2017, in Des Moines, Iowa
Her attorney, James Larew, argued that Cedar Rapids, where Leaf lives and was ticketed, is violating equal protection and due process clauses of the Iowa Constitution because it delegates police power to Gatso USA - the private, for-profit company hired to run the automated cameras.
Larew claimed in court documents that semitrailers and government vehicles are not ticketed by the automated Cedar Rapids interstate cameras stating that it's 'clearly arbitrary and unreasonable'.
Leaf was driving her Ford Mustang home from an eye doctor's appointment on Febuary 5, 2015, when the automated speed camera system on Interstate 380 in Cedar Rapids clocked her at 68 mph in a 55 mph zone.
She remembered that the roads were icy and she was driving so slowly that cars were passing her on both sides.
Leaf, who had never had a speeding ticket, insisted she was traveling between 50 and 55 mph.
Leaf and her husband leave the courthouse in Des Moines. It will likely be several months before the court make a decision in her case
Leaf's case, which the Iowa Supreme Court has combined with another case with similar arguments involving six vehicle owners, is very unusual.
Cases involving traffic cameras have been appealed before to federal and state courts on various constitutional grounds, but it's rare for the Iowa Supreme Court to take a case already considered once on appeal.
The cases heard Wednesday were assigned to the Iowa Court of Appeals last year and in February the court ruled in favor of the city.
Leaf's attorney will argue that Cedar Rapids is violating equal protection and due process clauses of the Iowa Constitution because it delegates police power to Gatso USA
Leaf and the other ticketed vehicle owners sought and were granted further review from the Supreme Court.
Such cases are closely watched by other communities with automated traffic equipment, much of which is run by private companies.
Another argument centered on a requirement that citations be appealed to a city administrative hearing officer, which in Leaf's case was the son of a police officer.
Larew said that denies people of their right under state law to appeal directly to a magistrate or district court judge.
The Iowa Supreme Court in Des Moines. Leaf's case, which the Iowa Supreme Court has combined with another case is very unusual
Larew also said the case raises fundamental questions about whether the city can impose fines on people driving on a federal interstate highway.
Iowa is the only state to allow automated speed cameras on interstates.
It likely will be several months before the court makes a decision.
Washington
States and districts must find ways to keep teachers in the professionor theyre staring down the barrel of a growing teacher shortage, researchers and policymakers said at a panel discussion here on Tuesday.
The panel was hosted by the Learning Policy Institute, a California-based think tank led by Stanford University education professor Linda Darling-Hammond, which released a new analysis, Teacher Turnover: Why It Matters and What We Can Do About It . About 8 percent of teachers leave the teaching profession each year, and another 8 percent move to a different school, making the overall turnover rate about 16 percent. (LPI was using nationally representative survey data from the 2012 Schools and Staffing Survey and the 2013 Teacher Follow-up Survey.)
Teacher turnover hurts student achievement, is expensive for schools and districts, and leads to teacher shortages, Darling-Hammond said.
And both teachers who leave the profession and teachers who change schools are most commonly leaving because they are dissatisfied, according to the analysis. See the below graph breaking down why teachers left the profession in 2012-13. (Percentages do not add up to 100 since teachers were allowed to select more than one reason.)
Teacher Turnover
Infogram
Among those who cited dissatisfaction, 25 percent were referring to testing and accountability measures, 21 percent were unhappy with the school administration, and 21 percent were generally dissatisfied with their teaching careers.
Its also worth noting that 29 percent of those leaving teaching are taking non-teaching jobs in schools and districts. And nearly a third of teachers who leave eventually return to the profession, estimates suggest.
Here are some other findings:
In Title I schools, the turnover rate for mathematics and science teachers is 70 percent greater than it is in non-Title I schools.
Teachers who lack comprehensive preparation (and have entered the profession through alternative pathways) are two to three times more likely to leave teaching in their early years.
Teacher turnover is greater when schools serve primarily students of colorregardless of teachers years of experience, certification pathway, or subjects taught.
Non-elementary teachers are more likely to move schools or leave teaching entirely. See the graphic below (which has a 95 percent confidence interval for each estimate):
Subject Area
Infogram
And this churn is expensive: Desiree Carver-Thomas, a researcher at LPI, said it can cost up to $21,000 to replace a new teacher in an urban school district, due to the additional costs associated with recruitment, hiring, and training. She modeled a new interactive tool by LPI that shows the estimated cost of turnover for districts, based on estimated data. For many districts, Carver-Thomas said, the cost reaches upwards of $1 million annually.
In addition to dollar costs, Carver-Thomas said that student achievement suffers in schools with high turnover as well. Studies show that teachers improve as they gain experience. And in some states, districts have had to turn to teachers with emergency certifications to fill the gaps.
See also: Districts Turn to Emergency Measures for Hard-to-Staff Teaching Posts
The teacher turnover analysis follows LPIs work last year that predicted a severe, national shortage of as many as 112,000 teachers by 2018. That figure was criticized at the time by some education experts, including Kate Walsh, the president of the National Council on Teacher Quality.
In an interview, Walsh said that new data from the Department of Education disproves that assertion, showing that the number of U.S. teachers has grown by 13 percent in four years , far outpacing the rise in student enrollment. LPI, however, had recently found that 110,000 individuals are teaching without having met certification standards, which Darling-Hammond said reflects the reality of her original estimate.
If you perpetuate a crisis ... its not surprising that you see states all over the country backpedaling on their certification requirements, Walsh responded. You get what you ask for. You have states hiring all these uncertified teachers, theyre convinced the sky is falling.
The real problem, Walsh said, is more nuanced. Some states, like Oklahoma, have legitimate shortages. Many districts struggle with finding qualified special education teachers or high school science teachers. But there isnt a national teacher shortage, she said, because there isnt a national labor market.
Instead, she said, the question should be: What can we do to address those shortages and those high rates of turnover in the districts and schools that are persistently challenged by these problems?
Walshs policy recommendations are to create differentiated pay packages to be responsive to districts needsi.e. teachers in hard-to-staff positions, like science and math, should be paid moreand for teacher-preparation programs to better align the type of teachers they produce to shortage areas. For example, she said, colleges overproduce elementary teachers, and should encourage some of those students to go into teaching special education or high school math.
They have an ethical responsibility to align supply and demand, she said.
See also: If We Fix Student Teaching, Will We Fix Teacher Shortages?
Meanwhile, LPI researchers advocated for three main policy fixes: better compensation, including service scholarships and loan forgiveness programs; high-quality teacher preparation and support, including teacher residency programs , grow-your-own models , and induction programs for novice teachers; and training school leadership. When principals are better trained, researchers said, they can provide better support for new teachers and improve working conditions for educators in the building.
When there are so many new teachers, administrators have to cater to them, and that can be frustrating for other educators in the building, said Antonio Iglesias, a science teacher in Newark, N.J., and a panelist.
It just becomes this feedback loop, to the point where its like Defense Against the Dark Arts in Harry Potter, he said, referring to Hogwarts struggle (or curse) to keep a professor for that subject for more than one year.
Steven Staples, the superintendent of public instruction in Virginia and one of the panelists, said this year, there are gaps and shortages everywhere in the stateeven affluent suburban districts. He shared anecdotes from his visits to different districts, including this one: At no point during the last school year did 6th graders in Petersburg, Va., have a licensed math teacher. The Virginia governor has asked retired teachers to go back to work in the high-poverty district, which is about 30 minutes outside of Richmond.
States have to look beyond the constant cycle of filling the gaps for one year, and instead create lasting change, said panelist Sharon Tomiko Santos, a Democratic state representative from Washington state.
For too long, we have been too focused on the immediate crisis at hand, she said, referring to it as putting a Band-Aid over a gushing wound.
Policymakers in Washington are trying to brainstorm long-term, systemic solutions. Teachers have been tapped for their insights as well, Santos said. Their advice? Stop sucking the joy out of education.
Graphic data by the Learning Policy Institute
President Donald Trump is chasing the 'toughest deal of all' - Middle East peace - and he says he's pouring his heart and soul into obtaining it.
'It's a complex subject, always been considered the toughest deal of all, peace between Israel and the Palestinians, the toughest of all, but I think we have a very, very good chance, and I certainly will devote everything within, within my heart and within my soul to get that deal made,' he told Palestine's Mahmoud Abbas.
Trump told Abbas as they sat down on Wednesday for another round of discussions that he believes peace can be achieved throughout region.
'I think we have a pretty good shot, maybe the best shot ever,' Trump assessed.
President Donald Trump says he's giving Middle East peace talks his all. 'Always been considered the toughest deal of all...but I think we have a very, very good chance,' he told Palestine's Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday
The U.S. president said Monday that he believes his administration will be the one to finally facilitate peace between Israel, Palestine and their neighbors.
At the beginning of a bilateral meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday afternoon on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Trump said he's 'giving it an absolute go.'
'I think there's a good chance that it could happen,' Trump posited.
Netanyahu affirmed that they would discuss 'the way we can seize the opportunity for peace' not just between Israel and Palestine but Israel and Arab nations in the region.
After the meeting, Brian Hook, a State Department official, told reporters at the United Nations that Trump 'is deeply committed to achieving an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.'
'He and his team have continued deliberations with leaders on both sides on potential steps to reach a comprehensive peace agreement. His team recently had multiple meetings with leaders in the region, and obviously a good deal of work remains to be done, but discussions remain serious and constructive,' Hook stated.
Abbas said Wednesday that Trump's repeated meetings with him are proof that he's committed to facilitating a deal.
'It attests to the seriousness of Your Excellency, Mr. President, to achieve the deal of the century in the Middle East during this year or in the coming months, God willing,' Abbas said through an interpreter.
'And we are very certain that you, Mr. President, are determined to reach real peace in the Middle East. And this gives us the assurance and the confidence that we are on the verge of real peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis,' Abbas added.
Trump said Monday that he thinks there's a 'good chance' his administration will be able to facilitate a Middle East peace deal
Trump made the declaration during a bilateral meeting with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday that Trump's repeated meetings with him are proof that he's committed to facilitating a deal
Representatives from the White House have met with him more than 20 times since Trump took office to discuss a deal, Abbas revealed.
'And I'm very thankful for these efforts, and you will find utmost seriousness on our part to achieve peace, because peace serves our interests and the interests of the Israeli people,' he said.
Abbas pointed out that the Islamic new year begins the heels of Rosh Hashanah this week.
'This is a very sweet coincidence that we can celebrate the new year together within a 24-hour period, and if this is an indication to anything it means that we can coexist peacefully together,' he determined.
Trump told him that it was 'a very great sentiment.'
'And I have to say, from the time I'm a little boy, I've been hearing about peace in the Middle East,' the former real estate mogul said. 'And for so many years I've been hearing about peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
'And we're at a very important juncture -- there's a small period of time -- and we're going to see what we can do. There can be no promises, obviously. So many people have talked about it, and it's never happened,' he admitted.
'But we're fighting very hard. We are trying very hard. We're all getting along together well. We'll see if we can do it. And if we do do it, it would be a great, great legacy for everybody -- for everybody.'
Trump said Monday, during his meeting with Netanyahu, 'We are giving it an absolute go. I think there's a good chance that it could happen. Most people would say there's no chance whatsoever. I actually think with the capability of Bibi and frankly the other side, I really think we have a chance.
'I think Israel would like to see it, and I think the Palestinians would like to see it. And I can tell you that the Trump Administration would like to see it,' he said.
A billionaire who was once a major international businessman, Trump said that the parties to a prospective agreement are 'working very hard on' a deal.
'We'll see what happens. Historically people say it can't happen. I say it can happen,' he said.
Trump has been sending his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and an envoy, Jason Greenblatt, to the Middle East for months in search of a deal. Kushner and Netanyahu have a long-standing relationship, as do Trump and the Israeli politician.
Like Netanyahu, Kushner and his family are Jewish. The president's eldest daughter Ivanka converted to the religion when she married him. Both Jared and Ivanka are senior advisers at the White House to the president.
Netanyahu has been to visit Trump once at the White House in Washington, D.C. Trump made a stop in Israel in May during his first foreign trip.
Speaking to Trump on Monday at their meeting during the annual convening of member states of the United Nations, Netanyahu said, 'The alliance between America and Israel has never been stronger, never been deeper. I can say this in ways that people see and in ways that they don't see.'
Trump met with Abbas today during a break from UN activities in New York.
During their last meeting, in Bethlehem when Trump made his Middle East swing, the U.S. president said he was 'committed to trying to achieve a peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians.'
'I intend to do everything I can to help them achieve that goal,' he said at the time.
Trump told Abbas earlier in the month during side-by-side remarks in the White House's Roosevelt Room that he'd like to be a mediator or arbitrator of a deal.
'But any agreement cannot be imposed by the United States, or by any other nation,' he said. 'The Palestinians and Israelis must work together to reach an agreement that allows both peoples to live, worship, and thrive and prosper in peace.'
Offering his services as a facilitator, Trump asserted: 'We will get this done.'
Peace between the rival territories wasn't the only item on the agenda during Trump's meetings this week with the Middle East leaders. They also discussed the nuclear deal that the previous administration entered into with Iran.
'I look forward to discussing with you how we can address together what you rightly call is the terrible nuclear deal with Iran and how to roll back Iran's growing aggression in the region, especially in Syria,' Netanyahu told Trump earlier in the week.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told CNN on Monday that America will pay a 'high cost' if the U.S. rips up the deal, as he's repeatedly said he'd like to.
Rouhani told CNN in New York, 'Exiting such an agreement would carry a high cost for the United States of America, and I do not believe Americans would be willing to pay such a high cost for something that will be useless for them.'
Trump played coy when reporters asked him about it as they were booted from his chat with Netanyahu after the leaders' opening remarks.
'You'll see very soon. You'll be seeing very soon,' Trump stated.
By Wednesday, Trump was saying that he'd 'decided' on a course of action.
Three times he told journalists in the room today for the first part of his meeting with Abbas, 'I have decided.'
What exactly he decided, though, he would not say. 'I'll let you know. I'll let you know,' he told the press.
Reverend Nicholas Mishek was removed from his parish after asking middle schoolers if they've ever masturbated or watched pornography during weekly confession
A Catholic priest has been dismissed from his parish in Nebraska after asking middle schoolers if they've ever masturbated or watched pornography during weekly confession.
Reverend Nicholas Mishek was removed from his post at St Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, but not from the priesthood, the Omaha World-Herald reported.
Deacon Tim McNeil, chancellor and spokesman for the Archdiocese of Omaha, said the 26-year-old is an inexperienced priest who went overboard in his questioning and was probably just 'trying to be too helpful.'
Though Mishek has never had any previous complaints, this line of questioning was 'unacceptable,' and will be dealt with accordingly, McNeil explained.
Additionally, as per Catholic custom, priests are not supposed to lead questioning during a confessional.
On Monday parents at the school received a letter about the incident which was signed by Principle Sandra Suiter and Reverend Steven Stillmunk, the parish pastor.
The letter explained that during confession Mishek asked seventh-and eighth-graders (ages 12 to 14 on average) if they have ever cheated, lied, watched pornography or masturbated.
The 26-year-old had just started at St Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church after being ordained in June
Parents were told about the questioning by their parents, who in turn contacted the school and
Within 10 minutes of the first complaint from parents, the letter said the allegations were reported to Stillmunk.
Though he was out of town, the pastor immediately returned to the parish and contacted the archdiocese.
By 1pm on the day of the first complaint Mishek had been dismissed from his duties at St Robert Bellarmine.
Once the letter was distributed more parents came forward with similar stories about what was happening to their children.
On Monday parents at the school received a letter about the incident which was signed by Principle Sandra Suiter and Reverend Steven Stillmunk, the parish pastor. The letter explained that during confession Mishek (pictured) asked seventh-and eighth-graders (ages 12 to 14 on average) if they have ever cheated, lied, watched pornography or masturbated
Those parents revealed that he had asked fifth and sixth grade students (ages nine to 12) 'similar inappropriate questions' during their confession Wednesday.
However, those questions were thought to be more delicately worded as something like 'have you ever viewed or watched inappropriate shows or videos'.
'We are grateful to those parents who came forward and notified us in such a timely way,' the letter reads.
'Because of their quick response, we were able to take necessary steps immediately.
'We especially want to thank our brave students who knew this was inappropriate and voiced their concerns to their parents.'
Teachers have also spoken to students to tell them they were available if anyone had any questions or concerns.
McNeil told the World Herald that confession is supposed to be a time for conversation and not an interrogation.
He also said that he thinks Mishek was trying to get students to 'really discern and be in touch with any sinful behavior they had.' Mishek, he said, was probably 'trying to be too helpful.'
Mishek was just ordained in June with a favorable report from the seminary, and began his post at the school this year.
He has never had any previous complaints and hasn't been involved in any prior incidents McNeill explained.
Because this was a first offence Mishek won't be removed from priesthood, and a decision hasn't yet been made about his next assignment.
'There wasn't a civil offence, not a canonical offence, not a criminal offense, none of that,' McNeil claimed.
An 18-year-old University fresher has been found dead in her halls the morning after her first night on campus.
The teenager is thought to have registered at the University of Kent the day before her body was discovered at 8.30am on Sunday.
Emergency services rushed to the scene in Canterbury but the young woman was pronounced dead shortly after.
The university today confirmed that student had died and said their thoughts are with the woman's friends and family.
Emergency services rushed to the campus in Canterbury but the young woman was pronounced dead shortly after
A university spokesman told Kent Online: 'We can confirm the death of a female student at our Canterbury campus on September 17.
'Next of kin have been informed and support is available for students and staff. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.'
Her death is not being treated as suspicious and police added that a file will be prepared for the coroner.
Fellow undergraduate Molly Hope, who is also culture editor of the university's student newspaper Inquire, said she was helping people move in over the weekend.
She said: 'We arrived Sunday morning to continue helping students moving in but there were ambulances and police cars outside of Tyler Court.
'We were informed that there had been an incident and access to the flat in question was blocked off.
'We were told to move aside as the ambulance crew left the premises. Shaken students started coming out of their rooms and we had to calm them down.
'We were told to move aside as the ambulance crew left the premises.
Emergency services rushed to university of Kent in Canterbury (pictured here, Canterbury Cathedral) but the young woman was pronounced dead shortly after.
'It was a sombre morning given how excited students usually are when they start their time at uni.'
A University of Kent spokesman said: 'Kent Police was called at 8.37am on Sunday 17 September 2017 to residential accommodation on the University of Kent campus, Canterbury, following a report a person had died.
'Officers and the South East Coast Ambulance Service attended the scene where a woman in her late teens was confirmed dead.
'Her death is not being treated as suspicious. Next of kin are aware and a report will now be prepared for the coroner.'
A couple have billed the 80 guests invited to their dream wedding 150 each to cover the costs under the groom's business model.
Ben Farina came up with the plan before proposing to Clare Moran, and their big day in June will be held at the lavish Knockerdown Cottages, in Derbyshire, thanks to the contributions of their guests.
The groom has insisted it will be less a wedding and more an 'all-inclusive holiday' for those attending and the hefty entrance fee includes a three-night stay at the hotel and access to the pool, spa and games room.
Ben Farina came up with the plan before proposing to Clare Moran (pictured together), and their big day in June will be held at the lavish Knockerdown Cottages, in Derbyshire, thanks to the contributions of their guests
their big day in June will be held at the lavish Knockerdown Cottages (pictured), in Derbyshire, thanks to the contributions of their guests
Mr Farina and Miss Moran, 37, who have been together for six years and have a three-year-old daughter Isabel, managed to hire Knockerdown Cottages, near Ashbourne, next June for a discounted price of 10,000 following a cancellation.
All 60 adults and 20 children have RSVP'd to say they will be attending and Mr Farina said the idea had 'gone down well' after denying being 'tight'.
He told the BBC: 'People always pay a large amount of money to go to a wedding anyway, so why not have it paying towards the actual wedding rather than just to a business owner?'
'I sold it to them a bit like an all-inclusive holiday, so all the food and drinks will be incorporated in that cost.
How the bride and groom covered the cost of their 10,000 dream wedding...by getting their guests to foot the bill! The wedding venue, Knockerdown Cottages in Ashbourne, is charging 10,000. With 60 adult guests paying 150 each and parents paying 50 each for 20 children - their entrance fees will cover the 10,000. Mr Farina's mother is forking out 750 for a hog roast and his father has handed over 500. The couple are dipping into their own pockets to the tune of 2,000 which will pay for the alcohol, food, wedding dress, bridesmaid dresses and suits for the groom and ushers. Frugal Mr Farina has arranged to buy the wedding day booze from the supermarket while guests have been invited to bring their own alcohol for the remainder of the weekend. More cost-cutting schemes involve the groom's step-father chef cooking a Sunday roast the day after the ceremony and a family friend has offered to be the wedding singer. Advertisement
Ben Farina came up with the plan before proposing to Clare Moran
'The venue also has a spa, an indoor swimming pool, a games room, it's very close to local amenities, there's a lake, so it is like a little holiday resort.'
The idea stemmed from a wedding the engaged couple attended recently in Greece where they spent close to 2,000.
Mr Farina, from Rotherham, knew his partner would say they could not afford to get married, so made plans to counter her argument.
He insisted that wedding guests would normally spend 100 on accommodation and 50 on drinks, so he said people attending their ceremony were getting a good deal.
The groom has insisted it will be less a wedding and more an 'all-inclusive holiday' for those attending and the hefty entrance fee includes a three-night stay at the hotel and access to the pool (pictured), spa and games room
Miss Moran said: 'I never thought we would be able to have a wedding like this.
'We had spoken about marriage because we've got a little girl together and I always said we wouldn't be able to afford to do it, or it would have to be a registry office wedding, not a big wedding.
'This is a brilliant way to do it and I can't wait. He has put a lot of thought into it.'
Fork it over: Jared Fogle has been ordered to hand over $50,000 to federal authorities so they would not seize his vehicles used in commission of sex crimes
Disgraced former Subway spokesman and convicted child molester Jared Fogle has been ordered to pay a $50,000 penalty as part of his high-profile case.
Fogle, 40, pleaded guilty to trading in child pornography and paying for sex with underage girls and was sentenced in November 2015 to 15 years in a federal prison.
As part of the plea deal, Fogle agreed to pay 14 of his victims $100,000 each, for a total of $1.4million.
Fogle also pledged to hand over another $50,000 to federal authorities so they would not seize vehicles in which he traveled to meet his underage victims.
The news, first reported by TMZ Tuesday, comes on the same day that a judge in Indiana heard arguments in a lawsuit filed by Fogle's ex-wife alleging that Subway knew of the former pitchmans sexual interest in children but continued promoting him as its representative.
Kathleen McLaughlin filed for divorce from Fogle immediately after his arrest. The divorce was finalized just days before his sentencing, ending a six-year marriage that produced two children.
Fogle's ex-wife Kathleen McLaughlin (right) is suing Subway alleging the chain knew of the his sexual interest in children but continued promoting him as its pitchman
The ex-wife received a $7million settlement package and won sole custody of their two children in the agreement.
WXIN-TV reported the judge didn't rule Tuesday immediately after opposing attorneys presented arguments on Subways request that McLaughlin's lawsuit be dismissed.
McLaughlin alleges the sandwich shop chain received at least three reports indicating Fogle was sexually interested in children but failed to take proper action.
Fogle became the companys spokesman in 2000 after losing 200lbs, down from a whopping 425lbs which he weighed in college, partly by eating Subway sandwiches.
Fogle became the companys spokesman in 2000 after losing 200lbs, down from a whopping 425lbs which he weighed in college (left), partly by eating Subway sandwiches (right)
In 2015, the married-father-of two admitted that he paid for sex at New York City hotels with girls who were 16 or 17 years old and that he had received some child pornography produced by Russell Taylor, the former director of the foundation Fogle started to fight childhood obesity, The Indianapolis Star reported last year.
Fogle was hospitalized earlier this year after a prison yard attack.
Bruce Newton, 39, allegedly masterminded an operation that targeted victims at funerals
Three people are accused of using newspaper obituaries to find funerals to carry out car break-ins in Rochester, New York.
Bruce Newton, 39, allegedly masterminded the operation that targeted victims at funerals, Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn said.
Newton, Cearra Campbell, 20, and Chelsea O'Hare, 23, are each charged with eight counts of fourth-degree grand larceny and three counts of third-degree criminal mischief.
Both Campbell and O'Hare are prostitutes, according to O'Flynn.
O'Flynn said Campbell is Newton's girlfriend.
Newton allegedly would use prostitutes to pose as the theft victims and use the stolen credit cards at stores, according to a Democrat and Chronicle reports.
Cearra Campbell, 20, (left) and Chelsea O'Hare, 23, (right) are reportedly prostitutes who joined Newton in the robberies in several counties in New York
'Over the course of three months, in several counties, there were a number of vehicle break-ins reported in parking lots at local parks and commercial locations including, vehicle break-ins at funeral homes in Monroe, Livingston and Ontario counties,' according to a release from the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.
'All crime is significant however, some crime in particular is despicable,' O'Flynn said. 'To target individuals at a vulnerable time in their life while attending a funeral is just plain reprehensible.'
'To target individuals at a vulnerable time in their life while attending a funeral is just plain reprehensible,' Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn said (stock image)
The current charges are only related to crimes in Livingston County and O'Flynn said more charges are expected.
'This is really only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the charges we expect to be lodged,' O'Flynn said.
Newton is being held without bail due to previous felony convictions, while O'Hare and Campbell had bail set at $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond.
Livingston County Sheriff Thomas Dougherty said: 'When you're targeting folks that are their lowest, grieving over a family loss and they come out to smashed windows, you can imagine, not only now are they grieving but now they are upset.
'We all felt the victims' pain.'
'Over the course of three months, in several counties, there were a number of vehicle break-ins reported in parking lots...at funeral homes in Monroe, Livingston and Ontario counties,' according to a release from the Monroe County Sheriff's Office (stock image)
Newton, Campbell, and O'Hare were arrested and charged on Saturday.
'Knowing that the suspects frequented certain stores to use the stolen credit cards, investigators waited at the Best Buy in Henrietta,' a release said.
'The suspects arrived at Best Buy and were taken into custody after purchasing $750 in stereo equipment using stolen credit cards.'
Authorities said the strong working relationships and the ability to share information between departments led to the completion of this investigation.
Nigerian energy businessman Kolawole 'Kola' Aluko, 48, was the owner of Apartment 79, a penthouse apartment in One57 which is now up for sale for $39million
A luxurious Manhattan apartment previously owned by an on-the-run Nigerian billionaire is up for sale for $11million less than he bought it for.
Disgraced Nigerian energy businessman Kolawole 'Kola' Aluko, 48, bought Apartment 79 in the One57 building in 2014 for $51.9million.
And now as he tries to evade authorities - the penthouse apartment is now up for sale for just $39.9million.
The seller is apparently anxious to get rid of the property - as it is listed by a 'MOTIVATED SELLER!!!'
The property was supposed to be sold at a foreclosure auction in July.
However, that sale fell through for an unknown reason and it has now been put back on the market by a 'motivated seller'.
The 6,240 square foot apartment is described as a four bed, four-and-a-half bathroom penthouse with stunning views of Central Park, the Hudson and East rivers, the Empire State building and the Statue of Liberty.
It is described as a 'once in a lifetime investment opportunity' as it's the 'last remaining full floor residence at Manhattan's New Crown Jewel, One 57 Condominium.
The 79th floor penthouse of the One57 apartment building in Manhattan is up for sale by a 'motivated seller'
The 6,420-square-foot unit, which used to belong to disgraced Nigerian billionaire Kolawole 'Kola' Aluko, has four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms
The owner of the apartment bought it for $51.9million in December 2014, but quickly had to take out a loan to pay the apartment off
Above, the kitchen in the 79th floor apartment of One57. The apartment is described as a 'once in a lifetime investment opportunity'
Even the bathrooms inside apartment 79 have amazing views of the city. It is the last available full-floor residence at the One57 complex
Aluko bought the sprawling penthouse for $51.9million in 2014, but in less than a year later however he was forced to take out a $35.5million mortgage from Banque Havilland in Luxembourg to help pay for the apartment.
When the owner failed to pay the loan back a year later, the bank took possession of the 6,420-square-foot apartment, according to court documents.
'The home was in foreclosure, but it is now being sold by a third party as an alternative to foreclosure,' a source close to the property told the New York Post.
The source also said Compass broker Ali H Jafri is handling the sale, and that Aluko isn't involved.
Aluko has been accused of making money by bribing Nigeria's oil minister - Diezani Alison-Madueke - in a $1.76billion dollar scheme to defraud the country's oil sale profits.
Construction started on the building in 2009 and finished in 2014, creating a trend of similar ultra-luxury high-rises on 57th street which has now been coined 'Billionaire's Row'
Amenities include a 24-hour doorman and concierge, fitness center, yoga studio, private dining room, catering kitchen, library, valet service and on-site parking. The building also has a luxurious pool
The penthouse apartment boasts stunning views of Central Park, the Hudson and East rivers, the Empire State building and the Statue of Liberty
The justice department lawsuit claims that Aluko and one other laundered money by purchasing $144million in properties - including the penthouse and yatch, where he is thought to be hiding out to evade arrest.
The 213-foot Galactica Star is worth $80million, as he is under investigation for alleged money-laundering crimes in Nigeria and Europe.
Beyonce and Jay Z rented that same yacht in 2015 for $900,000 a week.
Aluko is currently under investigation for alleged money-laundering crimes in Nigeria and Europe.
He was last seen in Hong Kong and May and his yacht is currently in the Bahamas.
In 2014 a Nigerian court tried to freeze his assets - including the jaw-dropping penthouse, but never found him to serve papers.
One57 was the tallest residential building in New York for a few months, before the completion of nearby 432 Park Avenue
Aluko, right, is friends with stars including actor Jamie Foxx, left, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jay Z and Beyonce. Aluko and Foxx are pictured in 2013
Not a worry in the world: Aluko was spotted in Hong Kong earlier this year
The businessman who once dated Naomi Campbell is also close friends with Leonardo DiCaprio and Jamie Foxx.
Aluko made a large donation to DiCaprio's environmental charity and even attended the actor's birthday party in New York City in 2013.
The energy tycoon sold a 2.4-acre estate in Montecito, California, to Gwyneth Paltrow for an undermarket $4.9million.
In 2012, he bought an 11,478-square-foot house in Bel Air for $24.5 million, then sold the property in 2016 for $21.5 million.
One57 was built by Extell Development Co. and was the tallest residential building in Manhattan until 432 Park Ave was completed a few months later. It is also one of the city's most expensive residential apartment buildings.
Construction started on the building in 2009 and finished in 2014, creating a trend of similar ultra-luxury high-rises on 57th street which has now been coined 'Billionaire's Row'.
The bottom floors of the building are now the flagship location of the Park Hyatt Hotel. The residences have a separate entrance to the building.
Amenities include a 24-hour doorman and concierge, fitness center, yoga studio, private dining room, catering kitchen, library, valet service and on-site parking.
He was last seen in Hong Kong and May and his yacht is currently in the Bahamas. It is thought he is hiding out on the $80million yacht
A Michigan mother was charged with involuntary manslaughter and first-degree abuse after her six-month-old son died while sleeping in her bed.
Police said baby Connor Kleemann was found unresponsive in Leslie Neuman's home around 6am on December 29, 2016.
The 32-year-old mother had taken Connor to bed with her around 11pm the night before, and when she woke up, she realized the baby wasn't breathing, officials said.
Michigan mother, Leslie Neuman (left), 32, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and first-degree abuse after her six-month-old son, Connor Kleemann (right), died while sleeping in her bed
The 32-year-old mother (pictured in court on Monday) had taken Connor to bed with her around 11pm the night before, and when she woke up, she realized the baby wasn't breathing, officials said
According to Livonia Police Capt Robert Nenciarini, Neuman 'had consumed alcohol and woke up to find the child wedged between the bed and the wall'.
Nenciarini said since Neuman had been drinking, there is an alcohol component to her charges, but did give information on her blood alcohol concentration level or how many drinks she had consumed.
After unsuccessfully performing CPR on the child, he was rushed to St Mary Mercy Livonia Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the Detroit News.
A medical examiner determined the child's death was an accidental asphyxiation caused by 'bed sharing/overlay'.
Authorities said Neuman created an 'unsafe' sleeping situation that resulted in the death of her son.
Neuman has two older children and has been warned about co-sleeping before, according to the judge. In the past, she signed a document to say she would no longer do it.
According to Livonia Police Capt Robert Nenciarini, Neuman (pictured with Connor) 'had consumed alcohol and woke up to find the child wedged between the bed and the wall'
Authorities said Neuman created an 'unsafe' sleeping situation that resulted in the death of her son. Pictured is Neuman's home where the incident took place
'We tell you do not sleep with your baby, and this is why you do not do that,' Nenciarini said.
At the time of the baby's death she was engaged to her fiance and Connor's father, Johnathan Kleemann. It's unclear if the pair are still together.
In 2013, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office announced parents who placed their children in unsafe sleeping environments would face criminal charges.
Neuman was arraigned on Monday and given a $100,000, 10 per cent cash or surety bond.
Involuntary manslaughter is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Neuman is scheduled to return to court on September 28 for a probable cause conference.
President Donald Trump told African leaders attending a Wednesday luncheon associated with the United Nations General Assembly that their nations have 'tremendous business potential,' although 'too many people are suffering from conflict' on the continent.
'Africa has tremendous business potential. I have so many friends going to your countries trying to get rich. I congratulate you. They're spending a lot of money,' the former real estate developer said.
Staying on the topic, Trump said, 'But it does, it has a tremendous business potential. And representing huge amounts of different markets. And for American firms, it's really become a place that they have to go, that they want to go.
'Six of the worlds ten fastest-growing economies are in Africa,' he pointed out.
Later in his remarks Trump said African leaders have done a 'terrific job' in spite of the 'tremendous obstacles placed in your path.'
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President Donald Trump told African leaders attending a Wednesday luncheon associated with the United Nations General Assembly that their nations have 'tremendous business potential,' although 'too many people are suffering from conflict' on the continent
President Donald Trump greets Guinea President Alpha Conde, right, during a luncheon with African leaders at the Palace Hotel during the United Nations General Assembly
'Africa has tremendous business potential. I have so many friends going to your countries trying to get rich. I congratulate you. They're spending a lot of money,' the former real estate developer said
The word 'potential' was on the tip of Trump's tongue all week as he attended UN functions.
First, it was the property that he owns on UN Plaza.
'I actually saw great potential right across the street, to be honest with you, and it was only for the reason that the United Nations was here that that turned out to be such a successful project,' Trump said at the top of his remarks Monday during a meeting on UN reform.
He was making reference to Trump World Tower, the 72-story glass rectangular building located across the street from the UN's international headquarters.
On it's web site, the Trump Organization touts the UN as a prime selling point for Trump World Tower's condos.
'Adjacent to the United Nations Headquarters and surrounded by lush landscaping with a public plaza along East 47th Street, our 90-story building offers residential condominiums that deliver incomparable luxury,' the site says.
After delivering remarks where he criticized UN spending, Trump said, the international body has 'a lot of potential.'
'The meeting was very good. I met a lot of the people that I have been dealing with over the last nine months. A lot of potential. The United Nations has tremendous potential and we'll see how it works out,' Trump said.
Asked about the message of the major speech he was preparing to give the following day, Trump said it was to make the United Nations great. Not again. Make the United Nations great.'
'Such tremendous potential, and I think we'll be able to do this,' he told reporters then.
This afternoon, Trump talked about the 'potential' of African nations during an event that was billed as a working lunch.
Ministers and heads of state from Uganda, South Africa, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana and Ethiopia were in attendance.
Trump's National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Chief of Staff John Kelly and U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley were also at the luncheon where Trump addressed the violence, terrorism and humanitarian crises that have engulfed African nations.
'As you well know, too many people are suffering from conflict in Africa,' Trump told attendees.
The American president said his administration is 'closely monitoring and deeply disturbed' by the violence in South Sudan and the Congo, in particular.
'But real results in halting this catastrophe will require an African-led peace process and a sincere -- really sincere commitment of all parties involved.,' he stated. 'And I know you're working on that, and you're working very hard.'
To that end, Trump said he's sending Haley to Africa to discuss avenues of conflict resolution and prevention.
African nations are also beating back terror threats from ISIS, al-Shabaab, Boko Haram, and al Qaeda, Trump said.
Libya, Mali, Somalia, the Congo, the Central African Republic and South Sudan, 'theyre going through some very, very tough and very dangerous times,' he assessed.
'A number of you have told me, actually last night, that weve been doing a very good job over the last six or seven months,' he said of the administration's terror stance.
HHS Secretary Tom Price will also be visiting Africa to promote the United States' health security agenda, Trump told them, bringing up the the battle against HIV/AIDS in Uganda and the Ebola outbreak in Guinea and Nigeria.
'We cannot have prosperity if we're not healthy,' he contended.
Touching briefly on the global threat that North Korea poses, Trump told them, 'We must all stand together and be accountable in implementing United Nations sanctions and resolutions in response to North Koreas hostile and menacing actions.
'We believe that a free, independent, and democratic nation, in all cases, is the best vehicle for human happiness and success.'
Trump said in closing, as attendees prepared to engage in conversation over their meal, that Africa is 'growing very fast economically and in every other way.'
'Africa, I have to say, is a continent of tremendous, tremendous potential. The outlook is bright,' Trump said, ringing the bell once again. 'Youve done a terrific job, youve had some tremendous obstacles placed in your path, but you have done, really, an absolutely incredible job.'
A teacher took control when a male student opened fire in a central Illinois high school cafeteria on Wednesday morning, police have said.
A male student at Mattoon High School opened fire at about 11.30am and shot another student before being quickly subdued by a teacher.
The names and ages of the suspect and the victim have not yet been released - and it is not immediately clear how the teacher was able to get the shooter under control.
A teacher took control when a male student opened fire in a central Illinois high school cafeteria on Wednesday morning, police have said. A photo shows a student embrace his family member outside of Mattoon High School after the shooting
By the time police were able to reach the high school the shooter was already subdued and a school resource officer was already on site.
The suspect, is in custody, police said, and the injured student is in stable condition at a local hospital.
The Mattoon Journal-Gazette reported that police were clearing the high school room by room.
Immediately following the shooting students were evacuated and eventually bused to a nearby school to be picked up.
School officials said their buildings were on a soft lockdown as a precaution.
A male student at Mattoon High School opened fire at about 11.30am and shot another student before being quickly subdued by a teacher. Pictured above a student sits and watches as teachers and authorities discuss the incident
Mattoon Community Unit School District 2 said on its Facebook page that it is working with emergency workers to determine what happened.
'We are saddened that this event has happened and we will provide counseling to students in need,' the district said in a statement.
'We appreciate the quick response of school staff and first responders. Most importantly, we offer our thoughts and prayers to the injured student and all who are affected by this tragedy.'
Mattoon is about 180 miles (290 kilometers) south of Chicago.
What Happens During a Welfare Fraud Investigation?
Ever since the 'Welfare Queen' craze in the early '80s, the specter of fraud has hung over any public assistance program, from Medicaid to food stamps. And, to be sure, that fraud exists, from a recently dubbed "Food Stamp Millionaire" to single cases of misreporting income and insurance payouts to sweeping dragnets uncovering over 70 food stamp fraudsters. In fact, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts, assistance program fraud cost federal and state governments around $136.7 billion in 2015 alone.
So it's only natural that states and the feds want to crack down on welfare fraud. But those crackdown efforts and the criminal investigations that result can vary. Here's a look.
Private Eyes
Many states are outsourcing their fraud investigations. Pew has the story of Illinois, which started tightening the screws on Medicaid recipients in 2012:
To catch up, the state hired a private contractor to identify people who might not be eligible for the low-income health program and to make recommendations for whose benefits should be canceled. Within about a year, Illinois had canceled benefits for nearly 150,000 people whose eligibility could not be verified -- and saved an estimated $70 million.
Hiring private companies to investigate public assistance fraud is not unique to Illinois. Mississippi, Missouri, and Wyoming recently passed laws requiring the state to hire a private contractor to track the eligibility of people participating in state public assistance programs, and Ohio and Oklahoma are considering similar legislation. So in many cases, private companies will simply alert the state that a person is ineligible for welfare, and the person's benefits will be discontinued.
Public Investigations
On top of that, fraud generally and welfare fraud specifically, is illegal under many state criminal statutes. In fact, that woman who lied about the insurance payment? She is facing charges of perjury, theft, welfare fraud, insurance fraud, and fraud on a financial institution. And criminal charges and investigations often result in criminal penalties: fines and jail time.
If you've been charged with welfare fraud, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.
Related Resources:
Theresa May tonight told the United Nations that 'enough is enough' as she pleaded with world leaders to work together to fight terrorism online and on the battlefield.
The Prime Minister reflected on the five terror attacks to have blighted Britain in 2017 and told the UN General Assembly all leaders had all seen 'too many innocent people' in 'too many hospitals'.
In a personal speech, Mrs May said it had been a decade since Benazir Bhutto - who introduced her to husband Philip - had been killed by terrorists in Pakistan for defending democracy.
And she said the global community had to work together to stop terrorists plotting and spreading extremism online.
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Theresa May (pictured addressing the General Assembly in New York tonight) told the United Nations that 'enough is enough' as she pleaded with world leaders to work together to fight terrorism online and on the battlefield
The PM also talked about North Korea's continual refusal to disarm during her address
Mrs May also spoke out against climate change deniers in a thinly veiled jibe at Donald Trump
Terrorism and the UK's resilience to those who wish to destroy the British way of life were also touched upon during her address
Major internet firms including Google and Facebook have taken part in meetings on the margins of the General Assembly about tackling terror.
World leaders including Mrs May have challenged the companies to develop technological fixes to take down terrorist material within one to two hours.
Interior ministers from the G7 group of leading nations will meet in Rome on October 20 to decide whether enough progress has been made.
And governments are making clear they are ready to take legislative action which could include fines for internet giants which fail to act.
British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks during the General Debate of the 72nd United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York
Mrs May said the global community had to work together to stop terrorists plotting and spreading extremism online
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Prime Minister Theresa May attend a meeting about Libya during the United Nations General Assembly in New York
Mr Johnson and Mrs May cannot hide their awkwardness of being together at a UN meeting
The Prime Minister (pictured at the UN this afternoon) reflected on the five terror attacks to have blighted Britain in 2017 in her major speech on countering terrorism
In her keynote address to the UN, Mrs May tonight said: 'When terrorists struck London and Manchester this year, the world saw our cities come together in defiance.
'Our Parliament carries on. Ariana Grande came back to Manchester and sang again.
'London Bridge is bustling with people.
'Our communities came together at the Finsbury Park Mosque in North London.
'And Londoners got back on the tube.
'The terrorists did not win, for we will never let anyone destroy our way of life.'
MAY TELLS WORLD LEADERS OF FRIEND THAT SET HER UP WITH PHILIP WHO WAS KILLED BY TERROR May and Benazir Bhutto (pictured) were friends at Oxford in 1976 Theresa May tonight told world leaders it had been a decade since Benazir Bhutto, who introduced her to husband Philip, had been killed by terrorists. Ms Bhutto was murdered in Pakistan for defending democracy and for being a woman, Mrs May said. The Prime Minister, Mr May and Ms Bhutto were all contemporaries at Oxford in 1976. In her speech calling for new global coordination to fight terror, Mrs May said: 'This year is the tenth anniversary of the death of the woman who introduced me to my husband, and who was known well to many of us in this United Nations. 'Benazir Bhutto was brutally murdered by people who actively rejected the values that all of us here in this United Nations stand for, in a country that has suffered more than most at the hands of terrorists. 'Murdered for standing up for democracy. Murdered for espousing tolerance. And murdered for being a woman.' Advertisement
But Mrs May warned: 'Defiance alone is not enough. As leaders, we have all visited too many hospitals and seen too many innocent people murdered in our countries.
'In the last decade hundreds of thousands have been killed by terrorists across the world.
'This is a truly global tragedy that is increasingly touching the lives of us all.'
The Premier said: 'When I think of the hundreds of thousands of victims of terrorism in countries across the world, I think of their friends, their families, their communities, devastated by this evil.
'And I say enough is enough.'
The Prime Minister said the global community must take the fight to terrorists online as well as on the battlefield - vowing to use Britain's military where it was needed.
But she told UN: 'As the threat from terrorists evolves, so must our co-operation.
'That is why today - for the first time in the UN - governments and industry through the Global Internet Forum for Counter-Terrorism will be coming together to do just that.'
Mrs May added: 'This year is the tenth anniversary of the death of the woman who introduced me to my husband, and who was known well to many of us in this United Nations.
'Benazir Bhutto was brutally murdered by people who actively rejected the values that all of us here in this United Nations stand for, in a country that has suffered more than most at the hands of terrorists.
'Murdered for standing up for democracy. Murdered for espousing tolerance. And murdered for being a woman.'
Mrs May (pictured greeting US vice president Mike Pence at today's meeting) said it had been a decade since Benazir Bhutto - who introduced her to husband Philip - had been killed by terrorists in Pakistan for defending democracy
Mrs May has met a series of world leaders in the margins of the UN General Assembly, including French president Emmanuel Macron (pictured)_
YouTube defended its approach to extremist content today, claiming many videos are now removed before any complaint is received as a result of its monitoring systems.
A spokesman said: 'Addressing the challenge posed by extremism is a critical challenge for us all and we're determined to be part of the solution.
'We've put our best talent and technology to the task and we're making progress through new machine-learning technology, partnerships with experts and collaborations with other companies through the Global Internet Forum.
'Through new uses of technology, the majority of videos we removed for violent extremism over the past month were taken down before receiving a single human flag. We're doing more every day to tackle these complex issues.'
Kent Walker, general counsel at Google, told the BBC: 'By funding experts like ISD, we hope to support sustainable solutions to extremism both online and offline.
'We don't have all the answers, but we're committed to playing our part. We're looking forward to helping bring new ideas and technologies to life.'
Boris Johnson (front row, second left) took part in a meeting of the Global Counterterrorism Forum at the General Assembly today
Ministers from countries around the world took part in a meeting at the General Assembly today (pictured)
Stop wasting aid cash or we'll withhold 30m: Theresa May savages the UN for the 'unbridgeable gap' between its 'noble purposes' and the way it delivers money
Theresa May last night threatened to fine the United Nations tens of millions of pounds unless it improves the way it spends aid money.
In a combative speech, the Prime Minister savaged the UN for shortcomings that risk undermining the confidence of states as members and donors.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, Mrs May said the UN suffered from a seemingly unbridgeable gap between the nobility of its purposes and the effectiveness of its delivery.
Theresa May last night threatened to fine the United Nations tens of millions of pounds unless it improves the way it spends aid money
She added: The UN and its agencies must win our trust by proving to us and the people we represent that they can deliver.
She said that up to 30 per cent of Britains core funding for the UN could be withheld in future unless it raises its game.
This could amount to a financial penalty of about 30million a year for the global institution.
The threat does not cover the 2billion a year the UK gives the UN for aid and peacekeeping programmes, but it is designed to force the organisation to improve its performance.
Sources said ministers were determined to see greater transparency, efficiency and accountability over the way the UN spends British taxpayers money.
In a wide-ranging speech yesterday, Mrs May also took a swipe at Donald Trump for his decision to pull the US out of the Paris climate change agreement.
She attacked North Koreas race to build a nuclear weapon and urged China to act to restrain its belligerent ally.
And she criticised Russia for war-mongering in Ukraine and blocking a peace deal in Syria.
Mrs May also took a swipe at Donald Trump for his decision to pull the US out of the Paris climate change agreement
Ministers have been concerned for years about the performance of UN aid agencies. Four were stripped of funding in 2011, and a government review of aid spending last year was critical of the UN agency Unesco.
The agency was found to be inefficient and unaccountable and was rated as weak for the way it controlled costs and dealt with fraud.
In a separate intervention in New York, the international development secretary Priti Patel said the UN had ballooned into a multiplicity of agencies and organisations, with too little coherence.
Mrs May warned world leaders that the international system would not survive if countries continued to flout rules and treaties to suit themselves.
In a coded attack on Mr Trump, Mrs May bracketed the breaking of the Paris climate change deal with North Koreas flouting of treaties designed to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
A shocking video shows the moment a woman pushes a man into the street in front of a car in Houston.
The footage was taken by the dashcam of what appears to be a taxi.
The woman appears to intentionally wait for the car to approach and pushes the man in front.
A shocking video shows a woman pushing a man into the street in front of a car in Houston
The woman appears to intentionally wait for the car to pass before she pushes the man in front. The footage was taken by the dashcam of what appears to be a taxi
The man manages to avoid a full-on collision and can be seen hitting the side of the car.
The driver posted the video to YouTube saying: 'Something that looks like a domestic squabble escalated to attempted murder.'
The driver said the impact broke off his side mirror.
The man clutched his elbow and took off across the street with the woman after him.
The couple in the video have not been identified.
Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price is under fire for using private charter jets for government trips on three consecutive days last week.
The five flights included a round trip between Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia a distance of just 137 miles that cost taxpayers $25,000.
Another flight segment covered 127 miles between Waterville, Maine and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a two-hour trip by car.
Overall, his air travel costs last week alone are estimated at $60,000.
Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price racked up about $60,000 in private jet costs last week alone
One charter round-trip on an Embraer 135 jet like this one cost $25,000 and covered only the short hops between Washington and Philadelphia
Price's pricey round trip to Philadelphia could have been accomplished with $144 Amtrak tickets
An Amtrak round-trip ticket for the Washington-to-Philadelphia route, purchased in advance, would have cost as little as $144 for each of the roughly eleven people aboard that trip's chartered plane.
At least four morning trains ran between the two cities on the day Price and his group traveled.
Politico reports that three government SUVs could have made the round-trip for $180 in gasoline and $96 in tolls.
Last Wednesday Price flew from Washington to Waterville in advance of a resort meeting with the CEO of athenahealth, a company that manages many Americans' electronic health records.
That CEO is Jonathan Bush, the nephew of former president George H.W. Bush and first cousin of George W. Bush.
Price then hopped to Portsmouth on Thursday to visit to nearby Goodwin Community Health Center.
After making an announcement about federal grants targeting the opioid epidemic, Price flew on a charter from Portsmouth back to Washington.
Price flew on a chartered jet for just 127 miles between Waterville, Maine and Portsmouth, New Hampshire (appearance shown above), a two-hour trip by car
Kellyanne Conway and about 10 other people accompanied Price to a Philadelphia-area treatment center to announce funding that targets the opioid drug addiction epidemic
Less than 17 hours later, he was aboard another charter flight the Philadelphia trip along with presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway and about nine others.
That scheduled visit was to Mirmont Treatment Center, an addiction treatment facility.
The plane flew back to Washington less than four hours after arriving.
Obama-era HHS secretaries Sylvia Mathews Burwell and Kathleen Sebelius took commercial flights while in the continental United States.
An agency spokesperson told Politico that 'as part of the HHS mission to enhance and protect the health and well-being of the American people, Secretary Price travels on occasion outside Washington to meet face to face with the American people to hear their thoughts and concerns firsthand.'
'When commercial aircraft cannot reasonably accommodate travel requirements, charter aircraft can be used for official travel.'
President Donald Trump chose Price to head HHS in part because of his desire to cut costs
Current and former staffers, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Politico that Price has been taking private jets on domestic trips for months.
The former orthopedic surgeon has staked his reputation on implementing fiscal efficiency in government programs, overseeing major spending reductions at HHS and pushing for legislation that would dramatically trip government spending on health care entitlements.
'Tough choices had to be made to identify and reduce spending within the department,' Price told Congress in a statement accompanying his 2018 budget request.
'Our goal is to ... [try] to decrease the areas where there are either duplications, redundancies or waste ... and get a larger return for the investment of the American taxpayer.'
They were jailed for 20 years on Wednesday as part of a plea deal
He also suffered seizure and two strokes as a result of the attacks
Toddler was hospitalized in December 2015 with lesions to his face and seizures, and doctors then found he had
A lesbian couple from Oklahoma have been jailed for 20 years after they tortured one of the women's five-year-old son's, beating him with a hammer and kicked him in the groin in a brutal attack which causes him to suffer two strokes.
Rachel Stevens, 29, and her partner Kayla Jones, 26, pleaded no contest on Friday to child abuse and child neglect charges. They were jailed for 20 years on Wednesday as part of a plea deal.
The case first came to light in early December, 2015, when Stevens' then five-year-old son was flown to St John Medical Center in Tulsa suffering from seizures and lesions on his face.
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Vile charges: Rachel Stevens (left), 29, and her girlfriend Kayla Jones (right), 26, have been jailed for torturing Stevens' 5-year-old son for months
They were jailed for 20 years on Wednesday as part of a plea deal (pictured in court in 2016)
Doctors at the hospital contacted police after determining that the child had several broken bones in various stages of healing and appeared malnourished.
While the boy was receiving medical treatment, he suffered two strokes 'due to his trauma,' according to an affidavit cited by Tulsa World.
Investigators subsequently interviewed the little boy and learned that the child had been tied up, had duct tape placed over his eyes and had been kept in a locked room, the document states.
The youngster also claimed that his mother struck him on the hand with a hammer, and that both she and Jones hit him with a belt all over his body.
According to police, the horrific abuse went on for several months. The little boy said on one occasion, his step-mother kicked him in the groin until he bled.
Court documents state Stevens, pictured left with the victim and his twin brother, struck her son with a hammer and whipped him with a belt. The youngster (right) also said he had been kept in a locked room
Cover-up: Police say Stevens and Jones started online fundraiser claiming their child was suffering from seizures after taking a fall
The station NewsOn6 reported that the couple then launched a GoFundMe campaign for Stevens' son, claiming that the toddler was picking his own face and was having seizures after suffering a fall.
Police said the suspects, who have been together for around three years, shared their Muskogee home with the victim's twin brother and 8-year-old sister, but they do not believe those children were mistreated.
The siblings have been taken into the custody of the Department of Human Services.
Muskogee County District Attorney Orvil Loge said Wednesday the plea agreement, includes a stipulation that neither woman can contact the child while in jail, Tulsa World reported.
'It was a conclusion that was carefully discussed with the family,' he said.
'The nature of the injuries were very severe, but the child is doing very well now in a loving home. He is a completely different child now than when this (case) first came in. He received the most wonderful care and is in a great home right now, and I feel confident that he is going to be OK.'
For the residents of Quebec, a phrase like le week-end has always been something of a faux-pas.
But now the stridently Francophone Canadian province is finally accepting that English words are here to stay.
Following a decision by the Office Quebecois de la langue Francaise this week, English terms such as 'grilled-cheese' will now be acceptable for use in French, Quebec, according to The Globe and Mail.
The Canadian province of Quebec is easing restrictions against English after a recent decision by the Office quebecois de la langue francaise
For decades, the gatekeepers of the French language in the Canadian province were adamantly opposed to English encroaching into the vernacular, perceived as undermining Quebec's historical and cultural roots.
Quebecois Au fromage fondant Le bebe-boum Balle molle Pain grille Courriel Mot-clic Egoportrait Travelo Coquetel Chef Stationnement Advertisement
English Grilled Cheese Baby Boom Soft Ball Toast E-Mail Hashtag Selfie Drag queen Cocktail Leader Parking Advertisement
But that all changed after the office, known by its acronym OQLF, released a list of once banished words now permissible for use.
For example, the sandwich au fromage fondant can now be referred to as 'grilled cheese,' while pain grille is acceptable as just 'toast.'
Le baby boom, referencing the post WWII generation, can now replace le bebe-boum while the unpopular balle molle is now just 'soft ball.'
The OQLF, which has 15 full-time language terminologists and a staff of 230, is dedicated to finding French replacements for English terms.
Recent changes, however, have led the office to relax some of its policies, saying the decision will add to Quebec's 'linguistic enrichment.'
Terms such as 'grilled-cheese' and 'Drag queen' will now be acceptable for use in French, Quebec (Pictured: Quebec City)
'We've added a certain amount of flexibility,' said Jean-Pierre Le Blanc, spokesman for the OQLF.
'Our policy will always be to aim to promote French terms, but if [English] terms have become part of common usage, we can accept them. It's part of our linguistic enrichment.'
The recent announcement has already ignited a firestorm, unsurprising to most Canadians where issues surrounding language and identity have sparked fierce debates in the province since the mid 1800s.
The recent announcement has already ignited firestorm, an issue that has sparked fierce debates in the province since the mid 1800s
Those concerns eventually became so paramount that laws were adopted in the province in the 1970s to guard against anglicisms.
Shortly after the decision was announced, linguist and former OQLF employee Jacques Maurais went so far as to say that the OQLF initiative marks the 'era of voluntary enslavement.'
Yet now, as younger Quebeckers are living in a more prosperous era than previous generations, views concerning language and identity have become more relaxed.
'Collectively, [francophone Quebecois] have improved their status economically and politically. There are still insecurities, but there are fewer than before,' said Chantal Bouchard, a sociolinguist at McGill University in Montreal.
'People under 30 see English as less of a threat because they don't have the impression they're losing their language,' she added.
A one-year-old child is fighting for his life after he was thrown from a vehicle and ran over by the car during a fight between his parents in Memphis.
Authorities said Tamara Roscoe's baby is in extremely critical condition at the Le Bonheur Children's Hospital following the Wednesday morning incident.
Police responded to the Autumnwood Apartments around 3am after receiving a 911 call about gunfire in the complex.
Tamara Roscoe's (pictured) one-year-old is fighting for his life after he was thrown from a car after she got into a fight with his dad in Memphis
Police said when Roscoe tried to drive away from the apartment complex (pictured), the father fired one shot at her. In the process, their one-year-old son was either thrown from or fell out of the car and run over
When police arrived, they found a shot had been fired at a 2001 Honda Accord and that the child had been injured when he was somehow been thrown from the vehicle, according to The Commercial Appeal.
According to authorities, when Roscoe tried to drive away, the father fired one shot at her. In the process, their one-year-old son was either thrown from or fell out of the car.
The mother then accidentally hit the boy with the vehicle, according to LocalMemphis.com.
Authorities said the boy's mother was not shot, but she was injured during the fight.
Police spoke to, Tamia Roscoe, who said her sister was driving her Honda during the incident.
Roscoe had a cut on her nose and was crying in the parking lot of the apartments. She wouldn't say how her nephew was hurt.
Authorities said Roscoe's baby is in extremely critical condition at the Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. Authorities said the boy's mother was not shot, but she was injured during the fight
Police responded to the Autumnwod Apartments (pictured) around 3am after receiving a 911 call about shots being fired in the complex. Maj Stephen Oliver with Memphis Police Felony Response unit said the child's parents have been detained, but no charges have been filed
Maj Stephen Oliver with Memphis Police Felony Response unit said the child's parents have been detained, but no charges have been filed.
Resident Jasmine Austin lives in the building where the child and his mother live.
'My husband heard the mother hollering "my baby" and then we called the police,' Austin told the Appeal.
'It was scary to wake up to police cars and someone screaming. I'm praying for the family.' A dozen police cars surrounded the apartment complex on Wednesday morning.
Oliver said witnesses are being interviewed and the investigation is ongoing.
A loaf of bread was one man's weapon of choice during an altercation at a grocery store in Fremont, California.
Adam Kowarsh, 39, allegedly attacked a Safeway employee in the 39100 block of Argonaut Way with a baguette Sunday at about 11.49pm.
Officers said Adam entered the supermarket just before midnight and began yelling and screaming, according to the The Smoking Gun.
Adam Kowarsh, 39, who allegedly beat a Safeway employee with a baguette Sunday evening
One employee tried to calm him down but Adam began 'pushing and hitting an employee multiple times with a loaf of French bread,' according to the incident report.
The employee called the police after Adam ignored directions to leave store.
He was arrested after he failed to comply with police orders telling him leave.
Adam was arrested by police after refusing to leave the store and charged with battery and probation violation
Additional officers were called to the scene and he was then escorted from the building.
He was arrested and charged with battery count and a probation violation.
His bail was set at $5,000 and he was booked into Santa Rita jail.
He is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday on the two charges.
The employee had no major injuries but still wanted to press charges.
Weapon of choice: Adam used a loaf of French bread to hit the employee who was trying to calm him down
It's common for nursing moms to be told not to breastfeed in public areas such as restaurants, malls and parks, though they are legally given the right to do so.
But one mom in Savannah, Georgia, was told to cover up by a hospital employee as she was breastfeeding her baby in the waiting room.
Kymmie Snyder, 24, was waiting for an appointment earlier this month at Candler Hospital when she began feeding her 10-month-old son, Kylo.
Kymmie Snyder, 24, took to Facebook to post about her anger over a hospital employee telling her cover up while she breastfed her 10-month-old in the waiting room
Kylo has cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening disorder that builds mucus in his lungs and digestive system. The condition causes Kylo to get hungry very often and the mom says, 'we nurse, and nurse a lot.'
According to Snyder, it was then that a female hospital worker approached her and put a towel over the baby's head telling the mom that she had to cover up if she wanted to remain in the hospital.
Snyder said she told the employee that what she was doing was illegal. The worker then replied that it was 'hospital rules'.
Her son, Kylo, has cystic fibrosis, a condition that builds mucus in the lungs and digestive system. This makes her baby hungry very often, causing her to nurse a lot
She said the worker threw a towel over the baby's head and said it was 'hospital rules' that she had to cover up
Candler Hospital has since released a statement apologizing to the mother and called it an 'insensitive incident'.
But that wasn't before Snyder took to Facebook to post a photo of her breastfeeding her child and a caption explaining the situation. The photo makes it clear that not much of the nursing mom was revealed. She event said in the post, 'There is NO skin showing, no nipple out, you honestly can't even tell that I am breastfeeding if you were to look straight on.'
The enraged mom added, 'I don't know who you thought you were approaching this morning but I am certainly the wrong one! Cover your own damn head if you have a problem with my son eating.'
When Snyder asked to speak to the manager, she said the supervisor was very nonchalant about the ordeal, which sparked the nursing mom to post online.
A Facebook page called Breastfeeding Mama Talk re-posted Snyder's story, which garnered 13,000 reactions and more than 1,000 shares
Candler Hospital in Savannah, Georgia, released a statement apologizing to the nursing mom and said the employee has been re-educated on the hospital's views on breastfeeding
A Facebook page called Breast Feeding Mama Talk re-posted Snyder's situation. That post has garnered 13,000 reactions and more than 1,000 shares.
The employee is unidentified but Snyder refers to her as 'Mrs. Williams' in the post.
The PR manager at Candler Hospital, Scott Larson, told TODAY the employee involved is a retiree 'who works only a few hours per week'.
He added: 'The individual involved has been re-educated on our views regarding breastfeeding. We have used this as an opportunity to reiterate our strong support for breastfeeding mothers with our other co-workers.'
President Donald Trump's poll numbers are looking up after a summer that saw his popularity plummet to all-time lows.
A new poll from Morning Consult, conducted for Politico, found 43 per cent of registered U.S. voters approve of the job he is doing in the Oval office.
Fifty-two per cent disagreed, and three-quarters of that group said they 'strongly' disapproved of him.
Last month, after suffering self-inflicted wounds in a race controversy following a deadly riot in Charlottesville, Virginia, Trump's support in the Morning Consult poll stood at 39 per cent.
Other surveys also show his approval rating on the upswing.
President Donald Trump has seen his poll numbers tick upward in the past month
Gallup has seen Trump boosted from 35 to 39 per cent since late August. A polling average maintained by Real Clear Politics has him hovering at 39.9 per cent.
The Morning Consult poll released Wednesday gives Trump his best rating since a Fox news poll in late June.
The president has been widely praised for his responses to this month's pair of devastating hurricanes, and is likely to win plaudits for a groundbreaking speech to the United Nations General Assembly this week.
And if Congress should pass a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare, or push a tax reform package through, Trump will likely get much of the credit.
'Trump's post-Charlottesville plunge proved to be short-lived, and his approval has stabilized,' Morning Consult co-founder Kyle Dropp said Wednesday in a statement.
'A key driver of this movement appears to be independents,' he said.
'Immediately after Charlottesville, 35 percent of independent voters approved of Trump, and 58 percent disapproved. In this latest poll, that has risen to 40 percent approval and 52 percent disapproval.'
The Real Clear Politics average of polls has Trump at just about 40 per cent overall, an improvement from dreadful summer survey numbers
A White House official told DailyMail.com on Wednesday that Trump is at the mercy of polls like any president, but pays little attention to them now that he's in the White House.
'The boss has been doing the same job he's done since January, going with his gut and making decisions based on what he thinks is best,' the official said.
The Trump aide also cautioned that negative press can have a depressive effect on national poll numbers, especially given Trump's unusual leadership style.
'Sometimes people get it and appreciate it, and other times the media coverage is just so awful that public opinion goes down,' the official said.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders declined to comment on Wednesday.
Despite his small uptick in the newest poll, the president is still at a low-water mark compared to other presidents' numbers after eight months in office.
Adolf Hitler's phone directory which contains details of some of the key Nazi figures has been listed for auction.
The Third Reich book was recovered in Berlin at the end of World War Two by Captain John Hodge who was a British Grenadier Guards officer and is expected to fetch up to $20,000.
It contains more than 200 handwritten entries, including Heinrich Himmler, Joseph Goebbels, Rudolph Hess, Hermann Goering, Joachim Von Ribbentrop, Reinhard Heydrich, Albert Speer and Albert Bormann, though there is one glaring omission - Adolf Hitler.
The book on the left entitled Fernsprech-Teilnehmer, which translates to 'telephone subscribers', and the inside showing the contact details
The Third Reich book was recovered in Berlin at the end of World War Two by Captain John Hodge who was a British Grenadier Guards officer and is expected to fetch up to $20,000. His signature can be seen on this letter to the War Crimes Investigation Unit
There is one notable omission from the phonebook and that is Adolf Hitler, pictured here
The book contains more than 200 handwritten entries, including Heinrich Himmler, Joseph Goebbels, Rudolph Hess, Hermann Goering, Joachim Von Ribbentrop, Reinhard Heydrich, Albert Speer and Albert Bormann, though there is one glaring omission - Adolf Hitler
The leather, cloth-bound book is being put up for auction by Henry Aldridge and Son, which is based in Devizes, Wiltshire.
Among the 200 people listed are SS monster Heinrich Himmler, propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels and head of the Luftwaffe Hermann Goering.
Others include Hitlers deputy Rudolf Hess who bizarrely flew to Scotland in 1941 and was taken prisoner Albert Speer, the Nazi who apologised at the Nuremberg war trials, and Reinhard Heydrich, main architect of the Holocaust.
Hans Frank, who ran occupied Poland under a murderous reign of terror, is also listed as is Joachim von Ribbentrop, who played a key role in starting the war. Hitlers personal bodyguard and pilot are included as well.
The leather, cloth-bound book belonging to Hitler is being put up for auction by Henry Aldridge and Son, which is based in Devizes, Wiltshire
Remarkably, a folded-up letter found in the 6in by 4in book has survived. It was written by the private secretary of Goebbels rejecting a request for his autograph because he was too busy.
The black, leather-bound book was found in a desk drawer in the Reich Chancellery in 1945 by Captain John Hodge, who was later part of the war crimes investigation unit and was almost killed arresting SS guard Heinrich Hornetz at his home near Frankfurt in 1946.
During the arrest, the Nazis wife ran out of the house screaming English pigs.
Minutes later five armed Germans surrounded the property and opened fire.
Capt Hodge was hit in the leg but managed to flee with his prisoner.
Both he and the address book survived, and it is to be sold at auction tomorrow through Henry Aldridge and Son of Devizes, Wiltshire.
It has been given an estimate of 15,000.
Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said: This is a unique piece of history that offers both historians and collectors access to a previously unseen amount of information relating to the highest echelons of one of the most evil regimes in modern history. It really is a whos who of evil.
'You pick a bad guy and he is in there. The only person of note who is missing is Adolf Hitler.
We dont know for certain who it belonged to but it was clearly the property of a very senior Nazi, possibly Goebbelss secretary.
This book is being sold by the family of someone who dedicated a chunk of his career to hunting these individuals.
On a personal note, my grandfather was kept prisoner by the Nazis at Lamsdorf, Poland, before he escaped back to England and I found it fascinating that the head of Nazi government in Poland, Hans Frank, is listed.
Service Animals Must Be Trained, California Court Rules
Joey Miller and his dog Roxy got kicked out of court, but it started at a fish market.
Joey, a man who had the mental capacity of a 12-year-old, walked into two seafood stores with his dog. The market employees stopped them for health and safety reasons.
Joey's stepfather was not about to have it, however, and they sued for disability discrimination. The courts turned them down again, but that's the short story.
Service Animals
The case, Miller v. Fortune Commercial Corporation, turned on the definition of a "trained" service animal. In the complaint, the plaintiff said the dog was being trained at the time they were turned away.
The Americans with Disabilities Act says a service dog must be "trained." In other words, California's Second District Court of Appeal said, a dog cannot be a service animal until it has completed its training.
However, the appeals court acknowledged, the Disabled Persons Act extends to service animals that are still in training. The plaintiff argued that they were doing just that when they entered the fish markets.
"The act specifically provides that a service animal who is in the process of being trained may be taken into a place of public accommodation for the purpose of furthering their training," the appeals panel said.
"Authorized Training"
Joseph Scribner, who bought the one-year-old mixed breed for his stepson, said Roxy had received obedience training. The family also worked with the dog to help keep Joey from wandering away.
The plaintiff argued in court that an authorized trainer was "any person authorized by the disabled person to train his or her dog." The appeals court said that's not the way the law works.
"[U]nder Miller's interpretation, a disabled person could authorize someone to bring a service-animal-in-training into a restaurant or food market who not only lacks the training and experience to train a service dog, but who is also reckless with regard to the health and safety of others," the court said. "Such an interpretation would make a mockery of the statute, especially in light of the DPA's requirement that a guide dog must be trained by a licensed professional trainer."
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Cash-strapped Jocelyn Wildenstein has put her sprawling New York apartment back on the market after defaulting on her $4.5 million mortgage.
The 72-year-old has listed the 5,160-square-foot Trump World Tower apartment in Midtown East for $11 million.
The property - located at 845 United Nations Plaza - failed to sell for its $12.9 million asking price through a different agent earlier this year.
Wildenstein snapped up adjoining apartments in 2001 before buying a third and knocking them into one giant pad that takes up nearly the entire 51st floor.
Cash-strapped Jocelyn Wildenstein has put her sprawling New York apartment back on the market after defaulting on her $4.5 million mortgage (Pictured: Fiance Lloyd Klein reclining in the lavish apartment)
Wildenstein, who is engaged to to her 50-year-old fashion designer partner Lloyd Klein, has listed her apartment for $11 million
She paid around $6 million for all three but borrowed millions more to upgrade the eight-bedroom, six-bathroom residence and deck it out in an opulent art deco interior.
Court documents obtained by DailyMail.com earlier this month showed Wildenstein had defaulted on the $4.5 million mortgage she took out 10 years ago on the apartment.
Her exasperated creditors have tried to slap foreclosure papers on the famed socialite, but the feline-featured debtor has been dodging them.
Concierge and security staff at the glitzy high rise have also refused to help and threatened to call police on anyone who tries to drop off the paperwork.
The bank's surveillance operatives have even resorted to staking out the premises but on both occasions failed to spot Wildenstein.
Wildenstein paid around $6 million for three apartments, but borrowed millions more to turn it into the eight-bedroom, six-bathroom residence and deck it out in an opulent art deco interior
The giant pad with 360 degree views of the Manhattan skyline takes up nearly the entire 51st floor of the luxurious apartment building
Her posh pad was put on the market earlier this year for $12.9 million but it failed to sell despite the building boasting a spa, pool, and private wine cellar
In a separate legal action, DailyMail.com earlier revealed that Trump World Tower itself was also chasing her for $81,332 in unpaid common charges dating back to November 2014.
Wildenstein became the world's most infamous divorcee in 1999 when she landed a then-record $2.5 billion settlement from her late ex-husband, the art dealer Alec Wildenstein.
But she's been candid about her depleted finances in recent interviews, accusing her ex-husband's family of cutting off her multi-million dollar annual maintenance.
'Jocelyn has made no secret of her precarious financial situation and she's confident this will all be resolved very soon,' dished a confidante.
'She's been photographed and given interviews in recent months so it's a little far-fetched to say she's in hiding.
'And it's understandable that staff are protective of her, she's been in the building for years and she's one of the more high-profile residents living there.'
Wildenstein announced she was getting engaged to her 50-year-old fashion designer partner Lloyd Klein in an exclusive interview last month with DailyMail.com.
Wildenstein snapped up adjoining apartments in 2001 before buying a third and knocking them into one giant pad that takes up nearly the entire 51st floor
In a separate legal action, Trump World Tower itself is also chasing her for $81,332 in unpaid common charges dating back to November 2014
The lavish condo was the scene of the now infamous December 2016 catfight between Wildenstein and Klein, who she scratched and jabbed with scissors before being arrested on assault charges that were later dropped when the pair reconciled
She splits her time between New York and Miami where the couple have been house-hunting in recent months for a seafront marital home.
Her Trump World Tower pad was put on the market earlier this year for $12.9 million but went unsold despite the building boasting a spa, pool, private wine cellar and access to famed Trump haunt, the World Bar.
The lavish condo was also the scene of the now infamous December 2016 catfight between Wildenstein and Klein, who she scratched and jabbed with scissors before being arrested on assault charges that were later dropped when the pair reconciled.
The papers filed by Modern Bank say they filed for foreclosure in February and their representative Wesley Moise tried to serve a summons and complaint on Wildenstein on February 28.
Wildenstein didn't answer when staff rang her apartment and neither the concierge nor security would take possession of the papers.
There was no answer when Moise tried again on March 3 and when he attempted one week later to leave the paperwork at the front desk, staff threatened to have him arrested.
'The concierge objected and called security, who appeared almost instantly,' the filing says.
Wildenstein announced her engagement to her 50-year-old fashion designer partner Lloyd Klein in an exclusive interview last month with DailyMail.com. Klein bought her a 32-carat diamond ring (pictured)
Attempts to serve the socialite with foreclosure papers have failed as concierge and security staff at the glitzy high rise have also refused to help and threatened to call police on anyone who tries to drop off the paperwork
'They immediately had the doors to the building locked and advised him that he would be detained and not allowed to leave the building unless he removed the Complaint and Summons from the concierges' desk and left with them.
'In addition, they also threatened to call the police and have him arrested for trespassing.'
She became the world's most infamous divorcee in 1999 when she landed a then-record $2.5 billion settlement from her late ex-husband, art dealer Alec Wildenstein
The documents go on to say that Moise and another operative mounted a 'surveillance' operation on the building on April 4 and April 6.
But despite being stationed on both entrances for four hours at a time they came away from both stake-outs without having seen Wildenstein.
Modern Bank's attorneys asked David Hryck, a lawyer representing Wildenstein, to accept the writ but when he failed to do so they filed documents asking a judge to grant more time and decide on a new method to serve the paperwork.
'Plaintiff suggests that serving Wildenstein by regular mail sent to the Premises and/or by regular mail and electronic mail to Mr David Hryck, Esq. would be reasonably calculated to inform Wildenstein and give her appropriate notice of the proceedings,' the filing reads.
In the separate legal motion for unpaid communal charges, the board of management for Trump world Towers says Wildenstein owes $35,877.22 for apartment 51-A, $23,109.29 for 51-D and $21,749.12 for 51-E.
She owes a further $596.37 for charges relating to a storage cupboard, they allege in papers filed last week in New York Supreme Court.
A 17-year-old was charged with murder this week in connection to the death of a special effects film technician in July.
Joseph Livolsi was found with gunshot wounds in his right rib cage, chest and head in an Eastwyck Village apartment on July 15, according to DeKalb police.
According to an arrest warrant, Delvin Gates, 17, who lived near Livolsi, was charged with murder this week.
Delvin Gates, 17, was charged with murder this week in connection to the death of a special effects film technician, Joseph Livolsi (center) in July. Livolsi was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds
Police believe Livolsi was killed during a burglary, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Livolsi, who worked on films including Captain America: Civil War and Ant-Man, was found dead in an upstairs hallway by his cousin.
Cops believe Livolsi was killed during a burglary. Gates (above) lived near the victim
He had been scheduled to start on a new project but never showed up for work when his family went to check on him.
Authorities said an Xbox console had been removed from the home and a speaker was seen out of place on the floor.
At the time, a witness told police he had heard noise from the apartment around 11pm.
The witness said he also heard what sounded like firecrackers.
But when he looked out his window, he didn't see any unusual activity, according to the AJC.
Livolsi had been in the film industry for 20 years, according to his IMDb page.
His recent credits include Rampage and The Fate of the Furious, both starring Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.
Livolsi had worked on more than two dozen blockbuster hits since 2002.
Republicans putting together a joint tax reform proposal that's due to be unveiled next week are considering less generous benefits for the wealthy in hopes of attracting more Democratic support.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, one of the six Republican negotiators, told reporters Tuesday that tax writers are 'basically not cutting taxes very much for the wealthy.'
'I think they want to do a middle-class tax cut at least that is what most everybody has said,' Hatch said, according to multiple news outlets.
The Washington Post says the estate tax is also on the chopping block. Politico said that Trump's promise to slash the corporate tax rate to 15 percent is under discussion.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, one of the six Republican negotiators, told reporters yesterday that tax writers are 'basically not cutting taxes very much for the wealthy'
A White House official involved in the talks told DailyMail.com that the details of reform are still being finalized.
The official said that reports that the administration is backing away from its position on corporate taxes or tax cuts for the wealthy are not accurate. Everything is still under discussion, the person said.
President Trump has already said that he'd be willing to back off a tax break for the rich if he had to.
'Whats going to happen is the individual rate coming down will be substantial for the middle class,' he said last week.
The administration has doggedly pursued a reduction in the corporate tax rate from 35 percent for to 15 percent in the face of Republican leaders who say it will realistically go no lower than 20 percent.
A billionaire with decades of experience running a business, Trump blames the corporate tax rate for American businesses' inability to keep up with their foreign competitors.
'All told, it will be the greatest tax reduction in the history of our country. Greater than ever before. So that's going to be something. You'll see a rocket ship. You will see something happen like you've never seen,' Trump pledged during a rally this month in Bismarck, North Dakota.
Trump said then that he would be getting rid of the estate tax, which is also referred to as the death tax, because of when it kicks in.
'Its a devastating tax. Julie: We are not going to allow the death tax or the inheritance tax or the whatever-you-want-to-call-it to crush the American Dream. Not going to let it happen,' Trump said.
He's been more flexible on his desire to cut the rate for top earners from 39.6 percent to 35 percent, saying last week, 'If they have to go higher theyll go higher, frankly.'
'The rich will not be gaining at all with this plan. Were looking at the middle class and were looking for jobs,' Trump said. 'I think the wealthy will be pretty much where they are.'
Democrat Ron Wyden told the Post it's 'just absurd' to believe that the rich will not be benefiting from the Republican tax plan.
'In virtually all this stuff where they go out, they use the presidential megaphone to say this will be for the middle class, it won't be for the wealthy, but then people like me start going through the fine print, and all you do is see these big gifts to the rich and few,' he said.
House Republican tax writers are insisting they will have a joint statement on tax reform prepped and ready by next week.
President Trump has already said that he'd be willing to back off a tax break for the rich if he had to. 'Whats going to happen is the individual rate coming down will be substantial for the middle class,' he said last week
Kevin Brady, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, is promising to release core details about business and individual rates and a 'unified consensus document' that will underline the path forward.
Brady pledged to 'jettison the special interest provisions for some' as they move to simplify the tax code and lower tax rates 'for everybody,' as he spoke about the status of tax reform on Maria Bartiromo's Sunday Morning Futures.
For that to happen, the House must pass a budget by mid-October, he said.
'No budget, no tax reform....That's clear,' Brady told Bartiromo. 'And if Republicans don't unite and move this budget so that we can move tax reform, then I'm convinced the president will look elsewhere for partners to deliver on this.
'So this budget is incredibly important.'
The fiscal year 2018 budget will serve as the basis for revisions to the tax code that can pass through a process called reconciliation in Senate.
In pursuing a reconciliation vote, Republicans can rely on their simple majority, or Republicans and a few Democrats, to get a tax bill passed
Embattled former Donald Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort offered to provide 'private briefings' to a Russian oligarch during the campaign.
Manafort's offer was contained in a July 7, 2016 email he sent to an intermediary shortly before President Trump accepted the Republican Party nomination.
In it, he asked that the person get a message to Russia aluminum magnate and former business partner Oleg Deripaska.
'If he needs private briefings we can accommodate,' Manafort wrote.
The timing of the email, which a source read to the Washington Post, is certain to interest investigators. Donald Trump Jr. engaged in a series of emails with a British music publicist beginning June 7 that culminated in a meeting at Trump Tower with a Kremlin-linked Russian lawyer.
FBI agents wiretapped former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort in an investigation that runs back to 2014
Special counsel Robert Mueller's team has obtained tens of thousands of documents. Deripaska is referred to by his initials in emails.
In another email, from April, Manifort mentions positive press clippings about his powerful new role and puts forward the idea of leveraging it to collect past business debts.
'How do we use to get whole?' he wrote, according to another email described to the Post.
Deripaska offered to cooperate with congressional investigators probing Russian interference in the elections, but committees declined to accept his terms of getting full immunity from prosecution in exchange. House and Senate panels turned him down in May, according to the New York Times.
Manafort in a July 2016 email offered to provide private briefings to Russia aluminum magnate and former business partner Oleg Deripaska
Oleg Deripaska, billionaire and president of United Co. Rusal, pauses in a Bloomberg Television interview during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) at the Expoforum in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on Friday, June 2, 2017. The event program is based around the theme 'Achieving a New Balance in the Global Economic Arena'
Electronic surveillance of former Donald Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort picked up his conversations with Russians that took place during the 2016 campaign, according to a report.
FBI agents wiretapped Manafort in an investigation that runs back to 2014.
That probe preceded his time as a top Trump campaign official, and is believed to have initially centered on undisclosed work for Ukrainian entities.
But surveillance also occurred during the 2016 campaign, and according to CBS news included conversations Manafort had with Russians.
A former U.S. official told the network the conversations Manafort had with Russians were 'about the campaign' and potentially include Trump conversations.
Trump has indicated he spoke with Manafort on occasion as president.
The revelation that Manafort is considered significant not only because someone so closely connected to Trump has been under such scrutiny.
Such surveillance would have taken place under a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant which would have required a judge who sits on a special court to sign on off it based on a showing of probable cause.
CNN reported Monday night that Manafort had been under surveillance. The network reported that intercepts provoked concerns that Manafort had urged Russians to help the campaign.
The Network reported that authorities got a second FISA warrant related to the probe into connections between the Trump campaign and Russian officials.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump gives a thumbs up as his campaign manager Paul Manafort (C) and daughter Ivanka (R) look on during Trump's walk through at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, U.S., July 21, 2016
The building where former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort has a residence is shown August 10, 2017 in Alexandria, Virginia. Manafort's residence was searched for evidence in late July 2016 as part of the Russia investigation being conducted by special investigator Robert Mueller
Manafort's spokesman, Jason Maloni, appeared before a federal grand jury in July.
That is the same month that federal investigators swooped down on his Virginia home and raided it for documents after getting a search warrant. The New York Times reported that investigators picked his lock and surprised him in his bedroom.
Maloni said in a statement: 'If true, it is a felony to reveal the existence of a FISA warrant, regardless of the fact that no charges ever emerged.'
He continued: "The U.S Department of Justice's Inspector General should immediately conduct an investigation into these leaks and to examine the motivations behind a previous administration's effort to surveil a political opponent. Mr. Manafort requests that the Department of Justice release any intercepts involving him and any non-Americans so interested parties can come to the same conclusion as the DOJ there is nothing there.
President Trump requested that White House photographer Shealah Craighead take a nice shot of his Wednesday afternoon meet-and-greet with British Prime Minister Theresa May.
'Get a nice one, Shea, it's a very historic meeting,' Trump said, as eyewitnesses attending the United Nations General Assembly giggled, according to the pool report.
Trump's quip comes after May scolded the American president for making presumptions about the latest London terror attack. And after she made a thinly-veiled digs at Trump in her UN speech over the Paris climate accord and trade.
British Prime Minister Theresa May (left) grabs hands with President Donald Trump (right). Trump asked his White House photographer to get a good picture of the two of them calling their meeting 'historic'
President Trump (right) clasps his hands as he talks to British Prime Minister Theresa May (right) who had criticized him, without using his name, during her own speech to the United Nations earlier today
'I do get on with him,' British Prime Minister Theresa May (left) said in a recent interview about President Trump (right). Here they're photographed about to shake hands during a meeting that was a part of the United Nations General Assembly
On Friday in London May had sat down with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos shortly after a bombing on the London Underground.
'Well, I don't think it's helpful for anyone to speculate what is an ongoing investigation,' May told Stephanopoulos on the heels of Trump's tweet, which suggested the terrorists had been 'in the sights of Scotland Yard.'
Then, today at the UNGA, May said global warming 'is depleting and degrading the planet we leave to our children.'
She also used the Paris deal, which Trump has said he wants to re-enter on more favorable terms, is an example of the world working together to promote 'fairness, justice and human rights.'
May said it was important that 'nations honor their responsibilities and play their part in holding and renewing a rules-based international order that can deliver prosperity and security for us all.'
Around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday May and Trump were face to face and exchanging the usual pleasantries.
Trump welcomed the prime minister and mentioned the many friendly faces in the room due to trade negotiations.
'Were going to be doing a lot of trading ... we have gotten to know each other over the last period of months. Its a really honor to have you here, thank you very much,' Trump said, according to the pool report.
Trump was joined by Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster, his chief economic adviser Gary Cohn and Tillerson's Chief of Staff Margaret Peterlin.
In her speech, May had also warned against moves that would 'undermine support for the forces of liberalism and free trade that have done so much to propel global growth,' a line that was also interpreted as a dig at Trump.
'It's good to be here,' she said, when faced with Trump in the bilat. 'We've had many discussions with your representatives and ourselves on a whole variety of issues, including trade ... but some other issues, policy issues, our security and defense relationship, which is of course the closest the UK-US the closest we have.'
May had talked about that 'special relationship' between the two countries too, when sitting down with Stephanopoulos last week.
'I do get on with him,' she said of her relationship with Trump.
'And of course, as you know, President Trump actually as an affection for the United Kingdom. Like many Americans, he has family connections with the United Kingdom,' she noted.
This is the dramatic moment a 'smiling' terrorism suspect was arrested as police continue to hunt for accomplices in the Parsons Green Tube bombing.
The man, named as asylum seeker Bilal Mohammed, 25, was pinned down by armed officers in the middle of the street in Newport, South Wales more than 130 miles from the scene of Friday's attack in London.
Two other suspects, aged 30 and 48, were arrested a few hours later just two miles away in a raid on a 'halfway house' for asylum seekers.
The raids in South Wales brought the number of people arrested over the attack to five, and came as investigators were said to be exploring the online links of the Iraqi 18-year-old suspected bomber who lived with his foster parents in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey.
This is the moment a third man was arrested in connection with the Parsons Green bombing
He was the first of three arrests in Newport, south Wales. Two others were detained on Wednesday
Police arrested two other men in an early morning raid in this terraced street in the city. Locals say the property is run as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers
Dozens of people were injured when the bomb partially exploded during Friday morning rush-hour.
Mohammed was held at 7.15pm on Tuesday after leaving a halal meat shop. One witness said: 'A big van pulled up and six officers got out and jumped this guy. There were two armed officers. The guy was smiling. I didn't hear him saying anything.'
Ten hours later, at 5am yesterday, police arrested the two older men at a property in Newport that was being used by the Home Office as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.
Police are still questioning the 18-year-old, who was arrested at the port of Dover on Saturday, and Syrian refugee Yahya Faroukh, 21, who was arrested in west London and had been fostered by the same family in Sunbury-on-Thames.
Commander Dean Haydon, head of the Met Police's Counter-Terrorism Command, said: 'This continues to be a fast-moving investigation. A significant amount of activity has taken place since the attack on Friday.
'We now have five men in custody and searches are continuing at four addresses.
'Detectives are carrying out extensive inquiries to determine the full facts behind the attack.'
Forensics experts were today seen scouring the first of two addresses raided in this city
The Met Police described the terror probe as 'fast-moving', but said searches would take time
A photograph taken on the tube at Parsons Green shows wires and a bucket on fire on Friday
Yesterday, the husband of the owner of the raided house in Newport, said: 'It's a Government-run property. We wouldn't know who was in or out of there. The property is owned by us but the local government take control, they put asylum seekers in there.'
Locals said Mohammed is a Kurdish student and part-time painter and decorator from Iraq, the same country as the teenage refugee suspected of planting the Parsons Green bomb.
Bilal Rehman, an elder at the mosque where Mohammed is said to have worshipped until around six months ago, claimed last night that he may have already been on the police radar. He said: 'He came to the UK when he was 15 or 16 for a safe haven.
'He was a gentle, quiet man who was studying construction or something to do with the building trade at college in Cardiff. But I think he may have already been known to the police. Officers went to his house about a year ago they found books, I think.'
One local Muslim resident claimed the suspect had recently started receiving visitors in expensive cars from London. He said: 'He was always very humble, happy to be in the UK. But recently he started to receive visitors from people driving Mercedes and Jeeps, expensive cars with registration plates from London dealerships. It was very odd.'
Arrests have been made in Kent, London and south Wales by police investigating the bomb
A 25-year-old man has been detained in Newport, Wales, in connection with the terror attack, Scotland Yard said
Another friend of the refugee said he was a 'serious' young man who spent his days praying and was 'proud of being a Kurd'.
Neighbour Abid Ali said Mohammed refused to discuss his views on the Islamic State group and terrorism when asked about it. Mr Ali said: 'I just wanted to know what he thought about what was going on in the world, but he said, 'Just leave it.'
'That was about a month ago I am very shocked by his arrest and didn't sleep last night. I had told him that life is too short and he should enjoy himself. But when he's not working he goes to pray at one of the local mosques. He has no girlfriend, I asked him why and he said, 'No chance.' '
Residents said Mohammed would go door-to-door looking for work. One woman, who did not want to be named, said: 'He did some painting on our house about two years ago. He was a nice guy.
'He used to condemn terrorism my husband would condemn it and he would agree with him.'
Syrian refugee Yahya Faroukh (pictured left and right), 21, and an 18-year-old believed to be from Iraq, remain in police custody
A large scale police search is now underway at two addresses in the city following the arrests
Food watchdogs are to stop naming and shaming supermarkets selling chicken contaminated with a virulent food poisoning bug.
The decision by the Food Standards Agency came after pressure from big stores and has been described as deeply troubling by critics.
The official watchdog started publishing details on the proportion of chickens contaminated with campylobacter in 2014.
The move was strongly resisted by supermarkets, which tried to block it with appeals to ministers amid concerns that it would hit sales.
But the publication of figures went ahead and revealed that 78 per cent of chickens sold by the major supermarkets carried the bug. A total of 20 per cent were contaminated at a high level, making them a particular risk to the public.
Figures have shown that 78 per cent of chickens carry the bacteria campylobacter. Twenty per cent had a high level of contamination, a particular risk to the public
The tactic shamed the stores into cleaning up farms and changing chicken processing to reduce contamination. At the same time, retailers introduced roast in the bag packs to protect customers.
The net effect has been to reduce the proportion of birds carrying contamination to around 50 per cent, and those highly contaminated to 5 per cent.
These falls appear to have been instrumental in a reduction of around 100,000 a year in the number of campylobacter food poisoning cases in humans.
But now, after pressure from supermarkets and their trade body, the British Retail Consortium, the FSA has decided to stop publishing the contamination levels of the nine biggest retailers Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Lidl, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsburys, Tesco and Waitrose.
Instead, it has reached an agreement with the BRC for supermarkets to publish a limited set of their own figures. Each store will report only the proportion of chickens that carry the highest level of contamination, not the higher figure showing overall contamination.
The BRC will report the general level of contamination as an average across the industry once a year.
Professor Tim Lang, of City University of Londons Centre for Food Policy, said he was deeply troubled by the announcement.
The move to not publish the full proportion of chickens with campylobacter has been attacked by food critics
He added: I see this as financially driven pragmatism by the FSA. Its budget is cut, its labour force, too.
The FSA is stopping its equal treatment approach and being driven into a light-touch approach.
We are seeing a weakening of the role of the FSA, not just due to its reduced personnel but out of choice. This is bizarre and unnecessary.
Professor Lang said: The FSA was created to be an independent arbiter. Now we are seeing its board approve the handing over of responsibility to the food industries it was set up to regulate and improve.
The board has chosen to go down the slippery slope of devolving responsibility when campylobacter continues to be a serious problem.
The FSA will now focus on reducing contamination in chicken sold by small butchers, independent stores and farmers markets.
The BRC said: The FSA has praised retailers for the progress made so far in relation to reduction of campylobacter.
Food safety continues to be the top priority for UK retailers and work to continue reducing campylobacter is ongoing.
Special counsel Robert Mueller's team of investigators is seeking information from the White House related to Michael Flynn's stint as national security adviser and about the response to a meeting with a Russian lawyer that was attended by President Donald Trump's oldest son, The Associated Press has learned.
Mueller's office has requested a large batch of documents from the White House and is expected to interview at least a half dozen current and former aides in the coming weeks.
Though the full scope of the investigation is not clear, the information requests make clear at least some of the areas that Mueller and his team of prosecutors intend to probe surrounding White House actions in the early months of the administration.
A person familiar with the investigation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said investigators want information on, among other topics, a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower that Donald Trump Jr. attended with a Russian lawyer and the administration's response to it.
Focus: Mueller's office has requested a large batch of documents from the White House - including about the response to Donald Trump Jr's meeting with Russians
Meeting: Donald Trump Jr met Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya at Trump Tower and said it was to vet Hillary Clinton's fitness for office
Disgraced: Michael Flynn was fired as national security adviser. Now Mueller's prosecutors want White House documents on his time there
A statement provided to journalists in July that the White House has said Trump played a role in drafting said the meeting was primarily to discuss adoptions of Russian children, but emails released days later by Trump Jr. show that he arranged the encounter with the expectation of receiving damaging information about Hillary Clinton.
The person also said investigators want to know what White House officials including Trump knew about the Justice Department's investigation into Flynn, who was forced out as national security adviser in February after White House officials concluded that he had misled them about the nature of his Russian contacts.
Former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates has said she warned White House counsel Don McGahn that that deception left Flynn and the White House in a compromised position, and that she expected him to take action. Flynn was not asked to resign until several weeks later.
And former FBI Director James Comey has said that Trump, in a private Oval Office encounter, told him that he hoped he would end an FBI investigation into Flynn.
Comey's own firing in May is also under investigation, and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller as special counsel and oversees his work, has been questioned by investigators, according to people familiar with the matter.
A spokesman for the special counsel's office declined to comment.
Mueller was appointed in May to investigate potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign, and potential crimes arising from that probe.
Investigators in July raided the home of Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, in a search of tax and banking records and have served subpoenas related both to his business dealings and those of Flynn.
Mueller's team of investigators includes prosecutors with experience in organized crime, national security and complex financial fraud cases.
The primary prosecutor on the White House investigation is James Quarles, who came with Mueller from the WilmerHale law firm and was involved in Watergate prosecutions.
Among the aides expected to be interviewed, perhaps by October, are McGahn, former press secretary Sean Spicer and former chief of staff Reince Priebus.
Their names are a guaranteed draw for film fans.
And now Dame Judi Dench and Sir Michael Caine have been revealed as the most prolific stars in UK cinema, appearing in an astonishing 111 British movies between them.
Sir Michael, 84, has appeared in 70 British films so far in his 60-year career, while Dame Judi has starred in 41, according to the British Film Institute. The BFI also found the proportion of women in British films has barely changed in 100 years.
Sir Michael once revealed he had never turned down a film, which explains his remarkable CV, running to more than 130 films worldwide. The Italian Job star said in 1982: For years I never got a part that hadnt been turned down by somebody else.
Alfie was offered to every actor in England. And I knew about it because I wasnt famous, so nobody tried not to hurt my feelings. Ive never turned down anything. Despite winning two Oscars, Sir Michael once admitted some of his films are not up to scratch. He joked: Ive made an awful lot of films, and a lot of awful films. With typical humour, he has also pointed out that: You get paid the same for a bad film as you do for a good one.
Just behind the Educating Rita actor is Leslie Phillips, who has appeared in 66 British films.
And Dame Judi, 82, who won an Oscar for her role as Elizabeth I in Shakespeare In Love in 1999, is closely followed by Dame Maggie Smith and Vanessa Redgrave, who have starred in 40 films each.
The release of Dame Judis new film Victoria And Abdul pushed her ahead of Dame Maggie, who is sure to be amused that her friend has overtaken her, having joked last year: There are always parts but Judi gets her paws on them first.
Oscar winners: Dame Judi and Sir Michael in 2000
The BFI study also found that women made up 28 per cent of film roles this year only just higher than 26 per cent in 1913. However, over the same years, the share of women in film crews shot up from 3 per cent to 33 per cent. It also revealed 59 per cent of films in the last ten years had no black actors in lead or title roles.
The study, which looked at 10,000 British films made since 1911, also found that man is the most common word in British film titles.
It found 221 films have man in the title, for example in The Man Who Had Power Over Women (1970) and The Railway Man (2014). Only 71 films have woman in the title, including The Impossible Woman (1919), A Woman Of No Importance (1921) and The Invisible Woman (2014).
The study also named Queen Victoria and James Bond as the characters most frequently featured in British cinema, appearing in 25 films each.
Discount department store Big W has removed the word 'Christmas' from boxes and signage in the lead-up to the holiday season.
The decision to remove references to the Christmas tradition from product lines in their Australian stores has baffled and infuriated shoppers.
Big W's Facebook page has been inundated with posts accusing the store of bowing to political correctness and 'banning Christmas'.
Discount department store Big W has removed the word 'Christmas' from boxes (pictured) and signage in the lead-up to the holiday season
Big W's Facebook page has been inundated with posts (pictured) accusing the store of bowing to political correctness and 'banning Christmas'
'You are joking,' wrote one disgruntled consumer. 'Banning the word Christmas. Hang your head in shame.'
Fabian Iuele, owner of Christmas Tree Farm, called the move 'disappointing' and said the store was ignoring both history and tradition, The Herald Sun reported.
'That's really sad. It ignores the religious element and history of the holiday which is still important to people,' he said.
'We get people from other religions purchasing our trees regularly but they always know that they're called Christmas trees like everybody else does.'
The decision to remove references to the Christmas tradition from product lines (pictured) in their Australian stores has baffled and infuriated shoppers
Renamed trees include the Black Forest [Christmas] Tree, White [Christmas] Tree, Emerald [Christmas] Tree and Mayfair [Christmas] Tree.
Cameron Harrison, a Big W Highpoint customer, said the store was overreacting and using the word Christmas is not a problem.
'Christmas did have a religious meaning but we are not a religious country. I think its more of a tradition these days,' he said.
Facebook has filled up with furious customers claiming they will be shopping elsewhere for Christmas.
Disgruntled customers slammed Big W on its Facebook page (pictured), outraged at the decision
'Big mistake Big W, how many people decorate their houses with trees just for the sake of it? It is Christmas CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS stop the ridiculous wording on your CHRISTMAS trees,' wrote one irate shopper.
'I will be shopping elsewhere from now on! One completely offended (former) customer.'
'If you don't want to acknowledge Christmas, don't sell it! Lost this customer. Plenty of other places to spend my money,' wrote another.
The Big W website still has trees listed under their original names, and spokeswoman told The Herald Sun the chain was proud of its line of trees this year.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Big W for comment.
Wisconsin Right-to-Work Law Survives Appeal
Anti-union 'right-to-work' laws have been controversial since their inception in the 1940s. And although 28 states currently have right-to-work laws on the books, those laws have faced their fair share of legal challenges.
Most recently, Wisconsin passed a right-to-work law in 2015, and the statute just survived its latest legal challenge at the state's 3rd District Court of Appeals.
Federal and State Labor Laws
Right-to-work laws weaken union bargaining power by prohibiting labor agreements requiring employees to either join a union or pay dues and fees to it in order to get or keep a job. With fewer members and less money, the threat of collective action is diminished. At the same time, employees who do not voluntarily pay dues and initiation fees are still allowed to receive the benefits the union provides.
While the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 blocked state regulation of labor relations in interstate commerce, the subsequent Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 rolled those restrictions back, expressly authorizing the states to pass right-to-work laws. Over half of all state right-to-work laws were passed in the 10 years following Taft-Hartley, 10 in 1947 alone.
Badger State Labor Law
Another six states enacted their right-to-work legislation since 2010. As Reuters notes, Wisconsin's law was spearheaded by "leading union antagonist" Governor Scott Walker. The law passed in 2015, amid staunch protests in the state capitol. It has been the subject of litigation ever since, though it has remained in effect with the issue of its constitutionality has been argued in the courts.
The most recent appeals court ruling actually reinstates the law after a lower-court ruled it violated the state constitution in 2016. Earlier this year, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago dismissed a similar challenge in federal court. And the fight may not be over -- the case could conceivably wind its way to Wisconsin's supreme court.
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President Donald Trump spoke hardly a word about Egypt during a Wednesday photo-op with that nation's president, but he had plenty to say about pending health care legislation.
Speaking of the Graham-Cassidy bill, a Republican Senate proposal to repeal and replace the Obamacare law, Trump said he believes 'it has a very good chance of passing, and I certainly hope it passes.'
'You look at the rates, you look at what's happening with premiums for people that can't afford Obamacare,' he complained, as Abdel Fattah el-Sisi looked on and listened through a translator. 'It's been a catastrophic situation.'
'I believe that Graham-Cassidy will do it the right way, and it is doing it the right way. It has tremendous support from Republicans, certainly were at 47 or 48 already, senators, and a lot of others are looking at it very positively.'
Trump recalled that 'we've been hearing about repeal and replace for seven years. They have a chance.'
The face that says 'Huh?': Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi sat smirking on Wednesday at the United Nations while President Donald Trump ignored him and went on a stemwinder about Obamacare
Trump said in a lengthy ad-lib that he things Senate Republicans have a real chance to pass an Obamacare replacement package
He said he had expected to sign a repeal bill into law on his first day in office, but 'it hasnt worked out that way, and I think a lot of Republicans are embarrassed by it.'
Republicans are currently trying to muster support from just a few recalcitrant members of their Senate caucus. They need 50 votes in all half of the Senate plus a tiebreaking 'yea' from Vice President Mike Pence, who serves as president of the Senate.
Trump predicted that if the Affordable Care Act is left in place, premium increases for 2018 will exceed the sometimes crippling rate hikes some U.S. states saw at the beginning of 2017.
'You have states like Arizona where the premiums are going to be worse this year than last year, and last year they were at 100 percent increase, 116 percent,' he said.
'Obamacare is a disaster, it's a wreck, it's a train wreck, and it's only getting worse,' he fumed.
'It's dysfunctional now. It's totally dysfunctional. And at some point the Senate is going to be forced to make a deal. They're just about at that point right now because Obamacare's so bad.'
Barack Obama unleashed on President Trump and Republicans' efforts to once again kill his signature piece of legislation, Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act. At a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation event in New York City, the former president warned that Republicans could inflict 'real human suffering'
While President Trump was tweeting about the repeal bill Wednesday, he's been engaged behind the scenes, with the White House trying to get the full GOP caucus on board
Trump also whacked Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky as he's currently the only firm 'no' vote on a new Republican-led measure to replace Obamacare
The Graham-Cassidy bill would eliminate the government mandate that every American must buy a medical insurance policy or face a fine.
It would devolve most health care spending to the states in the form of block grants, with fewer strings attached than the Obamacare law put in insurance companies when it passed in 2010.
Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, defended his signature law hours earlier at a conference held by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
He called it 'aggravating' to see Republicans trying to reverse what he called 'progress,' telling an audience in New York City that the GOP could inflict 'real human suffering' on Americans.
Republicans have only until the end of September to pass an Obamacare replacement under rules that require just a simple Senate majority. As of October 1, a larger supermajority will be required to end debate and put the bill to a vote.
The bill is named after its two Republican authors, Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.
Obama acknowledged that this was just the latest effort to scar his legacy.
'When I see people trying to undo that hard-won progress for the 50th or 60th time, with bills that would raise costs or reduce coverage, or roll back protections for older Americans or people with pre-existing conditions the cancer survivor, the expecting mom or the child with autism, or asthma, for whom coverage once again would be almost unattainable it is aggravating,' the former president carped.
'And all of this being done without any demonstrable economic or actuarial or plain common-sense rationale.'
The Congressional Budget Office won't be able to fully score the bill by the time it's expected to hit the Senate floor next week.
Trump used his favorite medium Twitter to give the one definitive 'nay' vote from his own party a tongue-lashing.
'Rand Paul is a friend of mine but he is such a negative force when it comes to fixing healthcare,' Trump wrote Wednesday morning. 'Graham-Cassidy Bill is GREAT! Ends Ocare!' he added.
He followed that up with another message to get his follow Republicans on board.
'I hope Republican Senators will vote for Graham-Cassidy and fulfill their promise to Repeal & Replace ObamaCare. Money direct to States!' Trump wrote.
With Republicans holding a 52 seat majority in the Senate, and Vice President Mike Pence available to cast a tie-breaking vote, the White House can only afford to lose two GOP senators; at least three are wavering on the measure.
Beyond Paul, Sen. John McCain of Arizona could again thwart the GOP's plans.
Sen. Lindsey Graham outlined his proposal back in July, and it had quietly been gaining steam since then, with President Trump now fully engaged this week
Sen. Bill Cassidy (right) is the bill's other author and he and other Republicans are trying to get it passed while they can still use reconciliation, meaning they only need 51 votes including Vice President Mike Pence's tiebreaker
In recent days, McCain had said he'd need his governor, Doug Ducey, to green light the plan.
Ducey did so Monday afternoon.
In the past, Democrats have hammered Republicans over the number of Americans who would become uninsured under the GOP plan, but Vice President Mike Pence is doing a good amount of arm-twisting going behind the scenes.
Pence, according to a Tuesday pool report, had even reached out to West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin in hope of attracting some across-the-aisle support for the bill.
Manchin is one of a number of Democrats who will be fending off challengers next year from states that helped elect Trump.
Republicans are also looking at Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat who faces a stern challenge when she stands for re-election next year.
The Republican holdouts include Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who together with McCain tanked the Republicans' last bill.
Sens. Rob Portman of Ohio and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia have been cagey about their deliberations.
Collins has said the lack of a CBO score has created misgivings.
And Murkowski has cover to buck her party and vote against the bill, since her state's governor, Bill Walker a Republican-turned-independent has warned of 'drastic cuts' in his state's Medicaid funding under the Graham-Cassidy proposal.
Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim is travelling overseas as his younger brother Fadi Ibrahim fights to scrape together a $2.2 million bond.
Fadi and youngest brother Michael, 39, were arrested in Dubai on August 8 along with four other men in one of Australias biggest organised crime stings.
The pair were extradited back to Australia on Sunday.
Sydney identity John Ibrahim (pictured) is travelling overseas as his younger brother Fadi Ibrahim fights to scrape together a $2.2 million bond
Youngest Ibrahim brother Michael (left) with second oldest brother John (centre), second youngest brother Fadi (right) and their mother Wahiba; not present is oldest brother Sam
Fadi Ibrahim (pictured with his wife) is accused of providing money for and receiving proceeds from an illegal tobacco smuggling operation
Fadi is accused of two money laundering offences: one of providing $800,000 towards illegally importing tobacco and one of receiving $1.6 million from the proceeds of that operation.
Unlike Michael, Fadi has not been charged in relation to an alleged international plot to import narcotics worth $810 million.
Michael, charged with conspiring to import and attempting to import a commercial quantity of ecstasy, has not applied for bail and will remain behind bars.
On Monday, Fadi was granted bail with a list conditions including live in the house he shares with wife Shayda in Weonga Road, Dover Heights.
Another condition is that one or more acceptable people deposit the $2.2 million.
Fadi six-bedroom, five-bathroom home in Weonga Road, Dover Heights, where he will be under house arrest for up to two years while his case moves through the courts
Fadi, who is facing two money laundering charges related to the alleged importation of tobacco, bought his home in Weonga Road, Dover Heights, for $4.08 million in 2013
With his financial assets frozen, it is not clear how Fadi will raise the money.
His mother Wahiba has offered $1.5 million secured by her palatial home at Merrylands, in Sydneys west. Wife Shayda provided an affidavit.
People close to the Ibrahims told The Daily Telegraph it is likely the money will be raised by Fadis friends.
Magistrate Les Mabbutt said the 43-year-old, who has been in custody at the Sydney Police Centre since his weekend extradition, would 'effectively' be living under house arrest once the surety was lodged.
Accused drug importer Michael Ibrahim has not applied for bail and is on remand; pictured is the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre at Silverwater in Sydney's west
He cannot leave the property other than to make court appearances or to attend legal conferences or medical appointments, both of which would require 48 hours' notice to police.
In the event of a medical emergency, Mr Mabbutt said he would expect Fadi to leave his home in an ambulance.
The six-bedroom, five-bathroom home bought for just over $4 million in 2013 has an estimated current value of at least $6 million and is just four blocks away from John's $8 million home in George Street.
Mr Mabbutt said due to delays in the court system it could be 18 months to two years before Fadi faced any trial.
Melinda Gates on Tuesday publicly decried the rampant sexism that has been reported throughout Silicon Valley in recent years.
The wife of Microsoft founder Bill Gates said she was outraged over recent instances of alleged harassment and discrimination against women in the industry.
She even recalled her own personal experience dealing with sexism from the time she started out as one of the first female coders at Microsoft.
I experienced it from peers, professors, everyone, she told a gathering organized by CNN in New York on Tuesday.
It wasnt as bad inside of Microsoft; I faced it a little bit inside the company but it was just industry-wide.
Melinda Gates on Tuesday publicly decried the rampant sexism that has been reported throughout Silicon Valley in recent years. She is seen above speaking to a gathering in New York on Tuesday
The wife of Microsoft founder Bill Gates (seen above with Melinda Gates at New York's Lincoln Center on Wednesday) said she was outraged over recent instances of alleged harassment and discrimination against women in the industry
I always knew I had to prove myself, she said.
Her remarks were first reported by Yahoo! News.
Melinda Gates joined Microsoft in the late 1980s shortly after she graduated from college.
It was there that she met her husband, the companys founder and then-CEO. The couple married in Hawaii in 1994.
Melinda Gates says she was angered by the memo written by a former Google employee, James Damore (above), about supposed biological differences that keep women from succeeding in tech
Since Bill Gates stepped down from running Microsoft, the couple has devoted themselves to philanthropic efforts, helping to raise tens of billions of dollars to fight disease and poverty through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Melinda Gates says that even in her current role as a philanthropist there is still a different set of standards applied to her as opposed to her husband.
I still walk in places with Bill and so many people - both men and women - assume hes the smartest person in the room. And when I open my mouth, they sort of give me this look like Wow, she has something to say.
Last year, Melinda Gates said she would focus her philanthropic efforts specifically toward improving the well-being of girls and women, particularly when it comes to introducing them to the world of technology.
She says that the dearth of women who run venture capital firms that are responsible for fueling the tech boom lies at the root of the problem.
Among the top 100 venture capital firms, just 7 percent of the partners are women, according to TechCrunch.
Meanwhile, just 3 percent of tech start-ups that are owned by women get funded.
Melinda Gates says that once this imbalance is rectified, the situation will improve.
Money will move the industry for women, she said.
Aside from just talking about the problem, Melinda Gates is also putting her money where her mouth is.
She is investing with Aspect Ventures, a female-founded venture capital firm based in San Francisco.
Melinda Gates says she was angered by the recent scandals that rocked the tech world, most notably the controversial memo written by a Google employee about supposed biological differences that keep women from succeeding in the industry.
Google last month fired the author of the memo, James Damore, after the 10-page document, which was originally written for internal consumption, leaked online and went viral.
Last week, SoFi CEO Mike Cagney (left) resigned after his company was sued by an employee who claims he was fired because he reported instances of sexual harassment. Former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick (right) was forced to resign due to his handling of harassment complaints
Last week, the search giant was hit with a lawsuit from three former female employees who claimed they received less pay than their male counterparts even though they did the same work.
Also last week, Mike Cagney, the CEO and co-founder of SoFi, a major financial tech start-up, resigned after his company was sued by a former male employee who claims he was fired because he reported instances of sexual harassment.
Uber chief executive Travis Kalanick stood down earlier this year along amid allegations that the ride-sharing firm had failed to adequately handle sexual harassment and gender discrimination complaints.
Melinda Gates described her reaction to reading about the Google memo.
I didnt know whether to be sad or to be outraged, she said.
Kelly Ellis (pictured) is one of the three women who filed a discrimination lawsuit against Google last week. She worked at Google from 2010-2014 and says she was held back from promotion she deserved, unlike male colleagues
Holly Pease (left) worked at Google from 2005-2016 and says that despite network engineer experience, she was kept off high-tech career tracks. Kelli Wisuri (right) says that half of her lower-track sales team were women, while almost all the high-track team were men
The sadness came first the sadness to see that point of view. And the outrage to see that were writing about women like that in this day and age.
She said that her husband was the first to bring the matter to her attention.
He said, Youre not going to believe this.
'We were on a trip together and it had come out and he literally left me a post-it note because he was flying off somewhere else.
Of course we talked about it on the phone that night. I just couldnt believe it.
Despite the spate of bad news, Melinda Gates said theres room for optimism.
Im outraged with whats going on but Im optimistic because were finally seeing the transparencies coming forward, she said.
Youre seeing a cacophony of voices that are speaking about this. Women are naming the truth, not being shamed. Youre finally starting to see some action by the industry.
Its not enough, but its the beginning of what will work to start to change the industry.
A British tourist visiting Dubai is facing six months in prison after allegedly flicking his middle finger at a motorist who was tailgating him.
Jamil Mukadam, 23, who owns an IT company and claims to work at Number 10, was in Dubai along with his wife in February when the alleged incident occurred.
Mr Mukadam, who is from Leicester, was arrested when he returned to Dubai earlier this month.
Jamil Mukadam, pictured, was arrested after returning to Dubai over an alleged road rage incident during a previous visit to the UAE in February when he was driving a hire car
Mr Mukadam said he was going to the airport with his wife when someone started tailgating him prompting him to flick his finger at the other motorist who reported it to police
When Mr Mukadam returned to Dubai earlier this month, he was arrested at passport control
Mr Mukadam was driving a hire car in the city when the alleged incident happened.
He claimed he had been placed in a cell with rapists and murderers before being released on bail.
Mr Mukadam, from Leicester, told the Sun that he had made the rude gesture to a driver who tailgated him and started flashing his lights, and 'thought nothing more of it'.
He told the newspaper: 'It's the kind of thing that happens in England all the time. You don't go to jail for it.
'When I came back last week for a holiday with my wife I went through passport control in Dubai and when they took a scan it started beeping loudly.
'Within seconds I was surrounded by police and taken off to jail.'
Radha Stirling of law firm Stirling Haigh, who is assisting Mr Mukadam via the Detained in Dubai organisation, told the Sun offensive or insulting behaviour was illegal there.
She added: 'We have dealt with a number of cases where traffic frustration has led to detention.
'We caution visitors and expats that they could face criminal charges for behaviour that would be common in their own countries.
'We hope that the courts in Dubai are lenient with their sentencing and issue a fine at worst.'
Mr Mukadam, who works for the UK government, is facing jail over the road rage incident
Mr Mukadam is the latest Briton to fall ful of the law in Dubai.
In May 2011 top UK surgeon Joseph Nunoo-Mensah was detained in Dubai after being accused of a making a rude gesture at another driver through the window of his car.
The consultant colorectal surgeon at King's College Hospital - who said he merely raised his hand - had his passport confiscated when he was charged with 'public indecency'. He was later released after paying a fine.
According to data released by the Foreign Office (FCO) in September under freedom of information (FOI) laws, the city-state was the destination with the second highest number of Britons detained between 2015 and the summer.
At 524 it was behind Alicante (655) but ahead of Bangkok (454), Miami (445) and Malaga (441).
A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We are assisting a British man who was detained in Dubai and remain in contact with the local authorities.'
Australia and New Zealand are set to go to war over honey.
A battle is brewing between the two neighbours as their friendly rivalry threatens to spill into a full international dispute over ownership of the word manuka.
New Zealand is trying to claim rights to the name as sales of the expensive honey skyrocket, according to The Weekly Times.
Manuka honey has become so popular that some shops are having to put jars in security boxes
Australian manuka honey producers met in Melbourne on Monday to set up their own incorporated association
The product which some believe has healing properties has become so popular that some shops are having to put jars in security boxes.
Australian manuka honey producers met in Melbourne on Monday to set up their own incorporated association to rival the Kiwis own Unique Manuka Factor association.
The group is hoping to push back against the New Zealanders efforts to own the manuka name, according to Australian Honey Bee Industry Council chairman Lindsay Bourke.
Theyve been broadcasting to the world Only from NZ, and theyre trying so hard to convince everyone its the only place it comes from that theyve started to believe it themselves.
So were going to protect the word manuka. Were the only two countries that produce it and the whole world needs it, we cant understand what our Kiwi friends are trying to do.
We had manuka honey here in Australia for thousands and thousands of years before New Zealand was born, Mr Bourke told 3AW.
Google's AI chief has spoken out about what he feels are misconceptions and overstated dangers surrounding intelligent machines.
John Giannandrea took particular aim at 'unreasonable concerns' over the arrival of general artificial intelligence, or robots that can think like humans.
Although he failed to name tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who has been particular vocal over his fears about the technology, many have inferred this connection.
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Google's AI chief has spoken out about what he feels are misconceptions and overstated dangers surrounding intelligent machines. John Giannandrea took particular aim at 'unreasonable concerns' over the arrival of robots that can think like humans
WHO IS JOHN GIANNANDREA? Mr Giannandrea was born in Scotland. During the 1990s he worked at General Magic, one of the pioneering companies of handheld devices. Mr Giannandrea even worked on an early personal assistant similar to today's Siri. The 53-year-old then joined Netscape and later co-founded voice-recognition firm TellMe. In 2005, he created Metaweb, software that catalogued links between words and objects which Google bought in 2010. While at Google, Mr Giannandrea has helped introduce and develop image recognition for Google Photos and smart reply for Google Inbox. He was also a leading figure in Alphabet's self-driving cars scheme using machine learning to navigate streets and obstacles. He is now senior vice president for search, machine intelligence and the web. Advertisement
Mr Giannandrea made the comments during an in-depth talk at Tech Crunch's Disrupt SF conference, currently being held in San Francisco.
He told moderator Frederic Lardinois: 'I think there's a huge amount of hype around AI right now.
'There's a lot of people that are unreasonably concerned around the rise of general AI.
'Machine learning and artificial intelligence are extremely important and will revolutionise our industry.
'What we're doing is building tools like the Google search engine and making you more productive.
'I'm definitely not worried about the AI apocalypse.
'I just object to the hype and soundbites that some people are making.'
Mr Giannandrea has previously compared AI's development to the level of a four-year-old child.
During the Disrupt SF event, he stated that it has not yet even reached that level.
Despite his apparent lack of concern, and using only the euphemistic 'some people', Mr Giannandrea's comments are likely to go down badly with Musk.
Elon Musk (pictured right) has previously posted ominous messages about the dangers of AI (left), most recently in response to Vladimir Putin's claims that whoever cracks AI will 'rule the world'
MUSK: AI IS A FUNDAMENTAL RISK During a question-and-answer session at the summer conference of the National Governors Association in Rhode Island., Tesla CEO Elon Musk warned that regulation of artificial intelligence is needed because it's a 'fundamental risk to the existence of human civilisation.' The billionaire said regulations will stop humanity from being outsmarted by computers, or 'deep intelligence in the network', that can start wars by manipulating information. Governments must have a better understanding of artificial intelligence technology's rapid evolution in order to fully comprehend the risks, he said. 'Once there is awareness, people will be extremely afraid, as they should be...By the time we are reactive in AI regulation, it'll be too late,' he added. Advertisement
In response to Vladimir Putin's claims that whoever cracks AI will 'rule the world', the Tesla founder has in recent weeks said that he thinks the technology will be the most likely cause of World War 3.
Musk took to Twitter on September 4 to make the chilling warning, claiming that 'competition for AI superiority at national level' could spark a war.
The Tesla and SpaceX founder suggests that a war is likely to be started by one of the AIs itself, rather than a country leader.
Putin, speaking on September 1, told a meeting of students that the development of AI raises 'colossal opportunities and threats that are difficult to predict now.'
Musk tweeted a link to The Verge's story about Putin's claims, along with the caption: 'It begins...'
He then followed this up with a tweet saying: 'China, Russia, soon all countries with strong computer science. Competition for AI superiority at national level most likely cause of WW3 in my opinion.'
Atheists are kinder in their treatment of Christians than Christians are to atheists when both groups know the others religious affinity, a new study has found.
Researchers used a behavioural economics technique, dubbed the Dictator Game, which tests how fairly individuals treat others.
Experts believe atheists may be kinder to counter preconceptions their Christian counterparts may have that they are immoral.
Atheists are kinder to Christians than Christians are to atheists when both groups know the others religious affinity, a new study has found. Researchers used a behavioural economics technique, the Dictator Game, to test how fairly individuals treat others
THE DICTATOR GAME The Dictator Game is an economic game that is designed to question the standard economic assumption that individuals will act solely out of self-interest. It typically consists of two individuals, one of whom is given a quantity of money. The second individual is given nothing. The participant given the money, known in the experiment as 'the dictator', is told that he must offer some amount of that money to the second participant, even if that amount is zero. Whatever amount the dictator offers to the second participant must be accepted. The second participant, should he find the amount unsatisfactory, cannot then punish the dictator in any way. Advertisement
Researchers at Ohio University were hoping to study prosocial behaviour and in-group bias, that is the tendency members of groups have to look after each other.
They asked participants to share monetary rewards with partners in a version of the Dictator Game, where one participant is given money and must offer an amount to a second person, even if that is telling them they will receive nothing.
Experts found that when atheists were told of the second person's religious beliefs, they behaved the same with both atheists and Christians.
Christians consistently favoured their fellow believers.
Study lead author and PHD student Colleen Cowgill told Psypost: 'We know that the general population in America tends to stereotype atheists as being immoral and untrustworthy, a reputation that many atheists understandably find distressing.
'My primary interest was in how atheists themselves respond to these negative stereotypes.
'We often see that negative stereotypes about a group can lead members of that group to behave in compensatory ways that ostensibly seek to disconfirm that stereotype.
'We found in multiple studies that our atheist participants behaved more fairly towards partners they believed were Christians than our Christians participants behaved towards partners they believed were atheists.'
The Dictator Game is an economic game that is designed to question the standard economic assumption that individuals will act solely out of self-interest.
It typically consists of two individuals, one of whom is given a quantity of money.
Experts believe atheists may be kinder to counter preconceptions their Christian counterparts may have that they are immoral. The effect of atheistic altruism was not found when participants were told their partners would not know about their lack of belief
The second individual is given nothing.
The participant given the money, known in the experiment as 'the dictator', is told that he must offer some amount of that money to the second participant, even if that amount is zero.
Whatever amount the dictator offers to the second participant must be accepted.
The second participant, should he find the amount unsatisfactory, cannot then punish the dictator in any way.
Ms Cowgill speculates that this effect may be due to atheists wishing not to live up to their stereotype among Americans.
The effect of atheistic altruism was not found when participants were told their partners would not know about their lack of belief.
A fleet of tiny spacecraft will visit 300 asteroids in a potentially life-saving mission to understand how they behave, according to new research.
The fleet will include 50 spacecrafts propelled by innovative electric solar wind sails and would take pictures of the asteroids and collect data on their composition.
Earlier this year a leading astrophysicist warned the next asteroid strike could come at any moment as thousands of potentially threatening objects circle Earth - meaning such research could be a race against time.
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Earlier this year a leading astrophysicist warned thousands of potentially threatening objects circle Earth - meaning such research could be a race against time (stock image)
DOOMSDAY ASTEROIDS Nasa is currently tracking 1,400 'potentially hazardous asteroids' and predicting their future approaches and impact probabilities. The threat is so serious that former astronaut Ed Lu has described it as 'cosmic roulette' and said that only 'blind luck' has so far saved humanity from a serious impact. No one really knows when a serious impact could happen. Earlier this year a leading astrophysicist warned the next asteroid strike is just a matter of time as thousands of potentially threatening objects circle Earth. Dr Alan Fitzsimmons from Queens University Belfast Astrophysics Research Centre has said it is a case of when an asteroid collision will happen, rather than if it will happen, with more asteroids being discovered every day. An unexpected strike in today's world could easily destroy a major city and a larger one could potentially wipe out humanity, the expert warned. 'Over 1,800 potentially hazardous objects have been discovered so far, but there are many more waiting to be found', said Dr Fitzsimmons. In January 2017, an asteroid as big as a 10-story building passed by Earth at a distance half that of the Moon. Advertisement
The nanosatellites will record the overall size and shape of the asteroids as well as where they have craters or dust on the surface.
Each nanosat will have a 4cm (1.5 inch) long telescope that can image the surface of asteroids with a resolution of 100 metres (330 feet) or better and each will visit six or seven asteroids before returning to Earth to deliver data.
'Asteroids are very diverse and, to date, we've only seen a small number at close range', said lead author Dr Pekka Janhunen from the Finnish Meteorological Institute, who presented the concept at the European Planetary Science Congress in Riga yesterday.
'To understand them better, we need to study a large number in situ. The only way to do this affordably is by using small spacecraft,' he said.
Nasa is currently tracking 1,400 'potentially hazardous asteroids' and predicting their future approaches and impact probabilities.
The threat is so serious that former astronaut Ed Lu has described it as 'cosmic roulette' and said that only 'blind luck' has so far saved humanity from a serious impact.
'These asteroids could indeed pose a threat to Earth', Dr Janhunen told MailOnline.
The nanosats will target their asteroids at a range of around 600 miles (1000km) and will use infrared light to determine the mineral composition of the asteroid over a period of three years.
'The nanosats could gather a great deal of information about the asteroids they encounter during their tour, including the overall size and shape, whether there are craters on the surface or dust, whether there are any moons, and whether the asteroids are primitive bodies or a rubble pile', said Dr Janhunen
'They would also gather data on the chemical composition of surface features, such as whether the spectral signature of water is present'.
They will travel there using E-sails. These make use of the solar wind a stream of electrically charged particles emitted from the Sun to generate efficient propulsion without need for propellant.
Thrust is generated by the slow rotation of a tether, attached at one end to a main spacecraft carrying an electron emitter and a high-voltage source and at the other to a small remote unit.
Thrust is generated by the slow rotation of a tether (pictured), attached at one end to a main spacecraft carrying an electron emitter and a high-voltage source and at the other to a small remote unit
The spinning tether completes a rotation in about 50 minutes, tracing out a broad, shallow cone around a centre of mass close to the main spacecraft.
By altering its orientation in relation to the solar wind, the nanosat can change thrust and direction.
The thrust generated by E-sails is small; a 5kg (11lbs) spacecraft with a 20-kilometre tether (12-mile) would give an acceleration of 1 millimetre per second at the distance of the Earth from the Sun.
However, calculations show that, on top of the initial boost from launch, this is enough for the spacecraft to complete a tour through the asteroid belt and back to Earth in 3.2 years.
The nanosats will target their asteroids at a range of around 600 miles (1000km) and will use infrared light to determine the mineral composition of the asteroid over a period of three years
Nanosatellites do not have the capacity for a large antenna, so the concept includes a final flyby of Earth to download the data.
The overall mission would cost around 60 million Euros ($72 million/ 53 million), including launch, giving a cost of about 200,000 Euros ($244,000/ 177,000) for each asteroid visited.
'This mission architecture, using a fleet of nanosats and innovative propulsion, would reduce the cost to just a few hundred thousand Euros per asteroid. Yet the value of the science gathered would be immense,' said Dr Janhunen.
Earlier this year a leading astrophysicist warned the next asteroid strike is just a matter of time as thousands of potentially threatening objects circle Earth.
The spinning tether completes a rotation in about 50 minutes, tracing out a broad, shallow cone around a centre of mass close to the main spacecraft
Dr Alan Fitzsimmons from Queens University Belfast Astrophysics Research Centre has said it is a case of when an asteroid collision will happen, rather than if it will happen, with more asteroids being discovered every day.
An unexpected strike in today's world could easily destroy a major city and a larger one could potentially wipe out humanity, the expert warned.
'Over 1,800 potentially hazardous objects have been discovered so far, but there are many more waiting to be found', said Dr Fitzsimmons.
In January 2017, an asteroid as big as a 10-story building passed by Earth at a distance half that of the Moon.
A shocking new report has revealed that Greater Manchester Police are still using computers running on Windows XP.
The outdated software no longer has support from Microsoft, leaving computers vulnerable to a ransomware attack, experts suggest.
Such an attack could resemble the Wannacry outbreak in May that caused havoc to the NHS' computer system, after hackers infected devices running on the ageing Windows XP.
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A shocking new report has revealed that Greater Manchester Police are still using computers running on Windows XP. The outdated software no longer has support from Microsoft, leaving computers extremely vulnerable to a ransomware attack, experts suggest
WANNACRY ATTACK - The WannaCry attack paralysed NHS computers, Germany's national railway and scores of other companies and government agencies - The extortion scheme hit 150 countries including the US, Britain, Russia, China, Germany and France - It is estimated it infected more than 200,000 computers worldwide - The virus locked each computer it infected and demanded a ransom for their safe return - Microsoft pinned partial blame on the NSA for the cyber attacks, which were spread using hacking tools created by the agency - The tools were leaked online by a hacking group last month after they accessed NSA cyberware files - Microsoft has released security updates in preparation for a string of similar attacks Advertisement
Following a Freedom of Information request, England's second largest police force told the BBC that 1,518 of its computers representing 20.3 per cent of all devices - ran on Window XP.
This is despite the fact that Microsoft no longer provides support for the operating system, leaving it vulnerable to hackers.
Speaking to the BBC, Dr Steven Murdoch, a cyber-security expert at University College London, said: 'Even if security vulnerabilities are identified in XP, Microsoft won't distribute patches in the same way it does for later releases of Windows.
'So, if the [police's] Windows XP computers are exposed to the public internet, then that would be a serious concern.
'If they are isolated, that would be less of a worry - but the problem is still that if something gets into a secure network, it might then spread. That is what happened in the NHS with the recent Wannacry outbreak.'
The news comes just months after the Wannacry outbreak, which saw NHS computers running on Windows XP infected with ransomware.
Despite still using the ageing operating system, Greater Manchester Police reassured that it was 'continually' phasing out its reliance on Windows XP.
A spokesperson told the BBC: 'The remaining XP machines are still in place due to complex technical requirements from a small number of externally provided highly specialised applications.
'Work is well advanced to mitigate each of these special requirements within this calendar year, typically through the replacement or removal of the software applications in question.'
As part of its investigation, the BBC send Freedom of Information requests to several other UK police forces, but most refused to disclose their numbers, citing security concerns.
The news comes just months after the Wannacry outbreak, which saw NHS computers running on Windows XP infected with malware
Eight other forces, including North Wales Police and Cleveland Police revealed their numbers, but said that they had fewer than 10 computers still using Windows XP.
While London's Metropolitan Police Service refused to share its figure, in June it said that about 10,000 of its computers were still running on Windows XP.
Paul Mayger, the Met's information manager told the BBC: 'Disclosing further information would reveal potential weaknesses and vulnerability.
'This would be damaging as criminals/terrorists would gain a greater understanding of the MPS's systems, enabling them to take steps to counter them.'
This graphic shows how ransomware like Wannacry can quickly infect an entire computer system
Dr Murdoch added that even if police forces don't disclose their numbers, skilled hackers will still be able to identify vulnerable systems.
He said: 'There is probably not much harm in disclosure, since if someone can get access to the computers, it's relatively easy to work out which ones are running Windows XP.
'There are standard toolkits that adversaries use to run all the exploits they are aware of, and if anything works, then they will go with that.'
You can now learn how to build a flying car in just four months thanks to a new online course.
Online education provider Udacity, which is owned by Google X and Kitty Hawk founder Sebastian Thrun, has announced two new 'nanodegrees'.
One course will teach users the basics of driverless car engineering, while another will show students how to make systems for autonomous flying vehicles.
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You can now learn how to build a flying car in just four months thanks to a new online course. Education provider Udacity has announced two new 'nanodegrees' teaching users to make driverless or flying vehicles, such as the AeroMobil car pictured here
FLYING CAR COURSE Students will learn the basics of autonomous flight, including vehicle state planning and estimation, as well as motion planning. They will then move on to more complex topics, such as deploying code to drones. Over the course of two terms, students will gain an understanding of the 'bigger picture of autonomous flight' as part of the air transportation system, Udacity claims. It said the challenges of safe and reliable autonomous flight are of particular interest during the course. 'Our students will develop the software skills and conceptual understanding necessary to build a flight system for an autonomous flight vehicle that can reliably complete complex missions in urban environments,' the firm said. Advertisement
Registration for the company's driverless course opens today, while its flying car tutorials will open to participants next year.
Students will learn the basics of autonomous flight, including vehicle state planning and estimation, as well as motion planning.
They will then move on to more complex topics, such as deploying code to drones.
Udacity says it is currently building the curriculum with aerospace and autonomous systems experts.
The pre-requisite for each course is some programming and algebra experience.
Thrun, who announced the news today at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco, said: 'The idea of a flying car is a metaphor for a new vision for the future of smart transportation.
'In launching a flying car nanodegree program, our goal is to teach a new generation of engineers the skills necessary to build this smart transportation future.'
Over the course of two terms, students will gain an understanding of the 'bigger picture of autonomous flight' as part of the air transportation system, the company claimed in a blog post.
It said the challenges of safe and reliable autonomous flight are of particular interest during the course.
'Our students will develop the software skills and conceptual understanding necessary to build a flight system for an autonomous flight vehicle that can reliably complete complex missions in urban environments,' the firm wrote.
Sebastian Thrun, who founded Google X and flying car firm Kitty Hawk, announced the new course today at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco. In April, Kitty Hawk revealed a prototype of its flying vehicle an electrical aircraft that resembles a flying jet ski (pictured)
SEBASTIAN THRUN During his speech at Disrupt, Sebastian Thrun, known as the 'godfather of the self-driving car', referred to flying cars as 'completely crazy'. But he added that the world is ready for the 'next big thing.' Thrun, who used to work at Google before leaving to set up his flying-vehicle firm, Kitty Hawk, said he envisions a world where he can fly the 34-mile (55 km) journey from Palo Alto to San Francisco in just ten minutes. He revealed Kitty Hawk will have its first flying vehicle which is more like a motorcycle than car - ready by February 2018. Advertisement
Udacity introduced its first self-driving car nanodegree last year, a $2,400 (1,700) course aimed at training people to become self-driving engineers.
It quickly became Udacity's most popular nanodegree, with more than more than 10,000 students across 50 countries.
So far, 60 graduates have secured jobs at firms such as Lockheed, BMW and Bosch since finishing the course.
Udacity hopes its new introductory course will help set students up for its more advanced classes.
During his speech at Disrupt, Thrun, known as the 'godfather of the self-driving car', referred to flying cars as 'completely crazy'.
But he added that the world is ready for the 'next big thing.'
Sebastian Thrun (pictured), who used to work at Google before leaving to set up his flying-vehicle firm, Kitty Hawk, said he envisions a world where he can fly the 34-mile (55 km) journey from Palo Alto to San Francisco in just ten minutes
Thrun, who used to work at Google before leaving to set up his flying-vehicle firm, Kitty Hawk, said he envisions a world where he can fly the 34-mile (55 km) journey from Palo Alto to San Francisco in just ten minutes.
He revealed Kitty Hawk will have its first flying vehicle which is more like a motorcycle than car - ready by February 2018.
Bizarrely, the Google X founder had a dog strapped to his chest while he spoke at the conference.
He said: 'The latest thing is going to be flying cars, it's completely crazy, and no one person in the world believes in it.'
The KNU's Hpapun district chapter held its 10th congress from September 11 to 16, establishing a new executive committee at the meeting.
The new cast will be chaired by Padoh Saw Htal Dal, the bodys former secretary, and will also include Brigadier General Saw Mu Hal as vice-chair, Padoh Saw Ka Lo Mu Traw as secretary and Padoh Saw Lay Taw as joint secretary.
Naw Pae Wah, the chair of the Hpapun district Karen Womens Organization, was among several new faces elected during the KNU district committees reshuffle.
There have been many changes to the executive committee. The former secretary ran for chair position. The joint secretary was elected as secretary. A remarkable thing is that a woman has been included, said Padoh Saw Pha Waw, another of the newly elected committee members and head of the KNUs district-level Revenue Department.
The 33 district-level standing committee members were elected from among 50 candidates during a secret ballot held at the congress.
Naw Say Say Hal, joint secretary of the Karen Womens Organizations lauded the election of a female representative, but added that more work needs to be done to balance representation within the KNU. Activists have previously called for at least a 30 percent female participation rate. The quota is outlined in the political dialogue framework.
We feel overjoyed that a woman has been elected to the district-level EC. We hope there will be more cooperation and connection concerning womens affairs in the future, she said.
Female leaders have also been elected to the KNUs district-level committees in Thaton, Doopalaya and Hpa-an, as well as to central-level committees.
In addition to the committee overhaul, the six-day Hpa-pun congress also reviewed the agenda over the past two years, and discussed the current political climate in Myanmar.
The KNU Centrals joint secretary Padoh Saw Hla Tun and officials from Thaton, Taungoo, and Nyaunglebin districts have assisted in the KNUs Hpa-pun District Congress as the ballot commission.
A total of 108 military and civilian representatives, representatives of village groups, and observers from Lu Thaw, Bu Tho and Dwe Lo townships under Hpa-pun District attended the congress.
The six-day congress covered a review on the tasks carried out by Hpa-pun District within the two years, the submission of reports by respective departments and townships, re-inspecting the income and outcome of the district, and current political situations in Myanmar. Future district-level plans include conducting a local census, issuing documentation to local residents, finalizing the measurement of district and township border lines and implementing the Salween Peace Park, which was approved in early 2017.
Messaging service WhatsApp rejected a UK government request to access its encrypted messages earlier this year, according to a new report.
An anonymous source said authorities asked Whatsapp to provide a 'backdoor' that would give them access to private messages.
But this was rejected as major technology companies, such as Whatsapp, are strongly opposed to creating backdoors.
They says that it would undermine their app's security.
However, an inability to access encrypted messages has long-frustrated law enforcement and around 80 per cent of investigations into terrorism and other serious crimes are affected by encryption.
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According to a source, authorities asked the messaging service to produce technical solutions that would allow them a 'backdoor' to get access to private messages (stock image)
ENCRYPTED MESSAGES According to an anonymous source, authorities asked the messaging service to produce technical solutions that would allow them a 'backdoor' to get access to private messages. Intelligence officials are hoping they could come to an agreement where they can access messages with a warrant. However, tech companies are unlikely to make a compromise as it undermines the security of their services. In March this year, Home Secretary Amber Rudd demanded access to WhatsApp messages, warning it is 'completely unacceptable' that bloodthirsty terrorists like Khalid Masood are able to plot in secret. The Home Secretary condemned encryption systems that allow people to hide from the security services as she insisted internet and technology firms must do more to help the fight against extremism. Advertisement
A report by Sky News UK said officials are still trying to get access to encrypted messages with a special warrant.
'It is crucially important that we can access their communications and when we can't, it can provide a black hole for investigators,' the source said.
Intelligence officials are hoping they could come to an agreement where they can access messages with a warrant.
However, tech companies are unlikely to make a compromise, writesThe Verge.
'Privacy and security is in our DNA, which is why we have end-to-end encryption in the latest versions of our app', WhatsApp said on a website on their statement.
'When end-to-end encrypted, your messages, photos, videos, voice messages, documents, status updates and calls are secured from falling into the wrong hands.
'End-to-end encryption is always activated, provided all parties are using the latest version of WhatsApp. There is no way to turn off end-to-end encryption.'
In March this year, Home Secretary Amber Rudd demanded access to WhatsApp messages, warning it is 'completely unacceptable' that bloodthirsty terrorists like Khalid Masood are able to plot in secret.
The Home Secretary condemned encryption systems that allow people to hide from the security services as she insisted internet and technology firms must do more to help the fight against extremism.
In March this year, Home Secretary Amber Rudd demanded access to WhatsApp messages, warning it is 'completely unacceptable' that bloodthirsty terrorists like Khalid Masood are able to plot in secret
Khalid Masood used a hired car to mow down dozens of pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before entering the grounds of Parliament and stabbing Pc Keith Palmer to death. MailOnline has revealed he was on WhatsApp minutes before the attack started
Asked about the ability of terrorists to communicate secretly using the technology, Ms Rudd told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: 'It is completely unacceptable, there should be no place for terrorists to hide.
'We need to make sure that organisations like WhatsApp, and there are plenty of others like that, don't provide a secret place for terrorists to communicate with each other.
'It used to be that people would steam-open envelopes or just listen in on phones when they wanted to find out what people were doing, legally, through warrantry.
'But on this situation we need to make sure that our intelligence services have the ability to get into situations like encrypted WhatsApp.'
HTC has announced it is to halt trading of its shares tomorrow in anticipation of a 'major announcement' believed to be that the firm's handset business is being sold the Google.
The Taiwanese Stock Exchange said 'trading in the shares of HTC Corporation and the securities underlying the company will be halted starting from Sep 21 2017 pending the release of material information.'
It has been claimed Google is planning to buy HTC's mobile division in a move that could see its go head to head with Apple and Samsung.
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HTC's latest handset, the U, has a radical 'squeezable' case that can be used to trigger commands. The feature had been rumoured to appear in the next version of Google's Pixel - and now it appears the firm may buy HTC's mobile division outright.
HTC already makes some of Google's Pixel phones, and according to claims from the Commercial Times, the firm is now 'in the final stages' of acquiring the entire division.
HTC said: 'HTC does not comment on market rumor or speculation.'
The purchase would allow Google to build on the success of the Pixel handset, while allowing HTC to concentrate on more successful areas, such as its Vive VR headset.
According to previous reports, the deal could be announced by the end of this year.
In 2012 Google made a $12.5 billion purchase of Motorola.
However, the firm chose to treat Motorola just like any other Android device maker, and ended up selling Motorola to Lenovo two years later for less than $3 billion.
It comes as Google is expected to reveal its latest Pixel handset next month.
Rumours have been swirling for months about Google's next Pixel smartphones, and the latest report suggests we may finally have a release date.
Evan Blass, a well-known tech leaker, has tweeted that the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will be revealed on October 2.
The move would allow Google to build on the success of the Pixel handset, while allowing HTC to concentrate on more successful areas, such as its Vive VR headset (pictured)
Google is yet to confirm this date, and told MailOnline that it 'doesn't comment on rumours or speculation.'
Evan Blass, a tech-leaker from Philadelphia, tweeted this morning: 'Google's second-generation Pixel handsets, powered by Snapdragon 836 SoC's, will be unveiled on October 5th.'
HTC U Ultra smartphone has a 5.70-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1440 pixels by 2560 pixels
This also suggests that the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will feature more sophisticated processers than the original Pixel phones, which have Snapdragon 835 processors.
Mr Blass has a strong track record for predicting when new technology will be launched, as well as features on devices.
Evan Blass, a tech-leaker from Philadelphia, tweeted this morning: 'Google's second-generation Pixel handsets, powered by Snapdragon 836 SoC's, will be unveiled on October 5th'
GOOGLE PIXEL 2 RUMOURS Leaked photos allegedly of the Google Pixel 2 give truth to some of the rumoured features. Via the photos or per the tipster, we know: The phone will have a curved screen. It has two LEDs in the camera flash. The back will be made of a glass panel. Google is ditching the headphone jack for the device. The source also reported a better in-hand feel than the original Pixel phone, The source said the device is 'sleek' and 'elegant.' It is also expected to feature a Snapdragon 836 processor. Advertisement
The rumours follow leaked images earlier this month, which claim to show Google's Pixel 2 handset.
According to the photos, it appears the upcoming device will, as previously predicted, have a curved screen and a glass back.
However, one thing is missing - Google is planning to follow Apple and dump the headphone jack for the new device.
Also shown in the leaked images is the presence of two LEDs in the flash and a glass panel on the back, which is smaller this time around.
While previous leaks have suggested the phone will also be equipped with a Laser autofocus feature, that can't be seen here - although it may just be too difficult to spot.
The photos, sent to Gsmarena by an unnamed tipster, show the front and back of what is clearly an early developer unit of the phone, as is indicated by the stickers on the back.
While the lack of headphone jack isn't seen in the photo, the source told Gsmarena the device doesn't include one.
The source also reported a better in-hand feel than the original Pixel phone, saying it is 'sleek' and 'elegant.'
The original Google Pixel phone was launched in October 2016, and the Pixel 2 is set to launch this autumn, which would make it in direct competition with Apple's iPhone 8 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.
As the company prepares for the release, it's dropping the price on the original Pixel phone.
As part of a back to school promotion, the Pixel's starting price is currently down to $524 (408) instead of $649 (506), while the Pixel XL is now priced at $569 (443) rather than $769 (600) - the company is also throwing in free Daydream View headsets for consumers who take advantage of the promotion.
Reports suggest Google is investing $880 million (709 million) in LG's flexible organic light emitting diode (OLED) screens for their Pixel 2 handset (pictured is first-generation Pixel handsets)
Insiders have long been suggesting the Google Pixel 2 could have a curved screen display like the Samsung Galaxy S8.
Reports suggest Google is investing $880 million (709 million) in LG's flexible organic light emitting diode (OLED) screens.
Increasingly curved screen are being adopted by smartphones and it seems Google want to move in this direction too, according to South Korea's Electronic Times.
The report suggests that LG is yet to sign the massive investment offer proposed by Google.
In March, the head of hardware at Google first confirmed that the firm is developing a second-generation Pixel for the 'premium smartphone market'.
The confirmation came from Rick Osterloh during an interview with AndroidPT.
'There is an annual rhythm in the industry,' Osterloh said in the interview.
'So, you can count on us to follow it. You can count on a successor this year, even if you don't hear a date from me now.'
Google debuted the first smartphones in its Pixel line during a conference in October 2016, a Pixel and the 5.5-inch Pixel XL.
Although the Pixel 2 release would fall around the same time as the iPhone 8, Google is focusing on the upper price segment of the market.
This may be tougher than imagined, if as speculated, the iPhone 8 turns out to cost over $1,000 (780).
Osterloh stated that 'Pixel stays premium' and the firm will 'leave lower price segments to other manufacturers'.
'We believe the next big thing will be at the intersection of hardware and software,' Mr Osterloh said in October.
He also took aim at Apple, saying the phone has 'no unsightly phone bump.'
Brian Rakowski of Google said the phone was 'designed inside and out to be smart'.
He said the Pixel's camera was better than the iPhone 7.
'It's the best smartphone camera anyone has made,' he said.
A peculiar object first spotted in the asteroid belt more than a decade ago is not one, but two asteroids orbiting each other at 60 miles apart, new observations have revealed.
And, scientists have discovered that the bizarre binary asteroid exhibits comet-like features, including a bright halo of material and a long tail of dust.
According to the experts, its now the first known asteroid pair that can also be classified as a main-belt comet.
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Like a comet, the asteroid pair has a long tail of dust which changes in orientation based on particle size and pressure. Its apparent movement in the animation above is also the result of the relative alignment between the Sun, Earth, and the object changing between observations
THE BINARY ASTEROID The Hubble observations show the 'object' is actually two asteroids roughly the same mass and size as each other, orbiting each other at a distance of 60 miles. According to the team, the pair has likely existed as a binary system for roughly 5,000 years, after breaking up as a result of fast rotation. And, the pair exhibits comet-like features, including a bright halo of material and a long tail of dust. Given its wide separation, the near-equal sizes of each component, high eccentricity of the orbit, and the comet-like activity, the researchers say it is very unusual. Advertisement
The unusual space rock now known to be two was first discovered by Spacewatch in November 2006.
Then, in November 2011, researchers with the Pan-STARRS survey detected possible cometary activity, leading to its comet designation of 288P.
Using new images captured by Hubble in September 2016, astronomers have now viewed the object, dubbed asteroid 300163 (2006 VW139), in unprecedented detail.
Hubble spotted the binary system just before its closest approach to the sun, and captured ongoing activity.
Like a comet, the asteroid pair has a long tail of dust which changes in orientation based on particle size and pressure.
The Hubble observations show it is two asteroids roughly the same mass and size as each other, orbiting each other at a distance of 60 miles, according to NASA.
According to the team, the pair has likely existed as a binary system for roughly 5,000 years, after breaking up as a result of fast rotation.
Then, when subjected to the effects of ice sublimation, the pieces likely moved further apart.
We detected strong indications for the sublimation of water ice due to the increased solar heating similar similar to how the tail of a comet is created, said team leader Jessica Agarwal of the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research.
Using new images captured by Hubble in September 2016, astronomers have now viewed the object, dubbed asteroid 300163 (2006 VW139), in unprecedented detail. Hubble spotted the binary system just before its closest approach to the sun, and captured ongoing activity
The researchers say the binary system has a wide separation, making it a rare sighting.
And, the near-equal sizes of each component, high eccentricity of the orbit, and the comet-like activity make it even more unusual.
By studying this pair, the researchers say they could gain further insight on the early days of the solar system and, uncover clues on how water was transported to Earth billions of years ago.
Due to its unusual nature, the researchers now seek to investigate just how common these systems may be in the asteroid belt.
According to Agarwal, We need more theoretical and observational work, as well as more objects similar to this object, to find an answer to this question.
Where would one find a beetle so strong it can break pencils clean in half with its jaw? Or spiders so big they feast on birds?
Here, MailOnline reveals where holidaymakers are most likely to encounter such creatures - and other gigantic creepy-crawlies.
They are the world's biggest, strongest, longest and heaviest spiders and bugs.
Giant weta
The giant weta is endemic to New Zealand and in some cases can weigh more than a mouse, making it the world's heaviest insect
In some cases the giant weta weighs more than a mouse, making it the heaviest insect in the world - and unable to jump.
Endemic to New Zealand - specifically Little Barrier Island, north of Auckland - it is one of 70 species of weta.
The giant weta has ears on the knees of its front legs.
Giant huntsman spider
The giant huntsman spider is found in caves in Laos and has the largest leg span of all the arachnid species
Considered the world's largest spider by leg span, which can reach up to 30 centimetres, the giant huntsman spider actively hunts down prey.
Regular huntsman spiders are found all over Asia, Australasia, South America and beyond, but the giant huntsman spider is found in Laos - and was only discovered in 2011.
These cave dwellers might look terrifying to arachnophobes, but the poison from their bites is mild and unable to harm healthy humans.
Giant water bug
Here a male giant water bug is seen laden with eggs on its back
Giant water bugs are also known as toe-biters thanks to their penchant for nibbling on the feet of unsuspecting paddlers in freshwater streams across North America, South America, Northern Australia and East Asia.
They are the largest of the hempitera order of bugs - which does not include beetles or flies.
In Asia, these bugs are a common and a popular delicacy, so don't be surprised to find them on offer in street food markets, particularly in Thailand.
Goliath birdeater spider
Goliath birdeaters are part of the cuisine of countries such as Guyana and are said to taste similar to shrimps
The largest spider in the world by mass and size (but not legspan), the goliath birdeater takes its name from the fact that it can devour birds, although it is more likely to feast on toads or earthworms.
These tarantulas have venom-filled fangs, and although they have been known to bite humans, the result is akin to a wasp's sting.
More painful, however, is its urticating defense: where they rub their stomachs with their hind legs and release hairs that hurt and irritate the eyes and nose for days.
It is native to northern South American countries such as Guyana, Suriname and northern Brazil, where it is part of the cuisine. The arachnids are often roasted inside banana leaves and the flavour has been described as similar to shrimp.
Atlas moth
The atlas moth, found in Asia and Malaysia, is the largest moth in the world, but thanks to having no mouths they live only a few days once they mature into adulthood
Found across south-east Asia and Malaysia, these huge moths have a wingspan reaching over 25cm - the largest of any moth in the world.
Female Atlas Moths are both larger and heavier than the males, however neither adult sex of the moths have mouths, meaning they live only a few days.
Queen Alexandra's birdwing
With a wingspan of up to 30cm, the Queen Alexandra's birdwing butterfly of Papua New Guinea is notable for its distinctive markings and bright yellow abdomen
The largest butterfly in the world with a wingspan of up to 30cm, Queen Alexandra's birdwing is also notable for its distinctive markings.
The abdomen on both males and females is a bright yellow, however the males have turquoise streaks on the wings, whereas the females have more subtle colourings.
This butterfly is found in Papua New Guinea and is an endangered species.
Titan beetle
The titan beetle can grow up to seven inches, making it the largest species of beetle in the world
Found in the tropical rainforests of South America, the titan beetle can grow up to seven inches, making it the largest species of beetle in the world.
Titan beetles have an incredibly strong jaw which can break a wooden pencil in half.
They typically hiss if frightened.
Giant burrowing cockroach
Some people have been known to keep the giant burrowing cockroach as a pet
The heaviest cockroach in the world, also known as the rhinoceros cockroach, is native to Australia and most commonly found in Queensland.
Although it can weigh as much as 35g it's not actually very large, with a maximum length of just over three inches.
As they don't have wings and are good at breaking down dead leaves, they're often kept as pets. The giant burrowing cockroach can live for up to ten years.
The world's longest stick insect
Zhao Li (pictured) found the Phryganistria Chinensis Zhao in China's Guangxi Zhuang region and promptly named the record breaking stick insect after himself
Only discovered in 2014, this species of stick insect - the Phryganistria Chinensis Zhao - measures over 62 centimetres long, blowing Chan's Megastick, the previous world record holder for longest stick insect, out of the water by a cool six centimetres.
Found on a mountain in China's Guangxi Zhuang region, the creature had been spotted by locals before being officially discovered by Zhao Li, of the Insect Museum of West China, from whom the species takes its name.
The species is not easy to spot - its twiggy appearance means it blends into trees easily.
Goliath beetle
Goliath beetles can be kept as pets, with owners feeding them on dog and cat food, as well as fruit and sap
Found in tropical or subtropical Africa, the larvae of the goliath beetle is the heaviest in the world, weighing between 80 to 100 grams.
However, the adults (only) weigh half this.
Goliath beetles can be kept as pets, with owners feeding them on dog and cat food, as well as fruit and sap.
Asian giant hornet
The Asian giant hornet can grow to 4.5cm and is highly aggressive
The Asian giant hornet can grow to 4.5cm in length and is the world's largest hornet.
Found across eastern Asia, it's also highly aggressive, with a 6mm stinger.
In Japan between 30 and 40 people die each year after being stung by one of the insects and going into anaphylactic shock.
Tarantula hawk
The sting of a tarantula hawk is intensely painful, making it an excellent predator
The tarantula hawk is one of the largest types of wasp and a proficient predator - and it inflicts a horrific death on its victims.
It preys on tarantulas, disabling them with a sting before dragging them off into a lair. There it lays an egg on its abdomen. When the larvae hatches it feeds on the spider and eventually emerges from its insides as an adult.
Its sting causes intense pain - receiving the highest possible score on the Schmidt Sting Pain Index.
The insect can be found across the globe in India, Southeast Asia, South America, Africa, Australia and in the southern states of the USA.
It is the state insect of New Mexico.
Giant helicopter damselfly
Helicopter damselflies are the largest of the species, with wingspans as wide as 19cm
The helicopter damselflies are the largest of all the damselflies, with wingspans as wide as 19 centimetres.
They are largely found across Central and South America, although one species is found in east Africa.
These damselflies survive just on spiders, using their long front legs to extract their prey from its web.
Forty years ago this month, the world shrank. On Monday, September 26, 1977, Laker Airways began operating its low-fare Skytrain service from Gatwick to New York.
By the way, at a time when the news is dominated by reports of people having to wait two or three hours at an airport, its worth noting that the first Skytrain passengers were happy to queue for three days simply to get their 56 one-way ticket to New York.
Before Laker, few people could afford to fly on scheduled flights to America. After Laker, the world began to open up to ordinary people.
Louche and luxurious: The risque reputation of 1970s New York was a magnet for the first budget travellers after years of indulgent but costly flights
After two decades of easyJet and Ryanairs no-frills budget fares, its hard to recall that prior to Skytrain, travelling by air was still largely an activity for the privileged wealthy.
Why? International airlines were part of a cartel the International Air Transport Association which allowed carriers to run their businesses to suit themselves rather than their passengers.
There was no competition on airline services they had to serve similar meals and charge the same for add-ons such as audio headsets and there was certainly no rivalry on fares.
As most major airlines were government-owned and subsidised by tax-payers, little effort was devoted to finding ways of making official air fares more affordable.
Airlines totted up their costs and came up with tariffs that they felt they needed to charge in order to make a profit (most of them, however, recorded huge losses across the world network, most flights were only around half full).
Many airlines had to fill seats by dumping surplus capacity through what were known as bucket shops, back-street travel agents which sold tickets for as little as third of the official rates.
Back in the day: First class passengers in a BOAC Jumbo Jet are served lunch in the late 1970s
But none of the airlines contemplated slashing the normal prices. Laker had already demonstrated there would be a demand for bargain flights to America by running affinity charter flights which exploited a rule that allowed clubs to take advantage of reduced prices.
There was a sudden boom in clubs with dubious memberships and unlikely names such as the Trowbridge and District Caged Bird Society which were able to offer bargain fares to America. (Members risked spot airport checks by government inspectors which could result in them being ejected from the flight if there were doubts about your bona fides.)
THE BEST FARES AREN'T ALWAYS ONLINE 1) Check online deals for the route you wish to fly: use price- comparison sites such as Kayak, Skyscanner and Momondo you will find which airlines serve your destination. 2) Not all the main bargain-flight agents work online. Two of the biggest, Trailfinders and Lotus (which includes Dial-a-Flight), tend to do business over the phone, allowing you to get useful personal advice from experts. 3) Dont ignore the big scheduled airlines for short-haul services: in recent years British Airways has been increasing its choice of European services, especially from London City and Gatwick prices are extremely competitive with the budget carriers. 4) Dont focus on just the cost of the flight. If, for example, you have to pay to park your car at the airport, include this in your price comparison as parking charges vary wildly and can be even more than an air fare. 5) Do you need to fly? It may be cheaper and more convenient to take your car across the Channel and drive to your holiday destination. Brittany Ferries has car ferry services to northern Spain, which is a surprisingly easy drive from the Mediterranean coast. Advertisement
Laker beat the government in getting the rights to start Skytrain, but he could not defeat his competitors, who were able to bring about Skytrains downfall when a sudden drop in the value of the pound left Sir Freddie financially exposed and unable to meet his immediate debts.
But to the dismay of British Airways and the other major carriers, the demand for cheap air travel was a genie which could not be put back in the bottle.
Shortly after Skytrains demise, the competitive pressure on the transatlantic trade was restored with the launch of Virgin Atlantic.
Then came Stelios Haji-Ioannou with easyJet and Michael OLeary with Ryanair, and as far as cheap flights are concerned we can all live happily ever after
Im not so sure. There are grave doubts about what will happen to our ability to connect with the Continents low-fare network post-Brexit. Remember that easyJet and Ryanair came about through a more liberal air-fare regime promoted by the EU.
I also sense a more questioning attitude to the social value of cheap air travel. There have been well-publicised protests in Venice and Barcelona against the vast numbers of budget travellers flooding those cities.
Bargain airlines are also suffering from the introduction of EU rules on delays. On the face of things, punishing airlines for long delays seems a good thing but the punishment may not fit the crime.
A spate of claims from ambulance- chasing lawyers looking for new fields of activity as PPI and whiplash cases dry up may threaten the financial stability of airlines. So now seems as good a moment as any to reflect on the fact that cheap air travel is no God-given right.
It came after a bitter battle 40 years ago, and unless were careful it could disappear again just as quickly.
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The owners of a luxury glamping campsite have built a spectacular new tree house for guests to stay in - costing nearly as much as the average home in Britain.
Eva and Tim Johnson spent more than 200,000 making the handcrafted tree-top structure, which has four bedrooms, a fully working kitchen and a balcony.
According to the UK House Price Index, which uses data from HM Land Registry, that sum almost matches the average house price in Britain: 226,185.
Tremendous! The Piggledy was built by campsite owner Tim Johnson using diseased elm trees felled in Eastbourne
Cooking up a storm: As if four bedrooms weren't enough, there's also a fully-fitted kitchen with a sink and electric hob
It'll grow on you! The impressive build incorporates live trees throughout the living spaces - as seen in this bedroom
Spacious: An interior look at one of the bedrooms, which also boasts a dining area and two generous skylights
The tree house is festooned with unique features
The amazing build, called Piggledy, took three years to construct, with Mr Johnson doing much of the gruelling work himself.
Mrs Johnson said they wanted their Blackberry Wood campsite, in Ditchling, near Eastbourne, East Sussex, to be a unique experience for guests looking to escape to the countryside.
The pair had already transformed a helicopter and London bus for guests to stay in and built a slightly smaller tree house.
Mrs Johnson, 46, said: 'Tim had always had a childhood dream of building a tree house. When we applied for planning permission on the first one we built, we didnt really think we would get it.
'They are very fairy tale-like. Tim did everything himself on the first one, but we had help from local craftsmen on this one.
'The whole thing, from putting down the initial foundations, took three years to complete. Its a very labour intensive job. We havent dared to add up the total cost of the tree house, but we know it has cost us more than 200,000 to build.'
They added: 'When you start the project, you dont really know if you will get rentals on the tree house to make back your money. But the response has been amazing, we have been pretty much fully booked since we started accepting bookings.'
All decked-out: The amazing tree house is so well-furnished it even contains a wood burner and running electricity
Bargain: Although it's a spacious design, the Piggeldy can be rented-out from the reasonable cost of 175 per night
The couple have been running the campsite for 14 years, quitting their full time jobs to renovate the site in 2003.
Mrs Johnson previously worked as a teacher in a secondary school, while Mr Johnson ran a backpacking tours company. Their latest tree house addition starts at 175 for guests to stay in.
Mrs Johnson said they had bought the campsite to allow their children, Charlie, 13, Ziggy, 10, and six-year-old Vida to grow up in the countryside.
Innovative: The attention to detail is impressive, with the owners' hard work clearly paying off
Recycled goods: Deliberately as eco-friendly as possible, the interior is lined with disused scaffolding planks
A labour of love: Having clearly enjoyed the mammoth project, Mr Johnson even made the windows heart-shaped
New ventures: Mrs Johnson previously worked as a teacher in a secondary school, while Mr Johnson ran backpacking tours
She said: 'We did all this for the kids really. We wanted them to have a place to grow up in the countryside. I was pregnant with Charlie when we bought the camp site - it was filled with these horrid, old static caravans.
'We could work on the site while having the children around us. And now there are always other kids around for them to play with and they have slept in all the bits we have transformed.
'We also throw birthday parties for them in the bus as well - they absolutely love it.'
The tree house was built using diseased elm trees, which were felled in Eastbourne and then processed at a sawmill in nearby Heathfield, while the interior is lined with disused scaffolding planks.
And the kitchen has a full working hob, microwave and toaster for guests to use while they stay.
Enjoying a well-earned break: The hospitality manager previously transformed a helicopter and London bus for guests
She's the plucky 19-year-old who has taken up the mantle of her late wildlife warrior father Steve Irwin.
And on Tuesday Bindi Irwin proved she was just like her dad as she got up close and personal with a giant snake.
Bindi shared the photo, which showed her smiling cheerily as a massive black headed-python wrapped itself around her arm, to her Instagram.
'Python cuddles': Wildlife warrior Bindi Irwin shares a photo of herself cosying up to a giant serpent as she announces she is writing a memoir
She looked very comfortable as she handled the snake deftly with one arm while the other was placed casually on her hip.
Bindi wore a T-shirt from Australia Zoo that bore the inspirational words: 'Believe in your strength to change the world. Wildlife warriors.'
While coming within coo-ee of such a creature would make most run in terror, Bindi looked chuffed to pose with the fork-tongued critter.
Her fans illustrated this sentiment commenting with the likes of: 'Your [sic] beautiful but I'm beyond terrified of snakes of any kind!'
The bubbly wild life warrior told News Corp on Tuesday that her book is close to finished and said: 'I feel like I've lived 10 lives in one lifetime.'
'I feel like I've lived 10 lives in one lifetime' The bubbly wild life warrior told News Corp on Tuesday that her book - a memoir - is close to finished
A glimpse into Bindi Irwin's life: The 19-year-old will share her fascinating life story in an upcoming book about growing up at Australia Zoo
'I am writing a book and it's one of those things, you are writing and you think you are in the right space, but then you rewrite the whole thing,' she said.
'The book is about my journey, my journey growing up at Australia Zoo and travelling around the world with our conservation work.
She added: 'I feel like I've lived 10 lives in one lifetime.'
Revealing: Bindi will likely give fans a personal glimpse into her family life, including her struggle with the 2006 death of her late father Steve
Bindi will likely give fans a personal glimpse into her family life, including her struggle with the 2006 death of her late father Steve.
Earlier this month, the media personality and her brother Robert, 13, paid tribute to the late Crocodile Hunter in heartfelt Father's Day posts.
Bindi shared a throwback video to Instagram that showed her, as a cherubic three-year-old, on set with Steve.
Remembering dad: Bindi Irwin, 19, and brother Robert, 13, shared emotional Father's Day tributes to their late dad Steve on Sunday
The video starts with Steve instructing Bindi to say 'action' to the camera and after she complies Steve adds: 'One of the greatest honours while we're on this movie shoot is working with my daughter and the wildlife that's around here.
'I'm trying to teach Bindi to be a wild life warrior and love all wildlife - even the bull ants.'
It appears that Steve's instruction had rubbed off on his daughter, who posted a gushing caption to accompany the video.
Memory lane: Bindi shared a throwback video to Instagram that showed her, as a cherubic three-year-old, on set with Steve
'Remembering these days... Life is always changing and evolving and I'll always be thankful that I learned so much from my dad. He taught me to treat every being on earth the way you would wish to be treated - from the tiny ants to the enormous elephants,' she wrote.
'We are all connected and must respect each other to live in true harmony. I'll forever be thankful to have had these values passed on to me. Happy Australian Father's Day. May your heart be full and your day be filled with the ones you hold dear. Here's to unconditional love and happiness beyond compare.'
Bindi's post was met with a flurry of emotion from her followers with the likes of: 'I cannot imagine how much you all miss him!! Such a special person who created a very special family!! Love you all!!'
Lessons: Life is always changing and evolving and I'll always be thankful that I learned so much from my dad. He taught me to treat every being on earth the way you would wish to be treated - from the tiny ants to the enormous elephants,' Bindi wrote
On seeing Bindi's post, mum Terri tweeted: 'Your dad's love continues @Bindiirwin. I see it every day in your kindness & compassion for every living being. You & Robert make him proud.'
Brother Robert also shared a tribute to Steve, posting a photo that showed Robert as a toddler being pushed on a swing by Steve.
Robert sported a precocious grin as his dad stood proudly behind him making sure his little boy was safe.
Best dad: Brother Robert also shared a tribute to Steve, posting a photo that showed Robert as a toddler being pushed on a swing by Steve. Robert sported a precocious grin as his dad stood proudly behind him making sure his little boy was safe
'This #fathersday in Australia remembering the best dad in the world. He was all about family and fun and I hope to dedicate my life to honouring his legacy,' Robert wrote.
'Yes your dad was an amazing human I'm sure he'd be incredibly proud of his family and the legacy he left behind,' one fan commented.
Steve died in 2006 after being pierced repeatedly in the chest by a stingray barb in Batt Reef near Port Douglas in Queensland.
Leonardo DiCaprio announced Tuesday that his eco-focused foundation has given more than $20 million this year in fresh grants to more than 100 organizations around the world.
From lion recovery and mangrove restoration to the defense of indigenous rights and better access to affordable solar energy, the actor announced the grants ahead of his appearance at a climate change conference at Yale University.
He planned to use the appearance to urge more immediate steps to reduce the world's reliance on fossil fuels in favor of renewable energy sources.
He cares: Leonardo DiCaprio announced Tuesday that his eco-focused foundation has given more than $20 million this year in fresh grants to more than 100 organizations around the world as he is pictured in November 2016
DiCaprio said: 'Our challenge is to find new ways to power our lives, employ millions of people and turn every individual into an advocate for clean air and drinkable water.
'We must demand that politicians accept climate science and make bold commitments before it is too late.'
The money increases the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation's giving to $80 million since 1998, the organization said in a statement.
Among nearly $3.6 million in new climate grants, for instance, is support of community organizations in the United States fighting for 100 percent renewable energy, money for mitigating climate change through mangrove re-planting in Somalia and a project that backs legal action holding major corporations in the fossil fuel industry liable for the effects of pollution.
Man on a mission: In a statement DiCaprio said: 'Our challenge is to find new ways to power our lives, employ millions of people and turn every individual into an advocate for clean air and drinkable water'
The foundation also granted about $6.4 million for wildlife and land conservation projects.
That work includes lion and elephant restoration and protection, conservation research in the Brazilian Amazon and a partnership with the local Maasai community in Kenya to conserve critical wildlife and wilderness there.
California Waterkeepers, a group that helps protect the state's coastal waters, and Ocean 5, which establishes marine reserves and combats illegal fishing in all five oceans around the globe, are among other recipients.
Dynamic duo: Last week Leonardo and Jamie Foxx were among the celebrities at the Hand-In-Hand telethon to aid Hurricane Harvey aid in Houston
Last week Leonardo was one of the many celebrities who answered the phones for the Hand-In-Hand telethon to aid Hurricane Harvey aid in Houston.
The Titanic actor and Jamie Foxx then explained what the evening was about at one point during the televised portion.
'Tonight we want to help,' said DiCaprio, whose foundation donated $1million to the United Way Harvey Recovery Fund.
'We're here to raise money and lift some spirits,' said Foxx. 'When tough times hit this is who we are .... when we join together hand in hand.'
'Let's help lift victims out of the darkness,' DiCaprio urged.
He's recovering from a reported motorbike collision earlier this month.
And Daniel Day-Lewis was spotted in comfortable attire while walking to a nearby car in Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon as he continued to mend a broken arm.
The 60-year-old method actor stayed in character of recovering patient as he walked through the street in the same black and white striped pants he was wearing on Wednesday, Sept. 13 and Thursday, Sept. 7.
Broken! Daniel Day-Lewis was spotted in comfortable attire while walking to a nearby car in Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon as he continued to mend a broken arm
Wearing a navy blue striped T-shirt, the three time Academy Award winning-actor walked along the road with a blue sling fastened across his shoulder.
Daniel wore his new favorite black and white striped drawstring pajama bottoms as he walked to the waiting vehicle.
Sporting a newly shaved head, the There Will Be Blood star covered his eyes in a pair of thick black framed sunglasses.
Stripey: The 60-year-old method actor stayed in character of recovering patient as he walked through the street in the same black and white striped pants he was wearing on Wednesday, Sept. 13 and Thursday, Sept. 7
With small brown bandages lining his arm, Daniel carried a large brown canvas bag on his shoulder.
A source exclusively told Page Six on Thursday, Sept. 7 that Daniel 'was in a motorbike accident and broke his arm.
'But he's fine, and no one else was hurt. He was well-protected - he was wearing a helmet. But it was a bummer.'
The source added that the accident was not the star's fault. When contacted by MailOnline a rep for Daniel Day-Lewis declined to comment.
Casual: The Gangs of New York actor was spotted wearing the striped pajama pants on a walk through the city last week
Not a fan of change: Aside from changing into a faded blue T-shirt, Daniel also seemed to be wearing the same black shoes
The Gangs of New York actor was spotted wearing the striped pajama pants on a walk through the city last week.
Aside from changing into a faded blue T-shirt, Daniel also seemed to be wearing the same black shoes.
News of the alleged accident comes just months after the star retired from acting. In a statement issued in June, his spokeswoman, Leslee Dart, said he 'will no longer be working as an actor,' trade magazine Variety reported.
Legend: Daniel recently announced his retirement from the acting world; seen in March 2014 at the Oscars
'He is immensely grateful to all of his collaborators and audiences over the many years,' Dart said, 'This is a private decision and neither he nor his representatives will make any further comment on this subject.'
Daniel, a master of method acting known for being extremely selective about his roles, is the only performer to have ever won three best actor Oscars.
He earned a golden statuette for 'My Left Foot' (1989), in which he plays writer and artist Christy Brown, who was confined to a wheelchair because of cerebral palsy; a second one for 'There Will Be Blood' (2008), in which he plays a fierce oil man; and a third for the lead role in Steven Spielberg's 'Lincoln' (2013).
He also earned Oscar nods for 'Gangs of New York' and 'In the Name of the Father.'
Daniel's 18-year-old son Gabriel-Kane - who made his runway debut for Chanel in 2015 - is a model and musician, and walked in the Tommy Hilfiger London Fashion Week show on Tuesday.
Daniel's 18-year-old son Gabriel-Kane - who made his runway debut for Chanel in 2015 - is a model and musician, and walked in the Tommy Hilfiger London Fashion Week show on Tuesday; seen here at a screening in New York in May 2016
The Block is a solid fan favourite, with the latest series proving a ratings success.
And no doubt fans can't get enough of the drama on the show.
From contestants dobbing in their rivals, making their opponents cry, to accusations of stealing, cheating and bullying, Daily Mail Australia takes a look back at some of the cattiest moments on The Block.
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From dobbing in their rivals, making their opponents cry to accusations of stealing, cheating and bullying: A look back at some of the cattiest moments on The Block (pictured is Georgia crying)
The latest scandal to rock The Block occurred on Monday's show, when Elyse Knowles and boyfriend Josh Barker had their non-compliant winning kitchen dobbed in by rival Jason.
Josh and Elyse had won kitchen week and scored full marks - 30 out of 30 - for their stunning space.
The young couple scored a whopping $10,000 for the win, but were knocked off their pedestal after Jason noticed their gas stove top was too close to their caesarstone splashback.
Unimpressed: The latest scandal to rock The Block occurred on Monday's show, when Elyse Knowles and boyfriend Josh Barker (pictured) had their non-compliant winning kitchen dobbed in by rival Jason
A stab in the back? Jason and Sarah (pictured) controversially were awarded a $10,000 cash prize for their kitchen, which didn't sit well with their rivals
Jason and wife Sarah - who were given extra time to complete their master bedroom and ensuite during kitchen week - came second for their kitchen.
Host Scott Cam then revealed to the teams that Jason and Sarah tied with Josh and Elyse for first place, after the judges deducted points from the pair.
Jason and Sarah controversially were awarded a $10,000 cash prize, which didn't sit well with their rivals, after they had been given extra time to complete their spaces and were allowed to skip the challenge that week, after falling behind.
'Mate, that is dog s**t!,' Sticks said as he fired up at Jason and Sarah.
Calling them out: 'Mate, that is dog s**t!,' Sticks (L) said as he fired up at Jason and Sarah
'He's shown his true colours now,' Josh said about Jason.
'He shot us down behind our backs and will say to our face, "it's not about the win."'
He added: 'He needs to learn to shut his mouth and do some work.'
At a group dinner shortly after the incident, Sarah spoke out against their rivals and said she was surprised that everyone was not happy about them winning prize money.
'I must have my heads in the clouds, I had no idea everyone was so p***ed off we won $10,000.'
Do they even care? At a group dinner shortly after the incident, Sarah spoke out against their rivals and said she was surprised that everyone was not happy about them winning prize money
They claimed they had 'no intention' to take the win after dobbing in Josh and Elyse.
This week, Jason also accused Josh and Elyse and Hannah and Clint of stealing his plaster, after their order went missing from the site.
In another catty moment at the start of the series, longtime rivals Josh and Elyse and Georgia and Ronnie had an argument, leaving Georgia in tears.
Georgia called Josh an 'a****le' and a 'd***head,' after the clash, saying how mean he was to her and her husband, Ronnie.
'I can't stand when people are mean, that was mean...how about you be a nice person, give that a go!'
Tempers flare! This week, Jason also accused Josh and Elyse and Hannah and Clint of stealing his plaster, after their order went missing from the site
Her comments came after she and Ronnie had to tell Elyse and Josh that they were taking some money from their budget.
Ronnie and Georgia had won the first challenge - to renovate a bedroom - and got to choose which house they wanted to renovate on the show, and the power to take money from another team of their choice.
'So ours is a bit of a strategic move and we think you guys are pretty amazing, pretty capable and so were going to just have to take $8,500 from your budget,' Georgia told the pair.
Enemies! In another catty moment at the start of the series, longtime rivals Josh and Elyse and Georgia and Ronnie had an argument, leaving Georgia in tears
Josh had a go at Ronnie and Georgia after hearing the news, saying: 'Wouldn't expect anything else from a couple like you guys.'
Ronnie then apologised but as the couples walked back to their work sites, they took digs at one another.
'Good luck guys,' Josh said.
Elyse added: 'Have fun getting all that rubbish,' referring to the rubbish they dumped in a room in their house from the first renovation, rather than putting it in a bin and saving Ronnie and Georgia time.
'You want to have some good ideas, it's a big week,' Josh added.
At another point of the show, Josh and Elyse accused Georgia and Ronnie of stealing their iPad, after inspecting their house.
Tensions: At another point of the show, Josh and Elyse accused Georgia and Ronnie of stealing their iPad, after inspecting their house
Georgia had picked up the gadget, and she claimed it was a 'mistake'.
Josh and Elyse said they were locked out of their iPad and accused the pair of trying to steal their ideas.
Recently, rumours have been rife that Elyse and Georgia off the show, are not on speaking terms.
Elyse has also reportedly been bullying Georgia.
Insiders have claimed that the 24-year old has been accused of being a 'mean girl', using her recently inflated online presence to take some unkind digs at the 34-year old clothing designer.
Feuding: Recently, rumours have been rife that Elyse and Georgia off the show, are not on speaking terms. Elyse has also reportedly been bullying Georgia
'It hasn't gone unnoticed Elyse has been cropping Georgia out of group shots on social media and making digs at her,' a set insider told Woman's Day.
Elyse made another remark about Georgia and partner Ronnie only weeks ago via Instagram, when they didn't show up at her partner Josh's birthday celebrations.
'Thanks to Scotty for putting on a big feast and those who made the effort to come along...' she captioned on her post.
However, Georgia has hit back at the ongoing hostility between the two, claiming that the 'immature behaviour' that goes on behind the scenes is something that has taken its toll on her.
'Ron was sort of fine with it - it probably affected me more than anything' she told the publication.
'At one point I was struggling to get out of bed for days.'
While Georgia claims she has confronted counsellors over the issue, Elyse and partner Josh have said that the pair deserve the malevolence, labeling them as 'untrustworthy', following the iPad cheating allegations.
Looking at the world through the eyes of the Web
NeNe Leakes and Kim Zolciak made dramatic returns to RHOA in a new trailer released Tuesday ahead of its upcoming milestone season.
The 49-year-old Fashion Police co-host and 39-year-old mother-of-six Kim returned for season 10 of the hit Bravo show.
NeNe and Kim both were original cast members when The Real Housewives Of Atlanta premiered in 2008.
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Milestone season: Kim Zolciak was shown in a new trailer released for the upcoming 10th season of The Real Housewives Of Atlanta
'I am back, and of course the haters still know I'm here,' NeNe said in the trailer.
'Is my wig still down?,' she quipped.
The surprise marriage of Kenya Moore, 46, to Marc Daly in June was a constant theme in the trailer.
'What's his name?," NeNe asked as the group sat on sofas.
Also returning: NeNe Leakes also was returning for the upcoming season of the Bravo show
The bride: Kenya Moore and her surprise wedding were a constant theme in the trailer
Wig check: NeNe asked if her wig was in place during a confessional
'Uhhhhh,' replied Cynthia Bailey, 50.
'She married a fan?,' asked Kim.
'Yeah,' Porsha Williams, 36, confirmed.
Simple request: Cynthia Bailey said she just wanted to meet Kenya's new husband
'I just want to meet the man,' Cynthia said.
'Why are you so involved in my life?,' Kenya told the women.
'Have you guys met her husband?,' Kim asked.
Personal questions: Kenya asked why everyone was so involved in her life
'Worry about pimping your daughter out, b****,' Kenya hissed back at Kim.
Kim became outraged and was restrained after apparently lunging at Kenya.
Sheree Whitfield also had a new romance blossoming apparently with a federal prison inmate.
New love: Sheree Whitfield was secretive about a new boyfriend
'He's a con artist,' NeNe warned of Sheree's boyfriend.
'I hope he don't con her out of Chateau Sheree,' said Kandi Burruss referencing Sheree's new mansion.
Cynthia also admitted to meeting someone following her divorce from Peter Thomas and was shown kissing a man.
Prison boyfriend: NeNe warned that Sheree's new boyfriend was a 'con artist'
Moving on: Cynthia was shown kissing a man following her divorce from Peter Thomas
Peter however appeared to still hold out hope for a reconciliation.,
'Cynthia and I will get back together,' he told friends.
NeNe also was shown scolding Porsha for spreading rumors about Kandi and her husband Todd Tucker.
Hope alive: Peter Thomas held out hope that he and Cynthia would get back together
Called out: NeNe called Porsha a liar for spreading rumors about Kandi Burruss
'You big a**, mother f***ing liar,' NeNe raged at Porsha.
She also hollered at her: 'You deserve some discipline for what you did to Kandi'.
'I don't give a s*** about her,' Porsha said.
Still feuding: Kandi was still feuding with Porsha
'F*** you,' screamed NeNe.
'F*** you,' Porsha shouted back.
NeNe was then shown in an elevator as a 911 operator accepted a phone call.
New pals: Kim and Porsha were getting along after the exit of Phaedra Parks from the show
'Oh, my god. This is getting juicy!,' Sheree said at the end of the trailer.
NeNe left RHOA after season seven while Kim departed in the middle of the fifth season.
Season 10 of RHOA will premiere November 5 on Bravo.
The Home And Away star is undergoing six weeks of radiotherapy after announcing his shock brain cancer diagnosis.
And Johnny Ruffo continues to appear upbeat as he battles the devastating illness.
The 29-year-old took to Instagram on Tuesday with a touching post to praise those helping him towards recovery.
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'These guys are the real stars!' Johnny Ruffo thanks radiotherapy staff as he continues to battle his devastating brain cancer diagnosis
Johnny, who rose to fame on The X Factor, posed with his radiotherapy team, writing: 'These guys are the real stars, my amazing radiotherapy team.'
He announced his shock battle with brain cancer in August and made his first public appearance on Saturday at a charity gala at The Star in Sydney.
He attended the event with his dancer girlfriend Tahnee Sims, with the pair happily smiling for the cameras.
Struggles: Johnny revealed his brain tumour was seven centimetres long, and that doctors are 'fairly confident they can beat this thing'
Loved up: The Home And Away star was seen attending a charity gala with girlfriend Tahnee Sims (pictured) at The Star in Sydney on Saturday night
Shock: His public appearance came after announcing he had emergency surgery for a brain tumour last month
Their appearance together comes just days after Johnny spoke on Nova's Fitzy and Wippa about being rushed to emergency by Tahnee.
Johnny revealed the blonde beauty was in 'absolute tears' when she found out he had a brain tumour, before signing off on his life-saving emergency surgery to have it removed.
'It's 8am in the morning and she gets a call from the emergency department, saying "you need get down here immediately because he's got a brain tumour", so she was in absolute tears at the time,' Johnny said.
Health woes: Johnny said that doctors told Tahnee there was a one in 20 chance he could die from the operation
'And she had to drive down there and they said "look, we need to do an emergency operation." Because by this stage, I had slipped into a coma,' he added.
'She had to sign a form to give permission.'
Johnny said that doctors told Tahnee there was a one in 20 chance he could die from the operation.
After the surgery, doctors told him he would have died if he didn't go to emergency, and would have fallen asleep at home and had a brain aneurysm.
His support: The blonde is pictured hugging Johnny shortly after his life-saving operation
Johnny revealed his brain tumour was seven centimetres long, and that doctors are 'fairly confident they can beat this thing'.
The surgeon removed 95 per cent of the tumour, and the other five percent will be removed by radiotherapy over a six-week period.
A judge in Los Angeles has denied a request by Mel B to seal all records in her divorce and restraining order cases and keep the courtroom closed.
The decision was reported by TMZ on Tuesday.
The website had previously claimed the former Spice Girl wanted the proceedings kept secret because she's worried her estranged husband Stephen Belafonte will expose explicit sex tapes as evidence.
Decision: A judge has ruled that records will not be sealed in the divorce battle between Mel B and Stephen Belafonte. They're pictured arriving for a court hearing on Friday in Los Angeles
Mel B argued that she doesn't want her children to find out about the tapes but the judge ruled that 'salacious details' are not sufficient reason to seal a case, according to TMZ.
However, anything directly relating to the couple's children such as visitation schedules will not be revealed in open court.
The former couple were pictured looking stony-faced as they arrived separately for a court hearing on Friday as their bitter legal battle drags on.
The 42-year-old AGT judge is accusing her ex of 'emotional and physical abuse.'
Concerned: The former Spice Girl had asked for proceedings to be held behind closed doors as she fears her ex will introduce explicit sex tapes as evidence
Mel has three children, including 17-year-old Phoenix Chi, whose father is her first husband Jimmy Gulzar and 10-year-old Angel Iris, who was fathered by her former lover, actor Eddie Murphy.
She also has a six-year-old daughter Madison with Belafonte.
The former couple are also battling over custody of their daughter and Belafonte has requested visitation rights to see step-daughter Angel.
The couple's marriage fell apart after she filed for divorce amid claims her husband had been sleeping with the family nanny Lorraine Gillies behind her back.
She has also alleged her husband impregnated the 26-year-old, paid for an abortion and set up a sham marriage so she could stay in the US.
Divorce battle: Mel B, pictured with Belafonte in July 2016, has accused her estranged husband of 'emotional and physical abuse.' She filed for divorce in June
Meanwhile on Sunday night, the British star applauded Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman for highlighting the subject of domestic abuse during her winner's speech at Emmy Awards.
Accepting her award, Nicole told the star-studded audience that her drama series Big Little Lies had 'shone a light' on domestic abuse, describing it as a 'complicated, insidious disease'.
Nicole's powerful speech clearly struck a chord with Mel B, who was watching from home, as the former pop star took to Instagram to praise Nicole's words and share her own message.
'She wrote: 'Please trust and believe, you don't have to be a victim no more, you do have the power and support to stand up to this, leave all your shame and pain with your abuser,if not the "Diablo" WILL kill you.'
She added hashtags including 'domestic violence survivor', domestic violence awareness' and 'women empowering women'.
Shonda Rhimes is not interested in patting Emmy voters on the back for historical wins on Sunday night.
The superstar producer and creator of Grey's Anatomy and Scandal voiced her displeasure to Vanity Fair on Tuesday, saying: ''It's embarrassing, frankly.'
The Hollywood heavyweight, 47, who is known for creating diverse characters in her shows, continued: 'To me, it feels embarrassing that we are still in a place in which we still have to note these moments.'
'It's embarrassing, frankly': Shonda Rhimes, 47, is not interested in patting Emmy voters on the back for historical wins on Sunday night
Some of the most historical wins of the night included, Donald Glover as the first black person to win Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series and Riz Ahmed as the first South Asian man to win an Emmy period.
Lena Waithe also became the first black woman to win an Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for Master of None.
Shonda hopes to continue to see more historical wins in the future.
Some of the most historical wins of the night included, Donald Glover as the first black person to win Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Notable firsts: Lena Waithe also became the first black woman to win an Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for Master of None and Riz Ahmed as the first South Asian man to win an Emmy
'I'm hoping that people don't feel satisfied because they saw a lot of people win, and then think that we're done.'
Although the How To Get Away With Murder creator was critical of the praise the Emmys got for 'diversity,' she did have the utmost respect for the winners, particularly Waithe.
'She's so even-keeled and so grounded, and that episode was such an amazing episode of television,' she said of the writer who won, alongside Aziz Ansari, for the Thanksgiving episode of Master of None.
Rhimes, who made a name for herself by creating numerous hit shows for ABC, which resulted in the term TGIT, meaning Thank God It's Thursday, which is an ode to ABC's TGIF lineup throughout the 90s.
'I'm hoping that people don't feel satisfied because they saw a lot of people win, and then think that we're done,' she said of the historic wins (pictured in February)
The mega-producer created many popular, long-running series during her tenure with ABC, including How To Get Away With Murder, for which Viola Davis made history as the first black women to win an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2015.
Rhimes, who is a hot commodity in Hollywood recently left her ABC contract for a deal with Netflix.
She recently penned an article on her newly launched Shondaland website, criticizing Hollywood for brushing her aside because of her weight.
The TV hitmaker admitted in the post that after she lost between 100 and 150 pounds 'things got weird'.
Hollywood prejudice: The Hollywood producer recently penned an article on her newly launched Shondaland website, criticizing Hollywood for brushing her aside because of her weight (pictured in 2010 on the left and 2017 on the right)
The television writer/producer wrote of how 'women I barely knew gushed' and how men finally 'spoke to me' following her body transformation.
She added: 'Like stood still and had long conversations with me about things. It was disconcerting.
'But even more disconcerting was that all these people suddenly felt completely comfortable talking to me about my body.'
The Emmy-award nominee wrote that she had 'discovered that NOW people saw me as a PERSON'.
She explained: 'What the hell did they see me as before? How invisible was I to them then? How hard did they work to avoid me?
Things changed for her: The television writer/producer wrote of how 'women I barely knew gushed' and how men finally 'spoke to me' following her body transformation
'When I was fat, I wasnt a PERSON to these people. Like I had been an Invisible Woman who suddenly materialized in front of them. Poof! There I am. Thin and ready for a chat.'
The impassioned article is one of the first on the showrunner's new website. Shondaland.com.
According to the site's Who We Are section, Shondaland.com will provide 'a home for complex articles and honest conversations beyond the fictional space.'
The DGA award-winning director took to Instagram on Monday to promote the site.
She posted a snap of herself holding a cell phone displaying the Shondaland.com home page. It was captioned: 'Right now! Shondaland.com is live! Go! See!'
They've been married since 2010 and share four beautiful children together.
And Chris Judd has opened up about the first time he met now-wife Rebecca 'Bec', revealing he found her 'pretty drunk' and 'incredibly attractive' when he met her at Perth's Cottesloe Hotel in 2002.
Speaking to the The Howie Games podcast this week, the former AFL player said nothing 'full-on' happened during that first meeting because he was in a relationship with someone else.
'I saw someone who was incredibly attractive and pretty drunk, and that was my sweet spot!' Chris Judd recalls the first time he met wife Rebecca (pictured 2004)
Chris was at the popular Perth watering hole when he spotted his future wife, model Bec Twigley, across the room.
'I saw someone who was incredibly attractive and pretty drunk, and that was my sweet spot!' He recalled to the podcast.
The former Carlton captain said nothing 'full-on' happened between the pair that meeting, because he was still in a relationship with another woman.
'This is great I'm taking such a cracker to the Brownlow': Chris joked he had felt proud to bring attractive Bec on his arm to the red carpet (pictured 2004)
Chance meeting: Bec and Chris first met while enjoying drinks with friends at Perth's Cottesloe Hotel in 2002
But after Chris realised he had strong feelings for Bec, he dumped his girlfriend and the two began a relationship.
In 2004, Bec and Chris made their public debut as a couple, attending the Brownlow Medal ceremony.
While Chris won the coveted award that night Bec stole the show in a very revealing red dress by Ruth Tarvydas.
'I just remember being confused as to why she hadn't bought a whole dress. We'd had a good year, we can afford a whole one, I don't know why she's bought half of one,' Chris joked.
Married! In 2010 Chris and Bec tied the knot in a lavish Melbourne ceremony which attracted scores of press attention
Hiding a secret: Bec's custom made dress by J' ATon Couture hid the fact she was 10 weeks pregnant with their first child, Oscar
'She looked great ... my main thought was, ''This is great I'm taking such a cracker to the Brownlow. '' That was as about as in-depth as I got with it.'
Chris later proposed to Bec during a 2009 holiday to Noosa, marrying a year later in a lavish socialite wedding.
He later recalled the first years of their relationship in his 2015 autobiography, revealing Bec's famous Brownlow appearance signalled the end of their privacy as a couple.
They're not the most popular couple on The Block at the moment, thanks to dobbing in rivals Elyse and Josh about their non-compliant kitchen.
And on the show on Wednesday, married couple Sarah and Jason were left red-faced after they offended KIIS FM radio host and comedian, Dave Hughes.
Dave, 46, wasn't too impressed when, while he and his radio co-star Kate Langbroek, 52, had dinner at their house, Sarah failed to realise they host a drivetime radio show.
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Even Dave Hughes hates them! The Block's Sarah and Jason offend the comedian and his radio co-star Kate Langbroek (seen) when they fail to realise they host a drive show
'So an early morning start for you guys tomorrow?' Sarah asked, trying to make conversation at the dinner table.
Looking offended, Dave dryly replied: 'No, we do drive radio.'
The mishap left the table including The Block hosts Scott Cam and Shelley Craft in awkward laughter.
Put your foot in it? 'So an early morning start for you guys tomorrow?' Sarah (R) asked, trying to make conversation at the dinner table
A blushing Scott Cam sarcastically told Sarah: 'It's good that you know our superstar guests!'
Dave and Sarah made an appearance on the show as guest judges of the Youfoodz challenge.
The contestants had to whip up a dish for the pair, Scott and Shelley, in their new kitchens. They were judged on how much the judges liked the food and how much they made the judges laugh.
The winning team would pocket $5,000 and have their recipe turned into a Youfoodz dish, with their picture on the packets.
Jason and Sarah cooked udon noodles, while Jason dressed up as a Geisha.
They tried: Jason and Sarah cooked udon noodles, while Jason dressed up as a Geisha
Unique! Winning the challenge were Sticks (R) and Wombat, (L) who cooked 'Wombat stew'
Winning the challenge were Sticks and Wombat, who cooked 'Wombat stew.'
It was really a vegetable curry served with pasta.
Sticks and Wombat attempted to entertain the pair by dressing up as vegetables, with Wombat being a carrot and Sticks a tomato.
They even danced in their costumes making the radio stars laugh.
However, the boys said that it was 'awkward' and they struggled to make conversation while having dinner.
The Bachelorette Sophie Monk confirmed she found love with her 'perfect man' on the matchmaking reality show.
And with speculation rising as to who will secure Sophie's final rose, Daily Mail Australia can reveal the front-runners, odds-favourites and rumoured winner.
With the premiere episode airing on Wednesday, Sportsbet odds place Sydney hunk Luke McLeod in top spot at $2.50... but an expected intruder could shake up the competition.
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The Bachelorette Form Guide: Everything you need to know about the hunks vying for Sophie Monks affection including an intruder who is tipped to steal the show and her heart
Described as 'outdoorsy and spiritual', business culture consultant Luke claims he's ready to share his life with someone special.
It was revealed that Luke may have had an advantage leading into the show, as he was friends with a previous series winner.
The Daily Telegraph reported the 33-year-old was pals with Laura Byrne, with the jewellery designer commenting on several of his past Facebook posts.
Meanwhile, Melbourne vineyard manager Jarrod Woodgate, 31, and Financial adviser James, 31, are close behind on $5.50 and $7 respectively.
Odds favourite! Sportsbet odds place Sydney hunk Luke McLeod in top spot at $2.50
Winning advantage? The Daily Telegraph reported the 33-year-old was pals with Bachelor winner Laura Byrne, with the jewellery designer having commented on several of his Facebook posts recently
Who will win her heart? Sophie has a large range of men vying for affection, with the 18 suitors spanning a 14-year age gap (24 to 38) and a variety of careers
Close behind! Meanwhile, Melbourne vineyard manager Jarrod Woodgate(L), 31, and Financial adviser James(R), 31, are close behind on $5.50 and $7 respectively
Like Sophie, Jarrod has been engaged before, with the 31-year-old detailing her heartbreaking failed engagement back in 2010 to New Idea.
Financial adviser James, 31, meanwhile, also comes from NSW and can see himself on a ski trip with Sophie 'with a few little Monks in tow' in his future.
Sophie has a large range of men vying for affection, with the 18 suitors spanning a 14-year age gap (24 to 38) and a variety of careers.
'I am young, but I have an old soul': One of her youngest contestants, at age 24, is magician Apollo
Her youngest contestants, at age 24, are magician Apollo and restaurant manager Harry.
Apollo Jackson is a magician and aspiring actor from Queensland's Gold Coast and despite being 13 years Sophie's junior, he claims: 'I am young but I have an old soul.'
Unfortunately, the least favoured of the bachelors is South Australian restaurant manager Harry at $51. He describes himself as 'happy, playful, easy-going, energetic and chatty'.
Not the winner? The least favoured of the bachelors is South Australian restaurant manager Harry at $51. He describes himself as 'happy, playful, easy-going, energetic and chatty'
Not looking good: Also with dismal odds is self-confessed 'serial dater' Hayden (L) on $46 and 25-year-old bar manager Jourdan (R) on $41
Also with dismal odds is self-confessed 'serial dater' Hayden on $46 and 25-year-old bar manager Jourdan on $41.
Sitting comfortably between $10 and $15 odds are Western Australian 'investor and entrepreneur' Blake, 29, ex-rugby player turned construction foreman Ryan, 26, events manager Jefferson, 30, and scaffolder Eden, 33.
However, not yet on the betting ladder is Millionaire 'publican playboy' Stu Laundy, 44, who is set to shake up the competition as an intruder.
Despite not being in the official cast photo published by Channel Ten, Stu has been confirmed as a contestant on the show after he was photographed on a filmed group date in July.
Sitting comfortably between $10 and $15 odds are (L to R) Western Australian 'investor and entrepreneur' Blake, 29, ex-rugby player turned construction foreman Ryan, 26, events manager Jefferson, 30, and scaffolder Eden, 33
Is it him? It appears that a front-runner who ticks all of Sophie's romantic boxes could have already emerged ahead of The Bachelorette premiere on Wednesday - Stu Laundy
Familiar: Stu, who is the son of legendary pub owner Arthur Laundy and heir to an estimated $500 million fortune previously told Confidentia that he met Sophie in 2016 and asked her on a date on his yachts, with the intended rendezvous falling through
Adding fuel to the fire, Stu is 44 and Sophie, 37, had previously said that she was after a 'silver fox'.
Stu has also been previously linked to Sophie.
The rugged brunette, who is the son of legendary pub owner Arthur Laundy and heir to an estimated $500 million fortune previously told Confidential that he met Sophie in 2016 and asked her on a date on his yachts, with the intended rendezvous falling through.
A source claimed that Stu was so taken with the former Bardot star during their first meeting that he jumped at the chance to try his luck a second time.
'While this is unorthodox, this seemed like the best way to meet her again,' the source claimed.
Pictured: (L to R) Fashion designer Pete, 32, small business owner Mackane, 35, Victorian contract service manager Chad, 37, and engineer Jamie, 38
With a potential advantage over the other contestants, Stu will also compete against voice artist Sam, 31, from New South Wales, fashion designer Pete, 32, small business owner Mackane, 35, Victorian contract service manager Chad, 37, engineer Jamie, 38, professional polo player Bingham Fitz-Henry, 25, and personal trainer Brett, 27.
As the premiere nears, some of the contestants pasts have begin to surface, including footage of magician Apollo being spanked with paddles by 'naughty nurses' at the famous Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas.
If Hayden Felsenthal's social media posts are anything to go by, it looks like the suitor could be the joker of the bunch.
Sporty hunks! Professional polo player Bingham Fitz-Henry, 25, and personal trainer Brett, 27, are on $34 and $21 respectively
One image, which was shared to his Instagram account last year, shows the 29-year-old holding up a bag of white powder as he posed with friends in drug dealer costumes.
Also recent comments made by Perth investor Blake, 29, have raised questions about his intentions after he revealed he is highly attracted to famous women.
'I've dated people with higher profiles than Sophie's exes,' he proudly revealed to Woman's Day on Monday.
The Bachelorette with Sophie Monk debuts on Wednesday night from 7.30pm
It was a difficult night for any viewers watching Doctor Foster rooting for Team Gemma - i.e. the entire audience, all six million of them.
By the close they must have been struggling to feel good about it or her - or themselves.
Even her staunchest supporter was probably considering defecting to the side of her ex-husband (Team Slimeball, or Team Simon as he called it), or contacting Parminster Social Services to save her son Tom from both of them.
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Ahem: It was a difficult night for any viewers watching Doctor Foster rooting for Team Gemma - i.e. the entire audience, all six million of them
This was all despite Episode Three finishing with the heroine relishing a rare moment of triumph over her enemy and ours.
The sight of the nations most popular GP leaving Slimeball Simon and her life in Parminster behind, heading for a new beginning, reconciled, with her son, was the fans dream happy ending. Or should have been
A lurid, lascivious, scene showing the doctor having sex with her ex spoilt it somewhat.
It was not a drunken fumble either but torrid and debauched - what her neighbour Anna called dark hate sex. And she should know, given that she heard it.
Serious stuff: By the close they must have been struggling to feel good about it or her - or themselves
Head on: Even her staunchest supporter was probably considering defecting to the side of her ex-husband (Team Slimeball, or Team Simon as he called it), or contacting Parminster Social Services to save her son Tom from both of them
Toms description would have been even worse, given that he heard it too. Talk about awkward/awful
Oh Gemma how could you?! How could you do that to us, never mind your son, or yourself? The answer, by the way she behaved, was quite easily.
It was a mistake, she shrugged. Perhaps she was just exhausted.
Yes, being on Team Gemma was not such the comfortable, uncomplicated, choice we all thought.
Suddenly her image as the feisty feminine/feminist icon, representing the fight against manipulative misogynists and abusive husbands everywhere, was compromised and significantly dented.
Her boy: Oh Gemma how could you?! How could you do that to us, never mind your son, or yourself? The answer, by the way she behaved, was quite easily
Fesity: Suddenly her image as the feisty feminine/feminist icon, representing the fight against manipulative misogynists and abusive husbands everywhere, was compromised and significantly dented
Fans shock: Now we knew what it was like to know her properly - to be close to her like her son, her friends, or her lover
Now we knew what it was like to know her properly - to be close to her like her son, her friends, or her lover.
We were the latest victims in the wreckage the human hurricane left behind along with James, Anna, Neil, among others.
Of course her son Tom was the one who suffered the most.
He was facing being expelled from school having beaten up his best mate Max in a fight over their friend Isabel, who Tom had kissed at a party then, it transpired, drunkenly begun to force himself on, only stopping when she screamed.
Mad? It was hard to work out whether she was madder than we thought - whether she was being really thick or ingenious if it was a ploy as she invited Simon to stay for dinner
He was visibly cracking up. Later a post on social media showed him complaining about all this stuff going on with my mum and dad and trashing the tables outside his fathers office before storming off.
Gemmas reaction to the crisis was proposing to Simon they work together to help their son.
He needs stability, she stressed. From now I dont care what youre planning to hurt me or get rid of me, we support him.
It was hard to work out whether she was madder than we thought - whether she was being really thick or ingenious if it was a ploy as she invited Simon to stay for dinner.
Help! Simon thought the same. Is this a trick? he asked. Because Im me and youre you, and suddenly youre being nice !'
Simon thought the same. Is this a trick? he asked. Because Im me and youre you, and suddenly youre being nice !
Yes and it was DOCTOR FOSTER ! At what point Gemma decided to seduce Simon filming it on her mobile phone wasnt entirely clear.
Possibly when Simon began slyly reminding her of their history in the house: the picture they had bought in France, the banister shed varnished, the time theyd had sex on the kitchen worktop. As you do
No! The thought of her having sex with Simon in order to blackmail him was excruciating enough (particularly the way she took off her blouse, lifted her skirt, and bent over the counter) to seduce him
Why would you mention that? she simply said. Why would you think about it? he countered typically/evilly.
The thought of her having sex with Simon in order to blackmail him was excruciating enough (particularly the way she took off her blouse, lifted her skirt, and bent over the counter) to seduce him.
It was even worse when she had sex with him anyway, after he had seen her phone and called a halt, tutting disappointing. DesperateTo show Kate right? You really would have gone that far?
I wouldve stopped you at some point. Once I got what I wanted, she flared.
The fact that she still wanted to keep going now that were here and weve started confused Simon as much as us.
Unpleasant? The sex was erotic/unpleasant, sub 9 And 1/2 Weeks stuff. Afterwards they slumped, naked, in opposite corners of the room back to being enemies
Gemma I hate you, he reminded her. I know. I pretty much f**king loathe you too.
Well we were warned that she had issues
The sex was erotic/unpleasant, sub 9 And 1/2 Weeks stuff. Afterwards they slumped, naked, in opposite corners of the room back to being enemies.
Members of Team Gemma thinking/hoping she would accuse him of assaulting or raping her were mistaken.
Gemma barely reacted to Anna telling her that she had heard them or that she was destroying Tom.
Destroyed:P Gemma barely reacted to Anna telling her that she had heard them or that she was destroying Tom
You havent binned anything from here. Its like you were waiting for Simon to come back !
It was looking like another disastrous episode for Gemma in the war of marital mind games - 3-0 to him.
The next morning at their meeting about whether Tom should be expelled for attacking Max she learned Simon had accepted it was best that Tom moved to a private school on the other side of town from Gemmas, close to Simon and Kates (what he had wanted all along).
Why did you email her this morning? We had an agreement that we would work together ! Gemma protested, again seemingly dumber or madder than wed realised.
Serious talk: Why did you email her this morning? We had an agreement that we would work together ! Gemma protested, again seemingly dumber or madder than wed realised'
He brushed her feeble threat aside to tell Kate about the night before, shrugging If only youd filmed it.
Simons face dropped when Gemma told him Tom had heard them.
To say being an only child, with Gemma and Simon as your parents, was no picnic was an understatement.
When she made an (excruciating) attempted to apologise Tom stormed off, then lashed out by telling James (her new man) her and dad had sex again adding DONT TRUST HER !
The pain of wrestling with his own demons (over the way he molested Isobel) was even harder, especially when his father wouldnt let him back inside the house because of it.
Why? Why did you email her this morning? We had an agreement that we would work together ! Gemma protested, again seemingly dumber or madder than wed realised
Crushed: Trying to talk to his mother about what happened with Isabel, Tom looked crushed and ashamed. Its s**t. Im s**t. Maybe I should leave, he suggested
Trust: We could go together, Gemma responded. Youre going to have to trust me OK?'
Its disgusting ! Kate yelled at the boy. When Simon then shoved his son away, Gemma took the chance to win him back.
No matter what youve done, Im always going to look after you. You dont have to smile. You dont have to love me or return the favour. I am here.
It was a terrific speech, if a little late considering what shed done earlier in this episode and the two preceding it.
Trying to talk to his mother about what happened with Isabel, Tom looked crushed and ashamed. Its s**t. Im s**t. Maybe I should leave, he suggested.
Sort it out: Hopefully the new owners will clean the kitchen worktop before they eat their first meal there
We're gone: She sent Simon a text - you win were gone and a photo of the FOR SALE sign outside her house
We could go together, Gemma responded. Youre going to have to trust me OK?
Before we knew it, like an old 90s Nescafe advert, they were driving away from Parminster leaving her practice, her friends, and of course her vile, conniving, ex-husband.
She sent Simon a text - you win were gone and a photo of the FOR SALE sign outside her house.
Hopefully the new owners will clean the kitchen worktop before they eat their first meal there.
Thoroughly.
On Tuesday, Warner Bros. Pictures dropped the first trailer for the Tomb Raider prequel starring Oscar winner Alicia Vikander as adventurer extraordinaire Lara Croft.
Roar Uthaug's action-packed flick - hitting US/UK theaters March 16 - is technically set prior to the two previous Tomb Raider video game adaptations starring Oscar winner Angelina Jolie.
This time, the Swedish sensation - who turns 29 next month - travels to a remote island to investigate the mysterious death of her famous adventurer father, Lord Richard Croft.
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Taking aim: On Tuesday, Warner Bros. Pictures dropped the first trailer for the Tomb Raider prequel starring Oscar winner Alicia Vikander as adventurer extraordinaire Lara Croft
Lara leaves her life as a broke college student in East London behind to seek adventure in a fabled tomb just off the coast of Japan.
The story is set in motion as Lara has to confront the truth that her father is gone and he has left a mysterious key for her in a will.
She soon finds a video that tells her of his demise and of a secret tomb called Mother of Death.
The fate of the entire world rests in her hands as it is up to Lara to find the tomb before an enemy known as Trinity can find it.
The O.G.: Roar Uthaug's action-packed flick - hitting US/UK theaters March 16 - is technically set prior to the two previous Tomb Raider video game adaptations starring Oscar winner Angelina Jolie
Locked and loaded: This time, the Swedish sensation - who turns 29 next month - travels to a remote island to investigate the mysterious death of her famous adventurer father, Lord Richard Croft
Boss: Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient) makes an appearance in the trailer as a corporate executive who hands over possessions belonging to Lara's father
Puzzling: Puzzles are featured heavily as the movie is based on a video game
As she boards a vessel to take her to a dangerous part of the ocean, she tells her shipmate: 'It'll be an adventure.'
The worried traveler replies: 'Death is not an adventure'.
The trailer offers up an exciting glimpse to the action heavy vehicle - and possible franchise - for the talented Vikander.
Missing piece: Lara finds a key to unravel her father's mysteries
Findings: She soon finds a video that tells her of his demise and of a secret tomb called Mother of Death
Co-star: The film also stars Dominic West (The Wire) as Lara's father
Warning: As she boards a vessel to take her to a dangerous part of the ocean, she tells her shipmate: 'It'll be an adventure'
Leap of faith: Lara Croft is seen jumping from a capsizing boat
Lara is seen jumping from a capsizing boat, escaping a plane that is splintering in half, and dodging swinging blades as she slides across an underground hallway.
At one point, Lara races through the jungle and quickly shoots an arrow from her bow killing an enemy instantly.
Afterwards, she is shot trying to cross a log bridge and falls from a dizzying height into a raging river.
Underwater peril: Lara is dragged underwater for a copious amount of time
Explosive: Enemy camps are in hot water
Villianous: Walton Goggins (Sons of Anarchy) is the villain
Plane trouble: Lara is seen escaping a plane that is splintering in half
Flexible! When the Light Between Oceans actress wasn't doing her own stunts she relied on the skill of four doubles - Heidi Dickson, Jessica Hooker, Lucy Jayne Murray, and Fleur van Eeden
The trailer ends on a hilarious not as Lara is shown in a pawn shop where she is looking at the large arsenal and states to the owner: 'I'll take two.'
The film also stars Dominic West (The Wire) as Lara's father, Walton Goggins (Sons of Anarchy) as the villain, and Daniel Wu (Warcraft) as a ship captain who works with Lara on her adventure.
Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient) also makes an appearance in the trailer as a corporate executive who hands over possessions belonging to Lara's father.
Alicia's tiny tank top revealed incredibly defined arm and back muscles, thanks to seven solid months under the instruction of trainer Magnus Lygdback
Former hockey player: Magnus told SELF he put Vikander on a nutrition plan and worked full-time with her six days a week for four months doing heavy lifting, climbing, boxing, and MMA
Ballerina: The Jason Bourne actress already possessed disciplined physicality from her years as a principal dancer, even training one summer at the School of American Ballet in Manhattan
When the Light Between Oceans actress wasn't doing her own stunts she relied on the skill of four doubles - Heidi Dickson, Jessica Hooker, Lucy Jayne Murray, and Fleur van Eeden.
Alicia's tiny tank top revealed incredibly defined arm and back muscles, thanks to seven solid months under the instruction of trainer Magnus Lygdback.
The former hockey player told SELF he put Vikander on a muscle-building nutrition plan and worked full-time with her six days a week for four months doing heavy lifting, climbing, boxing, and MMA.
The Jason Bourne actress already possessed disciplined physicality from her years as a principal ballet dancer, even training one summer at the School of American Ballet in Manhattan.
She's currently celebrating ten years in television as her family reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians marks a decade of being on screen.
But appearing to come over all camera shy, Kim Kardashian, 36, was keen to keep herself hidden as she made a quick exit from a friend's birthday dinner at Madeo in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.
The glamorous reality star was seen hiding her face behind her hand as she made her way into a waiting car at the end of the evening.
Coming over all coy? Kim Kardashian, 36, seemed keen not to draw attention to herself as she hid behind her hand while making a quick exit from Madeo restaurant in LA on Tuesday night
Clad in a leather jacket, Kim seemed to want to avoid attention as she slipped away from the Italian eatery solo.
She stole a look at her newly dyed platinum blonde locks that she wore down to fall past her shoulders in a poker straight style, while parted at the centre.
The mother-of-three was closely followed by her sister Kourtney who, unlike her sibling, ensured all eyes were on her as she put on a leggy and gorgeous display for their low-key dinner date.
Turning heads in an Oriental-inspired frock, Kourtney stunned in a thigh-skimming silver mini dress featuring long, wide sleeves and a high neckline.
Family affair: She was joined by her sister Kourtney, who, unlike her sibling, ensured all eyes were on her as she put on a leggy and gorgeous display for their low-key dinner date
Leggy: The reality star, 38, looked sensational in a silky Oriental-inspired frock that left her slender pins on full view
Its silky material boasted a black trim and was emblazoned with several pretty and sparkling colourful leaf and bird motifs.
Kourtney teamed her flirty frock with a pair of metallic ankle sandals to add some height to her 5ft frame and the reality stalwart kept it simple on the beauty front, leaving her long naturally dark tresses loose and tumbling in beachy waves down her back.
She let her flawless complexion shine through by opting for a matte foundation and minimal make-up, rather than a glammed up red carpet look.
Her perfectly groomed brows were off-set by a simple dash of mascara and slick of pink lipstick.
Nothing to see here: Kim slipped into the backseat of her waiting vehicle and made sure to keep her face concealed
Giveaway: She stole a look at her newly dyed platinum blonde locks that she wore down to fall past her shoulders in a poker straight style, while parted at the centre
Low-key exit: The glamourous mother-of-three who favoured an all black ensemble was escorted home by a male driver
Adding height: Kourtney teamed her flirty frock with a pair of metallic ankle sandals to add some height to her 5ft frame
Minimal: on the beauty front, the reality stalwart kept it simple, leaving her long naturally dark tresses loose and tumbling in beachy waves down her back
Kourtney carried her essentials for the night in a simple black handbag and appeared to be clutching a folded square of yellow paper.
The star appeared eager to avoid the limelight as she arrived for dinner, holding her hand over her face and allowing her sheet of dark hair to fall forward and obscure her face.
She almost suffered a wardrobe malfunction while pushing through the restaurant door, after bending over and causing her short hemline to ride up, nearly flashing a glimpse of her bum.
I'm here! Kourtney no doubt surprised a few diners when she pulled open the restaurant's heavy wooden door and stepped inside
No pictures! The star appeared eager to avoid the limelight as she arrived for dinner, holding her hand over her face and allowing her sheet of dark hair to fall forward and obscure her face
Heading home: Unlike Kim, Kourtney was seen taking herself home from the restaurant in her lavish ride
Flying solo! The mother-of-three was without her children; daughter Penelope and sons Mason and Reign, whom she shares with her former beau Scott Disick
Check out her whip! Kourtney made for a stylish display in her plush Aston Martin sports car
It's been a time of celebration for the whole Kardashian family as they mark ten years since their E! reality show first hit screens.
Keeping Up With The Kardashians debuted back in 2007 and made household names of Kourtney, her sisters Kim, Khloe, Kendall and Kylie, mum Kris, and stepdad Caitlyn, who transitioned from Bruce in 2015.
The show has now run for 13 series and spawned ten spinoff programmes including Kourtney & Kim Take Miami!, Rob & Chyna and Khloe & Lamar, not to mention Kim's Fairytale Wedding which documented Kim's short-lived marriage to second husband Kris Humphries.
Ten year birthday: Kourtney, pictured with sisters Kim and Khloe, is celebrating 10 years on TV with KUWTK marking its decade on screen
A 14th series is on the way alongside a special episode looking back on the best moments over the last ten years.
And Kris, 61, recently told The Hollywood Reporter she saw the programme running for many more years to come.
'When we first started, I jokingly said, "We'll be on season 32, Kylie gets married", she laughed.
'I was kidding, and here we are, and it's season 14, so be careful what you wish for!'
She's riding on the coattails of her boyfriend Stormzy's music success.
Yet Maya Jama was at Rihanna's Fenty Beauty launch solo, with her beau no-where to be seen, on Tuesday night.
Having been making her way around London Fashion Week over the past few day the 23-year-old threw on a sparkling silver long-sleeved top, toning this glam down a little with a pair of blue jeans.
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Solo: Maya Jama glimmers in a silver top and jeans as she hits the Fenty Beauty show at London Fashion Week without her boyfriend Stormzy
The jeans were cut-off at the ankles and a little frayed, and she completed the outfit with white trainers.
The ensemble was modest yet still hinted at her enviable figure.
Keeping her accessories low-key, Maya donned a few rings and let her cream clutch bag do the talking.
She kept her make-up fresh and natural, with a lick of gloss on her pout and swish of mascara on her eyes.
Cute couple: Sarah Jane Crawford joined Maya at the event, wearing similar sparkles
She wore her raven mane in a light wave, loosely around her shoulders.
Maya's outing comes after she candidly discussed her upbringing with a convict father on ITV's Loose Women.
The presenter revealed that her father had been in jail since she was three - and admitted she stopped talking to him as she was 'fed up' of him doing 'bad things.'
Proving to be a supportive beau, Stormzy was quick to praise her bravery - tweeting: 'Maya Jama on Loose Women right now' followed by a crown emoji.
Queen of LFW: Maya, who is of Swedish and Somali descent, is also a presenter
Party time: Later she was seen exiting the London venue
4Music host Maya appeared on Loose Women to talk about her 5STAR documentary, titled When Dad Kills: Murdered in the Family - which explores how children are affected if they have a parent in jail.
Revealing her own experience, she said: 'My dad has been in jail since I was three and I broke contact when I was 10.'
Maya, who is of Swedish and Somali descent, added that she was lucky because her dad's sisters supported her, as did her step-dad - who her mother married when she was seven.
'My earliest memory is around five when I was visiting him in prison. It was a bit weird, I had a super supportive family around me, I had a stepdad. I never really felt like I was missing out.'
Strike a pose: She let her cream and black clutch bag do the talking
Fashionista pals: (L-R) Maya Jama joined Bip Ling and other guests at the party
Out and about: Maya took to social media to post herself at a club this week
Act natural: She followed this up with some pre-bed glamour shots for good measure
She wrote an open letter to Kim Kardashian last week, requesting her to stop wearing fur.
And Pamela Anderson continued to relay her passionate message to the popular reality star as she appeared on Wednesday's episode of Good Morning Britain.
The former Baywatch star, 50, detailed her letter to the Kim further, admitting that 'while she has a great heart, she should chose not to wear fur' - before giving a very hazy response when asked about her relationship with Julian Assange.
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Passionate: Pamela Anderson, 50, continued to urge Kim Kardashian to stop wearing fur as she appeared on Wednesday's episode of Good Morning Britain
The conversation started with a clearly enthralled host Piers Morgan asking Pamela how she 'preserved' herself, given that she was only two years younger than him.
'Im vegan! I dont eat meat,' Pamela immediately replied, before continuing: 'Its bad for the environment. Im not a dictator though, but I try to do the best I can.'
Talk quickly turned to Kim, 36, who has been known to wear fur on numerous occasion - much to the dismay of Pamela, who recently wrote her the impassioned letter.
'I think sometimes activism can be annoying,' Pamela noted.
She continued: 'Kim has a great heart but shes an influencer with millions of followers, and she should chose not to wear fur.
Fur real? Talk quickly turned to reality star Kim, 36, who has been known to wear fur on numerous occasion - much to the dismay of Pamela, who recently wrote her the impassioned letter
'Can one man have it all?' Pamela went on to give a very hazy response when asked about her relationship with Julian Assange
Explaining: The former Baywatch star detailed her letter to the Kim further, admitting that 'while she has a great heart, she should chose not to wear fur'
'But you shouldnt be cruel to someone when youre telling them not to cruel. I wrote her a letter but I've had no response yet.
'I've also talked to Melania (Trump) as well to dress more compassionately,' Pamela revealed, making emphasis that Kim wasn't the only person she had targeted.
Last week, Pamela, who is best known for starring with David Hasselhoff on Baywatch and for posing for the cover of Playboy, wrote Kim a letter, which began: 'Dear Kim, It was lovely seeing you at New York Fashion Week.
'I've had the pleasure of getting to know you over the years, and I can tell you're a good person with a big, beautiful heart.'
'You shouldnt be cruel to someone when youre telling them not to cruel': Pamela did add that she takes it easy when spreading her message
'Swear off fur': Last week, Pamela, who is best known for starring with David Hasselhoff on Baywatch and for posing for the cover of Playboy, wrote Kim an letter requesting her not to wear fur
'I wrote her a letter but I've had no response yet': Pamela confessed that Kim has yet to reply to her letter
She added: 'I'm writing to ask you to extend your compassion to real fashion victims- the animals who are violently killed in the fur trade -by swearing off fur this winter.'
The blonde siren then said: 'I think you'd be horrified to learn that every single fur farm that PETA has exposed has been beyond cruel.
'Investigators have witnessed and documented that foxes are electrocuted, dogs are bludgeoned to death, and raccoon dogs are skinned alive.'
Anderson went into detail about how the animals are not treated well and then wrote: 'Times are changing, though.
'I've also talked to Melania (Trump) as well to dress more compassionately': Pamela also made emphasis that Kim wasn't the only person she had targeted
Fabulous: Pamela looked sensational herself on the morning talk show in a skin-tight one-piece which flaunted her fabulous frame
Any romance? Pamela asked by an incredibly intrigued Piers about her involvement with Julian Assange
'Gisele Bundchen made a bold statement against fur on the cover of Vogue Paris earlier this summer, and Austria, Croatia, the Netherlands, Slovenia, the U.K., and other nations have taken a stand against cruelty by abolishing all fur farms.'
She then brought in the FLOTUS: 'First lady and former fur-wearer Melania Trump recently swore off fur, following in the footsteps of so many fashion icons and first ladies."
The pinup then got personal: 'You know I love you, and you can be a hero for animals as well as a great example to all your beautiful followers by swearing off fur. Please do the right thing. You'd be praised all over the world, including by my close friends at PETA.'
'Were friendly, yes. Very friendly': She suddenly became incredibly coy and awkward when asked if she was in a romance with Julian
Speaking highly of Julian, she revealed: 'Hes one of the most interesting people Ive ever met. Hes very brave. And then theres nothing sexier than courage'
Meanwhile, Pamela was also asked by an incredibly intrigued Piers about her involvement with Julian Assange.
She suddenly became incredibly coy and awkward when asked if she was in a romance with him.
'Everywhere I go I have a romantic adventure. Were friendly, yes. Very friendly. I love Julian. Hes one of the most interesting people Ive ever met. Hes very brave. And then theres nothing sexier than courage,' she admitted.
Piers then directly asked her again if she was romantically involved with Julian: 'I wouldnt call it romance. I have romance in my life. Can one man do it all? Thats what I want to know. One for conversation, one to be a lover. Im very lucky.'
Asked if she was in love with Julian, Pamela replied: 'I love him. No. I have a romantic partner.'
Controvesial: Julian has been living in self-imposed exile at the Ecuadorian Embassy since June 19 2012, believing he will be extradited to the United States for questioning over the activities of WikiLeaks if he leaves
'I wouldnt call it romance. I have romance in my life. Can one man do it all?' Piers then directly asked her again if she was romantically involved with Julian
Beaming Pamela also replied: 'Im in love now and I forget the past. I live day to day. Im happy now.'
Julian has been living in self-imposed exile at the Ecuadorian Embassy since June 19 2012, believing he will be extradited to the United States for questioning over the activities of WikiLeaks if he leaves.
Proving to be quite an in-depth interview, Pamela was also asked if she would refer to herself as a feminist.
'I don't like labels': Proving to be quite an in-depth interview, Pamela was also asked if she would refer to herself as a feminist
Clearly confident in her self-believe and views, Pamela admitted: 'I dont want a man or a woman to tell me how to be a women'
'It's about human interaction': Pamela also detailed her new book, The Sensual Revolution: Awakening the Erotic Mind, which is set for release next year
'I dont like labels. I dont want a man or a woman to tell me how to be a women. I enjoy being sexy and a mum and all those feminine things.
Pamela also detailed her new book, The Sensual Revolution: Awakening the Erotic Mind, which is set for release next year.
'It's about human interaction and how we shouldn't forget how to make love. Nowadays, people's self worth is based on how many likes and followers they have.
'Girls are tough on each other. Bullying is easier when you dont have to face someone. I always talk to my children to respect women. If they disrespect women, they disrespect me,' the blonde bombshell continued.
'If they disrespect women, they disrespect me!' The blonde bombshell admitted on GMB that she teaches her two boys 'respect'
Wow: Pamela made an incredibly stunning getaway as she strutted to an awaiting vehicle in towering black heels
He's known for his stint on Coronation Street playing Jason Grimshaw on the ITV soap stalwart.
And since leaving the cobbles in 2016, Ryan Thomas, 33, appears to be rubbing shoulders with the biggest names in Hollywood as he shared his surprising new celebrity pal Kim Kardashian.
During his recent trip to Los Angeles, the Manchurian actor hinted that he had been hanging out with the E! reality star alongside his pal and PrettyLittleThing CEO Umar Kamani in a candid Instagram on Tuesday.
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Rubbing shoulders: Ryan Thomas, 33, appears to be rubbing shoulders with the biggest names in Hollywood as he shared his surprising new celebrity pal Kim Kardashian
Snap happy: Although he wasn't in the snap, the soap star - who has been trying to make it in America - shared the picture of the platinum-haired beauty and tech mogul alongside his friend in the plush surroundings
Although he wasn't in the snap, the soap star shared the picture of the platinum-haired beauty alongside his friend in the plush surroundings to his 393,000 followers with little engagement - hinting that they were left speechless by his chance meeting.
Captioning the photo, he wrote: 'Today's office @prettylittlething #losangeles #kardashians @umarkamani'.
The Bear Grylls' Celebrity Island contestant however confused his followers as he shared a number of videos of him in a UK gym with his younger brother Scott of Love Island fame, leaving it unclear whether the photo was taken during his trip or after.
MailOnline have contacted Ryan Thomas' rep for comment.
Ryan - who is currently dating Towie's Lucy Mecklenburgh - wasn't the only brother to gush over their friend's meeting as he posted a gushing tribute to his hard-working friend Umar.
Proud: Reposting his fashion entrepreneur's selfie, Scott - who recently split from girlfriend Kady McDermott - wrote: 'I'm sorry but this s*** deserves a post!
Reposting his fashion entrepreneur's selfie, Scott - who recently split from girlfriend Kady McDermott - wrote: 'I'm sorry but this s*** deserves a post!
'I remember when this kid picked the name PrettyLittleThing.com and looked me dead in the eyes and told me without fail his company would be a multi million pound company within 5 years!
Adding: 'I will never forget how serious he was and his own self belief! Stays with me to this day and drives me forward! Proud of you brother! Big moves'.
PrettyLittleThing has previously been linked to the Kardashians after Kim's younger sister Kylie Jenner, 19, sent fashion fiends into a tizzy over wearing a wallet-friendly orange dress from the brand during their stateside launch party in 2016.
Frenzy: PrettyLittleThing has previously been linked to the Kardashians after Kim's younger sister Kylie Jenner, 19, sent fashion fiends into a tizzy over wearing a wallet-friendly orange dress from the brand during their stateside launch party in 2016
Dashing: Elsewhere, Ryan flaunted his relationship with new squeeze Lucy Mecklenburgh at the fashion CEO's brother Adam's lavish wedding in Lake Como alongside his dashing siblings
Continuing the relationship with America's first family, Kylie's good pal Stassie Karanikolaou was also the face of the online retailer's Shape campaign.
Elsewhere, Ryan flaunted his relationship with new squeeze Lucy Mecklenburgh at the fashion CEO's brother Adam's lavish wedding in Lake Como alongside his dashing siblings.
Meanwhile, TV viewers are now witnessing the moment Lucy and Ryan first met, as their reality show, Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls, has just started airing on Channel 4.
The look of love: the brunette beauty gazed at her actor boyfriend Ryan Thomas in an intimate image shared to Instagram with the caption, 'with my favourite'
Filmed back in April, the survival show caught the moment the smitten pair shared their first kiss on the beach after being thrust together under extreme circumstances.
And it looks like the bond between the two quickly built, as a preview clip featured Ryan saying: 'We need each other.'
Lucy and Ryan - - who recently landed a role on Aussie soap Neighbours - went public with their relationship during Wimbledon in July after sending tongues wagging after uploading photos from the same destination while on holiday.
She's frequently seen wearing designer gowns at glamorous parties and red carpet events.
But busty glamour model Rhian Sugden, 31, has proven she likes a bargain as much as the next person, after going on a huge shopping spree in budget fashion chain Primark.
And clearly keen to show off her new wares, the brunette beauty slipped into one of her new underwear sets for a sizzling selfie posted to Instagram.
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Busty beauty: model Rhian Sugden, 31, couldn't resist flaunting her ample assets and toned body in a Primark lacy bodysuit after splashing 100 on 78 different outfits during a spree at the budget fashion store
The curvy star couldn't resist stripping down on social media to show off her brand new lacy black bodysuit with an eye-poppingly plunging neckline.
Flaunting her impressive cleavage for fans, the sexy star pouted up a storm as she snapped a cheeky picture of her bedroom attire after getting home from her shopping session.
The one-piece boasted a split to the naval, drawing attention to Rhian's ample assets and flat stomach, while the halterneck cut highlighted her gym-honed arms and toned shoulders.
Although it appeared to be an impromptu snap to show off her new purchases, the star still managed to be all glammed up.
As well as sporting an eye-catching hot pink manicure, she boasted an enviable all-over tanned glow, soft eye make-up and pretty pink pout.
Her newly-dyed brunette tresses were tied back from her face in a messy updo, with a few strands kept loose to frame her face.
Model figure: the busty brunette is no stranger to sharing sexy snaps to social media
'Forgot how good Primark is!' Rhian couldn't resist boasting about her purchases, telling fans she'd spent 100 and got 78 different outfits
Primark fan: she wore a blue raincoat from the high street store back in 2015 while attending a muddy festival
Rhian told fans: 'Forgot how good Primark is! Just spent 100 and got 78 outfits!'
And it's not the first time she's bigged up the high street store on social media: back in 2015 she wore a blue raincoat from the chain while attending a muddy music festival.
The model recently dyed her platinum blonde locks a dark brown colour - but her image change didn't go down well with everyone, as Rhian revealed on social media she'd been subjected to cruel trolling over her hair colour.
Rhian ranted on Instagram stories: 'People messaging me saying... eurgh prefer you blonde... I've got brown hair now... your opinion is void!'
She ended it by stating: 'Not a**ed hum.
Image change: the model recently dyed her platinum blonde locks a dark brown colour - but her image change didn't go down well with everyone, as Rhian revealed on social media she'd been subjected to cruel trolling over her hair colour
Blonde bombshell: she previously had platinum hair and has said everyone's opinion about her hair colour is 'void' to her
Date night: Rhian has been happily engaged to ex Coronation Street star Oliver Mellor since 2014.
Rhian has been happily engaged to ex Coronation Street star Oliver Mellor since 2014.
He proposed to her by getting down on one knee in front of a packed audience at the Manchester Opera House after performing his stage show Black Coffee at the venue.
The beauty first found fame as a model but achieved new heights of fame after she was caught in a sexting scandal with married DJ, Vernon Kay.
Stunning: Rhian looked fabulous as she hit the town two days ago in a skimpy black frock and electric blue heels
Vernon was famously forced to make a public apology to his wife Tess Daly on Radio 1 back in 2010 after a set of saucy messages to Rhian emerged.
The father-of-two went on to promise live on air that he would no longer contact Rhian or the four other women he had been caught messaging at the time.
It was then revealed the pair had got back in touch in 2015 and had been exchanging text messages.
However, Vernon claimed that his WhatsApp messages asking Rhian to meet had been taken out of context, that he had done 'nothing wrong' and that his wife was completely aware of all contact.
She's the blonde bombshell who's on a quest to find lasting love.
And on Wednesday night's premiere episode of The Bachelorette, Sophie Monk revealed she has a specific type of man in mind.
'I'm looking for someone that's like my Dad', the 37-year-old star candidly revealed.
Daddy's girl! On Wednesday night's premiere episode of The Bachelorette, Sophie Monk revealed she's looking for a man with her father's qualities
Sophie quickly clarified that she wants a man with her father's qualities, rather than someone with his looks, adding: 'I want [someone] handsomer'.
The Queensland-raised stunner gushed about her Dad, stating that he is 'the man of the family, always there. But still masculine, but then can be emotional with women.'
She also noted her father's loyalty, as she paid a visit to her family's home on the Gold Coast.
'I want handsomer': Sophie joked she was looking for a more attractive man than her Dad
The blonde revealed her parents have been married for a whopping 43 years, and are still 'extremely' happy.
'They make each other laugh all the time. What more can you ask for? I'd love to have what my parents have', Sophie revealed.
The actress, who previously spent years living in Los Angeles, went on to say she craved the 'normality' of her parents' marriage.
'All I want is normality': Sophie took a trip home to the Gold Coast as she revealed everyone in Hollywood is 'depressed'
'It's so funny how everyone aspires to go Hollywood, money, fame,' she said.
'You get there and I'm like,' All of you are depressed and want to be everyone else'. All I want is normality'.
The pop star has previously been unlucky in love, with a string of failed high-profile romances.
The legendary Diana Ross easily defied her 73 years as she sweetly held hands with one of her four grandchildren on the way to Hama Sushi in Venice Beach on Tuesday.
The Grammy winner's daughter-in-law Ashlee Simpson Ross-Nss - who's married to her son Evan - was also at the restaurant cradling her two-year-old daughter Jagger.
The 32-year-old mother-of-two told Us Weekly earlier this month that 'life's good' and that her little princess is currently 'running around like crazy and starting to talk.'
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Isn't she grand? The legendary Diana Ross easily defied her 73 years as she sweetly held hands with one of her four grandchildren on the way to Hama Sushi in Venice Beach on Tuesday
Mickey Mouse fan: The Grammy winner's daughter-in-law Ashlee Simpson Ross-Nss - who's married to her son Evan - was also at the restaurant cradling her two-year-old daughter Jagger
Following her 180-date In the Name of Love Tour, Diana will next kick off her nine-date Las Vegas residency at the Wynn's Encore Theater on October 11.
Simpson and her second husband - turning 30 next Tuesday - celebrated their third wedding anniversary on August 30.
The nepotistically-privileged pair were honored by Operation Smile on September 9, which has provided over 200K free surgeries to young people with facial deformities.
Ashlee's big sister Jessica has been a longtime ambassador of the non-profit organization.
The 32-year-old mother-of-two told Us Weekly earlier this month that 'life's good' and that her little princess is currently 'running around like crazy and starting to talk'
Still going strong! Following her 180-date In the Name of Love Tour, Diana will next kick off her nine-date Las Vegas residency at the Wynn's Encore Theater on October 11 (pictured May 25)
Meanwhile, the former reality star's eight-year-old son Bronx (with first husband Pete Wentz) just started the third grade.
Simpson and Evan have been recording a collaborative 'soulful, fun, and reflective' album (with Grammy-winning hitmaker Dallas Austin and songwriter Naz Tokio).
'This way we can tour together! I'm definitely excited. I love working with my husband,' the platinum blonde Texan told Us Weekly back in December.
Philanthropists: Simpson and her second husband - turning 30 next Tuesday - were honored by Operation Smile on September 9, which has provided over 200K free surgeries to young people with facial deformities
Remarried with three-year-old son Saint (L): Meanwhile, the former reality star's eight-year-old son Bronx (R, with first husband Pete Wentz) just started the third grade
'I think being a mom kind of took the place of [music], definitely. We're doing this - before [having] the next baby!'
The Space Dogs actress - who infamously lip-synced on SNL in 2004 - hasn't released a record since her third studio album Bittersweet World way back in 2008.
And the Hunger Games alum will next play Angel Rivera on the October 4 episode, titled 'Insecure,' of Fox series Star alongside Paris Jackson as Rachel.
'Get ready!' The Hunger Games alum will next play Angel Rivera on the October 4 episode, titled 'Insecure,' of Fox series Star alongside Paris Jackson as Rachel
She's the Spanish-born actress and model, and wife of Thor star Chris Hemsworth.
And Elsa Pataky stunned at a campaign for Women's Secret in Madrid, Spain, on Wednesday.
The 41-year-old flaunted her cleavage in a sheer burgundy top, teamed with a metallic silver mini-skirt that showed off her lean legs.
Racy in lace! Spanish actress Elsa Pataky, 41, flaunted her cleavage in a sheer burgundy top at a red carpet appearance in Madrid, Spain, on Wednesday
Elsa looked sensational as she posed for photos in front of the media wall.
The mother-of-three sported a burgundy lace top that showed off her cleavage in a push-up bra.
Teaming the look with a metallic silver mini-skirt, Elsa also drew the eye to her trim pins.
Showing off her penchant for style, The Fate of the Furious star accessorised with burgundy velvet strappy heels, delicate gold jewels and her sparkling wedding ring.
Stunning: Elsa looked sensational as she posed for photos in front of the media wall
Daring: The mother-of-three sported a burgundy lace top that showed off her cleavage in a push-up bra
Lean: Teaming the look with a metallic silver mini-skirt, Elsa also drew the eye to her trim pins
Elsa had her shoulder-length blonde locks styled in soft waves, framing her face.
The beauty's makeup palette consisted of a flawless complexion, defined brows, lashings of mascara and a glossy pink lip.
Looking to be in high spirits, Elsa posed up a storm, turning for the camera to show off her toned back and pert derriere.
Coordinating: The Fate of the Furious star elongated her frame with a pair of burgundy velvet strappy heels
Posing up a storm: Elsa turned for the camera, allowing a glimpse of her toned back
Tressed to perfection: The blonde beauty styled her shoulder-length locks in soft waves
The Madrid-born personality took to Instagram on Tuesday, sharing her enthusiasm in returning to her hometown.
A picture that saw Elsa enjoying a casual stroll was captioned both in Spanish and English: 'Happy to be in my home town madrid.'
The social media sensation sported a bohemian-style maxi-skirt, grungy T-shirt, leather jacket, ankle boots and reflective aviator sunglasses.
In profile: Elsa's makeup palette consisted of a flawless complexion, defined brows, lashings of mascara and a glossy pink lip
Whirlwind trip: The model has returned to her hometown of Madrid, Spain, for a slew of work-related appearances
Online: Elsa took to her Instagram account on Tuesday, sharing her enthusiasm in returning to her hometown
Elsa is the wife of Australian actor Chris Hemsworth, the couple tying the knot in 2010.
The pair share three children together, daughter India Rose, five, and twin sons Tristan and Sasha, three.
The family reside in Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia.
High-profile: The social media sensation is the wife of Thor star Chris Hemsworth, the couple tying the knot in 2010
Shes made millions from her career modelling in front of the camera.
And Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has been keeping a low profile since the birth of her first child, Jack Oscar, just three months ago.
But the 30-year-old treated herself to a night out with friends and headed to Matsuhisa restaurant in Los Angeles on Tuesday night, wearing a pair of very sexy boots.
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These boots were made for walking: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley enjoyed a rare night out at Matsuhisa restaurant in LA on Tuesday night, three months after the birth of her first son, Jack Oscar
The supermodel, who is engaged to Hollywood actor Jason Statham, looked incredible in her sexy footwear as she sashayed down the sidewalk.
She teamed them with a low-key pair of black jeans which she tucked inside.
To complement her casual look she wore a dressed down denim jacket over a skinny black Saint Laurent T-shirt.
A dream in denim: The supermodel wore a dress-down jacket with a Saint Laurent shirt and skinny black jeans to accentuate her knockout figure
The Devon-born beauty announced that she was pregnant in February 2016.
She announced the arrival of her baby's birth on Instagram in June, when she shared a photograph of herself holding hands with her new-born baby.
She captioned it with the words: 'Our little man arrived! Jack Oscar Statham 8.8lbs on Saturday June 24th'.
Sweet: The model announced her exciting news with a sweet Instagram photo at the time, gushing to her followers: 'Our little man arrived! Jack Oscar Statham 8.8lbs on Saturday June 24th'
First child: The 30-year-old announced her pregnancy in February, after dating fiance Jason for seven years, sharing a bikini photo on Instagram
Working hard: The model continued her work throughout her pregnancy, sharing a candid snap in May as she joked: 'When the bathroom becomes your office'
The English rose hasn't been hiding her pregnancy on social media, regularly snapping herself on Instagram proudly showing off her baby bump.
In August she teamed up with the Denim brand Paige for the sixth-season in a row.
The images were shot in Chateau Marmont in Hollywood while she was still four months pregnant, and it was her first campaign to be released since giving birth.
As the face of the brand she wore a pair of blue jeans with turned up bottoms from Paiges Fall/Winter 17 collection.
Johnny Depp, 54, has been accused of 'throwing his family under the bus' in a multi-million dollar legal dispute against his former management company, The Management Group.
And TMG have now amended their complaint by responding to the loan aspect of Johnny's suit and named his sister Christi Dembrowski - who serves as her famous brother's personal manager and head of his production company - nephew William Rassel, personal assistant Nathan Holmes, Unison Music and friends James Russo, Sal Jenco, and Bruce Witkin as cross-defendants to the cross-complaint.
In legal documents obtained by Deadline, the management company said: 'In his attempt to avoid paying his debts to TMG, Depp is knowingly throwing his closest family, friends and employees under the bus.'
Johnny Depp, 54, has been accused of 'throwing his family under the bus' in a multi-million dollar legal dispute against his former management company, The Management Group; seen at Glastonbury Festival in June
It was added: 'He is falsely alleging that they took millions of dollars in unauthorized payments from him.
'It is no wonder that Depp delayed for months in revealing their names.'
The company's argument is that if Johnny wants the money back that they loaned out on his behalf, he is suing the wrong people, and under California's equitable indemnity laws, a judge could make his friends and family pay back the money directly to the Pirates of the Caribbean star.
Family affair: Johnny chats with his sister Christi Dembrowski on the set of his 2014 film Mortdecai, which the siblings co-produced together
The amendment adds: 'Depp's claims of unauthorized loans to the new Cross-Defendants are not a basis for Depp to obtain a judicial declaration requiring the disgorgement of any business management fees from TMG, or for any of his other baseless claims.
'Depp's closest friends, family, and colleagues who have been added as new Cross-Defendants in this action have only Depp to blame for their involvement in this charade.'
TMG insists the loans were authorized by the Lone Ranger star, or his sister acting on his behalf.
Business: Johnny Depp with sister Christi Dembrowski as he talks to filmmaker John Waters during a party for the film Ed Wood at the Cannes Film Festival in France in 1995
A trial for the case is set to start on August 15, 2018.
The Edward Scissorhands actor accused TMG of mismanaging his affairs by means of 'gross misconduct', 'fraudulent' self- activity, and unauthorized personal loans at the beginning of 2017, and filed a suit for more than $25 million against the group.
In return, the company argued their former client owed them money for unpaid services and released details about his lavish spending and warnings they had given him.
Young stars: Also named was Sal Jenco, who is seen here along with Peter DeLuise, Holly Robinson, Dustin Nguyen, Depp and Steven Wililams in 1987
The Hollywood star began dating Amber Heard in 2012 after splitting from ex Vanessa Paradis, after which they married in a private ceremony in 2015.
Amber filed for divorce in May last year and five days later obtained a restraining order stating in court that: 'During the entirety of our relationship, Johnny has been verbally and physically abusive to me'.
Johnny's lawyer denied Amber's allegations.
The Hollywood star began dating Amber Heard in 2012 after splitting from ex Vanessa Paradis, after which they married in a private ceremony in 2015
After a convoluted and bitter battle, the couple settled on $7 million which Amber donated to the Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the American Civil Liberties Union.
Following the settlement, they released a joint statement reading: 'The relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love. Neither party has made false accusations for financial gain. There was never any intent of physical or emotional harm.'
In December, Amber filed a Request for Order at the Los Angeles Superior Court, due to the fact Johnny had failed to meet the requirements of the settlement. His attorney filed papers disputing this after which they settled in January.
She found herself inundated with compliments about her peachy posterior while parading around in a bikini on the third series of Love Island.
But while she admits she still has body hang-ups, despite her incredibly gym-honed physique, Montana Brown is a firm believer of being 'happy in your own skin' and has slammed those who turn to cosmetic surgery to alter their image.
Bucking the trend that has seen a slew of reality stars go under the knife, the reality star has exclusively told MailOnline that she thinks turning to surgery is 'just not good' and sets a bad example for younger fans.
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'It's just not good': Montana Brown has exclusively told MailOnline she doesn't think celebs should turn to cosmetic surgery as it sets a bad example for younger fans
Often plagued by their own insecurities when it comes to their appearance, many celebrities have turned to cosmetic procedures to boost their confidence, whether it be enhancing their busts with a breast enlargement or correcting a bump in their nose with rhinoplasty surgery.
Charlotte Crosby, Chloe Ferry, Mario Falcone, Ferne McCann and, most recently, James Arg Argent opted for the same procedure to alter the shape of their nose following years of feeling unhappy with it, with them all praising their finished results.
Similiarly, Vicky Pattison and Jessica Wright chose to increase their chest size, while Casey Batchelor sought out reductive surgery, after growing 'insecure' about her 32GG cup size.
But taking a firm stance when it comes to cosmetic work, Montana has made her feelings clear and insisted it shouldn't be the first thing you turn to change yourself.
Apparent trend: A slew of reality stars including the likes of Charlotte Crosby and Vicky Pattison have dabbled in cosmetic surgery to boost their body confidence
Vocal: Taking a firm stance when it comes to cosmetic work, Love Island beauty Montana has made her feelings clear and insisted it shouldn't be the first thing you turn to change yourself
She said: 'I just think it's not good - especially as quite a lot of us have quite a young following, so people who are under 18. People look up to you and want to copy what you do.
'As soon as you start promoting that, it kind of encourages young people to want to do that and the first thing shouldn't be to change yourself. You should be happy in your own skin without having to get surgery.'
The starlet insisted that everybody has 'pros and cons' when it comes to themselves and it is better to realise and accept that.
She continued: 'I've got small boobs but a big bum. Some people may have really nice hair, but they might hate their legs. Everyone has got their negatives.
'If they just focus on the good things about themselves then people would be a lot happier.'
Candid: The starlet, who was inundated with compliments about her gym-honed frame while appearing on Love Island insisted everybody has 'pros and cons' and it is better to realise and accept that
Gym lover: Favouring a more natural method to perfecting her physique, Montana has been avidly sharing her workout tips with on social meida, after relying on her workouts to get her in shape for Love Island
Favouring a more natural method to perfecting her physique, Montana has been avidly sharing her workout tips with her social media followers, following her return home after filming for Love Island's third series in Mallorca over the summer.
She revealed that her new found love the gym helped her to get into shape for the dating series, where fans saw her couple up with ex-boyfriend Alex Beattie, with Montana revealing she dropped from a size 10 to a size eight before filming began.
Montana explained: 'I used to be a bit chubby, but lost quite a bit of weight. I was doing a lot of cardio at the gym, started doing weight training and honestly the weight just.... I was apple shaped and I didn't really want to go in a bikini.'
'I would put a throw on [over the top],' she confessed, before confidently adding: 'Now I love being in a bikini.'
Body confident: Montana explained: 'I used to be a bit chubby, but lost quite a bit of weight. I was doing a lot of cardio at the gym, started doing weight training... I was apple shaped and I didn't really want to go in a bikini.'
Sensational: Having boosted her body confidence with her hard efforts in the gym, she claims: 'Now I love being in a bikini'
And thanks to flaunting her frame on the show, Montana has landed herself a huge contract with fashion brand Pretty Little Thing, with the brunette bombshell admitting she has been left 'overwhelmed' at the collaboration.
Although, slightly lacking in expertise when it comes to modelling, Montana confessed that she had no idea how to strike a pose when shooting for the brand and had relied on the help of her friends to prepare her for her LA shoot.
'Before I went my friends sat in my room and I said, "I cannot pose, please can we work on it!" We were looking at Bella Hadid and Gigi Hadid and just trying to work it out,' she said.
Reality beauty: Montana had been an original on Love Island's 2017 series where fans saw her strike up a romance with Alex Beattie (above) but they later split just weeks after their return to UK
Montana had been an original on Love Island's 2017 series and narrowly missed out on a place in the final, after she and her former flame Alex were given the boot just a day before the live final took place.
Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies had been crowned the winners, with Camilla Thurlow and Jamie Jewitt finishing in second place.
While Montana and Alex had initially stayed together on their return to UK, the couple were plagued by split rumours and finally confirmed they had parted ways in August.
The couple blamed the distance between them as the reason for their split, but Montana has since hinted a reunion could be on the cards, adding: 'It's just seeing if he moves closer or something like that... never say never.'
On the surface, Cara Delevingne and her musician girlfriend St. Vincent (Annie Clark) were the picture of happiness.
But in a rare interview about the demise of their relationship, St. Vincent has implied the 'craziness of celebrity life,' might have been responsible for their split.
In an article published Thursday, the 34-year-old told The Daily Telegraph that it wasn't until she began dating Cara that she realised how 'intrusive' fame could be.
Candid: In a rare interview about the demise of their relationship, St. Vincent (R) has implied the 'craziness of celebrity life,' might have been responsible for her split with Cara Delevingne
'I was privy to this level of fame with Cara that was so intense and intrusive,' she told the Australian publication.
The alternative pop songstress compared her experiences with fame to Oscar Wilde's The Picture Of Dorian Gray, given that she's been hired to direct an adaption.
'The text is so rich: ultimate transgression, sublimated queerness, narcissism, alter ego,' she said of the novel.
Relating the characters' journey to her own, she concluded: 'I kinda get it, you know.'
'Intrusive and intense': In an article published Thursday, the 34-year-old said that it wasn't until she began dating Cara that she realised how 'intrusive' fame could be
St. Vincent then praised Australia for its more relaxed culture: 'Australia never feels like work,' she beamed.
'It seems like a place of perpetual vacation.'
The talented musician's relationship with model and actress Cara came to an end in September 2016.
Australia rules! St. Vincent then praised Australia for its more relaxed culture: 'Australia never feels like work,' she beamed
According to The Sun, they cited at the time the pressures of long distance becoming 'too much.'
A source told the paper: ''The cracks were beginning to show on Cara's birthday in August when Annie wasn't there for her party.'
'They decided to call it a day but remain pals and are hoping they can work things out as its no doubt they really love each other.'
Before finishing: 'But at the moment, Cara has been trying to distract herself by partying.'
Sad end: The talented musician's relationship with model and actress Cara came to an end in September 2016
She's one of Australia's hottest modelling exports.
And Shanina Shaik reminded onlookers of her appeal as she arrived in Milan for Fashion Week on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old flaunted her trim pins in a black latex mini-skirt and knee-high boots.
Ciao bella! Shanina Shaik, 26, flaunted her trim pins in a black latex mini-skirt and knee-high boots, at Milan Fashion Week on Wednesday
Shanina cut an effortlessly stylish figure in Italy's fashion capital.
The Melbourne-born star sported an Alberta Ferretti black sweater with its trademark Wednesday slogan.
Teamed with a black latex mini-skirt and knee-high boots, Shanina drew the eye to her long and lean legs.
Sweeping her dark locks into a sleek style at the nape of the neck, the beauty shielded her eyes from the autumn sun with a pair of round-rimmed sunglasses.
Fashionable look: The Melbourne-born star sported an Alberta Ferretti black sweater with its trademark Wednesday slogan
Leggy lady: Teamed with a black latex mini-skirt and knee-high boots, Shanina drew the eye to her long and lean legs
Carrying her belongings in a shoulder bag wit a chain strap, Shanina made the local streets her runway.
The brunette beauty has been sure to update her 981,000 Instagram followers with her travels.
Taking to the platform one day prior, Shanina shared a close-up video of herself preparing her skin for Fashion Week.
Strutting her stuff: Carrying her belongings in a chained shoulder bag, Shanina made the local streets her runway
Staying connected: The brunette beauty has been sure to update her 981,000 Instagram followers with her travels
'Thank you Melissa @skinthesisinc for preparing my skin for fashion week and my long travels ahead. The "runway facial" is the reason why my skin looks fresh & blemish free!' she captioned the post.
Shanina's personal life is also going swimmingly, engaged to DJ Ruckus, real name Gregory Andrews.
The pair who became engaged at Gregory's cousin Lenny Kravitz's Bahamas property over the New Year, have not been shy in voicing their affection for one another.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia in April, Gregory gushed of Shanina:'She's a legend in Australia. I'm very, very proud of her. She's incredible. Her work ethic is just amazing. I love being with somebody who has that sort of energy.'
Power couple: Shanina's personal life is also going swimmingly, engaged to DJ Ruckus, real name Gregory Andrews
Celebrity chef Matt Moran has made an impassioned plea to the entire hospitality industry.
Following the early deaths of two of fellow chefs Darren Simpson and Jeremy Strode, Matt has asked for more support for those suffering from mental illness.
'We've got to nurture people properly and do the best we can to identify a problem,' he told The Daily Telegraph in an article published Thursday.
'We have to look after each other better': Celebrity chef Matt Moran has made an impassioned plea to the entire hospitality industry to better support mental illness sufferers
'We have to look after each other better.'
The popular restaurateur implied that expecting the industry to become a less stressful environment wasn't going to help.
'We have to work harder in this area. But there is pressure in other careers too, from emergency department doctors to accountants,' he reasoned.
'We've got to nurture people properly and do the best we can to identify a problem,' he told reporters in an article published Thursday
His sentiment mirrors that of My Kitchen Rules star Colin Fassnidge, who previously told Confidential the stress of being a chef was 'up there with doctors and nurses.'
'The stress levels, the long hours. I don't know why people think that it's cool and trendy,' he said.
In July, famous Sydney chef Jeremy Strode was found dead, with the cause later being confirmed as suicide.
Joining the chorus: His sentiment mirrors that of My Kitchen Rules star Colin Fassnidge, who previously told Confidential the stress of being a chef was 'up there with doctors and nurses
He had a long-fought, but rarely documented battle with depression.
A month prior, in June, tributes followed shock when Jeremy and Matt's contemporary, Darren Simpson died.
The cause of Darren's death was deemed to be a heart attack, due in-part to his battle with alcohol addiction.
Response: Matt's plea comes after celeb chef Jeremy Strode's untimely death in July, rules as a suicide
She's expecting her fourth child in November.
And on Thursday, Lindy Klim spoke about her upcoming arrival in an interview with Confidential.
'I feel just as excited as I was for the first,' the 39-year-old beauty gushed.
Not long to go now! Lindy Klim has spoken about her fourth pregnancy in an interview with Confidential published on Thursday
While it's the fourth child for Lindy, it will be the first with her British businessman beau, Alex Ellis.
Talking with Confidential, Lindy hinted that the pair are quite traditional, and have not found out the sex of their child, preferring to keep it as a surprise.
Loved-up Lindy lives with Adam in Bali, but the jet-setting couple will return to Australia for the birth, but not before a quick trip to Paris.
Traditional! Lindy is not finding out the sex of her child, preferring to keep it a surprise
The ex-wife of Michael Klim revealed that her partner speaks the language of love, so she is looked forward to relaxing during their European jaunt.
'Alex can speak fluent French,' the personality cooed.
Lindy has three children with her ex-husband Michael Klim, from whom she split early last year.
Sibling on the way: A recent photo posted to Lindy's account showed her daughter Frankie cuddling up to her unborn sibling
The couple share Stella, 11, Rocco, 9, and Frankie, 6, who frequently appear in her intimate Instagram snaps.
A recent photo showed young Frankie cuddling up to Lindy's burgeoning baby bump.
The model also hasn't been shy in documenting her pregnancy journey, sharing a photo of herself flaunting her pregnancy body in a skimpy black bikini earlier in the week.
The language of love: Lindy revealed her partner speaks fluent French
As one of the most coveted new arrivals in the modelling world - and an avid fan of posing for selfies - it's well known by now that she holds an affection for the camera.
But Kendall Jenner was unusually camera shy when she was spotted covering her face with her hands and top as she touched down in Italy with her mother Kris Jenner for Milan Fashion Week on Wednesday.
The 21-year-old beauty looked stylish for her journey into the city, stepping out in an all-black ensemble that included a smart blazer over a rollneck top, leggings and a pair of eye-catching thigh-high boots.
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Why so shy? Kris Jenner was unusually camera-shy as she arrived in Milan with her mother Kris for the start of Fashion Week on Wednesday afternoon
With her raven locks tied back in a neat bun with a centre parting, Keeping Up With The Kardashians star employed the use of her top to conceal her lower face.
Rounding out her ensemble with a pair of stylish sunglasses, the California native made her way out of the airport terminal just a few steps ahead of her 61-year-old mother and manager Kris, who also put on a chic display.
Following her daughter's lead, the reality TV matriarch, wore a fitted black top with matching leggings, which perfectly matched her patent flat boots.
Let's face it...: As the 21-year-old beauty made her way through the airport terminal, she used her hands and rollneck top to cover her face
Thigh's the limit: The model looked stylish for her journey into the city, wearing an all-black ensemble that included a smart blazer, leggings and a pair of eye-catching thigh-high boots
Shady lady: The California native rounded out her ensemble with a pair of stylish sunglasses
Tress-ed to impress: The Keepung Up With The Kardashians star's raven locks were tied back in a neat bun with a centre parting
The mother-of-six contrasted the muted theme of her ensemble with a heavily patterned floral duster jacket, which featured fur-lined cuffs.
With a red, white and blue scarf adding to her look, Kris shielded her eyes from the early autumn sunshine with a pair of gold-tinted sunglasses.
And while Kris and her offspring turned heads in their outfits of choice as they swept through the airport, it was her choice of oversized handbag that proved to be the true centrepiece.
Stylish display: Kendall made her way out of the airport terminal just a few steps ahead of her 61-year-old mother and manager Kris, who also put on a chic display
Hot mama: Following her daughter's lead, the reality TV matriarch, wore a fitted black top with matching leggings, which perfectly matched her patent flat boots
Golden girl: With a red, white and blue scarf adding to her look, Kris shielded her eyes from the early autumn sunshine with a pair of gold-tinted sunglasses
She's got it in the bag! Kris toted Gucci's coveted Sylvie animal studs black leather bag, which featured gold animal-themed studs - and retails at an eye-watering 3,230
Contrast: The mother-of-six contrasted the muted theme of her ensemble with a heavily patterned floral duster jacket, which featured fur-lined cuffs
She toted Gucci's coveted Sylvie animal studs black leather bag, which featured gold animal-themed studs - and retails at an eye-watering 3,230.
Kendall and her mother jetted over to Europe from New York City, where they had been spending time since the Big Apple's Fashion Week festivities.
The model took to the runway for a number of shows, including the hot ticket Tom Ford SS18 presentation.
She was cheered on by sister Kim Kardashian, 36, who debuted a platinum blonde look at the bi-annual event.
Right by her side: Proud mother Kris often accompanies her offspring to Fashion Week events
Jetsetter: Kendall and her mother jetted over to Europe from New York City, where they had been spending time since the Big Apple's Fashion Week festivities
Just touched down: Earlier in the day, Kendall's model pals Gigi Hadid, left, and her sister Bella, right, were also seen arriving in the city ahead of the anticipated shows
Check you out! Hailey Baldwin looked stylish in a grey checked suit as she arrived in Milan
Legging it: Jourdan Dunn caught the eye in open-fronted black leather lace-up leggings
She's got great jeans: Martha Hunt opted for a denim miniskirt with thigh-high black boots
Pattern: (L-R) Alessandra Ambrosio and Elsa Hosk stepped out wearing patterned overcoats
Leggy: Joan Smalls put on a leggy display in a denim skirt as she walked and talked with Hailey
Mini: Hailey Clauson, left, displayed her decolletage and legs in a plunging black minidress
Taking to the skies: On Tuesday, Cara Delevingne was spotted making her way through the terminal at Los Angeles International Airport ahead of her flight to Milan
Beauty: The British beauty wore grey tracksuit bottoms and a black leather hooded jacket
Phone: Wearing dark glasses, she carried her bejewelled phone, with had an attached chain
Elsie Hewitt, the woman at the center of the $1 million assault and battery lawsuit against Ryan Phillippe, is pictured out on Wednesday.
The 21-year-old model was photographed landing at Gatwick airport in London as the full details of her allegations against the actor were revealed in explosive court papers.
Hewitt accuses Phillippe, 43, of jealous behavior, mood swings and drug abuse in legal documents which detail the incident on July 4 where the Shooter star allegedly threw her down a staircase in a fit of rage.
Elsie Hewitt, the model who is suing Ryan Phillippe for assault and battery, is pictured out on Wednesday at Gatwick airport in London
The 21-year-old had her head covered in a red Kendrick Lamar hooded sweatshirt and looked pale and exhausted as she walked through the terminal building
The brunette had her head covered in a red Kendrick Lamar hooded sweatshirt and looked pale and exhausted as she shuffled through the terminal building.
The outing came a day after Phillippe refuted her claims of domestic violence in a statement he posted to Twitter.
It is claimed the actor now plans to go after Hewitt for defamation.
Hewitt, who dated the actor for about three months, filed a $1 million lawsuit on Monday accusing Phillippe of assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
In the attached documents the Playboy model accuses Phillippe of using a variety of drugs including cocaine, ecstasy, psychedelic mushrooms and steroids.
It is also claims Phillippe would 'routinely monitor Hewitt's physical whereabouts using the 'Find My Friends' app on his iPhone' and alleges the actor was 'infatuated with Hewitt'.
Hewitt accuses the Lincoln Lawyer star of acting jealously and 'lashing out' with 'extreme anger' after he found out that two of her ex-boyfriends were at a party she attended without him on June 30.
Don't look: She was seen clad in leggings and a burgundy jumper while rocking a designer handbag
Keeping things low: She was seen keeping an extremely low-profile while heading through the airport
'Every one of my accuser's allegations are false': Phillippe, 43, refuted the domestic violence allegations in a statement on Twitter on Tuesday. The actor now reportedly plans to go after Hewitt for defamation
Hewitt's $1 million lawsuit that she handed the actor on Monday accuses him of assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress
Phillippe would 'routinely monitor Hewitt's physical whereabouts using the 'Find My Friends' app on his iPhone' the document describes as Hewitt alleges the actor was 'infatuated with Hewitt'
The legal documents include screenshots of texts from the Cruel Intentions star where he apologizes for hurting Hewitt's feelings and asks if she's 'done with him'.
The papers go on to detail how the model observed Phillippe becoming 'unhinged as a result of his drug and alcohol abuse'.
'As Hewitt spent more and more time with him, she increasingly observed Phillippe repeatedly abusing a panoply of legal and illegal drugs, including without limitation: cocaine, ecstasy, psychedelic mushrooms, and steroids,' it reads.
The combined effects of the drugs along with alcohol abuse caused 'mood swings and bouts of anger' the document continues.
It also details another social event on July 3 when Phillippe allegedly became 'extremely jealous and angry' when Hewitt attracted the attention of other male guests at a party at Nobu in Malibu.
The actor apparently left early complaining to Hewitt of feeling 'neglected' and 'ignored'.
Drama: Hewitt accuses the actor of acting jealously and 'lashing out' with 'extreme anger' after he found out that two of her ex-boyfriends were at a party she attended without him on June 30
Altercation: The documents detail the events leading up to the morning of July 4 when Phillippe is alleged to have thrown Hewitt down a staircase in his home twice
It then goes on to describe in detail how the alleged assault unfolded in the early hours of the morning of July 4.
Hewitt had asked to pick up some belongings from the actors house that she needed for a modeling job later that week but Phillippe 'ignored' her texts.
The model entered his home with a friend 'using the access code the star had previously given her'.
At this point Hewitt alleges Phillippe greeted her outside his bedroom up two sets of stairs where he was 'discernibly drunk and high'.
Altercation: The documents detail the events leading up to the morning of July 4 when Phillippe is alleged to have thrown Hewitt down a staircase in his home twice
Elsie, 21, kept a low profile as she shuffled through the airport terminal on Wednesday
On the go: The model, who is well-connected in Los Angeles, kept her head covered in a red hoodie
After grabbing some things of hers from his car Phillippe asked to speak to her alone but Hewitt says she 'felt increasingly unsafe in his presence' who appeared 'visibly agitated and hostile'.
Hewitt called her friend to be by her side which allegedly triggered Phillippe to attack her, 'grabbing Hewitt's upper arm so tightly that his grip left heavy bruises on her arm hours later.'
The document then states that Phillippe 'violently threw her down his staircase as hard as he could' before 'kicking and striking her' when she got back up and reach the top of the stairs.
She alleges the actor continued to assault her, and threw her down stairs for a second time.
Consoled: Hewitt was seen being comforted by a male companion after landing in London
Evidence: Above are the text messages Hewitt sent to Phillippe as she tried to retrieve belongings from his home and just hours before the alleged assault
There are also screenshots of text messages from Phillippe he which he allegedly sent to Hewitt in the days following the staircase incident
He then allegedly screamed at her: 'Get the f*** out of my house you crazy c***.'
Hewitt went to a hospital and reported the assault to police who took a report and issued a temporary protective order.
However, sources close to Phillippe insist that the model was the one who physically attacked Ryan, caused a scene and refused to leave his home after he dumped her.
The insider told DailyMail.com the injuries occurred when she fell and hurt herself as she was being escorted off the premises, and said the accusations of domestic violence are false and the lawsuit is all about revenge and fame.
In addition, Phillippe isn't facing any charges relating to the incident nor is there a protection order currently in place, the insider claimed.
'I saw the whole thing': The lawsuit also includes screenshots of texts from Hewitt's friend who was there on the night of the July 4 incident where Phillippe allegedly threw Hewitt down a staircase
'I would never hurt her': The actor denies the accusations in a message to one of Hewitt's friends
TMZ reported Wednesday that Hewitt filed the lawsuit after the L.A. City Attorney refused to prosecute the father-of-three
According to a report by TMZ on Wednesday, police weren't convinced of Hewitt's account of what happened that night.
The stairs that Hewitt accused Phillippe of throwing her down are sharp and wooden and would have left much nastier injuries, including broken bones, than what she detailed in the suit.
The website reports that Hewitt filed the lawsuit after the L.A. City Attorney refused to prosecute the father-of-three.
Meanwhile Phillippe shared a statement on Tuesday staunchly denying the allegations against him, writing: 'I am saddened and disgusted by the false allegations being circulated about me.
'At the time these allegations were initially made, I fully cooperated with law enforcement and a thorough investigation was conducted.
'As a man, raised by women, in a household where women's rights, feminism, and advocacy were very much at the forefront, I am sickened that my name can be found in any article where domestic violence of any kind is being alleged.'
'I hoped this wouldn't end bad': Another text from the actor is seen seemingly sent after the couple broke up
He added: 'I have been a public figure for almost 25 years and many untrue things have been said or written about me in the past. That is something you learn to accept if you choose a profession like mine. This time is different.
'Domestic violence is a very real and tragic issue faced by many women the world over and should never be used to vengefully slander or as a ploy for monetary gain.
'This is wrong. This is not who I am. Every one of my accuser's allegations are false.'
The actor's representative added in a statement released to DailyMail.com: 'As a staunch advocate for the health, well-being and equality of women, Ryan is completely devastated that these false allegations have been made and circulated.
'Domestic violence is an incredibly serious issue and fabricated and proven false claims should not be used to unjustly slander the falsely accused. The claims are false.'
Impassioned denial in full: Ryan insisted he is a ' staunch advocate for the health, well-being and equality of women' as he released the vehement denial
Sources close to Phillippe tell DailyMail.com that it was Hewitt who instigated the incident, showing up to the actor's home 'under the influence' and physically attacking the star
Phillippe has now hired a civil litigator, and intends to file a counter-suit for defamation against Hewitt, as well as a malicious prosecution case should her lawsuit get thrown out, according to a Tuesday report by TMZ.
On Tuesday it emerged that Phillippe's ex fiancee Paulina Slagter, 26, filed a harassment three months before his alleged assault on Hewitt.
TMZ claims the law student filed an 'Annoying or Harassing Electronics Communications Harassment Report' with the LAPD in March, accusing the actor of sending her a slew of 'aggressive and extremely angry' texts after their break-up.
Law enforcement sources told the site Slagter dropped the case shortly afterward as she 'didn't want the publicity.
Phillippe and Slagter split up in November 2016 after five years together.
'Vengeful': Phillippe hit out at his 'vengeful' former flame who he started dating in April for around three months
Injuries: The images above reportedly show bruising on Hewitt's arm after the July 4 incident
Phillippe and Hewitt are believed to have started dating around April, a month after she turned 21.
Hewitt appears to be well connected. At the party, she posed with Mick Jagger and her Instagram shows pictures with actor Josh Peck.
In addition to being Playboy's Miss June 2017, she also has modeled for Guess.
The Cruel Intentions star was married to Reese Witherspoon from 1999 to 2007. They share two children, daughter Ava, 18 and son Deacon, 13.
He also has a daughter Kailani, six, with former girlfriend Alexis Knapp.
She plays the wife of celebrated Winnie the Pooh creator A.A Milne in the 1920s biopic Goodbye Christopher Robin.
But Margot Robbie looked worlds away from the onscreen role, as she attended the film's world premiere at Odeon Leicester Square in London on Wednesday.
The Australian actress, 27, opted for a bold look with slicked-black hair and a floral gown with dramatic accentuated shoulders as she stormed the red carpet.
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Budding beauty: Margot Robbie looked worlds away from the onscreen role, as she attended the world premiere of Goodbye Christopher Robin at Odeon Leicester Square in London on Wednesday
The blonde beauty stole the limelight in her ivory gown, which featured whimsical ditsy print.
Harking back to the Victorian era, the garment cinched in her tiny waist and featured dramatic puffball sleeves.
Adding to the ultra-feminine look, Margot's dress rocked a shirred sweetheart neckline and delicate lace edging.
Looking good: The Australian actress, 27, opted for a dramatic look with slicked-black hair and a floral gown with romantic accentuated shoulders as she stormed the red carpet
Taking centre-stage: The blonde beauty stole the limelight in her ivory gown, which featured whimsical ditsy print
Harking back to the Victorian era: The garment cinched in her tiny waist and featured dramatic puffball sleeves
Avert your eyes! Robbie took a moment to adjust her plunging gown at one point
Stunning: She plays the wife of celebrated Winnie the Pooh creator A.A Milne in the 1920s biopic Goodbye Christopher Robin
Venturing away from her typical red carpet look, the Suicide Squad star wore her golden locks in a wet-look style that framed her face in a deep side-parting.
She complemented the avant-garde hairstyle with eye-catching colour block make-up as she smiled for the cameras.
Highlighting her blue eyes with yellow shadow, the Wolf Of Wall Street star added a pink blusher and plumped her pout with a dusky rose lipstick.
Ready for her close-up: She complemented the avant-garde hairstyle with eye-catching colour block make-up as she smiled for the cameras
Glam: Adding to the ultra-feminine look, Margot's dress rocked a shirred sweetheart neckline and delicate lace edging
Venturing away from her typical red carpet look: The Suicide Squad star wore her golden locks in a wet-look style that framed her face in a deep side-parting
But first, let me take a selfie: Robbie beamed as she happily took photos with fans
Quirky make-up: Highlighting her blue eyes with yellow shadow, the Wolf Of Wall Street star added a pink blusher and plumped her pout with a dusky rose lipstick
Margot, who married her longtime partner Tom Ackerley in a secret Byron Bay ceremony last December, appeared to be in great spirits as she beamed at the event.
The blonde beauty plays Daphne de Selincourt, the wife of celebrated Winnie the Pooh creator A.A Milne in director Simon Curtiss forthcoming historical biopic Goodbye Christopher Robin.
The film sees Margot reunite with Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson, 33, who takes the lead as Milne, some three years after they starred together in romantic comedy About Time.
All-star line-up: Margot later posed with her co-stars Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson, 33, and child star Will Tilston
Reunited: Domhnall takes the lead as Milne in Goodbye Christopher Robin, some three years after he starred with Margot in romantic comedy About Time
Having a whale of a time: The trio seemed to be getting on famously as they posed on the red carpet
Leading lady: Scottish actress Kelly Macdonald, who stars as Olive in the film, wrapped an affectionate arm around Will
Simply stylish: The 41-year-old actress rocked some chic velvet navy co-ords and silver heels
Taking centre-stage: The actress, who recently separated from husband Dougie Payne after 14 years of marriage, wore her dark hair in a tousled chignon
Loving life: The actress seemed to have a great rapper with the youngest star on set
Rising star: Will, who made his acting debut as Christopher Robin in the film, looked delighted to be working his first red carpet
Star of the show: Margot couldn't contain her giggles as she chuckled away at Will
The whole gang: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Domhnall Gleeson, Margot Robbie, Will Tilston, Kelly Macdonald and Alex Lawther came together on the red carpet
Set in the 1920s, the forthcoming film will centre on Milne as he draws inspiration for his most iconic character through his relationship with his young son Christopher, who will be played at different stages in his life by young actors Will Tilston and Alex Lawther.
The film provides a rare glimpse into Christopher's world, whose toys served as an inspiration to the magical world of the iconic Winnie the Pooh.
Scottish actress Kelly MacDonald, whose previous screen credits include Trainspotting and No Country For Old Men, will also feature as Christopher's nanny, Olive.
Speaking after the film's casting was announced, director Curtis said: 'I am delighted to be collaborating with (screenwriter) Frank Cottrell Boyce to tell the remarkable and poignant story of the family behind the creation of Winnie the Pooh.
Shock, horror: Will pulled a look of shock at one point as she was greeted by Margot
Smile and wave: Domhnall looked dapper in a sharp navy suit as he waved at his fans
Working his angles: The Irish actor wasn't afraid to get playful as he posed on the red carpet
Man of the people: Gleeson flashed a wide grin as he chatted away to some guests
'We are assembling a wonderful cast, headed by two actors I am longing to work with.'
While the film is yet to be given an official release date, it is expected to hit cinemas on September 29.
Also in attendance at the premiere was Kelly Macdonald, who has separated from her musician husband Douglas Payne, her publicist confirmed on Saturday.
The 41-year-old Scottish actress is known for her roles in movies including Trainspotting, Gosford Park, Nanny McPhee and No Country For Old Men.
Stealing the spotlight: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who plays Mary Brown in the biopic, was also in attendance
In the nude: The Fleabag actress looked chic in an asymmetric gown teamed with simple black courts
Keeping it casual: Andy Serkis cut a dapper figure in a navy blazer and simple button-down shirt
Lovely in leather: Kimberly Garner looked lithe in skintight leather trousers and killer boots
Monochrome maven: The former Made In Chelsea star added a casual edge to her look with a grey slogan T-shirt
Mane attraction: She styled her blonde locks in a sleek middle-parting
Most famously, she also appeared in HBO's Boardwalk Empire for five seasons, receiving both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.
Payne, 44, is the bassist for the Scottish band Travis.
Publicist Craig Bankey issued a statement to The Associated Press Saturday saying that although the couple would have preferred to keep the information private, they separated several months ago, and are united in parenting their two children. They ask that their privacy be respected.
The couple - who married in 2003 - share Theodore William Payne, aged four, and Freddie Peter Payne, aged nine.
Loving life: Margot appeared to be in great spirits as she beamed away for photos
Woman of the moment: The blonde beauty seemed to be in her element as she interacted with the fans
Nostalgic: Set in the 1920s, the forthcoming film will centre on Milne as he draws inspiration for his most iconic character through his relationship with his young son Christopher, who will be played at different stages in his life by young actors Will Tilston (pictured) and Alex Lawther
Exciting: The film provides a rare glimpse into Christopher's world, whose toys served as an inspiration to the magical world of the iconic Winnie the Pooh
Biopic: Speaking after the film's casting was announced, director Curtis said: 'I am delighted to be collaborating with (screenwriter) Frank Cottrell Boyce to tell the remarkable and poignant story of the family behind the creation of Winnie the Pooh
Audiences saw Rachel Lindsay, the first African-American Bachelorette, give her rose to Bryan Abasolo in the 13th season finale of the show on August 7.
But in reality, she had chosen the 37-year-old chiropracter back in May after meeting him for the first time in March.
And on Wednesday, the 32-year-old lawyer from Dallas gushed about her beau and keeping their romance quiet on The Wendy Williams Show in New York.
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'He's too good to be true': Rachel Lindsay, the first African-American Bachelorette, told host Wendy Williams on Wednesday she was wary of Bryan Abasolo when they met on the show
Rachel, who wore a colorful minidress and sparkly Valentino shoes, revealed that she followed her mother's advice when it came to choosing a man.
'Before I did the show my mom told me to follow my gut and that's what I did,' she said.
At first Rachel said she was wary of Bryan because he seemed 'too good to be true,' so she asked him 'the really hard questions.'
But, when it came down to it, she gushed she felt the love, saying: 'I felt it, it was logical, it was emotional and every day it gets better.'
Speed dating: At first it was just the 32-year-old on the couch as Wendy grilled her about her super-fast romance, going from strangers to betrothed in a few weeks
Making the right choice: The lawyer from Dallas said she asked the 37-year-old chiropracter 'the really hard questions' before realising she was falling in love with him
Putting a ring on it: Rachel flashed her stunning three-carat diamond engagement bling as she revealed she took her mother's advice on dating - 'go with your gut'
Wendy asked the beautiful brunette, who flashed her three-carat diamond ring set in a halo of tiny diamonds. whether she felt 'pressured to choose a black guy.'
'Yes, I'm very honest about that,' Rachael replied. 'When I first decided to go on the Bachelorette I thought, "I know I'm going to be judged by one audience and I know I'm going to be judged by another" and so I decided I had to overcome that before taking the role.'
However, when she took Bryan home to Dallas to meet her family she told them: 'Just so you know, he is not white, he is Colombian, okay.'
Racial stereotyping: The beautiful brunette said she felt 'pressured to choose a black guy'
Suited up: She dished that when she took Bryan home to Dallas to meet her family she told them, 'Just so you know, he is not white, he is Colombian, okay'
Bryan joined Rachel and Wendy on the couch where he gushed: 'She has the perfect combination of everything I've ever looked for in a woman,
'I definitely don't want a pushover and she definitely gives me that sass, she tells it like it is and that's a turn on to me.'
There won't be wedding bells soon for the couple, who revealed they plan to move to California.
Chic couple: Bryan looked dapper in a blue suit and black shirt while his petite fiancee looked fab in a flower minidress and sparkly silver Valentino high heels
Such a gent: Bryan holped his love into the back or a waiting SUV
'We're marrying fall of next year, we're not in a rush,' Rachel shared.
As for returning to normal life, Rachel said she had gone back to job in Dallas and said that it 'keeps me grounded'
'But now I'm sitting on a couch with Wendy and that's not normal. So I don't have a normal life - not any more, no.'
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Gucci is always one of the most-anticipated shows during Milan Fashion Week.
And Dakota Johnson was leading the glamour at the star-studded catwalk event during Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2018 on Wednesday, joined by a host of famous faces including fellow actress Salma Hayek.
The Fifty Shades Of Grey star dared to be different in a bold, geometric print dress in vibrant dress in shades of orange, grey and lime.
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Star-studded: Dakota Johnson (left and right) was leading the glamour at the star-studded catwalk event during Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2018 on Wednesday, joined by a host of famous faces including fellow actress Salma Hayek (centre)
Colour pop: The Fifty Shades Of Grey star dared to be different in a bold, geometric print dress in vibrant dress in shades of orange, grey and lime
Dakota added some stylish accessories, donning a chunky pair of black heels and a dragon embellished clutch bag.
She shielded her eyes behind a large pair of shades a slick of bright red lipstick, wearing her hair down loose.
Salma opted for a sophisticated look, clad in a demure black dress with white lace detailing at the bust.
The Hollywood star kept her accessories simple and elegant, including a pair of oversized peal earrings.
Chic: Dakota added some stylish accessories, donning a chunky pair of black heels and a dragon embellished clutch bag
Terrific trio: The Hollywood star joined forces with Hari Nef and Petra Collins at the event
Smart: Salma opted for a sophisticated look, clad in a demure black dress with white lace detailing at the bust. Anna Wintour (right) was also in attendance
Elegant: The Hollywood star pulled her look together with soft, subtle make-up and beautiful pearl earrings
Fashionista: VOGUE boss Anna looked glamorous in a floral print dress and dramatic necklaces
She was in attendance since her husband Francois-Henri Pinault is the boss of French luxury giant Kering.
Gucci, Kering's biggest brand, showed off its eclectic collection in the group's headquarters to a backdrop of giant replicas of statues of myths and gods from Ancient Egypt and Greece, with arches over the catwalk.
Models wore glittery pieces, fur coats, long ruffled skirts, adorned with bum bags, purses, glasses, hats and bonnets and jewellery, in a splash of textures and colours.
'Creation is a poetic act, an eruptive process, an explosion in which vital strengths are finally released,' a style note said.
Dapper dudes: ASAP Rocky and David Furnish donned their coolest and quirkiest ensembles for the occasion
Putting in appearances: Tamara Beckwith and Giorgio Veroni were checking out the Spring/Summer 2018 collection
Cosying up: Kering boss Francois-Henri Pinault was accompanying his wife Salma
The verve of Alessandro Michele, director since January 2015, has been key to the brand's revival, based on a bold aesthetic which has quickly gained great popularity, particularly among younger customers.
Its strong identity and a geeky-yet-chic look has led to growth, up 48.3 percent in the first quarter of 2017.
'Alessandro has the capacity of evolving though maintaining a clear line in his designs, he doesn't change his aesthetics and remains coherent,' Gucci Chief Executive Marco Bizzarri told Reuters at the end of the show.
Designers and luxury brands, including Prada, Armani, Cavalli, Versace and Dolce & Gabbana, will showcase a total of almost 160 collections, for spring and summer 2018 during the six-day extravaganza.
FROW arrivals: French singer Soko (left) joined David Furnish (right) on the front row
MFW show: Gucci, Kering's biggest brand, showed off its eclectic collection in the group's headquarters to a backdrop of giant replicas of statues of myths and gods from Ancient Egypt and Greece, with arches over the catwalk
Retro vibes: Models sported 80s inspired glasses, bouffant, permed hair and oversized necklaces
Revenues for Italy's fashion industry are expected to rise 3 per cent this year to 86 billion euros, data from the Italian national fashion association, CNMI, showed.
'Italy continues to perform well, even outside the country, through strong exports," chairman Carlo Capasa said.
Italy is the largest single producer of fashion - comprising textiles, clothing and accessories with 41 percent of Europe's total production, Capasa said.
A style note said: 'Creation is a poetic act, an eruptive process, an explosion in which vital strengths are finally released'
Bold: Models wore glittery pieces, fur coats, long ruffled skirts, adorned with bum bags, purses, glasses, hats and bonnets and jewellery, in a splash of textures and colours
Doc Martin (ITV)
Rating:
Doc Martin gets its laughs in peculiar ways. Martin Clunes returns as the curmudgeonly medic in the seaside drama, galloping through his Cornish village like Basil Fawlty on fast-forward, to rescue a trawlerman with his hand trapped in a winch.
The gore on this show is never very convincing. It's red ink for the light-hearted cases, raspberry jam for the dramatic injuries.
Even though this fisherman had his hand crushed up to the knuckles, there was just the merest trickle of ink. And here comes the joke Joe, the village's comic policeman, pressed the wrong button on the winch and nearly ripped the bloke's arm off. Dear oh dear.
Martin Clunes returns as the curmudgeonly medic in the seaside drama, galloping through his Cornish village
The attraction of this series has always escaped me. The Doc is a poor man's Siegfried Farnon, from All Creatures Great And Small he's an irritable misanthropist, prone to explosions of temper, but without Siegfried's redeeming qualities of forgiveness and generosity.
His wife Louisa (Caroline Catz) is no more likeable, a walking spreadsheet of a woman whose emotional dial is stuck on 'whinge'.
The beautiful backdrop of Portwenn, Doc Martin's fictional seaside idyll, does make up for some of this the sun's always shining and the streets are never clogged with cars. That's a fantasy with understandable appeal.
SNAPPY DRESSER OF THE NIGHT Where did Jim Moir, better known as comic Vic Reeves, get that grey check suit for his debut scenes in Coronation Street (ITV)? I'd guess Carnaby Street, 1963. That's fab groovy gear, Jim. Advertisement
But the Doc's infallible ability to diagnose the rarest complaints with one bad-tempered glance is even less believable than a Cornish village with no tourists. This time he spotted a potentially lethal combination of blood thinner and Australian antidepressants causing psychosis even though the more obvious symptom was a massive head wound and a puddle of jam.
Perhaps since no one in Portwenn ever gets sick from a disease the Doc has previously treated, he is deliberately memorising the ones he hasn't seen yet.
The show's reliance on its stock characters has worn thin, too. We know that Bert (Ian McNeice) will be working some cash-in-hand swindle and Martin's aunt Ruth (Eileen Atkins) will be sucking in her cheeks like a woman whose acid drops are made from real battery acid.
John Marquez as PC Joe was wringing all the laughs he could from kidney stones. Well, that's funnier than a dismembered fisherman.
The Detectives: Murder On The Streets (BBC2)
Rating:
Nothing Joe could do was half as grim as the real-life policing on The Detectives: Murder On The Streets. This documentary series follows Manchester coppers over a year-long investigation into the killing of a 23-year-old homeless man. He'd been beaten to death and incinerated, surrounded by rubbish and filth under railway arches.
A second strand followed the manhunt for a paranoid alcoholic who had gone on the run after pouring petrol over his sister and burning her to death.
This documentary series follows Manchester coppers over a year-long investigation into the killing of a 23-year-old homeless man
Perhaps to insulate themselves from the horrors of these crimes, the detectives speak in jargon. Told that the killer has threatened police, one officer asked his boss: 'What is your consideration regarding him proactively targeting cops?'
In a twist worthy of a Booker Prize novel, the murderer was under surveillance, but managed to escape when falling snow covered the lenses of the CCTV cameras.
However, he was picked up easily enough when an off-duty policeman spotted him at a railway station.
Meanwhile, the search for the arches killer had stalled, until a witness came forward. He sat sobbing and twitching in the interview room, throwing himself against the walls. It made for truly disturbing TV.
News / National
by Staff reporter
President Robert Mugabe's son, Chatunga, at McDonald's in New York with some bodyguards seen carrying Gucci bags. Shopping spree? pic.twitter.com/6Vsk6Y5E6f Studio 7 (@Studio7VOA) September 20, 2017
President Robert Mugabe's son was spotted in New York on Tuesday in a shopping extravagance at a time when most Zimbabweans back home could hardly put food on their tables.Mugabe took a 70-member delegation to the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly with each of his delegate gobbling $1 500 per day during their 10-day stay in the United States while the majority of Zimbabweans were surviving on less than one US dollar per day.Bellarmine Chatunga, known for his lavish spending and partying lifestyle, was captured by the Voice of America at a MacDonald's restaurant in central New York City near the United Nations Headquarters where his father was attending a meeting with the world's leaders. The picture was published on the radio station's Facebook and Twitter pages.The picture showed Bellarmine Chatunga carrying a satchel on his back while a bodyguard was carrying a Gucci shopping bag on one hand and drinking straws and another unlabelled bag on the other hand. His mother, Grace Mugabe, who was part of the Zimbabwean delegation to the United Nations, has earned herself the nickname "GucciGrace" for her penchant for designer clothing.Chatunga was in the news last month when his mother assaulted a 20 year-old South African model Gabriela Engels with an extension cord after she found her in the company of Chatunga at a hotel in Johannesburg's leafy suburb of Sandton. The Zimbabwean First Lady was granted diplomatic immunity by South African authorities although AfriForum was still pushing for her to face justice for the offence.Chatunga's extravagance came at a time when Russell Goreraza, Grace Mugabe's son from her previous marriage, reportedly imported two Rolls Royce limousines valued at $5.4 million this week at a time when most Zimbabweans could hardly access their hard-earned cash from local banks and the southern African country's national economy bleeding.Critics have rebuked Mugabe for taking his entire family with him to New York on taxpayers' money, saying such a move showed Mugabe was only interested in self-aggrandisementA public health fellow at the Emory University in Atlanta, Fortune Nyamande, who was also the former president of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association, told News24 that the squandering of taxpayers' money was irresponsible on the part of Mugabe and his family."This is a pity that as the nation groans to access to basic health services they are living in such luxury and glamour. Basic antibiotics, needles, gloves etc are beyond the reach of even the most educated but such unnecessary expenditure has become the norm for these least knowledgeable but privileged family," said Nyamande.Jacob Mafume, spokesperson of the People's Democratic party led by former Zimbabwe's finance minister Tendai Biti, said Mugabe and his family went to New York for shopping hiding behind official business."It proves that the First Family has simply gone to do shopping in the West and to avoid sanctions. The delegation was so large and it defies logic," said Mafume.
Blac Chyna and beau of over six months Mechie seem to be on the outs.
On Wednesday the Rob & Chyna star and the rapper unfollowed each other on Instagram. She also has no photos of him on her account. The TV diva was last seen with the crooner at a Hollywood party on September 14.
The ex-fiance of Rob Kardashian looked a bit down on Wednesday while entering LAX airport in Los Angeles.
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No sadness here: Blac Chyna looked to be in low spirits while walking into LAX airport in Los Angeles on Wednesday
The reality TV star had on a curly blonde wig and modeled a snazzy black-and-white track suit with striped sneakers.
A structured red handbag from Louis Vuitton added a burst of color.
There have been rumours before that the pinup and the crooner had gone their separate ways, but they have never panned out.
But it's interesting that the ex best friend of Kim Kardashian was not with the chart topper when she flew out of LA on Wednesday.
Fresh look: The reality TV star had on a curly blonde wig and modeled a snazzy black-and-white track suit with striped sneakers; on the right she managed to crack a smile
Red alert! A structured red handbag from Louis Vuitton added a burst of color
She also did not have her son King Cairo (with Tyga) or her daughter Dream (with Rob) with her.
On September 14 she posed with Mechie, as well as Amber Rose, at the Benji Ball in Hollywood.
On Saturday Chyna was also without Mechie as she ran errands in Studio City, California.
The social media starlet's luxe drive around town came as TMZ reported the 29-year-old is trying to reach a 'seven figure' settlement from ex Rob over his revenge porn rant on Instagram in July.
Last date? Chyna and beau of over six months Mechie seem to be on the outs. On Wednesday the Rob & Chyna star and the rapper unfollowed each other on Instagram. The TV diva was last seen with him at a Hollywood party on September 14. Seen with Amber Rose
The mother-of-two couldn't hide her grin while jetting around town in her Bentley Bentayga SUV, even flashing a peace sign at onlookers.
Chyna hopped from her ride with a grey hoodie over her head and tight-as-can-be leggings hugging her bountiful backside as she made a quick stop into her local mailbox shop.
She hit the pavement in grey Yeezy sneakers with neon orange stripes while glittering pink and gold shades by Gucci covered her eyes.
Last Sunday, the starlet was sure to show off her spanking new ride, posting a picture straight from the dealership.
Hey big spender! Last Sunday, the starlet was sure to show off her spanking new ride, posting a picture straight from the dealership
The Washington DC native's automobile splurge came just days before the former dancer arrived at a custody arrangement over daughter Dream with ex Rob.
According to TMZ, the agreement stipulates he pays $20k a month in child support while she was required to drop her abuse allegations suit against the sock designer.
And on Saturday, the site also reported that she and lawyer Lisa Bloom are trying to negotiate for a 'seven figure' settlement from Rob over his vindictive revenge porn photo rant back in July.
The Instagram beauty is asking for damages after losing several jobs and endorsements following her ex's social media shenanigans.
Chyna didn't seem to be worried with the drama at hand, however.
Helping hand! The Lashed makeup mogul spent Saturday with daughter Dream, 10 months, and son King Cairo, four, sharing a video of her little ones captioned 'With the help of King , Dream will be walking in no time for sure !!'
It appeared that the Lashed makeup mogul was enjoying Saturday with daughter Dream, 10 months, and son King Cairo, four.
She shared a darling snap of her little guy helping his half-sister around the house which both giggle and chirp.
Mom captioned the video 'With the help of King, Dream will be walking in no time for sure !!' on her Instagram page.
Cairo, whose dad is rapper and Kylie Jenner ex Tyga, also helped his little sister at meal time, seen cheering on bib-wearing baby girl.
Chyna also posted a picture of her little lady sporting rainbow kitty ears on Snapchat.
Dream is quickly approaching her first birthday, which will be on November 10.
She recently gave fans a thrill when she took to Instagram to share candid snaps from her romantic Ibiza nuptials with childhood sweetheart Matt Kay.
And Lacey Turner, 29, was spotted getting back to her everyday life on Wednesday, as she stepped out for coffee in London in her first sighting since the surprise ceremony took place earlier this month.
Wearing a bright red oversized sweater with faded black skinny jeans, the EastEnders star proudly sported her dazzling gold wedding ring as she picked up two warm beverages and snacks during her solo excursion.
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Here comes the bride: Lacey Turner stepped out to grab warm beverages in London on Wednesday, as she was spotted out for the first time since her Ibiza wedding with Matt Kay
The actress looked radiant as she strolled along with her chestnut brown tresses in long curls, which fell down her back, while she shielded her eyes with stylish shades.
Rounding out her ensemble with a pair of animal print Converse shoes, the brunette beauty toted a patterned orange handbag during her leisurely outing.
Her outing came shortly after she shared candid snaps from her romantic boho wedding with Matt, who she has been in a relationship with for 11 years.
Radiant: The screen star looked radiant as she stepped out for her leisurely solo excursion
Golden girl: The EastEnders star proudly showed off her gleaming gold wedding band
The actress posted photos from her own private wedding album, showing her laughing joyously during the ceremony and striking a cool pose in her second gown of the day.
The first romantic snap shows beautiful Lacey bursting into fits of giggles and clapping while clad in her stunning champagne applique floral gown, which she teamed with a waterfall veil.
Her handsome beau Matt is also laughing out loud while clad in a white shirt, braces and chinos.
Red and black: The actress wore a bright red oversized sweater with faded black skinny jeans
Tress-ed to impress: Lacey wore her chestnut brown tresses in long curls, which fell down her back, while she shielded her eyes with stylish shades
Print: The soap beauty rounded out her ensemble with a pair of animal print Converse shoes
Lacey and Matt chose an exclusive hideaway in northern Ibiza, a location that Lacey chose partly because it allowed her to marry in bare feet, she previously admitted.
Another natural snap showed Lacy barefoot on the grass, clad in her second showstopping gown of the day, a classic white gown, with floral lace around the neckline and straps, with a semi sheer section across the midriff.
The floor-sweeping dress featured an elegant tulle hem, with matching sheer panels that added to the graceful feel of the dress.
Actress Lacey looked classically chic with her chestnut locks swept into an elegant updo and stylish shades covering her sparkling peepers.
The big unveiling: The actress stepped shortly after she unveiled her wedding snaps for fans
Bag lady: The brunette beauty toted a patterned orange handbag during her leisurely outing
Low profile: Lacey has been keeping a low profile in the days since her wedding this month
Hitting the road: The actress slipped into her car as she prepared to drive off with her treats
She amped up the glamour further with a swipe of red lipstick.
The couple previously shared photos of their wedding with OK! Magazine with Lacey discussing her hopes for four children with barber shop owner Matt.
The whole day was amazing,' Lacey told OK! magazine in the wedding spread. 'And we felt so much love. Its incredible; its something youve never felt before.
Better known on-screen as Stacey Slater, Lacey made sure her co-stars James Bye (Martin Fowler), Jake Wood (Max Branning), Aaron Sidwell (Steven Beale), Laurie Brett (Jane Beale), Scott Maslen (Jack Branning) joined the 120-strong guestlist.
Glorious: She recently shared candid snaps from her romantic boho wedding to childhood sweetheart Matt Kay
Wow factor: The actress posted photos from her own private wedding album, showing her laughing joyously during the ceremony and striking a cool pose in her second gown of the day
Newlyweds: The couple previously shared photos of their wedding with OK! Magazine with Lacey discussing her hopes for four children with barber shop owner Matt
Former EastEnders veteran Dame Barbara Windsor, best loved for her role as Peggy Mitch, also reunited with the BBC stars for the weekend.
Of her pre-wedding nerves, Lacey confessed: I had a few tiny moments when I panicked, but on the day I couldnt wait to get down the aisle and marry Matt.
'I was like, hurry up, I want to get married! I wasnt nervous walking down the aisle, which was strange as I cant walk down a red carpet without wanting the ground to swallow me up.
The actress once explained that she wanted her ceremony to be far from the BBC One scenes that portrayed her doomed marriage to Bradley Branning (played by Charlie Clements).
Set to wed: The duo have been together since she was 18, after knowing each other as friends first
Engaged: They got engaged last September and tied the knot almost a year to the day
Getting married seems so stressy, she told Sunday magazine in 2007. I wore that [wedding] dress for 15 days and I couldnt breathe out. I wont do it.
'Id hate being the centre of attention too. If I had to get married, I think Id wear Ugg boots and pyjamas.
True to her word, Lacey and Matt's ceremony broke with tradition, even seeing the duo deciding to stay together the night before their wedding.
Not what you hoped for: As EastEnders character Stacey Slater (pictured), Lacey has seen her fair share of wedding dresses
First time is not a charm: Lacey's doomed marriage to Bradley Branning (Charlie Clements, pictured) in the show, encouraged her to choose low fuss nuptials with a dress that did not make her feel uncomfortable
Feeling comfortable: The brunette chose Ibiza so that she could go barefoot, after saying that she often feels uncomfortable on the red carpet (here in 2016)
Notoriously private, the pair have been inseparable since they started dating at the age of 18, following years of friendship.
Thoughts have already to turned to children for Lacey, who has previously said that children were way in the future because she was focusing on her career.
I want four children, said Lacey, to which her new husband added: I want three!
Romantic: The pair said their ceremony broke with many traditions but it suited them better
She has made it clear that she doesn't care what people think about her.
And Lena Dunham managed to keep a straight face as she splashed in a pool while displaying her interesting ballet and synchronized swimming moves in a funny Instagram video on Wednesday.
Showing off her figure in a black bikini in the hilarious clip, the actress and producer, 31, wrote alongside the post: 'I am an artist with many mediums.'
Joker: Lena Dunham kept a straight face as she splashed in a pool while showing off her ballet and synchronized swimming moves in a funny Instagram video on Wednesday
Lena exposed her many tattoos while in a revealing black bikini as she performed ballet positions.
The Girls actress wore her short blonde hair tied in a tiny bun on top of her head.
The Instagram video showed the native New Yorker holding her nose as she flopped belly up in the pool, trying to flip over.
Although perhaps not quite as graceful as a typical ballerina or sychronized swimmer, Lena's legs were seen kicking in the air as the actress pulled herself up from out of the water.
Belly up: Lena exposed her many tattoos while in a revealing black bikini as she performed each ballet position, including a backwards somersault
Pool prowess! The Instagram video showed the native New Yorker holding her nose as she flopped belly up in the pool, trying to flip over
Talented: Showing off her figure in a black bikini in the hilarious clip, the actress and producer, 31, wrote alongside the post: 'I am an artist with many mediums'
After she showcased her aquatic skills, Lena posted an other video to her Instagram story.
In the video, the new American Horror Story actress was accompanied in the pool by her adorable pooch.
The dog-mom shared a sweet moment with her pup as the two swam together in the water.
Not so graceful: The Girls actress wore her short blonde hair tied in a tiny bun on top of her head as she showcased her dance moves
There she goes! Perhaps not quite as graceful as a typical ballerina or sychronized swimmer, Lena's legs were seen kicking in the air as the actress pulled herself up from out of the water
Besides showing off her creative abilities in the pool, Lena has been busy working on multiple projects.
Last week the feminism activist took time to celebrate the second anniversary for her online magazine, Lenny.
Lenny is a feminist newsletter supported by Heart Publications that consists of content covering politics, fashion, culture, and health.
Backyard bonding: After she showcased her aquatic ballet skills, Lena posted an other pool video to her Instagram story
Doggy paddle: The American Horror Story actress was accompanied in the pool by her pooch
Just like she enjoys poking fun of herself on social media, Lena revealed she also does that when it comes to fashion decisions on the red carpet.
Last week, the actress revealed to E! News: 'Ending up on that "Good People, Bad Clothes" page or whatever it's called...that stuff gives me pleasure.
'There are a few pictures of me in, like, a weird shift dress and a blowout from early on where I'm like, "I'm not hosting a morning television show!" but I thought there was some [image] that you had to fit into.'
Lena ended: 'Now I understand that it doesn't matter.'
He's a new father to twins Alexander and Ella.
But George Clooney spared a few moments out of his new routine to take care of business at a home in Los Angeles on Tuesday morning.
The 56-year-old Academy Award-winning actor was spotted carrying a backpack as he left a business meeting just days after saying in an interview with The Daily Mail that he cries 'four times a day.'
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New dad: George Clooney spared a few moments out of his new routine to take care of business at a home in Los Angeles on Tuesday morning
The Good Night, And Good Luck star wore a pair of jeans to his business lunch in the Toluca Lake area of Los Angeles.
Clooney sported a casual chocolate brown polo shirt and matching brown shoes as he walked to his car after his short conference.
The O Brother, Where Art Thou actor carried a large brown backpack in his hand with his tousled salt and pepper colored hair swept to the side.
Simple man: The 56-year-old Academy Award-winning actor was spotted carrying a backpack as he left a business meeting
Clooney said in an interview last week that he may be a little sleep deprived after his wife Amal gave birth to their twins on June 6 in London.
They dont cry, he said proudly. I cry more than they do. I cry four times a day right now, because Im so tired.
'Hey, remember back when you were single, before you didnt have to worry about keeping people alive? Wasnt that great?'
New parents: Amal Clooney gave birth to Alexander and Ella in London on June 6; seen in September at the 74th Venice Film Festival
George admitted that his new role as a father isn't so simple, but he gives the highest praise to his bride of nearly three years.
All they want to do is eat, so I have nothing to give them except a bottle once in a while (expertly, he crooks his elbow to mimic picking up and feeding an infant) and theyre happy about that, but its mostly Amal for them at the moment,' Clooney said. 'I dont even really understand whats going on.
And I have such admiration for my wife because shes breastfeeding them and getting about two hours of sleep per interval, and the love they have for her is a sight to see and its beautiful.
George admitted that his new role as a father isn't so simple, but he gives the highest praise to his bride of nearly three years; seen at the 74th Venice Film Festival in September
While Clooney stayed focused on building his incredible career, the actor admitted that he could have never predicted where he would be today.
'All of this is icing on the cake, he said. Look, Im 56 years old and I didnt think it was going to happen for me. I thought my life would be focused on my career, not relationships, and Id sort of accepted that.
And then I met Amal and I thought, "Well, I have this incredible relationship, this is wonderful." And then... all of a sudden we have these two knuckleheads around who make me laugh every day.'
Clooney directed his latest film Suburbicon, which premieres November 24 and stars Matt Damon and Julianne Moore.
She's one of the world's most recognisable faces and has been Australia's head of state for more than 65 years.
But on Thursday, an unlikely comparison was made when Today host Karl Stefanovic likened Queen Elizabeth to Mrs Doubtfire.
Leaving his co-hosts in fits of laughter, Lisa Wilkinson mockingly warned Karl he could 'get deported' for his comment.
'You can get deported for those kinds of comments!' Karl Stefanovic compares the Queen to Mrs Doubtfire in VERY awkward Today segment
Karl made his comments about the elderly monarch while discussing a photo of Queen Elizabeth meeting the Canadian Governor General in her private study at Balmoral Castle, Scotland.
While Lisa remarked that the Queen was carrying her handbag inside her own home, Karl compared the 91-year-old to a Robin Williams character.
'Do you reckon she is looking more and more like Mrs Doubtfire every day?' He asked Lisa and newsreader Sylvia Jeffreys.
Awkward: Karl made his comments about the elderly monarch while discussing a photo of Queen in her private study at Balmoral Castle, Scotland
'Off with your head!' Lisa jokingly warned her co-host he could face a backlash from his comments about the monarch
Awkward silence and laughter from the two women followed, before Sylvia replied: 'No - I would never say that out loud.'
'I love the Queen you know that,' Karl hit back.
'You can get deported for those kinds of comments Karl,' Lisa jokingly warned her co-host.
'Or not allowed in the country, which would be terrible,' Karl added lightheartedly.
Popular movie: Mrs Doubtfire is a 1993 comedy which sees a divorced dad, played by Robin Williams, dress up as an elderly English housekeeper in order to spend more time with his kids
'Off with your head!' Lisa joked back, to which Karl responded: 'Ah well it's been a good innings.'
Mrs Doubtfire is a 1993 comedy which sees a divorced dad, played by Robin Williams, dress up as an elderly English housekeeper in order to spend more time with his kids.
In February this year, Queen Elizabeth celebrated her sapphire jubilee, marking 65 years on the English throne.
He recently expressed his annoyance over the 'fangirls' at his New York university.
And Brooklyn Beckham proved he only had one lady on his mind as he shared a sweet Instagram snap pining over his girlfriend Chloe Grace Moretz.
Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, the 18-year-old, who is a photography student at Parsons School of Design, shared a sweet snap of the pair which he captioned: ''Thinking of this one xx'.
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Cute couple: Brooklyn Beckham proved he only had one lady on his mind as he shared a sweet Instagram snap pining over his girlfriend Chloe Grace Moretz on Wednesday
In the cute picture, Brooklyn and Chloe were seen cosied up to one another as they snapped a selfie outdoors.
Now that the British teenager has moved to New York City to study, he's been able to meet up with the beauty regularly.
Yet Brooklyn recently admitted that he has a few 'fangirls' at Parsons School of Design in NYC, where is studying photography.
Cute couple: Whilst Brooklyn has revealed he has plenty of 'fangirls' at college he only has eyes for his stunning girlfriend
He admitted in a new interview with The Cut that he sometimes has to ask his more enthusiastic fans to calm down when they run into him.
He said: 'I like people from school but there are a few fangirls in the school Sometimes, I have to be like, Im going to be with you for like, four years, so chill.
'I mean, its gotten better. They understand and they respect it, but its just at the beginning, its such a shock to them, so its fine.'
And Brooklyn, who has spent his entire life mixing in celebrity circles and is often seen at star-studded events, said he's not interested in hanging out with famous people, saying 'I dont hang out with all those famous, annoying people.'
Romantic: Brooklyn Beckham shared a picture on Instagram on Sunday night in which he appears to cuddle girlfriend Chloe Moretz's leg while they watch old fashioned western films together on a night in
'Missing my girl': He captioned the shot to say that these were his favourite nights but complained that he was missing his girl
Hinting: Underneath, actress Chloe commented with a love heart and a wilting rose to indicate that it was her who he was directing the cryptic message at
Meanwhile, Brooklyn Beckham and Chloe were still playing out their love story on social media on Sunday night, as he complained that he was 'missing [his] girl'.
Underneath a throwback shot of one of their favourite pastimes, the actress then commented with a love heart and a wilting flower.
His cryptic message read: 'These nights are my favourite [love heart]. Missing my girl.'
Chloe very much confirmed that she was the girl he was pining for, when she left her comment beneath it.
The black and white post, which was liked by Joanne and David Beckham, appears to show Brooklyn stroking Chloe's leg while they watch old fashion western films in front of the TV.
back on: Chloe and Brooklyn (here in May 2016) previously dated in 2014 and were on and off while they shared a transatlantic relationship
They were first seen together again at the end of August, following claims that they had been 'getting very close'.
Then, two weeks ago, Chloe left a love heart beneath a picture of Brooklyn, in which there appeared to be a two-person shadow on the wall behind him.
Fans were furiously speculating that it was Chloe's shadow in the image, despite his brief fling with model Madison Beer, 18, in July.
They had previously dated in 2014, before splitting the following year and going on to reunite in the summer of 2016, with Chloe confirming: 'We're in a relationship. It's fine. It's no biggie.'
Months later she and Brooklyn had split again, but the Carrie star has fuelled rumours of a romantic reunion once more.
Kinshasa has witnessed a number of demonstrations in protest at Congolese President Joseph Kabila, who is clinging to power beyond his mandate
The two main opposition leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo have called for a political transition without President Joseph Kabila to prepare for long-delayed elections.
Felix Tshisekedi and Moise Katumbe, allied in an opposition coalition called Rally, issued their call on the eve of a crisis meeting at the United Nations in New York on Tuesday to discuss the political stalemate caused by Kabila's refusal to stand down after his second mandate ended in December last year.
Tshisekedi, the son of late veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, signed a statement with Katumbi on Monday in which they accused Kabila of failing to respect of the constitution and a December 2016 agreement which provided for elections within a year.
"In order to prevent the legal vacuum and chaos foreseen when elections are not held by December 31, 2017 at the latest, (we) demand a transition without Mr Kabila, who has become illegal and illegitimate," they wrote.
Joseph Kabila was first elected president of the Democratic Republic of Congo after the assassination of his father in 2001
They proposed that the transition in the vast central African country "be led by eminent consensual personalities tasked with preparing for the democratic, free, transparent and peaceful elections that are not possible either with Mr Kabila or with the electoral commission in its current shape".
The joint statement was also signed by a range of civil society activists. They ruled out any notion of a constitutional referendum intended to alter the length of a presidential term and the number of mandates.
Kabila was first propelled into office after his father, Laurent-Desire Kabila, was assassinated in January 2001, during the Second Congo War. The young soldier won a first elected five-year term in 2006 in a poll organised with the help of the large UN mission deployed in the country.
Congolese opposition leader and wealthy businessman Moise Katumbi wants to see President Joseph Kabila taken out of the equation before a presidential poll
Challenged by Etienne Tshisekedi in 2011, Kabila was declared re-elected by the electoral commission, but the opposition cried foul and observers from the European Union and the Carter Center reported serious irregularities.
Katumbi is the influential former governor of mineral-rich Katanga province.
US President Donald Trump delivered his maiden address to the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday
A bellicose President Donald Trump used his maiden address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday to warn "Rocket Man" Kim Jong-Un that he will "totally destroy" North Korea if it threatens the United States or its allies.
Appearing before the 193-member body that emerged from the ashes of World War II, Trump boasted of America's military strength, signaled he is ready to rip up a nuclear accord with the "murderous regime" in Tehran, and berated US foes from Pyongyang to Caracas.
"The United States has great strength and patience," Trump said, as he followed in the footsteps of US presidents from Harry Truman to Barack Obama, "but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea."
"Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime," he said, using his Twitter-friendly new nickname for the North Korean dictator. "The United States is ready, willing and able, but hopefully this will not be necessary."
Trump warned he would 'totally destroy' North Korea if it threatens the US or its allies
Throughout the 42-minute remarks, Trump did little to temper his trademark tough-guy language for the assembled statesmen and women, warning that swathes of the world were "going to hell" and declaring any trade with North Korea an "outrage."
In language some commentators compared to former president George W. Bush's "axis of evil" speech, Trump pilloried Iran as a corrupt "rogue state" and threatened to rip up the landmark international deal struck in 2015 to curb Tehran's nuclear program.
"Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I don't think you've heard the last of it," Trump declared.
"Believe me. It is time for the entire world to join us in demanding that Iran's government end its pursuit of death and destruction."
But, the US leader added, the greatest threat to the Tehran regime was not the American military but the restless Iranian people.
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif responded on Twitter: "Trump's ignorant hate speech belongs in medieval times -- not the 21st century UN -- unworthy of a reply. Fake empathy for Iranians fools no one."
- 'America's interests' -
The packed UN General Assembly hall greeted President Donald Trump's tough rhetoric and calls for individual nation states to form the basis of the global order with periods of silence punctuated by polite applause
The packed General Assembly hall greeted Trump's tough rhetoric and calls for nation states -- rather than supranational bodies -- to form the basis of the global order with some polite clapping.
But a few pauses for applause were met with stony silence.
Trump did not back away, suggesting his populist "America First" campaign rhetoric should be an example to other UN members: "Our respect for sovereignty is also a call for action. All people deserve a government that cares for their safety, their interests."
"As long as I hold this office, I will defend America's interests above all else, but in fulfilling our obligations to our nations, we also realize that it's in everyone's interests to seek the future where all nations can be sovereign, prosperous and secure."
After decades in which America has led the drive toward a global rules-based order, Trump indicated his foreign policy would define the national interest much more narrowly.
"For too long the American people were told that mammoth, multinational trade deals, unaccountable international tribunals and powerful global bureaucracies were the best way to promote their success," Trump said.
"But as those promises flowed, millions of jobs vanished and thousands of factories disappeared."
The speech provoked strong responses almost immediately -- drawing praise from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump notably made no mention of the Middle East peace process -- nor of climate change, nor the crisis in Myanmar -- during his remarks, and scarcely touched on relations with China and Russia.
But Trump's tough talk on Iran delighted the Israeli leader who dedicated much of his own later speech to alternating praise for Trump with a promise to fight what he said was an "Iranian Curtain" descending across the Middle East.
In Washington, Trump's speech was welcomed by many prominent Republicans, including Senator Orrin Hatch, who welcomed Trump's stark challenge to North Korea's Kim.
"Good for him," Hatch told reporters. "It's about time that somebody talked turkey to that little bastard over there."
- 'Irresponsible' -
But foreign policy experts were less impressed, with some saying Trump was attempting to fashion an ad hoc policy doctrine to justify and unite a diverse series of campaign promises and impetuous Tweets.
Both French President Emmanuel Macron (L) and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned President Donald Trump against ending the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned the United States would forfeit the trust of the international community if it abandons the nuclear accord with Tehran.
"If the United States were not to adhere to the commitments and trample upon this agreement, this will mean it will carry with it the subsequent lack of trust of countries," Rouhani, in New York to attend the UN General Assembly, told NBC.
French President Emmanuel Macron, in his own UN address, said ending the deal would be a "grave error, and not respecting it would be irresponsible."
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh speaks to the media upon his arrival on the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing, in the southern Gaza Strip on September 19, 2017
Hamas leader Ismail Haniya reiterated his party's readiness for Palestinian reconciliation Tuesday, on his return from Egypt to the Gaza Strip.
On Sunday the Islamist party, which rules Gaza, announced it was willing to cede to a series of demands by president Mahmud Abbas's rival Fatah party and backed plans for new elections.
Chief among the Egyptian-brokered concessions was dissolving the so-called administration committee, seen as a rival government to the Abbas-led administration in the West Bank.
"The administrative committee in the Gaza Strip is no longer functioning," Haniyeh told a news conference at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.
"We are ready now to receive the national consensus government to enter the Gaza Strip."
He added that the party was ready to return to Egypt for direct talks with Fatah over the next steps.
"We are ready to return in a few days to Cairo to resume the dialogue," Haniya added, stressing he was "committed to the success" of reconciliation.
On Monday Haniya spoke with Abbas for the first time in nearly a year, and Fatah officials have said they expect prime minister Rami Hamdallah to visit Gaza in the coming days.
Hamas forced Fatah out of Gaza in a near civil war in 2007, and multiple previous attempts at reconciliation have failed.
A poll Tuesday found that two thirds of Palestinians want Abbas to stand down, with just a quarter supporting the 82-year-old.
Presidential elections have not been held since 2005, while parliamentary ones last occurred in 2006.
The poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research found 67 percent of Palestinians wanted Abbas to step down, up from 62 percent three months ago.
In the West Bank, where Abbas is based, 60 percent wanted him out, while in Gaza it was 80 percent.
Ashraf Ghani, president of Afghanistan, addresses the UN General Assembly in New York, on September 19, 2017
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani appealed on Tuesday to Pakistan to work together to curb extremists, seeing an opportunity as the United States sends in more troops.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Ghani said US President Donald Trump's new Afghan strategy sent a signal to Taliban guerrillas that they cannot win on the field and must negotiate peace.
"We welcome this strategy, which has now set us on a pathway to certainty. The Afghan people have looked to the United States for this type of resolve for years," Ghani said.
Trump last month announced an Afghanistan strategy that reversed his previous calls to wind down America's longest war, which was launched after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
He instead has sent thousands more troops to Afghanistan and pledged a tougher line on Pakistan, which has long faced US criticism for its intelligence services' ties with jihadists and for harboring Osama bin Laden.
"We now also have an opportunity for a dialogue with our neighbors on how we can work together earnestly to eliminate terrorism and contain extremism," Ghani said.
"I call upon Pakistan to engage with us on a comprehensive state to state dialogue on peace, security and regional cooperation leading to prosperity," he said.
Pakistan has responded cooly to Trump's criticism, with many Pakistanis noting that they themselves have been a major victim of attacks since their government sided with the United States following September 11.
Analysts see Pakistan's continued relationship with insurgents as part of a fixation on containing historic rival India, which has warm ties with Afghanistan's post-Taliban government.
News / National
by Staff reporter
President Robert Mugabe on Tuesday exposed his frailty in New York City where he was shown by international news channels sleeping most of the time when President Donald Trump was giving his first address to world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly.Mugabe travelled to New York with a 70-member delegation, including his family, inviting a backlash from his critics in Zimbabwe, who accused him of misusing taxpayers' money at a time when Zimbabwe's economy was floundering and showing little signs of recovery. Every member of the 93 year-old leader's entourage was reportedly being paid $1 500 per day in stipends while the majority of the southern African country's citizens were reportedly surviving on less than one dollar per day.Jessie Majome, a vocal legislator from Zimbabwe's main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party led by Morgan Tsvangirai criticised Mugabe for taking a nap at such an important world gathering."Our constitution's foreign policy objectives are anchored on the interests of Zimbabwe; the President's sleeping on the biggest and most important stage of the whole world is the opposite of that. It embarrasses us and puts the country into disrepute. How he can sleep through a nuclear war speech is astounding. To travel so far with so many delegates at such a cost only to sleep so soundly is disconcerting. Surely him and his team must candidly introspect about this worsening state of affairs," said Majome.Health condition kept a secretMugabe's spokesperson George Charamba told the Zimbabwean state-controlled Herald newspaper in May that his boss would not be sleeping but would be avoiding lights from cameras as he had a problem with one of his eyes.The nonagenarian often travels to Singapore for medical attention although his health condition has usually been kept a secret.In his first speech at the UN, Trump vowed to "totally destroy" North Korea if it threatened the United States or its allies."If the righteous many don't confront the wicked few, then evil will triumph," said the US president who called Iran a "rogue nation" and further asserted that the United States was "prepared to take further action" on Venezuela.French President Emmanuel Macron, however, countered Trump's remarks in his own address, saying the nuclear deal with Iran was "essential for peace" and that his country would "not close any door to dialogue" with North Korea.
Police in Baton Rouge, in southern US state of Louisiana, have charged a 23-year-old man with killing two people in a murder spree that may have been racially motivated
Police in the southern US state of Louisiana on Tuesday charged a 23-year-old man with killing two people in a murder spree that may have been racially motivated.
Authorities in Baton Rouge said Kenneth James Gleason, who is white, killed two black men last week, whom he picked out at random in "cold, calculated, planned" murders.
"This is a potential death penalty case," said prosecutor Hillar Moore during a news conference. Gleason faces two counts each of first degree murder and attempted murder.
Authorities did not reveal a motive for the crimes, saying they were still speaking with the suspect.
But alluding to the case's racially-charged nature, Baton Rouge Police Chief Jonathan Dunnam said Gleason's actions "could have potentially created a tear in the fabric that holds this community together."
The chilling account of the murder spree begins last Monday -- when Gleason is alleged to have shot multiple rounds into an African-American neighbor's home. No one was killed in that incident.
On Tuesday, Gleason allegedly picked out 59-year-old Bruce Cofield at random and shot him to death.
On Thursday, he killed again, this time shooting 49-year-old Donald Smart 10 times, according to police.
Police said both victims were killed in the same manner, in which the gunman first shoots from inside his car and then gets out, stands over the victim and shoots several more times.
"Had there not been a swift conclusion to this case, I feel confident that this killer would have probably killed again," Dunnam said.
DNA evidence and surveillance videos tied Gleason to the crimes, authorities said.
Gleason's attorney Christopher Alexander did not return AFP's request for comment, but told The Advocate local newspaper that his client "vehemently denies guilt."
Puerto Rico is already experiencing strong wind and rain as Hurricane Maria approaches
Hurricane Maria slammed into the US Virgin Islands Tuesday, lashing the archipelago with rain as Puerto Rico braced for the Category Five storm's expected landfall on Wednesday.
On St John Island, which was also battered by Hurricane Irma two weeks ago, locals reported seeing trees dramatically swaying in swirling winds, with rain pouring "sideways."
Judi Buckley, former senator for St Croix Island, traveled to St John from her South Carolina home to help with the Irma relief effort -- only to get caught up in Maria.
"Rain is coming through sideways and the trees are swaying," she told AFP.
"We have become the Irma relief hub and our brothers and sisters across the pond can't afford for us to be crippled," she said, referring to those on St Croix.
Maria's 160 mile (255 kilometer) per hour winds had already roared into the eastern Caribbean island of Dominica Tuesday, with official communications to the island completely cut off in the wake of the storm.
"We have lost all what money can buy and replace," Dominica's premier Roosevelt Skerrit posted on Facebook.
But amateur radio operators on the island, home to 72,000 people, have been able to get word out about Maria's impact -- with some reporting downed trees and roofs of homes blown off.
Both a team of Trinidian authorities and a Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency team had to abort rescue and rehabilitation operations to Dominica due to continued intense winds. Both teams hoped to fly out Wednesday instead.
The US National Hurricane Center warned of a "potentially catastrophic" impact as Maria churned northwest towards the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico Tuesday -- with Puerto Rico's Governor Ricardo Rossello describing it as "the worst storm of the last century."
US President Donald Trump vowed "help" to the island's residents on Twitter, writing "Puerto Rico being hit hard by new monster Hurricane. Be careful, our hearts are with you- will be there to help!"
Australia sends asylum-seekers who try to enter the country by boat to processing facilities on Nauru and Papua New Guinea's Manus Island, with those found to be refugees barred from resettling in Australia
A first wave of refugees will leave remote Pacific detention camps and be resettled in the United States in coming weeks, Australian authorities said Wednesday, under a deal that has rankled President Donald Trump.
Canberra sends asylum-seekers who try to enter the country by boat to processing facilities on Nauru and Papua New Guinea's Manus Island, with those found to be refugees barred from resettling in Australia.
They are instead relocated to third countries, or resettled elsewhere in PNG.
The Australian government struck a pact with Washington under former president Barack Obama to resettle some of them in the United States in return for taking an unspecified number of asylum-seekers from Central America.
Doubts over the arrangement surfaced after Trump took office and attacked it as a "dumb deal" in a heated phone call with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, before begrudgingly agreeing to honour it.
New concerns were raised in July by the sudden withdrawal from PNG of American officials assessing the refugees, days after the US passed its annual 50,000-refugee intake cap.
But Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the first group were expected to depart PNG and Nauru "in coming weeks".
"The refugees will receive notification of the outcome of their application to resettle under the US Refugee Admissions Programme in coming days," he said.
"Processing of other individuals continues and further decisions by US authorities are expected in due course. As we have made clear from the outset the resettlement arrangements will take time and will not be rushed."
Turnbull added that this was the "first stage".
"About 25 from both Manus and Nauru will be going to the United States. I just want to thank again President Trump for continuing with that arrangement," he said.
Their move was subject to Washington's "very, very thorough vetting, their extreme vetting," he added.
"But we look forward to more refugees, people who have been judged to be refugees on Nauru and Manus, to be taken to the United States."
- 'Don't leave them in limbo' -
Nearly 800 men are being held on Manus, and 371 men, women and children are detained on Nauru, according to Australian immigration data as of July 31.
The camps' conditions have been widely criticised by refugee advocates and medical professionals, who say some asylum-seekers suffer from mental health problems due to their prolonged detention.
A PNG court ruled last year that holding people on Manus was unconstitutional, and Canberra is set to shut the camp in October, but it remains unclear what will happen to those not taken by the United States.
Amnesty International urged Washington to take as many refugees as possible to ensure "not a single person is left behind".
"Amnesty International acknowledges the US for giving people a genuine chance at settling and restarting their lives in a safe place," said the group's refugee coordinator Graham Thom.
"But for the sake of those still living in the harmful conditions on Nauru and Manus we are urging the US to take as many people off these islands as possible."
The Human Rights Law Centre echoed these sentiments, saying while some now had hope, the majority remained in limbo.
"In signing the US deal our government was rightly conceding that it couldn't just abandon people on Nauru and Manus forever," said the centre's director of legal advocacy Daniel Webb.
"That was an important and long overdue concession. Now, it is our government's responsibility to make sure not a single person is left behind. Not one life can be abandoned in limbo."
Australian authorities say they have prevented 13 terror attacks on home soil in the past few years, including an alleged plot in July to bring down a plane using poisonous gas or a crude bomb disguised as a meat mincer
A major attack in Australia is "inevitable", one of the nation's top counter-terrorism police officers said Wednesday, warning that "anything can happen at any time".
Australian authorities say they have prevented 13 terror attacks on home soil in the past few years, including an alleged plot in July to bring down a plane using poisonous gas or a crude bomb disguised as a meat mincer.
Canberra also released a national strategy last month to help venue operators prevent vehicle terror attacks carried out in crowded public places following deadly assaults in Europe.
"I don't like to say it but it will happen. It's inevitable," New South Wales Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch, the state's counter-terrorism boss, told Sydney's Daily Telegraph.
"Despite everything that is being done and the good work that law enforcement and intelligence is doing, without wanting to create unnecessary fear within the community, it's going to happen."
Canberra has become increasingly worried about homegrown extremism, and raised the national terror alert level in September 2014. It stands at "probable", the third in a five-level scale.
That means "credible intelligence, assessed by our security agencies, indicates that individuals or groups continue to possess the intent and capability to conduct a terrorist attack in Australia".
Murdoch said a key risk was attackers not already on the authorities' radar, such as two Sydney men currently charged with the alleged plan to bring down an international flight.
"(Domestic spy agency) ASIO tells us that the profile (of a terrorist) is a lone wolf, small groups, rudimentary weapons easily accessible like knives, firearms and cars," he added.
"So that's their threat profile and then all of a sudden we get something like a meat grinder.
"What that tells us is that while we are pointed in a particular direction by intelligence sources, we need to maintain an open mind because in this business anything can happen at any time."
In the heart of Sydney, the state's capital, concrete blocks have been put in place to act as barriers against vehicle attacks.
State premier Gladys Berejiklian told the newspaper her government was "doing everything we can to keep the community as safe as possible".
Several terror attacks have taken place in Sydney in recent years, including a cafe siege in 2014 that saw two hostages killed.
US President Donald Trump addresses the 72nd Annual UN General Assembly in New York
President Donald Trump's debut speech at the United Nations featured saber-rattling aplenty, but it also showed glimmers of a Trump doctrine that could transform America's place in the world.
It was described by one observer as a "42-minute tweetstorm" and by another as president George W. Bush's "'axis of evil' speech on steroids."
But in most respects, Trump's first stint before the green marble rostrum was everything you might expect from the truculent, norm-shattering businessman-turned-politician.
It was decidedly not what anyone would have expected from any of his 44 predecessors as president of the United States, and heralded a new style of American leadership in the global arena.
Trump's rhetoric -- dubbing Kim Jong-un a "rocket man" on a "suicide mission" -- was lapped up by supporters at home, but left allies around the world bewildered at the change that has gripped the world's only superpower.
Beyond the bellicose style, Trump demanded a change in substance, making it clear he wants to turn the clock back on the last half-century's growth of global rules and global institutions and return to the primacy of the nation state.
Trump's remarks used the words "sovereign" or "sovereignty" 21 times, rhetoric more often deployed in modern times by China to deflect criticism of a domestic crackdown or by Russia to deride US interference in domestic affairs.
Aides say Trump's call for a strong nation state was not a rejection of multilateralism per se, but rather a rejection of a globalism that dilutes the will of the people.
Allies were left with a renewed sense that "America First" will mean America alone.
"In America, we do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to watch," Trump said.
Top Trump advisors had billed the address as "deeply philosophical," setting out an intellectual framework for the president's long-held world view.
For the White House, that idea is a useful counterpoint to critics who say Trump has no intellectual heft, and a beginning to build an ideological legacy that could survive beyond one presidency.
But it also reflects the continued influence of nationalist ideas inside Trump's White House, even after the departure of controversial aide Steve Bannon.
The speech also showed the continued influence of advisors like Stephen Miller, who played a major role in drafting the address, and appears to be following in the footsteps of Barack Obama aide Ben Rhodes, who developed a huge amount of power by wielding the speechwriter's pen.
But Washington's foreign policy establishment -- not predisposed to praise Trump -- pointed to numerous contradictions that put a question mark over the creation of any cohesive "Trump doctrine."
While insisting that America no longer builds democracies, Trump called for democracy to prevail in Iran and Venezuela.
- A man with no plan? -
Trump trashed the deal to curb Iran's nuclear program, but the White House has offered no clear attainable alternative beyond extending it in perpetuity.
US officials privately admit that any military option against North Korea would be potentially disastrous for allies in South Korea, within range of Pyongyang artillery loaded with chemical weapons.
"He comes across as a man with no plan," said Thomas Wright of the Brookings Institution. "It will be seen as weak and directionless and full of bluster."
Above all, Trump's critics question whether the clock can be rolled back to philosophies that dominated the less globalized world of the early 1900s.
"Sovereignty in our era fundamentally requires close cooperation with other nations and with strong global institutions, which President Trump rejects," said Barry Pavel, a veteran of policymaker in Republican and Democratic administrations now with the Atlantic Council.
That thinking still resonates with many of the diplomats, commanding officers and spooks -- those dubbed the deep state by Trump supporters -- who have largely continued with business as usual, despite the new White House occupants.
Even Trump's closest lieutenants, from Defense Secretary James Mattis to Vice President Mike Pence, have -- without directly contradicting Trump -- shaved off the rougher edges of his rhetoric.
And, so far, Trump's actions do not match his words. He has ripped up a trans-Pacific trade pact, but despite criticism has not yet left left the Paris climate accord or collapsed the Iran accord by reintroducing sanctions.
That may change in the coming months as Trump's team transposes speeches like that at the UN or in Warsaw and Riyadh into a formal National Security Strategy.
Powerful Hurricane Maria comes on the heels of record-breaking storm Irma, which killed 40 people across the Caribbean
Hurricane Maria closed in on the US Virgin Islands Wednesday as the US National Hurricane Center warned of a "potentially catastrophic" impact from a storm that has already killed at least two people in the Caribbean.
Winds packing 160 miles (255 kilometers) an hour were already lashing the US islands as Maria barreled westwards, forecast to make landfall before heading to Puerto Rico.
"Preparations against life-threatening storm surge and rainfall, flooding and destructive winds should be rushed to completion," the NHC said, warning the eye of the Category Five hurricane was approaching St Croix, one of the US Virgin Islands.
"Very violent and intense right now as we have just begun to experience hurricane force winds," said 31-year-old Coral Megahy late Tuesday, as she hunkered down on St Croix. "We can hear debris banging on the aluminum windows as well right now."
On St John Island, locals reported seeing trees swirling in the wind, with rain coming "sideways" as Maria continued on its path of destruction after battering the island of Dominica and other territories in the eastern Caribbean.
Arriving just as islanders are struggling to recover from devastating Hurricane Irma, which struck earlier this month, Maria claimed two victims in the French territory of Guadeloupe, where two other people were missing.
One person was killed by a falling tree as powerful winds whipped the archipelago, authorities said, while another died on the seafront. Two more disappeared when their boat went missing in the storm.
Judi Buckley, former senator for St Croix Island, traveled to St John from her South Carolina home to help with the Irma relief effort -- only to get caught up in Maria.
"We have become the Irma relief hub and our brothers and sisters across the pond can't afford for us to be crippled," she said, referring to those on St Croix.
On neighboring Dominica, premier Roosevelt Skerrit posted on Facebook that there were initial reports of "widespread devastation," with official communications to the island completely cut off in the wake of the storm.
The airport and ports have been closed on the tropical island of 72,000 people.
St Martin, a French-Dutch island that was among the worst hit by Irma with 14 dead, was under a maximum "violet" alert, with people ordered to stay indoors.
A similar measure was in place in the British Virgin Islands.
Hurricane Maria
"Our islands are extremely vulnerable right now," the territory's premier Orlando Smith said in a statement, warning that the storm could turn debris left by Irma into dangerous projectiles.
On Puerto Rico, Governor Ricardo Rossello described Maria as "the worst storm of the last century."
Schoolteacher Noemi Aviles Rivera, 47, who experienced Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and Georges in 1998, said: "I'm not denying I'm scared. I feel worried because it's the first time I'll see a hurricane of this magnitude."
- 'Everything is shaking' -
Guadeloupe was serving as a base for aid flights to Irma-hit French territories after the hurricane, and there were fears that major damage there could hamper the relief operation. Authorities announced a driving ban, with several areas around the largest city Pointe-a-Pitre flooded and fallen trees blocking many roads.
Some 40 percent of households in the territory of 400,000 were without power.
"Everything around me is shaking," former French minister Victorin Lurel told BFMTV from his home in the south of the island.
Forecasters have warned Maria will remain 'extremely dangerous' as it makes its way across the Caribbean
The Dominican Republic, whose east coast was battered by Irma, ordered citizens in part of the north to evacuate ahead of Maria's arrival.
St Kitts and Nevis, the British island of Montserrat, and the Puerto Rican islands of Culebra and Vieques were also on alert.
- Preparing for the worst -
Britain, France and the Netherlands boosted resources for the Caribbean ahead of the storm, after facing accusations that they were ill-prepared for the damage done by Irma in their overseas territories.
"We are planning for the unexpected, we are planning for the worst," said Chris Austin, head of a UK military task force set up to deal with the aftermath of Irma.
France said 110 more soldiers would be deployed to the region after widespread complaints of looting and lawlessness on St Martin after last week's storm.
Building supplies were hurriedly flown in to help islanders repair roofs torn off by Irma as Maria approached.
- Hurricane series -
Irma left around 40 people dead altogether in the Caribbean before churning west and pounding Florida, where the toll of deaths linked to the hurricane rose to 58 on Tuesday.
The hurricane broke records when it whipped up winds of 295 kilometers per hour for more than 33 hours straight.
Maria is the latest in a string of hurricanes to pound the Caribbean this storm season
French President Emmanuel Macron said the lethal sequence of hurricanes was "one of the direct consequences of global warming."
Macron hosted US President Donald Trump in Paris in July when he sought to persuade the US leader to reconsider his decision to pull out of the Paris climate accord.
Many scientists are convinced that megastorms such as Irma are intensified by the greater energy they can draw from oceans that are warming as a result of climate change.
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Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) attempts to clear Rohingya Muslim refugees off a road near Balukhali refugee camp near the Bangladehsi district of Ukhia on September 19, 2017
Bangladesh's army was ordered Wednesday to take a bigger role helping hundreds of thousands of Rohingya who have fled violence in Myanmar, amid warnings it could take six months to register the new refugees.
Troops would be deployed immediately in Cox's Bazar near the border where more than 420,000 Rohingya Muslims have arrived since August 25, said Obaidul Quader, a senior minister and deputy head of the ruling Awami League party.
Soldiers would help build shelters and toilets for the thousands of refugees still sleeping in the open under pounding monsoon rain, Quader told AFP.
"The army presence is especially needed on the spot to construct their shelters, which is a very tough task, and ensure sanitation," he said.
The latest order came from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Quader said.
The soldiers would also ensure order and assist with distributing relief, a chaotic process that seen stampedes as donors have hurled food and other staples from moving trucks.
Burning Rohingya villages
Previously troops had been tasked with transporting foreign relief supplies from the country's port city of Chittagong airport to Cox's Bazar where the overcrowded camps are located.
As the handful of ill-equipped camps rapidly reached capacity, Bangladesh announced it would create a new site capable of housing some 400,000 refugees within 10 days.
Extra water pumps have been installed at some locations, and concrete rings for latrines stockpiled along the roadside.
But there were few signs of major construction work underway, with many refugees complaining they were being ordered to move on without any idea where to go.
- "We don't know where to go" -
"We don't know where would we go. We are poor. We managed to buy the bamboo and tarpaulin with people's help, and now I have to relocate again," said Mujibur Rahman, a 48-year-old Rohingya father of 10.
"I don't know when this moving game will stop."
The government has been trying to herd refugees into designated areas, fearful that nearby cities could be overwhelmed if they are left unchecked.
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has issued a new call for Myanmar to take back the some 420,000 Rohingya Muslims who have fled violence in the Buddhist-dominated country
"I tried to go to the place where the Bangladeshi government said they set aside land for us. But locals drove us out asking for money to settle us down," a Rohingya community leader, Yusuf Majhi, told AFP.
Local authorities have set up a dozen relief centres and several emergency kitchens to streamline aid distribution.
But efforts by the army to officially register the new arrivals amid the crowded camps has been moving at a glacial pace, said Brigadier General Saidur Rahman.
"We are aiming to finish it within five or six months," said Rahman, who heads the registration drive.
More registration boothes would be erected to complete the mammoth task, he added.
Monsoon downpours are compounding the misery.
Cox's Bazar has been pounded with 21.4 centimetres (8.4 inches) of rain in the past five days, raising fears of landslides in the unstable, muddy hills on which thousands of refugees were camped.
Hundreds of refugees were forced to abandon their shanties Wednesday in a rubber plantation after heavy rain flooded the area, according to an AFP correspondent at the scene.
"My tent has been flooded in knee-deep water. The children are suffering from the cold," said Nur Mohammad, a 62-year-old Rohingya man who arrived in Bangladesh with 16 members of his family.
Rohingya, who are predominantly Muslim, are reviled by many in Buddhist-majority Myanmar.
Rohingya Muslim refugees carry an elderly woman along a road near Balukhali refugee camp near the Bangladehsi district of Ukhia on September 19, 2017
The UN human rights chief has described the systematic attacks against the Rohingya minority by Myanmar's security forces as a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing".
Sheikh Hasina has issued a new call for Myanmar to take back some of the Rohingya.
Myanmar's de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi said in a speech Tuesday that the country would take back verified refugees.
But her speech "did not present the real picture" of the Rohingya situation, said Bangladesh's information minister Hasanul Haq, who has been briefing reporters on the crisis.
"The condition she set on the return of the refugees is not acceptable," he said in Dhaka on Wednesday.
"Her speech also did not highlight the ethnic oppression and genocide of the Rohingya."
This photograph taken on September 16, 2017, shows Indian labourers loading bricks onto a tractor trolley at a brick kiln on the outskirts of Amritsar
Millions of Indian brick workers are trapped in bonded labour and regularly cheated out of their wages, an anti-slavery group said Wednesday as it demanded government action.
A study by Anti-Slavery International in the northern state of Punjab said workers are often rescued by NGOs only to return to the kilns, needing back wages owed to them or lacking other opportunities.
There are an estimated 10 million workers toiling amid punishing heat and life-threatening pollution at tens of thousands of small-scale brick kilns in India.
The kilns have become part of the underbelly of India's economic miracle, producing building materials for gleaming offices, factories and call centres sprouting up across the world's seventh largest economy.
Impoverished families are often forced to involve their children in hard labour since workers are paid by the number of bricks made.
The "Invisible Chains" report found 65 to 80 percent of children under 14 working for an average of nine hours a day over the hot summer months.
"We have found appalling levels of bonded labour and child labour... young children are working for nine hours a day in a dusty air filled with chemicals rather than going to school," Sara Mount, the group's Asia programme manager, said.
This photograph taken on September 16, 2017, shows Indian labourers loading bricks onto a tractor trolley at a brick kiln on the outskirts of Amritsar
"Often brick kiln workers are rescued from a situation of bonded labour in brick kilns in one season but then have little choice in the following season but to work in the brick kilns again," she said in the report.
Bonded labour is illegal in India but rules are regularly flouted to maximise profits with little fear of the law.
Scenes of sweaty bare-footed workers hauling heavy loads and hacking at clay show the economic benefits of India's speedy growth are yet to reach the marginalised sections of the society.
- Locked up at night -
The report is based on testimonies from families who have worked in the kilns in squalid conditions.
"We toiled day and night for five months but we were barely paid the wages," said Nohar Bai, a 35-year-old worker.
This photograph taken on September 18, 2017 shows an Indian boy working at a brick kiln on the outskirts of Jalandhar on September 18, 2017
"Together with my husband we would make some 1,400 bricks in a day. We were a group of 23 people and at night they would lock us all up in a small room. We were treated worse than slaves," she told AFP by phone.
Rinky, a 26-year-old mother of one, said her employers owed her family 32,000 rupees ($498) -- a fortune for many in a country where millions live on less than $2 a day.
"We will not go back again to work there even if it means we will have to forgo what is our rightful earning," she said.
Tejinder Singh Dhaliwal, Punjab's labour commissioner, denied rules were being flouted with impunity at the kilns.
"Whenever we get any complaint we act promptly. On the whole conditions are not too bad," he told AFP.
"Even otherwise we conduct our own surveys and wherever needed we take action. I don't think rules are being flouted."
Figures cited in the report said nearly 90 per cent of the kilns do not have access to running water and an average family lives in a cramped 7.6 square metre room at the site.
Volunteers for Social Justice, Anti-Slavery International's partner in the research, said systemic changes were needed to overhaul the exploitative industry.
This photograph taken on September 16, 2017, shows Indian labourers loading bricks onto a tractor trolley at a brick kiln on the outskirts of Amritsar
"The government must ensure workers are paid minimum wages regularly. This would help reduce poverty and vulnerability of families, so there is less need for children to work," said Jai Singh, director of the group.
"It is time the government takes responsibility and ends this exploitation that shouldn't be taking place in the 21st century."
Former US president Barack Obama, pictured in this file photo from May 9, will deliver a paid speech on health care at a Wall Street event next week
Barack Obama has begun cashing in on his time in the White House with paid Wall Street speeches less than a year after leaving office, a practice which drew stinging rebukes for Hillary Clinton during last year's presidential campaign.
The former US president will appear Monday before a who's who of the US health care industry at a conference to be held next week by the New York trading firm Cantor Fitzgerald, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter.
He will deliver remarks before answering questions from the audience, they said on condition of anonymity. Obama will discuss his signature 2010 health care reform legislation, known as Obamacare, which Republican lawmakers are still working to dismantle after several failed attempts.
According to a person briefed on Obama's planned appearance, he will be paid about $400,000.
In August, Obama addressed a New York gathering held by the Chicago private banking and wealth management firm Northern Trust.
Panelists at that event, according to the firm's website, included billionaire former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, chief Microsoft cybersecurity advisor Jonathan Trull and IBM general manager for "blockchain" technology Marie Wieck.
- 'True to his values' -
Obama received $400,000 for his Northern Trust appearance, according to Bloomberg News, which also reported Monday that the former president had made a similar appearance this month at the private equity behemoth Carlyle Group.
Carlye Group and Northern Trust both declined to comment when contacted by AFP. A spokeswoman for Cantor Fitzgerald confirmed that Obama would attend next week's event but offered no additional details.
The speeches are the first Obama has given to Wall Street since leaving the Oval Office on January 20. Since May, Obama has made paid appearances in Italy, Germany, Scotland, Canada, Indonesia and South Korea.
He is also due to make an appearance later this month in Toronto and to appear at a New York synagogue in January.
"Since leaving office, President Obama has spent his time doing public and private events, both paid and unpaid, that are true to his values and his record," Kevin Lewis, an Obama spokesman, told AFP.
"Consistent with that, his paid speeches in part have allowed president Obama to contribute $2 million to Chicago programs offering job training and employment opportunities to low-income youth."
The appearances nevertheless risk drawing the same criticism that bedevilled Clinton during last year's White House campaign, exposing Obama to barbs from the left of the Democratic Party, which currently has no clear standard bearer.
Clinton has since written she now regrets delivering paid remarks to the investment bank Goldman Sachs and others because it created the impression that she was in their pockets.
Since her defeat, Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, who are fiercely critical of the financial industry, have taken on more prominent roles in the party.
- Hardly the first -
"Given that (Obama) is probably not going to run for office again, being paid to give speeches by Wall Street firms will not compromise any policy decisions now or in the future," said Randy Albelda, an economist at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
"Still, these type of appearances (and being paid well for them) may tarnish his reputation among a liberal base and bolster the perception that Democrats are the party of the elite."
Wall Street has viewed Obama with some caution. As president, he denounced the financial industry's "reckless practices" while pushing for stricter government oversight.
Still, the Obama administration failed to prosecute a single senior Wall Street banker after the 2008 financial crisis and did not dismantle any of the banks deemed "too big to fail."
Obama is also hardly the first former leader to work the paid speech circuit. Former British premier Tony Blair and former US president Bill Clinton have done so famously.
And in 2013, former French president Nicolas Sarkozy appeared at the annual SkyBridge Alternatives (SALT) conference in Las Vegas, an event spearheaded by President Donald Trump's one-time communications director Anthony Scaramucci.
Children flash victory signs as a convoy carrying US-made Oshkosh armoured vehicles heads to the Syrian city of Raqa on September 19, 2017 to reinforce fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces battling the Islamic State group in its onetime bastion
US-backed fighters have captured 90 percent of the Syrian city of Raqa from the Islamic State group after overrunning five strategic neighbourhoods, a monitor said on Wednesday.
"Because of the heavy (US-led) coalition air strikes, IS withdrew from at least five key neighbourhoods over the past 48 hours," said Syrian Observatory for Human Rights chief Rami Abdel Rahman.
"This allowed the Syrian Democratic Forces to control 90 percent of the city."
IS has pulled out of the north of the city and abandoned its grain silos and mills.
"IS is now confined to the city centre," Abdel Rahman said.
"The difficulty in advancing and fully clearing these neighbourhoods is linked to the mines that IS has left behind."
IS seized Raqa in early 2014, transforming the city into the de facto Syrian capital of its self-declared caliphate.
It quickly became synonomous with the group's most gruesome atrocities, including public beheadings.
Backed by US-led coalition air strikes, the SDF spent months encircling the city before entering it in early June.
Tens of thousands of civilians have fled the fighting in recent months. Estimates of the number still inside the city range from fewer than 10,000 to as many as 25,000.
News / National
by Staff reporter
War veteran and senior intelligence officer in the President's Office Charles Gumbo who passed away on Thursday and was declared a liberation war hero was buried at his farm in Chivhu yesterday.Friends, relatives and colleagues converged at the Gumbo farm in Chikomba for the burial of Gumbo who died at Midlands Private Hospital after a long illness.Several speakers described Gumbo as a dedicated son of the soil who sacrificed a lot for his motherland.Director Internal in the President's Office Walter Bhasopo, Major General Trust Mugoba and Acting Chikomba District Administrator Mr Billiart Tasarira said the death of Gumbo has a left big void that will be difficult to fill.Born on the 24th of April 1954, Gumbo whose Chimurenga name was Jack Benz joined the liberation struggle in 1975 after quitting his job at the then Rhodesia Railways through Botswana at Selebi Pikwe before he was transferred to Zambia where upon arrival he together with his colleagues were taken to Kamwala Prison were most of the ZNUP cadres were kept after the death of Herbet Chitepo.After release from prison Gumbo was sent to Tanzania where he received training at Morogoro and later in China.He was assigned to Tanzania as an instructor at Nachingeya Camp.He joined the President's Office as a security officer in 1987 and rose through the ranks to become a senior intelligence officer a position he held until his death.He had retired in 2009 and has been serving the organisation on a special contact.Gumbo was also the chairperson of the War Veterans Association in Chikomba district from 1997-2003.
US President Donald Trump addresses the General Assembly
With his threats to "totally destroy" North Korea, Donald Trump is playing into Pyongyang's hands by offering justification for a nuclear weapons programme it insists is for self-defence, analysts say.
The US leader used his maiden speech at the UN General Assembly to deliver a blistering warning to Pyongyang, after it tested its sixth and largest nuclear bomb and responded to new sanctions by launching its longest-ever missile flight over Japan.
Trump said Tuesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un was "on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime".
If the US is "forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea".
Far from persuading Kim to give up his drive for nuclear weapons, analysts said Trump's speech could have the opposite effect.
"With those words, President Trump handed the Kim regime the soundbite of the century," said Marcus Noland at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
"It will play on a continuous loop on North Korean national television" as proof that Pyongyang needs an effective deterrent against what it views as American aggression.
Joel Wit, senior fellow at the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University, said despite the bluster, it was far from clear that Washington was ready to pay the human price for a conflict.
But he added Trump was a "wildcard and it's hard for anyone to figure out when he is serious and when he isn't".
The US has 28,500 US troops stationed in the South, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War which ended in a ceasefire rather than a peace treaty.
Aside from the burgeoning nuclear threat, North Korean artillery bristles on the tense frontier, putting nearby Seoul and its millions of inhabitants in the crosshairs of conventional -- and chemical -- weapons.
Japan and its megacities are also within easy reach of Pyongyang's missiles.
Any US attack would risk massive retaliation with a potentially catastrophic loss of life.
Earlier this year Trump's former chief adviser Steve Bannon told The American Prospect: "There's no military solution, forget it."
Trump's comments probably sound to North Korean ears like empty threats, said Wit.
"I suspect they think they are going to prove (Trump) to be a paper tiger," he told AFP.
- 'Where is the red line?' -
But Jeung Young-Tae, director of military studies at Dongyang University in South Korea, said the rising threat from the North meant it was not possible to dismiss Trump's comments as "empty bluffing".
"The problem is, where is the red line to trigger a military option?" he said, adding that while conflict was still very unlikely, the North's continued provocations were making it harder for the US to agree to dialogue.
"Its ICBM and nuclear weapons programmes have become simply too big and too threatening to view as nothing more than a bargaining chip for negotiation. Now the threat is real for many Americans."
If the purpose of Trump's apocalyptic language is to bring the North Koreans to the negotiating table, his piecemeal approach to diplomacy is likely to be working against him, said Mira Rapp-Hooper, senior research scholar at the Paul Tsai China Center at Yale Law School.
In the same General Assembly speech, he also threatened to end a meticulously constructed deal with Iran over its weapons programme -- a move which makes the US look like an unreliable negotiating partner.
China -- the North's only major ally and trading partner -- has tried to cool the hyperbole in an effort to reboot long-stalled talks. But it has faced flak over its apparent reluctance to let the global censure destabilise the Pyongyang regime.
Rapp-Hooper said was unclear whether Trump's "apocalyptic" language was a strategy to scare Beijing to take a tougher line on its isolated neighbour, or a reflection of his belief in the effectiveness of military action.
"But basically that's a unholy choice between a real threat of deliberate war and a reckless gamble that risks horrid miscalculation," she said.
This photograph taken on September 19, 2017 shows 69-year-old former photojournalist Alan Lee posing in front of his photo exhibit at Singapore's Assisi Hospice
Looking frail in a wheelchair and breathing with the aid of an oxygen tank, photographer Alan Lee grasps the camera that he used to take pictures of his fellow patients at a Singapore hospice.
The 69-year-old former photojournalist suffers from lung disease and knows he is going to die -- but that has not stopped him pursuing his passion for photography.
He took black and white pictures of other patients at the Assisi Hospice happily involved in various activities, and put 19 of them on display in an exhibition.
This photograph taken on September 19, 2017 shows a volunteer pushing 69-year-old former photojournalist Alan Lee in a wheelchair at Singapore's Assisi Hospice
Lee said he wanted to send a message that there is no reason to give up on life even in your dying days.
"I didn't come here to die. I still want to take pictures, there is no reason for me to stop taking pictures," said Lee, dressed in a hospital gown, speaking softly and haltingly.
"People come with the mindset that when you go to a hospice, you're going to die. And I wanted to change that. The only way I can do it is through my pictures," he said.
Looking frail in a wheelchair and breathing with the aid of an oxygen tank, photographer Alan Lee grasps the camera that he used to take pictures of his fellow patients at a Singapore hospice
Lee used to work for magazines in the city-state and in his younger days covered major news events in Southeast Asia.
He is facing the inevitable with calm.
"There's no point being afraid... If you're afraid to die, you're a sad man," said the divorced father of two sons.
He added that he hoped people would remember him as "a crazy old man".
This picture taken on August 23, 2017 shows Dian Yulia Novi (L) with her husband Nur Solikin during their trial
An Indonesian militant was jailed for 11 years on Wednesday for orchestrating a plot inspired by the Islamic State group to stage a suicide bomb attack on the presidential palace.
Muhammad Nur Solikin, 27, and his wife Dian Yuli Novi were among five jihadists detained last December over plans to attack the palace in Jakarta during a presidential guard-changing ceremony with a three-kilogram bomb encased in a pressure cooker.
The sentence was less than the 15 years which prosecutors had sought.
One of his co-inspirators Agus Supriyadi received six years' jail.
Last month Solikin's wife Novi was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in jail for her role in the plot.
She was the first woman to be convicted of planning a suicide bombing in Indonesia, highlighting the more active role women are taking in violent extremism.
Police believe the group was strongly linked to Bahrun Naim, a leading Indonesian militant currently fighting with Islamic State in Syria.
Indonesia, with the world's largest Muslim population, has long struggled with Islamic militancy and has suffered numerous attacks on its soil.
Many Indonesians have flocked to join IS in the Middle East, while radicals who have carried out attacks in the country have been linked to the jihadists.
Changi airport: a baggage handler faces charges of misrouting hundreds of pieces of luggage
A Singaporean baggage handler has been charged with "mischief" for allegedly swapping tags on hundreds of suitcases at the city-state's airport, causing them to end up at the wrong destination.
Tay Boon Keh, 63, could be jailed if found guilty of having swapped the tags on 286 bags at Changi Airport, one of the world's busiest hubs and often voted the world's best airport.
Tay, who appeared in court Tuesday, is facing 286 counts of mischief.
Luggage originally bound for various parts of the world, including Perth, Manila, Frankfurt, London and San Francisco, was affected, according to court documents.
The charges said Tay knew that he was likely to "cause wrongful loss" to the Singapore airport operator. His motives remained unclear and were not stated in the charges.
Changi handled nearly 59 million passengers last year.
The airport operator told the Straits Times newspaper the case was an isolated incident.
"Nonetheless, we have enhanced access control as well as the CCTV coverage in the baggage handling area. Patrols have also been stepped up," its spokesman was quoted as saying.
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani insisted that his country has complied with a 2015 nuclear accord as he addressed the UN General Assembly
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani insisted Wednesday his country has complied with the nuclear accord it signed with six world powers, and warned "rogue newcomer" Donald Trump that the United States faces isolation if he tears it up.
Addressing the UN General Assembly one day after the US president appeared on the same podium to launch a blistering attack on both Iran and the 2015 accord, Rouhani warned the fate of the deal cannot be decided by "one or two countries."
"It will be a great pity if this agreement were to be destroyed by rogue newcomers to the world of politics. The world will have lost a great opportunity," Rouhani told the world body.
"By violating its international commitments, the new US administration only destroys its own credibility and undermines international confidence in negotiating with it or accepting its word or promise."
But, outside the assembly chamber, there were signs that America's allies -- while still opposed to abandoning the accord -- may be prepared to countenance additions to it to appease Trump's concerns and save the agreeent.
President Donald Trump told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday that the "Iran deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into"
France's President Emmanuel Macron repeated his support of a deal that European capitals firmly believe remains the best way to prevent Tehran's Islamist regime from developing a nuclear weapon.
But he admitted "we have to add two or three pillars."
These measures should include "one to better control ballistic missiles and ballistic activities" and another to prolong the agreement beyond 2025, when limits on Iran's nuclear enrichment will start to expire.
A possible third pillar would involve "open discussions with Iran about the current situation in the region."
Macron's suggestions came in response to the US argument that Iran has broken the spirit of the nuclear deal by continuing to develop ballistic missiles and to fund and train "terrorist" groups around the Middle East.
They would also address what US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson calls the "most glaring flaw" in the deal -- the so-called "sunset clauses" that will allow Iran to resume uranium enrichment in stages after 2025.
Rouhani dismissed the idea of renegotiating the accord.
"An American government that chooses to trample on her legal and legitimate international commitments, a conversation with such a government would be a waste of time," he said.
It was not clear whether renewed discussion about extending the deal will be enough to convince Trump to endorse the accord before he is due to report to the US Congress on October 15 to certify Iran's compliance.
Trump told reporters: "I have decided. I'll let you know what the decision is."
The parties to the 2015 nuclear deal were to meet later in the day, providing a venue for a tense first encounter between Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Tillerson.
The stakes are high. If the US Congress decides to reimpose economic sanctions -- despite the concerns of fellow deal signatories Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- the agreement would likely collapse.
Asked whether Trump would withdraw the United States from the deal, the US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said "if he does not certify he certainly has grounds to not do that."
US allies in Europe, along with many of Trump's critics in Washington, fear this could trigger a new Middle East arms race and diplomatic crisis even as the world faces an aggressive nuclear-armed Pyongyang.
Assembly delegates are still reeling from Trump's threat to "totally destroy" North Korea, and if America is blamed for tanking the Iran deal, Trump may find it hard to cajole Kim Jong-Un into a diplomatic solution.
France's President Emmanuel Macron supports the Iran nuclear deal that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will defend at the UN General Assembly
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogerhini met US Vice President Mike Pence and argued that the deal is working and that Iran has been found to be living up to its commitments by nuclear watchdog the IAEA.
"Iran is delivering on its commitments," Mogerhini told Pence, according to her office. "It is therefore important that a full and effective implementation of the deal, in all its parts and by all parties, continues."
Trump did not hold back in his own General Assembly address on Tuesday, sending his clearest signal yet that he intends to torpedo the agreement.
"Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I don't think you've heard the last of it -- believe me," he declared.
Several of Trump's advisors, including Tillerson and Haley, have argued that Iran's ballistic missile tests and support for "terrorist" groups around the Middle East breach the "spirit" of the deal.
Rouhani rejected this, condemning what he said was "ignorant, absurd and hateful rhetoric filled with ridiculously baseless allegations."
The IAEA says its inspectors have found Iran in technical compliance with the restrictions imposed on its nuclear program, but it is for the deal signatories to decide if the accord is broken.
- Sunset clauses -
Aside from the United States, the other signatories have signaled support for keeping the deal, even if European capitals share Washington's concerns about Iran's subversive activities in the Middle East.
A view of the United Nations headquarters during the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly
After Rouhani, the highlights of Wednesday's second day of leader speeches at the UN assembly included Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe -- who took a tough line on North Korea and Britain's Theresa May -- who hailed multilateralism.
Myanmar's second vice president, Henry van Thio, was also due at the podium, at a time when his government is accused of driving more than 420,000 minority Rohingya from their homes.
Children flash victory signs as a convoy carrying US-made Oshkosh armoured vehicles heads to the Syrian city of Raqa on September 19, 2017 to reinforce fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces battling the Islamic State group in its onetime bastion
US-backed fighters said Wednesday they were in the "final stages" of capturing Raqa from the Islamic State group as waves of air strikes pounded the jihadists' Syrian bastion.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have now seized 90 percent of the extremists' de-facto Syrian capital, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor.
Their advance is the latest in a string of setbacks for IS in Syria and neighbouring Iraq, where the jihadists were defeated in second city Mosul in July.
The SDF, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters, said it had mounted a "surprise attack" on IS in the north of Raqa, where the jihadists have been under siege for three months.
"We consider this the final stages of the Wrath of the Euphrates campaign, which is nearing its end," a statement said.
A picture taken on September 5, 2017 shows smoke billowing following a coalition air strike in the western al-Daraiya neighbourhood of the embattled northern Syrian city of Raqa
The US-led coalition backing the SDF with air strikes, equipment and advisers said it had been bombing IS near Raqa for two days, targeting the jihadists with 42 air strikes on Monday and 30 on Tuesday.
"Because of the heavy coalition air strikes, IS withdrew from at least five key neighbourhoods over the past 48 hours," said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.
"This allowed the Syrian Democratic Forces to control 90 percent of the city," he said.
IS pulled out of the north of the city and abandoned its grain silos and mills and was now confined to the city centre, in government administrative buildings, stadiums and tunnels, he added.
Coalition spokesman, Colonel Ryan Dillon, said on Twitter that the SDF were keeping the pressure on IS and that 65-70 percent of Raqa was now under the control of the US-backed forces.
The jihadists seized Raqa in early 2014, transforming the northern city into a key hub in the "caliphate" they declared after taking control of large parts of Syria and Iraq.
- 'Not resist much longer' -
Raqa quickly became synonomous with the group's most gruesome atrocities, including public beheadings, and IS is thought to have used the city to plan attacks abroad.
The SDF spent months encircling the city before entering it in June and sealing off all access routes.
Abdel Rahman said the siege had worn down IS's defensive capabilities.
"After hundreds of their fighters were killed in recent weeks, the remaining IS fighters will not be able to resist much longer in Raqa as their military equipment and basic necessities are dwindling," he said.
Without food or medical equipment, IS was unable to treat its own wounded and had retreated to the city centre, which it considered "the most secure," he said.
The jihadists have fought back using mines, snipers, car bombs, and weaponised drones.
A member of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed Kurdish-Arab alliance, looks through the scope of a sniper rifle as he lies in a flat in the al-Daraiya neighbourhood of the embattled northern Syrian city of Raqa on September 5, 2017
Abdel Rahman said the SDF began operations to clear mines from the districts they seized.
"The jihadists had buried hundreds if not thousands of mines" in those areas, he said.
Tens of thousands of civilians have fled the fighting in recent months, with up to 25,000 believed to be still trapped inside according to the UN.
The SDF said on Wednesday it had helped hundreds of civilians escape from the city in recent days.
"We will continue the campaign until we achieve our aim," Jihan Sheikh Ahmed, the SDF's spokeswoman for the Raqa offensive, told AFP.
AFP journalists on Tuesday saw a convoy transporting US-made armoured vehicles and other military equipment through northeastern Syria towards Raqa.
- 'Impact for years to come' -
More than 330,000 people have been killed and millions more displaced since civil war broke out in Syria following protests against President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011.
It has since evolved into a complex, multi-front conflict involving government forces, rebels, Kurdish fighters and jihadist groups including IS.
After seizing swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014, IS has seen the territory under its control fast diminish in recent months.
A member of the Iraqi forces flashes the victory sign from an armoured vehicle during an advance up the Euphrates Valley against one of the Islamic State group's last two remaining bastions in Iraq on September 19, 2017
On Monday, Iraqi forces launched an attack up the Euphrates Valley against one of IS's two remaining enclaves in Iraq.
And in Syria's eastern province of Deir Ezzor, IS faces twin assaults -- one by Russian-backed government troops and the other by the SDF.
IS also holds pockets of territory in central and southern Syria and around the capital Damascus, though some of those too are under attack.
"I don't think it is a simple question of taking away the Islamic State's territory and then the Islamic State idea evaporates," said Charlie Winter, a senior research fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence in London.
IS had made its mark by establishing its so-called "caliphate" and calling on hundreds of thousands of people around the world to join it, Winter said.
"The ideological impact of that is going to be immense for years and years to come."
A car drives though a flooded street in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Authorities in Puerto Rico rushed Saturday to evacuate tens of thousands of people living downriver from a dam said to be in danger of collapsing because of flooding from Hurricane Maria.
The drama unfolded as the US island territory, working without electricity, struggled to dig out and clean up from its disastrous brush with the hurricane, blamed for at least 33 deaths across the Caribbean.
The 1920's era earthen dam on the Guajataca River in northwest Puerto Rico cracked on Friday, prompting the government to issue an order for 70,000 people in downstream towns to evacuate.
The local office of the National Weather Service warned Friday evening of an "imminent dam break."
A Puerto Rican government official who refused to be named confirmed Saturday that evacuations that began Friday evening were continuing.
He said the dam had cracked under the weight of so much flooding, sending water gushing through and prompting fears of flash flooding.
On Friday, public safety chief Hector Pesquera had cited a different cause for the initial dam failure, according to the newspaper El Vocero. Pesquera said a drain which normally releases water from the dam in a controlled fashion had broken, sending it gushing out in torrents.
Puerto Rico was already battling dangerous floods elsewhere on the island because of Hurricane Maria, which hit before dawn Wednesday as part of its furious tear across the Caribbean.
Governor Ricardo Rossello visited Isabela, an area near the dam, late Friday and urged people to get out. The government is also sending in buses to take people to higher ground.
As the island is without power but for emergency generators, and without telecommunications, the governor's entourage left a satellite phone with the mayor of Isabela so he can talk to crews manning the dam.
Rossello has called Maria the most devastating storm to hit the island in a century.
So far, a preliminary assessment said 13 people had died as a result of the storm, he told CNN Friday.
Hurricane Maria
In its latest update at 1500 GMT, the US National Hurricane Center said Maria was moving northwest and located 320 miles (515 km) esat of Nassau in the Bahamas.
So far, at least 33 people have been confirmed dead as a result of Hurricane Maria, including 15 in Dominica, three in Haiti and two in Guadeloupe.
After speaking with Puerto Rico's governor on Thursday night, US President Donald Trump promised to speed up relief efforts.
Of the 13 victims in Puerto Rico, eight died in the northern town of Toa Baja, one of the worst-hit areas which was ravaged by winds of more than 125 miles per hour (200 kilometers per hour) and then hit by flooding when the island's largest river, La Plata, burst its banks. The winds have eased a bit since then but not much.
Many residents did not evacuate on time, while others say they never heard the warning sirens.
Others could be seen returning home after several days away to begin the arduous process of clearing their homes of the heavy mud left by the floodwaters in order to start the process of rebuilding.
Marisol Rosario, a 55-year-old housewife who fled with her husband, said the violent winds forced her to flee without taking their dog.
"I thought I would find him dead, but he managed to climb on top of the furniture and survive," she said tearfully.
- Aid ships trying to dock -
Puerto Rico's governor Ricardo Rossello has called Maria the fiercest hurricane to hit the island in a century
Across the island, streets were littered with debris from the storm, with toppled trees, street signs and power cables strewn everywhere.
The torrential rain also turned some roads into muddy brown rivers, impassable to all but the largest of vehicles.
Puerto Rico's electricity network has been crippled by the storm and engineers say it could take months for power to be fully restored.
US federal emergency chief Brock Long said ships carrying millions of meals and bottles of water were trying to dock as the island's ports are slowly reopened.
Before reaching Puerto Rico, the storm devastaged the small island nation of Dominica.
And after striking Puerto Rico, the storm headed west toward the Dominican Republic where it damaged nearly 5,000 homes, forcing the evacuation of more than 18,000 people, the president's office said.
Bangladeshi firefighters work to put out a fire at the site of an explosion in a factory in the key Bangladeshi garment manufacturing town of Tongi, just north of the capital Dhaka, on September 10, 2016
Six people were killed Wednesday when fire swept through a clothing factory outside Dhaka, police said, just the latest fatal industrial accident to hit Bangladesh's $30 billion garment industry.
Firefighters recovered the bodies of five men and a woman from the top floor of a factory in Muktarpur, about 50 kilometres (31 miles) south of Dhaka, where it appeared they were trapped by the blaze.
"So far we have found six bodies. The search is ongoing," Mustafizur Rahman, deputy district police chief, told AFP.
Police said welders could have sparked the fire, which started in a chemicals storage room inside the four-storey factory.
Fires are common in Bangladeshi clothing factories, despite efforts by the government and international buyers to improve notoriously poor working conditions.
In July a fire triggered by a boiler explosion killed 13 people and injured 50 more at a factory in Gazipur, an industrial district just north of the capital Dhaka.
Last September, nearly 40 people were killed and 70 injured after a huge fire swept a packaging factory in the same district.
In April 2013, the nine-storey Rana Plaza factory complex collapsed, killing more than 1,100 people in one of the worst industrial disasters in recent times.
Bangladesh has more than 4,500 garment factories, employing four million mostly female workers. The sector accounts for 80 percent of Bangladesh's more than $35 billion exports last year.
Exercises organised by the French navy are part of efforts to protect the seas belonging to West African countries from illegal fishing and piracy
Armed and stony-faced, six black-clothed members of Senegal's marine special forces board the Chinese fishing boat, alerted by radio that it may be operating illegally.
Identity papers are demanded and the cargo is inspected: one of the crew members is not on the manifest of the "Casimir", which departed from Hong Kong, and their fishing licence has expired.
The scene is a simulation, but for the Senegalese inspectors and commandos the reality is all too familiar, as west Africa battles flagrant poaching in its waters and the threat of piracy on the high seas.
"We just received the information that there was a boat fishing illegally. They gave us its last position and the speed of the vessel and we came over immediately to intercept them," explained Mamadou N'Diaye, the head Senegalese commando present.
Senegal has three patrol vessels harboured in Dakar, and the intervention team launched from the "Ferlo" to begin their assessment.
These 10-day regional exercises, baptised African NEMO (Navy's Exercise for Maritime Operations), are conducted by French marines playing the role of the baddies from France's vast Dixmude aircraft carrier.
They aim to leave the problem-solving to the forces of more than 20 west African countries involved in the project, as they step up their battle against maritime criminality.
"We went from tactical training of teams boarding the boats, to lifesaving at sea, to how to make the centres put into place by the Yaounde process work," said the Dixmude's Captain Jean Porcher.
The Yaounde process was adopted in 2013 as a code of conduct by west and central African nations to share intelligence and coordinate intervention against illegal fishing, drug trafficking and piracy on Africa's west coast, but progress has been slow.
- Fish without borders -
African coastal states lose around one billion euros a year due to illegal and unreported fishing, according to the European Union
Embarking from Togo on September 10, the Dixmude, a vast 199-metre-long warship, has carried out half-a-dozen exercises with the navies of the Gulf of Guinea, aimed at reinforcing the sovereignty of national waters and protecting a vital source of food for the population.
African coastal states lose around $1.3 billion (one billion euros) per year to illegal and unreported fishing, according to the European Union.
"Fish don't know how to read maps, they don't recognise borders, and neither do pirates," Admiral Christophe Prazuck, chief of the French navy, said at the opening of a conference in Dakar on Tuesday which will close this year's exercise.
"Around 90 percent of world trade is done by sea. In the Gulf of Guinea, there are 2,000 boats, and their security is fundamental for prosperity," Prazuck told journalists.
The "Casimir" was boarded because its captain was uncooperative when contacted by radio, and was escorted to Dakar's port for further inspection.
That is not always feasible in a region that lacks patrol boats and dedicated military and customs staff trained in illegal fishing patterns, according to environmental organisations such as Greenpeace, leaving nations such as Mauritania and Sierra Leone particularly vulnerable.
- Niger Delta threat -
The day after the "Casimir" exercise, the team took back a boat snatched by pirates. Although currently less of a problem in the upper section of west Africa, the discovery of important oil and gas deposits off Senegal and Mauritania may one day attract criminals to their waters.
World piracy has been on the decline since 2012 after international naval patrols were launched off East Africa in response to violent attacks by mostly Somali-based pirates.
But the focus of concern has shifted to the Gulf of Guinea, where a new class of pirates -- mostly offshoots of militant groups from the Niger Delta -- have become active.
Since 2013, maritime cooperation has been a mixed picture, said Senegalese Rear-Admiral Momar Diagne. While one regional centre agreed upon in the Yaounde process is operational in Pointe-Noire, Congo, another in Abidjan has yet to open.
US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, shown in this file photo from the G20 Summit in July, are like "oil and water"
The first time Donald Trump met Angela Merkel, pictures of their awkward non-handshake in the Oval Office went around the world -- and the months that followed did little to break the ice.
But if the 63-year-old chancellor sails her way -- as widely predicted -- to a fourth term in Sunday's legislative elections, the leaders of the United States and Germany will have to figure out a way to work together in the long term.
Pretty much everything about "Mutti," as Europe's most influential leader is known at home, sets her apart from the 71-year-old occupant of the White House, from their background to their personality and political style.
Merkel is as cautious, low-key and pragmatic as the US president is impulsive, blustery and unpredictable.
Since the start of the year, the pastor's daughter from East Germany has left the world in little doubt as to her deep differences with the American president -- the third she has worked with after George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
When addressing a joint press conference in Washington with the former real estate mogul, elected on a pledge to put "America First," Merkel instead advocated an "open-minded" approach to globalization.
In Sicily last summer, after a bruising G7 meeting which saw Trump break with America's global partners on the Paris climate deal, she did not mince her words in saying the "unsatisfactory" talks had been "six against one."
Days later in Munich, the chancellor warned that the trans-Atlantic bond had been weakened by Trump's election and that the Old Continent could no longer blindly rely on its historic ally.
"We Europeans truly have to take our fate into our own hands," she declared.
- Differences run deep -
"Trump and Merkel are oil and water," summed up Charles Kupchan, professor of international affairs at Georgetown University and a former advisor to Obama.
"Trump made it to the Oval Office by challenging the establishment and promising to discontented Americans that it was time for change. Merkel is the opposite."
"She keeps winning because she promises Germans business as usual."
The differences between the two run deep.
Complaining about Germany's trade surplus is nothing new coming from Washington, but Trump has been far more aggressive than his predecessors, threatening retaliation in the form of border taxes.
Berlin is furious about the US president's decision to pull out of the Paris climate accord.
And if he follows through on threats to tear up the 2015 nuclear deal struck between six world powers and Iran, the relationship will sour even further.
Back in 2003, under the Social-Democrat government of Gerhard Schroeder, German opposition to the US-led war in Iraq badly strained ties with the Bush administration.
But never in recent history, says Kupchan, have tensions between Washington and Berlin run so high.
"Trump is raising questions about the US commitment to free trade, to combating climate change, to upholding the order that Europeans and Americans have built since World War II," he said.
At stake is far more than just bilateral relations: as the veteran among Europe's current leaders, Merkel holds a unique role on the world diplomatic stage.
- Speaking to the base -
The Trump-Merkel relationship has also been defined in part by the need -- on both sides -- to cater to their electoral base.
When Trump was campaigning last year on a tough anti-immigration platform, he would hold up the chancellor as a counter-example, openly deriding her decision to open Germany's borders to hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers.
"Hillary Clinton is running to be America's Angela Merkel, and we've seen how much crime and how many problems that's caused the German people," he told a rally in North Carolina.
Merkel has also had to fend off any suggestion from her rival Martin Schulz that she lacks backbone towards the US leader.
"She has in the last few months been provoked by the election campaign into a somewhat stronger rhetorical position than she would prefer," said Jeremy Shapiro, research director at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
With the German election out of the way, ties between the leaders could yet improve. But few observers are holding out hope for a fresh start.
So what can the ever-pragmatic Merkel realistically hope to achieve in her dealings with the 45th US president?
"Stand up for yourself, but do it quietly. Don't engage in public fights with him, and try to get along to the extent that you can without showing weakness," Shapiro said.
News / National
by Staff reporter
ZANU-PF will not only romp to victory in the 2018 elections, but will win back seats from areas like Bulawayo where the party has performed badly in previous years, a senior official said yesterday.The party's National Secretary for Youth Affairs, Kudzanai Chipanga, speaking ahead of the 9th Presidential Youth Interface Rally expected in Bulawayo later this month, said the party would translate the bumper crowds recorded at its rallies into votes.President Mugabe has been touring provinces interacting with the youth, listening to their grievances and also proffering solutions.He said the majority of the youths in the country had realised that their hopes are tied to Zanu-PF and would rally behind the revolutionary party."We are happy to note that more and more youths, including women, are coming to the Presidential Youth Interface Rallies to interact with the President as he attends to their grievances. Our wish is to translate all those numbers into votes for the party next year," said Chipanga."The majority of the youths in the country have realised that the only party that can carry their aspirations and deliver on their wishes is Zanu-PF through home-grown solutions and not the opposition parties that are controlled from outside the country," he said."Solutions can only come from Zanu-PF and the youths will vote in their numbers to make sure that Zanu-PF romps to victory. We will then put the Government to task to deliver on the grievances of the youth because we are not only the majority, but the most affected by the economic situation created by illegal Western sanctions."Chipanga said Zanu-PF was guaranteed of winning the 2018 elections and the critical step going forward was delivering on its promises to the people.Meanwhile, Chipanga said the Bulawayo provincial youth executive was engaged in a massive mobilisation exercise ahead of the interface rally."Bulawayo, like any other province that the President has visited, will record a bumper crowd and lately it has become difficult to predict the numbers because the figures have been increasing with each province as more people are showing interest in interacting with the President and hearing first hand what the Government is doing for them," he said."The Bulawayo provincial youth executive is on the ground as we speak, mobilising people for the interface and everything is almost ready. We will be announcing a date soon after getting guidance from the President on when he will be available." After Bulawayo, the President will interface with youths from Harare province to conclude his national tour.The Zanu-PF Youth League in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development is planning to hold an 11th interface between President Mugabe and students from all the country's tertiary institutions.
Israeli director Samuel Maoz, whose movie "Foxtrot" is now a candidate for the Oscars, receives the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival on September 9, 2017
Israeli film "Foxtrot," which Culture Minister Miri Regev has castigated as an insult to the military, has won the country's best film award, making it a candidate for the Oscars.
The surreal and complex movie by director Samuel Maoz includes what could be seen as a critical view of the Israeli military.
It also won the Grand Jury prize at this month's Venice Film Festival, but Regev, who has frequently criticised Israel's cultural elite, is not a fan -- though she reportedly said at the time of the Venice festival that she had not seen it.
After having walked out last year, she was not invited to this year's Ophir Awards -- Israel's version of the Oscars -- on Tuesday evening.
She instead appeared live on her Facebook page to criticise the movie and members of Israel's Film and Television Academy.
She referred to a striking scene in the film and called it a "blood libel."
"As a minister and mother who has served in the Israeli army, I am ashamed that such a film has won such a prestigious prize," she posted on Facebook after the award was given.
An allegation from the Middle Ages -- that Jews murdered Christian children to use their blood for ritual purposes -- gave rise to the term "blood libel".
Academy director Mosh Danon said: "Criticism is meant to strengthen and support.
"Some of us choose to do this by means of stories," he said, according to Israeli media.
"There is no us and you. There are no enemies. There is only a strong desire to fix and improve, together with the establishment."
Winning best picture at the Ophir Awards makes the film eligible for inclusion in the foreign-language category at the Oscars, or Academy Awards, in the United States.
Culture Minister Miri Regev, who has repeatedly taken on Israel's liberal cultural elite, wears a dress featuring the Old City of Israeli-annexed Arab east Jerusalem at the Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2017
Regev, who belongs to what is seen as Israel's most right-wing government ever, has repeatedly taken on the country's largely left-wing Jewish cultural elite.
They have accused her of seeking to muzzle them, including by promoting a bill to cut subsidies to cultural institutions deemed not "loyal" to the state.
Last year, she was booed on arrival at a cultural conference and hit back from the podium.
"As the famous Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu once said: 'Cut the bullshit,'" she said.
A Yemeni child suspected of being infected with cholera cries at a hospital in Sanaa on August 12, 2017
Three years after Iran-backed rebels swept into Sanaa, a semblance of normality has returned to the Yemeni capital. But across the war-wracked country a humanitarian disaster is unfolding.
The only Arab capital controlled by an armed rebel movement, Sanaa lives under the constant threat of air strikes by a Saudi-led coalition fighting in support of the internationally recognised government.
Displaced people have filled the city, the epicentre of a cholera epidemic, and hunger is rife.
The capital is riven by rivalry between the Huthi Shiite rebels and allied troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Murad, a visual artist who participated in the 2011 protests that drove Saleh from power, said he had dreamed of a "city of peace and freedom".
Yemeni rebels shout slogans after overrunning Sanaa on September 21, 2014
That hope soon faded when the Huthis advanced from their northern strongholds and seized the capital on September 21, 2014.
"Between 2011 and 2014, we had a real climate of freedom, a freedom that we had forged with our own hands," Murad said.
"But for the past three years things have changed with the deterioration of living conditions and the return of fear," he told AFP.
"Sanaa today is no longer what it was in 2014. It's a city that lives in the shadow of warplanes and Kalashnikovs."
- Hopes dashed -
After storming the capital, the Huthis managed to occupy its public buildings in just one afternoon with the support of forces loyal to Saleh.
President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi fled to the southern city of Aden, which he later declared the "provisional capital".
Supporters of Yemen's Huthi rebels and their allies chant slogans during a rally in Sanaa on March 26, 2017
The situation worsened when the Saudi-led coalition intervened on March 26, 2015 in support of Hadi.
"We were hopeful," said Yasser al-Matari, a 24-year-old taxi driver. "But the situation keeps getting worse. Petrol and food prices have risen steadily and wages are no longer paid.
"They (the Huthis) justify it by the state of war, but why do Syrians continue to receive wages when they are at war?"
After the fall of Sanaa, the international airport was closed, the central bank moved to Aden, public services collapsed and prices soared.
Sanaa is gripped by a major food crisis because of a blockade by the Saudi-led coalition, while across the country seven million Yemenis are on the brink of famine.
The streets of the capital teem with children begging for money and food.
Yemeni girls hold a placard reading "The education sector is facing difficulties due to the siege and shelling" during a demonstration in Sanaa on September 17, 2017
In the schools that are still open, the pupils are crammed inside because other classrooms are used as shelters for displaced people or are in danger from air raids because they are occupied by rebels.
A total of 1,640 of the 16,000 schools in Yemen have been closed, leaving 1.8 million children out of school.
An additional 1.6 million children have never attended school, according to UNICEF.
- 'Biggest humanitarian crisis' -
Worsening hygiene conditions have triggered a cholera epidemic in the capital which has also hit several regions of the country, causing more than 2,000 deaths.
"Life for civilians is increasingly harder" with a lack of adequate food, shelter and access to water and sanitation, said an aid worker in Sanaa.
"Yemen is now the world's biggest humanitarian crisis, and it is hit by the most dangerous cholera outbreak, while people are going hungry".
At night Sanaa becomes a city of shadows, dotted with security checkpoints.
Yemenis protest next to the rubble of a house hit in an air strike in Sanaa on August 26, 2017
Last month, 14 civilians, including five children from the same family, were killed in an air strike in the capital that the coalition admitted it carried out by "mistake".
And on Saturday, 12 civilians including women and children were killed in an air raid near Sanaa blamed on the coalition.
Since March 2015, more than 8,400 people, mostly civilians, have been killed and around 48,000 wounded in the conflict.
The Huthis are preparing to celebrate their "victory" on Thursday in Sanaa.
Cars, equipped with loudspeakers, have crisscrossed the capital calling the population to a large gathering.
In southern Yemen, meanwhile, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), seen by the United States as the jihadist network's most dangerous branch, has exploited the turmoil to expand its presence.
"AQAP and a small group of warlords that span the various fighting factions are the only clear winners," said April Longley Alley, an analyst at the International Crisis Group.
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Japanese designer Atsushi Nakashima unveiled bright colours, space-agey silver ponchos and clothing bisected with lots of shiny zippers at Milan Fashion Week
Fashion week roared into Milan on Wednesday with a line-up of hotly anticipated shows from fresh talent as well as luxury titans ranging from Moschino to Armani, who are battling for their share of a rebounding market.
Gucci is the first big name in line during the six days of catwalk strutting, coming in with mighty momentum under mastermind Alessandro Michele and the geek chic aesthetic he has established since taking the reins in 2015.
The Spring/Summer 2018 collection starring in its show later Wednesday is also Gucci's first since French parent company Kering announced a pledge earlier this month to ban ultra-thin models from its brands' advertising and runways.
Luxury group LVMH, which counts heavyweight Fendi among its labels, has signed on as well to the ban that comes after repeated scandals in the fashion industry about anorexia and the mistreatment of models.
Milan kicked off with shows from smaller up-and-comers, including Japanese designer Atsushi Nakashima, who unveiled bright colours, space-agey silver ponchos and clothing bisected with lots of shiny zips.
Zips were a theme of fashion house Atsushi Nakashima at Milan Fashion Week
For Nakashima the zips are a reminder of humanity's better impulses in an uncertain time that has seen North Korea fire missiles directly over his homeland.
"This is the reason for the collection... putting together, understanding each other to have more communication," he told reporters through a translator. "We can connect with each other."
Expectations are building for British talent Paul Surridge, who will on Friday show off his maiden collection since being named creative director in May of Roberto Cavalli, known for its sexy rock'n'roll attitude.
Husband-and-wife team Luke and Lucie Meier are presenting their first designs on Saturday since being tapped in April as creative leads of minimalist stalwart Jil Sander.
The Meiers, a rare married duo of co-directors, come from Dior for her and Paris-based menswear brand OAMC via iconic streetwear label Supreme for him.
- Very good times, for some -
"Lucie and I work together very naturally," Canadian Luke Meier told Vogue in June of his Swiss-born wife. "We have had an open dialogue about the approach to design for over 15 years and have often spoken of working together one day."
Newcomers to the Milan calendar also include the-sirius, a young Seoul-based label known for futuristic designs, which will indulge its ultramodern urge with a show Thursday on the campus of Milan's Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology.
But it would not be fashion week in Italy's capital of clothes and accessories without the kings and queens of the multi-billion euro luxury goods industry like Fendi, Ferragamo, Versace, Moschino and Prada.
These European behemoths -- or some of them, anyway -- are seeing sales jump after years troubled by the triple whammy of a slowdown in Asia, currency volatility and customers staying at home after a string of terror attacks in Europe.
Designer Atsushi Nakashima is one of the up-and-comers at Milan Fashion Week
"While in the past good meant good for everyone... now the situation is very good for some and very bad for others," said Stefania Saviolo, a fashion and luxury expert at Milan's Bocconi University.
"It depends on the category, the brand, it depends on many things," she told AFP.
The rebound has been led by houses like Gucci which saw its sales in the first quarter of 2017 grow at their fastest pace in 20 years.
But the flip side is labels like Prada that just cannot seem to remember where they put the secret sauce. Prada has put some of the blame for soft sales on tourists being driven away by a strong euro.
However, the winners and losers in the war for luxury buyers' hearts -- and cash -- must remember that nothing is forever.
Saviolo said: "You don't know how long it will last. Cycles are getting shorter and shorter. The market gets tired of styles very fast."
Communist rebels pictured in July: nine were killed in the latest clash with Philippine troops
Philippine troops killed nine communist guerrillas Wednesday in what officials described as a firefight, as the decades-old insurgency rumbled on after President Rodrigo Duterte called off peace talks.
Duterte in July shelved negotiations to end one of the world's longest insurgencies after the rebels refused to discuss a ceasefire and continued deadly attacks.
In the latest flare-up, an army unit clashed with a small force of New People's Army (NPA) guerrillas near the town of Carranglan, about 150 kilometres (93 miles) north of Manila, early Wednesday, the provincial police chief said.
"The residents reported the presence of armed men in their area. The soldiers went to the area and that is the start of the firefight," Senior Superintendent Antonio Yarra told reporters.
A soldier was wounded in the clash that lasted more than two hours, the police official added.
It was unclear why the military casualty figure was so low compared to the insurgents.
Troops recovered the bodies of the nine guerrillas and their rifles, said Lieutenant-Colonel Isagani Nato, military spokesman for the northern Philippines.
The NPA, now estimated by the military to number around 3,800 fighters, has waged a low-level guerrilla war that has left 30,000 people dead since 1969 according to government estimates.
Troubled conglomerate Toshiba is to sell its chip business for $18 billion
Toshiba said Wednesday it would sell its memory chip business to a group led by US investor Bain Capital, in a deal worth around $18 billion and seen as crucial to keeping the Japanese conglomerate afloat.
The sale to the consortium -- which includes US tech giants Apple and Dell as well as South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix -- caps a months-long saga that saw heated courtroom battles, rival bids and the near-delisting of one of Japan's best-known firms.
"At the board meeting held today, our company has decided to conclude a contract to transfer stocks of Toshiba Memory to Pangea, a special purpose acquisition company formed by a consortium led by Bain Capital Private Equity," Toshiba said in a Japanese-language statement.
The deal is worth two trillion yen ($18 billion), Toshiba said, adding that it also planned a reinvestment worth 350.5 billion yen ($3.1 billion) in Pangea.
Toshiba said it aimed to complete the sale by March.
The announcement was a milestone in a protracted effort to sell the lucrative chip unit to revive the group's overall financial health.
Last week Toshiba said it had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bain group as the leading candidate.
But at the time, the Japanese giant had held open the possibility it could still ink a deal with rival bidders Western Digital, Toshiba's US-based chip factory partner, or Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision, better known as Foxconn.
Toshiba and Western Digital were embroiled in a heated legal dispute over the sale, with the Japanese firm suing its US partner for trying to block a deal.
- Delisting fear -
Toshiba is the world's number two chipmaker behind Samsung and the division's products are found in many smartphones and electronic gadgets.
The chip unit accounts for around a quarter of Toshiba's total annual revenue and is the crown jewel in a vast range of businesses ranging from home appliances to nuclear reactors.
Toshiba narrowly averted a delisting this year, but it still faces the humiliating prospect of being yanked from Japan's premier stock exchange if the sale does not raise enough money.
Selling the chip division is seen as key to Toshiba's survival, as it battles to recover from multi-billion-dollar losses at its US nuclear operation Westinghouse Electric.
The Japanese industrial giant is still recovering from a disastrous earlier acquisiton of Westinghouse, which racked up billions of dollars in losses before being placed in bankruptcy protection.
Those huge losses came to light as the group was still reeling from revelations that top Toshiba executives had pressured underlings to cover up weak results for years after the 2008 global financial meltdown.
Its most recent results published in August revealed a loss of $8.8 billion in the last fiscal year, although it predicted it would swing back into the black this year.
The losses are a major embarassment for a cornerstone of Japan Inc, which traces its history back as far as 1875 when the company started life as a telegraph factory in what is now Tokyo's ritzy Ginza shopping district.
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US President Donald Trump addresses the 72nd Annual UN General Assembly in New York
An Iranian television translator defended himself Wednesday after being widely criticised for soft-balling US President Donald Trump's attacks on Iran in his maiden speech to the UN General Assembly.
Nima Chitsaz, a translator for state broadcaster IRIB, said he had decided in the heat of the moment to spare his Persian-speaking viewers from the verbal attacks by the US president.
"I don't think it would be nice for me to speak on national TV against my own country," he later told IRINN television.
As a result, when Trump accused Iran of being a "depleted rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed and chaos", Chitsaz's Persian translation was simply: "Iran speaks of destroying Israel."
Trump later told the UN assembly: "Other than the vast military power of the United States... Iran's people are what their leaders fear the most."
Which was translated for Iranian viewers as: "The US Army is a very strong army and the Iranian nation is a very strong nation."
"This is what causes the regime to restrict internet access, tear down satellite dishes, shoot unarmed student protesters, and imprison political reformers" was relayed as: "Many incidents happen in Iran which are unacceptable to us."
Chitsaz was slammed on social media, with one reformist politician accusing him of "censoring and distorting" the speech.
Even the semi-official ISNA news agency said it would further erode trust in the Iranian media, and push viewers to use exiled Persian channels instead.
"Are you paid to translate or to translate whenever you see fit?" wrote one of many mocking Twitter users.
"You should have translated Trump's nonsense so that people could better judge this stupid person," argued another.
Chitsaz responded by saying that the English had been left loud enough for people to translate for themselves.
"I think anybody else in my place would not have translated it," he said.
A man waves a Kurdish flag during an event to urge people to vote in the upcoming independence referendum in Arbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, on September 16, 2017
Saudi Arabia on Wednesday urged Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani to call off a planned referendum on independence for his autonomous region to avoid further "crises" in Iraq and the region.
A Saudi government official said Barzani should drop plans to hold a referendum "in light of the situation in the region and the dangers it is facing, and in order to avoid new crises".
He called on the Kurdish leader to make use of his "wisdom and experience", the state-run Saudi Press Agency said.
Holding the referendum as planned on September 25 could have "negative consequences on the political, security and humanitarian fronts".
It could also "affect efforts to establish security and stability in the region, as well as efforts to fight against terrorist organisations and their activities," the official added.
Regional kingpin Saudi Arabia is the latest country to voice its opposition to the referendum in oil-rich Iraqi Kurdistan.
But Barzani has so far resisted pressure from Baghdad and Iraq's neighbours Turkey and Iran, as well as from the United States and its Western allies, to call off the vote.
Iraq's supreme court has ordered the suspension of the referendum to examine claims made by the federal government that it was unconstitutional.
The Saudi official called on "all concerned parties to engage in a dialogue that would serve the interests of the entire Iraqi people".
IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde says it will be "very difficult" for the US to achieve three percent growth, because promised Trump administration reform on taxes and infrastructure have failed to materialize
IMF chief Christine Lagarde warned Wednesday that the US will fall short of its ambitious economic growth goals unless it can accelerate promised policy changes, including tax reform.
The Trump administration has said it will push US growth to three percent annually -- a rate economists say is unrealistic, given the low US unemployment rate, among other factors.
The International Monetary Fund cut its growth forecast for the US economy this year back to 2.1 percent after reforms expected to boost the activity failed to materialize.
Asked on CBS This Morning if the US could reach its growth target, Lagarde said, "We think it is going to be very difficult, yes. Particularly if the reform pace is as slow as it is."
Lagarde noted that "there were very strong market expectations early in the calendar year after the elections that tax reform would take place promptly, that massive investment would be made in infrastructure."
However, she said, "none of that has materialized at all."
The IMF in January raised its US growth estimates on the expectation of fiscal stimulus and tax reform from the Trump administration, but reverted back to the previous calculations which project the economy will expand by 2.1 percent in 2017 and 2018, down from 2.3 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively.
She said the fund supports tax reform in principle and is prepared to "make recommendations to boost growth, create jobs, (and) restore middle-class income" in the US.
The fund will publish the revised growth forecasts in its World Economic Outlook in mid-October.
Asked about US President Donald Trump's harsh rhetoric threatening to "totally destroy" North Korea in a speech to the United Nations, Lagarde said the tone was not helpful.
"I think that those issues are so difficult, complicated, that they require a lot of good will, a lot of calm, and a lot of cooperation, and that's where I think that rhetoric does not necessarily help," she said.
A general view shows Orthodox Jewish men and women gathering separately at the Western Wall (C) in Jerusalem's Old City on July 31, 2017, during an annual commemoration of the destruction of ancient Jewish temples some 2000 years ago
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has brushed aside a supreme court warning over his refusal to implement a deal allowing women and men to pray together at Jerusalem's Western Wall.
A justice ministry statement issued Tuesday said the state attorney's office had informed the court that Netanyahu was sticking to his decision to freeze the January 2016 agreement, arguing it was non-binding and subject to government policy needs.
Netanyahu's right-wing government had agreed after a long campaign by reform Jewish groups to allow mixed worship at a section of east Jerusalem's Western Wall, the holiest place where Jews can pray.
But under pressure from ultra-Orthodox political parties, whose support is vital for the government's slender parliamentary majority, Netanyahu in June froze implementation of the scheme indefinitely.
The freeze angered the influential American Jewish community, the majority of whom follow more liberal strands of Judaism.
Israeli NGOs filed suit with the supreme court asking that it compel the government to honour the agreement and last month the court asked the government to reconsider the freeze.
"If the answer is in the negative," the court wrote at the time, the state should address the question "if the possibility exists in law to compel the government to implement the agreement."
The government's written response said "no" on both points.
It said Netanyahu "considered all the circumstances of the matter and decided not to bring the issue of the Western Wall to further discussion before the cabinet", the justice ministry statement said.
It added that the government also said the court could not force it to act.
"The issue is absolutely one of policy, the complexity and sensitivity of which does not need to be enlarged upon," it quoted the state attorney's office as writing.
"The government, by the nature of things, has broad discretion in the manner of resolving this issue," the government response added, asking the judges to throw out the lawsuit.
"In these circumstances," it went on, "there was no flaw in the decision of the government of Israel to order the suspension."
The Jerusalem Post daily said on Wednesday that the court was expected to rule by January.
In accordance with strict ultra-Orthodox tradition, there are currently separate prayer sections for women and men at the wall, one of the last remnants of the Second Jewish Temple destroyed in 70 AD.
Women are also barred from leading prayers or bringing in Torah scrolls, and activists have for years been campaigning for equal prayer rights.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews represent about 10 percent of the Israeli population.
A protest in Paris last month calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons, an issue taken up at the United Nations where 51 countries are signing onto a ban
With the North Korean nuclear crisis looming large, 51 countries on Wednesday lined up to sign a new treaty outlawing nuclear weapons that has been fiercely opposed by the United States and other nuclear powers.
The treaty was adopted by 122 countries at the United Nations in July following negotiations led by Austria, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa and New Zealand.
None of the nine countries that possess nuclear weapons -- the United States, Russia, Britain, China, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel -- took part in the negotiations.
NATO condemned the treaty, saying that it may in fact be counter-productive by creating divisions.
As leaders formally signed on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed as historic the first multilateral disarmament treaty in more than two decades.
But Guterres acknowledged that much work was needed to rid the world of its stockpile of 15,000 atomic warheads.
"Today we rightfully celebrate a milestone. Now we must continue along the hard road towards the elimination of nuclear arsenals," said Guterres.
The treaty will enter into force when 50 countries have signed and ratified it, a process that could take months or years.
"At a time when the world needs to remain united in the face of growing threats, in particular the grave threat posed by North Korea's nuclear program, the treaty fails to take into account these urgent security challenges," the 29-nation Western alliance said.
It added: "Seeking to ban nuclear weapons through a treaty that will not engage any state actually possessing nuclear weapons will not be effective, will not reduce nuclear arsenals, and will neither enhance any country's security, nor international peace and stability.
- Rejecting need for nuclear weapons -
Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz of Austria, one of the few Western European nations that is not in NATO, rejected the idea that nuclear weapons were indispensable for security.
"If you look at the world's current challenges, this narrative is not only false, it is dangerous," he told AFP.
"The new treaty on the prohibition on nuclear weapons provides a real alternative for security: a world without any nuclear weapons, where everyone is safer, where no one needs to possess these weapons," he said.
Brazilian President Michel Temer was the first to sign the treaty. Others included South African President Jacob Zuma and representatives from Indonesia, Ireland and Malaysia as well as the Palestinian Authority and the Vatican.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the nuclear weapons treaty a 'milestone' but acknowledged more needs to be done
But even Japan, the only nation to have suffered atomic attack and a longstanding advocate of abolishing nuclear weapons, boycotted the treaty negotiations.
Japan is a top target of North Korea, which has triggered global alarm over its rapidly progressing drive to develop nuclear weapons, following its sixth and most powerful nuclear test and the firing of two intercontinental ballistic missiles.
The signing ceremony came a day after President Donald Trump threatened to "totally destroy North Korea" if the United States is forced to defend itself or its allies Japan and South Korea.
Nuclear powers argue their arsenals serve as a deterrent against a nuclear attack and say they remain committed to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
That decades-old treaty seeks to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. It recognizes the right of five nations -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- to maintain them, while encouraging them to reduce their stockpiles.
Opinion / Columnist
The BVR voter registration exercise that started four days ago is failing already. In Bulawayo, for example, ZEC Officials are manually write the polling station name on registration slips, resulting in the exercise proceeding at a snail's pace.Voter registration in opposition strongholds has always been beset by one problem after another resulting in many failing to register and even those who did manage to register failed to vote because, come voting day, their details were not in the polling station register they expected. History is repeating itself here."When the address of the registrant has been captured, the BVR machine is supposed to capture and print the name of the nearest polling centre relevant to the registrant," ZEC official told New Zimbabwe."Since voting is going to be polling station based, the name of the polling centre nearest to where the registrant stays is supposed to appear on the voter's registration slip but the machines are failing to bring up some of the polling centre names."The voter registration is already going to be a rushed job because it should have started three years ago but was delayed and is only starting now with less than a year to go to voting day. Even this late start is not really a start since the majority of the BVR kits are not yet in the country. And now these reported malfunctions, will all mean one thing - many people will not be able to register as voters.It is all very well for ZEC officials to manual add the name of the polling station on the registration slip. Who is going to make sure the data downloaded on the main server is up dated to reflect the manual field changes?Data captured in the field should be downloaded to the main server(s) unedited so that auditing it is easy and straightforward.Last time the regime increased the number of polling stations from 2 000 to 9 000, a 350% increase, just a few days before voting day. The regime has only to increase or decrease the number of polling station by even 10% and hundreds of thousands will be denied the vote because they will turn up at a polling station not knowing the system has allocated a different polling station.Just looking at how ZEC is handling the voter registration exercise so far it is clear already that everyone entitled to vote will be given a chance to do so. There is no way ZEC is going to register all 7 million people to in the four months allocated and produce a verified voters' roll in time for the elections. No way!The blatant vote rigging and wanton violence shown during Zimbabwe's 2008 elections proved, even to all those doubting Thomas who made a virtue of burying their heads in the sand, that Zanu PF rigged elections. Tsvangirai polled 73% of the votes in the March election, according to Mugabe's own inadvertent admission. ZEC were ordered to recount and after six weeks of cooking up the figures the 73% to whittled down to 47% - enough to force the run-off.In the run-off, Mugabe "declared war on the people', as Tsvangirai readily admitted when he announced his withdrawal from the race. Mugabe and his thugs harassed, beat, raped and even murdered over 500 innocent Zimbabwe; forcing people to vote for him. He overhauled his 27% defeat in March turning it into a landslide 84% victory.No one, not even the SADC and AU election observer teams notorious for approving dodgy past elections in Zimbabwe and in other countries, endorsed the elections as free, fair and credible and Mugabe's victory as legitimate.The Global Political Agreement that gave rise to the Zanu PF and MDC GNU and guaranteed by SADC was about implementing the democratic reforms designed to stop the vote rigging and barbarism of the 2008 elections. SADC leaders were very disappointed that at the end of the GNU not even one reform had been implemented. The regional leaders advised Morgan Tsvangirai and his fellow MDC leaders not to contest the 2013 elections with no reforms in place. They wanted the elections postponed until reforms are implemented."In 2013 the Maputo Summit, in June 2013, before the elections, the Maputo Summit was all about having the elections postponed - the SADC summit," explained Dr Ibbo Mandaza, in an interview with Violet Gonda."I went there. I was there at the Summit and Mugabe pretended to agree to a postponement of the elections. If you recall, the postponement was based on the need to reform at least electoral laws."After that Summit, Morgan Tsvangirai, Tendai Biti, Welshman Ncube, all of them were called to a separate meeting by the Heads of State of SADC in the absence of Mugabe, that same evening. And they were told; I was sitting there outside the room with Mac Maharaj; they were told 'if you go into elections next month, you are going to lose; the elections are done'."Since not even one democratic reform was implemented since the rigged July 2013 elections, it is obvious Zanu PF is going to rig the 2018 elections just as readily as the rigged the 2013 elections.I will nail my colours on the mast; I will state it here and now that ZEC will NOT release a verifiable voters' roll a month before the 2018 voting day as is required by law. The regime failed to release a verifiable voters' roll for the 2013 elections; it was the smoking gun to the many voting rigging irregularities employed that year. Zanu PF's vote rigging of next year's elections is well and truly underway already through this rushed and chaotic voter registration. The one thing the regime will not do; come rain, come thunder, come hurricane; is release a verifiable voters' roll and let the world know how it rigged the elections!I am not a man given to betting but will bet 100 to 1 ZEC will never release a verifiable voters' roll a month before the elections, as is required by law. I will double the odds on the wager that MDC politicians will still contest next year's flawed elections with no reforms implemented and no verified voters' roll, just as they did in July 2013!
US President Donald Trump wants to confront Iran over its ballistic missile program
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he has reached a decision on whether to recertify Iran's compliance with an international deal to curb its nuclear program.
Without revealing his decision, Trump told journalists "I have decided" ahead of an October 15 deadline to re-up the agreement. "Ill let you know what the decision is," he said.
Trump has already reapproved sanctions relief for Tehran and is not expected to declare Iran in non-compliance with an Obama-era agreement to scale back uranium enrichment.
But he could still refuse to recertify the agreement by the October deadline, a decision that is still fiercely contested inside Trump's adminstration and is likely to be the subject of numerous discussions in the next month.
While the White House wants to confront Iran over its ballistic missile program and support for proscribed groups across the Middle East, there is no consensus on whether the US should back away from the nuclear deal.
Doing so could provoke an international crisis, infuriating allies in Europe and setting up confrontation with powerful Iranian forces and proxies from Yemen to the Strait of Hormuz.
The deep blue or royal purple stones of tanzanite are only found in Tanzania
Tanzanian President John Magufuli on Wednesday ordered the army to build a wall around the country's tanzanite mines to prevent smuggling and better control exports of the precious gems unique to the East African country.
The deep blue or royal purple stones are mined in the Mererani hills near Mount Kilimanjaro.
Magufuli ordered the army to "start building a wall around this whole area," insisting the work be done as soon as possible. But he did not specify exactly where the wall should be built.
"Surveillance cameras will be installed and there will be only one entrance," Magufuli said. "Even if you swallow tanzanite, it will be detected".
The order seems to be the latest move by Magufuli -- who swept to power in 2015 on an anti-corruption platform -- to regulate the mining sector, which has faced allegations of fraud and underreporting of production and profits.
A commission of enquiry set up Magufuli estimated in June that 75 billion euros ($90 billion) had been lost in tax evasion arising from mining operations since 1998.
And a parliamentary report published earlier this month revealed that smugglers and mining operators are the ones reaping the benefits of the country's tanzanite riches due to corruption and unfavourable contracts.
"This country is rich in natural resources. God has given us minerals which exist nowhere else but are we benefiting?" Magufuli said. "The theft of tanzanite is immeasurable. It has been going on for years and it must stop".
Magufuli has locked horns with foreign mining companies, accusing them of under-valuing their production of gold, diamonds and tanzanite, resulting in a loss of billions of dollars in taxes and royalties since 1998.
The Tanzanian government this month seized diamonds worth nearly $30 million (25 million euros) after accusing British company Petra Diamonds of under-estimating their value when trying to export the gems.
In an angry note to Kazakhstan's ambassador, the Kyrgyz foreign ministry expressed "bewilderment" at Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev's (seen here) meeting with a Kyrgyz opposition candidate, which it characterised as "an expression of support"
Kyrgyzstan accused its larger neighbour Kazakhstan on Wednesday of trying to influence the country's upcoming vote in favour of the opposition.
The complaint came after Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev met with opposition candidate Omurbek Babanov, competing in the country's strongly contested October election.
In an angry note to Kazakhstan's ambassador, the Kyrgyz foreign ministry expressed "bewilderment" at the meeting, which it characterised as "an expression of support".
It said it regarded the meeting as an "attempt to influence the choice of the people of Kyrgyzstan and interference in the internal affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic".
Kazakhstan said Wednesday it was "extremely surprised at the reaction", adding that Nazarbayev regularly meets politicians from other countries.
The neighbouring nations were once both part of the Soviet Union but took different paths after independence.
Kazakhstan's Nazarbayev, 77, is the only incumbent president in the former Soviet bloc that assumed control over his country before the bloc's collapse and oil profits have helped entrench his authoritarian rule.
Resource-poor Kyrgyzstan is seen as the most democratic state in Central Asia, a predominantly authoritarian region, but it has also been the most politically volatile in recent times.
The Muslim-majority country experienced two revolutions that unseated presidents in 2005 and 2010 followed by ethnic violence that left over 400 people dead.
Next month's presidential election is likely to see the first peaceful transfer of power between two elected presidents but the build up to the vote has been beset by tensions.
Two opposition politicians that would otherwise have been on the 13-candidate ballot were sent to prison on corruption and kidnapping charges earlier this summer.
Former oil trader Babanov, widely viewed as the wealthiest candidate, will face competition from outgoing president Almazbek Atambayev's prefered choice, friend and ally Sooronbai Jeenbekov,
Jeenbekov and Babanov both served as prime ministers over the course of Atambayev's six-year term which he is constitutionally prohibited from extending.
Traditionally stable relations between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan became strained during Atambayev's time in office over trade disputes that occurred, despite both countries being members of the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union.
A handout photo from French Customs taken 24 April 2007 shows five narwhal tusks seized by Customs at the end of March at Lyon Saint-Exupery airport from an aircraft from Canada
A US court on Wednesday sentenced a former Canadian policeman to more than five years in prison for smuggling hundreds of narwhal tusks into the United States, the Justice Department announced.
Gregory Logan, a retired officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, had pleaded guilty before a federal court in the northeastern state of Maine in September last year to 10 money laundering offenses, after being extradited six months earlier.
"Unlawful wildlife trade like this undermines efforts by federal, state, and foreign governments to protect and restore populations of species like the narwhal, a majestic creature of the sea with long and spiraled protruding ivory tusks," Jeffrey Wood, acting chief of the department's environment and natural resources division, said in a statement.
Between 2000 and 2010, Logan, 59, smuggled more than 250 tusks, valued at between $1.5 million and $3 million, over the US border using false compartments in a vehicle and trailer before shipping them to customers across the United States, according to the Justice Department.
One customer, Andrew Zarauskas of Union, New Jersey, was sentenced in January 2015 to 33 months in prison following his conviction for conspiracy and money laundering.
Canadian authorities had arrested Logan in December 2013. He pleaded guilty to a smuggling offense in Canada and the terms of his extradition limited his US prosecution to money laundering offenses.
With distinctive ivory tusks that can grow up to eight feet (2.4 meters), narwhals inhabit the Arctic ocean and are protected under US and international law, making it illegal to import for commercial purposes.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the narwhal is "unquestionably a conservation-dependent species," with a total population of about 80,000 whales -- and qualifies as "near threatened," with hunting the greatest threat to its survival.
US First Lady Melania Trump and French First Lady Brigitte Macron greet guests at a United Nations luncheon for the spouses of world leaders
US First Lady Melania Trump dined with the spouses of dozens of world leaders at the United Nations Wednesday, calling on them to protect children and teach them by example.
Often criticized for her reluctance to fully assume the role of first lady, President Donald Trump's third wife gave a brief speech before presiding over the luncheon held during this year's meeting of the UN General Assembly.
"We must teach each child the values of empathy and communication that are at the core of the kindness, mindfulness, integrity and leadership which can only be taught by example," Trump said.
"No child should ever feel hungry, stalked, frightened, terrorized, bullied, isolated or afraid, with nowhere to turn," she said.
"Whether it is drug addiction, bullying, poverty, disease, trafficking, illiteracy, or hunger, it is the children who are hit first and hardest in any country," Trump said.
The first lady's denunciations of bullying have come under criticism due to her husband's propensity for pugilistic rhetoric and personal attacks.
Trump was warmly applauded by luncheon attendees, who were seated at dozens of tables decorated with roses and serenaded by a quartet.
In an earlier statement, the European Union's delegation in Kinshasa said Congolese soldiers "must respect international norms"
The United States and European Union on Wednesday urged Congolese security forces to refrain from using "excessive force" after soldiers fired on Burundian refugees last week, killing over 30.
"The US government is dismayed by the violence and death of more than 30 Burundian nationals and a Congolese soldier in Kamanyola, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.
"We urge the security forces of the DRC to refrain from using excessive force".
According to MONUSCO, the UN's peacekeeping mission in the country, at least 36 refugees in Kamanyola, in the eastern province of South Kivu, were killed during violent clashes on Friday. A Congolese soldier also died.
Government spokesman Lambert Mende claimed on Saturday that many of those killed were members of an "armed group".
According to interior ministry official Josue Boji, the clashes began after a group of refugees overran a jail run by the country's domestic intelligence agency to demand the release of four Burundians who had been arrested for expulsion on Wednesday night.
Boji said troops tried to disperse the refugees by "firing in the air but were overwhelmed" when the group responded by throwing stones. At least 124 refugees were wounded.
The DR Congo government opened an inquiry into the deaths on Sunday.
"The cause of the violence must be determined and perpetrators must be held accountable," Nauert said.
She added that the Congolese government should work with the UN refugee agency and UN peacekeepers "to ease tensions between Burundi refugees and their host population".
In an earlier statement, the European Union's delegation in Kinshasa said Congolese soldiers "must respect international norms.
"Congolese security forces cannot resort to disproportionate force," it said.
Tens of thousands of Burundians have fled to the eastern DR Congo to escape a wave of violence that unfurled in 2015 after Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza sought a fiercely contested third term in office.
Overall, the violence in Burundi has claimed between 500 and 2,000 lives, according to differing tolls provided by the UN or NGOs and more than 400,000 Burundians have fled abroad.
Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen says she has not discussed her future with President Donald Trump since they met early in his term
Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said Wednesday she has had no further meetings with US President Donald Trump on whether she will stay on as head of the central bank.
"I have not had a further meeting with President Trump," said Yellen, whose four-year term as Fed chair expires in February. "I met with him early in my term, and I've not had a further meeting with him."
"I have said that I intend to serve out my term as chair, and that I'm really not going to comment on my intentions beyond that," Yellen told reporters.
Trump adviser and former Goldman Sachs executive Gary Cohn had been seen as a frontrunner for the post of Fed chief, but his chances seemed to have dwindled after he criticized Trump's response to violent white supremacist protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, last month.
The president this month said he likes and respects Yellen, but that he had not yet made a decision on the Fed succession.
Besides Yellen, the resignation of Vice Chair Stanley Fischer later this month, could leave the Fed with four empty seats, at least until Trump nominee Randall Quarles is confirmed.
But Yellen said she has "full confidence" Fed officials will be able to carry out their responsibilities, and that rules allow the central bank to proceed with its work "even if we are a board of three" pending Quarles' confirmation by Congress.
Still she said she hopes the administration "will make other nominations to fill our slots," because there is a lot of work to do and it is "important to have a broad range of views around the table."
The UN mission in the country, known by the acronym of MINUSMA, was deployed to Mali after unrest in 2012
A Malian soldier was killed and a number of others were injured Wednesday in an ambush in northern Mali, where gunmen also attacked two military camps, including a UN mission, a military source said.
The ambush took place 55 kilometres (34 miles) from Menaka, when one of the unit's vehicles ran over a landmine, the source said.
Meanwhile, in the northern region of Kidal, gunmen attacked a camp run by the UN mission in the country, known by the acronym of MINUSMA, and another camp due to host so-called mixed patrols, another security source said.
Intended to provide security for the troubled region, mixed patrols comprise regular army soldiers; pro-government armed groups known as Platform; and ex-members of a predominantly Touareg rebel group, the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA).
Northern Mali is the site of frequent clashes between rival armed groups, as well as a haven for jihadist activity.
In 2012, key cities fell under the control of jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda, who exploited an ethnic Tuareg-led rebel uprising, leading to a French-led military intervention and the eventual deployment of MINUSMA.
Although the Islamists were largely ousted, much of the region is lawless and attacks have continued on UN and French forces, civilians and the Malian army.
This month, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita inaugurated the headquarters for a planned five-nation force to combat jihadists in the Sahel region.
The five-battalion, 5,000-strong force, will comprise troops from Niger, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Burkina Faso.
The age of Uganda's President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is the subject of much debate ahead of the country's 2021 elections
Ugandan police have banned a protest set for Thursday when lawmakers debate plans to scrap a presidential age limit, seen as a bid to pave the way for Yoweri Museveni to seek a sixth term as leader.
A ruling party lawmaker is expected to put forward a bill to amend a constitutional provision that states the president must be between 35 and 75 years old.
Museveni, who has been in office since 1986, has said he is 73 years old, which under the current law would prevent him from running in elections in 2021. However his true age is the subject of much debate.
Police chief Kale Kayihura said in a statement that a planned protest was intended to cause "violence and mayhem" and urged demonstrators to use "indoor meetings" to express their opinion.
"Parliament should be left to debate without undue, irresponsible, let alone criminal, protest," he said.
Meanwhile on Wednesday night police raided the premises of anti-poverty international NGO Action Aid which has been critical of the move to scrap the age limit.
A police search warrant said the raid was linked to "illicit transfers of funds to support unlawful activities."
However, Action Aid Uganda communications officer Samanya Kyategeka told AFP from inside the building that the 30 staff were being interrogated about issues related to the age limit and that they were not allowed to leave.
In July, Action Aid Uganda issued a statement calling for Ugandans to "organise" and saying that removing the age limit "spells disaster not just for Uganda but the region" as it threatened the peaceful transfer of power from one president to another.
Security forces have been heavily deployed in Kampala since Monday with military police camping out in the central square and armoured vehicles positioned around parliament.
Museveni, a veteran former rebel leader who seized power in 1986, ending years of brutal and murderous rule under Idi Amin and Milton Obote, once said leaders who "overstayed" in power were the root of Africa's problems.
However he successfully changed the constitution in 2005 abolishing a two-term limit, and has since gone back and forth on the age requirement.
In 2012 he said there was some "scientific logic" behind the requirement as leaders over 75 lacked the necessary vigour.
However last week he told the Daily Monitor it was up to doctors to determine whether a person was "fit to lead or not".
ATLANTA (AP) - A Georgia Tech police officer overreacted by firing a gunshot that killed a student who investigators say was armed with a knife and ignored commands to drop it, a lawyer for the family said.
Campus police killed Scout Schultz, 21, who they say was advancing on officers with a knife. Schultz refused to put down the knife and kept moving toward officers late Saturday outside a dormitory, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a statement.
"Officers provided multiple verbal commands and attempted to speak with Shultz who was not cooperative and would not comply with the officers' commands," the agency said in a statement. "Shultz continued to advance on the officers with the knife."
Attorney Chris Stewart told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he thinks Schultz was having a mental breakdown and didn't know what to do. Stewart and the student's family plan a news conference Monday morning.
WSB-TV reported that the item involved, still on the ground when its news crew arrived, appeared to be a "metal, flip-open, multi-tool knife."
Authorities haven't identified the officer who shot him nor have they released the 911 call that led to the confrontation. Preliminary information indicates that the initial 911 call reported a person with a knife and a gun about 11:17 p.m. Saturday, the GBI said in a statement.
Georgia Tech on Monday refused to release the 911 call, or any personnel or disciplinary reports involving the officers, saying that such information is exempt from Georgia's open records law.
In its response to a request from The Associated Press under Georgia's open records law, the school also refused to release any police bodycam or dash-cam videos which might show the encounter.
Schultz was president of Pride Alliance at Georgia Tech.
The fourth-year computer engineering student used the name Scout and preferred the pronouns "they" and "them" rather than "him" or "her."
"I'm bisexual, nonbinary and intersex," Schultz wrote in a Pride Alliance profile.
Lynne Schultz told the newspaper that her oldest child was a brilliant student despite numerous medical issues including depression, and had twice attempted suicide. The computer engineering student had attempted suicide two years ago using a belt as a noose, she said.
Many questions remained on Monday.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Nelly Miles said Sunday she did not know whether the officer who fired at Schultz was trained in dealing with suspects who have mental disorders.
The GBI, through its Crisis Intervention Team, has trained about 10,000 local, state and federal law enforcement officers since it began in 2004, the Atlanta newspaper reported. Atlanta, Roswell, Henry County and now DeKalb are among the agencies that require all of its officers to take the class.
Some agencies do not require it.
"Why didn't they use some nonlethal force, like pepper spray or Tasers?" Scout's mother told the Atlanta newspaper.
Police at the Georgia Institute of Technology do not carry Tasers or stun guns, but are equipped with pepper spray, a Georgia Tech spokesman told the newspaper.
In May 2015, the University System of Georgia implemented a system-wide campus safety initiative. Among its recommendations: establish a program to review training needs for campus law enforcement at the state's public colleges and universities. It set a 2016 timeline for establishing the program to identify gaps and develop necessary training programs.
The outcome of those recommendations wasn't immediately known Monday. A representative of the university system was looking into the matter.
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Associated Press writer Jeff Martin contributed to this report.
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This story has been corrected to show the shooting happened late Saturday night, instead of Sunday.
Opinion / Columnist
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart (Proverbs 3:1 NIV)Robert Gabriel Mugabe has no lesson he can pass, either to his generation or that below him, when he finally rests except the misfortune of a legacy of tyranny and dictatorship that incidentally has turned as a lesson, to many in the world, as the best way on how to never forget the reward on selfishness and greedy. One of the hard lessons to learn for Africa, from the 2017 reversed electoral polls of Kenya by the High court; is that elections should not be a way of endorsing oneself in to keeping and continuing in power by those who run government and often do it so poorly. It is obvious that any political party in Africa that dismembered colonial leadership from the control of authority on any aspiring independent nation, did so in order that they find a pretext to stay in power, and if need be, for ever. History would bear it that many nationalists took the western constitution not in good faith but as a means to be and stay in power.Apart from the lessons that the bible gives on wisdom of succession, life has generally taught us that we wear out and finally look to posterity to take over and prolong the legendary story of our ancestry. When, therefore, men or women seek to stay on in power without caring to look for replacement it naturally addresses our sense of insecurity, and at worst the cause of insecurity, which often is the decay caused from an obsession of power love beyond and above the people we confess to protect and shield.In the case of Africa, we need as Africans ask ourselves why the African Union does not encourage openness that supports media freedom as an institution including working against detention and the arrests of journalists and political opposition leaders. Studies will reveal that very few of opposition leaders in Africa are prosecutable because they have no criminal intent cases to answer except express opinions that work against dictatorship practised by those in government power control then. How can we buy freedom by establishing our headquarters in countries we condemn as imperialists? Is this hypocrisy or an outright fabrication on propaganda to brainwash the masses of Africa? Subsequently when these western countries stage anti-pan-African country campaigns they can control our freedom through donations they offer or threats against withdrawal of such donations which often, without admission, cripple initiatives of private citizens in many African countries to stand against oppression.Governments of Africa, Mr. Robert Mugabe's included, invest colossal sums of money on media fights through the banning, the censorship and the building of huge human military and capital reserves without no war to fight at all. Often these decisions are done using hidden Executive prerogatives under the state secrets acts that do not allow debate or questioning matters of national import to which only the executive have authority over. The role of unlimited authority of the executive presidency in African is and has been a subject of constitutional study since the post-colonial era with little success. Significantly it is a break through news when the Kenyan Supreme Court rules against the flowed 2017 election. It has to be noted that if by the same measures of prudence reviews were done by the African Union commission approval many previous elections declared free and fair on Zimbabwe, will almost all be subject to reversal creating an unpreceded constitutional crisis for the country, in my opinion.Evidence is available as to why African leadership prefer to retain power even if people no longer want them to rule. The most plausible argument for African leadership to stay in power for ever is that they work under pretext of being famous and favoured by majority of African peoples' vote to stay on, which is questionable. Every post-independence government in Africa under plays the role of political force employed by the newly emerging political leadership. Numerous cases prove the importance of the United Nation (UN) on supervision powers over a government committing arson and murder over its citizens. The case of the Bangladesh war, the Burma/Myanmar, the Angola political crisis, Rwanda genocide, to some extent the Idi Amin rampage (Uganda) and the Matebeleland massacre (Zimbabwe) all inevitably shade such as dark picture on humanity ability to intervene and control a mud government butchering citizens to preserve her in power.The recent case of Kenyan Supreme Court ruling is inspirational because it comes at a time when dictatorial tendencies tent to be swept under the carpet under pretext of a systematic opposition political organization who seeks to urge instability by always crying foul of an election rigging after an election in developing country. Kenyans need applauding for working vehemently for social justice and cooperating to unravel dirty tricks in the election. Zimbabwe cannot expect success over constitutional reform implementations if they consider financial privileges over national interests. The major lesson on politics is on prudence, integrity and a biased pursuit on what is fair and just in the fact of law.Finally, it ought to be born in mind that there cannot be lessons learnt from failure to be honest, sincere and uphold the loss of life preferring instead to prolong stay in power at any cost even the cost of innocent lives. Truth be told, Zimbabwe has exceeded this parameter except we seek political favours against the gain of seeking common good for all. The fact that Mr. Mugabe's government has sought to criminalize the right of citizens to express their opinions and criticize a sitting government does not show any teaching of good report that our children could be proud to display on good governance now or in the future. Change is strategic. Change is necessary. But change has its huge partner as honesty and integrity coupled with transparency. Mr. Mugabe's government fails on all of these tenets dismally. Some opposition political parties, even before accessing to the power, have failed these tenets dismally. Power management matrix requires humility and strong balancing of power to achieve a correct balance. Such correct balances are such as referred to in the bible, worthy passing to future generation.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Two powerful Kentucky Republicans have an idea to boost an economic development agency that helps Appalachia: Move it out of the nation's capital.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and veteran Rep. Hal Rogers are sponsoring a bill they say will refocus the Appalachian Regional Commission to invest more in the poorest communities in 13 Appalachian states.
The bill, introduced Monday in the House and Senate, would move the panel's headquarters from Washington to a location in Appalachia to be chosen later. The lawmakers say similar commissions are headquartered in their respective regions, reducing administrative costs and making them more accountable to communities they serve.
Senate Budget Committee members Sen. Luther Strange, R-Ala., left, and Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., center, walk with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, right, as they leave a closed-door meeting with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin after working on a tax code overhaul, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017. The as-yet-undrafted bill to overhaul the tax code is the top priority for Trump and Republicans after the collapse of their effort to dismantle Barack Obama's health care law. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
The bill also would increase funding to distressed counties under the commission's Area Development Program.
President Donald Trump's proposed budget targets the Appalachian panel for elimination, but lawmakers from both parties pledge it will remain intact.
McConnell said he has supported the Appalachian commission, known as ARC, for decades, but believes it can be improved and made more efficient. The commission works to foster economic growth and boost the workforce in parts of 13 states from Mississippi to New York.
"I am proud to partner with my friend, Congressman Rogers, to introduce our bill to make desperately needed reforms at ARC and provide vital assistance to those who need it most," McConnell said.
Rogers, a 19-term congressman and former chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, said the commission has long provided vital services such as connecting more families to clean water and sanitary sewer, and helping rural communities compete in the digital economy.
"However, every president over the past four decades has worked to abolish the ARC, questioning things like waste and mismanagement at the agency, so it's time for reform," Rogers said. He and McConnell structured the legislation to bring clear direction to the agency, reviving its core mission to boost economic development and reduce poverty in distressed counties, Rogers said.
KINSHASA, Congo (AP) - The United Nations mission in Congo says a peacekeeper has been killed amid fighting in Beni territory in the country's North Kivu province.
The mission said Monday that the Tanzanian peacekeeper was shot during an attack Sunday by suspected Allied Democratic Forces rebels on an armed forces position. It said the army position was about 500 meters (547 yards) from a U.N. base.
The U.N. mission said another Tanzanian peacekeeper was injured in the fighting and has been evacuated to a U.N. hospital in Goma.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the killing, and urged Congo's government to investigate the incident and bring perpetrators to justice. In a statement he called on all armed groups in Congo to cease violence.
JERUSALEM (AP) - The Israeli military said it shot down an Iranian-made spy drone operated by the Hezbollah militant group as it approached the Golan Heights on Tuesday, and vowed to take further tough action against any attempts by its archenemies to violate the country's sovereignty.
The aerial showdown took place as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was preparing to address the U.N. General Assembly, where his speech is expected to focus on concerns of Iran's rising influence across the region, particularly in neighboring Syria.
Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, an Israeli military spokesman, said the drone took off from a Damascus military airport and was on a surveillance mission near Israel's border. He said Israel decided to shoot it down after it entered the demilitarized zone between Syria and the Israeli-controlled side of the Golan.
Fighter jets were scrambled but did not attack the aircraft, and instead a single Patriot missile shot it down, he said.
"Our message is that the IDF will not allow any violation of Israeli sovereignty, and we will not allow Iranian forces, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad or Shiite militias of any kind to approach the Israeli borders," Conricus said. He said if any other attempts to violate Israel's sovereignty are made, "we will respond swiftly." IDF is the acronym for the Israeli Defense Forces.
Conricus said Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Lebanese group that has sent forces to back Syrian President Bashar Assad in the Syrian civil war, routinely uses drones on surveillance missions. But it is rare for the pilotless aircraft to enter Israeli airspace. Russian and Iranian forces are fighting in Syria in support of Assad.
Conricus also stressed that said Israel did not seek any further escalation.
Israeli military and political leaders are worried that as the Syrian civil war appears to be winding down, Iranian and Hezbollah forces will maintain a permanent presence in the neighboring country.
Netanyahu was to address the U.N. General Assembly later on Tuesday, with Iran at the top of his agenda.
The Israeli leader is a vocal critic of the international nuclear deal with Iran. He also is concerned about Tehran's support for anti-Israel groups like Hezbollah, and its development of long-range missiles capable of striking his country. He has repeatedly warned that Israel will not accept a military presence by Iran or any of its Shiite allies in the Syrian border area near Israel.
Israel has largely stayed out of the fighting in Syria. But it has carried out dozens of airstrikes on alleged arms shipments bound for Hezbollah. It fears the group will gain sophisticated weapons and smuggle them from Syria into Lebanon.
Israel and Hezbollah are bitter enemies and fought a monthlong war in 2006 that ended in a stalemate, and Israeli officials fear another war could break out in the future.
KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) - Florida Keys residents have yet another concern as they rebuild after Hurricane Irma: dirty water.
The Florida Department of Health in Monroe County on Monday issued an advisory for all public beaches throughout the island chain due to potential effects from Hurricane Irma.
Spokeswoman Cammy Clark said in a news release that the advisory is precautionary, adding that swimming is not advised.
Clark says four environmental teams will conduct tests to determine the water quality. Results from the tests will take about seven days. Until then, she says people should assume that water may pose an increased risk of disease.
She also says residents should avoid contact with flood water, which may contain fecal matter from sewage systems, agricultural and industrial waste and septic tanks.
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - A poll indicates that 67 percent of Palestinians demand the resignation of President Mahmoud Abbas, up 5 points from June, and that three-quarters believe the Trump administration isn't serious about an Israel-Palestinian peace deal.
The survey among 1,270 Palestinians was published Tuesday, a day ahead of a Trump-Abbas meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research poll had an error margin of 3 percentage points.
President Donald Trump said this week that his administration is "working very hard" toward a deal, but hasn't publicly supported establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel or offered another path forward.
FILE - In this May 23, 2017 file photo, President Donald Trump shakes hands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after making statements to the press in the West Bank City of Bethlehem. Has the Palestinian strategy of reaching statehood through negotiations with Israel finally reached a dead end after more than two decades of failures? It's an increasing relevant question these days, amid mounting signs that a "two-state solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict may no longer be possible. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
Tuesday's poll says 52 percent of Palestinians still support a two-state solution, but 57 percent say it's no longer feasible because of Israeli settlement expansion.
NAYPYITAW, Myanmar (AP) - Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi delivered her first speech on Tuesday about the exodus of Rohingya Muslims, a long-persecuted ethnic group targeted in a military crackdown following attacks by Rohingya militants on Aug. 25. More than 400,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since then.
Suu Kyi asked for patience from the international community and suggested the refugees were partly responsible, saying more than half of the Rohingya villages had not been destroyed by the violence. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who was held under house arrest for years under a former military junta, invited diplomats to tour those villages.
Below are reactions to the speech from Rohingya who fled to Bangladesh, diplomats, human rights groups and citizens in Naypyitaw, Myanmar's capital, where Suu Kyi spoke:
Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi delivers a televised speech to the nation at the Myanmar International Convention Center in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017. After a mass exodus of Rohingya Muslims sparked allegations of ethnic cleansing, Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi said Tuesday her country does not fear international scrutiny. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)
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SANAULLAH, a Rohingya refugee in the Kutupalong camp in Bangladesh who uses only one name:
"I want to say that before Aung San Suu Kyi came (to power) we were living in peace. Aung San Suu Kyi came to power and spoke of democracy. When she was in jail, we were at peace. After she came out of jail, Aung San Suu Kyi became part of the government, when they formed the government, after that the torture started (of Rohingya)."
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ABDUL HAFIZ, a Rohingya at the Kutupalong camp:
"What Suu Kyi told her people and the world is a complete lie. If what she said is not a lie then let the world media in, so that they can see whether we are tortured or we are happy. Let them see the plight of the people there. ... Because of the torture in Muangdaw town (in Rakhine state) people ran away to Bangladesh. If it's a lie, then you can throw me in the sea and kill me. We will not mind."
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ZAW ZAW HLANG, owner of a roadside fruit shop in Naypyitaw:
"We really support and are happy about what she has said to the international community. ... What we want is only peace for the citizens of this country. We don't want other countries to interfere or invade our country."
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PHYO KO KO, a computer designer who works at a computer shop in Naypyitaw:
"She said a lot about the development of the country and the people and showed that people should be united. I only know about the Rakhine issue as a religious and race conflict. I liked what she said. And I totally support what she said because she wants good things for the country."
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PAUL EDWARDS, UNICEF deputy representative:
"I'm always optimistic. She has stated she wants everyone to work together for peace and reconciliation so that's what we take and that is what we will try and do."
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NIKOLAY LISTOPADOV, Russian ambassador to Myanmar:
"As a first step I think it was a good speech, a good message to the international community. I am sure further steps will follow because the message is quite clear that Myanmar is ready to cooperate with the international community, (and) is ready just to pay attention to all the concerns and worries of the international community."
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HONG LIANG, Chinese ambassador to Myanmar:
"I think this is a very good speech. It will help the international community have a better understanding of the situation here in Myanmar and in Rakhine and help the international community have a better understanding of the position held by the Myanmar government."
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JAMES GOMEZ, Amnesty International's regional director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific:
"Aung San Suu Kyi today demonstrated that she and her government are still burying their heads in the sand over the horrors unfolding in Rakhine state. At times, her speech amounted to little more than a mix of untruths and victim blaming. ... There is overwhelming evidence that security forces are engaged in a campaign of ethnic cleansing. While it was positive to hear Aung San Suu Kyi condemn human rights violations in Rakhine state, she is still silent about the role of the security forces in this."
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PHIL ROBERTSON, Human Rights Watch:
"I think that she was trying to claw back some credibility with the international community but was not prepared to go far enough. She said the right words ... but when you peel it away, the ability to implement any of that is really very minimal. ... When she says that 50 percent of the Muslim villages are still present in Rakhine state, what are we talking about? Fifty percent are gone. Fifty percent are burnt out. Fifty percent is a failing grade."
Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Hong Liang, center, talks to journalists after Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi's televised speech to the nation at the Myanmar International Convention Center in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017. After a mass exodus of Rohingya Muslims sparked allegations of ethnic cleansing, Suu Kyi said Tuesday her country does not fear international scrutiny. (AP Photo)
Rohingya Muslim men, who crossed over from Myanmar into Bangladesh, wait for their turn to collect food aid near Kutupalong refugee camp, Bangladesh, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017. With a mass exodus of Rohingya Muslims sparking accusations of ethnic cleansing from the United Nations and others, Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday said her country does not fear international scrutiny and invited diplomats to see some areas for themselves. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - A police station in Syracuse has been hit by gunfire more than three dozen times since opening in June, but officials say no one has been injured.
The Post-Standard reports (http://bit.ly/2fhD9l7 ) that about 40 bullet marks dot the shatterproof windows at the Syracuse Police Department substation at Skiddy Park on the city's west side.
The substation isn't staffed full time. Department spokesman Sgt. Richard Helterline says police aren't sure when the gunfire occurred because no one was inside the building when the shootings happened.
The substation opened in mid-June after several shootings in and around the park in 2016. At the time of the opening, there were already a handful of bullet marks.
PITTSBURGH (AP) - An Army veteran who fended off a mentally ill man who tried to attack a chess class the veteran was teaching at an Illinois public library is one of 18 people being honored with Carnegie medals for heroism.
The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, based in Pittsburgh, announced the winners on Tuesday.
James O. Vernon , 75, was in a conference room at the Morton Public Library with 17 children and four women when 19-year-old Dustin Brown burst in with two large knives on Oct. 13, 2015.
FILE - In this Oct. 15, 2015, file photo, James O. Vernon, an Army veteran who fended off a mentally ill man's attempt to attack a chess class that Vernon was teaching at an Illinois public library, recovers from injuries he suffered fighting off the knife-wielding man, as he sits in his home in Morton, Ill. Vernon is among 18 recipients of the Carnegie Medal for heroism announced Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017, by the Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, which awards the medals several times a year. (Robert Downen/Pekin Daily Times via AP, File)
"He actually ran into the room yelling, 'I'm going to kill some people,'" Vernon told the Pekin Daily News days after the attack.
The knives were hunting-type weapons with fixed blades about 5 inches long, Vernon said.
"I can't let this happen," Vernon told The Associated Press at the time.
Letting the children and women escape, Vernon then positioned himself between Brown and the door and fended off Brown until police arrived. He suffered two slashed arteries in his left hand and damaged a tendon in a finger.
Brown pleaded guilty but mentally ill to charges in the attack and unrelated child pornography counts. He's serving 32 years in prison.
The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission was founded and endowed by the late steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who was inspired by stories of heroism during a coal mine disaster that killed 181 people, including a miner and an engineer, who died trying to rescue others.
The commission investigates stories of heroism and awards medals and cash several times a year. It has given away $39.4 million to 9,971 awardees or their families since 1904.
Four of those honored Tuesday died in rescue attempts, including 10-year-old Kevin D. Little Jr ., of Milwaukee, who died from complications of smoke inhalation three weeks after trying to rescue his 2-year-old cousin from the bedroom they shared when their house caught fire on Oct. 20, 2015.
Other winners announced Tuesday, with rescues taking place in the hometown of each winner unless otherwise noted:
- Kevin L. Hestleton , 44, of Tiburon, California, rescued a woman from a man with a gun and a pair of pruning shears who attacked her in her yard in San Rafael, California in June 2016.
- Nathan Michael Stieg , 30, and Jayden Charles Concha , 14, both of Dickinson, North Dakota, saved a man from drowning and unsuccessfully tried to save a man with him when their all-terrain vehicle broke through ice on Lake Sakakawea in Mandaree, North Dakota, in February 2016.
- Merrill O. Naylor , 56, of Stephens City, Virginia, saved a 70-year-old woman from burning in her home in November 2015.
- Richard William Dorrity , 64, of Livingston, California, saved a passenger from burning in a pickup truck that crashed and caught fire in April 2016.
- Michael Lumahang , 39, and Jesse T. Haw , 24, both of Ottawa, Ontario, saved a 12-year-old boy who fell into the Ottawa River while fishing in August 2014. Lumahang drowned.
- John Paul Hollyfield , 56, of Accokeek, Maryland, saved a 6-year-old girl from being crushed by an 80-foot tree limb that fell and crushed a slide she was riding on in the Moyaone Reserve in July 2015.
- David E. Hammond , 64, of Gulf Breeze, Florida, saved a disabled woman from burning when her house caught fire in July 2016.
- Eric W. Edwards , 39, of Lodi, California, saved a man from drowning after he was caught in a rip current in the Pacific Ocean off Watsonville, California in February 2015.
- Jamie Alan Hyatt , 34, of Wood Lake, Minnesota, died of asphyxiation while helping to rescue a man who had collapsed in an oxygen deficient tanker-trailer in Granite Falls, Minnesota in January 2016.
- Vincent Santaniello , 56, and Harold Shaw , 68, both of Uhrichsville, Ohio, saved a woman after her pickup truck crashed and caught fire in September 2016.
- Rene Roy , 55, of Sherbrooke, Quebec, saved a man after his car crashed and burned in August 2016.
- Bobby Lynn Arnold , 36, of Onalaska, Texas, drowned helping to rescue a 7-year-old girl who fell off a boat into Lake Livingston in Trinity, Texas, in June 2016.
- Tanner Douglas Boslau , 30, of Bend, Oregon, saved a woman from drowning when her inner tube floated dangerously close to a dam on the Deschutes River in August 2016.
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Online: http://www.carnegiehero.org
NEW YORK (AP) - Industry analysts say Adidas has surpassed Brand Jordan as the second most popular sneaker line in the U.S.
The NPD Group tracks consumer sales and says Adidas sneaker sales jumped by the more than 50 percent in August 2017 compared with the same month last year. The group says the German company's share of the overall sneaker market was boosted by nearly half to 13 percent.
NPD Group analyst Matt Powell calls Adidas' rise to No. 2 in U.S. sneaker sales an achievement he never thought he'd see in his lifetime.
FILE - In this May 11, 2017, file photo, the logo of German sports equipment company Adidas AG is illuminated above a shoe at the company's annual shareholders meeting in Fuerth, Germany. The NPD Group announced on Sept. 18, 2017, that Adidas surpassed Brand Jordan as the second most popular sneaker line in the U.S. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
Nike owns Brand Jordan brand and retains the top spot overall. NPD Group says Nike reports its brand numbers separately.
MIAMI (AP) - A bipartisan group of lawmakers wants the U.S. government to extend humanitarian protections to parts of the Caribbean impacted by Hurricane Irma.
Haiti was granted temporary protected status after a 2010 earthquake, but the Trump administration has said those immigration benefits will expire in January. South Florida's congressional delegation and both the state's senators sent a letter Monday asking acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke to renew the program.
The lawmakers said damage caused by Irma exacerbates challenges Hurricane Matthew created last year.
Florida lawmakers also have joined a larger group of congressional representatives asking President Donald Trump to grant temporary protected status to immigrants from other Caribbean countries hit by Irma.
The status allows immigrants from countries experiencing armed conflict or environmental disasters to legally live and work here.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A conservative Tennessee auto dealer is launching a super PAC to support Andy Ogles' bid for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Bob Corker.
Ogles is the former state director of Americans for Prosperity, the political arm of conservative billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch's network. He declared his candidacy last week, and his campaign on Tuesday announced the formation of the super PAC run by Lee Beaman, a Nashville Toyota dealer.
Super PACs can take unlimited contributions from wealthy donors, but they may not coordinate with the campaigns.
Corker has not yet announced whether he will seek a third term. Two people familiar with a White House discussion between the senator and president last week told The Associated Press that Trump urged Corker to run during the meeting.
Beaman said he plans to raise $4 million to support Ogles, citing his support for tighter border security, repealing former President Barack Obama's health care law and cutting taxes and regulation. Beaman said in a release that the goal is "to provide President Trump with an ally in the U.S. Senate that he will be able to depend upon."
Beaman contributed a total of $6,100 to Corker's campaigns in 2006 and 2012, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Since 2005 he has also given $42,500 to the Automotive Free International Trade PAC, a group that advocated for the Trans Pacific Partnership deal scuttled by Trump earlier this year.
Beaman was a financial supporter of failed efforts to make English the mandatory language in Nashville in 2009, and as president of the Middle Tennessee chapter of the Boy Scouts of America in 2013 opposed efforts to lift a long-standing ban on openly gay members.
Beaman is also a contributor to Americans for Prosperity, where he said he got to know Ogles.
"I know first-hand his tireless commitment to conservative issues and am excited about sharing what I know with donors and activists across the country," he said.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Protesters upset over a violent police arrest delayed a Columbus city council meeting for nearly two hours as they demanded answers.
At issue is the Sept. 1 arrest of Timothy Davis inside a Columbus convenience store. Cellphone video of the arrest shows officers repeatedly punching and kicking Davis, who was wanted on a warrant from a year earlier alleging he assaulted an officer.
The Columbus Dispatch reports more than 100 people filled Columbus city council chambers Monday night.
The protesters demanded the firing of officers involved in the arrest along with Police Chief Kim Jacobs.
Democratic Council President Zachary Klein told the newspaper he has confidence in Jacobs and the police but there's always room for growth.
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Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.com
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Latest on the killings of two black men in Baton Rouge (all times local):
11:40 a.m.
A law enforcement official says a copy of an Adolf Hitler speech was found at the home of white man accused of killing two black men and firing on a black family.
Kenneth Gleason is shown in an undated booking photo provided by the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office. Police believe the slayings of two black men in Baton Rouge were likely racially motivated and said Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, that they have a person of interest - Gleason- in custody. Gleason, was being held on drug charges. Authorities do not yet have enough evidence to charge him with murder, Baton Rouge Sgt. L'Jean McKneely told The Associated Press. (East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office via AP)
The official spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday on the condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.
Authorities said at an earlier news conference that Kenneth James Gleason would be charged with first-degree murder in the shooting deaths last week of a homeless man and a dishwasher who was walking to work.
Authorities say the men were unarmed when they were attacked. Authorities say Gleason also shot at the house of a black family in his neighborhood before the killings. No one was hurt in that shooting.
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11 a.m.
Louisiana authorities say a white man accused of killing two black men has been linked to third shooting in which he fired on the house of an African-American family in his neighborhood.
No one died in that shooting, which occurred before the other two deaths. Interim Police Chief Jonny Dunnam said he was confident that Kenneth James Gleason "would have killed again" if he had the chance.
Authorities would not say what the motive for the shootings was but said they had not ruled out that they were racially motivated.
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10:45 a.m.
Authorities say a 23-year-old white Baton Rouge man has been arrested and will be charged with murder in the fatal shootings of two black men in attacks that police said may have been racially motivated.
Interim Police Chief Jonny Dunnam said Tuesday that Kenneth James Gleason is accused of killing the two men. He didn't immediately say what he thought the motive was.
Police arrested Gleason over the weekend on drug charges, but he was bailed out of jail late Sunday even though authorities considered him a "person of interest" in the shooting of a homeless man and a dishwasher who was killed while walking to work.
It's not clear whether Gleason has an attorney. Attempts to reach him and his immediate family have not been successful.
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9 a.m.
The Baton Rouge Police Department has scheduled a news conference to discuss the arrest of a 23-year-old white man whom police have called a "person of interest" in the fatal shootings of two black men.
A department spokesman's email about Tuesday's news conference doesn't specify whether police have arrested Kenneth Gleason on charges related to last week's killings or whether they will discuss his arrest over the weekend on unrelated drug charges.
Baton Rouge Police Sgt. Don Coppola, a department spokesman, said Monday that Gleason "has not been cleared" and remains a "person of interest" in the investigation of the killings.
Another department spokesman has said there was a "strong possibility" that the shootings were racially motivated, but he would not elaborate on why police thought that.
DALLAS (AP) - A Dallas school district is narrowing its focus as it looks to rename some schools bearing the names of Confederate figures.
The Dallas Independent School District initially planned to research more than 20 historical figures to see if their ties to the Confederacy or slavery should prompt a school name change. That list included names like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, The Dallas Morning News reported .
District leaders now say they're focusing only on schools named after Confederate generals. A vote is expected later this month on four elementary schools named after Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Albert Sidney Johnston and William Cabell.
Chief of School Leadership Stephanie Elizalde said the district wants to quickly take action on names with a more significant negative meaning.
"If it was named for the single purpose of promoting white supremacy, then it should be changed," Elizalde said.
The district is trying to respond to violence that erupted at a white supremacist rally last month in Charlottesville, Virginia, said Board President Dan Micciche.
The board will collaborate with staff and parent groups to come up with new names for schools under review. Micciche said he hopes the name change will be completed by the end of the year.
Changing the name of the four schools could cost between $25,000 and $100,000 per school, depending on the type of marquee at the facility, Elizalde said.
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Information from: The Dallas Morning News, http://www.dallasnews.com
Attorneys general from most states are broadening their investigation into the opioid industry as a nationwide overdose crisis continues to claim thousands of lives.
They announced Tuesday that they had served subpoenas requesting information from five companies that make powerful prescription painkiller demanded information from three distributors. Forty-one attorneys general are involved in various parts of the civil investigation.
The probe into marketing and sales practices seeks to find out whether the industry's own actions worsened the epidemic.
If the industry cooperates, the investigation could lead to a national settlement. Connecticut Attorney George Jepsen said in an interview that there are early indications that drugmakers and distributors will discuss the matter with the states.
"The advantage of the multi-state approach is that it's not simply about providing a paycheck for damages to states," Jepsen said. "It provides the opportunity to address broader policy concerns and industry practices."
The Healthcare Distribution Alliance said in a statement that it's not responsible for the volume of opioid prescribing but that it does want to work on solving the public health crisis.
"While distributors play a vital role as logistics companies, to suggest that they are responsible for the volume of opioids prescribed lacks a fundamental understanding of how the supply chain works and is regulated," John Gray, the group's president and CEO said in a statement. "Distributors have no ability to influence what prescriptions are written."
PhRMA, which represents drugmakers, declined to comment on the investigation but said it is trying to deter and prevent drug abuse.
The group and some of its members met Monday with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican who is the head of President Donald Trump's task force on opioids, and pledged to try to develop technologies to reduce the risk of addiction and abuse.
The drug companies targeted in the requests for information are Endo, Janssen, Teva and Allergan. The attorneys general also asked for more information from Purdue Pharma; an investigation of that company was announced in June. The distributors involved are AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson.
Drug overdoses have become a crisis across the country. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that in 2015, they killed more than 52,000 Americans. Most of the deaths involved prescription opioids such as OxyContin or Vicodin or related illicit drugs such as heroin and fentanyl. People with addictions often switch among the drugs.
Dozens of local and state governments have already filed, announced or publicly considered lawsuits against drugmakers or distributors.
Lawyers for the city of Everett, Washington, argued this week that their case against Connecticut-based Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin, should be allowed to move ahead after the company asked a judge to dismiss the case.
State and local governments have been taking other action as the epidemic has deepened, with steps ranging from increasing access to naloxone, a drug that reverses overdoses, to restricting initial prescriptions.
On Monday, a group of 37 attorneys general called on health insurance companies to offer incentives for other forms of pain treatment including non-opioid drugs and massage, saying that as it stands now, insurers cover opioids more than other approaches to pain treatment.
The industry group America's Health Insurance Plans said in a statement that it's already working on using education, prevention and other means in an effort to eradicate addiction.
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Follow Mulvihill at http://www.twitter.com/geoffmulvihill
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This story has been corrected to show that the distributors received demands for information, not subpoenas.
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) - The U.N. refugee agency is calling on Congo's government to ensure protection for refugees and asylum-seekers after Congolese soldiers shot and killed at least 39 Burundian protesters, including a child.
The agency said Tuesday that many of the dead and the 94 wounded were refugees and asylum-seekers.
Congo authorities have said they would launch an investigation into Friday's shooting, which the refugee agency says began with a peaceful protest over the detention of some Burundians who feared deportation.
U.N. refugee chief Filippo Grandi says the "devastating tragedy" should never have happened and he calls on Congo's government to launch a detailed inquiry.
The U.N. agency says the situation in Kamanyola in Congo's east remains tense, with more than 2,400 Burundians seeking protection near the U.N. peacekeeping mission base.
NEW YORK (AP) - The Republican National Committee has paid nearly $200,000 in legal fees for President Donald Trump's eldest son in connection with the Russia investigation, a committee official said Tuesday.
More than $166,000 was paid to Donald Trump Jr.'s attorney, Alan Futerfas. Another $30,000 went to the law firm of Williams & Jenson, which helped prepare him for testimony. The RNC official insisted on anonymity to discuss financial information not yet made public.
The RNC is expected to release its August spending totals Wednesday, but that report will not include the spending on Trump Jr.'s legal fees. Those figures will appear on the committee's September report, the official said.
FILE - In this July 11, 2017, file photo, Donald Trump Jr. is interviewed by host Sean Hannity on the Fox News Channel television program, in New York. The Republican National Committee has spent nearly $200,000 on legal fees for President Donald Trump's eldest son in connection with the Russia investigation. An RNC official says about $167,000 was paid to Donald Trump Jr.'s attorney, Alan Futerfas. Another $30,000 went to the law firm of Williams &